C words Flashcards
cad
a man who behaves dishonorably, esp. toward a woman
caitiff
a contemptible or cowardly person.
calorimeter
An apparatus for measuring the amount of heat involved in a chemical reaction or other process
calypso
a kind of West Indian (originally Trinidadian) music in syncopated African rhythm, typically with words improvised on a topical theme.
camaraderie
goodwill among friends, amity
candor
openness, honest
candy striper
a teenage girl who does volunteer nursing in a hospital.
canker sore
an ulcerous condition or disease, in particular
cantankerous
quarrelsome, ill-tempered, contentious, antagonistic, pugnacious
cantle
the raised, curved part at the back of a horse’s saddle.
caprice
a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior
capricious
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.
captious
(of a person) tending to find fault or raise petty objections.
carangid
a marine fish of the jack family (Carangidae), whose members typically have a sloping forehead and two dorsal fins.
carny
a person who works in a carnival or amusement show.
castigate
to criticize or punish severely
caucus
A group of people with an organization with shared interests; or a meeting of the members of a legislative body who are members of a particular political party, to select candidates or decide policy.
cenacle
The room in which the Last Supper was held; or group of people, such as a discussion group or literary clique.
censor
to prevent publication of
censure
to criticize, denounce, castigate, decry
chad
a piece of waste material removed from card or tape by punching.
chaste
abstaining from extramarital, or from all, sexual intercourse.
chateau
a large French country house or castle often giving its name to wine made in its neighborhood.
chirk
make a shrill creaking, squeaking, or noise, as of a door, mouse, or bird
chivvy
tell (someone) repeatedly to do something.
chlamydia
a very small parasitic bacterium that, like a virus, requires the biochemical mechanisms of another cell in order to reproduce. Bacteria of this type cause various diseases including trachoma, psittacosis, and nonspecific urethritis.
chromatography
The separation of a mixture by passing it in solution or suspension or as a vapor (as in gas chromatography) through a medium in which the components move at different rates.
Chunnel
short for Channel Tunnel
circumspection
caution
circumvolute
Twisted around; rolled about; or to wind in an inward spiral
civil
polite, courteous
clef
any of several symbols placed at the left-hand end of a staff, indicating the pitch of the notes written on it.
clemency
mercy; gentleness in punishment
clerisy
a distinct class of learned or literary people.
coalesce
to unite, come together
cognizant
aware
coherent
consistent; logically connected
colorcast
A television program broadcast in color.
commend
to praise, extol
commodious
roomy
compatible
capable of working in harmony
competent
capable; sufficiently skilled, proficient
comprehensible
capable of being understood
comptroller
a controller (used in the title of some financial officers)
conciliate
to calm, comfort, appease, mollify, placate
conflate
combine (two or more texts, ideas, etc.) into one.
conform
to fit in; to act in agreement with
confound
to confuse
congeal
to solidify, freeze, jell
consequence
result, outcome
conservative
traditional; opposed to change
consolidate
to join together, merge, coalesce
conspicuous
obvious, readily apparent, flagrant, obtrusive
contemporary
Belonging to the present or (of two things) living or occurring at the same time
contempt
strong dislike, scorn, disdain
contend
to claim, argue
contentious
quarrelsome, fond of arguing, cantankerous, pugnacious
contract
to make or become smaller, diminish, taper
contralto
the lowest female singing voice.
contrite
feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt.
conventional
traditional, ordinary, orthodox
conviction
a firm belief
convoluted
complex
copious
abundant in supply or quantity.
cordial
warm and friendly.
corrugated
covered with grooves or ridges
corrupt
Having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain; or (to make or to be) unreliable (typically of technology)
countertenor
The highest adult male singing voice.
cozy
giving a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation.
cryptic
secret, mysterious
culpable
guilty; blameworthy, reprehensible
cultivate
to grow; to improve
cursory
hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
