Word List 5 Flashcards
bewilder
to cause to lose one’s bearings
to perplex or confuse especially by a complexity, variety, or multitude of objects or considerations
e.g. The change in policy seems to have bewildered many of our customers.
bibliophile
a lover of books especially for qualities of format; also a book collector
e.g. For bibliophiles, no electronic device could possibly give the tactile pleasure of a beautifully bound book.
bicker
to engage in a petulant or petty quarrel
e.g. bickering over money
bifurcate
to (also cause to) divide into two branches or parts
e.g. The stream bifurcated into two narrow winding channels.
bifurcate a beam of light
coalesce
to grow together
to unite into a whole, fuse; to unite for a common end
to arise from the combination of distinct elements
e.g. a group of young reformers who gradually coalesced into a political movement
An organized and a popular resistance immediately coalesced.
bigotry
the state of mind of a bigot
acts or beliefs characteristic of a bigot
e.g. A deeply ingrained bigotry prevented her from even considering the counterarguments.
bile
a yellow or greenish viscid alkaline fluid secreted by the liver
inclination to anger; acrimony, vitriol
e.g. With considerable bile, the author recounts a childhood filled with misery and loneliness.
bilk
to block the free development of; frustrate
to cheat out of something valuable; defraud
to evade payment of or to
to slip away from
e.g. Fate bilks their hopes.
An investigation revealed that the garage had been bilking motorists for repairs that had never been made.
to bilk his creditors
She bilked her pursuers.
billowy
similar to wave, especially a great wave or surge of water
resembling a rolling mass (as of flame or smoke)
biped
a two-footed animal
podiatry
the medical care and treatment of the human foot
bit
the biting or cutting edge or part of a tool
blanch
to bleach
to make ashen or pale
e.g. She blanched and remained silent when the store owner accused her of taking the money.
bland
dull, insipid
smooth and soothing in manner or quality
exhibiting no personal concern or embarrassment; unperturbed
e.g. The diplomat’s bland statement did nothing to calm the situation.
bland soup
blandish
to coax with flattery; cajole
to act or speak in a flattering or coaxing manner
e.g. They blandished her into doing their work for them by complimenting her shamelessly.
blatant
noisy especially in a vulgar or offensive manner; clamorous
completely obvious, conspicuous, or obtrusive especially in a crass or offensive manner; brazen
e.g. a blatant clamor for the impeachment of the scandal-plagued governor
blatant disregard for the rules
blatter
to talk noisily and fast
blazon
armorial bearings ostentatious display to publish widely; proclaim to pain or depict with accurate details display, adorn
e.g. Their public canoodling has pretty much blazoned the fact that they are having an affair.
The city’s waterfront has been blazoned with banners celebrating the festival of tall ships.
bleak
exposed and barren and often windswept
cold, raw; lacking in warmth, life, or kindliness; grim
not hopeful or encouraging; depressing
severely simple or austere
e.g. a bleak November evening
a bleak outlook for the team for the rest of the season
blemish
to spoil by a flaw
a noticeable imperfection, especially one that seriously impairs appearance
e.g. The incident blemished his reputation.
The book fails to mention any of the organization’s many blemishes.
blight
a disease or injury of plans marked by the formation of lesions, withering, and deaths of parts
something that frustrates plans or hopes
to damage
e.g. The expanding urban sprawl is a blight on the countryside.
Builders blighted the land with malls and parking lots.
blithe
of a happy lighthearted character or disposition
lacking due thought or consideration; casual, heedless
e.g. a blithe spirit
He showed blithe disregard for the rights of others.
blotch
to mark or mar with blotches
imperfection, blemish
a spot or mark (as of color or ink) especially when large and irregular
e.g. He blotched the bedroom walls with various shades of blue to give them a textured effect.
a dog with a single small blotch of black
blowhard
braggart
windbag, an exhaustively talkative person
e.g. a politician who is the stereotypical backslapping blowhard
blue
depressed, melancholy
blueprint
photographic print of building plans
detailed plan
blunder
to move unsteadily or confusedly
to make a mistake (in) through stupidity, ignorance, or carelessness
e.g. We blundered along through the woods until we finally found the trail.
The government blundered by not acting sooner.
blunt
slow or deficient in feeling; insensitive
obtuse in understanding or discernment; dull
having an edge or point that is not sharp
abrupt in speech or manner; being straight to the point; direct
e.g. a blunt instrument
He was blunt about needing more space.
hone
to sharpen or smooth with a whetstone
to make more acute, intense, or effective; whet
e.g. to hone one’s skills
whet
to sharpen by rubbing on or with something (as a stone)
to make keen or more acute; excite, stimulate
e.g. whet a knife
We had some wine to whet our appetites.
blurb
a short publicity notice (as on a book jacket)
lush
growing vigorously especially with luxuriant foliage
appealing to senses; savory, delicious; opulent, sumptuous
e.g. The frequent rainfall encourages the lush growth of trees, ferns, and shrubs.
lush accommodations/sounds of the orchestra
bluster
to talk or act with noisy swaggering threats
to blow in stormy noisy gusts; to be windy and boisterous
e.g. He brags and blusters, but he never does what he says he’ll do.
The wind blustered through the valley.
bog
wet spongy ground
to cause to sink into or as if into a bog; impede, mire (usually used with down)
e.g. They can bog down any other agency by encumbering agency rules or policies.
boggle
to start with fright or amazement; be overwhelmed
to hesitate because of doubt, fear, scruples
mishandle, bungle
e.g. The mind boggles at the research needed.
She boggled her first effort to make cookies.
bogus
not genuine; counterfeit, sham
e.g. The museum quickly discovered that the painting was bogus.
boisterous
noisily turbulent; rowdy
marked by or expressive of exuberance and high spirits
stormy, tumultuous
e.g. The fans at the baseball game became particularly boisterous after the home run.
bolster
a long pillow or cushion; a structural part designed to eliminate friction or provide support or bearing
to support with or as if with a bolster; reinforce
to give a boost to
e.g. a convincing argument that was bolstered by the speaker’s reputation
bolt
a wood or metal bar used to fasten a door
a metal rod or pin for fastening objects together
to move suddenly or nervously; start
to move or proceed rapidly; dash
to dart off or away; flee
preposterous
contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd
bombast
pretentious inflated speech or writing
e.g. The other world leaders at the international conference had little interest in being subjected to the president’s bombast.
bonnet
a brimless Scottish cap of seamless woolen fabric
a metal covering
bonny
attractive, fair; fine, excellent
boon
benefit, favor, especially one that is given in answer to a request
a timely benefit; blessing
e.g. The couple’s generous donation was a great boon to the charity’s fundraising campaign.
boor
peasant
a rude or insensitive person
e.g. a loudmouthed boor who embarrassed his family at every social event they attended
bootless
useless, unprofitable
e.g. a bootless attempt to get tickets to the sold-out game
bore
to make a hole
to cause to fell boredom
a hole
a tiresome, dull person
boulder
a detached and rounded or much-worn mass of rock
bouquet
flowers picked and fastened together in a bunch; nosegay
medley
compliment
a distinctive and characteristic fragrance (as of wine); a subtle aroma or quality (as of an artistic performance)
e.g. The drama critics greeted her performance with bouquets.
coquet
to play the coquette; flirt
to deal with something playfully rather than seriously
bourgeois
of, relating to, or characteristic of the social middle class marked by a concern for material interests and respectability and a tendency toward mediocrity dominated by commercial and industrial interests; capitalist
bout
a spell of activity (as an athletic match); outbreak, attack, session
e.g. She is currently suffering from a bout of the flu.
boycott
to engage in a concerted refusal to having dealings with (as a person, store, or organization) usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance or certain conditions
e.g. We boycotted companies that were polluting the environment.
brace
to strengthen
prepare
fastener
e.g. Brace yourself for the shock.
He braced the gate with a piece of wood.
bracing
giving strength, vigor, or freshness
e.g. a chilly but bracing day
a bracing breeze
vapid
lacking liveliness, tang, briskness, or force; flat, dull
e.g. a gossipy, vapid woman, obsessed by her own elegance
bracket
wooden or metal angle shaped support
braggadocio
braggart
empty boasting; arrogant pretension, cockiness
e.g. His braggadocio hid the fact that he felt personally inadequate.
brake
a device for arresting or preventing motion
to retard or stop by or as if by a brake
brandish
to shake or wave (as a weapon) menacingly
to exhibit in an ostentatious or aggressive manner
e.g. I could see that he was brandishing a knife.
As with his Harvard degree, he didn’t hesitate to brandish his pretty wife.
brash
brittle
heedless of the consequences; audacious, rash
full of fresh raw vitality
aggressively self-assertive; impudent
e.g. a brash adventurer/frontier town
a brash request to get something for free
brassy
shamelessly bold
resistant to control, marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness; obstreperous
e.g. A brassy customer insisted on arriving late and still being taken first.
bravado
blustering swaggering conduct
a pretense of bravery
e.g. His stories are always told with bravado.
bravura
a musical passage requiring exceptional agility and technical skill in execution
a florid brilliant style; a show of daring or brilliance
marked by a dazzling display of skill
ornate, showy
e.g. A truly bravura performance of the ballet brought the crowd to its feed.
brawl
a rough, noisy quarrel or fight
also
brazen
marked by contemptuous boldness
e.g. a brazen demand for special treatment just because she is rich
brazier
one who works in brass
a pan for holding burning coals
bricklayer
a person who lays bricks
bridle
a headgear with which a horse is governed
curb, restraint
to restrain, check, or control
to show hostility or resentment (as to an affront to one’s pride or dignity)
e.g. set a bridle on his power
try to bridle your criticism next time so that it is helpful and not hurtful
brink
the edge of a steep place; verge, border
brisk
keenly alert; lively
fresh, invigorating (brisk weather)
energetic, quick; marked by much activity
e.g. a brisk walk
Business was brisk.
bristle
a short stiff coarse hair or filament
to rise and stand stiffly erect
to take on an aggressively defensive attitude (as in response to a slight or criticism)
to be full of something specified
e.g. Electricity makes your hair bristle.
He bristled at the accusations of corruption.
a recent college grad thrilled to be starting a new life in a city bristling with possibilities
gristle
cartilage
tough cartilaginous, tendinous, or fibrous matter especially in table meats
broach
to draw (beer, liquor, etc.) as by tapping to make known for the first time; to open up (a subject) for discussion
e.g. Some of his supporters remain so passionate that the subject can be difficult to broach.
broker
one who acts as an intermediary
bromide
a commonplace or tiresome person; bore
a commonplace or hackneyed statement or notion
e.g. a newspaper editorial offering the timeworn bromide that people should settle their differences peacefully
brood
the young of an animal or a family of young
a group having a common nature or origin
to think anxiously or gloomily about; ponder
e.g. He brooded over his mistake.
brook
a small stream
browbeat
to intimidate or disconcert by a stern manner or arrogant speech; bully
e.g. They browbeat him into signing the document.
bruit
noise
to voice abroad; rumor (usually used passively with about)
e.g. Word of his imminent dismissal was bruited about.
brunt
the principal force, shock, or stress
the greater part
e.g. The brunt of the responsibility fell on her shoulders.
brusque
markedly short and abrupt
blunt in manner or speech often to the point of ungracious harshness
e.g. She asked for a cup of coffee and received a brusque reply: “We don’t have any.”
buck
to oppose; resist
a male deer or antelope
bucolic
of or relating to shepherds or herdsmen; pastoral
relating to or typical of rural life; idyllic
e.g. a bucolic region where farms are still common
buffoon
a ludicrous figure; clown
a gross and usually ill-educated or stupid person
bulb
an underground but as in a lily, onion, etc.
bulge
to swell; protrude or project
also
bumptious
presumptuously, obtusely, and often noisily self-assertive; obtrusive
e.g. a bumptious young man whose family wealth gave him a sense of entitlement
bungle
to act or work clumsily and awkwardly
mishandle, botch
e.g. She bungled the job the first tie she tried to do it.
buoy
support, uplift
to raise the spirits of (usually used with up)
e.g. The tax breaks should help to buoy the economy.
Hope buoys him up.
buoyant
cheerful
capable of maintaining a satisfactory high level
e.g. The actors were buoyant as they prepared for the evening’s performance.
a buoyant economy
burgeon
to bloom
to grow and expand rapidly; flourish
e.g. The trout population in the stream is burgeoning now that the water is clean.
burlesque
parody
derisive caricature
burly
strongly and heavily built; husky
burnish
to make shiny or lustrous especially by rubbing; polish
luster, gloss
e.g. He burnished the floor of the ballroom to a soft luster.
After some much-needed polishing, the silver tea set had a brilliant burnish.
bust
a sculptured representation of the upper part of the human figure, including the head and neck and usually part of the shoulders and breast
buttress
a structure built against a wall to support it
something that supports or strengthens
to support, strengthen, or defend
e.g. The mother had always been the buttress of our family in trying time.
The treaty will buttress the cause of peace.
byline
a line identifying the writer
contravene
to go or act contrary to; violate
to oppose in argument; contradict
e.g. The unauthorized reproduction of the image contravenes copyright laws.
contravene a proposition
bystander
one present but not taking part in a situation or event
byzantine
of, relating to, or characterized by a devious and usually surreptitious manner of operation
intricately involved; labyrinthine
e.g. a byzantine power struggle
rules of byzantine complexity
cabal
a conspiratorial group of plotters
e.g. a conspiracy theory about the existence of an international cabal devoted to world domination
cache
a hiding place especially for concealing and preserving provisions or implements
a secure place of storage
to place, hide, or store in a cache
e.g. They cached the fugitive slaves in their cellar until they could make their way to Canada.
cacophony
harsh, jarring sound
mellifluous
having a smooth rich flow
filled with something (as honey) that sweetens
e.g. a mellifluous voice
dulcet
sweet to the taste
pleasing to the ear
generally pleasing or agreeable
e.g. the dulcet tones of her voice
Although she flashed a dulcet smile, she was secretly seething with resentment.
cadet
a student at a military school
cadge
beg, sponge
e.g. cadge a free cup of coffee
cajole
to persuade with flattery or gentle urging especially in the face of reluctance; coax
to obtain from someone by gentle persuasion
e.g. He cajoled her into doing his laundry for him.
cajole money from his parents
