Brainscape Bot Deck 15 Flashcards
noun
a small, brown bird that is known for its beautiful singing
The kids hid their teacher’s bike for a ____.
I don’t really think I’m suited to this marriage ____.
I’ve had enough of this commuting ____.
He started hang-gliding years ago as a ____.
lark
adjective
interesting and exciting, especially because of being mysterious:
More _______ details of their private life were revealed.
a _______ mixture of spices
a _______ sauce
piquant
verb
to sell something, especially a business or a part of a business:
The company is ______ing its less profitable business operations.
She has ______ed herself of (= sold) some of her share-holdings.
He had encouraged the state to ______ such holdings.
The company has ______ed itself of some of its money-losing operations.
The company will be ______ing some assets that no longer fit its profile.
We have made a decision to ______ from the hotel and casinos business to focus more on drinks sales.
sell: Are you selling your car?
retail: The company makes and retails moderately priced sportswear.
deal in: They mainly deal in rare books.
______: US The investors ______ed themselves of the company’s stock.
sell off: The company is selling off the less profitable parts of its business.
divest
adverb
in a way that is wary (= not completely trusting or certain):
She eyed the dog ______, afraid it might jump.
It is quite wrong that he should have to tread ______ while others speak their minds.
warily
verb
to begin a discussion of something difficult:
At some point we’ve got to discuss money but I don’t know how to ______ the subject with him.
Shall we ______ another cask of wine?
He hopes they will sponsor the poetry event, but he hasn’t ______ed the subject with them yet.
broach
adjective
connected with marriage or the relationship between two married people, especially their sexual relationship:
________ happiness
Some prisoners who want to start a family are to be permitted ________ visits.
Prisoners are allowed ________ visits.
conjugal
noun
something that encourages a particular activity or makes that activity more energetic or effective:
The recent publicity surrounding homelessness has given (a) fresh _______ to the cause.
Often the _______ for change in education has had to come from outside the school establishment.
impetus
adjective
continuing without any possibility of being stopped:
the __________ progress of science
Aging is an __________ process.
inexorable
adjective
worried:
He didn’t seem unduly/overly _________ by the news.
Ms. McCurdy was too _________ to pay attention.
worried: I’m worried that he’s not going to graduate.
concerned: Aren’t you concerned that she might tell someone?
_________: He didn’t seem unduly _________ by the news.
fretful: She got a fretful night’s sleep after the dreadful news.
anxious: All this waiting is making me anxious.
apprehensive: He’s a bit apprehensive about leaving home.
perturbed
noun
an area of land that is not used for growing crops, where grass and other small plants grow, but where there are few trees or bushes
heath
noun
a long, thin piece of material, especially leather, that helps you to control and direct a horse:
You pull on both ____s to stop or slow a horse, but only the left ____ to turn left.
I always put my son on ____s when we go shopping.
These are the councillors who hold the ____s of power.
He handed the ____s to his successor.
I am retiring, and someone else can take over the ____s.
have free ____ We were told we had free ____ on questions of design.
give sb/sth free ____ (to do sth) She was given free ____ to make all the changes she wanted.
This is a post which will give your talents full ____.
It’s a task that requires you to allow full ____ to your imagination.
We need to keep a tight ____ on the advertising budget.
rein
verb
to make unpleasant feelings less strong:
The government has tried to _______ the public’s fears.
assuage
noun
a large fire that causes a lot of damage
The government has turned a minor local problem into a full-blown regional _____________.
conflagration
noun
a bird with a short tail and long legs that is found mainly by the sea or in areas covered with grass
plover
adjective
very thin and weak, usually because of illness or extreme hunger:
There were pictures of _________ children on the cover of the magazine.
thin: She’s on a diet but I think she’s already too thin.
skinny: You should eat more. You’re much too skinny.
scrawny: He hated his scrawny legs.
slim: He was tall, very slim, with pale, deep-set eyes.
slender: He put his arms around her slender waist.
emaciated
verb
to (cause to) move gently through the air:
A gentle breeze ____ed the scent of roses in through the open window.
The sound of a flute ____ed down the stairs.
Caroline caught the heady ____ of the other woman’s perfume.
A ____ of smoke engulfed her.
[ I always + adv/prep ] A warm breeze ____ed through the city.
waft
adjective
not showing emotions or thoughts and therefore very difficult to understand or get to know:
an ___________ face/expression/smile
an ___________ smile
He believes that a certain portion of life must remain ___________.
inscrutable
adverb
in a way that is impossible to remove by washing or in any other way:
Ink had _________ stained his shirt pocket.
When you visit another country, your entry and departure dates will be _________ marked in your passport.
The date was stamped _________ on his memory.
Their names are _________ printed in tennis history.
indelibly
adjective
very shiny:
long, ________ hair
lustrous
verb
to run and jump in a happy way:
Lambs were ______ling (about/around) in the spring sunshine.
gambol
adjective
belonging or relating to a religion that worships many gods, especially one that existed before the main world religions:
a _____ religion
The Easter egg has both _____ and Christian origins.
The wedding was a _____ ceremony held in a forest.
a _____ festival
Originally _____s, the Anglo-Saxons were a Germanic people who invaded Britain in the fifth and sixth centuries.
They are trying to stop some _____s from doing a nature ceremony.
It is the nonjudgmental nature of _____s that drew her to them.
Those altars were used in _____ worship.
pagan
noun
any Christian priest
parson
noun
a large branch of a tree
bough
verb
to criticize strongly:
I had to listen to Michael ________ing against the government.
fulminate
noun
a length of wool or thread collected together into the shape of a loose ring
skein
noun
the fact that someone deserves to be blamed or considered responsible for something bad:
After the accident, the company refused to accept ___________.
The Army denied any ___________, but later compensated owners.
culpability
adjective
used to say that someone is strong, brave, determined, and difficult to defeat or frighten:
The ___________ Mrs Furlong said she would continue to fight for justice.
an ___________ spirit/will
indomitable
verb
to show or state that someone or something is not guilty of something:
The report _________d the crew from all responsibility for the collision.
The police officer was _________d by a grand jury, but the protests continued.
We have proof which will completely _________ him.
_________ sb from sth I do not wholly _________ her from blame.
He spent much of the rest of his life seeking ________ion.
innocent: I don’t know if they are innocent or guilty.
blameless: She is not entirely blameless in the matter.
guiltless: He’s not exactly guiltless in this matter - she helped the robber escape.
acquitted: The two men were acquitted of her murder.
_________d: The _________d prisoners banded together and sued the judge who had falsely convicted all of them.
exonerate
adjective
lasting for only a short time:
the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ nature of life the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ nature of life A growing proportion of the population are in a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ stage between paid employment and old age. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ factors/issues a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ phase/period
short: He received a short jail sentence.
quick: I need to make a quick phone call - I’ll be right back.
brief: We had a brief chat this morning.
short and sweet: The business meeting was short and sweet.
momentary: It was just a momentary lapse in judgment - I won’t do it again.
transitory
verb
When the sea or tide ___s, it moves away from the coast and falls to a lower level.
He could feel his strength ___ing (away).
We’ll sail on the ___.
He could feel his strength ___ing (away).
ebb
adjective
serious, boring, and slightly old-fashioned:
In an attempt to change its _____ image, the newspaper has created a new section aimed at younger readers.
She never adjusted to her husband’s _____ lifestyle.
staid
noun
a circle made of flowers and leaves worn around the neck or head as a decoration:
a _______ of white roses
They _______ed the visitors with scented flowers.
garland
adjective
very shiny:
long, ________ hair
lustrous
noun
a deep, narrow crack, especially in rock or the earth
fissure
adjective
expressed too often to be interesting or seem sincere:
His lyrics about love and peace are too _____ for me to take them seriously.
I know it will sound _____, but I’ve loved being part of this club.
Even good acting couldn’t make up for the _____ story.
trite
noun
an object or collection of objects wrapped in paper, especially so that it can be sent by post:
a food ______
The ______ was wrapped in plain brown paper.
a 60-acre ______
a food ______
a 50-acre ______ on Lake Mead
There were several ______s waiting for her in the post room.
The ______ of shares is worth between €2,000 and €3,000.
A 100-acre ______ in Texas was one of five sites selected for development.
parcel
adjective
used to describe beliefs that are strongly and sincerely felt or people who have strong and sincere beliefs:
a _______ supporter of the communist party
It is his _______ hope that a peaceful solution will soon be found.
She was a _______ supporter of art and culture.
I _______ly hope he’s right.
fervent
noun
a white, loose piece of clothing, worn over other clothing during religious ceremonies by some Christian priests and members of groups who sing in churches
surplice
verb
to persuade, attract, or interest someone, sometimes in order to deceive them :
He was completely _______d by her beauty.
The salesman _______d him into buying a car he didn’t want.
I had to show I was not _______d by his good looks.
a ______ing smile
beguile
verb
to walk through water or other liquid with some effort, because it is deep enough to come quite high up your legs, or thick :
The river was full but we managed to ____ across.
We ____d a shallow river.
They had to ____ through a swamp.
We rolled up our trousers and ____d at the edge of the lake.
We ____d across the stream.
They come to the creek and ____d in to drink.
wade
adjective
holding tightly onto something, or keeping an opinion in a determined way:
The baby took my finger in its _________ little fist.
There has been _________ local opposition to the new airport.
Seles is a _________ opponent – she never gives in.
They cling with admirable ______ty to their traditions.
tenacious
adjective
smelling or tasting very strong and sharp:
the _______ whiff of a goat
I sat down to a cup of wonderfully _______ Turkish coffee.
_______ criticism/commentary
She is very good at writing _______, funny dialogue.
_______ odors
pungent
adjective
bending or able to be bent easily; not stiff:
I’m not ______ enough (= my body doesn’t bend easily enough) to touch the floor.
The gloves were made of very ______ leather.
She has shown that she has a ______ mind.
We need a more ______ monetary policy.
His ______ fingers manipulated the needle with the utmost delicacy.
fig. Adams brings a ______ (= easily changing) voice to Mayfield’s songs.
supple
noun
loyalty and support for a ruler, country, group, or belief:
Soldiers have to swear __________ to the Crown/the King.
In many American schools, the students pledge __________ (to the flag) at the beginning of the school day.
As an Englishman who’d lived for a long time in France, he felt a certain conflict of __________s when the two countries played soccer.
[ U ] For many here, __________ to the local community comes first.
allegiance
adverb
in a way that shows quick and clever thinking, especially about business or financial matters:
They _______ backed out of the agreement just in time.
cannily
adjective
A _________ phrase or idea has been said or used so often that it has become boring and has no meaning:
The plot of the film is just a _________ boy-meets-girl scenario.
a _________ plot
hackneyed
noun
in cricket, a set of three vertical sticks with two small pieces of wood balanced across the top of them, at which the ball is aimed. There are two ______s on a cricket field.
Five ______s have fallen since tea time (= five players have been caused to finish their turn).
As a fast bowler, he took many ______s (= caused many players to finish their turns).
wicket
adjective
not showing emotions or thoughts and therefore very difficult to understand or get to know:
an ___________ face/expression/smile
an ___________ smile
He believes that a certain portion of life must remain ___________.
inscrutable
noun
a small tree that produces nuts that can be eaten
hazel
adjective
shining with a bright light:
the beauty of her _________ face
refulgent
