academic words Flashcards
infinitesimal
adj. extremely small.
n. an indefinitely small quantity; a value approaching zero.
invoke
verb
1.call on (a deity or spirit) in prayer, as a witness, or for inspiration.
2. cite or appeal to (someone or something) as an authority for an action or in support of an argument.
“the antiquated defence of insanity is rarely invoked in England”
reckless
heedless of danger or the consequences of one’s actions; rash or impetuous. careless, incautious
prohibitive
adjective. 1.(of a law or rule) forbidding or restricting something.”prohibitive legislation”
2. (of a price or charge) so high as to prevent something being done or bought. “the cost of converting existing power stations is likely to be prohibitive”
deter
verb
1. discourage (someone) from doing something by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
“only a health problem would deter him from seeking re-election”
2. prevent the occurrence of.
“strategists think not only about how to deter war, but about how war might occur”
cohort
noun
a group of people with a shared characteristic.
“a cohort of civil servants patiently drafting legislation”
a group of people with a common statistical characteristic.
“the 1940–4 birth cohort of women”
obsolescence
noun
the process of becoming obsolete or outdated and no longer used. “computers are infamous for their rapid obsolescence”
folly
noun
noun: folly; plural noun: Follies
1. lack of good sense; foolishness. “an act of sheer folly” a foolish act, idea, or practice.plural noun: follies “the follies of youth”
pertain
verb
- be appropriate, related, or applicable to. “matters pertaining to the organization of government”
- be in effect or existence in a specified place or at a specified time. “their economic circumstances are vastly different from those which pertained in their land of origin”
innocuous
adjective
not harmful or offensive.
perturbation
noun
1.anxiety; mental uneasiness.
“she sensed her friend’s perturbation”
2. a deviation of a system, moving object, or process from its regular or normal state or path, caused by an outside influence. “these shifts and swings in wildlife populations are possibly related to climatic perturbations”
discrete
adjective
individually separate and distinct. “speech sounds are produced as a continuous sound signal rather than discrete units”
sheer
adjective
adjective: sheer; comparative adjective: sheerer; superlative adjective: sheerest
1. nothing other than; unmitigated (used for emphasis). “she giggled with sheer delight”
2. (especially of a cliff or wall) perpendicular or nearly so.
“the sheer ice walls”
3. (of a fabric) very thin; diaphanous. “sheer white silk chiffon”
adverb: sheer
1.perpendicularly. “the ridge fell sheer, in steep crags”
noun: sheer; plural noun: sheers
a very fine or diaphanous fabric or article. “I put up the new curtains and sheers”
in essence
basically and without regard for peripheral details; fundamentally. "in detail the class system is complex but in essence it is simple"
indefinitely
adverb
for an unlimited or unspecified period of time.
“talks cannot go on indefinitely”
virtually
adverb: virtually
1. nearly; almost.
“the disease destroyed virtually all the vineyards in Orange County”
rapidity
noun: rapidity
the quality of moving or reacting with great speed.
“the fish sank into the sand with such rapidity that it must be seen to be believed”
the fact of happening at a great rate; swiftness.
“technology spreads with extraordinary rapidity”
distinctive
adjective
characteristic of one person or thing, and so serving to distinguish it from others.
“juniper berries give gin its distinctive flavour”
credibly
adverb: credibly
in a believable and convincing way. “he can also talk credibly about the details”
implicit
adjective
1. suggested though not directly expressed.
“comments seen as implicit criticism of the policies”
2. always to be found in; essentially connected with.
“the values implicit in the school ethos”
deficiency
noun
a lack or shortage.
“deficiencies in material resources”
a failing or shortcoming.
“for all its deficiencies it remains his most powerful play”
the amount by which something, especially revenue, falls short; a deficit.
“a budget deficiency of $96 billion”
notation
noun: notation; plural noun: notations
1. a series or system of written symbols used to represent numbers, amounts, or elements in something such as music or mathematics.
“algebraic notation”
2. a note or annotation.
“he noticed the notations in the margin”
quadratic
In mathematics, the term quadratic describes something that pertains to squares, to the operation of squaring, to terms of the second degree, or equations or formulas that involve such terms.
brace
noun
1. a device fitted to something, in particular a weak or injured part of the body, to give support. “a neck brace”
verb
1. make (a structure) stronger or firmer with wood, iron, or other forms of support. “the posts were braced by lengths of timber”
saturated
adjective
1. holding as much water or moisture as can be absorbed; thoroughly soaked. “a mass of saturated air decreases in temperature as it rises in the atmosphere”
proposition
noun
- a statement or assertion that expresses a judgement or opinion. “the proposition that high taxation is undesirable”
- a suggested scheme or plan of action, especially in a business context. “a detailed investment proposition”
refrain
verb
stop oneself from doing something. “she refrained from comment”.
noun
noun: refrain; plural noun: refrains
a repeated line or number of lines in a poem or song, typically at the end of each verse.
1. the musical accompaniment for a refrain.
“he would play the refrain”
2. a comment or complaint that is often repeated.
“‘Poor Tom’ had become the constant refrain of his friends”
instantaneous
adjective
1. occurring or done instantly.
“modern methods of instantaneous communication”
2. existing or measured at a particular instant.
“measurement of the instantaneous velocity”
interior
adjective
1. situated on or relating to the inside of something; inner. “the interior lighting is not adequate”
2. remote from the coast or frontier; inland. “the interior jungle regions”
noun
1. the inner part of something; the inside. “the interior has been much restored”
2. the inland part of a country or region.
“the plains of the interior”
contingency
noun
a future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty. “a detailed contract which attempts to provide for all possible contingencies”
a provision for a possible event or circumstance.
“stores were kept as a contingency against a blockade”
an incidental expense.
“allow an extra fifteen per cent on the budget for contingencies”
inverse
adjective
opposite or contrary in position, direction, order, or effect. “numerous studies have shown an inverse relationship between exercise and the risk of heart disease”.
induction
noun
- an occasion when someone is formally introduced into a new job or organization, especially through a special ceremony
- the act of causing an event or process to happen
- the process of discovering a general principle from a set of facts
shorthand
noun
a method of rapid writing by means of abbreviations and symbols, used especially for taking dictation.
cumbersome
adjective
large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; unwieldy. “cumbersome diving suits”
slow or complicated and therefore inefficient.
“organizations with cumbersome hierarchical structures”
iterate
verb
perform or utter repeatedly. “the bird’s call is a monotonously iterated single note”
make repeated use of a mathematical or computational procedure, applying it each time to the result of the previous application; perform iteration.
dictate
verb
1. state or order authoritatively.
“the tsar’s attempts to dictate policy”
2. say or read aloud (words to be typed, written down, or recorded on tape). “I have four letters to dictate”
noun
an order or principle that must be obeyed. “the dictates of fashion”
asymptotically
adjective Mathematics.
of or relating to an asymptote.
(of a function) approaching a given value as an expression containing a variable tends to infinity.
(of two functions) so defined that their ratio approaches unity as the independent variable approaches a limit or infinity.
(of a formula) becoming increasingly exact as a variable approaches a limit, usually infinity.
coming into consideration as a variable approaches a limit, usually infinity:
asymptotic property; asymptotic behavior.
trivial
adjective
1. having little value or importance: “I don’t know why he gets so upset about something so trivial.” “Sexual harassment in the workplace is not a trivial matter.”
albeit
conjunction: albeit
though. “he was making progress, albeit rather slowly”
retain
verb
1. continue to have (something); keep possession of.
“Labour retained the seat”
2. absorb and continue to hold (a substance).
“limestone is known to retain water”
incur
verb
become subject to (something unwelcome or unpleasant) as a result of one’s own behaviour or actions.
“I will pay any expenses incurred”
context
noun
the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood.
“the proposals need to be considered in the context of new European directives”
generically
adverb. 1. in a way that relates to a class or group of similar things; not specifically. "what most writers generically refer to as ‘world music’" 一般而言
multiplicity
noun
a large number or variety. “the demand for higher education depends on a multiplicity of factors”
permute
verb 改变序列
submit to a process of alteration, rearrangement, or permutation. “we wish to permute the order of the bytes”
permissible
adjective
permitted; allowed. “it is permissible to edit and rephrase the statement”
exuberant
adjective
full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness.
“a noisy bunch of exuberant youngsters”
characterized by a vigorously imaginative artistic style.
“exuberant, over-the-top sculptures”
superfluous
adjective
unnecessary, especially through being more than enough. “the purchaser should avoid asking for superfluous information”
discrepancy
noun
an illogical or surprising lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts. “there’s a discrepancy between your account and his”
retaliate
verb
make an attack in return for a similar attack. “the blow stung and she retaliated immediately”
commemorative
adjective
acting as a memorial of an event or person. “a commemorative plaque”
noun
an object such as a stamp or coin made to mark an event or honour a person.
apparel
noun:
clothing. “they were dressed in bright apparel”
pervasive
adjective
(especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people. 無處不在
“ageism is pervasive and entrenched in our society”
salvage
verb
rescue (a wrecked or disabled ship or its cargo) from loss at sea. “an emerald and gold cross was salvaged from the wreck” 打撈
noun
the rescue of a wrecked or disabled ship or its cargo from loss at sea. “a salvage operation was under way”
parsimonious
adjective
very unwilling to spend money or use resources. “even the parsimonious Joe paid for drinks all round” 吝嗇小氣的，過度節儉的
procurement
noun.
the process of getting supplies “a substantial budget for the procurement of military supplies”
rig
verb
1. provide (a sailing boat) with sails and rigging. “the catamaran will be rigged as a ketch”
2. set up (equipment or a device or structure), typically in a makeshift or hasty way. “he had rigged up a sort of tent”
noun
1. the particular way in which a sailing boat’s masts, sails, and rigging are arranged. “a ketch rig”
2. a device or piece of equipment designed for a particular purpose. “a lighting rig”
exhaustive
adjective
including or considering all elements or aspects; fully comprehensive. “the guide outlines every bus route in exhaustive detail”
preclude
verb
prevent from happening; make impossible. “the secret nature of his work precluded official recognition”
(of a situation or condition) prevent someone from doing something. “his difficulties preclude him from leading a normal life”
conceivable
adjective
capable of being imagined or grasped mentally.
“a mass uprising was entirely conceivable”
postulate
verb
suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief. “his theory postulated a rotatory movement for hurricanes”
2. (in ecclesiastical law) nominate or elect (someone) to an ecclesiastical office subject to the sanction of a higher authority. “the chapter was then allowed to postulate the bishop of Bath”
spurious
adjective 伪
not being what it purports to be; false or fake. “separating authentic and spurious claims”
(of a line of reasoning) apparently but not actually valid.
“this spurious reasoning results in nonsense”
augment
verb
make (something) greater by adding to it; increase.
“he augmented his summer income by painting houses”
arm’s-length
adjective
used to describe a situation in which two people, companies, etc. operate separately from each other. 公平交易
exemplify
verb
- be a typical example of. “the best dry sherry is exemplified by the fino of Jerez”
- illustrate or clarify by giving an example. “he exemplified his point with an anecdote”
oscillation
noun
1. movement back and forth in a regular rhythm. “the natural oscillation of a spring”
2. PHYSICS
regular variation in magnitude or position about a central point, especially of an electric current or voltage.
“electromagnetic oscillations”
vandalism
noun
action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property. “an act of mindless vandalism”
culminate
verb
1. reach a climax or point of highest development. “weeks of violence culminated in the brutal murder of a magistrate” 以…告終；達到…的頂點
meridian
子午線
mitigate
verb
make (something bad) less severe, serious, or painful. “drainage schemes have helped to mitigate this problem”
prospective
adjective
expected or expecting to be the specified thing in the future. “she showed a prospective buyer around the house”
likely to happen at a future date. “a meeting to discuss prospective changes in government legislation”
expropriation
noun
the action by the state or an authority of taking property from its owner for public use or benefit. “the decree provided for the expropriation of church land and buildings”
the action of dispossessing someone of property. “a popular movement aiming at the expropriation of the landowners and the overthrow of the autocracy”
reimbursement
noun
the action of repaying a person who has spent or lost money. “reimbursement of everyday medical costs”
a sum paid to cover the money that has been spent or lost. “the family received insurance reimbursements”
kink
noun
1.a sharp twist or curve in something that is otherwise straight. “a kink in the road”
verb
form or cause to form a sharp twist or curve. “the river kinks violently in a right angle”
entail
verb
1. involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence. “a situation which entails considerable risks”
LAW
2. limit the inheritance of (property) over a number of generations so that ownership remains within a particular family or group.
“her father’s estate was entailed on a cousin”
dissipate
verb
1. (with reference to a feeling or emotion) disappear or cause to disappear. “the concern she’d felt for him had wholly dissipated”
2. waste or fritter away (money, energy, or resources).
“he inherited, but then dissipated, his father’s fortune”
fritter
verb
1. waste time, money, or energy on trifling matters.
“I wish we hadn’t frittered the money away so easily”
trivial
adjective
1. of little value or importance. “huge fines were imposed for trivial offences”
disastrous
adjective
causing great damage. “a disastrous fire swept through the museum”
heuristic
adjective
enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves. “a ‘hands-on’ or interactive heuristic approach to learning”.
judiciously
adverb
with good judgement or sense. “his work has been carefully and judiciously edited”
contravene
verb
offend against the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct). “he contravened the Official Secrets Act”
coincide
verb
1. occur at the same time.
“publication is timed to coincide with a major exhibition”
2. correspond in nature; tally.
“the interests of employers and employees do not always coincide”
3. be in agreement. “the members of the College coincide in this opinion”
disutility
noun ECONOMICS
the adverse or harmful effects associated with a particular activity or process, especially when carried out over a long period.
endow
verb
- give or bequeath an income or property to (a person or institution). “he endowed the Church with lands”
- provide with a quality, ability, or asset. “he was endowed with tremendous physical strength”
endowment
noun
1. the action of endowing something or someone.
“he tried to promote the endowment of a Chair of Psychiatry”
2. a quality or ability possessed or inherited by someone. “his natural endowments were his height and intelligence”
contextual
adjective
depending on or relating to the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea.
“he included contextual information in footnotes”
depending on the preceding or following parts of a text to clarify meaning.
“they have limited practice in working out the meaning of unfamiliar material from contextual clues”
inhibitory
adjective
hindering or preventing an action.
“some may find such limits inhibitory”
slowing down or preventing a process, reaction, or function.
“a study to determine if honey has an inhibitory effect on atherosclerosis”
retaliatory
adjective
(of an action) characterized by a desire for revenge. 报复性
“fears of a retaliatory attack by the victim’s friends”
locus
noun
1. TECHNICAL
a particular position or place where something occurs or is situated.
“it is impossible to specify the exact locus in the brain of these neural events”
2. MATHEMATICS
a curve or other figure formed by all the points satisfying a particular equation of the relation between coordinates, or by a point, line, or surface moving according to mathematically defined conditions.
“a parabola is the locus of a point that moves so as to be equidistant from a fixed point and a straight line”
radical
adjective
1. (especially of change or action) relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.
“a radical overhaul of the existing regulatory framework”
- advocating or based on thorough or complete political or social change; representing or supporting an extreme or progressive section of a political party.
noun
1. a person who advocates thorough or complete political or social change, or a member of a political party or section of a party pursuing such aims.
salient
adjective
1. most noticeable or important.
“it succinctly covered all the salient points of the case”
hamper
noun
a basket with a carrying handle and a hinged lid, used for food, cutlery, and plates on a picnic.
“a picnic hamper”
verb
hinder or impede the movement or progress of. 阻碍
“their work is hampered by lack of funds”
irrespective
adjective
not taking (something) into account; regardless of.
“child benefit is paid irrespective of income levels”
enact
verb
1. make (a bill or other proposal) law. 制定
“legislation was enacted to attract international companies”
2. put into practice (an idea or suggestion).
“the pressure group’s aim was to see the proposals enacted”
3. act out (a role or play) on stage.
“Mystery Plays were staged and enacted by members of the guilds”
scarp
noun (废料)
1. a small piece or amount of something, especially one that is left over after the greater part has been used.
“I scribbled her address on a scrap of paper”
2. discarded metal for reprocessing.
“the steamer was eventually sold for scrap”
verb
discard or remove from service (a redundant, old, or inoperative vehicle, vessel, or machine), especially so as to convert it to scrap metal.
“a bold decision was taken to scrap existing plant”
parable
noun
a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. (寓言故事)
“the parable of the blind men and the elephant”
handicap
noun
1. a circumstance that makes progress or success difficult.
“not being able to drive was something of a handicap”
verb
act as an impediment to.
“lack of funding has handicapped the development of research”
impediment
noun
1. a hindrance or obstruction in doing something.
“a serious impediment to scientific progress”
2. a defect in a person’s speech, such as a lisp or stammer.
