Lesson 2A · New English File Elementary Vocabulary List

a plastic card, usually given to us by a bank, that we use to pay for goods and services

"She paid with a credit card."

"Using a credit card abroad can be risky if the bank charges high fees for international transactions."

a book or electronic resource that gives a list of words in alphabetical order and explains their meanings, or gives the equivalent words in a different language

"Look up this word."

"A bilingual dictionary provides translations and definitions for words between two languages"

a pair of lenses set in a frame that rests on the nose and ears, which we wear to see more clearly

"My glasses are on the desk."

"She needs glasses to read clearly."

a device that has two pieces that cover the ears and is used to listen to music or sounds without others hearing

"I use headphones to listen to music."

"She put on her headphones and listened to music while studying for the difficult exam."

any official card that shows someone's name, birth date, photograph, etc., proving who they are

"The security guard checks my identity card."

"The security guard checks my identity card and scans the barcode before allowing me to enter the building."

an object that can give light by using electricity or burning gas or oil

"The lamp casts a warm glow over the room."

"The lamp casts a warm glow over the room and I read my book by its soft light."

a set of large folded sheets of paper with lots of stories, pictures, and information printed on them about things like sport, politic, etc., usually issued daily or weekly

"The newspaper arrived late."

"She read the newspaper at breakfast."

a small book with plain or ruled pages that we can write or draw in

"My notebook is full of notes."

"She wrote all her lecture notes in a spiral bound notebook that was filled with pages of neat handwriting and highlighted key terms."

a tool with a slim piece of wood and a thin, colored part in the middle, that we use for writing or drawing

"The pencil is broken."

"The artist used a soft pencil to sketch the outline of the portrait before filling in the details with charcoal and colored pastels."

a cellular phone or cell phone; ‌a phone without any wires and with access to a cellular radio system that we can carry with us and use anywhere

"Her mobile phone rings during the meeting."

"Her mobile phone rings during the meeting and she quickly silences it and apologizes to the group."

a thin and flat material made of wood that people usually write, print, or draw on

"He wrote his number on a piece of paper."

"He wrote his phone number on a small piece of paper and gave it to me before leaving."

a tool used to cut paper, cloth, etc. with two handles and two sharp edges, joined in the middle

"The scissors are sharp."

"These scissors are designed specifically for cutting fabric so using them on paper will quickly dull the blades and ruin their precision."

dark glasses that we wear to protect our eyes from sunlight or glare

"Her sunglasses are stylish."

"He wore sunglasses to protect his eyes."

an object with a circular folding frame covered in cloth, used as protection against rain or sun

"The umbrella kept us dry."

"She opened her umbrella when it started raining."

a pocket-sized, folding case that is used for storing paper money, coin money, credit cards, etc.

"My wallet is in my bag."

"He lost his wallet on the bus."

a special kind of picture that is made using a camera in order to make memories, create art, etc.

"I took a photograph of the sunset."

"She keeps a photograph of her grandmother on the nightstand remembering the happy times they spent together baking cookies."

something made of leather, cloth, plastic, or paper that we use to carry things in, particularly when we are traveling or shopping

"The bag is heavy."

"He put his laptop and a few important documents into his leather bag before leaving the house for his early morning business meeting downtown."

a device that can refill a battery with electrical energy

"The charger is missing."

"I plugged in the charger before the battery died."

a piece of metal, typically round and flat, used as money, issued by governments

"He found a coin."

"She dropped a coin into the fountain and made a wish."

a book or journal in which one records personal experiences, thoughts, or feelings on a regular basis, usually on a daily basis

"Diary records daily personal events."

"The diary was a daily personal record of events thoughts and feelings never intended for publication."

a piece of furniture used for storing documents, papers, and other materials in a neat and organized way

"Put the papers in the file."

"She organized all the important client documents neatly within the large metal file."

a specially shaped piece of metal used for locking or unlocking a door, starting a car, etc.

"Where is the key?"

"He carefully inserted the key into the lock and turned it to secure the ancient wooden door."

a colorful thin book that has news, pictures, and stories about different things like fashion, sports, and animals, usually issued weekly or monthly

"The magazine has many pictures."

"He bought a sports magazine yesterday."

an instrument for writing or drawing with ink, usually made of plastic or metal

"The pen is blue."

"The teacher handed out blue pens to the students because the test had to be completed in blue ink rather than pencil or any other color."

a small bag that is used, particularly by women, to carry personal items

"Her purse is on the table."

"She carries her keys and money in her purse."

a flat, small, portable computer that one controls and uses by touching its screen

"She used a tablet."

"A graphics tablet allows a digital artist to draw directly onto a pressure-sensitive surface and see their creation appear on a monitor."

a piece of paper or card that shows you can do or get something, like ride on a bus or attend an event

"The ticket is expensive."

"Please keep your ticket until the end of the trip."

a piece of soft thin paper that is disposable and is used for cleaning

"I need a tissue."

"She politely asked for a tissue to wipe away a tear during the emotional performance."

a small clock worn on a strap on your wrist or carried in your pocket

"The watch is expensive."

"He checked his watch before the meeting."

used to show that something exists or happens inside a space or area

"She lives in London."

"She lives in a small apartment near the city center with her two cats."

in contact with and upheld by a surface

"The book is on the table."

"The book is on the table next to the lamp and the coffee cup."

in or to a position lower than and directly beneath something

"The book is under table."

"The hidden treasure was buried deep under the old oak tree."