401 words starting with C

• cable noun

  a thick wire or bundle of wires that carries electricity or signals

  Plug the cable into the back of the computer.

  Like cord, lead

• cake noun

  a sweet baked food made from flour, sugar, eggs, and butter

  We baked a chocolate cake for my sister’s birthday.

• calcium noun

  a soft white chemical element found in bones, teeth, milk and chalk

  Milk and yogurt are good sources of calcium for strong bones.

• calculate verb

  to find an answer using numbers

  Can you calculate how many minutes there are in a week?

  Like work out, compute

• calculation noun

  the process or result of working out an answer using numbers

  A quick calculation showed that we needed twelve buses for the trip.

  Like computation, sum

• calculator noun

  a small electronic machine for doing math with numbers

  We are not allowed to use a calculator during the math test.

• calculus noun

  a branch of mathematics that studies how things change, using rates and areas

  Engineers use calculus to work out how fast water flows through a pipe.

• call verb

  to give a name to someone or something; to phone someone

  We call our dog Bhote because he came from the mountains.

  Like name, phone, ring

• calm adjective

  peaceful and quiet; not worried or excited

  The lake was calm and as smooth as glass in the morning.

  Like peaceful, still, relaxed

• camera noun

  a device for taking photographs or videos

  She used her camera to take pictures of the birds.

• camp noun

  a place where people stay in tents for a short time

  The trekkers set up camp beside a lake for the night.

  Like campsite

• campaign noun

  a planned set of activities to reach a goal

  Our school ran a campaign to plant a thousand trees.

  Like drive, effort

• campus noun

  the land and buildings of a university, college or school

  The college campus has a library, a canteen and a large football field.

  Like grounds

• cancel verb

  to decide that a planned event will not happen

  The match was canceled because of heavy rain.

  Like call off

• cancer noun

  a serious disease in which cells grow out of control

  Doctors are finding new ways to treat cancer.

• candidate noun

  a person who is trying to be chosen for a job or position

  There are three candidates for the job of class captain.

  Like applicant, nominee

• cap noun

  a soft hat with a stiff part in front; a cover for a bottle or pen

  Put the cap back on the pen so it doesn’t dry out.

  Like hat, lid

• capability noun

  the ability to do something

  The new phone has the capability to take photos in the dark.

  Like ability, capacity

• capable adjective

  having the skill or power to do something

  She is capable of solving hard math problems on her own.

  Like able, competent

• capacity noun

  the largest amount that something can hold

  The stadium has a capacity of twenty thousand people.

  Like volume

• capillary noun

  one of the smallest, thinnest blood vessels in the body

  Oxygen passes from the blood into the body’s cells through tiny capillaries.

• capital noun

  the city where a country’s government is

  Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal.

• capitalism noun

  an economic system in which businesses are owned privately and run for profit

  Under capitalism, private companies, not the government, own most factories.

  Like free enterprise

• capitalist noun

  a person who uses their money to start or invest in businesses for profit; a supporter of private business

  The capitalist invested his savings in a new tea factory.

  Like investor

• capture verb

  to catch a person or animal; to record in a photo or words

  The photographer captured the sunrise over the mountains.

  Like catch, seize

• car noun

  a road vehicle with an engine and four wheels that carries a few people

  We drove to Pokhara in my uncle’s car.

  Like automobile, vehicle

• carbon noun

  a chemical element found in all living things, coal and diamonds

  Diamonds and pencil lead are both made of carbon.

• card noun

  a piece of stiff paper with writing or pictures on it

  I made a birthday card for my mother.

• care verb

  to feel that something is important; to look after someone

  My sister cares a lot about protecting animals.

  Like mind, look after

• career noun

  the jobs you do over many years of your working life

  She wants a career in medicine.

  Like profession, occupation

• careful adjective

  paying attention to avoid mistakes or danger

  Be careful when you carry the hot tea.

  Like cautious, attentive

• carefully adverb

  with great attention to avoid mistakes or damage

  Carry the glass beaker carefully so it doesn’t break.

  Like cautiously

• carpet noun

  a thick soft covering for a floor

  The carpets of Kathmandu are famous for their wool and colors.

  Like rug

• carrier noun

  a person, vehicle or company that carries or transports things; a person who passes on a disease without being ill

  The airline is the main carrier of passengers between Kathmandu and Lukla.

  Like transporter

• carry verb

  to hold something and take it with you from one place to another

  The porters carry heavy loads up the mountain trails.

  Like bring, transport

• case noun

  an example or situation of a particular kind; a box for holding things

  In this case, the best answer is to ask for help.

  Like instance, situation, box

• cash noun

  money in coins and paper notes

  I paid for the books in cash because the shop had no card machine.

  Like money

• cast noun

  all the actors in a play or film; a hard cover that holds a broken bone

  The whole cast of the school play bowed at the end.

• castle noun

  a large strong building with thick walls, built long ago for protection

  The king lived in a stone castle on top of the hill.

  Like fortress, fort

• cat noun

  a small furry animal with whiskers, often kept as a pet

  Our cat sleeps on the windowsill in the sun.

• catalog noun

  a complete list of things, often with descriptions

  The library catalog shows every book it has.

  Like list, index, directory

• catch verb

  to take and hold something that is moving

  He caught the ball with one hand.

  Like grab, seize

• category noun

  a group of things that share the same features

  Animals can be put into categories like mammals and birds.

  Like group, class, type

• cattle noun

  cows and bulls kept on a farm for milk, meat or work

  The farmer took his cattle to graze on the green hillside.

  Like cows

• cause verb

  to make something happen

  Heavy rain can cause landslides in the hills.

  Like bring about, produce

• celebrate verb

  to do something enjoyable for a special day or event

  Families celebrate Dashain by meeting relatives and flying kites.

  Like mark, observe

• celebration noun

  a party or special event to enjoy an important occasion

  The whole family came home for the Dashain celebration.

  Like party, festivity

• cell noun

  the smallest living part of a plant or animal

  Your body is made of trillions of tiny cells.

• censor verb

  to remove parts of a book, film or news that are thought unsuitable

  The television channel censored the bad language in the film.

  Like cut

• cent noun

  a coin or amount of money worth one hundredth of a dollar

  The candy costs fifty cents at the shop.

• center noun

  the middle point or part of something

  There is a temple in the center of the square.

  Like middle, core

• central adjective

  in the middle of a place; most important

  Our hotel is in central Kathmandu, near Durbar Square.

  Like middle, main

• century noun

  a period of one hundred years

  The temple was built in the seventeenth century.

• ceremony noun

  a formal event held to mark something important

  The prize-giving ceremony took place in the school hall.

  Like ritual, rite

• certain adjective

  completely sure; known to be true

  I am certain that I locked the door before we left.

  Like sure, definite

• certainly adverb

  without any doubt

  She will certainly win a prize for her painting.

  Like definitely, surely

• chain noun

  a row of metal rings joined together

  He locked his bicycle to the gate with a chain.

• chair noun

  a seat for one person, with a back and usually four legs

  Please pull up a chair and sit with us at the table.

  Like seat

• chairman noun

  the person in charge of a meeting or a company’s board

  The chairman opened the meeting by welcoming everyone.

  Like chairperson, head

• challenge noun

  something difficult that tests your skill or strength

  Climbing to the top of the hill was a real challenge for the young students.

  Like test, difficulty

• chamber noun

  a closed space inside something; a large room for formal meetings

  The heart has four chambers that pump blood.

  Like compartment, room

• champion noun

  a person or team who has won a competition

  She became the national chess champion at fourteen.

  Like winner

• championship noun

  a competition to find the best player or team

  Our school won the district football championship.

  Like tournament

• chance noun

  a possibility that something will happen; an opportunity

  There is a good chance of rain tomorrow.

  Like possibility, opportunity

• change verb

  to make or become different

  Leaves change color from green to yellow in autumn.

  Like alter, vary, transform

• channel noun

  a TV or radio station; a narrow passage for water

  My brother likes to watch the nature channel on Saturdays.

  Like station

• chapter noun

  one of the main parts of a book

  We read the first chapter of the novel in class.

  Like section, part

• character noun

  a person in a story, film or play; the qualities that make someone who they are

  The main character in the book is a brave young girl.

  Like role, personality

• characteristic noun

  a typical feature or quality of a person or thing

  Long necks are a characteristic of giraffes.

  Like feature, trait, quality

• characterization noun

  the way a writer creates and describes the people in a story

  The novel’s characterization is so strong that the people feel real.

  Like portrayal, depiction

• characterize verb

  to describe the typical qualities of someone or something

  The Terai is characterized by flat land and hot summers.

  Like mark, typify

• charge verb

  to ask an amount of money for something; to put electricity into a battery

  Remember to charge the tablet before the trip.

  Like bill

• charity noun

  an organization that gives money or help to people in need

  The charity provides free school books to poor children.

• charm noun

  a quality that makes people like you; a small object thought to bring luck

  The old village has a quiet charm that visitors love.

  Like appeal, attraction

• chart noun

  a drawing that shows information with lines, bars or pictures

  The chart shows how much rain fell each month.

  Like graph, diagram

• chase verb

  to run after someone or something to catch them

  The cat chased the mouse across the kitchen.

  Like pursue

• chat verb

  to talk in a friendly, relaxed way

  We chatted about our holidays while waiting for the bus.

  Like talk, chatter

• cheap adjective

  costing little money

  Vegetables are cheap at the market in summer.

  Like inexpensive, low-priced

• cheat verb

  to act dishonestly to get an advantage, such as in a test or game

  Anyone who cheats in the exam by copying will get zero marks.

• check verb

  to look at something carefully to make sure it is correct or safe

  Check your answers before you hand in the test.

  Like examine, inspect

• cheek noun

  either side of the face below the eye

  The cold wind made her cheeks red.

• cheer verb

  to shout loudly to show support or happiness

  The crowd cheered when our team scored the winning goal.

  Like applaud

• cheese noun

  a solid food made from milk

  Yak cheese is a popular snack in the mountains.

• chemical noun

  a substance made or used in chemistry

  Farmers should be careful when spraying chemicals on crops.

  Like substance

• chemistry noun

  the science of substances, what they are made of, and how they react with each other

  In chemistry class, we mixed baking soda and vinegar to make bubbles.

• chemotherapy noun

  treatment of a serious illness, especially cancer, with strong drugs

  Doctors may use chemotherapy along with other treatments to fight cancer.

• chess noun

  a board game for two players who move pieces such as kings and queens on a checkered board

  My grandfather taught me to play chess on rainy afternoons.

• chest noun

  the front of the body between the neck and the stomach; a large strong box

  The doctor listened to my chest to check my breathing.

  Like breast; trunk

• chicken noun

  a farm bird kept for its eggs and meat

  Our chickens lay fresh eggs every morning in the shed behind the house.

• chief adjective

  most important; highest in rank

  Rice is the chief crop in many parts of the Terai.

  Like main, principal, primary

• child noun

  a young person who is not yet an adult

  Every child in the village learned to swim in the river.

  Like kid, youngster

• childhood noun

  the time of life when a person is a child

  My grandfather loves telling stories about his childhood in a village near Pokhara.

• chip noun

  a small piece broken off something; a tiny electronic part in a computer

  Every phone has a computer chip that controls it.

  Like microchip

• chloride noun

  a chemical compound containing chlorine and another element

  Table salt is sodium chloride, a compound of sodium and chlorine.

• chocolate noun

  a sweet brown food made from cocoa beans

  We shared a bar of chocolate after the long walk.

• choice noun

  the act of picking between things; something picked

  You have a choice of apple or banana for dessert.

  Like option, selection

• choose verb

  to pick one thing from several

  You may choose any book from the shelf.

  Like pick, select

• chromosome noun

  a thread-like structure in a cell that carries genes

  Human cells usually have forty-six chromosomes, arranged in twenty-three pairs.

• chronic adjective

  lasting for a long time or coming back again and again, especially of an illness

  My uncle has chronic back pain that has troubled him for years.

  Like long-lasting, persistent

• chunk noun

  a thick, solid piece cut or broken from something

  She cut the pumpkin into large chunks for the curry.

  Like piece, lump, block

• church noun

  a building where Christians go to pray

  The old church in the village has a tall bell tower.

• cigarette noun

  a thin paper tube filled with tobacco for smoking

  Smoke from a single cigarette contains many harmful chemicals.

• cinema noun

  a building where people go to watch films on a big screen

  We went to the cinema to see the new film during the Dashain holiday.

  Like movie theater

• circle noun

  a perfectly round shape

  Draw a circle around the correct answer.

  Like ring

• circulate verb

  to move around continuously in a closed system or space; to pass from person to person

  The heart pumps blood so that it can circulate through the body.

  Like flow, move around, spread

• circulation noun

  the continuous movement of blood around the body; the movement of something from place to place

  Walking every day helps keep good blood circulation in the legs.

  Like flow

• circumstance noun

  a fact or condition that affects a situation

  Under normal circumstances, the bus arrives at eight.

  Like situation, condition

• cite verb

  to mention something as an example or proof, especially from a book

  In your essay, cite the books you used.

  Like quote, mention

• citizen noun

  a person who legally belongs to a country

  Every citizen of Nepal over eighteen can vote in elections.

  Like national

• city noun

  a large and important town where many people live

  Kathmandu is the biggest city in Nepal, with crowded streets and busy markets.

  Like town

• civil adjective

  relating to ordinary citizens rather than the army or religion; polite

  My aunt works in the civil service, helping to run government offices.

  Like civilian, polite

• civilian noun

  a person who is not a member of the armed forces or police

  The airport is used by both army pilots and civilians.

• civilization noun

  a large, organized human society with its own culture, cities and way of life

  The ancient Egyptian civilization built huge pyramids along the Nile River.

  Like culture, society

• claim verb

  to say something is true without giving proof; to ask for something as yours

  He claimed he had seen a snow leopard, but nobody believed him.

  Like state, insist

• clarify verb

  to make something easier to understand by explaining it more

  The teacher clarified the homework instructions because many students were confused.

  Like explain, make clear

• class noun

  a group of students taught together; a lesson

  Our class went on a trip to the zoo in Jawalakhel.

  Like lesson

• classic adjective

  of very high quality and admired for a long time

  “Alice in Wonderland” is a classic story that children still enjoy.

  Like timeless

• classical adjective

  traditional and long respected, especially in music and art

  She learns classical dance from a teacher in Kathmandu.

  Like traditional

• classification noun

  the sorting of things into groups based on what they have in common

  The classification of animals puts frogs and toads in the same group.

  Like grouping, categorization, sorting

• classify verb

  to put things into groups according to their features

  Scientists classify plants by their leaves, flowers and seeds.

  Like sort, group, categorize

• classroom noun

  a room in a school where students are taught

  Our classroom has a big window looking out on the hills.

• clause noun

  a part of a sentence with its own subject and verb; a section of a legal document

  In “I stayed home because it rained,” each half is a clause.

• clay noun

  a soft, sticky earth that becomes hard when baked, used for making pots and bricks

  The potters of Bhaktapur shape clay into pots on spinning wheels.

• clean adjective

  free from dirt

  Wash your hands so they are clean before you eat.

  Like spotless, washed

• clear adjective

  easy to understand; easy to see through

  The water in the mountain lake was so clear that we could see the fish.

  Like plain, transparent

• clearly adverb

  in a way that is easy to see, hear or understand

  Please speak clearly so everyone in the hall can hear you.

  Like plainly, obviously

• clever adjective

  quick to learn and understand things

  The clever student solved the puzzle in just a few minutes.

  Like smart, intelligent, bright

• click verb

  to press a button on a computer mouse to choose something

  Click on the picture to see it in full size.

  Like tap, press

• client noun

  a person who pays a professional, such as a lawyer or designer, for services

  The architect showed her client the plans for the new house.

  Like customer

• climate noun

  the usual weather of a place over many years

  The climate of the Terai is hot and humid for most of the year.

• climb verb

  to go up something, often using your hands and feet

  We climbed the steep path to reach the temple at the top of the hill.

  Like ascend, scale

• clinic noun

  a place where people go to see a doctor or nurse for treatment or advice

  The village health clinic is open every morning except Saturday.

  Like health center

• clinical adjective

  connected with treating patients in a hospital or clinic

  The new medicine was tested on patients in clinical trials before doctors could use it.

  Like medical

• clip noun

  a small device for holding things together; a short part of a film or video

  Use a paper clip to keep your homework pages together.

• clock noun

  a device that shows the time

  The clock on the wall says it is three o’clock.

  Like timepiece

• clone noun

  a living thing made from the cells of another, so it is exactly the same

  Dolly the sheep was the first mammal made as a clone of an adult animal.

  Like copy, replica

• close verb

  to move something so that it is no longer open; to shut

  Close the door quietly so you do not wake the baby.

  Like shut

• closely adverb

  carefully and with attention; near in space or connection

  Watch closely as I mix the two liquids.

  Like carefully, attentively

• closure noun

  the act of closing something permanently or for a time

  The road closure after the landslide meant the bus had to go a longer way.

  Like shutdown, closing

• clothes noun

  the things you wear, such as shirts and trousers

  Put on warm clothes before we go up the mountain.

  Like clothing, garments

• clothing noun

  the things people wear to cover the body

  Pack warm clothing if you are going to the mountains in winter.

  Like clothes, garments

• cloud noun

  a white or gray mass of tiny water drops floating in the sky

  A dark cloud covered the sun just before it started to rain.

• club noun

  a group of people who meet because they share an interest

  I joined the school chess club last year.

  Like society, group

• clue noun

  a fact or object that helps you find the answer to a puzzle or mystery

  The muddy footprints were a clue that someone had come in from the garden.

  Like hint, sign

• cluster noun

  a small group of similar things close together

  A cluster of houses stood at the bottom of the hill.

  Like group, bunch

• coach noun

  a person who trains a sports team or a player

  Our coach makes us run around the field before every game.

  Like trainer, instructor

• coal noun

  a hard black rock that is burned to make heat

  Coal was once used to power steam trains.

• coast noun

  the land next to the sea

  Many people go to the coast to swim in the sea.

  Like shore, seaside

• coat noun

  a warm piece of clothing with sleeves, worn over other clothes

  Wear your coat because it is cold outside this morning.

• code noun

  a system of secret signs or letters; instructions for a computer

  We wrote our messages in a secret code.

  Like cipher, program

• coefficient noun

  a number placed before a letter in algebra that multiplies it

  In the term 5x, the coefficient is 5.

• coffee noun

  a hot drink made from roasted, ground beans

  My father drinks a cup of coffee every morning.

• cognitive adjective

  relating to thinking, learning, understanding and remembering

  Puzzles and reading help develop a child’s cognitive skills.

  Like mental, intellectual

• coherent adjective

  clear and logical, with all parts fitting together sensibly

  Her essay was coherent, with each paragraph leading clearly to the next.

  Like logical, clear, consistent

• coin noun

  a small flat piece of metal used as money

  I found a one-rupee coin under the sofa.

• cold adjective

  having a low temperature

  The water in the mountain stream was very cold.

  Like chilly

• collapse verb

  to fall down suddenly, especially a building or structure

  The old wall collapsed after days of heavy rain.

  Like fall, cave in

• colleague noun

  a person you work with

  My mother’s colleagues came to her office party.

  Like coworker, workmate

• collect verb

  to bring things together from different places; to go and get someone or something

  Our class collected old newspapers to recycle them.

  Like gather, pick up, assemble

• collection noun

  a group of things gathered together, often as a hobby

  My brother has a collection of stamps from more than fifty countries.

  Like set, group, assortment

• collective adjective

  shared or done by all the members of a group together

  Cleaning the river was a collective effort by everyone in the village.

  Like shared, joint, common

• college noun

  a place where people study after finishing school

  After Grade 12, my brother went to college to study engineering.

  Like university, institute

• colonial adjective

  relating to a time when one country ruled another country

  Nepal was never under colonial rule, unlike India.

• colony noun

  a country or area ruled by another, more powerful country; a group of animals of one kind living together

  Ants live in a colony with thousands of workers and one queen.

• color noun

  what we see as red, blue, green and so on when light reaches our eyes

  A rainbow shows seven colors across the sky.

  Like shade, hue

• column noun

  a tall round post that holds up part of a building; a narrow vertical section of a table or page

  Write the numbers in the first column of the table.

  Like pillar

• combination noun

  two or more things mixed or joined together

  Green is a combination of blue and yellow.

  Like mixture, blend

• combine verb

  to join or mix two or more things together

  Combine the flour and water to make dough.

  Like mix, join, unite

• come verb

  to move toward the speaker or a place; to arrive

  Please come to my house after school so we can study together.

  Like arrive, approach

• comedy noun

  a funny play, film or show that makes people laugh

  We watched a comedy and laughed the whole time.

• comfort noun

  a pleasant feeling of being relaxed and free from pain

  These shoes are made for comfort on long walks.

  Like ease

• comfortable adjective

  making you feel relaxed and free from pain

  This chair is very comfortable to sit in.

  Like cozy

• comma noun

  a punctuation mark (,) used to separate parts of a sentence or items in a list

  Use commas to separate the items in a list, such as apples, oranges and bananas.

• command noun

  an order telling someone to do something

  The dog sat down at its owner’s command.

  Like order, instruction

• comment noun

  something you say or write that gives an opinion

  The teacher wrote a helpful comment at the bottom of my essay.

  Like remark, observation

• commentary noun

  a spoken description of an event, such as a sports match, as it happens

  We listened to the radio commentary of the cricket match.

  Like description, report

• commercial adjective

  about buying and selling things to make money

  New Road is a busy commercial area full of shops.

• commission noun

  an official group given a special task; payment based on sales

  The election commission makes sure that voting is fair.

  Like committee, board

• commit verb

  to do something wrong or against the law; to promise to give your time or effort

  He committed to practicing the piano every day.

  Like promise, pledge

• commitment noun

  a promise or strong decision to do something

  She showed real commitment by practicing the guitar every day.

  Like dedication, promise

• committee noun

  a small group of people chosen to make decisions or plans

  The committee planned the school’s sports day.

  Like board, council

• commodity noun

  a product that can be bought and sold, especially a raw material or farm product

  Tea and cardamom are important commodities that Nepal sells abroad.

  Like product, goods

• common adjective

  found or happening often; shared by many

  Sparrows are common birds in towns and villages.

  Like usual, ordinary

• commonly adverb

  usually, or by many people

  Rice is commonly eaten twice a day in Nepal.

  Like usually, often, generally

• communicate verb

  to share information or ideas with others by speaking, writing or signals

  Dolphins communicate with each other using clicks and whistles.

  Like talk

• communication noun

  the sharing of information between people

  Phones and the internet make communication very fast.

  Like contact, exchange

• communicative adjective

  willing and able to talk and share information with others

  The new student was shy at first but became very communicative after a week.

  Like talkative, open

• communist noun

  a person who believes that property should be owned by the community and shared equally

  The book explained what communists believe about sharing property.

• community noun

  the people who live in one area; a group sharing the same interests

  Our community cleaned the river bank together on Saturday.

  Like neighborhood, society

• compact adjective

  small and taking up little space, with parts packed closely together

  The compact camera fits easily into my pocket.

  Like small, neat

• company noun

  a business that makes or sells things or provides services

  My uncle works for a company that builds bridges.

  Like business, firm

• comparable adjective

  similar in size, amount or quality, so that the two can be compared

  The two schools are comparable in size, with about 500 students each.

  Like similar, equivalent

• comparative adjective

  measured or judged by how it relates to something else

  After the busy city, the village felt like a place of comparative quiet.

  Like relative

• compare verb

  to look at two or more things to see how they are alike or different

  Compare the two leaves and write down the differences.

• comparison noun

  a look at how two or more things are alike or different

  In comparison with Kathmandu, Pokhara is much quieter.

• compensate verb

  to pay someone for loss or damage; to make up for something bad with something good

  The company compensated the farmers for the crops damaged by the new road.

  Like repay, make up for

• compensation noun

  money or something else given to make up for a loss or injury

  The airline paid us compensation because our bags were lost.

  Like payment, damages

• compete verb

  to try to win against others

  Twenty schools will compete in the quiz contest.

  Like contend, vie

• competence noun

  the ability to do something well because of skill or knowledge

  Pilots must show competence in flying before they carry passengers.

  Like ability, skill

• competent adjective

  having enough skill or knowledge to do something well

  She is a competent swimmer and can cross the pool easily.

  Like capable, skilled, able

• competition noun

  an event where people try to win a prize by being the best

  Our school won the national science competition.

  Like contest

• competitive adjective

  involving a contest in which people try to win; strongly wanting to win

  Chess is a competitive game, and my cousin always wants to win.

• competitor noun

  a person, team, or company trying to win against others

  Each competitor in the race wore a number on her shirt.

  Like rival, contestant, opponent

• complain verb

  to say that you are unhappy or not satisfied with something

  The students complained that the classroom was too cold.

  Like grumble, object

• complaint noun

  a statement that you are unhappy or not satisfied with something

  The hotel received a complaint about the noisy fan.

  Like grievance, objection

• complement verb

  to go well with something and make it better or complete

  The sweet pickle complements the spicy momos perfectly.

  Like go with, enhance

• complete verb

  to finish doing something; to make whole

  We completed the puzzle in an hour.

  Like finish, end

• completely adverb

  in every way; totally

  The snow had completely covered the road.

  Like totally, fully, entirely

• complex adjective

  having many connected parts and hard to understand

  The human brain is very complex.

  Like complicated, intricate

• complexity noun

  the state of having many parts that make something hard to understand

  The complexity of the human brain amazes scientists.

  Like intricacy

• complicate verb

  to make something more difficult to understand or deal with

  Heavy rain complicated our plans for a picnic by the river.

• complication noun

  something that makes a situation or illness more difficult

  Bad weather added a complication to our plans for the trek.

  Like difficulty, problem

• comply verb

  to obey a rule, law or request

  All visitors must comply with the rules and stay on the marked paths.

  Like obey, follow, conform

• component noun

  one of the parts that something is made of

  A battery is an important component of a flashlight.

  Like part, piece, element

• compose verb

  to write music or poetry; to form or make up

  She composed a song for her school’s anniversary.

  Like write, create

• composer noun

  a person who writes music

  Mozart was a famous composer who wrote his first music as a child.

• composite adjective

  made of several different parts or materials

  The bicycle frame is made of a composite material that is light and strong.

  Like mixed, combined

• composition noun

  the parts that something is made of; a piece of music or writing

  Scientists study the composition of rocks from the moon.

  Like makeup, structure; piece

• compound noun

  a substance made of two or more elements joined together

  Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.

• comprehension noun

  the ability to understand something, especially something read or heard

  The English test had a reading comprehension section with questions about a story.

  Like understanding

• comprehensive adjective

  including everything or almost everything

  The book gives a comprehensive guide to Nepal’s birds.

  Like complete, thorough, full

• comprise verb

  to be made up of certain parts

  The team comprises eleven players.

  Like consist of

• compromise noun

  an agreement in which each side gives up something it wanted

  We reached a compromise: one movie each night.

  Like agreement, deal

• computation noun

  the act of working out an answer using math or a computer

  The computer finished the computation in less than a second.

  Like calculation

• compute verb

  to calculate an answer or amount

  The program computes the area of each room.

  Like calculate, work out

• computer noun

  an electronic machine that stores information and does calculations

  We used the computer to make a chart of our results.

• conceive verb

  to think of a new idea or plan; to imagine

  He conceived the idea for the science project while watching the rain.

  Like think up, imagine, devise

• concentrate verb

  to give all your attention to one thing

  It is hard to concentrate on homework when the TV is on.

  Like focus

• concentration noun

  the ability to give all your attention to one thing; the amount of a substance in a mixture

  The noise outside broke my concentration during the test.

  Like focus, attention

• concept noun

  an idea about what something is or how it works

  The concept of gravity was hard to understand at first.

  Like idea, notion

• conception noun

  an idea or understanding of something

  Young children often have a different conception of time from adults.

  Like idea, notion, understanding

• conceptual adjective

  relating to ideas rather than to real objects or actions

  The first stage of the project was conceptual, with drawings and ideas but no building yet.

  Like theoretical, abstract

• concern noun

  a feeling of worry; something that matters to you

  The farmers showed concern about the dry weather.

  Like worry, care

• concert noun

  a show where people play music or sing for an audience

  The school held a concert with songs and folk dances.

  Like show, performance

• conclude verb

  to decide something after thinking; to end

  From the results, we concluded that plants need sunlight.

  Like decide, end, finish

• conclusion noun

  the end of something; a decision made after thinking about the facts

  From our experiment, we reached the conclusion that heat makes ice melt faster.

  Like end, ending, decision

• concrete noun

  a hard building material made from cement, sand, small stones and water

  The new bridge over the river is made of concrete, so it will last a long time.

• condition noun

  the state that something is in; something that must be true first

  The old book is still in good condition.

  Like state, shape

• conditional adjective

  depending on something else happening first

  His place on the team is conditional on passing the fitness test.

  Like dependent

• conduct verb

  to organize and do something; to allow heat or electricity to pass through

  Copper wire conducts electricity well.

  Like carry out, transmit

• conduction noun

  the movement of heat or electricity through a material

  A metal spoon gets hot in tea because of heat conduction.

• cone noun

  a solid shape with a round base and sides that narrow to a point

  The ice cream was served in a crunchy cone.

• conference noun

  a large formal meeting where people discuss a subject

  Teachers from all over Nepal came to the education conference.

  Like meeting, convention

• confidence noun

  a feeling that you can do something well

  After much practice, she spoke with confidence in front of the class.

  Like self-belief, assurance

• confident adjective

  sure of yourself and your abilities; sure that something will happen

  After practicing every day, he felt confident before his speech.

  Like sure, self-assured

• configuration noun

  the way the parts of something are arranged

  The teacher changed the configuration of desks so we could work in groups.

  Like arrangement, layout

• confine verb

  to keep someone or something within a limited area or limit

  Please confine your answer to two hundred words.

  Like limit, restrict

• confirm verb

  to say or show that something is true or will happen

  Please call to confirm the time of your visit.

  Like verify, prove, check

• conflict noun

  a serious disagreement or fight

  The two teams had a conflict over who should use the field first.

  Like disagreement, dispute, clash

• confound verb

  to confuse and surprise someone

  The strange results confounded the scientists for months.

  Like puzzle, baffle, confuse

• confuse verb

  to make someone unable to understand or think clearly; to mix up two things

  People often confuse “affect” with “effect” when they write.

  Like mix up, puzzle

• confusion noun

  a state of not understanding or not knowing what to do

  There was confusion about which bus to take.

  Like uncertainty, bewilderment

• congruent adjective

  exactly the same in shape and size

  The two triangles are congruent, so one fits exactly on top of the other.

  Like identical

• connect verb

  to join two or more things together

  Connect the wires to the battery to light the bulb.

  Like join, link, attach

• connection noun

  a link or relationship between two or more things

  Scientists found a connection between sleep and good grades in school.

  Like link, relationship, association

• connector noun

  a part or device that joins two things together, such as wires

  The charger has a small connector that fits into the phone.

  Like plug, link

• connotation noun

  an idea or feeling a word suggests in addition to its basic meaning

  The word “home” has a connotation of warmth and comfort.

  Like association, implication

• conscious adjective

  awake and aware of what is around you; aware of something

  The patient was conscious and able to talk soon after the operation.

  Like awake, aware

• consciousness noun

  the state of being awake and aware of your surroundings

  He lost consciousness for a few seconds after hitting his head.

  Like awareness

• consensus noun

  general agreement among all the people in a group

  The class reached a consensus to visit the zoo for the trip.

  Like agreement

• consent noun

  permission for something to happen

  Students need their parents’ consent before going on the school trip.

  Like permission, approval, agreement

• consequence noun

  a result or effect of an action

  One consequence of cutting trees is that the soil washes away.

  Like result, effect, outcome

• consequently adverb

  as a result

  It rained all night; consequently, the football field was too wet to play on.

  Like therefore, so, as a result

• conservation noun

  the protection of nature, wildlife and resources from damage or waste

  Conservation efforts have helped the number of rhinos in Chitwan grow.

  Like protection, preservation

• conservative adjective

  not liking sudden change; careful, not extreme

  My grandfather is conservative and prefers the old ways of farming.

  Like traditional, cautious

• conserve verb

  to protect something from harm or loss; to use something carefully so it lasts

  Turn off the lights when you leave a room to conserve electricity.

  Like save, preserve, protect

• consider verb

  to think carefully about something before deciding

  Consider all the choices before you pick your answer.

  Like think about, weigh

• considerable adjective

  large in size, amount or importance

  Building the bridge took a considerable amount of time.

  Like large, substantial

• consideration noun

  careful thought; being kind and thinking of others

  After much consideration, we chose the shorter route.

  Like thought, attention, care

• consist verb

  to be made of particular parts or things

  Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen.

  Like be made up, be composed

• consistent adjective

  always behaving or happening in the same way

  She is a consistent student who gets good marks in every test.

  Like steady, regular

• consonant noun

  a speech sound or letter that is not a vowel, such as b, k or t

  The word “milk” begins with a consonant, but “egg” begins with a vowel.

• constant adjective

  happening all the time; staying the same

  The fridge keeps food at a constant cold temperature.

  Like steady, continuous

• constantly adverb

  all the time, without stopping

  The river flows constantly, day and night, carrying snowmelt down from the mountains.

  Like continually, always

• constitute verb

  to form or make up something

  Water constitutes about sixty percent of the human body.

  Like form, make up

• constitution noun

  the set of basic laws and principles by which a country is governed

  Nepal’s constitution was signed in 2015.

  Like charter

• constrain verb

  to limit what someone or something can do

  A small budget constrained our plans for the school picnic.

  Like limit, restrict

• constraint noun

  something that limits what you can do

  Lack of time was the biggest constraint on our science project.

  Like limit, restriction

• construct verb

  to build something

  Workers are constructing a new bridge across the river.

  Like build, erect

• construction noun

  the work of building something

  The construction of the new bridge took two years.

  Like building

• consult verb

  to ask someone or look in a book for advice or information

  If you don’t know a word, consult a dictionary.

  Like ask, refer to

• consultant noun

  an expert who gives professional advice

  The school hired a consultant to plan the new library.

  Like adviser, expert

• consultation noun

  a meeting to get advice or discuss something, especially with an expert

  She had a consultation with the eye doctor about her new glasses.

  Like meeting, discussion

• consume verb

  to eat or drink; to use up energy, fuel or time

  Older cars consume a lot of fuel.

  Like use up, eat

• consumer noun

  a person who buys and uses goods or services

  Consumers want fresh vegetables at a good price.

  Like buyer, customer, user

• consumption noun

  the amount of something that is used up, eaten or drunk

  Our electricity consumption is highest in winter when we use heaters.

  Like use, usage

• contact verb

  to call, write to or send a message to someone

  Please contact the office if you need help.

  Like reach, call

• contain verb

  to have something inside or as a part

  This box contains old photographs.

  Like hold, include

• container noun

  an object such as a box, jar or bottle used for holding or storing things

  Keep the rice in a closed container so insects cannot get in.

  Like holder, receptacle

• contemporary adjective

  belonging to the present time; modern

  The gallery shows contemporary art by young Nepali painters.

  Like modern, current

• content noun

  what is inside something; the subject matter of a book, speech or website

  The content of the lesson was about the solar system.

  Like subject matter, material

• contest noun

  a competition to see who is best at something

  She won the school’s spelling contest by spelling every difficult word correctly.

  Like competition

• context noun

  the situation or words around something that help explain its meaning

  You can often guess a word’s meaning from its context.

  Like setting, background

• continent noun

  one of the seven very large land areas of the Earth, such as Asia or Africa

  Nepal is a country on the continent of Asia.

• continue verb

  to keep doing something without stopping

  The rain continued all night and only stopped when the sun came up.

  Like carry on, keep on, go on

• continuity noun

  the state of continuing without stopping or changing suddenly

  Having the same teacher for three years gave the class continuity.

  Like consistency

• continuous adjective

  going on without stopping or a break

  There was continuous rain for three days.

  Like constant, nonstop, unbroken

• contour noun

  the outline or shape of something; a line on a map joining places of equal height

  On the map, the contour lines are very close together where the mountain is steep.

  Like outline, profile

• contract noun

  a written legal agreement between people or companies

  The builder signed a contract to finish the new school by March.

  Like agreement, deal

• contradict verb

  to say the opposite of what someone else has said; to be opposite to something

  The two witnesses contradicted each other about the color of the car.

  Like deny, conflict with

• contradiction noun

  a difference between two statements or facts that cannot both be true

  There is a contradiction between saying you are too tired to walk and then running to the shop.

  Like inconsistency, conflict

• contradictory adjective

  opposite to each other, so both cannot be true

  The weather reports were contradictory: one said rain and the other said sunshine.

  Like conflicting, inconsistent

• contrary adjective

  completely different or opposite

  Contrary to what many people think, bats are not blind.

  Like opposite, opposing

• contrast noun

  a clear difference between two things when compared

  There is a strong contrast between the hot Terai and the cold mountains.

  Like difference

• contribute verb

  to give money, help, or ideas together with others

  Every student contributed a book to the class library.

  Like give, donate, add

• contribution noun

  something you give or do to help

  Her contribution to the project was the colorful poster.

  Like donation, gift, input

• control verb

  to have power over something or someone and decide how it works

  You control the toy car with this small remote.

  Like manage, direct, operate

• controversial adjective

  causing a lot of disagreement and argument

  Building a road through the forest was a controversial plan.

  Like disputed, debatable

• controversy noun

  a lot of public disagreement or argument about something

  There was controversy over whether the old tree should be cut down to widen the road.

  Like dispute, debate, argument

• convention noun

  a usual way of doing something that people accept; a large formal meeting

  By convention, a book’s title is written in italics.

  Like custom, tradition

• conventional adjective

  usual and traditional; following accepted ways

  Electric cars are much quieter than conventional cars that run on petrol.

  Like traditional, normal, standard

• converge verb

  to come together from different directions and meet at one point

  The Kali Gandaki and Trishuli rivers converge at Devghat and flow on as one river.

  Like meet, join, come together

• convergence noun

  the coming together of things at one point

  The convergence of three roads at the square makes it very busy.

  Like meeting, merging

• conversation noun

  a talk between two or more people

  I had a long conversation with my grandmother on the phone.

  Like chat, talk

• convert verb

  to change something into a different form or use

  Solar panels on the roof convert sunlight into electricity for the school.

  Like change, transform

• convince verb

  to make someone believe or agree with something

  She convinced her parents to let her join the science club.

  Like persuade

• cook verb

  to make food ready to eat by heating it

  My mother cooks momo for us on Saturdays.

  Like prepare, make

• cool adjective

  a little cold in a pleasant way

  A cool breeze blew from the mountains in the evening.

  Like fresh

• cooperation noun

  working together to reach a shared goal

  With everyone’s cooperation, we cleaned the whole park in an hour.

  Like teamwork, collaboration

• coordinate verb

  to organize the different parts of an activity so they work well together

  The class monitor helped coordinate the cleaning of the school grounds.

  Like organize, arrange

• coordination noun

  the ability to make different parts of the body move well together; organizing people to work together

  Juggling three balls takes good hand-eye coordination.

• cope verb

  to deal successfully with something difficult

  She learned to cope with the cold weather in the mountains.

  Like manage, handle

• copy verb

  to make something that is the same as something else

  Copy the sentence from the board into your notebook.

  Like reproduce, duplicate

• cord noun

  a piece of thick string or thin rope; an electric wire covered in plastic

  She tied the parcel with a strong cord.

  Like string, rope, cable

• core noun

  the central or most important part of something

  The core of the earth is extremely hot.

  Like center, heart

• corner noun

  the point or place where two sides, edges, or streets meet

  The shop is on the corner of our street.

• coronary adjective

  relating to the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart

  Regular exercise lowers the risk of coronary heart disease.

• corporate adjective

  relating to a large business company

  My cousin works in a corporate office in a tall building in Kathmandu.

  Like business, commercial

• corporation noun

  a large company or group of companies

  The corporation has offices in many countries and employs thousands of people.

  Like company, firm

• corpus noun

  a large collection of written or spoken texts used for study

  The researchers studied a corpus of a million words to see how often each word is used.

  Like collection, body

• correct adjective

  right, without mistakes

  Write the correct answer in the box.

  Like right, accurate

• correction noun

  a change that makes something right or removes a mistake

  The teacher wrote her corrections in red ink beside my answers.

  Like fix, amendment

• correctly adverb

  in a way that is right or true, without mistakes

  She answered every question correctly and got full marks.

  Like accurately, properly, rightly

• correlate verb

  to have a connection in which one thing changes when another does

  Students’ test scores correlate with how many hours they sleep.

  Like be linked, relate

• correlation noun

  a connection between two things in which one changes when the other changes

  Scientists found a correlation between warmer weather and the number of mosquitoes.

  Like connection, link, relationship

• correspond verb

  to match or be similar to something; to write letters to someone

  Each letter on the map corresponds to a district.

  Like match, agree

• correspondence noun

  letters or emails sent between people; a close match or connection between two things

  My grandfather kept all his correspondence with his brother in a wooden box.

  Like letters, mail

• corruption noun

  dishonest or illegal behavior by people in power, such as taking bribes

  The new mayor promised to fight corruption in the city offices.

  Like dishonesty, bribery

• cortex noun

  the outer layer of the brain, used for thinking and memory; the outer layer of an organ

  The cortex is the wrinkled outer layer of the brain.

• cost noun

  the amount of money needed to buy or do something

  The cost of the school trip is five hundred rupees.

  Like price, charge, expense

• cough verb

  to push air out of your throat with a sudden sharp sound

  The smoke made us cough.

• council noun

  a group of people chosen to make decisions or give advice for a town or organization

  The city council decided to plant more trees along the main road.

• counsel verb

  to give someone advice

  The school nurse counsels students about healthy eating.

  Like advise

• count verb

  to say numbers in order; to find the total number

  Count how many chairs are in the room.

  Like add up, total

• counter noun

  a long flat surface where customers are served in a shop or bank

  The shopkeeper placed the bread on the counter.

• country noun

  a nation with its own land and government; land outside towns

  Nepal is a country with eight of the world’s ten highest mountains.

  Like nation, state, land

• county noun

  an area of land with its own local government in some countries

  My pen friend lives in a small county in England.

  Like district

• couple noun

  two people or things; a few

  I’ll be ready in a couple of minutes.

  Like pair, few

• course noun

  a set of lessons on a subject; the path something follows

  My sister is taking a course in computer programming.

  Like class, program, route

• court noun

  a place where a judge decides legal cases; an area marked for a ball game

  We play basketball on the court behind the school.

• cousin noun

  the child of your aunt or uncle

  My cousin and I always play together during Dashain.

• cover verb

  to put something over something else to protect or hide it

  Cover the pot with a lid so the soup stays hot.

• coverage noun

  the reporting of news and events on TV, radio or in newspapers

  The TV coverage of the cricket match was watched by millions.

  Like reporting

• cow noun

  a large female farm animal kept for its milk

  The cow gives fresh milk every morning.

• crack noun

  a thin line where something has broken but not come apart

  There is a crack in my phone’s screen.

  Like split

• craft noun

  an activity of making things by hand with skill

  Pottery is a traditional craft in Bhaktapur.

  Like handicraft, skill, art

• crash noun

  an accident in which a vehicle hits something hard

  No one was hurt in the bicycle crash, but the wheel was bent.

  Like collision

• crazy adjective

  very silly or strange; very excited about something

  My little cousin is crazy about dinosaurs and knows all of their names.

  Like mad, wild

• cream noun

  the thick fatty part of milk; a soft substance you rub on skin

  She poured fresh cream over the strawberries for dessert.

• create verb

  to make something new that did not exist before

  The students created a model volcano from clay and paper.

  Like make, build, invent

• creation noun

  the act of making something new; something that has been made

  The creation of the national park helped protect tigers.

  Like making, formation

• creative adjective

  good at making new and original things or ideas

  Our art teacher is very creative and uses old bottles to make lamps.

  Like imaginative, inventive

• creature noun

  any living animal, large or small

  The deep ocean is home to many strange creatures.

  Like animal, being

• credibility noun

  the quality of being believed or trusted

  Using facts from good sources gives your report more credibility.

  Like believability, trustworthiness

• credit noun

  praise for something you did; an arrangement to pay later for something

  She deserves credit for organizing the whole event.

  Like praise, recognition

• crew noun

  a group of people who work together, especially on a ship or plane

  The crew of the space station did experiments every day.

  Like team

• crime noun

  an act that is against the law

  Stealing a bicycle is a crime, and the police will look for the thief.

  Like offense, wrongdoing

• criminal noun

  a person who has broken the law

  The police caught the criminal who had stolen the bicycles.

  Like lawbreaker, offender

• crisis noun

  a time of great difficulty or danger

  The town faced a water crisis during the dry season.

  Like emergency

• criteria noun

  the standards used to judge or decide something

  The judges explained the criteria for choosing the best science project.

  Like standards

• critic noun

  a person whose job is to judge and write about books, films, art or food

  The film critic said the new movie was exciting and well acted.

  Like reviewer

• critical adjective

  extremely important; saying what is wrong with something

  Clean water is critical for good health in every village.

  Like vital, crucial, essential

• critically adverb

  in a way that carefully judges the good and bad points of something; very seriously

  Read the article critically and ask whether its facts are true.

  Like carefully, seriously

• criticism noun

  comments saying what is bad or wrong about something

  The writer listened to criticism of her story and made it better.

• criticize verb

  to say what is wrong with someone or something

  The coach criticized our passing but praised our defense.

  Like find fault with, condemn

• critique noun

  a careful written or spoken judgment of something’s good and bad points

  The teacher wrote a helpful critique of my story.

  Like review, assessment, evaluation

• crop noun

  a plant grown in large amounts for food, such as rice or wheat

  Rice is the main crop grown in the Terai.

• cross verb

  to go from one side of something to the other

  Look both ways before you cross the road.

  Like go across, pass over

• crowd noun

  a large number of people together in one place

  A huge crowd gathered to watch the chariot festival.

  Like throng, mass, group

• crucial adjective

  extremely important, because other things depend on it

  Water is crucial for all living things, from tiny plants to elephants.

  Like essential, vital

• crude adjective

  in its natural state, not yet treated or refined; simple and roughly made

  Crude oil must be cleaned in a refinery before it can be used as gasoline.

  Like raw, rough, unrefined

• cry verb

  to make tears come from your eyes; to shout loudly

  The baby cried until her mother picked her up.

  Like weep, sob, shout

• crystal noun

  a solid with its atoms arranged in a regular, repeating pattern, often with flat sides

  Salt forms tiny cube-shaped crystals when seawater dries up.

• cue noun

  a signal for someone to say or do something

  When the music stops, that is your cue to walk onto the stage.

  Like signal, sign, prompt

• cultural adjective

  about the customs, art, music, and beliefs of a group of people

  The Indra Jatra festival is an important cultural event in Kathmandu.

• culture noun

  the customs, arts and beliefs of a group of people

  Newar culture is famous for its festivals, music and food.

  Like traditions, customs

• cup noun

  a small round container with a handle, used for drinking

  My grandfather drinks a cup of tea every morning.

• cure verb

  to make a sick person or an illness well again

  The doctor said rest and medicine would cure her cough in a week.

  Like heal

• curious adjective

  wanting to know or learn about something

  The curious child kept asking how the airplane stays up.

  Like inquisitive, interested

• currency noun

  the type of money used in a country

  When we traveled to India, we changed our rupees into the local currency at the border.

  Like money

• current adjective

  happening or existing now

  The current temperature in Kathmandu is eighteen degrees.

  Like present, existing

• currently adverb

  at this time; now

  The museum is currently closed for repairs but will open next month.

  Like now, at present

• curriculum noun

  all the subjects and topics taught in a school or course

  Computer science is now part of the school curriculum in Nepal.

  Like syllabus, program

• curtain noun

  a piece of cloth hung over a window or stage

  Close the curtains to keep the room dark.

  Like drape

• curve noun

  a line or shape that bends smoothly

  The road makes a sharp curve around the hill.

  Like bend, arc

• custom noun

  a traditional way of behaving or doing something

  It is a custom to give tika during Dashain.

  Like tradition, practice

• customer noun

  a person who buys things from a shop or business

  The shopkeeper smiled and greeted every customer.

  Like buyer, client

• cut verb

  to divide or open something with a knife or scissors

  She cut the paper into small squares for the art project.

  Like slice, trim

• cycle noun

  a set of events that happen again and again in the same order

  The water cycle moves water between the sea, the sky, and the land.

  Like round, loop

• cyclic adjective

  happening again and again in the same order

  The cyclic pattern of the seasons brings the monsoon back each summer.

  Like repeating, recurring

• cylinder noun

  a solid shape with two equal round ends and straight sides, like a can

  A tin of beans is shaped like a cylinder.