A2 (مبتدی)

adjective

ONE
1. only before noun only one
• He sent her a single red rose.
• a single-sex school (= for boys only or for girls only)
• All these jobs can now be done by one single machine.
• I couldn't understand a single word she said!
• the European single currency, the euro

• (BrE) a single honours degree (= for which you study only one subject)  

FOR EMPHASIS

2. only before noun used to emphasize that you are referring to one particular person or thing on its own
• Unemployment is the single most important factor in the growing crime rates.

• We eat rice every single day.  

NOT MARRIED

3. (of a person) not married or having a romantic relationship with sb
• The apartments are ideal for single people living alone.
• Are you still single?

see also  single parent  

FOR ONE PERSON

4. only before noun intended to be used by only one person
• a single bed/room
• a single sheet (= large enough for a single bed)

compare  double  _adj. (³) 

TICKET

5. only before noun (BrE) (also one-way NAmE, BrE) a single ticket, etc. can be used for travelling to a place but not back again
• a single ticket
• How much is the single fare to Glasgow?
compare  return  _n. (⁷)
see (in) Indian/single file at  file  _n., at a (single) glance at  glance  _n.  
Word Origin:
Middle English: via Old French from Latin singulus, related to simplus ‘simple’.  
Thesaurus:
single adj.
1. only before noun
• What is the single most important factor here?
individual • • particular • • specific • • separate • • distinct •
a/an single/individual/particular/specific/separate/distinct category/region
a single/particular/specific/separate event/incident/occasion
a single/particular/specific/distinct objective/purpose
2.
• The apartments are ideal for single people living alone.
unmarried • • divorced • • widowed • • separated • |especially BrE, especially written lone •
Opp: married
a single/unmarried/divorced/widowed/separated/lone man/woman/parent/mother/father  
Example Bank:
• Marriage breakdown is common and there are a large number of single-parent families.
• Unemployment is the single most important factor in the rising crime rates.
• We eat rice every single day.

Derived: single somebody out 

worst

worst [worst worsts worsted worsting] adjective, adverb, noun, verb   [wɜːst]    [wɜːrst] 

adjective (superlative of bad)
of the poorest quality or lowest standard; worse than any other person or thing of a similar kind
• It was by far the worst speech he had ever made.
• What's the worst thing that could happen?
• What she said confirmed my worst fears (= proved they were right).  
Word Origin:
Old English wierresta, wyrresta (adjective), wierst, wyrst (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to worse.

Idioms: at worst ▪ bring out the worst in somebody ▪ come off worst ▪ do your worst ▪ get the worst of it ▪ if the worst comes to the worst ▪ worst of all worlds ▪ your own worst enemy 

believe

be·lieve [believe believes believed believing]   [bɪˈliːv]    [bɪˈliːv]  verb

(not used in the progressive tenses) 

FEEL CERTAIN
1. transitive to feel certain that sth is true or that sb is telling you the truth
• ~ sb I don't believe you!
• The man claimed to be a social worker and the old woman believed him.
• Believe me, she's not right for you.
• ~ sth I believed his lies for years.
• I find that hard to believe.
• Don't believe a word of it (= don't believe any part of what sb is saying).
• ~ (that)… People used to believe (that) the earth was flat.
• He refused to believe (that) his son was involved in drugs.

• I do believe you're right (= I think sth is true, even though it is surprising).  

THINK POSSIBLE

2. intransitive, transitive to think that sth is true or possible, although you are not completely certain
• ‘Where does she come from?’ ‘Spain, I believe.’
• ‘Does he still work there?’ ‘I believe so/not.’
• ~ (that)… Police believe (that) the man may be armed.
• it is believed (that)… It is believed that the couple have left the country.
• ~ sb/sth to be, have, etc. sth The vases are believed to be worth over $20 000 each.

• ~ sb/sth + adj. Three sailors are missing, believed drowned.  

HAVE OPINION

3. transitive ~ (that)… to have the opinion that sth is right or true
• The party believes (that) education is the most important issue facing the government.

• She believes that killing animals for food or fur is completely immoral.  

BE SURPRISED/ANNOYED

4. transitive don't/can't ~ used to say that you are surprised or annoyed at sth
• ~ (that)… She couldn't believe (that) it was all happening again.
• I don't believe I'm doing this!

• ~ how, what, etc… I can't believe how much better I feel.  

RELIGION

5. intransitive to have a religious faith
• The god appears only to those who believe.
more at give sb to believe/understand at  give  _v.
Idioms: I don't believe it! ▪ believe it or not ▪ believe me ▪ don't you believe it! ▪ if you believe that, you'll believe anything ▪ make believe ▪ not believe your ears ▪ seeing is believing ▪ would you believe? ▪ you better believe it!
Derived: believe in somebody ▪ believe in something ▪ believe something of somebody
Verb forms:

 
Word Origin:
late Old English belȳfan, belēfan, alteration of gelēfan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch geloven and German glauben.  
Thesaurus:
believe verb
1. T, I
• I don't believe you!
• Do you believe in God?
trust • • have confidence in sb/sth • • have faith in sb/sth •
Opp: doubt, (formal) Opp: disbelieve
believe/trust/have confidence/have faith in sb/sth
2. T
• She believes that eating meat is wrong.
think • • feel • • consider • • be under the impression that… • |especially BrE, informal reckon • |formal hold •
believe/think/feel/consider/be under the impression/reckon/hold that…
Believe or think? When you are talking about an idea of what is true or possible, use believe to talk about other people and think to talk about yourself
• Police believe (that) the man may be armed.
• I think this is their house, but I'm not sure.
Use believe to talk about matters of principle; use think to talk about practical matters or matters of personal taste
• I believe we have a responsibility towards the less fortunate in society.
• I think we should reserve seats in advance.
• I don't think he's funny at all.
 
Language Bank:
according to
Reporting someone's opinion
▪ Photography is, according to ▪ Vidal, the art form of untalented people.
For ▪ Vidal, photography is the art form of untalented people.
▪ His view is that ▪ photography is not art but merely the mechanical reproduction of images.
▪ Smith takes the view that ▪ photography is both an art and a science.
In ▪ Brown's view ▪, photography should be treated as a legitimate art in its own right.
▪ James is of the opinion that ▪ a good painter can always be a good photographer if he or she so decides.
▪ Emerson believed that ▪ a photograph should only reflect what the human eye can see.
Language Banks at argue, opinion  
Language Bank:
opinion
Giving your personal opinion
In my opinion ▪, everyone should have some understanding of science.
▪ Everyone should, in my opinion ▪, have some understanding of science.
It seems to me that ▪ many people in this country have a poor understanding of science.
▪ This is, in my view ▪, the result of a failure of the scientific community to get its message across.
▪ Another reason why so many people have such a poor understanding of science is, I believe ▪, the lack of adequate funding for science in schools.
▪ Smith argues that science is separate from culture. My own view is that ▪ science belongs with literature, art, philosophy and religion as an integral part of our culture.
In this writer's opinion ▪, the more the public know about science, the less they will fear and distrust it.
Synonyms at think
Language Banks at according to, argue, impersonal, nevertheless, perhaps  
Synonyms:
think
believe • feel • reckon • be under the impression
These words all mean to have an idea that sth is true or possible or to have a particular opinion about sb/sth.
think • to have an idea that sth is true or possible, although you are not completely certain; to have a particular opinion about sb/sth: ▪ Do you think (that) they'll come? ◊ ▪ Well, I like it. What do you think?
believe • to have an idea that sth is true or possible, although you are not completely certain; to have a particular opinion about sb/sth: ▪ Police believe (that) the man may be armed.
think or believe?
When you are expressing an idea that you have or that sb has of what is true or possible, believe is more formal than think. It is used especially for talking about ideas that other people have; think is used more often for talking about your own ideas: ▪ Police believe… ◊ ▪ I think… When you are expressing an opinion, believe is stronger than think and is used especially for matters of principle; think is used more for practical matters or matters of personal taste.
feel • to have a particular opinion about sth that has happened or about what you/sb ought to do: ▪ We all felt (that) we were unlucky to lose.
reckon • (informal) to think that sth is true or possible: ▪ I reckon (that) I'm going to get that job.
be under the impression that… • to have an idea that sth is true: ▪ I was under the impression that the work had already been completed.
to think/believe/feel/reckon/be under the impression that…
It is thought/believed/reckoned that…
to be thought/believed/felt/reckoned to be sth
to think/believe/feel sth about sb/sth
to sincerely/honestly/seriously/mistakenly think/believe/feel 
Synonyms:
trust
depend on sb/sth • rely on sb/sth • count on sb/sth • believe in sb
These words all mean to believe that sb/sth will do what you hope or expect of them or that what they tell you is correct or true.
trust • to believe that sb is good, honest, sincere, etc. and that they will do what you expect of them or do the right thing; to believe that sth is true or correct: ▪ You can trust me not to tell anyone. ◊ ▪ Don't trust what you read in the newspapers!
depend on/upon sb/sth • (often used with can/cannot/could/could not) to trust sb/sth to do what you expect or want, to do the right thing, or to be true or correct: ▪ He was the sort of person you could depend on. ◊ ▪ Can you depend on her version of what happened?
rely on/upon sb/sth • (used especially with can/cannot/could/could not and should/should not) to trust sb/sth to do what you expect or want, or to be honest, correct or good enough: ▪ Can I rely on you to keep this secret? ◊ ▪ You can't rely on any figures you get from them.
trust, depend or rely on/upon sb/sth?
You can trust a person but not a thing or system. You can trust sb's judgement or advice, but not their support. You can depend on sb's support, but not their judgement or advice. Rely on/upon sb/sth is used especially with you can/could or you should to give advice or a promise: I don't really rely on his judgement. ◊ ▪ You can't really rely on his judgement.
count on sb/sth • (often used with can/cannot/could/could not) to be sure that sb will do what you need them to do, or that sth will happen as you want it to happen: ▪ I'm counting on you to help me. ◊ ▪ We can't count on the good weather lasting.
believe in sb • to feel that you can trust sb and/or that they will be successful: ▪ They need a leader they can believe in.
to trust/depend on/rely on/count on sb/sth to do sth
to trust/believe in sb/sth
to trust/rely on sb's advice/judgement
to depend on/rely on/count on sb's support
to completely trust/depend on/rely on/believe in sb/sth 
Example Bank:
• I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
• I didn't believe a word of what he said.
• I personally believe that it's important.
• I'm inclined to believe you.
• I've long believed that a good reputation is the most valuable asset you can have in business.
• It's hard to believe that this campaign has been going on for ten years.
• No one seriously believes that this war will happen.
• Paul thinks he's happy, but his mother believes otherwise.
• The ad led us to believe that all prices had been cut.
• The boss gave me to believe that we would all get a pay rise.
• We have reason to believe that the escaped prisoner may be hiding in this house.
• ‘Does he still work there?’ ‘I believe so/not.’
• ‘Where does she come from?’ ‘Spain, I believe.’
• Believe me, she's not right for you.
• Don't believe a word of it.
• He refuses to believe his son was involved with drugs.
• I believe that we have a responsibility towards the less fortunate in society.
• I don't believe you!
• I find that very hard to believe.
• It was generally believed that evil spirits lived in the forest.
• No one seriously believed that the war would happen.
• People used to believe that the earth was flat.
• Police believe…
• She believes that killing animals for food or fur is completely immoral.
• The paintings are believed to be worth over $20 000 each.

• We believe (that) education is the most important issue facing the government.

difference

dif·fer·ence [difference differences]   [ˈdɪfrəns]    [ˈdɪfrəns]  noun
1. countable, uncountable ~ (between A and B) | ~ (in sth) the way in which two people or things are not like each other; the way in which sb/sth has changed
• There are no significant differences between the education systems of the two countries.
• He was studying the complex similarities and differences between humans and animals.
• There's no difference in the results.
• I can never tell the difference (= distinguish) between the twins
• She noticed a marked difference in the children on her second visit.
• There's a world of difference between liking someone and loving them.
• What a difference! You look great with your hair like that.

Opp:  similarity

2. singular, uncountable ~ (in sth) (between A and B) the amount that sth is greater or smaller than sth else
• There's not much difference in price between the two computers.
• There's an age difference of six years between the boys (= one is six years older than the other).
• I'll lend you £500 and you'll have to find the difference (= the rest of the money that you need).

• We measured the difference in temperature.

3. countable a disagreement between people
• We have our differences, but she's still my sister.
• Why don't you settle your differences and be friends again?
• There was a difference of opinion over who had won.
more at bury your differences at  bury, sink your differences at  sink  _v., split the difference at  split  _v., a/the world of difference at  world
Idioms: make a/no/some difference ▪ make all the difference ▪ same difference ▪ with a difference  
Word Origin:
Middle English: via Old French from Latin differentia ‘difference’, from different- ‘carrying away’, from the verb differre, from dis- ‘from, away’ + ferre ‘bring, carry’.  
Thesaurus:
difference noun C, U
• There are significant differences between the two systems.
contrast • • variation • • distinction • |formal disparity • • variance • • divergence • |technical imbalance •
Opp: similarity
a difference/contrast/variation/distinction/disparity/variance/divergence/imbalance between A and B
a difference/contrast/variation/disparity/variance/divergence/imbalance in sth
show a difference/contrast/variation/distinction/disparity/variance/divergence/imbalance
see/be aware of/look at a difference/contrast/variation/distinction 
Language Bank:
contrast
Highlighting differences
▪ This survey highlights a number of differences in ▪ the way that teenage boys and girls in the UK spend their free time.
One of the main differences between ▪ the girls and ▪ the boys who took part in the research was the way in which they use the Internet.
Unlike ▪ the girls, who use the Internet mainly to keep in touch with friends, the boys questioned in this survey tend to use the Internet for playing computer games.
▪ The girls differ from ▪ the boys in that ▪ they tend to spend more time keeping in touch with friends on the telephone or on social networking websites.
Compared to ▪ the boys, the girls spend much more time chatting to friends on the telephone.
▪ On average the girls spend four hours a week chatting to friends on the phone. In contrast ▪, very few of the boys spend more than five minutes a day talking to their friends in this way.
▪ The boys prefer competitive sports and computer games, whereas ▪ / while ▪ the girls seem to enjoy more cooperative activities, such as shopping with friends.
▪ When the girls go shopping, they mainly buy clothes and cosmetics. The boys, on the other hand ▪, tend to purchase computer games or gadgets.
Language Banks at generally, illustrate, proportion, similarly, surprising  
Example Bank:
• A small number of additional jobs can make a crucial difference to economic conditions.
• Although the talks were generally successful, differences remain between the groups.
• Can you spot the difference between these two photos?
• Differences may arise when the young people do not have the same expectations as their parents.
• He didn't have enough money, but his aunt agreed to make up the difference.
• He sold the car for more than he'd paid and pocketed the difference.
• He was very aware of his difference from the other children.
• I found very little difference in price.
• I noticed a real difference in his attitude.
• I wanted to leave early and Ian wanted to leave late, so we split the difference and left at noon.
• If you decide on the more expensive model, you can bring this one back and pay the difference.
• If you want a holiday with a difference, come to Iceland.
• It's difficult to tell the difference between butterflies and moths.
• Just five minutes' exercise a day could make all the difference.
• Like any married couple, we have our differences.
• One tiny mistake when you're climbing could mean the difference between life and death.
• Only an expert would know the difference between the male and the female.
• Our different attitudes to life reflect the differences in our backgrounds.
• She and Luke had a difference of opinion over how much money they should spend.
• The difference in price is not very significant.
• The difference lies in the way the fruit is prepared.
• The difference with this information service is that it's free.
• The differences in size arise from the amount of sunshine each plant gets.
• The extra money will make a lot of difference to us.
• The new central heating has made an enormous difference to the house.
• The questionnaire showed vast differences in what kind of product people want.
• The study explores the differences between the way girls and boys talk.
• There are few important policy differences among the main parties.
• There is a striking difference between eastern and western Europe.
• There is one key difference with the earlier version of the software.
• There were some differences as to how to deal with the crisis.
• There's a big difference between reading about skiing and doing it yourself.
• There's all the difference in the world between choosing to do something and being forced to do it.
• There's not much difference between baseball and softball.
• These talks aim to resolve the outstanding differences between the two sides.
• They have had some minor differences, but in general they get on well together.
• We found no significant difference between the two groups.
• We should be focusing on what we have in common rather than emphasizing our differences.
• We're going to get the two sides together to see if they can't settle their differences.
• What difference does it make if he doesn't have a car?
• What's the time difference between London and Tokyo?
• a crucial difference of emphasis
• I can never tell the difference between the twins.
• I'll lend you £500 and you'll have to find the difference.
• There's a world of difference between liking someone and loving them.
• There's an age difference of six years between the two boys.
• There's not much difference in price between the two computers.
• We have our differences, but she's still my sister.
• What a difference! You look great with your hair like that

• Why don't you settle your differences and be friends again?

cousin

cousin [cousin cousins]   [ˈkʌzn]    [ˈkʌzn]  noun
1. (also ˌfirst ˈcousin) a child of your aunt or uncle
• She's my cousin.
• We're cousins.

see also  country cousin, second cousin

2. a person who is in your wider family but who is not closely related to you

• He's a distant cousin of mine.

3. usually plural a way of describing people from another country who are similar in some way to people in your own country

• our American cousins

4. usually plural a way of describing things that are similar or related in some way
• Asian elephants are smaller than their African cousins.
See also: first cousin  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French cosin, from Latin consobrinus ‘mother's sister's child’, from con- ‘with’ + sobrinus ‘second cousin’ (from soror ‘sister’).  
Example Bank:
• Completely out of the blue, she got a letter from her long-lost cousin in New York.
• I have a new baby cousin.
• She's my first cousin once removed.
• These pigs are close cousins of the wild hog.

• the popular idea that creativity and madness are kissing cousins

aunt

aunt [aunt aunts]   [ɑːnt]    [ænt]  noun
1. the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
• Aunt Alice

• My aunt lives in Canada.

2. (informal) used by children, with a first name, to address a woman who is a friend of their parents
see also  agony aunt  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French ante, from Latin amita.  
Example Bank:

• Great Aunt Emily

uncle

uncle [uncle uncles]   [ˈʌŋkl]    [ˈʌŋkl]  noun
1. the brother of your mother or father; the husband of your aunt
• Uncle Ian
• I'm going to visit my uncle.

• I've just become an uncle (= because your brother/sister has had a baby).

2. used by children, with a first name, to address a man who is a close friend of their parents
see Bob's your uncle at  Bob  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French oncle, from late Latin aunculus, alteration of Latin avunculus ‘maternal uncle’, diminutive of avus ‘grandfather’.  
Example Bank:
• He looks so much like his late uncle.
• The boss smiled at us all like a benevolent uncle.

• the fortune left to her by her dead uncle

noun  

CHILDREN
1. uncountable things that people, especially children, do for pleasure rather than as work
• the happy sounds of children at play
• the importance of learning through play

• a play area  

IN THEATRE

2. countable a piece of writing performed by actors in a theatre or on television or radio
• to put on (= perform) a play
• a play by Shakespeare
• a radio play

see also  morality play, mystery play, Passion play  

IN SPORT

3. uncountable the playing of a game
• Rain stopped play.
• There was some excellent play in yesterday's match.
• The spectators were asked to be quiet during play.

see also  fair play, foul play

4. countable (NAmE) an action or move in a game

• a defensive play  

IN ROPE

5. uncountable the possibility of free and easy movement

• We need more play in the rope.  

ACTIVITY/INFLUENCE

6. uncountable the activity or operation of sth; the influence of sth on sth else
• the free play of market forces
• The financial crisis has brought new factors into play.

• Personal feelings should not come into play when you are making business decisions.  

OF LIGHT/A SMILE

7. uncountable (literary) a light, quick movement that keeps changing
• the play of sunlight on water
more at call sth into play at  call  _v., child's play at  child, the state of play at  state  _n., all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy) at  work  _n.  
Word Origin:
Old English pleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’, related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance’.  
Thesaurus:
play noun
1. U
• the happy sounds of children at play
fun • • amusement • • entertainment • • pleasure • • recreation • • relaxation •
do sth for fun/amusement/entertainment/pleasure/recreation/relaxation
2. C
• a play by Shakespeare
drama • • comedy • • tragedy • • farce • • sketch •
a play/drama/comedy/tragedy/farce/sketch about sth
perform a play/drama/sketch
see a play/drama/comedy/sketch 
Example Bank:
• At close of play he had scored 38 not out.
• Children spend hours at play.
• He kicked the ball out of play.
• He made several nice defensive plays.
• He was sent off for foul play.
• I only said it in play.
• Rain stopped play 40 minutes into the match.
• The ball is still in play.
• The children always perform a nativity play every Christmas.
• The local council runs some good play schemes.
• The offensive coordinator has called 60 running plays and 44 passes.
• The play is reviewed in most of today's papers.
• There were ten double plays completed.
• They ran 10 plays inside the 30 in the fourth quarter.
• a play about teenage runaways
• the final play of the first half
• the team's ability to execute a play
• Kate's class decided to put on a play for the school.
• The theatre was refused permission to stage the play.
• They are performing a play by Pinter.
• a children's play area

• the happy sounds of children at play