Vocabulary: Batch 37

"James Bond": iconic British spy. "Bond" in chemistry: covalent bond, etc. "Bail bond": money paid for release pending trial.

1. a close connection between people

   They formed a strong bond.

2. a debt security issued by a government or company

   She invested in government bonds.

Slightly less negative than "brag". Can also mean "have as a notable feature" ("the hotel boasts a pool").

• to talk with excessive pride about oneself

  He boasted about his salary.

Past tense: bragged (double g). "Brag" is more informal and clearly negative.

• to talk boastfully

  Stop bragging about your new car.

• talking with too much pride about oneself

  His boastful tone annoyed everyone.

Used metaphorically: "late bloomer", person who develops later than usual. "Algae bloom": sudden growth in water.

• (of a plant) produce flowers

  The roses bloom in June.

"Cherry blossom": iconic in Japanese culture (sakura). "Blossom" tends to be used for trees; "bloom" for flowers more generally.

• (of a tree or bush) produce flowers

  The apple trees blossomed in spring.

"Blend in": fit in with surroundings. "Blended family": family with step-relatives. "Blended whisky": mixed grain and malt.

• to mix together

  Blend the ingredients in a bowl.

"Blender" is also a famous open-source 3D animation/modeling software.

• an electric machine for mixing food

  She made a smoothie in the blender.

From Greek autos (self) + graphein (to write). "Signature" is more general; "autograph" specifically refers to a celebrity's signature given to a fan.

• a signature, especially of a famous person

  Fans waited for his autograph.

British: "bin" = trash can / garbage can (American). "Bin Laden": famous surname, unrelated. "Recycling bin": common modern object.

• a container for storage or rubbish

  Throw it in the bin.

"Amazon basin": drainage area of the Amazon River. British: "basin" can also mean sink (washbasin). "Pelvic basin": anatomical term.

• a bowl-shaped depression on the earth's surface

  They explored the river basin.

"Bargain hunter": someone seeking deals. "Plea bargain": legal agreement to plead guilty for reduced charges. "Strike a bargain": reach a deal.

• an agreement between two parties; a good deal

  It was a great bargain at half price.

From Italian banca rotta (broken bench): historical practice of breaking a moneychanger's bench when he failed. "Morally bankrupt": figurative.

• declared in law as unable to pay debts

  The company went bankrupt.

"File for bankruptcy" - common legal phrase. "Chapter 11" - US business reorganization bankruptcy.

• the state of being legally declared unable to pay debts

  The company filed for bankruptcy.

"Bald eagle": US national bird (not actually bald, has white feathers on head). "Bald-faced lie": bold, obvious lie. "Going bald": losing hair.

• having no hair on the head

  He went bald at thirty.

"The authorities" (plural) = government officials, often police. "An authority on" = an expert.

1. the power to make decisions

   She has the authority to hire.

2. an expert in a subject

   He's an authority on Roman history.

Don't confuse with "authoritarian" (= demanding total obedience, like a dictator). "Authoritative" is positive; "authoritarian" is negative.

1. commanding and self-confident

   He spoke in an authoritative tone.

2. able to be trusted as accurate

   This is the authoritative biography.

"On the Waterfront": classic 1954 Marlon Brando film. "Cover all bases" can also be expressed as "cover the waterfront".

• a part of a town that borders a body of water

  They walked along the waterfront.

"Please find attached": standard email phrasing. "Attached to": emotionally connected. Past tense: attached.

• to fasten or join

  She attached the file to the email.

"Email attachment" - common tech usage. Psychology: "attachment theory" - emotional bonds.

• a file joined to an email, or an emotional bond

  She sent the report as an attachment.

Can be physical or emotional: attached file, attached to a person.

1. fastened or joined to something else

   Please see the attached file.

2. emotionally connected or devoted to someone

   He grew very attached to his little sister's dog.

Distinct: "assure" (reassure someone) vs. "ensure" (make certain) vs. "insure" (buy insurance). All three are commonly confused.

• to tell someone something positively to remove doubt

  I assure you it's safe.

"Quality assurance" (QA): major business function. "Self-assurance": confidence.

• a positive declaration intended to give confidence

  He gave me his assurance.

Verb stress on "so"; noun ("an associate") stress is the same but pronunciation ends -ət instead of -eɪt.

• to connect (someone or something) with something else in one's mind

  I associate her with happy memories.

Common: "Parent-Teacher Association" (PTA), "NBA" (National Basketball Association). "Free association": psychoanalytic technique (Freud).

• a group of people organized for a joint purpose

  She joined the homeowners' association.

• connected with something else

  Two associated events.

In sports: an "assist" (noun) is a pass leading directly to a score.

• to help someone

  He assisted the elderly woman with her bags.

"Personal assistant" (PA): modern job. "Virtual assistant": Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant. "Administrative assistant": modern term for secretary.

• a person who helps another

  She works as a research assistant.

"Assemble" instructions : IKEA-style furniture is famous for them. "Assembly required" : common product warning. "Avengers assemble!" : Marvel rallying cry.

• to gather together; to fit together the parts of

  The class assembled in the gym.

"Assembly line" : Ford's revolutionary production method. "General Assembly" : UN's main deliberative body. "School assembly" : meeting of all students.

1. a group of people gathered together

   The school assembly is at 9 a.m.

2. the process of putting together parts

   The car requires assembly.

• a production system where parts are added in sequence

  The car moved slowly down the assembly line.

• a factory where products are put together from parts

  The company opened a new assembly plant in Ohio.

More formal than group or collection; common in art, archaeology, and ecology.

• a collection of people or things gathered together

  The museum displayed an assemblage of old tools.

In grammar: "aspect" of a verb (perfective, progressive). In astrology: relative positions of planets. "Aspect ratio": width-to-height ratio of an image.

• a particular part or feature of something

  Consider all aspects of the problem.

"Shame!": common exclamation of disapproval (especially British). "What a shame": expression of mild disappointment. "Shame on you": accusation of moral failing.

• a painful feeling of humiliation

  She was filled with shame.

Always predicative (after the verb), never before a noun.

• embarrassed or guilty because of one's actions or characteristics

  He felt ashamed of his behavior.

Stronger than "embarrassing". Implies moral disapproval, not just social discomfort.

• worthy of or causing shame

  His behavior was shameful.

"Fine art" vs "applied art". "State of the art" = the most advanced stage of development.

• the expression of human creative skill, typically in painting, drawing, or sculpture

  The museum has a fine collection of modern art.

"Artistic license": creative freedom to deviate from accuracy. "Artistic temperament": stereotyped emotional sensitivity of artists.

• having natural creative skill

  She is very artistic.

"Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation" or "rescue breathing". Often combined with chest compressions in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

• the act of stimulating breathing in someone whose breathing has stopped

  The lifeguard performed artificial respiration.

Past tense: arose. Past participle: arisen. More formal than "come up". "Arise from": be caused by.

• to come into existence

  Problems will inevitably arise.

Famous: Gateway Arch (St. Louis), Triumphal Arch (Paris). "Arch nemesis" / "arch enemy": primary opponent.

• a curved structure forming the upper edge of an open space

  They passed under the arch.

"Approve of" - express a favorable opinion; "approve" (without "of") - officially sanction.

• to officially agree to or accept something as satisfactory

  The board approved the new budget.

"Seal of approval": formal endorsement. "Approval rating": common political polling metric.

• the act of approving

  The plan requires committee approval.

Different from "elect": "appoint" usually means designation by an authority, not voting.

• to assign someone to a position

  The president appointed a new ambassador.

"At the appointed time": scheduled time. "Well-appointed": nicely furnished (real estate term).

• officially chosen for a position

  The newly appointed director gave a speech.

"Doctor's appointment", "hair appointment": common everyday usage. Distinct from "meeting": appointment is usually scheduled with a professional.

• a prearranged meeting

  I have an appointment at 3 p.m.

"Apply for" a job; "apply" a rule or method; "apply" cream to skin.

• to make a formal request, or to put something into use

  She applied for the scholarship.

"Application" (app) - software program. "Job application" - formal request for employment.

• a formal request, or a practical use of something

  He submitted his college application.

"Job applicant" / "applicant pool": HR vocabulary. Distinct from "candidate" (which can be more political).

• a person who applies for something

  There were 500 applicants for the job.

Stress can also fall on the second syllable (/əˈplɪkəbəl/), especially in British English. "N/A" on forms = not applicable.

• relevant or appropriate to a particular situation

  This rule is not applicable in your case.

Two senses: worried (negative) or eager (positive). "Anxious to please": eager. "Anxious about": worried.

• feeling worried or nervous

  She felt anxious about the interview.

"Anxiety disorder" - clinical diagnosis. "Separation anxiety" - common in children and pets.

• a feeling of worry or unease

  He suffered from severe anxiety before exams.

"Annual report": yearly financial document. "Annual leave": paid vacation days. "Annual plant": completes life cycle in one year.

• occurring once a year

  It's an annual event.

• occurring twice a year; half-yearly

  A semi-annual report.

Wedding anniversaries have traditional gifts (paper-1, silver-25, gold-50, diamond-60). Major birthdays sometimes called anniversaries in formal speech.

• the date on which an event took place

  They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

"Common ancestor": evolutionary biology concept. "Ancestry.com": popular DNA/genealogy service. Antonym: descendant.

• a person from whom one is descended

  Her ancestors came from Ireland.

"Ancestry" can refer to lineage or to ethnic/national origin. Genetic ancestry testing popularized by 23andMe and AncestryDNA.

• family or ethnic descent

  He has German ancestry.

"Ancestral home" / "ancestral land": places of family origin, often significant in indigenous land claims.

• relating to or inherited from one's ancestors

  They returned to their ancestral village.

"Agree to disagree" - accept a difference of opinion peacefully.

• to have the same opinion as someone else

  They agreed on the terms of the deal.

In personality psychology, "agreeableness" is one of the Big Five traits.

• pleasant; willing to agree

  He is an agreeable companion.

1. unpleasant or unenjoyable

   There was a disagreeable smell in the room.

2. (of a person) unfriendly and bad-tempered

   She found him a disagreeable companion.

• to have or express a different opinion

  I disagree with your conclusion.

• a lack of consensus or approval

  There was disagreement among the board members.

"Secret agent": spy. "Real estate agent": broker. "Free agent": sports term for unsigned player. "Agent of change": figurative.

• a person who acts on behalf of another

  His agent negotiated the deal.

"CIA" = Central Intelligence Agency. "Travel agency", "advertising agency", "adoption agency": common types. Modern philosophy: "agency" = capacity to act independently.

• a business that provides a particular service

  She works at an advertising agency.

Three main senses: legal adoption (child), pet adoption, or take on (idea/practice). "Adopt or die": business motto about change.

1. to legally take another's child as your own

   They adopted a baby from China.

2. to take on or use

   The company adopted a new strategy.

• the act of legally taking another's child as your own, or taking on a practice

  The adoption process took over a year.

"Acquired taste": something you learn to like over time (olives, blue cheese, beer). In business: company acquisitions.

• to obtain or get

  She acquired a taste for olives.

"Mergers and acquisitions" (M&A): major area of corporate finance. "Language acquisition": how children learn their first language (Chomsky's field).

• the act of acquiring or obtaining something

  The acquisition of the company took six months.

Often pejorative. From "acquire". "Acquisitive instinct": psychology term about hoarding/collecting tendencies.

• excessively interested in acquiring money or things

  He was a deeply acquisitive man.

In informal use, "acid" sometimes refers to LSD. pH scale: below 7 is acidic. "Acid test": definitive test of value.

• a chemical substance with a sour taste that can corrode metals

  Lemon juice contains citric acid.

20 standard amino acids in proteins. "Essential amino acids" must be obtained from food. Building blocks of life.

• an organic compound that forms the building block of proteins

  There are twenty essential amino acids.

Chemical formula HCl. Found naturally in stomach gastric acid. Strong industrial chemical.

• a strong acid used in industry and digestion

  Hydrochloric acid is produced by the stomach.

DNA and RNA are the two main types. Stores and transmits genetic information.

• an acid that carries genetic information in cells

  DNA is a nucleic acid.

American spelling: sulfuric acid. Chemical formula H2SO4. Used in batteries, fertilizer, industry. Highly corrosive.

• a highly corrosive strong mineral acid

  Sulphuric acid is used in car batteries.

"Sense of accomplishment": psychological reward. Stronger than "achievement" in some contexts.

• something that has been achieved

  It was her greatest accomplishment.

• achieve or complete successfully

  The planes accomplished their mission.

• highly skilled or successful

  She is an accomplished pianist.

"By accident" = unintentionally. "Accident-prone": frequently has accidents. "No accident": deliberate, often as denial of coincidence.

• an unfortunate event that happens unexpectedly

  There was a car accident.

"Accidental hero": common storytelling trope. Antonym: deliberate, intentional.

• happening by chance

  It was an accidental discovery.

"Accept" is a homophone-adjacent false friend with "except" - a common spelling mistake.

• to agree to receive or undertake something

  She accepted the job offer.

"Acceptance speech": given when receiving an award. "Radical acceptance": psychological/Buddhist concept of fully embracing reality. Stage of grief in Kübler-Ross model.

• the act of accepting something

  She gave a tearful acceptance speech.

Two senses: regional pronunciation pattern ("British accent") and emphasis on a syllable (acute/grave accent marks). "Accent" focuses on pronunciation; "dialect" includes vocabulary and grammar.

1. a way of pronouncing words typical of a region

   She speaks English with a French accent.

2. emphasis on a syllable or note

   Place the accent on the second syllable.

• make more noticeable or prominent

  His jacket unfortunately accentuated his paunch.

"Wise guy" - informal for a sarcastic know-it-all. "Penny wise, pound foolish" - proverb.

• having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment

  She sought advice from a wise old friend.

"Wisdom teeth": third molars, so named because they erupt in late teens/twenties when one is supposedly wiser. "Conventional wisdom": generally accepted but possibly wrong belief.

• the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment

  With age comes wisdom.

"Wide awake", "wide open", "wide range" - common collocations.

• measuring a large distance from side to side

  The river is very wide here.

Same "-en" pattern as weaken, harden. "Widen the gap": increase difference. Often used metaphorically for inequality or opportunity.

• to make or become wider

  They plan to widen the road.

Past tense and past participle: wept. More literary/formal than "cry". "Weeping willow": tree whose drooping branches suggest sorrow. "Weep for joy": also valid.

• to shed tears, especially from grief

  She wept at the news of his death.

"Weed" is also slang for marijuana (mainly US). "Weed out" (verb) = eliminate undesired members. "Seaweed" = marine plant. "Tumbleweed": iconic of US Western settings.

• a wild plant growing where it is not wanted

  She pulled the weeds from the garden.

Past tense: wove (or weaved). Past participle: woven (or weaved). Use "weaved" for figurative motion ("the car weaved through traffic"); "wove/woven" for actual weaving.

1. to form fabric by interlacing threads

   They weave traditional rugs by hand.

2. to move from side to side while progressing forward

   The motorcycle weaved through traffic.

• to weave or become woven together

  Wordsworth's political ideas are often closely interwoven with his poetic practice.

"Weapon of mass destruction" (WMD): nuclear, chemical, biological. "Choose your weapon": common challenge phrase.

• a thing designed or used to cause harm

  The police recovered several weapons from the suspect.

"-ry" suffix forms collective nouns (jewelry, machinery, weaponry). More formal than "weapons".

• weapons collectively

  The army has access to advanced weaponry.

"A wealth of" = a large amount of ("a wealth of information"). "Wealth" implies stored riches, distinct from "income" (flow) or "prosperity" (general well-being).

• a large amount of money or valuable possessions

  She inherited great wealth.

Synonyms: rich (most common), affluent (formal), well-off (mild), well-heeled (idiomatic). "The wealthy" (as a noun) = wealthy people collectively.

• having a great deal of money or assets

  He grew up in a wealthy family.

Patterns: "warn someone of/about something", "warn someone (not) to do something", "warn someone that...". Distinct from "caution" (gentler) and "threaten" (with explicit consequences).

• to inform of possible danger or trouble

  She warned him about the icy road.

"Fair warning" - advance notice given as a courtesy. "Warning sign" - common collocation.

• a statement or event that indicates possible danger

  The storm warning was issued an hour ago.

"Warm up" - prepare physically, or become friendlier. "Warm welcome" - friendly reception.

• having or giving out a moderate degree of heat

  The soup is still warm.

Final consonant cluster /-rmθ/ is unusual in English and tricky to pronounce. Two senses: literal heat, and figurative emotional warmth (kindness, friendliness).

1. the quality of being warm; moderate heat

   She enjoyed the warmth of the fire.

2. friendliness or affection

   He greeted us with great warmth.

"I wonder if/whether..." is a soft, polite way to introduce a question or request. "Wonder" the verb expresses curiosity, not awe: for awe, use "marvel" or the noun "wonder".

• to want to know something; to feel curious

  I wonder where she went.

"Seven Wonders of the World": list of remarkable structures. "No wonder" = it is not surprising. "Wonder kid" / "wonder boy": prodigy.

1. a feeling of amazement

   She gazed at the stars in wonder.

2. something remarkable

   The pyramids are one of the wonders of the world.

• inspiring delight or admiration; extremely good

  We had a wonderful time at the beach.

"Wage" is typically hourly or weekly pay for manual/non-salaried work; "salary" is annual. "Minimum wage": legally mandated floor. Often plural: "wages".

• a regular payment for work, usually hourly

  He earns a decent wage at the factory.

Almost exclusively used with "war" or "campaign" ("wage war on", "wage a campaign against"). Originates from Old French "wagier" (to pledge).

• to carry on (a war or campaign)

  They waged war for ten years.

From hunting: a quick shot taken without aiming carefully. Now used widely for informal photos and figuratively for any quick view ("snapshot of the economy"). In tech: a frozen copy of system state.

1. an informal photograph taken quickly

   I took a few snapshots of the kids.

2. a brief look at something at a particular moment

   The survey provides a snapshot of public opinion.

From Latin "vividus" (lively, full of life), same root as "vital", "vivacious". "Vivid imagination", "vivid colors", "vivid memory" are common collocations.

1. producing strong, clear mental images

   She has vivid memories of her childhood.

2. intensely bright or colorful

   The sunset painted the sky in vivid orange.

"Key fob": small object on a keyring, often electronic (car remote, building access). "Watch fob": historic pocket-watch chain ornament.

• a small attachment or device on a keyring or watch chain

  He pressed the key fob to unlock the car.

"Fob someone off with X": dismiss them with a poor substitute or excuse. British/informal.

• to put someone off with an excuse or inferior thing

  Don't try to fob me off with another excuse.

"Idle threat" = empty threat with no real intent. "Bomb threat", "death threat": common collocations. Different from "warning" (informational): threat implies intent to harm.

1. a statement of intention to cause harm

   He made a threat against her life.

2. something likely to cause harm

   Climate change is a threat to humanity.

Patterns: "threaten to do X", "threaten someone with X", "X threatens to happen" (=is about to). Past tense: threatened. Synonym: menace (more formal).

1. to state an intention to harm or punish

   He threatened to call the police.

2. to be likely to cause harm

   Heavy rain threatened the harvest.

Multiple modern senses: sewing thread, online forum thread, Twitter/X thread (series of connected posts), thread in computing (lightweight process). "Lose the thread" = lose track in a discussion.

1. a thin strand of fiber used for sewing

   She used red thread to mend the dress.

2. a connected series of messages in an online discussion

   There's a long thread about this on Reddit.

• to pass a thread through (a needle, etc.)

  She threaded the needle carefully.

Common in projection (rethread the film), mechanical (rethread a screw), and textile (rethread the needle) contexts.

• to thread again

  He rethreaded the projector.

Two senses: satisfy thirst, or extinguish (a flame). Both involve stopping something: thirst or fire. "Quench thirst" is by far the most common modern usage.

1. to satisfy thirst by drinking

   He drank a glass of water to quench his thirst.

2. to extinguish a fire

   They quenched the flames with sand.

Figurative: "thirst for knowledge", "thirst for revenge". Internet slang: "thirsty" = desperate for attention/affection. "Thirst trap": attention-seeking sexy post.

1. the feeling of needing to drink

   After the hike, his thirst was unbearable.

2. a strong desire for something

   She has a thirst for adventure.

Internet slang: "thirsty" = desperate for attention or affection.

• feeling a need to drink

  After the run, she was very thirsty.

Originally meant "causing terror" (same root as "terror", "terrible"). Meaning flipped to positive in the 20th century: a classic example of semantic amelioration.

1. extremely good; excellent

   You did a terrific job.

2. very great in size or amount

   She has a terrific amount of energy.

"Lose one's temper" = get angry. "Short temper" / "quick temper" = easily angered. "Even-tempered" = calm. Different from "mood" (more temporary).

• a person's state of mind, especially their tendency to get angry

  He has a bad temper.

In metallurgy: "temper steel" = heat-treat to improve hardness. Figuratively: "temper criticism with praise" = moderate or soften.

• to make less severe by adding something opposite

  His enthusiasm was tempered by caution.

Coined in the 1940s when youth culture emerged as a distinct demographic. "Teen" refers to ages 13-19 (the only ages ending in "-teen").

• a person aged between 13 and 19

  The mall is full of teenagers on Saturdays.

"Teenage years", "teenage angst", "teenage rebellion": common collocations referring to adolescence.

• relating to a person between 13 and 19

  They have two teenage daughters.

Short for "teenager". Often used in marketing/media: "teen drama", "teen movies". "Tween": 10-12 age range.

• a teenager

  The mall is full of teens on weekends.

• a child just under the age of thirteen

  Clothes for pre-teens.

From French, ultimately Greek "tekhnē" (art, skill). Distinct from "method" (broader, more systematic) and "skill" (general ability). Final "-que" pronounced /-k/.

• a way of carrying out a particular task, especially in art or skill

  She has perfect technique as a pianist.

Can be playful (light mocking among friends) or cruel (bullying). "Tease out" = gradually extract (information, details). In film/marketing: a "teaser" trailer.

• to make fun of someone in a playful or unkind way

  The boys teased him about his haircut.

"Teaser trailer" - short promotional preview released before a film's full trailer.

• something designed to arouse interest, especially a short preview

  The studio released a teaser for the new movie.

Originally a unit of ancient currency (Greek "talanton"). The modern sense comes from the biblical Parable of the Talents. "Talent show", "talent scout", "raw talent" are common collocations.

• a natural ability to do something well

  She has a real talent for music.

"The Talented Mr. Ripley": famous Patricia Highsmith novel and Anthony Minghella film. Similar to "gifted" but slightly more focused on skill than raw potential.

• having a natural ability to do something well

  The team is full of talented players.

"Tag" also = a children's chasing game ("You're it!"). In wrestling: "tag team". In tech: HTML tags, social media "@-tag".

• a label attached to something

  There's no price tag on this item.

• to attach a label to; to mention by name on social media

  She tagged him in the photo.

Often used figuratively: "What's the price tag on that project?" = how much will it cost?

• a label showing the price of an item

  The price tag said $200.

More formal/literary than "fast" or "quick". "Swift action": quick decisive response, common in headlines. The bird "swift" is named for its fast flight.

• happening quickly

  They took swift action.

• quickly; promptly

  The government responded swiftly to the crisis.

Noun/verb stress shift: "a SUSpect" / "to susPECT". From Latin "suspicere" (to look up at, mistrust).

• to think something is true, especially something bad

  I suspect she's lying.

"Prime suspect" = main person under investigation. "Round up the usual suspects": Casablanca quote.

• a person thought to be guilty of a crime

  The police have arrested a suspect.

"Above suspicion" = clearly innocent. "Under suspicion" = being investigated. "On suspicion of" + crime: common arrest phrase.

• a feeling that something may be true, especially something bad

  I have a suspicion that he's lying.

"Suspicious activity": common phrase in security contexts. "Looking suspicious": controversial police standard.

• having or showing a feeling that something is wrong

  She had a suspicious look on her face.

Noun stress on first syllable, verb stress on second: "a SURvey" / "to surVEY", common noun/verb stress shift in English.

• an investigation of opinions or facts gathered by asking people questions

  They conducted a survey of customer satisfaction.

1. to look at or examine the whole of something

   He surveyed the damage after the storm.

2. to gather opinions by questioning people

   They surveyed a thousand voters.

Often negative (refusing to change). Neutral/positive synonyms: persistent, determined. "Stubborn as a mule": common simile. Also of physical things: "a stubborn stain".

1. refusing to change one's mind despite good reasons

   He's too stubborn to admit he was wrong.

2. difficult to move or remove

   a stubborn stain

From Greek "lethargia" (forgetfulness, drowsiness). More formal than "tiredness": suggests prolonged sluggishness. Medical symptom of many conditions.

• a state of tiredness and lack of energy

  The heat caused widespread lethargy.

Often used medically. Distinct from "lazy" (which implies unwillingness, not inability).

• feeling sluggish and lacking energy

  The patient appeared lethargic.

From Latin "sub" (under) + "mittere" (send). Two senses: present (formal) and yield (concede). Online: "Submit" button on forms.

1. to present formally for consideration

   Please submit your application by Friday.

2. to yield to authority or pressure

   He refused to submit to their demands.

Can be neutral/descriptive, but often negative if it suggests excessive obedience.

• too willing to obey or accept another person's authority

  He became quiet and submissive around his strict boss.

• the action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person; the action of presenting a proposal, application, or other document for consideration or judgment

  They were forced into submission.

"Domestic violence": abuse within the home. "Violent crime": crime involving force or threat. Can describe emotions: "violent reaction", "violent objection".

• using physical force to harm or damage

  There was a violent argument.

• behavior involving physical force intended to hurt

  The film contains scenes of violence.

US "vest" = UK "waistcoat" (sleeveless garment over a shirt). Confusingly, UK "vest" = US "undershirt". "Bulletproof vest", "life vest": protective equipment.

• a sleeveless upper garment, often part of a three-piece suit

  He wore a vest over his shirt.

"Vested interest" = personal stake giving someone reason to want a particular outcome. "Power is vested in": formal way to indicate authority granted.

• to give someone the legal right to property or power

  Authority is vested in the president.

Strict prescriptive view: "unique" is absolute, so "very unique" or "quite unique" is illogical. Descriptive view: native speakers use "more unique" to mean "more unusual".

1. being the only one of its kind

   Each snowflake is unique.

2. very special or unusual

   She has a unique style.

From Latin "unus" (one). "Labor union" / "trade union": worker organization. "State of the Union": annual US presidential address. "European Union": bloc of 27 nations.

1. the joining together of two or more things

   The union of the two companies created a giant.

2. an organization of workers

   He joined the teachers' union.

"United we stand, divided we fall": popular motto. "United Kingdom", "United States": political entities formed by union.

• to come or bring together for a common purpose

  The country united against the threat.

"Unify" stresses the result (becoming one); "unite" stresses the process (joining). Often interchangeable but "unify" is more formal.

• to make into a single unit

  His leadership unified the team.

"German Unification" (1871; 1990). "Korean Unification": political goal. "Unification Church": religious movement (Moonies).

• the process of becoming or being made into one

  The unification of Germany happened in 1990.

"Unity in diversity": common motto. "Unity": popular game engine. "E pluribus unum" = "out of many, one" (US motto).

• the state of being united or whole

  The speech called for national unity.

In UK universities, "tutor" can mean a regular faculty member, not just a private teacher. Distinct from "teacher" (classroom) and "professor" (university lecturer).

• a private teacher

  She works as a math tutor.

• to teach someone, especially privately

  He tutors students in physics.

"Light at the end of the tunnel" = sign of hope at end of difficulty. "Tunnel vision" = narrow perspective; medically, restricted peripheral sight. Channel Tunnel ("Chunnel") connects UK and France.

• an underground passage

  The train went through the tunnel.

"In tune" / "out of tune": also figurative ("in tune with the times"). "Change one's tune" = change one's opinion. "Tune in": listen/watch a broadcast.

• a series of musical notes; a melody

  She was humming a familiar tune.

1. to adjust an instrument to the correct pitch

   He tuned his guitar before the concert.

2. to adjust an engine for optimal performance

   The car needs to be tuned.