English Vocabulary

Advanced english vocabulary for non-natives.

204 flashcards · English · by lakesare

She hoisted her backpack onto her shoulders.
Raise up.
He aims to bring about a reconciliation between art and technology.
Restoration of friendly relations.
Additional police officers were called to the scene when the crowd became intractable.
Not easily governed, managed, or directed.
The bank account should be reconciled with the barrister's receipts book.
Ensure that two sets of records are in agreement.
Imagine iris.
(The blue part)
They were granted exemption from military service.
They were not required to join the military.
rite of passage
A religious or other solemn ceremony or act.
backlog
An accumulation over time of work waiting to be done or orders to be fulfilled.
The results of the investigation were equivocal.
Uncertain or questionable in nature.
The ending of the novel is too contrived.
Deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously [forced, phony].
A solemn crowd gathered around the grave.
Dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy. Formal and dignified.
He settled down to study in earnest for the examination.
With a purposeful or sincere intent.
The country has been in turmoil for the past 10 years.
Сondition of extreme confusion, agitation.
There was consolation in knowing that others were worse off.
Comfort received by a person after a loss or disappointment.
The Macintosh computer helped catalyze a total change in the way computers were used.
Cause or accelerate.
POTUS stands for The President of the United States
Fact and fiction are skillfully mingled in his novels.
To mix.
Over aperitifs, there was a chance to mingle with friends old and new.
Move freely around a place or at a social function, associating with others.
Social function - a vaguely specified social event.
I'm just giving you a heads-up that Jack will be arriving next week.
A warning that something is going to happen, usually so that you can prepare for it.
What is it?
An eyelid.
Who's that?
A mite.
She was obviously primed for the questions at the press conference.
To instruct beforehand.
She asked Tim to run an errand for her.
A short journey undertaken in order to deliver or collect something, often on someone else's behalf (task/assignment)
Who is that?
A panhandler. Panhandling always seems to involve a container for receiving loose change, so perhaps the term refers to a small handled pan.
What's he doing?
Belching. (Like in bench)
The baby let out a loud, satisfied belch.
Readily vaporizable at a relatively low temperature?
Volatile.
The protests are increasing, creating a volatile situation in the capital.
Characterized by or subject to rapid or unexpected change.
A member of a group of people who move from one place to another rather than living in one place all of the time.
A nomad.
freshman: student of 1st year in uni sophomore: student of 2nd year in uni
A conduit for conveying water to the power plant.
A pipe, tube, or the like, for conveying water or other fluid.
The depletion of the ozone layer.
Reduction in the number or quantity of something.
We completely depleted our life savings when we bought our new house.
To lessen markedly in quantity.
What's that?
Abacus.
We’ll emphasize that we’re not suggesting any causality here.
The relationship between cause and effect.
How is this symbol called?
hash pound sign number sign Links: wikipedia article on hash
What is a midday? He awoke at midday.
Noon, 12:00.
What is AM/PM?
AM - before midday. PM - past midday. We sleep through most of AM.
As raw materials became scarce, synthetics were developed.
(especially of food, money, or some other resource) Insufficient for the demand.
The U.S. has a $62.7 billion trade deficit with Mexico and an $8 billion surplus with Canada.
The amount that remains when use or need is satisfied.
She pointed out the disproportionate leniency with which the police treat white people.
Quality of being more merciful or tolerant than expected.
He tended to be lenient toward the children.
Agreeably tolerant; permissive; indulgent.
For our anniversary we allowed ourselves the indulgence of an elegant dinner at our favourite restaurant.
To take unrestrained pleasure in, give in to something
She bought a house with a big yard so that she could indulge her passion for gardening. I indulged my boss for a bit with small talk before leaving. I indulged in some chocolate candy.
Give in to. To grant someone the favour. Links: ___ vs ___ in
Starting her own business was a gamble, but it paid off.
Act that has elements of risk.
In part, this narrative will be disseminated via a new documentary.
To spread [the news].
He peddled his idea for a new movie to every executive in Hollywood.
To sell or offer for sale from place to place.
Another name for a clinical psychiatrist or psychologist?
A shrink. (It's a homonym to The sweater shrank when it was washed.)
The chemical was so caustic that it ate through the pipe.
Capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action, corrosive.
The 1964 movie remains one of Kubrick's best and most incisive films.
Impressively direct and decisive (as in manner or presentation).
A caustic film review.
Marked by incisive sarcasm.
He's a maverick among Connecticut Republicans.
An unorthodox or independent-minded person.
Indulge ___ with VS indulge in? Give examples.
I indulged my boss for a bit with small talk before leaving. I indulged in some chocolate candy. Indulge in something is to treat yourself. Indulge somebody with something is to treat another person. Links: ___ vs ___ in
The accident forged a close bond between the two families.
To make or produce something, especially with some difficulty. Make or shape (a metal object) by heating it in a fire and hammering it.
The center is soliciting donations to help victims of the earthquake.
To try to obtain by usually urgent requests.
You get to observe so much when you are travelling through random towns as an inconspicuous anonymous nobody.
Not clearly visible or attracting attention.
He was very thin, with a conspicuous Adam's apple.
Clearly visible, attracting attention. /kənˈspɪkjʊəs/
Cyst-like breakouts actually damage healthy tissue, so picking only exacerbates the skin and inhibits its self-healing abilities.
Worsen.
It's always more complicated than that, as annoying people are known to say with exasperating regularity.
Irritate intensely, infuriate.
To exacerbate VS to exasperate? Examples?
exacerbate: to worsen. exasperate: to irritate. Their refusal to ask for help only exacerbated the problem. We were exasperated by the delays.
She managed to subdue an instinct to applaud. I felt strangely subdued as I drove home.
Quiet and rather reflective or somber. Overcome, bring under control.
The situation won't be nearly as dire if the astronauts manage to get their main oxygen generator working again.
Extremely serious or urgent.
There are several outstanding bills left, but at least we paid the rest.
Not yet paid, resolved, or dealt with.
One problem is lack of incentive for employers to take on apprentices.
Motivate or encourage (someone) to do something; provide with an incentive.
I really wish I didn't delete the original post, because then people would be able to see for themselves that I never incited anyone to go over there and abuse her in any way.
Urge or persuade (someone) to act in a violent or unlawful way.
It's not particularly attractive or impressive and it has the propensity to fall over when it gets too tall for its pot.
An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.
My mother was appalled that we had even contemplated taking Percy to the vet to be put down.
Affected by strong feelings of shock and horror.
Jack turns around and to his dismay further out in the ocean is a woman desperately calling for help.
Concern and distress caused by something unexpected.
He apologized, though it was clear he was hardly contrite.
Feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming.
Incited VS contrived VS contrite?
to incite: to move to action, to persuade. contrived: deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously. contrite: feeling remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong.
Income should exceed expenditures. I was too weak to move very much, expending any energy I had trying to breathe.
The use/spending of energy, time, or other resources.
Spend VS expend?
Synonyms. The only difference is that 'spend' is more popular.
I sliced bread, chopped celery and carrots, and minced sausage.
Cut up (food, especially meat) into very small pieces, typically in a machine.
It is hard to get candid comments from people who must continue to work with the subject after the book is out.
In an honest and straightforward way; frankly.
Such measures, he claimed, were the only way of bringing about a lasting peace in the country.
To cause something to happen.
There is even a personal shopping service, providing further help in tracking down that elusive pair of shoes.
Difficult to find, catch, or achieve.
Young women were expected to show sexual fidelity to their dating partner, but males were not.
Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support. The degree of exactness with which something is copied or reproduced.
Many of us are still simply dismayed by recent events and troubled by their international ramifications.
A complex or unwelcome consequence of an action or event.
As the country's fastest-growing city, we have the need for both major investment in infrastructure and finding fiscally responsible ways for this to be delivered. I wouldn't call any of our party leaders fiscally conservative.
Relating to government revenue, especially taxes.
One of the balloons burst. Sophie burst out laughing.
Break open or apart suddenly and violently, especially as a result of an impact or internal pressure. Suddenly begin doing something.
It naturally caused a sensation and there was a temporary surge of interest. Shares surged to a record high.
A sudden large increase, typically a temporary one.
What is this?
An acorn.
How many zeroes is a billion?
1,000,000,000 (one thousand million, 109) - in American English, and sometimes British 1,000,000,000,000 (one million million, 1012) - in British English Billion corresponds to миллиард. It used to mean 10^12 at some point, but now it's ONLY used to mean 10^9.
Somewhat ingenuous and too trusting, nevertheless he made a lasting contribution to the land he came to love.
Innocent and unsuspecting.
What is disingenuous?
Not 'innocent and unsuspecting', but pretending to have those qualities, by being insincere.
What is perception of the nature of an event after it has happened called?
Hindsight.
In hindsight this was a fairly insensitive and stupid thing to do and almost entirely devoid of humour.
Perception of the nature of an event after it has happened.
The actors have been rehearsing the play since after the Christmas break and are putting the finishing touches to their respective roles.
Practise (a play, piece of music, or other work) for later public performance.
It was always possible to circumvent the regulations.
Overcome (a problem or difficulty) in a clever and surreptitious way. Find a way around (an obstacle).
After all, if there is no chocolate dessert on hand, it just might lead to surreptitious stealing of the children's chocolate eggs.
Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
The boy had the audacity to lie to him, straight in his face for a second time.
A willingness to take bold risks. Rude or disrespectful behaviour.
However, at most music shows these days, security personnel don't seem to mind exuberant youngsters climbing onto their chairs, just to wave and sway, keeping time to the music.
Full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness.
He has maintained, perhaps even increased, his tenacious grip on power.
Persisting in existence; not easily dispelled. Tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely.
Since then, many forms of birth control have become widely available by prescription and over the counter.
By ordinary retail purchase, with no need for a prescription or licence.
This report should dispel any doubts you have about the plan.
To cause to vanish.
Her eyes barely discerned the shape of the hollow log across the river.
Distinguish with difficulty by sight or with the other senses
He eventually tried a few tentative steps round his hospital room.
Done without confidence; hesitant.
Tenacious VS tentative?
tenacious: persisting in existence; not easily dispelled. tentative: hesitant.
To recognize the differences between people or things? I have a hard time _____________, but they are identical twins after all.
Discern (someone or something) from (someone or something). I have a hard time discerning Jim from Greg, but they are identical twins after all.