to draw in (moisture)
A sponge is used to absorb water and liquids.
co-conspirator
a person who schemes with another
Three other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to similar charges.
credibility
reliability; believability
After getting caught lying on his resume, Hugh did not have any credibility with his co-workers.
criteria (pl.)
standards for judging or categorization
The criteria that they use to evaluate products and services in one of their roles may be quite different from those used in another role.
dampen
to add moisture; to make slightly wet dampen your shirt with water so the ink does not stain your shirt.
embalm
to preserve; to mummify
Today, most bodies are embalmed to preserve them for religious ceremonies.
excavate
to uncover or expose by digging; to unearth
The scientists excavated the area for dinosaur bones.
fabricate
to make up (a story or lie); to contrive
The evidence was totally fabricated.
fossil
the extremely old remains of a living thing fossils of dinosaurs were found.
gravel pit
a hole or cavity in he ground fi lled with pebbles, rock, and clay
This area of former farmland was worked as a gravel pit until 1964.
harbinger
a sign of something that will happen
His election as general secretary was a harbinger of doom for the country.
hoax
something accepted or established by fraud or fabrication
The story about the unicorn found in Ireland was only a hoax.
hominid
a member of the family of humans
Neanderthals and homo sapiens are both hominids.
howl
to make a long, loud cry
But Liz howled and the hippopotamus howled.
infect
to contaminate with germs
If the ear mites are very painful and infected, the vet may give the animal an antibiotic.
organ
an essential internal body part
The most famous human organ is the heart.
paleontologist
a scientist who studies ancient life forms paleontologist often study dinosaurs.
patronage
financial support or sponsorship
Our small market enjoys the patronage from many people in our community.
perpetrator
a person who commits an act that is illegal or wrong
The perpetrator was apprehended for stealing
plausible
reasonable; possible by logic
It is plausible that Jack isn’t here today because he is sick.
plunder
to rob; to despoil
The pirates plundered the small ship and then sunk it.
prominent
well-known and distinguished
Here the window plays a prominent part in the design.
rekindle
to revive
Ten years later, they meet by chance, and rekindle their friendship.
sensation
a cause of excitement and interest
Beyonce is the new pop sensation in the U.S.
sepulcher
a vault for burial; a tomb
The king is buried in the royal sepulcher.
succumb to
to die of
Don't succumb to the temptation to have just one cigarette.
suicide
the act of killing oneself
She says she wants to commit suicide because she does not want to continue living.
symbolic
representative of something else
These chimps had already been taught the symbolic concept of simple numbers.
torso
a body, not including arms, legs, or head
The man had the bulky upper torso of a weightlifter.
vociferously
loudly; vehemently
He vociferously opposed the state of emergency imposed by the government.
accent
a way of pronouncing words that is specific to a certain group
You can tell from his accent that he is from Australia.
accuracy
the quality or sate of being correct or precise
The archer shot his arrow at the target with great accuracy.
aftermath
the period of time after a bad and usually destructive event
The resulting aftermath of the hurricane was utter destruction.
candidate
an applicant or possible choice for a position
She is the next candidate for the promotion.
circulation
public distribution or availability
You need to eat healthy foods and exercise to have good circulation in your body.
clever
quick-witted; smart
Your son is very clever, especially when it comes to learning math.
correlation
a relationship or connection between two or more things
There is a strong correlation between obesity and heart disease.
deficiency
a lack of some necessary quality or element
The patient with scurvy is suffering from vitamin-c
differentiate
to contrast; to set apart
We try to differentiate the person and his actions.
fit the bill
to have the required characteristics
On paper, several of the applicants fit the bill.
formidable
very powerful or strong; deserving respect
She was one of the most formidable intellects of her time.
genealogist
a person who traces or studies the descent of persons or families
Lane said Churchill's membership was based on an investigation by a tribal genealogist.
incumbent
required; a duty or responsibility
It is therefore incumbent upon the Government to tell us.
intellect
the power of rational or intelligent thought
You estimate his intellect too highly
mediocre
not very good mediocre is simply not good enough.
mob
a large crowd of people who are very angry or difficult to control
The police soon reduced the mob to order.
plaque
a flat, thin piece of wood or metal with writing on it used as reminder of something such as a historic event
On one side of the main entrance there's a red plaque.
propagate
to make known to many people
The grasshopper uses its legs to propel itself off the ground.
renowned
famous
San Francisco is renowned for its beauty.
reputable
having a good reputation; respected
The library is a reputable institution.
retract
to say that something you said or wrote is not true or correct
He made a false confession which he later retracted.
skeptical
having or expressing doubt
I was very skeptical of his professed faith, until I actually saw him serving the needs of the homeless.
sleuth
a detective
The players that didn't give hints were sleuths.
spectator
a person who watches something
The seats were full of spectators waiting for the game to begin.
stature
height
When we classify a plant according to its stature, we are talking about its height.
supposedly
according to a particular source; especially unverified supposedly, doubling the height of a two year old child will tell you how tall the child will be as an adult.
surgeon
a doctor who performs operations
A surgeon is a doctor who is specially trained to perform surgery
surpass
to become better, greater, or stronger than; to exceed
Persons who are daring in taking a wholehearted stand for truth often achieve results that surpass their expectations.
unverified
not proven or checked for accuracy
Resorting to force, or directing unverified accusations.
unverified
not proven or checked for accuracy
Resorting to force, or directing unverified accusations.
watershed
a turning point; a point of significance in time
The middle decades of the 19th century marked a watershed in Russia's history.
ancestor
a distant dead relative in a direct line; forefather
The ancenstors of our family moved to this area hundreds of years ago.
anthropology
the scientific study of humans
Students were required to take anthropology in order to receive their degrees.
classify
to place into a certain group; to categorize
We can classify plants by different things we know about them.
consumption
the act or process of consuming
Cold temperatures increase fuel consumption for heating homes.
dental
of or relating to the teeth
The Surgeon Dentist was the first book about dental science.
domination
the exertion of superior power or control
His domination of the sport was recorded in the history books.
embed
to fix something inside something else
Their writing is usually embedded in a context of others’ ideas and opinions.
fate
final outcome
I think it is fate that we met at the airport.
forensic
relating to the use of scientific methods in solving legal problems
The forensic specialist sifted through the remains in search of evidence.
ideology
the set of ideas and beliefs of a group or political party
The ideology of our modern culture is very different today than it was just 100 years ago.
imperialism
a policy or practice of extending the control of a nation by taking new territory
There is no room for imperialism in this modern age.
implicit
indirectly communicated implicit in his speech was the assumption that they were guilty.
indigenous
native to a specific region
The Native Americans were the indigenous people of North America.
loot
to rob, especially during war or unrest
More than 20 shops were looted.
mass grave
a grave containing multiple human bodies, often the victims of execution or natural disaster
There I saw bodies being exhumed from a mass grave.
multiculturalism
a social system in which many different cultures are included
The issue of more multicultural children being abandoned is growing as well.
oppressive
very cruel or unfair
The daughter ran away from home because of her oppressive home environment.
passive
not active; accepting what others do without trying to change anything passive vocabulary is the sum of words used by or understood by a particular person or group.
peripheral
outside a defined space or group
A beautiful floral pattern is on the periphery of the stationery.
plethora
an overabundance; an excess amount
University offers a student a plethora of study options.
remains
what is left of a person's body after death
After he passed away, his remains were buried in a cemetery near his home town.
repatriation
the act of returning something or someone to the nation of origin
Today they begin the forced repatriation of Vietnamese boat people.
roughly
approximately; about
There is roughly 20 people here.
sacred
holy; deserving of religious respect
The land was considered sacred by the people's old religion.
static
showing little or no change
Prices on the stock market, which have been static, are now rising again.
transformation
a complete change
A caterpillar makes a transformation into a butterfly.
universality
the quality of being characteristic of everyone
Freedom is a universality idea that touches every part of the globe.
usage
the use of a specific product or commodity
A smart home can reduce energy usage.
allocate
to set aside for specified uses
The Customer Service department was allocated 60,000 dollars, which was greater than the amount allocated to any other department.
aptitude
an ability; a talent
Her aptitude in mathematics was high.
asset
a possession; a resource
Remember, your family is your greatest asset.
associated
affiliated with; related to
The associated complaints of their bad behavior has really affected the neighborhood.
compatibility
suitability; existing together with something
The compatibility between dogs and cats is very low.
conceptual
of or relating to mental concepts
It is both conceptual and pragmatic.
congruent
being in agreement or harmony
The two triangles below are congruent.
credibility
reliability; believability
After getting caught lying on his resume, Hugh did not have any credibility with his co-workers.
differentiate
to contrast; to set apart
We try to differentiate the person and his actions.
diffuse
scattered
Don't read in such diffuse light.
distribution
the act of passing out something
The prisoners lined up for the distribution of clean bedding for the week.
entity
something with distinct and independent existence
Many ancient gods were depicted from animals
envision
to anticipate; to imagine; to foresee
The tree was much further than she had envisioned.
execute
to carry out; to enact
They planned to execute the prisoner this morning, but they were told to bring him back to court.
goods
items for sale
This store sells kitchen goods. The ship carried goods for him.
icon
a very successful and admired person
Only Marilyn has proved as an enduring fashion icon.
impulse
a sudden and unconsidered urge to act
I had a sudden impulse to buy that $300 bag.
logo
a manufacturer's symbol or trademark
That logo is very recognizable.
numerical
expressed in or involving numbers
They are classed in the order of numerical importance.
proximity
nearness in place, time, or relation
We will avoid staying in the proximity of the town.
recognition
identification
This company always gives its employees the recognition that they deserve.
self-analysis
introspection; a study of one's own personality
Does it sound believable? How about a self analysis?
sophisticated
cultured; refined
A sophisticated design is needed to sell the product.
statistical
of or relating to the use of statistics
The lack of women in mathematics is another statistical phenomenon.
strategic
of or relating to a plan of action, usually competitive
We see India as a strategic partner in the 21st Century.
trademark
a logo; a registered symbol of a manufacturer
In 1997, Starbucks registered its trademark in Russia.
utilize
to put to use
We utilized all the resources for our profit.
adept
skilled
He was adept at figuring out problems no one else could.
adverse
negative
An adverse result of staying up too late at night is being tired the next day.
articulated
having joints that allow for movement
This bone is articulated with another.
artificial
man-made
There was a bowl of artificial fruit on the table.
autonomy
the ability to act independently
When children become toddlers, they start to assert their autonomy.
cognitive
of or relating to mental functioning
After her physical examination, her cognitive strengths were tested.
crutch
something that a person uses to much for help or support
She is walking with crutches since her accident.
cumulative
increasing over time through addition
The cumulative snowfall in the area is 50 centimeters per year.
digit
a finger or toe
There is a lot of variation in digit ratio and aggression among individuals in both sexes.
equilibrium
balance
The sudden drop in prices upset the equilibrium of the economy.
faculty
a specific mental ability
The boy’s mental faculties impressed all of his teachers.
flaw
an imperfection
The best diamonds are the ones without a single flaw.
harness
to make use of
A mouse from the stable that had somehow got into his clothes while he was harnessing the horse.
hydraulics
the use of moving liquid in engineering
Engineers use hydraulics in designing brake systems.
impact
effect
Political changes can have a big impact on the livelihoods of the nation's people.
integral (to)
important as a part of
The engine is an integral part of a car.
kinetic
having to do with motion and the forces associated with it kinetic energy is energy that is in motion.
mechanical
of or relating to the application of physical laws to moving man-made objects
She enjoys fixing mechanical things like toy trains.
notwithstanding
in spite of notwithstanding some major financial problems, the school has had a successful year.
orator
a skilled speaker
She is a brilliantly entertaining writer and orator.
orientation
alignment in relation to one or more reference points
The course is essentially theoretical in orientation.
prototype
an original model of something from which other forms are developed
Before an actual car model is put into mass production, companies create a prototype to see how well it might do on the market.
retention
keeping; holding
Officials are focusing on job creation, not job retention.
sophisticated
cultured; refined
A sophisticated design is needed to sell the product.
start from scratch
to start from the beginning with nothing
We lost everything in the flood and had to start from scratch.
static
showing little or no change
Prices on the stock market, which have been static, are now rising again.
stickler
person who believes that something is important and should always be done or followed
He was a stickler for details.
stubbornly
in a way that shows no willingness to change one's mind; persistent
Unfortunately, it has also remained stubbornly cool.
syringe
a needle used to inject medicine
You can spread diseases by sharing syringes with other people.
trivial
ordinary; not important
These actions might seem trivial at first but may turn out to be miracles later.
accelerate
to cause to happen sooner or faster
Inflation continues to accelerate.
antibodies
proteins that defend the body from infection
The antibodies tripped her autoimmune response.
clinical trial
a test that checks the safety and effectiveness of a treatment
She's a subject in a clinical trial.
cloning
creating a genetically identical copy of an organism
There have been major strides in cloning.
confer on
to give to
That duty was conferred on it by the House without dissent.
cystic fibrosis
a genetic lung disease cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening condition for which there is no cure.
defect
a flaw, problem, or inconsistency
All these bottles have a defect and must be sent back to the warehouse.
disparate
not alike; cannot be compared
The cultures were so disparate that he found it hard to adapt from one to the other.
efficacy
effectiveness; how well something works
The employee's efficacy impressed his boss.
embryo
a human or animal in the early stages of development before it is born, hatched, etc.
Some doctors say that what a mother eats has a big effect on her embryo.
endemic
widespread in a population
Malaria is endemic in many hot countries.
genetics
the scientific study of how genes control the characteristics of living things genetics is teaching us so much about our bodies and how we can detect some defects.
genome
the complete set of genetic material in an organism's cell
Understanding the human genome may help cure many diseases.
inflammatory
causing swelling and pain
Nuts are rich in anti-inflammatory substances such as fiber.
malaria
a disease affecting the red blood cells and transmitted by mosquitoes malaria is still a dangerous disease in some parts of the world.
manipulation
the act of moving or changing something with your hands or with a machine
The manipulation of the data gave the professor the result she wished for.
molecular
of or related to the smallest possible amount of a substance
When energy is added, molecular motion increases and intermolecular attractive forces are disrupted.
mutation
a change in the genetic material of an organism
At an earlier date, cooking selected mutations for smaller guts and mouths.
nasty
severe or extremely unpleasant
That's kind of a nasty way to ask.
obsolete
no longer produced or used; out of date
Since computers became inexpensive, typewriters have become obsolete.
over-the-counter
sold legally without a doctor's permission
I bought the medicine over the counter.
pharmaceutical
related to the preparation of chemicals for medical use
The foundation was started by Sir Henry Wellcome, who worked in the pharmaceutical industry.
prescription
a note from a doctor stating what medicine you need
The doctor gave me a prescription for my cough.
prevalence
the quality or state of being common or widespread
The prevalence of many diseases often decreases once its major cause is identified.
recipient
a person who receives something
The students wrote a more positive description when the recipient liked the person.
reproduce
to copy; to make again
Flowering plants reproduce using seeds, but mosses and ferns use spores.
spray
liquid that is forced out of a container in a stream of very small drops
He sprayed water on the ground.
symptom
a characteristic sign of illness
Jack didn't show any symptoms of the disease.
vaccine
a medicine that helps build resistance to disease
We now have many vaccines to help prevent illness.
abolition
the act of officially ending or doing away with
Many people risked their lives to fight for abolition of slavery.
chronic
occurring over a long period
Debbie has a chronic pain in her back.
common-law
a legal system that originated in England, in which judges' decisions in court cases are an important source of law
Canadian libel law is based on English common law.
communist
of or relating to a government system in which the state owns allproperty and means of production
Lenin was a communist leader during the Russian Revolution.
detention
being kept in a prison or similar place
The inmate was put in detention for starting a fight.
diagnostic
used to help identify a disease, illness, or problem
The hearing test is the diagnostic test.
dissent
difference of opinion dissent was far more frequent in the high-performing clubs.
gram
a unit of weight equal to 1/1,000 of a kilogram
We need three grams of chicken to make this recipe.
habitual
repeated
The habitual use of this medicine is good for your health.
hub
a center of activity
New York : A hub of Grocery Transportation
hygiene
the things one does to keep oneself clean in order to stay healthy
Washing your hands often is part of good hygiene.
intolerable
impossible to put up with; unbearable
The weather was so intolerable that I had to put on my warmest clothes.
justification
a reasonable cause for a position or course of action
There is no justification for holding him in jail.
mandatory
required by law
While this may seem preferable, it is far from mandatory.
measure
a step taken as a means to an end
We are using measures that are consistent with the rest of the industrialized world.
motive
a reason for doing something
Another problem was that there seemed to be no motive for the murder.
narcotic
a drug such as cocaine or heroin that affects the brain and is usually dangerous and illegal
He was indicted for dealing in narcotics.
ordinance
a law
There is a new city ordinance that forbids any excessive noises after 10pm.
petty theft
the stealing of small amounts of money or items of little value
Acts of trespass and petty theft often grew out of the blithe disregard that boys had for private property.
plight
a difficult or unfortunate situation
Everyone felt sorry for the young girl's plight.
precede
to come before
The national anthem always precedes the game.
precipitate
to cause to happen
The violent attack precipitated an all-out war.
predatory
wrongly harming or using others for pleasure or profit predatory lenders prey on those who have a low-level of education.
psychiatric
of or relating to a branch of medicine dealing with mental or emotionaldisorders
You need medical and psychiatric help right away.
tolerance
acceptance of beliefs or behavior outside of a social norm
Unlike freshwater fish, many marine species have little tolerance for variations in water quality and temperature.
trafficking
transportation and selling of goods, especially illegal goods
Romania is a country of origin for trafficking in persons.
trauma
a very difficult or unpleasant experience
The patient suffered severe brain trauma.
vagrancy
the state of being homeless and living in public places
For many years, my mind wandered with vagrancy,
vicious circle
a repeating situation in which one problem causes another problem, which makes the first problem worse
Late payment is a vicious circle.
widespread
common to a large area, numerous situations, or many people
The problem is widespread in the world.
wield
to exercise; to carry out
He wields great power as the principal of the school.
canopy
the highest layer of branches in a forest
A hunt usually begins when a group of monkeys is spotted in the canopy.
credible
trustworthy; believable
Dick gave a credible reason for being late and didn't get in any trouble.
depleted
used up
Food supplies were severely depleted.
detect
to find; to perceive
I could detect the smell of tobacco on his clothes.
discredited
shown to be false, dishonest, or unreliable
The National Assembly was discredited by many people.
eradicate
to get rid of; to destroy or remove completely
The government concentrated all their efforts to eradicate corruption.
evaporation
the process of changing from a liquid into a gas evaporation is the process in which water is transformed from its liquid state to vapor state.
foliage
the leaves on trees and plants
In Korea, the fall foliage peaks in late October.
genetically
in, of, or through genes
The extra names describe how different plants are related genetically.
incidence
the rate at which something occurs
The incidence of autism has increased in the recent years.
intensive
highly concentrated or accelerated
She took an intensive English course in the States.
logging
cutting down trees for wood
The Government is committed to tackling illegal logging.
modification
a change made for a certain purpose
Considerable modification of the existing system is needed.
optimum
the best possible
To get optimum results from your digital camera, you should read all of the instructions.
Parkinson's disease
a nervous system disorder that affects movement
Not all people with Parkinson’s disease have dementia.
pesticide
a substance used to kill weeds or insects that harm crops
We wash our fruits and vegetables to remove the harmful pesticides applied to them by farmers.
precipitation
rainfall or snowfall
Hail and sleet are types of precipitation.
prone (to)
likely to do or experience
The shorter men seemed more prone to disease.
publicity
public attention or praise
The case received wide publicity in the country.
slash
to cut violently
Today, the average French meal has been slashed down to 38 minutes.
statistically
according to systematic mathematical measurement statistically speaking, left-handedness lives longer too.
sustainable
possible to continue or maintain
Building materials should be sustainable and energyefficient.
temperate
having a moderate climate without extreme temperatures
The weather in this area is usually temperate.
toxic
poisonous
Don't they have a reliable system of toxic waste disposal?
tropical
of or relating to a warm climate near the equator
The tropical regions around the equator are generally warm and humid.
tumor
a mass of tissue made up of abnormal cells, often cancer cells
Doctors recently discovered a brain tumor in the woman's brain.
vanish
to disappear
Johnny vanished from the stage right before our eyes.
vegetation
plants
The vegetation in the forest was rich and abundant.
accurately
correctly
She did the job fast and accurately.
adaptation
a change to an existing design or concept
An animal’s adaptation to cold weather takes some time.
apprehensive
nervous
We were apprehensive for their safety.
backbreaking
extremely exhausting
Farm machinery has eliminated much backbreaking work.
compress
to press or squeeze compress the layers of mud as tightly as you can.
conduction
the movement of heat or electricity through something
Heat is transferred in three different ways, convection, conduction, and radiation.
database
a large collection of data organized for rapid search and retrieval on a computer
The library has a database of over 15 million book titles.
deduce
to conclude
I deduced from your technical background that you know the latest computer programs.
file
to initiate (a legal action) through a formal procedure
I'm going to file for the executive position at our headquarters.
gear
a mechanism that performs a specifi c function in a complete machine
Her friends were all wearing the latest gear.
identical
exactly the same
Being a clone means that she is identical to her mother.
intimidate
to fill with fear
My dad intimidates my friends whenever they visit.
jagged
uneven; having sharp points
There was a dark, jagged peak at the edge of the moor.
likelihood
probability
The likelihood of Terry losing the race is small.
machinery
man-made moving devices
Modern farming uses machinery.
minimal
in a very small amount
The storm caused only minimal damage.
obtain
to get or acquire
It was difficult to obtain a passport for her husband because he was foreign born.
perspiration
sweat
The players were all covered in perspiration.
procedure
a series of actions that are done in a certain way or order
You know military legal procedure, yes?
punish
to discipline; to penalize
The child was punished for stealing.
relativity
the theory that says that the way in which anything but light moves through time and space depends on the position and movement of the observer relativity teaches that light travels at the same speed in the universe.
reliability
trustworthiness; consistency
Honda’s have high reliability because they seldom break down.
specialty
area of expertise
Baking a cake is my specialty.
stimulate
to increase; to excite
Exercise stimulates the heart rate.
subject
to force to undergo
The officers subjected everyone to a careful search before they left the plane.
theorem
a formula, proposition, or general statement in the sciences
There are many ways to prove the Pythagorean theorem.
thereof
of the thing that has been mentioned
Please refer to the list of regulations in particular numbers 15 and 16 thereof.
viable
having a reasonable chance of succeeding
Quitting my job is just not a viable option right now.
wrist
the part of the body where the hand joins the arm
My wrist hurts from playing so much tennis.
admission
the cost of entering a theater, event, etc.
The admission ticket to the movie was $5.
ardently
with great warmth of feeling
He studied ardently and passed the exam.
aristocracy
a governing body or upper class usually made up of a hereditary nobility
Princess Diana's father was a member of the British aristocracy.
banish
to expel; to send or drive away
The king banished his servant from the castle.
bestow
to give something as a gift or an honor
Shelia was bestowed with the title 'Queen for a Day'.
case
a form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective indicating its grammatical function in a sentence
Latin nouns have case, number and gender.
color
to blush
He is coloring a picture.
composure
self-possession and control of emotions
He showed great composure after he was insulted in public.
conqueror
one who gains territory by force
Alexander later became the King of Macedonia and one of the greatest conquerors in history.
consensus
general agreement
promoting a consensus among supporters
countenance
expression of the face
The young woman had a cheerful countenance.
disturbance
the state of being disturbed; the act of disturbing
After one small disturbance, the children could not focus on their work all day.
dub
to name
Because of his size, he's been dubbed "Big Man".
duration
the period of time during which something lasts
The school was used as a hospital for the duration of the war.
endeavor
an effort; an attempt
The company?'s new advertising endeavor ended in a horrible failure
evident
obvious
It was evident from the look on his face that he was unhappy.
flux
a state of flow and change
Our plans are in a state of flux at the moment.
inferiority
the state of being lower in rank or quality
She has a strong sense of inferiority because her sisters are so outstanding.
insensible
unaware of; unmindful
They were not insensible of the risks.
lexicon
the vocabulary of a particular language
When they first studied the African lexicon, they tried to understand the relationship between the words.
linguist
a person who studies language in a scientific way
My father was a linguist and taught me three different languages before I turned twelve years old.
linguistic
of or relating to language
A linguistic way of studying culture focuses on words within that culture
mantelpiece
the shelf above a fireplace
She centered the clock on the mantelpiece.
prescriptive
giving exact rules or instructions about how something should be done
Most teacher's think the government's guidelines on homework are too prescriptive.
profound
characterized by intensity of quality or importance
Fourteenth-century approaches to music had a profound and continuing impact on music in later centuries.
pronounce
to utter the sound of a word or part of a word
I pronounce you husband and wife.
repress
to hold in by self-control
She does not seem to repress her feelings.
rouse
to awaken or excite into action
An orphan boy roused from his sleep.
rudiments
first principles; basics
She mastered the rudiments of grammar.
standardize
to establish consistency according to set rules
The sign language community has long tried to standardize the language, but has not yet been successful.
unconsciously
without being aware
We laughed uncontrollably at the joke because it was so funny.
usage
the use of a specific product or commodity
A smart home can reduce energy usage.
vowel
an open-mouthed, resting-tongued sound in a language
A, E, I, O, U are the five common vowels in the
accumulation
a gradual gathering of something
The accumulation of snow on the ground happened very rapidly.
alien
a life form from another planet
An alien comes from another planet.
ample
more than enough
There was an ample supply of oats to feed the horses.
articulate
to express in words
The teacher articulated the instructions for the test.
ascertain
to find out for certain
I was not able to ascertain what exactly he is going to do tomorrow.
asteroid
any of the thousands of rocky bodies that orbit the Sun, especially between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
Many scientists believe the dinosaurs were wiped out when the Earth was hit by an asteroid.
atom
the smallest unit of a chemical element
An atom is very small, but it is very interesting.
attain
to succeed in getting or doing
When he attained his doctorate, he felt he had accomplished all his dreams.
bullet
the projectile from a gun
He was killed by a bullet.
calculation
the act of finding a number through a mathematical process
I think I made a mistakes in my calculation.
chunk
a piece, especially of jagged or random shape
A chunk of metal was ripped from his car in the accident.
comparable
similar and suitable for comparison
They say Kobe Bryant's playing style is comparable to that of Michael Jordan's.
cosmic
of or relating to the universe or outer space
We crack the cosmic codes one by one, replacing an old solution with the new one.
cosmology
a branch of science concerned with the origins, processes, and structures of the universe
She enrolled in a course on cosmology during her sophomore year at the university.
dark matter
a type of matter not yet directly observed but hypothesized to explain various gravitational effects
Cosmologists say dark matter and dark energy make up 96 percent of the universe.
debris
broken pieces of objects; trash
A fisherman caught a piece of the airship’s debris in his net.
deflect
to cause something that is moving to change direction
He deflected the ball back toward me.
humbling
causing a feeling of modesty or deference
Giving up an addiction is a humbling experience.
hypothetical
theoretical; proposed but not proven
The two men enjoyed having hypothetical discussions about what the future will be like.
manifestation
a sign that shows something clearly
He looked perfectly healthy, as there was no manifestation of the disease developing inside his body.
milestone
a significant point in development
The case was milestone in my life.
mobility
the ability to move
An elephant does not have great mobility.
particle
in physics, a very small part of matter
There are a lot of dust particles in the air.
persistence
a state or a quality of not quitting or giving up; continuing in spite of struggles
Soldiers in the army need great persistence to endure the rigorous training.
phenomenon
something that is very impressive or popular
A man eating fire was a phenomenon that he had not seen before.
radiate
to send out; to emit
The ray flowers radiate out from the rim of the disk flowers and reach to the edge of the whole flower.
radiation
the emitting of electromagnetic energy, such as light or heat
The radiation leak from the nuclear power plant
ray
a narrow stream of radiation
The sun’s warm rays covered the beach.
replicate
to repeat or reproduce
My mom cooked the most delicious meal. I wonder
spur
to cause
The coach's speech spurred her team into playing the best game of their lives.
theorist
a person who forms theories
Max Weber was a Social Action theorist who was one of the leading scholars and founders of modern sociology.
under way
in progress
Preparations are well under way for a week of special events in May.
abdominal
of or relating to the stomach
Last year the number one reason was stomach and abdominal pains, with 5,000 cases.
actively
producing or involving movement, exertion, or other effort
The boys actively worked in charities.
amino acid
one of the acids that form proteins in living things
This is an essential amino acid in the human diet.
amongst
within (a group)
Power is a big value amongst people today.
antidote
a substance that counteracts a poison
There is no known antidote to the poison.
apparatus
equipment
The apparatus is used for pumping water out of a fish tank.
ascend
to go up
Cathy ascended the stairs to Linton’s room.
barb
a sharp, pointed, hook-like structure
He ordered the blacksmith to put the barbs on it.
burrow
to dig
Squirrels burrow deep into the ground to store their food.
certification
official approval to do something
He has a certification as a math teacher.
competent
having the necessary skills to do something well
Lilly was a competent pianist with many years of experience.
curb
to reduce
He needs to learn to curb his temper.
cure
medication or remedy for some disease or illness
In fact, however, almost any cure can work.
deflect
to cause something that is moving to change direction
He deflected the ball back toward me.
diarrhea
a condition in which a person passes waste often and in liquid rather than solid form
Side effects include diarrhea and constipation.
disoriented
lost or confused
After waking up from the car accident, he was very disoriented.
dose
a measured amount of a medicine
People who drink caffeine regularly require higher doses of caffeine to achieve the same effects.
eel
a type of fish with a long, snakelike body
Unlike other fish, eels don't have scales on their bodies.
effectiveness
the ability to produce a desired result
The effectiveness of the new medicine has not been proven by the Food and Drug administration.
entice
to attract
The smell of her food enticed me to have a taste.
exertion
hard effort
The competition requires exertion and a strong mind, but the men are ready for the challenge.
Holy Grail
something sought after for its great significance
A successful relationship is the Holy Grail in life for most people.
hormonal
of or relating to the hormones, substances produced in the body that infl uence its growth and development
His acne was a hormonal problem.
illicit
not allowed
Overall use of illicit drugs showed little change.
illusion
a false appearance
Magicians can sometimes create illusions that astonish people.
metabolism
the processes by which the body uses nutrients to grow, heal, and make energy
What you do in the 15 to 30 minutes after eating your evening meal sends powerful signals to your metabolism.
nitrogen
an odorless, colorless chemical that makes up a large part of the atmosphere
Some plants can take the nitrogen out of the air and use it to help them grow.
placebo
a substance given to a patient that has no physical effect but may have a psychological one
Studies report that two placebo pills will relieve pain more than one placebo pill.
potent
strong; powerful
Depending on which perfume or clone you choose, some can be very potent.
regulator
a part of scuba equipment which a diver puts in the mouth and breathes into
Cover with the lid and add the pressure regulator.
retention
keeping; holding
Officials are focusing on job creation, not job retention.
strenuous
requiring great energy and effort
Cutting wood is a strenuous work.
testicular
of or relating to the testes, the male reproductive glands that produce sperm
There is no real known cause for testicular cancer.
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