03 Flashcards
barb
noun
1 a sharp projection near the end of an arrow, fishhook, or similar item, angled away from the main point so as to make extraction difficult.
• a cluster of spikes on barbed wire.
• a deliberately hurtful remark: his barb hurt more than she cared to admit.
barefaced
adjective
1 shameless and undisguised: a barefaced lie.
2 having an uncovered face, so as to be exposed or vulnerable to something: his years of working barefaced, breathing down dust.
baroque
adjective
relating to or denoting a style of European architecture, music, and art of the 17th and 18th centuries that followed mannerism and is characterized by ornate detail. In architecture the period is exemplified by the palace of Versailles and by the work of Bernini in Italy. Major composers include Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel; Caravaggio and Rubens are important baroque artists.
• highly ornate and extravagant in style: the candles were positively baroque.
noun
the baroque style or period.
barrage
noun
• a concentrated outpouring, as of questions or blows: she was not prepared for his barrage of questions | a barrage of 60-second television spots.
verb [with object]
bombard (someone) with something: his doctor was barraged with unsolicited advice.
barter
verb [with object]
exchange (goods or services) for other goods or services without using money: he often bartered a meal for drawings | [no object] : the company is prepared to barter for Russian oil.
noun
the action or system of exchanging goods or services without using money: it will be paid for by a mixture of barter and cash.
• goods or services used in bartering: I took a supply of coffee and cigarettes to use as barter.
beguile
verb [with object]
1 charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way: every prominent American artist has been beguiled by Maine | (as adjective beguiling) : a beguiling smile.
• trick (someone) into doing something: they were beguiled into signing a peace treaty.
bathetic
adjective
producing an unintentional effect of anticlimax: the movie manages to be poignant without becoming bathetic.
befuddle
verb [with object] (usually as adjective befuddled)
make (someone) unable to think clearly: he has an air of befuddled unworldliness.
bedeck
verb [with object]
decorate: he led us into a room bedecked with tinsel.
belabor
verb [with object]
1 argue or elaborate (a subject) in excessive detail: critics thought they belabored the obvious.
2 attack or assault (someone) physically or verbally: Tyndale seized every opportunity to belabor the Roman Church.
beleaguer
verb [with object] (usually as adjective beleaguered)
lay siege to: he is leading a relief force to the aid of the beleaguered city.
• beset with difficulties: the board is supporting the beleaguered director amid calls for his resignation.
belie
verb (belies, belying, belied) [with object]
1 (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict: his lively, alert manner belied his years.
2 fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray: the notebooks belie Darwin’s later recollection.
bellwether
noun
the leading sheep of a flock, with a bell on its neck.
• an indicator or predictor of something: college campuses are often the bellwether of change | [as modifier] : the market’s bellwether stock.
beneficent
adjective
(of a person) generous or doing good.
• resulting in good: a beneficent democracy.
berate
verb [with object]
scold or criticize (someone) angrily: his mother came out and berated me for raising my voice.
beseech
verb (past and past participle besought | -ˈsôt | or beseeched) [reporting verb] literary
ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something; implore; entreat: [with object and infinitive] : they beseeched him to stay | [with object and direct speech] : “You have got to believe me,” Gloria beseeched him | [with object] : they earnestly beseeched his forgiveness | (as adjective beseeching) : a beseeching gaze.
besmirch
verb [with object]
damage the reputation of (someone or something) in the opinion of others: he had besmirched the good name of his family.
• literary make (something) dirty or discolored: the ground was besmirched with blood.
bland
adjective
lacking strong features or characteristics and therefore uninteresting: rebelling against the bland uniformity.
• (of food or drink) mild or insipid: bland and unadventurous vegetarian dish | bland beers of mediocre quality.
• (of a person or behavior) showing no strong emotion; dull and unremarkable: his expression was bland and unreadable | offering bland reassurance.
blandishment
noun
(usually blandishments) a flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something: the blandishments of the travel brochure.
blasé
adjective
unimpressed or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before: she was becoming quite blasé about the dangers.
blatant
adjective
(of bad behavior) done openly and unashamedly: blatant lies.
• completely lacking in subtlety; very obvious: despite their blatant attraction to each other they try to stay just friends | incredibly blatant product placement.
blazon
verb [with object]
1 [with adverbial of place] display prominently or vividly: they saw their company name blazoned all over the media.
• report (news), especially in a sensational manner: accounts of their ordeal blazoned to the entire nation.
blemish
noun
a small mark or flaw which spoils the appearance of something: the merest blemish on a Rolls Royce might render it unsalable.
• a moral defect or fault: the offenses were an uncharacteristic blemish on an otherwise clean record | local government is not without blemish.
verb [with object] (often as adjective blemished)
spoil the appearance of (something) that is otherwise aesthetically perfect: his reign as world champion has been blemished by controversy | thousands of Web pages are blemished with embarrassing typos.
blight
noun
a plant disease, especially one caused by fungi such as mildews, rusts, and smuts: the vines suffered blight and disease | potato blight.
• [in singular] a thing that spoils or damages something: her remorse could be a blight on that happiness.
• an ugly, neglected, or rundown condition of an urban area: the depressing urban blight that lies to the south of the city.
verb [with object]
infect (plants or a planted area) with blight: a peach tree blighted by leaf curl.
• spoil, harm, or destroy: the scandal blighted the careers of several leading politicians | (as adjective blighted) : his father’s blighted ambitions.
• (usually as adjective blighted) subject (an urban area) to neglect: plans to establish enterprise zones in blighted areas.
bliss
noun
perfect happiness; great joy: she gave a sigh of bliss.
• a state of spiritual blessedness, typically that reached after death.
blithe
adjective
showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper: a blithe disregard for the rules of the road.
• literary happy or joyous: a blithe seaside comedy.
blunder
noun
a stupid or careless mistake.
verb [no object]
make a stupid or careless mistake; act or speak clumsily: the mayor and the City Council have blundered in an ill-advised campaign | I blundered on in my explanation | (as adjective blundering) : blundering actors.
• move clumsily or as if unable to see: we were blundering around in the darkness.
blunt
adjective
2 (of a person or remark) uncompromisingly forthright: a blunt statement of fact | he is as blunt as a kick in the shins.
verb
make or become less sharp: [with object] : wood can blunt your ax | [no object] : the edge may blunt very rapidly.
• [with object] weaken or reduce (something): their determination had been blunted.
blurt
verb [with object]
say (something) suddenly and without careful consideration: [with direct speech] : “It wasn’t my idea,” Gordon blurted | she wouldn’t blurt out words she did not mean.
bluster
verb [no object]
talk in a loud, aggressive, or indignant way with little effect: you threaten and bluster, but won’t carry it through | [with direct speech] : “I don’t care what he says,” I blustered | (as adjective blustering) : a blustering bully.
• (of a storm, wind, or rain) blow or beat fiercely and noisily: a winter gale blustered against the sides of the house | (as adjective blustering) : the blustering wind.
noun
loud, aggressive, or indignant talk with little effect: their threats contained a measure of bluster.
boggle
verb [no object] informal
(of a person or a person’s mind) be astonished or overwhelmed when trying to imagine something: the mind boggles at the spectacle.
• [with object] cause (a person or a person’s mind) to be astonished or overwhelmed: the inflated salary of a CEO boggles the mind | (as adjective boggling) : the total was a boggling 1.5 trillion miles.
• (boggle at) (of a person) hesitate or be anxious at: you never boggle at plain speaking.
bolster
noun (also bolster pillow)
a long, thick pillow that is placed under other pillows for support.
• a part of a vehicle or tool providing structural support.
• Building a short timber cap over a post designed to increase the bearing of the beams it supports.
verb [with object]
support or strengthen; prop up: the fall in interest rates is starting to bolster confidence | he wished to bolster up his theories with hard data.
• provide (a seat) with padded support: (as adjective bolstered) : I snuggled down into the heavily bolstered seat.
bombast
noun
high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people.
bonhomie
noun
cheerful friendliness; geniality: he exuded good humor and bonhomie.
boo
noun
an utterance of “boo” to show disapproval or contempt: the audience greeted this comment with boos and hisses.
verb (boos, booing, booed)
say “boo” to show disapproval or contempt: [no object] : they booed and hissed when he stepped on stage | [with object] : I was practically booed off the stage for talking about cyberpunk.
boon
noun
1 [usually in singular] a thing that is helpful or beneficial: the navigation system will be a boon to both civilian and military users.
boorish
adjective
rough and bad-mannered; coarse: boorish behavior.
bootless
adjective archaic (of a task or undertaking) ineffectual; useless: words at this pass were vain and bootless.
bound
verb [no object, with adverbial of direction]
walk or run with leaping strides: Louis came bounding down the stairs | the dog bounded up to him.
• (of an object, typically a round one) rebound from a surface: bullets bounded off the veranda.
bracing
adjective
1 fresh and invigorating: the bracing sea air.
2 [attributive] (of a support) serving to brace a structure: bracing struts.
brake
noun
a device for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, typically by applying pressure to the wheels: he slammed on his brakes | [as modifier] : a brake pedal.
• a thing that slows or hinders a process: managers have a duty to put the brakes on growth when it is unsustainable.
brash
adjective
self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way: he could be brash, cocky, and arrogant.
• strong, energetic, or irreverent: I like brash, vibrant flavors.
• (of a place or thing) having an ostentatious or tasteless appearance: the cafe was a brash new building.
brassy
adjective (brassier, brassiest)
resembling brass in color.
• sounding like a brass musical instrument; harsh and loud.
• (typically of a woman) tastelessly showy or loud in appearance or manner: her brassy, audacious exterior.
bravado
noun
a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate.
bravura
noun
great technical skill and brilliance shown in a performance or activity: the recital ended with a blazing display of bravura | [as modifier] : a bravura performance.
• the display of great daring: the show of bravura hid a guilty timidity.
brazen
adjective
1 bold and without shame: he went about his illegal business with a brazen assurance | a brazen hussy.
2 literary or archaic made of brass.
• harsh in sound: the music’s brazen chords.
verb [with object] (brazen something out)
endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame.
breach
noun
1 an act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct: a breach of confidence | they alleged breach of copyright.
• a break in relations: a sudden breach between father and son.
2 a gap in a wall, barrier, or defense, especially one made by an attacking army.
verb [with object]
1 make a gap in and break through (a wall, barrier, or defense): the river breached its bank.
• break or fail to observe (a law, agreement, or code of conduct).
brevity
noun
concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.
• shortness of time: the brevity of human life.
bridle
noun
the headgear used to control a horse, consisting of buckled straps to which a bit and reins are attached.
• a line, rope, or device that is used to restrain or control the action or movement of something.
• Nautical a length of rope, chain, or cable fastened at both ends to an object that is to be secured or moved or to a vessel that is to do the towing, a pull being exerted at the center of its length.
verb
1 [with object] (usually be bridled) put a bridle on (a horse).
• bring (something) under control; curb: the fact that he was their servant bridled his tongue.
2 [no object] show one’s resentment or anger, especially by throwing up the head and drawing in the chin: ranchers have bridled at excessive federal control.
brisk
adjective
active, fast, and energetic: a good brisk walk | business appeared to be brisk.
• sharp or abrupt: the brisk, dismissive nod of her head.
• (of the weather or wind) cold but fresh and enlivening.
bristle
noun (usually bristles)
a short stiff hair, typically one of those on an animal’s skin, a man’s face, or a plant.
• a stiff animal hair, or a man-made substitute, used to make a brush: a toothbrush with nylon bristles | the heads are made with natural bristle.
verb [no object]
1 (of hair or fur) stand upright away from the skin, especially in anger or fear: the hair on the back of his neck bristled.
• make one’s hair or fur stand on end: the cat bristled in annoyance.
• react angrily or defensively, typically by drawing oneself up: she bristled at his rudeness.
2 (bristle with) be covered with or abundant in: the roof bristled with antennas.
brittle
adjective
hard but liable to break or shatter easily: her bones became fragile and brittle.
• (of a sound, especially a person’s voice) unpleasantly hard and sharp and showing signs of instability or nervousness: a brittle laugh.
• (of a person or behavior) appearing aggressive or hard but unstable or nervous within: her manner was artificially bright and brittle.
noun
a candy made from nuts and set melted sugar: peanut brittle.
broach
verb [with object]
1 raise (a sensitive or difficult subject) for discussion: he broached the subject he had been avoiding all evening.
2 pierce (a cask) to draw liquor.
• open and start using the contents of (a bottle or other container).
3 [no object] (of a fish or sea mammal) rise through the water and break the surface: the salmon broach, then fall to slap the water.
bromide
2 a trite and unoriginal idea or remark, typically intended to soothe or placate: feel-good bromides create the illusion of problem solving.
• dated a sedative preparation containing potassium bromide.
brook
verb [with object and negative] formal
tolerate or allow (something, typically dissent or opposition): Jenny would brook no criticism of Matthew.
browbeat
verb (past browbeat; past participle browbeaten) [with object]
intimidate (someone), typically into doing something, with stern or abusive words: a witness is being browbeaten under cross-examination.
bruit
verb [with object and adverbial]
spread (a report or rumor) widely: I didn’t want to have our relationship bruited about the office.
noun
1 archaic a report or rumor.
2 Medicine a sound, especially an abnormal one, heard through a stethoscope; a murmur.
budge
• [usually with modal] change or make (someone) change an opinion: [no object] : I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn’t budge | [with object] : neither bribe nor threat will budge him.
bulge
noun
a rounded swelling or protuberance that distorts a flat surface.
• (especially in a military context) a piece of land that projects outward from an otherwise regular line: the advance created an eastward-facing bulge in the line.
• [in singular] informal a temporary unusual increase in number or size: a bulge in the birth rate.
verb [no object]
swell or protrude to an unnatural or incongruous extent: the veins in his neck bulged | (as adjective bulging) : he stared with bulging eyes.
• be full of and distended with: a briefcase bulging with documents.
bumptious
adjective
self-assertive or proud to an irritating degree: these bumptious young boys today.
bungle
verb [with object]
carry out (a task) clumsily or incompetently, leading to failure or an unsatisfactory outcome: she had bungled every attempt to help | (as adjective bungled) : a bungled bank raid.
• [no object] (usually as adjective bungling) make or be prone to making many mistakes: the work of a bungling amateur.
noun
a mistake or failure, typically one resulting from mismanagement or confusion.
buoy
noun
an anchored float serving as a navigation mark, to show reefs or other hazards, or for mooring.
verb [with object]
1 keep (someone or something) afloat: I let the water buoy up my weight.
• cause to become cheerful or confident: the party was buoyed by an election victory.
• cause (a price) to rise to or remain at a high level: the price is buoyed up by investors.
2 mark with a buoy: a buoyed channel.
buoyant
adjective
1 able or apt to stay afloat or rise to the top of a liquid or gas.
• (of a liquid or gas) able to keep something afloat.
2 cheerful and optimistic: the conference ended with the party in a buoyant mood.
3 (of an economy, business, or market) involving or engaged in much activity: car sales were not buoyant.
burgeon
verb [no object] (often as adjective burgeoning)
begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish: manufacturers are keen to cash in on the burgeoning demand.
burlesque
noun
1 an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something, especially in a literary or dramatic work; a parody: the funniest burlesque of opera | [as modifier] : burlesque Shakespearean stanzas.
• humor that depends on comic imitation and exaggeration; absurdity: the argument descends into burlesque.
2 a variety show, typically including striptease: [as modifier] : burlesque clubs.
verb (burlesques, burlesquing, burlesqued) [with object]
cause to appear absurd by parodying or copying in an exaggerated form: she struck a ridiculous pose that burlesqued her own vanity.
burnish
verb [with object] (usually as adjective burnished)
polish (something, especially metal) by rubbing: highly burnished armor.
• enhance or perfect (something such as a reputation or a skill).
noun [in singular]
the shine on a highly polished surface.
buttress
noun
1 a projecting support of stone or brick built against a wall.
• a projecting portion of a hill or mountain.
2 a source of defense or support: there was a demand for a new stable order as a buttress against social collapse.
verb [with object]
1 provide (a building or structure) with projecting supports built against its walls: (as adjective buttressed) : a buttressed wall.
2 increase the strength of or justification for; reinforce: authority was buttressed by religious belief.
Byzantine
• of an ornate artistic and architectural style that developed in the Byzantine Empire and spread especially to Italy and Russia. The art is generally rich and stylized (as in religious icons) and the architecture typified by many-domed, highly decorated churches.
2 (also byzantine) (of a system or situation) excessively complicated, and typically involving a great deal of administrative detail: Byzantine insurance regulations.
• characterized by deviousness or underhanded procedure: he has the most Byzantine mind in politics | Byzantine intrigues.
cache
noun
a collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place: an arms cache | a cache of gold coins.
• a hidden or inaccessible storage place for valuables, provisions, or ammunition.
verb [with object]
store away in hiding or for future use.
cachet
noun
1 the state of being respected or admired; prestige: no other shipping company had quite the cachet of Cunard.
2 a distinguishing mark or seal.
• Philately a printed design added to an envelope to commemorate a special event.
3 a flat capsule enclosing a dose of unpleasant-tasting medicine.
cacophony
noun (plural cacophonies)
a harsh discordant mixture of sounds: a cacophony of deafening alarm bells | figurative : a cacophony of architectural styles | songs of unrelieved cacophony.
cavalier
noun
1 (Cavalier) historical a supporter of King Charles I in the English Civil War.
• (cavalier) a dashing and attentive man, especially one acting as a lady’s escort.
• (cavalier) archaic a horseman, especially a cavalryman.
adjective
showing a lack of proper concern; offhand: Anne was irritated by his cavalier attitude.
cajole
verb [with object] (often cajole someone into doing something)
persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery: he hoped to cajole her into selling the house | [no object] : she pleaded and cajoled as she tried to win his support.
calcify
verb (calcifies, calcifying, calcified) [with object] (usually as adjective calcified)
harden by deposition of or conversion into calcium carbonate or some other insoluble calcium compounds: calcified cartilage.
callous
adjective
showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others: his callous comments about the murder made me shiver.
callow
adjective
(of a young person) inexperienced and immature: earnest and callow undergraduates.
calumniate
verb [with object] formal
make false and defamatory statements about: foes were calumniating him in the US press.
camaraderie
noun
mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together: a genuine camaraderie on the hockey team.
catharsis
noun (plural catharses | -sēz | )
1 the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.
2 Medicine, rare purgation.
canard
noun
1 an unfounded rumor or story: the old canard that LA is a cultural wasteland.
2 a small winglike projection attached to an aircraft forward of the main wing to provide extra stability or control, sometimes replacing the tail.
candor
noun
the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness: a man of refreshing candor.
canon
noun
1 a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged: the appointment violated the canons of fair play and equal opportunity.
• a Church decree or law: a set of ecclesiastical canons.
2 a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine: the formation of the biblical canon.
• the works of a particular author or artist that are recognized as genuine: the Shakespeare canon.
• the list of works considered to be permanently established as being of the highest quality: Hopkins was firmly established in the canon of English poetry.
4 Music a piece in which the same melody is begun in different parts successively, so that the imitations overlap.
