Teaching Resources: English Words

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Ancestor

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  • ancestor noun [countable]
    a member of your family who lived a long time ago → descendant
    My ancestors were French.
  • an animal that lived in the past, that modern animals have developed from
    Lions and house cats evolved from a common ancestor (=the same ancestor).

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition

 

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Bookworm

Bookworm: a person who reads a lot.

Example: I was a real bookworm when I was a child.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Bravery

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  • [noun]: actions, behaviour, or an attitute that shows courage and confidence.
    An act of great bravery

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Carol

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  • Carol also Christmas carol [countable]: a traditional Christmas song.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Chilly

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  • Chilly weather or places are cold enough to make you feel uncomfortable
    A chilly November morning - chilly wind/breeze/air
  • If you feel chilly, you feel uncomfortably cold
  • Unfriendly
    The speech met with a chilly reception

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Citizen

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CITIZEN: a person who was born in a particular country and has certain rights or has been given certain rights because of having lived there.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Clever Clogs

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Expression used to describe someone who is annoying because they are always right or always think they are right.
We call people who know a lot and always give the right answer.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Cliffhanger

A technique used both in literature and in films and TV series, to intrigue the reader or viewer and maintain suspense.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Clue

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  • [countable]: an object or piece of information that helps someone solve a crime or mystery
  • [uncountable]: information that helps you understand the reasons why something happens
  • [uncountable]: a piece of information that helps you solve a crossword puzzle, answer a question etc.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Cobweb

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Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Destiny

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The things that will happen to someone in the future, especially those that cannot be changed or controlled.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Easy-going

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  • [adjective]: not easily upset, annoyed, or worried.
    Her easy-going nature allowed her to make friends quickly at the new school.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Fair

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  • [adjective]: something or someone that is reasonable, right, and just.
    Example: It didn't seem fair to leave out her father.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Far-fetched

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  • [adjective]: extremely unlikely to be true or to happen.
    This story seems to be far-fetched, unreal; yet it really happened.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Fashionable

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  • [adjective]: popular, especially for a short period of time [≠ unfashionable].
    Strong colours are very fashionable at the moment.
    It is fashionable (for somebody) to do something.
    It suddenly became fashionable for politicians to talk about green issues.
  • Fashionable: popular with, or used by, rich people [≠ unfashionable].
    A fashionable resort/area/address etc.
    He runs a fashionable restaurant near the Harbor.
  • [adverb]: fashionably dressed women.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Freedom

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  • [uncountable and countable]: the right to do what you want without being controlled or restricted by anyone.
  • [uncountable]: the state of being free and allowed to do what you want.
  • [uncountable]: the state of being free because you are not in prison.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Gender

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  • [noun]: gender is the state of being male or female in relation to the social and cultural roles that are considered appropriate for men and women.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Global Village

Global Village: the world, especially considered as the home of all nations and peoples living interdependently.

Example - Tourism is one of those ways in which we become a global village.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Inspiring

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  • [adjective]: giving people a feeling of excitement and a desire to do something great.
    Mrs. Jones was my most inspiring maths teacher. It's thanks to her that I decided to go to university and become an engineer.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Madness

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[noun]

1. Very stupid behaviour that could be dangerous or have a very bad effect
It is madness (for somebody) to do something.
It would be madness to drive all that way on your own.

2. Serious mental illness, insanity
His family has a history of madness.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Memorable

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  • [adjective]: very good, enjoyable, or unusual, and worth remembering.
    We want to make this a truly memorable day for our mother.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Moot point

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Moot point – A subject which gives rise to argument or debate is called a moot point
Whether Bach composed it himself or not is a moot point among musicians.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Ponder

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Ponder: to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate (often followed by over or upon).

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Pitch

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  1. SPORTS FIELD [noun, countable] British English - a marked out area of ground where a sport is played (field)
    football/cricket/rugby etc pitch
  2. BASEBALL [countable] a throw of the ball
    His first pitch was high and wide
  3. MUSIC
    a) [singular, uncountable] how high or low a note or other sound is
    Ultrasonic waves are at a higher pitch than the human ear can hear
    b) [uncountable] the ability of a musician to play or sing a note at exactly the correct level
    She’s got perfect pitch

Pitch has many other meanings as well. For the complete definition click here.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Reusable

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Reuse/Reusable - able to be used again without causing damage to the environment.
The bottles are designed to be reused up to 20 times.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Rights

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Rights: considered fair or morally acceptable by most people; suitable or correct, or as it should be.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Romance

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  1. [countable] an exciting and often short relationship between two people who love each other
    Hemingway’s romance with his nurse inspired him to write ‘A Farewell to Arms’.
    Michelle married him after a whirlwind romance (=one that happens very suddenly and quickly) holiday romance (British English), summer romance (American English) (=one that happens during a holiday) a short holiday romance.
  2. [uncountable] love, or a feeling of being in love
    The romance had gone out of their relationship.
  3. [uncountable] the feeling of excitement and adventure that is related to a particular place, activity etc.
    Romance of the romance of Hollywood.
  4. [countable] a story about the love between two people romance novels.
  5. [countable] a story that has brave characters and exciting events a Medieval romance.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Shockwaves

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  • [noun] a very strong reaction that spreads through a group of people when something surprising or bad happens
    The president’s sudden resignation sent shockwaves around the world. 

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Spooky

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  • [adjective]: strange or frightening in a way that makes you think of ghosts.
    The forest is really spooky in the dark.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

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Stereotype

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  • [noun]: a belief or idea about what a particular type of person or thing is like. Stereotypes are often unfair or untrue.
    His jokes often depend on cultural stereotypes.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Stunning

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  • [adjective]: extremely attractive or beautiful
    You look absolutely stunning in that dress. A stunning view.
  • [adjective]: Very surprising or shocking
    Stunning news

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Sustainable

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  • [adjective]: able to continue without causing damage to the environment.
    Example: Cycling is a totally sustainable form of transport.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

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Two-Faced

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  • changing what you say according to who you are talking to, in a way that is insincere and unpleasant (used to show disapproval)
    He’s a two-faced liar.
    I've never met anyone so two-faced: she's sweet and charming to your face, and then goes and complains about you to the teacher!

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.

 

Well-being

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  • A feeling of being comfortable, healthy and happy.
    Example: we are responsible for the care and well-being of all our patients.

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition.