Vocabulary: Batch 40

"Resign from" a position/job. "Resign oneself to" = accept reluctantly (source of the "resigned" adjective sense).

• to voluntarily leave a job or position

  She resigned from her post as director.

Resigned (accepting) vs. resigned from (quit). Same spelling, different stress doesn't apply: context decides meaning.

• having accepted something unpleasant

  She was resigned to her fate.

"Letter of resignation": formal job-quitting document. Famous: Nixon's resignation (1974, only US president to resign).

1. the act of resigning from a job

   He handed in his resignation.

2. the acceptance of something unpleasant

   She accepted the news with resignation.

"Reluctant hero": common literary trope (Frodo, Bilbo). Adverb: reluctantly. Common: "agreed reluctantly".

• unwilling and hesitant

  He was reluctant to leave.

• in an unwilling or hesitant manner

  He reluctantly agreed to help.

"Reformed criminal": one who has stopped committing crimes. "The Reformation": 16th-century Protestant religious movement.

• to make changes in order to improve

  They aim to reform the prison system.

• a change made to improve a system

  The government promised tax reform.

Related noun: refraction. Light refracts when passing through different media: why a straw appears bent in water.

• to bend (light) when it passes through one medium to another

  A prism refracts white light into colors.

• the bending of light or another wave as it passes from one medium to another

  Refraction causes the straw to look bent in water.

Past tense: referred (double r). "Refer" can mean direct ("I refer you to the manual") or mention ("she didn't refer to the incident").

1. to mention or allude to

   He referred to her by name.

2. to direct (someone) to a source of help

   The doctor referred her to a specialist.

"Reference": in academia, a citation. In job applications, someone who vouches for you ("give as a reference"). "For your reference" (FYR): common business email phrase.

• the action of mentioning or alluding to something

  She made no reference to the meeting.

• the act of directing someone to a specialist or another source of help

  She got a referral to a cardiologist.

"Recycling bin" - common household item. "Upcycle" - related but distinct: reusing to create something of higher value.

• to convert waste into reusable material

  They recycle glass, paper, and plastic.

"Recyclable" doesn't mean it actually gets recycled: much depends on local infrastructure. Common recyclables: paper, glass, aluminum, some plastics (#1 PET, #2 HDPE most reliably).

• able to be reprocessed for further use

  The packaging is fully recyclable.

Note: stress on "create" syllable. Don't confuse with "recreation" (= leisure, stress on "ra").

• to create again or anew

  The film recreates the events of that day.

"Recover" can mean physical (from illness), financial (recover losses), or emotional (recover from a breakup).

1. to return to a normal state of health

   It took her weeks to recover from the surgery.

2. to find or get back something lost

   Police recovered the stolen goods.

"In recovery": recovering from addiction. "Recovery time": period needed to bounce back.

• a return to a normal state of health or mind

  She made a full recovery.

"Recoverable data": in tech, data that can be restored after deletion or corruption.

• able to be recovered

  The deleted files were not recoverable.

From French. High-end hotels famous for their concierges who can arrange anything (restaurant reservations, theater tickets, sightseeing).

• a hotel employee who assists guests

  The concierge recommended a restaurant.

"Recall" in politics: removal of an elected official before term ends. "Product recall": manufacturer asking customers to return defective items.

• to bring (a fact, event, or situation) back into one's mind

  I don't recall meeting him.

• an act of recalling

  The company issued a recall on the toy.

"Get real" - common exclamation. "For real" (informal) - genuinely.

• actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imaginary

  Is that a real diamond?

"Be realistic": common advice tempering enthusiasm. In art: "realistic" depicts things as they appear, vs. "abstract".

• having a practical view of things

  You need to be realistic about your chances.

"Reality TV", "reality check" - common modern phrases. "Virtual reality" (VR) - simulated environment.

• the state of things as they actually exist

  He struggled to accept the reality of the situation.

In art/literature: a movement depicting subjects truthfully, without idealization. In philosophy/politics: a pragmatic approach.

• the quality or fact of representing a subject truthfully

  The film is praised for its gritty realism.

"Road rage": aggressive driving. "All the rage" = currently very fashionable. "Rage quit" (modern) = leaving angrily, especially a video game.

• violent uncontrollable anger

  He shook with rage.

"Self-publish" - modern alternative to traditional publishing. "Publish or perish" - academic career pressure.

• to prepare and issue a book, journal, or other material for public sale or distribution

  The novel was published last year.

Big Five publishers (US trade books): Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Macmillan. Self-publishing has grown dramatically with Amazon KDP.

• a person or company that prepares and issues books for public sale

  She sent the manuscript to a publisher.

"Public school" - means very different things in the US (government-funded) vs UK (expensive private school). "In public" - not in private.

• of, concerning, or open to the people as a whole

  The park is open to the public.

• ordinary people in general

  The museum is free to the public.

"Any publicity is good publicity": saying about the value of attention, good or bad. "Publicity stunt": attention-grabbing trick.

• the attention given to someone or something by the media

  The scandal generated a lot of publicity.

American spelling; British: publicise.

• to make widely known; to advertise

  The campaign aims to publicize the new product.

British spelling; American: publicize.

• to make widely known; to advertise

  The council publicised the new bus routes.

Noun stress on first syllable; verb (/prəˈtest/) on second. Famous protests: Boston Tea Party, Tiananmen Square, civil rights marches.

• a statement or action expressing disapproval

  They held a protest outside the embassy.

• to express strong disapproval

  They protested against the war.

"Prompt" in tech: a command-line input cue ("$ " or "> ") or AI input (ChatGPT prompts). "Writing prompt" - starter idea for creative writing.

• done without delay

  Thank you for your prompt reply.

• to cause or bring about

  What prompted your decision?

• without delay; quickly and on time

  Please reply promptly to confirm your appointment.

In AI, prompting means writing instructions or inputs that guide a model's output.

• the act of encouraging, reminding, or causing a response

  With a little prompting, the witness remembered the address.

Multiple senses: career advancement, marketing (promote a product), foster (promote understanding).

1. to support or encourage

   The campaign promotes healthy eating.

2. to advance someone to a higher position

   She was promoted to manager.

"Sales promotion": discount, coupon, etc. "Job promotion": advancement at work.

1. advancement to a higher position

   She got a promotion at work.

2. marketing to increase sales

   The store is running a holiday promotion.

"Boxing promoter", "event promoter" - common roles in entertainment/sports.

• a person who organizes or supports an event, cause, or venture

  The fight was organized by a famous boxing promoter.

"Break a promise", "keep a promise" - common collocations. "Show promise" - the source of the adjective "promising".

• a declaration that one will do something

  He kept his promise to help her.

• to state that one will do something

  She promised to call every day.

"Promising young" + profession: common phrase about talented juniors with bright futures.

• showing signs of future success

  She is a promising young writer.

"Standard operating procedure" (SOP): written rules. "Medical procedure": surgical or diagnostic operation.

• an established way of doing something

  Follow the standard procedure.

• relating to an established or official way of doing something

  Procedural rules.

"Prime minister": head of government in parliamentary systems. "Prime time": TV viewing peak hours. "Amazon Prime": subscription service.

1. of the best possible quality

   This is prime real estate.

2. of first importance; main

   That's the prime reason for my visit.

• referring to credit or loan arrangements for borrowers with a poor credit history, typically having unfavorable conditions such as high interest rates

  Subprime mortgages.

Adjective ("present" = here now) stress on first syllable; verb ("to present" = give/show) stress on second.

• in a particular place; existing or occurring now

  Everyone was present at the meeting.

• a gift

  She bought him a birthday present.

• to give or hand over formally

  He presented her with flowers.

"PowerPoint presentation": ubiquitous modern format. "Death by PowerPoint": humorous critique of boring slide decks.

• a speech or talk in which a topic is presented

  She gave a brilliant presentation.

"Presence of mind": calm thinking in crisis. "Stage presence": performer's commanding aura. "In someone's presence": formal.

1. the state of being present in a place

   His presence calmed the crowd.

2. a person's bearing or impressive quality

   She has a strong presence.

"Pregnant pause" - figurative use, a meaningful silence.

• (of a woman) having a child developing in the uterus

  She is seven months pregnant.

Typical human pregnancy: 40 weeks (~9 months). "Pregnancy test": home test detecting hCG hormone.

• the condition of being pregnant

  She had a difficult pregnancy.

From Latin praedicere (to say beforehand).

• to say that something will happen in the future

  Experts predict a strong economy next year.

"Weather prediction" / "forecast": meteorology. "Predictions" by Nostradamus: famously vague historical prophecies.

• a statement of what will happen in the future

  His prediction came true.

Often slightly negative ("predictable plot" = uncreative). Antonym: unpredictable.

• able to be predicted

  His behavior is predictable.

"What possessed you to...?" - rhetorical question about strange behavior.

• to have or own as belonging to oneself

  She possesses a rare talent for languages.

"Like a man possessed": acting with crazed intensity. Many horror films are about demonic possession (The Exorcist, etc.).

• controlled by an evil spirit

  In the film, she becomes possessed by a demon.

"Possession is nine-tenths of the law": traditional legal saying. In sports: "team has possession" of the ball.

• the state of having or owning something

  The diamond came into her possession.

• demanding someone's total attention and love; showing a desire to own things and not share them

  He's very possessive of his toys.

From Latin portrahere. Related: portrait, portraiture.

• to depict in a particular way

  The film portrays him as a hero.

"His portrayal of Hamlet": an actor's interpretation. Distinct from "portrait" (visual). Common in film/theater criticism.

• the way someone or something is depicted

  Her portrayal of the queen won an Oscar.

"Self-portrait": artist's own picture (Rembrandt and Van Gogh famous for many). "Portrait orientation": vertical page layout (vs. landscape).

• a painting or photo of a person, especially the face

  Her portrait hung in the gallery.

The art or practice of creating portraits.

• the art of creating portraits

  She studied portraiture at art school.

"Physical therapy" (PT): rehabilitation discipline. "Physical" (informal noun) = annual medical check-up. "Physical": 1981 Olivia Newton-John hit.

• relating to the body

  He's in good physical condition.

Don't confuse with "discreet" (= careful, unobtrusive). Same pronunciation, opposite professional fields favor each spelling.

• individually separate and distinct

  The course is divided into discrete units.

"Hard to persuade" / "easily persuaded": common descriptions. "Persuade" is one of Jane Austen's six major novels.

• to induce (someone) to do something through reasoning

  She persuaded him to change his mind.

"Persuasive essay" / "persuasive speech": common school writing types.

• good at persuading

  He made a persuasive argument.

Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People": classic book on persuasion. "Powers of persuasion": common phrase.

• the action of persuading someone

  She used gentle persuasion.

"Peer review": academic process where experts evaluate research. "Peer pressure": influence from social group, especially in adolescence. In UK: "peer" = member of nobility.

• a person of the same age or status

  She is respected by her peers.

• to look intently

  He peered into the darkness.

"Peeping Tom": voyeur (named after the Coventry man who supposedly peeked at Lady Godiva). "Peeps", informal: friends; or marshmallow Easter candy.

• to look quickly and secretly

  He peeped through the keyhole.

"Not a peep" - not a sound at all. "Peeps" (plural, informal) = friends.

• a quick or furtive look

  She took a peep through the curtains.

Two senses: strange ("peculiar smell") or specific to ("peculiar to this region").

• strange or unusual

  There's something peculiar about him.

• an odd or distinctive feature or habit

  one of the peculiarities of English spelling

In grammar: "passive voice" ("the ball was thrown") vs. active voice. "Passive-aggressive": indirect hostility. "Passive income": money requiring little ongoing effort.

• accepting or allowing what happens without active response

  His passive attitude frustrated her.

"Business partner", "life partner", "tennis partner" - common collocations. Increasingly used instead of "boyfriend/girlfriend" for serious relationships.

1. a person who takes part in an undertaking with another or others

   She started the firm with her business partner.

2. either member of a couple in a relationship

   He introduced his partner at the party.

Often "partner with".

• to work in partnership with another person or organization

  The company partnered with a local charity.

"Limited liability partnership" (LLP): business structure common in law and accounting firms. "Civil partnership": same-sex unions before marriage equality.

• the state of being a partner; a partnership business

  They entered into a business partnership.

Two senses: incomplete ("partial recovery") or biased ("partial judge"). Adverb: partially.

1. existing only in part; incomplete

   He made a partial recovery.

2. having a liking or bias

   She's partial to chocolate.

• not completely; in part

  The project was only partially completed.

From Greek para (beside) + graphein (to write). Modern writing typically has 3-7 sentences per paragraph. ¶: the paragraph symbol (pilcrow).

• a distinct section of writing

  Begin a new paragraph for each idea.

Past tense: overthrew. Past participle: overthrown. Common: "overthrow the government". Famous: 1953 Iranian coup (CIA-backed overthrow of Mossadegh).

• to remove forcibly from power

  The dictator was overthrown.

• a removal from power; a defeat or downfall

  The overthrow of the president.

"Overnight success": sudden fame (often misleading, many "overnight" successes worked for years). "Overnight oats": popular healthy breakfast.

1. for or during the night

   They stayed overnight at the hotel.

2. very quickly or suddenly

   He became famous overnight.

"Overnight shipping", "overnight stay" - common collocations.

• done, occurring, or lasting through the night

  They booked an overnight stay at the hotel.

Two distinct senses. "Outstanding debt": unpaid bills. "Outstanding student": excellent.

1. exceptionally good

   She gave an outstanding performance.

2. not yet paid or resolved

   He has several outstanding debts.

• to choose one option, especially from available alternatives

  Many employees opted to work from home.

In finance: "stock option" = right to buy stock at fixed price. In tech: dropdown menu "options".

• a thing that may be chosen

  There are several options to consider.

Antonym: mandatory, required. Common in surveys: "optional" fields.

• available to be chosen but not required

  The dessert is optional.

• an instance of choosing not to participate in something

  An opt-out clause.

British: nursery = preschool. "Plant nursery": where plants are grown for sale. "Nursery rhyme": children's poem.

1. a room for the care of children

   They decorated the nursery.

2. a place where young plants are grown

   We bought the tree at a nursery.

From Latin numerus (number). More formal than "many".

• great in number

  There are numerous reasons to visit Italy.

Slightly informal. More formal alternatives: "at present", "currently", "these days".

• at the present time

  Everyone has a smartphone nowadays.

"Noble gas": group 18 of periodic table (helium, neon, etc.). "Noble metal": resistant to corrosion (gold, platinum). "Nobel Prize": different spelling (after Alfred Nobel).

1. having high moral qualities

   It was a noble act of bravery.

2. belonging by birth to a hereditary class with high social status

   He came from a noble family.

"The nobility" - collective term for aristocrats. Also: "nobility of spirit" - moral excellence.

• the quality of being noble; the aristocratic class

  He was a member of the nobility.

"Nevertheless, she persisted": phrase that became a feminist rallying cry after Mitch McConnell used it about Elizabeth Warren in 2017.

• in spite of that

  It was difficult; nevertheless, she succeeded.

"Child neglect": legal/social term, distinct from abuse. "Neglected garden": figurative use.

• to fail to care for properly

  He neglected his health for years.

• so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering

  The cost difference was negligible.

• failing to take proper care; carelessly inattentive

  The driver was found to be negligent.

• failure to take proper care, especially as a legal fault

  She sued the hospital for negligence.

• not giving proper care or attention

  neglectful parents

Used to specify what one has just mentioned. Often replaceable with "that is" or "specifically".

• that is to say

  Only one person can sing it: namely, you.

"Mutual fund": pooled investment vehicle. "Mutual friend": friend known to both parties.

• experienced or done by each of two or more parties toward the other

  They had a mutual respect.

"Mutually exclusive", "mutually beneficial" - common collocations.

• in a way that is experienced or done by each of two or more parties toward the other

  They mutually agreed to end the contract.

Formal. Used to add information. More everyday: "besides", "also", "in addition".

• as a further matter; besides

  The book is well-written; moreover, it's affordable.

"Modest" can describe income (small), clothing (covering), or personality (humble). All three relate to "not excessive".

• unassuming or moderate in estimating one's own abilities

  She is too modest about her achievements.

"False modesty": pretending humility while expecting praise. Considered one of the virtues in many cultures.

• the quality of being modest

  His modesty impressed everyone.

Adjective ending: -ət. Verb ("to moderate" = chair, lessen) ending: -eɪt.

• average in amount, intensity, or degree

  They had moderate success.

"Moderate" on a forum = manage discussions, remove inappropriate content.

• to make less extreme

  He moderated his views.

"Everything in moderation" - common proverb about balance.

1. the avoidance of excess or extremes

   He drinks in moderation.

2. the action of making something less extreme

   The moderation of his tone helped the discussion.

"Forum moderator", "debate moderator" - common roles online and in media.

• a person who presides over a discussion or debate

  The moderator kept the debate on schedule.

Past tense: misled (NOT misleaded). "Mislead" implies intent or carelessness; "misinform" is more neutral.

• to cause to have a false impression

  The advertisement misled consumers.

"Misleading advertising": legal/ethical concept. FTC (Federal Trade Commission) regulates this in the US.

• giving the wrong idea or impression

  The headline was misleading.

"To have the misfortune of...": common phrasing for unfortunate experiences.

• bad luck

  She suffered great misfortune in life.

"Les Misérables": Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, hugely popular musical adaptation.

• wretchedly unhappy

  He looks miserable today.

"Misery loves company": proverb suggesting unhappy people prefer others to be unhappy too. "Misery": Stephen King novel/film.

• a state of great suffering

  He lived a life of misery.

"Mineral water": bottled water with dissolved minerals. "Minerals" (in nutrition), essential dietary elements: iron, calcium, zinc, etc.

• a solid inorganic substance occurring naturally

  The country is rich in minerals.

"Mild" can describe weather (mild winter), food (mild salsa), illness (mild case), or personality (mild-mannered).

1. gentle and not harsh

   She has a mild manner.

2. not severe or extreme

   He had a mild fever.

"Text message", "voice message", "direct message" (DM). "Get the message" - understand an implication.

• a piece of information sent or given to someone

  She left a message on his phone.

Modern usage, especially in texting/social media contexts ("just message me").

• to send a message to

  He messaged her about the meeting.

"Don't shoot the messenger": don't blame the bearer of bad news. "Messenger": Facebook's messaging app. "Messenger RNA" (mRNA): biological molecule key to COVID vaccines.

• a person who carries a message

  The messenger delivered the letter.

"Photographic memory", "muscle memory". Computing: "RAM" = random-access memory.

1. the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information

   She has an excellent memory for names.

2. something remembered from the past

   He has fond memories of his childhood.

British spelling: memorise.

• to commit to memory; learn by heart

  She memorized the entire speech.

Famous: Lincoln Memorial (DC), 9/11 Memorial (NYC), Vietnam Veterans Memorial. "Memorial Day": US holiday honoring fallen soldiers.

• a statue or structure established to remind people of a person or event

  They visited the war memorial.

"You can't manage what you can't measure": Peter Drucker quote. "Measure twice, cut once": carpentry proverb.

• to find the size, amount, or degree of

  She measured the table.

"Measurable goals", common in business/personal development ("SMART" goals: Specific, Measurable, etc.).

• able to be measured

  There has been measurable progress.

• the size, amount, or degree of something

  What are the room's measurements?

• too large, extensive, or extreme to measure

  Immeasurable suffering.

• to an immeasurable degree

  The situation has improved immeasurably.

• an action taken to counteract a danger or threat

  They proposed counter-measures.

"Mature" content rating: for adults. "Mature student" (British): older student returning to education.

• fully developed physically or mentally

  She's mature for her age.

In finance, "maturity date" = when a loan or bond becomes due.

• the state of being mature

  He showed great maturity in handling the situation.

Antonym of mature; can describe people (childish behavior) or biology (not fully developed).

• not fully developed; childish

  He can be quite immature at times.

• the state of being immature

  His immaturity showed in the way he handled criticism.

Common in biology and psychology.

• the process of becoming fully grown or developed

  The maturation of the fruit takes several weeks.

"Profit margin": financial term. "Margin of error": statistical term. "Marginalized": pushed to society's edges (modern social justice term).

1. the edge or border of something

   He wrote notes in the margin.

2. the amount by which one thing exceeds another

   They won by a narrow margin.

In economics, "marginal cost" = the cost of producing one additional unit. "Marginalized" = treated as insignificant or peripheral.

1. of or relating to a margin

   He scribbled marginal notes in the book.

2. minor or insignificant

   The improvement was only marginal.

• to only a limited extent; slightly

  Sales were marginally higher.

British spelling: marginalise.

• to treat a person or group as insignificant or peripheral

  The reforms aim to stop marginalizing rural communities.

Common in modern social-justice contexts to describe groups pushed to the edges of society or excluded from power.

• treated as insignificant or peripheral; excluded from mainstream society

  The program provides support for marginalized communities.

Different from "each" subtly: "each" emphasizes individuality, "every" emphasizes the group. "Every day" (frequency) vs. "everyday" (adjective, ordinary).

• each one of (a group)

  Every student must attend.

Past tense: overran. Past participle: overrun (same as base form). "Overrun with" + noun = filled with. Also: "the project ran over" (took too long/cost too much).

1. to spread over and occupy in large numbers

   The garden was overrun with weeds.

2. to exceed (a time or budget limit)

   The meeting overran by an hour.

"Hustle and bustle": common collocation for busy activity. Historical: "bustle" was a padded undergarment worn by Victorian women to make skirts stand out.

• to move in an energetic and busy manner

  The street was bustling with shoppers.

"Bustling city", "bustling market" - very common collocations.

• full of energetic and noisy activity

  The bustling market was full of vendors.

"Reduced to rubble": common phrase about destroyed buildings (often after war or earthquake). Famous: "Barney Rubble", character from The Flintstones.

• waste or rough fragments of stone, brick, or concrete

  After the earthquake, the city was reduced to rubble.

Homophone with "way". "Weigh in" : give an opinion. "Weigh down" : burden (literal or figurative).

• to find out how heavy something is

  She weighed herself this morning.

"Pull one's weight" : do one's fair share. "Weight gain/loss" : common health concern. "Weight" in AI/ML = parameter in a neural network.

• a body's mass

  She lost a lot of weight.

"Weighted average" : statistical method giving different importance to different values. "Weighted blanket" : heavy blanket used for anxiety/sleep.

• having particular emphasis or value

  The final exam is weighted more heavily than the homework.

• to be heavier, greater, or more significant than

  The advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages.

• a weight in boxing and other sports; a person or thing of above-average weight or importance

  A political heavyweight.

Boxing/wrestling tradition. Verb form: "weigh in" = also figurative for contributing an opinion.

• the official weighing of athletes before a contest

  The boxer made weight at the weigh-in.

More clinical/neutral than "fat". Often used by doctors.

• above a weight considered normal or desirable

  The doctor said she was overweight for her height.

• below a weight considered normal or healthy

  The baby was born underweight and needed extra care.

"Rabbit burrow", "badger burrow". "Down the rabbit hole": getting deeply absorbed in something (from Alice in Wonderland).

• a hole made by an animal as a dwelling

  The rabbit hid in its burrow.

• to make a hole or tunnel

  The mole burrowed underground.

"By force", "use force", "armed forces" - common collocations.

1. strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement

   The force of the explosion shattered windows.

2. coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence

   The regime seized power by force.

"Force someone to do something" - common construction.

• to make someone do something against their will

  They forced him to sign the contract.

"Forceful personality": typical collocation. Can be positive (commanding) or negative (aggressive).

• strong and assertive

  She made a forceful argument.

• done by force

  He was charged with forcible entry.

From Shem, son of Noah. Includes Arabic, Hebrew, Aramaic, Amharic. Originally a linguistic term, later expanded culturally/ethnically.

• relating to the peoples speaking Hebrew, Arabic, and related languages

  Hebrew and Arabic are Semitic languages.

Term coined in 1879 by Wilhelm Marr. The hyphenated form is now often preferred over "antisemite" (without hyphen) by major Jewish organizations.

• a person hostile to or prejudiced against Jews

  He was identified as an anti-Semite.

• hostile to or prejudiced against Jews

  The pamphlet contained anti-Semitic propaganda.

Rose dramatically in Europe in the 19th-20th centuries, culminating in the Holocaust. Persists globally as a major form of hatred.

• hostility to or prejudice against Jews

  Anti-Semitism has been on the rise.

"Turning point": a key concept in narrative writing. "Battle of Stalingrad": often called a turning point of WWII.

• a moment when significant change happens

  That was the turning point of her career.

"The buck stops here": Harry Truman's famous desk sign about responsibility. "Buck": male deer. "Make a fast buck": make money quickly. "Big bucks" = a lot of money.

1. (informal) a dollar

   It cost me ten bucks.

2. a male deer

   The hunter spotted a buck.

More formal than "show" or "illustrate". Common in academic writing.

• to be a typical example of

  This building exemplifies modern architecture.

• a person or thing serving as a typical example

  He is an exemplar of fairness.

"Exemplary damages": legal term (also "punitive damages"), penalty beyond actual loss.

• serving as a desirable model; very good

  Her conduct was exemplary.

Slightly weaker than "mistrust": implies skepticism rather than active suspicion.

• the feeling that someone cannot be trusted

  She has a deep distrust of politicians.

• feeling or showing distrust

  He's distrustful of strangers.

From Greek paroidia (sub-song). Famous parody artists: "Weird Al" Yankovic. "Parody": a 2025 film. Distinct from "satire" (which mocks for social critique).

• a humorous imitation of a serious work

  It's a parody of a horror film.

From Latin spurius (false). In stats: "spurious correlation", apparent relationship that isn't real (e.g., ice cream sales correlate with drowning deaths, both caused by summer).

• not what it purports to be; false

  He made a spurious argument.

"Legal entity": has rights and responsibilities (corporation, individual). "Separate entity": distinct existence. Common in business/law.

• a thing with distinct existence

  The company is a separate legal entity.

"Royal decree": historical proclamation by a monarch. "Decree absolute": final divorce order (British). "Divine decree": religious term.

• an official order with the force of law

  The king issued a decree.

Rare as a plain verb; "convoluted" (adjective) is far more common in modern usage.

• to make (something) more complex or difficult to understand

  Don't convolute the instructions any further.

From Latin convolutus (rolled together). Usually negative: implies unnecessarily complex.

• extremely complex and difficult to follow

  His explanation was convoluted.

In math/AI: "convolution", operation in convolutional neural networks (CNNs), key to image recognition.

• a thing that is complex and difficult to follow

  The plot has many convolutions.

"White privilege", "male privilege": modern social-justice concepts about unearned advantages. "Attorney-client privilege": legal confidentiality.

• a special right or advantage

  It was a privilege to meet her.

"Check your privilege": modern phrase asking someone to be aware of their advantages.

• having special advantages

  He had a privileged upbringing.

Less common than "underprivileged" (which is the more standard term).

• not having the rights and advantages enjoyed by others

  The book champions the cause of unprivileged communities.

The more standard and common term for lacking normal rights and advantages; more common in this sense than 'unprivileged'.

• not enjoying the same standard of living or rights as the majority of people in a society

  The charity funds education programs for underprivileged children.

"Two unrelated incidents": typical news language denying connection. Antonym: related.

• not connected

  The two events are unrelated.

Stronger than "great" or "wonderful". "The Magnificent Seven": classic Western film (1960), remade 2016.

• extremely beautiful or impressive

  The view was magnificent.

• the quality of being magnificent; splendor

  The magnificence of the palace amazed the tourists.

"Machine learning" - major modern AI field. "Vending machine", "washing machine" - common compounds.

• a device with moving parts that performs a task

  He repaired the sewing machine.

Manufacturing/engineering term.

• to make or shape with a machine tool

  The part was machined to precise tolerances.

"Heavy machinery": construction equipment. "The machinery of government": figurative use for bureaucracy.

• machines collectively

  The factory has expensive machinery.

"Loyal customer", "loyal friend" - common collocations. Antonym: disloyal.

• giving or showing firm and constant support

  He remained loyal to his friends.

"Loyalty card" / "loyalty program": marketing tool rewarding repeat customers (airlines, supermarkets, coffee shops).

• the quality of being loyal

  His loyalty to his family is unwavering.

Capitalized Loyalist can refer to colonists loyal to Britain during the American Revolution.

• a person who remains loyal to a ruler, party, or cause

  Party loyalists defended the leader after the scandal.

Don't confuse with "lose" /luːz/ (= misplace, not win). "Loose" /luːs/ = not tight. "On the loose": escaped, at large. "Loose change": small coins.

• not firmly fixed in place

  The handle is loose.

• to make or become less tight

  Loosen the lid before heating the jar.

"By that logic" - common phrase questioning reasoning. Formal branch of philosophy/math.

• reasoning conducted according to strict principles of validity

  There's no logic in that argument.

Antonym: illogical.

• characterized by clear, valid reasoning

  That's a logical conclusion.

Famous logicians: Aristotle, Gottlob Frege, Bertrand Russell, Kurt Gödel. Modern logic is closely connected with computer science.

• a person skilled in logic

  He's a brilliant logician.

Antonym: figurative, metaphorical. "Literal interpretation" of religious texts: major theological position.

• taking words in their basic sense

  He took her words in a literal sense.

Famously controversial: increasingly used as an intensifier ("I literally died laughing"), which purists object to. Now accepted by major dictionaries.

• in a literal manner

  She literally fell asleep at the wheel.

American: "license" for both noun and verb. British: "licence" (noun) vs. "license" (verb).

• (American) a permit allowing legal authority

  You need a driver's license.

British spelling for the noun. Pronunciation identical to "license".

• (British) a permit allowing legal authority

  He passed his driving test and got his licence.

Same spelling in both American and British English for the verb.

• to grant a license to; to authorize

  The company is licensed to sell alcohol.

"Public library", "library card". "Library of Congress" - largest library in the world.

• a building or room containing collections of books for reading or borrowing

  She borrowed the book from the library.

Modern librarians do far more than shelve books: research help, digital resources, community programming. "Reference librarian" specializes in research help.

• a person in charge of a library

  Ask the librarian for help finding the book.

Past tense: lied. Different from "lie" (recline), which is irregular: lie/lay/lain.

• to say something that is not true, intentionally

  He lied about where he had been.

"White lie" - a small, harmless untruth.

• an intentionally false statement

  She told a lie to avoid trouble.

Irregular: lie/lay/lain. Don't confuse with "lay" (transitive: to lay something down). Unrelated root to the untruth sense above - a true homograph.

• to be in or assume a horizontal position

  He lay on the sofa all afternoon.

"Pathological liar": compulsive lying (sometimes a mental health symptom). "Liar Liar": 1997 Jim Carrey film. "Pants on fire": children's accusation of lying.

• a person who tells lies

  He's a notorious liar.

Past tense: leaned (or leant, British). "Lean In": Sheryl Sandberg's 2013 book. "Lean" (adjective) = slim, or with little fat.

• to incline from a vertical position

  He leaned against the wall.

"Lean cuisine": low-fat food brand. "Lean meat": low in fat. "Lean years": periods of difficulty.

• (of a person) thin

  He has a lean build.

"Law of the land", "break the law", "law school". "Murphy's Law" - anything that can go wrong, will.

1. the system of rules a society recognizes as regulating actions

   It's against the law to drive without a license.

2. a rule defining correct procedure or behavior in a particular field

   Newton's laws of motion.

Antonyms: unlawful, illegal. "Lawful good" / "chaotic neutral" etc.: D&D moral alignments.

• conforming to the law

  It was a lawful arrest.

"Product launch", "book launch", "rocket launch". In tech: "soft launch", limited release; "hard launch", full release.

1. to set in motion or set afloat

   They launched the rocket successfully.

2. to start or introduce

   They launched a new product.

"Soft launch" vs "hard launch" in tech/product contexts.

• an act of starting or setting something in motion

  The product launch was a huge success.

"Landmark case" / "landmark decision": legally significant. "National landmark": historically/culturally significant site.

1. an object or feature easily seen and recognized

   The Eiffel Tower is a famous landmark.

2. an event marking an important stage in development

   The discovery was a landmark in science.

Past tense: lagged. In gaming/internet: "lag" = delay due to slow connection. "Jet lag" : disorientation from long flights.

• to fall behind

  He lagged behind the rest of the group.

• a period of time between two events

  There's a lag between the question and the answer.

• a person or organization that is slow or falls behind others

  The country has been a laggard in adopting renewable energy.