Training Flashcards
sanitize
1- to remove particular details from a report, story etc in order to make it less offensive, unpleasant, or embarrassing – used especially to show disapproval
the sanitized version of events which was reported in the government-controlled media
2- to clean something thoroughly, removing dirt and bacteria
ˈsænətaɪz
vulnerable
1- someone who is vulnerable can be easily harmed or hurt OPP invulnerable
He took advantage of me when I was at my most vulnerable.
We work mainly with the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
be vulnerable to something
Children are most vulnerable to abuse within their own home.
2 - a place, thing, or idea that is vulnerable is easy to attack or criticize OPP invulnerable
vulnerable to
The fort was vulnerable to attack from the north.
Their theories were badly thought out and very vulnerable to ridicule.
ˈvʌlnərəbəl
metaphor
1 - a way of describing something by referring to it as something different and suggesting that it has similar qualities to that thing → simile
She uses some wonderful images and metaphors in her writing.
a very creative use of metaphor
2 → mixed metaphor
3 - something that represents a general idea or quality
metaphor for
Their relationship is a metaphor for the failure of communication in the modern world.
ˈmetəfə, -fɔː $ -fɔːr
appeal
1 - REQUEST [countable] an urgent request for something important
appeal for
The police have issued a new appeal for information.
appeal to
All the organizations involved have sent urgent appeals to the government, asking for extra funding.
The girl’s family have made a public appeal for help to try and catch her killer.
appeal to somebody to do something
an appeal to the army to not use too much force
2 - REQUEST FOR MONEY [countable] an attempt to persuade people to give money in order to help people who need something
The appeal has nearly reached its target of £100,000.
3 - REQUEST TO CHANGE DECISION [countable, uncountable] a formal request to a court or to someone in authority asking for a decision to be changed
appeal to
an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights
on appeal
The sentence was reduced to three years on appeal.
4 - BEING ATTRACTIVE [uncountable] a quality that makes people like something or someone
What is the particular appeal of this island?
The programme has a very wide appeal.
appeal for
The film has great appeal for young audiences.
She’s definitely got sex appeal (=she is sexually attractive).
əˈpiːl
urgent
1 - very important and needing to be dealt with immediately
He was in urgent need of medical attention.
The report called for urgent action to reduce lead in petrol.
an urgent message
2 - formal done or said in a way that shows that you want something to be dealt with immediately
an urgent whisper
ˈɜːdʒənt $ ˈɜːr-
obvoius
1 - easy to notice or understand
The obvious way of reducing pollution is to use cars less.
it is obvious (that)
It was obvious that Gina was lying.
obvious to
It might be obvious to you, but it isn’t to me.
2 - behaving in a way that shows you want something very badly, when other people think this behaviour is not suitable
I know you really like him, but you don’t have to be so obvious about it.
3 → the/an obvious choice
4 → the obvious thing (to do)
5 → state the obvious
ˈɒbviəs $ ˈɑːb-
dominate
1 - [intransitive, transitive] to control someone or something or to have more importance than other people or things
The industry is dominated by five multinational companies.
New Orleans dominated throughout the game.
Her loud voice totally dominated the conversation.
Education issues dominated the election campaign.
2 - [transitive] to be larger and more noticeable than anything else in a place
The cathedral dominates the city.
—dominating adjective
his dominating characteristic
/ˈdɒməneɪt $ ˈdɑː-/
gross
1 - TOTAL [only before noun]
a) a gross sum of money is the total amount before any tax or costs have been taken away → net
a gross profit of $5 million
gross income/salary/pay etc
a family with gross earnings of just £75 per week
b) a gross weight is the total weight of something, including its wrapping
2 - VERY BAD [only before noun] clearly wrong and unacceptable
gross negligence/misconduct etc
soldiers accused of gross violations of human rights
The company described reports of environmental disaster as gross exaggeration.
gross indecency (=the crime of doing something that is sexually offensive)
3 - NASTY spoken very unpleasant to look at or think about SYN disgusting
Ooh, gross! I hate spinach!
4 - FAT informal extremely fat and unattractive
—grossly adverb [+adj/adverb]
Lambert was grossly overweight.
Medical records were found to be grossly inadequate.
—grossness noun [uncountable]
/ɡrəʊs $ ɡroʊs/
defy
1 - to refuse to obey a law or rule, or refuse to do what someone in authority tells you to do → defiance
people who openly defy the law
2 → defy description/analysis/belief etc
3 → defy logic/the odds etc
4 → I defy somebody to do something
obey
to do what someone in authority tells you to do, or what a law or rule says you must do OPP disobey
The little boy made no effort to obey.
‘Sit!’ he said, and the dog obeyed him instantly.
obey an order/command
Soldiers are expected to obey orders without questioning them.
obey the law/rules
Failure to obey the law can lead to a large fine.
► Don’t say ‘obey to someone/something’. Say obey someone/something: He refused to obey their orders (NOT obey to their orders).
/əʊˈbeɪ, ə- $ oʊ-, ə-/
arch
1 - a structure with a curved top and straight sides that supports the weight of a bridge or building
2 - a curved structure above a door, window etc
3 - a curved structure of bones in the middle of your foot
4 - something with a curved top and straight sides
/ɑːtʃ $ ɑːrtʃ/
sprawl
1 - to lie or sit with your arms or legs stretched out in a lazy or careless way
He sprawled out on the sofa.
I tripped on a stone and went sprawling on the pavement.
a blow which sent him sprawling
2 - if buildings sprawl, they spread out over a wide area in an untidy and unattractive way
The town seemed to sprawl for miles.
/sprɔːl $ sprɒːl/
magnificent
very good or beautiful, and very impressive
a magnificent performance
The twelve-mile coastline has magnificent scenery.
She looked magnificent in a long red dress.
—magnificently adverb
—magnificence noun [uncountable]
/mæɡˈnɪfəsənt/
mundane
1 - ordinary and not interesting or exciting SYN boring
Initially, the work was pretty mundane.
The mundane task of setting the table can be fun on holidays.
2 - literary concerned with ordinary daily life rather than religious matters SYN worldly
- Examples from the Corpus
mundane
* Most of the law cases he deals with are pretty mundane.
* As narrow and mundane as the questions may sound, they ultimately form the basis for modern society.
* My initial job was pretty mundane, but later I was given more responsibility.
* Shepard ranges from monumental issues to mundane daily operations.
* The play is about the mundane existence of factory workers.
* Catherine required the daily challenge of mundane improvisation.
* The mundane task of setting the table can be fun at holidays.
* Even such mundane tasks as eating or drinking have found a place in some ballets.
* He seemed unable to distinguish the exceptional from the mundane, the historic from the pedestrian.
* Shrugging off her bag, she forced her mind on to more mundane things.
* Honeysett’s cartoons reflect the mundane uses that an ill-educated public might put new technology to.
/mʌnˈdeɪn/
fractal
a pattern, usually produced by a computer, that is made by repeating the same shape many times in smaller and smaller sizes
Origin fractal (1900-2000) French Latin fractus; → FRACTION
/ˈfræktəl/
