TOEFL vocab Flashcards
(84 cards)
beckon
beck·on\ˈbe-kən\
: to signal (someone) with your arm or hand in order to tell that person to come closer or follow
: to appear attractive or inviting
: to attract (someone or something)
Full Definition
intransitive verb
1 : to summon or signal typically with a wave or nod
2 : to appear inviting : attract
transitive verb
: to beckon to
Other forms: beck·oned; beck·on·ing
beckon noun
Examples
beckoned the bashful child to come closer
Origin: Middle English beknen, from Old English bīecnan, from bēacen sign — more at beacon.
First use: before 12th century
Synonyms: motion, flag, gesture, signal, wave
abate
abate\ə-ˈbāt\
: to become weaker : to decrease in strength
Full Definition
transitive verb
1 a : to put an end to
b : nullify 1
2 a : to reduce in degree or intensity : moderate
b : to reduce in value or amount : make less especially by way of relief
3 : deduct, omit
4 a : to beat down or cut away so as to leave a figure in relief
b obsolete : blunt
5 : deprive 2
intransitive verb
1 : to decrease in force or intensity
2 a : to become defeated or become null or void
b : to decrease in amount or value
Other forms: abat·ed; abat·ing
abat·er noun
Examples
We waited for the wind/storm to abate.
The excitement has abated.
The violence has continued without abatement.
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French abatre to strike down — more at rebate.
First use: 13th century
Synonyms: decrease, decline, de-escalate, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down) also rachet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane
Antonyms: accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax
Synonym discussion: abate subside wane ebb mean to die down in force or intensity. abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing . subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation . wane suggests the fading or weakening of something good or impressive . ebb suggests the receding of something (as the tide) that commonly comes and goes .
confide
con·fide\kən-ˈfīd\
: to tell (something that is secret or private) to someone you trust
Full Definition
intransitive verb
1 : to have confidence : trust
2 : to show confidence by imparting secrets
transitive verb
1 : to tell confidentially
2 : to give to the care or protection of another : entrust
synonyms see commit
Other forms: con·fid·ed; con·fid·ing
con·fid·er noun
Examples
the local SPCA was looking for homes for a number of exotic animals confided to its care
Origin: Middle English (Scots), from Latin confidere, from com- + fidere to trust — more at bide.
First use: 15th century
Synonyms: commend, commit, give, consign, delegate, deliver, entrust (also intrust), give over, hand, hand over, leave, pass, recommend, repose, transfer, transmit, trust, turn over, vest
Antonyms: hold, keep, retain
doze
doze\ˈdōz\ intransitive verb 1 a : to sleep lightly b : to fall into a light sleep — usually used with off 2 : to be in a dull or stupefied conditiontransitive verb \: to pass (as time) drowsily Other forms: dozed; doz·ing doze noun doz·er noun Origin: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse dūsa to doze. First use: 1677 2doze transitive verb \: bulldoze 2 Other forms: dozed; doz·ing doz·er noun Origin: probably back-formation from dozer (bulldozer). First use: 1945
enervate
en·er·vate\ˈe-nər-ˌvāt\
transitive verb
: to make (someone or something) very weak or tired
Full Definition
1 : to reduce the mental or moral vigor of
2 : to lessen the vitality or strength of
synonyms see unnerve
● بی حال کردن،بی رمق کردن،سست کردن
heat and humidity enervate me
گرما و رطوبت مرا بی رمق می‌کند.
the enervation caused by malnutrition
بی‌حالی ناشی از سو تغذیه
● (اخلاق یا روحیه) تضعیف کردن،ضعیف کردن،از کارایی کاستن،بد روحیه کردن،نومید کردن
a government enervated by corruption
دولتی که فساد آن را کم توان می‌کند
● بی حال،بی رمق،کم جان،سست،نومید،دلسرد،بد روحیه
● (مهجور) عصب را بریدن،زردپی پشت زانو را بریدن،پی زدن
fowl
fowl\ˈfau̇(-ə)l\
noun
: a bird (such as a chicken) that is raised for food
: the meat of such a bird used as food
: a bird of any kind
Full Definition
1 : a bird of any kind — compare waterfowl wildfowl
2 a : a cock or hen of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus); especially : an adult hen
b : any of several domesticated or wild gallinaceous birds — compare guinea fowl jungle fowl
3 : the meat of fowls used as food
Other forms: plural fowl or fowls
Origin: Middle English foul, from Old English fugel; akin to Old High German fogal bird, and probably to Old English flēogan to fly — more at fly.
First use: before 12th century
2fowl
intransitive verb
: to seek, catch, or kill wildfowl
fowl·er noun
autonomous
: existing or acting separately from other things or people
: having the power or right to govern itself
Full Definition
- of, relating to, or marked by autonomy
2.
a : having the right or power of self-government
b : undertaken or carried on without outside control : self-contained
3.
a : existing or capable of existing independently
b : responding, reacting, or developing independently of the whole
4 : controlled by the autonomic nervous system
synonyms see free
au·ton·o·mous·ly -> adverb
Examples
Native American nations are regarded as autonomous in many respects and thus not subject to a number of state and local laws
disrupt
: to cause (something) to be unable to continue in the normal way : to interrupt the normal progress or activity of (something)
Full Definition
1 a : to break apart : rupture
b : to throw into disorder
2 : to interrupt the normal course or unity of
dis·rupt·er noun dis·rup·tion \-ˈrəp-shən\ noun dis·rup·tive \-ˈrəp-tiv\ adjective dis·rup·tive·ly adverb dis·rup·tive·ness noun
Examples
an earthquake that had disrupted the elevated highway in several places
the arrival of a baby in the household would totally disrupt their established routine
revoke
: to officially cancel the power or effect of (something, such as a law, license, agreement, etc.) : to make (something) not valid
Full Definition
transitive verb
1 : to annul by recalling or taking back : rescind
2 : to bring or call backintransitive verb
: to fail to follow suit when able in a card game in violation of the rules
Other forms: re·voked; re·vok·ing re·vok·er noun
Synonyms: abandon, abort, call, call off, cry off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, cancel, scrap, scrub
Antonyms: continue, keep
Convoluted
: very complicated and difficult to understand
: having many twists and curves
Full Definition
1 : having convolutions
2 : involved, intricate <a></a>
Examples
a convoluted explanation that left the listeners even more confused than they were before
convoluted legal language.
Synonyms: baroque, byzantine, complicate, complicated, complex, daedal, elaborate, intricate, involute, involved, knotty, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, sophisticated, tangled
Antonyms: noncomplex, noncomplicated, plain, simple, uncomplicated
frail
: having less than a normal amount of strength or force : very weak
: easily damaged or destroyed
modify
modify
verb: to make small changes or add to
The first bicycles were slow and difficult to use, but they were modified over time.
accurate
accurate
adjective: correct (about information, not opinions); on target
That test is not an accurate test of intelligence.
register
register
verb: to put your name or other information in a list for something
If you’d like to buy a meal plan, you can register at the student affairs office.
verb: to identify and show on a tool for measuring
The bomb was so strong that far-away weather balloons registered the heat.
This word has other definitions, but these are the most important ones to study
assume
assume
verb: to believe without proof
Ahmed assumed his forgetful professor wouldn’t remember their meeting, but the professor was already waiting for him in her office.
hence
hence
adverb: therefore, so, as a result
The evidence is false; hence, the conclusion is also false.
fundamental
fundamental
adjective: basic, central
Alice believes that women are fundamentally different from men.
adjective: extremely important
The fundamental beliefs of most religions are peaceful.
issue
issue
noun: a topic or situation to talk about
In order to define what jazz music is, we need to look at a few different issues.
noun: a problem
Monarchies (governments with kings or queens) often have several common issues.
assess
assess
verb: to look closely at and figure out the value or type of something
Before buying a house, you should always assess the building carefully.
synonym: estimate
● برآورد کردن،ارزیابی کردن،مالیات بستن،تقویم کردن
they assessed the amount of taxes due
مبلغ مالیات قابل پرداخت را برآورد کردند.
nobody could assess the real value of the old book
هیچکس نتوانست ارزش واقعی کتاب قدیمی را برآورد کند.
● بررسی کردن،سنجیدن،بر انداز کردن
they tried to assess the country’s economic situation
کوشیدند وضع اقتصادی کشور را ارزیابی کنند.
hypothesis
hypothesis
noun: an idea which explains something but is unproven
The hypothesis that the Earth is growing was shown to be false.
occupy
occupy
verb: to be in or on a space; to fill a space
The dentist’s office occupied the entire fourth floor of the building.
individual
individual
adjective: single or separated; only one of
Joan was surprised that the ten books she ordered from the internet came together, but in individual boxes.
resolve
resolve
verb: to agree; to decide; to solve a problem or argument
Even after meeting for hours, the government leaders still could not resolve their argument over new taxes.
This word has other definitions, but this is the most important one to study
affect
affect
verb: to change; to make different; to have an effect
Which language we speak affects how we think about the world.
This word has other definitions, but this is the most important one to study
