B1 (Intermediate)

II. care² S1 W2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[Word Family: noun: ↑care, ↑carer; adjective: ↑careful ≠ ↑careless, ↑caring ≠ UNCARING; verb: ↑care; adverb: ↑carefully ≠ ↑carelessly]
1. to think that something is important, so that you are interested in it, worried about it etc
care about
The only thing he seems to care about is money.
care what/how/whether etc
She didn’t care what her father thought.
‘He looked angry.’ ‘I don’t care!’
2. to be concerned about what happens to someone, because you like or love them ⇨ caring
care about
I care about him and hate to see him hurt like this.
She felt that nobody cared.
3. who cares? spoken used to say that something does not worry or upset you because it is not important:
It’s rather old and scruffy, but who cares?
4. see if I care! spoken used when you are angry or upset, to say that you do not care about what someone will do:
Go with William, then – see if I care!
5. somebody couldn’t care less spoken used to say that someone does not care at all about something:
I really couldn’t care less what you think!
6. what does somebody care? spoken used to say that someone does not care at all about something:
What do I care? It’s your responsibility now!
7. as if I cared! spoken used to say that something is not important to you at all:
As if I cared whether he comes with us or not!
8. for all somebody cares spoken used when you are angry that someone does not seem concerned about someone or something:
We could be starving for all they care!
9. not care to do something old-fashioned to not like doing something:
She doesn’t care to spend much time with her relatives.
I wouldn’t care to meet him in a dark alley!
I’ve experienced more reorganizations than I care to remember (=a lot of them).
10. any ... you care to name/mention any thing of a particular kind:
Virtually any piece of equipment you care to name can be hired these days.
11. would you care to do something? spoken formal used to ask someone politely whether they want to do something:
Would you care to join us for dinner?
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ take care of somebody (also look after somebody especially British English) to make sure a child or an old or sick person is safe and has the things they need: I have to look after my little brother. | Taking care of a baby is hard work. | She is taking care of her grandmother while her grandfather is in hospital.
▪ care for somebody to take care of someone. Care for somebody is less common and more formal than take care of/look after somebody: He was cared for by a team of nurses. | Caring for an elderly relative can be very rewarding.
▪ nurse to look after someone who is ill: He nursed his wife through a long illness. | The monks nursed him back to health (=looked after him until he was well again).
▪ babysit to look after children in the evening while their parents go out somewhere: I’ll ask Jane to babysit on Wednesday night. | He used to babysit for Mary when she worked nights.
▪ mind British English to look after a child while their parents are not there, especially for a short time: Will you mind the baby while I go to the shop?
care for somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to look after someone who is not able to look after themselves SYN take care of:
He thanked the nurses who had cared for him.
The children are well cared for.
2. to do things that keep something in good condition:
Instructions on caring for your new sofa are included.
3. would you care for something? spoken formal used to ask someone politely if they would like something:
Would you care for another drink?
4. not care for somebody/something formal to not like someone or something:
I don’t much care for his parents.

realize

rea‧lize S1 W1 BrE AmE (also realise British English) /ˈrɪəlaɪz/ verb [transitive not usually in progressive]
[Word Family: noun: ↑realism, ↑realist, ↑reality, ↑unreality, ↑realization; adverb: ↑real, ↑really, ↑realistically ≠ ↑unrealistically; adjective: ↑real, ↑unreal, ↑realistic ≠ ↑unrealistic; verb: ↑realize]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: réaliser, from Old French real; ⇨ ↑real¹]
1. UNDERSTAND to know and understand something, or suddenly begin to understand it
realize (that)
I suddenly realized that the boy was crying.
Do you realize you’re an hour late?
realize who/what/how etc
I’m sorry, I didn’t realize who you were.
It took us a while to realize the extent of the tragedy.
It was only later that I realized my mistake.
► Do not say that you ‘realize about/of something’. Say that you realize something.
2. ACHIEVE formal to achieve something that you were hoping to achieve:
She never realized her ambition of winning an Olympic gold medal.
a young singer who has not yet realized her full potential (=achieved as much as she can achieve)
3. sb’s worst fears were realized used to say that the thing that you were most afraid of has actually happened:
His worst fears were realized when he heard that Chris had been arrested.
4. MONEY
a) formal to obtain or earn an amount of money:
The campaign realized $5000.
We realized a small profit on the sale of the house.
b) realize an asset technical to change something that you own into money by selling it
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ realize to begin to understand, notice, or know something that you did not understand etc before: I hadn’t realized that Ben was his brother. | She suddenly realized who the man in the photograph was.
▪ become aware to gradually realize that something is happening or is true, over a period of time: He slowly became aware that he was not alone | People are becoming more aware of the harmful effects of cars on the environment.
▪ dawn on somebody if something dawns on you, you realize it for the first time – often used in the phrase it dawned on somebody: It dawned on me that he could be lying. | It only dawned on her that she was in danger when she saw rescue workers running away from the building. | He thought about the dream for a long time before its meaning began to dawn on him.
▪ sink in if something sinks in, you begin to realize its full meaning or importance, especially gradually: It took a few minutes for the doctor’s words to sink in. | The reality of what I had done slowly began to sink in.
▪ hit if a fact hits you, you suddenly understand it and how important it is: It hit me one day that he didn’t care. He’d talk when I phoned him, but he’d never call me.
▪ strike if an idea or thought strikes you, you suddenly think of it: It suddenly struck her what a risk she was taking. | A thought has just struck me - there must be other people with the same problem.

memory

mem‧o‧ry S2 W1 /ˈmeməri/ BrE AmE noun (plural memories)
[Word Family: noun: ↑memorial, ↑memory, ↑memo, ↑memoir, ↑memorabilia, ↑memorandum; adjective: ↑memorable, ↑memorial, ↑immemorial; verb: ↑memorize, ↑memorialize; adverb: ↑memorably]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: memorie, from Latin memoria, from memor 'remembering']
1. ABILITY TO REMEMBER [uncountable and countable] someone’s ability to remember things, places, experiences etc
memory for
She has a terrible memory for names.
from memory
The pianist played the whole piece from memory.
in your memory
The image has remained in my memory ever since.
2. SOMETHING YOU REMEMBER [countable usually plural] something that you remember from the past about a person, place, or experience
memory of
She talked about her memories of the war.
He has lots of happy memories of his stay in Japan.
When I saw the pictures, the memories came flooding back (=I suddenly had many memories about something).
3. COMPUTER
a) [countable] the part of a computer where information can be stored:
The data is stored in the computer’s memory.
b) [uncountable] the amount of space that can be used for storing information on a computer:
128 Mb of memory
Personal computers now have much increased memory capacity.
4. in/within memory during the time that people can remember:
the worst floods in living memory (=since the earliest time that people now alive can remember)
It’s certainly the best England team in recent memory.
The disaster was within the memory of many men still working at the station.
5. in memory of somebody if something is done or made in memory of someone, it is done to remember them and remind other people of them after they have died:
a statue in memory of those who died in the war
She set up a charitable fund in her father’s memory.
6. sb’s memory the way you remember someone who has died:
She died over 40 years ago but her memory lives on (=people still remember her).
to sb’s memory
There’s a bench to his memory in the local park.
7. a walk/trip down memory lane when you spend some time remembering the past:
She returned to her old school yesterday for a trip down memory lane.
8. sb’s memory is playing tricks on them spoken used to say that someone is remembering things wrongly:
My memory must be playing tricks on me; I’m sure I put that book on the desk.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ adjectives
▪ good/excellent I wish my memory was as good as yours.
▪ bad/poor/terrible A student with a poor memory may struggle in school.
▪ short-term memory (=your ability to remember things that you have just seen, heard, or done) The drug can damage your short-term memory.
▪ long-term memory (=your ability to remember things that happened a long time ago) Most people's long-term memory is limited.
▪ visual memory (=your ability to remember things you have seen) Poor spellers often have a weak visual memory.
▪ a photographic memory (=the ability to remember every detail of things that you have seen) Unless you have a photographic memory, you forget half of what you read as soon as you close the book.
■ verbs
▪ remain/stay/stick in your memory (=be remembered for a long time) That day will remain in my memory forever.
▪ refresh/jog your memory (=help someone to remember something) Perhaps this photograph will refresh your memory?
▪ lose your memory (=become unable to remember things that happened in the past) The blow on the head caused him to lose his memory.
▪ commit something to memory formal (=make yourself remember something) I've already committed his name to memory.
■ phrases
▪ have a short memory (=if you have a short memory, you soon forget things) Voters have short memories.
▪ have a long memory (=if you have a long memory, you remember things for a long time) He has a long memory for people who have let him down.
▪ have a memory like a sieve (=forget things very easily) I'm sorry, I have a memory like a sieve. I forgot you were coming today!
▪ loss of memory/memory loss (=when you cannot remember things) The condition can cause dizziness and memory loss.
▪ a lapse of memory/a memory lapse (=when you cannot remember something for a short time) The alcohol seemed to make him suffer lapses of memory.
▪ if my memory serves (me correctly/right) (=used to say that you are almost certain you have remembered something correctly) If my memory serves me correctly, Johnson was also there.
▪ something is etched in your memory (=it is impossible to forget) The date was etched in my memory.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + memory
▪ good/bad etc memories He left school with good memories of his time there.
▪ happy/unhappy memories Many people have unhappy memories of being forced to play team sports.
▪ fond memories (=about someone or something you like) She had fond memories of her aunt and uncle.
▪ a painful memory (=very upsetting) He sobbed as he relived the painful memory.
▪ a vivid memory (=very clear and detailed) I have vivid memories of that summer.
▪ a clear memory I have a clear memory of the first time I met David.
▪ a dim/distant memory (=not clear, from a long time ago) He had only dim memories of his father, who had died when he was four.
▪ a vague memory (=not clear) I have a vague memory of visiting them when I was small.
▪ a childhood memory Going to the farm brought back happy childhood memories.
▪ somebody's earliest memory My earliest memory is of being bitten by a dog.
▪ an abiding/enduring/lasting memory (=that you will always have) The children's abiding memory of their father is of his patience and gentleness.
■ verbs
▪ have a/have no memory of something (=remember/not remember something) She had no memory of the accident.
▪ relive a memory (=talk about past events so you remember them again) Seeing her again was an excuse to relive old memories.
▪ bring back memories (also rekindle/revive memories formal) (=make you remember something) For many older people, the film brought back memories of the war.
▪ memories come flooding back (=you suddenly remember things clearly) Evelyn hugged her daughter, as memories came flooding back to her.
▪ a memory fades (=becomes less clear and accurate) Write down how you felt before the memory fades.
■ phrases
▪ a place is full of memories (=makes you remember things that happened there) My old home is full of unhappy memories.
▪ be haunted by the memory of something (=be unable to forget something unhappy) He is haunted by memories of his unhappy childhood.
▪ shudder/wince at the memory of something (=be upset by remembering something) She shuddered at the memory of her parents fighting.

unhealthy

un‧health‧y /ʌnˈhelθi/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative unhealthier, superlative unhealthiest)
[Word Family: noun: ↑health, ↑healthiness; adverb: ↑healthily ≠ ↑unhealthily; adjective: ↑healthy ≠ ↑unhealthy]
1. likely to make you ill:
unhealthy living conditions
2. not normal or natural and likely to be harmful:
an unhealthy relationship
unhealthy interest/obsession/fear etc
Gareth had an unhealthy interest in death.
3. not physically healthy SYN ill, sick:
an unhealthy baby
4. unhealthy skin, hair etc shows that you are ill or not healthy:
an unhealthy pale complexion

recognize

rec‧og‧nize S1 W1 BrE AmE (also recognise British English) /ˈrekəɡnaɪz, ˈrekən-/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: verb: ↑recognize; noun: ↑recognition; adverb: ↑recognizably; adjective: ↑recognizable ≠ ↑unrecognizable]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: reconoistre, from Latin recognoscere, from cognoscere 'to know']
1. [not in progressive] to know who someone is or what something is, because you have seen, heard, experienced, or learned about them in the past:
I didn’t recognize you in your uniform.
It was malaria, but Dr Lee hadn’t recognized the symptoms.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people often say that they know (that) it is someone or something rather than say they recognize them:
▪ I knew it was her by the hat she was wearing.
2. to officially accept that an organization, government, document etc has legal or official authority:
British medical qualifications are recognized in Canada.
recognize something as something
The World Health Organization has recognized alcoholism as a disease since 1951.
3. to accept or admit that something is true
recognize (that)
One must recognise that homesickness is natural.
recognize what/how/who etc
It is important to recognize how little we know about this disease.
4. [usually in passive] if something is recognized by people, they realize that it is important or very good:
Alexander tried to get his work recognized by the medical profession.
be recognized as something
Lawrence’s novel was eventually recognized as a work of genius.
a recognized authority on Roman pottery
5. to officially and publicly thank someone for something they have done, by giving them a special honour:
He was recognized for having saved many lives.
—recognizable /ˈrekəɡnaɪzəbəl, -kən- ˌrekəɡˈnaɪ-/ adjective:
His face was instantly recognizable.
—recognizably adverb
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ recognize to know who someone is or what something is, especially because you have seen or heard them before: I hadn’t seen her for ten years, but I recognized her immediately. | Do you recognize this song?
▪ identify to recognize someone or something and say who or what they are: As they came closer, I was able to identify two of the group. | It’s delicious but I can’t quite identify the taste.
▪ distinguish to recognize and understand the difference between two or more things or people: By this age, kids can usually distinguish between right and wrong. | It’s often difficult to distinguish identical twins from each other.
▪ make something/somebody out to be able to see or hear something or someone – used when it is very difficult to do this: In the distance, I could just make out the outline of an island. | He whispered something but I couldn’t make out what it was.
▪ discern /dɪˈsɜːn $ -ɜːrn/ formal to notice or understand something by looking carefully or thinking about it carefully: I thought I discerned a faint gleam of hope in his eyes. | A number of differences can be discerned in the data for the three countries.
▪ know to recognize someone or something. Know is often used in everyday English instead of recognize: How do you know that it is real gold? | I know him from somewhere. | I can’t remember his name, but I know his face.
▪ can tell to be able to recognize someone or something: I could tell that it was him by his voice. | Can you tell that it’s not real leather? | It’s difficult to be able to tell them apart (=to recognize that they are different).

spicy

spic‧y /ˈspaɪsi/ BrE AmE adjective
1. food that is spicy has a pleasantly strong taste, and gives you a pleasant burning feeling in your mouth SYN hot ⇨ spice:
a spicy tomato sauce
2. a story or picture that is spicy is slightly shocking or rude because it tells about or shows something relating to sex
• • •
THESAURUS
■ describing the taste of something
▪ delicious having a very good taste: This cake is delicious! | a delicious meal
▪ disgusting/revolting having a very bad taste: The medicine tasted disgusting. | They had to eat revolting things, like fish eyes.
▪ sweet tasting full of sugar: The oranges were very sweet.
▪ tasty especially spoken tasting good and with plenty of flavour: She cooked us a simple but tasty meal. | That was really tasty!
▪ sour/tart having a taste that stings your tongue slightly, like lemon does – used especially when this is rather unpleasant: The apples were a little sour. | The wine has rather a tart taste, which not everyone will like.
▪ tangy having a taste that stings your tongue slightly, like lemon does, in a way that seems good: The dressing was nice and tangy.
▪ bitter having a strong taste which is not sweet and is sometimes rather unpleasant – used for example about black coffee, or chocolate without sugar: bitter chocolate | The medicine had rather a bitter taste. | Hops give beer its distinctive bitter taste.
▪ salty containing a lot of salt: Danish salami has a salty flavour.
▪ hot/spicy having a burning taste because it contains strong spices: I love hot curries. | a spicy tomato sauce
▪ piquant /ˈpiːkənt/ formal a little spicy – used especially by people who write about food. This word can sound rather ↑pretentious in everyday conversation: cooked vegetables in a piquant sauce
▪ mild not having a strong or hot taste – usually used about foods that can sometimes be spicy: a mild curry
▪ bland not having an interesting taste: I found the sauce rather bland.

be supposed to do/be something
a) used to say what someone should or should not do, especially because of rules or what someone in authority has said:
We’re supposed to check out of the hotel by 11 o'clock.
I’m not supposed to tell anyone.
What time are you supposed to be there?
b) used to say what was or is expected or intended to happen, especially when it did not happen:
No one was supposed to know about it.
The meeting was supposed to take place on Tuesday, but we’ve had to postpone it.
The new laws are supposed to prevent crime.
c) used to say that something is believed to be true by many people, although it might not be true or you might disagree:
The castle is supposed to be haunted.
‘Dirty Harry’ is supposed to be one of Eastwood’s best films.
Mrs Carver is supposed to have a lot of money.
GRAMMAR
Do not say 'be suppose to do something'. Use be supposed to:
▪ You’re supposed to take your shoes off.
▪ He’s supposed to be very clever.

talent

tal‧ent W3 /ˈtælənt/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1400-1500; Origin: talent unit of weight or money in the ancient world (9-21 centuries), from Latin talentum, from Greek talanton; from a story in the Bible in which a man gives talents to his three servants, and two of them use them well]
1. [uncountable and countable] a natural ability to do something well:
He has a lot of talent, and his work is fresh and interesting.
talent for
She showed a talent for acting at an early age.
a persuasive speaker with a natural talent for leadership
His latest book reveals hidden talents.
Sadly, she inherited none of her father’s musical talent.
Your brother is a man of many talents.
There’s a wealth of talent in English football.
talent for
She showed a talent for acting at an early age.
2. [uncountable] a person or people with a natural ability or skill:
Britain’s footballing talent
3. [uncountable] British English informal sexually attractive people
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have talent Greg has a real talent for drawing.
▪ show talent Zach was the only one who showed any natural talent.
▪ use your talents They have been using their artistic talents to brighten up the school.
▪ develop your talent Education allows people to develop their talents to the full.
▪ waste your talents They felt their son was wasting his talents and his time.
▪ sb’s talents flourish (=develop successfully) The school created an atmosphere in which young talent could flourish.
■ adjectives
▪ great/considerable/exceptional talent He had a great talent for making money.
▪ real talent She has real talent and with a little help she could go far.
▪ natural talent Ronaldo is a player of immense natural talent.
▪ raw talent (=used to describe someone with natural ability who has not had much training) He’s got lots of raw talent but he needs a good coach.
▪ a hidden talent Have a go – you may discover a hidden talent!
▪ musical/artistic/creative etc talent It was at school that Brian’s musical talents were spotted.
■ talent + NOUN
▪ a talent contest/show/competition Don’t assume winning a talent contest is a passport to success.
■ phrases
▪ a wealth of talent (=a large amount of talent) There’s a wealth of musical talent in New York and other large American cities.
▪ a pool of talent (=lots of talented people) Employers can draw on an enormous pool of talent in this area.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ skill [uncountable and countable] an ability to do something well, especially because you have learned and practised it: He plays the piano with great skill. | communication/language/computer etc skills | The course will help you improve your communication skills.
▪ talent [uncountable and countable] a natural ability to do something well which can be developed with practice: She was a young artist with a lot of talent. | She showed a talent for acting from an early age. | He is a man of many talents.
▪ genius [uncountable] very great ability, which only a few people have: The opera shows Mozart’s genius as a composer. | Picasso was a painter of genius.
▪ gift [countable] a natural ability to do something very well, which you were born with: You can see that he has a gift for the game. | Winterson has great gifts as a writer.
▪ flair [singular, uncountable] skill for doing something, especially something that needs imagination and creativity: The job does require some creative flair. | She has a flair for languages.
▪ expertise [uncountable] specialized knowledge of a technical subject, which you get from experience of doing that type of work: The technical expertise for building the dam is being provided by a US company.
▪ a/the knack /næk/ [singular] informal a special skill for doing a particular thing, especially a simple everyday thing: Breadmaking is easy once you get the knack. | He has a knack for making people feel relaxed.

coconut

co‧co‧nut /ˈkəʊkənʌt $ ˈkoʊ-/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1600-1700; Origin: coco 'coconut' (16-18 centuries) (from Portuguese, 'grinning face'; because the bottom of a coconut, with its three spots, looks like a face) + nut]

1. [countable] the large brown seed of a tropical tree, which has a hard shell containing white flesh that you can eat and a milky liquid that you can drink:
large tropical gardens of coconut palms
2. [uncountable] the white flesh of a coconut, often used in cooking:
desiccated coconut (=dried coconut)