Ets official gre verbal reasoning SE Flashcards

1
Q

Retrofitted

A

VERB
To retrofit a machine or a building means to put new parts or new equipment in it after it has been in use for some time, especially to improve its safety or make it work better.
Much of this business involves retrofitting existing planes. [VERB noun]
Damaged houses have been repaired, roads repaved and buildings retrofitted. [VERB noun]
Retrofit is also a noun.
A retrofit may involve putting in new door jambs.
The retrofit program will be carried out at the Montreal facilities.

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2
Q

insipid

A
  1. ADJECTIVE
    If you describe food or drink as insipid, you dislike it because it has very little taste.
    [disapproval]
    It tasted indescribably bland and insipid, like warmed cardboard.
    Synonyms: tasteless, bland, flavourless, watered down More Synonyms of insipid
  2. ADJECTIVE
    If you describe someone or something as insipid, you mean they are dull and boring.
    [disapproval]
    On the surface she seemed meek, rather insipid.
    They gave an insipid opening performance in a nil-nil draw with Peru.
    Synonyms: bland, boring, dull, flat
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3
Q

atop

A

PREPOSITION
If something is atop something else, it is on top of it.
[US, also British, literary]
Under the newspaper, atop a sheet of paper, lay an envelope.
Synonyms: on top of, over, upon, higher than

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4
Q

shunned

A

VERB
If you shun someone or something, you deliberately avoid them or keep away from them.
From that time forward everybody shunned him. [VERB noun]
He has always shunned publicity. [VERB noun]
This extremist organization has shunned conventional politics. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: avoid, steer clear of, keep away from, snub

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5
Q

kindred

A
  1. UNCOUNTABLE NOUN [with poss]
    Your kindred are your family, and all the people who are related to you.
    [dialect, or old-fashioned]
    The offender made proper restitution to the victim’s kindred.
    Synonyms: family, relations, relatives, connections More Synonyms of kindred
  2. ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
    Kindred things are similar to each other.
    [formal]
    I recall many discussions with her on these and kindred topics.
    Synonyms: similar, like, related, allied
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6
Q

imperative

A
  1. ADJECTIVE [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
    If it is imperative that something is done, that thing is extremely important and must be done.
    [formal]
    It was imperative that he act as naturally as possible.
    That’s why it is imperative to know what your rights are at such a time.
    The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.
    Synonyms: urgent, essential, pressing, vital More Synonyms of imperative
  2. COUNTABLE NOUN
    An imperative is something that is extremely important and must be done.
    [formal]
    The most important political imperative is to limit the number of U.S. casualties.
    …the needs of those unable to respond to the imperatives of an enterprise culture.
  3. SINGULAR NOUN
    In grammar, a clause that is in the imperative, or in the imperative mood, contains the base form of a verb and usually has no subject. Examples are ‘Go away’ and ‘Please be careful’. Clauses of this kind are typically used to tell someone to do something.
  4. COUNTABLE NOUN
    An imperative is a verb in the base form that is used, usually without a subject, in an imperative clause.
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7
Q

outspokenly

A

ADVERB
in a manner which is candid or bold (in speech)
He will defend them outspokenly.
He was outspokenly critical of the scheme.

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8
Q

mortified

A

ADJECTIVE [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you say that someone is mortified, you mean that they feel extremely offended, ashamed, or embarrassed.
If I reduced somebody to tears I’d be mortified.

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9
Q

heterodox

A

ADJECTIVE
Heterodox beliefs, opinions, or ideas are different from the accepted or official ones.
[formal]
Synonyms: unorthodox, dissident, heretical, revisionist

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10
Q

omnipresent

A

ADJECTIVE
Something that is omnipresent is present everywhere or seems to be always present.
[formal]
The sound of sirens was an omnipresent background noise in New York.
The obsessive thoughts became so omnipresent that her memory was affected.
Synonyms: ubiquitous, ever-present, pervasive

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11
Q

outmoded

A

ADJECTIVE
If you describe something as outmoded, you mean that you think it is old-fashioned and no longer useful or relevant to modern life.
The country badly needs aid to modernize its outmoded industries.
What hope is there, if people in positions of power continue to promote outmoded attitudes?
The political system has become thoroughly outmoded.
Synonyms: old-fashioned, passé, dated, out

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12
Q

herald

A
  1. VERB
    Something that heralds a future event or situation is a sign that it is going to happen or appear.
    [formal]
    …the sultry evening that heralded the end of the baking hot summer. [VERB noun]
    Their discovery could herald a cure for some forms of impotence. [VERB noun]
    Synonyms: indicate, promise, precede, pave the way More Synonyms of herald
  2. COUNTABLE NOUN
    Something that is a herald of a future event or situation is a sign that it is going to happen or appear.
    [formal]
    I welcome the report as a herald of more freedom, not less. [+ of]
    For her, it was the herald of summer.
    Synonyms: forerunner, sign, signal, indication More Synonyms of herald
  3. VERB [usually passive]
    If an important event or action is heralded by people, announcements are made about it so that it is publicly known and expected.
    [formal]
    Her new album has been heralded by a massive media campaign. [be VERB-ed + by]
    Tonight’s big game is being heralded as the match of the season. [be VERB-ed + as]
    Synonyms: announce, publish, advertise, proclaim More Synonyms of herald
  4. COUNTABLE NOUN
    In former times, a herald was a person who delivered and announced important messages.
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13
Q

ruthless

A
  1. ADJECTIVE
    If you say that someone is ruthless, you mean that you disapprove of them because they are very harsh or cruel, and will do anything that is necessary to achieve what they want.
    [disapproval]
    The President was ruthless in dealing with any hint of internal political dissent. [+ in]
    …an invasion by a ruthless totalitarian power.
    The late newspaper tycoon is condemned for his ruthless treatment of employees.
    ruthlessly ADVERB [ADVERB with verb]
    The Party has ruthlessly crushed any sign of organised opposition.
    ruthlessness UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
    …a powerful political figure with a reputation for ruthlessness.
  2. ADJECTIVE
    A ruthless action or activity is done forcefully and thoroughly, without much concern for its effects on other people.
    Her lawyers have been ruthless in thrashing out a settlement. [+ in]
    Successfully merging two banks requires a fast and ruthless attack on costs.
    ruthlessly ADVERB
    …a ruthlessly efficient woman.
    ruthlessness UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
    …a woman with a brain and business acumen and a certain healthy ruthlessness.
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14
Q

sway

A
  1. VERB
    When people or things sway, they lean or swing slowly from one side to the other.
    The people swayed back and forth with arms linked. [VERB adverb/preposition]
    The whole boat swayed and tipped. [VERB]
    …a coastal highway lined with tall, swaying palm trees. [VERB-ing]
    Synonyms: move from side to side, rock, wave, roll More Synonyms of sway
  2. VERB
    If you are swayed by someone or something, you are influenced by them.
    Don’t ever be swayed by fashion. [be VERB-ed]
    …last minute efforts to sway the voters in tomorrow’s local elections. [VERB noun]
    Synonyms: influence, control, direct, affect More Synonyms of sway
  3. See to hold sway
  4. See under the sway of sb/sth
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15
Q

impair

A

VERB
If something impairs something such as an ability or the way something works, it damages it or makes it worse.
[formal]
Consumption of alcohol impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. [VERB noun]
His movements were painfully impaired by arthritis. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: worsen, reduce, damage, injure More Synonyms of impair
impaired ADJECTIVE
The blast left him with permanently impaired hearing.
Synonyms: damaged, flawed, faulty, defective

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16
Q

breathtaking

A

ADJECTIVE
If you say that something is breathtaking, you are emphasizing that it is extremely beautiful or amazing.
[emphasis]
The house has breathtaking views from every room.
Some of their football was breathtaking, a delight to watch.
He nevertheless completed the film with breathtaking speed.
Synonyms: amazing, striking, exciting, brilliant More Synonyms of breathtaking
breathtakingly ADVERB [usually ADVERB adjective, oft ADVERB after verb]
…the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery in Germany.
…a breathtakingly simple gadget from Finland.

17
Q

gulf

A
  1. COUNTABLE NOUN
    A gulf is an important or significant difference between two people, things, or groups.
    Within society, there is a growing gulf between rich and poor. [+ between]
    …the gulf between rural and urban life. [+ between]
    Synonyms: chasm, opening, split, gap More Synonyms of gulf
  2. COUNTABLE NOUN
    A gulf is a large area of sea which extends a long way into the surrounding land.
    …damage caused by hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico
18
Q

premonition

A

COUNTABLE NOUN
If you have a premonition, you have a feeling that something is going to happen, often something unpleasant.
He had an unshakable premonition that he would die.
…a real, genuine premonition of bad news.
Synonyms: feeling, idea, intuition, suspicion

19
Q

tillage

A

NOUN

  1. the act, process, or art of tilling
  2. tilled land, কৃষিকাজ
20
Q

forages

A
  1. VERB
    If someone forages for something, they search for it in a busy way.
    They were forced to forage for clothing and fuel. [VERB + for]
    Synonyms: search, hunt, scavenge, cast about More Synonyms of forage
  2. VERB
    When animals forage, they search for food.
    We disturbed a wild boar that had been foraging by the roadside. [VERB]
    The cat forages for food. [VERB + for]
  3. UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
    Forage is crops that are grown as food for cattle and horses.
    …the amount of forage needed to feed one cow and its calf.
    Synonyms: fodder, food, feed, foodstuffs
21
Q

perfunctory

A

ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A perfunctory action is done quickly and carelessly, and shows a lack of interest in what you are doing.
She gave the list only a perfunctory glance.
…a perfunctory handshake.
Our interest was purely perfunctory.
Synonyms: offhand, routine, wooden, automatic

22
Q

cursory

A

ADJECTIVE [ADJECTIVE noun]
A cursory glance or examination is a brief one in which you do not pay much attention to detail.
Burke cast a cursory glance at the menu, then flapped it shut.
I gave the letter a fairly cursory reading.
Synonyms: brief, passing, rapid, casual