Lesson Six Flashcards
Shriek
N: a short, loud, high cry, especially one produced suddenly as an expression of a powerful emotion
Example:shrieks of delight
Uproar
N: a situation in which a lot of people complain about something angrily or make a lot of noise
Example:The book caused an uproar in France.
Trample
V: to step heavily on something or someone, causing damage or injury
Example:Somebody trampled all over my flowerbeds!
Asset
N: a useful or valuable quality, skill, or person
Example:
-He’ll be a great asset to the team.
-Knowledge of languages is a real asset in this sort of work.
Expressiveness
N: the state of showing what someone thinks or feels
Example:
-The expressiveness of his eyes is remarkable.
-Her voice is remarkable for its purity and emotional expressiveness.
Assemble
V: to come together in a single place or bring parts together in a single group
Example:
-We assembled in the meeting room after lunch.
-to assemble data
Comply
V: to act according to an order, set of rules, or request
Example:
-He’s been ordered to have the dog destroyed because it’s dangerous, but he refuses to comply.
-There are serious penalties for failure to comply with the regulations.
Gripping
Adj: Something that is gripping is so interesting or exciting that it holds your attention completely
Example:I found the book so gripping that I couldn’t put it down.
Eloquence
N: the quality of delivering a clear, strong message
Example:
-She was renowned( the state of being famous)for her eloquence and beauty.
-His wit and eloquence made it a joy to be around him.
Wink
V: to close one eye for a short time as a way of greeting someone or showing friendliness, sexual interest, etc., or of showing that you are not serious about something you have said
Example:Laura winked at me as Stephen turned his back.
Sly
Adj: deceiving people in a clever way in order to get what you want
Example:He’s a sly old devil - I wouldn’t trust him with my money.
Confide
V: to tell something secret or personal to someone who you trust not to tell anyone else
Example:
- He confided (to her) that his hair was not his own.
-“My husband doesn’t know yet, but I’m going to leave him,” she confided.
Recite
V: to say a piece of writing aloud from memory
Example:He was nervous about reciting in front of the class.
Supple
Adj: able to change quickly and successfully to suit different situations
Example:She has shown that she has a supple mind.
Delicate
Adj: needing careful treatment, especially because easily damaged
Example:
-Peaches have delicate skins which are easily bruised.
-Delicate plants need to be kept in a greenhouse during the winter.
Delicately
Adv: carefully, in order to avoid causing physical damage
Example:Some goods needs to be handled delicately.
Versatility
N: the quality of being versatile (= able to change easily or to be used for different purposes)
Example:
-I have chosen these recipes to show the versatility of vegetables.
-He wanted to challenge the actors and demonstrate their versatility.
Extracurricular
Adj: An extracurricular activity or subject is not part of the usual school or college course
Example:
-extracurricular activity: Parents could also get financial help with the cost of extracurricular activities at school.
-Students who have to work part-time have little time for extra-curricular activities.
-She wanted to promote music and drama through extracurricular clubs.
Dramatic
Adj: very sudden or noticeable, or full of action and excitement
Example:
-a dramatic change/improvement
-We watched scenes of the dramatic rescue on the news.
Fortress
N: a large, strong building or group of buildings that can be defended from attack
Crypt
N: a room under the floor of a church where bodies are buried
Shack
N: a very simple and small building made from pieces of wood, metal, or other materials
Hut
N: a small, simple building, usually consisting of one room
Example:
-a mountain hut
-a row of beach huts
Snorkel
N: a tube that you hold in your mouth to help you breathe if you are swimming with your face underwater
Dwelling
N: a house or place to live in
Example:There is an estimated shortfall of some five million dwellings across the country.
Faint
Adj: not strong or clear; slight
Example:a faint sound/noise/smell
Stance
N: a way of thinking about something, especially expressed in a publicly stated opinion
Example:The doctor’s stance on the issue of abortion is well known.
Apparatus
N: a set of equipment or tools or a machine that is used for a particular purpose
Example:
-a piece of apparatus
-The divers checked their breathing apparatus.
Impairment
N: the act of spoiling something or making it weaker so that it is less effective
Debilitating
Adj: making someone or something physically weak
Example:
-a debilitating condition/disease
-Diabetes can be severely debilitating or even life-threatening if not treated regularly.
Imperceptible
Adj: unable to be noticed or felt because of being very slight
Example:She heard a faint, almost imperceptible cry.
Attribute
V: to say or think that something is the result of a particular thing
Example:attribute sth to sth: Her success can be attributed to three main factors.
Agitate
V: to make someone feel worried or angry
Example:I didn’t want to agitate her by telling her.
Orientation
N: the particular things that a person prefers, believes, thinks, or usually does
Example:We employ people without regard to their political orientation.
Cognitive
Adj: connected with thinking or conscious mental processes
Example:
-cognitive function: Some of her cognitive functions have been impaired.
-cognitive behaviour/development
Incur
V: to experience something, usually something unpleasant, as a result of actions you have taken
Example:to incur debts/fines/bills
Feeble
Adj: weak and without energy, strength, or power
Example:He was a feeble, helpless old man.
Stamina
N: the physical and/or mental strength to do something that might be difficult and will take a long time
Example:The triathlon is a great test of stamina.
Triathlon
N: a competition in which the people competing must swim, ride a bicycle, and run particular distances without stopping between events
Beset
Adj: having a lot of trouble with something, or having to deal with a lot of something that causes problems
Example:
-beset by: With the amount of traffic nowadays, even a trip across town is beset by dangers.
-beset with: The journey by boat was beset with difficulties.
Controversy
N: a lot of disagreement or argument about something, usually because it affects or is important to many people
Example:controversy surrounding/over :There was a big controversy surrounding/over the use of drugs in athletics.
Escalate
V: to become or make something become greater or more serious
Example:His financial problems escalated after he became unemployed.
Antagonist
N: a person who is strongly opposed to something or someone
Example:The antagonists in this dispute are quite unwilling to compromise.
Compromise
N: an agreement in an argument in which the people involved reduce their demands or change their opinion in order to agree
Example:It is hoped that a compromise will be reached in today’s talks.
Tremendously
Adv: to a very great amount or level, or extremely well
Example:
-We all enjoyed ourselves tremendously.
-Our water resources are tremendously important.
Hail
V: to call and attract the attention of someone
Example:You wait here with our bags while I hail a taxi.
Impasse
N: a situation in which progress is impossible, especially because the people involved cannot agree
Example:
reach an impasse: The dispute had reached an impasse, as neither side would compromise.
Prone
Adj: likely to do, get, or suffer from something
Example:As a child, he was prone to ear infections.
Catastrophe
N: a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction
Example: They were warned of the ecological catastrophe to come.
Salvage
V: to try to make a bad situation better
Example:
-It was a desperate attempt to salvage the situation.
-After the fraud scandal he had to make great efforts to salvage his reputation.
Dissent
V: to disagree with other people about something
Example:
dissent from: Anyone wishing to dissent from the motion should now raise their hand.
Dormant
Adj: Something that is dormant is not active or growing but has the ability to be active at a later time
Example:
-The long-dormant volcano has recently shown signs of erupting.
-These investments have remained dormant for several years.
Solidify
V: to become or make something become certain
Example:He solidified his commitment to the treaty, giving a forceful speech in favour of it.
Treaty
N: a written agreement between two or more countries, formally approved and signed by their leaders
Example:
-a peace treaty
-the treaty on European Union
Deplorable
Adj: very bad
Example:
-I thought his behaviour was absolutely deplorable.
-They are forced to live in deplorable conditions.
Negligently
Adv: in a way that does not show enough attention or care for something or someone that you are responsible for
Example:The lawsuit says the defendants acted negligently.
Crucial
Adj: extremely important or necessary
Example:
a crucial decision/question
Precisely
Adv: exactly
Example:
-The fireworks begin at eight o’clock precisely.
-What do you think the problem is, precisely?
Simulator
N: a piece of equipment that is designed to represent real conditions, for example in an aircraft or spacecraft
Example:People learning to fly often practise on a flight simulator.
Administer
V: to manage or control the operation of something; govern:
Example:The British administered Hong Kong for 99 years.
Compulsory
Adj: If something is compulsory, you must do it because of a rule or law
Example:
-Swimming was compulsory at my school.
-The law made wearing seat belts in cars compulsory.
Presumably
Adv: used to say what you think is the likely situation
Example:
-They can presumably afford to buy a bigger apartment.
-Presumably he just forgot to send the letter.
Scrupulous
Adj: extremely honest
Example:A scrupulous politician would not lie about her business interests.
Requisite
Adj: necessary or needed for a particular purpose
Example:
-He lacked the requisite skills for the job.
-The requisite number of countries have now ratified the convention.
Debacle
N: a complete failure, especially because of bad planning and organization
Example:The collapse of the company was described as the greatest financial debacle in US history.
Envisage
V: to imagine or expect something in the future, especially something good
Example:Train fare increases of 15 percent are envisaged for the next year.
Palatable
Adj: If something is palatable, it is acceptable
Example:The city council has tried to make property taxes more palatable by giving homeowners more time to pay them.
Appease
V: to get rid of unpleasant feelings or make them less strong
Example:We try to appease our guilty consciences by making donations to charity.
Potent
Adj: very powerful, forceful, or effective
Example:Surprise remains the terrorists’ most potent weapon.
Coalition
N: a group formed of different organizations or people who agree to act together, usually temporarily, to achieve something
Example:a governing coalition
