VOA慢速英语1500基础单词例句s

（单词翻译）

sabotage¹
[to damage or destroy as an act against an organization or nation]
The rebels sabotaged² the railroad.

sacrifice
[to do without something or to suffer a loss for a belief, idea, goal or another person]
She sacrificed her house to pay for medical school for her son.
　　
sad
[not happy]
He was sad because she left.

safe
[away from harm or danger]
This is a safe place for you to stay.

sail
[to travel by boat or ship]
We will sail to Hawaii on Thursday.

sailor
[a person involved in sailing a boat or ship]
He is a sailor on one of the big oil ships.

salt
[a white substance found in seawater and in the ground, used to affect the taste of food]
The doctor says eating too much salt can raise my blood pressure.

same
[(1) not different; (2) not changed; (3) like another or others]
He eats at the same time every day. (1)
She looks the same as she did ten years ago. (2)
His car is the same as mine. (3)

sand
[extremely small pieces of crushed rock found in large amounts in deserts and on coasts]
The hot sand of the desert burned her feet.

satellite
[(1) a small object in space that moves around a larger object; (2) an object placed in orbit around the earth]
The Earth and other planets are satellites of the sun. (1)
A new communications satellite was put in orbit today. (2)

satisfy
[to give or provide what is desired, needed or demanded]
Does this food satisfy your hunger?

save
[(1) to make safe; (2) to remove from harm; (3) to keep for future use]
He saved the building by disarming³ the bomb. (1)
The fireman saved her when he pulled her from the burning house. (2)
She saved a little money every week. (3)

say
[(1) to speak; (2) to express in words]
What will you say to her? (1)
I will say to her what is in my heart. (2)

school
[(1) a place for education; (2) a place where people go to learn]
Is your son going to public or private school? (1)
Her school is testing students to measure how much they have learned. (2)

science
[the study of nature and the actions of natural things, and the knowledge gained about them]
Science has made great changes in our lives in just a few years.

sea
[a large area of salt water, usually part of an ocean]
The rough sea seems angry.

search
[to look for carefully]
We searched everywhere for her missing book.

season
[(1) one of the four periods of the year that is based on the earth's position toward the sun (spring, summer, autumn, winter); (2) a period of time based on different weather conditions; (3) a period during the year when something usually happens]
He says autumn is his favorite season. (1)
She likes to visit there during the dry season. (2)
He cannot wait for baseball season to start. (3)

seat
[(1) a thing to sit on; (2) a place to sit or the right to sit there]
The boy gave the woman his seat on the bus. (1)
He has held his seat in parliament for 40 years. (2)

second
[the one that comes after the first]
This is the second time I have been here.

secret
[(1) something known only to a few and kept from general knowledge; (2) hidden from others; (3) known only to a few]
No member will talk about the secret ceremonies. (1)
The nuclear scientist denied giving secret information to foreign spies. (2)
Many secret stories of the Cold War are now becoming known. (3)

security
[(1) freedom from danger or harm; (2) protection; (3) measures necessary to protect a person or place]
Security was increased in the city. (1)
The store provided its own security. (2)
Strong national security kept the country safe. (3)

see
[(1) to know or sense through the eyes; (2) to understand or know]
Did you see her smile? (1)
I see what you mean. (2)

seed
[the part of a plant from which new plants grow]
If you plant the seeds now, you can eat vegetables in two months.

seek(ing)
[(1) to search for; (2) to try to get; (3) to plan to do]
They are seeking a cure for cancer. (1)
She is seeking election to public office. (2)
Electric power companies are seeking to reduce their use of coal. (3)

seem
[to appear to be]
She seems to be in good health.

seize
[(1) to take quickly by force; (2) to take control of quickly; (3) to arrest]
Marines seized the island in three days. (1)
The generals seized power after the president fled. (2)
The policeman seized the suspect. (3)

self
[all that which makes one person different from others]
He seems to think only of himself.

sell
[to give something in exchange for money]
He will sell his car to me for 2,000 dollars.

Senate
[the smaller of the two groups in the governments of some countries, such as in the United States Congress]
The Senate has 100 members, two from each state.

send
[(1) to cause to go; (2) to permit to go; (3) to cause to be carried, taken or directed to or away from a place]
She sent the boy away. (1)
To which university did he send his daughter? (2)
The government will send supplies immediately to the earthquake area. (3)

sense
[(1) to come to know about by feeling, believing or understanding; (2) any of the abilities to see, hear, taste, smell or feel]
He sensed that the dog would not attack him. (1)
The medicine affected⁵ his sense of taste. (2)

sentence
[(1) to declare the punishment for a crime; (2) the punishment for a crime]
The judge sentenced him to three years in prison. (1)
She received a sentence of 18 months of community service. (2)

separate
[(1) to set or keep people, things or ideas away from or independent from others; (2) not together or connected]
He separated the two boys and told them to stop fighting. (1)
They work in separate offices. (2)

series
[a number of similar things or events that follow one after another in time, position or order]
The doctor said the series of tests would show the cause of the pain.

serious
[(1) important; (2) needing careful consideration; (3) dangerous]
The two sides have begun serious negotiations⁶. (1)
We have a serious problem to solve. (2)
The accident victim is reported to be in serious condition. (3)

serve
[(1) to work as an official; (2) to be employed by the government; (3) to assist or help]
He served as Secretary of State. (1)
She has served as a government employee for 30 years. (2)
She served us tea and made us feel welcome. (3)

service
[(1) an organization or system that provides something for the public; (2) a job that an organization or business can do for money; (3) military organizations such as an army, navy or air force; (4) a religious ceremony]
Schools and roads are services paid for by taxes. (1)
His business provides childcare services for working parents. (2)
Two of her sons are in the military services. (3)
Our church provides three services every Sunday morning. (4)

set
[(1) to put in place or position; (2) to establish a time, price or limit]
She set food in front of us. (1)
Have you set a time for our meeting? (2)

settle
[(1) to end (a dispute); (2) to agree about (a problem); (3) to make a home in a new place]
The long dispute was finally settled. (1)
We settled our legal problem without going to court. (2)
Her family settled in Dallas many years ago. (3)

several
[three or more, but not many]
I saw them in the office several days ago.

severe
[(1) not gentle; (2) causing much pain, sadness or damage]
The prisoners received severe treatment from their guards. (1)
The powerful storm caused severe damage to homes. (2)

sex
[(1) either the male or female group into which all people and animals are divided because of their actions in producing young; (2) the physical activity by which humans and animals can produce young]
What is the sex of your children? (1)
The doctor warned them about the dangers of unprotected sex. (2)

shake
[to move or cause to move in short, quick movements]
Do not shake your finger at me.

shape
[(1) to give form to; (2) the form of something, especially how it looks]
He shaped his own version of the truth from the facts that were known. (1)
She made him a birthday cake in the shape of a fish. (2)

share
[(1) to give part of something to another or others; (2) a part belonging to, given to or owned by a single person or a group; (3) any one of the equal parts of ownership of a business or company]
They shared the food that remained. (1)
Each of the brothers had an equal share of the business. (2)
The president owned 100,000 shares of the company's stock. (3)

sharp
[(1) having a thin edge or small point that can cut or hurt; (2) causing hurt or pain]
The sharp knife cut through the vegetable and into his finger. (1)
Her sharp, angry voice cut him like a knife. (2)

she
[the girl or woman who is being spoken about]
She is a kind woman.

sheep
[a farm animal used for its meat and hair]
They used the wool from their sheep to make all of their clothes.

shell
[(1) to fire artillery⁸; (2) a metal container that is fired from a large gun and explodes when it reaches its target; (3) a hard outside cover]
The big guns shelled the town for an hour. (1)
The soldiers fired more than 200 artillery shells. (2)
The turtle's shell protects it from its enemies. (3)

shelter
[(1) to protect or give protection to; (2) something that gives protection; (3) a place of safety]
She sheltered her son from the evil she saw in the world. (1)
Survival⁹ in nature requires food, water and shelter. (2)
They found shelter under a tree until the rain ended. (3)

shine
[(1) to aim a light; (2) to give bright light; (3) to be bright; (4) to clean to make bright]
He shined the light on them. (1)
The sun shined brightly in the clear sky. (2)
The faces of the children shined with happiness. (3)
She shined the silver lamp until she could see her face in it. (4)

ship
[(1) to transport; (2) a large boat]
He ships his products by truck. (1)
The ship seemed to stop at every island in the Caribbean Sea. (2)

shock
[(1) to cause to feel sudden surprise or fear; (2) something that greatly affects the mind or emotions; (3) a powerful shake, as from an earthquake]
She was shocked to find a man hiding in her house. (1)
Her father's sudden death was a great shock to her. (2)
Many minor¹⁰ shocks followed the earthquake. (3)

shoe
[a covering for the foot]
I cannot find one of my shoes.

shoot
[(1) to cause a gun or other weapon to send out an object designed to kill; (2)to use a gun]
The policewoman will shoot you if you move. (1)
He shoots only at targets. (2)

short
[(1) lasting¹¹ only for a small period of time; (2) not long; (3) opposite tall]
He made a short speech. (1)
The missing dog has short legs and a long body. (2)
She is short, but her husband is tall. (3)

should
[(1) used with another verb (action word) to show responsibility, (2) probability¹², (3) or that something is believed to be a good idea]
We should study. (1)
The talks should begin soon. (2)
Criminals should be punished. (3)

shout
[to speak very loudly]
The protestors shouted at the President.

show
[(1) to make something be seen; (2) to make known; (3) a play or story presented in a theater, or broadcast on radio or television, for enjoyment¹³ or education; (4) something organized to be seen by the public]
She showed an anger I did not know she possessed¹⁴. (1)
He showed that he could do it. (2)
Did you hear the Morning Show today on VOA radio? (3)
The music students played at a free show after school. (4)

shrink
[to make or become less in size, weight or value]
Those wool clothes will shrink if you wash them in hot water.

sick
[(1) suffering physically¹⁵ or mentally with a disease or other problem; (2) not in good health]
She is sick with a fever. (1)
He always seems to be sick. (2)

sickness
[the condition of being in bad health]
Doctors do not yet know what is causing her sickness.

side
[(1) the outer surfaces of an object that are not the top or bottom; (2) parts away from the middle; (3) either the right or left half of the body]
The side of my car was damaged in the accident. (1)
On which side of the football field does our school sit? (2)　
He usually sleeps on the left side of his body. (3)

sign
[(1) to write one's name; (2) a mark or shape used to mean something; (3) evidence that something exists or will happen; (4) a flat piece of material with writing that gives information]
The writer signed a copy of his book for me. (1)
A white mark on trees is a sign of the mountain trail. (2)
Scientists have found no sign yet of life anywhere else in the Universe. (3)
That sign tells us how many miles we must drive to get to Chicago. (4)
＊one mile = 1.6 kilometers

signal
[(1) to send a message by signs; (2) an action or movement that sends a message]
That traffic light signals when we must stop or go. (1)
Paul Revere¹⁶ will make a signal with his light to warn if the British are coming by land or sea. (2)

silence
[(1) to make quiet; (2) to stop from speaking or making noise; (3) a lack of noise or sound]
Silence the television by pushing the mute¹⁷ button on your hand control. (1)
The team leader silenced his men with a hand sign. (2)
She heard only silence. (3)

silver
[a valued white metal]
That little box is made of silver.

similar
[like something else but not exactly the same]
The President said his proposal was similar to a proposal by Congress.

simple
[(1) easy to understand or do; (2) not difficult or complex]
Special English is a simple form of spoken English. (1)
This book tells us in a simple way how to use a computer to do complex work. (2)

since
[from a time in the past until now]
I have known her since we went to school together.

sing
[to make music sounds with the voice]
He sings in the shower.

single
[one only]
He gave her a single flower, a red rose, to show his love.

sink
[to go down into water or other liquid]
He sank deeper into the mud with each step.

sister
[a female with the same father or mother as another person]
I have only one sister.

sit
[(1) to rest on the lower part of the body without the support of the legs; (2) to become seated]
Please sit down and rest. (1)
She sat down. (2)

situation
[the way things are during a period of time]
The situation in the Middle East is very dangerous.

size
[(1) the space occupied by something; (2) how long, wide or high something is]
Can you imagine the size of the Universe? (1)
Geometry can help you measure the size of that big tree. (2)

skeleton¹⁸
[all the bones of a human or other animal together in their normal positions]
Scientists sometimes find the skeletons¹⁹ of people who lived thousands of years ago.

skill
[the ability gained from training or experience]
He has great baseball skills.

skin
[the outer covering of humans and most animals]
Her skin was burned red by the intense sunlight.

sky
[the space above the earth]
The sky was filled with beautiful white clouds.

slave
[a person owned or controlled by another]
All slaves in the United States were freed by an amendment²⁰ to the Constitution in 1865.

sleep
[to rest the body and mind with the eyes closed]
Do you sleep eight hours or more each night?

slide
[to move smoothly²¹ over a surface]
A big area of snow slid down the mountain.

slow
[(1) to reduce the speed of; (2) not fast in moving, talking or other activities]
Slow your speed to 45 miles per hour. (1)
＊one mile = 1.6 kilometers
Is Special English slow enough for you? (2)

small
[(1) little in size or amount; (2) few in number; (3) not important; (4) opposite large]
The small boy was hungry. (1)
The small force landed by parachute. (2)
It was a small problem and easy to solve. (3)
His small house was next to a big building. (4)

smash²²
[(1) to break or be broken into small pieces by force; (2) to hit or move with force]
He smashed²³ the window with a rock. (1)
The speeding car smashed into the wall. (2)

smell
[(1) to sense through the nose; (2) something sensed by the nose]
She smelled something burning. (1)
I love the smell of food cooking. (2)

smoke
[(1) to use cigarettes or other tobacco products by burning them and breathing in the smoke; (2) that which can be seen rising into the air like a cloud from something burning]
He smoked cigarettes until he died. (1)
The smoke from the burning forest rose high into the sky. (2)

smooth
[(1) having a level surface; (2) opposite rough]
The smooth floor was perfect for dancing. (1)
The floor was rough until the workman made it smooth. (2)

snow
[soft, white pieces of frozen²⁴ water that fall from the sky, usually in winter or when the air temperature is very cold]
The snow fell for two days.

so
[(1) in such a way that; (2) also; (3) too; (4) very; (5) as a result; (6) in order that; (7) for the purpose of]
He held the flag so all could see it. (1)
She was tired and so was I. (2)
She left early, and so did we. (3)
I am so sick. (4)
They were sick, so they could not come. (5)
We plant seeds so plants will grow. (6)
Come early so we can discuss the plans. (7)

social
[of or about people or a group]
The president offered a new solution for some social problems.

soft
[(1)not hard; (2) easily shaped; (3) pleasing to touch; (4) not loud]
She likes a soft bed but her husband likes a hard bed. (1)
Her daughter likes to shape things from soft clay. (2)
I like to hold her soft hands. (3)
The room was filled with soft music. (4)

soil
[earth in which plants grow]
She put the seeds in the soil and the plants began to grow.

soldier
[a person in the army]
A soldier is trained to be ready for any situation.

solid
[(1) having a hard shape with no empty spaces inside; (2) strong; (3) not in the form of a liquid or gas]
The tools were solid metal and very heavy. (1)
The house is solid, so it will survive the storm. (2)
Ice is the solid form of water. (3)

solve
[(1) to find an answer; (2) to settle]
The boy solved the mathematics problem. (1)
The committee hopes its proposals will solve the current economic problem. (2)

some
[(1) of an amount or number or part not stated; (2) not all]
Would you like some coffee? (1)
Would you like some of my coffee? (2)

son
[a person's male child]
Tommy is my youngest son.

soon
[(1) not long after the present time; (2) quickly]
She will soon be 18 years old. (1)
Tell him to get here as soon as possible. (2)

sort
[(1) any group of people or things that are the same or are similar in some way; (2) a kind of something]
They are the same sort of people as I. (1)
He is the sort of person you want as a friend. (2)

sound
[(1) fast-moving waves of energy that affect the ear and result in hearing; (2) that which is heard]
Sound travels through the air at a speed of 1,088 feet per second. (1)
＊one feet = 30.48 centimeters
She says the sound of the ocean helps her sleep. (2)

south
[the direction to the right of a person facing the rising sun]
He lives 15 miles south of Washington.
* one mile = 1.6 kilometers

space
[(1) the area outside the earth's atmosphere where the sun, moon, planets and stars are; (2) the area between or inside things]
Humans began making flights into space in the early 1960's. (1)
Their new house has more space than their old one. (2)

speak
[(1) to talk; (2) to say words with the mouth; (3) to express one's thoughts to others and exchange ideas; (4) to give a speech to a group]
She would not speak to him. (1)
He spoke⁷ to everyone. (2)
He spoke about his proposal to everyone he met. (3)
The Senator²⁵ speaks to a group tomorrow about trade relations with East Asia. (4)

special
[(1) of a different or unusual kind; (2) not for general use; (3) better or more important than others of the same kind]
Special English is a special kind of English that is easy to understand. (1)
This is a special machine that can be used only by a trained worker. (2)
She received a special award for a lifetime of service to others. (3)

speech
[a talk given to a group of people]
The President will make a television speech tonight about civil rights.

speed
[(1) to make something go or move faster; (2) the rate at which something moves or travels; (3) the rate at which something happens or is done]
The chairman is speeding up debate on the bill. (1)
Do you know the speed of light? (2)
Special English news is read at a speed of 90 words per minute. (3)

spend
[to give as payment; to use]
He spent 45 dollars for food. (1)
He spends much time studying. (2)

spill
[to cause or permit liquid to flow out, usually by accident]
The big ship spilled hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil into the ocean.
*one barrel(米)= 42 gallons (159 liters)

spirit
[(1) the part of a human that is not physical and is connected to thoughts and emotions; (2) the part of a person that is believed to remain alive after death]
His spirit continued to fight the disease even after his body surrendered. (1)
Many believe a person's spirit does not die but returns to the world in a new body. (2)

split²⁶
[(1) to separate into two or more parts; (2) to divide or break into parts]
When you split wood for a fire, you are warmed two times: once by the work and later by the fire. (1)
Cells split into two parts; the new part becomes a new cell that is exactly like the old one. (2)

sport
[any game or activity of competition involving physical effort or skill]
His daughter plays four sports.

spread
[(1) to become longer or wider; (2) to make or become widely known]
The old tree has spread its roots and branches over a wide area. (1)
Please spread the news that we are having a party next Saturday. (2)

spring
[the time of the year between winter and summer]
I hope spring starts early this year.

spy
[(1) to steal or get information secretly; (2) one who watches others secretly; (3) a person employed by a government to get secret information about another country]
She spied to get information for another company. (1)
A spy for the man's wife watched him for several weeks. (2)
Three people employed at the C.I.A. were accused of being spies for a foreign country. (3)

square
[a flat shape having four equal sides]
Measure this square and tell me how much material is needed to cover it.

stab
[to cut or push into or through with a pointed²⁷ weapon]
The person stabbed her then ran away.

stand
[(1) to move into or be in a position in which only the feet are on a surface; (2) to be in one position or place]
She told the students to stand for the opening ceremony. (1)
Two hours ago, she was standing⁴ where the city bus stops. (2)

star
[(1) a mass of gas that usually appears as a small light in the sky at night, but is not a planet; (2) a famous person, usually an actor or singer]
Those stars form the shape of Orion the Hunter. (1)
Some Hollywood stars were at the White House last night. (2)

start
[(1) to begin; (2) to make something begin]
He will start the new job tomorrow. (1)
Will you start the car and turn on the heater? (2)

starve
[to suffer or die from a lack of food]
Thousands may have starved to death because of crop failures in Sudan.

state
[(1) to say; (2) to declare; (3) a political part of a nation]
The Ambassador²⁸ stated his concern about the problem. (1)
A White House spokesman²⁹ stated that no changes had been made in policies affecting trade with Asia. (2)
He plans to travel through several western states. (3)

station
[(1) a place of special work or purpose; (2) a place where passengers get on or off trains or buses; (3) a place for radio or television broadcasts]
Rebels attacked a police station outside the city. (1)
He plans to meet her when she arrives at the bus station. (2)
She works at the television station. (3)

statue
[a form of a human, animal or other creature usually made of stone, wood or metal]
The Statue of Liberty in New York harbor was a gift from France.

stay
[(1) to continue to be where one is; (2) to remain; (3) to not leave; (4) to live for a time]
I will stay here until you return. (1)
He stayed at home yesterday. (2)
She said I should stay until she calls. (3)
They stayed in New York for two years. (4)

steal
[to take without permission or paying]
Be careful. She will steal your heart.

steam
[the gas that comes from hot water]
The kitchen is full of steam when his mother cooks.

steel
[iron made harder and stronger by mixing it with other substances]
Much of the steel used now in the United States is imported.

step
[(1) to move by lifting one foot and placing it in a new position; (2) the act of stepping; (3)one of a series of actions designed to reach a goal]
He stepped through the door. (1)
We moved slowly up the mountain, one step at a time. (2)
The final step is to put the new boat in the water. (3)

stick
[(1) to attach something to another thing using a substance that will hold them together; (2) to become fixed³⁰ in one position so that movement is difficult; (3) a thin piece of wood]
We will put glue on the wallpaper, then stick the paper to the wall. (1)
Something is making the door stick. (2)
We need some small sticks to start a campfire. (3)

still
[(1) not moving; (2) until the present or a stated time; (3) even so; (4) although]
The man was standing still. (1)
Was he still there? (2)
She slept for nine hours, but she was still tired. (3)
The job was difficult, but she still wanted to do it. (4)

stone
[a small piece of rock]
The boys threw stones at the soldiers.

stop
[(1) to prevent any more movement or action; (2) to come or bring to an end]
She stopped the car. (1)
Stop that noise. (2)

store
[(1) to keep or put away for future use; (2) a place where people buy things]
She stores food for emergencies. (1)
His father owns an automobile³¹ parts store. (2)

storm
[violent weather, including strong winds and rain or snow]
The storm caused severe damage across southern Florida.

story
[the telling or writing of an event, either real or imagined]
No one believed the story of her life, so she changed it.

stove
[a heating device used for cooking]
The stove is broken so I cannot cook dinner.

straight
[continuing in one direction without turns]
The road is straight, all the way across the desert.

strange
[(1) unusual; (2) not normal; (3) not known]
I saw some strange lights in the sky last night. (1)
Our backyard is a strange place to see a deer. (2)
Some of our customs seem strange to her. (3)

street
[a road in a city, town or village]
Which street are you looking for?

stretch
[(1) to extend for a distance; (1) to pull on to make longer or wider]
They stretched the rope across the river. (1)
His shoulders stretched the coat. (2)

strike
[(1) to hit with force; (2) to stop work as a way to seek better conditions, more pay or to make other demands]
He struck the baseball with the bat. (1)
The workers are on strike for more money. (2)

strong
[(1) having much power; (2) not easily broken, damaged or destroyed]
The strong wind blew down some trees. (1)
Even some of the strong trees were damaged. (2)

structure
[(1) the way something is built, made or organized; (2) a system that is formed or organized in a special way; (3) a building]
This picture shows the structure of a plant cell. (1)
He will propose some changes in the structure of the organization. (2)
The new structure will have offices on 14 floors. (3)

struggle
[(1) to try with much effort; (2) to fight with; (3) a great effort; (4) a fight]
He struggled to keep his company open. (1)
The two boys struggled for no reason. (2)
It is a great struggle just to get up in the morning. (3)
Who were the boys in that struggle outside the school? (4)

study
[(1) to make an effort to gain knowledge by using the mind; (2) to examine carefully]
He studied for many years to become a doctor. (1)
She studied the problem carefully before making her proposal. (2)

stupid
[(1) not able to learn much; (2) not intelligent]
You are not stupid, you have a learning problem. (1)
There are no stupid people, only stupid mistakes. (2)

subject
[the person or thing being discussed, studied or written about]
Everyone knows the subject of this meeting, so let us get started.

submarine
[an underwater ship]
The submarine is in trouble at the bottom of the ocean.

substance
[the material of which something is made (a solid, liquid or gas)]
The new substance is a liquid that quickly changes to a solid when mixed with another chemical.

substitute
[(1) to put or use in place of another; (2) a person or thing put or used in place of another]
You can substitute this medicine for the one you have been using. (1)
Jim is a substitute for Tom in today's game. (2)

subversion³²
[an attempt to weaken or destroy a political system or government, usually secretly]
The three men are accused of subversion.

succeed
[(1) to reach a goal or thing desired; (2) to produce a planned result]
He succeeded in marrying her. (1)
The team succeeded in winning every game that year. (2)

such
[(1) of this or that kind; (2) of the same kind as; (3) similar to]
She was surprised that they were interested in visiting such places. (1)
Such people are never happy with their situation. (2)
He had coins, keys, gum and such in his pockets. (3)

sudden
[(1) not expected; (2) without warning; (3) done or carried out quickly or without preparation]
All of us got wet during that sudden rainstorm. (1)
Police made a sudden arrest in the case. (2)
He made a sudden decision to retire immediately. (3)

suffer
[(1) to feel pain in the body or mind; (2) to receive or experience hurt or sadness]
She suffered much before her death from cancer. (1)
He suffered from depression when he did not use his medicine. (2)

sugar
[a sweet substance made from liquids taken from plants]
I would like sugar in my tea, please.

suggest
[to offer or propose something to think about or consider]
She suggested doing the job a different way.

summer
[the warmest time of the year, between spring and autumn]
Most public schools are closed during the summer.

sun
[the huge star in the sky that provides heat and light to earth]
Without the sun, life would not exist on Earth.

supervise³³
[to direct and observe the work of others]
She supervises³⁴ a health services office.

supply
[(1) to give; (2) to provide; (3) the amount of something that can be given or sold to others]
The organization supplies food and clothing to poor people. (1)
The store supplies workers with low cost uniforms and other work clothing. (2)
The store has large supplies of uniforms in all sizes. (3)

support
[(1) to carry the weight of; (2) to hold up or in position; (3) to agree with others and help them reach a goal; (4) to approve]
The walls support the weight of the house. (1)
My helper supports the part while I connect it. (2)
Her job is to support the other workers by agreeing with their decisions. (3)
He supports them by approving their efforts to complete the work. (4)

suppose
[(1) to believe, think or imagine; (2) to expect]
I suppose you are right. (1)
It is supposed to rain tonight. (2)

suppress³⁵
[(1) to put down or to keep down by force; (2) to prevent information from being known publicly]
The government suppressed³⁶ any attempt to end its control. (1)
The government suppressed all reports of demonstrations³⁷. (2)

sure
[(1) very probable; (2) with good reason to believe; (3) true without question]
He believed he had a sure method of escape. (1)
Everything she wrote was based on sure facts. (2)
The government had sure proof that he did the crime. (3)

surface
[the outer side or top of something]
The rocket landed on the surface of the moon.

surplus³⁸
[(1) an amount that is more than is needed; (2) extra]
The United States had a big budget surplus. (1)
That country has a trade surplus. It exports more than it imports. (2)

surprise
[(1) to cause a feeling of wonder because something is not expected; (2) something not expected; (3) the feeling caused by something not expected]
Her friends surprised her with a party. (1)
The party was a big surprise. (2)
Her real surprise made everyone else as happy as she. (3)

surrender
[(1) to give control of oneself or one's property to another or others; (2) to stop fighting and admit defeat]
The robbers surrendered to police. (1)
Germany surrendered to the allied³⁹ powers to end the war in Europe. (2)

surround
[(1) to form a circle around; (2) to be in positions all around someone or something]
The house was surrounded by big trees. (1)
Soldiers surrounded the enemy headquarters. (2)

survive
[to remain alive during or after a dangerous situation]
No one survived when the plane crashed into the mountain.

suspect
[(1) to imagine or believe that a person is guilty of something bad or illegal; (2) a person believed to be guilty]
Police suspected her from the beginning. (1)
They questioned all the usual suspects. (2)

suspend
[to cause to stop for a period of time]
The committee meeting was suspended because not enough voting members were there.

swallow
[to take into the stomach through the mouth]
He swallowed the medicine.

swear in
[to put an official into office by having him or her promise to carry out the duties of that office]
The chief justice will swear in the president.

sweet
[tasting pleasant, like sugar]
This fruit is very sweet.

swim
[to move through water by making motions with the arms and legs]
Can you swim across the river?

sympathy
[a sharing of feelings or emotions with another person, usually feelings of sadness]
You have our sympathy for your loss.

system
[(1) a method of organizing or doing something by following rules or a plan; (2) a group of connected things or parts working together for a common purpose or goal]
The office established a filing system so that we can find documents easily and quickly. (1)
Our system of justice sometimes makes mistakes and punishes an innocent person. (2)