4000 Essential English Words 2e 4 (2nd Edition) 영영 Unit 15,16

aggregate

adj. it is made up of smaller amounts added together
The company totaled its aggregate sales for the entire year.

circuit

n. a piece of an electronic device that allows electricity to flow
Be very careful not to shock yourself when fixing an electrical circuit.

equivalent

n. an amount or value that is the same as another amount or value
I worked the equivalent of sixty hours this week.

magnet

n. a piece of iron or other material
I used a magnet to pick up the nails that were scattered on the floor.

viral

adj. it is a disease or infection that is caused by a virus
The girl was in bed for a week when she had a viral infection.

spiral

n. a shape which winds round and round as if around a cylinder
A strand of DNA looks like two interlocking spirals.

intimate

adj. the two things are very closely connected
I only tell my secrets to my most intimate friends.

prevalent

adj. common
Growing a beard is more prevalent in some countries than in others.

compress

v. to press or squeeze it so that it takes up less space
I compressed my clothes to fit into a single suitcase.

ratio

n. a relationship between two things expressed in numbers or amounts
The boy-to-girl ratio is one to three.

quantum

n. it relates to the behavior of atomic particles
The physics student studied quantum mechanics.

microchip

n. a small device in a computer that holds information
I can put more data on my computer if I buy a more powerful microchip.

database

n. a collection of data
The company has a database of all the names and accounts of their customers.

input

n. information that is put into a computer
Type the input into the computer program.

complement

v. to make them better
The wool scarf complemented her lovely eyes.

phase

n. a stage in a process or the gradual development of something
The first phase in the recycling project involves finding volunteers to help out.

pinch

n. to take a piece of skin between one's fingers and squeeze
I pinched my nose so I couldn’t smell the odor from the garbage.

metabolism

n. the way chemical processes in their body use energy
If you exercise every day, your metabolism speeds up.

antibiotic

n. a medical drug used to kill bacteria and treat infections
The doctor gave me a shot of an antibiotic when I got the flu.

immune

adj. they cannot be affected by it
Children usually get shots to make them immune to certain diseases.

acid

n. a chemical that can burn or dissolve other substances
In chemistry class, we mixed two acids together and watched the reaction.

administration

n. the group of people who manage a company or organization
She hoped she could be promoted to a job in administration.

coalition

n. a group of people or organizations working for a common purpose
The companies formed a coalition to make trade less expensive.

ethics

n. moral beliefs or rules about right or wrong
The act of stealing certainly doesn’t go against some people’s ethics.

erosion

n. the destruction of rock
Canyons are formed because rivers of fast-moving water caused erosion.

nectar

n. a sweet liquid produced by flowers
Bees use nectar to make their honey.

notion

n. an idea or belief about something
I had a notion that this route would get us to the beach.

diabetes

n. a medical condition in which a person's body cannot control the level of sugar in their blood
Overweight people are more likely to suffer from diabetes than slimmer ones.

explicit

adj. it is very clear, open, and truthful
The man gave a very explicit account of the car accident.

framework

n. a set of rules or ideas that people use to solve problems
His ideas fit into the framework of a successful business plan.

administrative

adj. describes anything related to managing a company or organization
I work as an administrative assistant to the owner of the company.

biotechnology

n. the use of living parts, such as cells, in industry and technology
Researchers at the biotechnology company use bacteria to make medicine.

eliminate

v. to completely remove it
Wearing a seatbelt eliminates some of the dangers of driving a car.

regime

n. a system of government or management
He was a member of the old regime that had been overthrown in the election.

deceptive

adj. it encourages one to believe something that is false
The scary-looking man’s appearance is deceptive; he is actually very nice.

cholesterol

n. a substance in fat, tissues, and blood of all animals
When people have too much cholesterol, they are at a high risk for heart problems.

mechanism

n. a part of a machine that performs a certain function
I can’t open my car door because the locking mechanism is broke.

straightforward

adj. it is easy to understand
The teacher’s grading system was straightforward and fair.

minimize

v. to reduce something to the lowest possible level
I checked my homework twice to minimize errors I might have made.

manufacture

v. to make it in a factory
My father’s company manufactures steel building materials.