VOA Special English 1500 BASIC VOCABULARY
n. (noun) - a name word v. (verb) - an action word
ad. (adjective/adverb) - a describing word
pre. (preposition) - a word used to show a relation pro. (pronoun) - a word used in place of a noun conj. (conjunction) - a joining word
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able - v. having the power to do something
about - ad. almost (\
weather.\
above - ad. at a higher place accept - v. to agree to receive
accident - n. something that happens by chance or mistake; an unplanned event accuse - v. to say a person is responsible for an act or crime; to make a
statement against someone
across - ad. from side to side; to the other side act - v. to do something
activist - n. one who seeks change through action actor - n. someone acting in a play or show
add - v. to put (something) with another to make it larger; to say more
administration - n. the executive part of a government, usually headed by a
president or prime minister
admit - v. to accept (\
responsibility (\
adult - n. a grown person
advise - v. to help with information, knowledge or ideas in making a decision affect - v. to produce an effect on; to influence (\
singer's performance.\
afraid - ad. feeling fear after - ad. later; behind
again - ad. another time; as before
against - ad. opposed to; not agreeing with something age - n. how old a person or thing is
agency - n. an organization that is part of a larger group (\
United Nations\
aggression - n. an attack against a person or country; the violation of a
country's borders
ago - ad. of time past; before now
agree - v. to have the same belief as someone; to be willing to do something
agriculture - n. farming
aid - v. to help; to support; n. help, assistance aim - v. to point a gun at; n. a goal or purpose
air - n. the mixture of gases around the earth, mostly nitrogen and oxygen, that
we breathe
air force - n. a military organization using airplanes airplane - n. a vehicle with wings that flies
airport - n. a place where airplanes take off and land album - n. a collection of recorded music
alcohol - n. a strong, colorless liquid, usually made from grain, used as a drug or
in industrial products
alive - ad. having life; not dead
all - ad. everything; everyone; the complete amount
ally - n. a nation or person joined with another for a special purpose almost - ad. a little less than completely alone - ad. separated from others
along - ad. near or on (\ already - ad. before now; even now also - ad. added to; too
although - conj. even if it is true that always - ad. at all times; every time
ambassador - 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 guns among - ad. in or part of (a group)
amount - n. the number, size or weight of anything anarchy - n. a lack of order; lawlessness
ancestor - n. a family member from the past ancient - ad. very old; long ago
and - conj. also; in addition to; with
anger - n. a strong emotion against someone or something animal - n. a living creature that moves, such as a dog or cat
anniversary - n. a yearly celebration or observance of an event that happened in
the past
announce - v. to make known publicly; to declare officially another - ad. one more; a different one
answer - n. a statement produced by a question; v. to make a statement after
being asked a question
any - ad. one or more of no special kind
apologize - v. to express regret for a mistake or accident for which one accepts
responsibility
appeal - v. to take to a higher court, person or group for a decision; to call on
somebody for help
appear - v. to show oneself; to come into sight; to seem appoint - v. to name; to choose (\ approve - v. to agree with; to agree to support
archeology - n. the scientific study of past human life and activities area - n. any place or part of it
argue - v. to offer reasons for or against something; to dispute; to disagree arms - n. military equipment; weapons army - n. military ground forces around - ad. on every side (of)
arrest - v. to seize a person for legal action; to take as a prisoner arrive - v. to come to a place, especially at the end of a trip
art - n. expressions or creations by humans, such as paintings, music, writing or
statues
artillery - n. big guns
as - conj. equally (\ ash - n. the part left after something burns
ask - v. to question; to say something is wanted (\
every day.\
assist - v. to help
astronaut - n. a person who travels in space
astronomy - n. the scientific study of stars and the universe
asylum - n. political protection given by a government to a person from another
country
at - prep. in or near (\ atmosphere - n. the gases surrounding any star or planet attach - v. to tie together; to connect
attack - n. a violent attempt to damage, injure or kill; v. to start a fight attempt - v. to work toward something; to try; to make an effort attend - v. to be present at
automobile - n. a vehicle with wheels used to carry people; a car autumn - n. the time of the year between summer and winter
average - n. something (a number) representing the middle; ad. common;
normal
avoid - v. to stay away from awake - ad. not sleeping
award - n. an honor or prize for an act or service away - ad. not near
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back - n. the part behind the front; ad. the other way from forward bad - ad. wrong; acting against the law; not good balance - v. to make two sides or forces equal ball - n. something round
balloon - n. a device of strong, light material that rises when filled with gas
lighter than air
ballot - n. a piece of paper used for voting
ban - v. to not permit; to stop; n. an official restriction bank - n. an organization that keeps and lends money bar - v. to prevent or block
barrier - n. anything that blocks or makes an action difficult
base - n. a military center; v. to establish as a fact (\
experiments.\
battle - n. a fight between opposing armed forces be - v. to live; to happen; to exist beat - v. to hit again and again
beauty - ad. that which pleases the eye, ear or spirit
because - prep. for the reason that (\ become - v. to come to be bed - n. a sleeping place before - prep. earlier
begin - v. to do the first part of an action; to start behind - ad. at the back of; in back of
believe - v. to think; to feel sure of; to accept as true; to trust
bell - n. an instrument that makes a musical sound (\ belong - v. to be owned by; to be a member of below - ad. lower than best - ad. the most good
betray - v. to turn against; to be false to better - ad. more good than
between - ad. in the space or time that separates; from one to the other (\
between two nations\
big - ad. of great size; not small bill - n. a legislative proposal
biology - n. the scientific study of life or living things in all their forms bird - n. a creature that flies bite - v. to cut with the teeth
black - ad. dark; having the color like that of the night sky blame - v. to accuse; to hold responsible
blanket - n. a cloth cover used to keep warm bleed - v. to lose blood blind - ad. not able to see
block - v. to stop something from being done; to prevent movement blood - n. red fluid in the body
blow - v. to move with force, as in air (\ blue - ad. having the color like that of a clear sky
boat - n. something built to travel on water that carries people or goods body - n. all of a person or animal; the remains of a person or animal boil - v. to heat a liquid until it becomes very hot
bomb - n. a device that explodes with great force; v. to attack or destroy with
bombs
bone - n. the hard material in the body book - n. a long written work for reading border - n. a dividing line between nations
born - v. to come to life; to come into existence borrow - v. to take as a loan
both - ad. not just one of two, but the two together
bottle - n. a container, usually made of glass, to hold liquid bottom - ad. the lowest part of something
box - n. something to put things into; a container, usually made of paper or
wood
boy - n. a young male person
boycott - v. to refuse to take part in or deal with
brain - n. the control center of thought, emotions and body activity of all
creatures
brave - ad. having no fear
bread - n. a food made from grain
break - v. to divide into parts by force; to destroy
breathe - v. to take air into the body and let it out again
bridge - n. a structure built over a waterway, valley or road so people and
vehicles can cross from one side to the other
brief - ad. short; not long
bright - ad. giving much light; strong and clear in color bring - v. to come with something
broadcast - v. to send information, stories or music by radio or television; n. a
radio or television program
brother - n. a male with the same father or mother as another person brown - ad. having the color like that of coffee budget - n. a spending plan
build - v. to join materials together to make something
building - n. anything built for use as a house, factory, office, school, store or
place of entertainment
bullet - n. a small piece of metal shot from a gun burn - v. to be on fire; to destroy or damage by fire burst - v. to break open suddenly
bury - v. to put into the ground and cover with earth bus - n. a public vehicle to carry people
business - n. one's work; buying and selling to earn money; trade busy - ad. doing something; very active but - conj. however; other than; yet
buy - v. to get by paying something, usually money
by - conj. near; at; next to (\the road\from (\play by William
Shakespeare\