500 Words Flashcards

Question

reliable | /rɪˈlɑɪ·ə·bəl/ adj

Answer 1

› deserving trust; dependable: | @My car is old but it’s reliable.

Answer 2

› to be successful, esp. financially: @ As the company prospered, we prospered. #prosperity /prɑˈsper·ɪ·t̬i/ n [U] #prosperous /ˈprɑs·pər·əs/ adj

Answer 3

› showing hard work, care, and attention to detail: @assiduous research/efforts @ an assiduous student @ The government has been assiduous in the fight against inflation. #assiduously /-li/ adverb #assiduousness /-nəs/ noun [U]

Answer 4

› to experience something that is unpleasant or has a strong effect: @He recently underwent heart bypass surgery.

Answer 5

› a complete change in the appearance or character of something or someone: @[C] This plan means a complete transformation of our organization. › biology Transformation is also a permanent change in a cell that results when DNA comes from a different type of cell.

Answer 6

› a state of disorder and confusion: @Repairs to the major highway this summer will bring chaos to commuters. #chaotic /keɪˈɑt̬·ɪk/ adj @The house is a little chaotic right now – we’re in the middle of repainting.

Answer 7

› free from another person’s control, or free from social or political limitations: @an emancipated woman @emancipated slaves

Answer 8

› a set of questions people are asked to gather information or find out their opinions, or the information gathered by asking many people the same questions: @A recent survey found that working women want better child care and flexible hours.

Answer 9

› to imagine or expect that something is a likely or desirable possibility in the future: @He envisioned a partnership between business and government. @The company envisions adding at least five stores next year.

Answer 10

› to consider something carefully for a long time: @[T] She ponders the reaction she’ll receive. @[I] The back porch is a quiet place where I can ponder.

Answer 11

``` › to introduce changes and new ideas: @The fashion industry is always desperate to innovate. #innovator /ˈɪn·əˌveɪ·t̬ər/ n [C] @A fearless innovator, Ives liked to play music simultaneously in different meters and keys. ```

Answer 12

› to combine or join together: | @[I] Route 9A splits off from Route 9, but they merge after 5 more miles.

Answer 13

› a person who is the first to do something that other people do later: @She was a trailblazer as the only woman in the US Senate.

Answer 14

› careful because you do not completely trust someone or something or are not certain about what you should do: @Teachers are often wary of standardized tests.

Answer 15

› (of people) able to do many different things or to adjust to new conditions, or (of things) able to be used for many different purposes: @He was a versatile guitarist, and recorded with many leading rock bands. @It is an especially versatile insecticide known to control a range of insects. #versatility /ˌvɜr·səˈtɪl·ɪ·t̬i/ n [U] @Daniels possesses the versatility to play right and left end and tackle.

Answer 16

› used to show why or in what limited way the other part of the sentence is true: @Inasmuch as funding is not available, building plans have been delayed

Answer 17

› able to be easily hurt, influenced, or attacked: @Older people are especially vulnerable to cold temperatures even inside their homes. @He casts himself as a naive, vulnerable young poet. #vulnerability /ˌvʌl·nər·əˈbɪl·ət̬·i/ n [U] @You want a doctor who understands the patient's vulnerability.

Answer 18

› to start growing, or to cause a seed to start growing: | @[I] This community is where the seeds of Gandhi’s philosophy germinated.

Answer 19

› being the most basic or most important thing on which other things depend: @fundamental beliefs/principles @We need to make fundamental changes in the way we treat our environment. #fundamentals /ˌfʌn·dəˈmen·təlz/ pl n @In the early grades, children learn the fundamentals of reading. #fundamentally /ˌfʌn·dəˈmen·təl·i/ adv [not gradable] @Their economy was fundamentally (= basically) in good shape.

Answer 20

› difficult to use, do, or deal with: @The computer came in a big box that was awkward to carry. › causing inconvenience, anxiety, or embarrassment: @It was an awkward situation, because the restaurant was too expensive for us but we didn’t want to just get up and walk out. › Someone who feels awkward feels embarrassed or nervous: @We were the first to arrive at the party and felt a little awkward. › lacking grace or skill when moving: @He’s too awkward – he’ll never be a good dancer. awkwardness /ˈɔ·kwərd·nəs/ n [U] @His awkwardness with girls disappeared once he got to college.

Answer 21

› happening or existing at exactly the same time: @The report will be broadcast in Russian with simultaneous English translation. #simultaneously /ˌsɑɪ·məlˈteɪ·ni·əs·li/, /ˌsɪm·əl-/ adv [not gradable] @To drive a car, you’ve got to learn to do several things simultaneously.

Answer 22

› a strong vertical column made of stone, metal, or wood that supports part of a building or stands alone for decoration › A pillar is also someone or something that is an important part of a group, place, or activity: @He’s a pillar of the Dallas business community.

Answer 23

› to mention someone or something in a brief or indirect way: @He alluded to problems with the new computers.

Answer 24

› (literature) a comparison of the features or qualities of two different things to show their similarities: @[C] He was explaining that the mind has no form and is invisible, and that a useful analogy is of the mind being like the sky. #analogous /əˈnæl·ə·gəs/ adj @The stock market recorded a 0.4% annual increase that was roughly analogous to results in the late 1960s.

Answer 25

› an amount that is more than enough: @[C] We all seem to have an abundance of those plastic grocery bags. @[U] Grapes and olives grow in abundance in the valley.

Answer 26

› a feeling or idea that is suggested by a particular word although it need not be a part of the word's meaning, or something suggested by an object or situation: @The word 'lady' has connotations of refinement and excessive femininity that some women find offensive. #connote /kəˈnoʊt/ verb [T] formal @To me, chocolate connotes pleasure and indulgence.

Answer 27

› relating to the home, house, or family: | @I’ve never been fond of domestic chores like cooking and cleaning.

Answer 28

› a job or piece of work that needs to be done regularly: @By the time he’d finished all the household chores it was mid-afternoon. › A chore is also something that is difficult and unpleasant: @It was a real chore trying to give our dog a bath.

Answer 29

› not similar; different: | @Her diagnosis was not dissimilar (= was similar) to that of the previous doctor.

Answer 30

› (used to emphasize something said or about to be said) really; truly: @If he has indeed quit his job, I asked myself, why is he still here? @From a medical standpoint, the discovery may turn out to be very big news indeed. @Indeed (= When you really think about it), why should you follow a doctor’s advice to the letter when you feel like Superman? › Indeed is also used to make something clear or add to something you have just said: @It was impossible to find work and, indeed, it became increasingly hard to keep looking for a job.

Answer 31

› to a large degree: @School is quite different from what it once was. #quite a @ Quite a is used before some nouns to emphasize the large number, amount, or size of the subject referred to: @We’ve had quite a lot of rain this year. @There were quite a few (= a lot) of people waiting in line. @She had quite a bit (= a lot) to say to him when he finally showed up. @I hadn’t seen Rebecca in quite a while (= for a long time).

Answer 32

› to desire something strongly: | @The neglected kids just crave attention.

Answer 33

› to recognize and name the exact character of a disease or other problem by making an examination: @He was diagnosed with cancer that year. @It was not easy to diagnose what was wrong with the business. #diagnosis noun [C/U] /ˌdɑɪ·ɪɡˈnoʊ·sɪs/ (plural diagnoses /ˌdɑɪ·ɪɡˈnoʊˌsiz/) @Respiratory therapy involves the diagnosis and treatment of breathing disorders #diagnostic /ˌdɑɪ·ɪɡˈnɑs·tɪk/ adjective @The hospital is doing some diagnostic tests to see if they can figure out why she’s running a fever.

Answer 34

› a person or thing thing that shows that something is going to happen soon, especially something bad: @a harbinger of doom

Answer 35

› (of a bird) to rest on a branch or other object, or of a person or thing to sit or be on the edge or top of something: @[T] A baseball cap, turned backwards, was perched on his head. #perch /pɜrtʃ/ noun [C] @From their perches in the towers, the prison guards could see the entire prison yard.

Answer 36

the young of an animal, or a person’s children: | @Champion horses have numerous offspring.

Answer 37

› in danger because not firmly fixed; likely to fall or suffer harm: @I climbed onto a precarious platform to get a better view. #precariously /prɪˈkeər·i·əs·li/ adverb @The vase was precariously perched on a narrow shelf next to the door.

Answer 38

› a long search for something that is difficult to find: | @a quest for the meaning of life

Answer 39

› large in amount #profusion /prəˈfju·ʒən/ noun [U] @a profusion of beautiful flowers

Answer 40

› to reach an opinion from available information or facts: | @[+ that clause] He inferred that she was not interested in a relationship from what she said in her letter.

Answer 41

› to cause something frozen and hard to become warmer and often softer or liquid: @Remove the meat from the freezer and let it thaw. @It may take a couple of hours to thaw out.

Answer 42

› (esp. of emotions and beliefs) strongly felt: | @a keen interest in painting

Answer 43

› a group of young birds all born at the same time, or infml a person’s children: @(infml) I moved in with Annie and her brood.

Answer 44

death, destruction, or any very bad situation that cannot be avoided: @A sense of doom hung over the entire country.

500 Words Flashcards

(68 cards)