Letter A Set 1

Question 1

Abandon

Answer 1

Verb Forms
• to leave somebody, especially somebody you are responsible for, with no intention of returning
abandon somebody The baby had been abandoned by its mother.
People often simply abandon their pets when they go abroad.
abandon somebody to something The study showed a deep fear among the elderly of being abandoned to the care of strangers.
• to leave a thing or place, especially because it is impossible or dangerous to stay
abandon something Snow forced many drivers to abandon their vehicles.
He gave the order to abandon ship (= to leave the ship because it was sinking).
abandon something to somebody/something They had to abandon their lands to the invading forces.
• abandon something to stop doing something, especially before it is finished; to stop having something
They abandoned the match because of rain.
She abandoned hope of any reconciliation.
We had to abandon any further attempt at negotiation.

Question 2

Abandoned

Answer 2

Adjective
left and no longer wanted, used or needed
an abandoned car/house
The child was found abandoned but unharmed.
There was an abandoned supermarket trolley in the middle of the road.

Question 3

Abuse

Answer 3

Noun
uncountable, singular] the use of something in a way that is wrong or harmful
alcohol/drug/solvent abuse
The system of paying cash bonuses is open to abuse (= might be used in the wrong way).
abuse of something He was arrested on charges of corruption and abuse of power.
What she did was an abuse of her position as manager.
• [uncountable, plural] unfair, cruel or violent treatment of somebody
child abuse
sexual abuse
reported abuses by the secret police
She suffered years of physical abuse.
• [uncountable] rude and offensive remarks, usually made when somebody is very angry
to scream/hurl/shout abuse
a stream/torrent of abuse
The man burst into a torrent of foul-mouthed racist abuse.

Question 4

Abuse

Answer 4

Verb
• abuse something to make bad use of something, or to use so much of something that it harms your health
to abuse alcohol/drugs
He systematically abused his body with heroin and cocaine.
• abuse something to use power or knowledge unfairly or wrongly
She abused her position as principal by giving jobs to her friends.
He felt they had abused his trust by talking about him to the press (= tricked him, although he had trusted them).
• abuse somebody/something to treat a person or an animal in a cruel or violent way, especially sexually
All the children had been physically and emotionally abused.
He had abused his own daughter (= had sex with her).
The boy had been sexually abused.

abuser noun
əˈbjuːzə(r)Audio ; əˈbjuːzərAudio
•
a drug abuser
a child abuser

Question 5

Abuser

Answer 5

• abuse something to make bad use of something, or to use so much of something that it harms your health
to abuse alcohol/drugs
He systematically abused his body with heroin and cocaine.
• abuse something to use power or knowledge unfairly or wrongly
She abused her position as principal by giving jobs to her friends.
He felt they had abused his trust by talking about him to the press (= tricked him, although he had trusted them).
• abuse somebody/something to treat a person or an animal in a cruel or violent way, especially sexually
All the children had been physically and emotionally abused.
He had abused his own daughter (= had sex with her).
The boy had been sexually

Question 6

Accuse

Answer 6

Verb
accuse somebody (of something) to say that somebody has done something wrong or is guilty of something
to accuse somebody of murder/theft
She accused him of lying.
The government was accused of incompetence.
formalThey stand accused of crimes against humanity.

Question 7

Accuser

Answer 7

Noun
accuse somebody (of something) to say that somebody has done something wrong or is guilty of something
to accuse somebody of murder/theft
She accused him of lying.
The government was accused of incompetence.
formalThey stand accused of crimes against humanity.

Question 8

Adequate

Answer 8

enough in quantity, or good enough in quality, for a particular purpose or need
an adequate supply of hot water
The room was small but adequate.
There is a lack of adequate provision for disabled students.
He didn’t give an adequate answer to the question.
adequate for something The space available is not adequate for our needs.
adequate to do something training that is adequate to meet the future needs of industry
adequacy noun
ˈædɪkwəsiAudio ; ˈædɪkwəsiAudio
[uncountable]
The adequacy of the security arrangements has been questioned.
adequately adverb
ˈædɪkwətliAudio ; ˈædɪkwətliAudio
Are you adequately insured?

Question 9

Aid

Answer 9

eɪdAudio ; eɪdAudio
• [uncountable] money, food, etc. that is sent to help countries in difficult situations
economic/humanitarian/emergency aid
An extra £10 million in foreign aid has been promised.
aid agencies (= organizations that provide help)
medical aid programmes
• [uncountable] help that you need to perform a particular task
He was breathing only with the aid of a ventilator.
This job would be impossible without the aid of a computer.
in aid of something/somebody
(British English)
• in order to help somebody/something
collecting money in aid of charity

Question 10

Aircraft

Answer 10

any vehicle that can fly and carry goods or passengers

fighter/transport/military aircraft

Question 11

Allied

Answer 11

connected with countries that unite to fight a war together, especially the countries that fought together against Germany in the First and Second World Wars
Italy joined the war on the Allied side in 1915.
Many civilians died as a result of allied bombing.
allied forces/troops

Question 12

Ally

Answer 12

countable] a country that has agreed to help and support another country, especially in case of a war
our European/NATO allies
a loyal ally of the United States
• [countable] a person who helps and supports somebody who is in a difficult situation, especially a politician
a close ally and friend of the prime minister
His sister was his ally against their grandparents.

intransitive] ally (yourself) with somebody/something to give your support to another group or country
The prince allied himself with the Scots.

Question 13

Alongside

Answer 13

• next to or at the side of something
A police car pulled up alongside us.
a lifeboat moored alongside the yacht
Much of the land alongside the river is below sea level.
• together with or at the same time as something/somebody
Traditional beliefs still flourish alongside a modern urban lifestyle.
alongside adverb
•
Nick caught up with me and rode alongside.

Question 14

Alter

Answer 14

intransitive, transitive] to become different; to make somebody/something different
Prices did not alter significantly during 2007.
He had altered so much I scarcely recognized him.
alter somebody/something It doesn’t alter the way I feel.
Nothing can alter the fact that we are to blame.
The landscape has been radically altered, severely damaging wildlife.
This incident altered the whole course of events.
• [transitive] alter something to make changes to a piece of clothing so that it will fit you better
We can have the dress altered to fit you.
alterable adjective
ˈɔːltərəblAudio ; ˈɔːltərəblAudio
formal

Question 15

Altogether

Answer 15

• (used to emphasize something) completely; in every way
The train went slower and slower until it stopped altogether.
I don’t altogether agree with you.
I am not altogether happy (= I am very unhappy) about the decision.
It was an altogether different situation.
• used to give a total number or amount
You owe me £68 altogether.
• used to introduce a summary when you have mentioned a number of different things
The food was good and we loved the music. Altogether it was a great evening.

Question 16

Amuse

Answer 16

to make somebody laugh or smile
amuse somebody My funny drawings amused the kids.
This will amuse you.
it amuses somebody to do something It amused him to think that they were probably talking about him at that very moment.
• to make time pass pleasantly for somebody/yourself
amuse somebody She suggested several ideas to help Laura amuse the twins.
amuse yourself I’m sure I’ll be able to amuse myself for a few hours.

Question 17

Annoy

Answer 17

• to make somebody slightly angry
annoy somebody His constant joking was beginning to annoy her.
it annoys somebody when… It really annoys me when people forget to say thank you.
I’m sure she does it just to annoy me.
annoy somebody to do something It annoys me to see him getting ahead of me.
• annoy somebody to make somebody uncomfortable or unable to relax
He swatted a fly that was annoying him.

Question 18

Anxious

Answer 18

• feeling worried or nervous
anxious (about something) He seemed anxious about the meeting.
anxious (for somebody) Parents are naturally anxious for their children.
• causing anxiety; showing anxiety
There were a few anxious moments in the baseball game.
an anxious look/face/expression
• wanting something very much
anxious to do something She was anxious to finish school and get a job.
He was anxious not to be misunderstood.
anxious for something There are plenty of graduates anxious for work.
anxious for somebody to do something I’m anxious for her to do as little as possible.
anxious that… She was anxious that he should meet her father.
anxiously adverb
ˈæŋkʃəsliAudio ; ˈæŋkʃəsliAudio
•
to ask/look/wait anxiously
Residents are anxiously awaiting a decision.

Question 19

Apparent

Answer 19

adjective
əˈpærəntAudio ; əˈpærəntAudio
• [not usually before noun] easy to see or understand
Their devotion was apparent.
Then, for no apparent reason, the train suddenly stopped.
apparent (from something) (that…) It was apparent from her face that she was really upset.
apparent (to somebody) (that…) It soon became apparent to everyone that he couldn’t sing.
• [usually before noun] that seems to be real or true but may not be
My parents were concerned at my apparent lack of enthusiasm for school.
Their affluence is more apparent than real (= they are not as rich as they seem to be).

Question 20

Apparently

Answer 20

Adverb
according to what you have heard or read; according to the way something appears
Apparently they are getting divorced soon.
I thought she had retired, but apparently she hasn’t.
He paused, apparently lost in thought.

Question 21

Arm

Answer 21

Noun

part of body
• either of the two long parts that stick out from the top of the body and connect the shoulders to the hands
He escaped with only a broken arm.
She threw her arms around his neck.
The officer grabbed him by the arm (= grabbed his arm).
She touched him gently on the arm.
He held the dirty rag at arm’s length (= as far away from his body as possible).
They walked along arm in arm (= with the arm of one person linked with the arm of the other).
She cradled the child in her arms.
They fell asleep in each other’s arms (= holding each other).
He was carrying a number of files under his arm (= between his arm and his body).
He walked in with a tall blonde on his arm (= next to him and holding his arm).

of clothing
• the part of a piece of clothing that covers the arm
The arms will need shortening.

Question 22

Arm

Answer 22

Verb

intransitive, transitive] to provide weapons for yourself/somebody in order to fight a battle or a war
The country was arming against the enemy.
arm yourself/somebody (with something) The men armed themselves with sticks and stones.
figurativeShe had armed herself for the meeting with all the latest statistics.

Question 23

Armed

Answer 23

Adjective 
involving the use of weapons
an armed robbery
an international armed conflict (= a war)
Guerrillas have pledged to intensify the armed struggle against the new government.
• carrying a weapon, especially a gun
The man is armed and dangerous.
armed guards
Police were heavily armed.
armed with a gun, etc.
He was armed with a rifle.

Question 24

Arms

Answer 24

Noun

formal weapons, especially as used by the army, navy, etc.
arms and ammunition
Police officers in the UK do not usually carry arms.