Review 5 Flashcards
Alibi
proof that someone who is thought to have committed a crime could not have done it, especially the fact or statement that they were in another place at the time it happened:
He has a cast-iron (= very strong) alibi - he was in hospital the week of the murder.
an excuse for something bad or for a failure:
After eight years in power, the government can no longer use the previous government’s policy as an alibi for its own failure.
Lustre
the brightness that a shiny surface has:
a treatment for restoring the lustre to dull hair
the rich lustre of well-polished furniture
[ U ] a very special, attractive quality that people admire:
The dancing of the principal ballerina added lustre to an otherwise unimpressive production of “Giselle”.
Upkeep
Maintenance
the cost or process of keeping something, such as a building, in good condition:
The upkeep of larger old properties is very expensive.
Council employees are responsible for the upkeep of the gardens.
Foolhardy
Rash reckless
brave in a silly way, taking unnecessary risks:
a foolhardy decision
Sailing the Atlantic in such a tiny boat wasn’t so much brave as foolhardy.
It would be foolhardy to try and predict the outcome of the talks at this stage.
Rash
careless or unwise, without thought for what might happen or result:
That was a rash decision - you didn’t think about the costs involved.
[ + to infinitive ] I think it was a bit rash of them to get married when they’d only known each other for a few weeks.
Acrimonious
formal full of anger, arguments, and bad feeling:
an acrimonious dispute
Their marriage ended eight years ago in an acrimonious divorce.
The acrimony of the dispute has shocked a lot of people.
Rapier
A sword with a long, thin blade
Treacle
also black treacle, us molasses
a sweet, dark, thick liquid that is used in cooking sweet dishes and sweets:
treacle toffee
Golden syrup
Suds
lather
the mass of small bubbles that forms on the surface of a liquid, esp. on water mixed with soap
Lather
Suds
a pale, usually white, mass of small bubbles produced especially when soap is mixed with water:
Wet the hair, apply shampoo, and massage into a rich lather.
to produce a lather from soap, or to cover something or someone in lather:
He stood under the shower lathering himself with the soap.
Binding
(esp. of an agreement) not to be avoided or broken:
Both sides agreed to submit the dispute to binding arbitration (= to a decision they would have to obey).
Recoup
to get back money that you have spent or lost:
It takes a while to recoup the initial costs of starting up a business.
The gambler recouped his losses in the next game.
Broadside
A strong attack
a strong written or spoken attack (on someone):
The candidate fired/launched yet another broadside at the president.
with a side facing something :
The car was hit broadside. The front and rear were undamaged.
to hit something on one of its longer sides:
A vehicle broadsided the police car on the passenger side.
Verbatim
using exactly the same words as were originally used:
She had an amazing memory and could recall verbatim quite complex conversations.
Speeches were reported verbatim and often ran to several columns.
Measles
โรคหัด
the measles an infectious disease that produces small, red spots all over the body:
The number of deaths from measles fell by 30 per cent.
One of the children got the measles.
Tout
[ T ] to advertise, talk about, or praise something or someone repeatedly, especially as a way of encouraging people to like, accept, or buy something:
The minister has been touting these ideas for some time.
He is being widely touted as the next leader of the party.
A local car dealership was touting its services/wares on the radio.
[ I ] mainly uk to repeatedly try to persuade people to buy your goods or services:
There were hundreds of taxis at the airport, all touting for business/custom.
Tincture
A medicine that consists of a mixture of alcohol and a small amount of a drug:
a/some tincture of iodine/myrrh
Myrrh
a sticky brown substance with a strong smell that is used in making perfume and incense
Aphrodisiac
/ˌæf.rəˈdɪzˈdiː.ʒæk/ something, usually a drug or food, that is believed to cause sexual desire in people: Are oysters really an aphrodisiac? They say that power is an aphrodisiac.
Eczema
/ˈek.sə.mə/
a skin condition in which areas of the skin become red, rough, and sore and make you want to rub them:
As a young boy he suffered from eczema.
Sclerosis
A medical condition that causes body tissue or organs to become harder, especially the arteries
Cannabis
a drug, illegal in many countries, that is made from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant. Cannabis produces a pleasant feeling of being relaxed if smoked or eaten:
Are you in favour of the legalization of cannabis?
Anecdotal
/ˌæn·ɪkˈdoʊ·t̬əl/
based on reports or things someone saw rather than on proven facts
Anecdotal information is not based on facts or careful study:
There is only anecdotal evidence that the medicine works.
Extrapolate
to guess or think about what might happen using information that is already known:
You can’t really extrapolate a trend from such a small sample.
Epilepsy
/ˈep.ə.lep.si/
โรคลมชัก
a condition of the brain that causes a person to become unconscious for short periods or to move in a violent and uncontrolled way:
She can’t drive because she suffers from/has epilepsy.
Complacency
/kəmˈpleɪ.sən.si/ also complacence disapproving
a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder:
What annoys me about these girls is their complacency - they seem to have no desire to expand their horizons.
There’s no room for complacency if we want to stay in this competition!
Eminently
very and obviously:
He is eminently qualified for the job.
an eminently readable book
Assuage
/əˈsweɪdʒ/ formal
to make unpleasant feelings less strong:
The government has tried to assuage the public’s fears.
Divot
/ˈdɪv.ət/
a small hole in an area of grass, especially one made by a golf club (= stick for hitting) or ball; a piece of grass that has been cut out, leaving such a hole
Burgeon
bɝː.dʒən
to develop or grow quickly:
Love burgeoned between them.
Pervasive
/pɚˈveɪ.sɪv/ formal
present or noticeable in every part of a thing or place:
The influence of Freud is pervasive in her books.
a pervasive smell of diesel
Reforms are being undermined by the all-pervasive corruption in the country.
Embroil
/ɪmˈbrɔɪl/
to cause someone to become involved in an argument or a difficult situation:
She had no desire to embroil herself in lengthy lawsuits with the tabloid newspapers.
The United Nations was reluctant to get its forces embroiled in civil war.
Perceive
Believe
to come to an opinion about something, or have a belief about something:
How do the French perceive the British?
Women’s magazines are often perceived to be superficial.
See
to see something or someone, or to notice something that is obvious:
Bill perceived a tiny figure in the distance.
I perceived a note of unhappiness in her voice.
Perceiving that he wasn’t happy with the arrangements, I tried to book a different hotel.
Expulsion
(the act of) forcing someone, or being forced, to leave a school, organization, or country:
They threatened him with expulsion from school.
This is the second expulsion of a club member this year.
The government ordered the expulsion of foreign journalists.
Patriarchal
/ˌpeɪ.triˈɑː.kəl/ ruled or controlled by men: patriarchal structure a patriarchal society
Dialysis
/daɪˈæl.ə.sɪs/ specialized a process of separating substances from liquid by putting them through a thin piece of skin-like material, especially to make pure the blood of people whose kidneys are not working correctly: a dialysis machine kidney dialysis She is on (= being treated by) dialysis.
Nephrology
/nɪˈfrɑː.lə.dʒi/ specialized
the area of science and medicine that is concerned with the kidneys
Virology
/vaɪˈrɑː.lə.dʒi/
the scientific study of viruses and the diseases that they cause
Harbinger
/ˈhɑːr.bɪn.dʒɚ/ literary a person or thing that shows that something is going to happen soon, especially something bad: a harbinger of doom A harbinger of a more serious problem
Transmittable
able to be passed or sent from one person, thing, or place to another:
Malaria is a dangerous, easily transmittable disease known to be carried by mosquitoes.
Our pets may be host to a long list of diseases and parasites that are easily transmittable to humans.
Hesitancy
/ˈhez.ə.tən.si/
the failure to do something immediately or quickly because you are nervous or not certain:
The president is not known for his hesitancy in such matters.
Congress has not shown any hesitancy about spending more money.
Rambunctious
/ræmˈbʌŋk.ʃəs/ mainly us
Boisterous
full of energy and difficult to control:
rambunctious children
a lively and rambunctious puppy
Boisterous
/ˈbɔɪ.stɚ.əs/
rambunctious
noisy, energetic, and rough:
boisterous children
a boisterous game
Unruly
/ʌnˈruː.li/
Unruly people are difficult to control and often do not obey rules:
an unruly class of adolescents
Unruly hair is difficult to keep tidy, often sticking up or out:
an unruly mop of black hair
Finicky
/ˈfɪn.ɪ.ki/ disapproving difficult to please: a finicky eater He's terribly finicky about his food. uk needing a lot of attention to detail: Repairing watches must be a very finicky job.
Titular
/ˈtɪtʃ.ə.lɚ/
having the title of a position but not the responsibilities, duties, or power; in name only:
It is already agreed that Mr Alfonso Escamez will be the titular head of the new bank.
Divulge
/daɪˈvʌldʒ/ /dɪˈvʌldʒ/
disclose
Reveal
to make something secret known:
Journalists do not divulge their sources.
[ + question word ] The CEO refused to divulge how much she earned.
Someone divulged their plans to their competitors.
He did not divulge details of his plan.
Debar
/diːˈbɑːr/ formal
to stop someone from doing something by law or by official agreement:
He was debarred from the club for unacceptable behaviour.
Exclude
Tom has been excluded from school (= he is not allowed to go to school) for bad behaviour.
Elope
to leave home secretly in order to get married without the permission of your parents:
She eloped with an Army officer.
Hyperventilate
/ˌhɑɪ·pərˈven·təlˌeɪt/
to breathe too quickly, causing too much oxygen to enter the blood
Juggernaut
/ˈdʒʌɡənɔːt/ US
a very large and powerful company, organization, or industry:
Health care has turned into something of a juggernaut in the economy recently.
Concerns have been expressed that the FTSE 100 juggernaut could be slowed by the impact of a rising dollar.
commercial/economic/financial juggernaut
TRANSPORT a very large truck used for transporting large quantities of goods
Evermore
/ˌev.ɚˈmɔːr/ literary
always in the future:
Their name will live on evermore.
Unwind
If you unwind something that is wrapped around an object, you unfasten it, and if it unwinds, it becomes unfastened:
In a nearby medical tent, a US Army doctor gently unwinds Metruk’s bandage.
Relax
also wind down to relax and allow your mind to be free from worry after a period of work or some other activity that has made you worried:
A glass of wine in the evening helps me to unwind after work.
Sane
having a healthy mind and not mentally ill:
In the doctor’s opinion he was sane at the time of the murder.
humorous The only thing which keeps me sane after a hard day in the office is jogging!
showing good judgment and understanding:
It was a sane decision and one we all respected.
Sanity noun
He was beginning to doubt his own sanity.
Encircle
Surround /ɪnˈsɝː.kəl/ to surround something, forming a circle around it: The house is encircled by a high fence.
Villaverde is one of the high-rise districts that encircle Madrid.
A parking lot encircles the mall.
Cerumen
Earwax
Vigilant
/ˈvɪdʒ.əl.ənt/
always being careful to notice things, especially possible danger:
Following the bomb scare at the airport, the staff have been warned to be extra vigilant.
Synonyms
open-eyed
watchful
Putter
[ I usually + adv/prep ] us uk potter to do things in a relaxed way, without rushing or trying very hard:
He really enjoys puttering around in the garden.
[ C ] a golf club (= stick for hitting a golf ball) with a short handle and metal end that is specially designed for putting
[ C ] someone who putts:
He’s a good putter.
Insinuation
/ɪnˌsɪn.juˈeɪ.ʃən/
the action of suggesting, without being direct, that something unpleasant is true:
[ + that ] We resent these insinuations that we are not capable of leading the company forward.
I reject the insinuation behind your question.
[ + (that) ] Are you insinuating (that) I’m losing my nerve?
What are you insinuating, Daniel?
Unguis
/ˈʌŋ.ɡwɪs/ plural ungues specialized
a nail, claw, or hoof of an animal
Nervy
worried:
I’m always nervy before an exam.
Uptight informal
worried or nervous and not able to relax:
Don’t get uptight about the exam - just do your best.
Restive
/ˈres.tɪv/ formal
Restless
unwilling to be controlled or be patient:
The audience was becoming restive as they waited for the performance to begin.
He’s a restless type - he never stays in one country for long.
She spent a restless night (= she did not sleep well), tossing and turning.
Banns
noun [ plural ] UK /bænz/ US /bænz/
Marriage proclamation
a public announcement made in a church, especially in the UK, that two people are going to get married:
The banns were published in their local parish church.
Inset
something positioned within a larger object:
The map has an inset (= small extra map) in the top corner that shows the city centre in more detail.
Niche
a job or position that is very suitable for someone, especially one that they like:
He has carved/made a niche for himself as a financial advisor.
an area or position that is exactly suitable for a small group of the same type:
an ecological niche.
/nɪtʃ/
an opportunity for a business to offer a product or service that is not offered by other businesses:
a niche in sth
There is a niche in the market for this kind of product.
create/carve a niche
The company has carved a niche for itself in the watch-making business.
look for/find a niche
They found a niche by selling their line of leather goods through small boutiques that could offer personalized service.
exploit/expand a niche
Fetter
To keep someone within limits or stop them from making progress:
He felt fettered by a nine-to-five office existence.
to tie someone to a place by putting chains around their ankles
Exert
to use something such as authority, power, influence, etc. in order to make something happen:
If you were to exert your influence they might change their decision.
Some managers exert considerable pressure on their staff to work extra hours without being paid.
to make a mental or physical effort:
I was too tired to exert myself.
Recant
/rɪˈkænt/ formal
to announce in public that your past beliefs or statements were wrong and that you no longer agree with them:
After a year spent in solitary confinement, he publicly recanted (his views).
Abjure
/əbˈdʒʊr/ formal
to say formally or publicly that you no longer agree with a belief or way of behaving:
He abjured his religion/his life of dissipation.
Dissipate
/ˈdɪs.ə.peɪt/ formal
to (cause to) gradually disappear or waste:
The heat gradually dissipates into the atmosphere.
His anger dissipated as the situation became clear.
Retract
/rɪˈtrækt/ formal
[ T ] to take back an offer or statement, etc. or admit that a statement was false:
retract an invitation/confession/promise
When questioned on TV, he retracted his allegations.
[ I or T ] to pull something back or in:
The wheels retract after the aircraft takes off.
The cat retracted its claws.
Attendant
someone whose job is to help others in a particular place or situation:
a gas station/parking lot attendant
/əˈten.dənt/ formal
coming with a stated thing or resulting from it:
debt and its attendant problems
There are too many risks attendant on such a large investment of money.
Tirade
/ˈtaɪ.reɪd/
broadside
a long, angry speech expressing strong disapproval:
She launched into an angry/furious tirade about how she had been unfairly treated.
In a furious tirade of abuse, the opposition spokesperson demanded the minister’s resignation.
Broadside
/ˈbrɑːd.saɪd/
a strong written or spoken attack (on someone):
The candidate fired/launched yet another broadside at the president.
Diaspora
/daɪˈæs.pɚ.ə/ formal
a group of people who spread from one original country to other countries, or the act of spreading in this way:
Nearly two-fifths of Spain’s foreign residents come from the Latin diaspora - mostly from Ecuador and Colombia.
The Hmong diaspora evolved against the backdrop of terror that unfolded in their homeland.
Induct
/ɪnˈdʌkt/ formal
to introduce someone formally or with a special ceremony to an organization or group, or to beliefs or ideas:
Li Xiannian was inducted into the Politburo in 1956.
She was inducted into the army.
Encapsulate
/ɪnˈkæp.sjə.leɪt/
to express or show the most important facts about something:
It was very difficult to encapsulate the story of the revolution in a single one-hour documentary.
She encapsulates the stereotyped image that the British have of Americans.
Discernible
/dɪˈsɝː.nə.bəl/ formal
able to be seen or understood:
The influence of Rodin is discernible in the younger artist.
There is no discernible reason why this should be the case.
If there was meat in the soup, it was not discernible.
Unkempt
/ʌnˈkempt/ disapproving
untidy; not cared for:
an unkempt lawn
He needed a shave and his hair was unkempt.
Encompass
/ɪnˈkʌm.pəs/ formal
to include different types of things:
The festival is to encompass everything from music, theatre, and ballet to literature, cinema, and the visual arts.
The plan encompasses repaving the street and planting 40 new trees.
Confer
to exchange ideas on a particular subject, often in order to reach a decision on what action to take:
I need some time to confer with my lawyer.
to give an official title, honour, or advantage to someone:
An honorary doctorate was conferred on him by Columbia University.
Seizure
the action of taking something by force or with legal authority:
seizure of power/property/control
Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30 percent this year.
a very sudden attack of an illness in which someone becomes unconscious or develops violent movements:
an epileptic seizure
[ C ] old use a sudden failure of the heart:
His aunt died of a seizure.
figurative humorous When I told her how much it cost she nearly had a seizure (= she was very shocked).
Gestational
/dʒesˈteɪ.ʃən.əl/specialized
used to refer to a disease or condition that affects pregnant women:
As many as 5% of pregnant women experience gestational diabetes.
relating to the development of a child or young animal while it is still inside its mother’s body:
Rabbits have a 30-day gestational period.
Adverse
having a negative or harmful effect on something:
The match has been cancelled because of adverse weather conditions.
They received a lot of adverse publicity/criticism about the changes.
So far the drug is thought not to have any adverse effects.
Privy
to be told information that is not told to many people:
I was never privy to conversations between top management.
Societal
of or relating to human society:
societal concerns/issues/problems
Rapid societal changes have complicated parents’ task.
