vocabulary Flashcards
(274 cards)
ensure /ɪnˈʃʊr/
(also insure especially in North American English)
to make sure that something happens or is definite
ensure something We are working to ensure the safety of people in the city.
ensure somebody something Victory ensured them a place in the final.
ensure something for somebody The system ensures equal access to education for all children.
spatula /ˈspætʃələ/
a tool with a wide flat part that is not sharp, used for mixing and spreading things, especially in cooking and painting
assignment /əˈsaɪnmənt/
a task or piece of work that somebody is given to do,usually as part of their job or studies
Students are required to complete all homework assignments.
You will need to complete three written assignments per semester.
artificial /ˌɑːrtɪˈfɪʃl/
made or produced to copy something natural; not real
strip /strɪp/
a long narrow piece of paper, metal, cloth, etc.
a strip of material
Cut the meat into strips.
twist /twɪst/
[countable] the action of turning something with your hand, or of turning a part of your body
She gave the lid another twist and it came off.
He gave a shy smile and a little twist of his head.
He finished him off with a quick twist of the knife.
contraption /kənˈtræpʃn/
a machine or piece of equipment that looks strange or complicated and possibly does not work well
-She showed us a strange contraption that looked like a satellite dish.
rebate /ˈriːbeɪt/
- an amount of money that is paid back to you because you have paid too much
You may be entitled to a rebate on your car insurance.
- an amount of money that is taken away from the cost of something, before you pay for it synonym discount
The maximum cash rebate available is about $4 800.
i.e. /ˌaɪ ˈiː/
used to explain exactly what the previous thing that you have mentioned means (from Latin ‘id est’)
the basic essentials of life, i.e. housing, food and water
perform /pərˈfɔːrm/
- perform (something) to entertain an audience by playing a piece of music, acting in a play, etc.
Visiting artists will perform their music and poetry.
- perform something to do something, such as a piece of work, task or duty;SYNONYM carry out
She performs an important role in our organization.
makeover /ˈmeɪkəʊvər/
the process of improving the appearance of a person or a place, or of changing the impression that something gives
She won a complete makeover in a magazine competition.
sighting /ˈsaɪtɪŋ/
an occasion when somebody sees somebody/something, especially something unusual or something that lasts for only a short time
a reported sighting of the Loch Ness monster
This was the first sighting of the comet for 1000 years.
consume /kənˈsuːm/
consume something to use something, especially fuel, energy or time
and so on (and so forth)
used at the end of a list to show that it continues in the same way
We discussed everything—when to go, what to see and so on.
tow /təʊ/
- tow something (+ adv./prep.) to pull a car, boat, etc. behind another vehicle, using a rope or chain
Our car was towed away by the police.
A glider was being towed into the air.
- tow somebody (+ adv./prep.) (of a person) to pull somebody along behind you
Vicky was towing Rosa along by the hand
shrink /ʃrɪŋk/
to become or to make something smaller in size or amount
The tumor had shrunk to the size of a pea.
fabulous /ˈfæbjələs/
extremely good
They put on a fabulous performance.
Jana is a fabulous cook.
passion /ˈpæʃn/
a very strong feeling of love, hate, anger, enthusiasm, etc.
I admire the passion and commitment shown by the players.
with passion She argued her case with considerable passion.
crank /kræŋk/
- a person with ideas that other people find strange
- a person who easily gets angry or annoyed
- a handle or bar on a machine that you can turn to make another part turn
crank up
crank out
slacks /slæks/
trousers that are not part of a suit
a pair of slacks
apprentice /əˈprentɪs/
a young person who works for an employer for a fixed period of time in order to learn the particular skills needed in their job
fasten
/ˈfæsn/
to close or join together the two parts of something; to become closed or joined together; do up
seat belt must be fasten.
rumormonger /ˈruːmər mɑːŋɡər/
a person who spreads rumors
approve /əˈpruːv/
- to think that somebody/something is good, acceptable or suitable
I told my mother I wanted to leave school but she didn’t approve.
approve of somebody/something Do you approve of my idea?
She didn’t quite approve of the way he was running things.
approve of somebody doing something She doesn’t approve of me leaving school this year.
- to say that something is good enough to be used or is correct
be approved by somebody/something The course is approved by the Department for Education.
be approved for something This medicine is not approved for use in children.
be approved as something The chemical has never been federally approved as a pesticide.
approve something The auditors approved the company’s accounts.