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97 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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caste
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a system of dividing Hindu society into classes, or any of these classes>the ----- system
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seismic
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[before noun] relating to or caused by an earthquake>------- activity/waves
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anorexia
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a serious illness often resulting in dangerous weight loss, in which a person, especially a girl or woman, does not eat, or eats too little, because they fear becoming fat>Reports of --------- and other eating disorders are on the increase, with 6000 new cases in the UK every year.
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solidarity
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agreement between and support for the members of a group, especially a political group>The situation raises important questions about --------- among member states of the UN.
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rubble
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the piles of broken stone and bricks, etc. that are left when a building falls down or is destroyed>The bomb reduced the house to ------.
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trawl
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to search among a large number or a great variety of places in order to find people or information you want>The newspaper had ----ed its files for photos of the new minister.
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arduous
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difficult, tiring and needing a lot of effort>an ------- climb/task/journey
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girder
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a long thick piece of steel or concrete, etc. which supports a roof, floor, bridge or other large structure>steel roof ------s
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rivet
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to not be able to stop looking at something because it is so interesting or frightening>His eyes were -----ed on the television.
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chunk
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a roughly cut lump>a ------ of cheese/meat
pineapple/tuna -----s |
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mangle
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to destroy something by twisting it with force or tearing it into pieces so that its original form is completely changed>My sweater got ----ed in the washing machine.
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meticulous
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very careful and with great attention to every detail>Many hours of --------- preparation have gone into writing the book.
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gusset
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a second layer of cloth which is sewn into a piece of clothing to make it larger, stronger or more comfortable>silk panties with a cotton ------
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decency
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behaviour that is good, moral and acceptable in society>a sense of ------
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famine
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when there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death, or a particular period when this happens>There were reports of refugees dying of ------.
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lame duck
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an unsuccessful person or thing
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arbitrary
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using unlimited personal power without considering other people's wishes>an -------- ruler
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rummage
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to search for something by moving things around carelessly and looking into, under and behind them>She -------ed in/through all the drawers, looking for a pen.
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obnoxious
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very unpleasant or rude>Some of his colleagues say that he's loud and --------.
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mired
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to be involved in a difficult situation, especially for a long period of time>The peace talks are ----- in bureaucracy.
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repeal
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If a government -----s a law, it causes that law no longer to have any legal force.
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enact
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to perform a story or play>The stories are -----ed using music, dance and mime.
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brawn
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physical strength and big muscles>She said she preferred ----- to brains (= a man who is physically attractive rather than a clever one).
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Chemotherapy
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the treatment of diseases using chemicals>--------- is often used in the treatment of cancer.
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arthritis
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a serious condition in which a person's joints become painful, swollen and stiff>In later life she was crippled with --------.
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lethargic
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lacking in energy; feeling unwilling and unable to do anything>I was feeling tired and --------.
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souvenir
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something you buy or keep to help you remember a holiday or special event>He bought a model of a red London bus as a -------- of his trip to London.
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flora and fauna
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The ----- and ----- of a place are its plants and animals.
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brink
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the point where a new or different situation is about to begin>Extreme stress had driven him to the ----- of a nervous breakdown.
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the outskirts
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the areas that form the edge of a town or city>The factory is in/on the -------- of New Delhi.
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leapfrog
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to improve your position by going past other people quickly or by missing out some stages>They've --------ed from third to first place.
She ---------ed several older colleagues to get the manager's post. |
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churn
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to mix something, especially a liquid, with great force>The sea was -----ed up by heavy winds.
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be confined to somewhere/sth
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to exist only in a particular area or group of people>We know that the illness is not -------ed to any one group in society.
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orchard
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an area of land where fruit trees (but not orange trees or other citrus trees) are grown>an apple/cherry -------
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paltry
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(of a sum of money) very small and of little or no value>Student grants these days are ------, and many students have to take out loans.
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haze
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when the air is not very clear because of something such as heat or smoke, making it difficult to see well>The road through the desert shimmered in the -----.
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mosaic
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a pattern or picture made using many small pieces of coloured stone or glass>a beautiful 10th century -------
FIGURATIVE The country is now a cultural and social ------ (= mixture) due to the influx of several different ethnic groups. |
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predispose sb to/towards sth
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to make someone more likely to behave in a particular way or to suffer from a particular illness or condition>Smoking -------s you to lung cancer.
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daunt
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to make someone feel slightly frightened or worried about their ability to achieve something; to discourage>She was not at all -----ed by the size of the problem.
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read-out
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information produced by electronic equipment, shown in print, on a screen or by sound>I got the computer to give a -------- of the total figures.
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snippet
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a small and often interesting piece of news, information or conversation>I heard an interesting ------- on the radio this morning.
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discern
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to see, recognize or understand something that is not clear>I could just ------ a figure in the darkness.
It is difficult to ------ any pattern in these figures. |
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precipitous
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If a reduction or increase is ---------, it is fast or great>Over the past 18 months, there has been a ---------- fall in car sales.
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sibling
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FORMAL-a brother or sister>I have four -------s: three brothers and a sister.
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guerrilla
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someone who fights as part of an unofficial army, usually against an official army or police force.>The ---------s threatened to kill their hostages.
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grapple with sb
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to hold onto someone and fight with them>Two officers ------ed with the gunman.
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kaput
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broken; not working correctly>The radio's ------.
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scalpel
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a very sharp knife that is used for cutting through skin and flesh during an operation
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prosthesis
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an artificial body part, such as an arm, foot or tooth, which replaces a missing part
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shred
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to cut or tear something roughly into thin strips>----- the lettuce and arrange it around the edge of the dish.
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excruciating
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extremely painful>an --------- pain in the lower back
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euphemism
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a word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word>'Senior citizen' is a --------- for 'old person'.
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foul play
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a criminal act which results in serious damage or injury, especially murder>It is not clear what caused the explosion, but the police do not suspect .
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iota
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an extremely small amount>I haven't seen one ---- of evidence to support his claim.
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frame
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to make a person seem to be guilty of a crime when they are not by producing facts or information which are not true>He claimed he'd been -----ed by the police.
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creaky
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UK describes something that is old-fashioned and not now effective>the ------ legal system
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handyman
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a man who is skilled at repairing and making things inside or outside the house and who does this in his own home or as a job
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ruffle
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[T often passive] to annoy or upset someone, or to make them very nervous>He's easily -----ed by criticism.
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stake out
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to establish or make clear your opinion or position on something>Two of the president's chief advisors have -----ed --- opposite positions on this issue.
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procreate
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to produce young>While priests were denied the right to marry and --------, he said, their situation would remain impossible.
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disservice
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an action which harms something or someone>She has done a great -------- to her cause by suggesting that violence is justifiable.
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commendable
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deserving praise>------------ efforts/behaviour/bravery
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snigger(US snicker)
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to laugh at someone or something childishly and often unkindly>They spent half the time -------ing at the clothes people were wearing.
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mattress
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the part of a bed, made of a strong cloth cover filled with firm material, which makes the bed comfortable to lie on
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inundate
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to flood an area with water>If the dam breaks it will -------- large parts of the town.
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be in full swing
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If an event is in ---- -----, it has already been happening for a period of time and there is a lot of activity>The party was in ---- ------ by the time we arrived.
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cog
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one of the tooth-like parts around the edge of a wheel in a machine which fits between those of a similar wheel, causing both wheels to move
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hinge on/upon sth
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If one thing ------ -- another, the first thing depends on the second thing or is very influenced by it>The prosecution's case ------s -- the evidence of a witness who died before the trial.
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vindicate
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to prove that what someone said or did was right or true, after other people thought it was wrong>The decision to include Morris in the team was completely -------ed when he scored three goals.
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saffron
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dark yellow
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junta
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a government, especially a military one, that has taken power in a country by force and not by election>The military ----- has/have today broadcast an appeal for calm.
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staunch
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always loyal in supporting a person, organization or set of beliefs or opinions>a -------- friend and ally
He gained a reputation as being a ------- defender/supporter of civil rights. |
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reprisal
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(an example of) activity against another person, especially as a punishment by military forces or a political group>They promised that individuals could live freely without fear of ------- from the military.
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outright
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completely or immediately>I think cigarette advertising should be banned ---------.
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sideline
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to stop someone taking an active and important part in something>The minister was --------ed after he criticized party policy.
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hold sway
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to have power or a very strong influence>Fundamentalist beliefs ----- ---- over whole districts, ensuring the popularity of religious leaders.
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viable
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able to work as intended or able to succeed>In order to make the company ------, it will unfortunately be necessary to reduce staffing levels.
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career
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(especially of a vehicle) to move fast and uncontrollably>
The coach -------ed down a slope and collided with a bank. |
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buffet
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(of wind, rain, etc.) to hit something repeatedly and with great force>The little boat was ------ed mercilessly by the waves.
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salvage
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to save goods from damage or destruction, especially from a ship that has sunk or been damaged or a building that has been damaged by fire or flooding>gold coins -------ed from a shipwreck
After the fire, there wasn't much furniture left worth --------ing. |
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recount
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to describe how something happened; to tell a story>He -------ed his adventures since he had left home.
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foster
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to take care of a child, usually for a limited time, without being the child's legal parent>Would you consider -----ing (a child)?
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heist
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a crime in which valuable items are taken illegally and often violently from a place or person>a $2 million jewellery ------
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lockup
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a small room, used as a prison, usually in a small town, in which criminals can be kept for a short time
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gloat
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to feel or express great pleasure or satisfaction because of your own success or good luck, or someone else's failure or bad luck>She's continually -----ing over/about her new job.
I know I shouldn't -----, but it really serves him right. |
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alleyway
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a narrow road or path between buildings, or a path in a park or garden, especially bordered by trees or bushes
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bunk
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one of two beds fixed together, one on top of the other>The twins sleep in ---- beds.
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credit crunch
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a period of economic difficulty when it is difficult to borrow money from banks
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dent
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to make a small hollow mark in the surface of something>I dropped a hammer on the floor, and it -----ed the floorboard.
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credentials
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the abilities and experience which make someone suitable for a particular job or activity, or proof of someone's abilities and experience>All the candidates had excellent academic --------.
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ex
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Someone's -- is a person who was their wife, husband or lover in the past>Is she still in touch with her --?
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lackluster
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lacking energy and effort>Britain's number-one tennis player gave a disappointingly --------- performance.
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deplete
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to reduce something in size or amount, especially supplies of energy, money or similar>If we continue to ------- the Earth's natural resources, we will cause serious damage to the environment.
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potent
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very powerful, forceful or effective>Surprise remains the terrorists' most ------- weapon.
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pivotal
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central and important>a ------- figure/role/idea
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ruminate
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(of particular types of animal) to bring up food from the stomach and chew it again
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midge
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a small fly which flies in groups, and often bites
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