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300 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
  • 3rd side (hint)
aggregate (adj.)
gathered into or amounting to a whole
Ex: It is impossible to judge last year's performance without knowing the ~ sales numbers.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by a term like sum, total, or numbers.
intensify (v.)
to increase in power; to act with increased strength
Ex: Jacob's long absence ~+ his certainty that he should marry Rose.
precipitation (n.)
water that falls to the Earth's surface
Ex: In the Pacific Northwest, the high level of ~ ensures rich, green plant life.
collide (v.)
to come together with great or violent force
Ex: As usual, their holiday was ruined when their in-laws' views on politics ~+ with their own.
eruption (n.)
a sudden, often violent, outburst
Ex: The ~ of Mount St. Helens in 1980 caused 57 deaths and immeasurable change to the face of the mountain.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by an of phrase.
persevere (v.)
to keep going, despite obstacles or discouragement; to maintain a purpose
Ex: The hikers ~+ despite the bad weather and the icy trail.
plunge (v.)
to go down suddenly; to decrease by a great amount in a short time
Ex: He jumped off the diving board and ~+ into the pool.
Ex: The value of the company's stock ~+ after its chief executive was arrested.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by an into phrase.
inherent (adj.)
naturally characteristic; always found within something, because it's a basic part of that thing
Ex: No job can be interesting all the time. Boredom is ~ in any kind of work.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by in.
deplete (v.)
to greatly decrease the supply of a resource or material
Ex: The prolonged war ~+ the country's national treasury.
emission (n.)
sending out from a small space into the general environment; a substance discharged into the air
Ex: The Environmental Protection Agency regulates the ~ of pollutants into the air.
Usage Tips: ~ is usually followed by an of phrase.
retain (v.)
to keep or hold
Ex: The rain fell so heavily that the banks of the river could not ~ all the water.
seep (v.)
to pass slowly for a long time, as a liquid or gas might
Ex: As the containers rusted, the toxic waste ~+ into the ground.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by into or through.
corrode (v.)
to be slowly weakened by chemical reactions
Ex: Sitting in salt water, the old coins ~+ and became very easy to break.
Usage Tips: A familiar kind of ~+ produces rust, the reddish coating on iron or steel that has been exposed to air and water.
expeditiously (adv.)
quickly and efficiently
Ex: Using carrier pigeons, the military commanders exchanged messages ~.
combustion (n.)
the process of burning
Ex: When air quality is poor, ~ of materials in a fireplace is prohibited.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by of.
discretely (adv.)
separately; distinctly
Ex: In order to understand how the engine worked, each component needed to be studied ~.
permeate (v.)
to spread or flow through out ; to pass through or penetrate
Ex: The smell of cooking ~+ the entire apartment building.
degrade (v.)
to reduce in value or strength
Ex: The roads in cold or wet areas of the United States ~ faster than those in warm, sunny regions.
contemplate (v.)
to consider thoughtfully
Ex: If you contemplate each step for so long, we will never complete this project on time.
ecclesiastical (adj.)
relating to a church
Ex: He was looking specifically for a university where he could study ~ history.
exalt (v.)
to praise or honor
Ex: He would often ~ the virtues of his new wife.
pious (adj.)
having or exhibiting religious reverence
Ex: Sometimes she was so ~ that the rest of us felt like heathens.
aggravate (v.)
to make worse; to anger or intensify
Ex: Running will ~ your sore knees.
decrepit (adj.)
weakened or worn out because of age, illness, or excessive use
Ex: The once-beautiful building was now dirty, ~, and roofless.
persist (v.)
to continue to exist; to hold to a purpose, despite any obstacle
Ex: If your symptoms ~, you should go see a doctor.
Ex: Lola ~+ in her efforts to become a lawyer.
augment (v.)
to make bigger or better by adding to
Ex: In some types of popular cosmetic surgery people ~ parts of their bodies.
Ex: The college ~+ its course offerings because students complained that there were too few choices.
complication (n.)
a factor that makes something more difficult or complex
Ex: The surgeons could not easily stop the bleeding because of ~+ related to the patient's diabetes.
divination (n.)
foretelling the future by finding patterns in physical objects
Ex: In Turkey, women offer ~+ by reading the dregs from a coffee cup.
horror (n.)
strong fear mixed with disgust
Ex: On Halloween night, all the ~ movies were rented out.
intermediary (n.)
acting as an agent between people or things
Ex: The plaintiff's lawyer suggested that they hire an ~ to help them discuss their case.
Usage Tips: ~ comes from the Latin words meaning "between the ways".
invoke (v.)
to call on for support
Ex: In many religions, believers ~ their god by holding out their hands.
self-perpetuating (adj.)
having the power to renew oneself for an indefinite period of time
Ex: It is difficult to escape from a lie, as they are often ~.
assimilate (v.)
to consume and incorporate; to become similar
Ex: Not all of the overseas students could ~ into the rigidly controlled school.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by into.
relic (n.)
something left from a long-ago culture, time period, or person
Ex: ~+ of the war can still be found in the sand dunes along this shore.
saga (n.)
a long story about important events long ago; a long story of heroic achievement
Ex: Many American families tell ~+ about their ancestors' arrival in the United States.
vestige (n.)
a visible trace that something once existed
Ex: The wilted flowers were the only ~ of their romantic weekend.
de facto (adj.)
truly doing a job, even if not officially
Ex: Popular support established the Citizens Party as the ~ government.
discriminate (v.)
to choose carefully among options; make an unjust or prejudicial distinction in the treatment of different categories of people or things, esp. on the grounds of race, sex, or age
Ex: The governor wisely ~+ between urgent issues and those that could wait.
notion (n.)
A belief; a fanciful impulse, a conception of or belief about something; an impulse or desire, esp. one of a whimsical kind
Ex: The ~ that older office equipment is unreliable is inaccurate.
Ex: One morning, she suddenly took the ~ to paint her kitchen red.
Usage Tips: ~ can be followed by a that clause or a to phrase.
oppress (v.)
to keep down by force; to weigh heavily on, by the unjust exercise of authority
Ex: Factory management ~+ workers through intimidation.
paradigm (n.)
a pattern or model; a set of assumptions
Ex: The usual ~ for economic growth in developed countries does not apply to some poor nations.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by for.
distinctly (adv.)
in a way that is readily distinguishable by the senses; clearly
Ex: I ~ remember saying that we would meet at noon.
erudite (adj.)
highly educated; having or showing great knowledge or learning
Ex: Even though Stella was only a freshman, she was considered ~ by both her classmates and her professors.
fortify (v.)
to strengthen; protect against attack
Ex: The high-priced drink had extra vitamins and minerals to ~ the body.
implicitly (adv.)
without being stated; unquestioningly; in a way that is not directly expressed
Ex: By joining the competition, she agreed ~ to the rules.
parochial (adj.)
restricted in outlook; relating to the local parish; small-minded, provincial, narrow, small-town
Ex: Marla moved from her rural community to get away from its ~ thinking.
Ex: Sending your children to a ~ school can cost as much as sending them to college.
rigor (n.)
strictness; difficult situations that come from following rules strictly
Ex: The wrestler followed his diet with ~.
Ex: The ~+ of military life toughened the young men quickly.
allegiance (n.)
loyalty, commitment
Ex: My ~ to my country is based on respect for its principles.
Usage Tips: ~ is commonly followed by a to phrase.
in the trenches (adv'l.)
in the middle of the hardest fighting or work
Ex: With their unrealistic view of this war, our generals don't know what things are like out ~.
Usage Tips: ~ creates an image of soldiers fighting in a long, dug-out place in the battlefield.
mobilize (v.)
to put members of a group into motion
Ex: After a terrible storm, the governor ~+ the National Guard to rescue victims.
annex (v.)
to make something (usually land) part of another unit
Ex: Bardstown grew by ~+ several farms at the north edge of town.
conquest (n.)
a takeover by force or continued effort
Ex: The first recorded ~ of Mt. Everest was by Tensing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hilary.
Usage Tips: ~ is usually followed by an of phrase.
devise (v.)
to find an original way to make an object or a plan
Ex: The soldiers ~ a way to cross the river into enemy territory without being seen.
prevailing (adj.)
strongest or most common
Ex: The ~ attitude among our neighbors is to be friendly but not too friendly.
diminish (v.)
make something smaller or weaker; become smaller or weaker
Ex: The Protestant Reformation ~+ the power of the Roman Catholic Pope.
Ex: Mr. Partridge's influence in the company ~+ after he relocated to a branch office.
milieu (n.)
general environment or surroundings
Ex: Many Vietnam veterans did not feel comfortable in the antiwar social ~ of the 1970s.
Orwellian (adj.)
frightening and overcontrolled by a government that interferes in nearly every aspect of personal life
Ex: Biometric devices like eye-scanners allow an ~ level of government knowledge about everyone's location.
reconciliation (n.)
coming back together peacefully after having been enemies
Ex: South Africa avoided a bloodbath after apartheid by setting up a Truth and ~ Commission.
commodity (n.)
a thing that can be bought and sold, such as grain, oil, or wood
Ex: Tulip bulbs were one of the most valuable ~+ in seventeenth-century Holland.
Usage Tips: A thing is called a ~ only in the context of buying or selling it.
equity (n.)
the value of one's share in an investment
Ex: Barnard's ~ in the business was one-third, or about $350,000.
Usage Tips: In this meaning, ~ is always singular and usually followed by an in phrase.
per capita (adv.)
for each person
Ex: Research shows we're likely to sell 15 light bulbs ~ per year in medium-sized cities.
subsidy (n.)
money given by a government or other organization to support an activity
Ex: Federal ~+ to grain farmers have helped them stay in business despite three years of bad weather.
tangible (adj.)
obviously real because it can be seen, touched, or otherwise observed
Ex: One ~ benefit of putting electrical cables underground is a clearer view of the sky.
affluence (n.)
wealth and the style of life that goes with it
Ex: Mohadzir grew up amid ~, which poorly prepared him for his grad student days in crowded apartments with no servants.
impoverish (v.)
to make a person or group poor
Ex: The collapse of the steel industry ~+ several counties in eastern Ohio.
nobility (n.)
a group of socially prominent people with special titles given by a king or queen, such as "duke" or "countess"
Ex: In the Middle Ages, the ~ supposedly followed a code that required them to take care of poorer people who lived near their estates.
Usage Tips: ~ is used as a name for a group of distinguished people; it can also mean "a highly dignified form of behavior".
proprietor (n.)
owner, usually of a business or a building
Ex: The ~ of Hekman's Windows is Nels Hekman, grandson of the people who established the factory.
Usage Tips: Very often, ~ is followed by an of phrase.
sole (adj.)
only
Ex: Many people have wanted to invest in Harry's publishing business, but he remains the ~ owner.
Usage Tips: ~ almost always appears before the noun it modifies. It does not come after a linking verb like be.
enterprising (adj.)
creative in thinking of ways to make money
Ex: Immigrants are often among the most ~ members of society, partly because anyone brave enough to make an overseas move is likely to be a risk-taker.
Usage Tips: There is no verb "to ~+".
exploit (v.)
to take advantage of; to treat inconsiderately in order to profit; make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource)
Ex: The company tried to ~ the low interest rates to expand operations.
Usage Tips: The foreign mining company ~+ our copper resources and then simply left.
industrious (adj.)
willing to work hard
Ex: The Dutch settlements in Ottawa County were founded by ~ farmers who objected to frivolous behavior such as dancing.
Usage Tips: Only people can be ~; companies cannot.
marginal (adj.)
not very significant or effective
Ex: Our new advertising campaign had only ~ success, raising sales by a mere 3 percent.
distill (v.)
to remove one liquid from a mixture of liquids by boiling; to get something valuable from a confusing mix of ideas
Ex: The forest peoples of Southeast Asia ~ an alcoholic drink called arak from a paste of palm berries.
Ex: Most students are confused by her lectures, but Joe can always ~ her main idea.
haggle (v.)
To argue back and forth about a price
Ex: The customer and the shopkeeper ~+ over the silver plate for more than an hour.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by a phrase with over or about.
intrepid (adj.)
fearless
Ex: For nearly 200 years, only the most ~ colonists would cross the Appalachian Mountains.
merchant (n.)
a person who makes a living by selling things
Ex: The spice ~+ of the eastern markets charged top prices to the Dutch and British sailors, who had come too far to sail away without buying.
Usage Tips: The word ~ might be preceded by another noun telling what the ~ sells (e.g., spice ~ or wine ~).
bitterly (adv.)
strongly and with a lot of bad feelings
Ex: Senator Thomas ~ opposed the movement to design a new state flag.
inaugurate (v.)
to bring into public office; to start formally
Ex: The U.S. president is elected in November but is not ~+ until the following January.
Ex: An effort to bring electric service to farms and small towns was ~+ with the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
Usage Tips: When it means "bring into public office," ~ is usually in the passive voice.
civil (adj.)
involving a dispute between two citizens, not a criminal charge
Ex: in a ~ suit against his neighbor, Barney claimed that the neighbor's dog had bitten him.
Usage Tips: In a court context, ~ almost always appears in one of the following phrases: ~ suit, ~ action, ~ court, ~ proceedings, and ~ penalties.
convict (v.)
to decide that someone is guilty of a crime; declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense
Ex: Dean was ~+ of assault after the jury saw a video of him striking another man.
Usage Tips: ~ is often used in the passive voice.
apprehend (v.)
to capture; understand or perceive
Ex: The police ~+ the robbery suspect as he tried to get on a bus to Chicago.
ascertain (v.)
to make sure of
Ex: The police failed to ~ that the man they arrested was the Gregory Brown they were really looking for.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by a that clause.
condemn (v.)
to speak out against something in very strong terms; express complete disapproval of
Ex: Religious radicals ~+ the government for allowing alcohol to be sold in restaurants.
implicate (v.)
to suggest that someone was involved in a crime or other wrong behavior; convey (a meaning or intention) indirectly through what one says
Ex: No group claimed responsibility for the bombing, but the type of explosive used ~+ the Heartland Freedom Militia.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by in.
inquiry (n.)
an investigation; an act of asking for information
Ex: The FBI launched an ~ into the relationship between organized crime and the trucking company.
assail (v.)
to attack or criticize forcefully
Ex: With DNA evidence from the crime scene, the defense lawyer ~+ the police for falsely arresting his client.
impair (v.)
to make something less effective than usual
Ex: The snow ~+ John's ability to hear anyone's footsteps.
Usage Tips: The object of ~ is often [someone's] ability to.
inference (n.)
a conclusion drawn from evidence
Ex: Inspector Dowd's ~ that Ms. Miller was South African was based on her accent.
cynically (adv.)
disrespectfully; emphasizing the weaknesses of otherwise respected things
Ex: Employees of the Roadways Department ~ referred to their boss as "the banker" because he took so many bribes.
erode (v.)
to wear away and become smaller
Ex: People's respect for the government ~+ as more officials were arrested for corruption.
Usage Tips: ~ can be intransitive (the beach ~+) or transitive (the waves ~+ the beach).
evade (v.)
to get away from something that tries to catch you
Ex: The robbery suspects tried to ~ the police by fleeing to Canada.
grotesque (adj.)
Extremely unattractive, in a way that catches a lot of attention; comically or repulsively ugly or distorted
Ex: Spending $3.5 million to redecorate the governor's house is a ~ misuse of public money.
prevalent (adj.)
common; easy to find because it exists in great amounts
Ex: Distrust of elected officials was ~ in our county because many of them were friends with certain candidates.
coerce (v.)
to force; to put pressure on someone to do something
Ex: A criminal's confession is not usable in court if the police ~ him or her into giving it.
detain (v.)
to prevent someone, for a relatively short time, from going on their way
Ex: The police ~+ at least 20 men for questioning, but charged none of them with a crime.
deviant (adj.)
in a style that is not normal and is offensive to many
Ex: The artist based his reputation on creating ~ works of art that disgusted most of the public.
Usage Tips: ~ always implies a bad opinion of someone or something.
distort (v.)
to twist or misrepresent; to make something seem different from what it really is
Ex: If you hold a pencil in a glass of water, the water ~+ the appearance of the pencil.
predicament (n.)
a difficult situation, one that is hard to get out of
Ex: College basketball stars face the ~ of wanting to graduate but being tempted by high professional salaries.
interdict (v.)
to keep something from reaching a certain place; prohibit or forbid
Ex: With faster patrol boats, the Coast Guard can more easily ~ drugs being smuggled by sea.
juxtapose (v.)
place next to one another
Ex: If you ~ these two similar flowers, you can see clear differences between them.
potent (adj.)
powerful; having great power, influence, or effect
Ex: A very ~ type of marijuana with surprisingly strong effects became available in Burrytown.
cohesion (n.)
ability to stay together as a unit
Ex: Family ~ is difficult if young people have to go far away to find work.
Usage Tips: ~ can also be used to describe forces that keep materials or structures together.
proximity (n.)
nearness
Ex: The house was comfortable, except for its ~ to a busy road.
Usage Tips: ~ can be followed by an of phrase or a to phrase.
associate (v.)
to regularly spend time together
Ex: Carol doesn't ~ with people who smoke.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by a with phrase.
clique (n.)
a small group of friends who are unfriendly to people outside the group
Ex: High-schoolers form ~+ to gain security and acceptance.
Usage Tips: ~ indicates a negative feeling toward a group.
solidarity (n.)
standing together despite pressure to move apart
Ex: Many student groups declared ~ with the Latino Student Association in their effort to get a Spanish-speaking principal.
Usage Tips: ~ is usually used in political contexts.
despondent (adj.)
Extremely sad and without hope for the future
Ex: After his girlfriend left him, Johnson was ~ and wouldn't talk to anyone.
engender (v.)
to bring into being; to cause to exist
Ex: The government's warnings about terrorism ~+ fear throughout the nation.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by a noun for an emotion.
passion (n.)
an extremely strong emotion, like love or anger
Ex: Debbie complained that there was no ~ in her marriage.
proliferation (n.)
an increase in the number of something and in the number of places it can be found
Ex: The ~ of fast-food restaurants has made it harder for Americans to eat healthy lunches.
Usage Tips: ~ is very often followed by an of phrase.
reciprocity (n.)
doing as much for another as he or she has done for you; the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit
Ex: Dan was giving a lot of attention to Kelly, but he felt no ~ in their relationship.
berate (v.)
to say insulting and disrespectful things
Ex: The teacher lost his job because he cruelly ~+ students who made mistakes.
Usage Tips: You can only ~ someone directly, only when he or she can hear you.
contemptuous (n.)
having no respect
Ex: Most scientists are ~ of reports that aliens from outer space have landed on the Earth.
Usage Tips: A very common structure is be ~ of.
despise (v.)
hate very much
Ex: Tom grew to ~ his greedy and unfriendly boss.
obnoxious (adj.)
bothersome; doing small things that others don't like
Ex: My ~ neighbor keeps talking to me while I'm trying to read in my backyard.
stigmatize (v.)
to mark with a visible feature that makes other people think, perhaps incorrectly, that someone or something is wrong; describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval
Ex: Cadbury's beard and tattoos ~+ him as a bad match for Wall Street, so he couldn't find work as a financial analyst.
vitriolic (adj.)
showing an extreme, hateful anger
Ex: The mayor's ~ attacks against the city council only made him sound unreasonable.
Usage Tips: The origin of ~ is ~+; a strong chemical that could cause painful burns.
delinquency (n.)
serious misbehavior; not doing what one should do; minor crime, esp. that committed by young people
Ex: Because of his laziness and ~, Lefty was an unreliable friend.
Usage Tips: A common combination is juvenile ~, meaning "criminal behavior by a teenager".
fringe (n.)
edge; in social contexts, parts of society that look or act very different from most people
Ex: Punk music got its start at the ~ of London's rock music culture.
Usage Tips: ~ implies an edge that is uneven and not very solid.
hedonistic (adj.)
Excessively interested in seeking pleasure
Ex: Suddenly wealthy, Allen fell into a ~ life of parties, expensive dinners, and heavy drinking.
Usage Tips: ~ usually implies that the pleasures are wrong.
depict (v.)
to show in pictures
Ex: Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel ~+ nine scenes from the Bible.
intrinsic (adj.)
being part of the basic nature of something
Ex: Frequent elections are ~ to a democratic system.
portrayal (n.)
a description or drawing that reflects a certain point of view
Ex: Most ~+ of Abraham Lincoln emphasize his sense of humor and his honesty.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by an of phrase to indicate what is being described.
advent (n.)
coming; arrival; the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event
Ex: The ~ of the automobile greatly increased the demand for petroleum.
Usage Tips: ~ is usually followed by an of phrase.
connotation (n.)
a meaning implied, not stated directly
Ex: When my boss says, "Thank you", the ~ is that she's done talking and I should leave.
denote (v.)
to mean something clearly and directly
Ex: An "X" next to a name on this list ~+ a person who has been chosen for the soccer team.
inscription (n.)
something written into a piece of rock or metal
Ex: The ~ on my ring says "August 1," because that was the day of our wedding.
gala (adj.)
Expensive, elaborately arranged, and full of celebration
Ex: A college graduation party should be a ~ affair, not a backyard barbecue.
Usage Tips: ~ is somewhat old-fashioned, far more common in print than in speech.
improvisation (n.)
inventing a solution to an unexpected problem
Ex: Boy Scouts take pride in their ~ when faced with trouble during a camping trip.
medium (n.)
a channel or way for a meaning to be expressed
Ex: Watercolor art is often considered childish, but some artists have achieved great things working in that ~.
Usage Tips: The plural of ~ is ~+.
skit (n.)
a short, informal play
Ex: Marnie and Chris spent a long time practicing their ~ for the school show.
zeal (n.)
enthusiasm; a deep determination to do well
Ex: Unfortunately, Tom's ~ to become a rock star distracted him from his studies.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by to plus a verb or by a for phrase.
bulk (n.)
largeness and a heavy appearance
Ex: The ~ of Kevin's athletic body was too great for one small chair, so he sat on a bench.
capricious (adj.)
moving unpredictably from one thing to another
Ex: Your college studies will go on too long if you make ~ jumps from one major to another.
Usage Tips: ~ comes from a Latin word meaning "goat"and implies a motion like the jumping of a goat.
cumbersome (adj.)
difficult to wear or carry because of weight or shape
Ex: To make it to the top of the mountain before dark, the hikers dumped their ~ tent.
inhibit (v.)
to discourage or to slow down
Ex: This lotion will ~ the itching caused by mosquito bites.
striking (adj.)
very noticeable; easily attracting attention
Ex: Gordon had a ~ new attitude after he learned self-discipline at the army academy.
Usage Tips: ~ comes from a verb that means "to hit".
vanity (n.)
an excessive concern for one's appearance; excessive pride in or admiration of one's own appearance or achievements
Ex: Mark's ~ led him to spend far too much money on haircuts and new clothes.
bring about (phrasal verb)
to cause to happen; produce an effect
Ex.: The creation of a national railroad system brought about big changes in the economy of the Midwest and west. Related: cause, lead to, result in
acute (adj)
having the characteristics of being very serious or intense; reaching the point of crisis
Ex.: Natural disasters often produce acute needs for medicine, food and water. Related: critical, crucial, desperate
dwelling (noun)
a building where one resides
Ex.: The Hopi Indians carved their dwellings into large stone cliffs. Related: abode, home, lodging
encompass (verb)
to contain or include certain parts
Ex.: The field of linguistics encompasses the areas of social, applied and theoretical language study. Related: consist of, contain, embody
every so often (adverb exp)
referring to events that occur occasionally or at no specific time
Ex.: Every so often the Colima volcano in Mexico sends huge clouds of smoke into the air. Related: every now and then, once in a while, now and again
heyday (noun)
the high point of power, success or popularity
Ex.: The West experienced its nineteenth century economic heyday during the famous California gold rush of the 1840s. Related: apex, pinnacle, zenith
portray (verb)
to describe someone or something in a specific way
Ex.: Some historians portray the development of the Internet as one of the most important scientific advancements of the twentieth century. Related: depict, render, represent
put on the back burner (exp)
to postpone to a future time
Ex.: Due to lack of funding, the transportation project was put on the back burner. Related: defer, delay, suspend
slender (adj)
the quality of being thin
Ex.: Snakes have long, slender bodies. Related: slim, skinny
staple (adj)
a principal ingredient or major element of something
Ex.: Corn, beans and squash were staple foods of the Hopi Indian diet. Related: chief, essential, prime
take on (phrasal verb)
to take the first steps in doing something
Ex.: Because of the doctor's busy schedule, she is not sure if she should take on another research project. Related: initiate, commence, undertake
factor in (phrasal verb)
to consider or include information used to make conclusions
Ex.: The price of raw material and the costs of production and transportation are factored in to the store price of an item. Related: add in, include, incorporate
minuscule (adj)
being of very small size
Ex.: Camels require only minuscule amounts of water, with many living up to six months in cooler seasons without taking a drink. Related: diminutive, minute, tiny
render (verb)
to cause something to change or develop in a certain way
Ex.: Pure ice is completely clear, but if air bubbles are present, they render it cloudy. Related: cause to be, develop into, make
surpass (verb)
to exceed expectations; to become greater or better
Ex.: It is a goal of most teachers to develop students whose knowledge and skills will one day surpass their own abilities. Related: better, exceed, go beyond
take up (phrasal verb)
to start a new activity or project
Ex.: Health experts often suggest taking up activities that reduce stress and improve physical condition. Related: embark on, engage in, start
outspoken (adj)
expressing honest opinions directly despite the negative effects they may have on other people
Ex.: African-American journalist William Monroe Trotter was an outspoken supporter of civil rights in the early twentieth century. Related: blunt, candid, forthright
procure (verb)
to obtain something; usually something hard to find
Ex.: A strong password, which cannot be procured by others, should be used to protect important computer files. Related: acquire, attain, obtain
foster (verb)
to encourage the development of an idea or policy
Ex.: Respect for the law fosters peace and security in a society. Related: advance, promote, further
inasmuch as (conj)
in a limited way, something is true
Ex.: Thomas Edison was persistent, inasmuch as he conducted more than one thousand experiments to create the electric lightbulb until he was successful. Related: because of the fact that, insofar as, since
conspicuous (adj)
easy to observe because it is different or unusual
Ex.: The conspicuous absence of rainfall caused farmers to worry about their crops. Related: evident, obvious, noticeable
diminish (verb)
to make less important or smaller
Ex.: New methods of communication will probably diminish the need to use communication devices such as the telephone. Related: decrease, lessen, reduce
beneath (prep)
under
Ex.: Modern submarines can remain beneath the ocean's surface for months at a time. Related: below, under, underneath
decay (noun)
to be destroyed by natural processes; to become less important
Ex.: It is a well-known fact that foods high in sugar can cause tooth decay. Related: atrophy, decomposition, deterioration
exert (verb)
to make a strong effort to influence; to cause to happen
Ex.: Newspapers and magazines exert a lot of influence on a person's views of world events. Related: apply, exercise, put forth
outburst (noun)
a sudden and powerful action or expression of emotion
Ex.: Security removed the man whose outbursts of disapproval disturbed the meeting. Related: eruption, explosion, outbreak
pinpoint (verb)
to find the precise location of something
Ex.: The newest Doppler radar systems can pinpoint the location of bad weather. Related: identify, isolate, locate
uphold (verb)
to defend or support law, principle or policy
Ex.: The Supreme Court either upholds or rejects lower court decisions. Related: defend, support, sustain
succinct (adj)
clearly explained with a small number of words
Ex.: The professor gave a succinct explanation of the Aztec civilization's influence on Mexican Spanish vocabulary Related: brief, concise, to the point
unravel (verb)
to separate the parts from a whole to make something clear
Ex.: Scientists have just begun to unravel the mysteries of the human body. Related: resolve, solve, sort out
scattered (adj)
spread out over a large area; not found in all places
Ex.: Areas of scattered showers usually arrive long before a hurricane reaches land. Related: dotted, spread out
haphazard (adj)
done with little or no thought or attention
Ex.: Some cities grow haphazardly because of improper planning. Related: arbitrarily, carelessly, randomly
emerge (verb)
to come from somewhere or someone
Ex.: The sport of soccer emerged from England during the 1830s. Related: appear, become known, materialize
conceal (verb)
to prevent from being known or seen
Ex.: The insects known as Walking Sticks use their similarity to tree branches to conceal themselves from predators. Related: cover-up, hide, mask
be prone to (exp)
having a natural tendency or likelihood to do something
Ex.: Many people are prone to misunderstand the difficulty of learning a second language. Related: have a tendency to, be inclined to, likely to
cohesive (adj)
closely joined; being together in harmony
Ex.: Team sports require cohesive groups of people who are willing to work together to reach a common goal. Related: consistent, unified, united
ascent (noun)
the act of going up or rising
Ex.: Davy Crockett's popularity made a fast ascent due to his successes as a war hero and politician for the common citizen. Related: ascension, climb, rise
flourish (verb)
to grow in a healthy way; to be active and vigorous
Ex.: Hong Kong is an international center of business and finance where free trade flourishes. Related: burgeon, prosper, thrive
on the spot (exp)
being at the right place at the exact moment of need
Ex.: When an emergency situation arises on US highways, help usually arrives on the spot within a short time. Related: at once, immediately, instantly
overlook (verb)
to notice or see, but to pretend not to see
Ex.: Many managers overlook the mistakes of younger, less experienced employees. Related: ignore, excuse, forgive
harsh (adj)
causing excessive pain or suffering; being extremely difficult to deal with
Ex.: Researches have studied the effects of harsh climatic conditions and high altitudes on the human body. Related: difficult, severe
soaring (adj)
rising very quickly
Ex.: During periods of rising costs, salaries seldom keep up with soaring prices for life's necessities. Related: elevated, high, lofty
prominent (adj)
very visible or noticeable; standing out from others
Ex.: The North Star, Polaris, is one of the most prominent stars in the northern sky. Related: eye-catching, famous, well-known
realm (noun)
a world or area of activity
Ex.: Ants can carry up to fifty times their weight, making them the superstar weightlifters of their realm. Related: dominion, empire, world
subscribe to (exp)
to agree with a principle or idea
Ex.: The writers of the Declaration of Independence subscribed to the idea that all people are created equal. Related: accept, agree with, join
swift (adj)
fast
Ex.: Jet airplanes provide a means of swift, efficient travel over long distances. Related: fast, rapid, quick
turmoil (noun)
a situation where there is much trouble, conflict, or worry
Ex.: The end of slavery in 1860s brought about much turmoil in the economy of the southern states. Related: chaos, confusion, disorder
vast (adj)
extremely large
Ex.: Mount Saint Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, creating a vast cloud of ashes that covered a large part of the USA. Related: enormous, gigantic, huge
subject to (exp)
to be most probably affected by something else
Ex.: Farming is always subject to the influence of weather conditions during the growing season. Related: conditional on, dependent on
float (verb)
to discuss an idea among a group of people to get their reactions to the idea
Ex.: Lawmakers floated the idea of the tax increase among their colleagues to get their opinions on the matter. Related: propose, suggest, promote
minute (adj)
extremely small or unimportant
Ex.: A minute amount of poison from the Fierce Snake of Australia is enough to kill more than fifty adult humans. Related: insignificant, minuscule, tiny
empower (verb)
to give someone the authority or the right to do something
Ex.: Modern computers have empowered people to organize their lives and discover new ways to solve problems. Related: allow, authorize, sanction
crude (adj)
not refined, advanced or very well developed
Ex.: The first cotton gin, which was a crude machine used to separate cotton from its seeds, was invented by Ely Whitney in 1793. Related: basic, rough, simple
barter (verb)
to exchange goods or services for other goods or services without using money
Ex.: Before the invention of paper money by the Chinese in the eighth century, people bartered to get what they needed. Related: bargain, swap, trade
afford (verb)
to be able to give or provide
Ex.: Modern day vaccines afford protection from diseases that just thirty years ago caused many people to suffer Related: allow, give, offer
strain (noun)
a difficultly that is caused by too much stress or excessive demands
Ex.: Many airports are not prepared to handle the strain of increased passenger traffic. Related: burden, pressure, stress
surplus (noun)
having more of something than is required or needed
Ex.: The school system's budget surplus was used to increase teacher salaries. Related: excess, extra, spare
undertake (verb)
to begin a project or a job for which you are responsible
Ex.: The automobile industry has undertaken studies to find out if hydrogen powered cars can be built and sold at a profit. Related: assume, commence, start
yield (verb)
to produce something
Ex.: A typical beehive can yield up to fifty-five pounds of honey every year. Related: bear, furnish, generate
prized for (exp)
used to refer to the characteristics of something that make it important and valuable
Ex.: A diamond is prized for its brilliance, clarity and color. Related: recognized, valued, well-known
rampant (adj)
out of control; affecting a large area
Ex.: Rampant price increases cause economic hardships. Related: uncontrolled, unchecked, widespread
saturate with (verb)
to make something wet; to be completely full of something
Ex.: Dew occurs when warm air, which is fully saturated with water, cools, leaving drops of water on grassy areas. Related: douse, drench, soak
misgiving about (noun)
a feeling of uncertainty or fear that something will not happen as planned or expected
Ex.: As Vice President under Ronald Reagan, George Bush did not discuss his misgivings about the President's economic plan. Related: doubt, hesitation, worry
cosmetic (adj)
something done very quickly, with little attention to quality or detail
Ex.: Many home owners make cosmetic repairs to their homes before selling them. Related: hasty, rapid, superficial
burst (noun)
an unexpected short period of intense or increased activity
Ex.: Dolphins can swim at speeds of up to thirty miles per hour, with occasional bursts of up to forty miles per hour. Related: eruption, spurt, surge
chore (noun)
an activity that is performed regularly especially around the house
Ex.: Before Florence Nightingale improved the image of nursing, the jobs of nurses were considered simple chores for women with little or no education. Related: duty, job, task
cease (verb)
to stop
Ex.: Many scientists agree that the destruction of tropical rain forests must cease in order to protect the earth's most important producers of oxygen. Related: conclude, end, finish
acclaim (noun)
something that deserves praise for its high quality or standing
Ex.: Albert Einstein received international acclaim after his theory of relativity was accepted by the Royal Society of London in 1919. Related: applause, approval, commendation
astounding (adj)
very surprising; unbelievable
Ex.: The amount of water flowing over Niagara Falls is an astounding 600,000 gallons of water per second. Related: amazing, astonishing, surprising
deliberately (adv)
done on purpose; done with a prior plan
Ex.: By using genetic engineering, genes can be deliberately changed to produce new types of fruits and vegetables. Related: by design, intentionally, purposely
diligent (adj)
hard-working; paying attention to details
Ex.: Bertrand Russell was a diligent mathematician and philosopher. Related: conscientious, meticulous, thorough
drawback (noun)
a disadvantage
Ex.: One drawback of electric-powered cars is their short battery life. Related: downside, problem, shortcoming
map (verb)
to produce a plan, usually involving many steps
Ex.: In order for students to be successful in their studies, they should map out strategies that will lead them to academic success. Related: chart, plot
forefront of (noun)
something in the first or highest position
Ex.: Japanese auto makers are in the forefront of developing cars that operate on both gas and electricity. Related: front, head, vanguard
set off (verb)
to cause a series of actions to start
Ex.: The government's tax cut set off strong consumer spending, hence improving the nation's economy. Related: begin, cause, trigger
tangible (adj)
something that is real; can be sensed
Ex.: The tangible results of a daily exercise program are increased energy, more flexibility and improved strength. Related: actual, concrete, substantial
wholesome (adj)
something that is healthy or good for someone
Ex.: A wholesome lifestyle improves a person's quality of life in his or her latter years. Related: clean, decent, moral
apply in (verb)
something that is important to or appropriate for a situation
Ex.: English rules of grammar cannot be applied in all cases due to the fact that there are many exceptions to the rules. Related: be relevant, pertain to, relate to
discreetly (adv)
something done in a quiet, private way with great skill
Ex.: When a manager must tell an employee that his job has been eliminated, the situation must be handled discreetly. Related: cautiously,prudently, tactfully
landmark (adj)
an important change, discovery, or event
Ex.: The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence was a landmark historical event. Related: breakthrough, innovative, milestone
grasp (verb)
to come to an understanding
Ex.: It is very difficult to grasp the enormous size of the galaxy. Related: comprehend, follow
hinder (verb)
to block or interfere with a process
Ex.: The unplanned growth of cities often hinders the development of public roads and transportation systems. Related: hamper, interfere, obstruct
put up with (exp)
to tolerate; to accept a bad situation without complaining
Ex.: Immigrants must often put up with difficult adjustments to life in their new land. Related: bear, endure, suffer
ominous (adj)
being of the feeling that something bad is going to happen
Ex.: One of the ominous signs that a forest is under attack by an insect is the appearance of large groups of dead trees. Related: foreboding, menacing, threatening
withstand (verb)
to successfully endure a condition; to accept
Ex.: Modern jet engines, which can withstand long periods of operation, make trans-Pacific air travel possible. Related: survive, tolerate
stature (noun)
a certain high standing among other people or things
Ex.: John Steinbeck earned stature as a great American author for his ability to describe the real lives of ordinary people of the early 1900s. Related: prominence, rank, status
take to (phrasal verb)
to like something or someone, usually right away
Ex.: Although life was difficult for the early settlers of the West, they quickly took to their homeland and its lifestyle. Related: become fond of, enjoy, take pleasure in
acclaim
praise
Isaac Stem has won acclaim abroad. Acclaimed authors often win Pulitzer Prizes
autonomous
independent
Mexico became an autonomous state in 1817. Although working closely with the government, all businesses function autonomously.
disruptive
disturbing
Frequent questions during lectures can be disruptive. The storm caused a disruption in bus service.
haphazardly
arbitrarily, carelessly
It was obvious that the house was built haphazardly. Susan completed the assignment in a haphazard way.
advent
arrival
With the advent of computers, many tasks have been made easier. The newspapers announced the advent of the concert season.
agile
nimble
Deer are very agile animals. She moved agilely across the stage.
albeit
although
His trip was successful, albeit tiring. Albeit difficult at times, speaking another language is rewarding.
contemporary
current
Contemporary architecture makes very good use of space. Cervantes was a contemporary of Shakespeare.
celebrated
renown
The celebrated pianist will give a concert this weekend. San Francisco is celebrated for its multicultural makeup.
frail
fragile
The frail wings of the newborn bird could not lift it off the ground. One of the frailties of human beings is laziness.
worthwhile
rewarding
It was worthwhile waiting 10 hours in line for the tickets. It's worthwhile to prepare for the TOEFL.
conform
adapt
Yon must conform to the rules or leave the club. She has always been a conformist.
intensify
heighten
The importance of the test will sometimes intensify the nervousness of the students. The chess match was played with great intensity.
assert
declare
The government asserted its control over the banking system. The company president is an assertive individual.
astute
perceptive
He was an astute worker, finishing in half the time it took the others to finish. They astutely determined that there would be no chance to finish on time.
elicit
extract
A lawyer will elicit all the facts necessary to prove her case. Elicitation of the truth can be difficult at times.
relinquish
to give up control; abdicate
The troubled executive relinquished his control of the company. The relinquishment of his claim to the building will allow the building to be sold.
resilient
strong enough to recover from difficulty or disease; tenacious
She has a resilient personality and will soon feel better. The doctor was surprised by his patient's resilience.
baffle
puzzle
The causes of many harmful diseases have baffled doctors for centuries. That was a baffling question.
bear
yield
This orchard bears many fine harvests of apples. Although stock prices declined, losses have been bearable for most investors.
delicate
fragile
Because of its controversial nature, it was a challenge to discuss such a delicate issue in public. You must handle the antique delicately.
intrigue
fascinate
He was intrigued by the acclaim that he received. The intriguing question baffled historians.
shed
discard
In order to grow, crabs must shed their shells. The experiments shed no new information on the cause of the disease.
chiefly
mostly
Houses are made chiefly of wood products. Corn is the chief crop of the Midwest.
coarse
rough
Sandpaper is an extremely coarse material. Wool clothing has certain coarseness in texture.
commonplace
ordinary; frequent
Soon it will be commonplace to see the person to whom you are talking on the phone. Female lawyers are commonplace in the United States.
conventional
traditional
Professor Canfield agreed with the conventional theory about the origin of the Basque language. To become integrated into a society, you must learn the conventions of that society.
exceedingly
extremely
In tropical zones, it is exceedingly hot and humid. It is not safe to exceed the speed limit.
immense
massive
From the mountaintop you can see the immense valley. She was immensely interested in the idea of teaching a foreign language.
rigid
stiff
The teacher was very rigid in his ideas about class attendance. He adhered rigidly to his opinions about marriage.
conceal
hide
The students concealed their feelings about the course. His concealment of the evidence made his case more difficult to prove.
distort
deform
Time and space are distorted when traveling at the speed of light. Distortion of the image from a microscope can be caused by low light.
prosperous
thriving
In the early 1900s, San Francisco was a prosperous city. Bacteria prosper under the proper conditions.
scarcely
hardly
The woman scarcely spoke a word of English. Due to a scarcity of water, a rationing plan was established.
creep
crawl
Some mistakes are beginning to creep into his work. Ivy is a creeping variety of plant.
crush
grind
The machine crushes corn to produce corn meal. Passage of the legislation was a crushing blow to the president's program.
vibrant
brilliant
His vibrant personality made him well liked by everyone. The vibrancy of the city is attractive to many individuals.
distinct
definite
There was a distinct aroma of coffee in the restaurant. The two theories are distinctly different from each other.
dominant
major
The dominant life forms of the paleozoic era lived in the water. The skyscraper dominated the skyline.
dormant
inactive
The volcano had been dormant for hundreds of years before the eruption last month. The seniors live in the new dormitory.
drab
colorless
Their clothing was quite drab. The drabness of the desert made driving less interesting.
elaborate
complex
An elaborate headdress indicated rank within the Aztec community. His elaboration of the issue was quite thorough.
prime
prepare
The directors primed the actors before the performance. Mozart passed away in the prime of his life.
rudimentary
basic
He has a rudimentary knowledge of computers. The rudiments of grammar are taught in all English classes.
vigorous
strong
His vigorous defense of the issues impressed everyone. He approached his work with vigor.
amenity
convenience
She had all the amenities of home when she went camping. One expects many amenities at a five-star hotel.
disperse
to cause to move in many different directions; circulate
The high winds and rain dispersed the crowd. After the hurricane, dispersed belongings cluttered the street.
erratic
no regular pattern in thinking or movement; changeable without reason; inconsistent
The artist's paintings have an erratic qualify, some being excellent, and others mediocre. The unstable chemical reacted erratically.
prevalent
commonplace
Comfortable trade winds are prevalent in the Caribbean islands. There is a prevalence of disease where poor sanitation conditions exist.
blind
unaware
They were blind to the fact that they had little chance to succeed. He went into the job blindly, with no previous experience.
burgeon
grow at a fast pace; thrive
The burgeoning population of major cities is creating a demand for more services. His talent as a pianist burgeoned at the age of 14.
conspicuously
attracting attention; noticeably
His name was conspicuously absent from the list of winners. The attorneys were conspicuous for their aggressive manner in the courtroom.
endorse
support
The union endorsed the new contract. The president's endorsement of the project guaranteed its funding.
erode
to wear away, disappear slowly; deteriorate
The senator's support is eroding because of his unpopular positions on the major issues. It took millions of years of erosion for nature to form the Grand Canyon.
evaporate
to vanish; disappear
The chances of the two sides reaching an agreement have evaporated. The evaporation of the funds was unexplainable.
reportedly
Rumored
The students reportedly sent a representative, but she has not arrived yet. The reported tornado has not been confirmed.
dignitary
a very important or famous person, usually associated with a high position in government; notable
Every dignitary in Washington was invited to the wedding. All of the high ranking dignitaries attended the economic summit.
elude
to escape in a tricky way; evade
The criminal has eluded the police for months. Success has been elusive for the team.
Facet
element or component; aspect
The proposal had many beneficial facets. It was a multi faceted problem that challenged the entire student body.
arid
dry
The area known as the Sahara Desert is one of the most arid place in the world. The valley on the leeward side of the mountain was extremely arid.
defy
resist
I defy you to find that book in the library's collection. The circus performer demonstrated her death - defying routine.
enact
Legislate
Congress enacted the legislation during its last session. The enactment of the laws was in the hands of the Senate.
feign
simulate
She feigned illness when it was time to visit the dentist. Her unhappiness was feigned.
fertile
Rich
The delta areas of rivers are known for their fertile soil. Fertilizers are used on crops to increase yields.
indiscriminate
arbitrary
The indiscriminate arrangement of the products made the store confusing. The book's chapters seem to be organized indiscriminately.
spacious
expansive
The spacious plains of the Midwest make up the nation's breadbasket. A vacuum is an empty space.
harbor
shelter
He harbors ill feelings for her. They harbored the political refugee in their home.
perilous
Dangerous
It is perilous to exceed the speed limit. There are ample perils in the sport of mountain climbing.
conscientious
showing serious purpose; one who works carefully and with enthusiasm; meticulous
She is a conscientious representative of the student body. They approached the task conscientiously.
convey
communicate
The manager of the store conveyed his displeasure directly to the workers. He was able to convey his message to the audience with ease.
heighten
intensify
A very successful interview can heighten a candidate's chances to get a job. The public teas in a heightened state of nervousness as the hurricane approached.
inadvertently
carelessly
The reporters had inadvertently failed to include the name of one of the dignitaries. His inadvertent calculation caused him to derive the wrong answer.
infancy
beginning
The new theory is in its infancy and will be thoroughly tested by its critics. Certain head injuries can cause infantile behavior.
unwarranted
without good reason or cause; inappropriate; unjustified
His negative reaction was unwarranted. The motorist felt that the ticket for the infraction was unwarranted.
zenith
the highest point; apex
He reached the zenith of his profession at a very young age. The publication of the book represented the zenith of his career.