bat noun A flying mammal that is active at night and often navigates using sound. A colony of bats emerged from the cave at dusk to hunt insects. + bank noun A financial institution that holds money for customers and offers loans and other services. She deposited her paycheck at the bank on her way home from work. + bark noun The tough outer covering of a tree's trunk and branches. The bark of the old oak was rough and covered in patches of moss. + bolt noun A metal pin or rod with a head, used with a nut to fasten parts together. The mechanic tightened every bolt on the wheel before letting the car back onto the road. + bow verb To bend the head or upper body forward, especially as a gesture of respect or greeting. The performers bowed to the audience after the final scene of the play. + brief adjective Lasting only a short time, or expressed in few words. The meeting was brief, lasting only about ten minutes before everyone returned to work. + capital noun The city where a country's or region's government is based, or wealth and assets used to start or grow a business. Paris is the capital of France and its center of government. + charge noun An amount of money that a person or business asks for a product or service. There was an extra charge for checking a second suitcase at the airport. + current adjective Belonging to or happening in the present time. The current mayor has held office for three years now. + fair adjective Treating people equally and justly, without favoritism or discrimination. The teacher was known for grading every student's work in a fair and consistent way. + fine adjective Of very high quality, or simply acceptable and satisfactory in an ordinary way. The restaurant is known for its fine dining and attentive service. + jam noun A sweet spread made by boiling fruit and sugar until thick, typically eaten on bread. She spread a generous layer of strawberry jam on her morning toast. + kind adjective Having or showing a friendly, generous, and considerate nature toward others. It was kind of him to help the elderly neighbor carry her groceries. + left adjective Relating to, on, or toward the side of the body or an object that is typically opposite the right side. Turn left at the second traffic light to reach the museum entrance. + light noun The natural energy from the sun or a lamp that makes things visible. Morning light streamed through the curtains and woke her gently. + match noun A contest between two or more players or teams in a sport or game. Fans cheered loudly throughout the tense final match of the tournament. + mean verb To intend to express, convey, or refer to a particular thing or idea. I'm not sure what he meant by that strange comment at dinner. + mine pronoun Belonging to me; used to indicate possession without a following noun. That bright red umbrella leaning by the door is mine, not yours. + novel noun A long fictional narrative, typically published as a book with a sustained plot. She spent the entire summer quietly writing her very first novel. + park noun A public area of land with grass and trees, used for recreation and relaxation. Families gathered in the park for a picnic on the warm Saturday afternoon. + pen noun A handheld instrument used for writing or drawing with ink. She signed the contract with a black pen borrowed from the receptionist. + pitch noun The degree of highness or lowness of a musical note or sound as perceived by the ear. The singer struggled to hit the high pitch required in the final chorus. + pool noun A small, contained body of still water, often built for swimming or found naturally in the landscape. The children spent the afternoon splashing in the backyard pool. + pound noun A unit of weight equal to sixteen ounces, or the basic unit of currency used in the United Kingdom and some other countries. The recipe calls for one pound of flour and half a pound of butter. + ring noun A small circular band, typically of metal, worn on a finger or used as a fastening or symbol. He slipped the ring onto her finger during the proposal. + rock noun A large, naturally formed mass of solid mineral material, or the smaller pieces broken from it. Climbers tested each rock carefully before trusting it with their full weight. + saw noun A hand tool or machine with a toothed blade used for cutting through wood, metal, or other hard material. He used a saw to cut the fallen branch into smaller pieces for the fire. + seal noun A marine mammal with flippers and a torpedo-shaped body that lives partly on land and partly in water. A seal basked lazily on the rocks near the harbor. + spring noun The season between winter and summer when plants begin to grow and temperatures rise. Cherry blossoms bloom across the entire city every single spring. + stable adjective Firmly fixed or not likely to change, move, or fail. The doctors said his condition was stable after the surgery. + star noun A large, glowing ball of gas in space that produces its own light and heat through nuclear reactions. On a clear night, thousands of stars are visible far from city lights. + state noun The particular condition that someone or something is in at a specific time. The old house was in a poor state of repair. +