Vocabulary (Noun) Flashcards
1
Q
Idiosyncrasy (noun)
A
a strange or unusual habit, way of behaving, or feature that someone or something has
E.g. She often cracks her knuckles when she’s speaking - it’s one of her little idiosyncrasies.
E.g. One of the idiosyncrasies of this printer is that you can’t stop it once it has started.
E.g. one of his little idiosyncrasies was always preferring to be in the car first.
2
Q
Mutiny (noun)
A
an occasion when a group of people, especially soldiers or sailors, refuses to obey orders and/or attempts to take control from people in authority
E.g. Conditions on the ship were often very bad, and crews were on the point of mutiny.
E.g. There were rumours of mutiny among the troops.
E.g.Soldiers crushed mutinies in three jails.
E.g. a mutiny by those manning the weapons could trigger a global war
3
Q
Sheaf (noun)
A
a number of things, especially pieces of paper or plant stems, that are held or tied together
E.g. A lawyer walked in carrying a whole sheaf of papers.
E.g.The corn was cut and tied in sheaves
E.g he waved a sheaf of papers in the air.
4
Q
Cadre (noun)
A
a small group of trained people who form the basic unit of a military, political, or business organization
E.g. I was part of the cadre for a new armored division.
E.g. a cadre of professional managers.
5
Q
Anthology (noun)
A
a collection of artistic works that have a similar form or subject, often those considered to be the best
E.g. an anthology of modern quotations/American verse
E.g. This Bob Dylan anthology includes some rare recordings of his best songs.
E.g an anthology of European poetry.
6
Q
Tyrant (noun)
A
a person exercising power or control in a cruel, unreasonable, or arbitrary way:
E.g. her father was a tyrant and a bully.
7
Q
Faculty (noun) - ability
A
a natural ability to hear, see, think, move, etc.
E.g. Even at the age of 100, she still had all her faculties.
E.g.Is he in command/possession of all his faculties ?
8
Q
Forebear (noun)
A
an ancestor
E.g. generations of his forebears had lived in London.
9
Q
Vocation (noun)
A
a type of work that you feel you are suited to doing and to which you should give all your time and energy, or the feeling that a type of work suits you in this way
E.g. I feel I’ve found my true vocation.
E.g. Most teachers regard their profession as a vocation, not just a job.
E.g. To work in medicine, you should have a vocation for it.
E.g. GNVQs in Leisure and Tourism will be the introduction to a wide span of vocations.
10
Q
Volume (noun) -book
A
one in a set of related books
E.g. The second volume of his memoirs will be published later this year.
E.g. a biography of George Bernard Shaw in three volumes
11
Q
Scowl (noun)
A
an angry or bad-tempered expression; a very annoyed expression
E.g. She was clearly annoyed, as you could tell from the scowl on her face.
E.g. He opened the door again, not bothering to hide his fierce scowl.
E.g. she stamped into the room with a scowl on her face.
12
Q
Dissertation (noun)
A
a long essay on a particular subject, especially one written for a university degree or diploma
E.g. a dissertation on the novels of the Brontë sisters
E.g. he had considered writing his doctoral dissertation on Kant.
13
Q
Anomaly (noun)
A
something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected
E.g. there are a number of anomalies in the present system
14
Q
Linoleum (noun)
A
material consisting of a canvas backing thickly coated with a preparation of linseed oil and powdered cork, used especially as a floor covering.
15
Q
Swivel (noun)
A
a coupling between two parts enabling one to revolve without turning the other.
16
Q
Clamour (noun)
Hint :
- clamour for
- clamour of
A
- a loud complaint about something or a demand for something
E.g. After the bombing, there was a public clamour for vengeance.
-loud noise, especially made by people’s voices
E.g.the clamour of the city
E.g.a clamour of voices
17
Q
Reverence (noun)
A
deep respect for someone or something
E.g. rituals showed honour and reverence for the dead.
18
Q
Treatise (noun)
A
a written work dealing formally and systematically with a subject ;a formal piece of writing that considers and examines a particular subject
E.g. a six-volume treatise on trademark law
E.g. his treatise on Scottish political theory.
19
Q
Monastery (noun)
A
a building or buildings occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows.
20
Q
Aristocracy (noun)
A
the highest class in certain societies, typically comprising people of noble birth holding hereditary titles and offices
E.g. members of the aristocracy.
21
Q
Novelty (noun)
A
the quality of being new, original, or unusual
E.g. the novelty of being a married woman wore off
E.g. The novelty of experiencing snow for the first time delighted the children as they built snowmen in their front yard.
22
Q
Fad (noun)
A
an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived; a craze
E.g. some regard green politics as no more than the latest fad.
23
Q
Piety (noun)
A
strong belief in a religion that is shown in the way someone lives
E.g. the accepted pieties of our time
24
Q
Tribunal (noun)
A
a special court or group of people who are officially chosen, especially by the government, to examine (legal) problems of a particular type
E.g. a war crimes tribunal
E.g. She took her case to an immigration appeals tribunal.
E.g. an international war crimes tribunal.
25
Refuge (noun)
(a place that gives) protection or shelter from danger, trouble, unhappiness, etc.
E.g.These people are seeking/taking refuge from persecution.
E.g.The climbers slept in a mountain refuge.
E.g.She had fled from her violent husband to a women's refuge.
E.g. he was forced to take refuge in the French embassy
26
Blurb (noun)
a short description of a book, film, or other product written for promotional purposes.
27
Buttress (noun)
a structure made of stone or brick that sticks out from and supports a wall of a building
E.g. she clung to her shrinking faith as a buttress against despair. (Figurative)
28
Academic (noun)
a person who teaches at a college, or who studies as part of their job
E.g. The research company was founded by a group of academics from Stockholm University.
E.g. the EU offers grants to academics for research on approved projects.
29
Colour supplement (noun)
a magazine with colour pictures that is given free with a newspaper, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.
30
Correspondent (noun)
a person employed to report for a newspaper or broadcasting organization ;a person employed by a newspaper, a television station, etc. to report on a particular subject or send reports from a foreign country
E.g. a war correspondent
E.g. the education correspondent for the Guardian
E.g. a cricket correspondent.
31
Editorial (noun)
an article in a newspaper that expresses the editor's opinion on a subject of particular interest at the present time
E.g. All the papers deal with the same subject in their editorials
E.g. The Times and The Observer published editorials criticizing the minister.
E.g. the paper ran an editorial denouncing his hawkish stand.
32
Obituary (noun)
a notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically including a brief biography of the deceased person
E.g. his obituary of Samuel Beckett
33
Tabloid (noun)
(of or relating to) a type of popular newspaper with small pages that has many pictures and short, simple reports
E.g. the tabloid press
E.g. a tabloid newspaper
E.g. [as modifier] the tabloid press.
34
Box office (noun)
a place at a theatre, cinema, etc. where tickets are bought or reserved ;the place in a cinema or theatre where tickets are sold
E.g. The box office opens at ten.
E.g. For tickets, call the box office on this number.
35
Convict (noun)
a person found guilty of a criminal offence and serving a sentence of imprisonment ; someone who is in prison because they are guilty of a crime
E.g. an escaped convict
E.g. two escaped convicts kidnapped them at gunpoint.
36
Conscience (noun)
the part of you that judges how moral your own actions are and makes you feel guilty about bad things that you have done or things you feel responsible for
E.g. a guilty conscience
E.g.a question/matter of conscience
E.g. You didn't do anything wrong - you should have a clear conscience (= not feel guilty).
E.g. My conscience would really bother me if I wore a fur coat.
E.g. he had a guilty conscience about his desires
37
Amnesty (noun)
a decision by a government that allows political prisoners to go free
E.g. Most political prisoners were freed under the terms of the amnesty.
E.g. an amnesty for political prisoners.
38
Breakthrough (noun)
an important discovery or event that helps to improve a situation or provide an answer to a problem
E.g. Scientists are hoping for a breakthrough in the search for a cure for cancer.
E.g. A major breakthrough in negotiations has been achieved.
E.g. a major breakthrough in DNA research
39
Output (noun)
the amount of something produced by a person, machine, or industry
E.g. output from the mine ceased in May
40
Turnover (noun)
the amount of business that a company does in a period of time
E.g. Large supermarkets have high turnovers (= their goods sell very quickly).
E.g. The business has an annual turnover of £50,000.
41
Propaganda (noun)
information, ideas, opinions, or images, often only giving one part of an argument, that are broadcast, published, or in some other way spread with the intention of influencing people's opinions
E.g. political/wartime propaganda
E.g. At school we were fed communist/right-wing propaganda.
E.g. One official dismissed the ceasefire as a mere propaganda exercise.
E.g. he was charged with distributing enemy propaganda.
42
Pauper (noun)
a very poor person:
E.g. he died a pauper.
43
Mitigation (noun)
the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something
E.g. the identification and mitigation of pollution.
E.g. effective mitigation of climate change
E.g. There has been no significant increase in funding for flood mitigation works.
44
Sustenance (noun)
Hint: 2 meanings
- food, or the energy and other things food provides people and animals to keep them strong and healthy
E.g. The ranch animals get a lot of their sustenance from grazing.
E.g. poor rural economies turned to potatoes for sustenance.
- emotional or mental support
E.g. When her husband died, she drew sustenance from/she found sustenance in her religious beliefs.
45
Victuals (noun)
food and drink
E.g. "I can't bear to see good victuals wasted," said Martha.
E.g. Thank you for these fine victuals, my good man.
E.g. They sat outside in the sunshine and enjoyed their vittles(same meaning as victuals).
E.g. turkey and other savoury victuals were served.
46
Remnant (noun)
a small piece or amount of something that is left from a larger original piece or amount
E.g. the remnants of last night's meal
E.g. remnants of the city's former glory
E.g. a carpet remnant
E.g. the bogs are an endangered remnant of a primeval landscape.
47
Synthesis (noun) -mix
the mixing of different ideas, influences, or things to make a whole that is different, or new
E.g. He describes his latest record as "a synthesis of African and Latin rhythms".
E.g. the synthesis of intellect and emotion in his work
48
Catamaran (noun)
a yacht or other boat with twin hulls in parallel.
49
Easel (noun)
a wooden frame for holding an artist's work while it is being painted or drawn
E.g. I set up my easel on the beach and began to paint.
50
Arachnid (noun)
an arthropod of the class Arachnida, such as a spider or scorpion.
51
Confidant (noun)
Feminine -confidante
a person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it to others
a close confidante of the princess.
52
Serenade (noun)
a piece of music sung or played in the open air, typically by a man at night under the window of his beloved.
53
Garter (noun)
a band worn around the leg to keep a stocking or sock up
E.g. she leaned back, showing the garter on her thigh.
54
Clavicle (noun)
technical term for collarbone
55
Monolith (noun)
a large single upright block of stone, especially one shaped into or serving as a pillar or monument
E.g. we passed Stonehenge, the strange stone monoliths silhouetted against the horizon.
56
Gratituity (noun)
a tip given to a waiter, taxi driver, etc..
57
Scapegoat (noun)
a person who is blamed for something that someone else has done
E.g. The captain was made a scapegoat for the team's failure.
58
Facsimile (noun)
an exact copy, especially of written or printed material
E.g. a facsimile of the manuscript
59
Euphoria (noun)
a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness
E.g. in his euphoria, he had become convinced he could defeat them.
60
Melancholy (noun)
a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause
E.g. an air of melancholy surrounded him he had an ability to convey a sense of deep melancholy and yearning through much of his work
E.g. at the centre of his music lies a profound melancholy and nostalgia.
61
Serendipity (noun)
the fact of finding interesting or valuable things by chance
E.g. a fortunate stroke of serendipity
E.g. There is a real element of serendipity in archaeology.
62
Enigma (noun)
something that is mysterious and seems impossible to understand completely
E.g. She is something of an enigma.
E.g. The newspapers were full of stories about the enigma of the plane's disappearance.
E.g. Madeleine was still an enigma to him.
63
Anorak (noun)
a waterproof jacket, typically with a hood, of a kind originally used in polar regions.
64
Monarchy (noun)
a form of government with a monarch at the head. ▪ [count noun] a state that has a monarch. ▪ (the monarchy) the monarch and royal family of a country
E.g. the monarchy is the focus of loyalty and service.
65
Hemline (noun)
the level of the lower edge of a garment such as a skirt, dress, or coat
E.g. modest dress means that hemlines must be below the knee.
66
Governess (noun)
(especially in former times) a woman employed to teach children in a private household
E.g. she insisted they be put in school at a young age instead of being taught by a governess.
67
Demesne (noun)
a piece of land attached to a manor and retained by the owner for their own use
E.g. because labour was cheap, there were ample advantages in cultivating the demesne
68
Prowess (noun)
skill or expertise in a particular activity or field
E.g.his prowess as a fisherman
E.g. her culinary prowess.
69
Renegade (noun)
a person who has changed their feelings of support and duty from one political, religious, national, etc. group to a new one
E.g. A band of renegades had captured the prince and were holding him to ransom.
E.g. an agent who later turns out to be a renegade.
70
Solitude (noun)
the situation of being alone without other people
E.g. a life of solitude
E.g. After months of solitude at sea it felt strange to be in company.
E.g. It provides one with a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude.
E.g. she savoured her few hours of freedom and solitude.
71
Auditor (noun)
someone whose job is to carry out an official examination of the accounts of a business and to produce a report
E.g. The external auditors come in once a year.
E.g. the company is required to appoint auditors at each general meeting
E.g. external auditors report on the financial statements.
72
Varnish (noun)
resin dissolved in a liquid for applying on wood, metal, or other materials to form a hard, clear, shiny surface when dry
E.g. several coats of varnish
73
Labyrinth (noun)
a complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one's way; a maze
E.g. you lose yourself in a labyrinth of little streets.
74
Entourage (noun)
the group of people who travel with and work for an important or famous person
E.g. The star arrived in London with her usual entourage of dancers and backing singers.
E.g. an entourage of loyal courtiers.
75
Fuchsia (noun)
a vivid purplish-red colour like that of the sepals of a typical fuchsia flower
E.g. dresses in fuchsia and lavender.
76
Addendum (noun)
extra information added at the end of a report, letter, contract, etc.
E.g. An addendum to the contract stated that the buyer would be responsible for all transportation costs
E.g. the group has issued an addendum to the letter
E.g. such contracts, forms, and addenda exist for many types of real estate transactions.
77
Figment (noun)
something that seems real but is not
E.g. Was it just a figment of my imagination or did I hear John's voice in the other room?
E.g. it really was Ross and not a figment of her overheated imagination.
78
Cosmology (noun)
the science of the origin and development of the universe. Modern cosmology is dominated by the Big Bang theory, which brings together observational astronomy and particle physics.
79
Roster (noun)
Hint : 2 meanings
- a list of people's names, often with the jobs they have been given to do
E.g. If you look on the duty roster, you'll see when you're working
E.g. next week's duty roster.
- a list of people’s names and sometimes their work schedules, esp. for a military unit or a sports team
E.g. a cluster of outstanding players on the club's roster
E.g. the label assembled an extraordinarily eclectic roster of artists.
80
Baroness (noun)
the wife or widow of a baron. Baroness is not used as a form of address, baronesses usually being referred to as ‘Lady’
E.g. the baron and baroness are taking a serious role in public life.
81
Regiment (noun)
a large group of soldiers, or (more generally) any large number of things or people
E.g. Regiments are usually commanded by a colonel and are sometimes made up of soldiers from a particular city or part of the country.
E.g. [in names] the Royal Highland Regiment.
82
Fjord (noun)
a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, as in Norway, typically formed by submergence of a glaciated valley
E.g. guests will have panoramic views of the scenic fjords.
83
Triptych (noun)
picture or relief carving on three panels, typically hinged together vertically and used as an altarpiece
E.g. a triptych depicting the Crucifixion.
84
Ravine (noun)
a deep, narrow gorge with steep sides.
85
Antiquary (noun)
a person who studies or collects antiques or antiquities; an antiquarian
E.g. most of the owners of Egyptian material appear to have been inquisitive antiquaries
86
Convulsion (noun)
a sudden movement of the muscles in your body that you cannot control, caused by illness or drugs
E.g. She went into convulsions and had to be rushed to hospital.
E.g. toxic side effects like convulsions
E.g. febrile convulsions.
87
Phantasm (noun)
an illusion, apparition, or ghost ;something that is seen or imagined but is not real
E.g. What he saw here is perhaps a dream or a phantasm because ' too good to be true'.
E.g. the cart seemed to glide like a terrible phantasm.
88
Arrears (noun)
money that is owed and should have been paid earlier
E.g. he was suing the lessee for the arrears of rent
E.g. mortgage arrears.
89
Personnel (noun)
the people who are employed in a company, organization, or one of the armed forces
E.g. The new director is likely to make major changes in personnel.
E.g. military personnel
E.g. many of the personnel involved require training
E.g. sales personnel.
90
Porcelain (noun)
an article made of porcelain
E.g. the paintings, porcelains, and prints that go on the block.
91
Hostel (noun)
an establishment that provides inexpensive lodging for a specific group of people, such as students, workers, or travellers
E.g. the hostel has rooms accommodating up to ten people, as well as double and family options.
92
Shroud (noun)
a length of cloth or an enveloping garment in which a dead person is wrapped for burial
E.g. he was buried in a linen shroud.
93
Myopia (noun)- thinking
the fact of not thinking enough about how an action will affect the future, or an example of this
E.g. People's myopia often blinded them from seeing the bigger picture.
E.g. It is another example of disturbing myopia.
94
Adversity (noun)
a difficult or unpleasant situation
E.g.resilience in the face of adversity
95
Freighter (noun)
a large ship or aircraft designed to carry goods in bulk.
96
Dry dock (noun)
a dock which can be drained of water to allow the inspection and repair of a ship's hull
E.g. the company invested £40,000 in modernizing their dry dock
97
Blockbuster (noun)
a thing of great power or size, in particular a film, book, or other product that is a great commercial success
E.g. the latest Hollywood blockbuster
98
Espionage (noun)
the discovering of secrets, especially political or military information of another country or the industrial information of a business
E.g. military/industrial espionage
E.g. the camouflage and secrecy of espionage.
99
Fissure (noun)
a long, narrow opening or line of breakage made by cracking or splitting, especially in rock or earth
E.g. the bacteria survive around vents or fissures in the deep ocean floor.
100
Martyr (noun)
a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs
E.g. the first Christian martyr.
101
Amygdala (noun)
a roughly almond-shaped mass of grey matter inside each cerebral hemisphere, involved with the experiencing of emotions.
102
Conclave (noun)
a private meeting at which the discussions are kept secret
103
Chronicle (noun)
a factual written account of important or historical events in the order of their occurrence
E.g. a vast chronicle of Spanish history the rebels' demands for personal freedom are conspicuous in the chronicles.
104
Facade (noun)
a deceptive outward appearance
E.g. her flawless public facade masked private despair.
E.g. Behind her façade of gentleness was a tough competitor.
105
Acquisition (noun)
Hint : 3 meanings
- the process of getting something
E.g. The acquisition of huge amounts of data has helped our research enormously.
E.g. Their main methods of food acquisition were hunting and fishing.
- the process of gradually learning something or gaining something such as a skill
E.g. acquisition of Education is not merely about the acquisition of knowledge.
E.g. Anxiety can interfere with the acquisition of new skills.
E.g. Language acquisition starts at a very young age.
- something that someone buys, often to add to a collection of things
E.g. I like your earrings - are they a recent acquisition?
E.g. The museum's latest acquisition is a four-million-dollar sculpture.
E.g. the legacy will be used for new acquisitions.
106
Freight (noun)
goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft
E.g. a decline in the amount of freight carried by rail.
107
Aperture (noun)
an opening, hole, or gap
E.g. the bell ropes passed through apertures in the ceiling
E.g. the genital aperture of an insect.
108
Verdict (noun)
someone's opinion or judgement about something
E.g. Shares in the oil giant plummeted as investors gave their verdict on the environmental disaster.
E.g. The voters delivered their verdict on the administration's policies, with a resounding defeat of the party.
E.g. this seems a fair verdict on the tabloids.
109
Matriarch (noun)
-a powerful woman in a family
E.g. The matriarch of the Smyth family was Margaret.
E.g. Irene, the 47-year-old matriarch of the family, was found dead in the kitchen
E.g. in some cultures the mother proceeds to the status of a matriarch.
110
Scheme (noun)
an officially organized plan or system
E.g. Under the current marking scheme, you need 90 percent to get an A.
E.g. a training scheme
E.g. a savings scheme
E.g. There's a new scheme in our town for recycling plastic bottles.
E.g. Class sizes will increase under the new scheme.
E.g. the occupational sick pay scheme.
111
Hysteria (noun)
extreme fear, excitement, anger, etc. that cannot be controlled
E.g. One woman, close to hysteria, grabbed my arm.
E.g. Tabloid hysteria about the murders has increased public fears.
E.g. mass hysteria
E.g. mass hysteria erupts as the people crowd in to view the race
E.g. it was a scene of absolute hysteria
E.g. there was all sorts of hysteria about various Wi-Fi issues.
112
Quackery (noun)
medical methods that do not work and are only intended to make money
E.g. a website dedicated to exposing medical quackery
113
Brigade (noun)
Hint: 2 meanings
-a large group of soldiers in an army
E.g. he commanded a brigade of 3,000 men.
-a group of people who have something in common, especially an enthusiasm for a particular belief or subject
E.g. Since she gave up smoking she's joined the anti-smoking brigade.
114
Grimace (noun)
an ugly, twisted expression on a person's face, typically expressing disgust, pain, or wry amusement
E.g. she gave a grimace of pain.
E.g. He tried to stand and grimaced with pain
E.g. Helen made a grimace of disgust when she saw the raw meat
115
Mirage (noun)
an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, especially the appearance of a sheet of water in a desert or on a hot road caused by the refraction of light from the sky by heated air
E.g. the surface of the road ahead rippled in the heat mirages.
116
Solistice (noun)
either of the two occasions in the year when the sun is directly above either the furthest point north or the furthest point south of the equator that it ever reaches. These are the times in the year, in the middle of the summer or winter, when there are the longest hours of day or night
E.g. the summer/winter solstice
117
Tapestry (noun)
Hint : 2 meanings
- a piece of thick textile fabric with pictures or designs formed by weaving coloured weft threads or by embroidering on canvas, used as a wall hanging or soft furnishing
E.g. panelled walls hung with old tapestries
-something that is made of many different parts
E.g. The instruments blend together, weaving tapestries of sound, while the pace of the music changes constantly.
E.g. They all have contributed to the rich tapestry of mankind.
118
Stoicism (noun)
the quality of experiencing pain or trouble without complaining or showing your emotions
E.g. He endured the pain of his wounds with great stoicism
E.g. The bravery and stoicism of the soldiers can be humbling.
119
Scullery (noun)
(mainly historical) a small kitchen or room at the back of a house used for washing dishes and other dirty household work.
120
Frivolity (noun)
behaviour that is silly and not serious, or things that are silly and not important
E.g. You shouldn't treat such a serious subject with frivolity.
E.g. I'm far too busy to waste time on frivolities like going to the cinema.
E.g. a night of fun and frivolity
121
Boudoir (noun)
historical, or humorous a woman's bedroom or small private room.
122
Disdain (noun)
the feeling of not liking someone or something and thinking that they do not deserve your interest or respect
E.g. He regards the political process with disdain.
E.g. her upper lip curled in disdain
E.g. an aristocratic disdain for manual labour.
123
Whim (noun)
a sudden wish or idea, especially one that cannot be reasonably explained
E.g. We booked the trip on a whim.
E.g. You can add what you want to this mixture - brandy, whisky, or nothing at all - as the whim takes you.
E.g. Oh for a husband who would indulge my every whim!
E.g. she bought it on a whim
124
Revulsion (noun)
a sense of disgust and loathing
E.g. News of the attack will be met with sorrow and revulsion.
E.g. I turned away in revulsion when they showed a close-up of the operation.
E.g. She looked at him with revulsion.
E.g He expressed his revulsion agaist whale hunting.
125
Incentive (noun)
a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something
E.g. give farmers an incentive to improve their land.
126
Tassel (noun)
a group of short threads or ropes held together at one end, used as a hanging decoration on hats, curtains, furniture, etc.
E.g. damask curtains were held by silk cords with gold tassels.
127
Ebony (noun)
a very hard dark wood of a tropical tree, used especially for making furniture
E.g. He started buying exotic woods such as ebony and rosewood from Mexico.
E.g. The handles of medical instruments used to be made of ebony.
128
Taxidermy (noun)
[mass noun] the art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals with lifelike effect.
129
Parchment (noun)
[mass noun] a stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal, usually a sheep or goat, and used as a durable writing surface in ancient and medieval times
E.g. he borrowed a quill and a piece of parchment
E.g. his skin stretched like old parchment over his cheeks
130
Sheen(noun)
a bright, smooth surface
E.g. The conditioner gives hair a beautiful soft sheen.
E.g. black crushed velvet with a slight sheen
E.g. he seemed to shine with that unmistakable showbiz sheen (figurative).
131
Hearth (noun)
the floor of a fireplace
E.g. a cheerful fire burning in the hearth.
132
Carafe (noun)
an open-topped glass flask used for serving wine or water in a restaurant
E.g. wine is available by glass, bottle, or carafe
E.g. a carafe of retsina.
133
Stag (noun)
a male deer, especially a male red deer after its fifth year.
134
Progeny (noun)
the young or offspring of a person, animal, or plant
E.g. His numerous progeny are scattered all over the country.
E.g. shorthorn cattle are highly effective in bestowing their characteristics on their progeny.
135
Twinge (noun)
Hint: 2 meanings
- a sudden short feeling of physical or mental pain
E g. I felt a twinge in my knee.
E.g.He was feeling twinges from a calf injury after 20 minutes of the game.
- a sudden, brief feeling of pain or an emotion
E.g. When she saw the house she grew up in, she felt a twinge of sadness.
E.g. Kate felt a twinge of guilt.
136
Caveat (noun)
a warning to consider something before taking any more action, or a statement that limits a more general statement
E.g. He agreed to the interview, with the caveat that he could approve the final article.
E.g. there are a number of caveats which concern the validity of the assessment results.
137
Vertebra (noun)
each of the series of small bones forming the backbone, having several projections for articulation and muscle attachment, and a hole through which the spinal cord passes
E.g. the needle is inserted between two of the vertebrae
E.g. she crushed a vertebra in a fall at Chepstow.
138
Diaspora (noun)
the dispersion or spread of a people from their original homeland ;a group of people who spread from one original country to other countries, or the act of spreading in this way
E.g. Nearly two-fifths of Spain's foreign residents come from the Latin diaspora - mostly from Ecuador and Colombia.
E.g. The Hmong diaspora evolved against the backdrop of terror that unfolded in their homeland.
E.g. France's population of Arabic origin is the continent's largest, drawing on Francophone diasporas from North Africa and Lebanon
E.g. the diaspora of boat people from Asia his parents were part of the Scots diaspora.
139
Cascade (noun)
a small waterfall, typically one of several that fall in stages down a steep rocky slope
E.g. the waterfall raced down in a series of cascades.
140
Census (noun)
an official count or survey, especially of a population;a count for official purposes, especially one to count the number of people living in a country and to collect information about them
E.g. We have a census in this country every ten years.
E.g. She was stopped in her car for a traffic census
141
Trajectory (noun)
the path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces
E.g. the missile's trajectory was preset
E.g. the rapid upward trajectory of Rich's career (figurative).
142
Sanctuary (noun)
refuge or safety from pursuit, persecution, or other danger
E.g. his sons took sanctuary in the church E.g. [count noun] she thought of her room as a sanctuary.
143
Endeavor (noun)
an attempt to do something
E.g. In spite of our best endeavors, it has proven impossible to contact her.
E.g. Crossing the North Pole on foot was an amazing feat of human endeavor.
E.g. artistic endeavor
E.g. [with infinitive] an endeavour to reduce serious injury.
144
Gladiator (noun)
(in ancient Rome) a man trained to fight with weapons against other men or wild animals in an arena
E.g. these rooms were once used to house the gladiators and animals before their deadly fights.
145
Perpetrator (noun)
someone who has committed a crime or a violent or harmful act
E.g. The perpetrators of the massacre must be brought to justice as war criminals.
E.g. the perpetrators of this horrific crime must be brought to justice.
146
Coverlet (noun)
a bedspread
147
Antimacassar (noun)
a cloth, used mainly in the past, for putting over the back of a chair in order to keep it clean or to decorate it
148
Helicoid (noun)
a helical or spiral object
149
Machination (noun)
complicated and secret plans to get power or control or to gain an advantage
E.g. Despite a commitment to a more open government, the public is still being kept in the dark about the inner machinations of the Cabinet.
E.g. Much of next year will be taken up with political machinations about his successor.
150
Collusion (noun)
agreement between people to act together secretly or illegally in order to deceive or cheat someone
E.g. It is thought that they worked in collusion with the terrorist network.
E.g. the armed forces were working in collusion with drug traffickers.
151
Straggler (noun)
a person or animal that is last in a group to do something or the last to get to or leave a place
E.g. We watched the last of the stragglers come in, three hours after the first runner.
E.g. a few stragglers lingered, talking as they slipped on their coats
E.g. we can expect to see a flow of legal pressures pushing stragglers towards sustainability( figurative).
152
Connivance (noun)
the act of conniving, especially by knowing that something bad is happening and allowing it to continue
E.g. Their appalling treatment of their child could only have happened with the connivance of their neighbours.
E.g. this infringement of the law had taken place with the connivance of officials.
153
Dalliance (noun)
a casual romantic or sexual relationship ;(involvement in) a sexual relationship that is not lasting or serious ; an interest or involvement in an activity or belief that only lasts for a very short period
E.g. The 1970s witnessed the first of the pop star's dalliances with communism.
E.g. Jack was not averse to an occasional dalliance with a pretty girl
154
Mound (noun)
a rounded mass projecting above a surface
E.g. the bushes were little more than vague mounds beneath the snow.
155
Hillock (noun)
a small hill or mound.
E.g. The extension of this outcrop is seen in a nala section just on the other side of this hillock.
156
Spectacle (noun)- event
an unusual or unexpected event or situation that attracts attention, interest, or disapproval
E.g. It was a strange spectacle to see the two former enemies shaking hands and slapping each other on the back.
E.g. We witnessed the extraordinary spectacle of an elderly lady climbing a tree to rescue her cat.
E.g. the acrobatic feats make a good spectacle
157
Brocade (noun)
a rich fabric woven with a raised pattern, typically with gold or silver thread
E.g. the quilt was of white silk brocade
158
Larder (noun)
a cupboard or small room used, especially in the past, for storing food in someone's home
E.g. a well-stocked larder
159
Tuft (noun)
a number of short pieces of hair, grass, etc. that grow closely together or are held together near the base
E g. He had a few tufts of hair on his chin, but you couldn't really call it a beard.
E.g. scrubby tufts of grass.
160
Disposition (noun)
the particular type of character that a person naturally has
E.g. She is of a nervous/cheerful/sunny disposition.
E.g. your sunny disposition has a way of rubbing off on those around you
E.g. he has the disposition of a saint.
161
Syndicate (noun)
a group of people or organizations who join together to share the financial risk involved in achieving something
E.g. A syndicate of banks is financing the deal.
E.g. a banking/property syndicate
E.g. large-scale buyouts involving a syndicate of financial institutions a crime syndicate.
162
Calisthenics (noun)
physical exercises usually done repeatedly to keep your muscles in good condition and improve the way you look or feel
E.g. The class began with 20 minutes of calisthenics.
E.g. three women swung Indian clubs while performing callisthenics in unison.
163
Tandem (noun)
a group of two people or machines working together ;two people or pieces of equipment that work together to achieve a result, or a team of two people or animals
E.g. Several races were held, including one for father-and-son tandems
E.g. the Giants had the greatest pitching tandem in baseball history.
164
Coercion (noun)
the use of force to persuade someone to do something that they are unwilling to do
E.g. He claimed the police had used coercion, threats, and promises to obtain the statement illegally.
E.g. our problem cannot be solved by any form of coercion but only by agreement.
165
Moor (noun)
an open area of hills covered with rough grass, especially in Britain
E.g. the Yorkshire moors
E.g. a little town in the moors.
166
Warranty (noun)
a written guarantee, issued to the purchaser of an article by its manufacturer, promising to repair or replace it if necessary within a specified period of time
E.g. the car comes with a three-year warranty
167
Cumulus (noun)
cloud forming rounded masses heaped on each other above a flat base at fairly low altitude
E.g. the high cumulus is breaking up to give a lovely summer evening
E.g. [count noun] silent, moving, red-tinged cumuli.
168
Liability (noun)
Hint : 3 meanings
- [mass noun] the state of being legally responsible for something
E.g. once you contact the card protection scheme your liability for any loss ends.
- (liabilities) [count noun] a thing for which someone is responsible, especially an amount of money owed
E.g. valuing the company's liabilities and assets.
- [usually in singular] a person or thing whose presence or behaviour is likely to put one at a disadvantage
E.g. she said the party had become a liability to green politics.
169
Patriarch (noun)
the male head of a family or tribe.
▪ an older man who is powerful within an organization
E.g. Hollywood's reigning patriarch rose to speak.
170
Stupor (noun)
a state in which a person is almost unconscious and their thoughts are not clear
E.g. He was lying under the table in a drunken stupor.
171
Dexterity (noun)
the ability to perform a difficult action quickly and skilfully with the hands
E.g. He caught the ball with great dexterity.
E.g. Young children lack the dexterity to brush their teeth effectively.
E.g. her dexterity with chopsticks
E.g. his record testifies to a certain dexterity in politics.
172
Heathen (noun)
a person who has no religion, or who belongs to a religion that is not Christianity, Judaism, or Islam
E.g. my brother and I were raised, as my grandma puts it, as heathens
E.g. he said non-believers were wicked heathens
173
Glossary (noun)
an alphabetical list of words relating to a specific subject, text, or dialect, with explanations; a brief dictionary
E.g. a glossary of Inuktitut words.
174
Eulogy (noun)
a speech, piece of writing, poem, etc. containing great praise, especially for someone who recently died or retired from work
E.g. He was the most self-effacing of men - the last thing he would have relished was a eulogy.
E.g. The song was a eulogy to the joys of travelling.
E.g. a eulogy to the Queen Mother.
175
Philtrum (noun)
the vertical groove between the base of the nose and the border of the upper lip.
176
Milestone (noun)
a significant stage or event in the development of something
E.g. the speech is being hailed as a milestone in race relations.
177
Albumen (noun)
[mass noun] egg white, or the protein contained in it.
178
Crater (noun)
the round hole at the top of a volcano, or a hole in the ground similar to this
E.g. the huge crater of Vesuvius
E.g. a bomb crater
E.g. With a good telescope, you can see craters on the moon.
E.g. the blast left a crater in the car park Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system, has relatively few impact craters.
179
Skewer (noun)
a long piece of wood or metal used for holding pieces of food, typically meat, together during cooking
E.g. thread the meat on to large skewers and grill over a gentle heat.
180
Pullet (noun)
a young hen, especially one less than one year old.
181
Echelon (noun)
a level or rank in an organization, a profession, or society
E.g. the upper echelons of the business world.
182
Relevance (noun)
the quality or state of being closely connected or appropriate
E.g. this film has contemporary relevance
E.g. the quantity, quality, and relevance of links count towards your rating
E.g. the Web does allow us to produce more articles of relevance to our readers.
183
Tunnel-vision (noun)- thinking
the fact that someone considers only one part of a problem or situation, or holds a single opinion rather than having a more general understanding
184
Elixir (noun)
a magical or medicinal potion
E.g. an elixir guaranteed to induce love.
185
Onslaught (noun)
a very powerful attack
E.g. It is unlikely that his forces could withstand an enemy onslaught for very long.
E.g. Scotland's onslaught on Wales in the second half of the match earned them a 4–1 victory.
E.g. a series of onslaughts on the citadel.
186
Gusto (noun)
great energy, enthusiasm, and enjoyment that is experienced by someone taking part in an activity, especially a performance
E.g. Everyone joined in the singing with great gusto.
187
Ennui (noun)
a feeling of being bored and mentally tired caused by having nothing interesting or exciting to do
E.g. The whole country seems to be affected by the ennui of winter.
188
Petrichor (noun)
the smell produced when rain falls on dry ground, usually experienced as being pleasant
189
Sycophant (noun)
someone who praises powerful or rich people in a way that is not sincere, usually in order to get some advantage from them
E.g. The prime minister is surrounded by sycophants.
190
Aplomb (noun)
confidence and style
E.g. Rosalind conducted the meeting with characteristic aplomb/with her usual aplomb.
191
Oeuvre
the complete works of a writer, painter, or other artist
E.g. I'm not familiar with his oeuvre.
192
Farce (noun)- situation
a ridiculous situation or event, or something considered a waste of time
E.g. The meeting turned out to be a farce since no one had prepared anything.
193
Garland (noun)
a circle made of flowers and leaves worn around the neck or head as a decoration
E.g. a garland of white roses
194
Heft (noun)
the weight of something
E.g. Despite their considerable heft, buffalo are agile creatures.
195
Sham (noun)
something that is not what it seems to be and is intended to deceive people, or someone who pretends to be something they are not
E.g. It turned out that he wasn't a real doctor at all - he was just a sham.
E.g. They claimed that the election had been fair, but really it was a sham.
196
Complacency (noun)
a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder
E.g. What annoys me about these girls is their complacency - they seem to have no desire to expand their horizons.
E.g. There's no room for complacency if we want to stay in this competition!
197
Aplomb (noun)
confidence and style
E.g. Rosalind conducted the meeting with characteristic aplomb/with her usual aplomb.
198
Maverick (noun)
a person who thinks and acts in an independent way, often behaving differently from the expected or usual way
E.g. a political maverick
E.g. He was considered as something of a maverick in the publishing world.
199
Mirth (noun)
laughter, humour, or happiness
E.g. Her impersonations of our teachers were a source of considerable mirth
