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25 Cards in this Set
- Front
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embargo |
n. a government order imposing a trade barrier v. prevent commerce v. forbid the public distribution of ( a movie or a newspaper) synonyms: ban; block; halt; censor An embargo is an order stopping the movement of trade ships into or out of a country. If you can’t get those yummy Swedish fish, perhaps there has been an embargo on trade with Sweden! As a verb, the use of embargo is a little more broad. If you write an impassioned plea for peace, but the government embargoes it, no one will read your writing. |
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pivot |
n. axis consisting of a short shaft that supports something that turns n. the act of rotating as if on an axis v. change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense synonyms: turn To pivot is to turn or rotate, like a hinge or a basketball player pivoting back and forth on one foot to protect the ball. When you're not talking about a type of swiveling movement, you can use pivot to mean the one central thing that something depends upon. The central pivot of your student government campaign, for example, might be longer recess time. Your plans to go to the beach this weekend could pivot upon whether it rains, as the weather channel has predicted, or gets surprisingly sunny. |
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swarthy |
adj. naturally having skin of a dark color synonyms: dusky Not everyone with dark skin is swarthy. The word is usually used to describe someone whose skin is weather-beaten and darkened by the sun, or has an olive complexion. |
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calamity |
n. an event resulting in great loss and misfortune synonyms: catastrophe; disaster; tragedy Use the word calamity to describe an event that causes great harm and misery, or a general state of distress or misery: the calamity of war. |
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swoop |
n. a swift descent through the air n. a sudden short attack n. (music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale v. to grasp hastily or eagerly v. move down on as if in an attack v. move with a sweep or in an arc synonyms: pounce; descend; snatch A swoop is an impressive movement best demonstrated by a bird. If a bird is high in the air,then moves down quickly, making an arc or loop, that's an example of a swoop. People can also swoop — three muggers might swoop in on a victim, for example. The phrase "one fell swoop" means "all at once." |
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pallid |
adj. weak in colors suggesting physical or emotional distress adj. (of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim adj. lacking in variety or interest “a pallid performance” synonyms: colorless; weak; pale Pallid means pale or lacking color. It's often used together with complexion to describe someone who has a pale face, either due to a lack of sunshine or some kind of emotional distress. A reclusive author could be pallid from spending too much time indoors. His books can also be called pallid if they're lacking in color and excitement. |
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commerce |
n. sales and purchases having the objective of supplying goods and services n. social exchange, especially of opinions, attitudes, etc. synonyms: transactions; conversation Business, trade, and retailing are all common synonyms. Commerce doesn't always refer to buying and selling, though, just as the marketplace doesn't always refer to goods and services. Data, information, and opinions, too, can be exchanged and traded, as on the Internet, which is a great place for the commerce of ideas. |
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skirt |
n. a garment hanging from the waist; worn mainly by girls and women v. form the edge of; border v. avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, orperforming (duties, questions, or issues) v. pass around or about; move along the border “The boat skirted the coast” synonyms: surround; pass; dodge; duck; evade |
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irate |
adj. feeling or showing extreme anger synonyms: angry On the anger scale, first comes annoyed, then cross, then furious, then irate. When cartoon characters are irate, smoke comes out of their ears. Use this word only when someone is so mad he/she scares you. |
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lance |
n. a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon v. pierce with a lance, as in a knights' fight v. move quickly, as if by cutting one's way “Planes lanced toward the shore” synonyms: spear; thrust; travel |
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dodge |
n. a quick evasive movement n. a statement that evades the question by cleverness or trickery v. make a sudden movement in a new direction so as to avoid v. avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues) synonyms: scheme; move; duck; elude Dodging is making quick, sudden movements, usually to avoid something. You have to move quickly to dodge a flower pot that's falling from a ledge. In football, running backs are good at dodging defensive players. Politicians do a lot of maneuvers and manipulations to dodge blame, and plenty of people dodge responsibility for something they're supposed to take care of. So any kind of evasion strategy is a dodge. |
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placid |
adj. not easily irritated adj. (of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves synonyms: calm; tranquil; good-tempered Call a body of water placid if it has a smooth surface and no waves. Call a person placid if he/she doesn't tend to make waves by causing a fuss. In other uses, placid describes something with little disruption — like "a placid neighborhood." |
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tedium |
n. the feeling of being bored n. dullness due to length or slowness synonyms: tiresomeness; dissatisfaction You can call the state of being really bored while doing something repetitive, tedium. Tedious is a related adjective form of the word. In order to relieve the tedium of homework, you should pick less tedious tasks; try fencing or painting to add some excitement to the day. |
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perforate |
v. make a hole into or between, as for ease of separation “perforate the sheets of paper” v. pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance adj. having a hole cut through synonyms: punch; penetrate; cut When you perforate you punch a hole or holes in it like paper you perforate to fit the rings on your binder, or a leather belt that has been perforated with holes so that you can buckle it. |
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agape |
n. a strong positive emotion of regard and affection adj. with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe synonyms: love; gaping; opened Agape, you may have already figured out, comes from the verb gape, meaning "to open wide or split." This is what happens to your mouth when you are looking agape at something in amazement. Don’t confuse mouth-wide-open agape with the other agape, which is spelled the same but pronounced differently and refers to love. |
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periphery |
n. the outside boundary or surface of something synonyms: fringe; edge When something is on the periphery of your vision, you can only see it when you’re looking sideways. Periphery means outside the boundary of something. If you’re on the periphery of a group, you’re close to it but not part of it. |
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quench |
v. satisfy (thirst) v. put out, as of fires, flames, or lights v. suppress or crush completely “quench a rebellion” synonyms: fulfill; extinguish; squelch Quench means to put out, put an end to, or satisfy. If you're stranded in the middle of the desert with nothing to drink, you're probably dreaming of a nice big glass of ice water to quench your thirst. |
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ajar |
adj. slightly open synonyms: unfastened To correctly pronounce ajar, say "uh-JAR." People in a hurry leave drawers and cabinet doors ajar,or hanging open. If a chime starts ringing when you start a car, a door or the trunk may be ajar. Check that everything is securely closed before taking off. But don't describe a mouth that is open in surprise as ajar. A better word choice is agape. |
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endurance |
n. a state of surviving; remaining alive n. the power to withstand hardship or stress synonyms: survival; strength The noun endurance contains endure means"suffer or undergo" and the suffix -ance means "the state of." It can be used to describe the physical strength to keep going, as in a marathon, but it can also be used when discussing an exhausting mental situation or stressful time. |
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wield |
v. handle effectively “The burglar wielded an axe” v. have and exercise “wield power and authority” synonyms: handle; exert; maintain |
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nautical |
adj. relating to or involving ships or shipping or navigation or seamen synonyms: marine; maritime If it can go to sea, it’s nautical. That is, if it has to do with a boat, ship, sailor, or one of those maps of the ocean that nautical people call a chart, it can be considered nautical. |
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flotilla |
n. a group of warships organized as a tactical unit synonyms: fleet If you see a boy launch a flotilla of handmade sailboats on the far side of a pond, chances are his fleet of ships won't make it to your side of the pond. |
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sashay |
n. (ballet) quick gliding steps with one foot always leading n. a journey taken for pleasure v. move sideways v. to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others synonyms: prance; dance; excursion When you sashay,you're showing off — but in a deliberately casual way. Kids playing dress up might sashay. You can also use sashay to describe a dance step, both a sideways square dance move and a ballet step. |
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botanical |
adj. of or relating to plants or botany synonyms: botanic |
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setback |
n. an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes;something that is thwarting or frustrating synonyms: blow; whammy |
