2 Flashcards
ascribe
ascribe verb [with obj.] (ascribe something to) regard something as being due to (a cause) he ascribed Jane’s short temper to her upset stomach ■ regard a text, quotation, or work of art as being produced by or belonging to (a particular person or period) a quotation ascribed to Thomas Cooper ■ regard a quality as belonging to tough-mindedness is a quality commonly ascribed to top bosses Derivatives: ascribable adjective Origin: Middle English: from Latin ascribere, from ad- ‘to’ + scribere ‘write’
humiliate
humiliate [hjuːˈmɪl.i.eɪt] verb transitive [humiliates humiliating humiliated] to make someone feel ashamed or lose their respect for themselves • How could you humiliate me by questioning my judgment in front of everyone like that? • England were humiliated (= completely defeated) in last night’s match. Thesaurus+: ↑Humiliating and degrading
profound
profound [prəˈfaʊnd] adjective EXTREME 1. felt or experienced very strongly or in an extreme way • His mother’s death when he was aged six had a very profound effect on him. • The invention of the contraceptive pill brought about profound changes in the lives of women. • Those two lines of poetry express perfectly the profound sadness of loss. • My grandfather has a profound mistrust of anything new or foreign. • There was a note of profound irritation in his voice. Thesaurus+: ↑Strong feelings ↑Very and extreme ↑Complete and whole ↑Intensifying expressions SHOWING UNDERSTANDING 2. showing a clear and deep understanding of serious matters • profound truths/wisdom • The review that I read said that it was ‘a thoughtful and profound film’. • “Dying is easy - it’s living that’s the problem.” “That was very profound of you, Steven.”
conch
conch [kɒn t ʃ], [kɒŋk] [kɑːntʃ], [kɑːŋk] noun countable [conches] a large spiral shell, or the tropical snail-like sea animal which lives in it
wedge
wedge [wedʒ] noun [wedges] SHAPE 1. countable a piece of metal, wood, rubber, etc. with a pointed edge at one end and a wide edge at the other, which is either pushed between two objects to keep them still or forced into something to break pieces off it • Push a wedge under the door to keep it open while we’re carrying the boxes in. • Pieces of stone can be split off by forcing wedges between the layers. Thesaurus+: ↑Tools ↑Gardening tools 2. countable a triangular-shaped piece, especially of food • Auntie Ann put a huge wedge of fruit cake on my plate. • a wedge of cheese Thesaurus+: ↑Masses and large amounts of things SHOES 3. wedges women’s shoes with a heel all the way under the shoe • Thesaurus+: ↑Shoes and shoemaking verb transitive 1. to make something stay in a particular position by using a wedge • + adjective Find something to wedge the window open/closed with. Thesaurus+: ↑Closing and blocking 2. to put something into a very small or narrow space, so that it cannot move easily • Her shoe came off and got wedged between the bars. • I was standing waiting for a bus, wedged between (= fixed between and unable to move away from) two old ladies and their bags of shopping. Thesaurus+: ↑Inserting and forcing things into other things
appeal
appeal [əˈpiːl] noun [appeals] REQUEST 1. < > countable when a lot of people are asked to give money, information or help • They’re launching (= starting) an appeal to raise money for famine victims. • + to infinitive The police have issued an appeal to the public to stay away from the centre of town at the weekend. Thesaurus+: ↑Making appeals and requests • No witnesses to the accident have come forward yet, despite the police’s appeal. • The missing child’s distraught parents made an emotional appeal for information on TV. • The appeal for people to donate blood was very successful. • She made an eloquent appeal for action before it was too late. • The campaign has been gaining momentum ever since the television appeal. LEGAL 2. < > countable or uncountable a request especially to a court of law to change a previous decision • The case went to the court of appeal/the appeal court. • He won his appeal and the sentence was halved. • She has lodged (= made) an appeal against the severity of the fine. Thesaurus+: ↑Court cases, orders and decisions • Lee’s solicitor said last night that they would be lodging an appeal against the sentence. • The district attorney said if McVeigh is given the death penalty and his conviction is upheld on appeal, the state prosecution would become moot. • The appeal was rejected by the High Court. • The judge ordered that he post a $10 000 bond pending his appeal of the verdict. • She took her case to an immigration appeals tribunal. QUALITY 3. < > uncountable the quality in someone or something that makes them attractive or interesting • sex appeal • Spielberg films have a wide appeal. • Parties on river-boats have lost their appeal since one sank last year killing thirty-three people. Thesaurus+: ↑Attracting and tempting ↑Attractive ↑Sexual attraction verb REQUEST 1. < > intransitive to make a serious or formal request, especially to the public, for money or help • They’re appealing for clothes and blankets to send to the devastated region. • The police are appealing to the public for any information about the missing girl. • I tried to appeal to (= ask for support based on) his sense of loyalty, stressing how good the company had been to him. • + to infinitive Church leaders have appealed to the government to halt the war. Thesaurus+: ↑Making appeals and requests • Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident to come forward. • After a night of violence, police are appealing for calm. • The parents of the missing girl appeared on television appealing for witnesses. • Charity workers are appealing for cash to help provide relief for the disaster victims. • Both sets of parents appealed to the kidnappers to release their son and daughter. LEGAL 2. < > intransitive legal to request a higher law court to consider again a decision made by a lower court, especially in order to reduce or prevent a punishment • The teenager has been given leave (= allowed) by the High Court to appeal against her two-year sentence. • They’re appealing to the High Court to reduce the sentence to a fine. Thesaurus+: ↑Court cases, orders and decisions 3. < > intransitive to formally request that especially a legal or official decision is changed • The parents appealed against the school’s decision not to admit the child. • The footballer appealed to the referee for a free kick. Thesaurus+: ↑Making appeals and requests ATTRACT 4. < > intransitive not continuous to interest or attract someone • I’ve haven’t been skiing - it’s never really appealed. • It’s a programme designed to appeal mainly to 16 to 25 year-olds. • I think what appeals to me about his painting is the colours he uses. Thesaurus+: ↑Attracting and tempting ↑Attractive ↑Sexual attraction • To win the election he needs to appeal to the typical man in the street. • The party has watered down its socialist ideals in order to appeal to the centre ground. • Her latest book should appeal to a large audience. • It was one of the first avant-garde works to appeal to a wide audience. • This policy may appeal to the party faithful, but will it gain the support of uncommitted voters?
exhilarating
exhilarating [ɪgˈzɪl.ə.reɪ.tɪŋ] [-t ̬ɪŋ] adjective making you feel very excited and happy • an exhilarating walk in the mountains
sweep
CLEAN 1. < > transitive to clean especially a floor by using a brush to collect the dirt into one place from which it can be removed • sweep the floor Thesaurus+: ↑Cleaning generally ↑Personal hygiene and appearance - general words • She swept the ashes from the fireplace. • When I arrived he was sweeping the leaves from the driveway. MOVE 2. < > intransitive + adverb or preposition to move, especially quickly and powerfully • Everyone looked up as she swept into the room. • The fire swept (= spread quickly) through the house. • The National Party swept into power (= easily won the election) with a majority of almost 200. Thesaurus+: ↑Moving quickly 3. < > transitive to quickly spread through and influence an area • A 1970s fashion revival is sweeping Europe.
fling
fling [flɪŋ] verb [flung], [flung] [flung flings flinging] THROW 1. transitive usually + adverb or preposition to throw something or someone suddenly and with a lot of force • He crumpled up the letter and flung it into the fire. • “And you can take your ring back too!” she cried, flinging it down on the table. • informal Could you fling the paper over here (= give me the paper) ? Thesaurus+: ↑Throwing MOVE/DO 2. transitive usually + adverb or preposition to move or do something quickly and energetically • She flung her arms around his neck. • The door was flung open by the wind. • Sergei flung himself down on the sofa. • informal Let me just fling (= quickly put) a few things into my bag, and I’ll be right with you. • informal They were flung (= quickly put) in prison. Thesaurus+: ↑Acting and acts ↑Dealing with things or people SAY ANGRILY 3. intransitive or transitive usually + adverb or preposition to say something angrily • They were flinging bitter accusations at each other. • + speech “I don’t care what you think”, she flung (back) at him. Thesaurus+: ↑Talking angrily Idiom: fling up your hands PhrasalVerbs: fling somebody out ▪ fling something on ▪ fling yourself at somebody ▪ fling yourself into something noun countable usually singular informal a short period of enjoyment • The students are having a final/last fling before they leave university and start work. Thesaurus+: ↑General words for fun
frantic
frantic [ˈfræn.tɪk] [-t ̬ɪk] adjective VERY WORRIED/FRIGHTENED 1. almost out of control because of extreme emotion, such as worry • Where on Earth have you been? We’ve been frantic with worry. Thesaurus+: ↑Anxious and worried HURRIED 2. done or arranged in a hurry and a state of excitement or confusion • Share prices have soared to a new all-time high in a day of frantic trading on the stock market. • Rescuers were engaged in a frantic all-night effort to reach the survivors before their supply of air ran out.
descend
descend [dɪˈsend] verb [descends descending descended] POSITION 1. < > intransitive or transitive formal to go or come down • The path descended steeply into the valley. • Jane descended the stairs. Thesaurus+: ↑Moving downwards ↑Falling and dropping 2. intransitive literary If darkness or night descends, it becomes dark and day changes to night. Thesaurus+: ↑Enclosing, surrounding and immersing • She descended the sweeping staircase into the crowd of photographers and journalists. • A signpost points to a short path descending amongst trees to a footbridge over the river. • Ahead were clear signs of a path, descending into a valley. • The main staircase descended into a large, panelled entrance hall. • The audience applauded wildly as the curtain descended on the stage. NEGATIVE MOOD 3. intransitive literary If a negative or bad feeling descends, it is felt everywhere in a place or by everyone at the same time • A feeling of despair descended (on us) as we realized that we were lost. Thesaurus+: ↑Enclosing, surrounding and immersing 4. intransitive literary If a condition, usually a negative condition, descends, it quickly develops in every part of a place • Silence descended on the room/over the countryside. Thesaurus+: ↑Enclosing, surrounding and immersing PhrasalVerbs: descend from something ▪ descend into something ▪ descend on somebody ▪ descend to something descend des|cend verb [no obj.] 1) move or fall downwards the aircraft began to descend ■ [with obj.] move down (a slope or stairs) the vehicle descended a ramp ■ (of a road, path, or flight of steps) slope or lead downwards a side road descended into the forest [with obj.] a flight of stairs descended a steep slope ■ move down a scale of quality (as adj. descending) the categories are listed in descending order of usefulness ■ (of sound) become lower in pitch (as adj. descending) a passage of descending chords ■ (descend to) act in a shameful way that is far below one’s usual standards he was scrupulous in refusing to descend to misrepresentation ■ (descend into) (of a situation or group of people) reach (an undesirable state) the army had descended into chaos 2) (descend on/upon) make a sudden attack on the militia descended on Rye ■ (descend on/upon) make an unexpected visit to groups of visiting supporters descended on a local pub ■ (of a feeling) develop suddenly and affect a place or person an air of gloom descended on Labour Party headquarters ■ (of night or darkness) begin to occur as the winter darkness descended, the fighting ceased 3) (be descended from) be a blood relative of (a specified ancestor) John Dalrymple was descended from an ancient Ayrshire family ■ (of an asset) pass by inheritance, typically from parent to child his lands descended to his eldest son • Derivatives: descendent adjective Origin: Middle English: from Old French descendre, from Latin descendere, from de- ‘down’ + scandere ‘to climb’
immense
immense [ɪˈmen t s] adjective 1. extremely large in size or degree • immense wealth/value • They spent an immense amount of time getting the engine into perfect condition. Thesaurus+: ↑Enormous ↑Big and quite big 2. slang extremely good • He’s an immense goalkeeper.
stride
tride [straɪd] noun [strides] DEVELOPMENT 1. countable an important positive development • The West made impressive strides in improving energy efficiency after the huge rises in oil prices during the seventies. • The group has made strides to expand internationally. Thesaurus+: ↑Making progress and advancing ↑Becoming better STEP 2. countable a long step when walking or running • She attributes her record-breaking speed to the length of her stride. Thesaurus+: ↑Walking and walkers CLOTHES 3. strides Australian informal trousers • a new pair of strides Thesaurus+: ↑Trousers Idioms: get into your stride ▪ not break your stride ▪ put somebody off their stride ▪ take something in your stride verb intransitive usually + adverb or preposition [strode], [strode], [stridden] to walk somewhere quickly with long steps • She strode purposefully up to the desk and demanded to speak to the manager. • He strode across/into/out of the room.
neatly
neatly [ˈniːt.li] adverb TIDY 1. in a tidy way • His clothes are all neatly folded in their drawers. Thesaurus+: ↑Clean and tidy CLEVER 2. in a clever and simple way • The announcement was neatly timed to coincide with the release of their new album. Thesaurus+: ↑Easiness and simplicity ↑Wise and sensible
cough
cough cough [kɒf] [kɑːf] verb intransitive [coughs coughing coughed] 1. < > to force air out of your lungs through your throat with a short loud sound • The smoke made me cough. • I coughed all night long.
watchword
watchword [ˈwɒtʃ.wɜːd] [ˈwɑːtʃ.wɝːd] noun countable usually singular [watchwords] (a word or phrase which represents) the main ideas or principles directing the way that someone behaves or the way that something is done • And remember, let caution be your watchword.
dissent
dissent [dɪˈsent] slightly formal noun uncountable strong difference of opinion on a particular subject; disagreement, especially about an official suggestion or plan or a popular belief • When the time came to approve the proposal, there were one or two voices of dissent. Compare assent Thesaurus+: ↑Arguing and disagreeing verb intransitive to disagree with other people about something • Anyone wishing to dissent from the motion should now raise their hand.
stupendous
stupendous [stjuːˈpen.dəs] [stuː-] adjective very surprising, usually in a pleasing way, especially by being large in amount or size • He ran up stupendous debts through his extravagant lifestyle. • Stupendous news! We’ve won £500 000! Thesaurus+: ↑Informal words for good ↑Good, better and best ↑Quite good, or not very good ↑Surprising and shocking ↑Making people sad, shocked and upset Derived: stupendously
flight of steps
a stairway (set of steps) between one floor or landing and the next.
intricate
intricate [ˈɪn.trɪ.kət] adjective having a lot of small parts or details that are arranged in a complicated way and are therefore sometimes difficult to understand, solve or produce • The watch mechanism is extremely intricate and very difficult to repair. • Police officers uncovered an intricate web of deceit.
peer
peer [pɪə r ] [pɪr] verb intransitive usually + adverb or preposition [peers peering peered] < > to look carefully or with difficulty • When no one answered the door, she peered through the window to see if anyone was there. • The driver was peering into the distance trying to read the road sign. Thesaurus+: ↑Using the eyes ↑Eyesight, glasses and lenses ↑The eye and surrounding area ↑Perceptive • I peered through a chink in the curtains and saw them all inside. • They leaned over the rails and peered down into the dizzying chasm below. • We peered through the crack in the floorboards. • The car nosed out of the side street, its driver peering anxiously around. • She peered closely at the map.
