All Flashcards
(168 cards)
a contradiction
[C] a difference between two stories, facts, etc. C that means they cannot both be true: There were contradictions between the testimonies of the two men.
a contraption
n. [C] (informal) a piece of equipment that looks strange
a contraceptive
n. [C] a drug, object, or method used so that a woman does not become P R E G N A N T when she has sex —contraceptive adj.
contraception
. [U] the practice or methods of preventing a woman from becoming PREGNANT when she has sex SYN birth control
contraband
2 goods that are illegal to supply to either side in a war
contour
n. [C] the shape of the outer edges of something such as an area of land or someone’s body
contract sth ↔ out
phr. v. to arrange to have a job done by a person or company outside your own organization: The city has contracted its garbage collection out to an independent company.
contraction
2 [U] the process of becoming smaller or shorter
to the contrary
to the contrary showing or saying the opposite: In spite of rumors to the contrary, their marriage is fine.
contingency
[C] an event or situation that might happen and could cause problems: a contingency plan to cope with any computer failures
continental drift
n. [U] EARTH SCIENCES the very slow movement of the CONTINENTs across the surface of the Earth
a continental breakfast
n.[C]a breakfast consisting of coffee, juice, and a sweet ROLL (=type of bread)
contiguous
adj. (formal) next to something, or sharing the same border: the 48 contiguous States
a contender
n. [C] someone who is involved in a competition: She is a contender for the Democratic nomination for president.
to contend with
sth phr. v. to deal with a problem or difficult situation: The police would then have less paperwork to contend with.
contemptuous
adj. show-ing that you believe someone or something does not deserve any respect: young people who are contemptuous of authority
contemplative
adj. spending a lot of time thinking seriously and quietly
a container
n. [C] something such as a box, a bowl, a bottle, etc. that can be filled with something: an eight-gallon container
a contact
. 1 [C,U] communication with a person, organization, country, etc.: Have you kept/stayed in contact with any of your school friends? | The soldiers had little contact with citizens of the country. | the establishment of diplomatic contacts
the constitution
Constitution a set of laws and principles that a country or organization is governed by: the Constitution of the United States
to construct
1 to build something large such as a building, bridge, etc.: The Empire State Building was constructed in 1931. | The cabin is constructed from thick, heavy timbers
to constrain
v. [T] (formal) to limit someone’s freedom to do what s/he wants to do: Our research was constrained by a lack of funds.
constitutional monarchy
2 [C] POLITICS a country that is ruled by a king or queen whose powers are limited by law
to conspire
to secretly plan with other people to do something bad or illegal:
The company was accused of conspiring with local stores to fix prices.