[from Old Italian corridore meaning place for running]
corrode corrodes, corroding, corroded
VERB When something corrodes, it is eaten away. When iron and steel are corroded, rust is formed.
corrosion NOUN corrosive ADJECTIVE
corrugated
ADJECTIVE Corrugated metal or cardboard has parallel folds to make it stronger.
corrupt corrupts, corrupting, corrupted
ADJECTIVE 1 People who are corrupt act dishonestly or illegally in return for money or power.
SYNONYM: dishonest
VERB 2 If you corrupt someone, you make them dishonest.
3 If a bug in a computer spoils files, it corrupts them.
corruption NOUN
cosmetics
PLURAL NOUN lipstick, face powder and other make-up
cosmic
ADJECTIVE belonging to or relating to the whole universe
cosmos
NOUN the universe
cost costs, costing, cost
NOUN 1 the amount of money needed to buy, do or make something
VERB 2 You use cost to talk about the amount of money you have to pay for things. • You can’t have that – it costs too much.
costume costumes
NOUN 1 a set of clothes worn by an actor
2 the clothing worn in a particular place or during a particular period
cosy cosier, cosiest
ADJECTIVE warm and comfortable
cot cots
NOUN a small bed for a baby, with bars or panels round it to stop the baby falling out
cottage cottages
NOUN a small house, especially in the country
cotton
NOUN 1 cloth made from the soft fibres of the cotton plant • a cotton shirt
2 thread used for sewing • a needle and cotton
couch couches
NOUN a long, soft piece of furniture for sitting or lying on
cough coughs, coughing, coughed
VERB When you cough, you force air out of your throat with a sudden harsh noise.
could
VERB 1 the past tense of can
2 You use could to say that something might happen or might be true. • It could rain later.
3 You use could when you are asking for something politely. • Could you tell me the way to the station, please?
couldn’t
VERB a contraction of could not
council councils
NOUN a group of people elected to look after something, especially the affairs of a town, district or county
counsel counsels, counselling, counselled
NOUN 1 advice
VERB 2 If someone counsels people, they give them advice about their problems.
count counts, counting, counted
VERB 1 When you count, you say all the numbers in order up to a particular number.