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English Rewind - 6 Minute English: Disappearing words

Video vocabulary

dirty

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US / ˈdɜ:ti /

UK / ˈdɜ:rti /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Not clean
  • Not fair; dishonest or dishonorable
  • verb
  • To make something not clean; soil

study

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US / 'stʌdɪ /

UK / ˈstʌdi /

A1
  • noun
  • Room that a person studies or reads in
  • Piece of research
  • Topic or subject you research or learn about
  • verb
  • To focus on learning something usually at school

understand

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US / ˌʌndə'stænd /

UK / ˌʌndɚˈstænd /

A1
  • verb
  • To know the meaning of language, what someone says

expect

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US / ɪk'spekt /

UK / ɪkˈspɛkt /

A1
  • verb
  • To believe something is probably going to happen

cloudy

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US / 'klaʊdɪ /

UK / ˈklaʊdi /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • With many clouds; without exact form or detail
  • Without exact form or detail; not clear

seven

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US / ˈsevn /

UK / ˈsɛvən /

A1
  • number
  • Number 7

but

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US / bət /

UK / bʌt,bət /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used before you say something different, opposite

especially

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US / ɪˈspeʃəli /

UK / ɛˈspɛʃəli, ɪˈspɛʃ- /

A1
  • adverb
  • More than usual; extremely

english

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US / ˈɪŋglɪʃ /

UK / ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of England
  • noun
  • Language of the UK, USA, Nigeria and elsewhere
  • Person's name

fifty

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US / 'fɪftɪ /

UK / ˈfɪfti /

A1
  • number
  • 50

finish

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US / ˈfɪnɪʃ /

UK / ˈfɪnɪʃ /

A1
  • noun
  • End of something; completion
  • Final coat (of paint) applied to a surface
  • verb
  • To use or consume all of something
  • To reach the end; to complete something
  • To put a final surface (e.g. paint) on something

good

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US / ɡʊd /

UK / ɡʊd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper, appropriate or right
  • (Of an amount) enough; plenty
  • Excellent; high quality
  • Acting well or properly; of moral character
  • In a positive or happy emotional state
  • noun
  • Advantage or benefit

stone

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US / stəʊn /

UK / stoʊn /

A2
  • noun
  • Hard, solid piece of rock
  • verb
  • To kill as a punishment, by throwing stones at

archive

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US / 'ɑ:kaɪv /

UK / ˈɑrˌkaɪv /

B1
  • noun
  • Collection of historical records and materials
  • verb
  • To store things such as historical records

can

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US / kæn /

UK / kən,kæn /

A1
  • noun
  • A metal container for storing food
  • other
  • Able to; have the skill to; have the time to
  • verb
  • To have permission to
  • To be possible to do
  • To preserve food by sealing it in a metal container

com

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US / kɒm /

UK / kɑːm /

A1
  • abbreviation
  • A domain name for companies

become

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US / bɪ'kʌm /

UK / bɪˈkʌm /

A1
  • verb
  • To begin to be; grow to be; develop into
  • To be suitable for a particular job or role

final

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US / ˈfaɪnl /

UK / ˈfaɪnəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • That will not be changed; permanent
  • Being the last thing in a series
  • noun
  • Last game in a series in a competition

same

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US / seɪm /

UK / sem /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in quality and amount
  • Identical; not different
  • Not changing; constant

development

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US / dɪ'veləpmənt /

UK / dɪˈvɛləpmənt /

A2
  • noun
  • Act or process of growing bigger or more advanced
  • A new event related to a previous event

not

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US / nɒt /

UK / nɑt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Word indicating the negative
  • (Used to form the negative of verbs)

quite

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US / kwaɪt /

UK / kwaɪt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Not very; fairly
  • Very; In a complete or total manner

our

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US / 'aʊə(r) /

UK / aʊr /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to us

whether

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US / ˈweðə(r) /

UK / ˈhwɛðɚ, ˈwɛð- /

A1
  • conjunction
  • If something will happen or not

colin

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US / ˌkɒlɪn /

UK / ˈkolɪn /

A1

experience

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US / ɪk'spɪərɪəns /

UK / ɪkˈspɪriəns /

A1
  • noun
  • Thing a person has done or that happened to them
  • An event at which you learned something
  • Knowledge gained by living life, doing new things
  • verb
  • To gain knowledge by doing things

now

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US / naʊ /

UK / naʊ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At the present time or moment
  • Right away or in the next possible moment
  • Used to refer to something that just happened
  • Time between the present and a moment in the past
  • conjunction
  • Resulting from or because of something

march

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US / mɑ:tʃ /

UK / mɑ:rtʃ /

A1
  • noun
  • Walk by a group of soldiers who walk in time
  • 3rd month of the year
  • Music played for soldiers to walk in time to
  • Progress towards a future time or place
  • Public walk by a group to demand change
  • verb
  • To force someone to walk somewhere
  • (Soldiers) to walk in time with others
  • To walk as a group to demand some kind of change
  • To walk somewhere quickly often in an angry manner

whence

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US / wens /

UK / hwɛns, wɛns /

C1
  • adverb
  • From where

finally

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US / ˈfaɪnəli /

UK / ˈfaɪnəli /

A1
  • adverb
  • used especially at the beginning of a sentence to introduce the last point or idea
  • After a long time or some difficulty

keep

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US / ki:p /

UK / kip /

A1
  • noun
  • Large, strong tower in the middle of a castle
  • Money spent on you so you can live in a place
  • verb
  • To continue doing something; not to stop
  • To stop balls going in a goal in sports
  • To not give back or return something
  • (Of food) to not spoil or not rot
  • To take possession of something to own, e.g. a pet
  • To have and continue to hold something
  • To do something that you have promised or agreed
  • To stay in a certain place or condition
  • To maintain the rules

something

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US / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

UK / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

A1
  • adverb
  • In some degree or measure
  • noun
  • a person or thing of some value or consequence
  • pronoun
  • Thing that is not yet known or named
  • Approximately

thee

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US / ði: /

UK / ði /

C2
  • pronoun
  • An old-fashioned word for you

goodbye

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US / ˌɡʊd'baɪ /

UK / ˌɡʊd'baɪ /

A1
  • noun
  • Something you say when you leave someone

where

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US / hwɛə /

UK / hwɛr, wɛr /

A1
  • conjunction
  • At or in the place which
  • In whatever place
  • pronoun
  • Word you use to ask the location of something

join

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US / dʒɔɪn /

UK / dʒɔɪn /

A1
  • verb
  • To bring something close to another, to become one
  • To become a member of
  • To participate in an activity with others

nine

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US / naɪn /

UK / naɪn /

A1
  • number
  • 9

two

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US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • number
  • 2

early

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US / ˈɜ:li /

UK / ˈɜ:rli /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Happening or appearing before
  • adverb
  • Coming/happening before others in a time sequence
  • Happening sooner than expected

most

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US / məʊst /

UK / most /

A1
  • adverb
  • Very; extremely
  • Greatest possible degree
  • pronoun
  • Nearly all of something

extinct

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US / ɪkˈstɪŋkt /

UK / ɪkˈstɪŋkt /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • (Of animal, etc.) having died out; with none left
  • (E.g. of volcano) not active

from

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US / frəm /

UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /

A1
  • preposition
  • Starting at a particular place, time or level

out

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US / aʊt /

UK / aʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • No longer stylish (e.g. fashion)
  • Away from home, business, or the usual place
  • In a direction/movement away from inside or center
  • noun
  • Act when a batter cannot continue playing
  • verb
  • To tell people a secret

over

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US / 'əʊvə(r) /

UK / ˈovɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Finished; no longer happening
  • Towards the ground/away from a standing position
  • noun
  • A set of six consecutive balls bowled in cricket
  • other
  • Finished
  • preposition
  • Showing the relation when a thing is above another
  • On or covering something
  • Above or across something
  • More than you need
  • From one side to the other
  • In the direction of; toward

any

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US / 'enɪ /

UK / ˈɛni /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • One, or some, no matter which
  • pronoun
  • One (thing) of many; some

come

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US / kʌm /

UK / kʌm /

A1
  • verb
  • To arrive at a place
  • (Of mail) to be delivered
  • To move toward someone; go with someone
  • To reach a certain point or state

help

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US / help /

UK / hɛlp /

A1
  • noun
  • Something given to enable a person to do something
  • Assistance given to someone in need
  • Someone who makes something easier or possible
  • verb
  • To act to enable a person to do something; assist
  • To make something better or less difficult

squeeze

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US / skwi:z /

UK / skwiz /

C1
  • noun
  • Amount of liquid from firmly pressing e.g. orange
  • Act of putting pressure on, as to get liquid out
  • When there is not enough space for things/people
  • Act of firmly pressing on two or more sides
  • verb
  • To force or threaten someone to give you something
  • To strongly compress something to get liquid out
  • To be pressed together or crowded into an area
  • To press together the opposite sides of something
  • To reduce the amount of something

think

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US / θɪŋk /

UK / θɪŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To have an idea about something without certainty
  • To have an idea, opinion or belief about something

back

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US / bæk /

UK / bæk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Farthest from the front e.g. in a classroom
  • adverb
  • Have returned to a place you were before
  • noun
  • The part of a chair that the upper body leans upon
  • Location at the rear of something
  • The reverse of side something
  • Area on the rear of your body
  • verb
  • To bet money on something
  • To go backwards in a car
  • To support and encourage someone or some cause

and

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US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

hope

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US / həʊp /

UK / hop /

A1
  • noun
  • When you wish something will happen; what you wish
  • verb
  • To expect and want something to happen

until

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US / ənˈtɪl /

UK / ʌnˈtɪl /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Up to; to a time when something happens
  • preposition
  • Before (a specific time)

period

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US / ˈpɪəriəd /

UK / ˈpɪriəd /

A1
  • noun
  • Set amount of time during which events take place
  • A way to emphasize what you will say
  • A full stop (.), marking the end of a sentence
  • A menstrual cycle
  • A set time for a class to be held

replace

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US / rɪ'pleɪs /

UK / rɪˈples /

A2
  • verb
  • To use instead of something else
  • To return an item to its original location

programme

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US / ˈprəʊgræm /

UK / ˈproˌɡræm, -ɡrəm /

A1
  • noun
  • A plan or schedule of events
  • TV show
  • verb
  • To write computer code for a piece of software

special

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US / 'speʃl /

UK / ˈspɛʃəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being additional or extra
  • Different, better or greater than normal
  • noun
  • Heavily discounted sales item

correct

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US / kə'rekt /

UK / kəˈrɛkt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being suitable and appropriate for an occasion
  • True or accurate
  • verb
  • To fix a problem
  • To write marks on a piece of work to show mistakes
  • To punish in order to improve

check

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US / tʃek /

UK / tʃɛk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Decorated with squares made up of lines
  • noun
  • Paper showing how much you owe at a restaurant
  • Printed piece of paper you sign to pay for things
  • A mark on a form, equivalent to 'yes'; tick
  • Mark used to show that something is correct
  • Procedure to prevent errors or control something
  • verb
  • To confirm the details of something are correct
  • To leave your things with staff who look after it
  • To examine something to see if something is wrong
  • To examine in order to prevent errors/a problem

question

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US / 'kwestʃən /

UK / ˈkwɛstʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Issue or problems you are dealing with
  • What you ask about; issue
  • verb
  • To ask for or try to get information
  • To have or express concerns or uncertainty

those

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US / ðəʊz /

UK / ðoz /

A1
  • determiner
  • The people or things we are talking about
  • pronoun
  • The objects far from the speaker

tribe

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US / traɪb /

UK / traɪb /

B1
  • noun
  • Racial group united by language, religion, customs

animal

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US / ˈænɪml /

UK / ˈænəməl /

A1
  • noun
  • A living creature that is not a plant or person

just

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US / dʒʌst /

UK / dʒʌst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper or appropriate; as is deserved
  • Doing or being what is right or fair
  • Legally correct; having enough evidence
  • adverb
  • Almost; nearly
  • Exactly at the time of
  • Exactly (the same as, like)

talk

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US / tɔ:k /

UK / tɔk /

A1
  • noun
  • Style of speaking
  • Discussion between two countries
  • Giving information in front of people; lecture
  • Saying things or ideas to someone with words
  • verb
  • To make a formal speech about something
  • To say things or ideas to someone with words

frequency

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US / 'fri:kwənsɪ /

UK / ˈfrikwənsi /

B1
  • noun
  • Number of repetitions of (radio or sound) wave
  • How often something happens

frequently

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US / ˈfri:kwəntli /

UK / ˈfrikwəntlɪ /

A2
  • adverb
  • Often; regularly

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

A1
  • preposition
  • Used to show the purpose, or need of something

hello

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US / hə'ləʊ /

UK / hɛˈlo, hə- /

A1
  • exclamation
  • What you say when you meet someone

time

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US / taɪm /

UK / taɪm /

A1
  • noun
  • Speed at which music is played; tempo
  • Point as shown on a clock, e.g. 3 p.m
  • Number of hours, minutes needed to do something
  • Occasion when something happens
  • Period or occasion that something occurred
  • Period in history or the past
  • Something measured in minutes, hours, days, etc.
  • How long an event takes; duration
  • verb
  • To check speed at which music is performed
  • To choose a specific moment to do something
  • To measure how long an event takes, e.g. a race
  • To schedule something to occur at a specific moment

through

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US / θru: /

UK / θru /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • having finished using or doing something
  • adverb
  • From the beginning of something until the end
  • preposition
  • Over, in, across an entire thing or place
  • Allowing you to pass between, or to
  • By a particular way or process; by the use of

website

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US / ˈwebsaɪt /

UK / 'websaɪt /

A1
  • noun
  • Collection of webpages in one location

why

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US / waɪ /

UK / hwaɪ, waɪ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Question word to ask for a reason
  • exclamation
  • (Used to express surprise or approval)

ask

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US / ɑ:sk /

UK / æsk /

A1
  • verb
  • To say to someone that you want something

die

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US / daɪ /

UK / daɪ /

A1
  • noun
  • Cube with dots numbering 1-6 on it used in games
  • verb
  • To cease to function or work
  • (Of a thing) to stop being used or done
  • (Of a person) to stop living

start

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US / stɑ:t /

UK / stɑrt /

A1
  • noun
  • First time or place that a thing exists; beginning
  • First opportunity to achieve something, e.g. a job
  • Sudden action or movement because you are scared
  • other
  • Beginning of something in place or time
  • verb
  • To do, be or happen for the first time; begin
  • To turn something on

well

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US / wel /

UK / wɛl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being in a fortunate, good condition or state
  • Healthy and in good condition
  • adverb
  • In an acceptable, proper, or successful manner
  • In a complete, total, or full manner
  • A great and considerable degree
  • In a successful way, in a good or satisfactory way
  • exclamation
  • Used to begin or continue a particular statement
  • Used to show you want to start saying something
  • Used to express that you are waiting for a reply
  • You say this to change the topic of a conversation
  • Used to indicate you are making a final remark
  • noun
  • Long deep hole in the ground to get water
  • verb
  • To cause your eyes to fill with tears

computer

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US / kəmˈpju:tə(r) /

UK / kəmˈpjutɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Machine for storing data, accessing the internet

incredible

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US / ɪnˈkredəbl /

UK / ɪnˈkrɛdəbəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Very good; amazing
  • Really good; amazing; great
  • Very hard to believe

sound

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US / saʊnd /

UK / saʊnd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Sensible, dependable and reliable
  • Unbroken or undisturbed, as of sleep
  • Firm or solid in structure
  • Sane; not mentally ill
  • Clearly reasoned; involving sense, good judgment
  • noun
  • Unique quality that characterizes a style of music
  • Waves traveling in air or water that can be heard
  • verb
  • To seem or appear to be, from what was said
  • To say in a clear deliberate manner
  • To make a noise, e.g. to ring a bell

evolve

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US / ɪ'vɒlv /

UK / ɪˈvɑlv /

B1
  • verb
  • To develop certain features
  • To develop or change slowly over time
  • To slowly change or develop into something better

extremely

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US / ɪkˈstri:mli /

UK / ɪk'strimlɪ /

B1
  • adverb
  • In a way that is much more than usual or expected

fact

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US / fækt /

UK / fækt /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that is known or proved to be true

few

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US / fju: /

UK / fju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Not many, a small number

strong

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US / strɒŋ /

UK / strɔŋ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • (Of tea or beer) dark or thick
  • Having big muscles; physically powerful

speak

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US / spi:k /

UK / spik /

A1
  • verb
  • To be able to use a certain language
  • To use words to tell information, express thoughts

use

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US / ju:s /

UK / ju:s /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to employ something
  • Need to enable it to work
  • Permission to do something with something
  • Act of spending money
  • Operation of a machine for its function
  • verb
  • To have; to eat, drink, consume etc.
  • To need to operate or work
  • To operate a machine, e.g. a computer
  • To treat a person badly
  • To do something with, for a task or purpose

appear

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US / ə'pɪə(r) /

UK / əˈpɪr /

A1
  • verb
  • To be seen, become visible; come into sight
  • To seem to be
  • To act in a play, movie, or be mentioned in media

guess

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US / ɡes /

UK / ɡɛs /

A1
  • noun
  • Answer given when you don't know if it is correct
  • verb
  • To give an answer without knowing if it is correct

many

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US / 'menɪ /

UK / ˈmɛni /

A1
  • determiner
  • Used to refer a large number of things

thousand

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US / ˈθaʊznd /

UK / ˈθaʊzənd /

A1
  • number
  • Number 1,000

will

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US / wɪl /

UK / wɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Desire or choice of someone
  • Document saying who gets your money when you die
  • Strong desire to do something; determination
  • Desire to do something; strong wish to do
  • other
  • Used with verbs to express the future
  • verb
  • To leave property to someone after your death
  • To use mental effort to make something happen
  • Am (is, are) likely to do
  • To influence someone to do something
  • To make something happen by strongly wanting it

vocabulary

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US / və'kæbjələrɪ /

UK / voˈkæbjəˌlɛri /

B1
  • noun
  • Words that have to do with a particular subject
  • The words that a person knows

age

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US / eɪdʒ /

UK / edʒ /

A1
  • verb
  • To keep food, wine for a long time to improve it
  • To get older
  • noun
  • Period of time in history
  • Number of years a person or thing has lived

continue

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US / kən'tɪnju: /

UK / kənˈtɪnju /

A1
  • verb
  • To do something without stopping, or after pausing
  • To start doing again after a break, pause, or stop

dalton

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US / ˈdɔ:ltən /

UK / ˈdɔltən /

A1
  • noun
  • A unit used in expressing the molecular weight of proteins, equivalent to atomic mass unit.
  • proper noun
  • A city in northwestern Georgia; population 33,648 (est. 2008).

exactly

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US / ɪgˈzæktli /

UK / ɪɡˈzæktli /

A1
  • adverb
  • No more and no less than; precisely

gradual

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US / ˈgrædʒuəl /

UK / ˈɡrædʒuəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Moving slowly by small amounts, over time

sometime

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US / ˈsʌmtaɪm /

UK / ˈsʌmˌtaɪm /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • At an unknown time in the future

new

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US / nju: /

UK / nu, nju /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not old, recently born, built or made
  • Being or doing something for the first time
  • Not felt, seen or known previously
  • Having been recently bought or obtained

lose

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US / lu:z /

UK / luz /

A1
  • verb
  • To be unable to keep in check or control something
  • To decrease in value or quantity (e.g. weight)
  • To stop having certain qualities or abilities
  • To stop having or being entitled to
  • To fail to win something that is being contested
  • To be unable to find something you once had
  • To be dependent on someone (used with 'not')

equivalent

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US / ɪˈkwɪvələnt /

UK / ɪˈkwɪvələnt /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Equal to something in value, use or meaning
  • noun
  • Thing like another in quality, quantity or degree

listen

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US / ˈlɪsn /

UK / ˈlɪsən /

A1
  • verb
  • To carefully consider what someone is saying

knowledge

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US / ˈnɒlɪdʒ /

UK / ˈnɑlɪdʒ /

A1
  • noun
  • Information, understanding, or skill

retain

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US / rɪ'teɪn /

UK / rɪˈten /

A2
  • verb
  • To continue to have or use; keep the quality of
  • To keep one thing inside another for a time
  • To memorize information

usual

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US / ˈju:ʒuəl /

UK / ˈjuʒuəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being the way things occur most of the time

day

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US / deɪ /

UK / de /

A1
  • noun
  • A period of 24 hours beginning at midnight
  • The period of time when it is light outside
  • Person's name

explain

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US / ɪk'spleɪn /

UK / ɪkˈsplen /

A1
  • verb
  • To make clear or easy to understand by describing

develop

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US / dɪ'veləp /

UK / dɪˈvɛləp /

A1
  • verb
  • To explain something in steps and in detail
  • To create or think of something
  • To grow bigger, more complex, or more advanced
  • To make a photograph from film

hundred

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US / 'hʌndrəd /

UK / ˈhʌndrɪd /

A1
  • number
  • 100

see

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US / si: /

UK / si /

A1
  • verb
  • To go on a date with someone
  • To predict whether something is, or will be true
  • To understand what someone says
  • To use your eyes to look at something
  • To visit a place often for sightseeing or pleasure
  • To visit or meet with someone
  • To find out by waiting or looking
  • To watch (a game, movie or TV show)

end

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US / end /

UK / ɛnd /

A1
  • noun
  • The point where a process or activity stops
  • A point that marks the limit of something; finish
  • Goal or desired result
  • The tip, edge or limit of something
  • verb
  • To be the last part of something

enjoy

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US / ɪnˈdʒɔɪ /

UK / ɛnˈdʒɔɪ /

A1
  • verb
  • To take pleasure in something

know

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US / nəʊ /

UK / noʊ /

A1
  • verb
  • To be familiar with a person or place, thing
  • To feel sure or be convinced about something
  • To discover or be aware of something
  • To be able to distinguish
  • To have knowledge of things

often

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US / ˈɔfən /

UK / ˈɔfən,ˈɑfən,ˈɔftən,ˈɑf- /

A1
  • adverb
  • Many times; frequently; on many occasions

everyday

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US / ˈevrideɪ /

UK / ˈɛvriˈde /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Used or seen daily; for daily use; ordinary

next

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US / nekst /

UK / nɛkst /

A1
  • adverb
  • The one that follows another in time or order
  • At a time or place directly after the present one
  • noun
  • The one that follows after
  • adjecitve
  • Immediately after the previous one
  • First occurrence after the present one

quickly

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US / ˈkwɪkli /

UK / ˈkwɪklɪ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Without taking a lot of time; fast

scientist

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US / ˈsaɪəntɪst /

UK / ˈsaɪəntɪst /

A2
  • noun
  • Person who is trained in a science

before

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US / bɪˈfɔ:(r) /

UK / bɪˈfɔr,-ˈfor /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a time earlier than the present; previously
  • conjunction
  • In advance of something happening
  • preposition
  • In front of someone or something

have

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US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

part

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US / pɑ:t /

UK / pɑ:rt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To some degree; half; not fully
  • noun
  • Division of a book
  • Ratio of something, e.g. 3 of gin, 1 of tonic
  • A line in a person's hair, made with a comb
  • Character an actor plays on stage, movie, or TV
  • Some, but not all of a specific thing
  • Role in causing something to happen
  • verb
  • To make a line in a person's hair, by using a comb
  • To move two things apart creating a space
  • To leave someone, or to break off a relationship

prior

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US / 'praɪə(r) /

UK / ˈpraɪɚ /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Existing or coming earlier in time
  • (Of a claim, etc.) more important than another one
  • noun
  • Monk or priest in charge of a monastery

six

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US / sɪks /

UK / sɪks /

A1
  • number
  • 6

hear

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US / hɪə(r) /

UK / hɪr /

A1
  • verb
  • To be aware of sound; to perceive with the ear
  • To be told or find out information or facts
  • To consider or listen to a court case

morrow

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US / ˈmɒrəʊ /

UK / ˈmɔːroʊ /

C2
  • noun
  • Next day

phrasal

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US / ˈfreɪzl /

UK / ˈfreɪzl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning or consisting of a phrase

pronoun

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US / ˈprəʊnaʊn /

UK / ˈproˌnaʊn /

A2
  • noun
  • A word that replaces a noun like 'it' 'she' etc.

verb

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US / və:b /

UK / vɚb /

A1
  • noun
  • Word that expresses an action or state

his

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US / hɪz /

UK / hɪz /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Something belonging to a male person

process

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US / prə'ses /

UK / ˈprɑsˌɛs, ˈproˌsɛs /

A2
  • noun
  • Dealing with official forms in the way required
  • Set of changes that occur slowly and naturally
  • verb
  • To organize and use data in a computer
  • To deal with official forms in the way required
  • To prepare by treating something in a certain way
  • To adopt a set of actions that produce a result
  • To convert by putting something through a machine

with

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US / wɪð /

UK / wɪð, wɪθ /

A1
  • preposition
  • As an employee of a certain company
  • Against something or someone
  • By using something as a means
  • Due to; because of
  • Including
  • Possessing as a feature
  • Related to
  • (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
  • Used to express that people or things are together

find

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US / faɪnd /

UK / faɪnd /

A1
  • noun
  • Object discovered by chance
  • Things that have been discovered from searching
  • verb
  • To become aware of something that is happening
  • To discover or meet by chance
  • To decide if someone is guilty of a crime, or not
  • To learn through study, research, or effort
  • To discover something by looking for it

mean

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US / mi:n /

UK / min /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being good at
  • Nasty; unkind
  • Not liking to spend money; cheap; stingy
  • noun
  • Average of a set of numbers
  • verb
  • To express a particular idea or thought
  • To intend to do something in particular
  • To have a particular meaning or value

tend

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US / tend /

UK / tɛnd /

A2
  • verb
  • To move or act in a certain manner
  • To take care of
  • To regularly behave in a certain way

type

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US / taɪp /

UK / taɪp /

A1
  • noun
  • Printed letters or blocks used for printing them
  • Group of things or people sharing common features
  • verb
  • To identify something belonging to a group
  • To write by touching keys on a keyboard

number

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US / ˈnʌmbə(r) /

UK / ˈnʌmbɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Symbols such as 1, 2, 56, 793
  • Particular song or dance performed during a show
  • Total quantity or amount of things
  • verb
  • To put numbers on things
  • To assign a sequence within a group, series, set
  • To claim to be part of a larger group, series, set

tell

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US / tel /

UK / tɛl /

A1
  • verb
  • To (strongly) advise a person to do something
  • To be able to guess
  • To say or communicate information to someone
  • To inform, but without speaking; indicate
  • To have a negative effect on someone
  • To order someone to do something; command
  • To recognize something based on certain signs
  • To report something to an authority
  • To explain something or teach someone something

example

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US / ɪgˈzɑ:mpl /

UK / ɪɡˈzæmpəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Thing, person which represents a category

existence

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US / ɪɡ'zɪstəns /

UK / ɪɡˈzɪstəns /

A2
  • noun
  • State of being present, alive or real

language

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US / ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ /

UK / ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ /

A1
  • noun
  • Words or signs used to communicate messages

happen

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US / 'hæpən /

UK / ˈhæpən /

A1
  • verb
  • To take place or occur

disappear

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US / ˌdɪsəˈpɪə(r) /

UK / ˌdɪsəˈpɪr /

A1
  • verb
  • To no longer see because it's not there any more

right

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US / raɪt /

UK / raɪt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Correct or true
  • The south side of you looking at the rising sun
  • adverb
  • Exactly in a place or time
  • Being appropriate for a particular event
  • In a straight or direct manner
  • noun
  • Something you are legally or morally allowed to do
  • Ideal of what is just and good
  • Political view based on conservatism
  • verb
  • To fix something previously wrong or unjust
  • To make upright, as a boat that has turned over

about

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US / ə'baʊt /

UK / əˈbaʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • To be ready to; going to
  • Nearly; approximately; roughly
  • Near; next to; close to
  • In every direction; in the area of
  • preposition
  • Concerning or of (a topic)

eventually

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US / ɪˈventʃuəli /

UK / ɪˈvɛntʃuəli /

A2
  • adverb
  • After a long time; after many attempts; in the end

different

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US / ˈdɪfrənt /

UK / ˈdɪfrənt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not of the same kind; unlike other things

like

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US / laɪk /

UK / laɪk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in status or kind to something else
  • Similar; the same
  • adverb
  • For example
  • preposition
  • Used as a filler; used to ad emphasis
  • In a way similar to the way something is done
  • Such as; for example
  • verb
  • To want to
  • To find something pleasing; to prefer something

people

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US / 'pi:pl /

UK / ˈpipəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Persons sharing culture, country, background, etc.
  • Men, Women, Children

that

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US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

week

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US / wi:k /

UK / wik /

A1
  • noun
  • Period of seven days from Sunday to Saturday

what

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US / wɒt /

UK / hwɑt, hwʌt, wɔt, wʌt,hwət, wət /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Thing or things that; the same kind as
  • Used to emphasize something you are about to say
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to a particular amount, or number
  • Used to place emphasis on a particular quality
  • adverb
  • To a certain degree
  • determiner
  • Question words used for asking for information
  • exclamation
  • Used to express excitement, shock, or surprise
  • Used to ask people to repeat something they said

hooray

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US / hʊ'reɪ /

UK / hʊˈre /

B2
  • exclamation
  • Said to show delight at something happening

then

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US / ðen /

UK / ðɛn /

A1
  • adverb
  • A time that is not now
  • Following another thing in time or arrangement
  • Following on reasonably from what was just stated
  • At that time, not now

get

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US / ɡet /

UK / ɡɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To become affected by illness or disease
  • To begin to feel or understand an emotion or idea
  • To send or bring someone or something home, etc.
  • To go somewhere to obtain something
  • To (cause to) do a particular thing
  • To obtain, receive or be given something
  • To currently have
  • To prepare for use
  • To understand something being said or read

first

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US / fɜ:st /

UK / fɚst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • 1st; Coming before all others in time or place
  • noun
  • Something that has not happened before
  • Position of the winner of a competition

hard

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US / hɑ:d /

UK / hɑː(r)d /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Difficult to do; difficult to understand
  • (Of facts) not able to be misunderstood; clear
  • (Of alcohol) strong
  • Involving or requiring lots of work, effort, care
  • Being full of pain, trouble, and problems
  • Strong
  • (Of edge) clear; sharp
  • Difficult to bend, break or cut; solid
  • adverb
  • With lots of force, power, or impact

similar

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US / ˈsɪmələ(r) /

UK / ˈsɪməlɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Nearly the same; alike

able

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US / 'eɪbl /

UK / ˈebəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Skilled; good at something
  • Having the ability to do something

three

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US / θri: /

UK / θri /

A1
  • number
  • Number 3

suspect

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US / sə'spekt /

UK / səˈspɛkt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • (Of a thing) causing doubt; suspicious
  • noun
  • Person thought to have committed a crime
  • verb
  • To consider someone is the one guilty of a crime
  • To doubt or lack trust

make

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US / meɪk /

UK / mek /

A1
  • noun
  • Product made by a particular company; brand
  • verb
  • To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
  • To get to (a place) on time
  • To gain the status of (teacher, lawyer, etc.)
  • To create something by putting things together
  • To earn a certain amount of money at a job
  • To cause or force a person to do something
  • To cause something to happen or be formed

outside

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US / ˌaʊtˈsaɪd /

UK / aʊtˈsaɪd, ˈaʊtˌsaɪd /

A2
  • adverb
  • Beyond the limits or edges of some place, thing
  • noun
  • Area around or near something, such as a building
  • preposition
  • Beyond the limits or edges of some place, thing

extract

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US / 'ekstrækt /

UK / ɪkˈstrækt /

B1
  • noun
  • Essential ingredient of a natural thing
  • Part taken from a longer written work
  • verb
  • To get a substance out of a plant, etc.
  • To get a person to share secret information
  • To remove something by pulling or cutting

one

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US / wʌn /

UK / wʌn /

A1
  • pronoun
  • You; we; people in general; someone
  • The thing or person previously referred to
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to people generally
  • Being a strong example of (something mentioned)
  • number
  • Number 1

other

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US / 'ʌðə(r) /

UK / ˈʌðər /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • A thing different from that mentioned
  • determiner
  • (Something) else; not the first (one)
  • pronoun
  • Being the one and only thing of that category

answer

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US / 'ɑ:nsə(r) /

UK / ˈænsɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Reply to a question someone asks
  • Solution to a problem or test question
  • verb
  • To reply to a question someone asks
  • To solve a test question or a problem

predict

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US / prɪ'dɪkt /

UK / prɪˈdɪkt /

A2
  • verb
  • To guess or estimate what will or might happen

across

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US / əˈkrɔs /

UK / əˈkrɔs,əˈkrɑs /

A1
  • adverb
  • Distance from one side to another
  • (Go) from one side to the other of something

discuss

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US / dɪˈskʌs /

UK / dɪˈskʌs /

A1
  • verb
  • To talk about seriously or in great detail

may

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US / meɪ /

UK / me /

A1
  • noun
  • 5th month of the year
  • other
  • Used to express a desire
  • Expresses permission, possibility or probability
  • Used to show that a thing could be true

this

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US / ðɪs /

UK / ðɪs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Used to indicate something already been discussed
  • Used to indicate something happening around now
  • adverb
  • An indication by a physical motion or gesture
  • A specific amount of
  • determiner
  • Person, thing, or idea near you
  • pronoun
  • Person, thing that has already been discussed

word

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US / wɜ:d /

UK / wɚd /

A1
  • noun
  • Unit of language that has a meaning
  • Promise
  • Short remark or piece of information
  • verb
  • To express something by choosing particular words

might

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US / maɪt /

UK / maɪt /

A1
  • other
  • Used to politely request an action
  • Used to express that something could happen
  • Power, strength, force or influence

let

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US / let /

UK / lɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To allow someone to do something
  • Introducing a suggestion to do something together
  • To rent a house, etc. to others

rate

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US / reɪt /

UK / ret /

A1
  • noun
  • Current price or cost of something
  • Speed or frequency of events over time
  • verb
  • To assess something or consider its qualities

the

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US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • article
  • Used to refer to something already mentioned
  • Used to show there is only one of something
  • determiner
  • Used to describe all of a family

also

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US / 'ɔ:lsəʊ /

UK / ˈɔlso /

A1
  • adverb
  • In addition; too; in a similar way

beseech

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US / bɪ'si:tʃ /

UK / bɪˈsitʃ /

C2
  • verb
  • To beg someone to do something

five

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US / faɪv /

UK / faɪv /

A1
  • number
  • 5

how

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US / haʊ /

UK / haʊ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To what degree? in what amount?
  • adverb
  • (Used to explain the way to do something)
  • exclamation
  • For what purpose or reason?
  • (Used to ask someone or something's condition)

thou

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US / ðaʊ /

UK / ðaʊ /

C2
  • pronoun
  • An old-fashioned word for you

year

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US / jə: /

UK / jɪr /

A1
  • noun
  • Unit of time equal to 12 months or 365 or 366 days
  • Used to refer to the age of a person

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person someone is speaking or writing to
  • Person or people in general

believe

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US / bɪ'li:v /

UK / bɪˈliv /

A1
  • verb
  • To think or accept that something is true
  • To have a particular opinion about something

human

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US / 'hju:mən /

UK / ˈhjumən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning or characteristic of people
  • noun
  • A person; a man, woman or child

look

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US / lʊk /

UK / lʊk /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's beauty or physical attractiveness
  • Particular style of dress, clothes, or appearance
  • The way someone, something appears to be
  • Act of searching for or examining something
  • verb
  • To appear to be; seem

thank

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US / θæŋk /

UK / θæŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To tell someone you are grateful to them

interview

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US / 'ɪntəvju: /

UK / ˈɪntɚˌvju /

A2
  • noun
  • Meeting to ask questions to get information
  • verb
  • To formally ask questions about a given topic

broadcast

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US / 'brɔ:dkɑ:st /

UK / ˈbrɔdˌkæst /

A2
  • noun
  • Program sent out from a radio or TV station
  • verb
  • To send out signals by radio or television

discover

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US / dɪˈskʌvə(r) /

UK / dɪˈskʌvɚ /

A2
  • verb
  • To find something new that was not known before

predictor

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US / prɪˈdɪktə(r) /

UK / prɪˈdɪktər /

B1
  • noun
  • Thing showing likelihood of something happening

change

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US / tʃeɪndʒ /

UK / tʃendʒ /

A1
  • noun
  • Exchange of one set of clothes for another
  • Money in the form of coins instead of paper
  • Money returned after giving too much
  • Act of making or becoming something else
  • verb
  • To exchange one set of clothes for another
  • To exchange one kind of money for another
  • To replace something with another thing
  • To make or become something else
  • To go from one train, bus, etc. and go to another

result

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US / rɪ'zʌlt /

UK / rɪˈzʌlt /

A2
  • noun
  • Something produced through tests or experiments
  • Final score of a competition, election or game
  • verb
  • To be the outcome of other causes and effects

theory

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US / ˈθiəri /

UK / ˈθiəri, ˈθɪri /

A2
  • noun
  • Ideas or principles that explain facts or events

ancestor

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US / 'ænsestə(r) /

UK / ˈænˌsɛstɚ /

B1
  • noun
  • A person from your family that lived in the past

gut

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US / ɡʌt /

UK / ɡʌt /

B1
  • noun
  • Stomach and internal organs of digestion
  • Guts courage; emotional strength
  • verb
  • To destroy the inside of a building , e.g. by fire
  • To remove the internal parts of an animal or fish

topic

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US / 'tɒpɪk /

UK / ˈtɑpɪk /

A2
  • noun
  • Subject or issue people talk or write about

they

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US / ðeɪ /

UK / ðe /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Two or more people, animals, or things

old

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US / əʊld /

UK / old /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Having existed for a long time, not young or new
  • Age of a person since birth

worry

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US / ˈwʌri /

UK / ˈwɜ:ri /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that causes trouble or concern
  • verb
  • To cause concern or trouble over something

all

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US / ɔ:l /

UK / ɔl /

A1
  • adverb
  • Completely; totally
  • determiner
  • Being every one of something
  • pronoun
  • 100% of something; the complete amount

common

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US / 'kɒmən /

UK / ˈkɑmən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Shared; Belonging to or used by everyone
  • Typical, normal; not unusual
  • noun
  • Area in a city or town that is open to everyone
  • Field near a village owned by the local community

jackie

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US / ˈdʒæki: /

UK / ˈdʒæki /

A1

who

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US / hu: /

UK / hu /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Which person
  • Used to introduce information about people

ago

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US / əˈgəʊ /

UK / əˈgoʊ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a specified length of time in the past

their

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US / ðɛː /

UK / ðer /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to them

yes

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US / jes /

UK / jɛs /

A1
  • adverb
  • Way to say you agree or will do something
  • Introduction to Video Content
  • In this video from the BBC Learning English Archive, the hosts, Kate and Jackie, discuss the evolution of language and how words can disappear over time. They begin by using Old English words that are no longer in use, highlighting how language changes over centuries. English is a language that is constantly evolving, with new words entering the lexicon and older words falling out of use. The hosts then pose a question about the age of some of the oldest English sounding words, with three options to choose from. After considering the topic of language evolution, they introduce an interview with a scientist who has been studying word usage and evolution using a special computer.Throughout the video, Kate and Jackie explore the fascinating topic of language and how it evolves and develops. They also emphasize the importance of understanding how language changes over time, as it affects our communication and understanding. The interview with the scientist provides further insight into the study of language evolution, offering viewers a deeper understanding of how words have evolved throughout history. The video offers an engaging and educational exploration of the disappearance of words and the evolution of language, providing viewers with valuable insights into the intricacies of the English language's development.
  • Subtitles section
  • Hello.
  • This is a programme from the BBC Learning English Archive.
  • It was first broadcast in March two thousand and nine on the BBC Learning English website.
  • We hope you enjoy it.
  • This is Six Minute English from bbclearningenglish.com.
  • Hello, I'm Kate Colin and this is Six Minute English.
  • And thanks to Jackie Dalton for joining me today.
  • Good morrow, Jackie.
  • Er, pardon?
  • Good morrow, I beseech thee, whence comest thou?
  • Don't worry, I didn't expect you to understand that.
  • I'm speaking in Old English.
  • What I said was the equivalent of saying good morning.
  • Where do you come from?
  • Using words which were in use a few hundred years ago and that we don't use any longer.
  • Hello, Kate.
  • Yes, English is a language which is evolving all the time.
  • So this means that there are new words continuously appearing and older words are disappearing.
  • I didn't understand the old English you started the programme with because you were using words which we no longer use in everyday speech.
  • Exactly.
  • So, as you might have guessed, the topic we'll be discussing is language and how it evolves and develops.
  • So, Jackie, as usual I have a question for you.
  • OK.
  • Some of the oldest English sounding words date back how many years?
  • Is it a, one thousand years, b, twenty thousand years or c, five hundred years?
  • Well, I suspect it was quite a long time ago, so I'm going to say twenty thousand years.
  • OK, we'll check your answer at the end of the programme, but first we're going to hear part of an interview with a scientist who's been using a special computer to study our use of words and their evolution through time.
  • Can you tell us what evolution means?
  • Yes, evolution.
  • It's similar to the word evolving, which I explained earlier.
  • Evolution is the gradual process of change and development over a long period of time.
  • And in this context, it refers to language and how it develops and changes over the years.
  • OK, well, let's listen and see if you can hear which words he thinks are some of the oldest in the English language.
  • Well, we've been able to discover that the numbers two and three and five and the pronoun I and who, those are the oldest words in the English language.
  • So, Jackie, did you get that?
  • Yes, he said that the oldest words were two, three and five and the pronoun I and the word who.
  • That's correct.
  • It's hard to believe that some of the words we use every day are in fact extremely old.
  • Back to our scientist, as well as thinking about words that have been in use for many years, he also predicts which words may eventually become extinct.
  • Jacqui, what does predict mean?
  • To predict is to say what you think will happen in the future, especially as a result of having prior knowledge or experience.
  • For example, it's cloudy outside today, so I predict that it's going to rain later.
  • And extinct, what does extinct mean?
  • To become extinct means to be no longer in existence, or you can use the phrasal verb, to die out.
  • And the word is often used when talking about a tribe of people or type of animal which has died out.
  • For example, the dinosaurs have become extinct.
  • So our scientist predicts which words are likely to become extinct.
  • He does this by finding out how quickly different words evolve or develop and are replaced by other words with the same meaning.
  • Now let's listen to the next extract.
  • Which words does he predict might become extinct?
  • we can make some guesses as to what words might next go extinct.
  • So, for example, the word dirty seems to have the highest rate of change, and so we might predict that sometime in the next seven hundred fifty years that word will be lost.
  • He said the word dirty may become lost or become extinct in the future.
  • This is because it's being replaced quite quickly by other words that mean the same thing.
  • That's right, and we'll be hearing some more about his theory of why words come and go, but first let's look at some of the vocabulary we'll come across.
  • He uses the word frequency.
  • What does frequency mean?
  • This is how often something happens.
  • So the frequency with which a word is used means how often the word is used.
  • And common everyday speech?
  • This is the language that we use most frequently.
  • And what about the word predictor?
  • A predictor is something which can help us predict or say what will happen in the future.
  • And finally, retained.
  • Retained means to keep.
  • So if a word is retained, it means we'll continue to use it.
  • Thanks.
  • Well, let's listen to the final extract.
  • What we've discovered is that the frequency with which words are used in our common everyday speech is a strong predictor of whether or not they'll be retained.
  • So he says the words we use most often are the most likely to still be in use in the future.
  • The most common words tend to be the oldest ones.
  • That's correct and you might like to know that the other words he predicts may become extinct are squeeze and guts.
  • Let's go over some of the words which we came across in the programme today.
  • We had evolution, which means the gradual process of change and development over a long period of time.
  • Then we had extinct, which means to be no longer in existence or to have died out.
  • Predict, to say what you think will happen.
  • Frequency, how often something happens.
  • Common everyday speech, the language that we use most frequently.
  • Predictor, something which can help us predict or say what will happen in the future.
  • And finally, retained, which is to keep or be continued.
  • Thanks, Jackie.
  • And just before we finish for this week, let's see if you got the answer to my question correct.
  • I asked about some of the oldest English sounding words and how old you thought some of them were.
  • I think I said twenty thousand years old.
  • And you were correct!
  • Hooray!
  • The oldest English sounding words were used by humans over twenty thousand years ago.
  • Incredible to think that our Stone Age ancestors were using similar sounding words all those years ago.
  • That's all we have time for today.
  • Until next time, goodbye.
  • Goodbye.