Little Fires Everywhere 1 Flashcards
Define ‘idyllic’.
Picturesque, perfect and peaceful, ideal
Used to describe an ideal setting or experience
What does ‘placid’ mean?
Calm, serene, peaceful, not easily upset
Often used to describe water or a person’s demeanor
What is a utopia?
An imagined ‘perfect’ community or society; a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions
Often discussed in philosophical or literary contexts
What does ‘depreciation’ refer to?
A loss in value, usually of financial assets
Commonly used in accounting and finance
What does ‘unexcelled’ mean?
Unbeatable; the best
Indicates a superior quality or performance
What is the definition of ‘inhabitants’?
People who live in a particular place
Refers to residents of a specific area
Define ‘cosmopolitan’.
Including or containing people from many different countries; open to different or foreign ideas and lifestyles
Suggests a worldly perspective
What does ‘sensational’ mean?
Causing great public interest and excitement
Often used in media or entertainment contexts
What is the verb form of ‘careen’?
Move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction
Often used to describe vehicles
What does ‘haphazard’ mean?
Random, unplanned, disorganized
Indicates a lack of order or planning
Define ‘ablaze’.
On fire
Can also refer to being filled with strong emotion or light
What is a ‘lunatic’?
A crazy or mentally ill person (slang)
Historically used in a clinical context but now often considered derogatory
What does ‘makeshift’ mean?
A crude temporary substitute; an improvised version of something
Indicates a solution that is ‘good enough for now’
What does ‘grim’ mean?
Serious, cynical, lacking hope
Often describes a bleak situation
What does ‘wholly’ mean?
Completely
Used to emphasize totality
What does ‘unruffled’ mean?
Not bothered
Indicates a calm demeanor in stressful situations
Define ‘commotion’.
A confused and noisy disturbance
Can refer to a chaotic situation
What is a ‘tenant’?
A person who lives in a house or apartment that they rent from the owner
Commonly used in real estate contexts
What does ‘slender’ describe?
A person’s body shape as thin
Often has connotations of elegance
What does ‘ajar’ mean?
Partially open
Commonly used to describe doors
What is a ‘silhouette’?
The dark shape and outline of someone or something visible against a lighter background
Often seen in art and photography
What does ‘shrill’ mean?
High pitched, piercing
Often describes sounds that are unpleasant to hear
What does ‘demented’ mean?
Crazy, unhinged, or insane
Often used informally to describe irrational behavior
Define ‘gleaming’.
Shining, glowing, like a gleam of light
Suggests brightness and clarity
What does ‘sullen’ mean?
Brooding and unhappy, pouting, resentfully silent
Often describes a person’s mood
What is a ‘billow’?
A cloud of smoke
Can also refer to waves or fabric
Fill in the blank: ‘Literal’ is an adjective meaning using the _______.
exact meaning of a word
Used as slang to emphasize one’s statement
What does ‘deployed’ mean?
Used; moved into position for military action
Commonly used in military and strategic contexts
What does ‘rakishly’ describe?
As in ‘rakishly handsome.’
Suggests a dashing, adventurous quality
What does ‘preoccupied’ mean?
Distracted; thinking about something else
Indicates a lack of attention to the present
What does ‘contemplated’ mean?
Considered, debating the options, pondered
Indicates deep thought about a decision
What does ‘plausible’ mean?
Likely to be true; believable
Used in discussions of reasoning and arguments
What is an ‘accelerant’?
Something such as gasoline used to make a fire burn faster and longer or more intensely
Often discussed in the context of fire investigations
What does ‘meticulously’ mean?
Done with careful attention to detail
Suggests thoroughness and precision
