Words in the News Flashcards
literacy /ˈlɪt(ə)rəsi/
the ability to read and write
literacy (n.)
[mass noun]
the ability to read and write:
- tests of literacy and numeracy
[as modifier]:
- adult literacy programmes
competence or knowledge in a specified area:
- computer literacy is essential
phonetic /fəˈnɛtɪk/
said the way it is written
phonetic (adj.)
Phonetics
relating to speech sounds:
- detailed phonetic information
(of a system of writing) having a direct correspondence between symbols and sounds:
- a phonetic alphabet
relating to phonetics:
- phonetic training
Derivatives
phonetically (adv.)
**phoneticism **(n.)
Pronunciation: /-sɪz(ə)m/
phoneticist (n.)
Pronunciation: /-sɪst/
phoneticize (also phoneticise) (v.)
Pronunciation: /-sʌɪz/
Esperanto
a universal language that was created to make it easy for everyone to learn to speak in the same way
linguists
people who study language
frowning at
expressing their disapproval about
undermine
destroy or weaken
playfulness
sense of fun
so inclined
keen to do something
provoked /prəˈvəʊk/
brought about, caused
provoke (v.)
[with object]
stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone:
- the decision provoked a storm of protest from civil rights organizations
stimulate or incite (someone) to do or feel something, especially by arousing anger in them:
- a teacher can provoke you into working harder
deliberately make (someone) annoyed or angry:
- Rachel refused to be provoked
Derivatives
provokable (adj.), provoker (n.)
jumping the wall
ignoring the internet restrictions
plaintively
sadly
plaintive
sounding sad and mournful:
a plaintive cry
cyber-journey
increase of web-traffic
netizens
‘net citizens’; people who use the internet
dissidents /ˈdɪsɪd(ə)nt/
people who disagree with a political party or government
dissident (n.)
a person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state:
- a dissident who had been jailed by a military regime
(adj.)
in opposition to official policy:
- the measure was supported by dissident Tories
activists /ˈaktɪvɪz(ə)m/
supporters of a political cause
activism (n.)
[mass noun]
the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change:
- growing activism on the abortion issue
circumvent /səːkəmˈvɛnt/
avoid, get past
circumvent (v.)
[with object]
- find a way around (an obstacle):
* if you come to an obstruction in a road you can seek to circumvent it
overcome (a problem or difficulty) in a clever and surreptitious way:
-
it was always possible to circumvent the regulations
2. archaic deceive; outwit: - he’s circumvented her with some of his stories
Derivatives
circumvention (n.)
prone to /prəʊn/
likely to do something (negative)
prone (adj.)
- (prone to/to do something) likely or liable to suffer from, do, or experience something unpleasant or regrettable:
* farmed fish are prone to disease
[in combination]:
-
he was written off by many as too injury-prone
1. lying flat, especially face downwards: - I was lying prone on a foam mattress
- a prone position
technical denoting the position of the forearm with the palm of the hand facing downwards.
archaic with a downward slope or direction.
outburst /ˈaʊtbəːst/
a sudden emotional expression, usually of anger
outburst (n.)
a sudden release of strong emotion:
- an angry outburst from the prime minister
a sudden occurrence of a particular activity:
- a wild outburst of applause
Physics a sudden emission of energy or particles:
- a very dramatic outburst of neutrons
almighty /ɔːlˈmʌɪti/
very big or serious
almighty (adj.)
having complete power; omnipotent:
- I swear by almighty God
informal very great; enormous:
- the silence was broken by an almighty roar
(n.)
(the Almighty) a name or title for God:
- I wanted to beg the Almighty for mercy
come into force
start to be (officially) used
come into effect
to become valid, effective, or operable. When did these rules come into effect? They came into effect while you were on vacation.
shabby /ˈʃabi/
(here) unacceptable; not fair
shabby (adj. (shabbier, shabbiest))
- in poor condition through long use or lack of care:
* a conscript in a shabby uniform saluted the car
dressed in old or worn clothes:
-
a shabby fellow in slippers and an undershirt
2. (of behaviour) mean and unfair: - Snooping, was he? That’s a shabby trick
**Derivatives **
shabbily (adv.)
shabbiness (n.)
shirking /ʃəːk/
avoiding
shirk (v.)
[with object]
avoid or neglect (a duty or responsibility):
- I do not shirk any responsibility in this matter
[no object]:
- she is neither shirking nor lying
[no object, usually with negative] (shirk from) be unwilling to do (something difficult):
- we will not shirk from closing a school if the evidence should justify it
(n.)
archaic
a person who shirks.
Derivatives
shirker (n.)
sanctioned /ˈsaŋ(k)ʃ(ə)n/
(here) stopped
sanction (n.)
- a threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule:
* a range of sanctions aimed at deterring insider abuse
(sanctions) measures taken by a state to coerce another to conform to an international agreement or norms of conduct, typically in the form of restrictions on trade or official sporting participation:
* the United States had agreed to lift economic sanctions
Philosophy a consideration operating to enforce obedience to any rule of conduct.
- [mass noun] official permission or approval for an action:
* he appealed to the bishop for his sanction
official confirmation or ratification of a law.
[count noun] Law, historical a law or decree, especially an ecclesiastical decree.
(v.)
[with object]
- give official permission or approval for (an action):
* the scheme was sanctioned by the court - impose a sanction or penalty on:
* foreigners in France illegally should be sent home, their employers sanctioned and border controls tightened up
Derivatives
sanctionable (adj.)
illustrious /ɪˈlʌstrɪəs/
famous, well-respected, successful
illustrious (adj.)
well known, respected, and admired for past achievements:
- his illustrious predecessor
- an illustrious career
Derivatives
illustriously (adv.)
illustriousness (n.)
railed /reɪl/
complained angrily
rail (v.)
[no object] (rail against/at/about)
complain or protest strongly and persistently about:
- he railed at human fickleness
Derivatives
railer (n.)
self-imposed exile
the choice to live away from one’s own country
poignant
causing a strong emotional feeling
