Vocabulary Flashcards
Assert
(Verb) State a fact or belief confidently and forcefully; Claim- Declare: The company asserts that the cuts will not affect development
Intellect
(Noun) The faculty of reasoning and understanding objectively, especially with regard to abstract or academic matters; Wisdom- Reason: He was a man of action rather than of intellect
Imply
(Verb) Strongly suggest the truth or existence of (something not expressly stated); Point- Connote- Convey: The salesmen who uses jargon to imply his superior knowledge
Scrutinize
(Verb) Examine or inspect closely and thoroughly; Examine/Analyze carefully- Inspect: Customers were warned to scrutinize the small print
Forsake
(Verb) Abandon (someone or something); Abandon- Unleash: He would never forsake Tara
Despise
(Verb) Feel contempt or a deep repugnance for; Humiliate- Contemn: He despised himself for being selfish
Peculiar
(Adjective) Strange or odd; unusual; Exotic- Odd: His accent was a peculiar mixture of Cockney and Irish
Affection
(Noun) A gentle feeling of fondness or liking; Kindness- tenderness: She felt affection for the wise old lady
Perplex
(Verb) (of something complicated or unaccountable) cause (someone) to feel completely baffled; Confound- Confuse: She was perplexed by her husband’s moodiness
Deprivation
(Noun) The damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society; Exclusion- Impoverishment: Low wages mean that 3.75 million people suffer serious deprivation
Signify
(Verb) Be an indication of; Implicate- Hold out: This decision signified a fundamental change in their priorities
Emergence
(Noun) The process of coming into view or becoming exposed after being concealed; Disclosure- Becoming Known: I misjudged the timing of my emergence
(Noun)
The process of coming into being, or of becoming important or prominent; Appearance- Arrival: The emergence of the environmental movement
Eliminate
(Verb) completely remove or get rid of (something): Abolish- Wipe out: A policy that would eliminate inflation
Partly
(Adverb) To some extent; not completely; To a certain degree- Partially: The result is partly a matter of skill and partly of chance
Raining is due partly to huge amount of water evaporating.
Contribute
(Verb) Give (something, especially money) in order to help achieve or provide something; Donate- make a donation: She contributed to a private pension
Evolution
(Noun) The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth: Darwinism
(Noun) The gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form; Advancement- Growth: The forms of written languages undergo constant evolution
Radically
Adverb
In a thorough or fundamental way; completely.
You must radically change the way you do business.
Applause
Noun
Approval or praise expressed by clapping; Standing ovation- Praise- Admiration- acclaim
they gave him a round of applause
Manipulate
Verb
Handle or control (a tool, mechanism, etc.), typically in a skillful manner; Operate: He manipulated the dials of the set.
The doctor manipulated the bone back into place.
Control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously; Exploit:
The masses were deceived and manipulated by a tiny group.
Clever politicians know how to manipulate police opinion.
Irrational
Adjective
Not based on reason or clear thought. Not logical or reasonable; Unreasonable- Illogical- Pointless: Irrational feelings of hostility
Perpetuate
Verb Make (something, typically an undesirable situation or an unfounded belief) continue indefinitely; Keep alive- Preserve- Conserve: The law perpetuated the interests of the ruling class.
Boast
Verb
Talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities; Exaggerate- Overstate: She boasted about her many conquests.
I wish she wouldn’t boast about her family so much.
The town boasts over a dozen restaurants.
Reasoning
Noun
The action of thinking about something in a logical, sensible way; Argument- Ratiocination:
He explained the reasoning behind his decision at a media conference.
What’s the reasoning behind his sudden decision to leave?
Exemplify
Verb
To be/ Serve as a typical example of something; Typify- Personify:
Rock bands that best exemplify the spirit of the age.
Curb
Verb
Restrain or keep in check; Limit- Restrict
she promised she would curb her temper
Satire
Noun
The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues; Mockery- Ridicule: The crude satire seems to be directed at the fashionable protest singers of the time
Obsess
Verb
Preoccupy or fill the mind of (someone) continually, intrusively, and to a troubling extent; Preoccupy-
He was obsessed with the theme of death
Unprecedented
Adjective
Never done or known before; Unique- Unheard- Unexampled
Unsolicited
Adjective
Not asked for; given or done voluntarily; Uninvited- Unasked for: Unsolicited junk mail
Irrelevant
Adjective
Not connected with or relevant to something; Impertinent-
An irrelevant comment
Reluctant
Adjective
Unwilling and hesitant; disinclined.
Shrug
Verb Raise (one's shoulders) slightly and momentarily to express doubt, ignorance, or indifference: Jimmy looked inquiringly at Pete, who shrugged his shoulders
Enforce
Verb
Compel observance of or compliance with (a law, rule, or obligation); Impose- Apply: The role of the police is to enforce the law.
Ethnic
Adjective
relating to a population subgroup (within a larger or dominant national or cultural group) with a common national or cultural tradition; Racial- Familial: Leaders of ethnic communities
Stringent
Adjective
(of regulations, requirements, or conditions) strict, precise, and exacting; Precise- Strict- Accurate: California’s air pollution guidelines are stringent
Undermine
Verb
Erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation); Erode: The flow of water had undermined pillars supporting the roof
Lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually or insidiously; Sabotage- Weaken: This could undermine years of hard work
Vigorous
Adjective
Strong, healthy, and full of energy; Powerful- Potent- Intense: A tall, vigorous, and muscular man
Amicable
Adjective
(of relations between people) having a spirit of friendliness; without serious disagreement or rancor; Friendly- Goog-natured- Corial: There will be an amicable settlement of the dispute
Permissive
Adjective
Allowing or characterized by great or excessive freedom of behavior; Allowed- Permissible- Allowable- Licensed- Admissible: The permissive society of the 60s and 70s
Surfeit
Noun
An excessive amount of something; Indulgence- Extravagance- Exceeding- Excess- Surplus: A surfeit of food and drink
Faction
Noun
A small organized dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics; Sect- Party: The left-wing faction of the party
Illusion
Noun
A thing that is or is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses; Delusion: The illusion makes parallel lines seem to diverge by placing them on a zigzag-striped background
Neglect
Verb
Fail to care for properly; Negligence- Fail to look after: The old churchyard has been sadly neglected.
dodge
Relieve
Verb
Cause (pain, distress, or difficulty) to become less severe or serious; Mitigate- Alleviate: The drug was used to promote sleep and to relieve pain
Delightful
Adjective
Causing delight; Charming; Enjoyable- Delightful- Pleasurable: A delightful secluded garden
Comprehensive
Adjective
Complete; including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something; Detailed: American grocery stores offered comprehensive services.
Wrap up
Verb
Cover or enclose (someone or something) in paper or soft material; Pack- Put up: The clerks wrap the items up.
Inefficient
Adjective
Not achieving maximum productivity; wasting or failing to make the best use of time or resources; Ineffective- Incompetent: Chain stores, although containing full services, were very time-consuming and inefficient for the purchase.
Tremendous
Adjective
Very great in amount, scale, or intensity; Enormous- Colossal: Having noticed that shopping was performed in a quite backward way and inconvenient shopping mode could lead to tremendous consumption of time and money, he, with great enthusiasm and innovation, proposed an unprecedented solution.
Revolution
Noun
A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system: Let the consumers do self-service in the process of shopping which might bring a thorough revolution to the whole industry.
Perspective
Noun
A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; A point of view- Outlook- Standpoint: After moving to the capital city he put his perspective into practice, that is, to establish a grocery wholesale cooperative.
Recreation
Noun
Activity done for enjoyment when one is not working; Entertainment- Amusement- Pleasure: athletic and recreation facilities
Spotless
Adjective
Absolutely clean or pure; immaculate; Perfect- Flawless: A spotless white apron
Sizzle
Verb
(of food) make a hissing sound when frying or cooking; Crackle- Frizzle: the bacon began to sizzle in the pan
Noun
A hissing sound, as of food frying or cooking: The sizzle of hot dogs
Bidder
Noun
A person or organization making a formal offer for something, especially at an auction; Proposer: She was the highest bidder for this rare portrait
Poverty
Noun
The state of being extremely poor; Indigence- Neediness : Thousands of families are living in abject poverty
Rush
Verb
move with urgent haste; Hurry- get a move on: Jason rushed after her.
Noun
A sudden quick movement toward something, typically by a number of people; Jump: There was a rush for the door
Mobility
Noun
The ability to move or be moved freely and easily; Portability- Dynamism: This exercise helps retain mobility in the damaged joints
Essence
Noun
The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character; Soul- Spirit- Nature: Conflict is the essence of drama
Traumatize
Verb
Subject to lasting shock as a result of an emotionally disturbing experience or physical injury: The children were traumatized by separation from their families
Look after
Verb
Watch out
Mind
Militant
Adjective
Combative and aggressive in support of a political or social cause, and typically favoring extreme, violent, or confrontational methods: The army are in conflict with militant groups
Legitimate
Adjective
Conforming to the law or to rules; Legal- Lawful: His claims to legitimate authority
Verb
Make legitimate; justify or make lawful; Legitimize: The regime was not legitimated by popular support
Batter
Noun
A semi-liquid mixture of flour, egg, and milk or water used in cooking, especially for making cakes or for coating food before frying: Pancake batter
Freckle
Noun
A small patch of light brown color on the skin, often becoming more pronounced through exposure to the sun; Spot- Stain: She had a light sprinkling of freckles on her nose
Bait
Noun
Food used to entice fish or other animals as prey; Lure: Herrings make excellent bait for pike.
Foster
Verb
Encourage or promote the development of (something, typically something regarded as good); Encourage- Develop: The teacher’s task is to foster learning
Bring up (a child that is not one’s own by birth); Breed: A person who would foster Holly was found.
Tent
Noun
A portable shelter made of cloth, supported by one or more poles and stretched tight by cords or loops attached to pegs driven into the ground.
Verb
Cover with or as if with a tent; Pitch in tent- Camp out in tent: The garden had been completely tented over for supper
Hostile
Adjective
Unfriendly; Antagonistic- Adversary- Confrontational: A hostile audience
breakthrough
Noun
Advance
Outage
Verb
Disconnect
Soar
Verb
Fly or rise high in the air; climb- Ascend- Boost: The bird spread its wings and soared into the air
Franchise
Verb
An authorization granted by a government or company to an individual or group enabling them to carry out specified commercial activities, e.g., providing a broadcasting service or acting as an agent for a company’s products: Toyota granted the group a franchise.
Legacy
Noun
An amount of money or property left to someone in a will; Heritage- Inheritance: She died, leaving abundant legacy mainly symbolized by the pattern of which spread extensively and lasted permanently.
Resemblance
Noun
The state of resembling or being alike; Similarity- Likeness: After studying the similarities between chimpanzees and humans for years, researchers have recognized these resemblances run much deeper than anyone first thought in the latest decade.
Dialect
Noun
A particular form of a language which is peculiar to a specific region or social group; Regional language: Like the regional dialects of different species of songbirds.
Turn out
Verb
It turns out that the rich and varied cultural traditions they enjoyed rank secondly in complexity only to human traditions.
Distinct
Adjective
Recognizably different in nature from something else of a similar type: Different- Distinguished: The major research group which studies chimpanzees collaborated unprecedentedly and documented some distinct cultural patterns, ranging from animals’ use of tools to their forms of communication and social customs.
Ponder
Verb Think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion; Think about- Give thought to: This emerging picture of chimpanzees affects how human beings ponder upon these amazing creatures.
Surpass
Verb
To be better of greater than somebody or something else. Exceed; be greater than; Outstrip: We know that Homo sapiens and Pan Troglodytes have coexisted for hundreds of millennia and their genetics similarities surpass 98 percent.
Witness
Verb See (an event, typically a crime or accident) take place; Attest- Testify- Affirm: Researchers witnessed a variety of unexpected behaviors, ranging from fashioning and using tools, hunting, meat eating, food sharing to lethal fights between members of neighboring communities.
Speculate
Verb
Form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence; Think- Contemplate- Conjecture:
She speculated that some variations shared what she referred to as a ‘cultural origin’.
Culinary
Noun
Of or for cooking: The diversity of human cultures extends from technological variations to marriage rituals, from culinary habits ti myths and legends.
Criterion
Noun
A principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided; Standard- Basis- Benchmark: This is the fundamental criterion for a cultural trait- something can be learnt by observing the established skills of others and then passed on to following generations.
Implication
Noun
The conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated; Indication: What are the implications for themselves?
Decimate
Verb
Kill, destroy, or remove a large percentage or part of.;: We must place a high value upon the tragic loss of chimpanzees, who are decimated just when finally we are coming to appreciate these astonishing animals more completely.
Plummet
Verb
Fall or drop straight down at high speed; Descend rapidly: The population of chimpanzees has plummeted and continued to fall due to illegal trapping, logging and, most recently, the bushmeat trade within the past century.
Exclaim
Verb
Cry out suddenly, especially in surprise, anger, or pain; Declare- Come out with: Well, I never,” she exclaimed
Delve into
Verb
Reach inside a receptacle and search for something; Excavate- Explore: Scientists have been delving into chimpanzees culture for several decades
Manifesto
Noun
A public declaration of policy and aims, especially one issued before an election by a political party or candidate; Statement: A manifesto for LGBT liberation
Incur
Verb
Cause
Movement
Major international companies can’t figure out the popularity of the anti-capitalist movement.
Popularity
Noun
The state or condition of being liked, admired, or supported by many people; Approval- Acceptance: Major international companies can’t figure out the popularity of the anti-capitalist movement.
Sacrifice
Noun
An act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to God or to a divine or supernatural figure: When I look back on my childhood, I remember the many sacrifices my parents made for me.
Stamina
Noun
The ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort; Forbearance
Visibility
Noun:
The state of being able to see or be seen; Vision- Sight:
A reduction in police presence and visibility on the streets
Severity
Noun
The fact or condition of being severe; Intensity- Hardship- Difficulty: Despite the severity of the disease, many people pull through with the help of appropriate drugs.
Recession
Noun
A period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quarters; Economic decline- Downturn:
During the recession, many workers in the primary sector ended up jobless.
Humidity
Noun
The state or quality of being humid; Moisture- Wetness: As the wind dies down, the heat and humidity gradually begin to rise.
Quota
Noun
A fixed share of something that a person or group is entitled to receive or is bound to contribute; Allocation- Share- Allowance: Once the government did away with quotas, the market was flooded with cheap foreign imports.
Revitalize
Verb Imbue (something) with new life and vitality; Give boost to- Renew- Regenerate: After years of decline, government investment is revitalizing the area, and things are finally looking up for local businesses.
Dump
Verb
Deposit or dispose of (garbage, waste, or unwanted material), typically in a careless or hurried way; Dispose of- Get rid of- Throw away- Throw out- Discard- Scrap: Large companies can no longer get away with dumping industrial waste in rivers.
Opposition
Noun
Resistance or dissent, expressed in action or argument; Disagreement: When our local council tried to build a ring road around the town, they came up against a lot of opposition.
Council
Noun
An advisory, deliberative, or legislative body of people formally constituted and meeting regularly; Advisory body- Advisory- Group board- Board of directors- Committee: When our local council tried to build a ring road around the town, they came up against a lot of opposition
Rebel
Verb
Rise in opposition or armed resistance to an established government or ruler: Although many children look up to their parents, many rebel against their values and way of life.
Accommodation
Noun
A convenient arrangement; a settlement or compromise: Management was seeking an accommodation with labor
Place- Room- Space: Accommodation in some cities is so expensive that some people cannot even afford to put down the eight weeks’ deposit that is required
Persuade
Verb Cause (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument; Induce- They were reluctant to make changes, but we managed to talk them round (persuade them).
Afford
Verb
Have enough money to pay for: They were turned out of the apartment by their landlord when they could no longer afford the rent, and ended up living on the street.
Pastime
Noun
An activity that someone does regularly for enjoyment rather than work; a hobby: When I was at school, some teachers unfairly picked on children who avoided sport because they preferred more creative interests and pastimes.
Assimilate
Verb Take in (information, ideas, or culture) and understand fully: Technology is moving at such a fast pace it is no longer possible to assimilate all the latest developments.
Momentum
Noun
The quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity: Finally, going straight to university from school means that you maintain a momentum that you might lose if you go travelling.
Drastic
Adjective
likely to have a strong or far-reaching effect; Radical- Extreme- Forceful: Despite banning tobacco advertising and raising the price of cigarettes, the government’s antismoking campaign has failed to have any long-term effects. It is now widely believed that more drastic measures are necessary.
Tackle
Verb
Make determined efforts to deal with (a problem or difficult task); Cope: A new national committee, which has been formed to tackle the problem, has made several recommendations.
Deny
Verb
Refuse to give or grant (something requested or desired) to (someone); Turn down- Reject: These include banning smoking in all public areas, and denying hospital treatment to persistent smokers who have been warned by their doctors to give up but failed to do so.
Persistent
Adjective
Continuing to exist or endure over a prolonged period; Constant- Continuing: These include banning smoking in all public areas, and denying hospital treatment to persistent smokers who have been warned by their doctors to give up but failed to do so.
Conscientious
Adjective
(of a person) wishing to do what is right, especially to do one’s work or duty well and thoroughly; Diligent- Industrious: It is arguable whether good pronunciation is more important than good grammar and vocabulary.
Conscientious students balance their acquisition of these skills, hoping to achieve both fluency and
accuracy.
Acquisition
Noun
The learning or developing of a skill, habit, or quality: Conscientious students balance their acquisition of these skills, hoping to achieve both fluency and
accuracy.
Practise
Verb Perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one's proficiency; Rehearse: English teachers should encourage their students to practise all the relevant language skills, and use their English at every opportunity.
Decent
Adjective
Conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior. Of an acceptable standard; satisfactory; Satisfactory- Reasonable: It is becoming increasingly difficult for many people to find decent accommodation in the city at a price they can afford. To put it simply, there are too many people and not enough homes for them. Local community centers and charitable organizations such as Home Front can offer advice, but it is widely agreed that the situation is no longer manageable.
Acknowledgement
Noun
Acceptance of the truth or existence of something; Acceptance- Admission- Confession: The fact that some councils in the city are building cheap, temporary housing for lower-paid professionals is the only official acknowledgement of this problem.
Recommendation
Noun
A suggestion or proposal as to the best course of action, especially one put forward by an authoritative body; Advice- Guidance: A new national committee, which has been formed to tackle the problem, has made several recommendations.
Accuracy
Noun
The quality or state of being correct or precise; Correctness: It is arguable whether good pronunciation is more important than good grammar and vocabulary.
Conscientious students balance their acquisition of these skills, hoping to achieve both fluency and
accuracy.
Fluency
Noun
The quality or condition of being fluent: It is arguable whether good pronunciation is more important than good grammar and vocabulary. Conscientious students balance their acquisition of these skills, hoping to achieve both fluency and accuracy.
Uptick
Increase
Chunk out
Split out
Quadruple
Fourfold
