Unit 12.2 Flashcards
significant
important or noticeable:
There has been a significant increase in the number of women students in recent years.
in depth
in a serious and detailed way:
I’d like to look at this question in some depth.
closure
the fact of a business, organization, etc. stopping operating:
factory/branch closures
Many elderly people will be affected by the library closures.
yield
to supply or produce something positive such as a profit, an amount of food or information:
an attempt to yield increased profits
The investigation yielded some unexpected results.
to bend or break under pressure:
His legs began to yield under the sheer weight of his body.
yield to sth
to agree to do something that you do not want to do or should not do:
It’s very easy to yield to temptation and spend too much money.
“We will not yield to pressure,” said the president.
throughout
in every part, or during the whole period of time:
People throughout the country are out of work.
frost
a weather condition in which the air temperature falls below the freezing point of water, especially outside at night:
There was a frost last night.
brink
the point where a new or different situation is about to begin:
Extreme stress had driven him to the brink of a nervous breakdown.
Scientists are on the brink of (= extremely close to) a major new discovery.
break in/into
to get into a building or car using force, usually to steal something:
The burglars broke in through the kitchen window.
unpleasant
rude and angry:
When we complained, the waiter got very unpleasant with us.
lengthy
continuing for a long time:
a lengthy discussion/process
Many airline passengers face lengthy delays because of the strike.
as yet
until and including this time:
We haven’t needed extra staff as yet, but we may in the future.
No ambulances had as yet managed to get across the river.
restructuring
the act of organizing a company, business, or system in a new way to make it operate more effectively:
The company underwent restructuring and 1,500 workers lost their jobs.
She announced a restructuring of management last week.
thorough
detailed and careful:
a thorough revision of the manuscript
They did a thorough search of the area but found nothing.
remind
to make someone think of something they have forgotten or might have forgotten:
Could you remind Paul about dinner on Saturday?
be duty bound to do sth
to have to do something because it is your duty:
We are duty bound to justify how we spend our funds.
duty
something that you have to do because it is part of your job, or something that you feel is the right thing to do:
The duty of the agency is to act in the best interests of the child.
I felt it was my duty to tell them the truth.
You have a duty to yourself to take a break once in a while.
irritate
to make someone angry or annoyed:
After a while her behaviour really began to irritate me.
precautionary
intended to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous from happening:
The company has withdrawn the drug as a precautionary measure.
basis
the most important facts, ideas, etc. from which something is developed:
This document will form the basis for our discussion.
the sound of sth
how something seems to be, from what is said or written:
I like the sound of the beef in red wine sauce.
By/From the sound of it I don’t think it was her fault.
I’m going to be talking to over 90 people? I don’t like the sound of that!
sound
not broken or damaged; healthy; in good condition:
It’s an old building but it’s still structurally sound.
Considering his age, his body is surprisingly sound.
assess
to judge or decide the amount, value, quality, or importance of something:
The insurers will need to assess the flood damage.
They assessed the cost of the flood damage at £2,500.
Exams are not the only means of assessing a student’s ability.
approach
to deal with something:
I’m not sure how to approach the problem.
growth
an increase in the size or the importance of something:
The government is trying to limit population growth.
The rapid growth of opposition to the plan has surprised the mayor.
address
to speak or write to someone:
He addressed a few introductory remarks to the audience.
He likes to be addressed as “Sir” or “Mr Partridge”.
to give attention to or deal with a matter or problem:
The issue of funding has yet to be addressed.
unintentionally
in a way that is not intentional:
I was either intentionally or unintentionally excluded from a lot of the decisions that were made.
The newspaper printed information that was unintentionally misleading.
adverse
having a negative or harmful effect on something:
The match has been cancelled because of adverse weather conditions.
They received a lot of adverse publicity/criticism about the changes.
notion
a belief or idea:
The show’s director rejects the notion that seeing violence on television has a harmful effect on children.
I have only a vague notion of what she does for a living.
optimistic
hoping or believing that good things will happen in the future:
She is optimistic about her chances of winning a gold medal.
in all likelihood
almost certainly:
In all likelihood everything will go to plan.
likelihood
the chance that something will happen:
This latest dispute greatly increases the likelihood of a strike.
There is every likelihood that more jobs will be lost later this year.
leading
very important or most important:
a leading expert on the country’s ecology
the world’s leading manufacturer of audio equipment
uncertainty
a situation in which something is not known, or something that is not known or certain:
Nothing is ever decided, and all the uncertainty is very bad for staff morale.
Life is full of uncertainties.
claim
to say that something is true or is a fact, although you cannot prove it and other people might not believe it:
The company claims (that) it is not responsible for the pollution in the river.
He claims to have met the president, but I don’t believe him.
All parties have claimed success in yesterday’s elections.
