Deck007

Question 1

pro·fuse ​

adjective
BrE /prəˈfjuːs/
NAmE /prəˈfjuːs/

Answer 1

produced in large amounts
 profuse apologies/​thanks
 profuse bleeding

Question 2

pious ​

adjective
BrE /ˈpaɪəs/
NAmE /ˈpaɪəs/

Answer 2

1 having or showing a deep respect for God and religion
➔ SYNONYM ​devout
 pious acts
➔ OPPOSITE ​impious
➔ SEE ALSO ​piety
2 (disapproving) pretending to be religious, moral or good in order to impress other people
➔ SYNONYM ​sanctimonious
 pious sentiments
 He dismissed his critics as pious do-gooders.
 a rather pious and condescending smile
3 pious hope something that you want to happen but is unlikely to be achieved
 Such reforms seem likely to remain little more than pious hopes.

Question 3

ob·scure

​adjective
BrE /əbˈskjʊə(r)/
NAmE /əbˈskjʊr/

Answer 3

1 not well known
➔ SYNONYM ​unknown
 an obscure German poet
 We went to see one of Shakespeareʼs more obscure plays.
 He was born around 1650 but his origins remain obscure.
 The origins of the tradition have become obscure.
2 difficult to understand
 I found her lecture very obscure.
 For some obscure reason, he failed to turn up.
 The meaning of his comment was obscure to everyone but himself.

Question 4

list·less ​

adjective
BrE /ˈlɪstləs/
NAmE /ˈlɪstləs/

Answer 4

having no energy or enthusiasm
➔ SYNONYM ​lethargic
 The illness left her feeling listless and depressed.

Question 5

in·nov·ate ​

verb
BrE /ˈɪnəveɪt/
NAmE /ˈɪnəveɪt/
[intransitive, transitive]

Answer 5

to introduce new things, ideas or ways of doing something
 We must constantly adapt and innovate to ensure success in a growing market.
 innovate something to innovate new products

Question 6

in·ces·sant ​

adjective
BrE /ɪnˈsesnt/
NAmE /ɪnˈsesnt/
usually disapproving

Answer 6

never stopping
➔ SYNONYM ​constant
 incessant noise/​rain/​chatter
 incessant meetings

Question 7

tir·ade ​

noun
BrE /taɪˈreɪd/
NAmE /ˈtaɪreɪd/

Answer 7

tirade (against somebody/​something) a long angry speech criticizing somebody/​something or accusing somebody of something
 She launched into a tirade of abuse against politicians.

Question 8

quan·dary ​

```
noun
BrE /ˈkwɒndəri/
NAmE /ˈkwɑːndəri/
[usually singular]
pl. quan·daries
~~~

Answer 8

the state of not being able to decide what to do in a difficult situation
➔ SYNONYM ​dilemma
 George was in a quandary—should he go or shouldnʼt he?
 This placed the government in something of a quandary.

Question 9

om·in·ous ​

adjective
BrE /ˈɒmɪnəs/
NAmE /ˈɑːmɪnəs/

Answer 9

suggesting that something bad is going to happen in the future
➔ SYNONYM ​foreboding
 There were ominous dark clouds gathering overhead.
 She picked up the phone but there was an ominous silence at the other end.
 Things looked ominous for Susan.

Question 10

lucid ​

adjective
BrE /ˈluːsɪd/
NAmE /ˈluːsɪd/

Answer 10

1 clearly expressed; easy to understand
➔ SYNONYM ​clear
 a lucid style/​explanation
2 able to think clearly, especially during or after a period of illness or confusion
 In a rare lucid moment, she looked at me and smiled.

Question 11

in·ter·min·able ​

adjective
BrE /ɪnˈtɜːmɪnəbl/
NAmE /ɪnˈtɜːrmɪnəbl/

Answer 11

lasting a very long time and therefore boring or annoying
➔ SYNONYM ​endless
 an interminable speech/​wait/​discussion
 The drive seemed interminable.

Question 12

inane ​

adjective
BrE /ɪˈneɪn/
NAmE /ɪˈneɪn/

Answer 12

stupid or silly; with no meaning
 an inane remark
 The last question was especially inane.
 I wish youʼd stop making these inane remarks!

Question 13

super·fi·cial ​

adjective
BrE /ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃl/ , /ˌsjuːpəˈfɪʃl/
NAmE /ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃl/

Answer 13

1 (often disapproving) not studying or looking at something thoroughly; seeing only what is obvious
 a superficial analysis
 The book shows only a superficial understanding of the historical context.
2 appearing to be true, real or important until you look at it more carefully
 superficial differences/​similarities
 When you first meet her, she gives a superficial impression of warmth and friendliness.
 The movie bears a fairly superficial resemblance to the original novel.
3 (of a wound or damage) only affecting the surface and therefore not serious
 a superficial injury
 superficial burns
4 (disapproving) not concerned with anything serious or important and lacking any depth of understanding or feeling
➔ SYNONYM ​shallow
 a superficial friendship
 The guests engaged in superficial chatter.
 Sheʼs so superficial!
5 (specialist) of or on the surface of something
 superficial veins
 a superficial deposit of acidic soils

Question 14

static ​

adjective
BrE /ˈstætɪk/
NAmE /ˈstætɪk/

Answer 14

1 not moving, changing or developing
 The balance sheet provides a static picture of the financial position at a point in time.
 Prices on the stock market, which have been static, are now rising again.
 a static population level
2 (physics) (of a force) acting as a weight but not producing movement
 static pressure
➔ OPPOSITE ​dynamic

Question 15

ser·vile ​

adjective
BrE /ˈsɜːvaɪl/
NAmE /ˈsɜːrvl/ , /ˈsɜːvaɪl/
disapproving

Answer 15

wanting too much to please somebody and obey them

 Parents have no right to demand servile obedience from their children.

Question 16

re·vere ​

verb
BrE /rɪˈvɪə(r)/
NAmE /rɪˈvɪr/

Answer 16

[usually passive] revere somebody (as something) (formal) to feel great respect or admiration for somebody/​something
➔ SYNONYM ​idolize
 Her name is revered in Spain.
 He is now revered as a national hero.

Question 17

laud ​

verb
BrE /lɔːd/
NAmE /lɔːd/

Answer 17

laud somebody/​something (formal) to praise somebody/​something
 He was lauded for his courage.

Question 18

lan·guid ​

adjective
BrE /ˈlæŋɡwɪd/
NAmE /ˈlæŋɡwɪd/

Answer 18

moving slowly in an elegant manner, not needing energy or effort
 a languid wave of the hand
 a languid afternoon in the sun

Question 19

usurp ​

verb
BrE /juːˈzɜːp/
NAmE /juːˈzɜːrp/

Answer 19

usurp somebody/​something (formal) to take somebodyʼs position and/​or power without having the right to do this

Question 20

tacit ​

adjective
BrE /ˈtæsɪt/
NAmE /ˈtæsɪt/
[usually before noun]

Answer 20

that is suggested indirectly or understood, rather than said in words
 tacit approval/​support/​knowledge
 By tacit agreement, the subject was never mentioned again.

Question 21

oner·ous ​

adjective
BrE /ˈəʊnərəs/
NAmE /ˈɑːnərəs/ , /ˈoʊnərəs/
formal

Answer 21

needing great effort; causing trouble or worry
➔ SYNONYM ​taxing
 an onerous duty/​task/​responsibility

Question 22

mol·lify ​

verb
BrE /ˈmɒlɪfaɪ/
NAmE /ˈmɑːlɪfaɪ/

Answer 22

mollify somebody (formal) to make somebody feel less angry or upset
➔ SYNONYM ​placate
 His explanation failed to mollify her.

Question 23

mawk·ish ​

adjective
BrE /ˈmɔːkɪʃ/
NAmE /ˈmɔːkɪʃ/
disapproving

Answer 23

expressing or sharing emotion in a way that is exaggerated or embarrassing
➔ SYNONYM ​sentimental
 a mawkish poem

Question 24

im·pe·cu·ni·ous ​

adjective
BrE /ˌɪmpɪˈkjuːniəs/
NAmE /ˌɪmpɪˈkjuːniəs/
formal or humorous

Answer 24

having little or no money
➔ SYNONYM ​penniless, poor
 an impecunious student

Question 25

ag·grand·ize·ment
(British English also -ise·ment)

​noun
BrE /əˈɡrændɪzmənt/ 
NAmE /əˈɡrændɪzmənt/ 
[uncountable]
(formal, disapproving)

Answer 25

an increase in the power or importance of a person or country
 Her sole aim is personal aggrandizement.
 He was a strong and greedy monarch who pursued a course of military aggrandizement from the beginning of his reign.