comprehensive

Everyday

1. Including everything or almost everything that is needed; complete and thorough: «a comprehensive guide to birds». tree →
2. (UK) A comprehensive school is a state secondary school that takes children of all abilities without an entrance test; people often just say «a comprehensive». tree →
3. (sport) A comprehensive win is a very big, clear win. tree →
4. (insurance) Comprehensive car insurance covers damage to your own car as well as to other people's. tree →

In the lessons

In school it describes complete revision notes, a thorough test or a full report. In the UK most secondary pupils go to a comprehensive, unlike grammar schools that need an exam (the 11-plus). In news and sport: «a comprehensive victory». Phrases: «a comprehensive list», «comprehensive school», «comprehensive review», «comprehensive coverage».

Examples

• This book is a comprehensive guide to the planets. tree →
• My big sister goes to the local comprehensive. tree →
• The teacher gave us a comprehensive list of spellings to learn. tree →
• City won a comprehensive victory, six–nil. tree →
• The museum has a comprehensive collection of fossils. tree →
• Dad needs comprehensive insurance for his new car. tree →
• Our science report must be comprehensive and include every result. tree →

Note

Do not confuse with «comprehensible» (easy to understand) or «comprehension» (understanding what you read, as in a reading comprehension test). Comprehensive means complete, not easy. Spelled with -sive, not -sife.