affording, afforded
VERB 1 If you can afford something, you have enough money to pay for it.
2 If you can afford to relax, you feel you have done enough work for the moment, and have time to take things easy.
afloat
ADVERB If something or someone is afloat, they are floating.
afraid
ADJECTIVE 1 If you are afraid, you are frightened.
SYNONYM: scared
2 If you are afraid something might happen, you worry that it might happen.
after
PREPOSITION OR ADVERB 1 later than a particular time, date or event • She left just after breakfast. • Soon after, he went to work.
PREPOSITION 2 If you come after someone or something, you are behind them and following them. • They ran after her.
afternoon afternoons
NOUN the part of the day between twelve noon and about six o’clock
afterwards
ADVERB after an event or time • We went swimming, and afterwards we had an ice cream.
again
ADVERB happening one more time • The film was so good that we went to see it again.
SYNONYM: once more
against
PREPOSITION 1 touching and resting on • He leaned the ladder against the wall.
2 in opposition to • France played against England.
age ages, ageing or aging, aged
NOUN 1 The age of something or someone is the number of years they have lived or existed.
2 a particular period in history • the Iron Age
PLURAL NOUN 3 INFORMAL Ages means a very long time. • He’s been talking for ages.
VERB 4 To age is to grow old or to appear older.
agency agencies
NOUN an organization or business that provides special services • detective agency • advertising agency
agenda agendas
NOUN a list of items to be discussed at a meeting
agent agents
NOUN 1 someone who does business or arranges things for other people • a travel agent
2 someone who works for their country’s secret service
aggravate aggravates, aggravating, aggravated
VERB 1 If you aggravate something, you make it worse.
2 INFORMAL If you aggravate someone, you annoy them.
aggravating ADJECTIVE aggravation NOUN
aggressive
ADJECTIVE full of hostility and violence • Some breeds of dog are more aggressive than others.
SYNONYMS: belligerent, hostile
agile
ADJECTIVE able to move quickly and easily • He is as agile as a cat.
agilely ADVERB agility NOUN
agitated
ADJECTIVE worried and anxious
agitation NOUN
ago
ADVERB in the past • She bought her flat three years ago.
agony
NOUN very great physical or mental pain
SYNONYMS: suffering, torment
agree agrees, agreeing, agreed
VERB 1 If you agree with someone, you have the same opinion as they do.
2 If you agree to do something, you say you will do it.
agreeable
ADJECTIVE 1 pleasant or enjoyable
2 If you are agreeable to something, you are willing to allow it or to do it.
agreeably ADVERB
agreement agreements
NOUN If you reach an agreement with one or more people, you make a decision with them or come to an arrangement with them.
agriculture
NOUN farming
ahead
ADVERB 1 in front • He looked ahead as he cycled down the road.
2 more advanced than someone or something else • Some countries are ahead of others in space travel.
3 in the future • I can’t think that far ahead.
aid aids
NOUN 1 money, equipment or services provided for people in need
2 something that makes a job easier • The whiteboard is a useful teaching aid.
ailment ailments
NOUN a minor illness
aim aims, aiming, aimed
VERB 1 If you aim at something, you point a weapon at it.
2 If you aim to do something, you are planning to do it.
SYNONYMS: intend, mean
NOUN 3 Your aim is what you intend to achieve. • The aim of the jumble sale is to raise money for charity.
SYNONYMS: goal, objective
aimless
ADJECTIVE If you are aimless, you have no clear purpose or sense of direction.
aimlessly ADVERB
air
NOUN 1 the mixture of oxygen and other gases that we breathe and that forms the earth’s atmosphere
2 the space around things or above the ground • The balloons floated up into the air.
3 used to refer to travel in aircraft • My uncle often travels by air.
air conditioning
NOUN a way of keeping cool, fresh air in a building
aircraft
NOUN any vehicle that can fly
air force air forces
NOUN the part of a country’s armed services that fights using aircraft
airline airlines
NOUN a company that provides air travel
airmail
NOUN the system of sending letters and parcels by air • He sent letters from Hong Kong to Britain by airmail.
airport airports
NOUN a place where people go to catch aeroplanes
airtight
ADJECTIVE If something is airtight, no air can get in or out.
aisle aisles
NOUN a long, narrow gap that people can walk along between rows of seats or shelves • The ticket collector was coming down the aisle.
ajar
ADJECTIVE A door or window that is ajar is slightly open.
alarm alarms, alarming, alarmed
NOUN