What does “ankle” mean?

“ankle” means The joint that connects your foot to your leg.. Pronounced /ˈæŋkəl/. Close synonyms: ankle joint, joint above the foot. For example: She fell and hurt her ankle while she was running.

What does “wrist” mean?

“wrist” means The joint between your hand and your arm.. Pronounced /ˈrɪst/. Close synonyms: wrist joint, joint between hand and arm. For example: He has been wearing a support on his wrist since the accident.

What does “elbow” mean?

“elbow” means The joint in the middle of your arm where it bends.. Pronounced /ˈɛlboʊ/. Close synonyms: elbow joint, bend of the arm. For example: Don't put your elbows on the table while we are eating.

What does “knee” mean?

“knee” means The joint in the middle of your leg where it bends.. Pronounced /ˈni/. Close synonyms: knee joint, joint where the leg bends. For example: You should bend your knees when you lift something heavy.

What does “shoulder” mean?

“shoulder” means The part of your body between your neck and the top of your arm.. Pronounced /ˈʃoʊldər/. Close synonyms: shoulder joint, top of the arm. For example: My shoulders hurt because I have been carrying a heavy rucksack all day.

What does “chest” mean?

“chest” means The front part of your body between your neck and your waist.. Pronounced /ˈtʃɛst/. Close synonyms: upper body, rib area. For example: If you feel a pain in your chest, you should see a doctor immediately.

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English B1 — Health & Lifestyle Official

Health, fitness and everyday wellbeing English at B1, defined in English. Words covering the body, symptoms, the doctor, treatment, food and habits, each with an English definition, IPA, synonyms and a usage note that tells you which word a patient actually says and which one belongs in a clinic.

CEFR B1 — Intermediate

At this level you can discuss opinions, travel independently, describe experiences. Vocabulary: ~2,500 words (cumulative).

Words in this deck

What does “ankle” mean?: “ankle” means The joint that connects your foot to your leg.. Pronounced /ˈæŋkəl/. Close synonyms: ankle joint, joint above the foot. For example: She fell and hurt her ankle while she was running.
What does “wrist” mean?: “wrist” means The joint between your hand and your arm.. Pronounced /ˈrɪst/. Close synonyms: wrist joint, joint between hand and arm. For example: He has been wearing a support on his wrist since the accident.
What does “elbow” mean?: “elbow” means The joint in the middle of your arm where it bends.. Pronounced /ˈɛlboʊ/. Close synonyms: elbow joint, bend of the arm. For example: Don't put your elbows on the table while we are eating.
What does “knee” mean?: “knee” means The joint in the middle of your leg where it bends.. Pronounced /ˈni/. Close synonyms: knee joint, joint where the leg bends. For example: You should bend your knees when you lift something heavy.
What does “shoulder” mean?: “shoulder” means The part of your body between your neck and the top of your arm.. Pronounced /ˈʃoʊldər/. Close synonyms: shoulder joint, top of the arm. For example: My shoulders hurt because I have been carrying a heavy rucksack all day.
What does “chest” mean?: “chest” means The front part of your body between your neck and your waist.. Pronounced /ˈtʃɛst/. Close synonyms: upper body, rib area. For example: If you feel a pain in your chest, you should see a doctor immediately.

English · definitions in English 250 words ~25 days at 10 words/day 0 downloads B1

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Word List — click grammar notes to expand

Word	Translation	Example
ankleneutral /ˈæŋkəl/ The joint that connects your foot to your leg. Synonyms: ankle joint, joint above the foot	foot-to-leg joint	She fell and hurt her ankle while she was running.
You twist, sprain or roll an ankle, and you break one if the bone goes. The injury is named with the adjective first: a sprained ankle, a swollen ankle. The plural is normal when both are meant, as in my ankles swell on long flights.
wristneutral /ˈrɪst/ The joint between your hand and your arm. Synonyms: wrist joint, joint between hand and arm	hand-to-arm joint	He has been wearing a support on his wrist since the accident.
The w is silent, so wrist rhymes with list. You wear a watch or a band on your wrist, and the usual injuries are a sprained or a broken wrist. Wristwatch and wristband are written as single words.
elbowneutral /ˈɛlboʊ/ The joint in the middle of your arm where it bends. Synonyms: elbow joint, bend of the arm	middle joint of the arm	Don't put your elbows on the table while we are eating.
Also a verb: you elbow someone aside, or elbow your way through a crowd. Elbow room means enough space to move freely. The plural is normal in advice about posture, as in keep your elbows off the table.
kneeneutral /ˈni/ The joint in the middle of your leg where it bends. Synonyms: knee joint, joint where the leg bends	middle joint of the leg	You should bend your knees when you lift something heavy.
The k is silent, so the word rhymes with see. You bend, hurt or injure a knee, and you go down on one knee. The related verb is kneel, to rest on your knees, with the past form knelt or kneeled.
shoulderneutral /ˈʃoʊldər/ The part of your body between your neck and the top of your arm. Synonyms: shoulder joint, top of the arm	top of the arm	My shoulders hurt because I have been carrying a heavy rucksack all day.
Usually plural when you describe how you feel: my shoulders ache. You carry a bag on your shoulder and shrug your shoulders when you have no answer. Also a verb meaning to take on something heavy, as in shoulder the blame.
chestneutral /ˈtʃɛst/ The front part of your body between your neck and your waist. Synonyms: upper body, rib area	front of the upper body	If you feel a pain in your chest, you should see a doctor immediately.
A pain is in your chest, never on it, and chest pain is the fixed phrase. The word stops at the waist, so anything lower is the stomach. Get something off your chest means finally say what has been worrying you.
throatneutral /ˈθroʊt/ The inside part of your neck where food and air pass. Synonyms: windpipe area, gullet	inside of the neck	My throat hurts when I swallow, so I'm only drinking warm tea.
A sore throat is the fixed phrase for the illness, and my throat hurts is the spoken version. Clear your throat means cough lightly before speaking.
neckneutral /ˈnɛk/ The part of your body that joins your head to your shoulders. Synonyms: throat area, nape	part below the head	I slept badly on the sofa and now my neck hurts.
A stiff neck is the usual phrase for the pain that comes from sleeping badly. A pain in the neck, said of a person or a task, means something annoying. Neck and neck means exactly level in a race or a contest.
skinneutral /ˈskɪn/ The outside layer that covers your whole body. Synonyms: outer layer, body covering	outer layer of the body	Your skin gets dry if you don't drink enough water.
Uncountable for a person: your skin is dry, never your skins. It becomes countable for an animal hide or a fruit covering, as in a banana skin. Dry, oily, sensitive and fair are the adjectives that go with it.
boneneutral /ˈboʊn/ One of the hard white parts inside your body that form the skeleton. Synonyms: skeleton part, hard tissue	hard part of the skeleton	She broke a bone in her foot and couldn't walk for six weeks.
Countable when you mean one of them: she broke a bone in her foot. Uncountable in the general sense of the material, as in bone loses strength with age. Bony is the adjective for a thin person or a fish full of bones.
muscleneutral /ˈmʌsəl/ A part inside your body that you use to move. Synonyms: body tissue, flesh	body part that moves you	My muscles are sore because I did too much exercise yesterday.
The c is silent, so the word sounds like mussel. Muscles are sore, pulled or strained, and you build or tone muscle, which is uncountable in that general sense. Muscular is the adjective for a strong-looking body.
jointneutral /ˈdʒɔɪnt/ A place where two bones meet, like the knee or elbow. Synonyms: connection, meeting point of bones	place where bones meet	Cold weather makes my joints hurt.
Nearly always plural in health talk: aching joints, stiff joints, joint pain. Swollen and stiff are the usual partners. The same form is also an adjective meaning shared, as in a joint decision.
heartneutral /ˈhɑrt/ The organ in your chest that sends blood around your body. Synonyms: cardiac organ, blood pump	organ that pumps blood	Regular exercise is good for your heart.
Heart disease, heart attack and heart rate are two words each and take no the. Figuratively the word stands for feelings, and learn something by heart means memorize it. Cardiac is the clinical adjective, but patients say heart problems.
lungneutral /ˈlʌŋ/ One of the two organs in your chest that you use to breathe. Synonyms: breathing organ, air sac	organ for breathing	Smoking damages your lungs and your heart.
Nearly always plural when you talk about a person: my lungs, deep in the lungs. The singular stays in compounds and diagnoses such as lung cancer and lung capacity. Smoke and dust damage the lungs.
brainneutral /ˈbreɪn/ The organ inside your head that you use to think. Synonyms: mind, thinking organ	organ used for thinking	Sleep helps your brain remember what you have learned.
Singular for the organ itself. The plural brains means intelligence, as in she has brains, and it does not describe the body part. Common pairs are brain damage, brain cells and a brain scan; brainstorm means to produce ideas fast.
bloodneutral /ˈblʌd/ The red liquid that moves around inside your body. Synonyms: bodily fluid, plasma	red liquid inside the body	The nurse took some blood to do a few tests.
Uncountable: some blood, a lot of blood, never bloods. Fixed pairs include blood pressure, a blood test and blood type, all without the. The related verb is bleed, with the past form bled.
waistneutral /ˈweɪst/ The middle part of your body, above your hips. Synonyms: middle, midsection	narrow middle of the body	These trousers are too tight around my waist.
It sounds exactly like waste, which means rubbish or to use badly, so the spelling is worth fixing in memory. Clothes are tight or loose around the waist, and waistline is the measurement. Waist-high and waistband keep the same spelling.
hipneutral /ˈhɪp/ One of the two parts at the sides of your body where your legs join it. Synonyms: hip joint, side of the body	side of the lower body	My grandmother has had an operation on her hip.
Usually plural for the body area: wide hips, hands on your hips. Medical phrases keep the singular, as in a broken hip or a hip replacement. The identical adjective hip, meaning fashionable, is informal and unrelated.
thighneutral /ˈθaɪ/ The top part of your leg, above the knee. Synonyms: upper leg, femur area	upper part of the leg	Cycling makes the muscles in your thighs stronger.
Only the part above the knee; below it are the calf and the shin. The gh is silent and the vowel is long, so it rhymes with my. The plural is the normal form in fitness talk, as in strong thighs.
lipneutral /ˈlɪp/ One of the two soft red edges of your mouth. Synonyms: mouth edge, mouth rim	edge of the mouth	My lips get very dry in winter, so I use a special cream.
Almost always plural for a person: dry lips, chapped lips. Lipstick and lip balm are the products, the first one word and the second two. Bite your lip means stop yourself from saying something.
tongueneutral /ˈtʌŋ/ The soft part inside your mouth that you use to taste and speak. Synonyms: taste organ, mouth muscle	organ you taste with	I burnt my tongue because the soup was too hot.
Spelled with gue but pronounced to rhyme with young. It also means a language in set phrases such as your mother tongue. A doctor asks you to stick out your tongue, while hold your tongue means stay silent.
nerveneutral /ˈnɜrv/ A thin line in your body that carries feelings and messages to your brain. Synonyms: nerve fiber, signal pathway	message line in the body	The pain in my leg is caused by a nerve in my back.
The plural has a second life meaning anxiety: I get nerves before an exam. The body-part sense is countable too, as in a trapped nerve or a damaged nerve. Nervous describes the feeling, not the body part, and nervy is informal.
painneutral /ˈpeɪn/ The feeling you have in your body when you are hurt or ill. Synonyms: ache	a hurting feeling	I have had a pain in my back for three days.
Countable when it sits in one place, a pain in my back, and uncountable for pain in general, as in she is in a lot of pain. You have or feel a pain, and the medicine is a painkiller. Pain is sharper and stronger than an ache.
acheneutral /ˈeɪk/ A pain that continues for a long time but is not very strong. Synonyms: pain	dull lasting pain	After the long walk, I had a dull ache in my legs.
An ache is steady and mild; a pain is sharper. It joins onto body parts as one word: headache, toothache, backache, stomachache. It is also a verb, as in my legs ache, and the adjective form is aching.
feverneutral /ˈfivər/ When your body is hotter than normal because you are ill. Synonyms: temperature	high body temperature	The little girl has a high fever, so she is staying in bed today.
You have or run a fever, and a fever is high or slight; it comes down or breaks as someone gets better. Feverish describes both the person and a hot, restless feeling. Hay fever is unrelated to temperature and means an allergy.
medicineneutral /ˈmɛdəsɪn/ Something you take when you are ill to get better. Synonyms: medication, drug	medication; remedy	You must take this medicine three times a day after meals.
Uncountable in this sense: take some medicine, not a medicine. You take medicine; you do not eat or drink it. The same word names the science that doctors study, as in she studies medicine, and medical is the adjective.
pillneutral /ˈpɪl/ A small round piece of medicine that you swallow. Synonyms: tablet	small round medicine	She takes a pill for her blood pressure every morning.
You take a pill and swallow it with water; you do not eat one. The pill, with the, means birth control. In everyday speech pill and tablet cover the same thing, while a capsule is the kind with a soft shell.
tablet (medicine)neutral /ˈtæblət/ A small hard piece of medicine that you swallow. Synonyms: pill	solid piece of medicine	Take two tablets with water before you go to bed.
The label in brackets separates it from the other tablet, a flat computer. Dosage instructions normally use the plural: take two tablets with water. Tablet and pill are interchangeable in ordinary speech, and a pharmacist may say either.
drugneutral /ˈdrʌg/ A medicine, or an illegal substance that changes how you feel. Synonyms: medicine	medicine; illegal substance	This new drug has been tested on thousands of patients.
Two senses live in one word: a medicine that companies develop and test, and an illegal substance. The illegal sense is nearly always plural, as in take drugs or be on drugs, so a singular drug in a medical report reads as medicine. A drugstore in American English is a pharmacy.
doseneutral /ˈdoʊs/ The amount of medicine you should take at one time. Synonyms: amount, measure, dosage	amount taken at once	Don't take a bigger dose than the doctor recommended.
You take a dose, and a doctor increases, reduces or doubles it. High and low are the usual adjectives: a high dose of vitamin D. Overdose means too much at one time, and dosage is the plan for how much and how often.
bandageneutral /ˈbændɪdʒ/ A long piece of material that you put around an injured part. Synonyms: dressing	cloth wrapped on a wound	The nurse put a clean bandage on the wound.
You put a bandage on a wound, and you wrap or change one; bandage is also the verb for that action. A small sticky one is called a Band-Aid in American English. Clean, tight and fresh are the usual adjectives.
woundneutral /ˈwund/ A hurt place on your body, often where the skin is broken. Synonyms: injury, cut	injury; broken skin	The wound is healing slowly, but it still hurts a bit.
As a noun it rhymes with spooned; the identically spelled past form of wind rhymes with found. Wounds heal, get infected, or are cleaned and dressed. It suggests a cut or a bullet, so bruises and broken bones are injuries rather than wounds.
bruiseneutral /ˈbruz/ A dark mark on your skin after something hits you. Synonyms: dark mark, black-and-blue mark	dark mark from a knock	I found a big bruise on my leg, but I don't remember hitting anything.
It sounds like brews. Also a verb: I bruise easily, and fruit bruises too. Bruises appear, come out and fade, and the adjective bruised goes before the noun, as in a bruised arm.
scarneutral /ˈskɑr/ A mark that stays on your skin after a wound has healed. Synonyms: permanent mark, healed mark	mark left by a wound	He has a small scar on his chin from a childhood accident.
A wound leaves a scar, and a scar fades but does not disappear. Also a verb, usually in the passive: his hand was scarred by the fire. The plural is used for lasting emotional harm too, as in emotional scars.
rashneutral /ˈræʃ/ A lot of small red spots on your skin. Synonyms: skin irritation, breakout	red spots on the skin	The cream made the rash disappear in a few days.
Name where it is with on: a rash on my arm. Rashes come out, spread and clear up, and you get one from heat, a plant or a reaction. The adjective rash, meaning done too quickly, is a separate word.
infectionneutral /ɪnˈfɛkʃən/ An illness in a part of your body caused by bacteria or a virus. Synonyms: illness, disease	illness caused by germs	The doctor gave me antibiotics to fight the infection.
The place goes straight in front with no preposition: an ear infection, a skin infection, a sinus infection. You get, treat or clear an infection, and a wound gets infected. Infectious means able to spread to other people.
virusneutral /ˈvaɪrəs/ A very small living thing that can make you ill. Synonyms: germ, bug	tiny germ causing illness	The virus spreads quickly when people don't wash their hands.
The plural is viruses. You catch or pick up a virus, and a virus spreads or goes around; you do not take one. The same word covers harmful computer programs, and viral is the adjective for both senses.
contagiousneutral /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ Able to pass easily from one person to another. Synonyms: infectious, catching	easily spread; catching	Stay at home if you have the flu, because it is very contagious.
It describes the illness or the person carrying it, not the germ: the flu is contagious, and so is a patient. Infectious is the near synonym, while contagious stresses passing by contact. Laughter and enthusiasm are also called contagious.
diseaseneutral /dɪˈziz/ A serious illness, often with a name, like heart disease. Synonyms: illness	named serious illness	Heart disease is one of the most common health problems in Europe.
Usually a specific, often long-term condition with a name: heart disease, kidney disease. Illness is the broader everyday word, so a cold is an illness rather than a disease. It works countably and uncountably, and heart disease takes no the.
illnessneutral /ˈɪlnəs/ The state of being ill; a health problem. Synonyms: disease, sickness	being ill; health problem	She has missed a lot of classes this term because of illness.
Uncountable for the state, as in absent because of illness, and countable for a particular one, a serious illness. It is broader and softer than disease, and it covers mental illness. In American English the adjective sick is far more common than ill.
allergyneutral /ˈælərdʒi/ A medical problem where some food or thing makes you feel ill. Synonyms: sensitivity, bad reaction	bad reaction to something	My brother has an allergy to nuts, so he reads every food label carefully.
An allergy to something, and the adjective takes the same preposition: I am allergic to nuts. The plural is common for seasonal symptoms in American English, as in my allergies are bad today. The g sounds like the j in jam.
operationneutral /ˌɑpəˈreɪʃən/ When doctors cut your body open to repair something inside. Synonyms: surgery	surgical procedure	My father is going to have an operation on his knee next month.
A patient has an operation and a surgeon performs one; it is an operation on a knee, not of a knee. This is the everyday patient word, while surgery sounds more clinical.
surgeryneutral /ˈsɜrdʒəri/ Medical work where doctors cut the body to repair it. Synonyms: operation	operation; surgical treatment	After the surgery, she had to stay in hospital for a week.
Uncountable in American English: she had surgery, not a surgery. You have or undergo surgery, and the body part goes straight in front, as in knee surgery or heart surgery. Operation is the countable everyday alternative.
nurseneutral /ˈnɜrs/ A person whose job is to care for ill people, usually in a hospital. Synonyms: caregiver, nursing staff	person who cares for patients	The nurse checked my blood pressure and asked me a few questions.
The plain word in speech and in records alike; a registered nurse is the American qualification. It is not a gendered word, so male nurse is only used when the sex matters. Also a verb meaning to care for someone who is ill.
surgeonneutral /ˈsɜrdʒən/ A doctor who operates on people. Synonyms: operating doctor, medical specialist	doctor who operates	The surgeon explained the operation to us before we signed the papers.
Surgeons operate on people and perform surgery; they do not do surgery to someone. In American hospitals a surgeon is still addressed as doctor rather than as surgeon.
dentistneutral /ˈdɛntɪst/ A person whose job is to look after people's teeth. Synonyms: tooth doctor, dental surgeon	tooth doctor	You should go to the dentist's at least twice a year.
Go to the dentist is the usual phrase, and the dentist's with an apostrophe means the office. Dental is the adjective, as in dental care and a dental appointment. Dentistry is the name of the profession.
specialistneutral /ˈspɛʃələst/ A doctor who knows a lot about one area of medicine. Synonyms: expert, consultant	expert doctor	My doctor sent me to a specialist because the pain didn't go away.
In health talk a family doctor refers you to a specialist, and refer someone to is the fixed pattern. Outside medicine it means an expert in any field, a specialist in tax law. The verb is specialize in, and the adjective is special or specialized.
clinicneutral /ˈklɪnɪk/ A place where you can see a doctor, smaller than a hospital. Synonyms: medical center, health center	small medical center	There is a small clinic in the village where a doctor comes twice a week.
A clinic handles routine and walk-in visits; a hospital keeps patients overnight. You go to a clinic, and clinical is the adjective for medical practice.
ambulanceneutral /ˈæmbjələns/ A special vehicle that takes ill or injured people to hospital. Synonyms: emergency vehicle, medical transport	emergency medical vehicle	Somebody called an ambulance when the old man fainted in the street.
You call an ambulance, and someone is taken to the hospital in one; American English keeps the before hospital. The crew who treat you inside are paramedics, or EMTs in the United States.
emergencyneutral /ɪˈmɜrdʒənsi/ A serious and dangerous situation that needs quick action. Synonyms: crisis, urgent situation	sudden dangerous situation	In an emergency, you should call 999 in the UK.
In an emergency is the fixed phrase. The word also works as an adjective in front of nouns: emergency exit, emergency services, emergency room. The plural is emergencies, and in the United States you dial 911.
first aidneutral /ˌfɜrst ˈeɪd/ Simple help you give to an ill or injured person before a doctor comes. Synonyms: emergency care, basic treatment	emergency help before a doctor	Everybody at work has done a first aid course this year.
Uncountable and written as two words: give first aid, take a first aid course. A first-aid kit takes a hyphen because it sits in front of a noun. Speech says give first aid, while writing often says administer first aid.
injectionneutral /ɪnˈdʒɛkʃən/ When medicine is put into your body with a needle. Synonyms: shot, jab	medicine given by needle	The nurse gave me an injection in my arm, and it didn't hurt at all.
A nurse gives you an injection and you get or have one; the verb is inject. It is an injection in the arm. In everyday American speech people usually say shot instead, as in I got a flu shot.
vaccineneutral /vækˈsin/ A special medicine that stops you from getting a disease. Synonyms: immunization, shot	medicine that prevents disease	The new vaccine has been given to millions of people around the world.
A vaccine is given, developed or approved, and it is a vaccine against a disease. Vaccine names the substance, vaccination the act, and vaccinate is the verb. Stress falls on the second syllable in American English.
X-rayneutral /ˈɛks ˌreɪ/ A special photo that shows the bones inside your body. Synonyms: radiograph, bone picture	picture of your bones	The doctor looked at the X-ray and told me that nothing was broken.
Written with a capital X and a hyphen. You have or get an X-ray and a hospital takes one; it is also a verb, as in they X-rayed my wrist. Chest X-ray and dental X-ray are the common pairs.
blood pressureneutral /ˈblʌd ˌprɛʃər/ The force of the blood moving around your body. Synonyms: arterial pressure, BP	force of the flowing blood	High blood pressure can be caused by stress and a bad diet.
It is high or low, never big or strong, and a nurse takes or checks it. Two separate words, with no plural. High blood pressure is what patients say for the condition doctors call hypertension.
pulseneutral /ˈpʌls/ The regular beat of your heart that you can feel in your wrist. Synonyms: heartbeat, heart rate	heartbeat you can feel	The nurse held my wrist to take my pulse.
You take, feel or check someone's pulse, and a pulse is fast, slow, weak or steady. Pulse rate is the number of beats in a minute. Outside health it means a steady beat in music.
check-upneutral /ˈtʃɛk ˌʌp/ A general examination by a doctor to see if you are healthy. Synonyms: physical, medical exam	routine visit to the doctor	I go to the doctor for a check-up once a year, even when I feel fine.
Hyphenated as a noun, while the verb is two words: check up on someone means keep an eye on them. You go for or have a check-up, usually a regular or annual one. In the United States a doctor may call it a physical.
painkillerneutral /ˈpeɪnˌkɪlər/ A medicine that stops or reduces pain. Synonyms: pain reliever, pain medication	medicine that stops pain	Take a painkiller if the pain gets worse during the night.
One word and countable: take a painkiller, strong painkillers. Pain reliever and pain medication are the clinical-sounding American alternatives. You take a painkiller for a headache, not against one.
side effectneutral /ˈsaɪd ɪˌfɛkt/ An extra, usually bad, effect that a medicine has on you. Synonyms: unwanted effect, reaction	extra unwanted effect	This medicine is safe, but it has some side effects, such as feeling sleepy.
Two words, countable and usually plural: the side effects include dizziness. A medicine has or causes side effects and a patient experiences them. They are mild, serious or common, and the word implies something unwanted.
waiting roomneutral /ˈweɪtɪŋ ˌrum/ A room where people wait before seeing a doctor or dentist. Synonyms: reception area, waiting area	room where patients wait	We sat in the waiting room for almost an hour before they called my name.
Two words, and you sit or wait in the waiting room. It covers dentists, clinics and stations alike. The room the doctor actually sees you in is the exam room or examination room, so the two are not interchangeable.
wheelchairneutral /ˈwilˌtʃɛr/ A chair with wheels for people who cannot walk. Synonyms: mobility chair, rolling chair	chair with wheels	The hospital gave my grandfather a wheelchair so that he could move around.
One word. Someone is in a wheelchair or uses one; confined to a wheelchair is older and many speakers now avoid it as negative. Wheelchair accessible describes a building with ramps and wide doors.
toothacheneutral /ˈtuθˌeɪk/ A pain in one of your teeth. Synonyms: tooth pain, dental pain	pain in a tooth	I couldn't sleep last night because I had terrible toothache.
Written as one word, and American speakers normally add a: I have a toothache. Earache and stomachache follow the same pattern. The plural of tooth is teeth, but the compound always keeps tooth.
symptomneutral /ˈsɪmptəm/ A sign in your body that shows you may be ill. Synonyms: sign, indication	sign of an illness	The doctor asked me to describe my symptoms before examining me.
Nearly always plural: describe your symptoms, and you have, show or develop them. They are mild, severe or flu-like, and symptom of something is the pattern; it works outside medicine too, as in a symptom of a deeper problem.
to examineneutral /ɪgˈzæmən/ To look at something carefully, for example a patient's body. Synonyms: check	check carefully; inspect	The doctor examined my back but couldn't find anything wrong.
A doctor examines a patient, and the passive I was examined is normal in reports. It means inspect closely, so it is not the verb for a school test; there you take an exam rather than examine one.
examinationneutral /ɪgˌzæməˈneɪʃən/ A careful check of your body done by a doctor. Synonyms: check-up	careful medical check	She had a full medical examination before starting her new job.
In medicine it appears as a full or medical examination, and speech shortens it to exam. The same word also means a school or university test, which is the sense exam usually carries on its own.
diagnosisneutral /ˌdaɪəgˈnoʊsəs/ The name a doctor gives to your illness after examining you. Synonyms: medical verdict, identification of illness	identification of an illness	After several tests, the diagnosis was better than we expected.
The plural is diagnoses, ending in seez. A doctor makes or gives a diagnosis and a patient gets or receives one; it is a diagnosis of something. The verb is diagnose and the adjective is diagnostic.
to diagnoseneutral /ˈdaɪəgˌnoʊs/ To say what illness a person has. Synonyms: identify, detect	identify an illness	He was diagnosed with asthma when he was seven.
The usual frame is passive with with: he was diagnosed with asthma. You diagnose a condition, or diagnose a person with it, but never diagnose someone an illness. The noun is diagnosis, plural diagnoses.
to suffer fromneutral /ˈsʌfər frəm/ To have an illness or health problem, especially for a long time. Synonyms: have, be affected by	have a long-term illness	My aunt suffers from back pain, so she does special exercises.
The preposition is fixed: suffer from asthma, never suffer of. It suits lasting conditions, so a one-day cold is something you have rather than suffer from. Without from the verb means feel pain, as in she suffered for years.
to faintneutral /ˈfeɪnt/ To suddenly fall because you stop being conscious for a short time. Synonyms: pass out	lose consciousness briefly	She fainted because she had not eaten anything all day.
A regular verb: fainted, fainting. Pass out is the everyday spoken equivalent in American English, and faint sounds a little more careful. The same word is an adjective meaning weak or hard to see, as in a faint sound.
dizzyneutral /ˈdɪzi/ Feeling that everything is turning around you. Synonyms: light-headed	feeling that things spin	If you feel dizzy, sit down and drink some water.
You feel or get dizzy, and standing up too fast makes you dizzy. The noun dizziness is what a form or a label lists, so a leaflet warns of dizziness while you say you feel dizzy.
paleneutral /ˈpeɪl/ Having skin that is lighter than usual, often because of illness. Synonyms: white, colorless	lighter in color than usual	You look pale; you should sit down and drink some water.
Of a person it hints at illness, shock or fear: you look pale, she went pale. Of colors it only means light, as in pale blue. Look, go and turn are the verbs it follows most often.
to bleedneutral /ˈblid/ To lose blood from your body. Synonyms: lose blood, hemorrhage	lose blood	The cut on his hand was bleeding a lot, so we called a doctor.
Irregular: bleed, bled, bled. A wound or a person bleeds, and the progressive is normal while it is happening: my nose is bleeding. Bleed to death is the fixed phrase, and blood is the related noun.
to cureneutral /ˈkjʊr/ To make an ill person healthy again. Synonyms: heal	make healthy again	This illness can be cured if it is found early.
You cure a person or a disease, and the noun takes for: a cure for cancer. Cure says the problem has gone, while treat only says care was given. It also describes preserving food, as in cured ham.
to relieveneutral /rɪˈliv/ To make pain or a bad feeling less strong. Synonyms: reduce	make pain less strong	This cream should relieve the pain in a few minutes.
You relieve pain, pressure or symptoms rather than a person; with a person the passive is used, as in I was relieved to hear it. Relieved describes the feeling after worry ends. The noun is relief, and pain relief is the fixed pair.
to healneutral /ˈhil/ To become healthy again, especially skin, wounds or bones. Synonyms: mend, recover	get better; mend	The wound healed slowly, and now there is only a small scar.
Wounds, cuts and bones heal on their own, so the verb often takes no object. Heal up and heal over are the usual everyday additions. It suits skin and bone, while a disease is cured rather than healed.
to treatneutral /ˈtrit/ To give medical care to an ill person. Synonyms: care for, attend to	give medical care	The doctors treated her with a new drug, and she got better quickly.
You treat someone for a condition and treat it with a drug: she was treated for an infection with antibiotics. The noun treatment takes for as well. Treat also means behave toward someone, and to pay for something nice.
antibioticneutral /ˌæntibaɪˈɑtɪk/ A medicine that kills bacteria. Synonyms: antibacterial drug, medication	medicine that kills bacteria	Antibiotics don't work against viruses, only against bacteria.
The unit is the course, not the pill: a course of antibiotics, which you take and must finish. A doctor prescribes them or puts you on them. They work only on bacteria, so they are not prescribed for a cold or the flu.
pharmacyneutral /ˈfɑrməsi/ A shop where you can buy medicines. Synonyms: drugstore, chemist's	shop selling medicine	You can buy these tablets at any pharmacy without a prescription.
In the United States drugstore is just as common, while chemist is the British word. Pharmacy also names the profession and the counter inside a larger store, as in the pharmacy at the back. The person who works there is a pharmacist.
to sprainneutral /ˈspreɪn/ To hurt a joint like your ankle by turning it suddenly. Synonyms: twist	twist and injure a joint	I sprained my ankle playing basketball last weekend.
Used with joints only: sprain an ankle, a wrist or a knee. The possessive is normal, since you sprain your own ankle rather than the ankle. The noun is the same word, as in a bad sprain, and sprained goes before the noun.
to twistneutral /ˈtwɪst/ To injure a part of your body by turning it in a bad way. Synonyms: sprain	turn and hurt	She twisted her knee when she was dancing and had to stop.
For injuries it overlaps with sprain but sounds more everyday: I twisted my ankle. Outside health it means turn or bend something, as in twist the lid off. Twist someone's words means change their meaning unfairly.
to injureneutral /ˈɪndʒər/ To hurt yourself or someone else, for example in an accident or sport. Synonyms: to hurt	hurt; wound	He injured his back while he was lifting heavy weights at the gym.
It needs an object: he injured his back, or he was injured in an accident. Hurt is the everyday alternative, while injure belongs to reports and the news. The noun is injury, plural injuries, and injured works in front of a noun.
unconsciousneutral /ʌnˈkɑnʃəs/ Not awake and not able to see, hear or feel, often after an accident. Synonyms: knocked out, senseless	not awake; knocked out	He was unconscious for two minutes after he hit his head.
It follows be, become, remain or lie: he lay unconscious on the floor. Knocked out is the informal spoken version and out cold is stronger. In psychology the unconscious is a noun for the hidden part of the mind.
to vomitformal /ˈvɑmət/ To bring food back up from your stomach through your mouth. Synonyms: throw up, puke	bring food back up	The little boy vomited twice during the night, so we took him to hospital.
This is the clinical word, the one on forms and in a doctor's notes. In American speech people say throw up; be sick means vomit only in British English, because in American English it means be ill. It usually takes no object, and the noun is the same word.
heart attackneutral /ˈhɑrt əˌtæk/ A serious medical problem when blood cannot reach part of the heart muscle. Synonyms: coronary, cardiac event	sudden failure of the heart	My uncle had a heart attack last year, but he is much better now.
Two words and countable: you have or suffer a heart attack. The clinical name is myocardial infarction, which patients almost never use. Figuratively, I nearly had a heart attack means I got a terrible shock.
GPneutral /ˌdʒi ˈpi/ A family doctor who treats general health problems, especially in the UK. Synonyms: family doctor, general practitioner	family doctor	If the pain continues, make an appointment with your GP.
Two capital letters, said as separate letters, standing for general practitioner. It is the British and Commonwealth word; Americans say family doctor, primary care physician, or simply my doctor. You see or register with a GP.
blood testneutral /ˈblʌd ˌtɛst/ A medical check where doctors take and study a little of your blood. Synonyms: blood work, blood screening	medical check of your blood	The results of the blood test showed that everything was normal.
Two words and countable: have or get a blood test. They take blood and run tests, and the results come back or show something. Bloodwork is the American word for the whole set of tests at once.
scanneutral /ˈskæn/ A medical test that makes a picture of the inside of your body. Synonyms: imaging test, body scan	picture of your insides	The hospital did a scan to check that the baby was growing well.
You have a scan and a hospital does or runs one; scan is the verb as well. The type goes in front with no preposition: a brain scan, a CT scan. Outside medicine it means read something quickly.
to get overneutral /ˌgɛt ˈoʊvər/ To become well again after an illness or a bad experience. Synonyms: recover from, overcome	recover from something	It took my grandmother a month to get over the infection.
The object follows the particle: get over the flu, get over it. It covers illnesses and bad experiences alike. Recover from is the more formal equivalent and takes the same preposition.
to come down withinformal /ˌkʌm ˈdaʊn wɪθ/ To start to feel ill with an illness that is not serious. Synonyms: catch, get sick with	start to get ill	I think I'm coming down with something because I feel cold and tired.
Always with with, and always for something minor: come down with a cold, come down with the flu. The progressive is the natural form, as in I think I am coming down with something. Serious diseases do not use it.
liverneutral /ˈlɪvər/ The large organ in your body that cleans your blood. Synonyms: internal organ, hepatic organ	organ that cleans the blood	Drinking too much alcohol is bad for your liver.
Singular, because you have only one. Liver damage and liver disease are the usual pairs. It is also the food, as in liver and onions, so a menu and a medical chart use the same word.
kidneyneutral /ˈkɪdni/ One of the two organs that clean liquid waste from your body. Synonyms: renal organ, filtering organ	organ that filters waste	People have two kidneys, but it is possible to live with only one.
Usually plural, since there are two: my kidneys, kidney function. Kidney stones and kidney failure are the fixed pairs, and a kidney transplant is the operation. Kidney-shaped means curved like one.
eyesightneutral /ˈaɪˌsaɪt/ The ability to see. Synonyms: sight, vision	ability to see	Her eyesight got worse, so she needed stronger glasses.
One word and uncountable: good eyesight, poor eyesight. It gets better or worse, and you lose it; you do not do or make eyesight. Vision is the more clinical word, so an eye doctor talks about your vision.
hearingneutral /ˈhɪrɪŋ/ The ability to hear sounds. Synonyms: sense of hearing, ability to hear	ability to hear	His hearing isn't as good as it used to be.
Uncountable in this sense: good hearing, lose your hearing. A hearing aid is the device that helps it. The same word names an official or legal meeting, as in a court hearing, which is countable.
deafneutral /ˈdɛf/ Not able to hear anything or not able to hear well. Synonyms: hard of hearing, hearing-impaired	unable to hear	My grandfather is a bit deaf, so you have to speak slowly and clearly.
The vowel is short, so it rhymes with chef rather than leaf. Go deaf, be a bit deaf and hard of hearing are the usual phrases. Deaf with a capital letter refers to the community and its culture, and deafening means painfully loud.
blindneutral /ˈblaɪnd/ Not able to see. Synonyms: sightless, visually impaired	unable to see	She has been blind since birth, but she travels everywhere alone.
Go blind describes losing sight, while be blind describes the state. Legally blind is the American phrase for very poor but not absent sight. Blind to something means unaware of it, and blinds on a window are coverings.
stomach acheneutral /ˈstʌmək ˌeɪk/ A pain in your stomach. Synonyms: bellyache, upset stomach	pain in the stomach	I had stomach ache after eating all that chocolate.
American English usually writes it as one word and adds a: I have a stomachache. The ch sounds like k and the final e is silent. A patient says stomach where a doctor might write abdomen.
gymneutral /ˈdʒɪm/ A place with machines where people do exercise. Synonyms: fitness center, health club	place for exercising	She goes to the gym three times a week before work.
Short for gymnasium, which now survives mostly in formal names. You go to the gym, work out at the gym and join a gym. In American schools gym also names the subject and the class, as in we have gym on Tuesdays.
personal trainerneutral /ˈpɜrsənəl ˈtreɪnər/ A person you pay to help you do exercise correctly. Synonyms: fitness coach, trainer	paid fitness coach	His personal trainer designs a different plan for him every month.
Two words and countable, often shortened to trainer or PT in speech. You hire, work with or see a personal trainer. Trainer on its own can also mean someone who trains staff, so the context decides.
instructorneutral /ɪnˈstrʌktər/ A person who teaches a sport or physical activity. Synonyms: trainer	teacher of an activity	The gym instructor showed me how to use the machines.
The word for practical skills: a driving instructor, a yoga instructor, a ski instructor. The activity goes straight in front with no preposition, so an instructor of yoga sounds wrong.
warm-upneutral /ˈwɔrm ˌʌp/ Gentle exercises you do to prepare your body before sport. Synonyms: stretching, preparation	gentle exercise before sport	The warm-up before the match lasted fifteen minutes.
Hyphenated as a noun, while the verb is two words: warm up before you run. You do a warm-up, and a warm-up lasts ten minutes. What you do at the end of a session is a cool-down.
to warm upneutral /ˌwɔrm ˈʌp/ To do gentle exercises to prepare your body for sport. Synonyms: loosen up, prepare	prepare with gentle exercise	Always warm up before you start running, or you may hurt yourself.
Two words as a verb, one hyphenated word as the noun: do a warm-up. It usually takes no object, as in warm up for ten minutes, though you can warm up your muscles. It also means become warmer, as in the weather is warming up.
to cool downneutral /ˌkul ˈdaʊn/ To do gentle exercises to relax your body after training. Synonyms: wind down, recover	wind down after exercise	Always cool down for five minutes after you finish exercising.
The opposite of warm up in training, and the noun is a cool-down with a hyphen. It also means become less hot, and of a person become calmer: cool down before you answer. Cool off is the close alternative.
to stretchneutral /ˈstrɛtʃ/ To make your arms, legs or body as long and straight as possible. Synonyms: extend, limber up	extend your muscles	Remember to stretch for a few minutes after doing exercise.
In fitness it often takes no object: stretch before you run. You also stretch your legs, stretch out on a sofa, and a fabric stretches on its own, with no object again.
to bendneutral /ˈbɛnd/ To move a part of your body so it is not straight. Synonyms: flex, curve	move so it curves	Bend your knees slowly before you pick up anything heavy.
Irregular: bend, bent, bent. You bend your knees, bend down to pick something up, and bend over to lean forward from the waist. Bent also works as an adjective, as in a bent nail.
weightsneutral /ˈweɪts/ Heavy objects that you lift to make your muscles stronger. Synonyms: dumbbells, free weights	heavy objects for lifting	She lifts weights twice a week to make her arms stronger.
Plural in this sense: lift weights, do weights at the gym. Free weights and weight training are the fixed pairs. The singular weight means how heavy something is and is uncountable, so one weight is not the exercise.
muscularneutral /ˈmʌskjələr/ Having big, strong muscles. Synonyms: strong, well-built	having strong muscles	He has become quite muscular since he started training with weights.
It describes a body or a build and is usually approving: a muscular swimmer. The c is pronounced here, even though muscle has a silent one. A second sense means relating to the muscles, as in muscular pain.
to sprintneutral /ˈsprɪnt/ To run as fast as you can for a short distance. Synonyms: dash, race	run flat out briefly	She sprinted for the last hundred meters and won the race.
For short distances only, so nobody sprints a marathon. It takes no object: sprint for the bus, sprint to the finish. The noun is a sprint and the athlete is a sprinter.
to strengthenneutral /ˈstrɛŋθən/ To make something stronger, especially your muscles or body. Synonyms: build up, reinforce	make stronger	Swimming strengthens your shoulders and your back.
Built from strong plus en, and there is no vowel sound between the g and the th. It needs an object: swimming strengthens your back. It also fits abstract things such as an argument, a currency or a relationship.
joggingneutral /ˈdʒɑgɪŋ/ Running slowly for exercise. Synonyms: running, light running	slow running for exercise	She goes jogging in the park every morning before breakfast.
It follows go, like swimming: go jogging in the park, never do jogging. Jogging pants and a jogging route are the usual compounds. Many American speakers now just say running, and jogging can sound slightly dated.
to jogneutral /ˈdʒɑg/ To run slowly and steadily as a form of exercise. Synonyms: to run	run slowly	She jogs in the park every morning before work.
The frame go jogging is far more common than I jog, especially when the place is named: I go jogging by the river. It takes no object. Jog someone's memory is a separate idiom meaning help them remember.
to exerciseneutral /ˈɛksərˌsaɪz/ To do physical activity to stay healthy and strong. Synonyms: train, work out	do physical activity	You should exercise for at least thirty minutes every day.
No object in this sense: you exercise, you do not exercise sport. The noun is uncountable for activity in general, get more exercise, and countable for a single one, do three exercises. Work out is the everyday spoken alternative.
fitnessneutral /ˈfɪtnəs/ The condition of being healthy and strong in your body. Synonyms: physical condition, good shape	good physical condition	Her fitness has improved a lot since she started swimming.
You improve your fitness or work on it; there is no plural, so a good fitness level is how the amount gets said. In compounds it simply stands for exercise, as in a fitness class or a fitness tracker.
staminaneutral /ˈstæmənə/ The energy to continue doing exercise for a long time. Synonyms: endurance, staying power	lasting energy; endurance	You need a lot of stamina to run a marathon.
No plural and no article: build stamina, lack stamina, have plenty of stamina. It also covers mental staying power, as in the stamina for a long negotiation.
intenseneutral /ɪnˈtɛns/ Involving a lot of effort or energy; very strong. Synonyms: extreme, powerful	very strong; demanding	The training session was so intense that my legs hurt for two days.
It describes activity, heat, pain and feeling: intense training, intense heat. Keep it apart from intensive, which means packed into a short time, as in an intensive course. Called intense, a person sounds very serious, which can be a criticism.
sweatneutral /ˈswɛt/ The liquid that comes out of your skin when you are hot. Synonyms: perspiration, body moisture	liquid from hot skin	His shirt was wet with sweat at the end of the match.
It rhymes with met, not with meat. Uncountable as a noun: covered in sweat, break into a sweat. Sweatshirt and sweatpants are the clothes, and no sweat means no problem, which is informal.
to shiverneutral /ˈʃɪvər/ To shake because you are cold, frightened or ill. Synonyms: shake	shake from cold	We were shivering after the swim because the water was freezing.
It takes no object and is often progressive: I was shivering. Shiver comes from cold or fear, tremble from fear or weakness, and shake covers either. The noun appears in a shiver ran down my spine.
to breatheneutral /ˈbrið/ To take air into your body and let it out. Synonyms: inhale and exhale, respire	take air in and out	Breathe deeply and try to relax before the race.
The verb ends with the th of this plus a silent e; the noun breath is shorter and ends with the th of think. Breathe in, breathe out and breathe deeply are the usual pairs. Writing breath where the verb belongs is the common slip.
breathneutral /ˈbrɛθ/ The air that goes into and out of your body. Synonyms: inhalation, air	air you take in	Take a deep breath and hold it for five seconds.
It rhymes with death, while the verb breathe has the long vowel of leave and ends with a soft th. You take a deep breath or hold your breath. Out of breath and under your breath, meaning very quietly, are the fixed phrases.
out of breathneutral /ˌaʊt əv ˈbrɛθ/ Breathing fast and with difficulty, for example after running. Synonyms: winded, panting	breathing hard; winded	I was completely out of breath after climbing the stairs.
Used after be or get: I was out of breath. It is never shortened to without breath. Short of breath is the version on a medical form, and it points to a health problem rather than to exercise.
paceneutral /ˈpeɪs/ The speed at which you walk or run. Synonyms: speed, rate	speed of movement	Start the race at a slow pace, or you will get tired too early.
Normally singular with an article here: set a fast pace, keep up the pace. The preposition is at, as in at a slow pace. It also means the rate of any change, as in the pace of reform, and pace yourself means do not start too hard.
to jumpneutral /ˈdʒʌmp/ To push your body up into the air with your legs. Synonyms: leap, spring	push off the ground	You have to jump as high as you can to reach the ball.
Normally no object: jump over the wall, jump into the water. You jump for joy, and you also jump when a sudden noise startles you. Jump the line, or jump the queue in British English, means push ahead of others.
to keep fitneutral /ˌkip ˈfɪt/ To stay healthy and strong by doing exercise. Synonyms: stay in shape, keep in shape	stay in good shape	Walking to work every day helps me keep fit.
A fixed pair with no object: you keep fit, not keep yourself fit. Stay fit and stay in shape are the more common American versions. Fit here means physically strong, not suitable or the right size.
stiffneutral /ˈstɪf/ When your muscles hurt and are difficult to move. Synonyms: rigid, sore	hard to move; tight	My legs were really stiff the day after the long run.
Of the body it follows be, feel or get: my neck is stiff, my legs got stiff. A stiff neck and stiff joints are the fixed pairs. It also describes something hard to bend, a formal manner, and a strong drink.
soreneutral /ˈsɔr/ Painful, especially after exercise, illness or injury. Synonyms: painful	painful to touch	My legs were really sore the day after my first gym class.
A sore throat and sore muscles are the usual pairs, and a sore is also a noun for a small painful place on the skin. Sore means tender, surface pain, while painful is the broader word. In American speech sore can also mean annoyed.
energeticneutral /ˌɛnərˈdʒɛtɪk/ Full of energy and very active. Synonyms: active, lively	full of energy; lively	My dog is so energetic that he needs two long walks a day.
It describes people, animals and activities alike: an energetic child, an energetic walk. Stress falls on the third syllable, which moves it away from the noun energy. The adverb is energetically, and the g sounds like the j in jam.
athleteneutral /ˈæθlit/ A person who is good at sport and does it seriously. Synonyms: sportsperson, competitor	serious sportsperson	The athletes have to follow a very strict diet during the season.
Two syllables only, so adding a sound between the th and the l is the common slip. In American English it covers anyone who plays a sport at a high level, not only runners and jumpers. The adjective is athletic.
sportyinformal /ˈspɔrti/ Liking sport and doing a lot of physical activity. Synonyms: athletic, active	keen on sport	My cousin is really sporty, so she spends every weekend outdoors.
It describes someone who enjoys sport rather than someone who competes at a high level, who is athletic. It also describes a car or clothes with a fast, active look. Common in British English for people, while American speakers usually say athletic.
yoganeutral /ˈjoʊgə/ Exercises for your body and mind that come from India. Synonyms: stretching practice, mind-body exercise	body-and-mind exercise	I do yoga every evening to relax my body and my mind.
The verb is do: do yoga, not make yoga, and there is no plural. A single session is a yoga class, and careful writing says practice yoga. The person leading it is a yoga teacher or instructor.
martial artsneutral /ˌmɑrʃəl ˈɑrts/ Fighting sports like judo or karate. Synonyms: combat sports, fighting sports	fighting sports	He started doing martial arts to feel more confident.
Nearly always plural, and the verb is do: he does martial arts. Before a noun it stays as it is, as in a martial arts school. Martial sounds like marshal and means relating to fighting or war.
to competeneutral /kəmˈpit/ To take part in a competition and try to win. Synonyms: take part, contend	take part to win	More than a hundred runners competed in the race last Sunday.
Three prepositions, three meanings: compete in an event, compete against an opponent, compete for a prize. The noun is competition and the person is a competitor. Competitive describes a person who wants to win and also a tough market.
to take partneutral /ˌteɪk ˈpɑrt/ To do an activity, competition or event together with other people. Synonyms: participate	join in; participate	Anyone can take part in the race if they register before Friday.
Take part in something; the in is required and nothing comes between take and part. Participate in is the formal equivalent. Keep it apart from take place, which means happen.
to raceneutral /ˈreɪs/ To compete against someone to see who is the fastest. Synonyms: run against, compete	compete for speed	The two brothers raced each other to the end of the beach.
You race someone, or race against them, and you race to a place. It also means move very fast, as in he raced out the door, and a heart races when you are frightened. The noun is a race.
to kickneutral /ˈkɪk/ To hit something or someone with your foot. Synonyms: boot, strike with the foot	hit with your foot	He kicked the ball so hard that it went over the fence.
It needs an object: kick the ball. Kick off means start, of a game or a meeting, and the noun kickoff is that start. Kick a habit means finally stop doing something harmful.
to defeatneutral /dɪˈfit/ To win against a person or team in a game or competition. Synonyms: to beat	beat; win against	They defeated the champions in the final match of the tournament.
The object is the loser: they defeated the champions. Beat is the everyday alternative, while defeat suits reports and headlines. The noun is also defeat, as in a heavy defeat, and defeated works in front of a noun.
tournamentneutral /ˈtʊrnəmənt/ A competition with many players or teams and several games until one winner. Synonyms: competition, championship	series of matches	Our team won the local tennis tournament last summer.
The sport goes in front with no preposition: a tennis tournament. You enter, play in or win one. A league runs through a season, while a tournament works down to a single winner, often in knockout rounds.
medalneutral /ˈmɛdəl/ A round piece of metal you get for winning a competition. Synonyms: award, prize	metal prize for winning	She won a gold medal in the swimming championship.
You win, get or take a medal, and the metal goes in front: a gold medal, a silver medal. It sounds like meddle, which means interfere in other people's business. The winner is a medalist in American spelling.
refereeneutral /ˌrɛfəˈri/ The person who controls a game and applies the rules. Synonyms: umpire, official	official who enforces rules	The referee stopped the game because some players were arguing.
Sports differ: soccer and basketball have a referee, while baseball and tennis have an umpire. Speech shortens it to ref, and referee also works as a verb, as in who is refereeing tonight.
opponentneutral /əˈpoʊnənt/ The person or team that plays against you. Synonyms: rival	the person against you	Our opponents were stronger than us, but we played better.
It almost always carries a possessive: my opponent, our opponents, rather than the opponent. Outside sport it means someone who argues against something, as in an opponent of the new law. The verb is oppose and the noun opposition.
courtneutral /ˈkɔrt/ An area where you play sports like tennis or basketball. Synonyms: playing area, playing surface	marked area for play	The tennis courts are free if you book them in the morning.
Tennis, basketball and volleyball are played on a court, while soccer and baseball use a field. You book or reserve a court. The same word names the place where legal cases are heard.
dietneutral /ˈdaɪət/ The food you usually eat, or a special eating plan. Synonyms: eating habits, eating plan	usual food; eating plan	The doctor put him on a special diet without salt or sugar.
Two senses in one word: what you normally eat, as in a healthy diet, and a plan to lose weight, as in be on a diet. You go on a diet, and a doctor puts you on one. Before a drink name, diet means low in calories.
balancedneutral /ˈbælənst/ Including the right amounts of different types of food. Synonyms: well-rounded, varied	well mixed; even	A balanced diet includes fruit, vegetables, protein and some fat.
A balanced diet and a balanced meal are the fixed pairs in food talk. It also praises a fair opinion or report, as in a balanced view of the argument. The verb is balance, and the noun is the same word.
nutritionneutral /nuˈtrɪʃən/ Getting the right food for good health. Synonyms: diet, nourishment	getting the right food	Good nutrition is especially important for children and old people.
Nutrition is the whole subject, while the substances themselves are nutrients. It is uncountable and abstract: good nutrition, poor nutrition. Nutritional describes information or value, and the specialist is a nutritionist.
nutrientneutral /ˈnutriənt/ A substance in food that your body needs to stay healthy. Synonyms: food substance, nourishment	useful substance in food	Vegetables lose some of their nutrients when you boil them for a long time.
Foods are rich in or packed with nutrients, and long cooking destroys some of them; the plural is the normal form, as in vitamins and other nutrients. Nutrient is the substance, nutrition the idea, nutritious the adjective for food.
nutritiousneutral /nuˈtrɪʃəs/ Containing substances that your body needs to stay healthy. Synonyms: healthy	good for your body	A nutritious breakfast gives you energy for the whole morning.
It describes food, never a person: a nutritious meal. Nutritional is the other adjective and means relating to nutrition, as in nutritional information on a label. The ending sounds like shus.
proteinneutral /ˈproʊtin/ A substance in meat, eggs or beans that your body needs to grow. Synonyms: amino acids, body-building nutrient	body-building food substance	Eggs and fish are excellent sources of protein.
Uncountable in everyday food talk: eat more protein, a good source of protein, never two proteins. The plural proteins belongs to science writing, and high-protein takes a hyphen before a noun.
carbohydrateneutral /ˌkɑrboʊˈhaɪdreɪt/ A substance in bread, rice or pasta that gives your body energy. Synonyms: carbs, starch	energy food substance	Runners often eat carbohydrates, such as pasta, the night before a race.
Usually plural in food talk, and shortened to carbs in speech: cut down on carbs. Low-carb is the form used on labels and menus, so the full word is mostly written rather than said.
fatneutral /ˈfæt/ The oily substance in foods like butter, cheese or meat. Synonyms: grease, oil	oily substance in food	Try to eat less fat and more vegetables.
Uncountable for the substance: too much fat, low in fat. The adjective used of a person is blunt, so overweight is the careful word and heavy the softer one. Fat-free and low-fat are the label words.
fiberneutral /ˈfaɪbər/ The part of plants in food that helps your stomach work well. Synonyms: roughage, plant material	plant material in food	Brown bread contains more fiber than white bread.
American English spells the same word fiber. Uncountable in food talk: high in fiber, get more fiber. It also names a thread in cloth or in the body, and there the plural fibers is normal.
vitaminneutral /ˈvaɪtəmən/ A natural substance in food that your body needs to be healthy. Synonyms: nutrient, supplement	natural substance you need	Oranges are full of vitamin C, which is good for your skin.
Each one is named with a capital letter and no the: vitamin C, vitamin D, never the vitamin C. A pill of them is a vitamin or a supplement. In American English the first syllable rhymes with my; British speakers use the vowel of bit.
calorieneutral /ˈkæləri/ A unit that measures how much energy food gives you. Synonyms: energy unit, food energy	unit of food energy	This cake has more than five hundred calories per piece.
Almost always plural: count calories, burn calories, three hundred calories a serving. Low-calorie and high-calorie take a hyphen before a noun, as in a low-calorie dessert.
portionneutral /ˈpɔrʃən/ The amount of food served to one person. Synonyms: serving	serving for one person	The portions in that restaurant are enormous, so we usually share one.
A large portion, three portions of vegetables: the food it counts goes after of. Serving is the more common American word on labels and menus, while portion size is the fixed pair in diet talk.
fillingneutral /ˈfɪlɪŋ/ Making your stomach feel full quickly. Synonyms: satisfying, substantial	making you feel full	Porridge is cheap and very filling, so it is a perfect breakfast.
As an adjective it describes food, never a person: a filling meal, very filling. The same word is a noun for what goes inside a sandwich or a pie, and for the repair a dentist puts in a tooth.
snackneutral /ˈsnæk/ A small amount of food you eat between meals. Synonyms: bite, nibble	small bite between meals	I always have a healthy snack, like fruit or nuts, in the middle of the morning.
The verb is have: have a snack. Used as a verb itself it takes on, as in snack on nuts all afternoon. Snack bar, snack food and a midnight snack are the common pairs.
to starveneutral /ˈstɑrv/ To be very hungry, or to become ill or die because you have no food. Synonyms: be famished, go hungry	be extremely hungry	I'm absolutely starving because I haven't eaten anything since breakfast.
In the exaggerated everyday sense it is nearly always progressive: I am starving. The literal sense is grave, about people with no food at all, so the two uses differ sharply in weight. Starve someone of something means keep it from them.
junk foodinformal /ˈdʒʌŋk ˌfud/ Food that is quick to eat but bad for your health. Synonyms: fast food, unhealthy food	unhealthy convenience food	If you stop eating junk food, you will feel better in a few weeks.
Always disapproving, so nobody advertises their own food as junk food. It is uncountable and written as two words, and the verb is eat: stop eating junk food. Junk on its own means worthless things, and junk mail is unwanted advertising.
processedneutral /ˈprɑsɛst/ Changed in a factory and not natural any more. Synonyms: factory-made, manufactured	changed in a factory	Processed food usually contains a lot of salt and sugar.
It goes in front of the noun: processed food, processed meat, processed cheese. In food talk it carries mild disapproval, while elsewhere it is neutral, as in processed data.
homemadeneutral /ˌhoʊmˈmeɪd/ Made at home, not bought from a shop. Synonyms: home-cooked, handmade	made at home	My mother's homemade soup is much healthier than tinned soup.
One word in American English, and approving in food talk: homemade bread. It works before a noun or after be, as in the soup is homemade. Homegrown is the parallel word for food you grow yourself.
organicneutral /ɔrˈgænɪk/ Grown naturally, without artificial chemicals. Synonyms: chemical-free, natural	grown without chemicals	Organic vegetables are more expensive, but many people prefer them.
In food talk it is a regulated claim on a label: organic milk, certified organic. It also means relating to living things, or gradual and natural, as in organic growth.
rawneutral /ˈrɔ/ Not cooked. Synonyms: uncooked, unprocessed	uncooked	Eating raw vegetables gives you more vitamins than boiling them.
It means not cooked at all, so half-cooked food is undercooked rather than raw. Raw meat, raw fish and raw vegetables are the pairs. Outside food it means unprocessed or unedited, as in raw data, and raw skin is rubbed and sore.
vegetarianneutral /ˌvɛdʒəˈtɛriən/ A person who does not eat meat or fish. Synonyms: meat-free eater, plant eater	person who avoids meat	My sister has been a vegetarian since she was fifteen.
Both a noun and an adjective: she is a vegetarian, a vegetarian menu. Speech shortens it to veggie, which is informal, and the verb phrase for changing your diet is go vegetarian.
veganneutral /ˈvigən/ A person who does not eat meat, fish, eggs or milk products. Synonyms: plant-based eater, strict vegetarian	person avoiding animal products	There are two vegan restaurants in my neighborhood now.
The first syllable rhymes with see, not with beg. It works as a noun and an adjective: he is vegan, a vegan cake. Go vegan is the verb phrase, and veganism names the practice.
dairyneutral /ˈdɛri/ Made from milk, like cheese, butter or yogurt. Synonyms: milk-based, milk products	made from milk	Some people feel bad after eating dairy products like cheese or yogurt.
It works before a noun, as in dairy products and dairy farm, and alone as an uncountable noun: I avoid dairy. Do not confuse the spelling with diary, a book for daily notes. Dairy-free is the label word.
wholemealneutral /ˈhoʊlˌmil/ Made using all of the grain, including the outside part. Synonyms: whole wheat, whole grain	made with the whole grain	I have changed to wholemeal bread because it has more fiber.
This is the British word; American English says whole wheat or whole grain, so a United States label will not show it. It sits in front of a noun: wholemeal bread, wholemeal flour. Whole sounds like hole, with a silent w.
low-fatneutral /ˌloʊ ˈfæt/ Containing very little fat. Synonyms: reduced-fat, light	containing little fat	She only buys low-fat yogurt, but it has quite a lot of sugar.
Hyphenated in front of a noun: low-fat yogurt. After be the hyphen is often dropped, as in this yogurt is low fat. Low-calorie, low-sugar and low-salt follow the same pattern, while fat-free is the stronger claim.
sugaryneutral /ˈʃʊgəri/ Containing a lot of sugar. Synonyms: sweet, sweetened	full of sugar	Sugary drinks are one of the main causes of health problems in children.
It describes food and drink with mild disapproval: sugary drinks, sugary snacks. Sweet is the neutral word, so a dessert is sweet while the same soda is called sugary in health writing.
fattyneutral /ˈfæti/ Containing a lot of fat. Synonyms: greasy, oily	greasy; full of fat	Doctors recommend avoiding fatty food if you have heart problems.
Used of food it is disapproving: fatty meat, fatty food. Fatty acids is a neutral technical pair in science writing. Applied to a person it is an insult, so the food sense is the only safe one.
appetiteneutral /ˈæpəˌtaɪt/ The feeling of wanting to eat. Synonyms: hunger, desire to eat	wish to eat	When I'm ill, I lose my appetite and eat almost nothing.
Uncountable and usually with a possessive: lose your appetite, have a good appetite. Eating too close to a meal spoils your appetite. Figuratively an appetite for something is a strong wish for it, as in an appetite for risk.
to overeatneutral /ˌoʊvərˈit/ To eat more food than your body needs. Synonyms: eat too much, overindulge	eat more than needed	Many people overeat when they feel stressed or bored.
One word, no object, and the past forms follow eat: overate, overeaten. Overeating is the noun used in advice and reports. Speech normally says eat too much, so the verb itself looks written.
to chewneutral /ˈtʃu/ To break food into small pieces with your teeth. Synonyms: bite, grind	break food with your teeth	Chew your food slowly; it is better for your digestion.
It works with an object or without: chew your food, chew slowly. Chewing gum is the fixed compound, and chewy describes food that needs a lot of chewing. Chew on something also means think it over.
to swallowneutral /ˈswɑloʊ/ To make food or drink go down your throat. Synonyms: gulp, take down	make food go down	The tablet was so big that it was difficult to swallow.
You swallow food, a pill, or your pride, and swallow hard shows nervousness. Hard to swallow describes both a big tablet and a story nobody believes. The a sounds like the o in hot.
to digestneutral /daɪˈdʒɛst/ To change food in your stomach into things your body can use. Synonyms: break down, process	break food down inside	Some people find it hard to digest milk.
You digest food, and food is described as easy or hard to digest. The noun is digestion and the adjective digestive. It also means take in information, as in give me a day to digest the report.
to grillneutral /ˈgrɪl/ To cook food under or over direct heat, without much oil. Synonyms: broil, barbecue	cook over direct heat	I usually grill the chicken instead of frying it in oil.
In American English grilling means cooking over an open flame, usually outdoors, while the part of an oven that heats from above is the broiler. The noun grill is the equipment itself. Grill someone also means question them hard.
flavorneutral /ˈfleɪvər/ The taste of food or drink. Synonyms: taste	taste of food	This yogurt comes in three flavors: strawberry, lemon and natural.
American English spells the same word flavor, without the u. Countable when it means a type, as in three flavors of yogurt, and uncountable for taste in general: the sauce has no flavor. Flavored and flavoring are the related forms.
labelneutral /ˈleɪbəl/ A piece of paper on a product with information about it. Synonyms: tag, sticker	information tag on a product	Read the label carefully to check how much sugar the product contains.
Read the label and check the label are the everyday pairs. It is also a verb, and American spelling keeps one l in labeled and labeling. A label can also be a name put on a group of people.
to containneutral /kənˈteɪn/ To have something inside. Synonyms: hold, include	have inside	This snack contains nuts, so it isn't safe for people with allergies.
Never used in the progressive: this snack contains nuts, not is containing nuts. Contain says what is inside, while include names some of the parts. It also means keep under control, as in contain a fire.
weightneutral /ˈweɪt/ How heavy a person or thing is. Synonyms: heaviness, mass	how heavy something is	The doctor said that my weight was normal for my height.
Uncountable in this sense: my weight, lose weight, gain weight. It sounds exactly like wait. Watch your weight and weight gain are the fixed pairs, while the plural weights means the objects you lift.
to weighneutral /ˈweɪ/ To measure how heavy someone or something is. Synonyms: measure, tip the scales	measure how heavy	I weigh myself once a week, always at the same time.
Two patterns: it weighs two kilos, with no object, and I weigh the bag, with one. The gh is silent, so the word sounds like way. Weigh up means consider carefully, and the noun is weight.
to put on weightneutral /ˌpʊt ɑn ˈweɪt/ To become heavier and fatter. Synonyms: gain weight	become heavier	He has put on weight since he stopped playing football.
Weight takes no article here: put on weight, put on five pounds. Gain weight is the more common American version and the one used in medical writing. The opposite is lose weight, with the same bare noun.
to lose weightneutral /ˌluz ˈweɪt/ To become thinner and less heavy. Synonyms: slim down, shed pounds	become thinner	She lost five kilos by walking an hour every day.
No article: lose weight, lose ten pounds. Lose ends with a z sound, while loose rhymes with juice and means not tight. The noun phrase is weight loss, written as two words.
insomnianeutral /ɪnˈsɑmniə/ The problem of not being able to sleep. Synonyms: sleeplessness, sleep problems	inability to sleep	He has suffered from insomnia since he started his stressful new job.
Uncountable and used without an article: he has insomnia, suffer from insomnia, never an insomnia. It names a lasting problem, so one bad night is not insomnia, and a person who has it is an insomniac.
napneutral /ˈnæp/ A short sleep, usually during the day. Synonyms: short sleep, doze	short daytime sleep	My grandfather always has a short nap after lunch.
American speakers take a nap rather than have one. Nap is also a verb, as in the baby is napping. A power nap is a short one taken to get energy back.
to yawnneutral /ˈjɔn/ To open your mouth wide because you are tired or bored. Synonyms: gape, open the mouth wide	open your mouth tiredly	She couldn't stop yawning during the meeting.
No object, and the progressive is common: she kept yawning. The w is silent, so it rhymes with lawn. The noun is a yawn, and in informal speech something very dull can be called a yawn.
to snoreneutral /ˈsnɔr/ To make a loud noise through your nose while you sleep. Synonyms: breathe noisily, rumble	breathe noisily while asleep	My husband snores so loudly that I sometimes sleep in another room.
No object: he snores loudly, and the progressive is normal, as in he was snoring again. The uncountable noun is snoring, which is what people actually complain about: his snoring keeps me awake. The person is a snorer.
to doze offinformal /ˌdoʊz ˈɔf/ To fall asleep without planning to, especially during the day. Synonyms: to fall asleep	fall asleep unintentionally	My grandfather always dozes off in front of the television after lunch.
Two words and no object, usually somewhere you did not plan to sleep: doze off in front of the TV. Nod off and drop off are the close alternatives. Doze without off means sleep lightly for a while.
nightmareneutral /ˈnaɪtˌmɛr/ A frightening dream. Synonyms: bad dream, terrifying dream	frightening dream	The child woke up crying because he had had a nightmare.
The figurative use is the more frequent one in speech, naming any awful experience: the traffic was a nightmare. For the dream itself the verb is have, as in I had a nightmare. Nightmarish is the adjective.
to dreamneutral /ˈdrim/ To see images and stories in your mind while you sleep. Synonyms: have dreams, imagine	see images while sleeping	I dreamt about flying over the sea last night.
Two past forms, dreamed and dreamt, are both correct, and dreamed is the usual American one. You dream about or of something while asleep, while dream of doing something means wish for it. The noun is a dream.
to sleep inneutral /ˌslip ˈɪn/ To sleep later than usual in the morning, on purpose. Synonyms: sleep late, have a lie-in	sleep later on purpose	On Sundays I usually sleep in until about ten o'clock.
Two words, no object, and always deliberate: I slept in on Saturday. Oversleep is the accidental version and usually causes a problem. The two are not interchangeable, even though both mean staying in bed longer.
heartbeatneutral /ˈhɑrtˌbit/ The movement or sound of your heart pumping blood. Synonyms: pulse, heart rate	beating of the heart	Exercise makes your heartbeat faster.
One word and countable: a fast heartbeat, an irregular heartbeat. Heart rate is the measured number, so a monitor reports a heart rate rather than a heartbeat. In a heartbeat means instantly.
bedtimeneutral /ˈbɛdˌtaɪm/ The time when you usually go to bed. Synonyms: time for bed, lights out	the time you go to bed	Looking at your phone at bedtime makes it harder to fall asleep.
One word, usually with no article: at bedtime, past my bedtime. A bedtime story and a bedtime routine are the common pairs. It means your usual hour, not the moment you actually fall asleep.
awakeneutral /əˈweɪk/ Not sleeping. Synonyms: not asleep, conscious	up and conscious	I was still awake at three o'clock because of the noise.
It only follows a verb such as be, stay or lie: she is awake, never an awake child, where you would say a child who is awake. Wide awake means fully awake. In writing awake is also a verb, paired with awaken.
asleepneutral /əˈslip/ Sleeping. Synonyms: sleeping, out	not awake	Don't make noise: the children are asleep.
Like awake it comes after a verb, not before a noun: the children are asleep, but sleeping children. Fall asleep is the fixed phrase for starting to sleep, and fast asleep means deeply. A foot that is asleep has gone numb.
sleepyneutral /ˈslipi/ Tired and ready to sleep. Synonyms: drowsy, tired	drowsy; nearly asleep	I always feel sleepy after a big meal.
It describes people and also quiet places, as in a sleepy little town. Feel or get sleepy is the usual frame. It means about to fall asleep, while tired covers being worn out in general; the noun is sleepiness.
refreshedneutral /rɪˈfrɛʃt/ Feeling full of energy again after rest or sleep. Synonyms: rested, revived	full of energy again	After eight hours of sleep I woke up feeling completely refreshed.
Usually after feel, look or wake up: I woke up refreshed. It needs a rest or a break behind it, so it is not a general word for happy. Refreshing describes the thing that gives the feeling, as in a refreshing drink.
to lie downneutral /ˌlaɪ ˈdaʊn/ To put your body flat, for example on a bed. Synonyms: recline, stretch out	put your body flat	Lie down for a while if you feel dizzy.
The forms are lie, lay, lain, with lying spelled with a y. The other verb lay needs an object, as in lay the baby down, and that is where the confusion starts. Americans say go lie down rather than have a lie-down.
lie-ininformal /ˈlaɪ ˌɪn/ A morning when you stay in bed longer than usual. Synonyms: sleep-in, late morning	long morning in bed	On Sundays we usually have a lie-in and a late breakfast.
British, hyphenated, and it goes with have: have a lie-in on Sunday. American English uses the verb sleep in instead and has no everyday noun for it. Keep it apart from the verb phrase lie in, meaning be located in.
to stay upneutral /ˌsteɪ ˈʌp/ To go to bed later than usual. Synonyms: stay awake, keep late hours	go to bed late	The students stayed up until two in the morning studying for the exam.
No object: stay up late, stay up until two. Stay up for something means wait awake for it, as in stay up for the results. It is deliberate, while being kept up means something stopped you sleeping.
restlessneutral /ˈrɛstləs/ Not able to relax or stay still. Synonyms: uneasy, fidgety	unable to settle	The patient had a restless night and slept only a few hours.
It describes a person, a night or a crowd: a restless night, restless children. Restful is nearly its opposite and describes something that gives rest, as in a restful weekend, so the two are easy to swap. The noun is restlessness.
stressneutral /ˈstrɛs/ The worried feeling you have when you have too many problems. Synonyms: pressure, strain	pressure; worry	Stress at work can cause sleep problems and headaches.
Uncountable in this sense: a lot of stress, under stress. The preposition is under, not in, and stress-related takes a hyphen. Stress also means the emphasis on a syllable, and as a verb it means insist on something.
stressedneutral /ˈstrɛst/ Feeling worried and nervous because of problems. Synonyms: tense, under pressure	worried; under pressure	She feels stressed because she has too much to do and no free time.
It follows be, feel or get: I feel stressed. Stressed out is the informal, stronger version. Stressful describes the cause, so a stressful job makes you stressed, and swapping the two is the usual mistake.
tenseneutral /ˈtɛns/ Not relaxed; with tight muscles because of stress or worry. Synonyms: tight, on edge	tight with worry	My shoulders feel tense when I spend too many hours at the computer.
It describes muscles, people and situations: tense shoulders, a tense meeting. Tension is the noun and tense up is the verb. In grammar a tense is the time form of a verb, an unrelated sense.
stressfulneutral /ˈstrɛsfəl/ Causing stress and worry. Synonyms: demanding, pressured	causing worry	Moving house is one of the most stressful experiences in life.
It describes the cause, never the person: a stressful job, a stressful week. The person who feels it is stressed, and swapping the two is the usual error. Stressed out is the informal name for the feeling.
anxietyneutral /æŋˈzaɪəti/ A strong feeling of worry or fear. Synonyms: worry, nervousness	strong worry; unease	Breathing slowly can help you control anxiety before an exam.
Uncountable for the feeling, countable for particular fears, as in childhood anxieties. Anxiety about or over something is the pattern. It is also the clinical word, so anxiety disorder appears on a medical form, and the adjective is anxious.
to worryneutral /ˈwɜri/ To keep thinking about problems or bad things that could happen. Synonyms: be anxious, fret	keep thinking anxiously	Try not to worry about things that you cannot change.
Worry about something is the fixed pattern, never worry for. Do not worry and don't worry about it are set replies. It also takes an object, as in the news worried her, and the noun is a worry.
depressionneutral /dɪˈprɛʃən/ An illness that makes you feel very sad for a long time. Synonyms: low mood, clinical sadness	long-lasting sadness as illness	After losing his job, he suffered from depression for months.
Uncountable and used without an article: he has depression, suffer from depression. It names a medical condition, so ordinary low spirits are better described as feeling down. The same word also means a long economic slump.
depressedneutral /dɪˈprɛst/ Very sad for a long time. Synonyms: down, low	very sad; low	She felt depressed during the long, dark winter.
It follows be, feel or get: I feel depressed. In careful use it points at the medical state, while down, low and fed up cover an ordinary bad day. Depressing describes the cause, as in depressing weather.
moodneutral /ˈmud/ The way you feel at a particular time. Synonyms: state of mind, spirits	how you feel right now	Doing exercise in the morning puts me in a good mood for the whole day.
The preposition is in: in a good mood, in a bad mood, and be in the mood for something means want it. Mood swings are quick changes. A mood is temporary, while temperament is how someone always is.
moodyneutral /ˈmudi/ Often changing quickly from a good mood to a bad mood. Synonyms: temperamental, changeable	changing mood easily	My teenage brother gets very moody when he doesn't sleep enough.
Of a person it is a criticism: he gets moody when he is tired. Of music, light or a film it is praise, meaning atmospheric, as in moody lighting. Moodiness is the noun, and it does not simply mean sad.
mentalneutral /ˈmɛntəl/ Connected with the mind. Synonyms: of the mind, psychological	of the mind	Mental health is as important as physical health.
It goes in front of a noun: mental health, mental illness, a mental picture. Physical is the usual opposite. Used on its own about a person, mental means crazy and is rude, so keep it before a noun.
meditationneutral /ˌmɛdəˈteɪʃən/ The practice of making your mind calm and quiet. Synonyms: quiet reflection, mindfulness practice	practice of calming the mind	Ten minutes of meditation a day can reduce stress.
The verb is do: do meditation, or ten minutes of meditation, with no article in either. A meditation on something is a written or spoken reflection, and only that use is countable.
to meditateneutral /ˈmɛdəˌteɪt/ To sit quietly and make your mind calm. Synonyms: practice meditation, reflect	sit quietly and calm down	She meditates for a few minutes every morning before work.
No object: she meditates every morning. Meditate on something means think about it deeply and belongs to formal writing. The stress is on the first syllable, unlike the noun meditation.
mindfulnessneutral /ˈmaɪndfəlnəs/ Paying calm attention to the present moment. Synonyms: present-moment awareness, attentiveness	calm attention to now	Our teacher uses mindfulness exercises to help us concentrate.
Uncountable with no plural: practice mindfulness. It often stands in front of a noun, as in mindfulness exercises or a mindfulness app. Mindful of something is the older, wider sense meaning aware of it.
to calm downneutral /ˌkɑm ˈdaʊn/ To become quiet and relaxed after being angry or nervous. Synonyms: settle down, relax	become calm again	Try to calm down before you answer that message.
It works both ways: you calm down, or you calm someone down, with the object usually between the two parts. Said as an order to an upset person it can sound dismissive. The l is silent here as it is in calm.
calmneutral /ˈkɑm/ Quiet, relaxed and not nervous. Synonyms: relaxed, quiet	quiet and not nervous	She always stays calm in difficult situations.
The l is silent, so it rhymes with palm. Of people it follows be, stay or keep: stay calm, keep calm. It also describes weather and sea, and as a noun it means a period of quiet before trouble.
postureneutral /ˈpɑstʃər/ The way you hold your body when you sit or stand. Synonyms: stance, body position	the way you hold yourself	Good posture prevents back pain when you work at a desk.
You improve or correct your posture; you do not make it or do it. Good posture and poor posture are the pairs, and there is no plural. The ending sounds like the one in picture.
therapyneutral /ˈθɛrəpi/ Treatment for a problem of the mind, usually by talking. Synonyms: counseling, treatment	talking treatment	Therapy helped her understand and control her fears.
Uncountable in the mental-health sense: be in therapy, start therapy. It becomes countable when kinds are compared, as in alternative therapies. Americans say physical therapy where British English says physiotherapy.
therapistneutral /ˈθɛrəpəst/ A person trained to help people with problems of the mind or body. Synonyms: counselor, psychologist	trained mental-health helper	His therapist taught him some simple breathing exercises.
In the United States the word covers talk therapists and physical therapists alike, so the field is usually named. You see a therapist, and it takes a possessive easily: my therapist. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor and can prescribe drugs; a therapist normally cannot.
to cheer upneutral /ˌtʃɪr ˈʌp/ To make somebody feel happier, or to become happier. Synonyms: brighten up, lift the spirits	make or feel happier	We bought her some flowers to cheer her up.
Separable, and a pronoun must sit in the middle: cheer her up, not cheer up her. Used alone it is an order, cheer up, which can sound dismissive to someone who is genuinely low. Cheerful is the adjective.
to relaxneutral /rɪˈlæks/ To rest and become calm. Synonyms: rest, take it easy	rest and become calm	You need to relax more; you can't work every weekend.
No object when a person relaxes, but it takes one for muscles and rules: relax your shoulders, relax the requirements. Relaxed describes the person and relaxing the thing that helps. The x sounds like ks.
to unwindinformal /ʌnˈwaɪnd/ To relax after a period of work or stress. Synonyms: to relax	relax after work	I listen to quiet music in the evening to unwind after work.
In this sense it takes no object and points at the end of a working day: I need an hour to unwind. It is irregular, following wind, so the past forms are unwound and unwound.
relaxingneutral /rɪˈlæksɪŋ/ Making you feel calm and rested. Synonyms: calming, restful	making you feel calm	We spent a relaxing afternoon reading by the pool.
It describes the thing, not the person: a relaxing afternoon, relaxing music. The person is relaxed, and calling a person relaxing is the common slip. It works before a noun or after be.
laughterneutral /ˈlæftər/ The sound you make when you laugh. Synonyms: laughing, amusement	the sound of laughing	Laughter is one of the best medicines against stress.
Uncountable with no plural: burst into laughter, roars of laughter. The gh sounds like f, as it does in laugh. Laugh is the verb and also a countable noun, so you hear a laugh but never a laughter.
hygieneneutral /ˈhaɪdʒin/ Keeping yourself and things around you clean to stay healthy. Synonyms: cleanliness, sanitation	keeping things clean	Good hygiene, like washing your hands, prevents many illnesses.
Uncountable with no plural: good hygiene, personal hygiene. Two syllables, with the g sounding like j and the first vowel like the word high. Hygienic is the adjective, so a clean kitchen is hygienic.
deodorantneutral /diˈoʊdərənt/ A product you put under your arms to smell nice. Synonyms: antiperspirant, body spray	product against body smell	I always put on deodorant after having a shower.
Speech says wear or put on rather than use: put on deodorant, wear deodorant. It works either with or without an article, as in buy a new deodorant. An antiperspirant also stops sweating, which deodorant alone does not claim to do.
razorneutral /ˈreɪzər/ A tool with a thin blade used for shaving. Synonyms: shaver, blade	blade for shaving	Be careful with that razor; it is very sharp.
The kind goes in front: a disposable razor, an electric razor. The blade inside is a razor blade, written as two words. Razor-sharp means extremely sharp, or extremely quick-witted of a person.
to shaveneutral /ˈʃeɪv/ To cut hair from your face or body with a razor. Synonyms: cut off hair, trim	cut hair with a razor	My father shaves every morning before going to work.
It works with no object, as in he shaves every morning, or with one: shave your legs, shave off a beard. A shave is the act, so you have a shave. Shaving cream and aftershave are the products.
suncreamneutral /ˈsʌnˌkrim/ A cream that protects your skin from the sun. Synonyms: sunscreen	cream against sunburn	Put on suncream every two hours when you are at the beach.
British, written as one word; American English says sunscreen or sunblock, and a bottle in the United States shows an SPF number. You put on or apply it. Sunburn is what it prevents and a suntan is the color it slows.
moisturizerneutral /ˈmɔɪstʃəˌraɪzər/ A cream that stops your skin from getting dry. Synonyms: skin cream, lotion	cream against dry skin	She uses a moisturizer every night because her skin gets dry.
American English spells it moisturizer with a z. Countable: use a moisturizer, a good moisturizer. The verb is moisturise and moisturising is the word on a label.
tissueneutral /ˈtɪʃu/ A soft paper you use to clean your nose. Synonyms: paper handkerchief, Kleenex	soft paper handkerchief	Could you give me a tissue, please? My nose is running.
Americans often say Kleenex whatever the brand, and a box of tissues is how you buy them. The same word means the material the body is built from, as in muscle tissue, and that sense is uncountable.
nailneutral /ˈneɪl/ The hard part at the end of your fingers and toes. Synonyms: fingernail, toenail	hard tip of a finger	She bites her nails when she is nervous, which is a difficult habit to break.
Almost always plural with a possessive: bite your nails, cut your nails. Fingernail and toenail are the exact words when it matters which. A nail is also the metal pin you hammer, and nail something means do it perfectly, which is informal.
dental flossneutral /ˈdɛntəl ˈflɔs/ A thin string used to clean between your teeth. Synonyms: floss, tooth string	string for cleaning teeth	The dentist told me to use dental floss every day, not just my toothbrush.
You take a piece or a length of floss, never a floss: it is uncountable, and two words in full. Floss is the everyday short form and also the verb: floss your teeth, floss every day.
to brushneutral /ˈbrʌʃ/ To clean or make something tidy using a brush. Synonyms: scrub, comb	clean with a brush	You should brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day.
Brush your teeth and brush your hair are the fixed pairs; teeth are brushed, not washed. Brush someone off means dismiss them, and brush up on something means review it. The noun is the same word.
habitneutral /ˈhæbət/ Something you do often, almost without thinking. Synonyms: routine, custom	regular repeated action	Eating fruit for dessert is a healthy habit that is easy to keep.
You get into a habit, break one and kick one, and the pattern is a habit of doing something. Good and bad are the usual adjectives. A habit is one action repeated, while a routine is a set of them in order.
routineneutral /ruˈtin/ The things you always do in the same order or at the same times. Synonyms: habit, schedule	fixed order of actions	A regular sleep routine helps you rest better at night.
You get into a routine and then stick to it; a morning routine and a daily routine are the everyday pairs. The same word is also an adjective meaning ordinary, as in a routine check-up.
dailyneutral /ˈdeɪli/ Happening or done every day. Synonyms: each day, day after day	every day	She walks to work daily and takes the stairs instead of the lift.
Both an adverb and an adjective: she walks daily, her daily walk. As an adverb it comes after the verb, never before it. Every day is the more common spoken version, and everyday as one word is an adjective meaning ordinary.
to cut downneutral /ˌkʌt ˈdaʊn/ To do or use less of something, like sugar or coffee. Synonyms: reduce, cut back	reduce; use less	My doctor told me to cut down on coffee.
For amounts it takes on: cut down on sugar, cut down on coffee. Without on it means fell a tree or shorten a text. Cut out is the stronger version and means stop completely.
addictionneutral /əˈdɪkʃən/ The problem of not being able to stop taking or doing something. Synonyms: dependence, compulsion	inability to stop	Sugar addiction is more common than most people think.
Addiction to something is the pattern: addiction to sugar, or drug addiction with the noun in front. It works countably and uncountably, and the person is an addict. Everyday speech stretches it, as in an addiction to crime novels, which is a joke rather than a diagnosis.
addictedneutral /əˈdɪktəd/ Not able to stop taking or doing something. Synonyms: dependent, hooked	unable to stop	Many teenagers are addicted to their phones and sleep badly because of it.
Always with to, after be, get or become: he is addicted to his phone. What follows to is a noun or an ing form, as in addicted to checking it. Addictive describes the thing that causes it.
alcoholneutral /ˈælkəˌhɔl/ Drinks like wine and beer that can change how you feel. Synonyms: liquor, booze	drinks like wine and beer	The doctor advised him to drink less alcohol and more water.
Alcoholic is both the adjective for a drink and the noun for a person, so an alcoholic drink and an alcoholic are very different things. The noun is uncountable: drink alcohol, give up alcohol. Alcohol-free is the label word.
tobacconeutral /təˈbækoʊ/ The plant that cigarettes are made from. Synonyms: smoking leaf, cigarette plant	plant used in cigarettes	Tobacco is responsible for thousands of deaths every year.
There is no verb, so you smoke cigarettes or pipe tobacco rather than tobacco itself. It is uncountable: tobacco is taxed, the tobacco industry. The cc sounds like k, as in back.
caffeineneutral /kæˈfin/ The substance in coffee and tea that keeps you awake. Synonyms: stimulant, coffee substance	substance that keeps you awake	Avoid caffeine in the evening if you want to sleep well.
Too much caffeine and cut down on caffeine are the everyday pairs, and there is no plural. The ei rhymes with green. Caffeinated and decaffeinated, shortened to decaf, are the words on a menu.
smokerneutral /ˈsmoʊkər/ A person who smokes cigarettes. Synonyms: cigarette smoker, tobacco user	person who smokes	Smokers have a much higher risk of lung problems.
Heavy is the adjective for a large amount here, not strong or big: a heavy smoker, a light smoker, a non-smoker. Someone who has stopped is an ex-smoker, and secondhand smoke is what other people breathe in near one.
lifestyleneutral /ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl/ The way a person lives, including habits, food and free time. Synonyms: way of life, daily living	the way a person lives	Moving to the countryside completely changed our lifestyle.
One word and countable: a healthy lifestyle, change your lifestyle. It often sits in front of a noun, as in lifestyle changes or a lifestyle choice. It covers habits and free time rather than where you live.
healthyneutral /ˈhɛlθi/ Good for your health, or having good health. Synonyms: well, in good shape	well; good for you	Cooking at home is usually healthier than eating out.
Two senses in one word: a person in good health, and something that does you good, as in a healthy diet. The comparative is healthier. A healthy amount of something means a large one, with no link to health at all.
unhealthyneutral /ʌnˈhɛlθi/ Bad for your health, or not having good health. Synonyms: bad for you, in poor health	bad for you; unwell	It is unhealthy to sit in front of a screen all day.
Like healthy it covers both a person in poor health and something harmful: an unhealthy diet. With a verb the frame is it is unhealthy to do something. It also describes an obsession, as in an unhealthy interest.
activeneutral /ˈæktɪv/ Doing a lot of physical activities. Synonyms: energetic, on the go	physically busy	My grandparents stay active by dancing and working in the garden.
Stay active and keep active are the fixed pairs in health talk. Physically active is the fuller phrase, because active alone also means taking part, as in an active member of the club. Activity is the noun.
harmfulneutral /ˈhɑrmfəl/ Causing damage to health or to something. Synonyms: bad, dangerous	causing damage	Too much sun can be harmful to your skin.
Harmful to someone or something: harmful to your skin. It works before a noun or after be, and harmful effects is the common pair. Harm is both noun and verb, and the opposite is harmless.
beneficialneutral /ˌbɛnəˈfɪʃəl/ Good and helpful for you. Synonyms: good, healthy	helpful; good for you	A short walk after dinner is beneficial for your digestion.
Beneficial to or for someone, and it usually follows be rather than standing in front of a noun. It belongs to careful writing, where speech would simply say good for you. Benefit works as both noun and verb.
regularlyneutral /ˈrɛgjələrli/ Often, and at more or less the same times. Synonyms: often, steadily	often and evenly spaced	You should do exercise regularly, not just once a month.
It goes after the verb or at the end of the clause: exercise regularly. It means at repeated intervals, so once a year can be regular, while often means many times. Regular is the adjective and irregularly the opposite.
painfulneutral /ˈpeɪnfəl/ Causing pain. Synonyms: sore, aching	hurting; sore	The injection was less painful than I expected.
It describes the thing or the body part, not the whole person: a painful injection, my knee is painful. Sore is the everyday word for tender skin and muscles. Painfully also means uncomfortably obvious, as in painfully slow.
constipatedneutral /ˈkɑnstəˌpeɪtəd/ Not able to empty your body of solid waste easily. Synonyms: blocked up, bound up	unable to pass waste	He felt constipated because he never ate fruit or vegetables.
It follows be, feel or get: I am constipated. This is the ordinary word in a clinic and at home alike, with no politer everyday alternative, and the noun is constipation.

English B1 — Health & Lifestyle Official

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