Vocabulary: Batch 44

"Ranch dressing": popular American salad dressing. "Ranch house" / "ranch-style home": single-story suburban house style.

• a large farm, especially for cattle

  They own a cattle ranch in Wyoming.

Originated in the late 1800s when wealthy Easterners ("dudes") visited Western ranches for vacation. Now a thriving tourism niche.

• a ranch run as a vacation resort

  They spent a week at a dude ranch in Montana.

• a person who owns or runs a ranch

  The rancher rounded up his cattle.

Major industry in the American West, Argentina, Australia. "Cattle ranching": most common form. Often discussed in environmental contexts (deforestation, methane emissions).

• the business of running a ranch

  Cattle ranching is a major industry in Texas.

"Police raid": sudden search of a location. "Drug raid". In computing, RAID = Redundant Array of Independent Disks (unrelated meaning).

• a sudden attack on an enemy

  The army launched a raid on the camp.

Air raids became a defining feature of warfare in WWII (London Blitz, bombing of Dresden, Tokyo).

• an attack from the air, usually by bombers

  The city was destroyed by an air raid.

"Quota" in employment/immigration policy is often controversial. "Sales quota" = a target for salespeople. "Diversity quota": debated affirmative-action tool.

• a fixed share or number

  The factory met its production quota.

Usually smaller, more subtle shaking than tremble or shiver. Often emotional. Also a noun: a case for arrows.

• to shake or tremble with a slight rapid motion

  Her lip quivered as she tried not to cry.

From Latin tremulus (shaking). Stronger than quiver, similar to shiver but often from emotion rather than cold. Compare shiver (cold or fear).

• to shake involuntarily from fear, weakness, or cold

  His hands trembled as he opened the letter.

From cold or fear. Compare quiver (slight emotion) and tremble (weakness or strong emotion).

• to shake slightly from cold or fear

  She shivered in the cold rain.

Often described feverish or chilled states. "I feel shivery": often a sign one is getting sick.

• feeling cold and trembling slightly

  He felt shivery and went to bed early.

From French. Note the double-n in spelling. Often online now (SurveyMonkey, Google Forms). "Likert scale": common questionnaire format ("strongly agree" to "strongly disagree").

• a written set of questions for gathering information

  Please fill out the questionnaire.

Common in video games ("main quest" vs. "side quest"). Famous literary quests: Holy Grail, Tolkien's Ring, Don Quixote.

• a long search for something

  The knight set off on a quest.

More formal than "buy". As noun, also means "a firm grip or foothold" ("can't get a purchase on the wet rock").

• to buy (something)

  She purchased a new car.

• the act of buying; something bought

  The purchase was made online.

Past tense: expelled (double l). Most common: expel from school, expel from a country (diplomats).

• to force out or remove

  He was expelled from school for fighting.

• the act of forcing someone to leave a place or organization

  The student faced expulsion.

"Bog" (British informal) can also mean toilet. "Bog down" = slow or impede progress.

• an area of soft, waterlogged ground

  They got stuck in the bog.

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), Austrian neurologist who founded psychoanalysis. His theories on the unconscious, dreams, and sexuality were hugely influential despite much being now considered unscientific.

• Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis

  Freud's theories shaped 20th-century psychology.

• relating to Freud or his theories

  The film uses Freudian symbolism.

Famous quip (often falsely attributed to Freud himself): "A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother."

• a slip of the tongue thought to reveal unconscious thoughts

  "I love my mother: I mean my wife," was a classic Freudian slip.

British spelling; American: appall (double l). Past tense: appalled (double l in both BrE and AmE).

• to greatly dismay or horrify

  The news appalled the community.

• greatly dismayed or horrified

  She was appalled by his rudeness.

Common British intensifier: "appalling" = very bad ("appalling weather", "appalling service").

• causing dismay; horrifying

  The conditions in the camp were appalling.

More formal than "death" or "end". Often used metaphorically: "the demise of the newspaper industry".

• the end or failure of an enterprise; a person's death

  The demise of the company was sudden.

Canada has 10 provinces; China has provinces; the US has states. "Out of one's province" = outside one's area of expertise.

• an administrative division of a country

  Quebec is a French-speaking province of Canada.

Almost always shortened to "flu" in everyday speech. Etymologically related to influence: Italians named it because they thought epidemics were caused by celestial influence. "Spanish flu" (1918-19) killed millions.

• a contagious viral infection causing fever and aches

  He came down with influenza.

"Under the influence" = drunk or drugged. Modern: "influencer" (social media) = a person whose posts shape consumer behavior.

• the power to affect someone or something

  He has a great influence on his students.

Time magazine publishes an annual "100 Most Influential People" list.

• having great influence

  She is one of the most influential writers of her generation.

A person whose social media posts shape consumer or public opinion, often for sponsorship money.

• a person with the power to influence others, especially on social media

  The brand paid an influencer to promote the product.

Noun stress on first syllable; verb /prəˈɡres/ on second. "In progress": currently happening.

• forward or onward movement toward a goal

  She's making good progress in her studies.

In music: "chord progression", a sequence of chords. In math: "arithmetic progression", sequence with constant difference.

• a gradual process of moving forward

  The disease's progression was slow.

• happening or developing gradually or in stages; proceeding step by step

  A progressive decline in purchasing power.

Noun stress on first syllable /ˈprɑːɡrəs/; verb stress on second /prəˈɡres/.

• to move forward or develop

  The negotiations progressed slowly.

"Keep a low profile" = avoid attention. Modern: "profile picture" (social media). "Profiling": controversial police practice.

1. an outline of someone's face viewed from the side

   The coin shows the queen's profile.

2. a short biographical description

   The magazine ran a profile of the artist.

"Racial profiling" - a controversial police practice of targeting people based on race.

• to give a short description of someone's character or background; to assess based on a set of characteristics

  The magazine profiled the young entrepreneur.

In modern usage: "premium product" = expensive/luxurious version. "Premium" gas at fueling stations = higher-octane fuel.

• of exceptional quality; expensive

  They sell premium chocolate.

"Insurance premium": the regular payment for insurance coverage. "At a premium" = in short supply / very valuable.

• an amount paid for insurance

  His monthly insurance premium went up.

"Premature baby" ("preemie"): born before 37 weeks. "Premature ejaculation": common male sexual concern.

• happening or done before the proper time

  It would be premature to celebrate.

"Preliminary hearing": early court proceeding. "Preliminary round": early competition stage. Often shortened to "prelims".

• preceding or preparing for something more important

  These are the preliminary results.

• to like one thing better than another

  I prefer tea to coffee.

In settings/menus, "preferences": user-configurable options. "Sexual preference": somewhat dated term; "sexual orientation" is now preferred.

• a greater liking for one thing over another

  She has a preference for red wine over white.

• more desirable or suitable

  A quiet evening at home is preferable to a loud party.

• ideally; if possible

  Send the file as a PDF, preferably by tomorrow.

From Greek kharisma (gift of grace). Originally religious; now usually secular (personal magnetism). Adjective: charismatic.

• a compelling charm that inspires devotion in others

  The candidate has tremendous charisma.

• having a compelling charm that inspires devotion

  He's a charismatic leader.

From Old French "covrefeu" (cover the fire): medieval signal to extinguish lights. Also: a parental rule ("curfew at 10") for teenagers.

• a regulation requiring people to be off the streets at a stated time

  The city imposed a curfew during the unrest.

"Precautionary principle": the idea that uncertain risks should be avoided rather than taken.

• a measure taken in advance to prevent harm

  Wear a mask as a precaution.

• done in advance to prevent possible harm

  The school closed as a precautionary measure.

Common compounds: "general practitioner" (GP) = family doctor; "nurse practitioner" (NP) = advanced nurse with diagnostic authority.

• a person actively engaged in a profession, especially medicine or law

  She is a medical practitioner.

Originally referring to a flat case for loose papers. Modern: "investment portfolio" (collection of investments), "design portfolio" (samples of work), "portfolio career" (multiple part-time jobs).

1. a collection of samples of one's work

   She showed her portfolio to the gallery owner.

2. a collection of investments

   He has a diverse stock portfolio.

Famous: Shakespeare, Whitman, Dickinson, Yeats, Frost, Maya Angelou. "Poet laureate": official national poet.

• a person who writes poems

  She is a published poet.

• a piece of writing in verse

  He wrote a poem for her birthday.

"Poetic justice": a fitting (often ironic) outcome. "Poetic license": artistic deviation from strict accuracy.

• relating to or having the qualities of poetry

  He used poetic language.

Now dated; "poet" is gender-neutral. Was once standard like "actress" or "comedienne".

• (dated) a female poet

  Emily Dickinson is often called a great poetess.

Slightly more formal than "poetic". Both used. "Poetic license": artistic freedom from literal facts.

• having the qualities of poetry

  His description was poetical.

"Poetry slam": competitive performance event. "Poetry in motion": gracefulness. Distinct from "prose" (regular speech-like writing).

• writing in verse with rhythm and imagery

  She loves reading poetry.

Past tense of "light" (illuminated). Also slang since the 2010s for "exciting", "excellent", or "intoxicated" ("that party was lit").

1. provided with light

   The room was dimly lit.

2. (slang) excellent or exciting

   That concert was lit!

American English often uses "remodel" for home renovation (kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel). British English prefers "renovate".

• to change the structure or appearance of

  They remodeled the kitchen last year.

In court: "guilty plea" / "not guilty plea" / "no contest". "Plea bargain": agreement to plead guilty in exchange for reduced charges.

1. an urgent emotional request

   She made a plea for mercy.

2. (law) a formal statement of guilt or innocence

   He entered a plea of not guilty.

Past tense: pleaded (American) or pled (also American, more informal). Both are correct.

1. to make an emotional appeal

   He pleaded with her to stay.

2. (law) to declare oneself to be guilty or not guilty

   She pleaded not guilty.

• earnestly requesting; imploring

  He gave her a pleading look.

"In the pipeline" = being planned or developed. In tech: "data pipeline" = a sequence of data-processing steps.

1. a long pipe for conveying oil, gas, or other fluids

   The new oil pipeline runs for hundreds of miles.

2. a series of stages in a process

   They have several new products in the pipeline.

"Pillar of the community" = a respected, important member. "Pillar of strength" = a strong supportive person. "Five Pillars of Islam": core Muslim practices.

• a tall vertical structure of stone supporting something

  The temple has marble pillars.

"Pickup truck": open-bed truck; very popular in the US. "Pickup line": a phrase used to start a romantic conversation. Often spelled "pickup" without hyphen.

1. a small truck with an open back

   He drives a red pickup.

2. the act of collecting someone or something

   What time is the pick-up?

Almost always shortened to "photo" in everyday speech. From Greek phos (light) + graphos (drawn).

• a picture made using a camera

  She took a beautiful photograph of the sunset.

Stress shift from "photograph". Famous: Ansel Adams, Cartier-Bresson, Annie Leibovitz.

• a person who takes photographs

  They hired a photographer for the wedding.

"Photographic memory" = the supposed ability to remember images perfectly (more myth than reality).

• relating to photographs

  He has photographic memory.

Invented in the 1820s-30s (Niépce, Daguerre). Digital photography became dominant in the 2000s.

• the art or practice of taking photographs

  Photography is her hobby.

Homophone with "faze" (= disconcert). "Phases of the moon": astronomical term. "It's just a phase": common dismissive comment about youth behavior.

• a distinct period or stage in a process

  The project is in its final phase.

From French. "Personnel department" / "HR" (Human Resources): modern term. Often confused with "personal" (= private): different stress and meaning.

• people employed in an organization

  All military personnel must show ID.

In computing: "performance" = how fast a system runs. In HR: "performance review", annual job evaluation.

1. to carry out, accomplish, or fulfill

   The surgeon performed the operation.

2. to present a piece of entertainment

   The band performed for two hours.

1. the action of presenting a play, concert, or other entertainment

   The performance was sold out.

2. the level of how well someone does something

   Her performance at work has improved.

• a person who performs for an audience

  She is a talented stage performer.

"Pension fund": a retirement savings pool. "State pension": government-funded retirement. In French, a "pension" can also mean a small hotel.

• a regular payment made during retirement

  He lives on his pension.

Used both literally (penetrate a wall) and figuratively (penetrate a market). Also a sexual term in clinical contexts.

1. to succeed in forcing a way into or through

   The arrow penetrated the wood.

2. to succeed in entering (a market, organization, etc.)

   The company is trying to penetrate the Asian market.

"Penetrating gaze": an intense stare. "Penetrating question": one that gets to the heart of the matter.

• able to make a way into or through something

  He gave her a penetrating look.

Largely historical/literary in modern English; used pejoratively or jokingly today ("don't be such a peasant"). Still used in some sociology and history contexts.

• a poor farmer in a traditional society

  The peasants worked the land.

Collective term, like "aristocracy" or "clergy".

• peasants as a class

  The peasantry rose up against the king.

"Emphatic victory": a clear, decisive win.

• expressed forcefully and clearly

  She gave an emphatic no.

• in a forceful manner

  He emphatically denied the charges.

Plural: emphases /ˈemfəsiːz/. "Place emphasis on": common collocation.

• special importance or stress

  The school puts emphasis on creativity.

British spelling: emphasise.

• to give special importance to

  He emphasized the need for caution.

From Greek pathos (suffering). Original meaning ("causing pity") still exists; modern slang use ("contemptibly bad") is more common.

1. arousing pity, especially through vulnerability

   The dog gave a pathetic whimper.

2. miserably inadequate

   His excuse was pathetic.

US patents last 20 years. "Patent troll": a person/company that holds patents only to sue others. "Patent leather": shiny glossy leather (unrelated to legal patents).

• a government authority granting exclusive rights to an invention

  They filed a patent for the new device.

"Patent nonsense", "patent disregard" - plainly obvious, unrelated to the legal-rights sense.

• readily visible or obvious

  It was a patent lie.

• to obtain a patent for an invention

  She patented her design before showing it to investors.

"The Passion" (Christian) = the suffering of Jesus. "Passion project": a personal endeavor pursued out of love rather than necessity.

1. a strong and barely controllable emotion

   He spoke with passion about justice.

2. an intense desire or enthusiasm

   Her passion is photography.

1. showing or caused by strong feelings or beliefs

   He gave a passionate speech about climate change.

2. having or expressing strong sexual or romantic feelings

   They shared a passionate embrace.

• not influenced by strong emotion, and so able to be rational and impartial

  She dealt with life's disasters in a calm, dispassionate way.

• sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others

  The victims should be treated with compassion.

In physics: "subatomic particle" (proton, electron, neutron, etc.). "Particle accelerator": facility for high-energy physics research (e.g., CERN's Large Hadron Collider).

• a very small piece or amount

  Dust particles floated in the sunbeam.

From Latin participare (to share in). Often "participate in". "Participation trophy": a (sometimes controversial) award for taking part.

• to be involved or take part in

  He participates in the school choir.

• a person taking part in an activity

  All participants must sign in.

• the action of taking part in something

  Participation in the survey is voluntary.

From "whelm" (archaic for engulf/cover). "Whelm" still exists but is rare.

1. to bury or drown beneath a huge mass

   The flood overwhelmed the village.

2. to overcome someone's thoughts or emotions completely

   She was overwhelmed with gratitude.

"Overwhelming majority" / "overwhelming evidence": common collocations indicating large amount.

• very great in amount; overpowering

  There was overwhelming support for the policy.

"Voted overwhelmingly in favor" - common in reporting on votes/polls.

• to a very great degree; by a huge margin

  The proposal was overwhelmingly rejected.

Past tense: oversaw. Past participle: overseen. Related: overseer (historically associated with plantation overseers in the US South).

• to supervise (a person or activity)

  She oversees the marketing department.

Historically loaded term, especially in the US South: plantation overseers managed slave labor. "Overseer" is also a common organizational title in some religious denominations.

• a person who oversees or supervises others

  The overseer monitored the workers.

Strangely, "oversight" can mean both "careful supervision" AND "failure to notice": almost opposites! Context decides.

1. supervision

   The committee provides oversight of the project.

2. an unintentional failure to notice or do something

   It was an unfortunate oversight.

"Silent majority": Nixon-era political phrase. "Age of majority": when one legally becomes an adult.

• the greater part of something

  The majority of voters supported the measure.

British parliamentary term. Important in elections where multiple parties compete.

• more votes or seats than all other parties combined

  The party won an overall majority.

More than 50%: distinct from a plurality (more votes than any other candidate but less than 50%).

• more than half of the total votes

  She needs an absolute majority to win.

Also called a "plurality" in American English. Common winning condition in US first-past-the-post elections.

• the largest number of votes, even if less than half

  He won with a relative majority of 35%.

Different from "overalls" (clothing, denim work clothes with bib and straps).

• taking everything into account

  The overall situation is improving.

• in all; generally

  Overall, the trip was a success.

"Microorganism": tiny organism (bacteria, viruses, fungi). "Genetically modified organism" (GMO): a major modern food-science topic.

• an individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form

  Bacteria are microscopic organisms.

From Latin opponere (op- = against + ponere = to put).

• to disagree with or resist

  Many people oppose the new law.

"As opposed to": a common phrase used to contrast.

• disagreeing with or resisting

  He's opposed to the merger.

• facing in the opposite direction; in conflict

  The two armies took up opposing positions.

"Opposite" can be a preposition too: "the bank is opposite the post office".

• on the other side; completely different

  They went in opposite directions.

Traditional gendered phrase referring to a binary view of gender. Largely replaced in modern progressive discourse by more inclusive language.

• a person of the gender other than one's own

  He was attracted to the opposite sex.

"The Opposition" (capitalized) in parliamentary systems = the main party not in government.

• resistance or disagreement

  The plan met fierce opposition.

From Latin opponere (to oppose). Different from "enemy": opponent is often neutral/sporting; enemy is more hostile.

• a person who competes against or fights another

  He defeated his opponent in the final round.

"IPO" = Initial Public Offering (first sale of company stock to public). "Religious offering": money or items given to a deity.

1. a thing offered, especially as a gift or for sale

   The restaurant's offerings have improved.

2. a contribution to a religious service

   She placed her offering on the altar.

Always plural. "At odds with" = in disagreement with. "Odds and ends" = miscellaneous items.

• the chances of something happening

  The odds are 3 to 1 against him.

Two senses: hard to understand, or little known. "Obscure reference": a reference few people will get.

1. not discovered or known about; uncertain

   His origins are obscure.

2. not clearly expressed or understood

   The instructions were obscure.

• to keep from being seen or known

  The clouds obscured the view.

• the state of being unknown or unimportant; the quality of being hard to understand

  The poet died in obscurity.

"Nutrition facts": required label on packaged food. Three macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, fats. Micronutrients: vitamins, minerals.

• the process of providing or obtaining food for health and growth

  Good nutrition is essential for children.

• a substance that provides nourishment

  Spinach is rich in nutrients.

• relating to nutrition

  Check the nutritional information on the label.

"Nutritionist" vs. "dietitian" (or dietician): in many countries, only dietitians have legal/medical accreditation; "nutritionist" can be used by anyone.

• an expert in nutrition

  She consulted a nutritionist about her diet.

• providing nourishment

  They had a nutritious meal.

"In the middle of nowhere": far from anywhere significant. "Out of nowhere": suddenly. "Get nowhere" = make no progress.

• not anywhere

  She was nowhere to be found.

Related: notification (modern: smartphone notifications). "Notify next of kin": common emergency procedure.

• to inform officially

  Please notify us if you cannot attend.

• a message informing someone of something, especially automatically

  She turned off notifications on her phone.

"Social norm": unwritten rule of behavior. "The new normal": phrase popular after COVID-19.

• the usual or standard expectation

  Working from home has become the norm.

Also written "nonprofit" (one word). In the US, often categorized as "501(c)(3)" organizations under tax law.

• not making or intending to make a profit

  She works for a non-profit organization.

From Latin nominare (to name). Common at award shows: "and the nominees are..."

• to propose for an award or job

  She was nominated for an Oscar.

• the act of nominating

  He received the party's nomination for president.

The "-ee" suffix indicates the recipient of the action (nominate to nominee; employ to employee; train to trainee).

• a person who has been nominated

  All five nominees attended the ceremony.

In finance: "nominal value" vs. "real value": nominal is the face value; real adjusts for inflation. In space launches: "all systems nominal" = everything is working as expected.

1. existing in name only

   He is the nominal head of the company.

2. (of a price or amount) very small

   There is a nominal charge for the service.

"Neutral country": not taking sides (e.g., Switzerland in WWII). "Carbon neutral": net-zero emissions. "Neutral" in cars: a gear that disengages the engine.

1. not supporting any side in a conflict

   Switzerland is famously neutral.

2. having no strong color or strong opinion

   She painted the walls in neutral tones.

British spelling: neutralise. In chemistry: balance an acid with a base. In military euphemism: "neutralize a target" = kill or destroy.

• to render ineffective

  The medicine neutralizes stomach acid.

"Swiss neutrality" is the classic example.

• the state of not supporting either side in a conflict or dispute

  Switzerland has a long tradition of neutrality.

From Latin negotiari (to do business). Common: "negotiate a deal", "negotiate salary".

• to discuss terms in order to reach an agreement

  They negotiated for hours.

"Hostage negotiation": high-stakes specialized field. "Plea negotiation": legal term for plea bargaining.

• a discussion aimed at reaching an agreement

  The negotiations broke down.

"The price is negotiable" - very common phrase.

• open to discussion or modification

  The salary is negotiable.

• a person who negotiates

  The company sent a skilled negotiator to the talks.

From French naïf. Sometimes spelled with diaeresis: "naïve". Often gendered historically ("naïve" applied to young women), though now used for anyone.

• showing lack of experience or wisdom

  It was naive of him to trust her.

Also spelled "naiveté" or "naivete" (from French).

• the state of lacking experience or wisdom

  His naivety made him an easy target for scammers.

From Greek mythos (story). Famous mythologies: Greek/Roman, Norse, Egyptian, Hindu. "Myth" can also mean a widely-believed falsehood ("myths about vaccines").

1. a traditional story explaining natural phenomena

   The Greeks had many myths about their gods.

2. a widely held but false belief

   It's a myth that we only use 10% of our brain.

"Mythic" and "mythical" are largely interchangeable; "mythic" sometimes feels grander ("mythic hero"), while "mythical" leans toward not-real ("mythical creatures").

• relating to myths; having a quality of grandeur

  The athlete's career has taken on mythic proportions.

• occurring in or characteristic of myths; fictitious

  Unicorns are mythical creatures.

Joseph Campbell's "The Hero with a Thousand Faces": influential study of mythology that shaped Star Wars and many other films.

• a collection of myths

  He studies Norse mythology.

"Municipality": a town or city with its own local government. "Municipal bonds": debt issued by local governments.

• relating to a town or city or its governing body

  There's a municipal swimming pool nearby.

In many countries (Canada, Mexico, parts of Europe), "municipality" is the basic unit of local government. In US, "city" or "town" is more common.

• a town, city, or district with its own local government

  The municipality is responsible for waste collection.

"Mumble rap": a hip-hop style with slurred, hard-to-understand lyrics (mid-2010s onwards).

• to say something indistinctly

  He mumbled an apology.

"Mount" as noun appears in mountain names (Mount Everest, Mount Fuji). In computing: "mount a drive" = make a disk accessible.

1. to climb up; to organize and begin

   They mounted a rescue operation.

2. to fix in position on a support

   He mounted the painting on the wall.

"Mounting pressure", "mounting debt" - very common collocations.

• steadily increasing

  There is mounting evidence that the plan will fail.

In criminal investigation: "means, motive, opportunity", the three things prosecutors must establish. "Ulterior motive": a hidden reason for one's actions.

• a reason for doing something

  What was his motive for the crime?

• to give someone a reason or incentive to do something

  Her coach knew how to motivate the team.

• the reason or drive behind a person's actions

  Lack of motivation is his biggest problem at work.

"Motivational speaker" - a common profession/genre.

• designed or serving to motivate

  He attended a motivational speech before the game.

"Mockingbird": bird known for mimicking. "To Kill a Mockingbird": Harper Lee's 1960 novel.

• to tease or laugh at scornfully

  They mocked his accent.

"Mock exam": practice exam. "Mock-up": a model or prototype. In software dev, "mock" objects simulate real ones for testing.

• not authentic or real; imitation

  She had a mock interview.

"Make a mockery of" = ridicule or undermine. Stronger than "mock": implies systematic ridicule or absurdity.

• ridicule; absurd imitation

  His trial was a mockery of justice.

• showing ridicule or contempt

  She gave him a mocking smile.

Famous for mimicking other birds' calls. "To Kill a Mockingbird": Harper Lee's novel about racial injustice in 1930s Alabama.

• a bird that imitates the songs of other birds

  A mockingbird sang outside the window.

Famous: Mother Teresa, David Livingstone. "Missionary position": a sex position, jokingly named because Victorian missionaries supposedly recommended it as the only proper one.

• a person sent on a religious mission

  She worked as a missionary in Africa.

British spelling: minimise. In computing, "minimize" a window: shrink it to the taskbar.

• to reduce to the smallest possible amount

  Try to minimize the risks.

"Minimalism": design and lifestyle movement emphasizing simplicity and few possessions.

• as small as possible

  The damage was minimal.

From Italian miniatura (a small painting). "Miniature golf": small-scale putting course.

• of a much smaller size than normal

  She collects miniature toys.

British spelling: miniaturise. Common in tech: "miniaturization" is a major trend driving smartphones and wearables.

• to make on a much smaller scale

  They miniaturized the electronics.

In chemistry, the "inert gases" (helium, neon, argon, etc.) rarely react with other elements. From Latin iners (idle).

1. lacking the ability to move or react

   He lay inert on the floor.

2. chemically unreactive

   Helium is an inert gas.

Newton's First Law: an object remains at rest or in motion unless acted on. "Inertia" is also used socially: "bureaucratic inertia" = resistance to change.

1. the tendency of an object to remain in its current state of motion

   The bus moved forward due to inertia.

2. a tendency to do nothing or remain unchanged

   There is institutional inertia.

British/Australian informal: much less common in American English (which prefers "whine" or "complain"). Past tense: whinged.

• (British) to complain persistently in an annoying way

  Stop whingeing about the weather.

• (British) a person who whinges

  Don't be such a whinger.

Term originated in screenwriting and is now widely used. Compare "origin story" (often used for superheroes).

• the background or history of a character or situation

  The film explores the villain's backstory.

"Backstage pass": coveted access for fans to meet performers. Used metaphorically: "backstage politics" = behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

• behind the stage in a theater

  She went backstage to congratulate the cast.

"Three consecutive years": three years in a row. Often confused with "successive" (which is largely synonymous).

• following continuously

  It rained for five consecutive days.

From Latin consecrare (to make sacred). "Consecrated ground": a cemetery or holy site.

• to make or declare (something) sacred

  The bishop consecrated the new church.

• the action of making or declaring something sacred

  The consecration of the new church took place on Sunday.

"Backlash" against a movement is common: e.g., "feminist backlash" (Susan Faludi's 1991 book).

• a strong negative reaction to a development

  There was a backlash against the new policy.

From Latin languere (to be weak). Related: languid (slow, relaxed), language (unrelated despite similar look).

• to suffer from being forced to remain in an unpleasant situation

  He languished in prison for years.

Distinct: emigrate (leave a country) vs. immigrate (enter one) vs. migrate (move generally, or move seasonally like birds). In tech: "migrate data" = move it between systems.

• to move from one place to another, especially seasonally

  Birds migrate south for the winter.

"Migrant" is somewhat neutral; "immigrant" emphasizes settlement; "refugee" specifies forced flight. Politically loaded term in modern discourse.

• a person who moves from one place to another

  Many migrants work on farms.

• the movement of people or animals from one place to another

  The migration of wildebeest across the Serengeti is a famous spectacle.

Almost always used as "in the midst of". More literary than "in the middle of".

• the middle point or part

  In the midst of the crowd, she felt alone.

From Greek meter (mother) + polis (city).

• a very large city, especially the capital of a country or region

  Tokyo is a sprawling metropolis.

Often shortened to "metro" ("the New York metro area", "metro station"). The Metropolitan Museum of Art ("the Met") is in NYC.

• relating to a large city

  He moved to the metropolitan area.

Short for 'metropolitan'.

1. an underground railway system in a city

   We took the metro to the museum.

2. a metropolitan area

   The company operates across the greater metro.