English Vocabulary In Use Upper-intermediate Flashcards
(175 cards)
1
Q
fog
A
[a weather condition in which very small drops of water come together to form a thick cloud close to the land or seaocean, making it difficult to see]
Outside the fields were blanketed in fog.
a foggy day.
2
Q
damp
A
[slightly wet, especially in a way that is not pleasant or comfortable]
This shirt still feels a bit damp.
3
Q
thaw
A
[to (cause to) change from a solid, frozen state to a liquid or soft one, because of an increase in temperature]
The sun came out and thawed the ice.
4
Q
stifling
A
[extremely hot and unpleasant]
Several hundred people were crammed into the stifling room.
5
Q
muggy
A
[When the weather is muggy, it is unpleasantly warm and the air contains a lot of water
The muggy air made even the lightest of sheets awkward to sleep under.
6
Q
drought
A
[a long period when there is little or no rain] This year (a) severe drought has ruined the crops.
7
Q
gale
A
[a very strong wind]
Hundreds of old trees were blown down in the gales.
8
Q
hurricane
A
[a violent wind that has a circular movement, especially in the West Atlantic Ocean]
The roof of their house caved in during a hurricane.
9
Q
wrinkle
A
[a small line in the skin caused by old age]
fine wrinkles around the eyes
10
Q
plump
A
[polite word for fat]
He’s got rather plump since I last saw him.
11
Q
stocky
A
[A stocky person, especially a man, is fairly short and has a body that is wide across the shoulders and chest
The man was described as short and stocky and very strong.
12
Q
obese
A
[extremely fat in a way that is dangerous for health
She was not just overweight; she was clinically obese.
13
Q
scruffy
A
[untidy and looking a little dirty]
They live in a scruffy part of town.
14
Q
shrewd
A
[having or based on a clear understanding and good judgment of a situation, resulting in an advantage]
It was a shrewd move to buy your house just before property prices started to rise.
15
Q
daft
A
[silly or stupid]
You daft idiot!
16
Q
cunning
A
[Cunning people are clever at planning something so that they get what they want, especially by tricking other people, or things that are cleverly made for a particular purpose]
They made their way safely back through enemy territory by stealth and cunning.
17
Q
crafty
A
[clever, especially in a dishonest or secret way]
I have some crafty ideas for getting around the regulations.
18
Q
sly
A
[deceiving people in a clever way in order to get what you want]
He’s a sly old devil - I wouldn’t trust him with my money.
19
Q
pessimistic
A
[thinking that bad things are more likely to happen or emphasizing the bad part of a situation]
The doctors are pessimistic (= not hopeful) about his chances of recovery.
20
Q
optimistic
A
[hoping or believing that good things will happen in the future]
She is optimistic about her chances of winning a gold medal.
21
Q
extrovert
A
[an energetic person who enjoys being with other people]
Most sales people are extroverts.
22
Q
introvert
A
[someone who is shy, quiet, and prefers to spend time alone rather than often being with other people]
He is remembered as a quiet, introverted individual.
23
Q
gregarious
A
[(of people) liking to be with other people]
Leo was an open, gregarious, kind individual, who loved people.
24
Q
quarrelsome
A
[A quarrelsome person repeatedly argues with other people]
Seeing his slovenly and quarrelsome wife’s face, he leaves his meal and goes outside.
25
sadistic
[getting pleasure, sometimes sexual, by being cruel to or hurting another person]
He enjoyed a sadistic pleasure when watching people get hurt.
26
obstinate
[unreasonably determined, especially to act in a particular way and not to change at all, despite what anyone else says]
her obstinate refusal to compromise
27
stingy
[unwilling to spend money; small in amount]
| He's really stingy and never buys anyone a drink when we go out.
28
tight-fisted
[unwilling to spend money]
| Don't wait for Gillian to buy you a drink - she's too tight-fisted.
29
miser
[someone who has a strong wish to have money and hates to spend it]
On environmental spending, the president is a miser.
30
arrogant
[unpleasantly proud and behaving as if you are more important than, or know more than, other people]
Like a lot of hospital consultants, he terrifies his patients with his arrogant manner.
31
eccentric
[strange or unusual, sometimes in a humorous way]
| She was an elderly eccentric who lived with 25 cats.
32
blunt
[saying what you think without trying to be polite or caring about other people’s feelings]
Blunt and outspoken, he often quarreled with fellow officials.
33
abrupt
[using too few words when talking, in a way that seems rude and unfriendly]
His abrupt manner makes me uncomfortable.
34
brusque
[quick and rude in manner or speech]
| As the president’s chief of staff, he offended many with his brusque manner.
35
curt
[If someone's manner or speech is curt, it is rude as a result of being very quick]
She nodded to him curtly and kept talking to someone else.
36
inquisitive
[wanting to discover as much as you can about things, sometimes in a way that annoys people]
She could see inquisitive faces looking out from the windows next door.
37
extravagant
[spending too much money, or using too much of something]
| It was very extravagant of you to buy strawberries out of season.
38
pushy
[behaving in an unpleasant way by trying too much to get something or to make someone do something]
The salesman was a little too pushy, and we felt uncomfortable.
39
assertive
[Someone who is assertive behaves confidently and is not frightened to say what they want or believe]
He taught his children to be assertive and to stand up to the bullies.
40
aggressive
[behaving in an angry and violent way towards another person]
If I criticize him, he gets aggressive and starts shouting.
41
accquaintance
[a person that you have met but do not know well]
| It was at the Taylors' party that I first made his acquaintance (= first met him).
42
loathe
[to hate someone or something]
| From an early age the brothers have loathed each other.
43
detach
[to separate or remove something from something else that it is connected to]
Detach the lower part of the form from this letter and return it to the above address.
44
terrace
[a row of often small houses joined together along their side walls]
45
bungalow
[a house that usually has only one storey (= level), sometimes with a smaller upper storey set in the roof and windows that come out from the roof]
There were small, white bungalows dotted over the hillside.
46
cottage
[a small house, usually in the countryside]
| We used to while away the weekends at my aunt's cottage in the country.
47
villa
[a house, usually in the countryside or near the sea, especially in southern Europe, and often one that people can rent for a holiday]
The role of the villa might remain the space that enables contemplation to become an ethos, and for action to become reconciled with poetry.
48
cellar
[a room under the ground floor of a building, usually used for storing things]
He led us down a small staircase into a dank, dark cellar.
49
porch
[a covered structure in front of the entrance to a building]
| The back porch looks out on our garden.
50
leak
[(of a liquid or gas) to escape from a hole or crack in a pipe or container; (of a container) to allow liquid or gas to escape]
Water was leaking from the pipe.
51
smash
[to cause something to break noisily into a lot of small pieces]
Some thugs smashed his windows.
52
twist
[If you twist a part of your body, such as your ankle, you injure it by suddenly turning it]
She slipped on the ice and twisted her knee.
53
bruise
[an injury or mark where the skin has not been broken but is darker in colour, often as a result of being hit by something]
I've got a big purple bruise where I hit my leg against the corner of the table.
54
dent
[a small hollow mark in the surface of something, caused by pressure or by being hit]
I dropped a hammer on the floor, and it dented the floorboard.
55
landslide
[a mass of rock and earth moving suddenly and quickly down a steep slope]
The opinion polls are predicting a landslide for the Republicans in next week's election.
56
epidemic
[the appearance of a particular disease in a large number of people at the same time]
covid
57
casualty
[a person injured or killed in a serious accident or war]
| The train was derailed but there were no casualties, police said.
58
rabies
[a serious disease of the nervous system that can cause death. Rabies can be passed on to humans by other animals]
Dogs, cats, foxes, and bats can all carry rabies.
[bệnh dại]
59
malaria
[a disease that you can get from the bite of a particular type of mosquito (= a small flying insect). Malaria causes periods of fever and makes you shiver and feel very cold. It is common in many hotter parts of the world]
[sốt rét]
60
cholera
[a serious infection of the bowels caused by bacteria esp. in water, causing severe diarrhea and sometimes death]
[bệnh tả]
61
typhoid
[an infectious disease spread by dirty water and food, causing a high body temperature, red spots on the upper body, severe pains in the bowels, and sometimes death]
[thương hàn]
62
diarrhoea
[an illness in which the body's solid waste is more liquid than usual and comes out of the body more often]
[tiêu chảy]
63
dissertation
[a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done in order to receive a degree at college or university]
Ann did her dissertation on Baudelaire.
64
brook
[a small stream]
| I could hear the sound of a babbling brook.
65
be fringe with
[If a place is fringed with something, that thing forms a border along the edge]
The river is fringed with wild flowers.
66
intricate
[with many complicated details that make something difficult to understand]
Police officers uncovered an intricate web of deceit.
67
decency
[behaviour that is good, moral, and acceptable in society]
| She didn't even have the decency to apologize.
68
cascade
[a small waterfall, often one of a group]
| A cascade of golden hair fell down his back.
69
decorum
[behaviour that is controlled, calm, and polite]
| As young ladies we were expected to act with proper decorum.
70
by dint of
[as a result of something]
| She got what she wanted by dint of pleading and threatening.
71
quilt
[a decorative cover for a bed]
72
awe
[a feeling of great respect sometimes mixed with fear or surprise]
As children we were rather in awe of our grandfather.
73
steep
[(of a slope) rising or falling at a sharp angle]
| It's a steep climb to the top of the mountain, but the view is worth it.
74
peninsula
[a long piece of land that sticks out from a larger area of land into the sea or into a lake]
the Korean/Arabian/Florida Peninsula
75
gauntlet
[a long, thick glove (= hand covering), worn for protection]
76
orchard
[an area of land where fruit trees (but not orange trees or other citrus trees) are grown]
an apple/cherry orchard
77
flush
[When you flush, you become red in the face, especially as a result of strong emotions, heat, or alcohol]
She flushed with pleasure as she accepted the prize.
78
placid
[having a calm appearance or characteristics]
| She was a very placid (= calm and not easily excited) child who slept all night and hardly ever cried.
79
deftly
[in a skilful, clever, or quick way]
| She deftly avoided answering his question.
80
ponder
[to think carefully about something, especially for a noticeable length of time]
She sat back for a minute to ponder her next move in the game.
81
ramble
[to walk for pleasure, especially in the countryside]
| I love to ramble through the fields and lanes in this part of the country.
82
scant
[very little and not enough]
| He pays scant attention to the needs of his children.
83
proverb
[a short sentence, etc., usually known by many people, stating something commonly experienced or giving advice]
There is an old Arab proverb that everything you write or speak should pass through three gates: Is this kind? Is this necessary? Is this true?
84
parlour
[a business that provides a stated type of personal service or sells a stated product]
an ice-cream/pizza parlour
85
mellow
[smooth and soft, or not too sharp, bright, new, or rough]
| mellow autumn sunlight
86
briskly
[in a quick, energetic way]
| She walked briskly into town.
87
streak
[a long, thin mark that is easily noticed because it is very different from the area surrounding it]
I dye my hair to hide my grey streaks.
88
jaunt
[a short journey for pleasure, sometimes including a stay]
| a Sunday jaunt into the hills
89
asylum
[protection or safety, or a protected and safe place, given esp. to someone who has left a country or place for political reasons]
The refugees have asked for political asylum.
90
jolt
[to (cause something or someone to) move suddenly and violently]
The train stopped unexpectedly and we were jolted forwards.
91
qualm
[an uncomfortable feeling when you doubt if you are doing the right thing]
She had no qualms about lying to the police.
92
ejaculate
[to shout or say something suddenly]
| "You've got my umbrella!" he ejaculated.
93
canny
[thinking quickly and cleverly, especially in business or financial matters]
These salesmen are a canny lot.
94
meadow
[a field with grass and often wild flowers in it]
| There was a path through the meadow to the village.
95
scope
[the range of a subject covered by a book, programme, discussion, class,...]
I'm afraid that problem is beyond/outside the scope of my lecture.
96
garb
[clothes of a particular type]
| prison/clerical/military garb
97
vivacity
[the quality of being vivacious (= attrctively energetic and enthusiastic)]
This biography captures the charm and vivacity of an unusual woman.
98
ludicrously
[in a way that is stupid or unreasonable and deserves to be laughed at]
It's a beautiful dress, but it's ludicrously expensive.
99
scrawny
[unpleasantly thin, often with bones showing]
| He came home after three months at college looking terribly scrawny.
100
defer
[to delay something until a later time]
| Can we defer making a decision until next week?
101
bliss
[perfect happiness]
| Lying on a sunny beach is my idea of sheer bliss.
102
prowl
[to move around quietly in a place trying not to be seen or heard, such as an animal does when hunting]
There have been reports of a masked man prowling in the neighbourhood.
103
glossy
[smooth and shiny]
| She has wonderfully glossy hair.
104
tresses
[someone's hair, especially long hair]
| Her black tresses lay around her on the pillow.
105
exhale
[to send air out of your lungs]
| Take a deep breath in then exhale into the mouthpiece.
106
raven
[quạ]
| the largest bird in the crow family, with shiny black feathers
107
alabaster
[an almost transparent, white stone, often used for making decorative objects]
108
brow
[the forehead (= part of the face above the eyes)]
| She wrinkled her brow as she thought.
109
eccentric
[strange or unusual, sometimes in a humorous way]
| eccentric behaviour
110
fragrant
[with a pleasant smell]
| The sauce itself was light, fragrant and slightly sweet.
111
cathedral
[a very large, usually stone, building for Christian worship. It is the largest and most important church of a diocese]
The new cathedral was completed and consecrated in 1962.
112
aisle
[a long, narrow space between rows of seats in an aircraft, cinema, or church]
Would you like an aisle seat or would you prefer to be by the window?
113
amber
[a hard, transparent, yellowish-brown substance that was formed in ancient times from resin (= a substance produced by trees) and is used in jewellery]
He has a collection of prehistoric insects preserved in amber.
114
ethereal
[light and delicate, especially in an unnatural way]
| an ethereal beauty
115
elusive
[difficult to describe, find, achieve, or remember]
| The answers to these questions remain as elusive as ever.
116
translucent
[If an object or a substance is translucent, it is almost transparent, allowing some light through it in an attractive way]
This china is so fine and delicate that it's translucent.
117
ruminate
[to think carefully and for a long period about something]
| She ruminated for weeks about whether to tell him or not.
118
crumple
[to become, or cause something to become, full of folds that are not equal in size]
This shirt crumples easily
119
spire
[a tall, pointed structure on top of a building, especially on top of a church tower]
The mountains’ rocky spires surrounded us.
120
guidance
[help and advice about how to do something or about how to deal with problems connected with your work, education, or personal relationships]
I've always looked to my father for guidance in these matters.
121
perturbation
[worry]
| News of the arrest perturbed her greatly.
122
predilection
[If someone has a predilection for something, they like it a lot]
Ever since she was a child, she has had a predilection for spicy food.
123
reckon
[to think or believe]
| I reckon it's going to rain.
124
pinch
[to press something, especially someone's skin, strongly between two hard things such as a finger and a thumb, usually causing pain]
Ouch! Stop pinching (me)!
125
reluctant
[not willing to do something and therefore slow to do it
| I'm a bit reluctant to get involved.
126
falter
[to lose strength or purpose and stop, or almost stop]
| The dinner party conversation faltered for a moment.
127
waif
[a child or animal without a home or enough food and care, usually thin and dirty in appearance]
a poor little waif
128
consolation
[something that makes someone who is sad or disappointed feel better]
I didn't know what to say - I just offered a few words of consolation.
129
bough
[a large branch of a tree]
130
fragrance
[a sweet or pleasant smell]
| the delicate fragrance of roses
131
airily
[in a way that shows no worry or serious thought]
| "He can do what he likes - it doesn't bother me," she said airily.
132
fern
[dương xỉ]
| a green plant with long stems, wide, thin leaves, and no flowers
133
mosses
[rêu]
| The rocks near the river were covered with moss.
134
inculcate
[to fix beliefs or ideas in someone's mind, especially by repeating them often]
Our coach has worked hard to inculcate a team spirit in/into the players.
135
scrawny
[unpleasantly thin, often with bones showing]
| He came home after three months at college looking terribly scrawny.
136
drudgery
[hard boring work]
| Cleaning the oven is sheer drudgery.
137
whim
[a sudden wish or idea, especially one that cannot be reasonably explained]
We booked the trip on a whim.
138
shimmering
[reflecting a gentle light that seems to move slightly]
| We drove across the desert, through the shimmering heat haze.
139
gull
[hải âu]
[someone who is easily tricked or cheated]
Surely he's not such a gull that he would believe her ridiculous story.
140
benevolent
[kind and helpful]
| He was a benevolent old man and wouldn't hurt a fly.
141
wriggle
[to twist your body, or move part of your body, with small, quick movements]
A large worm wriggled in the freshly dug earth.
142
ottoman
[a piece of furniture like a long box with a soft top, that you can use to store things in or to sit on]
143
stipulation
[a rule that must be followed or something that must be done]
The only stipulation is that candidates must be over the age of 35.
144
wiry
[(of people and animals) thin but strong, and often able to bend easily]
He has a runner's wiry frame.
145
fractious
[easily upset or annoyed, and often complaining]
| a fractious child
146
haunt
[to cause repeated suffering or anxiety]
| Fighting in Vietnam was an experience that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
147
pale
[used to describe a person's face or skin if it has less colour than usual, for example when the person is or ill or frightened, or if it has less colour than people generally have]
You're looking pale - are you feeling well?
148
vim
[energy and enthusiasm]
| At 87, Minna's still full of vim and vigour.
149
mortal
[(of living things, especially people) unable to continue living for ever; having to die]
For all men are mortal.
150
grin
[a wide smile]
| I assumed things had gone well for him because he had a big grin on his face.
151
grunt
[(of a person) to make a short, low sound instead of speaking, usually because of anger or pain]
"Too tired," he grunted and sat down.
152
snout
[the nose and mouth that stick out from the face of some animals]
a pig's snout
153
growl
[to make a low, rough sound, usually in anger]
| The dog growled at her and snapped at her ankles.
154
purr
[to make a quiet, continuous, soft sound]
| The cat purred as I stroked its fur.
155
giddy
[feeling silly, happy, and excited and showing this in your behaviour]
She was giddy with excitement.
156
chimney
[a hollow structure that allows the smoke from a fire inside a building to escape to the air outside]
A column of smoke rose from the chimney.
157
thatch
[to make a roof for a building with straw or reeds]
| A great deal of beautiful countryside is enlivened because we still have thatched dwellings.
158
rave
[to speak in an uncontrolled way, usually because you are upset or angry, or because you are ill]
He's always raving (on) about the government.
159
gloomy
[unhappy and without hope]
| The cemetery is a gloomy place.
160
butter
[a pale yellow solid food containing a lot of fat that is made from cream and is spread on bread or used in cooking]
Have some bread and butter (= bread spread with butter).
161
riddle
[a type of question that describes something in a difficult and confusing way and has a clever or funny answer, often asked as a game]
Scientists may have solved the riddle of Saturn's rings.
162
toss
[to throw something carelessly]
| He glanced at the letter and then tossed it into the bin.
163
quarrel
[an angry disagreement between two or more people or groups]
| We have no quarrel with the people of your country (= we have no reason to disagree with or dislike them).
164
bawl
[to shout in a very loud voice
| She bawled at me to sit down.
165
savage
[extremely violent, wild, or frightening]
| He writes about people who are savage and cruel.
166
hoarse
[(of a voice or a person) having a rough voice, often because of a sore throat or a cold]
You'll make yourself hoarse if you keep shouting like that!
167
feeble
[weak and without energy, strength, or power]
| He was a feeble, helpless old man.
168
sulk
[to be silent and refuse to smile or be pleasant to people because you are angry about something that they have done]
He's sulking in his room because I wouldn't let him have any more chocolate.
169
shriek
[a short, loud, high cry, especially one produced suddenly as an expression of a powerful emotion]
He suddenly let out a piercing shriek.
170
ornament
[decoration that is added to increase the beauty of something]
She ornamented her letters with little drawings in the margin.
171
shrill
[having a loud and high sound that is unpleasant or painful to listen to]
She had a shrill high-pitched voice.
172
roar
[to make a long, loud, deep sound]
| We could hear the lions roaring at the other end of the zoo
173
provoke
[to cause a reaction, especially a negative one]
| The prime minister's speech provoked an angry response from the shadow cabinet.
174
impertinent
[rude and not showing respect, especially towards someone older or in a higher position than you]
I hope he didn't think I was being impertinent when I asked him about his private life.
175
custody
[the state of being kept by the police, usually while waiting to go to court for trial]
The police have taken the suspect into custody.
