Bill and Ben were constant companions. You never saw them apart.
incessant
After a few minutes, Mrs Snell’s incessant chatter became annoying.
nonstop
The disco played nonstop music throughout the evening.
uninterrupted
Good weather meant uninterrupted play at Wimbledon for the whole fortnight.
➔ See endless
control (1) VERB
To control something is to have power over it.
be in charge of
Our dad is in charge of our local Under-11s soccer team.
command
Captain Hardy commanded HMS Victory, the flagship of Admiral Lord Nelson.
direct
The fire chief directed operations from a mobile control centre.
manage
Mum’s sister manages a supermarket down the road.
control (2) NOUN
Control is the power over something.
authority
The mayor had authority over the city’s transport system.
command
The conductor was in complete command of the orchestra.
direction
The team is playing well under the direction of the new manager.
power
“The Wizard of Oz has the power to give you courage, Lion,” said Dorothy.
convenient (1) ADJECTIVE
If a time to do a particular thing is convenient, it is suitable for those concerned.
agreeable
“Is three o’clock agreeable to you, Mrs Williams?” the receptionist enquired.
appropriate
Max felt it was an appropriate moment to ask the question.
suitable
“Eight o’clock would be a suitable time for me to pick you up,” my stepdad said.
ANTONYM: inconvenient
convenient (2) ADJECTIVE
If something is convenient, it is easy to use, do or go to.
handy
The store is really handy for Grandma to pop down to.
helpful
Mrs Hakim handed out a helpful fact sheet at the end of the lesson.
useful
Tin-openers are a useful invention which we couldn’t do without!
ANTONYM: inconvenient
conversation NOUN
When people have a conversation, they talk to each other.
chat
Auntie Doris often pops in for a chat on her way home from work.
dialogue
The opening scene of Macbeth consists of a dialogue between three witches.
discussion
Our discussion centred on whether to play indoors or outdoors.
cook VERB
When you cook food, you prepare it for eating by boiling, baking or frying it.
Some ways to cook food:
bake
barbecue
blanch
boil
braise
fry
grill
microwave
poach
roast
simmer
steam
stew
stir-fry
toast
cool (1) ADJECTIVE
Something cool has a low temperature but is not cold.
chilly
It was chilly outside, so we stayed by the fire.
fresh
A fresh breeze blew off the estuary, flapping the flag on the church tower.
nippy
“It’s rather nippy,” Mum said. “I’d take a pullover if I were you.”
refreshing
In summer there’s nothing to beat refreshing orange juice.
ANTONYM: warm
➔ See cold
cool (2) ADJECTIVE
If you are cool in a difficult situation, you stay calm.
calm
“Now everybody keep calm,” the captain said. “There is no need for panic.”
laid back INFORMAL
My friend Chris was totally laid back about the exam. “If I fail, I fail,” he said.
relaxed
Despite the tension in those around him, the sub’s commander looked relaxed.
ANTONYM: nervous
cope VERB
If you cope with a task or problem, you deal with it successfully.
carry on
Despite the rain, the team carried on and eventually won the game.
get by
Although money was tight, Mum got by doing all sorts of odd jobs for people.
manage
“That piano’s heavy. Can you manage?” a kind passer-by enquired.
survive
During the exams, Liam survived by drinking cups of coffee and going to bed early.
cope with VERB
If you have to cope with a difficult situation, you have to deal with it.
contend with
Apart from blizzards, Captain Scott had to contend with a growing shortage of food.
deal with
I don’t know how teachers deal with 30 kids like my little brother.
copy (1) NOUN
A copy is something made to look like something else.
duplicate
As the new car came with only one key, Dad had a duplicate made.
forgery
The banknotes were such good forgeries that only an expert could tell they weren’t the real thing.
imitation
“If that diamond is an imitation, it’s very like the real thing,” I thought.
replica
The miniature locomotive was an exact replica of the real train.
reproduction