adolescence / d.les.
ns / noun [ U ]
the period of time in a person's life when they are developing into an adult:
She had a troubled adolescence.
yet another novel about the joys and sorrows of adolescence
adulthood / d.lt.hd / / dlt- / noun [ U ]
the part of someone's life when they are an adult:
People in England legally reach adulthood at 18.
Responsibility, I suppose, is what defines adulthood.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
bond / bnd / / bnd / noun [ C ] (CONNECTION)
B2 a close connection joining two or more people:
the bond(s) of friendship/love
There has been a close bond between them ever since she saved him from
drowning.
In societies with strong family bonds (= relationships) , people tend to live longer.
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brotherhood / br..hd / / -- / noun [ C , + sing/pl verb ]
(ORGANIZATION)
(the members of) a particular organization:
The various groups eventually fused into a single brotherhood.
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character / kr.k.t r
/ / ker.k.t / noun (PERSON)
C2 [ C ] a person, especially when you are describing a particular quality that they
have:
She's a curious character - I don't really know what to think of her.
There were one or two strange-looking characters hanging around the bar.
C1 [ C ] INFORMAL someone whose behaviour is different from most people's,
especially in a way that is interesting or funny:
He's quite a character/ a real character, is Ted - he's 70 now and still riding that
motorbike.
Word partners for character (QUALITY)
a distinct / distinctive character change the character of sth in sb's character
out of character
Word partners for character (IN A STORY)
the central / leading / main character a minor character play a character
depict / portray a character a character based on sb
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childhood / tald.hd / noun [ C or U ]
B1 the time when someone is a child:
She had an unhappy childhood.
Childhood is not always a happy time.
COMPARE boyhood , girlhood
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conflict / kn.flkt / / kn- / noun [ C or U ]
B2 an active disagreement between people with opposing opinions or principles:
There was a lot of conflict between him and his father.
It was an unpopular policy and caused a number of conflicts within the party.
His outspoken views would frequently bring him into conflict with the president.
B2 fighting between two or more groups of people or countries:
We wish to avoid conflict between our countries if at all possible.
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connection / knek. n / noun (RELATION)
B2 [ C ] the state of being related to someone or something else:
The connection between smoking and heart disease is well known.
They're sisters, are they? I knew their surname was the same, but I never made (=
thought of) the connection.
in connection with sth
B2 on the subject of something:
They want to talk to you in connection with an unpaid tax bill.
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fatherhood / f..hd / / -- / noun [ U ]
the state or time of being a father:
Fatherhood is a lifelong responsibility.
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friendship / frend.p / noun [ C or U ]
B1 a situation in which two people are friends:
Their friendship goes back to when they were at school together.
Did you form any close/lasting friendships in college?
I value her friendship above anything else.
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instinct / n.stkt / noun [ C or U ]
C2 the way people or animals naturally react or behave, without having to think or
learn about it:
All his instincts told him to stay near the car and wait for help.
[ + to infinitive ] Her first instinct was to run.
It is instinct that tells the birds when to begin their migration.
FIGURATIVE Bob seems to have an instinct for (= is naturally good at) knowing which
products will sell.
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interaction / n.trk. n /
/ -t t- / noun [ C or U ]
C1 an occasion when two or more people or things communicate with or react to
each other:
There's not enough interaction between the management and the workers.
Language games are usually intended to encourage student interaction.
The play follows the interactions of three very different characters.
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motherhood / m..hd / / -- / noun [ U ]
the state or time of being a mother:
I don't feel ready for motherhood yet.
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nature / ne.t r
/ / -t / noun (LIFE)
A2 [ U ] all the animals, plants, rocks, etc. in the world and all the features, forces,
and processes that happen or exist independently of people, such as the weather,
the sea, mountains, the production of young animals or plants, and growth:
her love of nature
This new technique of artificially growing cells copies what actually happens in
nature.
a nature article/book/programme
Nature
the force that is responsible for physical life and that is sometimes spoken of as a
person:
Feeling tired-out is Nature's way of telling you to rest.
Nature gave these tiny creatures the ability to reproduce quickly when food is
abundant.
Word partners for nature (LIFE)
the forces of / laws of nature a nature lover be found in nature in nature
nature conservation
Word partners for nature (TYPE)
the nature of sth [different/temporary, etc.] in nature of a [confidential/similar,
etc.] nature the exact / precise / true nature of sth the changing / complex
/ political / serious nature of sth alter / change / reflect the nature of sth
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parent / pe.rnt / / per. nt / noun [ C ] (MOTHER/FATHER)
A1 a mother or father of a person or an animal:
I'm going to meet Richard's parents for the first time this weekend.
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relation / rle. n / noun (FRIENDSHIP)
relations [ plural ]
B2 the way in which two people or groups of people feel and behave towards each
other:
Relations between him and his new wife are rather strained.
FORMAL Britain enjoys friendly relations with Canada.
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relationship / rle. n.p / noun [ C ] (CONNECTION)
B2 the way in which two things are connected:
Scientists have established the relationship between lung cancer and smoking.
Word partners for relationship
have / maintain a relationship end / establish / form a relationship a
relationship breaks down a close / good / personal / special / strong
relationship a long-term / serious / stable relationship a relationship with sb
a relationship between sb/sth and sb/sth be in a relationship
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relative / rel..tv / / -t tv / noun [ C ]
B1 a member of your family:
I haven't got many blood relatives (= people related to me by birth rather than by
marriage) .
All her close/distant relatives came to the wedding.
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resemblance / rzem.blns / noun [ C or U ]
C2 the fact that two people or things look like each other or are similar in some
other way:
There was a clear family resemblance between all the brothers.
These prices bear no resemblance to (= are completely different from) the ones I
saw printed in the newspaper.
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rivalry / ra.v l.ri / noun [ C or U ]
C2 a situation in which people, businesses, etc. compete with each other for the
same thing:
There's such rivalry among/between my three sons.
There's fierce rivalry for the job/ to get the job.
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sibling / sb.l / noun [ C ] FORMAL
C2 a brother or sister:
I have four siblings: three brothers and a sister.
There was great sibling rivalry (= competition) between Peter and his brother.
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teenager / tine.d / / -d / noun [ C ] ( INFORMAL teen )
r
A2 a young person between 13 and 19 years old:
The magazine is aimed at teenagers and young adults.
teenage / -ed / adjective [ before noun ] ( ALSO teenaged , / -edd / , INFORMAL
teen )
B1
a teenage nephew
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temperament / tem.p r..mnt / / -pr.mnt /
/ -p.- / noun [ C or U ]
the part of your character that affects your moods and the way you behave:
a fiery temperament
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blood ties noun [ plural ]
the relationships that exist by birth rather than through marriage
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tie / ta / noun [ C ] (CONNECTION)
ties C2 [ plural ]
the friendly feelings that people have for other people, or special connections with
places:
Family ties are weaker if you move a long way away.
I no longer feel any ties with my home town.
He urged governments worldwide to break diplomatic ties with the new regime.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
upbringing / pbr. / noun [ C usually singular ]
B2 the way in which someone is treated and educated when they are young,
especially by their parents, especially in relation to the effect which this has on how
they behave and make moral decisions:
Is it right to say all the crimes he committed were simply the result of his
upbringing?
SEE ALSO bring sb up
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
ADJECTIVE
upbringing / pbr. / noun [ C usually singular ]
B2 the way in which someone is treated and educated when they are young,
especially by their parents, especially in relation to the effect which this has on how
they behave and make moral decisions:
Is it right to say all the crimes he committed were simply the result of his
upbringing?
SEE ALSO bring sb up
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close- knit / klsnt / / klos- / adjective
describes a group of people in which everyone helps and supports each other:
a close-knit family/community
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maternal / mt.n l /
/ -t- / adjective
behaving or feeling in the way that a mother does towards her child, especially in a
kind, loving way:
maternal instincts
She is very maternal towards her staff.
COMPARE paternal
related to a mother's side of the family:
Her maternal grandmother (= mother's mother) is still alive.
maternally / -i / adverb
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parental / pren.t l /
/ -t t l / adjective
connected with parents or with being a parent:
parental advice/influence
The government repeatedly stressed its support for parental choice in the selection
of a child's school.
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rewarding / rw.d / / -wr- / adjective
giving a reward, especially by making you feel satisfied that you have done
something important or useful, or done something well:
Is it a rewarding job?
Textbook writing can be an intellectually and financially rewarding activity.
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stable / ste.bl l / adjective
C1 firmly fixed or not likely to move or change:
If the foundations of the house aren't stable, collapse is possible.
After several part-time jobs, he's now got a stable job in a bank.
The hospital said she was in a stable condition (= not likely to get worse) following
the operation.
C1 describes someone who is mentally healthy:
She seems more stable these days.
SPECIALIZED describes a substance that keeps the same chemical or atomic state
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accommodate / km..det / / -k.m- / verb [ T ] (FIND A PLACE FOR)
to provide with a place to live or to be stored in:
New students may be accommodated in halls of residence.
FORMAL There wasn't enough space to accommodate the files.
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adopt / dpt / / -dpt / verb [ T or I ] (TAKE CHILD)
B2 to take another person's child into your own family and legally take care of him
or her as your own child:
They've adopted a baby girl.
She had the child adopted (= she gave her baby to someone else to look after) .
They have no children of their own, but they're hoping to adopt.
COMPARE foster verb (TAKE CARE OF)
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break down (COMMUNICATION) phrasal verb with break / brek / verb (
broke , broken )
If a system, relationship, or discussion breaks down, it fails because there is a
problem or disagreement.
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develop / dvel.p / verb [ I or T ] (GROW)
B1 to (cause something to) grow or change into a more advanced, larger, or
stronger form:
It became clear that he wasn't developing like all the other little boys.
The fear is that these minor clashes may develop into all-out confrontation.
Over time, their acquaintance developed into a lasting friendship.
This exercise is designed to develop the shoulder and back muscles.
I'm looking for a job which will enable me to develop my skills/talents.
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endure / ndj / / -dr / verb [ T ] (EXPERIENCE)
r
B2 to suffer something difficult, unpleasant, or painful:
We had to endure a nine-hour delay at the airport.
She's already had to endure three painful operations on her leg.
endurable / -dj.r.bl l / / -dr..bl l / adjective
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establish / stb.l / verb (START)
B2 [ T often passive ] to start a company or organization that will continue for a
long time:
The brewery was established in 1822.
These methods of working were established in the last century.
C1 [ T often passive ] to start having a relationship with, or communicating with
another person, company, country, or organization:
There is a strong need to establish effective communication links between staff,
parents, pupils, and external bodies.
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common / km.n / / k.mn / noun (SHARED)
have sth in common
B1 to share interests, experiences, or other characteristics with someone or
something:
We don't really have much in common.
in common with sb/sth
C1 in the same way as someone or something:
In common with many mothers, she feels torn between her family and her work.
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inherit / nher.t / verb [ T ] (QUALITY)
C2 to be born with the same physical or mental characteristics as one of your
parents or grandparents:
Rosie inherited her red hair from her mother.
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inherit / nher.t / verb [ I or T ] (FROM DEAD PERSON)
C2 to receive money, a house, etc. from someone after they have died:
Who will inherit the house when he dies?
All her children will inherit equally.
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inheritance / nher..t ns / noun [ C usually singular , U ] (FROM DEAD
PERSON)
C2 money or objects that someone gives you when they die:
The large inheritance from his aunt meant that he could buy his own boat.
At 21 she came into her inheritance (= it was given to her) .
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interact / n.trkt / / -t tkt / verb [ I ]
B2 to communicate with or react to:
Dominique's teacher says that she interacts well with the other children.
It's interesting at parties to see how people interact socially.
We are studying how these two chemicals interact.
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nurture / n.t r
/ / n.t / verb [ T ] FORMAL (HELP DEVELOP)
to take care of, feed, and protect someone or something, especially young children
or plants, and help them to develop:
She wants to stay at home and nurture her children.
a carefully nurtured garden
to help a plan or a person to develop and be successful:
As a record company director, his job is to nurture young talent .
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relate / rlet / verb [ T ] (CONNECT)
C2 to find or show the connection between two or more things:
Researchers are trying to relate low exam results and/to/with large class sizes.
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COUMPOUND NOUNS
active / k.tv / adjective (INVOLVED)
B2 involved in a particular activity:
Enemy forces remain active in the mountainous areas around the city.
She's very active in (= involved in) local politics.
Both of his parents were very politically active.
It is important to educate children before they become sexually active.
He takes a more active role in the team nowadays.
She's an active member of her trade union (= not only belongs to it, but does work
to help it) .
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
ex tended family noun [ C usually singular , + sing/pl verb ]
a family unit that includes grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, and uncles, etc.
in addition to parents and children
COMPARE nuclear family
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nuclear family noun [ C ] SPECIALIZED
a family consisting of two parents and their children, but not including aunts,
uncles, grandparents, etc.
COMPARE extended family
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immediate / mi.di.t / adjective
B2 happening or done without delay or very soon after something else:
We must make an immediate response.
Dioxin is a poison that takes immediate effect.
C1 describes something or someone that is close to, or is a cause of or an effect
of, something or someone else:
There are few facilities in the immediate area.
An immediate result/effect of the war was a breakdown of law and order.
B2 in the present or as soon as possible:
We have no immediate plans.
MPs have demanded his immediate resignation.
the immediate future
the period of time that is coming next
your immediate family
your closest relations, such as your parents, children, husband, or wife
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striking / stra.k / adjective
B2 very unusual or easily noticed, and therefore attracting a lot of attention:
She bears a striking resemblance to her mother.
There's a striking contrast between what he does and what he says he does.
St Peter's Church is a striking example of modern architecture.
There are striking similarities between the two cases.
Their production of Macbeth was the most visually striking performance I've ever
seen.
more attractive than usual:
He's quite good-looking, but he's not as striking as his brother.
strikingly / -li / adverb
Her latest novel is strikingly different from her earlier work.
They gave a strikingly original performance of the play.
Her husband is strikingly handsome .
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Family Gathering
Stable Upbringing
Play a role
