English

Front 1

wicked

Back 1

wicked ADJECTIVE

1 morally bad
SYNONYM evil
a wicked deed
stories about a wicked witch
2 (informal) slightly bad but in a way that is amusing and/or attractive
SYNONYM mischievous
a wicked grin
Jane has a wicked sense of humour.
3 dangerous, harmful or powerful
He has a wicked punch.
a wicked-looking knife
4 (slang) very good
This song's wicked.

Front 2

immaculate

Back 2

immaculate ADJECTIVE

1
extremely clean and tidy
SYNONYM spotless
She always looks immaculate.
an immaculate uniform/room
The property is in immaculate condition.
2
containing no mistakes
SYNONYM perfect
an immaculate performance
The incident ruined an otherwise immaculate safety record.
His sense of timing was immaculate.

Front 3

intimidate

Back 3

intimidate VERB

intimidate somebody (into something/into doing something)
to frighten or threaten somebody so that they will do what you want
They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them.
She refused to be intimidated by their threats.

Front 4

inhibit

Back 4

inhibit VERB

1 inhibit something (formal)
to prevent something from happening or make it happen more slowly or less frequently than normal
A lack of oxygen may inhibit brain development in the unborn child.
Financial considerations are inhibiting access to higher education.
2 inhibit somebody (from something/from doing something)
to make somebody nervous or embarrassed so that they are unable to do something
The managing director's presence inhibited them from airing their problems.

Front 5

fade

Back 5

fade PHRASAL VERBS

fade away (of a person)
to become very weak or ill/sick and die
In the last weeks of her life she simply faded away.
fade in/out
to become clearer or louder / less clear or quieter
George saw the monitor black out and then a few words faded in.
fade something in/out
to make a picture or a sound clearer or louder / less clear or quieter
Fade out the music at the end of the scene.

Front 6

fade

Back 6

fade VERB

[intransitive, transitive]
to become or to make something become paler or less bright
The curtains had faded in the sun.
fade from something All colour had faded from the sky.
fade something The sun had faded the curtains.
He was wearing faded blue jeans.

Front 7

beneath

Back 7

beneath PREPOSITION

1
in or to a lower position than somebody/something; under somebody/something
They found the body buried beneath a pile of leaves.
The boat sank beneath the waves.
2
not good enough for somebody
He considers such jobs beneath him.
They thought she had married beneath her (= married a man of lower social status).

Front 8

stash

Back 8

stash VERB

stash something + adverb/preposition (informal) to store something in a safe or secret place
She has a fortune stashed away in various bank accounts.
The gun was stashed under the bed.

Front 9

awash

Back 9

awash ADJECTIVE

[not before noun]

1 awash (with water)
covered with water
The river had burst its banks and the road was awash.

2 awash with something
having something in large quantities
The city is awash with drugs.
The computer market is awash with software for every kind of computer.
The village is awash with history, legends and local charm.

Front 10

perceive

Back 10

perceive VERB

1 to notice or become aware of something
perceive something I perceived a change in his behaviour.
perceive that… She perceived that all was not well.
perceive somebody/something to be/have something The patient was perceived to have difficulty in breathing.
HELP This pattern is usually used in the passive.
2 to understand or think of somebody/something in a particular way
SYNONYM see
perceive somebody/something/yourself (as something) This discovery was perceived as a major breakthrough.
She did not perceive herself as disabled.
A science degree and artistic interests are often perceived as incompatible.
perceive somebody/something to be/have something They were widely perceived to have been unlucky.
HELP This pattern is usually used in the passive.

Front 11

intervene

Back 11

intervene VERB

1 [intransitive]
to become involved in a situation in order to improve or help it
She might have been killed if the neighbours hadn't intervened.
intervene in something The President intervened personally in the crisis.
2 [transitive, intransitive] (+ speech)
to interrupt somebody when they are speaking in order to say something
‘But,’ she intervened, ‘what about the others?’
3 [intransitive]
to happen in a way that delays something or prevents it from happening
They were planning to get married and then the war intervened.
4 [intransitive] (formal)
to exist between two events or places
I saw nothing of her during the years that intervened.

Front 12

reckon

Back 12

reckon VERB


1 [transitive, intransitive] reckon (that)… (informal, especially British English)
to think something or have an opinion about something
I reckon (that) I'm going to get that job.
He'll be famous one day. What do you reckon (= do you agree)?
It's worth a lot of money, I reckon.
‘They'll never find out.’ ‘You reckon? ’ (= I think you may be wrong about that)
2 be reckoned [transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses)
to be generally considered to be something
reckon to be/have something Children are reckoned to be more sophisticated nowadays.
+ noun/adjective It was generally reckoned a success.

Front 13

dull

Back 13

dull ADJECTIVE


1 not interesting or exciting
SYNONYM dreary
Life in a small town could be deadly dull.
The countryside was flat, dull and uninteresting.
The first half of the game was pretty dull.
There's never a dull moment when John's around.
light/colours
2 not bright or shiny
a dull grey colour
dull, lifeless hair
Her eyes were dull.
weather
3 not bright, with a lot of clouds
SYNONYM overcast
It was a dull, grey day.

Front 14

predicament

Back 14

predicament NOUN

a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially one where it is difficult to know what to do
SYNONYM quandary
the club's financial predicament
I'm in a terrible predicament.

Front 15

collateral

Back 15

collateral NOUN

[uncountable] (finance) property or something valuable that you promise to give to somebody if you cannot pay back money that you borrow
We had put our house up as collateral for our bank loan.

Front 16

arid

Back 16

arid ADJECTIVE

1 (of land or a climate)
having little or no rain; very dry
arid and semi-arid deserts
Nothing grows in these arid regions.
The pioneers hoped to transform the arid outback into a workable landscape.
2 (formal)
with nothing new or interesting in it
an arid discussio

Front 17

eminent

Back 17

[usually before noun]

1 (of people)
famous and respected, especially in a particular profession
an eminent architect
2 (of good qualities)
unusual; excellent
a man of eminent good sense

Front 18

dew

Back 18

dew NOUN

[uncountable]

the very small drops of water that form on the ground, etc. during the night
The grass was wet with early morning dew.

Front 19

thorny

Back 19

thorny ADJECTIVE

1 [usually before noun]
causing difficulty or disagreement
SYNONYM knotty
a thorny question/issue/problem
2
having thorns
a thorny bush

Front 20

conceptual

Back 20

conceptual ADJECTIVE


(formal)

related to or based on ideas
a conceptual framework within which children's needs are assessed
a conceptual model

Front 21

intrigued

Back 21

intrigued ADJECTIVE

[not usually before noun]

very interested in something/somebody and wanting to know more about it/them
He was intrigued by her story.
intrigued to do something I'm intrigued to know what you thought of the movie.

Front 22

startle

Back 22

startle VERB

to surprise somebody suddenly in a way that slightly shocks or frightens them
startle somebody/something I didn't mean to startle you.
The explosion startled the horse.
I was startled by her question.
it startles somebody to do something It startled me to find her sitting in my office.

Front 23

perimeter

Back 23

perimeter NOUN

1
the outside edge of an area of land
Guards patrol the perimeter of the estate.
a perimeter fence/track/wall
2 (mathematics)
the total length of the outside edge of an area or a shape
Find the area and perimeter of the following shapes.

Front 24

implausible

Back 24

implausible ADJECTIVE

not seeming reasonable or likely to be true
an implausible claim/idea/theory
It was all highly implausible.
Her explanation is not implausible.
OPPOSITE plausible

Front 25

undergo

Back 25

undergo VERB

undergo something
to experience something, especially a change or something unpleasant
to undergo tests/trials/repairs
My mother underwent major surgery last year.
Some children undergo a complete transformation when they become teenagers.

Front 26

confound

Back 26

confound VERB




1 cause surprise or confusion in (someone), esp. by acting against their expectations: the inflation figure confounded economic analysts.
• prove (a theory, expectation, or prediction) wrong: the rise in prices confounded expectations.
• defeat (a plan, aim, or hope): we will confound these tactics by the pressure groups.
• archaic overthrow (an enemy).
2 (often be confounded with) mix up (something) with something else so that the individual elements become difficult to distinguish: 'nuke' is now a cooking technique, as microwave radiation is confounded with nuclear radiation.

Front 27

dismay

Back 27

dismay NOUN


[uncountable] a worried, sad feeling after you have received an unpleasant surprise
She could not hide her dismay at the result.
He looked at her in dismay.
To her dismay, her name was not on the list.
The news has been greeted with dismay by local business leaders.

Front 28

extort

Back 28

extort VERB

extort something (from somebody)
to make somebody give you something by threatening them
The gang extorted money from over 30 local businesses.

Front 29

elusive

Back 29

elusive ADJECTIVE



difficult to find, define, or achieve

Eric, as elusive as ever, was nowhere to be found.
the elusive concept of ‘literature’
A solution to the problem of toxic waste is proving elusive.

Front 30

tamper

Back 30

tamper VERB

1 [ no obj. ] (tamper with) interfere with (something) in order to cause damage or make unauthorized alterations: someone tampered with the brakes on my car.

2 [ no obj. ] (tamper with) exert a secret or corrupt influence upon (someone).

Front 31

inherent

Back 31

inherent ADJECTIVE

inherent (in somebody/something)
that is a basic or permanent part of somebody/something and that cannot be removed
SYNONYM intrinsic
the difficulties inherent in a study of this type
Violence is inherent in our society.
an inherent weakness in the design of the machine

Front 32

intuition

Back 32

intuition NOUN

1 [uncountable]
the ability to know something by using your feelings rather than considering the facts
Intuition told her that he had spoken the truth.
He was guided by intuition and personal judgement.
The answer came to me in a flash of intuition.
2 [countable] intuition (that…)
an idea or a strong feeling that something is true although you cannot explain why
I had an intuition that something awful was about to happen.

Front 33

precedence

Back 33

precedence NOUN


[uncountable] precedence (over somebody/something)
the condition of being more important than somebody else and therefore coming or being dealt with first
SYNONYM priority
She had to learn that her wishes did not take precedence over other people's needs.
The speakers came on to the platform in order of precedence (= the most important one first).
Environmental concerns must be given precedence over commercial interest.

Front 34

lambaste

Back 34

lambaste VERB

extort something (from somebody)
to make somebody give you something by threatening them
The gang extorted money from over 30 local businesses.

Front 35

impeccable

Back 35

impeccable ADJECTIVE

without mistakes or faults
SYNONYM perfect
impeccable manners/taste
Her written English is impeccable.
He was dressed in a suit and an impeccable white shirt.

Front 36

forge

Back 36

forge VERB


1 [transitive] forge something to put a lot of effort into making something successful or strong so that it will last
a move to forge new links between management and workers
Strategic alliances are being forged with major European companies.
She forged a new career in the music business.
They forged a lead in the first 30 minutes of the game.
2 [transitive] forge something to make an illegal copy of something in order to cheat people
to forge a passport/banknote/cheque
He's getting good at forging his mother's signature.

Front 37

demote

Back 37

demote VERB

[often passive] demote somebody (from something) (to something)

to move somebody to a lower position or rank, often as a punishment
OPPOSITE promote

Front 38

ingenuity

Back 38

ingenuity NOUN


[uncountable]

the ability to invent things or solve problems in clever new ways
SYNONYM inventiveness
The problem tested the ingenuity of even the most imaginative students.

Front 39

solidarity

Back 39

solidarity NOUN

1 unity or agreement of feeling or action, esp. among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group: factory workers voiced solidarity with the striking students.
2 ( Solidarity )an independent trade union movement in Poland that developed into a mass campaign for political change and inspired popular opposition to communist regimes across eastern Europe during the 1980s.

Front 40

glimpse

Back 40

glimpse NOUN

[usually singular]
1 glimpse (of somebody/something)| glimpse (at somebody/something) a look at somebody/something for a very short time, when you do not see the person or thing completely
He caught a glimpse of her in the crowd.
I came up on deck to get my first glimpse of the island.
Fans crowded the street outside waiting for a glimpse of their hero.
2 a short experience of something that helps you to understand it
glimpse (into something) a fascinating glimpse into life in the ocean
glimpse (of something) The programme gives us a rare glimpse of a great artist at work.

Front 41

strain

Back 41

strain NOUN

worry/anxiety
1 [uncountable, countable] pressure on somebody/something because they have too much to do or manage, or something very difficult to deal with; the problems, worry or anxiety that this produces
Their marriage is under great strain at the moment.
These repayments are putting a strain on our finances.
Relax, and let us take the strain (= do things for you).
The transport service cannot cope with the strain of so many additional passengers.
You will learn to cope with the stresses and strains of public life.
I found it a strain having to concentrate for so long.
There are strains in the relationship between the two countries.

Front 42

arcane

Back 42

arcane ADJECTIVE

(formal)

secret and mysterious and therefore difficult to understand
the arcane rules of cricket

Front 43

at the expense of somebody/something

Back 43

[uncountable]

support by one person or group of people for another because they share feelings, opinions, aims, etc
community solidarity
solidarity with somebody to express/show solidarity with somebody
Demonstrations were held as a gesture of solidarity with the hunger strikers.

Front 44

gag

Back 44

gag NOUN


1 a piece of cloth that is put over or in somebody's mouth to stop them speaking
2 an order that prevents something from being publicly reported or discussed
a press gag
a gag rule/order (= one given by a court of law)
3 (informal) a joke or a funny story, especially one told by a professional comedian
SYNONYM joke
to tell/crack a gag
a running gag (= one that is regularly repeated during a performance)

Front 45

indemnity

Back 45

indemnity NOUN

1 [uncountable] indemnity (against something)
protection against damage or loss, especially in the form of a promise to pay for any damage or loss that happens
an indemnity clause/fund/policy
indemnity insurance
2 [countable]
a sum of money that is given as payment for damage or loss

Front 46

covet

Back 46

covet VERB

covet something (formal)
to want something very much, especially something that belongs to somebody else
He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician.
They are this year's winners of the coveted trophy (= that everyone would like to win).

Front 47

conceal

Back 47

conceal VERB

(formal)

to hide somebody/something
conceal somebody/something The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster.
Tim could barely conceal his disappointment.
She sat down to conceal the fact that she was trembling.
conceal somebody/something from somebody/something For a long time his death was concealed from her

Front 48

zoom

Back 48

zoom VERB


verb [ no obj. ]
1 (esp. of a car or aircraft) move or travel very quickly: we watched the fly zooming about | he jumped into his car and zoomed off.
• (of prices) rise sharply: the share index zoomed by about 136 points.
2 (of a camera) change smoothly from a long shot to a close-up or vice versa: the camera zoomed in for a close-up of his face | zoom out for a wide view of the garden again.
• [ with obj. ] cause (a lens or camera) to do this.

Front 49

untenable

Back 49

untenable ADJECTIVE

(formal)

(of a theory, position, etc.)
that cannot be defended against attack or criticism
His position had become untenable and he was forced to resign.
OPPOSITE tenable

Front 50

per se

Back 50

per se ADVERB

(from Latin)

used meaning ‘by itself’ to show that you are referring to something on its own, rather than in connection with other things
The drug is not harmful per se, but is dangerous when taken with alcohol.

Front 51

constrict

Back 51

constrict VERB

1 [intransitive, transitive]
to become tighter or narrower; to make something tighter or narrower
Her throat constricted and she swallowed hard.
constrict something a drug that constricts the blood vessels.
2 constrict somebody
to limit or restrict what somebody is able to do
Film-makers of the time were constricted by the censors.
constricting rules and regulations

Front 52

strained

Back 52

strained ADJECTIVE


1 (of an atmosphere, situation, or relationship) not relaxed or comfortable; tense or uneasy: there was a strained silence | relations between the two countries were strained.
• (of a person) showing signs of tiredness or nervous tension: Jean's pale, strained face.
• (of an appearance or performance) produced by deliberate effort rather than natural impulse; artificial or forced: I put on my strained smile for the next customer.
• (of a statement or representation) labored or far-fetched: my example may seem a little strained and artificial.
2 (of a limb or muscle) injured by overexertion or twisting.
3 (of a mainly liquid substance) having been strained to separate out any solid matter.

Front 53

rut

Back 53

rut NOUN

1 [countable]
a deep track that a wheel makes in soft ground
It was difficult to walk in the muddy ruts left by the tractor.
2 [countable]
a boring way of life that does not change
I gave up my job because I felt I was stuck in a rut.
If you don't go out and meet new people, it's easy to get into a rut.
3 [uncountable] (also the rut)
the time of year when male animals, especially deer, become sexually active
stags fighting during the rut

Front 54

scepticism

Back 54

scepticism NOUN

1 a skeptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something: these claims were treated with skepticism.
2 Philosophy the theory that certain knowledge is impossible.

Front 55

colossal

Back 55

colossal ADJECTIVE


extremely large: a colossal amount of mail | a colossal mistake.
• Architecture (of a giant order) having more than one story of columns.
• Sculpture (of a statue) at least twice life size.

Front 56

toil

Back 56

toil VERB

(formal)
1 [intransitive] to work very hard and/or for a long time, usually doing hard physical work
SYNONYM slave away
Hundreds of men toiled for years at building the pyramid.
She toils tirelessly for various charities.
2 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to move slowly and with difficulty
SYNONYM slog
They toiled up the hill in the blazing sun.

Front 57

torment

Back 57

torment NOUN


noun |ˈtɔrˌmɛnt|
severe physical or mental suffering: their deaths have left both families in torment.
• a cause of such suffering: the journey must have been a torment for them.
verb |tɔrˈmɛnt| [ with obj. ]
cause to experience severe mental or physical suffering: he was tormented by jealousy.
• annoy or provoke in a deliberately unkind way: every day I have kids tormenting me because they know I live alone.

Front 58

appease

Back 58

appease VERB

(formal, usually disapproving)

1 appease somebody
to make somebody calmer or less angry by giving them what they want
The move was widely seen as an attempt to appease critics of the regime.
2 appease somebody/something
to give a country what it wants in order to avoid war

Front 59

tacit

Back 59

tacit ADJECTIVE

understood or implied without being stated: your silence may be taken to mean tacit agreement.

Front 60

malign

Back 60

malign VERB

adjective
evil in nature or effect; malevolent: she had a strong and malign influence.
• archaic (of a disease) malignant.

Front 61

zinger

Back 61

zinger NOUN

a striking or amusing remark: open a speech with a zinger.
• an outstanding person or thing: a zinger of a shot.

Front 62

though

Back 62

though
CONJUNCTION


1 despite the fact that
SYNONYM although
Anne was fond of Tim, though he often annoyed her.
Though she gave no sign, I was sure she had seen me.
His clothes, though old and worn, looked clean and of good quality.
Strange though it may sound, I was pleased it was over.
2 used to add a fact or an opinion that makes the previous statement less strong or less important
They're very different, though they did seem to get on well when they met.
He'll probably say no, though it's worth asking.

Front 63

grasp

Back 63

grasp VERB

seize and hold firmly: she grasped the bottle.
• [ no obj. ] (grasp at) try to seize hold of: they grasped at each other with numbed fingers | they had grasped at any means to overthrow him.
• get mental hold of; comprehend fully: the way in which children could grasp complex ideas.
• act decisively to the advantage of (something): we must grasp the opportunities offered.
noun [ in sing. ]
a firm hold or grip: the child slipped from her grasp.
• a person's power or capacity to attain something: he knew success was within his grasp.
• a person's understanding: meanings that are beyond my grasp | his grasp of detail.

Front 64

heinous

Back 64

heinous ADJECTIVE

[usually before noun] (formal)

morally very bad
a heinous crime

Front 65

pick on somebody/something

Back 65

pick on somebody/something

1 to treat somebody unfairly, by blaming, criticizing or punishing them
She was picked on by the other girls because of her size.
2 to choose somebody/something
He picked on two of her statements which he said were untrue.

Front 66

spine

Back 66

spine NOUN



the row of small bones that are connected together down the middle of the back
SYNONYM backbone

Front 67

altruism

Back 67

altruism NOUN


[uncountable] (formal)

the fact of caring about the needs and happiness of other people more than your own
Politicians are not necessarily motivated by pure altruism.

Front 68

assuage

Back 68

assuage VERB

make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense: the letter assuaged the fears of most members.
• satisfy (an appetite or desire): an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge.

Front 69

impose

Back 69

impose VERB

1 he imposed his ideas on the art director: foist, force, inflict, press, urge; informal saddle someone with, land someone with.
2 new taxes will be imposed: levy, charge, apply, enforce; set, establish, institute, introduce, bring into effect.
3 it was never my intention to impose on you: take advantage of, exploit, take liberties with, treat unfairly; bother, trouble, disturb, inconvenience, put out, put to trouble, be a burden on; informal walk all over.

Front 70

wander

Back 70

wander VERB

walk or move in a leisurely, casual, or aimless way: he wandered aimlessly through the narrow streets.
• move slowly away from a fixed point or place: please don't wander off again | figurative : his attention had wandered.
• (of a road or river) wind with gentle twists and turns in a particular direction; meander.
• [ with obj. ] move or travel slowly through or over (a place or area): she found her wandering the streets.
• be unfaithful to one's spouse or regular sexual partner.

Front 71

trip up | trip somebody up

Back 71

trip up | trip somebody up

to make a mistake; to deliberately make somebody do this
Read the questions carefully, because the examiners sometimes try to trip you up.

Front 72

rekindle

Back 72

rekindle VERB

rekindle something (formal)
to make something become active again
SYNONYM reawaken
to rekindle feelings/hopes
The sight of her after so many years rekindled his passion.

Front 73

fallacy

Back 73

fallacy NOUN

1 [countable]
a false idea that many people believe is true
It is a fallacy to say that the camera never lies.
2 [uncountable, countable]
a false way of thinking about something
He detected the fallacy of her argument.

Front 74

stark

Back 74

stark ADJECTIVE

starker, starkest
1 (often disapproving) looking severe and without any colour or decoration
I think white would be too stark for the bedroom.
The hills stood stark against the winter sky.
2 unpleasant; real, and impossible to avoid
SYNONYM bleak
The author paints a stark picture of life in a prison camp.
a stark choice
The remains of the building stand as a stark reminder of the fire.
He now faces the stark reality of life in prison.
The stark fact is that even with more time, we still couldn't raise enough money.

Front 75

omniscient

Back 75

omniscient ADJECTIVE

(formal)

knowing everything
The novel has an omniscient narrator.

Front 76

as if/as though

Back 76

as if/as though

in a way that suggests something
He behaved as if nothing had happened.
It sounds as though you had a good time.
It's my birthday. As if you didn't know!
‘Don't say anything.’ ‘As if I would! ’ (= surely you do not expect me to)

Front 77

demote

Back 77

demote VERB


[often passive] demote somebody (from something) (to something)
to move somebody to a lower position or rank, often as a punishment
OPPOSITE promote

Front 78

flaw

Back 78

flaw NOUN

1 a mistake in something that means that it is not correct or does not work correctly
SYNONYM defect, fault
The argument is full of fundamental flaws.
flaw in something The report reveals fatal flaws in security at the airport.
There is still a basic flaw in your selection procedure.
2 flaw (in something)
a crack or fault in something that makes it less attractive or valuable
The vase is in excellent condition except for a few small flaws in its base.
3 flaw (in somebody/something)
a weakness in somebody's character
There is always a flaw in the character of a tragic hero.

Front 79

lodging

Back 79

lodging NOUN

(especially British English)

1 [uncountable]
temporary accommodation
full board and lodging (= a room to stay in and all meals provided)
2 [countable, usually plural] (old-fashioned)
a room or rooms in somebody else's house that you rent to live in
It was cheaper to live in lodgings than in a hotel.

Front 80

entail

Back 80

entail VERB


to involve something that cannot be avoided
SYNONYM involve
entail something The job entails a lot of hard work.
be entailed in something The girls learn exactly what is entailed in caring for a newborn baby.
entail (somebody) doing something It will entail driving a long distance every day.

Front 81

limp

Back 81

limp ADJECTIVE

1 lacking strength or energy
His hand went limp and the knife clattered to the ground.
She felt limp and exhausted.
2 not stiff or firm
The hat had become limp and shapeless.
limply
ADVERB
Her hair hung limply over her forehead.

Front 82

sate

Back 82

sate VERB


sate something (formal)
to satisfy a desire

Front 83

obscene

Back 83

obscene ADJECTIVE

1
connected with sex in a way that most people find offensive
obscene gestures/language/books
an obscene phone call (= in which somebody says obscene things)
2
extremely large in size or amount in a way that most people find unacceptable and offensive
SYNONYM outrageous
He earns an obscene amount of money.
It's obscene to spend so much on food when millions are starving.

Front 84

implement

Back 84

implement VERB

implement something (formal) to make something that has been officially decided start to happen or be used
SYNONYM carry out
to implement changes/decisions/policies/reforms
A new work programme for young people will be implemented.
implementation

NOUN [uncountable]
the implementation of the new system

Front 85

decay

Back 85

decay NOUN

[uncountable]
1 the process or result of being destroyed by natural causes or by not being cared for (= of decaying)
tooth decay
The landlord had let the building fall into decay.
The smell of death and decay hung over the town.
The decay of the wood will spread if it is not removed.
2 the gradual destruction of a society, an institution, a system, etc
economic/moral/urban decay
the decay of the old industries

Front 86

implicit

Back 86

implicit ADJECTIVE

1 implicit (in something)
suggested without being directly expressed
Implicit in his speech was the assumption that they were guilty.
implicit criticism
2 implicit (in something)
forming part of something (although perhaps not directly expressed)
The ability to listen is implicit in the teacher's role.
3
complete and not doubted
SYNONYM absolute
She had the implicit trust of her staff.

Front 87

blast

Back 87

blast NOUN

explosion
1 [countable] an explosion or a powerful movement of air caused by an explosion
a bomb blast
27 schoolchildren were injured in the blast.
The blast ripped through the building.
2 [countable] a sudden strong movement of air
A blast of hot air hit us as we stepped off the plane.
the wind's icy blasts
3 [countable] a sudden loud noise, especially one made by a musical instrument that you blow, or by a whistle or a car horn
The driver opened the door letting out a blast of Bob Marley.
criticism
4 [countable] (used especially in newspapers) strong criticism
Blast for prison governors in judge's report.

Front 88

mundane

Back 88

mundane ADJECTIVE

(often disapproving)

not interesting or exciting
SYNONYM dull, ordinary
a mundane task/job
I lead a pretty mundane existence.
On a more mundane level, can we talk about the timetable for next week?

Front 89

pile

Back 89

pile NOUN

1 [countable] a number of things that have been placed on top of each other
a pile of books/clothes/bricks
He arranged the documents in neat piles.
She looked in horror at the mounting pile of letters on her desk.
2 [countable] a mass of something that is high in the middle and wider at the bottom than at the top
SYNONYM heap
a pile of sand
piles of dirty washing
3 [countable, usually plural] pile of something (informal) a lot of something
I have got piles of work to do.
He walked out leaving a pile of debts behind him.

Front 90

mutter

Back 90

mutter VERB

[transitive, intransitive] to speak or say something in a quiet voice that is difficult to hear, especially because you are annoyed about something
+ speech ‘How dare she,’ he muttered under his breath.
mutter (something) (to somebody/yourself) (about something) She just sat there muttering to herself.
I muttered something about needing to get back to work.
mutter that… He muttered that he was sorry.

Front 91

ode

Back 91

ode NOUN

a poem that speaks to a person or thing or celebrates a special event
Keats's ‘Ode to a Nightingale’

Front 92

flat-out

Back 92

flat-out ADJECTIVE

1 as fast or as hard as possible: the whole team is working flat out to satisfy demand | (as adj. flat-out) : the album lacks the flat-out urgency of its predecessor.
2 informal without hesitation or reservation; unequivocally: in those early days I'd just flat out vote against foreign aid | (as adj. flat-out) : flat-out perjury.
3 lying completely stretched out, esp. asleep or exhausted: she was lying flat out on her pink bath towel.

Front 93

droll

Back 93

droll ADJECTIVE

amusing, but not in a way that you expect
So they've locked me out of the house? Very droll, I'm sure!
There was a droll, cynical expression on his face.

Front 94

steady

Back 94

steady ADJECTIVE


1 developing, growing, etc. gradually and in
an even and regular way
SYNONYM constant
five years of steady economic growth
a steady decline in numbers
We are making slow but steady progress.
The castle receives a steady stream of visitors.
2 not changing and not interrupted
SYNONYM regular
His breathing was steady.
a steady job/income
She drove at a steady 50 mph.
They set off at a steady pace.
a steady boyfriend/girlfriend
(= with whom you have a serious relationship
or one that has lasted a long time)
to have a steady relationship
3 firmly fixed, supported or balanced; not shaking or likely to fall down
He held the boat steady as she got in.
I met his steady gaze.
Such fine work requires a good eye and a steady hand.
She's not very steady on her feet these days.
OPPOSITE unsteady

Front 95

intrude

Back 95

intrude VERB

1 [intransitive]
to go or be somewhere where you are not wanted or are not supposed to be
I'm sorry to intrude, but I need to talk to someone.
intrude into/on/upon somebody/something legislation to stop newspapers from intruding on people's private lives
2 [intransitive] intrude (on/into/upon something)
to disturb something or have an unpleasant effect on it
The sound of the telephone intruded into his dreams.

Front 96

rod

Back 96

rod VERB

verb ( rots, rotting , rotted )
(chiefly of animal or vegetable matter) decay or cause to decay by the action of bacteria and fungi; decompose: [ no obj. ] : the chalets were neglected and their woodwork was rotting away | [ with obj. ] : caries sets in at a weak point and spreads to rot the whole tooth.
• gradually deteriorate through lack of attention or opportunity: he cannot understand the way the education system has been allowed to rot.

Front 97

hike

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hike NOUN


1 a long walk in the country
They went on a ten-mile hike through the forest.
We could go into town but it's a real hike (= a long way) from here.
2 (informal) a large or sudden increase in prices, costs, etc
a tax/price hike
hike in something the latest hike in interest rates

Front 98

startle

Back 98

startle VERB

to surprise somebody suddenly in a way that slightly shocks or frightens them
startle somebody/something I didn't mean to startle you.
The explosion startled the horse.
I was startled by her question.
it startles somebody to do something It startled me to find her sitting in my office.

Front 99

coddle

Back 99

coddle VERB

1 coddle somebody (often disapproving)
to treat somebody with too much care and attention
She coddles him like a child.
compare mollycoddle
2 coddle something
to cook eggs in water slightly below boiling point

Front 100

retort

Back 100

retort VERB

to reply quickly to a comment, in an angry, offended or humorous way
+ speech ‘Don't be ridiculous!’ Pat retorted angrily.
retort that… Sam retorted that it was my fault as much as his.

Front 101

deplorable

Back 101

deplorable ADJECTIVE

(formal)

very bad and unacceptable, often in a way that shocks people
SYNONYM appalling
a deplorable incident
They were living in the most deplorable conditions.
The acting was deplorable.

Front 102

amid

Back 102

amid PREPOSITION

1
in the middle of or during something, especially something that causes excitement or fear
He finished his speech amid tremendous applause.
The firm collapsed amid allegations of fraud.
2
surrounded by something
The hotel was in a beautiful position amid lemon groves.

Front 103

bolt

Back 103

bolt NOUN

1 a long, narrow piece of metal that you slide across the inside of a door or window in order to lock it
He slid back the bolt on the door.
2 a piece of metal like a screw without a point which is used with a circle of metal (= a nut ) to fasten things together
nuts and bolts

Front 104

agonize

Back 104

agonize VERB

[intransitive] agonize (over/about something)
to spend a long time thinking and worrying about a difficult situation or problem
I spent days agonizing over whether to take the job or not.

Front 105

beast

Back 105

beast NOUN

1 (old-fashioned or formal)
an animal, especially one that is large or dangerous, or one that is unusual
wild/savage/ferocious beasts
mythical beasts such as unicorns and dragons
2
a person who is cruel and whose behaviour is uncontrolled
SYNONYM animal
3 (informal, often humorous)
an unpleasant person or thing
The maths exam was a real beast.
4 (informal)
a thing of a particular kind
SYNONYM animal
His new guitar is a very expensive beast.

Front 106

prank

Back 106

prank NOUN

a trick that is played on somebody as a joke
a childish prank
The incident was a prank that went wrong.

Front 107

inoculate

Back 107

inoculate VERB


to protect a person or an animal from catching a particular disease by injecting them with a mild form of the disease
compare immunize, vaccinate

Front 108

intrude

Back 108

intrude VERB

(formal)

1 [intransitive]
to go or be somewhere where you are not wanted or are not supposed to be
I'm sorry to intrude, but I need to talk to someone.
intrude into/on/upon somebody/something legislation to stop newspapers from intruding on people's private lives

2 [intransitive] intrude (on/into/upon something)
to disturb something or have an unpleasant effect on it
The sound of the telephone intruded into his dreams.

Front 109

unnerve

Back 109

unnerve VERB

unnerve somebody
to make somebody feel nervous or frightened or lose confidence
His silence unnerved us.
She appeared strained and a little unnerved.

Front 110

condescending

Back 110

condescending ADJECTIVE

behaving as though you are more important and more intelligent than other people
He has a condescending attitude towards women.
Her tone of voice was always so condescending

Front 111

quash

Back 111

quash VERB

1 quash something (British English, law)
to officially say that a decision made by a court is no longer valid or correct
SYNONYM overturn
His conviction was later quashed by the Court of Appeal.
2 quash something
to take action to stop something from continuing
SYNONYM suppress
The rumours were quickly quashed.

Front 112

defiant

Back 112

defiant ADJECTIVE

openly refusing to obey somebody/something, sometimes in an aggressive way
a defiant teenager
The terrorists sent a defiant message to the government.

Front 113

plunge

Back 113

plunge VERB

1 [intransitive, transitive] to move or make somebody/something move suddenly forwards and/or downwards
+ adverb/preposition She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death.
The train left the track and plunged down the embankment.
plunge somebody/something + adverb/preposition The earthquake plunged entire towns over the edge of the cliffs.
2 [intransitive] (of prices, temperatures, etc.) to decrease suddenly and quickly
SYNONYM plummet
Stock markets plunged at the news of the coup.
This year profits plunged by 40%.
3 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition (of a road, surface, etc.) to slope down steeply
The track plunged down into the valley.

Front 114

vanity

Back 114

vanity NOUN

1 [uncountable] (disapproving)
too much pride in your own appearance, abilities or achievements
She had no personal vanity (= about her appearance).
The invitation to head the committee flattered his vanity and he agreed.
2 [uncountable] (literary)
the quality of being unimportant, especially compared with other things that are important
the vanity of human ambition in the face of death
3 vanities [plural]
behaviour or attitudes that show people's vanity
Politics is too often concerned only with the personal vanities of politicians.

Front 115

abhorrent

Back 115

abhorrent ADJECTIVE

abhorrent (to somebody) (formal)
causing hatred, especially for moral reasons
SYNONYM repugnant
Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society.

Front 116

conviction

Back 116

conviction NOUN


1 a formal declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense, made by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law: she had a previous conviction for a similar offense.

2 a firmly held belief or opinion: his conviction that the death was no accident | she takes pride in stating her political convictions.
• the quality of showing that one is firmly convinced of what one believes or says: his voice lacked conviction.

Front 117

humble

Back 117

humble ADJECTIVE

1 showing you do not think that you
are as important as other people
SYNONYM modest
Be humble enough to learn from your mistakes.
my humble tribute to this great man
see also humility
2 (ironic or humorous) used to suggest that you are not as important as other people, but in a way that is not sincere or not very serious
In my humble opinion, you were in the wrong.
My humble apologies. I did not understand.
3 having a low rank or social position
a man of humble birth/origins
a humble occupation
the daughter of a humble shopkeeper

Front 118

anguish

Back 118

anguish NOUN

[uncountable] (formal)

severe pain, mental suffering or unhappiness
He groaned in anguish.
Tears of anguish filled her eyes.

Front 119

influx

Back 119

influx NOUN

1 an arrival or entry of large numbers of people or things: a massive influx of refugees from front-line areas.
2 an inflow of water into a river, lake, or the sea.

Front 120

tamper

Back 120

tamper VERB

1 [ no obj. ] (tamper with) interfere with (something) in order to cause damage or make unauthorized alterations: someone tampered with the brakes on my car.

2 [ no obj. ] (tamper with) exert a secret or corrupt influence upon (someone).

Front 121

gleeful

Back 121

gleeful ADJECTIVE

happy because of something good you have done or something bad that has happened to somebody else
a gleeful laugh

the gleeful bunch over there must have been rooting for the visiting team: delighted, pleased, joyful, happy, glad, overjoyed, elated, euphoric; amused, mirthful, merry, exuberant; jubilant; informal over the moon.

Front 122

outrun

Back 122

outrun VERB

1 outrun somebody/something
to run faster or further than somebody/something
He couldn't outrun his pursuers.
2 outrun something
to develop faster than something
SYNONYM outstrip
Demand for the new model is outrunning supply.

Front 123

homespun

Back 123

homespun ADJECTIVE

1 simple and unsophisticated: homespun philosophy.
2 (of cloth or yarn) made or spun at home.
• denoting a coarse handwoven fabric similar to tweed.
noun

homespun rural philosophy: unsophisticated, plain, simple, basic, unpolished, unrefined, rustic, folksy; coarse, rough, crude, rudimentary, bush-league. ANTONYMS sophisticated.

Front 124

smug

Back 124

smug ADJECTIVE

having or showing an excessive pride in oneself or one's achievements: he was feeling smug after his win.

he was feeling smug after his win: self-satisfied, self-congratulatory, complacent, superior, pleased with oneself, conceited.

Front 125

undermine

Back 125

undermine VERB

1 undermine something
to make something, especially somebody's confidence or authority, gradually weaker or less effective
Our confidence in the team has been seriously undermined by their recent defeats.
This crisis has undermined his position.
Recent changes have undermined teachers' morale.
2 undermine something
to make something weaker at the base, for example by digging under it

Front 126

faint

Back 126

faint ADJECTIVE




1 a faint mark: indistinct, vague, unclear, indefinite, ill-defined, imperceptible, unobtrusive; pale, light, faded. ANTONYMS clear.
2 a faint cry: quiet, muted, muffled, stifled; feeble, weak, whispered, murmured, indistinct; low, soft, gentle. ANTONYMS loud.
3 a faint possibility: slight, slender, slim, small, tiny, negligible, remote, vague, unlikely, improbable; informal minuscule. ANTONYMS great.
4 faint praise: unenthusiastic, halfhearted, weak, feeble. ANTONYMS strong.
5 I suddenly felt faint: dizzy, giddy, lightheaded, unsteady; informal woozy.

Front 127

drop-off

Back 127

drop-off NOUN



1 [countable] a decline or decrease in something
There has been a steady drop-off in tourism.
2 [countable] a downward slope
The hill has a very steep drop-off.
3 [uncountable, countable] an occasion when someone or something is delivered
Drop-offs are on Tuesdays.
4 [countable] a place where something is delivered
The drop-off is near my office.

Front 128

ensure

Back 128

ensure VERB

to make sure that something happens or is definite
ensure something The book ensured his success.
ensure somebody something Victory ensured them a place in the final.
ensure (that)… Please ensure (that) all lights are switched off.

Front 129

muddle

Back 129

muddle VERB

(especially British English)
1 to put things in the wrong order or mix them up
muddle something Don't do that—you're muddling my papers.
muddle something up Their letters were all muddled up together in a drawer.
2 muddle somebody (up) to confuse somebody
Slow down a little—you're muddling me.
3 muddle somebody/something (up)| muddle A (up) with B to confuse one person or thing with another
SYNONYM mix up
I muddled the dates and arrived a week early.
He got all muddled up about what went where.
They look so alike, I always get them muddled up.

Front 130

mean

Back 130

mean NOUN


middle way
1 mean (between A and B) a quality, condition, or way of doing something that is in the middle of two extremes and better than either of them
He needed to find a mean between frankness and rudeness.

average
2 (also arithmetic mean) (mathematics) the value found by adding together all the numbers in a group, and dividing the total by the number of numbers
see also geometric mean

Front 131

stitch

Back 131

stitch NOUN

1 [countable] one of the small lines of thread that you can see on a piece of cloth after it has been sewn; the action that produces this
Try to keep the stitches small and straight.
2 [countable] one of the small circles of wool that you make around the needle when you are knitting
to drop a stitch (= to lose one that you have made)
The knitting should be 120 stitches wide.
to cast stitches on/off (= to add or remove them

Front 132

scant

Back 132

scant ADJECTIVE

hardly any; not very much and not as much as there should be
I paid scant attention to what she was saying.
The firefighters went back into the house with scant regard for their own safety.
There is scant evidence for this view.

Front 133

exquisite

Back 133

exquisite ADJECTIVE

1extremely beautiful or carefully made
exquisite craftsmanship
Her wedding dress was absolutely exquisite.
2 (formal) (of a feeling)
strongly felt
SYNONYM acute
exquisite pain/pleasure
3 (formal)
delicate and sensitive
The room was decorated in exquisite taste.
an exquisite sense of timing

Front 134

assert

Back 134

assert VERB

1
to state clearly and firmly that something is true
assert that… She continued to assert that she was innocent.
assert something She continued to assert her innocence.
The German Chancellor was anxious to assert his government's commitment to further European unity.
+ speech ‘That is wrong,’ he asserted.
it is asserted that… It is commonly asserted that older people prefer to receive care from family members.
2 assert yourself
to behave in a confident and determined way so that other people pay attention to your opinions
You're too timid—you must try to assert yourself more.

Front 135

utter

Back 135

utter ADJECTIVE

[only before noun] used to emphasize how complete something is
That's complete and utter nonsense!
To my utter amazement she agreed.
He felt an utter fool.
utterly

ADVERB
We're so utterly different from each other.
She utterly failed to convince them.

Front 136

intriguing

Back 136

intriguing ADJECTIVE


very interesting because of being unusual or not having an obvious answer
These discoveries raise intriguing questions.
an intriguing possibility
He found her intriguing.

Front 137

adept

Back 137

adept ADJECTIVE

adept (at/in something)| adept (at/in doing something)
good at doing something that is quite difficult
SYNONYM skilful
He became adept at getting even the shyest students to talk.

Front 138

dwell

Back 138

dwell VERB

dwelt, dwelt or dwelled, dwelled

[intransitive] + adverb/preposition (formal or literary)
to live somewhere
He dwelt in a ruined cottage on the hillside.
For ten years she dwelled among the nomads of North America.
PHRASAL VERBS
dwell on/upon something
1 to think or talk a lot about something, especially something it would be better to forget
So you made a mistake, but there's no need to dwell on it.
2 to look at something for a long time

Front 139

trample

Back 139

trample VERB

1 [transitive, intransitive]
to step heavily on somebody/something so that you crush or harm them/it with your feet
trample somebody/something People were trampled underfoot in the rush for the exit.
He was trampled to death by a runaway horse.
trample somebody/something down The campers had trampled the corn down.
trample on/over something Don't trample on the flowers!
2 [intransitive] trample (on/over) somebody/something
to ignore somebody's feelings or rights and treat them as if they are not important
The government is trampling on the views of ordinary people.
She would not let him trample over her any longer.

Front 140

brace

Back 140

brace NOUN


1 [countable] a device that holds things firmly together or holds and supports them in position
a neck brace (= worn to support the neck after an injury)

Front 141

moss

Back 141

moss NOUN

[uncountable, countable]

a very small green or yellow plant without flowers that spreads over damp surfaces, rocks, trees, etc
moss-covered walls

Front 142

utmost

Back 142

utmost ADJECTIVE

(also less frequent uttermost) [only before noun] greatest; most extreme
This is a matter of the utmost importance.
You should study this document with the utmost care.

Front 143

slouch

Back 143

slouch VERB

[intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) to stand, sit or move in a lazy way, often with your shoulders and head bent forward
Several students were slouching against the wall.
Sit up straight. Don't slouch.
He slouched across the room and collapsed in a chair.

Front 144

transpose

Back 144

transpose VERB

1 transpose something (formal)
to change the order of two or more things
SYNONYM reverse
Two letters were accidentally transposed and ‘gun’ got printed as ‘gnu’.
2 transpose something (from something) (to something) (formal)
to move or change something to a different place or environment or into a different form
SYNONYM transfer
The director transposes Shakespeare's play from 16th century Venice to present-day England.
3 transpose something (music)
to write or play a piece of music or a series of notes in a different key

Front 145

gelid

Back 145

gelid ADJECTIVE


(literary)

1
covered with ice or very cold
a gelid pond
2
very unfriendly
a gelid reply

Front 146

smudge

Back 146

smudge NOUN


a dirty mark with no clear shape
SYNONYM smear
a smudge of lipstick on a cup

Front 147

tear

Back 147

tear VERB

1 [transitive, intransitive] to damage something
by pulling it apart or into pieces or by cutting it on something sharp; to become damaged in this way
SYNONYM rip
tear (something) (+ adverb/preposition) I tore my jeans on the fence.
I tore a hole in my jeans.
He tore the letter in two.
a torn handkerchief
Careful—the fabric tears very easily.
tear something + adjective I tore the package open.
I tore open the package.
2 [transitive] tear something in something to make a hole in something by force
SYNONYM rip
The blast tore a hole in the wall.

Front 148

allure

Back 148

allure NOUN

[uncountable] (formal)

the quality of being attractive and exciting
sexual allure
the allure of the big city

Front 149

pallid

Back 149

pallid ADJECTIVE


1 (of a person, their face, etc.)
pale, especially because of illness
a pallid complexion
2 (of colours or light)
not strong or bright, and therefore not attractive
a pallid sky

Front 150

awry

Back 150

awry ADVERB

1
if something goes awry, it does not happen in the way that was planned
All my plans for the party had gone awry.
2
not in the right position
SYNONYM untidy
She rushed out, her hair awry.

Front 151

sequestrate

Back 151

sequestrate VERB

(also sequester)

sequestrate something (law)
to take control of somebody's property or assets until a debt has been paid

Front 152

deviant

Back 152

deviant ADJECTIVE


different from what most people consider to be normal and acceptable
deviant behaviour/sexuality
deviant NOUN
sexual deviants

Front 153

retain

Back 153

retain VERB


1 retain something
to keep something; to continue to have something
SYNONYM preserve
to retain your independence
He struggled to retain control of the situation.
The house retains much of its original charm.
She retained her tennis title for the third year.
2 retain something
to continue to hold or contain something
a soil that retains moisture
This information is no longer retained within the computer's main memory.
(figurative) She has a good memory and finds it easy to retain facts.

Front 154

restrain

Back 154

restrain VERB


1 to stop somebody/something from doing something, especially by using physical force
restrain somebody/something The prisoner had to be restrained by the police.
He placed a restraining hand on her arm.
restrain somebody/something from something/from doing something I had to restrain her from hitting out at passers-by.
They have obtained an injunction restraining the company from selling the product.
2 to stop yourself from feeling an emotion or doing something that you would like to do
restrain something John managed to restrain his anger.
I restrained the urge to punch him.
restrain yourself (from something/from doing something) She had to restrain herself from crying out in pain.
I was tempted to answer back, but I restrained myself.

Front 155

unanimity

Back 155

unanimity NOUN

[uncountable]

complete agreement about something among a group of people
There is no unanimity of opinion among the medical profession on this subject.
We won't all agree, but we need to achieve a degree of unanimity.

Front 156

lure

Back 156

lure VERB

lure somebody (+ adverb/preposition) (disapproving) to persuade or trick somebody to go somewhere or to do something by promising them a reward
SYNONYM entice
The child was lured into a car but managed to escape.
Young people are lured to the city by the prospect of a job and money.

Front 157

crest

Back 157

crest NOUN

1 [usually singular] crest (of something) the top part of a hill or wave
surfers riding the crest of the wave
2 a design used as the symbol of a particular family, organization, etc, especially one that has a long history
the university crest
3 a group of feathers that stand up on top of a bird's head
The male is recognizable by its yellow crest.

Front 158

lush

Back 158

lush ADJECTIVE


1 (of plants, gardens, etc.) growing thickly and strongly in a way that is attractive; covered in healthy grass and plants
SYNONYM luxuriant
lush vegetation
the lush green countryside
2 beautiful and making you feel pleasure; seeming expensive
a lush apartment

Front 159

smug

Back 159

smug ADJECTIVE


looking or feeling too pleased about something you have done or achieved
SYNONYM complacent
a smug expression/smile/face, etc.
What are you looking so smug about?

Front 160

complacent

Back 160

complacent ADJECTIVE

1 (of plants, gardens, etc.) growing thickly and strongly in a way that is attractive; covered in healthy grass and plants
SYNONYM luxuriant
lush vegetation
the lush green countryside
2 beautiful and making you feel pleasure; seeming expensive
a lush apartment

Front 161

flawed

Back 161

flawed ADJECTIVE

having a flaw; damaged or spoiled
seriously/fundamentally/fatally flawed
a flawed argument
the book's flawed heroine

Front 162

quintessence

Back 162

quintessence NOUN

[singular] the quintessence of something (formal)
1
the perfect example of something
It was the quintessence of an English manor house.
2
the most important features of something
SYNONYM essence
a painting that captures the quintessence of Viennese elegance

Front 163

entrust

Back 163

entrust VERB

(formal)

to make somebody responsible for doing something or taking care of somebody
entrust A (to B) He entrusted the task to his nephew.
The rebuilding of London's churches was entrusted to the brilliant young architect, Christopher Wren.
entrust B with A He entrusted his nephew with the task.

Front 164

compromise

Back 164

compromise NOUN

1 [countable] an agreement made between two people or groups in which each side gives up some of the things they want so that both sides are happy at the end
After lengthy talks the two sides finally reached a compromise.
In any relationship, you have to make compromises.
a compromise solution/agreement/candidate

Front 165

mere

Back 165

mere ADJECTIVE

used when you want to emphasize how small, unimportant, etc. somebody/something is
It took her a mere 20 minutes to win.
A mere 2% of their budget has been spent on publicity.
He seemed so young, a mere boy.
You've got the job. The interview will be a mere formality.

Front 166

gradual

Back 166

gradual ADJECTIVE

1
happening slowly over a long period; not sudden
a gradual change in the climate
Recovery from the disease is very gradual.
OPPOSITE sudden
2 (of a slope)
not steep

Front 167

unroll

Back 167

unroll VERB

1 [transitive, intransitive] unroll (something)
if you unroll paper, cloth, etc. that was in a roll or if it unrolls, it opens and becomes flat
We unrolled our sleeping bags.
compare roll
2 [intransitive] (of events)
to happen one after another in a series
We watched the events unroll before the cameras.

Front 168

penchant

Back 168

penchant NOUN


penchant for something
a special liking for something
SYNONYM fondness
She has a penchant for champagne.

Front 169

look down on somebody/something

Back 169

look down on somebody/something

o think that you are better than somebody/something
She looks down on people who haven't been to college.

Front 170

breach

Back 170

breach NOUN

breach of something a failure to do something that must be done by law
a breach of contract/copyright/warranty
They are in breach of Article 119.
(British English) (a) breach of the peace (= the crime of behaving in a noisy or violent way in public)
Selling goods constituted a breach of regulation 10B.

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greed

Back 171

greed

strong desire for more wealth, possessions, power, etc. than a person needs
His actions were motivated by greed NOUN

greed for something Nothing would satisfy her greed for power.

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grief

Back 172

grief NOUN

grief (over/at something)
a feeling of great sadness, especially when somebody dies
She was overcome with grief when her husband died.
They were able to share their common joys and griefs.

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perversion

Back 173

perversion NOUN

behaviour that most people think is not normal or acceptable, especially when it is connected with sex; an example of this type of behaviour
sexual perversion
sadomasochistic perversions

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palliative

Back 174

palliative NOUN

1 (medical)
a medicine or medical treatment that reduces pain without curing its cause
Aromatherapy can be used as a palliative.
2 (formal, usually disapproving)
an action, a decision, etc. that is designed to make a difficult situation seem better without actually solving the cause of the problems
Grants by themselves provide little more than a temporary palliative to ailing industries.

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retaliate

Back 175

retaliate VERB

to do something harmful to somebody because they have harmed you first
SYNONYM take revenge
retaliate (against somebody/something) to retaliate against an attack
retaliate (by doing something/with something) The boy hit his sister, who retaliated by kicking him.

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eloquent

Back 176

eloquent ADJECTIVE


1
able to use language and express your opinions well, especially when you are speaking in public
an eloquent speech/speaker
2 (of a look or movement)
able to express a feeling
His eyes were eloquent.

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ramification

Back 177

ramification NOUN

a consequence of an action or event, esp. when complex or unwelcome: any change is bound to have legal ramifications.
• a subdivision of a complex structure or process perceived as comparable to a tree's branches: an extended family with its ramifications of neighboring in-laws.
• formal or technical the action or state of ramifying or being ramified.

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remorse

Back 178

remorse NOUN

the feeling of being extremely sorry for something wrong or bad that you have done
I felt guilty and full of remorse.
She felt no remorse at leaving them without notice.
remorse for something/for doing something He was filled with remorse for not believing her.

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collide

Back 179

collide VERB

1 [intransitive]
if two people, vehicles, etc. collide, they crash into each other; if a person, vehicle, etc. collides with another, or with something that is not moving, they crash into it
The car and the van collided head-on in thick fog.
collide with something/somebody The car collided head-on with the van.
As he fell, his head collided with the table.
2 [intransitive] collide (with somebody) (over something) (formal) (of people, their opinions, etc.)
to disagree strongly
They regularly collide over policy decisions.

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worship

Back 180

worship NOUN

1 [uncountable] the practice of showing respect for God or a god, by saying prayers, singing with others, etc; a ceremony for this
an act/a place of worship
ancestor worship
morning worship (= a church service in the morning)
2 [uncountable] a strong feeling of love and respect for somebody/something
SYNONYM adoration
What she feels for him is akin to worship.

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halve

Back 181

halve VERB

1 [intransitive, transitive]
to reduce by a half; to make something reduce by a half
The shares have halved in value.
halve something The company is halving its prices.
2 [transitive] halve something
to divide something into two equal parts

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vigilant

Back 182

vigilant ADJECTIVE

(formal)

very careful to notice any signs of danger or trouble
SYNONYM alert, watchful
A pilot must remain vigilant at all times.
The thief was spotted by vigilant neighbours.

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disabuse

Back 183

disabuse
verb [ with obj. ]
persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken: he quickly disabused me of my fanciful notions.

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lest

Back 184

lest

conjunction formal

with the intention of preventing (something undesirable); to avoid the risk of: he spent whole days in his room, headphones on lest he disturb anyone.
• (after a clause indicating fear) because of the possibility of something undesirable happening; in case: she sat up late worrying lest he be held up on the way home

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parable

Back 185

parable

NOUN


a short story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson, especially one of those told by Jesus as recorded in the Bible

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attire

Back 186

attire

noun
clothes, esp. fine or formal ones: holiday attire.
verb (be attired)
be dressed in clothes of a specified kind: Donna was attired in an elaborate evening gown | [ as adj., with submodifier ] (attired) : the outrageously attired rock star.

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rig

Back 187

rig

verb


rigging, rigged [usually passive]
1 rig something to arrange or influence something in a dishonest way in order to get the result that you want
SYNONYM fix
He said the election had been rigged.
A commission was appointed to ensure the lottery was not rigged.
to rig the market (= to cause an artificial rise or fall in prices, in order to make a profit)
a rigged match
2 rig something (with something) to provide a ship or boat with ropes, sails, etc; to fit the sails, etc. in position
The ships were rigged with a single square sail.
The sails were kept rigged, ready for action.
3 rig something (up) (with something) to fit equipment somewhere, sometimes secretly
The lights had been rigged (up) but not yet tested.
The car had been rigged with about 300 lbs of explosive.
I was rigged up to a machine that monitored the baby's heartbeat.

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ransack

Back 188

ransack

verb [ with obj. ]

go hurriedly through (a place) stealing things and causing damage: burglars ransacked her home.
• search through (a place or receptacle) to find something, esp. in such a way as to cause disorder and damage: Hollywood ransacks the New York stage for actors.

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tentative

Back 189

tentative

adjective

not certain or fixed; provisional: a tentative conclusion.
• done without confidence; hesitant: he eventually tried a few tentative steps round his hospital room.

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evoke

Back 190

evoke

verb [ with obj. ]
1 bring or recall to the conscious mind: the sight of American asters evokes pleasant memories of childhood.
• elicit (a response): the awkward kid who evoked giggles from his sisters.
2 invoke (a spirit or deity).

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turmoil

Back 191

turmoil NOUN

[uncountable, singular]

a state of great anxiety and confusion
SYNONYM confusion
emotional/mental/political turmoil
His statement threw the court into turmoil.
Her mind was in (a) turmoil.
She felt much calmer after the turmoil of recent weeks.

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bogus

Back 192

bogus ADJECTIVE


pretending to be real or genuine
SYNONYM false
a bogus doctor/contract
bogus claims of injury by workers

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pedantic

Back 193

pedantic

ADJECTIVE

(disapproving)

too worried about small details or rules
a pedantic insistence on the correct way of doing things

Front 194

neat

Back 194

neat

ADJECTIVE

neater, neatest

1
tidy and in order; carefully done or arranged
a neat desk
neat handwriting
neat rows of books
She was wearing a neat black suit.
They sat in her neat and tidy kitchen.
2 (of people)
liking to keep things tidy and in order; looking tidy or doing things in a tidy way
Try and be neater!
He had a neat methodical mind.
3
small, with a pleasing shape or appearance
SYNONYM trim
her neat figure
The puppies' ears should be neat and in proportion to the head.

Front 195

mere

Back 195

mere ADJECTIVE


[only before noun] superlative merestno comparative
1 used when you want to emphasize how small, unimportant, etc. somebody/something is
It took her a mere 20 minutes to win.
A mere 2% of their budget has been spent on publicity.
He seemed so young, a mere boy.
You've got the job. The interview will be a mere formality.
2 used when you are saying that the fact that a particular thing is present in a situation is enough to have an influence on that situation
His mere presence (= just the fact that he was there) made her feel afraid.
The mere fact that they were prepared to talk was encouraging.
The mere thought of eating made him feel sick.
The merest (= the slightest) hint of smoke is enough to make her feel ill.

Front 196

baffle

Back 196

baffle


verb [ with obj. ]
1 totally bewilder or perplex: an unexplained occurrence that baffled everyone.
2 restrain or regulate (a fluid, sound, etc.): to baffle the noise further, I pad the gunwales.

Front 197

analogy

Back 197

analogy

noun ( pl. analogies )
a comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification: an analogy between the workings of nature and those of human societies | he interprets logical functions by analogy with machines.
• a correspondence or partial similarity: the syndrome is called deep dysgraphia because of its analogy to deep dyslexia.

Front 198

confound

Back 198

confound

verb [ with obj. ]
1 cause surprise or confusion in (someone), esp. by acting against their expectations: the inflation figure confounded economic analysts.
• prove (a theory, expectation, or prediction) wrong: the rise in prices confounded expectations.
• defeat (a plan, aim, or hope): we will confound these tactics by the pressure groups.
• archaic overthrow (an enemy).
2 (often be confounded with) mix up (something) with something else so that the individual elements become difficult to distinguish: 'nuke' is now a cooking technique, as microwave radiation is confounded with nuclear radiation.

Front 199

substantial

Back 199

substantial

1
large in amount, value or importance
SYNONYM considerable
substantial sums of money
a substantial change
Substantial numbers of people support the reforms.
He ate a substantial breakfast.
There are substantial differences between the two groups.
Their share of the software market is substantial.
2 [usually before noun] (formal)
large and solid; strongly built
a substantial house
a street of substantial Victorian villas

Front 200

haughty

Back 200

haughty

adjective ( haughtier, haughtiest )
arrogantly superior and disdainful: a look of haughty disdain | a haughty aristocrat.

Front 201

precedent

Back 201

precedent
noun
an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances: there are substantial precedents for using interactive media in training | breaking with all precedent.
• Law a previous case or legal decision that may be or (binding precedent) must be followed in subsequent similar cases: the decision set a precedent for others to be sent to trial in the US.

Front 202

ravishing

Back 202

ravishing

adjective
delightful; entrancing: she looked ravishing.

Front 203

bequeath

Back 203

verb [ with obj. ]
leave (a personal estate or one's body) to a person or other beneficiary by a will: an identical sum was bequeathed by Margaret | he bequeathed his art collection to the town.
• pass (something) on or leave (something) to someone else: he is ditching the unpopular policies bequeathed to him.

Front 204

decry

Back 204

decry VERB

decry somebody/something (as something) (formal)
to strongly criticize somebody/something, especially publicly
SYNONYM condemn
The measures were decried as useless.

Front 205

coy

Back 205

coy ADJECTIVE


1
shy or pretending to be shy and innocent, especially about love or sex, and sometimes in order to make people more interested in you
She gave me a coy smile.
2 coy (about something)
not willing to give information about something, or answer questions that tell people too much about you
SYNONYM reticent
She was a little coy about how much her dress cost.
The company is coy about revealing its profits.

Front 206

furlough

Back 206

furlough

noun
leave of absence, esp. that granted to a member of the armed services: a civil servant home on furlough | a six-week furlough in Australia.
• a temporary release of a convict from prison: a system that allowed murderers to leave prison for weekend furloughs.
• a layoff, esp. a temporary one, from a place of employment.

verb [ with obj. ]
grant such leave of absence to.
• lay off (workers), esp. temporarily: President Reagan furloughed “nonessential” employees | (as adj. furloughed) : factories are apt to recall some furloughed workers.

Front 207

intact

Back 207

intact

adjective [ often as complement ]
not damaged or impaired in any way; complete: the church was almost in ruins, but its tower remained intact.

Front 208

solemn

Back 208

solemn


adjective
formal and dignified: a solemn procession.
• not cheerful or smiling; serious: Tim looked very solemn.
• characterized by deep sincerity: he swore a solemn oath to keep faith.

Front 209

meritocracy

Back 209

meritocracy


plural meritocracies

1 [countable, uncountable]
a country or social system where people get power or money on the basis of their ability
2 the meritocracy [singular]
the group of people with power in this kind of social system

Front 210

pitfall

Back 210

pitfall

NOUN

a danger or difficulty, especially one that is hidden or not obvious at first
the potential pitfalls of buying a house
Getting professional advice will help you avoid the most obvious pitfalls.

Front 211

pun

Back 211

pun

pun (on something) the clever or humorous use of a word that has more than one meaning, or of words that have different meanings but sound the same
We're banking on them lending us the money—no pun intended!

Front 212

endeavour

Back 212

endeavour

verb [ no obj. ]
try hard to do or achieve something: he is endeavoring to help the Third World.

noun
an attempt to achieve a goal: [ with infinitive ] : an endeavor to reduce serious injury.
• earnest and industrious effort, esp. when sustained over a period of time: enthusiasm is a vital ingredient in all human endeavor.
• an enterprise or undertaking: a political endeavor.

Front 213

fish something/somebody out (of something)

Back 213

fish something/somebody out (of something)

to take or pull something/somebody out of a place

She fished a piece of paper out of the pile on her desk.
They fished a dead body out of the river.

Front 214

defamation

Back 214

NOUN

[uncountable, countable] (formal)

the act of damaging somebody's reputation by saying or writing bad or false things about them

The company sued for defamation.

He brought a legal action against the magazine for defamation of character.

Front 215

slip-up

Back 215

informal make a careless error: they often slipped up when it came to spelling.

Front 216

yearn

Back 216

yearn

verb [ no obj. ]
have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that one has lost or been separated from: she yearned for a glimpse of him | some people yearn for a return to monarchy | [ with infinitive ] : they yearned to go home.
• archaic be filled with compassion or warm feeling: no fellow spirit yearned toward her.

Front 217

insouciance

Back 217

insouciance

[uncountable] (formal)

the state of not being worried about anything

SYNONYM nonchalance
She hid her worries behind an air of insouciance.

Front 218

scorn

Back 218

scorn NOUN

[uncountable] a strong feeling that somebody/something is stupid or not good enough, usually shown by the way you speak
SYNONYM contempt
Her fellow teachers greeted her proposal with scorn.
She was unable to hide the scorn in her voice.
scorn for somebody/something They had nothing but scorn for his political views.

Front 219

inveigh

Back 219

inveigh VERB

PHRASAL VERBS
inveigh against

somebody/something (formal)
to criticize somebody/something strongly

Front 220

implode

Back 220

implode VERB

collapse or cause to collapse violently inward: [ no obj. ] : the windows on both sides of the room had imploded | [ with obj. ] : these forces would implode the pellet to a density 100 times higher than that of lead.

Front 221

overcompensate

Back 221

overcompensate verb

to do too much when trying to correct a problem and so cause a different problem
She overcompensated for her shyness by talking too much and laughing too loud.

take excessive measures in attempting to correct or make amends for an error, weakness, or problem: he was overcompensating for fears about the future.

Front 222

scatter

Back 222

scatter verb

verb [ with obj. ]
throw in various random directions: scatter the coconut over the icing | his family is hoping to scatter his ashes at sea.
• (be scattered) [ usu. with adverbial ] occur or be found at intervals rather than all together: there are many mills scattered throughout the marshlands | (as adj. scattered) : a scattered mountain community.

Front 223

indulge

Back 223

indulge (verb)

1 [intransitive, transitive]
to allow yourself to have or do something that you like, especially something that is considered bad for you
indulge in something They went into town to indulge in some serious shopping.
She has never been one to indulge in gossip.
indulge yourself (with something) I indulged myself with a long hot bath.
2 [transitive] indulge something
to satisfy a particular desire, interest, etc
The inheritance enabled him to indulge his passion for art.
In the closing lines, the poet indulges his sense of irony.

Front 224

eccentric

Back 224

eccentric
adjective ( STRANGE )

Definition
strange or unusual, sometimes in a humorous way

eccentric behaviour
eccentric clothes

Front 225

atrocious

Back 225

atrocious


adjective ( VERY BAD )

Definition
of very bad quality
an atrocious film/piece of acting
The weather has been atrocious all week.
Conditions in the prison were atrocious.

Front 226

construe

Back 226

construe sth as sth
to understand the meaning, especially of other people's actions and statements, in a particular way

Front 227

buoy

Back 227

to prevent someone or something from sinking
The very salty water buoyed her (up) as she swam.

Front 228

adamant

Back 228

Definition
impossible to persuade, or unwilling to change an opinion or decision
[+ that ] I've told her she should stay at home and rest but she's adamant that she's coming.

Front 229

innate

Back 229

An innate quality or ability is one that you were born with, not one you have learned
Cyril's most impressive quality was his innate goodness.

Front 230

eulogy

Back 230

eulogy

a speech, piece of writing, poem, etc. containing great praise, especially for someone who recently died or stopped working
He was the most self-effacing of men - the last thing he would have relished was a eulogy.
The song was a eulogy to the joys of travelling.

Front 231

pervasive

Back 231

adj
›present or noticeable in every part of a thing or place
The influence of Freud is pervasive in her books.
a pervasive smell of diesel
Reforms are being undermined by the all-pervasive corruption in the country.

Front 232

vilify

Back 232

verb
›to say or write unpleasant things about someone or something, in order to cause other people to have a bad opinion of them
He was vilified by the press as a monster of perversity.

Front 233

innate

Back 233

adjective
›An innate quality or ability is one that you were born with, not one you have learned
Cyril's most impressive quality was his innate goodness.

Front 234

conjure sth up

Back 234

conjure sth up
phrasal verb

›to make a picture or idea appear in someone's mind
The glittering ceremony conjured up images of Russia's imperial past.
For some people, the word 'England' may still conjure up images of pretty gardens and tea parties.

Front 235

fester

Back 235

fester
›If a cut or other injury festers, it becomes infected and produces pus

a festering sore

Front 236

overthrow

Back 236

›to remove someone from power, using force; to defeat
He said that Allende's government in Chile was overthrown by the army and the CIA in 1973.

Front 237

dissident

Back 237

noun
›a person who publicly disagrees with and criticizes their government

Front 238

ubiquitous

Back 238

adjective
›seeming to be in all places
Leather is very much in fashion this season, as of course is the ubiquitous denim.
The Swedes are not alone in finding their language under pressure from the ubiquitous spread of English.
The radio, that most ubiquitous of consumer-electronic appliances, is about to enter a new age.

Front 239

Prolonged

Back 239

adjective
›continuing for a long time
Prolonged use of the drug is known to have harmful side-effects.

Front 240

Poist

Back 240

verb
› to suggest something as a basic fact or principle from which a further idea is formed or developed:
[+ that] If we posit that wage rises cause inflation, it follows that we should try to minimize them.

Front 241

explicit

Back 241

adjective
clear and exact:
› I gave her very explicit directions how to get here.
She was very explicit about (= said very clearly and exactly) what she thought was wrong with the plans.
I wasn't aware that I would be paying - you certainly didn't make it explicit (= state it clearly).

Front 242

deprive of

Back 242

verb
› to take something, esp. something necessary or pleasant away from someone:
He was deprived of food for three days.