Set 1 Flashcards
abode
the place where someone lives
abandon
to leave a place, thing, or person, usually for ever
absence
the fact of not being where you are usually expected to be
absurd
stupid and unreasonable, or silly in a humorous way
abundance
the situation in which there is more than enough of something
abundant
more than enough
accuse
to say that someone has done something morallywrong, illegal, or unkind
accustom
to make someone familiar with new conditions
acquainted
knowing or being familiar with a person
acquire
to get or obtain something
across
from one side to the other of something with clearlimits, such as an area of land, a road, or a river
address
the number of the house, name of the road, and name of the town where a personlives or works, and where letters can be sent
adhere
to stickfirmly
admission
the act of agreeing that something is TRUE, especiallyunwillingly
adopt
to legally take another person’s child into your own family and take care of him or her as your own child
advance
to go or move something forward, or to develop or improve something
affable
friendly and easy to talk to
affectionate
showingfeelings of liking or love
aid
help or support
alert
quick to see, understand, and act in a particularsituation
all right
(in a way that is) satisfactory or reasonably good
ally
a country that has agreedofficially to give help and support to another one, especially during a war
altitude
height above sealevel
ambition
a strongwish to achieve something
amount
a collection or mass, especially of something that cannot be counted
ample
more than enough
antiquity
the distant past (= a longtime ago), especially before the sixth century
anxious
worried and nervous
appeal
a request to the public for money, information, or help
appearance
an occasion when someone appears in public
apprehensive
feelingworried about something that you are going to do or that is going to happen
approve
to have a positiveopinion of someone or something
arduous
difficult, needing a lot of effort and energy
argument
a disagreement, or the process of disagreeing
arouse
to cause someone to have a particularfeeling
artful
clever and skilful, especially in getting what you want
article
a piece of writing on a particularsubject in a newspaper or magazine, or on the internet
assemble
to come together in a singleplace or bringparts together in a singlegroup
assiduous
showing hard work, care, and attention to detail
assistance
help
asunder
into forcefullyseparatedpieces
attached
to like someone or something very much
attempt
to try to do something, especially something difficult
available
able to be bought or used
average
the result you get by adding two or more amounts together and dividing the total by the number of amounts
avoid
to stay away from someone or something
avowed
stated
awkward
difficult to use, do, or deal with
banish
to send someone away, especially from theircountry, and not allow them to come back
bargain
something on sale at a lowerprice than itsTRUEvalue
barren
unable to produceplants or fruit
beautiful
very attractive
because
for the reason that
beck
a smallriver
believe
to think that something is TRUE, correct, or real
belligerent
wishing to fight or argue
bemused
slightlyconfused
benefit
a helpful or good effect, or something intended to help
besieged
past simple and past participle ofbesiegeto surround a place, especially with an army, to preventpeople or supplies getting in or out
betray
to not be loyal to yourcountry or a person, often by doing something harmful such as helpingtheirenemies
bewildered
confused and uncertain
bicycle
a two-wheeled vehicle that you sit on and move by turning the two pedals (= flatparts you press with yourfeet)
box
a square or rectangularcontainer with stiffsides and sometimes a lid
brief
lasting only a shorttime or containing few words
Britain
England, Scotland, and Wales
broad
very wide
bruise
an injury or mark where the skin has not been broken but is darker in colour, often as a result of being hit by something
brusque
quick and rude in manner or speech
burden
a heavyload that you carry
business
the activity of buying and sellinggoods and services
calamity
a seriousaccident or badeventcausingdamage or suffering
candidate
a person who is competing to get a job or electedposition
careering
present participle ofcareer(especially of a vehicle) to movefast and in a way that is out of control
category
(in a system for dividing things according to appearance, quality, etc.) a type, or a group of things having some features that are the same
caulking
a substance used to fill in gaps around the edge of something, for example a bath or a window, and stopair or liquid from getting through
caution
greatcare and attention
cease
to stop something
cemetery
an area of ground in which deadbodies are buriedan area of ground in which deadbodies are buried
chaos
a state of totalconfusion with no order
charred
burned and black
choreographer
a person who is skilled at combiningmovements into dances to be performed
clemency
kindness when giving a punishment
coarse
rough and not smooth or soft, or not in very smallpieces
coax
to persuade someone gently to do something or go somewhere, by being kind and patient, or by appearing to be
college
a university where you can study for an undergraduate(= first)degree
color
US spelling ofcolourthe appearance that something has as a result of reflectinglight
combination
the mixture you get when two or more things are combined
commence
to begin something
commit
to do something illegal or something that is consideredwrong
committee
a smallgroup of peoplechosen to represent a largerorganization and either make decisions or collectinformation for it
communicate
to shareinformation with others by speaking, writing, movingyourbody, or using other signals
community
the peopleliving in one particulararea or people who are considered as a unit because of theircommoninterests, socialgroup, or nationality
companion
a person you spend a lot of time with often because you are friends or because you are travelling together
company
an organization that sellsgoods or services in order to make money
compel
to force someone to do something
competition
a situation in which someone is trying to win something or be more successful than someone else
completely
in every way or as much as possible
complex
involving a lot of different but relatedparts
composition
a piece of music that someone has written
comprehend
to understand something completely
comrade
a friend, especially one who you have been involved in difficult or dangerous, usually military, activities with
conceal
to prevent something from being seen or known about
conceited
too proud of yourself and youractions and abilities
concentrated
using a lot of effort to succeed at one particular thing
conclude
to end a speech, meeting, or piece of writing
conclusion
the finalpart of something
condemn
to criticize something or someone strongly, usually for moralreasons
conferred
to exchangeideas on a particularsubject, often in order to reach a decision on what action to take
confine
to limit an activity, person, or problem in some way
conscience
the part of you that judges how moralyour own actions are and makes you feelguilty about bad things that you have done or things you feelresponsible for
conscious
to notice that a particular thing or personexists or is present
consent
permission or agreement
conserve
to keep and protect something from damage, change, or waste
consideration
the act of thinking about something carefully
consist
to have something as a main and necessarypart or quality
conspire
to plansecretly with other people to do something bad, illegal, or against someone’s wishes
constant
happening a lot or all the time
consume
to use fuel, energy, time, or a product, especially in largeamounts
contemporary
existing or happening now, and thereforeseemingmodern
contempt
a strongfeeling of disliking and having no respect for someone or something
content
pleased with yoursituation and not hoping for change or improvement
contest
a competition to do better than other people, usually in which prizes are given
contract
a legaldocument that states and explains a formalagreement between two different people or groups, or the agreement itself
contrast
an obviousdifference between two or more things
contribute
to give something, especiallymoney, in order to provide or achieve something together with other people
conventional
traditional and ordinary
convert
to (cause something or someone to) change in form or character
convey
to express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is understood by other people
convict
to decideofficially in a lawcourt that someone is guilty of a crime
convince
to persuade someone or make someone certain
correct
in agreement with the TRUEfacts or with what is generallyaccepted
covert
hidden or secret
covet
to want to have something very much, especially something that belongs to someone else
coy
intentionallykeeping something secret
credit
praise, approval, or honour
cultivate
to prepareland and growcrops on it, or to grow a particularcrop
cunning
Cunning people are clever at planning something so that they get what they want, especially by tricking other people, or things that are cleverly made for a particularpurpose
curb
to control or limit something that is not wanted
curious
interested in learning about people or things around you
curt
If someone’s manner or speech is curt, it is rude as a result of being very quick
custom
a way of behaving or a belief that has been established for a longtime
debate
(a) seriousdiscussion of a subject in which many people take part
debrief
to question someone in detail about work they have done for you
deceit
(an act of) keeping the truthhidden, especially to get an advantage
deceive
to persuade someone that something FALSE is the truth, or to keep the truthhidden from someone for your own advantage
declare
to announce something clearly, firmly, publicly, or officially
decline
to graduallybecome less, worse, or lower
definite
fixed, certain, or clear
deliberate
(often of something bad) intentional or planned
demolished
past simple and past participle ofdemolishto completelydestroy a building, especially in order to use the land for something else
deny
to say that something is not TRUE
deposit
to leave something somewhere
depot
a building where supplies or vehicles, especiallybuses, are kept
derelict
Derelict buildings or places are not cared for and are in badcondition
description
something that tells you what something or someone is like
despair
the feeling that there is no hope and that you can do nothing to improve a difficult or worryingsituation
desperately
extremely or very much
despise
to feel a strongdislike for someone or something because you think that that person or thing is bad or has no value
destitute
without money, food, a home, or possessions
determine
to control or influence something directly, or to decide what will happen
develop
to (cause something to) grow or change into a more advanced, larger, or strongerform
device
an object or machine that has been invented for a particularpurpose
devote
to give all of something, especiallyyourtime, effort, or love, or yourself, to something you believe in or to a person
dictionary
a book that contains a list of words in alphabeticalorder and explainstheirmeanings, or gives a word for them in another language; an electronicproduct giving similarinformation on a computer, smartphone, etc.
digest
to changefood in yourstomach into substances that yourbody can use
dilapidated
old and in poorcondition
diluted
past simple and past participle ofdiluteto make a liquidweaker by mixing in something else
din
a loud, unpleasantconfusednoise that lasts for a longtime
disappear
If people or things disappear, they go somewhere where they cannot be seen or found
disappointed
unhappy because someone or something was not as good as you hoped or expected, or because something did not happen
disarray
the state of being confused and having no organization or of being untidy
disastrous
extremelybad or unsuccessful
disclose
to make something knownpublicly, or to show something that was hidden
discontent
a feeling of wantingbettertreatment or an improvedsituation
dishevelled
(of people or theirappearance) very untidy
dismal
sad and without hope
disperse
to spreadacross or move away over a largearea, or to make something do this
dispute
an argument or disagreement, especially an official one between, for example, workers and employers or two countries with a commonborder
distasteful
unpleasant and unacceptable
distinct
clearlynoticeable; that certainlyexists
distinguished
used to describe a respected and admiredperson, or theirwork
distress
a feeling of extremeworry, sadness, or pain
divine
connected with a god, or like a god
divinity
the state of being a god
domestic
relating to a person’s own country
dose
a measuredamount of something such as medicine
drought
a longperiod when there is little or no rain
dumb
unable to speak
dwelling
a house or place to live in
earnest
serious and determined, especially too serious and unable to findyour own actionsfunny
economical
not using a lot of fuel, money, etc.
elect
to decide on or choose, especially to choose a person for a particularjob, by voting
elude
If something that you want eludes you, you do not succeed in achieving it
embarrass
to cause someone to feelnervous, worried, or uncomfortable
embrace
to accept something enthusiastically
emerge
to appear by coming out of something or out from behind something
empire
a group of countriesruled by a singleperson, government, or country
employ
to have someone work or do a job for you and pay them for it
endeavour
to try to do something
endure
to suffer something difficult, unpleasant, or painful
enterprise
an organization, especially a business, or a difficult and importantplan, especially one that will earnmoney
entire
whole or complete, with nothing missing
entirely
completely
environment
the air, water, and land in or on which people, animals, and plantslive
equip
to provide a person or a place with objects that are necessary for a particularpurpose
equipment
the set of necessarytools, clothing, etc. for a particularpurpose
equipped
having the necessarytools, clothes, equipment, etc.
erect
to build a building, wall, or other structure
errand
a shortjourney either to take a message or to take or collect something
especially
very much; more than usual or more than other people or things
estimate
to guess or calculate the cost, size, value, etc. of something
evaluation
the process of judging or calculating the quality, importance, amount, or value of something
evident
easilyseen or understood
exaggerate
to make something seemlarger, more important, better, or worse than it really is
excellent
extremely good
excitement
a feeling of being excited, or an excitingevent
exciting
making you feelexcited
exclaim
to say or shout something suddenly because of surprise, fear, pleasure, etc.
existence
the fact of something or someone existing
expel
to force someone to leave a school, organization, or country
expense
the use of money, time, or effort
explanation
the details or reasons that someone gives to make something clear or easy to understand
extended
long or longer than usual
exterior
on or from the outside
extinction
a situation in which something no longerexists
extract
to remove or take out something
extremely
very
famine
a situation in which there is not enough food for a greatnumber of people, causingillness and death, or a particularperiod when this happens
fatal
A fatal illness, accident, etc. causesdeath
fatigue
extremetiredness
favourite
bestliked or most enjoyed
feeble
weak and without energy, strength, or power
feign
to pretend to have a particularfeeling, problem, etc.
fertile
Fertile land can produce a largenumber of good qualitycrops.Fertile animals or plants are able to produce (a lot of) young or fruit
flamboyant
very confident in yourbehaviour, and liking to be noticed by other people, for example because of the way you dress, talk, etc.
flawless
perfect or without mistakes
flee
to escape by running away, especially because of danger or fear
fleet
a group of ships, or all of the ships in a country’s navy
flora
all the plants of a particularplace or from a particulartime in history
flourish
to grow or developsuccessfully
foe
an enemy
forbid
to refuse to allow something, especiallyofficially, or to prevent a particularplan of action by making it impossible
foundation
an occasion when an organization, state, etc. is established
fragment
a smallpiece or a part, especially when broken from something whole
fragrant
with a pleasantsmell
frequent
happening often
friend
a person who you know well and who you like a lot, but who is usually not a member of yourfamily
frivolous
behaving in a silly way and not taking anything seriously
fund
an amount of moneysaved, collected, or provided for a particularpurpose
garment
a piece of clothinga piece of clothing
government
the group of people who officiallycontrol a country
grate
to rubfood against a grater in order to cut it into a lot of smallpieces
gratitude
the feeling or quality of being grateful
grave
a place in the ground where a deadperson is buried
gregarious
(of people) liking to be with other people
grieve
to feel or expressgreatsadness, especially when someone dies
grotesque
strange and unpleasant, especially in a silly or slightlyfrightening way
guarantee
a promise that something will be done or will happen, especially a written promise by a company to repair or change a product that develops a fault within a particularperiod of time
guard
a person or group of people whose job is to protect a person, place, or thing from danger or attack, or to prevent a person such as a criminal from escaping
habitable
providingconditions that are good enough to live in or on
habitat
the naturalenvironment in which an animal or plant usually lives
halt
to (cause to) stopmoving or doing something or happening
handkerchief
a squarepiece of cloth or paper used for cleaning the nose or drying the eyes when they are wet with tears
hasty
Hasty actions are done in a hurry, sometimes without the necessarycare or thought
helix
a curve that goes around a centraltube or coneshape in the form of a spiralthe curvededge around the top of the outerear
heroic
very brave or great
hoax
a plan to deceive someone, such as telling the police there is a bombsomewhere when there is not one, or a trick
holiday
a time when someone does not go to work or school but is free to do what they want, such as travel or relax
hollow
having a hole or emptyspace inside
humble
not proud or not believing that you are important
hygienic
clean, especially in order to preventdisease
idiosyncrasy
a strange or unusualhabit, way of behaving, or feature that someone or something has
idle
not working or being used
idol
someone who is admired and respected very much
ignorant
not having enough knowledge, understanding, or information about something
imitate
to behave in a similar way to someone or something else, or to copy the speech or behaviour, etc. of someone or something
immediate
happening or done without delay
immediately
now or without waiting or thinking
immerse
to becomecompletelyinvolved in something
impudent
rude and not showingrespect, especially towards someone who is older or in a more importantposition
in between
between the two timesmentioned
in fact
actually
in front
furtherforward than someone or something else
inaudible
unable to be heard
inaugural
An inaugural speech is the first speech someone gives when starting an important new job
inaugurate
to put someone into an officialposition with a ceremony
incision
an opening that is made in something with a sharptool, especially in someone’s body during an operation
inconspicuous
not easily or quicklynoticed or seen, or not attractingattention
individual
a singleperson or thing, especially when compared to the group or set to which they belong
inedible
not suitable or good enough to eat
inferior
not good, or not as good as someone or something else
influence
the power to have an effect on people or things, or a person or thing that is able to do this
inhabit
to live in a place
inhabitants
a person or animal that lives in a particularplace
innocuous
completelyharmless (= causing no harm)
insane
mentallyill
insert
to put something inside something else
insolent
rude and not showingrespect
inspire
to make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it
intangible
impossible to touch, to describeexactly, or to give an exactvalue
