Whether we are hunting down a word in a fury or just casually perusing a dictionary, we are constantly reminded of the expansive power of language and of the many boundless ways to experience the world. In honor of National Dictionary Day on October 16, we share some of the ways that 826LA students define their world.
Every summer, students from 826LA’s English Language Learner Camp create their own definitions for vocabulary words. The students’ definitions are at times hilarious, poignant, and profound. We hope the students’ imagination and creativity, and the hard work they put into finding new ways to use everyday words, will reveal new ways of looking at the world around us.
Enjoy a selection from this summer’s ELL Dictionary!
[ezcol_1fifth]
Alive
Being alive means standing on the world.
Giovannie Z.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Brain
A brain is used a lot. The brain helps you think. The brain is protected by a skull. I have a big brain.
Stephanie D.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Creation
Creation is imagination or an art sculpture.
Ashley L.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Delicious
Something yummy, also makes you happy when you taste it.
Johanna Z.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth_end]
Expedition
A mission that you go on and find what you’re looking for 🙂
Eva M.
[/ezcol_1fifth_end]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Fantasia
Algo que no existe.
Teddy T.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Grow
Grow means become larger or greater over a period of time.
David P.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Heritage
Something that is handed down from earlier generations or from the past: tradition.
Isai M.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Important
Important means something really special.
Andrea H.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth_end]
Justice
Everyone deserves to be treated the same way.
Andres M.
[/ezcol_1fifth_end]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Language
A type of talk you understand.
Nathan D.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Museum
It is a place that has art and no touch.
Jose M.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Natural Disaster
A disaster that happens randomly from Mother Earth.
Johanna Z.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Oxygen
It comes out of a tree.
Ceasar J.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth_end]
Peace
Peace means no enemies, no war, and no bad stuff.
Omar S.
[/ezcol_1fifth_end]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Quality
What sets or keeps a thing a thing apart.
Brandon T.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
River
Something that leads a way.
Luisa L.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Sketching
You are painting light.
David E.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Toxic
Toxic farts, toxic waste, toxic toilet, toxic poop, toxic boom!
Edwin G.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth_end]
Understand
Understand means to know what someone is talking about.
Leslie D.
[/ezcol_1fifth_end]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Vision
Seeing, and seeing with eyeballs.
Jasmine E.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Waterfall
Water that falls.
Osvaldo V.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
[ezcol_1fifth]
Xylophone
A musical instrument that has many tones.
Ryan B.
[/ezcol_1fifth]
Interested in helping students write amazing definitions like these? Become a volunteer.