Andra Day on how her song 'Tigress & Tweed' builds on Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit'
A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
come
US / kʌm /
•UK / kʌm /
- verb
- To arrive at a place
- (Of mail) to be delivered
- To move toward someone; go with someone
- To reach a certain point or state
think
US / θɪŋk /
•UK / θɪŋk /
- verb
- To have an idea about something without certainty
- To have an idea, opinion or belief about something
hang
US / hæŋ /
•UK / hæŋ /
- verb
- To attach a picture, photograph etc. onto a wall
- To float, move softly, or remain in the air
- To kill by putting a rope around neck and dropping
- To remain undecided, unsolved or unclear
tree
US / tri: /
•UK / tri /
- noun
- Tall green plants in a forest
where
US / hwɛə /
•UK / hwɛr, wɛr /
- conjunction
- At or in the place which
- In whatever place
- pronoun
- Word you use to ask the location of something
name
US / neɪm /
•UK / nem /
- noun
- What something or someone is called
- verb
- To state what someone is called, e.g. John
and
US / ənd /
•UK / ənd, ən,ænd /
- conjunction
- Used to refer to two or more things
- Plus; in addition; on top of that
- Used to introduce an action that follows another
poor
US / pʊə(r) /
•UK / pʊr /
- adjecitve
- Inferior; below the normal standard
- Deserving of pity or sympathy
- Without money; not rich
tone
US / təʊn /
•UK / toʊn /
- noun
- Atmosphere or feeling in a message
- Firmness and strength of the body's muscles
- Difference in pitch between musical notes
- Specific shade of color
- Quality of sound created by a musical instrument
- Sound of a voice that reveals emotion or meaning
- verb
- To increase the quality of muscles by exercise
two
US / tu: /
•UK / tu /
- number
- 2
from
US / frəm /
•UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /
- preposition
- Starting at a particular place, time or level
out
US / aʊt /
•UK / aʊt /
- adverb
- No longer stylish (e.g. fashion)
- Away from home, business, or the usual place
- In a direction/movement away from inside or center
- noun
- Act when a batter cannot continue playing
- verb
- To tell people a secret
sense
US / sens /
•UK / sɛns /
- noun
- Certain mental feeling or emotion
- Normal or clear state of mind
- Meaning of a particular word, phrase or text
- verb
- To perceive using sight, sound, taste touch etc.
- To recognize the presence of something
scale
US / skeɪl /
•UK / skel /
- noun
- Size, level, or amount when compared
- Small hard plates that cover the body of fish
- Device that is used to weigh a person or thing
- Range of numbers from the lowest to the highest
- Dimensions or size of something
- verb
- To change the size of but keep the proportions
- To climb something large (e.g. a mountain)
- To remove the scales of a fish
breeze
US / bri:z /
•UK / briz /
- noun
- Soft movement of air
- verb
- To act in a confident way; walk, enter confidently
- To complete something easily; find success
want
US / wɔnt /
•UK / wɑnt, wɔnt /
- noun
- Something you desire or wish for
- State or condition of poverty
- verb
- To desire or wish for something; hope for a thing
would
US / wʊd /
•UK / wʊd /
- other
- Used to indicate something imagined
- Used to ask or request something politely
- Verb used to indicate possibility, request etc.
- Used to indicate a preference
- Used to indicate a reaction
- Indicates something that occurred repeatedly
- Used to indicate willingness or ability to do
friend
US / frend /
•UK / frɛnd /
- noun
- Person who you like and enjoy being with
but
US / bət /
•UK / bʌt,bət /
- conjunction
- Used before you say something different, opposite
cut
US / kʌt /
•UK / kʌt /
- noun
- Act/instance of reducing the size or amount of
- Small opening made using a sharp object, knife
- A wound on someone's skin caused by a sharp object
- verb
- To reduce the size or amount of something
- To use knife or scissors to divide, open surfaces
life
US / laɪf /
•UK / laɪf /
- noun
- All the living things e.g. animals, plants, humans
- Period of time things live, from birth to death
not
US / nɒt /
•UK / nɑt /
- adverb
- Word indicating the negative
- (Used to form the negative of verbs)
our
US / 'aʊə(r) /
•UK / aʊr /
- determiner
- Belonging to us
air
US / eə(r) /
•UK / er /
- noun
- Mixture of gases around the earth that we breathe
- A person's manner intended to impress others
- verb
- To expose to the outside, to dry or freshen
- To broadcast a TV or radio show
- To open a subject to discussion and debate
foot
US / fʊt /
•UK / fʊt /
- noun
- Base of something such as a mountain or vase
- Length of 12 inches or about 25 cm
- Lowest part of the leg we use to stand on
know
US / nəʊ /
•UK / noʊ /
- verb
- To be familiar with a person or place, thing
- To feel sure or be convinced about something
- To discover or be aware of something
- To be able to distinguish
- To have knowledge of things
perfume
US / ˈpɜ:fju:m /
•UK / pərˈfju:m /
- noun
- Liquid with a pleasing smell you put on your skin
- Nice, sweet or flowery smell
- verb
- To add a pleasing smell to something
see
US / si: /
•UK / si /
- verb
- To go on a date with someone
- To predict whether something is, or will be true
- To understand what someone says
- To use your eyes to look at something
- To visit a place often for sightseeing or pleasure
- To visit or meet with someone
- To find out by waiting or looking
- To watch (a game, movie or TV show)
blood
US / blʌd /
•UK / blʌd /
- adjecitve
- Related by birth; family
- noun
- Red liquid in the bodies of people and animals
- verb
- To be initiated into something, e.g. a secret club
sad
US / sæd /
•UK / sæd /
- adjecitve
- Unhappy; wishing something hadn't happened
southern
US / ˈsʌðən /
•UK / ˈsʌðərn /
- adjecitve
- Concerning a region in the south
- Being in or toward the south
with
US / wɪð /
•UK / wɪð, wɪθ /
- preposition
- As an employee of a certain company
- Against something or someone
- By using something as a means
- Due to; because of
- Including
- Possessing as a feature
- Related to
- (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
- Used to express that people or things are together
alive
US / ə'laɪv /
•UK / əˈlaɪv /
- adjecitve
- Living; not dead
holiday
US / ˈhɒlədeɪ /
•UK / ˈhɑ:lədeɪ /
- noun
- Day when people don't go to work or school
- A day for a culture to celebrate; festival day
- Time of year when people go somewhere for fun/rest
have
US / həv /
•UK / hæv /
- verb
- To drink, smoke, eat or use something
- To experience the effects of something
- To organize an event, or join in an activity
- To own, possess, or hold something
- To cause to happen or produce a particular effect
poplar
US / ˈpɒplə(r) /
•UK / ˈpɑ:plə(r) /
- noun
- Tall thin tree, often grown in rows along roads
mind
US / maɪnd /
•UK / maɪnd /
- noun
- One's opinion or way of thinking about something
- Part of humans that allows us to think or feel
- verb
- To be bothered or upset by something
- To take care of someone e.g. as a bodyguard
first
US / fɜ:st /
•UK / fɚst /
- adjecitve
- 1st; Coming before all others in time or place
- noun
- Something that has not happened before
- Position of the winner of a competition
get
US / ɡet /
•UK / ɡɛt /
- verb
- To become affected by illness or disease
- To begin to feel or understand an emotion or idea
- To send or bring someone or something home, etc.
- To go somewhere to obtain something
- To (cause to) do a particular thing
- To obtain, receive or be given something
- To currently have
- To prepare for use
- To understand something being said or read
prayer
US / prɛə /
•UK / prɛr /
- noun
- Words spoken to your god for help
- (+negative) small chance of succeeding
- Strong desire, wish, or hope for a thing to happen
she
US / ʃɪ /
•UK / ʃi /
- pronoun
- Female person or animal mentioned before
- (Refers to female person mentioned before)
hit
US / hɪt /
•UK / hɪt /
- noun
- A planned killing, usually for money
- Song, movie etc. that is successful
- When someone strikes someone or something
- Time when a player makes contact with the ball
- Time when a website is accessed
- verb
- To have a negative impact on a person/place/thing
- To press something, such as a button or switch
- To suddenly realize the importance of something
- To move your hand, a bat, etc. against with force
- To fight, attack or damage something or someone
- To arrive at a specific place, level, or goal
- To make contact with the ball in a game or sport
mean
US / mi:n /
•UK / min /
- adjecitve
- Being good at
- Nasty; unkind
- Not liking to spend money; cheap; stingy
- noun
- Average of a set of numbers
- verb
- To express a particular idea or thought
- To intend to do something in particular
- To have a particular meaning or value
track
US / træk /
•UK / træk /
- noun
- A circular course for running
- Course or way someone takes, e.g. in education
- Path in a field or a forest made by walkers
- Often circular course laid out for car racing
- One of multiple musical recordings on an album
- Band surrounding the wheels of a tank
- Metal lines that trains ride on
- verb
- To use marks to follow a wild animal
- To move a certain way/follow a particular course
- To record and examine the progress of something
yeah
US / jeə /
•UK / ˈjɛə, ˈjæə, jɛ- /
- exclamation
- Another way of saying 'yes'
down
US / daʊn /
•UK / daʊn /
- adjecitve
- Being sad, sick, or unhappy
- Not operating, working, or functioning as expected
- adverb
- In a sitting or lying position
- Towards or on the ground, floor, or bottom
- Written or copied onto a piece of paper or book
- noun
- A period of play in American Football
- The soft, smooth hairs that cover a bird's body
- preposition
- Along something's path, course, or direction
- Going from a higher position to a lower position
- verb
- To eat or drink very quickly and without stopping
faith
US / feɪθ /
•UK / feθ /
- noun
- Belief in a god or gods; religion
- Belief that that something is true without proof
- Person's name
honor
US / 'ɒnə(r) /
•UK / ˈɑnɚ /
- noun
- Award you get for doing well; prize, title, etc.
- Chance to do something special; privilege
- Respect given to someone who is admired
- Good standing a person has in a community
- verb
- To fulfill an agreement
- To give an award to someone
- To respect someone or something
respect
US / rɪ'spekt /
•UK / rɪˈspɛkt /
- noun
- Behavior that follows the established rules
- Admiration for someone
- Regard or admiration for someone or something
- verb
- To follow the established rules
- To think very highly of another person
then
US / ðen /
•UK / ðɛn /
- adverb
- A time that is not now
- Following another thing in time or arrangement
- Following on reasonably from what was just stated
- At that time, not now
about
US / ə'baʊt /
•UK / əˈbaʊt /
- adverb
- To be ready to; going to
- Nearly; approximately; roughly
- Near; next to; close to
- In every direction; in the area of
- preposition
- Concerning or of (a topic)
like
US / laɪk /
•UK / laɪk /
- adjecitve
- Being equal in status or kind to something else
- Similar; the same
- adverb
- For example
- preposition
- Used as a filler; used to ad emphasis
- In a way similar to the way something is done
- Such as; for example
- verb
- To want to
- To find something pleasing; to prefer something
people
US / 'pi:pl /
•UK / ˈpipəl /
- noun
- Persons sharing culture, country, background, etc.
- Men, Women, Children
pity
US / 'pɪtɪ /
•UK / ˈpɪti /
- noun
- Feeling very sorry for someone, e.g. in trouble
- verb
- To feel sorry for someone in trouble
that
US / ðæt /
•UK / ðæt, ðət /
- adjecitve
- The person or thing being talked about
- Used to identify something both the speakers know
- adverb
- Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
- To such a degree
- conjunction
- Used to connect a noun clause
- Used to introduce an adverbial clause
- Used to introduce a noun clause
- determiner
- Used as a noun to refer to something
- pronoun
- Referring an object far away
- Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’
what
US / wɒt /
•UK / hwɑt, hwʌt, wɔt, wʌt,hwət, wət /
- pronoun
- Thing or things that; the same kind as
- Used to emphasize something you are about to say
- adjecitve
- Used to refer to a particular amount, or number
- Used to place emphasis on a particular quality
- adverb
- To a certain degree
- determiner
- Question words used for asking for information
- exclamation
- Used to express excitement, shock, or surprise
- Used to ask people to repeat something they said
inequality
US / ˌɪnɪˈkwɒləti /
•UK / ˌɪnɪˈkwɑ:ləti /
- noun
- Situation where things are not equal, fair
beautiful
US / 'bju:tɪfl /
•UK / ˈbjutəfəl /
- adjecitve
- Having dome something well
- Being very attractive or appealing physically
after
US / 'ɑ:ftə(r) /
•UK / ˈæftɚ /
- adverb
- Later than another time, or behind something
- conjunction
- Following something before
- preposition
- When an event happened or time has passed
describe
US / dɪ'skraɪb /
•UK / dɪˈskraɪb /
- verb
- To tell the appearance, sound, smell of something
write
US / raɪt /
•UK / raɪt /
- verb
- To compose letters and words on paper or a screen
- To invent or create a computer program
- To create a song or piece of music
piano
US / piˈænəʊ /
•UK / piˈæno, ˈpjæno /
- adjecitve
- In a soft and quiet manner (on the piano)
- noun
- Keyboard instrument used for playing music
probably
US / ˈprɒbəbli /
•UK / ˈprɑbəbli /
- adverb
- That is likely to happen or be true
new
US / nju: /
•UK / nu, nju /
- adjecitve
- Not old, recently born, built or made
- Being or doing something for the first time
- Not felt, seen or known previously
- Having been recently bought or obtained
tweed
US / twi:d /
•UK / twid /
- noun
- Tough woven fabric used especially for jackets
all
US / ɔ:l /
•UK / ɔl /
- adverb
- Completely; totally
- determiner
- Being every one of something
- pronoun
- 100% of something; the complete amount
militant
US / 'mɪlɪtənt /
•UK / ˈmɪlɪtənt /
- adjecitve
- Using strong forceful methods to achieve a goal
- noun
- People advocating force to achieve a goal
produce
US / prə'dju:s /
•UK / prəˈdus, -ˈdjus, pro- /
- noun
- Fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables
- verb
- To grow something naturally
- To make something appear
- To manufacture something using machines
- To control the making a movie or television show
strange
US / streɪndʒ /
•UK / strendʒ /
- adjecitve
- Unusual or odd; surprising because unexpected
change
US / tʃeɪndʒ /
•UK / tʃendʒ /
- noun
- Exchange of one set of clothes for another
- Money in the form of coins instead of paper
- Money returned after giving too much
- Act of making or becoming something else
- verb
- To exchange one set of clothes for another
- To exchange one kind of money for another
- To replace something with another thing
- To make or become something else
- To go from one train, bus, etc. and go to another
pour
US / pɔ:(r) /
•UK / pɔr, por /
- verb
- To fill a person's glass or cup with a drink
- To make something flow in a steady stream
- To rain very heavily
move
US / mu:v /
•UK / muv /
- noun
- Act of moving a playing piece in chess, etc.
- An action; doing something
- Step taken to achieve a goal
- verb
- To cause someone to have certain emotions
- To cause something to change to a different place
- To change where people live or a business operates
- To take action to do or achieve something
way
US / weɪ /
•UK / we /
- adverb
- Used to emphasize the amount of something
- noun
- Particular aspect of something being thought about
- One of various choices that could be made
- Particular existing condition or state
- (Often long) distance or length of time
- How something is done
- Route to go to a place
- Small street
- Usual behavior, emotions or habits of someone
take
US / teɪk /
•UK / tek /
- noun
- Filming of a single scene for TV or the movies
- verb
- To accept something that is offered
- To use a method of traveling, e.g. a bus or train
- To use a camera to make (a photo)
- To pick up something and go away with it
- To study a subject in school
- To attempt to pass (an exam)
- To require a certain amount of time, money, space
update
US / ˌʌpˈdeɪt /
•UK / ʌpˈdet /
- noun
- Addition of a current version of something
- New information or data to make more current
- verb
- To download the latest version of software
- To make more current or modern
ancestor
US / 'ænsestə(r) /
•UK / ˈænˌsɛstɚ /
- noun
- A person from your family that lived in the past
intimidate
US / ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt /
•UK / ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdet /
- verb
- To make someone feel afraid
they
US / ðeɪ /
•UK / ðe /
- pronoun
- Two or more people, animals, or things
just
US / dʒʌst /
•UK / dʒʌst /
- adjecitve
- Proper or appropriate; as is deserved
- Doing or being what is right or fair
- Legally correct; having enough evidence
- adverb
- Almost; nearly
- Exactly at the time of
- Exactly (the same as, like)
line
US / laɪn /
•UK / laɪn /
- noun
- Border that divides two places or regions
- Long crease in the skin, often from age
- Mark that is long, straight and very thin
- Row of words, letters or numbers that are written
- Telephone connection
- People waiting one behind the other; queue
- Long thin wire, e.g. for electrical signal
- verb
- To put material along the inside of something
ownership
US / ˈəʊnəʃɪp /
•UK / ˈoʊnərʃɪp /
- noun
- State of having a legal right to possess something
question
US / 'kwestʃən /
•UK / ˈkwɛstʃən /
- noun
- Issue or problems you are dealing with
- What you ask about; issue
- verb
- To ask for or try to get information
- To have or express concerns or uncertainty
struggle
US / 'strʌɡl /
•UK / ˈstrʌɡəl /
- noun
- Strong efforts made to do something difficult
- verb
- To try very hard to do something difficult
black
US / blæk /
•UK / blæk /
- adjecitve
- Color of the sky on a dark night
- noun
- A person with dark skin, often of African origin
- Person's name
- verb
- To fill in something to make it a very dark color
evolve
US / ɪ'vɒlv /
•UK / ɪˈvɑlv /
- verb
- To develop certain features
- To develop or change slowly over time
- To slowly change or develop into something better
system
US / 'sɪstəm /
•UK / ˈsɪstəm /
- adjecitve
- Working in an organized, logical way
- noun
- Set of organized, planned ideas that work together
under
US / ˈʌndə(r) /
•UK / ˈʌndɚ /
- adjecitve
- In the same place as another thing, but lower
- adverb
- In a lower quantity or price than expected
- preposition
- According to the terms of an agreement or law
- Managed or controlled by the authority of
- Being of a lesser quality or amount than expected
- Influenced or affected by something or someone
- Less or lower in age, amount, size or number
destroy
US / dɪ'strɔɪ /
•UK / dɪˈstrɔɪ /
- verb
- To damage so badly that something no longer exists
- To defeat someone or something easily
- To kill a sick or unwanted animal
ask
US / ɑ:sk /
•UK / æsk /
- verb
- To say to someone that you want something
song
US / sɒŋ /
•UK / sɔ:ŋ /
- noun
- Distinctive series of sounds made by a bird
- Music with words that are sung to it
- Art or tradition of singing
well
US / wel /
•UK / wɛl /
- adjecitve
- Being in a fortunate, good condition or state
- Healthy and in good condition
- adverb
- In an acceptable, proper, or successful manner
- In a complete, total, or full manner
- A great and considerable degree
- In a successful way, in a good or satisfactory way
- exclamation
- Used to begin or continue a particular statement
- Used to show you want to start saying something
- Used to express that you are waiting for a reply
- You say this to change the topic of a conversation
- Used to indicate you are making a final remark
- noun
- Long deep hole in the ground to get water
- verb
- To cause your eyes to fill with tears
for
US / fə(r) /
•UK / fɔr,fə /
- preposition
- Used to show the purpose, or need of something
tigress
US / ˈtaɪgrəs /
•UK / ˈtaɪɡrɪs /
- noun
- Female tiger
time
US / taɪm /
•UK / taɪm /
- noun
- Speed at which music is played; tempo
- Point as shown on a clock, e.g. 3 p.m
- Number of hours, minutes needed to do something
- Occasion when something happens
- Period or occasion that something occurred
- Period in history or the past
- Something measured in minutes, hours, days, etc.
- How long an event takes; duration
- verb
- To check speed at which music is performed
- To choose a specific moment to do something
- To measure how long an event takes, e.g. a race
- To schedule something to occur at a specific moment
victory
US / 'vɪktərɪ /
•UK / ˈvɪktəri /
- noun
- Defeating or beating someone or something
why
US / waɪ /
•UK / hwaɪ, waɪ /
- adverb
- Question word to ask for a reason
- exclamation
- (Used to express surprise or approval)
big
US / bɪɡ /
•UK / bɪɡ /
- adjecitve
- Popular
- Serious
- Large
lyric
US / ˈlɪrɪk /
•UK / ˈlɪrɪk /
- adjecitve
- In a tone, or style similar to an emotional song
- noun
- The words of a song
the
US / ðə /
•UK / ðə /
- article
- Used to refer to something already mentioned
- Used to show there is only one of something
- determiner
- Used to describe all of a family
forward
US / 'fɔ:wəd /
•UK / ˈfɔrwəd /
- adjecitve
- Toward what is ahead; in front
- Acting in a socially aggressive manner; pushy
- adverb
- Toward the front in place; in front
- Toward a future time; to a more advanced state
- verb
- To send something to another address or person
love
US / lʌv /
•UK / lʌv /
- noun
- Person's name
- A very strong feeling of affection
- The person you care very deeply about
- Strong, deep emotional and sexual attraction
- verb
- To care for and like someone very strongly, deeply
- To like doing very much; enjoy greatly
- To feel a strong emotional and romantic attraction
power
US / 'paʊə(r) /
•UK / ˈpaʊɚ /
- noun
- Legal or official right to perform certain actions
- Ability to move forcefully and quickly
- Energy of something (e.g. electricity or fuel)
- Mathematical way to multiply a number
- Condition of being in political control
- Physical force, energy, and strength
- verb
- To give energy to something, e.g. by electricity
- To move something forcefully and quickly
perfect
US / 'pɜ:fɪkt /
•UK / ˈpɚfɪkt /
- adjecitve
- So good it cannot be improved
- verb
- To do something so well, it cannot be done better
other
US / 'ʌðə(r) /
•UK / ˈʌðər /
- adjecitve
- A thing different from that mentioned
- determiner
- (Something) else; not the first (one)
- pronoun
- Being the one and only thing of that category
root
US / ru:t /
•UK / rut, rʊt /
- noun
- Emotional connection with a place, history etc.
- The origin or starting place of something
- A number that is multiplied by itself
- Part of plant growing underground, as to get water
- Part of tooth, hair etc. from which the rest grows
- Base part of a word to which affixes can be added
- verb
- To cause a plant to develop or grow roots
- (Animals) to search for e.g. food in earth
- To stop someone moving, as through fear
strength
US / streŋθ /
•UK / strɛŋkθ, strɛŋθ, strɛnθ /
- noun
- Condition of being strong
scent
US / sent /
•UK / sɛnt /
- noun
- Pleasant smell, as of flowers or perfume
- verb
- To become aware of the presence of a smell, etc.
- To add smell to something
chord
US / kɔ:d /
•UK / kɔrd, kord /
- noun
- Line that joins two points on a circle
- Combination of musical notes played at same time
how
US / haʊ /
•UK / haʊ /
- adjecitve
- To what degree? in what amount?
- adverb
- (Used to explain the way to do something)
- exclamation
- For what purpose or reason?
- (Used to ask someone or something's condition)
kind
US / kaɪnd /
•UK / kaɪnd /
- adjecitve
- In a caring and helpful manner
- friendly and considerate
- noun
- One type of thing
you
US / jʊ /
•UK / ju /
- pronoun
- Person someone is speaking or writing to
- Person or people in general
body
US / ˈbɒd.i /
•UK / ˈbɑdi /
- noun
- An object distinct from other objects
- A group of people involved in an activity together
- Main part of something
- A person's physical self
fruit
US / fru:t /
•UK / frut /
- noun
- Result or product of something
- Food that grows on a tree or bush, usually sweet
- verb
- To grow e.g. apples, bananas, as a plant or a tree
this
US / ðɪs /
•UK / ðɪs /
- adjecitve
- Used to indicate something already been discussed
- Used to indicate something happening around now
- adverb
- An indication by a physical motion or gesture
- A specific amount of
- determiner
- Person, thing, or idea near you
- pronoun
- Person, thing that has already been discussed
answer
US / 'ɑ:nsə(r) /
•UK / ˈænsɚ /
- noun
- Reply to a question someone asks
- Solution to a problem or test question
- verb
- To reply to a question someone asks
- To solve a test question or a problem
favourite
US / ˈfeɪvərɪt /
•UK / 'fevərɪt /
- adjecitve
- Best liked or most enjoyed
- noun
- A thing that someone likes best or enjoys most
goal
US / ɡəʊl /
•UK / ɡol /
- noun
- Something you try to do or achieve; an aim
- (Sports) net into which you put a ball to score
- (Sports) act of scoring by putting a ball in a net