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Book10 Flashcards

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GRE® Vocabulary flashcards
1
Q

flotsam

A

drifting wreckage

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2
Q

jetsam

A

things thrown from a ship (to lighten the ship)

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3
Q

flounder

A

struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or falter (as in water, mud, snow, etc.); proceed in confusion

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4
Q

thrash

A

beat with a whip or flail; defeat utterly; talk about thoroughly in order to find the answer; move wildly or violently; Ex. The fishes thrashed about in the net.

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5
Q

flourish

A

grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures; wave; brandish; Ex. The trees flourished in the sun. N: showy movement or gesture; embellishment or ornamentation (esp. in handwriting)

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6
Q

flout

A

reject; mock; show contempt for; scorn; Ex. flout the rules

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7
Q

curb

A

chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain

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8
Q

fluctuate

A

waver; shift; rise and fall as if in waves; change or vary irregularly

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9
Q

fluency

A

smoothness of speech; ADJ. fluent

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10
Q

fluke

A

unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune; accidental stroke of good luck; ADJ. fluky

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11
Q

fluster

A

confuse; make nervous and confused; N.

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12
Q

fluted

A

having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar); V. flute: make long parallel inward curves in; N. flute: long rounded groove incised on the shaft of a column

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13
Q

groove

A

long narrow channel made in a surface to guide the movement of something; Ex. groove of the record

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14
Q

stammer

A

speak with involuntarily pauses or repetitions

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15
Q

flux

A

flowing; series of changes; fluctuation; Ex. in a state of flux

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16
Q

fodder

A

coarse food for cattle, horses, etc.; feed for livestock; CF. food

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17
Q

foible

A

small weakness of character; slight fault; CF. feeble

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18
Q

foil

A

contrast; one that by contrast enhances the distinctive characteristics of another

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19
Q

foil

A

defeat; frustrate; prevent from being successful; thwart; CF. fail

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20
Q

foist

A

insert improperly; impose upon another by coercion; palm off; pass off as genuine or worthy; CF. fist

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21
Q

palm

A

conceal in the palm of the hand; palm off: pass off; Ex. palm off some bad oranges onto the lady/the painting as a real Renoir

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22
Q

pass_off

A

present falsely; represent falsely to be

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23
Q

foliage

A

masses of leaves; CF. defoliate

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24
Q

foment

A

stir up; incite; instigate; promote the growth of (something evil or unpleasant)

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25
Q

foolhardy

A

rash; reckless; foolishly daring

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26
Q

foppish

A

vain about dress and appearance; N. fop: man who takes too much interest in his clothes and appearance

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27
Q

foray

A

raid; sudden raid or military advance; V.

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28
Q

forbearance

A

patience; forgiveness; V. forbear: refrain from (in a generous and forgiving way); be patient; Ex. forbear to send him to prison

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29
Q

ford

A

place where a river can be crossed on foot; V.

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30
Q

forebears(forbears)

A

ancestors

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31
Q

foreboding

A

premonition of evil; feeling of coming evil; V. forebode: be a warning of (something unpleasant)

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32
Q

forensic

A

suitable to debate or courts of law; of or used in legal proceedings and the tracking of criminals; Ex. forensic science/medicine

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33
Q

forum

A

public square of an ancient Roman city; public place for open discussion; court of law

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34
Q

foreshadow

A

give an indication beforehand; be a sign of (what is coming); portend; prefigure

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35
Q

prefigure

A

be a sign of; foreshadow

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36
Q

forerunner

A

predecessor; one that comes before and indicates the approach of another

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37
Q

foresight

A

ability to foresee future happenings; prudence in providing for the future

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38
Q

forestall

A

prevent by taking action in advance

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39
Q

nuptial

A

of marriage or the wedding ceremony; N; nuptials; wedding ceremony

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40
Q

forfeit

A

something surrendered as punishment for a crime or breach of contract; V: lose as a forfeit; N. forfeiture

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41
Q

forge

A

counterfeit; reproduce fraudulently; form by heating in a forge and hammering into shape; move with a sudden increase of speed or power; Ex. forged ahead in the last two years; N: furnace where metals are heated

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42
Q

forgo(forego)

A

give up; do without

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43
Q

forlorn

A

sad and lonely; wretched; desolate

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44
Q

formality

A

ceremonious quality; ceremonious adherence to rules; something done just for form’s sake; Ex. mere formality

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45
Q

formidable

A

menacing; arousing fear; threatening; difficult to defeat; Ex. formidable foe/question

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46
Q

menace

A

threat; V: threaten

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47
Q

forsake

A

desert; abandon; renounce

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48
Q

forswear

A

renounce under oath; abandon; make a solemn promise to give up; CF. abjure

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49
Q

forte

A

strong point or special talent in a person’s character

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50
Q

forthright

A

straightforward; direct; frank

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51
Q

forthcoming

A

happening in the near future; ready; willing to help; Ex. No answer was forthcoming.

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52
Q

fortitude

A

bravery; courage; strength of mind

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53
Q

fortuitous

A

accidental; by chance; N. fortuity

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54
Q

foster

A

rear; bring up (for a certain period only); encourage; promote the development of (feelings or ideas); Ex. help foster friendly relations; ADJ: giving parental care although not related by blood; Ex. foster parents

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55
Q

founder

A

fail completely; sink; CF. flounder

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56
Q

founder

A

person who establishes (an organization or business)

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57
Q

fracas

A

brawl(noisy quarrel or fight) in which a number of people take part; melee

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58
Q

fractious

A

unruly; peevish; cranky; bad-tempered; Ex. fractious horse

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59
Q

frail

A

weak; N. frailty

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60
Q

franchise

A

right or privilege granted by authority; right to vote; license to sell a product in a particular territory

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61
Q

frantic

A

wild; distraught as from fear or worry; Ex. frantic with fear

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62
Q

fraudulent

A

cheating; deceitful; Ex. fraudulent means; N. fraud: deception; swindle

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63
Q

fraught

A

filled (with something unpleasant); full; Ex. fraught with danger and difficulties; CF. freight

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64
Q

fray

A

brawl; fight; V: wear away or unravel by rubbing; have loose threads developing; cause to become worn out (a person’s temper or nerves); CF. rub

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65
Q

frenetic(phrenetic)

A

frenzied; frantic

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66
Q

frenzied

A

madly excited; N. frenzy: violent wild excitement

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67
Q

fresco

A

painting on wet plaster (usually fresh)

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68
Q

paste

A

smooth viscous mixture as of flour(powder made by crushing grain) and water (used as an adhesive); V: cause to adhere by applying paste

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69
Q

pastry

A

paste of flour and water (eaten when baked)

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70
Q

plaster

A

paste that hardens to a smooth solid and is used for coating walls; V.

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71
Q

fret

A

be annoyed or vexed; Ex. fret over your poor grades; N: irritation of mind; ADJ. fretful

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72
Q

friction

A

clash or conflict in opinion; rubbing against

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73
Q

frieze

A

ornamental horizontal band on a wall

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74
Q

frigid

A

intensely cold; cold in manner; Ex. frigid zone

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75
Q

fritter

A

waste (time or money on unimportant things)

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76
Q

frivolous

A

lacking in seriousness; flippant; self-indulgently carefree; unworthy of serious attention; relatively unimportant; trivial

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77
Q

self-indulgence

A

excessive indulgence of one’s own desire

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78
Q

carefree

A

free from worries; having no problems

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79
Q

frolicsome

A

prankish; gay; playful; merry; frisky

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80
Q

frolic

A

play and jump about happily; frisk; Ex. frolicking young lambs

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81
Q

frond

A

fern leaf; palm or banana leaf

82
Q

litter

A

waste material thrown away (as bits of paper scattered untidily); V: cover untidily with scattered litter

83
Q

fructify

A

bear fruit; produce fruit

84
Q

frugality

A

thrift; economy; ADJ. frugal: practicing economy; costing little; inexpensive

85
Q

fruition

A

bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization; Ex. come to/be brought to fruition

86
Q

frustrate

A

thwart; defeat; prevent from accomplishing a purpose

87
Q

fugitive

A

fleeting or transitory; lasting only a short time; roving(wandering); running away or fleeing as from the law; N: one who flees; Ex. fugitives at large

88
Q

fulcrum

A

support on which a lever rests or pivots

89
Q

fulminate

A

thunder; explode; issue a severe denunciation

90
Q

fulsome

A

disgustingly excessive; offensively flattering; Ex. fulsome praise/expressions of admire

91
Q

fumble

A

move the fingers and hands awkwardly (in search of something); mishandle or drop a ball that is in play; bungle; botch; spoil by mishandling; N.

92
Q

functionary

A

official (who performs a particular function)

93
Q

functional

A

made for practical use only (without decoration); functioning; Ex. functional modern furniture; CF. functionalism

94
Q

fundamental

A

basic; primary; essential

95
Q

funereal

A

sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral

96
Q

furor

A

frenzy; great anger and excitement; CF. fury

97
Q

furtive

A

stealthy; quiet and secret (trying to escape notice); sneaky; Ex. furtive glance

98
Q

sneak

A

move, give, or take in a quiet, stealthy way; N: one who sneaks; ADJ. sneaky

99
Q

underhand(underhanded)

A

done slyly and secretly (being dishonest)

100
Q

sly

A

clever in deceiving; secretive; not telling one’s intentions

101
Q

fusillade

A

simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.)

102
Q

fusion

A

union; coalition; V. fuse

103
Q

futile

A

useless; hopeless; ineffectual

104
Q

gadfly

A

animal-biting fly; irritating person

105
Q

gaffe

A

social blunder

106
Q

gainsay

A

deny

107
Q

gait

A

manner of walking or running; speed

108
Q

galaxy

A

large isolated system of stars, such as the Milky Way; collection of brilliant personalities

109
Q

gale

A

windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst (laughters, tears); Ex. gale of laughter

110
Q

gall

A

bitterness of feeling; nerve; effrontery; CF. gall bladder

111
Q

gall

A

annoy; exasperate; chafe; N: skin sore caused by rubbing (as on the skin of a horse); exasperation

112
Q

galleon

A

large three-masted sailing ship

113
Q

galley

A

low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)

114
Q

clipper

A

sailing vessel built for great speed

115
Q

pinnace

A

small boat

116
Q

clip

A

cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as a short extract from film); clasp or fastener

117
Q

galvanize

A

stimulate or shock by an electric current; stimulate by shock; shock into action; stir up; coat with rust-resistant zinc by using electricity

118
Q

galvanic

A

of the production of electricity by the action of an acid on a metal; having the effect of an electric shock; Ex. galvanic cell; galvanic effect; CF. Luigi Galvani

119
Q

gambit

A

opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed; action made to produce a future advantage

120
Q

ploy

A

strategem to gain an advantage; tactic; Ex. management ploy

121
Q

gambol

A

romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.

122
Q

romp

A

play or frolic boisterously; gambol; N.

123
Q

zest

A

outer skin of an orange used for giving a special taste to food; spice; interest; flavor; spirited enjoyment; Ex. add a certain zest to the affair; Ex. zest for life

124
Q

gamely

A

in a spirited manner; with courage; Ex. fight gamely against a superior boxer; ADJ. game

125
Q

gamut

A

entire range

126
Q

gape

A

open widely; open the mouth wide; stare wonderingly with the mouth open; CF. agape

127
Q

garbled

A

mixed up; jumbled; distorted; V. garble: mix up or distort (a message) to such an extent as to make misleading or unintelligible

128
Q

jumble

A

mix in a confused way

129
Q

gargantuan

A

huge; enormous; gigantic; CF. the hero of Gargantua and Pantagruel

130
Q

gargoyle

A

waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a building

131
Q

garish

A

overbright in color; unpleasantly bright; gaudy

132
Q

trim

A

make neat or tidy by clipping; reduce by removing what is unnecessary; ornament; decorate (round the edges); Ex. trim the cost; Ex. jacket trimmed with fur; N. ADJ: tidy; in good order

133
Q

garner

A

gather; store up; amass

134
Q

garnish

A

decorate; add a garnish to; decorate (food or drink) with small items such as lemon slices; N.

135
Q

garrulous

A

loquacious; wordy; talkative; N. garrulity

136
Q

gastronomy

A

art and science of preparing and serving good food; CF. gastronome

137
Q

gauche

A

clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth

138
Q

gaudy

A

flashy; showy

139
Q

flashy

A

showy; gaudy; giving a momentary brilliance

140
Q

gild

A

cover with a thin layer of gold

141
Q

gaunt

A

lean and angular; thin and bony; emaciated; barren

142
Q

gavel

A

hammerlike tool; mallet(wooden hammer) used by a presiding officer or an auctioneer; V.

143
Q

bid

A

command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom

144
Q

gawk

A

stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe

145
Q

gazette

A

official periodical publication; newspaper

146
Q

genealogy

A

record of descent; lineage; ancestry; study of ancestry

147
Q

generality

A

vague statement; general statement which is not detailed; quality of being general; greater part; most; Ex. generality of people

148
Q

generate

A

cause; produce; create

149
Q

generic

A

characteristic of an entire class or species; of a genus

150
Q

genus

A

division of animals or plants, below a family and above a species

151
Q

genesis

A

beginning; origin

152
Q

geniality

A

cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy; ADJ. genial: cheerful and good-tempered

153
Q

genre

A

particular variety of art or literature

154
Q

genteel

A

well-bred; elegant; striving to convey an appearance of refinement; Ex. genteel poverty

155
Q

gentility

A

those of gentle birth; high social class; refinement; quality of being genteel

156
Q

breed

A

produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an undesirable condition); N: kind or sort of animal or plant

157
Q

crossbreed

A

hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed

158
Q

well-bred

A

of good upbringing; well-mannered and refined

159
Q

gentry

A

people of standing(rank or position); people of good family or high social position; class of people just below nobility

160
Q

gentle

A

kindly; soft; mild; of good family

161
Q

genuflect

A

bend the knee as in worship

162
Q

germane

A

pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with) the case at hand; appropriate

163
Q

germinal

A

pertaining to a germ; creative; Ex. germinal idea

164
Q

germ

A

earliest form of an organism; seed or bud; something that may develop into something larger or more important; microbe

165
Q

germinate

A

cause to sprout; sprout

166
Q

sprout

A

begin to grow; give off shoots or buds; N: new growth on a plant; shoot

167
Q

shoot

A

new growth from a plant

168
Q

gerontocracy

A

government ruled by old people

169
Q

gerontology

A

study of the sociological phenomena associated with old age

170
Q

geriatrics

A

medical treatment and care of old age

171
Q

gerrymander

A

change voting district lines in order to favor a political party; N. CF. Elbridge Gerry + (sala)mander

172
Q

gestate

A

evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period of development from conception until birth

173
Q

natal

A

connected with birth; CF. prenatal; CF. postnatal

174
Q

gesticulation

A

motion; gesture; V. gesticulate: make gestures (while speaking)

175
Q

ghastly

A

horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast

176
Q

gibberish

A

nonsense; nonsensical or unintelligible talk or writing; babbling

177
Q

gibe

A

mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks

178
Q

giddy

A

light-hearted; not serious; frivolous; dizzy; causing dizziness; Ex. giddy youth; Ex. giddy climb/height

179
Q

gingerly

A

very carefully; ADJ.

180
Q

girth

A

distance around something; circumference

181
Q

gist

A

essence; main point; substance

182
Q

glacial

A

like a glacier; of an ice age; extremely cold; Ex. glacial epoch; CF. iceberg

183
Q

glaring

A

(of something bad) highly conspicuous; harshly bright; shining intensely and blindingly

184
Q

glare

A

shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and angrily; N.

185
Q

glaze

A

cover with a thin and shiny surface; apply a glaze to; N: thin, smooth, shiny coating (as for pottery); Ex. unglazed pottery

186
Q

glean

A

gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or information) often with difficulty

187
Q

glib

A

fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick

188
Q

slick

A

make smooth or glossy; N: smooth surface; Ex. oil slick; ADJ: smooth; glossy; deftly executed; adroit; glib

189
Q

sleek

A

smooth and shining (as from good health); V.

190
Q

glimmer

A

shine erratically; twinkle; N: dim or unsteady light; faint indication; Ex. glimmer of hope

191
Q

glitter

A

shine brightly with flashing points of light; Ex. glittering diamond ring; N: sparkling light; attractiveness; glamor; Ex. glitter of the sun on the waves

192
Q

glamor

A

compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous

193
Q

gloat

A

express evil satisfaction; look at or think about with evil satisfaction; view malevolently; Ex. The thief gloated over the stolen jewels.

194
Q

gloss_over

A

explain away with the intention of deceiving or hiding faults

195
Q

gloss

A

brief explanation note or translation of a difficult expression; V.

196
Q

glossary

A

brief explanation of words used in the text

197
Q

glossy

A

smooth and shining; N. gloss: shiny brightness on a surface; superficially attractive appearance; Ex. gloss of good manners

198
Q

mat

A

not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as a floor covering; V.

199
Q

finish

A

surface texture; completeness of execution

200
Q

finished

A

properly made and complete; Ex. finished product/performance

Barron GRE (24 decks)

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