4. Underneath the headword, you will find the definition. The definition tells you what the headword means.
5. The synonyms are listed below the definition of each headword. Synonyms have similar meanings to the headword.
6. Every synonym in the Collins Junior Thesaurus has an example sentence. This shows you how the word might be used in speech or writing.
7. Some headwords and synonyms have an illustration or photo to help you read the word and understand its meaning.
Other features of this thesaurus
This arrow points to a booster. Boosters are lively words and phrases that can be used to replace a headword. Boosters are usually words that are used in speech as slang, in proverbs and in mottos. For example:
noisy ADJECTIVE
Someone or something noisy makes loud or unpleasant sounds.
boisterous
Dad complained the party was getting far too boisterous.
deafening
Suddenly there was a deafening clap of thunder.
loud
The boys game was much too loud.
piercing
She was a nice girl, but they couldnt stand her piercing laugh.
ear-splitting
An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another. When a headword has an antonym, the antonym is shown at the end of the entry.
hot (2) ADJECTIVE
You say food is hot if it has a strong spicy taste.
peppery
The meal was a bit too peppery for me.
spicy
Dad likes his curries really spicy.
ANTONYM: mild
Word list entries
There are special themed entries throughout this thesaurus to support your writing.
At these entries you will find lists of things, such as parts of the body, colours and different types of animal. You might also find labelled illustrations to help you understand the words in the list. The word list pages are listed on the Contents page.
Online resources
Explore further at www.collins.co.uk/homeworkhelp for games, activities and extra support for parents and children.
Aa
accident (1) NOUN
An accident is something nasty that happens by chance.
calamity
The flooding river caused a calamity and the house was wrecked.
catastrophe
That plane crash was a catastrophe.
collision
Mark damaged his bike in a collision with the gatepost.
crash
There was a bad crash on the motorway.
disaster
Toms walk ended with a disaster when he fell in the canal.
mishap
Just a mishap, said Dad, after his keys fell down the drain.
accident (2) NOUN
If something happens by accident, it was not planned.
chance
The friends met by chance at the disco.
coincidence
Ben and Rosie got the same answers by coincidence.
afraid ADJECTIVE
Someone who is afraid thinks that something nasty might happen.
anxious
Mole felt anxious in the wild wood.
nervous
You dont need to be nervous, said the dentist. This wont hurt a bit.
panic-stricken
They were panic-stricken when they heard the ice crack.
petrified
Emma was petrified during her ride on the big dipper.
scared
Goldilocks was scared when the three bears found her.
worried
Our cat was worried when the pet-shop owner picked up her kittens.
numb with fear; scared to death
amphibian NOUN
An amphibian is an animal that can live on land and in water.
TYPES OF AMPHIBIANS:
anger NOUN
Anger is the strong feeling you have about something that is unfair.
fury
My little brother stamped his foot in fury when I wouldnt play with him.
outrage
There was outrage among farmers when the plans were announced.
rage
Nobody dared annoy the ogre, because his rage was terrible to see.
angry ADJECTIVE
If you feel angry, you are very cross.
annoyed
Alice was annoyed with the Mad Hatter and the March Hare.
cross
Steven was cross when his sister finished his jigsaw.
enraged
Michael was enraged when thieves stole his new bike.
furious
His sister was furious about the broken window.
infuriated
Grandpa was infuriated because squirrels had dug up his flower bulbs.
mad
I made my best friend mad by shouting at her.
wild
Sarah was really wild when her little brother scribbled on her work.
climbing the walls; fuming; going ballistic; livid
ANTONYM: pleased
animal NOUN
Animals are living things that are not plants. Humans, mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and insects are all animals.
beast
Fabulous beasts roamed wild in the enchanted forest.
creature
Mice are timid creatures.
KINDS OF ANIMALS:
amphibian
bird
fish
insect
mammal
reptile
annoy VERB
If you do something that annoys someone, you make them cross.
bother
The horse lashed its tail at flies that were bothering it.
hassle INFORMAL
Stop hassling me or we wont go at all.
irritate
It irritates Thomas when people treat him like a child.
pester
The cubs would not stop pestering the old lion.
drive someone crazy; get on someones nerves
appear (1) VERB
If something appears, it moves into a place where you can see it.
come into view
At last the train came into view round the bend.
emerge
A mouse emerged from a small hole in the skirting board.
turn up
They waited ages for the bus to turn up.
appear (2) VERB
If someone appears in a show or play, they take part in it.
act
Our drama teacher is looking for people to act in Peter Pan.
perform
Ive been asked to perform in the school concert tonight.
argument NOUN
An argument is a talk between people who do not agree.
disagreement
There was a disagreement about the new kittens name.
fight
We had a bit of a fight over whose turn it was to wash up.
quarrel