Transcription
Word BookA list of words used inSpecial English programson radio, televisionand the InternetEDITION
SpecialEnglishWord BookA list of words used in Special Englishprograms on radio, television and the InternetVoice of AmericaWashington, D.C. 20237www.VOASpecialEnglish.comEDITION
4ABD FGI KL NPQ SUVYZ
Table of ContentsForeword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Parts of Speech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Word List & Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Special Words & Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111Common Prefixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113Common Expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115Numbers, Days, Months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116Chemical Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119Organs of the Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121Computer Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122Business Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124United States Branches of Government . . . . . . .126Map of the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128Map of the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130Presidents of the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132www.VOASpecialEnglish.com5
6
ForewordThe Voice of America has been broadcasting programs inSpecial English since 1959. Special English is VOA’smethod of communicating with English learners aroundthe world in a way that is easy to understand. The vocabulary islimited to about 1,500 words. The sentences are short.The speed is slower than normal.Special English programs are broadcast on the Voice ofAmerica, on radio stations around the world, on satellitetelevision and on the Internet. These programs present thelatest world news as well as information about science,medicine, education, economics, American history and lifein the United States.This book explains the meaning of the words used in ourbroadcasts and on our Web site.The first edition waspublished in 1962. The list of words has changed sincethen, as the language itself has changed. We thank allthose people at VOA who started the process and whohelped make this edition possible.You can download transcripts and audio files of ourprograms at our Web site, www.VOASpecialEnglish.com.You can also get details of where to find our programs onradio and television.VOA Special EnglishWashington, D.C.2009www.VOASpecialEnglish.com7
8babyjumphappytheyand
9www.VOASpecialEnglish.comParts of Speechn. (noun) – a name wordv. (verb) - an action wordad. (adjective/adverb) – a describing wordprep. (preposition) – a word used to show a relationpro. (pronoun) – a word used in place of a nounconj. (conjunction) – a joining wordin
10a (an) – adviseAa (an) – ad. one; any; eachable – v. having the power to do somethingabout – adj. almost (“about half”); of or having a relation to(“We talk about the weather.”)above – ad. at a higher placeabuse – n. bad treatment causing harm or injuryaccept – v. to agree to receiveaccident – n. something that happens by chance or mistake;an unplanned eventaccuse – v. to say a person is responsible for an act or crime;to make a statement against someoneacross – ad. from side to side; to the other sideact – v. to do somethingactivist – n. one who seeks change through actionactor – n. someone acting in a play or showadd – v. to put (something) with another to make it larger; tosay moreadministration – n. the executive part of a government,usually headed by a president or prime ministeradmit – v. to accept (“admitted to the United Nations”); toexpress one’s guilt or responsibility (“He admitted thatwhat he did was wrong.”)adult – n. a grown personadvertise – v. to show or present the qualities of a productto increase salesAadvise – v. to help with information, knowledge or ideas inmaking a decision
11affect – v. to produce an effect on; to influence (“A lack ofsleep affected the singer’s performance.”)afraid – ad. feeling fearafter – ad. later; behindagain – ad. another time; as beforeagainst – ad. opposed to; not agreeing with somethingage – n. how old a person or thing isagency – n. an organization that is part of a larger group(“an agency of the United Nations”)Awww.VOASpecialEnglish.comaffect – albumaggression – n. an attack against a person or country; theviolation of a country’s bordersago – ad. of time past; before nowagree – v. to have the same belief as someone; to be willingto do somethingagriculture – n. farmingaid – v. to help; to support; n. help, assistanceaim – v. to point a gun at;n. a goal or purposeair – n. the mixture of gasesaround the earth, mostlynitrogen and oxygen,that we breatheair force – n. a militaryorganizationusing airplanesairplane – n. a vehicle withwings that fliesairport – n. a place whereairplanes take off and landalbum – n. a collection of recorded musicairplane
12alcohol – anniversaryalcohol – n. a strong, colorless liquid, usually made fromgrain, used in drinks or in industrial productsalive – ad. having life; not deadall – ad. everything; everyone; the complete amountally – n. a nation or person joined with another for aspecial purposealmost – ad. a little less than completelyalone – ad. separated from othersalong – ad. near or on (“along the road”)already – ad. before now; even nowalso – ad. added to; tooalthough – conj. even if it is true thatalways – ad. at all times; every timeambassador – n. a nation’s highest diplomatic representative (to another government)amend – v. to add to or to change (a proposal or law)ammunition – n. the bullets or shells fired from gunsamong – ad. in or part of (a group)amount – n. the number, size or weight of anythinganarchy – n. a lack of order; lawlessnessancestor – n. a family member from the pastancient – ad. very old; long agoand – conj. also; in addition to; withanger – n. a strong emotion against someone or somethinganimal – n. a living creature that moves, such as a dogor catAanniversary – n. a yearly celebration or observance of anevent that happened in the past
13announce – artilleryAannounce – v. to make known publicly; to declare officiallywww.VOASpecialEnglish.comanother – ad. one more; a different oneanswer – n. a statement produced by a question; v. to makea statement after being asked a questionantibodies – n. special proteins produced in the blood thatkill harmful bacteriaany – ad. one or more of no special kindapologize – v. to express regret for a mistake or accident forwhich one accepts responsibilityappeal – v. to take to a higher court, person or group for adecision; to call on somebody for helpappear – v. to show oneself; to come into sight;to seemappoint – v. to name; to choose (“appoint a judge”)approve – v. to agree with; to agree to supportarcheology – n. the scientific study of past human lifeand activitiesarea – n. any place or part of itargue – v. to offer reasons for or against something; todispute; to disagreearms – n. military equipment; weaponsarmy – n. military ground forcesaround – ad. on every side (of)arrest – v. to seize a person for legal action; to take asa prisonerarrive – v. to come to a place, especially at the end of a tripart – n. expressions or creations by humans, such aspaintings, music, writing or statuesartillery – n. big gunsart
14as – availableas – conj. equally (“as fast as”); when; whileash – n. the part left after something burnsask – v. to question; to say something is wanted (“We askthe teacher questions every day.”)assist – v. to helpastronaut – n. a person who travels in spaceastronomy – n. the scientific study of stars andthe universeasylum – n. political protection given by a government to aperson from another countryat – prep. in or near (“at the edge”); where (“look at”); when(“at noon”)atmosphere – n. the gases surrounding any star or planetatom – n. a very small part of all things; the smallest partof an element that can join with parts of other elementsattach – v. to tie together; to connectattack – n. a violent attempt to damage, injure or kill; v. tostart a fightattempt – v. to work toward something; to try; to makean effortattend – v. to be present atattention – n. close or careful observing of, or listening to,someone or something (“The student paid attention tohis teacher.”)automobile – n. a vehicle with wheels used to carry people;a carautumn – n. the time of the year between summerand winterBavailable – ad. present and ready for use; willing to serve orhelp. (“There was a list of available candidates.”)
15average – baseBwww.VOASpecialEnglish.comaverage – n. something (a number) representing the middle;ad. common; normalavoid – v. to stay away fromawake – ad. not sleepingaward – n. an honor or prize for an act or serviceaway – ad. not nearBbaby – n. a newly born creatureback – n. the part behind the front; ad. the other way fromforwardbacteria – n. living things that are one cell and can be seenonly through a microscope; some cause diseasebad – ad. wrong; acting against the law; not goodbalance – v. to make two sides or forces equalball – n. something roundballoon – n. a device of strong, light material that riseswhen filled with gas lighter than airballot – n. a piece of paper used for votingban – v. to not permit; to stop; n. an officialrestrictionbank – n. an organization that keeps andlends moneybar – v. to prevent or blockbarrier – n. anything that blocks or makes anaction difficultbase – n. a military center; v. to establish as a fact(“Her research was based on experiments.”)baby
16battle – birdbattle – n. a fight between opposing armed forcesbe – v. to live; to happen; to existbeat – v. to hit again and againbeauty – n. that which pleases the eye, ear or spiritbecause – prep. for the reason that (“He left because he wassick.”)become – v. to come to bebed – n. a sleeping placebefore – prep. earlierbegin – v. to do the first part of an action; to startbehavior – n. the way in which a person or animal acts(“The child’s behavior was bad because he fought with otherchildren.”)behind – ad. at the back of; in back ofbelieve – v. to think; to feel sure of; to accept as true;to trustbelong – v. to be owned by; to be a member ofbelow – ad. lower thanbest – ad. the most goodbetray – v. to turn against; to be false tobetter – ad. more good thanbetween – ad. in the space or time that separates; from oneto the other (“talks between two nations”)big – ad. of great size; not smallbill – n. a legislative proposalbiology – n. the scientific study of life or living things in alltheir formsBbird – n. a creature that flies
17bite – v. to cut with the teethblack – ad. dark; having the color like that of the night skyblame – v. to accuse; to hold responsiblebleed – v. to lose bloodblind – ad. not able to seeblock – v. to stop something from being done; toprevent movementblood – n. red fluid in the bodyblow – v. to move with force, as in air (“The wind blows.”)Bwww.VOASpecialEnglish.combite – bottleblue – ad. having the color like that of a clear skyboat – n. something built to travel on water that carriespeople or goodsbody – n. all of a person or animal; the remains of a personor animalboil – v. to heat a liquid until it becomes very hotbomb – n. a device that explodes with great force; v. toattack or destroy with bombsbone – n. the hard material in the bodybook – n. a long written workfor readingborder – n. a dividing linebetween nationsborn – v. to come to life; to comeinto existenceborrow – v. to take as a loanboth – ad. not just one of two, butthe two togetherbottle – n. a container, usuallymade of glass, to hold liquidbed
18bottom – burnbottom – ad. the lowest part of somethingbox – n. something to put things into; a container, usuallymade of paper or woodboy – n. a young male personboycott – v. to refuse to take part in or deal withbrain – n. the control center of thought, emotions and bodyactivity of all creaturesbrave – ad. having no fearbread – n. a food made from grainbreak – v. to divide into parts by force; to destroybreathe – v. to take air into the body and let it out againbridge – n. a structure built over a waterway, valley or roadso people and vehicles can cross from one side to theotherbrief – ad. short; not longbright – ad. giving much light; strong and clear in colorbring – v. to come with somethingbroadcast – v. to send information, stories or music by radioor television; n. a radio or television programbrother – n. a male with the same father or mother asanother personbrown – ad. having the color like that of coffeebudget – n. a spending planbuild – v. to join materials together to make somethingbuilding – n. anything built for use as a house, factory,office, school, store or place of entertainmentbullet – n. a small piece of metal shot from a gunCburn – v. to be on fire; to destroy or damage by fire
19burst – cancelburst – v. to break open suddenlyCwww.VOASpecialEnglish.combury – v. to put into the ground and cover with earthbus – n. a public vehicle to carry peoplebusiness – n. one’s work; buying and selling to earn money;tradebusy – ad. doing something; very activebut – conj. however; other than; yetbuy – v. to get by paying something, usually moneyby – conj. near; at; next to (“by the road”); from (“a play byWilliam Shakespeare”); not later than (“by midnight”)Ccabinet – n. a group of ministers that helps leada governmentcall – v. to give a name to (“I call myself John.”); to ask foror request (“They called for an end to the fighting.”)calm – ad. quiet; peaceful; opposite tensecamera – n. a device for taking picturescamp – n. a place with temporary housingcampaign – n. a competition by opposingpolitical candidates seeking supportfrom voters; a connected series ofmilitary actions during a warcan – v. to be able to; to have the right to;n. a container used to hold liquid orfood, usually mad
VOA Special English Washington, D.C. 2009 7 www.VOASpecialEnglish.com. baby happy they and jump 8. in www.VOASpecialEnglish.com 9 Parts of Speech n. (noun) – a name word v. (verb) - an action word ad. (adjective/adverb) – a describing word prep. (preposition) – a word used to show a relation pro. (pronoun) – a word used in place of a noun conj. (conjunction) – a joining word . a (an)
