20.09.2015 Flashcards
Dispatch
dispatch
verb
Variants: also Brit des·patch \dɪˈspætʃ\
[+ obj]
1 : to send (someone or something) quickly to a particular place for a particular purpose
Rescue workers were immediately dispatched to the area.
The hotel dispatched a limo to pick us up from the airport.
(formal) The message was dispatched to the general.
2 : to defeat (a person or team) in a game, contest, etc.
She easily dispatched [=(more commonly) beat] her opponent.
3 old-fashioned : to kill (a person or animal) quickly
He dispatched the guard with one bullet.
Other forms: dis·patch·es; dis·patched; dis·patch·ing
Synonyms: consign, pack (off), ship, transfer, transmit, transport
Antonyms: accept, receive
2
dispatch
noun
Variants: also Brit despatch
1 [count] : an important official message
The general sent a dispatch to headquarters.
◇In British English, a soldier who is mentioned in dispatches is noted for bravery.
2 [noncount] somewhat formal : the act of sending someone or something to a particular place for a particular purpose
He requested the immediate dispatch of supplies/troops.
3 [count] : a news story that a reporter sends to a newspaper usually from a foreign country
The reporter sent many dispatches from the war zone.
Other forms: plural dispatches
with dispatch
formal : in a quick and efficient way
The problem was handled with dispatch.
Synonyms: letter, epistle, memo, memorandum, missive, note
Strut
strut \ˈstrʌt\
verb
[no obj] : to walk in a confident and proud way
She strutted across the stage.
Other forms: struts; strut·ted; strut·ting
strut your stuff
informal : to proudly show your abilities
The audition gave aspiring actors a chance to strut their stuff.
strut·ter noun plural strut·ters [count]
Synonyms: prance, stalk, swagger
Unguarded
un·guard·ed \ˌʌnˈgɑɚdəd\
adjective
1 : speaking carelessly without thinking about what you are saying : direct and honest especially when you should be cautious
an unguarded remark
I let the secret about the surprise party spill out in an unguarded moment.
2 : not protected or watched over
an unguarded border
Synonyms: candid, direct, forthright, foursquare, free-spoken, honest, open, openhearted, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, straight, straightforward, frank, unreserved
Antonyms: dissembling
Divisive
di·vi·sive \dəˈvaɪsɪv\ adjective [more di*vi*sive; most di*vi*sive] formal : causing a lot of disagreement between people and causing them to separate into different groups divisive issues like abortion di·vi·sive·ness noun [noncount]
Droop
droop \ˈdru:p\
verb
[no obj]
1 : to sink, bend, or hang down
The flowers were drooping in the hot sun.
Her eyelids drooped as she grew tired.
The tree’s branches drooped under the weight of the snow.
2 : to become sad or weak
His spirits drooped when he didn’t get the job.
Other forms: droops; drooped; droop·ing
droop noun [singular]
the sad droop of the dog’s tail
droopy \ˈdru:pi\ adjective droop·i·er droop·i·est
a droopy mustache
Synonyms: flag, hang, loll, sag, wilt
Disregard
dis·re·gard \ˌdɪsrɪˈgɑɚd\
verb
[+ obj] : to ignore (something) or treat (something) as unimportant
Please disregard what I said before.
He disregarded his father’s advice and left school.
Some students completely disregard the rules of the school.
Other forms: dis·re·gards; dis·re·gard·ed; dis·re·gard·ing
Synonyms: despise, scorn, flout
Antonyms: attend (to), heed, mind, regard, tend (to)
2
disregard
noun
: the act of ignoring something or treating something as unimportant
[noncount]
They treated the rules with complete/total disregard.
— usually + for or of
the government’s casual disregard for the rights of its citizens
The terrorists acted in complete/total disregard of human life.
The judge found that the statements were made with reckless disregard for/of the truth.
[singular] — usually + for or of
Some students show a complete disregard for the rules of the school.
a disregard of the evidence
Synonyms: apathy, casualness, disinterestedness, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern
Antonyms: concern, interest, regard
Abrupt
abrupt \əˈbrʌpt\
adjective
[more abrupt; most abrupt]
1 : very sudden and not expected
There was an abrupt change in the weather.
The road came to an abrupt end.
The storm caused an abrupt power failure.
2 a : talking to other people in a very brief and unfriendly way
He is friendly with customers but abrupt (in his dealings) with his employees.
She has an abrupt manner.
b : rudely brief
an abrupt [=curt, brusque] reply
abrupt·ly adverb
The party ended abruptly when the police arrived.
She turned abruptly and walked away.
The land dropped off abruptly.
abrupt·ness noun
[singular]
There is an abruptness in her manner.
[noncount]
I was surprised by the abruptness of her manner.
Synonyms: blunt, bluff, brusque, crusty, curt, downright, snippy, unceremonious
Antonyms: circuitous, mealymouthed
Downright
down·right \ˈdaʊnˌraɪt\
adverb
: to the fullest degree : completely or totally
The movie was downright stupid/bad/scary.
It’s very difficult, if not downright impossible.
They were downright overjoyed.
downright adjective always used before a noun
a downright [=absolute, outright] lie
I was met with downright hostility.
Mockery
mock·ery \ˈmɑ:kəri\
noun
1 [noncount] : behavior or speech that makes fun of someone or something in a hurtful way : mocking behavior or speech
The bright orange house was an object of mockery on our street. [=people mocked the house; people laughed at it and criticized it]
His kind of personality invites mockery.
the children’s cruel mockery of each other
2 [singular] : a bad or useless copy of something
The judge’s decisions are a mockery of real justice. [=the judge’s decisions are very unjust]
◇If you make a mockery of something, you make it seem ridiculous or useless.
The judge’s decisions have made a mockery of the legal system.
He’s made a mockery of our marriage.
Synonyms: caricature, farce, joke, parody, sham, travesty
Tread
tread \ˈtrɛd\
verb
1 [no obj] : to walk
They slowly trod back to the camp.
Don’t tread on the grass.
— often used figuratively
He has gone where others fear to tread. [=he has done things that other people are afraid to do]
If you’re thinking about asking for a raise, I advise you to tread lightly. [=to proceed carefully]
2 [+ obj] : to walk on or along (something)
treading the halls of the Senate
— often used figuratively
The company is treading a fine line between tradition and innovation.
3 [+ obj] : to form (a path) by walking
Countless footsteps have trodden a path to their door.
4 [+ obj] : to crush or press (something) with your feet
Don’t tread dirt into the carpet.
treading grapes for wine
Other forms: treads; trod \ˈtrɑ:d\ also tread·ed; trod·den \ˈtrɑ:dn̩\ or trod ; tread·ing
tread on someone’s toes — see 1toe
tread the boards
old-fashioned : to perform on a stage as an actor
It’s been many years since he first trod the boards on Broadway.
tread water
1 : to float upright in deep water by moving your legs and usually your arms forward and backward
2 : to stay in a situation without making any progress
I’m just treading water financially right now.
Synonyms: foot (it), hoof (it), leg (it), pad, step, traipse, walk
2
tread
noun
[count]
1 a : the part of a tire that touches the ground : the pattern of raised lines on the surface of a tire
The treads of the tires were badly worn.
b : a mark made by a tire when it rolls over the ground
The police found tire treads [=tracks] in the mud.
— see also retread
2 : the part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground : the pattern of raised lines on the bottom of a shoe or boot
running shoes with good treads
3 : the part of a stair that you step on
4 : the way that someone walks or the sound made by walking
a light/heavy tread [=step]
Other forms: plural treads
Substantial
sub·stan·tial \səbˈstænʃəl\
adjective
[more substantial; most substantial]
1 : large in amount, size, or number
A substantial number of people commute to work each day.
This will save us a substantial [=considerable] amount of money/time.
Activities like that pose a substantial risk of injury.
She purchased her tickets at a substantial discount.
2 : strongly made : sturdy
a substantial house
Only the buildings that were constructed of more substantial materials survived the earthquake.
3 of food : enough to satisfy hunger
I was hoping that they would serve us something more substantial than wine and cheese.
a substantial [=filling] meal
Synonyms: big, consequential, eventful, major, material, meaningful, momentous, monumental, significant, important, weighty
Antonyms: insignificant, little, minor, slight, small, trivial, unimportant
Inclusive
in·clu·sive \ɪnˈklu:sɪv\
adjective
1 : covering or including everything
an inclusive fee/tour
an inclusive insurance policy
— opposite exclusive; see also all-inclusive
2 [more inclusive; most inclusive] : open to everyone : not limited to certain people
an inclusive club
an inclusive political movement
— opposite exclusive
3 not used before a noun : including the stated limits and everything in between
a program for children seven to ten years of age inclusive [=children seven, eight, nine, and ten years of age]
Our assignment is to read pages 10 to 20 inclusive. [=pages 10 to/through 20]
inclusive of
formal : including (something)
The price is inclusive of tax. [=the price includes tax]
in·clu·sive·ly adverb
in·clu·sive·ness noun [noncount]
in·clu·siv·i·ty \ɪnˌklu:ˈsɪvəti\ noun [noncount] formal
Synonyms: compendious, complete, comprehensive, full, global, encyclopedic, in-depth, omnibus, panoramic, universal
Hurdle
hur·dle \ˈhɚdl̟\
noun
1 a [count] : one of a series of barriers to be jumped over in a race
b the hurdles : a race in which runners must jump over hurdles
He won a medal in the high hurdles.
— usually used with a singular verb
The hurdles is his best event.
2 [count] : something that makes an achievement difficult
The company faces severe financial hurdles this year.
She overcame many hurdles [=obstacles] on her way to earning a college diploma.
Other forms: plural hur·dles
Synonyms: balk, bar, block, chain, clog, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, fetter, handicap, hindrance, encumbrance, impediment, inhibition, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel
Antonyms: aid, assistance, benefit, help
hurdle
2
hurdle
verb
[+ obj]
1 : to jump over (something) while running
The horse hurdled the fence.
2 : to deal with (a problem or difficulty) successfully
She hurdled [=overcame] many obstacles on her way to earning a college diploma.
Other forms: hur·dles; hur·dled; hur·dling
hur·dler \ˈhɚdl̟ɚ\ noun plural hur·dlers [count]
Perceive
per·ceive \pɚˈsi:v\
verb
[+ obj]
1 formal : to notice or become aware of (something)
I perceived [=noticed] that she had been crying.
The detective perceived [=saw] a change in the suspect’s attitude.
2 : to think of (someone or something) as being something stated
She perceived herself as an independent woman. = She perceived herself to be an independent woman.
— often used as (be) perceived
He is perceived as one of the best players in baseball.
Other forms: per·ceives; per·ceived; per·ceiv·ing
perceived adjective
a perceived threat [=something that is thought of as being a threat]
Synonyms: feel, scent, see, sense, smell, taste
Antonyms: miss
Enable
en·able \ɪˈneɪbəl\
verb
[+ obj]
1 a : to make (someone or something) able to do or to be something
The machine enables us to create copies without losing quality.
The system enables students to access class materials online.
These choices are part of what enabled the company to be successful.
b : to make (something) possible, practical, or easy
a filing system that enables easy access to information
The proposed tax will enable [=facilitate] the hiring of more police officers.
2 technical : to cause (a feature or capability of a computer) to be active or available for use
Be sure to enable your computer’s firewall.
— often used in combination
a wireless-enabled laptop [=a laptop that is able to send and receive wireless signals]
Other forms: en·ables; en·abled; en·abling
Synonyms: allow, let, permit
Antonyms: prevent
