Review 5 Flashcards
(215 cards)
1
Q
Alibi
A
proof that someone who is thought to have committed a crime could not have done it, especially the fact or statement that they were in another place at the time it happened:
He has a cast-iron (= very strong) alibi - he was in hospital the week of the murder.
an excuse for something bad or for a failure:
After eight years in power, the government can no longer use the previous government’s policy as an alibi for its own failure.
2
Q
Lustre
A
the brightness that a shiny surface has:
a treatment for restoring the lustre to dull hair
the rich lustre of well-polished furniture
[ U ] a very special, attractive quality that people admire:
The dancing of the principal ballerina added lustre to an otherwise unimpressive production of “Giselle”.
3
Q
Upkeep
A
Maintenance
the cost or process of keeping something, such as a building, in good condition:
The upkeep of larger old properties is very expensive.
Council employees are responsible for the upkeep of the gardens.
4
Q
Foolhardy
A
Rash reckless
brave in a silly way, taking unnecessary risks:
a foolhardy decision
Sailing the Atlantic in such a tiny boat wasn’t so much brave as foolhardy.
It would be foolhardy to try and predict the outcome of the talks at this stage.
5
Q
Rash
A
careless or unwise, without thought for what might happen or result:
That was a rash decision - you didn’t think about the costs involved.
[ + to infinitive ] I think it was a bit rash of them to get married when they’d only known each other for a few weeks.
6
Q
Acrimonious
A
formal full of anger, arguments, and bad feeling:
an acrimonious dispute
Their marriage ended eight years ago in an acrimonious divorce.
The acrimony of the dispute has shocked a lot of people.
7
Q
Rapier
A
A sword with a long, thin blade
8
Q
Treacle
A
also black treacle, us molasses
a sweet, dark, thick liquid that is used in cooking sweet dishes and sweets:
treacle toffee
Golden syrup
9
Q
Suds
A
lather
the mass of small bubbles that forms on the surface of a liquid, esp. on water mixed with soap
10
Q
Lather
A
Suds
a pale, usually white, mass of small bubbles produced especially when soap is mixed with water:
Wet the hair, apply shampoo, and massage into a rich lather.
to produce a lather from soap, or to cover something or someone in lather:
He stood under the shower lathering himself with the soap.
11
Q
Binding
A
(esp. of an agreement) not to be avoided or broken:
Both sides agreed to submit the dispute to binding arbitration (= to a decision they would have to obey).
12
Q
Recoup
A
to get back money that you have spent or lost:
It takes a while to recoup the initial costs of starting up a business.
The gambler recouped his losses in the next game.
13
Q
Broadside
A
A strong attack
a strong written or spoken attack (on someone):
The candidate fired/launched yet another broadside at the president.
with a side facing something :
The car was hit broadside. The front and rear were undamaged.
to hit something on one of its longer sides:
A vehicle broadsided the police car on the passenger side.
14
Q
Verbatim
A
using exactly the same words as were originally used:
She had an amazing memory and could recall verbatim quite complex conversations.
Speeches were reported verbatim and often ran to several columns.
15
Q
Measles
A
โรคหัด
the measles an infectious disease that produces small, red spots all over the body:
The number of deaths from measles fell by 30 per cent.
One of the children got the measles.
16
Q
Tout
A
[ T ] to advertise, talk about, or praise something or someone repeatedly, especially as a way of encouraging people to like, accept, or buy something:
The minister has been touting these ideas for some time.
He is being widely touted as the next leader of the party.
A local car dealership was touting its services/wares on the radio.
[ I ] mainly uk to repeatedly try to persuade people to buy your goods or services:
There were hundreds of taxis at the airport, all touting for business/custom.
17
Q
Tincture
A
A medicine that consists of a mixture of alcohol and a small amount of a drug:
a/some tincture of iodine/myrrh
18
Q
Myrrh
A
a sticky brown substance with a strong smell that is used in making perfume and incense
19
Q
Aphrodisiac
A
/ˌæf.rəˈdɪzˈdiː.ʒæk/ something, usually a drug or food, that is believed to cause sexual desire in people: Are oysters really an aphrodisiac? They say that power is an aphrodisiac.
20
Q
Eczema
A
/ˈek.sə.mə/
a skin condition in which areas of the skin become red, rough, and sore and make you want to rub them:
As a young boy he suffered from eczema.
21
Q
Sclerosis
A
A medical condition that causes body tissue or organs to become harder, especially the arteries
22
Q
Cannabis
A
a drug, illegal in many countries, that is made from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant. Cannabis produces a pleasant feeling of being relaxed if smoked or eaten:
Are you in favour of the legalization of cannabis?
23
Q
Anecdotal
A
/ˌæn·ɪkˈdoʊ·t̬əl/
based on reports or things someone saw rather than on proven facts
Anecdotal information is not based on facts or careful study:
There is only anecdotal evidence that the medicine works.
24
Q
Extrapolate
A
to guess or think about what might happen using information that is already known:
You can’t really extrapolate a trend from such a small sample.
25
Epilepsy
/ˈep.ə.lep.si/
โรคลมชัก
a condition of the brain that causes a person to become unconscious for short periods or to move in a violent and uncontrolled way:
She can't drive because she suffers from/has epilepsy.
26
Complacency
/kəmˈpleɪ.sən.si/ also complacence disapproving
a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder:
What annoys me about these girls is their complacency - they seem to have no desire to expand their horizons.
There's no room for complacency if we want to stay in this competition!
27
Eminently
very and obviously:
He is eminently qualified for the job.
an eminently readable book
28
Assuage
/əˈsweɪdʒ/ formal
to make unpleasant feelings less strong:
The government has tried to assuage the public's fears.
29
Divot
/ˈdɪv.ət/
a small hole in an area of grass, especially one made by a golf club (= stick for hitting) or ball; a piece of grass that has been cut out, leaving such a hole
30
Burgeon
bɝː.dʒən
to develop or grow quickly:
Love burgeoned between them.
31
Pervasive
/pɚˈveɪ.sɪv/ formal
present or noticeable in every part of a thing or place:
The influence of Freud is pervasive in her books.
a pervasive smell of diesel
Reforms are being undermined by the all-pervasive corruption in the country.
32
Embroil
/ɪmˈbrɔɪl/
to cause someone to become involved in an argument or a difficult situation:
She had no desire to embroil herself in lengthy lawsuits with the tabloid newspapers.
The United Nations was reluctant to get its forces embroiled in civil war.
33
Perceive
Believe
to come to an opinion about something, or have a belief about something:
How do the French perceive the British?
Women's magazines are often perceived to be superficial.
See
to see something or someone, or to notice something that is obvious:
Bill perceived a tiny figure in the distance.
I perceived a note of unhappiness in her voice.
Perceiving that he wasn't happy with the arrangements, I tried to book a different hotel.
34
Expulsion
(the act of) forcing someone, or being forced, to leave a school, organization, or country:
They threatened him with expulsion from school.
This is the second expulsion of a club member this year.
The government ordered the expulsion of foreign journalists.
35
Patriarchal
```
/ˌpeɪ.triˈɑː.kəl/
ruled or controlled by men:
patriarchal structure
a patriarchal society
```
36
Dialysis
```
/daɪˈæl.ə.sɪs/ specialized
a process of separating substances from liquid by putting them through a thin piece of skin-like material, especially to make pure the blood of people whose kidneys are not working correctly:
a dialysis machine
kidney dialysis
She is on (= being treated by) dialysis.
```
37
Nephrology
/nɪˈfrɑː.lə.dʒi/ specialized
the area of science and medicine that is concerned with the kidneys
38
Virology
/vaɪˈrɑː.lə.dʒi/
the scientific study of viruses and the diseases that they cause
39
Harbinger
```
/ˈhɑːr.bɪn.dʒɚ/ literary
a person or thing that shows that something is going to happen soon, especially something bad:
a harbinger of doom
A harbinger of a more serious problem
```
40
Transmittable
able to be passed or sent from one person, thing, or place to another:
Malaria is a dangerous, easily transmittable disease known to be carried by mosquitoes.
Our pets may be host to a long list of diseases and parasites that are easily transmittable to humans.
41
Hesitancy
/ˈhez.ə.tən.si/
the failure to do something immediately or quickly because you are nervous or not certain:
The president is not known for his hesitancy in such matters.
Congress has not shown any hesitancy about spending more money.
42
Rambunctious
/ræmˈbʌŋk.ʃəs/ mainly us
Boisterous
full of energy and difficult to control:
rambunctious children
a lively and rambunctious puppy
43
Boisterous
/ˈbɔɪ.stɚ.əs/
rambunctious
noisy, energetic, and rough:
boisterous children
a boisterous game
44
Unruly
/ʌnˈruː.li/
Unruly people are difficult to control and often do not obey rules:
an unruly class of adolescents
Unruly hair is difficult to keep tidy, often sticking up or out:
an unruly mop of black hair
45
Finicky
```
/ˈfɪn.ɪ.ki/
disapproving difficult to please:
a finicky eater
He's terribly finicky about his food.
uk needing a lot of attention to detail:
Repairing watches must be a very finicky job.
```
46
Titular
/ˈtɪtʃ.ə.lɚ/
having the title of a position but not the responsibilities, duties, or power; in name only:
It is already agreed that Mr Alfonso Escamez will be the titular head of the new bank.
47
Divulge
/daɪˈvʌldʒ/ /dɪˈvʌldʒ/
disclose
Reveal
to make something secret known:
Journalists do not divulge their sources.
[ + question word ] The CEO refused to divulge how much she earned.
Someone divulged their plans to their competitors.
He did not divulge details of his plan.
48
Debar
/diːˈbɑːr/ formal
to stop someone from doing something by law or by official agreement:
He was debarred from the club for unacceptable behaviour.
Exclude
Tom has been excluded from school (= he is not allowed to go to school) for bad behaviour.
49
Elope
to leave home secretly in order to get married without the permission of your parents:
She eloped with an Army officer.
50
Hyperventilate
/ˌhɑɪ·pərˈven·təlˌeɪt/
to breathe too quickly, causing too much oxygen to enter the blood
51
Juggernaut
/ˈdʒʌɡənɔːt/ US
a very large and powerful company, organization, or industry:
Health care has turned into something of a juggernaut in the economy recently.
Concerns have been expressed that the FTSE 100 juggernaut could be slowed by the impact of a rising dollar.
commercial/economic/financial juggernaut
TRANSPORT a very large truck used for transporting large quantities of goods
52
Evermore
/ˌev.ɚˈmɔːr/ literary
always in the future:
Their name will live on evermore.
53
Unwind
If you unwind something that is wrapped around an object, you unfasten it, and if it unwinds, it becomes unfastened:
In a nearby medical tent, a US Army doctor gently unwinds Metruk's bandage.
Relax
also wind down to relax and allow your mind to be free from worry after a period of work or some other activity that has made you worried:
A glass of wine in the evening helps me to unwind after work.
54
Sane
having a healthy mind and not mentally ill:
In the doctor's opinion he was sane at the time of the murder.
humorous The only thing which keeps me sane after a hard day in the office is jogging!
showing good judgment and understanding:
It was a sane decision and one we all respected.
Sanity noun
He was beginning to doubt his own sanity.
55
Encircle
```
Surround
/ɪnˈsɝː.kəl/
to surround something, forming a circle around it:
The house is encircled by a high fence.
```
Villaverde is one of the high-rise districts that encircle Madrid.
A parking lot encircles the mall.
56
Cerumen
Earwax
57
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.
Synonyms
open-eyed
watchful
58
Putter
[ I usually + adv/prep ] us uk potter to do things in a relaxed way, without rushing or trying very hard:
He really enjoys puttering around in the garden.
[ C ] a golf club (= stick for hitting a golf ball) with a short handle and metal end that is specially designed for putting
[ C ] someone who putts:
He's a good putter.
59
Insinuation
/ɪnˌsɪn.juˈeɪ.ʃən/
the action of suggesting, without being direct, that something unpleasant is true:
[ + that ] We resent these insinuations that we are not capable of leading the company forward.
I reject the insinuation behind your question.
[ + (that) ] Are you insinuating (that) I'm losing my nerve?
What are you insinuating, Daniel?
60
Unguis
/ˈʌŋ.ɡwɪs/ plural ungues specialized
a nail, claw, or hoof of an animal
61
Nervy
worried:
I'm always nervy before an exam.
Uptight informal
worried or nervous and not able to relax:
Don't get uptight about the exam - just do your best.
62
Restive
/ˈres.tɪv/ formal
Restless
unwilling to be controlled or be patient:
The audience was becoming restive as they waited for the performance to begin.
He's a restless type - he never stays in one country for long.
She spent a restless night (= she did not sleep well), tossing and turning.
63
Banns
noun [ plural ] UK /bænz/ US /bænz/
Marriage proclamation
a public announcement made in a church, especially in the UK, that two people are going to get married:
The banns were published in their local parish church.
64
Inset
something positioned within a larger object:
The map has an inset (= small extra map) in the top corner that shows the city centre in more detail.
65
Niche
a job or position that is very suitable for someone, especially one that they like:
He has carved/made a niche for himself as a financial advisor.
an area or position that is exactly suitable for a small group of the same type:
an ecological niche.
/nɪtʃ/
an opportunity for a business to offer a product or service that is not offered by other businesses:
a niche in sth
There is a niche in the market for this kind of product.
create/carve a niche
The company has carved a niche for itself in the watch-making business.
look for/find a niche
They found a niche by selling their line of leather goods through small boutiques that could offer personalized service.
exploit/expand a niche
66
Fetter
To keep someone within limits or stop them from making progress:
He felt fettered by a nine-to-five office existence.
to tie someone to a place by putting chains around their ankles
67
Exert
to use something such as authority, power, influence, etc. in order to make something happen:
If you were to exert your influence they might change their decision.
Some managers exert considerable pressure on their staff to work extra hours without being paid.
to make a mental or physical effort:
I was too tired to exert myself.
68
Recant
/rɪˈkænt/ formal
to announce in public that your past beliefs or statements were wrong and that you no longer agree with them:
After a year spent in solitary confinement, he publicly recanted (his views).
69
Abjure
/əbˈdʒʊr/ formal
to say formally or publicly that you no longer agree with a belief or way of behaving:
He abjured his religion/his life of dissipation.
70
Dissipate
/ˈdɪs.ə.peɪt/ formal
to (cause to) gradually disappear or waste:
The heat gradually dissipates into the atmosphere.
His anger dissipated as the situation became clear.
71
Retract
/rɪˈtrækt/ formal
[ T ] to take back an offer or statement, etc. or admit that a statement was false:
retract an invitation/confession/promise
When questioned on TV, he retracted his allegations.
[ I or T ] to pull something back or in:
The wheels retract after the aircraft takes off.
The cat retracted its claws.
72
Attendant
someone whose job is to help others in a particular place or situation:
a gas station/parking lot attendant
/əˈten.dənt/ formal
coming with a stated thing or resulting from it:
debt and its attendant problems
There are too many risks attendant on such a large investment of money.
73
Tirade
/ˈtaɪ.reɪd/
broadside
a long, angry speech expressing strong disapproval:
She launched into an angry/furious tirade about how she had been unfairly treated.
In a furious tirade of abuse, the opposition spokesperson demanded the minister's resignation.
74
Broadside
/ˈbrɑːd.saɪd/
a strong written or spoken attack (on someone):
The candidate fired/launched yet another broadside at the president.
75
Diaspora
/daɪˈæs.pɚ.ə/ formal
a group of people who spread from one original country to other countries, or the act of spreading in this way:
Nearly two-fifths of Spain's foreign residents come from the Latin diaspora - mostly from Ecuador and Colombia.
The Hmong diaspora evolved against the backdrop of terror that unfolded in their homeland.
76
Induct
/ɪnˈdʌkt/ formal
to introduce someone formally or with a special ceremony to an organization or group, or to beliefs or ideas:
Li Xiannian was inducted into the Politburo in 1956.
She was inducted into the army.
77
Encapsulate
/ɪnˈkæp.sjə.leɪt/
to express or show the most important facts about something:
It was very difficult to encapsulate the story of the revolution in a single one-hour documentary.
She encapsulates the stereotyped image that the British have of Americans.
78
Discernible
/dɪˈsɝː.nə.bəl/ formal
able to be seen or understood:
The influence of Rodin is discernible in the younger artist.
There is no discernible reason why this should be the case.
If there was meat in the soup, it was not discernible.
79
Unkempt
/ʌnˈkempt/ disapproving
untidy; not cared for:
an unkempt lawn
He needed a shave and his hair was unkempt.
80
Encompass
/ɪnˈkʌm.pəs/ formal
to include different types of things:
The festival is to encompass everything from music, theatre, and ballet to literature, cinema, and the visual arts.
The plan encompasses repaving the street and planting 40 new trees.
81
Confer
to exchange ideas on a particular subject, often in order to reach a decision on what action to take:
I need some time to confer with my lawyer.
to give an official title, honour, or advantage to someone:
An honorary doctorate was conferred on him by Columbia University.
82
Seizure
the action of taking something by force or with legal authority:
seizure of power/property/control
Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30 percent this year.
a very sudden attack of an illness in which someone becomes unconscious or develops violent movements:
an epileptic seizure
[ C ] old use a sudden failure of the heart:
His aunt died of a seizure.
figurative humorous When I told her how much it cost she nearly had a seizure (= she was very shocked).
83
Gestational
/dʒesˈteɪ.ʃən.əl/specialized
used to refer to a disease or condition that affects pregnant women:
As many as 5% of pregnant women experience gestational diabetes.
relating to the development of a child or young animal while it is still inside its mother's body:
Rabbits have a 30-day gestational period.
84
Adverse
having a negative or harmful effect on something:
The match has been cancelled because of adverse weather conditions.
They received a lot of adverse publicity/criticism about the changes.
So far the drug is thought not to have any adverse effects.
85
Privy
to be told information that is not told to many people:
| I was never privy to conversations between top management.
86
Societal
of or relating to human society:
societal concerns/issues/problems
Rapid societal changes have complicated parents' task.
87
Epileptic
```
/ˌep.əˈlep.tɪk/
suffering from or caused by epilepsy:
an epileptic fit
Her aunt is epileptic.
```
Epilepsy = โรคลมชัก
88
Impart
/ɪmˈpɑːrt/ formal
to communicate information to someone:
to impart the bad news
I was rather quiet as I didn't feel I had much wisdom to impart on the subject.
to give something a particular feeling, quality, or taste:
Preservatives can impart colour and flavour to a product.
If the movie has any lesson to impart, it’s that parents shouldn’t aim for perfection.
89
Prepubescent
/ˌpriː.pjuːˈbe.sənt/
relating to the period before children start to develop adult sexual characteristics:
prepubescent girls/boys/children
90
Bout
a brief period of illness or involvement in an activity:
She had bouts of fever as a child.
uk a bout of flu
us a bout with the flu
He suffered from periodic bouts of insanity.
a drinking bout (= short period of drinking a lot of alcohol)
91
Sedentary
/ˈsed.ən.ter.i/
involving little exercise or physical activity:
a sedentary job/occupation
My doctor says I should start playing sport because my lifestyle is too sedentary.
92
Outright
Completely, immediately
I had expected an outright refusal, but to my surprise she agreed.
I think cigarette advertising should be banned outright.
93
Proliferation
A great increase
The proliferation of cell phones has changed how we communicate.
94
Proliferate
Increase a lot and suddenly in number
Small businesses have proliferated in the last ten years.
95
Fester
เป็นหนอง
If a cut festers, it becomes infected and produces pus
A fester sore
If a bad situation festers, it becomes worse because it is being ignored
It was better that she expressed her anger rather than let it fester inside her.
96
Wherewithal
ˈwer.wɪ.ðɑːl/
the money necessary for a particular purpose:
I'd like to buy a bigger house, but I don't have the wherewithal.
[ + to infinitive ] Poor families lack the wherewithal to hire good lawyers.
97
Obfuscate
/ˈɑːb.fə.skeɪt/ formal
obscure
to make something less clear and harder to understand, especially intentionally:
She was criticized for using arguments that obfuscated the main issue.
98
Sedentary
/ˈsed.ən.ter.i/
involving little exercise or physical activity:
a sedentary job/occupation
My doctor says I should start playing sport because my lifestyle is too sedentary.
99
Ecstasy
/ˈek·stə·si/
a state of extreme happiness or pleasure:
We shared a moment of ecstasy as the chocolate melted on our tongues.
100
Ponderous
/ˈpɑːn.dɚ.əs/ formal mainly disapproving
slow and awkward because of being very heavy or large:
He had a slow and ponderous manner.
If a book, speech, or style of writing or speaking is ponderous, it is boring because it is too slow, long, or serious:
The ponderous reporting style makes the evening news dull viewing.
pedestrian
showing little imagination; not interesting:
The lyrics are pretty pedestrian.
101
Invariable
/ɪnˈver.i.ə.bəl/ formal
staying the same and never changing:
an invariable response
an invariable rule
Michael's invariable reaction was anger and a reluctance to try anything new.
102
Trounce
/traʊns/ informal
to defeat a competitor by a large amount:
France trounced Germany by five goals to one in the qualifying match.
She trounced her rivals in the election.
103
Conjugal
/ˈkɑːn.dʒə.ɡəl/ formal
Marital
Connubial
connected with marriage or the relationship between two married people, especially their sexual relationship:
conjugal happiness
Some prisoners who want to start a family are to be permitted conjugal visits.
104
Connubial
/kəˈnuː.bi.əl/ formal
conjugal
connected with marriage:
connubial bliss
105
Myopia
/maɪˈoʊ.pi.ə/ specialized
short-sightedness
a condition in which someone cannot clearly see things that are far away
106
Writhe
/raɪð/
Squirm
to make large twisting movements with the body:
The pain was so unbearable that he was writhing in agony.
She was writhing around/about on the ground.
informal
to experience a very difficult or unpleasant situation or emotion, such as extreme embarrassment:
He and four other senators were writhing in the glare of unfavourable publicity.
107
Squirm
/ˈskwɜrm/
to make twisting movements with the body, esp. because of embarrassment, pain, or excitement:
The kids squirmed in their chairs.
Nobody spoke for at least five minutes and Rachel squirmed in her chair with embarrassment.
The fish squirmed on the ground for a few moments and then lay still.
108
Ingenuity
/ˌɪn.dʒəˈnjuː.ə.t̬i/
someone's ability to think of clever new ways of doing something:
Drug smugglers constantly use their ingenuity to find new ways of getting drugs into a country.
109
Sabotage
/ˈsæb·əˌtɑʒ/
to intentionally damage or destroy property:
Enemy agents had sabotaged the bridge.
fig. The bombing was meant to sabotage the peace talks.
Noun
The sabotage of 20 oil pipelines threatens a new surge in fuel prices.
to intentionally prevent the success of a plan or action:
This was a deliberate attempt to sabotage the ceasefire.
Noun
They moved quickly to prevent further sabotage of their investigation.
He could face sabotage from officials who fear they might suffer redundancy.
110
Interplay
/ˈɪn.t̬ɚ.pleɪ/
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 biological interplay between inactivity and exercise has been puzzling.
111
Intertwine
/ˌɪn.t̬ɚˈtwaɪn/
to twist or be twisted together, or to be connected so as to be difficult to separate:
The town's prosperity is inextricably intertwined with the fortunes of the factory.
The trees' branches intertwined to form a dark roof over the path.
Intertwined adj
twisted together or closely connected so as to be difficult to separate:
Our fates seemed to be intertwined.
112
Inextricable
/ˌɪn.ɪkˈstrɪk.ə.bəl/
unable to be separated, released, or escaped from:
In the case of King Arthur, legend and truth are often inextricable.
There's an inextricable bond between twins.
113
Outlandish
```
/ɑʊtˈlæn·dɪʃ/ disapproving
Bizarre eccentric
strange and unusual:
She liked to dress in outlandish clothes.
```
He was wearing an outlandishly colourful suit.
She was dressed outlandishly.
114
Overtax
to cause to feel tired or confused as a result of doing too much or doing something too difficult:
Remember you've been ill, and don't overtax yourself.
This problem is overtaxing my brain.
Filling so many jobs at once would overtax the department.
115
Unctuous
/ˈʌŋk.tʃu.əs/ formal disapproving
Unctuous people or behaviour expresses too much praise, interest, friendliness, etc., in a way that is false and unpleasant:
his unctuous manner/voice/smile
116
Fulsome
ˈfʊl.səm/ formal
expressing a lot of admiration or praise for someone, often too much, in a way that does not sound sincere:
Her new book has received fulsome praise from the critics.
Our guests were fulsome in their compliments about the food.
117
Undercut
to charge less than a competitor:
Big supermarkets can undercut all rivals, especially small family-owned shops.
Undermine
to damage something or to make it fail:
He suspected it was an attempt to undercut his authority.
118
Undermine
Undercut
/ˌʌn.dɚˈmaɪn/
to make someone less confident, less powerful, or less likely to succeed, or to make something weaker, often gradually:
The president has accused two cabinet members of working secretly to undermine his position/him.
Criticism just undermines their confidence.
119
Embroil
/ɪmˈbrɔɪl/
to cause someone or something to become involved in an argument or a difficult situation:
The UN was reluctant to get its forces embroiled in another war.
She had no desire to embroil herself in lengthy lawsuits with the tabloid newspapers.
120
Lash
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.
Noun
He received 30 lashes for the crime.
The punishment for disobedience was the lash.
to tie together tightly and firmly:
I've lashed your case to the roof rack.
These poles will be easier to carry if we lash them together with a rope.
121
Vicious
/ˈvɪʃ·əs/
(of an act) intending to hurt badly, or (of a person or animal) likely to be violent:
I don’t believe he is a vicious dog.
The few who disagreed became the targets of vicious written attacks on the Internet.
122
Whereby
/werˈbaɪ/
by which way or method:
They've set up a plan whereby you can spread the cost over a two-year period.
We need to devise some sort of system whereby people can liaise with each other.
not standard in which, or with which:
It's put me in a position whereby I can't afford to take a job.
123
Due
expected to happen, arrive, etc. at a particular time:
What time is the next bus due?
The next meeting is due to be held in three months' time.
Their first baby is due in January.
in due course formal
at a suitable time in the future:
You will receive notification of the results in due course.
in a direction that is straight towards the north, south, east, or west:
From here, you go due east until you get to the Interstate.
124
Wreak
/riːk/ formal
to cause something to happen in a violent and often uncontrolled way:
The recent storms have wreaked havoc on crops.
She was determined to wreak revenge/vengeance on both him and his family.
125
At your wits’ end
so worried, confused, or annoyed that you do not know what to do next:
She was at her wits’ end trying to figure out how to control her 14-year-old son.
126
The minutiae
Plural
/mɪˈnuː.ʃi.aɪ/
small and often not important details:
The committee studied the minutiae of the report for hours.
Comedy is so often based on the minutiae of everyday life.
127
Relentless
```
/rɪˈlent.ləs/
continuing in a severe or extreme way:
relentless criticism/pressure
relentless heat
```
He is campaigning relentlessly, trying to build support.
128
Persistently
They have persistently ignored our advice.
He persistently called at her home, sent letters, and made phone calls.
It has been a deeply and persistently troubled region.
Schools with persistently low test scores would get extra funding.
129
Internment
/inˈtərnmənt/
the state of being confined as a prisoner, especially for political or military reasons.
He was threatened with internment in a concentration camp.
130
Pervasive
/pɚˈveɪ.sɪv/ formal
present or noticeable in every part of a thing or place:
The influence of Freud is pervasive in her books.
a pervasive smell of diesel
Reforms are being undermined by the all-pervasive corruption in the country.
131
Curb
/kɝːb/
to control or limit something that is not wanted:
The government should act to curb tax evasion.
a limit on something that is not wanted:
You must try to put a curb on your bad temper/spending habits.
132
Spew
/spjuː/
If something spews liquid or gas, or liquid or gas spews from something, it flows out in large amounts:
The volcano spewed a giant cloud of ash, dust, and gases into the air.
The drains spew (out) millions of gallons of raw sewage into the river.
Paper came spewing from the computer printer.
133
Vitriol
/ˈvɪt.ri.əl/
invective
violent hate and anger expressed through severe criticism:
He is a writer who has often been criticized by the press but never before with such vitriol.
full of violent hate and anger :
He launched a vitriolic attack on the prime minister, accusing him of shielding corrupt friends.
He does not deserve the vitriolic criticism he has received.
134
invective
/ɪnˈvek.tɪv/ formal
vitriol
criticism that is very forceful, unkind, and often rude:
A stream of invective from some sectors of the press continues to assail the government.
135
Cisgender
```
/sɪsˈdʒen.dɚ/ also cis
used to describe someone who feels that they are the same gender (= sex) as the physical body they were born with:
a cisgender woman/man
cis male/female
```
Antonym
transgender
136
Temperament
/ˈtem·prə·mənt/
the part of your character that affects your moods and the way you behave:
a fiery temperament
the emotional character or state of mind of people or animals, as shown in their behavior:
[ C ] Their temperaments are very different.
[ U ] Trudy has the nicest temperament of all our dogs.
137
Nimble
```
/ˈnɪm.bəl/ agile
usually approving
quick and exact either in movement or thoughts:
nimble fingers/feet
```
His nimble mind calculated the answer before I could key the numbers into my computer.
He tried to catch his friend, but she was too nimble.
138
Unfurl
/ʌnˈfɝːl/
If a flag, sail, or banner unfurls, it becomes open from a rolled position, and if you unfurl a flag, etc., you make it do this:
The demonstrators unfurled a large banner.
Synonym
unfold (OPEN) unroll
139
Frond
/frɑːnd/ specialized
a long, thin leaf of a plant:
Ferns and palms have fronds.
Fronded plant
140
Ennui
/ˌɑːnˈwiː/ literary
boredom tedious Listlessness
a feeling of being bored and mentally tired caused by having nothing interesting or exciting to do:
The whole country seems to be affected by the ennui of winter.
141
Listlessness
/ˈlɪst.ləs.nəs/
the feeling of having no energy and enthusiasm and being unwilling to do anything needing effort:
A lack of iron in the body can lead to listlessness and a lack of concentration.
The children displayed the tell-tale listlessness of malnutrition.
142
Tell tales
tell tales disapproving
If someone, usually a child, tells tales, they tell someone such as a teacher about something bad that someone else has done:
Your classmates won't trust you if you're always telling tales, Alvin.
143
Elude
Not succeed in achieving it
The gold medal continues to elude her.
To avoid someone or something
The bear that had eluded capture for so long was caught at last.
Not remember
I know who you mean but her name eludes me.
144
Panache
/pəˈnæʃ/
dashing manner
a stylish, original, and very confident way of doing things that makes people admire you:
The orchestra played with great panache.
He dressed with panache.
145
Dashing
/ˈdæʃ.ɪŋ/ old-fashioned
attractive in a confident, exciting, and stylish way:
a dashing young soldier
146
Brigand
/ˈbrɪɡ.ənd/ literary
bandit
a thief with a weapon, especially one of a group living in the countryside and stealing from people travelling through the area
147
Heavy-hearted
sad; melancholy
148
Despondent
/dɪˈspɑːn.dənt/
unhappy and with no hope or enthusiasm:
He became/grew increasingly despondent when she failed to return his phone calls.
She started to feel despondent about ever finding a job.
149
Rustic
/ˈrʌs.tɪk/
countrified
simple and often rough in appearance; typical of the countryside:
a rustic bench/cabin
The property has a certain rustic charm.
150
Countrified
/ˈkʌn.trə.faɪd/
A countrified person or thing belongs to or is suited to the countryside:
I thought of myself as sophisticated compared with my countrified relatives.
disapproving The hotel's decor was tasteless and countrified (= artificially like something seen in the countryside).
151
Endearing
/ɪnˈdɪr.ɪŋ/
making someone like you:
She laughs at herself a lot, which is always endearing.
Synonym
adorable
152
Trailblazer
/ˈtreɪlˌbleɪ.zɚ/
the first person to do something or go somewhere, who shows that it is also possible for other people:
Orville and Wilbur Wright were aviation trailblazers.
She was a trailblazer as the only woman in the US Senate.
blaze a/the trail
to be the first to do something new:
Netscape and Hotmail were both swallowed up after blazing the trail for larger, less agile competitors.
I'm not blazing a trail for women, I'm doing this for myself.
153
Exonerate
/ɪɡˈzɑː.nɚ.eɪt/ formal
exculpate
to show or state that someone or something is not guilty of something:
The report exonerated the crew from all responsibility for the collision.
154
Exculpate
Exonerate
/ˈek.skəl.peɪt/ formal
to remove blame from someone:
The pilot of the aircraft will surely be exculpated when all the facts are known.
155
Acquit
/əˈkwɪt/
[ T often passive ] to decide officially in a law court that someone is not guilty of a particular crime:
She was acquitted of all the charges against her.
Five months ago he was acquitted on a shoplifting charge.
acquit yourself formal
to do better than expected in a difficult situation:
I thought that he acquitted himself admirably in today's meeting.
156
Premature
/ˌpri·məˈtʃʊr, -ˈtʊr/
happening or done too soon, esp. before the natural or desired time:
a premature death at age 50
A spokesman said it was premature to comment on the negotiations.
157
Pillory
/ˈpɪl.ɚ.i/
to severely criticize someone, especially in a public way:
Although regularly pilloried by the press as an obnoxious loudmouth, he is, nonetheless, an effective politician.
158
Obnoxious
/əbˈnɑːk.ʃəs/ disapproving
very unpleasant or rude:
Some of his colleagues say that he's loud and obnoxious.
When she's in a bad mood she's obnoxious to everyone.
Synonym
objectionable formal
159
Objectionable
/əbˈdʒek.ʃən.ə.bəl/ formal
used to describe people or things that you dislike or oppose because they are so unpleasant or wrong:
an objectionable smell
I found the violence in that film really objectionable.
160
Loudmouth
/ˈlɑʊdˌmɑʊθ/
someone who talks too much or too loudly, esp. in an offensive or stupid way
161
Lipid
/ˈlɪp.ɪd/ specialized
a substance such as a fat, oil, or wax that dissolves in alcohol but not in water and is an important part of living cells
162
Intervention
/ˌɪn.t̬ɚˈven.ʃən/
C2 action taken to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in order to improve it or prevent it from getting worse:
Half the people questioned said they were opposed to military intervention (in the civil war).
Repeated interventions on the currency markets have failed to prevent the value of the currency falling.
163
Appreciable
/əˈpriː.ʃə.bəl/
If an amount or change is appreciable, it is large or noticeable enough to have an important effect:
There has been an appreciable drop in the number of unemployed since the new government came to power.
My little donation will not make an appreciable difference.
164
Infrequent
/ɪnˈfriː.kwənt/
not happening very often:
His letters became infrequent, then stopped completely.
165
Replete
/rɪˈpliːt/ formal
full, especially with food:
After two helpings of dessert, Sergio was at last replete.
well supplied:
This car has an engine replete with the latest technology.
a heart replete with (= full of) affection
166
Hefty
/ˈhef.ti/
large in amount, size, force, etc.:
a hefty bill/fine
Her salary will go up by a hefty 13 percent.
a hefty book containing a lot of information
167
Stow
/stoʊ/
to store something:
There's a big cupboard under the stairs for stowing toys.
to put something in a place where it can be kept safely:
Please stow your carry-on bags under the seat in front of you.
168
Yoke
[ T ] to put a yoke on animals, especially cattle, so that they are fastened together and to a connected vehicle or load:
Two oxen yoked to a plough walked wearily up and down the field.
[ T often passive ] formal to combine or connect two things:
All these different political elements have somehow been yoked together to form a new alliance.
169
Contort
/kənˈtɔːrt/
Deform
to (cause something to) twist or bend violently and unnaturally into a different shape or form:
His face contorted with bitterness and rage.
facial/bodily contortions
170
Lug
/lʌɡ/ -gg- informal
to carry or pull something with effort or difficulty because it is heavy:
I'm exhausted after lugging these suitcases all the way across the city.
I don't want to lug these shopping bags around with me all day.
171
On pins and needles
on pins and needles
us worried or excited about something that is going to happen:
Don’t keep Margaret on pins and needles – give her a call.
172
Pins and needles
/ˌpɪnz ən ˈniː.dəlz/
If you have pins and needles in a part of your body, you feel slight sharp pains in it, usually just after you have moved from being in one position for a long time.
173
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.
174
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.
involving four parts, people, places, etc.:
a quadruple fracture of his thumb
175
Complacency
/kəmˈpleɪ.sən.si/
also complacence disapproving
a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder:
What annoys me about these girls is their complacency - they seem to have no desire to expand their horizons.
There's no room for complacency if we want to stay in this competition!
176
Pathogen
/ˈpæθ.ə.dʒən/
any small organism, such as a virus or a bacterium that can cause disease:
a dangerous pathogen
177
Prone
likely to suffer from an illness or show a particular negative characteristic:
I've always been prone to headaches.
He was prone to depression even as a teenager.
She's prone to exaggerate, that's for sure.
formal lying face down:
The photograph showed a man lying prone on the pavement, a puddle of blood around his head.
The injured player was lifted into a cart and driven off the field in a prone position.
178
Chastise
/tʃæsˈtaɪz/
to criticize someone severely:
Charity organizations have chastised the government for not doing enough to prevent the latest famine in Africa.
She has been chastised by critics who say that children will never learn to recognize and enjoy vegetables if they are disguised.
to punish someone, especially by hitting them:
Some family campaigners believe in the right to physically chastise children.
Fearful that he will be chastised by gangs, the boy has agreed to speak providing his identity is hidden.
Synonym
castigate formal
179
Castigate
/ˈkæs.tə.ɡeɪt/ formal
to criticize someone or something severely:
Health inspectors castigated the kitchen staff for poor standards of cleanliness.
180
Savant
Sage
/sævˈɑːnt/ formal
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill, especially someone who is less able in other ways:
There are musical savants who are very awkward physically - until they sit at the piano.
181
Slapdash
/ˈslæp.dæʃ/ informal disapproving
done or made in a hurried and careless way:
He gets his work done quickly, but he's very slapdash.
182
Slipshod
/ˈslɪp.ʃɑːd/ disapproving
slapdash
(especially of a piece of work) showing little care, effort, or attention:
She complained that the carpenter's work had been slipshod.
183
Purge
to remove people from an organization because you do not want them:
The new governor has promised to purge the bank of ineffective employees.
Following the takeover, the original board members were purged from the company.
to remove something that is not wanted:
Our practice is to purge all email from the servers after 60 days.
purge sth of sth The sport needs to purge itself of corruption.
184
Perfunctory
```
/pɚˈfʌŋk.tɚ.i/
Cursory
done quickly, without taking care or interest:
His smile was perfunctory.
```
185
Cursory
/ˈkɜr·sə·ri/
done quickly with little attention to detail:
He gave the picture a cursory glance.
186
Workaround
/ˈwɝː.kə.raʊnd/
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.
187
Glitch
/ɡlɪtʃ/
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.
to experience a small fault or problem, especially one that stops something from working:
The mail system has glitched a couple of times recently.
At that moment the videophone glitched.
188
Criss-cross
/ˈkrɪs.krɑːs/
to move or exist in a pattern of lines crossing something or each other:
This area of the city is criss-crossed by railway lines.
189
Affiliate
/əˈfɪl.i.ət/
an organization that is connected with or controlled by another, usually larger, organization:
Our college is an affiliate of the university.
The show is broadcast on most of the network’s affiliates.
to become part of or form a close relationship with a group or organization:
[ T ] I’m not affiliated with any political party.
[ I ] The two schools will affiliate next year.
190
Commonplace
/ˈkɑː.mən.pleɪs/
happening often or often seen or experienced and so not considered to be special:
Electric cars are increasingly commonplace.
formal
a boring remark that is used very often and does not have much meaning:
We exchanged commonplaces about the weather over cups of tea.
191
Exhilarate
/ɪɡˈzɪl.ə.reɪt/
to give someone strong feelings of happiness and excitement
very excited and happy:
At the end of the race I was exhilarated.
192
No-no
/ˈnoʊ.noʊ/ informal
something that is thought to be unsuitable or unacceptable:
Total nudity is still a definite no-no on most of Europe's beaches.
Wearing shorts to work is a no-no.
193
Paramount
/ˈper.ə.maʊnt/ formal
preponderant
C2 more important than anything else:
There are many priorities, but reducing the budget deficit is paramount/is of paramount importance.
Everybody agrees that education is the paramount issue.
194
Preponderant
/prɪˈpɑːn.dɚ.ənt/ formal
important or large:
Music does not play a very preponderant role in the school's teaching.
Although it was a mixed class, girls preponderated.
195
Uptake
the rate or act of accepting something:
There is a 90 percent uptake of vaccination in this country.
Uptake of places on the training course has been disappointing.
196
be quick/slow on the uptake
If someone is quick/slow on the uptake, they understand things easily/with difficulty:
He's a little slow on the uptake, so you may have to repeat the instructions a few times.
197
Splendor
/ˈsplen·dər/
great beauty, or something that causes admiration and attention:
[ U ] It took several years to restore the building to its original splendor.
[ C ] We can only imagine the splendors of ancient Rome.
198
Abound
/əˈbaʊnd/ verb [ I ]
to exist in large numbers:
Theories abound about how the universe began.
If something abounds in/with other things, it has a lot of them:
The coast here abounds with rare plants.
199
Exquisite
```
/ɪkˈskwɪz·ɪt, ˈek·skwɪz·ɪt/
especially beautiful or admirable:
exquisite Chinese embroideries
the most exquisite French cuisine
```
Their house is exquisitely furnished.
200
Transcend
/trænˈsend/ formal
to go further, rise above, or be more important or better than something, especially a limit:
The best films are those which transcend national or cultural barriers.
The underlying message of the film is that love transcends everything else.
201
Regal
```
/ˈriː.ɡəl/
very special and suitable for a king or queen:
a regal manner
He made a regal entrance.
```
202
Quintessence
/kwɪnˈtes.əns/ formal
the most typical example:
An American football game is the quintessence of machismo.
/ˌkwɪn.tɪˈsen.ʃəl/ formal
being the most typical example or most important part of something:
Sheep's milk cheese is the quintessential Corsican cheese.
a quintessential small town
a quintessential athlete
203
quintessentially
/ˌkwɪn.tɪˈsen.ʃəl.i/ formal
in a way that is the most typical example or most important part of something:
The painting is quintessentially British.
This is quintessentially a matter of foreign policy.
204
Summarily
/ˌsʌmˈer.əl.i/
suddenly, without discussion or a legal process:
He was summarily dismissed from his job.
More than 50 other captured rebels were summarily executed.
205
Summary
/ˈsʌm.ɚ.i/
done suddenly, without discussion or a legal process:
summary arrest/dismissal/execution
206
Inaugurate
/ɪˈnɑː.ɡjə.reɪt/
to put someone into an official position with a ceremony:
American presidents are always inaugurated on 20 January .
to put something into use or action officially:
The European Community inaugurated the Single European Market in 1993.
to mark the beginning of a new period, style, or activity:
The change of government inaugurated a new era of economic prosperity.
207
Decisive
US /dɪˈsaɪ.sɪv/
B2 able to make decisions quickly and confidently, or showing this quality:
You need to be more decisive.
a decisive reply
C1 strongly affecting how a situation will progress or end:
These results could prove decisive in establishing the criminal's identity.
a decisive role
a decisive victory
208
Champion
Defend
To support, defend or fight for a person, believe or principle enthusiastically
He has championed constitutional reform for many years.
He championed protection of the wilderness.
(N)
A champion of free speech
She has long been a champion of prisoners’ rights/the disabled.
209
In situ
In the original place instead of being moved to another place
Shareholders are likely to want a new chief executive in situ sooner rather than later.
210
Incapacitate
verb [ T often passive ]
/ˌɪn.kəˈpæs.ə.teɪt/
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.
The accident incapacitated me for seven months.
Rubber bullets are designed to incapacitate people rather than kill them.
an incapacitating illness
Extreme shyness can be very incapacitating.
The novel tells the story of a man’s incapacity for love.
211
Exonerate
/ɪɡˈzɑː.nɚ.eɪt/ formal
exculpate, acquit
to show or state that someone or something is not guilty of something:
The report exonerated the crew from all responsibility for the collision.
212
Frisk
Search
to use your hands to search someone's body when they are wearing clothes to see if they are hiding illegal objects or weapons:
We were all frisked at the airport.
to move around in a happy, energetic way:
a postcard with a picture of lambs frisking in the fields
213
Disorient
/dɪsˈɔr·iˌent/
UK disorientate
to make people confused about where they are and where they are going:
It’s easy to get disoriented because all the streets look alike.
a feeling of disorientation
214
Subdued
/səbˈdud/
(of color or light) not very bright, or (of sound) not very loud:
a subdued voice
a subdued chalk-stripe suit
A person who is subdued is unusually quiet:
Most of the fans were subdued, quietly waiting for the race to start.
If a person is subdued, they are not as happy as usual or they are quieter than usual:
He seemed a bit subdued at lunch - is he all right?
215
Subdue
/səbˈduː/
to reduce the force of something, or to prevent something from existing or developing:
The fire burned for eight hours before the fire crews could subdue it.
He criticized the school for trying to subdue individual expression.
