A(a-d) Flashcards
Abacus
Tool used for counting/calculating, consisting of a frame with small balls that can slid on thick wires
Aback
“Be taken aback”
To be very surprised or shocked
Abashed
Embarrassed or ashamed
Abate
To become less strong
Abbey
A large church, with buildings next to it where monks and nuns live
Abdicate
1) officially give up the position of being king or queen
2) refuse to continue being responsible for something
( abdication)
Aberration
Something different from what usually happens or someone does
Abet
Encourage someone in an criminal act
Past: abetted / abetting
1) Abide
2) abide by
1) (Can’t abide sb/sth)
To hate someone/something very much but tolerating it
2) to obey a law or agreement
Abiding
Continuing for a long time without change
Abject
State of being extremely poor/ frightened/ unsuccessful
- abject apology: apology that shows you are ashamed of what you have done
- abjectly
Abode
The place where you live
Abominable
Extremely bad or of very bad quality
Aboriginal
: relating to the people and things that have been in a region from the earliest time
: relating to the native people of Australia : of or relating to Australian aborigines
Aborigine
People who have lived in Australia from the earliest times
Abortive
Not successful or not finished
Abound
Exist in large numbers
Aboveboard
Honest and legal
Abrasion
1) Area on skin that is injured by rubbing against something hard
2) rubbing a surface very hard so it becomes damaged
Abrasive
1) rude and annoying
2) having a rough surface that can be used to make something clean or smooth
Abreast
1) being up to date about a subject
2) next to someone, usually in a line and facing the same direction
Abridged
Form of a play , book made shorter
ABS
anti-lock braking system : a type of car brake that makes the car easier to control when you have to stop very suddenly
Abscess
Swollen place on your body that is infected and contains a yellow liquid
Abscond
1) leave a place without permission
2) leave a place after stealing something
Absenteeism
Regular absence from work or school
Absolve
To publicly forgive someone
Abstain
1) to purposefully not vote for or against something :”I abstained from voting”
2) not do what u normally enjoy doing. Aka. abstention
Abstinence
Practice of not doing something you enjoy, especially for health or religious reason
Abstract
1) based in idea instead of specific examples or real events
2) shapes and patterns that do not look like real people or things
3) short written statements that has only the main points of a speech, article, etc
Abysmal
Very bad
Abyss
1) a very dangerous/frightening situation
2) hole/space that seems to have no end
AC
1) air conditioner
2) alternating current: type of electric current used for electrical equipment in buildings
Academia
Activities/work done at universities and/or the teachers/students involved in it
Academic
1) relating to education in a university
2) ** a teacher in a college/university
Accent
4) The extra importance or emphasis given to something ex:”accent on restaurants that offer free food”
Accentuate
To make something easier to notice
Pile-up
An accident in which several cars are involved
Fender-bender
(Informal)
Car accident in which little damage is done
Acclaim
1) To praise someone/something publicly
2) strong praise for a person, idea, etc
Acclimate
Aka. acclimatize
1) to get used to weather, living conditions, etc of a new place or to get someone to do that
Accolade
Praise/approval given to someone for his or her work
Accompaniment
1) music played while someone sings or plays another instrument
2) something to eat/drink with another food
Accompanist
Someone who plays a musical instrument while another person sings/plays main tune
Accord
“Somebody’s own accord”
1) to do something without being asked
2) official agreement between countries
3) in agreement with something
4) to give someone special treatment or a particular type of treatment
Accordance
“In accordance with something “
According to a system or rule
Accordingly
2) as a result of something (=therefore)
Accost
To go up to a stranger and speak in a impolite/threatening way
Accounts
6) company that regularly buys from a source over a long period of time
Ex: “manager won five new accounts “
Accredited
Having official approval
Accure
To increase over a period of time
Accusation
A statement saying that someone has done wrong/illegal
Allegation
Statement that someone has done s/t illegal, which has not been proved
Indictment law
Official statement sayings someone has done something illegal
Accustomed
2) usual
Ace
1) a playing card that either has the highest or lowest value In a game
2) a serve (=first hit) in tennis or volley ball that is great and the opponent can’t hit it back
Acerbic
Criticizing someone in an intelligent but cruel way
Ache
2) to want something or to do something very much
Acid
2) using humor in an unkind way or saying cruel thing
Acidic
2) having a very sour taste
Acid rain
Rain that can damage the environment because it has acid from factory smoke, waste gases from cars and trucks, etc
Acorn
The nut of an oak tree
Acoustic
2) non-electrical instruments
Acrid
Very strong/ bad smell that hurts your nose
Acrimonious
Meeting/argument that involves a lot of anger and disagreement
Acrimony
Very angry feelings between people, often strongly expressed
Acrobat
Someone who does difficult physical actions to entertain people
:acrobatics:= the skills or tricks of an acrobatic
Acronym
A word that is made from the first letter of a group of words
Ex:NATO
Acrylic
Paint cloths etc are made from chemical substances instead of natural substances
Acumen
Ability to think quickly and make good judgement
Acute angle
Angle less than 90 degrees
A.D.
Anno Domini : used to show that a date is after the birth of Christ
Adage
A well known phrase that says something wise about life
Adam’s apple
Lump at a man’s neck
Additive
Substance added in foods to make it taste/look/stay better
Adept
Good at doing something that needs care or skill
Adherent
Someone who agrees with and supports idea/person/political party
Adhesion
When one thing sticks to another
Adhesive
Substance that can stick things together
Ad hoc
Done when necessary , rather than planned or regular
Adjoining
Next to something and connected to it
Adjourn
To stop a meeting/legal process for a short time until a later time/date
Adjudicate
To judge a competition or to make a official decision
Adjunct
1) something that is added or joined to something else, but is not a part of it
2) part-time faculty
Ad-lib
To say something in a speech or performance without planning \preparing it
Administer
1) manage/organize the affairs of a company
2) to organize something officially as part of your job
3) to give someone medicine or drug
Administration
1) the government of a country at a particular time
Admiral
A very high rank in the navy or someone who has this
Admissible
Acceptable or allowed , especially in a court
Admonish
To tell someone that he or she has done something wrong
Adobe
A material made of clay and straw, used for building houses
Adorn
To be decorated with something
Adrift
A boat that is not tied to anything and is moved around by the ocean or wind
Adroit
Smart and skillful, especially in the way you use words and arguments
Adulation
Praise and admiration for someone that is more than what they really deserve
Adulterate
To make something less pure by adding a substance of a lower quality to it
Advantageous
Helpful or likely to make you more successful
Adverb
In grammar, words that add to or describe the meaning of verbs, adjective, or etc
Adversary
Country or person you are fighting or competing against
Adverse
Not good or favorable
Adversity
Difficulties or problems that seem to be caused by bad luck
