200 words of intermediate level Flashcards
Adorn
UK /əˈdɔːn/ US /əˈdɔːrn/
*verb (adorns, adorning, adorned)
embellish, garnish, ornament, trim
to add something decorative to a person or thing
to make something more attractive by putting something on it
For example, if someone adorns a place, he puts decorations on it. His watercolor designs adorn a wide range of books.
*adornment
noun [ C/U ] US /əˈdɔrn·mənt/
Her only adornment was a ruby necklace.
Magnificent
UK /mæɡˈnɪf.ɪ.sənt/ US /mæɡˈnɪf.ə.sənt/
adjective (magnificently, magnificence)
extraordinary, glorious, grand, splendid, superb, wonderful
For example, if you say that something or someone is magnificent, you mean that you think it is extremely good. It is a magnificent country house in wooded grounds.
Impressive
UK /ɪmˈpres.ɪv/ US /ɪmˈpres.ɪv/
adjective (impressively, impress, impression)
awe-inspiring, grand, moving, thrilling; something that is impressive impresses you.
For example, it is great in size or in degree or is done with a great deal of skill. It is an impressive achievement.
Impress
UK /ɪmˈpres/ US /ɪmˈpres/
verb (impresses, impressed, impressing)
affect, influence, persuade, sway
For example, if something impresses you, you feel great admiration for it. What impressed him most was their speed.
Deal
UK /diːl/ US /diːl/
noun (dealer, dealings, dealt, dealing)
agreement, arrangement, bargain, contract, understanding
For example, if you say that you need or have a great deal of or a good deal of a particular thing, you are emphasizing that you need or have a lot of it. I’m able to save you a good deal of time.
Throughout
UK /θruːˈaʊt/ US /θruːˈaʊt/
preposition
in every part, or during the whole period of time
For example, if you say that something happens throughout a time, you mean
that it happens during the whole of that period. The national tragedy of rival groups killing each other continued throughout 1990.
Tragedy
UK /ˈtrædʒ.ə.di/ US /ˈtrædʒ.ə.di/
noun (tragic, tragically)
calamity, catastrophe, disaster, misadventure
For example, a tragedy is an extremely sad event or situation. They have suffered an enormous personal tragedy.
Involve
UK /ɪnˈvɒlv/ US /ɪnˈvɑːlv/
verb (involved, involves, involving, involvement)
comprise, consist of, contain, entail, include
For example, if a situation or activity involves something, that thing is a necessary part or consequence of it. Running a kitchen involves a great deal of discipline and speed.
Run
UK /rʌn/ US /rʌn/
verb (runs, ran, running)
function, operate, administer, control, govern, and manage
For example, if you run something such as a business or an activity, you oversee it
or you organize it. His stepfather ran a prosperous paint business.
Discipline
UK /ˈdɪs.ə.plɪn/ US /ˈdɪs.ə.plɪn/
noun (disciplines, disciplining, disciplined)
chastisement, correction, punishment, control, moderation, restraint
Order and discipline have been placed in the hands of headmasters and governing bodies.
Consequence
UK /ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwəns/ US /ˈkɑːn.sə.kwəns/
noun (consequences, consequently)
aftermath, effect, price, repercussion, result
For example, the consequences of something are the results or effects of it. Her lawyer said she understood the consequence of her actions and was prepared to go to jail.
Stepfather
UK /ˈstepˌfɑː.ðər/ US /ˈstepˌfɑː.ðɚ/
Someone’s stepfather is the man who has married a child’s mother after the death or
divorce of his father. Her stepfather has been married to her mother for five years.
Enormous
UK /ɪˈnɔː.məs/ US /əˈnɔːr.məs/
adj (enormously) big, giant, huge, immense, jumbo, tremendous
For example, something that is enormous is extremely large in size or amount. The main bedroom is enormous.
Rival
UK /ˈraɪ.vəl/ US /ˈraɪ.vəl/
noun, verb (rivals, rivaling, rivaled)
challenger, competitor, contender, adversary, enemy
For example, your rival is a person, business, or organization against whom you are competing or fighting in the same area or for the same things. He eliminated his rival in brutal struggle for power.
Compete
UK /kəmˈpiːt/ US /kəmˈpiːt/
verb (competes, competing, competed, competition, competitive, competitively)
contend, contest, rival, vie, combat, fight, strive, oppose;
For example, when one firm or country competes with another, it tries to get people to buy its own goods in preference to those of the other firms or countries. You can also say that two firms or countries compete. The banks have long competed with American Express’s charge cards and various store cards.
For example, if you compete with someone for something, you try to get it for yourself and stop the other person from getting it. You can also say that two people compete for something. Kangaroos compete with sheep and cattle for sparse supplies of food and water.
Preference
UK /ˈpref.ər.əns/ US /ˈpref.ər.əns/
noun (preferences prefer, preferred, preferably)
choice, desire, favorite, option, selection
For example, if you prefer something, you would like to have or do that thing rather than something else. Many or these products were bought because customers preferred them.
In preference to
noun phrase
If you choose one thing in preference to another, you choose it instead because it is better. Many people choose the train in preference to driving.
Engrave
UK /ɪnˈɡreɪv/ US /ɪnˈɡreɪv/
verb (engraves, engraving, engraved)
For example, if you engrave something with a design of words, or if you engrave a design or words on it, you cut the design or words onto its surface. Your wedding ring can be engraved with a
personal inscription at no extra cost.
Inscription
UK /ɪnˈskraɪb/ US /ɪnˈskraɪb/
noun (inscriptions, inscribe)
carving, engraving, epitaph, etching
For example, an inscription is writing carved into something made of stone or metal, for example a gravestone or metal. Above its doors was a Latin inscription
Brutal
UK /ˈbruː.təl/ US /ˈbruː.t̬əl/
adj (brutalize, brutality, brutally)
vicious, savage, cruel, fierce, harsh, inhuman, ruthless, unmerciful, unforgiving
For example, a brutal act or person is cruel and violent. He was the victim of a very brutal murder.
Struggle
UK /ˈstrʌɡ.əl/ US /ˈstrʌɡ.əl/
verb (struggles, struggling, struggled)
attempt, endeavor, offer, seek, strive, undertake
For example, if you struggle to do something, you try hard to do it, even though other people or things may be making it difficult for you to succeed. They had to struggle against all kinds of adversity.
For example, if two people struggle with each other, they fight. She screamed at him to ‘stop it’ as they struggled on the ground. (noun) He died in a struggle with prison officers less than two months after
coming.
Adversity
UK /ədˈvɜː.sə.ti/ US /ədˈvɝː.sə.t̬i/
noun (adversities, adversary, adversely)
misfortune, mischance, mishap, tragedy
For example, adversity is a very difficult or unfavorable situation. He showed courage in adversity.
Awkward
UK /ˈɔː.kwəd/ US /ˈɑː.kwɚd/
adjective (awkwardness, awkwardly)
bumbling, clumsy, halting, heavy-handed, inept, lumbering, uncomfortable
For example, a situation in which you feel so embarrassed that you are not sure what to do or say. The more she tried to get out of the situation, the more awkward it became.
Make things awkward
verb phrase
For example, to cause trouble and make a situation very difficult She could make things very awkward if she wanted to.
Prison
UK /ˈprɪz.ən/ US /ˈprɪz.ən/
noun (prisons, imprison, imprisoned)
can, cooler, lockup, pen, penitentiary, reformatory, stockade
For example, a prison is a building where criminals are kept as punishment or where people accused of crime are kept before their trial. After being convicted of bank robbery, she was sent to prison.
Favorable
UK /ˈfeɪ.vər.ə.bəl/ US /ˈfeɪ.vər.ə.bəl/
adjective (favors, favorably, favorite)
agreeable, good, grateful, gratifying, nice, pleasing, pleasurable, welcome
For example, if your opinion or your reaction is favorable to something, you agree with it and approve of it. If something makes a favorable impression on you or is a favorable to you, you like it and approve of it. His ability to talk while eating fast made a favorable impression on his dining companions
Accuse
UK /əˈkjuːz/ US /əˈkjuːz/
verb (accuses, accusing, accused, accusation)
arraign, charge, criminalize, impeach, incriminate, inculpate, indict
For example, if you accuse someone of doing something wrong or dishonest, you say or tell them that you believe that they did. My mom was really upset because he was accusing her of having an affair with another man.
Approve
UK /əˈpruːv/ US /əˈpruːv/
verb (approves, approving, approved, approval) accept favor, go for, accredit, certify, endorse, OK (or okay), sanction
For example, if you approve of an action, event, or suggestion, you like it or are pleased. Not everyone approved of the festival.
Upset
UK /ʌpˈset/ US /ʌpˈset/
adj (upsets, upsetting, and upset)
agitate, bother, discombobulate, disquiet, disturb, flurry, fluster, perturb, unhinge
For example, if you are upset, you are unhappy or disappointed because something unpleasant has happened to you. After she died, I felt very, very upset.
For example, if something upsets you, it makes you feel worried or unhappy. The whole incident had upset me and my fiancée terribly.
Incident
UK /ˈɪn.sɪ.dənt/ US /ˈɪn.sɪ.dənt/
noun (incidents, incidentally)
occurrence, circumstance, episode, event, happening, occasion, things
For example, an incident is something that happens, especially something that is unusual. These incidents were the latest in a series of disputes between two nations.
Dispute
UK /dɪˈspjuːt/ /ˈdɪs.pjuːt/ US /dɪˈspjuːt/ /ˈdɪs.pjuːt/
noun (disputes, disputing, disputed)
argue, bicker, hassle, quibble, squabble, wrangle
For example, a dispute is an argument or disagreement between people or groups. They have won previous pay disputes with the government.
(verb) If you dispute a fact, statement, or theory, you say that it is incorrect or untrue. He disputed the allegations.
Allegation
UK /ˌæl.əˈɡeɪ.ʃən/ US /ˌæl.əˈɡeɪ.ʃən/
noun (allegations allege, alleged, allegedly)
For example, an allegation is a statement saying that someone has done something wrong. The company denied the allegation.
Affair
UK /əˈfeər/ US /əˈfer/
noun (affairs)
business, concern, matter, shooting match, thing
For example, if an event or series of events has been mentioned and you want to talk about it again, you can refer to it as the affair. The government has mishandled the whole affair.
Mishandle
UK /ˌmɪsˈhæn.dəl/ US /ˌmɪsˈhæn.dəl/
verb (mishandles, mishandling, mishandled)
abuse, misapply, disapprove, misuse, pervert, prostitute
For example, if you say that someone has mishandled something, you are critical of them because you think they have dealt with it badly. She completely mishandled an important project purely through lack of attention.
Critical
UK /ˈkrɪt.ɪ.kəl/ US /ˈkrɪt̬.ɪ.kəl/
adjective (criticism, criticize, critique)
acute, climacteric, crucial, desperate, dire
For example, a critical time, factor, or situation is extremely important. The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign. For example, a critical situation is very serious and dangerous. The German authorities are considering an airlift if the situation becomes critical. He is in critical condition after the auto accident. For example, to be critical of someone or something means to criticize them. His report is highly critical of the trial judge.
Campaign
UK /kæmˈpeɪn/ US /kæmˈpeɪn/
noun (campaign, campaigning, campaigned)
For example, a campaign is a planned set of activities that people carry out over a period of time in order to achieve something such as social or political change. During his election campaign he promised to put the economy back on its feet.
(verb) If someone campaigns for something, they carry out a planned set of activities over a period in order to achieve their aim. We are campaigning to improve the legal status of woman.
Carry out
UK /ˈkær.i/ US /ˈker.i/
administer, administrate, execute, govern, render
For example, if you carry out a threat, task, or instruction, you do it or act according to it. Police say that they believe the attacks were carried out by nationalists. Commitments have been made with little intention of carrying them out.
Election
UK /iˈlek.ʃən/ US /iˈlek.ʃən/
noun (elections, elect, electioneer, elective)
choice, alternative, option, preference, selection
For example, an election is a process in which people vote to choose a person or group of people to hold an official position. The final election results will be announced on Friday.
Legal
UK /ˈliː.ɡəl/ US /ˈliː.ɡəl/
adjective (legalize, legality, legally)
lawful, innocent, legitimate, licit
For example, legal is used to describe things that relate to the law.
He vowed to take legal action. I sought legal advice on this.
Threat
UK /θret/ US /θret/
noun (threaten, threatened, threatening)
danger, menace, liability
For example, a threat to a person or things is a danger that something unpleasant might happen to them. A threat is also the cause of this danger.
Some couples see single women as a threat to their relationships.
Secure
UK /sɪˈkjʊər/ US /səˈkjʊr/
verb (secures, securing, secured)
cover, fend, guard, protect, safeguard, screen, shield
For example, if you secure something that you want or need, you obtain it, often after a lot of effort.
Secure is used in a formal context.
Federal leaders continued their efforts to secure a ceasefire.
Obtain
UK /əbˈteɪn/ US /əbˈteɪn/
(obtains, obtaining, obtained)
acquire, annex, chalk up, gain, have, pick up, procure, secure, win
For example, to obtain something means to get it or achieve it.
The perfect body has always been difficult to obtain.
Cease-fire
UK /ˈsiːs.faɪər/ US /ˈsiːs.faɪr/
noun (cease-fires) truce, armistice
For example, a cease-fire is an agreement in which countries or groups of people that are fighting each other agree to stop fighting.
They have agreed to a cease-fire after three years of conflict.
Investigate
UK /ɪnˈves.tɪ.ɡeɪt/ US /ɪnˈves.tə.ɡeɪt/
noun (investigates, investigating, investigated, investigation)
explore, delve (into), dig (into), go (into), inquire (into), look (into), probe, prospect, sift
For example, if someone, especially an official, investigates an event, situation, or claim, he tries to find
out what happened or what the truth is.
Police are still investigating how the accident happened.
Dispatch
UK /dɪˈspætʃ/ US /dɪˈspætʃ/
verb (dispatches, dispatching, dispatched)
address, consign, forward, remit, route, ship, transmit
For example, if you dispatch someone to a place, you send him there for a particular reason. The Italian government was preparing to dispatch 4,000 soldiers to search the island.
Replacement
UK /rɪˈpleɪs.mənt/ US /rɪˈpleɪs.mənt/
noun (replace, replaced)
alternate, backup, fill-in, pinch hitter, stand-in, sub, surrogate
For example, if you refer to the replacement of one thing by another, you mean that second thing takes the place of the first.
Let’s investigate the problem before we dispatch replacements….the replacement of damaged or lost
books.
Substitute
UK /ˈsʌb.stɪ.tʃuːt/ US /ˈsʌb.stə.tuːt/
verb (substitutes, substituting, substituted)
exchange, change, swap, switch, trade
For example, if you substitute one thing for another, or if one thing substitutes for another, it takes the place or performs the function of the other thing.
They were substituting violence for dialog.
Vague
UK /veɪɡ/ US /veɪɡ/
adjective (vaguer, vaguest)
ambiguous, equivocal, opaque, uncertain, unclear, inexplicit, unintelligible
For example, if something written or spoken is vague, it does not explain or express things clearly.
A lot of talk was apparently vague and general.
Apparently
UK /əˈpær.ənt.li/ US /əˈper.ənt.li/
adverb (apparent)
ostensibly, evidently, officially, outwardly, professedly, seemingly
For example, you use apparently to indicate that the information you are giving is something that you have heard, but you are not certain that it is true. Apparently, the girls are not amused by the whole business.
Amuse
UK /əˈmjuːz/ US /əˈmjuːz/
verb (amuses, amusing, amused)
divert, entertain, recreate
For example, if something amuses you, it makes you want to laugh and smile. The thought seemed to amuse him.
Municipal
UK /mjuːˈnɪs.ɪ.pəl/ US /mjuːˈnɪs.ə.pəl/
adjective (municipality) urban, city
For example, municipal means associated with or belonging to a city or town. A new mayor will be elected in the upcoming municipal election.
Upcoming
UK /ˈʌpˌkʌm.ɪŋ/ US /ˈʌpˌkʌm.ɪŋ/
UK usually forthcoming
adjective
approaching, coming, nearing, oncoming, forthcoming
For example, upcoming events will happen soon. We’ll face a tough fight in the upcoming election.
Vintage
UK /ˈvɪn.tɪdʒ/ US /ˈvɪn.t̬ɪdʒ/
adjective (vintages)
old fashioned, antiquated, antique, archaic, dated, old, outdated, outmoded
For example, you can use vintage to describe something which is the best and most typical of its kind. Are you interested in vintage automobiles?
Veritable
UK /ˈver.ɪ.tə.bəl/ US /ˈver.ə.t̬ə.bəl/
adjective
authentic, bona fide, genuine, indubitable, real, sure-enough, true, undoubted
For example, you can use veritable to emphasize the size, amount, or nature of something. There was a
veritable army of security guards.
Anthropology
UK /ˌæn.θrəˈpɒl.ə.dʒi/ US /ˌæn.θrəˈpɑː.lə.dʒi/
noun (anthropological)
For example, anthropology is the scientific study of people, society, and culture. My major is Anthropology.
Fascinate
UK /ˈfæs.ən.eɪt/ US /ˈfæs.ən.eɪt/
verb (fascinates, fascinating, fascinated, fascination)
grip, hold, mesmerize, spellbind, enthrall
For example, if something fascinates you, it interests and delights you so much that your thoughts tend to concentrate on it. Politics fascinated Franklin’s father.
Belongings
UK /bɪˈlɒŋ.ɪŋz/ US /bɪˈlɑːŋ.ɪŋz/
effects, goods, movables, things, possessions
For example, your belongings are the things that you own, especially things that are small enough to be carried. I collected my belongings and left.
Lease
UK /liːs/ US /liːs/
noun (leases, leasing, leased)
hire, charter, let, rent
For example, a lease is a legal agreement by which the owner of a building, a piece of land, or a car allows someone else to use it for a period in return for money. We’ve taken out a lease on an office building. (take out a lease = sign a lease so that you can rent something)
Eviction
UK /ɪˈvɪkt/ US /ɪˈvɪkt/
noun (evictions)
kicks out
For example, eviction is the act or process of officially forcing someone to leave a house or
piece of land. He was facing eviction, along with his wife and family.
Along with
preposition
For example, you use along with to mention someone or something else that is also involved in an action or situation. He was facing eviction, along with his wife and family.
