Deck005 Flashcards
ef·face
verb
BrE /ɪˈfeɪs/
NAmE /ɪˈfeɪs/
efface something (formal) to make something disappear; to remove something ➔ SEE ALSO self-effacing
dole·ful
adjective
BrE /ˈdəʊlfl/
NAmE /ˈdoʊlfl/
very sad
➔ SYNONYM mournful
a doleful expression/face/song
a doleful looking man
dis·tend
verb
BrE /dɪˈstend/
NAmE /dɪˈstend/
[intransitive, transitive] distend (something) (formal or medical) to swell or make something swell because of pressure from inside
starving children with huge distended bellies
He tied a piece of cloth around his upper arm to impede circulation and distend the veins.
She looked very ill and her belly was horribly distended.
dis·si·pate
verb
BrE /ˈdɪsɪpeɪt/
NAmE /ˈdɪsɪpeɪt/
formal
1 [intransitive, transitive] to gradually become or make something become weaker until it disappears
Eventually, his anger dissipated.
dissipate something Her laughter soon dissipated the tension in the air.
2 [transitive] dissipate something to waste something, such as time or money, especially by not planning the best way of using it
➔ SYNONYM squander
She was determined to achieve results and not to dissipate her energies.
dis·sem·ble
verb
BrE /dɪˈsembl/
NAmE /dɪˈsembl/
[intransitive, transitive] dissemble (something) (formal) to hide your real feelings or intentions, often by pretending to have different ones
She was a very honest person who was incapable of dissembling.
dis·comfit
verb
BrE /dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/
NAmE /dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/
[often passive] discomfit somebody (literary) to make somebody feel confused or embarrassed
He was not noticeably discomfited by the request.
des·pot
noun
BrE /ˈdespɒt/
NAmE /ˈdespɑːt/
a ruler with great power, especially one who uses it in a cruel way
an enlightened despot (= one who tries to use his/her power in a good way)
It is the story of a military coup which brings a brutal despot to power.
dec·or·ous
adjective
BrE /ˈdekərəs/
NAmE /ˈdekərəs/
formal
polite and appropriate in a particular social situation; not shocking
➔ SYNONYM proper
a decorous kiss
curt
adjective
BrE /kɜːt/
NAmE /kɜːrt/
(of a personʼs manner or behaviour) appearing rude because very few words are used, or because something is done in a very quick way
➔ SYNONYM abrupt, brusque
a curt reply
a curt nod
A curt note of rejection arrived from the company director.
His tone was curt and unfriendly.
She dismissed him with a curt nod of the head.
She ignored the curt order.
curs·ory
adjective
BrE /ˈkɜːsəri/
NAmE /ˈkɜːrsəri/
often disapproving
done quickly and without giving enough attention to details
➔ SYNONYM brief, perfunctory
a cursory glance/examination/inspection
He gave the report a rather cursory look.
culp·able
adjective
BrE /ˈkʌlpəbl/
NAmE /ˈkʌlpəbl/
formal
responsible and deserving blame for having done something wrong
The accident was the result of a culpable failure to consider the risks involved.
She believed him culpable of murder.
The prime minister is highly culpable in this affair.
You are equally culpable in this affair
cor·rob·or·ate
verb BrE /kəˈrɒbəreɪt/ NAmE /kəˈrɑːbəreɪt/ [transitive, intransitive, often passive] corroborate (something) (formal)
to provide evidence or information that supports a statement, theory, etc.
➔ SYNONYM confirm
The evidence was corroborated by two independent witnesses.
corroborating evidence
co·pi·ous
adjective
BrE /ˈkəʊpiəs/
NAmE /ˈkoʊpiəs/
in large amounts ➔ SYNONYM abundant copious (= large) amounts of water I took copious notes. She supports her theory with copious evidence.
con·viv·ial
adjective
BrE /kənˈvɪviəl/
NAmE /kənˈvɪviəl/
cheerful and friendly in atmosphere or character
➔ SYNONYM sociable
a convivial evening/atmosphere
convivial company
Alan was convivial, affable and engaging.
We passed a convivial evening at the McCabesʼ house.
con·tra·vene
verb
BrE /ˌkɒntrəˈviːn/
NAmE /ˌkɑːntrəˈviːn/
contravene something (formal) to do something that is not allowed by a law or rule
➔ SYNONYM infringe
The company was found guilty of contravening safety regulations.
actions that blatantly contravene the rules of civilized warfare
national policies which contravene European law
con·tin·ence
noun
BrE /ˈkɒntɪnəns/
NAmE /ˈkɑːntɪnəns/
[uncountable]
1 (formal) the control of your feelings, especially your desire to have sex
2 the ability to control the bladder and bowels
➔ OPPOSITE incontinence
con·sum·mate1
```
adjective
BrE /kənˈsʌmət/ , /ˈkɒnsəmət/
NAmE /ˈkɑːnsəmət/
[usually before noun]
formal
~~~
con·sum·mate1 adjective BrE /kənˈsʌmət/ , /ˈkɒnsəmət/ NAmE /ˈkɑːnsəmət/ [usually before noun] (formal) extremely skilled; perfect She was a consummate performer. He played the shot with consummate skill. (disapproving) a consummate liar
con·flag·ra·tion
noun
BrE /ˌkɒnfləˈɡreɪʃn/
NAmE /ˌkɑːnfləˈɡreɪʃn/
formal
a very large fire that destroys a lot of land or buildings
The fire services were not adequate to deal with major conflagrations.
com·punc·tion
noun
BrE /kəmˈpʌŋkʃn/
NAmE /kəmˈpʌŋkʃn/
[uncountable]
(also [C] in NAmE) compunction (about doing something) (formal) a guilty feeling about doing something
She felt no compunction about leaving her job.
He had lied to her without compunction.
(North American English) She has no compunctions about rejecting the plan.
com·pli·city
noun
BrE /kəmˈplɪsəti/
NAmE /kəmˈplɪsəti/
[uncountable] complicity (in something) (formal) the act of taking part with another person in a crime
➔ SYNONYM collusion
to be guilty of complicity in the murder
evident complicity between the two brothers
com·pli·ant
adjective
BrE /kəmˈplaɪənt/
NAmE /kəmˈplaɪənt/
1 (usually disapproving) too willing to agree with other people or to obey rules
By then, Henry seemed less compliant with his wifeʼs wishes than he had six months before.
We should not be producing compliant students who do not dare to criticize.
2 in agreement with a set of rules
This site is HTML compliant.
➔ SEE ALSO comply
col·lu·sion
```
noun
BrE /kəˈluːʒn/
NAmE /kəˈluːʒn/
[uncountable]
formal, disapproving
~~~
secret agreement especially in order to do something dishonest or to trick people
The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers.
There was collusion between the two witnesses (= they gave the same false evidence).
col·lo·quial
adjective
BrE /kəˈləʊkwiəl/
NAmE /kəˈloʊkwiəl/
(of words and language) used in conversation but not in formal speech or writing
➔ SYNONYM informal
co·gent
adjective
BrE /ˈkəʊdʒənt/
NAmE /ˈkoʊdʒənt/
formal
strongly and clearly expressed in a way that influences what people believe
➔ SYNONYM convincing
She put forward some cogent reasons for abandoning the plan.
cir·cum·lo·cu·tion
```
noun
BrE /ˌsɜːkəmləˈkjuːʃn/
NAmE /ˌsɜːrkəmləˈkjuːʃn/
[uncountable, countable]
formal
~~~
using more words than are necessary, instead of speaking or writing in a clear, direct way
