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Vocabulary Development (0-60 Months)
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Research Review / Parent
Written by: Andrew Biemiller, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
The Importance of the Number of Words Known by Age Five for Later School Achievement
Children who do not know many words by the end of kindergarten often have poor reading comprehension in later grades. By the time children begin kindergarten, they have already acquired much of their language. They speak in sentences and they understand simple stories and simple explanations. By 5 years of age, most children probably know more than one or two thousand root word meanings.Root words are words with simple meanings—for example, red, run, fair. In addition, there are derived words which have added prefixes or suffixes—for example, redder, running, fairly. Most children learn to understand derived words, if they know the related root word.
Children may differ a lot in the number of words they know at the beginning of kindergarten. Why do children differ so much in the number of words they know? How do these differences come about? Children's age when they start kindergarten can make a big difference to the number of words they know. The youngest kindergartners are 20 percent younger than the oldest kindergartners. There are also differences in the number of vocabulary words they know. The size of children's vocabulary is related to the size of their parents' vocabulary. Children growing up in a non-English-speaking family may have difficulties in English. Let us consider briefly the range of language differences at the beginning of school, language growth, and some of the early influences on language growth.
An Overview of Vocabulary Development in the First Five Years
I estimate that by the beginning of kindergarten, children's vocabulary size ranges from 2300 root word meanings (average for children with low vocabularies) to 4700 root word meanings (average for children with high vocabularies).During the grades from kindergarten to grade two, the difference between children with small and large vocabularies continues to get larger. By the end of grade two, children in the low vocabulary group average 4000 root word meanings, children in the average vocabulary group know about 6000 meanings, and children in the large vocabulary group average 8000 meanings. These large vocabulary differences have developed before children have had much of an opportunity to build vocabulary from their own reading. Beginning readers (kindergarten-grade two) mainly read "primer" texts using relatively few words.
Thus, some children begin school with small vocabularies, and their vocabulary disadvantage becomes greater during the primary grades. Reducing or eliminating this early vocabulary difference between low- and high-vocabulary children should help improve disadvantaged children's chances of achieving well in school.
We might hope that once children enter school at age 4 or 5, there would be more opportunities for less advantaged children to build vocabulary—even to "catch up" with more advantaged children. Unfortunately, at present there is little evidence that school experience helps build vocabulary—especially in the kindergarten to grade two years. This lack of school influence on vocabulary development probably reflects the fact that there is little instruction for vocabulary.
In the next sections, I will discuss how word meanings are learned in the early years and how home and group care influences affect the number of word meanings children come to know. In addition, I will discuss things that might increase vocabulary in the early years. I will also discuss what word meanings might be emphasized by parents and teachers, particularly for children whose language development is at risk. I conclude that more should be done to promote vocabulary during the first five years of children's language and literacy development.
How Word Meanings are Learned
In this section, I discuss how words are learned and how some children come to know many more words than other children. I will also discuss how home differences and child-care interventions affect word development.Processes
Word form and word meaning. A "word form" is the spoken, heard and remembered word. Word meaning is the knowledge (stored experience) that is connected to the word form and remembered when a word form is heard. A "word" is the combined word form and meaning. About one third of the word forms likely to be known by age 5 have more than one word meaning. Here is an example: bank—where money is kept, and bank—land along a river or stream."Fast-mapping" meanings. Some years ago a researcher, Susan Carey, introduced the concept of "fast-mapping" word learning. She observed that preschool children could very quickly acquire a meaning for a new word but took much longer to have a relatively complete understanding of the word. I suspect that when children are aware of both a novel word form and word meaning at the same time, children can sometimes "map" or establish a connection between the form and meaning very quickly. This situation—simultaneous presence of word form and meaning—can occur either as a result of direct explanation by a parent or teacher or as a result of naturally occurring conversation or story reading.
When are meanings mapped? Are words learned as a result of explanations by others? Are words learned from children's intentional efforts to figure out word meanings? Do children ever acquire word meanings without conscious intentional efforts?
It has been argued that vocabulary development is largely a matter of "unintended" inference—simply as new words are encountered while reading. Vocabulary development by inference is argued because it seems that children must also learn words as they hear them generally when others are speaking or reading. There are differences among children in their ability to learn new words without explanations. These differences partly reflect their already-learned vocabulary – the more words children know the better they can infer new word meanings. However, research on word acquisition in the preschool period has described mainly adult and child conversations in which specific meanings are explained by adults or a situation clearly provides a child with an opportunity to connect a word form-word meaning association with something they are either seeing, touching, tasting, or hearing
Adult to child language explanations include pointing to objects while naming them; highlighting action; and adults saying words when a child is attending to an object. According to Katherine Nelson, adults often try to guess what a child is focused on and supply the appropriate word.
Children can clearly have an opportunity to learn a word when a parent labels an object while handing the object to a child (for example, "Kim, have a banana"). Similarly, "overhearing" explanations given to a child (for example, "a lemon is yellow and an orange is orange, the lemon is smaller than an orange, both are citrus fruits"), and other instances.
Sources of Differences in Word Acquisition
Have some children been advantaged by heredity and that this accounts for observed differences? Alternatively, have some children been advantaged by circumstances—by the family, community, and education system in which they grow up—and that this advantage accounts for observed differences?It is clear that both biological differences in children (nature) and differences in children's experience (nurture) have substantial impacts on how rapidly a child's language develops. There is clear evidence that different children's environments are associated with large differences in children's language and vocabulary. There is also evidence that fairly simple programs in day care and primary classrooms can double normal vocabulary growth rates (to be discussed further on, Vocabulary: Acquisition in Group Care or School Settings)
Language growth does not simply follow a biologically programmed schedule. Let us consider briefly some of the factors influencing language and vocabulary growth.
Person Characteristics (Talent): The Role of Biological Differences (Nurture)
To learn words easily, children must be able to form "phonological files" that is, store information in the brain that allows a person to hear, remember, and repeat the sounds of an unfamiliar word. In addition, a child must connect the word-form and its meaning.Meanings also involve mental files so to speak (stored information). Meaning files must either form easily or already exist when a new "word" is learned. For example, an infant may already have a mental file about cups when she first learns the word, "cup". Something like files are established for objects within the first month of life. Learning the meaning of the word, "cup" simply involves connecting the word-form "cup" to the already-learned non-verbal mental information file on cups.
On the other hand, when the word "fair" is learned, a complex meaning concept about "fair" and "unfair" social events is probably gradually constructed. It is unlikely that a non-verbal mental file on fairness exists prior to encountering "fair" in verbal interaction. At some point, a completely different meaning is also learned about a "fair" as a place where farm goods are shown and often other entertainment is available.
There are probably biological factors affecting both the ease of forming word-sound files and the ease of forming meaning files and connections. Thus, it is not surprising that young children with a strong command of word sounds develop larger vocabularies than comparable children with less strong word sound skills. In addition, an adequate working memory is also necessary. Children must be able to attend to a word form and the word form's meaning at the same time if word form and word meaning are to be connected.
Much more could be said of biological factors influencing language growth, but these examples should be enough to show that such biological characteristics have an effect. To a large extent, the effect of biological factors is to increase or decrease the rate or ease of word learning. In short, there is reasonable evidence for the existence of a biologically-based "talent" for learning words and language. However, the number of words children learn will be greatly influenced by a combination of this potential learning rate and the opportunities children have for learning language.
The Role of Experience (Nurture)
It is not news that children who grow up in low income and poorly educated families often have smaller vocabularies than their more advantaged classmates. These differences are clearly apparent by the time children start school. However, family income and education are blurry indicators for what must be a combination of children's home and community experiences. Let us now turn to children's opportunities that may also affect language development.It is clear that words (word form + word meaning) can only be learned when
- an unfamiliar word is used with a child and
- the meaning is in some way explained to the child while the child is attending to the word form.
In most cases, not only must the word be used, but the context must be clear. Researchers have shown that greater parent use of rare words (words not commonly known by grade four) and the presence of more children's books in the home that are regularly read to the children are related to increased vocabulary by age five.
Betty Hart and Todd Risley have written what may be the clearest book describing language and achievement differences between advantaged and disadvantaged children, and differences in their early experiences. They provide data showing that parents who use many more words have children who use many more words. By three years of age, advantaged children were found to have twice the vocabulary of low-income children, and were adding vocabulary at twice the rate (6 words/day compared to 3 words/day).
More advanced vocabulary was associated with more parent talk including
- number of different words used by parents with the child,
- warmth in play and work with the child,
- "symbolic emphasis" (talk about word meanings),
- suggestions rather than orders to their children, and
- usually responding to their children's talk.
Other researchers made similar observations. In Gordon Wells' study of language in the home, there was a strong relationship between total adult talk to children and children's' vocabulary gains over time. There were gains in child language when more parents expanded child language, for example, child says "mo milk". Parent says, "Kim, you want some more milk." It seems that vocabulary grows faster when parents actively help children build their vocabulary.
Vocabulary: Effects of Parental Encouragement
It is clear that some homes provide more language support (word explanations, praise for using new words, etc.). Children who are 1 or 2 years of age are seen to inquire about unknown word meanings. However, by age 4 or 5 years, a study of Headstart children's dinner time talk suggested that children ask about very few word meanings. It is easy to visualize such conversations. "Mommy, what does think mean?" If a child is discouraged by an answer like "Don't bother me" or some dismissal, then I suspect that the odds of asking about unknown words becomes rare.In my personal experience, many questions about unknown words certainly come from four- or five-year old children in advantaged homes. Parents' and caregivers' responsiveness to children's talk, including maintaining attention, responding to children's talk, and emotionally warm support are very important and are related to greater verbal skills.
Vocabulary: Acquisition in Group Care or School Settings
What parents and caregivers "do" matters, perhaps as much or more than the genetic potential passed on to children in group care or school settings. Regardless of income level, parents and caregivers who spend a lot of time talking, reading, and playing with their children, the children developed vocabulary as well as children raised in upper middle-class homes.In a large-scale study of daycare organization and quality, researchers in an American study similarly found that organization of child care arrangements had a large effect on child language and other outcomes. Child-care programs organized into small groups (8-10 children), with one staff person responsible for the children in their group, resulted in significantly greater language gains. When one person was responsible, teachers made fewer negative commands and more verbal explanations.
Effects of Reading to Children
In addition to studies of parent-child conversations, there are studies of the specific effects of reading to children. Just reading stories to children is not enough—children need more general supportive verbal interaction during reading and at other times.There are methods of vocabulary support that could be included in story reading with preschool children and even with toddlers and infants. With the youngest children (1 and 2 years of age), effective story reading probably deals more with words shown in pictures and focuses on text within single pages and rhyming. Children generally like having such books read many times. It helps to give words for pictured things.
At ages 3 and 4 years of age, how you read to children is very important. Make sure you gain children's attention to books by asking questions, pointing out parts of an illustration, and prompting the child to "read". Similarly, more reading to children promotes children's vocabulary. By age five (and probably earlier), children can acquire some vocabulary simply as a result of hearing a story read twice. Words that appear many times in a story more likely to be learned.
Repeated reading with word explanations
Several studies with young children have shown that more words can be learned when books are read several times and 5 – 10 different words are taught during each reading. Repeated reading with questions about words resulted in child learning even more words. In general, it seems that embedding word meaning instruction in narrative contexts can increase vocabulary.Does Early Intervention Make a Difference?
My message to parents and preschool caregivers is to read to, talk with, and engage children in conversation every day. Stronger vocabulary development before children start kindergarten improves children's chances of eliminating vocabulary as a source of reading difficulty.Vocabulary: Cumulative Vocabulary Effects
The acquisition of new vocabulary at any given point will be a result of environmental opportunities (presence of words to be learned),- adult explanations of new words,
- adult encouragement for children asking about unknown words,
- children's vocabulary talent (differences in size of working memory, ease of encoding phonological forms, ease of constructing "meanings" from instruction and from inference), and
- children's pre-existing vocabulary at that point.
This growing vocabulary will be important for children both for understanding explanations and for any inference or construction of new meanings.
If a child is familiar with most of the words in a book, the chances of being able to learn or infer a new meaning is probably much greater than if a child is lacking a number of the other word meanings in the story. This is true not only for developing new meanings, but also for interpreting new prefixed and suffixed words (e.g. uncertain, workable) or compound words (overcome).
I suspect that young children rarely determine meanings of words that are completely unknown, but children may often determine meanings of prefixed. suffixed, or compounded words when both the affixes and the root words are known. This ability is especially likely when most other words in the surrounding text are known. As words are read in stories, children may also come to better understand meanings of words that have been briefly explained before.
Words Developed During the First Five Years
Estimating Vocabulary Size
Some words are understood by 12 months of age, while 50 words are used by children around 18 months of age. More importantly, substantially more words begin to be understood starting around 12 months of age. An average of 200 word meanings are understood by the time the child is 16 months of age. By age 16 to 18 months, some children learn 70 new words per month.An average of 6000 root word meanings are known by the end of grade two (approximately 8 years of age), but very few at 12 months of age. After 16 months, children learn to understand an average of about 70 word meanings per month.
It seems generally true that by the end of second grade, average children know about 6000 root word meanings plus another 18000 derived word meanings, including prefixed and suffixed words as well as compound words and idiomatic expressions such as "the eleventh hour"—meaning "the last possible time for something to happen".
Estimating Kinds of Words Known
My list of root word meanings likely known at age five or the beginning of kindergarten includes some 3500 meanings. I estimate that a child might know 4000 or more word meanings.I expect that a child 5 years of age with an above-average vocabulary would know 80% or more of these words. By grade two, more than 80% of these 3500 word meanings will be known by most children. However, the children who learn these words during the primary grades are already behind their classmates in vocabulary development. More advanced children are acquiring more advanced words at this point.
Word Categories
Word meanings were classified by concrete vs. verbally-defined, priority, and by word type category.Concrete vs. Verbal Meanings. Word meanings were classified as "concrete" (meanings which could be indicated by pointing or acting out, e.g., shower, wrestling) or "verbally-defined" (meanings requiring some verbal explanation of the meaning, e.g., think, secret). About 70% of meanings that are possibly known at 60 months were classified as "concrete".
Age and Type of Meaning. In the second year of life (first year of acquiring words) children learn almost exclusively concrete meanings. Researchers also report no acquisition of adjectives in the 14 - 18 month age-range. During the third year (24 - 36 months), some "relational" terms are added. Many relational words refer to spatial relationships between two objects (for example, in or on). Often adjectives are relational, (for example big vs. little). During the third year children also begin to use some "action/event" terms (for example, bring, drop, listen, remember, breakfast) and other "description" terms or adjectives (for example, asleep, bad, heavy, long).
However, by 36 to 60 months, many children are beginning to acquire verbally-defined meanings as well (for example, clever, weather, amaze, meaning) in addition to adding more of the kinds of words learned earlier. Knowledge of verbally-defined meanings distinguishes children making average progress compared to disadvantaged children making slow progress.
Priority of Word Meanings. Some of the 3000 words average children learn by age 5 are Easy—learned by most children by age 5. Some words may not be learned by age 5, but they are concrete and will be learned easily when needed. I call these "Low Priority" words. However, some words are important and are usually learned by children with large vocabularies but not those with small vocabularies. These are more likely to be verbally-defined words. I call these "Teach" words—words which parents and caregivers should briefly explain when these words appear in stories or conversations. Simply teaching words in lists has not been as effective as teaching words as they appear in stories or conversations.
Conclusions
We have seen that by 60 months of age, average children have acquired more than 3000 root word meanings. However, substantial differences have already developed, with some children knowing at least 1000 fewer meanings than average children.Read to your children, talk about what is in their world around them, listen to and answer their questions, expand their language, go on walks and talks together, and engage your child in language and reading. The earlier we can support needed vocabulary development, the easier your child's vocabulary will grow in school, and the more your child's language and literacy development will flourish. See Table 1 for a list of some preschool words and their meanings. See Table 2 for a list of word meanings recommended for attention, explanation, or instruction for children ages 3 to 5 years.
Biemiller, A. (2009). Parent/Caregiver Narrative: Vocabulary Development (0 – 60 Months). In L.M. Phillips (Ed.), Handbook of language and literacy development: A Roadmap from 0 – 60 Months. [online], pp. 1 - 42. London, ON: Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network. Available at: Handbook of language and literacy development
Table 1: Sample Preschool Meanings by Priority
| Easy Meaning | Harder but Low Priority | Teach/Explain | |||
| about |
on the point of | acorn | oak tree nut | ABC’s | the alphabet |
| bad |
naughty | bar |
drinking place | amaze | to surprise |
| block |
child’s toy | blend | mix | battle | part of war |
| button | to fasten | brownie | chocolate nut cake | burglar | robber |
| cider | apple juice | captain | in charge of ship | chose | picked out or selected |
| cries | yells | chubby | fat and round | crouch | bend low |
| drum | musical instrument | darling | sweetheart | ever | at any time |
| easy |
not hard | ear muffs | ear warmers | flap |
move back and forth |
| fire | a flame | fingernail | nail on finger | friday | day of week |
| follow/td> | to go along (after another) | gang | group of people | grain | oats, corn, etc. |
| goes on | keeps on going | grown-up | older person | hero | very brave man |
| her | belonging to a girl | house | to give shelter to | jet | kind of airplane |
| into | toward the inside | lad | young boy | letter | a written message |
| liar | person who tells lies | mane | horse’s neck hair | letter | one of the abc’s |
| mix | stir together | necklace | worn around neck | meaning | the sense of words |
| o.k. | alright | pack | fill tightly | nightfall | coming of night |
| out | not in | pine | a tree | part | a piece of the whole |
| peas | small green vegetables | queen | king’s wife | prepare | to get ready |
| puppy | a young dog | religion | belief in god | repeat | do over |
| rush | to hurry | rowboat | oar-driven boat | season | spring or summer, etc. |
| show | movie or tv program | sill | lower part of window | then | next |
| speed | quickness of moving | stalk | stem of plant | tough | hard to take |
| sweep | brush off a floor | take off | remove (clothes) | vitamin | needed for health |
| toilet | stool in the bathroom (?) | trunk | auto compartment | west | where the sun sets |
| watch | a timekeeping device | wheat | a plant | wire | metal thread |
| yours | belonging to you | zebra | striped animal | zoo | wild animal park |
Table 2: Biemiller's Word Meanings Recommended for Attention, Explanation, or Instruction for Children Ages 3 to 5
| Word | Meaning | Type | Concrete /Verbal |
| abandoned | deserted | adject/verb | V |
| ABC's | the alphabet | noun | V |
| ability | skill | noun | V |
| able | can do it | adject/adverb | V |
| about | around | preposition | V |
| about | almost | preposition | V |
| about | somewhere around | preposition | V |
| above | over and beyond | preposition | V |
| above | more than | preposition | V |
| absent | not here | adject/adverb | V |
| accept | agree to | verb | V |
| ache | to hurt | adject./verb | C |
| act | the process of doing | noun | V |
| act | what you do | verb | V |
| act | behave in a certain way | verb | V |
| acting | stage performing | verb | V |
| action | movement | noun | V |
| actor | man in play | noun | C |
| actress | woman in play | noun | C |
| address | street number | noun | V |
| admire | think well of | verb | V |
| admission | right to enter | noun | V |
| admit | accept as true | verb | V |
| adult | grown-up | noun | V |
| adulthood | being grown-up | adject./verb | V |
| adventure | exciting happening | noun | V |
| advice | helpful information | noun | V |
| afford | able to pay for | noun | V |
| after | later | preposition | V |
| after | looking for | preposition | V |
| afternoon | from noon to evening | noun | V |
| against | next to | preposition | V |
| age | years lived | noun | V |
| age | time of life | noun | V |
| age | to grow old | verb | V |
| ages | a long time | noun | V |
| ago | past time | noun | V |
| agree | think the same | verb | V |
| agreement | accepted by all | verb | V |
| aid | help | verb | C |
| aim | to give direction | noun | V |
| aim | point a gun | verb | C |
| air | what you breathe | noun | C |
| album | book for pictures | noun | C |
| alike | the same | adject/adverb | V |
| alive | living | adject/verb | C |
| all | the whole | noun | V |
| allow | permit | verb | V |
| allowance | a sum of money | noun | C |
| almost | nearly | adject/adverb | V |
| along | together with the other | preposition | V |
| alongside | by the side of | preposition | C |
| amaze | to surprise | adject/verb | V |
| America | the United States | noun | C |
| among | in with | preposition | V |
| amount | add up to | noun | V |
| amount | how much | noun | V |
| ancestor | a relative of long ago | noun | V |
| and | also | x-conjunc. | V |
| anger | to make mad | verb | V |
| angry | mad | adject./verb | V |
| animal | a beast | noun | V |
| ankle | part of foot | noun | C |
| announce | tell everyone | verb | C |
| another | one added | preposition | V |
| answer | reply | noun | V |
| answer | solution | noun | V |
| any | some | adject./verb | V |
| any | no special one | noun | V |
| anyway | no matter what happens | x-condit. | V |
| apart | separate | adject./verb | V |
| ape | monkey | noun | C |
| appear | come into sight | verb | V |
| applause | clapping of hands | verb | C |
| aquarium | building for water life | noun | C |
| area | part of a country | noun | V |
| arithmetic | study of numbers | noun | V |
| army | group of soldiers | noun | C |
| around | nearby | preposition | V |
| arrange | put in order | verb | V |
| arrive | get there | verb | V |
| arrow | weapon shot from a bow | noun | C |
| art | great painting, music | noun | V |
| art | drawing | noun | V |
| ashamed | feels sorry | adject./verb | C |
| asthma | affects breathing | adject./verb | C |
| astronaut | spaceman | noun | C |
| at | in or on | preposition | V |
| at first | in the beginning | noun | V |
| atlas | map book | noun | C |
| attend | pay attention | noun | V |
| attend | be there | verb | V |
| attention | act of courtesy (attend to __) | noun | V |
| author | book writer | noun | V |
| autumn | fall | noun | C |
| awake | not asleep | adject./verb | C |
| award | prize | noun | C |
| away | not at home | preposition | V |
| awhile | for a time | noun | V |
| back | in the past | preposition | V |
| background | distant view | noun | V |
| backward | back to the front | preposition | V |
| balance | keep weights steady | verb | V |
| balance | keep equal or even | verb | V |
| ball | round object | noun | V |
| band | united group | noun | V |
| bank | where money is kept | noun | C |
| bank | land along a stream | noun | V |
| bare | hardly enough | adject/adverb | C |
| bare | empty | adject/adverb | V |
| baseball | bat and ball game | noun | C |
| bashful | shy | adject./verb | V |
| basketball | game | noun | C |
| bathe | take a bath | verb | C |
| battle | part of a war | noun | V |
| beach | seaside | noun | V |
| beak | the bill of a bird | noun | C |
| bean | a vegetable | noun | C |
| bear | to carry | verb | C |
| beast | animal | noun | V |
| beauty shop | place of skin and hair care | noun | V |
| became | turned into | x-to be | V |
| because | for the reason that | preposition | V |
| become | get to be | x-to be | V |
| before | earlier in time | preposition | V |
| beg | to ask for charity | verb | C |
| beginning | the first part | preposition | V |
| behave | to act well | verb | V |
| belief | what you think is true | noun | V |
| belief | trust in something | noun | V |
| believe | think true | verb | V |
| belong | to be someone's | preposition | V |
| belong | to be a member | verb | V |
| belongings | what he owns | noun | V |
| bend | to twist, pull out of shape | verb | C |
| better | more good | adject./verb | V |
| between | in the separating space | preposition | V |
| beyond | on the far side | preposition | V |
| beyond | farther than | preposition | V |
| bill | paper money | noun | C |
| bill | money due | noun | V |
| bit | a little | adject/adverb | C |
| blade | cutting part (of a knife) | noun | C |
| blaze | to flame | noun | C |
| bled | lost blood | verb | C |
| blind | can't see | adject/adverb | C |
| blind | take away sight | verb | C |
| blindfold | cloth over eyes | noun | C |
| block | stop something | verb | C |
| blonde | light-haired woman | noun | C |
| blood | liquid in veins | noun | C |
| bloom | grow flowers | verb | C |
| border | edge decoration | noun | C |
| bore | make weary by dullness | verb | V |
| boss | chief | noun | C |
| both | one and the other | preposition | V |
| bother | to take the trouble | verb | V |
| bought | gave money for | verb | C |
| bounce | to move springily | verb | C |
| bow | a kind of knot | verb | C |
| boxer | a prize fighter | noun | C |
| brace | a support | noun | V |
| brain | inside of head | noun | C |
| branch | part of a tree | noun | C |
| brave | has courage | adject/adverb | V |
| break | force way in | verb | C |
| break out | to force way out | verb | C |
| bright | very smart | adject/adverb | C |
| brighten | make shine | verb | C |
| broadcast | put on radio or TV | verb | C |
| bulb | electric light | noun | C |
| bully | picks on others | noun | C |
| bumpy | full of rough spots | adject/adverb | C |
| burner | part of a stove | noun | C |
| business | industry | noun | V |
| but | except | x-conjunc. | V |
| butler | manservant | noun | C |
| buy | get by paying price | verb | C |
| by | not later than | preposition | V |
| cab | taxi | noun | C |
| cabin | small hut or house | noun | C |
| cafeteria | special eating place | noun | C |
| calendar | shows days, months | noun | V |
| cancel | give up | verb | C |
| canyon | deep valley | noun | V |
| capital letter | large print initial | noun | C |
| captain | army officer | noun | C |
| car | part of train | noun | C |
| care | be fond of | verb | C |
| careful | takes no chances (cautious) | adject/adverb | C |
| carry | take | verb | C |
| cash | coins or bills | noun | V |
| cat | lion, tiger, etc. | noun | C |
| catch | get the disease | verb | C |
| catch on | get the meaning | verb | C |
| caterpillar | fuzzy worm | noun | C |
| cause | reason for | noun | V |
| ceiling | top of room | noun | C |
| celebrate | to keep a holiday | verb | V |
| celebrate | have a party | verb | V |
| celebration | a big party | noun | V |
| center | the middle | noun | V |
| center | where many gather | noun | V |
| cereal | grain for food | noun | V |
| certain | particular | adject/adverb | C |
| chain | links of metal | noun | V |
| chairman | committee leader | noun | V |
| champion | the winner | noun | V |
| change | money returned | noun | V |
| change | to make different | verb | V |
| channel | TV station | noun | C |
| chap | become rough | verb | C |
| charge | the price | verb | C |
| charge | rush forward | verb | C |
| cheap | doesn't cost much | adject/adverb | C |
| cheat | a dishonest person | noun | C |
| check | a mark | noun | C |
| checkup | examination | noun | C |
| cheer | feel happy | verb | C |
| cheer | to give comfort | verb | C |
| cheerful | gay | adject./verb | C |
| chef | cook | noun | C |
| chief | the boss | noun | C |
| childhood | being young | noun | V |
| chill | a sudden cold feeling | adject./verb | C |
| chill | to make cold | verb | C |
| chimpanzee | African ape | noun | C |
| choose | pick out (or select) | verb | C |
| chore | small job | noun | C |
| chose | picked out (or select) | verb | C |
| chuckle | to laugh happily | verb | C |
| circle | a ring | noun | V |
| circus | travelling animal show | noun | C |
| claim | to ask for as one's own | noun | V |
| class | a school group | noun | C |
| class | students in the same grade | noun | V |
| classroom | school room | noun | C |
| clay | soft, sticky mud | noun | C |
| clear | remove | verb | C |
| clearly | plainly | adject/adverb | V |
| clever | very smart | noun | V |
| climate | weather conditions | noun | V |
| close | bring to an end | verb | V |
| coal | a hard black fuel | noun | C |
| coast | land by an ocean | noun | V |
| coat | a layer of paint | noun | C |
| coat | to spread over | verb | C |
| collapse | fall down | verb | C |
| collection | things brought together | noun | V |
| color | red, blue, etc. | adject/adverb | V |
| comfort | to make someone feel better | verb | C |
| comfortable | satisfied | adject/adverb | V |
| comic | funny | adject/adverb | C |
| command | an order | noun | V |
| command | order to do | verb | C |
| company | guests | noun | C |
| complete | to finish | verb | V |
| compliment | praise | verb | V |
| conflict | a fight | noun | V |
| connect | join together | verb | V |
| contest | competition | noun | V |
| convert | to change from one to another | verb | V |
| cool | to make colder | verb | C |
| copy | do like others | verb | V |
| copy | one of many of the same | noun | C |
| copycat | an imitator | noun | V |
| cord | an electric wire | noun | C |
| correct | is right | adject/adverb | V |
| cost | price | noun | V |
| cotton | a plant | noun | C |
| could | would be able | adject./verb | V |
| country | rural land (as distinct from urban or suburban) | noun | V |
| country | land or district (nation) | noun | V |
| couple | two persons | noun | V |
| crank | handle for turning | noun | C |
| create | make | verb | V |
| creature | a big monster | noun | C |
| crime | stealing or killing | noun | V |
| crime | lawbreaking act | noun | V |
| cripple | can't walk | adject/adverb | C |
| crisp | fresh and firm | adject/adverb | V |
| crop | what is grown | noun | V |
| cross | a T or X shaped sign | noun | C |
| cross-legged | with one leg over the other | verb | C |
| crossing | where streets cross | noun | C |
| crosswalk | where walkers cross street | noun | C |
| crouch | bend low | verb | C |
| crowd | many people together | noun | V |
| cruel | without mercy | adject/adverb | V |
| crumple | to wrinkle up | verb | C |
| crutch | helps to walk | noun | C |
| cuddle | to hold and pet | verb | C |
| cup | a measure | noun | V |
| curdle | to sour | verb | C |
| daily | an every-day newspaper | noun | C |
| dam | holds back water | noun | C |
| damp | a little wet | adject/adverb | V |
| dance | move body in rhythm | verb | C |
| danger | chance of harm | adject/adverb | C |
| dangerous | not safe, harmful | adject/adverb | C |
| dare | challenge | verb | V |
| dark | gloomy | adject/adverb | V |
| dash | hurry off | verb | C |
| date | day of the month | noun | V |
| day | a 24-hour period | noun | V |
| daylight | light of day | noun | C |
| dazzle | to cause admiration | verb | C |
| dead | no longer alive | adject/adverb | C |
| deadline | time limit | noun | V |
| deal | to buy and sell | verb | V |
| deal | a bargain | noun | V |
| death | being dead | noun | V |
| decide | make up your mind | verb | V |
| decorate | make pretty | verb | C |
| deep | goes far down | adject/adverb | C |
| defend | to keep from harm | verb | V |
| defense | guarding oneself | verb | C |
| delighted | greatly pleased | adject./verb | C |
| deliver | take to | verb | V |
| den | criminal's hideout | noun | C |
| dentist | a tooth doctor | noun | C |
| dependable | trustworthy | adject/adverb | V |
| describe | give word pictures of | verb | V |
| design | a pattern | noun | V |
| desk | writing table | noun | C |
| destroy | knock to pieces | verb | C |
| detective | policeman | noun | C |
| diet | selection of special food | noun | V |
| diet | to eat only certain foods | verb | V |
| difference | not being alike | noun | V |
| different | not alike | adject./verb | C |
| difficult | hard to get along with | adject/adverb | V |
| digit | number below ten (number) | noun | V |
| dim | not bright | adject/adverb | C |
| dim | almost dark | adject/adverb | C |
| dime | ten cents | noun | C |
| dinosaur | animal no longer living (extinct) | noun | C |
| dip | sauce for snacks | noun | C |
| directions | tell how to use | noun | V |
| disappear | pass from sight | verb | C |
| discovery | the thing found | noun | V |
| disgrace | shame | noun | V |
| dish | special food | noun | C |
| disobey | will not obey | verb | V |
| displaced | out of place | adject/adverb | V |
| display | showing off | verb | C |
| distance | how far apart | noun | V |
| dive | a downward plunge | verb | C |
| divide | cut into parts | verb | V |
| do a favor | to show a kindness | verb | V |
| doctor | to try to cure | noun | C |
| doctor | medical expert | noun | V |
| dollar | U.S. official money | noun | V |
| doom | an unhappy fate | noun | V |
| dozen | twelve | noun | V |
| drag | to go very slowly | adject/adverb | C |
| dragon | fire-breathing beast | noun | V |
| drawing | the art of sketching | noun | C |
| dream | seen in sleep | verb | V |
| dressing | stuffing for meats | noun | C |
| drill | hole-cutting instrument | noun | C |
| drive | to force | noun | V |
| drown | to die from water | verb | C |
| drowsy | sleepy | adject/adverb | C |
| drunken | had too much liquor | adject./verb | C |
| dry | not interesting | adject/adverb | V |
| dryer | takes out moisture | noun | C |
| duck | to dodge | verb | C |
| dull | not sharp | adject/adverb | C |
| during | while something else happens | preposition | V |
| dust | fine dirt | noun | C |
| each one | everyone | noun | V |
| eager | wants very much | adject./verb | V |
| eagle | large, strong bird | noun | C |
| early | near the start of | adject./verb | V |
| early | not late | noun | V |
| earn | to get by work | verb | V |
| earth | the ground | noun | C |
| earth | the world we live in | noun | V |
| earthquake | shaking of earth | noun | C |
| easily | not difficult | adject/adverb | V |
| East | the part nearest sunrise | noun | V |
| east | toward early morning sun | noun | V |
| east | a direction | noun | V |
| eastern | opposite the west | adject./verb | V |
| easy | not strict | adject/adverb | V |
| educate | to teach | verb | V |
| education | teaching | noun | V |
| eight | 8 | noun | V |
| eighteen | 17 plus 1 | noun | V |
| eighteenth | first one after 17th | noun | V |
| eighth | one after 7th | noun | V |
| elbow | joint of the arm | noun | C |
| elect | to choose by vote | verb | V |
| election | selection by vote | noun | V |
| election | people voting | noun | V |
| electric | works by current | adject./verb | V |
| elevator | lifting machine | noun | C |
| eleven | 11 | noun | V |
| else | other | noun | V |
| empty | contains nothing | adject/adverb | C |
| end | the last part | noun | V |
| end | to finish | verb | V |
| end | the edge | noun | C |
| enemy | unfriendly person | noun | C |
| engine | pulls train | noun | C |
| enjoy | take pleasure in | verb | V |
| enlarge | make larger | verb | C |
| enough | as much as needed | noun | V |
| enter | take part in | verb | C |
| entrance | coming in | noun | C |
| envelope | covering for letter | noun | C |
| equal | symbol used in arithmetic | adject./verb | V |
| equal | the same | noun | V |
| errand | special trip | noun | V |
| erupt | to burst forth | verb | C |
| escape | to get away | noun | V |
| escape | to stay safe from | verb | C |
| even | steady or regular | adject/adverb | V |
| even | smooth | adject/adverb | V |
| even | divided into equally | adject/adverb | V |
| even | equal | noun | V |
| evening | late afternoon | noun | V |
| evening | from sunset to bedtime | noun | V |
| ever | at anytime | x-time | V |
| everybody | all people | noun | C |
| everyone | all persons | noun | C |
| everything | all things | noun | V |
| everywhere | all places | noun | V |
| evil | bad or wrong | adject/adverb | V |
| exactly | just right | adject/adverb | V |
| example | a sample | noun | V |
| except | but | preposition | V |
| exercise | running and jumping | noun | C |
| exit | way out of building | noun | V |
| expert | highly skilled | noun | V |
| expert | person with special skill | noun | V |
| explain | to make clear | verb | V |
| explain | to give the reason for | verb | V |
| explore | to travel over for learning | verb | V |
| explore | to search for | verb | C |
| explosive | can blow up things | noun | C |
| expressway | a high-speed highway | noun | C |
| extra | something in addition | adject./verb | V |
| eyelash | hair on eyelid | noun | C |
| eyelid | covering of eye | noun | C |
| fact | something real | noun | V |
| factory | where goods are made | noun | V |
| fail | not succeed | verb | C |
| fair | without cheating | adject/adverb | V |
| faith | what is believed | noun | V |
| fall | autumn | noun | V |
| false | not true | adject/adverb | V |
| false | not real | adject/adverb | V |
| false. | not real (not correct) | adject./verb | V |
| far-off | far away | adject/adverb | C |
| faraway | way off | adject/adverb | C |
| farther | more far | noun | V |
| favor | a kind act | noun | V |
| fear | being afraid | adject./verb | C |
| feast | big meal | noun | C |
| feather | bird-wing material | noun | C |
| feel like | to be in mood for | verb | V |
| feelings | sensitive part of your nature | noun | V |
| feet | twelve inch lengths | noun | V |
| ferry | a river-crossing boat | noun | C |
| fever | disease with high temperature | adject./verb | C |
| few | not many | adject./verb | V |
| field | land for special use (mainly agriculture, sports) | noun | C |
| fierce | violent | adject/adverb | C |
| fiesta | a lively celebration | noun | C |
| fifteen | 15 | noun | V |
| figure out | to solve | verb | V |
| film | to make a movie of | noun | C |
| film | a movie | noun | C |
| final | the end | adject./verb | V |
| finally | at last | adject/adverb | V |
| fingerprint | mark made by finger | noun | C |
| first | ahead of second | adject./verb | V |
| first-aid | helps in accident | noun | V |
| five | 5 | noun | V |
| fix | get something ready | verb | V |
| flag | cloth emblem of nation | noun | V |
| flap | move back and forth | verb | C |
| flatten | make flat | verb | C |
| flavor | taste | adject/adverb | C |
| flavor | to give a taste to | adject./verb | C |
| float | go on top of water | verb | C |
| flock | to group together | verb | C |
| flood | an unusual flow of water | noun | C |
| flood | cover with water | verb | C |
| floss | dental thread | noun | C |
| flour | fine-ground wheat | noun | C |
| flower | colored blossom | noun | C |
| flower | to bloom | verb | C |
| flu | a sickness | adject./verb | C |
| follow | to keep your eyes on | verb | V |
| foolish | has no sense | adject/adverb | V |
| foot | the lowest part | noun | V |
| foot | twelve inches | noun | V |
| force | to push or pull on something | verb | C |
| force | to make someone do something | verb | V |
| forces | armed groups | noun | V |
| foreign | born in another country | adject/adverb | V |
| forest | woods | noun | C |
| forever | always | adject./verb | V |
| forget | not to remember | verb | V |
| forgiveness | pardon | verb | V |
| forgot | lost from memory | verb | V |
| form | to make, put together | verb | V |
| fortune | your future | noun | V |
| forward | toward the front | adject./verb | V |
| four | 4 | noun | V |
| fourteen | 14 | noun | V |
| frame | border for picture | noun | C |
| free | no cost | adject./verb | V |
| free | to let go | verb | V |
| free | let loose from slavery | verb | V |
| freezer | makes ice | noun | C |
| fresh | pure and cool | adject/adverb | V |
| fresh | new, not spoiled | adject/adverb | V |
| fresh water | not salty | noun | V |
| Friday | day of week | noun | V |
| from | because of | preposition | V |
| from now on | beginning now and continuing | preposition | V |
| front | the face part | adject./verb | V |
| fry | cook in hot grease | verb | V |
| fuel | for burning | noun | C |
| full | has all it can hold | adject/adverb | V |
| full grown | full size | adject./verb | V |
| further | at a greater distance | adject./verb | V |
| gallon | four quarts | noun | V |
| game | a form of play | noun | V |
| gap | opening | noun | C |
| garbage | waste matter | noun | C |
| garden | to grow plants | verb | C |
| gargle | wash throat with liquid | verb | C |
| gather | to pick and collect | verb | C |
| gather | bring together | verb | V |
| gaze | look at | verb | C |
| genius | outstanding ability | noun | V |
| gentle | mild-tempered | adject/adverb | V |
| gentle | light and soft | adject/adverb | C |
| get home | arrive | verb | C |
| gift | special ability | adject./verb | C |
| gigantic | very big | adject./verb | V |
| glance | a quick look | verb | C |
| glare | angry look | verb | C |
| glass | a breakable material | noun | C |
| glimpse | quick view | verb | C |
| glitter | shine | verb | C |
| globe | kind of map | noun | C |
| globe | the earth | noun | C |
| glow | light or brightness | verb | C |
| glue | to fix so it sticks | noun | C |
| gold | a yellow color | adject./verb | C |
| gold | a valuable yellow metal | noun | C |
| government | the rulers (should this be governing organization?) | noun | V |
| governor | head of state | noun | C |
| grain | oats, corn, etc. | noun | C |
| grand | wonderful | adject/adverb | C |
| grand | very good | adject/adverb | V |
| grape | fruit from vine | noun | C |
| grave | place for burying | noun | C |
| gray | mixed black and white | adject./verb | C |
| green | not ripe | adject/adverb | C |
| green | the color of grass | noun | V |
| grill | cooking tool | noun | C |
| grind | make into small pieces | verb | C |
| grip | firm hold | verb | C |
| groceries | food supplies | noun | C |
| grocery | food store | noun | C |
| ground | the earth's surface | noun | V |
| group | a bunch | noun | C |
| group | to gather together | verb | C |
| grow | to plant and care for | noun | V |
| grow | to develop | verb | V |
| grow | to become | verb | V |
| grow | get bigger | verb | C |
| guard | protect | verb | V |
| guess | choose without knowing | verb | V |
| guest | a visitor | noun | V |
| guide | a leader | noun | V |
| guide | show the way | verb | C |
| gush | spout out | verb | C |
| gym | room for sports | noun | C |
| hail | frozen rain | noun | C |
| hailstorm | a rain of ice balls | noun | C |
| half dollar | a 50-cent piece | noun | C |
| halfway | in the middle | adject./verb | V |
| hall | connects rooms | noun | C |
| hand | help lent | verb | C |
| hand | on clock | noun | V |
| handle | to hold, move, with hands | verb | C |
| handlebars | things that steer bicycle | noun | C |
| handmade | made by hand | adject/adverb | C |
| handsome | nice looking | adject/adverb | C |
| happen | to come by chance | verb | V |
| harbor | where ships unload | noun | V |
| hard of hearing | deaf | adject./verb | C |
| harm | damage | noun | V |
| hay | cattle food | noun | C |
| head | main part of a tool | noun | C |
| headquarters | police station (center for organization) | noun | V |
| health | being in good condition | noun | C |
| heard | learned through ears | verb | C |
| heart | body's blood pump | noun | V |
| heat | warmth | noun | V |
| heater | furnace, stove, etc. | noun | C |
| height | high ground | noun | C |
| held | did hold | verb | C |
| helicopter | kind of aircraft | noun | C |
| helmet | a head protector | noun | C |
| hero | very brave man | noun | V |
| hero | main actor | noun | V |
| hideous | very ugly | adject/adverb | C |
| high school | 9th to 12th grades | noun | V |
| highway | main road | noun | C |
| history | what has happened | noun | V |
| history | record of the past | noun | V |
| hit | a success | noun | V |
| hitch | to fasten on | verb | C |
| hold | to keep possession | verb | V |
| hold | to keep back | verb | V |
| hole | a small opening | noun | C |
| holiday | day for celebration | noun | V |
| honor | have respect for | verb | V |
| hook | curved or bent shape | noun | C |
| hope | trust | verb | V |
| hope | to expect and wish for | verb | V |
| hopscotch | children's game | noun | C |
| horrendous | terrible | adject/adverb | C |
| horrible | terrible | adject/adverb | C |
| hotel | furnishes food and room | noun | V |
| hour | sixty minutes | noun | V |
| hour | a fixed time | noun | V |
| however | in whatever way | x-time | V |
| human | like a person | adject/adverb | C |
| human | man or woman | noun | C |
| humor | something funny | adject/adverb | V |
| hunk | a lump or chunk | noun | C |
| hurricane | bad storm | noun | C |
| hurry | to make others speed | verb | C |
| hurt | to damage other's feelings | verb | V |
| husband | wife's mate | noun | C |
| husky | big and strong | adject/adverb | C |
| idea | a thought | noun | V |
| idea | a plan in mind | noun | V |
| if | supposing that | x-condition | V |
| ill | sick | adject./verb | V |
| imagine | picture in mind | verb | V |
| important | serious | adject/adverb | V |
| impossible | can't be done | adject/adverb | V |
| inch | 1/12th of a foot | noun | V |
| insect | six-legged bug | noun | C |
| inside | the inner part | adject./verb | V |
| inspection | checkup | verb | C |
| instant | very short time | noun | C |
| instantly | right now | noun | C |
| instead | in place of | preposition | V |
| interest | a liking for | verb | C |
| interested | pays attention | adject./verb | V |
| interfere | get in the way | verb | V |
| introduce | to present formally | verb | C |
| invent | make something new | verb | V |
| invisible | cannot be seen | adject/adverb | C |
| invite | to ask to come | verb | C |
| iron | a metal | noun | V |
| irritate | make oversensitive | verb | V |
| island | land circled by water | noun | C |
| jacks | a game | noun | C |
| jaywalker | disobeys crossing rules | noun | V |
| jet | kind of plane | noun | C |
| jewel | an ornament set with gems | noun | C |
| job | duty | noun | V |
| join | become a member | verb | V |
| joke | something to laugh at | noun | V |
| journey | a trip | noun | V |
| judge | a court officer | noun | C |
| jungle | very thick forest | noun | C |
| just | moment ago | adject/adverb | V |
| just | barely | adject/adverb | V |
| just | exactly | adject/adverb | V |
| keep | to hold back | verb | V |
| keys | piano, typewriter, or computer controls | noun | C |
| kickball | a playground game | noun | V |
| kid | a young child | noun | C |
| kidnap | steal a child | verb | C |
| kind | gentle and loving | adject/adverb | V |
| kind | good to others | adject/adverb | V |
| kind-hearted | gentle and good | adject/adverb | V |
| kindergarten | grade for little children | noun | V |
| kit | box of tools | noun | V |
| kneel | rest on knees | verb | C |
| knight | noble servant of a king | noun | V |
| knot | tangle in string (tied string) | noun | C |
| know | to understand | verb | V |
| know | to have experience with | verb | V |
| know | be sure of | verb | V |
| known | not strange | adject./verb | V |
| lab | science workshop (abbreviation) | noun | C |
| laid | put down | verb | C |
| lake | a body of water | noun | C |
| lamp | a light | noun | C |
| land | soil | noun | C |
| land | a country | noun | V |
| lane | a narrow road | noun | V |
| language | speech | noun | V |
| last | one at the end | adject./verb | V |
| lasting | doesn't wear out | adject/adverb | V |
| late | not on time | adject./verb | V |
| late | near the last part | adject./verb | V |
| law | the rule | noun | V |
| lawful | right by law | adject./verb | V |
| lawn | grassy ground | noun | C |
| lead | show the way | verb | C |
| lean | slant to the side | adject./verb | V |
| lean on | lean against | verb | C |
| leap | to jump | verb | C |
| learn | to find out | verb | V |
| leash | strap | noun | C |
| leave | go away | verb | C |
| leave for | go towards | verb | C |
| left | opposite of right | adject./verb | V |
| left-handed | uses left hand | adject/adverb | C |
| leftover | what is left | adject/adverb | V |
| lens | part of camera | noun | C |
| less | a smaller amount | adject./verb | V |
| less than | a smaller number than | preposition | V |
| let | allow | verb | C |
| letter | one of the ABC's | noun | V |
| letter | a written message | noun | V |
| level | even | adject/adverb | V |
| life | a way of living | noun | V |
| lift | helping hand | verb | V |
| likely | probable (level 6) | adject./verb | V |
| line | a row | noun | V |
| line | a stretched string | noun | C |
| line | a straight thin mark | noun | V |
| line up | to put into a row | verb | V |
| liquor | (alcohol) drink (intoxicating drink) | noun | C |
| list | a series of names, etc. | noun | V |
| litterbug | scatters trash | noun | V |
| live | being alive | adject./verb | V |
| lives | home is there | noun | C |
| load | to weigh down (to put objects to be carried) | verb | C |
| load | what must be carried | noun | V |
| load | a great quantity | noun | C |
| lockup | jail | noun | C |
| lonely | misses others | adject./verb | C |
| long | not short | adject./verb | V |
| look after | take care of | noun | C |
| loop | a circled string | noun | C |
| lord | has power over others | noun | C |
| lot | plot of land | noun | V |
| lotion | soothing liquid | noun | C |
| love | to have deep feeling for | verb | C |
| luggage | suitcases | noun | C |
| lumber | planks, boards | noun | C |
| lump | swelling | noun | C |
| lung | breathing organ | noun | V |
| macaroni | Italian food | noun | C |
| machine | power tool | noun | C |
| made | built | verb | C |
| magnet | attracts iron | noun | C |
| major | greater, larger | adject./verb | V |
| make up | to invent | verb | C |
| man | humankind | noun | V |
| man | a human being | noun | V |
| manage | to get along | verb | V |
| manners | social behavior | noun | V |
| mark | a sign | noun | V |
| marker | keeps place | noun | V |
| marriage | wedding | noun | C |
| mash | a soft mixture | noun | C |
| mask | a false face | noun | C |
| massive | big and heavy | adject/adverb | C |
| master | an expert | noun | V |
| material | made of matter | noun | V |
| may | is allowed | verb | V |
| maybe | perhaps | adject/adverb | V |
| meadow | a grassy field | noun | C |
| meal | when food is served | noun | C |
| mean | cruel | adject/adverb | C |
| meaning | the sense of the words | noun | V |
| measure | the height and weight, etc. | noun | V |
| medium-sized | middle-sized | adject./verb | V |
| meet | to come together | verb | C |
| meeting | get-together | noun | C |
| megaphone | make a sound larger | noun | C |
| melon | a fruit | noun | C |
| melt | soften with heat | verb | C |
| member | a person who belongs | noun | V |
| memory | the ability to remember | noun | V |
| mend | fix, repair | verb | C |
| menu | list of food | noun | V |
| message | news sent | noun | C |
| messenger | does errands (carries messages) | noun | C |
| midnight | 12 o'clock at night | noun | V |
| midsummer | middle of summer | noun | V |
| midwinter | middle of winter | noun | V |
| mighty | powerful | adject/adverb | C |
| mild | gentle | adject/adverb | C |
| mile | measure of distance | noun | V |
| mimic | to imitate | verb | C |
| mind | be bothered by | verb | V |
| mind | obey | verb | C |
| mind (keep in) | (keep in) memory | noun | V |
| minnow | tiny fish | noun | C |
| minute | 60 in one hour | noun | V |
| miracle | a wonder | noun | V |
| misbehave | to do wrong | verb | C |
| misery | unhappiness | noun | C |
| miss | unmarried woman | adject./verb | C |
| miss | fail to hit | verb | C |
| missing | absent | adject./verb | C |
| mistake | wrong act | verb | C |
| mob | crowd (angry crowd?) | noun | C |
| model | poses for artist | noun | C |
| model | something to copy | noun | V |
| modern | up-to-date | adject/adverb | V |
| moisture | dampness | noun | C |
| moment | just a second | noun | V |
| Monday | day of the week | noun | V |
| money | dollars and cents | noun | V |
| monkey wrench | adjustable wrench | noun | C |
| monster | a horrible creature | noun | V |
| morning | first half of day | noun | V |
| most | nearly all | adject/adverb | C |
| motel | roadside hotel | noun | C |
| motion | movement | noun | C |
| motor | involves action | noun | V |
| motor | supplies power | noun | C |
| muck | decayed matter | noun | C |
| museum | history storehouse | noun | C |
| museum | a place for showing exhibits | noun | C |
| music | tunes and songs | noun | C |
| mute | deaden sound | verb | C |
| mystery | something secret | noun | V |
| naked | without clothes | adject/adverb | C |
| narrow | not very wide | adject./verb | V |
| nasty | not pleasant | adject/adverb | C |
| natural | formed by nature | adject./verb | V |
| nature | outdoor world | noun | V |
| near-sighted | (only) sees things close (clearly) | adject/adverb | C |
| necessary | needed | adject./verb | C |
| need | great want | noun | V |
| needle | a tool for shots | noun | C |
| needs | must have | verb | V |
| neighbor | lives nearby | noun | C |
| neighborhood | places close by | noun | C |
| neighborly | friendly | adject/adverb | C |
| neither | not this or that | preposition | V |
| never | not at all | adject./verb | V |
| never | at no time | adject./verb | V |
| new | modern | adject/adverb | C |
| newspaper | prints news | noun | V |
| next | the nearest one | adject./verb | V |
| nickel | a five-cent piece | noun | V |
| night | dark time | noun | V |
| nightfall | coming of night | noun | C |
| nightmare | bad dream | noun | C |
| nine | 9 | noun | V |
| nineteen | 19 | noun | V |
| ninth | between 8th and 10th | noun | V |
| nip | to sting or hurt | verb | C |
| nip | to bite | verb | C |
| nonresident | lives elsewhere | noun | V |
| noonday | 12 o'clock daytime | noun | V |
| normal | ordinary | adject./verb | V |
| north | toward the upper pole | noun | V |
| nose | to pry | verb | C |
| note | short letter | noun | V |
| notice | see and remember | verb | V |
| number | to count | noun | V |
| number | 1, 2, 3, etc. | noun | V |
| numbers | many | noun | C |
| nutrition | food | noun | V |
| nutritious | valuable as food | adject./verb | V |
| obey | do as told | verb | C |
| object | a thing | noun | C |
| ocean | a large body of salt water | noun | C |
| octopus | sea animal | noun | C |
| odd | unusual | adject/adverb | C |
| of course | certainly | adject/adverb | V |
| off | away from | preposition | V |
| offer | to give | verb | C |
| office | place of business | noun | C |
| often | many times | x-time | V |
| old | of age | noun | V |
| omelet | beaten egg, fried | noun | C |
| once | one time only | x-time | V |
| one | 1 | noun | V |
| open | clear | adject/adverb | C |
| opening | a hole | noun | C |
| openly | without secrets | adject/adverb | C |
| order | to command | verb | C |
| ordinary | common | adject./verb | V |
| other | the second of two choices | adject./verb | V |
| ounce | measure of weight | noun | V |
| out of order | doesn't work | adject/adverb | C |
| outdoors | not inside | preposition | V |
| outer | on the outside | adject./verb | V |
| oval | egg-shaped | adject/adverb | C |
| over | across | preposition | V |
| overalls | work clothing | noun | C |
| overhead | above | preposition | V |
| overload | to weigh down too much | verb | C |
| overweight | too heavy | adject./verb | V |
| owe | to have a debt | verb | V |
| own | belongs to | adject/adverb | C |
| P.M. | between noon and midnight | noun | V |
| pack | a bundle | noun | C |
| pail | a bucket | noun | C |
| pain | suffering | noun | V |
| paper | publishes the news | noun | C |
| pardon | forgiveness | verb | C |
| part | a piece of the whole | noun | V |
| partnership | people working together | noun | V |
| pass | go beyond | verb | C |
| paste | to stick together | verb | C |
| paste | flour and water | noun | C |
| pat | to shape with hands | verb | C |
| path | a general direction | noun | V |
| pave | to surface a street | verb | C |
| pay attention to | to watch and listen to | verb | V |
| peace | freedom from war | noun | V |
| pebble | small stone | noun | C |
| peeve | to make angry | verb | C |
| penny | a one-cent coin | noun | V |
| pepper | a spice for food | noun | C |
| perfect | without flaw | adject/adverb | C |
| perfect | just right | adject/adverb | V |
| perform | act | verb | V |
| perhaps | possibly, maybe | x-condit. | V |
| permit | to allow | verb | C |
| person | a human being | noun | C |
| personal | your own business | adject/adverb | V |
| pest | a nuisance | noun | C |
| phony | fake | adject/adverb | V |
| pick on | to bother, annoy | verb | V |
| pickup | a small truck | noun | C |
| picture | to imagine | verb | V |
| pinch | small amount | adject/adverb | C |
| ping-pong | table tennis | noun | C |
| pipe | a tube for liquids | noun | C |
| pitch | to erect or establish | verb | C |
| pitiful | sad | adject./verb | C |
| place | put | verb | C |
| plan | to work out ahead of time | verb | V |
| planet | body moving around sun | noun | V |
| plant | to put in ground | verb | C |
| plant | to place | verb | C |
| plaster | paste (? Material for covering wall/wallboard) | noun | C |
| play | a stage show | noun | C |
| play | to pretend | verb | C |
| pleasant | friendly, agreeable | adject/adverb | C |
| pleasing | gives pleasure | verb | C |
| pleasure | enjoyment | noun | V |
| plenty | enough | adject/adverb | C |
| plugged | stopped up | verb | C |
| plumbing | water pipes | noun | C |
| point out | to show | verb | C |
| poison ivy | itchy rash | noun | C |
| police | a government department | noun | C |
| poor | bad | adject/adverb | C |
| post office | handles mail | noun | C |
| postage | the charge for mailing | noun | C |
| poster | sign | noun | V |
| postpone | put off | verb | V |
| pound | measure of weight | noun | V |
| pound | for stray animals | noun | C |
| pour | to make flow | verb | C |
| prairie | plain land | noun | C |
| precious | of great value | adject/adverb | C |
| prepare | to get ready | verb | V |
| present | to give to | verb | C |
| present | I'm here | verb | C |
| President | head of U.S.A. | noun | C |
| press | to push against | verb | C |
| prevent | keep from happening | verb | V |
| price | the cost | noun | V |
| primary | beginning grade | noun | V |
| Prime Minister | head of Canada | noun | C |
| stamped or pressed letters | noun | V | |
| photo made from a negative (or printer) | verb | C | |
| prize | a reward | noun | V |
| program | lists what happens | noun | V |
| proof | showing truth | noun | V |
| proper | strictly speaking | adject/adverb | C |
| protect | to keep safe | verb | C |
| proud | spirited | adject./verb | C |
| proud | pleased with self | adject./verb | C |
| prove | to show to be true | verb | V |
| pulley | movable wheel | noun | C |
| puppet | a strong-operated doll | noun | C |
| purse | a woman's money and bag | noun | C |
| quarrel with | to find fault with (disagree, argue) | verb | V |
| quart | two pints | noun | V |
| quarter | twenty-five cents | noun | V |
| queen | country's ruler | noun | C |
| quick | fast | adject/adverb | C |
| quilt | a bed cover | noun | C |
| quit | to stop | verb | C |
| quiz | to question | verb | V |
| rabies | disease of mad dogs | noun | V |
| railroad | train tracks | noun | C |
| raise | grow things | verb | C |
| ranch | a large farm | noun | C |
| range | Western grassland | noun | C |
| raw | not cooked | adject/adverb | C |
| reach | go far enough | verb | C |
| read | understood the writing | verb | V |
| ready | quick, on time | adject./verb | V |
| rebuild | build again | verb | C |
| receive | to get | verb | C |
| recess | play time | noun | C |
| record | book of past happenings | noun | V |
| record | put on a phonograph disk (or tape or disk) | verb | C |
| refrigerate | to keep cold | verb | C |
| regular | average, normal | adject/adverb | C |
| rejoice | be happy | verb | C |
| rejoin | join again | verb | C |
| related | belong to same family | verb | V |
| relax | to rest | verb | C |
| relax | take it easy | verb | C |
| relieve | to lessen | verb | C |
| remember | keep in mind | verb | V |
| remind | cause to remember | verb | V |
| remove | take away | verb | C |
| rent | pay for using | verb | V |
| reorganize | put in order again | verb | V |
| repair | to fix | verb | C |
| repeat | say again | verb | C |
| repeat | do over | verb | C |
| rescue | save from danger | verb | C |
| reset | to put back in order | verb | V |
| retain | keep | verb | C |
| retire | stop working | verb | C |
| retrieve | get back again | verb | C |
| return | give back | verb | C |
| revenge | to get even | verb | V |
| reward | prize | noun | V |
| rhyme | word sounding alike | noun | V |
| rib | a chest bone | noun | C |
| right | directly | adject/adverb | V |
| right | correct, not wrong | adject./verb | V |
| right-handed | using right hand | adject/adverb | C |
| ring | circle-shaped thing | noun | C |
| ripe | ready | adject./verb | C |
| rise | to get up | verb | C |
| rise | go higher | verb | C |
| risk | to take a chance | verb | C |
| rock | kind of music | noun | C |
| rock | to cause to shake | verb | C |
| rock | move back and forth | verb | C |
| roof | upper inside of mouth | noun | C |
| room | space | noun | V |
| rope | a cord | noun | C |
| rot | decayed matter | noun | C |
| rot | spoil or decay | verb | C |
| rough | not smooth | adject/adverb | C |
| rough | not finished | adject/adverb | C |
| round | shape of ball | adject./verb | C |
| route | way or road | noun | C |
| row | things lined up | noun | V |
| rubber | a stretching material | noun | C |
| ruler | a measuring stick | noun | V |
| run | to operate | verb | C |
| rye | a kind of bread | noun | C |
| safe | not hurt | adject/adverb | C |
| sail | travel by water | verb | C |
| salami | kind of sausage | noun | C |
| sale | low prices | noun | V |
| same | just like it | adject./verb | V |
| sample | an example | noun | V |
| sand | to smooth down | verb | C |
| sank | went under water | verb | C |
| satisfactory | O.K. | adject./verb | V |
| Saturday | day of the week | noun | V |
| sausage | ground meat | noun | C |
| save | keep money | verb | V |
| scale | a device for weighing | noun | V |
| scare | a sudden fright | noun | C |
| scatter | to go in all directions | verb | C |
| school | university division | noun | V |
| school | learning place | noun | C |
| scrape | to scratch | verb | C |
| screen | keeps flies out | noun | C |
| screen | hide from view | verb | C |
| sea | huge lake | noun | C |
| season | spring or summer, etc. | noun | V |
| second | part of a minute | noun | V |
| secret | private | adject./verb | V |
| secret | kept to yourself | adject./verb | V |
| see | to have power of sight | verb | C |
| see | go find out | verb | C |
| see your point | understand it | verb | V |
| seed | to plant the ground | noun | C |
| select | pick out | verb | C |
| selection | a number to choose from | noun | V |
| sell | to get people to buy | verb | C |
| send | to have a message go out | verb | C |
| send | tell to go | verb | C |
| separate | take apart | verb | C |
| serve | to be of help | verb | V |
| service | the Army, Navy, etc. | noun | V |
| service | serving others | verb | C |
| set | to put | verb | C |
| set off | to start on a trip | verb | V |
| settle | calm down | verb | C |
| seven | 7 | noun | V |
| seventeen | 17 | noun | V |
| shade | protect from the light | verb | C |
| share | divide with others | verb | C |
| sharp | cuts easily | adject/adverb | C |
| shatter | break into pieces | verb | C |
| shatterproof | can't be splintered | adject/adverb | C |
| shed | lose hair | verb | C |
| shelves | open ledges | noun | C |
| shift | change position | verb | C |
| shine | give out light | verb | C |
| short | not tall | adject./verb | V |
| show | performance | noun | C |
| shower | a bath | noun | C |
| shred | cut in pieces | verb | C |
| shrink | grow smaller | verb | C |
| shrunk | got smaller | verb | C |
| shy | bashful | adject./verb | C |
| side | edge or surface | noun | V |
| sight | power to see | noun | V |
| sight | what is seen | noun | C |
| sight | catch a view of | verb | C |
| sights | things worth seeing | noun | V |
| sign | a signal | noun | V |
| silence | stillness (no sound) | verb | V |
| silence | make quiet | verb | C |
| silk | a fine cloth | noun | C |
| simple | not complicated | adject/adverb | C |
| sincere | not pretending | verb | V |
| single | one only | adject./verb | V |
| sink | to go under water | verb | C |
| sink | go down | verb | C |
| sip | drink a little | verb | C |
| six | 6 | noun | V |
| size | how large it is | noun | V |
| skip | a gay, dancing walk | verb | C |
| skull | head bone | noun | C |
| skyscraper | a tall building | noun | C |
| slam | move hard with force | verb | C |
| slave | to work very hard | adject/adverb | V |
| slave | a person who belongs to another (now illegal!) | noun | V |
| slide | to move smoothly | verb | C |
| slight | not strong | adject/adverb | C |
| slim | not fat | adject/adverb | C |
| slime | soft, slippery mud | noun | C |
| slip | to lose your balance | verb | C |
| slope | a slant | noun | V |
| smart | quick at learning | adject./verb | V |
| smog | smoke and fog | noun | C |
| smoothly | easily, with no trouble | adject/adverb | C |
| snatch | grab quickly | verb | C |
| soak | let stand in water | verb | C |
| soar | fly upward | verb | C |
| soccer | form of football | noun | C |
| social | ourselves and others | adject/adverb | V |
| soil | earth | noun | C |
| sold | gave for money | verb | C |
| solid | not hollow | adject/adverb | C |
| solid | the hard form of matter | noun | V |
| solve | find the answer | verb | V |
| some | certain ones | noun | V |
| some | a little | adject./verb | V |
| somebody | a person | noun | C |
| something | at least a little | noun | C |
| somewhere | in one place or another | noun | C |
| soon | before long | x-time | V |
| sore | painful and tender | adject./verb | C |
| sorrow | sadness | noun | C |
| sound | what can be heard | noun | C |
| south | opposite the north | noun | V |
| space | home of the stars | noun | V |
| spare | an extra | adject/adverb | V |
| speaker | a radio's sound reproducer | noun | C |
| special | something extra | adject/adverb | C |
| speech | the power of talking | noun | V |
| spent | money already used | verb | C |
| spin | whirling motion | verb | V |
| splash | to scatter a liquid | verb | C |
| split | to divide into parts | verb | C |
| spool | holds thread | noun | C |
| spot | a place | noun | C |
| spot | catch sight of | verb | C |
| sprain | injury by twisting | verb | C |
| spread | to stretch out | verb | C |
| sprint | short race at full speed | noun | C |
| sprout | begin to grow | verb | C |
| spun | turned | verb | C |
| squash | crush | verb | C |
| stale | not fresh | adject/adverb | C |
| stands for | represents | verb | V |
| stare | fixed look | verb | C |
| starting point | where a thing begins | noun | V |
| startle | surprise and frighten | verb | C |
| starve | to die of hunger | verb | C |
| state | Texas is one | noun | V |
| state | condition | noun | V |
| station | a bus or train depot | noun | C |
| steel | a very strong metal | noun | C |
| stew | a boiled meat dish | noun | C |
| stiff | hard to bend | adject/adverb | C |
| stiffen | harden | verb | C |
| still | not moving | adject/adverb | C |
| sting | a wasp or bee's weapon | noun | C |
| sting | a sharp pain | noun | C |
| stockpile | to store up | verb | C |
| stool | a seat without a back | noun | C |
| stop | to prevent | noun | V |
| store | supplies for the future | verb | C |
| storm | to be violent/outburst | verb | C |
| story | a made-up tale | noun | V |
| story | floor of a building | noun | C |
| straight | without a bend or curve | adject/adverb | C |
| strain | injury | noun | C |
| strange | not known | adject/adverb | V |
| strength | power | noun | C |
| stretch | to pull out longer | verb | C |
| strike | to hit | verb | C |
| strike | to attack | verb | C |
| strong | healthy, sound | adject/adverb | C |
| student | a person in school | noun | C |
| study | to try to learn | verb | V |
| sub | a sandwich | noun | C |
| sudden | quick | adject/adverb | C |
| suit | a set of clothes | noun | C |
| summer | June, July, August | noun | V |
| summon | send for | verb | C |
| sunk | the past of sink | verb | C |
| sure | certain | adject/adverb | C |
| surgeon | doctor who operates | noun | C |
| surprise | something not expected | adject/adverb | C |
| surround | to shut in on all sides | verb | V |
| survive | stay alive | verb | C |
| suspect | person thought guilty | noun | C |
| swallow | to take into stomach | verb | C |
| swamp | wet, spongy ground | noun | C |
| swarm | insects in a big group | noun | C |
| swat | to hit | verb | C |
| swift | fast | adject/adverb | C |
| switch | to move from one to another | verb | C |
| tag | a child's game | noun | C |
| take a picture | make a photo | verb | C |
| take a plane | to go by plane | verb | C |
| take turns | to do one by one | verb | C |
| tale | a story | noun | V |
| tame | gentle, not wild | adject/adverb | C |
| tan | light brown color | adject./verb | C |
| tartar sauce | makes seafood tasty | noun | C |
| tattle | tell secrets | verb | C |
| taught | did teach | verb | C |
| tea | a little bag of tea leaves | noun | C |
| teacher | a school worker | noun | C |
| tear | to rip, pull apart | verb | C |
| telescope | for seeing far away | noun | C |
| ten | 10 | noun | V |
| tender | loving and gentle | adject/adverb | C |
| terrible | awful, great fear | adject./verb | C |
| terrific | great | adject/adverb | C |
| test | a school exam | noun | V |
| Thanksgiving | a November holiday | noun | C |
| theater | movie house | noun | C |
| their | belongs to them | adject/adverb | C |
| then | next | x-time | V |
| there | in that place | noun | C |
| thermometer | measures hot and cold | noun | V |
| thieves | robbers | noun | C |
| thin | skinny, not thick | adject./verb | V |
| think | to remember | verb | V |
| think | to imagine | verb | V |
| third | next after second | noun | V |
| thirsty | the need for water | adject./verb | C |
| thirteenth | 13th | noun | V |
| thirty | 30 | noun | V |
| thought | believed | noun | V |
| thought | what you think | verb | V |
| thought | concern or care (grade level 6) | verb | V |
| thoughtful | thinking of others | adject./verb | V |
| thread | a string (very thin--for sewing) | noun | C |
| three | 3 | noun | V |
| thrill | to excite | verb | C |
| through | finished | noun | V |
| thunder | noise after lightning | noun | C |
| tick-tack-toe | a paper and pencil game | noun | C |
| tie | to make a bow or knot | verb | C |
| timber | trees or wood | noun | C |
| time | to choose the moment for | noun | V |
| time | hours or moments free (remaining time) | noun | V |
| time | hour and minute | noun | V |
| time is up | time is over | noun | V |
| tiny | very small | adject./verb | V |
| tiptoe | on point of toes | adject/adverb | C |
| tired | having no pep | adject./verb | C |
| tissue | thin paper | noun | C |
| today | now | noun | V |
| tomorrow | the coming day | noun | C |
| tongue | part of mouth | noun | C |
| tonight | this night | noun | V |
| top | the greatest | adject/adverb | C |
| torment | cause suffering | verb | C |
| tornado | whirlwind | noun | C |
| total | entire amount | adject/adverb | C |
| touch | to feel with the fingers | verb | C |
| tough | hard to take | adject/adverb | V |
| tractor | heavy pulling machine | noun | C |
| trade | to exchange | verb | V |
| traffic | cars passing | noun | C |
| train | railway cars | noun | C |
| train | to teach | verb | C |
| trainer | teaches people | noun | C |
| trap | for catching animals | noun | C |
| trapper | hunts animals | noun | C |
| travel | taking trips | noun | C |
| travel | go someplace | verb | C |
| traveler | moves around | noun | C |
| treasure | a lot of money | noun | C |
| trespass | enter property unlawfully | verb | C |
| tribe | large group of Native Americans or others | noun | C |
| trick | to try to fool | verb | C |
| trifle | small thing | noun | C |
| trip | a journey | noun | C |
| troubled | worried | adject./verb | C |
| true | rightful | adject/adverb | C |
| true. | right (correct) | adject/adverb | C |
| trustful | believing | adject./verb | V |
| truth | the facts | noun | V |
| try | work at doing better | verb | C |
| tube | long, hollow container | noun | C |
| tuna | large fish | noun | C |
| turn down | to refuse | verb | C |
| turn over | to put upside down | verb | C |
| turns into | becomes | verb | C |
| tutor | private teacher | noun | C |
| twenty | 20 | noun | V |
| twilight | early evening | noun | V |
| twist | to curve or bend | verb | C |
| twist | turn | verb | C |
| two | 2 | noun | V |
| U.S. | United States | noun | V |
| ugly | unpleasant to look at | adject/adverb | C |
| ugly | nasty | adject/adverb | C |
| understand | to know what it means | verb | V |
| understanding | agreement | noun | V |
| United States | union of American states | noun | V |
| upset | disturbed | adject./verb | C |
| use | what it's good for | noun | V |
| useful | helpful | adject/adverb | C |
| using | making use of | verb | V |
| vacation | a time for rest and fun | noun | C |
| valley | low land between mountains | noun | C |
| vanish | disappear | verb | C |
| vegetable | a plant for eating | noun | C |
| vegetarian | does not eat meat | noun | C |
| very | much, greatly | adject/adverb | C |
| vice-president | chief assistant (sometimes) | noun | V |
| victory | winning | noun | V |
| video | television picture | noun | C |
| view | to look at | verb | C |
| village | a very small town | noun | C |
| violin | musical instrument | noun | C |
| virus | spreads disease | noun | V |
| vitamin | substance needed for health | noun | C |
| voice | power of speech | noun | V |
| volcano | fiery mountain | noun | C |
| volume | loudness | adject/adverb | C |
| vote | pick a person for office | verb | V |
| wall | side of building | noun | C |
| wallet | holds money | noun | C |
| wander | walk here and there | verb | C |
| war | a fight between armies | noun | C |
| warm | medium hot | adject/adverb | C |
| warning | notice of danger | noun | V |
| watch out | to be careful | verb | C |
| wave | a ripple on water | noun | C |
| wax paper | moisture-proof wrapping | noun | C |
| weak | not strong | adject/adverb | C |
| weakness | no strength | adject/adverb | C |
| week | seven days | noun | V |
| weigh | find out how heavy | verb | V |
| weight | heaviness | noun | V |
| well | deep hole for water | noun | C |
| well-balanced | well adjusted | adject./verb | V |
| west | where sun sets | noun | V |
| where | in what place | preposition | V |
| while | time | preposition | V |
| white | snow-colored | adject/adverb | C |
| wide | fully opened | adject/adverb | C |
| wide-awake | alert | adject./verb | C |
| wild | without control | adject/adverb | C |
| wild | not tamed | adject/adverb | C |
| wild | as in nature | adject/adverb | C |
| wildlife | untamed animals | noun | C |
| willing | will do it | adject./verb | V |
| win | get a victory | verb | V |
| wind | stream of air | noun | C |
| window | opening for light | noun | C |
| wing | hold airplane up | noun | C |
| wing | used for flying (part of bird and airplane) | noun | C |
| wink | an eye signal | noun | V |
| winter | the coldest season | noun | V |
| wire | a metal thread | noun | C |
| wisdom | being wise | noun | V |
| wise | bright or smart | adject./verb | V |
| wish | a desire | verb | C |
| without | not having | preposition | V |
| won | came out ahead | verb | C |
| wonder | to think about | verb | V |
| wood(s) | a thick growth of trees | noun | C |
| word | sound with meaning | noun | V |
| work | be in order | adject/adverb | V |
| work | something to do | noun | V |
| work | a job | noun | V |
| worn | tired | adject/adverb | C |
| worn out | used up (doesn't work anymore) | adject./verb | C |
| worn out | tired out | adject./verb | C |
| worth | value | noun | V |
| wrap up | to package | verb | C |
| wrench | tool | noun | C |
| wrench | to sprain | verb | C |
| wrestling | kind of fighting | noun | C |
| write | to put on paper | verb | C |
| yard | measure of length | noun | V |
| year | 12 months | noun | V |
| years | age | noun | V |
| yes | opposite of no | noun | V |
| yes | an answer that agrees | noun | V |
| yesterday | the day before today | noun | V |
| youth | between childhood and manhood | noun | V |
| zero | nothing | noun | V |
| zoo | wild animal park | noun | C |
Biemiller, A. (2009). Parent/Caregiver Narrative: Vocabulary Development (0 – 60 Months). In L.M. Phillips (Ed.), Handbook of language and literacy development: A Roadmap from 0 – 60 Months. [online], pp. 1 - 42. London, ON: Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network. Available at: Handbook of language and literacy development
