VOA Special English 基本词汇A

PARTS OF SPEECH

n. (noun) - a name word

v. (verb) - an action word 

ad. (adjective/adverb) - a describing word 

prep. (preposition) - a word used to show a relation 

pro. (pronoun) - a word used in place of a noun 

conj. (conjunction) - a joining word 

 
A

a (an) - ad. one; any; each

able - v. having the power to do something 

about - ad. almost ("about half"); of or having a relation to ("We talk about the
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 ("admitted to the United Nations"); to express one's guilt or
responsibility ("He admitted that what he did was wrong.") 

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 ("A lack of sleep affected the 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 ("an agency of the 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 ("along the road") 

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 ("appoint a judge") 

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 ("as fast as"); when; while 

ash - n. the part left after something burns 

ask - v. to question; to say something is wanted ("We ask the teacher questions
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 ("at the edge"); where ("look at"); when ("at noon") 

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