Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
51 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
to un‧der‧pin [transitive] |
to give strength or support to something and to help it succeed ®the theories that underpin his teaching method ®America's wealth is underpinned by a global system which exploits the world's poor. —underpinning noun [uncountable and countable] |
|
|
sol‧vent [not usually before noun] |
having enough money to pay your debts [≠ insolvent] stay/remain/keep solvent British English ®I don't know how we managed to remain solvent.—solvency noun [uncountable] |
|
|
a‧gen‧da [countable] |
a list of problems or subjects that a government, organization etc is planning to deal with be high on the agenda/be top of the agenda (=be one of the most important problems to deal with) ®Measures to combat terrorism will be high on the agenda. ®The government set an agenda for constitutional reform. political/economic/legislative/domestic etc agenda ®Our Centre has limited its research agenda to four areas. |
|
|
syl‧la‧bus [countable] |
a plan that states exactly what students at a school or college should learn in a particular subject [↪ curriculum] on a syllabus British English ®Two Shakespeare plays are on this year's English syllabus. |
|
|
work‧place [countable] |
the room, building etc where you working the workplace ®a report into discrimination in the workplace |
|
|
to tack‧le [transitive] |
to try to deal with a difficult problem ®There is more than one way to tackle the problem. ®It took twelve fire engines to tackle the blaze. |
|
|
daunt‧ing |
frightening in a way that makes you feel less confident:British English ®The trip seemed rather daunting for a young girl. British English ®He's got the daunting task of following in Ferguson's footsteps. British English ®the daunting prospect of asking for a loan |
|
|
un‧der‧ly‧ingunderlying cause/principle/problem etc |
the cause, idea etc that is the most important, although it is not easily noticed:Look up a word starting with D or S for samples of headword or sentence pronunciations on the LDOCE CD-ROMthe underlying causes of her depression Look up a word starting with D or S for samples of headword or sentence pronunciations on the LDOCE CD-ROMThere is an underlying assumption that younger workers are easier to train. |
|
|
pro‧fi‧cien‧cy [uncountable] |
a good standard of ability and skill proficiency in/with/at ®a high level of proficiency in English ®Nick's proficiency with computers is well-known. |
|
|
to build up phrasal verb |
1.increase gradually if something builds up somewhere or if you build it up, it gradually becomes bigger or greater build something ↔ up ®The museum has built up a fine art collection. ®the rate at which the pension builds up➔build-up 2.develop build something ↔ up to make something develop or form build something ↔ up into ®He's built up the family firm into a multinational company. |
|
|
suf‧fi‧cient formal |
as much as is needed for a particular purpose [= enough; ≠ insufficient]:British English ®We can only prosecute if there is sufficient evidence. American English ®Unauthorized absence is sufficient reason for dismissal. British English ®We need sufficient time to deal with the problem. sufficient to do something British English ®The money is not sufficient to cover everything that needs doing. sufficient for American English ®The recipe is sufficient for six people.—sufficiently adverb:British English ®Students must reach a sufficiently high standard to pass. |
|
|
mere‧ly |
used to emphasize how small or unimportant something or someone is [= only] ®He's merely a boy - you can't expect him to understand. |
|
|
com‧pul‧so‧ry |
something that is compulsory must be done because it is the law or because someone in authority orders you to [= mandatory; ↪ voluntary] ®the threat of compulsory redundancies compulsory schooling/education ®11 years of compulsory education ®Car insurance is compulsory.—compulsorily adverb |
|
|
un‧der‧ly‧ing |
underlying cause/principle/problem etc the cause, idea etc that is the most important, although it is not easily noticed ®the underlying causes of her depression ®There is an underlying assumption that younger workers are easier to train. |
|
|
to lay past tense and past participle laid [transitive] |
give information formal to make a statement, give information etc in an official or public way [= put] ®Several proposals have been laid before the committee. |
|
|
to deal in phrasal verb |
deal in something to buy and sell a particular type of product [↪ dealer] deal in shares/securities etc British English ®investors dealing in stocks and shares deal in drugs/stolen goods etc British English ®He then began dealing in heroin. deal in antiques/second-hand books etc |
|
|
straight‧for‧ward |
simple and easy to understand [≠ complicated] relatively/quite/fairly straightforward British English ®Installing the program is relatively straightforward. British English ®This area of law is far from straightforward (=complicated). straightforward matter/task/process etc British English ®For someone who can't read, shopping is by no means a straightforward matter. |
|
|
to in‧cor‧po‧rate [transitive] |
to include something as part of a group, system, plan etc incorporate something into/in something ®We've incorporated many environmentally-friendly features into the design of the building. ®Our original proposals were not incorporated in the new legislation.—incorporation noun [uncountable] ®the incorporation of the college into the university |
|
|
to com‧ply [intransitive] formal |
to do what you have to do or are asked to do [↪ compliance, compliant] comply with ®Failure to comply with the regulations will result in prosecution. ®The newspaper was asked by federal agents for assistance and agreed to comply. |
|
|
vague |
unclear because someone does not give enough detailed information or does not say exactly what they mean ®The governor gave only a vague outline of his tax plan. vague about ®Julia was vague about where she had been and what she had been doing. |
|
|
to keep up phrasal verb |
keep something ↔ up to continue doing something ®I don't think I can keep this up any longer. ®keep up the good work! (=continue to work hard and well) |
|
|
to con‧form [intransitive] |
to obey a law, rule etc conform to/with ®Students can be expelled for refusing to conform to school rules. ®All new buildings must conform with the regional development plan. ®products which conform to international safety standards |
|
|
apt |
exactly right for a particular situation or purpose [= appropriate]:Look up a word starting with D or S for samples of headword or sentence pronunciations on the LDOCE CD-ROM'Love at first sight' is a very apt description of how he felt when he saw her.apt forLook up a word starting with D or S for samples of headword or sentence pronunciations on the LDOCE CD-ROMThe punishment should be apt for the crime. |
|
|
to de‧vise [transitive] |
to plan or invent a new way of doing something:British EnglishShe devised a method for quicker communications between offices. |
|
|
up‧heav‧al [uncountable and countable] |
a very big change that often causes problems ®political upheaval ®Moving house is a major upheaval. |
|
|
un‧fet‧tered formal |
not restricted by laws or rules ®unfettered economic activity |
|
|
to en‧force [transitive] |
to make people obey a rule or law enforce a law/ban etc ®Governments make laws and the police enforce them. ®Parking restrictions will be strictly enforced. —enforceable adjective ®The recommendations are not legally enforceable. |
|
|
rig‧or‧ous |
1.careful, thorough, and exact ®a rigorous analysis of defence needs ®the rigorous standards required by the college 2.very severe or strict ®rigorous army training—rigorously adverb |
|
|
to bring something ↔ about phrasal verb |
to make something happen [= cause] ®How can we bring about a change in attitudes? ®A huge amount of environmental damage has been brought about by the destruction of the rainforests. |
|
|
u‧ni‧form‧i‧ty [uncountable] |
the quality of being or looking the same as all other members of a group ®There seems to be no uniformity among the various systems. |
|
|
to en‧dorse [transitive] |
to express formal support or approval for someone or something endorse a proposal/an idea/a candidate etc ®The Prime Minister is unlikely to endorse this view. |
|
|
im‧pe‧tus [uncountable] |
an influence that makes something happen or makes it happen more quickly impetus for ®The report may provide further impetus for reform. ®The discoverygavefreshimpetus tothe research. |
|
|
im‧pli‧cit |
suggested or understood without being stated directly [≠ explicit] implicit criticism/threat/assumption ®Her words contained an implicit threat. ®His statement is being seen as implicit criticism of the work of research laboratories. |
|
|
det‧ri‧men‧tal formal |
causing harm or damage [= damaging] detrimental to British English Smoking is detrimental to your health. British English the detrimental effect of pollution on the environment—detrimentally adverb |
|
|
focal point [countable] |
the person or thing that you pay most attention to focal point of ®The pool is the focal point of the hotel. focal point for The new tax has been the focal point for much discussion. |
|
|
ri‧gid |
rigid methods, systems etc are very strict and difficult to change [≠ flexible] ®rigid and authoritarian methods of education |
|
|
to rec‧ti‧fy [transitive] |
to correct something that is wrong [= put right] ®I did my best to rectify the situation, but the damage was already done.—rectification noun [uncountable and countable] |
|
|
to cur‧tail [transitive]formal |
to reduce or limit something ®The new law will curtail police powers. severely/drastically curtail ®Budget cuts have drastically curtailed training programs.—curtailment noun [uncountable and countable] |
|
|
to scale something ↔ down/back phrasal verb |
to reduce the amount or size of something:British English ®The emergency aid programme has now been scaled down. |
|
|
to pre‧sume [transitive] |
to think that something is true, although you are not certain [= assume] Each of you will make a speech, I presume? ®'Are his parents still alive?''I presume so. 'presume that ®I presume we'll be there by six o'clock. presume somebody/something to be somebody/something ®From the way he talked, I presumed him to be your boss. be presumed to do something ®The temple is presumed to date from the first century BC. |
|
|
triv‧i‧al |
not serious, important, or valuable trivial problem/matter/complaint etc ®We were punished for the most trivial offences. ®a trivial sum ®Her feelings for Simon seemed trivial by comparison. |
|
|
ex‧ces‧sive |
much more than is reasonable or necessary ®his excessive drinking ®$15 for two beers seems a little excessive.—excessively adverb ®excessively high taxes |
|
|
re‧mu‧ne‧ra‧tion [uncountable and countable] |
formal the pay you give someone for something they have done for you ®high rates of remuneration—remunerate verb [transitive] |
|
|
cap‧tion [countable] |
words printed above or below a picture in a book or newspaper or on a television screen to explain what the picture is showing [↪ subtitle]—caption verb [transitive usually passive] ®a photograph of the couple captioned 'rebuilding their romance' |
|
|
to lump [transitive] |
to put two or more different people or things together and consider them as a single group, sometimes wrongly ®lump something together ®You can't lump the symptoms together and blame them all on stress. lump somebody/something in with somebody ®The danger is that people who pay their bills on time will be lumped in with those that don't. |
|
|
to de‧plete [transitive usually passive] |
to reduce the amount of something that is present or available:British English ®Salmon populations have been severely depleted.—depletion noun [uncountable]British English ®the depletion of the ozone layer |
|
|
to en‧hance [transitive] |
to improve something ®Good lighting will enhance any room. ®The publicity has enhanced his reputation.—enhancer noun [countable] ®flavor enhancers—enhancement noun [uncountable and countable] |
|
|
bi‧as [singular, uncountable] |
an opinion about whether a person, group, or idea is good or bad which influences how you deal with it political/gender/racial etc bias ®political bias in the press ®Students were evaluated without bias. bias against/towards/in favour of ®It's clear that the company has a bias against women and minorities. |
|
|
bed‧rock [singular] |
the basic ideas, features, or facts on which something is based ®Marriage and children are the bedrock of family life. |
|
|
un‧as‧sail‧able formal |
not able to be criticized, made weaker, or beaten ®an unassailable argument ®The party's position looked unassailable. ®The result gave the team anunassailable lead. |
|
|
to an‧tic‧i‧pate [transitive] |
to expect that something will happen and be ready for it ®Sales are better than anticipated. anticipate changes/developments ®The schedule isn't final, but we don't anticipate many changes. anticipate problems/difficulties ®We don't anticipate any problems. ®A good speaker is able to anticipate an audience's needs and concerns. anticipate (that) ®This year, we anticipate that our expenses will be 15% greater. ®It is anticipated thatthe research will have many different practical applications. anticipate doing something ®I didn't anticipate having to do the cooking myself! |
