A crime is something which is against the law.
criminal criminals NOUN
A criminal is someone who has done something that is against the law.
crimson ADJECTIVE
Something that is crimson is a dark red colour.
crinkle crinkles, crinkling, crinkled VERB
When something crinkles, it becomes slightly creased.
crisp crisper, crispest; crisps
ADJECTIVE 1 Things like fruit and biscuits that are crisp are fresh and firm.
NOUN 2 A crisp is a crunchy, thinly sliced piece of fried potato.
See Other foods on page 261
criticize criticizes, criticizing, criticized; also spelt criticise VERB
If you criticize someone, you say what you think is wrong with them.
crocodile crocodiles NOUN
A crocodile is a large reptile, about five metres long.
See Reptiles on page 264
crooked ADJECTIVE
Something that is crooked is bent or twisted.
crop crops NOUN
A crop is plants grown for food.
cross crosser, crossest; crosses, crossing, crossed
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is cross is angry about something.
NOUN 2 A cross is a mark like + or ×.
VERB 3 If you cross something like a road, you go from one side to the other.
crossing crossings NOUN
A crossing is a place where you can cross the road safely.
crouch crouches, crouching, crouched VERB
If you crouch down, you bend your legs under you so that you are close to the ground.
crow crows NOUN
A crow is a large black bird.
crowd crowds NOUN
A crowd is a large number of people together in one place.
crowded ADJECTIVE
A place that is crowded is full of people.
crown crowns NOUN
A crown is an ornament that kings and queens sometimes wear on their heads.
cruel crueller, cruellest ADJECTIVE
Someone who is cruel hurts people or animals without caring.
cruise cruises NOUN
A cruise is a holiday on a ship that travels to different places.
crumb crumbs NOUN
A crumb is a very small piece of dry food such as bread or biscuit.
crumble crumbles, crumbling, crumbled VERB
If you crumble something that is soft, it breaks into lots of little pieces.
crunch crunches, crunching, crunched VERB
If you crunch something, you crush it noisily, for example between your teeth or under your feet.
crush crushes, crushing, crushed VERB
To crush something is to destroy its shape by squeezing it.
crust crusts NOUN
The crust is a hard layer on the outside of something such as bread.
cry cries, crying, cried
VERB 1 When you cry, tears come from your eyes.
NOUN 2 A cry is a sudden sound that you make when you are surprised or hurt.
crystal crystals NOUN
A crystal is a mineral that has formed into a regular shape.
cub cubs NOUN
A cub is a young wild animal such as a lion, fox or bear.
See Young animals on page 265
cube cubes NOUN
A cube is a solid shape with six square faces all the same size.
See Solid shapes on page 266
cuckoo cuckoos NOUN
A cuckoo is a grey bird. Cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests.
cucumber cucumbers NOUN
A cucumber is a long, thin, dark green vegetable, eaten raw.
See Vegetables on page 260
cuddle cuddles, cuddling, cuddled VERB
When you cuddle someone, you put your arms round them.
culprit culprits NOUN
A culprit is someone who has done something harmful or wrong.
cunning ADJECTIVE
Someone who is cunning plans to get what they want, often by tricking other people.
cup cups
NOUN 1 A cup is a small container with a handle, which you drink out of.
NOUN 2 A cup is also a prize for the winner of a game or competition.
cupboard cupboards NOUN
A cupboard is a piece of furniture with doors and shelves.
cure cures, curing, cured
NOUN 1 A cure is something that makes people better when they have been ill.
VERB 2 If someone or something cures a person, they make them well again.
curiosity NOUN
Curiosity is wanting to know about things.
curious
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is curious wants to know more about something.
ADJECTIVE 2 Something that is curious is unusual and hard to explain.
curl curls, curling, curled
VERB 1 If an animal curls up, it makes itself into a rounded shape.
NOUN 2 Curls are pieces of hair shaped in curves and circles.
curly ADJECTIVE
currant currants NOUN
Currants are small dried grapes.
current currents
NOUN 1 A current is a steady movement of water or air.
NOUN 2 A current is also the movement of electricity through a wire.
curriculum curriculums or curricula NOUN
A curriculum is the different courses taught at a school or college.
curry curries NOUN
Curry is an Indian dish made with spices.
cursor cursors NOUN
A cursor is a small sign on a computer screen that shows where the next letter or number will appear.
curtain