Homophone with "heroine" (the female hero). The drug was originally marketed by Bayer in 1898 as a non-addictive cough suppressant: a tragic mistake. Highly addictive opioid.
a highly addictive illegal drug derived from morphine
He died of a heroin overdose.
From Greek hemi- (half) + sphaira (sphere). Northern/Southern hemispheres divided by equator; Eastern/Western by prime meridian. Brain: left/right hemispheres.
a half of a sphere, especially of the earth
Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere.
"At the height of" + fame/power/fashion - a common construction for a peak moment.
the measurement of someone or something from base to top
What is your height?
the most intense part of an experience or situation
The party was at the height of its excitement.
Almost always used figuratively (heighten awareness, tension, anxiety), not literally for physical height.
to make or become more intense
The music heightened the emotional impact of the scene.
Don't confuse with "hardy" (= strong, tough). "Hearty meal" is the most common collocation.
loudly vigorous and cheerful
He gave a hearty laugh.
(of food) substantial and nourishing
They served a hearty stew.
"To your health!": a traditional toast when drinking. "Health" and "wealth" are often paired in proverbs.
the state of being free from illness
Exercise is important for good health.
More common in American English. Some style guides distinguish: "healthy" describes the person ("a healthy child"); "healthful" describes what produces health ("healthful food"). In practice, "healthy" is now used for both.
conducive to good health
They follow a healthful diet.
"Healthy" now covers both the person ("a healthy child") and what produces health ("a healthy diet"), a distinction once split with "healthful".
in good health; conducive to good health
She eats a healthy diet.
From Old French hanter (to frequent). Both ghosts and memories can haunt.
(of a ghost) to manifest itself in a place regularly
They say a ghost haunts the old house.
(of something unpleasant) to persistently disturb the mind
Memories of the war haunted him.
inhabited by a ghost
They explored the haunted mansion.
showing signs of mental anguish
He had a haunted look in his eyes.
poignant and difficult to ignore or forget
The film has a haunting soundtrack.
"Garnish" in finance/law also means to legally seize wages or money owed ("garnish wages").
to decorate (food) with small items
Garnish the soup with chopped parsley.
a decoration added to food
A lemon wedge makes a simple garnish.
a set of straps used to control or attach a person or animal
The climber checked her harness.
Commonly used metaphorically: "harness solar energy", "harness one's potential".
to control and make use of (natural resources, especially to produce energy)
The dam harnesses the river's power.
The four main orchestral families: strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion. Examples of woodwinds: flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone.
a musical instrument from the group that includes flutes, clarinets, and oboes
She plays several woodwinds in the orchestra.
Also called a "mouth organ" or "blues harp". Played by drawing and blowing through reeds. Iconic in American folk, blues, and country music.
a small rectangular wind instrument played by blowing through it
He pulled out a harmonica and played a tune.
Many idioms: "hard feelings", "hard time", "hard-boiled" (egg, or tough-talking detective fiction), "die hard".
solid, firm, and resistant to pressure
The ground was frozen hard.
difficult to do or understand
It was a hard exam.
with a great deal of effort or force
She worked hard all summer.
Both literal (cement) and figurative (attitude, position). Compare "toughen".
to make or become hard or harder
The cement hardened overnight.
to become or make less feeling or sympathetic
Her face hardened at the news.
"Hardened criminal": a common collocation meaning an experienced or unrepentant offender.
made hard; experienced and not easily affected
He was a hardened soldier.
"Locker room talk" = vulgar or boastful talk among men (often about sex), the subject of much political controversy in the 2010s.
a room with lockers for storing clothes and personal items, especially at a gym or sports facility
The players celebrated in the locker room after the win.
"Repeat after me" - common classroom phrase. "Repeat offender" - someone who commits the same crime again.
to say or do something again
Could you repeat that, please?
done or occurring again and again
Despite repeated warnings, he ignored the rules.
In fitness, often shortened to "reps" (e.g., "10 reps of squats"). "Spaced repetition": a memory technique used in flashcard apps like Anki.
the action of repeating something
Learning requires repetition.
Stronger than "often": implies many times, perhaps to the point of annoyance.
over and over again; many times
He repeatedly denied the accusations.
Two acceptable stress patterns: /ˈhærəs/ (older/British) and /həˈræs/ (American/modern). The second is now more common.
to subject to aggressive pressure or intimidation
She was harassed by phone calls late at night.
"Sexual harassment" is a major legal/workplace concept since the 1980s.
aggressive pressure or intimidation
He was charged with harassment.
"Handicrafts" (plural) often refers to a specific class of traditional crafts: knitting, pottery, weaving, etc.
a skill of making things by hand
The shop sells local handicrafts.
Different root from "grumble" (despite the similar sound). Rumble = a deep continuous sound.
to make a deep, continuous sound
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
(of a stomach) to make a hungry noise
My stomach was rumbling.
Often plural: "rumblings of discontent" = early signs of dissatisfaction.
a continuous deep sound
We heard the rumbling of the approaching train.
Implies low-level, persistent complaining rather than open protest. Compare "complain" (neutral) or "whine" (more childish).
to complain in a low, muttering voice
He grumbled about the cost of food.
Typically associated with dogs and other animals; "snarl" is similar but more aggressive. A stomach can also growl when hungry.
(of an animal) to make a low, threatening sound
The dog growled at the stranger.
to say something in a low, angry voice
"Get out," he growled.
Homophone with "grown". Groan = a low sound; moan = similar but often implies emotional pain or pleasure.
to make a deep sound of pain or unhappiness
He groaned as he sat down.
a deep sound expressing pain or displeasure
She let out a groan of frustration.
"Lube" is the informal short form. Alcohol is sometimes called "social lubricant".
to apply a substance to reduce friction
He lubricated the engine.
a substance, such as oil or grease, used to reduce friction
Use a silicone lubricant on the hinges.
the application of a substance to reduce friction
The engine needs regular lubrication.
"Grazing" (informal) can also mean snacking throughout the day rather than eating proper meals.
(of animals) to eat grass in a field
Cows grazed peacefully in the meadow.
to touch or scrape lightly
The bullet just grazed his arm.
a slight scrape or scratch on the skin
She fell and got a graze on her knee.
From Old English god + spel (good news). The four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. "Gospel music" = a genre of Christian music originating in African American churches.
the teaching of Jesus Christ; any of the first four books of the New Testament
He read from the Gospel of Mark.
something accepted as completely true
You can take his word as gospel.
Homophone with "guerrilla" (fighter), which has the same pronunciation. The largest living primate. Famous: King Kong; Koko (the gorilla who learned sign language).
a large powerful African ape
Mountain gorillas live in the cloud forests of central Africa.
Often shortened to "goalie" or "keeper". The only player allowed to handle the ball with hands in soccer.
the player whose role is to stop the ball from entering the goal
The goalkeeper made a brilliant save.
"Doom and gloom": a common phrase for excessive pessimism.
partial or total darkness
The figure emerged from the gloom.
a state of depression or despondency
Economic gloom settled over the country.
dark or poorly lit
The room was small and gloomy.
depressed or melancholy
He had a gloomy outlook on life.
"All that glitters is not gold": proverb meaning appearances can deceive (from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice).
to shine brightly with reflected light
Diamonds glittered in the display case.
tiny shiny particles used for decoration
The Christmas card was covered in glitter.
Often used figuratively: "glittering career", "glittering prizes", impressive achievements. "Glittering" is more dignified than "glittery" (which suggests craft glitter).
shining with reflected light; impressive
She had a glittering career.
"All that glitters is not gold": proverb. Glitter in cosmetics, crafts, and decoration. Associated with festivity (Christmas, New Year).
shining with small flashes of light
She wore a glittery dress to the party.
"A gleam in someone's eye" = a hint of an idea or feeling. Often described as just before a baby is conceived: "You were just a gleam in your father's eye".
to shine softly
His teeth gleamed white in the dark.
a soft light or shine
There was a gleam of hope.
British spelling (and the most common spelling in fashion contexts). Etymologically from "grammar" (= magical learning, in Scots dialect).
the attractive or exciting quality of being charming and beautiful
The film captures the glamour of old Hollywood.
American variant spelling, but "glamour" is still more common even in American writing.
(American variant) glamour
The fashion magazine sells glamor.
British spelling: glamorise. Often negative: "glamorize violence/war/drugs".
to make something seem more attractive or glamorous than it really is
The film was criticized for glamorizing drug use.
having or relating to glamour
She wore a glamorous dress to the gala.
From Greek geo (earth) + metria (measurement): originally land surveying. Euclid's "Elements" (c. 300 BC) is the foundational text.
the branch of mathematics concerned with the properties of points, lines, shapes, and space
In high school we study geometry.
"Geometric pattern" - common in art and design. "Geometric growth" - business term for rapid compounding growth.
relating to geometry or its methods
The quilt has a geometric pattern.
Neutral use: "a gang of friends", "a gang of workers". Negative use: organized criminal group.
an organized group of criminals
Police arrested members of a drug gang.
(informal) a group of people who associate together
He went out with his usual gang.
Often associated with American organized crime: Al Capone, John Gotti, Lucky Luciano. "Gangster rap": a hip-hop subgenre.
a member of an organized group of violent criminals
He played a gangster in the film.
Horse gaits in order of speed: walk, trot, canter, gallop. "Gallop" is also used metaphorically ("the disease galloped through the village").
(of a horse) to go at the fastest pace
The horses galloped across the field.
the fastest pace of a horse
She broke into a gallop.
From Latin fissus (split). Antonym in physics: fusion (combining nuclei). Nuclear power plants and atomic bombs use fission.
(physics) the splitting of an atomic nucleus, releasing energy
Nuclear reactors use fission to generate electricity.
Same Latin root as "fission". "Anal fissure": a small tear in the lining of the anus (medical).
a long narrow opening or crack
The earthquake opened a deep fissure in the ground.
"Have a short fuse" = lose one's temper easily.
a safety device in an electric circuit
The fuse blew during the storm.
a length of cord that is lit to ignite an explosive
He lit the fuse and ran for cover.
to join or blend to form a single entity
The two metals fuse at high temperatures.
the process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity
Nuclear fusion.
to spread out over a wide area or among a large number of people
Technologies diffuse rapidly through society.
spread out over a large area; not concentrated
The room was lit by diffuse light.
Almost always plural "fumes" when referring to gas (exhaust fumes, paint fumes, toxic fumes).
gas or vapor with a strong smell, especially one that is harmful
The room filled with fumes.
to be very angry
She was still fuming about the meeting.
From Latin fricare (to rub). "Frictionless" = an ideal in design (e.g., "frictionless checkout").
the resistance that one surface encounters when moving over another
The brakes work by friction.
conflict or disagreement
There was friction between the two managers.
Once a neutral biological/circus term ("freak of nature"); now usually pejorative. Informal positive use: "control freak", "health freak" = obsessive enthusiast.
a very unusual or unexpected occurrence
His success was a freak of luck.
(informal) a person regarded as strange because of unusual appearance or behavior
The kids called him a freak.
"Freak out" (informal) = to lose control emotionally.
(informal) to become or cause to become very upset or excited
He freaked when he saw the spider.
Always positive: pleasant smells only. Negative equivalent: smelly, stinking, malodorous.
having a pleasant or sweet smell
The garden was full of fragrant flowers.
In the cosmetics industry, "fragrance" is the polite/marketing term for perfume.
a pleasant, sweet smell
The room was filled with the fragrance of lilies.
Homophone with "foul" (= disgusting/unfair). Plural can be "fowl" or "fowls". "Game fowl" = wild birds hunted for sport or food.
a domesticated bird kept for eggs or meat, especially a chicken
They keep fowl on the farm.
Past: forsook; past participle: forsaken. Archaic/literary; modern equivalent is "abandon" or "give up". Famous from wedding vows: "forsaking all others".
to abandon or leave someone
He forsook his family for his career.
to renounce or give up something valued
She forsook her wealth to live simply.
abandoned or left alone
They found a forsaken village in the hills.
Plural: formulas or formulae. "Formula One" (F1) - top tier of international auto racing.
a mathematical relationship or rule expressed in symbols
She memorized the formula for the area of a circle.
More formal than "come up with" or "work out". Common collocations: formulate a plan/policy/theory/strategy.
to create or develop methodically
They formulated a new strategy.
to express in a clear and precise way
She struggled to formulate her thoughts.
the action of creating or expressing something methodically
The formulation of the new policy took months.
American informal. "Flunk out" = be expelled for poor grades. "Fail" is the standard formal term.
(American, informal) to fail an exam or course
He flunked his chemistry test.
Almost always used in the plural ("cornflakes"). Invented in 1894 by John Harvey Kellogg as a health food. Kellogg's Corn Flakes is the iconic brand.
a flake of toasted maize, eaten as a breakfast cereal with milk
He had a bowl of cornflakes for breakfast.
Distinct from a "fish farm" (aquaculture); a fishery typically refers to harvesting wild fish.
an area where fish are caught commercially
The cod fishery off Newfoundland collapsed in the 1990s.
Compare with: waterproof, soundproof, bulletproof, all use the "-proof" suffix meaning "resistant to".
able to resist fire or great heat
They stored the documents in a fireproof safe.
Usually plural. Invented in China around the 7th century. Common occasions: New Year's Eve, Fourth of July (US), Diwali, Guy Fawkes Night (UK, Nov 5).
a device producing a spectacular explosion of color and sound when ignited
The fireworks display lit up the sky.
From Latin finitus (limited). Antonym: infinite. In grammar, "finite verb" = a verb form marked for tense and person.
having limits or bounds
The earth has finite resources.
Antonym: finite. In math: "infinite series". "Infinite jest": David Foster Wallace novel. "To infinity and beyond!": Buzz Lightyear catchphrase.
having no limit
There are infinite possibilities.
Symbol: ∞ ("lemniscate"). "Infinity stones": fictional gems in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Different sizes of infinity exist in math (Cantor's discoveries).
the state of being infinite; an unlimited quantity
The line stretched into infinity.
Homophone with "fin". Also a common given name in English (e.g., Finn from "Star Wars"). Adjective: Finnish.
a person from Finland
Many Finns speak excellent English.
French loanword. Note the accent. Masculine form (a man engaged to be married). Female form: fiancée (extra -e).
a man who is engaged to be married
She introduced her fiancé to her parents.
Same pronunciation as fiancé. Feminine form. Both words follow French gender conventions: -é (masc), -ée (fem).
a woman who is engaged to be married
He bought a ring for his fiancée.
Pronounced as one or two syllables depending on dialect. "Mayor" of London is a famous high-profile post in UK politics. American mayors are elected; in some countries they are appointed.
the elected head of a city, town, or borough
The mayor announced new housing policies.
Two senses: a female mayor (older, falling out of use as "mayor" becomes gender-neutral), or the wife of a male mayor.
a female mayor, or the wife of a mayor
The mayoress attended the ceremony.
In British English, a town that has its own local government. In NYC, the five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island.
a town or district that is an administrative unit
He grew up in the borough of Brooklyn.
More formal than "meet" or "gather". Often used of official bodies (parliaments, councils, committees).
to come or bring together for a meeting
The committee will convene next Tuesday.
American spelling. British: convenor. Both refer to the person who calls a meeting together or chairs it.
a person who arranges or chairs a meeting
As the convener, she set the agenda.
British spelling variant of convener.
(British variant) a convener
He served as the convenor of the working group.
Originally geological (the heaving up of the earth's crust). Now usually used figuratively for social or personal change.
a violent or sudden change or disruption
The country experienced political upheaval.
Often used in social/political contexts about marginalized groups. Buzzword in business and self-help contexts since the 1990s.
to give (someone) the authority or power to do something
The new law empowers police to make arrests.
to make (someone) stronger and more confident
Education empowers people to change their lives.
the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life
The course focuses on women's empowerment.
In real estate, to subdivide land = to split a large plot into smaller parcels for sale.
to divide (something already divided) into smaller parts
The chapter is subdivided into three sections.
"Urban sprawl" = the spread of cities into surrounding countryside, often criticized for environmental and social problems.
to sit, lie, or fall with limbs spread out awkwardly
He sprawled on the sofa.
(of a place or thing) to spread out over a large area in an untidy way
The city sprawls along the coast.
spread out in an ungainly manner
He lay sprawled on the floor.
Past tense: wrung (NOT "wringed"). Homophone with "ring". "Wring one's hands" = a gesture of distress.
to squeeze and twist (something) to remove liquid
She wrung out the wet towel.
to obtain with difficulty
They wrung a confession from him.
Don't confuse with "founder" (= to sink, fail). "Flounder" implies struggling but not necessarily failing.
to struggle clumsily or helplessly
He floundered for an answer.
to struggle to move or stay upright
They floundered through the snow.
a small flatfish
They caught several flounder.
From Latin sub (from below) + vertere (to turn). Related: subversive, subversion.
to undermine the power and authority of (an established system)
They tried to subvert the government.
the act of undermining a system or authority
The regime accused journalists of subversion.
intended to undermine a system or authority
The play was considered subversive.
Almost always negative: used for diseases, crime, corruption, weeds, inflation.
(of something undesirable) spreading unchecked
Corruption was rampant in the regime.
"On a rampage" or "on the rampage": fixed phrase. Often used of mass shootings, riots, or violent storms.
a period of violent and uncontrollable behavior
The elephants went on a rampage through the village.
From Latin exuberare (to be abundant). Stronger than "happy": suggests energy that overflows.
full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness
The children were exuberant after the party.
"Irrational exuberance": phrase by Alan Greenspan (1996) describing stock-market enthusiasm not justified by fundamentals.
the quality of being exuberant
Her youthful exuberance was contagious.
Used both biologically (able to reproduce) and metaphorically ("fertile imagination", "fertile ground for new ideas"). Antonym: barren, infertile.
(of land) producing many crops
The valley has fertile soil.
(of a person or animal) able to produce offspring
She is most fertile at this point in her cycle.
a chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to increase its fertility
We used a fertilizer to help our plants grow.
British spelling: fertilise. Two senses: agriculture (add fertilizer) and biology (combine egg + sperm).
to add fertilizer to (soil); to cause an egg to develop
They fertilize the fields each spring.
"Fertility treatment", "fertility rate" - common in medicine and demographics.
the quality of being fertile; ability to produce offspring or crops
The clinic specializes in fertility treatments.
"Familiar with" = knowing something well; "familiar to" = recognizable to someone.
well known from long or close association
Her voice sounded familiar.
"Familiarity breeds contempt" = a proverb meaning that close knowledge of someone or something leads to a loss of respect.
close acquaintance with something
She has a deep familiarity with French literature.
Stronger than "hesitate": implies an unwanted weakness in resolve or movement.
to lose strength or momentum
His voice faltered as he spoke.
to move unsteadily
She faltered as she crossed the room.
losing strength, confidence, or steadiness
She gave a faltering explanation.
Used mainly in the US. Most of the world uses Celsius (Centigrade). Water freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F. Named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686-1736). "Fahrenheit 451" is Ray Bradbury's classic novel.
of or denoting a scale of temperature on which water freezes at 32° and boils at 212° under standard conditions
The temperature was 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Often negative: suggests division and conflict within a larger group. Adjective: factional.
a small dissenting group within a larger one
A breakaway faction formed its own party.
relating to or arising from factions within a group
The party was weakened by factional infighting.
Most famous: Aesop's Fables (ancient Greek), e.g., "The Tortoise and the Hare", "The Fox and the Grapes". Adjective: fabled = legendary, famous.
a short story, usually with animals, teaching a moral
He told the children a fable about honesty.
From "fable" (legendary tale). Implies almost-mythical status. "Fabled city of gold": common adventure-story trope.
famous, especially by being often talked about
He visited the fabled lost city.
"20/20 vision" = normal eyesight. "Failing eyesight": common collocation for age-related decline.
the ability to see
He has perfect eyesight.
Often shortened to "lash". "Mascara" is the cosmetic used to darken/lengthen eyelashes. Average eyelash lifespan: about 3 months.
each of the short curved hairs growing on the edges of the eyelids
A tear ran down her eyelashes.
Verb stress on second syllable; noun stress on first.
to remove or take out, especially by effort
The dentist extracted the tooth.
to obtain (information or a substance) from a source
They extracted oil from the seeds.
a short passage taken from a longer piece of writing
She read an extract from the novel.
a concentrated preparation of a substance
Vanilla extract is used in baking.
From Latin expirare (to breathe out). Literally "to breathe one's last": hence the death sense.
(of a document) to come to the end of its period of validity
My passport expires next month.
(formal) to die
He expired peacefully in his sleep.
"Expiration date" (American) = the date food or medicine becomes unsafe. British equivalent: "expiry date".
the end of the period of validity
Check the expiration date on the milk.
(British); American often 'expiration date'.
the end of the period for which something is valid
Check the expiry date on the carton.
Related: exemption (noun). "Tax-exempt" = not required to pay tax.
free from an obligation or liability
Charities are exempt from this tax.
to free from an obligation
Medical conditions exempt him from military service.
a special case in which someone is excused from a rule or obligation
She claimed a tax exemption for her home office.
Antonym: include.
to deny entry, access, or involvement
They were excluded from the meeting.
the act of excluding
The exclusion of certain groups was criticized.
Famous: the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (Ukraine), still off-limits to civilians after the 1986 nuclear disaster.
an area where entry is forbidden
The military set up an exclusion zone around the site.
tending to exclude others
They opposed the exclusionary immigration policy.
"Mutually exclusive": two things that can't both be true. "Exclusive interview": only one outlet gets it. "Exclusive club" = elite/private.
available only to a limited group
This is an exclusive club.
an exclusive interview or story
The magazine landed an exclusive with the actor.
"Your Excellency" = a formal title for ambassadors and certain heads of state.
the quality of being outstanding or extremely good
The school is known for academic excellence.
"Excellent!": catchphrase from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
extremely good; outstanding
She is an excellent cook.
to inspect closely
The doctor examined the patient.
to test the knowledge of (a student)
The professor examined the students orally.
a person who conducts an examination
The driving examiner failed her.
The "-ee" suffix marks the receiver/passive party (like employer/employee, interviewer/interviewee).
a person being examined
The examinee waited nervously.
Short for "examination". Universal in academic English.
a formal test of knowledge
She passed her math exam.
More formal than "exam". Also: medical examination, cross-examination (in court).
a detailed inspection or test
The examination lasted three hours.
Common in legal cross-examination (re-examine your witness after cross). Also: re-examine evidence, re-examine assumptions.
to examine again
They re-examined the evidence.
From Latin e- (out) + vocare (to call). Same root as "voice", "vocal". Often used of memories, feelings, or images.
to bring (a memory, feeling, or image) to mind
The smell evoked memories of childhood.
Same Latin root as "evoke" (vocare = to call); re- = back. Common: revoke a license/passport/contract.
to officially cancel (a decision or law)
The court revoked his driver's license.
the act of bringing or recalling a feeling, memory, or image to the conscious mind
The novel is a vivid evocation of 1920s Paris.
bringing strong memories, images, or feelings to mind
The smell of pine is evocative of childhood vacations.
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind": 2004 film. "The Eternal City" = Rome.
lasting or existing forever
They swore eternal friendship.
Common hyperbole: "It took an eternity" = it took a very long time.
infinite or unending time
They believed in life after death and the soul's eternity.
From Latin aestimare (to value). Same root as "estimate".
respect and admiration
She is held in high esteem by her colleagues.
Often used in formal speeches: "my esteemed colleague".
respected and admired
She is an esteemed professor.
A major concept in psychology since the 1960s; sometimes criticized for being overused or pseudoscientific.
confidence in one's own worth or abilities
Failure can damage a child's self-esteem.
"Escort" has come to be used euphemistically for a paid sexual companion, so context matters.
a person or vehicle accompanying another for protection or ceremony
A police escort accompanied the convoy.
Verb stress on second syllable; noun stress on first.
to accompany (someone) to a destination
He escorted her to the door.
Always with "with": "equate X with Y" = treat X as equivalent to Y. Related: equation, equator.
to consider as equal or equivalent
Many equate wealth with happiness.
Famous: E = mc² (Einstein), F = ma (Newton). "Part of the equation": figurative phrase for a factor to consider.
a statement that two expressions are equal
She solved the quadratic equation.
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.": George Orwell, Animal Farm.
being the same in quantity, size, or status
All citizens are equal before the law.
the state of being equal in status or rights
The movement fights for gender equality.
British spelling: equalise. In sports (especially soccer), to equalize = to score, making the scores level.
to make equal
The bill aims to equalize pay between men and women.
to the same degree; in the same manner
They are equally talented.
Often slightly sarcastic in modern use ("Please enlighten me" = explain it to me, sometimes patronizingly).
to give greater knowledge and understanding to
The teacher enlightened the class on the topic.
"Enlightened self-interest" = pursuing one's own interests while considering long-term consequences for others.
having knowledge or insight; rational and well-informed
They have a more enlightened approach to education.
"The Enlightenment" (capitalized) = the 17th-18th century intellectual movement in Europe emphasizing reason and science.
the state of having knowledge or understanding
She sought spiritual enlightenment.
More formal than "improve". Common collocations: enhance flavor, enhance security, enhance reputation.
to intensify or further improve the quality of
The lighting enhanced the room's appearance.
Software "enhancements" = minor improvements (as opposed to bug fixes or major features).
an improvement or increase
The update includes several enhancements.
Related noun: endowment (money given as a permanent gift, often to a university). Harvard's endowment is the world's largest at over $50 billion.
to give a large sum of money to (an institution)
He endowed the university with millions.
to provide with a quality or talent
She is endowed with natural intelligence.
University endowments are large investment funds providing perpetual income. Princeton, Yale, Stanford all have endowments over $30 billion.
an income or property given to support a person or institution
The college's endowment grew rapidly.
From Greek enkyklios paideia (general education). Famous: Encyclopædia Britannica (since 1768). Wikipedia is now the world's most-used encyclopedia.
a book or set of books giving information on many subjects
He consulted the encyclopedia for the answer.
From Latin elevare (to lift up). Same root as "elevator" (American) and "elevation".
to lift to a higher position
Elevate your injured leg.
to raise in status or character
His new role elevated him to a senior position.
"Elevated train": train running on raised tracks (e.g., Chicago L). "Elevated levels": common medical phrase (e.g., "elevated blood sugar").
situated above the surrounding area; higher than normal
He has elevated cholesterol.
"Elevation" measured in feet or meters above sea level. "High-elevation" places (e.g., Denver) have lower oxygen.
height above a given level, especially sea level
The city sits at an elevation of 5,280 feet.
American term. British: lift. "Elevator pitch": short persuasive speech short enough to deliver during an elevator ride.
(American) a platform or compartment for carrying people up and down
Take the elevator to the 5th floor.
A form of motion sickness. Common remedies: scopolamine patches, ginger, looking at the horizon. Related: airsick, carsick.
feeling nauseous from the motion of a boat
He got seasick on the ferry crossing.
From night + mare (an evil spirit thought to suffocate sleepers, unrelated to a horse). Used metaphorically for any awful situation.
a frightening dream
She woke from a terrible nightmare.
a very unpleasant or stressful experience
The journey home was a nightmare.
resembling a nightmare; horrifying
The accident scene was nightmarish.
Always follows the thing being counted, never precedes ("three dollars apiece", not "apiece three dollars").
to, for, or by each one
The tickets cost ten dollars apiece.
Short for "capital expenditure". Distinct from opex (operating expenses, day-to-day costs). Used in business/finance.
(business) money spent on long-term physical assets like buildings or equipment
The company's capex was up 20% this year.
Past tense: outstripped (double p).
to move faster than or surpass
Demand has outstripped supply.
Earth's atmospheric layers (bottom up): troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere. The ozone layer is in the stratosphere.
the layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, from about 10 to 50 km up
Jet aircraft fly in the lower stratosphere.
a very high level of achievement or importance
His salary is in the stratosphere.
relating to the stratosphere; (informal) extremely high
The company's growth has been stratospheric.
to be a sign that something is about to happen
The cherry blossoms herald the arrival of spring.
Common newspaper name: "The Daily Herald", "Boston Herald", "Miami Herald".
a person who carried messages or made announcements; a sign of something to come
In medieval times, heralds announced royal decrees.
relating to heraldry
The shield has heraldic symbols.
Famous symbols: lions (England), eagles (Germany, US), fleur-de-lis (France).
the system of designing and describing coats of arms
He studies medieval heraldry.
Homophone with "cash". From French cacher (to hide). Modern computing: a fast memory area that stores frequently accessed data.
a hidden store of things
Police found a cache of weapons.
(computing) a temporary storage area for frequently used data
Clear the browser cache to fix the issue.
Usually slightly negative: implies lack of overall plan or coordination.
characterized by unsystematic partial measures
The reforms were piecemeal and inadequate.
one piece at a time
The information was released piecemeal.
Distinct from "eatable" (which means "acceptable to eat", referring to taste). "Edible" simply means "not poisonous". In US slang, "edibles" = food containing cannabis.
fit to be eaten
Be careful: not all mushrooms are edible.
From Greek ekkentros (off-center). Often more affectionate than "weird": implies harmlessly unconventional.
unconventional and slightly strange
He's a brilliant but eccentric professor.
an eccentric person
The neighborhood is full of eccentrics.
the quality of being unconventional
Her eccentricities made her a favorite at parties.
"For the duration" = until the end of something. From Latin durare (to last): same root as "durable", "endure".
the length of time something lasts
What is the duration of the flight?
Two distinct unrelated senses. "Salad dressing" = sauce for salad. "Dressing" on a wound = bandage/gauze.
a sauce for food, especially salad
What dressing would you like on your salad?
a piece of material applied to a wound
The nurse changed the dressing on his arm.
Pronounced "drowt", not "drot". Often used metaphorically: "a drought of new ideas".
a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall
The region suffered a severe drought.