Vocabulary: Batch 71

Often written as two words ('round table') for the furniture sense; the one-word or hyphenated form is standard for the discussion-format sense, echoing King Arthur's Round Table, which symbolized equal status among participants.

• a discussion or conference in which participants have equal status

  The senator hosted a roundtable on healthcare reform.

1. draw a line under (a word or phrase) to give emphasis or indicate special type

   Certain phrases had been underlined.

2. (figurative) to emphasize or draw attention to something

   The report underlines the need for urgent reform.

• extending far down or in from a surface

  The lake is very deep near the middle.

"-en" verb-forming suffix (deepen, widen, harden, soften). Often figurative: "deepen one's understanding", "the crisis deepened".

• to make or become deeper

  The mystery deepened.

Antonym of 'acceleration', formed with the prefix 'de-' rather than as a direct derivative of accelerate. Common in economics: 'a deceleration in GDP growth'.

• a decrease in speed, rate, or growth

  Economists pointed to a deceleration in consumer spending.

• the office where journalists prepare news reports

  The newsroom stayed open all night during the election.

Two senses: cut roughly, and gain unauthorized computer access.

1. to cut with rough or heavy blows

   He hacked through the jungle with a machete.

2. to gain unauthorized access to a computer system

   Someone hacked into the company's servers.

"Life hack" - a clever trick or shortcut for everyday tasks.

• a clever solution to a tricky problem; an act of computer hacking

  She shared a useful kitchen hack.

Originally (1960s MIT) a positive term for a clever programmer. "White hat" hackers help security; "black hat" hackers attack.

• a person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data

  Hackers stole millions of credit card numbers.

Informal. Two related senses: unoriginal/cliched (from 'hack' = an untalented, formulaic writer or performer), and inelegant/improvised (from 'hack' = a quick clever fix).

1. unoriginal, cliched, or lacking artistic merit

   The sitcom relied on hacky jokes about in-laws.

2. inelegant or makeshift, though functional

   It's a hacky solution, but it fixes the bug for now.

Despite the spelling resemblance, NOT related to germ etymologically - "germane" comes from Latin germanus (having same parents, hence "closely related"). Famous Hamlet line: "the phrase would be more germane to the matter."

• relevant and appropriate to the subject being discussed

  Her comments were germane to the question at hand.

1. having the shape of a cube

   The puzzle box was cubic.

2. (mathematics, measurement) involving three-dimensional volume, with units multiplied by themselves three times

   The room is 30 cubic meters.

• a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat

  The tundra is one of the coldest biomes.

1. to become less intense, violent, or severe

   The pain gradually subsided.

2. (of water or floods) to recede

   The flood waters slowly subsided.

Common problem with old buildings on unstable soil.

• the gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land

  The house was damaged by subsidence.

"Citizen" comes from same root as "city". "Citizen Kane" (1941): often called the greatest film ever made.

• a legally recognized member of a country

  She became a US citizen last year.

"Dual citizenship": holding two nationalities. "Citizenship test": exam for would-be citizens.

• the status of being a citizen

  She applied for British citizenship.

Idiom: 'fit as a fiddle' means very healthy.

1. in good physical condition

   She keeps fit by running.

2. suitable or appropriate

   The water isn't fit to drink.

3. (British informal) sexually attractive

   He's really fit, isn't he?

1. to be the right size or shape for

   These shoes don't fit.

2. to install (something) into place

   They fitted a new lock on the door.

'Throw a fit' = have an outburst of anger.

1. a sudden, uncontrolled attack of illness or emotion

   He had a coughing fit.

2. the way something fits, especially clothing

   The jacket is a good fit.

• be appropriate for; suit

  As befits a Quaker, he was a humane man.

"Fitful sleep" is the most common collocation.

• active or occurring spasmodically or intermittently; not regular or steady

  He had a fitful night of sleep.

Especially the states of Switzerland.

• a subdivision of a country, especially one of the states of Switzerland

  Switzerland is divided into 26 cantons.

• the arrangement of events or dates in the order of their occurrence

  The novel abandons the conventions of normal chronology.

• (of a record of events) starting with the earliest and following the order in which they occurred

  The entries are in chronological order.

• very good or pleasant; excellent

  She's a super cook.

Used to form words meaning "above," "beyond," or "to a great degree."

• above, beyond, or to a very great or excessive degree

  A supermarket sells a huge range of goods; superhuman strength.

(American, informal) short for 'superintendent', the person who maintains an apartment building.

• the caretaker or superintendent of an apartment building

  Call the super if the heat goes out.

• acknowledge (a significant or happy day or event) with a social gathering or enjoyable activity

  They were celebrating their anniversary.

From Greek nekros ("dead") + manteia ("divination"). Common in fantasy fiction.

• the practice of communicating with the dead, especially to predict the future; black magic

  The wizard was accused of necromancy.

• a person who practices necromancy; a sorcerer

  In the game, the necromancer summons an army of skeletons.

• sexual attraction to or intercourse with corpses

  Necrophilia is a paraphilic disorder.

Literally "city of the dead" in Greek. Used for large ancient cemeteries like in Egypt or Etruria.

• a large cemetery or burial place, especially an ancient one

  The necropolis at Saqqara contains many ancient Egyptian tombs.

Often called "stomach flu" colloquially, though it's not actually influenza.

• inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically causing diarrhea and vomiting

  She caught gastroenteritis from contaminated food.

• the branch of medicine dealing with the stomach and intestines

  She specializes in gastroenterology.

• a doctor who specializes in disorders of the stomach and intestines

  She saw a gastroenterologist about her chronic stomach pain.

From Old French montaigne, ultimately Latin mons/montis - a cousin of mount, but not a modern suffix derivation of it.

1. a large natural elevation of the earth's surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level

   They spent the weekend hiking in the mountains.

2. (figurative) a very large amount of something

   She had a mountain of paperwork to finish.

• having many mountains

  The country's mountainous terrain makes farming difficult.

• the land next to or close to the sea

  They spent the summer on the coast.

Often figurative: "coast through the exam" = succeed with minimal effort.

1. to move easily without using power, especially downhill or with existing momentum

   The cyclist coasted down the hill.

2. to achieve something without much effort

   He coasted through the interview.

• relating to or near a coast

  Coastal towns are vulnerable to rising sea levels.

Formal/technical. Opposite of egress (exit). Common in the same legal, architectural, and cybersecurity contexts.

• the action of going in or entering; a means of entry

  The building's only point of ingress was a narrow side door.

From Greek hyper- ("excessive") + trophe ("nourishment"). Opposite of atrophy. Common in medicine ("cardiac hypertrophy") and bodybuilding ("muscle hypertrophy").

• the enlargement of an organ or tissue from an increase in the size of its cells

  Years of weightlifting caused significant muscle hypertrophy.

Two senses: living at the same time as something else, or simply modern/current. See contemporaneous for the narrower "happening at the same time" sense only.

1. living or occurring at the same time

   Shakespeare and Marlowe were contemporary playwrights.

2. belonging to the present time; modern

   The museum has a large collection of contemporary art.

• a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another

  Darwin and Lincoln were contemporaries, both born in 1809.

From Latin ostendere ("to show"); a distant cousin of ostentatious/ostentation (same ultimate root, but a distinct modern word - ostensible means "apparent, stated", not "showy"). Implies the appearance is misleading.

• stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so

  The ostensible purpose of the meeting was to discuss the budget.

From Latin vicarius ("substitute"), same root as vicar but a distinct modern word - vicarious describes an experience felt through someone else, not a religious office.

• experienced through another person's actions rather than one's own

  He took vicarious pleasure in his daughter's success.

Antonym of selfless.

• concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure, without regard for others

  It was selfish of him to take the last seat.

Antonym of downturn.

• an improvement or upward turn, especially in economic or business activity

  Analysts expect an upturn in the housing market next year.

Antonym: downbeat.

• cheerful and optimistic

  She gave an upbeat assessment of the company's future.

• (music) an unaccented beat, especially the last beat of a bar preceding a downbeat

  The conductor gave an upbeat before the entrance.

"Airport gate" - where passengers board. Suffix "-gate" (from Watergate) denotes a political scandal (e.g. "Deflategate").

1. a hinged barrier used to close an opening in a wall, fence, or hedge

   She closed the gate behind her.

2. a numbered exit at an airport or stadium where passengers board or enter

   The flight departs from gate 22.

Noun and verb have different final vowel sounds: noun ends /-mət/, verb ends /-meɪt/.

• an approximate calculation or judgment of a value, number, or extent

  She gave a rough estimate of the total cost.

• to roughly calculate or judge the value, number, or extent of something

  He estimated that the repairs would take two weeks.

Antonym: underestimate.

• to estimate (something or someone) to be larger, better, or more important than they really are

  He overestimated how much food they would need.

Antonym: overestimate.

• to estimate (something or someone) to be smaller or less important than they really are

  Don't underestimate the difficulty of this task.

Three unrelated-feeling senses share the spelling: a contest, a person/thing that corresponds, and a stick for lighting fire.

1. a formal contest or game between two or more competitors

   They watched the tennis match on TV.

2. a person or thing that is equal to or corresponds well with another

   He's no match for her in a debate.

3. a small stick tipped with a substance that ignites through friction

   She struck a match to light the candle.

1. to correspond with or be similar to (something else)

   Her shoes match her dress.

2. to find someone or something equivalent or suitable for something else

   The app matches users based on shared interests.

• better than any other; superior

  His expertise in this field is unmatched.

From the same Latin root as "languish" (languere, to be weak), but modern "languid" often has a pleasant, relaxed connotation rather than languish's sense of suffering.

• displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion; pleasantly slow and relaxed

  She gave a languid wave from the hammock.

Shares a root with "justice", though modern "just" (adverb) has drifted into heavy use as an intensifier/limiter ("just now", "just kidding") distinct from the moral sense.

• based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair

  It was a just punishment for the crime.

1. exactly; very recently

   I just got home.

2. only; simply

   It's just a scratch.

From Latin credo (I believe). "Apostles' Creed" / "Nicene Creed": major Christian statements of belief. Modern: "my creed is...", personal philosophy.

• a system of religious belief

  People of every creed attend the service.

"Electronic device", "explosive device". Don't confuse with "devise" (verb, /dɪˈvaɪz/) despite the shared root.

• a thing made for a particular purpose, especially a piece of equipment

  She charged her electronic devices overnight.

• achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort

  The new engine is far more efficient.

• the state of achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort

  The factory improved its efficiency.

Antonym: efficient. Common in business and engineering contexts.

• not achieving maximum productivity

  The old system was inefficient and slow.

"Set boundaries" - common modern phrase in psychology/relationships. "Boundary dispute" - legal term for property line conflicts.

• a line marking the limits of an area

  The fence marks the boundary between the two properties.

"Expense report", "at the expense of" - common phrases.

• the cost required for something

  Travel expenses will be reimbursed.

• costing a lot of money

  That restaurant is too expensive for us.

From Greek physika (natural things). Major branches: classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, relativity, thermodynamics.

• the branch of science concerned with matter, energy, motion, and force

  She studies physics at university.

Two senses: explain with examples, or provide pictures for. Related: illustration, illustrator.

1. to explain or make clear with examples

   Let me illustrate with an example.

2. to provide (a book) with pictures

   She illustrates children's books.

Two senses: picture in a book, or example clarifying a point. Children's books known for great illustrations (Maurice Sendak, Eric Carle).

• a picture in a book; an example

  The book has beautiful illustrations.

"Illustrative example": example chosen to clarify a concept.

• serving as an example

  This case is illustrative of the problem.

"Adobe Illustrator": popular vector graphics software. Famous illustrators: Quentin Blake (Roald Dahl), Beatrix Potter.

• an artist who creates pictures for books

  She works as a children's book illustrator.

"Artificial intelligence" (AI) - computer systems that mimic human reasoning. "Artificial sweetener" - sugar substitute.

• made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally

  The drink contains artificial flavoring.

"Douse the flames" - common firefighting phrase. Also spelled "dowse" in the water-divining sense (unrelated word).

1. to drench with a liquid

   He doused himself with cold water.

2. to extinguish (a fire or light)

   Firefighters doused the blaze within an hour.

"Need to" + verb - common construction. "In need" - lacking something essential.

• to require something because it is essential

  She needs more time to finish.

• a requirement for something essential

  The charity meets the needs of the homeless.

Two senses: poor ("helping the needy") or emotionally demanding ("don't be so needy"). The emotional sense is newer and informal.

1. lacking the necessities of life

   They donate clothes to needy families.

2. requiring much attention or affection

   He's a needy boyfriend.

Antonym: negative. Math: greater than zero. Medical: "tested positive" = a substance or condition detected. Electric charge: opposite of negative.

1. good, favorable, or optimistic

   She has a positive attitude toward life.

2. (of a medical test) indicating the presence of a substance or condition

   He tested positive for the virus.

3. greater than zero

   Five is a positive number.

Pejorative: implies unattractively thin. Synonyms: skinny, gaunt, bony. Compare "slender" (positive).

• unattractively thin

  The scrawny cat ate the leftovers.

Includes speed bumps, chicanes, narrowed roads. Urban-planning approach to slow drivers in residential areas.

• measures designed to slow traffic for safety

  The neighborhood installed traffic calming measures.

From Old French environ (around). 'The environment' (with the) usually means the natural world; without it, the surroundings or conditions you live/work in.

1. the natural world, especially as affected by human activity

   Plastic waste is harming the environment.

2. the surroundings or conditions in which a person lives or works

   She thrives in a competitive work environment.

• relating to the natural world or to a person's surroundings

  The factory faces strict environmental regulations.

A person who campaigns to protect the natural world; overlaps with green activist.

• a person concerned with or campaigning for the protection of the environment

  Environmentalists opposed the new pipeline.

• concern about and action to protect the natural environment

  Environmentalism became a mainstream political force.

The etymological root of "environment": from Old French "environ" (around, surrounding). Usually used in the plural.

• the surrounding area or district of a place

  They explored the city and its environs.

"Temperance movement" - 19th/early 20th century campaign against alcohol, leading to US Prohibition (1920-1933).

• moderation or self-restraint, especially in drinking alcohol

  He practiced temperance and rarely drank.

From Latin "omnis" (all) + "vorare" (devour). Humans, bears, and pigs are classic omnivore examples.

• an animal that eats both plants and meat

  Humans are omnivores.

• eating both plants and meat; (figurative) taking in a wide variety

  He was an omnivorous reader, devouring every genre.

"Cannon fodder" = soldiers regarded as expendable. "Fodder for" = material for (e.g., gossip, comedy).

1. food, especially dried hay or feed, for cattle and other livestock

   The barn was filled with fodder for the winter.

2. a person or thing regarded only as material for a specified use

   His personal life is constant fodder for the tabloids.

The most common idiomatic use of "fodder": soldiers (or by extension, any expendable people) sent into danger with little regard for their survival.

• soldiers regarded by military commanders as expendable in battle

  The recruits felt like cannon fodder in a war they didn't understand.

Older quad skates (four wheels in rectangle) vs newer inline skates (Rollerblades). Roller-skating peaked in 1970s/80s disco culture.

• a boot with wheels for skating on hard surfaces

  She put on her roller-skates.

From French 'prude', ultimately Latin 'prodesse' (to be of use). Not related to 'prudent', despite the resemblance.

• a person who is too easily shocked by sex or nudity

  Don't be such a prude.

• excessive concern about sexual propriety

  The novel mocked Victorian prudery.

From Italian torso, ultimately from Latin thyrsus ('stalk'). Etymologically unrelated to torsion despite similar spelling.

• the trunk of the human body

  His muscular torso.

"Chemistry" (figurative) = the special connection between two people. "Breaking Bad": famous TV series about a chemistry teacher turned drug producer.

1. the branch of science concerned with substances

   She majored in chemistry.

2. the emotional or romantic connection between people

   The actors had great chemistry.

American: chemist = scientist working with chemistry. British: chemist = pharmacist (also called "chemist's shop").

• a scientist who studies chemistry

  He works as a research chemist.

"Chemical weapons" = banned by international treaty. "Chemical-free" (marketing term) is technically nonsensical: everything is made of chemicals.

• a distinct compound or substance

  Many cleaning chemicals are toxic.

• a chemical obtained from petroleum and natural gas

  A petrochemical plant.

Slang popularized in the 1960s-70s counterculture; now often used ironically or nostalgically to evoke that era.

• (dated, informal) fashionable and exciting; excellent

  That's a groovy jacket, man.

From African American Vernacular English/hoodoo folk magic (a mojo was a small charm bag). Popularized in blues lyrics (Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Working") and later mainstream slang (Austin Powers).

• (informal) a quality that attracts success, confidence, or sexual appeal; one's personal magic or drive

  After the injury, he struggled to get his mojo back on the court.

In soccer, the team captain wears an armband. Also refers to inflatable swim armbands (water wings) for children.

• a band worn around the upper arm, often as a symbol of rank, mourning, or team captaincy

  The captain wore the black armband in memory of the late coach.

From Greek barbaros (foreign, strange): referring to anyone who didn't speak Greek (their speech sounded like "bar-bar"). Used by Romans for peoples beyond their empire.

• a member of a people considered uncivilized

  The Roman Empire fell to the barbarians.

• savagely cruel; uncivilized

  The treatment of prisoners was barbaric.

1. to separate or cause to separate into pieces

   The plate broke when it hit the floor.

2. to fail to keep (a rule, promise, or law)

   He broke his promise.

1. a pause or interruption

   Let's take a short break.

2. a gap, fracture, or sudden change

   a break in the clouds

3. an extended period away from school or work, especially over a holiday

   We're going skiing over the Christmas break.

'Break out in a rash / a sweat' = suddenly develop it.

1. to escape, especially from prison

   Three inmates broke out overnight.

2. (of something bad) to start suddenly

   Fighting broke out in the streets.

3. to suddenly develop a skin eruption

   She broke out in a rash.

• a forcible escape, especially from prison; a sudden advance or success

  A mass breakout from a high-security prison.

A classic false-friend trap: in formal/British usage it means 'soon', but in American usage it often means 'currently, now'. Check context carefully.

1. (formal) soon; in a short time

   The doctor will see you presently.

2. (especially American) at this time; currently

   She is presently working as a consultant.

'The faculty' (American English) = the teaching staff of a school; a British university 'faculty' is a division of departments (the Faculty of Arts).

1. the teaching staff of a school, college, or university; a division of a university

   She is a member of the faculty at the medical school.

2. a natural ability to do something, especially a mental or physical power

   He never lost his faculty for clear thinking, even at ninety.

More British than American. American "principal". Modern alternative: "head teacher" (gender-neutral). Harry Potter's Dumbledore is headmaster.

• the male head of a school

  The headmaster announced the new policy.

• the female head of a school

  The headmistress called the parents.

1. a sudden, upsetting surprise

   The news came as a shock to everyone.

2. a sudden effect of electricity passing through the body

   He got a shock from the frayed wire.

'Be shocked at/by (something)' is the standard construction.

• to cause someone to feel surprised and upset

  We were shocked at the outcome of the election.

1. a smaller earthquake following a larger one

   Aftershocks continued through the night.

2. a later effect of a shocking event

   The political aftershock lasted for months.

"Symbolic gesture": action with limited practical effect but meaning. "Hand gesture": bodily communication. "Gesture of goodwill": sign of friendliness.

• a movement of part of the body to express something

  He made a friendly gesture.

• to move the hands, head, or body to express something or draw attention

  She gestured toward the empty chair.

Formal/romantic. "Cherish": popular wedding-vow word ("love and cherish"). Also a 1985 Kool & the Gang song.

• to protect and care for lovingly

  She cherishes the memories of her childhood.

1. to go somewhere with (someone) as a companion

   He accompanied her to the airport.

2. to occur or exist at the same time as (something)

   Thunder is usually accompanied by lightning.

3. (music) to play an instrumental part supporting a soloist or singer

   She accompanied the singer on piano.

1. a musical part that supports a solo instrument or voice

   The piano accompaniment was gentle and understated.

2. something that goes well with or complements something else

   Rice is a common accompaniment to curry.

• a person who plays a musical accompaniment for a soloist or singer

  She works as an accompanist for the choir.

1. to grasp, carry, or support with the hands or arms

   She held the baby gently.

2. to keep or maintain in a particular position or state

   Please hold the line.

• a grip; the act of holding

  He kept a firm hold on the rope.

'Hold up!' or 'hold up a second' (informal, imperative) = wait.

1. to delay or obstruct

   Traffic held up the delivery by an hour.

2. (informal) to wait; to pause

   Hold up a second, I forgot my keys.

3. to remain strong or intact under pressure

   The old bridge has held up well over the years.

Many compounds: cup holder, cardholder, shareholder, placeholder, record holder. "Title holder": sports champion.

• a device for holding something; a person who possesses

  He bought a card holder for his wallet.

"The Plague" usually refers to the Black Death (1347-1351), which killed roughly a third of Europe.

1. a contagious bacterial disease that has caused devastating epidemics throughout history

   The plague swept through medieval Europe.

2. a thing causing trouble or annoyance

   The fields were a plague of locusts.

• to cause continual trouble or distress to

  He was plagued by self-doubt.

• restore (something old, especially a building) to a good state of repair

  The old school has been tastefully renovated.

• the action of restoring something old to a good state of repair

  The kitchen renovation took three months to complete.

"Secure" (in tech): protected from threats. "HTTPS": Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure. "Job security": employment stability.

• protected against threats; fixed firmly

  The building is now secure.

• to fix firmly; to obtain

  They secured a loan from the bank.

Can describe both emotional state (lacking confidence) and physical state (not firmly fixed; unsafe).

1. (of a person) not confident or assured; uncertain and anxious

   She felt insecure about her appearance.

2. not firm or fixed; liable to give way or break

   An insecure foothold on the cliff.

"Social Security": US retirement program. "Securities" (plural) = tradable financial instruments. "Security guard", "airport security": common collocations.

1. the state of being free from danger

   The bank has tight security.

2. a tradable financial asset

   He invested in government securities.

Often used interchangeably with 'psychopath'; 'socio-' points to disregard for social rules.

• a person with a personality disorder marked by antisocial behavior and a lack of conscience

  The con artist was a charming sociopath.

"Tool shed", "garden shed": common types. Distinct from "barn" (larger, for animals).

• a small building for storage or shelter

  He kept the lawnmower in the shed.

Past tense same as base form (shed, not "shedded"). "Shed tears" / "shed blood" / "shed light on" (= clarify) are common.

• to lose (something) by letting it fall off

  The trees shed their leaves in autumn.

• an event or period marking a turning point in a situation

  These works mark a watershed in the history of music.

• to help explain or clarify something

  The new evidence shed light on the cause of the crash.

From Old French estouffer, to smother. Both the physical (suffocate) and figurative (suppress) senses are common: stifle a yawn, stifle dissent.

1. to prevent or restrain (a reaction or emotion)

   She stifled a laugh during the serious meeting.

2. to suffocate or make unable to breathe

   The thick smoke was stifling them.

3. to prevent something from happening or developing

   Heavy regulation stifled innovation.

1. unpleasantly hot and lacking fresh air

   The room was stifling by noon.

2. making free action or self-expression difficult

   He found the town's rules stifling.

Informal and vulgar (though milder than the related four-letter word). Use sparingly in polite contexts.

1. (taboo) excrement; feces

   The dog left crap all over the lawn.

2. (informal) nonsense; rubbish; worthless things

   Don't believe a word he says, it's all crap.

3. (informal) useless or low-quality stuff

   My garage is full of old crap I should throw away.

• (informal) of very poor quality; bad

  That movie was crap.

Informal and mildly vulgar.

• very bad or low quality

  I had a crappy day at work.

"Punitive damages" = damages awarded to punish a defendant, beyond compensation.

1. intended as punishment

   The court imposed punitive damages on the company.

2. (of a tax or charge) excessively high

   Critics called the new tariffs punitive.

'Would you care to...?' is a polite, somewhat formal way to offer or invite (maybe you would care to join us?).

1. to feel concern or interest; to mind

   I don't care what people think.

2. (formal, in offers/invitations) to like or wish (to do something)

   Would you care to join us for dinner?

1. serious attention or consideration; caution to avoid damage or risk

   Handle the glassware with care.

2. the provision of what is necessary for health, welfare, or protection

   The elderly need proper medical care.

1. not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors

   His careless driving caused the accident.

2. showing or feeling no concern; carefree (archaic/literary)

   She tossed her hat aside with a careless laugh.

• free from worry or responsibility; lighthearted

  They spent a carefree summer at the beach.

• a place where ships are built or repaired

  The shipyard employs over 5,000 workers.

• a short trip made for pleasure or a specific purpose

  The class took an excursion to the museum.

'Shall we?' or 'Shall we go?' is a light, polite way to suggest doing something together. 'Shall' is otherwise rare in American English outside formal/legal writing (the contract shall take effect...).

1. used to make a suggestion or offer, especially in the first person

   Shall we go for a walk?

2. (formal) used to express what is required or inevitable, especially in legal or official writing

   The tenant shall pay rent on the first of each month.

From Greek aisthetikos (perceptive by feeling). British spelling preferred globally; "esthetic" is a rare American variant. "Aesthetic" has become a buzzword on social media for visual style.

• concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty

  The room has a minimalist aesthetic.

American variant spelling of "aesthetic". Rarely used today; "aesthetic" is overwhelmingly preferred.

• (American variant) aesthetic

  Esthetic considerations shaped the design.

• a person who has a deep appreciation of beauty and art

  He was a true aesthete, surrounded by fine paintings.

• the branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and taste; principles of what is beautiful

  She studied the aesthetics of Japanese gardens.

Often (but not always) carries sexual connotations. Distinct from "sensory" (relating to the senses in general).

• relating to or involving gratification of the senses, especially sexual pleasure

  The music had a slow, sensual rhythm.

"Run errands": do small tasks (groceries, post office, etc.). "Fool's errand": a pointless task.

• a short trip to do a specific task

  I have a few errands to run.

"Game warden": official who enforces hunting/fishing laws. "Traffic warden" (British): official who enforces parking rules.

• a person in charge of a prison

  The warden ordered a lockdown.

From Latin devorare (de- + vorare, 'to swallow'). A false friend of devout, which is unrelated (that word is from Latin vovere, 'to vow').

1. to eat quickly and greedily

   The hungry children devoured the pizza in minutes.

2. (figurative) to read or consume something eagerly

   She devours every novel she can find.

3. to destroy completely

   Flames devoured the warehouse.

Always with the -s, even for a singular subject: 'the gym is off-limits', not 'off-limit'.

1. not to be entered or used by particular people; forbidden

   The gym is off-limits to students after 9pm.

2. (figurative) not to be discussed or approached

   Her salary is off-limits as a topic of conversation.

"Admit defeat": concede loss. "Admit it!": common demand for confession.

1. to confess to be true or to be the case

   He admitted he was wrong.

2. to allow to enter

   They were admitted to the hospital.

"College admissions": major topic in US (test scores, essays, recommendations). "Free admission": no entry fee.

1. the action of admitting something or someone

   Admission to the museum is free.

2. (often plural, especially at a hospital, school, or university) the department or process that handles new arrivals

   Please fill this out for admissions and insurance.

• the process or fact of entering or being allowed to enter a place or institution

  They were denied admittance.

• used to introduce a concession or recognition that something is true or is the case

  Admittedly, the salary was not wonderful.

In physics, momentum = mass × velocity. Used metaphorically for any building force or progress.

1. the impetus gained by a moving object

   The ball gathered momentum as it rolled downhill.

2. the driving force gained by the development of a process

   The campaign is gaining momentum.

From Greek anthropos (human), like anthropology and misanthrope. Capitalized, 'Anthropic' is the AI safety company that created Claude.

1. relating to humankind or human existence

   They studied the anthropic impact on the coastline.

2. (cosmology) relating to the anthropic principle, that the universe must allow conscious observers to exist

   The anthropic principle is invoked to explain the fine-tuning of physical constants.

• (of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm

  She gave a nonchalant shrug.

• a state of casual calm; a lack of anxiety or concern

  He shrugged with studied nonchalance.

• to confirm that someone or something is reliable or true

  I can vouch for her honesty.

The usual construction. You vouch FOR a person or fact.

• to guarantee or take responsibility for someone or something; to confirm their reliability

  Two colleagues vouched for him at the hearing.

Literally 'something that vouches' - a document that guarantees a discount or exchange.

• a small printed piece of paper that entitles the holder to a discount or that may be exchanged for goods or services

  A shopping voucher.