A2 (Elementary)

strong

strong [strong stronger strongest]   [strɒŋ]    [strɔːŋ]  adjective (strong·er   [strɒŋɡə(r)]  ;   [strɔːŋɡər]  , strong·est   [strɒŋɡɪst]  ;   [strɔːŋɡɪst]  )

 
HAVING PHYSICAL POWER
1. (of people, animals, etc.) having a lot of physical power so that you can lift heavy weights, do hard physical work, etc
• strong muscles
• She wasn't a strong swimmer (= she could not swim well).

• He's strong enough to lift a car!

2. (of a natural or physical force) having great power
• Stay indoors in the middle of the day, when the sun is strongest.
• a strong wind/current

• a strong magnet

3. having a powerful effect on the body or mind

• a strong drug  

HAVING POWER OVER PEOPLE

4. having a lot of power or influence

• a strong leader/government

5. the strong plural people who are rich or powerful  

HARD TO RESIST/DEFEAT/ATTACK
6. very powerful and difficult for people to fight against or defeat
• a strong team

• (figurative) The temptation to tell her everything was very strong.

7. (of an argument, evidence, etc.) difficult to attack or criticize
• There is strong evidence of a link between exercise and a healthy heart.

• You have a strong case for getting your job back.  

OPINION/BELIEF/FEELING

8. only before noun (of a person) holding an opinion or a belief very firmly and seriously
Syn:  firm

• a strong supporter/opponent of the government

9. (of an opinion, a belief or a feeling) very powerful
• strong support for the government

• People have strong feelings about this issue.  

NOT EASILY BROKEN

10. (of objects) not easily broken or damaged; made well

• a strong chair  

NOT EASILY UPSET

11. not easily upset or frightened; not easily influenced by other people
• You need strong nerves to ride a bike in London.
• It's difficult, I know. But be strong!
• a strong personality
• She's had a strong will since she was a baby.

see also  headstrong, strong-minded, strong-willed  

LIKELY TO SUCCEED

12. likely to succeed or happen
• a strong candidate for the job
• You're in a strong position to negotiate a deal.

• There's a strong possibility that we'll lose the game.  

GOOD AT STH

13. good at sth
• The play has a very strong cast.

• Mathematics was never my strong point (= I was never very good at it).  

NUMBER

14. great in number

• There was a strong police presence at the demonstration.

15. used after numbers to show the size of a group
• a 5 000-strong crowd

• The crowd was 5 000 strong.  

HEALTHY

16. (of a person) not easily affected by disease; healthy

• Are you feeling stronger now after your rest?  

FIRMLY ESTABLISHED

17. firmly established; difficult to destroy
• a strong marriage

• The college has strong links with local industry.  

BUSINESS

18. (of prices, an economy, etc.) having a value that is high or increasing
• strong share prices

• The euro is getting stronger against the dollar.

19. (of a business or an industry) in a safe financial position

• Their catering business remained strong despite the recession.  

EASY TO SEE/HEAR/FEEL/SMELL

20. easy to see, hear, feel or smell; very great or intense
• a strong smell
• a strong feeling of nausea
• a strong voice (= loud)
• strong colours
• a face with strong features (= large and noticeable)
• She spoke with a strong Australian accent.

• He was under strong pressure to resign.  

FOOD

21. having a lot of flavour

• strong cheese  

DRINKS

22. containing a lot of a substance

• strong black coffee  

WORDS

23. (of words or language) having a lot of force, often causing offence to people

• The movie has been criticized for strong language (= swearing).  

GRAMMAR

24. usually before noun (of a verb) forming the past tense and past participle by changing a vowel, not by adding a regular ending, for example sing, sang  

PHONETICS
25. usually before noun used to describe the way some words are pronounced when they have stress. For example, the strong form of and is / [ænd] / .
Opp:  weak 
more at sb's best/strongest/winning card at  card  _n.
Idioms: a bit strong ▪ come on strong ▪ going strong ▪ have a strong stomach ▪ somebody's strong suit ▪ strong on something
Derived Word: strongly  
Word Origin:
Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German streng, also to string.  
Thesaurus:
strong adj.
1.
• He's strong enough to lift a car!
muscular • |especially written, usually approving powerful •
Opp: weak
(a) strong/muscular/powerful build/body/arms/legs
strong/powerful muscles/jaws
2.
• Stay indoors when the sun is strongest.
bright • • dazzling • • brilliant • • bold • • intense • |disapproving harsh • • glaring •
Opp: weak
strong/bright/dazzling/brilliant/intense/harsh/glaring light
strong/bright/dazzling/brilliant/bold/harsh/glaring colours
strong/bright/dazzling/brilliant/glaring sunshine
3. (approving)
• The country needs a strong leader.
powerful • • important • • influential • • great • • dominant •
Opp: weak
a/an strong/powerful/important/influential/great/dominant figure/leader/position
a/an strong/powerful/influential lobby
a/an strong/powerful/important/great/dominant influence
Which word? Strong people are confident and have leadership qualities. Powerful people such as politicians use their position to control events. Important people influence other people or events because people respect them or because their position means their actions have a great effect. Influential people change other people's opinions or behaviour because people respect and listen to them.
4.
• You have a strong case for getting your job back.
convincing • • persuasive • • forceful • • compelling • |formal cogent •
Opp: weak
a strong/convincing/persuasive/forceful/compelling/cogent argument
strong/convincing/persuasive/compelling/cogent evidence
a strong/convincing/persuasive/compelling/cogent reason/case
5.
• You need vitamins to keep you strong and healthy.
healthy • • good • |especially BrE fit • |especially spoken well • • fine •
Opp: weak
get strong/fit/well
physically strong/healthy/fit/well
fit and strong/healthy/well
6.
• strong cheese/coffee
hot • • spicy •
Opp: mild, Opp: weak
a strong/hot/spicy flavour
a strong/spicy taste
strong/hot mustard  
Word Family:
strong adjective
strongly adverb
strength noun
strengthen verb  
Synonyms:
well
all right • OK • fine • healthy • strong • fit
These words all describe sb who is not ill and is in good health.
well • [not usually before noun] (rather informal) in good health: ▪ I'm not feeling very well. ◊ ▪ Is he well enough to travel?
Well is used especially to talk about your own health, to ask sb about their health or to make a comment on it.
all right • [not before noun] (rather informal) not feeling ill; not injured: ▪ Are you feeling all right?
OK • [not before noun] (informal) not feeling ill; not injured: ▪ She says she's OK now, and will be back at work tomorrow.
all right or ok?
These words are slightly less positive than the other words in this group. They are both used in spoken English to talk about not actually being ill or injured, rather than being positively in good health. Both are rather informal but OK is slightly more informal than all right.
fine • [not before noun] (not used in negative statements) (rather informal) completely well: ▪ ‘How are you?’ ‘Fine, thanks.’
Fine is used especially to talk about your health, especially when sb asks you how you are. It is also used to talk about sb's health when you are talking to sb else. Unlike well it is not often used to ask sb about their health or make a comment on it: Are you keeping fine?
healthy • in good health and not likely to become ill: ▪ Keep healthy by exercising regularly.
strong • in good health and not suffering from an illness: ▪ After a few weeks she was feeling stronger.
Strong is often used to talk about becoming healthy again after an illness.
fit • (especially BrE) in good physical health, especially because you take regular physical exercise: ▪ I go swimming every day in order to keep fit.
all right/OK/fit for sth
all right/OK/fit to do sth
to feel/look well/all right/OK/fine/healthy/strong/fit
to keep (sb) well/healthy/fit
perfectly well/all right/OK/fine/healthy/fit
physically well/healthy/strong/fit 
Example Bank:
• Don't try to go back to work before you are physically strong enough.
• He exerts an extremely strong influence on his classmates.
• Sales were surprisingly strong in the second half of the year.
• The box looks strong enough.
• The business is still going strong.
• The men's golf team finished strong on Saturday.
• The party lacks a strong enough local base.
• This news helped keep the dollar relatively strong today.
• We must stand strong in the face of adversity.
• After a few weeks she was feeling stronger.
• He felt that the evidence was sufficiently strong to make the claims he did.
• He's strong enough to lift a car!
• It's difficult, I know, but be strong!
• She has long been one of the strongest advocates of sanctions.
• She is the leader of one of the country's strongest trade unions.
• She wasn't a strong swimmer.
• Stay indoors in the middle of the day, when the sun is strongest.
• The report recommended a strong role for the governing board in school policy on discipline.
• There is strong evidence of a link between exercise and a healthy heart.
• These vitamins are meant to keep you healthy and strong.
• This traditional Cheddar is a treat for lovers of strong farmhouse cheese.
• We hope to see you well and strong again soon.
• What the country needs right now is a strong government.
• Will this damage his image as a strong leader?
• You'll need to use plenty of strong French mustard.

• a cup of strong black coffee

download

down·load [download downloads downloaded downloading] verb, noun

verb   [ˌdaʊnˈləʊd]  ;   [ˌdaʊnˈloʊd]  ~ sth (computing)
to move data to a smaller computer system from a larger one
Opp:  upload 
compare  load

Collocations:
Email and the Internet
Email
receive/get/open an email
write/send/answer/forward/delete an email
check/read/access your email
block/filter (out) junk/spam/unsolicited email
exchange email addresses
open/check your inbox
junk mail fills/floods/clogs your inbox
have/set up an email account
open/send/contain an attachment
sign up for/receive email alerts
Connecting to the Internet
use/access/log onto the Internet/the Web
go online/on the Internet
have a high-speed/dial-up/broadband/wireless (Internet) connection
access/connect to/locate the server
use/open/close/launch a/your web browser
browse/surf/search/scour the Internet/the Web
send/contain/spread/detect a (computer/email) virus
update your anti-virus software
install/use/configure a firewall
accept/enable/block/delete cookies
Using the Internet
visit/check a website/an Internet site/sb's blog
create/design/launch a website/social networking site
start/write/post/read a blog
update your blog/a website
be in/meet sb in/go into/enter an Internet chat room
download/upload music/software/a song/a podcast/a file/a copy of sth
share information/data/files
post a comment/message on a website/an online message board/a web forum/an internet chat room
stream video/audio/music/content over the Internet
join/participate in/visit/provide a (web-based/web/online/Internet/discussion) forum
generate/increase/monitor Internet traffic

Derived Word: downloadable 

once

once adverb, conjunction   [wʌns]    [wʌns]

adverb
1. on one occasion only; one time
• I've only been there once.
• He cleans his car once a week.
• She only sees her parents once every six months.

• (informal) He only did it the once.

2. at some time in the past
• I once met your mother.
• He once lived in Zambia.

• This book was famous once, but nobody reads it today.

3. used in negative sentences and questions, and after if to mean ‘ever’ or ‘at all’
• He never once offered to help.
• If she once decides to do something, you won't change her mind.  
Word Origin:
Middle English ones, genitive of one. The spelling change in the 16th cent. was in order to retain the unvoiced sound of the final consonant.

Idioms: all at once ▪ at once ▪ for once ▪ going once, going twice, sold ▪ just this once ▪ once a …, always a … ▪ once again ▪ once and for all ▪ once bitten, twice shy ▪ once in a blue moon ▪ once in a while ▪ once more ▪ once or twice ▪ once too often ▪ once upon a time 

art

art [art arts] noun, verb   [ɑːt]    [ɑːrt] 

noun
1. uncountable the use of the imagination to express ideas or feelings, particularly in painting, drawing or sculpture
• modern/contemporary/American art
• an art critic/historian/lover
• Can we call television art?
• stolen works of art
• Her performance displayed great art.

see also  clip art, fine art

2. uncountable examples of objects such as paintings, drawings or sculptures
• an art gallery/exhibition

• a collection of art and antiques

3. uncountable the skill of creating objects such as paintings and drawings, especially when you study it
• She's good at art and design.

• an art teacher/student/college/class

4. the arts plural art, music, theatre, literature, etc. when you think of them as a group
• lottery funding for the arts

see also  performing arts

5. countable a type of visual or performing art

• Dance is a very theatrical art.

6. countable, usually plural the subjects you can study at school or university that are not scientific, such as languages, history or literature
• an arts degree

compare  science

7. countable, uncountable an ability or a skill that you can develop with training and practice
• a therapist trained in the art of healing
• Letter-writing is a lost art nowadays.
• Appearing confident at interviews is quite an art (= rather difficult).
see get sth down to a fine art at  fine  _adj.  
Word Origin:
n. Middle English: via Old French from Latin ars, art-.  
Culture:
art galleries and museums of art
In Britain, works of art are displayed in art galleries and, especially outside London, in museums. Shops that sell paintings are also called galleries. In the US public art collections are displayed in art museums, and a gallery is a place where people go to buy works of art.
Many galleries and museums in Britain and the US receive limited financial support from national or local government. Other money is raised through admission fees, although admission to many British museums is free, and the sale of postcards, calendars, etc. Some galleries obtain money through sponsorship. Many works of art are expensive and galleries can rarely buy them without organizing a public appeal or, in Britain, asking for money from the National Art Collections Fund.
Visiting an art gallery is a popular leisure activity. Galleries and museums are friendlier places than they used to be. Many try to encourage children’s interest in art by arranging school visits and many people make their first trip to an art museum with their school class.
The most popular galleries in Britain, all in London, are the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain and Tate Modern. The Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition of paintings sent in by the general public also receives a lot of visitors. Sculpture attracts less attention, and though the names of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth are known to many people, few could describe any of their works. Well-known galleries outside London include the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Important art museums in the US include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum, all in New York, and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Most US cities and many smaller towns have art museums.
Galleries sometimes mount exhibitions of the paintings of one artist, e.g. Turner, that are brought together from all over the world. People are prepared to queue for a long time to see them. Many people admire old masters, famous works by great artists of the past, but have little interest in modern art. New works receive publicity in the media only when they are unusual or likely to shock people. Galleries and museums try to encourage a more positive attitude to modern art but many people remain doubtful. When the Tate displayed half a cow and its calf rotting in formaldehyde (= a chemical used to preserve it), the public criticized the artist, Damien Hirst. There is usually controversy about the winners of the Turner Prize 
Some exhibitions bring together all kinds of art, not only paintings, from a particular time or country so that people can learn about it. Exhibitions on subjects such as the Aztecs, art nouveau and the art of Turkey attract large crowds. 
Collocations:
Fine arts
Creating art
make a work of art/a drawing/a sketch/a sculpture/a statue/engravings/etchings/prints
do an oil painting/a self-portrait/a line drawing/a rough sketch
create a work of art/an artwork/paintings and sculptures
produce paintings/portraits/oil sketches/his most celebrated work/a series of prints
paint a picture/landscape/portrait/mural/in oils/in watercolours/(especially US) in watercolors/on canvas
draw a picture/a portrait/a cartoon/a sketch/a line/a figure/the human form/in charcoal/in ink
sketch a preliminary drawing/a figure/a shape
carve a figure/an image/a sculpture/an altarpiece/reliefs/a block of wood
sculpt a portrait bust/a statue/an abstract figure
etch a line/a pattern/a design/a name into the glass
mix colours/(especially US) colors/pigments/paints
add/apply thin/thick layers of paint/colour/(especially US) color/pigment
use oil pastels/charcoal/acrylic paint/a can of spray paint
work in bronze/ceramics/stone/oils/pastels/watercolour/a wide variety of media
Describing art
paint/depict a female figure/a biblical scene/a pastoral landscape/a domestic interior
depict/illustrate a traditional/mythological/historical/religious theme
create an abstract composition/a richly textured surface/a distorted perspective
paint dark/rich/skin/flesh tones
use broad brush strokes/loose brushwork/vibrant colours/a limited palette/simple geometric forms
develop/adopt/paint in a stylized manner/an abstract style
Showing and selling art
commission an altarpiece/a bronze bust of sb/a portrait/a religious work/an artist to paint sth
frame a painting/portrait
hang art/a picture/a painting
display/exhibit modern art/sb's work/a collection/original artwork/ drawings/sculptures/a piece
be displayed/hung in a gallery/museum
install/place a sculpture in/at/on sth
erect/unveil a bronze/marble/life-size statue
hold/host/mount/open/curate/see (especially BrE) an exhibition/(NAmE usually) exhibit
be/go on (BrE) exhibition/(NAmE) exhibit
feature/promote/showcase a conceptual artist/contemporary works
collect African art/modern British paintings/Japanese prints
restore/preserve a fresco/great works of art 
Example Bank:
• Cinema became accepted as an art form.
• He created cover art and illustrations for the magazine.
• He was a noted art collector.
• His art style was less radical than his contemporaries.
• I've never mastered the art of making bread.
• Many people from the art world attended the funeral.
• Michelangelo's Pietà is a magnificent work of art.
• She has the business of buying presents down to a fine art.
• Social interaction is increasingly becoming a lost art.
• Television has ruined the art of conversation.
• The castle houses one of the finest art collections in Britain.
• The museum normally showcases Western art.
• The open art exhibition will allow new artists to exhibit their work.
• Will real life ever imitate art the way Hollywood wishes it would?
• a liberal arts degree
• an exhibition of Peruvian arts and crafts
• one of the greatest works of art ever produced
• the Impressionist art movement
• the New York art scene
• Appearing confident at interviews is quite an art.
• Painting is the art of reaching the soul through the eyes.
• Teach your teenager the art of compromise.
• the art of conversation/communication/persuasion/negotiation/compromise/healing/listening/love

• the art of fiction/poetry/painting/film

friendly

friend·ly [friendly friendlies friendlier friendliest] adjective, noun   [ˈfrendli]    [ˈfrendli] 

adjective (friend·lier, friend·li·est)
1. behaving in a kind and pleasant way because you like sb or want to help them
• a warm and friendly person
• ~ to/toward(s) sb Everyone was very friendly towards me.

Opp:  unfriendly

2. showing kindness; making you feel relaxed and as though you are among friends
• a friendly smile/welcome
• a small hotel with a friendly atmosphere

Opp:  unfriendly

3. ~ (with sb) treating sb as a friend
• We soon became friendly with the couple next door.
• She was on friendly terms with most of the hospital staff.

• We were not on the friendliest of terms (= we were not friendly at all).

4. (especially of the relationship between countries) not treating sb/sth as an enemy
• to maintain friendly relations with all countries

Opp:  hostile

5. (often in compound adjectives) that is helpful and easy to use; that helps sb/sth or does not harm it
• This software is much friendlier than the previous version.
• environmentally-friendly farming methods
• ozone-friendly cleaning materials

see also  user-friendly

6. in which the people, teams, etc. taking part are not seriously competing against each other
• a friendly argument
• friendly rivalry
• (BrE) It was only a friendly match.  
Thesaurus:
friendly adj.
1.
• Jim gave me a friendly smile.
warm • • welcoming • • good-natured • • pleasant • • likeable • • hospitable • • approachable • |especially spoken nice • • lovely • |written amiable • • genial •
Opp: unfriendly
friendly/pleasant/welcoming/hospitable/nice to sb
a/an friendly/warm/good-natured/pleasant/likeable/hospitable/approachable/nice/lovely/amiable/genial person
a friendly/warm/welcoming/pleasant/hospitable/amiable/genial manner
2.
• She was on friendly terms with her employees.
amicable • • easy • |formal cordial •
Opp: hostile
(a/an) friendly/amicable/easy/cordial relationship/relations
a/an friendly/amicable/cordial meeting
be on friendly/amicable/easy/cordial terms (with sb) 
Example Bank:
• For once he seemed almost friendly.
• Frank was a genuinely friendly guy.
• He seemed detached, almost bored, but perfectly friendly.
• He was always friendly towards me.
• He was starting to get too friendly.
• Her manner was not exactly friendly
• She's very friendly with Maureen.
• They were pretty friendly when they worked together.
• We have managed to remain on friendly terms.
• environmentally friendly cleaning products
• Everyone was exceptionally friendly towards me.
• It's a small hotel with a friendly atmosphere.
• John gave me a friendly smile.
• She's a very warm and friendly person.
• The boss had a friendly chat with me about the problem after work.
• The government has maintained friendly relations with the Japanese.
• We were not on the friendliest of terms.

Derived Word: friendliness 

windy

windy [windy windier windiest]   [ˈwɪndi]    [ˈwɪndi]  adjective (wind·ier, windi·est)
1. (of weather, etc.) with a lot of wind
• a windy day
• It's too windy to go out in the boat.

Opp:  windless

2. (of a place) getting a lot of wind

• windy hills

3. (informal, disapproving) (of speech) involving speaking for longer than necessary and in a way that is complicated and not clear 
Word Origin:
Old English windig (see wind¹, -y).  
Example Bank:
• It's getting very windy.

• a wet and windy day

busy

busy [busy busies busied busying busier busiest] adjective, verb   [ˈbɪzi]    [ˈbɪzi]

adjective (busier, busi·est) 

DOING STH
1. having a lot to do; perhaps not free to do sth else because you are working on sth
• Are you busy tonight?
• I'm afraid the doctor is busy at the moment. Can he call you back?
• I'll be too busy to come to the meeting.
• The principal is a very busy woman.
• She was always too busy to listen.
• a very busy life

• ~ with sth/sb Kate's busy with her homework.

2. ~ (doing sth) spending a lot of time on sth
• James is busy practising for the school concert.
• Let's get busy with the clearing up.

• They were busy enjoying themselves at the party.  

PLACE

3. full of people, activity, vehicles, etc
• a busy main road

• Victoria is one of London's busiest stations.  

PERIOD OF TIME

4. full of work and activity
• Have you had a busy day?
• This is one of the busiest times of the year for the department.

• We had a busy weekend lined up.  

TELEPHONE

5. (especially NAmE) being used
Syn:  engaged
• The line is busy— I'll try again later.

• the busy signal  

PATTERN/DESIGN

6. too full of small details
• This wallpaper is too busy for the bedroom.  
Word Origin:
Old English bisgian (verb), bisig (noun); related to Dutch bezig, of unknown origin.  
Thesaurus:
busy adj.
1.
• The principal is a very busy man.
active • • hard-pressed • • occupied • • at work • • involved • |formal engaged •
busy/occupied/involved with sth
active/occupied/involved/engaged in sth
keep sb busy/active/occupied/involved
2.
• a busy airport
crowded • • full • • packed • • crammed • |approving lively • |approving, written bustling • • vibrant • |disapproving overcrowded • • congested •
busy/crowded/packed/crammed/bustling with people
a/an busy/crowded/lively/bustling/overcrowded place/town/market/bar
the place/town/market/bar is full/packed
3.
• a busy time of year
hectic • • full • • eventful •
Opp: quiet
a/an busy/hectic/full/eventful day/weekend/week/life
a/an busy/hectic/full programme/schedule/timetable
Busy, hectic or full? Busy is the most general of these words. Full often describes a period of time, especially sb's life, that is busy in a good way. Hectic usually describes a period of time or an activity that is too busy.  
Collocations:
Phones
Making and receiving phone calls
the phone/telephone rings
answer/pick up/hang up the phone/telephone
lift/pick up/hold/replace the receiver
dial a (phone/extension/wrong) number/an area code
call sb/talk (to sb)/speak (to sb) on the phone/telephone; from home/work/the office
make/get/receive a phone call
take the phone off the hook (= remove the receiver so that the phone does not ring)
the line is (BrE) engaged/ (especially NAmE) busy
the phones have been (NAmE) ringing off the hook (= ringing frequently)
put sb through/get through to the person you want to speak to
put sb on hold (= so that they must wait for the person they want to speak to)
call from/use a landline
Mobile/cell phones
be/talk on a (both BrE) mobile phone/mobile/(especially NAmE) cell phone/(informal, especially NAmE) cell
use/answer/call (sb on)/get a message on your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell
switch/turn on/off your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell
charge/recharge your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell
a mobile/cell phone is on/is off/rings/goes off
(BrE) top up your mobile (phone)
send/receive a text (message)/an SMS (message)/a fax
insert/remove/change a SIM card 
Example Bank:
• I've got enough work to keep you busy.
• She needed to keep busy.
• She was busy with her make-up.
• Have you had a busy day?
• I'm afraid the doctor is busy at the moment. Can he call you back?
• Let's get busy with the clearing up.
• Victoria is one of London's busiest stations.
• We have to cross a busy main road to get to school.
Idioms: as busy as a bee ▪ keep yourself busy

Derived Word: busily 

simple

sim·ple [simple simpler simplest]   [ˈsɪmpl]    [ˈsɪmpl]  adjective (sim·pler, sim·plest) You can also use more simple and most simple.

EASY
1. not complicated; easy to understand or do
Syn:  easy
• a simple solution
• The answer is really quite simple.
• This machine is very simple to use.
• We lost because we played badly. It's as simple as that.

• Give the necessary information but keep it simple.  

BASIC/PLAIN

2. basic or plain without anything extra or unnecessary
• simple but elegant clothes
• We had a simple meal of soup and bread.
• The accommodation is simple but spacious.
• simple pleasures, like reading and walking

Opp:  fancy  

FOR EMPHASIS

3. used before a noun to emphasize that it is exactly that and nothing else
• Nobody wanted to believe the simple truth.
• It was a matter of simple survival.
• It's nothing to worry about— just a simple headache.

• I had to do it for the simple reason that (= because) I couldn't trust anyone else.  

WITH FEW PARTS

4. usually before noun consisting of only a few parts; not complicated in structure
• simple forms of life, for example amoebas
• a simple machine

• (grammar) a simple sentence (= one with only one verb)  

ORDINARY

5. only before noun (of a person) ordinary; not special

• I'm a simple country girl.  

NOT INTELLIGENT

6. not usually before noun (of a person) not very intelligent; not mentally normal

• He's not mad— just a little simple.  

GRAMMAR

7. used to describe the present or past tense of a verb that is formed without using an auxiliary verb, as in She loves him (= the simple present tense) or He arrived late (= the simple past tense)
see also  simply, see pure and simple at  pure  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French, from Latin simplus.  
Thesaurus:
simple adj.
1.
• The machine is simple to use.
easy • • straightforward • • uncomplicated • • plain sailing • |written undemanding •
Opp: complicated
simple/easy/straightforward/plain sailing for sb
simple/easy/straightforward/plain sailing to do sth
a/an simple/easy/straightforward matter/decision/test/question
There's no simple/easy/straightforward answer.
Simple or easy? Easy means ‘not difficult’: an easy test/task is one that causes you no difficulties because you have the ability to do it. Simple means ‘not complicated’: a simple task is one that needs only very few, basic actions and does not usually depend on people's abilities.
2. (especially written, usually approving)
• a simple meal of soup and bread
plain • |especially written bare • • austere •
Opp: fancy
a simple/plain/austere design
a simple/plain/bare interior
3. only before noun
• The simple fact is I can't afford it.
plain • • bare • • bald • |formal unequivocal • |often approving honest • • straightforward • |especially written, usually disapproving stark •
the simple/plain/bare/unequivocal/honest/stark truth
a/an simple/plain/bare/unequivocal/stark fact
a/an simple/plain/bare/unequivocal/honest/straightforward/stark statement
a/an simple/plain/unequivocal/honest/straightforward answer
Simple or plain? Simple is used with more collocations and structures than plain. Expressions with simple often suggest impatience with other people's behaviour
• No one wanted to believe the simple truth.
4. usually before noun
• They were simple country people.
unremarkable • |often approving plain • |disapproving ordinary • |often disapproving average •
a/an simple/unremarkable/plain/ordinary/average person
simple/plain ignorance/common sense
Simple or plain? Simple is used more about people and plain about qualities. When used about people simple tells you how other people see sb; plain tells you more about how sb sees him/herself.  
Synonyms:
plain
simple • stark • bare • unequivocal
These words all describe statements, often about sth unpleasant, that are very clear, not trying to hide anything, and not using more words than necessary.
plain • used for talking about a fact that other people may not like to hear; honest and direct in way that other people may not like: ▪ The plain fact is that nobody really knows.
simple • [only before noun] used for talking about a fact that other people may not like to hear; very obvious and not complicated by anything else: ▪ The simple truth is that we just can't afford it.
plain or simple?
When it is being used to emphasize facts that other people may not like to hear, plain is usually used in the expression the plain fact/truth is that… Simple can be used in this way too, but it can also be used in a wider variety of structures and collocations (such as reason and matter): ▪ The problem was due to the simple fact that… ◊ The problem was due to the plain fact that… ◊ for the plain reason that… ◊ It's a plain matter of… Expressions with simple often suggest impatience with other people's behaviour.
stark • (rather formal) used for describing an unpleasant fact or difference that is very obvious: ▪ The stark truth is that there is not enough money left.
The simple/plain truth may be sth that some people do not want to hear, but it may be good for them to hear it anyway. The stark truth is sth particularly unpleasant and has no good side to it at all.
bare • [only before noun] the most basic or simple, with nothing extra: ▪ She gave me only the bare facts of the case.
unequivocal • (formal) expressing your opinion or intention very clearly and firmly: ▪ The reply was an unequivocal ‘no’.
the plain/simple/stark/bare/unequivocal truth
a(n) plain/simple/stark/bare/unequivocal fact/statement
a(n) plain/simple/unequivocal answer  
Example Bank:
• I found the work fairly simple.
• Is all this technology making our lives simpler?
• It is a brilliantly simple idea.
• The engine design is elegantly simple.
• The golden rule when creating your design is: keep it simple.
• The logic of the plan was devastatingly simple.
• Their approach is refreshingly simple and direct.
• This seemingly simple task ended up taking hours.
• When creating your design, keep it simple.
• a deceptively simple technique
• Give the necessary information but keep it simple.
• I had to do it for the simple reason that I couldn't trust anyone else.
• I used a very simple method to obtain the answer.
• In some cases his argument is based on simple ignorance.
• It's a simple matter of giving them enough to eat.
• It's quite a simple machine.
• The best gowns are simple and elegant.
• The poem describes simple young soldiers in the Civil War.
• The simple truth is that we just can't afford it.
• There is nothing simple about this movie, and nothing simple about the man who made it.
• These proposals are no more than simple common sense.
• They were simple country people.
• This machine is simple to use.
• We lost because we played badly. It's as simple as that.

• a simple sentence

nothing

noth·ing [nothing nothings]   [ˈnʌθɪŋ]    [ˈnʌθɪŋ]  pronoun
1. not anything; no single thing
• There was nothing in her bag.
• There's nothing you can do to help.
• The doctor said there was nothing wrong with me.
• Nothing else matters to him apart from his job.
• It cost us nothing to go in.

• (BrE) He's five foot nothing (= exactly five feet tall).

2. something that is not at all important or interesting
• ‘What's that in your pocket?’ ‘Oh, nothing.’
• We did nothing at the weekend.
more at all or nothing at  all  _det., stop at nothing at  stop  _v., sweet nothings at  sweet  _adj.
Idioms: for nothing ▪ have nothing on somebody ▪ not for nothing ▪ nothing but ▪ nothing if not ▪ nothing less than ▪ nothing like ▪ nothing much ▪ nothing to do with somebody ▪ nothing to it ▪ nothing to somebody ▪ there is nothing for it ▪ there is nothing in something ▪ there's nothing like something  
Word Origin:

Old English nān thing (see no, thing).

toothache

tooth·ache [toothache toothaches]   [ˈtuːθeɪk]    [ˈtuːθeɪk]  noun uncountable, countable, usually singular
a pain in your teeth or in one tooth: (BrE) I've got toothache.

• (NAmE, BrE) I've got a toothache.