Englishfor English speakers
gradation
—
noun
(= step)
relative position in a graded series
always a step behind
subtle gradations in color
keep in step with the fashions
—
noun
the act of arranging in grades
—
noun
(= grade)
a degree of ablaut
of
Preposition
—
Made using.
It is a house of cards.
the
Determiner
—
Used, instead of a, to reference something specific, already known to exist.
Compare "I read a book." and "I read the book."
—
Used with a stress, to show that the word following is special.
Are you the John Smith that I went to school with?
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Used with an adjective that acts like a noun to mean all of the people concerned
The poor are always with us.
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Used with superlatives forms of adjectives and adverbs.
You are the best.
fire
Noun
—
A chemical reaction that makes heat and flames or smoldering.
—
Something that has made or can make this chemical reaction, such as a campfire.
We sat around the fire singing songs and telling stories.
—
The, often accidental, occurrence of fire in a certain place which leads to its full or partial destruction.
There was a fire at the school last night and the whole place burned down.
—
One of the four basic elements.
—
One of the five basic elements.
fire
Verb
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To set something on fire.
—
To shoot (a gun, cannon or a similar weapon).
We will fire our guns at the enemy.
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To shoot a gun, cannon or a similar weapon.
Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes.
—
To end the employment of an employee because of something they did wrong.
She should fire the employee that stole from the company.
He got fired from his job.
safety
Noun
—
When something is safe or secure
It is important to learn traffic safety so you do not get hurt while crossing the street
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Something that keeps a device from accidentally going off
It is important that the safety be on the curtain so that it does fall and hurt the actors
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In American football, the player on defense who is furthest from the ball at the start of the play.