focus Flashcards
1 [singular] formal the way in which something is done or happens
manner of (doing) something
It seemed rather an odd manner of deciding things.
He felt some guilt over the manner of her death.
in a … manner
I had hoped you would behave in a more responsible manner.
The issue will be resolved in a manner that is fair to both sides.
a member of an all-male religious group that lives apart from other people in a monastery → nun
monk
monkish
• Each monk received good clothing, although bathing took place only irregularly unless they were ill.
1 not well known and usually not very important
obscure/əbˈskjʊə an obscure poet The details of his life remain obscure. difficult to understand obscure legal phrases For some obscure reason, the group is very popular. مبهم، تیره، تاره
1 SPEED OF EVENTS/CHANGES [singular] the speed at which something happens or is done
pace
pace of
The pace of change in our lives is becoming faster and faster.
at a steady/slow etc pace
Public spending continues to rise at a steady pace.
1 [countable] a sudden strong feeling of excitement and pleasure, or the thing that makes you feel this
thrill
Winning first place must have been quite a thrill.
the thrill of (doing) something (=the excitement you get from something)
the thrill of travelling at high speeds
1 extremely worried and frightened about a situation, so that you cannot control your feelings
frantic/ˈfræntɪk
get/become frantic
There was still no news of Jill, and her parents were getting frantic.
frantic with
Your mother’s been frantic with worry wondering where you’ve been.
1 the belief that it is good to buy and use a lot of goods and services – often used to show disapproval
consumerism/kənˈsuːmərɪzəm
the growth of consumerism
lie in the field of
the answer lies in the field of psychology
1 [uncountable] the habit of allowing yourself to do or have whatever you want, or allowing someone else to do or have whatever they want → self-indulgence at self-indulgent
2 [countable] something that you do or have for pleasure, not because you need it
indulgence/ɪnˈdʌldʒəns
An occasional glass of wine was his only indulgence.
3 [uncountable] formal willingness to ignore someone’s faults or weaknesses
a spirit of indulgence and forgiveness
1 [uncountable] calm sensible controlled behaviour, especially in a situation when it is difficult to stay calm SYN self-control
restraint
The police were praised for their restraint in handling the demonstrators.
show/exercise restraint
He urged the millions of protesters to exercise restraint.
1 an act of interfering
interference/ˌɪntəˈfɪərəns
I resent his interference in my work.
Industrial relations should be free from state interference.
2 unwanted noise on the radio, television, or on the telephone, or faults in the television picture
a difficult time when there is less trade, business activity etc in a country than usual
recession/rɪˈseʃən
the economic recession of the early 1980s
There is deep recession in the UK.
into/out of recession
attempts to pull the country out of recession
get on
perform or make progress in a specified way.
“how are you getting on in your new job?”
to leave a place:
to leave your home in order to spend time somewhere else, usually for a holiday:
go away
Go away and leave me alone!
We usually go away for the summer.
atheism/eɪθi-ɪzəm
the belief that God does not exist
atheist
atheistic
he is being selfish
he is being = he is behaving at the moment
he is being selfish, he is behaving selfishly at the moment
rivers … to the sea
flow
if something …….., or if you ………it, it breaks open or apart suddenly and violently so that its contents come out
burst
The pipes had burst and the house was under two feet of water.
ترکیدن
to move somewhere suddenly or quickly, especially into or out of a place
burst into/through/in etc
Jo burst into the room.
پریدن ، جهیدن، حرکت سریع کردن
if a river ………….., water from it goes onto the land
burst its banks
• Residents were evacuated from the town as the waters rose and the Ouse threatened to burst its banks.
capsize
if a boat capsizes, or if you capsize it, it turns over in the water
• There, in theory, it would be safe and the weight would help stabilise the raft and prevent a capsize.
If you ……….., you arrange the sheets and blankets on it so someone can sleep there.
make the bed
The chambermaid made the bed with fresh sheets.
a) to rub a surface with something in order to remove dirt, liquid etc
wipe
Wipe the table with a damp cloth.
Bill wiped his eyes (=wiped the tears from his face) and apologized.
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his nose.
زمین شوی و سطل
mop and bucket
wash the floors with a mop and bucket
1 [intransitive, transitive] to clean the dust from a surface by moving something such as a soft cloth across it
dust
metropolis
mɪˈtrɒpəlɪs
a very large city that is the most important city in a country or area
The city has become a huge, bustling metropolis.
bustling
ˈbʌsəlɪŋ
a bustling place is very busy
Even the bustling atmosphere of the 550 building itself seemed not to have invaded the Hugo Varna floor.
something that makes a place comfortable or easy to live in
amenity/ /əˈmiːnəti $ əˈme-/
The hotel is in the city centre, close to shops and local amenities.
houses that lack basic amenities (=basic things that people need, such as heat and running water)
when other people do not know who you are or what your name is
anonymity/ˌænəˈnɪməti
1 a ………….. place has people from many different parts of the world –
cosmopolitan
a vibrant cosmopolitan city
a lively hotel with a cosmopolitan atmosphere
1 the problem of too much traffic in a place
Councillors are looking at ways to reduce traffic congestion in the town centre.
exorbitant
an exorbitant price, amount of money etc is much higher than it should be SYN astronomical
exorbitant rent/prices etc
exorbitant rates of interest
• It’s a nice hotel, but the prices are exorbitant.
lenient
ˈliːniənt
not strict in the way you punish someone or in the standard you expect
the lenient sentences handed down by some judges
School examiners say that marking has become more lenient in recent years.
to state, giving clear reasons, that something is true, should be done etc
argue that
Croft argued that a date should be set for the withdrawal of troops.
It could be argued that a dam might actually increase the risk of flooding.
argue for/against (doing) something
Baker argued against cutting the military budget.
She argued the case for changing the law.
استدلال کردن، دلیل آوردن
a connection between two ideas, facts etc, especially when one may be the cause of the other
correlation/ˌkɒrəˈleɪʃən
correlation between
a strong correlation between urban deprivation and poor health
strong/high/close/significant etc correlation
There is a direct correlation between the best-known brands and the best-selling brands.
1 time when you are not working or studying and can relax and do things you enjoy
leisure/ ˈliːʒər
Most people now enjoy shorter working hours and more leisure time.
1 very busy or full of activity
hectic/ˈhektɪk
I’ve had a pretty hectic day.
a hectic social life
prosperity
prɒˈsperəti
when people have money and everything that is needed for a good life
a time of economic prosperity
the future prosperity of the country
engagement
ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt
1 BEFORE MARRIAGE [countable] an agreement between two people to marry, or the period of time they are engaged
Their engagement was announced in the paper.
3 INVOLVEMENT [uncountable] when you become involved with someone or something in order to understand them
engagement with/in
a strategy of engagement and cooperation with China
Many students pass without any real engagement in learning.
relevant
Word family (noun) relevance ≠ irrelevance (adjective) relevant ≠ irrelevant (adverb) relevantly ≠ irrelevantly
directly relating to the subject or problem being discussed or considered OPP irrelevant
Relevant documents were presented in court.
We received all the relevant information.
relevant to
What experience do you have that is relevant to this position
in the same way SYN similarly
likewise
Nanny put on a shawl and told the girls to do likewise.
The clams were delicious. Likewise, the eggplant was excellent.
1 relating to your spirit rather than to your body or mind
spiritual
ˈspɪrətʃuəl
Painting helps fill a spiritual need for beauty.
spiritual values
ˈspɪrətʃuəl/ ●●○ W3 adjective
1 relating to your spirit rather than to your body or mind
Painting helps fill a spiritual need for beauty.
spiritual values
► see thesaurus at religious
2 relating to religion SYN religious
Islam was inspired by the teachings of the spiritual leader Mohammed
1 [countable, uncountable] a statement in which someone complains about something
complaint/kəmˈpleɪnt
If you wish to make a complaint, you should see the manager.
The sales assistants are trained to deal with customer complaints in a friendly manner.
complaint about
Keating was dismissed after complaints about the quality of his work.
complaint of
complaints of police brutality
complaint from/to
complaints from local residents
a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority
complaint against
All complaints against police officers are carefully investigated.
complaint that
We are concerned by complaints that children are being bullied.
1 a serious argument or disagreement
dispute/ˈdɪspjuːt
dispute with
The firm is involved in a legal dispute with a rival company.
dispute over
He got into a dispute over a taxi fare.
dispute between
the bitter border dispute between the countries
1 the practice of treating one person or group differently from another in an unfair way
Word family (noun) discrimination (adjective) discriminatory (verb) discriminate
discrimination
laws to prevent discrimination
discrimination against
widespread discrimination against older people in the job market
discrimination in favour of
discrimination in favour of university graduates
racial/sex/religious etc discrimination (=treating someone unfairly because of their race, sex etc)
1 [uncountable] a system of government in which every citizen in the country can vote to elect its government officials
democracy/dɪˈmɑː
a return to democracy after 16 years of military rule
a country that has a government which has been elected by the people of the country
a parliamentary democracy
Western democracies
Word family (noun) democracy democrat democratization (adjective) democratic ≠ undemocratic (verb) democratatize (adverb) democratically ≠ undemocratically
democratize
to change the way in which a government, company etc is organized, so that it is more democratic
democratize/dɪˈmɒkrətaɪz
democratization/dɪˌmɒkrətaɪˈzeɪʃən
1 [transitive] to help a skill, feeling, idea etc develop over a period of time SYN encourage, promote
foster/ˈfɑːstər
The bishop helped foster the sense of a community embracing all classes.
2 [intransitive, transitive] to take someone else’s child into your family for a period of time but without becoming their legal parent → adopt
The couple wanted to adopt a black child they had been fostering.
1 relating to your money, possessions, living conditions etc, rather than the needs of your mind or soul OPP spiritual
material goods/possessions/wealth etc
The spiritual life is more important than material possessions.
a society that places high importance on material rewards
4 formal important and having a noticeable effect OPP immaterial
material changes to the schedule
very much
vastly
This book is vastly superior to his last one.
vastly different opinions
“at the expense of”
The expression at the expense of means “in a way that harms (something or someone).” Here are some examples in context:
Malls flourished at the expense of small stores downtown.
1 DAMAGE [transitive] to have a bad effect on something so that it is no longer attractive, enjoyable, useful etc SYN ruin
spoil1
ruin
The whole park is spoiled by litter.
We didn’t let the incident spoil our day.
I don’t want to spoil your fun.
Why do you always have to spoil everything?
1 MAKE SOMETHING CONTINUE to make something continue to exist or happen for a period of time SYN maintain
sustain
Word family (noun) sustenance sustainability (adjective) sustainable ≠ unsustainable (verb) sustain
She found it difficult to sustain the children’s interest.
He was incapable of sustaining close relationships with women.
the policies necessary to sustain economic growth
sustenance
ˈsʌstənəns
1 food that people or animals need in order to live
Without sustenance, the animals will soon die.
Potatoes were their only means of sustenance.
2 when something is made to continue
Elections are necessary for the sustenance of democracy.
acute/əˈkjuːt
1 PROBLEM an acute problem is very serious
The housing shortage is more acute than first thought.
2 FEELING an acute feeling is very strong
acute pain
acute embarrassment
acute anxiety
1 to put several things, problems etc in order of importance, so that you can deal with the most important ones first
prioritize/praɪˈorətaɪz
You need to prioritize your tasks.
2 to deal with one thing first, because it is the most important
The public wants to see the fight against crime prioritized.
1 quickly and easily
readily/ˈredəli
Boats are readily available to visitors.
The information is readily accessible on the Internet.
a particular type of land
terrain
teˈreɪn
rocky terrain
conservationist
ˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃənɪst
someone who works to protect animals, plants etc or to protect old buildings
preservationist
ˌprezəˈveɪʃənɪst
someone who works to prevent historical places, buildings etc from being destroyed
the substance or essence of a speech or text.
she noted the gist of each message
le point principal
keep a record/account/diary etc
to regularly record written information somewhere
• A relaxed regime of visiting the lavatory after each main meal and at bedtime is established with the parents keeping a record.
• Each day we are to keep a diary.
1 a scientific test done to find out how something reacts under certain conditions, or to find out if a particular idea is true
experiment with/in/on
experiments with alcohol-fuelled cars
experiments on sleep deprivation
the lack of something that you need in order to be healthy, comfortable, or happy
deprivation/ˌdeprəˈveɪʃən
Sleep deprivation can result in mental disorders.
Low birth weight is related to economic deprivation.
the deprivations of prison life
a child who has no brothers or sisters
an only child
• I was brought up by adoptive parents as an only child.
about or concerning
documents relating to immigration laws
• The less tangible effects of the Senate bill will come from the provisions relating to jobs and social services for immigrants.
1 end argument [intransitive, transitive] to end an argument or solve a disagreement
settle
settle a dispute/lawsuit/conflict/argument etc Rodman met with Kreeger to try and settle the dispute over his contract. We hope the factions will be able to settle their differences (=agree to stop arguing) by peaceful means. Forensic tests should settle the question of whether Bates was actually present at the scene of the crime.
dictate the terms
• The state will always dictate the terms of the relationship.
1 firm hold [countable usually singular] the way you hold something tightly, or your ability to do this
grip
Hold the microphone in a firm grip and keep it still. She felt her wrist caught in a vice-like grip. Don’t loosen your grip on the rope or you’ll fall.
2 power [singular] power and control over someone or something
have/keep a grip on something Stalin’s determination to keep an iron grip on Eastern Europe
contrary
on‧tra‧ry1 /ˈkɒntrəri $ ˈkɑːntreri/ ●●○ AWL noun
1 → on the contrary/quite the contrary
2 → evidence/statements etc to the contrary
• On the contrary, it liberated us.• On the contrary, they were getting better all the time.• He may also have kept the stewardship of Tottington and Rochdale, in spite of Edward’s orders to the contrary.
willing to consider new ideas or listen to someone else’s opinions
receptive/rɪˈseptɪv
ou might find them in a more receptive mood tomorrow. a receptive audiencereceptive to a workforce that is receptive to new ideas
to succeed in doing something, especially after trying very hard
ac‧com‧plish /əˈkʌmplɪʃ $ əˈkɑːm-, əˈkʌm-/ ●○○ verb [transitive]
We have accomplished all we set out to do. Mission accomplished (=we have done what we intended to do).
to make a great effort to achieve something
strive
strive to do something I was still striving to be successful.strive for/after We must continue to strive for greater efficiency.► see thesaurus at try
trivial
ˈtrɪviəl
trivial problem/matter/complaint etc We were punished for the most trivial offences. a trivial sum Her feelings for Simon seemed trivial by comparison.
an idea that is suggested as an explanation for something, but that has not yet been proved to be true SYN theory
hypothesis
hypothesis
Word family (noun) hypothesis (adjective) hypothetical (verb) hypothesize (adverb) hypothetically
One hypothesis is that the victim fell asleep while driving.prove/test/support etc a hypothesis We hope that further research will confirm our hypothesis.hypothesis about The authors reject the hypothesis about unemployment contributing to crime.
1 when you guess about the possible causes or effects of something without knowing all the facts, or the guesses that you make
speculation/ˌspekjəˈleɪʃən
speculation that There is speculation that the president is ill.speculation about/on speculation about the future
1 if two or more people get along, they have a friendly relationship
get along phrasal verb 1 if two or more people get along, they have a friendly relationship We’ve always got along quite well. with They seem to get along with each other.
1 [countable, uncountable] the opinions and feelings that you usually have about something, especially when this is shown in your behaviour
attitude/ˈætɪttuːd
As soon as they found out I was a doctor, their whole attitude changed.
attitude to/towards
The people have a very positive attitude to life.
an attitude of mind British English (=a way of thinking)
Being young is simply an attitude of mind.
somebody has an attitude problem (=someone is not helpful or pleasant to be with)
Some of the male students have a real attitude problem.
risk-taking
• The culture in Silicon Valley values risk-taking and entrepreneurship.
entrepreneur/ɑːntrəprəˈnɜːr
someone who starts a new business or arranges business deals in order to make money, often in a way that involves financial risks
—entrepreneurship noun [uncountable]
Once again private entrepreneurship has not waited for government to take the initiative.
1 to make a bad situation, an illness, or an injury worse OPP improve
aggravate/ˈæɡrəveɪt
Their money problems were further aggravated by a rise in interest rates.
Building the new road will only aggravate the situation.
2 to make someone angry or annoyed SYN irritate
What really aggravates me is the way she won’t listen.
1 giving all your attention to what is happening, being said etc
alert/əˈlɜːt
The animal raised its head, suddenly alert.
Taking notes is one of the best ways to stay alert in lectures.
2 able to think quickly and clearly
Jack was as mentally alert as a man half his age.
1 to officially warn someone about a problem or danger so that they are ready to deal with it
The school immediately alerted the police.
warn
1 very different from what you are used to, especially in a way that is difficult to understand or accept SYN strange
alien/ˈeɪliən
1 very different from what you are used to, especially in a way that is difficult to understand or accept SYN strange
the alien environment of the city
2 belonging to another country or race SYN foreign
alien cultures
1 British English someone whose job is to look after a building, especially a school SYN janitor American English
caretaker
2 someone who looks after a house or land while the person who owns it is not there
4 American English someone who looks after other people, especially a teacher, parent, nurse etc SYN carer British English
• Apparently she accepted that she was the primary caretaker of her children and the linchpin of family life.
executive/ɪɡˈzekjətɪv
1 a manager in an organization or company who helps make important decisions
a marketing executive
senior/top executive
top executives on high salaries
→ Chief Executive
3 British English a group of people who are in charge of an organization and make the rules
the union’s executive
1 [transitive] to make someone decide to do something
prompt
prompt somebody to do something
What prompted you to buy that suit?
2 [transitive] to make people say or do something as a reaction
The decision prompted an outcry among prominent US campaigners.
1 done quickly, immediately, or at the right time
Prompt action must be taken.
Prompt payment is requested.
likely or able to be changed in the future
provisional
prəˈvɪʒənəl
a provisional government
We accept provisional bookings by phone.
1 (also prune something ↔ back) to cut off some of the branches of a tree or bush to make it grow better
prune/pruːn
The roses need pruning.
2 especially British English to make something smaller by removing parts that you do not need or want
The company is pruning staff in order to reduce costs.
1 [intransitive, transitive] to practise or make people practise something such as a play or concert in order to prepare for a public performance
rehearse/rɪˈhɜːs
I think we need to rehearse the first scene again.
The band was rehearsing for their world tour.
2 [transitive] to practise something that you plan to say to someone
She had carefully rehearsed her resignation speech.
a situation in which there is a lot of damage or a lack of order, especially so that it is difficult for something to continue in the normal way SYN chaos
havoc/ˈhævək
A strike will cause havoc for commuters.
policies that would wreak havoc on the country’s economy
Rain has continued to play havoc with sporting events.
play havoc with
play havoc with
• They also play havoc with your skin and it tends to get a bit sweaty under all the make-up I have to wear.
circadian
sɜːˈkeɪdiən
relating to a period of 24 hours, used especially when talking about changes in people’s bodies
the body’s circadian rhythm
1 needing a lot of ability, effort, or skill
demanding Word family (noun) demand demands (adjective) demanding ≠ undemanding (verb) demand
a demanding job
physically/emotionally/intellectually etc demanding
Climbing is physically demanding.
done in order to find out more about something
exploratory
Word family (noun) exploration explorer (adjective) exploratory unexplored (verb) explore
He’s going to have exploratory surgery on his knee.
1 [uncountable] the quality of being very careful to avoid danger or risks → cautious
with caution
We must proceed with extreme caution.
The physician must exercise caution when prescribing antidepressants.
carbohydrate
ˌkɑːrboʊ
1 [countable, uncountable] a substance that is in foods such as sugar, bread, and potatoes, which provides your body with heat and energy and which consists of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon
2 [countable usually plural] foods such as rice, bread, and potatoes that contain carbohydrates
one of several natural substances that exist in food such as meat, eggs, and beans, and which your body needs in order to grow and remain strong and healthy
protein
ˈprəʊtiːn $ ˈproʊ
to begin to do something:
take up something
I’m not very good at golf – I only took it up recently.
the way you earn money in order to live
a means/source of livelihood
Fishing is the main source of livelihood for many people in the area.
It’s difficult to earn a livelihood as an artist.
Bates says he will lose his livelihood if his driving licence is taken away.
livelihood
Word family (noun) liveliness living livelihood (adjective) live lively living liveable (verb) live outlive relive liven up (adverb) live
the emotional part of someone’s character, especially how likely they are to be happy, angry etc
temperament
artistic/nervous/good etc temperament
Jill has such a lovely relaxed temperament.
by temperament
Tolkien was, by temperament, a very different man from Lewis.
interested only in yourself and the things that affect you
Teenagers always seem so self-absorbed.
self-absorbed
• Sometimes the self-absorbed child also shows little interest in his parents, ignoring them or seeming not to focus on them.
خود شیفته
out of sorts
feeling a little ill or upset
Louise went back to work feeling rather out of sorts.
put into practice
To carry out or commence doing something that had heretofore only been discussed, suggested, or planned. We’ve decided to put your ideas into practice for the next meeting. I’ve been putting that technique you showed me into practice during my training sessions.
1 the reason that makes someone do something, especially when this reason is kept hidden
motive
What do you suppose the killer’s motive was?
motive for (doing) something
The police believe the motive for this murder was jealousy.
motive behind
The motives behind the decision remain obscure.
the lack of something that you need in order to be healthy, comfortable, or happy
deprivation
Sleep deprivation can result in mental disorders.
social/economic/emotional etc deprivation
Low birth weight is related to economic deprivation.
deprivation of
the deprivations of prison life
relating to or using your senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch
sensory stimuli such as music
sensory deprivation
not broken, damaged, or spoiled
intact
Only the medieval tower had remained intact.
His reputation survived intact.
1 [intransitive] to talk about something in a very interested or excited way
enthuse
enthuse about/over
Rick was there, enthusing about life in Australia.
2 [transitive] to make someone interested in something or excited by it
be enthused by/with something
The owners were certainly enthused by the offer.
1 [only before noun] doing something from habit, and unable to stop doing it
habitual Word family (noun) habit habitué (adjective) habitual (verb) habituate (adverb) habitually
habitual criminal/offender
habitual drinker/smoker/gambler
2 done as a habit that you cannot stop
His drinking had become habitual.
1 if pain or the effect of something …., it gradually stops
wear off
The effects of the anaesthetic were starting to wear off.
2 the novelty wears off used to say that you stop feeling interested or excited about something because it is no longer new
It was funny for a while but the novelty soon wore off.
1 someone who seems to be the leader of a country or organization but who has no real power → puppet
figurehead
The Queen is merely a figurehead.
pick up an accent
During his stay in England, he had picked up an English accent.
lose your accent (=no longer speak with an accent)
After 9 years in London, Ben had lost his French accent.
put on an accent (=deliberately speak with a different accent from your usual one)
When Mum’s on the phone, she puts on a funny accent.
a strong/broad/thick/pronounced accent (=very noticeable) She spoke with a strong Scottish accent. a broad Australian accent a slight/faint accent He has a very slight accent.
convenient
convenient
Word family (noun) convenience ≠ inconvenience (adjective) convenient ≠ inconvenient (verb) inconvenience (adverb) conveniently ≠ inconveniently
1 useful to you because it saves you time, or does not spoil your plans or cause you problems OPP inconvenient
Mail-order catalogs are a convenient way to shop.
My secretary will call you to arrange a convenient time to meet.
convenient for
Is three o’clock convenient for you?
convenient to do something
It is simple and convenient to use.
close and easy to reach OPP inconvenient
The bus stop around the corner is probably the most convenient.
1 to succeed in dealing with a difficult problem or situation
cope
Sometimes I find it hard to cope.
He coped quite well as manager while still captaining the team.
cope with
She feared she wouldn’t be able to cope with two new babies.
Local authorities have to cope with the problems of homelessness.
2 if a system or machine copes with a particular type or amount of work, it does it
cope with
No system is designed to cope with the floods we have had this year.
My computer can cope with huge amounts of data.
a form of a language which is spoken only in one area, with words or grammar that are slightly different from other forms of the same language → accent
dialect/ˈdaɪəlekt
Chinese/Yorkshire etc dialect
The people up there speak a Tibetan dialect.
the local dialect
1 an …….. quality or ability is something you are born with
innate/ˌɪˈneɪt
Children have an innate ability to learn language.
ذاتی ، مادرزادی
instead of
rather than
I think you’d call it a lecture rather than a talk.
Rather than go straight on to university why not get some work experience first?
Bryson decided to quit rather than accept the new rules.
1 always behaving in the same way or having the same attitudes, standards etc – usually used to show approval
consistent/kənˈsɪstənt
She’s the team’s most consistent player.
consistent in
We need to be consistent in our approach.
نامتناقض، استوار، ثابت قدم
firm
Cal replied with a polite but firm ‘no’.
What this country needs is firm leadership.
minority
məˈnɑː
a small group of people or things within a much larger group OPP majority
Gaelic is still spoken in Ireland by a minority.
minority of
Only a minority of people supported these new laws.
Gay men are a small but significant minority.
majority
məˈdʒɑː
1 MOST PEOPLE OR THINGS [singular] most of the people or things in a group OPP minority
The majority of workers find it quite hard to live on the amount of money they earn.
The majority of workers find it quite hard to live on the amount of money they earn.
great/vast/overwhelming majority of something (=almost all of a group)
In the vast majority of cases the disease is fatal.
be in the majority (=form the largest group)
In this city, Muslims are in the majority.
proportion
prəˈpɔːʃən
proportion (adjective) proportional proportionate (verb) proportion (adverb) proportionally proportionately
a part of a number or an amount, considered in relation to the whole
The proportion of women graduates has increased in recent years.
Every parent is asked to contribute a proportion of the total cost.
high/large/small etc proportion
The decision affects a significant proportion of the population.
to believe that
be of the opinion that
People seemed to be of the opinion that the evening’s drama was best viewed as part of the fun.
to get something, especially an advantage or a pleasant feeling, from something
derive something from something
Medically, we will derive great benefit from this technique.
derive pleasure/enjoyment etc
Many students derived enormous satisfaction from the course.
derives more benefits that drawbacks
if a solid ………, or if you …….. it, it mixes with a liquid and becomes part of it
Stir until the sugar dissolves.
dissolve in
Sugar dissolves in water.
dissolve something in something
Dissolve the tablet in water.
2 END [transitive] to formally end a parliament, business arrangement, marriage etc
The monarch had the power to dissolve parliament.
gradually become smaller or weaker before disappearing, or to make something do this
to gradually become smaller or weaker before disappearing, or to make something do this
Her enthusiasm dissolved his shyness.
A few clouds formed briefly before dissolving again.
monarch/ˈmɒnɑːrk/
monarchic /məˈnɑːkɪk /
the old monarchical system
a king or queen
parliament/ˈpɑːləmənt /
1 [countable] the group of people who are elected to make a country’s laws and discuss important national affairs → government, MP
They demanded a free parliament and press.
be elected to parliament
She was elected to parliament in 1997.
stand for parliament (=try to be elected)
Ms Jackson stood for Parliament as a Labour candidate.
enter/get into parliament (=be elected as a member of parliament)
Tony Blair first entered Parliament in 1983.
be returned to Parliament (=be elected)
Creevey was returned to Parliament as MP for Appleby.
a bill is passed by parliament (=it is made into a law)
The bill was passed by Parliament last May.
a bill goes through parliament (=it goes through the process of being made a law)
The bill is currently going through Parliament.
go before/be put before parliament (=be considered by parliament)
The Bill goes before Parliament on November 16.
dissolve parliament formal (=officially end parliament before holding an election)
The prime minister will ask the Queen to dissolve Parliament and call an election.
1 probably not honest, true, right etc
dubious/ˈduː-
The firm was accused of dubious accounting practices.
Many critics regard this argument as dubious or, at best, misleading.
not sure whether something is good or true SYN doubtful
I can see you are dubious; take some time to think about it.
dubious about
Some universities are dubious about accepting students over the age of 30
dubiously adverb
—dubiousness.
a plan, idea, or method that is …… is possible and is likely to work SYN possible
a feasible solution
economically/technically/politically etc feasible
It was no longer financially feasible to keep the community centre open.
feasibly adverb
—feasibility
to move something with a quick sudden movement so that it is in a different position
He flipped the top off the bottle and poured himself a drink.
flip over
He flipped the paper over and started writing on the back.
to make a flat object such as a coin go upwards and turn over in the air SYN toss
We flipped a coin to see who would go first.
1 FIRE [countable] a very small piece of burning material produced by a fire or by hitting or rubbing two hard objects together
spark
sparks from the fire
The scrape of metal on metal sent up a shower of sparks.
to be the cause of something, especially trouble or violence SYN provoke
spark
spark something ↔ off)
The police response sparked outrage in the community.
A discarded cigarette sparked a small brush fire.
viable
1 a viable idea, plan, or method can work successfully
viable alternative/proposition/option etc
The committee came forward with one viable solution.
economically/commercially/financially viable
Will a hotel here be financially viable?
viably
viability ˌvaɪəˈbɪləti
the long-term economic viability of the company
a programme on the radio or on television
broadcast/ˈbrɒːdkæst
a news broadcast
CNN’s live broadcast of the trial (=sent out at the same time as the events are happening)
continuing, or continuing to develop
ongoing
their ongoing search for a new director
ongoing negotiations
The discussions are still ongoing.
1 something which is futuristic looks unusual and modern, as if it belongs in the future instead of the present
futuristic/ˌfjuːtʃəˈrɪstɪk
The futuristic sports stadium is the pride of the city.
futuristic ideas, books, films etc imagine what may happen in the future, especially through scientific developments
Orwell’s disturbing futuristic novel, ‘1984’
an exact copy of something, especially a building, a gun, or a work of art
replica/ˈreplɪkə
replica of
an exact replica of the Taj Mahal
replica guns
the action of immersing something in liquid, or the state of being immersed
immersion
his near-fatal immersion in the icy Atlantic Ocean
2 [uncountable] the fact of being completely involved in something you are doing
my immersion in black music and culture
communicator
communication communicator (adjective) communicative ≠ uncommunicative (verb) communicate She’s a skilled communicator.
1 to order someone to come to a place
summon/ˈsʌmən
Robert summoned the waiter for the bill.
summon somebody to something
The president summoned Taylor to Washington.
summon somebody to do something
He was summoned to attend an emergency meeting.
2 to officially order someone to come to a court of law
Hugh was summoned to appear before the magistrate.
3 (also summon something up) to try very hard to have enough of something such as courage, energy, or strength, because you need it
He had to summon the energy to finish the race.
احظار، فراخواندن،
miniaturize
ˈmɪnətʃəraɪz $ ˈmɪniə-/
to make something in a very small size
miniaturized
a miniaturized listening device
literary expensive possessions and large amounts of money SYN wealth
riches
He was enjoying his new-found riches.
the story of her rise from rags to riches (=from being poor to being rich)
happening or existing in many places, and therefore not special or unusual
commonplace
common
Car thefts are commonplace in this part of town.
• Organ transplants are now commonplace.
to include or show something as a special or important part of something, or to be included as an important part
feature
The exhibition features paintings by Picasso.
1 a way of doing something, especially the correct or usual way → process
procedure/prəˈsiːdʒə
What’s the procedure for applying for a visa?
correct/proper/normal etc procedure
This is standard procedure for getting rid of toxic waste.
1 invasive medical treatment involves cutting into someone’s body
invasive/ɪnˈveɪsɪv
2 an invasive disease spreads quickly and is difficult to stop
invasive bladder cancers
affecting someone’s private life or interrupting them in an unwanted and annoying way
intrusive/ɪnˈtruːsɪv
They found the television cameras too intrusive.
causing disruption or annoyance through being unwelcome or uninvited.
to find out what illness someone has, or what the cause of a fault is, after doing tests, examinations etc
diagnose/noʊs diagnose somebody as (having) something Joe struggled in school before he was diagnosed as dyslexic. diagnose something as something The illness was diagnosed as mumps. diagnose somebody with something She was diagnosed with breast cancer.
1 someone who is ……….has many different skills
versatile/ˈvɜːrsətl
a very versatile performer
a more versatile workforce
2 having many different uses
The potato is an extremely versatile vegetable.
versatility
Hegley’s outstanding versatility as an all-round entertainer
2 informal someone who is …….. is bad-tempered SYN grumpy
crusty
a crusty old man
3 having a thin dry hard layer of something on the surface
The lake was ringed by crusty salt deposits.
close to a place
The beach is within easy reach of the hotel.
1 REQUEST [countable] an urgent request for something important
appeal/əˈpiːl
The police have issued a new appeal for information.
appeal to
All the organizations involved have sent urgent appeals to the government, asking for extra funding.
the set of tools and machines that you use for a particular scientific, medical, or technical purpose
æpəˈrætəs $ -ˈræ
equipment
Astronauts have special breathing apparatus.
English someone who is trained to give medical care and treatment to sick animals S
vet/vetərəˈneəriən $ -ˈner-/
ˌupwardly ˈmobile
moving up through the social classes and becoming richer
1 money that a business or organization receives over a period of time, especially from selling goods or services → income
revenueˈrevənuː
advertising revenue
Strikes have cost £20 million in lost revenues.
2 money that the government receives from tax
an increase in tax revenues of 8.4%
1 the natural features of a particular part of a country that you can see, such as mountains, forests, deserts etc
The best part of the trip was the fantastic scenery.
beautiful/lovely
The scenery was beautiful and the people were really friendly.
stunning (=very beautiful)
We drove through some stunning scenery.
spectacular/magnificent/wonderful etc (=very impressive)
Tourists come for the winter sports and the spectacular scenery.
dramatic (=unusual and impressive)
Discover the dramatic scenery of the Yorkshire Dales on a guided walk.
breathtaking (=very beautiful and impressive)
The scenery is breathtaking, a unique combination of mountains, valleys, and lakes.
mountain scenery
This fascinating village is surrounded by magnificent mountain scenery.
coastal scenery
The walk takes in some of Britain’s most breathtaking coastal scenery.
VERBS
admire the scenery
We stopped to admire the scenery.
enjoy/take in the scenery (=spend time looking at beautiful scenery)
Relax with a glass of local wine while you take in the beautiful scenery.
bend over backwards (to do something)
to try very hard to be helpful
We bent over backwards to finish it on time.
• They also needed to stop rationalizing the problem to themselves and bending over backwards to be fair.
like two peas in a pod
informal exactly the same in appearance, behaviour etc
practical and direct in a sensible honest way
down-to-earth
Fran’s a friendly, down-to-earth person.
a chef with a down-to-earth approach to cooking
have your head in the clouds
to think about something in a way that is not practical or sensible, especially when you think things are much better than they really are
1 PARTS/MEMBERS [countable, uncountable] the way in which something is made up of different parts, things, or members
composition/ˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃən
The composition of the group that is studied depends on the interests of the researcher.
Some minerals have complex chemical compositions.
a) [countable] a piece of music, a poem, or a piece of writing → compose, composer
a composition by jazzman Dave Brubeck, called ‘Chromatic Fantasy’
3 PICTURE [countable, uncountable] the way in which the different parts that make up a photograph or picture are arranged
Martin starts by lightly sketching in the compositions for his paintings.
to hold someone or something very close to you with your arms around them, especially to show that you love them → hug
cuddle
Dawn and her boyfriend were cuddling on the sofa.
1 to change someone’s appearance so that people cannot recognize them
disguise/dɪsˈɡaɪz
disguise yourself as somebody/something
Maybe you could disguise yourself as a waiter and sneak in there.
He escaped across the border disguised as a priest.
disguise something as something
a letter bomb disguised as a musical greetings card
3 to hide a fact or feeling so that people will not notice it
Try as he might, Dan couldn’t disguise his feelings for Katie.
1 having a lot of small parts or details put together in a complicated way SYN intricate
pure silks embroidered with elaborate patterns
2 carefully planned and organized in great detail SYN complex
a very elaborate telecommunications network
e‧lab‧o‧rate2 /ɪˈlæbəreɪt/ verb
[intransitive, transitive] to give more details or new information about something SYN enlarge
He said he had new evidence, but refused to elaborate any further.
McDonald refused to elaborate on his reasons for resigning.
to think that something is likely to happen in the future
The scheme cost a lot more than we had originally envisaged.
envisage doing something
I don’t envisage working with him again.
imagine
1 something that you are trying hard to achieve, especially in business or politics SYN goal
objective
Word family (noun) objectivity (adjective) objective (adverb) objectively
He vowed to achieve certain objectives before the end of his presidency.
aim, purpose
have an objective
Our main objective is to reduce road accidents.
set an objective (=decide what you are trying to achieve)
Pupils should be encouraged to set their own objectives.
achieve/accomplish an objective (also attain an objective formal)
The policy should help us achieve our objective of reducing paper waste.
reach/meet an objective (=achieve an objective)
We need to control spending in order to meet our financial objectives.
pursue an objective (=try to achieve something you want)
War has always been a means of pursuing nat
aims and objectives (=all the things someone wants to achieve)
The department should clearly state its aims and objectives.
1 a way of dealing with a problem or making a bad situation better SYN solution
remedy/ˈremədi
The problems in our schools do not have a simple remedy.
remedy for
The program is one remedy for discrimination.
2 a medicine to cure an illness or pain that is not very serious SYN cure
remedy for
a remedy for colds
take a remedy
Have you tried taking herbal remedies?
relating to or happening in a sequence
sequential/sɪˈkwenʃəl
sequence sequencing (adjective) sequential (verb) sequence (adverb) sequentially
• a sequential arrangement
• A sequential data file that is indexed is called an indexed sequential file.
1 GO SECRETLY [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to go somewhere secretly and quietly in order to avoid being seen or heard SYN creep
sneak/sniːk sneak in/out/away etc They sneaked off without paying! She snuck out of the house once her parents were asleep. حرکت پنهانی
a paved path for pedestrians at the side of a road.
sidewalk
1 a …… event or situation makes you feel very sad, especially because it involves death or suffering → comic
tragic/ˈtrædʒɪk
The parents were not to blame for the tragic death of their son.
2 [only before noun] relating to tragedy in books or plays OPP comic
a great tragic actor
meanwhile
1 while something else is happening
Cook the sauce over a medium heat until it thickens. Meanwhile start boiling the water for the pasta.
2 (also in the meanwhile) in the period of time between two events
The flight will be announced soon. Meanwhile, please remain seated.
to be able to remember something SYN remember
recollect/ˌrekəˈlekt
All I recollect is a grey sky.
recollect that
She recollected sadly that she and Ben used to laugh a lot.
recollect how/when/what etc
Can you recollect how your brother reacted?
1 to discover or explain exactly the real facts about something or the cause of a problem
pinpoint/ˈpɪnpɔɪnt
It’s difficult to pinpoint the cause of the accident.
pinpoint what/how/why etc
They need to pinpoint exactly what skills are necessary.
2 to find or show the exact position of something
Rescue teams have now pinpointed the location of the ship.
an extremely short period of time
split second
For a split second the two men hesitated.
able to understand other people’s feelings and problems
sensitive/ˈsensətɪv
a sensitive and intelligent young man
sensitive to
It’s made me much more sensitive to the needs of the disabled.
4 SITUATION/SUBJECT a situation or subject that is sensitive needs to be dealt with very carefully, because it is secret or because it may offend people
Abortion is a very sensitive issue.
sensitive matters such as national security
1 based on facts, or making a decision that is based on facts rather than on your feelings or beliefs OPP subjective
objective assessment/measurement/description etc
It’s hard to give an objective opinion about your own children.
Scientists need to be objective when doing research.
purely/totally/completely objective
the importance of a completely objective, independent press
factual
ˈfæktʃuəl
based on facts or relating to facts
Try to keep your account of events as factual as possible.
factual information/knowledge/statements etc
Libraries are stores of factual information.
The report contained a number of factual errors.
deterrent
1 something that makes someone less likely to do something, by making them realize it will be difficult or have bad results
The small fines for this type of crime do not act as much of a deterrent.
the deterrent effect of prison sentences
to make it difficult for something to develop or succeed SYN hamper
hinder/ˈhɪndə
His career has been hindered by injury.
policies that will hinder rather than help families
► Do not confuse with prevent (=to make it impossible for someone to do something): His poor health prevented him from going to work (NOT His poor health hindered him from going to work).
In everyday English, people often say something gets in the way of something rather than hinders it:
This could get in the way of rescue attempts.
1 someone who is guilty of a crime
offender/əˈfendə
Community punishment is used for less serious offenders.
At 16, Scott was already a persistent offender (=someone who has been caught several times for committing crimes).
Word family (noun) offense/offense offender offensive offensiveness (adjective) offensive ≠ inoffensive offended offending (verb) offend (adverb) offensively
aboriginal/ˌæbəˈrɪdʒɪnəl
1 (also Aboriginal) relating to the Australian aborigines
2 formal relating to the people or animals that have existed in a place or country from the earliest times SYN indigenous
1 extremely unpleasant SYN terrible
dreadful
We’ve had some dreadful weather lately.
Michelle felt absolutely dreadful (=very ill).
3 (also summon something up) to try very hard to have enough of something such as courage, energy, or strength, because you need it
summon something up
He had to summon the energy to finish the race.
2 formal to supply or provide something
furnish Word family (noun) furnishings furniture (adjective) furnished ≠ unfurnished (verb) furnish
sweetener
ˈswiːtnə
1 [countable, uncountable] a substance used to make food or drink taste sweeter
No artificial sweeteners are used in this product.
not involved in a particular situation, and therefore able to give a fair opinion or piece of advice SYN fair OPP biased
We offer impartial advice on tax and insurance.
an impartial inquiry into the deaths
impartially
بی طرفانه
1 a false warning about something dangerous
hoax
a bomb hoax
hoax calls (=telephone calls giving false information) to the police
a bomb hoax
hoax calls (=telephone calls giving false information) to the police
2 an attempt to make people believe something that is not true
an elaborate hoax
1 [countable, uncountable] the type of activity or subject that a person or organization seems most interested in and gives most attention to
orientation
orientation towards/to
The company needs to develop a stronger orientation towards marketing its products.
How can we get students to adopt a serious orientation to learning?
1 to communicate or express something, with or without using words
convey
All this information can be conveyed in a simple diagram.
Ads convey the message that thin is beautiful.
He was sent to convey a message to the UN Secretary General.
convey something to somebody
I want to convey to children that reading is one of life’s greatest treats.
convey a sense/an impression/an idea etc
You don’t want to convey the impression that there’s anything illegal going on
ironing
ˈaɪənɪŋ
1 the activity of making clothes smooth with an iron
I hate doing the ironing.
2 clothes that are waiting to be ironed or have just been ironed
I’m tired and there’s still a pile of ironing to do.
uncountable nous
hair = you have got very long hair(there is a hair in my soup) experience = i had some interesting experiences = things that happened to me(they offered a job to me because i had lot of experience)
news C or U
travel
the news was very depressing
travel =U = travelling in general
they spend a lot of money on travel
trip , journey = C = We had a very good trip , journey
job , work
I’m looking for a job , I’m looking for work. (not a work)
view , scenery
What a beautiful view! , What beautiful scenery!
day, weather
it’s a nice day today / it’s nice weather today.
bag, case , baggage, luggage
C We had a lot of bags and cases.
C We had a lot of baggage/luggage.
chair , furniture
These chairs are mine
This furniture is mine
suggestion , advice
That’s a good suggestion
That’s good advice
all uncountable nouns
accommodation advice baggage behaviour bread chaos damage furniture information
Luck Luggage news permission progress scenery ----, traffic weather work
when we use plural nouns alone?
when we want talk about what kind of something or someone they are
that is a nice table
these are nice chairs
when we dont use some
when we are taling about things in general
i love banana
my aunt writes books
a brightly coloured flower that is shaped like a cup and grows from a bulb in spring
گل لاله
tulip
Some nouns end in -ics, but are not usually plural. For example:
athletics economics electronics gymnastics
maths (=mathematics) physics politics
=. Gymnastics is my favourite sport. (not Gymnastics are)
Some words ending in -s can be singular or plural. For example:
means, a means of transport, many means of transport
series, a television series, two television series
species, a species of bird, 200 species of bird
Some singular nouns are often used with a plural verb. For example:
audience committee company family firm government staff team
The government(= they) have decided to increase taxes. The staff at the company (=they) are not happy with their working conditions
In the same way, we often use a plural verb after the name of a sports team or a company:
Italy are playing Brazil next Sunday (in a football match).
Shell have increased the price of petrol
We use a …… verb with police:
:= The police are investigating the crime, but haven’t arrested anyone yet.
We think of a sum of money, a period of time, a distance etc. as one thing. So we use a singular verb
Fifty thousand pounds(= it) was stolen in the robbery. (not were stolen)
0 Three years(= it) is a long time to be without a job. (not Three years are)
0 Two miles isn’t very far to walk.
[countable, uncountable] a substance such as coal, gas, or oil that can be burned to produce heat or energy
Coal is one of the cheapest fuels.
to make an argument or disagreement worse
add fuel to the fire/flames
Rather than providing a solution, their statements merely added fuel to the fire.
fossil
ˈfɒsəl
fossils of early reptiles
Marine sponges have a long fossil record (=their development has been recorded over a long period).
different types of fossil
a fossil fuel (=a fuel such as coal or oil, produced by the gradual decaying of plants and animals)
Global warming may be caused by burning fossil fuels.
nuclear fuel
What do we do with the spent nuclear fuel?
solid fuel (=a solid substance, such as coal, that is used as a fuel)
The number of homes using solid fuel for heating has decreased.
domestic/household fuel (=used in a house)
There has been a sharp rise in domestic fuel costs.
smokeless fuel (=that burns without producing smoke)
The government is trying to encourage the use of environmentally-friendly smokeless fuels.
unleaded fuel (=that does not contain lead)
Modern cars run on unleaded fuel.
a green fuel (=a fuel that harms the environment as little as possible)
Are green fuels, like Biodiesel, really the solution to our fuel crisis?
a clean fuel (=fuel that does not harm the environment)
The proposal is to cut tax on cars that run on clean fuel.
aviation fuel (=used used by planes)
high-octane aviation fuel
VERBS
unleaded/ʌnˈledɪd
unleaded petrol does not contain any lead
Ben’s car only takes unleaded.
biosphere/ˈbaɪəsfɪə
technical the part of the world in which animals, plants etc can live
not influenced by, showing, or involving personal feelings.
impersonal
Business letters do not have to be impersonal and formal.
Sometimes she seems a very impersonal, even unkind, mother.
2 a place or situation that is impersonal does not make people feel that they are important
I hate staying in hotels; they’re so impersonal.
a formal and impersonal style of management
something that is …… makes you feel anxious or worried
worrying
worry worrier (adjective) worried ≠ unworried worrying worrisome (verb) worry (adverb) worryingly worriedly
The situation is extremely worrying.
This is a worrying development for small businesses.
It’s been a worrying few weeks for us all.
inadvisable
an action that is inadvisable is not sensible SYN unwise
Changes in the patient’s condition may make surgery inadvisable.
it is inadvisable to do something
It is inadvisable to involve more than one contractor on a project.
1 to make a place or substance dirty or harmful by putting something such as chemicals or poison in it
contaminate/kənˈtæməneɪt
Drinking water supplies are believed to have been contaminated.
2 to influence something in a way that has a bad effect
He claims the poster ads have ‘contaminated Berlin’s streets’.
contamination / radioactive contamination
formal to correct something that is wrong SYN put right
I did my best to rectify the situation, but the damage was already done.
rectification /ˌrektɪfɪˈkeɪʃən
a substance that makes air, water, soil etc dangerously dirty, and is caused by cars, factories etc
pollutant/pəˈluːtənt
air/environmental/water etc pollutants
New regulations will reduce hazardous air pollutants.
a dumping ground for toxic pollutants
the process of cleaning a liquid by passing it through a filter
filtration/fɪlˈtreɪʃən
• Will I sacrifice water quality by reducing filtration?
water table
the level below the ground where there is water
erosion
1 if the weather erodes rock or soil, or if rock or soil erodes, its surface is gradually destroyed
The cliffs are being constantly eroded by heavy seas.
The rocks have gradually eroded away.
soil erosion
logging
the work of cutting down trees in a forest
2 ANIMALS [intransitive, transitive] to illegally catch or shoot animals, birds, or fish, especially on private land without permission
poach
Deer have been poached here for years.
to make a bad situation worse
exacerbate/ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt
The recession has exacerbated this problem.
I don’t want to exacerbate the situation.
exacerbation /ɪɡˌzæsəˈbeɪʃən $ -sər-/
• Financial problems have been exacerbated by declining enrollment.
impurity
purification purist purity ≠ impurity purifier (adjective) pure ≠ impure (verb) purify (adverb) purely
1 [countable usually plural] a substance of a low quality that is contained in or mixed with something else, making it less pure
All natural minerals contain impurities.
tainted
1 a tainted substance, especially food or drink, is not safe because it is spoiled or contains a harmful substance or poison
butler
the main male servant of a house
1 to cause someone to feel extremely embarrassed or ashamed
mortify/ˈmɔːtɪfaɪ
• As a teenager, making any mistake socially would have mortified me.
turn your back (on somebody/something)
a) to refuse to help, support, or be involved with someone or something
How can you turn your back on your own mother?
In his twenties he turned his back on his Catholic faith.
dismiss
1 to refuse to consider someone’s idea, opinion etc, because you think it is not serious, true, or important
The government has dismissed criticisms that the country’s health policy is a mess.
dismiss something as something
He just laughed and dismissed my proposal as unrealistic.
It’s an idea that shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand (=dismissed immediately and completely).
dismiss an idea/suggestion
Both actors dismissed any idea of a romantic relationship between them.
dismiss a notion formal (=idea)
The Minister dismissed the notion that he had cut petrol tax because of the forthcoming by-election.
dismiss a possibility
The prime minister dismissed the possibility of an early election.
dismiss a claim
An industrial tribunal dismissed his claim of unfair discrimination.
dismiss an allegation/charge
She claimed that she was honest and dismissed the allegations against her.
dismiss a thought
Was he lying? I tried to dismiss the thought.
pharmaceutical
ˌfɑːrməˈsuː
relating to the production of drugs and medicines
ideas about city
excellent shopping friendly people, friendly inhabitants great food lots to do unusual building lively festivals spectacular scenery --- fast public transport crowded streets high crime rate
to ask someone for information
inquire/ˈkwaɪr
‘Why are you doing that?’ the boy inquired.
inquire about
I am writing to inquire about your advertisement in ‘The Times’.
inquire whether/why/how etc
The waiter inquired whether we would like to sit near the window.
inquire something of somebody
‘Where’s the station?’ she inquired of a passer-by.
Toby would have liked to inquire further (=ask more questions).
the day, week etc that follows the next one
the day/week etc after next
Have you remembered it’s Susie’s birthday the week after next?
spoken used to say that you are asking a question only because you are interested and not because you need to know
(just) out of interest/as a matter of interest
Just out of interest, how much did they offer you?
a number of people or things that are all different, but are all of the same general type
range/reɪndʒ
a range of services
The drug is effective against a range of bacteria.
age/price/temperature etc range
toys suitable for children in the pre-school age range
a temperature range of 72–85º,
in/within a … range
Your blood pressure’s well within the normal range.
a wide/broad range
The Institute organises talks on a wide range of topics.
a whole range (=a wide range)
He also supports a whole range of other charities.
a large/great/huge/vast range
A vast range of plants are used in medicines.
a diverse range
During his career he has run a diverse range of businesses.
a narrow/limited range
They only had a very limited range of products available.
