bbc articles vocab Flashcards
(165 cards)
1
Q
credentials
A
qualifications or achievements that indicate someone’s suitability for a particular role or status
2
Q
haemorrhaged
A
to bleed heavily
3
Q
counterintuitive
A
contrary to what one would intuitively expect
4
Q
unprecedented
A
never done or known before
5
Q
mononymous
A
known by a single name
6
Q
joie de vivre
A
exuberant enjoyment of life
7
Q
flogging
A
selling or promoting aggressively
8
Q
disposable
A
designed to be used once or only a few times and then throw away
9
Q
precision-made
A
made with great accuracy and attention to detailt
10
Q
ruthlessly
A
without pity or compassion; mercilessly
11
Q
sartorial
A
related to tailoring, clothes or style of dress.
12
Q
morphing
A
undergoing a gradual transformation
13
Q
connoisseur
A
an expert judge in matters of taste
14
Q
introspective
A
characterised by or given to introspection; examining one’s own thoughts and feelings.
15
Q
sentimental
A
of or prompted by feelings of tenderness, sadness or nostalgia.
16
Q
nurture
A
to care for and encourage the growth development ofe
17
Q
elusive
A
difficult to find, catch or achieve
18
Q
prime
A
to prepare (someone or something) for a particular purpose or activity
19
Q
innate
A
inborn, natural
20
Q
hampered
A
hindered or impeded
21
Q
scenarios
A
a postulated sequence or development of events
22
Q
routinely
A
regularly
23
Q
conformity
A
compliance with standards, rules, or laws
24
Q
primed
A
prepared or made ready for a particular purpose or activity
25
implementing
putting (a decision, plan, agreement, etc...) into effect
25
intervene
come between so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events
26
thrive
to grow or develop well or vigorously
27
ideating
forming ideas or concepts
28
novel
new or unusual in an interesting way
29
divergent
tending to be different or develop in different directions
30
mellow
pleasantly smooth or soft; free from harshness
31
unfettered
unrestrained or uninhibited
32
rote
mechanical or habitual repetition of something to be learned
33
curriculums
the subjects compromising a course of study in a school or college
34
scrambling
moving hurriedly or clumsily from or to an action
35
alloted
given or assigend as a share or portion
35
stringent
strict, precise, and exacting
36
whittle
to reduce something in size, amount or extend by gradual series of steps
37
primitive
relating to the earliest age or stage, very basic or unsophisticated
38
anomaly
something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected
39
sophisticated
developed to a high degree of complexity
40
predates
exists or occurs at a date earlier than something
41
carbohydrates
organic compounds occurring in foods and living tissues, including sugars, starch and cellulose
42
subsistence
the action or fact of maintaining or supporting oneself, especially at a minimal level
43
fertility
the quality of being fertile; productiveness
44
inflammation
a localised physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection
45
neutralise
to make something ineffective by applying an opposite force or effect
46
scoured
cleaned or brightened the surface by rubbing it hard, typically with an abrasive or detergent
47
concentric
denoting circles, arcs or other shapes that share the same centre, the larger often completely surrounding the smaller
47
percussion
the striking of one solid object with or against another with some degree of force
48
microlith
a minute, shaped flint or stone tool
48
fastidious
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail
48
rudimentary
involving or limited to basic principles; elementary
49
indigenous
originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native
49
extenuating
making an offence or mistake seem less serious or more forgivable
49
wherewithal
the money or other means needed for a particular purpose
49
contentious
causing or likely to cause an argument, controversial
49
ruefully
expressing sorrow or regret, especially in a wry or humorous way
49
deviation
the action of departing from an established course or accepted standard
50
derided
mocked or laughed at in a contemptuous manner
50
ratified
formally approved and accepted
51
extensively
covering a large area or involving a large number of things
51
mnemonic
a device or technique used to aid memory
51
circadian
relating to biologival processes that occur in a 24-hour cycle
52
relishing
enjoying or savouring something greatly
52
inaugural
making the beginning of an institution, activity, or period of office
53
fervour
intense and passionate feeling
54
innocuous
not harmful or offensive
55
genial
friendly and cheerful
56
kitsch
art or objects of a gaudy or lowbrow nature that are considered to be in poor taste
56
courtly
polite and respectful, often in a formal or elaborate manner
57
proscenium
the part of a theatre stage in front of a curtain
57
smorgasbord
a wide range or variety of something
58
functionary
a person who performs official duties or has a specific role
58
lugubrious
looking or sounding sad and dismal
58
unenviable
not desirable; something that others would not want to have
58
popcorn revolution
a metaphorical term for the dominance of commercially driven blockbuster films, often at the expense of more meaningful or diverse storytelling
58
sanctimony
the appearance of being morally superior to other people
59
tedious
too long, slow or dull; tiresome or monotonous
59
japes
practical jokes or mischievous acts
59
an anorak
a person with an obsessive interest in something often seen dull by others
59
mundane
lacking interest or excitement; dull and ordinary
59
solitary
done or existing alone; without others
60
sinuous
having many curves and turns; winding or gracefully curving
60
sustain
to keep something going continuously over time
60
obscure
not well known or difficult to understand
60
grandiose
impressive or magnificent in appearance or style, often in an exaggerated way
60
vestiges
traces or remnants of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
61
aficionado
a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about a particular activity, subject or pastime
61
quirky characterised by peculiar or unexpected traits
62
surreally
in a way that is bizarre or dreamlike, often evoking a sense of unreality
62
androgynous
having both male and female characteristics; appearing neither distinctly male nor female
63
suffused
gradually spread through or over; permeated
63
semi-autobiographed
partly based on the author's own life, containing elements of personal experience and fiction
63
transcended
went beyond the limits of something, often rising above in a superior or significant way
63
notorious
famous or well-known, typically for some bad quality or deed
63
existential crisis
a moment in which an individual questions the meaning, purpose or value of their life
64
rendition
a particular interpretation or version of something, often an artistic work
64
avant-garde
new and experimental ideas and methods in art, culture, or society, often unconventional and forward-thinking
64
ubiquity
the state of being everywhere or very common
64
fraternising
associating or forming a friendship with someone, often in a friendly way or familiar way
64
melancholy
a deep, long-lasting sadness; a pensive or gloomy state of mind
64
anguish
severe mental or physical pain or suffering
65
existential
relating to human existence, often dealing with themes of purpose, choice, and freedom
65
notoriety
the state of being famous or well-known for some bad quality or deed
65
hallmarks
distinctive features or characteristics of something
65
pelagic
relating to the open sea, especially away from the coast
65
harboured
to hold or contain, often secretly or with I’ll intent
66
endemic
native or restricted to a particular region or environment
67
incongruous
not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings; out of place
67
furore
a sudden outburst of anger or excitement; a commotion
67
placate
to calm or pacify, especially by making concessions
68
solace
comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness
68
sustainability
the ability to maintain or preserve resources or conditions over the long term
68
macabre
relating to death or the grim, horrifying aspects of it
69
conceived
to imagine or from an idea in the mind
69
menagerie
a diverse collection of animals, often kept for display
69
esteemed
held in high regard; respected and admired
69
draw
an attraction or appeal
70
quintessential
representing the most perfect or typical example of something
70
galvanism
the use of electricity to stimulate biological tissues, often associated with early experiments in reanimation
70
guise
an external appearance, often used to conceal the true nature of something
70
ingrained
firmly fixed or established; difficult to change
71
revulsion
a strong feeling of disgust or repulsion
71
versatile
able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities
72
neurosis
a mild mental disorder characterised by excessive anxiety, obsession or distress
73
grotesque
comically or repulsively ugly or disorted
73
celluloid
pertaining to cinema or motion pictures
74
sombre
gloomy or serious in mood or tone
74
pathos
an element in experience or in artistic representation that evokes pity or compassion
74
dormancy
a state of inactivity or rest
75
extravaganza
a spectacular and elaborate show or event
75
unnerving
causing one to feel uneasy or disturbed
76
transgressing
violating or exceeding limits, typically those of moral or social boundaries
77
gullibiltiy
the tendency to be easily persuaded to believe something that is not true
78
necrotising fasciitis
a severe bacterial infection that destroys skin, fat, and tissue covering the muscles
79
quelling
putting an end to something, typically by force or authority
80
decrying
publicly denouncing or condemning
81
pervasive
spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people, often negatively
82
absentmindedness
a lack of attention to present circumstances due to preoccupation or distraction
83
intuition
the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning
84
frivolous
lacking in seriousness or importance
85
propensity
a natural tendency to behave in a particular way
85
credibility
the quality of being trusted and being believed in
86
infectious
likely to spread or influence others rapidly
87
cognitive fluency
the ease with which information is processed, often influencing belief and decision-making
88
conviction
a firmly held belief or opinion
89
frailties
weaknesses or vulnerabilities, especially in character or behaviour
89
debunked
exposed as false or exaggerated
89
erroneous
wrong or incorrect
90
miserliness
a tendency to be overly cautious or sparing in cognitive effort, often leading to superficial thinking
91
deceptive
giving an appearance or impression different from the true one; misleading
92
prescient
having or showing knowledge of events before they take place; foresightful
93
arraignment
the act of formally accusing or condemning someone, typically in a court or moral context
93
fetishistic
obsessively fixated on or devoted to something, often irrationally
94
inquisition
an intense investigation or interrogation, often with a connotation of unfairness or excessive scrutiny
95
blithely
casually and indifferently, often in a way that shows a lack of concern or seriousness
96
sentient
capable of perceiving and feeling; having consciousness or ability to experience sensations
97
regimentation
the strict organisation and control of individuals or activities, often in a rigid or militaristic manner
98
conscription
mandatory enlistment in the armed forces; compulsory military services
98
entrepreneurial
related to the ability to innovate, take risks, and manage business ventures
99
intervention
the act of becoming involved in a situation to change its outcome, particularly in a medical or social context
100
metaphysical
concerned with abstract concepts such as existence, reality, and the nature of the universe
101
empowered
given authority or control, particularly in the context of rights, consent or self-determination
102
frown on (phrasal verb)
to disapprove of something, often morally or socially
