Vocabulary: Batch 67

American spelling; British: sterilise.

1. to make free from bacteria or other microorganisms

   The surgeon sterilized the instruments.

2. to deprive (a person or animal) of the ability to produce offspring, typically by removing reproductive organs

   The shelter sterilizes all stray cats.

For pets, neutering is common, and spaying is specific to female animals. Sterilization is broader and also means killing microorganisms.

1. the act of making a person or animal unable to reproduce

   The clinic provides low-cost sterilization for stray cats.

2. the process of killing microorganisms on equipment, surfaces, or food

   Proper sterilization of surgical tools prevents infection.

Stronger than "dislike" or "hate".

• to dislike intensely

  He detests cilantro and won't eat anything with it.

• deserving intense dislike; hateful

  The dictator's detestable crimes were finally exposed.

The Greeks' own name for Greece; English 'Greece' comes from Latin 'Graecia'.

• the Greek name for Greece

  In Greek, the country is called Hellas, not Greece.

Archaeological term for the Bronze Age cultures of mainland Greece (Early, Middle, and Late Helladic).

• relating to the Bronze Age civilization of mainland Greece

  Mycenae flourished in the Late Helladic period.

"I won't dignify that with a response" = a common dismissive comeback to a rude question.

• to make seem worthy or impressive

  He refused to dignify the question with an answer.

• having or showing a composed and serious manner worthy of respect

  She gave a dignified speech.

"Death with dignity": movement supporting end-of-life choice. "Beneath one's dignity": too undignified to do.

• the state of being worthy of honor or respect

  She faced the situation with dignity.

From Latin "caelum" (sky/heaven). "Celestial body": astronomical object. "Celestial Empire": old Western name for China.

• relating to the sky or heaven

  The astronomer studied celestial objects.

Usually means carbon-14, a radioactive isotope used to estimate the age of once-living material.

• radioactive carbon used for dating organic remains

  The lab measured radiocarbon in the ancient wood.

• using or relating to radioactive carbon

  The team ran a radiocarbon test on the linen.

Also called carbon dating. Best for organic material up to about 50,000 years old.

• a method of dating once-living material by carbon-14 decay

  Radiocarbon dating showed that the cloth was medieval.

Formal. "Dulce et decorum est" - Latin phrase "sweet and proper it is" (also a famous Wilfred Owen anti-war poem).

• behavior that is proper and dignified

  He maintained decorum during the trial.

• behaving in a way that is polite and respects social conventions

  The guests remained decorous throughout the ceremony.

Literary or biblical in tone. Past tense: smote; past participle: smitten.

1. to strike, defeat, or punish with great force

   The hero vowed to smite the monster.

2. to affect someone suddenly and strongly

   The village was smitten by disease.

1. deeply attracted or in love

   He was completely smitten after their first date.

2. strongly affected by something bad

   The coast was smitten by a sudden storm.

British spelling: Palaeolithic

• relating to the early part of the Stone Age, when primitive stone tools were first used (roughly 2.6 million to 10,000 years ago)

  The cave contains Paleolithic paintings of animals.

• the early Stone Age period itself

  Stone tools from the Paleolithic have been found across Europe.

Neo- means new and lithic means stone. Compare Paleolithic, the Old Stone Age.

• relating to the later Stone Age, when farming spread

  The site contains Neolithic pottery and polished stone tools.

• the later part of the Stone Age

  Permanent villages became more common in the Neolithic.

Demi- means half. In myth, a demigod often has one divine parent and one human parent.

1. a partly divine mythological being

   Hercules is often described as a demigod.

2. a person admired almost like a god

   To his fans, the old striker was a demigod.

Mostly historical or formal. Common phrase: regnal year, a year counted from a monarch's accession.

• relating to the reign of a monarch

  The inscription gives the date as the king's fifth regnal year.

"Blood vessel" = artery, vein, or capillary.

1. a ship or large boat

   The fishing vessel returned to port.

2. a container, especially for liquids

   Wine was poured from a clay vessel.

3. (anatomy) a tube or canal in the body

   He suffered a burst blood vessel.

"Relieve oneself" (euphemism) = urinate or defecate. "Relieve" also means take over a duty ("the night nurse relieves the day nurse").

• to cause (pain or distress) to become less severe

  The medicine relieved her pain.

• no longer feeling distressed or anxious

  She felt relieved after the test.

"Disaster relief" - emergency aid. "Comic relief" - humor breaking tension in serious drama. "Tax relief" - reduction in tax burden.

1. a feeling of reassurance after anxiety

   She gave a sigh of relief.

2. the alleviation of distress

   They sent relief to the disaster area.

3. a sculpted design raised from or cut into a surface

   The temple wall is covered with carved reliefs of gods.

Period roughly from Alexander's death in 323 BCE to Egypt's annexation by Rome in 30 BCE. Cleopatra was the last Hellenistic monarch.

• relating to Greek history, language, and culture from the death of Alexander the Great to the conquest of Egypt by Rome (c. 323-30 BCE)

  The Hellenistic period saw the spread of Greek culture across the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.

From Latin durare (to last). "Durable goods" = economics term for items lasting 3+ years (cars, appliances).

• able to withstand wear

  This material is very durable.

Same Latin root as "durable". "Endurance" = capacity for sustained effort. "Endurance athletes" = marathoners, triathletes.

1. to suffer (something painful) patiently

   They endured years of hardship.

2. to remain in existence; last

   His legacy will endure.

• the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way

  She showed great endurance during the race.

1. very great or intense

   Her work has had a profound effect on the field.

2. showing great knowledge or insight

   He gave a profound analysis of the problem.

• great depth of insight or knowledge

  Critics praised the profundity of her latest novel.

"Staff" treats employees collectively (singular). "Staff member" for individual. Music: "staff" = the five lines for notation. Also a long stick (wizard's staff).

• the people working for an organization

  The hotel has a friendly staff.

• to provide with workers

  The clinic is staffed by volunteers.

"Staffing levels", "staffing agency" (provides temporary workers), "understaffed" / "overstaffed": workforce planning vocabulary.

• the provision or level of personnel for an organization

  Staffing was inadequate over the holidays.

Common in journalism and US politics: White House staffer, campaign staffer, Senate staffer.

• a member of the staff of an organization, office, or campaign

  A senior staffer briefed reporters after the meeting.

A truce pauses fighting temporarily; a peace treaty is meant to end a war more formally.

• an agreement between enemies to stop fighting for a period of time

  The two sides agreed to a truce so civilians could leave the city.

• to extend or stick out from a surface

  A nail protruded from the wooden plank.

• a thing that extends beyond a surface or edge

  The doctor examined the small protrusion on his back.

• to cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; to surrender

  After hours of debate, he finally capitulated.

Formal and uncommon; everyday English usually says the side that surrendered or the person who gave in.

• a person, army, or group that capitulates or surrenders

  The treaty described the defeated army as the capitulator.

• showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's situation, often despite real risks or problems

  After years of success, the company grew complacent and stopped innovating.

• a feeling of smug satisfaction with one's situation or achievements, often accompanied by unawareness of real dangers

  After years of dominance, complacency set in and the company lost its edge.

Common in aviation, cycling, and driving. Compare headwind (from the front) and tailwind (from behind).

• a wind blowing across the direction in which something is moving

  The pilot corrected for a strong crosswind during landing.

"Common sense" = practical good judgment. "In common" = shared.

1. occurring, found, or done often; usual

   It's common to feel nervous before a big exam.

2. shared by, or coming from, more than one

   They have a common interest in music.

3. ordinary; not distinguished or special

   He was just a common laborer before the war.

Contrasts with aristocrat, noble, or royal.

• a person who is not a noble or royal

  The prince married a commoner.

Originally a noun (from translating Latin "locus communis" = common place, referring to literary themes).

• not unusual; ordinary

  Smartphones have become commonplace.

Often used for Egypt before the First Dynasty.

• before the period of rule by dynasties

  Predynastic Egyptian graves contain early pottery.

Proto- means earliest or preliminary; the term often refers to the transition into dynastic Egypt.

• relating to the earliest formation of dynastic rule

  Protodynastic inscriptions show emerging royal names.

1. a wall or screen that divides a space

   The office uses glass partitions.

2. the division of a country, disk, or area into parts

   The partition of the drive erased the data.

• to divide something into separate parts

  The hall was partitioned into small classrooms.

Often used after the noun it describes: payment due, rent due, report due.

1. expected or scheduled to happen, arrive, or be completed at a particular time

   The final report is due next Monday.

2. owed and needing to be paid

   The rent is due on the first day of each month.

3. proper, appropriate, or deserved

   The team deserves due credit for finishing the project early.

• because of or caused by something

  The flight was delayed due to bad weather.

• in accordance with what is required or appropriate; following proper procedure or arrangement

  A document duly signed and authorized by the inspector.

Common collocations: "undue stress", "undue influence", "undue burden".

• more than is reasonable, appropriate, or necessary; excessive

  There is no need to cause undue alarm.

1. placed after the word it modifies

   In "attorney general," the adjective "general" is postpositive.

2. used after a noun instead of before it, especially in grammar terms

   The phrase "the people present" contains a postpositive adjective.

• a word, especially an adjective, that is placed after the word it modifies

  "Present" is a postpositive in "the members present."

In formal writing, "render + object + adjective" means make someone or something become that way. In computing, render means generate what the user sees.

1. to cause someone or something to be in a particular state

   The storm rendered several roads unusable.

2. to provide, give, or deliver a service, judgment, payment, or help

   The clinic renders free medical care to low-income families.

3. to represent, translate, or produce something in another form

   The browser renders the page differently on a small screen.

4. to melt fat in order to separate it from meat or tissue

   The cook slowly rendered the bacon fat in a pan.

• a depiction or interpretation, especially an artist's drawing or a performance; a coat of plaster on a wall

  an architect's rendering of the new tower

Music: a performance interpretation. "Extraordinary rendition": controversial post-9/11 CIA practice of secret prisoner transfers.

• a performance or interpretation

  Her rendition of the song moved everyone.

1. land or an area controlled by a country, government, organization, or person

   The island is a disputed territory claimed by two countries.

2. an area that a person, group, or animal treats as its own

   The dog barked because it thought the yard was its territory.

3. a field, subject, or business area that belongs to a particular person or activity

   Enterprise software is new territory for the small startup.

"Territorial waters" are the sea areas legally controlled by a country.

1. relating to the land, area, or borders controlled by a country or authority

   The two countries signed an agreement to reduce territorial disputes.

2. protective of an area, role, or possession that one considers one's own

   He became territorial when another manager tried to change his team's process.

• the waters under the sovereign jurisdiction of a nation or state

  The ship entered their territorial waters.

A negotiation metaphor. Similar to "leverage", but more concrete: something you can trade, offer, or withhold.

• something used to gain an advantage in a negotiation

  The company used the patent as a bargaining chip in the merger talks.

"Beg the question" originally means to assume what you are trying to prove; in everyday speech, many people use it to mean "raise the question".

1. to ask for something very urgently, humbly, or emotionally

   The kids begged to stay up late for the fireworks.

2. to ask people for money, food, or help because one is in need

   He was forced to beg on the street after losing his job.

3. to ask not to be hurt, punished, or refused

   She begged for mercy, but the guard ignored her.

"Beggars can't be choosers": proverb meaning accept what you're offered. "Beggar belief": be unbelievable.

• a person who asks for money or food

  He gave money to the beggar.

Often appears in phrases like "central tenet" or "basic tenet". Do not confuse with "tenant" (a renter).

• a principle or belief that is part of a system, theory, religion, or organization

  A core tenet of the school is that children learn best through practice.

"Pay off" = be worthwhile, or repay a debt fully. "Pay attention" = concentrate.

1. to give money in exchange for goods or services

   She paid the waiter and left a tip.

2. to be worthwhile or profitable

   Honesty pays in the long run.

• money paid to someone for regular work

  She asked for a raise in pay.

Often postpositive in formal and business writing: amount payable, tax payable, payable on demand. Accounting uses "accounts payable" for money a business owes.

1. due to be paid, especially by a particular date or under a contract

   The remaining balance is payable within 30 days.

2. able to be paid, or suitable for payment

   The invoice is payable by bank transfer or credit card.

3. profitable enough to be worth operating, especially of a mine

   The ore deposit was not payable at current metal prices.

Homophone: sail. "For sale" means available to buy; "on sale" can mean available to buy or, especially in American English, discounted.

1. an act or instance of selling goods, services, or property

   The sale of the apartment took almost three months.

2. a period or event when a store sells goods at reduced prices

   I bought the jacket during the winter sale.

3. the total business produced by selling something

   Online sale of the new model starts next week.

1. the work or department of selling goods or services

   She moved from engineering into sales after graduation.

2. the amount or value of goods and services sold

   Sales were up 12 percent compared with last year.

In American English, it usually means discounted. In British English, it can also simply mean available to buy.

1. available to be bought

   Tickets for the concert go on sale Friday morning.

2. being sold at a reduced price

   This laptop is on sale for 20 percent off.

• a person whose job is to sell products or services

  A good salesperson listens before trying to close the deal.

"Death of a Salesman" - Arthur Miller play. "Used car salesman" - stereotyped as untrustworthy. This word is gendered; in neutral or professional writing, use "salesperson" or "sales representative" unless the person's gender is relevant.

• a man whose job is to sell products or services

  The salesman explained the warranty before we bought the car.

Past tense: sold. "Sell out" - betray, or sell all stock. "Hard sell" vs "soft sell" - sales approach.

• to give something in exchange for money

  She sold her car last month.

• a female salesperson

  The saleswoman helped me find my size.

1. something known by only a few people and deliberately kept hidden from others

   Can you keep a secret?

2. the key reason or method behind success

   The secret of good bread is patience.

• kept hidden from knowledge or view

  They held a secret meeting after work.

• inclined to hide one's thoughts, actions, or plans from other people

  He became secretive about his phone.

• classified as requiring the highest degree of secrecy

  Top-secret documents.

• the action of keeping something secret or the state of being kept secret

  The bidding was conducted in secrecy.

• involving direct competition between two people, teams, or groups

  The two candidates met in a head-to-head debate.

• directly against each other in a contest or comparison

  The teams will go head to head in the final.

1. the activity of buying and selling goods and services, especially on a large scale

   The port became a center of international commerce.

2. trade and business activity in general

   The internet changed commerce in almost every industry.

1. relating to business, trade, or the buying and selling of goods and services

   The building is zoned for commercial use.

2. intended to make a profit rather than for artistic, public, or private purposes

   The film was a commercial success.

• an advertisement on television, radio, or online video

  The commercial aired during the basketball game.

Distinguished from investment banks (which focus on capital-market activities). Largest US commercial banks: JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo.

• a bank that offers services to the general public and to companies

  She works at a commercial bank.

• commercial transactions conducted electronically on the internet

  The growth of e-commerce.

1. soft and easy to cut or chew, especially of food

   The beef was tender after hours of slow cooking.

2. gentle, kind, and loving

   He gave her a tender smile.

3. sore or painful when touched

   The skin around the bruise was still tender.

Formal. Common in phrases like "tender a resignation" or "tender an apology".

• to formally offer or present something

  She tendered her resignation on Monday.

"Legal tender" means money that must be accepted as payment of a debt.

• money or another thing offered as payment

  Coins and banknotes are legal tender.

1. to exist or occur at an earlier date than something else

   These cave paintings predate written history by thousands of years.

2. (of an animal) to catch and eat as prey; to act as a predator on

   Owls predate small rodents at night.

• a long, pointed tooth that protrudes from the mouth of certain animals such as elephants, walruses, and wild boars

  Poachers kill elephants for their ivory tusks.

• a colored liquid applied to a surface to decorate or protect it

  We need one more can of paint for the bedroom.

1. to apply paint to a surface

   She painted the fence white.

2. to create a picture using paint

   He paints landscapes in his spare time.

Two senses: artist and tradesperson. Context usually clarifies which. "House painter": the latter.

• a person who paints, as an artist or tradesperson

  Picasso was a famous painter.

1. a large estate or farm where crops such as coffee, sugar, cotton, or tea are grown, historically often using slave or low-wage labor

   His ancestors worked on a sugar plantation in the Caribbean.

2. a large area of trees planted for commercial harvesting

   The rubber plantation stretched for miles.

• a small-seeded cereal grain widely grown for food, especially in Africa and Asia

  Millet is a staple food in many parts of West Africa.

1. to prepare and use (land) for growing crops

   Farmers cultivate the fields each spring.

2. to develop or improve (a quality, skill, or relationship) through deliberate effort

   She cultivated friendships with influential people in the industry.

1. (of land) prepared and used for growing crops

   Only about 30% of the country's land is cultivated.

2. (of a person) refined, well-educated, and showing good taste

   He spoke in a soft, cultivated voice.

• a person or farming tool that prepares soil for crops

  He attached the cultivator to the back of the tractor.

• a product applied to the face or body to improve appearance, such as lipstick or foundation (usually plural: cosmetics)

  She rarely wears cosmetics during the week.

1. relating to beauty or appearance

   The company sells cosmetic products in over 50 countries.

2. affecting only the outward appearance; superficial, not fundamental

   The reforms were merely cosmetic and did not solve the real problem.

• surgery performed to improve a person's appearance rather than for medical necessity

  More men are choosing cosmetic surgery than ever before.

1. a line of hereditary rulers of a country

   The Ming dynasty ruled China for nearly 300 years.

2. a powerful family or group that maintains its position for several generations

   The Kennedys are often called an American political dynasty.

• relating to a dynasty

  The painting shows three generations of dynastic rulers.

• a decorative object, especially a small one displayed for visual effect

  The shelf was crowded with little glass ornaments.

• to decorate or adorn something with decorative details

  The ceiling was ornamented with gold leaf and painted figures.

• serving as decoration rather than having a practical function

  They planted ornamental shrubs along the driveway.

• decorative details added to something to make it more attractive

  Gothic cathedrals are famous for their elaborate ornamentation.

• decorated with ornaments or decorative details

  She wore a heavily ornamented silver bracelet.

1. a thin board, usually with a thumb hole, on which an artist mixes paint

   He squeezed fresh oil paint onto his palette.

2. the range of colors used by a particular artist or in a particular work

   Monet's palette was full of soft blues and greens.

3. (figurative) a range of available choices or qualities

   The chef has a wide palette of flavors to work with.

• a flat, blunt-bladed knife used by artists to mix paint or apply it directly to a canvas

  She built up thick layers of paint with a palette knife.

British spelling: artefact

1. an object made by a human being, especially one of cultural or historical interest

   The museum displays artifacts from ancient Egypt.

2. (in science or technology) something observed in an experiment or image that is not naturally present but is caused by the procedure or equipment

   The blurry edges in the scan are just imaging artifacts.

• a single character or symbol used in ancient Egyptian writing, where each picture represents a word or sound

  The wall was covered with hieroglyphs carved into the stone.

1. the ancient Egyptian writing system as a whole, made up of pictorial symbols

   Scholars spent decades learning to read hieroglyphics.

2. (informal) writing that is hard to read or understand

   His handwriting looks like hieroglyphics.

1. to honor the memory of a person or event through a ceremony, monument, or other lasting form

   The statue commemorates soldiers who died in the war.

2. to serve as a memorial to

   A plaque on the wall commemorates the building's opening in 1923.

• acting as a memorial of something

  They issued a commemorative stamp.

• the act of honoring the memory of someone or something

  The parade was held in commemoration of the city's founding.

• of great importance or significance, especially with major consequences for the future

  The fall of the Berlin Wall was a momentous event in modern history.

British spelling: plough

• a large farming tool with blades, pulled by a tractor or animal, used to break up and turn over soil before planting

  The horse pulled the plow across the field.

1. to break up and turn over soil using a plow

   The farmer plowed the field at dawn.

2. to move forcefully through something, often pushing things aside

   The truck plowed through the snow.

"Domestic flight/violence/product" - relating to one's own home or country, as opposed to international or wild.

1. relating to the running of a home or family relations

   She hired help with domestic chores.

2. existing or occurring inside a particular country; not foreign or international

   The airline also operates domestic flights.

3. (of an animal) tame and kept by humans; not wild

   Cats are among the most common domestic animals.

• to tame an animal or breed a plant so that it can live with or be used by humans

  Dogs were domesticated from wolves thousands of years ago.

• (of an animal or plant) tamed or cultivated for human use

  Dogs are domesticated descendants of wolves.

• the process of taming an animal or breed for human use

  The domestication of the horse changed human history.

• rock or mineral from which a metal can be extracted by heating or chemical processing

  The mine produces high-grade iron ore.

• to extract metal from its ore by heating and melting it

  The factory smelts copper ore brought in from the mines.

1. a factory or industrial plant where metal ore is smelted

   The aluminum smelter is one of the largest employers in the region.

2. a person or company that smelts metal

   Local smelters compete for the high-grade ore from the new mine.

1. a series of actions performed in a fixed or prescribed order, often as part of a religious ceremony, social custom, or personal habit

   Lighting incense before morning prayer is a daily ritual in many Buddhist households.

2. any established or habitual routine

   Her morning ritual: coffee, news, then a short walk.

• done as part of a ritual or as a regular custom

  Greetings and small talk are ritual aspects of office life.

• relating to or characteristic of rituals; done as part of a ceremony

  The dance has a ritualistic quality, with the same steps performed in the same order.

• made into a ritual; performed in a fixed, formal, often repetitive way

  Their morning coffee together had become a ritualized part of the day.

• an ancient civilization in southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), one of the earliest known urban civilizations

  Sumer is credited with inventing the first writing system, cuneiform.

• relating to Sumer or its people, culture, or language

  Many Sumerian clay tablets have been preserved in museums.

• a person from ancient Sumer; the language they spoke

  Sumerian is the oldest known written language.

• an ancient region in the Middle East, situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, often called the cradle of civilization

  Mesopotamia is where some of the world's earliest cities arose.

• relating to Mesopotamia or its peoples and culture

  The museum has a large collection of Mesopotamian artifacts.

1. the fact or state of being real; the condition of existing

   Some philosophers question the existence of free will.

2. a particular way of living

   She led a quiet existence in a small village.

• to have real, actual being; to be

  Do ghosts really exist?

• a large extinct elephant-like mammal with long curved tusks and a hairy coat

  The frozen mammoth was discovered in Siberia.

• extremely large; huge

  Cleaning up after the flood was a mammoth task.

• the peninsula in southwestern Europe containing Spain and Portugal

  Iberia was conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century BCE.

• the geographical name for the peninsula that includes Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and Gibraltar

  The Iberian Peninsula separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.

• relating to Iberia or its peoples

  Iberian cuisine includes dishes like paella and bacalhau.

1. objects such as pots, bowls, and dishes made of clay and hardened by heat

   The shop sells handmade pottery from local artists.

2. the craft or art of making such objects

   She took up pottery as a hobby after retiring.

Often written with capital N. Also pronounced /-tɔːl/ (without /θ/).

1. an extinct species of human (Homo neanderthalensis) that lived in Europe and parts of Asia until about 40,000 years ago

   Neanderthals lived alongside early modern humans for thousands of years.

2. (informal, offensive) a person regarded as primitive, brutish, or having old-fashioned views

   He's such a Neanderthal about technology.

1. a small piece broken off something hard

   There's a chip in this teacup.

2. a thin, crisp slice of fried potato (American: potato chip; British: crisp)

   He opened a bag of chips.

3. a small, flat, often gambling counter or token

   She stacked her poker chips.

4. a small piece of silicon containing electronic circuits (microchip)

   This phone uses a new low-power chip.

• to break a small piece off something

  I chipped my tooth on a piece of candy.

• a large impressive building containing a tomb or tombs

  The Taj Mahal is a famous mausoleum built for an emperor's wife.

1. to officially take someone's property away, usually as a punishment or by authority

   Customs officers confiscated the illegal goods at the border.

2. to take something away from someone temporarily (often in informal or school settings)

   The teacher confiscated his phone during the exam.

• the action of officially taking someone's property away

  The confiscation of the smuggled goods took place at the border.

• to join, fasten, or repair pieces of cloth, leather, etc. using a needle and thread or a sewing machine

  She sewed a button back onto her shirt.

1. the activity or skill of joining cloth with a needle and thread

   My grandmother taught me sewing when I was young.

2. items being sewn or that have been sewn

   She put her sewing aside and answered the door.

• a machine for sewing fabric, operated by hand, foot, or electricity

  She bought a new sewing machine for her quilting projects.

Japanese loanword (literally "Japanese cow"). Kobe beef is a famous type of Wagyu.

• any of several Japanese breeds of cattle prized for the heavy fat marbling in their meat; the meat from these cattle

  The restaurant features Wagyu burgers from a local farm.

1. a member of a community or person who moves from place to place rather than settling permanently, often in search of pasture or work

   The Mongolian nomads move their herds across the steppe each season.

2. (informal) a person who travels frequently and has no permanent home, e.g., a digital nomad

   After quitting his job, he became a nomad, working from cafes around the world.

• living or wandering from place to place rather than settling in one location

  They follow a nomadic lifestyle, traveling for months at a time.

• relating to Colombia (the country in South America) or its people, culture, or language

  She brewed a fresh pot of Colombian coffee.

• a person from Colombia

  Many Colombians speak English in addition to Spanish.

1. to drive or force back; to fight off

   The fortress was built to repel invaders.

2. to keep something away by being unpleasant to it

   This spray repels mosquitoes for up to eight hours.

3. to cause strong disgust or aversion

   His rude behavior repelled everyone at the dinner.

Also spelled "repellant" (less common variant).

• a substance that drives away insects, water, or other unwanted things

  Don't forget to bring insect repellent on the hike.

1. causing strong disgust; deeply unpleasant

   She found his political views morally repellent.

2. resistant to a particular substance, especially water

   The jacket is made of water-repellent fabric.

1. a small V-shaped cut or indentation on the edge of a surface

   He carved a notch in the stick to mark each day.

2. a step or level on a scale of measurement or quality

   Their performance was a notch above the rest.

• to achieve a result, especially a score or win (often "notch up")

  The team notched their third win of the season.

• the handrail at the side of a staircase, often together with its supporting posts

  He slid down the banister when his mother wasn't looking.

• a social or religious custom that prohibits discussing or doing something particular

  In many cultures, discussing money openly is a taboo.

• forbidden by social or religious custom; not to be done or talked about

  Death is still a taboo subject in many families.

• the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering, usually in the case of incurable illness

  Euthanasia is legal in only a few countries.

British spelling: euthanise. Most commonly used for animals (veterinary contexts). For humans, "assisted suicide" or the formal "euthanasia" is more typical.

• to end the life of (a person or animal) painlessly to relieve suffering

  The vet had to euthanize the old dog.

A British variant of euthanize/euthanise.

• to end the life of (a person or animal) painlessly to relieve suffering

  The injured animal had to be euthanatised.

• a system of government in which one person holds absolute power; the rule of an autocrat

  The country slid from democracy into autocracy over a decade.

• a ruler with absolute power; (more loosely) a person who insists on total control

  The autocrat silenced all opposition.

• having or exercising absolute power; ruling without consulting others

  His autocratic management style drove many employees to quit.