Review 11 Flashcards
(206 cards)
1
Q
Cornucopia
A
/ˌkɔːr.nəˈkoʊ.pi.ə/
Profusion
a large amount or supply of something:
The table held a veritable cornucopia of every kind of food or drink you could want.
They help deliver a cornucopia of entertainment and information to smartphones and laptops.
2
Q
Profusion
A
an extremely large amount of something:
I was remarking on the recent profusion of books and articles on the matter.
She’d never seen flowers so beautiful and in such profusion.
3
Q
Richness
A
the quality of looking, sounding, smelling, or tasting strong in a pleasing or attractive way:
richness of flavour
It’s a wonderful painting - I love the richness of the colours.
4
Q
Wellspring
A
the place something comes from or starts at, or the cause of something:
the wellspring of the creative spirit
University labs have traditionally been a wellspring of innovations.
5
Q
Sprawling
A
/ˈsprɑː.lɪŋ/
(of a city) covered with buildings across a large area, often ones that have been added gradually over a period of time:
sprawling suburbs
Somewhere in this sprawling metropolis, there is a secret military laboratory.
6
Q
Endeavor
A
/enˈdev.ɚ/
to try to do something:
Engineers are endeavouring to locate the source of the problem.
an attempt to do something:
In spite of our best endeavours, it has proven impossible to contact her.
Crossing the North Pole on foot was an amazing feat of human endeavour.
artistic endeavour
7
Q
Dilution
A
/daɪˈluː.ʃən/
the action of making a liquid weaker by mixing in something else, or a liquid that has been made weaker in this way:
The drug’s effectiveness is decreased by dilution.
Tests are underway to see whether two dilutions of this vaccine are effective.
the action of reducing the strength of a feeling, action, etc:
a dilution of standards
There was certainly a dilution of team spirit.
8
Q
Usher
A
to show someone where they should go, or to make someone go where you want them to go:
She ushered us into her office and offered us coffee.
Officials quickly ushered the protesters out of the hall.
9
Q
Apocalyptic
A
/əˌpɑː.kəˈlɪp.tɪk/
showing or describing the total destruction and end of the world, or extremely bad future events:
apocalyptic visions of a nuclear confrontation
apocalyptic warnings about our destruction of the environment
10
Q
Piecemeal
A
/ˈpiːs.miːl/
not done according to a plan but done at different times in different ways:
Unfortunately, everything is being done piecemeal.
Do we fix it all now, or do we approach it piecemeal over time?
11
Q
Annotate
A
to add a short explanation or opinion to a text or drawing:
Annotated editions of Shakespeare’s plays help readers to understand old words.
12
Q
Premise
A
/ˈprem.ɪs/
an idea or theory on which a statement or action is based:
[ + that ] They had started with the premise that all men are created equal.
The research project is based on the premise stated earlier.
We don’t accept the premise that cutting taxes will necessarily lead to increased economic productivity.
to base a theory, argument, etc. on an idea, thought, or belief:
He premised his argument on several incorrect assumptions.
13
Q
Be hell-bent on sth
A
be hell-bent on sth
informal
to be extremely determined to do something, without considering the risks or possible dangerous results:
He was hell-bent on revenge.
14
Q
Incessantly
A
/ɪnˈses.ənt.li/
in a way that never stops, especially when this is annoying or unpleasant:
She talked incessantly about the most trivial things.
He checks his phone incessantly.
(esp. of something unpleasant) never stopping:
The region endured weeks of incessant rain.
incessant rain/noise/complaints
15
Q
Nod
A
a vote or nomination (= the act of officially suggesting that someone or something should be given a prize or position) for someone or something:
Neeson received an Oscar nod for his role in Schindler’s List.
At the time, Clinton and Obama were locked in a battle for their party’s nod.
16
Q
Sentient
A
/ˈsen.ʃənt/
able to experience feelings:
It is hard for a sentient person to understand how any parents could treat their child so badly.
the quality of being able to experience feelings:
Why are humans not willing to accept the full sentience of other animals?
Research on animal sentience is beginning to inform approaches to animal welfare.
17
Q
Prim
A
very formal and correct in behaviour and easily shocked by anything rude:
She’s much too prim and proper to drink pints of beer.
She wore a silk gown and prim white gloves.
18
Q
Perpetual
A
/pɚˈpetʃ.u.əl/
continuing for ever in the same way:
They lived in perpetual fear of being discovered.
He has hard, cold eyes and his mouth is set in a perpetual sneer.
She resented his perpetual complaining about her cooking.
a perpetual student
19
Q
Putter
A
/ˈpʌt̬.ɚ/
to do things in a relaxed way, without rushing or trying very hard:
He really enjoys puttering around in the garden.
20
Q
Guise
A
/ɡaɪz/
the appearance of someone or something, especially when intended to deceive:
The men who arrived in the guise of drug dealers were actually undercover police officers.
The company has been accused of trying to sell their products under the guise of market research.
21
Q
Spree
A
a short period of doing a particular, usually enjoyable, activity much more than is usual:
I went on a drinking/shopping/spending spree on Saturday.
20 people were shot dead in the city, making it the worst killing spree since the riots.
22
Q
Cathartic
A
/kəˈθɑːr.tɪk/
involving the release of strong emotions through a particular activity or experience:
a cathartic experience
I find it very cathartic to dance.
23
Q
Invoke
A
to use a law in order to achieve something, or to mention something in order to explain something or to support your opinion or action:
Police can invoke the law to regulate access to these places.
to request help from someone, especially a god, when you want to improve a situation:
Their sacred dance is performed to invoke ancient gods.
24
Q
Lash
A
to hit with a lot of force:
The prisoners were regularly lashed with electric cable.
The sound of the rain lashing against the windows was deafening.
25
Dissipate
/ˈdɪs.ə.peɪt/
to (cause to) gradually disappear or waste:
The heat gradually dissipates into the atmosphere.
His anger dissipated as the situation became clear.
The storm dissipated around noon.
It took months of effort to dissipate the oil spill in the North Sea.
26
Ride-hailing
/ˈraɪd.heɪ.lɪŋ/
used for or involved in the activity of asking for a car and driver to come immediately and take you somewhere:
Do you use a ride-hailing app?
The city announced new regulations on internet-based ride-hailing businesses.
27
Quadruplicate
/kwɒdˈruːplɪkət/ US
in quadruplicate
if a document is prepared or written in quadruplicate, four copies of it are made:
The above documents are to be submitted in quadruplicate together with a valid passport.
28
Quadruple
/kwɑːˈdruː.pəl/
to become four times as big, or to multiply a number or amount by four:
The number of students at the college has quadrupled in the last ten years.
We expect to quadruple our profits this year.
29
Precondition
/ˌpriː.kənˈdɪʃ.ən/
something that must happen or be true before it is possible for something else to happen:
A halt to the fighting is a precondition for negotiations.
Sound financial policies are a precondition for economic growth.
30
Level-headed
/ˌlev.əlˈhed.ɪd/
calm and able to deal easily with difficult situations
Based on a level-headed analysis, I will act decisively so that I won’t miss any chance.
31
War-torn
War-ravaged
severely damaged by a long war, especially between different groups from the same country:
It is a long-term task to rebuild the infrastructure of a war-torn country such as Angola.
32
Grandee
/ɡrænˈdiː/
an important person, especially in a particular job or area of public life
Communist Party grandees watched as 15,000 soldiers march across the country.
33
Pageant
/ˈpædʒ·ənt/
a show, celebration, or parade (= a large number of people walking or marching together), esp. one in which people wear special clothing or act out events from the past:
the Miss Chinatown pageant
Our school held a Pageant of Great Women.
/ˈpædʒ·ən·tri/
Between games, the traditional pageantry includes the Parade of Champions.
34
Annualized
/ˈæn.ju.ə.laɪzd/
(of an amount or number) calculated over a year:
Exports fell at an annualized rate of 12.3 percent, while imports rose at a 7.5 percent pace.
35
Clash
to fight or argue:
Students clashed with police after demonstrations at five universities.
The government and the opposition parties have clashed over the cuts in defence spending.
If two opinions, statements, or qualities clash, they are very different from each other:
This latest statement from the White House clashes with important aspects of US foreign policy.
a clash of opinions/loyalties/personalities
the situation when two events happen at the same time in a way that is not convenient:
In the new timetable, there's a clash between history and physics.
36
Unfazed
Informal
/ʌnˈfeɪzd/
not surprised or worried:
She seems unfazed by her sudden success and fame.
37
Arch-
greater or especially worse than others of the same type:
an arch-criminal
his arch-enemy
He's always been an arch-opponent of the project.
38
Self-imposed
/ˌself.ɪmˈpoʊzd/
decided by yourself, without being influenced or ordered by other people:
The end of the year was their self-imposed deadline for finishing the work.
After the military coup, the family left for self-imposed exile in America.
39
Dissident
/ˈdɪs.ə.dənt/
dissenter
a person who publicly disagrees with and criticizes their government:
political dissidents
a dissident group/writer
40
Dissidence
the act of publicly disagreeing with and criticizing the government or a powerful person or group:
Dissidence has been met with steady opposition.
There is a growing youth dissidence movement.
41
Espionage
the activity of secretly collecting and reporting information, especially secret political, military, business, or industrial information:
engage in/conduct/commit espionage Three people were also accused of engaging in espionage against a rival firm.
corporate/industrial/economic espionage
42
Resumption
/rɪˈzʌmp.ʃən/
the start of something again after it has stopped:
The president called for an immediate ceasefire and a resumption of negotiations between the two sides.
He worked for the resumption of economic ties between Vietnam and the US.
a resumption of negotiations/talks/trading
43
Retaliatory
/rɪˈtæl.i.ə.tɔːr.i/
A retaliatory action is one that is harmful to someone who has done something to harm you:
retaliatory measures
He urged people not to resort to retaliatory violence.
44
Resort
the fact that you have to do something because there is no other way of achieving something:
He got hold of the money legally, without resort to violence.
first resort
used for talking about the first thing that you think of doing or using in a situation:
Diplomacy ought to be our first resort.
I'm not advocating detention as a first resort.
last resort
used for talking about something that you only think of doing or using if all other methods fail:
As a last resort, savers could always open an ISA with their current bank or building society.
Experts say warning labels are a last resort when a hazard can't be designed out of a product.
45
Endear
to cause someone to be liked by another person:
His fiery temper did not endear him to his coworkers.
making someone like you:
She laughs at herself a lot, which is always endearing.
46
Spate
a larger number of events than usual, especially unpleasant ones, happening at about the same time:
Police are investigating a spate of burglaries in the Kingsland Road area.
in (full) spate UK
If a river is in (full) spate, it has more water in it and is flowing faster than it usually does.
47
Vantage point
a place, especially a high place, that provides a good, clear view of an area:
From our lofty vantage point, we could see the city spread out below us.
[ C usually singular ] formal
a particular personal way of thinking or set of opinions:
The documentary contains a first-hand description of political life in Havana from the vantage point of a senior bureaucrat.
48
Jumble
an untidy and confused mixture of things, feelings, or ideas:
He rummaged through the jumble of papers on his desk.
a jumble of thoughts/ideas
49
Punctuate
formal
to happen or cause something to happen repeatedly while something else is happening; to interrupt something repeatedly:
The president spoke at length in a speech punctuated by applause.
He chatted freely, punctuating his remarks as often as possible with the interviewer's first name.
50
Conjuction
conjuncture
the situation in which events or conditions combine or happen together:
An unfortunate conjunction of circumstances led to his downfall.
There is a team of writers working in conjunction (with each other) on the book.
51
Endow
to give a large amount of money to pay for creating a college, hospital, etc. or to provide an income for it:
The state of Michigan has endowed three institutes to do research for industry.
This hospital was endowed by the citizens of Strasbourg in the 16th century.
52
Be endowed with
to have a particular quality or feature:
Some lucky people are endowed with both brains and beauty.
Sardinia is generously endowed with prehistoric sites.
53
Well endowed
having a lot of something, especially money or possessions:
The city is well endowed with modern medical facilities.
[ before noun ] It is a very well-endowed college.
54
Setback
something that happens that delays or prevents a process from developing:
Sally had been recovering well from her operation, but yesterday she experienced/suffered a setback.
There has been a slight/temporary setback in our plans.
55
Ever-present
/ˌev.ɚˈprez.ənt/
used to describe something that is always there:
the ever-present danger of a terrorist attack
56
Precipitate
formal
to make something happen suddenly or sooner than expected:
An invasion would certainly precipitate a political crisis.
Fear of losing her job precipitated (= suddenly forced) her into action.
57
Alight
burning:
I had to use a bit of petrol to get the fire alight.
The rioters overturned several cars and set them alight.
He was smoking in bed and his blankets caught alight.
The sky was alight with hundreds of fireworks.
literary
showing excitement and happiness:
Her eyes were alight with mischief.
58
Amputate
/ˈæm.pjə.teɪt/
to cut off a part of the body:
They had to amputate his foot to free him from the wreckage.
In these cases there is no choice but to amputate.
the cutting off of a part of the body:
Amputation of the limb is really a last resort.
Most amputations in this region are the result of accidents with land mines.
59
Citadel
a strong castle in or near a city, where people can shelter from danger, especially during a war:
The town has a 14th century citadel overlooking the river.
a powerful organization in which finding a job is difficult for someone who does not know people who work there:
At the age of 32, she managed to enter one of the citadels of high fashion.
60
Vivacity
/vɪˈvæs.ə.t̬i/
the quality of being vivacious (= attrctively energetic and enthusiastic):
This biography captures the charm and vivacity of an unusual woman.
He had a natural cheerfulness and vivacity that made him an exceedingly pleasant companion.
61
Heinous
very bad and shocking:
| a heinous crime
62
Back
to give support to someone or something with money or words:
| The management has refused to back our proposals.
63
Misrepresent
to describe falsely an idea, opinion, or situation, often in order to get an advantage:
She accused her opponents of deliberately misrepresenting her as an extremist.
I've grown used to my views being misrepresented in the press.
He misrepresented facts about his legal experience on his application.
64
Definitive
not able to be changed or improved:
a definitive judgment/ruling
There are no definitive answers/solutions to this problem.
The police have no definitive proof of her guilt.
considered to be the best of its type:
He's written the definitive guide to Thailand.
65
Replicate
to make or do something again in exactly the same way:
| Researchers tried many times to replicate the original experiment.
66
Cascade
a large amount of something that hangs down:
A cascade of golden hair fell down his back.
to fall quickly and in large amounts:
Coins cascaded from/out of the fruit machine.
to pass on information by giving it to just a few people, who then give it to more people; to be passed on in this way:
Guest information is cascaded through employee shift briefings.
67
Transition
a change from one form or type to another, or the process by which this happens:
The health-care system is in transition at the moment.
There will be an interim government to oversee the transition to democracy.
to start living as a person of a different gender:
Bornstein transitioned from male to female almost 20 years ago.
It wasn't easy transitioning gender in the military.
68
Ergonomics
/ˌɝː.ɡəˈnɑː.mɪks/
the scientific study of people and their working conditions, especially done in order to improve effectiveness:
A specialist in ergonomics will work with the team designing the production line in our new factory.
The ergonomics of the new office furniture have reduced eyestrain and back problems among the computer users.
69
Stressor
/ˈstres.ɚ/
something that causes stress (= great worry or emotional difficulty):
Constant noise can be a stressor.
70
Toll
suffering, deaths, or damage:
| Independent sources say that the death toll from the earthquake runs into thousands.
71
Hardened
used to describe someone who has had a lot of bad experiences and as a result no longer gets upset or shocked:
hardened detectives/reporters
[ before noun ]
no longer likely to change a bad way of life or feel sorry about it:
a hardened criminal
be/become hardened to sth
to develop a way of dealing with a sad situation so that it no longer upsets you:
You see all sorts of terrible things when you're a nurse so you become hardened to it.
72
Adherence
the fact of someone behaving exactly according to rules, beliefs, etc.:
He was noted for his strict adherence to the rules.
He insists upon adherence to every rule, no matter how silly.
adherence to sth
Working with thousands of small farmers makes strict adherence to fair trade rules difficult.
73
Would-be
wanting or trying to be:
a would-be artist/politician
74
Gambit
a clever action in a game or other situation that is intended to achieve an advantage and usually involves taking a risk:
Her clever opening gambit gave her an early advantage.
Their promise to lower taxes is clearly an election-year gambit.
75
Quid pro quo
something that is given or received in return for something else:
Contributors expect a quid pro quo for their donations.
76
Outlive
/ˌaʊtˈlɪv/
to live or exist longer than someone or something:
He outlived all of his brothers.
outlive your usefulness
to no longer be useful:
This old system has outlived its usefulness.
77
Swoon
/swuːn/
to feel a lot of pleasure, love, etc. because of something or someone:
The audience swooned with delight.
Sarah swooned when her baby was handed to her.
78
Implore
/ɪmˈplɔːr/
[ T + to infinitive ]
to ask someone to do or not do something in a very sincere, emotional, and determined way:
She implored her parents not to send her away to school.
She implored him not to leave her.
79
Salver
a large metal plate used to bring food, drinks, or letters to people, especially in a formal situation:
a silver salver
80
Viability
/ˌvaɪ.əˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/
ability to work as intended or to succeed:
Rising costs are threatening the viability of many businesses.
the viability of sth
Her role was to assess the viability of investment options overseas.
commercial/economic/financial viability This year will serve as an important test of commercial viability for the new electric vehicles.
future/longterm viability
The longterm viability of the coal-fired power plants is at risk.
ability to continue to exist or develop as a living being:
As the world population of Hawaiian geese has shrunk to very small numbers, the bird's continuing viability is in doubt.
81
Viable
able to work as intended or able to succeed:
In order to make the company viable, it will unfortunately be necessary to reduce staffing levels.
I am afraid your plan is not commercially/economically/financially/politically viable.
82
Bibliophile
/ˈbɪb.li.ə.faɪl/
a person who loves or collects books
83
Rub shoulders with
informal (US also rub elbows (with))
to meet and spend time with someone:
She claims that she rubs shoulders with royalty all the time.
84
Luminary
/ˈluː.mə.ner.i/ formal
Leading light
a person who is famous and important in a particular area of activity:
Luminaries of stage and screen (= famous actors) assembled for last night's awards ceremony.
The speaker is a luminary in the field of cancer research.
85
Leading light
Luminary
/ˌliː.dɪŋ ˈlaɪt/
an important and respected person in a group or organization:
A leading light in/of the art world, she was a close friend of the director.
86
Esteemed
/ɪˈstim/
highly respected:
It is my honor to introduce our esteemed senator.
Esteem
respect for or a good opinion of someone:
There has been a drop in public esteem for teachers.
Because of their achievements they were held in (= given) (high) esteem.
to respect someone or have a good opinion of them:
Her work is highly esteemed by all her colleagues.
[ + obj + noun/adj ] old-fashioned I would esteem (= consider) it a favour if you would accompany me.
87
Recount
to describe how something happened, or to tell a story:
He recounted his adventures since he had left home.
[ + question word ] He was fond of recounting how he had played professional football when he was 19.
a second or another count, esp. of the number of votes in an election:
The final vote was so close that they demanded a recount.
88
Intricate
/ˈɪn.trə.kət/
having a lot of small parts that are arranged in a complicated or delicate way:
The watch mechanism is extremely intricate and very difficult to repair.
The tiled floor is installed in an intricate pattern.
with many complicated details that make something difficult to understand:
Police officers uncovered an intricate web of deceit.
89
Deceit
/dɪˈsiːt/
dissimulation
(an act of) keeping the truth hidden, especially to get an advantage:
The story is about theft, fraud, and deceit on an incredible scale.
When the newspapers published the full story, all his earlier deceits were revealed.
90
Dissimulation
Deceit
the fact of trying to hide your real feelings, character, or intentions:
He was capable of great dissimulation and hypocrisy.
91
Hypocrisy
/hɪˈpɑː.krə.si/
a situation in which someone pretends to believe something that they do not really believe, or that is the opposite of what they do or say at another time:
There's one rule for her and another rule for everyone else and it's sheer hypocrisy.
hypocrite
noun [ C ] US /ˈhɪp·əˌkrɪt/
The biggest hypocrites in sports are owners who yell about players’ salaries.
hypocritical
adjective [ not gradable ] US /ˌhɪp·əˈkrɪt̬·ɪ·kəl/
It’s hypocritical for him to criticize her for doing the same things that he does.
92
Misdeed
an act that is criminal or bad:
She's been making up for her past misdeeds by doing a lot of voluntary work.
I cannot be held responsible for the misdeeds of others.
93
Elsewhere
another place or other places; anywhere or somewhere else:
It’s hot and sunny on the coast but not elsewhere.
The report looks at economic growth in Europe and elsewhere.
They couldn't find what they wanted and decided to look elsewhere.
94
On view
If something is on view, it is arranged so that it can be seen by the public:
The plans for the new road will soon be on view to the public in the library.
in view UK
close enough to be seen:
I always make sure I keep the children in view whenever we're in a public place.
95
Disparate
/ˈdɪs.pɚ.ət/
different in every way:
The two cultures were so utterly disparate that she found it hard to adapt from one to the other.
96
Wisp
wisp of cloud/smoke/steam
a small, thin line of cloud/smoke/steam:
A blue wisp of cigarette smoke curled in the air.
a thin, delicate piece of hair, grass, etc.:
A few wisps of hay still clung to her skirt.
soft wisps of baby hair
97
Conform
to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour that are expected by a group or society:
At our school, you were required to conform, and there was no place for originality.
The contract requires that managers conform to high standards of personal conduct.
98
Conundrum
Riddle
/kəˈnʌn.drəm/
a problem that is difficult to deal with:
Arranging childcare over the school holidays can be a real conundrum for working parents.
99
Undue
inordinate
to a level that is more than is necessary, acceptable, or reasonable:
Such a high increase will impose an undue burden on the local tax payer.
100
Unduly
/ʌnˈduː.li/
more than is necessary, acceptable, or reasonable:
There's no need to be unduly pessimistic about the situation.
He believes this approach would unduly harm the nation's economy.
101
Inordinate
/ˌɪnˈɔːr.dən.ət/
undue
much more than usual or expected:
Margot has always spent an inordinate amount of time on her appearance.
She seemed to be inordinately fond of her dog.
102
Austere
plain and without decoration, comforts, or anything extra:
Despite their wealth, they lead an austere life.
She depicts the austere beauty of the desert.
plain and without decoration or unnecessary details:
The courtroom was a large, dark chamber, an austere place.
very severe and unfriendly in manner:
He was a tall, austere, forbidding figure.
103
Inhospitable
not welcoming or generous to people who visit you:
I'll have to cook them a meal or they'll think I'm inhospitable.
An inhospitable area is not suitable for humans to live in:
They had to trek for miles through inhospitable countryside.
104
Forbidding
menacing
unfriendly and likely to be unpleasant or harmful:
a forbidding row of security guards
With storm clouds rushing over them, the mountains looked dark and forbidding.
105
Shuteye
Informal
/ˈʃʌt̬.aɪ/
sleep:
You look exhausted! Try to get some shuteye on the train.
106
Cajole
/kəˈdʒoʊl/
Wheedle disapproving
Inveigle
to persuade someone to do something they might not want to do, by pleasant talk and (sometimes false) promises:
He really knows how to cajole people into doing what he wants.
I managed to cajole her out of leaving too early.
The most effective technique is to cajole rather than to threaten.
107
Inveigle
/ɪnˈveɪ.ɡəl/ formal
Cajole
to persuade someone to do something in a clever and dishonest way, when they do not want to do it:
Her son tried to inveigle her into giving him the money for a car.
108
Incur
to experience something, usually something unpleasant, as a result of actions you have taken:
to incur debts/fines/bills
The play has incurred the wrath/anger of both audiences and critics.
Please detail any costs/expenses incurred by you in attending the interview.
109
Lie low
Informal
to try not to be noticed:
I'd lie low if I were you till the trouble passes.
110
Fuss
Ado
a show of anger, worry, or excitement that is unnecessary or greater than the situation deserves:
She made such a fuss when Richard spilled a drop of wine on her blouse!
It's all a fuss about nothing.
I don't see what the fuss is about - he seems like a fairly ordinary-looking guy to me.
We tried to arrange a ceremony with as little fuss as possible.
make a fuss of sb
(mainly US make a fuss over sb)
to give someone a lot of attention and treat them well:
She doesn't see her grandchildren very often so she makes a real fuss of them when she does.
111
Shorthand
stenography
a system of writing that uses lines and symbols to represent words and is used to record what someone says as they are speaking:
do/know shorthand
I couldn't do shorthand so they said they couldn't hire me as a secretary.
in shorthand
Today's secretaries are just as likely to tell their boss how to use a laptop as to take a letter in shorthand.
Be shorthand for
to be a short or quick way of referring to something:
Wi-fi is shorthand for wireless fidelity.
to be another way of saying that something has a particular quality:
With some products "made in the U.S.A." remains shorthand for reliability.
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Sleek
(especially of hair, clothes, or shapes) smooth, shiny, and lying close to the body, and therefore looking well cared for; not untidy and with no parts sticking out:
The cat had sleek fur.
Who owns that sleek black car parked outside your house?
disapproving He's one of those sleek (= seeming rich and dishonest) businessman types.
113
Entail
/ɪnˈteɪl/
to make something necessary, or to involve something:
Such a large investment inevitably entails some risk.
[ + -ing verb ] Repairing the roof will entail spending a lot of money.
114
Resilient
/rɪˈzɪl.jənt/
able to be happy, successful, etc. again after something difficult or bad has happened:
She's a resilient girl - she won't be unhappy for long.
Optimists argue that the economy may prove more resilient.
115
Discrapancy
/dɪˈskrep.ən.si/
a difference between two things that should be the same:
There is some discrepancy between the two accounts.
The committee is reportedly unhappy about the discrepancy in numbers.
The discrepancy between felt and actual age increases with the years.
116
Distill
to heat a liquid until it changes to a gas and then make it liquid again by cooling:
distilled water/whiskey
To distill something said or written is to reduce it but keep the most important part:
She distilled the report into a paragraph.
117
Fend off
to push or send away an attacker or other unwanted person:
He managed to fend off his attackers with a stick.
She spent the entire evening fending off unwanted admirers.
118
Senility
/səˈnɪl.ə.t̬i/
the quality of being senile (= showing poor mental ability because of old age):
Low levels of selenium in the elderly are linked with an increased risk of dementia and senility.
The hormone can damage brain cells and lead to premature senility.
He spent many years caring for his senile mother.
I'm always losing my keys these days. I think I must be going senile.
119
Camaraderie
/ˌkæm.əˈrɑː.dɚ.i/
a feeling of friendliness towards people that you work or share an experience with:
When you've been climbing alone for hours, there's a tremendous sense of camaraderie when you meet another climber.
120
Resurgence
/rɪˈsɝː.dʒəns/
a new increase of activity or interest in a particular subject or idea that had been forgotten for some time:
The creation of independent states has led to a resurgence of nationalism.
resurgence in demand/popularity/interest
There’s been a resurgence of criticism of the president.
121
Vigilant
/ˈvɪdʒ.əl.ənt/
always being careful to notice things, especially possible danger:
Following the bomb scare at the airport, the staff have been warned to be extra vigilant.
Security personnel need to be more vigilant in checking bags and packages.
122
Volatile
/ˈvɑː.lə.t̬əl/
likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly, especially by getting worse:
Food and fuel prices are very volatile in a war situation.
The situation was made more volatile by the fact that people had been drinking a lot of alcohol.
likely to change emotional state very suddenly, especially by becoming angry:
He had a volatile temper and couldn't have been easy to live with.
She is volatile and unreliable.
123
Outsource
If a company outsources, it pays to have part of its work done by another company:
Unions are fighting a plan by the university to outsource all non-academic services.
Some companies outsource to cheaper locations to cut costs.
We outsource our thinking to Siri, Alexa and Google.
124
Haptic
/ˈhæp.tɪk/
relating to the sense of touch :
Haptic interactive technology lets visitors experience museum exhibits more realistically.
Haptic communication describes how we communicate with each other through the use of touch.
125
Demise
the end of something that was previously considered to be powerful, such as a business, industry, or system:
The demise of the company was sudden and unexpected.
Huge corporate farms have led to the demise of many small, family-owned farms.
126
Adamant
/ˈæd.ə.mənt/
impossible to persuade, or unwilling to change an opinion or decision:
[ + that ] I've told her she should stay at home and rest but she's adamant that she's coming.
She was adamant about becoming a dancer.
127
Pore over something
pore over something
— phrasal verb with pore verb
to look at and study a book, document, etc. carefully:
She spends a lot of time poring over the historical records of the church.
128
Interplay
the effect that two or more things have on each other:
Our personalities result from the complex interplay between our genes and our environment.
the interplay of light and shadow in a photograph
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Stirring
the beginning of something, such as an emotion or thought:
| She felt a faint stirring of envy when she heard that one of her colleagues had been promoted.
130
-induced
caused by the stated person or activity:
a self-induced illness
work-induced stress
131
The reins
power and control of a business or other activity:
These are the councillors who hold the reins of power.
He handed the reins to his successor.
I am retiring, and someone else can take over the reins.
free rein
the freedom to do what you want to do:
have free rein We were told we had free rein on questions of design.
give sb/sth free rein (to do sth) She was given free rein to make all the changes she wanted.
give/allow sth full rein (also give/allow full rein to sth)
to allow something to happen freely and completely:
This is a post which will give your talents full rein.
It's a task that requires you to allow full rein to your imagination.
keep a tight rein on sth
to control something very carefully:
We need to keep a tight rein on the advertising budget.
132
Verdant
covered with healthy green plants or grass:
| Much of the region's verdant countryside has been destroyed in the hurricane.
133
Tumult
/ˈtuː.mʌlt/
a loud noise, especially that produced by an excited crowd, or a state of confusion, change, or uncertainty:
You couldn't hear her speak over the tumult from the screaming fans.
From every direction, people were running and shouting and falling over each other in a tumult of confusion.
The financial markets are in tumult.
134
Declamation
a strong statement or an occasion when you express something with a lot of feeling:
He subjected us to half an hour of impassioned declamation against the new airport runway.
Declamations against the press are common enough.
135
Baloney
nonsense:
| That's a bunch of baloney if you ask me.
136
Commendation
/ˌkɑː.mənˈdeɪ.ʃən/
formal
praise, or an official statement that praises someone:
Several of the firefighters received commendation for their bravery.
an honour such as a prize given to someone because they have done something that people admire:
He was very proud when his daughter received a commendation for her achievement.
137
Whirlwind
A whirlwind event happens very fast, and often unexpectedly:
They married three months after they met - it was a real whirlwind romance.
a whirlwind tour/visit
138
Glean
/ɡliːn/
to collect information in small amounts and often with difficulty:
From what I was able to glean, the news isn't good.
They're leaving on Tuesday - I managed to glean that much (from them).
139
Skit
a short, funny play that makes a joke of something:
I thought the skit on politicians was really funny.
I wrote a skit for my English class.
140
Rendition
a particular way of performing a song, piece of music, or poem:
She ended the concert with a powerful rendition of "I Will Always Love You".
141
Skimp
/skɪmp/
to not spend enough time or money on something, or to not use enough of something in order to do a job or activity as it should be done:
Many old people skimp on food and heating in order to meet their bills.
When choosing a hotel, do not skimp.
142
Oblivious
/əˈblɪv.i.əs/
not conscious of something, especially what is happening around you:
Absorbed in her work, she was totally oblivious of her surroundings.
The mayor seems oblivious to the likely effects of the new legislation.
She was often oblivious to the potential consequences of her actions.
143
Dampen
to make feelings, especially of excitement or enjoyment, less strong:
Nothing you can say will dampen her enthusiasm.
I didn't want to dampen his spirits.
144
Accredit
/əˈkred.ɪt/
to officially recognize, accept, or approve of someone or something:
The agency was not accredited by the Philippine Consulate to offer contracts to Filipinos abroad.
Only accredited journalists are admitted to White House press conferences.
145
Revert to sth
to return to doing, using, being, or referring to something, usually something bad or less satisfactory:
Why does the conversation have to revert to money every five minutes?
[ + -ing verb ] When they divorced, she reverted to using her maiden name.
146
Intimidate
to frighten or threaten someone, usually in order to persuade them to do something that you want them to do:
They were intimidated into accepting a pay cut by the threat of losing their jobs.
147
Lapse
a failure to do something that happens as a particular event at a particular time:
a memory lapse
She had a momentary lapse in concentration and lost the game.
148
Feud
/fjuːd/
an argument that has existed for a long time between two people or groups, causing a lot of anger or violence:
a family feud
a ten-year-old feud between the two countries
a bitter feud over land
They've been feuding with their neighbours for years over a boundary issue.
149
Exacerbate
to make something that is already bad even worse:
| This attack will exacerbate the already tense relations between the two communities.
150
Societal
of or relating to human society:
societal concerns/issues/problems
Rapid societal changes have complicated parents' task.
151
Degradation
/ˌdeɡ.rəˈdeɪ.ʃən/
(DESTRUCTION)
the process in which the beauty or quality of something is destroyed or spoiled:
environmental degradation
the situation in which people are made to feel they have no value:
the misery and degradation of prison life
152
Directive
/daɪˈrek.tɪv/ /dɪˈrek.tɪv/
an official instruction:
The boss issued a directive about not using the fax machine.
A federal directive forbids fund-raising in government offices.
153
Dissident
a person who strongly disagrees with and publicly criticizes a government or the official rulings of a group or organization:
Union dissidents have challenged the leadership of the current president.
154
Laureate
/ˈlɔːr.i.ət/
a person who has been given a very high honour because of their ability in a subject of study:
a Nobel laureate
155
Funnel
to put something, or to travel, through a funnel or something that acts like a funnel:
The wind funnels down these narrow streets.
The children funnelled along the corridor into the school hall.
If you funnel the oil into the engine, you're less likely to spill it.
[ T usually + adv/prep ]
to send something directly and intentionally:
No one knows who has been funnelling weapons to the terrorists.
156
Crosshairs
/ˈkrɑːs.herz/
two thin wires crossing each other in a gun or other device, which you use to help you aim at something:
A sniper had them in his crosshairs.
The poster showed his face in the crosshairs of a rifle.
157
in sb's crosshairs
in sb's crosshairs
If you are in someone's crosshairs, they intend to catch, arrest, or stop you:
He's in the law's crosshairs now.
158
Concession
something that is allowed or given up, often in order to end a disagreement, or the act of allowing or giving this:
Both sides involved in the conflict made some concessions in yesterday's talks.
He stated firmly that no concessions will be made to the terrorists.
159
Workaround
a way of dealing with a problem or making something work despite the problem, without completely solving it:
The software still has a few glitches but we've come up with a workaround.
160
Glitch
a small problem or fault that prevents something from being successful or working as well as it should:
We'd expected a few glitches, but everything's gone remarkably smoothly.
The system has been plagued with glitches ever since its launch.
161
Kowtow
to show too much respect or obedience:
| People say he kowtowed to the establishment to get elected.
162
Fine-tune
to make very small changes to something in order to make it work as well as possible:
She spent hours fine-tuning her speech.
There is some fine-tuning to be done, but the majority of the work on the marketing concept has been done.
163
Jostle
to knock or push roughly against someone in order to move past them or get more space when you are in a crowd of people:
As we came into the arena, we were jostled by fans pushing their way towards the stage.
Photographers jostled and shoved to get a better view of the royal couple.
164
Patina
/ˈpæt̬.ən.ə/
[ S ]
a thin surface layer that develops on something because of use, age, or chemical action:
His tomb was covered with a yellow patina of lichen.
something that makes someone or something seem to be something that they are not:
Beware their patina of civility, it's only an act.
165
Aloft
in the air or in a higher position:
We held our glasses aloft.
Her kite remained aloft for hours.
166
Disdain
the feeling of not liking someone or something and thinking that they do not deserve your interest or respect:
He regards the political process with disdain.
167
Smoulder
to burn slowly with smoke but without flames:
a smouldering fire
smouldering embers
The fire was started by a smouldering cigarette.
If a problem or unpleasant situation smoulders, it continues to exist and may become worse at any time:
The dispute is still smouldering, five years after the negotiations began.
168
Offset
to balance one influence against an opposing influence, so that there is no great difference as a result:
The extra cost of travelling to work is offset by the lower price of houses here.
UK He keeps his petrol receipts because petrol is one of the expenses that he can offset against tax (= can show to the government as being a business cost, and so not pay tax).
169
Propensity
the fact that someone is likely to behave in a particular way, especially a bad way:
[ + to infinitive ] She's inherited from her father a propensity to talk too much.
He's well-known for his natural propensity for indiscretion.
170
Predilection
/ˌpred.əlˈek.ʃən/
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.
171
Indolence
/ˈɪn.dəl.əns/
the state of showing no real interest or effort:
After a sudden burst of activity, the team lapsed back into indolence.
The people feel trapped between the indolence and apathy of the authorities and fear of the criminals.
172
Het up
worried or angry and not calm:
| There's no need to get so het up about a few dirty dishes in the sink!
173
Futile
/ˈfjuː.t̬əl/
(of actions) having no effect or achieving nothing:
Attempts to get supplies to the region are futile because troops will not allow the aid convoy to enter the city.
It's completely futile trying to reason with him - he just won't listen.
All my attempts to cheer her up proved futile.
174
Dispatch
to send something, especially goods or a message, somewhere for a particular purpose:
Two loads of cloth were dispatched to the factory on 12 December.
to kill someone:
Our handsome hero manages to dispatch another five villains.
175
Entail
/ɪnˈteɪl/
to make something necessary, or to involve something:
Such a large investment inevitably entails some risk.
[ + -ing verb ] Repairing the roof will entail spending a lot of money.
176
Necessitate
to cause something to be needed, or to make something necessary:
Reduction in government spending will necessitate further cuts in public services.
[ + -ing verb ] An important meeting necessitates my being in Boston on Friday.
177
Impede
to slow something down or prevent an activity from making progress at its previous rate:
Shortages of medicine were impeding the effort to control diseases.
178
Bludgeon
/ˈblʌdʒ.ən/
to hit someone hard and repeatedly with a heavy weapon:
The two boys had been mercilessly bludgeoned to death.
to force someone to do something:
The managers bludgeoned us into agreeing to the changes.
179
In lieu of
instead of:
| The company is allowing workers to receive cash in lieu of vacation time.
180
On par with
the same as or equal to someone or something:
| The regeneration of the city's downtown dock front will put it on a par with Nice or Cannes.
181
Shipshape
Orderly
neat and with everything in its correct place:
The builders have gone, but it'll take a while to get things shipshape again.
182
Rosette
/roʊˈzet/
a flower-shaped decorative object cut into wood or stone, or one made of ribbon (= narrow cloth strips) worn as a sign that you support a particular team or political party or that you have won a race, etc.:
The winning horse had a rosette fastened to its bridle.
183
Swagger
Strut
to walk or behave in a way that shows that you are very confident and think that you are important:
They swaggered into the room.
A group of young men swaggered around outside the bar.
His swaggering self-confidence irritates many people.
a way of walking or behaving that shows you are confident:
He walked out of the room with a self-confident swagger.
Underneath all his swagger he's actually pretty nervous.
184
Make an inroad
make inroads/an inroad
to start to have a direct and noticeable effect (on something):
The government is definitely making inroads into the problem of unemployment.
We have not been able to make much of an inroad into the backlog of work.
185
Culpability
/ˌkʌl.pəˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/
the fact that someone deserves to be blamed or considered responsible for something bad:
After the accident, the company refused to accept culpability.
The Army denied any culpability, but later compensated owners.
186
Culpable
Blameworthy
deserving to be blamed or considered responsible for something bad:
He was held culpable (= blamed) for all that had happened.
The landowner could be proved culpable for starting the fire.
187
Pivotal
/ˈpɪv·ə·t̬əl/
important because other things depend on it:
She played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement.
188
Self-inflicted
/ˌself.ɪnˈflɪk.tɪd/
If an injury or a problem is self-inflicted, you have caused it yourself:
self-inflicted pain/damage
189
Full-blown
in its most developed or advanced form:
| Aspirin reduces your chances of having a full-blown stroke.
190
Quadruple
/kwɑːˈdruː.pəl/
to become four times as big, or to multiply a number or amount by four:
The number of students at the college has quadrupled in the last ten years.
We expect to quadruple our profits this year.
191
Quantifiable
/ˈkwɑːn.t̬ə.faɪ.ə.bəl/
able to be measured:
The benefits of the new policy are not easily quantifiable.
192
Correlate
If two or more facts, numbers, etc. correlate or are correlated, there is a relationship between them:
Stress levels and heart disease are strongly correlated (= connected).
193
Gestational
/dʒesˈteɪ.ʃən.əl/
used to refer to a disease or condition that affects pregnant women:
As many as 5% of pregnant women experience gestational diabetes.
194
Impetuous
likely to do something suddenly, without considering the results of your actions:
He's so impetuous - why can't he think things over before he rushes into them?
195
Unabated
without becoming weaker in strength or force:
The fighting continued unabated throughout the night.
Their arguments continue unabated.
196
Colliery
/ˈkɒljəri/ US
a mine from which coal is dug, and all the buildings, machines, etc. connected with it:
The Earth Centre is built on the site of a former colliery.
197
Atone
to do something that shows you are sorry for something bad that you did or for something that you failed to do:
The director of the company has expressed a wish to atone for her past sins.
198
Avid
```
extremely eager or interested:
an avid football fan
an avid supporter of the arts
He took an avid interest in the project.
formal She hadn't seen him for six months and was avid for news.
```
199
Blistering
extremely hot:
We went out in the blistering heat.
extremely fast:
The runners set off at a blistering pace.
very strong and severe:
The vice president launched a blistering attack on Senate Republicans.
200
Incapacitate
to make someone unable to work or do things normally, or unable to do what they intended to do:
The accident left me incapacitated for seven months.
Rubber bullets are designed to incapacitate people rather than kill them.
201
Lick one’s chops
lick (one's) chops
To show one's impatience or excitement to do something.
That roast smells so good—I'm just about licking my chops in here!
202
Flat out
completely; used for emphasis:
When I asked him about it, he flat-out denied it.
That was just a flat-out lie.
203
Peter out
to gradually stop or disappear:
The fighting which started in the night had petered out by morning.
The track petered out after a mile or so.
We thought the storm would peter out.
204
Nascent
/ˈneɪ.sənt/
only recently formed or started, but likely to grow larger quickly:
a nascent political party
a nascent problem
in the earliest stages of development:
Everyone in this nascent business is still struggling with basic issues.
205
Crosshairs
two thin wires crossing each other in a gun or other device, which you use to help you aim at something:
A sniper had them in his crosshairs.
The poster showed his face in the crosshairs of a rifle.
206
Ferment
If food or drink ferments or if you ferment it, the sugar in it changes into alcohol because of a chemical process:
You make wine by leaving grape juice to ferment until all the sugar has turned to alcohol.
a state of confusion, change, and lack of order or fighting:
The resignation of the president has left the country in ferment.
