Vocabulary: Batch 78

• the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing

  This paper is alive with sympathetic insight into Shakespeare.

Common compliment for analysis or commentary ("that's an insightful observation"). Related noun: insight.

• showing accurate understanding

  She made several insightful comments.

• throughout or at some point in a period of time

  Please turn off your phone during the movie.

Uncountable when meaning available space ('no room to move'); countable when meaning a chamber ('a bedroom'). 'Room for improvement' = capacity to get better.

1. a part of a building enclosed by walls, floor, and ceiling

   She walked into the living room.

2. available space for something

   There's no room in the trunk for another bag.

'Outer space' (the universe), 'personal space', 'give me some space' (emotional distance), 'parking space'.

1. an amount of unoccupied area or room available for use

   There's not much space left in the closet.

2. the physical universe beyond Earth's atmosphere

   The rocket launched into space.

Both spatial ("throughout the house") and temporal ("throughout the year"). More formal than "all through".

• in every part of; during the entire time

  It rained throughout the day.

'Learn the ropes' = master the basics.

• to gain knowledge or skill through study, experience, or teaching

  She's learning to play the guitar.

As the adjective ('scholarly') it has two syllables, 'LERN-id'; the past tense 'learned' is one syllable, /lɝːnd/.

• having or showing great knowledge; scholarly

  She is a learned professor of classics.

"Machine learning": AI subfield. "Lifelong learning": modern education concept. "Learning curve": difficulty of mastering a new skill.

• the acquisition of knowledge or skills

  Learning a new language takes time.

"Eat one's words" = retract a statement. "Eat humble pie" = admit a mistake. "Eat one's heart out": taunt for envy.

• to put food in the mouth and swallow

  What did you eat for lunch?

From Hebrew Dawid (beloved). One of the most common English male names. Biblical King David slew Goliath; 'David and Goliath' = underdog vs. giant. Short forms: Dave, Davey.

• a male given name of Hebrew origin

  David is one of the most popular names in English-speaking countries.

"Sugar cane": major tropical crop. "Cane" as walking aid for the visually impaired/elderly. "Caning": historical corporal punishment.

1. a long thin plant stem

   They harvested the sugar cane.

2. a stick used as a walking aid

   The old man walked with a cane.

Linguistic: less than a clause. "Catchphrase": memorable saying. "Turn of phrase": distinctive way of speaking.

• a short group of words

  That's a common phrase in English.

• to express the meaning of something using different words, especially for clarity

  You can either quote or paraphrase the poem.

• a rewording of something written or spoken by someone else

  She gave a paraphrase of the text.

Examples: "kick the bucket", "piece of cake", "raining cats and dogs". Often impossible to translate literally: major challenge for language learners.

• a phrase whose meaning is not deducible from individual words

  "Break a leg" is an English idiom meaning good luck.

• using, containing, or denoting expressions that are natural to a native speaker

  Distinctive idiomatic phrases.

"Blink and you'll miss it" = happens very fast. "In the blink of an eye" = very quickly.

1. to close and open the eyes quickly

   He blinked in the bright sunlight.

2. (of a light) to flash on and off

   The cursor blinked on the screen.

• an act of blinking

  He stared at her without a single blink.

• look at someone or something with one or both eyes partly closed in an attempt to see more clearly or as a reaction to strong light

  The bright sun made them squint.

• an act of looking with eyes partly closed, or a condition in which the eyes point in different directions

  She looked at him with a squint.

Wrestling moves: "grappling". "Grapple with a problem": figurative for engaging difficulty. From Old French "grappil" (small hook).

1. to seize and struggle with

   The two men grappled on the floor.

2. to struggle to deal with

   He grappled with the difficult question.

• to decline or deteriorate physically, mentally, or morally

  The debate degenerated into a brawl.

Note the different vowel ending from the verb: /-rət/ (adjective/noun) vs /-reɪt/ (verb), like moderate/aggregate.

• having declined in physical, mental, or moral standards

  A degenerate lifestyle.

• a person who has lost or lacks respectable standards of behavior

  He was dismissed as a hopeless degenerate.

• the state or property of being degenerate

  A society plunged into moral degeneracy.

• (of a disease or symptom) characterized by progressive, often irreversible deterioration

  Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease.

Internet/crypto slang clipping of 'degenerate'. Originally pejorative, now often self-applied with ironic pride, especially in gambling and speculative trading communities.

• (informal) a degenerate person, especially one who engages in reckless gambling or speculation

  The crypto degens were up all night watching charts.

• to confirm or settle (a contract or bargain)

  To clinch a deal.

• a fact, argument, or event that settles a matter conclusively

  His second goal was the clincher.

• a close embrace, especially a romantic one; (boxing) a hold in which opponents grapple to avoid blows

  They kissed in a passionate clinch.

"News flash" : breaking news. "Flash in the pan" : brief success. "Flash mob" : coordinated public gathering. "Flashback" : sudden memory.

• to shine briefly or suddenly

  Lightning flashed across the sky.

• a brief burst of light or activity

  In a flash, he was gone.

• attracting attention by being bright, expensive, or showy, sometimes in a way considered vulgar

  He drives a flashy red sports car.

1. to restore friendly relations between

   The couple managed to reconcile after their fight.

2. to make two ideas or facts compatible

   It is difficult to reconcile his words with his actions.

• the restoration of friendly relations

  The truth and reconciliation commission heard testimony from both sides.

Common in legal filings: "irreconcilable differences".

• not able to be made compatible or resolved

  They cited irreconcilable differences in their divorce filing.

From Latin inhaerere (to stick in or to). 'Inherent in' = existing as a natural, built-in part of.

• existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute

  Any form of mountaineering has its inherent dangers.

• in a way that is a basic or permanent part of something; intrinsically

  The job is inherently dangerous.

Used both literally (money/property) and biologically (genes/traits). "The meek shall inherit the earth": Sermon on the Mount.

1. to receive (money, property) from a deceased person

   She inherited the house from her grandmother.

2. to derive (a quality) from one's parents genetically

   He inherited his father's temper.

Also called "estate tax" (US) or "death tax" (politically loaded term). Controversial: some see it as fair; others as double taxation.

• a tax on money or property received from someone who has died

  They worried about the inheritance tax on the estate.

More gender-neutral than "heir" (which traditionally referred to males). "Heiress" was used for women.

• a person who inherits something

  She was the sole inheritor of his fortune.

• a thing that is inherited; the action of inheriting

  He came into a comfortable inheritance.

Silent "h". Homophone with "air". "Heir apparent": the person currently first in line to inherit (usually a throne).

• a person who inherits property or rank

  Prince William is heir to the British throne.

Famous: Paris Hilton (Hilton hotel heiress). "Heiress" is sometimes considered dated; "heir" can apply to any gender in modern usage.

• a female heir, especially to great wealth

  She was the heiress to a steel fortune.

"Heirloom tomato/seed": traditional plant variety preserved through generations of seed-saving.

• a valuable object passed down through generations

  The watch is a family heirloom.

1. to give someone the right to do or have something

   Your ticket entitles you to one free drink.

2. to give a name or title to (a book, film, etc.)

   She entitled her memoir "A Long Way Home".

Often pejorative: 'entitled people' = those who act as if they deserve special treatment without earning it.

1. having a right to something

   You are entitled to a full refund.

2. believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges

   She came across as spoiled and entitled.

"Sense of entitlement" usually has a negative connotation - thinking one deserves special treatment.

1. the fact of having a right to something

   Your entitlement to vacation increases with years of service.

2. the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment

   His sense of entitlement made him difficult to work with.

In accounting, goodwill is the value of a company's reputation and customer relationships, included as an intangible asset.

1. friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings

   He sent the gift as a gesture of goodwill.

2. (business) the established reputation of a business, regarded as a quantifiable asset

   The company's goodwill is worth millions.

Homophone with "compliment" (praise): easy to confuse. Memory aid: complement = completes; compliment = flatters with an "i".

• to add to in a way that improves or makes attractive

  The wine complements the meal beautifully.

• a thing that completes or goes well with another

  The dessert was the perfect complement to the meal.

"Complementary colors": colors that contrast pleasingly (e.g., red and green). Don't confuse with "complimentary" (free of charge).

• combining well to enhance each other

  They have complementary skills.

Stress may also fall on the first syllable (/ˈekskwɪzɪt/) in older usage.

1. extremely beautiful and delicate

   She wore an exquisite silk dress.

2. intensely felt; acute

   The pain in his back was exquisite.

• to perceive or detect the odor of something using the nose

  She could smell the fresh bread baking.

1. the faculty of perceiving odors

   Dogs have an excellent sense of smell.

2. a quality perceived by the sense of smell

   There was a strange smell coming from the kitchen.

Always negative (unpleasant smell), unlike the neutral noun 'smell'.

• having a strong or unpleasant smell

  He peeled off his smelly socks after the run.

British spelling: odour. Often used for unpleasant smells; for pleasant ones, "fragrance" or "aroma" is more common.

• a distinctive smell, often unpleasant

  There was a strange odor coming from the basement.

Abbreviated BO. British spelling: body odour. Caused mainly by bacteria on the skin breaking down sweat.

• an unpleasant smell produced by sweat on the body

  Showering daily helps prevent body odor.

Distinct from antiperspirant: deodorants mask or neutralize smell; antiperspirants block sweat. Many products combine both.

• a substance applied to the body to prevent or mask unpleasant smells

  She put on deodorant before going to the gym.

• to remove or hide an unpleasant smell

  Baking soda can deodorize the fridge.

"Patron saint": protector saint of a place or activity. "Patron of the arts": wealthy supporter. "Patrons" can also just mean customers (of a restaurant, store, etc.).

• a person who gives financial support to an organization or cause

  She is a patron of the museum.

British spelling: patronise. Two senses are almost opposites: one positive (be a customer), one negative (talk down to). Context decides.

1. to be a regular customer of

   They patronize the local bakery.

2. to treat in a way that is condescending

   Don't patronize me!

In politics: "patronage" often means giving jobs to political supporters (cronyism).

• the support given by a patron; customers' regular use of a business

  The arts depend on private patronage.

"Patronizing": almost always negative. Often used about tone of voice or attitude. Antonym would be "respectful" or "egalitarian".

• treating others as if they were inferior

  His patronizing tone annoyed her.

Gendered and somewhat old-fashioned; patron is now often used for any gender.

• a woman who supports an artist, charity, or institution

  The duchess was a patroness of the museum.

From medieval Latin Cataya, via Marco Polo's Catai, ultimately from Khitan (契丹). Still used in the airline name Cathay Pacific and in poetic/literary contexts.

• an archaic or literary name for China, especially northern China

  Marco Polo's accounts of Cathay captivated European imaginations for centuries.

• a careless or stupid mistake

  Forgetting his wife's birthday was a major blunder.

1. to make a careless mistake

   The candidate blundered in the debate.

2. to move clumsily or as if unable to see

   He blundered through the dark room.

• to praise enthusiastically

  He extolled the virtues of the Russian peoples.

Often seen in 'extolling the virtues of'; note the doubled l before -ing (extol -> extolling).

• the act of praising something enthusiastically

  His constant extolling of the new policy grew tiresome.

Also used playfully to startle someone: 'Boo! Did I scare you?'

1. an exclamation to show disapproval or contempt, especially at a performance

   The crowd booed when the referee made the call.

2. an exclamation used to surprise or frighten someone

   She jumped out from behind the door and shouted 'Boo!'

• to shout 'boo' at someone to express disapproval

  The audience booed the comedian off stage.

"On its own merits" = considering only its inherent qualities.

1. (uncountable) the quality of being good or worthy of praise

   There is some merit in his argument.

2. (countable) a good feature or quality of something

   The plan has many merits.

• to deserve or be worthy of

  His efforts merit recognition.

Immerse is usually followed by in for the figurative sense: immerse oneself in a project, book, or culture.

1. to put something completely under a liquid

   Immerse the vegetables in ice water to stop them cooking.

2. to involve oneself deeply in an activity, subject, or environment

   She immersed herself in the language and culture.

Language immersion teaches or surrounds learners in the target language. In technology, immersion can also mean a highly absorbing simulated experience.

1. the act or state of being completely covered by a liquid

   The device is designed to withstand full immersion in water.

2. deep mental involvement in an activity, subject, or environment

   Language immersion gives learners sustained exposure to everyday speech.

Common in media and technology: immersive theater, immersive audio, immersive VR.

• providing deep involvement that makes the surrounding world feel less present

  The museum created an immersive exhibit using sound and projected images.

1. completely covered by liquid

   The sensor remained immersed in water for an hour.

2. giving full attention to an activity or subject

   She was immersed in the novel and did not hear the phone.

From Latin immensus (immeasurable). Stronger than "big" or "large".

• extremely large

  They have immense wealth.

Common as a strong intensifier ("immensely popular", "immensely grateful").

• to a great extent

  I enjoyed the film immensely.

From Latin "vacare" (to be empty). Legal: "vacate a judgment" = annul. Real estate: tenants must "vacate the premises".

• to leave a place that one was occupying

  Please vacate the room by noon.

US "vacation" = UK "holiday". Originally meant "vacating" one's normal place. "On vacation": common phrase. "Vacation home": second house for holidays.

• a period of time spent away from work or school for rest or travel

  They went on vacation to Hawaii.

"Vacant expression": blank, distracted look.

• not filled or occupied

  There were several vacant seats.

"No vacancy": sign at full hotels. "Job vacancy": open position. "Vacancy": feeling of emptiness or loss.

• an unoccupied position or job

  The hotel has no vacancies tonight.

1. containing nothing; not filled or occupied

   The fridge is completely empty.

2. having no meaning or value

   His words felt empty.

1. to remove all the contents of something

   She emptied the dishwasher.

2. (of a river) to flow into a larger body of water

   The river empties into the sea.

Stress shifts: verb /ˈdelɪɡeɪt/, noun /ˈdelɪɡət/. A key management skill: 'learn to delegate'.

• entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person, typically one who is less senior than oneself

  She delegates routine tasks to her assistant.

• a person sent or authorised to represent others, in particular an elected representative

  The conference was attended by delegates from 50 countries.

Two senses: the group itself ("a delegation arrived") and the act of delegating ("good delegation is key to management").

1. a body of people sent to represent others

   A delegation from the UN visited the area.

2. the assigning of responsibility to another

   Effective delegation is a key skill for managers.

• a person whose occupation is making or selling candy and other sweets

  He bought chocolate from the local confectioner.

• finely powdered sugar with cornstarch added, used for making icing

  Dust the cake with confectioners' sugar.

Two senses: the sweets themselves (uncountable) or the shop that sells them (countable).

1. sweets and chocolates considered collectively

   The store sells a wide range of confectionery.

2. a shop that sells sweets

   She popped into the confectionery for some fudge.

Common condiments: ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, soy sauce, hot sauce.

• a substance such as salt, mustard, or pickle that is used to add flavor to food

  The table was set with various condiments.

Always negative. Implies the manager does not trust their team. Opposite approach: delegate.

• to control every small detail of someone's work, leaving them no autonomy

  She tends to micromanage her staff, checking every email before it goes out.

"In awe of" = deeply respectful or impressed by. "Awesome" originally meant inspiring awe.

• a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder

  They stood in awe of the cathedral's beauty.

• to inspire with awe

  The grandeur of the canyon awed the visitors.

• filled with or revealing awe

  Awestruck spectators.

Originally meant inspiring awe/dread; modern informal use means simply "excellent".

1. extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring awe

   The awesome power of the storm was terrifying.

2. (informal) extremely good; excellent

   That concert was awesome.

"In short" = briefly. "Short on time" = lacking time. "Short circuit": electrical fault. "Short film": under 40 minutes.

1. measuring little from end to end

   He's short for his age.

2. lasting only a small amount of time

   It was a short meeting.

• to cheat (someone) by giving them less than the correct amount of change

  I think I've been short-changed at the bar.

• a deficit of something required or expected

  A shortfall in revenue.

• a state or situation in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts

  A shortage of hard cash.

Synonyms: soon, presently, in a moment. "Shortly after" = soon after. "Shortly" can also mean curtly ("he answered shortly") but this sense is less common.

• in a short time; soon

  The meeting will begin shortly.

A discourse marker used to summarize or conclude. Synonyms: briefly, to sum up, in a nutshell.

• used to introduce a summary of what has just been said

  The food was bad, the service was slow, and the bill was outrageous. In short, a terrible experience.

1. to move or travel toward the speaker or listener

   Please come here for a minute.

2. to arrive at a particular place or time

   The bus comes every fifteen minutes.

3. to happen; to occur

   Big changes will come in the new year.

4. to reach a particular state or condition

   My shoes are coming apart at the seams.

• a person or thing that has recently arrived in a place or joined a group

  A newcomer to the village.

• to produce or think of (an idea, plan, or solution)

  She came up with a brilliant idea.

1. to fall and land on the ground

   A lot of trees came down in the storm.

2. to decrease in amount or level

   Gas prices have come down recently.

Distinct from 'come up with' (to produce/invent). 'Come up' means to arise, not to create.

1. to arise or be mentioned, especially in discussion

   His name came up in the meeting.

2. to happen unexpectedly

   Something came up, so I'll be late.

3. (of an event) to approach in time

   Her birthday is coming up next week.

'Come along!' can also be an encouraging or impatient prompt to hurry or cheer up.

1. to make progress; to develop or improve

   The project is coming along nicely.

2. to arrive or appear

   A chance like this comes along once in a lifetime.

3. to accompany someone

   Do you want to come along with us?

Three distinct uses: (1) total/amount ('the bill comes to $50'), (2) regain consciousness ('she came to after fainting'), (3) reach a point ('when it comes to cooking, she's the best').

1. to amount to (a total)

   The bill comes to $87.

2. to regain consciousness

   He came to a few minutes after fainting.

3. to reach or arrive at (a state, decision, or topic)

   When it comes to grammar, practice is everything.

From Greek harmonia (joint, agreement). Used both musically and in social/personal contexts.

1. (music) the combination of simultaneous musical notes

   The choir sang in beautiful harmony.

2. agreement or peaceful coexistence

   They lived in harmony with their neighbors.

Also a noun in music: a frequency that is a multiple of the fundamental.

• relating to harmony

  The piece has a complex harmonic structure.

• forming a pleasing or consistent whole

  They had a harmonious working relationship.

BrE spelling: harmonise.

1. to add notes to a melody to produce harmony

   She harmonized the melody with a descending bass line.

2. to make or become consistent or compatible

   The new rules aim to harmonize trade standards across the region.

Homophone of "peak" and "peek". From French. "Pique someone's interest/curiosity" = arouse it.

1. to stimulate (interest or curiosity)

   The headline piqued my curiosity.

2. to feel irritated or resentful

   He was piqued by her dismissive tone.

• a feeling of irritation or resentment

  He left the meeting in a fit of pique.

Cartels are illegal in most countries' antitrust law. Famous drug cartels (Sinaloa, Medellín) gave the word a darker modern association.

1. an association of independent businesses or countries that join together to control production, pricing, or marketing of a product, often to limit competition

   OPEC is a cartel of oil-producing nations.

2. (especially of drug trafficking) a powerful illegal organization that controls a market through violence and corruption

   The cartel ran cocaine through three different countries before reaching the US.

From Greek kardia (heart). Same root as "cardio" (cardiovascular exercise).

• relating to the heart

  He suffered cardiac problems.

Different from a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Cardiac arrest = heart stops beating; heart attack = blocked blood flow to heart muscle.

• the sudden stopping of the heart

  He died of cardiac arrest.

• the branch of medicine that deals with the heart

  She specialized in cardiology.

• a heart specialist

  The cardiologist recommended bypass surgery.

"Cardiovascular disease" (CVD): leading cause of death worldwide. "Cardio" exercise (running, cycling, swimming) strengthens the cardiovascular system.

• relating to the heart and blood vessels

  Cardiovascular exercise is important for health.

Short for cardiovascular exercise. Also used as a prefix meaning 'heart' (cardiopulmonary, cardiomyopathy).

• (informal) exercise that raises the heart rate, such as running, cycling, or swimming

  I do thirty minutes of cardio every morning.

• to make feelings stronger or make body tissue swollen

  The speech inflamed public anger.

• red, swollen, and painful; emotionally stirred up

  The wound looked inflamed.

• a localized condition in which part of the body becomes red, swollen, hot, and often painful

  The cream reduces inflammation.

1. causing anger or strong emotion

   The mayor withdrew the inflammatory remark.

2. relating to swelling or irritation in the body

   The doctor prescribed an anti-inflammatory drug.

Released by body cells during allergic reactions.

• a chemical released by body cells during allergic reactions, causing itching, swelling, and inflammation

  Histamine causes the runny nose and itchy eyes of hay fever.

'anti-' + histamine.

• a drug that counteracts the effects of histamine, used to treat allergies

  She took an antihistamine for her hay fever.

• to strike (a person or an animal) repeatedly and violently so as to hurt or injure them

  He beat him with a stick.

• a main accent or rhythmic unit in music or poetry

  The song has a strong, driving beat.

• (informal) exhausted; very tired

  I'm beat, I'm going to bed.

Past participle of "beat". "Off the beaten path/track": away from well-known places. "Beaten down": emotionally defeated.

1. having been hit repeatedly

   The beaten dog cowered in the corner.

2. defeated

   He looked beaten after the long argument.

Also spelled 'beaten up' (without hyphen) when used predicatively: 'the car looked beaten up'. Hyphenated before a noun: 'a beaten-up car'.

1. worn out or damaged by age and use

   He drove a beaten-up old truck.

2. bruised and injured from being hit repeatedly

   She looked beaten-up after the fight.

• be united; form a whole

  Our ideas are beginning to cohere.

• the quality of being logical and consistent

  This raises further questions on the coherence of state policy.

Opposite: incoherent. Used for arguments, writing, speech, and people ('she was barely coherent after the accident').

1. logical and well-organized; easy to understand

   She presented a coherent argument for the policy change.

2. (of a person) able to speak clearly and logically

   He was too exhausted to be coherent.

• to cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh, or recover strength

  He needed to rest after the long hike.

1. a period of relaxing, sleeping, or doing nothing

   Get plenty of rest before the exam.

2. the remaining people or things; the remainder

   I'll deal with the rest tomorrow.

A quiet, soothing quality: 'restful colors', 'a restful weekend'. Contrast restless (unable to relax or stay still).

• having a quiet, soothing quality that helps you relax

  We spent a restful weekend at the lake.

"Restless leg syndrome" - a medical condition causing an urge to move the legs. Contrast restful.

• unable to relax or sit still, often from anxiety, boredom, or excess energy

  The children grew restless during the long car ride.

Usually plural 'leftovers'.

• something, especially food, remaining after the rest has been used or consumed

  A meal made from leftovers.

• remaining over; surplus

  Leftover food.

From Greek biblion (book) + graphia (writing). Distinct from a 'works cited' list, which only includes sources directly cited in the text.

1. a list of the books and articles consulted or referred to in a scholarly work, usually at the end

   The bibliography runs to ten pages.

2. a list of all the books and articles written about a particular subject or by a particular author

   She compiled a comprehensive bibliography of 19th-century feminist literature.

• relating to bibliographies or the identification and description of books

  The librarian provided bibliographic details for each source.

• to persuade someone to do something against their will by force or threats

  He was coerced into signing the confession.

• the practice of forcing someone to do something through threats or intimidation

  The contract was signed under coercion.

• using force or threats to make someone do something

  The regime used coercive tactics against dissidents.

Antonym of transparent. Also figurative: "opaque language" = hard to understand. "Opaque" became a buzzword in finance for hard-to-value assets that helped cause the 2008 crisis.

1. not able to be seen through

   The bottle is made of opaque glass.

2. hard to understand

   The contract was full of opaque language.

In graphics software, "opacity" is the inverse of transparency, often expressed as a percentage.

• the quality of being opaque

  You can adjust the layer's opacity.

• a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

  He told an anecdote about meeting the president.

"Anecdotal evidence" is often contrasted with statistical/scientific evidence and considered weak.

1. based on personal stories or single examples rather than systematic study or hard data

   There's anecdotal evidence that the new drug works, but no controlled studies yet.

2. consisting of or characterized by anecdotes (short personal stories)

   His lectures are always entertaining and anecdotal.

Spanish for 'feast/festival'.

• a festival or lively celebration, especially in Spanish-speaking communities

  The town holds a fiesta every summer.

"Rule of thumb" = a rough practical method. "Golden rule" = treat others as you'd like to be treated.

• a principle governing conduct or procedure

  You must follow the rules.

"Rule out" = exclude as a possibility. "Rule of law" = principle that all are subject to law.

1. to exercise ultimate power or authority over

   Queen Elizabeth II ruled for 70 years.

2. to give an authoritative decision

   The judge ruled in her favor.

• an authoritative decision or pronouncement, especially one made by a judge

  The ruling was reversed in the appeal court.

"The ruling party", "the ruling class" - common collocations for the group currently in power.

• exercising power or influence

  The ruling party won by a landslide.

"Objection overruled!": judge's classic courtroom phrase. Higher courts can overrule lower courts' decisions.

• to reject or set aside an earlier decision

  The judge overruled the objection.

Very common in medical and investigative contexts: doctors rule out diagnoses, detectives rule out suspects.

1. to exclude something as a possibility

   The doctor ruled out a fracture after looking at the X-ray.

2. to prevent something from happening

   The heavy rain ruled out any chance of a picnic.

• the light of the moon

  They walked along the beach in the moonlight.

Often implies the second job is informal or secret from the main employer.

• to have a second job in addition to one's regular employment, especially secretly or at night

  She moonlights as a bartender on weekends.

A literary/poetic word. Common collocations: moonlit night, moonlit sky, moonlit path.

• lit by the moon

  They danced under the moonlit sky.

"Please find enclosed": formal letter phrasing (now mostly replaced by "attached" in email).

• to surround or close off on all sides

  The garden is enclosed by a fence.

• surrounded or closed in

  Please find enclosed the documents you requested.

"Animal enclosure" - zoo habitat. In formal letters: "enclosure" (abbreviated "Enc.") lists attached documents.

• an area surrounded by a fence or wall

  The zoo built a new enclosure for the tigers.

American informal. British equivalent: love bite.

• a red or purplish mark left on the skin (usually the neck) by prolonged kissing or sucking

  He tried to cover the hickey with the collar of his shirt.

British informal. American equivalent: hickey.

• the same as a hickey: a red mark on the skin caused by kissing

  She had a love bite on her neck after the party.

From Japanese 焼き (grilled/fried). Appears in many Japanese loanwords: takoyaki, yakitori, teriyaki, sukiyaki, okonomiyaki, yakiniku.

• a Japanese combining form meaning grilled, fried, or cooked over direct heat

  Many Japanese dish names end in yaki, indicating they are grilled or fried.

• to enjoy the full flavor or experience of something slowly

  She savored every bite of the dessert.

British spelling: savoury. Opposite of sweet in food contexts.

• salty or spicy rather than sweet

  She prefers savory snacks to candy.

• soft fibers from fabrics such as wool or cotton that accumulate in small light clumps

  He brushed some fluff off his suit.

1. to shake or pat something into a soft, full shape

   She fluffed up the pillows before her guests arrived.

2. (informal) to make a mistake, especially in speaking one's lines

   The actor fluffed his lines in the final scene.

• of, like, or covered with fluff

  A fluffy kitten.

1. to make (a woman or female animal) pregnant

   The bull was used to impregnate several cows.

2. to soak or saturate (a material) with a substance

   Wood impregnated with preservatives lasts much longer.

1. made pregnant

   The impregnated female returns to her nesting site.

2. soaked or infused with a substance

   The cloth was impregnated with a water-repellent chemical.

Homophones: 'palette' (artist's board) and 'pallet' (shipping frame).

• the roof of the mouth; a person's sense of taste

  The wine pleased his palate.

1. (of food or drink) pleasant to taste

   A palatable wine.

2. (figurative) acceptable or satisfactory

   They softened the report to make it more palatable.

1. not pleasant to taste

   The medicine has an unpalatable, bitter flavor.

2. (figurative) difficult to accept or put up with

   He had to face the unpalatable truth.

• a birth condition in which the roof of the mouth has an opening

  The baby had surgery to repair a cleft palate.