Englishfor English speakers
con
—
noun
an argument opposed to a proposal
—
verb
(= swindle, defraud, gyp)
deprive of by deceit
He swindled me out of my inheritance
She defrauded the customers who trusted her
the cashier gypped me when he gave me too little change
—
adverb
in opposition to a proposition, opinion, etc
much was written pro and con
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noun
(= convict)
a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
—
verb
(= memorize, memorise, learn)
commit to memory; learn by heart
Have you memorized your lines for the play yet?
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noun
(= bunco)
a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property
eccentric
Adjective
—
If something is eccentric, it is not placed at or in the centre of something.
—
If a person is eccentric, they have a strange behavior.
eccentric
Noun
—
An eccentric is a person who does not behave like others.
—
A circle not having the same centre as another.
thread
Noun
—
A thread is a long, very thin, soft material used to join or make cloth.
She pushed the thread through the hole in the needle.
There were loose threads at the bottom of his pants.
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A thread is a process.
—
A thread is a group of messages from a discussion on an Internet forum.
—
A thread is a structure that allows a screw to be fastened.
thread
Verb
—
If you thread something, then you make a string or thread out of it.
relief
Noun
—
or Relief is the good feeling you have when something bad is finished or didn't happen.
Most people are just breathing a sigh of relief that he's gone.
It was such a relief to see her safe.
I smiled with relief and thanks.
Relief flooded his body. He was safe.
—
Relief is help given to people who have suffered disasters, such as an earthquake.
The government recently announced it was donating $150,000 to the Red Cross for disaster relief.
The government was slow in allowing foreign aid and foreign relief workers into the affected area.
Medicine, food and other relief supplies are blocked by closed border crossings.
Relief operations are running smoothly.
Our agency provided emergency relief after the 2005 earthquake.
The U.S.O.C. has donated 1,000 tents to help the relief effort in China's Sichuan Province.
—
Pain relief is the reduction of pain.
After such injuries, pain relief is often the patient's priority.
Some patients return to the office over and over again, hoping to find relief for every symptom.
Exercising in warm water often brings immediate relief from pain.
A person might enjoy temporary relief from stress by playing games.
—
Financial relief is the reduction of debt or taxes, or receiving money.
Tony Blair, is encouraging leaders of the richest nations to consider debt relief as a form of aid to impoverished nations.
Let's get tax relief, a middle class tax cut, for ordinary working families.
The majority of these people are poor and seeking economic relief for their families.
—
Relief is somebody who will take over your difficult job to give you a rest.
2,0000 relief fighters arrived too late to save the city.
Who needs relief pitchers? Let the starting pitcher finish every game.
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Comic relief is something funny during a serious or difficult time.
A coworker who provides steady emotional support and comic relief can help you get through the day.
—
A relief or bas relief is a kind of decoration in which a shape is raised above the surface.
—
If something stands out in relief, it is very noticeable.
His face and his right hand stand out in sharp relief against the blue background.
on
Preposition
—
positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above
The apple is on the table.
—
at the date of
Tim was born on the 4th of July.
—
along, forwards (continuing an action)
drive on, rock on
—
about, dealing with the subject of
I have a book on history.
There was a World Summit on the Information Society a few weeks ago.
—
touching; hanging from
I have no money on me at the moment.
I would like to eat the fruit on the trees.
—
because of, due to
He was arrested on suspicion of bribery.
I contacted Joanne on a hunch that she would know about it.
The stock price increased on news of a new product.
on
Adjective
—
If something is on, it is active, functioning or operating.
The television is on.
The lights are on, so it is very bright.
flank
Verb
—
If an attacking group flanks someone, it comes from both sides.
flank
Noun
—
A flank is the part of the body between the ribs and the hip.
and
Conjunction
—
You use and to talk about two things at once.
I like singing and reading.
Mary and Jane went on a holiday together.
—
You use and when you are listing a few things and you are now on your last item of the list.
I like singing, reading, cycling and playing soccer.
I used to like this girl from my class as she is pretty, gentle and caring.
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And is used when you are putting two sentences together.
She came into the store, shouted at the cashier, and left.
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Used to show what happened after something else.
The alarm went off and I woke up.
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And is used to join certain numbers together.
Two hundred and thirty-five people went missing after the earthquake.
minor
Adjective
—
A minor change, problem, injury, etc. is not very important.
We still have to make a few minor changes, but it's mostly done.
—
A minor musical scale is a scale that starts two notes before the major scale. Music in a minor scale often sounds sad.
That music could be A minor or C major.
minor
Noun
—
A minor is a subject area that is not the main study of a student at a college or university, but is their second most important focus.
I had so many credit hours of English, it became my minor.
minor
Verb
—
Minor means to minor in a subject at a college or university.
I had so many credit hours of English that I decided to minor in it.
diameter
Noun
—
The diameter of a circle is the distance from one point on the circumference of the circle to the point on the opposite side.
The diameter of that circle is 4 inches.
only
Adverb
—
no more than; no other than; just
There are only three schools in this town.
You can get this only in Canada.
I'm only able to go on Monday.
He comes only once a year.
She only eats vegetables.
This is only what we got.
He's not only nice, but also good looking.
We will stop only to rest.
Things will only get worse.
Only call me if you have to.
only
Adjective
—
Just one or just a few; this and no other; no more than this.
She is the only woman doctor in this city.
These are the only coins I have.
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An only child, son, girl, etc. has no brothers or sisters.
only
Preposition
—
but; except that
They probably could do it, only you never let them try.