cambridge 12 test 8 Flashcards
intense
adj.
1.extreme and forceful or (of a feeling) very strong:
“He suddenly felt an intense pain in his back.”
2.Intense people are very serious, and usually have strong emotions or opinions:
“an intense young man”
hollow
adj.
1.having a hole or empty space inside.
“a hollow metal tube”
2.without real significance or value.
meaningless
“the result was a hollow victory”
guard
v.
1.watch over in order to protect or control.
“two men were left to guard the stockade”
2.protect against damage or harm.
“the company fiercely guarded its independence”.
collapse
1.(of a structure) suddenly fall down or give way.
cave in
“the roof collapsed on top of me”
2.(of a person) fall down and become unconscious as a result of illness or injury.
faint black out
“he collapsed from loss of blood”
onward(s)
adj.
1.in a continuing forward direction; ahead.
“she stumbled onward”
2.forward in time.
“the period from 1969 onward”
3.so as to make progress or become more successful.
“the business moved onward and upward”
reputation
n.
the opinion that people have of someone or something, based on past behaviour or character:
“The bank’s professional reputation was badly damaged by the affair.”
have a good/bad reputation “He had a very good reputation in the industry.
have a reputation as sth She has a reputation as a tough negotiator.”
have a reputation for (doing) sth “The company has a reputation for excellent customer care.”
earn/gain/build/develop a reputation
enhance/damage sb’s reputation
set up
1.place or erect something in position.
build construct
“police set up a roadblock on Lower Thames Street”
2.establish a business, institution, or other organization.
“she set up the business with a £4,000 bank loan”
counter
v.
1.to react to something with an opposing opinion or action, or to defend yourself against something:
counter with “After the government bombed their camp, the rebels countered with an attack on the capital.”
2.to react to something with an opposing opinion or action; to defend yourself against something:
“To counter the inaccuracies in the movie, researchers used computer models to project climate changes.”
refractive index
a measure of how much a particular substance refracts light
levy
v. and n.
impose (a tax, fee, or fine).
“a tax of two per cent was levied on all cargoes”
an amount of money, such as a tax, that you have to pay to a government or organization:
“They imposed a five percent levy on alcohol.”
advancement
n.
the development or improvement of something:
“All she was interested in was the advancement of her own career.”
an improvement relating to a particular activity or area of knowledge:
The President’s speech to the conference centered on the advancement of alternative fuel sources as a means of ensuring our future survival.
advancements in sth Nowadays, merger and acquisition transactions occur at a faster pace, due in part to advancements in communications.
technological/economic/medical advancement
impressive
adj.
evoking admiration through size, quality, or skill; grand, imposing, or awesome.
magnificent majestic imposing splendid
“an impressive view of the mountains”
cut off
1.remove something using a sharp implement.
“once the loaf is out of the oven, it’s very tempting to cut off a piece to try”
2.stop the provision of something, especially power or water.
“the electricity has been cut off within the hotel”
operate
to (cause to) work, be in action or have an effect:
“How do you operate the remote control unit?”
fiercely
adj.
extremely; very strongly:
He’s fiercely committed to excellence in education.
in a frightening, violent, or powerful way:
“to growl/fight fiercely”
“to burn fiercely”
feature
n. v.
1.a distinctive attribute or aspect of something. characteristic; trait
“a well-appointed house with interesting decorative features”
2.to include someone or something as an important part:
The movie features James Dean as a disaffected teenager.
concern
(diff. meanings)
1.relate to; be about.
“the story concerns a friend of mine”
2.make (someone) anxious or worried.
“the roof of the barn concerns me because eventually it will fall in”
noun
1.anxiety; worry.
“Carole gazed at her with concern”
2.a matter of interest or importance to someone.
responsibility; affair
“housing is the concern of the Housing Executive”
landfill
the process of getting rid of large amounts of rubbish by burying it, or a place where rubbish is buried:
90 percent of American rubbish is dumped in landfill sites.
waste that is buried in the ground in large amounts:
“Landfill is a long-term pollutant.”
quarry
n. v.
1.noun karyer
a place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are or have been extracted.
“a limestone quarry”
2.verb
extract (stone or other materials) from a quarry.
“limestone is quarried for use in blast furnaces”
presume
to believe something to be true because it is very likely, although you are not certain:
[ + (that) ] I presume (that) they’re not coming, since they haven’t replied to the invitation.
[ + speech ] You are Dr Smith, I presume?
“Are we walking to the hotel?” “I presume not/so.”
2.to be rude by doing something you know that you do not have a right to do:
[ + to infinitive ] How can you presume to criticize me when you did the same thing yourself?
take up
(diff. meanings)
1.become interested or engaged in a pursuit.
become involved/interested in
engage in
“she took up tennis at the age of 11”
2.occupy time, space, or attention.
“I don’t want to take up any more of your time”
pursue
1.to follow someone or something, usually to try to catch him, her, or it:
“The car was pursued by helicopters.”
“The hunters spent hours pursuing their prey.”
2.to try to discover information about a subject:
“We will not be pursuing this matter any further.”
“The police are currently pursuing several lines of inquiry into the case”
speckled
adj.
covered or marked with a large number of small spots or patches of colour.
“a large speckled brown egg”
wear (smth) away
to become thin and disappear after repeated use or rubbing, or to cause something to become thin and disappear in this way:
In some diseases, the protective layer in a joint wears away.
stubby
adj.
short and thick.
“Bob pointed with a stubby finger”
denude
to remove the covering of something, especially land:
The countryside has been denuded by war.
denude something of something
Drought and years of heavy grazing by sheep have completely denuded the hills of grass.
to remove a valuable possession or quality:
Any further cuts in the country’s armed forces would leave its defences dangerously denuded.
retain
v.
1.continue to have (something); keep possession of.
“built in 1830, the house retains many of its original features”
resonate
1.to produce or be filled with clear, continuing sound:
“The noise of the bell resonated through the building.”
2.If you resonate with something, it feels true or has meaning for you:
She spoke about both doubting herself and believing in herself, and I definitely resonate with that.
3.If an experience or memory resonates, it makes you feel an emotional connection:
Her experiences resonate powerfully with me, living, as I do, in a similar family situation.
niche(s)
1.a comfortable or suitable position in life or employment.
opportunity ideal position
“he is now a partner at a leading law firm and feels he has found his niche”
arbitrary
adj.
based on a desire or idea or chance rather than reason:
Her outfit was an arbitrary choice but was just perfect.
