5000 English Vocabulary Words - Sheet2 Flashcards
bawl v
To proclaim by outcry
beatify v
To make supremely happy
beatitude n
Any state of great happiness
beau n
An escort or lover
becalm v
To make quiet
beck v
To give a signal to, by nod or gesture
bedaub v
To smear over, as with something oily or sticky
bedeck v
To cover with ornament
bedlam n
Madhouse
befog v
To confuse
befriend v
To be a friend to, especially when in need
beget v
To produce by sexual generation
begrudge v
To envy one of the possession of
belate v
To delay past the proper hour
belay v
To make fast, as a rope, by winding round a cleat
belie v
To misrepresent
believe v
To accept as true on the testimony or authority of others
belittle v
To disparage
belle n
A woman who is a center of attraction because of her beauty, accomplishments, etc
bellicose adj
Warlike
belligerent adj
Manifesting a warlike spirit
bemoan v
To lament
benediction n
a solemn invocation of the divine blessing
benefactor n
A doer of kindly and charitable acts
benefice n
A church office endowed with funds or property for the maintenance of divine service
beneficent adj
Characterized by charity and kindness
beneficial adj
Helpful
beneficiary n
One who is lawfully entitled to the profits and proceeds of an estate or property
benefit n
Helpful result
benevolence n
Any act of kindness or well-doing
benevolent adj
Loving others and actively desirous of their well-being
benign adj
Good and kind of heart
benignant adj
Benevolent in feeling, character, or aspect
benignity n
Kindness of feeling, disposition, or manner
benison n
Blessing
bequeath v
To give by will
bereave v
To make desolate with loneliness and grief
berth n
A bunk or bed in a vessel, sleeping-car, etc
beseech v
To implore
beset v
To attack on all sides
besmear v
To smear over, as with any oily or sticky substance
bestial adj
Animal
bestrew v
To sprinkle or cover with things strewn
bestride v
To get or sit upon astride, as a horse
bethink v
To remind oneself
betide v
To happen to or befall
betimes adv
In good season or time
betroth v
To engage to marry
betrothal n
Engagement to marry
bevel n
Any inclination of two surfaces other than 90 degrees
bewilder v
To confuse the perceptions or judgment of
bibliomania n
The passion for collecting books
bibliography n
A list of the words of an author, or the literature bearing on a particular subject
bibliophile n
One who loves books
bibulous adj
Fond of drinking
bide v
To await
biennial n
A plant that produces leaves and roots the first year and flowers and fruit the second
bier n
A horizontal framework with two handles at each end for carrying a corpse to the grave
bigamist n
One who has two spouses at the same time
bigamy n
The crime of marrying any other person while having a legal spouse living
bight n
A slightly receding bay between headlands, formed by a long curve of a coast-line
bilateral adj
Two-sided
bilingual adj
Speaking two languages
biograph n
A bibliographical sketch or notice
biography n
A written account of one’s life, actions, and character
biology n
The science of life or living organisms
biped n
An animal having two feet
birthright n
A privilege or possession into which one is born
bitterness n
Acridity, as to the taste
blase adj
Sated with pleasure
blaspheme v
To indulge in profane oaths
blatant adj
Noisily or offensively loud or clamorous
blaze n
A vivid glowing flame
blazon v
To make widely or generally known
bleak adj
Desolate
blemish n
A mark that mars beauty
blithe adj
Joyous
blithesome adj
Cheerful
blockade n
The shutting up of a town, a frontier, or a line of coast by hostile forces
boatswain n
A subordinate officer of a vessel, who has general charge of the rigging, anchors, etc
bodice n
A women’s ornamental corset-shaped laced waist
bodily adj
Corporeal
boisterous adj
Unchecked merriment or animal spirits
bole n
The trunk or body of a tree
bolero n
A Spanish dance, illustrative of the passion of love, accompanied by caste nets and singing
boll n
A round pod or seed-capsule, as a flax or cotton
bolster v
To support, as something wrong
bomb n
A hollow projectile containing an explosive material
bombard v
To assail with any missile or with abusive speech
bombardier n
A person who has charge of mortars, bombs, and shells
bombast n
Inflated or extravagant language, especially on unimportant subjects
boorish adj
Rude
bore v
To weary by tediousness or dullness
borough n
An incorporated village or town
bosom n
The breast or the upper front of the thorax of a human being, especially of a woman
botanical adj
Connected with the study or cultivation of plants
botanize v
To study plant-life
botany n
The science that treats of plants
bountiful adj
Showing abundance
Bowdlerize v
To expurgate in editing (a literary composition) by omitting words or passages
bowler n
In cricket, the player who delivers the ball
boycott v
To place the products or merchandise of under a ban
brae n
Hillside
braggart n
A vain boaster
brandish v
To wave, shake, or flourish triumphantly or defiantly, as a sword or spear
bravado n
An aggressive display of boldness
bravo interj
Well done
bray n
A loud harsh sound, as the cry of an ass or the blast of a horn
braze v
To make of or ornament with brass
brazier n
An open pan or basin for holding live coals
breach n
The violation of official duty, lawful right, or a legal obligation
breaker n
One who trains horses, dogs, etc
breech n
The buttocks
brethren n
Members of a brotherhood, gild, profession, association, or the like
brevity n
Shortness of duration
bric-a-brac n
Objects of curiosity or for decoration
bridle n
The head-harness of a horse consisting of a head-stall, a bit, and the reins
brigade n
A body of troops consisting of two or more regiments
brigadier n
General officer who commands a brigade, ranking between a colonel and a major-general
brigand n
One who lives by robbery and plunder
brimstone n
Sulfur
brine n
Water saturated with salt
bristle n
One of the coarse, stiff hairs of swine: used in brush-making, etc
Britannia n
The United Kingdom of Great Britain
Briticism n
A word, idiom, or phrase characteristic of Great Britain or the British
brittle adj
Fragile
broach v
To mention, for the first time
broadcast adj
Disseminated far and wide
brogan n
A coarse, heavy shoe
brogue n
Any dialectic pronunciation of English, especially that of the Irish people
brokerage n
The business of making sales and purchases for a commission; a broker
bromine n
A dark reddish-brown, non-metallic liquid element with a suffocating odor
bronchitis n
Inflammation of the bronchial tubes
bronchus n
Either of the two subdivisions of the trachea conveying air into the lungs
brooch n
An article of jewelry fastened by a hinged pin and hook on the underside
brotherhood n
Spiritual or social fellowship or solidarity
browbeat v
To overwhelm, or attempt to do so, by stern, haughty, or rude address or manner
brusque adj
Somewhat rough or rude in manner or speech
buffoon n
A clown
buffoonery n
Low drollery, coarse jokes, etc
bulbous adj
Of, or pertaining to, or like a bulb
bullock n
An ox
bulrush n
Any one of various tall rush-like plants growing in damp ground or water
bulwark n
Anything that gives security or defense
bumper n
A cup or glass filled to the brim, especially one to be drunk as a toast or health
bumptious adj
Full of offensive and aggressive self-conceit
bungle v
To execute clumsily
buoyancy n
Power or tendency to float on or in a liquid or gas
buoyant adj
Having the power or tendency to float or keep afloat
bureau n
A chest of drawers for clothing, etc
bureaucracy n
Government by departments of men transacting particular branches of public business
burgess n
In colonial times, a member of the lower house of the legislature of Maryland or Virginia
burgher n
An inhabitant, citizen or freeman of a borough burgh, or corporate town
burnish v
To make brilliant or shining
bursar n
A treasurer
bustle v
To hurry
butt v
To strike with or as with the head, or horns
butte n
A conspicuous hill, low mountain, or natural turret, generally isolated
buttress n
Any support or prop
by-law n
A rule or law adopted by an association, a corporation, or the like
cabal n
A number of persons secretly united for effecting by intrigue some private purpose
cabalism n
Superstitious devotion to one’s religion
cabinet n
The body of men constituting the official advisors of the executive head of a nation
cacophony n
A disagreeable, harsh, or discordant sound or combination of sounds or tones
cadaverous adj
Resembling a corpse
cadence n
Rhythmical or measured flow or movement, as in poetry or the time and pace of marching troops
cadenza n
An embellishment or flourish, prepared or improvised, for a solo voice or instrument
caitiff adj
Cowardly
cajole v
To impose on or dupe by flattering speech
cajolery n
Delusive speech
calculable adj
That may be estimated by reckoning
calculus n
A concretion formed in various parts of the body resembling a pebble in hardness
callosity n
The state of being hard and insensible
callow adj
Without experience of the world
calorie n
Amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 degree centigrade
calumny n
Slander
Calvary n
The place where Christ was crucified
Calvinism n
The system of doctrine taught by John Calvin
Calvinize v
To teach or imbue with the doctrines of Calvinism
came n
A leaden sash-bar or grooved strip for fastening panes in stained-glass windows
cameo n
Any small engraved or carved work in relief
campaign n
A complete series of connected military operations
Canaanite n
A member of one of the three tribes that dwelt in the land of Canaan, or western Palestine
canary adj
Of a bright but delicate yellow
candid adj
Straightforward
candor n
The quality of frankness or outspokenness
canine adj
Characteristic of a dog
canon n
Any rule or law
cant v
To talk in a singsong, preaching tone with affected solemnity
cantata n
A choral composition
canto n
One of the divisions of an extended poem
cantonment n
The part of the town or district in which the troops are quartered
capacious adj
Roomy
capillary n
A minute vessel having walls composed of a single layer of cells
capitulate v
To surrender or stipulate terms
caprice n
A whim
caption n
A heading, as of a chapter, section, document, etc
captious adj
Hypercritical
captivate v
To fascinate, as by excellence, eloquence, or beauty
carcass n
The dead body of an animal
cardiac adj
Pertaining to the heart
cardinal adj
Of prime or special importance
caret n
A sign (^) placed below a line, indicating where omitted words, etc., should be inserted
caricature n
a picture or description in which natural characteristics are exaggerated or distorted
carnage n
Massacre
carnal adj
Sensual
carnivorous adj
Eating or living on flesh
carouse v
To drink deeply and in boisterous or jovial manner
carrion n
Dead and putrefying flesh
cartilage n
An elastic animal tissue of firm consistence
cartridge n
A charge for a firearm, or for blasting
caste n
The division of society on artificial grounds
castigate v
To punish
casual adj
Accidental, by chance
casualty n
A fatal or serious accident or disaster
cataclysm n
Any overwhelming flood of water
cataract n
Opacity of the lens of the eye resulting in complete or partial blindness
catastrophe n
Any great and sudden misfortune or calamity
cathode n
The negative pole or electrode of a galvanic battery
Catholicism n
The system, doctrine, and practice of the Roman Catholic Church
catholicity n
Universal prevalence or acceptance
cat-o-nine-tails n
An instrument consisting of nine pieces of cord, formerly used for flogging in the army and navy
caucus n
A private meeting of members of a political party to select candidates
causal adj
Indicating or expressing a cause
caustic adj
Sarcastic and severe
cauterize v
To burn or sear as with a heated iron
cede v
To pass title to
censor n
An official examiner of manuscripts empowered to prohibit their publication
censorious adj
Judging severely or harshly
census n
An official numbering of the people of a country or district
centenary adj
Pertaining to a hundred years or a period of a hundred years
centiliter n
A hundredth of a liter
centimeter n
A length of one hundredth of a meter
centurion n
A captain of a company of one hundred infantry in the ancient Roman army
cereal adj
Pertaining to edible grain or farinaceous seeds
ceremonial adj
Characterized by outward form or ceremony
ceremonious adj
Observant of ritual
cessation n
Discontinuance, as of action or motion
cession n
Surrender, as of possessions or rights
chagrin n
Keen vexation, annoyance, or mortification, as at one’s failures or errors
chameleon adj
Changeable in appearance
chancery n
A court of equity, as distinguished from a common-law court
chaos n
Any condition of which the elements or parts are in utter disorder and confusion
characteristic n
A distinctive feature
characterize v
To describe by distinctive marks or peculiarities
charlatan n
A quack
chasm n
A yawning hollow, as in the earth’s surface
chasten v
To purify by affliction
chastise v
To subject to punitive measures
chastity n
Sexual or moral purity
chateau n
A castle or manor-house
chattel n
Any article of personal property
check v
To hold back
chiffon n
A very thin gauze used for trimmings, evening dress, etc
chivalry n
The knightly system of feudal times with its code, usages and practices
cholera n
An acute epidemic disease
choleric adj
Easily provoked to anger
choral adj
Pertaining to, intended for, or performed by a chorus or choir
Christ n
A title of Jesus
christen v
To name in baptism
Christendom n
That part of the world where Christianity is generally professed
chromatic adj
Belonging, relating to, or abounding in color
chronology n
The science that treats of computation of time or of investigation and arrangement of events
chronometer n
A portable timekeeper of the highest attainable precision
cipher v
To calculate arithmetically
circulate v
To disseminate
circumference n
The boundary-line of a circle
circumlocution n
Indirect or roundabout expression
circumnavigate v
To sail quite around
circumscribe v
To confine within bounds
circumspect adj
Showing watchfulness, caution, or careful consideration
citadel n
Any strong fortress
cite v
To refer to specifically
claimant n
One who makes a claim or demand, as of right
clairvoyance n
Intuitive sagacity or perception
clamorous adj
Urgent in complaint or demand
clan n
A tribe
clandestine adj
Surreptitious
clangor n
Clanking or a ringing, as of arms, chains, or bells; clamor
clarify v
To render intelligible
clarion n
A small shrill trumpet or bugle
classify v
To arrange in a class or classes on the basis of observed resemblance’s and differences
clearance n
A certificate from the proper authorities that a vessel has complied with the law and may sail
clemency n
Mercy
clement adj
Compassionate
close-hauled adj
Having the sails set for sailing as close to the wind as possible
clothier n
One who makes or sells cloth or clothing
clumsy adj
Awkward of movement
coagulate v
To change into a clot or a jelly, as by heat, by chemical action, or by a ferment
coagulant adj
Producing coagulation
coalescence n
The act or process of coming together so as to form one body, combination, or product
coalition n
Combination in a body or mass
coddle v
To treat as a baby or an invalid
codicil n
A supplement adding to, revoking, or explaining in the body of a will
coerce v
To force
coercion n
Forcible constraint or restraint, moral or physical
coercive adj
Serving or tending to force
cogent adj
Appealing strongly to the reason or conscience
cognate adj
Akin
cognizant adj
Taking notice
cohere v
To stick together
cohesion n
Consistency
cohesive adj
Having the property of consistency
coincide v
To correspond
coincidence n
A circumstance so agreeing with another: often implying accident
coincident adj
Taking place at the same time
collaborate v
To labor or cooperate with another or others, especially in literary or scientific pursuits
collapse v
To cause to shrink, fall in, or fail
collapsible adj
That may or can collapse
colleague n
An associate in professional employment
collective adj
Consisting of a number of persons or objects considered as gathered into a mass, or sum
collector n
One who makes a collection, as of objects of art, books, or the like
collegian n
A college student
collide v
To meet and strike violently
collier n
One who works in a coal-mine
collision n
Violent contact
colloquial adj
Pertaining or peculiar to common speech as distinguished from literary
colloquialism n
Form of speech used only or chiefly in conversation
colloquy n
Conversation
collusion n
A secret agreement for a wrongful purpose
colossus n
Any strikingly great person or object
comely adj
Handsome
comestible adj
Fit to be eaten
comical adj
Funny
commemorate v
To serve as a remembrance of
commentary n
A series of illustrative or explanatory notes on any important work
commingle v
To blend
commissariat n
The department of an army charged with the provision of its food and water and daily needs
commission v
To empower
commitment n
The act or process of entrusting or consigning for safe-keeping
committal n
The act, fact, or result of committing, or the state of being
commodity n
Something that is bought and sold
commotion n
A disturbance or violent agitation
commute v
To put something, especially something less severe, in place of
comparable adj
Fit to be compared
comparative adj
Relative
comparison n
Examination of two or more objects with reference to their likeness or unlikeness
compensate v
To remunerate
competence n
Adequate qualification or capacity
competent adj
Qualified
competitive adj
characterized by rivalry
competitor n
A rival
complacence n
Satisfaction with one’s acts or surroundings
complacent adj
Pleased or satisfied with oneself
complaisance n
Politeness
complaisant adj
Agreeable
complement v
To make complete
complex adj
Complicated
compliant adj
Yielding
complicate v
To make complex, difficult, or hard to deal with
complication n
An intermingling or combination of things or parts, especially in a perplexing manner
complicity n
Participation or partnership, as in wrong-doing or with a wrong-doer
compliment v
To address or gratify with expressions of delicate praise
component n
A constituent element or part
comport v
To conduct or behave (oneself)
composure n
Calmness
comprehensible adj
Intelligible
comprehension n
Ability to know
comprehensive adj
Large in scope or content
compress v
To press together or into smaller space
compressible adj
Capable of being pressed into smaller compass
compression n
Constraint, as by force or authority
comprise v
To consist of
compulsion n
Coercion
compulsory adj
Forced
compunction n
Remorseful feeling
compute v
To ascertain by mathematical calculation
concede v
To surrender
conceit n
Self-flattering opinion
conceive v
To form an idea, mental image or thought of
concerto n
A musical composition
concession n
Anything granted or yielded, or admitted in response to a demand, petition, or claim
conciliate v
To obtain the friendship of
conciliatory adj
Tending to reconcile
conclusive adj
Sufficient to convince or decide
concord n
Harmony
concordance n
Harmony
concur v
To agree
concurrence n
Agreement
concurrent adj
Occurring or acting together
concussion n
A violent shock to some organ by a fall or a sudden blow
condensation n
The act or process of making dense or denser
condense v
To abridge
condescend v
To come down voluntarily to equal terms with inferiors
condolence n
Expression of sympathy with a person in pain, sorrow, or misfortune
conduce v
To bring about
conducive adj
Contributing to an end
conductible adj
Capable of being conducted or transmitted
conduit n
A means for conducting something, particularly a tube, pipe, or passageway for a fluid
confectionery n
The candy collectively that a confectioner makes or sells, as candy
confederacy n
A number of states or persons in compact or league with each other, as for mutual aid
confederate n
One who is united with others in a league, compact, or agreement
confer v
To bestow
conferee n
A person with whom another confers
confessor n
A spiritual advisor
confidant n
One to whom secrets are entrusted
confide v
To reveal in trust or confidence
confidence n
The state or feeling of trust in or reliance upon another
confident adj
Assured
confinement n
Restriction within limits or boundaries
confiscate v
To appropriate (private property) as forfeited to the public use or treasury
conflagration n
A great fire, as of many buildings, a forest, or the like
confluence n
The place where streams meet
confluent n
A stream that unites with another
conformance n
The act or state or conforming
conformable adj
Harmonious
conformation n
General structure, form, or outline
conformity n
Correspondence in form, manner, or use
confront v
To encounter, as difficulties or obstacles
congeal v
To coagulate
congenial adj
Having kindred character or tastes
congest v
To collect into a mass
congregate v
To bring together into a crowd
coniferous adj
Cone-bearing trees
conjecture n
A guess
conjoin v
To unite
conjugal adj
Pertaining to marriage, marital rights, or married persons
conjugate adj
Joined together in pairs
conjugation n
The state or condition of being joined together
conjunction n
The state of being joined together, or the things so joined
connive v
To be in collusion
connoisseur n
A critical judge of art, especially one with thorough knowledge and sound judgment of art
connote v
To mean; signify
connubial adj
Pertaining to marriage or matrimony
conquer v
To overcome by force
consanguineous adj
Descended from the same parent or ancestor
conscience n
The faculty in man by which he distinguishes between right and wrong in character and conduct
conscientious adj
Governed by moral standard
conscious adj
Aware that one lives, feels, and thinks
conscript v
To force into military service
consecrate v
To set apart as sacred
consecutive adj
Following in uninterrupted succession
consensus n
A collective unanimous opinion of a number of persons
conservatism n
Tendency to adhere to the existing order of things
conservative adj
Adhering to the existing order of things
conservatory n
An institution for instruction and training in music and declamation
consign v
To entrust
consignee n
A person to whom goods or other property has been entrusted
consignor n
One who entrusts
consistency n
A state of permanence
console v
To comfort
consolidate v
To combine into one body or system
consonance n
The state or quality of being in accord with
consonant adj
Being in agreement or harmony with
consort n
A companion or associate
conspicuous adj
Clearly visible
conspirator n
One who agrees with others to cooperate in accomplishing some unlawful purpose
conspire v
To plot
constable n
An officer whose duty is to maintain the peace
constellation n
An arbitrary assemblage or group of stars
consternation n
Panic
constituency n
The inhabitants or voters in a district represented in a legislative body
constituent n
One who has the right to vote at an election
constrict v
To bind
consul n
An officer appointed to reside in a foreign city, chiefly to represent his country
consulate n
The place in which a consul transacts official business
consummate v
To bring to completion
consumption n
Gradual destruction, as by burning, eating, etc, or by using up, wearing out, etc
consumptive adj
Designed for gradual destruction
contagion n
The communication of disease from person to person
contagious adj
Transmitting disease
contaminate v
To pollute
contemplate v
To consider thoughtfully
contemporaneous adj
Living, occurring, or existing at the same time
contemporary adj
Living or existing at the same time
contemptible adj
Worthy of scorn or disdain
contemptuous adj
Disdainful
contender n
One who exerts oneself in opposition or rivalry
contiguity n
Proximity
contiguous adj
Touching or joining at the edge or boundary
continence n
Self-restraint with respect to desires, appetites, and passion
contingency n
Possibility of happening
contingent adj
Not predictable
continuance n
Permanence
continuation n
Prolongation
continuity n
Uninterrupted connection in space, time, operation, or development
continuous adj
Connected, extended, or prolonged without separation or interruption of sequence
contort v
To twist into a misshapen form
contraband n
Trade forbidden by law or treaty
contradiction n
The assertion of the opposite of that which has been said
contradictory adj
Inconsistent with itself
contraposition n
A placing opposite
contravene v
To prevent or obstruct the operation of
contribution n
The act of giving for a common purpose
contributor n
One who gives or furnishes, in common with others, for a common purpose
contrite adj
Broken in spirit because of a sense of sin
contrivance n
The act planning, devising, inventing, or adapting something to or for a special purpose
contrive v
To manage or carry through by some device or scheme
control v
To exercise a directing, restraining, or governing influence over
controller n
One who or that which regulates or directs
contumacious adj
Rebellious
contumacy n
Contemptuous disregard of the requirements of rightful authority
contuse v
To bruise by a blow, either with or without the breaking of the skin
contusion n
A bruise
convalesce v
To recover after a sickness
convalescence n
The state of progressive restoration to health and strength after the cessation of disease
convalescent adj
Recovering health after sickness
convene v
To summon or cause to assemble
convenience n
Fitness, as of time or place
converge v
To cause to incline and approach nearer together
