Word List 17 Flashcards
gargoyle
a spout in the form of a grotesque human or animal figure projecting from a roof gutter to throw rainwater clear of a building
a grotesquely carved figure
a person with an ugly figure
garish
clothed in vivid colors
excessively or disturbingly vivid
offensively or distressingly bright ; glaring
tastelessly showy; flashy
e.g. garish imagery
The wedding guest’s thick makeup was garish and unnecessary.
garland
a circular or spiral arrangement of intertwined material (as flowers or leaves)
anthology, collection
e.g. a garland of flowers
garner
to gather into storage
to deposit as if in a granary
to acquire by effort; earn
accumulate, collect
e.g. She garnered more evidence to support her theory.
garnish
decorate, embellish
to equip with accessories; furnish
e.g. a chef who never served any dish without first garnishing it
garrulity
the quality or state of being garrulous
e.g. In her article the professor resorts to garrulity in a vain attempt to disguise the fact that she has very little worth saying.
taciturn
temperamentally disinclined to talk
e.g. A taciturn young man, he almost never initiates a conversation.
garrulous
given to prosy, rambling, or tedious loquacity; pointless or annoyingly talkative
wordy
e.g. He became more garrulous after drinking a couple of beers.
laconic
using or involving the use of a minimum of words; concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious
e.g. The sportscaster’s color commentary tends to be laconic but very much to the point.
gash
a deep cut in flesh
a deep narrow depression or cut
also
e.g. The iceberg made a gash in the hull of the ship.
Her face had been gashed by the rocks as she tumbled down the embankment.
gasification
conversion into gas; especially, conversion of coal into natural gas
gaucherie
a tactless or awkward act
gaudy
ostentatiously or tastelessly ornamented
marked by extravagance or sometimes tasteless showiness; outlandish
exceptional
e.g. The showgirls wore gaudy costumes.
gaudy lies/claims
They bought the house for a gaudy sum.
gauge
measurement; dimensions, size; also, an instrument for a means of measuring or testing
to measure; to determine the capacity or contents of; estimate, judge
to check for conformity to specifications or limits
e.g. Home sales provide a useful way of gauging the overall state of economy.
He accurately gauged the mood of the voters.
gazetteer
a book or list that is arranged in alphabetical order and gives information about places
genealogy
an account of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or from older forms
regular descent of a person, family, or group of organisms from a progenitor or older form; pedigree
the study of family pedigrees
an account of the origin and historical development of something
e.g. They’ve been researching their genealogies.
has a distinguished genealogy that traces back to William the Conqueror
genesis
the origin or coming into being of something
e.g. the genesis of the civil rights movement
genial
favorable to growth or comfort; mild
marked by or diffusing sympathy or friendliness
mordant
biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style; incisive
burning, pungent
e.g. a writer famous for her mordant humor
a mordant review of the movie that compared it to having one’s teeth pulled for two hours
saturnine
born under or influenced astrologically by the planet Saturn
cold and steady in mood; slow to act or change
of a gloomy or surly disposition
having a sardonic aspect
e.g. The men awaiting interrogation by the police shared a saturnine silence.
a saturnine smile
genteel
having an aristocratic quality or flavor; stylish
of or relating to the gentry or upper class
elegant or graceful in manner, appearance, or shape
e.g. a person of genteel upbringing
an elderly woman living in genteel poverty
gentry
the condition or rank of a gentleman upper or ruling class; aristocracy people of a specified class or kind; folks
e.g. poor tenant farmers working for landed gentry
The old-line yachting gentry frowns upon vulgar displays of wealth.
spurious
not genuine, sincere, or authentic
based on false ideas or bad reasoning
e.g. a spurious Picasso painting that wouldn’t have fooled an art expert for a second
claimed that the governor’s election-year enthusiasm for conservation was spurious, since he had cut funding for state parks
germane
being at once relevant and appropriate; fitting
e.g. facts germane to the dispute
My personal opinion isn’t germane to our discussion of the facts of the case.
germinate
to cause to sprout or develop
to come into being; evolve
e.g. before Western civilization began to germinate
germinal
being in the earliest stage of development
creative, productive
gerontocracy
rule by elders; specifically, a form of social organization in which a group of old men or a council of elders dominates or exercises control
gerontology
the comprehensive study of aging and the problems of the aged
gerrymander
to divide (a territorial unit) into election districts to give one political party an electoral majority in a large number of districts while concentrating the voting strength of the opposition in as few districts as possible to divide (an area) into political units to give special advantages to one group
e.g. gerrymandering urban districts to give rural voters a majority
geyser
a spring that throws forth intermittent jets of heated water and steam
e.g. The water shot into the sky in an enormous geyser.
gibe
to utter taunting words; to deride or tease
e.g. teammates gibing each other when one fouls up an important play
giddy
dizzy; causing dizziness; whirling rapidly
lightheartedly silly; frivolous
joyfully elated; euphoric
e.g. He was giddy with delight.
The room was filled with giddy laughter.
gild
to overlay with or as if with a thin covering of gold
to give money to; to give an attractive but often deceptive appearance to
gimmick
a mechanical device for secretly and dishonestly controlling gambling apparatus
an ingenious or novel mechanical device; gadget
an important feature that is not immediately apparent; catch
an ingenious and usually new scheme or angle
a trick or device used to attract business or attention
e.g. The proposal to cut taxes was just an election gimmick to win votes.
ginger
pep
e.g. a 60-year-old with the ginger to consider skydiving lessons
gingerly
very cautious or careful
e.g. gave the cork on the bottle of champagne a gingerly twist
girder
a horizontal main structural member (as in a building or bridge) that supports vertical loads and that consists of a single piece or of more than one piece bound together
girth
a band or strap that encircles the body of an animal to fasten something (as a saddle on its back)
a measure around a body; size, dimensions
e.g. The tree is about two meters in girth.
glade
an open space surrounded by woods
peruse
to examine or consider with attention and in detail; study
to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner
read; especially, to read over in an attentive or leisurely manner
e.g. He perused the newspaper over breakfast.
perused the manuscript, checking for grammatical errors
glean
to gather grain or other produce left by reapers
to gather (as information) bit by bit
to pick over in search of relevant material
e.g. gleaning old files for information
He has a collection of antique tools gleaned from flea markets and garage sales.
glib
marked by ease and informality; nonchalant
showing little forethought or preparation; offhand
lacking depth and substance; superficial
marked by ease and fluency in speaking or writing often to the point of being insincere or deceitful
e.g. the actor’s glib portrayal of a drug addict
glib solutions to knotty problems
a glib politician
lumber
to move ponderously
rumble
glitch
a usually minor malfunction
a minor problem that causes a temporary setback; snag
e.g. Glitches in the speaker’s schedule caused some delays.
glisten
to give off a sparkling or lustrous reflection of or as if of a moist or polished surface
e.g. Rain made the streets glisten.
Her eyes glistened with tears.
gloat
to observe or think about something with triumphant and often malicious satisfaction, gratification, or delight
e.g. gloat over an enemy’s misfortune
After such a tough campaign, they’re gloating over their victory in the election.
gloom
to look, feel, or act sullen or despondent to be or become overcast to loom up dimly to make dark, murky, or somber partial or total darkness lowness of spirits; dejection
e.g. We just sat there, glooming, as we waited.
He continued to gloom over the fact that he had been passed over for promotion.
He walked away, disappearing into the gloom.
gloss
to mask the true nature of; give a deceptive attractiveness appearance to (used with over)
to deal with to lightly or not at all (used with over)
a brief explanation of a difficult or obscure word or expression
a false and often willfully misleading interpretation
commentary, interpretation
e.g. The misery was general, where not glossed over by liberal application of alcohol.
glosses over scholarly controversies rather than confronting them head-on
glower
to look or stare with sullen annoyance or anger
e.g. baseball fans glowering at their TVs as they watched their favorite team lose
glut
to fill especially with food to satiety
to flood (the market) with goods so that supply exceeds demand
an excessive quantity; oversupply
glutinous
having the quality of glue; gummy
e.g. a bad horror movie from the 1950s about a glutinous blob that devoured Manhattan
gnarled
full of knots gnarls; knotty
crabbed in disposition, aspect, or character
gnaw
to bite or chew on with the teeth; especially, to wear away by persistent biting or nibbing
to be a source of vexation to; plague
erode, corrode
e.g. anxiety always gnawing him
waves gnawing away at the cliffs
goad
to incite or rouse as if with a goad to drive (as cattle) with a goad
e.g. The threat of legal action should goad them into complying.
gobble
to swallow or eat greedily
to take eagerly; grab (usually used with up)
goldbrick
to take money or property from by fraud or deceit; swindle
to shirk duty or responsibility
also
e.g. The goldbricks among the colonists were warned: no work, no food.
spleen
feelings of anger or ill will often suppressed
e.g. The bill’s failure to pass in the legislature was due to nothing more than partisan spleen.
rancor
bitter deep-seated ill will
e.g. In the end, the debate created a degree of rancor among the committee members.
gossamer
a film of cobwebs floating in air in calm clear weather
something light, delicate, or insubstantial
also
e.g. The gossamer veil seemed to float about the bride as she walked down the aisle.
gouge
a chisel with a concavo-convex cross section
an excessive or improper exaction; extortion
also
e.g. The accident left a big gouge in the side of the car.
They feel that they are being gouged by the oil companies.
gourmand
one who is excessively fond of eating and drinking
one who is heartily interested in good food and drink
e.g. the kind of gourmand who swallows food without even pausing to taste it
a finicky gourmand who vacationed in Europe every year simply for the wine
gradation
a series forming successive stages
an advance by regular degrees
a gradual passing from one tint or shade to another
graft
the acquisition of gain (as money) in dishonest or questionable ways; also, illegal or unfair gain
to get (illicit gain) by graft
to practice graft
grandeur
the quality or state of being grand; magnificence
an instance or example of grandeur
e.g. the beauty and grandeur of the landscape
restoring the hotel to its original grandeur
grandiose
characterized by affectation of grandeur or splendor by absurd exaggeration
impressive because of uncommon largeness, scope, effect, or grandeur
e.g. a grandiose plan to upgrade the entire interstate highway system in 10 years
grandstand
a usually roofed stand for spectators at a racecourse or stadium
audience
done for show or to impress onlookers
to play or act so as to impress onlookers
e.g. The outfielder made a grandstand play out of what should have been a routine match.
grasping
desiring material possessions urgently and excessively and often to the point of ruthlessness
e.g. Her grasping children fought over her property when she died.
grate
to reduce to small particles by rubbing on something rough
fret, irritate
gratification
reward, recompense; especially, gratuity
the act of gratifying; the state of being gratified
a source of satisfaction or pleasure
e.g. Eating good chocolate gives me a sense of intense gratification.
gratify
to give pleasure or satisfaction to
to give in to; indulge, satisfy
e.g. He’s only concerned with gratifying his own desires.
gratuitous
given unearned or without recompense; costing nothing, free
not called for by the circumstances; unwarranted
e.g. a gratuitous box of chocolate
The film was criticized for its gratuitous violence.
ingrate
an ungrateful person
gravel
small pieces of rock
to cover or spread with gravel
perplex, confound; irritate, nettle
e.g. managed to gravel his opponent in the debate by focusing on atypical examples
grievous
causing or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or sorrow
oppressive, onerous
serious, grave
e.g. a grievous wound/loss
the grievous cost of war
He took foolish financial risk and suffered a grievous loss.
grim
fierce in disposition or action; savage
somber, gloomy
unflinching, unyielding
e.g. Hikers made a grim discovery when they came across a dead body in the woods.
grim determination
grimace
a facial expression usually of disgust, disapproval, or pain
also
e.g. The patient made a painful grimace as the doctor examined his wound.
gripe
afflict, distress; irritate, vex
to complain with grumbling
(oft. pl.) spasmodic intestinal pain
grievance, complaint
e.g. All of the workers were griping about the new regulations.
I would rather not listen to gripes about your latest disasters in the dating game.
grisly
inspiring horror or intense fear
inspiring disgust or distaste
gristle
cartilage
broadly, tough mater in meat that in difficult to eat
grit
sand, gravel
firmness of mind or spirit
to grate or grind
to cover or spread with grit
e.g. Through resourcefulness and grit, the pioneers survived the winter.
The crash victims gritted his teeth as a way of coping with the pain.
groove
a long narrow channel or depression
a fixed routine; rut; a situation suited to one’s abilities or interests; niche
e.g. The door slides along a groove in the doorframe.
a great talker when he is in the groove
grope
to feel about blindly or uncertainly in search
to look for something blindly or uncertainly
to feel one’s way
e.g. grope for the light switch
grope for the right words to use
groped along the dark passage
grotto
cave
an artificial recess or structure made to resemble a natural cave
grouch
a fit of bad temper; grudge, complaint
a habitually irritable or complaining person; grumbler
e.g. Having been proven wrong, he had a grouch on for hours afterwards.
precarious
depending on the will or pleasure of another
dependent on uncertain premises; dubious
dependent on chance circumstances, unknown conditions, or uncertain developments
marked by a lack of security or stability that threatens with danger
e.g. precarious generalizations
The strong wind almost knocked him off of his precarious perch on the edge of the cliff.
grouse
any of various chiefly-ground dwelling birds
complain, grumble
e.g. She’s been grousing to her boss about the working conditions.
grove
a small wood without underbrush
a planting of fruit or nut trees
e.g. a picnic grove
grovel
to creep with the face to the ground; crawl
to abase oneself; to give oneself over to what is base or unworthy; wallow
e.g. He had to grovel to get her to accept his apology.
a groveling apology
grueling
trying or taxing to the point of exhaustion; punishing
e.g. a grueling race
guffaw
a loud or boisterous burst of laughter
also
e.g. managed to keep a straight face for a minute before he let loose with a loud guffaw
guile
deceitful cunning; duplicity
e.g. a shady salesman who usually relies on a combination of quick thinking and guile
guileless
innocent, naive
e.g. an easygoing, guileless young woman who was comfortable just being herself
guillotine
a machine for beheading by means of a heavy blade that slides in vertical guides
a shearing machine or instrument that in action resembles a guillotine
guise
a form of style or dress; costume
external appearance; semblance
pretext
e.g. My new neighbor began seeking my company under the guise of friendship, but he turned out to be a member of a religious cult bent on conversion.
gullible
easily duped or cheated
e.g. They sell overpriced souvenirs to gullible tourists.
gulp
to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one swallow
to keep back as if by swallowing
to take in readily as if by swallowing
e.g. gulp down a sob
gulp down knowledge
gulping for air
gum
any of various plant exudes (as an oleoresin or gum resin)
gush
to issue copiously or violently
to emit a sudden copious flow
to make an effusive display of affection or enthusiasm
e.g. Blood gushed from the wound.
I’m tired of hearing her gush about her boyfriend.
gusher
one that gushes; specifically, an oil well with a copious natural flow
gustation
the act or sensation of tasting
gustatory
relating to or associated with eating or the sense of taste
gusto
an individual or special taste
enthusiastic and vigorous enjoyment or appreciation
vitality marked by an abundance of vigor and enthusiasm
e.g. different gustoes
without the gusto to go on a hike
guy
a rope, chain, rod, or wire attacked to something as a brace or guide (called also guyline)
guzzle
to drink especially liquor greedily, continually, and habitually
consume, use up
e.g. guzzled my soda before I could stop him
teenagers sneaking out to guzzle in the woods
devices that guzzle electricity
gyrate
winding or coiled around; convoluted
to revolve around a point or axis
to oscillate with or as if with a circular or spiral motion
e.g. gyrate branches of a tree
They gyrated to the music.
The gyroscope got its name for the way the disk inside the instrument gyrates around an axis.
habituate
to make used to something; accustom
frequent
e.g. the sort of lounge lizard known to habituate bars and nightclubs
habituate to a stimulus
habitude
habitual disposition or mode of behavior or procedure
custom
e.g. a lifelong habitude for talking too much
