15 Flashcards
augment
verb: to increase the size or value of something by adding something to it:
He would have to find work to augment his income.
The region needs to augment its water supply.
noun: augmentation:
I think of making computers smarter as intelligence augmentation.
Cosmetic procedures include nose reshaping, breast augmentation, and face-lift surgery.
avid
adj: extremely eager or interested:
an avid football fan
an avid supporter of the arts
He took an avid interest in the project.
She hadn’t seen him for six months and was avid for news.
They also have extensive vocabulary and are avid storytellers.
noun: avidity:
Teams can’t rely solely on fan avidity.
He studied Indian history with avidity.
adv: avidly:
We avidly awaited news of him.
He avidly follows the tennis matches on television.
Last year she began to exercise avidly and walk for two hours every day.
barge
verb: سرزده و گستاخ وار آمدن یا رفتن
They barged through the crowds.
When the doors opened she barged her way to the front of the queue.
The man barged (= pushed) into her and ran on without stopping.
noun: قایق بزرگ و پهن
The state operates passenger ferries and cargo barges to the island.
The fuel was transported by barge.
inclined
verb: incline: 1. متمایل کردن، تمایل داشتن
The prime minister is believed to be inclining towards an April election.
2. شیب دار بودن
The ground inclined steeply towards the ridge in the distance.
noun: شیب
The road has a steep incline for the next ten miles.
adj: inclined: likely or wanting to do something:
Tom is inclined to be lazy.
No one seemed inclined to help.
I’m inclined to agree with you.
artistically, technically, etc. inclined: having natural artistic, technical, etc. ability:
She’s very bright, but she’s not academically inclined.
incline to/towards something: to think that a belief or opinion is probably correct: I incline to the view that peace can be achieved.
susceptible
adj: easily influenced or harmed by something:
These plants are particularly susceptible to frost.
Among particularly susceptible children, the disease can develop very fast.
used to describe someone who is easily emotionally influenced:
They persuade susceptible teenagers to part with their money.
noun: susceptibility: susceptibilities: the feelings someone has that are likely to be hurt:
I didn’t mean to offend/upset/hurt your susceptibilities.
beckon
verb: (با حرکت سر یا دست) اشاره کردن، فراخواندن
The customs official beckoned the woman to his counter.
“Hey you!” she called, beckoning me over with her finger.
He beckoned to me, as if he wanted to speak to me.
If an event or achievement beckons, it is likely to happen:
She’s an excellent student, for whom a wonderful future beckons.
boast
verb: لاف زدن، خودستایی، پز دادن
He didn’t talk about his exam results in case people thought he was boasting.
Parents enjoy boasting about their children’s achievements.
They boasted that they had never lost a single game.
to have or own something to be proud of:
Ireland boasts beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and friendly locals.
noun: something you are proud of and like to tell people about:
[ + that ] It is her proud boast that she has never missed a single episode of the show.
adj: boastful:
I do not want to sound boastful, but my report should not be reduced to that issue.
adv: boastfully:
He was boastfully repeating all the praise he had received.
noun: boastfulness:
There is a fine line between admirable pride and unpleasant boastfulness.
boom
noun: a period of sudden growth:
This year has seen a boom in book sales.
Somehow farmers have survived the booms and busts of the past 50 years.
verb: to increase or become successful and produce a lot of money very quickly:
The leisure industry is booming.
boon
noun: موهبت
something that is very helpful and improves the quality of life:
Guide dogs are a great boon to the partially sighted.
Spring rains are a boon to local farmers.
breakthrough
noun: an important discovery or event that helps to improve a situation or provide an answer to a problem:
Scientists are hoping for a breakthrough in the search for a cure for cancer.
A major breakthrough in negotiations has been achieved.
brew
verb: آمیختن، دم کردن، آبجو به عمل آوردن، در شرف تکوین بودن (توفان یا دردسر و غیره)
He brewed some coffee for us.
It was too quiet - I felt that trouble was brewing.
brittle
adj: delicate and easily broken:
As you get older your bones become increasingly brittle.
The pond was covered in a brittle layer of ice.
The team’s confidence is brittle after a poor performance in the World Cup.
Our support system is becoming increasingly brittle.
appearing to be happy or confident, but actually nervous, weak, or likely to change mood suddenly:
The player has a notoriously brittle temperament.
The character she plays is successful but emotionally brittle.
She greeted him with a brittle smile.
Distinctive
burgeon
verb: to develop or grow quickly:
Love burgeoned between them.
A recent addition to this burgeoning literature is the book under review.
bustling
adj: If a place is bustling, it is full of busy activity:
This used to be a bustling town but a lot of people have moved away over recent years.
The house, usually bustling with activity, was strangely silent.
verb: bustle: to do things in a hurried and busy way:
Thora bustled around the house, getting everything ready.
noun:
I sat in a café, watching the (hustle and) bustle of the street outside.
