C2 Flashcards
cleave
split or sever (something), esp. along a natural line or grain: the large ax his father used to cleave wood for the fire.
• split (a molecule) by breaking a particular chemical bond.
• make a way through (something) forcefully, as if by splitting it apart: they watched a coot cleave the smooth water | Stan was off, cleaving a path through the traffic | [ no obj. ] : an unstoppable warrior clove through their ranks.
• [ no obj. ] Biology (of a cell) divide: the egg cleaves to form a mulberry-shaped cluster of cells.
stick fast to: Rose’s mouth was dry, her tongue cleaving to the roof of her mouth.
• adhere strongly to (a particular pursuit or belief): part of why we cleave to sports is that excellence is so measurable.
• become very strongly involved with or emotionally attached to (someone): it was his choice to cleave to the Brownings.
climactic
exciting or thrilling and acting as a climax to a series of events: the film’s climactic scenes.
clique
a small group of people, with shared interests or other features in common, who spend time together and do not readily allow others to join them.
cloud nine
Cloud nine or on cloud nine is an idiom referring to a state of elation or happiness.
clout
noun
1 informal - a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object: a clout on the ear.
2 informal - influence or power, esp. in politics or business: I knew he carried a lot of clout.
3 archaic - a piece of cloth or clothing, esp. one used as a patch.
4 Archery - a target used in long-distance shooting, placed flat on the ground with a flag marking its center.
• a shot that hits such a target.
verb [ with obj. ]
1 informal hit hard with the hand or a hard object: I clouted him on the head.
2 archaic mend with a patch.
clutch
verb [ with obj. ]
grasp or seize (something) tightly or eagerly: he stood clutching a microphone | [ no obj. ] figurative : Mrs. Longhill clutched at the idea.
noun
a tight grasp or an act of grasping something: she made a clutch at his body.
• (someone’s clutches) a person’s power or control, esp. when perceived as cruel or inescapable: she escaped the clutches of her temperamental family.
a slim, flat handbag without handles or a strap.
a mechanism for connecting and disconnecting a vehicle engine from its transmission system.
cocksure
arrogantly confident.
coin
noun
a flat, typically round piece of metal with an official stamp, used as money.
nvent or devise (a new word or phrase): he coined the term “desktop publishing.”
collage
a piece of art made by sticking various different materials such as photographs and pieces of paper or fabric onto a backing.
• the art of making collages.
• a combination or collection of various things.
collateral
something pledged as security for repayment of a loan, to be forfeited in the event of a defaul
additional but subordinate; secondary: the collateral meanings of a word.
descended from the same stock but by a different line: a collateral descendant of George Washington.
situated side by side; parallel: collateral veins.
colloquy
religious or formal conversation
comatose
unconsciousness
commandeer
officially take possession or control of (something), esp. for military purposes: telegraph and telephone lines were commandeered by the generals.
• take possession of (something) without authority: he hoisted himself onto a table, commandeering it as a speaker’s platform.
commingle
mix; blend: the dust had commingled with the rain
commiserate
express or feel sympathy or pity; sympathize: she went over to commiserate with Rose on her unfortunate circumstances.
