500 Words Flashcards
a myriad of
myriad
/ˈmɪr·i·əd/ n [C usually sing]
› a very large number:
@There’s a myriad of insects on the island.
#
/ˈmɪr·i·əd/ adj [not gradable]
@A cloud of dust was raised by their myriad feet.
a plethora of
plethora
/ˈpleθ·ər·ə/ n [U]
› a very large amount of something, esp. a larger amount than you need, want, or can deal with:
@a plethora of excuses/agencies/diet books
carnivore
/ˈkɑr·nəˌvɔr/, /-ˌvoʊr/ n [C]
› an animal that eats meat
#carnivorous
/kɑrˈnɪv·ə·rəs/ adj [not gradable]
@Lions and tigers are carnivorous.
prey on
phrasal verb
› to kill and eat an animal:
@ Lions prey on huge herds of wildebeest and zebra.
accelerate
/ɪkˈsel·əˌreɪt/, /æk-/ v [I]
› to move more quickly, or to make something happen faster or sooner:
@ [I] He stepped on the gas and accelerated rapidly to pass a car.
camouflage
/ˈkæm·əˌflɑʒ/, /-ˌflɑdʒ/ n [U]
› a condition in which the appearance of someone or something when placed against a background makes the person or thing difficult or impossible to see:
@The leafhopper is a little green insect that uses camouflage to blend in with the colors of the leaves
astound
/əˈstɑʊnd/ v [T]
› to surprise and shock someone, esp. with news of something that is completely unexpected:
@Considering how badly they’re paid and what little support they get, the dedication of these teachers astounds me.
resolute
/ˈrez·əˌlut/ adj
› determined in character, action, or ideas:
@I admired her resolute optimism in those difficult times.
#resolutely
/ˈrez·əˌlut·li/, /ˌrez·əˈlut-/ adv
diurnal
/ˌdaɪˈɜː.nəl/ adj
› happening over a period of a day, or being active or happening during the day rather than at night
species
/ˈspi·ʃiz/, /-siz/ n [C] (plural species)
› a set of animals or plants, members of which have similar characteristics to each other and which can breed with each other
attain
/əˈteɪn/ v [T]
› to achieve something difficult to do or obtain:
@You need financial security in order to attain emotional well-being.
#attainable
/əˈteɪ·nə·bəl/ adj
@You need to set goals that are clear and attainable.
#attainment
/əˈteɪn·mənt/ n [C/U]
@ [U] Abiola pledged his life to the attainment of justice.
eschew
/ɪsˈtʃu/ v [T] fml
› to avoid something intentionally, or to give up something:
@The leaders of the organization eschewed the term “union,” preferring “guild.”
proficient
/prəˈfɪʃ·ənt/ adj
› skilled and experienced:
@ a proficient swimmer
@ He studied Chinese and became proficient in the language.
#proficiency
/prəˈfɪʃ·ən·si/ n [U]
@Morgan has great proficiency as a jazz saxophonist.
coherent
/koʊˈhɪər·ənt/ adj
› (writing) having its parts related in an organized and reasonable way:
@The president has not presented a coherent plan for dealing with it.
› Coherent also means expressing yourself clearly:
@ I should warn you, she’s not always coherent.
#coherently /koʊˈhɪər·ənt·li/ adv
@ He is able to speak coherently about politics.
rate
/reɪt/ v
› to judge the value or worth of something:
@[T] Half of those surveyed rated his work as good.
@ [L] The movie is rated R.
› (disapproving) If you say someone or something doesn’t rate, you mean the person or thing is of poor quality or not worth consideration.
holistic
/hoʊˈlɪs·tɪk/ adj
› relating to the whole of something or to the total system instead of just to its parts
› Holistic medicine attempts to treat the whole person, including mind and body, not just the injury or disease.
selective
/səˈlek·tɪv/ adj [not gradable]
› careful in choosing:
@The school is very selective and accepts only those students who are extremely motivated
constructive
/kənˈstrʌk·tɪv/ adj
› intended to help someone or improve understanding:
@She was my most constructive critic.
thesis
/ˈθi·sɪs/ n [C] (plural theses /ˈθi·siz/)
› a piece of writing involving original study of a subject, esp. for a college or university degree:
@a master’s thesis
› A thesis is also the main idea, opinion, or theory of a speaker or writer, who then attempts to prove it:
@His thesis was that World War I could have been avoided.
integral
/ˈɪn·tə·grəl/, /ɪnˈteg·rəl/ adj
› necessary and important as a part of a whole, or contained within it:
@Taking a ride on the canals of Venice is an integral part of experiencing that city.
intelligible
/ɪnˈtel·ɪ·dʒə·bəl/ adj
› (of speech and writing) clear enough to be understood:
@It was a poor telephone connection, and only some of his words were intelligible.
agrarian
adjective \ə-ˈgrer-ē-ən\
› Of or relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land
fertile
/ˈfɜr·t(ə)l/ adj
› (of land) able to produce a large number of high-quality crops:
@fertile soil
enervating
/ˈen·ərˌveɪ·t̬ɪŋ/ adj
› causing you to feel weak and lacking in energy:
@We found it enervating to work in the humid jungle heat
reliable
/rɪˈlɑɪ·ə·bəl/ adj
› deserving trust; dependable:
@My car is old but it’s reliable.
prosper
/ˈprɑs·pər/ v [I]
› to be successful, esp. financially:
@ As the company prospered, we prospered.
#prosperity /prɑˈsper·ɪ·t̬i/ n [U]
#prosperous /ˈprɑs·pər·əs/ adj
assiduous
adjective /əˈsɪd.ju.əs/ formal
› showing hard work, care, and attention to detail:
@assiduous research/efforts
@ an assiduous student
@ The government has been assiduous in the fight against inflation.
#assiduously /-li/ adverb
#assiduousness /-nəs/ noun [U]
undergo
/ˌʌn·dərˈgoʊ/ v [T]
› to experience something that is unpleasant or has a strong effect:
@He recently underwent heart bypass surgery.
transformation
/ˌtræns·fərˈmeɪ·ʃən/ n [C/U]
› a complete change in the appearance or character of something or someone:
@[C] This plan means a complete transformation of our organization.
› biology Transformation is also a permanent change in a cell that results when DNA comes from a different type of cell.
chaos
/ˈkeɪ·ɑs/ n [U]
› a state of disorder and confusion:
@Repairs to the major highway this summer will bring chaos to commuters.
#chaotic /keɪˈɑt̬·ɪk/ adj
@The house is a little chaotic right now – we’re in the middle of repainting.
emancipated
/ɪˈmæn·səˌpeɪ·t̬əd/ adj
› free from another person’s control, or free from social or political limitations:
@an emancipated woman
@emancipated slaves
survey
/ˈsɜr·veɪ/ n [C]
› a set of questions people are asked to gather information or find out their opinions, or the information gathered by asking many people the same questions:
@A recent survey found that working women want better child care and flexible hours.
envision (envisage)
/ɪnˈvɪz·ən/ v [T] (also envisage /ɪnˈvɪʒ·ɪdʒ/)
› to imagine or expect that something is a likely or desirable possibility in the future:
@He envisioned a partnership between business and government.
@The company envisions adding at least five stores next year.
ponder
/ˈpɑn·dər/ v [I/T]
› to consider something carefully for a long time:
@[T] She ponders the reaction she’ll receive.
@[I] The back porch is a quiet place where I can ponder.
innovate
/ˈɪn·əˌveɪt/ v [I]
› to introduce changes and new ideas: @The fashion industry is always desperate to innovate. #innovator /ˈɪn·əˌveɪ·t̬ər/ n [C] @A fearless innovator, Ives liked to play music simultaneously in different meters and keys.
merge
/mɜrdʒ/ v [I/T]
› to combine or join together:
@[I] Route 9A splits off from Route 9, but they merge after 5 more miles.
trailblazer
/ˈtreɪlˌbleɪ·zər/ n [C]
› a person who is the first to do something that other people do later:
@She was a trailblazer as the only woman in the US Senate.
wary
/ˈweər·i/ adj
› careful because you do not completely trust someone or something or are not certain about what you should do:
@Teachers are often wary of standardized tests.
versatile
/ˈvɜr·sə·t̬əl/ adj
› (of people) able to do many different things or to adjust to new conditions, or (of things) able to be used for many different purposes:
@He was a versatile guitarist, and recorded with many leading rock bands.
@It is an especially versatile insecticide known to control a range of insects.
#versatility /ˌvɜr·səˈtɪl·ɪ·t̬i/ n [U]
@Daniels possesses the versatility to play right and left end and tackle.
inasmuch as
/ˌɪn·əzˈmʌtʃ əz/ conjunction
› used to show why or in what limited way the other part of the sentence is true:
@Inasmuch as funding is not available, building plans have been delayed
vulnerable
/ˈvʌl·nər·ə·bəl/ adj
› able to be easily hurt, influenced, or attacked:
@Older people are especially vulnerable to cold temperatures even inside their homes.
@He casts himself as a naive, vulnerable young poet.
#vulnerability /ˌvʌl·nər·əˈbɪl·ət̬·i/ n [U]
@You want a doctor who understands the patient’s vulnerability.
germinate
/ˈdʒɜr·məˌneɪt/ v [I/T]
› to start growing, or to cause a seed to start growing:
@[I] This community is where the seeds of Gandhi’s philosophy germinated.
fundamental
/ˌfʌn·dəˈmen·təl/ adj
› being the most basic or most important thing on which other things depend:
@fundamental beliefs/principles
@We need to make fundamental changes in the way we treat our environment.
#fundamentals /ˌfʌn·dəˈmen·təlz/ pl n
@In the early grades, children learn the fundamentals of reading.
#fundamentally /ˌfʌn·dəˈmen·təl·i/ adv [not gradable]
@Their economy was fundamentally (= basically) in good shape.
awkward
/ˈɔk·wərd/ adj
› difficult to use, do, or deal with:
@The computer came in a big box that was awkward to carry.
› causing inconvenience, anxiety, or embarrassment:
@It was an awkward situation, because the restaurant was too expensive for us but we didn’t want to just get up and walk out.
› Someone who feels awkward feels embarrassed or nervous:
@We were the first to arrive at the party and felt a little awkward.
› lacking grace or skill when moving:
@He’s too awkward – he’ll never be a good dancer.
awkwardness /ˈɔ·kwərd·nəs/ n [U]
@His awkwardness with girls disappeared once he got to college.
simultaneous
/ˌsɑɪ·məlˈteɪ·ni·əs/, /ˌsɪm·əl-/ adj [not gradable]
› happening or existing at exactly the same time:
@The report will be broadcast in Russian with simultaneous English translation.
#simultaneously /ˌsɑɪ·məlˈteɪ·ni·əs·li/, /ˌsɪm·əl-/ adv [not gradable]
@To drive a car, you’ve got to learn to do several things simultaneously.
pillar
/ˈpɪl·ər/ n [C]
› a strong vertical column made of stone, metal, or wood that supports part of a building or stands alone for decoration
› A pillar is also someone or something that is an important part of a group, place, or activity:
@He’s a pillar of the Dallas business community.
allude to someone/something
\ə-ˈlüd\ intransitive verb
› to mention someone or something in a brief or indirect way:
@He alluded to problems with the new computers.
analogy
/əˈnæl·ə·dʒi/ n [C/U]
› (literature) a comparison of the features or qualities of two different things to show their similarities:
@[C] He was explaining that the mind has no form and is invisible, and that a useful analogy is of the mind being like the sky.
#analogous /əˈnæl·ə·gəs/ adj
@The stock market recorded a 0.4% annual increase that was roughly analogous to results in the late 1960s.
abundance
/əˈbʌn·dəns/ n [C/U]
› an amount that is more than enough:
@[C] We all seem to have an abundance of those plastic grocery bags.
@[U] Grapes and olives grow in abundance in the valley.
connotation
/ˌkɒn.əˈteɪ.ʃən/ noun [C]
› a feeling or idea that is suggested by a particular word although it need not be a part of the word’s meaning, or something suggested by an object or situation:
@The word ‘lady’ has connotations of refinement and excessive femininity that some women find offensive.
#connote /kəˈnoʊt/ verb [T] formal
@To me, chocolate connotes pleasure and indulgence.
domestic
/dəˈmes·tɪk/ adj (OF HOME)
› relating to the home, house, or family:
@I’ve never been fond of domestic chores like cooking and cleaning.
chore
/tʃɔr/, /tʃoʊr/ n [C]
› a job or piece of work that needs to be done regularly:
@By the time he’d finished all the household chores it was mid-afternoon.
› A chore is also something that is difficult and unpleasant:
@It was a real chore trying to give our dog a bath.
dissimilar
/dɪsˈsɪm·ə·lər/ adj
› not similar; different:
@Her diagnosis was not dissimilar (= was similar) to that of the previous doctor.
indeed
/ɪnˈdid/ adv [not gradable]
› (used to emphasize something said or about to be said) really; truly:
@If he has indeed quit his job, I asked myself, why is he still here?
@From a medical standpoint, the discovery may turn out to be very big news indeed.
@Indeed (= When you really think about it), why should you follow a doctor’s advice to the letter when you feel like Superman?
› Indeed is also used to make something clear or add to something you have just said:
@It was impossible to find work and, indeed, it became increasingly hard to keep looking for a job.
quite
/kwɑɪt/ adv [not gradable] (VERY)
› to a large degree:
@School is quite different from what it once was.
#quite a
@ Quite a is used before some nouns to emphasize the large number, amount, or size of the subject referred to:
@We’ve had quite a lot of rain this year.
@There were quite a few (= a lot) of people waiting in line.
@She had quite a bit (= a lot) to say to him when he finally showed up.
@I hadn’t seen Rebecca in quite a while (= for a long time).
crave
verb [T] /kreɪv/
› to desire something strongly:
@The neglected kids just crave attention.
diagnose
verb [T] /ˈdɑɪ·ɪɡˌnoʊs, -ˌnoʊz/
› to recognize and name the exact character of a disease or other problem by making an examination:
@He was diagnosed with cancer that year.
@It was not easy to diagnose what was wrong with the business.
#diagnosis noun [C/U] /ˌdɑɪ·ɪɡˈnoʊ·sɪs/ (plural diagnoses /ˌdɑɪ·ɪɡˈnoʊˌsiz/)
@Respiratory therapy involves the diagnosis and treatment of breathing disorders
#diagnostic /ˌdɑɪ·ɪɡˈnɑs·tɪk/ adjective
@The hospital is doing some diagnostic tests to see if they can figure out why she’s running a fever.
harbinger
noun [C] /ˈhɑːr.bɪn.dʒɚ/ literary
› a person or thing thing that shows that something is going to happen soon, especially something bad:
@a harbinger of doom
perch
verb [I/T] /pɜrtʃ/
› (of a bird) to rest on a branch or other object, or of a person or thing to sit or be on the edge or top of something:
@[T] A baseball cap, turned backwards, was perched on his head.
#perch /pɜrtʃ/ noun [C]
@From their perches in the towers, the prison guards could see the entire prison yard.
offspring
noun [C] /ˈɔf·sprɪŋ/ (plural offspring)
the young of an animal, or a person’s children:
@Champion horses have numerous offspring.
precarious
adjective /prɪˈkeər·i·əs/
› in danger because not firmly fixed; likely to fall or suffer harm:
@I climbed onto a precarious platform to get a better view.
#precariously /prɪˈkeər·i·əs·li/ adverb
@The vase was precariously perched on a narrow shelf next to the door.
quest
noun [C] /kwest/
› a long search for something that is difficult to find:
@a quest for the meaning of life
profuse
adjective /prəˈfjus/
› large in amount
#profusion /prəˈfju·ʒən/ noun [U]
@a profusion of beautiful flowers
infer
verb [T] /ɪnˈfɜr/ (-rr-)
› to reach an opinion from available information or facts:
@[+ that clause] He inferred that she was not interested in a relationship from what she said in her letter.
thaw
verb [I] /θɔ/
› to cause something frozen and hard to become warmer and often softer or liquid:
@Remove the meat from the freezer and let it thaw.
@It may take a couple of hours to thaw out.
keen
adjective [-er/-est only] /kin/
› (esp. of emotions and beliefs) strongly felt:
@a keen interest in painting
brood
noun [C] (GROUP) /brud/
› a group of young birds all born at the same time, or infml a person’s children:
@(infml) I moved in with Annie and her brood.
doom
noun [U] /dum/
death, destruction, or any very bad situation that cannot be avoided:
@A sense of doom hung over the entire country.
