Alchemic Flashcards
Dusk
dusk \ˈdʌsk\ noun [noncount] : the time when day changes into night and the sky begins to get darker
Synonyms: evening, eventide, gloaming, nightfall, sundown, sunset, twilight Antonyms: aurora, cockcrow, dawn, dawning, daybreak, daylight, morn, morning, sunrise, sunup
Plank
plank \ˈplæŋk\ noun [count] 1 : a long, thick board that is used especially in building something 2 formal : one of the official beliefs and goals of an organization (such as a political party) Before the convention, there was debate over the foreign policy and economic planks. — compare platform Other forms: plural planks walk the plank — see 1walk
Stray
stray \ˈstreɪ\ verb [no obj] : to go in a direction that is away from a group or from the place where you should be Two cows strayed [=wandered] into the woods. The airplane strayed off course. — often + from She strayed from the group and got lost. Her eyes strayed from her computer to the window. [=she stopped looking at her computer and began looking at/out the window] — often used figuratively She never strayed [=deviated] from the path her parents envisioned for her. The menu at their house rarely strays (too) far from meat and potatoes. The class discussion strayed [=deviated] from the original topic. a straying husband [=a husband who has sexual relations with a woman who is not his wife] Other forms: strays; strayed; stray·ing 2 stray adjective Usage: always used before a noun 1 of an animal : lost or having no home a stray cat/dog 2 : separated from another or others of the same kind a stray sock 3 : not in or going in the proper or intended place a few stray hairs He was hit by a stray bullet. [=a bullet that was supposed to go somewhere else] Synonyms: aimless, arbitrary, desultory, erratic, haphazard, hit-or-miss, scattered, slapdash, random Antonyms: methodical, nonrandom, orderly, systematic 3 stray noun [count] 1 : an animal (such as a cat or dog) that is lost or has no home Both of her cats were strays that she found wandering in the neighborhood. 2 : a person or thing that is separated from a group I matched up the socks in the laundry but I was left with one stray. [=one extra sock] Other forms: plural strays
Crook
crook \ˈkrʊk\ noun [count] 1 informal a : a dishonest person He thinks politicians are just a bunch of crooks. b : a criminal a small-time crook 2 a : the place where part of the body (such as an arm, leg, or finger) bends the crook of his arm b : a curved or hooked part of something The squirrel sat in the crook of the tree. the crook of the cane 3 : a long stick with one end curved into a hook that is used by a shepherd Other forms: plural crooks by hook or by crook — see 1hook Synonyms: criminal, culprit, felon, lawbreaker, malefactor, offender Antonyms: straight line 2 crook verb [+ obj] : to bend (your finger, neck, or arm) He crooked his finger at us and led us to the table. Other forms: crooks; crooked; crook·ing Synonyms: arch, bend, curve, hook, swerve Antonyms: straighten, unbend, uncurl
Prod
prod \ˈprɑ:d\ verb 1 : to push someone or something with your finger or a pointed object : poke [+ obj] She prodded him in the ribs to get his attention. [no obj] — often + at He prodded at the snake with a stick. 2 [+ obj] : to persuade or try to persuade (someone) to do something His parents kept prodding [=urging] him to go back to school. She was prodded into joining the team. Other forms: prods; prod·ded; prod·ding prodding noun [noncount] He didn’t need any prodding to try again. Synonyms: goad, spur 2 prod noun [count] 1 a : the act of pushing someone or something with your finger or a pointed object : poke She gave him a sharp prod in the back. b : something (such as a long stick) that is used to prod an animal He picked up a stick and used it as a prod to get the donkey moving. — see also cattle prod 2 : something said or done to encourage or remind someone to do something He needed a few prods to remember his lines. She called me and gave me a prod about finishing the report. Other forms: plural prods
Stir
stir \ˈstɚ\ verb 1 [+ obj] : to mix (something) by making circular movements in it with a spoon or similar object She stirred her coffee. The cake batter must be stirred for 10 minutes. Stir one cup of sugar into the batter. 2 : to move or cause (someone or something) to move after being still [no obj] She heard him stir (in bed). [=heard him begin to move in bed as he woke up] He never stirred from the couch [=he stayed on the couch] all afternoon. [+ obj] She was stirred from her sleep by the noise. The breeze stirred the leaves on the tree. 3 a [no obj] : to be active or busy We could see people stirring inside the shop. “Not a creature was stirring” — Clement Moore, “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” (1822) b [+ obj] : to cause (someone or something) to be active A good book can stir the imagination. He stirred himself to action. [=he began to take action] 4 [+ obj] : to cause (an emotion or reaction) The bad economic news has stirred anxiety among investors. [=has caused investors to worry] — usually + up The bad news has stirred up a lot of anxiety. The story stirred up some deep emotions within him. Other forms: stirs; stirred; stir·ring stir up [phrasal verb] 1 stir up (someone) or stir (someone) up : to cause (someone) to feel a strong emotion and a desire to do something The speech stirred up the crowd. 2 stir (something) up or stir up (something) a : to cause (something) to move up into and through the air or water The workers stirred up a lot of dust. b : to cause (something, usually something bad or unpleasant) to happen They’re trying to stir up trouble. stirring up racial hatred His comments certainly stirred things up. [=caused a lot of excitement, anger, etc.] — see also 1stir 4 (above) Synonyms: agitate, churn, swirl, whirl Antonyms: freeze 2 stir noun [singular] 1 : a state of excitement, anger, or surprise among a group of people His comments have caused quite a stir. 2 : a small movement the stir of the leaves in the breeze 3 : the act of stirring something with a spoon or similar object She gave the sauce a stir. [=she stirred the sauce] 4 chiefly US slang, old-fashioned : prison He spent five years in stir. Synonyms: ado, bluster, bother, bustle, clatter, disturbance, furor, furore, fuss, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly-burly, pandemonium, pother, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, squall, stew, commotion, storm, to-do, tumult, turmoil, uproar, welter, whirl Antonyms: motionlessness
