4000 Essential English Words 2e 6 (2nd Edition) 영영 Unit 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30

boxed

adj. inside a package
Justine brought a boxed gift to the birthday party.

ecologically

adv. something is done in a way that concerns living organisms and the environment
We planted our garden according to ecologically correct practices.

discard

v. to throw it away
After repairing the window, discard any broken glass.

fatal

adj. results in someone's death
Being shot by the attacker proved fatal to the victim.

pond

n. a freshwater body that is smaller than a lake
I learned to swim at the pond behind the recreation center.

recycle

n. use its parts to make something else
We recycle our newspapers so that they can be made into packing boxes.

alternate

adj. a different option
Taking the bus and driving to work are alternate ways to travel.

adverse

adj. can be harmful, dangerous, or unfavorable
I worry that the tornado will have an adverse effect on the farm.

utilize

v. to use it for a specific purpose
The team can utilize the lab equipment to complete the experiment.

choke

v. stops you from breathing
The gum Malinda swallowed made her choke.

dolphin

n. a large sea mammal that breathes air
Intelligent dolphins have learned to communicate with humans.

overuse

n. when something is utilized too many times
Rochelle’s overuse of the exercise bike caused the gears to break.

incidence

n. the number of times something happens
We need to increase the incidence of success in school.

municipal

adj. something belongs to a city or local government
The municipal parking lot downtown can fit one hundred cars.

tragic

adj. causes sadness because it might involve death or suffering
The entire community attended the memorial service for the victims of the tragic fire.

biodegradable

adj. break down naturally into substances that do not harm the environment
I use biodegradable compost to feed my garden.

stuffed

adj. pushed into a small space
The newspapers were all stuffed into the drawer.

convenient

adj. saves you time or effort
Walking through the park is a convenient way to exercise on the way to work.

reusable

adj. can be utilized over and over again
Saburo keeps his empty jelly jars because they are reusable for storing sewing supplies.

whale

n. a very large mammal that lives in the ocean
We were surprised when a whale surfaced next to our boat.

concession

n. something that one person gives up to another
China gave Hong Kong to Britain as a concession after the war.

enrich

v. to make someone rich or increase their wealth
Taxes on people’s income can be used to enrich the government.

geometry

n. the study of shapes and how to measure them
If you want to be able to calculate the area of a circle, you must study geometry.

gleam

n. to sparkle and shine
The waves of the ocean would gleam every night at sunset.

parade

n. a series of things or people that come or are shown one after another
This parade of elephants is part of an open-air exhibit to honor these majestic animals.

ambiguous

adj. not entirely clear
It’s ambiguous as to whether a newborn baby looks like a girl or a boy.

decay

n. the result of something slowly being broken down or destroyed naturally
The decay in the old building was obvious.

jurisdiction

n. the power or right to make judgments about the law and how it is upheld
We did not have jurisdiction to bring the criminal to trial.

attain

v. to succeed at something
If you want to attain a healthy body, you must exercise every day.

statue

n. a three-dimensional work of art, usually made of clay, marble, or metal
The Venus de Milo is a famous ancient Greek statue.

dwell

v. to live there
Before he was a successful writer, Mark Twain dwelled in the city of Hannibal, Missouri.

flourish

v. to do very well
The Roman Empire flourished in Europe two thousand years ago.

indigenous

adj. something or someone exists naturally in an environment or area
The Pueblo people were an indigenous tribe in Arizona who lived in adobe homes.

amateur

n. a person who does something for fun and isn't paid for it
The amateur took pictures just as well as the person who worked for money.

autonomy

n. freedom or independence
In the 1800s, the people of India fought for autonomy from Britain.

anonymous

adj. no one knows who he or she is
An anonymous donor gave a thousand dollars to the museum.

enlighten

v. to teach them about something
Greek philosophers wanted to enlighten the people of Athens with their ideas.

greed

n. wanting to have more of something than you need or should have
The story of King Midas is a story of greed.

virgin

n. someone who has never had sex
The virgin goddess of the moon was known as Diana.

harmony

n. a feeling that everything is peaceful, balanced, and in agreement
The United Nations is struggling to bring peace and harmony to the world.

bicycle

n. a two-wheeled vehicle powered by pedaling
I rode my bicycle down the mountain road.

configure

v. to set it up and arrange it
The engineer helped to configure my new computer.

consolidate

v. to join or bring together into one thing
When we moved in together, we had to consolidate our belongings.

convenience

n. to do something easily
I love the convenience of having a swimming pool in my back yard.

evenly

adv. divided equally into amounts, numbers, or values
Sprinkle the sugar evenly all over the cookies.

ideological

adj. based on a system of beliefs or ideals
The citizens of England had ideological differenes about its government.

abnormal

adj. different from normal or average
I felt abnormal this morning, like I was sick.

deduct

v. to subtract something
I had to deduct my expenses from my checkbook.

deem

v. to consider something
I deemed the ice cream to be very delicious.

broker

v. to arrange or negotiate the details of something for others
The lawyer will broker our agreement.

robot

n. a machine that can do the work of a person
I bought a robot that can clean the floor on its own.

adjacent

adj. next to or adjoining something else.
My apartment is adjacent to a lovely park and playground.

franchise

n. the right to sell another company's products or services in a particular area
The fast food restaurant has a franchise near my home.

entrepreneur

n. someone who starts a new business or organization in order to make money
The entrepreneur made a success out of his new business.

aluminum

n. a chemical element that is a light silver-coloured metal
I used the aluminum foil to wrap the food.

applicable

adj. relevant to them
I discovered that my old password was no longer applicable to the website.

fiscal

adj. related to money or finances, especially that of a government or business
Did the company show fiscal growth this year?

artificial

adj. at any time
The artificial Christmas tree was made of plastic.

bureaucracy

n. a group of people who work together to help manage a large business or run a country
The members of the bureaucracy were flooded by too many petitions.

absent

adj. missing or not in the place they are expected to be
I was absent from school yesterday because I went on a trip with my father.

arid

adj. it is hot and dry and gets very little or no rain
Not many plants grow in the arid desert.

fast

n. to go without food or drink for a period of time.
In her religion, they fast for five days and then have a big feast.

rugged

adj. rocky and difficult to travel through
Their car couldn’t make it far along the rugged roads.

oath

n. An oath is a formal, often public, promise.
Judges must take an oath to be fair to everyone in court.

ample

adj. it is enough or more than enough
There was an ample supply of oats to feed the horses.

adjoin

v. be next to or attached to something else
She can listen to her brother’s conversations because her room adjoins his.

cathedral

n. an important, and often large and beautifully-built, church
The large cathedral is full of people on Sunday mornings.

scarce

adj. a very small amount of it
When gasoline was scarce, we rode our bike to school instead of driving.

deprive

v. to not let them have it
Because the child was bad, she was deprived of her dessert after dinner.

abbey

n. a house, or group of houses, where monks or nuns live
When the monk returned to the abbey, he went immediately to his bedroom.

crisis

n. a difficult time when things are going to either get worse or better
The crisis was over and things returned to normal.

drought

n. a long period of time in which little or no rain falls
After three months of drought, the vegetation and trees started dying.

moisture

n. small drops of water in the air or on a surface
If you breathe on a window, moisture from your breath collects on the glass.

abundant

adj. it is available in large quantities
Cakes, cookies, and candy were so abundant that the child was very happy.

speculate

v. to guess about something
My sister looked at the sky and speculated that it would rain tomorrow.

eligible

adj. permitted to do or have something
Only people who bought tickets were eligible to win a prize.

inland

adv. into the center of a country or land
The river curved inland near the campground.

nonetheless

adv. occurs despite some other thing.
She tried to keep the dog out of the mud, but it got dirty nonetheless.

prairie

n. to move back and forth or up and down quickly
The prairie was perfect for a farm because there were hills and trees.

Celsius

n. a scale for measuring temperature.
Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.

companion

n. someone spends a lot of time with.
I always walk to school with my companion Frank.

ecology

n. the study of the environment and living things
We study ecology to learn how to help improve the Earth.

feat

n. an impressive or difficult achievement or action
The elephant’s standing up on one leg was a feat.

infinite

adj. no limit or end
Many scientists believe that the universe is infinite.

coarse

adj. a rough texture.
The coarse sweater made my skin itch.

bizarre

adj. very strange
My bizarre dreams make no sense to me when I am awake.

duration

n. time during which it happens.
The girls watched television for the duration of the evening.

aquatic

adj. lives or grows in water
The dolphin is an aquatic mammal.

digest

v. swallow food and pass it through the body.
Allow some time for food to be digested before going swimming.

parasite

n. a tiny animal or plant that attaches to another animal to get food
The sick dog was covered in parasites.

vulnerable

adj. weak and without protection
He felt very vulnerable when he was stranded in the desert.

repetitive

adj. repeated many times and becomes boring
Working on an assembly line making cars every day is a repetitive job.

reproductive

adj. a living thing which can produce young
The reproductive system of a plant is simple.

nucleus

n. the central part of an atom or cell
The nucleus is made up of many tiny particles.

undergo

v. to have it happen to you
The cancer patient undergoes treatments twice a week.

prominent

adj. important and well known
Queen Victoria was a prominent person in history.

tolerance

n. the ability to accept something unfavorable
Boxers have a high tolerance for pain.

temperate

adj. never gets too hot or cold
In Peru, the weather is temperate and rarely gets too hot or cold.

biosphere

n. the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth where living organisms exist
Birds, trees, and worms all thrive in the biosphere.

obsolete

adj. not used anymore because something better exists
Since computers became inexpensive, typewriters have become obsolete.

refute

v. false or incorrect
The bank manager has refuted the claims that he lied to his customers.

medieval

adj. the period between 650 and 1500 CE
We visited a castle that was built during medieval times.

spectacular

adj. very impressive
There was a spectacular fireworks display in the park at New Year.

proportion

n. an amount that shows the link between the parts and the whole
Only a small proportion of the people in this town actually work here.

weave

v. to make cloth using horizontal and vertical threads
We saw a woman weave a blanket on our vacation to South America.

industry

n. a kind of business that produces services or things for sale
The tourist industry is doing well all around the world.

capitalism

n. economic system where private companies make goods for profit
Most economies in the world today are based on capitalism.

diminish

v. reduce or get smaller
As the economy got worse, my savings diminished.

radical

adj. very new or different
The president is planning to make some radical changes to the law.

impose

v. interrupt or force your ideas on other people
He imposes on his wife every morning by expecting her to make his breakfast.

drawback

n. a disadvantage
The drawback of having a car is that it is very expensive to maintain.

managerial

adj. something related to a manager or management
Nancy has a managerial position at the bank.

brass

n. used to make musical instruments and ornaments
Brass is used to make musical instruments like trumpets.

oriented

adj. faced in that direction.
He is living a money-oriented lifestyle.

prestige

n. people admire or respect them
The young actress gained much prestige after she won an award.

archaic

adj. very old or outdated
To be competitive, we must update our archaic equipment.

component

n. part of a larger machine
Computers have many different components, so they are complicated to build.

peninsula

n. a large piece of land that is surrounded by the sea on three sides
The state of Florida is an example of a peninsula.

dependence

n. somebody relies on something else
Young children have a dependence on their parents.

monetary

adj. relates to money
A strong monetary policy is important for a country to be successful.

saturate

v. completely soak it with a liquid
The sponge was saturated with soapy water and dripped all over the floor.

preliminary

adj. happens before a more important event
The runners must do well in the preliminary races to qualify for the final race.

simplicity

n. easy to do or understand
We were able to find the house thanks to the simplicity of the directions.

precaution

n. stop something bad from happening
As a precaution, you should put on a heavy coat before going out in cold weather.

ditch

n. a narrow hole cut into the ground by a road or a field
When the car slid off of the road, it fell into the ditch.

enterprise

n. a company or business
My father owns an advertising enterprise.

tomato

n. a round red fruit, but usually eaten as a vegetable
I like tomato sandwiches.

capitalist

n. a business person who invests in trade and industry for profit
The capitalist invested in a factory that made wheat into cereal.

finance

v. to provide money for them
The government financed the scientist’s experiments with new weapons.

irrigate

v. to supply water to land
In dry climates, it is important to irrigate fields of crops.

maximize

v. to make it as great as possible in amount, size, or importance
You should exercise regularly to maximize a healthy lifestyle.

accountant

n. a person whose job is to keep financial accounts for a business
The accountant helped us keep track of our spending.

sow

v. to plant them in the ground
He always sows his garden seeds in the springtime.

upcoming

adj. will happen in the near future
The kids were worried about their upcoming exam.

spade

n. a tool used for digging
The gardener used her spade to make a hole for the new plant.

contempt

n. the feeling of having no respect for something
The judge had contempt for the wicked criminal.

crop

n. something produced by the land
I had a good crop of onions this year.

dedicate

n. to put a lot of time and effort into it
The nun dedicated herself to helping people in need.

indifferent

adj. a lack of interest in it
Lisa is indifferent toward school. She doesn’t care what her final grades are.

consecutive

adj. happen one after another without interruption
The king ruled for ten consecutive years.

tattoo

n. design that is drawn permanently on the skin with needles
The surfer had tattoos on both his arms.

crude

adj. not exact or detailed but can still be useful
She drew crude hearts on the ground to show how much she loved him.

confer

v. to discuss something with them to make a decision
I will have to confer with my wife before I can purchase a new car.

situate

v. to place or build it in a certain place
The road was situated between the forest and the lake.

symmetry

n. the state of having two halves that are exactly the same
The artist made sure to use perfect symmetry when painting the butterfly.

undergraduate

n. student at a college who is studying for a bachelor's degree
She was excited to finish high school and enroll as an undergraduate in the fall.

appoint

v. to give the job to them
Two students were appointed to help the scientists with their research.

masculine

adj. When something is masculine, it is a quality or thing related to men.
American football is usually considered a masculine sport.

muscular

adj. very fit and strong
He exercised regularly so that his body could become muscular.

applaud

v. to clap in order to show approval
Everyone cheered and applauded Manny’s efforts.

compatible

adj. work well or exist together successfully
Jan and Fred are too different. They will never be compatible.

ignorance

n. lack of knowledge about it
When he failed the test, his ignorance of math was obvious.

competence

n. the ability to do something well or effectively
The job was easy because the group had enough competence to do it well.

anthropology

n. the study of people, society, and culture
In anthropology class, I learned about simple tools that ancient cultures used.

supervise

v. to make sure that it is done correctly
Allen supervised the construction workers to ensure everyone’s safety.

cube

n. a solid object with six square surfaces that are all the same size
Please get me some ice cubes to put in my soda.

feedback

n. comments to a person about how they are doing something
I asked my boss for feedback on my work.

posture

n. the manner in which they stand or sit
Your back will feel better if you improve your posture.

monument

n. a structure that is built to remind people of a person or event
A large monument was built to honor the brave soldiers.

facility

n. a building that exists for a particular purpose
There are many educational facilities in big cities.

heap

n. a large pile of them
After the building was torn down, all that was left was a heap of bricks.

lick

v. to pass the tongue over something
The dog jumped up and licked her face.

ornament

n. attractive object that people display in their homes
The woman kept some colorful ornaments on the shelves.

criteria

n. factors on which a person judges or decides something
Before she got the job, she had to meet all the necessary criteria.

crust

n. tough outer part of a loaf of bread
The little boy never ate the crust of his pizza.

hound

n. a type of dog that is often used for racing or hunting
The men took their hounds with them when they went on the hunting trip.

external

adj. connected to an outer part
It is warm inside my house, but the external temperature is freezing.

consumption

n. act of eating or drinking it
These apples are too rotten for consumption.

faculty

n. a mental or physical ability
The boy’s mental faculties impressed all of his teachers.

escort

v. safely accompany them to a place
Her bodyguards escorted her to the movie theater.

considerate

adj. pay attention to the needs of others
The considerate boy gave his girlfriend a present to cheer her up when she was sad.

hemisphere

n. one half of the Earth
In the northern hemisphere, the weather is usually warmest in July and August.

spectator

n. someone who watches something, for example, a sports event
There were thousands of spectators at the big game.

entitle

v. to give them the right to have or do something
His golden ticket entitled him to sit in the front row at the concert.

pedestrian

n. a person who is walking on a street
Drivers should be careful when pedestrians are walking around.

cater

v. to provide them with all the things they need or want
Bill was too sick to get out of bed, so his nurse catered to his needs.

impersonal

adj. not friendly and makes people feel unimportant
The boy felt scared on his first day at the big, impersonal high school.

sanctuary

n. a place where people in danger can go to be safe
The church was made into a sanctuary for homeless people in the winter.

yell

v. to say something very loudly
The coach yelled at his team for their poor performance.

fleet

n. a group of ships
The fleet of ships spent a few days at the dock.

import

v. to bring in a product from another country
Foods that have been imported are usually more expensive.

nausea

n. the feeling of being sick to your stomach
The doctor said the medicine would help get rid of her nausea.

acquisition

n. something that a person buys or gets in some way
Marty was happy with his new acquisition: a very fast bicycle.

naval

adj. a country's navy or military ships
The country sent all of its naval forces to protect them.

marble

n. a type of rock that feels cold and is smooth when cut
The large house had floors made of marble.

innate

adj. something that one is born with and was not learned
He had the innate desire to please his teachers.

accessory

n. a thing that is added to another thing to make it look better
The store sold colorful accessories like bags, sunglasses, and makeup.

grid

n. a pattern of squares with numbers and letters to find places on a map
We located our town using the grid.

update

v. an act of making something more modern or current
My phone is downloading a software update.

inflate

v. to fill it up with air
I helped him inflate the balloons.

mast

n. a long pole on a ship that holds the sail
The mast held both sails of the ship upright.

elaborate

adj. contains a lot of details
She gave the teacher an elaborate explanation of her project.

cardboard

n. a material made out of stiff paper
We packed our things into cardboard boxes and moved to our new home.

dilemma

n. a difficult situation in which a choice has to be made.
Choosing either the tastier or healthier drink proved to be quite a dilemma.

exact

adj. correct in every detail
I know the exact location of the restaurant you mentioned before.

saturated

adj. completely wet
Leigh’s hair became saturated in the rainstorm.

facilitate

v. to make it easier
To facilitate the meeting, Melissa used a simple computer program.

pouch

n. a small, flexible bag that is usually made of soft material
I keep my money in a small pouch.

infer

n. to decide it is true based on other information one has
By the position of the sun in the sky, she inferred that it was noon.

theme

n. the main subject of a book, movie, or painting
The students discussed the book’s theme in class.

graduate

v. to complete and pass all courses of study there
At the end of the spring, my friends and I will graduate from high school.

kin

n. a person's family and relatives
His kin were all farmers.

donor

n. somebody who gives something to an organization
He was proud to be a blood donor.

sever

v. to cut through it completely
He severed the string using scissors.

terminate

v. to stop or end it
The trip was terminated after the car broke down.

stimulus

n. something that causes growth or activity
Having a lot of money is a stimulus for people to buy more things.

chronic

adj. happens over and over again for a long time
He had chronic pain in his chest and needed to see a doctor.

implicate

v. to show that they have done a crime or something bad
The man was implicated in the theft at the store.

stab

v. to cut with the end of a sharp object like a knife
He stabbed the fork into the potato and passed it to his daughter.

tuition

n. the amount of money paid to go to a school
University tuitions have increased by 50 percent in the last five years.

graffiti

n. words or drawings in public places
The wall was covered with colorful graffiti.

shaft

n. a handle of a tool or weapon
The golf club had a long wooden shaft that he held in his hands.

suspicion

n. a feeling that something is possible or true in a crime
The police had a suspicion that the driver had stolen the purse.

discipline

n. training that helps people follow the rules
One of the teacher’s jobs is to teach her students discipline.

attorney

n. who gives others advice about the law
The attorney appeared in front of the judge for me.

fellow

n. someone who shares a job or quality with someone else
All of my fellow patients at the hospital have also complained about the food.

guardian

n. someone who protects somebody or something
The librarians are the guardians of the books.

gossip

n. information that might be untrue but is still discussed anyway
The friends exchanged gossip about the people they knew in school.

referee

n. a person who makes sure that the rules are followed in sports
The soccer player didn’t agree with the referee.

combat

n. fighting between two people or groups
The two warriors were locked in combat.

corps

n. a division of a military force
The army had a corps of archers who trained apart from the regular soldiers.

foe

n. an enemy or opponent.
It was hard to believe that anyone could be his foe.

reign

n. the period of time in which a ruler rules
The emperor’s reign lasted for only two years.

distract

v. to stop them from concentrating on something
The phone call distracted him so much that he forgot all about his homework.

auditorium

n. a large building used for public events
People have gathered at the school auditorium to watch the play.

aggressive

adj. constantly want to fight or argue
Nobody liked to play games with him because he was always too aggressive.

nick

v. to cut them slightly with a sharp object
While cutting the carrots, the cook nicked his finger with the edge of his knife.

arena

n. a building where people can watch sports and concerts
The new arena was all set to hold the championship match.

commonplace

adj. ordinary
There is nothing commonplace about the way Morris dresses.

hack

n. to cut it into uneven pieces
My uncle used the ax to hack the tree into many logs.

amnesty

n. a pardon given to prisoners of war
She was denied amnesty for her involvement in the war.

provoke

v. to annoy them on purpose to cause violence
The older boy provoked Paul by calling him mean names.

realm

n. any area of activity or interest
He was not very active in the realm of business.

captive

n. a prisoner
The guards told the captive that there was no way he could escape the prison.

rust

n. a red and brown coating on iron objects caused by water and air
The old metal gate would not swing because the hinges were covered in rust.

compound

n. an enclosed area such as a prison or factory
The workers waited outside the compound for the gates of the factory to open.

meditate

v. to focus or think deeply in silence
She liked to meditate for several hours each day.

dumb

adj. unable to speak
She did not share the secret. She remained as silent as if she were dumb.

sacred

adj. worshipped and respected
One religion in India will not harm cows because it believes that they are sacred.

aesthetic

adj. concerned with a love of beauty
The dresses were noteworthy for their aesthetic design.

stereotype

n. a general but often incorrect idea about a person or thing
There’s a stereotype that pigs are dirty animals. But they are rather clean.

creek

n. a stream or small river
Only small fish lived in the shallow waters of the creek.

executive

n. the top manager of a business
After twenty years at the company, he finally became the executive.

perceive

v. to be aware of it
He was talking loudly, so he did not perceive that the music had stopped.

trail

n. a path for travelling by foot through a wild area
A narrow trail cut through the field and over the hills.

drill

n. a tool with a point that spins in order to make a hole
The carpenter used the drill to make several holes in the wood.

termite

n. an insect that lives in groups and feeds on wood
The wood we found was full of termites.

primitive

adj. simple, basic, and not very developed
The computers of the 1980s are primitive compared to those of today.

incline

n. a sharp rise in something, especially a hill or mountain
This mountain has one of the steepest inclines in the world.

sticky

adj. covered with a substance that things stick to
Place the sticky part of the tape against the paper, so it will cling to the wall.

nasty

adj. not nice or pleasant
The rotten apple left a nasty taste inside her mouth.

thereby

adv. a result of something else
He didn’t score a goal, thereby ending his chance at setting a record.

twig

n. a short and thin branch from a tree or bush
They started the fire with a handful of dry twigs.

arrogant

adj. think that they are more important than others
He is very arrogant. Even though he’s not the boss, he tells everyone what to do.

fatigue

n. a feeling of extreme tiredness
After three days with little sleep, she was feeling a lot of fatigue.

primate

n. a type of mammal that includes monkeys, apes, and humans
Primates use their hands for such tasks as swinging from branches.

welfare

n. the health and happiness of a person or group
Having plenty of clean water is necessary for the welfare of people.

bias

n. a person's likelihood to like one thing more than another thing
The mothers had a natural bias for their own child’s picture.

canyon

n. a narrow valley with steep walls through which a river often flows
The canyon was so deep that the ground inside was covered in shadow.

orbit

v. to move around it in a continuous, curving path
The Moon orbits the Earth.

overview

n. a general description of a situation
My brother gave me an overview of the important parts of the book.

glacier

n. a slowly moving mass of ice
The huge glacier melted its way to the ocean.

globe

n. the Earth
Water covers most of the globe.

rite

n. a traditional ceremony carried out by a particular group or society
Special masks are worn during the rite when a new baby is born.

horizontal

adj. flat and level with the ground
The Russian flag has three horizontal stripes of white, blue, and red.

provide

v. to supply it
Each student was provided with a test and three sharp pencils.

flap

v. to move quickly up and down or from side to side
The tiny bird flapped its wings and ate from the flowers.

inventory

n. a supply of something
Gwen was checking the inventory to make sure we had what we needed.

supernatural

adj. not real or explainable by laws of nature
The dragon had supernatural powers, such as flying and breathing fire.

preview

n. an opportunity to see something before it is available to the public
The band played us a preview of their new song.

relevant

adj. important to a certain person or situation
The 30-year-old book about politics is still relevant to our society today.

oracle

n. a person who speaks with gods and gives advice about the future
The king went to the oracle to ask if going to war was a good idea.

recur

v. to happen more than once.
Burglaries seem to recur over and over in our neighborhood.

stall

v. to stop a process and continue it at a later time
If you give the car a push, it won’t stall.

behalf

n. done for that person by another
The original speaker was sick, so his son gave the speech on his behalf.

loaf

n. shaped and baked in one piece
Could you please buy a loaf of bread for sandwiches?

hum

v. to make a low, continuous noise
The man hummed his favorite song.

inward

adj. not expressed or shown to others
She had an inward feeling of guilt when she lied to her mother.

intrigue

n. to cause an interest in something or someone
Her mysterious past intrigued her new friend.

arbitrary

adj. not based on any plan or system, so it seems random
The classroom had many arbitrary rules that confused me.

improve

v. to make it better
He studied hard to improve his test scores from the previous year.

convention

n. behavior that is considered to be common or polite
In the US, a popular convention is to shake hands when you meet someone.

recipient

n. the person who receives it
I was the recipient of four phone calls today.

naughty

adj. bad, giving trouble
Rachelle is a naughty girl. She doesn’t listen to her parents.

misplace

v. to lose it
I misplaced my wallet, and I didn’t find it until a week later.

ultimate

adj. the final result or aim of a long series of events
By trying hard in school, I will reach my ultimate goal of becoming a doctor.

longevity

n. the ability to live for a long time
Sea turtles have an amazing longevity.

norm

n. a way of behaving that is considered normal in a particular society
Wearing a heavy coat all summer is not considered a norm.

reptile

n. a cold-blooded animal that lays eggs and has skin covered with scales
Lizards are my favorite type of reptile.

aquarium

n. a place where fish and underwater animals are kept
We took a trip to the aquarium and saw a scary shark.

autobiography

n. a true story of a person's life written
I read an autobiography about my favorite entertainer.

probe

n. to ask questions to discover facts about it
The bank probed into his financial history to see if he qualified for a loan.

insulate

v. to protect it from heat, cold, or noise
People can conserve energy by insulating their houses.

gracious

adj. kind and helpful to those who need it
The operator was gracious enough to help me find the number.

philanthropy

n. the act of helping others without wanting anything in return
The wealthy business owner is well known for his acts of philanthropy.

orangutan

n. a large ape with red and brown hair and long arms
Orangutans use their long arms to swing from trees.

overload

v. to put more things into it than it is meant to hold
If you overload the truck, it might crash.

thrive

v. to do well and be successful, healthy, or strong
He may be an old man, but he continues to thrive.

epic

n. a long book, poem, or movie about a period of time or a great event
The poet wrote an epic about the great discoveries of the past thousand years.

lyric

adj. expresses a lot of emotion
I enjoy reading and creating my own lyric poetry.

humiliate

v. to make them feel ashamed and embarrassed
I was humiliated when I tripped and fell down in front of the whole school.

punctual

adj. do something or arrive at the right time.
My mother hates being late. She is the most punctual person I know.

renown

n. the quality of being well known due to having done good things
Michael is a singer of great renown in New Zealand.

antique

adj. very old and rare, and therefore valuable
My grandmother’s antique rocking chair is worth a lot of money.

authentic

adj. not false or a copy of the original
We ate authentic Italian food on our vacation to Rome.

precede

v. to come before it
The hurricane was preceded by a moment of still wind and clear sky.

tusk

n. a long, curved, pointed tooth of an elephant, boar, or walrus
Sadly, some people hunt elephants and remove their tusks to sell them.

majesty

n. supreme greatness or authority
The majesty of the old castle amazed the tourists who came to see it.

artifact

n. an old object made by humans that is historically interesting
We studied artifacts from an ancient Chinese settlement.

applicant

n. someone who writes a request to be considered for a job or prize
Lots of applicants came into the store when the job position became available.

excerpt

n. a short piece of writing or music taken from a larger piece
I didn’t listen to the entire symphony online, but I did play an excerpt.

chronology

n. a series of past events is when they happened
We learned the chronology of World War II in history class.

diplomat

n. a representative of a country who works with another country
The Spanish diplomat discussed trade issues with officials in Peru.

recruit

v. select them to join or work.
We successfully recruited someone to be the new manager.

fossil

n. the hard remains of a prehistoric animal or plant
The expert arranged the fossils to build the skeleton of the dinosaur.

register

n. an official list or record of people or things
At a wedding, there is register for all of the guests to sign.

monarch

n. someone who rules a country through hereditary right
The monarch lived in a beautiful palace with a grand gate.

refund

n. money given back to a person when an item is returned to a store
I asked for a refund because the shoes I bought were too tight.

mold

n. a hollow container that is used to make certain shapes
Using a cupcake mold will ensure that they come out just right.

thigh

n. the upper half of your leg
He suffered from a serious thigh injury.

conceive

v. to be able to imagine or believe it
The child could not conceive the actual size of the Earth.

outright

adj. open and direct
Everyone knew that the boy’s story was an outright lie.

shovel

n. a tool with a long handle that is used for digging
The boy grabbed his shovel and got all of the snow off of the sidewalk.

periphery

n. the edge of it
A beautiful floral pattern is on the periphery of the stationery.

plaster

n. a smooth paste that gets hard when it dries
He used plaster to fill in the cracks in the old walls.

endeavor

n. an attempt to do something, especially something new, or original
The company’s new advertising endeavor ended in a horrible failure.

engrave

v. to cut a design, or words, into the surface of something
The couple engraved their names onto the old pine tree.

excavate

v. to dig on land and remove dirt to look for something
The team wishes to excavate the site in hope of finding fossils.

stumble

n. to move in an awkward, unplanned way
She stumbles a lot when she is drunk.

coexist

v. to exist with it in the same time and place
Our pets coexist in our home with few or no problems.

dubious

adj. not considered honest
The police thought that the man’s description of the crime was dubious.

vicious

adj. violent and cruel
The vicious dog tried to bite the small child.

jagged

adj. a tough, uneven shape or edge
The swimmer was hurt when he fell on the jagged rocks.

magnitude

n. large size
This was a discovery of great magnitude.

elastic

adj. a rubber that stretches when it is pulled
He attached the elastic bungee to his legs before he jumped off the platform.

ego

n. a person's sense of their own worth
Kelly’s ego made her think that she was some kind of a superhero.

locale

n. a small area or place where something specific happens
The spa was the perfect locale for my mother to relax and enjoy her vacation.

skeletal

adj. bones in the body
We studied the skeletal system in anatomy class.

descent

n. a movement downwards
During the space shuttle’s descent, the Earth appeared larger and larger.

particular

adj. a single, important part of a group of things
The dress shop didn’t have the particular dress she was looking for.

snore

v. to make a loud noise each time a sleeping person breathes
It was impossible to get to sleep because my husband snored.

chunk

n. a thick, solid piece of something
When they broke open the rock, they saw it was filled with chunks of gold.

glamorous

adj. one full of beauty and excitement
There is nothing glamorous about where we live. It is very ordinary.

din

n. loud, unpleasant, and extended noise
The din of the rusty machinery made the factory a horrible place to work.

intrinsic

adj. the basic nature of that thing
Paper money has no intrinsic value. It is useful simply because society says it is.

dissatisfy

v. to fail to please them
He was dissatisfied with his meal.

hence

adv. a result of something else
Mary forgot the key. Hence, we couldn’t open the door.

fuss

n. excited or annoyed behavior that is not useful in any way
The child made an awful fuss because she didn’t want to go to bed.

gourmet

adj. nicer and more expensive than regular food
In order to get a gourmet meal, you have to eat at an expensive restaurant.

ordeal

n. a bad experience
Driving in the snowstorm was an ordeal she’d never forget.

overwork

v. to make them tired with too much work
After working for three weeks with only one day of rest, Judy was overworked.

ministry

n. a government department
The Ministry of Trade is responsible for taxing imports and exports.

soundly

adv. done in the best or most complete way
The nearest opponent was ten meters behind. She won the race soundly.

attic

n. a room just below a house's roof
There were two windows in their attic.

kettle

n. a large metal pot used for boiling liquids or cooking food
The soup was being cooked in a large kettle.

civic

adj. a town or city, in particular to its government
Most of the important civic buildings are located downtown.

outspoken

adj. not afraid to say what they think
She was an outspoken critic about the new banking laws.

superintendent

n. a person who runs a certain department or building
The superintendent decided to close the schools because of the weather.

exclusive

adj. expensive and only for rich people
The golf course was so exclusive that most people hadn’t even heard of it.

freight

n. a set of items carried on a train, boat, or airplane
Trade ships only carried valuable freight like silk and spices.

insomnia

n. a condition in which a person has difficulty sleeping
Nate’s insomnia prevented him from getting enough rest.

warp

n. to become bent into the wrong shape
The woman put the clock above the fireplace, and the heat warped it.

intuitive

adj. knowing about something without having support or proof
Rhonda had an intuitive feeling that Shane wasn’t coming to school today.

obsess

v. to think about it all of the time
After watching the Star Wars movies, Ike obsessed about becoming a Jedi.

premium

n. a payment that is higher than average
Tony paid a premium for the gas because it made his car run better.

tram

n. a vehicle like a streetcar that runs on electricity above ground
I took the tram to Eighth Avenue.

etiquette

n. the group of rules about how to be polite
When in Asian countries, bowing is a form of etiquette.

garment

n. a piece of clothing
The businessman had all of his garments cleaned before the important meeting.

liable

adj. very likely that it will happen
During the summer months, hikers in the forest are liable to see deer and elk.

suppress

v. to prevent it from happening
She suppressed her urge to scream because she didn’t want to be noticed.

privilege

n. a special right given only to a certain person or group of people
Only the best employee had the privilege of parking in that spot.

deform

n. to change it from its correct or original shape
The computer program deformed the building’s picture into an unreal sight.

socialize

v. to have a good time with people
I like to socialize with my classmates after school.

unsettle

v. to make them anxious or worried
The dark clouds in the sky unsettled Beth.

propel

v. to push or move it somewhere
The strong wind propelled the leaf through the air and across the street.

congested

adj. full or blocked
Tom didn’t get home until after dark because the road was so congested.

courier

n. someone who takes and delivers mail or packages
Before trains, most couriers used horses to travel.

overboard

adv. over the side of a boat and in the water
Tom and Gary slipped on the wet floor and fell overboard.

discharge

v. to allow them to leave from a place, usually a hospital
I was discharged from the hospital after three days.

sideways

adv. moves to or from the side
Jim turned sideways in order to slow down and stop his snowboard.

omen

n. a sign of what will happen in the future
He thought that seeing a black cat in the street was an omen of bad luck.

aerial

adj. to being in the air or flying
The aerial photographer took pictures from the air balloon.

consistency

n. the state of always behaving in the same way
Her consistency in archery meant that our team had a chance to win.

intact

adj. complete and not damaged
Despite being over 30 years old, my father’s model ship is still intact.

poignant

adj. a very strong feeling of sadness
The girls cried at the end of the poignant movie.

overcast

adj. full of clouds and is not sunny
The sky was overcast in the morning, but by noon it was bright again.

upbringing

n. taught to behave by their parents
He had a strict upbringing and was never allowed to watch television.

apparatus

n. a device used for a particular purpose
The campers had an apparatus that showed them their exact location.

accumulate

v. to collect a lot of it over time
The mail accumulated in their mailbox while they were on vacation.

sob

v. to cry loudly
I sobbed when my youngest daughter got married.

seclude

v. to keep them away from other people
She was secluded on an island for over a year.

avalanche

n. a large amount of snow, ice, and rock falling off a mountain
The avalanche destroyed the mountain village.

speck

n. a very small mark or amount
A speck of blood appeared where the mosquito had bit him.

mortal

adj. cannot live forever
All people are mortal.

sober

adj. serious and calm
After the funeral, everybody felt very sober.

ranger

n. A ranger is a person who protects the forest or parks.
Peter wanted to be a ranger because he liked spending time outside.

rubble

n. piles of broken stone and wood created after a building is destroyed
There was rubble all over the city after the earthquake.

episode

n. happens as part of a series of events
We watched the final exciting episode of the TV series.

decorate

n. make it more attractive by adding beautiful things to it
Have you decorated the room for Christmas yet?

housekeeping

n. the maintenance of a house or an establishment like a hotel
Housekeeping is not much fun, but it has to be done.

farewell

n. an instance of saying goodbye or a way to say it
She got on the plane after we said our farewells.

numb

adj. does not have any feeling
After holding my hand under the icy water, my fingers were numb.

cramp

n. a strong pain caused by a muscle after a lot of physical use
After the marathon, Jenny got a terrible cramp in her calf muscle.

mound

n. a large pile of it
There was a mound of clothes on the teenager’s messy floor.

slate

n. a dark grey rock that can easily be split into layers
The roof of the church is made of slate.

testament

n. something shows that it exists or is true
The beautiful performance was a testament to the singer’s natural talents.

dilapidated

adj. old and in bad condition
Paint peeled off of the old dilapidated apartment building.

filth

n. dirt or dirty things that disgust you
There was tons of filth and trash on the shore of the river.

evoke

v. to make it occur
The picture evoked memories of when she was a young girl.

timber

n. wood that is used for building houses and making furniture
Trees in this area are grown specifically to be used for timber.

reckless

adj. act in an unsafe way
The reckless driver posed a threat to everyone else on the road.

butler

n. the most important male servant in a wealthy house
Whenever he needed something, he rang a bell, and the butler appeared.

faucet

n. a device that controls the flow of a liquid or gas
Turn off the faucet when you are done brushing your teeth.

bliss

n. a state of complete happiness
Every time he sees his girlfriend, he feels a sense of bliss.

stool

n. a seat with legs but no support for a person's arms and back.
I don’t find stools very comfortable to sit on.

flaw

n. a mistake in something that causes it to be less effective or correct
We discovered a major flaw in the metal chain.

grin

v. to smile broadly
That joke makes me grin every time I hear it.

valve

n. a device attached to a pipe and controls the flow of liquid or air
The mechanic removed the dirt to clear the engine valve.

substantial

adj. great importance, size, or value
The bank said that he owed it a substantial amount of money.

contemplate

v. to think about it
Mark took a moment to contemplate the math problem before solving it.

outfit

n. a set of clothes worn together, often for a certain job or event
Kelly’s new outfit made her look so glamourous.

contend

v. to struggle to overcome it
Stacy had to contend with a learning disability throughout high school.

lush

adj. full of a variety of large, healthy plants
The lush jungle was filled with plants, trees, and vines.

confront

v. to meet them face to face to deal with a problem
I confronted him as he left the meeting and told him I thought he was wrong.

cot

n. a small portable bed
At the camp, the boys’ cabin was lined with cots.

vigil

n. a period of watchful attention at night for a specific purpose
He had a vigil in front of the tomb for three days.

enlist

v. to join the military
In their final year at school, the students were asked to enlist in the military.

frontier

n. a border between two regions or countries
A fence was built along the frontier where the river curved.

tract

n. a large area of land
On the other side of the mountains, there was a long tract of forest.

weary

adj. tired
Jane was weary after a long day of work.

stray

v. to go in a wrong direction and become lost
He found himself lost because he had strayed from the tour group.

camouflage

n. something used to hide people and things
The green and brown camouflage was best used for hiding in forests and jungles.

paw

n. an animal's foot that has claws or soft pads
The kitten cleaned its paws with its tongue.

guerilla

n. a person who fights as part of an unofficial army
Guerilla warfare involves a lot of hit-and-run fighting.

handbook

n. material that gives specific information or instructions
If you look at the handbook, it will tell you which wires to connect to the TV.

hesitant

adj. not sure or are slow to act or speak
Although he knew the answer, he was hesitant to say it because he might be wrong.

torch

n. a stick with one end on fire that can be carried in order to give light
He grabbed a piece of wood and stuck it in the fire in order to make a torch.

splendid

adj. very good
From his head down to his shoes, his clothes looked splendid.

scrutiny

n. the careful examination of something
A scientist should always practice scrutiny with their work.

flammable

adj. able to catch on fire
Be careful with that blanket near the candle. It is extremely flammable.

resent

v. have bad feelings about it
He resented the fact that he had never been able to play an instrument.

backstage

adv. occurs behind a theater's stage
After the show, the director went backstage and thanked the actors.

mob

n. a large crowd of people that often wants to cause violence
The copier was destroyed by a mob of angry workers.

testify

v. to give evidence as a witness
The judge listened while the victim testified about the robbery.

subject

v. to force them to do or experience it
The officers subjected everyone to a careful search before they left the plane.

billionaire

n. someone who has at least one billion dollars
The sale of his inventions made the inventor a billionaire.

brute

n. someone who behaves or looks like a violent animal
My older brother can act like a brute when he doesn’t get his way.

satire

n. uses humor and irony to make fun of something
This book is a satire of what life was like in the army.

culprit

n. someone who has committed a crime or other bad deed
The police were still searching for the culprit from the robbery.

tumult

n. a loud and confused noise made by a large crowd of people
She couldn’t hear her friend over the tumult of the other excited guests.

underestimate

v. to think less of them than they really are
We lost the game because we underestimated the other team’s skill.

segregate

v. to place it in a group apart from other things
In gym class, the children were segregated into two groups: boys and girls.

collide

v. to hit it while moving
The two cars collided with each other because their drivers were not careful.

clumsy

adj. awkward in handling things
The businessman was clumsy and dropped his work files.

evacuate

v. to send people away from a dangerous place
Floods from the hurricane caused families to evacuate the town.

amid

prep. in the middle of it
The bee was busily flying amid the flowers in the garden.

premature

adj. done too early or before the proper time
Mark’s celebration was premature because the ball hadn’t fallen in the hole.

uproar

n. loud noise caused by people who are very angry or upset
The fans made a great uproar when their team lost the game.

launch

n. to make it go into motion
The boat launched from the dock and floated down the river.

persistent

adj. does not give up and keeps on working
They made persistent attempts to get him to eat.

simulate

v. to copy its actions or characteristics
The French language teacher could simulate the accent of a French citizen.

defect

n. a part of something that is wrong or missing
All these bottles have a defect and must be sent back to the warehouse.

stimulate

v. to cause or to increase activity in it
Doctors sometimes use electric shock to stimulate a patient’s heartbeat.

ingenious

adj. very smart
Charles was the only person ingenious enough to repair the plane’s engines.

meteorology

n. the science that studies the weather
In order to understand the weather better, you should study meteorology.

spur

v. to urge them into action
The coach’s speech spurred her team into playing the best game of their lives.

accelerate

v. to increase in speed
When he stepped on the gas pedal, the motorcycle accelerated.

dreary

adj. dull, dark, and lifeless
After the fire, this section of forest is rather dreary.

electromagnetic

adj. related to electricity and magnetic fields
Different colors of light come from different levels of electromagnetic energy.

glide

v. to fly on extended wings with little or no effort
When the wind is blowing, birds can glide easily through the sky.

innovation

n. a product, or an idea, that is new or very original
Mrs. Johnson made a great innovation to the company’s business plan.

meteorological

adj. concerned with the science of weather
The thunderstorm was so large that it became a great meteorological event.

duplicate

n. to copy it
She duplicated her friend’s movements like she was in front of a mirror.

propulsion

n. the force that moves something forward
The propulsion lifted the rocket into the sky.

anew

adv. do it again, possibly in a different way
Although he had failed his driving test, he decided to try it anew.

electron

n. a particle in all atoms that has a negative electric charge
The number of electrons in an atom determines its charge.

innovative

adj. think in creative ways
Since Peter was so innovative, he was chosen to lead the science team.

penetrate

v. to enter into it
The knife easily penetrated the surface of the orange.

deteriorate

v. to become steadily worse
The nation’s economy continued to deteriorate despite the politicians’ efforts.

humor

n. makes you laugh, and it can also refer to your feelings
He woke up in an ill humor, angry at everyone.

winding

adj. follows a twisting course
The winding river turned and looped around the hills.

centigrade

n. same as the temperature in Celsius
During the spring time, the temperature gets as warm as 26 degrees centigrade.

chatter

v. to talk quickly about unimportant things
The children chattered in the back of the classroom.

concerto

n. music played with an orchestra but features a solo instrument
The piano concerto has a section in which only the piano plays.

exterior

n. the outside surface of something
The exterior of the nut was hard and woody, but the inside was soft and delicious.

zip

v. to close it with a zipper
She zipped her backpack closed after putting her books inside it.

blurred

adj. not seen clearly
There was blurred photographs of what was supposed to be a flying saucer.

hospitable

adj. friendly to strangers
At dinner, my dad was very hospitable to my friends.

profile

n. an outline of a face, usually as seen from the side
The drawing of Olivia’s profile came out very well.

monastery

n. a building in which monks live
The monks at this monastery are famous for their bread and music.

beforehand

adv. done in advance
He packed his luggage beforehand, so he was able to leave right away.

nursery

n. a room where babies and children sleep, play, or are cared for
The children kissed their parents goodnight and went upstairs to the nursery.

degree

n. a unit for measuring temperature
The thermometer recorded a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius.

hearty

adj. loud and happy
The grandmother ended her story with a hearty laugh that pleased her grandchild.

parcel

n. a package of things to be carried or mailed somewhere
The parcel looked like it had been stepped on by someone.

condense

v. to make it a liquid
The cool air made tiny drops of water condense on the tops of the grass.

manor

n. a large house with many rooms
The manor had over forty rooms and beautiful gardens.

outstretched

adj. extended to its full length
The cat stood on its back legs with its front legs outstretched.

secrecy

n. the behavior of keeping things secret
The secrecy of the big organization made the government nervous.

trance

n. a state where people seem asleep and have no control of themselves
The woman’s powerful eyes often put men in a trance.

charter

n. a document that describes the rights of an organization or group
The company charter explained that all employees had to pay a tax.

limp

v. to walk with difficulty because someone's leg or foot is hurt
After the injury, the player limped off of the field.

tackle

v. to deal with it in a determined and efficient way
Such social problems need to be tackled right away.

censor

v. to remove it if it is dangerous, rude, or rebellious
To protect innocent people, the location of the bomb was censored.

disseminate

v. to distribute it
The organization disseminates information about the dangers of smoking.

infamous

adj. well known for something bad.
That news channel is infamous for presenting biased information.

poll

n. a survey in which people give their opinions about important things
The poll showed that many people support the plan to stop gang violence.

cosmopolitan

adj. full of people from many different places.
There are dozens of different types of restaurants in a cosmopolitan city.

remorse

n. a strong feeling of sadness and regret
When I realized what I had done, I felt remorse for my actions.

amend

v. to change it to improve or make it accurate
The countries were in agreement that the treaty needed to be amended.

constitution

n. a document of principles for a government.
The country’s constitution said a prime minister could only serve three terms.

outburst

n. a sudden, strong expression of an emotion
There was an outburst of cheers when the comedian took the stage.

pathological

adj. extreme, unacceptable, and sometimes a symptom of disease
The pathological liar could not even tell the truth about unimportant matters.

phenomenal

adj. unusually great
The child’s ability to play the piano is nothing short of phenomenal.

abolish

v. to put an end to it, such as a system or law
President Lincoln abolished slavery in the US.

aspire

v. to have a strong desire to achieve or do something
George aspired to be a doctor from a young age.

flatter

v. to praise them in an effort to please them.
He was just flattering me when he said that my new dress looked gorgeous.

lame

adj. cannot walk properly due to an injury to the leg or foot
The terrible accident left many people dead and several others lame.

ethnic

adj. related to a group with a similar culture
Many sections of the city are home to different ethnic communities.

exclude

v. to not accept them into a group
Carol was excluded from the contest because her friend was a judge.

monolingual

adj. speak only one language
In today’s global economy, being monolingual limits your opportunities.

linguistic

adj. concerned with language
A linguistic way of studying culture focuses on words within that culture.

solidarity

n. a union formed from common responsibilities or interests
All the citizens came together in a show of solidarity to create change.

tact

n. the ability to avoid offending people when dealing with problems
Since both sides would not agree, it required someone with tact to make peace.

inclusive

adj. open to all groups and people in society
A more inclusive event would have allowed children to attend.

solemn

adj. If something is solemn, then it is serious and honest.
The professor preferred a solemn relationship between him and his students.

fluent

adj. able to speak it very well
She was so fluent in German that you’d have thought she was from Germany.

prosecute

v. to take legal action against them
They were prosecuted for fishing in the river without a permit.

earnest

adj. honest
The child was very earnest when she told her mother how she broke the dish.

patriot

n. someone who loves, supports, and defends their country
Every year, young patriots join their countries’ militaries.

coward

n. a person who lacks courage to do risky or dangerous things
A firefighter cannot be a coward. They have to be able to act quickly.

firsthand

adj. from an original source
If you want firsthand knowledge, ask someone who saw it.

legislature

n. the section of a government that makes laws
The senator had served ten years in the national legislature.

delete

v. to remove or erase written material
Several lines had been deleted from her speech.

undermine

v. to betray them or weaken their efforts or authority
The documents helped to undermine the workers’ trust in their bosses’ honesty.

racial

adj. related to a race or races
The differences between racial groups are physical characteristics and culture.

nationality

n. an identity based on the nation from which you come
His nationality is German, but he speaks French, Spanish, and Korean.

imperial

adj. related to an empire
These old imperial coins were once used in the Roman Empire.

prod

n. to push someone or something with a finger or pointed object
The bully prodded me in the chest with her finger.

moist

adj. slightly wet
The ground is still moist from the rain last night.

emulate

v. to imitate them because they are greatly admired
As a small boy, he always tried to emulate his big brother.

janitor

n. a person who makes repairs and takes care of a building
The school janitor cleaned up the messy cafeteria.

tolerant

adj. a place where actors or musicians act or sing
The tolerant leader thought that everyone was equal regardless of race.

restrain

v. to use physical strength to stop them
Mike restrained Allen from reaching the door.

inherent

adj. a natural part of something else
Sweating is an inherent bodily function when exercising.

intimidate

v. to frighten others
My dad intimidates my friends whenever they visit.

stunt

n. respectful of others' rights and beliefs
The man jumped over the cars as a promotional stunt.

constrain

v. to limit its development
Jim cannot join us because he is constrained by previous plans.

vampire

n. a fictional monster that sleeps in a coffin and sucks people's blood
The vampire snuck up on the woman and bit her neck.

depot

n. a bus or train station
He waited for his mother to arrive at the depot.

forefinger

n. the finger between one's thumb and middle finger
He shouted, “There it is!” and pointed with his forefinger.

nope

adv. an informal way of saying "no."
He asked if I had any money, and I had to say, “Nope.”

yawn

v. to open the mouth somewhat involuntarily with a prolonged, deep inhalation and sighing or heavy exhalation, as from drowsiness or boredom.
The bear let out a big yawn, showing that he was tired.

spit

n. to force liquid from one's mouth
He emerged from the pool and spit water from his mouth.

saliva

n. the watery liquid in people's mouths that helps in digestion
The baby could not keep the saliva from dripping out of its mouth.

guts

n. all the organs inside a person or animal
The doctor can tell you every process that happens in one’s guts.

ransom

n. a sum of money paid to a kidnapper to set the person free
He kidnapped the prince and demanded $1 million as a ransom.

sprint

n. to run very fast over a short distance
The kids didn’t want to be late to class, so they sprinted to the bus stop.

turf

n. a section of grass and the dirt in which it grows
After the game, the turf looked ragged.

hectare

n. a unit of measure equal to 10,000 square meters
His family farm covered many hectares.

mansion

n. a large and expensive home
The mansion had thirty bedrooms, two kitchens, and a pool.

assemble

v. to get together in one place.
The parents assembled to discuss ways to improve their children’s education.

erect

v. to build it
The king erected two towers on the north and south sides of his castle.

heighten

v. to increase the intensity of it
The pleasant music heightened their enjoyment of the wonderful dinner.

hospitality

n. friendly behavior and entertainment, shown to guests or strangers
The travelers were amazed at the hospitality given them by the hotel’s staff.

foul

adj. very unpleasant
He wouldn’t let his dog drink from the water because it had a foul smell.

revise

v. to change it, or update it to make it better
When the editor discovered certain facts were wrong, he revised the book.

overjoyed

adj. extremely happy
He was overjoyed by the news of his promotion.

arch

n. a curved opening formed under a structure such as a bridge or doorway.
The arch of the bridge was not high enough for the tall boat to pass underneath.

pasture

n. an area of land covered with grass for animals to use as food
The sheep were taken to a pasture where there was more grass.

outnumber

v. to have a greater number than it
The girls outnumbered the boys at the school by four to one.

terrace

n. an open area that is connected to a house or an apartment
In the afternoons, she liked to sit on the terrace and check her email.

renovate

v. to build new structures on it
The old fire station was renovated into an apartment building.

allege

v. to say that it is true without offering proof
The little girl had alleged that her older brother hid her favorite doll.

casualty

n. a person killed or injured in a war or an accident.
The only casualty in the car accident was a woman who broke her arm.

petition

n. a written request asking an authority to do something
The citizens all signed a petition asking the mayor to repair the sidewalks.

slab

n. a large, thick, flat piece of stone, concrete, metal, or wood
I looked at various slabs of stone to decorate my house.

adjoining

adj. next to or joined with a building or room
I couldn’t sleep because the people in the adjoining room were loud.

paradox

n. a true statement or real event that seems illogical.
The paradox of her work was that the less she worked, the more she got done.

outweigh

v. to exceed it in value, amount, or importance
Finding a warm place to sleep outweighed the need to find something to eat.

depict

v. to show or portray it
The statue’s face depicted the general’s determination and courage.

analogous

adj. like it in certain ways
The relationship with his teacher was analogous to that of a son and mother.

tilt

v. to tip it into a sloping position
She tilted her glass and almost spilled some of the wine inside.

fulfill

v. to achieve or finish it.
The professor did not fulfill his promise not to miss a single class.

pier

n. a structure that extends into a body of water.
If you want to catch bigger fish, then go to the far end of the pier.

grove

n. a small group of trees
All the trees in this grove are apple trees.

ore

n. the raw form of rock or material from which a valuable metal is taken
The factory melted the ore and used it to make iron products.

vice versa

adv. its two main ideas are switched with one another
Students learn from their teachers, and vice versa.

binoculars

n. a device used for seeing things that are far away
He could see the ship on the horizon only if he used his binoculars.

bulk

n. its size
The large elephant moved its bulk with legs as strong as tree trunks.

comprise

v. to consists of or is made up of it
Our school’s football team is mostly comprised with seniors.

dual

adj. two parts
The room had a dual function. It was a living room, but at night it was a bedroom.

whereabouts

n. the place where they are
The police looked for the lost dog, but its whereabouts were still unknown.

Fahrenheit

n. a temperature scale where water freezes at 32° and boils at 212°.
When the temperature dropped to 32° Fahrenheit, it started snowing.

outback

n. the wild inland region of Australia where very few people live
Many Australian farmers use the outback to raise cattle.

thermometer

n. a device that measures temperature
The thermometer outside the window indicated that it was a hot day today.

shortcut

n. a route that is shorter than the main route.
We got to the house early because we took a shortcut through the forest.

tariff

n. a tax or fee paid on certain imports or exports
Our tariff on imported wool makes foreign wool more expensive.