Vocabulary: Batch 63

From French, originally military. "Barrage" the structure (dam) is stressed on the first syllable in British English: /ˈbærɑːʒ/.

1. a continuous attack with heavy artillery fire

   The town was destroyed by an artillery barrage.

2. an overwhelming quantity or onslaught of something (questions, complaints, etc.)

   She faced a barrage of questions from reporters.

1. a varied mixture of people or things

   The garden was a medley of colors and scents.

2. a piece of music made up of several different tunes played one after another

   The band played a medley of Beatles songs.

3. a swimming race in which competitors use a different stroke for each segment

   She won gold in the 400m individual medley.

• (of food) looking or smelling so delicious that it makes one's mouth water

  The bakery window was full of mouth-watering pastries.

British English: "fringe" can also mean bangs (the hair cut across the forehead). "Fringe benefits" = extra perks of a job. "Fringe theory" = an unorthodox view held by a minority.

1. a decorative border of hanging threads, cords, or strips on a piece of cloth

   The shawl had a long silk fringe.

2. the outer or marginal part of an area, group, or sphere of activity

   He lives on the fringe of the city.

1. to push or cause to be below the surface of water

   The submarine submerged silently.

2. (figurative) to completely hide or absorb something

   She submerged herself in her work to forget her grief.

• under the surface of water or another liquid

  The submerged rocks were hard to see.

• able to operate underwater

  The team used a submersible camera.

• a small vehicle designed to travel underwater

  The submersible reached the shipwreck.

• the action of submerging or the state of being submerged

  Prolonged submersion in water can damage the device.

Common figurative phrase: "trample on someone's rights" = violate or disregard them.

1. to step heavily on something or someone, causing damage

   The crowd trampled the flower beds in their rush to leave.

2. (figurative) to treat with cruel disregard

   The new law tramples on workers' rights.

• extremely happy, peaceful, and picturesque

  They spent an idyllic week on the island.

• a scene or event of a peaceful, idyllic nature

  Their weekend in the countryside was a pastoral idyll.

"Stark naked" = completely naked. "Stark contrast" = striking, obvious contrast.

1. severe or bare in appearance or outline

   The trees stood stark against the winter sky.

2. unpleasantly or sharply clear; harsh

   There is a stark contrast between rich and poor in this city.

Formal. Often used in passive: "is revered for...".

• to feel deep respect or admiration for someone or something

  He is revered as one of the greatest scientists of all time.

Related: reverent (adj.), reverently (adv.). "The Reverend" (Rev.) : title for clergy.

• deep respect for someone or something

  He spoke about her with great reverence.

• feeling or showing deep respect

  He bowed his head in a reverent silence.

• in a way that shows deep respect

  She reverently placed the flowers on the grave.

1. to throw or hurl with force

   She flung her keys onto the table.

2. to move oneself or part of one's body suddenly and energetically

   He flung himself onto the sofa.

1. a short, casual sexual or romantic relationship

   They had a brief fling during the summer.

2. a short period of enjoyment or wild behavior

   After graduation, she had one last fling before starting work.

From French. Note the pronunciation: "sheek", not "chick".

• elegantly and stylishly fashionable

  She wore a chic black dress to the gala.

• stylishness and elegance, typically of a particular kind

  The boutique offered Parisian chic at New York prices.

• (of a structure or piece of furniture) poorly made and likely to collapse

  They climbed the rickety wooden staircase to the attic.

1. to damage or spoil something completely

   The rain ruined our picnic.

2. to cause someone to lose all their money or position

   The investment scandal ruined him financially.

1. (uncountable) the state of being destroyed; complete destruction

   The earthquake reduced the city to ruin.

2. (countable, often plural) the remains of a destroyed or decayed building

   We visited the ruins of the ancient temple.

• causing or likely to cause ruin; disastrous

  The company took on ruinous levels of debt.

Always intransitive; typically used in the form "teem with".

• to be present in large numbers; to be full of (typically people or animals)

  The river was teeming with fish.

1. a fortress that protects or dominates a city

   The citadel stood on a hill overlooking the harbor.

2. (figurative) a stronghold or center of something

   The university is a citadel of free thought.

"The cradle of civilization" is a phrase often used for Mesopotamia.

1. a small bed for a baby that can be rocked

   The baby slept peacefully in the cradle.

2. (figurative) the place or period in which something originates

   Greece is often called the cradle of Western philosophy.

• to hold gently and protectively, as if in a cradle

  She cradled the kitten in her arms.

• to paint a surface with a white lime mixture; (figurative) to cover up or conceal wrongdoing

  The report was a whitewash designed to protect the executives.

• a white lime mixture used as cheap paint; (figurative) an attempt to hide unpleasant facts

  Critics called the investigation a whitewash.

"Slip up" = make a small mistake. "Slip my mind" = forget. "Slip into" = put on clothes quickly.

1. to slide and lose one's balance or footing

   She slipped on the icy sidewalk.

2. to move quickly and quietly so as not to be noticed

   He slipped out of the meeting unnoticed.

3. to put or pass something somewhere with a quick, easy movement

   She slipped the note into his pocket.

1. a small mistake; a minor error

   It was just a slip of the tongue.

2. a small piece of paper

   She handed me a slip with the address on it.

• the action or process of slipping or sliding; failure to meet a standard or deadline

  There has been some slippage in the project's timeline.

"Slippery slope" = a course of action that leads inexorably to worse consequences.

1. difficult to hold firmly or stand on because smooth, wet, or slimy

   The road was slippery after the rain.

2. (of a person) evasive and unpredictable

   Don't trust him - he's a slippery character.

Also short for "roller coaster" (the amusement park ride).

• a small mat or disc placed under a glass to protect the surface beneath from drips or heat

  Use a coaster so you don't leave a ring on the table.

1. full of energy, life, and excitement

   Barcelona is a vibrant city full of culture.

2. (of color or sound) bright and striking

   She wore a dress in vibrant red.

• the quality of being full of energy, life, and excitement

  The market square is known for its vibrancy.

In British schools, the equivalent term is "break" or "playtime".

1. (American) a short break between school classes; (more generally) a pause in business or proceedings

   The students ran outside during recess.

2. (countable) a small space set back or hollowed out from a wall or surface; a niche

   The statue stood in a recess in the wall.

"Recessed lighting": popular interior design feature where lights are sunk into the ceiling.

• set back from the surrounding surface

  The kitchen has recessed lighting.

Technical definition: two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth. Famous: Great Recession (2007-09), the worst since the Great Depression.

• a period of temporary economic decline

  The country entered a recession last year.

• relating to or causing a recession

  Economists fear recessionary pressures.

In genetics, contrasted with "dominant". Both parents must carry a recessive gene for it to be expressed in offspring. Example: blue eyes are recessive.

• (genetics) of a trait expressed only when both genes are recessive

  Blue eyes are a recessive trait.

• a temporary alliance formed for combined action, especially of political parties forming a government

  The two parties formed a coalition government.

From the same Latin root as coalition, coalescere ("to grow together").

• to come together to form one whole

  The various protest groups coalesced into a single movement.

• a person from the same country as someone else

  She met some compatriots while traveling abroad.

Almost always used in the phrase "the whole shebang". In computing, "shebang" also refers to the `#!` characters at the start of a script.

• (informal, in the phrase "the whole shebang") the whole thing; everything

  The buffet included appetizers, mains, desserts, drinks - the whole shebang.

From Latin excruciare ("to torment"), from crux ("cross"): the original sense was the agony of crucifixion.

1. intensely painful

   The pain in her back was excruciating.

2. unbearably embarrassing or tedious

   The meeting was excruciating in its dullness.

Formal. Don't confuse with "consequential" (which has a separate sense).

• following as a result or effect

  The flood and consequent damage forced the town to evacuate.

1. having important and far-reaching effects; significant

   It was the most consequential election in decades.

2. following as a consequence or result

   The flood and consequential damage cost millions.

From Greek ephemeros ("lasting only a day"). The singular "ephemeron" is rarely used.

• things that exist or are used for only a short time, especially printed matter such as tickets, posters, or postcards

  The museum displays vintage ephemera from the 1920s.

• lasting for a very short time

  The beauty of cherry blossoms is famously ephemeral.

Technical/formal. Common in engineering contexts ("actuator" = the mechanism).

1. to cause a machine or device to operate

   The motion sensor actuates the alarm.

2. (formal) to motivate someone to act in a particular way

   She was actuated by a strong sense of duty.

• a mechanism that puts something into automatic action, especially by converting a signal into mechanical motion

  A hydraulic actuator opens the valve.

Often followed by "to".

1. likely to be affected by something, especially a disease, condition, or influence

   Young children are particularly susceptible to colds.

2. easily influenced or affected emotionally

   She is very susceptible to flattery.

• the state of being likely to be affected by something

  Age increases susceptibility to certain diseases.

"Fall foliage" refers to the colored leaves of autumn, a famous tourist attraction in New England.

• the leaves of a plant or tree collectively

  The dense foliage hid the small cottage from view.

Verb is stressed on the second syllable; noun on the first. Common stress-shift pattern in English.

1. to make or manufacture from raw materials

   The factory produces 10,000 cars per year.

2. to bring something into existence; to create or yield

   His research produced surprising results.

3. to show or present for examination

   He produced his passport at the border.

• fresh fruits and vegetables, especially as sold in a store

  The produce section is at the front of the supermarket.

In film/TV/music, the producer manages the production process (distinct from the director, who handles creative decisions).

• a person or company that produces something

  He is the producer of the show.

"Product manager" (PM): major modern tech job. "Gross domestic product" (GDP): economic measure.

• a thing that is made or grown for sale

  They launched a new product last month.

• the action of making or manufacturing

  Production has slowed due to supply issues.

Pioneered by Henry Ford for the Model T (1913). Also called assembly line.

• a series of workers and machines in a factory

  He worked on the production line for 20 years.

Often used in contrast to "busy": being busy isn't the same as being productive.

• producing large amounts of goods or results

  It was a very productive meeting.

Major economic indicator ("productivity growth"). Also: "productivity apps" (todoist, Notion, etc.).

• the state of being productive; output per unit of input

  The new software improved productivity.

The closed spelling counterproductive is more common.

• having the opposite of the intended effect

  Arguing harder became counter-productive.

1. (of a situation) not hopeful or encouraging

   The economic outlook is bleak.

2. (of a place) bare, cold, and exposed to harsh weather

   The bleak moorland stretched for miles.

1. a short post used to stop or divert vehicles, often used to protect pedestrians or buildings

   They installed bollards along the sidewalk to prevent cars from parking.

2. a strong post on a ship or quay for securing mooring lines

   The crew tied the rope to the bollard.

Note: "general consensus" is technically redundant since consensus already implies generality, but the phrase is common.

• a general agreement among a group of people

  The committee reached a consensus on the new policy.

• relating to or involving consent, especially mutual consent

  The activity was completely consensual.

1. to forcibly put an end to (a rebellion, protest, etc.)

   The government suppressed the uprising within days.

2. to prevent the expression or development of (a thought, feeling, or reaction)

   She tried to suppress a smile.

3. to prevent the publication or disclosure of (information)

   The report was suppressed for years.

"Appetite suppressant" is a common diet aid.

• a drug or other substance that suppresses something

  She took an appetite suppressant.

• the action of forcibly putting an end to something, or preventing a thought or feeling from being expressed

  The suppression of the free press alarmed human rights groups.

Idiomatic: refers to one's main source of livelihood. Also an adjective: "bread-and-butter issues" = basic/everyday concerns.

1. a person's main source of income; one's livelihood

   Teaching is her bread and butter.

2. basic and essential, but not exciting

   Customer service is bread-and-butter work for our staff.

1. to admit or acknowledge that something is true after first denying or resisting it

   She finally conceded that he was right.

2. to acknowledge defeat in an election or contest

   The candidate conceded the race late on election night.

3. to grant a right, privilege, or territory, especially reluctantly

   The country was forced to concede the disputed islands.

1. a thing that is granted, especially in response to demands

   The government made several concessions to the protesters.

2. the right to use land or other property for a specified purpose, granted by a government or company

   The mining concession was sold to a foreign company.

• the holder of a concession or grant, especially the right to operate a business in a particular location

  The food concessionaire at the stadium operates 20 stands.

• relating to or involving a concession or reduction in price

  Students receive concessionary tickets.

Used especially in US National Parks for licensed operators.

• a person or company holding a concession to operate a business on government land

  The lodge is run by a National Park concessioner.

Always intransitive; used with "with". Connotation is usually negative (interference, sabotage).

• to interfere with something in a harmful way; to alter without authorization

  Someone tampered with the lock on the back door.

Roman legions typically had 4,000-6,000 soldiers.

1. a large body of soldiers, especially the basic unit of the Roman army

   Caesar marched his legions across the Rubicon.

2. a vast number of people or things

   She has a legion of fans.

• great in number

  His mistakes are legion.

Formal/academic. Common in math and philosophy.

• a direct consequence or result of something already proved or established

  Higher taxes are a corollary of expanded social services.

• any of five tendons at the back of a person's knee, or the muscles behind the thigh

  He pulled a hamstring during the sprint.

Past tense: hamstrung. Originally meant cutting an animal's hamstring tendon to cripple it.

• to severely restrict the ability or effectiveness of someone or something

  Budget cuts have hamstrung the research program.

• the state of being superior to all others in authority, power, or status

  The empire established military supremacy over the region.

"Supreme Court" is the highest court in many countries.

1. highest in rank, authority, or quality

   The Supreme Court made its final ruling.

2. very great or the greatest

   She made a supreme effort to finish on time.

Usually used in compounds: "white supremacist", "male supremacist".

• a person who believes that a particular group, especially a racial or ethnic one, is superior to all others

  The rally was organized by white supremacists.

Always intransitive; typically "refrain from".

• to stop oneself from doing something

  Please refrain from smoking inside the building.

• a repeated line or verse in a song or poem, typically at the end of each stanza; a chorus

  The audience joined in singing the refrain.

• a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness

  The team felt a wave of euphoria after winning the championship.

• characterized by or feeling intense excitement and happiness

  She was euphoric about her promotion.

1. relating to the sea, especially in connection with shipping, navigation, or naval matters

   The country has a long maritime history.

2. living or found in or near the sea

   The maritime climate is mild and damp.

"Hairline fracture" = a very thin crack in a bone. "Receding hairline" = a balding pattern.

• the edge of a person's hair along the top of the forehead

  His hairline was beginning to recede.

• very fine or narrow; thin like a hair

  There was a hairline crack in the windshield.

1. the theory or philosophy of law; the study of legal systems

   She specializes in constitutional jurisprudence.

2. a body of legal decisions or principles

   American jurisprudence has evolved over centuries.

1. the official power to make legal decisions and judgments

   The case falls under federal jurisdiction.

2. the territory or area within which such power can be exercised

   The fugitive fled to another jurisdiction.

"Get the picture" (informal) = understand. "Picture yourself..." = imagine.

1. a visual representation made by painting, drawing, or photography

   She hung a picture of the mountains on the wall.

2. a movie

   The studio released three pictures last year.

3. a situation considered as a whole

   The economic picture is improving.

1. to imagine or visualize

   Picture yourself on a beach in the Caribbean.

2. to represent in a picture

   The mural pictures the town's founding.

• relating to or expressed in pictures; illustrated

  The book includes a pictorial history of the city.

From picture.

• visually charming or quaint, as if in a picture

  a picturesque fishing village

From archaic verb "bereave" = to deprive (typically of someone through death). Used as adjective or as plural noun "the bereaved".

• having recently suffered the death of a close relation or friend

  The bereaved family received hundreds of condolence cards.

• the state of having suffered such a loss; the period of grief that follows

  He took a week off work after the bereavement.

Common in mining, chemistry, and biology contexts.

1. the testing of a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality

   The gold assay confirmed the purity of the sample.

2. (general) any test or analysis of a substance

   They ran an assay to measure enzyme activity.

• to analyze (a substance) for its composition or properties

  The lab assays soil samples for contamination.

Formal/clinical term. Other terms include "feces" (medical), "droppings" (animals), "poop" (informal).

• waste matter discharged from the body, especially feces

  The path was littered with animal excrement.

• a person who is intolerantly devoted to their own opinions and prejudiced against others, especially regarding race, religion, or politics

  He was condemned as a bigot for his racist remarks.

• obstinately convinced of the superiority of one's own opinions and prejudiced against those who hold different views

  His bigoted views were not welcome at the meeting.

• intolerance toward those who hold different opinions; prejudice

  The campaign called for an end to bigotry.

"A handful" of someone often describes a difficult or lively child.

1. the amount that can be held in one hand

   She grabbed a handful of nuts.

2. a small number of people or things

   Only a handful of guests showed up.

3. (informal) someone or something difficult to control or manage

   That toddler is a real handful.

Originally a castrated ram (wether) that wore a bell and led the flock. Common in business and political journalism.

• a person or thing that indicates a trend; a leading indicator

  This swing state is often a bellwether for the national election.

From Spanish. Used both as adjective and adverb.

• not able, willing, or allowed to communicate with other people

  He went incommunicado for a week to finish his book.

Almost always implies wrongdoing.

• to come to a secret understanding for a harmful purpose; to conspire

  The two companies colluded to fix prices.

• secret or illegal cooperation, especially in order to cheat or deceive others

  There was evidence of collusion between the bidders.

• involving secret or illegal cooperation

  Regulators investigated the collusive behavior of the firms.

• to irritate or annoy

  It irks me when people don't reply to emails.

• irritating or tedious

  He found the constant interruptions irksome.

• to greatly enjoy or take pleasure in something

  She relished the chance to travel abroad.

In American food culture, "relish" most often refers to sweet pickle relish for hot dogs.

1. (uncountable) great enjoyment

   He attacked his meal with relish.

2. (countable/uncountable) a savory condiment, typically made of chopped pickled vegetables

   He added some relish to his hot dog.

• a sudden, intense expression of emotion or activity

  She apologized for her angry outburst.

Formal. Often implies justified or divine punishment.

• punishment inflicted in return for a wrong or crime

  The community sought retribution for the attack.

1. to sit or stand with one leg on either side of something

   He straddled the motorcycle.

2. to extend across or occupy both sides of (a boundary, period, or category)

   The town straddles the border between two states.

"Rabble-rouser" = a person who stirs up popular discontent.

1. a disorderly crowd of people; a mob

   The rabble shouted insults at the politicians.

2. (derogatory) the common people; the masses

   He had nothing but contempt for the rabble.

"Apart from" = (1) except for, (2) in addition to.

1. separated by a distance

   They live miles apart.

2. into pieces

   The toy fell apart in his hands.

• to spend extravagantly or wastefully, often on something one doesn't really need

  They splurged on a luxury vacation.

• an act of spending extravagantly

  The new shoes were a real splurge.

From Latin convivium ("feast"), from con- ("together") + vivere ("to live").

• (of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable

  It was a convivial dinner with old friends.

Historically: a brutal Dutch naval punishment where a sailor was dragged underneath the ship from one side to the other.

1. (historical) to punish a sailor by dragging them under the hull of a ship

   Mutineers were sometimes keelhauled.

2. (informal) to severely scold or criticize

   The boss keelhauled him for missing the deadline.

• to irritate intensely; to frustrate

  His constant interruptions exasperated her.

• intensely irritated and frustrated

  She gave an exasperated sigh.

• intensely irritating; infuriating

  His exasperating habit of being late was driving her crazy.

• a feeling of intense irritation or frustration

  She threw up her hands in exasperation.

• to speak or shout at length in a wild, impassioned way

  He ranted about the unfairness of the system.

• a spell of ranting; a tirade

  She went on a rant about the noisy neighbors.

• extremely angry

  Irate customers demanded refunds.

From a 19th-century British music hall song "by Jingo!". Strong negative connotation.

• characterized by extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive foreign policy

  The newspaper was criticized for its jingoistic coverage of the war.

From the same 19th-century British music hall song as jingoistic.

• extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive foreign policy

  The newspaper's coverage was widely criticized as jingoism.

Homophones: pair, pear. "Pare down" = reduce.

1. to trim something by cutting off the outer edges

   She pared the apple with a small knife.

2. to reduce something in size or quantity by small amounts

   The company pared its staff to cut costs.

The "n" in "-mn" is silent. Past: condemned.

1. to express complete disapproval of someone or something

   The president condemned the attack.

2. to sentence someone to a particular punishment, especially death

   He was condemned to death for the crime.

3. to officially declare a building unfit for use

   The old factory was condemned and demolished.

• the expression of very strong disapproval

  His remarks drew international condemnation.

• expressing strong disapproval

  The judge's condemnatory tone left no doubt about his views.

• (of a person) sentenced to death; (of a building) declared unfit for use

  The condemned man ate his last meal in silence.

Largely historical; modern American term is "death row".

• a prison cell where a person sentenced to death is held before execution

  He spent his final hours in the condemned cell.

1. hesitating or doubting

   She was dubious about the plan.

2. not to be relied on; suspect

   He has a dubious reputation in the industry.

• so foolish or unreasonable as to be amusing or laughable

  The idea that he could win the election is ludicrous.

Always pre-noun; never used predicatively. Common in job titles.

• holding a position temporarily while the regular holder is absent

  She served as acting director for six months.

• the art or profession of performing a role in a play, film, or TV show

  She studied acting at Juilliard.

Almost always implies something negative or worrying.

• about to happen; imminent

  He felt a sense of impending doom.

Informal/British in the unsteady sense; American usage often refers to policy nerds ("a wonky candidate").

1. crooked, off-center, or unsteady

   This table is a bit wonky - one leg is shorter.

2. (American, informal) excessively focused on technical policy details

   The senator gave a wonky speech about tax reform.

From Greek pseudes ("false"). Examples: pseudonym (false name), pseudoscience (fake science), pseudocode (informal code).

• a prefix meaning false, pretended, or not genuine

  He writes under a pseudonym.

Past tense: told. The noun "tell" comes from poker.

1. to communicate information, facts, or news to someone

   He told me about his new job.

2. to instruct or order someone to do something

   She told the children to be quiet.

3. to be able to distinguish or recognize

   It's hard to tell the twins apart.

• (poker, informal) an unconscious habit or behavior that reveals what someone is thinking or trying to hide

  His tell is a slight twitch of the eye when he's bluffing.

• too much or too many to be counted or measured; not related to anyone

  Untold damage.

• to tell a story again, often in a new way

  The film retells an old legend.

"ATM" = Automated Teller Machine.

1. a person employed to deal with customers' transactions in a bank

   The teller counted out the cash.

2. a person who tells stories

   She is a famous teller of folk tales.

Often confused with "discrete" (meaning separate/distinct). Same pronunciation, different meaning.

• careful and prudent, especially to avoid causing offense or attracting attention

  She was discreet about her relationship with her boss.

"Discretion is the better part of valor" (Shakespeare).

1. the quality of behaving in a quiet and controlled way without drawing attention

   He handled the delicate situation with great discretion.

2. the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation

   Use your own discretion.

"Discretionary income" = money left over after necessities.

• available for use at the discretion of the user; not predetermined

  He used the discretionary fund to support the project.