PD_28/07/20(Manhattan 8 ---> SE --> Drill : Answer Choice Analysis) Flashcards
turbid
adjective formal
(of a liquid) not transparent because a lot of small pieces of matter are held in it:
Several different species of fish inhabit these turbid shallow waters.
self-effacing
ADJECTIVE
Someone who is self-effacing does not like talking about themselves or drawing attention to themselves.
As women we tend to be self-effacing and make light of what we have achieved.
…the slightly self-effacing manner adopted by many diplomats.
amicable
ADJECTIVE
When people have an amicable relationship, they are pleasant to each other and solve their problems without quarrelling.
The meeting ended on reasonably amicable terms.
Our discussions were amicable and productive.
Synonyms: friendly, kindly, brotherly, civil
succinct
ADJECTIVE
Something that is succinct expresses facts or ideas clearly and in few words.
[approval]
The book gives an admirably succinct account of the technology and its history.
If you have something to say make sure that it is accurate, succinct and to the point.
Synonyms: brief, to the point, concise, compact
slander
VARIABLE NOUN
Slander is an untrue spoken statement about someone which is intended to damage their reputation. Compare libel.
Dr. Bach is now suing the company for slander.
Synonyms: defamation, smear, libel, scandal
traduce
VERB [usually passive]
If someone has been traduced, unpleasant and untrue things have deliberately been said about them.
[formal]
We have been traduced in the press as xenophobic bigots. [be VERB-ed]
Synonyms: malign, abuse, knock [informal], rubbish [informal]
distend
VERB
If a part of your body is distended, or if it distends, it becomes swollen and unnaturally large.
[medicine, formal]
Through this incision, the abdominal cavity is distended with carbon dioxide gas. [be VERB-ed]
The colon, or large intestine, distends and fills with gas. [VERB]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: swell, stretch, expand, increase
collateral
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN [oft as N]
Collateral is money or property which is used as a guarantee that someone will repay a loan.
[formal]
Many people use personal assets as collateral for small business loans.
Most people here cannot borrow from banks because they lack collateral.
Synonyms: security, guarantee, deposit, assurance
prefatory
coming at the beginning of a piece of writing or a speech:
After a few prefatory comments/remarks, she began her speech.
ordinal
a number such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, that shows the position of something in a list of things:
Fifth and 200th are ordinal numbers.
earthy
ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone as earthy, you mean that they are open and direct, and talk about subjects which other people avoid or feel ashamed about.
[approval]
…his extremely earthy humour.
referring to sex and the human body in a direct way:
She has an earthy sense of humour.
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe something as earthy, you mean it looks, smells, or feels like earth.
I’m attracted to warm, earthy colours.
The rooms had the clean earthy smell of wet clay.
hawkish
ADJECTIVE
Journalists use hawkish to describe politicians or governments who are in favour of using force to achieve something, rather than using peaceful and diplomatic methods.
He is one of the most hawkish members of the new cabinet.
cogent
ADJECTIVE
A cogent reason, argument, or example is strong and convincing.
[formal]
There were perfectly cogent reasons why Julian Cavendish should be told of the Major’s impending return.
bombastic
ADJECTIVE
using long and difficult words, usually to make people think you know more than you do:
a bombastic preacher
a bombastic statement
[disapproval]
He was vain and bombastic.
…the bombastic style adopted by his predecessor.
intelligible
ADJECTIVE
Something that is intelligible can be understood.
The language of Darwin was intelligible to experts and non-experts alike. [+ to]
The woman moaned faintly but made no intelligible response.
Synonyms: understandable, clear, distinct, lucid
turgid
ADJECTIVE
If you describe something such as a piece of writing or a film as turgid, you think it is boring and difficult to understand.
He used to make extremely dull, turgid and frankly boring speeches.
The rest of the arts scene looks increasingly turgid by comparison.
Synonyms: pompous, inflated, windy, high-flown
deviation
- VARIABLE NOUN
Deviation means doing something that is different from what people consider to be normal or acceptable.
Deviation from the norm is not tolerated. [+ from]
To abstain from meat was a serious deviation.
Synonyms: departure, change, variation, shift More Synonyms of deviation - VARIABLE NOUN
In statistics, deviation is the difference between the value of one number in a series of numbers and the average value of all the numbers in the series.
A 10 to 15 percent deviation is considered acceptable.
aberrant
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Aberrant means unusual and not socially acceptable.
[formal]
Ian’s rages and aberrant behavior worsened.
adulation
noun [ U ]
very great admiration or praise for someone, especially when it is more than is deserved:
As a born performer, she loves the excitement and she loves the adulation.
contumely
noun [ U ] old use
criticisms or insults that show a lack of respect:
She was indifferent to praise and contumely alike.
machicolation
NOUN
- (esp in medieval castles) a projecting gallery or parapet supported on corbels having openings through which missiles could be dropped
- any such opening
(in medieval fortifications) an opening between the supporting corbels of a projecting parapet or the vault of a gate, through which stones or burning objects could be dropped on attackers.
a projecting structure containing a series of machicolations.
slake
to satisfy a feeling of being thirsty or of wanting something:
After our long game of tennis, we slaked our thirst with a beer.
I don’t think Dick will ever manage to slake his lust for power.
Synonyms: satisfy, gratify, assuage, quench
quench
verb [ T ]
to drink liquid so that you stop being thirsty:
When it’s hot, it’s best to quench your thirst with water.
literary
to use water to put out a fire:
The flames were quenched by heavy rain.
to satisfy a need or wish:
Her thirst for knowledge will never be quenched.
succour
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Succour is help given to people who are suffering or in difficulties.
[formal]
…a commitment to give succour to populations involved in the conflict.
Synonyms: help, support, aid, relief
fructify
verb formal
to produce a good or useful result:
I let the idea sit in the back of my mind to fructify.
[ T ]
to make something fertile or make it produce a good result:
They believed their sacrifice would fructify the soil.
pique
piquant
- UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Pique is the feeling of annoyance you have when you think someone has not treated you properly.
Eventually, Mr Green left, although not, as widely believed, out of pique at not becoming chief executive. [+ at]
Synonyms: resentment, offence, irritation, annoyance - VERB
If something piques your interest or curiosity, it makes you interested or curious.
This phenomenon piqued Dr Morris’ interest. [VERB noun]
Their curiosity piqued, they stopped writing. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: arouse, excite, stir, spur - ADJECTIVE
Food that is piquant has a pleasantly spicy taste.
[written]
…a crisp mixed salad with an unusually piquant dressing.
Synonyms: spicy, biting, sharp, stinging More Synonyms of piquant
piquancy (piːkənsi) UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
A little mustard is served on the side to add further piquancy.
Synonyms: spiciness, bite [informal], kick [informal], edge More Synonyms of piquant
Synonyms: interest, pep, zip [informal], vitality More Synonyms of piquant - ADJECTIVE
Something that is piquant is interesting and exciting.
[written]
There may well have been a piquant novelty about her books when they came out.
Synonyms: interesting, spirited, stimulating, lively
agog
ADJECTIVE [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are agog, you are excited about something, and eager to know more about it.
The city was agog with rumours last night that the two had been executed.
Synonyms: eager, excited, curious, enthusiastic
akimbo
adjective [ after noun ]
If a person’s arms are akimbo, they are bent at the elbows (= the middle part of the arms where they bend) with the hands on the hips:
He stood, arms akimbo, refusing to move.
obeisance
- UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Obeisance to someone or something is great respect shown for them.
[formal]
While he was still young and strong all paid obeisance to him. [+ to] - VARIABLE NOUN
An obeisance is a physical gesture, especially a bow, that you make in order to show your respect for someone or something.
[formal]
One by one they came forward, mumbled grudging words of welcome, made awkward obeisances.
dyspeptic
adjective
MEDICAL specialized
having problems with digesting food
literary
always angry or easily annoyed
crotchety
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A crotchety person is bad-tempered and easily irritated.
[informal]
…my cross, crotchety neighbours.
Synonyms: bad-tempered, difficult, cross, contrary
grandstanding
noun [ U ]
acting or speaking in a way intended to attract attention and to influence the opinion of people who are watching:
Experts criticized the program as mere grandstanding by corporations and local officials.
deploy
2.VERB
If you deploy something or if it deploys, you use it effectively or it works effectively.
Mobile apps are another weapon to be deployed by online retailers in the battle for business. [VERB noun]
Airbags deploy with such force they could easily injure a small child. [VERB]
- VERB
To deploy troops, weapons, or resources means to means to make them ready to be used.
The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: use, station, set up, position
lexicon
- SINGULAR NOUN
The lexicon of a particular subject is all the terms associated with it. The lexicon of a person or group is all the words they commonly use.
…the lexicon of management. [+ of]
Chocolate equals sin in most people’s lexicon. - COUNTABLE NOUN
A lexicon is a dictionary, especially of a very old language such as Greek or Hebrew.
[old-fashioned]
oratorical
adjective formal
connected with skilful and effective public speaking:
oratorical skill
She has a wonderful oratorical style, with a splendid command of English.
cabala
- a Jewish mystical movement based on a symbolic interpretation of the Scriptures: it flourished from the end of the 12th cent.
- any esoteric or secret doctrine; occultism
titanic
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe something as titanic, you mean that it is very big or important, and usually that it involves very powerful forces.
The world had witnessed a titanic struggle between two visions of the future.
Synonyms: gigantic, huge, giant, massive
florid
- ADJECTIVE
If you describe something as florid, you disapprove of the fact that it is complicated and extravagant rather than plain and simple.
[disapproval]
…florid language.
(of a person’s face) too red, especially in a way that is unhealthy:
a florid complexion
with too much decoration or detail:
a florid architectural style
florid prose/rhetoric
declamatory
ADJECTIVE
A declamatory phrase, statement, or way of speaking is dramatic and confident.
[formal]
She wrote to encourage him in her most declamatory style.
Synonyms: rhetorical, theatrical, inflated, high-flown
canard
noun [ C ] literary
a false report or piece of information that is intended to deceive people
aggrandize
VERB
To aggrandize someone means to make them seem richer, more powerful, and more important than they really are. To aggrandize a building means to make it more impressive.
[disapproval]
At the dinner table, my father would go on and on, showing off, aggrandising himself. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
…plans to aggrandise the building. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: exaggerate, advance, promote, intensify
Incision
COUNTABLE NOUN
An incision is a sharp cut made in something, for example by a surgeon who is operating on a patient.
The technique involves making a tiny incision in the skin. [+ in]
Synonyms: cut, opening, slash, notch
