4000 Duolingo Vocabulary List

abandon  
n. lacking restraint or control; feeling of extreme emotional intensity; unbounded enthusiasm
With her parents out of town, Kelly danced all night with abandon.
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abbreviate  
v. make shorter; reduce to shorter form intended to represent full form, as for word or phrase
Because we were running out of time, the lecturer had to abbreviate her speech.
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abide  
v. endure; put up with; bear; tolerate
Oh, don't bother ME, I could not abide figures!
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ablaze  
a. burning; radiant; bright; keenly excited; resembling flame in brilliance or color
But when he saw this small new-comer, his soul was all ablaze with bliss in a moment.
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aboard  
ad. on a ship, train, plane, or other vehicles; in or into a group, organization, or business
He did make some calls aboard Air Force One, we are told, on his way back to from the Azores.
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abolish  
v. cancel; put an end to; destroy completely
In a letter to the British government, the EU has demanded that Britain abolish laws protecting religious freedom rights regarding sexual orientation.
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abolition  
n. ending; act of abolishing; act of doing away with
In particular, the economists say that the proposed abolition of taxes on dividends is not credible as a short-term stimulus.
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abolitionist  
n. a reformer who favors abolishing slavery
Born to free blacks in Maryland, Frances Watkins Harper was a poet and a teacher who became active in the abolitionist struggle in the 1850s.
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abound  
v. be full of; be plentiful
The rooms abound with screaming children.
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abrupt  
a. broken off; very steep; having sudden transitions from one subject to another
Eliza's greeting was delivered in a short, abrupt voice, without a smile, and then she sat down again, fixed her eyes on the fire, and seemed to forget me.
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absent  
a. go away or leave; missing; not present
They are absent themselves from time to time.
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absentee  
n. one who is absent or not in residence
Absentee voting begins 35 days before primary and general elections.
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absenteeism  
n. habitual not to appear, especially for work or other regular duty
But absenteeism has become a big problem in Britain, where the employment laws offer protection to sick workers.
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absolute  
a. perfect in quality or nature; complete; totally unlimited; certain
Although the King was an absolute monarch, he did not want to behead his unfaithful wife without certain evidence.
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absorb  
v. assimilate or incorporate; suck or drink up; occupy full attention
By contrast, what students can absorb from a one-day visit to a college are the tangibles.
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absorption  
n. process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion; state of mental concentration
I agree that the reader's absorption is a measure of good writing.
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absurd  
a. preposterous; ridiculously incongruous or unreasonable; foolish
Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked so grave that she did not dare laugh.
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absurdity  
n. quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment; logical contradiction
His story of being kidnapped by little green men is sheer absurdity.
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abundant  
a. plentiful; possessing riches or resources
At his immigration interview, Ivan listed his abundant reasons for coming to America: the hope of religious freedom and the prospect of employment.
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abundantly  
ad. in great numbers; in a plentiful or sufficient degree; plentifully
With all respect, you have made yourself abundantly clear in an informed and articulate manner.
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abuse  
n. improper use or handling; misuse
The commenter said that he had stopped seven years of girl abuse in this area, thanks to Vito.
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abut  
v. border upon; adjoin; touch or end at one end or side; lie adjacent
Where our estates abut, we must build a fence.
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academic  
a. related to school; not practical or directly useful; relating to the scholarly organization; based on formal education
The dean's talk about reforming the college admissions system was only an academic discussion.
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academician  
n. a scholar who is skilled in academic disputation
A scientist born after the 1970s was selected as an academician candidate.
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accelerate  
v. move faster; cause to develop or progress more quickly; occur sooner than expected
Demand for Taiwanese goods likely will accelerate from the second quarter, as strong Asian demand offsets the effects of a U.S. slowdown.
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acceleration  
n. a faster rate of improvement; the rate of change of velocity to time
She's not the only driver complaining; Other Prius drivers have filed reports with the Traffic Safety Administration concerning acceleration problems.
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accessibility  
n. the attribute of being easy to meet or deal with
Whitehouse.gov includes several features designed to improve accessibility for users with disabilities. Some of these features are described below.
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accessible  
a. easily approached or entered; obtainable; easy to talk to or get along with
Simon and James will no longer be posting to The Hearing; however, all previous posts will remain accessible here.
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accessory  
n. additional object; useful but not essential thing; subordinate or supplementary item
Another accessory is a tripod needed to prevent camera shake, especially when the shutter speed drops below the tenth second at a wide-angle shot.
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accident  
n. an event that takes place without one's foresight or expectation; sudden, and unexpected event
Finding and maintaining happiness is a definite achievement and not an accident.
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accidentally  
ad. inadvertently; by chance; casually; fortuitously; not essentially or intrinsically
The Air Force led us to believe that Dad's plane crashed into a mountain accidentally and without warning.
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acclaim  
v. applaud; announce with great approval
The NBC sportscasters will acclaim every American victory in the Olympics.
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accommodate  
v. do a favor or service for; provide for; supply with; make suitable; adapt; allow for
The stage in the public auditorium can easily be adjusted to accommodate from a full-scale musical production to one by a solo vocalist.
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accompaniment  
n. act of accompanying someone or something
I have swallowed the remainder with an accompaniment of secret tears, forced from me by the exigency of hunger.
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accompanying  
a. attendant; appearing or going with someone or something else
Both men plus a host of accompanying ministers will focus on common ground.
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accomplish  
v. succeed in doing; bring to pass; achieve; reach the end of; complete
No single space project will be more impressive to humankind, and none will be difficult or expensive to accomplish.
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accomplishment  
n. achievement; fulfillment; something that is successful
Getting the two leaders to sign a peace treaty was his greatest accomplishment.
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accordion  
n. a box-shaped musical instrument consisting of a folded central part with a keyboard
This web includes an excellent page describing in technical detail the differences between different accordion keyboards - piano, chromatic, and uniform.
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account  
n. narrative or record of events; the reason given for a particular action or event
What is the account for this loss?
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accountable  
a. liable to being called to account; answerable; responsible; something that can be explained
He made each store accountable, sold 100 unproductive shops and made another 70 smaller.
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accountant  
n. one who maintains and audits business accounts
Our business and finance group is looking for a dynamic accountant to join the accounting team supporting the Company's new area.
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accredit  
v. authorize; commission; give credit for
And you will discover that governmental agencies accredit rubber stamps for private regional groups.
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accumulate  
v. pile up; collect;  mount up; increase
The tendency of Capital to accumulate is a big threat to the free market.
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accumulation  
n. increase by natural growth or addition; concentration
That reservoir of frost and snow, the accumulation of centuries of winters, glazed in Alpine heights above heights.
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accuracy  
n. quality of nearness to the truth or the true value
He was beginning to doubt the accuracy of his compass.
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accusation  
n. indictment; charge of wrongdoing that is made against a person or other party
They are simply using the first rule in contemporary American politics: the accusation is the conviction.
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accuse  
v. blame; say that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal, or unkind
He then went on to accuse the West of hypocrisy in criticizing Russia's human rights record.
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accustomed  
a. habitual to; used to; frequently practiced, used, or experienced; customary
We are accustomed to taking cues from the outside world, filtering them, and writing our own novel inside our heads.
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achieve  
v. gain with effort; accomplish; fulfill
Water, energy, health, agriculture, and biodiversity, require the world's scientific community to develop the means to achieve sustainable development.
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acidity  
n. pH values below 7; taste experience when something acidic is taken into the mouth
High acidity and elevated levels of metals can seriously impair water bodies' ability to support life, resulting in a decline in species diversity.
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acquaint  
v. inform about; cause to come to know personally; make familiar
Please acquaint the colleagues with your plans to move faster.
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acquaintance  
n. personal knowledge or information about someone or something
He also reconnected with Doris Schmitz, an acquaintance from the University of Frankfurt.
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acquire  
v. gain through experience or effort; gain possession of; locate with a tracking system
They acquire a reputation for being difficult to work with.
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acquisition  
n. act of contracting or assuming or acquiring possession of something
It has received an unsolicited, 15 dollar a share acquisition proposal from partners.
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acronym  
n. an abbreviation consisting of the first letters of each word in the name of something
The acronym has been an integral part of computer culture, and many originated in the military and government sectors.
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activate  
v. make active or more active; stimulate; make radioactive
The carriers say they want to encrypt and store the credentials in the phone's SIM card, the small chips to activate access to mobile networks.
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actively  
ad. energetically; vigorously; voluntarily, not passively
The beloved star - who worked actively from the 1960s up until an illness late last year - passed away Thursday morning.
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actuate  
v. put into motion or action; activate
I fail to understand what might actuate you to reply to this letter so nastily.
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acumen  
n. mental keenness; quickness of perception
However, her team's political acumen is clearly beyond mine, an Ivy League Medical Science Professor and NOT a Political 'Science' Professor.
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acute  
a. quickly perceptive; keen; having a sharp point or tip; extremely sharp or severe
Her early writing was grounded in acute observation of the natural world.
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adapt  
v. make fit for; change to suit a new purpose
One way to adapt is to become smaller, generation by generation.
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adaptable  
a. flexible; becoming or being made suitable to a particular situation or use
It made this sofa not only functional but also adaptable to any contemporary interior design.
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adaptation  
n. modification; alteration or adjustment in structure or habits
The play is an adaptation of a short novel.
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adaptive  
a. having a capacity for adaptation; capable of adapting
In psychology, behavior or trait is adaptive when it helps individuals adjust within a changing social environment.
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addict  
v. cause someone to become dependent; indulge in; be devoted to
For instance, if you carry a clean needle in this country, the police are likely to arrest you for being a drug addict.
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addictive  
a. something you cannot stop taking once you have started
That worries the department because of the addictive nature of nicotine.
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additional  
a. further; extra; supplemental or added to
They will need months of therapy and additional reconstructive surgery in the coming years to help them recover.
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adept  
a. expert at; very skilled; having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
Williams was known as an adept improviser who effortlessly switched between classical, jazz, and pop styles.
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adequate  
a. sufficient; enough to meet a purpose
England missed key players through injury, lacked adequate preparation, and could not match Australia's skill.
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adhesive  
n. glue; paste; the substance that unites or bonds surfaces together
Painting before the adhesive is applied will keep the color on much longer.
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adjacent  
a. adjoining; neighboring; close to; lying near
Philip's best friend Jason lived only four houses down the block, close but not immediately adjacent.
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adjoin  
v. be next to; be contiguous to; border on
A breakfast-room would adjoin the drawing-room, I slipped in there.
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adjoining  
a. neighboring; being in contact at some point or line; joining to
Did you hear a noise? I dare say it is only a rat scrambling along the rafters of the adjoining schoolroom.
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adjust  
v. change something slightly, especially to make it more correct, effective, or suitable
The opera house was handed over by the builders nearly a year ago, but it's taken many months to install new stage machinery and to adjust the acoustics.
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adjustment  
n. making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
An individual uses this form to request an adjustment to an individual income tax return.
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administer  
v. govern; supervise; give or apply medications
It's led to major disagreement about how best to administer development funds among some government departments.
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administration  
n. management; supervision; people who are in charge of management; the activity of government for powers and duties
Obviously, the key person in administration is the man in the White House.
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administrator  
n. one who manages a government agency or department
One college administrator says it'll be difficult for them to meet the increased demand without a massive expansion in teaching staff and other facilities.
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admiration  
n. favorable judgment; feeling of pleasure, wonder, and approval
He received years of praise and admiration from the public that he did not deserve, and now he is exposed as a fraud.
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admire  
v. regard with wonder or astonishment; view with surprise; marvel at
You may not like him, but you have got to admire his persistence.
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admittedly  
ad. doubtlessly; in an acknowledged manner; confessedly
Malkin admittedly wore down a year ago, during an NHL season that's twice as long as the one he played in Russia the year before.
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adobe  
n. clay; brick; sun-dried brick; structure built with this type of brick
Because of this thickness, the inside temperature of an adobe remains fairly constant and comfortable year-round.
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adolescent  
n. a juvenile between the onset of puberty and maturity;
These students are adolescent boys and girls.
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adopt  
v. accept; take on; raise; take into one's family
In a late-night session, the United States, which has blocked most recent efforts to adopt resolutions on the Middle East, put forward its own proposal.
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adoption  
n. act of accepting with approval
'In that case,' said the Dodo solemnly, rising to its feet, 'I move that the meeting adjourn, for the immediate adoption of more energetic remedies.'.
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adorn  
v. enhance or decorate with or as if with ornaments
This small icon indicates that the plastic yard sign they adorn is either recyclable.
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adornment  
n. embellishment; decoration; something that beautifies or adorns; ornament
On close examination, the boy can be seen to have a woven strand of some sort around his left ankle, possibly adornment, spiritual or medicinal.
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advance  
v. proceed; move forward; improve; moving forward
WHO said that court action needed to be handled cautiously, discipline and litigation could awaken public outrage and advance both justice and health.
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advanced  
a. improved; highly developed or complex; ahead of the times; progressive
This is a new technology for playing a more advanced sort of DVD.
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advancement  
n. progress; promotion;  forward step; improvement
Our greatest tool for advancement is also our greatest push towards downfall: intelligence.
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advent  
n. coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important
Reasoning by analogy, we can come to no other conclusion unless their advent is anticipated by the arrival of ready-made colonists from the more advanced earth, like ourselves.
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adventurer  
n. one who enjoys exciting, dangerous activities, often in foreign countries
He was the great romantic hero of his century, an adventurer, and after his death in 1967, he became a symbol of revolution on t-shirts and walls of student homes.
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adverse  
a. in opposing direction; harmful or unfavorable; acting or serving to oppose
The recession had a highly adverse effect on his father's investment portfolio: he lost so much money that he could no longer afford the house.
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adversely  
ad. negatively; in an adverse manner; oppositely; inimically; offensively; unfortunately
Global Witness says that in the same way that blood diamonds have adversely affected the lives of people in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
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advertise  
v. give notice to; inform or apprise; make known; give public notice of
We decided to advertise our new product.
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advocate  
v. speak, plead, or argue in favor of; plead for; push for something
Some doctors advocate a smoking ban in the entire house.
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advocate  
n. one that argues for a cause; supporter or defender
I guess a Twitter security advocate is a Twitter user whose account has been hacked.
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aesthetic  
a. elegant or tasteful; of or concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste
Kenneth Cole, the American designer, known for his modern, urban aesthetic, is hawking $35 T-shirts.
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affect  
v. have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
The move is likely to affect women and girls worldwide as international brands such as Mango and Zara have signed up to the agreement.
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affection  
n. fondness; tender feeling toward another; fondness
I happen to think that the physical expression of love and affection is just about the best thing we humans do.
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affectionate  
a. having affection or warm regard; loving; fond; kindly inclined; zealous
He enfolded the child in an affectionate embrace.
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affiliate  
v. associate; cause a group to become part of or form a close relationship with another
Our Affiliate programs empower our associates to earn commissions and receive ticket discounts.
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affinity  
n. natural attraction, liking, or feeling of kinship; relationship by marriage
She felt an affinity with all who suffered; their pains were her pains.
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affirm  
v. state something as true; assert; confirm
Briggs calmly took a paper from his pocket and read out in a sort of official voice: 'I affirm and can prove that on the 20th of October.'
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afflict  
v. cause pain, suffering, or distress
Restless legs syndrome is thought to afflict millions, though there's an argument about just how many.
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affliction  
n. cause or condition of pain, suffering, or distress
Even in the midst of her affliction, Elizabeth tried to keep up the spirits of those around her.
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affluent  
a. having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
They want the same opportunity to pursue their dreams as everyone else who lives in affluent school districts.
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afford  
v. pay; provide; have the financial means for; bear the cost of
The deal reduces the cost of certain AIDS drugs and gives developing countries the confidence to afford to treat citizens in the long-term.
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affordable  
a. able to pay for
We need treatments that are more affordable, and we need an HIV vaccine that can have the same impact on the HIV epidemic as vaccines have had on smallpox and other diseases.
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agenda  
n. items of business at a meeting; list or program of things to be done or considered
His agenda is certainly different from the President's and the administration's, but we will seek additional opportunities to work together with him.
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aggravate  
v. worsen; make worse or more troublesome
Ridiculous, offensive comments like this do nothing but aggravate the situation.
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aggravating  
a. irritating; annoying; making worse or more heinous
What's aggravating is they are not in the same format, so it's not like you can cut and paste.
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aggregate  
v. gather into a mass, sum, or whole; amount to
Before the Wall Street scandals, dealers managed to aggregate great wealth in short periods of time.
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aggregation  
n. several things grouped together or considered as a whole
It provides an overview of a diverse set of more than thirty digital library aggregation services, organizes them into functional clusters.
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aggressive  
a. making assaults; unjustly attacking; combative; hostile; tending to spread quickly
During his tenure in Beijing, Huntsman was an aggressive advocate for human rights and pushed to expand U.S. economic ties with China.
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agile  
a. moving quickly and lightly; mentally quick
He is quick and agile, which is something we relied on.
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agility  
n. mentally quick; moving quickly and lightly
The agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled the audience.
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agitate  
v. cause to move with violence or sudden force; upset; disturb
Since President has now announced that Emergency, the only demand that the lawyers can now agitate is to restore the old Supreme Court.
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agitation  
n. anxiety; extreme emotional disturbance
The result of all this agitation is an unsettlement that paralyzes business.
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agony  
n. the extreme pain of mind or body; anguish; last struggle of life; death struggle
'Oh, PLEASE mind what you are doing!' cried Alice, jumping up and down in an agony of terror.
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agreeable  
a. ready to consent or submit; acceptable
They will have a great deal of money, and you will have none: it is your place to be humble and to try to make yourself agreeable to them.
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agriculture  
n. the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock
The developing world is unlikely to change its stand on the issue of agriculture subsidies.
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aim  
n. point or direct towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it
The library aims to educate and inspire children who have seen arts education cut from their school.
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air  
v. be broadcast on television or radio
The tidbits that will air on tonight's 6 o'clock news.
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airborne  
a. aloft; flying; in the air
It provides air-data and GPS-inertial solutions for airborne measurement.
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airsickness  
n. motion sickness experienced while traveling by air
An airsickness bag is commonly provided to passengers onboard airplanes and boats to collect and contain vomit in the case of motion sickness.
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ajar  
a. half-open; slightly turned or opened
If you need a door ajar or else without the cat running through it, placing the bottle in the doorway will usually keep it away.
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akin  
a. of the same kin; related by blood
Spanish is akin to Latin.
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alchemy  
n. medieval chemistry; magical or mysterious power or process of transforming
The changing of baser metals into gold was the goal of the students of alchemy in medieval.
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alder  
n. north temperate shrubs or trees having toothed leaves and cone-like fruit
The wood of the alder is light, quite brittle when young, and easily worked.
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alien  
a. dissimilar, inconsistent, or opposed in nature; very different place, society, or person
If you think about it, that's totally alien to what a drug company might be expected to do because if you eradicate a disease, there's no need for that drug at all.
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alienate  
v. cause to become unfriendly or hostile; transfer property or ownership; isolate or dissociate emotionally
We could not see what should again alienate us from one another or how one brother could again oppress another.
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alignment  
n. arrangement; association; alliance
When you want an alignment that covers the whole length of both sequences, use a needle.
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allegiance  
n. loyalty to a nation, sovereign, or cause; fidelity to any person or thing; devotion
They didn't want to salute the flag, saying that kind of allegiance is only for God.
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allegory  
n. symbolic representation of abstract ideas or principles in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form
Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the temptations and victories of man's soul.
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allocate  
v. assign; distribute according to plan
Even though the Red Cross did allocate a large sum to relieve the sufferers of the disaster, many people perished.
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allowance  
n. approval; the act of allowing, granting, or admitting
I volunteer for every shift available; the allowance is better than nothing.
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alloy  
v. combine; mix; make less pure; lessen or moderate
Our concern for Dwight Gooden, who injured his pitching arm in the game,  will alloy our delight at the Yankees' victory.
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alloy  
n. mixture; a combination of diverse things
In its ideal form, the alloy is a crystal with each element occupying specific crystal locations relative to one another.
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allude  
v. refer casually or indirectly, or by suggestion
Try not to mention divorce in Jack's presence because he will think you allude to his marital problems with Jill.
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ally  
n. confederate; partner; collaborator
The trouble is that selling arms to this particular ally regularly involves commissions - in plain language, bribes - to well-placed people.
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aloft  
ad. in or into a high place; high or higher up
It tried to remain aloft, but its flying grew wild and reckless.
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alongside  
ad. along or by the side; side by side with
When his lease went up for renewal in December, I summoned all my courage to sign my name alongside his on the new one.
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aloof  
a. apart; remote in manner; distant physically or emotionally; reserved and remote
In this age of information and communication, no sector can remain aloof from the revolution in these fields.
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alter  
v. modify; cause to change; make different; convert
In public, neither Mr. Blair's visit nor the regional summit in Nepal has done anything to alter India's position on dialogue with Pakistan.
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alternate  
a. happening or following in turns; succeeding each other continuously; substitute
Businesses can also use this opportunity to invest in an alternate, perhaps more efficient, which will help our economy in the long-run.
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alternate  
v. occur successively; pass back and forth from one state, action, or place to another
Please alternate light and dark squares to form a pattern.
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alternative  
n. one of two or more things, ideas, or courses of action that may be used; option or choice
Electron Instruments believed its desktop SEM was vastly superior to the next best alternative from a Japanese competitor.
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altitude  
n. elevation especially above sea level; height
The high desert plains are beautiful and have a more temperate climate, but altitude is a health problem for some people.
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amateur  
n. one who engages in an art, science, study, or athletic activity as a pastime rather than as a profession
The amateur is someone who loves a topic or hobby, or interest and pursues it with dedication, love, and attention to detail.
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amaze  
v. astonish; affect with wonder
Archaeologists amaze that such a fragile ancient document could have survived for so long and that it was then discovered as it could so easily have been overlooked.
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amazing  
a. awesome; astounding; surprising
It was an amazing year for female performances and to be nominated amongst them was really incredible.
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ambience  
n. particular environment or surrounding influence; an atmosphere of the environment
A certain ambience is lost when you choose a tampon over a cocktail glass at a party.
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ambition  
n. aspiration; a strong wish to achieve something
They may be trying to protect their rich pickings, but this is also in line with President Putin's ambition to see Russian business as a truly international player.
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ambitious  
a. aspiring; having a strong desire for success or achievement
After news of Rupert Murdoch's ambitious move, the company's share value rose rapidly, opening at 37 dollars and 12 cents and going up to 57 dollars and 28 cents.
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ambivalent  
a. mixed;  experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings
South Korea is one of the world's most successful trading nations, but the population remains deeply ambivalent about open markets' benefits.
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amble  
n. moving at an easy pace; walk slowly or leisurely
When she first mounted the horse, she was afraid to urge the animal to go faster than a gentle amble.
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amend  
v. change for the better; improve; remove faults or errors
Would McCain amend executive orders to ensure that communications between persons outside government and White House staff are disclosed to the public?
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amendment  
n. a change or changes made to the words of a text; revision
America and Britain oppose this amendment, but some other European countries, particularly Germany, have always been lukewarm on debt relief and might be swayed.
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amends  
n. compensation for a loss or injury; recompense
I want to make amends to my friend for breaking her precious vase.
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amenity  
n. pleasantness resulting from agreeable conditions
This spacious travel amenity kit lets you bring all the comforts of home.
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amid  
ad. in the middle of; among; surrounded by
He and other leaders are more optimistic than eight years ago when Easley began his term amid a recession.
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ammunition  
n. military stores or provisions; articles used in weapons, as powder, balls, shot, shells
I will carry these two rifles myself; the ammunition is all there except that bag in the corner.
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amnesia  
n. partial or total loss of memory, usually resulting from shock or illness
Selective amnesia is a politically valuable trait.
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amount  
n. total of two or more quantities; aggregate; sum
The amount of money sent home by migrant workers to their families in Latin America has reached more than $62 billion.
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ample  
a. more than enough in size or scope or capacity; relatively large
They insist that food is being provided to the Palestinians in ample supplies and that the only way to weaken Hamas is to maintain the blockade.
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amplification  
n. addition of extra material or illustration or clarifying detail
A few remarks added in amplification and defense.
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amplify  
v. broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make larger or more powerful; increase
Charlie Brown tried to amplify his remarks, but jeers from the audience drowned him out.
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amuse  
v. occupy in an agreeable, pleasing, or entertaining fashion; cause laughter or be funny; delude or deceive
I've been using this anecdote to amuse my civilian friends for years!
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analogous  
a. comparable; similar or alike
She called our attention to the things done in an analogous situation and recommended that we do the same.
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analogy  
n. the similarity in some respects; comparison based on similarity
This analogy is almost always noted without further comment, although it may be taken further.
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analyze  
v. diagnose; study, or examine something in detail to discover more about it
Historians follow a few basic rules to help them analyze primary sources.
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anarchist  
n. a person who seeks to overturn established government; advocate of abolishing authority
Denying she was an anarchist, Katya maintained she wished only to make changes in our government, not to destroy it entirely.
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anatomy  
n. detailed analysis;  the scientific study of the body and how its parts are arranged
You have to know something about anatomy if you want to draw the human body well.
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ancestor  
n. forefather; forebear; forerunner or predecessor
He said it was a very old name in that neighborhood, that the house's ancestor was wealthy.
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ancestral  
a. inherited or inheritable by established rules
On the key issue of land rights, it called for a mechanism to study ancestral links to the land.
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ancestry  
n. family descent; series or line of ancestors; lineage
David can trace his ancestry as far back as the seventeenth century when one was a court trumpeter somewhere in Germany.
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anchor  
v. secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; narrate or coordinate
We set the post in concrete to anchor it in place.
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anecdotal  
a. having the character of an anecdote; of a short story of any interesting or humorous incidents
Below I will investigate the reasons why anecdotal evidence is unreliable and unacceptable evidence of scientific claims.
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animated  
a. having life or vigor or spirit; filled with activity; in the form of cartoon
On entering his room, I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men.
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annex  
v. append or attach; take possession of; incorporate into an existing political unit
Mexico objected to the United States' attempts to annex the territory that later became Texas.
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annihilate  
v. destroy completely; reduce to nonexistence
The enemy, in its revenge, tried to annihilate the entire population.
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announce  
v. herald; give out; proclaim; make known publicly
Finance minister Sinha will announce an extra tax to ease the financial pain in his annual budget speech.
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announcement  
n. formal public statement; an act of making known publicly
Therefore, the Greek government's official announcement was more a profit-taking opportunity than actually excellent news.
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announcer  
n. one who proclaims a message publicly
I'm pretty sure that the announcer is the voice of Jodi Benson.
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annoy  
v. disturb, especially by minor irritations; irritate
Sit up! Don't annoy me with holding the clothes fast.
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annoying  
a. bothersome; troublesome; irritating
Please tell us how to get rid of the annoying windows alert balloons.
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annual  
a. occurring or payable every year
It says that the Queen's role in the annual state opening of parliament should be changed.
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anomaly  
n. irregularity; a person or something unusual; departure from the normal or common order
No doubt, this anomaly is the result of the uncertain international environment and high-interest rates.
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anonymous  
a. having no name; having an unknown or unacknowledged name
The buyer, who wished to remain anonymous, is a foreigner with homes in Europe.
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antedate  
v. be earlier in time; go back further
It is up to a claimant to ask the Commission to antedate a claim.
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anthem  
n. song of praise or patriotism; the song of devotion or loyalty
Let us now all join in singing the national anthem.
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anthology  
n. book of literary selections by various authors
The late Isaac Asimov compiled this anthology of science fiction.
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anthropology  
n. social science that studies origins and social relationships of human beings
The strength of anthropology is its diversity of approach and perspective, unified by a common theme: the study of human variation and adaptability.
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antibiotic  
n. any substance that can destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria and similar microorganisms
Perhaps the most well-known antibiotic is penicillin.
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anticipate  
v. act in advance of; deal with ahead of time; predict
I thought she loved me, outcast as I was, and I, who from man could anticipate only mistrust, rejection, insult, clung to her with filial fondness.
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anticipation  
n. something expected; pleasurable expectation; wishing with confidence
Please hold your breath in anticipation of that event.
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antiquate  
v. make obsolete or old-fashioned
This latest device will antiquate the ice-cube tray.
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antique  
n. any furniture old and valuable; out of fashion
The woeful ongoing situation of open archaeological sites, which antique smugglers are systematically plundering, will be another priority issue.
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antique  
a. old; belonging to, made in, or typical of an earlier period
Quite a few of these old booklets can still be found in antique stores or online bookstores.
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anxious  
a. eager; keen; worried; uneasy, and apprehensive about an uncertain event or matter
It was the last remark that had made the whole party look so grave and anxious.
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apologize  
v. beg pardon; tell someone that you are sorry for having done something
However, the sooner you apologize for your mistake, the more likely it will be viewed as an error in judgment and not a character flaw.
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apology  
n. acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense; explanation or excuse
The consequence of those measures will be the best apology for my conduct.
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apparent  
a. capable of being seen, or easily seen; open to view; visible to the eye
It is apparent to all that he was guilty; do you think anyone still trusts him now?
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appeal  
n. attraction; charm; attract; fascinate; challenge
Oxfam is making a big appeal for humanitarian aid to Darfur and neighboring Chad, where millions of people have been made homeless by fighting.
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appealing  
a. attractive or interesting; charming
The poor creature dropped on his knees before the stolid murderer and clasped his appealing hands.
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appendix  
n. something appended or added
The details are clearly set out in an appendix.
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appetite  
n. instinctive physical desire, especially one for food or drink
China's urban young are developing a growing appetite for the cool white look of platinum jewelry.
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applaud  
v. acclaim; express approval, especially by clapping the hands
Audiences are usually expected to applaud after a performance.
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appliance  
n. durable goods for home or office use; device or instrument for household use
It has served North Americans with small appliance needs for many years.
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applicant  
n. candidate; a person who formally requests something, especially a job
If the applicant doesn't pass the first time, he can try again and again.
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application  
n. close attention; work of applying something; verbal or written request for assistance
Pleased with how well Tom had whitewashed the fence, Aunt Polly praised him for his application to the task.
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apply  
v. exert; put into service; avail oneself to;
You cannot apply all money to your mortgage.
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appoint  
v. designate; nominate; choose someone officially for a job or responsibility
Becky teased her mother to appoint the next day for the long-promised and long-delayed picnic, and she consented.
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apportion  
v. distribute; allot; give out as one's portion or share
I want to apportion the money among all the children.
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appraisal  
n. assessment; evaluation; the classification of someone or something with respect to its worth
An auto damage appraisal firm offering assessments for insurance and private purposes throughout the province.
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appreciable  
a. large enough to be noticed or to affect; perceptible
Her office had no appreciable impact on improving global perceptions of the United States and made things worse in some situations.
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appreciate  
v. be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of
I am truly thankful for the stocks, which would appreciate in value considerably in future years.
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appreciation  
n. recognition; taste; judgment or opinion, especially a favorable one
The ambassadors expressed appreciation for the Italian Prime Minister's efforts to clarify that terrorism is absolutely separate from Islam.
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approach  
n. a way of considering or doing something
Faced with an increasingly competitive jobs market, the army is becoming more sophisticated and corporate in its approach to recruitment.
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approaching  
a. impending; of the relatively near future; coming closer to another
When the lookouts first discovered this naval force on Helgoland, there immediately appeared approaching from the German base.
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appropriate  
v. acquire; take possession of for one's own use; set apart for specific use
The ranch owners appropriate the lands that have originally been set aside for the Indians' use.
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appropriation  
n. funding;  money set aside for a specific purpose
The appropriation from the central budget totaled 725.3 billion yuan, increasing 21.8 percent over the previous year.
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approximate  
v. come near or nearer to something or someone in space, time, quality, or amount
The conclusions of yours both approximate the truth.
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approximately  
ad. very similarly; roughly
According to testimony at the guilty plea hearing, he used an assumed online identity to sell approximately 637000 stolen credit card numbers.
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apt  
a. likely; precisely suitable; appropriate; quick to learn or understand
The England coach, Bobby Robson, described it as a miracle, which following 'the Hand-of-God' goal seems supremely apt.
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aptitude  
n. inherent ability; quickness in learning and understanding
The counselor gave him an aptitude test before advising him about the career he should follow.
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aptly  
ad. in a competent, capable manner; in an apt or suitable manner
35 years ago, Milton Friedman wrote a famous article whose title aptly summed up its point: The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits.
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aquarium  
n. tank or pool or bowl filled with water for keeping live fish and underwater animals
This is the world's largest aquarium with 8 million gallons of fresh and marine water and more than 100000 animals representing 500 species from around the globe.
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aquatic  
a. consisting of, relating to, or being in the water
Paul enjoyed aquatic sports such as scuba diving and snorkeling.
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arbitrary  
a. randomly chosen; determined by chance or impulse, and not by reason or principle
He threw an arbitrary assortment of clothes into his suitcase and headed off, not caring where he went.
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arc  
n. the continuous portion of a circle; something curved in shape
Why are rainbows in an arc shape?
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arch  
n. any part of a curved line
She pointed to a wide arch corresponding to the window and hung like it with a Syrian-dyed curtain, now looped up.
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archaeological  
a. related to or dealing with or devoted to archaeology
In recent years one of these caves has drawn attention in archaeological circles.
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archipelago  
n. group of closely located islands
When I looked at the map and saw the South Seas' archipelago, I longed to visit them.
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architect  
n. one who designs and supervises the construction of buildings or other large structures
Simon Conder, a British architect, is responsible for this beautiful conversion of a group of farms.
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architectural  
a. of or about the art and science of architecture
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is a voluntary national association established in 1907.
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architecture  
n. art and science of designing and erecting buildings; buildings and other large structures
None of the architecture is historic; most of it is made of concrete blocks.
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archives  
n. public records; place where public records are kept
These documents should be part of the archives so that historians may evaluate them in the future.
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ardent  
a. displaying or by strong enthusiasm or devotion; passionate
Her fellow demonstrators were busily making posters and handing out flyers, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
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arduous  
a. demanding great effort or labor; difficult
Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy.
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arena  
n. a playing field where sports events take place; a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments
For your convenience, arena locations have been divided into two categories; East and West.
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aria  
n. operatic solo; a solo vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment
Of course, throwing a pop star at an aria is a particularly uninspired solution.
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arid  
a. dry; lacking moisture, especially having insufficient rainfall to support trees or plants
The cactus has adapted to survive in an arid environment.
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arise  
v. come up from a lower to a higher position; come above the horizon; spring up; come into action
The problem may not arise, but there's no harm in keeping our powder dry.
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armored  
a. protected by armor; provided with a protective covering
The cases against three people accused of stealing $7.4 million from an Ohio armored car company were transferred to Ohio from West Virginia.
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armory  
n. arsenal; a place where arms are manufactured
The adjutant general may designate an officer to be in direct charge of each armory, arsenal, camp, base, or other facilities.
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aroma  
n. fragrance; scent; pleasant characteristic odor, as of a plant, spice, or food
The aroma is distinctive, but in the end, it's a lemon.
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aromatic  
a. fragrant or sweet-smelling; caused by fragrant odor
Medieval sailing vessels brought aromatic herbs from China to Europe.
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arouse  
v. excite; stimulate; awaken from or as if from sleep
He suddenly seemed to arouse himself: the conviction of the reality seized him.
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arrange  
v. put in proper order; dispose in the manner intended, or best suited for the purpose
Just five years earlier, Carter and I had helped arrange the federal loan guarantee that saved Chrysler from bankruptcy.
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arrangement  
n. composition; a plan for how something will happen
This party is intended to legitimize the power-sharing arrangement and iron out at least some of the inequalities in representation.
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arthritis  
n. inflammation of a joint or joints
Multiple treatments have shown success in treating arthritis symptoms, that is, in the relief of symptoms.
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article  
n. essay; editorial; individual thing or element of a class
An article in a national newspaper caused the protests.
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articulate  
a. expressing oneself easily in clear and effective language
Her articulate presentation of the advertising campaign impressed her employers.
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artificial  
a. made by humans; produced rather than natural.
Researchers have found that kangaroos often become accustomed to these artificial sounds and take little notice of them.
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artillery  
n. large weapons, such as cannon and missile launchers operated by crews; army branch in use of large weapons
Our rocket artillery is simply a mass of rounds pointed at the general area of the enemy.
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artisan  
n. manually skilled worker; craftsman, as opposed to an artist
A noted artisan, Arturo, was known for the fine craftsmanship.
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ascend  
v. move up or climb something; mount
Boys ascend through the skylight onto the roof.
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ascribe  
v. inscribe or dedicate; attribute to a specified cause, source, or origin; assign as a quality
Other people ascribe his exclusion from the canon to an unsubtle form of racism.
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aspect  
n. distinct feature or element in a problem
And I guess as he's coming back, the education aspect is more on display than the others.
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asphyxiate  
v. deprive of oxygen to the extent of producing death or severe symptoms; suffocate
Carbon monoxide could build up and make you sick or even asphyxiate you.
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aspiration  
n. ambition; something that you hope to achieve
The basic aspiration is that culture should serve as a rallying point for nation-building - in practice, neither the finances nor the security conditions seem very favorable.
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assassination  
n. act of assassinating; killing by treacherous violence; the murder of public figure by a surprise attack
The assassination is a terrible terrible, unspeakable loss for his family and friends.
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assault  
n. a violent attack; an onslaught
He's charged with interfering with the performance of a flight crew by assault or intimidation.
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assemblage  
n. a group of persons together in one place
Ranged on benches down the sides of the room, the eighty girls sat motionless and erect; a quaint assemblage appeared, all with plain locks combed from their faces.
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assemble  
v. put together; bring or call together into a group or whole
Washington announced its decision to dissolve the core group of nations, the US, India, Japan, and Australia; it would assemble to deliver aid.
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assembly  
n. gathering; meeting; a group of persons gathered together for a common reason
What critical missions remain for shuttles after station assembly is completed?
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assert  
v. declare or state with confidence; put oneself forward boldly
If you quit acting like a wimp and assert yourself a bit more, you'd improve your chances of getting a date.
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assess  
v. estimate  value; judge worth of something
They say that they lack both the money and the resources to deploy officials across the country to assess each ferry's safety.
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assessment  
n. act of judging or assessing; amount determined as payable
Key to this assessment is the critical geographical fact that North Korea is adjacent to South Korea, an affluent democracy.
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asset  
n. properties; advantage; useful or valuable quality
Hilary Rosen of the Recording Industry Association of America: American intellectual property is our nation's greatest trade asset.
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assign  
v. appoint; allot; point out authoritatively or exactly
Never underrate the difficulties your pupils will have to encounter or persuade them that what you assign is easy.
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assimilate  
v. incorporate and absorb into mind; make similar; cause to resemble
How the United States could assimilate immigrants during the 19th and early 20th century will always be a source of pride to Americans.
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assist  
v. give help or support to, especially as a subordinate
A good way to assist is to bring entrepreneurial and business skills to them.
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assistance  
n. help, especially money or resources that are given to people  
The government has pledged in return for IMF assistance to redouble its efforts to reform the economy.
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assistant  
n. helper; a person who assists or helps someone else
I am a textile designer under the title assistant designer at a western wear company.
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associate  
v. connect or join together; combine
The public is likely to associate a word or mark with a given company.
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assumption  
n. something taken for accepted as true without proof; taking over or taking possession of
The young princess made the foolish assumption that the regent would not object to power.
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assurance  
n. promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence; freedom from doubt
Even in BP CEO Tony Hayward's new television commercial, his assurance is ambiguous.
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assuredly  
ad. in a way that causes something to be certain; undoubtedly
We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.
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astonished  
a. amazed; very surprised
He looked upon his son and was again astonished at his beauty this day.
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astonishing  
a. very wonderful; of a nature to excite astonishment; surprising greatly
What I find a bit astonishing is that folks encourage others to do the same.
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astound  
v. affect with wonder; surprise; shock
The past events dovetail into those of the present, with parallels that surprise, astound, shock and delight.
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astronomer  
n. a physicist who studies astronomy
He felt much as an astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet--no doubt, as far as strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned.
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astronomical  
a. enormously large or extensive; relating to astronomy
The government seems willing to spend astronomical sums on weapons development.
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astronomy  
n. branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole
The brightened comet in the constellation Virgo may even be visible to the naked eye, allowing members of the public worldwide to join in this historic moment in astronomy.
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asylum  
n. place of refuge or shelter; protection
The refugees sought asylum from religious persecution in a new land.
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atheist  
n. nonbeliever; one who denies the existence of god
The view that children are born atheist is relatively recent.
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athlete  
n. a sportsman; one who contended for a prize in public games
Our goal is to help the athlete get the best performance.
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atlas  
n. a bound volume of maps, charts, or tables
Embarrassed at being unable to distinguish Slovenia from Slovakia, George W. finally consulted an atlas.
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atmosphere  
n. air; a mixture of gases that surrounds any planet
The shuttle burned up while re-entering the earth's atmosphere on Saturday, and any debris will be important in finding out why.
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atom  
n. a tiny piece of anything; the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element
If any one of them can explain it, I'll give him sixpence. I don't believe there's an atom of meaning in it.
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atomic  
a. of or relating to or comprising atoms; immeasurably small
Iran was never pursuing an atomic bomb, Iran's Oil Minister said in a press conference here.
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attach  
v. fasten; annex; be in contact with
The anti-nuclear campaigners used concrete blocks and chains to attach themselves to the rails.
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attachment  
n. a bond, as of affection or loyalty; fond regard; supplementary part; accessory
Her simplicity, gay prattle, and efforts to please inspired me, in return, with a degree of attachment sufficient to make us both content in each other's society.
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attack  
n. offensive move; expression of strong criticism; hostile comment
A national newspaper received an anonymous phone call warning about the attack just minutes before the first device exploded.
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attain  
v. achieve or accomplish; gain
The scarecrow sought to attain one goal: he wished to obtain a brain.
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attainment  
n. something, such as an accomplishment or achievement; achievement
The end of all scholarly attainment is to live nobly.
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attend  
v. be present at; go to; take care of; tend
Britain's House of Lords has been described as the best club in London, and for many of the hereditary members who rarely attend debates, that's just what it is.
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attendance  
n. act of being present
In some countries, taking lots of days off work sick would get you fired, and the idea of offering prizes for good attendance would be little more than a joke.
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attendant  
n. aide; servant; accompanying; a person who participates in a meeting
The FBI has published an affidavit that describes how a flight attendant first smelled smoke from a match.
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attention  
n. act or state of attending or heeding; application of the mind to any object of sense, representation, or thought
Ladies and gentlemen, could I have your attention, please?
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attire  
n. clothes, especially of a particular or formal type; dress
I will attire my Jane in satin and lace, and she shall have roses in her hair, and I will cover the head I love best with a priceless veil.
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attorney  
n. lawyer; one who is appointed by another to act in his place or stead; proxy
Did this attorney mean to throw away his client's life without an effort?
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attract  
v. draw to, or cause to tend to; engage or fix, as the mind, attention; invite or allure
The government is trying to attract more investment into the shipbuilding industry.
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attraction  
n. appeal; a characteristic that provides pleasure and attracts
Harriet died peacefully in her enclosure at a zoo in northern Australia, where she was the star attraction.
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attractive  
a. appealing; pleasing; inviting; tempting
The mobile phone companies argue that reducing taxes will make legally imported phones more attractive than the cheaper smuggled models.
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attribute  
n. essential quality; reputation; honor
His outstanding attribute was his kindness.
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attribute  
v. relate to particular cause or source; ascribe; explain
I attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents.
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audible  
a. perceptible; heard or perceptible by the ear
He turned his head slightly, his lips moving in a phrase audible only to the Caverna.
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audit  
v. examine, verify, or correct the financial accounts of
Independent accountants audit the company annually.
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audition  
v. take part in a trial performance; evaluate in a trial performance
She scheduled to audition for a role on Broadway.
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auditorium  
n. area of theater or concert hall where the audience sits
A seat in the stalls or in one of the elaborate boxes surrounding the horseshoe-shaped auditorium now costs nearly 700 pounds.
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auger  
n. hand tool for boring holes; hollow drill used to take core samples of soil, ice
It was amazing what they could make just using an ax and an auger.
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augment  
v. make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity
Armies augment their forces by calling up reinforcements.
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authentic  
a. not counterfeit or copied; valid; trustworthy
It is authentic, genuine, and a true and correct copy of the original.
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authenticate  
v. prove genuine; establish authenticity of
An expert was needed to authenticate the original Van Gogh painting, distinguishing it from its imitation.
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author  
n. beginner, former, or first mover of anything; creator; originator; one who composes or writes book or composer
In delivering the prize to the author of it, the mayor of the village made a warm speech.
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authority  
n. jurisdiction; power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge; government
The laws will reinforce Australia's authority to turn boats away from Australia.
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authorize  
v. empower; give permission for; sanction
President Bush and House Leaders agreed on a resolution to authorize force against Iraq.
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autobiographical  
a. of or relating to a person's life or an account of a person's life
They compiled an autobiographical history of the movement.
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autobiography  
n. biography or story written by yourself
I shall not indulge in autobiography by speaking of my own country.
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automated  
a. mechanical; automatic; accomplished without the intervention of a human operator
Engineers strive to combine automated devices with mathematical and organizational tools to create complex systems.
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automatic  
a. mechanized; operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control
There were several bursts of automatic fire.
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automobile  
n. self-propelled vehicle suitable for use on street or roadway
There will be an exhibition on the development of the automobile industry in our country next week.
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automotive  
a. of or relating to motor vehicles; moving by itself; self-propelling
We provide unique automotive tools and supplies, as well as expert advice and solutions.
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autonomy  
n. independence; self-government or the right of self-government; self-determination
The study also called for the three thousand Rapa Nui people of Easter Island to be given greater autonomy.
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auxiliary  
a. helper, additional or subsidiary
To prepare for the emergency, they built an auxiliary power station.
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available  
a. convenient for use or disposal; not busy, free; obtainable; accessible
Vaccines are available but are costly and only offer relatively short-term protection, so the animals need regular booster vaccinations.
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avalanche  
n. a great mass of falling snow and ice
The park ranger warned the skiers to stay on the main trails, where they would be in no danger of being buried beneath a sudden avalanche.
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avant-garde  
n. radically new or original; cutting edge
It collects news, reviews, image galleries, and texts concerning avant-garde culture and contemporary art in Tokyo.
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aversion  
n. firm dislike; turning away; avoidance of a thing, situation, or behavior because of dislike
Risk aversion is one of the most serious problems and the highest cost of our human space flight.
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avert  
v. prevent; turn or cause to turn off or away
She had to avert her eyes from the dead cat on the highway.
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aviation  
n. art or science of flying; flight; aeronautics
A group of British and French civil aviation experts meeting in Paris had failed to develop new proposals to improve Concorde's security.
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avid  
a. greedy; eager for; marked by keen interest and enthusiasm
He was avid for learning and read everything he could get.
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avocation  
n. activity taken up in addition to one's regular work or profession, usually for enjoyment
His hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abandoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his avocation.
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avocation  
n. person's regular business or occupation; hobby or recreational or leisure pursuit
For the past several years, I've made an avocation study of Jesus and his followers in their historical context.
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avoidance  
n. keeping away from or preventing from happening
Tax avoidance is the legal utilization of the tax regime to one's own advantage in order to reduce the amount of tax.
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awareness  
n. realization; consciousness; having knowledge of
Organ donation awareness is high in Pennsylvania due mainly to effective education by state governments.
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awkward  
a. difficult to handle or manage
John Kerry recently spoke of his faith, but he's more awkward about it than President Bush's born again.
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awkwardly  
ad. in an uncomfortable, nervous, or embarrassed way
The 64-year-old man spoke slowly, almost awkwardly to his people, promising a stable government in which no corruption would be tolerated.
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