MO Book 21 - Words 2 Flashcards
sub-Saharan adjective
BrE /ˌsʌb səˈhɑːrən/ ; NAmE /ˌsʌb səˈhɑːrən/ [only before noun]
from or relating to areas in Africa that are south of the Sahara Desert
ex) The biggest numbers are in rural southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
sub-Saharan Africa
electrification noun
BrE /ɪˌlektrɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ɪˌlektrɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ [uncountable]
the process of changing something so that it works by electricity
ex) In sub-Saharan Africa, a region that, excluding South Africa, uses less electricity than New York state, electrification barely kept pace with population growth.
the electrification of the railway line from Manchester to Preston
telephony noun
BrE /təˈlefəni/ ; NAmE /təˈlefəni/ [uncountable]
the process of sending messages and signals by telephone
ex) Much as mobile telephony has helped the poor leapfrog landlines and bricks-and-mortar banking services, a handful of tech-savvy entrepreneurs are seeking to provide widespread access to clean, cheap energy with local systems, metered and paid for by mobile phone.
leapfrog verb
BrE /ˈliːpfrɒɡ/ ; NAmE /ˈliːpfrɔːɡ/ , /ˈliːpfrɑːɡ/
(leapfrogging, leapfrogged) [transitive, intransitive] leapfrog (somebody/something) to get to a higher position or rank by going past somebody else or by missing out some stages
ex) Much as mobile telephony has helped the poor leapfrog landlines and bricks-and-mortar banking services, a handful of tech-savvy entrepreneurs are seeking to provide widespread access to clean, cheap energy with local systems, metered and paid for by mobile phone.
The win allowed them to leapfrog three teams to gain second place.
Tarmac™ noun
BrE /ˈtɑːmæk/ ; NAmE /ˈtɑːrmæk/ [uncountable]
1) (less frequent tarmacadam BrE /ˌtɑːməˈkædəm/ ; NAmE /ˌtɑːrməˈkædəm/ ) (North American English also blacktop) a black material used for making road surfaces, that consists of small stones mixed with tar
bricks-and-mortar
ADJECTIVE [ONLY BEFORE NOUN] BUSINESS
a bricks-and-mortar business is a traditional business that does not operate on the Internet
ex) Much as mobile telephony has helped the poor leapfrog landlines and bricks-and-mortar banking services, a handful of tech-savvy entrepreneurs are seeking to provide widespread access to clean, cheap energy with local systems, metered and paid for by mobile phone.
vault verb
BrE /vɔːlt/ ; NAmE /vɔːlt/
[intransitive, transitive] to jump over an object in a single movement, using your hands or a pole to push you
ex) They hope to vault electricity grids, harvesting solar energy beamed down onto rooftops rather than using fossil fuels, and connecting it to batteries to store the energy until nightfall.
She vaulted over the gate and ran up the path.
to vault a fence
There’s no way he could have vaulted the fence with that injury.
pylon noun
BrE /ˈpaɪlən/ ; NAmE /ˈpaɪlən/ , also /ˈpaɪlɑːn/
a tall metal structure that is used for carrying electricity wires high above the ground
ex) Beyond the pylons
vicious circle noun
BrE ; NAmE [singular]
- virtuous circle noun
BrE ; NAmE (formal)
a situation in which one problem causes another problem which then makes the first problem worse
ex) This creates a vicious circle in which utilities lose money, reducing the funds available for improving and expanding supply, and further sapping users’ willingness to pay.
* a series of events in which each one seems to increase the good effects of the previous one
tweak verb
BrE /twiːk/ ; NAmE /twiːk/
2) tweak something to make slight changes to a machine, system, etc. to improve it
ex) Across the world efforts are under way to change such attitudes, using technology and attempts to tweak social norms.
I think you’ll have to tweak these figures a little before you show them to the boss.
sap verb
BrE /sæp/ ; NAmE /sæp/
(sapping, sapped) to make something/somebody weaker; to destroy something gradually
ex) This creates a vicious circle in which utilities lose money, reducing the funds available for improving and expanding supply, and further sapping users’ willingness to pay.
The hot sun sapped our energy.
The fever slowly sapped her strength.
Years of failure have sapped him of his confidence.
pilfer verb
BrE /ˈpɪlfə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈpɪlfər/ [intransitive, transitive]
to steal things of little value or in small quantities, especially from the place where you work
ex) Bihar has plenty of generating capacity, but gets paid for little more than half the power it provides. The rest is pilfered, unmetered or unbilled.
He was caught pilfering.
She regularly pilfered stamps from work.
feeder noun
BrE /ˈfiːdə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈfiːdər/
3) a person or thing that supplies something, in particular.
- a device supplying material to a machine.
“the automatic sheet feeder holds up to 10 sheets of paper”
- a tributary stream.
- a branch road or railroad line linking outlying districts with a main communication system.
- a transmission line carrying electricity to a distribution point.
- a school, sports team, etc., from which members move on to one more advanced.
“a feeder school for Florida State University”
ex) The state power company has
proportion noun
BrE /prəˈpɔːʃn/ ; NAmE /prəˈpɔːrʃn/
3) [C or U] the correct or most attractive relationship between the size of different parts of the same thing or between one thing and another
ex) In a few randomly selected areas, it will increase the supply of electricity in proportion to the share of bills that are paid.
Your legs are very much in proportion to (= the right size for) the rest of your body.
His feet seem very small in proportion to his body.
My head was much nearer the camera than the rest of me so I’m all out of proportion.
due adjective
BrE /djuː/ ; NAmE /duː/
2) [not before noun] arranged or expected
ex) Mr. Greenstone thinks that the results of the trial, due later this year, will underscore the need for pre-paid electricity meters for households.
Windows 10 is due (out) in May.
He is due to arrive soon.
When’s the baby due (out)?
The next train is due in five minutes.
(especially North American English) My essay’s due next Friday (= it has to be given to the teacher by then).
Rose is due to start school in January.
The band’s first album is due for release later this month.
top something↔off/up
1) to fill a container that already has some liquid in it with more liquid
ex) Top it up/off!
Top the car up/off with oil before you set off.
Top the oil up/off before you set off.
Can I top your glass up/off (= give you some more to drink)?
Fill the glass half full with beer and top it up/off with lemonade.
2) to increase the amount of something to the level you want or need
ex) These are similar to coin-fed meters in low-income housing in the developed world, but can be topped up by mobile phone, rather than cash.
She relies on tips to top up her wages.
(British English) I need to top up my mobile phone (= pay more money so you can make more calls).
Sunbeds are the ideal way to keep your tan topped up.
go so/as far as to…
to be willing to go to extreme or surprising limits in dealing with something; to be extreme in talking about or doing something
ex) About 38% of electricity was “lost” because of illegal hook-ups or non-payments; some big businesses went as far as flying in Indian engineers to rig their meters.
They went so far as to threaten violence if we did not pay them.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say that he’s a liar (= but I think he may be slightly dishonest).
In June 2009 he went so far as to offer his resignation.
rig verb
BrE /rɪɡ/ ; NAmE /rɪɡ/ [usually passive]
1) rig something to arrange or influence something in a dishonest way in order to get the result that you want
synonym fix
ex) About 38% of electricity was “lost” because of illegal hook-ups or non-payments; some big businesses went as far as flying in Indian engineers to rig their meters.
He said the election had been rigged.
A commission was appointed to ensure the lottery was not rigged.
to rig the market (= to cause an artificial rise or fall in prices, in order to make a profit)
a rigged match
tamper with something
to make changes to something without permission, especially in order to damage it
synonym interfere with
ex) By making payments easier for clients and installing an automated system that detects when a meter is tampered with, the firm has brought that share down to 18.5%.
Someone had obviously tampered with the brakes of my car.
pedigree noun
BrE /ˈpedɪɡriː/ ; NAmE /ˈpedɪɡriː/
2) [COUNTABLE] all the past experiences or achievements of someone or something, especially when this shows that they are good or successful
ex) Though Uganda’s government promises that eventually electricity will be rolled out to everyone, starting with regions where jobs are likely to be created is an idea with a good pedigree.
The law firm’s pedigree is impeccable.
삼각주
delta noun
BrE /ˈdeltə/ ; NAmE /ˈdeltə/
1) the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet (Δ, δ)
2) an area of land, shaped like a triangle, where a river has split into several smaller rivers before entering the sea
ex) Vietnam launched its post-war electrification in the rice-growing regions of the Red river and Mekong river deltas, helping the country to become one of Asia’s biggest rice exporters.
the Nile Delta
be at/on the receiving end (of something)
(informal) to be the person that an action, etc. is directed at, especially an unpleasant one
ex) It would not be a hope of just those on the receiving end of charitable giving that more and more people give a serious thought to the cause of donation.
She found herself on the receiving end of a great deal of criticism.
perk something↔up
- perk up | perk somebody↔up
2) (informal) to make something more interesting, more attractive, etc.
synonym liven up
ex) These places ‘perk up’ donated goods and sell them for charity.
to perk resume
ideas for perking up bland food
Stencilling is a cheap and easy way to perk up old furniture.
- (informal) to become or to make somebody become more cheerful or lively, especially after they have been ill/sick or sad
synonym brighten
ex) Hey, you are all perked up now?
He soon perked up when his friends arrived.
수금지화목토천해명
My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.
Mercury - Venus - Earth - Mars - Jupiter - Saturn - Uranus - Neptune - Plato
대류권
- 성층권
** 중간권
*** 열권
** 이온층 (전리층)
[atmospheric layers]
the troposphere noun
BrE /ˈtrɒpəsfɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈtroʊpəsfɪr/ , /ˈtrɑːpəsfɪr/ singular
the lowest layer of the earth’s atmosphere, between the surface of the earth and about 6–10 kilometres above the surface
- stratosphere noun
BrE /ˈstrætəsfɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈstrætəsfɪr/
the stratosphere
[singular]
the layer of the earth’s atmosphere between about 10 and 50 kilometres above the surface of the earth
ex) Before NASA had its Mercury 7 astronauts, the Air Force was launching its own team into the stratosphere in balloons.
** mesosphere noun
BrE /ˈmezəsfɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈmezəsfɪr/ ; BrE /ˈmiːzəsfɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈmiːzəsfɪr/ [usually singular]
the part of the earth’s atmosphere which is between 50 and 80 kilometres from the ground, between the stratosphere and the thermosphere
*** the thermosphere noun
BrE /ˈθɜːməsfɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈθɜːrməsfɪr/ singular
the region of the atmosphere above the mesosphere
** ionosphere noun
BrE /aɪˈɒnəsfɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /aɪˈɑːnəsfɪr/
the ionosphere
[singular]
a layer of the earth’s atmosphere between about 80 and 1 000 kilometres above the surface of the earth, that reflects radio waves around the earth
glamour noun
(North American English also glamor)
BrE /ˈɡlæmə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈɡlæmər/ [uncountable]
1) the attractive and exciting quality that makes a person, a job or a place seem special, often because of wealth or status
ex) Without the glamour or the budget of NASA, these early space scientists and test pilots performed extreme experiments that helped pave the way for the Mercury crew.
hopeful young actors and actresses dazzled by the glamour of Hollywood
Now that she’s a flight attendant, foreign travel has lost its glamour for her.
2) physical beauty that also suggests wealth or success
ex) Ireland’s top fashion model added a touch of glamour to the event.
phenomenal adjective
BrE /fəˈnɒmɪnl/ ; NAmE /fəˈnɑːmɪnl/
very great or impressive
synonym extraordinary
ex) So I’m there, and I’m standing up and I’m looking up at the horizon, I had this phenomenal, beautiful view.
The product has been a phenomenal success.
The company has seen phenomenal growth.
The response to the appeal has been phenomenal.
precipice noun
BrE /ˈpresəpɪs/ ; NAmE /ˈpresəpɪs/
a very steep side of a high cliff, mountain or rock
ex) You are standing on the precipice, you are about to do something that no man had ever done before.
(figurative) The country was now on the edge of a precipice (= very close to disaster).
aloft adverb
BrE /əˈlɒft/ ; NAmE /əˈlɔːft/ (formal)
high in the air
ex) But then as you look aloft about 10 or 15 degrees, the sky starts to get darker and darker.
She held the glass aloft.
hurtle verb
BrE /ˈhɜːtl/ ; NAmE /ˈhɜːrtl/
[intransitive] + adv./prep. to move very fast in a particular direction
ex) What it that like, to go at that speed, hurtling towards the earth?
A runaway car came hurtling towards us.
velocity noun
BrE /vəˈlɒsəti/ ; NAmE /vəˈlɑːsəti/ uncountable, countable
1) (specialist) the speed of something in a particular direction
ex) And after about 20 seconds, I reached terminal velocity, which in my case was about 614 miles an hour.
the velocity of light
to gain/lose velocity
a high-velocity rifle
항공 모함
aircraft carrier noun
a large ship that carries aircraft which use it as a base to land on and take off from
ejector seat noun
BrE /iˈdʒektə siːt/ ; NAmE /iˈdʒektər siːt/
(also US English ejection seat)
a seat that allows a pilot to be thrown out of an aircraft in an emergency
ex) As a matter of fact, this small 5-foot diameter parachute that we used to stabilize my freefall is still being used today in every ejection seat in the world.
The pilot was saved by the ejector seat.
ditch verb
BrE /dɪtʃ/ ; NAmE /dɪtʃ/
1) [transitive] ditch something/somebody (informal) to get rid of something/somebody because you no longer want or need it/them
ex) If Donald Trump wins the nomination he is likely to ditch half a century of Republican thinking on foreign policy.
The new road building programme has been ditched.
He ditched his girlfriend.
nebulous adjective
BrE /ˈnebjələs/ ; NAmE /ˈnebjələs/ (formal)
- nebula noun
BrE /ˈnebjələ/ ; NAmE /ˈnebjələ/ (pl. nebulae BrE /ˈnebjəliː/ ; NAmE /ˈnebjəliː/ )(astronomy)
not clear
synonym vague
ex) The third signalling mechanism is the most nebulous but the most useful, and happens when contenders let slip some remark that betrays their deepest prejudices and gut instincts.
a nebulous concept
- a mass of dust or gas that can be seen in the night sky, often appearing very bright; a bright area in the night sky caused by a large cloud of stars that are far away 성운
contender noun
BrE /kənˈtendə(r)/ ; NAmE /kənˈtendər/
a person who takes part in a competition or tries to win something
ex) The third signalling mechanism is the most nebulous but the most useful, and happens when contenders let slip some remark that betrays their deepest prejudices and gut instincts.
a contender for a gold medal in the Olympics
a leading/serious/strong contender for the party leadership
let slip something
to give somebody information that is supposed to be secret
ex) The third signalling mechanism is the most nebulous but the most useful, and happens when contenders let slip some remark that betrays their deepest prejudices and gut instincts.
I happened to let it slip that he had given me £1 000 for the car.
She tried not to let slip what she knew.
betray verb
BrE /bɪˈtreɪ/ ; NAmE /bɪˈtreɪ/
4) to tell somebody or make them aware of a piece of information, a feeling, etc., usually without meaning to
synonym give away
ex) The third signalling mechanism is the most nebulous but the most useful, and happens when contenders let slip some remark that betrays their deepest prejudices and gut instincts.
His voice betrayed the worry he was trying to hide.
She was terrified of saying something that would make her betray herself (= show her feelings or who she was).
gut adjective
BrE /ɡʌt/ ; NAmE /ɡʌt/
[only before noun] based on feelings and emotions rather than thought and reason
ex) The third signalling mechanism is the most nebulous but the most useful, and happens when contenders let slip some remark that betrays their deepest prejudices and gut instincts.
a gut feeling/reaction
You have to work on gut instinct.
bumper sticker noun
a sign with a message on it that people stick on the bumper of their car
ex) He has offered such bumper sticker slogans as “Bomb the shit out ISIS,” and dodged questions about his preferred sources of geopolitical advice, recently declaring: “I’m speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain.”
Their bumper sticker says, “Make Love, Not War.”
speechifying noun
BrE /ˈspiːtʃɪfaɪɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈspiːtʃɪfaɪɪŋ/ uncountable
the act of making speeches in a very formal way, trying to sound important
ex) On March 21st, however, the Republican front-runner visited Washington, DC for a day of traditional foreign-policy shin-stroking and speechifying.
pander to somebody | pander to something
(disapproving) to do what somebody wants, or try to please them, especially when this is not acceptable or reasonable
ex) Mr. Trump’s AIPAC speech, which unusually for him he read from a prepared text, was a mixture of pandering, implausible bluster and contradictory promises.
to pander to somebody’s wishes
The speech was pandering to racial prejudice.
He refuses to pander to the latest fashions.
bluster noun
BrE /ˈblʌstə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈblʌstər/ [uncountable]
talk that is aggressive and threatening, but has little effect
ex) Mr. Trump’s AIPAC speech, which unusually for him he read from a prepared text, was a mixture of pandering, implausible bluster and contradictory promises.
I wasn’t frightened by what he said—it was all bluster.
regime noun
BrE /reɪˈʒiːm/ ; NAmE /reɪˈʒiːm/
2) a method or system of organizing or managing something
ex) He said he would “dismantle the disastrous deal” struck by President Barack Obama to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, then seemed to say that he would enforce it, or perhaps the sanctions regime that preceded it, “like you’ve never seen a contract enforced before, folks, believe me.”
Our tax regime is one of the most favourable in Europe.
jangle verb
BrE /ˈdʒæŋɡl/ ; NAmE /ˈdʒæŋɡl/
1) [intransitive, transitive] to make an unpleasant sound, like two pieces of metal hitting each other; to make something do this
ex) The shop bell jangled loudly.
The band is known for its distinctive jangling guitar sound.
He jangled the keys in his pocket.
2) [intransitive, transitive] jangle (something) if your nerves jangle, or if somebody/something jangles them, you feel anxious or upset
ex) In recent months Mr. Trump has set nerves jangling among conservative supporters of Israel by suggesting he would be “neutral” in efforts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
She was suddenly wide awake, her nerves jangling.
broker verb
BrE /ˈbrəʊkə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈbroʊkər/
broker something to arrange the details of an agreement, especially between different countries
ex) In recent months Mr. Trump has set nerves jangling among conservative supporters of Israel by suggesting he would be “neutral” in efforts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
a peace plan brokered by the UN
Efforts to broker a compromise solution failed.
cast verb
BrE /kɑːst/ ; NAmE /kæst/
9) [transitive] to describe or present somebody/yourself in a particular way
ex) When speaking to AIPAC he cast himself as sternly pro-Israeli, citing his role as Grand Marshal of the 2004 “Salute to Israel” parade in New York and his daughter’s conversion to Judaism after marriage as evidence.
He cast himself as the innocent victim of a hate campaign.
The press were quick to cast her in the role of the ‘other woman’.
fudge verb
BrE /fʌdʒ/ ; NAmE /fʌdʒ/
[transitive, intransitive] fudge (on) something (rather informal) to avoid giving clear and accurate information, or a clear answer
ex)) Months after angering a gathering of Jewish Republicans by fudging his views on the status of Jerusalem, Mr. Trump bowed to conservative pressure and pledged that he would move the American embassy to that divided city, calling it “the eternal capital of the Jewish people.”
I asked how long he was staying, but he fudged the answer.
Politicians are often very clever at fudging the issue.
refrain noun
BrE /rɪˈfreɪn/ ; NAmE /rɪˈfreɪn/
1) a comment or complaint that is often repeated
ex) Yet Mr. Trump also brought his constant campaign-trail refrain about being a dealmaker offering America as a broker between Israel and the Palestinians.
Complaints about poor food in schools have become a familiar refrain.
The protest began with a small group, but then the others took up the refrain.
2) the part of a song or a poem that is repeated after each verse
shibboleth noun
BrE /ˈʃɪbəleθ/ ; NAmE /ˈʃɪbəleθ/ (formal)
1) an old idea, principle or phrase that is no longer accepted by many people as important or appropriate to modern life
ex) the crumbling of old political shibboleths
2) a custom, word, etc. that distinguishes one group of people from another
ex) Even suggesting that Israel might have to give anything up in the name of peace involves challenging conservative shibboleths.
