abbreviation | n.
shortening something by omitting parts of it |
abnormal | a. Syn. anomalous; unusual
unusual; not typical; not normal |
abolish | v. Syn. cancel; annul
cancel; put an end to; destroy completely |
aboriginal | a. Syn. primitive; native
being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native |
abort | v. Syn. failure; terminate
stop; terminate before completion; terminate a pregnancy |
abound | v.
be full of; be plentiful |
abrasion | n. Syn. scratch; friction
scratch; friction |
abridge | v. Syn. condense; shorten
condense; shorten; reduce length of written text |
abrupt | a. Syn. sudden; unforeseen
broken off; very steep; having sudden transitions from one subject to another |
absorb | v. Syn. monopolize; receive
assimilate or incorporate; suck or drink up; occupy full attention |
abstract | a. Syn. theoretical; abstruse
theoretical; not concrete; not applied or practical; difficult to understand |
abundance | n. Syn. profusion; richness
great or plentiful amount; fullness to overflowing |
accelerate | v. Syn. speed; hasten
move faster; cause to develop or progress more quickly; occur sooner than expected |
accessory | n. Syn. adjunct; appendage
additional object; useful but not essential thing; subordinate or supplementary item |
acclaim | v. Syn. applaud
applaud; announce with great approval |
accommodate | v. Syn. adapt; oblige
do a favor or service for; provide for; supply with; make suitable; adapt; allow for |
accommodation | n.
living quarters provided for public convenience; something that meets a need; convenience |
accompany | v.
travel with; be associated with |
accord | n. Syn. agreement; treaty
settlement or compromise of conflicting opinions; written agreement between two states |
accountable | a.
liable to being called to account; answerable; responsible; something that can be explained |
accumulate | v. Syn. collect
pile up; collect; mount up; increase |
accuser | n.
one who accuses; one who brings a charge of crime or fault |
achieve | v. Syn. accomplish; fulfill
gain with effort; accomplish; fulfill |
acquaint | v. Syn. Inform
inform about; cause to come to know personally; make familiar |
acquire | v. Syn. obtain; gain
gain through experience or effort; gain possession of; locate with tracking system |
acquisition | n. Syn. acquirement; attainment
act of contracting or assuming or acquiring possession of something |
activate | v. Syn. encourage; stimulate
make active or more active; stimulate; make radioactive |
acute | a. Syn. keen; sharp
quickly perceptive; keen; having a sharp point or tip; extremely sharp or severe |
adapt | v. Syn. alter; modify
make fit for; change to suit a new purpose |
addict | v.
cause someone to become dependent; indulge in; be devoted to |
adept | a. Syn. competent; proficient
expert at; very skilled; having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude |
adequate | a. Syn. sufficient; enough
sufficient; enough to meet a purpose |
adhere | v. Syn. stick; bond
stick fast; stick to firmly; be compatible or in accordance with |
adjacent | a. Syn. adjoining; neighboring
adjoining; neighboring; close to; lying near |
adjoin | v. Syn. attach
be next to; be contiguous to; border on |
administer | v. Syn. govern; supervise
govern; supervise; give or apply medications |
administrate | v.
administer; supply; supervise or be in charge of |
admission | n. Syn. admittance; entrance; access
act or practice of admitting; power or permission to enter |
adolescence | n. Syn. youth; juvenescence
state of growing up from childhood to manhood or womanhood; transitional period between youth and maturity |
advent | n. Syn. arrival
coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important |
adverse | a. Syn. unfavorable; hostile
in opposing direction; harmful or unfavorable; acting or serving to oppose |
advertise | v. Syn. notify
give notice to; inform or apprise; make known; give public notice of |
advocate | v. Syn. urge; support
speak, plead, or argue in favour of; plead for; push for something |
aerial | a.
of the air or atmosphere; produced by or found in the air; performed in the air |
aesthetic | a. Syn. artistic; elegant
elegant or tasteful; of or concerning appreciation of beauty or good taste |
affiliate | v. Syn. associate; incorporate
associate; incorporate |
affirm | v. Syn. assert; confirm
assert; confirm |
affix | v. Syn. fasten; attach
fasten; append; add on; secure to something |
afflict | v. Syn. plague; suffer; torment
cause pain, suffering or distress |
aggregate | v. Syn. gather; accumulate
gather into a mass, sum, or whole; amount to |
agitation | n. Syn. anxiety; disturbance
anxiety; extreme emotional disturbance |
agony | n.
extreme pain of mind or body; anguish; last struggle of life; death struggle |
agreeable | a. Syn. pleasing; acceptable
ready to consent or submit; acceptable |
airing | a.
exposure to air for freshening or drying; exposure to public attention; radio or television broadcast |
albeit | ad.
even though; although; notwithstanding |
alienate | v. Syn. estrange; transfer; separate
cause to become unfriendly or hostile; transfer property or ownership; isolate or dissociate emotionally |
allege | v. Syn. affirm
state without proof; assert to be true |
allegiance | n. Syn. loyalty; fidelity
loyalty to a nation, sovereign, or cause; fidelity to any person or thing; devotion |
alleviate | v. Syn. relieve; moderate; reduce
provide physical relief, as from pain; make easier; remove in part |
allocate | v. Syn. assign
assign; distribute according to plan |
allot | v. Syn. distribute
parcel out in parts or portions; distribute to each individual concerned; assign as a share or lot |
allowance | n. Syn. authorization; permission
approval; act of allowing, granting, or admitting |
alloy | v. Syn. combine; mix
combine; mix; make less pure; lessen or moderate |
alongside | ad.
along or by the side; side by side with |
alphabetical | a.
arranged in customary order of the letters of a language |
alter | v. Syn. modify; change; convert
modify; cause to change; make different; convert |
alternate | a. Syn. substitute
happening or following in turns; succeeding each other continuously; substitute |
altitude | n. Syn. elevation; height
elevation especially above sea level; height |
amateur | a. Syn. nonprofessional; inexpert
nonprofessional; lacking the skill of a professional, as in an art |
amaze | v. Syn. stun; astonish; shock
astonish; affect with wonder |
ambiguity | n.
state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty |
ambiguous | a.
unclear or doubtful in meaning |
ambitious | a. Syn. aspiring; enterprising
aspiring; having a strong desire for success or achievement |
amend | v. Syn. correct; improve
change for the better; improve; remove faults or errors |
amends | n.
compensation for a loss or injury; recompense; reparation |
amid | ad. Syn. among
in the middle of; among; surrounded by |
amidst | ad. Syn. amid; among
amid; in the middle of; among |
ammunition | n. Syn. weapon
military stores or provisions; articles used in weapons, as powder, balls, shot, shells |
amphibian | a.
able to live both on land and in water |
ample | a. Syn. abundant
more than enough in size or scope or capacity; fairly large |
amplify | v. Syn. intensify; increase
broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make larger or more powerful; increase |
amuse | v. Syn. absorb; distract; bewilder
occupy in an agreeable, pleasing, or entertaining fashion; cause laughter or be funny; delude or deceive |
analogy | n. Syn. similarity; parallelism
similarity in some respects; comparison based on similarity |
analyse | v.
resolve anything complex into its elements; separate into parts for purpose of examination of each separately |
analytical | a.
of analysis; resolving into elements or parts |
ancestor | n. Syn. forefather; forebear
forefather; forebear; forerunner or predecessor |
anchor | v. Syn. fasten
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; narrate or coordinate |
anecdote | n. Syn. episode; story
short account of amusing or interesting event; short narrative; secret story of history or biography |
annihilate | v. Syn. destroy
destroy completely; reduce to nonexistence |
annoy | v. Syn. disturb; irritate
disturb, especially by minor irritations; irritate |
annuity | n.
annual payment of allowance or income; periodical payment, amounting to a fixed sum in each year |
antagonism | n. Syn. hostility; enmity
active resistance; condition of being an opposing principle, force, or factor |
antarctic | a.
opposite to the northern or arctic pole; relating to the southern pole or to the region near it |
anthem | n. Syn. song; hymn
song of praise or patriotism; song of devotion or loyalty |
anthology | n. Syn. collection
book of literary selections by various authors |
anthropology | n.
social science that studies origins and social relationships of human beings |
antibiotic | a. Syn. antibacterial
of or relating to chemical substance that kills microorganisms and cures infections |
anticipate | v. Syn. expect; predict
act in advance of; deal with ahead of time; predict |
anticipation | n. Syn. expectation
something expected; pleasurable expectation; wishing with confidence |
antonym | n.
word of opposite meaning; counter term |
apologetic | a.
offering or expressing an apology or excuse; serving as or containing a formal justification or defense |
apparatus | n. Syn. equipment
a group of parts that work together to perform given function; appliance or device for particular purpose |
apparent | a. Syn. visible
capable of being seen, or easily seen; open to view; visible to eye |
append | v. Syn. attach
attach; add as supplement or appendix |
appendix | n. Syn. appendage; adjunct; concomitant
something appended or added |
applaud | v. Syn. clap; acclaim
acclaim; express approval, especially by clapping the hands |
appliance | n.
durable goods for home or office use; device or instrument for household use |
applicant | n. Syn. candidate
candidate |
appraisal | n. Syn. assessment; evaluation
assessment; evaluation; the classification of someone or something with respect to its worth |
appreciable | a. Syn. considerable; perceptible
considerable; perceptible |
apprentice | n.
works for an expert to learn a trade; beginner; learner |
approximate | v. Syn. approach
approach; come near |
apt | a. Syn. appropriate; suitable
likely; exactly suitable; appropriate; quick to learn or understand |
aptitude | n. Syn. intelligence; talent
inherent ability; quickness in learning and understanding |
aquarium | n.
tank or pool or bowl filled with water for keeping live fish and underwater animals |
aquatic | a. Syn. watery
consisting of, relating to, or being in water |
arbitrary | a. Syn. capricious; impulse
randomly chosen; determined by chance or impulse, and not by reason or principle |
arc | n.
continuous portion of a circle; something curved in shape |
arch | n.
any part of a curved line |
archaic | a. Syn. antiquated
no longer current or applicable; antiquated |
architect | n.
one who designs and supervises the construction of buildings or other large structures |
archives | n.
public records; place where public records are kept |
ardent | a. Syn. intense; passionate; zealous
displaying or by strong enthusiasm or devotion; passionate |
arduous | a. Syn. hard; strenuous
demanding great effort or labor; difficult |
arena | n.
playing field where sports events take place; large structure for open-air sports or entertainments |
arise | v. Syn. spring
come up from a lower to a higher position; come above the horizon; spring up; come into action |
armour | n.
defensive covering, as of metal, wood, or leather, worn to protect the body against weapons |
arouse | v. Syn. excite; stimulate; awake
excite; stimulate; awaken from or as if from sleep |
array | v. Syn. marshal
set out for display or use; place in orderly arrangement |
articulate | a. Syn. effective; distinct
expressing oneself easily in clear and effective language |
artificial | a. Syn. unreal
made by humans; produced rather than natural. |
artillery | n.
large weapons, such as cannon and missile launchers operated by crews; branch of army in use of large weapons |
ascend | v. Syn. climb; mount
climb; mount |
ascent | n.
upward slope or grade; movement upward |
ascertain | v. Syn. discover; insure
find out for certain; discover with certainty; make sure of |
ascribe | v. Syn. refer; attribute; assign
inscribe or dedicate; attribute to a specified cause, source, or origin; assign as a quality |
aspect | n. Syn. respect; facet
distinct feature or element in a problem; a way in which something can be viewed by the mind |
aspiration | n. Syn. ambition; longing
ambition; longing |
aspire | v. Syn. dream; seek
seek to attain; long for; strive toward an end |
assassination | n.
act of assassinating; killing by treacherous violence; murder of public figure by surprise attack |
assemble | v. Syn. gather
put together; bring or call together into a group or whole |
assert | v. Syn. declare
declare or state with confidence; put oneself forward boldly |
assess | v. Syn. estimate; judge
estimate value; judge worth of something |
asset | n. Syn. properties; advantage
properties; advantage; useful or valuable quality |
assign | v. Syn. appoint; allot
appoint; allot; make over; point out authoritatively or exactly |
assorted | a. Syn. varied; miscellaneous
varied; miscellaneous |
assumption | n. Syn. hypothesis; supposition
something taken for accepted as true without proof; taking over or taking possession of |
assurance | n. Syn. certainty; confidence; insurance; guaranty
promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence; freedom from doubt |
astound | v. Syn. surprise; shock
affect with wonder; surprise; shock |
astronomy | n.
branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and universe as a whole |
asylum | n. Syn. protection
place of refuge or shelter; protection |
athlete | n.
sports man; one who contended for prize in public games |
atlas | n.
a bound volume of maps, charts, or tables |
attach | v. Syn. fasten; annex
fasten; annex; be in contact with |
attain | v. Syn. gain
achieve or accomplish; gain |
attendance | n.
act of being present |
attendant | n. Syn. aide; servant
aide; servant; accompanying; person who participates in a meeting |
attribute | n. Syn. trait
essential quality; reputation; honor |
audible | a. Syn. perceptible; discernible
perceptible; heard or perceptible by the ear |
audit | n.
examination of accounts; adjustment or correction of accounts |
auditorium | n.
area of theater or concert hall where audience sits |
augment | v. Syn. increase
make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity |
authentic | a. Syn. genuine; real; valid; trustworthy
not counterfeit or copied; valid; trustworthy |
author | n.
beginner, former, or first mover of anything; creator; originator; one who composes or writes book or composer |
authoritative | a.
having weight of authority; peremptory and dictatorial |
authorize | v. Syn. empower; sanction
empower; give permission for; sanction |
automate | v.
replace or enhance human labor with machines |
automatic | a. Syn. automated; mechanized; involuntary
mechanized; operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control |
automation | n.
act or process of converting the controlling of a machine or device to a more automatic system, such as computer or electronic controls |
automobile | n.
self-propelled vehicle suitable for use on street or roadway |
autonomy | n. Syn. independence; liberty
independence; self-government or the right of self-government; self-determination |
auxiliary | a. Syn. aiding; supplementary
helper, additional or subsidiary |
avail | v. Syn. profit; promote
turn to advantage of; be of service to; profit; promote |
avalanche | n.
great mass of falling snow and ice |
avert | v. Syn. prevent
prevent; turn or cause to turn off or away |
aviation | n. Syn. flying; flight; aeronautics
art or science of flying; flight; aeronautics |
axis | n. Syn. shaft; pivot
the center around which something rotates; pivot |
backward | a.
directed to the back or rear; unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; undeveloped |
bacterium | n.
single celled organism with no nucleus |
badminton | n.
game played on a court with light long-handled rackets |
baffle | v. Syn. frustrate; perplex
frustrate as by confusing or perplexing; impede force or movement of |
ballot | n.
printed or written ticket used in voting; act of voting; whole number of votes cast at an election |
bamboo | n.
plant of the family of grasses, and genus Bambusa, growing in tropical countries |
ban | n. Syn. Prohibition
official prohibition; decree that prohibits something |
bandage | n.
strip of woven material, used in dressing and binding up wounds |
banish | v. Syn. dispel
drive out; drive away; compel to depart; dispel |
bankrupt | a.
penniless, without any money; financially ruined |
banquet | n. Syn. feast
feast; entertainment of eating and drinking |
bark | n. Syn. yelp; howl
sound made by a dog; harsh sound uttered by a dog |
barometer | n.
instrument for determining the weight or pressure of the atmosphere |
barren | a. Syn. desolate
desolate; fruitless and unproductive; lacking |
barricade | n. Syn. obstacle
hastily put together defensive barrier; obstacle |
barrier | n. Syn. obstacle; hindrance; hurdle
obstacle; structure built to bar passage; boundary or limit |
barter | v. Syn. trade; exchange
trade goods or services without the exchange of money |
batch | n.
quantity of bread baked at one time; a collection of things or persons to be handled together |
bathe | v. Syn. lave; immerse
wash by immersion, as in a bath; subject to bath; lave; immerse or cover one's self |
batter | v.
beat with successive blows; beat repeatedly and with violence |
bead | n. Syn. pearl; drops; droplet
small piece of material, such as glass, plastic, or wood, that is pierced for stringing |
beautician | n.
one skilled in giving cosmetic treatments; one who does hair styling, manicures, and other beauty treatments |
beforehand | ad. Syn. previously; aforetime
in state of anticipation; in advance; by way of preparation |
beneficial | a. Syn. helpful; useful
helpful; tending to promote physical well-being |
berth | n.
space for ship to dock or anchor; allotted place; place to sleep or stay; appointment or job |
beset | v. Syn. harass; attack
attack from all sides; trouble persistently; hem in |
beverage | n. Syn. refreshment
liquids for drinking, usually excluding water; refreshment |
bewilder | v. Syn. confuse
lead into perplexity or confusion; perplex with mazes |
bias | n. Syn. prejudice; preference
preference or inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment; influence in unfair way |
bibliography | n.
list of works of a specific author or publisher; list of writings relating to a given subject |
bilateral | a. Syn. mutual; lateral
two-sided; mutual |
bilingual | n.
using or able to use two languages, especially with equal or nearly equal fluency |
bind | v. Syn. contract; cohere; stick
tie, or confine with a cord, band, or chain; make fast; contract; cohere or stick together |
biography | n.
an account of the series of events making up a person's life; accounts of people's life |
bitumen | n.
mineral pitch; black, tarry substance, burning with a bright flame |
blaze | n. Syn. flame
brilliant burst of fire; destructive fire; flame |
bleach | v. Syn. whiten; blanch
make white or colorless; blanch |
bleak | a. Syn. cold; cheerless
cold or cheerless; unlikely to be favorable |
blend | n. Syn. combination; mixture
combination; mixture; forming uniform mixture |
blink | v. Syn. wink
shut eyes briefly; wink |
bloc | n.
a group of nations, parties, or persons united for common action |
bloom | n. Syn. flower; blossom
flower; blossom; best time of youth; period of greatest prosperity or productivity |
blossom | n.
reproductive organ of plants, especially one having showy or colorful parts |
blot | n.
spot or stain, as of ink on paper; blur; weak point or failing |
blunder | n. Syn. error
serious mistake typically caused by ignorance or confusion |
blunt | a. Syn. insensitive
having a dull edge or end; not sharp; lacking in feeling; insensitive |
blur | n. Syn. stain; dim
something that is hazy and indistinct to the sight or mind; dim, confused appearance; moral stain or blot |
blush | v.
become rosy or reddish; turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame |
boast | v. Syn. brag; vaunt
show off oneself; speak of with excessive pride |
boil | v.
be agitated; pass from a liquid to vapor when heated; be excited with passion; heat in water |
bookcase | n.
case with shelves for holding books, especially one with glazed doors |
bookkeeper | n.
one who keeps accounts; one who has charge of keeping books and accounts in an office |
bookstall | n.
stall where books are sold, as on a street; table with enclosed sides, for displaying books for sale |
boost | v. Syn. raise; advance
raise; advance; push or shove upward |
boundary | n. Syn. border; frontier
dividing line; border; frontier |
bounty | n. Syn. kindness; virtue
goodness, kindness; virtue; liberality in giving |
bouquet | n. Syn. bunch
small cluster or arrangement of flowers; an arrangement of flowers that is usually given as a present |
bowel | n.
a part or division of intestine; interior of something; any internal organ of the body, as the stomach, liver, brain |
boycott | v.
refrain from buying or using |
brace | n.
something which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly, as bandage, cord, or rod; |
brake | n.
a piece of mechanism for retarding or stopping motion by friction |
brashness | n.
characteristic of being brash; trait of being rash and hasty; tasteless showiness |
breach | n. Syn. violation; infringement
breaking of contract or duty |
breakthrough | n.
act of overcoming or penetrating an obstacle or restriction |
breed | v. Syn. raise; hatch; mate
raise; produce offspring; give birth to or hatch; mate |
brew | v. Syn. boil; cook
boil or seethe; cook; be in a state of preparation; be mixing, forming, or gathering |
brink | n. Syn. verge; border
edge, margin, or border of a steep place verge |
brisk | a. Syn. energetic; swift
marked by speed, liveliness, and vigor; energetic; swift; keen or sharp in speech or manner |
brochure | n. Syn. pamphlet
pamphlet; small book usually having paper cover |
bronze | n.
an alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements |
brood | v.
think long and anxiously; be in a state of gloomy, serious thought |
browse | v. Syn. graze
graze; skim or glance at casually |
bruise | v.
injure, as by a blow or collision; contuse; fight with the fists |
buckle | v. Syn. fold; fasten; distort
fold or collapse; bend out of shape, as under pressure or from heat |
buffet | n.
table with food set out for people to serve themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set out |
bulb | n.
rounded part of a cylindrical structure; electric lamp consisting of a glass ball |
bulge | v.
cause to curve outward; swell up; stick out; protrude |
bulk | n. Syn. majority; mass
majority; main part; volume; mass |
bulletin | n.
brief statement of facts; any public notice or announcement; a periodical publication |
bumper | n.
something as bars at edges to absorb shock and prevent serious damage |
bundle | n. Syn. packet; parcel
packet; a package of things tied together; a large sum of money |
bungalow | n.
small house or cottage usually having a single story and attic |
buoyant | a.
able to float; cheerful and optimistic |
bureaucracy | n.
over-regulated administrative system |
burgeon | v. Syn. thrive; mushroom
grow forth; send out buds; grow or develop rapidly |
burial | n. Syn. grave
grave or tomb; ritual placing of a corpse in a grave; concealing something under the ground |
burrow | n. Syn. tunnel; den
tunnel; hole in the ground made by an animal for shelter; dig; move through by or as by digging |
bustle | v. Syn. teem
move or cause to move energetically and busily; teem |
butcher | n. Syn. slaughterer
one whose job is to kill animals for food; one who kills in large numbers, or with unusual cruelty; vendor, especially on train or in theater |
butterfly | n.
insect typically having a slender body with broad colorful wings |
bypass | n.
channel used to conduct gas or liquid around another pipe or a fixture; conductor having low resistance in parallel |
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