G Flashcards
gaffe
n. social blunder
Jim was so afraid of making a gaffe that he barely spoke to anyone at the party.
gainsay
v. to deny or dispute
No one can gainsay the impact of technology on modern society.
galvanize
v. to rouse or stir
The speech galvanized support for the plan.
gambit
n. a stratagem or ploy
The general decided on the risky gambit.
gambol
v. to frolic; leap playfully
We watched the dolphins gambol in the waves.
gamut
n. entire range
The courses at this university run the gamut from anthropology to zoology.
gargantuan
adj. huge; tremendous
There has been a gargantuan increase in public rural areas.
garrulous
adj. very talkative
The garrulous students were told to leave the library.
gauche
adj. coarse and uncouth; clumsy
The girls were embarrassed by the boys’ gauche behavior.
generic
adj. universal; referring to a group
They are all in favor of the use of generic drugs.
genesis
n. beginning; origin
Scientists are studying the genesis of the human species.
genial
adj. having a pleasant or friendly disposition
People like Ted’s genial personality.
genocide
n. the systematic killing of a people or nation
The genocide was condemned by the United Nations.
genome
n. the genetic material of an organism
An analogy to the human genome stored on DNA is the instructions stored in a library.
genre
n. type, class; distinct literary or artistic category
Amy’s favorite genre of literature is the novel.
gentry
n. people of standing; class of people just below nobility
The king made sure he had the support of the gentry before introducing a new policy.
geomorphic
n. relating to the study of the evolution and configuration of landforms
Geomorphic processes are influenced by tectonics, climate, ecology, and human activity.
geophysics
n. the physics of the Earth and its environment
One of the phenomena studied by geophysics is the periodic reversal in polarity of the Earth’s magnetic field.
geriatric
adj. related to the aged or the aging process
As the population ages, geriatric medicine is becoming more important.
germane
adj. appropriate, relevant
The judge ruled that the testimony was not germane.
gerrymander
v. to divide an area into voting districts in a way that favors a political party
The lawsuit contends that the party’s gerrymandering violates the state constitution.
gestalt
adj. relating to a pattern of elements so unified that properties cannot be derived from the sum of its parts
During the 1920s and 1930s artists Paul Klee, Vasily Kandinsky, and Josef Albers explicitly drew upon gestalt theory for inspiration in their writings, paints, and lectures.
gestation
n. growth process from conception to birth
Human beings have a long gestation period.
gesticulate
v. to motion or gesture
I saw the police officer gesticulating, so I pulled my car to the side of the road.
gingerly
adv. very carefully
The soldier walked through the mine field gingerly.
glacial
adj. like a glacier; extremely cold; slow
The weather man predicts a glacial winter this year.
glib
adj. fluent in an insincere way; offhand
His remark sounded glib, but I don’t think he meant it that way.
gloaming
n. twilight; dusk
In the first gloaming of the night we heard a trumpet sound.
gluttony
n. excessive eating and drinking
We went to the supermarket to prepare for a weekend of gluttony.
gnomic
adj. expressed in short, pithy sayings
Few of the guru’s followers fully understood her gnomic aphorisms.
goad
v. urge on
The class goaded the teacher into twilling them the date of her weeding.
gossamer
adj. sheer; light and delicate, like cobwebs
Her blouse is made of a gossamer material.
gourment
n. connoisseur of food and drink
The gourmet decided to open a restaurant.
grandiloquence
n. pompous language
The old senator was known for his grandiloquence.
grandiose
adj. magnificent; pretentious
The rich man built a grandiose house on the hill.
gratify
v. to please
The teacher was gratified by the student’s progress.
gratuitous
adj. free, voluntary; unnecessary
The viewers complained about scenes of gratuitous violence int he movie.
gravity
n. seriousness
Perhaps you don’t realize the gravity of the situation.
gregarious
adj. sociable
Scientists say that human beings are essentially gregarious.
grouse
v. to complain
Stop grousing about having too much work.
guile
n. deception, trickery
Jack is a person who seems to be without guile.
guileless
adj. free of cunning or deceit; artless
The guileless child is always being taken advantage of by older children.
guise
n. outward appearance; false appearance; pretense
Under the assumed guise of an army officer, he gained entry to the enemy base.
gullible
adj. easily deceived
The con-man targets people who appear gullible.
gustatory
adj. affecting the sense of taste
The restaurant is famous for its gustatory delights.
