From Atlas, the Greek Titan who held up the sky.
a book of maps or charts
She traced the route in the road atlas.
Informal; Oxford word of the year 2013. Often taken with a 'selfie stick'.
a photograph that one takes of oneself, typically with a smartphone
They took a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Often shortened to 'the Grail'.
(in legend) the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper; (figuratively) a greatly desired but elusive goal
A cure for the common cold is the Holy Grail of medicine.
From soldiers who 'die hard' (resist to the end).
a person who stubbornly resists change or refuses to give up; a very loyal supporter
Only the diehards stayed to the end of the match.
stubbornly refusing to change, give up, or compromise
A die-hard fan of the team.
Especially the surge in births after World War II (1946-1964).
a temporary marked increase in the birth rate
Schools were built rapidly during the baby boom.
a person born during a baby boom, especially between 1946 and 1964
Baby boomers are now reaching retirement age.
After the philosopher Socrates. The 'Socratic method' teaches by asking probing questions.
relating to Socrates or his method of teaching by question and answer
The professor used a Socratic style, peppering students with questions.
Often 'drill down into'. Business/data jargon.
to examine or analyze something in greater detail
Let's drill down into the quarterly figures.
Formal.
to suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it
I surmised that he had already left.
a guess or supposition
It was pure surmise on her part.
From Latin 'quintus' (fifth). 'Quintuplets' = five babies born at once.
to increase or multiply by five
Profits quintupled over the decade.
consisting of five parts; five times as great
He underwent a quintuple bypass operation.
French loanword. Subtly different from 'gourmet' (a refined judge of food).
a person who enjoys eating, often to excess; a lover of good food
A true gourmand, he never refused a second helping.
British: sensitise. From 'sensitive'.
to make someone aware of or responsive to something
The campaign sensitized the public to the issue.
British: desensitise.
to make less sensitive or responsive, especially to something unpleasant
Violent games may desensitize children to violence.
Irregular: outgrew/outgrown.
to grow too big for (one's clothes or possessions)
He's outgrown his shoes already.
to grow out of (a habit, interest, or fear) as one matures
She outgrew her childhood fears.
a natural development or result of something; something that grows out of something else
The festival was an outgrowth of a small local fair.
'For now' = temporarily. 'Now and then' = occasionally.
at the present time or moment
We need to leave now.
as a consequence of what has just been said or done
Now I understand.
a comprehensive explanation of a theory or idea
a clear exposition of the argument
(in a story) the part that introduces background and characters
The film's opening is heavy on exposition.
a large public exhibition of art, products, or achievements
The invention debuted at the World's Fair exposition.
Also 'cupholder'.
a recess or device for holding a cup or drink, especially in a vehicle
He set his coffee in the cup-holder.
Also called a bordello.
a house where people pay for sex with prostitutes
The building was once a brothel.
Crude/vulgar synonym for brothel.
(vulgar) a brothel
an old saloon and whorehouse
Named for its short ('bobbed') tail.
a North American wild cat with reddish-brown spotted fur and a short tail
A bobcat slipped through the underbrush.
Short for 'detoxification'.
a process or period of removing toxic or unhealthy substances from the body
She went on a juice detox.
to remove toxic substances from the body or a substance
The liver detoxifies the blood.
the process of removing toxic substances
alcohol detoxification
(informal) to abstain from or rid the body of alcohol, drugs, or other toxic substances
She's detoxing after the holidays.
Female: outdoorswoman.
a person skilled in and fond of outdoor activities such as hunting and camping
A keen outdoorsman, he spent every weekend in the mountains.
= hardworking; distinct from 'industrial' (relating to factories).
hardworking and diligent
an industrious student who never missed a deadline
From Latin 'vale dicere' (to say farewell).
the action of saying farewell; a farewell statement
He raised his glass in valediction.
serving as a farewell
a valedictory speech
(American) the top-ranked graduating student, who gives the farewell address.
the student who ranks highest in a graduating class and delivers the farewell address
She was valedictorian of her class.
Plural is also 'waterfowl'.
a bird that lives near and swims on water, such as a duck, goose, or swan
The marsh attracts thousands of waterfowl.
Antonym: advantage, benefit.
a disadvantage or problem
The main drawback of the plan is its cost.
Informally 'pink eye'.
inflammation of the membrane covering the front of the eye, causing redness and discharge
The child was sent home with conjunctivitis.
relating to a medieval style of architecture with pointed arches and tall windows
the Gothic cathedral at Chartres
relating to fiction featuring horror, gloom, and the supernatural
a Gothic novel
relating to a youth subculture and fashion style characterized by black clothing and dark makeup
She dressed in full Gothic style, with black lace and heavy eyeliner.
relating to a bold, angular style of typeface, also called blackletter
The album cover used a Gothic font.
a drink of rum mixed with water, traditionally issued to sailors
The sailors were given a ration of grog every evening.
From 'grog' (diluted rum).
dazed, weak, and unsteady, especially from tiredness or illness
She felt groggy after the anesthetic.
Figurative: 'the fabric of society'.
cloth or other material made by weaving or knitting
a roll of cotton fabric
the basic structure of something
the social fabric of the community
Three distinct senses below; the citrus is most common.
a small green citrus fruit with sour juice
She squeezed lime over the tacos.
calcium oxide (quicklime), a caustic substance used in building and farming
The mortar was made with lime.
(British) the linden tree, also called the lime tree
They parked in the shade of an old lime.
Figuratively, an aggressive operator.
a person, especially in the American Old West, skilled with and quick to use a gun
The film follows a lone gunslinger.
(figurative) an aggressive, high-risk operator or dealmaker
He built his reputation as a corporate gunslinger.
The adjective 'Aboriginal' is now generally preferred; 'Aboriginal people' or specific names are favored over the noun 'Aborigine'.
an original or Indigenous inhabitant of a region, especially of Australia
Aborigines have lived in Australia for tens of thousands of years.
relating to the original or Indigenous inhabitants of a region, especially Australia
Aboriginal art often reflects a deep connection to the land.
Also spelled 'preempt'.
to act in advance to prevent or forestall something; to take before others can
She pre-empted the question by addressing it first.
Root of pre-emptive.
to take action in order to prevent (an anticipated event) from happening
The company preempted the lawsuit by settling early.
serving or intended to preempt or forestall something, especially by acting first
The army launched a pre-emptive strike.
Sometimes called 'white ants', though not true ants.
a small pale insect that feeds on wood and can destroy timber buildings
Termites had hollowed out the beams.
Usually negative: 'won't budge'.
to move slightly
The rock wouldn't budge.
to change one's position or opinion, especially under pressure
He refused to budge on the price.
'Conduct unbecoming' = behavior inappropriate to one's position.
not fitting or appropriate to one's character or position
Behavior unbecoming of an officer.
(of clothing) unflattering
That shade of green is quite unbecoming on her.
From Greek 'baros' (weight). Figuratively, 'a barometer of public opinion'.
an instrument measuring atmospheric pressure, used to forecast the weather
The barometer is falling, so rain is likely.
(figurative) something that reflects or indicates changes in a situation
The stock market is often seen as a barometer of public confidence.
to reject (an offer or person) bluntly
She rebuffed his advances.
a blunt rejection
His apology met with a cold rebuff.
Noun: derision; adjective: derisory/derisive.
to mock or ridicule
Critics derided the plan as naive.
contemptuous ridicule or mockery
His proposal was met with derision.
(of an amount or offer) ridiculously small or inadequate
They received a derisory pay raise.
expressing contempt or ridicule
She gave a derisive laugh.
Noun: deformity; adjective: deformed.
to spoil or change the shape of something; to distort
Heat can deform the plastic casing.
a physical abnormality in the shape of a part of the body
The condition can cause severe deformity of the spine.
abnormal in shape or structure, especially as a result of injury or a congenital defect
The accident left his hand permanently deformed.
Coined by Erica Jong ('Fear of Flying', 1973).
(of a sexual encounter) brief, casual, and without emotional involvement
the fantasy of a zipless affair
French loanword; the 'z' and final 's' are silent.
a meeting at an agreed time and place; the place itself
They arranged a midnight rendezvous.
to meet at an agreed time and place
They arranged to rendezvous at the old bridge at noon.
Literary; irregular: rent/rent. Different root from 'render'.
to tear (something) into pieces
She rent her garments in grief.
Latin 'venter' (belly) + 'loqui' (speak). The skill is 'ventriloquism'.
an entertainer who makes their voice seem to come from a dummy without moving their lips
The ventriloquist's dummy seemed to talk on its own.
the skill or art of speaking without moving one's lips so that the voice seems to come from elsewhere
He learned ventriloquism as a teenager.
A 'suffragette' campaigned for women's suffrage.
the right to vote in political elections
Universal suffrage was achieved gradually.
a woman who campaigned for the right to vote in the early 20th century, especially in Britain
The suffragettes chained themselves to railings to draw attention to their cause.
'Consigned to oblivion' = relegated to.
to deliver (goods) to someone, especially for sale
The paintings were consigned to an auction house.
to assign or commit (someone or something) to a place, condition, or fate, usually an unpleasant one
The old files were consigned to the archive.
a batch of goods delivered or sent; the act of consigning
a consignment of fresh fruit
'Silica gel' packets keep things dry.
a hard compound (silicon dioxide) found in sand, quartz, and many rocks
Glass is made mainly from silica.
Homophone of 'sine' (math).
a board or notice giving information or instructions
A road sign.
an indication or gesture suggesting the presence or existence of something
A sign of trouble.
to write one's name on a document; to communicate in sign language
Please sign here.
to record that one is leaving, or to borrow something by signing
Remember to sign out when you leave the building.
ASL (American Sign Language) and BSL (British Sign Language) are distinct, mutually unintelligible languages.
a system of communication using visual gestures and signs, used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing
She learned sign language to communicate with her son.
signs collectively, especially commercial or public signs
The shop's bright signage caught attention from across the street.
temporarily unable to speak, especially because of surprise or strong emotion
His generosity left her speechless.
= very large. Note the contrast with 'enormity'.
very large in size, quantity, or extent
They live in an enormous house.
Traditionally = great wickedness; to avoid confusion, many reserve it for moral outrage rather than mere size.
the extreme scale of something, especially something bad; great wickedness
the enormity of the crime
'Of age' = legally adult. 'For ages' = for a long time.
the length of time a person or thing has existed
She's the same age as me.
a distinct period of history
The Bronze Age.
to grow old, or to make someone look or seem older
He has aged a lot this year.
to allow (something, especially food or drink) to mature over time
The cheese is aged for two years.
American spelling: aging.
growing old
An ageing population.
American spelling: aging.
the process of growing old
The effects of ageing on the skin.
never looking old or appearing to grow old
Ageless beauty.
A 'bungler' makes a mess of things.
to carry out (a task) clumsily or incompetently
The police bungled the investigation.
a person who does something clumsily or incompetently
Critics called him a hopeless bungler.
the deep, resonant sound of a large bell; also the currency of Vietnam
the slow dong of the cathedral bell
(vulgar slang) the penis
This sense is common in crude or explicit speech.
From a medieval 'free lance' (a mercenary knight).
working for different companies rather than being employed by one
She does freelance design work.
to work freelance
He freelances for several magazines.
a self-employed person who works for different clients
The agency hires freelancers for big projects.
'Come out of one's shell' = become less shy. 'Shell company' = a firm with no real operations.
the hard outer covering of an egg, nut, or animal such as a snail
The turtle pulled into its shell.
an explosive artillery projectile
Shells rained on the city.
to remove the shell from
She shelled the peas.
to bombard (a place) with artillery shells
The town was shelled for days.
(informal) to pay (money), especially reluctantly
I had to shell out $200 for new tires.
the treatment and instruction a child receives from its parents while growing up
She had a strict religious upbringing.
British: delegitimise.
to undermine or destroy the legitimacy or authority of someone or something
The campaign sought to delegitimize the election results.
Two unrelated senses below; the second is crude slang.
(informal, dated) a foolish or embarrassing mistake
He pulled a real boner during the presentation.
(vulgar slang) an erection
In modern slang the word usually means this.
British: 'pneumatic drill' or 'road drill'.
a portable percussive drill powered by compressed air, used to break up rock or pavement
Workers tore up the road with a jackhammer.
'Gum up the works' = make a process stop working.
to clog or interfere with the working of something
Dust had gummed up the gears.
Greek 'mikros' (small) + 'kosmos' (world). Opposite: macrocosm.
a thing regarded as a small-scale representation of something much larger
The town is a microcosm of the whole country.
(British)
ham that has been cured or smoked, often served as a steak
We had gammon and chips.
(British slang, derogatory) a red-faced, reactionary older man, especially one with right-wing political views
The online comments were full of angry gammon.
Distinct from 'sympathy' (feeling for someone).
the ability to understand and share the feelings of another
She listened with real empathy.
showing the ability to understand and share another's feelings
an empathetic teacher
British: empathise.
to understand and share another's feelings
I can empathize with what you're going through.
'Innie' vs 'outie'.
(informal) the navel
The toddler poked his belly button.
A major topic in philosophy (vs determinism).
the power to act and choose independently, without being determined by fate or outside forces
She signed the confession of her own free will.
an alternative plan or resource for use in an emergency
Cash is a useful fallback if the card fails.
used or done as an alternative if other options fail
They always have a fallback plan.
Irregular, following "shoot": past/past participle is "troubleshot".
to trace and fix faults in a system or machine
He troubleshoots network problems.
a person who locates and fixes problems
They brought in a troubleshooter to save the project.
the process of finding and fixing faults
the troubleshooting section of the manual
Also called a 'sea star'; not a true fish. Can regrow lost arms.
a star-shaped sea creature with five or more arms
A starfish clung to the rock in the tide pool.
Blend of 'gene' + 'chromosome'.
the complete set of genes or genetic material in a cell or organism
Scientists sequenced the entire human genome.
From Latin 'servus' (slave).
excessively eager to please or obey; submissive
a servile bow
obedient or attentive to an excessive or fawning degree
an obsequious waiter hovering at the table
the medical process of filtering waste from the blood when the kidneys cannot, using a machine
He has dialysis three times a week.
A meteorological hazard for aircraft.
a strong downward current of air from a thunderstorm that spreads out violently on hitting the ground
The plane was caught in a downburst on landing.
a small, intense downburst affecting an area less than about 4 km across
A microburst flattened trees across the park.
(US) = cutlery; (UK) often means trophies.
forks, knives, and spoons, or articles made of silver
She polished the silverware before the dinner.
In Scotland, 'procurator fiscal' = public prosecutor.
an agent or official who manages affairs for another, especially a Roman provincial administrator
Pontius Pilate was the Roman procurator of Judea.
Idiom: 'water under the bridge' means a past event that is no longer worth worrying about.
a structure carrying a road, path, or railway across a river, road, or gap
They built a bridge across the river.
the elevated platform on a ship from which it is commanded
The captain gave orders from the bridge.
a card game for four players in two competing partnerships
They played bridge every Thursday evening.
the bony upper part of the nose
His glasses slid down the bridge of his nose.
to make a connection across or between
The course helps bridge the gap between school and work.
(US slang). Male: 'homeboy'.
(informal) a close female friend or a girl from one's own area
She's my homegirl from way back.
From Latin 'fugere' (to flee).
a person who has escaped or is fleeing, especially from the law
The fugitive was caught at the border.
fleeting or transient
He tried to capture the fugitive beauty of the sunset.
'Fill in' = complete (a form) / substitute. 'Fill out' = complete.
to make or become full; to occupy fully
Fill the glass with water.
an amount that fills, or as much as one wants
Eat your fill.
Idiom: 'a crock of gold' means a fortune.
an earthenware pot or jar
a crock of butter
(US informal) nonsense
That excuse is a total crock.
plates, dishes, cups, and other tableware, especially earthenware
She stacked the crockery in the cupboard.
Also 'paperclip'.
a small piece of bent wire used to hold sheets of paper together
She fastened the pages with a paper clip.
From Latin 'defunctus' (dead).
no longer existing, operating, or in use
a defunct company; a defunct law
the process of integrating a new employee or user into an organization or product
The onboarding process takes about a week.
(informal) a restaurant or other place to eat
a popular eatery downtown
From 'top up' = to refill.
(British) an addition that brings something back to a former or required level
a top-up of coffee; a phone top-up
a small flashing point of light on a radar or monitor screen
A blip appeared on the radar.
a small, temporary problem or change
Sales dipped, but it was just a brief blip.
a large, distinct landmass that is part of a continent, especially the Indian subcontinent
Monsoons sweep across the subcontinent.
the activity of giving news or information, especially in journalism
The paper won an award for its investigative reporting.
the relationship of being accountable or answerable to a manager or superior
She has three people reporting to her.
Italian for 'master'. Plural: maestros or maestri.
a distinguished conductor or musician
The maestro raised his baton.
a master of any art or skill
He's a real maestro in the kitchen.
From Turkish/Persian.
a small open-fronted booth or stand selling goods or providing a service
She bought a magazine at the kiosk.
a self-service computer terminal, such as for checking in or ordering
Use the kiosk to check in for your flight.
the sound of a footstep
She heard footfalls in the hall.
(British) the number of people visiting a shop or place
The mall's footfall has dropped this year.
From mis- + key (to type).
to enter (data) incorrectly by pressing the wrong key
The figure was wrong because someone miskeyed it.
a model of a human figure
A shop-window dummy.
(British) a baby's pacifier
The baby spat out its dummy.
(informal) a foolish person
Don't be such a dummy.
Greek 'tri-' (three).
a group of three related novels, films, or other works
the original Star Wars trilogy
separated from or existing without a body
a disembodied voice came over the speaker
A 'skydiver' does it.
the sport of jumping from an aircraft and performing maneuvers in free fall before landing by parachute
She went skydiving for her birthday.
a person who jumps from an aircraft and performs skydiving
The skydiver landed safely in the field.
(British); American: 'comforter'. From French 'duvet' (down).
a soft, thick bed covering filled with down or synthetic fibre
She pulled the duvet up to her chin.
Also 'pillowslip'.
a removable cloth cover for a pillow
fresh white pillowcases
American also 'bedding'.
sheets, pillowcases, and similar coverings for a bed
She changed the bed linen.
a milky liquid produced by some plants, used to make rubber
Rubber trees are tapped for their latex.
a synthetic substance resembling natural latex, used in paint, gloves, and other products
The nurse put on a pair of latex gloves.
to fit (furniture) with a padded, sprung, fabric-covered surface
He upholstered the old armchair in blue velvet.
From 'upholster'; the trade is 'upholstery'.
(of furniture) fitted with padding, springs, and a fabric covering
an upholstered armchair
the padded, sprung fabric covering of furniture; the trade of fitting it
The upholstery on the sofa was starting to fray.
a ship designed to break through ice to clear a path for other vessels
An icebreaker cleared the channel for the cargo ships.
an activity or remark that relaxes people or eases conversation at the start of a meeting
The game was a good ice-breaker.
Also used in 'jumper cables', the cables used to start a car with a dead battery.
(British) a knitted garment for the upper body; a sweater
Put on a warm jumper.
(American) a sleeveless dress worn over a blouse or sweater
She wore a denim jumper over a white top.