Extensive Reading-Book C (E)
1604 카드 | CompassPublishing
세트공유
adequate
enough
In order to thrive, newborn babies need to receive an adequate supply of nutrients.
contribute
to give
He contributes regularly to the church's building fund.
crisis
an emergency
The fire caused a major crisis in the hospitals; there was not enough room for all the victims.
destitution
the condition of being without money or hope of having any
destitution has become a major problem in the city.
dilapidated
falling apart, in disrepair
The older couple lived in a dilapidated house with broken windows and no heating.
dweller
a person who lives in a certain place
The city dwellers grew tired of the long commutes and pollution.
flock
to gather together
The little children flocked to see Santa Clause.
foster
to help develop
His tennis coach helped foster his career as a professional tennis player.
hospitable
friendly, welcoming
The city dwellers were not hospitable to the influx of people from the country side.
influx
the sudden arrival of many people or things
The influx of immigrants has flooded the school system in Florida.
migration
the process of people traveling to a new place together
There was a mass migration of hurricane victims into the neighboring states.
offspring
child or children
The couple's three offsprings are all accomplished musicians.
poverty
the state of being poor
poverty causes other challenges such as disease and illnesses.
pronounced
noticeable
The new president had a pronounced English accent.
proximity
the state or quality of being near
The two people, having worked in close proximity for years, finally fell in love with each other.
reality
something that is real
The doctors were aware of the reality of the current situation.
seldom
not often
I seldom go out with friends; I prefer to stay home and watch a good movie.
slums
part of a city where poor people live in bad housing
The mother worked hard and saved enough money to move her children out of the slums.
trend
a general pattern
The recent trend in developed countries is to have less children.
typically
showing all the characteristics that you would expect from the stated person, thing or group
Mary, in her typically frank fashion, told Jim that he was being rude.
arise
to occur
A revolt will arise if the government does not find ways to feed its people.
contend
to state formally that something is true
The victim contended that the two young boys were guilty.
controversial
causing disagreement
Religion and politics are controversial subjects that people tend to shy away from.
declaration
an important written statement
The declaration of Independence was written to ask England for independence.
devoid
empty
The town was devoid of all human life.
domestic
related to one's home life
Pets are considered domestic animals because they live in your house.
evident
plain, clear
It is evident that the suspect is guilty; he had his head down during the entire trial.
exemplify
to serve as an example
Her willingness to work long hours exemplifies her desire to succeed.
hail
to praise someone or something for good qualities
The students hailed their teacher as a being a good person.
influence
the power to change or persuade others
It is a challenge to protect our children from the many negative influences they are exposed to each day.
mindless
thoughtless
Her mindless answers caused great frustration for her teacher.
minimization
to reduce to a minimum
minimization of human suffering is the goal of the new agency.
outcome
the effect, result
The citizens were not happy with the outcome of the election.
outspoken
saying clearly what one thinks
Being too outspoken in certain cultures is considered to be very rude.
primary
main
My primary concern right now is studying so that I can pass my test.
proponent
someone who favors something
My sister is a proponent of women staying home and raising their children.
quite
very
Her version of the story is quite different than mine.
reincarnate
be born anew in another body after death
Many religions believe the body can reincarnate into animals after their death.
result
a consequence of an action
The result of the meeting was not what she expected; she was fired.
violation
an act of breaking a law
The judge sent her to jail because she had over 30 traffic violations.
amendment
a change
The parents wanted to make amendments to the school by laws.
assuage
to calm
The parents assuaged the fears of their children about them getting divorced.
baby boomer
person born after World War II between 1946 and 1965 along with a great many other children
There will be a big void in many occupations when the baby boomers start retiring.
bankruptcy
the legal state of being without money or credit, unable to pay bills
The parents had to file for bankruptcy because they had lost their store to the fire.
disabled
having a mental or physical disability
The mother had to quit her job and take care of her son when he became disabled from the accident.
epidemic
extremely prevalent
Playing computer games could also result in an epidemic of short sightedness
expectancy
an expecting or being expected
The life expectancy for American females is 79 years old.
government bond
A government bond is a bond issued by a national government denominated in the country's own currency
The investor does not invest in stocks but in government bonds; he thinks they are safer.
health care
the field concerned with the maintenance or restoration of the health of the body or mind
The presidential debate focused on the issue of health care for children.
income tax
a tax levied on incomes
The citizens were outraged because of the rich pay less income tax than the middle class.
New Deal
the domestic program of the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration
The New Deal programs lasted from 1933 to 1941 in the United States.
pension funds
a supply of money which many people pay into, especially employees of a company, and which is invested in order to provide them with a pension when they are older
The mother contributed the maximum amount into her pension fund; she was concerned about how she will live in retirement.
proper
right as to how to do something
Because they didn't have enough money, they could not pay for a proper wedding for their daughter.
retirement
an act of leaving or time when one leaves the workforce and stops work
After his retirement, he was able to play a lot of golf.
social insurance
any of various forms of insurance in which a government is an insurer, esp. such insurance that provides assistance to disabled or unemployed workers and to aged persons
Medicare is social insurance for the elderly in America; it provides for health care services.
supplementary
additional
Because the mother's milk was not sufficient, the doctor recommended a supplementary diet for the infant.
surface
to appear
The son's medical condition surfaced during a routine visit to the doctor.
surplus
an amount more than what is needed or used
The army had surpluses of supplies, so they gave them to the local people.
uneven
not equal in ability, intelligence, strength
The two boys did not enjoy playing chess together because their skills were uneven.
unprecedented
never having happened or existed in the past
The 20th century witnessed unprecedented new discoveries in technology.
blissfully
great joy or happiness
Her dream was to live blissfully in the country side.
compete
to try to be more successful than someone or something else
Both of his children try to compete for his attention.
decline
to move downward
You can see the decline in the education standards because students no longer can recite their multiplication facts.
disseminate
to make known
The fastest way to disseminate news these days is through the internet.
editor
person in charge of publishing a periodical, a newscast, or a book series
Her work as the editor of a very large newspaper occupied most of her time.
entertainment
shows, films, television, or other performances or activities that entertain people, or a performance of this type
The family enjoyed visiting Las Vegas because of the various entertainment it offered.
enthral
to hold someone's attention completely
Babies are enthralled by bright colors.
fee
a charge, cost
The entrance fee to the museum was $25 per person.
inception
beginning
Since the inception of the program, it has been very successful.
integral
necessary
The nanny was an integral member of the family.
medium
a means of doing something
She chose art as the medium to represent her ideas.
mimic
to copy the way in which a particular person usually speaks and moves, usually in order to amuse people
The baby mimicked every sound the dog made.
opinion
a thought or belief about something or someone
He held the opinion that the economy would improve significantly next year.
press
newspapers, magazines, and their reporters, and often radio and television editors
The president and his family is often followed by the press.
printing press
a machine for printing from inked type, plates, or rolls
Johannes Gutenberg is credited with the invention of the printing press.
reinvent
take something old and do or show it in a new way
With the internet, communications has been reinvented.
sensational
very interesting or exciting
There was a sensational story in the newspaper about a monkey that could read a book.
shape
to have an effect
Newspaper stories help shape people's opinions about political candidates.
trade
commerce in general
The two leaders decided to expand trade between their two countries.
vital
most important
Water is vital for human survival.
addicted
to not be able to stop doing or using something, especially something harmful
It's easy to become addicted to cigarette smoking.
commentator
a person who reports, analyzes, and evaluates news events and trends on radio or television
Sports commentators are usually retired professionals from that field.
deprive
to take something away from
Because she had been raised by a nanny and not her parents, the woman felt deprived of a normal childhood.
glance
to take a quick short look at something
She glanced at the newspaper before eating her breakfast.
gossip
to talk or write about other people's actions or lives, sometimes in an untruthful way
Did you hear the latest gossip about the president?
hypnotize
to put someone in a mental state like sleep
The psychologist hypnotized his patient in hopes of having her remember the details of the accident.
interfere
to enter or interrupt a situation or discussion
She had difficulty working from home because her child constantly interferes.
intrinsic
belonging naturally to someone or something
Taking care of their young is intrinsic for most animals.
leisure
relaxation free from work
The couple enjoyed their leisure time at the beach.
malicious
intentionally mischievous or harmful
The manager could no longer tolerate the malicious gossip that was circulating about him.
obese
very fat
The mother was worried because her son had become obese; He weighed over 300 pounds.
persist
to continue steadily in the same manner in spite of obstacles or opposition
The man persisted and finally won over the woman's heart.
pervasive
widespread
In Silicon Valley, there is a pervasive trend towards casual dress.
predict
to say what will happen in the future
Fortune tellers say they can predict the future, but they usually not right.
prevalence
widely existing
The prevalence of computer usage among teens is not a bad thing if it can be carefully monitored.
prey
a victim
The thief thought the woman would be an easy prey because she could not work very well.
problematic
having the nature of a problem
The test question proved to be very problematic because there were four possible answers.
reduction
less of something
The reduction of the husband's salary affected the family greatly.
risk
danger of losing something important
There is great risk of becoming addicted to gambling.
trend
a general pattern
The recent trend in developed countries is to have less children.
accessible
able to be entered or reached
All the buildings in the city are accessible to people in wheelchairs.
anxiety
an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry about something that is happening or might happen in the future
She had a lot of anxiety regarding her upcoming surgery.
assume
to believe something is true without knowing
Since all the lights were out, we assumed no one was home.
diversion
an action designed to distract
The thieves worked in pairs; one stole the wallets while the other provided a diversion.
drastically
having very noticeable effects
The company had to drastically reduce their work force; they fired 2,000 employees.
inconspicuous
not obvious or noticeable
The presidents daughter wore a hat and sunglasses to the because she wanted to be inconspicuous.
input
something such as energy, money or information that is put into a system, organization or machine so that it can operate
The CEO did not put much input into the new design of the building.
mentally ill
Suffering from a mental illness
The family could not take vacations because of their mentally ill child.
passive
accepting without resistance
The husband did not understand his wife's passive response to their child's temper tantrums.
physical
of or pertaining to that which is material
The couple had no emotional bonding even thought they lived in the same house and shared physical space.
portable
capable of being carried or moved around
The mother bought each of her children a portable CD player.
progress
to improve or develop in skills or knowledge
Her English skills progressed to a level where she was able to hold conversations with native speakers.
radical
complete or extreme
The school district made radical changes by forbidding bicycles on school campuses.
reliant
a state of needing something very much
Mark is reliant on his older brother for everything.
rely
to depend on
After the birth of her child, she relied heavily on her mother for support.
render
to give something or do something
The new store attracts many customers because it renders good services.
severely
causing very great pain, difficulty, anxiety, damage
The car was severely damaged from the accident.
sheer
absolute
Her success was due to sheer determination and will power.
subtle
not noticeable
The wife wanted a new oven and gave her husband subtle hints.
via
by way of
Singapore Airlines flies to Seoul via San Francisco.
bemoan
to feel sad about something
The couple bemoans the fact that they never had children.
comprise
to include
The building was comprised on 20 different stores.
dedicate
to give completely
Mother Theresa dedicated her entire life to helping poor children.
essence
central point or issue of a subject
The essence of his argument was that children should have the right to an education.
feature
to advertise as important
Most McDonald's feature a play area for children.
franchise
a right to sell a company's products in a particular area using the company's name
She owned three Mc Donald's franchises.
icon
a very famous person or thing considered as representing a set of beliefs or a way of life
Bill Gates is an icon for many young entrepreneurs.
inclination
desire to do something
She had an inclination to climb the mountain, but no one would go with her.
indulgence
to allow yourself or another person to have something enjoyable, especially more than is good for you
My only indulgence is having two scoops of ice cream every day.
inexpensive
not costing a lot of money
The gift was very practical and inexpensive.
inordinate
more than necessary
She takes an inordinate amount of time preparing dinner for her husband; she treats him as if he were king.
obesity
being extremely fat
A high fat diet can lead to obesity.
option
a choice
She had no other option but to get a divorce.
originality
the quality or state of being original
The originality of the child's poem surprised everyone.
patron
a regular customer
patrons to the store come from the community.
rapid
very fast
The message was difficult to understand because of her rapid speech.
recognition
praise for doing something well
The dinner was given in recognition of her charity work.
solitary
A solitary person or thing is the only person or thing in a place
In the distance, they saw a solitary statue.
ubiquitous
found all over
Large pieces of empty land is ubiquitous in Texas.
utmost
the greatest
The situation required utmost sensitivity.
adapt
to change, to function in a new way
He adapted very quickly to his new life in South America.
alienation
the feeling that you have no connection with the people around you
Although she lived in a very busy city, she felt an alienation from the people around her.
blur
difficult to see, understand or separate clearly
The distinction between art and graffiti has blurred in recent years.
camaraderie
a good feeling of togetherness
There was a certain level of camaraderie between the new freshmen students.
compulsive
needing to do something and not being able to stop
She has a compulsive need to eat chocolate every day.
connote
to signify or suggest certain meanings
The word "home" connotes different feelings for different people.
cope
to struggle or deal on fairly even terms or with some degree of success
Since her family moved frequently, she developed coping strategies for not getting depressed.
depression
a feeling of temporary sadness
She suffered depression after the death of her cat.
empathetic
the ability to share someone else's feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in their situation
Having lost her husband to cancer, she was very empathetic to the couple's situation.
first-hand
to experience it yourself
Mother's have first-hand experience of the pain of childbirth.
initiative
the first step, usu. showing strength
The student took the initiative to learn Chinese before going on his exchange program to China.
insight
ability to see or know the truth, intelligence about something
His grandfather had a lot of insights about the war.
layman
someone who is not trained in or does not have a detailed knowledge of a particular subject
The new financial book is for laymen who are interested in investing.
plight
difficult situation
Their plight was that they were stranded in the middle of the desert.
pool
to contribute money, knowledge, or other resources as a group for a common purpose
The workers pooled their money together to buy the manager a wedding gift.
prescription
when someone says what someone else must have or do
Many of the attendees wanted to know the prescription for success.
remedy
a successful way of curing an illness or dealing with a problem or difficulty
The remedy for her sickness was quite simple; she just needed to rest.
therapy
treatment of mental and physical illnesses and disorders, usu. without surgery
Speech therapy was recommended to fix the child's stuttering.
to be on the fringe
to behave very odd behavior
He is on the fringe of society; he can't seem to hold down a job.
wholeheartedly
completely enthusiastic
The audience wholeheartedly agreed with the speaker.
aim
a result that your plans or actions are intended to achieve
Our short term aims are to get out of debt and purchase a house.
connotation
the meanings that a word can have beyond its basic one
The word 'gentleman' has different connotations for different people.
debate
an argument
There was big debate over who would have custody of the child.
denial
refusal to accept something as true
Her denial of her son's medical condition prevents her son from getting the best medical care.
discrimination
unfair treatment because of race, sex, age, religion, etc.
After moving to a new country, she faced much discrimination because of her race.
draft
to draw the plans for something
The committee drafted a new plan for retaining students.
entitle
to allow
As the daughter of the CEO, she was entitled to many privileges not available to other girls her age.
equality
a condition of being equal
There is no equality in the way women and men are paid in the workforce.
fortunate
lucky in general
We were fortunate in that our house did not burn down during the fire.
gender
the classification of male and female living things
Many countries still discriminate based on gender.
immensely
extremely
When he was younger, he was an immensely talented singer.
intangible
feeling or quality exists but you cannot describe it exactly or prove it
It is crucial that parents teach their children intangible characteristics such as work ethic and attitude.
literally
used to emphasize what you are saying
The family was literally shocked by the news.
mandate
to order
The students and parents mandated a new homework policy.
manner
a way of acting
He behaved in a manner that was inappropriate for a 10 year old.
obstacle
something that gets in the way and stops action or progress
Romeo and Juliet faced many obstacles to being together.
spark
bit of light caused by hard surfaces scraping together or from fire
Rubbing two sticks together will create sparks.
stereotype
a fixed idea that people have about what someone or something is like, especially an idea that is wrong
Many Americans have the stereotype that all Asians are good in math.
straightforward
without complications; clear
The directions to the part were straightforward.
struggle
a difficult time or task using much effort and energy
The daughter's struggle for independence from their parents finally led to her moving to another country.
akin
similar to
His new songs are akin to those of the 70s.
avoid
to stay away from
She avoids dark alleys at night.
cessation
a stop to an activity
The cessation of the couple's fighting brought peace to the family.
crave
to desire greatly
She craves chocolate every night before bed.
define
to explain the meaning of
The roles of the husband and wife were not clearly defined and the couple struggled with their identity in the marriage.
despite
in spite of
despite the heavy rains, the children had fun at the zoo.
dose
an amount of medicine
You should take the exact dose prescribed by your doctor.
habit
a repeated behavior
He has a bad habit of picking his nose in public.
habitually
usual or repeated
There is something wrong with a student that habitually curses his teacher.
hallucination
events imagined by someone
The new drug caused her to have hallucinations that someone was chasing her.
indication
a sign, signal
The rain is a good indication that we will not have a drought this year.
interpersonal
between people
Occupations in sales require great interpersonal skills.
potential
the possibility of being or doing something
This company has the potential of making a lot of money.
pursuit
a career, occupation
The occupational pursuits of the siblings were all different.
rehabilitation
to return someone or something to a good or healthy condition
The judge ordered her to enter a drug rehabilitation program for six months.
relapse
to become worse again after being better
After completing the drug rehabilitation program he was doing very well, until he had a relapse.
replenish
to replace something that was used
The aunt allowed them to eat everything in the refrigerator as long as they replenished it before they left.
resort
To have recourse
The mother tried very hard to discipline her son without resorting to spanking.
run-in
an argument
After getting married, the husband had many run-ins with his new brother-in-law.
tolerance
ability to suffer or endure something
The doctors were surprised at her high tolerance for pain.
adopt
to accept or start to use something new
The parents decided to adopt a new strategy for disciplining their child.
allocate
to plan to use an amount of money for a specific purpose
The family had only allocated $50 for meals per day; it was not enough, so they ended their vacation short.
amalgamate
to mix or merge so as to make a combination
The three companies decided to amalgamate.
array
a large group of things or people
There was an array of beautiful flower arrangements on the stage.
assimilate
to become part of a nation's culture or to absorb into a culture
She had no problems assimilating into her new culture.
congruent
agreeing with
The hope is that the family identity will become congruent as the foster children start adapting to their new environment.
culture
the ideas, activities and ways of behaving that are special to a country
Because America is a land of immigrants, its culture is difficult to define.
immigrant
a person who moves to another country to live
Many immigrants in the United States came to realize the American dream.
inadvertently
done unintentionally
The bride had inadvertently left her future in-laws off the guest list.
integration
to mix with and join society or a group of people
The integration of the two cultures was difficult to do because of their religious differences.
intense
strong feeling or emotion
She had intense pain when the doctor pulled her tooth.
mainstream
the group of ideas accepted by the majority of people
His ideas were so obscure that it was not accepted by the mainstream of American people.
mosaic
a pattern or picture made using many small pieces of colored stone or glass
America is no longer considered a melting pot; the words 'salad' and 'mosaic' are deemed more appropriate.
numerous
many
The man had numerous wives in many different countries.
oppression
the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner
The oppression she endured for being a woman caused her to hate herself.
persecution
the act of harassing with oppressive treatment
The prisoners faced much persecution for their religious beliefs.
preservation
the act of keeping alive or in existence
The committee works hard in the preservation of historical buildings in the city.
prosper
to grow in wealth
He prospered in his new line of business.
sovereignty
Supremacy of authority
The two countries fought for the sovereignty of the island.
vie
to compete with other people to achieve or obtain something
Because she has eight children, all the children are constantly vying for their mother's attention.
approximately
much or less correct or exact
They determined the age of the fossil to be approximately three million years old.
climate
the type of weather that a place or region has
When people grow old, they prefer to live in places where the climate is moderate.
competitive
something that is as good or better than something else
The new smaller cars had a competitive advantage over larger cars.
consequence
the result of doing something
The consequences of her drinking was losing her children.
consumer
a person who buys goods or services for personal needs
She was a consumer of fine wines and always went to great lengths to purchase quality wines.
deforestation
the process of divesting or clearing forests or trees
There are many environmental problems caused by deforestation.
destructive
causing great damage
The destructive winds caused great damage to the small town.
disastrous
causing great harm, damage
Her first attempt at cooking was disastrous; she almost caused a fire.
effort
physical or mental work
She put a lot of effort into planning the party.
erosion
a wearing away
River erosion created the Grand Canyon.
extinct
no longer in existence
Dinosaurs are no longer in existence; they are extinct.
immense
very large
The immense mansion was purchased for 20 million dollars.
landscape
a broad view of the land
The woman wanted to purchase a house that would have a beautiful view of the landscape.
manipulate
to influence someone or something to your advantage
The son loved his mother dearly, but he grew tired of her trying to manipulate his life.
multitude
a large number of something, especially people
The politician spoke to a multitude of 30,000 people.
nomadic
an experience of a group of people who move from one place to another rather than living in one place all of the time
The rich young professionals sold all their belongings and lived a nomadic life, traveling from country to country.
strip
to take away
The mayor was stripped of his administrative powers when he was found guilty.
suit
to satisfy
The new house suits the needs of the family.
urban sprawl
the spread of the city to the suburbs
Los Angeles was one of the first cities to experience an urban sprawl.
urbanized
to build houses, offices, etc. in an area of countryside so that it becomes a town
The United States is a highly urbanized country.
absent
not present
The father was absent from his daughter's wedding.
aggressive
unfriendly
The aggressive behavior of the child caused much concern for the parents.
alteration
small change
There was a slight alteration in the plan; they decided to fly instead of driving.
candidate
a person or thing ready for something
She is the next candidate for the promotion.
circumstance
a fact or event that makes a situation the way it is
The circumstances were not favorable for them to start a family.
demand
the desire to purchase, coupled with the power to do so
The demand for the talking doll was high during the Christmas holiday.
facilitate
to help
The guides language skills help facilitate our tour through the congested part of town.
instinct
unlearned behavior or ability
A mother's instinct tells her when her child is in pain.
nontraditional
not conforming to or in accord with tradition
She married a nontraditional man; he cooks, cleans, and stays at home to watch the children.
norm
standard of behavior
Wearing baggy pants and earrings is the norm for students in this school.
procreate
to reproduce
Some women resent the fact that some men think they were put on this earth to procreate only.
propagate
to transmit
The church propagates a message of peace to the community.
pursue
to work hard at something
She studied hard and pursued a career in medicine.
reproduce
to make copies of something
The teacher reproduced 50 copies of the exam.
scenario
a description of events that make up a general situation
The scenario of the play was that of a many trying to save his wife.
split up
get a divorce
Ever since her parents split up, Mary has not been the same.
strategy
planning in order to achieve a goal
The company's strategy is simple: make good products and sell at a low price.
traditional
following customs that have continued in a group of people or society for a long time without changing
She decided not to marry Tom because he was too traditional; he expected her to stay home, cook and have babies.
upbringing
how parents, teachers, and others give a good or bad education and manners to a young person growing up
By the way she behaves, it is obvious that she had a very good upbringing.
viable
capable of succeeding
The only viable solution to the family's situation was that the children had to quit school.
accurate
correct
The grades were accurate and reflected the hard work of the students.
adversely
having a negative or harmful effect on something
The loss of the farm adversely affected the family's income.
annulment
to officially announce that something such as a law, agreement, or marriage no longer exists
The couple received an annulment of their marriage because the woman already had a husband.
child-support
money paid for the care of one's minor child
Since the father made more money than the mother, he was required to pay $3,000 a month for child-support.
conflict
a difference, disagreement
A conflict arose between the two people when they couldn't agree on a price for the table.
considerable
much, a lot
The woman received a considerable amount of money from the insurance company.
contemporary
modern
The wife liked contemporary furniture, and the husband liked antiques.
contrary
different from
contrary to what people think, the doctors in this country do not make that much money.
custody
safekeeping
After the divorce, the mother received custody of the children.
devastating
causing a lot of damage or destruction
The devastating fire consumed over 30 homes.
entail
to make necessary
Getting a job in the White House entails a lot of security checks.
exaggerate
to say something is better, worse, more important than it really is
The company profits were exaggerated, and no one knew the financial state of the company.
impact
to have an effect
The new program to help the poor people impacted the community greatly.
messy
cluttered, disorderly
Her desk was always messy; she had paper everywhere.
null and void
without legal force or effect
The marriage was considered null and void because the bride was a minor.
oblige
to require
He was obliged to pay for the accident because he was at fault.
pretense
a reason or act that hides the real reason for doing something
He enter the house on the pretense that he was going to fix the refrigerator, but he really wanted to steal her money.
terminate
to end
Our rental agreement was terminated because we had too many parties.
variance
an exception to a rule or standard
There has been an unusual variance in temperature this month.
vow
a solemn promise
She made a vow to exercise every day.
abuse
hurt badly, either physically or emotionally
Since the abused children had no place to go, the judge placed them with foster care families.
appropriate
correct, suitable
The mother allowed her children to watch TV programs that were not appropriate for them.
conceive
to become pregnant
She had a hard time conceiving a child.
disgrace
a cause of shame or dishonor
She had disgraced her family by becoming pregnant when she was only 15 years old.
forego
to do without
Many young couples these days forego a formal engagement party.
hype
exaggerated advertising claims
They went to the new restaurant because of the hype, but they were disappointed.
illegitimate
born to unmarried parents
The illegitimate daughter of the president became a famous actress.
intervene
to stop an action happening between other people
The police had to intervene and take the child out of the house.
neglect
to not give enough care or attention
She was too busy drinking that she neglected her baby.
orphanage
a place where orphans live and are cared for
The neighbors placed the little girl in an orphanage when they could not locate the parents.
permit
to allow
David was not permitted to leave the house after 10 pm.
portray
to describe someone or something in a certain way, to characterize them
Hollywood tends to portray Asians as being very weak and submissive.
prospective
anticipated in the future
The prospective buyers came to look at the house one more time.
resemblance
a likeness to someone or something
The actress showed a resemblance to her famous grandfather.
responsibility
something that someone must do
The responsibilities of becoming a parent are tremendous.
right
That which is just, morally good, legal, proper, or fitting
The citizens of this country do not have many rights; they can not vote or express their opinions.
stigma
a mark of shame or disgrace
Her father was an alcohol and that has been a stigma all her life.
unfit
lacking in good personal qualities
Due to her constant drinking, she was declared an unfit mother by the judge.
unwanted
not wanted
They considered getting an abortion because their child was unwanted, but they decided to keep the baby and start a family.
wary
concerned about danger
Being wary of all strange men, the little girl started to run when the man approached her.
access
the method or possibility of approaching a place or person, or the right to use or look at something
Many poor people do not have access to a good education.
aesthetically
relating to the enjoyment or study of beauty
The table was not very practical, but it was aesthetically pleasing.
conversely
in an opposite way
Children should respect their parents; conversely, parents should not aggravate their children.
cycle
a group of events which happen in a particular order, one following the other, and which are often repeated
The life cycle of a butterfly is fascinating and remarkable for children to observe.
demarcate
to show the limits of something
Properties in the neighborhood are clearly demarcated with fences.
densely
thick; close together
The neighborhood was densely populated, and there was no space for the children to run around.
disproportionately
too large or too small in comparison to something else
All the men complained the ratio of men to women was disproportionately unbalanced.
disrepair
a condition of being broken down and needing to be fixed
The town has fallen into a state of disrepair; all the buildings and street lights are damaged.
ethnic minority
a national or racial group living in a country or area which contains a larger group of people of a different race or nationality
California has a disproportionate number of ethnic minorities in the school system.
feasible
workable
Your plan is feasible as long as we can raise the funds.
graffiti
writings and drawings on walls, often rude, funny, or political
Graffitis are against the law allowed in Singapore.
networking
to meet people who might be useful to know, especially in your job
Having the right education and skills is important, but networking is becoming more important in finding a job.
overcome
to fight against successfully
He had to overcome his fear of flying first before he could become a pilot.
overlap
the amount by which two things or activities cover the same area
There is an overlap in the products of the two companies.
perpetuate
to keep alive or preserve in memory for a long time
He worked hard to perpetuate his father's legacy.
privileged
having an advantage that only one person or group of people has
Many children of wealthy families are privileged to receive an excellent education.
segregation
to keep one group of people apart from another and treat them differently
Racial segregation in the United States prevented blacks and whites from eating in the same restaurants.
social mobility
the ability of individuals or groups to move within a social hierarchy with changes in income, education, occupation, etc
The family moved into a better neighborhood because they thought it would help with their social mobility.
status
one's position in society in terms of power and importance
Lawyers and doctors have more status than bus drivers.
surmount
to overcome
The family has surmounted some difficulties and now they are doing well.
allow
permit; to let
We allowed our son to start driving when he turned 16 years old.
childrearing
the practice of looking after children until they are old enough to look after themselves
After she devoted 15 years to childrearing, she decided to pursue a career.
decade
a period of 10 years
After decades of working on his invention, the scientist was finally rewarded for his hard work.
dramatic
making a big impression
She made a dramatic entrance to the party; she wore a beautiful gown with lots of jewelry.
ensue
happen in sequence
After the terrible earthquake, a tsunami ensued.
establish
to found, create
The English established several colonies around the world.
fertility
the ability to produce offspring or new plants
They decided to adopt a child because they had problems with fertility.
Great Depression
the economic crisis and period of low business activity in the U.S. and other countries, roughly beginning with the stock-market crash in October, 1929, and continuing through most of the 1930s
Her grandfather had lived through the Great Depression, and he hates to waste any food.
inevitable
definitely going to happen
It was inevitable that you will not get into a good college if you don't study hard.
inhabit
to live in an area
I was surprised to find that people inhabit such places as Siberia.
life expectancy
the length of time that a living thing, especially a human being, is likely to live
The life expectancy in America has greatly increased in the past 50 years.
massive
huge, great
A massive amount of information is available on the internet.
millennia
a period of 1000 years
By the year 2000, there were two millennia.
mortality
the rate of death from illness or disaster
The infant mortality rate in poor countries tend to be very high
motherhood
the state of being a mother
Now that she was married, she eagerly looked forward to motherhood.
pace
tempo of an activity
The company could not keep up with the pace of the demand for their product.
pension plan
a financial plan that allows you to receive money after you or your employer have paid money into it for a number of years
She had diligently put money into her pension plan, and now she is able to enjoy the benefits.
postpone
to delay an event and plan or decide that it should happen at a later date or time
After postponing having children, the couple realized they were now too old to have children.
prospect
a possibility of success in the future
The prospect of her getting married was not very good; she was not over 50 years old.
surviving
continuing to live or exist
The whale did not have any chances of surviving because his wounds were too deep.
abhor
to hate
The little girl abhors vegetables.
accommodate
to give what is needed to someone
The restaurant was not set up to accommodate the physically disabled.
amenity
something that adds to people's comfort
The only amenities at the hotel was its gym.
backlash
a strong action against something
After the senator made the comment about ethnic minorities, there was a backlash against his campaign.
dependence
a need for support
A child's dependence on his mother gradually decreases as he ages.
diversity
differences among people in race, ethnic group, religion
American is known for the diversity of its people.
encourage
to give strength or hope to someone; urge
The teacher encouraged his students to never give up their dreams.
exhaust
discharge in the form of smoke or steam
The people in the village got sick from breathing in the exhaust from cars passing by.
expansion
an enlargement
The company's expansion program included building a gym for its employees.
global warming
a slow increase of the temperature of the air around the earth caused by pollution
Some scientist argue that global warming is not caused by human actions.
infringe
to go where someone or something doesn't belong
Our neighbor's fruit trees infringes in our yard.
latter
the second of two people or things named
We watch a lot of horror and mystery movies, but we preferred the latter.
lengthy
long in distance, time, or coverage
The speaker gave a lengthy description on the mating habits of whales.
locale
a place, location for something that happens
The movie director chose a new locale for his next film.
middle class
the social level of people between the working class and upper class
Korea's middle class is starting to grow.
pedestrian
any person walking on a sidewalk, across a street, or down a road
In America, most pedestrians have the right of way; this is not true in some other countries.
reject
to refuse, not accept
I do not reject his story, I just question some of the details.
restore
to renew
After a vacation to Thailand, the man's health was restored.
sacrifice
to give up something that is valuable to you in order to help another person
You can not achieve your goals without sacrificing something in your life.
transport
transportation
Public transport in Seoul is safe and efficient.
absorb
to soak up
The flowers absorbed all the water in the vase.
cell
the basic of living things
Our bodies are made up of many cells.
constitute
to make up
Giving advice to young teens constituted most of his time at work.
contraction
a pain, often muscular, esp. starting the birth of a baby
The doctor told her to come to the hospital when her contractions were 10 minutes apart.
dilate
to make larger
The pupils dilate in the dark.
distinct
easy to see
They were able to see the baby's distinct features through the ultrasound.
embryo
the early stage of growth before birth
When they cracked open the egg, they saw the embryo of the chicken inside.
fallopian tube
one of two tubes connecting the uterus with the ovaries
The woman's difficulty getting pregnant was caused by a blockage in her fallopian tube.
fertilization
the union of egg and sperm that starts the development of new life
In vitro fertilization is a technique in which egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside the woman's womb.
fetus
the developed embryo in humans and other mammals
When the couple did an ultrasound, they were able to see the fetus.
implant
to put an organ, group of cells, or device into the body in a medical operation
The doctor implanted a device into the man's skin which would help him stop smoking.
ingest
to eat
If you ingest any poison, you must call 911 immediately.
malnourished
poorly fed
When the police found the children, they were badly malnourished.
prenatal
while a baby is in the mother's womb
The fetus did not thrive because the woman did not receive adequate prenatal care.
series
a group of similar things or events
She likes to read books that are in a series.
survival
the ability to continue to exist or live
The team's survival in the tournament depended on their defensive tactics.
traverse
travel over
The climbers traversed over the rocky mountains.
trimester
any of the three three-month periods that a human pregnancy is divided into
The woman felt very good during her second trimester of her pregnancy.
uterus
female organ where a baby develops
The doctors had to remove the woman's uterus, and she could no longer get pregnant.
womb
the part of a woman's body where a baby can grow
Although her daughter did not grow in her womb, she loved her all the more.
abstract
related to ideas, feelings and not concrete things
Love is an abstract concept for many people.
autonomy
independence or freedom
When children become toddlers, they start to assert their autonomy.
bombard
to criticize heavily
The audience bombarded the candidate with many comments about healthcare.
cause-and-effect
noting a relationship between actions or events such that one or more are the result of the other or others
Babies normally do not understand the cause-and-effect of their behaviors.
complex
having many parts or details that make something hard to understand or deal with
The mother could no longer her son with his complex math problems.
concentrate
to think hard about something
It was difficult to concentrate in the library because the people were talking too loudly.
concrete
dealing with facts and certainties
The police did not have any concrete evidence to arrest the criminal.
consider
to think about something
She considered becoming a doctor, but she decided against it because she couldn't stand blood.
cooperatively
to act or work together for a particular purpose
The school, the hospital and the church worked cooperatively to help the child get better.
curiosity
an eager desire to know or learn about something
Out of curiosity, he called the police station to find out what had happened to the robber.
discourage
to take away one's confidence or hope
The parents tried to discourage their son from joining the army.
disdainful
showing no respect
The students had a disdainful attitude towards their substitute teacher.
infancy
early time
From it's infancy, the restaurant never served alcohol.
inquisitive
asking lots of questions
She had a very inquisitive daughter; she asked at least five questions to everyone she met.
logic
a system of reasoning
The youth had very poor logic and was not able to win many arguments.
mobile
capable of going from one place to another
Her doctor recommended four weeks of bed rest, but after one week she was quite mobile.
motor skill
the ability to perform complex muscle-and-nerve acts that produce movement
The five year old had very good fine motor skills; she used her scissors effectively.
role-play
to assume the attitudes, actions, and discourse of (another)
The school teaches the students to role-play different situations in order to prevent the students from getting kidnapped.
self-reliant
able to take care of oneself without outside help
Even after the stroke, her 70 year old mother was very self-reliant; she cooked her own meals and did her own shopping.
temper tantrum
a violent demonstration of rage or frustration
It was obvious the child was not properly disciplined; he threw a temper tantrum even in public.
adolescent
a teenager, especially ages 13-17
adolescents are often confused because of their emotions; they do not realize this is normal.
autonomous
independent
By 10 months, most babies are autonomous enough to roam around the house by themselves.
awkward
difficult to use, do, or deal with
During adolescents, teenagers often feel very awkward with what is going on in their bodies.
clumsy
awkward in movement or manner
After she first learned how to walk, Sarah was very clumsy and fell often.
cognitive
connected with thinking or conscious mental processes
Although she was 15, her cognitive skills were not fully developed, and she behaved like a five year old.
contemplate
to think about something seriously
Her parents were not a very good role model for her, and she seriously contemplated whether she wanted to get married or not.
disorder
a sickness or disturbance
Teenage girls who struggle with self-esteem often suffer from eating disorders.
entity
a group viewed as a whole
Although they are owned by the same person, they are essentially different entities.
forge
to proceed with strength or speed despite problems or difficulties
Despite her lack of funds and other complications, she decided to forge ahead with her plans.
hormone
a chemical from body organs that stimulates activity in living systems
Teenage years can be difficult because the body is adjusting to all the hormones that are being produced.
hypothetical
imagined or suggested but not necessarily real or true
The two men liked to have hypothetical discussions about what the future will be like.
intimate
emotionally close
The couple found it difficult to have an intimate relationship because the husband was constantly traveling.
ovary
the organ of a woman or a female animal that produces eggs
The woman could not get pregnant because she had her ovaries removed when she was young.
peer
a person who is one's equal in age, rank, ability, or other quality
During teenage years, the advice of their peers become much more important than that of the parents.
pituitary gland
a small organ at the base of the brain that regulates the body's growth
Because Tom was not growing, the doctors checked his pituitary glands to see if there any problems.
psychological
relating to the human mind and feelings
She felt very sick, but after extensive tests the doctors realized that it was all psychological.
reasoning
ability to think logically
The stroke had impaired her reasoning skills, and she was no longer able to have normal conversations.
release
to let something go
After catching 30 fish, the fisherman released them back into the ocean.
spurt
to move out or forward with great force
He was always short until he had a grow spurt in college.
tumultuous
very loud, or full of confusion, change or uncertainty
After growing up in a very tumultuous family environment, Mary decided never to get married.
academia
the world of students and teachers
He had spent all of his adult life in academia because he was a history professor.
accompany
to be provided or exist at the same time as something
There is a lot of stress that accompanies planning a wedding.
alter
to change
Her pants were too big so she had to get them altered.
ample
more than enough
They thought they had ample time to get to the party, but they didn't anticipate the accident on the highway.
blackboard
a flat surface to write on in classrooms
Most blackboards in the school have been replaced with dry erase boards.
blatant
going against one's sense of honesty
The mother recognized her son's blatant lies.
curriculum
the courses offered at an educational institution
Parents believe that private schools offer a more rigorous curriculum than public schools do.
delve
to look deeply into
Unless you delve into a subject, you really wont' understand it.
dozen
a group of 12
I bought a dozen donuts and ate them by myself.
frequency
the rate at which something happens
The frequency of her contractions had increased.
intrinsic
belonging naturally to someone or something
Taking care of their young is intrinsic for most animals.
playful
funny and not serious
The child was very playful and continued to entertain the adults around her.
recognize
to recall, remember someone or something when one sees or hears that person or thing
The young woman recognized the tall man from the party.
rejection
something that is not accepted
His rejection of his wife's culture caused them to divorce.
remain
to stay after others are gone
The family decided to remain in the house even after the death of their grandfather.
sibling
a person with the same parents as someone else
Because there were seven children in her family, she often fought with her siblings for her parent's attention.
significant
important
The family was able to take a vacation because the father had received a significant increase in his salary.
spontaneous
not planned
The spontaneous nature of her son drove the mother crazy; she liked everything planned.
structured
organized
My children have a very structured day; they have a different activity each hour of the day.
trying
difficult
Babysitting five rebellious children was a trying experience for the baby sitter.
benefit
helpful or good effect
The benefit of a high school diploma is that you will be more employable.
concerns
worry
She had many concerns about her daughter living alone in New York City.
demand
the desire to purchase, coupled with the power to do so
The demand for the talking doll was high during the Christmas holiday.
disposal
the throwing away or dumping of
Most American homes have a garbage disposal in the kitchen.
economy
the system of trade and industry by which the wealth of a country is made and used
The housing boom improved the country's sagging economy.
efficient
working or operating quickly and effectively in an organized way
After fixing refrigerators for 20 years, he was very efficient at what he did.
feng shui
a Chinese art that reveals ways to balance the energies of the environment to assure health, wealth and good fortune
After having bad luck in her business for several years, she finally consulted a feng shui specialist who told her to paint her house red for better luck.
funnel
To move through or as if through a funnel
The tourists were slowly funneling their way through airport customs.
inhabitant
person who lives in a certain area
The inhabitants of the east coast enjoy four distinct seasons.
labor
to work
She labored over creating the perfect wedding dress for her daughter.
mass transit
a system of public transportation in a given metropolitan area, typically comprising of buses, subways, and elevated trains
Residents of Seoul do not need a car because of the efficient mass transit system.
motivated
to give a reason to do something
None of the students were motivated to study harder.
optimize
to make as effective
The city officials did not optimize the existing land in the city.
paycheck
a salary or wage check
Most employees work hard to receive their paycheck.
prefer
to give preference or priority to
If given a choice, most children would prefer to watch television over doing homework.
resident
a person who lives in a certain area
The residents of Hawaii enjoy a very scenic view.
resource
a useful or valuable possession or quality
Having traveled to over 30 countries, the student was a valuable resource to her peers.
settle
to make a home
Our family immigrated to the United States and settled in San Francisco.
urban
related to a city
Many young people from the small towns choose to move to urban areas.
variety
different types
She loved to eat at buffets because if offered her a variety of foods.
adaptation
a change that results in something to suit different conditions or uses
The elementary students enjoyed the adaptation of Romeo and Juliet; it was an animation.
adept
skillful
She was adept at making everyone believe her lies.
advantage
a good feature
She had an advantage over other students because she had studied Latin in high school.
cater
to satisfy someone's special needs and desires
The parents catered to their child's every needs.
cooperation
act of working with someone toward a common goal
The goal of kindergarten is to teach children cooperation.
counterpart
a person or thing that is like another or does the same type of job
His counterpart at the hospital was a woman in her 50's.
custom
made specially for individual customers
She liked to be unique and always wore custom shoes made especially for her.
detailed
giving a lot of information with many details
The detailed report outlined the patients history and treatments that were offered.
disadvantage
something that hurts or gets in the way of success
The disadvantage of the new pay system is that it is completely based on the number of hours you work regardless of the quality.
enhance
to improve the quality, amount or strength of something
Some athletes believe enhancing their muscles will help them improve their game.
essential
central, major
A comprehensive elementary education is essential for students to do well in high school.
excessively
an amount which is more than acceptable
The parents were excessively involved in their teenage son's school life.
higher education
education after high school
More than 75% of the population has some training in higher education.
improve
to cause something to get better
If his situation does not improve, we will have to operate.
learning style
Learning style is an individual's unique approach to learning based on strengths, weaknesses, and preferences
The student learned best by listening to audio tapes of books because he had an auditory learning style.
literacy
the ability to read and write
Korea has a very high literacy rate; more than 95% of the people can read and write.
natural
normal or expected
It is natural to get nervous before a big test.
priority
the tasks, or beliefs that are most important and require attention
Getting good grades was not his priority; getting a well rounded education was.
trait
a particular characteristic that can produce a particular type of behavior
Being rude is not a positive trait.
work ethic
the belief that work is morally good
Without good work ethics, it is impossible to advance in your career.
approach
come near
As you approach the town, you'll see the college on the left.
aptitude
capacity for, to be good at doing something
Her aptitude for math made her a good candidate for the math contest.
elective
not required in school or college
In addition to his core classes, he took 2 electives: logic and debate.
expose
To subject or allow to be subjected to an action, influence, or condition
Children that have been exposed to different situations tend to be more mature.
extend
to make longer in space or time
We extended our vacation because we really enjoyed the beach.
format
any general arrangement of something
The format of the meeting was a short lecture followed by a question and answer session.
gradually
slowly; over time
Nathan practiced every day and gradually became much better.
grown up
adults
Children often have a lot of respect for grown ups, whether they deserve it or not.
guidance
advice
Anna received guidance from her math teacher; she is now pursuing a doctorate degree in math.
impart
to give information
imparting his love of God to his grandchildren was a priority for the old man.
integrate
make a part of
Traditional television is integrated as it contains images, sound and text.
interact
to communicate with someone
Although they lived in the same house, the father and son barely interacted with each other.
needs
the things that a person must have in order to have a satisfactory life
The family did not make enough money for their basic needs, such as food and clothing.
overall
in general, considering everything
His overall grade in school was not bad, although he was not doing well in science.
primer
a manual that covers the basics of a subject
He wrote a primer on how to discipline rebellious children.
self-motivated
initiative to undertake or continue a task or activity without another's prodding or supervision
Being self-motivated is crucial for people who want to pursue a career in medicine.
tailored
to make something to specific requirements
He tailored his speech to match the needs of the audience.
tenuous
weak
Her arguments for living alone were so tenuous her parents decided against the idea.
transition
change; shift
The weather gets colder during the transition from summer to autumn.
wean
to stop former habits
She weaned herself from eating chocolates by exercising whenever she had cravings.
attain
to achieve
When he attained his doctorate, he felt he had accomplished all his dreams.
attract
to draw interest
With its beautiful beaches and friendly people, Thailand attracts many tourists each year.
burden
a responsibility
After her father's stroke, she had the burden of supporting her family.
decent
proper
Tom had to quit his job because he couldn't make a decent living with his salary.
earn
to get something one deserves as the result of action or effort
After studying very hard, she earned a scholarship to Harvard University.
earning power
the potential to make money
Compared to her sister, Mary had more earning power because she had a university degree.
extraordinary
outstanding
The little boy had extraordinary musical abilities.
faculty
the teaching staff at a school or college
The faculty at that university is known for their spectacular research.
firm
definite
The school set firm requirements for graduation.
fund
to support
The old man funds his grandchildren's education.
guarantee
to give a promise of satisfaction
She was a little worried about her piano because the movers could not guarantee when it would be delivered.
liberal arts
study of the humanities, social and natural sciences, and mathematics
She studied liberal arts in university which prepared her well for her teaching career.
loan
a sum of money borrowed at a rate of interest
She took out a loan from the bank to pay for her college education.
lot
one's condition in life
It was his lot in life to make a lot of money.
lucrative
profitable
It is a very lucrative business in this industry.
minimum wage
minimum hourly rate that employers must pay to workers
Most fast-food restaurants pay minimum wage; it is not sufficient to support a family on.
passion
enthusiasm; strong interest
He must have some passions.
post-secondary education
an education beyond high school
Many foreigners choose to complete their post-secondary education in the United States.
subsidize
to give money to a person, group, or business
Many small businesses that first start out are subsidized by the government.
varsity
describes sports teams at schools or colleges which are at the most skilled level of play
He was a member of the varsity football team at her high school.
acceleration
when something goes faster
The new car model was touted for its sleek design, but it had poor acceleration.
articulate
express something in clear and effective language
The speaker articulated the need for conserving energy in his speech.
claim
to state something as being true, especially when there is some doubt
She claimed she graduated from Harvard University, but no one believed her.
contradict
to tell someone what he or she says isn't true
The couple could never agree; the wife always contradicted her husband.
exotic
unusual and attractive
On their trip to Asia, they had discovered many exotic fruits and vegetables.
flawed
faulty
The scientist presented a flawed argument during his lecture.
formulation
careful preparation
The formulation of a new education policy took months to prepare.
gravity
a natural force pulling objects to the ground
Without gravity, we would all be floating in the air.
heavenly body
any object existing in space, especially a planet, star, or the moon
The sun is a heavenly body that we can all see and feel.
hypothesize
to give a possible but not yet proved explanation for something
Everyone hypothesized about how the accident happened.
inspiration
source of motivation or creativity
His inspiration for his book came from his long walks along the beach.
leap
increase or improvement
After being inspired by the movie, Mary made leaps in her studies; she received all A's on her report card.
minute
very small
The change to the script was so minute, everyone disregarded it.
novel
new and different
She had novel ways of solving problems.
phenomenon
movement; trend; happening
The wrapping of Christmas presents is a fairly recent phenomenon in American life.
shroud
to make difficult to see
The car was shrouded by tree branches.
slope
a surface at an angle
She skiing ability had improved significantly that she no longer skied down the same slopes.
twist
an unusual development
There was a new twist to the murder case; the husband was found guilty.
unthinkable
so bad that one cannot think about it
It is unthinkable for me to imagine getting divorced.
vacuum
a totally empty and airless space
How will the human body, without the protection of a spacesuit, respond to the vacuum of outer space?
bent on
set on doing something
She was bent on finishing her degree, no matter how long it took.
common sense
the understanding of something from thinking intelligently and from everyday experience
It is common sense that the man should pay for the meal on a first date.
dictate
say what someone must do
The winning team will dictate what the losing team must do.
entire
complete
The entire building caught on fire.
fascinate
extremely interested
The little children were fascinated by the clown and his magic tricks.
heaven
the sky
Thousands of balloons fell from the heavens.
heliocentrism
having or representing the sun as a center
heliocentrism is the theory that the sun is at the center of the Universe.
labor
to work
She labored over creating the perfect wedding dress for her daughter.
motionless
without moving
The soldiers stood motionless for several hours.
orbit
revolve around a star, planet, etc.
Smooth sailing after the storm, the aircar arrived at the orbit of the Island of Paradise.
paradigm
a model or concept used as a standard by which people evaluate, understand, and often act
The older generation had to have a paradigm shift in order to understand the younger generation.
precise
accurate
You need to follow the precise measurements of the recipe if you want your cake to turn out o.k.
prediction
a statement about what will happen in the future
The weather man's predictions about the weather is almost always incorrect.
reconcile
to bring together people or ideas that were separated
Before the group could move forward, they had to first reconcile their differences.
revival
a reawakening
The religious revival swept the entire nation.
ridicule
unkind words or actions that make someone or something look stupid or worthless
The new student was treated with such ridicule by her peers that her parents decided to send her to another school.
rigorous
having strict or high standards for behavior or action
Students must finish a rigorous program in order to become a doctor.
steady
calm; stable
There has been a steady wind blowing all day.
tendency
a likelihood to behave in a particular way or to like a particular thing
She has a tendency of leaving her clothes everywhere.
venerable
describes something that has been in use, or someone who has been involved in something, for a long time
In recent years, there has been a decline in the venerable tradition of Easter egg hunting.
beginning
a start
At the beginning of the play, the actor broke his leg.
billiards
a game played by two people on a table covered in green cloth in which a long pole is used to hit balls against each other and into pockets around the table
The mother was worried when her son just wanted to play billiards rather than study.
contribution
assistance; support
His contributions to the arts was significant; he had created five art museums.
elaborate
to give more detail
The eye witness elaborated on the details of the accident.
elegant
stylish in appearance, graceful, refined
Mary had exquisite tastes and had her house decorated with elegant furniture.
exert
to act with power, force, influence
The doctors warned her to stay in bed and not exert too much energy.
force
a source or instrument of power or energy
The forces of the wind knocked over ten trees.
friction
resistance that results when two surfaces are rubbed together
When you rub two stones together, the friction causes a spark which can start a fire.
humble
modest
The president's humble beginnings surprised everyone.
implication
consequence; effect
Are you interested in the political implications of weblogs and social software?
impressive
causing admiration
Her artistic abilities are quite impressive; it is difficult to imagine she painted everything with her feet.
indefinitely
without clear limits
Due to the lack of staff, the science education program has been stopped indefinitely.
mass
the amount of matter of an object
Although the plastic box was bigger than the book, the book had a greater mass.
miniscule
extremely small
The orphans only had a miniscule piece of toast to eat each morning.
negligible
small, not important
The cost of getting the car fixed is negligible compared to what could have happened.
optics
of or belonging to the eye
optics is a branch of physics that describes the behavior and properties of light.
precocious
a child that is advanced in intelligence or development
He had a precocious child that played the piano beautifully at the age of three.
prematurely
happening or done too soon, especially before the natural or desired time
The baby was born prematurely and had to be placed in an incubator for six weeks.
stun
to surprise
The news of your retirement stunned me.
tool
something that helps you to do a particular activity
The calculator is a useful tool for all math students.
achieve
to reach, gain
She didn't realize that she would be able to achieve everything that she had.
aptly
suitable or right for a particular situation
We had saved over two years for our vacation, and we stayed at a resort aptly named "Pamper Yourself."
arise
to occur
A revolt will arise if the government does not find ways to feed its people.
bit
a small amount of something
There was a bit of crumb on the pastor's tie.
carve
to make or create for oneself
He was very diligent and was able to carve out a career in real estate.
cornerstone
the chief foundation on which something is constructed or developed
The cornerstone of the Christian religion is that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for people's sins.
disappear
to go out of sight
The father often disappears for several hours a day; he needs to be alone.
ecosystem
all the living things in an area and the way they affect each other and the environment
The major oil spill will have a great impact on the surrounding ecosystems.
equilibrium
one's sense of balance
The senior citizen lost her equilibrium and fell down the stairs.
evolution
the development of living things
The evolution of the computer happened very rapidly.
evolve
change over time
A small argument evolved into a big war between the two families.
halt
an end
The parade came to a halt when it started raining hard.
meteorologist
someone who studies the processes that cause particular weather conditions
The meteorologist forecasted five days of severe thunderstorms.
murky
unclear and dark
Due to the oil spill, the river had turned very murky.
pattern
an example or model to be followed
All scientific research must follow certain patterns.
perpetual
continuing forever
During the time of Hitler, the Jews lived in perpetual fear of being captured.
posit
to suggest something as a basic fact or principle from which a further idea is formed or developed
If we posit that increasing homework will increase students' grades, it follows that students should spend more time studying than playing.
practically
nearly, almost
When her husband ran off with their savings, she had practically lost all the money that she had saved.
shift
to change from one position to another
The truck driver shifted his gears.
wield
to use, exercise
He wields great power as the principal of the school.
amber
a hard, clear substance of yellow
The jewels on her dress were made from amber.
basis
the main reason for something
On the basis of his research, he argued that children should sleep 12 hours a day.
breakthrough
the act, result, or place of pushing past something that blocks one's way
After months of testing, the doctors had a breakthrough in what was causing the seizures.
crude
rough, unfinished
He wanted to live simply; his crude furniture reflected this.
cursory
quick, without paying attention
She gave her daughter's report a cursory look and then started cooking.
devote
commit
She devotes two hours a day to playing the piano.
drift
wander
The whale drifted away into the sea, and the sailors could no longer see it.
electrode
the points at which a current enters or leaves an electrical device
The doctors placed electrodes on the patients arms to measure his heartbeat.
familiar
knowing about, acquainted
Most people are familiar with the bible and its teaching.
harness
capture the power of something
There is a great deal of interest in harnessing wind as a new source of energy.
hatch
to conceive an idea
The idea for the new recreation center was hatched while the men played basketball.
infancy
early time
From it's infancy, the restaurant never served alcohol.
interior
the inside of something
From the outside, the house looks worn down, but the interior is very nice.
limited
restricted in extent or amount
The mother was careful to only purchase the items they needed because they lived on a limited income.
mouthpiece
a spokesperson
He was the mouthpiece for the president of the United States.
pen name
a name used by an author in place of his or her real name
Mark Twain was the pen name of Samuel Clemens.
primitive
simple
The campers built a primitive shelter to protect themselves from the snowstorm.
secure
to obtain
After months of interviewing, James secured a job with a fortune 500 company.
spark
bit of light caused by hard surfaces scraping together or from fire
Rubbing two sticks together will create sparks.
static electricity
an electrical charge which collects on the surface of objects made from some types of material when they are rubbed
static electricity is what makes your hair stand on end.
climax
the most exciting or intense point in a series of events
The climax of the game was when he made a touchdown with only two seconds to go.
coil
something wrapped in a circle or spiral
A coil of wire lay on the women's front yard.
compass
a device to determine direction
If you have a compass, you will always know which direction is north.
crucial
extremely important
Doctors had to make the crucial decision of which life to save: the mother or the child.
disc
a thin flat circular plate
Compact discs have replaced cassette tapes.
electrical current
electric current is the flow (movement) of electric charge
The electric shock a person experiences depends on the electric current which passes through the body.
forthcoming
arriving in the future
The parents were worried because they didn't have all the information, but the school promised the details of the trip would be forthcoming.
frenzy
a state of panic, causing a wild display of emotion
The mother went into a state of frenzy when she found our her son had been in an accident.
generator
a machine that converts one form of energy into another
After the blackout, the restaurant its service by using a backup generator.
ideal
perfect
It was ideal weather for a long walk on the beach.
jolt
a sudden shock of electricity
If you put something into the outlet, you will get a jolt of electricity.
link
a relationship
The answer to the missing link in the research came from a five year old boy.
marvel
wonder; sensation
We marveled at her excellent piano playing.
momentum
the speed at which something moves
After being at a standstill for several months, the project gained momentum when a new director was assigned.
note
pay attention to
As he entered the building, he noted the elegant furniture.
shaft
a round, metal bar that turns, giving power in a long section of machinery
The shaft of the golf club connects the grip to the head.
solar power
energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy
The solar powered calculator was very inconvenient to use during the blackout.
span
to exist or continue for a particular length of time
The Roman Empire is a civilization spanning several hundred years.
surmise
to make a reasonable guess
When he saw the couple walking out of the hospital arm in arm, he surmised they had received good news.
various
assorted, diverse
various newspapers reported the crime differently.
activate
turn on; make active
The state has activated its emergency operation center.
adorn
to make beautiful
Her house was adorned with Christmas decorations.
align
place one or more objects in line with another
It was difficult to align the pictures with each other because the wall was circular.
application
a use in something
It is important to have a basic understanding of math because it has applications in science.
circular
having a round shape or design
The children ran and ran in circular motion for 30 minutes.
curl
wrap around something
The baby curled his hands around his mother's finger.
deactivate
to take out of active service
They deactivated the cell phone because their son was making too many international calls.
definitively
not able to be questioned or improved
We are definitively optimistic about the upcoming surgery.
devise
to create
When her daughter could not get married, the mother devised a plan to help her daughter find a husband.
enormous
extremely big
The stadium was enormous; it can seat 90,000 people.
envision
think up; imagine
Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned a less prejudice and less racial America
fashion
to design and make
He fashioned a shelter out of a few pieces of wood.
filament
a thin thread or fiber of natural or artificial material
Toothbrushes should be replaced every three months; this is how long it takes the filaments to get worn.
gigantic
very large
Dinosaurs are gigantic creatures that lived long ago.
innumerable
very many
It is impossible to count all the stars in the sky; they are innumerable.
layperson
someone who is not trained in or does not have a detailed knowledge of a particular subject
The engineering project took longer than expected because there were more layperson than professionals working on the project.
navigation
practice of figuring out a correct course for a ship or airplane
navigation of a ship requires expertise and skills.
propose
to suggest
After months of debating, he finally decided to propose to his girlfriend of 15 years.
recent
in the past, but not very long ago
The mayor made a recent visit to the sick children in the hospital.
repel
to make someone or something go away
This spray repels the mosquitoes and prevents them from biting you.
adoption
the acceptance of something
The adoption of the new policy increased productivity by 50%.
aspect
a feature, part of something
The teacher liked all aspects of the students' project except the presentation.
assemble
to put together, make
Her main job is to assemble Christmas ornaments in a factory.
capitalist
a wealthy person who loans money to businesses for interest payments
In true capitalist fashion, the father charged interest on the money the son had borrowed.
commonplace
frequent or usual
Car accidents are commonplace in the city of Seoul.
cottage industry
a small business run from home
EBay is a modern day cottage industry where people buy and sell merchandise from their homes.
deplorable
very bad
Low income senior citizens live in deplorable conditions.
era
a time period with a general character
The United States enjoyed a time of peace and prosperity during the Clinton era.
handicraft
objects made with skill by hand
All the Christmas decorations were handicrafts made by the native Americans.
impact
to have an effect
The new program to help the poor people impacted the community greatly.
incentive
something that makes someone work harder
The main incentive for the reading program is that students receive a coupon for a free pizza when they meet their monthly goals.
majority
more than half, but not all of something
The majority of the population voted for the new president.
manufacture
to make something for sale using machinery
The company manufactures clothing for dogs.
principle
standard, such as a guide to behavior
One of the principles of effective money management is not to have any debt.
productivity
the rate at which a company or country makes goods
The textile factory was able to increase productivity by creating a more friendly work environment.
profoundly
felt or experienced very strongly or in an extreme way
The movie about the holocaust profoundly impacted her view on what the Jews had experienced.
repeated
done many times, often
After several repeated calls to contact the winner, the committee gave up.
revolutionize
to change completely
The introduction of personal computers revolutionized the way people communicate with one another.
sacrifice
to give up something that is valuable to you in order to help another person
You can not achieve your goals without sacrificing something in your life.
textile
fabric made by weaving
The textile company faced much criticism for using child labor abroad.
afloat
on or above the water
Everyone had to get out of the boat because of the leak, and it could no longer stay afloat.
argue
to fight with words
Tom dreamed of leaving his house because he could not stand the fact that his parents argued all the time.
artifact
an object that is made by a person, such as a tool or a decoration, especially one that is of historical interest
The museum contained many artifacts from the Han Dynasty.
cork
a piece of cork, plastic or rubber, which is put into the top of a bottle, especially a wine bottle, to close it
They couldn't drink the wine because no one could get the cork out of the bottle.
decisive
showing a clear result
The other team had a decisive victory by beating us 35 to 2.
diameter
the width of a circle, measured by a straight line through its center from side to side
She drew a circle with a diameter of 15 inches.
drive
to cause forcefully
Before they could put up the tents, they had to drive the stakes into the ground.
incontrovertible
impossible to doubt because of being obviously true
No one could deny that Ann was his daughter because of the incontrovertible DNA evidence.
isolated
to separate from others
The family lived in an isolated farm outside of town.
origin
the location of where something begins or began
The origins of this artifact is unknown, but most believe it is from Asia.
proclivity
natural or habitual inclination or tendency
Ever since he was a youth, he showed a proclivity towards fighting.
relevance
a close relationship to something else
The topic Mary brought up had no relevance to our discussion.
rotate
turn in a circle, especially around a fixed point
You have to rotate the handle 90 degrees in order to open the door.
rumor
talk that comes from what other people say and not from true information or personal knowledge
Rumors of the affair destroyed the children's lives.
scintillate
to sparkle; flash
The audience was amazed at the boy's mind which scintillated with imagination.
stroke
to pass the hand lightly over something
The little boy liked his mother to stroke his back.
unassuming
quiet, modest
The famous scientist was an unassuming person with a quiet personality.
uncertainty
not knowing what to do or believe, or not able to decide about something
There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the disappearance of the princess.
venture
a business deal, with risk
He was a risk taker and had lost a lot of his money on fruitless ventures he had invested in.
warring
describes countries or groups of people that are at war with each other or who are arguing fiercely with each other
After 10 years of fighting, the warring countries came to a resolution.
ambivalent
uncertain
Although she wanted a change in her life, she was ambivalent about moving to China.
branch
a part of something larger
Botany is a branch of biology that deals with plant life.
concept
a general idea that usually includes other related ideas
Multiplication was a difficult concept for the second graders.
confound
to confuse and greatly surprise someone, so that they are unable to explain or deal with a situation
The patient confounded his doctors by being able to walk despite his broken leg.
correlate
to show or see how one thing relates meaningfully to another
Studying hard usually correlates with better grades.
diffuse
to cause something to spread in many directions
The internet is a power means to diffuse public opinion.
droplet
a small drop
I felt droplets of rain on my head.
failed
having not succeeded
She has had two failed marriages, and she is hoping that this marriage will last.
groundwork
work that is done as a preparation for work that will be done later
The high school students lay the groundwork for the exchange program that was to take place the following year.
indispensable
necessary
Air conditioners are indispensable in Texas, where summer temperatures can reach over a 100 degrees.
inquiry
a question, query
The FBI made an inquiry regarding his past employment.
posterior
positioned at or towards the back, or later in time
The back side of a person is his posterior.
purport
to pretend to be or to do something, especially in a way that is not easy to believe
He purports the tape recording is a conversation between the king and his mother.
rash
a large number of unpleasant events of the same type
There has been a rash of robberies in our neighborhood in the past few weeks.
reflection
serious and careful thought
On reflection, I made a mistake in marrying the first woman I met.
refract
To deflect from a straight path by refraction
The diamond ring refracted the light into a rainbow of beautiful colors.
scatter
to make something go in all directions
His homework was scattered all over his room.
straddle
to be unable to decide which of two opinions about a subject is better and so partly support both opinions
The presidential candidate has been accused of straddling the issue many times.
symbolism
the use of symbols to represent meaning in literature and the arts
Religious symbolism was depicted throughout the building.
treatise
A systematic, usually extensive written discourse on a subject
Legal treatises are books that provide an in-depth overview of a particular legal subject.
alternate
to move or switch back and forth
The children never felt comfortable because they alternated between their mother and father's homes.
apparent
obvious
She looked very happy, and it was apparent that she was in love with her husband.
catch
a hidden difficulty or unpleasant requirement
There was a catch to the marriage; she was required to live with his parents for five years.
collective
of a group
The collective opinion of the group was that they were in favor of lowering taxes.
create
to make something in a special way
The company created a new toy they hoped would increase their profits.
deceptive
causing someone to believe what is not true
The father always made deceptive promises to his children.
discrete
having a distinct identity or existence
The company is discrete from all the others which are all foreign owned.
electron
a part of the atom with a negative charge
electrons are outside of the nucleus of an atom.
emit
to send out
The kettle emitted steam and a whistling sound when the water was boiled.
evidence
to show
Her superior intelligence was evidenced by her getting a full scholarship to Stanford University.
microscopic
extremely small
The tardigrade is a microscopic animal that looks like a tiny bear.
parallel
running side by side at an equal distance apart
Railroad tracks are parallel to each other.
particle
extremely small unit of matter, such as an atom, ion, etc.
Small particles of dirt were present in the water.
photon
a single of light
Photons are always in motion and, in a vacuum, have a constant speed of light.
quantum
the smallest or amount of energy
A quantum of energy is so small that it can no longer be broken down.
simply
without any difficulty
They were amazed at how simply she was able to maneuver the obstacles.
slit
to make a narrow cut
She slit her wrist with the knife accidentally.
twist
an unusual development
There was a new twist to the murder case; the husband was found guilty.
vertical
pointing straight up or at an angle of 90° to a horizontal surface or line
The husband preferred vertical blinds, but the wife thought they made the house look smaller.
wave
an electronic, light, or sound movement of energy
Microwaves can be very dangerous to humans.
abominable
very bad or unpleasant
Her treatment of her pets was abominable; her neighbors finally called the humane society.
artificially
made by people
The mother did not allow her children to drink anything artificially sweetened.
cataclysmic
relating to a violent event
The tsunami was a cataclysmic event that destroyed most of the island.
chain reaction
a series of events in which one event causes the next
When the students protested the new homework policy, it created a chain reaction of events in which the police got involved.
commonly
usually
In the past, people from Asia were commonly referred to as 'Orientals.'
critical mass
an amount necessary or sufficient to have a significant effect or to achieve a result
critical mass occurs when there is sufficient momentum and that momentum becomes self-sustaining and fuels further growth.
dismay
to shock and discourage
The loss of their grandmother dismayed the children.
exponentially
describes a rate of increase which becomes quicker and quicker as the thing that increases becomes larger
The treatment became ineffective because the cancer cells were growing exponentially.
horrific
terrifying
The scientists decided to abandon their project after they witnessed the horrific results of the lab experiment.
horrific
terrifying
The scientists decided to abandon their project after they witnessed the horrific results of the lab experiment.
instigate
to make something happen
The bully instigated a fight against the first grade students.
largely
to a great degree
She is largely responsible for her son's success.
massively
large in scale, amount, or degree
His experience in traveling to different countries has been massively beneficial to his job as an ambassador.
peter out
to gradually stop or disappear
The fight which started out in the morning had petered out by the evening.
potentially
possibly
His new invention could potentially save millions of lives.
propaganda
information, ideas, opinions or images, often only giving one part of an argument, which are broadcast, published or in some other way spread with the intention of influencing people's opinions
TV sets in North Korea are tuned to government stations that pump out a steady stream of propaganda.
radioactivity
the quality that some atoms have of producing energy
radioactivity occurs because some atoms are not stable.
relatively
in a relative manner
Students from wealthier families do relatively better than students from low income families.
stem
to come from
His anger towards women stemmed from his relationship with his mother.
trivial
unimportant
Besides sports, the husband considered all other topics trivial.
advance
an improvement
Scientific advances is what enabled the doctors to find a cure for their mother's illness.
civilian
someone who is not a member of the military or police forces
After serving in the military for 25 years, he was a civilian again.
concentration
total attention to something
One of his difficulties in school was that he lacked concentration.
contamination
to spoil the purity of something or make it poisonous
After the oil spill, the lake had to be checked for contamination.
disaster
a sudden great act of destruction and loss
Earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons are considered natural disasters.
exceed
to be more than
The donations from the church far exceeds what they were hoping for.
facility
the physical area
The apartment complex had a nice recreational facility including a weight room and indoor swimming pools.
inability
lack of power or capacity to do something
Harold was never able to get married because of his inability to commit to a relationship.
inadequate
not enough
The mother's supply of milk was inadequate, so the doctors recommended supplementing with formula.
material
any physical substance, such as rock, wood, glass, plastic, etc
Many kitchen utensils are now made from plastic material.
meltdown
the melting down of uranium rods and safety walls, releasing nuclear radiation
The reactor lost its coolant causing a nuclear meltdown.
misconception
misunderstanding
The bride had the misconception that the wedding was going to be paid by the groom's family.
neutron
a part of an atom that has no electrical charge
The neutron and proton make up the nucleus of an atom.
nuclear fission
the splitting of the nucleus of an atom, which results in the release of a large amount of energy
nuclear fission resulted in the development of atomic bombs which were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
perception
the way a person sees something
My perception of the meeting was very different than yours.
threshold
the level or point at which you start to experience something, or at which something starts to happen
I have a high threshold for pain.
tragedy
a sad event
The death of their son was a tragedy that affected the entire neighborhood.
turbine
a machine that produces power by turning blades with steam, water, or gas, especially to create electricity
A turbine is a rotary engine that extracts energy from a fluid flow.
uncontrolled
not controlled
The son's spending was uncontrolled, and he had to file for bankruptcy.
waste
to make poor use of something valuable
The students wasted the scratch paper by only using one side of it.
accrete
to grow together
In science when something accretes, it gradually increases by steady addition of smaller parts.
asteroid
any of thousands of usu. irregularly shaped heavenly bodies
Ceres was the first asteroid that was discovered; it is also the largest.
birth
to cause or produce something
For years, I kept a notebook with ideas for birthing new inventions.
boundary
a real or imagined line that marks the edge or limit of something
The city boundaries are marked by the railroad tracks.
condense
to reduce something
He had to condense his speech because the audience was losing interest.
debris
remains of something
There was a lot of debris near the construction site.
detection
a discovery
After the detection of a mole in his arm, the man became worried that it might be cancer.
inhibit
to make an action or behavior difficult
Her lack of confidence inhibited her from getting a better job.
magnetic field
an area around a magnet or something magnetic, in which its power to attract objects to itself can be felt
Earth's magnetic field is approximately a magnetic dipole, with one pole near the north pole and the other near the south pole.
molecule
the simplest of a chemical substance, usually a group of two or more atoms
Two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom make up one water molecule.
predict
to say what will happen in the future
Fortune tellers say they can predict the future, but they usually not right.
protoplanetary disk
a rotating disk of dense gas surrounding a young newly formed star
Protoplanetary discs are rather cool.
protostar
any early stage in the formation of a star when an interstellar cloud of gas and dust starts to collapse but before nuclear synthesis has begun at its core
A protostar is surrounded by a dense cocoon of gas and dust that blocks visible light.
rotate
turn in a circle, especially around a fixed point
You have to rotate the handle 90 degrees in order to open the door.
solar system
the Sun, Earth, eight other planets, moons, comets, that move around the sun
The solar system fascinates even the youngest of children.
solidify
to make something definite
We solidified our plans to visit all the famous museums in the world.
speck
a tiny piece
The woman was obsessed about her house being clean and would not even tolerate a speck of dust.
spew
to come out or push out with force
Lava spewed out of the volcano.
strict
expecting rules to be followed
The mother gave her son strict orders to be home by midnight.
vast
wide in area
Traveling on the vast ocean reminded him of the trip he had taken as a child.
annihilate
to eradicate by force
The atomic bomb almost annihilated the entire population.
attempt
endeavor
She made several attempts to get in touch with her but was unsuccessful.
clump
group together in a clump
The plastic toys had melted in the sun and had clumped together.
comet
fast-moving heavenly body with a solid head surrounded by a glowing cloud of gases that circles the sun
Halley's comet may have first been seen as far back as 240 B.C.
conjecture
the forming of an opinion or conclusion without having enough evidence
She conjectured as to why the student always wore the same clothes.
contend
to state formally that something is true
The victim contended that the two young boys were guilty.
derive
to obtain
She derives pleasure from watching her grandchildren play.
discovery
the finding of something new
With the discovery of penicillin, many lives have been saved.
enthusiast
a person who is very interested in and involved with a particular subject or activity
He collected stamps from all over the world. He was a stamp colleting enthusiast.
entirely
completely
I have to admit the accident was entirely my fault.
flurry
a rush of activity
A flurry of shopping took place the day after Thanksgiving.
interval
a time period between events
She and her husband go on dates in regular intervals.
Northern Lights
the lights that appear at night in the sky of the far north
We saw the Northern Lights during our trip to Canada.
obstinately
unreasonably determined
He obstinately presented his point even though no one agreed with him.
perceive
to understand
All the members present perceived the situation differently and couldn't come to a decision.
pose
present; cause
Smoking poses a threat to our health.
rampant
uncontrollable and widespread
Looting was rampant after the fire.
speculation
guess; uninformed opinion
There has been widespread speculation that he plans to quit.
theorize
to form or propose a theory
Albert Einstein first theorized about relativity.
unravel
to understand in a slow, painstaking way
The case started to unravel when they found the car.
aboriginal
a person or living thing that has existed in a country or continent since the earliest time known to people
aboriginal people of Australia make up about 2.5% of the population.
assertion
statement something is true
He made the assertion that it would not rain tomorrow.
banish
to send someone away
Romeo kills Tybalt, and he was banished from Verona.
boast
to praise oneself
The little boy boasted about how many toys he had.
conceited
too high an opinion of oneself
He was so conceited that no one wanted to play with him.
delineate
to describe usually in specific detail
You must delineate what you want in a prenuptial contract.
detect
to uncover
During her routine check up, the doctors detected an abnormal heartbeat.
enamored
to like a lot
I am not particularly enamored with the buildings in Europe.
espy
to suddenly or unexpectedly see something
The boy espied a whale in the ocean.
folklore
the traditional customs, beliefs, stories of a people, country, or region
Tangun is a Korean folklore.
grief-stricken
overwhelmed by grief
When she learned her father had lost all of his money in the stock market, she was grief-stricken.
hemisphere
half of the earth
The Earth is divided into the northern and southern hemisphere.
initiate
to cause something to start
After watching the man play basketball, she initiated a conversation with him.
legend
a story from the distant past
The story of Robin Hood is a legend that most people was based on a real person.
Paleolithic
belonging to the period when humans used tools and weapons made of stone
The paleolithic Period is sometimes referred to as the Stone Age.
permeate
to spread through something and be present in every part of it
The smell of vinegar permeated the entire room.
primeval
prehistoric
primeval fish live in the depths of the ocean.
reflection
serious and careful thought
On reflection, I made a mistake in marrying the first woman I met.
roam
to go freely over a large area
The toddlers were free to roam all over the auditorium.
summon
to call or send for
The principal summoned me to his office.
astronomer
a scientist who studies heavenly bodies and outer space
My uncle is an astronomer who works at night and sleeps during the day.
backup
something that you have arranged in case your main plans, equipment, go wrong
We have a back up plan incase it rains.
blur
difficult to see, understand or separate clearly
The distinction between art and graffiti has blurred in recent years.
caption
an explanation written above, below, or beside a picture
Newspapers usually have captions below each picture.
cost
the cost of something
We need to cut our costs for eating out.
daunt
to make afraid
The thought of raising her children alone was daunting.
dazzling
extremely attractive or exciting
The third grade class gave a dazzling ballet performance.
distortion
a change that makes something false
The distortions of the details of her story made me realize that she really was not present at the site of the accident.
harrowing
extremely upsetting
Three gun men had entered the bank while we were there; it was a harrowing experience.
improperly
not correct for a particular use or occasion
The tire was installed improperly which caused the accident.
maintenance
keeping something in good condition
Regular maintenance of your car is extremely important.
mar
to damage
Her face had been marred by the accident.
mishap
an accident
She had a mishap with her car on her way to work.
preclude
to make impossible
Breaking her arm precluded her from the tournament.
priceless
such great value that no price would be high enough
Watching the children laugh and enjoy themselves was priceless.
push back
cause to move back by force or influence
They had to push back the date of the wedding because her fiance had been deployed to Iraq.
reverse
to change the direction
The teacher reversed her decision and gave the students no homework for the holidays.
spiral
something that curves in a circular way around a center point, and sometimes up and down, like a screw or a winding staircase,
Bed springs are shaped like spiral shaped.
telescope
an optical instrument used to make distant objects seem larger
The telescope made the stars appear very close.
temporary
passing, impermanent
Her husband assured her that his phase of their lives was temporary; life would get better.
acquire
get; pick up
I acquired the right to fire anyone who brings down the company.
cameo
a brief appearance by a famous person in a movie or play
Alfred Hitchcock made several cameo appearances in his movies.
concession
a surrender to a special demand by someone
We were able to sell our house on the concession that we paint the outside.
entrepreneur
person who starts a company or backs other business opportunities
Juliet was a young entrepreneur with big ideas.
eyesore
something that is unpleasant to look at
My stepmother regarded me as an eyesore.
household
common or usual
The science experiments were easy to do because they only required household items.
incur
to take on responsibilities, obligations, etc
Her family did not have much money, so she incurred a lot of debt while attending university.
lull
a lessening or temporary stopping of activity
During the holidays, the store was very busy, but now there is a lull.
opportunity
an occasion for personal advancement or financial gain
The young girl had the opportunity to travel to Europe with her debate class.
preliminary
a preparation for some event
Before her surgery, the doctors wanted to run some preliminary tests.
prestige
qualities, such as excellent reputation, wealth, and power, that bring admiration or honor
Her job as a researcher gave her a lot of prestige.
real estate
property that cannot be moved, such as land, houses, and office buildings
The real estate market in California skyrocketed within the last 7 years.
reality television show
a TV show about real people
Reality television shows can be about anyone; they did one on a tennis professional.
recession
a time when economic activity is not strong
During the recession, the gas prices doubled.
renovate
to renew something
After many attempts at fixing the leak, the owner decided to renovate the building.
renovation
the process of renewing something
Renovations to the house were moving at a very slow pace; the family was quite upset at the contractors.
seemingly
appearing to be something, especially when this is not true
She appears very composed and seemingly unaffected by the fire.
skyscraper
a very tall building
Because there is so much land in Texas, you do not see many skyscrapers.
stake
the stakes are the reward for the person who wins or succeeds in it
The stakes for this race is high; the winner gets a trip around the world.
virtue
moral goodness, such as honesty or clean living
The doctor was a man of virtue.
additive
a substance which is added to food in order to improve its taste or appearance or to preserve it
The children preferred store bought cookies because of all the additives.
advent
beginning
Life in American was transformed with the advent of automobiles.
climate
the type of weather that a place or region has
When people grow old, they prefer to live in places where the climate is moderate.
convenient
easy and comfortable to do or get to
Because both parents work, it is convenient for the family to eat fast food.
diminish
to lessen
The company's reputation has diminished over the years.
drawback
something that can create a problem
One of the drawbacks of a city life is the pollution and congestion.
ensure
to make sure
After the shooting, the school took drastic measures to ensure the safety of its students.
marine
related to the ocean
The ocean and everything in it fascinated her; she ultimately decided to become a marine biologist.
minimize
to reduce something to the limit
Seatbelts minimize injuries from auto accidents.
modify
to change something
When she discovered her son had diabetes, she had to modify his diet drastically.
obtain
to acquire
It was difficult to obtain a passport for her husband because he was foreign born.
optimal
referring to the best
The weather was optimal for a tennis tournament--no winds, no rain and a temperature of 75 degrees.
pesticide
a chemical used to kill insects and weeds
You need to wash apples carefully to remove all the pesticides.
preservative
a chemical that keeps food from going bad
Parents today are feeding their children more organic foods because they do not contain preservatives.
preserve
to prevent food from spoiling
Refrigerators preserve food from spoiling.
promote
to support
Eating a healthy breakfast promotes good health.
resistance
not to do something
The principal faced a lot of resistance when he proposed a no-homework policy.
suitable
appropriate
The mother realized she didn't have suitable clothes for the party.
trait
a particular characteristic that can produce a particular type of behavior
Being rude is not a positive trait.
undermine
to ruin the efforts of someone
The father had no authority over his children because his wife constantly undermined his disciplining efforts.
capitalize on
to use a situation to your own advantage
She capitalized on her good looks to get promoted in the company.
chemist
a scientist who works with chemicals or studies their reactions
The chemist was always making new things; his laboratory was filled with bottles filled with different colored liquids.
concoct
to mix together
Mark liked to concoct drinks using six different liquids.
confidently
having strong belief or full assurance
The little girl walked confidently across the stage and gave her piano performance.
convert
to change the condition or status of something
She was Catholic, but she converted to Islam to marry her husband.
cosmetic
a beauty preparation, like makeup, lipstick, and skin cream, used on the body, esp. on the face
She had many allergies and could only use European cosmetics on her face.
devise
to create
When her daughter could not get married, the mother devised a plan to help her daughter find a husband.
disguise
to change one's appearance to fool others
The king disguised himself as a beggar to find out what his followers really thought of him.
distributor
a person or business that distributes goods
She is a distributor for the Coca Cola company.
employee
someone who is paid to work for someone else
She is my former employee, and now she works for Microsoft.
follow suit
to watch the development of
The republican candidate submitted all his tax returns; the citizens wondered if the other candidates would follow suit.
ingenious
very good at making things or solving problems
The children found an ingenious way to build a bridge without using any tools.
ingredient
an item in a recipe
Because she lacked several ingredients, the cake did not turn out very good.
innovative
using new methods or ideas
The child was quite innovative and did not require any toys to keep him busy; he could make things out of an empty box.
inquire
to ask about something
The professor inquired about my health because I was coughing in class.
knowledge
an understanding of something
Having lived in Asia for several years, he had a lot of knowledge about Chinese history.
makeover
a thorough course of beauty and cosmetic treatments
Most women like to receive free makeovers that are offered from cosmetic counters in department stores.
prior
earlier
With no prior experience in raising children, the couple adopted three siblings.
relocate
move to a new place
Our family relocated from California to Texas.
variation
a change
She made several variations to her famous chocolate chip cookies.
budding
beginning to develop or show signs of future success in a particular area
She was a budding actress; all of her family members were impressed with her acting skills.
charity
an organization that helps poor people
She gave up her lucrative career and now does a lot of charity work.
dyslexia
a disorder marked by a difficulty recognizing written words
His dyslexia caused him to do poorly in school; he had a difficult time reading.
entity
a group viewed as a whole
Although they are owned by the same person, they are essentially different entities.
essentially
relating to the most important characteristics or ideas of something
It's essentially a phone, but it has other capabilities.
expand
to grow larger
After making a lot of money, he expanded his business overseas.
imprison
to send to jail
Many innocent citizens were imprisoned during the war.
lyric(s)
the words of a song
Many children did not know the lyrics to the national anthem.
nonconformist
a person who does not behave according to ordinary standards of conduct
Even as a child, she never liked to do what other children liked to do; she was always a nonconformist.
oversee
to make sure that people do their work properly
As director of sales, she oversaw 30 different territories.
persevere
to continue working toward a goal despite difficulties
Despite his hardships, he persevered and made it to Yale University.
rags-to-riches
when a person goes from poverty to wealth
Her rags-to-riches story is an encouragement to all the single mothers.
restrictive
tending or serving to restrict
People with diabetes have restrictive diets.
self-made
successful because of one's own effort, not because of money or help from others
Todd grew up in the slums; he is a self-made millionaire.
startup
of or pertaining to the beginning of a new project or venture
Netflix is a startup company that succeeded.
submission
weak agreement
She had a difficult time adjusting to the school because of their demand for strict submission to authority.
tremendous
huge, vast
The pastor was a tremendous support to the family during their trial.
unexpectedly
not expected
Her husband unexpectedly left the party.
utilize
to use
She utilized her negotiation skills to get the contract.
venture
a business deal, with risk
He was a risk taker and had lost a lot of his money on fruitless ventures he had invested in.
adversity
bad luck
Despite her adversity of not being able to speak the language, she was able to start her business and became very successful.
ambition
desire to succeed
Her ambition was to become an astronaut and travel to outer space.
concerted
focused; intensive
She has begun to make a concerted effort to find a job.
disciplinarian
a person who believes in and demands obedience to rules
The father was strict, but the mother was the disciplinarian in the home; the children were more afraid of their mother than the father.
ghetto
an area in a city where many people of a particular nationality, race, or religion live
He grew up in the ghetto; it was a miracle that he ever survived.
handle
to take care of something
The lawyer did not handle the case very well; she should not have spoken to the judge that way.
influential
the power to have an effect on people or things
Her mother was very influential in her decision to become a doctor.
niche
position or place that is just right for a person
She was happy with her new job as a nurse; she had found her niche.
objectivity
based on real facts and not influenced by personal beliefs or feelings
The judge lost his objectivity in the case because of his relationship to the victim.
philanthropist
a person who helps or gives to good causes
The philanthropist made sure students who wanted to study had a chance to go to college.
poverty-stricken
very poor
After the father lost his job, the family was poverty-stricken.
rebellious
defying or resisting some established authority, government, or tradition
As a child he was very rebellious and was punished quite often.
recite
to speak something one knows from memory
The little girl walked around the house reciting her nursery rhymes.
reinvent
take something old and do or show it in a new way
With the internet, communications has been reinvented.
rural
in the countryside
The rural farm life can be quite calming and quiet.
spell
period of time
Before becoming a famous actor, he worked as a waiter for a spell.
stern
not flexible
The father was very stern and expected his children to obey him without arguing.
switch
to change suddenly or completely, especially from one thing to another
switching your major too many times during college can really hinder you from graduating in a timely manner.
tax evasion
ways of illegally paying less tax than you should
He cheated on his taxes for several years, and now the government is going after him for tax evasion.
unbiased
not biased or prejudiced
Although the teacher had her favorites, she tried to remain unbiased.
backfire
to produce an undesired result
His plan to steal his friend's girlfriend backfired.
blame
to say someone is responsible for something bad
The townspeople blamed the mayor for all their problems.
dichotomy
a difference between two completely opposite ideas or things
There is often a dichotomy between what politicians say and do.
effective
having the result that one wants
The mother found an effective way of cleaning her kitchen.
garner
to collect something, usually after much work or with difficulty
The step mother was able to garner trust from the children very quickly; she was a very compassionate and understanding woman.
identifiable
able to be recognized
She was badly burned in the fire, and her facial features were not identifiable.
inspire
to cause to work hard or be creative
The book was written to inspire all artist to pursue their dreams.
instill
give a quality by example or teaching
The family decided to home school their children because they wanted to instill good moral values.
intuition
a guess about something without certain facts
Women have better intuition and know when there is something wrong with their children.
motivate
to give a reason to do something
motivating teenagers to do their homework and study hard is a challenge to most teachers.
oriented
To make familiar with or adjusted to facts
She was very family oriented and got married as soon as she graduated from college.
procedure
a detailed method of doing something
During a fire drill, it is very important to follow the correct procedures.
prompt
done without delay
They liked the restaurant because of the prompt service they receive.
resentment
a feeling of anger about something
After his plan backfired, his friend had a lot of resentment towards him.
skeptical
doubting that something is true or useful
I was very skeptical of his professed faith, until I actually saw him serving the needs of the homeless.
status quo
the way things are now
Most teenagers do not like to change; they like to keep the status quo.
subordinate
person of lower rank
The general commanded complete submission from his subordinates.
task
job to be performed
As a mother, she had many tasks that needed attention each day.
teamwork
a cooperative effort with each person working to reach a common goal
Football and basketball requires teamwork, whereas tennis does not.
tense
nervous
The meeting was very tense because the owner was going to announce who would be laid off.
black-and-white
absolute
It was difficult to make a decision because the situation was not clear; it was not black-and-white.
boycott
a refusal for political reasons to buy certain products or do business with a certain store or company
Many parents started a boycott against Disney when they found out it made movies that were not appropriate for young children.
child labor
full-time employment of children who are under a minimum legal age
His company was found to have used child labor for their children's clothing line.
deem
to consider
The committee deemed me worthy of receiving the scholarship.
dilemma
a difficult choice between two undesirable alternatives
Cara faced a dilemma; she had to decide if she should pull the life support from her husband or continue to let him live on life support in a vegetative state.
disallow
to refuse to accept
The teacher disallowed her paper because it was 10 days late.
engage
to be involved
She was tired and didn't want to engage in the conversation.
failure
a person who fails
He felt like a failure because he was 40 years old and didn't have a wife or a stable job.
generate
to produce
We may have to close that branch because it does not generate enough sales.
lay off
to dismiss an employee
The manager did not want to do it, but he was responsible for laying off 30 employees.
misguide
to guide wrongly
The signs had misguided her, and she ended up in the woods.
moral
relating to the standards of good or bad behavior
He had no morals, and it did not bother him that he was stealing money from his mother.
observer
a person who observes something without participating
He was not an active participant in the games; he was just an observer.
patronize
to be a customer of
She only patronizes the stores in Beverly Hills.
profit
money remaining after business expenses are deducted
During the month of December, he gives all of his profits to the needy people.
redundant
not necessary or needed
The husband hated to be redundant, but he had to repeat everything to his wife three times.
scruple(s)
principles of personal conduct that stop you from doing something wrong
He has no scruples at all; he has no quilt about taking things home from his office.
shareholder
a person who owns some of the equal parts into which the ownership of a company is divided
The shareholders of the company decided to fire the CEO.
sneaker
a type of light comfortable shoe that is suitable for playing sports
Their son was so active that he wore out his sneakers every month.
unethical
not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior
Her boss was an unethical man who did not mind using company funds for personal use.
acquisition
the process of getting ownership of something
His latest acquisition was a brand new car.
capitalism
an economic system based on private ownership, competition, and a free market
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, it moved from communism to capitalism.
designate
to appoint
During the CEO's absence, Mark was designated to head the company.
enterprise
a business
His new business enterprise was a company that cleans sneakers for a very low fee.
equal
an equivalent
In his will, the father left equal shares of his estate to both his daughters.
extensive
great in amount or area
The coupled did extensive renovations in their house this year.
feat
an impressive act, showing strength, courage, or unusual ability
Climbing Mt. Everest in his condition was no small feat.
harmful
causing hurt or damage
The mother tried very hard to keep harmful substances locked up.
hostile
fierce; unfriendly
We were happy to move away from our hostile neighbor.
incorporate
to include
The master plan incorporated ideas from the students and the teachers.
inflate
raise above the normal or proper level
The newlywed were discouraged about buying a house because of inflating prices.
market share
The proportion of industry sales of a good or service that is controlled by a company
The owner of the new hamburger business sought ways to increase his market share.
merger
combining two companies into one larger company
The merger between the two companies gave them more competitive power.
monopoly
the control of an entire market by only one person, business, or organization
Most governments have laws to prevent companies from becoming a monopoly.
perceive
to understand
All the members present perceived the situation differently and couldn't come to a decision.
prevent
to stop from happening
There is no way to prevent your car from getting dirty; you just need to clean it often.
reasonable
referring to a logical and right thing to do
He felt the price for the jacket was very reasonable so he purchased it.
seek
to request
Mayor Thomson wanted to seek another term in office.
stimulate
to increase energy or activity
Competition between students is good because it stimulates creativity.
strictly
in a very limited or limiting way
The party was strictly for newcomers.
asset
items of value to a person, business, or institution
The man decided to divide his assets equally between his children when he died.
code
a way of hiding the true meaning of communications from all except those people who have the keys to understand it
The children liked to speak to each other in a secret code.
corporation
a business with a legal status where the assets and debts belong to shareholders
The corporation has many branches all over the world.
debt
a sum of money owed to another
During college she had incurred a lot of debt.
declare
to state something
After declaring his love for her, he got down on his knees and proposed.
difference
a way of being different
The difference between the two education systems is that one focuses on the individuality of each child.
dissolution
a breaking down into parts or pieces
As her symptoms got worse, we watched the dissolution of the patient's courage.
earning
the amount of money that someone is paid for the work they do
When she calculated her earnings for the year, she was surprised at how much she had made.
exist
to be present physically or emotionally
Many non profit organizations exist to serve the community.
extreme
large in amount or degree
The woman felt the punishment was too extreme and was very upset.
handshake
a way people greet or leave each other, or agree on a decision, by grasping each other's hand
In many countries a business deal is done through a handshake.
informal
casual
The business dinner was very informal; everyone came in jeans.
liability
a legal obligation, such as to pay debts and damages
After the hurricane, the insurance companies had huge liabilities to pay for the damages.
liable
legally obligated
Most business form a corporation because they do not want to be personally liable.
obligate
to make someone feel he or she must do something
Although she was not his daughter, he felt obligated to help pay for her college expenses.
obligation
responsibility
Family members carry out the obligations of their roles.
partnership
a form of business with two or more owners
The two sisters formed a partnership when they started their craft business.
portion
a small piece or section of a larger thing
She was happy to pay her portion of the bill.
retain
to keep something
Tom tried to retian his heavyweight championship.
specify
to say or communicate exactly what one wants or needs
His mother never specifies what she needs; I always have to guess what she wants.
cognizant
having knowledge
He was not cognizant of the fact that his wife had invited 50 people to their house.
concise
in few words with much meaning
She enjoyed her professors lectures because they were concise and to the point.
confirm
to make sure something is right by checking it again
You need to confirm whether you want to attend the party or not.
confusion
disorder
When the fire alarm rang, there was much confusion in the room.
effort
physical or mental work
She put a lot of effort into planning the party.
gesture
a body movement to show something
After going to the dentist, she could not speak and only used gestures.
illegible
difficult to read
Students these days are not taught good handwriting skills; most of what they write are illegible.
incomplete
lacking something
The woman always felt incomplete because she never had children.
inefficiency
not organized, skilled or able to work satisfactorily
The inefficiency of the workers caused the company to lose a lot of money.
intention
purpose
My intentions were not to harm the dog, but when I tried to bandage his leg, he ran away.
intercept
to stop or catch something while it is in the air or going toward something
Mary intercepted the mail her husband sent to his boss; she didn't want him to quit his job.
memo
written note used inside a company to inform others, ask for information, record meetings, etc
Office memos are no longer used; most people just send an email.
occur
to come to mind
It never occurred to her to call her parents when her plane got delayed.
oral
related to the mouth
She enjoys giving oral presentations.
outline
the outer shape of something
The outline of the building cast a big shadow on the street.
plethora
an overabundance
There was a plethora of self-help books published each year.
recipient
a person who receives something sent or given by another
The recipient of the award was overwhelmed and could not speak.
relevant
closely connected
Students learn faster when the material they are learning is relevant to their lives.
sift
to look through something carefully
The fire fighters sifted through the debris.
summarize
to give a summary
He tried to summarize the speech, but he had forgotten the main points.
accompany
to be provided or exist at the same time as something
There is a lot of stress that accompanies planning a wedding.
cite
to mention or quote as an example or authority
Taking final exams is cited by most college students as being the most stressful experience.
convey
carry from one place to another
He was never good with words; he could never convey what he was in his heart.
cue card
a large card, out of range of the camera, on which words or phrases have been printed in large letters for the speaker or performer to read or use as a memory aid during a program
His job was to hold the cue cards for the announcers during the news broadcast.
dull
not interesting or exciting in any way
The lecture was so dull, the students just walked out of class.
duration
the time that something continues or exists
Please refrain from smoking during the duration of the tour.
elicit
to bring out
The speaker tried to elicit responses from the audience, but they all stared back with blank faces.
engaging
captivating
The speakers presentation was not engaging at all; everyone in the audience was moving around in their chairs.
guideline
information intended to advise people on how something should be done or what something should be
The teacher did not have specific guidelines for the students to follow which caused some students to be very confused.
intimidate
to make someone fearful or timid by showing power or making threats
intimidating his classmates was one way in which the boy felt some sense of self confidence.
market
promote goods and services
When you market a product, you advertise to let consumers know about it.
nerve-wracking
describes something that is difficult to do and causes a lot of worry for the person involved in it
Giving a speech in front of thousands of people is a nerve-wracking experience.
pertinent
directly related
His presentation was very informative because it was filled with only pertinent information.
quantity
a general amount, a supply
The store did not have the exact quantity of items that I needed.
seminar
a meeting or short course on a specific topic
I attended a seminar which taught me how to be a better teacher.
tedious
long and dull
Defining 1600 vocabulary words can be a tedious job.
undivided
complete
Whenever her child talked to her, the mother always gave her undivided attention.
unrehearsed
not practiced in advance
You could tell the speech was unrehearsed because he kept making mistakes.
visual aids
something that you are shown, such as a picture, film or map, in order to help you understand or remember information
Little children learn better if there are visual aids.
wrought
formed
The stores online sales was wrought with many problems.
convince
to cause someone to believe something is worth doing or true
I tried to convince my mother to allow me to marry the prisoner.
dialogue
conversation
I had a dialogue with my teacher because of my scholarship.
distraction
something that interrupts
Due to the distractions from the street below, the boy could not fall asleep.
exert
to act with power, force, influence
The doctors warned her to stay in bed and not exert too much energy.
exhibit
to show
The museum will exhibit the artifacts all through the month of June.
face-to-face
meeting someone in the same place
She liked communicating through email, but she always preferred talking to her children face-to-face.
figure
person
John F. Kennedy is a very important political figure.
hinder
to slow the progress of something
Not having a college degree hindered her from getting a job as a teacher.
imperative
necessary
It was imperative that she find a husband soon, if she wanted to have children.
insult
a very unkind remark about someone
He was more upset because the insult was directed at his mother.
key
the most important part of something
The key factor to her success was that she worked very hard and never gave up.
misgiving
doubt
After getting married, she had many misgivings.
negotiation
a talk between people to reach an agreement on something
His job required him to make many negotiations with international companies.
one-way
describes a relationship which is not fair because only one person or group of the two makes any effort
She never knew what he was thinking because their conversations were always one-way; he never said more than three words.
respect
To feel or show deferential regard for
He wanted to be respected by his employees, but what he didn't realize was that respect is something you have to earn.
respectable
a good place in society
Martin Luther King Jr. was a respectable figure that relentless fought for civil rights.
smoothly
without interruption or difficulty
After all her planning, the bride prayed that her wedding would go smoothly.
two-way
entailing responsibilities, obligations on both such parties
Marriage she realized was a two-way street.
underling
an unimportant person
When speaking to teenagers, it is important to give them respect and not make them feel like underlings.
wander
to go from place to place without a fixed plan or goal
After losing his job, he wandered through the streets trying to figure out why he was laid off.
acute
great
Lack of motivation in students was acute in poor neighborhoods.
antiquity
the time of ancient societies
In antiquity, the Roman civilization was powerful and lasted for hundreds of years.
brutality
cruelty
The brutality of the guards towards the prisoner was caught on tape.
city-state
in the ancient world, a city and the area around it with an independent government
Rome and Athens were great city-states of the ancient world.
combat
to fight against
His main job as a police officer is to combat crime.
confession
an admission of guilt
The criminal did not mean to make a confession, but it just happened naturally.
constant
happening all the time
He could not sleep because of the constant noise from the apartment below.
decree
an order given by an authority
There was a government decree banning all religious meetings.
defend
to protect against attack
It was the responsibility of the knights to defend the castle.
despot
a dictator
The king was a despot, and his followers constantly lived in fear.
deter
prevent from acting
The children were able to deter the stranger from kidnapping them by kicking and screaming.
elite
the leaders and professionals in the highest levels of a society
The ruling elite is made up of the queen and her sons.
fugitive
a person who is running away
After the prisoner escaped from prison, he became a fugitive.
hierarchy
a system in which people or things are arranged according to their importance
He rose quickly through the company hierarchy to become the CEO.
internal
inside, within
The current president is more focused on internal affairs than foreign policy.
notoriously
famous for something bad
San Francisco is notoriously known for its cold summers.
refrain
to avoid doing something
The father refrained from smoking inside the house.
remunerate
to pay someone for work or services
The gardener was poorly remunerated for his work.
suspicion
the act or condition of suspecting
The employer treated her with suspicion after he found out her past.
swell
to enlarge or expand in size
The union membership swelled this month when 100 new employees joined.
analysis
scientific examination of something
I was interested in the teacher's analyses of the situation.
attain
to achieve
When he attained his doctorate, he felt he had accomplished all his dreams.
capable
having the ability or power to do something well
She was very capable of finding her way around town.
compensation
payment in money
My compensation for doing this work was only $40.
compensation package
all the items, in addition to pay, the company will give you
His compensation package included housing, tuition for his children's education and two round trip tickets back home for the entire family.
evaluation
an analysis
Her yearly evaluation was very positive, so she got a big raise.
free will
the power to make one's own choices
People in communist countries do not have free will; they must obey what they are told to do.
human resources
personnel
Large companies have many programs to encourage and retain their human resources.
mobility
the ability to be mobile
After the stroke, she lost mobility in both her legs.
objective
not influenced by emotions or personal beliefs
The teacher had her favorites and could never be objective when it came to resolving disputes.
payroll
a list of employees to be paid and the amounts due to each
After working as a temporary employee, they finally put me on the payroll.
personnel
all the people working in an organization
The human resources department of a company deals with hiring the personnel.
promotion
movement to a new and better job
Getting a promotion in his company enabled the young couple to purchase a house.
recruitment
the process of interviewing and choosing people to do a job
She was responsible for the recruitment of cast members for the new musical production.
reward
something given in exchange for good behavior or good work
The rewards of teaching far outweigh the negatives.
screen
to test or examine someone or something to discover if there is anything wrong with them
Most companies screen their employees for drug abuse.
strength
a good characteristic
His strength is that he gets along with everyone.
strive
to work hard for something
The parents encouraged their children to always strive for perfection.
undergo
to experience
The store had undergone several renovations after the fire.
weakness
a negative characteristic
His weakness is that he can not focus very well.
advertisement
a notice of a product or service
The advertisement for a hamburger made her hungry so she went to McDonalds.
billboard
a large, flat board for advertisements, usually by the side of the road
billboards in recent years have become very high tech.
brand loyalty
the tendency of consumers to continue buying a specific brand's product or service, despite the competition
Joe has brand loyalty to Proctor and Gamble and will only purchase their products.
competition
the people, as a group, that one is trying to do better than
The competition in the auto industry includes several different countries.
constantly
all the time
She is constantly on the computer.
entice
to attract or persuade
The company enticed her to take the job by offering her a promotion within two years.
estimate
to figure the amount or extent of
It is estimated that over 98% of people in Korea are literate.
industry
the companies and activities involved in the process of producing goods for sale
In order to increase the city's revenue, they need to attract more industry.
inefficient
not using time well
Your way of doing the job is inefficient because it requires too many steps.
likelihood
the chance that something will happen
There was no likelihood that she will ever walk again; she broke both legs in the accident.
memorable
worthy of being remembered
The family took some memorable vacations in Asia.
positive
giving cause for hope and confidence
Her positive outlook on life really encourages the people around her.
reinforce
to add strength to something
It is important to use math flash cards to reinforce the concepts the students are learning in class.
respond
to answer
The police did not respond in the way she expected them to; they were very helpful.
strategically
a detailed plan for achieving success in situations such as business, industry or sport
In supermarkets, candy is strategically placed where children can see them.
switch
to change suddenly or completely, especially from one thing to another
switching your major too many times during college can really hinder you from graduating in a timely manner.
target
a person or group chosen for analysis or action
The target population for the product is women in their 50s.
trial
an experiment
He gave the motorcycle a trial run around the race track.
unavoidable
that which cannot be avoided
The accident was unavoidable; it was a two lane street, and there was no where to turn.
waste
to make poor use of something valuable
The students wasted the scratch paper by only using one side of it.
alternatively
used to suggest another possibility
We could stay home tonight, or alternatively we can go to the new Italian restaurant.
arena
a large flat enclosed area used for sports or entertainment
The sports arena was very large and could hold 5,000 people.
bear market
a time when investments in the financial markets are generally falling in value
If you invest because you intend to hold onto the stocks for a long time, a bear market is the perfect time to buy stocks because of falling prices.
bid
to make a monetary offer
We bid on the horse at the auction, but we did not win.
brokerage firm
a business that charges a fee to buy and sell stocks for individuals
She always invested through a brokerage firm, but she has decided to do her own investing.
bull market
a time when the prices of most shares are rising
Bull markets can happen when an economy is recovering, and people become more hopeful.
contact
to communicate with
I contacted all the investors by email.
designated
to state officially that a place or thing has a particular character or purpose
Each member of his family has a designated place at the dinner table.
dividend
money paid to stockholders in a company as a share of company profits
She chose to reinvest her dividends back into stocks.
downward
toward a lower place
After several years of increase prices in real estate, the prices are finally going downward.
investor
people who put money into a business idea or activity in the hopes of making more money if the idea is successful
Seven investors pulled their money together and built a new mall in the middle of town.
match
to equal
The hospital tried to match the patient with the correct donor.
naturally
in a natural way
Since the mother did not have a relationship with the children, they naturally wanted to live with the father after the divorce.
optimistic
the tendency to be hopeful and to emphasize or think of the good part in a situation rather than the bad part
Even after the divorce, the father remains optimistic that he can do a good job of raising his children alone.
outbid
to offer to pay more money than someone else for something
We were outbid by two teenagers who had inherited a lot of money from their parents.
paw
the foot of an animal
The dog licked his paws after stepping in much.
solely
alone
After the divorce, the father was solely responsible for raising his children.
specific
unlike any other
The specific type of chocolate he likes is only found in Europe.
stock
a piece of a business, bought in the form of shares
She bought stock in Disney.
supply and demand
relation between the amount of products and services available at certain prices and the demand for them
The demand for diamonds is much higher than their supply, so by the law of supply and demand, the price of diamonds is very high.
advocate
to support an idea
advocating for the homeless was a passion for the new governor.
bribe
money or actions given illegally for something
It was impossible to get the contract without giving them a bribe.
circulation
the number of copies of a newspaper or magazine sold at one time
The town newspaper's circulation never increased because no one moved in or moved out of town.
definite
without doubt
It was difficult to make definite plans because of his travel schedule.
favorably
in an advantageous way
He was an exceptional student with good moral values, and his professors always looked favorably on him.
financial district
an area of city where businesses are located
My father works in the financial district and never takes his car because it's so congested there.
fundamental
basic, primary
The fundamental difference between the two education philosophies is that one believes in allowing the child to dictate what he wants to learn.
indices
an indicator, such as labels on a graph or other symbols about money and economics
The economic indices published in the magazine indicated that the economy was improving.
laissez-faire
An economic doctrine that opposes governmental regulation in commerce beyond the minimum necessary for a free-enterprise system to operate according to its own economic laws
Many people were drawn to that country because of the laissez-faire form of government.
logical
using a system of reasoning
The man was very logical and did not like to have discussions with people who were emotional.
net worth
the value of all of one's property minus what one owes in debts
The author's net worth is valued at over 50 million dollars.
newsstand
a table or temporary structure used as a small shop for selling newspapers and magazines outside in public places
She bought the morning paper from the newsstand right outside the subway station.
philosophy
the basic principles of a particular field of knowledge
His philosophy in life is to do what you can and leave the rest to God.
practice
to do something regularly or as a habit
After his friend died from drinking too much, he always practices moderation when he drinks.
readership
the people who read a certain newspaper, people who regularly buy a magazine
After new management took over the magazine, the readership increased 50%.
rely
to depend on
After the birth of her child, she relied heavily on her mother for support.
source
beginning, origin
Tests did not show the source of the problem; the doctors were very baffled.
tip
idea; suggestion
The professor gave the students a few useful tips regarding exam preparation.
trusted
to have confidence in something, or to believe in someone
His trusted friend of 30 years betrayed him.
upfront
obtained in advance
Before we can purchase the building, we need to pay them two million dollars upfront.
affect
to change
Her lack of a college degree started to affect her self-esteem.
aside
to one side
After she took the turkey out of the oven, she set it aside for it to cool.
assess
to evaluate
assessing the situation correctly was crucial in order for the company to become successful.
assign
to give a job or tasks to someone to do something
The mother assigned different household chores to her children.
barter
exchange of materials for other goods
Some tribes in Africa do not use money but use a system of barter.
borrow
receive a loan of something with the promise to return it
My sister wanted to borrow my favorite dress.
coincidence
the happening of two or more events at the same time by chance
It was no coincidence that you did well on your exam; it was through your hard work and determination that you were able to receive such a good grade.
commodity
item; product
Money, gold, silver, wheat, corn are all important commodities.
comparison
analysis of similarities and differences between things, ideas, people
The comparison of the long term costs is what helped them make their decision.
confidence
belief in one's abilities
She lacked confidence to run for president.
energy-efficient
conserving energy
The sales person encouraged her to purchase an energy-efficient refrigerator even though it was a little more expensive.
exchange
a trade, transaction
In exchange for my cleaning services, the owner of the house gives me free legal advice.
fluctuation
upward or downward change
There are often fluctuations in the oil price due to the war in the Middle East.
inconvenience
a state or an example of problems or trouble, which often causes a delay or loss of comfort
When her car broke down, it was an inconvenience for her to get to work by public transportation.
increasingly
more and more
It is increasingly becoming common for men to not wear ties in the work place.
inflation
a rise in prices and lowering of currency's value
Gas prices had become very expensive due to inflation.
lending
to permit the use of for a period of time
I didn't trust him, and I knew lending him money was a not a very wise decision.
merely
only, nothing more than
The school had to shut down because they merely required the students to just show up for class to receive a diploma; none of the students learned anything.
moldy
a fungus that grows on materials, such as cloth, rubber, plants
After sitting on the counter for a month, the bread became moldy.
retrieve
to go get and bring back
After her computer crashed, there was no way to retrieve the information from the hard drive.
tangible
physical; able to be seen or touched
The police had no tangible evidence against the suspect; it was only a suspicion.
value
the worth of something for someone
Most people do not truly value the work of a woman in the home.
vault
a large safe used to keep money, documents, and other valuables
The bank keeps their money in a vault.
virtually
almost
With his wealth, he could virtually purchase anything he wanted to.
worth
value, cost
How much do you think that artifact is worth?
affirmation
to state something as true
Even though her father never showed it, his paying for her education was affirmation that he really cared about her education.
albatross
a large seabird
When they were stranded on the island, there was nothing to eat except the albatrosses.
alter
to change
Her pants were too big so she had to get them altered.
cherish
to love most dearly
As an adult, he cherished all the memories of the family's vacations at the beach.
coincide
to happen at or near the same time
A uniform policy was implemented at the school coinciding with the new principal starting his job.
culminate
to reach the highest point of an activity
All his years of studies and hard work culminated in him becoming a successful surgeon.
deeply
extremely
She was deeply moved by the heroic acts of the fire fighters.
grant
to give or allow what is asked for
The father granted permission for his daughter to marry the soldier.
groove
a long narrow hollow space cut into a surface
Windows slide on metal grooves to open and close.
indicate
demonstrate; show
Our survey indicates that people worry about the economy the most.
indigenous
native to
The indigenous people of Australia are called Maori.
intricate
complex, sometimes with many small details
The intricate designs on the artifact made the archeologist believe that the who made it were highly intelligent.
misbehave
to act badly, be impolite
Children tend to misbehave when there is no strict boundaries.
pinnacle
the highest point of something
The pinnacle of his career was becoming president of a Fortune 500 company.
puncture
to make a hole with a pointed object
He punctured his tires while driving through the construction site.
reestablish
to establish anew
Although the child was given up for adoption as an infant, reestablishing a relationship with him was not difficult.
renew
to agree to something again
After 25 years of marriage, the couple renewed their vows at a small ceremony in Hawaii.
resurgence
a rise or increase that happens after a time of no or slow movement
The resurgence of the economy is always a good sign.
rite of passage
A ceremony signifying an event in a person's life indicative of a transition from one stage to another, as from adolescence to adulthood
Going to the prom is a rite of passage for many teenagers.
undermine
to ruin the efforts of someone
The father had no authority over his children because his wife constantly undermined his disciplining efforts.
alternative
substitute; other option
She suggested an alternative plan.
associate
to connect someone or something in your mind with someone or something else
Most people associate his bad behavior to his bad childhood.
attest
to swear something is true
My neighbor can attest to the fact I was home during the evening.
cheaply
for a low price
He doesn’t' buy his clothes from that store, because they are cheaply made.
cochineal
a bright red substance used as a food coloring, made from a type of small South American insect
Many companies do not use artificial dyes anymore, they use cochineal dye which is produced from a type of insect.
complicated
difficult
The test was very complicated, and I don't think I did very well.
crush
to push, press hard
She crushed the peppers before putting it into her soup.
determine
of strong will
She was very determined to succeed.
dye
a solution used to color cloth or hair
She used several dyes of red, yellow and purple to decorate her blanket.
extract
to make someone give you something when they do not want to
extracting the details of the case from the judge was very difficult.
hue
a degree of lightness, darkness, and strength of a color
She painted her room in hues of red.
impurity
mixed with other substances and therefore lower in quality
The impurities of the mineral made it inappropriate for it to be made into a ring.
mollusk
any of a class of soft, boneless animals living inside hard shells, such as clams, oysters, and scallops
When they visit the sea, they like to eat fresh mollusks.
outfit
to provide with clothing and other things
There was enough fabric to outfit the entire team.
pigment
the natural coloring of a plant or animal
The dog's fur has a naturally pink pigment.
portrait
a painting, photograph, or other picture of a person
The father commissioned an artist to paint the family portrait.
readily
without difficulty
Some children will readily follow strangers who entice them with candy.
royalty
a king or queen and family
She had married into royalty; her husband is next in line to the throne.
scarce
not available or plentiful
Food was scarce during war, so they mainly ate potato soup.
system
a method or procedure with a set series of steps
The school system did not foster competition, but instead it fostered individual talents.
accidentally
something which happens unexpectedly and unintentionally
She accidentally spilled all her soda in the car.
backbone
the main support
He was the backbone of the entire project; it would not have been possible without him.
dampness
when something is slightly wet
They turned on the heater because of the dampness in the room.
ease
lessen
Warming may ease extreme environmental conditions, expanding the production frontier.
empress
the wife of an emperor
The empress of China discovered the silkworm.
evidence
to show
Her superior intelligence was evidenced by her getting a full scholarship to Stanford University.
fabric
cloth
She was choosy about the type of fabric she used for her wedding gowns.
forbid (과거분사forbidden)
to not permit
The children were forbidden from going into the forest without adult supervision.
infer
to guess by having some information
I infer from the way you are walking, that you have good news.
insert
to put something in something else
They had to insert an flyer in every newspaper by hand.
insulation
material that keeps out cold, heat, and/or sound
During the winter months, you need to wear thick jackets for insulation.
pinpoint
to determine the exact nature or cause of
Her symptoms were so general, it was difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of her pain.
possibility
an occurrence or situation that could happen, be true, or exist
The possibilities of the new machine were endless.
pulleys
an apparatus used to lift or lower heavy objects
pulleys are used on construction sites to lift concrete slabs.
remnant
a small piece or amount of something that is left from a larger original piece or amount
You can see the remnants of the city's former glory in the architecture of the buildings.
ruin
broken parts of historical buildings that still exist after thousands of years
When we visited Greece, we were able to see many of the ruins of ancient temples.
scarcity
very small or limited amount of something
The scarcity of food during the war caused many people to go hungry and die.
speculate
to guess about
I don't want to speculate, but I think the wife ran away.
spin (과거spun)
to make thread by twisting fibers, or to produce something using thread
Charlotte spun her web and caught many flies in it.
time-consuming
needing a lot of time
Writing out each invitation by hand was very time-consuming.
absorb
to soak up
The flowers absorbed all the water in the vase.
attention
looking and listening:
The little girl raised her hand to get the teacher's attention.
brilliant
extremely intelligent
He had a brilliant mind, but he did not have very good social skills.
commence
to begin
The Friday night meetings always commences at 8:00 pm.
consistent
in accord with
The number one rule in disciplining your children is that you must be consistent.
craftsmanship
skill at making things
The queen was impressed by the craftsmanship of the bamboo furniture.
demonstrate
to show how something works
The sales representative demonstrated how to use the remote controls.
device
a tool or implement
No one knew how to work the device because there was no switch to turn it off or on.
discipline
self-control
One of the teacher’s jobs is to teach her students discipline.
extremely
very
I was extremely tired because I worked until 3 in the morning.
freehand
without the aid of mechanical devices
The artist did a freehand drawing of the Statue of Liberty.
impression
a feeling about someone or something
He was taught that first impressions are very important, so he always makes sure he is friendly to everyone he meets.
naught
nothing
All his hard work in preparing the meals was for naught because the party was cancelled.
pulleys
an apparatus used to lift or lower heavy objects
pulleys are used on construction sites to lift concrete slabs.
replication
an exact copy of an object
The picture of the ship was the exact replication of the Titanic.
simplistic
oversimplify
The politicians took a very simplistic view of the war.
speedily
to move quickly
The problem was resolved speedily.
spiritual
of or about the spirit
Rose considered her self to be a very spiritual person because she mediated every morning.
stamp
to print or make a raised mark with something
When you enter a new country, they usually stamp your passport.
storage
the putting and keeping of things in a special place for use in the future
She put all the baby clothes in storage because she was planning on having more children.
ability
skill
The ambassador had the ability to make everyone feel comfortable.
acclaim
public congratulations
Sam received great acclaim for winning the spelling bee.
accurately
exactly and without any mistakes
He was not able to accurately describe the suspect.
canvas
cloth stretched over a wooden frame for painting pictures
The artists liked to paint on large canvases because he liked to paint objects that were life-size.
depict
to paint
The artist depicted the Grand Canyon in bright colors.
depth
the distance from the front to the back of something
What is the depth of the cupboard?
display
to place in a position to be seen
The stores displayed Christmas decorations in their windows.
distorted
to change something from its usual, original, natural or intended meaning, condition or shape
She had a distorted understanding of a marriage because she grew up without a father.
divergence
to be or become different
The divergence between the incomes of the rich and the poor countries seems to be increasing.
dominate
have the most important place or greatest influence in
Mercy High School's football team dominated the football league; they won every game.
erratic
not working or performing consistently
The mother was very annoyed because of her son's erratic schedule.
flaw
something that is not perfect
She had many flaws, but her husband loved her nonetheless.
genre
specific type of literature, art, or music grouped according to a style or subject
Poetry, fiction and nonfiction are some of the genres we will read this year in English class.
identify
to recognize the identity of something or someone
After looking through the pictures, she was able to identify the man who stole her purse.
noteworthy
important
He gave a noteworthy speech about the need to help the poor.
permissible
allowable
Her parents were very permissible and allowed their daughter to make all decisions independently even though she was only 12 years old.
remarkable
amazing
Cleopatra was known for her remarkable beauty and charismatic personality.
subjective
related to personal feeling and opinion, rather than facts
The teacher does not grade fairly because everything seems to be subjective.
unstructured
lacking a clearly defined structure or organization
The nursery was unstructured, and children were running around everywhere.
vivid
easy to see or imagine
The vivid colors of the painting made the room come alive.
abandon
left behind
The home was abandoned after the hurricane had damaged it beyond repair.
abundant
plentiful
Food is abundant in most developed countries.
barter
exchange of materials for other goods
Some tribes in Africa do not use money but use a system of barter.
beneficial
advantageous
Mark realized playing and not doing his homework was not beneficial to his academic success.
cultivate
to plow, plant seed, water, and fertilize the land
The farmers mostly cultivate wheat and barley.
distinction
a clear difference
There was a distinction in the children that were breast fed versus children that were formula fed.
establishment
the creation or founding of something
The establishment of the new theater took five years.
extravagant
unreasonable, excessive
He gives extravagant gifts to all his friends.
impetus
something which encourages a particular activity
The movie based on a true story was an impetus for the students to study harder.
irrigation
to supply land with water so that crops and plants will grow
The ancient Egyptians had developed an irrigation system using water from the Nile river.
manage
to be responsible for controlling or organizing someone or something especially a business
He had to manage 50 people who worked under him.
metropolitan
related to a city and its suburbs
Dallas and the Fort Worth area is a major metropolitan.
nearby
close
We walked to a nearby restaurant.
Neolithic
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the last phase of the Stone Age
The neolithic period is commonly thought to have begun c9000?8000 b.c. in the Middle East.
overtake
to go beyond something by being a greater amount or degree
Our international sales has overtake our domestic sales.
precious
extremely valuable
She had lost her wedding ring which was very precious to her.
privilege
special right or benefit granted to a person
When the children do not obey their parents, they lose their privilege of watching TV.
specialize
to spend most of your time studying one particular subject or doing one type of business
The company specializes in manufacturing small toys.
thrive
to grow strong and healthy
The children thrived because of the country lifestyle.
ultimately
in the end
She couldn't decide between attending Harvard or Stanford university, but ultimately decided on Stanford because of its location in California.
accumulate
to add up
After traveling around the world for 20 years, he had accumulated more than 1,000 souvenirs.
allure
to attract with something desirable
She was allured by the hope of getting rich very quickly.
approach
come near
As you approach the town, you'll see the college on the left.
archeologist
someone who studies the buildings, graves, tools and other objects of people who lived in the past
The archeologist spent all his time digging up artifacts from the site.
bask
to take pleasure from something that makes you feel good
Victorious and still basking in the glow of winning, the Canadian team continued to win three more trophies.
chisel
metal tool with a V-shaped point for cutting wood or stone
I use a chisel to carve the stone.
concede
to admit that something is true
After 90% of the votes were in, he conceded defeat and congratulated the winner.
denote
to show clearly
The high quality of the water denotes the effectiveness of the water purification system.
enduring
permanent
Treasure Island is a novel of enduring interest.
fade
to lose the original color
The picture will fade if you leave it in the sun too long.
figurine
a small statue of a person or animal
His mother liked to collect glass figurines of angels.
lithe
able to move and bend easily
Ballerina dancers are very lithe.
mallet
a type of hammer with a short handle
He used a mallet to shape the metal into a shape of an apple.
perfect
to make perfect, flawless, excellent
She had perfected the recipe and entered her cake in a contest.
precisely
exactly
The wedding started precisely at 11:00 o'clock.
refine
to improve something
The sculpture looked very good, but his professor asked him to refine the facial features.
revive
bring back to life; raise interest again (ex: in an art form)
Unless new plays are given a chance today, there will be nothing to revive in the future.
sculpture
three dimensional art made of stone, metal, or other objects
The sculpture was made of stone, and it looked exactly like the king.
slab
a thick, flat slice of something
The roads were blocked because trucks were moving concrete slabs for the new highway.
stubby
short and thick or broad
She had very stubby fingers, and everyone worried if she would ever get married.
basilica
a public building of ancient Rome
The Roman basilicas were usually located in the center of the Roman town.
breathtaking
so beautiful one cannot breathe for a moment
The views of the beach from the hotel room was breathtaking.
depiction
to represent or show something in a picture or story
The depiction of the mother in the movie was very favorable.
discard
to throw away
The bottle should be discarded once you finish all the medicine.
escalate
to raise in level
The argument between the two school teams escalated into a fight on the field.
gap
a difference between two things
The gaps in his education was due to the fact that he attended school in five different countries.
hint
a very small amount of something
There was a hint of alcohol on his breath.
image
picture
The image on the picture was hard to see because water had spilled on it.
lavish
done in very large and generous amounts
The lavish decorations in her house reminded him of a castle he had once visited.
mainly
usually, for the most part
She owns several homes, but mainly lives in her house in New York.
maximize
o get or demand the most from something
We have to maximize our time here, so lets visit all the famous sites.
medieval times
a period in European history, between about 1000 AD and 1500 AD
During the medieval times, jousting was very common.
mirror image
a person or object that is very similar to another
He is a mirror image of his father. They look identical.
regal
related to kings and queens
They put the regal crown on the little boy's head.
revitalize
give new life or energy to something
When they built that new mall, it really revitalized the city.
shard
a piece of a broken glass, cup, container or similar object
Please be careful, there are shards of glass everywhere.
slight
small
The baby had a slight cold so the mother stayed home with him all day.
stark
complete
Her life now is in stark contrast to her life before she had the baby.
villa
a country house
He owned several villas in Italy and in Switzerland.
well-to-do
wealthy
Her family is very well-to-do so she never has to work.
accomplishment
a difficult task done well
It was a big accomplishment for Jody to walk up the stairs by himself.
admiration
an attitude of approval or respect
I have great admiration for the pianist not because of her talents, but because of her generosity.
adoration
love
Marilyn Monroe was so beautiful that she was the adoration of many.
affection
a feeling close to love, warmth for someone
The nurse felt affection for the children in the orphanage.
attire
clothing
The invitation did not specify the attire for the party, so she didn't know what to wear.
baroque
relating to the heavily decorated style in buildings, art and music that was popular in Europe in the 17th century and the early part of the 18th century
Claudio Monteverdi, Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel, and Johann Sebastian Bach are musicians associated with baroque music.
behalf
as the representative of
On behalf of the family, I would like to thank everyone for coming to the party tonight.
capture
to hold the attention of
After winning the medal, the ice skater skated around the rink capturing the hearts of the American people.
commemorate
to celebrate the memory of someone or some event
There was a parade to commemorate the independence of the country.
decline
to move downward
You can see the decline in the education standards because students no longer can recite their multiplication facts.
devotion
dedication
Her devotion to her children was evidenced by her sacrificing her career to home school them.
discernible
recognize or understand something that is not clear
The faces were not discernible because the chemicals had smudge the pictures.
dominance
strong or noticeable than anything else of the same type
Computer companies have made a lot of money by the dominance of home computers.
express
to show a feeling, opinion or fact
I am very thankful for all that you have done for me, and I cannot fully express my gratitude in words.
immortalize
to make someone or something so famous that they are remembered for a very long time
At the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, stars are immortalized by placing their hand and foot prints into the cement in front of the theater.
predominately
overshadow others
This neighborhood is predominately comprised ethnic minorities.
reappear
to appear again
The bird disappeared into the clouds and then quickly reappeared.
revitalization
to give new vitality or vigor to
revitalization of the community commenced with the building of the new mall.
rococo
an 18th century French art and architectural style noted for its curving lines and fancy detail work
rococo style rooms were designed with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing the architecture.
sincere
honest in one's thought and action
She felt regret for her actions and gave each child a sincere apology.
avoidance
the act of bypassing something
His avoidance of his girlfriend only aggravated the already tense situation.
blossom
develop into something very good
Sarah blossomed into a very beautiful young lady.
chant
to repeat or sing a word or phrase continuously, or to sing a religious prayer or song to a simple tune
The crowd was chanting the names of their team.
coherent
clear
After the surgery, he was not very coherent because the anesthesia had not worn off yet.
discordant
full of conflict and disagreement
The discordant meeting ended without any resolutions.
dissonance
discord
I do not like the dissonance in rock music.
explore
to investigate
When the children found the cave, they explored it.
expound
to comment or talk
The speaker expounded on all the problems of the company.
finale
the last part of a musical piece, performance, or public event
After the finale, the audience gave a 10 minute standing ovation.
foreshadow
to be a sign of future events
His academic struggles in his early grades foreshadowed his lack of success.
multi-faceted
having many different parts
Samsung is a multi-faceted business offering several different services.
predictability
the state of knowing what something is like, when something will happen
Although his job is not very challenging, he likes the predictability that it provides.
prolifically
In a productive way
Dr. Seuss prolifically wrote children's stories.
realignment
to put something into a new or correct position
There was a realignment of power in the organization, and now a committee oversees all the day to day operations.
roughly
about, but not exactly
roughly 60% of the students from this school will graduate and go to college.
shift
to change from one position to another
The truck driver shifted his gears.
subsequent
happening later
You will have to pay $50 this first year and then $30 in the subsequent years.
subtype
a subordinate type
Sparrow and Eagle are subtypes of the bird category.
undisputed
generally agreed upon
Muhammad Ali is the undisputed best boxer in the world.
unfinished
incomplete
His story was unfinished because he could not find an ending to it.
ancestor
the persons from whom one is descended
His ancestors came to America on the Mayflower.
combine
to join together
If you purchase more than one item online, I will combine the shipping price.
composition
the artistic creation of music, poetry, literature
There are over 1000 known compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach.
decrease
to grow smaller in number
The decreases in family size is due to the high cost of living in the city.
framework
an organization of ideas
The framework for our project is described in this report.
gut
the intestines or stomach
In some countries, people eat pig guts.
improvement
when something gets better or when you make it better
In America, many homeowners make improvements to their home by themselves.
incredible
wonderful
The incredible cake was made by a 10 year old.
indispensability
Something or someone that is indispensable is so good or important that you consider them to be essential
He gave his assistant a 40% raise because of her indispensability.
influence
the power to change or persuade others
It is a challenge to protect our children from the many negative influences they are exposed to each day.
likely
to be expected
It is highly likely that I will be able to make it to the party.
particularly
especially
I don't like eggs, particularly the brown eggs.
pluck
to pull quickly
She plucked the feathers off the dead chicken.
popularity
widespread acceptance
The popularity of the new Lego toys with children was phenomenal.
purpose
a goal
The purpose of this meeting is to determine the products we will sell during the holiday season.
quill
a large bird feather
The quills of a porcupine protect it from predators.
renowned
famous
Many renowned Korean socialites and celebrities have Cyworld accounts.
serve
to act as a servant, clerk, server
He served the king as his legal advisor.
undeniable
not capable of being disputed
When you are wealthy, it is an undeniable truth that you can buy happiness to a certain degree.
undergo
to experience
The store had undergone several renovations after the fire.
brass
musical horns
The trumpet and tuba are both brass instruments.
chorus
a large group of singers
The children's chorus traveled throughout Europe singing at different cathedrals.
component
part of a whole of something
An integral component of the automobile is the engine.
conductor
a person who directs an orchestra
The conductor told the musicians how he wanted them to play.
core
the most important part of something
The core of the problem is that he is very lazy and does not like to work hard.
eminent
widely recognized as important
She is eminent in the field of biology.
enhance
improve
Improving democracy is about enhancing the oppotunities for local communities to make their own decisions
estate
a large house with much land
It's a typical country estate with a large house for the owner, farm buildings and estate workers' houses.
fashionable
in the latest style
Her clothes are always fashionable.
fulfill
to satisfy
He fulfilled his contract by completing 50 service hours.
model
to take someone or something as an example
The new museum was modeled after the baroque buildings in Europe.
patronage
the favor and support given by a patron
The queen's patronage of the museum was important for its survival.
percussion
the group of musical instruments played by tapping, hitting, or beating
percussion instruments include drums, cymbals, castanets, and bells.
permanent
meant to last, forever or for a long time
The mother was worried because her daughter's permanent teeth have not come in yet.
popularization
the act of making something attractive to the general public
The popularization of digital cameras have made the 35 mm film almost obsolete.
pure
not dirty or polluted
She had a pure heart and never said a negative remark about anyone.
solidify
to make something definite
We solidified our plans to visit all the famous museums in the world.
trace
to follow something to its origin
The illegal funds were traced back the Asia.
typically
showing all the characteristics that you would expect from the stated person, thing or group
Mary, in her typically frank fashion, told Jim that he was being rude.
woodwind
any of the instruments in an orchestra that are played by blowing into them, such as the clarinet, bassoon, and oboe
woodwind instruments use vibrating air to produce many different musical sounds.
blues
slow jazz music about sad feelings
blues music is very popular in New Orleans.
brief
short
Our meeting was very brief, it only lasted 30 minutes.
distinguished
for excellent achievement
He was a very distinguished gentleman who's uncle was the king of Norway.
diverse
different from each other
San Francisco has a very diverse ethnic population.
emotive
causing strong feelings
Child abuse is a highly emotive issue.
encompass
to include
This is a home medical reference book encompassing remedies for most common health problems.
etymologist
an expert in the origin and history of words
She is an etymologist and is fascinated by the new words being developed in the computer world.
exodus
departure or withdrawal of large numbers of people
The exodus of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land took 40 years.
fuse
to melt together
The conductor tried to fuse together rock and classical music without much success.
improvisation
something improvised, especially a musical passage or a dramatic skit.
Jazz musicians rarely use music; most of their performances are improvisations.
incorporate
to include
The master plan incorporated ideas from the students and the teachers.
induce
to cause something to happen
Sleeping pills often induce long term side effects.
morph
to change one thing to another
She took a volunteer position at the radio station which morphed into a full time job.
offshoot
a new development
Gmail is an offshoot of Google.
pioneer
person who is one of the very first in an area or field
Florence Nightingale was a pioneer in hospital reform.
ragtime
a type of American jazz
ragtime was developed by black musicians in North America in the early 1900s.
reluctant
concerned or afraid
I was very reluctant to agree to the contract because it required me to travel extensively.
spawn
give life to
The school shooting spawned a flurry of safety reforms for the city.
subservient
acting like a servant
The husband is subservient to his wife because he's afraid of her.
usher
bring into being
The two countries agreed to discontinue fighting and ushered a new era of peace.
affinity
attraction to
Many middle aged Japanese women have feelings of affinity with Korean actors.
aspiring
someone who is trying to become a successful actor, politician, writer, etc
The aspiring actor worked at a restaurant to pay his bills.
consume
to use up
Her work consumed most of her time and energy.
enable
make possible for
The grant from the foundation enabled her to start her home for pregnant teens.
festive
joyful, with feasting and good spirits
His birthday party was a festive occasion with lots of singing and dancing.
gain
to obtain
She gained popularity after performing her song at Disney Land.
inform
to tell someone
informing the landlord about the noise outside the apartment did not solve the problem.
interaction
when two or more people or things interact
There was not enough interaction between the parents and the children, and they eventually had nothing to say to each other.
intrusive
coming without invitation or welcome
She loved her husband dearly, but she divorced him because of his intrusive mother.
magnitude
the size or importance of something
He didn't realize the magnitude of his success until he could no longer to go restaurants without people asking him for his autograph.
playhouse
a theater
We usually dress up to go to the playhouse.
playwright
a person who writes plays
Shakespeare was an English poet and a playwright.
premise
a basis for a line of reasoning
The had started their discussion on the premise that women and men should receive equal pay.
ritualize
to make into a ritual
She didn't like it at first, but she later enjoyed the ritualized tea ceremony.
rude
making people angry by one's bad behavior or unkind words
He yelled at the waitress, and the owner asked him to leave the restaurant because of his rude behavior.
stroll
a relaxed, unhurried walk
The couple took a stroll on the beach.
supersede
to replace an old or existing version or model of something with a new or better one
This high speed new computer superseded that old slow one.
sustain
to keep up
She could not sustain her relationship with her boyfriend and decided to break up.
troupe
a company, band, or group of singers, actors, or other performers, especially one that travels
She belonged to a comedy troupe that traveled to 20 different countries where she realized language is a not a barrier to laughter.
virtuoso
a musician or singer who is a star
Yo-Yo Ma is a virtuoso that has entertained audiences around the world.
apostasy
the act of giving up your religious or political beliefs and leaving a religion or a political party
Her husband's religious convictions led her to apostasy and consequently denying the existence of any superior power.
atheist
a person who does not believe in the existence of God
She is an atheist who finds no need to religion in her life.
climax
the most exciting or intense point in a series of events
The climax of the game was when he made a touchdown with only two seconds to go.
confront
to face in hostility or defiance
The wife confronted her husband about his gambling problems.
controversy
a lot of disagreement or argument about something
There was a lot of controversy over the candidate getting a $400 haircut.
detriment
something that causes damage or loss
Singing lessons were a detriment to her formal education.
develop
to cause something to grow
She developed a new way of making jelly.
eccentric
odd
The professors eccentric behavior amused his students.
emphasize
to place importance on
The teacher emphasized the importance of doing homework every day.
eventually
in the end
You have to remind him several times, but he eventually does his work.
gradual
happening slowly or by small steps
The gradual decline of that community was caused by the greed of its leaders.
iconoclast
a person who strongly opposes generally accepted beliefs and traditions
Frank Lloyd Wright was an iconoclast who didn't agree with traditional building techniques.
polygamist
a person with more than one spouse
He is a polygamist with three wives and fifteen children.
prioritize
to put tasks, events, etc. in their order of importance
She prioritized her day by listing what she had to do.
rigidity
stiff or fixed
The rigidity of the rules discouraged her from participating in the games.
tragically
a very sad event or situation
The play ended tragically when the two lovers committed suicide.
tunic
a loose, sack-like garment tied at the waist
tunics are still fashionable even after thousands of years.
unusual
peculiar, not normal
His unusual behavior perplexed the teachers.
viewpoint
an opinion
His viewpoint on life was that you work hard, play hard and save hard.
affordable
capable of being paid for without difficulty
The houses in Texas are very affordable compared to other states.
appearance
the coming into public view
The actors appearance on stage caused everyone to stand up and applause.
beam
a ray of light
The beam of light from the car shined on the sick deer on the road.
coin
to invent a new word or expression
James Truslow Adams, a writer, coined the phrase 'the American Dream.'
colleague
person with whom one works
He has a very good relationship with his colleagues.
combination
group; two or more things put together
Hot chocolate and a good book is a perfect combination on a rainy day.
conquer
To be victorious
After receiving some counseling, she began conquering her fears.
driving
energetic
His mother was the driving force behind his success.
exterior
the outside of something
The exterior of the house was not very nice, but the inside was very beautiful.
outline
the outer shape of something
The outline of the building cast a big shadow on the street.
petroleum
a dark, thick, oily liquid
Gasoline is made from petroleum.
pewter
a grayish metal made of tin and lead
The bowls were made from pewter.
process
general methods of doing something
The process of lawsuits can take several years.
realistic
seeming to exist or be happening in fact
The artificial trees looked very realistic.
rendering
a drawing or interpretation of something
The dancer's rendering of the war deeply moved the audience.
shadowy
dark and full of shadows
She was startled when something jumped out from the shadowy road.
stationary
not moving or able to be moved
The doctor required her to ride a stationary bike for 30 minutes each day.
stride
an important positive development
The company made major strides into the international market.
unprecedented
never before seen or done
The 20th century witnessed unprecedented new discoveries in technology.
whopping
very large of its kind
We bought the painting for a whopping price of two million dollars.
aristocracy
a privileged ruling class
Princess Diana's father was a member of the British aristocracy.
artisan
a craftsman
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who uses tools and machinery in a particular craft.
characterize
to describe the character of
Her time living overseas can be characterized by three main points: a time of learning, a time of independence, and a time of maturing.
drastic
severe and sudden
The company had to take drastic measures and fire 300 of its employees.
enliven
to make lively
Her humor and jokes enlivened the children at the hospital.
exclusively
excluding or tending to exclude all others
The store sells exclusively to people who are over 65 years old.
expansive
comprehensive
The healthcare proposal was so expansive that it covered every health issue faced by the community.
harsh
severe
The children grew up in a very harsh environment.
incite
to cause something to happen
The cheers from the stand incited the team to play harder.
independence
freedom
The daughter could not wait till she was 18 so that she could gain independence from her parents.
indirectly
happening in in a way that is not obvious
She still controls the company indirectly through her son.
livelihood
the way someone earns the money people need to pay for food, a place to live, clothing
He makes his livelihood as a computer programmer.
overhaul
to examine something thoroughly, in order to evaluate its condition and to repair if necessary
The ship's engine had to be completely overhauled.
perfection
the state of being perfect
The parents demanded perfection in all areas from their children.
propel
to push forward
His invention propelled him into international stardom.
refer
to talk or write about someone or something, especially briefly
In her lectures, she often refers to her difficult childhood.
revolution
a complete or radical change of any kind
There is a phone revolution occurring with so many people making phone calls over the internet.
steam engine
a locomotive powered by steam
James Watt is credited with inventing the "modern" steam engine.
unskilled
without special skills or education
People who work at fast food restaurants are usually unskilled.
wage
money paid for work done
The employees were not satisfied with their wages.
adjust
to feel comfortable
He has traveled extensively and adjusts well in all environments.
amplify
to increase the size or effect of something
Being around all the babies amplified her desire to get pregnant.
animation
the process of giving life, spirit, motion, or activity
They made an animation movie based on the cartoon character.
arguable
capable or worthy of being argued
His points seem significant and important, but they are all arguable.
arise(과거 arose)
occur
There arose a need for the students to be evacuated from the school.
complexity
a situation or condition with many difficult parts to it
The complexity of the computer program caused great headache for the programmer.
exception
someone or something that is not included in a rule, group or list or that does not behave in the expected way
Women are usually good at cooking, but Hillary is an exception.
explosion
a sudden large increase
There has been an explosion of reality shows in recent days.
final
last
I saw the final production of the plan.
horror movie
a movie in which very frightening things happen, such as dead people coming to life and people being murdered
She didn't like to watch horror movies because they caused her not to be able to sleep for many days.
immeasurable
limitless
The police man said the woman's help in solving the case was immeasurable.
invention
something useful created by someone
His new invention made him a millionaire.
manipulation
to control something or someone to your advantage
There has been so much manipulation of the case, no one really knows what happened.
mastermind
direct; oversee
Now we should introduce you to the man alleged to have masterminded the scheme.
myriad
to a great number of things
Planning a wedding involves making a myriad of decisions.
pan
to turn a movie camera slowly to film a wide area or a moving object
She panned her camera so that she could capture her children's every move.
populate
to fill an area with people
The new immigrants populated the city.
saturation
to fill a thing or place completely so that no more can be added
When he invested in the restaurant, he didn't realize there was a saturation of fast food restaurants in the area.
tint
to color
She tints her hair every six weeks to cover the gray hair.
variable
a number, amount or situation which can change
There are many variables you need to consider before you get married.
address
to speak to
The cancer victim addressed the senators on need for change in the health insurance industry.
apex
the top
The climbers celebrated after they reached the apex of the mountain.
apparatus
device or group of devices designed to perform a certain task
With his sophisticated apparatus, the doctor was able to perform several complicated surgeries.
commerce
business in general in the buying and selling of goods and services within a country and with other countries
The commerce between Asia and Europe is very good.
congestion
a condition of overcrowding
New York City suffers from major traffic congestion.
conjure
to imagine
When she is depressed, she enjoys conjuring up images of her happy childhood.
desired
yearned or wished for
Although she ate very healthy and exercised, it did not have the desired effect.
effect
the result of a particular influence
When the father worked less hours, it had a positive effect on his family.
eliminate
to remove from consideration
After her child was diagnosed with diabetes, the mother eliminated all junk food from his diet.
embed
to put into another substance
The piece of glass was embedded in her foot.
ferry boat
a boat or ship for taking passengers and often vehicles across an area of water
She took a ferry boat across the San Francisco Bay every morning.
implement
put into action
The school implemented a new uniform policy for its students.
infrastructure
roads, water, electricity, and other basic things that help a country's people and economy
American tax dollars go to pay for the country's infrastructure such as public education.
initially
occurring at the beginning
After the auto accident, the mother initially did not want her daughter to drive.
innovation
something newly introduced
The innovation of internet telephony is redefining the way people communicate.
intermediary
an intermediate agent or agency
The former president acted as an intermediary between his country and foreign nations.
obtrusive
very noticeable
She wore heavy makeup to cover up the obtrusive scar on her face.
protrude
to stick out
The chimney protruded out from the middle of the roof, causing it to be an eyesore.
reassessment
a new evaluation
After the reassessment of their educational goals, the parents decided they needed to pull their children out of public school.
supplement
something added to an existing thing to complete or improve it
The wife supplemented their income by babysitting.
학생
가장 빠르게 암기하도록 도와주는 암기학습 〉
제대로 외웠나 바로 확인하는 리콜학습 〉
철자까지 외우려면 스펠학습 〉
재미있게 복습하려면 매칭 게임 〉
주관식으로도 재미있는 복습, 크래시 게임 〉
선생님
수업 중 이 단어장을 보고 듣고 질문하는 슬라이드 〉
수업시간이 들썩 들썩 퀴즈배틀 (로그인) 〉
클릭만으로 종이낭비 없이 시험지 인쇄 (로그인) 〉
필요한 세트를 직접 만드는 단어장 만들기 (로그인) 〉
선생님들이 만드신 30만개 단어장 검색하기 〉
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