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250 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
flamboyant
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ornate; highly elaborate; richly colored; ostentatious; showy; CF. flame
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flashy
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showy; gaudy; giving a momentary brilliance
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flaunt
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display ostentatiously; Ex. ``Honey, if you've got it, flaunt it !''
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flay
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strip off skin; plunder; remove the skin from; criticize harshly
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fleck
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spot; mark with flecks; N: small mark or spot
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fledgling(fledgeling)
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inexperienced; N: young bird that has acquired wing feathers and is learning to fly; inexperienced person
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fleece
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wool coat of a sheep; V: shear the fleece from; rob by a trick; swindle; plunder
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fleet
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fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly; ephemeral
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flick
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light stroke as with a whip; V: move with a light quick blow; strike with a light quick blow (as from a whip); Ex. flick the switch
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flicker
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burn unsteadily or fitfully; move waveringly; N: flickering movement or light; brief sensation; Ex. flicker of excitement
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flighty
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(esp. of a woman's behavior) capricious; often changing, esp. from one lover to another; impulsive
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flinch
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hesitate; shrink back (in fear of something unpleasant); Ex. She did not flinch in the face of danger.
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flip
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send (something) spinning, often into the air, by striking with a light quick blow; turn over; Ex. flip over
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flippant
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lacking proper seriousness; Ex. flippant remarks about death; N. flippancy
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flirt
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behave in a way that attracts (sexual) attention; deal triflingly with; N: one (or woman) given to flirting; ADJ. flirtatious
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flit
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fly; fly or move lightly or quickly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by; Ex. a bee flitting from flower to flower
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floe
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flat mass of floating ice
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flora
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plants of a region or era
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florescence
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condition or period of flowering
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florid
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ruddy; (of a complexion) reddish; flowery; very ornate; CF. rose
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flotsam
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drifting wreckage
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flounder
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struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or falter (as in water, mud, snow, etc.); proceed in confusion
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flourish
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grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures; wave; brandish; Ex. The trees flourished in the sun. N: showy movement or gesture; embellishment or ornamentation (esp. in handwriting)
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flout
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reject; mock; show contempt for; scorn; Ex. flout the rules
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flowery
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full of flowers; full of ornate expressions
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fluctuate
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waver; shift; rise and fall as if in waves; change or vary irregularly
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fluency
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smoothness of speech; ADJ. fluent
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fluke
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unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune; accidental stroke of good luck; ADJ. fluky
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flush
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redden; blush; flow suddenly and abundantly; wash out by a rapid brief flow of water; N: reddish tinge; blush; brief rush; rush of strong feeling; Ex. flush of pride; ADJ: having surfaces in the same plane; even; blushing
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fluster
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confuse; make nervous and confused; N.
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fluted
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having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar); V. flute: make long parallel inward curves in; N. flute: long rounded groove incised on the shaft of a column
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flutter
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(of a bird with large wings) wave (the wings) lightly, rapidly, and irregularly; vibrate rapidly or erratically; fly by waving quickly; flitter; N.
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flux
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flowing; series of changes; fluctuation; Ex. in a state of flux
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fodder
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coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.; feed for livestock; CF. food
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foible
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small weakness of character; slight fault; CF. feeble
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foil
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contrast; one that by contrast enhances the distinctive characteristics of another
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foil
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defeat; frustrate; prevent from being successful; thwart; CF. fail
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foist
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insert improperly; impose upon another by coercion; palm off; pass off as genuine or worthy; CF. fist
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foliage
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masses of leaves; CF. defoliate
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foment
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stir up; incite; instigate; promote the growth of (something evil or unpleasant)
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foolhardy
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rash; reckless; foolishly daring
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foppish
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vain about dress and appearance; N. fop: man who takes too much interest in his clothes and appearance
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foray
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raid; sudden raid or military advance; V.
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forbearance
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patience; forgiveness; V. forbear: refrain from (in a generous and forgiving way); be patient; Ex. forbear to send him to prison
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ford
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place where a river can be crossed on foot; V.
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forebears(forbears)
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ancestors
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foreboding
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premonition of evil; feeling of coming evil; V. forebode: be a warning of (something unpleasant)
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forensic
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suitable to debate or courts of law; of or used in legal proceedings and the tracking of criminals; Ex. forensic science/medicine
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forerunner
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predecessor; one that comes before and indicates the approach of another
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foreshadow
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give an indication beforehand; be a sign of (what is coming); portend; prefigure
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foresight
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ability to foresee future happenings; prudence in providing for the future
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forestall
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prevent by taking action in advance
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forfeit
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something surrendered as punishment for a crime or breach of contract; V: lose as a forfeit; N. forfeiture
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forge
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counterfeit; reproduce fraudulently; form by heating in a forge and hammering into shape; move with a sudden increase of speed or power; Ex. forged ahead in the last two years; N: furnace where metals are heated
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forgo(forego)
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give up; do without
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forlorn
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sad and lonely; wretched; desolate
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formality
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ceremonious quality; ceremonious adherence to rules; something done just for form's sake; Ex. mere formality
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formidable
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menacing; arousing fear; threatening; difficult to defeat; Ex. formidable foe/question
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forsake
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desert; abandon; renounce
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forswear
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renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn promise to give up; CF. abjure
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forte
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strong point or special talent in a person's character
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forthcoming
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happening in the near future; ready; willing to help; Ex. No answer was forthcoming.
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forthright
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straightforward; direct; frank
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fortitude
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bravery; courage; strength of mind
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fortuitous
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accidental; by chance; N. fortuity
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forum
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public square of an ancient Roman city; public place for open discussion; court of law
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forward
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presumptuous or bold
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foster
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rear; bring up (for a certain period only); encourage; promote the development of (feelings or ideas); Ex. help foster friendly relations; ADJ: giving parental care although not related by blood; Ex. foster parents
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foul
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very bad or disagreeable; very dirty;
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founder
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person who establishes (an organization or business)
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founder
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fail completely; sink; CF. flounder
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fracas
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brawl(noisy quarrel or fight) in which a number of people take part; melee
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fractious
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unruly; peevish; cranky; bad-tempered; Ex. fractious horse
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frail
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weak; N. frailty
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franchise
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right or privilege granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory
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frantic
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wild; distraught as from fear or worry; Ex. frantic with fear
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fraudulent
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cheating; deceitful; Ex. fraudulent means; N. fraud: deception; swindle
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fraught
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filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex. fraught with danger and difficulties; CF. freight
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fray
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brawl; fight; V: wear away or unravel by rubbing; have loose threads developing; cause to become worn out (a person's temper or nerves); CF. rub
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freebooter
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pirate or plunderer who makes war in order to grow rich
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frenetic(phrenetic)
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frenzied; frantic
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frenzied
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madly excited; N. frenzy: violent wild excitement
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fresco
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painting on wet plaster (usually fresh)
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fret
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be annoyed or vexed; Ex. fret over your poor grades; N: irritation of mind; ADJ. fretful
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friction
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clash or conflict in opinion; rubbing against
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frieze
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ornamental horizontal band on a wall
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frigid
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intensely cold; cold in manner; Ex. frigid zone
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fringe
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decorative edge of hanging threads; edge
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frisk
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move about playfully; froric; ADJ. frisky: playful
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fritter
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waste (time or money on unimportant things)
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frivolous
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lacking in seriousness; flippant; self-indulgently carefree; unworthy of serious attention; relatively unimportant; trivial
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frock
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long loose garment (worn by monks)
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frolic
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play and jump about happily; frisk; Ex. frolicking young lambs
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frolicsome
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prankish; gay; playful; merry; frisky
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frond
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fern leaf; palm or banana leaf
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fructify
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bear fruit; produce fruit
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frugality
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thrift; economy; ADJ. frugal: practicing economy; costing little; inexpensive
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fruitful
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producing results; profitable; prolific; producing in abundance
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fruition
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bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization; Ex. come to/be brought to fruition
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frustrate
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thwart; defeat; prevent from accomplishing a purpose
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fuddle
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make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused
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fugitive
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fleeting or transitory; lasting only a short time; roving(wandering); running away or fleeing as from the law; N: one who flees; Ex. fugitives at large
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fulcrum
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support on which a lever rests or pivots
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fulminate
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thunder; explode; issue a severe denunciation
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fulsome
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disgustingly excessive; offensively flattering; Ex. fulsome praise/expressions of admire
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fumble
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move the fingers and hands awkwardly (in search of something); mishandle or drop a ball that is in play; bungle; botch; spoil by mishandling; N.
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functional
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made for practical use only (without decoration); functioning; Ex. functional modern furniture; CF. functionalism
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functionary
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official (who performs a particular function)
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fundamental
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basic; primary; essential
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funereal
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sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral
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furor
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frenzy; great anger and excitement; CF. fury
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furrow
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long shallow trench made by a plow; deep wrinkle in the skin; V.
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furtive
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stealthy; quiet and secret (trying to escape notice); sneaky; Ex. furtive glance
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fusillade
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simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.)
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fusion
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union; coalition; V. fuse
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fuss:
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trouble or worry over trifles; make nervous; pay too much attention to; N: needless concern or worry (about a trivial thing); anxious nervous condition; display of attention; Ex. make a fuss over the baby
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fussy
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fastidious; finicky; easily upset
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futile
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seless; hopeless; ineffectual
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gadfly
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animal-biting fly; irritating person
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gaffe
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social blunder
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gainsay
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deny
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gait
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manner of walking or running; speed
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galaxy
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large isolated system of stars, such as the Milky Way; collection of brilliant personalities
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gale
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windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst (laughters, tears); Ex. gale of laughter
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gall
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bitterness of feeling; nerve; effrontery; ??(bile); CF. gall bladder
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gall
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annoy; exasperate; chafe; N: skin sore caused by rubbing (as on the skin of a horse); exasperation
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galleon
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large three-masted sailing ship
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galley
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low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)
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gallows
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framework from which a noose is suspended (used for execution by hanging)
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galvanic
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of the production of electricity by the action of an acid on a metal; having the effect of an electric shock; Ex. galvanic cell; galvanic effect; CF. Luigi Galvani
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galvanize
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stimulate or shock by an electric current; stimulate by shock; shock into action; stir up; coat with rust-resistant zinc by using electricity
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gambit
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opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed; action made to produce a future advantage
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gambol
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romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.
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gamely
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in a spirited manner; with courage; Ex. fight gamely against a superior boxer; ADJ. game
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gamut
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entire range
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gangrene
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decay of body tissue caused by insufficient blood supply (usually following injury); ADJ. gangrenous
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gape
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open widely; open the mouth wide; stare wonderingly with the mouth open; CF. agape
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garbled
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mixed up; jumbled; distorted; V. garble: mix up or distort (a message) to such an extent as to make misleading or unintelligible
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gargantuan
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huge; enormous; gigantic; CF. the hero of Gargantua and Pantagruel
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gargoyle
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waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a building
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garish
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overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy
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garner
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gather; store up; amass
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garnish
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decorate; add a garnish to; decorate (food or drink) with small items such as lemon slices; N.
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garrulous
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loquacious; wordy; talkative; N. garrulity
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gastronomy
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art and science of preparing and serving good food; CF. gastronome
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gauche
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clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth
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gaudy
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flashy; showy
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gaunt
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lean and angular; thin and bony; emaciated; barren
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gavel
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hammerlike tool; mallet(wooden hammer) used by a presiding officer or an auctioneer; V.
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gawk
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stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe
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gazette
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official periodical publication; newspaper
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genealogy
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record of descent; lineage; ancestry; study of ancestry
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generality
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vague statement; general statement which is not detailed; quality of being general; greater part; most; Ex. generality of people
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generate
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cause; produce; create
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generic
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characteristic of an entire class or species; of a genus
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genesis
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beginning; origin
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geniality
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cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy; ADJ. genial: cheerful and good-tempered
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genre
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particular variety of art or literature
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genteel
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well-bred; elegant; striving to convey an appearance of refinement; Ex. genteel poverty
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gentility
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those of gentle birth; high social class; refinement; quality of being genteel
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gentle
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kindly; soft; mild; of good family
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gentry
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people of standing(rank or position); people of good family or high social position; class of people just below nobility
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genuflect
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bend the knee as in worship
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genus
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division of animals or plants, below a family and above a species
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geriatrics
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medical treatment and care of old age
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germ
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earliest form of an organism; seed or bud; something that may develop into something larger or more important; microbe
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germane
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pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with) the case at hand; appropriate
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germinal
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pertaining to a germ; creative; Ex. germinal idea
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germinate
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cause to sprout; sprout
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gerontocracy
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government ruled by old people
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gerontology
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study of the sociological phenomena associated with old age
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gerrymander
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change voting district lines in order to favor a political party; N. CF. Elbridge Gerry + (sala)mander
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gestate
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evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period of development from conception until birth
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gesticulation
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motion; gesture; V. gesticulate: make gestures (while speaking)
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ghastly
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horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast
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gibberish
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nonsense; nonsensical or unintelligible talk or writing; babbling
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gibe
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mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks
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giddy
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light-hearted; not serious; frivolous; dizzy; causing dizziness; Ex. giddy youth; Ex. giddy climb/height
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gild
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cover with a thin layer of gold
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gingerly
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very carefully; ADJ.
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girth
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distance around something; circumference
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gist
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essence; main point; substance
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glacial
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like a glacier; of an ice age; extremely cold; Ex. glacial epoch; CF. iceberg
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glamor
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compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous
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glare
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shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and angrily; N.
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glaring
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(of something bad) highly conspicuous; harshly bright; shining intensely and blindingly
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glaze
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cover with a thin and shiny surface; apply a glaze to; N: thin, smooth, shiny coating (as for pottery); Ex. unglazed pottery
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gleam
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brief flash of light; glow; V.
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glean
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gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty
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glib
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fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick
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glimmer
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shine erratically; twinkle; N: dim or unsteady light; faint indication; Ex. glimmer of hope
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glitter
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shine brightly with flashing points of light; Ex. glittering diamond ring; N: sparkling light; attractiveness; glamor; Ex. glitter of the sun on the waves
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gloat
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express evil satisfaction; look at or think about with evil satisfaction; view malevolently; Ex. The thief gloated over the stolen jewels.
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gloss
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brief explanation note or translation of a difficult expression; V.
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gloss_over
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explain away with the intention of deceiving or hiding faults
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glossary
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brief explanation of words used in the text
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glossy
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smooth and shining; N. gloss: shiny brightness on a surface; superficially attractive appearance; Ex. gloss of good manners
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glow
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shine brightly without a flame (as of eyes or metals); show redness and heat (in the face) after hard work or because of strong feelings; N: light produced by a heated body; brilliance of a color
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glower
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scowl; glare; look or stare angrily
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glut
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overstock; fill beyond capacity (with food); fill to excess; N: oversupply
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glutinous
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sticky; viscous; gluey
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glutton
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someone who eats too much; ADJ. gluttonous: given to gluttony; greedy; CF. gluttony: habit of eating too much
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gnarl
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protruding knot on a tree; V.
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gnarled
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twisted
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gnome
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dwarf; underground spirit who guards treasure hoards
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goad
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urge on; drive with a goad; cause (someone) to do something by continued annoyance; Ex. They goaded him into doing it by saying he was a coward; N: sharp-pointed stick for driving cattle; stimulus; CF. annoy continually
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gobble
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eat very quickly
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gorge
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narrow canyon; steep rocky cleft; ravine (made by a stream which runs through it)
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gorge
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stuff oneself (with food); glut; CF. gorgeous: dazzlingly beautiful
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gory
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bloody; N. gore: blood (from a wound)
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gossamer
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sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and sheer fabric; cobweb
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gouge
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tear out; cut out (as if with a gouge); Ex. gouge his eyes out; N: chisel for cutting out hollow areas in wood
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gouge
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overcharge (with high price); extort from; Ex. gouge the public; CF. usury
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gourmand
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epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink
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gourmet
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connoisseur of food and drink; epicure
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gracious
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kind in a generous way (to someone less important)
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gradation
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series of gradual stages; degree in such a progression
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graduate
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arrange into categories or grades; divide into marked intervals (for use in measurement); Ex. graduated ruler
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graduated
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arranged by degrees (of height, difficulty, etc.)
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granary
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storehouse for grain
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grandeur
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impressiveness; stateliness; majesty
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grandiloquent
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(of a person or speech) using high sounding or important-sounding language; pompous; bombastic
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grandiose
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affectedly grand; pretentious; high-flown; ridiculously exaggerated; impressive; great in size or scope; grand; Ex. grandiose ideas
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granulate
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form into grains or granules; N. granule: grain or particle
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graphic
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pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described
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graphite
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black form of carbon used in lead pencils
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grapple
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wrestle; come to grips with; take hold of and struggle with; Ex. grapple with the burglar
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grate
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make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred by rubbing against a rough surface; Ex. grated cheese N: framework of metal bars to hold fuel in a fireplace
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gratify
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please; satisfy; Ex. gratify a desire
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gratis
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free; without charge; ADJ.
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gratuitous
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given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for; done without good reason; Ex. gratuitous comment
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gratuity
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tip
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gravity
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seriousness; ADJ. grave
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graze
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(of an animal) feed on growing grass; cause (an animal) to feed on grass; scrape (esp. the skin) or touch lightly in passing; brush; Ex. We can't graze the cattle till summer; N: surface wound
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gregarious
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sociable; (of an animal) tending to form a group
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grievance
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cause of complaint; complaint
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grill
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question severely; cook on a grill; broil; N: cooking surface of parallel metal bars
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grim
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causing great fear; unrelenting; determined in spite of fear; Ex. grim smile
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grimace
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facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc; V.
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grisly
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ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the bodies
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groom
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man employed to take care of horses; V: make neat and trim; clean and brush (an animal)
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groove
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long narrow channel made in a surface to guide the movement of something; Ex. groove of the record
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gross
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total; fragrant; clearly wrong; (of people's behavior) coarse; corpulent; Ex. gross insolence/behavior; V: earn as a total amount; N: 12 dozens
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grotesque
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fantastic; comically hideous; strange and unnatural (causing fear or amusement)
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grotto
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small cavern
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grouch
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bad-tempered complaint; person who keeps complaining; V: complain; grumble
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grouse
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complain; fuss; grumble; grouch; N: plump chickenlike game bird
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grovel
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crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate; behave in a servile manner
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growl
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low, guttural, menacing sound (as of a dog)
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grudge
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deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V.
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