to a moderate degree; rather
The instructions were somewhat confusing.
Informal, often about attraction.
something that makes someone excited or attracted
Confidence is a turn-on for many people.
Singular: phenomenon. Plural: phenomena.
a fact or event that can be observed, often unusual
Northern lights are a natural phenomenon.
plural of phenomenon
The course studies social phenomena.
extremely good or impressive
The team's growth was phenomenal.
greater than average in height
The tall building blocks the afternoon sun.
Often capitalized for one of Jesus's twelve Apostles.
an early Christian teacher or missionary
Paul is called an apostle in the New Testament.
a strong supporter of an idea or cause
She became an apostle of open-source software.
relating to the apostles or their teaching
The church claims an Apostolic tradition.
relating to Christian churches that separated from Rome
The town has both Catholic and Protestant churches.
a member of a Protestant Christian church
Her grandparents were Protestants from Scotland.
the Protestant branch of Christianity
Protestantism spread widely after the Reformation.
Capitalized when referring to the Catholic Church.
relating to the Roman Catholic Church
She attended a Catholic school.
a member of the Roman Catholic Church
Many Catholics observe Lent.
the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church
The book explains the history of Catholicism in Europe.
a dentist who straightens teeth and corrects jaw alignment
Her orthodontist recommended braces.
the branch of dentistry dealing with the correction of teeth and jaw alignment
She specializes in orthodontics.
When it means tell a story, stress the second syllable.
to tell someone about events in detail
She recounted the trip in her diary.
Election word: a second count of votes.
a second count, especially of votes
The close election required a recount.
a pale sedimentary rock made mostly of calcium carbonate
The old church was built from limestone.
a person, thing, or situation that annoys or causes trouble
The broken elevator is a real nuisance.
coming or happening later than it should
Please accept my belated birthday wishes.
the moment when performers return to receive applause
The audience stood up during the curtain call.
to reduce or limit something
The school curtailed outdoor activities during the storm.
the act of reducing or limiting something
The curtailment of services angered residents.
a cut of beef from the lower chest
The restaurant smokes brisket for twelve hours.
a member of a Slavic-speaking people
Poles, Czechs, and Serbs are Slavs.
relating to Slavs or Slavic languages
Russian is a Slavic language.
Verb stress is second syllable. Noun "excuse" is usually /ˈekskjuːs/ with first-syllable stress.
to forgive or justify a fault, mistake, or absence
The teacher excused his late arrival.
Noun stress is first syllable, unlike the verb.
a reason given to justify a fault or absence
He gave a weak excuse for being late.
able to be forgiven or justified
A small delay is excusable in this weather.
too bad to be justified or forgiven
Leaving the patient alone was inexcusable.
Formal word for a huge destructive fire.
a very large and destructive fire
The warehouse was destroyed in a conflagration.
Most common in sports broadcasting.
two games or events held one after another
The teams played a double-header on Saturday.
the act of taking control of a company, place, or process
The takeover was announced on Monday.
Opposite of hypothermia. Hyper- means too high; hypo- means too low.
dangerously high body temperature
Long exposure to heat can cause hyperthermia.
Formal. Often used as preclude someone from doing something.
to prevent something from happening or make it impossible
The contract precludes outside consulting.
to make something black or dark
Smoke blackened the ceiling.
to damage someone's reputation
The accusation blackened his name.
a decorative container, often for ashes after cremation
The urn was placed on a small table.
an orchestral introduction to an opera or musical work
The overture began quietly.
an opening offer or approach
The company made peace overtures to the union.
British spelling of gelatin.
a clear substance used to make food set into a jelly
The recipe uses gelatine to thicken the dessert.
thick, soft, and jellylike
The soup cooled into a gelatinous mass.
American spelling of gelatine.
a clear substance used to make food set into a jelly
The marshmallows are made with gelatin.
Closed spelling carpool is also common.
an arrangement in which people share rides in one car
We joined a car pool to save gas.
to share car rides regularly
They car pool to work twice a week.
Also spelled sugarcane.
a tall tropical grass whose stalks are used to make sugar
The farm grows sugar cane near the river.
Literary or formal praise for brave effort.
very brave or determined, especially in danger
The team made a valiant attempt to come back.
a serious disaster or misfortune
The flood was a calamity for the village.
causing great damage or suffering
The policy had calamitous results.
a sharp pointed piece of metal, wood, or plastic
The fence had spikes on top.
a sudden sharp increase
There was a spike in traffic after the announcement.
to rise suddenly or make something rise suddenly
Energy prices spiked in winter.
to secretly add alcohol or drugs to a drink
Someone spiked her drink.
the hard outer shell of a sea creature, often found on beaches
The child collected seashells after low tide.
a gemstone that often shows shifting colors
Her ring has a small opal.
showing soft changing colors like an opal
The soap bubble had an opalescent shine.
showing colors that seem to change with the angle of light
The beetle's wings were iridescent.
Formal word for no movement or no change.
a state of not changing, moving, or developing
The economy remained in stasis for years.
Can mean a sledgehammer, or in British English a sled.
a heavy hammer or a sled
The worker swung a sledge at the wall.
a large heavy hammer with a long handle
They broke the concrete with a sledgehammer.
more than enough; plentiful
We have ample time to revise the draft.
to distract someone from the main subject or plan
The meeting was sidetracked by budget questions.
a minor or less important topic or route
That story is an interesting sidetrack.
a soft smooth shine on a surface
The silk had a silver sheen.
to explode or cause something to explode
The crew detonated the old bridge safely.
an explosion or the act of causing one
The detonation was heard miles away.
a device used to trigger an explosion
Investigators found a damaged detonator.
tasting like nuts
The cheese has a nutty flavor.
silly, eccentric, or crazy
That is a nutty idea, but it might work.
confusing or deceptive language that hides the truth
The answer sounded like political double-talk.
one of two similar or related things, especially words
Shirt and skirt are historical doublets.
a close-fitting old-style jacket
The actor wore a velvet doublet.
Past tense: outdid. Past participle: outdone.
to do better than someone or something
The sequel tried to outdo the original.
(of a place) empty and lonely; bleak
They walked across the desolate moor.
(of a person) feeling or showing great unhappiness
She was desolate after the loss of her dog.
empty ruin, loneliness, or deep sadness
The abandoned town had an air of desolation.
domesticated birds kept for meat or eggs
The farm raises poultry and goats.
meat from chickens, ducks, or similar birds
The restaurant serves fish and poultry.
Stronger and more formal than cold.
extremely cold
The hikers crossed a frigid river.
emotionally cold or unfriendly
He gave us a frigid welcome.
From French clair = clear + voyance = seeing.
the supposed ability to see future or hidden events
The fortune-teller claimed to have clairvoyance.
supposedly able to see future or hidden events
The story features a clairvoyant detective.
a person who claims to have clairvoyance
She visited a clairvoyant at the fair.
Formal. Often used for honors, gifts, rights, or blessings.
to give an honor, gift, or right formally
The university bestowed an honorary degree on her.
a trap for catching animals
The rabbit was caught in a snare.
to catch someone or something in a trap or difficult situation
The scheme snared several investors.
a hard shiny material such as iron, gold, or aluminum
The gate is made of metal.
like metal in sound, color, or quality
The paint has a metallic finish.
the branch of science and technology concerned with the properties of metals and their production and purification
He studied metallurgy.
a letter in an ancient Germanic alphabet
The stone was carved with runes.
to cook gently just below boiling
Let the sauce simmer for twenty minutes.
for anger or tension to remain quietly active
Frustration simmered under the surface.
Common phrase: fend for oneself = manage without help.
to defend yourself or manage without help
The kittens learned to fend for themselves.
a car panel over a wheel, or a bumper used to protect a boat
The crash dented the left fender.
the ability to do something despite fear
It took courage to speak honestly.
brave and determined
The firefighter made a courageous rescue.
to cause someone to lose confidence or enthusiasm
Don't let one bad grade discourage you.
to try to prevent something from happening, especially by indicating disapproval
Signs are posted to discourage swimming in this part of the river.
a feeling of having lost confidence or enthusiasm; the act of discouraging
Despite repeated discouragement, he kept submitting his stories to magazines.
for a wound to become infected and produce pus
The cut began to fester.
for anger or a problem to grow worse over time
Resentment festered for years.
extremely unpleasant, immoral, or disgusting
The room smelled vile.
someone or something mysterious and hard to understand
The missing file remains an enigma.
mysterious and difficult to interpret
She gave an enigmatic smile.
to burn or scorch the surface of something
Sear the steak in a hot pan.
to make a painful or lasting impression
The image was seared into her memory.
"Searing pain", "searing heat", "searing criticism": common collocations. From "sear" (cooking technique to brown meat surface).
extremely hot or intense
The searing heat was unbearable.
soft, comfortable, and expensive-looking
The hotel lobby had plush chairs.
a soft thick fabric with a raised surface
The toy was covered in plush.
Old alchemy word; now often figurative or used in product names.
a magical or medicinal liquid thought to cure or improve something
The ad promised an elixir for tired skin.
Informal, often folksy American English.
a living creature, especially an animal
What kind of critter made those tracks?
Informal.
to hit hard or defeat badly
The home team got clobbered.
to affect someone very badly
The new tax clobbered small businesses.
the area beside a fireplace
They talked by the fireside.
warm, informal, and associated with home
The mayor gave a fireside chat.
British spelling; American English usually writes chili powder.
powdered dried chili peppers used as a spice
Add chilli powder if you want more heat.
Phrase: put someone on a pedestal = admire them too much.
a base that supports a statue, column, or vase
The statue stood on a marble pedestal.
worn so thin that threads show
He wore a threadbare coat.
weak or overused from repetition
The excuse sounded threadbare.
a dark gray rock that splits into thin flat layers
The roof was made of slate.
to schedule or choose someone for something
The film is slated for release in May.
to criticize harshly, especially in British English
The critics slated the performance.
water containing natural minerals, often bottled
She ordered sparkling mineral water.
a small military or trading station far from the main group
The soldiers guarded a remote outpost.
a distant branch or presence of an organization
The cafe opened a tiny outpost in the station.
to hold someone close in an affectionate way
The child wanted to cuddle before bed.
an affectionate hug
The puppy climbed into her lap for a cuddle.
a set of letters in a particular type design
The website uses a clean sans-serif font.
a basin for baptismal water in a church
The stone font stood near the entrance.
to change chemically as yeast or bacteria produce alcohol or acid
The cabbage ferments for several days.
As a noun, ferment can also mean social or political unrest.
active excitement, change, or unrest
The city was in political ferment.
a deep vertical or sloping passage into a mine
The old mineshaft was sealed for safety.
Everyday word for uterus.
the organ in which a baby develops before birth
The fetus grows in the womb.
the internal passage from the uterus to the outside of the female body
The doctor explained the anatomy of the vagina.
relating to the vagina
The clinic treats vaginal infections.
Modern medical term: Hansen's disease.
a chronic infectious disease affecting skin and nerves
Leprosy is treatable with antibiotics.
Take a rain check = postpone an invitation or offer.
a promise to accept an offer later
Can I take a rain check on dinner?
a ticket allowing later use when an event is canceled by rain
The stadium gave fans rain checks.
a treatment using thin needles inserted into the body
She tried acupuncture for back pain.
a person who practices acupuncture
The acupuncturist placed needles in her wrist.
a large motor vehicle for transporting goods
The truck delivered furniture to the store.
to transport goods by truck
The company trucks produce across the country.
a person who drives a truck for work
The trucker drove overnight to deliver the food.
a person or thing thought to bring bad luck
The fans blamed the loss on a jinx.
to bring bad luck to something by saying or doing something
Do not jinx the plan by celebrating early.
affected by bad luck
The project felt jinxed from the start.
to make beer or tea by soaking, boiling, and fermenting
They brew their own beer in the garage.
a drink made by brewing, especially beer or tea
He ordered a local brew at the pub.
a person or company that makes beer
The local brewer released a new lager.
a place where beer is made
We toured a small brewery.
to choose not to use or demand a right, fee, or rule
The bank waived the late fee.
a formal act or document giving up a right or claim
You must sign a waiver before the race.
fair and not favoring one side
We need an impartial judge.
a U-shaped curve in mathematics
The ball's path formed a parabola.
shaped like or related to a parabola
The antenna has a parabolic dish.
a short story that teaches a moral or religious lesson
The teacher explained the parable of the lost sheep.
the study or record of family ancestry
She traced her genealogy back six generations.
a view, painting, or photograph of the sea
The gallery displayed a stormy seascape.
the practice or state of being married to one person at a time; the practice of having a sexual relationship with only one partner
Judaism has insisted on monogamy since the Middle Ages.
involving marriage to one person at a time; having a sexual relationship with only one partner at a time
A monogamous relationship.
Psychoanalytic term from Freud, named after Oedipus in Greek myth.
a child's unconscious desire for the opposite-sex parent
The article discusses the Oedipus complex as a Freudian idea.
Chiefly British. American English usually says ad or advertisement.
an advertisement
The magazine advert showed a new phone.
a pause in a TV or radio program for advertisements
I made tea during the commercial break.
strong tissue that connects muscle to bone
He injured a tendon in his ankle.
Named after Achilles, whose heel was his weak spot in Greek myth.
the tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel
A torn Achilles tendon can take months to heal.
to have something inside or as part of itself
The box contains old photos.
to control or stop something from spreading
Firefighters contained the fire.
complete by itself and not needing outside help
The apartment is small but self-contained.
the act of keeping something harmful under control
The lab followed strict containment procedures.
In tech: "container" = packaged software environment (Docker, Kubernetes). In shipping: standardized intermodal containers (20-foot or 40-foot) revolutionized global trade.
an object used to hold or transport something
Store the leftovers in a sealed container.
Largest container ships carry 24,000+ containers (TEUs). Famous: Ever Given (blocked Suez Canal, March 2021).
a ship designed to transport intermodal containers
The container ship docked at Shanghai.
Often sexual or inappropriate unless the context is clearly affectionate.
to touch or stroke gently and lovingly, or sexually
The cat purred as she fondled its ears.
a wooden house or lodge, especially in the Alps
They rented a chalet near the ski lift.
a race or process in which people take turns
Our team won the relay.
a device or station that passes on signals
The satellite acts as a relay.
Noun stress is RE-lay; verb stress is re-LAY.
to pass information or signals from one place to another
Please relay the message to the team.
a trained person who helps women during childbirth
The midwife visited her at home.
the work or profession of a midwife
She studied midwifery at university.
British spelling: distil.
to purify or concentrate a liquid by evaporation and condensation
The plant distills seawater into drinking water.
a person or company that makes spirits by distillation
The distiller produces small-batch whiskey.
Distinct from "brewery" (makes beer) and "winery" (makes wine).
a place where strong alcoholic drinks (such as whiskey, vodka, or gin) are made by distillation
We toured a Scottish whisky distillery in the highlands.
Often appears in treasure trove or data trove.
a valuable collection or store of things
The archive is a trove of old photographs.
a record or arrangement for money or online access
I opened a savings account.
a description or explanation of events
Her account of the accident was clear.
to explain or be the reason for something
The delay accounts for the higher cost.
responsible for what one does and expected to explain it
Managers are accountable for safety.
the fact of being responsible for one's actions and able to explain them
The scandal raised questions about accountability in government.
"CPA" = Certified Public Accountant (US). "Chartered accountant": British equivalent. Stereotypically associated with careful, detail-oriented work.
a person whose job is to keep financial accounts
She works as an accountant.
British English distinguishes noun practice and verb practise; American English uses practice for both.
repeated training to improve a skill
Daily practice improved her pronunciation.
a professional business, especially medical or legal
He opened a dental practice.
to do something repeatedly to improve
She practices piano every evening.
"Practical joke" = prank. "For all practical purposes" = effectively. Antonym: theoretical, impractical.
concerned with actual use rather than theory
She gave us practical advice.
likely to be effective
It's a practical solution.
Don't confuse with "impracticable" (= literally cannot be done). "Impractical" = unreasonable or unwieldy in practice, even if technically possible.
not sensible or realistic; unwieldy to use
It would be impractical to carry that much luggage.