Englishfor English speakers
minimize
Verb
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If you minimize something, you make it as small as possible.
We should take all steps to minimize the risk of disease.
We are trying to minimize pollution by using bikes instead of our car.
These steps will help us to minimize the time and cost of transporting materials.
the
Determiner
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Used, instead of a, to reference something specific, already known to exist.
Compare "I read a book." and "I read the book."
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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.
risk
Noun
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A risk is something bad that could possibly happen.
There are many risks associated with the stock market.
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A risk is the chance of something bad happening.
The risk of us failing is too great.
risk
Verb
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To risk something means to take a chance with something.
She risked hypothermia by swimming the English Channel.