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268 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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deplorable
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sad - regrettable - miserable - pitiable
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obliterate
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Destroy utterly; wipe out
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catches on
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becomes popular and fashionable
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tarmac
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black material used to coat roads
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conducted
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performed
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renowned
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Known or talked about by many people; famous.
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squint
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To look with the eyes partly closed, as in bright sunlight.
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elaborate
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Rich in detail.
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intricate
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Having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
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exquisite
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Characterized by intricate and beautiful design or execution
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ponder
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Think about (something) carefully, esp. before making a decision or reaching a conclusion
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conceivable
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Capable of being imagined or grasped mentally.
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verdict
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A decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case or an inquest
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Lurk
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(of a person or animal) Be or remain hidden so as to wait in ambush for someone or something
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speculate
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Form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence
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conjecture
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An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information
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snide
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Derogatory or mocking in an indirect way
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derogatory
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Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude
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remark
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Say something as a comment; mention
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conceal
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1-Keep from sight; hide.
2-Keep (something) secret; prevent from being known or noticed: "love that they had to conceal from others". |
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cling
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(of a person or animal) Hold on tightly to
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brag
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To talk boastfully
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narcotic
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A drug or other substance affecting mood or behavior and sold for nonmedical purposes, esp. an illegal one
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peddle
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Try to sell (something, esp. small goods) by going from house to house or place to place
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darnedest
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The most possible: I did my darnedest to finish on time.
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Hookah
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An oriental tobacco pipe with a long, flexible tube that draws the smoke through water contained in a bowl
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mystify
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To confuse or puzzle mentally
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baffle
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Totally bewilder or perplex: "an unexplained occurrence that baffled everyone"; "the baffling murder of her sister".
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bewilder
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Cause (someone) to become perplexed and confused
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perplex
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To confuse or trouble with uncertainty or doubt
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abide
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Accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation)
"Academies are semi-independent schools so do not have to abide by regulations introduced in 2008 which set out strict nutritional guidelines for school food." |
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persecute
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To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs."Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union"
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attentive
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Paying close attention to something
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scrupulous
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1.(of a person or process) Diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details.
2.Very concerned to avoid doing wrong. |
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diligent
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Having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties
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conscience
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An inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior
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conscientious
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(of a person) Wishing to do what is right, esp. to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly.
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vet
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Make a careful and critical examination of (something)"...and only let 'vetted' people into his home, his sister has told an inquest."
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drag (one's) feet/heels
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To act or work with intentional slowness; delay." MI6 had been 'dragging their feet' over her brother's request to"
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surveillance
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Close observation, esp. of a suspected spy or criminal
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prodigy
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a person, esp. a child or young person, having extraordinary talent or ability: a musical prodigy.
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punctual
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Happening or doing something at the agreed or proper time; on time
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wig
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A covering for the head made of real or artificial hair, typically worn by people for adornment or by people trying to conceal their baldness or in England by judges and barristers in courts of law
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seep
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(of a liquid) Flow or leak slowly through porous material or small holes
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holdall
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A large rectangular bag with handles and a shoulder strap, used for carrying clothes and other personal belongings
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Coroner
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A coroner is a government official who. Investigates human deaths; Determines cause of death; Issues death certificates; Maintains death records...
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gist
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The substance or essence of a speech or text
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compromise
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An agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions
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concession
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A thing that is granted, esp. in response to demands; a thing conceded
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impression
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An idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone, esp. one formed without conscious thought or on the basis of little evidence."The impression of the family is that ..."
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around-the-clock
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Existing or occurring without interruption or end."Maria Worroll suffers from Alzheimers and arthritis, and requires around-the-clock care."
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haul
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(of a person) Pull or drag with effort or force." manually rolling her over and hauling her roughly into bed"
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pulley
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A wheel with a grooved rim around which a cord passes. It acts to change the direction of a force applied to the cord and is chiefly used (typically in combination) to raise heavy weights
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sack
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Dismiss from employment."All five of the main carers Ms Worroll filmed were sacked."
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uphold
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Confirm or support (something that has been questioned)."... their rights are respected and upheld"
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swift
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Happening quickly or promptly
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rectify
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Put (something) right; correct."Marathon organisers apologised and said the mistake had been rectified."
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persuade
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Cause (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument
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comprehensible
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Able to be understood; intelligible
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rash
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Displaying or proceeding from a lack of careful consideration of the possible consequences of an action."not make rash promises"
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Rush
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Move with urgent haste
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backer
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A person, institution, or country that supports something, esp. financially."He has faced criticism from union backers"
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resonant
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Strong and deep in tone;(of sound) Deep, clear, and continuing to sound or ring
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rumbling
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A continuous deep, resonant sound."at the start of the year faced rumblings over his leadership"
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allude
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Suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at."a possibility Chancellor George Osborne alluded to in the Budget"
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hypocrite
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a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives
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tide
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The alternate rising and falling of the sea, usually twice in each lunar day at a particular place, due to the attraction of the moon and sun
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ebb
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The movement of the tide out to sea
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plague
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A contagious bacterial disease characterized by fever and delirium, typically with the formation of buboes (see bubonic plague) and sometimes infection of the lungs (pneumonic plague)
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pledge
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A solemn promise or undertaking
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solemn
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Formal and dignified
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write something or someone off
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regard something or someone as finished, consider something or someone as unimportant."One minute people are writing you off and the next minute people are anointing you."
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anoint
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Smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony."One minute people are writing you off and the next minute people are anointing you"
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at (a) low ebb
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below the usual condition or standard. "The divorce comes at a time when Jackson's career is at a low ebb.
Support for the arts has reached its lowest ebb and we hope it won't go any lower." |
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rival
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A person or thing competing with another for the same objective or for superiority in the same field of activity
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sift
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Put (a fine, loose, or powdery substance) through a sieve so as to remove lumps or large particles."Reports suggest that Google Drive will work with sophisticated image search technology to let consumers sift through a wide variety of document types, including PDF files and photographs."
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myriad
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A countless or extremely great number
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congener
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A member of the same kind, class, or group.
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quench
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Satisfy (one's thirst) by drinking."At one point I was hunting ways to combat Texas homesickness... now I hunt for things to quench my thirst for Glasgow. Miss you Glasgow family!"
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assault
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Make a physical attack on." DeGraw was hospitalized after being assaulted by several people in New York City"
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flatulence
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The presence of excessive gas in the digestive tract.
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albeit
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Although: "he was making progress, albeit rather slowly".
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perturb
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1.Make (someone) anxious or unsettled.
2.Subject (a system, moving object, or process) to an influence tending to alter its normal or regular state or path. |
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soothe
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Gently calm (a person or their feelings)."So I will help you read those books
If you will soothe my worried looks" |
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detonate
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Explode or cause to explode
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insurgent
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A rebel or revolutionary
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anguish
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Severe mental or physical pain or suffering.
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modesty
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The quality or state of being unassuming or moderate in the estimation of one's abilities
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moderate
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Average in amount, intensity, quality, or degree
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fortnight
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A period of two weeks
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Quid(Slang)
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One pound sterling
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aphid
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A minute bug that feeds by sucking sap from plants. It reproduces rapidly, often producing live young without mating, and may live in large colonies that cause extensive damage to crops
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sap
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The fluid, chiefly water with dissolved sugars and mineral salts, that circulates in the vascular system of a plant
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dissolve
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(of a solid) Become incorporated into a liquid so as to form a solution
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pest
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A destructive insect or other animal that attacks crops, food, livestock, etc
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eloquent
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Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing
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insecticide
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A substance used for killing insects. "Insect repellent spray is type of insecticide"
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misdeed
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A wicked or illegal act.
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hold one's end up
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to carry one's share of the burden; to do one's share of the work."You're not holding your end up."
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thus far
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Up to this point; so far."Everything we know thus far"
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elucidates
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Make (something) clear; explain: "work that will help to elucidate this matter"; "they would not elucidate further".
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provoke
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1.Stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone.
2.Stimulate or incite (someone) to do or feel something, esp. by arousing anger in them. |
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egotist
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1. A conceited, boastful person.
2. A selfish, self-centered person. |
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temperamental
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(of a person) Liable to unreasonable changes of mood.
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horrendous
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Extremely unpleasant, horrifying, or terrible: "she suffered horrendous injuries".
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absolve
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Declare (someone) free from blame, guilt, or responsibility
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agitate
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Make (someone) troubled or nervous."Bus driver called 911,reported an agitated woman
got off his bus." |
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meteor
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A bright trail or streak that appears in the sky when a meteoroid is heated to incandescence by friction with the earth's atmosphere. Also called falling star, meteor burst, shooting star.
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streak
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A long, thin line or mark of a different substance or color from its surroundings
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coy
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(esp. of a woman) Making a pretense of shyness or modesty that is intended to be alluring but is often regarded as irritating."I won't play coy,
Phillip." |
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espionage
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The practice of spying or of using spies, typically by governments. "Industrial espionage?"
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treaty
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A formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries.
Synonyms: agreement - pact - contract - covenant - compact."Treaty violations?" |
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thug
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A violent person, esp. a criminal."I'm not one of your street thugs, that you can bully,Phillip."
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substantiate
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Provide evidence to support or prove the truth of
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hostile
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Unfriendly; antagonistic.
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cannibalize
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Use (a machine) as a source of spare parts for another, similar machine.
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Tollbooth
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A booth where drivers must pay to use a bridge or road.
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rule out
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To remove from consideration; exclude: "The option of starting over has been ruled out."
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reckon
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1.Establish by counting or calculation; calculate.
2.Include in (a class or group): "he was reckoned among the brainiest". Synonyms: calculate - count - think - compute - figure - consider |
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creep
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Move slowly and carefully, esp. in order to avoid being heard or noticed: "they were taught how to creep up on an enemy".
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shimmer
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Shine with a soft tremulous light: "a heat haze shimmered above the fields"; "shimmering candlelight".Synonyms:
verb. gleam - glimmer - twinkle - sparkle - flicker - glint |
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dire
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(of a situation or event) Extremely serious or urgent."He only comes when
it's of dire consequence." Synonyms: terrible - dreadful - awful - frightful - horrible |
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stumble
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4. To come upon accidentally or unexpectedly: "The urge to wider voyages . . . caused men to stumble upon New America" (Kenneth Cragg).
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amok
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Behave uncontrollably and disruptively."Reports of technology run amok."
Synonyms: amuck - madly |
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turnip
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A round root with white or cream flesh that is eaten as a vegetable and also has edible leaves.
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exhumation
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the act of digging something out of the ground (especially a corpse) where it has been buried."I'll get an exhumation order."
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custodian
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A person who has responsibility for or looks after something, such as a museum, financial assets, or a culture or tradition
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woe
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Great sorrow or distress."Rarely a week passes without passport queue woes in the UK or tales of overzealous security staff in the US"
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zeal
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Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective."Rarely a week passes without passport queue woes in the UK or tales of overzealous security staff in the US"
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ire
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anger. "Across the Atlantic, the American airport experience has also been generating ire."
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sheer
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Nothing other than; unmitigated (used for emphasis)."...says it is the sheer lack of logic that gets his back up."
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slaughter
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Kill (animals) for food.Also slaughterhouse:(
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alleged
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Represented as existing or as being as described but not so proved; supposed." The latest alleged plot was to detonate an "underwear bomb", in an echo of the 2009 plot."
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shambles
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A state of total disorder."...than the Eurostar rail terminal in Paris, which is an uncomfortable, ill-managed shambles"
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astounding
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Surprisingly impressive or notable."... Cause that resemblance is astounding."
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immensely
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To a great extent; extremely."My life has been transformed immensely by the LOA."
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eradicate
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Put an end to; destroy.
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notion
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A conception of or belief about something.
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resilient
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elastic - springy - flexible
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deceive
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1.(of a person) Cause (someone) to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain some personal advantage.
2.(of a thing) Give a mistaken impression: "the area may seem to offer nothing of interest, but don't be deceived". Synonyms: cheat - delude - swindle - hoodwink - beguile - mislead |
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sentiments
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1.A view of or attitude toward a situation or event; an opinion.
2.General feeling or opinion: "racist sentiment". Synonyms: opinion |
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blacksmith
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A person who makes and repairs iron things by hand
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sedative
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Adjective:
Promoting calm or inducing sleep: "the seeds have a sedative effect". Noun: A drug taken for its calming or sleep-inducing effect. |
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condescension
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the trait of displaying arrogance by patronizing those considered inferior.
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topple
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1.Overbalance or become unsteady and fall slowly.
2.Cause to fall in such a way: "disagreement had threatened to topple the government" |
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entourage
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A group of people attending or surrounding an important person
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skank
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A person perceived to be extremely sleazy or unpleasant.
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alluring
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Powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating; seductive
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postulate
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Suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief."... could in principle allow the transmission of information faster than the speed of light in violation of one of the key postulates of special relativity known as ‘Einsteinian causality’. "
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pinnacle
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A high pointed piece of rock.
Synonyms: peak - top - summit - acme - apex - vertex - zenith |
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earthlings
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An inhabitant of the earth (used esp. in science fiction).
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perforce
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Used to express necessity or inevitability: "amateurs, perforce, have to settle for less expensive solutions".
Synonyms: necessarily - needs - willy-nilly |
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inclination
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1.A person's natural tendency to act or feel in a particular way; a disposition or propensity: "a scientist by inclination".
2.An interest in or liking for (something): "an inclination for things with moving parts". Synonyms: tendency - propensity |
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twig
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A slender woody shoot growing from a branch or stem of a tree or shrub."... caused by a twig falling onto the web."
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zoologist
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specialist in the branch of biology dealing with animals.
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habitually
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according to habit or custom; "her habitually severe expression"; "he habitually keeps his office door closed".
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binocular
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Adapted for or using both eyes.
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propel
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1.Drive, push, or cause to move in a particular direction, typically forward: "the boat is propelled by paddle".
2.Spur or drive into a particular situation: "fear propelled her out of her stillness". |
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prey
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An animal hunted and killed by another for food.
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intrigue
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Arouse the curiosity or interest of; fascinate.(V)
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illicit
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Forbidden by law, rules, or custom."illicit drugs"; "illicit sex".
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pluck
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Take hold of (something) and quickly remove it from its place; pick.(V)
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hind
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(esp. of a bodily part) Situated at the back; posterior: "he snagged a calf by the hind leg".
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twang
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A strong ringing sound such as that made by the plucked string of a musical instrument or a released bowstring.
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set off
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To start on a journey."we set off to my grandmother's after school on a cold winter's day"
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celibacy
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an unmarried status
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peculiar
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Strange or odd; unusual
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snag
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An unexpected or hidden obstacle or drawback: "the picture's US release hit a snag".
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ferry
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A boat or ship for conveying passengers and goods, esp. over a relatively short distance and as a regular service.
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convey
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1.Transport or carry to a place.
2.Make (an idea, impression, or feeling) known or understandable to someone. |
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tantalize
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Torment or tease (someone) with the sight or promise of something unobtainable.
Synonyms: torment - torture - plague - agonize - tease |
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gander
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1.A male goose.
2.A look or glance: "take a gander at that luggage" |
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Reciprocity
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The practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit, esp. privileges granted by one country or organization to another. Synonyms:
mutuality - reciprocation |
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Marionette
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A puppet worked from above by strings attached to its limbs.
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abduction
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1.The action or an instance of forcibly taking a person or persons away against their will.
2.(in legal use) The illegal removal of a child from parents or guardians. Synonyms: kidnapping - ravishment |
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scrutinize
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Examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
Synonyms: examine - investigate - inspect - scan |
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duress
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Constraint by threat; coercion: "confessed under duress"
"...claiming she was acting under duress." |
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convict
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Declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law."She was convicted of taking goods"
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escalate
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Increase rapidly."escalated the hostilities in the Persian Gulf."
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balaclava
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A close-fitting garment covering the whole head and neck except for parts of the face, typically made of wool
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bandanna
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A large handkerchief, typically having a colorful pattern, worn tied around the head or neck
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articulate
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(of a person or a person's words) Having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently
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barrister
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A lawyer entitled to practice as an advocate, particularly in the higher courts
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mitigation
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The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something."In mitigation, her barrister said she was a bright, intelligent, articulate young woman"
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turmoil
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A state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty. "emotional turmoil"
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prosecution
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The institution and conducting of legal proceedings against someone in respect of a criminal charge
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notorious
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Famous or well known, typically for some bad quality or deed.
Synonyms: infamous - well-known - noted - famous |
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cauldron
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A large metal pot with a lid and handle, used for cooking over an open fire
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whirl
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Verb:
Move or cause to move rapidly around and around. Noun: A rapid movement around and around. Synonyms: verb. swirl - spin - twirl - rotate - eddy - wheel - turn noun. swirl - vortex - eddy - whirlpool - twirl - rotation "Comets and large meteorites were whirling all around it." |
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eminent
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(of a person) Famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession
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sediment
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Matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid; dregs
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y29YOOhr54k/TG5-b_DOBgI/AAAAAAAAABY/9QO3x-efhTg/s1600/Food-The-dregs-of-a-half-pint-of-Guinness.jpg |
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pummel
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1.Strike repeatedly, typically with the fists.
2.Criticize adversely. "PUMMEL STICKS" |
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Inflatable
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Capable of being filled with air
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deluge
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Noun:
A severe flood. Verb: Inundate with a great quantity of something. "Although it is the deluge of Structural Genomics outputs, many of unknown function..." |
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Inundate
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Overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be dealt with
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Overwhelm
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Bury or drown beneath a huge mass.
http://www.bizcoachaustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/FeelingOverwhelmed-main_Full.jpg |
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sanctuary
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1.A place of refuge or safety.
2.Immunity from arrest. Synonyms: shrine - refuge - asylum - shelter - temple - sanctum |
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shrine
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A place regarded as holy because of its associations with a divinity or a sacred person or relic, typically marked by a building or other construction
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vigil
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1.A period of keeping awake during the time usually spent asleep, esp. to keep watch or pray.
2.A stationary, peaceful demonstration in support of a particular cause, typically without speeches. |
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foible
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A minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character: "they have to tolerate each other's little foibles".
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ride out
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last out: hang on during a trial of endurance; "ride out the storm"."What these bombardments do is
favor organisms that can find a sanctuary to ride out the raining storm of space debris until the epoch of bombardment is over." |
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superfluous
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Unnecessary, esp. through being more than enough.
Synonyms: redundant - unnecessary - needless - odd - surplus |
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gratuitous
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1.Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted.
2.Given or done free of charge. |
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incredulity
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The state of being unwilling or unable to believe something.
Synonyms: disbelief - unbelief - scepticism - distrust - mistrust |
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smuggle
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1.Move (goods) illegally into or out of a country: "cocaine smuggling".
2.Convey (someone or something) somewhere secretly and illicitly. |
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petty
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1.Of little importance; trivial.
2.(of behavior) Characterized by an undue concern for trivial matters, esp. in a small-minded or spiteful way. Synonyms: small - trifling - trivial - little - insignificant |
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testament
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1.A person's will, esp. the part relating to personal property.
2.Something that serves as a sign or evidence of a specified fact, event, or quality: "a testament to my love". Synonyms: will - devise |
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conducive
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Making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible.
Synonyms: helpful - contributory - instrumental |
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rivet
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A short metal pin or bolt for holding together two plates of metal, its headless end being beaten out or pressed down when in place.
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abscond
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1.Leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection or arrest.
2.(of someone on bail) Fail to surrender oneself for custody at the appointed time. |
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overlook
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(V)Fail to notice (something).
(N)A commanding position or view. Synonyms: disregard |
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indulgent
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1.Having or indicating a readiness or overreadiness to be generous to or lenient with someone: "indulgent parents".
2.Self-indulgent: "a slightly adolescent, indulgent account of a love affair". |
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hideous
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1.Ugly or disgusting to look at.
2.Extremely unpleasant. Synonyms: horrible - abominable - nasty - horrid - dreadful |
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veil
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A piece of fine material worn by women to protect or conceal the face: "a white bridal veil".
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precocious
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1.(of a child) Having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual.
2.(of behavior or ability) Indicative of such development: "a precocious talent for computing". |
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fornicate
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(of people not married to each other) Have sexual intercourse.
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famine
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Extreme scarcity of food."Irish Potato Famine"
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exile
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The state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons
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flee
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Run away from a place or situation of danger
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perjury
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The offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath or affirmation.
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distraught
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Deeply upset and agitated
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hiccups
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An involuntary spasm of the diaphragm and respiratory organs, with a sudden closure of the glottis and a sound like a cough.
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zest
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1.Great enthusiasm and energy.
2.A quality of excitement and piquancy. Synonyms: relish - gusto - savour - savor |
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malice
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a feeling of hatred for somebody that causes a desire to harm them."He sent the letter out of malice."
"She is entirely without malice." "He certainly bears you no malice (= does not want to harm you)." "The ghosts are described as if they bear actual malice towards humans." |
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bigot
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a person who has very strong, unreasonable beliefs or opinions about race, religion or politics and who will not listen to or accept the opinions of anyone who disagrees
"a religious/racial bigot" |
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alienate
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to make somebody feel that they do not belong in a particular group
"Very talented children may feel alienated from the others in their class." |
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nimble
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1.able to move quickly and easily
SYNONYM agile "You need nimble fingers for that job." 2.(of the mind) able to think and understand quickly |
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heckle
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to interrupt a speaker at a public meeting by shouting out questions or rude remarks
"He was booed and heckled throughout his speech." SYNONYM barrack |
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beaver
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[countable] an animal with a wide flat tail and strong teeth. Beavers live in water and on land and can build dams (= barriers across rivers), made of pieces of wood and mud. It is an official symbol of Canada.
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rut
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1.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." |
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proclaim
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to publicly and officially tell people about something important.
"The president proclaimed a state of emergency." "I put my laptop down, proclaimed to the Universe that I will find a job." |
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cult
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1 [usually singular] cult (of something) a way of life, an attitude, an idea, etc. that has become very popular
"As a father I thought I'd better see what he was getting into, worried it was maybe some kind of cult." |
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hygiene
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the practice of keeping yourself and your living and working areas clean in order to prevent illness and disease
"In the interests of hygiene, please wash your hands." |
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sanitation
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the equipment and systems that keep places clean, especially by removing human waste
"disease resulting from poor sanitation" "A lack of clean water and sanitation were the main problems." |
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contempt
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1.the feeling that somebody/something is without value and deserves no respect at all
"She looked at him with contempt." 2.contempt for something: a lack of worry or fear about rules, danger, etc "The firefighters showed a contempt for their own safety." |
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familiarity breeds contempt
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knowing somebody/something very well may cause you to lose admiration and respect for them/it
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repercussion
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an indirect and usually bad result of an action or event that may happen some time afterwards
"The collapse of the company will have repercussions for the whole industry." SYNONYM consequence |
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lorry
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a large vehicle for carrying heavy loads by road
"a lorry driver" "Emergency food supplies were brought in by lorry." "a lorry load of frozen fish" |
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refute
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to prove that something is wrong
"to refute an argument/a theory, etc." SYNONYM rebut |
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inventory
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plural inventories
[countable] a written list of all the objects, furniture, etc. in a particular building "an inventory of the museum's contents" |
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premise
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a statement or an idea that forms the basis for a reasonable line of argument
"the basic premise of her argument" "a false premise" "His reasoning is based on the premise that all people are equally capable of good and evil." |
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amicable
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done or achieved in a polite or friendly way and without arguing
"an amicable relationship" "An amicable settlement was reached." "In spite of their disagreement they parted on amicable terms." |
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get ahead of oneself
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Fig. [for someone] to do or say something sooner than it ought to be done so that the proper explanation or preparations have not been made.
"I have to stick to my notes or I will get ahead of myself in my lecture." |
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wick
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1.the piece of string in the centre of a candle which you light so that the candle burns
2.the piece of material in an oil lamp which absorbs the oil and which you light so that the lamp burns |
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delineate
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to describe, draw or explain something in detail
"Our objectives need to be precisely delineated." "The ship's route is clearly delineated on the map." |
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pun
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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!" |
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fad
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something that people are interested in for only a short period of time
"the latest/current fad" "a fad for physical fitness" "Rap music proved to be more than just a passing fad." |
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lenient
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not as strict as expected when punishing somebody or when making sure that rules are obeyed
"a lenient sentence/fine" "The judge was far too lenient with him." |
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abseil(BrE)
rappel(NoA) |
abseil (down, off, etc. something)
to go down a steep cliff or rock while attached to a rope, pushing against the slope or rock with your feet |
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pensive
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thinking deeply about something, especially because you are sad or worried
"a pensive mood" "to look pensive" "He gazed pensively out of the window." |
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deckchair
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a folding chair with a seat made from a long strip of material on a wooden or metal frame, used for example on a beach
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torrential
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(of rain)
falling in large amounts "A man in his 20s died after his car came off the road in Northumberland, during torrential rain" |
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perk
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(also formal perquisite) [usually plural] something you receive as well as your wages for doing a particular job
"Perks offered by the firm include a car and free health insurance." "(figurative) Not having to get up early is just one of the perks of being retired." |
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impede
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[often passive] impede something (formal)
to delay or stop the progress of something "Work on the building was impeded by severe weather." SYNONYM hinder, hamper |
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aspiration
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a strong desire to have or do something
"I didn't realize you had political aspirations." aspiration to do something: "He has never had any aspiration to earn a lot of money." aspiration for something: "What changes are needed to meet women's aspirations for employment?" |
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nuance
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a very slight difference in meaning, sound, colour or somebody's feelings that is not usually very obvious
"He watched her face intently to catch every nuance of expression." "Her singing has both warmth of sound and delicacy of nuance." "You need to be able to convey the subtle nuances of meaning of each word." |
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barely
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in a way that is just possible but only with difficulty.
"He could barely read and write." |
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imperative
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[not usually before noun] (formal) very important and needing immediate attention or action
imperative (that…): "It is absolutely imperative that we finish by next week." imperative (to do something): "It is imperative to continue the treatment for at least two months." SYNONYM vital |
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wind up
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(informal) (of a person)
to find yourself in a particular place or situation "I always said he would wind up in prison." wind doing something: "We eventually wound up staying in a little hotel a few miles from town." + adjective: "If you take risks like that you'll wind up dead." |
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tentative
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not definite or certain because you may want to change it later
"We made a tentative arrangement to meet on Friday." "tentative conclusions" |
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commence
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start,begin
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conceive
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to form an idea, a plan, etc. in your mind; to imagine something
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wobbly
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moving in an unsteady way from side to side.
"a chair with a wobbly leg "a wobbly tooth" "He's still a bit wobbly after the operation (= not able to stand firmly)." |
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vicinity
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the area around a particular place.
"Crowds gathered in the vicinity of Trafalgar Square." "There is no hospital in the immediate vicinity." |
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sensational
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causing great surprise, excitement, or interest.
"The result was a sensational 4–1 victory." "The affair was the most sensational political sex scandal of the century." |
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courteous
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polite, especially in a way that shows respect
"a courteous young man" "The hotel staff are friendly and courteous." OPPOSITE discourteous |
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stride
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[intransitive] (not used in the perfect tenses) + adverb/preposition to walk with long steps in a particular direction.
"We strode across the snowy fields." "wandering around aimlessly and striding purposefully down the path of academic life" past tense strode |
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tenuous
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so weak or uncertain that it hardly exists.
"a tenuous hold on life" "His links with the organization turned out to be, at best, tenuous." |
