GRE11 Flashcards
1
Q
consistency
A
absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous
2
Q
grandeur
A
impressiveness; stateliness; majesty
3
Q
sublimate
A
refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state
4
Q
clasp
A
hold firmly within arms
5
Q
pedestrian
A
ordinary; dull; unimaginative(lacking in imagination); going on foot; Ex. pedestrian prose; N.
6
Q
vivid
A
(of light or color) bright and distinct; evoking lifelike mental images; Ex. vivid red hair/description
7
Q
juxtapose
A
place side by side; CF. next
8
Q
dolt
A
slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
9
Q
seismic
A
pertaining to earthquakes
10
Q
stereotype
A
one regarded as embodying a set image or type; fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture often reflecting prejudice; Ex. stereotype of the happy slave; V: make a stereotype of; represent by a stereotype; Ex. It is wrong to stereotype
11
Q
fruitful
A
producing results; profitable; prolific; producing in abundance
12
Q
insidious
A
treacherous; stealthy; sly; working or spreading harmfully in a stealthy manner; Ex. insidious spreading of dry rot
13
Q
parameter
A
limit; independent variable; Ex. parameters of the problem; Ex. within the parameters of the budget
14
Q
partisan
A
one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party (with dislike of any others); N: strong supporter of a party; guerrilla
15
Q
undertaker
A
funeral director; one whose business is to arrange burials
16
Q
exorbitant
A
(of costs or demands) excessive; exceeding reasonable bounds
17
Q
deadlock
A
standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate
18
Q
jovial
A
good-natured; merry; cheerful
19
Q
iota
A
very small quantity
20
Q
tawdry
A
cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry
21
Q
genre
A
particular variety of art or literature
22
Q
billow
A
large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows
23
Q
impeccable
A
faultless
24
Q
tome
A
large volume; book
25
restitution
returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury
26
abridge
condense or shorten
27
penumbra
partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost shadow
28
stanza
division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
29
lax
careless; negligent; not paying enough attention; Ex. lax service
30
caprice
whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause
31
converse
opposite; ADJ.
32
renovate
restore to good condition; renew
33
impassable
not able to be traveled or crossed
34
dolorous
sorrowful; N. dolor
35
onslaught
vicious assault; fierce attack; Ex. unexpected onslaught of the enemy
36
adhere
stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
37
bestow
confer
38
physiognomy
face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features
39
flutter
(of a bird with large wings) wave (the wings) lightly, rapidly, and irregularly; vibrate rapidly or erratically; fly by waving quickly; flitter; N.
40
declivity
downward slope
41
astigmatism
eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
42
niggle
spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling
43
salutary
tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health
44
d\'eb\^acle
sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
45
preeminent
outstanding; superior
46
temper
moderate; make less severe; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel) as by alternate heating and cooling
47
probe
explore with a probe or tools; investigate; N: slender instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity; device designed to investigate an unknown region; thorough investigation; Ex. space probe
48
regatta
boat or yacht race
49
nib
beak(bill); pen point
50
shrivel
make or become shrunken and wrinkled (often by drying)
51
chuckle
laugh quietly
52
intolerant
not willing to accept ways of thinking different from one's own; CF. tolerant; CF. tolerate
53
desolate
(of a place) deserted; unpopulated; (of a person) lonely; forlorn; joyless
54
emolument
salary; payment for an office; compensation
55
tempestuous
stormy; violent; impassioned; N. tempest: violent storm
56
travesty
copy or example of something that completely misrepresents the true nature of the real thing; comical parody or imitation; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous; Ex. travesty of justice; OP. paragon
57
throes
violent anguish
58
heresy
opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion; ADJ. heretical; CF. heretic
59
orientation
act of finding oneself in society; orienting
60
hurtle
crash; rush; move with great speed; Ex. hurtling runaway train
61
rancid
having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank
62
cohabit
live together
63
edifice
building (of imposing size)
64
cull
pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.
65
adversary
opponent; enemy
66
healthy
possessing good health; healthful
67
rhetoric
art of effective communication; art of using language effectively and persuasively; style of speaking or writing; grandiloquent language; Ex. political rhetoric; ADJ. rhetorical; CF. rhetorical question: question to which no answer is expected as ``Who kn
68
nirvana
in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude
69
forte
strong point or special talent in a person's character
70
vicissitude
change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune; CF. the last emperor of China
71
agenda
items of business at a meeting
72
inarticulate
speechless; producing indistinct speech; not articulate; not expressing oneself clearly
73
reciprocal
mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable; interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade agreement
74
incongruity
lack of harmony; absurdity; ADJ. incongruous: lacking in harmony; inappropriate
75
sallow
(of the skin) yellowish and unhealthy-looking; sickly in color; Ex. sallow complexion due to jaundice
76
nutrient
nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment
77
opiate
medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction; sleep-producing drug containing opium
78
fauna
animals of a period or region; CF. flora
79
semblance
outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in the troops to bring a/some semblance of order to the city.
80
castigation
punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
81
gnarled
twisted
82
decoy
lure or bait; V.
83
malapropism
comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop
84
azure
sky blue
85
verdant
green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows
86
bid
command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom
87
pedigree
line of ancestors; ancestry; lineage; ADJ. (of an animal) descended from of a chosen family; Ex. pedigree dog; CF. crane's foot
88
mingle
mix together in close association
89
expose
public revelation of something discreditable
90
presume
take for granted; assume; act overconfidently; take liberties; presume on/upon: take unfair advantage of (someone's kindness or connection); N. presumption
91
atheistic
denying the existence of God; N. atheism
92
beware
be cautious (of)
93
tend
have a tendency; take care of; minister; serve at; apply one's attention; attend
94
ignominy
deep disgrace; shame or dishonor; ADJ. ignominious; Ex. ignominous defeat
95
renege
break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege on the contract/paying off the debt
96
outlaw
fugitive from the law (excluded from legal protection); V: declare (someone) to be an outlaw; deprive of the protection of the law; declare illegal; Ex. Drinking has been outlawed.
97
niggardly
meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person
98
haggle
argue about prices (in an attempt to bargain)
99
mammoth
gigantic; enormous
100
maniacal
raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm
101
dubious
questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety
102
sinewy
(of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone
103
diverge
vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating
104
ventilate
admit fresh air into to replace stale air
105
prime
period of ideal or peak condition; earliest or beginning stage; Ex. in the prime of life; Ex. prime of the year(spring); ADJ: first in importance or rank; first; V: make ready; prepare
106
procurement
obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a prostitute) for another
107
tipple
drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently; N: alcoholic drink
108
infiltrate
pass into or through; penetrate or enter (an organization) sneakily; Ex. infiltrate the troops into enemy territory; CF. infiltrator
109
avantgarde
group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
110
finesse
delicate skill; V: handle with finesse
111
uncanny
strange; mysterious; Ex. uncanny knack
112
gambit
opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed; action made to produce a future advantage
113
incognito
with identity concealed; using an assumed name; ADJ.
114
refractory
unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse
115
facet
small plane surface (of a gem(precious stone)); a side
116
inordinate
beyond reasonable limits; unrestrained; excessive; Ex. inordinate demands
117
scenario
plot outline; screenplay(script for a movie); opera libretto; outline of possible future events
118
flora
plants of a region or era
119
divulge
reveal
120
bouillon
clear beef (or meat) soup
121
pedigree
ancestry; lineage
122
correlation
mutual relationship
123
rococo
ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century
124
inconsequential
insignificant; unimportant
125
mandatory
obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate
126
pathological
pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of disease
127
shift
change position or place; exchange (one thing) for another; change in direction or position; Ex. shift the stolen goods; N. group of workers which takes turns with other groups; working period of such a group
128
sleigh
large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice
129
galley
low ship with sails (rowed along by slaves)
130
cistern
reservoir or water tank
131
bridle
harness fitted about a horse's head (used to restrain); curb; check; V: put a bridle on; control or restrain; show anger
132
brittle
hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation
133
gouge
tear out; cut out (as if with a gouge); Ex. gouge his eyes out; N: chisel for cutting out hollow areas in wood
134
drama
prose or verse composition to be performed by actors; play; exciting and unusual situation
135
interregnum
period between two successive reigns or governments
136
recite
repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N. recitation
137
amphitheater
oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
138
clipper
sailing vessel built for great speed
139
reticent
inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved; Ex. He was reticent about the reasons; N. reticence
140
default
failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.
141
gratuity
tip
142
blue
gloomy; depressed
143
nip
snip off; stop something's growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill
144
muse
ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp. of a poet)
145
pert
(esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat
146
gorge
stuff oneself (with food); glut; CF. gorgeous: dazzlingly beautiful
147
denouement
final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained
148
benefactor
gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose
149
recast
reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion again
150
demographic
related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
151
subliminal
below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement
152
nurture
nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing
153
peer
one who has equal standing with another; nobleman; V: look intently; N. peerage; CF. peeress
154
backslide
revert (to bad habits); N. reverter
155
quarantine
isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection; V: isolate in quarantine
156
virulent
(of a disease or poison) extremely harmful or poisonous; (of a feeling) hostile; bitter; N. virulence; CF. virus; CF. venom
157
pinnacle
peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame
158
vendor
seller
159
verbalize
put into words; ADJ. verbal: of words; spoken rather than written; oral; of a verb
160
retiring
shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her retiring personality
161
clique
small exclusive group of people
162
barrage
barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism
163
arcane
esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
164
ingrained
deeply established; firmly rooted; Ex. ingrained dirt/prejudice
165
complacency
self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent
166
crass
very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior
167
neologism
new or newly coined word or phrase
168
boorish
rude; insensitive
169
continence
self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent
170
supine
lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision
171
isthmus
narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land
172
capsize
(of a boat) turn over
173
demotic
of or pertaining to the people
174
litotes
understatement for emphasis; Ex. ``not bad(=pretty good)''
175
dissipate
squander; waste foolishly; scatter
176
itinerant
wandering; traveling from place to place (to perform work); Ex. itinerant preacher
177
wreak
inflict; Ex. wreak one's vengeance on
178
cosmic
pertaining to the universe; vast
179
tint
slight degree of color; V: give a tint to
180
pendant(pendent)
hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)
181
alleviate
relieve (pain)
182
berserk
mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited
183
salacious
lascivious; lustful; Ex. salacious monk
184
deranged
insane
185
naivet\'e(naivety)
quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na\"ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous
186
disaffected
disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
187
sheaf
bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together
188
idiom
expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style (of expression); Ex. idiom of the modern popular music; ADJ. idiomatic
189
inverse
opposite
190
impermeable
impervious; not permitting passage through its substance; impossible to permeate
191
plethora
excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses
192
grumble
complain; mutter discontentedly; grouch; N.
193
forestall
prevent by taking action in advance
194
demolition
destruction; V. demolish
195
stratified
divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify
196
martyr
one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer; Ex. martyr to his rheumatism
197
infallible
unerring; never making mistakes
198
protrude
stick out; jut; project; Ex. protruding teeth
199
potential
expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth
200
prey
target of a hunt; victim; V: hunt and eat as prey; victimize; Ex. Cats prey on mice.
