VOA Special English 1500 BASIC VOCABULARY

VOA Special English 1500 BASIC VOCABULARY n. (noun) - a name word v. (verb) - an action word ad. (adjective/adverb) - a describing word pre. (preposition) - a word used to show a relation pro. (pronoun) - a word used in place of a noun conj. (conjunction) - a joining word ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A 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 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 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