vocabulary Flashcards
ensure /ɪnˈʃʊr/
(also insure especially in North American English)
to make sure that something happens or is definite
ensure something We are working to ensure the safety of people in the city.
ensure somebody something Victory ensured them a place in the final.
ensure something for somebody The system ensures equal access to education for all children.
spatula /ˈspætʃələ/
a tool with a wide flat part that is not sharp, used for mixing and spreading things, especially in cooking and painting
assignment /əˈsaɪnmənt/
a task or piece of work that somebody is given to do,usually as part of their job or studies
Students are required to complete all homework assignments.
You will need to complete three written assignments per semester.
artificial /ˌɑːrtɪˈfɪʃl/
made or produced to copy something natural; not real
strip /strɪp/
a long narrow piece of paper, metal, cloth, etc.
a strip of material
Cut the meat into strips.
twist /twɪst/
[countable] the action of turning something with your hand, or of turning a part of your body
She gave the lid another twist and it came off.
He gave a shy smile and a little twist of his head.
He finished him off with a quick twist of the knife.
contraption /kənˈtræpʃn/
a machine or piece of equipment that looks strange or complicated and possibly does not work well
-She showed us a strange contraption that looked like a satellite dish.
rebate /ˈriːbeɪt/
- an amount of money that is paid back to you because you have paid too much
You may be entitled to a rebate on your car insurance.
- an amount of money that is taken away from the cost of something, before you pay for it synonym discount
The maximum cash rebate available is about $4 800.
i.e. /ˌaɪ ˈiː/
used to explain exactly what the previous thing that you have mentioned means (from Latin ‘id est’)
the basic essentials of life, i.e. housing, food and water
perform /pərˈfɔːrm/
- perform (something) to entertain an audience by playing a piece of music, acting in a play, etc.
Visiting artists will perform their music and poetry.
- perform something to do something, such as a piece of work, task or duty;SYNONYM carry out
She performs an important role in our organization.
makeover /ˈmeɪkəʊvər/
the process of improving the appearance of a person or a place, or of changing the impression that something gives
She won a complete makeover in a magazine competition.
sighting /ˈsaɪtɪŋ/
an occasion when somebody sees somebody/something, especially something unusual or something that lasts for only a short time
a reported sighting of the Loch Ness monster
This was the first sighting of the comet for 1000 years.
consume /kənˈsuːm/
consume something to use something, especially fuel, energy or time
and so on (and so forth)
used at the end of a list to show that it continues in the same way
We discussed everything—when to go, what to see and so on.
tow /təʊ/
- tow something (+ adv./prep.) to pull a car, boat, etc. behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain
Our car was towed away by the police.
A glider was being towed into the air.
- tow somebody (+ adv./prep.) (of a person) to pull somebody along behind you
Vicky was towing Rosa along by the hand
shrink /ʃrɪŋk/
to become or to make something smaller in size or amount
The tumor had shrunk to the size of a pea.
fabulous /ˈfæbjələs/
extremely good
They put on a fabulous performance.
Jana is a fabulous cook.
passion /ˈpæʃn/
a very strong feeling of love, hate, anger, enthusiasm, etc.
I admire the passion and commitment shown by the players.
with passion She argued her case with considerable passion.
crank /kræŋk/
- a person with ideas that other people find strange
- a person who easily gets angry or annoyed
- a handle or bar on a machine that you can turn to make another part turn
crank up
crank out
slacks /slæks/
trousers that are not part of a suit
a pair of slacks
apprentice /əˈprentɪs/
a young person who works for an employer for a fixed period of time in order to learn the particular skills needed in their job
fasten
/ˈfæsn/
to close or join together the two parts of something; to become closed or joined together; do up
seat belt must be fasten.
rumormonger /ˈruːmər mɑːŋɡər/
a person who spreads rumors
approve /əˈpruːv/
- to think that somebody/something is good, acceptable or suitable
I told my mother I wanted to leave school but she didn’t approve.
approve of somebody/something Do you approve of my idea?
She didn’t quite approve of the way he was running things.
approve of somebody doing something She doesn’t approve of me leaving school this year.
- to say that something is good enough to be used or is correct
be approved by somebody/something The course is approved by the Department for Education.
be approved for something This medicine is not approved for use in children.
be approved as something The chemical has never been federally approved as a pesticide.
approve something The auditors approved the company’s accounts.
blockbuster /ˈblɑːkbʌstər/
something very successful, especially a very successful book or film
prescribe /prɪˈskraɪb/
(of a person or an organization with authority) to say what should be done or how something should be done.
Police regulations prescribe that an officer’s number must be clearly visible.
opponent /əˈpəʊnənt/
- a person that you are playing or fighting against in a game, competition, argument, etc.; SYNONYM adversary
-a political opponent
-The team’s opponents are unbeaten so far this season.
2. a person who is against something and tries to change or stop it
-opponent of something
-opponents of abortion
-opponents of the regime
trial /ˈtraɪəl/
the process of testing the ability, quality or performance of somebody/something, especially before you make a final decision about them
promote /prəˈməʊt/
- ENCOURAGE to help something to develop or increase
-a meeting to promote trade between Taiwan and the UK
-Fertilizer promotes leaf
growth.
- BETTER JOB to give someone a better more responsible job in a company; OPP demote
(is often passive in this meaning.)
-promote somebody to something
-Helen was promoted to senior manager.
- SELL to help sell a new product, film etc by offering it at a reduced price or by advertising it
-She’s in London to promote her new book.
blush /blʌʃ/
- to become red in the face because you are embarrassed or ashamed; SYNONYM go red
She blushed furiously at the memory of the conversation.
- blush to do something to be ashamed or embarrassed about something
I blush to admit it, but I quite like her music.
I blush to think of how I behaved the last time we met.
hype /haɪp/
advertisements and discussion in the media telling the public about a product and about how good or important it is
Don’t believe all the hype—the book isn’t that good.
pull over /pʊl ˈəʊvər/
(of a vehicle or its driver) to move to the side of the road in order to stop or let something pass
pull somebody/something over
(of the police) to make a driver or vehicle move to the side of the road
proof /pruːf/
[uncountable, countable] information, documents, etc. that show that something is true; SYNONYM evidence
The police suspected him of dealing drugs, but they didn’t have any proof.
intoxicated /ɪnˈtɑːksɪkeɪtɪd/
- under the influence of alcohol or drugs
driving while intoxicated
- intoxicated (by/with something) very excited by something, so that you cannot think clearlyintoxicated with success
hangover /ˈhæŋəʊvər/
- the headache and sick feeling that you have the day after drinking too much alcohol
-She woke up with a terrible hangover.
- [usually singular] hangover (from something) a feeling, custom, idea, etc. that remains from the past, although it is no longer practical or suitable
-the insecure feeling that was a hangover from her childhood
-hangover laws from the previous administration
intentional /ɪnˈtenʃənl/
done deliberately; SYNONYM deliberate, intended
I’m sorry I left you off the list—it wasn’t intentional.
an intentional act of cruelty
It is difficult to prove whether their actions were negligent or intentional.
She felt she was a victim of intentional discrimination.
OPPOSITE unintentional
Perhaps I misled you, but it was quite unintentional (= I did not mean to).
permanent /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
lasting for a long time or for all time in the future; existing all the time
She was unable to find a permanent job.
Holiday camps employ only a very small number of permanent staff.
administration /ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃn/
the activities that are done in order to plan, organize and run a business, school or other institution
I work in the Sales Administration department.
hypothetical
/ˌhaɪpəˈθetɪkl/
based on situations or ideas that are possible and imagined rather than real and true
- a hypotheticalexample/situation
- I wasn’t asking about anybody in particular—it was a purely hypothetical question.
pistachio /pɪˈstæʃiəʊ/,
[countable] the small green nut of an Asian tree
weave /wiːv/
(weave wove woven)
- to make cloth, a carpet, a basket, etc. by crossing threads or narrow pieces of material across, over and under each other by hand or on a machine called a loom
weave A from B The baskets are woven from strips of willow.
weave B into A The strips of willow are woven into baskets.
weave something together threads woven together
weave (something) Most spiders weave webs that are almost invisible.
She is skilled at spinning and weaving.
- weave A (out of/from B) | weave B (into A) to make something by twisting flowers, pieces of wood, etc. together
She deftly wove the flowers into a garland
- to move along by running and changing direction continuously to avoid things that are in your way
+ adv./prep. She was weaving in and out of the traffic.
He hurried on, weaving through the crowd.
The road weaves through a range of hills.
weave your way + adv./prep. He had to weave his way through the milling crowds.
- to put facts, events, details, etc. together to make a story or a closely connected whole
weave (something into) something to weave a narrative
weave something together The biography weaves together the various strands of Einstein’s life.
moral /ˈmɔːrəl/
connected with principles of right and wrong behavior.
My moral duty as Secretary-General of the United Nations is to do everything possible to avoid war.
compel /kəmˈpel/
to force somebody to do something; to make something necessary
The court has powers to compel witnesses to attend.
spectacular
/spekˈtækjələr/
very impressive
synonym breathtaking
The coastal road has spectacular scenery.
Messi scored a spectacular goal.
dud /dʌd/
[countable] (informal) a thing that has no use, especially because it does not work correctly
Two of the fireworks in the box were duds.
Are there any more batteries? This one’s a dud.
trustworthy /ˈtrʌstwɜːrði/
Definition of trustworthy that you can rely on to be good, honest, sincere, etc.
synonym reliable
Mitchell was a solid and trustworthy man.
Women were seen as more trustworthy and harder working.
facility /fəˈsɪləti/
buildings, services, equipment, etc. that are provided for a particular purpose
he school is upgrading its outdoor play facilities.
fascinate /ˈfæsɪneɪt/
fascinate (somebody) to attract or interest somebody very much
Technology has always fascinated humans.
It was a question that had fascinated him since he was a boy.
The private lives of movie stars never fail to fascinate.
patron /ˈpeɪtrən/
- a person who gives money and support to artists and writers
Frederick the Great was the patron of many artists.
he was a great patron of the arts and helped to establish the Baltimore Museum.
- a famous person who supports an organization such as a charity and whose name is used in the advertisements, etc. for the organization
the official patron of the college
The Duchess of Cornwall is to be patron of the new Unicorn Theater for Children.
convert /kənˈvɜːrt/
to change or make something change from one form, purpose, system, etc. to another
What rate will I get if I convert my dollars into euros?
a sofa that converts into a bed
He converted from Christianity to Islam.
I didn’t use to like opera but my husband has converted me.
nudge /nʌdʒ/
nudge somebody/something to push somebody gently, especially with your elbow, in order to get their attention
He nudged me and whispered, ‘Look who’s just come in.’
reinforce /ˌriːɪnˈfɔːrs/
reinforce something: to make a feeling, an idea, etc. stronger.
This report strongly reinforces the view that the system must be changed.
glossary /ˈɡlɑːsəri/
(plural glossaries)
a list of technical or special words, especially those in a particular text, explaining their meanings
a glossary of financial terms
accurate /ˈækjərət/
correct and true in every detail
Accurate measurements are essential.
dump /dʌmp/
- (n) a place where waste or rubbish is taken and left
- dump something to get rid of something you do not want
- dump somebody/something (on somebody) (informal) to get rid of somebody/something or leave them for somebody else to deal with
distinct /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
- easily or clearly heard, seen, felt, etc.
There was a distinct smell of gas.
His voice was quiet but every word was distinct.
- clearly different or of a different kind
The results of the survey fell into two distinct groups.
We are talking about rural areas, as distinct from major cities.
et cetera
etc. (= used after a list to show that there are other things that you could have mentioned)
extraterrestrial /ˌekstrətəˈrestriəl/
connected with life existing outside the planet Earth
extraterrestrial beings/life
affirmative /əˈfɜːrmətɪv/
- an affirmative word or reply means ‘yes’ or expresses agreement
an affirmative response to the question
- (also positive)
(of a statement) expressing something that is true, did happen, etc.; not containing words such as ‘no’, ‘not’, ‘never’, etc.
affirmative and negative forms/sentences
meteorologist /ˌmiːtiəˈrɑːlədʒɪst/
a scientist who studies of earths atmosphere and it’s changes, used especially in forecasting the weather
hoax /həʊks/
an act intended to make somebody believe something that is not true, especially something unpleasant
He was accused of using a bomb hoax to empty a rival restaurant.
Detectives are still investigating the hoax calls.
bummer /ˈbʌmər/
a bummer [singular] (informal)
a disappointing or unpleasant situation
It’s a real bummer that she can’t come.
pile /paɪl/
- a number of things that have been placed on top of each other
pile of something a pile of clothes/paper
- a mass of something that is high in the middle and wider at the bottom than at the top ;SYNONYM heap
pile of something piles of dirty washing
- pile of something (informal) a lot of something
He made a pile of cash on the sale of his house.
superstition /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃn/
[uncountable, countable] (often disapproving)
the belief that particular events happen in a way that cannot be explained by reason or science; the belief that particular events bring good or bad luck
According to superstition, breaking a mirror brings bad luck.
Most cultures have their superstitions.
spoil /spɔɪl/
- spoil something: to change something good into something bad, unpleasant, etc.
- spoil somebody: to give a child everything that they ask for and not enough discipline in a way that has a bad effect on their character and behavior ; overindulgeShe spoils those kids of hers.
resign /rɪˈzaɪn/
voluntarily leave a job or other position.
She was forced to resign due to ill health.
resign as something He resigned as manager after eight years.
resign from something Two members resigned from the board in protest.
resign over something Some judges have threatened to resign over this issue.
resign something My father resigned his directorship last year.
arctic /ˈɑːrktɪk/
the region of the world or related to or happening in around the north pole and
Arctic explorers
- extremely cold
TV pictures showed the arctic conditions.
condo /ˈkɑːndəʊ/
a condominium (= an apartment building or group of houses in which each flat/house is owned by the person living in it but the shared areas are owned by everyone together; a flat/house in such a building or group of houses)
He bought an ocean-front condo in his native Florida.
upset /ʌpˈset/
upset something: to make a plan, situation, etc. go wrong
He arrived an hour late and upset all our arrangements.
smog /smɑːɡ/
a form of air pollution that is or looks like a mixture of smoke and fog, especially in cities
attempts to reduce smog caused by traffic fumes
satisfactory /ˌsætɪsˈfæktəri/
good enough for a particular purpose synonym acceptable
a satisfactory explanation/answer/solution/conclusion The work is satisfactory but not outstanding. opposite unsatisfactory
trousers /ˈtraʊzərz/
a piece of clothing that covers the lower body and is divided into two parts to cover each leg separately
a pair of grey trousers
Doug was wearing black trousers and a blue shirt.
deft /deft/
(of a person’s movements) quick and showing skill
deft hands/fingers/footwork
He finished off the painting with a few deft strokes of the brush.
In one deft movement, he had her hand locked behind her back.
hesitate /ˈhezɪteɪt/
- to be slow to speak or act because you feel uncertain or nervous
-She hesitated before replying.
-He seemed to hesitate a second.
- hesitate to do something to be worried about doing something, especially because you are not sure that it is right or appropriate
-Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries.
-If you’d like me to send you the book, then please don’t hesitate to ask.
appetizing/ˈæpɪtaɪzɪŋ/
(British English also appetising)
(of food, etc.) that smells or looks attractive; making you feel hungry or thirsty
the appetizing aroma of sizzling bacon
The meals he cooked were always nourishing but never particularly appetizing.
scenery /ˈsiːnəri/
[uncountable] the natural features of an area, such as mountains, valleys, rivers and forests, when you are thinking about them being attractive to look at
The scenery is magnificent.
to enjoy the scenery
tear sth down
to pull or knock down a building, wall, etc. synonym demolish
They’re tearing down these old houses to build a new office block.
rowdy /ˈraʊdi/
a person who makes a lot of noise or is likely to cause trouble
rowdies and troublemakers
adopt /əˈdɑːpt/
- to take somebody else’s child into your family and become its legal parent(s)
-a campaign to encourage childless couples to adopt
-She was forced to have her baby adopted.
- adopt something to start to use a particular method or to show a particular attitude towards
somebody/something
-All three teams adopted different approaches to the problem.
-Our study examined the strategies adopted by patients for seeking information.
- adopt something to formally accept a suggestion or policy by voting
-The government adopted a resolution on disarmament.
-The council is expected to adopt the new policy at its next meeting.
instructor /ɪnˈstrʌktər/
a person whose job is to teach somebody or practical skill or sport.
a fitness/driving/ski instructor
first-hand
obtained or experienced yourself
to have first-hand experience of poverty
innovation /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/
(innovation in something) a new idea, way of doing something, etc that has been introduced or discovered
an age of technological innovation
The company is very interested in product design and innovation.
cringe /krɪndʒ/
- to feel very embarrassed and uncomfortable about something
I cringe when I think of the poems I wrote then.
- to move back and/or away from somebody because you are afraid; SYNONYM cower
a child cringing in terror
bridegroom
(also groom)
a man on his wedding day, or just before or just after it
I enjoyed the bridegroom’s speech.
humiliate /hjuːˈmɪlieɪt/
humiliate somebody/yourself/something to make somebody feel ashamed or stupid and lose the respect of other people
I didn’t want to humiliate her in front of her colleagues.
I’ve never felt so humiliated.
dent /dent/
1.dent something to make a hollow place in a hard surface, usually by hitting it
The back of the car was badly dented in the collision.
The car was quite badly dented on one side.
- dent something to damage somebody’s confidence, reputation, etc.
It seemed that nothing could dent his confidence.
trip /trɪp/
to catch your foot on something and fall or almost fall
She tripped and fell.
trip over/on something Someone will trip over that cable.
I tripped over my own feet and fell down the stairs.
(figurative) I was tripping over my words in my excitement to tell them the news.
(figurative) Lawyers were tripping over each other (= competing with each other in a hurried way) to get a piece of the action.
trip over/up: Be careful you don’t trip up on the step.
affect /əˈfekt/
affect somebody/something to produce a change in somebody/something
evidence /ˈevɪdəns/
[uncountable] the facts, signs or objects that make you believe that something is true; SYNONYM proof
evidence (of something) Researchers have found clear scientific evidence of a link between exposure to sun and skin cancer.
evidence for something There is a growing body of evidence for the existence of black holes that are ten times as massive as the Sun.
evidence that… There is not a shred of evidence that the meeting actually took place.
evidence to suggest, support, show, etc. Have you any evidence to support this allegation?
significant /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
large or important enough to have an effect or to be noticed
The drug has had no significant effect on stopping the spread of the disease.
bona fide /ˌbəʊnə ˈfaɪdi/
[usually before noun] (from Latin)
real, legal or true; not false
a bona fide reason
You’re a bona fide member of the team now.
Students should have a bona fide reason for missing class, such as illness.
celestial /səˈlestʃl/
[usually before noun] (formal or literary) of the sky or of heaven
celestial bodies (= the sun, moon, stars, etc.)
celestial light/music
draft /dræft/
(Br. draught)
- a rough written version of something that is not yet in its final form
This is only the first draft of my speech.
- a flow of cool air in a room or other small space
Can you shut the door? There’s a draft in here.
elect /ɪˈlekt/
to do something (formal) to choose to do something
fudge /fʌdʒ/
to present or deal with something in a way that avoids giving clear and accurate information
fudge something Politicians are often very clever at fudging the issue.
I asked how long he was staying, but he fudged the answer.
fudge on something They simply fudged on the details.
saffron /ˈsæfrən/
[uncountable] a bright yellow powder made from crocus flowers, used in cooking as a spice and to give color to food
souvenir /ˈsuːvənɪr/
a thing that you buy and/or keep to remind yourself of a place, an occasion or a holiday; something that you bring back for other people when you have been on holiday; SYNONYM memento
I bought the ring as a souvenir of Greece.
a souvenir shop
a souvenir program of the concert
phenomenon /fəˈnɑːmɪnən/
(plural phenomena /fəˈnɑːmɪnə/)
- a fact or an event in nature or society, especially one that is not fully understood
Globalization is a phenomenon of the 21st century.
Early retirement is a relatively new phenomenon in Britain.
We were hoping science could somehow explain this strange phenomenon.
(plural North American English phenomenons)
a person or thing that is very successful or impressive
This young pianist is a phenomenon.
The movie has become a bona fide cult phenomenon.
purchase /ˈpɜːrtʃəs/
to buy something
We recently purchased a home just outside Las Vegas.
hurricane /ˈhɜːrəkeɪn/
a violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the western Atlantic Ocean
A powerful hurricane hit the Florida coast.
spill /spɪl/
(especially of liquid) to flow over the edge of a container by accident; to make liquid do this
Water had spilled out of the bucket onto the floor.
The bag split, and sugar spilled everywhere.
(figurative) Light spilled from the windows.
(figurative) He opened the curtains, letting the morning light spill into the room.
relief /rɪˈliːf/
the feeling of happiness that you have when something unpleasant stops or does not happen
News of their safety came as a great relief.
assessment /əˈsesmənt/
an opinion or a judgement about somebody or something that has been thought about very carefully; SYNONYM evaluation
a detailed assessment of the risks involved
mortify /ˈmɔːrtɪfaɪ/
[usually passive]
to make somebody feel very ashamed or embarrassed
SYNONYM humiliate
be mortified I was mortified when I realized I had forgotten our lunch date.
thread /θred/
[uncountable, countable] a thin string of cotton, wool, silk, etc. used for sewing or making cloth
a needle and thread
a robe embroidered with gold thread
the delicate threads of a spider’s web
You’ve pulled a thread in your jumper.
sophisticated
/səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd/
- having a lot of experience of the world and knowing about fashion, culture and other things that people think are socially important
the sophisticated pleasures of city life
Mark is a smart and sophisticated young man.
- (of a machine, system, etc.) clever and complicated in the way that it works or is presented
highly sophisticated computer systems
Medical techniques are becoming more sophisticated all the time.
census /ˈsensəs/
the process of officially counting something, especially a country’s population, and recording various facts
A national census is taken every ten years.
ice cap
a layer of ice permanently covering parts of the earth, especially around the North and South Poles
associate /əˈsəʊʃieɪt/
- to make a connection between people or things in your mind
I always associate the smell of baking with my childhood.
He is closely associated in the public mind with horror movies.
- associate with somebody to spend time with somebody, especially a person or people that somebody else does not approve of; mix
I don’t like you associating with those people.
3. associate yourself with something (formal) to show that you support or agree with something
I associate myself with the prime minister’s remarks (= I agree with them).
I have never associated myself with political extremism.
