K12-Vocabulary Flashcards
ponder
think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.
Take a few minutes and ponder the question before you jump to a conclusion.
investigate
Carry out a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of (an incident, allegation, etc.) so as to establish the truth.
Police are continuing to investigate while a search for the body is underway.
Later she discovered that Alice had made the call when she went to investigate why Lori’s car was there.
squirm
Wriggle or twist the body from side to side, especially as a result of nervousness or discomfort.
His arms tightened around her as she tried to squirm away.
analyze
Examine methodically and in detail the constitution or structure of (something, especially information), typically for purposes of explanation and interpretation
I really don’t know what sort of girl she is; I can’t analyze her at all.
classify
Arrange (a group of people or things) in classes or categories according to shared qualities or characteristics.
He is difficult to classify.
drowsy
Sleepy and lethargic; half asleep.
His warmth made her drowsy and comfortable, and she liked the feeling.
flock
A number of birds of one kind feeding, resting or traveling together.
The men hurried down and soon saw that the flock was a large one.
ambition
A strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.
My ambition is far different than yours.
digest
Break down (food) in the alimentary canal into substances that can be absorbed and used by the body.
Hubris was a fatal flaw of many ancient heroes.
flutter
(of a bird or other winged creature) fly unsteadily or hover by flapping the wings quickly and lightly.
Gabriel made her heart flutter
frail
(of a person) weak and delicate.
Daniel was a frail but clever child, and his family made great sacrifices to give him and his elder brother Ezekiel a good education
gradual
Taking place or progressing slowly or by degrees.
your grades are gradual down a lot
imitate
Take or follow as a model.
Ilyin tried to imitate Rostov in everything and adored him as a girl might have done.
marsh
An area of low-lying land which is flooded in wet seasons or at high tide, and typically remains waterlogged at all times.
Kyaukpyu contains numerous “mud volcanoes,” from which marsh gas is frequently discharged, with occasional issue of flame.
misery
A state or feeling of great distress or discomfort of mind or body.
Alex would make the misery go away.
mural
A painting or other work of art executed directly on a wall.
A painting or other work of art executed directly on a wall.
mystify
Utterly bewilder or perplex (someone).
Autism affects approximately 1 in 500 children in the United States, and this disorder continues to mystify researchers, scientists, and doctors.
occur
Happen; take place.
I hope it will not occur to her to count the hairs of her head.
ordeal
A painful or horrific experience, especially a protracted one.
This must have been quite an ordeal for her.
prior
Existing or coming before in time, order, or importance.
I’d witnessed his reaction the prior night.
privilege
A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.
It did not turn his mill, and it was no privilege to him to behold it.
resident
A person who lives somewhere permanently or on a long-term basis.
She is a resident at his house.
revive
Restore to life or consciousness.
She’d never thought he meant she’d literally help revive the planet.
significant
Sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy.
What’s so significant about being his mate?
steer
(of a person) guide or control the movement of (a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft), for example by turning a wheel or operating a rudder.
He’d watched Sean subtly steer people away from it.
swift
Happening quickly or promptly
Her answer came swift and certain.
theory
A supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.
The findings are discussed in the context of a competing theory.
triumph
A great victory or achievement.
Our spectacular triumph was the return of an infant from a small Texas hospital.
various
More than one; several.
She said nothing, barely nodding in response to the various greetings.
academic
Relating to education and scholarship.
Quinn is our age but he jumped two school grades on academic excellence.
accuracy
The quality or state of being correct or precise.
Proving their accuracy is up to the authorities.
annual
Occurring once every year.
I miss their annual calendar.
apparent
Clearly visible or understood; obvious
It was apparent by the look on Jackson’s face.
arena
A level area surrounded by seats for spectators, in which sports, entertainments, and other public events are held.
Beyond them was a crude wooden floored arena hedged by rows of shouting people.
ascend
Go up or climb
In seasons of high rainfall, the river can ascend 50 meters.
assess
Evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of.
She tried to assess how many there might be.
assist
Help (someone), typically by doing a share of the work.
She had the sudden urge to assist him.
assume
Suppose to be the case, without proof.
Pete will assume I can take care of you.
assumption
A thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.
I’m sorry I jumped to that assumption wrongly.
attentive
Paying close attention to something.
He was attentive and understanding.
chamber
A large room used for formal or public events
Do you remember the chamber where you were earlier?
carefree
Free from anxiety or responsibility.
What they needed was a smiling and carefree face.
blend
Mix (a substance) with another substance so that they combine together.
He’d never blend into the shadows again.
captivity
The condition of being imprisoned or confined.
Of course, in captivity animals might not act the same way they did in the wild.
baggage
personal belongings packed in suitcases for traveling; luggage.
They possess many horses, but when journeying place their baggage on their oxen.
circular
Having the form of a circle.
The rubber is circular in section, and about 2 in.
coax
Coaxial cable.
I couldn’t coax her or compromise with her.
column
An upright pillar, typically cylindrical and made of stone or concrete, supporting an entablature, arch, or other structure or standing alone as a monument.
The head of the column had already descended into the hollow.
considerable
Notably large in size, amount, or extent.
His notepad was ever-present and he spent a considerable amount of time on the phone.
consistently
In every case or on every occasion; invariably.
The same principle was consistently applied in his university teaching.
contradict
Deny the truth of (a statement) by asserting the opposite.
No one dared to contradict him, so he brought in anyone he knew.
contribute
Give (something, especially money) in order to help achieve or provide something.
The volunteers contributed their time towards cleaning up the city.
currently
At the present time.
This is currently my favorite red car.
destructive
Causing great and irreparable harm or damage.
It is the most destructive storm in 20 years.
disclose
Make (secret or new information) known.
last moments he refused under torture to disclose his father’s hiding-place.
dispute
A disagreement, argument, or debate.
His theories are open to dispute
distinguish
Recognize or treat (someone or something) as different.
I have trouble distinguishing between the two of them. I have trouble distinguishing the difference between the two of them.
distress
Extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.
Her distress was rising with their tension.
dusk
The darker stage of twilight
The sun had set, and dusk settled over the ocean
effective
Successful in producing a desired or intended result.
Antibiotics are effective to cure throat infections.
essential
Absolutely necessary; extremely important.
Careful preparation for the exam is essential.
exaggerate
Represent (something) as being larger, better, or worse than it really is.
The book exaggerates the difficulties he faced in starting his career.
frantic
Wild or distraught with fear, anxiety, or other emotion.
She controlled her breathing to keep her frantic emotions from consuming her.
frontier
A line or border separating two countries.
the frontier between Canada and the U.S. They were sent on an expedition to explore the western frontier.
generosity
The quality of being kind and generous.
I thanked him for his generosity and donated a hundred-dollar bill to his mission.
hail
pellets of frozen rain which fall in showers from cumulonimbus clouds.
dropped to the sand as a hail of bullets whistled above her head.
hardship
Severe suffering or privation.
He had suffered through considerable hardship.
heroic
Having the characteristics of a hero or heroine; very brave.
He takes the field himself and performs many heroic deeds until he is wounded and forced to withdraw to his tent.
influence
The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.
I’m a bad influence on you.
informative
Providing useful or interesting information.
The program is informative as well as interesting.
manufacture
Make (something) on a large scale using machinery.
Plants use the sun’s light to manufacture their food.
maximize
Make as large or great as possible.
I rearranged the furniture to maximize the space in my small apartment.
minimize
Reduce (something, especially something unwanted or unpleasant) to the smallest possible amount or degree.
We need to minimize the chance of error.
mistrust
Be suspicious of; have no confidence in.
I apologize again for my mistrust.
modest
Unassuming or moderate in the estimation of one’s abilities or achievements.
She was modest about her accomplishments even though she had a lot to be proud of after the dance competition season.
modify
Make partial or minor changes to (something), typically so as to improve it or to make it less extreme.
He modified the recipe by using oil instead of butter.
noble
Belonging to a hereditary class with high social or political status; aristocratic.
He died for a noble cause.
orchard
A piece of land planted with fruit trees.
No one was in the orchard but her.
outstanding
Exceptionally good.
You did an outstanding job on the project.
peculiar
Strange or odd; unusual.
The dog’s peculiar behavior worried them
peer
A member of the nobility in Britain or Ireland, comprising the ranks of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron.
Peer pressure is strong among young people
permit
Give authorization or consent to (someone) to do something.
The regulations do not permit much flexibility.
plead
Make an emotional appeal.
She couldn’t afford a lawyer to plead her case.
plentiful
Existing in or yielding great quantities; abundant.
Fish are plentiful in the lake.
portion
A part of a whole.
This portion is for you.
presume
suppose that something is the case on the basis of probability.
“Is she still at work?” “I presume so since she’s not home.”
production
The action of making or manufacturing from components or raw materials, or the process of being so manufactured.
The production in this factory is spiral.Jul 16, 2016
queasy
Nauseated; feeling sick.
The boat ride made me a little queasy.
reduce
Make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
“I want to reduce my cholesterol.”
shabby
In poor condition through long or hard use or lack of care.
The furniture was old and shabby.
significance
The quality of being worthy of attention; importance.
His age is of little significance.
sole
The undersurface of a person’s foot.
She was the sole survivor of the tragedy.
sturdy
(of a person or their body) strongly and solidly built.
Her attitude is one of sturdy adherence to the old paths of evangelical doctrine and Presbyterian polity.
tragically
In a way that involves or causes extreme distress or sorrow.
Tragically, his wife was killed in a car accident.
typically
In most cases; usually.
Inventions typically involve minor improvements in technology.
utility
Make practical and effective use of.
He argued that the arts have great social utility.
vacant
(of premises) having no fixtures, furniture, or inhabitants; empty.
These lockers are all vacant.
valiant
Possessing or showing courage or determination.
Adjective She died last year after a valiant battle with cancer.
variety
The quality or state of being different or diverse; the absence of uniformity, sameness, or monotony.
“The paint store has a large variety of paint colors.”
vastly
To a very great extent; immensely.
Death was considered vastly preferable to dishonour.
venture
A risky or daring journey or undertaking.
to offer at the risk of being criticized She wouldn’t venture an opinion.
weary
Feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep.
We were all weary of waiting for you.
abdicate
(of a monarch) renounce one’s throne.
He agreed to abdicate and retire in favor of the next in line for the throne.
abolish
Formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution).
He wished to control, not to abolish them.
absurd
Wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate.
I’m curious, and it’s absurd I’m not allowed to talk to anyone!
accelerate
(of a vehicle or other physical object) begin to move more quickly.
The plane accelerated down the runway.
accommodate
(of physical space, especially a building) provide lodging or sufficient space for.
The ceilings were too low to accommodate his terrific height.
accurate
(of information, measurements, statistics, etc.) correct in all details; exact.
She gave an accurate account of the case.
accustom
Make (someone or something) accept something as normal or usual.
It’ll take time for me to accustom myself to the changes.
afflict
(of a problem or illness) cause pain or suffering to; affect or trouble.
He attributes all the evils that afflict society to the pressure of competition, whereby the weaker are driven to the wall.
agony
Extreme physical or mental suffering.
The agony was gone, replaced by sudden strength and energy.
alternate
Occur in turn repeatedly.
Adjective Alternate shades of wood formed a pattern around the window.
ample
Enough or more than enough; plentiful.
You’ll have ample time for questions later.
antagonist
A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary.
He serves as the main antagonist of the film.
antonym
A word opposite in meaning to another (e.g. bad and good ).
Two antonyms of ‘light’ are ‘dark’ and ‘heavy’.
approximate
Close to the actual, but not completely accurate or exact.
The approximate time is three o’clock.
aroma
A distinctive, typically pleasant smell.
The room smelled of over-cleaning with an underlying aroma of cigarette smoke.
ascend
Go up or climb.
They watched their balloons slowly ascend into the sky.
exact
Not approximated in any way; precise.
The exact distance is 1.838 meters.
evacuate
Remove (someone) from a place of danger to a safer place.
children were evacuated from London to the country.
assemble
(of people) gather together in one place for a common purpose.
The building block set took over four hours to assemble.
assign
Allocate (a job or duty).
“Fine. I’ll assign him something to do,” Damian said.
associate
Connect (someone or something) with something else in one’s mind.
She associates herself with some pretty strange people.
assume
Suppose to be the case, without proof.
Pete will assume I can take care of you.
astound
Shock or greatly surprised.
Kate Spade, a Kansas City, Missouri native, continues to astound the fashion world with her keen sense of style and unique apparel and accessory items.
avalanche
A mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside.
Dodging a caprine avalanche, she joined Alex again.
banquet
An elaborate and formal meal for many people.
She fled the banquet hall for the library.
barren
(of land) too poor to produce much or any vegetation.
The site of the town is a barren, rocky mountain valley.
bask
Lie exposed to warmth and light, typically from the sun, for relaxation and pleasure.
I just want a little more time to bask in the beauty that perhaps I’m carrying a life.
beverage
A drink, especially one other than water.
The town has been famous from remote times for a beverage called “white male.”
bland
Lacking strong features or characteristics and therefore uninteresting.
The rice and beans were bland until mixed together.
boisterous
(of a person, event, or behavior) noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy.
The child was very boisterous at home but was on his best behavior at school.
bondage
The state of being a slave.
The slaves were kept in bondage until their death.
brace
A device fitted to something, in particular a weak or injured part of the body, to give support.
Look for anything to brace the door!
briskly
In an active, quick, or energetic way.
He turned and walked briskly back to the market.
brittle
Hard but liable to break or shatter easily.
The book’s ancient pages were so brittle, he feared they would crumble before he finished.