ETS main official

Question 1

interference

Answer 1

1. UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
   Interference by a person or group is their unwanted or unnecessary involvement in something.
   [disapproval]
   The parliament described the decree as interference in the republic’s internal affairs.
   Airlines will be able to set cheap fares without interference from the government. [+ from]
   Synonyms: intrusion, intervention, meddling, opposition More Synonyms of interference
2. UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
   When there is interference, a radio signal is affected by other radio waves or electrical activity so that it cannot be received properly.
   …electrical interference.
   They have been accused of deliberately causing interference to transmissions.

Question 2

prophetic

Answer 2

1. ADJECTIVE
   If something was prophetic, it described or suggested something that did actually happen later.
   This ominous warning soon proved prophetic.
   Friends recalled Elisabeth’s prophetic words of several years ago.
   Synonyms: predictive, foreshadowing, presaging, prescient More Synonyms of prophetic
2. ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
   Prophetic means related to a prophecy or a prophet.
   …a charming romance intermingled with scientific fact and prophetic vision.

Question 3

Stark

Answer 3

1. ADJECTIVE
   Stark choices or statements are harsh and unpleasant.
   U.K. companies face a stark choice if they want to stay competitive.
   The conviction should send out a stark warning to other motorists.
   starkly ADVERB [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
   That issue is presented starkly and brutally.
   The point is a starkly simple one.
2. ADJECTIVE
   If two things are in stark contrast to one another, they are very different from each other in a way that is very obvious.
   …secret cooperation between London and Washington that was in stark contrast to official policy.
   starkly ADVERB [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
   Angus’s child-like paintings contrast starkly with his adult subject matter in these portraits.
   The outlook now is starkly different.
3. ADJECTIVE
   Something that is stark is very plain in appearance.
   …the stark white, characterless fireplace in the drawing room.
   Synonyms: austere, severe, plain, bare More Synonyms of stark
   starkly ADVERB [ADVERB adjective, ADVERB with verb]
   The desert was luminous, starkly beautiful.
   The room was starkly furnished.

Question 4

rife

Answer 4

ADJECTIVE [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you say that something, usually something bad, is rife in a place or that the place is rife with it, you mean that it is very common.
Speculation is rife that he will be sacked.
Bribery and corruption were rife in the industry.
Hollywood soon became rife with rumors. [+ with]
Synonyms: widespread, abundant, plentiful, rampant

Question 5

phony

Answer 5

1. ADJECTIVE
   If you describe something as phoney, you disapprove of it because it is false rather than genuine.
   [informal, disapproval]
   He’d phoned with some phoney excuse she didn’t believe for a minute.
   He didn’t really have that moustache. It was phoney.
   He used a phoney accent.
   Synonyms: fake, affected, assumed, trick More Synonyms of phoney
2. ADJECTIVE
   If you say that someone is phoney, you disapprove of them because they are pretending to be someone that they are not in order to deceive people.
   [informal, disapproval]
   He looks totally phoney to me.
   …phoney ‘experts’.
   Synonyms: bogus, false, fake, pseudo [informal] More Synonyms of phoney
   Phoney is also a noun.
   ‘He’s false, a phoney,’ Harry muttered.

Question 6

Warring

Answer 6

ADJECTIVE [ADJECTIVE noun]
Warring is used to describe groups of people who are involved in a conflict or quarrel with each other.
The warring factions have not yet turned in all their heavy weapons.
…warring brothers and sisters.
Synonyms: hostile, fighting, conflicting, opposed

Question 7

sham

Answer 7

COUNTABLE NOUN [usually singular]
Something that is a sham is not real or is not really what it seems to be.
[disapproval]
The government’s promises were exposed as a hollow sham.
Many of the world’s leaders have already denounced this election as a sham.
…sham marriages.
Synonyms: fraud [informal], imitation, hoax, pretence

Question 8

stance

Answer 8

1. COUNTABLE NOUN [usually singular]
   Your stance on a particular matter is your attitude to it.
   The Congress had agreed to reconsider its stance on the armed struggle.
   They have maintained a consistently neutral stance.
   His stance towards the story is quite similar to ours.
   Synonyms: attitude, stand, position, viewpoint More Synonyms of stance
2. COUNTABLE NOUN [usually singular]
   Your stance is the way that you are standing.
   [formal]
   Take a comfortably wide stance and flex your knees a little.
   Synonyms: posture, carriage, bearing, deportment

Question 9

Preternatural

Answer 9

ADJECTIVE [ADJECTIVE noun]
Preternatural abilities, qualities, or events are very unusual in a way that might make you think that unknown forces are involved.
[formal]
Parents had an almost preternatural ability to understand what was going on in their children’s minds.
Synonyms: supernatural, odd, strange, unusual More Synonyms of preternatural
preternaturally ADVERB [ADVERB adjective]
It was suddenly preternaturally quiet.

Question 10

discrepancy

Answer 10

VARIABLE NOUN
If there is a discrepancy between two things that ought to be the same, there is a noticeable difference between them.
…the discrepancy between press and radio reports. [+ between]
…major discrepancies in payments made to claimants in similar circumstances.
[Also + in]
Synonyms: disagreement, difference, variation, conflict

Question 11

milieu

Answer 11

COUNTABLE NOUN
Your milieu is the group of people or activities that you live among or are familiar with.
[formal]
They stayed, safe and happy, within their own social milieu.
His natural milieu is that of the arts.
Synonyms: surroundings, setting, scene, environment

Question 12

extent

Answer 12

1. SINGULAR NOUN
   If you are talking about how great, important, or serious a difficulty or situation is, you can refer to the extent of it.
   The government itself has little information on the extent of industrial pollution. [+ of]
   Growing up with him soon made me realise the extent of his determination.
   The full extent of the losses was disclosed yesterday. [+ of]
   Synonyms: magnitude, amount, degree, scale More Synonyms of extent
2. SINGULAR NOUN
   The extent of something is its length, area, or size.
   Their commitment was only to maintain the extent of forests, not their biodiversity. [+ of]

Question 13

ethnomusicology

Answer 13

NOUN

the study of the music of different cultures

Question 14

reverence

Answer 14

UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Reverence for someone or something is a feeling of great respect for them.
[formal]
…showing a deep reverence for their religion. [+ for]
Synonyms: respect, honour, worship, admiration

Question 15

fastidiousness

Answer 15

1. ADJECTIVE
   If you say that someone is fastidious, you mean that they pay great attention to detail because they like everything to be very neat, accurate, and in good order.
   …her fastidious attention to historical detail.
   He was fastidious about his appearance. [+ about]
   Synonyms: particular, meticulous, fussy, overdelicate More Synonyms of fastidious
   fastidiously GRADED ADVERB
   He fastidiously copied every word of his notes on to clean paper.
2. ADJECTIVE
   If you say that someone is fastidious, you mean that they are concerned about keeping clean to an extent that many people consider to be excessive.
   Be particularly fastidious about washing your hands before touching food.
   fastidiously ADVERB
   Ernestine kept her daughters fastidiously clean.

Question 16

polemical

Answer 16

ADJECTIVE
Polemical means arguing very strongly for or against a belief or opinion.
Daniels is at his best when he’s cool and direct, rather than combative and polemical.
…Kramer’s biting polemical novel.
Synonyms: controversial, cutting, biting, critical

Question 17

deem

Answer 17

VERB
If something is deemed to have a particular quality or to do a particular thing, it is considered to have that quality or do that thing.
[formal]
French and German were deemed essential. [beV-ed adj/n]
He says he would support the use of force if the U.N. deemed it necessary. [V n adj/n]
I was deemed to be a competent shorthand typist. [be VERB-ed to-infinitive]
[Also VERB noun to-infinitive]
Synonyms: consider, think, believe, hold

Question 18

incentive

Answer 18

VARIABLE NOUN [oft NOUN to-infinitive]
উদ্দীপনা
If something is an incentive to do something, it encourages you to do it.
There is little or no incentive to adopt such measures.
Many companies in Britain are keen on the idea of tax incentives for R&D.
Synonyms: inducement, motive, encouragement, urge

Question 19

expend

Answer 19

VERB
To expend something, especially energy, time, or money, means to use it or spend it.
[formal]
Children expend a lot of energy and may need more high-energy food than adults.

Question 20

debunk

Answer 20

VERB
If you debunk a widely held belief, you show that it is false. If you debunk something that is widely admired, you show that it is not as good as people think it is.
Historian Michael Beschloss debunks a few myths. [VERB noun]
…the Frenchmen of the enlightenment who debunked the church and the crown. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: expose, show up, mock, ridicule

Question 21

scathing

Answer 21

ADJECTIVE
If you say that someone is being scathing about something, you mean that they are being very critical of it.
His report was scathing about all terror groups. [+ about]
He then launched a scathing attack on previous leaders.
Synonyms: critical, cutting, biting, harsh

Question 22

thrift

Answer 22

1. UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
   Thrift is the quality and practice of being careful with money and not wasting things.
   [approval]
   They were rightly praised for their thrift and enterprise.
   Synonyms: economy, prudence, frugality, saving More Synonyms of thrift
2. COUNTABLE NOUN
   A thrift or a thrift institution is a kind of savings bank.

Question 23

interplay

Answer 23

UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
The interplay between two or more things or people is the way that they have an effect on each other orreact to each other.
…the personal interplay between great entertainers and a live public.
…the interplay of political, economic, social and cultural factors. [+ of]
Synonyms: interaction, give-and-take, reciprocity, reciprocation

Question 24

vegetation

Answer 24

UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Plants, trees, and flowers can be referred to as vegetation.
[formal]
The inn has a garden of semi-tropical vegetation.
…a smell of gently-rotting vegetation.
Synonyms: plants, flora, greenery, foliage

Question 25

mercurial

Answer 25

ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone as mercurial, you mean that they frequently change their mind or mood without warning.
[literary]
…his mercurial temperament.
Synonyms: capricious, volatile, unpredictable, erratic

Question 26

plutocratic

Answer 26

COUNTABLE NOUN
A plutocracy is a country which is ruled by its wealthiest people, or a class of wealthy people who rule a country.
[formal]
Financial, not moral, considerations will prevail in a plutocracy.

Question 27

upheavals

Answer 27

COUNTABLE NOUN [usually adjective NOUN]
An upheaval is a big change which causes a lot of trouble, confusion, and worry.
Wherever there is political upheaval, invariably there are refugees.
Having a baby will mean the greatest upheaval in your life. [+ in]
Synonyms: disturbance, revolution, disorder, turmoil

Question 28

overturn

Answer 28

1. VERB
   If something overturns or if you overturn it, it turns upside down or on its side.
   The lorry veered out of control, overturned and smashed into a wall. [VERB]
   Alex jumped up so violently that he overturned his glass of sherry. [VERB noun]
   A dozen cartons of books had been overturned and strewn about the floor. [VERB noun]
   …a battered overturned boat. [VERB-ed]
   Synonyms: tip over, spill, topple, upturn More Synonyms of overturn
2. VERB
   If someone in authority overturns a legal decision, they officially decide that that decision is incorrect or not valid.
   When the Russian parliament overturned his decision, he backed down. [VERB noun]
   His nine-month sentence was overturned by Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Watkins. [VERB noun]
   Synonyms: reverse, change, alter, cancel More Synonyms of overturn
3. VERB
   To overturn a government or system means to remove it or destroy it.
   He accused his opponents of wanting to overturn the government. [VERB noun]
   …a society where all the old values had been overturned. [VERB noun]
   Synonyms: overthrow, defeat, destroy, overcome

Question 29

attune

Answer 29

VERB (transitive)

1. to adjust or accustom (a person or thing); acclimatize
2. to tune (a musical instrument)

Question 30

forethought

Answer 30

UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
If you act with forethought, you think carefully before you act about what will be needed, or about what the consequences will be.
With a little forethought many accidents could be avoided.
Synonyms: anticipation, foresight, providence, far-sightedness

Question 31

beetle

Answer 31

COUNTABLE NOUN

A beetle is an insect with a hard covering to its body.

Question 32

snap

Answer 32

1. VERB
   If something snaps or if you snap it, it breaks suddenly, usually with a sharp cracking noise.
   He shifted his weight and a twig snapped. [VERB]
   The brake pedal had just snapped off. [VERB adverb/preposition]
   She gripped the pipe with both hands, trying to snap it in half. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
   [Also VERB noun]
   Synonyms: break, split, crack, separate More Synonyms of snap
   Snap is also a noun.
   Every minute or so I could hear a snap, a crack and a crash as another tree went down.
2. VERB
   If you snap something into a particular position, or if it snaps into that position, it moves quickly into that position, with a sharp sound.
   He snapped the notebook shut. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
   He snapped the cap on his ballpoint. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
   The bag snapped open. [VERB adverb]
   Synonyms: pop, click, crackle More Synonyms of snap
   Snap is also a noun.
   He shut the book with a snap and stood up.
3. VERB
   If you snap your fingers, you make a sharp sound by moving your middle finger quickly across your thumb, for example in order to accompany music or to order someone to do something.
   She had millions of listeners snapping their fingers to her first single. [VERB noun]
   He snapped his fingers, and Wilson produced a sheet of paper. [VERB noun]
   She snapped her fingers at a passing waiter. [VERB noun]
   Snap is also a noun.
   I could obtain with the snap of my fingers anything I chose. [+ of]
4. VERB
   If someone snaps at you, they speak to you in a sharp, unfriendly way.
   ‘Of course I don’t know her,’ Roger snapped. [VERB with quote]
   I’m sorry, Casey, I didn’t mean to snap at you like that. [VERB + at]
   Synonyms: speak sharply, bark, lash out at, flash More Synonyms of snap
5. VERB
   If someone snaps, or if something snaps inside them, they suddenly stop being calm and become very angry because the situation has become too tense or too difficult for them.
   He finally snapped when she prevented their children from visiting him one weekend. [VERB]
   For the first and only time Grant’s self-control snapped. [VERB]
   Then something seemed to snap in me. I couldn’t endure any more. [VERB]
   Synonyms: lose your temper, crack, lose it [informal], freak [informal] More Synonyms of snap
6. VERB
   If an animal such as a dog snaps at you, it opens and shuts its jaws quickly near you, as if it were going to bite you.
   His teeth clicked as he snapped at my ankle. [VERB + at]
   The poodle yapped and snapped. [VERB]
   Synonyms: bite at, bite, nip More Synonyms of snap
7. ADJECTIVE [ADJECTIVE noun]
   A snap decision or action is one that is taken suddenly, often without careful thought.
   I think this is too important for a snap decision.
   It’s important not to make snap judgments.
   The opposition is worried that a snap election will be held before they can get organised.
8. COUNTABLE NOUN
   A snap is a photograph.
   [informal]
   …a snap my mother took last year.
   Synonyms: photograph, photo, picture, shot More Synonyms of snap
9. VERB
   If you snap someone or something, you take a photograph of them.
   [informal]
   He was the first ever non-British photographer to be invited to snap a royal. [VERB noun]
10. UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
    Snap is a simple British card game in which the players take turns to put cards down on a pile, andtry to be the first to shout ‘snap’ when two cards with the same number or picture are put down.
11. EXCLAMATION
    You can say ‘Snap!’ as an expression of surprise when you realize that two things are the same or very similar, for example if you meet a friend wearing the same shirt as you.
    [British, spoken]
12. COUNTABLE NOUN
    A snap is the same as a snap fastener.
    [US]
13. See also cold snap

Question 33

trail

Answer 33

1. COUNTABLE NOUN
   A trail is a rough path across open country or through forests.
   He was following a broad trail through the trees.
   Synonyms: path, track, route, way More Synonyms of trail
2. COUNTABLE NOUN
   A trail is a route along a series of paths or roads, often one that has been planned and marked out for a particular purpose.
   …a large area of woodland with hiking and walking trails.
3. COUNTABLE NOUN [usually singular]
   A trail is a series of marks or other signs of movement or other activities left by someone or something.
   Everywhere in the house was a sticky trail of orange juice. [+ of]
   He left a trail of clues at the scenes of his crimes.
   The typhoon has left a trail of death and destruction across much of central Japan.
   Synonyms: series, line, train, row More Synonyms of trail
4. VERB
   If you trail someone or something, you follow them secretly, often by finding the marks or signs that they have left.
   Two detectives were trailing him. [VERB noun]
   I trailed her to a shop in Kensington. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
   Synonyms: follow, track, chase, pursue More Synonyms of trail
5. COUNTABLE NOUN [noun NOUN]
   You can refer to all the places that a politician visits in the period before an election as their campaign trail.
   During a recent speech on the campaign trail, he was interrupted by hecklers.
   …at the end of a hard day on the election trail.
6. VERB
   If you trail something or it trails, it hangs down loosely behind you as you move along.
   She came down the stairs slowly, trailing the coat behind her. [VERB noun]
   He let his fingers trail in the water. [VERB preposition]
   Synonyms: drag, draw, pull, sweep More Synonyms of trail
7. VERB
   If someone trails somewhere, they move there slowly, without any energy or enthusiasm, often following someone else.
   He trailed through the wet Manhattan streets. [VERB adverb/preposition]
   I spent a long afternoon trailing behind him. [VERB adverb/preposition]
   Synonyms: lag, follow, drift, wander More Synonyms of trail
8. VERB [usually cont]
   If a person or team in a sports match or other contest is trailing, they have a lower score than their opponents.
   He scored again, leaving Dartford trailing 3-0 at the break. [VERB amount]
   She took over as chief executive of the company when it was trailing behind its competitors. [V + behind]
   Synonyms: lose, be down, be behind, fall behind More Synonyms of trail
9. See on the trail of
10. See also nature trail, paper trail
11. to blaze a trail

Question 34

injudicious

Answer 34

ADJECTIVE
If you describe a person or something that they have done as injudicious, you are critical of them because they have shown very poor judgment.
[formal, disapproval]
He blamed injudicious comments by bankers for last week’s devaluation.
Synonyms: unwise, foolish, rash, hasty

Question 35

imperious

Answer 35

ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone as imperious, you mean that they have a proud manner and expect to be obeyed.
[written]
Her attitude is imperious at times.
From across the desk she gave him a witheringly imperious look.
Synonyms: domineering, dictatorial, bossy [informal], haughty

Question 36

thorny

Answer 36

1. ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
   A thorny plant or tree is covered with thorns.
   …thorny hawthorn trees.
   Synonyms: prickly, spiky, spiny, pointed More Synonyms of thorny
2. ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
   If you describe a problem as thorny, you mean that it is very complicated and difficult to solve, and that people are often unwilling to discuss it.
   …the thorny issue of immigration policy.
   It is essential that we tackle this thorny problem.
   Synonyms: troublesome, difficult, problematic(al), trying

Question 37

prolixity

Answer 37

prolix
in British English
(ˈprəʊlɪks , prəʊˈlɪks )
ADJECTIVE
1. (of a speech, book, etc) so long as to be boring; verbose
2. indulging in prolix speech or writing; long-winded

Question 38

penitential

Answer 38

ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Penitential means expressing deep sorrow and regret at having done something wrong.
[formal]
…penitential psalms.

Question 39

prodigality

Answer 39

1. ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You can describe someone as a prodigal son or daughter if they leave their family or friends, often after a period of behaving badly, and then return at a later time as a better person.
[literary]
...the parable of the prodigal son.
Prodigal is also a noun.
The prodigal had returned.
2. ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Someone who behaves in a prodigal way spends a lot of money carelessly without thinking about what will happen when they have none left.
Prodigal habits die hard.

Question 40

attainment

Answer 40

1. UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
   The attainment of an aim is the achieving of it.
   [formal]
   …the attainment of independence. [+ of]
   Synonyms: achievement, getting, winning, reaching More Synonyms of attainment
2. COUNTABLE NOUN
   An attainment is a skill you have learned or something you have achieved.
   [formal]
   …their educational attainments.
   Synonyms: skill, art, ability, talent

Question 41

shore

Answer 41

1. COUNTABLE NOUN
   The shores or the shore of a sea, lake, or wide river is the land along the edge of it. Someone who is on shore is on the land rather than on a ship.
   They walked down to the shore.
   …elephants living on the shores of Lake Kariba. [+ of]
   I have spent less time on shore than most men.
   As soon as they were safely back to shore, he raced for the nearest phone.
2. PLURAL NOUN [with supplement]
   When someone or something reaches the shores of a country or continent, they arrive in that country or continent.
   [literary]
   It is feared that a similar epidemic will soon reach the shores of Europe.
   This youngster is another destined to leave these shores.
   If you shore up something that is weak or about to fail, you do something in order to strengthen it or support it.
   The democracies of the West may find it hard to shore up their defences.

Question 42

restive

Answer 42

ADJECTIVE
If you are restive, you are impatient, bored, or dissatisfied.
[formal]
The audience grew restive.
…restive national minorities.
Synonyms: restless, nervous, uneasy, impatient

Question 43

allusion

Answer 43

VARIABLE NOUN
An allusion is an indirect reference to someone or something.
The title is perhaps an allusion to the author’s childhood. [+ to]
Synonyms: reference, mention, suggestion, hint

Question 44

nudge

Answer 44

1. VERB
   If you nudge someone, you push them gently, usually with your elbow, in order to draw their attention to something.
   I nudged Stan and pointed again. [VERB noun]
   ‘Stop it,’ he said, and nudged the boy lightly with his knee. [VERB noun]
   Synonyms: push, touch, dig, jog More Synonyms of nudge
   Nudge is also a noun.
   She slipped her arm under his and gave him a nudge.
2. VERB
   If you nudge someone or something into a place or position, you gently push them there.
   Edna Swinson nudged him into the sitting room. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
   The civil servant nudged him forward. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
   Nudge is also a noun.
   McKinnon gave the wheel another slight nudge.
3. VERB
   If you nudge someone into doing something, you gently persuade them to do it.
   Bit by bit, Bob had nudged Fritz into selling his controlling interest. [VERB noun + into]
   Foreigners must use their power to nudge the country towards greater tolerance. [V n + towards]
   British tour companies are nudging clients to travel further afield. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
   Synonyms: prompt, influence, urge, persuade More Synonyms of nudge
   Nudge is also a noun.
   I had a feeling that the challenge appealed to him. All he needed was a nudge.
4. VERB [usually cont]
   If someone or something is nudging a particular amount, level, or state, they have almost reached it.
   …a little-known stage play writer and actress who was nudging 40 and going nowhere. [VERB noun]
   The temperature when we were there was nudging 80°F. [VERB noun]
5. See a nudge and a wink/nudge-nudge wink-wink

Question 45

truce

Answer 45

COUNTABLE NOUN
A truce is an agreement between two people or groups of people to stop fighting or quarrelling for a short time.
The fighting of recent days has given way to an uneasy truce between the two sides. [+ between]
Let’s call a truce.
Synonyms: ceasefire, break, stay, rest

Question 46

acreage

Answer 46

a

Question 47

fallow

Answer 47

v

Question 48

perforate

Answer 48

n

Question 49

trickle

Answer 49

k

Question 50

counterpoint

Answer 50

k

Question 51

recalcitrant

Answer 51

o