A Flashcards
abandon (n)
the trait of lacking restraint or control
ex: she danced with abandon
abandon (v)
leave somebody behind
ex: pets abandoned by their owners
leave place because of danger
ex: they had to abandon their vehicles in the snow
abbey
monastery or convent
abbreviate
to shorten a word
ex: the word telephone is often abbreviated to phone
ability
power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally or financially
able
in position to do something
aboard
onto ship or vehicle
abolish
to do away with; remove, to destroy completely
ex: the Americans abolished slavery in 1863
abolition
act of outlawing something
about
approximately
ex: inviting about fifteen people
doing or attending to
ex: go about your business
above
over
be about to
be going to do something very soon
ex: the film is about to start
above all
over and above all other factors or considrations
abroad
away from your own country
absence
the state of being away
absent
not present; missing
absolute
perfect in quality or nature
adds emphasis
ex: an absolute disaster
absorb
to soak up a liquid or take in nutrients or chemicals gradually
abstract
considered apart from concrete existence
absurd
unreasonable
abuse
being cruel or unkind to somebody
ex: child abuse
say rude things to somebody
ex: the lorry driver shouted abuse at the cyclist
accent
manner of pronunciation
accept
take something offered
access
entry or approach
ex: do you have access to a computer at home?
accident
crash
accommodation
a place to stay or live
ex: it’s difficult to find cheap accommodation in London
flexibility
accompany
to go along with
accord
agree
ex: accord with my own view
according to
on somebody’s or something’s authority
related to
account
report, explanation, money in bank
on no account
not for any reason
ex: on no account must you open this door
take account of something
keep in mind
ex: John is always last, but you must take his age into account
accountant
somebody who checks finances
accurate
free from errors
accuse
confront and blame
ace
AIR FORCE fighter pilot
ache
feel pain
achieve
succeed in doing usually with efforts
acid
corrosive substance
DRUGS same as LSD (slang)
acknowledge
admit something, show awareness of something
acorn
fruit of oak
acquaintance
somebody who is known slightly rather than intimately
knowledge usually slight
acquire
get something
ex: a habit I acquired in the army
acre
unit of area
acrobat
gymnast entertainer
across
on the other side
ex: there is a bank across the road
act
doing something
action
function or influence ex: the action of water on stone
active
CHEMISTRY BIOLOGY having an effect
activity
physical exercise, state of doing something
actor
somebody who pretends
actual
real (use for emphasis)
actually
in fact
AD
MED Alzheimer’s disease
adapt
to change something to a different purpose
rewrite book or play
add
calculate total of something
unite or comebine things
addict
somebody dependent on drug
enthusiast
addition
putting in or on
CHEMISTRY reaction
in addition to something
as well as something
ex: he speaks five languages in addition to English
address
physical location
adequate
enough
adjective
word describing noun
adjust
to make slight changes in something to make it fit or function better
adjust to
adapt to
ex: it took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to the darkness
administration
management
admiral
naval commander
admire
be pleased by somebody or something
ex: I admire you determination
admission
entry, fee for entry
admit
acknowledge truth, allow somebody to enter
adopt
legally raise another’s child
adore
love somebody deeply
adult
fully grown life form
advance
suggest something: to put something forward as a proposal
advantage
superior position
take advantage of
to put to good use
adventure
exciting experience
advertise
tell others about something
advertisement
public announcement
advice
recommendation about action
ex: may I give you some advice?
advise
recommend something
aerial
living, happening, or moving in the air
airplane
engine-driven flying vehicle
aerosol
container with gas under pressure
affair
occurrence, social event
affect
influence somebody or something
cause somebody to have disease
affection
feelings
affectionate
kind
afford
be able to buy something
ex: I couldn’t afford the rent on my own
afraid
frightened
after
later than
afternoon
day time between midday and evening
the latter part of something especially of somebody’s life
afterward
after that
ex: let’s have breakfast now and go skiing afterward
again
at another time
as before
differently
ex: you may be right, but again you may be wrong
against
in compettion with
age
stage of life, length of somebody’s or something’s existence
aged
old
agency
company acting as agent
agent
somebody representing another
aggressive
likely to attack
ago
before now
agony
great pain, intense emotion
agree
be in accord, admit as true
agreement
formal contract
agriculture
farming
ahead
in front
ex: they are in the white car just ahead
go ahead
start or continue something
aid
give help to somebody
in aid of
for, in support of
aim
point object, plan to do something
ex: the aim of research is to find new food sources
air
gases forming atmosphere
air-condition
cool air in building
airline
system of flying
air hostess
woman flight attendant
aircraft
flying vehicle
airport
civil airfield
aisle
passageway between seats
alarm
warning device, fear
album
blank book
alcohol
organic compound,
ale
alcoholic drink
alert
watchful, mentally lively, responsive
alien
outsider, extraterrestrial being
alight
find by chance alighted on a suitable candidate get out of vehicle the VIPs alighted from their trian full of energy, on fire
alike
similar
alive
still in existence
all
whole of
all along
from the start
alley
small street, narrow passage
alliance
association of groups with common aim
allow
let something happen
all right
generally good
ally
member of alliance
BIOLOGY related organism
almond
yellowish gray
almost
nearly
alone
without help from others
along
parallel with
ex: freighters sailing along the coastline
with somebody
ex: I asked if I could come along
next time you come, bring your guitar along
alongside
by side of
aloud
out loud, clearly
alphabet
letters used to represent language
already
unexpectedly early
ex: have you finished already?
also
in addition
moreover
ex: also, you must complete the task in one hour
alter
change
ex: we’ll have to alter our plans
alteration
change, difference
alternate
follow in interchanging pattern
ex: as nights alternates with day
alternative
other possibility
ex: you could take the bus as an alternative to driving
option
ex: we could go by train the alternative is to take the car
altogether
with everything included
totally
always
at all time
if necessary
ex: I could always stay an extra day if you need help
amateur
somebody doing something for pleasure
unskilled person
amaze
fill somebody with wonder
amazing
outstanding, remarkable
ambition
desire for success
ambitious
strongly desirous
ambulance
vehicle for carrying to hospital
ammunition
explosive material
supporting facts
among
in the middle of (for more than two)
ex: the house stands among the trees
amount
quantity
amplifier
signal enhancer
amuse
make somebody laugh
amusement
feeling something is funny
ex: we watched in amusement as the dog chased its tail
amusing
somewhat funny
anaesthetic
substance that dulls pain
ancestor
distant relation somebody is descended from
BIOLOGY earlier species
anchor
device to hold ship in place
ancient
of distant past
angel
heavenly being, kind person
anger
displeasure, rage, wrath
angle
space between diverging lines, way of considering something, approach
angry
feeling very annoyed, stormy, inflamed
animal
living organism with independent movement
anniversary
annual observations of past events
announce
tell something publicly
announcement
written notice giving the news of birth, wedding or other event
announcer
TV or radio commentator
annoy
irritate somebody
annoyance
frustration
annual
once a year
anonymous
unnamed
anarchy
chaotic situation
anorak
hooded waterproof parka
another
one more
answer
response to question or action
anticipate
expect something
look forward something
ex: anticipating Saturday’s concert
anticlockwise (counterclockwise)
in direction opposite to clockwise
antique
classical art
anxiety
feeling of worry
anxious
uneasy
eager, keen
anybody
every person, even one person
anyway
in any case
regardless of something
ex: I knew it would be a sad movie but I went anyway
apartment
large room
ape
tailless primate
apologize
express remorse for something
apology
statement expressing remorse
appalling
shoking
apparent
clear
apparently
according to what seems true
appeal
earnest or urgent request
campaign to raise money
appeal to
beguile, attract
ex: living in a big city doesn’t appeal to me
appear
come into view
begin to exist
become available
ex: cheaper and better printers have appeared on the market
appearance
way somebody or something looks, coming into existence
appetite
desire for food, strong desire
applaud
clap hands
applause
clapping of hands
apple
firm round fruit with central core
appliance
domestic electrical machine
the act of putting something into effect
applicant
somebody who formally applies for something
candidate
application
formal request for something
use of something
ex: the application of genetic engineering in agriculture
spreading liquid on surface
apply
formally request something
ex: how do I apply for the job?
use something
ex: applied his first-aid skills to help the accident victims
be relevant
ex: the requirement applies only if you are over 65
appoint
select somebody for position or job
appointment
arrangement to meet somebody
appreciate
value somebody or something highly
apprentice
trainee
approach
move closer ask somebody ex: approached me about volunteering treat something in particular way how did she approach the problem?
appropriate
fitting
approval
good opinion
approve
like somebody or something
give something official agreement or acceptance
approximate
nearly exact, similar
approximately
not exactly
apron
protective garment tied over clothes
protective part
archaeology
study of ancient cultures through remains
archbishop
highest-ranking bishop
architect
building designer
area
measurement of surface
arena
stadium
argue
express disagreement
give reasons for something
persuade somebody
argument
disagreement
reason
discussion
arithmetic
basic math, calculation
arm
upper human limb
part of seat
armchair
chair with armrests
armed
equipped with weapon
provided with necessary information or tools
armor
protection for soldiers
GEOGRAPHY gravel on river bed
arrange
put somebody or something in order
prepare for something
arrangement
preparation, organization; the way in which something is organized
arrest
take somebody into custody
stop something
arrival
arriving
newcomer
arrive
get to place
become available
begin
ex: we’ve got to finish the work before summer arrives
work out solution
ex: how did you arrive at the idea of using strings?
arrogant
feeling or showing self-importance
arrow
direction sign
missile shot from bow
art
creation of beautiful things
creation by humans
article
newspaper or reference piece
item
artificial
made bu humans
synthetic
insincere
artist
creator of art
skilled person
ex: an artist with a basketball
ash
remains of fire
ashamed
full of shame
embarrassed
ashore
to or on land
ex: all but the captain went ashore
ashtray
container for cigarette ash
ask for
request somebody’s appearance
ex: a visitor is asking for you
request telephone conversation with somebody
ex: the caller is asking for the manager
invite something unpleasant
ex: you’re asking for a lot of problems if you do that
asleep
not awake, not alert
numb
ex: my arm’s gone asleep
aspect
one side or part
ex: consider the various aspects of the problem
appearance
ex: the stone has a greenish aspect in this light
viewpoint
ex: the aspect of the mountain from the river
seeing life from a new aspect
exposure
this plant requires a sunny aspect
assassinate
murder somebody
ruin something such as somebody’s reputation
assault
physical or verbal attack
assembly
fitting components together; the putting together of parts to make a finished product
gathering
assist
help somebody
ex: a program to assist new parents
assistant
helper
associate
connect things in mind
pass time with somebody
mix socially or professionally
association
group, connection
assume
suppose something
ex: don’t assume that all has been revealed
take responsibility for something
ex: she assumed all of her brother’s debts when he died
undertake role
ex: assume a new role as sales director
assure
convince somebody
make somebody confident
astonish
amaze somebody greatly
astronaut
space traveler
astronomy
scientific study of universe
athlete
player
atlas
map book
atmosphere
gas around astronomical object
air or climate
mood or tone
atom
smallest part of element
atomic
based on nuclear energy
relating to atom
tiny
LOGIC unanalyzable
attach
secure something to something else
add something to something else
attack
harm using violence
attempt
try to do something
attend
listen or watch carefully go to event ex: only 12 people attended the meeting register ex: I'm the first child in my family to attend college occur along with something result from something
attend to
deal with somebody or something
ex: patients to attend to
attention
concentration
interest
appropriate treatment
attic
area immediately under roof
attitude
personal view of something
attorney
lawyer
somebody given legal power
attract
draw somebody’s attention
entice somebody
attraction
thing or place that draws tourists
attractive
good-looking
agreeable
auction
sale by bidding
audience
people watching performance
aunt
father’s or mother’s sister
au pair
a young person from another country living with a family to learn language, and helping with childcare and domestic work in return for room and board
authentic
not false or copied
trustworthy
author
writer
professional writer
creator or source; the creator or cause of something
authority
right to command
holder of power
power given to somebody
source of reliable information
autobiography
life story written by self
autograph
somebody’s signature
handwritten text
automatic
starting or functioning by itself
dane without thought
ex: gave and automatic answer to the child
automatically
unconsciously, spontaneously
automobile
passenger-carrying road vehicle
available
able to be gotten
avenue
wide street
average
typical amount
avoid
not go near somebody or something
awake
not asleep
alert
aware of something
award
something given for achievement
aware
knowing something
noticing or realizing something
away
uninvolved
ex: I try to stay away form trouble
awful
extremely bad sick ex: I feel awful this morning very great ex: we spent an awful lot of money on furniture
awfully
very
ex: I’m awfully grateful to you for helping me out
badly
ex: treated them awfully
awkward
embarrassing
ex: I find my self in an awkward situation
difficult or uncomfortable to use
ex: I find the gear shift very awkward to use when I move the seat forward
ax
tool for cutting
job loss
ex: her secretary got the ax yesterday
