6 words with meanings that will surprise you

Adam: Hi. Welcome to www.engvid.com My name is Adam. And, today, I want to talk

to you about English. Now, I know that you think English is a very confusing

language, and you're right — it's a very confusing language. Many students have

come to me and said: "But I check in the dictionary, and this is what it means."

And I say: "Yes, but there are several meanings in the dictionary. Which one

did you choose?" And everybody looks at me and going: "Well, the one it says in

the dictionary." Little hint for all of you... all of you studying English: Many

words in English have more than one meaning, and the dictionary doesn't list

them in the order that you need them; it just gives you definitions. You need to

look at the context. What is the sentence around this word you're not

understanding? Okay? So, I chose a few examples, here, just to give you an idea

of what I'm talking about. So, I think all of you know this word: "wear". You

"wear" clothes, you "wear" a tie, you "wear" glasses. So, most of you think

this is a verb about clothes. Okay? Did you know that this can also be a noun?

Now, the noun "wear" and the verb "wear" have absolutely no relationship. The

noun "wear", although it can also be used as a verb, basically means to make

less; to make more weak. Okay? For example, if you put a lot of friction,

if you rub something a long time — the material will become less and less. So,

for example, look at my jeans. Okay? If I do this many times, eventually my knee

area will "wear"; and then, when this area is "worn" — okay? — there will be a

hole here. And then these jeans will have so much "wear" that I won't be able

to wear them in public; people will laugh at me, and that's not good. Now,

usually, we talk about: "wear and tear". Okay? This is the use of materials. Now,

for example, if you have anything with moving parts — your car, for example:

You drive, you drive, you drive, you drive — eventually things start to break

and fall apart. Why? Because of the "wear" on the parts. Metal rubbing

against metal — the metal becomes less; becomes weak. Okay? So, that's "wear".

I think everybody knows this word: "meet". You're gonna "meet" your

friends; you're gonna "meet" for drinks. Okay? Great. Did you know that this word

can also be a noun? You're thinking: "'Meet', a noun? It can't be." But it

Now, these two are funny ones, because they're used usually as slang. Oops,

can. Okay? When? For example, recently, you've seen the Olympics. The Olympics

is the biggest swim "meet" in the world; it's the biggest gymnastics "meet" in

sorry. "Milk", of course, you've all drank... you've all drunk milk; you've

the world; the biggest track-and-field "meet" in the world. A "meet" basically

means an event, and usually we're talking about a sports event. But "meet"

as a verb also has other meanings; besides "meet someone". You can "meet

all drunk water. These are very delicious drinks, but that's not what

expectations". Your boss wants you to be able to do this much work in a week,

let's say. If you can "meet expectations" means you can finish all

we're talking about here. Do you know that "milk" and "water" can both be

that work that your boss wants you to do. Right? Nothing to do with other

people; has to do with the work. You're "meeting expectations"; you're "meeting

verbs? Now there's, of course, the literal meaning of "milk" — "to milk" is

deadlines", etcetera. "Mean". Now, most of you, I think know this word — you

think it means mean, like not nice as an adjective. This word can also be a noun.

Now, I'm shocking you, I know. But what does "mean" mean as a noun? Well, for

to milk a cow; to squeeze the milk out of a cow. "To water" means to pour water

example, some of you are going to be taking the IELTS exam. You have a

reading score, a listening score, a speaking score, and a writing score. The

over something; over your garden or your lawn. But in slang, it has a completely

universities, they want to see your "mean" score. What does that mean?

"Mean" mean, right? It basically means your average. If you take all the four

scores, the "mean" is where these come in the middle; in the average. So, you

different meaning. "To milk something" or "to milk someone" is to get out of it

have to be careful to use this as a adjective... as an adjective; sometimes

as a noun. So, someone says: -"Have you taken the TOEFL exam?" -"Yes." -"What

as much as possible. Okay? So, for example, your friend is very rich, and

was the mean?" -"Oh, it was seven." -"Oh, congratulations — you're going to

university." Next: "make". "Make". Everybody knows "make". This is one of

the first verbs you learn in English, right? "To make" — to create; to build

very generous, and he likes to give out money. So, you try to "milk him for

something. Here's another little shocker: It's also a noun. Let's say

you're calling tech support. Your computer is not working very well; you

every penny he has". Maybe not a nice thing to do, but people do it anyway.

call tech support. The first question the tech support guy is going to ask you

is: "What's the make of your computer?" And you say: "I don't want to make a

computer; I want to fix my computer." And he's saying: "Well, yes, but what's

That's what "milk" means — "to milk someone". "To water" — we usually say:

the make?" So, "make" basically means the maker or the manufacturer.

Basically, who made it. So, "the make" of my computer, for example, is Acer;

"to water down". "To water down" means to make less intense; a little similar

maybe yours is Dell, or Apple, or Toshiba, etcetera. So, "the make" — who

made it.

to "wear", but different. "To water down" means to make it less intense; a

little bit weaker. So, for example, if you're reading a business report, and

Now, you're thinking: "Okay, wow. I know all these new words that I already knew,

you have to explain to your customer the business situation, for example, if you

but I didn't know." So, now you're thinking: "Well, how am I supposed to

know other words by myself?" Without me here? "Without Adam here to explain

give them all these technical words, they won't know what you mean. You need

them?" Use context. And, of course, use your dictionary. If you look at your

to "water it down for them"; you need to make it simpler. So, you put less

dictionary, all of these meanings are there. The thing is: Don't take the

technical words; you make the sentences a little bit easier to understand. You

first meaning a dictionary gives you because it may be it's not the one you

explain the situation in everyday words; you make it less intense, so they don't

need. Look at the context — what is around the word, what is the situation

the word is being used in? — and then look for something in the dictionary

get scared. Good.

that matches that context, and that's how you will improve your English. Okay?

Now, you're still not too sure; you want a little bit of practice — go to

www.engvid.com. There's a quiz there; you can practice these. And come back to

www.engvid.com for other lessons; learn English, improve your abilities, and

I'll see you next time. Thank you.