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switch 320 system on and move backwards and forwards, usually outdoors ć She sat on the swing and ate an apple. switch switch /swtʃ/ noun a small object which you push up or down to stop or start a piece of electrical equipment ć The switch to turn off the electricity is in the cupboard. ć There is a light switch by the bed. í verb 1. to do something different suddenly ć We decided to switch from gas to electricity. 2. to change or exchange something ć Let’s switch places. ć He switched flights in Montreal and went on to Calgary. ć The job was switched from our British facto- ry to the States. switch off phrasal verb to make an piece of electrical equipment stop ć Don’t forget to switch off the TV before you go to bed. ć She forgot to switch her car lights off or switch off her car lights. ć The kettle switches itself off automat- ically when it boils. switch on phrasal verb to make a piece of electrical equipment start ć Can you switch the radio on – it’s time for the evening news. ć When you put the light on in the bathroom, the fan switches it- self on automatically. swollen swollen /swəυlən/ past participle of swell í adjective much bigger than usual swoop swoop /swup/ verb to come down quickly ć The planes swooped (down) low over the enemy camp. swop swop /swɒp/ noun , verb same as swap sword sword /sɔd/ noun a weapon with a han- dle and a long sharp blade swore swore /swɔ/ past tense of swear swum swum /swm/ past participle of swim swung swung /swŋ/ past tense and past parti- ciple of swing syllable syllable /sləb(ə)l/ noun a whole word or part of a word which has one single sound symbol symbol /smbəl/ noun a sign, letter, picture or shape which means some- thing or shows something ć The crown was the symbol of the empire. ć The ol- ive branch is a symbol of peace. ć Pb is the chemical symbol for lead. sympathetic sympathetic /smpə θetk/ adjective showing that you understand someone’s problems sympathise sympathise /smpəθaz/, sympa- thize verb to show that you understand someone’s problems ć I sympathise with you, my husband snores too. ć I get back pains, and I sympathise with all fellow sufferers. sympathy sympathy /smpəθi/ noun a feeling of understanding for someone else’s prob- lems, or after someone’s death ć We re- ceived many messages of sympathy when my wife died. ć He had no sympa- thy for his secretary who complained of being overworked. symptom symptom /smptəm/ noun 1. a change in the body, showing that a disease is present ć He has all the symptoms of flu. 2. a visible sign which shows that something is happening ć Rubbish eve- rywhere on the pavements is a symptom of the economic crisis facing the bor- ough. synonym synonym /snənm/ noun a word which means almost the same as anoth- er word syrup syrup /srəp/ noun a sweet liquid ć To make syrup, dissolve sugar in a cup of boiling water. system system /sstəm/ noun 1. a group of things which work together ć the sys- tem of motorways or the motorway sys- tem ć the London underground railway system 2. a way in which things are or- ganised ć I’ve got my own system for dealing with invoices. Basic.fm Page 320 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM T t t /ti/, T noun the twentieth letter of the al- phabet, between S and U table table /teb(ə)l/ noun 1. a piece of furni- ture with a flat top and legs, used to eat or work at ć We had breakfast sitting round the kitchen table. ć He asked for a table by the window. ć She says she booked a table for six people for 12.30. 2. a list of numbers, facts, or informa- tion set out in an organised way tablecloth tablecloth /teb(ə)l klɒθ/ noun a cloth which covers a table during a meal tablet tablet /tblət/ noun a small round pill taken as medicine ć Take two tablets be- fore meals. table tennis table tennis /teb(ə)l tens/ noun a game similar to tennis, but played on a large table with a net across the centre, with small round bats and a very light white ball tackle tackle /tk(ə)l/ verb 1. to try to deal with a problem or job ć You can’t tackle a job like changing the central heating system on your own. ć You start clean- ing the dining room and I’ll tackle the washing up. 2. ( in football, etc. ) to try to get the ball from an opposing player ć He was tackled before he could score. í noun equipment ć He brought his fish- ing tackle with him. tail tail /tel/ noun 1. a long thin part at the end of the body of an animal or bird, which can move ć All you could see was a slight movement of the cat’s tail. ć The dog rushed up to him, wagging its tail. 2. an end or back part of something ć The tail of the queue stretched round the corner and into the next street. ć I prefer to sit near the tail of the aircraft. take take /tek/ verb 1. to lift and move some- thing ć She took the pot of jam down from the shelf. ć The waiter took the ta- blecloth off the table. 2. to carry some- thing to another place ć Can you take this cheque to the bank for me, please? 3. to go with someone or something to another place ć He’s taking the children to school. ć They took the car to the ga- rage. ć We took a taxi to the hotel. 4. to steal something ć Someone’s taken my watch. 5. to go away with something which someone else was using ć Some- one has taken the newspaper I was read- ing. ć Who’s taken my cup of coffee? 6. to use or occupy something ć Sorry, all these seats are taken. 7. to do a test ć You must go to bed early because you’ll be taking your exams tomorrow morn- ing. ć She had to take her driving test three times before she finally passed. 8. to accept something ć If they offer you the job, take it immediately. 9. to do cer- tain actions ć We took our holiday in September this year. ć She’s taking a shower after going to the beach. ć She took a photograph or took a picture of the Tower of London. ć She needs to take a rest. 10. to need a certain amount of time or number of people ć It took three strong men to move the piano. ć They took two days or it took them two days to get to London. ć When he wants to watch a TV programme it never seems to take him long to finish his homework. (NOTE: takes – taking – took /tυk/ – taken / tek(ə)n/) take away phrasal verb 1. to remove something or someone ć Take those scissors away from little Nicky – he could cut himself. ć The ambulance came and took her away. ć The police took away piles of documents from the office. 2. to subtract one number from another (NOTE: Take away is usually shown by the sign – : 10 – 4 = 6 : say ‘ten take away four equals six’.) take off phrasal verb 1. to remove something, especially your clothes ć He took off all his clothes or he took all his clothes off. ć Take your dirty boots off before you come into the kitchen. ı hat Basic.fm Page 321 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM takeaway 322 tape 2. to make an amount smaller ć He took £25 off the price. 3. ( of a plane ) to leave the ground ć The plane took off at 4.30. take over phrasal verb 1. to start to do something in place of someone else ć Miss Black took over from Mr Jones on May 1st. ć When our history teacher was ill, the English teacher had to take over his classes. ć The Socialists took over from the Conservatives. 2. to buy a business by buying most of its shares ć The company was taken over by a big group last month. take up phrasal verb 1. to fill a space or time ć This settee takes up too much room. ć Being in charge of the staff sports club takes up too much of my time. 2. to remove something which was on a floor or other low surface ć You will need to take up the rugs if you want to polish the floor. takeaway takeaway /tekəwe/ noun a shop where you can buy cooked food to eat somewhere else ć There’s an Indian takeaway round the corner. ć We had a Chinese takeaway. í noun , adjective a hot meal that you buy in a shop and eat somewhere else ć We had a takeaway Chinese meal. taken taken /tekən/ past participle of take tale tale /tel/ noun a story ( literary ) ć A tale of princesses and wicked fairies. talent talent /tlənt/ noun an ability or skill ć Her many talents include singing and playing the piano. talented talented /tləntd/ adjective with a lot of talent talk talk /tɔk/ verb to say things ć I didn’t understand what he was talking about. ć We must talk to the neighbours about their noisy dog – it kept me awake again last night. í noun 1. a conversation or a discussion ć We had a little talk, and she agreed with what the committee had decided. ć I had a long talk with my fa- ther about what I should study at uni- versity. 2. a lecture about a subject ć He gave a short talk about the history of the town. talk over phrasal verb to discuss some- thing talkative talkative /tɔkətv/ adjective liking to talk a lot, or sometimes too much tall tall /tɔl/ adjective high, usually higher than normal ć the tallest building in London ć Can you see those tall trees over there? ć He’s the tallest boy in his class. ć How tall are you? – I’m 1 metre 68 centimetres. ć His brother is over six feet tall. (NOTE: taller – tallest. Tall is used with people and thin things like trees or skyscrapers; for things which are a long way above the ground use high: high clouds , a high mountain .) tame tame /tem/ adjective a tame animal can live with people because it is no longer wild ć Don’t be afraid of that fox – he’s perfectly tame. tan tan /tn/ noun a brownish-yellow colour of the skin after being in the sun ć She got a tan from spending each day on the beach. í verb to get brown from being in the sun ć She tans easily – just half an hour in the sun and she’s quite brown. (NOTE: tans – tanning – tanned) tank tank /tŋk/ noun 1. a large container for liquids ć How much oil is left in the tank? 2. an army vehicle which is cov- ered in strong metal, has tracks instead of wheels and has powerful guns ć Tanks rolled along the main streets of the town. tap tap /tp/ noun an object which you turn in order to let liquid or gas come out of a pipe ć He washed his hands under the tap in the kitchen. í verb to hit some- thing gently ć She tapped him on the knee with her finger. ć A policeman tapped him on the shoulder and arrested him. (NOTE: taps – tapping – tapped) tape tape /tep/ noun 1. a long narrow piece of cloth or plastic ć She stitched tape along the bottom of the sleeves to stop it fraying. 2. ˽ magnetic tape special plastic tape on which sounds and pic- tures can be recorded, also used for re- cording computer data í verb 1. to record something on tape or on video ć The whole conversation was taped by the police. ć I didn’t see the programme because I was at work, but I’ve taped it. 2. to attach something with sticky tape ć She taped up the box before taking it to the post office. Basic.fm Page 322 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM target 323 tear target target /tɑt/ noun 1. an object which you aim at, e.g. with a gun ć His last shot missed the target altogether. ć She hit the target three times in all. 2. some- thing which you intend to achieve task task /tɑsk/ noun something, especially a piece of work, that has to be done ć He had the unpleasant task of telling his mother about it. taste taste /test/ noun 1. the sense on your tongue that allows you to be aware of the flavour of something when you put it in your mouth ć I’ve got a cold, so I’ve lost all sense of taste. 2. a flavour of something that you eat or drink ć The pudding has a funny or strange taste. ć Do you like the taste of garlic? ć This milk shake has no taste at all. í verb 1. to notice the taste of something with your tongue ć Can you taste the onions in this soup? ć She’s got a cold so she can’t taste anything. 2. to have a certain flavour ć This cake tastes of soap. ć What is this green stuff? – It tastes like cabbage. ć The pudding tastes very good. 3. to try food or drink to see if you like it ć Would you like to taste the wine? ć She asked if she could taste the cheese before buying it. tasty tasty /testi/ adjective with a pleasant taste (NOTE: tastier – tastiest) taught taught /tɔt/ past tense and past partici- ple of teach tax tax /tks/ noun money taken by the gov- ernment to pay for government services ć The government is planning to intro- duce a tax on food. ć You must pay your tax on the correct date. ć The newspa- per headline says ‘TAXES TO GO UP’. taxi taxi /tksi/ noun a car which you can hire with a driver ć Can you call a taxi to take me to the airport? ć Why aren’t there any taxis at the station today? ć There are no buses on Sunday after- noons, so we had to take a taxi to the party. (NOTE: also often called a cab and sometimes taxicab) tea tea /ti/ noun 1. a drink made from hot water which has been poured onto the dried leaves of a tropical plant ć Can I have another cup of tea or some more tea? ć I don’t like tea – can I have coffee instead? 2. a cup of tea ć Can we have two teas and two cakes, please? 3. the dried leaves of a tropical plant used to make a warm drink ć We’ve run out of tea, can you put it on your shopping list? 4. a meal eaten in the late afternoon or early evening ć The children have had their tea. teach teach /titʃ/ verb to show someone how to do something ć She taught me how to dance. ć He teaches maths in the local school. (NOTE: teaches – teaching – taught / tɔt/) teacher teacher /titʃə/ noun a person who teaches, especially in a school ć Mr Jones is our maths teacher. ć The French teacher is ill today. ć He trained as a primary school teacher. ı pet teaching teaching /titʃŋ/ noun the work of be- ing a teacher or of giving lessons ć The report praised the high standard of teaching at the college. ć He was work- ing in a bank, but has decided to go into teaching instead. team team /tim/ noun 1. a group of people who play a game together ć There are eleven people in a football team and fif- teen in a rugby team. ć He’s a fan of the local football team. ć Our college team played badly last Saturday. 2. a group of people who work together ć They make a very effective team. ć In this job you have to be able to work as a member of a team. teapot teapot /tipɒt/ noun a container which is used for making tea in tear tear 1 /tə/ noun a drop of salt water which forms in your eye when you cry ć Tears were running down her cheeks. ˽ in tears crying ć All the family were in tears. ˽ to burst into tears to sud- denly start crying tear tear 2 /teə/ verb 1. to make a hole in something by pulling ć He tore his trou- sers climbing over the fence. ć My coat is torn – can it be mended? 2. to pull something into small pieces ć He tore the letter in half. ć She tore up old news- papers to pack the cups and saucers. (NOTE: tears – tearing – tore /tɔ/ – torn / tɔn/) í noun a place where something has a hole in it from being torn ć Can you mend the tear in my jeans? Basic.fm Page 323 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM tease 324 temple tease tease /tiz/ verb to say or do something to annoy someone on purpose ć He teased her about her new haircut. ć Stop teasing that poor cat. teaspoon teaspoon /tispun/ noun a small spoon for stirring tea or other liquid ć Can you bring me a teaspoon, please? technical technical /teknk(ə)l/ adjective relat- ing to industrial processes or practical work ć Don’t bother with the technical details of how the machine works, just tell me what it does. ć The instructions are too technical for the ordinary per- son to understand. technique technique /tek nik/ noun a way of do- ing something ć He developed a new technique for processing steel. ć She has a specially effective technique for dealing with complaints from custom- ers. technology technology /tek nɒlədi/ noun the use or study of industrial or scientific skills ć We already have the technology to produce such a machine. ć The govern- ment has promised increased support for science and technology. teenager teenager /tinedə/ noun a young per- son aged between 13 and 19 ć She writes stories for teenagers. teeshirt teeshirt /tiʃt/, T-shirt noun a light shirt with a round neck and no buttons or collar, usually with short sleeves teeth teeth /tiθ/ plural of tooth telephone telephone /telfəυn/ noun a machine which you use to speak to someone who is some distance away ć I was in the garden when you called, but by the time I got to the house the telephone had stopped ringing. ć She lifted the tele- phone and called the ambulance. í verb to call someone using a telephone ć Your wife telephoned when you were out. ć Can you telephone me at ten o’clock tomorrow evening? ć I need to telephone our office in New York. (NOTE: Telephone is often shortened to phone: phone call , phone book .) telescope telescope /telskəυp/ noun a piece of equipment for looking at objects which are very far away, consisting of a long tube with a series of lenses in it ć With a telescope you can see the ships very clearly. ć He watched the stars using a telescope in his back garden. television television /tel v(ə)n/ noun 1. sound and pictures which are sent through the air or along cables and appear on a spe- cial machine ć television programmes ć We don’t watch television every night. ć Is there any football on television to- night? 2. a piece of electrical equipment which shows television pictures ć I switched off the television before going to bed. (NOTE: Television is often writ- ten or spoken as TV / ti vi/.) tell tell /tel/ verb 1. to communicate some- thing to someone, e.g. a story or a joke ć She told me a long story about how she got lost in London. ć I don’t think they are telling the truth. 2. to give in- formation to someone ć The policeman told them how to get to the post office. ć He told the police that he had seen the accident take place. ć Don’t tell my mother you saw me at the pub. ć No- body told us about the picnic. 3. ˽ to tell someone what to do to give someone instructions ć The teacher told the chil- dren to stand in a line. ć Give a shout to tell us when to start. 4. to notice some- thing ć He can’t tell the difference be- tween butter and margarine. ć You ca n tell he is embarrassed when his face goes red. (NOTE: tells – telling – told / təυld/) temper temper /tempə/ noun the state of be- coming angry ć You have to learn to control your temper. ć He has a violent temper. ć She got into a temper. temperature temperature /temprtʃə/ noun 1. heat measured in degrees ć The temperature of water in the swimming pool is 25°. ć Temperatures in the Arctic can be very low. ć I can’t start the car when the tem- perature is below zero. ć Put the ther- mometer in the patient’s mouth – I want to take her temperature. 2. an illness where your body is hotter than normal ć She’s off work with a temperature. ć The doctor says he’s got a temperature and has to stay in bed. temple temple /tempəl/ noun a building for worship, usually Hindu or Buddhist, or ancient Greek or Roman ć We visited the Greek temples on the islands. Basic.fm Page 324 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM temporarily 325 terrific temporarily temporarily /temp(ə) rerəli/ adverb for a short time only temporary temporary /temp(ə)rəri/ adjective ex- isting or lasting only for a limited time ć She has a temporary job with a con- struction company. ć This arrangement is only temporary. tempt tempt /tempt/ verb to try to persuade someone to do something, especially something pleasant or wrong ć Can I tempt you to have another cream cake? ć They tried to tempt him to leave his job and work for them. ten ten /ten/ noun the number 10 ć In the market they’re selling ten oranges for two dollars. ć She’s ten (years old) next week. ć The next plane for Paris leaves at 10 (o’clock) in the evening. tend tend /tend/ verb 1. to look after some- thing ć His job is to tend the flower beds in front of the town hall. 2. ˽ to tend to do something to be likely to do some- thing ć She tends to lose her temper very easily. tendency tendency /tendənsi/ noun the way in which someone or something is likely to act ć The photocopier has a tendency to break down if you try to do too many copies at the same time. ć He has an un- fortunate tendency to sit in a corner and go to sleep at parties. tender tender /tendə/ adjective 1. ( of food ) easy to cut or chew ć a plate of tender young beans ć The meat was so tender, you hardly needed a knife to cut it. 2. showing love ć The plants need a lot of tender loving care. 3. painful when touched tennis tennis /tens/ noun a game for two or four players who use rackets to hit a ball over a net ć He’s joined the local tennis club. ć Would you like a game of tennis? tenor tenor /tenə/ adjective with a high pitch, similar to that of a tenor ć He plays the tenor saxophone. ć He has a pleasant tenor voice. Compare bass í noun a man who sings with the highest male voice ć The tenors start the song, fol- lowed by the sopranos. tense tense /tens/ adjective nervous and wor- ried ć I always get tense before going to an interview. ć The atmosphere in the hall was tense as everyone waited for the result of the vote. í noun the form of a verb which shows the time when the action takes place tension tension /tenʃən/ noun 1. nervous or worried feelings ć Tension built up as we waited for the result. 2. feelings of anger or hate between countries or races ć There is tension in the area caused by fighting between tribes. 3. the state of being tight ć You need to adjust the ten- sion in your tennis racket. tent tent /tent/ noun a shelter made of cloth, held up by poles and attached to the ground with ropes tenth tenth /tenθ/ adjective number 10 in a se- ries ć That’s the tenth phone call I’ve had this morning. ć She came tenth in a national competition. í noun the thing that is number 10 in a series ć the tenth of April or April the tenth (April 10th) term term /tm/ noun 1. one of the parts of a school or university year ć The autumn term ends on December 15th. ć Next term I’ll be starting to learn the piano. 2. a word or phrase which has a particu- lar meaning ć He used several technical terms which I didn’t understand. ć Some people use ‘darling’ as a term of affection. terminal terminal /tmn(ə)l/ noun a building at an airport where planes arrive or leave ć The flight leaves from Terminal 4. í ad- jective referring to the last period of a serious illness that will lead to death ć The condition is terminal. terrace terrace /terəs/ noun 1. a flat outdoor area which is raised above another area ć The guests had drinks on the terrace before going in to dinner. 2. a row of similar houses connected together terrible terrible /terb(ə)l/ adjective very bad ć We shouldn’t have come to this party – the music’s terrible. ć There was a ter- rible storm last night. terribly terribly /terbli/ adverb 1. very ć I’m terribly sorry to have kept you waiting. ć The situation is terribly serious. 2. in a very bad way ć The farmers suffered terribly from drought. terrific terrific /tə rfk/ adjective 1. extremely good ć We had a terrific time at the par- Basic.fm Page 325 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM terrify 326 that ty. 2. very big or loud ć There was a ter- rific bang and the whole building col- lapsed. terrify terrify /terfa/ verb to make someone very frightened ć The sound of thunder terrifies me. (NOTE: terrifies – terrify- ing – terrified) territory territory /tert(ə)ri/ noun 1. a large area of land ć They occupied all the territory on the east bank of the river. 2. land which belongs to a country ć A group of soldiers had wandered into enemy terri- tory. 3. an area which an animal or bird thinks belongs only to it ć Animals of- ten fight to defend their territories. (NOTE: The plural is territories.) terror terror /terə/ noun great fear ć They live in constant terror of terrorist attacks. terrorist terrorist /terərst/ noun a person who practises terrorism ć Terrorists hijacked a plane and told the pilot to fly to Rome. í adjective referring to terrorism ć Ter- rorist attacks have increased over the last few weeks. test test /test/ noun 1. an examination to see if you know something ć We had an English test yesterday. ć She passed her driving test. 2. an examination to see if something is working well ć The doctor will have to do a blood test. ć It is a good test of the car’s ability to brake fast. í verb 1. to find out how well someone can do something or how well someone knows something ć The teacher tested my spoken German. 2. to examine someone or something to see if everything is working well ć We need to test your reactions to noise and bright lights. ć He has to have his eyes tested. ć She tested her new car in the snow. text text /tekst/ noun the written parts of a document or book, not the pictures ć It’s a book for little children, with lots of pictures and very little text. textbook textbook /tekstbυk/ noun a book which students use to learn about the subject they are studying text message text message /tekst mesd/ noun a message sent by telephone, using short forms of words, which appear on the screen of a mobile phone than than /ðən, ðn/ conjunction used to show a comparison ć It’s hotter this week than it was last week. í preposi- tion used to link two parts of a compari- son ć His car is bigger than mine. ć She was born in London, so she knows it bet- ter than any other town. ć You can’t get more than four people into this lift. ć It’s less than five kilometres to the near- est station. thank thank /θŋk/ verb to say or do some- thing that shows you are grateful to someone for doing something for you ć She thanked the policeman for helping her to cross the street. ć Don’t forget to thank Aunt Ann for her present. thanks thanks /θŋks/ noun a word showing that you are grateful ć We sent our thanks for the gift. ć We did our best to help but got no thanks for it. ć The com- mittee passed a vote of thanks to the school for having organised the meet- ing. ć Many thanks for your letter of the 15th. í interjection used to show you are grateful ć Do you want some more tea? – No thanks. I’ve had two cups al- ready. ć Anyone want a lift to the sta- tion? – Thanks, it’s a long walk from here. thanks to thanks to /θŋks tu/ preposition used for saying that someone or something is responsible for something or to blame for something thank you thank you /θŋk ju/ interjection showing that you are grateful ć Thank you very much for your letter of the 15th. ć Did you remember to say thank you to your grandmother for the present? ć Would you like another piece of cake? – No thank you, I’ve had enough. í noun something that you do or say to show you are grateful ć Let’s say a big thank you to the people who organised the show. that that /ðt/ adjective used to show some- thing or someone that is further away or in the past ć Can you see that white house on the corner over there? ć Do you remember the name of that awful hotel in Brighton? Compare this (NOTE: The plural is those.) í pronoun some- thing or someone that is further away ć That’s the book I was talking about. ć Basic.fm Page 326 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM thaw 327 then Do you know who that is sitting at the next table? ć Is that the one? – Yes, that’s it. Compare this í relative pro- noun used to give more information about someone or something just men- tioned ć Where is the parcel that she sent you yesterday? ć Can you see the man that sold you the ticket? ć There’s the suitcase that you left on the train! (NOTE: When it is the object of a rela- tive clause, that can sometimes be left out: Where’s the letter he sent you? Here’s the box you left in the bedroom . When it is the subject, that can be re- placed by which or who: a house that has red windows or a house which has red windows ; the man that stole the car or the man who stole the car .) í conjunction used after verbs like ‘say’ or ‘think’ and adjectives like ‘glad’ or ‘disappointed’, and after ‘so’ or ‘such’ ć The restaurant was so expensive that we could only afford one dish. ć It rained so hard that the street was like a river. ć We had such a lot of work that we didn’t have any lunch. ć There was such a long queue that we didn’t bother waiting. ć They told me that the manag- er was out. ć I don’t think they knew that we were coming. ć I’m glad that the weather turned out fine. (NOTE: That is often left out: He didn’t know we were coming ; It’s so hot in here we all want a drink of water .) í adverb to such a de- gree ć You must remember him, it’s not all that long ago that we had a drink with him. ć His new car is not really that big. thaw thaw /θɔ/ noun a time of warm weather which makes snow and ice melt ć The thaw came early this year. í verb to melt ć The ice is thawing on the village pond. the the /ðə/; before a vowel /ð/ article 1. meaning something in particular, as op- posed to ‘a’ ć Where’s the book you brought back from the library? ć That’s the cat from next door. ć The town cen- tre has been made into a pedestrian zone. 2. used with something of which only one exists, e.g. in the names of places ć an expedition to the Antarctic ć A spacecraft landed on the moon. ć The sun came up over the hills. 3. used for referring to a thing in general ć There’s nothing interesting on the tele- vision tonight. ć She refuses to use the telephone. ć The streets are crowded at lunchtime. ć Both sisters play the flute. 4. meaning something special ć It’s the shop for men’s clothes. ć She’s the doc- tor for children’s diseases. ć That’s not the Charlie Chaplin, is it? 5. used to compare ć The more he eats the thinner he seems to get. ć The sooner you do it the better. ć This is by far the shortest way to London. ć She’s the tallest per- son in the office. theater theater /θətə/ noun US spelling of the- atre theatre theatre /θətə/ noun a building in which plays are shown ć I’m trying to get tick- ets for the theatre tonight. ć What is the play at the local theatre this week? ć We’ll have dinner early and then go to the theatre. their their /ðeə/ adjective belonging to them ć After the film, we went to their house for supper. (NOTE: Do not confuse with there, they’re.) theirs theirs /ðeəz/ pronoun the one that be- longs to them ć Which car is theirs – the Ford? ć She’s a friend of theirs. ć The girls wanted to borrow my car – theirs wouldn’t start. them them /ðəm, ðem/ pronoun 1. referring to people or things that have been men- tioned before ć Do you like cream cakes? – No, I don’t like them very much. ć There’s a group of people wait- ing outside. – Tell them to come in. ć She saw her friends and asked them to help her. 2. referring to a single person, used instead of him or her ć If someone phones, ask them to call back later. theme theme /θim/ noun the main subject of a book or article ć The theme of the book is how to deal with illness in the family. themselves themselves /ðəm selvz/ pronoun re- ferring to the same people or things that are the subject of the verb ć Cats always spend a lot of time cleaning themselves. ć It’s no use going to the surgery – the doctors are all ill themselves. then then /ðen/ adverb 1. at that time in the past or future ć He had been very busy Basic.fm Page 327 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM theory 328 think up till then. ć Ever since then I’ve re- fused to eat oysters. ć We’re having a party next week. – What a pity! I’ll be in Scotland then. 2. after that ć We all sat down, and then after a few minutes the waiter brought us the menu. ć It was a busy trip – he went to Greece, then to It- aly and finally to Spain. theory theory /θəri/ noun 1. an explanation of something which has not been proved but which you believe is true ć I have a theory which explains why the police never found the murder weapon. 2. a careful scientific explanation of why something happens ć Galileo put for- ward the theory that the earth turns round the sun. 3. a statement of general principles which may not apply in prac- tice ć In theory the treatment should work, but no one has ever tried it. (NOTE: The plural is theories.) there there /ðeə/ adverb 1. in that place ć Is that black van still there parked outside the house? ć Where have you put the tea? – There, on the kitchen counter. 2. to that place ć We haven’t been to the British Museum yet. – Let’s go there to- morrow. ć Have you ever been to Chi- na? – Yes, I went there last month. 3. used when giving something to some- one ć There you are: two fish and chips and a pot of tea. (NOTE: Do not confuse with their, they’re.) í pronoun used usually before the verb when the real subject follows the verb ć There’s a lit- tle door leading onto the patio. ć There’s someone at the door asking for you. ć There are some pages missing in my newspaper. ć Were there a lot of people at the cinema? ć There seems to have been a lot of rain during the night. therefore therefore /ðeəfɔ/ adverb for this rea- son ć I therefore have decided not to grant his request. ć They have reduced their prices, therefore we should reduce ours if we want to stay competitive. thermometer thermometer /θə mɒmtə/ noun an in- strument for measuring temperature these these /ðiz/ plural of this they they /ðe/ pronoun 1. referring to people or things ć Where do you keep the spoons? – They’re in the right-hand drawer. ć Who are those people in uni- form? – They’re traffic wardens. ć The children played in the sun and they all got sunburnt. 2. referring to people in general ć They say it’s going to be fine this weekend. (NOTE: When it is the ob- ject, them is used instead of they: We gave it to them ; The police beat them with sticks ; also when it follows the verb to be: Who’s that? – It’s them! ) they’re they’re /ðeə/ short form they are (NOTE: Do not confuse with their, there.) thick thick /θk/ adjective 1. bigger than usual when measured from side to side ć He cut a slice of bread which was so thick it wouldn’t go into the toaster. ć The walls of the castle are three metres thick. ć Some oranges have very thick skins. ć He took a piece of thick rope. 2. growing close together ć They tried to make their way through thick jungle. ć The field was covered with thick grass. 3. ( of a liquid ) which cannot flow easily ć If the paint is too thick add some water. ć A bowl of thick soup is just what we need on a cold day like this. thief thief /θif/ noun a person who steals (NOTE: The plural is thieves /θivz/.) thigh thigh /θa/ noun the part at the top of the leg between your knee and your hip thin thin /θn/ adjective 1. not fat ć The table has very thin legs. ć He looks too thin – he should eat more. 2. not thick ć a plate of thin sandwiches ć The book is printed on very thin paper. ć The parcel was sent in a thin cardboard box. 3. ( of a liquid ) which flows easily, often be- cause of containing too much water ć All we had for lunch was a bowl of thin soup. ć Add water to make the paint thinner. thing thing /θŋ/ noun 1. an object ć Can you see that black thing in the pan of soup? ć What do you use that big blue thing for? 2. something in general ć They all just sat there and didn’t say a thing. ć The first thing to do is to call an ambu- lance. ć That was a stupid thing to do! think think /θŋk/ verb 1. to consider some- thing ć We never think about what peo- ple might say, we always do what we think is right. 2. to have an opinion ć I think London is a nicer town to live in than Frankfurt. ć Everyone thinks we’re Basic.fm Page 328 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM third 329 those mad to go on holiday in December. ć The weather forecasters think it’s going to rain. ć The gang is thought to be based in Spain. 3. to make a plan to do something ć We’re thinking we might open an office in New York. (NOTE: thinks – thinking – thought / θɔt/) ȣ to think twice to consider very careful- ly ć Think twice before you sign that contract. ć I’d think twice about spend- ing all the money you’ve saved. think about phrasal verb 1. to have someone or something in your mind ć I was just thinking about you when you phoned. ć All she thinks about is food. 2. to have an opinion about something ć What do you think about the govern- ment’s plans to increase taxes? think of phrasal verb 1. to consider a plan in your mind ć We are thinking of going to Greece on holiday. 2. to have an opinion about something ć What do you think of the government’s plans to increase taxes? ć I didn’t think much of the play. ć She asked him what he thought of her idea. ȣ to think better of something to change your mind about something ć He was going to pay the whole cost himself, and then thought better of it. think up phrasal verb to invent a plan or new idea third third /θd/ adjective 1. number 3 in a se- ries ć She came third in the race. ć The cake shop is the third shop on the right. ć It will be her third birthday next Fri- day. 2. next after the longest, best, tall- est etc. ( followed by a superlative ) ć This is the third tallest building in the world. ć He’s the third most senior member of staff. í noun 1. the thing that is number three in a series ć Her birth- day is on the third of March or March the third (March 3rd). 2. one of three equal parts of something ć A third of the airline’s planes are jumbos. ć Two- thirds of the staff are part-timers. thirsty thirsty /θsti/ adjective feeling that you want to drink ć It’s so hot here that it makes me thirsty. thirteen thirteen /θ tin/ noun the number 13 ć He’s only thirteen (years old), but he can drive a car. ć She’ll be thirteen next Monday. thirteenth thirteenth /θ tinθ/ adjective number 13 in a series ć It’s her thirteenth birth- day on Monday. í noun the thing that is number 13 in a series ć The thirteenth of September or September the thir- teenth (September 13th). thirtieth thirtieth /θtəθ/ adjective number 30 in a series ć her thirtieth birthday (NOTE: With dates thirtieth is usually written 30th: May 30th, 1921 ; June 30th, 1896 (American style is June 30, 1896 ): say ‘the thirtieth of June’ or ‘June the thirtieth’ (American style is ‘June thirtieth’).) í noun the thing that is number 30 in a series thirty thirty /θti/ noun the number 30 ć He’s thirty (years old). ć Over thirty people complained. ˽ they are both in their thirties they are both aged between 30 and 39 years old ˽ the (nineteen-) thir- ties (1930s) the period from 1930 to 1939 this this /ðs/ adjective , pronoun used to show something which is nearer or in the present, in contrast to something else ć This is the shop I was telling you about. ć I prefer these earrings to those ones. ć I saw him on the train this morn- ing. ć My mother is coming for tea this afternoon. ć I expect to hear from him this week. (NOTE: The plural is these.) í adverb so much ć I knew you were going to be late, but I didn’t expect you to be this late. thorn thorn /θɔn/ noun a thin pointed part on some plants ć Most roses have thorns. thorough thorough /θrə/ adjective 1. dealing with everything very carefully ć The police have carried out a thorough search of the woods. 2. used for empha- sis ć They made a thorough mess of it. ć It was a thorough waste of time. thoroughly thoroughly /θrəli/ adverb 1. in a complete and careful way ć We searched the garden thoroughly but couldn’t find his red ball. 2. used for emphasis ć I’m thoroughly fed up with the whole business. those those /ðəυz/ plural of that Basic.fm Page 329 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM [...]... language (literary) ć They spoke to each other in a strange foreign tongue ć It was clear that English was not his native tongue ˽ mother tongue or native tongue the language which you ton tone tongue Basic. fm Page 335 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM tonight 335 spoke when you were a little child ć She speaks English very well, but German is her mother tongue tonight /tə nat/ adverb, noun the night... translate ten or spoken words into another language ć Can you translate what he said? ć He asked his secretary to translate the letter from the German agent ć She translates mainly from Spanish into English, not from English into Spanish travel / tr v(ə)l/ noun the action of travel moving from one country or place to another ć Air travel is the only really fast method of going from one country to another í... or her laugh ć She tickled his toes and made him laugh 2 to cause a slight uncomfortable feeling on the skin of part of the body, or to have that feeling thunderstorm Thursday thus tick ticket tickle Basic. fm Page 332 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM tide 332 tide /tad/ noun the regular rising and tide falling movement of the sea ć The tide came in and cut off the children on the rocks ć The tide... tapped his foot in time to the music í verb to count something in hours, minutes and seconds ć I timed him as he ran round the track ć Don’t forget to time the eggs – they have to cook for only timber time Basic. fm Page 333 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM timetable 333 three minutes ȣ find time / fand tam/ to do something even though you are busy ć In the middle of the meeting he still found time to phone... dressed ć Don’t hurry me, I like to take my time timetable / tamteb(ə)l/ noun a printed list which shows the times at which something such as classes in school or trains leaving will happen ć We have two English lessons on the timetable today ć According to the timetable, there should be a train to London at 10.22 í verb to arrange the times for something to happen ć You are timetabled to speak at 4.30... tingle tinkle tinned title tin opener / tn əυp(ə)nə/ noun an obtin opener ject used for opening tins of food tiny / tani/ adjective very small ć Can I tiny have just a tiny bit more pudding? ć The spot is so tiny you can hardly see it ć She lives in a tiny village in the Welsh mountains (NOTE: tinier – tiniest) tip /tp/ noun 1 the end of something long ć She touched the page with the tips of her... noun 1 the name of something, e.g a book, play, painting or film ć He’s almost finished the play but hasn’t found a title for it yet 2 a word such as Dr, Mr, Professor, Lord, Sir or tiring tissue title Basic. fm Page 334 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM to 334 Lady put in front of a name to show an honour or a qualification to /tə, tυ, tu / preposition 1 showing direction or place ć They went to the police.. .Basic. fm Page 330 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM though 330 though /ðəυ/ adverb, conjunction 1 throughout threaten / θret(ə)n/ verb to warn that though threaten used for mentioning something that makes... ć The total comes to more than £1,000 totally / təυt(ə)li/ adverb used for emphasis ć The house was totally destroyed in the fire ć I had totally forgotten that I had promised to be there ć He totally Basic. fm Page 336 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM touch 336 disagrees totally with what the first speaker said touch /t tʃ/ noun 1 the sense that allows you to be aware of something with the fingers ć... trade /tred/ noun the business of buying and selling goods ć Britain’s trade with the rest of Europe is up by 10% í verb to buy and sell goods, to carry on a busitowel tower town toy trace track trade Basic. fm Page 337 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM trademark 337 ness ć The company has stopped trading ć They trade in furs trademark / tredmɑ k/, trade name / tred nem/ noun a particular name, design, . make a very effective team. ć In this job you have to be able to work as a member of a team. teapot teapot /tipɒt/ noun a container which is used for making tea in tear tear 1 /tə/ noun a. birthday (NOTE: With dates thirtieth is usually written 30th: May 30th, 1921 ; June 30th, 189 6 (American style is June 30, 189 6 ): say ‘the thirtieth of June’ or ‘June the thirtieth’ (American style is ‘June. in a strange foreign tongue. ć It was clear that English was not his native tongue. ˽ mother tongue or na- tive tongue the language which you Basic. fm Page 334 Friday, January 16, 2004 3:10 PM tonight
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