UPPER INTERMEDIATE - VOCABULARY Flashcards
(146 cards)
1
Q
dis‧tin‧guish / dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ / Verb
A
Meaning:
- to recognize and understand the difference between two or more things or people
Collocation:
- distinguish between sth and sth
- distinguish sth from sth
Synonym: differentiate
Example:
- His attorney argued that Cope could not distinguish between right and wrong.
2
Q
jus‧ti‧fy/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ / Verb
A
Meaning:
- to give an acceptable explanation for something that other people think is unreasonable
Collocation:
- justify doing sth
- justify yourself
Example:
- How can we justify spending so much money on arms?
- Ministers must appear before Parliament and justify their actions.
3
Q
per‧ceive/pəˈsiːv$pər- / Verb
A
Meaning:
- to understand or think of sth or sb in a particular way
- to notice, see, or recognize sth
Collocation:
- perceive sth as sth
- perceive sb to be sth
Example:
- Even as a young woman she had been perceived as a future chief executive.
- That morning, he perceived a change in Franca’s mood.
4
Q
ac‧cel‧e‧rate/əkˈseləreɪt / Verb
A
Meaning:
- if a process accelerates or if sth accelerates it, it happens faster than usual or sooner than you expect
Example:
- measures to accelerate the rate of economic growth
5
Q
col‧umn/ˈkɒləm$ˈkɑː- / Noun
A
Meaning:
- a tall solid upright stone post used to support a building or as a decoration
6
Q
ex‧press/ɪkˈspres / Verb
A
Meaning:
- to tell or show what you are feeling or thinking by using words, looks, or actions
Collocation:
- express your views/opinions
- express sth in/by/through sth
- express thanks/ gratitude (for sth) (to sb)
Example:
- Finally, I’d like to express my sincere thanks to all those who have helped today.
7
Q
grad‧u‧al/ˈɡrædʒuəl / Adjective
A
Meaning:
- happening slowly over a long period of time
Example:
- There has been a gradual change in climate.
8
Q
re‧mark‧a‧ble/rɪˈmɑːkəbəl$-ɑːr- / Adjective
A
Meaning:
- unusual or surprising and therefore deserving attention or praise
Collocation:
- remarkable feat/achievement/accomplishment
- it is remarkable that
- remarkable for
Example:
- It is remarkable that women did not have the vote until that time.
9
Q
sim‧ply/ˈsɪmpli / Adverb
A
Meaning:
- used to emphasize what you are saying
Synonyms: only, just
Example:
- This work is simply not good enough.
10
Q
un‧like‧ly/ʌnˈlaɪkli / Adjective
A
Meaning:
- not likely to happen
Collocation:
- unlikely to do sth
- it is unlikely (that)
- in the unlikely event of sth
Example:
- The weather is unlikely to improve over the next few days.
- In the unlikely event of a fire, passengers should move to the top deck.
11
Q
e‧ven‧tu‧al‧ly/ɪˈventʃuəli, -tʃəli / Adverb
A
Meaning:
- after a long time, or after a lot of things have happened
Example:
- Seventy-two percent of people eventually found work, but mainly in low-paid service jobs.
12
Q
mi‧nor1/ˈmaɪnə$-ər / Adjective
A
Meaning:
- small and not very important or serious, especially when compared with other things
Collocation:
- minor injury/illness/operation etc
13
Q
ma‧jor1/ˈmeɪdʒə$-ər / Adjective
A
Meaning:
- having very serious or worrying results
- very large or important, when compared to other things or people of a similar kind
Collocation:
- major role/part/factor etc
14
Q
sen‧si‧tive/ˈsensətɪv /Adjective
A
Meaning:
- able to understand other people’s feelings and problems
- easily upset or offended by events or things that people say
Collocation:
- sensitive to
- sensitive about
Example:
- It’s made me much more sensitive to the needs of the disabled.
- Laura’s sensitive about her weight.
15
Q
claim/kleɪm / Verb
A
Meaning:
- to state that sth is true, even though it has not been proved
- to officially demand or receive money from an organization because you have a right to it
- to state that you have a right to take or have sth that is legally yours
Collocation:
- claim (that)
- claim to do/be sth
- claim to have done sth
- claim responsibility/credit (for sth)
- claim sb/sth as sth
- claim sth back
Example:
- I don’t claim to be a feminist, but I’d like to see more women in top jobs.
- The girls claim to have seen the fairies.
- The group claimed responsibility for the bombings.
16
Q
clas‧si‧fy/ˈklæsɪfaɪ /Verb
A
Meaning:
- to decide what group sth belongs to
- to regard people or things as belonging to a particular group because they have similar qualities
Collocation:
- classify sth as/under sth
Example:
- Scientists have discovered a new type of butterfly which has not yet been classified.
17
Q
cir‧cum‧stance/ˈsɜːkəmstæns, -stəns$ˈsɜːr- / Noun
A
Meaning:
- the conditions that affect a situation, action, event etc
Collocation:
- in … circumstances
- under … circumstances
- normal/difficult/suspicious circumstances
Example:
- Prisoners can only leave their cells under certain circumstances.
- There may be particular circumstances in which this rule will not apply.
18
Q
dif‧fer/ˈdɪfə$-ər / Verb
A
Meaning:
- to be different from sth in some way
- if two people or groups differ about sth, they have opposite opinions
Collocation:
- differ from
- differ between
- differ widely/greatly/significantly
Example:
- Modern teaching methods differ greatly from those fifty years ago.
- The two lawyers differed about how to present the case.
19
Q
de‧sire1/dɪˈzaɪə$-ˈzaɪr /Noun
A
Meaning:
- a strong hope or wish
Collocation:
- desire to do sth
- desire for sth
- desire that
- have no desire to do sth (used to emphasize that you do not want to do sth)
- overwhelming/burning desire (very strong desire)
Example:
- It was Harold’s desire that he should be buried next to his wife.
- Paul had a burning desire to visit India.
20
Q
en‧dan‧gered/ɪnˈdeɪndʒəd$-ərd / Adjective
A
Meaning:
- an endangered animal, bird etc is one that may soon no longer exist because there are so few of them
Example:
- The lizards are classed as an endangered species.
21
Q
ex‧ist/ɪɡˈzɪst / Verb
A
Meaning:
- to happen or be present in a particular situation or placce
- to be real or alive
- to stay alive, especially in a difficult situation when you do not have enough money, food etc (SYN: survive)
Collocation:
- exist on
- really/actually exist
- already exist
- continue to exist
- cease to exist (stop existing)
- be known to exist
- the right to exist
Example:
- The custom of arraged marriages still exists in many countries.
- The hostages existed on bread and water.
- No company of that name exists.
- At the moment they are existing on a few dollars a day.
22
Q
im‧mi‧grant/ˈɪməɡrənt / Noun
A
Meaning:
- someone who enters another country to live there permanently
Collocation:
- a/an legal/illegal immigrant
- a flood of immigrant
- an immigrant community
23
Q
tech‧ni‧cal/ˈteknɪkəl / Adjective
A
Meaning:
- connected with knowledge of how machines work
Collocation:
- technical problem
24
Q
gen‧u‧ine/ˈdʒenjuɪn / Adjective
A
Meaning:
- a genuine feeling, desire etc is one that you really feel, not one you pretend to feel (SYN: sincere)
- sth genuine really is what it seems to be (SYN: real)
25
gov‧ern /ˈɡʌvən $ -ərn / Verb
Meaning:
- to officially and legally control a country and make all the decisions about taxes, laws, public services etc (SYN: rule)
- if rules, principles etc govern the way a system or situation works, they control how it happens
Example:
- The party had been governing for seven months.
26
prin‧ci‧ple /ˈprɪnsəpəl / Noun
Meaning:
- a moral rule or belief about what is right and wrong, that influences how you behave
- the basic idea that a plan or system is based on
Collocation:
- principle of
- principle that
- principle behind
Example:
- It's against my principles to accept gifts from clients.
27
live‧ly /ˈlaɪvli / Adjective
Meaning:
- someone who is lively has a lot of energy and is very active
- a place or situation that is lively is exciting because a lot of things are happening
28
im‧pose /ɪmˈpəʊz $ -ˈpoʊz / Verb
Meaning:
- if someone in authority imposes a rule, punishment, tax etc, they force people to accept it
- to force someone to have the same ideas, beliefs etc as you
Collocation:
- impose sth on sth/sb
Example:
- Teachers should try to avoid imposing their own beliefs on their students.
29
sake /seɪk / Noun
Turkish meaning:
- uğruna
Collocation:
- for the sake of sb/sth
- for God's sake
Example:
- For your health's sake, it is important not to let yourself get overweight.
30
rap‧id /ˈræpɪd / Adjective
Meaning:
- happening or done very quickly and in a very short time (fast, quick)
Collocation:
- rapid growth/expansion/development/increase
Example:
- The patient made a rapid recovery.
31
ac‧quire /əˈkwaɪə $ əˈkwaɪr / Verb
Meaning:
- to obtain sth by buying it or being given it
- to gain knowledge or learn a skill
Example:
- Manning hoped to acquire valuable works of art as cheaply as possible.
32
re‧sem‧ble /rɪˈzembəl / Verb
Meaning:
- to look like or be similar to someone or sth
Example:
- The ancient tools discovered in Ethiopia strongly resemble those found in Tanzania.
33
as‧so‧ci‧ate1 /əˈsəʊʃieɪt, əˈsəʊsi- $ əˈsoʊ- / Verb
Meaning:
- to make a connection in your mind between one thing or person and another
Collocation:
- associate sb/sth with sth
- be associated (with sb/sth)
- associate with sb
Example:
- In this case an increase in gross output will be associated with an increase in both scale and diversity.
34
ac‧com‧plish /əˈkʌmplɪʃ $ əˈkɑːm-, əˈkʌm- / Verb
Meaning:
- to succeed in doing sth, especially after trying very hard (SYN: achieve)
Example:
- We have accomplished all we set out to do.
35
ex‧pose /ɪkˈspəʊz $ -ˈspoʊz/
Meaning:
- to show sth that is usually covered or hidden
- to put someone in a situation where they are not protected from sth dangerous or unpleasant
- to show the truth about someone or sth, especially when it is bad
Collocation:
- expose sth to sth
- expose sb to sth
- expose yourself to ridicule/criticism etc
- expose sb as sth
36
con‧struct1 /kənˈstrʌkt / Verb
Meaning:
- to build sth such as a house, bridge, road etc
- to form sth such as a sentence, argument, or system by joining words, ideas etc together
Collocation:
- construct sth from/of/in sth
Example:
- There are plans to construct a new road bridge across the river.
37
re‧veal1 /rɪˈviːl / Verb
Meaning:
- to make known sth that was previously secret or unknown
- to show sth that was previously hidden
Collocation:
- reveal (that)
- reveal yourself (as/to be sth)
Example:
- He may be prosecuted for revealing secrets about the security agency.
38
globe /ɡləʊb $ ɡloʊb / Noun
Meaning:
- a round object with a map of the Earth
39
peak /piːk / Noun
Meaning:
- the time when sth or someone is best, greatest, highest, most successful etc
Collocation:
- at sth's peak
- at the peak of sth
Example:
- Hotel rooms are difficult to find at the peak of the holiday reason.
40
con‧cen‧trate /ˈkɒnsəntreɪt $ ˈkɑːn- /
Meaning:
- to think very carefully about sth that you are doing
- to be present in large numbers or amounts somewhere, or to cause people or things to be present in large numbers or amounts somewhere
Collocation:
- concentrate on
- be concentrated in/at sth
- concentrate in/at
Example:
- I'm trying to concentrate on my work.
- Italian industry is concentrated mainly in the north.
- Women concentrate in a small number of occupations.
41
sus‧pect /səˈspekt / Verb
Meaning:
- to think that sth is probably true, especially sth bad
- to think that sth bad has happened or is happening
Collocation:
- suspect (that)
- suspect murder/foul play
- suspect something/nothing/anything
- suspect sb of (doing) sth
Example:
- Police suspect Foster may have been involved in a fraud.
- He suspected that the problem would only get worse.
42
in‧come /ˈɪŋkʌm, ˈɪn- / Noun
Meaning:
- the money that you earn from your work or that you receive from investments, the government etc
Collocation:
- on an income
- income from
- provide an income
- a high/large/low/small income
Example:
People on higher incomes should pay more tax.
43
an‧tic‧i‧pate /ænˈtɪsəpeɪt / Verb
Meaning:
- to expect that sth will happen and be ready for it
- to think about sth that is going to happen, especially sth pleasant (SYN: look forward to)
Collocation:
- anticipate changes/developments
- anticipate problems/difficulties
- anticipate (that)
- anticipate doing sth
Example:
- A good speaker is able to anticipate an audience's needs and concerns.
- It is anticipated that the research will have many different practical applications.
44
grant /ɡrɑːnt $ ɡrænt / Verb
Meaning:
- to give someone sth or allow them to have sth that they have asked for
Collocation:
- grant sb sth
- grant sth to sb
- grant that (used in prayers)
Example:
- The council have granted him permission to build on the site.
45
pas‧sage /ˈpæsɪdʒ / Noun
Meaning:
- a long narrow area with walls on either side which connects one room or place to another
Example:
- We walked down a narrow passage to the back of the building.
46
en‧tire /ɪnˈtaɪə $ -ˈtaɪr / Adjective
Meaning:
- used when you want to emphasize that you mean all of a group, period of time, amount etc (SYN: whole)
Example:
- Gary was so hungry that he ate an entire chicken for dinner.
47
di‧men‧sion /daɪˈmenʃən, də- / Noun
Meaning: the length, height, width depth, or diameter of sth (SYN: measurement)
Collocation:
- dimension of
Example:
- We'll need to know the exact dimensions of the room.
48
en‧vy /ˈenvi / Verb
Meaning:
- to wish that you had someone else's possessions, abilities etc
Collocation:
- envy sb sth
Example:
- He envied Rosalind her youth and strength.
49
jus‧tice /ˈdʒʌstɪs / Noun
Meaning:
- the system by which people are judged in courts of law and criminals are punished
Collocation:
- miscarriage of justice
Example:
- The killers will be brought to justice.
- Acts of terrorism must not escape justice.
50
jus‧ti‧fy /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ / Verb
Meaning:
- to give an acceptable explanation for sth that other people think is unreasonable
- to be a good and acceptable reason for sth
Collocation:
- justify doing sth
- justify yourself
Example:
- There is not enough evidence to justify such accusations.
51
in‧ter‧fere /ˌɪntəˈfɪə $ -tərˈfɪr / Verb
Meaning:
- to delibaretely get involved in a situation where you are not wanted or needed (SYN: meddle)
Collocation:
- interfere in
Example:
- My daughter-in-law said that I was interfering, but I was only trying to help.
- It's not the church's job to interfere in politics.
52
com‧po‧nent /kəmˈpəʊnənt $ -ˈpoʊ- / Noun
Meaning:
- one of several parts that together make up a whole machine, system etc (SYN: constituent)
Collocation:
- component of
- key/major/important etc component
Example:
- Exercise is one of the key components of a healthy lifestyle.
53
in‧stant /ˈɪnstənt / Adjective
Meaning:
- happening or producecd immediately (SYN: immediate)
Example:
- a system that provides instant access to client information
54
in‧sult /ɪnˈsʌlt / Verb
Meaning:
- to offend someone by saying or doing sth they think is rude
Collocation:
- insult sb by doing sth
- insult sb's intelligence
Example:
- Nobody insults my family and gets away with it!
- I hope Andy won't be insulted if I don't come.
55
de‧tect /dɪˈtekt / Verb
Meaning:
- to notice or discover sth, especially sth that is not easy to see, hear etc
Collocation:
- difficult/impossible/easy/possible etc to detect
- detect a change/difference
- detect a note of sarcasm/irony/excitement etc
Example:
- Many forms of cancer can be cured if detected early.
56
han‧dle /ˈhændl / Verb
Meaning:
- to do the things that are necessary to complete a job
- to deal with a situation or problem by behaving in a particular way and making particular decisions.
Example:
- ı handled most of the paperwork.
- The headmaster handled the situation very well.
57
cope /kəʊp $ koʊp / Verb
Meaning:
- to succeed in dealing with a difficult problem or situation
- if a system or machine copes with a particular type or amount of wok, it does it
Collocation:
- cope with
Example:
- He coped quite well as manager while still captaining the team.
58
na‧vy /ˈneɪvi / Noun
Meaning:
- the part of a country's military forces that fights at sea
Collocation:
- in the navy
Example:
- Is your brother still in the navy?
59
oc‧cu‧py /ˈɒkjəpaɪ $ ˈɑːk- / Verb
Meaning:
- to live or stay in a place
- if sth occupies you or your time, you are busy doing it
- to fill a particular amount of space (SYN: take up)
- to enter a place in a large group and keep control of it, especially by military force (SYN: invade)
Collocation:
- occupy sb with (doing) sth
- occupy sb's mind/thoughts/attention
Example:
- He occupies the house without paying any rent.
- Football occupies most of my leisure time.
- Only six percent of police time is occupied with criminal incidents.
- Family photos occupied almost the entire wall.
- Students occupied Sofia University on Monday.
60
rep‧u‧ta‧tion /ˌrepjəˈteɪʃən / Noun
Meaning:
- the opinion that people have about someone or sth because of what has happened in the past
Collocation:
- reputation for
- repuutation as
- have a good/bad etc reputation
- get a reputation
- earn/win a reputation
- build/develop a reputation
Example:
- Judge Kelso has a reputation for being strict but fair.
- In her last job she gained a reputation as a hard worker.
- Our business has built a reputation for reliable service.
61
reg‧u‧la‧tion /ˌreɡjəˈleɪʃən / Noun
Meaning:
- an official rule or order
- control over sth, especially by rules
Collocation:
- regulation on
- building/planning/fire/health regulations
- regulation of
- government/federal regulations
- break regulations
- regulations govern sth
- regulation stipulate sth
Example:
- The building regulations are very strict abotu the materials you can use.
- Under the new regulations, locat presentatives with power to enforce presidential and parliamentary decrees would be appointed.
62
pre‧vi‧ous /ˈpriːviəs / Adjective
Meaning:
- having happened or existed before the event, time, or thing that you are talking about now
Collocation:
- the previous day/chapter/owner etc
- previous to sth
Example:
- The lawyer told the judge that Kennedy had no previous convictions.
63
re‧ject /rɪˈdʒekt / Verb
Meaning:
- to refuse to accept, believe in, or agree with sth
- to not choose someone for a job, course of study etc
- to refuse to give someone any love or attention
Collocation:
- reject sth as sth
Example:
- Gibson rejected the idea as 'absurd'.
- It's obvious why his application was rejected.
- Children feel abandoned or rejected if they don't see their parents regularly.
64
re‧mark /rɪˈmɑːk $ -ɑːrk / Noun
Meaning:
- sth that you say when you express an opinion or say what you have noticed (SYN: comment)
Collocation:
- make a remark
- ignore a remark
- address your remarks to sb
- mean sth by a remark
- a personal/racist/sexist remark
Example:
- I shall not be able to complete my remarks anyway.
- Unfortunately, a local journalist overheard the remark.
65
spe‧ci‧fy /ˈspesɪfaɪ / Verb
Meaning:
- to state sth in an exact and detailed way
Collocation:
- specify who/what/how etc
- specify that
Example:
- Regulations specify how long maintenance crews can work.
- The rules clearly specify that competitors must not accept payment.
66
sub‧sti‧tute /ˈsʌbstɪtjuːt $ -tuːt / Noun
Meaning:
- someone who does someone else's jobfor a limited period of time, especially in a sports team or school
- a person or thing that you use insteadd of the one that you usually have, because the usual one is not available
Collocation:
- substitute for
- be no substitute for sth
Example:
- Germany brought on a subsitute at half time.
- The coach has to find a substitute for Tim.
67
tri‧al /ˈtraɪəl / Noun
Meaning:
- a legal process in which a judge and often a jury in a court of law examine information to decide whether someone is guilty of a crime
Collocation:
- on trial (for sth)
- show trial
Example:
- The trial is due to start next week.
68
re‧flect /rɪˈflekt / Verb
Meaning:
- if a person or a thing is reflected in a mirror, glass, or water, you can see a image of the person or thing on the surface of the mirror, glass, or water
- to show or be a sign of a particular situation or feeling
Collocation:
- be reflected in sth
- reflect who/what/how etc
Example:
- She could see her face reflected in the car's windshield.
- The increasing racial diversity of the US is reflected in the latest census statistics.
69
ad‧verse /ˈædvɜːs $ -ɜːrs / Adjective
Meaning:
- not good or favourable
Collocation:
- adverse conditions
Example:
- They fear it could have an adverse effect on global financial markets.
- Miller's campaign has received a good deal of adverse publicity.
70
boast /bəʊst $ boʊst / Verb
Meaning:
- to talk too proudly about your abilities, achievements, or possessions
Collocation:
- boast that
- boast about
- boast of
Example:
- Amy boasted that her son was a genius.
- He's boasting about how much money he has made.
- The company is inclined to boast of its success.
71
com‧pan‧ion /kəmˈpænjən / Noun
Meaning:
- someone yo spend a lot of time with, especially a friend
- one of a pair of things that go together or can be used together
Collocation:
- dinner/drinking companion
- a constant/close/travelling companion
- companion to
- companion volume/piece etc
Example:
- For ten years he had been her constant companion.
- This book is a companion to Professor Farrer's first work.
72
ap‧pre‧ci‧ate /əˈpriːʃieɪt / Verb
Meaning:
- to understand how serious or important a situation or problem is or what someone's feelings are (SYN: realize)
- used to thank someone in a polite way or to say that you are grateful for sth they have done
Collocation:
- appreciate the significance/importance/value of sth
- appreciate that
- appreciate what/how/why
Example:
- He did not fully appreciate the significance of signing the contract.
- I'd appreciate it if you let me get on with my job.
73
approach /əˈprəʊtʃ $ əˈproʊtʃ / Noun
Meaning:
- a method of doing sth or dealing with a problem
- a request from someone, asking you to do sth for them
- movement towards or near to sth
Collocation:
- approach to
- the approach of sth
Example:
- He decided to adopt a different apporach and teach the Bible through story-telling
- They made a direct approach to the minister of education.
- Our approach frightened the birds.
74
damp /dæmp / Adjective
Meaning:
- slightly wet, often in an unpleasant way
Example:
- Wipe the leather with a damp cloth.
75
dis‧com‧fort /dɪsˈkʌmfət $ -ərt / Noun
Meaning:
- a feeling of slight pain or of being physically uncomfortable
- a feeling of embarrassment, shame, or worry
- sth that makes you feel uncomfortable or gives you a slight pain
Example:
- There can be no question of ther discomfort.
76
dis‧or‧der /dɪsˈɔːdə $ -ˈɔːrdər / Noun
Meaning:
- a mental or physical illness which prevents part of your body from working properly
Collocation:
- a disorder of the brain/liver/digestive system etc
- a stomach/lung/heart etc disorder
- a mental/psycihatric/psychological disorder
- a genetic disorder
- have a disorder
- suffer from a disorder
- develop a disorder
Example:
- Many genetic disorders affect only girls or only boys.
- The drug is used to treat lung disorders.
77
in‧quire, enquire /ɪnˈkwaɪə $ -ˈkwaɪr / Verb
Meaning:
- to ask someone for information
Collocation:
- inquire about
- inquire whether/why/how etc
- inquire sth of sb
Example:
- I am writing to inquire about your advertisement in 'The Times'.
- 'Where's the station?' she inquired of a passer-by.
78
fa‧tal /ˈfeɪtl / Adjective
Meaning:
- resulting in someone's death
- having a very bad effect, especially making someone fail or stop what they are doing
Collocation:
- fatal accident/illness/injury etc
- fatal to
- fatal mistake/error
Example:
- If it is not treated correctly, the condition can prove fatal.
- Telling youru employees they're unimportant is a fatal error.
79
fa‧tigue /fəˈtiːɡ / Noun
Meaning:
- very great tiredness (SYN: exhaustion)
Collocation:
- with fatigue
- from fatigue
Example:
- Sam's face was grey with fatigue.
- He's suffering from physical and mental fatigue.
80
fer‧til‧i‧ty /fɜːˈtɪləti $ fɜːr- / Noun
Meaning:
- the ability of the land or soil to produce good crops
- the ability of a person, animal, or plant to produce babies, young animals, or seeds
Example:
- We also have contraception and fertility technology.
81
for‧mu‧late /ˈfɔːmjəleɪt $ ˈfɔːr- / Verb
Meaning:
- to develop sth such as a plan or a set of rules, and decide all the details of how it will be done
Collocation:
- formulate a policy/plan/strategy etc
- formulate an idea/theory
Example:
- He formulated Labour Party education policy in 1922.
- Darwin formulated the theory of natural selection.
82
ob‧sta‧cle /ˈɒbstəkəl $ ˈɑːb- / Noun
Meaning:
- sth that makes it difficult to achieve sth
- an object which blocks your way, so that you must try to go around it
Collocation:
- obstacle to
- be an obstacle
- prove an obstacle
- present/pose an obstacle
- overcome an obstacle
- a major/serious/real/main/biggest obstacle
- an obstacle in the way/path
Example:
- But the man was a romantic and probably saw Steve as an obstacle he might have to overcome.
- There were still a nmber of obstacles in the way of an agreement.
83
ob‧tain /əbˈteɪn / Verb
Meaning:
- to get sth that you want, especially through yoru own effort, skill, or work (SYN: get)
Collocation:
- obtain sth from sb/sth
- obtain sth through sth
Example:
- Further information can be obtained from head office.
84
o‧ver‧come /ˌəʊvəˈkʌm $ ˌoʊvər- / Verb
Meaning:
- to successfully contol a feeling or problem that prevents you from achieving sth
- if sb is overcome by smoke or gas, they become extremely sick or unconscious because they breathe it
- if sb is overcome by emotion, they cannot behave normally because they feel the emotion so strongly
- to fight and win against someone or sth (SYN: defeat)
Collocation:
- be overcome by/with sth
Example:
- He struggled to overcome his shyness.
- The engineer was working on the freezeer when he was overcome by gas.
- Charles was overcome with grief.
- Australia overcame the Netherlands 2-1.
85
hu‧mour (British), humor (American) /ˈhjuːmə $ ˈhjuːmər, ˈjuː-/ Noun
Meaning:
- the ability or tendency to think that things are funny, or funny things you say that show you have this ability
- the quality in sth that makes it funny and makes people laugh
Collocation:
- in a good/an ill/a bad humour
- out of humour
- a sense of humour
- sb's brand of humour
- a flash/trace/touch of humour
- black/dark humour
- see/appreciate the humour
Example:
- The host puts the contestants at ease with his own brand of humour.
- It's vital to have a sense of humor in this job.
86
im‧mune /ɪˈmjuːn / Adjective
Meaning:
- someone who is immune to a particular disease cannot catch it
- not affected by sth that happens or is done
- specially protected from sth unpleasant
Collocation:
- immune response/reaction
- immune to
- immune from
Example:
- One we've had the disease, we're immune for life.
- The Labour Party is not immune to new ideas.
- The senior members of the group appeared to be immune from arrest.
87
in‧stinct /ˈɪnstɪŋkt / Noun
Meaning:
- a natural tendency to behave in a particular way or a natural ability to know sth, which is not learned
Collocation:
- instinct for
- instinct to do sth
- sb's first instinct
- a deep/strong/powerfuul/natural instinct
- trust your instinct(s)
- go on your instinct(s)
- follow/obey your instinct(s)
- have the instinct to do sth
Example:
- Animals have a natural instinct for survival.
- You should obey your instincts when dealing with strangers.
88
re‧cov‧er /rɪˈkʌvə $ -ər / Verb
Meaning:
- to get better after an illness, accident, shock etc (SYN: get better)
- to return to a normal condition after a period of trouble or difficulty
- to get back sth that was taken from you, lost, or almost destroyed
Collocation:
- recover from
- recover sth from sth
Example:
- After a few days of fever, she began to recover.
- The tourist industry is recovering to pre-war levels.
- Two bodies were recovered from the wreckage.
89
rem‧e‧dy /ˈremədi / Noun
Meaning:
- a way of dealing with a problem or making a bad situation better (SYN: solution)
- a medicine to cure an illness or pain that is not very serious (SYN: cure)
Collocation:
- remedy for
- cold/cough remedy
- herbal/natural remedy
- take a remedy
Example:
- The problems in our schools do not have a simple remedy.
- The program is one remedy for discrimination
- Have you tried taking herbal remedies?
90
ru‧in /ˈruːɪn / Verb
Meaning:
- to spoil or destroy sth completely
- to make someone lose all their money
Example:
- This illness has ruined my life.
- Jefferson was ruined by the lawsuit.
91
odd /ɒd $ ɑːd / Adjective
Meaning:
- different from what is normal or expected, especially in a way that you disapprove of or cannot understand
- not specially chosen or collected
- separated from a pair or set
Collocation:
- it is/seems odd (that)
- the odd occasion/day/moment/drink etc
Example:
- What she did was unforgivable, but the odd thing was he didn't seem to mind.
92
re‧venge /rɪˈvendʒ / Noun
Meaning:
- sth you do in order to punish someone who has harmed or offended you
- the defeat of someone who has previously defeated you in a sport
Collocation:
- revenge for
- revenge against/on
- in revenge for sth
- take/get/seek/want revenge
- a terrible/awful revenge
- a revenge attack/killing
- an act of revenge
- revenge is sweet
Example:
- She wanted revenge for the insult.
- a bomb attack in revenge for the imprisonment of the terrorists
- The Australians took revenge for their defeat here last time.
- The men were shot dead in an act of revenge for Khan's assassination.
- It took me a long time, but revenge is sweet.
93
re‧sist‧ance /rɪˈzɪstəns / Noun
Meaning:
- a refusal to accept new ideas or changes
- fighting against someone who is attacking you
Collocation:
- resistance to
- resistance from
- put up/offer resistance
- strong resistance
- meet (with) resistance
- overcome resistance
- the resistance movement
Example:
- The no-smoking policy was introduced with the little resistance from staff.
94
ca‧pa‧ble /ˈkeɪpəbəl / Adjective
Meaning:
- able to do things well
Collocation:
- capable of (doing) sth
Example:
- And if she is, surely she's perfectly capable of calling a doctro herself.
95
straight‧for‧ward /ˌstreɪtˈfɔːwəd◂ $ -ˈfɔːrwərd◂ / Adjective
Meaning:
- simple and easy to understand
Collocation:
- relatively/quite/fairly straightforward
- straightforward matter/task/process etc
Example:
- This area of law is far from straightforward.
96
strug‧gle /ˈstrʌɡəl / Verb
Meaning:
- to try extremely hard to achieve sth, even though it is very difficult
Collocation:
- struggle to do sth
- struggle with
- struggle for
- struggle against
Example:
- The airline is struggling with high costs.
97
rev‧o‧lu‧tion /ˌrevəˈluːʃən / Noun
Meaning:
- a complete change in ways of thinking, methods of working etc
Collocation:
- revolution in
- social/cultural/sexual etc revolution
Example:
- In the last ten years there has been a revolution in education.
98
in‧tense /ɪnˈtens / Adjective
Meaning:
- having a very strong effect or felt very strongly
Example:
- Young people today are under intense pressure to succeed.
- The pain was so intense I couldn't sleep.
99
flex‧i‧ble /ˈfleksəbəl / Adjective
Meaning:
- a person, plan etc that is flexible can change or be changed easily to suit any new situation
Collocation:
- extremely/highly/fairly etc flexible
Example:
- Designers have come up with a technique for making skis more flexible.
100
mass /mæs / Noun
Meaning:
- a large amount of a substance which does not have a definite or regular shape
Collocation:
- mass of
Example:
- The food had congealed into a sticky mass.
101
will‧ing /ˈwɪlɪŋ / Adjective
Meaning:
- prepared to do sth, or having no reason to not want to do it
Collocation:
- willing to do sth
- quite/perfectly willing
- willing helper/volunteer/partner etc
Example:
- How much are they willing to pay?
- Sixty percent of voters said that they would willingly pay higher taxes for better health care.
102
par‧tic‧u‧lar‧ly /pəˈtɪkjələli $ pərˈtɪkjələrli / Adverb
Meaning:
- more than usual or more than others (SYN: especially)
Example:
- She was in a particularly bad mood when she got back.
103
var‧y /ˈveəri $ ˈveri / Verb
Meaning:
- if several things of the same type vary, they are all different from each other (SYN: differ)
Collocation:
- vary in
- varying degrees/levels/sizes/amounts
Example:
- Medical treatment varies greatly from state to state.
104
in‧ci‧dent /ˈɪnsɪdənt / Noun
Meaning:
- an event, especially one that is unusual, imporant, or violent
Collocation:
- without incident
- a serious/major/small/minor incident
- an incident happens/occurs
- cause an incident
- describe an incident
Example:
- You could have caused a major diplomatic incident.
105
val‧id /ˈvælɪd / Adjective
Meaning:
- a valid ticket, document, or agreement is legally or officially acceptable
Collocation:
- valid reason/argument/criticism etc
- equally/perfectly/statistically/scientifically valid
Example:
- The drug trials were scientifically valid.
- Your return ticket is valid for three months.
106
in‧nate /ˌɪˈneɪt◂ / Adjective
Meaning:
- an innate quality or ability is sth you are born with
- an innate belief is sth you feel strongly about and are unlikely to change
Example:
- Children have an innate curiosity about the physical world.
107
ap‧peal /əˈpiːl / Noun
Meaning:
- an urgent request for sth important
Collocation:
- appeal for
- appeal to
- appeal to sb to do sth
Example:
108
con‧fess /kənˈfes / Verb
Meaning:
- to admit, especially to the police, that you have done sth wrong or illegal
- to admit sth that you feel embarrassed about
Collocation:
- confess to (doing) sth
- confess (that)
- I (have to/must) confess
Example:
- Edwards confessed to being a spy for the KGB.
109
lead /liːd / Verb
Meaning:
- to take someone somewhere by going in front of them while they follow, or by pulling them gently
- to be in charge of an organization, country, or team, or a group of people who are trying to do sth
- to cause sth to happen or cause someone to do sth
Collocation:
- lead sb to/into etc sth
- lead sb away/down etc
- lead an investigation/inquiry/campaign
- lead an attack/assault
- lead to
- lead sb into sth
- lead sb to do sth
- lead to sb doing sth
Example:
- A nurse took her arm and led her to a chair.
- The manager led the way through the office.
- Some people say she is too old to lead the country.
- The investigation will be led by Inspector Scarfe.
- A degree in English could lead to a career in journalism.
110
des‧per‧ate /ˈdespərət / Adjective
Meaning:
- willing to do anything to change a very bad situation, and not caring about danger
- needing or wanting sth very much
Collocation:
- desperate with
- desperate for
- desperate to do sth
Example:
- Time was running out and we were getting desperate.
- She was desperate with fear.
- The team is desperate for a win.
- He was desperate to get a job.
111
es‧tate /ɪˈsteɪt / Noun
Meaning:
- all of someone's property and money, especially everything that is left after they die
- a large area of land in the country, usually with one large house on it and one owner
- an area where houses or buildings of a similar type have all been built together in planned way
Collocation:
- somebody's estate
- council/industrial/housing etc estate
Example:
- Mrs. Graham left her entire estate to her three children.
- They live in a block of flats on a bleak council estate.
112
co‧op‧e‧rate (also co-operate British English) /kəʊˈɒpəreɪt $ koʊˈɑːp- / Verb
Meaning:
- to work with someone else to achieve sth that you both want
Collocation:
- cooperate in/on
- cooperate with
- cooperate to do sth
Example:
- The two universities are to cooperate in the development of a new industrial process.
113
e‧ven‧tu‧al /ɪˈventʃuəl / Adjective
Meaning:
- happening at the end of a long period of time or after a lot of other things have happened
Example:
- Sweden were the eventual winners of the tournament.
114
ig‧no‧rant /ˈɪɡnərənt / Adjective
Meaning:
- not knowing facts or information that you ought to know
- caused by a lack of knowledge and understanding
Collocation:
- ignorant of
- ignorant about
Example:
- I didn't like to ask him to explain more clearly because I didn't want to appear ignorant.
- I'm very ignorant about politics.
115
pres‧ence /ˈprezəns / Noun
Meaning:
- when someone or sth is present in a particular place
Collocation:
- presence of
- in the presence of sb
Example:
- Your presence is requested at the club meeting on Friday.
116
in‧sure /ɪnˈʃʊə $ -ˈʃʊr / Verb
Meaning:
- to buy insurance so that you will receive money if sth bad happens to you, your family, your possesions etc
- to provide insurance for sth or someone
Collocation:
- insure (sth/sb) against loss/damage/theft/sickness etc
- insure sth for £1,000/$2,000 etc
Example:
- Have you insured the contents of your home?
- It is wise to insure your property against storm damage.
- You should insure the painting for at least £100,000.
117
en‧sure /ɪnˈʃʊə $ -ˈʃʊr / Verb
Meaning:
- to make certain that sth will happen properly (SYN: make sure)
Collocation:
- ensure (that)
Example:
- Please ensure(make sure) all the windows are closed.
118
lib‧er‧ty /ˈlɪbəti $ -ər- / Noun
Meaning:
Collocation:
Example:
119
per‧mit /pəˈmɪt $ pər- / Verb
Meaning:
- to allow sth to happen, especially by an official decision, rule or law
Collocation:
- be permitted to do sth
- be permitted in/near etc sth
- permit sb sth
Example:
- He had more than the permitted level of alcohol in his blood.
- Smoking is only permitted in the public lounge.
- As a punishment, she was not permitted to attend any school activities.
120
trea‧sure /ˈtreʒə $ -ər / Noun
Meaning:
- a group of valuable things such as gold, silver, jewels etc
- a very valuable and important object such as a painting or ancient document
Collocation:
- buried/hidden/sunken treasure
Example:
- The Book of Kells is Trinity College's greatest treasure.
121
wound /wuːnd / Noun
Meaning:
- an ijury to your body that is made by a weapon such as a knife or a bullet
Collocation:
- suffer/receive a wound
- head/leg etc wound
- stab/knife/gunshot wound
- inflict a wound
- a wound heals
Example:
- A nurse cleaned and bandaged the wound.
- He died of gunshot wounds.
122
sym‧pa‧thy /ˈsɪmpəθi / Noun
Meaning:
- the feeling of being sorry for someone who is in a bad situation
- belief in or suport for a plan, idea, or action, especially a political one
- a feeling that you understand someone because you are similar to them
Collocation:
- sympathy for
- in sympathy with sth
- Communist/Republican/left-wing etc sympathies
- sympathy with/for
- have/feel sympathy for sb
- express/offer (your) sympathy
- get sympathy from sb
- deserve/expect sympathy
- play on sb's sympathy
- a message/letter of sympathy
Example:
- I have absolutely no sympathy or students who get caught cheating in exams.
- Willard is in sympathy with many Green Party issues.
- If that doesn't work, she knows how to play on his sympathy.
- We are grateful for all the messages of sympathy we have received.
123
re‧ward /rɪˈwɔːd $ -ˈwɔːrd / Noun
Meaning:
- sth that you get because you have done sth good or helpful or have worked hard (prize, benefit)
Collocation:
- reward for (doing) sth
- get/receive your reward
- bring rewards
- deserve a reward
Example:
- Parents often give their children rewards for passing exams.
- Winning the title brings huge financial rewards.
124
warn /wɔːn $ wɔːrn / Verb
Meaning:
- to tell someone that sth bad or dangerous may happen, so that they can avoid it or prevent it
Collocation:
- warn sb about sth
- warn (sb) of sth
- warn sb (not) to do sth
- warn sb (that)
Example:
- Travellers to Africa are being warned about the danger of HIV infection.
- Salmon farmers are warning of the severe crisis facing the industry.
- I warned you not to walk home alone
- Motorists are being warned to avoid the centre of London this weekend.
- We warned them that there was a bull in the field.
125
in‧her‧it /ɪnˈherɪt / Verb
Meaning:
- to receive money, property etc from someone after they have died
Collocation:
- inherit sth from sb
Example:
- He inherited a fortune from his grandmother.
126
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