Vocabulary Flashcards
departure lounge (n)
/dɪˈpɑrtʃɚ laʊndʒ/
[airport: waiting room]
We were made to wait in the departure lounge before boarding the flight.
acquaintance (n)
/əˈkweɪntns/
[person known], [conocido/a]
I consider Juan merely an acquaintance, rather than a friend
adolescence (n)
/ˌæd.əˈles.əns/
[the period of time in a person’s life when they are developing into an adult]
adrenaline
/əˈdrɛnəlɪn/
[adrenalina]
Roller coasters gave him an adrenaline rush
aid (n)
/eɪd/
[help or support]
- (give/provide/send aid to sb) Lawmakers say the plan will create 1 million jobs and provide comfort and aid to the poor.
- (come to the aid of sb) The Bureau will come to the aid of any homeowners pursuing an insurance claim.
[help in the form of food, money, medical supplies, or weapons that is given by a richer country to a poorer country]
- The Vatican has agreed to donate $80,000 in humanitarian/emergency aid to countries affected by the war.
all over (expr)
[everywhere in a place or area]
There were these tiny little blue flowers growing all over.
all-out (adj)
[complete and using as much effort as possible]
- We made an all-out effort to get the project finished on time
- US trade officials are making an all-out effort to promote commercial relations with Brazil.
allegedly (adv)
/əˈledʒ.ɪd.li/
[used when something is said to be true but has not been proved]
[supuestamente, presuntamente, según se dice]
- They were arrested for allegedly stealing classified information.
almond
/ˈɑmənd, ˈæmənd/
[almendra]
amicably (adv)
/ˈæm.ɪ.kə.bli/
[without arguments, legal action, or unpleasant behaviour, in a pleasant and friendly way]
- The marriage did not end amicably.
antibiotic (n)
/ˌæntɪbaɪˈɑtɪk, -bi-/
The doctor prescribed antibiotics for my bronchitis.
appall [sb] (vtr)
/əˈpɔːl/
[to make someone have strong feelings of shock or of disapproval]
[horrorizar, consternar]
- I was appalled at/by the lack of staff in the hospital.
appalling (adj)
/əˈpɑː.lɪŋ/
[very bad]
- appalling weather
- The drive home was appalling
[shocking and very bad]
- He witnessed some appalling acts of barbarism during the war.
appealing (adj)
/əˈpilɪŋ/
[of interest]
Justin did not find home improvement projects appealing; he was more interested in computer games.
appraisal
/əˈpreɪzəl/
[the act of examining someone or something in order to judge their qualities, success, or needs]
[tasación]
- Appraisal of the building without charge in 48 hours
approximately (adv)
/əˈprɒksɪmətli/
Our office has approximately one million in sales.
assertive (adj)
/əˈsɝː.t̬ɪv/
[Someone who is assertive behaves confidently and is not frightened to say what they want or believe]
[decidido, seguro, resuelto]
The experience also taught me to be assertive and stand up for myself
astonishing (adj)
/əˈstɑː.nɪ.ʃɪŋ/
[very surprising]
- It’s astonishing to think that only a few years ago he was a completely unknown actor.
attain (vi)
/əˈteɪn/
[ACHIEVE: to reach or succeed in getting something]
- He has attained the highest grade in his music exams.
attendance (n)
/əˈten.dəns/
[BEING PRESENT: the fact of going somewhere such as a church, school, etc. regularly]
- Attendance at lectures is compulsory.
[the number of people who go to an event, meeting, etc.]
- Attendances at church are falling.
attentive
/əˈtɛntɪv/
[atento/a]
I cannot answer now I have to be attentive to this
auction (n)
/ˈɑːk.ʃən/
bail out (vtr)
[rajarse, echarse para atrás, echarse atrás, retirarse]
We were planning a party, but almost everybody bailed out.
balding (adj)
/ˈbɑːl.dɪŋ/
[beginning to lose the hair on your head]
barbell (n)
/ˈbɑːr.bel/
[a long bar with a weight on each end that you lift up and down]
[pesas]
bargain (n)
/ˈbɑrgən/
[ganga, chollo, chollazo]
This used car was a bargain at only $5,000.
biodegradable (adj)
/ˌbaɪ.oʊ.dɪˈɡreɪ.də.bəl/
[able to decay naturally and in a way that is not harmful]
Biodegradable packaging helps to limit the amount of harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere.
bland (adj)
/blænd/
[not having a strong taste or character or not showing any interest or energy]
[insípido, soso, insulso]
- I find chicken a little bland.
bloated (adj)
/ˈbloʊ.t̬ɪd/
[SWOLLEN : swollen and rounded because of containing too much air, liquid, or food]
- I feel bloated from having too much to eat.
bluff (n)
/blʌf/
[farol]
Ross saw red when he found that Isabel’s illness was all of bluff
[tirarse un farol]
He had no idea, he bluffed.
blunder (n)
/ˈblʌn.dɚ/
[a serious mistake, usually caused by not taking care or thinking]
- I made a blunder by getting his name wrong.
bouquet (n)
/boʊˈkeɪ/
[ramo (flores)], [a group of flowers that have been fastened together and attractively arranged so that they can be given as a present or carried on formal occasions]
I sent Mum a bouquet of flowers for Mothers Day
breakthrough (n)
/ˈbreɪkˌθru/
[an important discovery or event that helps to improve a situation or provide an answer to a problem]
[avance, logro]
Evan’s therapist said that he has made a breakthrough in this therapy.
brought (v)
/brɔt/
bruise (n)
/bruz/
[moratón, cardenal]
James had a big bruise on his knee from running into the coffee table.
cabin (n)
/ˈkæbɪn/
[cabina (avión)], [cabaña]
The cabin crew ensures your comfort at every moment and offers you personalized service.
cadence
/ˈkeɪdəns/
[cadencia, ritmo]
carry-on baggage
[equipaje de mano]
In the cabin, you are allowed one piece of carry-on baggage and an accessory
catcall
/ˈkætˌkɔl/
[verbal street harassment]
catch (n)
(slang)
[A really attractive girl who all the guys want to go after]
caveat (n)
(formal)
/ˈkæv.i.æt/
[a warning to consider something before taking any more action, or a statement that limits a more general statement]
[advertencia]
- He agreed to the interview, with the caveat that he could approve the final article.
chaotic
/keɪˈɑtɪk/
[caótico]
cliff (n)
/klɪf/
[a high area of rock with a very steep side, often on a coast]
[acantilado]
cloak [sth] (vtr)
/kloʊk/
[to cover or hide something]
[encubrir, ocultar, esconder]
He has always kept his love affairs cloaked in secrecy (= kept them secret)
clockwise (adv)
/ˈklɑkˌwaɪz/
[en sentido horario, en sentido de las agujas del reloj]
Rotate the image clockwise by 90 degrees.
coal (n)
/koʊl/
[carbón]
comb (n)
/koʊm/
[peine]
commodity (n)
/kəˈmɑdɪti/
[matería prima]
The company trades in commodities such as coal.
common ground (n)
[shared interests, beliefs, or opinions between two people or groups of people who disagree about most other subjects]
- It seems increasingly unlikely that the two sides will find any common ground.
compulsory (adj)
/kəmˈpʌl.sɚ.i/
[MANDATORY: If something is compulsory, you must do it because of a rule or law]
- Attendance is compulsory in this subject.
concede (vtr)
/kənˈsiːd/
[ADMIT: to admit, often unwillingly, that something is true]
- The government has conceded (that) the new tax policy has been a disaster.
constipated
/ˈkɒnstɪpeɪtɪd/
[estreñido]
convey (vi)
/kənˈveɪ/
[COMMUNICATE: to express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is understood by other people]
[expresar, comunicar]
What is the text primarily trying to convey?
cope (vtr)
/koʊp/
[to deal successfully with a difficult situation]
- It must be really hard to cope with three young children and a job.
counterfeit (n)
/ˈkaʊntɚˌfɪt/
[something that is made to look like the original of something else, usually for dishonest or illegal purposes]
[falsificación]
The diamond looked real but it was a counterfeit.
craft (n)
[SKILL: skill and experience, especially in relation to making objects; a job or activity that needs skill and experience, or something produced using skill and experience]
[artesanía, oficio, arte, mañana]
The craft of furniture making
The show featured traditional country crafts
cramp (n)
/kræmp/
[a sudden painful tightening in a muscle, often after a lot of exercise, that limits movement]
[calambre, tirón]
Several runners needed treatment for cramp (US cramps) and exhaustion
crank (n)
/kræŋk/
[an unpleasant and easily annoyed person]
[cascarrabias, gruñon]
She’s always a crank first thing in the morning
creative (adj)
/kriˈeɪtɪv/
[creativo]
crust (n)
/krʌst/
[corteza]
I like the filling in this pie, but the crust isn’t very good
cyst (n)
/sɪst/
[quiste]
The doctors found a cyst in Jasmine’s ovary.
daring (adj)
/ˈder.ɪŋ/
[showing bravery and willingness to risk danger or criticism]
[atrevido osado]
- This is a daring new film (= one willing to risk criticism) by one of our most original modern directors.
damp (adj)
/dæmp/
[slightly wet, especially in a way that is not pleasant or comfortable]
- The room was damp and smelly so we opened all the windows and gave it a good airing
daylight saving time (n)
[the time set is usually one hour later in summer so that there is a longer period of daylight in the evening]
[horario de verano]
- Most countries have daylight saving time in the summer, although the start date varies.
deafening (adj)
/ˈdef.ən.ɪŋ/
[extremely loud], [ensordecedor]
We could hear the deafening sound of the explosions as the missiles hit
decay (n)
/dɪˈkeɪ/
[deterioro, decadencia, declive]
The buildings had started to fall into decay.
deed
/did/
[property document], [escrituras]
Be sure to keep the deeds to the house in a safe place.
delusional (adj)
/dɪˈluː.ʒən.əl/
[having ideas or beliefs that are not based in reality]
Delusional thinking led him to believe they were plotting against him
dented (adj)
/ˈdɛntɪd/
[abollado, hundido]
The car’s dented hood will be expensive to repair.
deposit
/dɪˈpɑzɪt/
[fianza]
The tenants paid the landlord a deposit in case of damages.
desert
/ˈdɛzɚt/
[desierto]
Cacti can survive the lack of rainfall in the desert
desert (n)
/ˈdez.ɚt/
[an area, often covered with sand or rocks, where there is very little rain and not many plants]
dessert
/dɪˈzɝt/
[sweet course at the end of the meal], [postre]
Would you like ice cream for dessert?
dessert (n)
/dɪˈzɝːt/
[sweet food eaten at the end of a meal]
deterrent (adj)
/dɪˈtɜrənt/
[making someone less likely to do something by making it difficult for them to do it or by making them realize that it will have bad results]
[disuasivo, disuasorio]
Fines have a deterrent effect.
detrimental (adj)
/ˌdet.rəˈmen.t̬əl/
[causing harm or damage]
[perjudicial, nocivo]
- Their decision could be detrimental to the future of the company
dew point (n)
[punto de condensaconi, punto de rocío]
diagnosis (n)
/ˌdaɪəgˈnoʊsɪs/
The doctor’s diagnosis reassured the patient; he thought he was dying, but it turned out he just had the flu.
dill (n)
/dɪl/
[eneldo]
discourage [sb]
/dɪˈskɜrɪdʒ, -ˈskʌr-/
[to make someone feel less confident, enthusiastic, and positive about something, or less willing to do something]
[disuadir a, desalentar a]
The new regulations discouraged people from parking there.
dismiss [sth]
/dɪsˈmɪs/
[reject: idea], [descartar]
Tim is tired of the boss dismissing all his ideas
disown [sb] (vtr)
/dɪsˈoʊn/
[to make it known that you no longer have any connection with someone that you were closely connected with]
[desheredar a]
Jerry disowned his son when he stole a car.
disrupt (vtr)
/dɪsˈrʌpt/
[to prevent something, esp. a system, process, or event, from continuing as usual or as expected]
[interrumpir, alterar]
- The war disrupted millions of people’s lives
distress (n)
/dɪˈstres/
[a situation in which you are suffering or are in great danger and therefore in urgent need of help]
- The animal was clearly in distress, so we called the vet immediately.
divert (vtr)
/daɪˈvɜːt/
[desviar]
[to cause something or someone to turn in a different direction]
- The administration had to divert funds from the defense budget to pay for the emergency relief effort
[to take someone’s attention away from something]
- The war has diverted attention (away) from the country’s economic problems
[to divert something or someone is also to cause the thing or person to be used for a different purpose]
- Our flight was diverted from San Francisco to Oakland because of the fog.
dock (v)
/dɑk/
[atracar (barco)]
The ship docked in port last night.
domestic flights (n)
[vuelos nacionales]
domestically (adv)
/dəˈmes.tɪ.kəl.i/
[inside a particular country rather than in other countries]
The bill limits sugar imports in order to support the price of domestically produced sugar.
down payment
/ˌdaʊnˈpeɪmənt/
[an amount of money that you pay at the time that you buy something but is only a part of the total cost of that thing. You usually pay the rest of the cost over a period of time]
[entrada, señal, adelanto, pago inicial]
- I made (or: put) a down payment on a new smart TV.
down-to-earth (adj)
[realista]
dread [sth] (vtr)
/drɛd/
[to feel extremely worried or frightened about something that is going to happen or that might happen]
- He’s dreading the exam - he’s sure he’s going to fail.
- [ + -ing verb ] I’m dreading having to meet his parents.
drill (n)
[taladro]
[an activity that practises a particular skill and often involves repeating the same thing several times, especially a military exercise intended to train soldiers]
[ejercicio, entrenamiento]
- The soldiers spent the afternoon doing drills.
drool (vi)
/druːl/
[to allow saliva (= liquid in the mouth) to flow out of your mouth]
[babear]
- The dog was drooling as Janine prepared his food.
- I drooled all over my pillow.
drought (n)
/draʊt/
[a long period when there is little or no rain], [sequía]
This year (a) severe drought has ruined the crops
dull (adj)
/dʌl/
[BORING: not interesting or exciting in any way]
- He’s pleasant enough, but deadly dull.
dump (vtr)
/dʌmp/
[PUT DOWN: to put down or drop something in a careless way]
- He came in with four shopping bags and dumped them on the table.
[GET RID OF: to get rid of something unwanted, especially by leaving it in a place where it is not allowed to be]
- Toxic chemicals continue to be dumped into the river.
[END RELATIONSHIP: to suddenly end a romantic relationship you have been having with someone]
- If he’s so awful, why don’t you just dump him?
duty-free goods (n)
[productos libres de impuestos]
effectively (adv)
/ɪˈfɛktɪvli/
encourage (vtr)
/ɪnˈkɝː.ɪdʒ/
[to make someone more likely to do something, or to make something more likely to happen]
[animar, incentivar, motivar]
The council is encouraging the development of the property for both employment and recreation.
entertaining
/en′tər tā′ning/
[entretenido, ameno, divertido]
I enjoyed the trip, it was entertaining.
falling-out (n)
/ˌfɑː.lɪŋˈaʊt/
[an argument]
- Rachel and Fi had a falling-out and now they’re not speaking to each other
farewell (n)
(formal)
/ferˈwel, fær-/
[an occasion when someone says goodbye]
- We said our sad farewells and got on the bus.
feast (n)
/fiːst/
[a special meal with very good food or a large meal for many people]
- We had a feast of fresh seafood.
feast (vtr)
/fiːst/
[to eat a lot of good food and enjoy it very much]
- The two of us feasted on smoked salmon.
feather (n)
/ˈfɛðɚ/
[pluma]
The bird lost a feather as it took off.
fed-up (adj)
[harto, hasta las narices, cansado]
You look fed up. What’s wrong?
feet
/fit/
[pies]
fig (n)
/fɪɡ/
[higo]
flat out (adv)
[a fuego,a full, a tope]
We’re working flat out to secure the best possible results.
flee [sb/sth] (vtr)
/fli/
[to escape by running away, especially because of danger or fear]
Millions flee (from) hunger and persecution each year.
flick through [sth]
/
flip through [sth]
[hojear, echar un vistazo]
I spent hours on that report and he just flicked through it before dismissing it!
foil (n)
/fɔɪl/
[a very thin sheet of metal, especially used to wrap food in to keep it fresh]
[papel albal]
frightening (adj)
/ˈfraɪ.tən.ɪŋ/
[SCARY: making you feel fear]
- It is frightening to think what might happen if she left him.
front runner (n)
[the person, idea, or product that seems most likely to succeed]
[favorito]
Right now he’s the front runner in next month’s elections
frost (n)
/frɑːst/
[the thin, white layer of ice that forms when the air temperature is below the freezing point of water, especially outside at night]
[escarcha]
- There was a frost last night
gale (n)
/ɡeɪl/
[a very strong wind]
[vendaval]
- The gale blew down hundreds of trees.
gamble (vi)
/
gamble on [sth] (vi)
/ˈgæmbəl/
[apostar]
I rarely gamble, but I couldn’t resist placing a bet on that horse.
gap year
[año sabático]
gaslighting (n)
/ˈɡæs.laɪ.tɪŋ/
[the action of tricking or controlling someone by making them believe things that are not true, especially by suggesting that they may be mentally ill]
His gaslighting was a deliberate attempt to convince her that she was losing her grasp on reality.
giggle (vi)
/ˈɡɪɡ.əl/
[to laugh repeatedly in a quiet but uncontrolled way, often at something silly or rude or when you are nervous]
[risa nerviosamente]
Stop that giggling in the back row!
goat (n)
/goʊt/
Good call! (interj)
[used for saying that you think something is a good idea]
- Good call! Anyone else you’d nominate?
groundbreaking (adj)
/ˈɡraʊndˌbreɪ.kɪŋ/
[If something is groundbreaking, it is very new and a big change from other things of its type]
[pionero, innovador, revolucionario]
He received the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking research in genetics.
guarantor (n)
/ˈgærənˌtɔr, -tɚ/
[aval]
David’s uncle will be the guarantor for his student loan
gut reaction
/gʌt riˈækʃən/
[primer impulso, instinto]
Initially my gut reaction was, “I miss home.
haggling (n)
/ˈhæɡlɪŋ/
[the act of arguing about the price of something in an attempt to make the seller reduce it]
[regatear]
(haggling over/about sth)
- What did I get out of this experience? Teamwork, problem solving, haggling and negotiating, working under pressure, the list is endless.
hail (n)
/heɪl/
[granizo]
We always get a lot of hail when it gets windy in the spring.
hair-raising (adj)
/ˈherˌreɪ.zɪŋ/
[frightening or shocking]
[espeluznantes]
I’ve traveled a lot, for business and pleasure, and been in some pretty hair-raising situations that have taught me so much
hands down (adv)
[without a doubt], [sin lugar a dudas, con los ojos cerrados, de cajón]
This is hands down the best cake I have ever tasted.
harsh (adj)
/hɑːrʃ/
[unpleasant, unkind, cruel, or more severe than is necessary]
He said some harsh words (= spoke unkindly) about his brother.
hassle (n)
/ˈhæs.əl/
[Trouble, bother, unwanted annoyances or problems]
[engorro]
- This will allow you to have nutrient-rich food every day of the week but without the hassle of cooking daily
headcount
/ˈhɛdkaʊnt/
[(empresa) plantilla]
They are cutting back on headcount
heads-up (n)
(informal)
[a warning that something is going to happen, usually so that you can prepare for it]
- We’ve given everybody a heads-up that we’re not prepared to work without a contract.
[a short talk or statement about how a situation or plan is developing]
- The company CEO recently visited City Hall to provide an early heads-up on the project.
heist (n)
/haɪst/
[a crime in which valuable things are taken illegally and often violently from a place or person]
[atraco, asalto, robo]
The jewel thieves pulled off an impressive heist.
hiccup (vi)
/ˈhɪkʌp, -əp/
[tener hipo]
He’d been hiccupping for a few minutes so I brought him some water.
hideous (adj)
/ˈhɪd.i.əs/
[extremely ugly or bad]
- They’ve just built some hideous new apartment blocks on the seafront
high season
[temporada alta]
In most of Thailand, high season starts in November and lasts until January.
hindsight (n)
/ˈhaɪndˌsaɪt/
[a posteriori, a toro pasado]
Hindsight everything is easier.
hose (n)
/hoʊz/
[manguera]
Jim watered the lawn with a hose because of the heat
house flipper (n)
[house flippers are people who buy a worn out or crappy-ass house, fix it up and sell it for more than they paid for it.]
howling (adj)
/ˈhaʊ.lɪŋ/
[(of the wind) blowing hard and making a lot of noise]
- What an unpleasant day, it’s howling outside.
hubris (n)
/ˈhjuː.brɪs/
[a way of talking or behaving that is too proud]
[soberbia, arrogancia, orgullo]
He was punished for his hubris.
ick (n)
[Something that someone does that is an instant turn-off]
Did you see Joe picking his nose? What an ick
impasse (n)
/ˈɪmpæs/
[road with no exit], [callejón sin salida]
My house growing up was near the end of an impasse.
[situation: no progress], [punto muerto]
It seems we have reached an impasse; what do you suggest we do?
inedible (adj)
/ɪnˈɛdəbəl/
[incomible, incomestible]
Those berries are inedible even though they look just like raspberries
installment
/ɪnˈstɔlmənt/
[cuota (pago)]
I still have three more installments to pay
interior
/ɪnˈtɪriɚ/
[sin acceso a la calle]
I live on an interior floor, I don’t have a street view.
jeopardize (vtr)
/ˈdʒep.ɚ.daɪz
[to put something such as a plan or system in danger of being harmed or damaged]
[poner en peligro]
- She knew that by failing her finals she could jeopardize her whole future.
junked (adj)
(car)
[things that are considered to be useless, worthless, or of low quality]
I got $150 for my junked car.
keepsake (n)
/ˈkiːp.seɪk/
[something that helps you remember a person, place, or occasion]
(syn: token or souvenir)
- Her aunt gave her a little wooden elephant as a keepsake.
killjoy
[Aguafiestas]
knead (vi)
/niːd/
[amasar]
Knead the dough until smooth.
labour (n)
/ˈleɪ.bɚ/
[practical work, especially when it involves hard physical effort]
[mano de obra]
- The car parts themselves are not expensive, it’s the labour that costs the money.
lapel (n)
/ləˈpel/
[solapa]
- A flower was pinned to/in her lapel.
layover (n)
/ˈleɪˌoʊvɚ/
[a short stay at a place in the middle of a trip, especially one by plane]
- We had a four-hour layover in Chicago.
- We had a three-hour layover in San Francisco.
leek (n)
/lik/
[puerro]
leisure (n)
/ˈliʒɚ, ˈlɛʒɚ/
[ocio, tiempo libre]
I prefer cultural leisure tourism to the sun and beach.
lid (n)
/lɪd/
[tapa, tapón (botella)]
Dean pulled the lid off of the container.
life skill (n)
/ˈlaɪf ˌskɪl/
[a skill that is useful or important in everyone’s life]
Working in groups gives students more useful life skill that well help prepare them for the future.
local government (n)
[local authority, council], [autoridades locales]
We expect to have a new mayor after our local government election next year.
low-key (adv)
[secretly or discretely]
- He’s moving to Chicago in three weeks but the semester isn’t over for another seven weeks. He’s lowkey dropping out.”
manchild (n)
/ˈmænˌtʃaɪld/
[an adult man who does not behave in the calm, serious, or sensible way that you would expect from someone of his age]
mattress (n)
/ˈmætrɪs/
[colchón]
Greg bought a new mattress at the store.
measure (vtr)
/ˈmeʒ.ɚ/
menace (n)
/ˈmen.əs/
[something that is likely to cause harm], [amenaza (cosa)]
Drunk drivers are a menace to everyone
mighty (adj)
/ˈmaɪti/
[very large, powerful, or important]
[potente, poderoso, fuerte, intenso]
- The mighty lion took down a wildebeest.
- The might river Ebro
mild (adj)
/maɪld/
[used to describe food or a food flavour that is not very strong]
He doesn’t like a hot curry - he prefers a mild one.
[weather], [benigno, suave]
The weather is usually mild in the spring.
mingle (vi)
/ˈmɪŋ.ɡəl/
[to move around and talk to other people at a social event]
- He seems to be mingling with the other guests.
- The princess was not recognized and mingled freely with the crowds.
mirage (n)
/mɪˈrɑːʒ/
[an image, produced by very hot air, of something that seems to be far away but does not really exist]
[espejísmo]
The desert nomads saw mirages of lakes that vanished as they approached.
misjudge (vi)
/ˌmɪsˈdʒʌdʒ/
[to form an opinion or idea about someone or something that is unfair or wrong]
- I thought he wasn’t going to support me, but I misjudged him
[to guess an amount or distance wrongly]
misty (adj)
/ˈmɪs.ti/
[If the weather is misty, there is mist in the air that makes it difficult to see into the distance]
[like foggy but less dense]
- It stayed misty until late in the morning.
moan (vi)
/moʊn/
[to make a long, low sound of pain, suffering, or another strong emotion]
moan (vi)
/moʊn/
[to make a long, low sound of pain, suffering, or another strong emotion]
[gemir]
He moaned with pain before losing consciousness.
mold
/moʊld/
[moho (comida)], [moho (paredes)]
Don’t eat the bread, it has green mold on it
mortgage
/ˈmɔrgɪdʒ/
[hipoteca]
I have finished paying the mortgage on my house.
mow (vi)
/moʊ/
[to cut grass or grain with a machine or tool with a blade]
[cortar el cesped]
You can’t mow the grass/lawn if it’s wet.
muggy (adj)
/ˈmʌɡ.i/
[When the weather is muggy, it is unpleasantly warm and the air contains a lot of water]
[bochornoso]
- No one wants to leave the house on this hot, muggy day.
must-have (adj)
[a must-have product is a fashionable one that a lot of people want to own]
- The iPod quickly established itself as a must-have device
needy (adj)
/ˈnidi/
[necesitado, pobre]
Your contribution can help support needy children in India.
/
[dependiente emocionalmente]
He dropped his last girlfriend because she was too needy.
neglect [sth/sb] (vtr)
/nɪˈɡlekt/
[to not give enough care or attention to people or things that are your responsibility]
He neglects that poor dog - he never takes him for walks or gives him any attention
no wonder
/noʊ ˈwʌndɚ/
[no me extraña, con razón]
No wonder all her boyfriends leave her.
no-brainer (n)
[something so simple or obvious that you do not need to think much about it]
Taking that job over the one I had was a no-brainer
novel (adj)
(often approving)
/ˈnɑː.vəl/
[different from anything known before; new, interesting, and often seeming slightly strange]
- Keeping a sheep in the yard is a novel way of keeping the grass short!
- They adopted a novel approach to marketing their product.
nuisance (n)
/ˈnusəns, ˈnju-/
[engorro, estorbo, molestia, tabarra, incordio]
[something or someone that annoys you or causes trouble for you]
- I’ve forgotten my umbrella - what a nuisance!
- [ + -ing verb ] It’s such a nuisance having to rewrite those letters.
- It’s a nuisance to have to wash the windows with ammonia
obliterate [sth] (vtr)
/əˈblɪt̬.ə.reɪt/
[to remove all signs of something, either by destroying it or by covering it so that it cannot be seen]
My mother’s harsh criticism obliterated my self-esteem.
oblivion (n)
/əˈblɪviən/
[olvido]
No one had read the author’s works for years; they were consigned to oblivion.
obstacle (n)
/ˈɑbstəkəl/
[obstaculo]
off season
[fuera de temporada, temporada baja]
It’s normally cheaper to travel off-season
offshore (adj)
/ˈɔfˈʃɔr, ˈɑf-/
[away from or at a distance from the coast]
- Carl works on an offshore oil rig.
[abroad, in another country]
- Some financial institutions operate offshore.
on the fence
[undecided]
Is nuclear power a good or bad thing? I’m on the fence
one-off (n)
[something that happens or is made or done only once]
Will you be doing more talks in the future or was that just a one-off?
out and about (adv)
[active; doing the things you usually do]
[de un lado para el otro]
The doctor says she’s making a good recovery, and she should be out and about in a few days’ time
outbound (adj)
/ˈaʊtˈbaʊnd/
[traveling away from a particular point]
[de ida, de salida]
We’re going on holiday on Saturday; our outbound flight leaves at 8.23 on Saturday morning.
outgoing (person) (adj)
/ˈaʊtˌgoʊɪŋ/
[persona extrovertida]
Glenn is outgoing; he loves going to parties and isn’t worried about talking to strangers.
outperform [sb/sth] (vtr)
[do better than, achieve better results than]
David outperformed his sister on the TOEFL exam.
outrage (n)
/ˈaʊt.reɪdʒ/
[a shocking, morally unacceptable, and usually violent action]
The bomb, which killed 15 people, was the worst of a series of terrorist outrages
outrageous (adj)
/ˌaʊtˈreɪ.dʒəs/
[shocking and morally unacceptable]
[intolerable, inaceptable, indignante]
- It is outrageous that these buildings remain empty while thousands of people have no homes
outskirts
/ˈaʊtskɜːrts/
[the areas that form the edge of a town or city]
[afuerras, inmediaciones, suburbios]
In the German capital, on the outskirts of the Olympic stadium
outstanding (adj)
/ˌaʊtˈstæn.dɪŋ/
[EXCELLENT: clearly very much better than what is usual]
It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty.
outwit [sb] (vtr)
/ˌaʊtˈwɪt/
[to get an advantage over someone by acting more cleverly and often by using a trick]
The chess player outwitted his opponent.
overachiever (n)
/ˌəʊvərəˈtʃiːvər/
[a person who does more than they are expected to do or who is more successful than others]
- She was a classic overachiever at college
overcast (adj)
/ˈoʊ.vɚ.kæst/
[with clouds in the sky and therefore not bright and sunny]
[nublado, cubierto]
- a depressing, overcast winter morning
overlook (vi)
[to fail to notice or consider something or someone]
I think there is one key fact that you have overlooked.
overstate (vi)
/ˌoʊ.vɚˈsteɪt/
[EXAGGERATE: to describe or explain something in a way that makes it seem more important or serious than it really is]
- The impact of the new legislation has been greatly overstated
pace (n)
/peɪs/
[the speed at which someone or something moves, or with which something happens or changes]
[ritmo]
Could you slow down - I can’t keep pace with (= walk or run as fast as) you.
When she thought she heard someone following her, she quickened her pace.
pant (vi)
/pænt/
[to breathe quickly and loudly through your mouth, usually because you have been doing something very energetic]
[jadear (de esfuerzo físico)]
Matteo arrived at the top of the hill, panting and covered in sweat.
parade (n)
/pəˈreɪd/
[a large number of people walking or in vehicles, all going in the same direction, usually as part of a public celebration of something]
[desfile, procesión]
- We watched the parade from our perch on the scaffolding.
paramount (adj)
(formal)
/ˈper.ə.maʊnt/
[more important than anything else]
- There are many priorities, but reducing the budget deficit is paramount/is of paramount importance.
parched (adj)
/pɑːrtʃt/
[VERY DRY: (especially of earth or crops) dried out because of too much heat and not enough rain]
- It was the height of summer and the land was parched and brown.
patrol (n)
/pəˈtroʊl/
[An expedition to keep watch over an area, especially by guards or police walking or driving around at regular intervals], [patrulla, patrullero, ronda]
We were ordered to investigate on a night patrol
payslip
/ˈpeɪslɪp/
[paper slip detailing wage payment]
I needed to show a payslip in order to rent an apartment
peep (vi)
/piːp/
[to secretly look at something for a short time, usually through a hole]
[mirar con disimulo, mirar a hurtadillas]
He peeped around the corner to see if they had driven off.
pivotal (adj)
/ˈpɪv.ə.t̬əl/
[if something is pivotal, it is very important because other things depend on it]
- Because immigrants do jobs that many people do not want to do, they play a pivotal role in the economy.
plague (n)
/pleɪg/
[plaga]
Many people thought swine flu would be a modern plague.
playwright
/ˈpleɪˌraɪt/
[dramaturgo, escritor de novelas]
She was a poet before she became a playwright
pledge to do [sht] (vtr)
[to make a serious or formal promise to give or do something]
[prometer hacer algo]
Christina pledged to support her friend through this difficult time.
plump (adj)
/plʌmp/
[rollizo, rechoncho]
I wouldn’t call Philip fat, but I’d definitely say he’s plump.
policy (n)
/ˈpɑː.lə.si/
[PLAN: set of ideas or a plan for action followed by a business, a government, a political party, or a group of people]
- What is your party’s policy on immigration?
[DOCUMENT: a document showing an agreement you have made with an insurance company]
- You should check your policy to see if you’re covered for flood damage.
poultry (n)
/ˈpoʊl.tri/
[birds, such as chickens, kept for their meat or eggs, or the meat from these birds]
[aves de corral, carnes blancas]
Mediterranean diets favor fish and poultry over red meat.
praise (vtr)
/preɪz/
[SHOW APPROVAL: to express admiration or approval of the achievements or characteristics of a person or thing]
[elogiar, alabar]
- He should be praised for his honesty.
- My parents always praised me when I did well at school.
prayer (n)
/prɛr/
[oración, rezo]
The priest said a prayer
proficiency (n)
/prəˈfɪʃənsi/
[having the skill and experience for doing something]
[dominio (lenguaje/idioma)]
(proficiency in sth)
- Barry’s lack of proficiency in French made his new life in Paris quite difficult.
- The job ad said they wanted proficiency in at least two languages.
prompting (n)
/ˈprɑːmp.tɪŋ/
[the act of trying to make someone say something]
- Kids of that age really shouldn’t need prompting to say thank you for things.
puddle (n)
/ˈpʌd.əl/
[charco]
You have to step around the puddles in the street after a rain shower.
pulses (n)
/pʌlsɪs/
[legumbres]
- Pulses include peas, lentils, and chickpeas.
punchline (n)
/ˈpʌntʃ.laɪn/
[the last part of a story or a joke that explains the meaning of what has happened previously or makes it funny]
put together (after a phrase)
[said after a phrase that refers to a group of people or things to show that you are thinking of them as a group rather than separately]
- The population of the US is bigger than that of Britain, France, and Germany put together
raise
/reɪz/
- Her parents died when she was a baby and she was raised by her grandparents.
reassure [sb] (vtr)
/ˌriəˈʃʊr, -ˈʃɝ/
[to comfort someone and stop them from worrying]
[tranquilizar a, calamar a, apaciguar a]
- Norma reassured the frightened child.
recurrent (adj)
/rɪˈkorənt/
[recurrente]
He has recurrent episodes of fainting and nausea.
red eye flight (n)
[a plane (or: airplane) journey during the night, usually one that is over a long distance]
…just in time to catch the last red-eye to Berlin
refurbish (vtr)
/ˌriːˈfɝː.bɪʃ/
[RENOVATE: to make a building look new again by doing work such as painting, repairing, and cleaning]
- The developers refurbished the house inside and out.
reimburse [sb] (vtr)
/ˌriɪmˈbɝs/
[to pay back money to someone who has spent it for you or lost it because of you]
[reembolsar, devolver, integrar]
Maggie’s employer reimbursed her for her travel expenses
relentless (adj)
/rɪˈlɛntlɪs/
[continuing in a severe or extreme way]
[incesante]
The match took place despite the relentless rain.
reliant (adj)
/rɪˈlaɪənt/
[needing a particular thing or person in order to continue, to work correctly, or to succeed]
[dependiente (de algo)]
The country is heavily reliant on its oil industry.
reluctant (adj)
/rɪˈlʌk.tənt/
[not willing to do something and therefore slow to do it]
[reacio]
- Many parents are reluctant to talk openly with their children.
retaliate (vi)
/rɪˈtæliˌeɪt/
[to hurt someone or do something harmful to someone because they have done or said something harmful to you]
[tomar represalias]
Robert is not usually aggressive, but if he is attacked, he retaliates
return ticket
[round-trip tiket (US)], [billete de ida y vuelta]
Would you like a single or return ticket, sir?
reveal (vtr)
/rɪˈvil/
[to make known or show something that is surprising or that was previously secret]
- He was jailed for revealing secrets to the Russians.
right away (adv)
[immediately], [ahora mismo]
I’m leaving right away
rise
/raɪz/
run into [sth/sb]
[to drive a vehicle into an object or a person in another vehicle by accident]
[cocharse con, chocarse]
Two cars ran into each other this morning. According to the report, the bus ran into the wall at a high speed.
[to meet someone you know when you are not expecting to]
[econtrarse con alguien/algo]
I ran into my cousin yesterday at the market.
rundown (n)
/ˈrʌnˌdɑʊn/
[a report that provides the most important information about something]
- This guide gives a rundown on (or: of) the basics of backpacking.
- It’s vital to have a rundown of everything discussed and the outcome of each point
runway (n)
/ˈrʌnˌweɪ/
[pista de aterrizaje (avión)]
The plane landed on the runway.
rye (n)
/raɪ/
[centeno]
This bread is made out of rye
scaffolding (n)
/ˈskæf.əl.dɪŋ/
[a structure of metal poles and wooden boards put against a building for workers to stand on when they want to reach the higher parts of the building]
[andamio]
- Scaffolding has been erected around the tower and repair work will start next week.
scarce (adj)
/skers/
[not available in necessary amounts, or rare]
[escaso]
- Jobs are scarce around here.
scorn (vtr)
/skɔːn/
[to treat with a great lack of respect, or to refuse something because you think it is wrong or not acceptable]
[despreciar, menospreciar]
- He was scorned by his classmates for his bad behavior.
scribble (n)
/ˈskrɪb.əl/
[a careless piece of writing or drawing], [garabato]
What are all these scribbles doing on the wallpaper?
scrounger (n)
/ˈskraʊn.dʒɚ/
[someone who tries to get things, especially money or food, by asking for them instead of buying them or working for them]
[gorrón]
He thinks that people who receive welfare benefits are scroungers
seaside (adj)
/ˈsiː.saɪd/
[the area near the sea, especially where people spend their holidays and enjoy themselves]
- A seaside resort
settled (adj)
/ˈset̬.əld/
[COMFORTABLE: If you feel settled in a job, school, etc., you have become familiar with it and are comfortable and happy there]
- The best way to get new employees settled in to a new job…
- Now that the children are settled at school, we don’t really want to move again.
- Although I worked there for over a year, I never really felt settled.
sew (vi)
/soʊ/
[to join two pieces of cloth together by putting thread through them with a needle], [coser]
My grandmother taught me to sew
shadow [sb] (vtr)
[to follow someone else while they are at work in order to learn about that person’s job]
Your first week in the job will be spent shadowing one of our more experienced employees.
shame (n)
/ʃeɪm/
[BAD LUCK: If something is described as a shame, it is disappointing or not satisfactory]
- It’s a (great/real) shame that the event had to be canceled.
shame (n)
/ʃeɪm/
[BAD LUCK: If something is described as a shame, it is disappointing or not satisfactory]
- It’s a (great/real) shame that the event had to be canceled.
shortage (n)
/ˈʃɔrtɪdʒ/
[a situation in which there is not enough of something]
[escasez, falta]
There’s a shortage of food and shelter in the refugee camps
Shortages mean that even staples (= basic foods) like bread are difficult to find
shoulder (n)
(road)
[arcén]
- Rick pulled over to the shoulder to investigate the strange rattling noise the car was making.
sideways
/
sidewise (US)
(adj)
/ˈsaɪdˌweɪz/
[de costado, de lado]
Turn the ornament sideways so we can see its silhouette. The book was placed sideways on the shelf.
significant other (n)
/sɪɡˌnɪf.ɪ.kənt ˈʌð.ɚ/
[a person with whom someone has a romantic or sexual relationship that has lasted for some time and that is likely to last longer]
She lives with her significant other in London.
sincere (adj)
/sɪnˈsɪər/
[(of a person, feelings, or behaviour) not pretending or lying; honest]
skim [sth] (vtr)
/skɪm/
[to read or consider something quickly in order to understand the main points, without studying it in detail]
[leer por encima, echar un vistazo, echar una ojeada]
- I’ve only skimmed (through/over) his letter; I haven’t read it carefully yet
slate (n)
/sleɪt/
[pizarra (roca)]
sleepy (adj)
(place)
[A sleepy place is quiet and without much activity or excitement]
They retired to a sleepy little town in the south of Italy.
slide (vi)
/slaɪd/
[deslizarse, deslizar], [patinar]
Good lubrication will help the machine parts slide freely.
slim (adj)
/slɪm/
[(especially of people) attractively thin]
- She has a beautiful slim figure.
[very small]
- They only have a slim chance of winning (= it’s unlikely that they will win).
slum (n)
/slʌm/
[a very poor and crowded area, especially of a city]
[suburbio, barrio probre]
Many people in developing countries still live in slums.
smear campaign (n)
[a planned attempt to harm the reputation of a person or company by telling lies about them]
[campaña de desprestigio]
sneakily (adv)
/ˈsniː.kəl.i/
[secretly and without telling anyone]
I sneakily looked in her diary when she was out last night.
soaring (adj)
/ˈsɔːr.ɪŋ/
[RISING: increasing quickly in amount, number, value, or level]
[disparado]
- (soaring costs/prices/sales) For most of the summer, consumers in America were insulated from the soaring cost of crude oil.
socialize (v)
/ˈsoʊʃəˌlaɪz/
[socializar]
We only find time to socialize on weekends.
soiled (adj)
/sɔɪld/
[dirty]
- Please leave soiled linens piled up on the bed
solely
/ˈsəʊlli/
[solamente, únicamente, solo, exclusivamente]
Miriam did a degree solely for the pleasure of learning
soluble (adj)
/ˈsɑːl.jə.bəl/
[soluble]
soothe [sth/sb]
/suð/
[to make someone feel calm or less worried]
Maggie did her best to soothe the crying child.
sorrow (n)
/ˈsɔːr.oʊ/
[a feeling of great sadness or regret, or something that causes this feeling]
- The English language does not contain the words to express the sorrow I feel.
sought-after
/ˈsɔːtɑːftər/
[wanted by many people and usually of high quality or rare]
[deseado, buscado, pedido]
- This area is one of the most sought-after locations in the city.
sparse (adj)
/spɑːrs/
[small in numbers or amount, often spread over a large area]
[escaso, disperso]
- Information coming out of the disaster area is sparse.
species (n)
/ˈspiʃiz, -siz/
[animal, plant: variety], [especies]
spotless (adj)
/ˈspɑːt.ləs/
[extremely clean]
[impoluto]
- Her home is spotless.
[a very good and honest character, etc.]
[inmaculada]
- A very good and honest character, etc
squander (vi)
/ˈskwɑːn.dɚ/
[to waste money or supplies, or to waste opportunities by not using them to your advantage]
They’ll quite happily squander a whole year’s savings on two weeks in the sun.
stall (n)
/stɑːl/
[a large table or a small shop with an open front from which goods are sold in a public place]
[puesto]
He runs a fruit and vegetable stall in the market.
stand still (vi)
[not move], [quedarse quieto]
Stand still or the photo will turn out blurred
direct debit (n)
[an arrangement for making payments, usually to an organization, in which your bank moves money from your account into the organization’s account at regular times]
[domiciliación, pago recurrente (banco)]
- I pay my electricity bill by direct debit.
staple (n)
/ˈsteɪ.pəl/
[grapa]
The staple attached the two documents firmly
[BASIC: a main product or part of something]
Bread and rice are staple foodstuffs
sticking point (n)
[A topic on which it is impossible to reach an agreement]
The choice of the dealer was a sticking point in the negotiations.
stifling (adj)
/ˈstaɪ.fəl.ɪŋ/
[NO AIR: extremely hot and unpleasant]
- Summers in Virginia have always had stifling humidity.
stingy (adj)
/ˈstɪn.dʒi/
[not generous, or unwilling to spend money]
[tacaño, agarrado]
- He’s really stingy and never buys anyone a drink when we go out.
stray (adj)
/streɪ/
[(of an animal) having no home, or lost]
[animal callejero]
Adam gave the stray cat some milk.
stray (vi)
/streɪ/
[MOVE AWAY: to move away from a place where you should be or from a direction in which you should go]
[desviarse, alejarse, apartarse]
- The children were told to stay together and not to stray.
strive (vi)
/straɪv/
[TRY or ATTEMP: to try very hard to do something or to make something happen, especially for a long time or against difficulties]
[esforzarse]
In her writing she strove for a balance between innovation and familiar prose forms
stud (adj)
/stʌd/
[a man who is considered to be attractive and skilled sexually], [semental]
He thinks he’s a real stud.
subzero (adj)
[temperature: below freezing)]
The machine operates at subzero temperatures
sundry (adj)
(formal)
/ˈsʌndri/
[several different; various]
[diversos, variados, varios]
sweltering (adj)
/ˈswel.tɚ.ɪŋ/
[extremely and uncomfortably hot]
- In the summer, it’s sweltering in the smaller classrooms.
switchback (n)
[a path, road, or railway that forms very sharp bends from one direction to almost the opposite direction]
[horquilla (curva)]
swivel chair (n)
/ˈswɪvəl tʃɛr/
[a chair that can turn around, commonly used in offices]
[silla giratoria]
It is usually a swivel chair, with a set of wheels for mobility and adjustable height.
tad
/tæd/
[small amount], [poco]
Would you like some milk in it?
Just a tad, thanks
tailor [sth] (vtr)
/ˈteɪlɚ/
[hacer a medida]
take the minutes (vi)
[to write down what is said at a meeting and by whom]
- It is part of her job to set the agenda for board meetings and take the minutes
tame (adj)
/teɪm/
[especially of animals) not wild or dangerous, either naturally or because of training or long involvement with humans]
[domesticado, amansado]
- Harry keeps a tame rat as a pet.
thaw (vi)
/θɔː/
[to cause something frozen and hard to become warmer and often softer or liquid]
- Remove the meat from the freezer and let it thaw.
the munchies (n)
/ˈmʌn.tʃiz/
[ganas de comer guarrerias]
I’ve got the munchies.
