5 If you lose count of something, you cannot remember how often it has happened.
counter counters
NOUN 1 a long, flat surface in a shop, over which goods are sold
2 a small, flat, round object used in board games
counterfeit counterfeits, counterfeiting, counterfeited
Said “kown-ter-fit” ADJECTIVE 1 Counterfeit things are not genuine, but have been made to look genuine in order to deceive people. • counterfeit money
VERB 2 If someone counterfeits something, they make an exact copy of it in order to trick people.
countless
ADJECTIVE too many to count
country countries
NOUN 1 one of the political areas the world is divided into
2 land away from towns and cities • It is peaceful living in the country.
countryside
NOUN land away from towns and cities
county counties
NOUN a region with its own local government • The county of Lincolnshire is in the east of England.
couple couples
NOUN 1 two people who are married or having a romantic relationship
2 A couple of things or people means two of them, or not very many.
couplet couplets
NOUN two lines of poetry together that usually rhyme
coupon coupons
NOUN 1 a piece of printed paper that entitles you to pay less than usual for something
2 a form you fill in to ask for information or to enter a competition
courage
NOUN the quality shown by people who do things that they know are dangerous or difficult • She showed great courage in her efforts to save them from the burning house.
courageous ADJECTIVE
courageously ADVERB
courgette courgettes
NOUN a vegetable that looks like a small green marrow
courier couriers
NOUN 1 someone employed by a travel company to look after people on holiday
2 someone employed to deliver letters and parcels quickly
course courses
NOUN 1 a series of lessons or lectures
2 a piece of land where races take place or golf is played
3 the route something such as a ship or a river takes • The captain changed course to avoid the storm.
4 one of the parts of a meal • The first course was soup.
PHRASE 5 If you say of course, you are showing that you are absolutely sure about something. • Of course she wouldn’t do a thing like that.
court courts
NOUN 1 a place where legal matters are decided by a judge and jury or a magistrate. The judge and jury or magistrate can also be referred to as the court. • He is due to appear in court next week. • The court awarded him ten thousand pounds in compensation.
2 a place where a game such as tennis or badminton is played
3 the place where a king or queen lives and works
courteous
ADJECTIVE Courteous behaviour is polite and considerate.
courteously ADVERB
courtyard courtyards
NOUN a flat area of ground surrounded by buildings or walls
cousin cousins
NOUN Your cousin is the child of your uncle or aunt.
cove coves
NOUN a small bay on the coast
cover covers, covering, covered
VERB 1 If you cover something, you put something else over it to protect it or hide it.
2 If something covers something else, it forms a layer over it.
3 If you cover a particular distance, you travel that distance.
4 If you cover a subject, you discuss it in a lesson, course or book. • We covered the Vikings in today’s lesson.
NOUN 5 something put over an object to protect it or keep it warm
6 The cover of a book or magazine is its outside.
7 Cover is trees, rocks or other places where you can shelter or hide. • When it started raining they ran for cover.
coverage
NOUN The coverage of something in the news is the reporting of it. • There was complete coverage of the Wimbledon finals on television.
cow cows
NOUN a large female mammal kept on farms for its milk and meat
coward cowards
NOUN a person who is easily frightened and avoids dangerous situations
cowardly ADJECTIVE cowardice NOUN
cowboy cowboys
NOUN a man employed to look after cattle in America
coy coyer, coyest
ADJECTIVE If someone behaves in a coy way, they pretend to be shy and modest.
crab crabs
NOUN a crustacean with four pairs of legs, two claws, and a flat, round body covered by a shell
crack cracks, cracking, cracked
VERB 1 If something cracks, or if something cracks it, it becomes damaged, with lines appearing on its surface.
2 If you crack a joke, you tell it.
3 If you crack a problem or code, you solve it.
NOUN 4 one of the lines appearing on something when it cracks
5 a narrow gap • My ring fell into a crack in the pavement.
cracker crackers
NOUN 1 a thin, crisp biscuit that is often eaten with cheese
2 a paper-covered tube that pulls apart with a bang, and usually has a toy and paper hat inside
crackle crackles, crackling, crackled
VERB 1 something crackles, it makes a series of short sharp sounds • The bonfire started to crackle as the flames grew higher.
NOUN 2 a short sharp sound
cradle cradles, cradling, cradled
NOUN 1 a box-shaped bed for a baby
VERB 2 If you cradle something in your arms or hands, you hold it there carefully.
craft crafts
NOUN 1 an activity that needs skill with the hands, such as weaving, carving or pottery
2 a boat, plane or spacecraft
craftsman or craftswoman craftsmen or craftswomen
NOUN a person who makes things skilfully with their hands
craftsmanship NOUN
crafty craftier, craftiest
ADJECTIVE Crafty people get what they want by tricking other people in a clever way.
SYNONYMS: cunning, wily
crag crags
NOUN a steep, rugged