a performance to try out for a show or part
She had an audition for a part in the television play.
bookmaker
someone whose job is to take bets
A British bookmaker was taking bets in April on an ABBA comeback after singer Agnetha Faltskog hinted at a possible reunion.
coincide
to happen at the same time as something else
Her arrival coincided with his departure.
emblazon
to decorate with colors or symbols
His name was emblazoned across the front of the theater.
feature
to be an important part or include as an important part
That film features the best of the British actresses.
former
in the past; previous
In former times, people did not travel so much.
mockup
a model for study or display
A mockup of the old ABBA studio features a self-playing piano.
nostalgia
a longing for the past
She felt a great nostalgia for her childhood.
outlandish
extremely strange and unusual
The catchy tunes, outlandish costumes, and shimmering boots made ABBA a global phenomenon.
phenomenon
a remarkable development or event
Magnetic attraction is an interesting phenomenon.
presage
to indicate or foretell something to come
The dark low clouds presage the storm.
quash
to stop from happening
Her conviction was quashed on appeal.
reunion
an event where people who have not seen each other for a long time come together
The singer Agnetha Faltskog hinted at a possible reunion.
rumor
a piece of gossip or unconfirmed information
I heard a rumor that you had got a new job.
shimmering
shining with a glistening or tremulous light
The catchy tunes, outlandish costumes, and shimmering boots made ABBA a global phenomenon.
blindfolded
covered someone's eyes with cloth so the person cannot see blindfolded teenagers are stepping down the stairs.
cacophony
a harsh discordant mixture of sounds
Birds form a group and create a cacophony of sound to ward off the attacks.
carnival
an amusement show or circus
The school carnival always starts at the end of the year.
chide
to scold or rebuke
She chided him for not replying to her letters.
connotation
a suggested or secondary meaning
The king's use of the word "common" had a negative connotation under the circumstances.
dazzling
extremely bright, especially so as to blind the eyes temporarily
Tom surprised his wife with a dazzling new ring.
democracy
a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives democracy is the foundation of the American government system.
derogatory
disparaging; insulting
The drunken man spouted many derogatory words to customers.
discrimination
an act of keeping people separated based on race, sex, etc. discrimination in the workplace is against the law.
emancipate
to free someone from slavery or captivity
The citizen must be emancipated from theobsessive secrecy of government.
enormous
very large in size, quantity, or extent
We did manage to get an enormous amount of work done.
festive
happy and joyful
The whole town was in a festive mood.
mimic
to imitate
The baby mimicked every sound the dog made.
minstrel
a musician who travels around and performs
Poetry is often sung by minstrels and ballad singers.
obviously
in a clear and understandable manner
With all his experience, he was obviously the best person for the job.
off-limits
Out of bounds
Up to recently these waters were off limits to Western travelers.
parasol
a small umbrella
A parasol is another kind of umbrella.
participant
a person who takes part in something
He didn't participate in the discussion as a participant.
preside
to be in charge of something
Johnson has presided over eight matches since Beck’s dismissal.
recently
of a period of time not long ago recently there has been a lot of rain.
relevant
related or connected to a topic
The thirty-year-old book about politics is still relevant to our society today.
rival
to compete with
His accomplishments rival those of his father.
root
the basic cause, source, or origin of something
Money is the root of all evil.
sarcastic
marked by or given to using irony in order to mock orconvey contempt
I think they’re being sarcastic.
segregation
a state of racial separation
Racial segregation in the United States prevented blacks and whites from eating in the same restaurants.
slavery
the condition of a slave; to be in bondage slavery in some countries still exists today.
spectator
a person who watches an event
More than 50,000 spectators filled the stadium to watch the baseball game.
thrive
to be or become healthy or successful
To my surprise, our business thrives even though the overall economy is worsening.
traditionally
in a traditional manner
Italy traditionally has had some of the highest voting figures in general elections in Europe.
troupe
a group of theatrical performers
She was once in a troupe of actors.
a myriad of
a vast number of something
Africa starts with 53 nations loaded with a myriad of problems and needs.
advocacy
the act of arguing in favor of a cause or policy
Janine's strong advocacy for the event made people want to attend.
allocate
to designate for a certain purpose
The government allocated $100 million to aid the disaster relief effort.
catch up with (something)
to succeed in reaching a person who is ahead of one
They had actually reached the car when he caught up with them.
census
an official population count
There are approximately 1.3 billion people in China according to a census conducted in 2005.
cohabitate
to live together as spouses, especially when not legally married
That couple has cohabited for many years.
comprise
to consist of; to be made up of
Her favorite CD comprised musics of different styles.
correlation
the relationship between things that tend to happen together
There is a strong correlation between obesity and heart disease.
demographer
a person who studies demography
Frey and other demographers said many of the population shifts could be longer-lasting.
dissuade
to discourage
His friends tried to dissuade him from flying.
draconian
exceedingly harsh; very severe
The Nazis destroyed the independence of the press by a series of draconian laws.
elderly
being very old
The elderly have priority seating on the subway.
eligible
able to take part in or apply for
This is subject to winners being eligible for race competition licences.
frown on
to disapprove of somebody/something
The communist Party no longer frowns on making money; in fact it welcomes it.
household
a social unit composed of those living together in the same dwelling
There are six members in total in our household.
institution
an organization that is created for a particular cause or purpose
Banks are vital institutions that businesses and people use every day.
legislation
a law or set of government rules
The president vetoed the legislation, forcing the law makers to compromise in order to pass the bill.
levy
to impose
The citizens of the colony protested when the king levied new taxes on them.
living structure
one's living situation
There are different types of living structues in the United States.
marital status
one's situation with regard to whether one is single, married, separated, divorced, or widowed
A ring on Paul's finger alluded to his marital status.
norm
the normal situation; the usual
The cultural norm in Japan is to bow when you meet someone.
premarital
occurring or existing before marriage
This premarital cohabitation allows a sense of choice if the relationship fails.
sibling
a brother or sister
Jackie’s siblings included three brothers and a sister.
split
to separate into two or more groups
I don't want to split up.
spouse
A spouse is the person to whom someone is married.
I live in a home with my spouse and our two children.
suspend
to postpone or delay
You must suspend the project until we have more information.
temporarily
of a limited amount of time
The game was stopped temporarily because of rain.
welfare
the health and happiness of a person or group
Having plenty of clean water is necessary for the welfare of people.
widely
in a lot of different places or by a lot of people
We could say that dogs are the most widely known pet.
widower
a man who has lost his spouse by death and has not married again.
A widower, whose wife died from leukaemia last year, is appealing to people to join the bone marrow register on her birthday.
caricature
a drawing of someone that focuses on their main features in an extreme way so as to make them look funny
The street artist drew a caricature of my family.
contradiction
a difference between two or more statements or ideas that makes it impossible forthem both to be true
I do not believe there is a contradiction.
depict
to represent something by using a picture
North Korea is often depicted as a dark and colorless place.
fundamentalist
someone who believes that original religious laws should be strictly followed
The government contends that he is fundamentalist.
grave
very serious in a way that causes worry
The consequences will be very grave if nothing is done.
hypocrisy
behavior in which someone pretends to have qualities or beliefs that he or she does not really have
It is, in my opinion, an example of gross hypocrisy.
impulse
a tendency or motivation that is not necessarily rational
I had a sudden impulse to buy that $300 bag.
provoke
to cause a feeling or action; to stir up
The decision provoked a storm of protest from civil rights organizations.
rebuke
to criticize harshly and publicly
She had rebuked him for drinking too much.
satirical
using humor to show something to be ridiculous or foolish
I play the guitar and write satirical songs.
secular
not religious or connected to religion
Since that time, Bangladesh has been both less socialistic and less secular.
signatory
a person or organization that signs an official agreement
In our programs, an explicit contract is signed, and we are always a signatory.
suffice
to be enough
The food rations will suffice until the end of the month.
viable
able to be done or worth doing
Her method of solving the math problem seemed viable.
xenophobic
having a fear or hatred of foreigners
They have had a dangerous, xenophobic environment for decades.
absurd
ridiculously unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous
It is also absurd to attempt to preserve items.
bark
the tough outer covering that protects a tree or other plant
Tom, however, looked for some pieces of bark and wrote on them.
be recognized by
to win official commendation
She has been recognized by the United Nations for her outstanding contributions to the chemistry.
collaboration
the act of working with somebody else to do or create something
The singer did a collaboration song with two other singers.
conservation
the act of taking care of nature through wise use of resources
Today we are going to discuss wildlife conservation issues.
couple
to link or combine (something) with something else
The two train cars had been coupled together.
depict
to represent something by using a picture
North Korea is often depicted as a dark and colorless place.
direct
to lead a group of people who are acting or playing music
A new manager has been appointed to direct the project.
ethnobotanist
a person who studies the practices and beliefs of a group of people as they relate to plants
He eventually left to become curator of the herbarium at the California Academy in San Francisco and has become a renowned ethnobotanist.
ferocious
extremely fierce; savage or cruel; violent
he put up a sign in her front yard to warn trespassers of her ferocious guard dog.
fieldwork
a session of training or research done outside a classroom
Jim performed fieldwork in Lesotho, a small nation in Africa.
for the most part
mostly, mainly
The path for the most part sticks to the coast.
foremost
being the best or most important
First and foremost, never be late to class or you will lose points.
hallucinogenic
able to cause hallucinations, or visions of things not actually present
They engage in group meditation after ingesting a hallucinogenic tea.
headwaters
the source of a stream or river
These paths follow rivers right up into their headwaters.
humility
the condition of being humble
He needs the humility to accept that their way may be better.
ideally
in a perfect way ideally, we'd like to see a little more rain this year for our crops.
illiterate
not able to read
There are many illiterate people in the world who have not been given the opportunity to attend school.
indigenous
originating in a particular region or environment
The Native Americans were the indigenous people of North America.
intoxicated
under the influence of alcohol or another drug
His velvety mouth and full lips, combined with his amber-oak scent, intoxicated her senses.
mentor
a person with experience or knowledge who advises someone.
The students each chose a mentor to help them with the experiment.
missionary
a person who travels to another place in order to convert others to a religion
David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary who traveled through Africa by himself.
off limits
not allowed to go there
This place is off limits to the children.
open one's mind
to consider
I will open my mind to your suggestion.
pass on
to give something to somebody else, especially after receiving or using it yourself
Pass the book on to me when you've finished with it.
recall
to remember something that occurred or was done in the past
She could not recall his name.
sacred
connected with God or a religious purpose
The land was considered sacred by the people's old religion.
shaman
a witch doctor; a healer who uses magic
Other religious practitioners include spirit mediums and shamans, most of whom are women.
tribe
a social group made up of many families that share the same language, customs, and beliefs
Various Indian tribes spread out over the plains and lived off the land.
venom
a poisonous liquid transmitted by biting or stinging
A snake’s venom can be used to cure the illnesses it creates.
absorb
to take in a gas or liquid
Use the sponge to absorb the water on the counter.
adapt
to change in order to function better in new surroundings
The bodies of seals are well adapted to the ocean water, where they spend most of their lives.
assure
to make certain; to ensure
Felton assured his master that he would not allow a woman to lead him astray.
bloom
to produce a flower
There are a lot of flowers in bloom here.
complex
having many details; hard to understand
The map was very complex and difficult to understand.
differentiate
to see or show a difference between things
He is no longer able to differentiate between fantasy and reality.
distant
far away in time or space
He traveled alone to a distant land.
diverse
having a variety of parts or aspects
More diverse materials are being considered to make buildings more earthquake-proof.
fellow
a graduate student employed to do research as well as to teach
Many of my fellows agreed with the plan to modernize our accounting system.
gravity
the pulling force an object has on other things related to the object's mass
Without gravity, we would all be floating in the air.
hectare
a unit for measuring an area of land, equal to 10,000 square meters
Measuring things in hectares is an old way of surveying land.
integrate
to connect or combine to form a whole
To improve efficiency of the company, they integrated many of the departments.
isolate
to separate something and keep it by itself
When you are isolated you begin to feel lonely.
paradise
a perfect place or situation
Bail is a lush tropical paradise.
stroll
an unhurried walk, often taken for pleasure
In the evening, Biddy and I strolled in the garden and talked.
abundant
plentiful; having a lot
There was abundant evidence to support his theory.
biodegradable
able to be naturally broken down by bacteria or weathering into environmentally safe substances
It is safe and easily biodegradable.
brewing
the business or occupation of a brewer
He worked in the brewing industry.
by-product
a material produced in addition to the principal, intended product
Silver is a by-product of tin smelting.
cob
a corncob
What's the best way to cook corn on the cob?
condensate
a substance formed by condensation, such as a liquid from a vapour
It relates to the use of liquid condensate from a rendering plant as fertiliser ongrazing land.
convert
to switch something from one state, method or purpose to another
You should convert your American dollars into Korean won.
cost effective
being a good value
This will lead to the most cost effective solutions.
derived
coming from or based on something
Its name is derived from its shape.
discard
one that is discarded or rejected. discard any foods that have come into contact with flood waters.
ear
the fruiting spike of a corn stalk, including both the seeds and protective structures
The corn is in full ear.
erosion
the process of being worn away by water, wind, or ice
We need to plant more trees to stop the erosion of the hillside.
ethanol
a flammable liquid derived from fermentation
Some farmers grow crops to specifically create ethanol.
feasible
possible; reasonable
Do you think this project is not feasible?
ferment
to cause to undergo a chemical reaction in which sugar is converted to CO2 and alcohol
The wine will be stronger if you let it ferment longer.
generate
to produce, cause, or be the reason for something
We may have to close that branch because it does not generate enough sales.
husk
an outer layer or covering
His mom gave him some juice in a coconut husk.
in charge of
reposible for, in control of
He was in charge of his father's printing works.
livestock
animals that are raised in a farm livestock such as cows and pigs live in the farm.
organic
from or relating to living organisms
ly healthier, but they’re also better for the environment!
plant
a factory where something is made
The paper and plastic were sent to a recycling plant where they were made into new things.
propagate
to cause to spread out; to multiply
The wild flowers and herbs get cut before they have a chance to flower and propagate.
refinery
a factory for separating and cleaning crude oil and natural gas
Oil and gas move to a factory called a refinery to be prepared.
residual
remaining after the main product is taken out or separated residual oil is oil that does not move when fluids are flowed through the rock in normal conditions.
revenue
the money a business collects in exchange for goods or services
The revenue from her income property was not sufficient to cover her expenses.
stalk
the main stem of a plant
The corn stalk is ten feet tall.
substantial
of a considerable size or amount
He is a very rich man with a substantial amount of money and wealth.
to the tune of
roughly; about; as much as; to the approximate sum orextent of.
The hotel has been refurbished to the tune of two million dollars.
utilize
to make use of; to use
She utilized her negotiation skills to get the contract.
yeast
an organism that promotes fermentation, and is used in the making of alcoholic liquors and in baking
You must be careful not to use too much yeast, otherwise the bread will grow too big.
assessment
the process of forming a judgment or opinion after considering information carefully
Most courses have some kind of assessment to test how the students are performing.
cultivated
grown on a farm
She indicated a cultivated area not far from where she was working.
devastating
causing great damage or destruction
The devastating news caused her mother to have a heart attack.
emerging
to come out or become apparent
That seems to be the picture that is emerging.
exotic
of foreign origin
On their trip to Asia, they had discovered many exotic fruits and vegetables.
hemisphere
one half of the earth
The Earth is divided into the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
incrementally
in small amounts; gradually
We must build up our military capacity incrementally.
issue
a subject that people discuss or argue about, especially relating to society or politics
The men spoke about issues that were important to the people.
originate
to come into existence; to come from
The disease originated in birds, but it can be spread to the humans who handle them.
pallet
a small, portable platform that can be used to move goods
The pallet is tilting, loss of balance, falling down.
revise
to make a new, improved or up-to-date version
Please revise this paper prior to submitting it for your final grade.
sheer
used to emphasize the large size or amount of something
I was impressed by her sheer dedication to jogging.
timber
wood that can be used for building things
The land was full of ancient timber that was going to be turned into paper.
voracious
hard to satisfy; greedy
Boxer dogs have voracious appetites.
wander
to travel from place to place without a destination or purpose
Nicholas wandered the streets because it was too early to visit Madeline.
alter
to change, usually slightly
He altered the recipe by reducing the salt and adding some cumin.
boost
to expand; to make greater; to improve
We can boost our sales by 30-40% by this December.
commercial
viewed with regard to profit; designed for a large market
The program is now available for commercial sale.
compel
to urge; to drive forcefully or irresistibly
Traffic signs compel drivers to drive safely.
concept
an idea; a way of thinking
I understand the basic concept of this theory, but not the details.
confidence
a feeling of certainty in one's own capacity to succeed
I have confidence you will do well on your exam.
conform
to act in obedience to some rule or standard
The new student had to conform to the school’s dress code.
constantly
occurring continuously
As long as the wind constantly blows, windmills will be a good source of energy.
disorder
a problem with one's physical or mental health
The doctor didn't know what disorder the person had.
distorted
twisted out of a natural, normal, or original condition
She had a distorted understanding of a marriage because she grew up without a father.
eating disorder
any psychological disorder characterized by abnormal eating habits
Teenage girls who struggle with self-esteem often suffer from eating disorders.
embrace
to take or receive gladly
She was quick to embrace the opportunity.
feminist
a person who believes that men and women should have equal rights
Germaine Greer is a feminist writer from Australia who wrote The Female Eunuch.
impact
to have a strong effect on someone or something
Pollution from cars impacts the environment.
laxative
causing looseness or relaxation, especially of the bowels.
I'm going to prescribe a laxative.
nose job
a cosmetic alteration of a person's nose by plastic surgery
She had a nose job when she was in high school.
obsess
to think about too often
Some people are obsessed with sports.
playwright
a writer of plays; dramatist
Shakespeare is considered to be one of the greatest playwrights in modern history, having written numerous plays and poetry.
portray
to play the role of; to depict
Her picture portrayed the house she grew up in when she was little.
rip off
to get rid off something
I ripped off some toilet paper in the school bathroom.
ritual
a formal social or religious ceremony that is always performed in the same manner each time
Many people believe in the power of rituals, and therefore they still perform them for various reasons.
role model
a person or thing that others try to be like
He is a role model for all athletes.
self-esteem
the level of confidence and sense of worth a person feels for himself or herself
Having a good sense of self-esteem is important for everyone.
skinny
very lean or thin
Polly is very skinny. I think she needs to eat more.
spectator
a person who watches an event
More than 50,000 spectators filled the stadium to watch the baseball game.
spokesperson
a person chosen to speak officially for a group
The spokesperson was quick to deny the rumor.
stereotype
a standardized idea that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or superficial judgment
There’s a stereotype that pigs are dirty animals. But they are rather clean.
substitute
to take someone or somethings place of
My dad typically uses a sugar substitute in his morning coffee.
unattainable
not able to be obtained or secured
It's surely a dream that is unattainable.
vomit
to empty one's stomach by throwing up
When some people are very sick, they vomit.
broth
a liquid used for giving flavor when cooking
Too many cooks do spoil the broth.
cabinet
a space like a box with a door that is fixed on a wall and used for storing things
I keep jewelry, documents, and photographs in my bedside cabinet.
centerpiece
the most important feature
Marathon is considered the centerpiece of the Olympics.
enhance
to improve
His dramatic appearance enhanced his reputation.
fragrant
pleasant-smelling
We picked fragrant flowers from the garden for our mother.
ingredient
one of the foods or liquids used to make a meal
I cannot make this cake because I am missing the main ingredient.
medicinal
used for healing or treatment of disease
Various plants have medicinal properties and can be used to treat illnesses.
nutritious
containing things the body needs; healthful
Raw spinach is especially nutritious.
prevent
to stop from happening
There will be a picnic if nothing prevents.
relief
the ending or easing of suffering from an illness
Aspirin gave me relief from my headache.
season
to add salt, pepper, or other spices to food
Add the mushrooms, and season to taste.
soothe
to cause to feel better
The mother soothed her crying baby by rocking him in her arms.
sore
hurting; aching
After I fell, my knees were sore.
variation
a different version
She made several variations to her famous chocolate chip cookies.
vinegar
a sour liquid that is a weak acid made from fermenting wine or beer
Be careful because too much vinegar will ruin the recipe.
alien
a being from another planet
Some people have said that they’ve met aliens.
bond
to form a close or intimate connection
Children in a nuclear family also have fewer chances to form strong bonds with grandparents.
catering
a job to organize food and drinks for an event
To serve at weddings, catering companies are often hired.
cuisine
a stlye of cooking
Japanese cuisine is very healthy.
curiosity
a strong desire to find out more information
Unable to contain her curiosity, Pandora opened the box and all the evil spirits were released upon mankind.
entrepreneurial
relating to the skills or activities of business owners who take risks
In research parks all over the country, innovative and entrepreneurial skills aredeveloping.
estimate
to guess; to approximate
It is estimated that over 98% of people in Korea are literate.
eventually
over time; at some point eventually, David will realize that he is special.
immigrant
a person who moves to another country to permanently live
My parents were immigrants. They came from Poland.
recent
happening not long ago; close to the present
The mayor made a recent visit to the sick children in the hospital.
routinely
as part of the usual way of doing something
You should routinely visit your doctor to make sure that you are not having any health problems.
scrutinize
to examine very carefully
The lawyer scrutinized the criminal investigators role in the court case.
soar
to quickly increase to a high level
As the stock market and currency value declined, the price of gold soared.
sole
only; lone
Companies should not use viral marketing as their sole strategy.
via
by way of; through
We arrived in the city from the airport via the train.
abundant
plentiful; having a lot
There was abundant evidence to support his theory.
affordable
capable of being paid for without difficulty
The houses in Texas are very affordable compared to other states.
basin
a region where a large source of water is enclosed
Kathmandu sits almost in the middle of a basin, forming a square about 5km north-south and 5km east-west.
collaborate
to work with someone in order to achieve a result
The business partners collaborated to build a larger company.
contaminant
a chemical, waste, or infection that is added to something else and makes it dirty or polluted
Make sure that all equipment is clean and free of contaminants.
daunting
difficult; challenging
Due to the schedule change, she faced the daunting task of studying for five exams in a single night.
decentralized
not controlled by a central source or authority
To execute on so many fronts, he has decentralized the organization and delegated a lot of decision-making.
despite
happening without being stopped by something that could prevent the event that happens
He decided to buy the computer despite the high price.
dike
a thick wall that is built to stop water flooding onto very low-lying land from a river or from the sea.
The dike held during the flood.
elusive
hard to obtain or reach
The elusive fish only came out at night.
evaporation
the process of a liquid becoming a gas, steam, or vapor evaporation is the process in which water is transformed from its liquid state to vapor state.
lament
A passionate expression of grief or sorrow
Dusty stood it on its head and made it a passionate lament of loneliness and love.
mandate
to command; to order
There is a new mandate that prohibits smoking in public places.
mark
to write or draw a line on something
I marked my name on my school uniform.
mediation
an attempt to solve differences between two parties mediation involves adopting a neutral role between two opposing parties rather than taking up the case of one party against another.
note
to carefully notice, observe, or become aware of someone or something
As he entered the building, he noted the elegant furniture.
observance
An act performed for religious or ceremonial reasons
Many religions go through ceremonies or observances of rituals to become pure or to be healed.
plight
a difficult or bad situation
Everyone felt sorry for the young girl's plight.
point out
to indicate something; to highlight an idea
Could you point out the school office to me?
portable
easily carried or moved
Mp3 players are portable music players.
reverse
to change to the opposite direction.
They reversed their direction after seeing the sign.
sanitation
the cleanliness and safety of public facilities
This is because over 4,000 African children die every day from water and sanitation-related diseases.
sewage
human waste carried off in pipes or drains
Because of sewage in cities, we were able to defeat many diseases.
so-called
usually called
She is a so-called elite student.
sporadically
not often or on a regular schedule
She went to the gym sporadically.
statistics
collection of numerical data
The statistics show that teenagers are less likely to attend lectures than those over 20.
to this end
because
To this end I believe that the County Board must act now before an incident like this ends tragically.
tote
Carry, wield, or convey (something heavy orsubstantial)
Here are books well worth toting home.
transboundary
Across a boundary transboundary air pollution is a contentious issue in many parts of the world.
absolutely
completely; without a doubt
You didn't understand anything, absolutely nothing.
anti-social
behaving in a way that is not normal or acceptable to most people in a society
Children can become violent and anti-social from games.
backlash
a strong, negative, and often angry reaction
The move provoked a furious backlash from union leaders.
culprit
the person responsible for doing something bad or illegal
Police are looking for the culprit responsible for the bank robbery.
demonize
to describe someone or something as evil or dangerous
And then the people we disagree with, we tend to demonize them.
dispose
to throw or cast away
He disposed of the can by throwing it into the recycle bin.
distinguish
to know the difference between two or more things
Do you distinguish between difficult and dangerous?
high-profile
attracting a lot of attention, especially in the media
It has brought in many high-profile athletes to compete.
juvenile
a young person
We are also looking at new ways to prevent juvenile crime.
penalize
to punish someone or something as evil or dangerous
The team was penalized when they broke the rules.
perceive
to notice or realize
I could perceive from the conversation that they did not like each other.
predisposition
a predictable, particular way a person behaves due to his or her personality
The factors that shape our brain growth are genetic predisposition and environment.
prevalence
the fact or condition of being widespread
The prevalence of many diseases often decreases once its major cause is identified.
quadruple
to increase fourfold
China seeks to quadruple its income in twenty years.
rampage
a state of uncontrolled anger that results in damage or destruction
Gangs of youths went on the rampage in the city yesterday.
administrator
someone whose job is to manage an organization or project
Sara works as a school administrator.
arsenal
a large collection of weapons
He pointed out that Russia doesn't really need to join NATO because it possesses an arsenal of nuclear weapons.
bolster
to make something stronger or more effective
She must bolster her view immediately.
chunk
a large amount or part
There was a large chunk of ice in the freezer.
collaborative
involving two or more people working together
The book about the history of art was the result of a collaborative effort between a historian and an artist.
coordinate
to organize different groups to work together effectively
Each skating team had to coordinate their movements for the show.
divert
to change the course or direction of
When people bring up negatives, you divert the negative.
geosynchronous
having a fixed orbit over the same place
There, the rockets will link up, creating an 80-ton spacecraft that will ascend to 22,000 miles and lock into geosynchronous orbit.
hazardous
extremely dangerous, especially to health and safety
Drinking too much alcohol can be hazardous to your health.
incidence
the number of times something happens
There has been a decreased incidence of fatigue since we decided that everyone work no more than 8 hours in a day.
intolerable
impossible to bear or deal with
The weather was so intolerable that I had to put on my warmest clothes.
plausibly
believably; possibly
He argued very plausibly that the claims were true.
probability
a measure of how likely something is to happen
If she is young and attractive, the court may consider her remarriage to be a strong probability.
shatter
to break something suddenly into a lot of pieces
When the ball hit the window, the glass shattered.
vicinity
the area near a particular place
She left her car in the vicinity of the bus stop.
alternative
available as another choice
The alternative route was actually longer than the normal route.
anticipate
to expect
Her mom didn't anticipate the bad news from her daughter.
birthrate
the number of live births per thousand of population per year
With a declining birth rate and an ageing population, the first minister says they need fresh talent.
common thread
a theme or characteristic found in various stories or situations
There is common thread between mental health and sexual health services.
consequence
a result; an outcome
The consequence of not studying for an exam is failing.
contraception
the prevention of pregnancy by using certain tools, medicines, or practices
It had been her first time, they didn’t use any contraception.
demographer
a person who studies demography
Frey and other demographers said many of the population shifts could be longer-lasting.
dependent
relying on someone or something else for aid, support
She was dependent upon her parent’s finances.
domestic
relating to only your own country
Critics complain that a free trade agreement will hurt domestic production of certain products.
empowerment
the equipping of a person or group with power
Individuals are given empowerment to create their own dwellings.
enigma
a mystery; a puzzle
The enigmas of life are not easily resolved.
epidemic
the situation of an infectious disease affecting many people across a wide area
The country is facing a new flu epidemic.
evenly
in a manner that affects or influences all parts equally
The food was evenly distributed among the homeless people.
explosively
suddenly and dramatically
The game industry is growing explosively.
fertility
the ability to produce babies
South Korea has the lowest fertility rate in the world.
fine tune
to make small adjustments to (something) in order to achieve the best or a desired performance
We do not try to fine-tune the economy on the basis of short-term predictions.
immigrant
a person who moves to another country to permanently live
My parents were immigrants. They came from Poland.
induce
to encourage or persuade
The pickets induced many workers to stay away.
industrialized
establish or develop industrialism in industrialized countries are polluting the world.
predominantly
mostly; for the most part
This neighborhood is predominantly comprised of people who moved here during the 1940s.
propel
to push forward; to give momentum to
President Bush helped propel this economy by using tax cuts.
rear
to raise a child by giving him or her food, education, etc.
She felt her baby had a better chance with new parents better equipped to rear her child.
shrink
to become smaller
Some flowers are very sensitive and will shrink if you touch them.
spell disaster
get into trouble
Having no northern ice may spell disaster for people worried about globalwarming
surge
to increase suddenly and strongly
There has been a sudden surge in his popularity.
talk up
to discuss someone or something in a way that makes them seem more (or less) interesting or attractive
He is talking up the company to stock analysts.
tremendous
great; huge
The singer is enjoying a tremendous popularity.
trend
a general tendency
The recent trend in developed countries is to have less children.
urbanization
the movement of people from rural areas to cities
The urbanization of Texas is mainly the result of European settlement and culture.
vibrant
Full of energy and life
It was magical, everything was so vibrant and colorful, full of life and energy.
assertion
a definite statement or claim
He made the assertion that it would not rain tomorrow.
climate
the type of weather that a country or region has
The climates of northern countries like northern Canada, northern Europe, and Mongolia are very cold.
confront
to deal with (a difficult situation); to face
Milady was terrified when Athos confronted her with her real name.
depletion
reduction in the amount of something due to overuse or damage
The group had to travel back to the river due to the depletion of their water supplies.
frequent
happening often
Recently, the doctor has been a frequent visitor to our home to treat my sick brother.
infrastructure
the basic facilities, services, and installations needed for a society to function
Rome’s agricultural production could not provide sufficient energy to maintain its infrastructure and the welfare of its citizens.
migrate
to move from one country or region to another
Some birds migrate south in winter.
rally
to join in support of
People will rally around the company.
reliable
able to be counted on or trusted to work or be accurate
I'm not sure that this information is reliable.
reliance
the state of being dependent on a person or thing
I have reliance in my parents.
scorching
very hot
The scorching heat of the sun made the trouble.
spark
to ignite; to start, usually from a small source or cause
However, the system sparked a heated controversy.
swamp
to cover or fill with water
The little boat was swamped by the waves.
vigorous
sound; sturdy or robust
We had a very vigorous debate.
vulnerable
being easily harmed, hurt, or wounded
They become more vulnerable.
analyst
someone whose job is to carefully examine a situation or event so as provide others with information about it
Our company hired an analyst to help us improve our profits.
autonomous
independent; able to make decisions without help from others
By 10 months, most babies are autonomous enough to roam around the house by themselves.
barbarism
an uncivilized and usually cruel state of society
People are living in barbarism in some parts of Africa.
circumstance
a fact or condition that affects a situation
The circumstances were not favorable for them to start a family.
civilian
a non-military person civilians do not have the same access to places that military personnel do.
combatant
a person that takes part in a war
In the long Russo-Swedish conflict, both combatants endured terrible sacrifices
deploy
to send out (usually soldiers or weapons) for a purpose
The Legion was often deployed in hopeless military situations.
embrace
to take or receive gladly
She was quick to embrace the opportunity.
equation
the set of factors and information a person must consider before making a decision about a situation
When pressure of competition was factored into the equation, the situation changed.
humanitarian
having concern for the aid or benefit of humans
Valentin was known to be a humanitarian thinker who tried to make the world a better place.
inconsistent
not compatible with another fact, rule, or belief
The answers on this exam are inconsistent.
intervention
the act of coming between two or more parties in a situation or disagreement to try to change the result
Many have raised several matters that Ann's kindly interventions have resolved.
loop
a group of people that knows and makes decisions about something
You don't seem to be in the loop!
surveillance
the process of carefully watching a person or place
The surveillance of the parking lot with cameras has reduced crime significantly.
treaty
an agreement between two or more governments
The two leaders signed the treaty to make the agreement legal.
abstinence
the practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically alcohol or sex
I started drinking again after six years of abstinence.
armed conflict
war
It is important to prevent an armed conflict between two great nations of the globe.
backpedal
to reverse one's previous position
Boy had quickly backpedalled when asked to explainher suggestion.
campaign
a series of actions taken to achieve a goal, usually political or military
The local farmers have organized a campaign to get the government to increase taxes on imported vegetables.
displace
to make to leave the area where they live
Thousands of people have been displaced by the civil war.
eradicate
to end completely
The government concentrated all their efforts to eradicate corruption.
facilitate
to help in a way to make an action easier or better
The new trade agreement should facilitate more rapid economic growth.
feces
solid waste that comes out of a body from eating
It was covered in feces and urine.
festering
getting worse and worse
The wound is festering.
immunization
the act of administering medicine to prevent a disease
Schedule your dates for childhood immunization in order to prevent from fatal disease.
initiative
a plan of action; a program
The student took the initiative to learn Chinese before going on his exchange program to China.
intervention
the act of coming between two or more parties in a situation or disagreement to try to change the result
Many have raised several matters that Ann's kindly interventions have resolved.
limb
an arm, leg, or wing of a person or animal
A person's limbs are actually very fragile.
paralysis
the condition of being unable to move
His paralysis meant that he had to use a wheelchair to get around.
pledge
a promise to do something
He wrote a pledge in his blood.
poverty
the state or experience of being poor and having little or no money poverty may drive people crazy.
rebound
to rise again after falling for some time
The ball rebounded from the goalpost and Owen headed it in.
recruit
a person newly enlisted in the armed forces and not yet fully trained.
The intention is to influence many of those new recruits into becoming Army Reserve officers.
returnee
a refugee returning from abroad.
I've never noticed a list of returnees on any memorial elsewhere.
reviled
criticizing in an abusive or angrily insulting manner
he was now reviled by the party that he had helped to lead.
staggering
shockingly large; overwhelming
I was staggered to find it was six o’clock.
stamp out
to destroy or get rid of something bad or unpleasant by force or with a lot of effort
Thats the only way to stamp out knife crime.
sterility
the condition of being unable to have children
The disease can cause sterility in males.
taunt
to provoke or challenge (someone) with insultingremarks
The last thing we want is to put ourselves in the position where he is taunted or provoked and reacts again.
template
a thin piece of metal or plastic which is cut into a particular shape.
The man is laying out a template.
topple
to remove (a government or person in authority) from power; overthrow
We can topple all of these other kings.
tuberculosis
a disease affecting especially the lungs tuberculosis is not as common as it once was thanks to modern medicine.
vaccine
a type of medicine that helps prevent a specific disease
The scientist created a new vaccine that will cure many patients.
volatility
the state of easily becoming violent or chaotic
There was little sign of serious volatility in financial markets.
vulnerable
being easily harmed, hurt, or wounded
They become more vulnerable.
accession
the act of a nation becoming part of an agreement already existing among other nations
This week, Bulgaria's intellectual potential will be called upon to aid the country in the process of its accession into the European Union.
assiduously
diligently; with constant effort and focus
Leaders worked assiduously to hammer out an action plan.
billionaire
a person who possesses over a billion units of a currency
She has succeeded in business and is now a billionaire.
command economy
business activities and the use of resources are decided by the government, and not by market forces.
We do not live in a command economy.
deficit
an amount of something that is less than what is actually needed
The deficit in the charity fund was caused by people paying their donations.
emblematic
serving as a symbol of a particular quality or concept;symbolic:
The dove is emblematic of peace.
emerge
to begin to develop; grow
He emerged as a key figure in the campaign.
entrepreneur
a person who starts a new business that seems risky or untried
The young entrepreneurs developed a system to help newcomers get settled into a new city.
exponentially
extremely rapidly
Technological development is accelerating exponentially.
extent
the point, level or limit to which something reaches
The extent of the damage caused by the fire was not known.
eye
to look at something with the intention of acquiring it
After eying them closely from the distance, they began to approach closer.
falter
to move unsteadily or hesitantly
His steps falter; the dancers seem to embrace him but they let go and he falls.
fierce
cruelly violent fierce storms often raged along the coast.
hone
to sharpen to a fine point; to improve
Lisa honed her chess skills by hours and hours of practice.
infusion
the addiction of something such as money or a particular quality
The company needs an infusion of new blood.
inroad
an invasion or hostile attack; raid or incursion
It may also reference a sudden and violent inroad, or entrance of invaders.
make inroads
to encroach on or reduce something else
They have never seen a Korean SF film make inroads into America.
overhaul
to examine something thoroughly
The ship's engine had to be completely overhauled.
privatization
the act of changing from public ownership to private ownership
Another primary concern of the ANC government is the privatization of state assets.
privatize
to change from public ownership to private ownership
They were opposed to plans to privatize electricity and water.
prowess
great skill or ability in a particular field
Padraic will also be remembered for his prowess on the football field.
proximity
the state of being near
All the trees in the proximity of the beach had been cut down.
robust
strong and healthy
He was a tall and robust man.
sector
part of an area of activity, especially of business, trade
Nearly half of the funding came from the private sector.
specialist
a person who works in one specific area of a field or profession
The specialist told her that her eyes could get worse.
subsidiary
a company owned by another company
The company has subsidiaries in many different countries.
tackle
to deal with it in a determined and efficient way.
Such social problems need to be tackled right away.
transition
the process of changing from one thing to another
The weather gets colder during the transition from summer to autumn.
trappings
the outward signs; the appearances
I've spent the last few years acquiring the trappings and signs of the middle class.
upsurge
the strength or quantity of something; an increase
The recent upsurge in violence had forced a decision to cancel the scheduled tour, Merriman said.
animate
to make someone or something active or lively
Burns used the technique to animate historical photos in his popular documentaries.
applaud
to express support or appreciation
It was a display of pointless truculence and ignorance and he was applauded for it.
customize
to change in a way to specially suit a particular person or need
The software can be customized to the developingneeds of your students.
detergent
a liquid or powder used for washing something
My brother added too much detergent to the wash, and bubbles got all over the floor.
donor
a person who gives something to another person
He was proud to be a blood donor.
fraction
a smaller part of a larger whole
He was busy. He had done only a fraction of his homework.
function
to work properly
Even though he is blind, he can still function normally.
guideline
a rule or principle that provides information about appropriate behavior
The teacher did not have specific guidelines for the students to follow which caused some students to be very confused.
hurdle
one of several problems that you must solve before you can proceed
They can be used to overcome specific hurdles when developing good singing techniques.
marrow
the inside part of bones that makes blood cells
The bone marrow transplant is critical for people who can't produce their blood cells quickly.
reassemble
to put something together again after taking it apart
The computer was reassembled within a matter of hours.
regeneration
the process of growing new organs or tissues to replace lost or damaged organs or tissues
When a lizard loses its tail and then grows it back, this is an example of regeneration.
regulatory
related to a system or agency that controls and makes official rules for an activity or industry
There is thus no need for regulatory action
reject
to not accept something; to become sick after receiving a new organ
His body could begin to reject the implanted heart.
retain
to keep someone or something
Tom tried to retain his heavyweight championship.
고객센터
전화문의 070-4042-1075
