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.
fri·vol·ity
```
noun
BrE /frɪˈvɒləti/
NAmE /frɪˈvɑːləti/
pl. fri·vol·ities
(often disapproving)
[uncountable, countable]
~~~
behaviour that is silly or amusing, especially when this is not suitable
It was just a piece of harmless frivolity.
A wave of frivolity has overtaken the election campaign.
I canʼt waste time on such frivolities.
com·pli·ance
noun
BrE /kəmˈplaɪəns/
NAmE /kəmˈplaɪəns/
[uncountable] compliance (with something) the practice of obeying rules or requests made by people in authority
procedures that must be followed to ensure full compliance with the law
Safety measures were carried out in compliance with paragraph 6 of the building regulations.
➔ OPPOSITE non-compliance
➔ SEE ALSO comply
de·ri·sion
noun
BrE /dɪˈrɪʒn/
NAmE /dɪˈrɪʒn/
[uncountable]
a strong feeling that somebody/something is ridiculous and not worth considering seriously, shown by laughing in an unkind way or by making unkind remarks
➔ SYNONYM scorn
Her speech was greeted with howls of derision.
He became an object of universal derision.
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin derisio(n-), from deridere ‘scoff atʼ.
con·cur
verb
BrE /kənˈkɜː(r)/
NAmE /kənˈkɜːr/
[intransitive, transitive] concur (with somebody) (in something) | concur (with something) | concur (that…) | (+ speech) (formal) to agree
Historians have concurred with each other in this view.
The coroner concurred with this assessment.
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English (also in the senses ‘collideʼ and ‘act in combinationʼ): from Latin concurrere ‘run together, assemble in crowdsʼ, from con- ‘together withʼ + currere ‘to runʼ.
ex·pli·cit
adjective
BrE /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/
NAmE /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/
1 (of a statement or piece of writing) clear and easy to understand
He gave me very explicit directions on how to get there.
2 (of a person) saying something clearly, exactly and openly
➔ SYNONYM frank
She was quite explicit about why she had left.
3 said, done or shown in an open or direct way, so that you have no doubt about what is happening
The reasons for the decision should be made explicit.
She made some very explicit references to my personal life.
a sexually explicit film
➔ COMPARE implicit
▼︎ Word Origin
early 17th cent. (as an adjective): from French explicite or Latin explicitus, past participle of explicare ‘unfoldʼ, from ex- ‘outʼ + plicare ‘to foldʼ.
des·ti·tute
adjective
BrE /ˈdestɪtjuːt/
NAmE /ˈdestɪtuːt/
1 without money, food and the other things necessary for life
When he died, his family was left completely destitute.
2 the destitute noun [plural] people who are destitute
▶︎ More Like This
3 destitute of something (formal) lacking something
They seem destitute of ordinary human feelings.
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘deserted, abandoned, emptyʼ): from Latin destitutus, past participle of destituere ‘forsakeʼ, from de- ‘away fromʼ + statuere ‘to placeʼ.
bol·ster
verb
BrE /ˈbəʊlstə(r)/
NAmE /ˈboʊlstər/
to improve something or make it stronger
bolster something to bolster somebodyʼs confidence/courage/morale
I needed to stress the bus driverʼs evidence in order to bolster my case.
bolster something up Falling interest rates may help to bolster up the economy.
▼︎ Word Origin
Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bolster and German Polster.
cu·pid·ity
```
noun
BrE /kjuːˈpɪdəti/
NAmE /kjuːˈpɪdəti/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~
a strong desire for more wealth, possessions, power, etc. than a person needs
➔ SYNONYM greed
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English: from Old French cupidite or Latin cupiditas, from cupidus ‘desirousʼ, from cupere ‘to desireʼ. Compare with covet.
ac·claim
noun
BrE /əˈkleɪm/
NAmE /əˈkleɪm/
[uncountable] praise and approval for somebody/something, especially an artistic achievement
international/popular/critical acclaim
▼︎ Word Origin
early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘express approvalʼ): from Latin acclamare, from ad- ‘toʼ + clamare ‘to shoutʼ. The change in the ending was due to association with claim. Current senses date from the 17th cent.
dis·credit
verb
BrE /dɪsˈkredɪt/
NAmE /dɪsˈkredɪt/
1 discredit somebody/something to make people stop respecting somebody/something
The photos were deliberately taken to discredit the President.
a discredited government/policy
2 discredit something to make people stop believing that something is true; to make something appear unlikely to be true
These theories are now largely discredited among linguists.
This new evidence discredits earlier findings.
▼︎ Word Origin
mid 16th cent.: from dis- (expressing reversal) + credit, on the pattern of Italian (di)scredito (noun), (di)screditare (verb), and French discrédit (noun), discréditer (verb).
