A2 (Elementary)

sausage

saus·age [sausage sausages]   [ˈsɒsɪdʒ]    [ˈsɔːsɪdʒ]  noun countable, uncountable
a mixture of finely chopped meat, fat, bread, etc. in a long tube of skin, cooked and eaten whole or served cold in thin slices
• beef/pork sausages
• 200g of garlic sausage
see also  liver sausage
Idiom: not a sausage  
Word Origin:

late Middle English: from Old Northern French saussiche, from medieval Latin salsicia, from Latin salsus ‘salted’, past participle of salere ‘to salt’, from sal ‘salt’.

grape

grape [grape grapes]   [ɡreɪp]    [ɡreɪp]  noun

a small green or purple fruit that grows in bunches on a climbing plant (called a vine). Wine is made from grapes
• a bunch of grapes
• black/white grapes (= grapes that are actually purple/green in colour)
• We picked grapes in the south of France last summer.
see sour grapes at  sour  _adj.  
Word Origin:
Middle English (also in the Old French sense): from Old French, bunch of grapes, probably from graper ‘gather (grapes)’, from grap ‘hook’ (denoting an implement used in harvesting grapes), of Germanic origin.  
Example Bank:
• The peasants used to tread the grapes in huge vats.

• lovely sweet grapes

nature

na·ture [nature natures]   [ˈneɪtʃə(r)]    [ˈneɪtʃər]  noun

PLANTS, ANIMALS
1. (often Nature) uncountable all the plants, animals and things that exist in the universe that are not made by people
• the beauties of nature
• man-made substances not found in nature
• nature conservation  You cannot use ‘the nature’ in this meaning: the beauties of the nature. It is often better to use another appropriate word, for example the countryside, the scenery or wildlife
• We stopped to admire the scenery.

• We stopped to admire the nature.

2. (often Nature) uncountable the way that things happen in the physical world when it is not controlled by people
• the forces/laws of nature
• Just let nature take its course.
• Her illness was Nature's way of telling her to do less.

see also  Mother Nature  

CHARACTER

3. countable, uncountable the usual way that a person or an animal behaves that is part of their character
• It's not in his nature to be unkind.
• She is very sensitive by nature.
• We appealed to his better nature (= his kindness).

see also  good nature, human nature, second nature  

BASIC QUALITIES

4. singular the basic qualities of a thing
• the changing nature of society
• It's difficult to define the exact nature of the problem.
• My work is very specialized in nature.

• The future by its very nature is uncertain.  

TYPE/KIND

5. singular a type or kind of sth
• books of a scientific nature

• Don't worry about things of that nature.  

-NATURED

6. (in adjectives) having the type of character or quality mentioned
• a good-natured man
more at the call of nature at  call  _n., the forces of nature at  force  _n.
Idioms: against nature ▪ back to nature ▪ in the nature of something ▪ in the nature of things  
Word Origin:
Middle English (denoting the physical power of a person): from Old French, from Latin natura ‘birth, nature, quality’, from nat- ‘born’, from the verb nasci.  
Thesaurus:
nature noun
1. U
• Take time to appreciate the beauties of nature.
the natural world • • the environment • • the wild • • life • • wildlife • • ecosystem • • habitat •
in nature/the environment/the wild/an ecosystem/a habitat
(a/an/the) marine/terrestrial/aquatic environment/life/wildlife/ecosystem/habitat
protect the natural world/the environment/… life/wildlife/habitats
2. C, U
• It's not in her nature to be unkind.
character • • personality • • temperament • • self • • make-up • |formal disposition • • persona •
by nature/temperament
in sb's nature/character
a violent nature/character/personality/temperament
a generous nature/character/disposition
Which word? Nature is used about sb's normal way of behaving; character is used especially about sb's moral behaviour; personality is used especially about whether sb is confident, shy, etc. with other people.; temperament is mostly used about whether sb normally stays calm, or gets angry, etc.
3. sing.
• It's difficult to define the exact nature of the problem.
character • • essence • • stuff • • spirit •
in nature/character/essence/spirit
the very nature/character/essence/stuff/spirit of sth
preserve/capture/convey/reflect the nature/character/essence of sth
Nature or character? Use nature to talk about the basic qualities of abstract things, such as society or risks; use character to talk about the qualities of buildings, places and other physical things, especially qualities that make a place or thing seem different or special.  
Word Family:
nature noun
natural adjective (≠ unnatural)
naturally adverb (≠ unnaturally) 
Example Bank:
• Are you aware of the nature of the risks involved?
• Because of the detailed nature of the work, I have to use a very fine brush.
• By its very nature a secret service is not open to public inspection.
• Given the nature of this matter, I am inclined to think it should be managed by you personally.
• He believed in spending half an hour each day to relax and commune with nature.
• He had a vicious side to his nature.
• He has an inquisitive nature.
• He's not by nature an inquisitive person.
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.
• His love of nature was expressed through his wildlife paintings.
• His theory provides a remarkable insight into the nature of the British constitution.
• I'm not clear about the exact nature of their relationship.
• It is important to define the nature of the problem.
• It was against his nature to tell lies.
• It's highly unlikely that this mound was produced by nature.
• It's not in his nature to complain.
• It's only human nature to want more money.
• Mother Nature had served up some terrible weather for their cruise.
• Mother Nature's way of dealing with overpopulation
• Nature had endowed her with exceptional vitality.
• People are always taking advantage of her good nature.
• The Buddhist goal is to realize the true nature of the world.
• The gentle lower slopes belie the true nature of the mountain.
• The legal concept of insanity is of a different nature from the medical.
• The method employed will depend on the nature of the task.
• The parties would not reveal the exact nature of the dispute.
• The victim has not been identified because of the sensitive nature of the case.
• Their problems are of an economic nature.
• Their strategy was essentially political in nature.
• There was no point appealing to her better nature.
• They define sexual harassment as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature.
• This new information does not change the nature of our findings.
• We appreciate beauty in nature.
• We built our house in the country because we wanted to get back to nature.
• We built our house in the country because we wanted to get back= be close to nature.
• We can only treat the injury and then let nature take its course.
• We need to understand the true extent and nature of the problem.
• a debate concerning the nature of violence
• matters of a routine nature
• people who live in the country and are close to nature
• the dual nature of man as a physical and spiritual being
• the expressive part of his nature
• the international nature of the business
• the subjective nature of an odour
• the unsatisfactory nature of the meeting
• A lot of nature conservation is about protecting habitats.
• Decisions of this nature often take a long time.
• Don't worry about things of that nature.
• Her illness was Nature's way of telling her to do less.
• His books were mainly of a scientific nature.
• It seemed against the laws of nature that such a creature could even exist.
• It's not in her nature to be unkind.
• My work is very specialized in nature.
• She is very sensitive by nature.
• Take time to appreciate the beauties of nature.
• The forces of nature are constantly reshaping our world.
• The talk addressed the subject of the changing nature of our society.
• We appealed to his better nature.
• What's the nature of his work?

• White phosphorus is so reactive that it is not found in nature.

menu

menu [menu menus]   [ˈmenjuː]   [ˈmenjuː] noun
1. a list of the food that is available at a restaurant or to be served at a meal
• to ask for/look at the menu

• What's on the menu (= for dinner) tonight?

2. (computing) a list of possible choices that are shown on a computer screen
• a pull-down menu
see also  drop-down menu  
Word Origin:
mid 19th cent.: from French, detailed list (noun use of menu ‘small, detailed’), from Latin minutus ‘very small’.  
Collocations:
Restaurants
Eating out
eat (lunch/dinner)/dine/meet at/in a restaurant
go (out)/take sb (out) for lunch/dinner/a meal
have a meal with sb
make/have a reservation (in/under the name of Yamada)
reserve/ (especially BrE) book a table for six
ask for/request a table for two/a table by the window
In the restaurant
wait to be seated
show sb to their table
sit in the corner/by the window/at the bar/at the counter
hand sb/give sb the menu/wine list
open/read/study/peruse the menu
the restaurant has a three-course set menu/a children's menu/an extensive wine list
taste/sample/try the wine
the waiter takes your order
order/choose/have the soup of the day/one of the specials/the house (BrE) speciality/(especially NAmE) specialty
serve/finish the first course/the starter/the main course/dessert/coffee
complain about the food/the service/your meal
enjoy your meal
Paying
pay/ask for (especially BrE) the bill/(NAmE) the check
pay for/treat sb to dinner/lunch/the meal
service is (not) included
give sb/leave (sb) a tip 
Example Bank:
• Chef Nigel Crowther will expand the menu to include several vegetarian options.
• Go to the topic menu in the upper right hand corner.
• Many menus now list ingredients.
• Many restaurants do a very reasonable set menu at lunchtime.
• May we have the menu?
• Passengers are offered a daily choice of menu.
• She completely changes her seasonal menus every few months.
• The chef was chalking the daily specials on the menu board.
• The menu changes daily.
• The restaurant changes its menu every six months.
• What's on the menu this evening?
• You'll find it in the topic menu.
• a menu offering many vegetarian dishes
• a ten-course tasting menu

• buttons that make it easy to navigate the on-screen menu

dessert

des·sert [dessert desserts]   [dɪˈzɜːt]    [dɪˈzɜːrt]  noun uncountable, countable
sweet food eaten at the end of a meal
• What's for dessert?
• a rich chocolate dessert
• a dessert wine
• (BrE) the dessert trolley (= a table on wheels from which you choose your dessert  in a restaurant)
compare  afters, pudding, sweet  
Word Origin:
mid 16th cent.: from French, past participle of desservir ‘clear the table’, from des- (expressing removal) + servir ‘to serve’.  
Collocations:
Restaurants
Eating out
eat (lunch/dinner)/dine/meet at/in a restaurant
go (out)/take sb (out) for lunch/dinner/a meal
have a meal with sb
make/have a reservation (in/under the name of Yamada)
reserve/ (especially BrE) book a table for six
ask for/request a table for two/a table by the window
In the restaurant
wait to be seated
show sb to their table
sit in the corner/by the window/at the bar/at the counter
hand sb/give sb the menu/wine list
open/read/study/peruse the menu
the restaurant has a three-course set menu/a children's menu/an extensive wine list
taste/sample/try the wine
the waiter takes your order
order/choose/have the soup of the day/one of the specials/the house (BrE) speciality/(especially NAmE) specialty
serve/finish the first course/the starter/the main course/dessert/coffee
complain about the food/the service/your meal
enjoy your meal
Paying
pay/ask for (especially BrE) the bill/(NAmE) the check
pay for/treat sb to dinner/lunch/the meal
service is (not) included
give sb/leave (sb) a tip 
Example Bank:
• The waiter asked us if we'd like to order a dessert.
• This chestnut pudding is a rich dessert with a festive flavour.
• We finished off with a dessert of honey and nuts.

• We had mousse for dessert.

salad

salad [salad salads]   [ˈsæləd]    [ˈsæləd]  noun

1. uncountable, countable a mixture of raw vegetables such as lettuce, tomato and cucumber, usually served with other food as part of a meal
• All main courses come with salad or vegetables.
• Is cold meat and salad OK for lunch?
• a side salad (= a small bowl of salad served with the main course of a meal)
• a salad bowl (= a large bowl for serving salad in)

see also  Caesar salad, green salad

2. countable, uncountable (in compounds) meat, fish, cheese, etc. served with salad

• a chicken salad

3. uncountable, countable (in compounds) raw or cooked vegetables, etc. that are cut into small pieces, often mixed with mayonnaise and served cold with other food
• potato salad
• a pasta salad

see also  fruit salad

4. uncountable any green vegetable, especially lettuce, that is eaten raw in a salad
• salad plants
Idiom: your salad days  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French salade, from Provençal salada, based on Latin sal ‘salt’.  
Collocations:
Cooking
Preparing
prepare a dish/a meal/a menu/dinner/the fish
weigh out 100g/4oz of sugar/the ingredients
wash/rinse the lettuce/spinach/watercress
chop/slice/dice the carrots/onions/potatoes
peel the carrots/onion/potatoes/garlic/orange
grate a carrot/the cheese/some nutmeg
remove/discard the bones/seeds/skin
blend/combine/mix (together) the flour and water/all the ingredients
beat/whisk the cream/eggs/egg whites
knead/shape/roll (out) the dough
Cooking
heat the oil in a frying pan
preheat/heat the oven/(BrE) the grill/(NAmE) the broiler
bring to (BrE) the boil/(NAmE) a boil
stir constantly/gently with a wooden spoon
reduce the heat
simmer gently for 20 minutes/until reduced by half
melt the butter/chocolate/cheese/sugar
brown the meat for 8-20 minutes
drain the pasta/the water from the pot/in a colander
mash the potatoes/banana/avocado
Ways of cooking
cook food/fish/meat/rice/pasta/a Persian dish
bake (a loaf of) bread/a cake/(especially NAmE) cookies/(BrE) biscuits/a pie/potatoes/fish/scones/muffins
boil cabbage/potatoes/an egg/water
fry/deep-fry/stir-fry the chicken/vegetables
grill meat/steak/chicken/sausages/a hot dog
roast potatoes/peppers/meat/chicken/lamb
sauté garlic/mushrooms/onions/potatoes/vegetables
steam rice/vegetables/spinach/asparagus/dumplings
toast bread/nuts
microwave food/popcorn/(BrE) a ready meal
Serving
serve in a glass/on a bed of rice/with potatoes
arrange the slices on a plate/in a layer
carve the meat/lamb/chicken/turkey
dress/toss a salad
dress with/drizzle with olive oil/vinaigrette
top with a slice of lemon/a scoop of ice cream/whipped cream/syrup
garnish with a sprig of parsley/fresh basil leaves/lemon wedges/a slice of lime/a twist of orange
sprinkle with salt/sugar/herbs/parsley/freshly ground black pepper 
Example Bank:
• Is the steak served with a side salad?
• She tossed and dressed the salad.

• The sandwiches came with a rather limp salad garnish.

worry

worry [worry worries worried worrying] verb, noun   [ˈwʌri]    [ˈwɜːri] 

verb (wor·ries, worry·ing, wor·ried, wor·ried)
1. intransitive to keep thinking about unpleasant things that might happen or about problems that you have
• Don't worry. We have plenty of time.
• ~ about sb/sth Don't worry about me. I'll be all right.
• He's always worrying about his weight.
• ~ over sb/sth There's no point in worrying over things you can't change.

• ~ (that)… I worry that I won't get into college.

2. transitive to make sb/yourself anxious about sb/sth
• ~ sb/yourself (about sb/sth) What worries me is how I am going to get another job.
• ~ sb/yourself + adj. (about sb/sth) He's worried himself sick (= become extremely anxious) about his daughter.
• it worries sb that… It worries me that he hasn't come home yet.

• it worries sb to do sth It worried me to think what might happen.

3. transitive to annoy or disturb sb
• ~ sb The noise never seems to worry her.

• ~ sb with sth Don't keep worrying him with a lot of silly questions.

4. transitive ~ sth (of a dog) to attack animals, especially sheep, by chasing and/or biting them
Verb forms:
 
Word Origin:
Old English wyrgan ‘strangle’, of West Germanic origin. In Middle English the original sense of the verb gave rise to the meaning ‘seize by the throat and tear’, later figuratively ‘harass’, which led to the sense ‘cause anxiety to’ (early 19th century, the date also of the noun).  
Example Bank:
• Don't bother Harry— he has enough to worry about as it is.
• Don't let it worry you unduly.
• Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.
• Don't worry the driver with unnecessary requests.
• Don't worry too much about it.
• I can't help worrying about the future.
• She worries a lot about crime.
• Stop worrying, Dad, we'll be fine.
• We can't help worrying for your safety.
• What really worries me is what we do if there's nobody there.
• You do worry unnecessarily, you know.
• He's worried himself sick about his daughter.
• I worry that I won't get into college.
• What worries me is how I'm going to get another job.
• You worry too much.
Idioms: no worries! ▪ not to worry

Derived: worry at something 

church

church [church churches churched churching]   [tʃɜːtʃ]    [tʃɜːrtʃ]  noun
1. countable a building where Christians go to worship
• a church tower
• The procession moved into the church.

• church services

2. uncountable a service or services in a church
• How often do you go to church?
• (BrE) They're at church (= attending a church service).
• (NAmE) They're in church.

• Church is at 9 o'clock.

3. Church countable a particular group of Christians
• the Anglican Church
• the Catholic Church
• the Free Churches

see also  denomination

4. (the) Church singular the ministers of the Christian religion; the institution of the Christian religion
• The Church has a duty to condemn violence.
• the conflict between Church and State
• to go into the Church (= to become a Christian minister)
see a broad church at  broad  _adj.  
Word Origin:
Old English cir(i)ce, cyr(i)ce, related to Dutch kerk and German Kirche, based on medieval Greek kurikon, from Greek kuriakon (dōma) ‘Lord's (house)’, from kurios ‘master or lord’. Compare with kirk.  
Culture:
churches and cathedrals
In Britain churches are landmarks in every town and village. Their tower or spire (= a cone-shaped structure on top of a small tower) can often be seen from far away. Churches are used for worship by the Church of England, Roman Catholics and other groups, while some Nonconformist Churches use chapels or halls. The church and church hall, a building used for meetings and Sunday School, were formerly the centre of the community. Now, far fewer people attend church and this has resulted in some churches being closed or used for other purposes such as housing.
Cathedrals may belong to either the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church. Many cathedrals were built as part of a monastery, for example Durham was started in the 11th century by Benedictine monks. Some of these cathedrals are called minsters, e.g. York Minster, and they were originally centres for teaching Christianity. St Chad’s in Birmingham dates from the middle of the 19th century and was the first Roman Catholic cathedral built in England since the Reformation. A cathedral is the headquarters of a bishop or archbishop. Canterbury Cathedral is the headquarters of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is head of the Church of England.
Many people visit churches and cathedrals to admire their architecture. In Britain churches are usually built of stone, with a tower or spire at the west end. Bells are placed high up in the tower and rung by long ropes before services. In villages the church is approached through a gate, sometimes a lychgate (= a gate with a roof over it), which leads into the churchyard where people are buried. The main entrance is usually on the south side. The church porch has a noticeboard and often a seat in it. Cathedrals are large churches, usually built in the shape of a long cross with a central tower. Older cathedrals are often in a quiet grassy cathedral close.
The earliest stone churches date from the Anglo-Saxon period (6th-11th centuries). Norman churches, from the 11th and 12th centuries, are massive structures. Rounded arches over doorways and windows are a distinctive feature of Norman architecture. Examples of Norman cathedrals are those at Durham and Ely.
The English Gothic style of the 13th-15th centuries is characterized by pointed arches and increasingly ornate designs for the vault. Windows were tall and narrow in the Early English period (13th century), and later, in the Decorated period, had tracery (= lace-like patterns) at the top. In the Perpendicular period (15th century), they were greatly increased in size and filled with stained glass (= small pieces of coloured glass in a lead frame) showing pictures of saints. Ceilings with elaborate fan vaults (= curved strips of stone spreading out from a point, with patterns between them) are supported by flying buttresses that lean at an angle from the wall and form an arch. Salisbury Cathedral is a characteristic Early English building. Exeter Cathedral dates mainly from the Decorated period and Gloucester Cathedral with its fan vaults is typical of the Perpendicular period.
Some later buildings, such as St Paul's Cathedral designed by Christopher Wren, are more like classical temples, with a central dome and spire added. Wren and James Gibbs, designer of St Martin-in-the-Fields, influenced architects in America: Christ Church in Philadelphia is a copy of St Martin. But the modern Coventry Cathedral, designed by Basil Spence in the 1950s, is a hall-like church with narrow stained-glass windows.
In the US the earliest churches were one-room buildings made of wood that were used also as schools. Most communities now have several churches in varying styles. Some are made of stone in order to look like old English churches, some are small, plain buildings made of brick or wood, and others are modern buildings with glass walls. Storefront churches are found in shopping streets and look like shops/stores. 
Collocations:
Religion
Being religious
believe in God/Christ/Allah/free will/predestination/heaven and hell/an afterlife/reincarnation
be/become a believer/an atheist/an agnostic/a Christian/Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist, etc.
convert to/practise/ (especially US) practice a religion/Buddhism/Catholicism/Christianity/Islam/Judaism, etc.
go to church/(NAmE) temple (= the synagogue)
go to the local church/mosque/synagogue/gurdwara
belong to a church/a religious community
join/enter the church/a convent/a monastery/a religious sect/the clergy/the priesthood
praise/worship/obey/serve/glorify God
Celebrations and ritual
attend/hold/conduct/lead a service
perform a ceremony/a rite/a ritual/a baptism/the Hajj/a mitzvah
carry out/perform a sacred/burial/funeral/fertility/purification rite
go on/make a pilgrimage
celebrate Christmas/Easter/Eid/Ramadan/Hanukkah/Passover/Diwali
observe/break the Sabbath/a fast/Ramadan
deliver/preach/hear a sermon
lead/address the congregation
say/recite a prayer/blessing
Religious texts and ideas
preach/proclaim/spread the word of God/the Gospel/the message of Islam
study/follow the dharma/the teachings of Buddha
read/study/understand/interpret scripture/the Bible/the Koran/the gospel/the Torah
be based on/derive from divine revelation
commit/consider sth heresy/sacrilege
Religious belief and experience
seek/find/gain enlightenment/wisdom
strengthen/lose your faith
keep/practise/practice/abandon the faith
save/purify/lose your soul
obey/follow/keep/break/violate a commandment/Islamic law/Jewish law
be/accept/do God's will
receive/experience divine grace
achieve/attain enlightenment/salvation/nirvana
undergo a conversion/rebirth/reincarnation
hear/answer a prayer
commit/confess/forgive a sin
do/perform penance 
Grammar Point:
school
When a school is being referred to as an institution, you do not need to use the: ▪ When do the children finish school? When you are talking about a particular building, the is used: ▪ I’ll meet you outside the school. Prison, jail, court, and church work in the same way: ▪ Her husband spent three years in prison.
note at college, hospital  
Example Bank:
• Do you go to church?
• He left the Church after a loss of faith.
• He loves all the high church traditions— incense and processions and vestments.
• He served the church for over sixty years.
• He went into the Church when he was 23.
• He went into the Church= became a priest when he was 23.
• Linda joined the local Methodist church.
• Mrs Parsons wasn't at church this Sunday.
• She was actively involved in church groups.
• The Catholic church teaches that life begins at conception.
• The church is dedicated to St Paul.
• The church was consecrated in 1250.
• The early Church believed miracles were proof of who Jesus was.
• There's an interesting organ in the church.
• They're at church.
• We decided not to get married in church.
• a chamber concert at our local church
• a church youth group

• Church is at 9 o'clock.