Also pronounced /ˌkrɔːsˈleɡd/. Used as both adjective and adverb.
sitting on the floor with the knees apart and the ankles crossed
The children sat cross-legged in a circle.
'All of a sudden' = suddenly, unexpectedly.
happening quickly and without warning
There was a sudden drop in temperature.
quickly and unexpectedly
Suddenly, all the lights went out.
A rough, noisy public fight, often involving several people. 'Bar brawl', 'mass brawl'.
a rough or noisy fight involving several people
A brawl broke out in the parking lot after the game.
to fight roughly and noisily
Two fans brawled in the stands.
to arrange or agree on something in advance
We prearranged a signal in case of trouble.
agreed or organized beforehand
They met at a prearranged spot near the station.
British, informal.
to drink (something alcoholic) quickly
He knocked back three beers in under an hour.
to reject or refuse
She knocked back his offer without a second thought.
British, informal.
a rejection or setback
Losing the contract was a real knockback for the firm.
'Cut someone some slack' = give them leeway.
not tight or taut; loose
The rope suddenly went slack.
not busy; lacking activity
Business is slack in the winter months.
the loose, unused part of a rope; spare capacity in a system
Take up the slack in the line before you pull.
Usually 'slack off'.
to be lazy or fail to work hard
Don't slack off on the final stretch.
to make or become looser, slower, or less intense
He slackened his pace as he grew tired.
Popularized as 1990s Gen-X slang.
a person who avoids work or effort; a lazy person
The team had no room for slackers.
with the mouth hanging open, especially from surprise or stupidity
They stared slack-jawed at the fireworks.
A somewhat dated term for casual trousers.
casual trousers
He wore a blazer with gray slacks.
From horse racing (a bet on the top three finishers in order); now any group of three. Compare 'hat-trick'.
a set of three related things, especially three successes
The film took the trifecta of best picture, director, and screenplay.
Literally a male donkey; commonly an insult for a foolish person.
a male donkey
The farm kept a jackass and two mares.
(informal) a stupid or contemptible person
Stop acting like a jackass.
A single-reed woodwind instrument. The player is a 'clarinetist'.
a woodwind instrument with a single reed and a cylindrical tube, played by covering holes and keys
She played a haunting solo on the clarinet.
a person who plays the clarinet
The orchestra's principal clarinetist performed the solo beautifully.
British, informal. Used as a standalone reply too: 'Spot on!'
exactly right; completely accurate
Her impression of the boss was spot-on.
Informal; 'bi' = bisexual. Describes openness to a same-sex experience without identifying as bisexual.
curious about having a sexual experience with someone of the same sex, while not identifying as bisexual
He described himself as bi-curious in college.
Irregular: kept/kept. Phrasal verbs: keep up, keep on, keep out, keep up with.
to continue to have or hold; to retain
You can keep the change.
to continue doing something
She kept walking despite the rain.
the strongest or central tower of a medieval castle
The prisoners were held in the castle keep.
(informal) one's basic living expenses, as in 'earn your keep'
He does chores around the house to earn his keep.
Past tense/participle of 'keep'. 'A kept woman/man' = financially supported in a relationship. 'Well-kept' = well maintained, or (of a secret) closely guarded.
maintained or retained; (of a secret) closely guarded
It was a well-kept secret for years.
a person who owns and breeds bees, especially for their honey
A local beekeeper.
the occupation of owning and breeding bees for their honey
He took up beekeeping.
"Goalkeeper": soccer position. "Lighthouse keeper": historical job. "He's a keeper", informal: good romantic partner.
a person who guards or maintains something
He worked as a zoo keeper.
Informal and slightly mocking; the stereotype of a sporty, not very studious student. From 'jockstrap'.
(informal) an enthusiastic athlete or sports fan, especially a male student
In high school he was a typical jock.
Opposite of 'add'. 'Subtract X from Y'.
to take a number or amount away from another
Subtract 15 from 40 to get 25.
the process of taking one number or amount away from another
The kids are learning addition and subtraction.
Stress shifts: verb over-LOAD, noun OVER-load.
to load with too great a burden or amount
Don't overload the washing machine.
an excessive amount of something
He's suffering from information overload.
Always plural, like 'scissors': 'a pair of pliers'. From 'ply' = to bend.
a hand tool with two hinged jaws used for gripping, bending, or cutting wire
He used pliers to pull out the bent nail.
From Latin 'nebula' = cloud, mist. Plural: 'nebulae' or 'nebulas'. Adjective 'nebulous' = vague.
a giant cloud of gas and dust in space, often where stars are born
The Orion Nebula is visible with a small telescope.
unclear, vague, or ill-defined
Her plans for the future remained nebulous.
Biological rank above 'species' and below 'family'. Plural: 'genera'. E.g., Panthera is the genus of lions and tigers.
a category in biological classification, ranking above species and below family
The wolf and the domestic dog belong to the same genus.
Plural: 'cacti' or 'cactuses'. Stores water in its thick stem to survive deserts.
a desert plant with a thick fleshy stem and spines instead of leaves
A tall cactus stood in the corner of the courtyard.
a large predatory freshwater fish with a long body and sharp teeth
He caught a three-foot pike in the lake.
Also a long medieval spear, and short for 'turnpike' (a toll road).
a long spear formerly used by foot soldiers
The soldiers advanced with pikes lowered.
Rides on a cushion of air, so it can travel over both land and water. Plural is also 'hovercraft'.
a vehicle that travels over land or water on a cushion of air blown downward by fans
A hovercraft once ferried passengers across the English Channel.
From enthusiasm (Greek 'entheos' = a god within). Shows little excitement or interest.
showing little or no excitement or interest
He gave an unenthusiastic shrug when asked to help.
The noun ends in a voiceless /θ/; the verb 'sheathe' ends in a voiced /ð/ and adds 'e'.
a close-fitting cover, especially for the blade of a knife or sword
He slid the dagger back into its sheath.
to put (a knife or sword) into a sheath; to encase in a protective covering
The cables are sheathed in tough plastic.
From 'robot' + 'network'. Used for spam, denial-of-service attacks, and crypto-mining.
a network of private computers infected with malware and controlled remotely without the owners' knowledge
The hackers used a botnet to flood the site with traffic.
'Take it easy' = relax. 'Easy come, easy go'. 'Easygoing' = relaxed in manner.
not difficult; achieved without great effort
The test was surprisingly easy.
free from worry or pain; comfortable
They led an easy life by the sea.
without difficulty or effort
She easily won the race.
'At ease' = relaxed. 'With ease' = easily.
absence of difficulty or effort
She passed the exam with ease.
to make or become less severe or intense
The medicine eased the pain.
to move (something) carefully and gradually
He eased the car into the garage.
Both literal (an opening for air/gas) and figurative ('give vent to your anger').
an opening that allows air, gas, or liquid to escape or enter
Steam escaped through a vent in the roof.
to express (a strong emotion) freely
She vented her frustration to a sympathetic friend.
the act of expressing strong feelings, especially complaints
After ten minutes of venting, he finally calmed down.
Coined on the model of 'alcoholic'. The '-aholic' suffix now spreads widely: shopaholic, chocoholic.
a person who compulsively works very hard and very long hours
He's a workaholic who hasn't taken a vacation in years.
'In general' = usually. 'The general public' = ordinary people.
affecting or concerning all or most people or things; not specialized
There is general agreement on the plan.
not detailed; covering only the main points
She gave a general outline of the project.
A high army rank, e.g. 'four-star general'.
a very high-ranking officer in the army or air force
The general ordered an immediate retreat.
usually; in most cases
I generally walk to work.
by or to most people; widely
It is generally believed to be true.
British spelling: generalise.
to make a broad statement from particular instances
It's risky to generalize from a single example.
British spelling of generalize.
to make a broad statement from particular instances
He tends to generalise about whole countries.
British spelling: generalisation.
a broad statement based on limited evidence
'All teenagers are lazy' is an unfair generalization.
widespread; affecting the whole rather than one part
The patient complained of generalized pain.
a general or vague statement
He spoke only in generalities, avoiding specifics.
a nationwide election in which voters choose their representatives
The general election is held every four years.
knowledge of a wide range of facts about many subjects
Quiz shows test your general knowledge.
A 'GP' = general practitioner, a family doctor.
the work of a doctor who treats common medical problems in the community
After training, she went into general practice.
Homophone of 'colonel'. 'Kernel of truth' = a small core of truth. In computing, the core of an OS.
the softer, edible part inside the shell of a nut or seed; the core or essence of something
Heat the oil until every popcorn kernel bursts.
Back-formed from 'escalator'. 'Escalate' a complaint = pass it to a higher level.
to increase rapidly; to make or become more serious
The dispute quickly escalated into violence.
a rapid increase; a rise to a more serious level
There are fears of further military escalation.
Originally an Otis trademark (1900).
a moving staircase that carries people between floors
Take the escalator up to the second floor.
From "escalate". "Escalatory rhetoric", "escalatory step": common in conflict/diplomatic analysis.
causing increase in intensity
It was seen as an escalatory move.
From Latin 'later' (brick). A reddish, iron-rich tropical soil/rock; Angkor Wat is partly built from it.
a reddish, iron-rich soil or rock formed by weathering in hot, wet tropical regions
The temple's core was built from blocks of laterite.
'Native soil' = homeland. As a verb (below), 'soil' means to make dirty.
the top layer of earth in which plants grow
The soil here is rich and dark.
to make dirty
He soiled his shirt with engine grease.
For citrus, also called 'zest' or 'peel'. 'Bacon rind' = the tough edge.
the tough outer skin of certain fruits, cheeses, or bacon
Grate a little lemon rind into the batter.
From Latin 'dictum' (thing said). Plural: 'dicta'.
a formal or authoritative statement; a saying
He lived by the dictum that honesty always pays.
Despite the 'chiro-' (hand) element, it means FOOT care. Now usually called 'podiatry'. British term.
the treatment of the feet and their ailments
He sees a specialist for chiropody.
a foot specialist; a podiatrist
The chiropodist treated the painful callus.
From Greek 'orthos' (right) + 'gonia' (angle). In stats/CS it can also mean 'independent, unrelated'.
(geometry) meeting at right angles; perpendicular
The two axes are orthogonal.
(figuratively) unrelated; independent of one another
Those two concerns are orthogonal to each other.
(linear algebra) orthogonal (perpendicular) AND normalized (each of unit length).
(of a set of vectors) mutually perpendicular and each of unit length
The basis vectors form an orthonormal set.
Two senses: relating to spelling (orthography), and a parallel projection in technical drawing.
relating to spelling
Children make predictable orthographic errors.
(drawing) using parallel projection, with no perspective
The blueprint shows an orthographic view of the part.
An early flammable plastic used for old movie film, so 'celluloid' came to mean cinema itself.
a transparent, flammable plastic formerly used for photographic and movie film
Old celluloid film reels are highly flammable.
(figurative) the cinema, or the world of movies
Those stars are legends of the celluloid era.
Short for 'violoncello'. The player is a 'cellist'. Plural: cellos.
a large stringed instrument of the violin family, played upright between the knees
She has played the cello since she was six.
Famous cellists: Yo-Yo Ma, Jacqueline du Pré, Pablo Casals.
a person who plays the cello
She is a renowned cellist.
Archaic word for 'two'. 'Never the twain shall meet' (Kipling). Mark Twain took his pen name from a riverboat depth call.
(archaic) two; a pair
The cloth was cut in twain.
'Drool over' = admire something greedily.
to let saliva drip from the mouth
The dog drooled at the smell of bacon.
saliva dripping from the mouth
There was drool on the sleeping baby's chin.
re- + Latin 'fundere' (to pour). Not related to 'refuse'.
a repayment of money, especially for returned or unsatisfactory goods
She got a full refund for the faulty kettle.
to pay back money to someone
The store refunded the full purchase price.
Both physical (a gun) and emotional ('recoil in horror').
to spring back suddenly; to draw back in fear or disgust
She recoiled when she saw the snake.
the sudden backward movement of a gun when it is fired
The rifle has a powerful recoil.
Stress shifts: verb over-LAY, noun OVER-lay.
to place or lay one thing over another
The app overlays traffic data on the city map.
a layer or covering placed on top of something
A clear plastic overlay protects the document.
Noun IN-tern (trainee) vs verb in-TERN (to confine). Related: internship, internment.
a student or trainee who works, often unpaid, to gain experience
She spent the summer as an intern at a law firm.
to confine someone as a prisoner, especially for political or military reasons
Thousands of civilians were interned during the war.
a person who is interned as a prisoner or for political or military reasons
A camp for political internees.
Usually 'in the hot seat'. Also old slang for the electric chair.
a position of difficult responsibility, scrutiny, or pressure
After the scandal, the CEO was firmly in the hot seat.
brave; heroic
The soldiers made a gallant last stand.
This sense shifts stress to the second syllable, unlike the 'brave' sense.
(of a man) charmingly attentive and polite to women
He made a gallant bow and kissed her hand.
A fungus that ferments sugar into carbon dioxide and alcohol; used in baking and brewing.
a microscopic fungus used to make bread rise and to ferment alcohol
Add the yeast to warm water to activate it.
tasting or smelling of yeast; frothy
The beer had a rich, yeasty aroma.
Marmite (UK) and Vegemite (Australia) are yeast extracts.
a savory food paste made from yeast cells, used as a spread or flavoring
He spread a thin layer of yeast extract on his toast.
Often shortened to 'combine'. It 'combines' reaping, threshing, and winnowing in one machine.
a large farm machine that harvests grain crops by reaping, threshing, and cleaning in one operation
Combine harvesters moved slowly across the wheat field.
Also a 'livery stable' (where horses are kept for hire).
a special uniform worn by servants or officials
The footmen wore the family's green livery.
the distinctive design and colors of a company's vehicles
The plane sported the airline's new livery.
Plural: 'halves'. 'Half-baked' = poorly thought out. 'My other half' = my spouse (informal).
either of two equal parts into which something is divided
She cut the apple in half.
The verb of 'half'; note the spelling and the voiced /v/.
to divide into two equal parts; to reduce by half
They managed to halve their production costs.
at or to a point equally distant between two things; partially
We stopped halfway up the mountain.
Stress shifts: verb de-CREASE, noun DE-crease. Opposite of 'increase'.
to become or make smaller or fewer
Sales decreased sharply over the winter.
a reduction in size, amount, or number
There was a decrease in crime last year.
Greek 'pseudo-' (false) + 'onym' (name); a pen name. The 'p' is silent.
a fictitious name, especially one used by an author
She published her crime novels under a pseudonym.
A solemn, binding agreement; common in law, religion, and real estate ('restrictive covenant').
a formal, solemn, and binding agreement
The two nations signed a covenant of peace.
The '-burgh' ending is pronounced 'buh-ruh', not 'burg'.
the capital city of Scotland, known for its castle and arts festival
We spent August at the Edinburgh Festival.
Latin for 'let him beware'. 'Caveat emptor' = let the buyer beware.
a warning or qualification attached to a statement
I'd recommend the book, with the caveat that it's quite long.
French 'facade' (sometimes spelled with a cedilla). Literal and figurative senses.
the front or face of a building
The cathedral's facade is covered in carvings.
a deceptive outward appearance
His cheerfulness was just a facade.
Literal (makes eyes water) and figurative (shockingly high).
extremely high or extreme, especially of prices
The flat sold for an eye-watering sum.
so strong or painful that it makes the eyes water
an eye-watering blast of chili
From the phrasal verb 'drop in' = to visit without arranging it first.
(of a service or place) able to be used without an appointment
The clinic runs a drop-in session every Friday afternoon.
British 'zip' = American 'zipper'. 'Zip code' = US postal code. (US informal) 'zip' = zero/nothing.
(British) a fastener with interlocking teeth; a zipper
The zip on my jacket is stuck.
(US informal) zero; nothing
I know zip about car repairs.
to fasten (something) with a zip
She zipped up her coat.
(informal) to move very fast
He zipped off down the road on his bike.
From the nervous habit of biting one's nails.
causing great anxiety or tension; very suspenseful
The match went to a nail-biting penalty shootout.
The noun (paper cover) and the verb 'envelop' (to wrap) differ in spelling and stress. 'Push the envelope' = test the limits.
a flat paper container for a letter
She sealed the letter in an envelope.
to wrap up, cover, or surround completely
Thick fog enveloped the harbor.
an envelope containing an employee's wages
He handed me my pay envelope.
From Latin 'membrana' (skin). Adjective: 'membranous'.
a thin pliable layer of tissue lining or connecting parts of an organism; a thin barrier sheet
The cell membrane controls what passes into the cell.
relating to, resembling, or consisting of a membrane
The disease damages the eye's membranous layers.
Sounds like 'below' but means to shout. (A 'bellows' is a device for blowing air onto a fire.)
to shout in a deep, loud voice; (of a bull) to roar
The sergeant bellowed orders across the yard.
a deep, loud shout or roar
He let out a bellow of rage.
Named after botanist Leonhard Fuchs - note the tricky 'chs' spelling.
an ornamental shrub with drooping pink, red, or purple flowers
A fuchsia hung in a basket beside the door.
a vivid pinkish-purple color
She wore a bright fuchsia scarf.
Greek 'anti-' (opposite) + 'pous' (foot). For Britons, 'the Antipodes' often means Australia and New Zealand.
the parts of the earth diametrically opposite one another; (British) Australia and New Zealand
They emigrated to the Antipodes in the 1950s.
A math curve. Do NOT confuse with 'hyperbole' /haɪˈpɝːbəli/ = exaggeration for effect.
a symmetrical open curve, one of the conic sections, formed when a plane cuts a cone steeply
The comet's path traced a hyperbola around the sun.
British pronunciation: /ˈdɑːrbi/. Senses include a famous horse race, a local-rivals match, and (US) a stiff hat.
an important sporting contest, especially a horse race or a match between local rivals
The two city teams meet in Sunday's derby.
(American) a stiff felt hat with a rounded crown; a bowler
He wore a brown derby and a checked suit.
Two senses: a diamond/rhombus shape, and a medicated tablet you suck.
a small medicated tablet dissolved slowly in the mouth to soothe the throat
She sucked a throat lozenge to ease her cough.
a diamond or rhombus shape
The window panes were set in a lozenge pattern.
'Stand on ceremony' = insist on formality. 'Without ceremony' = abruptly.
a formal religious or public occasion with set actions performed in a fixed order
The wedding ceremony lasted about an hour.
relating to or used for a ceremony; formal
He wore his ceremonial robes.
excessively or grandly polite and formal
He gave a ceremonious bow.
in a grand or formal manner
She ceremoniously cut the ribbon.
Informal, like 'gadget' or 'widget', often for a device whose name you've forgotten.
(informal) a gadget, especially one whose name is unknown or forgotten
What's that gizmo for opening jars?
Italian loanword; 'fi-NAH-lee' or 'fi-NAL-ee'. The grand last part of something.
the last part of a piece of music, a show, or a series, especially a dramatic one
The fireworks were the finale of the festival.
Short for 'angina pectoris'.
severe chest pain caused by an inadequate supply of blood to the heart
He takes medication to control his angina.
The bird /dʌv/. Note: 'dove' /doʊv/ is also the American past tense of 'dive'. A dove symbolizes peace.
a bird of the pigeon family, often white and used as a symbol of peace
A white dove was released at the ceremony.
(politics) a person who favors peaceful or conciliatory policies (vs a 'hawk')
The doves in the cabinet argued against the strike.
supporting discussion or other peaceful solutions in politics, rather than the use of force
The central bank's dovish stance.
Here 'arch-' (= chief) is pronounced with a hard 'k', unlike 'archbishop'. Michael and Gabriel are archangels.
an angel of the highest rank
The archangel Gabriel announced the news.
Greek 'syn-' (together) + 'opsis' (view). Plural: 'synopses'.
a brief summary of the main points of a story, article, or play
Send a one-page synopsis of your novel.
American 'SKED-jool' vs British 'SHED-yool'.
a plan listing the times at which tasks or events are intended to happen
The train schedule changes on weekends.
to arrange for something to happen at a particular time
The meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Pronounced 'AR-kan-saw' (silent final s), unlike 'Kansas' (KAN-zas).
a state in the south-central United States
She grew up on a farm in Arkansas.
Homophone of 'arc'. 'Noah's Ark' (the boat); the 'Ark of the Covenant' (a sacred chest).
(in the Bible) the ship built by Noah to survive the Flood
Noah loaded the animals two by two into the ark.
a chest or box regarded as sacred, especially the Ark of the Covenant
The ark was kept in the temple's inner sanctuary.
Informal. Two senses: a vegetable, and (chiefly British) a vegetarian.
(informal) a vegetable
Eat your veggies.
(informal, chiefly British) a vegetarian
Is there a veggie option on the menu?
From Latin 'inevitabilis' (unavoidable). 'The inevitable' = something certain to happen.
certain to happen; unavoidable
With no funding, the closure was inevitable.
as is certain to happen; unavoidably
Such a large project will inevitably run into delays.
As 'the inevitable'.
a situation that is unavoidable
Accepting the inevitable.
A butter substitute made from vegetable oils. The 'g' is soft ('marj-').
a spread made from vegetable oils, used in place of butter
She spread margarine on the toast instead of butter.
'A bun in the oven' = pregnant (informal). 'Oven-ready' = prepared for cooking.
an enclosed compartment that is heated for cooking or baking food
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
Short for 'situation comedy'. Famous examples: Friends, Seinfeld, The Office.
a comedy series featuring the same characters in a fixed setting from episode to episode
The 1990s sitcom is still endlessly rerun.
Greek 'schizein' (split) + 'phren' (mind). Commonly MISunderstood as 'split personality'; it is actually a disorder of perception and thought.
a serious mental disorder involving distorted thinking and perceptions, often with delusions or hallucinations
He was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his twenties.
relating to or affected by schizophrenia; (loosely) contradictory or erratic
The company's schizophrenic strategy confused investors.
A positively charged ion (moves toward the cathode). Opposite: 'anion'. Pronounced 'CAT-eye-on'.
an ion with a positive electrical charge
Sodium forms a cation by losing one electron.
Homophone of 'berry'. Past: buried. 'Bury the hatchet' = make peace.
to put (a dead body) in the ground
He was buried in the village churchyard.
to hide something by covering it
The dog buried its bone in the garden.
the act or ceremony of burying a dead body in the ground
The burial will take place tomorrow at the cemetery.
a place, often historic, where dead people are or were buried
Archaeologists discovered an ancient burial ground beneath the building site.
The 'l' is usually silent ('AH-mund').
the edible oval nut of the almond tree, eaten raw or used in cooking
She sprinkled toasted almonds over the salad.
The 'l' is silent.
a large edible fish with pink flesh, known for swimming upriver to lay its eggs
We grilled fresh salmon for dinner.
a pinkish-orange color
She painted the bedroom walls a soft salmon.
From Latin 'quaerere' (to ask). In computing, a request for data from a database.
a question, especially one expressing doubt
If you have any queries, please email us.
to ask a question about; to express doubt about
She queried the amount on the bill.
The 'weeping willow' droops gracefully. Cricket bats are traditionally made of willow.
a tree or shrub with narrow leaves and flexible branches, often growing near water
A weeping willow trailed its branches in the pond.
A trademark, often genericized; the company discourages generic use.
(trademark) a photocopier, or a photocopy made on one
Make me a Xerox of this page.
(informal) to photocopy
She xeroxed the handout for the whole class.
District of London; pronounced 'GREN-itch' (silent w). Gives its name to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and the Prime Meridian.
a district of London that is the basis of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian
Longitude is measured east and west of Greenwich.
From 'cross over'. In music, an artist who succeeds in more than one genre.
a point or process of changing from one thing to another
the crossover from analog to digital broadcasting
(of music or a vehicle) something that blends two styles or categories
The compact crossover is popular with families.
From French 'coupe' (cut). Written 'coupe' (/kuːp/) in modern English or 'coupe' with an accent (/kuˈpeɪ/) traditionally.
a car with a fixed roof, two doors, and a sloping rear
He pulled up in a sleek black coupe.
a large long-haired wild or domesticated ox found in the Himalayas and Tibet
Herders in Tibet keep yaks for milk and wool.
(informal) to talk at length about trivial matters; to chatter
They yakked on the phone for hours.
'Good value' = worth the price. 'Values' (plural) = moral principles.
the worth, importance, or usefulness of something
The painting's value has tripled.
(plural, 'values') principles or standards of behavior
They share strong family values.
to consider important; to estimate the worth of
I really value your friendship.
Note: 'invaluable' means EXTREMELY valuable, not the opposite.
worth a lot of money; extremely useful or important
The ring is very valuable.
items of value, especially small personal possessions
Lock your valuables in the hotel safe.
Counterintuitive: "valueless" and "invaluable" are NOT opposites. "Invaluable" actually means "so valuable it can't be measured". The true opposite of "valuable" is "valueless" or "worthless".
having no value; worthless
The painting turned out to be valueless.
to estimate (something) as less valuable, important, or worthy than it actually is
His contributions to the project were consistently undervalued.
to overestimate the value or worth of something
Many believe the stock is overvalued at current prices.
Modern business usage: 'reach out to someone' = contact them.
to make contact with someone, especially to offer or ask for help
Please reach out if you have any questions.
to extend one's hand or arm
She reached out and took his hand.
Also 'recommended retail price' (RRP) or MSRP.
the official published price of an item before any discount
We sold it well below the list price.
Literal (a train) and figurative (a plan going off course).
(of a train) to leave the tracks; to cause a train to do so
The freight train derailed near the bridge.
to disrupt or obstruct (a process or plan)
The scandal derailed his campaign.
an instance of a train leaving the tracks
The derailment closed the line for a week.
From 'censor'. Distinguish: 'censor' (suppress content), 'censure' (formally criticize), 'censorious' (fault-finding).
severely critical of others; fault-finding
She gave him a censorious look over her glasses.