Deck014 Flashcards
cri·ter·ion
noun
BrE /kraɪˈtɪəriən/
NAmE /kraɪˈtɪriən/
pl. cri·teria BrE /kraɪˈtɪəriə/ ; NAmE /kraɪˈtɪriə/
a standard or principle by which something is judged, or with the help of which a decision is made
The main criterion is value for money.
What criteria are used for assessing a studentʼs ability?
▶︎ More Like This
▼︎ Word Origin
early 17th cent.: from Greek kritērion ‘means of judgingʼ, from kritēs ‘a judgeʼ, from krinein ‘judge, decideʼ.
con·strue verb BrE /kənˈstruː/ NAmE /kənˈstruː/ [usually passive] (formal)
to understand the meaning of a word, a sentence or an action in a particular way
➔ SYNONYM interpret
construe something He considered how the remark was to be construed.
construe something as something Her words could hardly be construed as an apology.
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English: from Latin construere, from con- ‘togetherʼ + struere ‘pile, buildʼ, in late Latin ‘analyse the construction of a sentenceʼ.
ab·stin·ence
noun
BrE /ˈæbstɪnəns/
NAmE /ˈæbstɪnəns/
[uncountable] abstinence (from something) (formal) the practice of not allowing yourself something, especially food, alcoholic drinks or sex, for moral, religious or health reasons
total abstinence from strong drink
➔ SEE ALSO abstain
▼︎ Word Origin
Middle English: from Old French, from Latin abstinentia, from the verb abstinere, from ab- ‘fromʼ + tenere ‘holdʼ.
an·archy
noun
BrE /ˈænəki/
NAmE /ˈænərki/
[uncountable]
a situation in a country, an organization, etc. in which there is no government, order or control
The overthrow of the military regime was followed by a period of anarchy.
There was complete anarchy in the classroom when their usual teacher was away.
▼︎ Word Origin
mid 16th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek anarkhia, from anarkhos, from an- ‘withoutʼ + arkhos ‘chief, rulerʼ.
er·rat·ic
adjective
BrE /ɪˈrætɪk/
NAmE /ɪˈrætɪk/
(often disapproving) not happening at regular times; not following any plan or regular pattern; that you cannot rely on
➔ SYNONYM unpredictable
The electricity supply here is quite erratic.
She had learnt to live with his sudden changes of mood and erratic behaviour.
Mary is a gifted but erratic player (= she does not always play well).
Irrigation measures will be necessary in areas of erratic rainfall.
their increasingly erratic policy decisions
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English: from Old French erratique, from Latin erraticus, from errare ‘to stray, errʼ.
eu·pho·ni·ous
adjective
BrE /juːˈfəʊniəs/
NAmE /juːˈfoʊniəs/
formal
(of a sound, word, etc.) pleasant to listen to
brev·ity
```
noun
BrE /ˈbrevəti/
NAmE /ˈbrevəti/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~
1 the quality of using few words when speaking or writing
➔ SYNONYM conciseness
The report is a masterpiece of brevity.
Charles Dickens was not known for his brevity.
For the sake of brevity, Iʼd like to make just two points.
2 the fact of lasting a short time
the brevity of human life
➔ SEE ALSO brief
▼︎ Word Origin
late 15th cent.: from Old French brievete, from Latin brevitas, from brevis ‘briefʼ.
au·ton·omy
```
noun
BrE /ɔːˈtɒnəmi/
NAmE /ɔːˈtɑːnəmi/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~
1 the freedom for a country, a region or an organization to govern itself independently
➔ SYNONYM independence
a campaign in Wales for greater autonomy
2 the ability to act and make decisions without being controlled by anyone else
giving individuals greater autonomy in their own lives
▼︎ Word Origin
early 17th cent.: from Greek autonomia, from autonomos ‘having its own lawsʼ, from autos ‘selfʼ + nomos ‘lawʼ.
fu·tile
adjective
BrE /ˈfjuːtaɪl/
NAmE /ˈfjuːtl/
having no purpose because there is no chance of success
➔ SYNONYM pointless
a futile attempt/exercise/gesture
Their efforts to revive him were futile.
It would be futile to protest.
My appeal proved futile.
▼︎ Word Origin
mid 16th cent.: from Latin futilis ‘leaky, futileʼ, apparently from fundere ‘pourʼ.
aus·pi·cious
adjective
BrE /ɔːˈspɪʃəs/
NAmE /ɔːˈspɪʃəs/
formal
showing signs that something is likely to be successful in the future
➔ SYNONYM promising
an auspicious start to the new school year
It was an auspicious date for a wedding.
Their first meeting was hardly auspicious.
It was not a very auspicious beginning to his new career.
We waited for an auspicious moment to make our request.
➔ OPPOSITE inauspicious
▼︎ Word Origin
late 16th cent.: from auspice (from French, or from Latin auspicium, from auspex ‘observer of birdsʼ, from avis ‘birdʼ + specere ‘to lookʼ) + -ous.
con·cili·ate
verb
BrE /kənˈsɪlieɪt/
NAmE /kənˈsɪlieɪt/
conciliate somebody (formal) to make somebody less angry or more friendly, especially by being kind and pleasant or by giving them something
➔ SYNONYM pacify
▼︎ Word Origin
mid 16th cent. (originally meaning ‘to gainʼ): from Latin conciliat- ‘combined, gainedʼ, from the verb conciliare, from concilium ‘convocation, assemblyʼ, from con- ‘togetherʼ + calare ‘summonʼ.
boon
noun
BrE /buːn/
NAmE /buːn/
boon (to/for somebody) something that is very helpful and makes life easier for you
The new software will prove a boon to Internet users.
▼︎ Word Origin
Middle English (originally in the sense ‘request for a favourʼ): from Old Norse bón.
crass
adjective
BrE /kræs/
NAmE /kræs/
very stupid and showing no sympathy or understanding
➔ SYNONYM insensitive
the crass questions all disabled people get asked
an act of crass (= great) stupidity
I thought his comments were somewhat crass.
▼︎ Word Origin
late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘dense or coarseʼ): from Latin crassus ‘solid, thickʼ.
di·gres·sion
```
noun
BrE /daɪˈɡreʃn/
NAmE /daɪˈɡreʃn/
[countable, uncountable]
formal
~~~
an act of talking about something that is not connected with the main point of what you are saying
After several digressions, he finally got to the point.
hy·poth·esis
noun
BrE /haɪˈpɒθəsɪs/
NAmE /haɪˈpɑːθəsɪs/
pl. hy·poth·eses BrE /haɪˈpɒθəsiːz/ ; NAmE /haɪˈpɑːθəsiːz/
1 [countable] an idea or explanation of something that is based on a few known facts but that has not yet been proved to be true or correct
➔ SYNONYM theory
to formulate/confirm a hypothesis
a hypothesis about the function of dreams
There is little evidence to support these hypotheses.
▶︎ Wordfinder
▼︎ Collocations
Scientific research
Theory
formulate/advance a theory/hypothesis
build/construct/create/develop a simple/theoretical/mathematical model
develop/establish/provide/use a theoretical/conceptual framework
advance/argue/develop the thesis that…
explore an idea/a concept/a hypothesis
make a prediction/an inference
base a prediction/your calculations on something
investigate/evaluate/accept/challenge/reject a theory/hypothesis/model
Experiment
design an experiment/a questionnaire/a study/a test
do research/an experiment/an analysis
make observations/measurements/calculations
carry out/conduct/perform an experiment/a test/a longitudinal study/observations/clinical trials
run an experiment/a simulation/clinical trials
repeat an experiment/a test/an analysis
replicate a study/the results/the findings
observe/study/examine/investigate/assess a pattern/a process/a behaviour/(especially US English) a behavior
fund/support the research/project/study
seek/provide/get/secure funding for research
Results
collect/gather/extract data/information
yield data/evidence/similar findings/the same results
analyse/examine the data/soil samples/a specimen
consider/compare/interpret the results/findings
fit the data/model
confirm/support/verify a prediction/a hypothesis/the results/the findings
prove a conjecture/hypothesis/theorem
draw/make/reach the same conclusions
read/review the records/literature
describe/report an experiment/a study
present/publish/summarize the results/findings
present/publish/read/review/cite a paper in a scientific journal
2 [uncountable] guesses and ideas that are not based on certain knowledge
➔ SYNONYM speculation
It would be pointless to engage in hypothesis before we have the facts.
▼︎ Word Origin
late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek hupothesis ‘foundationʼ, from hupo ‘underʼ + thesis ‘placingʼ.
