504 Words Flashcards
504 absolutely essential words Barron's
abandon
a.ban.don
/ əˈbændən / verb
>to leave someone, especially someone you are responsible for → abandoned :
How could she abandon her own child?
>to go away from a place, vehicle etc permanently, especially because the situation makes it impossible for you to stay SYN leave → abandoned :
We had to abandon the car and walk the rest of the way.
Fearing further attacks, most of the population had abandoned the city.
>to stop doing something because there are too many problems and it is impossible to continue :
The game had to be abandoned due to bad weather.
They abandoned their attempt to recapture the castle.
Because of the fog they abandoned their idea of driving.
>to stop having a particular idea, belief, or attitude :
They were accused of abandoning their socialist principles.
Rescuers had abandoned all hope of finding any more survivors.
-abandonment noun [ uncountable ]
Abandon noun
keen
/ kiːn / adjective
>someone who is keen is eager to work or learn, and enjoys doing it :
keen students
The kids in my class are all very keen.
She was new in the job and keen as mustard (= very keen ) .
>a keen sense of smell or keen sight or hearing is an extremely good ability to smell etc :
Dogs have a very keen sense of smell.
She has a keen eye for (= is good at noticing ) talent.
>someone with a keen mind is quick to understand things :
a keen understanding of commerce
With her keen mind and good business sense, she soon became noticed.
We won the contest in the face of keen competition .
jealous
Jeal.ous / ˈdʒeləs / adjective
>feeling unhappy because someone has something that you wish you had → envious
jealous of
Why are you so jealous of his success?
You’re just jealous of her.
► Do not say ‘jealous about’ someone or something or ‘jealous with’ someone. Say jealous of someone or something.
>feeling angry and unhappy because someone you like or love is showing interest in another person, or another person is showing interest in them :
She gets jealous if I even look at another woman.
He was talking to Nina to make me jealous.
>jealous of something formal wanting to keep or protect something that you have, because you are proud of it :
a country jealous of its heritage
tact
/ tækt / noun [ uncountable ]
>the ability to be careful about what you say or do, so that you do not upset or embarrass other people → tactful , tactless :
With great tact, Clive persuaded her to apologize.
oath
/ əʊθ $ oʊθ / noun ( plural oaths / əʊðz $ oʊðz / ) [ countable ]
>a formal and very serious promise
oath of loyalty/allegiance/obedience etc
an oath of allegiance to the Queen
swear/take an oath
Servicemen have to swear an oath of loyalty to their country.
The president took the oath of office (= made the offiicial public promises that every president makes when starting their job ) .
She could not break her oath .
>law: a formal promise to tell the truth in a court of law
on/under oath
The evidence was given under oath.
Witnesses are required to take the oath (= make this promise ) .
>written: an offensive word or phrase that expresses anger, surprise, shock etc :
He was shouting out oaths as they led him away.
vacant
va.cant / ˈveɪkənt / adjective
>a vacant seat, building, room, or piece of land is empty and available for someone to use :
Only a few apartments were still vacant.
There was only a vacant lot (= empty unused area of land in a city ) where her house used to be.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that a seat or room is free rather than vacant :
Is this seat free ?
>formal: a job or position in an organization that is vacant is available for someone to start doing
> vacant expression/look/stare etc written an expression that shows that someone does not seem to be thinking about anything :
He gazed at me with vacant eyes.
— vacantly adverb :
Cindy was staring vacantly into space.
hardship
hard.ship / ˈhɑːdʃɪp $ ˈhɑːrd- / noun [ uncountable and countable ]
>something that makes your life difficult or unpleasant, especially a lack of money, or the condition of having a difficult life :
an economic policy that caused great hardship for many people
Many students are suffering severe financial hardship .
hardship of
the hardships of war
gallant
gal.lant 1 / ˈɡælənt / adjective old-fashioned
>a man who is gallant is kind and polite towards women :
a gallant young man
> brave :
a gallant attempt to save lives
data
da‧ta S1 W1 AC / ˈdeɪtə, ˈdɑːtə / noun
>[ plural,uncountable ] information or facts :
The research involves collecting data from two random samples.
data on
data on pesticide use
experimental/historical/statistical etc data
detailed research data
GRAMMAR
After data , you can use a singular verb or, in formal or technical English, a plural verb :
The data is collected by trained interviewers.
These data are summarized in Table 5.
► Do not say ‘datas’ or ‘a data’.
> [ uncountable ] information in a form that can be stored and used, especially on a computer :
It’s possible to store a lot more data on a DVD.
unaccustomed
un.ac.cus.tomed / ˌʌnəˈkʌstəmd◂ / adjective formal
>unaccustomed to (doing) something not used to something :
a country boy, unaccustomed to city ways
> [ only before noun ] not usual, typical, or familiar :
She was completely exhausted by the unaccustomed heat.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that they are not used to something rather than unaccustomed to it:
She wasn’t used to living on her own.
bachelor
bach.e.lor / ˈbætʃələ $ -ər / noun [ countable ]
>a man who has never been married :
Gerald was 38, and a confirmed bachelor (= a man who has decided that he will never marry ) .
The Crown Prince was Japan’s most eligible bachelor (= a rich young man who has not yet married ) .
>Bachelor of Arts/Science/Education etc a first university DEGREE in an ART s subject, a science subject etc → BA , BSc , BEd
qual.i.fy S3 W3 / ˈkwɒləfaɪ, ˈkwɒlɪfaɪ $ ˈkwɑː- / verb ( past tense and past participle qualified , present participle qualifying , third person singular qualifies )
> [ intransitive and transitive ] to have the right to have or do something, or to give someone this right :
Free school lunches are given to children who qualify.
qualify for
You may qualify for unemployment benefit.
qualify somebody/something for something
Membership qualifies you for a discount on purchases.
> [ intransitive ] to pass an examination or finish a course of study that you need in order to do something
qualify as
I finally qualified as a pilot.
After qualifying, doctors spend at least two years working in hospitals.
> [ intransitive ] to have all the necessary qualities to be considered to be a particular thing
qualify as
It doesn’t qualify as a date if you bring your children with you.
> [ transitive ] if something qualifies you to do something, you have the necessary skills, knowledge, ability etc to do it
qualify somebody for something
Fluency in three languages qualifies her for work in the European Parliament.
qualify somebody to do something
The certificate qualifies you to work as a dental assistant.
> [ intransitive ] to reach the necessary standard to enter or continue in a competition or sports event
qualify for
She qualified for a spot on the U.S. Olympic speed skating team.
>[ transitive ] to add to something that has already been said, in order to limit its effect or meaning :
Could I just qualify that last statement?
> [ transitive ] if a word or phrase qualifies another word or phrase, it limits or adds to the meaning of it → qualifier
