Deck008 Flashcards
cac·oph·ony
```
noun
BrE /kəˈkɒfəni/
NAmE /kəˈkɑːfəni/
[uncountable, singular]
formal
~~~
a mixture of loud unpleasant sounds
pit·tance
noun
BrE /ˈpɪtns/
NAmE /ˈpɪtns/
[usually singular]
a very small amount of money that somebody receives, for example as a wage, and that is hardly enough to live on
to pay somebody a pittance
to work for a pittance
She could barely survive on the pittance she received as a pension.
per·func·tory
adjective
BrE /pəˈfʌŋktəri/
NAmE /pərˈfʌŋktəri/
formal
(of an action) done as a duty or habit, without real interest, attention or feeling
a perfunctory nod/smile
They only made a perfunctory effort.
in·vec·tive
```
noun
BrE /ɪnˈvektɪv/
NAmE /ɪnˈvektɪv/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~
rude language and unpleasant remarks that somebody shouts when they are very angry
The gesture infuriated him and he let out a stream of invective.
a speech full of invective against the government
os·ten·ta·tious
adjective
BrE /ˌɒstenˈteɪʃəs/
NAmE /ˌɑːstenˈteɪʃəs/
1 (disapproving) expensive or noticeable in a way that is intended to impress people
➔ SYNONYM showy
ostentatious gold jewellery
2 (disapproving) behaving in a way that is meant to impress people by showing how rich, important, etc. you are
3 (of an action) done in a very obvious way so that people will notice it
He gave an ostentatious yawn.
zealot
noun
BrE /ˈzelət/
NAmE /ˈzelət/
often disapproving
a person who is extremely enthusiastic about something, especially religion or politics
➔ SYNONYM fanatic
terse
adjective
BrE /tɜːs/
NAmE /tɜːrs/
using few words and often not seeming polite or friendly
a terse style
The President issued a terse statement denying the charges.
Although he was terse, he didnʼt rage at me.
pro·di·gious
```
adjective
BrE /prəˈdɪdʒəs/
NAmE /prəˈdɪdʒəs/
[usually before noun]
formal
~~~
very large or powerful and causing surprise or admiration
➔ SYNONYM colossal, enormous
a prodigious achievement/memory/talent
DVDs can store prodigious amounts of information.
pre·clude
verb
BrE /prɪˈkluːd/
NAmE /prɪˈkluːd/
formal
to prevent something from happening or somebody from doing something; to make something impossible
preclude something Lack of time precludes any further discussion.
Your failure to become a member this year does not preclude the possibility of your applying next year.
preclude somebody from doing something My lack of interest in the subject precluded me from gaining much enjoyment out of it.
preclude (somebody) doing something His religious beliefs precluded him/his serving in the army.
We cannot have a system that precludes people from seeking independent legal advice.
par·ti·san
adjective
BrE /ˌpɑːtɪˈzæn/ , /ˈpɑːtɪzæn/
NAmE /ˈpɑːrtəzn/
(often disapproving) showing too much support for one person, group or idea, especially without considering it carefully
➔ SYNONYM one-sided
Most newspapers are politically partisan.
op·por·tun·ist
adjective BrE /ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪst/ NAmE /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnɪst/ (also op·por·tun·is·tic) [usually before noun] (often disapproving)
making use of an opportunity, especially to get an advantage for yourself; not done in a planned way
an opportunist crime
Smith marked his debut match with an opportunist goal.
ob·so·lete
adjective
BrE /ˈɒbsəliːt/
NAmE /ˌɑːbsəˈliːt/
no longer used because something new has been invented
➔ SYNONYM out of date
obsolete technology
With technological changes many traditional skills have become obsolete.
meagre
adjective
especially US English mea·ger
BrE /ˈmiːɡə(r)/
NAmE /ˈmiːɡər/
small in quantity and poor in quality
➔ SYNONYM paltry
a meagre diet of bread and water
She supplements her meagre income by cleaning at night.
in·sur·gent
adjective
BrE /ɪnˈsɜːdʒənt/
NAmE /ɪnˈsɜːrdʒənt/
formal
fighting against the government or armed forces of their own country
➔ SYNONYM rebellious
insurgent groups/attacks
in·sti·gate
verb
BrE /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪt/
NAmE /ˈɪnstɪɡeɪt/
formal
1 instigate something (especially British English) to make something start or happen, usually something official
➔ SYNONYM bring something 14 8 about
The government has instigated a programme of economic reform.
2 instigate something to cause something bad to happen
They were accused of instigating racial violence.
in·hibit
verb
BrE /ɪnˈhɪbɪt/
NAmE /ɪnˈhɪbɪt/
1 inhibit something (formal) to prevent something from happening or make it happen more slowly or less frequently than normal
A lack of oxygen may inhibit brain development in the unborn child.
Financial considerations are inhibiting access to higher education.
Alcohol significantly inhibits the action of the drug.
2 inhibit somebody (from something/from doing something) to make somebody nervous or embarrassed so that they are unable to do something
The managing directorʼs presence inhibited them from airing their problems.
The fear of dismissal inhibited employees from raising problems.
ten·acious
adjective
BrE /təˈneɪʃəs/
NAmE /təˈneɪʃəs/
formal
1 that does not stop holding something or give up something easily; determined
a tenacious grip
Sheʼs a tenacious woman. She never gives up.
The party has kept its tenacious hold on power for more than twenty years.
2 continuing to exist, have influence, etc. for longer than you might expect
➔ SYNONYM persistent
a tenacious illness
sup·press
verb
BrE /səˈpres/
NAmE /səˈpres/
1 suppress something (usually disapproving) (of a government, ruler, etc.) to put an end, often by force, to a group or an activity that is believed to threaten authority
➔ SYNONYM quash
The rebellion was brutally suppressed.
2 suppress something (usually disapproving) to prevent something from being published or made known
The police were accused of suppressing vital evidence.
3 suppress something to prevent yourself from having or expressing a feeling or an emotion
to suppress a smile
She was unable to suppress her anger.
He had suppressed the painful memories of his childhood.
4 suppress something to prevent something from growing, developing or continuing
pre·ten·tious
adjective
BrE /prɪˈtenʃəs/
NAmE /prɪˈtenʃəs/
disapproving
trying to appear important, intelligent, etc. in order to impress other people; trying to be something that you are not, in order to impress
Thatʼs a pretentious name for a dog!
It was just an ordinary house—nothing pretentious.
Heʼs so pretentious!
➔ COMPARE unpretentious
opu·lent
adjective
BrE /ˈɒpjələnt/
NAmE /ˈɑːpjələnt/
formal
1 made or decorated using expensive materials ➔ SYNONYM luxurious opulent fabrics/surroundings 2 (of people) extremely rich ➔ SYNONYM wealthy the opulent elite of Europe
nov·ice
noun
BrE /ˈnɒvɪs/
NAmE /ˈnɑːvɪs/
1 a person who is new and has little experience in a skill, job or situation
Iʼm a complete novice at skiing.
computer software for novices/the novice user
2 a person who has joined a religious group and is preparing to become a monk or a nun
3 a horse that has not yet won an important race
in·con·se·quen·tial
adjective
BrE /ɪnˌkɒnsɪˈkwenʃl/
NAmE /ɪnˌkɑːnsɪˈkwenʃl/
not important or worth considering ➔ SYNONYM trivial inconsequential details inconsequential chatter ➔ OPPOSITE consequential
in·com·pat·ible
adjective
BrE /ˌɪnkəmˈpætəbl/
NAmE /ˌɪnkəmˈpætəbl/
1 incompatible (with something) two actions, ideas, etc. that are incompatible are not acceptable or possible together because of basic differences
The hours of the job are incompatible with family life.
These two objectives are mutually incompatible.
2 two people who are incompatible are very different from each other and so are not able to live or work happily together
She and her husband soon proved to be totally incompatible.
3 incompatible (with something) two things that are incompatible are of different types so that they cannot be used or mixed together
New computer software is often incompatible with older computers.
Those two blood groups are incompatible.
➔ OPPOSITE compatible
ten·ta·tive
adjective
BrE /ˈtentətɪv/
NAmE /ˈtentətɪv/
1 (of an arrangement, agreement, etc.) not definite or certain because you may want to change it later
We made a tentative arrangement to meet on Friday.
tentative conclusions
2 not behaving or done with confidence
➔ SYNONYM hesitant
a tentative greeting
Her English is correct but tentative.
Iʼm taking the first tentative steps towards fitness.
lev·ity
```
noun
BrE /ˈlevəti/
NAmE /ˈlevəti/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~
behaviour that shows a lack of respect for something serious and that treats it in an amusing way
➔ SYNONYM frivolity
The joke provided a moment of levity in an otherwise dreary meeting.
