Around the College

accessories: plural of accessory

something added to something else to make it more useful, attractive, or effective

• fashion/clothing accessories such as scarves, handkerchiefs, bracelets, and rings

• automotive accessories

• computer accessories

ago: in the past : before the present time : before now

• “How long ago did she arrive?” “A few hours ago.”

• That culture flourished here over 10,000 years ago.

• We met three months ago and we'll meet again three months from now.

already

before this time : before now

• They've already agreed to come.

• I've already told him the news. = (US, informal) I already told him the news.
  

before that time

• I'd already left by the time you called.

• He acted as if he didn't already know.

• Flight 102 will already have taken off by the time Flight 101 lands.

board game

a game (such as chess or Monopoly) that is played by moving pieces on a special board

bookstore

a store that sells books (and other items)

ATTENTION:

bookstore ≠ library

calculator

a small electronic device that is used for mathematical calculations

cough drop

a small piece of candy that contains medicine to prevent coughing

defective

having a problem or fault that prevents something from working correctly; having a defect or flaw

• Our car had defective [=faulty] brakes, so we had them replaced.

• This computer is defective. I want my money back.

• defective products/merchandise

• The disease is caused by a defective gene.

ear phones or ear buds

a device that is worn inserted into the ear and is used for listening to something (such as music or a radio) without having other people hear it

head set

a device that is worn over the ears and is used for listening to something (such as music or a radio) without having other people hear it

high school

a school in the U.S. and Canada for older children

• She's in high school. = She goes to high school. = She attends high school.

• He graduated from Manchester High School.

NOTE: In Quebec and Great Britain, people will often say secondary school.

highlighter

a special pen with brightly colored ink that you can see through

• People use highlighters to mark parts of a page so that those parts will be easy to see.

ink

colored liquid that is used for writing or printing

• Fill out the form using blue or black ink.

• The printer is out of ink.

• She likes to do pen and ink drawings/sketches.

label

a piece of paper, cloth, or similar material that is attached to something to identify or describe it

• The name is prominently displayed on the label.

• You should read the warning label before you take any medicine.

manual

a book that gives useful information about something

• Here's the owner's manual of your new car.

• The computer program comes with a user's manual.

• We lost the instruction manual and couldn't put our bikes together.

• Please refer to the training/employee manual if you have any questions about your job.

package

a box or large envelope that is sent or delivered usually through the mail or by another delivery service

• The mail carrier left the package on the front steps.

In Great Britain, they'll say parcel

packaging

material used to enclose or contain something

• The frozen spinach can be heated up right in its original packaging.

• The colorful packaging of many candy bars attracts the eyes of children.

• Most food has plastic or styrofoam packaging.
  

payment

the act of giving money for something : the act of paying

• Payment is due on the first of every month.

• Prompt payment of your bill ensures that you will not have to pay any additional fees.

• We require payment in advance for all goods purchased.

an amount of money that is paid for something

• Our records show that we received a payment of $215.36 in May.

• Buy this product for three easy payments of only $19.95!

policy

an officially accepted set of rules or ideas about what should be done

[count]

• Ask the cashier what the store's return policy is.

• They voted to adopt/pursue more liberal trade policies.

[noncount]

• Each employee is given a handbook on company policy.

• Canadian foreign policy can be difficult to understand.

proof of purchase

something which shows that something else is true or correct

• The document was proof that her story was true.

• I cannot refund your money unless you have proof of purchase.

receipt

a piece of paper on which the things that you buy or the services that you pay for are listed with the total amount paid and the prices for each

• Keep your receipt in case you need to return anything.

refund

an amount of money that is given back to someone who has returned a product, paid too much, etc.

• No refunds or exchanges are allowed.

• She demanded a refund.

• The store gave me a full refund. [=gave me back all the money I paid]

• We received a tax refund this year. [=this year we paid too much income tax so we got some money back]

software

the programs that run on a computer and perform certain functions

• MS Word is software that you will use to type your work for your teacher.

• Antivirus software is expensive.

• I installed/loaded the software.

store credit

instead of money, a business will give a customer a card or a certificate that they can use at a later time

• I didn't have my receipt but they accepted my return and gave me store credit .

• Some stores sell gift cards which is like having store credit; it is money for you to spend at that store in the future.

used

having had a previous owner

• She bought a used car.

• The books on this shelf are used.

SYNONYM: second hard

unused

new or available for use in the future

• unused airline tickets

• unused disk space

• The library has been unused for 10 years.

• I have four days of unused vacation time left.

wrong

1. not suitable or appropriate for a particular purpose, situation, or person

• These shoes are the wrong size.

• If you're looking to me for advice on love, then you're asking the wrong guy.

2. speaking, acting, or judging in a way that does not agree with the facts or truth (OPPOSITE: right)

• You're wrong; the answer is six.

• You like baseball, or am I wrong?

• Am I wrong in thinking that she should never have gone?

to approve
to officially accept (an idea, action, plan, etc.)

• The state finally approved the building plans, so work on the new school can begin immediately.

• Your supervisor must approve the report before it can be sent.

to authorize

1. to give power or permission to (someone or something)

• Only authorized personnel [=people who have been given special permission] can enter this area.

— usually followed by to + verb

• I authorized him to use my name.

• She was authorized [=empowered] to act for her husband.

2. to give legal or official approval to or for (something)

• The city council authorized the sale of the land.

• Who authorized the transfer of the funds?

• an authorized biography

to drop a class

to stop taking or continuing a class

• I'm going to drop my chemistry class and take a biology course instead.

• Last session I dropped my English class because it was too hard. This session I'm taking English again but I'm getting a tutor.

to exchange

to give something and receive something in return

• We exchanged addresses and promised we'd write each other often.

• We exchange gifts [=give gifts to each other] at the holidays.

• These coupons can be exchanged for food.

• I'll exchange [=trade, swap] my orange for your pear.

to fit

to be the right size and shape for someone or something [+ object]

• The suit fits him perfectly.

• I hope this key fits the lock.

• The two pieces fit each other perfectly.

[no object]

• These shoes fit perfectly.

• This calculator will fit nicely/neatly in your shirt pocket.

• pants that fit tightly/loosely = tight-fitting/loose-fitting pants

NOTE: this verb is not used in the present progressive (continuous) tense

to hope

to want something to happen or be true [no object]

• I hope the company will refund my money.

• “Will you be able to come to the party?” “I hope so.” [=I want to go to the party but am not sure that I will be able to]

• “Will you have to miss the party?” “I hope not.” [=I do not want to miss the party]

NOTE: sometimes the verb hope needs for

• He's hoping for a promotion.

• An apology is the most we can hope for.

• She was hoping for an invitation to the party.

to meet

1. to succeed in doing or providing (something)

• They met all our requirements. [=they did everything that our policy asks for]

• The restaurant didn't meet (our) expectations. [=it was not as good as we expected it to be]

• They haven't yet met the requirements for entry. [=they have not done what they must do for entry]

2. to see and speak to (someone) for the first time : to be introduced to or become acquainted with (someone) [+ object]

• He met his wife at work.

• We met each other in college.

• Did you meet anyone interesting at the party?

to open

to cause (something) to no longer be covered, sealed, blocked or closed

• It's time to open your birthday presents!

• open a can/box/jar

• She comes home, turns on the TV, and starts opening her mail.

• The janitor opens the building [=unlocks the doors of the building] at 7 o'clock.

• The city only opened this street to cars five years ago.

to refund

to give back money that someone paid for something (such as a product that was returned or a service that was not acceptable)

• If you are not completely satisfied, we will refund the purchase price.

• We will refund (you) your money.

• They refused to refund the ticket. [=to give back the money that I had paid for the ticket]

to reimburse

to pay someone an amount of money equal to an amount that person has spent — often + for

• We will reimburse you for your travel expenses. = We will reimburse your travel expenses.

• I should be reimbursed for the fees.

to return

1. to bring, give, send, or take (something) to the place that it came from

• I have to return a book to the library.

• I'm returning your ladder. Thanks for letting me borrow it.

• Return [=bring] this application to me when you have filled it out.
  

2. to come or go to a place again : to come back or go back again

• We waited for you to return.

• She is returning home tomorrow.

• I'm leaving but will return at 2 p.m.

• She left home never to return. [=she never went home again]

to switch

to change or replace one thing with another thing

• They switched places/positions/roles/sides.

• He switched (around) his last two appointments.

• (US) He is going to switch (shifts) with me Monday. [=he will work my shift and I will work his shift on Monday]

to taste

to have a particular flavour

• This milk tastes sour.

• The pie tasted too sweet.

• The wine tastes like vinegar.

• The salad tastes like garlic.

NOTE: this verb is not used in the progressive tense

to write

to form letters or numbers on a surface with a pen, pencil, etc.

• Children learn to read and write in kindergarten.

• I don't have anything to write with. Could I borrow a pen?

• Please write your name at the top of each sheet.

• She wrote “tag sale” on the sign in big letters.