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Voca Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

emergent

A

starting to exist or to become known We have the flexibility to adjust our rates to meet emergent customer needs.

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2
Q

immersive

A

seeming to surround the audience, player, etc. so that they feel completely involved in something The new game is more immersive.

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3
Q

hype

A

information that makes something seem very important or exciting The big-name, big-money New York art world is full of hype

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4
Q

enhance

A

to improve the quality, amount, or strength of something The county took steps to enhance water quality

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5
Q

empathy

A

the ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation He loves children and has a certain empathy with them

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6
Q

train wreck

A

something that fails completely or goes extremely badly After last year’s train wreck of a season, we have to do better

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7
Q

inexorable

A

continuing without any possibility of being stopped: Aging is an inexorable process.

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8
Q

ping

A

a short, often electronic, ringing sound

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9
Q

amenable

A

willing to accept or be influenced by a suggestion:

He was amenable to suggestion, and really worked hard to improve himself.

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10
Q

ward

A

a large room in a hospital which is used for treating people with similar illnesses or conditions (병실)

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11
Q

pneumonia

A

폐렴

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12
Q

dwindle

A

to become less in number or smaller: The community had dwindled to a tenth of its former size.

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13
Q

assert

A

to state an opinion or claim a right forcefully: [+ that clause] The companies have asserted that everything they did was appropriate

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14
Q

mortuary

A

a funeral home

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15
Q

euthanasia

A

the killing of someone who is very ill to end the person’s suffering

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16
Q

mashup

A

a type of recorded music or video that consists of parts of different songs or images that have been combined: The mash-up phenomenon is inspiring a wave of artist-approved, in-studio, legal mash-ups.

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17
Q

ditch

A

noun

a narrow channel dug in the ground, typically used for drainage alongside a road or the edge of a field.

And there was no drainage ditch on the side.

synonyms: trench, trough, channel, dike, drain, gutter, gully, watercourse, conduit, fosse

verb

provide with ditches.

he was praised for ditching the coastal areas

synonyms: dig a ditch in, trench, excavate, drain

get rid of; give up.

it crossed her mind to ditch her shoes and run

synonyms: throw out, throw away, discard, get rid of, dispose of, do away with, deep-six, shed,

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18
Q

VIRAL

A

1 of, relating to, or caused by a virus 2 quickly and widely spread or popularized especially by person-to-person electronic communication

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19
Q

degenerate

A

to become worse:

Standards of courtesy have degenerated since I was a girl

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20
Q

subsidy

A

money given as part of the cost of something to help or encourage it to happen: export subsidies

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21
Q

slaughter

A

to kill animals, esp. for their meat

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22
Q

sentient

A

able to experience physical and possibly emotional feelings: It is hard for a sentient person to understand how any parents could treat their child so badly

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23
Q

polarize

A

to cause people in a group to have opposing positions: [T] The property tax issue polarized the city council

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24
Q

coax

A

to try to persuade someone to do something by gently asking or patiently encouraging the person: He’ll talk if you coax him

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25
Q

batch

A

people or things dealt with as a group or at the same time: Mom just made a fresh batch of cookies. I’ve got a whole batch of applications to read through.

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26
Q

opaque

A

(of a substance) preventing light from traveling through, and therefore not allowing you to see through it: opaque watercolors

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27
Q

literally

A

> used for emphasizing how large or great an amount is: There were literally hundreds of pages to read in the contract. > Literally is also used to emphasize a statement and suggest that it is surprising: I literally (= really) had no idea you and Sophie were coming.

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28
Q

figurative

A

(of words and phrases) used not with their basic meaning but to suggest part of that meaning: literal and figurative meanings

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29
Q

excursion

A

a short trip usually made for pleasure, often by a group of people: My class is going on an excursion to Niagara Falls.

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30
Q

downstream

A

in the same direction as the current of a river is flowing: The boat landing is about half a mile downstream from here

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31
Q

kiddie

A

a young child: We have soda for the kiddies

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32
Q

gaping

A

open wide: He had a gaping wound and we called for an ambulance

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33
Q

stifle

A

to prevent something from happening, being expressed, or continuing:

It is the responsibility of schools to encourage learning, not to stifle it.

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34
Q

prank

A

a trick that is intended to be amusing and often to make someone look foolish:

She’s always playing pranks on her little brother.

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35
Q

quash

A

to stop or block something from happening:

The Secretary of Defense tried to quash speculation that he was planning to resign following the disastrous military defeat

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36
Q

denounce

A

to criticize someone or something strongly and publicly:

The teachers denounced the contract offer as inadequate.

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37
Q

untapped

A

(of a supply of something valuable) not yet used or taken advantage of: The country’s forests are largely untapped resources

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38
Q

compel

A

to force someone to do something: At school, we were compelled to wear uniforms, which I hated

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39
Q

fraud

A

the crime of obtaining money or property by deceiving people: Convicted of tax fraud, he was sentenced to two years in prison

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40
Q

workaround

A

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.

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41
Q

drown

A

to die by being under water and unable to breathe, or to kill someone by causing this to happen: [I] He drowned in a boating accident. › to have or experience too much of something: [always + adv/prep] drowning in debt/sorrow

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42
Q

gene

A

biology a specific chemical pattern on a chromosome (= cell structure) that is received from the parents and controls the development of particular characteristics in an animal or plant

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43
Q

courtesy

A

polite behavior, or a polite action: [U] They should teach drivers to show pedestrians some courtesy

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44
Q

deprive

A

to take something, especially something necessary or pleasant, away from someone: He claimed that he had been deprived of his freedom/rights. You can’t function properly when you’re deprived of sleep.

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45
Q

unprecedented

A

never having happened or existed in the past:

We’ve entered an age of unprecedented prosperity.

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46
Q

altruism

A

the attitude of caring about others and doing acts that help them although you do not get anything by doing those acts:

Nobody believes those people are donating money to the president’s party purely out of altruism.

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47
Q

cede

A

to give control or possession of something, esp. land to someone else, often unwillingly or because forced to do so:

New Orleans was ceded to Spain in 1763

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48
Q

encrypt

A

to put information into a special form so that most people cannot read it: Protected websites will tell you that the transfer is encrypted, and your browser will usually display a symbol confirming this.

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49
Q

gibberish

A

confused or ​meaningless ​speech or writing:

See if you can make out what he’s saying – it ​sounds like gibberish to me.

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50
Q

isotope

A

a ​form of an ​atom which has a different atomic mass from other ​forms of the same ​atom but the same ​chemical ​structure

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51
Q

Iranian

A

belonging to or ​relating to Iran or ​its ​people

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52
Q

flip flops

A
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53
Q

tedious

A

​boring and ​tiring, esp. because ​long or often ​repeated:

tedious ​work/​

tasksLearning a new ​computer ​program can be a tedious ​process

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54
Q

adopt

A

adopt verb (TAKE CHILD)

› [I/T] to take another person’s ​child ​legally into ​your own ​family to ​raise as ​your own ​child: [T] They adopted Raphael last ​September.

adopt verb (START)

› [T] to ​accept or ​begin to use something: The new ​law ​means ​companies will adopt energy-saving ​measures.›

[T] If an ​organization adopts a ​rule, it ​votes to ​accept it: The ​motion to ​increase ​fees was adopted.

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55
Q

adapt

A

verb [I/T] us /əˈdæpt/

› to ​adjust to different ​conditions or uses, or to ​change to ​meet different ​

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56
Q

adept

A

adjective us /əˈdept/

› ​skilled: He’s adept at making ​people ​feel at ​ease.

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57
Q

succeed

A

verb us /səkˈsid/

succeed verb (ACHIEVE SOMETHING)

› [I] to ​achieve something that you have been ​aiming for, or (of a ​plan or ​piece of ​work) to have the ​desired ​results:

She’s been ​trying to ​pass her ​driving ​test for ​years and she ​finally succeeded.

He succeeded in ​building the ​business into one the ​leaders in ​its ​field.

succeed verb (FOLLOW)

› [T] fml to take the ​place of another ​person or thing:

[T] Kamen was named ​company ​chairman, succeeding Robert Schwartz, who is ​retiring after 44 ​years.

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58
Q

lavish

A

adjective us /ˈlæv·ɪʃ/

› ​spending, giving, or using more than is ​necessary or ​reasonable; more than enough:

The ​team has the most lavish ​training ​facility in the ​league

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59
Q

elaborate

A

adjective us /ɪˈlæb·ə·rət/

› ​containing a lot of ​connected ​parts or many ​complicated ​details: an elaborate ​ceremonyan elaborate ​fireworks ​displayThey had ​created elaborate ​computer ​programs to ​run the ​system.

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60
Q

confound

A

verb [T] us /kənˈfɑʊnd, kɑn-/

› to ​confuse someone by being ​difficult to ​explain or ​deal with: She ​likes to confound ​others’ ​expectations about her.

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61
Q

montage

A

noun [C or U] uk /ˈmɒn.tɑːʒ/ us /ˈmɑːn-/

› a ​piece of ​work ​produced by ​combining ​smaller ​parts, or the ​process of making such a ​work:

The ​ads ​feature a montage of ​images - ​people ​surfing, ​swimming, and ​playing ​basketball.

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62
Q

prone

A

adjective us /proʊn/

prone adjective (LIKELY)

› ​likely to do, get, or ​suffer from something:

As a ​child, he was prone to ​ear infections.Carol’s ​kind of ​accident-prone (= ​seems to have a lot of ​accidents).

prone adjective (LYING DOWN)

› [not gradable] ​lying on ​your ​chest, with ​your ​face ​looking down: The ​injured ​player was ​lifted into a ​cart and ​driven off the ​field in a prone ​position.

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63
Q

bother

A

verb us /ˈbɑð·ər/

bother verb (MAKE AN EFFORT)

› [I] to make an ​effort to do something, esp. something that is not ​convenient:

You won’t get any ​credit for doing it, so why bother?

Don’t bother doing the ​laundry.[+ to infinitive]

He didn’t ​even bother to say ​goodbye.

bother verb (ANNOY)

› [I/T] to ​annoy, ​worry, or ​cause ​problems for someone:

[T] The ​heat was ​beginning to bother him, so he ​sat down.

[T] Does it bother you if ​your ​children aren’t ​interested?

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64
Q

courtesy

A

noun [C/U] us /ˈkɜr·t̬ə·si/

​polite ​behavior, or a ​polite ​action:

[U] They should ​teach ​drivers to show ​pedestrians some courtesy

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65
Q

hardship

A

noun [C/U] us /ˈhɑrdˌʃɪp/

› a ​condition of ​life that ​causes ​difficulty or ​suffering:

[U] The 1930s were a ​time of high ​unemployment and ​economic hardship.

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66
Q

morph

A

verb [I/T] us /mɔrf/

› to ​change ​gradually in ​appearance or ​form:

[I] Cell ​phones have morphed into mini-computers with ​e-mail and ​Web ​access.

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67
Q

bandwagon

A

noun [C usually sing] us /ˈbændˌwæɡ·ən/

› an ​activity or ​idea that has ​become very ​popular

Idioms

jump on the bandwagon

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68
Q

self-fulfilling prophecy

A

noun [C] uk us

› something that you ​cause to ​happen by saying and ​expecting that it will ​happen

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69
Q

remedial

A

adjective [not gradable] us /rɪˈmid·i·əl/

› (of an ​activity) ​intended to ​correct or ​improve something, esp. ​skills: Students can ​enroll in remedial ​English ​classes.

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70
Q

dyslexia

A

noun [U] us /dɪsˈlek·si·ə/ medical

› a ​difficulty with ​reading and writing often ​including a person’s ​inability to ​see the ​difference between some ​letter ​shapes

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71
Q

exquisite

A

us /ɪkˈskwɪz·ɪt, ˈek·skwɪz·ɪt/

› ​especially ​beautiful or ​admirable:

exquisite Chinese ​embroideriesthe

most exquisite ​French ​cuisine

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72
Q

dwarf

A

verb [T] us /dwɔrf/

dwarf verb [T] (MAKE SMALL)

› to make something ​seem ​small by ​comparison:

This year’s ​budget dwarfs all ​previous ​ones.

dwarf noun [C] (SMALL PERSON)

› a ​person who is much ​smaller than the ​usual ​size, or (in ​stories for ​children) a ​creature like a little man, esp. one having ​magical ​powers

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73
Q

chunk

A

noun [C] us /tʃʌŋk/

› a ​thick ​piece or ​lump:

A ​large chunk of ​plaster ​crashed down from the ​ceiling.

infml A chunk is a ​large ​part of something:

Her ​books must be ​read in chunks to ​follow the ​plot

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74
Q

furnace

A

us /ˈfɜr·nəs/

› a ​container for ​holding ​burning ​substances, usually to ​heat ​buildings or to ​melt ​metals and other ​materials

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75
Q

poised

A

adjective us /pɔɪzd/

poised adjective (READY)

› [not gradable] ​ready to move, or ​prepared and ​waiting for something to ​happen:

The ​lion was poised to ​strike.

poised adjective (CONFIDENT)

› ​calm and confident:

Angela is a ​polite, poised ​young woman

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76
Q

payoff

A

noun [C] us /ˈpeɪˌɔf/

payoff noun [C] (REWARD)

› infml a ​result that ​rewards you for ​your ​effort or ​work: After ​years of ​study, the payoff is ​supposed to be a good ​job.

payoff noun [C] (MONEY)

› ​money ​paid to someone for something that you ​want done or to not ​cause you ​trouble: He ​denied ​receiving any ​kickbacks or payoffs for giving a ​large ​contract to the ​company.

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77
Q

exercise

A

verb us /ˈek·sərˌsɑɪz/

exercise verb (DO HEALTHY ACTIVITY)

› [I/T] to do ​physical ​activities to make or ​keep ​your ​body ​healthy: [I] She goes to the ​gym to exercise every ​evening.

exercise verb (USE)

› [T] fml to use something: Always exercise ​caution when ​handling ​poisonous ​substances

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78
Q

arbitrage

A

noun [U] uk /ˌɑː.bɪˈtrɑːʒ/ us /ˈɑːr.bɪ.trɑːʒ/ specialized

› the method on the stock exchange of buying something in one place and selling it in another place at the same time, in order to make a profit from the difference in price in the two places

사는 즉시 팔아 차액을 버는 거래

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79
Q

incur

A

verb [T] us /ɪnˈkɜr/ (-rr-)

› to ​experience something ​bad as a ​result of ​actions you have taken:

We incurred ​heavy ​expenses to ​repair the ​poor ​work done by the ​builder.

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80
Q

would

A

modal verb: would; modal verb: wouldst

1.

past of will1, in various senses.

“he said he would be away for a couple of days”

2.

(expressing the conditional mood) indicating the consequence of an imagined event or situation.

“he would lose his job if he were identified”

used to give advice.

“I wouldn’t drink that if I were you”

3.

expressing a desire or inclination.

“I would love to work in Prague”

4.

expressing a polite request.

“would you pour the wine, please?”

expressing willingness or consent.

“who would live here?”

5.

expressing a conjecture, opinion, or hope.

“I would imagine that they’ll want to keep it”

6.

used to make a comment about behavior that is typical.

“every night we would hear the boy crying”

7.

literary

expressing a wish or regret.

“would that he had lived to finish it”

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81
Q

u·ti·lize

A

make practical and effective use of.

“vitamin C helps your body utilize the iron present in your diet”

synonyms:use, make use of, put to use, employ, avail oneself of, bring/press into service, bring into play, deploy, draw on, exploit, harness

“the foam pellets are utilized to make lightweight insulation”

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82
Q

start

A

start verb (BEGIN)

› [I/T] to ​begin to do something or go ​somewhere, or to ​begin or ​happen: [T] When do you start ​your new ​job?[I] We started with nothing when we got ​married.[I] Classes start next ​month.[I] Work starts at 9:00 a.m.[I] Ticket ​prices start at $20 (= these are the ​cheapest ​prices).[T] I just started this ​book (= ​began to ​read it).[I] We’ll start out with Lucy (= She will be the first).

start verb (CAUSE)

› [T] to ​cause something to be or ​happen: His ​mother started the ​craft ​market at the ​community ​center.You’ve been starting ​trouble all ​morning.

start verb (MOVE SUDDENLY)

› [I] to move ​your ​body ​suddenly because something has ​surprised you: He started when the ​car ​backfired.

start verb (OPERATE)

› [I/T] to ​cause something to ​operate, or to ​begin to ​work or ​operate: [T] Annie went ​outside to start the ​car.[I] I ​heard a ​lawnmower start.

How well did you know this?
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83
Q

ten·ta·tive

A

ˈten(t)ədiv/

adjective

adjective: tentative

not certain or fixed; provisional.

“a tentative conclusion”

synonyms:provisional, unconfirmed, penciled in, iffy, preliminary, to be confirmed, subject to confirmation; More

speculative, conjectural, sketchy, untried, unproven, exploratory, experimental, trial, test, pilot

“tentative arrangements”

antonyms:definite

done without confidence; hesitant.

“he eventually tried a few tentative steps round his hospital room”

synonyms:hesitant, uncertain, cautious, timid, hesitating, faltering, shaky, unsteady, halting; More

wavering, unsure

“he took a few tentative steps”

antonyms:confident

84
Q

vi·cin·i·ty

A

vəˈsinədē/

noun

noun: vicinity; plural noun: vicinities

the area near or surrounding a particular place.

“the number of people living in the immediate vicinity was small”

synonyms:neighborhood, surrounding area, locality, locale, area, local area, district, region, quarter, zone; More

environs, surroundings, precincts;

informalneck of the woods

“many female artists and writers live in the vicinity”

archaic

proximity in space or relationship.

“the abundance and vicinity of country seats”

85
Q

coarse

A

kôrs/

adjective

1.

rough or loose in texture or grain.

“a coarse woolen cloth”

synonyms:rough, scratchy, prickly, wiry

“coarse blankets”

antonyms:soft

made of large grains or particles.

“dry, coarse sand”

(of grains or particles) large.

(of a person’s features) not elegantly formed or proportioned.

synonyms:large, rough, rough-hewn, heavy;

ugly

“his coarse features”

antonyms:delicate

(of food or drink) of inferior quality.

2.

(of a person or their speech) rude, crude, or vulgar.

synonyms:oafish, loutish, boorish, uncouth, rude, impolite, ill-mannered, uncivil; More

vulgar, common, rough, uncultured, crass

“a coarse boy”

vulgar, crude, rude, off-color, dirty, filthy, smutty, indelicate, improper, unseemly, crass, tasteless, lewd, prurient, blue, farmyard

“a coarse innuendo”

antonyms:sophisticated, refined

86
Q

lattice

A

noun [C] uk /ˈlæt.ɪs/ us /ˈlæt̬-/ (also latticework )

› a ​structure made from ​strips of ​wood or other ​material that ​cross over each other with ​spaces between

87
Q

leverage

A

In the physical sense, leverage is an assisted advantage. As a verb, to leverage means to gain an advantage through the use of a tool. For example, you can more easily lift a heavy object with a lever than you can lift it unaided. Leverage is commonly used in a metaphorical sense. For example, as a frequently used business or marketing term, leverage is any strategic or tactical advantage, and as a verb, means to exploit such an advantage, just as the use of a physical lever gives one an advantage in the physical sense.

Leverage is a very popular business term on the Web. B2B Web sites offer to leverage Web sites, code, interactivity, storage area networks, database technology, and many other things. In the world of finance, leverage is the use of borrowed money to make an investment and the return on an investment.

88
Q

prescriptive

A

1.tending to say what someone should do or how something should be done:

His ​basic ​attitude toward ​language is ​highly prescriptive.

2.saying ​exactly what must ​happen, ​especially by giving an ​instruction or making a ​rule:

Most ​teachers ​think the government’s ​guidelines on ​homework are too prescriptive.

89
Q

egocentric

A

adjective uk /ˌiː.ɡəʊˈsen.trɪk/ us /-ɡoʊ-/

› ​thinking only about yourself and what is good for you:

Babies are ​entirely egocentric, ​concerned only with when they will next be ​fed

90
Q

descent

A

noun uk us /dɪˈsent/

descent noun (RELATION)

› [U] the ​state or ​fact of being ​related to a ​particular ​person or ​group of ​people who ​lived in the past: She’s a woman of ​mixed/​French descent.They ​trace ​their ​line of descent back to a ​French ​duke.He ​claims ​direct descent from ​Mohammed.

descent noun (ARRIVAL)

› [U] an ​occasion when a ​group of ​people ​arrive ​somewhere, usually ​suddenly or unexpectedly: We weren’t ​prepared for the descent of thousands of ​journalists on the ​town.

descent noun (POSITION)

› [C or U] a ​movement down: The ​plane ​began (to make) ​its ​final descent into the ​airport.There is a ​steep descent (= way down, such as a ​path) to the ​village below.

91
Q

decent

A

adjective uk us /ˈdiː.sənt/

1.socially ​acceptable or good:

Everyone should be ​entitled to a decent ​wage/​standard of ​living.I ​thought he was a decent ​person.

It was very decent (= ​kind) of you to ​help.

2.(informal) ​dressed or ​wearing ​clothes:

Are you decent ​yet?You can come in now, I’m decent.

92
Q

halve

A

1.divide into two parts of equal or roughly equal size.

“peel and halve the pears”

reduce or be reduced by half.

“profits are expected to halve after a tail-off in new customers”

share (something) equally with another person.

“she insisted on halving the bill”

use the same number of strokes as one’s opponent and thus tie (a hole or match).

2.

fit (crossing timbers) together by cutting out half the thickness of each.

93
Q

crunch

A

verb us /krʌntʃ/

crunch verb (MAKE NOISE)

› [I/T] to ​crush hard ​food loudly between the ​teeth, or to make a ​sound as if something is being ​crushed or ​broken: [I] She was crunching noisily on an ​apple.[I] The ​gravel crunched ​underfoot as we ​walked up the ​path.

crunch verb (CALCULATE)

› [T] to ​calculate ​numbers or ​process ​information: The ​project ​seems ​worthwhile, but you have to crunch the ​numbers to ​see if it’s ​affordable

94
Q

prioritize

A

verb [I/T] us /prɑɪˈɔr·əˌtɑɪz, -ˈɑr-/

› to ​arrange in ​order of importance so that you can ​deal with the most ​important things before the ​others:

[I] You have to prioritize in this ​job because you can’t do everything

95
Q
A
96
Q

devoid

A

dəˈvoid/

adjective

entirely lacking or free from.

“Lisa kept her voice devoid of emotion”

synonyms:free of, empty of, vacant of, bereft of, deprived of, destitute of, bankrupt of; More

lacking, without, wanting;

informalminus

“your argument is devoid of logic”

97
Q

newlywed

A

a recently married person.

98
Q

smirk

A

verb

1.

smile in an irritatingly smug, conceited, or silly way.

“he smirked in triumph”

synonyms:smile smugly, simper, snicker, snigger;

leer

“I hate the way they just sit there smirking”

noun

noun: smirk; plural noun: smirks

1.

a smug, conceited, or silly smile.

“Gloria pursed her mouth in a self-satisfied smirk”

99
Q

valence

A

ˈvāləns/

noun

the combining power of an element, especially as measured by the number of hydrogen atoms it can displace or combine with.

“carbon always has a valence of 4”

relating to or denoting electrons involved in or available for chemical bond formation.

modifier noun: valence

“molecules with unpaired valence electrons”

100
Q

amass

A

gather together or accumulate (a large amount or number of valuable material or things) over a period of time.

“starting from nothing he had amassed a huge fortune”

synonyms:gather, collect, assemble; More

accumulate, aggregate, stockpile, store (up), pile up, heap, cumulate, accrue, lay in/up, garner;

informalstash (away)

“the squirrels have amassed a huge quantity of acorns”

antonyms:dissipate

archaic

(of people) gather together in a crowd or group.

“the soldiers were amassing from all parts of Spain”

Origin

101
Q

sped

A

past and past participle of speed.

102
Q

binge

A

noun

1.

a short period devoted to indulging in an activity to excess, especially drinking alcohol or eating.

“he went on a binge and was in no shape to drive”

synonyms:drinking bout, debauch; More

informalbender, jag, toot, session;

datedsouse;

literarybacchanal, bacchanalia;

archaicwassail

“she was afraid that Howie was on another of his all-night binges”

spree, implulse buying;

informalsplurge, spendfest, orgy

“a two-day shopping binge”

verb

verb: binge; 3rd person present: binges; past tense: binged; past participle: binged; gerund or present participle: bingeing; gerund or present participle: binging

1.

indulge in an activity, especially eating, to excess.

“some dieters say they cannot help binging on chocolate”

synonyms:overindulge, overeat, gorge; More

103
Q

sanity

A

noun [U] uk /ˈsæn.ɪ.ti/ us /-ə.t̬i/

› the ​state of having a ​healthy ​mind and not being ​mentally ​ill: He’d been ​behaving so ​strangely that they ​began to ​doubt/​question his sanity.

to ​keep/​preserve/​retain ​your sanity

› the ​fact of ​showing good ​judgment and ​understanding:

The ​closer we got to the ​deadline for ​action, the more I ​questioned the sanity of the ​decision we had taken.

Maybe Jenny can ​bring some sanity into this ​crazy ​situation

104
Q

bother

A

1.

take the trouble to do something.

“nobody bothered locking the doors”

2.

(of a circumstance or event) worry, disturb, or upset (someone).

“secrecy is an issue that bothers journalists”

trouble or annoy (someone) by interrupting or causing inconvenience.

“she didn’t feel she could bother Mike with the problem”

feel concern about or interest in.

“don’t bother about me—I’ll find my own way home”

105
Q

recipient

A

a person who receives something

  • He was a worthy recipient of the Nobel Prize
106
Q

encompass

A

encompass something to include a large number or range of things

  • The job encompasses a wide range of responsibilities.
  • The group encompasses all ages.

encompass something to surround or cover something completely

  • The fog soon encompassed the whole valley.
107
Q

an integral part of

A

being an essential part of something

Music is an integral part of the school’s curriculum

108
Q

integral to something

A

being an essential part of something

Practical experience is integral to the course.

109
Q

integral

A

[usually before noun] included as part of something, rather than supplied separately

  • All models have an integral CD player.

[usually before noun] having all the parts that are necessary for something to be complete

  • an integral system
110
Q
A
111
Q

versatile

A

(of a person) able to do many different things

  • He’s a versatile actor who has played a wide variety of parts.

2(of food, a building, etc.) having many different uses

  • Eggs are easy to cook and are an extremely versatile food.
112
Q

elucidation

A

the act of making something clearer by explaining it more fully

  • Their objectives and methods require further elucidation.
113
Q

desperately

A

in a way that shows you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others

  • She looked desperately around for a weapon.

2extremely, especially when talking about bad situations

  • desperately ill/unhappy/lonely
  • He grew up desperately poor.

3very much, especially when talking about difficult or bad situations

  • They desperately wanted a child.
  • He took a deep breath, desperately trying to keep calm.
  • He is desperately worried about his son at the moment.
114
Q

trip/ journey/ tour/ expedition/ excursion/ outing/ day out

A

These are all words for an act of travelling to a place.

  • trip: an act of travelling from one place to another, and usually back again:a business trip / a five-minute trip by taxi
  • journey: an act of travelling from one place to another, especially when they are a long way apart:a long and difficult journey across the mountains
  • trip or journey? A trip usually involves you going to a place and back again; a journey is usually one-way. Journey is more often used when the travelling takes a long time and is difficult.
  • tour: a journey made for pleasure during which several different places are visited:a tour of Bavaria
  • expedition: an organized journey with a particular purpose, especially to find out about a place that is not well known:the first expedition to the South Pole
  • excursion: a short trip made for pleasure, especially one that has been organized for a group of people:We went on an all-day excursion to the island
  • outing: a short trip made for pleasure or education, usually with a group of people and lasting no more than a day:The children were on a day’s outing from school.
  • day out: a trip to somewhere for a day, especially for pleasure:We had a day out at the beach.
  • a(n) foreign/​overseas + trip/​journey/​tour/​expedition
  • a bus/​coach/​train/​rail + trip/​journey/​tour
  • to go on a(n) + trip/​journey/​tour/​expedition/​excursion/​outing/​day out
  • to set out/​off on a(n) + trip/​journey/​tour/​expedition/​excursion
  • to make a(n) + trip/​journey/​tour/​expedition/​excursion
115
Q

inquiry

A

[countable] an official process to find out the cause of something or to find out information about something

  • a murder inquiry
  • inquiry into something a public inquiry into the environmental effects of the proposed new road
  • to hold/order an inquiry into the affair

2[countable] a request for information about someone or something; a question about someone or something

  • a telephone inquiry
  • inquiry (from somebody) (about somebody/something) We received over 300 inquiries about the job.
  • inquiries from prospective students
  • I’ll have to make a few inquiries (= try to find out about it) and get back to you.
  • All inquiries should be addressed to the customer services department.

3 [uncountable] the act of asking questions or collecting information about someone or something

  • scientific inquiry
  • The police are following several lines of inquiry.
116
Q

steadily

A

1gradually and in an even and regular way

  • The company’s exports have been increasing steadily.
  • The situation got steadily worse.

2without any change or interruption

  • He looked at her steadily.
  • The rain fell steadily.
117
Q

goofy

A

silly; stupid

  • a goofy grin
118
Q

pertinent

A

appropriate to a particular situation

  • a pertinent question/fact
  • pertinent to something: Please keep your comments pertinent to the topic under discussion.
119
Q

genetic

A

connected with genes (= the units in the cells of a living thing that control its physical characteristics) or genetics (= the study of genes )

  • genetic and environmental factors
  • genetic abnormalities
  • There are about 4 000 inherited human genetic diseases.
120
Q

mutation

A

1.[uncountable, countable] (biology) a process in which the genetic material of a person, a plant or an animal changes in structure when it is passed on to children, etc., causing different physical characteristics to develop; a change of this kind

  • cells affected by mutation
  • genetic mutations

2.[uncountable, countable] a change in the form or structure of something

  • (linguistics) vowel mutation
  • In Celtic languages such as Welsh, there is a process of mutation affecting the beginning sound of a word, according to the word which comes before it.
  • the mutation of ethnic politics into nationalist politics
121
Q

foray

A

1foray (into something) an attempt to become involved in a different activity or profession

  • the company’s first foray into the computer market

2foray (into something) a short sudden attack made by a group of soldiers

  • Those on the front line make regular forays into occupied territory.
  • See related entries: Conflict

3foray (to/into…) a short journey to find a particular thing or to visit a new place

  • synonym expedition
  • weekend shopping forays to France
  • the perfect venue for a foray into the Dales or a trip across the North York Moors
122
Q

meander

A

1[intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) (of a river, road, etc.) to curve a lot rather than being in a straight line

  • The stream meanders slowly down to the sea.

2[intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to walk slowly and change direction often, especially without a particular aim

  • synonym wander
  • They meandered around the old town admiring the architecture.
123
Q

deliberate

A

1done on purpose rather than by accident

  • synonym intentional, planned
  • a deliberate act of vandalism
  • The speech was a deliberate attempt to embarrass the government.
  • opposite unintentional

2(of a movement or an action) done slowly and carefully

  • She spoke in a slow and deliberate way.
124
Q

voluntary

A

1done willingly, not because you are forced

  • a voluntary agreement
  • Attendance on the course is purely voluntary.
  • to pay voluntary contributions into a pension fund
  • (British English) He took voluntary redundancy.
  • opposite: compulsory

2[usually before noun] (of work) done by people who choose to do it without being paid

  • I do some voluntary work at the local hospital.
125
Q

abort

A

1[transitive] abort something to end a pregnancy early in order to prevent a baby from developing and being born alive

  • to abort a child/pregnancy/foetus

2[intransitive] (specialist) to give birth to a child or young animal too early for it to survive

  • The virus can cause pregnant animals to abort.

3[intransitive, transitive, often passive] to end or cause something to end before it has been completed, especially because it is likely to fail.

  • (computing) If the wrong password is given the program aborts.
  • abort something: We had no option but to abort the mission
  • .The plan was aborted at the last minute.
126
Q

omission

A

1[uncountable] omission (from something) : the act of not including somebody/something or not doing something; the fact of not being included/done

  • Everyone was surprised at her omission from the squad.
  • The play was shortened by the omission of two scenes.
  • sins of omission (= not doing things that should be done)

2[countable] a thing that has not been included or done

  • There were a number of errors and omissions in the article.
127
Q

fallout

A

1.dangerous radioactive dust that is in the air after a nuclear explosion

2the bad results of a situation or an action

  • the political fallout of the current crisis
128
Q

elusive

A

difficult to find, define or achieve

Eric, as elusive as ever, was nowhere to be found.

the elusive concept of ‘literature’

A solution to the problem of toxic waste is proving elusive

129
Q

sustain

A

1to provide enough of what somebody/something needs in order to live or exist

  • Which planets can sustain life?
  • I only had a little chocolate to sustain me on my walk.
  • The love and support of his family sustained him during his time in prison.

2continue for some time without becoming less

  • synonym maintain
  • a period of sustained economic growth
  • a sustained attack
  • She managed to sustain everyone’s interest until the end of her speech.

3to experience something bad

  • synonym suffer
  • to sustain damage/an injury/a defeat
  • The company sustained losses of millions of dollars.

4to provide evidence to support an opinion, a theory, etc.

  • synonym uphold
  • The evidence is not detailed enough to sustain his argument.

5to support a weight without breaking or falling

  • synonym bear
  • The ice will not sustain your weight.
130
Q

beacon

A

1a light that is placed somewhere to guide vehicles and warn them of danger a navigation

  • He was a beacon of hope for the younger generation

2a radio station whose signal helps ships and aircraft to find their position

  • The plane was guided in by radio beacon.
131
Q

elaborate

A

very complicated and detailed; carefully prepared and organized

elaborate designs

She had prepared a very elaborate meal.

an elaborate computer system

132
Q

tidy

A

1(especially British English) arranged neatly and with everything in order

  • a tidy desk
  • She keeps her flat very tidy.
  • I like everything to be neat and tidy.
  • opposite untidy

2 (especially British English) keeping things neat and in order

  • I’m a tidy person.
  • tidy habits
  • opposite untidy

3[only before noun] (informal) a tidy amount of money is fairly large

  • synonym considerable
  • It must have cost a tidy sum.
  • a tidy profit
133
Q

layer

A

layer something to arrange something in layers

  • Layer the potatoes and onions in a dish.
  • Her hair had been layered (= cut to several different lengths).
  • The meat and potatoes are layered in a shallow dish.
134
Q

deputy

A

1a person who is the next most important person below a business manager, a head of a school, a political leader, etc. and who does the person’s job when he or she is away

I’m acting as deputy till the manager returns.

the deputy head of a school

2the name for a member of parliament in some countries

3(in the US) a police officer who helps the sheriff of an area

135
Q

formidable

A

if people, things or situations are formidable, you feel fear and/or respect for them, because they are impressive or powerful, or because they seem very difficult

  • In debate he was a formidable opponent.
136
Q

regime

A

1a method or system of government, especially one that has not been elected in a fair way

  • a fascist/totalitarian/military, etc. regimean
  • oppressive/brutal regime

2a method or system of organizing or managing something

  • Our tax regime is one of the most favourable in Europe.
137
Q

dire

A

(formal) very serious

  • living in dire poverty
  • dire warnings
138
Q

squeeze

A

to press something firmly, especially with your fingers

  • to squeeze a tube of toothpasteto
  • squeeze the trigger of a gun (= to fire it)
139
Q

involve

A

1.if a situation, an event or an activity involves something, that thing is an important or necessary part or result of it

  • synonym entail
  • involve something: Any investment involves an element of risk.
  • Many of the crimes involved drugs.
  • involve doing something: The test will involve answering questions about a photograph.
  • involve somebody/something doing something: The job involves me travelling all over the country

2.if a situation, an event or an activity involves somebody/something, they take part in it or are affected by it

  • There was a serious incident involving a group of youths.
  • How many vehicles were involved in the crash?
  1. involve somebody in something: to make somebody experience something, especially something unpleasant
    * You have involved me in a great deal of extra work.
140
Q

append

A

append something (to something) (formal) to add something to the end of a piece of writing

  • Footnotes have been appended to the document.
  • The principal has the right to append comments to the final report.
141
Q

ramification

A

one of the large number of complicated and unexpected results that follow an action or a decision (파생효과)

  • synonym complication
  • These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications.
142
Q

manifest

A

adjective

clear or obvious to the eye or mind.

the system’s manifest failings

synonyms: obvious, clear, plain, apparent, evident, patent, palpable, distinct, definite, blatant, overt, glaring, barefaced, explicit, transparent, conspicuous, undisguised, unmistakable, noticeable, perceptible, visible, recognizable

noun

a document giving comprehensive details of a ship and its cargo and other contents, passengers, and crew for the use of customs officers.

If you’re a customs inspector at a port of entry you can send photos of cargos and manifests back to the office where someone can check them against computer records.

verb

display or show (a quality or feeling) by one’s acts or appearance; demonstrate.

Ray manifested signs of severe depression

synonyms: display, show, exhibit, demonstrate, betray, present, reveal, evince

143
Q

generic

A

1shared by, including or typical of a whole group of things; not specific

  • ‘Vine fruit’ is the generic term for currants and raisins.

2(of a product, especially a drug) not using the name of the company that made it

  • The doctor offered me a choice of a branded or a generic drug.
144
Q

possess

A

1possess something (formal) to have or own something

  • He was charged with possessing a shotgun without a licence.

2possess something (formal) to have a particular quality or feature

  • I’m afraid he doesn’t possess a sense of humour.
145
Q

omit

A

1.to not include something/somebody, either deliberately or because you have forgotten it/them

  • synonym leave somebody/something out
  • omit something/somebody : If you are a student, you can omit questions 16–18.
  • omit something/somebody from something : People were surprised that Smith was omitted from the team.

2omit to do something: to not do or fail to do something

  • She omitted to mention that they were staying the night.
146
Q

obsolete

A

no longer used because something new has been invented

synonym out of date

obsolete technology

With technological changes many traditional skills have become obsolete.

147
Q

induction

A

1.[uncountable, countable] induction (into something) the process of introducing somebody to a new job, skill, organization, etc.; a ceremony at which this takes place

  • induction into the local business community
  • The induction of new students will take place in the main hall.
  1. [uncountable, countable] the act of making a pregnant woman start to give birth, using artificial means such as a special drug
    * the induction of labour
  2. [uncountable] (specialist) a method of discovering general rules and principles from particular facts and examples
    * compare deduction
148
Q

truncate

A

[usually passive] truncate something (formal) to make something shorter, especially by cutting off the top or end

  • My article was published in truncated form.
  • a truncated pyramid
  • Further discussion was truncated by the arrival of tea.
149
Q

articulated

A

(of a vehicle) with two or more sections joined together in a way that makes it easier to turn corners

  • an articulated lorry/truck
150
Q

taxonomy

A

[uncountable] the scientific process of classifying things (= arranging them into groups)

  • plant taxonomy
151
Q

inherent

A

that is a basic or permanent part of someone or something and that cannot be removed

  • synonym intrinsic
  • the difficulties inherent in a study of this type
  • Violence is inherent in our society.
  • an inherent weakness in the design of the machine
152
Q

ramification

A

one of the large number of complicated and unexpected results that follow an action or a decision

  • synonym complication
  • These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications.
153
Q

manifest

A

1manifest something (in something) to show something clearly, especially a feeling, an attitude, or a quality

  • synonym demonstrate
  • Social tensions were manifested in the recent political crisis.

2manifest itself (in something) to appear or become noticeable

  • synonym appear
  • The symptoms of the disease manifested themselves ten days later.
154
Q

amenable

A

1(of people) easy to control; willing to be influenced by someone or something

  • They had three very amenable children.
  • amenable to something : He seemed amenable to my idea.

2amenable to something (formal) that you can treat in a particular way

  • “Hamlet” is the least amenable of all Shakespeare’s plays to being summarized.
155
Q

unrestrained

A

not controlled; not having been restrained

  • unrestrained aggression
156
Q

proliferation

A

the sudden increase in the number or amount of something;

  • a large number of a particular thing attempts to prevent cancer cell proliferation
  • a proliferation of personal computers
157
Q

truancy

A

the practice of staying away from school without permission

  • Truancy rates at the school are very high.
158
Q

pedantry

A

too much attention to small details or rules

159
Q

seamless

A

with no spaces or pauses between one part and the next

  • a seamless flow of talk
160
Q

acclimatization

(North American English also acclimation)

A

the process of getting used to a new place, situation or climate

  • Several studies investigated acclimatization to low temperatures.
161
Q

pernicious

A

having a very harmful effect on somebody/something, especially in a way that is gradual and not easily noticed

  • the pernicious influence of TV violence on children
162
Q

hunk

A

a large piece of something, especially food, that has been cut or broken from a larger piece

  • a hunk of bread/cheese/meat/steel
163
Q

spatial

A

relating to space and the position, size, shape, etc. of things in it

  • changes taking place in the spatial distribution of the population
  • the development of a child’s spatial awareness (= the ability to judge the positions and sizes of objects)
164
Q

heck

A

used to show that you are slightly annoyed or surprised

  • Oh heck, I’m going to be late!
  • Heck! You’re here early!
  • We had to wait a heck of a long time!
  • Who the heck are you?
165
Q

hitch

A

1 a problem or difficulty that causes a short delay

  • The ceremony went off without a hitch.
  • a technical hitch

2 a type of knot

  • a clove hitch
166
Q

joggers

A

[countable] a person who jogs regularly for exercise

  • We’ve encountered joggers.
167
Q

crooked

A
  1. not in a straight line; bent or twisted
  • a crooked nose/smilea
  • village of crooked streets
  1. dishonest
  • a crooked businessman/deal
  • All the officials are crooked.
168
Q

inevitable

A

that you cannot avoid or prevent

  • synonym unavoidable
  • It was an inevitable consequence of the decision.
  • It was inevitable that there would be job losses.
  • A rise in the interest rates seems inevitable.
169
Q

spin-off

A

an unexpected but useful result of an activity that is designed to produce something else

  • commercial spin-offs from medical research
  • One unexpected spin-off of the course was the forming of some really close friendships.
  • the spin-off effects of recycling waste
170
Q

dispense

A
  1. dispense something (to somebody) (formal) to give out something to people
    * The machine dispenses a range of drinks and snacks.
  2. dispense something (to somebody) (formal) to provide something, especially a service, for people
  • The organization dispenses free health care to the poor.
  • to dispense justice/advice
171
Q

holistic

A

1(informal) considering a whole thing or being to be more than a collection of parts

  • a holistic approach to life

2(medical) treating the whole person rather than just the symptoms (= effects) of a disease

holistic medicine

172
Q

quadruple

A

to become four times bigger; to make something four times bigger

  • Sales have quadrupled in the last five years
173
Q

sneak

A

1.[intransitive] + adv./prep. to go somewhere secretly, trying to avoid being seen

  • synonym creep
  • I sneaked up the stairs.
  • Did you sneak into my room while I was asleep
  1. [transitive] to do something or take somebody/something somewhere secretly, often without permission
    * We sneaked a look at her diary.
174
Q

hideous

A

very ugly or unpleasant

  • synonym revolting
  • a hideous face/building/dress
  • Their new colour scheme is hideous!
175
Q

resonate

A

1[intransitive] (of a voice, an instrument, etc.) to make a deep, clear sound that continues for a long time

  • Her voice resonated through the theatre.

2[intransitive] (of a place) to be filled with sound; to make a sound continue longer

  • synonym resound
  • a resonating chamber
176
Q
A
177
Q

wacko

A

(pl. wackos, wackoes) (especially North American English) a crazy person

178
Q

gridlock

A

1.a situation in which there are so many cars in the streets of a town that the traffic cannot move at all

  • It’s gridlock between 6.30 and 9.00.
  • The protest march created gridlock.
  1. (usually in politics) a situation in which people with different opinions are not able to agree with each other and so no action can be taken
    * Congress is in gridlock.
179
Q

leap

A

1.[intransitive, transitive] to jump high or a long way + adv./prep.

  • A dolphin leapt out of the water.
  • We leapt over the stream.
  • The horse leapt a five-foot wall.
  1. [intransitive] + adv./prep. to move or do something suddenly and quickly
  • She leapt out of bed.
  • He leapt across the room to answer the door.
  • I leapt to my feet (= stood up quickly).
  • They leapt into action immediately.(figurative)
  • She was quick to leap to my defence (= speak in support of me).
  • The photo seemed to leap off the page (= it got your attention immediately).
  • His name leapt out at me (= I saw it immediately).
180
Q

crap

A

very badly

  • The team played crap yesterday.
181
Q

deplorable

A

very bad:

I thought his behaviour was absolutely deplorable.

They are forced to live in deplorable conditions.

182
Q

intrinsic

A

adjective uk ​ /ɪnˈtrɪn.zɪk/ us ​ /ɪnˈtrɪn.zɪk/

​

being an extremely important and basic characteristic of a person or thing:

  • works of little intrinsic value/interest
  • Maths is an intrinsic part of the school curriculum.
183
Q

extrinsic

A

adjective uk ​ /ekˈstrɪn.zɪk/ us ​ /ekˈstrɪn.zɪk/ formal

coming from outside, or not related to something:

  • Extrinsic forces were responsible for the breakdown of the peace talks.
184
Q

retrieve

A

uk ​ /rɪˈtriːv/ us ​ /rɪˈtriːv/

​

to find and bring back something:

  • We taught our dog to retrieve a ball.
  • Computers are used to store and retrieve information efficiently.
185
Q

hallucinate

A

verb [I] us ​ /həˈlu·səˌneɪt/

​

to see or hear something that does not exist:

  • Police said the suspect was yelling incoherent statements as if he was hallucinating
186
Q

posit

A

verb [T] uk ​ /ˈpɒz.ɪt/ us ​ /ˈpɑː.zɪt/ formal

​

› to suggest something as a basic fact or principle from which a further idea is formed or developed:

  • [+ that] If we posit that wage rises cause inflation, it follows that we should try to minimize them
187
Q

vacuous

A

adjective us ​ /ˈvæk·ju·əs/

› not showing purpose, meaning, or intelligence; empty:

To seem real to your readers, your characters must not be vacuous, but complex human beings with ordinary difficulties and goals.

188
Q

readily

A

quickly and easily

  • Information is readily available on the internet.
189
Q

subservient

A

adjective us ​ /səbˈsɜr·vi·ənt/ disapproving

› willing to do what other people want, or considering your wishes as less important than those of other people:

In the past, women were viewed as subservient to men.

190
Q

obsess

A

[transitive, often passive] obsess somebody to completely fill your mind so that you cannot think of anything else, in a way that is not normal

  • He’s obsessed by computers.
  • She’s completely obsessed with him.
191
Q

devour

A
  1. to eat all of something quickly, especially because you are very hungry

synonym gobble up

He devoured half of his burger in one bite.

  1. to read or look at something with great interest and enthusiasm

She devoured everything she could lay her hands on: books, magazines, and newspapers.

  1. devour somebody/something (formal) to destroy someone or something

synonym engulf

Flames devoured the house.

192
Q

artery

A
  1. any of the tubes that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body

blocked arteries

compare vein

see also coronary artery

  1. a large and important road, river, railroad line, etc.
193
Q

vital

A
  1. necessary or essential in order for something to succeed or exist

vital (for something) the vitamins that are vital for health

vital (to something) Good financial accounts are vital to the success of any enterprise.

Reading is of vital importance in language learning.

The police play a vital role in our society.

vital that… It is vital that you keep accurate records when you are self-employed.

vital to do something: It was vital to show that he was not afraid.

  1. [only before noun] connected with or necessary for staying alive

the vital organs (= the brain, heart, lungs, etc.)

(of a person) full of energy and enthusiasm

synonym dynamic

194
Q

boulevard

A
  1. a wide city street, often with trees on either side
  2. (abbreviation Blvd.) a wide main road (often used in the name of streets)

Sunset Boulevard

195
Q

habitat

A

the place where a particular type of animal or plant is normally found

The panda’s natural habitat is the bamboo forest.

The marshes provide a rich habitat for water plants.

the destruction of wildlife habitat

196
Q

leverage

A

to get as much advantage or profit as possible from something that you have

The company needs to leverage its resources.

This system will help you to leverage your time so that you get more done.

197
Q

straddle

A
  1. straddle something/somebody to sit or stand with one of your legs on either side of someone or something

He swung his leg over the motorcycle, straddling it easily.

  1. straddle something to cross, or exist on both sides of, a river, a road, or an area of land

The mountains straddle the California-Nevada state line.

  1. straddle something to exist within, or include, different periods of time, activities, or groups of people

a writer who straddles two cultures

198
Q

restless

A

/ˈrɛstləs/

  1. unable to stay still or be happy where you are, because you are bored or need a change

The audience was becoming restless.

After five years in the job, he was beginning to feel restless.

The children always get restless on long trips.

  1. without real rest or sleep

synonym disturbed

a restless night

He woke from a restless sleep.

199
Q

transcend

A

to be or go beyond the usual limits of something

synonym exceed

200
Q

mesmerize

A

/ˈmɛzməˌraɪz/

to have such a strong effect on you that you cannot give your attention to anything else

They were mesmerized by her performance.

synonym fascinate

201
Q

initiative

A

/ɪˈnɪʃət̮ɪv/

  1. [countable] a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular purpose

a United Nations peace initiative

a government initiative to combat unemployment

  1. [uncountable] the ability to decide and act on your own without waiting for someone to tell you what to do

You won’t get much help. You’ll have to use your initiative.

Too much bureaucracy represses creativity and initiative.

She did it on her own initiative (= without anyone telling her to do it).

  1. the initiative [singular] the power or opportunity to act and gain an advantage before other people do

to seize/lose the initiative

It was up to the U.S. to take the initiative in repairing relations.

202
Q

rigor

A
  1. [uncountable] the fact of being careful and paying great attention to detail

academic/intellectual/scientific, etc. rigor

2.[uncountable] (formal) the fact of being strict or severe

This crime must be treated with the full rigor of the law.

  1. the rigors of something [plural] the difficulties and unpleasant conditions of something

The plants were unable to withstand the rigors of a harsh winter.

She woke refreshed to face the rigors of a new day.

203
Q

exuberant

A

/ɪɡˈzubərənt/

  1. full of energy, excitement, and happiness

She gave an exuberant performance.

an exuberant personality/imagination

a picture painted in exuberant reds and yellows

  1. (of plants, etc.) strong and healthy; growing quickly and well

the exuberant growth of high summer

204
Q

synthesize

A

verb

make (something) by synthesis, especially chemically.

man synthesizes new chemical poisons and sprays the countryside wholesale

pupils should synthesize the data they have gathered

205
Q

distracted

A

adjective

unable to concentrate because one’s mind is preoccupied. (산만한)

Charlotte seemed too distracted to give him much attention

synonyms: preoccupied, inattentive, vague, abstracted, distrait, absentminded, faraway, in a world of one’s own, bemused, confused, bewildered, troubled, harassed, worried, anxious, miles away, not with it

verb

prevent (someone) from giving full attention to something.

don’t allow noise to distract you from your work

synonyms: divert, sidetrack, draw away, disturb, put off

english (4 decks)

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