Unit 5 Flashcards
abroad
Adverb
1
in or to a foreign country or countries.
we usually go abroad for a week in May
2
in different directions; over a wide area.
millions of seeds are annually scattered abroad
Noun
1
foreign countries considered collectively.
servicemen returning from abroad
administer
Verb
1
manage and be responsible for the running of (a business, organization, etc.).
each school was administered separately
2
dispense or apply (a remedy or drug).
paramedic crews are capable of administering drugs
3
give help or service.
we must selflessly administer to his needs
bulk
Noun
1
the mass or magnitude of something large.
the sheer bulk of the bags
Verb
1
be or seem to be of great size or importance.
territorial questions bulked large in diplomatic relations
2
treat (a product) so that its quantity appears greater than it in fact is.
traders were bulking up their flour with chalk
complex
Adjective
1
consisting of many different and connected parts.
a complex network of water channels
Noun
1
a group of similar buildings or facilities on the same site.
a new apartment complex
cripple
Verb
1
cause severe and disabling damage to; deprive of the ability to function normally.
developing countries are crippled by their debts
2
cause (someone) to become unable to walk or move normally.
a young student was crippled for life
decade
1
a period of ten years.
he taught at the university for nearly a decade
2
each of the five divisions of each chapter of the rosary.
a local priest led the mourners in a decade of the rosary
decline
Verb
1
(typically of something regarded as good) become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease.
the birth rate continued to decline
2
politely refuse (an invitation or offer).
Caroline declined the coffee
Noun
1
a gradual and continuous loss of strength, numbers, quality, or value.
a serious decline in bird numbers
epidemic
Noun
1
a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
a flu epidemic
Adjective
1
of the nature of an epidemic.
epidemic diseases
estimate
Verb
1
roughly calculate or judge the value, number, quantity, or extent of.
the aim is to estimate the effects of macroeconomic policy on the economy
Noun
1
an approximate calculation or judgment of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something.
at a rough estimate, our staff is recycling a quarter of the paper used
lure
Verb
1
tempt (a person or animal) to do something or to go somewhere, especially by offering some form of reward.
the child was lured into a car but managed to escape
Noun
1
something that tempts or is used to tempt a person or animal to do something.
the film industry always has been a glamorous lure for young girls
primary
Adjective
1
of chief importance; principal.
qualified
Adjective
1
officially recognized as being trained to perform a particular job; certified.
newly qualified nurses
2
not complete or absolute; limited.
I could only judge this CD a qualified success
rampant
Adjective
1
(especially of something unwelcome or unpleasant) flourishing or spreading unchecked.
political violence was rampant
retain
Verb
1
continue to have (something); keep possession of.
built in 1830, the house retains many of its original features
2
absorb and continue to hold (a substance).
limestone is known to retain water
3
keep (something) in place; hold fixed.
the successful design of a cartridge belt requires that the cartridges in it be properly located and retained in that position
4
keep (someone) engaged in one’s service.
he has been retained as a freelance
rudimentary
Adjective
1
involving or limited to basic principles.
he received a rudimentary education
shortage
Noun
1
a state or situation in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts.
a shortage of hard cash
standpoint
Noun
1
an attitude to or outlook on issues, typically arising from one’s circumstances or beliefs.
she writes on religion from the standpoint of a believer
stem
Noun
1
the main body or stalk of a plant or shrub, typically rising above ground but occasionally subterranean.
Verb
1
originate in or be caused by.
many of the universities’ problems stem from rapid expansion
supply
Verb
1
make (something needed or wanted) available to someone; provide.
the farm supplies apples to cider makers
Noun
1
a stock of a resource from which a person or place can be provided with the necessary amount of that resource.
there were fears that the drought would limit the exhibition’s water supply
vacancy
Noun
1
an unoccupied position or job.
a vacancy for a shorthand typist
2
empty space.
Cathy stared into vacancy, seeing nothing
3
lack of intelligence or understanding.
vacancy, vanity, and inane deception
aerobic
Adjective
1
relating to, involving, or requiring free oxygen.
simple aerobic bacteria
capacity
Noun
1
the maximum amount that something can contain.
the capacity of the freezer is 1.1 cubic feet
2
the amount that something can produce.
the company aimed to double its electricity-generating capacity
3
a specified role or position.
I was engaged in a voluntary capacity
cognition
Noun
1
the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
concentration
Noun
1
the action or power of focusing one’s attention or mental effort.
frowning in concentration
2
a close gathering of people or things.
the largest concentration of Canada geese on earth
3
the relative amount of a given substance contained within a solution or in a particular volume of space; the amount of solute per unit volume of solution.
the gas can collect in dangerous concentrations
counteract
Verb
1
act against (something) in order to reduce its force or neutralize it.
should we deliberately intervene in the climate system to counteract global warming?
dementia
MEDICINE
Noun
1
a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.
deterioration
Noun
1
the process of becoming progressively worse.
a deterioration in the condition of the patient
diagnose
Verb
1
identify the nature of (an illness or other problem) by examination of the symptoms.
doctors diagnosed a rare and fatal liver disease
disorder
Noun
1
a state of confusion.
tiresome days of mess and disorder
Verb
1
disrupt the systematic functioning or neat arrangement of.
they are disordering the political landscape
gravity
Noun
1
PHYSICS
the force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth, or toward any other physical body having mass.
2
extreme or alarming importance; seriousness.
crimes of the utmost gravity
3
seriousness or solemnity of manner.
has the poet ever spoken with greater eloquence or gravity?
impaired
Adjective 1 weakened or damaged. an impaired banking system 2 having a disability of a specified kind. hearing-impaired children
indicate
Verb
1
point out; show.
dotted lines indicate the text’s margins
2
suggest as a desirable or necessary course of action.
the treatment is likely to be indicated in severely depressed patients
link
Noun
1
a relationship between two things or situations, especially where one thing affects the other.
investigating a link between pollution and forest decline
2
a ring or loop in a chain.
a chain made of steel links
Verb
1
make, form, or suggest a connection with or between.
rumors that linked his name with Judith
mood
Noun
1
a temporary state of mind or feeling.
he appeared to be in a very good mood about something
Adjective
1
(especially of music) inducing or suggestive of a particular feeling or state of mind.
mood music
previouslypreviously
Adverb
1
at a previous or earlier time; before.
museums and art galleries that had previously been open to the public
regulate
Verb
1
control or maintain the rate or speed of (a machine or process) so that it operates properly.
a hormone that regulates metabolism and organ function
rodent
Noun
1
a gnawing mammal of an order that includes rats, mice, squirrels, hamsters, porcupines, and their relatives, distinguished by strong constantly growing incisors and no canine teeth. They constitute the largest order of mammals.
spatial
Adjective
1
relating to or occupying space.
the spatial distribution of population
stave off
avert or delay something bad or dangerous.
“a reassuring presence can stave off a panic attack”
stimulate
Verb
1
raise levels of physiological or nervous activity in (the body or any biological system).
the women are given fertility drugs to stimulate their ovaries
absorb
Verb
1
take in or soak up (energy or a liquid or other substance) by chemical or physical action.
buildings can be designed to absorb and retain heat
2
take up the attention of (someone); interest greatly.
she sat in an armchair, absorbed in a book
alleviate
Verb
1
make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.
he couldn’t prevent her pain, only alleviate it
ascertain
Verb
1
find (something) out for certain; make sure of.
an attempt to ascertain the cause of the accident
chronic
Adjective
1
(of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
chronic bronchitis
combat
Noun
1
fighting between armed forces.
men killed in combat
Verb
1
take action to reduce or prevent (something bad or undesirable).
an effort to combat drug trafficking
culture
Noun
1
the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.
20th century popular culture
2
the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group.
Caribbean culture
deem
Verb
1
regard or consider in a specified way.
the event was deemed a great success
desirable
Adjective
1
wanted or wished for as being an attractive, useful, or necessary course of action.
it is desirable to exercise some social control over technology
Noun
1
a desirable person, thing, or quality.
the store sells various desirables
enhance
Verb
1
intensify, increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of.
his refusal does nothing to enhance his reputation
fraction
2
a small or tiny part, amount, or proportion of something.
he hesitated for a fraction of a second
interval
Noun 1 an intervening time or space. after his departure, there was an interval of many years without any meetings 2 a pause or break in activity. an interval of mourning 3 a space between two things; a gap.
investigation
Noun
1
the action of investigating something or someone; formal or systematic examination or research.
he is under investigation for receiving illicit funds
manufacture
Verb
1
make (something) on a large scale using machinery.
a company that manufactured paint-by-number sets
2
invent or fabricate (evidence or a story).
the tabloid industry that manufactures epochal discoveries out of thin air
Noun
1
the making of articles on a large scale using machinery.
the manufacture of armored vehicles
monitor
Noun
1
an instrument or device used for observing, checking, or keeping a continuous record of a process or quantity.
a heart monitor
2
a television receiver used in a studio to select or verify the picture being broadcast from a particular camera.
the playback can be displayed on an external television screen or monitor
Verb
1
observe and check the progress or quality of (something) over a period of time; keep under systematic review.
equipment was installed to monitor air quality
outcome
Noun
1
the way a thing turns out; a consequence.
it is the outcome of the vote that counts
recur
Verb
1
occur again periodically or repeatedly.
when the symptoms recurred, the doctor diagnosed something different
substance
Noun
1
a particular kind of matter with uniform properties.
a steel tube coated with a waxy substance
2
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists and which has a tangible, solid presence.
proteins compose much of the actual substance of the body
3
the quality of being important, valid, or significant.
he had yet to accomplish anything of substance
target
Noun
1
a person, object, or place selected as the aim of an attack.
the airport terminal was the target of a bomb
Verb
1
select as an object of attention or attack.
two men were targeted by the attackers
theoretical
Adjective
1
concerned with or involving the theory of a subject or area of study rather than its practical application.
a theoretical physicist
toxic
Adjective
1
poisonous.
the dumping of toxic waste
2
very harmful or unpleasant in a pervasive or insidious way.
a toxic relationship
