Unit 10 Flashcards
back
Noun 1 the rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips. he lay on his back Adverb 1 toward the rear; in the opposite direction from the one that one is facing or traveling. she moved back a pace Verb 1 give financial, material, or moral support to. he had a newspaper empire backing him
Adjective
1
of or at the back of something.
the back garden
clamp
Noun
1
a brace, band, or clasp used for strengthening or holding things together.
Verb
1
fasten (something) in place with a clamp.
the sander is clamped onto the edge of a workbench
critical
Adjective
1
expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments.
he was critical of many U.S. welfare programs
2
expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art.
she never won the critical acclaim she sought
3
(of a situation or problem) having the potential to become disastrous; at a point of crisis.
the flood waters had not receded, and the situation was still critical
current
Adjective
1
belonging to the present time; happening or being used or done now.
keep abreast of current events
Noun
1
a body of water or air moving in a definite direction, especially through a surrounding body of water or air in which there is less movement.
ocean currents
derive
Verb
1
obtain something from (a specified source).
they derived great comfort from this assurance
device
Noun
1
a thing made or adapted for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment.
a measuring device
2
a plan, method, or trick with a particular aim.
writing a public letter is a traditional device for signaling dissent
entrepreneur
Noun
1
a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.
many entrepreneurs see potential in this market
file
Noun
1
a folder or box for holding loose papers that are typically arranged in a particular order for easy reference.
a file of correspondence
2
a line of people or things one behind another.
Plains Cree warriors riding in file down the slopes
Verb
1
place (a document) in a cabinet, box, or folder in a particular order for preservation and easy reference.
the contract, when signed, is filed
infringement
Noun
1
the action of breaking the terms of a law, agreement, etc.; violation.
copyright infringement
2
the action of limiting or undermining something.
the infringement of the right to privacy
inspiration
Noun
1
the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
Helen had one of her flashes of inspiration
2
a sudden brilliant, creative, or timely idea.
then I had an inspiration
3
the drawing in of breath; inhalation.
crackling sounds are heard in the stethoscope on inspiration
invalid
Noun
1
a person made weak or disabled by illness or injury.
an invalid husband
Verb
1
remove (someone) from active service in the armed forces because of injury or illness.
he was badly wounded and invalided out of the infantry
Adjective
1
(of an official document or procedure) not legally recognized and therefore void because contravening a regulation or law.
the will was declared invalid and the children were entitled to the estate
inventor
Noun
1
a person who invented a particular process or device or who invents things as an occupation.
investor
Noun
1
a person or organization that puts money into financial plans, property, etc. with the expectation of achieving a profit.
foreign investors in the British commercial property sector
patent
Noun
1
a government authority or license conferring a right or title for a set period, especially the sole right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention.
he took out a patent for an improved steam hammer
Adjective
1
easily recognizable; obvious.
she was smiling with patent insincerity
Verb
1
obtain a patent for (an invention).
an invention is not your own until it is patented
ransack
Verb
1
go hurriedly through (a place) stealing things and causing damage.
burglars ransacked her home
refinement
Noun
1
the process of removing impurities or unwanted elements from a substance.
the refinement of uranium
ruling
Noun
1
an authoritative decision or pronouncement, especially one made by a judge.
the ruling was reversed in the appeal court
Adjective
1
currently exercising authority or influence.
the ruling coalition
specifically
Adverb
1
in a way that is exact and clear; precisely.
a workman called at the time I specifically stated I would not be in
suitable
Adjective
1
right or appropriate for a particular person, purpose, or situation.
these toys are not suitable for children under five
unveil
Verb
1
remove a veil or covering from, in particular uncover (a new monument or work of art) as part of a public ceremony.
the mayor unveiled a plaque
aviation
1
the flying or operating of aircraft.
two events launched the history of modern aviation
blade
Noun
1
the flat cutting edge of a knife, saw, or other tool or weapon.
cut cleanly using a sharp blade
2
the flat, wide section of an implement or device such as an oar or a propeller.
3
a shoulder bone in a cut of meat, or the cut of meat itse
coarse
Adjective 1 rough or loose in texture or grain. a coarse woolen cloth 2 (of a person or their speech) rude, crude, or vulgar. a man of coarse speech
confer
Verb
1
grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right).
moves were made to confer an honorary degree on her
2
have discussions; exchange opinions.
the officials were conferring with allies
cruise
Verb
1
sail about in an area without a precise destination, especially for pleasure.
they were cruising off the California coast
2
(of a motor vehicle or aircraft) travel smoothly at a moderate or economical speed.
we sit in a jet, cruising at some 30,000 ft
Noun
1
a voyage on a ship or boat taken for pleasure or as a vacation and usually calling in at several places.
a cruise down the Nile
curiosity
Noun
1
a strong desire to know or learn something.
filled with curiosity, she peered through the window
2
a strange or unusual object or fact.
he showed them some of the curiosities of the house
design
Noun
1
a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is built or made.
he has just unveiled his design for the new museum
2
an arrangement of lines or shapes created to form a pattern or decoration.
pottery with a lovely blue and white design
Verb
1
decide upon the look and functioning of (a building, garment, or other object), by making a detailed drawing of it.
a number of architectural students were designing a factory
enthusiast
Noun
1
a person who is very interested in a particular activity or subject.
a sports car enthusiast
handle
Verb
1
feel or manipulate with the hands.
heavy paving slabs can be difficult to handle
2
manage (a situation or problem).
a lawyer’s ability to handle a case properly
Noun
1
the part by which a thing is held, carried, or controlled.
the pan features helpful lifting handles
inflexibility
Noun 1 unwillingness to change or compromise. he had a reputation for arrogance and inflexibility 2 inability to be bent; stiffness. the inflexibility of the metal
isolation
Noun
1
the process or fact of isolating or being isolated.
the isolation of older people
pitch
Noun
1
the quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the degree of highness or lowness of a tone.
a car engine seems to change pitch downward as the vehicle passes you
2
the steepness of a slope, especially of a roof.
3
the level of intensity of something.
he brought the machine to a high pitch of development
prolonged
Adjective
1
continuing for a long time or longer than usual; lengthy.
the region suffered a prolonged drought
propeller
Noun
1
a mechanical device for propelling a boat or aircraft, consisting of a revolving shaft with two or more broad, angled blades attached to it.
reliably
Adverb
1
in a consistently good or accurate way.
few of these paintings can be reliably dated
revolutionize
Verb
1
change (something) radically or fundamentally.
this fabulous new theory will revolutionize the whole of science
rotation
Noun
1
the action of rotating around an axis or center.
the moon moves in the same direction as the earth’s rotation
sustained
Adjective
1
continuing for an extended period or without interruption.
several years of sustained economic growth
Turbulence
Noun
1
violent or unsteady movement of air or water, or of some other fluid.
the plane shuddered as it entered some turbulence
variable
Adjective
1
not consistent or having a fixed pattern; liable to change.
the quality of hospital food is highly variable
2
able to be changed or adapted.
the drill has variable speed
Noun
1
an element, feature, or factor that is liable to vary or change.
there are too many variables involved to make any meaningful predictions
cable
Noun
1
a thick rope of wire or nonmetallic fiber, typically used for construction, mooring ships, and towing vehicles.
steel cables held the convoy together
Verb
1
contact or send a message to (someone) by cablegram.
he cabled her to cancel all arrangements
catastrophic
Adjective
1
involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.
a catastrophic earthquake
compensate
Verb
1
give (someone) something, typically money, in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury incurred; recompense.
payments were made to farmers to compensate them for cuts in subsidies
2
reduce or counteract (something unwelcome or unpleasant) by exerting an opposite force or effect.
the manager is hoping for victory to compensate for the team’s dismal league campaign
compensate
Verb
1
give (someone) something, typically money, in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury incurred; recompense.
payments were made to farmers to compensate them for cuts in subsidies
2
reduce or counteract (something unwelcome or unpleasant) by exerting an opposite force or effect.
the manager is hoping for victory to compensate for the team’s dismal league campaign
disparate
Adjective
1
essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison.
they inhabit disparate worlds of thought
flaw
Noun
1
a mark, fault, or other imperfection that mars a substance or object.
plates with flaws in them were sold at the outlet store
Verb
1
(of an imperfection) mar, weaken, or invalidate (something).
the computer game was flawed by poor programming
indispensable
Adjective
1
absolutely necessary.
he made himself indispensable to the parish priest
inexplicably
Adverb
1
in a way that cannot be explained or accounted for.
many crucial documents had inexplicably disappeared
inquiry
Noun
1
an act of asking for information.
a reporter from New York makes inquiries
insulation
Noun
1
the action of insulating something.
keep your home warmer through insulation
perseverance
Noun
1
persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
his perseverance with the technique illustrates his single-mindedness
rally
Verb
1
(of troops) come together again in order to continue fighting after a defeat or dispersion.
De Montfort’s troops rallied and drove back the king’s infantry
2
recover or cause to recover in health, spirits, or poise.
she floundered for a moment, then rallied again
Noun
1
a mass meeting of people making a political protest or showing support for a cause.
a rally attended by around 100,000 people
requisite
Adjective
1
made necessary by particular circumstances or regulations.
the application will not be processed until the requisite fee is paid
Noun
1
a thing that is necessary for the achievement of a specified end.
she believed privacy to be a requisite for a peaceful life
set out
transitive verb
1a : to arrange and present graphically or systematically
b : to mark out (something, such as a design) : lay out the plan of
: to state, describe, or recite at length
distributed copies of a pamphlet setting out his ideas in full
— S. F. Mason
3 : to begin with a definite purpose : INTEND, UNDERTAKE
snap
Verb
1
break or cause to break suddenly and completely, typically with a sharp cracking sound.
guitar strings kept snapping
Noun
1
a sudden, sharp cracking sound or movement.
she closed her purse with a snap
Adjective
1
done or taken on the spur of the moment, unexpectedly, or without notice.
a snap judgment
tow
Verb
1
(of a motor vehicle or boat) pull (another vehicle or boat) along with a rope, chain, or tow bar.
a pickup van towing a trailer
Noun
1
an act of towing a vehicle or boat.
the cruiser got a tow from a warship after its engine failed
transmit
Verb
1
cause (something) to pass on from one place or person to another.
knowledge is transmitted from teacher to student
triumph
Noun
1
a great victory or achievement.
a garden built to celebrate Napoleon’s many triumphs
Verb
1
achieve a victory; be successful.
spectacle has once again triumphed over content
utterly
Adverb
1
completely and without qualification; absolutely.
he looked utterly ridiculous
vilified
Verb
1
speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.
he has been vilified in the press
