Vocabulary: Batch 54

1. to spread a substance over a surface in a messy way

   He smeared butter on his toast.

2. to damage the reputation of someone by false accusations

   The campaign smeared the opposition with rumors.

"Smear campaign" = an organized effort to damage someone's reputation. "Pap smear" = a medical test.

1. a mark made by smearing a substance

   There were smears of paint on his shirt.

2. a false accusation intended to damage someone's reputation

   It was just a political smear.

• having something spread or daubed over it

  His face was smeared with mud.

Less common than "smeared". "Smeary" implies the result is messy or unclear ("smeary print", "smeary glass").

• covered with or marked by smears

  His glasses were smeary with fingerprints.

American slang. Synonyms: nerd, geek, dweeb. Often affectionate.

• (informal) a dull, slow-witted, or socially inept person

  Don't be such a dork.

• (countable/uncountable) an innate, typically fixed pattern of behavior in animals; (in humans) an intuitive way of acting

  Salmon return to their birthplace by instinct.

• relating to or prompted by instinct

  Her reaction was instinctive.

Often interchangeable with "instinctive".

• based on instinct rather than learned reasoning

  He has an instinctual sense of design.

From Latin insula ("island"). To insulate = to make like an island, separated.

1. to protect (something) by interposing material that prevents the loss of heat or electricity

   They insulated the attic to save on heating.

2. to protect (someone or something) from unpleasant experiences

   He was insulated from criticism by his wealth.

• the action or material used to insulate something

  The walls have foam insulation.

• a material or object that does not easily allow heat, electricity, light, or sound to pass through

  Rubber is a good electrical insulator.

Don't confuse with "martial" (relating to war). "Marital bliss" = the happiness of a good marriage.

• relating to marriage or the relations between husband and wife

  They went through marital counseling.

• a person's state of being single, married, separated, divorced, or widowed

  Please indicate your marital status.

From Greek: eu- ("well") + pheme ("speech"). Common examples: "passed away" for died, "let go" for fired.

• a mild or indirect word substituted for one considered too harsh or blunt

  "Senior citizen" is a euphemism for "old person".

• of the nature of a euphemism

  His euphemistic language failed to disguise the bad news.

From Latin: centum ("hundred") + pes ("foot"). Actual leg counts vary (30 to 354). Compare: millipede ("thousand-foot").

• a long thin arthropod with many pairs of legs

  A centipede scurried under the rock.

Common in London Underground stations, Paris Metro, etc.

• to play music in the street or another public place for voluntary donations

  He busked in Covent Garden for tourists.

• a person who plays music in a public place for voluntary donations

  The busker drew a small crowd.

• to dispose of (a dead body) by burning it to ashes

  He requested to be cremated rather than buried.

• a place where dead bodies are cremated

  The funeral was followed by cremation at the crematorium.

American synonym for crematorium.

• (American) a crematorium

  The family chose a local crematory.

• the disposal of a dead body by burning it to ashes

  She requested cremation instead of burial.

From Italian: "Frankish language". Originally a Mediterranean trade language. English is now the world's lingua franca.

• a language adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different

  English serves as the lingua franca of international business.

• incapable of producing any useful result; pointless

  Their efforts to save the company were futile.

• the quality of being futile

  He realized the futility of arguing.

Sometimes considered an old-fashioned virtue, recently re-popularized with "thrift culture".

• the quality of using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully

  Her thrift allowed her to save for retirement.

American; British: charity shop. Profits often go to charity.

• a shop that sells secondhand goods

  She bought a vintage coat at a thrift shop.

• using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully

  He's thrifty with his money.

• a committee composed of some members of a larger committee, formed to consider a particular matter

  The subcommittee will report back next week.

Military unit smaller than a regiment, larger than a company. Typically 300-1000 soldiers.

• a large body of troops ready for battle, typically consisting of multiple companies

  The battalion was deployed to the front.

The verb sense is clinical/technical. As a noun ("a retard") it is highly offensive and dated.

• to delay or slow down the progress of something

  Cold weather can retard plant growth.

Now considered offensive when applied to people; "intellectual disability" is the preferred term in clinical contexts.

1. less developed mentally than is normal for one's age (now considered offensive)

   The historical term "mentally retarded" has been replaced in respectful usage.

2. slowed or delayed in progress

   The bullet has a retarded ignition mechanism.

Use carefully: the disability sense is dated and offensive.

• the slowing or delaying of a process

  The chemical causes flame retardation.

"Veterans Day" = November 11 in the US, honoring military veterans.

1. a person who has had long experience in a particular field

   She's a veteran of the publishing industry.

2. a person who has served in the armed forces

   He is a Vietnam War veteran.

From the brand name ChapStick (1880). "Chap" = roughened or cracked skin.

• a stick of substance applied to the lips to prevent or relieve chapping

  She always carries chapstick in her purse.

1. the destructive capacity of weapons or military forces

   The army has overwhelming firepower.

2. (figurative) the power or resources of a person or organization

   They lack the legal firepower to win this case.

British spelling; American: amphitheater. Famous: the Roman Colosseum, the largest ancient amphitheater.

• an oval or circular building with tiers of seats around a central performance area

  They visited the ancient Roman amphitheatre.

American spelling of amphitheatre.

• American spelling of amphitheatre

  They visited the ancient Roman amphitheater.

From Greek septikos ("putrid"). "Septic shock" = a dangerous condition from infection.

• (of a wound) infected with bacteria

  The wound went septic and required antibiotics.

British spelling; American: septicemia. Modern preferred term: sepsis.

• blood poisoning, especially caused by bacteria

  He died of septicaemia after the operation.

• an underground tank in which sewage is decomposed by bacterial action

  The rural property uses a septic tank rather than city sewer.

• a substance that prevents the growth of disease-causing microorganisms

  She applied antiseptic to the cut.

• having the effect of preventing infection

  He cleaned the wound with antiseptic wipes.

American spelling of septicaemia.

• American spelling of septicaemia

  He died of septicemia after the operation.

1. a simple drawing showing the features of its subjects in a humorously exaggerated way

   The newspaper publishes political cartoons.

2. an animated film

   The children watched cartoons all morning.

• resembling a cartoon, especially in being unrealistic or exaggerated

  He gave a cartoonish description of the villain.

• a person who draws cartoons

  The political cartoonist won a Pulitzer Prize.

Informal variant of cartoonish.

• (informal) resembling a cartoon

  The game has a cartoony art style.

Shares a Latin root with conscious ("conscientia") but has diverged in modern English to mean moral awareness.

• the inner sense that judges the morality of one's actions

  His conscience would not let him keep the money.

"Conscientious objector" = a person who refuses military service on moral grounds.

• wishing to do what is right, especially to do one's work well and thoroughly

  She is a conscientious worker.

Informal; slightly humorous.

• to fool or cheat someone

  He bamboozled them with technical jargon.

Root of prophecy/prophesy/prophetic.

1. a person regarded as speaking for God or a god, especially by delivering divine messages

   The Old Testament describes many prophets.

2. a person who predicts future events

   He was hailed as a prophet of the digital age.

Noun (ends in -cy); verb is "prophesy" (ends in -sy). Easy to confuse. Pronounced differently: noun ends /-si/, verb ends /-saɪ/.

• a prediction of what will happen, especially one made by a prophet

  The ancient prophecy came true.

Verb form, ending in -sy with /-saɪ/ pronunciation. "Self-fulfilling prophecy": a prediction that comes true partly because it was made.

• to predict that something will happen

  She prophesied that the company would fail.

1. accurately predicting what will happen in the future

   His warnings about the housing market proved prophetic.

2. relating to a prophet or prophecy

   The text contains prophetic visions.

• next to or adjoining something else

  They live in the house adjacent to ours.

• the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect

  She looked at him with disdain.

• to consider unworthy of one's regard

  He disdained their offer of help.

• showing contempt or lack of respect

  She gave him a disdainful look.

"Flood tide" = the incoming tide, opposite of ebb.

1. an overflowing of water onto normally dry land

   The flood destroyed many homes.

2. a large quantity or amount of something

   The store received a flood of complaints.

1. to cover or submerge with water in a flood

   The river flooded the valley.

2. to fill or overwhelm

   Letters flooded into the office.

"Ebb and flow" = the natural alternating decrease and increase. Antonym in tide sense: flood.

1. (of tidewater) to move away from the land; to recede

   The tide is ebbing.

2. (figurative) to gradually decrease

   His enthusiasm slowly ebbed away.

The noun form (a person with a disability) is now considered offensive.

1. to cause severe and disabling damage to

   The accident crippled him for life.

2. (figurative) to cause a severe and lasting reduction in strength or function

   Sanctions crippled the country's economy.

Used both literally ("crippling injury") and figuratively ("crippling debt", "crippling anxiety").

• causing severe damage or limitation

  He has crippling student debt.

"Zoom" the videoconferencing app became hugely popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. to move or travel very quickly

   The car zoomed past us on the highway.

2. (of a camera or microscope) to change smoothly from a long shot to a close-up or vice versa

   She zoomed in on the bird's eye.

• a lens allowing a camera to change smoothly from a wide-angle to a telephoto view

  The photographer used a zoom lens for the wildlife shots.

• to sink, subside, or hang down

  The bookshelf began to sag under the weight.

• hanging down loosely or untidily

  The old sofa had saggy cushions.

• to create difficulties for someone, resulting in delay or obstruction

  The fallen tree hindered traffic.

"Hinderance" is a less common variant spelling.

• a thing that provides resistance or delay; an obstacle

  His weak English was a hindrance during the trip.

Less common variant of hindrance.

• variant of hindrance

  Bureaucracy can be a hinderance to progress.

Popularized by survival shows and outdoor culture.

• skill in surviving and thriving in natural wilderness

  The guide taught us basic bushcraft.

"Woe is me" is a classic literary lament. "Tale of woe" = a long sad story.

1. (uncountable) great sorrow or distress

   He poured out his tale of woe.

2. (countable, usually plural) troubles or problems

   The company has had a series of financial woes.

1. characterized by, expressing, or causing sorrow or misery

   She gave a woeful sigh.

2. very bad or poor

   The team's defense was woeful.

Past tense: withheld.

• to refuse to give (something due to or desired by another)

  The witness withheld key information.

"Black widow" = (1) a poisonous spider where the female eats the male after mating, (2) figurative term for a woman who outlives multiple husbands.

• a woman whose spouse has died and who has not remarried

  The widow lived alone after her husband's death.

• a man whose spouse has died and who has not remarried

  The widower remarried after several years.

Modern internet slang: "wholesome content" = uplifting, family-friendly material.

1. conducive to or suggestive of good health and physical well-being

   They serve good wholesome food.

2. conducive to or promoting moral well-being

   He's looking for a more wholesome lifestyle.

Antonym: retail.

• (uncountable) the selling of goods in large quantities to be retailed by others

  He buys flowers wholesale and sells them in his shop.

• done on a large scale; extensive

  There was wholesale destruction in the city.

• a person or company that sells goods in large quantities at low prices, typically to be resold

  The store buys directly from wholesalers.

• a person trained to give emergency medical care, especially in an ambulance, before or during transport to a hospital

  Paramedics arrived at the scene within minutes.

• relating to services and professions that supplement and support medical work

  She works in a paramedical field.

Don't confuse with "wary" (cautious).

1. feeling or showing extreme tiredness

   She was weary after the long flight.

2. reluctant to see or experience any more of (often "weary of")

   He had grown weary of the arguments.

• extreme tiredness; fatigue

  He sighed with weariness after the long shift.

• impervious to water

  He wore a waterproof jacket.

• (law) a written order issued by a legal or government official authorizing the police to do something

  The police obtained a search warrant.

• to justify or necessitate (a course of action)

  His behavior warrants further investigation.

"Sign one's own death warrant" = take an action that will cause one's own downfall.

• an official document ordering the execution of a person

  The governor signed the death warrant.

• a written guarantee, issued to the purchaser of an article by its manufacturer, promising to repair or replace it if necessary within a specified period of time

  The car comes with a three-year warranty.

The drinkable alcohol. Increasingly used as a biofuel.

• the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, also used as a fuel

  The gasoline contains 10% ethanol.

Highly toxic if ingested; can cause blindness or death.

• a toxic alcohol used as a solvent and fuel

  Methanol poisoning is a danger of bootleg liquor.

• to move (especially a tail) rapidly from side to side

  The dog wagged its tail happily.

Dated; survives mostly in "old wag".

• (dated, informal) a person fond of making jokes

  Some wag had put a sign on his back.

1. (chemistry) a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing permanent change

   Platinum is used as a catalyst in many reactions.

2. (figurative) a person or thing that precipitates an event

   The book was a catalyst for social change.

British spelling; American: catalyze.

• (chemistry) to cause or accelerate a reaction by acting as a catalyst

  The enzyme catalyses the breakdown of starch.

• the acceleration of a chemical reaction by a catalyst

  The course covers heterogeneous catalysis.

• relating to or involving catalysis

  The reaction is catalytic.

• a device fitted to a motor vehicle's exhaust that converts harmful gases into less harmful ones

  Thieves have been stealing catalytic converters for the precious metals inside.

American spelling of catalyse.

• American spelling of catalyse

  The enzyme catalyzes the breakdown of starch.

English has 5 vowel letters (a, e, i, o, u) but many more vowel sounds (around 20, depending on dialect).

• a speech sound made by the vocal cords with the mouth open; a letter representing such a sound

  The letters A, E, I, O, U are vowels.

• a speech sound in which the breath is at least partly obstructed; a letter representing such a sound

  The word "strength" contains many consonants.

From Latin vocare ("to call"). Often used of careers seen as a divine calling.

• a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation, especially one needing dedication

  He felt nursing was his vocation.

• relating to a specific occupation or trade, especially in education or training

  She attended a vocational school to become an electrician.

From Latin trans- ("across") + spirare ("breathe"). Originally meant "emit through the skin".

1. to come to be known or to occur

   It transpired that he had been lying.

2. (of a plant) to give off water vapor through the leaves

   Trees transpire enormous quantities of water.

• the process by which moisture is carried through plants from roots to small pores on the underside of leaves, where it changes to vapor

  Transpiration is part of the water cycle.

Root of abridged/unabridged.

• to shorten (a piece of writing) without losing the main content

  The editor abridged the novel for younger readers.

Antonym: unabridged. Common label on shortened audiobooks.

• (of a piece of writing) shortened

  He read an abridged version of the novel.

• not cut or shortened; complete

  An unabridged dictionary.

1. absolutely necessary or important; essential

   Sleep is vital for good health.

2. relating to or characteristic of life

   Blood pressure is a vital sign.

• the state of being strong and active; energy

  She is full of vitality despite her age.

Standard vital signs in medicine: temperature, pulse, respiration rate, blood pressure.

• clinical measurements that indicate the state of a patient's essential body functions

  The nurse checked the patient's vital signs every hour.

"Virgin olive oil" = unrefined oil from the first pressing.

• a person who has never had sexual intercourse

  He claimed to have been a virgin until marriage.

• not yet used, exploited, or processed

  They hiked through virgin forest.

• being, relating to, or appropriate for a virgin

  She wore a virginal white dress.

• the state of never having had sexual intercourse

  She lost her virginity at 19.

Named after Queen Victoria (reigned 1837-1901). Often connotes strict morality and conservatism.

1. relating to the reign of Queen Victoria

   The novel is set in Victorian England.

2. (of attitudes) prudish, strict, or old-fashioned

   His views on marriage are positively Victorian.

From Latin "conqueror". Also a common male name.

• a person who defeats an enemy or opponent in a battle, game, or other competition

  He emerged as the victor of the tournament.

• having won a victory

  The victorious team celebrated all night.

• an act of defeating an enemy or opponent

  They celebrated a stunning victory.

• to move or cause to move with small, rapid movements

  The phone vibrated on the table.

Most commonly refers to a sex toy.

• a device that vibrates, especially one used for sexual stimulation

  The store sold massagers and vibrators.

1. (uncountable) a continuous rapid shaking motion

   The engine's vibration could be felt through the floor.

2. (countable) an instance of vibrating; a rapid oscillation

   The bridge experienced strong vibrations during the storm.

From Latin "I forbid". UN Security Council's five permanent members have veto power.

• a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal

  The president used his veto to block the bill.

• to exercise a veto against (a decision or proposal)

  Russia vetoed the resolution.

• a long warm coat worn over other clothes in cold weather

  He buttoned up his overcoat against the wind.

Discovered by Faraday in 1825. The hexagonal benzene ring is one of the most important structures in organic chemistry.

• a colorless flammable liquid hydrocarbon, used as a solvent and a known carcinogen

  Benzene is a basic building block of organic chemistry.

• a large, densely packed crowd

  A throng of fans gathered outside the stadium.

• (of a crowd) to fill or be present in (a place) in large numbers

  Tourists thronged the museum.

"Thorn in one's side" = a persistent annoyance.

• a sharp pointed projection on a plant, especially the stem of a rose

  She pricked her finger on a thorn.

1. having many thorns

   The rose bush is very thorny.

2. (figurative) difficult or troublesome

   This is a thorny problem.

In Australian English, "thongs" = flip-flop sandals.

1. a narrow strip of leather or other material used as a fastening

   The sandal has a leather thong.

2. a piece of underwear with a narrow strip of material at the back

   She wore a thong under her tight dress.

Named after Plato, who described non-sexual love between men. Modern usage refers to non-romantic friendships.

• (of love or friendship) intimate and affectionate but not sexual

  They had a platonic relationship for years.

Military unit smaller than a company, typically 30-50 soldiers. Distinct in origin from platonic (named after Plato).

• a subdivision of a company of soldiers, usually forming a tactical unit

  The platoon was deployed to the front.

Plural: dildos or dildoes.

• an object shaped like an erect penis used for sexual stimulation

  The store sells various dildos.

• a portable two-way radio

  The security guards communicated via walkie-talkie.

From Latin vacca ("cow") - Edward Jenner used cowpox to develop the first smallpox vaccine in 1796.

• a substance used to stimulate immunity against a disease

  She received the flu vaccine last week.

• to treat with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease

  Babies are vaccinated against measles.

• the act of vaccinating someone, or the injection given

  She received her flu vaccination last week.

• complete; absolute

  That's utter nonsense.

• to make (a sound) with one's voice

  She didn't utter a word.

• a spoken word, statement, or sound

  He made a strange utterance that no one understood.

• completely and without qualification; absolutely

  I was utterly exhausted after the trip.

At weddings, ushers escort guests to their seats.

• a person who shows people to their seats in a theater or wedding

  The usher led them to their seats.

"Usher in" = mark the beginning of something new.

• to show or guide (someone) somewhere

  She ushered the guests into the dining room.

• moving or facing upward

  There is an upward trend in sales.

Both "upward" and "upwards" can be adverbs (American slightly prefers "upward"; British slightly prefers "upwards").

• toward a higher place or level

  The smoke drifted upwards.

• an act of rising up in revolt against an authority

  The peasant uprising shook the kingdom.

Common types: alopecia areata (patches), androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness). Made famous by the 2022 Will Smith Oscars slap incident involving Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia.

• the absence of hair from areas where it normally grows; baldness

  She has alopecia and wears a wig.

Antonym: overpass.

• a road or path that passes under another road or railway

  They walked through the underpass to cross the highway.

• not subject to any conditions

  A parent's love should be unconditional.

• without any conditions or limitations

  She loved her children unconditionally.

"Twinkle in someone's eye" suggests amusement or mischief.

1. (of a star or light) to shine with a gleam that varies between bright and faint

   Stars twinkled in the night sky.

2. (of a person's eyes) to sparkle with amusement or liveliness

   His eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star": classic nursery rhyme. "Twinkling lights": Christmas decorations.

• shining with a flickering light

  The twinkling stars filled the sky.

"Smack of" something = have a suggestion or trace of it. Slang use: "smack" = heroin.

• to strike with the open palm

  She smacked the child for misbehaving.

• a sharp slap or blow

  He gave the ball a smack with the bat.

Also the past tense of "spit".

• a petty quarrel

  They had a spat over the bill.

• of, typical of, or relating to the tropics

  They had a tropical vacation in Bali.

Often used with "the".

• the region of the Earth surrounding the equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn

  Mangrove forests grow in the tropics.