Question

Need good advice!

Hi, I'm going to move to Australia by next August. My IELTS speaking score was 7.5 but I do not feel good with my English speaking skills. A major part of my problem is related to WORD CHOICES. This will definitely affect my life there in many ways. --> I need to understand words better. This will translate to:
1) Knowing the most important meanings of the most frequently used Vocabs.
2) Knowing the most important collocations.
3) Use words I know in correct situations.

I found "The New General Service List". It's awesome. But there's a problem:

Answer 1

When I look up a word for example "Know" to understand its different meanings and uses, i see something like this

1) in Merriam Webster's Dictionary
http://learnersdictionary.com/definition/know

2) in the Oxford Dictionaries
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/american_english/know

Answer 2

ANY IDEA ...
1) Which one to use?
2) How to decide which meanings, expressions and collocations to omit.

Answer 3

wait you're looking for the difference between know and now or...

Answer 4

Oh, sure i'm not. :)
Those two links are both definitions of the word "Know" in two dictionaries.

Answer 5

The problem is for example in Merriam Webster's dictionary there are too many definitions for the word "Know"

Answer 6

It's to be expected and that's why this word is ranked 23rd in the most frequently used english words.

Answer 7

I would go with what Merriam Webster's Dictionary says

Answer 8

Any idea how i can omit a few of them?

Answer 9

umm yeah like
ex:
where's the bathroom?
I don't know.

Answer 10

I prefer Merriam Webster's too, cuz I feel much more comfortable with American english. But it's so vast. I need to omit a few meanings and expressions.
I need an Idea how to choose the most important ones.

Answer 11

Look!
Most of the times, the first, second and third meanings under each entry (i mean word in dictionary) are completely essential to know.

But i really don't know which expressions to omit.

Answer 12

Example:

Meaning no. 6-a: to be sure that (someone or something) has a particular quality, character, etc., because of your experiences with that person or thing

Answer 13

and an expression:
before you know it --> very quickly or soon

Answer 14

and another one:
don't I know it (informal)
— used to say that you agree with what has just been said

Answer 15

well, there are too many other meaning as well. So I need to choose between them. I cannot remember them all.

What would be your suggestion in this case?

Answer 16

Could someone tell me one thing:
Have I written my question and explained about it very badly
or
I am clear...?!!!