Vocabulary: Batch 55

Short for "permanent wave". Popular in the 1980s.

• a chemical treatment that gives hair long-lasting curls or waves

  She got a perm in the salon.

• to give a perm to

  The stylist permed her hair.

From French "by the menu". Antonym: prix fixe (fixed price for multi-course meal).

• (of a menu or meal) listing or having food that can be ordered as separate items, rather than part of a set meal

  They offer both prix fixe and à la carte options.

The most prized cut of beef, used for filet mignon. Also a famous neighborhood in San Francisco (named for the police district once known for its corrupt prosperity).

• the tenderest part of a loin of beef, pork, or other meat

  He ordered the pork tenderloin.

Increasingly regulated due to consumer complaints; Do Not Call lists exist in many countries.

• the marketing of goods or services by means of telephone calls, typically unsolicited, to potential customers

  He hated his telemarketing job.

• a person who sells or promotes goods or services by telephone

  A telemarketer called during dinner.

American; British: drawing pin.

• a short pin with a large rounded head, used to fasten papers to a board

  She used pushpins to pin her notes to the corkboard.

"Take the high road" = react to provocation with dignity rather than retaliation.

1. the morally superior course of action

   She took the high road and didn't respond to the insults.

2. (British, dated) a main road

   They lived on the high road through the village.

• immoral, sordid, and corrupt behavior or activities

  The newspaper exposed the sleaze in city hall.

• sordid, corrupt, or immoral

  They met in a sleazy bar.

Disapproving.

• (informal) a weak and cowardly or unadventurous person

  Don't be such a wimp - try the rollercoaster!

Famous in "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book series.

• feeble, ineffective, or cowardly

  That was a wimpy response.

• showing the characteristics of a wimp

  His wimpish behavior cost him the respect of his colleagues.

Used in disposable cigarette lighters and portable camping stoves.

• a flammable hydrocarbon gas, used as a fuel

  The camping stove runs on butane.

Old usage in the rape sense; modern usage favors "ravishing" (adj) meaning delightful. "Ravishing beauty" is a common phrase.

1. (literary) to fill someone with intense delight; to enrapture

   She was ravished by the beauty of the sunset.

2. (archaic) to seize and carry off by force, especially to rape

   In the old legend, the maiden was ravished by a knight.

• delightful; entrancingly beautiful

  She looked ravishing in her gown.

American informal. The female counterpart to "guy".

• (informal) a girl or woman

  She's a real fun gal.

Imitative of the sound of telling someone to be quiet.

• used to tell someone to be quiet

  "Shush! The baby is sleeping."

• to tell someone to be quiet

  She shushed her noisy children.

Controversial interrogation technique used by the US CIA after 9/11; widely considered torture.

• an interrogation technique that simulates drowning by pouring water over a cloth covering the face and breathing passages of a person held down

  Waterboarding has been condemned by human rights organizations.

• a specified period of time in which something occurs or is planned to occur

  What's the time frame for the project?

In golf: par is the expected number of strokes; birdie = one under, eagle = two under, albatross = three under.

1. (golf) a score of one stroke under par for a hole

   He scored a birdie on the par-4 ninth.

2. (informal, affectionate) a little bird

   A little birdie told me you got promoted!

"Nitrous oxide" (N2O) = laughing gas, used as an anesthetic and a recreational drug. Also "nitro" boost in cars.

• of, relating to, or containing nitrogen, especially with a lower valence

  The dentist used nitrous oxide as a mild sedative.

1. showy but cheap and of poor quality

   She wore tawdry jewelry to the party.

2. sordid or unpleasant

   The newspaper revealed the tawdry details of the affair.

• a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise

  The din of the factory was deafening.

"Next of kin" = closest living relative, important in legal/medical contexts.

• one's family and relations

  He returned to live with his kin.

• the state of being related to others by blood or marriage

  They felt a sense of kinship with the other refugees.

Rare and mostly literary today; survives almost entirely in the adjective famished.

• (rare) to make or become extremely hungry

  The long siege famished the defenders.

Informal; usually hyperbolic.

• extremely hungry

  I haven't eaten all day - I'm famished.

Formal.

• to provide money to pay (a cost or expense)

  The company will defray the cost of relocating.

• to anticipate with great apprehension or fear

  She dreaded going to the dentist.

• great fear or apprehension

  He filled with dread at the thought.

• regarded with great fear or apprehension

  Monday is the dreaded start of the work week.

1. causing or involving great suffering, fear, or unhappiness

   The dreadful news shocked everyone.

2. (informal) extremely bad

   The weather was dreadful.

"Screen time" = time spent looking at electronic screens, a modern concern especially for children.

1. the surface of an electronic device on which images and data are displayed

   She spends too much time looking at her phone screen.

2. a fixed or movable upright partition used to divide a room or hide something

   They put a screen around the patient's bed.

1. to test or examine (someone) for the presence or absence of disease

   They screened the patients for cancer.

2. to show (a film or television program)

   The film will be screened at the festival.

• to spin quickly and lightly around

  She twirled around the dance floor.

"Pass the baton" = transfer responsibility, from relay racing.

1. a short stick or staff carried by an orchestra conductor

   The conductor raised his baton.

2. a short stick passed between runners in a relay race

   He dropped the baton on the last lap.

3. a police club

   The officer drew his baton.

• a stupid person

  What an idiot, leaving his keys in the car!

Slang.

• (informal) a television

  He spent all evening glued to the idiot box.

• very stupid

  That was an idiotic thing to do.

Formal/commercial. Synonyms: clothing, attire, garments.

• clothing

  The store sells men's apparel.

"Beauty pageant" is a common American type of contest.

• a public entertainment consisting of a procession of people in elaborate costumes, or a tableau of scenes from history or legend

  The town's annual pageant retells its founding story.

• elaborate display or ceremony

  The royal wedding featured great pageantry.

Common in crime/police fiction.

• a period of secret surveillance of a building or person, especially by the police

  Detectives conducted a stakeout outside the suspect's house.

1. an opening that can be closed by a gate

   They stood at the gateway to the garden.

2. (figurative) a means of access or entry

   The course is a gateway to better job opportunities.

Concept debated in addiction research.

• a habit-forming drug that, while not itself addictive, may lead to the use of more addictive drugs

  Marijuana is sometimes called a gateway drug.

From Latin: bellum ("war") + gerere ("to wage").

• hostile and aggressive

  He became belligerent after a few drinks.

• hostile and aggressive behavior or attitude

  His belligerence made negotiations difficult.

HSV-1 (oral, "cold sores") and HSV-2 (genital) are most common. Highly prevalent: over 60% of adults globally carry HSV-1.

• a viral disease causing blisters on the skin or mucous membranes

  He was diagnosed with herpes.

Common types: cow manure, horse manure, chicken manure.

• animal dung used for fertilizing land

  They spread manure on the fields.

Similar to "stammer".

• to talk with continued involuntary repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants

  He stuttered slightly when nervous.

• a habit of stuttering

  He overcame his stutter with speech therapy.

British. American: jimmy.

• (British) a short crowbar used by a burglar to force open a window or door

  He used a jemmy to pry open the door.

American spelling of jemmy.

• American spelling of jemmy

  He used a jimmy to pry open the door.

• a hot or alcoholic drink taken at bedtime

  He had a whiskey as a nightcap.

• a soft cap worn in bed

  In old illustrations, men wear pointed nightcaps.

Curable with antibiotics. Historically devastating before penicillin.

• a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium that can progress to serious organ damage if untreated

  Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics if caught early.

Common types: inguinal (groin) and hiatal (diaphragm).

• a condition in which part of an organ is displaced and protrudes through the wall of the cavity containing it

  He needs surgery to repair an inguinal hernia.

Informal; often associated with counterfeit luxury goods.

• an unauthorized cheap copy of a popular product

  He bought a knockoff Rolex on the street.

1. a person or device that records the time spent on or taken for something

   He served as the official timekeeper at the race.

2. a watch or clock considered in terms of its accuracy

   This watch is an excellent timekeeper.

• the practice of recording how long someone takes or spends on an activity

  She's noted for her punctuality and good timekeeping.

Disapproving; considered offensive in some contexts.

• (of a man) having characteristics regarded as typical of a woman

  His effeminate manner became a target for bullies.

"Make a fuss" = create an unnecessary commotion. "Kick up a fuss" = complain loudly.

• (uncountable) excessive concern or worry about something

  Don't make such a fuss about it.

• to show unnecessary or excessive concern about something

  Stop fussing and just relax.

• fastidious about one's needs or requirements

  He's a fussy eater.

• to declare invalid; to cancel

  The marriage was annulled after three months.

Different from divorce: annulment treats the marriage as though it never legally existed.

• the official declaration that a marriage is invalid

  She obtained an annulment of her marriage.

Many idioms: "hold your horses" = wait; "horse around" = mess around; "straight from the horse's mouth" = from an authoritative source.

• a large four-legged mammal with hooves, used for riding and pulling loads

  She rode the horse along the beach.

"Flirt with" can mean experiment with (e.g., "flirt with disaster").

1. to behave as though attracted to someone, usually playfully

   He flirted with the waitress all evening.

2. to experiment with or show casual interest in (an idea)

   She flirted with the idea of moving abroad.

• a person who habitually flirts

  He's a notorious flirt.

• behaving in a way that shows sexual attraction

  She gave him a flirtatious smile.

• flirtatious

  She was wearing a flirty little dress.

• to repay (a person who has spent or lost money)

  The company reimbursed him for travel expenses.

• the action of repaying someone

  Please submit receipts for reimbursement.

Many idioms: "draw the line", "on the line", "out of line", "line of work".

1. a long, narrow mark or band

   Draw a straight line on the paper.

2. a row of people or things

   There was a long line outside the theater.

3. a connected series of words or notes

   She remembered the first line of the song.

1. to stand or be positioned at intervals along

   Trees lined the road.

2. to cover the inside surface of something with a layer of different material

   She lined the box with tissue paper.

• a direct telephone line set up for a specific purpose, especially in emergencies or for communication between heads of government

  A crisis hotline.

• a line marking a boundary between two areas, groups, or categories

  The borderline between friendship and love.

• not quite meeting a standard; on the boundary between acceptable and unacceptable

  A borderline pass.

• a line or set of lines showing the outer shape of something; a general plan or summary of the main points

  The outline of the mountains against the sky.

• to give a general description of; to draw the outer edge or shape of

  She outlined her proposal to the committee.

Possibly named after Gaza, where the fabric was once produced.

• a thin transparent fabric of cotton, silk, or other material, used for dressing wounds or in surgery

  The nurse covered the wound with gauze.

In voting: abstaining means choosing neither yes nor no. "Teetotaller" = a person who abstains from alcohol.

1. to restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something

   He abstained from alcohol for a year.

2. to formally decline to vote either for or against a proposal

   Five senators abstained from the vote.

• the practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, especially food, alcohol, or sex

  He practiced total abstinence from alcohol.

"Uphill battle" = a struggle.

• toward the top of a hill

  They cycled uphill all afternoon.

• sloping upward; difficult to achieve

  It was an uphill struggle to get the law passed.

From French "again". Also used as an exclamation called out by audiences.

• a repeated or additional performance at the end of a concert, in response to applause

  The band played three encores.

• to question someone in detail about a completed mission or undertaking

  Intelligence officers debriefed the soldiers after the mission.

• a session of questioning to gain information after a mission

  The astronauts attended a lengthy debriefing.

1. (countable) the record of an animal's ancestors, especially showing it to be pure-bred

   The dog has an impressive pedigree.

2. (uncountable) a person's background or qualifications

   He has the pedigree to lead the company.

From the literal large powdered wigs worn by important people in the 17th-18th centuries.

• (informal) an important person

  All the corporate bigwigs were at the meeting.

From French: literally "head to head".

• a private conversation between two people

  They had a tête-à-tête over coffee.

Root of pithy.

• the soft spongy tissue in the stems and branches of plants, or the white lining inside a citrus fruit's peel

  He peeled off the bitter white pith of the orange.

From "pith" (the central core of a plant stem).

• (of language) concise and forcefully expressive

  He has a gift for pithy remarks.

Plural: codices /ˈkoʊdəsiːz/. Famous: Codex Sinaiticus (4th-century Bible manuscript).

• an ancient manuscript text in book form, especially of biblical or classical texts

  The Mayan codex contains astronomical observations.

Past tense: blew; past participle: blown. Many phrasal verbs: blow up (explode/inflate), blow out (extinguish), blow off (cancel).

1. (of the wind) to move

   The wind blew all night.

2. to expel air through pursed lips

   She blew on her hot tea.

3. (informal) to spend extravagantly

   He blew all his savings on a car.

1. a hard hit with a hand or weapon

   He took a blow to the head.

2. a sudden shock or misfortune

   Her death was a terrible blow to the family.

Several distinct shortened meanings.

1. (informal) a submarine

   The sub patrolled the coastline.

2. (informal, especially American) a substitute, especially a substitute teacher or sports player

   We had a sub today because our teacher was sick.

3. (informal, American) a sandwich made on a long roll; submarine sandwich

   I ordered a turkey sub for lunch.

"Old Testament" and "New Testament" are the two parts of the Christian Bible.

1. a person's will, especially their last

   He named his daughter in his testament.

2. evidence or proof of something

   His success is a testament to his hard work.

"Around the clock" = continuously. "Off the clock" = not working. "Beat the clock" = finish before deadline.

• a mechanical or electrical device for measuring time

  The clock on the wall said 3 pm.

1. to measure the time taken by (someone)

   He was clocked at 30 mph in a 25 zone.

2. (informal, British) to notice

   I clocked you across the room.

More general than "churchyard" (a cemetery beside a church) or "graveyard" (often used interchangeably).

• a large burial ground, especially one not in a churchyard

  They visited the cemetery to lay flowers on the grave.

Children's toy "slime" became a craze around 2017.

• a moist soft slippery substance, typically regarded as repulsive

  There was green slime on the rocks.

1. covered with or resembling slime

   The slimy snail left a trail across the path.

2. (figurative) disgustingly insincere

   He's a slimy salesman.

Famously associated with racial segregation in the American South (overturned by the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s-60s).

• to set apart from the rest or from each other

  The school segregated boys and girls.

• separated from each other, especially racially

  The South had segregated schools until the 1960s.

• the action or state of setting someone or something apart from others

  Racial segregation was officially ended by the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

• a person who advocates segregation, especially racial segregation

  He was a notorious segregationist in his political career.

• to segregate again, especially after a period of integration

  Critics say the schools are resegregating.

• a resin dissolved in a liquid for applying on wood or metal to give a hard transparent finish

  He applied two coats of varnish to the table.

• to apply varnish to

  She varnished the wooden floor.

From Latin lumen ("light").

• a person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere

  The conference attracted luminaries from across the field.

Less formal than "white tie" (which requires tailcoat), more formal than "business attire".

• requiring formal evening wear, especially a man's bow tie and dinner jacket

  The gala is a black tie event.

Root of rarefied.

• to make (a gas) thinner or less dense

  High altitude rarefies the air.

1. (of air, especially at high altitudes) of lower pressure than usual; thin

   The climbers struggled in the rarefied air of the summit.

2. distant from the lives and concerns of ordinary people

   She moved in the rarefied world of high finance.

Homophone of "counsel" (advice/lawyer). Different meanings.

• an advisory, deliberative, or legislative body of people

  The city council voted to approve the budget.

British spelling; American: councilor. Don't confuse with counselor (advisor/lawyer).

• a member of a council

  She was elected as a city councillor.

American.

• (American) a male member of a council, especially a local government council

  The councilman from the third ward voted against the plan.

American.

• (American) a female member of a council

  The councilwoman proposed new affordable housing.

"Put a crimp in" (American) = hinder or restrict.

• to compress or pinch into small folds or ridges

  She crimped the edges of the pie crust.

Clinical term, generally defined as BMI 30 or above.

• grossly fat or overweight

  The doctor said he was clinically obese.

• the condition of being grossly overweight, especially to a degree that endangers health

  Obesity rates have risen sharply in recent decades.

From Latin morbus ("disease"). "Morbidly obese" = obese to a dangerous degree.

• characterized by an abnormal and unhealthy interest in disturbing subjects, especially death

  He has a morbid fascination with serial killers.

"Morbidity and mortality" is a standard medical phrase for disease rates and death rates.

• the condition of being diseased, or the rate of disease in a population

  The study tracked morbidity rates among smokers.

Used in many religious traditions: Catholic mass, Hindu puja, Buddhist meditation.

• a gum or substance burned to produce a sweet smell, especially as part of a religious ceremony

  The temple was filled with the smell of burning incense.

Different pronunciation: noun on first syllable, verb on second.

• to make very angry

  His remarks incensed the audience.

From Provençal/Catalan: "all i oli" ("garlic and oil"). Often spelled aioli without diaeresis.

• a Mediterranean sauce of garlic, olive oil, and (usually) egg yolk

  He served the fish with lemon aïoli.

"Hit the ceiling" = become very angry. "Through the ceiling" = reaching a maximum or surpassing it.

1. the upper interior surface of a room

   She painted the ceiling white.

2. an upper limit

   There is a ceiling of $50,000 on bonuses.

Term popularized in the 1980s.

• an unacknowledged barrier preventing certain people (especially women and minorities) from advancing to high positions

  She broke through the glass ceiling to become CEO.

Also a vulgar slang term for an obnoxious man or for the penis.

• to make a small hole in something with a sharp point

  She pricked her finger on the needle.

• the act or sensation of being pricked

  He felt a prick of pain in his arm.

1. covered in prickles

   The prickly cactus was hard to handle.

2. (of a person) ready to take offense

   He's prickly about his appearance.

• to enter or gain access to (an organization, place, etc.) secretly and gradually

  An undercover agent infiltrated the criminal organization.

• a person who infiltrates an organization secretly

  They suspected the leak was caused by an infiltrator.

• the action of infiltrating an organization, place, or system

  The agency detected the infiltration too late.

From Greek: deca- ("ten") + athlon ("contest"). Compare: triathlon (3), pentathlon (5), heptathlon (7).

• an athletic event in which each competitor takes part in ten different track and field events

  He won the decathlon at the Olympics.

"Slap on the wrist" = a mild punishment. Modern slang: "that slaps" = is great/awesome.

1. to strike with the palm of one's hand or a flat object

   She slapped him across the face.

2. to put or apply quickly

   He slapped some sunscreen on his face.

• a blow with the palm of the hand or a flat object

  The slap left a red mark on his cheek.

FDR's famous "date which will live in infamy" speech (Dec 8, 1941, after Pearl Harbor).

• the state of being well known for some bad quality or deed

  The general's infamy was sealed by his war crimes.

Note: stress on first syllable, unlike "famous" (also first syllable but very different pronunciation).

• well known for some bad quality or deed

  He was infamous for his violent temper.

1. to give out steady light without flame

   The embers glowed in the fireplace.

2. to have a heightened color or feeling

   She was glowing with happiness.

• a steady radiance of light or heat

  The lantern cast a warm glow.

"Glowing review" = a very positive review.

1. giving out steady light without flame

   The glowing embers of the campfire.

2. full of enthusiasm or praise

   The book received a glowing review.

Always predicative, never before a noun. Often "awash with/in".

1. covered or flooded with water

   The deck was awash after the wave hit.

2. (figurative) overwhelmed by an abundance of something

   The city is awash with cash from the tech boom.

Root of deposition (legal sense).

1. to remove (a ruler or official) from power

   The generals deposed the president in a coup.

2. (law) to question (a witness) formally and record their sworn testimony

   The lawyer deposed the witness for three hours.

In US law, depositions are sworn pre-trial testimony recorded by a court reporter.

1. (law) the giving of sworn evidence

   He gave a deposition before the trial.

2. the action of depositing something

   Sediment deposition forms sedimentary rock.

"In proportion" = balanced; "out of proportion" = exaggerated.

1. (countable) a part, share, or number considered in relation to a whole

   A large proportion of the budget goes to salaries.

2. (uncountable) the comparative relation between two things in size or amount

   The drawing is out of proportion.

"Proportional representation" = an electoral system where parties get seats in proportion to votes received.

• corresponding in size or amount to something else

  The punishment should be proportional to the crime.

• the property of being proportional

  The court considered the proportionality of the sentence.

Near-synonym of proportional, often used interchangeably.

• corresponding in size or amount to something else; proportional

  The fine should be proportionate to the offense.

More formal than "imbalance". Used in legal contexts ("sentencing disproportion") and statistics.

• a lack of proportion

  There is a disproportion between effort and reward.

"Disproportionate": common in policy/justice discussions. "Disproportionate impact" of laws or events on certain groups.

• too large or too small in comparison to something

  They suffered a disproportionate share of the casualties.

Often "a stickler for" something.

• a person who insists on a certain quality or type of behavior

  She's a stickler for punctuality.

"On the air" = being broadcast. "Up in the air" = unsettled. "Air of" = a noticeable manner/quality.

1. (uncountable) the invisible gaseous mixture surrounding the Earth

   The mountain air was crisp and cold.

2. (singular) the impression conveyed by a person, situation, or thing

   She had an air of authority.

1. to express (an opinion or grievance) publicly

   He aired his views on the radio.

2. to broadcast (a program) on radio or television

   The show airs at 8pm tonight.

1. spacious and well-ventilated

   They have a bright, airy kitchen.

2. casual and lacking depth or seriousness

   She dismissed his concerns with an airy wave.

Two distinct senses, both very common in spoken English.

1. (of something) to take effect or begin operating

   The painkillers should kick in soon.

2. to contribute one's share

   Everyone kicked in $20 for the gift.

1. a glass bowl in which fish are kept

   She bought a small fishbowl for her goldfish.

2. (figurative) a place lacking privacy

   Living as a celebrity is like being in a fishbowl.

British more common.

• a glass bowl for keeping goldfish; (figurative) a situation in which one is constantly observed

  Their lives in the public eye were like a goldfish bowl.

Past tense: dug. "Dig in" = start eating. "Dig up" = unearth (literally or figuratively). 60s slang "I dig it" = I like it.

1. to break up and move earth with a tool, machine, or one's hands

   He dug a hole in the garden.

2. (informal, dated) to like or appreciate

   I really dig that song.

Vulgar slang. The noun "skank" is a derogatory term for a woman.

• (slang, offensive) sleazy, dirty, or sexually promiscuous

  That outfit looks skanky.

Vulgar slang; derogatory term for a woman. Root of skanky.

• (slang, vulgar, offensive) a promiscuous or disreputable woman

  He called her a skank, which was uncalled for.

Informal. "Chump change" = a trivial amount of money.

• a foolish or easily deceived person

  He was a real chump to fall for that scam.