VOA Special English Vocabulary (1)

PARTS OF SPEECH

• n. (noun) - a name word
• v. (verb) - an action word
• ad. (adjective/adverb) - a describing word
• prep. (preposition) - a word used to show a relation
• pro. (pronoun) - a word used in place of a noun
• conj. (conjunction) - a joining word

A

• a (an) - ad. one; any; each
• able - v. having the power to do something
• about - ad. almost ("about half"); of or having a relation to ("We talk about the weather.")
• above - ad. at a higher place
• accept - v. to agree to receive
• accident - n. something that happens by chance or mistake; an unplanned event
• accuse - v. to say a person is responsible for an act or crime; to make a statement against someone
• across - ad. from side to side; to the other side
• act - v. to do something
• activist - n. one who seeks change through action
• actor - n. someone acting in a play or show
• add - v. to put (something) with another to make it larger; to say more
• administration - n. the executive part of a government, usually headed by a president or prime minister
• admit - v. to accept ("admitted to the United Nations"); to express one's guilt or responsibility ("He admitted that what he did was wrong.")
• adult - n. a grown person
• advise - v. to help with information, knowledge or ideas in making a decision
• affect - v. to produce an effect on; to influence ("A lack of sleep affected the singer's performance.")
• afraid - ad. feeling fear
• after - ad. later; behind
• again - ad. another time; as before
• against - ad. opposed to; not agreeing with something
• age - n. how old a person or thing is
• agency - n. an organization that is part of a larger group ("an agency of the United Nations")
• aggression - n. an attack against a person or country; the violation of a country's borders
• ago - ad. of time past; before now
• agree - v. to have the same belief as someone; to be willing to do something
• agriculture - n. farming
• aid - v. to help; to support; n. help, assistance
• aim - v. to point a gun at; n. a goal or purpose
• air - n. the mixture of gases around the earth, mostly nitrogen and oxygen, that we breathe
• air force - n. a military organization using airplanes
• airplane - n. a vehicle with wings that flies
• airport - n. a place where airplanes take off and land
• album - n. a collection of recorded music
• alcohol - n. a strong, colorless liquid, usually made from grain, used as a drug or in industrial products
• alive - ad. having life; not dead
• all - ad. everything; everyone; the complete amount
• ally - n. a nation or person joined with another for a special purpose
• almost - ad. a little less than completely
• alone - ad. separated from others
• along - ad. near or on ("along the road")
• already - ad. before now; even now
• also - ad. added to; too
• although - conj. even if it is true that
• always - ad. at all times; every time
• ambassador - n. a nation's highest diplomatic representative (to another government)
• amend - v. to add to or to change (a proposal or law)
• ammunition - n. the bullets or shells fired from guns
• among - ad. in or part of (a group)
• amount - n. the number, size or weight of anything
• anarchy - n. a lack of order; lawlessness
• ancestor - n. a family member from the past
• ancient - ad. very old; long ago
• and - conj. also; in addition to; with
• anger - n. a strong emotion against someone or something
• animal - n. a living creature that moves, such as a dog or cat
• anniversary - n. a yearly celebration or observance of an event that happened in the past
• announce - v. to make known publicly; to declare officially
• another - ad. one more; a different one
• answer - n. a statement produced by a question; v. to make a statement after being asked a question
• any - ad. one or more of no special kind
• apologize - v. to express regret for a mistake or accident for which one accepts responsibility
• appeal - v. to take to a higher court, person or group for a decision; to call on somebody for help
• appear - v. to show oneself; to come into sight; to seem
• appoint - v. to name; to choose ("appoint a judge")
• approve - v. to agree with; to agree to support
• archeology - n. the scientific study of past human life and activities
• area - n. any place or part of it
• argue - v. to offer reasons for or against something; to dispute; to disagree
• arms - n. military equipment; weapons
• army - n. military ground forces
• around - ad. on every side (of)
• arrest - v. to seize a person for legal action; to take as a prisoner
• arrive - v. to come to a place, especially at the end of a trip
• art - n. expressions or creations by humans, such as paintings, music, writing or statues
• artillery - n. big guns
• as - conj. equally ("as fast as"); when; while
• ash - n. the part left after something burns
• ask - v. to question; to say something is wanted ("We ask the teacher questions every day.")
• assist - v. to help
• astronaut - n. a person who travels in space
• astronomy - n. the scientific study of stars and the universe
• asylum - n. political protection given by a government to a person from another country
• at - prep. in or near ("at the edge"); where ("look at"); when ("at noon")
• atmosphere - n. the gases surrounding any star or planet
• attach - v. to tie together; to connect
• attack - n. a violent attempt to damage, injure or kill; v. to start a fight
• attempt - v. to work toward something; to try; to make an effort
• attend - v. to be present at
• automobile - n. a vehicle with wheels used to carry people; a car
• autumn - n. the time of the year between summer and winter
• average - n. something (a number) representing the middle; ad. common; normal
• avoid - v. to stay away from
• awake - ad. not sleeping
• award - n. an honor or prize for an act or service
• away - ad. not near

B

• baby - n. a newly born creature
• back - n. the part behind the front; ad. the other way from forward
• bad - ad. wrong; acting against the law; not good
• balance - v. to make two sides or forces equal
• ball - n. something round
• balloon - n. a device of strong, light material that rises when filled with gas lighter than air
• ballot - n. a piece of paper used for voting
• ban - v. to not permit; to stop; n. an official restriction
• bank - n. an organization that keeps and lends money
• bar - v. to prevent or block
• barrier - n. anything that blocks or makes an action difficult
• base - n. a military center; v. to establish as a fact ("Her research was based on experiments.")
• battle - n. a fight between opposing armed forces
• be - v. to live; to happen; to exist
• beat - v. to hit again and again
• beauty - ad. that which pleases the eye, ear or spirit
• because - prep. for the reason that ("He left because he was sick.")
• become - v. to come to be
• bed - n. a sleeping place
• before - prep. earlier
• begin - v. to do the first part of an action; to start
• behind - ad. at the back of; in back of
• believe - v. to think; to feel sure of; to accept as true; to trust
• bell - n. an instrument that makes a musical sound ("a church bell")
• belong - v. to be owned by; to be a member of
• below - ad. lower than
• best - ad. the most good
• betray - v. to turn against; to be false to
• better - ad. more good than
• between - ad. in the space or time that separates; from one to the other ("talks between two nations")
• big - ad. of great size; not small
• bill - n. a legislative proposal
• biology - n. the scientific study of life or living things in all their forms
• bird - n. a creature that flies
• bite - v. to cut with the teeth
• black - ad. dark; having the color like that of the night sky
• blame - v. to accuse; to hold responsible
• blanket - n. a cloth cover used to keep warm
• bleed - v. to lose blood
• blind - ad. not able to see
• block - v. to stop something from being done; to prevent movement
• blood - n. red fluid in the body
• blow - v. to move with force, as in air ("The wind blows.")
• blue - ad. having the color like that of a clear sky
• boat - n. something built to travel on water that carries people or goods
• body - n. all of a person or animal; the remains of a person or animal
• boil - v. to heat a liquid until it becomes very hot
• bomb - n. a device that explodes with great force; v. to attack or destroy with bombs
• bone - n. the hard material in the body
• book - n. a long written work for reading
• border - n. a dividing line between nations
• born - v. to come to life; to come into existence
• borrow - v. to take as a loan
• both - ad. not just one of two, but the two together
• bottle - n. a container, usually made of glass, to hold liquid
• bottom - ad. the lowest part of something
• box - n. something to put things into; a container, usually made of paper or wood
• boy - n. a young male person
• boycott - v. to refuse to take part in or deal with
• brain - n. the control center of thought, emotions and body activity of all creatures
• brave - ad. having no fear
• bread - n. a food made from grain
• break - v. to divide into parts by force; to destroy
• breathe - v. to take air into the body and let it out again
• bridge - n. a structure built over a waterway, valley or road so people and vehicles can cross from one side to the other
• brief - ad. short; not long
• bright - ad. giving much light; strong and clear in color
• bring - v. to come with something
• broadcast - v. to send information, stories or music by radio or television; n. a radio or television program
• brother - n. a male with the same father or mother as another person
• brown - ad. having the color like that of coffee
• budget - n. a spending plan
• build - v. to join materials together to make something
• building - n. anything built for use as a house, factory, office, school, store or place of entertainment
• bullet - n. a small piece of metal shot from a gun
• burn - v. to be on fire; to destroy or damage by fire
• burst - v. to break open suddenly
• bury - v. to put into the ground and cover with earth
• bus - n. a public vehicle to carry people
• business - n. one's work; buying and selling to earn money; trade
• busy - ad. doing something; very active
• but - conj. however; other than; yet
• buy - v. to get by paying something, usually money
• by - conj. near; at; next to ("by the road"); from ("a play by William Shakespeare"); not later than ("by midnight")

C

• cabinet - n. a group of ministers that helps lead a government
• call - v. to give a name to ("I call myself John."); to ask for or request ("They called for an end to the fighting.")
• calm - ad. quiet; peaceful; opposite tense
• camera - n. a device for taking pictures
• camp - n. a place with temporary housing
• campaign - n. a competition by opposing political candidates seeking support from voters; a connected series of military actions during a war
• can - v. to be able to; to have the right to; n. a container used to hold liquid or food, usually made of metal
• cancel - v. to end; to stop
• cancer - n. a disease in which dangerous cells grow quickly and destroy parts of the body
• candidate - n. a person who seeks or is nominated for an office or an honor
• capital - n. the official center of a government; the city where a country's government is
• capitalism - n. an economic system in which the production of most goods and services is owned and operated for profit by private citizens or companies
• capture - v. to make a person or animal a prisoner; to seize or take by force; to get control of
• car - n. a vehicle with wheels used to carry people; an automobile; a part of a train
• care - v. to like; to protect; to feel worry or interest
• careful - ad. acting safely; with much thought
• carry - v. to take something or someone from one place to another
• case (court) - n. a legal action
• case (medical) - n. an incident of disease ("There was only one case of chicken pox at the school.")
• cat - n. a small animal that often lives with humans
• catch - v. to seize after a chase; to stop and seize with the hands
• cause - v. to make happen; n. the thing or person that produces a result
• ceasefire - n. a halt in fighting, usually by agreement
• celebrate - v. to honor a person or event with special activities
• center - n. the middle of something; the place in the middle; a place that is the main point of an activity
• century - n. one hundred years
• ceremony - n. an act or series of acts done in a special way established by tradition
• chairman - n. a person leading a meeting or an organized group
• champion - n. the best; the winner
• chance - n. a possibility of winning or losing or that something will happen
• change - v. to make different; to become different
• charge - v. to accuse someone of something, usually a crime; n. a statement in which someone is accused of something
• chase - v. to run or go after someone or something
• cheat - v. to get by a trick; to steal from
• cheer - v. to shout approval or praise
• chemicals - n. elements found in nature or made by people; substances used in the science of chemistry
• chemistry - n. the scientific study of substances, what they are made of, how they act under different conditions, and how they form other substances
• chief - n. the head or leader of a group; ad. leading; most important
• child - n. a baby; a boy or girl
• children - n. more than one child
• choose - v. to decide between two or more
• circle - n. a closed shape that has all its points equally distant from the center, like an "O"
• citizen - n. a person who is a member of a country by birth or by law
• city - n. any important large town
• civilian - ad. not military
• civil rights - n. the political, economic and social rights given equally to all people of a nation
• claim - v. to say something as a fact
• clash - n. a battle; v. to fight or oppose
• clean - v. to make pure; ad. free from dirt or harmful substances ("clean water")
• clear - ad. easy to see or see through; easily understood
• clergy - n. a body of officials within a religious organization
• climate - n. the normal weather conditions of a place
• climb - v. to go up or down something by using the feet and sometimes the hands
• clock - n. a device that measures and shows time
• close - v. to make something not open; ad. near to
• cloth - n. a material made from plants, chemicals, animal hair and other substances
• clothes - n. what people wear
• cloud - n. a mass of fog high in the sky
• coal - n. a solid black substance used as fuel
• coalition - n. forces, groups or nations joined together
• coast - n. land on the edge of the ocean
• coffee - n. a drink made from the plant of the same name
• cold - ad. not warm; having or feeling great coolness or a low temperature
• collect - v. to bring or gather together in one place; to demand and receive ("collect taxes")
• college - n. a small university
• colony - n. land controlled by another country or government
• color - n. the different effects of light on the eye, making blue, red, brown, black, yellow and others
• combine - v. to mix or bring together
• come - v. to move toward; to arrive
• command - v. to order; to have power over something
• comment - v. to say something about; to express an opinion about something
• committee - n. a group of people given special work
• common - ad. usual; same for all ("a common purpose")
• communicate - v. to tell; to give or exchange information
• community - n. a group of people living together in one place or area
• company - n. a business organized for trade, industrial or other purposes
• compare - v. to examine what is different or similar
• compete - v. to try to do as well as, or better than, another or others
• complete - ad. having all parts; ended or finished
• complex - ad. of or having many parts that are difficult to understand; not simple
• compromise - n. the settlement of an argument where each side agrees to accept less than first demanded
• computer - n. an electronic machine for storing and organizing information, and for communicating with others
• concern - n. interest, worry ("express concern about"); v. to fear ("to be concerned")
• condemn - v. to say a person or action is wrong or bad
• condition - n. something declared necessary to complete an agreement; a person's health
• conference - n. a meeting
• confirm - v. to approve; to say that something is true
• conflict - n. a fight; a battle, especially a long one
• congratulate - v. to praise a person or to express pleasure for success or good luck
• Congress - n. the organization of people elected to make the laws of the United States (the House of Representatives and the Senate); a similar organization in other countries
• connect - v. to join one thing to another; to unite; to link
• conservative - n. one who usually supports tradition and opposes great change
• consider - v. to give thought to; to think about carefully
• constitution - n. the written general laws and ideas that form a nation's system of government
• contain - v. to hold; to include
• container - n. a box, bottle or can used to hold something
• continent - n. any of the seven great land areas of the world
• continue - v. to go on doing or being
• control - v. to direct; to have power over
• convention - n. a large meeting for a special purpose
• cook - v. to heat food before eating it
• cool - ad. almost cold
• cooperate - v. to act or work together
• copy - v. to make something exactly like another; n. something made to look exactly like another
• corn - n. a food grain
• correct - ad. true; free from mistakes; v. to change to what is right
• cost - n. the price or value of something ("The cost of the book is five dollars."); v. to be valued at ("The book costs five dollars.")
• cotton - n. a material made from a plant of the same name
• count - v. to speak or add numbers
• country - n. a nation; the territory of a nation; land away from cities
• court - n. where trials take place; where judges make decisions about law
• cover - v. to put something over a person or thing; n. anything that is put over a person or thing
• cow - n. a farm animal used for its milk
• crash - v. to fall violently; to hit with great force
• create - v. to make; to give life or form to
• creature - n. any living being; any animal or human
• credit - n. an agreement that payments will be made at a later time
• crew - n. a group of people working together
• crime - n. an act that violates a law
• criminal - n. a person who is responsible for a crime
• crisis - n. an extremely important time when something may become much better or worse; a dangerous situation
• criticize - v. to say what is wrong with something or someone; to condemn; to judge
• crops - n. plants that are grown and gathered for food, such as grains, fruits and vegetables
• cross - v. to go from one side to another; to go across
• crowd - n. a large number of people gathered in one place
• crush - v. to damage or destroy by great weight; to defeat completely
• cry - v. to express or show sorrow or pain
• culture - n. all the beliefs, traditions and arts of a group or population
• cure - v. to improve health; to make well ("The doctor can cure the disease."); n. something that makes a sick person well ("Antibiotics are a cure for infection.")
• curfew - n. an order to people to stay off the streets or to close their businesses
• current - n. movement of air, water or electricity; ad. belonging to the present time ("She found the report in a current publication.")
• custom - n. a long-established belief or activity of a people
• customs - n. taxes on imports
• cut - v. to divide or injure with a sharp tool; to make less; to reduce

D

• dam - n. a wall built across a river to hold back flowing water
• damage - v. to cause injury or destruction; n. harm; hurt or injury, usually to things
• dance - v. to move the body and feet to music; n. a series of steps, usually to music
• danger - n. a strong chance of suffering injury, damage or loss
• dark - ad. having little or no light ("The room was dark.")
• date - n. an expression of time; a day, month and year
• daughter - n. a person's female child
• day - n. twenty-four hours; the hours of sunlight
• dead - ad. not living
• deaf - ad. not able to hear
• deal - v. to have to do with ("The talks will deal with the problem of pollution."); to buy or sell ("Her company deals in plastic.")
• debate - v. to argue for or against something; n. a public discussion or argument
• debt - n. something that is owed; the condition of owing
• decide - v. to choose; to settle; to judge
• declare - v. to say; to make a statement
• decrease - v. to make less in size or amount
• deep - ad. going far down; a long way from top to bottom
• defeat - v. to cause to lose in a battle or struggle; n. a loss; the condition of having lost
• defend - v. to guard or fight against attack; to protect
• deficit - n. a shortage that results when spending is greater than earnings, or imports are greater than exports
• define - v. to give the meaning of; to explain
• degree - n. a measure of temperature
• delay - v. to decide to do something at a later time; to postpone; to cause to be late
• delegate - n. one sent to act for another; one who represents another
• demand - v. to ask by ordering; to ask with force
• democracy - n. the system of government in which citizens vote to choose leaders or to make other important decisions
• demonstrate - v. to make a public show of opinions or feelings ("The crowd demonstrated in support of human rights."); to explain by using examples ("The teacher demonstrated the idea with an experiment.")
• denounce - v. to accuse of being wrong or evil; to criticize severely
• deny - v. to declare that something is not true; to refuse a request
• depend - v. to need help and support
• deplore - v. to regret strongly; to express sadness
• deploy - v. to move forces or weapons into positions for action
• depression - n. severe unhappiness; a period of reduced business and economic activity during which many people lose their jobs
• describe - v. to give a word picture of something; to give details of something
• desert - n. a dry area of land
• design - v. to plan or create plans for
• desire - v. to want very much; to wish for
• destroy - v. to break into pieces; to end the existence of
• detail - n. a small part of something; a small piece of information
• develop - v. to grow; to create; to experience progress
• device - n. a piece of equipment made for a special purpose
• dictator - n. a ruler with complete power
• die - v. to become dead; to stop living; to end
• diet - n. usual daily food and drink
• different - ad. not the same
• difficult - ad. not easy; hard to do, make or carry out
• dig - v. to make a hole in the ground
• dinner - n. the main amount of food eaten at a usual time ("The family had its dinner at noon."); a special event that includes food ("The official dinner took place at the White House.")
• diplomat - n. a person who represents his or her government in dealing with another government
• direct - v. to lead; to aim or show the way ("He directed me to the theater."); ad. straight to something; not through some other person or thing ("The path is direct.")
• direction - n. the way (east, west, north, south); where someone or something came from or went to
• dirt - n. earth or soil
• disappear - v. to become unseen; to no longer exist
• disarm - v. to take away weapons; to no longer keep weapons; to make a bomb harmless by removing its exploding device
• discover - v. to find or learn something
• discuss - v. to talk about; to exchange ideas
• disease - n. a sickness in living things, often caused by viruses, germs or bacteria
• dismiss - v. to send away; to refuse to consider
• dispute - v. to oppose strongly by argument; n. an angry debate
• dissident - n. a person who strongly disagrees with his or her government
• distance - n. the amount of space between two places or objects ("The distance from my house to your house is two kilometers.")
• dive - v. to jump into water head first
• divide - v. to separate into two or more parts
• do - v. to act; to make an effort
• doctor - n. a person trained in medicine to treat sick people
• document - n. an official piece of paper with facts written on it, used as proof or support of something
• dog - n. a small animal that often lives with humans
• dollar - n. United States money, one hundred cents
• door - n. an opening for entering or leaving a building or room
• down - ad. from higher to lower; in a low place
• dream - v. to have a picture or story in the mind during sleep; n. a picture or story in the mind during sleep; a happy idea about the future
• drink - v. to take liquid into the body through the mouth
• drive - v. to control a moving vehicle
• drop - v. to fall or let fall; to go lower
• drown - v. to die under water
• drug - n. anything used as a medicine or in making medicine; a chemical substance used to ease pain or to affect the mind
• dry - ad. not wet; without rain
• during - ad. through the whole time; while (something is happening)
• dust - n. pieces of matter so small that they can float in the air
• duty - n. one's job or responsibility; what one must do because it is right and just

E

• each - ad. every one by itself
• early - ad. at or near the beginning, especially the beginning of the day; opposite late
• earn - v. to be paid in return for work done
• earth - n. the planet we all live on; the ground or soil
• earthquake - n. a sudden, violent shaking of the earth's surface
• ease - v. to reduce; to make less difficult
• east - n. the direction from which the sun rises
• easy - ad. not difficult; not hard to do
• eat - v. to take food into the body through the mouth
• ecology - n. the scientific study of the environment and links among living and material things
• economy - n. the system by which money, industry and trade are organized
• edge - n. the line where something ends or begins
• education - n. the act of teaching
• effect - n. the result or change caused by something ("The storm had a serious effect on the economy.")
• effort - n. an attempt; the work necessary to do something
• egg - n. the rounded object containing unborn young produced by female birds, fish or reptiles; a single cell in a female person or animal that can develop into a baby
• either - ad. one of two, but not the other
• elect - v. to choose by voting
• electricity - n. a form of energy that flows through wires to provide heat and light, and power to machines
• embassy - n. the offices of an ambassador and his or her assistants
• emergency - n. an unexpected and dangerous situation demanding quick action
• emotion - n. a strong feeling such as love, hate, fear or sadness
• employ - v. to give work in return for wages
• empty - ad. having nothing inside; v. to remove everything
• end - v. to stop; to finish; n. the part which comes last
• enemy - n. a person opposing or hating another; a person or people of the other side in a war
• energy - n. power used to do work, usually with machines; the ability and willingness to be active
• enforce - v. to make something be done
• engine - n. a machine that uses energy to cause movement or to do work
• engineer - n. a person who designs engines, machines, roads, bridges or railroads
• enjoy - v. to be pleased or satisfied by something
• enough - ad. as much as necessary; pro. the amount needed
• enter - v. to come or go into
• environment - n. all surrounding things, conditions and influences that affect life; the natural world of land, sea, air, plants and animals
• equal - ad. the same in amount, size, weight or value; having the same rights
• equipment - n. things, tools or machines needed for a purpose or activity
• escape - v. to get free; to get away from; to get out of
• especially - ad. more than others ("We liked the food, especially the fish.")
• establish - v. to bring into existence; to create
• estimate - v. to form an opinion about a value, size or amount using less than complete information
• ethnic - ad. of or concerning people belonging to a large group because of their race, religion, language, tribe or where their ancestors lived
• evaporate - v. to change from a liquid into a gas
• even - ad. in a way not thought possible ("They survived, even though the building was destroyed.")
• event - n. that which happens, especially something of importance
• ever - ad. at any time
• every - ad. each one; all
• evidence - n. material or facts that prove something; a reason for believing
• evil - ad. not good; extremely bad
• exact - ad. having no mistakes; correct in every detail
• examine - v. to study closely
• example - n. a part that shows what the rest of a thing or group is like
• excellent - ad. extremely good
• except - prep. but for
• exchange - v. to trade; to give or receive one thing for another
• excuse - v. to take away blame; to pardon; to forgive; n. a reason (sometimes false) for an action
• execute - v. to kill
• exercise - n. an activity or effort for the purpose of improving the body or to stay in good health
• exile - v. to force a person to leave his or her country; to expel; n. a person who is forced to leave his or her country
• exist - v. to be; to live
• expand - v. to make larger; to grow larger
• expect - v. to think or believe that something will happen; to wait for an event
• expel - v. to force out; to remove from; to send away
• experience - v. to live through an event, situation or condition ("She experienced great pain."); n. something that one has done or lived through ("The experience caused her great pain.")
• experiment - v. to test; n. a test or trial carried out to prove if an idea is true or false, or to discover something
• expert - n. a person with special knowledge or training
• explain - v. to give reasons for; to make clear; to tell about; to tell the meaning
• explode - v. to break apart violently with a loud noise, like a bomb
• explore - v. to travel in a place that is not well known to learn more about it; to make a careful search; to examine closely
• export - v. to send to another country; n. something sent to another country, usually for sale
• express - v. to say clearly
• extend - v. to stretch out in area or length; to continue for a longer time
• extra - ad. more than normal, expected or necessary
• extreme - ad. more than the usual or accepted
• extremist - n. a person with strong religious or political beliefs who acts in an extreme or violent way