A Flashcards
abandon
to leave a place, thing or person forever
abbreviate
to make a word or phrase shorter by using only the first letters of each word
abdomen
the lower part of a person’s or animal’s body, which contains the stomach, bowels and other organs, or the end of an insect’s body
abolish
to end an activity or custom officially
abstain
to not do something, especially something enjoyable that you think might be bad
abundance
when there is more than enough of something
accusation
a statement saying that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal or unkind, or the fact of accusing someone
ache
a continuous pain which is unpleasant but not strong
acquaintance
a person that you have met but do not know well
acre
a unit for measuring area, equal to 4047 square metres or 4840 square yards
accustom
make someone or something accept (something) as normal or usual
acrimonious
full of anger, arguments and bad feeling
acute
(of an unpleasant or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree
acutely
completely or extremely
in a very clever or detailed way
adhere
1) stick fast to (a surface or substance) paint won’t adhere well to a greasy surface 2) believe in and follow the practices of I do not adhere to any organized religion ■ closely follow, observe, or represent the account adhered firmly to fact
adjacent
very near, next to, or touching
adjourn
to have a pause or rest during a formal meeting or trial
admirable
deserving respect or approval
admission
1) a statement acknowledging the truth of something an admission of guilt a tacit admission that things had gone wrong 2) [mass noun] the process or fact of entering or being allowed to enter a place or organization the evening before her admission to hospital the country’s admission to the UN ■ the fee charged for entry to a public place admission is £1 for adults and 50p for children ■ (admissions) the number of people entering a place cinema admissions have been rising recently ■ [count noun] a person admitted to hospital for treatment there was a substantial reduction in hospital admissions
advent
the arrival of an event, invention or person
advisory
giving advice
affinity
a liking or sympathy for someone or something, especially because of shared characteristics
affirm
to state something as true
afflict
If a problem or illness afflicts a person or thing, they suffer from it
If a problem or illness afflicts a person or thing, they suffer from it
aggravate
to make a bad situation worse
aide
person whose job is to help someone important, such as a member of a government or a military officer of high rank
ailment
An ailment is an illness, especially one that is not very serious. The pharmacist can assist you with the treatment of common ailments.
ajar
describes a door that is slightly open
albeit
[ɔːlˈbiːɪt] al¦beit conjunction though he was making progress, albeit rather slowly
anguish
anguish [ˈæŋ.gwɪʃ] noun uncountable extreme unhappiness caused by physical or mental suffering
animosity
animosity [ˌæn.ɪˈmɒs.ɪ.ti] [-ˈmɑː.sə.t ̬i] noun countable or uncountable [animosities] strong dislike, opposition, or anger • Of course we’re competitive but there’s no personal animosity between us. • In spite of his injuries, he bears no animosity towards his attackers. • The European Community helped France and Germany forget the old animosities between them. Thesaurus+: ↑Feelings of dislike and hatred
ankle
ankle [ˈæŋ.kl ̩] noun countable [ankles] < > the joint (= place where two bones are connected) between the foot and the leg, or the thin part of the leg just above the foot • I fell over and sprained/twisted my ankle.
anthem
anthem [ˈæn t.θəm] noun countable [anthems] 1. a song which has special importance for a particular group of people, an organization or a country, often sung on a special occasion • The national anthems of the teams are played at the beginning of a big international football match. • John Lennon’s “Imagine” has become the anthem of peace-lovers all over the world. Thesaurus+: ↑Types of songs 2. a short religious song sung by a choir with organ music Thesaurus+: ↑Types of songs
appal
appal [-ll-], US usually appall [əˈpɔːl] [-ˈpɑːl] verb transitive [appalling appalled appals] to make someone have strong feelings of shock or of disapproval • I was appalled at/by the lack of staff in the hospital. • The state of the kitchen appalled her. Thesaurus+: ↑Making people sad, shocked and upset • He witnessed some appalling acts of barbarism during the war. • Conditions in the prison are said to be appalling. • Your table manners are appalling - don’t you know how to use a knife and fork? • After her appalling behaviour, we had no option but to dismiss her. • The standard of cleanliness in some of these restaurants is frankly appalling. Derived: appalled
appraisal
appraisal [əˈpreɪ.z ə l] noun countable or uncountable [appraisals] 1. when you examine someone or something in order to judge their qualities, success or needs • The newspaper gave an editorial appraisal of the government’s achievements of the past year. Thesaurus+: ↑Judgments and analyses 2. (ALSO job/performance appraisal) when an employee meets with their manager or employer to discuss their progress, aims and needs at work • Many companies operate regular job appraisals, often on an annual basis. Thesaurus+: ↑Judgments and analyses
apprehension
apprehension apprehension [ˌæp.rɪˈhen.ʃ ə n] noun uncountable WORRY 1. worry about the future, or a fear that something unpleasant is going to happen • It’s normal to feel a little apprehension before starting a new job. • There is some apprehension in the office about who the new director will be. Thesaurus+: ↑Anxiety and worry - general words ↑Fear and phobias CATCHING 2. formal when the police catch and arrest someone who has not obeyed the law • Both the army and the police were involved in the apprehension of the terrorists. Thesaurus+: ↑Arresting and charging ↑Capturing or taking possession of things ↑Getting, receiving and accepting
apprentice
apprentice apprentice [əˈpren.tɪs] [-t ̬ɪs] noun countable [apprentices] someone who has agreed to work for a skilled person for a particular period of time and often for low payment, in order to learn that person’s skills • Most of the work was done by apprentices. • an apprentice carpenter Thesaurus+: ↑Inexperienced people and lack of experience ↑Students and pupils verb transitive usually passive old use to make someone an apprentice • Michelangelo was apprenticed to Ghirlandaio in Florence for three years. Thesaurus+: ↑Teaching in general
apron
CLOTHING 1. a piece of clothing that you wear over the front of other clothes to keep the clothes clean while you are doing something dirty, such as cooking or cleaning in the house Thesaurus+: ↑Protective clothing AIRPORT 2. the part of an airport in which aircraft are turned around or goods are put onto them Thesaurus+: ↑Airports and landing strips THEATRE 3. (also apron stage) part of a stage in a theatre that is in front of the curtain Thesaurus+: ↑Theatres, cinemas and their parts
arrogance
arrogance [ˈær.ə.g ə n t s] [ˈer-] noun uncountable < > • He has a self-confidence that is sometimes seen as arrogance. Thesaurus+: ↑Saddening, shocking and upsetting Mainentry: arrogant derived
ascend
ascend [əˈsend] formal verb [ascends ascending ascended] GO UP 1. intransitive or transitive to move up or climb something • They slowly ascended the steep path up the mountain. • There’s a long flight of steps ascending (= leading up) to the cathedral doors. Thesaurus+: ↑Moving upwards HIGHER RANK 2. intransitive to rise to a position of higher rank • He eventually ascended to the position of chief executive. Thesaurus+: ↑Promoting, demoting and transferring staff Idiom: ascend the throne
ascertain
ascertain ascertain [ˌæs.əˈteɪn] [-ɚ-] formal verb transitive [ascertains ascertaining ascertained] to discover; to make certain • The police have so far been unable to ascertain the cause of the explosion. • + that I ascertained that no one could overhear us before I told Otto the news. • + question word Have you ascertained whether she’s coming or not? Thesaurus+: ↑Finding and discovering
ash
ash [æʃ] noun POWDER 1. uncountable the soft grey or black powder that is left after a substance, especially tobacco, coal or wood, has burnt • cigarette ash Thesaurus+: ↑Products of fire 2. ashes plural what is left of something after it has been destroyed by fire, especially what is left of a human body after it has been burnt • Her ashes were scattered at sea. • Allied bombing left Dresden in ashes in 1945. Thesaurus+: ↑Products of fire ↑Burying, cremating and preserving bodies TREE 3. countable a forest tree which has a smooth grey bark (= outer covering), small greenish flowers and seeds shaped like wings Thesaurus+: ↑Deciduous trees 4. uncountable the wood from an ash tree Thesaurus+: ↑Types of wood
ashamed
ashamed [əˈʃeɪmd] adjective after verb < > feeling guilty or embarrassed about something you have done or a quality in your character • You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. • She ought to be thoroughly ashamed of herself - talking to her mother like that! • + to infinitive He was ashamed to admit to his mistake. • + that I was ashamed that I’d made so little effort. • I’m ashamed to be seen with you when you behave so badly! • I felt so ashamed of myself for making such a fuss. • How could you treat her like that? I’m so ashamed of you (= embarrassed to be connected with you) !
aspire
aspire as¦pire verb [no obj.] 1) direct one’s hopes or ambitions towards achieving something we never thought that we might aspire to those heights [with infinitive] other people will aspire to be like you 2) rise high; tower
assault
assault [əˈsɒlt] [-ˈsɑːlt] noun [assaults] 1. < > countable or uncountable a violent attack • He was charged with sexual assault. • UK The number of indecent assaults has increased alarmingly over the past year. • an assault on a police officer • They launched an assault on the capital yesterday. Thesaurus+: ↑Physical and sexual assault and abduction ↑Sexual activity in general 2. countable a determined or serious attempt to do something difficult • Women’s groups have demanded a nationwide assault on sexism in the workplace. • She died heroically during an assault on the world’s second-highest mountain. Thesaurus+: ↑Trying and making an effort ↑Effort and expending energy 3. assault and battery legal uncountable a threat to attack someone followed by a violent physical act Thesaurus+: ↑Physical and sexual assault and abduction ↑Sexual activity in general • The assault was premeditated and particularly brutal. • Cash Junior made a full-frontal assault on Hollywood’s ‘moral delinquency’. • Racially motivated assaults on Asians are increasing. • Assaults on hospital staff have increased over the last year. • Police are hunting a student attacker after an unprovoked assault in a night club. verb transitive to attack someone violently • A woman and a man have been convicted of assaulting a police officer. • He had attempted to sexually assault the woman. Thesaurus+: ↑Physical and sexual assault and abduction ↑Sexual activity in general
astute
astute [əˈstjuːt] [-ˈstuːt] adjective clever and quick to see how to take advantage of a situation • an astute investor/businesswoman • his astute handling of the situation • an astute observer of human behaviour Thesaurus+: ↑Intelligence ↑Perceptive Derived: astutely ▪ astuteness
attain
attain [əˈteɪn] formal verb transitive [attains attaining attained] to reach or succeed in getting something; to achieve • He has attained the highest grade in his music exams. • We need to identify the best ways of attaining our objectives/goals. • India attained independence in 1947, after decades of struggle. Thesaurus+: ↑Succeeding, achieving and fulfilling
attic
attic [ˈæt.ɪk] [ˈæt ̬-] noun countable [attics] the space or room at the top of a building, under the roof, often used for storing things • I’ve got boxes of old clothes in the attic. • an attic bedroom at the top of the house Thesaurus+: ↑Rooms
