Set 17 Flashcards
puddle
/ˈpʌdl/
(n.) a small pool of liquid, especially of rainwater on the ground
After the rain, children jumped in every puddle they could find on the sidewalk.
buggy
/ˈbʌɡi/
(n.) a small, lightweight carriage or automobile
- The Amish family traveled to town in their traditional horse-drawn buggy.
- They rented a golf buggy to get around the course.
sow/sowed/sown
/soʊ/
(v.) to plant seeds in or on the ground
The farmer will sow the wheat seeds in early spring for a fall harvest.
flounce
/flaʊns/
(v.) to move with exaggerated, dramatic motions, often to express annoyance or impatience
She flounced out of the room after the argument.
fib
/fɪb/
(n.) a small or trivial lie
She told a fib about finishing her homework on time.
corrugate
/ˈkɒrʊɡeɪt/
(v.) to shape into folds or parallel ridges and grooves
The metal sheet was corrugated to add strength and rigidity.
driftwood
/ˈdrɪftwʊd/
(n.) wood that has been washed onto a shore by the action of waves, wind, or tides
They collected pieces of driftwood along the beach to use in their campfire.
topple
/ˈtɒpəl/
browbeat
/ˈbraʊbiːt/
(v.) to intimidate or bully someone into doing something
He tried to browbeat the witness into changing her testimony.
manure
/məˈnjʊər/
(n.) animal dung used to fertilize land
The farmer spread manure over the fields to enrich the soil.
notch
/nɒtʃ/
(n.) a small cut or indentation made on a surface, often used to keep a record or indicate a level
He carved a notch on the tree to mark the spot.
pass sth up
/pæs ʌp/
(v.) to decline or refuse an opportunity or offer
He decided to pass up the job offer in the city to stay closer to his family.
semblance
/ˈsɛmbləns/
(n.) the outward appearance or form of something, especially when the reality is different
Despite the chaos in her personal life, she maintained a semblance of normalcy at work.
sideburn
/ˈsaɪdbɜːrn/
(n.) patches of facial hair grown on the sides of the face, extending down from the hairline to just in front of the ears
He decided to trim his sideburns before the job interview.
garland
/ˈɡɑːrlənd/
(n.) a wreath /riːθ/ of flowers or leaves worn as a decoration
She wore a garland of roses on her head for the festival.
drizzle
/ˈdrɪzəl/
(v.) to rain lightly in very fine drops
It began to drizzle just as we were leaving the house.
hoax
/hoʊks/
(n.) a deliberate deception or trick intended to mislead
The news about the alien invasion turned out to be a hoax.
ambrosia
/æmˈbroʊʒə/
(n.) something especially delicious to taste or smell, often referred to as the food of the gods in mythology
The dessert was so exquisite it felt like eating ambrosia.
letup
/ˈlɛtˌʌp/
(n.) a pause or reduction in intensity or activity
There was no letup in the rain all weekend.
platter
/ˈplætər/
(n.) a large, flat dish or plate, typically oval or circular in shape, used for serving food
The waiter brought out a beautifully arranged platter of assorted cheeses and fruits for the guests.
behold/beheld/beheld
/bɪˈhoʊld/bɪˈheld/bɪˈheld/
(v.) to see or observe someone or something, especially of remarkable or impressive nature
As they reached the mountain summit, they paused to behold the breathtaking view of the valley below.
hoe
/hoʊ/
(n.) a gardening tool with a flat blade used for weeding and breaking up soil
She used a hoe to clear the weeds from the garden.
mockery
/ˈmɒkəri/
(n.) teasing or contemptuous language or behavior directed at someone or something
The politician’s stumbling speech became the subject of mockery on late-night comedy shows.
neurotic
/nʊˈrɑːtɪk/
(adj.) overly anxious, worried, or obsessive in behavior or thought
His neurotic tendencies made him double-check everything multiple times.
tote
/toʊt/
(v.) to carry something, especially something heavy or cumbersome
She had to tote the heavy bags up three flights of stairs.
livelong
/ˈlɪvlɔːŋ/
(adj.) lasting or continuing through an entire period, especially a day
They worked the livelong day without rest.
stamen
/ˈsteɪmən/
(n.) the male reproductive part of a flower, typically consisting of a filament and an anther
The bright yellow stamen in the center of the lily attracted bees for pollination.
deciduous
/dɪˈsɪdʒuəs/
(adj.) shedding its leaves annually, typically used to describe trees or shrubs
In autumn, the deciduous trees turn vibrant colors before losing their leaves.
studious
/ˈstjuːdiəs/
(adj.) spending a lot of time studying or reading
She was known for being studious, always spending hours in the library.
ingenious
/ɪnˈdʒiːniəs/
(adj.) clever, original, and inventive
His ingenious solution to the problem saved us a lot of time.
jilt
/dʒɪlt/
(v.) to suddenly reject or abandon a lover
She was heartbroken when he jilted her just before the wedding.
drizzle
/ˈdrɪzəl/
(n.) light rain falling in fine drops
The morning started with a gentle drizzle, perfect for a walk.
cranny
/ˈkræni/
(n.) a small, narrow opening or crack in a surface
She found the missing earring in a cranny of the old wooden floor.
ricochet
/ˈrɪkəʃeɪ/
(v.) to rebound off a surface, typically with a sharp, bouncing motion
The bullet ricocheted off the wall and struck an unintended target.
willies
/ˈwɪliz/
(n.) a feeling of nervousness or fear, especially one that causes shivers
The eerie silence in the old house gave me the willies.
deflate
deflate
…
denomination
/dɪˌnɒmɪˈneɪʃən/
(n.) a recognized autonomous branch of a religion, or a unit of value in a system of currency
The charity accepts donations in any denomination.
hang one’s head
hang one’s head
…
shear
shear
…
icky
icky
…
swim/swam/swum
swim/swam/swum
…
crepe
crepe
…
giveaway
giveaway
…
unscramble
unscramble
…
have a field day
/hæv ə fiːld deɪ/
(v.) to thoroughly enjoy oneself or take advantage of a situation
The media will have a field day with this political scandal.
raspy
/ˈræspi/
(adj.) hoarse or harsh-sounding, often describing a voice or sound.
His voice was raspy after shouting all day at the concert.
knell
/nel/
(n.) the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral
The church bells rang a solemn knell as the funeral procession passed by.
edification
/ˌedɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
(n.) the instruction or improvement of a person morally or intellectually
The professor’s lectures were always a source of great edification for his students.
ruffled
/ˈrʌfəld/
(adj.) upset, irritated, or discomposed
The politician appeared ruffled by the journalist’s unexpected questions during the interview.
serenade
/ˌserəˈneɪd/
(v.) to perform a love song or piece of music for someone, typically outdoors and at night
He decided to serenade his girlfriend beneath her bedroom window on Valentine’s Day.
ramrod
/ˈræmrɒd/
(n.) a rigid, straight object or person; historically, a rod used to push down the charge of a firearm.
The drill sergeant stood as straight as a ramrod, barking orders at the recruits.
moldy
/ˈmoʊldi/
(adj.) covered with or containing mold; affected by mold
She was disgusted to find a moldy piece of bread at the back of the refrigerator.
gawky
/ˈɡɔːki/
(adj.) nervously awkward or ungainly in movement or posture.
The tall, gawky teenager tripped over his own feet as he entered the room.
ballot
/ˈbælət/
(n.) a process of voting, typically in secret, or the piece of paper used to record a vote.
Each voter cast their ballot in the election box before leaving the polling station.
stupefy
/ˈstjuːpɪfaɪ/
(v.) to make (someone) unable to think or feel properly; to astonish or shock greatly
The magician’s incredible illusion stupefied the entire audience.
prop
/prɒp/
(v.) to support or hold something up by placing it against something else or under it.
She used a cushion to prop up her book while reading in bed.
sill
/sɪl/
(n.) a horizontal ledge at the bottom of a window or doorway.
She placed a potted plant on the window sill to brighten up the room.
bib
/bɪb/
(n.) a piece of cloth or plastic worn around a child’s neck to protect clothing while eating.
The baby wore a bib to keep his shirt clean during mealtime.
preservative
/prɪˈzɜːrvətɪv/
(n.) a substance used to prevent the decay or spoilage of food, materials, or other perishable items.
The jam contains a natural preservative to extend its shelf life.
spatula
/ˈspætʃʊlə/
(n.) a flat, broad tool with a handle, used for flipping, spreading, or lifting food during cooking.
She used a spatula to turn the pancakes on the griddle.
pollster
/ˈpoʊlstər/
(n.) a person who conducts or analyzes opinion polls.
The pollster gathered data from hundreds of voters before the election.
pucker
/ˈpʌkər/
(v.) to gather or contract into wrinkles or small folds
Her lips puckered as she tasted the sour lemon juice.
crevice
/ˈkrɛvɪs/
(n.) a narrow opening or crack, especially in a rock or wall.
A small plant grew out of the crevice in the cliffside.
spatter
spatter
…
bawl
bawl
…
swab
swab
…
cut one’s eye after someone
/kʌt wʌnz aɪ ˈæftər ˈsʌmwʌn/
(v.) to give someone a disapproving or contemptuous look, often by narrowing or rolling one’s eyes.
She cut her eye after him when he made a rude comment during the meeting.
fixing
/ˈfɪksɪŋ/
(n.) something that is needed or used for a particular purpose, especially in cooking; also refers to the act of repairing or adjusting something.
She gathered all the fixings for the salad before starting to cook.
jug
/dʒʌɡ/
(n.) a large container with a handle and a spout, used for holding and pouring liquids.
She filled the jug with water and placed it on the table for dinner.
commission
/kəˈmɪʃən/
(v.) to formally choose and authorize someone to do a special piece of work
The city council decided to commission a local artist to create a mural for the new community center.
thunderclap
/ˈθʌndərklæp/
(n.) a loud crash of thunder; also used metaphorically to describe a sudden, shocking event.
The unexpected announcement hit the crowd like a thunderclap.
clomp
/klɒmp/
(v.) to walk with a heavy, noisy step.
She could hear him clomp down the hallway in his big boots.
hogwash
/ˈhɒɡwɒʃ/
(n.) nonsense or foolish talk; worthless, false, or ridiculous speech or writing
The politician dismissed the accusations against him as pure hogwash.
spring fever
/sprɪŋ ˈfiːvər/
(n.) a feeling of restlessness or excitement that comes with the onset of spring, often associated with an increase in energy or romantic interest.
As the weather warmed up, many students felt a sense of spring fever, eager to be outside instead of in class.
cling
cling
..
loaf
loaf
…
forfeit
forfeit
…
ignoramus
/ˌɪɡnəˈreɪməs/
(n.) an ignorant or uneducated person.
He called his opponent an ignoramus for not understanding the basic facts.
emanate
/ˈeməneɪt/
(v.) to originate from; give out or emit
A sense of calm seemed to emanate from the peaceful garden.
unnerving
/ʌnˈnɜːrvɪŋ/
(adj.) causing someone to feel anxious, fearful, or uncomfortable.
The eerie silence in the house was unnerving as she walked through the dark hallway.
stye
/staɪ/
(n.) a small, painful swelling on the edge of an eyelid, caused by bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle
She had to apply warm compresses to treat the stye on her eyelid.
droop
/druːp/
(v.) to bend or hang downward limply; to lose strength or spirit.
The flowers began to droop after several days without water.
fanfare
/ˈfænˌfɛr/
(n.) a loud, celebratory display or flourish, often involving trumpets or other brass instruments; can also refer to a public display of excitement or attention.
The team was greeted with fanfare when they returned home after winning the championship.
upholstery
/ʌpˈhoʊlstəri/
(n.) soft, padded textile covering that is fixed to furniture
The cat’s claws had badly damaged the upholstery on the living room sofa.
judder
/ˈdʒʌdər/
(v.) to shake or vibrate violently and abruptly.
The car began to judder as it struggled up the steep hill.
judder
/ˈdʒʌdər/
(v.) to shake or vibrate violently and abruptly.
The car began to judder as it struggled up the steep hill.
seltzer
/ˈsɛltsər/
(n.) carbonated water, often flavored or used as a mixer
She ordered a glass of seltzer with a slice of lemon.
self-imposed
/ˌselfɪmˈpoʊzd/
(adj.) imposed on oneself, done or undertaken voluntarily rather than as a result of outside pressure
The writer emerged from his self-imposed isolation after completing his novel.
lax
lax
/læks/
adjective
1 not strict enough in enforcing rules or standards
…Security measures at the airport were lax.
…The teacher was criticized for being too lax with discipline.
2 not tense; loose
…The patient’s muscles became lax during recovery.
…Her posture was lax as she slouched in the chair.
3 careless or negligent
…He was lax about meeting deadlines.
…The company had become lax in maintaining safety protocols.
twitchy
/ˈtwɪtʃi/
(adj.) nervous or restless; characterized by small, jerky movements.
He became twitchy and anxious while waiting for the exam results.
precipitous
/prɪˈsɪpɪtəs/
(adj.) extremely steep or sudden; can refer to both physical cliffs or rapid changes.
The hikers carefully navigated the precipitous path down the mountain.
eke sth out
/iːk aʊt/
(v.) to make a small amount of something last longer or go further
During the economic downturn, many families had to eke out their savings to cover basic expenses.
defect (v.)
/dɪˈfɛkt/
(v.) to abandon one’s country, cause, or group in favor of an opposing one.
The spy decided to defect to the enemy nation and share classified information.
haughty
/ˈhɔːti/
(adj.) arrogantly superior and disdainful; having or showing an attitude of contempt or disdain for others.
Her haughty tone made it clear that she thought she was better than everyone else.
avail yourself of sth
/əˈveɪl jɔːrˈself əv ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
(v.) to make use of or take advantage of an opportunity or available resource
Students are encouraged to avail themselves of the free tutoring services offered by the university.
churn
churn
…
hemorrhoids
/ˈhɛmərɔɪdz/
(n.) swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum or anus, causing discomfort and bleeding
She consulted a doctor to find relief from her painful hemorrhoids.
spleen
/spliːn/
(n.) an organ in the body that helps to filter blood and is part of the immune system; also used figuratively to refer to anger or bad temper
The doctor explained that the spleen plays a crucial role in fighting infections.
course
/kɔːrs/
(v.) to flow or move swiftly and powerfully in a specified direction
Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she prepared for the big race.
gratification
/ˌɡrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
(n.) the pleasure or satisfaction gained from fulfilling a desire or need
He felt a sense of gratification after completing the challenging project.
bloke
/bləʊk/
(n.) a man; a fellow (informal British and Australian English)
He’s a decent bloke who always buys a round at the pub.
takeout
/ˈteɪkˌaʊt/
(n.) prepared food purchased from a restaurant to be eaten elsewhere
We decided to order Chinese takeout for dinner.
stink
/stɪŋk/
(v.) to have a strong, unpleasant smell
The garbage began to stink after sitting in the sun all day.
bleat
/bliːt/
(v.) to make a characteristic weak, wavering cry (as of a sheep or goat)
The lost lamb bleated pitifully, calling for its mother in the dark.
incapacitated
/ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪteɪtɪd/
(adj.) deprived of strength or power; unable to function normally
After the accident, he was incapacitated for several weeks and unable to return to work.
barrel
barrel
…
trot
trot
/trɒt/
verb
1 (of a horse or similar animal) to move at a speed faster than a walk but slower than a gallop; When an animal such as a horse trots, it moves fairly fast, taking quick small steps. You can also say that the rider of the animal is trotting.
…Alan took the reins and the small horse started trotting.
…Pete got on his horse and started trotting across the field.
2 to move quickly with short, steady steps
…She came trotting down the steps from the library.
…The dog trotted beside its owner.
3 INFORMAL
to walk or go somewhere, especially fairly quickly
…He trotted off and came back a couple of minutes later, holding a parcel.
trot sth out
INFORMAL
to give opinions, excuses, reasons etc that you have used too many times and that do not seem sincere
…Steve trotted out the same old excuses.
noun
1 a gait between a walk and a gallop, in which an animal moves its legs in diagonal pairs
…The horse slowed from a gallop to a trot.
…She guided the pony into a steady trot.
2 → on the trot
INFORMAL•BRITISH
a) one directly following another: IN SUCCESSION, one after the other, in a row, consecutively, successively, in sequence, one behind the other; running, straight
…The class has been cancelled three weeks on the trot now.
…We need to catch up 4 points. 4 wins on the trot will put us on course.
…She lost five games on the trot.
…Sales of new cars rose in May for the second month on the trot.
b) busy doing something: ON THE GO
…I’ve been on the trot all day.
3 a fairly slow way of running in which you take short regular steps
…She set off at a brisk trot down the path.
…She broke into a trot (=started running slowly) and hurried on ahead of us.
…He broke into a trot to catch the bus.
4 a book of notes or answers used by students, especially to cheat in tests: CRIB
5 the trots
INFORMAL
diarrhoea
…The boozy cook got the trots after a late night meal of undercooked seafood washed down by lashings of wine.
> trot (n.): From troter “to trot, to go,” from Frankish *trotton, from Proto-Germanic *trott- (source also of Old High German trotton “to tread”), derivative of *tred- (see tread (v.)).
> tread (v.): Old English tredan (as a verb), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch treden and German treten. This is said by Watkins to be from PIE *der- (1) “assumed base of roots meaning ‘to run, walk, step.’”
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus
dregs
dregs
…
infectious
infectious
…
run long
/rʌn lɔːŋ/
(v.) to continue for longer than expected or scheduled
The meeting ran long, causing everyone to miss their lunch break.
convivial
/kənˈvɪviəl/
(adj.) friendly, lively, and enjoyable; jovial /ˈdʒoʊviəl/
The convivial atmosphere at the dinner party made everyone feel relaxed and welcome.
legerdemain
/ˌlɛdʒərdəˈmeɪn/
(n.) skillful use of one’s hands when performing tricks; deception or trickery
The magician’s legerdemain left the audience in awe.
psyched
/saɪkt/
(adj.) very excited, enthusiastic, or mentally prepared for something
She was psyched about starting her new job next week.
blip
/blɪp/
(n.) a temporary or minor deviation from a general trend, often seen as insignificant
The drop in sales was just a blip and not a sign of a long-term decline.
tagline
/ˈtæɡˌlaɪn/
(n.) a memorable phrase or slogan used in advertising or marketing to convey a brand’s message
The company’s new tagline emphasizes its commitment to innovation and quality.
pit sb/sth against sb/sth
/pɪt əˈɡɛnst/
(v.) to set someone or something in conflict or competition with another
The reality show pitted contestants against each other in a series of challenging tasks.
dyad
/ˈdaɪˌæd/
(n.) a pair of two individuals or things that are closely linked or interact as a unit
The therapist focused on improving communication within the marital dyad.
desensitized
/diːˈsensɪtaɪzd/
(adj.) having become less sensitive or responsive to something, typically as a result of overexposure
After years of working in emergency services, he had become desensitized to scenes of violence.
dub
/dʌb/
(v.) to give an unofficial name or nickname to someone or something
The media dubbed him “The King of Pop” due to his immense popularity and influence in the music industry.
amend
/əˈmend/
(v.) to make minor changes to improve or correct something, typically a text or legislation
The committee met to amend the proposed law before presenting it to the full senate.
flashy
/ˈflæʃi/
(adj.) attracting attention by being bright, showy, or ostentatious
He wore a flashy suit to stand out at the party.
grievance
grievance
…
foreclose
foreclose
…
defrost
/diːˈfrɔːst/
(v.) to remove ice or frost from something; to thaw frozen food
He set the meat out to defrost before cooking dinner.
carton
/ˈkɑːrtn/
(n.) a lightweight container, usually made of cardboard or plastic, used for packaging and storing goods
She grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge.
favorable
/ˈfeɪvərəbl/
(adj.) showing approval or support; advantageous or beneficial
The weather forecast was favorable for our outdoor event.
fulsome
/ˈfʊlsəm/
(adj.) excessively flattering or complimentary; sometimes insincerely so
His fulsome praise made everyone feel uncomfortable, as it seemed exaggerated.
to the gills
/tə ðə ɡɪlz/
(adv.) to the utmost limit; completely full
The restaurant was packed to the gills on Valentine’s Day, with every table occupied.
dissonant
/ˈdɪsənənt/
(adj.) lacking harmony; conflicting or clashing in sound or opinion
The dissonant notes in the music created a sense of tension and unease.
steel against
/stiːl əˈɡɛnst/
(v.) to mentally prepare oneself to face or endure something difficult or unpleasant
He tried to steel himself against the criticism he knew was coming.
presentiment
/prɪˈzentɪmənt/
(n.) a feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant
She had a presentiment that the plane would crash, so she decided not to board it.
chirp
/tʃɜːrp/
(v.) to make a short, high-pitched sound, like a small bird
The birds began to chirp as the sun rose.
scrap
scrap
…
dint
dint
…
cultivate
cultivate
…
coo
coo
/kuː/
1 : to make the low soft cry of a dove or pigeon or a similar sound; When a dove or pigeon coos, it makes the soft sounds that doves and pigeons typically make.
…Pigeons fluttered in and out, cooing gently.
…The baby cooed quietly in her crib.
2 : to talk fondly, amorously, or appreciatively
…“Oh, how sweet,” she cooed.
…The family cooed over the baby pictures.
> mid 17th century: imitative.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English
cadge
/kædʒ/
(v.) to ask for or obtain something by begging or scrounging
He managed to cadge a free meal from his friend.
slam
/slæm/
(v.) to shut or strike something with great force and loud noise
He slammed the door in anger as he left the room.
startle
/ˈstɑːrtəl/
(v.) to cause someone to feel sudden shock or alarm
The loud noise from the fireworks startled the dog.
unsavory
/ʌnˈseɪvəri/
(adj.) disagreeable to taste, smell, or look at; morally offensive
He had an unsavory reputation due to his dishonest business practices.
gofer (also gopher)
/ˈɡoʊfər/
(n.) a person who runs errands, typically on behalf of someone else in an office or organization
He worked as a gofer in the film studio, handling various tasks for the crew.
crouch
/kraʊtʃ/
(v.) to bend your knees and lower your body close to the ground
The cat crouched low, ready to pounce on its prey.
bread and butter
bread and butter
…
excise
excise
…
shingle
shingle
…
hedge
hedge
…
dart
dart
/dɑːrt/
verb
1 to move suddenly and rapidly in a particular direction
…The rabbit darted across the road.
…A small fish darted between the rocks.
…Jill darted forward and pulled him away from the fire.
2 to glance quickly in a particular direction
…Her eyes darted around the room nervously.
…He darted a suspicious look at his colleague.
noun
1 a small, pointed missile that can be thrown or shot
…He threw a dart at the dartboard.
2 a sudden quick movement
…The bird made a swift dart towards the feeder.
3 (sewing) a folded and stitched tapering tuck in a garment
…She sewed darts in the dress to make it more fitted.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
crumple
crumple
…
rattle
rattle
…
murky
/ˈmɜːki/
(adj.) dark, cloudy, or difficult to see through
The water in the pond was too murky to see the bottom.
> “dark, obscure, gloomy,” mid-14c., from murk + -y (2). Rare before 17c. The older adjective was simply murk. Related: Murkily; murkiness.
> murk (n.): “gloom, darkness,” c. 1300, myrke, from Old Norse myrkr “darkness,” from Proto-Germanic *merkwjo- (source also of Old English mirce “murky, black, dark;” as a noun, “murkiness, darkness,” Danish mǿrk “darkness,” Old Saxon mirki “dark”)
> Etymonline
mesh
mesh
…
roughhouse
roughhouse
/ˈrʌfˌhaʊs/
verb
1 to fight in a way that is not serious; to play in a rough, boisterous, and physical way, often in a friendly manner
…A couple of boys were roughhousing (each other) in the park.
…Stop roughhousing before someone gets hurt!
2 to handle someone roughly or violently
…The guards roughhoused the suspect while escorting him out.
…He complained that the police had roughhoused him during the arrest.
noun
boisterous and physical play or fighting, often in a friendly way
…The boys got in trouble for too much roughhouse in the living room.
…Their roughhouse wrestling match ended with a broken lamp.
> Cambridge Dictionary
yelp
yelp
/jelp/
verb
1 to give a quick, sharp cry of pain, fear, or excitement
…The dog yelped when I accidentally stepped on its tail.
…She yelped in surprise when the door slammed.
2 to speak or complain in a sharp, worried voice
…The child yelped about the unfairness of the situation.
…He yelped in protest when they took away his toys.
noun
a short, sharp cry
…A yelp of pain echoed through the room.
…We heard a yelp coming from the backyard.
amble
amble
/ˈæmbl/
verb
to walk in a slow, relaxed way
…The couple ambled along the beach at sunset.
…She ambled through the park, enjoying the spring flowers.
noun
a slow, leisurely walk
…We took a pleasant amble through the countryside.
…Their morning amble became a daily routine.
grate
grate
/greɪt/
verb
1 to reduce something to small pieces by rubbing against a rough surface
…She grated the cheese for the pizza.
…He grated carrots for the salad.
2 to make an unpleasant harsh sound
…The rusty door hinges grated as they opened.
…His voice grated on her nerves.
3 to irritate or annoy
…His constant complaints began to grate on everyone.
…The repetitive noise grated against her patience.
noun
a frame of metal bars used to cover an opening; the metal bars and frame that hold the wood, coal etc in a fireplace
…a small coal fire burned in the grate
…Steam rose from the subway grate.
…The homeless slept on subway grates to keep warm.
…Deputies worked together to lift the metal grate off a storm drain before freeing the dog, who had become trapped in a pipe.
—Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
> grate (n.): late 14c., “grill for cooking;” early 15c., “iron bars or cagework across a door or window,” from Anglo-Latin (mid-14c.), from Old French grate or directly from Medieval Latin grata “a grating, lattice,” from Latin cratis “wickerwork, hurdle” (see hurdle (n.)). As a verb meaning “to fit with a grate,” from mid-15c. Related: Grated; grating.
> grate (v.): “to scrape, rub,” late 14c. (implied in grated), from Old French grater “to scrape, scratch (out or off); erase; destroy, pull down” (Modern French gratter), from Frankish *kratton, from Proto-Germanic *krattojan (source also of Old High German krazzon “to scratch, scrape,” German kratzen “to scratch,” Swedish kratta, Danish kratte “to rake, scrape”), probably of imitative origin. Senses of “sound harshly,” and “annoy” are mid-16c. Italian grattare also is from Germanic. Related: Grated; grating.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline
gable
/ˈɡeɪbəl/
(n.) the triangular upper part of a wall at the end of a pitched roof; A gable is a triangular section of a building’s wall where two roof pitches meet. Gables are formed by the sloping sides of the roof that extend from the ridgepole to the eaves.
The old cottage had a charming gable decorated with intricate wood carvings.
crane
crane
/kreɪn/
noun
1 a large machine used for lifting and moving heavy objects
…The construction site had several tall cranes.
…They used a crane to load containers onto ships.
2 a large, long-necked wading bird
…A white crane stood gracefully in the shallow water.
…Cranes are known for their elaborate courtship dances.
verb
1 to stretch out one’s neck to see better
…She craned her neck to see over the crowd.
…The children craned forward to get a better view.
2 to move or lift something using a crane
…Workers craned the steel beams into place.
…They craned the piano up to the third-floor apartment.
3 to bend, stretch, or pull something upward
…The giraffe craned its long neck to reach the leaves.
…He craned forward to read the small print.
recumbent
recumbent
/rɪˈkʌmbənt/
adjective
1 lying down; reclining; in a position of rest
…The patient was in a recumbent position on the hospital bed, recovering from surgery.
…They found him in a recumbent position on the couch.
2 (of a bicycle) having a seat in which the rider is in a reclining position
…He preferred riding a recumbent bicycle for long-distance trips.
…Recumbent bikes are known for their ergonomic design.
3 (of grave monuments) depicting a person lying down
…The medieval church contained several recumbent effigies of knights.
…The recumbent statue showed the nobleman in eternal repose.
4 (botany) lying along the ground or along a surface
…The recumbent stems spread across the garden.
…This plant has a recumbent growth pattern.
Usage Note: The word is often used in medical, architectural, and botanical contexts.
overcome
overcome
/ˌoʊvərˈkʌm/
verb (past tense: overcame, past participle: overcome)
1 to succeed in dealing with or controlling a problem or difficulty
…She overcame her fear of heights through therapy.
…The team overcame many obstacles to win the championship.
2 to overwhelm or overpower someone/something completely
…The soldiers were overcome by tear gas.
…He was overcome with emotion during his graduation speech.
3 to be affected very strongly by an emotion or physical feeling; if someone is overcome by emotion, they cannot behave normally because they feel the emotion so strongly
→ be overcome by/with something
…She was overcome with grief at the news.
…The hikers were overcome by exhaustion.
4 to defeat or beat an opponent or opposition
…The underdog overcame the champion in a surprising victory.
…Our army overcame the enemy forces.
> From Middle English overcomen, from Old English ofercuman (“to overcome, subdue, compel, conquer, obtain, attain, reach, overtake”), corresponding to over- + come. Cognate with Dutch overkomen (“to overcome”), German überkommen (“to overcome”), Danish overkomme (“to overcome”), Swedish överkomma (“to overcome”).
> Wiktionary
parcel out
/ˈpɑːrsl aʊt/
(phr.) to divide or share (something) among different people, groups, etc.
- The teacher parceled out the art supplies, ensuring each student had an equal share.
- More than $13,000 in awards will be parceled out, with $6000 going to the first-prize winner.
- The money was parceled out to local charities.
- They plan to parcel the tickets out in a lottery.
- We need to stop parceling out the blame for this problem and start working on a solution.
> Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster
snort
snort
/snɔːrt/
verb
1 to make a sudden explosive sound through the nose (often expressing contempt or amusement)
…He snorted with laughter at the joke.
…She snorted in disgust at the suggestion.
2 (of animals, especially horses) to force air through the nostrils with a loud harsh sound
…The horse snorted and pawed at the ground.
…The bull snorted aggressively before charging.
3 INFORMAL
to inhale (drugs) through the nose
…He was caught snorting cocaine.
4 to force air or liquid out through the nose
…He snorted water while swimming.
noun
1 a sudden explosive sound made by forcing air through the nose
…She gave a snort of derision.
…The pig’s happy snorts could be heard across the farm.
2 (slang) a portion of drugs for snorting
…The police found evidence of snorts on the table.
Related Terms:
- snorting (noun/adjective): the action of making snorting sounds
- snorter (noun): something extraordinary or remarkable (informal)
Common Collocations:
- snort with laughter
- snort in derision
- snort with contempt
- snort derisively
Usage Note: Often used to convey emotions like disdain, amusement, or contempt when describing human actions.
legible
legible
/ˈledʒəbl/
adjective
1 clear enough to read; easily read
…Her handwriting was neat and legible.
…The old document was barely legible after years of storage.
2 (figurative) clear enough to understand or decipher
…The message behind the artwork was legible to art critics.
…The political implications were legible in his speech.
Usage Notes:
- Most commonly used to describe handwriting, print, or text
- Often used with modifiers indicating degree of readability
- Can be used with “to” (legible to someone)
- Sometimes used metaphorically to mean “understandable” or “apparent”
—legibly adverb /ˈledʒ.ə.bli/
in a way that can be read easily:
…You need to learn how to write more legibly.
…Names should be printed legibly, not scribbled.
—legibility /ˌledʒəˈbɪləti/ noun [uncountable]
> late 14c., from Late Latin legibilis “that can be read, written plainly,” from Latin legere “to read,” from PIE root *leg- (1) “to collect, gather,” with derivatives meaning “to speak (to ‘pick out words’).” Related: Legibly.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Cambridge Dictionary, Etymonline
stalk
stalk
/stɔːk/
verb
1 to pursue or follow (someone/something) persistently and quietly
…The lion stalked its prey through the tall grass.
…The detective stalked the suspect for several days.
2 to harass or persecute (someone) with unwanted and obsessive attention
…He was arrested for stalking his ex-girlfriend.
…The celebrity was being stalked by an obsessed fan.
3 to walk in a proud or angry way, with long steps
stalk out/off/away
…She angrily stalked out of the room.
…Yvonne turned and stalked out of the room in disgust.
…She stalked away without saying goodbye.
…Without another word she turned and stalked out.
4 LITERARY
If something bad stalks a place, you see or feel it everywhere in that place; If something unpleasant stalks a place, it appears there in a threatening way.
…Fear stalks every dark stairwell and walkway.
…When night falls, danger stalks the streets of the city.
noun
1 the main stem of a plant
…The corn stalks were ready for harvest.
…She trimmed the flower stalks.
2 a hunting approach to prey
…The hunter made a careful stalk toward the deer.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster
condensation
condensation
/ˌkɒndenˈseɪʃn/
noun
1 (Physics) the process by which a gas or vapor changes into a liquid
…Water droplets formed through condensation on the cold window.
…Air conditioning systems remove moisture through condensation.
2 the liquid formed when a gas or vapor becomes cooler
…The condensation dripped from the bathroom mirror.
…Wipe away the condensation from your glasses.
3 the process of making something shorter or more concise
…The condensation of the novel into a screenplay required removing many details.
…This is a condensation of the original three-hour lecture.
> condense (v.): early 15c., “thicken, make more dense or compact” (implied in condensed), from Old French condenser (14c.) or directly from Latin condensare “to make dense,” from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + densare “make thick,” from densus “dense, thick, crowded,” a word used of crowds, darkness, clouds, etc. (see dense). Sense in chemistry and physics, “to reduce to another and denser form” (as a gas or vapor to a liquid) is from 1660s. Intransitive sense “become denser” is from 1650s. Related: Condensed; condensing.
> Etymonline
deign
deign
/deɪn/
[formal, disapproval]
to do something considered beneath one’s dignity, often with a sense of condescension; If you say that someone deigned to do something, you are expressing your disapproval of the fact that they did it unwillingly, because they thought they were too important to do it: CONDESCEND, stoop, lower oneself, descend, think fit, see fit, deem it worthy of oneself, consent, vouchsafe; demean oneself, humble oneself; informal come down from one’s high horse
deign to do sth
…She wouldn’t deign to answer such a trivial question.
…At last, Harper deigned to speak.
…Weatherby didn’t deign to reply.
…Joe Biden and Donald Trump — who plainly detest each other — wouldn’t deign to shake hands.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024
> From Middle English deynen, from Old French deignier (“consider worthy”), from Latin dignāre (“consider worthy”), from dignus (“worthy”). Cognate to dignity and French daigner.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Wiktionary
abut
/əˈbʌt/
(v.) FOMRAL
to be adjacent to or share a common boundary with something; When land or a building abuts something or abuts on something, it is next to it.
- One edge of the garden abutted on an old entrance to the mine.
- He was born in 1768 in the house abutting our hotel.
> Middle English (in the sense ‘lean forward’): partly from Anglo-Norman French and Old French abouter ‘to look out’, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + bouter ‘strike, butt’, of Germanic origin; and partly from Old French abuter ‘to arrive’, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + but ‘end’.
> Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English
gazebo
/ɡəˈziːboʊ/
(n.) a freestanding, open-sided structure with a roof, often found in gardens or parks
They sat in the gazebo, enjoying the cool breeze and the view of the lake.
insistence
insistence
/ɪnˈsɪstəns/
noun
1 the act of demanding something firmly or persistently
…Despite his insistence, they refused to change the rules.
insistence on
…an insistence on punctuality
…Her insistence on arriving early annoyed her friends.
2 the quality of being firm or persistent in stating something
at somebody’s insistence (=because someone insisted)
…At her father’s insistence, she joined them for a drink.
insistence that
…his insistence that they discuss the problem
…His insistence that he was right only made the argument worse.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
nectarine
/ˈnɛktəˌriːn/
(n.) a smooth-skinned variety of peach with firm, sweet flesh
She sliced a ripe nectarine and added it to her fruit salad.
tinder
tinder
/ˈtɪndər/
noun
1 dry, flammable material used to start a fire
…They gathered small twigs and leaves for tinder.
…The dry grass made excellent tinder.
2 something that can easily ignite or cause flames
…The drought turned the forest into potential tinder.
…The old newspapers served as tinder for the fireplace.
3 (figurative) something that can spark or incite
…The speech was tinder for the revolution.
…Their harsh words were tinder for conflict.
reparation
rep‧a‧ra‧tion
/ˌrepəˈreɪʃən/
If you guessed that reparation is related to the word repair, you were right. Both come from the Latin word meaning “to restore.” While reparation has a range of meanings, they all convey the sense of fixing or making up for a past wrong.
In contemporary usage, the plural form is more common than the singular. Victims of a crime, for example, may receive reparations from the perpetrators. A defeated nation may be forced to pay reparations to its victorious enemies. Many have suggested that the United States government should provide reparations to the descendants of slaves. The word almost always has legal or political connotations, and it conveys the sense of restitution — often expressed in money — for wrongdoing.
1 → reparations
the compensation for war damage paid by a defeated state; Reparations are sums of money that are paid after a war by the defeated country for the damage and injuries it caused in other countries.
…Israel accepted billions of dollars in war reparations.
2 Reparation is help or payment that someone gives you for damage, loss, or suffering that they have caused you: COMPENSATION, damages, repair, satisfaction
…There is a clear demand amongst victims for some sort of reparation from offenders
…The courts required a convicted offender to make financial reparation to his victim.
> late 14c., reparacioun, “repair, act of mending” (a sense now rare or obsolete), also “amends, compensation, recompense, satisfaction for injury, what is done to repair a wrong,” from Old French reparacion and directly from Late Latin reparationem (nominative reparatio) “act of repairing, restoration,” noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin reparare “restore, repair” (see repair (v.1)).
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Vocabulary.com, Etymonline
gnat
gnat
/næt/
noun
1 a small two-winged fly that resembles a mosquito. Gnats include both biting and nonbiting forms, and they typically form large swarms
…The gnats were swarming around the pond.
…He swatted at the gnats buzzing near his face.
2 (figurative) something tiny or insignificant
…That problem is just a gnat compared to our bigger issues.
…I was only a gnat in the affair.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
wariness
wariness
/ˈwɛrinəs/
noun
1 caution or skepticism about possible dangers or difficulties
…Her wariness of strangers developed after the incident.
…The cat approached the new toy with wariness.
2 the state or quality of being watchful and cautious
…The detective’s wariness helped him solve the case.
…There was a natural wariness between the two competing teams.
graze
graze
/ɡreɪz/
verb
1 (of animals) to feed on grass or other low vegetation
…The cows grazed peacefully in the meadow.
…Sheep were grazing on the hillside.
2 to touch or scrape lightly in passing
…She tripped, and her knee grazed the pavement.
…The bullet grazed his shoulder.
3 INFORMAL
to eat small amounts of food all through the day instead of having regular meals
…She prefers to graze on fruits and nuts rather than eat big meals.
…The children grazed on snacks while watching TV.
noun
a slight wound or abrasion caused by scraping
…He had a small graze on his elbow from the fall.
…The cyclist suffered only a few minor grazes.
> graze (v.1): “to feed on grass,” Old English grasian, from græs “grass” (see grass). Compare Middle Dutch, Middle High German grasen, Dutch grazen, German grasen. Transitive sense from 1560s. Figurative use by 1570s. Related: Grazed; grazing.
> graze (v.2): “to touch lightly in passing,” c. 1600, perhaps a transferred sense from graze (v.1) via a notion of cropping grass right down to the ground (compare German grasen “to feed on grass,” used in military sense in reference to cannonballs that rebound off the ground). Related: Grazed; grazing. As a noun from 1690s, “an act of grazing.”
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Etymonline
chit
chit
/tʃɪt/
noun
1 : a short letter or note
especially : a signed voucher of a small debt (as for food); an official note that shows that you are allowed to have something
…a chit(=an official note giving information or showing an amount of money that is owed or has been paid) for the dry cleaner’s
…Take the chit to the counter and collect your books.
…When our flight was delayed, they gave us a chit to get a free meal.
…Before they can hail a cab or order a bike, staff now need a chit signed by a senior staff member.
…Each passenger received a chit for $250 in onboard spending.
2 INFORMAL•BRITISH
a young woman or girl, often used disparagingly
…a mere chit of a girl
…The arrogant chit refused to listen to anyone’s advice.
> chit (n.1): “a short letter, note,” 1776, short for chitty (1690s), from Mahrati (Hindi) chitthi “letter, note, memorandum,” from Sanskrit chitra-s “distinctively marked” (see cheetah).
> chit (n.2): “small child,” 1620s, originally “young of an animal” (late 14c.), of uncertain origin; perhaps a playful deformation of kitten, but The Middle English Compendium compares Old High German kizzin “kid” and Century Dictionary mentions Old English cið “a shoot, sprout, sprig.”
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline
fleece
fleece
/fliːs/
noun
1 the woolly covering of a sheep or similar animal
…The sheep’s fleece was thick and warm.
…They sheared the fleece from the flock.
2 a soft warm fabric used for clothing, usually made from synthetic fibers
…She bought a fleece jacket for hiking.
…The blanket had a soft fleece lining.
verb
1 to steal from or cheat someone, especially by overcharging
…The taxi driver tried to fleece the tourists.
…Some merchants fleece customers during the holiday season.
2 to remove the fleece from (a sheep)
…The farmers fleece their sheep every spring.
…It takes skill to fleece a sheep properly.
> fleece (n.): “wool coat of a sheep,” Old English fleos, flies “fleece, wool, fur, sealskin,” from West Germanic *flusaz (source also of Middle Dutch vluus, Dutch vlies, Middle High German vlius, German Vlies), which is of uncertain origin; according to Watkins, probably from PIE *pleus- “to pluck,” also “a feather, fleece” (source also of Latin pluma “feather, down,” Lithuanian plunksna “feather”). De Vaan suggests the Latin pluma is “Probably a deverbal noun in *-mo-, possibly from a root *pleu- or *pleu-k- ‘to swim, float (in the air)’.”
> Etymonline
transmute
transmute
/trænzˈmjuːt/
verb
1 to change or transform from one form, nature, or substance into another
…Ancient alchemists tried to transmute lead into gold.
…The caterpillar transmutes into a butterfly.
2 to change in appearance or form
…His expression transmuted from anger to surprise.
…The artist transmuted her pain into beautiful poetry.
> late Middle English: from Latin transmutare, from trans- ‘across’ + mutare ‘to change’.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
twiddle
twiddle
/ˈtwɪdl/
verb
2 → twiddle your thumbs
INFORMAL
to do nothing while you are waiting for something to happen
…I’ve been twiddling my thumbs all day with nothing to do.
…Let’s go – there’s no point in sitting here twiddling our thumbs.
2 to turn or spin something around idly; to play with something in a restless way
…He twiddled his thumbs while waiting for the meeting to start.
…She twiddled with her hair when she was nervous.
noun
an act of twisting or fiddling with something
…At the twiddle of a knob the operators can focus on a tiny amount of airspace or scan the whole area.
> mid 16th century (in the sense ‘trifle’): apparently imitative, combining the notion twirl or twist with that of trifling action expressed by fiddle.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Cambridge Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English
twine
twine
/twaɪn/
noun
strong string or cord made of two or more strands twisted together
…She used garden twine to tie up the tomato plants.
…The package was secured with hemp twine.
verb
1 to wind, wrap, or interweave around something
…The vine twined around the trellis.
…She twined the ribbon through her hair.
2 to become twisted or intertwined
…The two ropes twined together perfectly.
…Their fingers twined as they held hands.
3 to wind one’s way; to move in a winding or spiral course
…The path twined through the garden.
…The river twined through the valley.
> Old English twīn ‘thread, linen’, from the Germanic base of twi- ‘two’; related to Dutch twijn.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
bemuse
bemuse
(v.) to puzzle, confuse, or bewilder
/bɪˈmjuz/
The cryptic message from his colleague left him thoroughly bemused, unsure of how to interpret its meaning.
Note: Often confused with “amuse,” but “bemuse” specifically means to confuse or perplex, not to entertain.
> From be- + muse. In meaning, influenced by bemaze(=to bewilder) and later amuse.
> Wiktionary
rheumy
/ˈruːmi/
(adj.) watery or teary, especially in reference to the eyes
- The old man’s rheumy eyes glistened as he recalled his youthful days.
- The old man peered through rheumy eyes at the photograph, memories of his youth flooding back.
> 1590s, “rheumatic, full of rheum, affected by rheum,” from rheum + -y (2).
> rheum (n.): late 14c., reume, “watery fluid or humid matter in the eyes, nose, or mouth” (including tears, saliva, mucous discharge from the nostrils), from Old French reume “a head-cold” (13c., Modern French rhume) and directly from Latin rheuma, reuma, from Greek rheuma “discharge from the body, flux; a stream, current, flood, a flowing,” literally “that which flows,” from rhein “to flow” (from PIE root *sreu- “to flow”).
> Etymonline
downcast
downcast
/ˈdaʊnkæst/
adjective
1 sad, depressed, or discouraged; dejected; If you are downcast, you are feeling sad and without hope: DESPONDENT /dɪˈspɒndənt $ dɪˈspɑːn-/, disheartened, discouraged, dispirited, downhearted, low-spirited, in low spirits, hopeless, cast down, crestfallen, down, low, disconsolate, in despair, despairing, wretched, oppressed; SAD, dejected, melancholy, gloomy, glum, morose, doleful, dismal, woebegone, miserable, depressed, distressed, sorrowful; defeatist, pessimistic; informal blue, down in the mouth, down in the dumps, as sick as a parrot
…Barbara looked increasingly downcast as defeat loomed.
…a glum, downcast expression.
…She had a downcast expression after failing the exam.
…The team looked downcast after losing the championship game.
2 (of eyes or gaze) directed downward, especially due to sadness or shame; If your eyes are downcast, you are looking towards the ground, usually because you are feeling sad or embarrassed.
…He stood with downcast eyes as he apologized.
…The student remained downcast throughout the scolding.
…She was silent, her eyes downcast.
> The adjective is derived from Middle English doun-casten, *adoun-casten (“(adjective) cast down, dejected; (verb) to break down (something); to overcome (someone); to overturn (something)”), from down (“in a downward direction; (figurative) to destruction”),[1] adoun (“downward”)[2] + casten (“to throw (something), fling, hurl; to overcome (someone), defeat, overpower; [etc.]”)[3] (from Old Norse kasta (“to cast, throw”), from Proto-Germanic *kastōną (“to throw”), from *kas- (“to throw, toss; to bring up”); further etymology uncertain), modelled similarly to other constructions in Middle English such as adoun-throwen (“to throw down”) and adoun-werpen (“to throw down”)). The English word is analysable as down- (prefix meaning ‘lower direction or position’) + cast (“that has been thrown”, adjective).[4]
> Collins English Dictionary, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Wiktionary
fuzz
fuzz
/fʌz/
noun
1 soft, fine, or fluffy fibers or hair
…The peach had a layer of fuzz on its skin.
…She brushed the lint and fuzz off her sweater.
2 a blurred or unclear quality
…The photograph had too much fuzz to see the details.
…His memory of the event was lost in a haze of fuzz.
3 → the fuzz
INFORMAL
slang for police
…He saw the fuzz approaching and quickly left.
…The fuzz showed up to break up the party.
verb
1 to become blurred or unclear
…The edges of the image fuzzed out.
…His vision fuzzed after staring at the screen too long.
2 to cover with fine fibers or hair
…The fabric fuzzed after several washes.
…Her sweater fuzzed up from repeated use.
> Uncertain. Some dictionaries suggest a Germanic source; compare Low German fussig (“loose; spongy”), Dutch voos (“unsound; rotten”). Others, such as Webster’s New College Dictionary, suggest a back-formation from fuzzy. The Oxford English Dictionary suggests, “Perhaps imitative of the action of blowing away light particles.”
> Wiktionary
fuzzy
/ˈfʌzi/
adjective
1 covered with fuzz; having a soft, fluffy texture
…The baby chick was still fuzzy with down.
…She wore a fuzzy sweater to keep warm.
2 unclear, vague, or indistinct
…My memory of that night is quite fuzzy.
…The security camera footage was too fuzzy to identify the suspect.
3 (of sound or images) blurred or distorted
…The radio signal was fuzzy in the mountains.
…The old photograph had become fuzzy with age.
4 (of thinking or decision) not clear or precise
…The plan was still fuzzy in his mind.
…Let’s avoid fuzzy logic and stick to the facts.
fuzzy
fuzzy
/ˈfʌzi/
adjective
1 covered with fuzz; having a soft, fluffy texture
…The baby chick was still fuzzy with down.
…She wore a fuzzy sweater to keep warm.
2 unclear, vague, or indistinct
…My memory of that night is quite fuzzy.
…The security camera footage was too fuzzy to identify the suspect.
3 (of sound or images) blurred or distorted
…The radio signal was fuzzy in the mountains.
…The old photograph had become fuzzy with age.
4 (of thinking or decision) not clear or precise
…The plan was still fuzzy in his mind.
…Let’s avoid fuzzy logic and stick to the facts.
> Uncertain. Apparently from fuzz + -y, though some sources suggest that fuzz derives from fuzzy. Compare fozy, or Low German fussig (“loose; spongy”).
> fuzzy: Uncertain. Some dictionaries suggest a Germanic source; compare Low German fussig (“loose; spongy”), Dutch voos (“unsound; rotten”). Others, such as Webster’s New College Dictionary, suggest a back-formation from fuzzy. The Oxford English Dictionary suggests, “Perhaps imitative of the action of blowing away light particles.”
> Wiktionary
adolescent
adolescent
/ˌædəˈlesnt/
adjective
1 characteristic of or relating to the period of life between childhood and adulthood
…Her adolescent years were filled with emotional ups and downs.
…He displayed typical adolescent behavior.
2 in the process of developing from a child into an adult
…The adolescent brain undergoes significant changes.
…She counsels adolescent patients at the clinic.
noun
a young person who is developing from a child into an adult; a young person, usually between the ages of 12 and 18, who is developing into an adult
…The program is designed specifically for adolescents.
…Many adolescents struggle with peer pressure.
adolescence /ˌædəˈlesəns/ noun
the time, usually between the ages of 12 and 18, when a young person is developing into an adult
> late Middle English (as a noun): via French from Latin adolescent- ‘coming to maturity’, from adolescere, from ad- ‘to’ + alescere ‘grow, grow up’, from alere ‘nourish’. The adjective dates from the late 18th century.
> al- (2): Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to grow, nourish.”
It forms all or part of: abolish; adolescent; adult; alderman; aliment; alimony; Alma; alma mater; alt (2) “high tone;” alti-; altimeter; altitude; alto; alumnus; auld; coalesce; elder (adj., n.1); eldest; Eldred; enhance; exalt; haught; haughty; hautboy; hawser; oboe; old; proletarian; proliferation; prolific; world.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Etymonline
pewter
/ˈpjutər/
(n.) a grey alloy made primarily of tin with varying amounts of antimony, copper, and lead
(adj.) of the color of pewter; a dull grey color
The antique shop displayed a collection of pewter tankards and plates from the colonial era.
jiggle
jiggle
/ˈdʒɪɡəl/
verb
1 to move up and down or side to side with short, quick movements
…She jiggled the handle to open the stuck door.
…The child jiggled in his seat with excitement.
2 to cause something to move with quick, small shakes
…He jiggled his keys in his pocket nervously.
…The earthquake jiggled the dishes in the cabinet.
noun
1 a quick, jerky movement or motion
…Give the rope a little jiggle to get the kite moving.
…She felt a jiggle in the steering wheel.
2 a slight irregular movement or bounce
…The jiggle in the washing machine indicated an unbalanced load.
…There was an unusual jiggle in the car’s suspension.
courtly
/ˈkɔːrtli/
The word courtly has nothing to do with a basketball court or court of law. Rather, courtly things relate to royal courts: they’re sophisticated and grand.
Think about the pomp that surrounds a royal wedding in England, and you’ll get a sense of the lavish, expensive, regal nature of courtly things. Nothing courtly is common, cheap, or average. Since kings like the finer things in life, courtly things are similarly extravagant and impressive.
(adj.) polite, refined, and elegant in a formal or old-fashioned manner
The elderly gentleman maintained his courtly manners, bowing slightly as he greeted the ladies at the formal reception.
> Vocabulary.com
flabby
flabby
/ˈflæbi/
adjective
1 soft, loose, and lacking firmness, especially in muscles or skin: SOFT, LOOSE, FLACCID, unfirm, yielding, slack, lax, out of tone, drooping, droopy, sagging, saggy, pendulous, limp
…His arms were flabby from lack of exercise
…She started working out to tone her flabby stomach.
2 weak and ineffective; used to describe something that is weak or not effective : FEEBLE
…intellectually flabby arguments
…The band’s performance was tired and flabby.
…The team’s flabby defense led to their defeat.
…His argument was flabby and unconvincing.
> From a variant of flappy, from flap (“to hang loose”). Compare English dialectal flapsy (“flabby”), Middle Dutch flabbe (“a slap in the face; a fan-blade; a hair ribbon; a wagging tongue”), Middle Low German flabbe (“a gaping mouth; a chatterbox”), Danish flab (“the jaw; cheeks; a malapert”), Swedish flabb, fläff (“the hanging underlip of an animal; guffaw; driveller”), German Flabbe (“a gob; muzzle”).
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Wiktionary
flap
/flæp/
verb
1 to move up and down or back and forth quickly and loosely
…The bird flapped its wings before taking off.
…The flag flapped in the strong wind.
2 to wave or swing wildly
…She flapped her arms to get their attention.
…The fish flapped on the deck, struggling to escape.
3 to become agitated or panic
…Don’t flap—stay calm and think clearly.
…He flapped when he realized he was late for the meeting.
noun
1 a flat, thin, and flexible part of something that hangs or moves freely
…The envelope had a torn flap.
…She lifted the flap of the tent to look outside.
2 the motion or sound of something moving back and forth
…The flap of the bird’s wings was loud in the still air.
…I heard the flap of curtains in the breeze.
3 a state of agitation or panic
…She got into a flap over the missing keys.
…There was a flap in the office about the deadline change.
long-winded
long-winded
/ˌlɔːŋˈwɪndɪd/
adjective
1 continuing to talk for too long or using too many words in a way that is boring
…His long-winded speech bored the audience.
…She gave a long-winded explanation instead of getting to the point.
2 if a way of doing something is long-winded, it is very complicated
…The whole process is incredibly long-winded.
> also longwinded, 1580s, “given to lengthy speeches,” from long (adj.) + adjective from wind (n.1) in the secondary Middle English sense “breath in speaking” (early 14c.). “Using much breath,” hence “tedious from length.”
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Etymonline
rapt
/ræpt/
To be rapt is to be carried away, caught up, or otherwise engrossed in something. If a performer is really good or particularly mesmerizing, the audience will be totally rapt.
(adj.) completely fascinated or absorbed by something
- The children listened with rapt attention as the storyteller spun his tale.
- She sat with a rapt expression reading her book.
> late 14c., “carried away in an ecstatic trance,” from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere “seize, carry off.” A figurative sense, the notion is of being “carried up into Heaven” (bodily or in a dream), as in a saint’s vision. The Latin literal sense of “carried away” also was in English from 1550s.
> Rapt developed from the Latin raptus, meaning to “seize, carry off.” So imagine something so interesting that it seizes your attention and carries you off to another world. In fact, rapt is related to the word rapture, which is an experience of extreme, other-worldly happiness. So do your teacher a favor and give her your rapt attention during math class.
> Cambridge Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Etymonline
glassy
glassy
/ˈglæsi/
adjective
If your eyes are glassy, they’re lifeless, glazed and emotionless. A stuffed teddy bear has glassy eyes, and so does an overtired toddler.
You might spend a glassy-eyed hour every morning before you’ve completely woken up and are ready to start your day. You can also describe shiny, glossy substances as glassy: “The glassy surface of the ice-covered sidewalk made her walk with tiny, careful steps.” Glassy comes from the Old English glæs, “glass,” and its Proto-Indo-European root ghel-, “to shine.”
1 resembling glass in smoothness, transparency, or brittleness
…The lake’s glassy surface reflected the mountains perfectly.
…The ice created a glassy coating on the road.
2 (of eyes) having a fixed, vacant, or unfocused look
…Her glassy eyes showed she was running a fever.
…He had a glassy stare after working for 12 hours straight.
3 lacking emotion or expressiveness
…The patient maintained a glassy expression throughout the examination.
…His glassy smile didn’t reach his eyes.
> Vocabulary.com
be put out
feel/be put out
to feel upset or offended
…We were a little put out at not being invited to the wedding.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
sustenance
sustenance
/ˈsʌstənəns/
noun
1 food or drink regarded as a source of nourishment
…The hikers packed enough sustenance for three days.
…The poor family barely had enough sustenance to survive.
2 the maintaining of life, health, and strength; nourishment
…The community garden provided sustenance for many families.
…Her art gives her spiritual sustenance.
3 means of supporting life; livelihood
…The farm provided sustenance for generations of the family.
…Many relied on fishing for their sustenance.
USAGE CONTEXTS:
- physical sustenance (food and drink)
- emotional sustenance (support and comfort)
- spiritual sustenance (religious or philosophical support)
- The church provided both spiritual and physical sustenance to the homeless.
> c. 1300, sustenaunce, “that which is essential to sustain life; food, victuals, provisions,” also “means of living, income, wealth,” from Anglo-French sustenance, sustenaunce, Old French sostenance “support, aid” (Modern French soutenance), from Late Latin sustinentia “endurance,” abstract noun from present-participle stem of Latin sustinere “to hold up” (see sustain).
> The meaning “action of sustaining life by food” is from late 14c. as is that of “maintenance, care, or support of someone.” Also from late 14c. as “physical support from below.”
> Etymonline
voluble
vol‧u‧ble
/ˈvɒljʊbəl/
adjective
Voluble describes someone who talks a lot, like your aunt who can’t stop telling you to cut your hair or a political candidate who makes twenty speeches on the day before the election.
Have you ever found it especially hard to interrupt someone who talks a lot when he or she gets on a roll? If so, it won’t surprise you that the adjective voluble traces back to the Latin word volvere, meaning “to roll.” The word voluble describes talking continuously, fluently, at great length, in a steady flow. You’ll know it when you meet voluble talkers: they just keep rolling on and on.
1 speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently: TALKATIVE, loquacious, garrulous, verbose, long-winded, wordy, chatty, chattery, gossipy, chattering, babbling, blathering, prattling, jabbering, effusive, gushing, forthcoming; articulate, eloquent, fluent, glib, silver-tongued; informal mouthy, gabby, gassy, windy, talky, yakking, big-mouthed, with the gift of the gab, having kissed the Blarney Stone; British informal wittering, able to talk the hind legs off a donkey, gobby
…The voluble hostess chatted with every guest at the party.
…He became quite voluble after a few drinks.
2 characterized by ready or rapid speech
…Her voluble explanation made it hard to follow the main points.
…The witness gave a voluble account of what happened that night.
> From Middle French volubile, from Latin volūbilis (“rolling”), from volvō (“roll”).
> Vocabulary.com, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Wiktionary
involuntarily
involuntarily
/ˌɪnˈvɑːlənˌterɪli/
adverb
When you do something involuntarily, you do it despite not wanting to. You might involuntarily start to giggle during your cousin’s Star Wars-themed wedding ceremony.
Use the adverb involuntarily to describe things that are done against your will or without your control. You’ll involuntarily take a swim if your brother pushes you in the deep end of a pool; when you have a twitch in your eye, you blink involuntarily. In either case, the word involuntarily combines the Latin prefix in, “not or opposite of” with voluntarius, “of one’s free will.”
1 in a way that is done unintentionally or without conscious control
…Arthur shivered involuntarily as he came out of the building.
…His hand twitched involuntarily.
2 against one’s will or without choice
…He was involuntarily drafted into the army.
…The company involuntarily laid off several employees due to budget cuts.
> Cambridge Dictionary, Vocabulary.com
incant
/ɪnˈkænt/
(v.) to chant or recite words, often in a ritualistic or magical manner
The sorcerer began to incant an ancient spell to summon the spirits.
> mid 16th century (in the sense ‘use enchantment on’): from Latin incantare ‘to chant, charm’, from in- (expressing intensive force) + cantare ‘sing’. The current sense dates from the mid 20th century.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
blinkered
blink‧ered
/ˈblɪŋkəd $ -ərd/
1 having a limited view of a subject, or refusing to accept or consider different ideas; A blinkered view, attitude, or approach is narrow and does not take into account other people’s opinions. A blinkered person has this kind of attitude: NARROW-MINDED, limited, restricted, inward-looking, conventional, parochial, provincial, insular, small-town, localist, small-minded, petty-minded, petty, close-minded, short-sighted, myopic, hidebound, dyed-in-the-wool, diehard, set, set in one’s ways, inflexible, dogmatic, rigid; British parish-pump, blimpish; North American informal jerkwater
…He seems to be so blinkered that he cannot see what is happening around him.
2 a horse that is blinkered is wearing blinkers
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus
perk up
perk up
1 to become more cheerful, active, and interested in what is happening around you, or to make someone feel this way
…She perked up when she heard the good news.
perk sb ↔ up
…There’s no doubt coffee perks you up.
2 to become more active, more interesting, more attractive etc, or to make something do this
perk sth ↔ up
…A little chili will perk up the sauce.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
shook
shook
/ʃʊk/
verb
past of shake.
adjective
emotionally or physically shaken; deeply affected by shock or surprise
…He was completely shook after witnessing the unexpected turn of events.
→ shook up
INFORMAL
emotionally or physically disturbed; upset
…She looks pretty shook up from the letter.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
