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M A C M I L L A N
A U S T R A L I A N
DICTIONARY
P R I M A R Y
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Published by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
1 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000
First edition published 2005 (revision 2010) by Macmillan Education Australia Pty Ltd
Second edition published 2015 by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
Copyright © Macquarie Dictionary Publishers 2015
ISBN: 9781742619941
Cover design by Natalie Bowra
Typeset by MPS Limited, Bangalore, India
Printed in China
A Cataloguing-in-Publication entry is available from the National Library of Australia
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher.
A number of words entered in this dictionary are derived from trademarks. However, the
presence or absence of indication of this derivation should not be regarded in any way as
affecting the legal status of any trademark.
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CONTENTS
Example of Dictionary Entries
iv
How to use this Dictionary
v
Spelling Guide
vii
Pronunciation Guide
viii
Macmillan Australian Primary Dictionary
Appendixes
1
281
Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country
282
Australian National Songs
284
Aboriginal Languages
286
Theme Lists
288
Collective Nouns
291
Shapes292
Numbers293
Measurements293
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iv
EXAMPLE
OF DICTIONARY ENTRIES
Headword
(the word you
are looking up)
Extra information
about the word
Definition
(what the word means)
Word Building
(other words made from
the headword)
Spelling advice
How the ending
of the word
changes
Pronunciation
(how you say the
word)
Spelling advice
Two definitions
for two meanings
Part of speech
(the work the word
does in a sentence)
Example sentence
Extra information
about the word
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v
HOW TO USE
THE MACMILLAN AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY DICTIONARY
The Macmillan Australian Primary Dictionary gives you lots of information about words – their meanings,
how to use them in sentences, word building, similar and opposite words, help with difficult spellings, and
so on. Here is some guidance on how all this information is set out. Also look at the example of entries on
the opposite page.
Finding the word you want to look up
The headword is the word you are looking up. You can find it easily because it is in large print and in the
colour red.
The headwords are in alphabetical order. To help you find the word you are after, each page has a special
guide word at the top of the page. You can use these to work out which words are on that page. The guide
word matches the headword of the first entry on a left-hand page, and the headword of the last entry on a
right-hand page.
If you are unsure of the spelling, get as close as you can to it by following the letters you are sure about, and
then check several words until you find the one you’re after. Check the Spelling Guide on page vii for help
in finding words that might start with unusual spellings.
Sometimes it can be quite hard to work out how to say a word. Each headword that might be difficult has a
pronunciation after it. Sometimes an easier word that rhymes with the headword will be given, or another
word which has exactly the same sound. Usually, though, a special system has been used which will allow
you to sound out each part of the word. Look at the Pronunciation Guide on page viii to find out more about
this.
The work the word does in a sentence
The part of speech tells you how a word works in a sentence. For example, a word might be a noun, verb,
adjective, adverb or preposition. This information comes after the headword or pronunciation. Then there
are the meanings for that part of speech. Some words can work in different ways, so there may be another
part of speech at the start of a new list of meanings.
Words that change their endings
Many words change their ending according to the work they are doing in a sentence. For example, most
nouns can have an s added at the end to show that there is more than one of them (the plural form) and most
verbs can have ed or ing added. When there is something unusual about the way the ending of the word
changes, this is shown in brackets after the part of speech.
What the word means
The sentence telling you what the word means is called the definition. The definitions are written in simple
language, using words that most people know so that they are easy to understand. If you do find a word that
you don’t know used in a definition, you will be able to look it up at its own headword in the dictionary.
Many words have more than one meaning. In this case, each definition is given a number. For example,
a hall can be either a large building or room where a lot of people can meet (definition 1) or a passage inside
the front door of a house (definition 2).
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vi
If a word has meanings that are very different, each meaning is given under a new headword. When this
happens, the headwords themselves are given numbers. For example, look up can1 and can2.
How a word is used
Most definitions are followed by a sentence which uses the word. This will help you understand more about
the word’s meaning and how it is used.
Other words that are made from the headword
These are part of the headword’s family and you will find them in a box with the heading Word Building,
along with their meaning or an example sentence. For example, look up accident. At the end of this entry,
there is information about the word accidentally.
Finding out extra information about the word
At the end of some entries, you will find a box giving extra information. This might be another way you
can spell the word, a short form of the word, another word with a similar meaning, a word with the opposite
meaning, information about where the word comes from, or extra guidance about how a word is used.
Spelling tips
A special feature of this dictionary is the guidance given on the spelling of difficult words. These tips have
been written with the advice of education expert Dr Donna Gibbs. The tips suggest a variety of ways in
which you can deal with spelling problems, for example:
• pointing out a common difficulty such as a silent letter in a word or a double letter spelling where you
might expect a single letter
• reminding you of a spelling rule
• clearing up the confusion that can be caused by different spellings (and meanings) for words that have
the same sound
• making a link with words that have the same spelling pattern
• explaining the word’s history
• giving a humorous suggestion to jog your memory
• showing how you can break the word up into small parts that are easy to remember.
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jabiru /say
jab-uh-rooh / noun
A jabiru is a large white and green Australian bird
with a green-black head, neck and tail and long
red legs. It has a long black beak and it catches
fish.
jackaroo noun
A jackaroo is a young man who is working on a
cattle or sheep station, usually to gain experience
in the skills needed to own or manage a station.
A young woman working on a cattle or sheep
station is called a jillaroo.
jacket noun
A jacket is a short coat.
jackpot noun
A jackpot is the very biggest prize that you can
win in some competitions or games.
jagged /say
jag-uhd / adjective
If something is jagged, it has very sharp edges.
jail noun
A jail is the place where prisoners are kept.
Another spelling is gaol which you say with the
same sound.
jam1
verb (jams, jamming, jammed, has
jammed)
1. If something jams, it becomes stuck so that it
will not move. I can’t open the door. It’s jammed.
dnoun 2. A jam is a lot of people or things
crowded together so that they cannot move much.
jam2 noun
Jam is a sweet food made of fruit and sugar
which you spread on bread.
January /say
jan-yooh-uh-ree / noun
January is the first month of the year, with 31
days. It comes before February.
jar noun
A jar is a glass container which you use for
keeping food in.
jarrah /say
ja-ruh / noun
A jarrah is a tall gum tree with dark red wood.
This word comes from an Aboriginal language
of Western Australia called Nyungar.
Spelling Tip: Remember that this word
has a double r. Also remember the ah ending.
Several other words that come from Aboriginal
languages, such as galah, have this spelling
pattern.
jaw noun
A jaw is one of the two bones that form the frame
of your mouth and that your teeth grow in.
jazz noun
Jazz is a type of music with a strong beat, first
played by African-Americans.
jealous /say
jel-uhs / adjective
You are jealous of someone if you want something they have.
Word Building: jealousy, noun When you are
jealous, you feel jealousy.
jeans noun
Jeans are trousers made of a special strong
material, usually blue.
You can also say a pair of jeans, but then you
speak about them as though they are one
thing: This pair of trousers is my favourite.
jeer verb
If you jeer at someone, you make fun of them or
say mean things about them. She was upset
because some of the other children jeered at the
clothes she was wearing.
jelly noun
(plural jellies)
A jelly is a soft food made of fruit, sugar and
water. It shakes when you move it.
jerk noun
1. A jerk is a sudden, quick movement.
dverb 2. If you jerk something, you pull it suddenly. She jerked the line when she felt a fish bite.
127
Judaism
a
Word Building: jerky, adjective If you move
with jerks, then your movements are jerky.
djerkiness, noun If you move with jerks, then
your movements have a lot of jerkiness.
jet noun
1. A jet is a stream of water or gas that shoots out
of a small opening. A jet of steam burst out of the
pipe.
2. A jet is a very fast plane. We had to stop
talking because of the noise of the jet above us.
jetty noun
(plural jetties)
A jetty is a long platform that has been built to go
out from the land into a river or into the sea. You
can tie boats or ships to it.
Jew noun
A Jew is someone whose religion is Judaism.
Word Building: Jewish, adjective A Jew is a
Jewish person.
jewel /say
jooh-uhl / noun
A jewel is a stone that has been cut and polished
and is worth a lot of money.
Word Building: jewellery, noun Jewels that
have been made into beautiful things to wear
around your neck or on your arm are called
jewellery.
Spelling Tip: This word is not spelt as you
might expect. It has an unusual group of letters
ewe making the ‘ooh’ sound. Remember this
and put a j and l either side to spell jewel.
jigsaw noun
A jigsaw is a puzzle made up of many different
pieces which fit together to make a picture.
jillaroo noun
a jillaroo is a young woman who is working on a
cattle or sheep station, usually to gain experience
in the skills needed to own or manage a station.
A young man working on a cattle or sheep
station is called a jackaroo.
jingle verb
If something jingles, it makes a sound like small
bells ringing. My keys jingled as I ran along.
job noun
1. A job is a particular piece of work which you
do for someone. My job is to clear the table and
my brother’s job is to dry up.
2. Someone’s job is the work they do for money.
When I grow up, I would like a job as a pilot.
jockey noun
A jockey is someone who rides horses in races.
joey noun
A joey is a baby kangaroo.
jog verb
(jogs, jogging, jogged, has jogged)
If you jog, you run along slowly. My grandmother
jogs around the park every morning.
Word Building: jogger, noun If you jog for
exercise, then you’re a jogger.
join verb
1. If you join two or more things, you put them
together so that they touch or make one thing.
Janie tried to join the pieces of the broken chair
together before her mother came home. | Mum
made her dress longer by joining some new
material to it.
2. If things join, they come together so that they
touch or become one thing. Your funny bone is
where your two arm bones join d if you knock it, it
really hurts!
3. If you join a club or any other group of people,
you become a member of that group. I’m going to
join our school netball team.
joke noun
1. A joke is something which you say or do to
make people laugh, especially a little story with a
funny ending.
dverb 2. If you joke about something, you speak
about it in a funny way. We were joking about how
funny it would be to have elephants sitting in the
classroom.
journey /say
jer-nee / noun
A journey is a trip you make from one place to
another.
Also look up voyage which is a journey made
in a ship.
Spelling Tip: This word comes from the
idea of a trip made in a day. If you think of this,
and can see that it contains jour, the French
word for ‘day’, the spelling will be easier. Also
remember the ey ending.
joy noun
Joy is a feeling of great happiness.
Word Building: joyful, adjective If you have a
feeling of joy, you are joyful.
Judaism /say
jooh-day-iz-uhm / noun
Judaism is a religion which began a very long
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judge
128
time ago and that teaches that there is only one
God.
Someone whose religion is Judaism is a Jew.
judge noun
A judge is someone whose job it is to make
decisions in a law court, especially to decide
how to punish someone who is guilty of doing
something that is against the law.
judo noun
Judo is a sport which comes from the Japanese
way of protecting yourself without using weapons.
juggle verb
If you juggle things, you throw them in the air and
keep them moving without dropping any. When I
can juggle two balls, then I’ll move up to three.
Word Building: juggler, noun Someone who
juggles is a juggler.
juice /say
joohs / noun
Juice is the liquid that comes from fruit, often
used as a drink.
Word Building: juicy, adjective (juicier,
juiciest) If a piece of fruit has a lot of juice, then
it is juicy.
July noun
July is the seventh month of the year, with 31
days. It comes between June and August.
jumble verb
If you jumble things, you mix them up so that they
are not organised at all. Dad said my room was a
mess because I had jumbled everything up
looking for my other red sock.
jumbo adjective
1. You can use jumbo to describe a plane that is
very large, or something else that is much larger
than usual.
dnoun (plural jumbos) 2. A jumbo is a very
large plane.
jump verb
If you jump, you move upwards with both your
feet off the ground. Show me how high you can
jump.
jumper noun
A jumper is a piece of warm clothing which you
wear on the top half of your body, usually over
other clothes.
June noun
June is the sixth month of the year, with 30 days.
It comes between May and July.
jungle noun
A jungle is a place where trees and other plants
grow thickly. You find jungles in parts of the world
where it is very warm and rains a lot, such as
parts of Africa and Asia.
junior adjective
Someone who is junior is younger or smaller
than the others.
junk noun
Junk is old things that no-one wants any more.
junk food noun
Junk food is food that is not healthy.
jury /say
jooh-ree / noun (plural juries)
A jury is the group of people who have to try and
decide if someone is guilty or not guilty in a law
court. There are usually 12 people in a jury.
Word Building: juror /say jooh-ruh /, noun A
member of a jury is a juror.
just
adverb You can use just in many ways, for
example:
1. to show that something happened a very little
time before now. Wayang is not here. He has just
left.
2. to say that you are doing something now or will
do it very soon. You’ve come at a good time. We
are just starting to play a game.
3. to mean that something or someone is the
same or almost the same as someone or something else. He looks just like his father.
dadjective 4. If something is just, it is right and
fair. It is what should happen.
Word Building: justice, noun If decisions are
just, then there is justice.