Vocabulary: Batch 80

American /ˈliːʒər/ ; British often /ˈleʒə/. "At your leisure" = when convenient. "Leisure activities": hobbies and recreational pursuits.

• free time

  She reads in her leisure time.

• in an unhurried way

  They walked leisurely through the park.

"Leisured class": historical sociological term for wealthy people not needing to work (Thorstein Veblen).

• having ample leisure time

  They led a leisured lifestyle.

Informal clipping of 'umpire' - the official in baseball, tennis, and cricket. (Other sports use 'referee'.)

• (informal) an umpire; the official who enforces the rules in certain sports

  The ump called him out at third base.

'Ump' is the informal clipping.

• an official who enforces the rules in sports such as baseball, tennis, and cricket

  The umpire signaled that the ball was out.

"Don't judge a book by its cover": proverb against superficial judgment. "Judge": title for senior judiciary members ("Judge Smith").

• a public official who decides legal cases

  The judge gave his verdict.

American: "judgment". British: "judgement" (extra e). Both valid. "Judgment day": religious term for final judgment of all souls.

• the ability to make considered decisions

  She has excellent judgment.

Usually negative. "Don't be so judgmental": common phrase asking for more empathy or tolerance.

• having or displaying an excessively critical point of view

  He's too judgmental of his colleagues.

• to consider or declare to be true or the case

  She was adjudged guilty.

Short for post-traumatic stress disorder. Related to but kept separate from trauma/traumatic since it's an acronym, not a root-derived form.

• a psychiatric condition marked by anxiety, flashbacks, and nightmares following a deeply distressing event

  The veteran was diagnosed with PTSD after returning home.

From Greek trauma (wound). Two distinct senses: physical injury (medical) and emotional injury (psychological). "Generational trauma": modern concept for trauma passed down.

1. a deeply distressing experience

   She is still recovering from the trauma.

2. a serious physical injury

   He suffered head trauma in the accident.

"PTSD" = Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

• causing emotional shock or lasting damage

  It was a traumatic experience.

British spelling: traumatise.

• to subject to lasting emotional shock

  The accident traumatized her for years.

Always "rely on". Adjective form: reliant; agent noun: not used (we say "someone who relies").

• to depend on with full trust or confidence

  You can rely on her to be on time.

• able to be trusted to perform consistently well

  He's a reliable employee.

• able to do or decide things by oneself; independent

  She was raised to be self-reliant.

Usually "reliant on".

• dependent on someone or something for support

  The country is reliant on imported oil.

Usually 'reliance on'.

• dependence on or trust in someone or something

  The country's reliance on imported oil is a weakness.

• the ability to do things and make decisions by oneself, without depending on others

  The trip taught the students self-reliance.

Two senses: to control by rules, and to adjust to a steady level.

1. to control an activity by means of rules

   The agency regulates the banking industry.

2. to adjust something so that it operates correctly or steadily

   The thermostat regulates the room temperature.

Also used attributively: 'regulation size' = the officially required size.

1. a rule made and enforced by an authority

   New safety regulations came into force this month.

2. the act of controlling something by rules

   the regulation of financial markets

• a person or body that supervises a particular industry or business activity

  The financial regulators.

Common collocations: 'regulatory body', 'regulatory framework', 'regulatory compliance', 'regulatory approval'.

• relating to the control or supervision of an activity by rules or an authority

  The drug must clear regulatory approval before it can be sold.

• not controlled or supervised by rules or an authority

  The unregulated market saw wild price swings.

"Able-bodied seaman" (AB) is a specific maritime rank: a qualified deckhand, senior to an ordinary seaman.

• physically fit and healthy; not disabled

  Only able-bodied volunteers were sent to clear the debris.

"Paperclip", "hair clip", "video clip". "Clip" also: gun's ammunition cartridge. "Clipboard": physical or digital.

• a small fastener

  She put a clip in her hair.

• to cut with shears or scissors

  He clipped the hedge.

"Hair clippers" or "nail clippers" are tools.

1. a fast sailing ship of the 19th century

   The tea trade was dominated by clipper ships.

2. (usually plural) an instrument for clipping or trimming

   He used hair clippers to give himself a buzz cut.

1. the highest point of success or achievement

   Winning the Olympic gold was the pinnacle of her career.

2. a high pointed piece of rock or a small pointed tower on a building

   The cathedral has stone pinnacles at each corner.

Spelled with ONE "s", not "passtime". Baseball is sometimes called "America's pastime".

• an activity done for pleasure in one's free time

  Gardening is her favorite pastime.

Often figurative: "keep the business afloat" = financially solvent, not sinking into debt.

1. floating on water; not sinking

   The life raft kept them afloat until help arrived.

2. (figurative) financially solvent; managing to survive without failing

   The small shop struggled to stay afloat during the recession.

Pronounced /boʊ/ for the weapon, ribbon knot, or violin tool.

1. a curved weapon for shooting arrows

   The hunter carried a bow.

2. a decorative knot made with loops

   She tied the ribbon into a bow.

Pronounced /baʊ/ when it means bend forward.

• to bend the head or body as a greeting or sign of respect

  The actors bowed at the end of the play.

• the front part of a boat or ship

  They stood at the bow and watched the waves.

Nautical term, part of the same sailing vocabulary as sheet and boom: the sheet controls a sail's angle, the halyard raises and lowers it.

• a rope or line used to raise or lower a sail, flag, or yard

  He hauled on the halyard to hoist the mainsail.

Nautical term, part of the same sailing vocabulary as tack and keel.

1. the forward edge of a sail, from the top corner down to the tack

   The luff of the jib fluttered in the light breeze.

2. the act of turning a sailing boat closer into the wind

   She called for a slight luff to ease the boat's heel.

• to turn a sailing boat's bow toward the wind, causing the sails to lose wind and flap

  He luffed the boat to slow down before the dock.

Often metaphorical: "events unfolded", "the story unfolds". Past tense: unfolded.

1. to open or spread out (something folded)

   He unfolded the map on the table.

2. (of events) to develop or be revealed

   The scandal unfolded over several weeks.

"Hatch a plan": devise secretly. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch": proverb against premature optimism.

• (of an egg) to break open and produce a young animal

  The eggs hatched in the spring.

• an opening with a cover, as in a ship or roof

  He opened the hatch to climb up.

"Fish hatchery": for restoring fish populations. "Chick hatchery": commercial chicken production. Also figurative: "hatchery for ideas".

• a place where eggs are hatched, especially fish or chickens

  The salmon hatchery released thousands of fish.

Idiom: "on a whim" = without planning.

• a sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual or unexplained

  She bought the house on a whim while on vacation.

• playful or fanciful humor

  The design adds a touch of whimsy to the room.

• playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing way

  The children's book has whimsical illustrations.

Common phrase: in unison = together at the same time.

• simultaneous action, speech, or musical pitch

  The children answered in unison.

"Luxury car": premium brand (Mercedes, BMW, Lexus). "Luxury" can also mean a non-essential indulgence: "that's a luxury I can't afford".

• the state of great comfort and extravagant living

  They lived in luxury.

In economics, "luxury goods" have demand that increases more than proportionally with income (vs. "necessities"). Famous brands: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Rolex.

• expensive items not essential for ordinary life

  China is a major market for luxury goods.

• extremely comfortable, elegant, or enjoyable

  They stayed in a luxurious hotel.

• defeat or overcome with superior strength; be too intense for; overwhelm

  He overpowered the two men and escaped.

"Research grant": funding for academic work. Common funders: NIH, NSF (US), ERC (Europe), Wellcome Trust.

• money given by an organization for a particular purpose

  She received a research grant.

"Take for granted" = assume without appreciating. "Granted" (as a sentence starter): concession in argument.

• to agree to give or allow

  The court granted his request.

• admittedly; it is true (used to introduce a factor which is opposed to the main line of argument but is not regarded as so strong as to invalidate it)

  Granted, it's not the most pleasant job.

"Wide awake" = fully alert. "Get woke", slang: become socially aware (politically loaded).

• not asleep

  Are you awake?

"Fast asleep" = deeply asleep. "Fall asleep": start sleeping. "My foot's asleep" = numb from poor circulation.

• in a state of sleep

  The baby is asleep.

More formal than "wake up". Often figurative: "awaken interest", "awaken memories".

• to wake up; to stir

  He was awakened by the noise.

"April Fools' Day": April 1, day of pranks. "Fool's gold": pyrite (looks like gold). "Fool me once, shame on you...": proverb.

• a person who acts unwisely

  Don't be a fool.

"Penny wise, pound foolish": saving small amounts while losing large. "Foolish young man": common phrase.

• lacking good sense

  That was a foolish thing to say.

1. of undisputed origin; genuine

   The letter is now accepted as an authentic document.

2. genuinely representative of a particular culture, place, or tradition, not adapted or diluted

   The restaurant is known for authentic Sichuan cuisine.

In web/computing: refresh = reload the current page (F5).

1. to give new strength or energy to

   A short nap will refresh you.

2. to update or renew (information or appearance)

   She refreshed the browser to see the latest version.

1. giving new strength or energy

   A refreshing breeze blew off the ocean.

2. pleasingly different from what is usual

   It was refreshing to hear an honest opinion.

Often plural "refreshments" = light food and drinks at an event.

• a snack or drink, especially light food

  Refreshments will be served after the talk.

1. the technical equipment or machinery needed for a particular activity or purpose

   Laboratory apparatus.

2. a complex structure within an organization or system

   The apparatus of government.

"Warp speed": Star Trek term for faster-than-light travel. "Warp drive": fictional propulsion. "Warped sense of humor": figurative.

1. to become bent or twisted out of shape

   The wooden door has warped.

2. to distort someone's judgment

   His experience warped his view of the world.

Common in manufacturing and woodworking contexts: "PCB warpage", "warpage in lumber".

• the degree to which a flat object or material becomes bent or twisted out of shape

  Engineers adjusted the cooling rate to reduce warpage in the circuit boards.

In tech, "merge" = combine branches of code (e.g., "git merge"). On highways: "merge", join one lane into another.

• to combine or cause to combine to form a single entity

  The two companies merged last year.

"Mergers and acquisitions" (M&A): major area of corporate finance.

• the combining of two organizations into one

  The merger created a giant in the industry.

Multiple unrelated senses: end point, gratuity, advice, light push, garbage dump (UK). "Tip of the iceberg": small visible part of larger issue.

1. the pointed end of something

   The tip of the pencil broke.

2. a small extra payment for service

   He left a 20% tip.

3. a piece of practical advice

   Here's a tip for saving money.

1. to overturn or cause to lean

   Don't tip the chair back.

2. to give a small extra payment

   Did you tip the waiter?

Informal short form. Note: "expat" often connotes a Westerner abroad; "immigrant" more often used for those moving from poorer to richer countries, same situation, different word.

• a person living outside their native country

  There's a large expat community in Singapore.

Formal form of expat. Verb form (to expatriate) has different stress: /eksˈpeɪtrieɪt/.

• a person who lives outside their native country

  He's an American expatriate in Berlin.

British spelling: rumour. "Rumor has it": common phrase for introducing unverified gossip. "Rumor mill": gossip network.

• unverified information passed person to person

  There's a rumor that he's quitting.

British spelling. American: rumor.

• unverified information passed person to person

  A rumour spread quickly around the office.

Stronger than erase or damage: obliterate suggests that little or no trace remains. Informally, it can describe an overwhelming defeat.

1. to destroy something completely so that almost no trace remains

   The explosion obliterated several buildings near the harbor.

2. to cover, erase, or obscure something until it cannot be seen

   Heavy rain obliterated the footprints in the sand.

3. (informal) to defeat an opponent by a very large margin

   Their team obliterated us in the final.

• the act or state of destroying something completely so that almost no trace remains

  The obliteration of the ancient city took only a few hours.

• to find or identify something very exactly

  The test pinpointed the source of the leak.

• a very small or exact point

  A pinpoint of light appeared in the distance.

"At length" - in detail, or eventually. "Arm's length" - distant/cautious relationship.

• the measurement or extent of something from end to end

  The room is six meters in length.

From "length" + "-en" suffix. Antonym: shorten.

• to make or become longer

  They lengthened the trousers.

Often slightly negative: implies "longer than necessary". Compare neutral "long" or positive "thorough".

• of considerable or unusual length, often excessively so

  He gave a lengthy explanation of his reasons.

• to send (someone) back to their own country

  The refugees were repatriated after the war.

Common collocations: up for adoption, up for sale, up for auction, up for grabs, up for parole, up for reelection.

1. being offered, available, or considered as a candidate for something

   The puppy is up for adoption at the shelter.

2. willing or enthusiastic to do something

   Are you up for a hike this weekend?

"Baptism of fire" = a difficult first experience.

1. a Christian ceremony in which a person is sprinkled with or immersed in water as a sign of purification and admission into the church

   The baby's baptism is on Sunday.

2. any initiation or introduction, especially a difficult one

   His first day on the job was a real baptism.

• relating to baptism

  The baby wore a white baptismal gown.

British spelling: baptise.

1. to perform the Christian rite of baptism on someone

   The priest baptized the baby.

2. to give a name to; to christen

   They baptized their startup "Apex".

'No comment' = a refusal to answer.

• a remark expressing an opinion or reaction

  She made a rude comment about my cooking.

• to express an opinion or reaction

  He declined to comment on the rumors.

• a spoken or written set of remarks describing or explaining events

  We listened to the match commentary on the radio.

• a person who describes or analyzes events, especially on TV or radio

  A political commentator broke down the results.

Sports/news term. Sometimes prescriptively criticized as a back-formation from "commentator" (which came from "comment").

• to provide a spoken commentary on

  He commentates on football matches.

Most commonly used for treaties, constitutions, and formal agreements.

• to formally approve or confirm an agreement, treaty, or decision through an official act of signing or voting

  Congress ratified the trade agreement after months of debate.

• the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid

  The treaty awaits ratification by the senate.

Plural: syllabuses (more common) or syllabi (Latinate, more formal/academic).

• an outline of the topics to be covered in an educational course

  The professor handed out the syllabus on the first day of class.

Common narrative transition: "Meanwhile, in another part of the city...". "In the meanwhile": alternative form (less common than "meanwhile" alone).

• at the same time as another event

  He cooked the pasta; meanwhile, she made the salad.

"Cram school": popular in East Asia for exam preparation. "Crammed in like sardines": too tightly packed.

1. to force into a small space

   She crammed her clothes into the suitcase.

2. to study intensively for an exam

   He crammed all night before the test.

• filled to capacity

  The hall was crammed with people.

More formal than "cancel". Famous: "Repeal of Prohibition" (the 21st Amendment, 1933) ended the US ban on alcohol.

• to officially revoke (a law)

  Congress repealed the law in 2015.

• the act of repealing

  They campaigned for the repeal of the tax.

• an alphabetical list of words relating to a specific subject, text, or dialect, with explanations

  The textbook includes a glossary of medical terms at the back.

"Tie the knot" = get married. "Tie up loose ends" = finish remaining details.

• to fasten or secure with a cord, string, or strap

  He tied his shoelaces.

British/general term for what Americans often just call "tie" too; also a sports result where scores are equal.

1. a long narrow piece of cloth worn around the neck, tied in a knot

   He loosened his tie after the meeting.

2. a result in which competitors have the same score

   The match ended in a tie.

Usually shortened to "tie". Originated from 17th-century Croatian mercenaries' neckwear ("cravat", same root as "Croat").

• a strip of cloth worn around the neck

  He adjusted his necktie before the interview.

"Tied up" is also used as a standalone adjective meaning busy or unavailable: "Sorry, I'm tied up right now."

1. to fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord

   They tied up the boat at the dock.

2. (figurative, usually passive) to make someone busy or unavailable

   She's tied up in meetings all afternoon.

• done, made, or happening only once and not repeated

  A one-off payment.

• something that happens or is made only once

  Don't worry, it was just a one-off.

Past tense: spilled or spilt (UK preference). "Don't cry over spilled milk" = don't regret what cannot be changed. "Spill the beans" / "spill the tea" = reveal a secret.

• to cause or allow a liquid to flow over the edge of a container

  He spilled coffee on his shirt.

• an instance of spilling liquid

  There's a spill on aisle three.

• an instance of overflowing or spreading into another area

  The spillover of the conflict into neighboring countries.

The noun form is 'spillover' (one word).

1. (of liquid) to flow over the edge of a container

   The bathwater spilled over onto the floor.

2. to spread beyond the original limits into another area

   The conflict spilled over into neighboring countries.

"Of one's own accord" = voluntarily, without being asked. "In accord with" = consistent with.

1. (countable) a formal agreement between countries or other parties

   The two nations signed a peace accord.

2. (uncountable) agreement or harmony

   His actions are in accord with company policy.

• (formal) to give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition)

  She was accorded the highest honor.

Almost always "in accordance with".

• in a manner conforming with

  The trial was conducted in accordance with the law.

1. in a way that is appropriate to the particular circumstances

   The rules have changed, so you must act accordingly.

2. therefore

   There was no proof of fraud; accordingly, the case was dismissed.

1. as stated or reported by

   According to the news, the road is closed.

2. in a manner corresponding or conforming to

   Each was given food according to their needs.

Often used as a general insult.

1. (informal) an unpleasant or despicable person

   He lied to me, the bastard!

2. (archaic or offensive) a person born of parents not married to each other

   An illegitimate bastard.

1. of illegitimate birth

   A bastard child.

2. (figurative) not genuine; an inferior or corrupted version of something

   The film was a bastard version of the original novel.

Antonym (abstract sense): abstract. "Concrete jungle": informal phrase for an urban environment dominated by buildings.

• existing in a material form; specific

  They need concrete evidence.

Made from cement, sand, gravel, and water. Distinct from cement (which is one ingredient of concrete).

• a building material made by mixing cement with sand and water

  The driveway is made of concrete.

Slightly formal. Synonym: contemplate, mull over.

• to think about something carefully, especially before deciding

  She pondered the offer for several days.

Always slightly negative.

1. slow and clumsy because of great weight

   The elephant moved with ponderous steps.

2. (of speech or writing) dull and laborious

   His lectures were ponderous and hard to follow.

From Latin trivium (three-way crossroads) - where common gossip was exchanged.

• details, considerations, or pieces of information of little importance or value

  He has an amazing memory for sports trivia.

• of little value or importance

  The argument was over something trivial.

• to make something seem less important or serious than it really is

  The article trivializes the seriousness of the issue.

1. (uncountable) the quality of being unimportant

   The triviality of the argument annoyed her.

2. (countable) something of little importance

   They argued over trivialities for an hour.

Common in academic/technical writing (math, computer science). British spelling sometimes "non-trivial" with hyphen.

• requiring real effort or consideration; not minor

  This is a nontrivial problem to solve.

Many idioms: "pit of one's stomach", "pit one's wits against". "The pits" = the worst.

1. a large hole in the ground

   They dug a pit to bury the trash.

2. the hard stone of certain fruits

   Be careful of the cherry pits.

3. an area beside a racetrack where cars are refueled and serviced during a race

   The crew changed all four tires during the pit.

From Arabic حلال (ḥalāl), "permissible". Most commonly used of food and drink prepared according to Islamic law; opposite is "haram" (forbidden).

• permissible under Islamic law, especially referring to food prepared in the prescribed way

  The restaurant serves halal chicken and lamb.

• to create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice

  His opponents contrived a crisis.

• deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously; created or arranged in a way that seems artificial and unrealistic

  The ending of the novel is too contrived.

The most general word for anything audible.

• a thing that can be heard; vibrations perceived by the ear

  She heard the sound of rain on the roof.

• to give a particular impression when heard; to seem

  That sounds like a great idea.

The etymological root of "sounding" (measuring depth): from Old French "sonder", unrelated to the noise sense.

• to measure the depth of (water), especially with a line or sonar

  The crew sounded the harbor before entering.

1. in good condition; healthy or structurally solid

   The bridge is structurally sound.

2. based on valid reasoning; sensible

   That's sound advice.

"Sounding board": figurative person who lets you bounce ideas off them. Nautical: measuring water depth. "Take soundings" = test opinion before deciding.

• a measurement of depth or opinion

  They took soundings of public opinion.

From Latin prae- ("before") + cursor ("runner") - same Latin root as cursor, though the two have drifted to unrelated modern meanings (cursor = computer pointer). Often used of technology, medical conditions, or historical movements: "a precursor to the modern smartphone".

• a person or thing that comes before and leads to the development of something else

  The telegraph was a precursor to the telephone.

• big in size, amount, or importance

  They live in a large apartment.

More formal than "mostly" or "mainly". Common in academic writing.

• to a great extent

  The project was largely successful.

The everyday, informal default word for size; "large" is more formal/neutral. "Big" also extends to importance/seriousness in casual speech ("a big decision", "a big deal") more readily than "large" does.

• of considerable size, extent, or intensity; not small

  They bought a big house near the lake.

"Plot twist": unexpected turn in a story. "The plot thickens": situation becomes more complex/interesting. "Gunpowder Plot" (1605): Guy Fawkes's failed assassination of James I.

1. the main events of a play, novel, or film

   The film has a complicated plot.

2. a secret plan

   They uncovered a plot to assassinate the leader.

"Plot a course" - navigation. "Plot against someone" - conspire.

1. to secretly plan to do something illegal or harmful

   They plotted to overthrow the government.

2. to mark points on a graph or chart

   She plotted the data on a graph.

1. an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment

   An adventure story.

2. a floor or level of a building

   A three-story house.

• the style and appearance of printed matter

  The book's typography.

• relating to the style, appearance, or production of printed matter

  A typographical error.

"Stream of consciousness": narrative technique (Joyce, Woolf). Tech: "data stream". Twitch streamers: video game broadcasters.

• a small narrow river

  They drank from the mountain stream.

"Streaming media", major modern industry: Netflix, Spotify, Twitch. UK education: "streaming" = ability grouping (US: "tracking").

• transmitting data continuously over the internet

  Music streaming has replaced CDs.

From the term for fluid-friendly shapes. Often used in business: "streamline operations", improve efficiency.

• to make more efficient by simplifying

  They streamlined the application process.

• designed for efficiency or smooth flow

  The car has a streamlined design.

• situated or moving in the direction in which a stream or river flows

  They drifted downstream.

• situated or moving in the direction in which a stream or river flows

  They drifted downstream.

• moving or situated in the opposite direction from that in which a stream or river flows; nearer to the source

  Salmon swimming upstream.

• moving or situated in the opposite direction from that in which a stream or river flows; nearer to the source

  Salmon swimming upstream.

Tech: "streaming services" (Netflix, Spotify), major industry. "Streaming tears": flowing freely. Different from "stream" the verb sense.

• flowing continuously; transmitted over the internet

  Streaming services have changed media consumption.

Also written as two words, "work stream". Project-management/consulting jargon for one distinct thread of tasks within a larger project.

• a distinct thread of tasks or activities within a larger project, often owned by a subgroup

  Each workstream lead reports progress in the weekly sync.

"Carve out a niche": establish a position. "Carve up": divide unfairly. "Pumpkin carving": Halloween tradition.

1. to cut (a hard material) to produce an object or design

   He carved a bird out of wood.

2. to cut cooked meat into slices

   Father carved the turkey.

"Pumpkin carver", "wood carver", "ice carver": specialized skills.

• a person who carves

  He's a skilled wood carver.