You will find a definition following the part of speech for the word. The definitions only use a limited list of fairly common and basic words that students are very likely to understand.

When a word has more than one meaning, the GUIDEWORDS help you to find the right one quickly.

GUIDEWORDS show you when a word has more than one different sense. Other differences in meaning are shown by separate numbered definitions within one entry.

We show you when a word has a special meaning when it is used in a particular pattern or combination of words, or in a fixed phrase.

Some fixed phrases and combinations of words have a special meaning that is not clear from the meanings of the separate words. These are listed with their meanings usually at the entry for the first important word of that phrase or idiom.