"Dabble in" often suggests amateur or casual engagement.
to take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way
He dabbles in painting on weekends.
Antonym: upbeat.
pessimistic; gloomy
The economic forecast was decidedly downbeat.
(music) the first beat of a bar
Start playing on the downbeat.
Iconic in folk music: Cajun, polka, tango. From the Italian word for "chord".
a portable musical instrument with metal reeds blown by bellows, played by means of buttons or keys
He played the accordion at the wedding.
Compare: seasick, carsick.
feeling sick because of the motion of an aircraft
She felt airsick during the turbulent flight.
Common in fencing.
to ward off a weapon or blow with a countermove
She parried his sword with her own.
to answer (a question or accusation) by evasion
He parried the reporter's questions skillfully.
Almost always used of crimes or wrongdoings. Don't confuse with "perpetuate" (to make continue).
to carry out or commit (a harmful or illegal action)
The fraud was perpetrated by a single employee.
a person who carries out a harmful or illegal act
Police are still searching for the perpetrator.
occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated
There were sporadic outbreaks of violence.
Homophone of "horde" (a crowd, added in batch 33).
a stock or store of money or valued objects, typically secret
They discovered a hoard of Roman coins.
to amass and hide or store away
People hoarded toilet paper during the pandemic.
From the Maldivian language. The Maldives is itself a famous chain of atolls.
a ring-shaped coral reef, island, or chain of islands surrounding a lagoon
They dove around the atoll's coral reefs.
American; British also: "cookery book".
a book containing recipes and instructions for cooking
She inherited her grandmother's cookbook.
From the biblical city of Sodom, destroyed by God in Genesis. Legal definitions vary by jurisdiction.
sexual intercourse involving anal or oral sex, especially historically as a legal term
Sodomy laws were struck down in the US in 2003.
Common pattern with the induce family's -induced suffix.
caused by oneself, especially of an unfortunate state
His misery was largely self-induced.
a thorough examination, typically a medical one
She goes for an annual check-up with her doctor.
From Greek: hippos ("horse") + potamos ("river") - "river horse". Plural: hippopotamuses or hippopotami. Short form: hippo.
a large African mammal with a thick skin and short legs that spends most of its time in water
The hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.
Short for hippopotamus. From Greek "hippopotamos" = "river horse". Surprisingly dangerous: kills more humans than most African predators.
a large African mammal that lives in water
A hippo wallowed in the river.
Named after Hippocrates (c. 460-370 BC), the Greek physician. Famous phrase from a paraphrase: "First, do no harm".
an oath traditionally taken by physicians regarding the ethical practice of medicine
She took the Hippocratic oath at her medical school graduation.
From Greek hypokrisis ("acting on stage"). Unrelated to Hippocratic oath (Hippocrates the physician).
the practice of claiming to have higher standards or beliefs than is the case
His silence on the issue was sheer hypocrisy.
a person who indulges in hypocrisy
He's a hypocrite for preaching honesty while lying himself.
behaving in a way that suggests one has higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case
It's hypocritical to demand honesty while lying yourself.
to move continuously through a closed system or area
Blood circulates through the body.
to pass from person to person or place to place
Rumors circulated about the merger.
movement to and fro or around something
The cold weather affects her blood circulation.
the number of copies sold of a newspaper or magazine
The magazine has a circulation of 100,000.
relating to the circulation of blood or other fluid through the body
He has a circulatory disorder.
Root of quackery.
a person who dishonestly claims to have medical skill or knowledge
He was exposed as a quack selling fake cures.
"Quack" alone (as a noun) refers to a fraudulent medical practitioner.
dishonest practices and claims to have special, especially medical, skill
The treatment was nothing but quackery.
departing from an accepted standard
The aberrant behavior alarmed his colleagues.
a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically unwelcome
The high score was an aberration.
Root of nauseous.
a feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit
The medication can cause nausea and dizziness.
Traditionally "nauseous" meant "causing nausea" (= nauseating), but in modern usage it almost always means "feeling sick".
affected by nausea; inclined to vomit
She felt nauseous after the boat ride.
From the metaphor of birds' empty nests after their young have flown away.
a parent whose children have grown up and left home
As empty-nesters, they decided to downsize.
Root of reclassify.
to arrange or categorize according to shared qualities or characteristics
Librarians classify books by subject.
to classify differently; to assign to a different category
Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.
Antonym: classify. US classification levels: Confidential, Secret, Top Secret. Famous: Pentagon Papers, JFK records.
to officially declare that information is no longer secret
The documents were declassified after 30 years.
One of the oldest known machine tools (used since ancient Egypt).
a machine for shaping wood or metal by rotating it against a cutting tool
The woodworker shaped the chair leg on a lathe.
In law: "assault and battery" = threat (assault) + actual physical contact (battery). "Battery farm" = factory farm with cramped cages.
a container holding chemicals that produce electrical energy, used as a power source
The battery in my phone is dying.
(law) the unlawful application of physical force to another person
He was charged with assault and battery.
to form (a plan or idea) in the mind
He conceived a plan to escape.
to become pregnant
They tried for years to conceive a child.
able to be imagined or grasped mentally
It's hardly conceivable that he could have known.
From mis- + conception. A belief that is wrong because it rests on faulty understanding.
a view or idea that is incorrect because it is based on faulty thinking
It's a common misconception that bats are blind.
badly judged or planned
The project was entirely misconceived from the start.
"Concept car": show vehicle, not for sale. "Concept album": themed music album. "Proof of concept": early demonstration of feasibility.
an abstract idea or general notion
The concept of zero was a major breakthrough.
"Conceptual art": art where the idea is more important than the visual product (Marcel Duchamp's urinal, Yoko Ono's pieces).
relating to or based on mental concepts
It's a conceptual framework for understanding the issue.
the forming of a plan, idea, or theory
The project changed a great deal from its original conception.
the moment when a woman becomes pregnant
The doctor estimated the date of conception.
inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, or capable
She is a formidable opponent in court.
Root of unload.
a heavy or bulky thing that is being carried or is about to be carried
The truck carried a heavy load of gravel.
to put a large quantity of something onto or into (a vehicle or container)
They loaded the boxes onto the truck.
Slang: "unload on someone" = vent emotions to them.
to remove goods from (a vehicle or container)
They unloaded the truck.
to remove the ammunition from a firearm
He unloaded the rifle before storing it.
Many senses; 'a loaded question' carries hidden bias.
carrying a heavy load
A loaded truck.
(of a gun) charged with ammunition
A loaded pistol.
(informal) very rich
His family is loaded.
(of a question or word) charged with hidden meaning or bias
'Are you still cheating?' is a loaded question.
Rodeo event "bronco busting" or "bronc riding" involves staying on a bucking bronco. From Spanish bronco ("rough").
a wild or half-tamed horse of the western US
The cowboy mounted the bucking bronco.
Originally an Indigenous Australian hunting tool. Most modern boomerangs are designed to return.
a curved flat piece of wood that returns to its thrower when thrown skillfully
He learned to throw a boomerang in Australia.
(of a plan or action) to backfire on the person who initiated it
His attempt to discredit her boomeranged.
Larger than a gully but smaller than a canyon.
a deep narrow gorge with steep sides
The road wound along the edge of a deep ravine.
Usually plural "gills". "Green around the gills" = looking sick.
the breathing organ of fish and some other aquatic animals
Fish extract oxygen from water through their gills.
Often "gratuitous violence/sex/insult" - excessive and unwarranted.
uncalled for; lacking good reason
The movie features gratuitous violence.
Once-abundant North Atlantic cod stocks have been severely depleted by overfishing. "Codfish" or just "cod".
a large saltwater fish that is widely eaten as food
They had fried cod and chips for dinner.
J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973), Oxford professor of Anglo-Saxon. "Tolkienesque" describes works in his fantasy style.
the British author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
Tolkien created an entire mythology, complete with invented languages.
In Scotland and northern England, jack-o'-lanterns were traditionally carved from turnips before pumpkins became popular.
a round root vegetable with white or yellowish flesh, used as food
She added turnips to the stew.
to rob a place using violence, especially in wartime
The invading army pillaged the city.
the action of pillaging a place
The pillage of cultural treasures during the war was extensive.
In British informal use, "jolly" can mean "very" as an adverb: "jolly good".
happy and cheerful
He was a jolly old man with a big laugh.
Old-fashioned/literary. More common modern equivalent: jolliness or simply cheerfulness.
lively and cheerful activity
The party was full of jollity.
one side of a many-sided object, especially a cut gem
The diamond has 58 facets.
a particular aspect or feature of something
This is just one facet of the problem.
having many sides or aspects
He has a multi-faceted personality.
In Christian tradition, Jesus was a carpenter.
a person who makes and repairs wooden objects and structures
The carpenter built a beautiful oak desk.
the activity or occupation of making or repairing wooden objects and structures
He took up carpentry as a hobby.
"Turf war" = a fight over territory (often between gangs or businesses). "Home turf" = familiar territory.
(uncountable) grass and the surface layer of earth held together by its roots
They laid fresh turf in the front yard.
(uncountable, informal) an area regarded as someone's personal territory
This is my turf, so I make the rules.
Brand name (1965) originally laid in the Astrodome stadium in Houston. "Astroturfing" (modern slang) = creating fake grassroots support, e.g., in marketing.
a brand of artificial grass, often used on sports fields
The stadium uses Astroturf instead of natural grass.
a dispute over territory or control
Two departments got into a turf war over the project.
American. Similar to a T-bone steak but with a larger tenderloin section.
a thick, choice cut of beefsteak from between the sirloin and tenderloin
He ordered the porterhouse, medium rare.
Often associated with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
abnormally or extremely active
He has a hyperactive child.
From Latin pendere ("to hang"). Same root as pending, depend, suspend.
a piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain worn around the neck
She wore a heart-shaped pendant.
a soldier stationed to keep guard or to control access to a place
The sentry challenged us as we approached.
a small shelter for a sentry to stand in
The sentry box stood at the palace gate.
Common phrase: "under the guise of" = pretending to be something.
an external form, appearance, or manner of presentation, typically concealing the true nature of something
He visited her in the guise of a friend.
Alteration of "bologna" (the Italian city/sausage). Used both for the food (American) and as slang for nonsense.
(informal) foolish or untrue talk; nonsense
That's a load of baloney.
(American) a type of smoked sausage made of beef, pork, or veal
He made a baloney sandwich for lunch.
Root of plumed.
a long, soft feather or arrangement of feathers used for ornament
The bird raised its bright plume of feathers.
a column of smoke, dust, or vapor rising into the air
A plume of smoke rose from the factory.
From "plume" = a long soft feather.
decorated with or having a plume of feathers
The knight wore a plumed helmet.
great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective
She approached the project with zeal.
Often disapproving. Originally referring to a 1st-century Jewish sect that violently opposed Roman rule.
a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals
He was a religious zealot who refused all compromise.
showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective
He is a zealous defender of free speech.
too enthusiastic or eager, often inappropriately so
An overzealous guard confiscated her water bottle.
"A raft of" + plural noun is a common idiom for "a large quantity of".
a flat structure, typically made of planks, used as a boat
They built a raft of logs to cross the river.
(informal) a large amount of something
The government announced a raft of new measures.
"White-water rafting": popular adventure sport. Famous spots: Colorado River, Zambezi, Tully River.
the sport of traveling down rivers on a raft
They went rafting on the Colorado River.
Root of lecherous.
a man who has excessive or offensive sexual desire
The old lecher couldn't stop staring at her.
Disapproving. A "lecher" is the noun form.
having or showing excessive or offensive sexual desire
He gave her a lecherous look.
Homophone of "duel" (a fight between two people).
consisting of two parts, elements, or aspects
She holds dual citizenship in the UK and Canada.
anxiety or discontent
He sensed a growing unease in the office.
feeling worried or anxious about something
She felt uneasy walking home alone at night.
(of a relationship or situation) tense and unstable
The two countries maintain an uneasy peace.
Homophone of "sore" (painful).
to fly or rise high in the air
The eagle soared above the cliffs.
to rise rapidly in amount, value, or position
Prices have soared in recent months.
a hiding place, especially one used by criminals or fugitives
Police raided the criminals' hideout.
to rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully
She snubbed him at the party.
an act of insultingly ignoring or rebuffing someone
The Oscar snub upset many of her fans.
Formal/literary. Often used of sacred or pure things.
to sully, mar, or spoil; to desecrate
The vandals defiled the sacred temple.
Common term for cities during the California Gold Rush.
a town undergoing rapid growth due to sudden prosperity
Dubai was once a boom town built on oil money.
"Tuck in" = (1) put a child to bed and pull blankets snug, (2) start eating heartily. "Tuck shop" (British) = school snack shop.
to push, fold, or turn (the edges of something) so as to hide them or hold them in place
She tucked her shirt into her jeans.
Root of fixer.
to repair or mend something broken or faulty
He fixed the leaking pipe.
to decide upon or set firmly
They fixed a date for the wedding.
"In a fix" (informal) = in a difficult situation.
(informal) a difficult or awkward situation
We're in a real fix now.
(informal) a dose of a habit-forming drug, or something one craves regularly
She needed her morning coffee fix.
a person who makes arrangements, often using underhanded methods
He was the political fixer behind the scenes.
In Christianity, Jesus had twelve disciples (the Apostles).
a follower or pupil of a teacher, leader, or philosophy
The teacher inspired generations of disciples.
Often affectionate when used of children.
a small, mischievous devil or sprite
In folklore, imps are mischievous creatures.
a mischievous child
The little imp had hidden my keys.
having or showing mischievous playfulness
She gave an impish grin.
"Goody bag" = a small bag of gifts/candies, e.g., at children's parties. The interjection "goody!" is informal/childish for delight.
(informal) something attractive or desirable to eat or have
The party bag was full of goodies.
American. Synonyms: bartender, barman, barkeep.
a person who owns or serves drinks in a bar
The barkeeper poured him another drink.
Root of wintry.
the coldest season of the year, between autumn and spring
They spent the winter in the mountains.
characteristic of winter, especially in being very cold or bleak
They drove through a wintry landscape.
Capitalized "Hymen" was the Greek god of marriage.
a thin membrane partly closing the opening of the vagina
The doctor explained that the hymen varies greatly between individuals.
Named after the Dutch city Haarlem. The Harlem Renaissance (1920s-30s) was a major flowering of African American art and literature.
a neighborhood in northern Manhattan, New York City, historically associated with African American culture
They visited the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Originally meant fainting; modern use often metaphorical (e.g., "swoon over" a celebrity).
(literary) to faint, especially from extreme emotion
In old novels, ladies often swoon at shocking news.
to be filled with delight or excitement
The crowd swooned at his performance.
British. Typically eaten toasted with butter for tea.
a small, soft, flat round cake with holes on top, eaten toasted and buttered
She had crumpets and tea for breakfast.
(uncountable) a condition of being safe from danger
They sought refuge from the storm.
(countable) a place giving shelter
The cottage became a refuge for the family.
a person who has been forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster
The country accepted thousands of refugees.
Named after the Battle of Magenta (Italy, 1859), fought around the time the dye was developed. One of the four standard CMYK printing colors.
of a light mauvish-crimson color
She wore a magenta dress.
American military slang. Short for reconnaissance.
(informal) reconnaissance
The team went out on recon at dawn.
From French, originally meaning "recognition".
military observation of an area to gather information about enemy positions or activities
They conducted aerial reconnaissance of the border.
"Dancing on the head of a pin" - an old theological question about angels.
the small flat head of a pin
The diamond was no bigger than a pinhead.
(informal, offensive) a stupid person
That comment was made by some pinhead online.
to run or travel somewhere in a great hurry
She dashed across the street.
to strike or throw with great force
The waves dashed against the rocks.
to destroy or frustrate (a hope or expectation)
Her hopes were dashed by the rejection.
The em dash (—) is a punctuation mark; the en dash (–) is shorter; hyphen (-) is shortest.
an act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily
He made a dash for the train.
a small quantity of something added
Add a dash of salt to the soup.
a horizontal punctuation mark (-, --, or --)
Use a dash to set off the parenthetical phrase.
In modern usage, also a screen displaying key information (e.g., "sales dashboard").
the panel facing the driver of a vehicle, containing instruments and controls
The car's dashboard lit up when she turned the key.
Old-fashioned, often slightly humorous.
(of a man) attractive in a flamboyant or romantic way
He looked dashing in his tuxedo.
"Hardly" is negative in meaning, despite no "not". Don't combine with another negative.
scarcely; barely
She had hardly arrived when the phone rang.
only with difficulty
I can hardly believe it.
"Mind your own business" = stay out of others' affairs. "Get down to business" = start working seriously.
(countable) a commercial enterprise
She started her own business at 25.
(uncountable) commercial activity
Business is good this quarter.
(uncountable) one's concern or matter to deal with
It's none of your business.
Verb is /kjʊˈreɪt/; noun (priest) is /ˈkjʊrət/. "Curated" is fashionable in tech/social media contexts.
to select, organize, and present (items in a collection or content)
The museum curates exhibitions of contemporary art.
(British) a clergyman who assists a parish priest
The young curate gave the sermon.
able to cure disease
The herb has curative properties.
a person in charge of a museum, gallery, or other collection
The curator gave us a tour of the new exhibit.
relating to a curator or curatorship
She has years of curatorial experience.
to enter a place forcibly and steal goods from it, especially during a war or riot
The Vikings plundered villages along the coast.
goods stolen, especially during war or riot
The pirates divided the plunder.
to break up into small parts as a result of impact or decay
The asteroid disintegrated as it entered the atmosphere.
(of a system or institution) to lose strength or cohesion
The agreement disintegrated within weeks.
the process of breaking up into small parts, or losing strength and cohesion
The old rope showed signs of disintegration.
strange and frightening
There was an eerie silence in the empty house.
to send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment
The king banished him from the kingdom.
to drive out a thought or feeling
She tried to banish the memory from her mind.
the punishment of being sent away from a country or place
He went into banishment after the failed coup.
Famous example: Mickey Mouse in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment of Fantasia.
a person who claims or is believed to have magic powers; a wizard
The sorcerer cast a spell on the prince.
Male equivalent: sorcerer. Female-marked, slightly old-fashioned.
a woman who claims or is thought to have magic powers; a witch
In the legend, the sorceress turned the prince into a frog.
the use of magic, especially black magic
He was accused of sorcery in the 16th century.
Created by L. L. Zamenhof, a Polish-Jewish ophthalmologist. Has 1-2 million speakers worldwide, with a small native-speaker community.
an artificial language designed in 1887 as a means of international communication
He learned Esperanto in his spare time.
Often worn as jewelry. Related: amulet (specifically protective).
an object thought to have magical powers and to bring good luck
She wore the necklace as a talisman.
Many phrasal verbs: call off (cancel), call out (criticize publicly), call on (visit briefly), call up (telephone, conscript).
to give a name to
They called the baby Sarah.
to telephone
I'll call you tomorrow.
to cry out loudly
He called for help.
an instance of telephoning
I got a call from my mother.
a shout or cry
She heard a call in the distance.
not attractive or beautiful
The old warehouse was gray and unlovely.
In computing, a pushdown stack is a LIFO data structure. In fitness, a tricep pushdown is a cable exercise.
a downward push
The button requires a firm pushdown.
(computing) a data structure where the last item added is the first to be removed; a stack
The function uses a pushdown automaton.
the dead body of an animal
Vultures circled the carcass.
the remains of something that has been destroyed
The carcass of the burnt-out car blocked the road.
the period between childhood and adulthood, typically ages 12-18
She was a difficult child during adolescence.
a young person who is developing from a child into an adult
The program helps troubled adolescents.
relating to or characteristic of adolescents
He showed adolescent behavior despite his age.
"Barrel of oil" = 159 liters (42 US gallons), the standard unit for oil prices. "Like shooting fish in a barrel" = very easy.
a cylindrical container, traditionally made of wood, used for storing liquids
The wine ages in oak barrels.
the tube-like part of a gun through which the bullet passes
He cleaned the rifle's barrel.
feeling sick; nauseous
The boat ride made her feel queasy.
slightly uneasy or worried
He felt queasy about the deal.
In American English, "suspenders" = the straps over the shoulders to hold up trousers. In British English, those are "braces".
(American, usually plural) a pair of straps that pass over the shoulders and fasten to the waistband of trousers
He wore red suspenders with his suit.
(British, usually plural) a stocking-holding strap attached to a belt
She wore suspenders to hold up her stockings.
American: garter belt.
(British) a woman's underwear consisting of a belt with straps that hold up stockings
She wore a black lace suspender belt.
Brides traditionally wear garters at weddings.
a band worn around the leg to keep up a stocking or sock
She wore a blue garter at her wedding.
American; British: suspender belt.
(American) a belt with straps that hold up stockings; suspender belt
She bought a black garter belt to wear with stockings.
From Spanish "good airs" (referring to fair winds for sailors). Often called "the Paris of South America".
the capital and largest city of Argentina
Tango originated in Buenos Aires.
Quail eggs are considered a delicacy in many cuisines.
a small short-tailed Old World game bird
They served roasted quail as the main course.
Literary.
to feel or show fear or apprehension
She did not quail before the threats.
British spelling; American: apnea. Sleep apnea is a common disorder where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep.
temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep
He was diagnosed with sleep apnoea.
American spelling of apnoea.
American spelling of apnoea
He was diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Antonym: inopportune.
(of a time) well-chosen or particularly favorable
He arrived at the most opportune moment.
(of a time) inconvenient or unfavorable
He arrived at a most inopportune moment.
Formal. "House of ill repute" = old phrase for a brothel.
the opinion generally held of someone or something; reputation
She is a journalist of high repute.
Implies uncertain or unverified claim.
generally regarded as having a specified characteristic
He is reputed to be the richest man in town.
Stress moves to the first syllable (REP-yuh-tuh-bul). Antonym: disreputable.
having a good reputation; trustworthy
Always buy from a reputable dealer.
"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it": Warren Buffett. "Reputation": Taylor Swift 2017 album.
the beliefs or opinions generally held about someone
The company has a good reputation.
not respectable in character or appearance; of bad reputation
He was seen leaving a disreputable bar downtown.
(of a remark or idea) overused and consequently of little importance; lacking originality
The speech was full of trite phrases.
a painful swelling on the first joint of the big toe
Wearing tight shoes can cause bunions.
Often "deviate from" a plan or norm.
to depart from an established course or norm
He never deviated from his original plan.
"Standard deviation" is a fundamental statistics concept.
the action of departing from an established course or norm
There was significant deviation from the expected results.
Also used as a noun. Often of social or sexual norms.
departing markedly from accepted norms, especially in behavior
The study examined deviant behavior in adolescents.
Includes many species: impala, gazelle, kudu, eland. The American "pronghorn antelope" is technically not a true antelope.
a fast-running deer-like animal with hollow horns, native to Africa and Asia
A herd of antelope grazed on the savanna.