A 9to11 - da skbz college

Transcription

9 to 11
AGE GROUP
DAWN in Education Spelling Bee Wordlist 2013
A
9 to 11
age group
abaca
accessible
adjective /´k»ses´bl, ´k»sesIbl/
easy to approach; obtainable
The student made good use of the accessible
information from the internet.
noun /»Qb´k´/
a banana like plant native to the Philippines and
having broad leaves with long stalks
Abaca prefers a warm climate with year-round rainfall.
abhorrent
accessory
adjective /´b»hÅrńt/
inspiring disgust and loathing
Chewing gum is an abhorrent habit.
noun /´k»ses´ri/
something that adds to or enhances an item
I usually end up buying the latest accessory for my
mobile phone.
abscess
accident
noun /»QbsIs, »Qbses/
a swollen area on the skin filled with pus
The abscess was red and very painful.
noun /»QksIdńt/
an unexpected happening, especially one causing
damage
He had an accident on his way to work and broke his
ankle.
absurd
adjective /´b»sŒ˘d/
ridiculous or foolish
It is an absurd idea to have a bonfire in summer.
acclaim
noun /´»kleIm/
praise
The winning team was greeted with much acclaim.
academic
adjective /«Qk´»demIk/
related to studying and learning
His academic work is excellent.
acclimatize
verb /´»klaIm´taIz/
become accustomed to a new climate or new
conditions
It took time to acclimatize myself to the heat of the
desert.
accelerate
verb /´k»sel´reIt, Qk»sel´reIt/
to speed up
She tried to accelerate, but the car stalled.
accommodate
accept
verb /´»kÅm´deIt/
to provide somebody with a place to live, work, or
sleep overnight
This house cannot accommodate more than ten
people.
verb /´k»sept/
to take a thing that is offered
He decided to accept the offer from the college.
access
accomplish
noun /»Qkses/
a way to enter or reach something
The burglar tried to gain access through the back
door.
verb /´»k√mplIS/
to succeed in doing or completing something
There is no doubt that he will accomplish his goals in
life.
l1l
9 to 11
age group
accountant
A
acreage
noun /´»kaUntńt/
a person who keeps financial records
The accountant has to make sure that all bills are
paid by the end of the month.
noun /»eIk´rIdZ/
an area of land measured in acres
We need to confirm the acreage of the farm before
we consider buying it.
accumulate
acrimonious
verb /´»kju˘mj´leIt, ´»kju˘mjUleIt/
to collect; build up
I tend to accumulate a lot of junk.
adjective /«akrI»mÚnI´s/
bitterness or ill feeling
Ali’s acrimonious remarks showed his anger and
frustration.
accusation
acrophobia
noun /«Qkju»zeISn/
a statement that someone has done something wrong
I don’t want to make an accusation until I have some
proof.
noun /«Qkr´»fÚbi´/
fear of heights
I cannot go skydiving because I suffer from
acrophobia.
accustomed
actually
adjective /´»k√st´md/
used to, adapted to
He took his accustomed seat by the fire.
adverb /»QktSu´li/
in reality
Actually, we are only a week away from our midterms.
achievement
noun /´»tSi˘vmńt/
success, accomplishment
It is quite an achievement to have completed this
assignment in such a short time.
adamant
adjective /»Qd´mńt/
firm and not giving way to requests
He was adamant that he would not join us.
acknowledge
adaptable
verb /´k»nÅlIdZ/
to express recognition of
I did not acknowledge that he had done anything
wrong.
adjective /´»dQpt´bl/
capable of adjusting
The company preferred hiring adaptable workers.
acoustics
additive
plural noun /´»ku˘stIks/
the science of sound
Carnegie Hall is popular with music lovers because of
its good acoustics.
noun /»QdItIv/
a substance added, especially to food or medicine
Food companies put more than one vitamin additive
in breakfast cereals.
acquaintance
adequate
adjective /»QdIkw´t, »QdIkwIt/
enough, sufficient
He earns an adequate income which is enough to
pay his bills.
noun /´»kweIntńs/
a person whom one knows, but not well
She is an acquaintance of mine from work.
l2l
A
9 to 11
age group
adhere
advertisement
noun /´d»vŒ˘tIsmńt, ´d»vŒ˘tIzmńt/
a notice of a product or service
We place an advertisement about our products in the
newspaper every week.
verb /´d»hI´[r]/
to hold; stick to a surface
That tape does not adhere to the wall.
adhesive
advisable
noun /´d»hi˘sIv, ´d»hi˘zIv/
a substance used to stick things together
Glue is the perfect adhesive for my torn notebook.
adjective /´d»vaIz´bl/
strongly suggested for good reasons, recommended
It is advisable that you do your homework on time.
adjacent
advisory
adjective /´»dZeIsnt/
next to, neighbouring
The aeroplanes landed on the adjacent runways.
adjective /´d»vaIz´ri/
giving advice
The advisory committee suggested evacuating the
area to avoid the hurricane.
adjustable
adjective /´»dZ√st´bl/
capable of being changed
The new model of the car had adjustable seat belts.
aerial
noun /»e´ri´l/
a wire or rod for receiving or transmitting signals
I have stopped listening to my radio since its aerial
snapped.
administration
noun /´d«mInI»streISn/
control or management
The directors are responsible for the administration of
a company.
aerodrome
noun /»e´r´drÚm/
an airfield
The newly built aerodrome is designed for big
aeroplanes.
admirable
adjective /»Qdm´r´bl/
worthy of approval or respect
Sarah received an award for her admirable
performance.
aerosol
noun /»e´r´sÅl/
a spray container holding pressurised liquid
He used an aerosol to paint the walls.
advent
noun /»Qdvent, »Qdvńt/
the arrival of an important new person or thing
The advent of technology has speeded up global
communication.
aggravate
verb /»Qgr´veIt/
to make a thing worse or more serious
His remarks really aggravate me.
adventurous
aggressive
adjective /´d»ventS´r´s/
inclined to undertake new and daring activities
For a more adventurous holiday, try mountain
climbing.
adjective /´»gresIv/
unfriendly; likely to attack people verbally or physically
His aggressive behaviour suggested that he had no
friends.
l3l
9 to 11
age group
agony
A
allergic
noun /»Qgńi/
extreme physical or mental pain
The man broke his arm and was in agony.
adjective /´»lŒ˘dZIk/
very sensitive to something that may make you ill
The allergic children took their medicine.
agriculture
alleviate
noun /»QgrIk√ltS´[r]/
cultivating land on a large scale; farming
Most of the land in this area is used for agriculture.
verb /´»li˘vIeIt/
make pain or difficulty less severe
The old ruler tried to alleviate the pain and suffering
of the poor.
aisle
alley
noun /aIl/
a passage between rows of seats or shelves
I found cans of tuna in the last aisle.
noun /»QlI/
a narrow lane or passage, esp one between or
behind buildings
This alley leads to my house.
alchemy
noun /»Qlk´mi/
the medieval forerunner of chemistry
She found it difficult to find books on alchemy.
alligator
noun /»QlIgeIt´[r]/
a large reptile of the crocodile family
alien
allocate
noun /»eIliń/
a foreigner
Zain is an alien in this country; he is visiting from
Malaysia.
verb /»Ql´keIt/
distribute (resources or duties) for a particular
purpose
I will allocate the task of tidying the room to Akbar.
alkali
alloy
noun /»Qlk´laI/
a substance that neutralises an acid
An alkali is a chemical often used in scientific
experiments.
noun /»QlçI/
a metal formed by mixing two or more metals
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.
allege
almond
verb /´»ledZ/
to say something without being able to prove it
To allege that Sam had cheated in his exam was
unfair.
noun /»A˘mńd/
an oval nut
She peeled the almond and ate it with honey.
aloof
allegiance
adjective /´»lu˘f/
not involved in something; showing no interest in
people
The emperor kept himself aloof from the people.
noun /´»li˘dZńs/
loyalty or commitment to a superior or to a group or
cause
I owe my allegiance to my country.
l4l
A
9 to 11
age group
aloud
ambidextrous
adverb /´»laUd/
in a voice that can be heard
The teacher asked him to read the passage aloud.
adjective /«Qmbi»dekstr´s/
able to use either your left hand or your right hand
equally well
The ambidextrous surgeon worked equally well with
both hands.
altercation
noun /«ç˘lt´»keISn/
a noisy argument or disagreement
I left my job after an altercation with my boss.
ambiguous
adjective /Qm»bIgju´s/
having more than one possible interpretation or
meaning
The ambiguous account confused the judge.
alternative
noun /ç˘l»tŒ˘n´tIv/
one of two or more choices
Travelling by train is an alternative to using a car.
ambition
noun /Qm»bISn/
a strong desire to achieve something
His ambition in life is to become an astronaut.
altitude
noun /»QltItju˘d/
the height of an object or point in relation to sea level
or ground level
The summit of Mount Everest is at an altitude of
29,000 feet.
ambivalent
adjective /Qm»bIv´lńt/
having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about
something or someone
He has an ambivalent attitude towards her.
altogether
adverb /«ç˘lt´»geD´[r]/
with all included; in total
Altogether, a hundred competitors took part.
ambulance
noun /»Qmbj´lńs/
a vehicle equipped to carry sick or injured people
He had an accident and was brought home by
ambulance with a broken leg.
amalgamate
verb /´»mQlg´meIt/
to mix or combine
They decided to amalgamate the two schools.
amendments
noun /´»mendmńts/
a change or improvement to a law or document
She made minor amendments to her essay.
ambassador
noun /Qm»bQs´d´[r]/
a person sent to a foreign country to represent his or
her own government
His uncle is the ambassador to Brazil.
amphibian
noun /Qm»fIbiń/
an animal that can live both in water and on land
The turtle is an amphibian.
amber
noun /»Qmb´[r]/
a yellowish brown colour
The traffic lights were on amber when he stopped the
car.
amphitheatre
noun /»QmfITI´t´[r]/
a round, usually unroofed building with tiers of seats
surrounding a central space
The school staged a play in the amphitheatre.
l5l
9 to 11
age group
amplify
A
animate
verb /»QmplI«faI/
to make stronger
He used a loudspeaker to amplify his voice.
verb /»QnImeIt/
to make a thing lively
The teacher can animate even the most boring
literature and make it interesting.
amputate
annihilate
verb /»QmpjuteIt/
to cut off surgically
The doctor had to amputate the patient’s leg,
because it was too infected to cure.
verb /´»naI´leIt/
to destroy something completely
They set out to annihilate the enemy’s naval force.
analogy
anniversary
noun /´»nQl´dZi/
comparing two things that are alike
Our teacher explained the heart, using the analogy of
a pump.
noun /«QnI»vŒ˘s´ri /
a date that is an exact number of years after the date
of an important or special event
August 14th is the anniversary of Pakistan’s
Independence.
analyse
announcement
verb /»Qn´laIz/
to examine
In history class, we had to analyse the causes of the
war.
noun /´»naUnsmńt/
the act of making something publicly known
The principal made an announcement that the school
would remain closed the following day.
ancestor
anonymous
noun /»Qnsest´[r]/
anyone from whom a person is descended
He wondered if he had a famous ancestor.
adjective /´»nÅnIm´s/
without the name of the person responsible being
known
He wished he could thank the anonymous donor for
paying his school fees.
anchor
noun /»QNk´[r]/
a heavy object joined to a ship by a chain and
dropped to the bottom of the sea to stop the ship
from moving
Sailors dropped the ship’s anchor into the water.
antibiotic
noun /«QntibaI»ÅtIk/
a substance that destroys bacteria
The doctor prescribed an antibiotic for my wounded
knee.
ancient
adjective /»eInSńt/
very old
We found some ancient dinosaur bones on our trip to
the desert.
anticipation
noun /Qn«tIsI»peISn/
expectation
I am waiting in anticipation for your arrival.
anemone
noun /´»nemńi/
a plant with brightly coloured flowers and deeply
divided leaves
Mrs Khan is trying to grow anemone in her garden.
l6l
A
9 to 11
age group
anticlimax
appearance
noun /«Qnti»klaImQks/
a disappointing ending where something exciting had
been expected
The adventure story ended in an anticlimax.
noun /´»pI´rńs/
what somebody looks like
The clown’s appearance was very amusing.
appendix
antihistamine
noun /´»pendIks/
a small tube leading off from the intestine
Maha had an operation to remove her appendix.
noun /«Qnti»hIst´mi˘n/
a drug that protects people against unpleasant effects
when they are allergic to something
The doctor prescribed an antihistamine to treat my
hay fever.
appetite
noun /»QpItaIt/
desire for food
Exercise gives you a good appetite.
antiseptic
noun /«Qnti»septIk/
a substance that kills harmful bacteria
She cleaned the wound with an antiseptic.
applause
noun /´»plç˘z/
clapping
The actors were pleased with the applause at the end
of their show.
aphid
noun /»eIfId/
a small sap-sucking insect that is harmful to plants
applicable
apocalypse
adjective /´»plIk´b´l, Q»plIk´b´l/
that can be said to be true in the case of
somebody/something
They filled the details of the children where applicable
in the form.
noun /´»pÅk´lIps/
an event involving destruction or damage on a huge
scale
The movie depicted the apocalypse in great detail.
apostrophe
appreciate
noun /´»pÅstr´fi/
a punctuation mark used to indicate either
possession or the omission of letters or numbers
She wondered if it was appropriate to use an
apostrophe.
verb /´»pri˘SieIt/
to enjoy or value something
I would appreciate some help with my homework.
apprenticeship
noun /´»prentISIp/
time spent as a novice learning a new skill
During his apprenticeship he learnt how to carve
wood.
appalling
adjective /´»pç˘lIN/
shocking; very unpleasant
They were faced with appalling working conditions.
appropriate
apparition
adjective /´»prÚprI´t/
suitable
Is now an appropriate time to make a speech?
noun /«Qp´»rISn/
a ghost or ghostlike image of a person
The children were scared by the apparition.
l7l
9 to 11
age group
aptitude
A
assault
noun /»QptItju˘d/
a natural ability to do something
Akbar has an aptitude for mathematics.
noun /´»sç˘lt/
a violent attack
The soldier led an assault against the enemy.
aquatic
assess
adjective /´»kwQtIk, ´»kwÅtIk/
to do with water
Swimming is an aquatic sport.
verb /´»ses/
to decide the value or quality of a person or thing
Can you assess the value of this jewel?
archaeology
assignment
noun /«A˘ki»Ål´dZi/
the study of the remains of ancient civilizations
Sara wants to study archaeology.
noun /´»saInmńt/
a task given to someone
I have finished my homework assignment.
architect
assimilate
noun /»A˘kItekt/
a person who designs buildings
The Statue of Liberty was designed by a French
architect.
verb /´»sImIleIt/
to take in and absorb something
She thinks she can assimilate knowledge without
having to work.
arena
associate
noun /´»sÚSI´t, ´»sÚsI´t/
a colleague
Ali is my associate from work.
noun /´»ri˘n´/
a place with a flat open area in the middle with seats
around it
The people gathered at the Wembely Arena to watch
the concert.
assortment
noun /´»sç˘tmńt/
a mixed collection of things
This box contains an assortment of sweets.
artichoke
noun /»A˘tItSÚk/
a round vegetable with a lot of thick, green leaves
Mrs. Riaz steamed the artichoke and served it with
dinner.
assurance
noun /´»SU´rńs/
a promise or guarantee that something is true or will
happen
A promise from the doctor that he would check in on
her was all the assurance she needed.
articulate
adjective /A˘»tIkjUleIt/
able to express things clearly
He was an articulate speaker and gave a wonderful
speech.
asthma
noun /»Qsm´/
a disease that makes breathing difficult
My friend suffers from asthma.
assassinate
verb /´»sQsIneIt/
to kill an important person
The police discovered a plot to assassinate the king.
l8l
A
9 to 11
age group
astrogate
autumn
verb /Qstr´geIt/
to navigate in space
The entire space crew was trained to astrogate.
noun /»ç˘t´m/
the season between summer and winter
Most trees shed their leaves in autumn.
astrology
awestruck
noun /´»strÅl´dZi/
the study of stars and movements of the planets in
the belief that they influence human affairs
He did not believe in astrology.
adjective /»ç˘str√k/
filled with awe
I was awestruck by the brilliance of the stars.
astronaut
noun /»Qstrńç˘t/
a person who travels in a spacecraft
Neil Armstrong was the first astronaut to walk on the
moon.
asylum
noun /´»saIl´m/
refuge and safety; a place of refuge
The defeated rebels sought political asylum in
another country.
audition
noun /ç˘»dISn/
a test to see if an actor is suitable for a job
The actor went to an audition for the new film.
authenticate
verb /ç˘»TentIkeIt/
to establish the truth
The expert was asked to authenticate whether the
painting was a genuine antique.
authoritative
adjective /ç˘»TÅrIt´tIv, ç˘»TÅrIteItIv/
having proper authority or expert knowledge
The professor is an authoritative figure in his field.
autograph
noun /»ç˘t´gra˘f/
a person’s signature
I asked my favourite actor for his autograph.
l9l
9 to 11
age group
B
verb /»ba˘bIkju˘/
to cook meat and other food on a metal grill over an
open fire, usually outside
We are going to barbecue some chicken tonight.
babble
verb /»bQbl/
to talk very quickly without making sense
He is likely to babble on without making any sense.
bargain
bachelor
noun /»ba˘gIn/
something that you buy cheaply
This book is a bargain at half price.
noun /»bQtS´l´[r]/
a man who has not married
He was considered the most eligible bachelor in town.
barite
badge
noun /»be´raIt/
a yellow, white or colourless crystalline mineral
Barite is used in the manufacture of paints.
noun /bQdZ/
a button or sign that you wear to show people who
you are or what school or club etc. you belong to
I pinned my school badge on my coat.
barley
noun /»ba˘lI/
a cereal plant
Cereal made from barley is healthy to eat.
balance
noun /»bQlńs/
a steady position
She lost her balance and fell down.
barnacle
noun /»ba˘n´kl/
a small shellfish that clings to rocks
balcony
noun /»bQlkńi/
a platform that sticks out from an outside wall of a
building
The wet clothes were hung on the balcony to dry.
barracks
noun /»bQr´ks/
a large building or group of buildings for soldiers to
live in
The army barracks housed many soldiers.
ballerina
noun /«bQl´»ri˘n´/
a female ballet dancer
The way the ballerina balanced herself on tiptoe
seemed humanly impossible.
barrister
noun /»bQrIst´[r]/
a lawyer
The barrister won his case in court.
ballet
noun /»bQleI/
a type of dancing with formal movements, usually to
classical music
The dancers in the ballet were very precise in their
movements.
baryon
noun /»bQrIÅn/
any elementary particle which can be transformed
into a nucleon and lighter particles
The value and content of a baryon determines its
classification.
balsa
noun /»bÅls´, »bç˘ls´/
a soft and lightweight wood
Balsa is a good substitute for cork.
basil
noun /»bQz´l/
an aromatic plant originally from India
Basil is commonly used in pasta dishes.
barbecue
l 10 l
B
9 to 11
age group
battalion
beneficiary
noun /b´»tQlIń/
an army unit containing two or more units
It took days for the whole battalion to move from one
front to another.
noun /«benI»fIS´ri/
a person who receives benefits
He was the beneficiary of a scholarship fund.
besiege
battlements
verb /bI»si˘dZ/
to surround from all sides
The army was preparing to besiege the fortress.
noun /»bQtlmńts/
the top of a castle wall, often with gaps from which
the defenders could fire at the enemy
The soldiers fired at the enemy from behind the
battlements.
besotted
adjective /bI»sÅtId/
too fond of something
We are all besotted with the pretty film actress.
bedraggled
adjective /bI»drQgld/
very untidy; wet and dirty
He combed his bedraggled hair.
bestow
verb /bI»stÚ/
to give something to someone, especially to show
how much they are respected
I would like to bestow this medal on you.
beguile
verb /bI»gaIl/
to cheat, to charm
She will beguile the audience with her performance.
beverage
noun /»bev´rIdZ/
any kind of drink
I would like to drink a hot beverage.
belated
adjective /bI»leItId/
coming very late or too late
She gave me my belated birthday present.
biased
adjective /»baI´st/
favouring one side unfairly
The biased umpire made sure the other team won the
match.
believable
adjective /bI»li˘v´bl/
capable of being thought true
She told a very believable story about what she had
been doing that night.
bibliography
noun /«bIbli»Ågr´fi/
a list of books about a subject
The teacher gave us a bibliography for our history
project.
beneath
preposition /bI»ni˘T/
below
He sat beneath the tree.
bicentenary
beneficial
noun /«baIsen»ti˘n´ri, «baIsen»ten´ri/
a 200th anniversary
Our college is celebrating its bicentenary this year.
adjective /«benI»fISl/
having a good effect
Using computers has a beneficial effect on children’s
learning.
l 11 l
9 to 11
age group
biceps
B
blandishment
noun /»baIseps/
the large muscle at the front of the arm above the
elbow
The wrestler had strong biceps because he spent his
time lifting weights.
noun /»blQndISmńt/
flattery intended to persuade
The teacher would not respond to our blandishment
and refused to cancel the test.
bleak
bilateral
adjective /bli˘k/
bare and cold; dreary or miserable
The war has made Afghanistan a very bleak place.
adjective /«baI»lQt´r´l/
of or on two sides, between two people or groups
India and Pakistan signed a bilateral agreement to
work on a solution for Kashmir.
blizzard
noun /»blIz´d/
a severe snowstorm
It is impossible to go outdoors in this blizzard.
bilingual
adjective /«baI»lINgw´l/
able to speak two languages
Being bilingual, Ali works as an interpreter.
blossom
verb /»blÅs´m/
develop into something
Flowers blossom in spring.
billboard
noun /»bIlbç˘d/
a large outdoor board for advertisements
The billboard advertised a toothpaste.
bobsleigh
noun /»bÅbsleI/
a racing sledge
Tim cleaned his bobsleigh.
billion
noun /»bIljń/
one thousand million
The population of the world is more than six billion.
boisterous
adjective /»bçIst´r´s/
noisy, energetic and cheerful
The crowd at the cricket match was in a noisy and
boisterous mood.
binoculars
noun /bI»nÅkjUl´z, baI»nÅkjUl´z/
a device with lenses for both eyes, making distant
objects seem nearer
Ali used his binoculars to see the distant mountains.
boomerang
noun /»bu˘m´rQN/
a curved piece of wood that can be thrown so that it
returns to the thrower
It is fun to play with a boomerang.
biscuit
noun /»bIskIt/
a kind of small, thin, dry cake
I would like a biscuit with my tea.
botany
bizarre
noun /»bÅtńi/
the study of plants
The university offers a three-year course in botany.
adjective /bI»zA˘[r]/
strange in appearance
People were surprised by the bizarre outfit he was
wearing.
l 12 l
B
9 to 11
age group
boulder
brochure
noun /»brÚS´[r], brÅ»SU´[r]/
a booklet containing information
The travel brochure contains information about
holidays in Muree.
noun /»bÚld´[r]/
a very large, smooth stone
The boulder is too heavy too move.
boundary
brow
noun /»baUndri/
a line that marks a limit
The boundary between the neighbour’s lawn and ours
is the white picket fence.
noun /braU/
the forehead
The nervous prisoner kept wiping his brow.
boutique
bruise
noun /bu˘»ti˘k/
a small shop selling fashionable clothes
Mehr bought a dress from the boutique.
noun /bru˘z/
a dark mark made on the skin after someone has
fallen or been hit
He fell and got a bruise on his arm.
bracelet
brunette
noun /»breIsl´t/
an ornament worn round the wrist
I have a bracelet made of blue beads.
noun /bru˘»net/
a woman with dark-brown hair
His daughter is a brunette.
brawl
Buddhism
noun /brç˘l/
a noisy quarrel or fight
The bully got his nose broken in a brawl.
proper noun /»bUdIz´m/
a faith that follows the teachings of the Indian
philosopher Gautama Buddha
People who follow Buddhism do not eat meat.
brilliant
adjective /»brIlIńt/
very clever
The boy who won the scholarship is a brilliant
student.
budgerigar
noun /»b√dZ´rigA˘[r]/
a small, brightly-coloured Australian bird
brittle
budget
adjective /»brItl/
hard but easy to break or snap
I like these brittle breadsticks.
noun /»b√dZIt/
a plan for spending money wisely
In my budget, I have set aside some money to buy
books.
broccoli
buffet
noun /»brÅk´li/
a kind of cauliflower with greenish flower heads
She made a stew of broccoli and carrots.
noun /»bUfeI/
a meal where guests serve themselves
The buffet offered plenty of choice to the diners.
l 13 l
9 to 11
age group
buffoonery
burial
noun /b´»fu˘n´ri/
behaviour intended to make people laugh
Mrs Khan said that she would not tolerate any
buffoonery from the students.
noun /»berI´l/
putting into the ground
His widow cried at his burial.
bulletin
noun /»bUlItIn/
a public statement giving news
I heard about the tsunami in Thailand in a news
bulletin.
bullock
noun /»bUl´k/
a young bull
bunch
noun /»b√ntS/
things of the same type fastened or grwoing together
She bought a bunch of bananas to put in the fruit
trifle.
bungalow
noun /»b√Ng´lÚ/
a house built all on one level, without stairs
Akbar lives in a bungalow.
bungle
verb /»b√Ngl/
to make a mess of doing something
The banker was caught trying to bungle the funds.
buoy
noun /bçI/
a floating object anchored to mark a channel or
underwater rocks
The buoy will warn ships away from the dangerous
rocks.
bureau
noun /»bju´rÚ/
a writing desk with drawers
She organised her files and put them in the bureau.
l 14 l
B
C
9 to 11
age group
cacophony
camouflage
noun /k´»kÅfńi/
harsh or discordant sound
There was a cacophony of horns during the traffic jam.
noun /»kQm´flA˘Z/
a way of hiding things by making them look like part
of their surroundings
The soldiers dressed in camouflage to hide
themselves from the enemy.
cactus
noun /»kQkt´s/
a plant, usually with prickles, from a hot, dry climate
The thorny cactus pricked my finger.
camphor
noun /»kQmf´[r]/
a white substance with a strong smell, used in
medicine
I put sachets of camphor in my wardrobe to keep the
insects away.
calcite
noun /»kQlsaIt/
a common crystalline form of natural calcium
carbonate
Calcite may be found in sedimentary rocks.
cancellation
noun /«kQns´»leISn/
the act of stopping something that was planned
The last minute cancellation of the concert left the
audience disappointed.
calculator
noun /»kQlkjuleIt´[r]/
a small electronic device that is used for making
calculations
Students were not allowed to use a calculator for their
mathematics examination.
canoe
noun /k´»nu˘/
a narrow lightweight boat
The river was so violent that the canoe flipped upside
down.
caldera
noun /kQl»de´r´, »kç˘ld´r´/
the large crater at the top of the volcano
A caldera can be upto 60 km in diameter.
canvas
noun /»kQnv´s/
strong coarse cloth; a fabric for painting on
There is nothing on the canvas now but wait till I fetch
my paintbrush.
calliper
noun /»kQlIp´[r]/
a large instrument used for measuring the diameters
of logs and similar objects
A calliper is adjustable and can be reset to measure
different dimensions.
capacious
adjective /k´»peIS´s/
having a lot of place inside
Fahad got on the bus carrying a capacious canvas
bag.
calomel
noun /»kQl´mel/
a colorless, white or brown tasteless compound
Calomel is used in the preparation of insecticides
and medicines.
capacity
noun /k´»pQs´ti/
the amount that something can hold
The capacity of this bus is 50 passengers.
camcorder
noun /»kQmkç˘d´[r]/
a combined video camera and sound recorder
The tourist went around town filming with his
camcorder.
l 15 l
9 to 11
age group
capsule
C
cartoonist
noun /»kQpsju˘l/
a hollow pill containing medicine
The doctor prescribed his patient one capsule a day.
noun /kA˘»tu˘nIst/
a person who draws cartoons
The cartoonist drew an amusing picture.
captivity
cartridge
noun /kQp»tIv´ti/
the state of being imprisoned
The lion was released from captivity into the wild.
noun /»kA˘trIdZ/
a case containing the explosive for a bullet or shell
The soldier lost his cartridge when he dropped his
gun.
caravan
casserole
noun /»kQr´vQn/
a group of people travelling together across desert
country
The caravan stopped at the oasis to drink water.
noun /»kQs´rÚl/
large dish for cooking food in an oven
Sarah baked the chicken in a casserole.
carbohydrates
cassette
noun /«kA˘bÚ»haIdreIts/
a compound of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen
Cereals contain carbohydrates that give us energy.
noun /k´»set/
a small, sealed case containing recording tape or film
This cassette contains all my favourite songs.
carcinogen
casualty
noun /kA˘»sIn´dZń, kA˘»sIn´dZen/
any substance that causes cancer
The nicotine in cigarettes is a carcinogen.
noun /»kQZu´lti/
a person who is killed or injured in war or in an
accident
A casualty of the train wreck was rushed to hospital.
cardigan
catapult
noun /»kA˘dIgń/
a knitted jacket
I have a blue cardigan to wear in winter.
noun /»kQt´p√lt/
a stick with a rubber band attached to it, used for
shooting stones
The pigeons on the balcony have been in danger ever
since Farooq got a catapult.
caricature
noun /»kQrIk´tSU´[r]/
an amusing picture of someone
Everyone laughed at the artist’s caricature of Akbar.
catastrophe
noun /k´»tQstr´fi/
a sudden, great disaster
The tsunami was a catastrophe for Thailand.
carnivorous
adjective /kA˘»nIv´r´s/
meat-eating
Lions are carnivorous animals.
catchy
adjective /»kQtSi/
pleasant and easily remembered
She immediately starting humming the catchy jingle
of the advertisement.
carriage
noun /»kQrIdZ/
a passenger vehicle pulled by horses
We decided to travel to the village in a carriage.
l 16 l
C
9 to 11
age group
caterpillar
cavity
noun /»kQt´pIl´[r]/
the creeping, worm-like creature that will turn into a
butterfly or moth
A caterpillar feeds on the leaves of plants.
noun /»kQv´ti/
a hollow or hole
I spotted a cavity in one of my teeth.
cease
cathedral
verb /si˘s/
to stop or end
When the teacher entered the class we had to cease
talking.
noun /k´»Ti˘dr´l/
the most important church of a city
St. Paul’s Cathedral is a famous landmark in London.
cauldron
ceiling
noun /»kç˘ldrń/
a large deep pot for boiling things in
The wicked witch made rabbit stew in her big black
cauldron.
noun /»si˘lIN/
the flat surface forming the top of a room
The fan has to be fitted to the ceiling.
celebration
causeway
noun /«selI»breISn/
a happy event to mark a special occasion
Her birthday celebration will be next week.
noun /»kç˘zweI/
raised road or track across low or wet ground
The causeway led to the edge of the beach.
cellar
cautionary
noun /»sel´[r]/
an underground room
The pipes are in the cellar.
adjective /»kç˘Sń´ri/
giving a warning
The alarm sounded a cautionary signal.
cellulose
cautious
noun /»seljUlÚs, »seljUlÚz/
tissue that forms the main part of all plants and trees
Cellulose cannot be digested by human beings.
adjective /»kç˘S´s/
showing attention to safety
He is a cautious driver.
census
cavalry
noun /»sens´s/
an official count or survey of the population of a
country or area
A census of the city’s population was conducted by
the new mayor.
noun /»kQvlri/
soldiers who fight on horseback or in armoured
vehicles
The cavalry moved faster than the soldiers on foot.
cavernous
centennial
adjective /»kQvń´s/
large cave; a vast dark place
The climbers fell into a cavernous underground
chamber.
noun /sen»tenI´l/
a hundredth anniversary
The cricket club celebrated its centennial.
l 17 l
9 to 11
age group
centipede
C
changeable
noun /»sentIpi˘d/
a small, crawling creature with a long body and many
legs
adjective /»tSeIndZ´bl/
likely to change
Karachi has changeable weather.
cereal
channel
noun /»sI´ri´l/
corn or other edible grain; a breakfast food made from
them
Ali enjoys his cereal with chocolate milk every
morning.
noun /»tSQnl/
a stretch of water connecting two seas
The English Channel connects the North Sea to the
Atlantic Ocean.
chaotic
ceremonial
adjective /keI»ÅtIk/
complete disorder and confusion
After the revolution there were chaotic conditions in
the country.
adjective /serI»mÚnI´l/
relating to or used in a ceremony
He had kept two tuxedoes for such ceremonial
occasions
characteristic
certainty
noun /«kQr´kt´»rIstIk/
a quality that forms part of the character
Use of poetic language is a characteristic of his work.
noun /»sŒ˘tnti/
something that is sure to happen
Pakistan’s victory in the hockey match is a certainty.
charade
certificate
noun /S´»rA˘d/
a situation in which people pretend that something is
true when it is clearly not
Her whole act of being sick was a charade.
noun /s´»tIfIk´t/
an official written or printed statement giving
information about a person etc.
The employment office asked for his birth certificate.
chariot
chamber
noun /»tSQrI´t/
two wheeled vehicle drawn by horses, used in ancient
warfare & racing
The film had an exciting chariot race in which the
hero got hurt.
noun /»tSeImb´[r]/
a room
Behind the mirror was a secret chamber where the
wizard lived.
chameleon
charitable
noun /k´»mi˘liń/
a small lizard that can change its colour to that of its
surroundings
adjective /»tSQr´t´bl/
generous in giving to those in need
The charitable organisation distributed clothes to the
needy.
champion
chassis
noun /»tSQmpiń/
a person or thing that has defeated all the others in a
sport or competition
Mohammad Ali was a boxing champion for many
years.
noun /»SQsi/
the frame that a vehicle is built on
The mechanic put the engine back into the chassis of
the old jeep.
l 18 l
C
9 to 11
age group
chimney
christmas
noun /»tSImni/
a tall pipe that carries smoke away from a fire
The chimney was black with soot.
noun /»krIsm´s/
25th December, the day when Christians celebrate
the birth of Christ
They wished all their christian colleagues a very
happy christmas.
chisel
noun /»tSIzl/
a tool with a sharp end for shaping wood, stones etc.
The sculptor used his chisel with great skill.
chromium
noun /»krÚmI´m/
chemical element; a hard white metal used in
stainless steel etc.
The car’s bumpers were plated with chromium to
make them shiny.
chivalrous
adjective /»SIvlr´s/
being considerate
It is chivalrous behaviour to hold the door open for
your elders.
chronicle
noun /»krÅnIkl/
a record of events in the order that they happened
The soldier’s chronicle of the war was useful to
historians.
chlorine
noun /»klç˘ri˘n/
chemical element used for oxidizing, electroplating,
disinfecting, etc
Sara couldn’t swim because the swimming pool had
too much chlorine.
chronological
adjective /krÅn´»lÅdZIk´l/
arrangement of dates/ events in the order of
occurrence
The history teacher told the class to arrange the
dates in chronological order.
chocolate
noun /»tSÅkl´t/
a solid, brown food made from roasted cocoa seeds
I enjoy eating chocolate.
chrysalis
noun /»krIs´lIs/
the case around a caterpillar that is changing into a
butterfly or moth
The butterfly emerged from its chrysalis.
choir
noun /»kwaI´[r]/
a group of people trained to sing together
The choir always sings on Sunday.
chrysanthemum
choke
noun /krI»sQnT´m´m/
a garden flower that blooms in autumn
Chrysanthemum is known to be the queen of flowers.
verb /»tSÚk/
to hinder or stop the breathing of a person or animal
He tried to choke her by tightening the rope around
her neck.
chubby
adjective /»tS√bi/
slightly fat which people find attractive
He fondly patted the child’s chubby cheeks.
cholera
noun /»kÅl´r´/
an infectious often fatal bacterial disease
After the floods there was an outbreak of cholera.
l 19 l
9 to 11
age group
chunk
C
clank
noun /»tS√Nk/
a thick solid piece, as of meat or wood
The dogs pounced on the chunk of meat.
noun /»klQNk/
an abrupt harsh metallic sound
I could hear the clank of iron as the farrier worked.
cigarette
clientele
noun /«sIg´»ret/
a small roll of shredded tobacco in thin paper for
smoking
Even a single cigarette can harm your health.
noun /«kli˘Ån»tel/
the customers of a shop/ restaurant etc
Zaid hopes to increase the clientele of his store.
clinician
circuit
noun /klI»nISn/
one who works in or through a clinic
At the hospital a clinician took Sam’s blood for testing.
noun /»sŒ˘kIt /
a motor racing track; the path of an electric current
Michael Schumacher was the fastest driver in the last
part of the circuit.
clink
verb /»klINk/
to make or cause to make a light and sharply ringing
sound
I heard them clink their glasses together in a toast.
circulation
noun /«sŒ˘kj´»leISn/
the movement of blood around the body
Exercise improves the circulation of blood around the
body.
clone
noun /»klÚn/
organisms or cells that are descended from a
common ancestor by asexual reproduction
Dolly the sheep was the first clone ever created of an
animal.
circumstantial
adjective /sE˘k´m»stQnS´l/
pointing indirectly towards someone’s guilt
The report contained circumstantial evidence of
wrongdoing by the governor.
clover
civilian
noun /»klÚv´[r]/
a small plant usually with three leaves on each stalk
A four leaf clover is said to bring you luck.
noun /sI»vIlIń/
a person who is not serving in the armed forces
A military uniform may not be worn by a civilian.
cockatoo
clairvoyant
noun /«kÅk´»tu˘/
a crested parrot
noun /kle´»vçIńt/
a person who is said to be able to predict future
events
The clairvoyant predicted a storm for the next day.
cockerel
noun /»kÅk´r´l/
a young male chicken
clamp
verb /klQmp/
to fix something firmly
The carpenter had to clamp the piece of wood to
keep it from moving.
l 20 l
C
9 to 11
age group
cockroach
comfortable
noun /»kÅkr´VtS/
a beetle like insect
adjective /»k√mft´bl/
making someone physically relaxed
The hotel is a comfortable establishment.
coincidence
commemorate
noun /kÚ»InsIdńs/
the happening of similar events at the same time by
chance
By coincidence I saw him on the same bus.
verb /k´»mem´reIt/
to celebrate or remember some past event or person
This monument was built to commemorate the war
hero.
coincidental
commence
adjective /kÚInsI»dent´l/
happening of events with no apparent direct link or
connection
It was purely coincidental that Sara and Saba met on
the plane after 20 years.
verb /k´»mens/
to begin
The ceremony will commence in ten minutes.
commentary
collaborator
noun /»kÅmńtri/
a description of an event by someone who is
watching it, especially for radio or television
He listened to the cricket commentary on the radio.
noun /k´»lQb´reIt´[r]/
one that works jointly with others
Rafi was my collaborator during the making of the
documentary.
committee
cologne
noun /k´»mIti/
a group of people appointed to deal with something
The committee decided to install new lights at the
playground.
noun /k´»lÚn/
perfumed liquid consisting of certain aromatic oils
My father sprays himself with cologne every morning.
columnist
communication
noun /»kÅl´mnIst/
a person who writes regularly for a newspaper
The columnist wrote about the festival in his column.
noun /k´«mju˘nI»keISn/
act of sharing or exchanging information
E-mail has made communication between friends
easier.
combustible
community
adjective /k´m»b√st´bl/
capable of burning
Paper is a combustible item.
noun /k´»mju˘n´ti/
a group with similar interests or origins
Miklos is part of New York’s Hungarian community.
comedian
compassionate
noun /k´»mi˘diń/
someone who entertains people by making them
laugh
The comedian made the audience laugh.
adjective /k´m»pQSń´t/
feeling or showing sympathy for people suffering
He was a visionary with a compassionate heart.
l 21 l
9 to 11
age group
compensation
C
conceal
noun /«kÅmpen»seISn/
something, such as money, given or received as
payment for a service or loss
The heirs of the deceased officials were given money
as compensation.
verb /kń»si˘l/
hide; keep something secret
We have put up curtains to conceal things from the
neighbours.
conceited
competent
adjective /kń»si˘tId/
having too much self pride
The conceited girl believed she should have received
the prize.
adjective /»kÅmpItńt/
having enough skill or knowledge to do something
well or to the necessary standard
He is a very competent worker.
concept
complaint
noun /»kÅnsept/
an idea
The designer came up with quite an interesting
concept.
noun /k´m»pleInt/
a statement complaining about something
The police received a complaint about a disturbance
in the apartment building.
concession
complexion
noun /kń»seSn/
a reduction in the price for a certain category of
person
She has a fare concession on the train now that she
is over 60.
noun /k´m»plekSn/
the natural colour and appearance of the skin of the
face
The baby had a healthy pink complexion.
complication
concierge
noun /«kÅmplI»keISn/
something that complicates things or adds difficulties
There was a complication with the operation so the
surgeon had to do it again.
noun /kÅnsI»e´Z/
an attendant of a building or hotel entrance, a
doorkeeper
The concierge directed us to the manager’s office.
comprehension
conciliate
noun /«kÅmprI»henSn/
understanding
The teacher will test your comprehension of the book.
verb /kń»sIlIeIt/
to stop (someone) from being angry or discontented
The boss wanted to conciliate the staff by giving them
a raise.
compromise
condense
verb /»kÅmpr´maIz/
to settle a dispute by each side accepting less than it
asked for
The two governments had to compromise in order to
reach a solution to the problem.
verb /kń»dens/
to change from gas to liquid
Steam will condense to water when it comes into
contact with a cold surface.
l 22 l
C
9 to 11
age group
condiment
congregate
noun /»kÅndImńt/
substance such as salt, pepper, etc. used to flavour
food
He asked the chef to tell him what condiment to serve
with the grilled fish.
verb /»kÅNgrIgeIt/
to assemble
The students were asked to congregate on the
playing field.
conquer
conduction
verb /»kÅNk´[r]/
to defeat or overcome
The king sent his army to conquer new land.
noun /kń»d√kSń/
the process of passing heat or electricity through a
material
The students tried conduction in the college lab.
conscience
noun /»kÅnSńs/
the part of your mind that tells you whether your
actions are right or wrong
My conscience does not allow me to tell a lie.
confederation
noun /kń«fed´»reISn/
a group of states joined together
America is a confederation of 51 states.
consecutive
confetti
adjective /kń»sekjUtIv/
following one after another
Inzamam struck boundaries on consecutive
deliveries.
noun /kń»feti/
tiny pieces of coloured paper thrown by guests on
festive occasions
The guests at the wedding threw confetti at the bride
and groom.
consequence
noun /»kÅnsIkwńs/
the result of something that has happened
His careless driving lead to a tragic consequence.
confidence
noun /»kÅnfIdńs/
firm trust; a feeling of certainty or boldness; being
sure that you can do something
The lack of confidence made him stammer.
considerable
adjective /kń»sId´r´bl/
notably large
He used his considerable wealth to help the poor.
confidential
adjective /«kÅnfI»denSl/
secret, not told or shared with anyone
He leaked the confidential information.
consistent
adjective /kń»sIstńt/
keeping to a regular pattern or style; not changing
Consistent results were achieved by Ali.
confluence
noun /»kÅnflUńs/
junction or meeting of 2 rivers or streams
We went to see the confluence of the rivers Jhelum
and Chenab in Kashmir.
constabulary
noun /kń»stQbjUl´ri/
police force
The constabulary was out in force on New Year’s eve.
congested
adjective /»kńdZestId/
crowded; full of traffic
Many of Europe’s airports are heavily congested.
l 23 l
9 to 11
age group
contemptible
C
convince
adjective /kń»tempt´bl/
not deserving any respect at all
Hurting her feelings like that was a contemptible thing
to do.
verb /kń»vIns/
to make someone agree
I will try to convince her to join us for a walk.
correspondence
contemptuous
noun /«kÅr´»spÅndńs/
letters a person sends and receives
They maintained their friendship through regular
correspondence.
adjective /kń»temptSU´s/
feeling or showing no respect
She gave me a contemptuous look.
contentment
corridor
noun /kń»tentmńt/
satisfaction
His peaceful surroundings led to a feeling of
contentment.
noun /»kÅrIdç˘[r]/
a passage in a building
He was caught smoking in the corridor.
cosmetic
continue
noun /kÅz»metIk/
any preparation applied to the body, esp the face,
with the intention of beautifying it
Lipstick is a cosmetic.
verb /kń»tInju˘/
to begin again after stopping
The game will continue after lunch.
contract
cosmopolite
noun /»kÅntrQkt/
a formal agreement to do something
He has signed a contract to begin working at the
factory.
noun /kÅz»mÅp´laIt/
one that is at home in every country
Maria is quite a cosmopolite yet she can’t get used to
our humid climate.
contradiction
costume
noun /«kÅntr´»dIkSn/
lack of agreement between facts
There is a contradiction between the two sets of
graphs.
noun /»kÅstju˘m/
clothes, especially for a particular purpose
Ali wore a Superman costume to the party.
cottage
contribute
noun /»kÅtIdZ/
a small, simple house
The old abandoned cottage was the only refuge the
hikers could find from the rain.
verb /kń»trIbju˘t/
to give towards something
Our class was asked to contribute articles for the
school magazine.
counsel
convenient
noun /»kaUns´l/
advice or guidance on conduct, behaviour, etc
I told him to seek counsel to help choose a career for
himself.
adjective /kń»vi˘nIńt/
easy to use
E-mail is a convenient way of keeping in touch with
friends.
l 24 l
C
9 to 11
age group
counterfeit
crockery
adjective /»kaUnt´fIt/
fake
He had a counterfeit dollar bill in his pocket.
noun /»krÅk´ri/
household china
His mother used her best crockery for Akbar’s
birthday.
coup
crocodile
noun /ku˘/
sudden seizure of power from government
The ruler was ousted by a military coup.
noun /»krÅk´daIl/
a large tropical reptile with thick skin, a long tail and
huge jaws
courageous
croon
adjective /k´»reIdZ´s/
brave
He took a courageous stand.
verb /kru˘n/
to sing softly and gently
The audience will croon along when Michael Buble
will sing in his concert.
courier
noun /»kUrI´/
messenger who transports goods or documents
His job as courier takes him all over the city.
crucial
adjective /»kru˘Sl/
most important
The crucial task for the company is to gain consumer
confidence.
courtier
noun /»kç˘ti´[r]/
one of a king’s or queen’s companions at court
The courtier bowed before the king.
crystal
noun /»krIstl/
a transparent colourless mineral rather like glass
Mother likes to decorate the house with vases made
of crystal.
crescent
noun /»kresnt/
a narrow, curved shape coming to a point at each
end
There is a crescent and star on the flag of Pakistan.
cucumber
noun /»kju˘k√mb´[r]/
a long, green-skinned vegetable eaten raw or pickled
The price of cucumber shot up after the floods.
crew
noun /kru˘/
the people working in a ship or aircraft; a group
working together
The crew on board the space shuttle was ready to
blast off.
cultivate
verb /»k√ltIveIt/
to use land to grow crops
The farmer will cultivate this field.
criticism
cumbersome
noun /»krItIsIz´m/
judgement of someone’s work or ideas
His new novel has received a great deal of negative
criticism.
adjective /»k√mb´s´m/
slow or complicated; difficult to carry because of size
Rafi dragged his cumbersome bag into the room.
l 25 l
9 to 11
age group
curfew
noun /»kŒ˘fju˘/
a time or signal after which people must remain
indoors until the next day
The hostel imposes a curfew after dark.
curiosity
noun /«kjU´ri»Ås´ti/
having a desire to know about something
The letter was not addressed to me but I opened it
out of curiosity.
curtain
noun /»kŒ˘tn/
a piece of material hung at a window or door
I pulled back the curtain to let some light in.
cygnet
noun /»sIgnIt/
young swan
cylinder
noun /»sIlInd´[r]/
an object with straight sides and circular ends
A CNG kit with a 55 kg cylinder is available in the
market.
l 26 l
C
D
9 to 11
age group
dacite
deceive
noun /»deIsaIt/
a light gray volcanic rock
Dacite is produced from continental lava flows that
solidify quickly.
verb /dI»si˘v/
to mislead
It is wrong to deceive your parents.
decipher
dagger
verb /dI»saIf´[r]/
make out; read or interpret
I found it very difficult to decipher what Amina had
written in the note.
noun /»dQg´[r]/
a pointed knife with two sharp edges
The sultan wore his dagger in the front of his belt.
dasheen
decision
noun /dQ»Si˘n/
a plant grown for its edible underground stems
Dasheen should not be cooked too long as it will
become mushy.
noun /dI»sIZn/
making up one’s mind
I have made a decision to study hard for my exams.
declare
datolite
verb /dI»kle´/
to say something clearly or firmly
She was asked to declare her nationality.
noun /»deIt´«laIt/
a mineral with crystals that are colorless or white with
a greenish tinge
Specimens of datolite are largely found in Germany,
Norway, and Italy.
decomposition
noun /«di˘kÅmp´»zISn/
the act of decaying
The decomposition of organic waste is brought about
by bacteria.
debris
noun /»debri˘/
the remains of something broken down or destroyed
Where there were houses now there is only debris
after the tsunami.
decrease
verb /dI»kri˘s/
to become or make become smaller in size, number,
etc.
People should decrease the amount of fat they eat.
debt
noun /»det/
something that is owed
His debt amounts to Rs. 100.
decree
noun /dI»kri˘/
an official order from a ruler or a government that
becomes the law
In 1989, the government passed a decree to make
Islamiyat compulsory in all schools
decade
noun /»dekeId/
a period of ten years
It’s been a decade since I last heard from him.
decaffeinated
defect
adjective /«di˘»kQfIneItId/
(of coffee or tea) with the caffeine removed
Decaffeinated coffee is available in the supermarket.
noun /dI»fekt/
a fault in something or in the way it has been made
There was a manufacturing defect in the third batch
of phones.
l 27 l
9 to 11
age group
deficiency
D
deliberate
noun /dI»fISnsi/
a lack or shortage
The little boy has calcium deficiency because he
never finishes his milk.
adjective /dI»lIb´r´t/
done on purpose
She made a deliberate attempt to hurt me.
delicacy
definite
noun /»delIk´si/
a delicious and rare food
Caviar is considered a delicacy in most countries.
adjective /»defIn´t/
clearly stated; exact
He has a very definite taste in clothes.
delicate
definition
adjective /»delIk´t/
easily damaged
She wore a dress of delicate lace.
noun /«defI»nISn/
a statement of what a word means
You can use a dictionary to look up the definition of a
word.
delicious
adjective /dI»lIS´s/
tasting or smelling very pleasant
The delicious apple pie was made by my mother.
deflect
verb /dI»flekt/
to make something turn aside
NASA tried to deflect the meteor away from the
Earth.
delta
noun /»delt´/
a triangular area at the mouth of the river where it
spreads into branches
We visited the Nile Delta on our visit to Africa.
deforestation
noun /«di˘«fÅrI»steISn/
the cutting down of trees or forests over a large area
Deforestation is bad for the environment.
deluge
noun /»delju˘dZ/
severe flood; heavy fall of rain
We were caught in a deluge as we waited for the
school bus.
defuse
verb /dI»fju˘z/
to stop a possibly dangerous or difficult situation from
developing
The spy had to defuse the bomb before the timer
went off.
delve
verb /»delv/
to search
He began to delve into the book for quotations to use
in his speech.
dehydrate
verb /di˘»haIdreIt/
to remove all the moisture from something
People in Hunza dehydrate apricots to preserve them
for winter.
demeanor
noun /dI»mi˘n´[r]/
behaviour towards others; outward manner
Zeba’s calm demeanor hid her true feelings.
delay
noun /dI»leI/
a period of time when one has to wait because of a
problem that makes something slow or late
We apologize for the delay in answering your letter.
l 28 l
D
9 to 11
age group
demolish
desperately
verb /dI»mÅlIS/
to knock down
We will need to demolish the old house before
building a new one.
adverb /»desp´r´tli/
without hope
She looked desperately around for water.
dessert
demonstrate
noun /dI»zŒ˘t/
fruit or sweet food served as the last course of a meal
I am sure I could stay for dessert.
verb /»demństreIt/
to show something
The teacher will demonstrate the correct way to use a
compass.
detection
noun /dI»tekSn/
discovery
The hard work of the police led to the detection of the
criminal.
demoralise
verb /dI»mÅr´laIz/
to dishearten someone
A defeat in the cricket match will demoralise the
spectators.
detective
noun /dI»tektIv/
a person who investigates crimes
The detective on the case was very smart.
dengue
noun /»deNgi/
a tropical viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes
The number of dengue patients was increasing day
by day.
deterence
noun /dI»terńs/
the prevention of something, especially war or crime,
by having something such as weapons or punishment
to use as a threat
Such terrorism is peculiarly horrific because it is
susceptible to no normal deterrence.
deputation
noun /depjU»teISn/
a small group of people who are asked or allowed to
act or speak for others
A deputation was representing the sugar growers at
the annual convention.
determined
adjective /dI»tŒ˘mInd/
with one’s mind firmly made up
The determined student finally succeeded in his
attempt.
descend
verb /dI»send/
to go down
We have to descend the hill to reach the valley.
deuce
deserve
noun /»dju˘s/
a score in tennis where both sides have 40 points
and must gain two consecutive points to win
In the tennis match, Nasir held his opponent at deuce
several times.
verb /dI»zŒ˘v/
to have a right to something
You deserve a prize for your performance.
despair
devastation
noun /dI»spe´[r]/
a feeling of hopelessness
He gave up the struggle in despair.
noun /«dev´»steISn/
destruction or damage
The flood caused wide spread devastation.
l 29 l
9 to 11
age group
devise
D
differ
verb /dI»vaIz/
to invent a new system or new way of doing
something
They have to devise a new plan to control traffic in
the city.
verb /»dIf´/
to be different or disagree
My parents plans for my future differ from mine.
differentiate
verb /«dIf´»renSieIt/
to distinguish; recognise differences
It is hard to differentiate between these two types of
seeds.
devotee
noun /«dev´[U]»ti˘/
an enthusiast
Sara is a devotee of the opera and does not miss a
single performance.
diffuse
verb /dI»fju˘z/
to spread widely
We became aware of the leaking gas when it began
to diffuse through the whole house.
devour
verb /dI»vaU´[r]/
to eat or swallow something hungrily or greedily
They saw the lion devour the zebra.
dilemma
diagnose
noun /dI»lem´, daI»lem´/
a difficult situation or problem
We were faced with the dilemma of crossing the river
without a boat.
verb /»daI´gn´Vz/
to find out what disease a person has or what is
wrong
The doctor found it difficult to diagnose the patient’s
illness.
disagreement
noun /«dIs´»gri˘mńt/
a difference of opinion
Mandy resigned from her job after a disagreement
with her boss.
diagonal
adjective /daI»Qgńl/
at an angle
The teacher asked us to draw a diagonal line.
disappearance
dialogue
noun /«dIs´»pI´rńs/
removal from sight
News of the little boy’s disappearance is all over the
papers.
noun /»daI´lÅg/
a conversation
The play contained a long dialogue between the two
main characters.
disappoint
diamond
verb /«dIs´»pçInt/
to fail to do what someone hopes for
He studies hard because he does not want to
disappoint his parents.
noun /»daI´mńd/
a very hard, precious stone, that looks like clear glass
The Kohinoor diamond sits in the Tower of London.
diesel
disapprove
noun /»di˘zl/
fuel that works by burning oil in compressed air
This car runs on diesel.
verb /«dIs´»pru˘v/
to not approve of something
I disapprove of his rash behaviour.
l 30 l
D
9 to 11
age group
disastrous
disentangle
adjective /dI»zA˘str´s/
very bad
The motorist avoided a disastrous accident.
verb /dIsIn»tQNg´l/
straighten out ; unravel; untwist; remove knots
After many hours the princess managed to
disentangle herself from the ropes.
disciple
disgraceful
noun /dI»saIp´l/
follower
He liked the teachings of the philosopher that he
became his disciple.
adjective /dIs»greIsfl/
shameful
Her disgraceful behaviour was frowned upon.
discipline
disguise
noun /»dIsIplIn/
obedient behaviour
The school enforces strict discipline.
verb /dIs»gaIz/
to make a person or thing look different in order to
deceive people
The thief tried to disguise himself in order to escape
from the police.
discomfiture
noun /dIs»k√mfItS´/
uneasiness or embarrassment
He laughed in spite of his discomfiture and shock.
disinfectant
noun /«dIsIn»fektńt/
a cleaning substance that prevents infection from
spreading
The medical team quickly ran out of disinfectant.
discourage
verb /dIs»k√rIdZ/
to try to dissuade someone from doing something
I will discourage him from smoking.
dislodge
verb /dIs»lÅdZ/
to move or force something from its place
It was impossible to dislodge the heavy rock.
discreet
adjective /dI»skri˘t/
careful or prudent in one’s speech or actions
Rahil had to be very discreet when facing the angry
boss.
dismissal
noun /dIs»mIsl/
sending away
The bad behaviour of the student led to his dismissal
from class.
discrimination
noun /dI«skrImI»neISn/
unfair treatment of a person, racial group, minority,
etc; action based on prejudice
The management was accused of discrimination
towards the female work force.
disposable
adjective /dI»spÚz´bl/
made to be thrown away after it has been used
I hope all these disposable products are recycled.
disembarkation
disregard
noun /«dIs«embA˘»keISn/
putting or going ashore
The passengers picked up their suitcases, ready for
disembarkation.
verb /«dIsrI»gA˘d/
to pay no attention to
She chose to disregard my advice.
l 31 l
9 to 11
age group
distinguishable
D
dream
adjective /dI»stINgwIS´bl/
possible to recognise as different from somebody or
something
The identical twins had no distinguishable features.
noun /»dri˘m/
a series of images, events and feelings that happen
in your mind while you are asleep
I had a very clear dream about my old school.
distribution
drift
noun /«dIstrI»bju˘Sn/
the act of sharing out
Mehr was responsible for the distribution of food to
the refugees.
verb /»drIft/
move slowly
They would eventually drift away from each other due
to family politics.
document
drown
noun /»dÅkjumńt/
a written paper giving information about something
This document needs to be typed.
verb /»draUn/
to die by being underwater too long
She attempted to drown herself in the sea.
dolphin
drowsy
noun /»dÅlfIn/
a sea animal like a small whale with a beaklike snout
adjective /»draUzi/
sleepy
The drowsy traveller slept on the train.
dominate
drudgery
verb /»dÅmIneIt/
to control by being stronger or more powerful
The bully tried to dominate his classmates.
noun /»dr√dZ´ri/
dull hard or menial work
Machines have now taken away much of the drudgery
out of housework.
drain
verb /»dreIn/
to empty or dry something by removing all the liquid
The chef instructed the cooks to drain and rinse the
pasta.
duel
noun /»dju˘´l/
a fight between two people, especially with pistols or
swords
You could go to jail for fighting a duel these days.
dramatise
verb /»drQm´taIz/
to express in a dramatic way
He tends to dramatise his problems.
duplicate
noun /dju˘plIk´t/
an exact copy
Ali kept a duplicate of the document.
draughts
noun /drA˘fts/
a game played with 24 round pieces on a chessboard
They played a game of draughts.
duvet
noun /»d[j]u˘veI/
a soft thick quilt
Grandmother has made a beautiful duvet for me.
l 32 l
D
9 to 11
age group
dynamite
noun /»daIn´maIt/
a powerful explosive
The building was demolished with the help of
dynamite.
l 33 l
9 to 11
age group
earring
E
ecologist
noun /»I´rIN/
an ornament for the ear
She lost an earring at the party.
noun /I»kÅl´dZIst/
a specialist dealing with the relationship of
organisms & the environment.
I work as an assistant to the famous ecologist Mr
Khan.
eavesdrop
verb /»i˘vzdrÅp/
to listen secretly to a private conversation
The little boy tried to eavesdrop on his friends’
conversation.
ecology
noun /i»kÅl´dZi/
the study of living things in relation to each other and
their surroundings
Ecology teaches you about nature.
eccentric
adjective /Ik»sentrIk/
behaving strangely
The eccentric behaviour of the old man surprised
people.
economical
adjective /«i˘k´»nÅmIkl, «ek´»nÅmIk´l/
using as little as possible
The hikers made economical use of their limited
water supply.
echo
noun /»ek´V/
a sound that is heard again as it is reflected off
something
She heard an echo of her voice in the valley.
edible
adjective /»edIbl/
suitable for eating
They were separating edible berries from the
poisonous ones.
eclipse
noun /I»klIps/
the blocking of the sun’s or moon’s light when the
moon or the Earth is in the way
A lunar eclipse is a rare event.
eerie
adjective /»I´ri/
strange and frightening
I get an eerie feeling whenever I am near the old
house.
ecliptic
noun /I»klIptIk/
the apparent path of the Sun across the sky over the
course of a year
In spring, the ecliptic in the northern hemisphere is
angled high in the evening sky.
efficient
adjective /I»fISnt/
doing work well
She is an efficient worker.
eclogite
elastic
noun /»eklÅdZaIt, »ekl´dZaIt/
a coarse-grained greenish rock
Eclogite is a rare rock formed under conditions of
high pressure.
noun /I»lQstIk/
cord or material woven with strands of rubber so that
it can stretch
These trousers have a length of elastic sewn into
their waistbands.
l 34 l
E
9 to 11
age group
electricity
embassy
noun /I«lek»trIs´ti/
a form of energy carried by certain particles of matter,
used for lighting, heating and other work
The electricity had been cut off.
noun /»emb´si/
a group of officials led by an ambassador
representing their government in a foreign country
The embassy was informed about the law and order
situation in the city.
elephantine
embrace
adjective /elI»fQntaIn/
resembling, or characteristic of an elephant, like large
or clumsy.
The elaphantine jet was so wide that it needed a
special runway.
noun /Im»breIs/
an affectionate hug
She held her mother in a warm embarce.
embroidery
eligible
noun /Im»brçId´ri/
the art of needlework
She is good at embroidery.
adjective /»elIdZIb´l/
fit or proper to be chosen
The school team was eligible to compete in the
spelling bee competition.
emend
verb /I»mend/
to remove errors from a piece of writing
The editor’s job is to emend newspaper articles.
eliminate
verb /I»lImIneIt/
to get rid of, remove
She used a spray to eliminate the cockroaches in her
kitchen.
emerald
noun /»em´r´ld/
a bright-green, precious stone
This emerald was mined in Columbia.
elliptical
adjective /I»lIptIkl/
oval-shaped
The Earth follows an elliptical orbit around the Sun.
emergency
noun /I»mŒ˘dZńsi/
a sudden, serious happening needing prompt action
It is important to stay calm in an emergency.
elope
verb /I»lÚp/
to run away with someone inorder to marry secretly
As their parents did not agree to their marriage they
decided to elope.
emigrate
verb /»emIgreIt/
to leave your own country and go and live in another
He is going to emigrate to Canada.
eloquence
noun /»el´kwńs/
fluent or persuasive speaking or writing
He enthralled the audience with his eloquence.
emotion
noun /Im»ÚSń/
a strong feeling such as of love, anger, sadness or
fear
He did not want to express any emotion at the funeral
of his brother.
l 35 l
9 to 11
age group
emperor
E
enlightened
noun /»emp´r´[r]/
a man who rules an empire
The emperor ruled his empire wisely.
adjective /In»laItnd/
having an understanding of people’s needs and
situation
The enlightened couple kept themselves informed of
the latest news.
empire
noun /»empaI´[r]/
a group of states or countries controlled by one ruler
or government
The Ottoman Empire collapsed after the revolt.
enormous
adjective /I»nç˘m´s/
very big
The elephant is an enormous animal.
employment
enquire
noun /Im»plçImńt/
a person’s regular trade or profession
He found employment as a gardener.
verb /In»kwaI´[r]/
ask for information
He walked up to the post office to enquire how long
they were open.
enchanting
adjective /In»tSA˘ntIN/
charming
She has an enchanting personality.
enrol
verb /In»rÚl/
to join
He decided to enrol in a cricket club.
endure
verb /In»djU´[r], en»djU´[r]/
suffer or put up with pain or hardship
While on a family holiday, she had to endure her
cousins arrogance.
entertainment
noun /«ent´»teInmńt/
something performed before an audience to amuse or
interest them
The singer provided us with entertainment.
energetic
adjective /«en´»dZetIk/
full of energy
The energetic child refused to sit down.
enthusiasm
noun /In»Tju˘zIQz´m/
a strong liking, interest or excitement
Akbar has a great enthusiasm for playing cricket.
engagement
noun /In»geIdZmńt/
an appointment or commitment
Their engagement was announced in the local paper.
entrance
noun /»entrńs/
the way into a place
We could not find the entrance so we went in through
the back.
enjoyable
adjective /In»dZçI´bl/
pleasant
The summer fair is always an enjoyable occasion.
envelope
noun /»env´lÚp, »Ånv´lÚp/
a wrapper or covering, especially a folded cover for a
letter
The envelope was addressed to his father.
l 36 l
E
9 to 11
age group
environment
essence
noun /In»vaIrńmńt/
surroundings
An unhappy home environment can affect a child’s
behaviour.
noun /»esns/
a concentrated liquid
We forgot to add vanilla essence to the cake
batter.
episode
essential
noun /»epIsÚd/
one event in a series of happenings
Their fight was quite a sordid episode.
adjective /I»senSl/
not able to be done without
Milk is an essential part of a child’s diet.
equator
esteem
noun /Ik»weIt´[r]/
an imaginary line around the earth at an equal
distance from the North and South poles
The teacher asked the students to mark the equator
on the map.
noun /I»sti˘m/
respect and admiration
I hold my elders in high esteem.
estimate
verb /»estImeIt/
to make a guess about an amount or value
I estimate that it will take me one hour to write this
essay.
equilibrium
noun /«i˘kwI»lIbrI´m/
a state of balance
The see-saw is in equilibrium when it is horizontal.
ethnic
eruption
adjective /»eTnIk/
belonging to a particular racial group within a larger
set of people
Aborigines form an ethnic community in Australia.
noun /I»r√pSn/
bursting out
A major volcanic eruption can cause severe
devastation.
etiquette
escalate
noun /»etIket/
the rules of correct behaviour
Proper etiquette requires you to write thank-you notes
for gifts.
verb /»esk´leIt/
to make or become greater, more serious or more
intense
We should not allow minor disagreements between
countries to escalate into war.
European
adjective /«jU´r´»pi˘ń/
to do with Europe or its people
The European currency is called the Euro.
escape
verb /I»skeIp/
to get yourself free
The prisoner tried to escape from prison.
evacuate
verb /I»vQkjUeIt/
to move people away from a dangerous place
Firemen had to evacuate people from the burning
building.
espresso
noun /e»spresÚ/
coffee made by forcing steam through ground coffee
beans
He ordered an espresso at the restaurant.
l 37 l
9 to 11
age group
evacuees
E
exceed
noun /I«vQkjU»i˘z/
people who have been evacuated
The evacuees were moved uphill after the flood had
destroyed their houses.
verb /Ik»si˘d/
to be more or greater than
Drivers should not exceed the speed limit.
excellence
evaluate
noun /»eks´lńs/
extremely good quality
He was awarded a medal for his excellence in sports.
verb /I»vQljUeIt/
to estimate the worth of something
The report card will evaluate your performance in
school.
exceptional
adjective /Ik»sepSńl/
outstandingly good
The actor was praised for his exceptional
performance in the film.
evaporate
verb /I»vQp´reIt/
to change from liquid into steam or vapour
Heat causes water to evaporate.
excessively
eventual
adverb /Ik»sesIvli/
more than necessary
The private sector has been borrowing excessively
from the banking system.
adjective /I»ventSU´l/
happening at last
His eventual success is guaranteed due to his hard
work.
excitement
evidence
noun /Ik»saItmńt/
a strong feeling of eagerness or pleasure
The news caused great excitement among her
friends.
noun /»evIdńs/
anything that gives people reason to believe
something
The police found evidence to prove the man guilty of
robbery.
exclaim
verb /Ik»skleIm/
shout out in surprise
The children began to exclaim in surprise at the sight
of the clown.
exaggeration
noun /Ig«zQdZ´»reISn/
the act of describing something as bigger,
better or worse than it really is
His story was obviously an exaggeration of the truth.
excruciating
adjective /Ik»skru˘SieItIN/
very painful
Maha has an excruciating headache.
examination
noun /Ig«zQmI»neISn/
a test, assessment
Mehr scored high marks in her science examination.
exercise
noun /»eks´saIz/
using your body to make it strong and healthy
You must exercise to keep well.
excavate
verb /»eksk´veIt/
to dig out
The archaeologist wanted to excavate the remains of
the Indus Valley Civilisation.
l 38 l
E
9 to 11
age group
exhale
exploit
verb /eks»heIl/
breathe out
He coughs every time he tries to exhale.
verb /Ik»splçIt/
to use a person or thing selfishly
It is wrong to exploit people.
exhaustive
explosion
adjective /Ig»zç˘stIv/
thorough
We made an exhaustive search.
noun /Ik»splÚZn/
the exploding of a bomb etc.
There was a loud explosion in the neighbour’s
kitchen.
expectation
express
noun /«ekspek»teISn/
something expected or hoped for
It is my expectation that I will do well in my exams.
verb /Ik»spres/
to make known
He tried to express his anger.
expel
extend
verb /Ik»spel/
to officially make somebody leave a school or
organization
The Principal warned the student that if he did not
mend his ways, he would have to expel him.
verb /Ik»stend/
to make something longer or larger
It was decided to extend the road to manage traffic
load during rush hours.
expenditure
extraordinary
adjective /Ik»strç˘dń´ri, ekstr´»ç˘dń´ri/
very unusual or strange
This ice cream has an extraordinary taste.
noun /Ik»spendItS´[r]/
the spending of money
Building a house involves considerable expenditure.
experience
extraterrestrial
noun /Ik»spI´rIńs/
something that has happened to you
My camping trip was an enjoyable experience.
adjective /«ekstr´t´»restrI´l/
from outer space
Scientists have been searching for extraterrestrial life.
experiment
extravagant
adjective /Ik»strQv´gńt, ek»strQv´gńt/
spending a lot more money than necessary
Every month, she spends an extravagant amount of
money on clothes.
noun /Ik»sperImńt/
a test made in order to find out what happens
The students conducted an experiment during
science class.
expire
eyewitness
verb /Ik»spaI´, ek»spaI´/
to be no longer valid because the period of time for
which it could be used has ended
Even though the jam would expire next month, he
threw it away.
noun /»aIwItn´s/
a person who actually saw an occurrence
She was an eyewitness to the car accident.
l 39 l
9 to 11
age group
fable
F
fallacy
noun /»feIbl/
a short story that teaches one a moral
Mehr enjoyed reading the fable about the princess.
noun /»fQl´si/
a mistaken belief
It is a fallacy to think that an apple a day will keep the
doctor away.
fabulous
familiarity
adjective /»fQbj´l´s/
wonderful
The actress gave a fabulous performance in the play.
noun /f´«mIlI»Qr´ti/
state of knowing something well
The guide’s familiarity with the area was an
advantage to the tourists.
facies
noun /»feISI«i˘z/
the characteristics of a rock
The term facies was introduced by a Swiss geologist
in 1838.
famine
noun /»fQmIn/
a very bad shortage of food in an area
The charity distributed food in the area affected by a
famine.
facility
noun /f´»sIl´ti/
something providing the means to do things
Iran’s nuclear facility is under media scrutiny.
famished
adjective /»fQmISt/
very hungry
The hikers were famished after their long walk.
factory
noun /»fQkt´ri/
a large building where machines are used to make
things
His best friend works at the car factory.
fanatic
noun /f´»nQtIk/
a person who is very enthusiastic about something
The cricket fanatic attended every single match of the
series.
faculty
noun /»fQk´lti/
a department teaching a particular subject in a
university
The faculty of music arranged a concert last week.
fantasy
noun /»fQnt´si/
imagined happening
In his fantasy, he saw himself winning the race.
faint
farce
verb /»feInt/
become unconscious
She thought she would faint when she saw the
mouse.
noun /fA˘s/
a comedy that uses absurd ridiculous situations and
is noisy and rough
The parents were not happy with the farce staged by
the school.
faithfully
adverb /»feITf´li, »feITfUli/
loyally
Akbar served his employer faithfully.
farewell
noun /«fe´»wel/
goodbye
I felt sad bidding farewell to my friends.
l 40 l
F
9 to 11
age group
farther
federal
adverb /»fA˘D´[r]/
more distant
He lives farther from the school, than I do.
adjective /»fed´r´l/
to do with a system in which several states are ruled
by a central government but are responsible for their
own internal affairs
The federal government decided to abolish child
labour.
fascination
noun /«fQsI»neISn/
attraction or interest
Stamp collecting holds a peculiar fascination for some
people.
federation
noun /«fed´»reISn/
the union of several provinces, states, to form a
federal union
The United States of America is a federation of
states.
fashionable
adjective /»fQSń´bl/
in keeping with the current style
She was wearing a fashionable black hat.
feign
verb /»feIn/
pretend to be affected by a feeling or injury
He decided to feign illness in order not to give the
test.
fatigue
noun /f´»ti˘g/
tiredness
Rest will help relieve your fatigue.
fellow
favourable
noun /»felÚ/
a man or boy
The old fellow crossed the street.
adjective /»feIv´r´bl/
showing approval
There were many favourable reviews of the new book.
feminine
favouritism
adjective /»femInIn/
to do with or like women
She wears the most feminine clothes.
noun /»feIv´rItIz´m/
the practice of giving special treatment to a person or
group
The umpire was accused of favouritism.
fence
noun /fens/
a barrier made of wood or wire around an area
A wooden fence surrounded the farm house.
fearsome
adjective /»fI´s´m/
frightening
They have a fearsome new headmaster.
fennel
noun /»fen´l/
an aromatic herb of the parsley family
Sprigs of fennel are used to garnish food.
feature
noun /»fi˘tS´[r]/
an important part
The most important feature of a camera is its lens.
ferment
verb /f´»ment/
to bubble and change chemically by the action of a
substance such as yeast
Yeast will ferment if you add sugar and liquid to it.
l 41 l
9 to 11
age group
fermium
F
filmgoer
noun /»fŒ˘mI´m/
a very rare radioactive metal
Fermium is an artifically produced chemical element.
noun /»fIlmgÚ´/
a person who goes to the cinema
The filmgoer was a regular at DHA Cinema.
ferocious
finalist
adjective /f´»rÚS´s/
fierce or savage
I have a ferocious dog.
noun /»faIn´lIst/
a competitor in a final
He is a finalist here for the second year running.
ferrite
finance
noun /»feraIt/
a chemical containing iron
Ferrite is used to make the filaments in electric bulbs.
noun /»faInQns/
the use or management of money
It is important for a businessman to be trained in
finance.
fertilisation
fishmonger
noun /»fŒ˘t´laIzeISn/
the act of adding substances to the soil to make it
more fertile
The fertilisation of the field improved the wheat crop.
noun /»fISm√Ng´[r]/
a shopkeeper who sells fish
That fishmonger sells the finest fish.
festival
flattering
noun /»festIvl/
a time when people arrange special celebrations
Vesak is a Buddhist festival of lights.
adjective /»flQt´rIN/
make a person or thing seem better than they really
are
It was not a very flattering photograph.
festoon
flaunt
noun /fe»stu˘n/
ornamental chain or garland hung in a curve
We will festoon the hall with garlands for the wedding.
verb /flç˘nt/
to show off
He likes to flaunt his expensive cars.
fete
flavour
noun /»feIt/
an outdoor entertainment with stalls and sideshows
There will be a magic show at the fete.
noun /»fleIv´[r]/
the taste of something
Too much salt will spoil the flavour of the food.
feverish
flea
adjective /»fi˘v´rIS/
having an abnormally high body temperature
The feverish boy slept all morning.
noun /fli˘/
a small jumping insect that sucks blood
fidgeting
flexible
verb /»fIdZItIN/
make small restless movements
He kept fidgeting throughout the lecture.
adjective /»fleksIbl/
easy to bend or stretch
Gymnasts have flexible bodies.
l 42 l
F
9 to 11
age group
flicker
fluke
verb /»flIk´[r]/
to burn or shine unsteadily
The candle will flicker in the breeze.
noun /flu˘k/
an accidental stroke of luck
The team is determined to show that its last win was
no fluke.
floral
folklore
adjective /»flç˘r´l/
of or decorated with flowers
The queen laid a floral wreath on the grave.
noun /»fÚklç˘[r]/
traditional beliefs & customs of region or community
passed on by word of mouth
Shazia is collecting the folklore of the Kalash.
flounder
verb /»flaUnd´[r]/
to move clumsily or with difficulty
He had to flounder through the deep water.
forbidden
adjective /f´»bIdn/
not allowed
Hansel and Gretel ate the forbidden chocolate.
flour
noun /»flaU´[r]/
a fine powder of wheat or other grain, used in cooking
She made the bread with flour and eggs.
forceful
adjective /»fç˘sfUl/
strong and vigorous
He made a grand and forceful speech.
flourish
verb /»fl√rIS/
to grow or develop strongly
Plants flourish if they are watered regularly.
forecast
noun /»fç˘kA˘st/
a prediction
The weather forecast said it would be sunny today.
fluctuation
noun /»fl√ktSU»eISn/
constant change
The cake was spoilt because of the fluctuation in the
temperature of the oven.
foreground
noun /»fç˘graUnd/
the front part of a scene or view
Several cows could be seen in the foreground of the
painting of the farm.
fluent
adjective /»flu˘ńt/
able to speak easily and well
Mehr speaks fluent Sindhi.
forehand
noun /»fç˘hQnd/
a stroke made in tennis
The tennis player knew that his opponent had a
sloppy forehand.
fluid
adjective /»flu˘Id/
able to flow freely
Oil is a fluid substance.
foreign
adjective /»fÅrń/
belonging to another country
The foreign delegates enjoyed their stay in Pakistan.
l 43 l
9 to 11
age group
foreseeable
F
fountain
adjective /fç˘»si˘´bl/
able to be known beforehand
I will not be visiting Lahore in the foreseeable future.
noun /»faUntIn/
an ornamental structure in which a jet of water shoots
up into the air
We threw coins into the fountain for good luck.
forgiveness
fowl
noun /f´»gIvn´s/
pardon
The convict begged for forgiveness, but to no avail.
noun /faUl/
a bird, especially one kept on a farm etc. for its eggs
or meat
formidable
fragile
adjective /»fç˘mId´bl/
frightening
A raging elephant is a formidable sight.
adjective /»frQdZaIl/
easy to break or damage
The fragile glass fell and broke.
formula
frantic
noun /»fç˘mj´l´/
a rule expressed in symbols or numbers
The students were taught the formula for calculating
the volume of an object.
adjective /»frQntIk/
wildly agitated or excited
The doctors made frantic attempts to revive him.
fortnight
freak
noun /»fç˘tnaIt/
a period of two weeks
The parcel will probably be here in a fortnight.
adjective /fri˘k/
very strange or abnormal
Arif was killed in a freak accident.
fortress
frequent
noun /»fç˘tr´s/
a fortified building or town
The fortress was very strong and strategically
located.
adjective /»fri˘kwńt/
happening often
Mehr made frequent trips to the library.
frightening
fortunately
adjective /»fraItnIN/
making afraid
Frightening sounds were heard at night.
adverb /»fç˘tSńItli/
luckily
Fortunately, it did not rain during the picnic.
frolic
fossil
verb /»frÅlIk/
play about in a lively cheerful way
The children were allowed to frolic in the park.
noun /»fÅs[´]l, »fÅsIl/
the remains of a prehistoric animal or plant that have
been buried in the ground for centuries and become
hardened in rock
A fossil reveals information about a prehistoric plant
or animal.
frosty
adjective /»frÅsti/
unfriendly or unwelcoming
She gave me a frosty look when I refused to help her.
l 44 l
F
9 to 11
age group
frustration
furry
noun /fr√»streISn/
angry disappointment
Ali banged the table in frustration.
adjective /»fŒ˘ri/
covered with fur
She found small furry animals very cute.
fuel
fuse
noun /»fju˘´l/
something that is burnt to produce heat or power
Coal is used as fuel to run train engines.
noun /fju˘z/
a safety device containing a short piece of wire that
melts if too much electricity is passed through it
A fuse is used in an electrical circuit for safety.
fumble
verb /»f√mbl/
hold or handle something clumsily
While he was sitting alone he began to fumble with
his keys.
fundamental
adjective /«f√nd´»mentl/
basic
Believing in one God is a fundamental principle of
Islam.
funeral
noun /»fju˘n´r´l/
the ceremony when a dead person is buried
Malik’s funeral will be on Monday.
fungus
noun /»f√Ng´s/
a green colouring, usually growing on other plants or
decaying matter
The bread was out all night so it developed a fungus
on its surface.
furnace
noun /»fŒ˘nIs/
an enclosed structure in which material is heated at
very high temperatures
The upper storey is like a furnace during summers.
furniture
noun /»fŒ˘nItS´[r]/
tables, chairs, and other moveable things that you
need in a house or school or office
We went to buy new furniture for the house.
l 45 l
9 to 11
age group
gadget
G
garlic
noun /»gQdZIt/
any small, useful tool
This gadget is used to open tins.
noun /»gA˘lIk/
a plant with a bulb divided into smaller bulbs (cloves)
which have a strong smell and taste
He seasoned the fish with garlic.
gaily
garnet
adverb /»geIli/
in a cheerful way
The children waved gaily as they left for school.
noun /»ga˘nIt/
a red gemstone
She asked the jeweller to replace the broken garnet
in her necklace.
gallant
adjective /»gQlńt/
brave
The soldier’s gallant behaviour was rewarded with a
medal.
garnish
noun /»gA˘nIS/
something used to decorate food or give it extra
flavour
Parsley is used as a garnish.
gallop
noun /»gQl´p/
the fastest pace that a horse can go
The horse raced to the finishing line at a gallop.
gasket
noun /»gQskIt/
a piece of rubber etc between two metal surfaces, to
prevent steam, gas etc escaping
Her father manufactures gasket for the automative
industry.
gamma
noun /»gQm´/
a letter of the Greek alphabet
Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet.
gasoline
noun /»gQs´li˘n/
a mixture of flammable liquid derived mainly from
crude petroleum
Rise in crude oil prices will make gasoline expensive.
ganglion
noun /»gQNglIń/
a mass of nerve cells
The spinal ganglion contains the nerve-cell bodies of
the nerve fibres.
gaunt
adjective /gç˘nt/
lean & haggard especially through suffering from
hunger or age
After suffering from hepatitis she has become lean
and gaunt.
garage
noun /»gQrA˘[d]Z, »gQrIdZ, g´»rA˘Z/
a building where a motor vehicle may be kept or
serviced
He parked his car in the garage.
gavial
garbage
noun /»geIvI´l/
a member of the crocodile family, this reptile has a
long slender snout
noun /»gA˘bIdZ/
waste material like food paper etc for throwing away
The Municipal Committee picked up the garbage
every evening.
l 46 l
G
9 to 11
age group
gemmology
geometry
noun /dZe»mÅl´dZi/
study of precious stones
Sana’s interest in gems has led her to take a course
in gemmology.
noun /dZI»ÅmItri/
the study of lines, angles, surfaces and solids in
mathematics
We learnt how to calculate the volume of a sphere in
geometry.
generate
gesture
verb /»dZen´reIt/
to produce or create
The school held a fair to generate money for charity.
noun /»dZestS´[r]/
something that you do or say to show a particular
feeling or intention
It would be a nice gesture to send her some flowers.
generation
noun /«dZen´»reISn/
all the people born at about the same time
Our parents’ generation enjoys listening to classical
music.
geyser
noun /»gi˘z´/
hot spring of boiling water that sends a tall water or
steam column into the air
The family visited the national park to see the geyser.
generator
noun /»dZen´reIt´[r]/
a machine that produces electricity
During the power cut, we used the generator to
produce electricity.
gibberish
noun /»dZIb´rIS/
speech or writing that is difficult to understand or is
meaningless
I am sick and tired of his gibberish.
generosity
noun /«dZen´»rÅs´ti/
willingness in giving away one’s money
The rich man was known for his generosity.
gimmick
noun /»gImIk/
a trick or device intended to attract attention
His latest gimmick is a robotic ice cream maker.
genius
noun /»dZi˘nI´s/
a very clever person
Einstein was a mathematical genius.
ginger
noun /»dZIndZ´[r]/
a plant root with a hot and spicy taste, used as
seasoning
He bought ginger and garlic from the vegetable
market.
genuine
adjective /»dZenjuIn/
real; not faked
This painting is a genuine antique.
giraffe
noun /dZI»rA˘f, dZI»rQf/
an African animal, the world’s tallest mammal, which
reaches up to 5.5 metres in height
geology
noun /dZI»Ål´dZi/
the study of the structure of the Earth’s crust and its
layers
We learnt about the Earth’s core in the geology class.
l 47 l
9 to 11
age group
gladiator
G
glitch
noun /»glQdieIt´[r]/
a man trained to fight for public entertainment in
ancient Rome
The gladiator fought bravely.
noun /»glItS/
sudden temporary failure of equipment; unexpected
setback in plan
There was a glitch in the internet connection.
glamorous
glitter
adjective /»glQm´r´s/
excitingly attractive
The movie star was wearing a glamorous dress.
noun /»glIt´[r]/
tiny sparkling pieces used for decoration
Mehr used glitter to decorate her hair.
glamour
glittering
noun /»glQm´[r]/
attractiveness
The glamour of films inspired him to become an actor.
adjective /»glIt´rIN/
sparkling
The glittering lake shone beautifully in the sunlight.
gland
globular
noun /»glQnd/
an organ in a person’s or an animal’s body that
produces a substance for the body to use
The doctor suggested surgery for the removal of her
infected gland.
adjective /»glÅbjUl´[r]/
globe shaped, spherical
The explorers saw a globular mass emerging from the
cave.
glorify
glaze
verb /»glç˘rIfaI/
to make a thing seem more attractive than it really is
It is a film that tries to glorify war.
verb /»gleIz/
to give a shiny surface to something
Mehr is going to glaze the cake with some icing.
glorious
gleam
adjective /»glç˘rI´s/
wonderful or magnificent
The glorious sunset was enjoyed by the hikers.
noun /»gli˘m/
a faint or brief light
After spending many hours in the dark there was a
gleam of light.
glossary
noun /»glÅs´ri/
a list of difficult words with their meanings explained
The textbook contained a glossary at the end.
glide
verb /»glaId/
to move along smoothly
I will glide across the ice in my skates.
glossy
adjective /»glÅsi/
shiny and smooth
The photograph has an attractive glossy finish.
glimpse
noun /»glImps/
a brief view
I caught a glimpse of the film star as she arrived at
the premiere.
l 48 l
G
9 to 11
age group
glucose
gorge
noun /»glu˘kÚs, »glu˘kÚz/
sweet colourless sugar occuring in plant sap, blood
Glucose is formed from water and carbon dioxide by
photosynthesis
noun /gç˘dZ/
a narrow valley with steep sides
The hikers had walked through a gorge to reach their
camp.
gnat
gorilla
noun /nQt/
a tiny fly that bites
noun /g´»rIl´/
an African ape, the largest of all the apes
gnaw
gossip
verb /nç˘/
bite or nibble persistently
The bear began to gnaw at his leg.
noun /»gÅsIp/
rumour or information of an intimate nature;
conversation about other prople
“You must never listen to gossip”, advised Mrs Khan.
gnome
governess
noun /nÚm/
a kind of dwarf in fairy tales, usually living
underground
The gnome and his family lived happily ever after.
noun /»g√vńIs/
a female teacher employed in a household
The naughty children gave the young governess a
very tough time.
goatee
government
noun /gÚ»ti˘/
a small pointed beard like that of a goat
He drew a picture of a man with a goatee and a long
pointed nose.
noun /»g√vńmńt/
the group of people who are in charge of the public
affairs of a country
The government is responsible for maintaining the
law and order of a country.
gobble
verb /»gÅb´l/
eat hurridly or noisily
Nasir has a tendency to gobble his food.
gradual
adjective /»grQdZU´l/
happening slowly over a long period of time
There was a gradual change in the climate.
goddess
noun /»gÅdIs/
a female god
Diana is the godess of hunting in Greek mythology.
graduation
noun /«grQdZu»eISn/
the ceremony at which school or college degrees are
given
The principal handed out degrees at the graduation.
goose
noun /gu˘s/
a long-necked water bird with webbed feet, larger
than a duck
grammar
noun /»grQm´[r]/
the rules for using words and punctuation correctly
The students were taught grammar and literature.
l 49 l
9 to 11
age group
grammatical
G
gravel
adjective /gr´»mQtIkl/
of or relating to grammar
There are many grammatical errors in this essay.
noun /»grQv´l/
small stones and coasre sand often used for paths &
roads
A gravel path led up to the villa.
grandiose
gravitational
adjective /»grQndIÚs/
impressive, magnificent
I didn’t want to listen to Azra’s grandiose ideas for the
party.
adjective /«grQvI»teISńl/
to do with the force of gravity
The gravitational pull of the Sun keeps the Earth in
orbit.
grant
gravity
verb /»grA˘nt/
to agree to give what one asks for esp. legal and
formal permission
The bank agreed to grant him a loan of fifty million.
noun /»grQvIti/
the force that attracts objects in space towards each
other and on earth pulls it to the ground
He was doing research on Newton’s Law of gravity.
granule
grease
noun /»grQnju˘l/
a small particle
Even a tiny granule of sand in the eye can be quite
painful.
noun /gri˘s/
thick oily substance used as lubricant
I have bought a can of grease for the machine.
graphic
greengrocer
adjective /»grQfIk/
vivid, lifelike
Ali gave a graphic account of his camping trip.
noun /»gri˘ngrÚs´[r]/
a person who keeps a shop that sells fruit and
vegetables
I bought some carrots from the greengrocer.
grateful
grievance
adjective /greItfl/
very thankful
The student extended her grateful thanks to all her
teachers.
noun /»gri˘vńs/
something that people are discontented about
The teacher listened patiently to the student’s
grievance.
gratify
grind
verb /»grQtIfaI/
to satisfy a feeling
I will gratify your daughter’s curiosity.
verb /»graInd/
to crush into very small pieces or powder
She prefered to grind the flour with traditional
methods.
gratitude
noun /»grQtItju˘d/
thanks
He expressed his gratitude for her help.
groceries
noun /»grÚs´ri˘z/
items of food
She has gone to the market to buy groceries.
l 50 l
G
9 to 11
age group
groove
gymnastics
noun /gru˘v/
long narrow cut in a hard material
There was a deep groove on the rock.
noun /dZIm»nQstIks/
exercises performed to display strength and agility
There was a display of gymnastics at the school’s
Sports Day.
grudge
gypsum
noun /gr√dZ/
a feeling of resentment or ill will
She isn’t the sort of person who bears a grudge.
noun /»dZIps´m/
soft white or grey mineral used for making plaster of
Paris & in construction
Mr Khan nailed a gypsum sheet to the wall.
grumble
verb /»gr√mb´l/
complain or protest in a bad tempered voice
The passengers began to grumble at the long delay.
gypsy
noun /»dZIpsi/
member of a travelling people with dark skin & hair
The gypsy wanted to read my palm and tell my
fortune.
guarantee
noun /«gQrń»ti˘/
an assurance that certain conditions will be fulfilled
There is no guarantee that he will succeed.
guardian
noun /»gA˘dIń/
a person who is legally in charge of a child whose
parents cannot look after him or her
His aunt acted as his guardian while his parents were
away.
guitar
noun /gI»tA˘[r]/
a musical instrument played by plucking its strings
He is skilled at playing the guitar.
gullible
adjective /»g√lIb´l/
easily persuaded to believe something
Maria was so gullible that people played practical
jokes on her.
gymnasium
noun /dZIm»neIzI´m/
a place equipped for gymnastics
Nadia trained at the gymnasium from an early age.
l 51 l
9 to 11
age group
habitat
H
hammer
noun /»hQbItQt/
where an animal or plant lives naturally
Deforestation deprives many plants and animals of
their habitat.
noun /»hQm´[r]/
a tool with a heavy metal head used for driving nails
in or breaking things
Ali used a hammer to drive the nail into the wall.
habitation
handicapped
noun /«hQbI»teISn/
a place to live in
Trees provide habitation for many species of birds.
adjective /»hQndIkQpt/
disabled
There are special parking spaces reserved for cars
driven by handicapped people.
haggard
handkerchief
adjective /»hQg´d/
looking ill or very tired
The haggard mountaineers were happy to reach their
base camp.
noun /»hQNk´tSIf/
a small square of cloth for wiping the nose or face
Sara used a handkerchief to wipe her face.
hairdresser
handlebar
noun /»he´dres´[r]/
a person whose job is to cut and arrange people’s
hair
Sara asked the hairdresser to trim her hair.
noun /»hQndlbA˘[r]/
a bar with handles on each end that steers a bicycle
or motorcycle
Masood sat his little son on the handlebar of his
motorcycle.
halite
haphazard
noun /»hQlaIt/
a soft, colourless or white mineral; rock salt
Halite is an important source of table salt.
adjective /hQp»hQz´d/
aimless, random
The haphazard arrangement of furniture made the
room look untidy.
hallucination
noun /h´«lu˘sI»neISn/
something you think you see or hear that is not really
there
The old man’s hallucination intensifies when he is
hungry.
harbour
noun /»hA˘b´[r]/
a place where ships can shelter or unload
The harbour is packed with cargo ships.
halo
hardware
noun /»heIlÚ/
a hazy ring of colored light in the sky around the Sun,
Moon, or a similar bright object
People think that the halo around the moon forecasts
rain.
noun /»hA˘dwe´[r]/
metal tools, machinery
The shop sold hardware for use in factories.
harmonic
adj /ha˘»mÅnIk/
relating to the way music notes are played or sung
together to make a pleasing sound
The music teacher gave tips on how to play harmonic
notes on the classical guitar.
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age group
harmonious
haunt
adjective /hA˘»mÚnI´s/
friendly and peaceful
We enjoy a harmonious relationship with our
neighbours.
verb /hç˘nt/
(said about a ghost) to appear often in a place
A ghost is said to haunt the old castle.
hazardous
harmony
adjective /»hQz´d´s/
dangerous
The hazardous chemicals were being emptied into
the sea.
noun /»hA˘mńi/
being friendly and in tune with each other
We should live in harmony with our fellow human
beings.
headmistress
harness
noun /«hed»mIstr´s/
a female head teacher
The teacher asked the headmistress to discipline the
unruly students.
noun /»hA˘nIs/
the straps put round a horse’s head and neck for
controlling it
Akbar put a harness on his horse.
health
hassium
noun /helT/
the condition of a person’s body or mind
His health is improving.
noun /»hQsI´m/
a radioactive element
Hassium is produced when atoms collide.
hearten
hatch
verb /»hA˘tń/
to give someone encouragement and hope
The poor child was offered candies which may
hearten him.
verb /hQtS/
to break out of an egg
The chicks are about to hatch out of the eggs.
hatchet
hectic
noun /»hQtSIt/
small axe with short handle
The boys took a hatchet and ropes when they went
camping.
adjective /»hektIk/
busy and confused
Zara was tired at the end of a hectic day.
hedgehog
haughty
noun /»hedZhÅg/
a small animal covered with long prickles
adjective /»hç˘ti/
arrogantly superior
He was too haughty to listen to anyone else.
heighten
verb /»haItn/
to make higher
The carpenter was asked to heighten the table.
haul
verb /»hç˘l/
to pull or drag with great effort
Ali had to haul the luggage down the stairs.
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age group
helicopter
H
hermetically
noun /»helIkÅpt´[r]/
an aircraft with large horizontal propellers or rotor
The helicopter circled over the forest fire.
adverb /hŒ˘»metIk[´]li/
so as to be airtight
The tin is hermetically sealed.
hemisphere
hermit
noun /»hemIsfI´[r]/
half the Earth
Australia is in the Southern hemisphere.
noun /»hŒ˘mIt/
a person who lives alone and keeps away from
people
The hermit lived in a cave.
henceforth
hesitate
adverb /«hens»fç˘T/
from now on
Wearing the school uniform is compulsory,
henceforth.
verb /»hezIteIt/
to be slow or uncertain in speaking, moving
I hesitate to be the bearer of bad news.
heptagon
heterogeneous
noun /»hept´gń/
a figure with 7 sides and 7 angles
The new coin is shaped like a heptagon.
adjective /»het´r´»dZi˘nI´s/
composed of people or things of different kinds
The country has a heterogeneous population.
herald
hibernation
noun /»her´ld/
person or thing viewed as a sign that something is
about to happen
The sun rises to herald in a new day.
noun /«haIb´»neISn/
state of deep sleep in which some animals pass the
winter
Bears go into hibernation in winter.
hereditary
hierarchy
adjective /hI»redIt[´]ri/
passed on from parent to child; inherited
Diabetes can be a hereditary disease.
noun /»haI´rA˘ki/
an organisation that ranks people one above the
other according to the power or authority that they
hold
She is a senior professor in the college hierarchy.
heredity
noun /hI»red´ti/
the process of inheriting physical or mental
characteristics from parents or ancestors
Heredity determines the colour of our eyes.
hieroglyphics
noun /«haI´r´»glIfIks/
pictures or symbols used in ancient Egypt to
represent words
The walls of the tomb were covered in hieroglyphics.
heritage
noun /»herItIdZ/
the things that someone has inherited
The Badshahi Mosque is part of our national heritage.
hijack
verb /»haIdZQk/
to seize control of an aircraft or vehicle during a
journey
The criminals tried to hijack the aeroplane.
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age group
hilarious
hollow
adjective /hI»le´rI´s/
very funny
The comedian’s hilarious jokes had the audience
laughing.
adjective /»hAlÚ/
with an empty space inside; not solid
A drum is a hollow object.
honeysuckle
hillock
noun /»h√nIs√kl/
a climbing plant with fragrant yellow or pink flowers
I could smell the honeysuckle when I went out into
the garden in the evenings.
noun /»hIl´k/
small hill or mound
I climbed a little hillock to view the countryside.
hindquarters
honorary
noun /«haInd»kwç˘t´z/
an animal’s back legs
They held the sheep by its hindquarters.
adjective /»Ån´«r´ri/
title/position conferred as an honour
The President was awarded an honorary title.
hindrance
honourable
noun /»hIndrńs/
something that causes delay
Illiteracy is a hindrance in the progress of the
country.
adjective /»Ån´r´bl/
deserving honour
Teaching is an honourable profession.
hoodwink
hinge
verb /»hUdwINk/
decieve, trick
The magician tried to hoodwink us by his tricks.
noun /hIndZ/
a joining device on which a lid or door turns when it
opens
The door fell off its hinge.
hooligan
noun /»hu˘lIgń/
a rough and violent young person
The hooligan was arrested by the police.
hippopotamus
noun /«hIp´»pÅt´m´s/
a very large African animal that lives near water
hopeful
historical
adjective /»húpfUl/
likely to be good or successful
The result of the election is a hopeful sign that there
will be peace.
adjective /hI»stÅrIkl/
to do with history
Historical novels are very popular.
hitherto
horizontal
adverb /«hID´»tu˘/
until this time
Hitherto, there have been no problems.
adjective /«hÅrI»zÅntl/
parallel to the horizon
He drew horizontal lines on a piece of paper.
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hormone
H
hostage
noun /»hç˘mÚn/
a substance produced by glands in the body
Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the
pancreas.
noun /»hÅstIdZ/
a person who is held prisoner until certain demands
are met
The hostage was released once the ransom was
paid.
hornet
hostile
noun /»hç˘nIt/
a wasp that can inflict a severe sting
adjective /»hÅstaIl/
unfriendly
She gave me a hostile glare.
horoscope
noun /»hAr´skÚp/
an astrologer’s forecast of future events
She enjoys reading her horoscope in the newspaper.
hotchpotch
noun /»hÅtSpÅtS/
confused mixture
The hotchpotch story of the film confused me.
horrible
adjective /»hÅr´bl/
very unpleasant or nasty
Having a tooth removed was a horrible experience.
hotelier
noun /hÚ»telIeI, hÚ»telI´/
person who owns or manages a hotel
The hotelier provided the best service in town.
horrid
adjective /»hÅrId/
very unpleasent or horrible
The burnt cake looked horrid and inedible.
howl
noun /haUl/
a long, loud, sad sound such as that made by a dog
or wolf
I could hear the howl of the wolf.
horrify
verb /»hÅrIfaI/
to make somebody feel very afraid or disgusted
He tried to horrify us with scary stories.
hullabaloo
noun /«h√l´b´»lu˘/
noise, uproar
The absence of the teacher caused a big hullabaloo.
horticulture
noun /hç˘tI»k√ltS´[r]/
the art of cultivating gardens
The gardener was trained in horticulture.
humane
adjective /hju˘»meIn/
kind-hearted and merciful
Animals deserve humane treatment.
hospitality
noun /«hÅspI»tQl´ti/
welcoming guests and giving them food and
entertainment
Thank you for your generous hospitality.
humanitarian
adjective /hju˘«mQnI»te´rIń/
concerned with people’s welfare
Since he is old and sick, doctors say he should be
released from prison on humanitarian grounds.
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9 to 11
age group
humanoid
hurdle
adjective /»hju˘mńçId/
having appearance or resembling human beings
The aliens from space had a humanoid appearance.
noun /»hŒ˘dl/
an obstacle or difficulty
The race called for the children to jump over a hurdle.
humble
hurricane
noun /»h√rIkń, »h√rIkeIn/
a storm with violent winds
The hurricane knocked down many trees.
adjective /»h√mbl/
modest; not proud or showy
Ali is a humble boy.
humiliate
husky
verb /hju˘»mIlieIt/
to make a person feel disgraced or ashamed
It is wrong to humiliate someone.
adjective /»h√ski/
strong, hefty; hoarse voice
My voice became husky when I had a sore throat.
humility
hyena
noun /hju˘»mIlIti/
being humble
The king showed great humility when he addressed
the council.
noun /haI»i˘n´/
a wild animal that looks like a wolf and makes a
shrieking howl
hypermarket
humongous
noun /»haIp´mA˘kIt/
a large shop that is usually situated outside a town
and sells a variety of goods
The location of the new hypermarket is very
convenient.
adjective /hju˘»m√Ng´s/
enormous
The Mall was so humongous that I was unable to
locate the bookshop.
humour
hyphen
noun /»hju˘m´[r]/
the quality of being funny
Shahid has a great sense of humour.
noun /»haIfn/
a short dash used to join words or parts of words
together
A hyphen is sometimes necessary to connect two
words.
humus
noun /»hju˘m´s/
rich earth made by decayed plants
The gardener uses humus to improve the soil.
hypnotise
verb /»hIpn´taIz/
to produce hypnosis in somebody
The hypnotist tried to hypnotise my aunt.
hunchback
noun /»h√ntSbQk/
someone with a hump on their back
The hunchback of Notre Dame was called
Quasimodo.
hypocrite
noun /»hIp´krIt/
a person who pretends to be what he is not
His actions revealed him to be a hypocrite.
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age group
hysteria
noun /hI»stI´rI´/
uncontrollable excitement, panic, or emotion
The fans at the rock concert were in a state of
hysteria.
hysterical
adjective /hI»sterIkl/
uncontrollably emotional
That comedian was good at telling hysterical jokes.
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age group
iceberg
ignorance
noun /»aIsbŒ˘g/
a large mass of ice floating in the sea with most of it
under water
The ship was severely damaged when it hit an
iceberg.
noun /»Ign´rńs/
not knowing about something
In my ignorance, I failed to come downstairs to meet
the guests.
illegal
icicle
adjective /I»li˘gl/
not lawful
The illegal immigrants were caught.
noun /»aIsIkl/
pointed, hanging, pieces of ice, formed when dripping
water freezes
He broke off an icicle from the edge of the roof.
illite
noun /»IlaIt/
group of grey, green, or yellowish-brown clay minerals
Illite does not expand on absorption of water.
identical
adjective /aI»dentIkl/
exactly the same
Mehr and Maha are identical twins.
illiteracy
noun /I»lIt´r´si/
inability to read or write
Illiteracy is Pakistan’s heaviest burden.
identification
noun /aI«dentIfI»keISn/
who or what a person or a thing is
Early identification of a disease can prevent illness.
illumination
noun /I«lju˘mI»neISń/
lighting or light
The illumination by the firework display lit up the sky.
idiom
noun /»IdI´m/
a phrase that means something different from the
meaning of the words in it
‘Let the cat out of the bag’ is an idiom meaning to tell
a secret by mistake.
illustration
noun /«Il´»streISn/
descriptive example, often pictorial
The book had a colourful illustration on its cover.
idle
adjective /»aIdl/
doing no work; lazy
The idle boy wasted his time.
imagination
noun /I«mQdZI»neISn/
the ability to imagine things
Children have a wonderful imagination.
idolise
verb /»aId´laIz/
to admire someone greatly
Children usually idolise their parents.
immaculate
adjective /I»mQkjUl´t/
perfectly clean, neat, or tidy
The sailors wore immaculate white uniforms.
igneous
adjective /»IgnI´s/
(of rock) having solidified from lava or magma
Igneous rocks are formed from molten lava.
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age group
immature
I
immortal
adjective /«Im´»tjU´[r], «Im´»tjç˘[r], Im´»tSU´[r]/
not fully developed
His childish behaviour is immature for his age.
adjective /I»mç˘tl/
living forever
Everything in life would be different if we were
immortal beings.
immeasurable
immovable
adjective /I»meZ´r´bl/
too large or great to be measured
The industrialist had accumulated immeasurable
wealth.
adjective /I»mu˘v´b´l/
not able to be moved
The rock was immovable.
immediately
immunise
adverb /I»mi˘dI´tli/
at once; without delay
His mother asked him to return home immediately
after school.
verb /»ImjUnaIz/
to give a person resistance to a disease, e.g. by
vaccination
It is important to immunise every child against polio.
immense
impassive
adjective /I»mens/
extremely large or great
The forest covered an immense area.
adjective /Im»pQsIv/
not feeling or showing emotion
Her face remained totally impassive during the
interview.
immerse
impatient
verb /I»mŒ˘s/
to dip or submerge in a liquid
The recipe requires us to immerse the vegetables in
boiling water.
noun /Im»peISnt/
not patient; in a hurry
The impatient man was getting annoyed at their lack
of interest.
immigrant
impeccable
noun /»ImIgrńt/
a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign
country
An immigrant faces many difficulties in a new country.
adjective /Im»pek´b´l/
high standards; faultless
Hina’s clothes are always impeccable.
immodest
impede
adjective /I»mÅdIst/
lacking humility or decorousness
I am immodest enough to say that I am very clever.
verb /Im»pi˘d/
delay or prevent (someone or something) by
obstructing them
Shortage of funds impede building of new schools.
immoral
impel
adjective /I»mÅr´l/
morally wrong
Stealing is an immoral act.
verb /Im»pel/
urge; drive forward
There are various reasons that impel me to that
conclusion.
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age group
impenetrable
impertinent
adjective /Im»penItr´bl/
impossible to get through
It was difficult to cross the impenetrable jungle.
adjective /Im»pŒ˘tInńt/
not showing proper respect; rude
Omer was punished for being impertinent to his
teacher.
imperative
implausible
adjective /Im»per´tIv/
essential
It is imperative to continue treatment for two months.
adjective /Im»plç˘zIbl/
not seeming reasonable or likely to be true
It sounded like an implausible excuse.
imperceptible
implicit
adjective /Imp´»septIb´l/
so slight, gradual, or subtle as not to be perceived
His almost imperceptible change of expression was
unnoticed by many.
adjective /Im»plIsIt/
not directly expressed
She had the implicit trust of her staff.
imperfect
impolite
adjective /Im»pŒ˘fIkt/
with mistakes
We live in an imperfect world.
adjective /«Imp´»laIt/
rude
The impolite boy was punished by his father.
imperil
impose
verb /Im»perIl/
put at risk of being harmed, injured, or destroyed
Do not imperil your health by smoking.
verb /Im»pÚz/
exert firm control over
The government will not impose new taxes this year.
impermeable
impostor
adjective /Im»pŒ˘mI´bl/
not allowing fluid to pass through
During the rainy season Hasan placed an
impermeable plastic sheet on the roof.
noun /Im»pÅst´/
a person who pretends to be someone else in order
to deceive others
He stopped the car claiming to be a policeman but
turned out to be an impostor.
impersonal
impoverish
adjective /Im»pE˘sń´l/
not influenced by, showing, or involving personal
feelings
The principal’s voice was cold and impersonal when
she addressed us.
verb /Im»pÅv´rIS/
exhaust the strength or vitality of something/
someone
Harmful farming methods and overuse of fertilizers
will impoverish the soil.
impersonate
impractical
verb /Im»pŒ˘sńeIt/
pretend to be (another person) for entertainment or
fraud
The actor will impersonate Hitler in the film.
adjective /Im»prQktIk´l/
not sensible or realistic
It was impractical to continue work on the project
because the funds had run out.
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age group
impregnable
I
impure
adjective /Im»pregn´b´l/
unable to be defeated or overcome
The thick walls made the fortress impregnable from
enemy attack.
adjective /Im»pjU´[r]/
not pure
Impure water caused an epidemic.
inability
impress
noun /In´»bIlIti/
the state of being unable to do something
My inability to remember names causes problems.
verb /Im»pres/
to make a person admire something
She tried to impress her teacher with her work.
inaccessible
impression
adjective /«InQk»sesIbl/
not able to be reached
Medical camps were set up in inaccessible areas.
noun /Im»preSn/
an effect produced on the mind
I think I made a good impression on my boss.
inaccurate
improbable
adjective /In»Qkj´r´t/
not exact or accurate; with mistakes
She gave me a horribly inaccurate description of the
match between India and Pakistan.
adjective /Im»prÅb´bl/
unlikely
The police detective listened to the suspects
improbable story.
inadvisable
impromptu
adjective /In´d»vaIz´b´l/
unwise
It would be inadvisable for you to go alone at night.
adjective /Im»prÅmptju˘/
done without being planned or rehearsed
The president made an impromptu appearance at the
trade conference
inattentive
adjective /«In´»tentIv/
not giving attention to something
The teacher was unhappy with the inattentive
students.
impropriety
noun /«Impr´»praI´ti/
improper behaviour or character
It is an impropriety to interrupt elders while talking
inaudible
improvise
adjective /In»ç˘dIbl/
not able to be heard
He was murmuring inaudible words.
verb /»Impr´vaIz/
compose or perform something without a rehearsal or
with whatever is available
The actors forgot their lines and had to improvise the
last scene.
incandescent
adjective /«InkQn»desnt/
giving out light when heated
Thomas Edison was the famous scientist who
invented the incandescent light bulb.
impulse
noun /»Imp√ls/
a sudden strong wish to do something
He had a sudden impulse to stand up and sing.
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incapable
include
adjective /In»keIp´b´l/
unable to do or achieve (something)
He seems incapable of learning anything new.
verb /In»klu˘d/
to make or consider something as part of a group of
things
Mehr wanted to include her entire class in her
birthday celebration.
incarcerate
verb /In»kA˘s´reIt/
imprison or confine
Do not incarcerate animals in small cages.
incoherent
adjective /«InkÚ»hI´rńt/
not clearly ordered or linked
His incoherent speech was boring for the listeners.
incautious
adjective /In»kç˘S´s/
(of a person or an action) heedless of potential
problems or risks
Noman’s incautious driving last night resulted in an
accident.
incommunicado
adjective /«Ink´mju˘nI»kA˘dÚ/
not able, wanting, or allowed to communicate with
other people
The famous actor lived incommunicado in his
mansion.
incense
verb /In»sens/
make very angry
The boy’s rudeness caused incense among his
friends.
incomparable
adjective /In»kÅmp´r´b´l/
without an equal in quality or extent; matchless
Murree has incomparable natural beauty.
incentive
incompetent
noun /In»sentIv/
something that encourages a person to do something
or to work harder
The pay raise gave her an incentive to work harder.
adjective /In»kÅmpItńt/
not having or showing the necessary skills to do
something successfully
Kashif proved to be so incompetent that he was fired
from his job.
incident
noun /»InsIdńt/
an event
I will never forget the incident which took place last
summer at the beach.
incomprehensible
adjective /«InkÅmprI»hensIb´l/
not able to be understood; not intelligible
His incomprehensible explanation totally confused
me.
inclination
noun /«InklI»neISn/
a feeling that makes you want to do something
He did not show the slightest inclination to leave.
incompressible
adjective /Ink´m»presIb´l/
not able to be compressed
Fluids are incompressible.
inclined
adjective /In»klaInd/
tending to do something; wanting or likely to do
something
The little children were inclined to trust their teacher.
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age group
incomputable
I
incriminate
adjective /Ink´m»pju˘t´b´l/
unable to be calculated or estimated
The distances between the galaxies are
incomputable.
verb /In»krImIneIt/
make (someone) appear guilty of a crime or
wrongdoing
The police tried to incriminate him under false pretext.
inconsiderate
inculcate
adjective /«Inkń»sId´r´t/
not considerate towards other people
Our previous neighbours were inconsiderate people.
verb /»Ink√lkeIt/
instil (an idea, attitude, or habit) by persistent
instruction
Teachers must inculcate a sense of duty and pride for
Pakistan in their students.
inconsistent
adjective /«Inkń»sIstńt/
not always the same
The coach was disappointed by the inconsistent
performance by his team.
incur
verb /In»kŒ˘[r]/
become subject to (something unwelcome or
unpleasant) as a result of one’s own actions
You will incur the anger of a friend by lying to him.
inconsolable
adjective /Inkń»sÚl´b´l/
(of a person or their grief) not able to be comforted or
alleviated
The death of the great leader plunged the nation into
inconsolable grief.
incurable
adjective /In»kjU´r´b´l/
not able to be cured
Scientists are trying to find the treatment for incurable
diseases.
inconvenience
indebted
noun /Inkń»vi˘nIńs/
the state of being troublesome or difficult with regard
to one’s personal comfort
She apologized for the inconvenience caused by her
late arrival.
adjective /In»detId/
owing money
I am indebted to you for all the support you have
given me.
incorporate
indecisive
verb /In»kç˘p´reIt/
take in or contain (something) as part of a whole;
include
The new school play will now incorporate most of our
suggestions.
adjective /IndI»saIsIv/
not providing a clear and definite result
It was an indecisive battle with much loss of lives and
neither side winning.
indefinable
incredible
adjective /IndI»faIn´b´l/
not able to be defined or described exactly
I have an indefinable sense of national pride.
adjective /In»kredIbl/
unbelievable
Ali dressed with incredible speed.
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age group
indefinite
indigestion
adjective /In»defInIt/
lasting for an unknown or unstated length of time
This road will be closed for an indefinite length of
time.
noun /IndI»dZestSń/
pain or discomfort in the stomach associated with
difficulty in digesting food
She suffers from indigestion after eating fatty food.
indemnify
indignation
verb /In»demnIfaI/
to compensate for loss
The insurance company will indemnify us in case of
theft.
noun /IndIg»neISń/
anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as
unfair treatment
There was indignation among the workers at wage
cuts.
indent
indigo
verb /In»dent/
start (a line of text) or position (a block of text) further
from the margin than the main part of the text
I will indent this paper from the margin.
noun /»IndIgÚ/
a colour between blue and violet in the spectrum
We decided to buy an indigo shirt for Khalid.
independence
indiscreet
noun /«IndI»pendńs/
the state of being free and not controlled by another
person or country
August 14 is the anniversary of Pakistan’s
independence.
adjective /«IndI»skri˘t/
not careful about what you say or do, especially when
this embarrasses or offends someone
He is an indiscreet person and cannot be trusted.
indiscriminate
indicator
adjective /«IndI»skrImIn´t/
done at random or without careful judgement
Indiscriminate attacks on civilians are still occuring.
noun /»IndIkeIt´[r]/
a flashing signal that a motor vehicle is turning
The traffic sergeant fined him for having a broken
indicator.
indispensable
adjective /«IndI»spens´bl/
essential
A dictionary is an indispensable possession for any
English teacher.
indifference
noun /In»dIfrńs/
lack of interest
He has always shown indifference to the needs of
others.
indisposed
adjective /IndI»spÚzd/
slightly unwell
I was indisposed with fever and sore throat.
indigestible
adjective /IndI»dZestIb´l/
difficult or impossible to digest
The food was quite indigestible as it had not been
cooked properly.
indissoluble
adjective /«IndI»sÅljUb´l/
unable to be destroyed; lasting
Ali and Ahmed have an indissoluble friendship bond.
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indistinct
I
industrious
adjective /«IndI»stINkt/
not clear
His indistinct speech made it difficult for them to
understand him.
adjective /In»d√strI´s/
hard working
The industrious weavers worked hard.
inedible
indium
adjective /In»edIbl/
unfit to eat
The inedible cake was thrown away.
noun /»IndI´m/
a very soft, silvery-white, chemical element
Indium is used to coat the bearings of high speed
motors.
ineffective
adjective /InI»fektIv/
not producing any significant or desired effect
With ineffective and out dated methods work cannot
be done on time.
indole
noun /»IndÚl/
white crystalline compound obtained from coal tar or
various plants
Indole is used in perfumery.
inefficient
adjective /InI»fISńt/
not achieving maximum productivity
Old and inefficient machinery caused a major
breakdown.
inducement
noun /In»dju˘smńt/
a thing that persuades or leads someone to do
something
Free books were given to students as an inducement
to promote reading.
inelegant
adjective /In»elIgńt/
having or showing a lack of physical grace, elegance,
or refinement
Maha appeared rather inelegant in the unstylish outfit
she was wearing.
induct
verb /In»d√kt/
admit (someone) formally to a post or organization
The government has decided to induct trained
teachers in all the schools.
inequality
noun /InI»kwÅlIti/
difference in size, degree, circumstances, etc.; lack of
equality
There is bound to be inequality in the wages of a
supervisor and a technician.
indulgent
adjective /In»d√ldZńt/
having or indicating a readiness or over-readiness to
be generous to or lenient with someone
My indulgent grandmother gave me gifts and money
when I passed the test.
inertia
noun /I»nŒ˘S´/
a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged
Inertia is the tendency of matter to remain at rest
unless moved.
industrialise
verb /In»d√strI´laIz/
to develop industries in a country
The government plans to industrialise Gwadar Port
over the next few years.
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inescapable
inflate
adjective /InI»skeIp´b´l/
unable to be avoided or denied
The inescapable fact is that sweets cause teeth
decay and must be avoided.
verb /In»fleIt/
to fill something with air or gas to make it bigger
We had to inflate the balloons for the party.
inflict
inexcusable
verb /In»flIkt/
cause (something unpleasant or painful) to be
suffered by someone or something
Was it necessary to inflict such a punishment on him?
adjective /InIk»skju˘z´b´l, Inek»skju˘z´b´l/
too bad to be justified or tolerated
Rudeness is inexcusable and must never be
tolerated.
influence
inexhaustible
noun /»InflUńs/
the power to change what somebody believes or does
A teacher has a strong influence over her students.
adjective /InIg»zç˘stIb´l/
unable to be used up
His energy seems to be inexhaustible when he is on
the playing field.
influential
adjective /«InflU»enSl/
having a lot of influence
She is a very influential politician.
inexperience
noun /InIk»spI´rIńs/
lack of experience
He did not get the job because of his inexperience.
influx
noun /»Infl√ks/
an arrival or entry of large numbers of people or
things
This summer there will be a greater tourist influx in
the country.
infant
noun /»Infńt/
a baby or young child
The infant was asleep in the cot.
infiltrate
informal
verb /»InfIltreIt/
enter or gain access to (an organization, place, etc.)
The soldiers were able to infiltrate enemy territory.
adjective /In»fç˘m´l/
having a relaxed, friendly, or unofficial style, manner,
or nature
it was an informal gathering of friends and family.
infinite
information
adjective /»InfInIt/
endless or without limit
We do not have an infinite amount of time.
noun /«Inf´»meISn/
facts
A library is a good place to look for information.
inflammable
infraction
adjective /In»flQm´bl/
able to be set on fire
It is advised not to smoke near inflammable objects.
noun /In»frQkSń/
a violation or infringement of a law or agreement
The infraction of this law will be dealt with severely.
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infrequent
I
injection
adjective /In»fri˘kwńt/
rarely happening
A solar eclipse is an infrequent occurrence.
noun /In»dZekSń/
an instance of injecting or being injected
I was given an injection of antibiotics in the arm to
control the fever.
infuriate
injurious
verb /In»fjU´rIeIt/
to make a person very angry
Little Johnny always manages to infuriate his father
with his naughtiness.
adjective /In»dZU´rI´s/
causing or likely to cause damage or harm
Smoking is injurious to your health.
infuse
innovate
verb /In»fju˘z/
fill; pervade
The coach tried to infuse some enthusiasm into the
team.
verb /»In´veIt/
make changes in something established, especially
by introducing new methods, ideas,or products
Ms Kamal tried to innovate new ideas and methods
into the outdated curriculum.
ingrain
inoculate
verb /In»greIn/
firmly fix or establish (a habit, belief, or attitude) in a
person
Parents must ingrain good manners in their children
from an early age.
verb /I»nÅkjUleIt/
to inject or treat someone with a vaccine or serum as
a protection against a disease
The doctor wanted to inoculate the child against
typhoid.
inhabitant
insensitive
noun /In»hQbItńt/
a person who lives in a particular place
The oldest inhabitant of the village has survived a
series of droughts and floods.
adjective /In»sens´tIv/
not thinking about other people’s feelings
His insensitive remarks made her cry.
inhale
inseparable
verb /In»heIl/
to breathe in
Your lungs expand when you inhale.
adjective /In»sepr´bl/
not able to be separated
Mehr and Yasha were inseparable friends.
inherent
insistent
adjective /In»hI´rńt/
existing in something as a permanent, essential,or
characteristic attribute
The desire to succeed is inherent in all of us.
adjective /In»sIstńt/
very firm in asking for something
The management adhered to the insistent demands
of the workers.
inheritance
noun /In»herItńs/
a thing that is inherited
Her inheritance was of the family jewels and the
grand mansion.
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installation
intellect
noun /Inst´»leISń/
the action of installing someone or something, or the
state of being installed
This electronic installation needs to be fixed properly.
noun /»Int´lekt/
reasoning and understanding objectively, especially
with regard to abstract matters
She had great intellect and wrote many books.
instant
intelligence
adjective /»Instńt/
happening immediately
She took an instant dislike to me.
noun /In»telIdZńs/
the ability to learn, understand and think in a logical
way about things
He didn’t even have the intelligence to call for an
ambulance.
instinct
noun /»InstINkt/
an innate, typically fixed pattern of behaviour in
animals in response to certain stimuli
Some birds like the houbarra bustard have a natural
instinct to migrate in winter.
intense
adjective /In»tens/
very strong
The intense pain was unbearable for the patient.
instruct
intensify
verb /In»str√kt/
to teach a person a subject or skill
Sara asked her teacher to instruct her in
mathematics.
verb /In»tensIfaI/
to make more strong
The heat will intensify in the future due to global
warming.
instrument
intensive
noun /»InstrUmńt/
a tool or device used for a particular task
The piano is a musical instrument.
adjective /In»tensIv/
concentrated on a single subject or into a short time;
very thorough or vigorous
I cleared the entry test after intensive preparation.
insurance
intention
noun /In»SU´rńs/
an agreement to compensate someone for a loss,
damage or injury in return for a payment made in
advance
He decided to take out insurance against fire and
theft.
noun /In»tenSń/
a thing intended; an aim or plan
He has no intention of leaving the school.
intercede
verb /«Int´»si˘d/
intervene on behalf of another
We tried to intercede with the principal on his behalf.
insurrection
noun /«Ins´»rekSń/
a violent uprising against an authority or government
The heavily taxed people rose in insurrection.
intercept
verb /«Int´»sept/
to stop or catch a person or thing that is going from
one place to another
Reporters tried to intercept him as he was leaving the
hotel.
integrate
verb /»IntIgreIt/
combine (one thing) with another to form a whole
The immigrant tried to integrate into the life of the city.
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intercontinental
I
international
adjective /«Int´kÅntI»nent´l/
relating to or travelling between continents
The air flight from Karachi to London is
intercontinental.
adjective /«Int´»nQS[´]n´l/
belonging to more than one country
English is an international language.
internment
interfere
noun /»IntŒ˘nmńt/
the state of being interned; confinement
They were kept in internment camps during the war.
verb /«Int´»fI´[r]/
to get in the way; obstruct
Please do not interfere in my business.
interrupt
interim
verb /«Int´»r√pt/
to prevent something from continuing by breaking in
on it
Please do not interrupt me when I am talking.
noun /»Int´rIm/
the intervening time
Before the elections an interim president took office.
interject
intersect
verb /«Int´»dZekt/
say (something) abruptly, especially as an aside or
interruption
Please interject a note of caution to your facebook
friends.
verb /Int´»sekt/
divide (something) by passing or lying across it
Where do the two roads intersect?
intervene
verb /Int´»vi˘n/
take part in something so as to prevent or alter a
result or course of events
He tried to intervene in the dispute.
interlude
noun /»Int´lju˘d/
an intervening period of time ; an interval
There was a brief interlude between the acts of the
play.
intimidation
noun /In«tImI»deISn/
feeling of fear or threat
Female workers have been complaining of
intimidation.
intermingle
verb /Int´»mINg´l/
mix or mingle together
We were told not to intermingle with the juniors.
intrigue
intermission
verb /In»tri˘g/
to interest very much
The aim of the lecture was to intrigue the audience.
noun /Int´»mISń/
a pause or break
Kamil went to buy snacks during the intermission.
introduction
intermittent
noun /«Intr´»d√kSn/
introducing somebody or something
I wrote a two-paragraph introduction on the Asian
elephant in my English essay.
adjective /Int´»mItńt/
occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or
steady
There was intermittent rain throughout the day.
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introspection
invention
noun /IntrÚ»spekSń/
the examination or observation of one’s own mental
and emotional processes
I did some introspection and found myself at fault.
noun /In»venSn/
something made by a person that has not been made
before
Fax machines were a wonderful invention at the time.
introvert
investigation
noun /»Intr´vE˘t/
a shy, reticent person
As an introvert, she hates going to parties.
noun /In«vestI»geISn/
a systematic inquiry
The police carried out an investigation into the crime.
intuition
investment
noun /IntjU»ISń/
the ability to understand something instinctively,
without the need for conscious reasoning
Farah knew by intuition that he was telling the truth.
noun /In»vestmńt/
[mass noun] the action or process of investing money
for profit
His investment in the shop was profitable.
inundate
invigilate
verb /»In√ndeIt/
overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be
dealt with
If the river bursts its banks it will inundate the fields.
verb /In»vIdZIleIt/
to supervise students at an examination
I was asked to invigilate the mathematics
examination.
invade
invigorate
verb /In»veId/
to attack and enter a country etc.
Enemy soldiers tried to invade the country.
verb /In»vIg´reIt/
give strength or energy to
Invigorate yourself by going for a walk in the park.
invaluable
invisible
adjective /In»vQljU´b´l/
extremely useful; indispensable
Thank you for your invaluable help and support.
adjective /In»vIz´bl/
not able to be seen
We watched a film about an invisible man.
invariable
irrefutable
adjective /I»refjUt´b´l, IrI»fju˘t´b´l/
impossible to deny or disprove
I have irrefutable proof that he has taken my book.
adjective /In»ve´r´bl/
never changing
My reading in bed is an invariable habit.
invasion
irregular
noun /In»veIZn/
the act of entering another territory by force to take
control of it
Soldiers managed to stop the enemy invasion.
adjective /I»regj´l´[r]/
not regular
Mrs. Ali was informed of her daughter’s irregular
attendance at school.
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irrelevant
adjective /I»relIvńt/
not connected with or relevant to something
Your argument is irrelevant to the subject matter.
irrigation
noun /«IrI»geISn/
supplying land with water to grow crops
Irrigation has greatly increased the area of cultivated
land.
irritate
verb /»IrIteIt/
to annoy
His childish behaviour began to irritate me.
isle
noun /aIl/
a small island
The Isle of Wight is one of several British Isles.
isometric
adjective /aIsÚ»metrIk/
of or having equal dimensions
An isometric graph shows the relation between three
variables
itch
verb /ItS/
to feel a tickling sensation on the skin that makes you
want to scratch it.
My sweater makes me itch.
itinerary
noun /aI»tIn´r´ri, I»tIn´r´ri/
a plan of a journey
The next place on our itinerary was Lahore.
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age group
jade
jojoba
noun /h´»hÚb´, hÚ»hÚb´/
oil from the seeds of an American plant
Jojoba is often used in cosmetics and shampoos.
noun /dZeId/
a hard green gemstone
Jade is used in jewellery and decorative items.
jaguar
jolt
noun /»dZQgjU´/
a large cat found mainly in the dense forests of
Central and South America
A jaguar is similar to a leopard in appearance.
noun /dZÚlt/
a sudden, rough movement
The door closed with a jolt.
joule
jaundice
noun /dZu˘l/
a unit of energy
The joule is a unit of energy named after James
Joule.
noun /»dZç˘ndIs/
a medical condition with yellowing of the skin or
whites of the eyes
Jaundice is a disease in which the eyes become
yellow.
journalism
noun /»dZŒ˘n´lIz´m/
the profession of writing for newspapers or
magazines
Ahmed is interested in studying journalism.
jealous
adjective /»dZel´s/
unhappy because you feel that someone is luckier
than you
The jealous girl made sure that if she could not have
a new dress, no-one could.
journalist
noun /»dZŒ˘n´lIst/
a person who writes for a newspaper or magazine
The journalist is interested in current events.
jewellery
noun /»dZu˘´lri/
objects such as rings and necklaces that people wear
as decoration
Somebody stole her favourite jewellery.
journey
noun /»dZŒ˘ni/
going from one place to another
My father went on a journey by train.
jinxed
adjective /dZINkst/
causing bad luck or misfortune
The whole family seemed to be jinxed.
jubilation
noun /«dZu˘bI»leISn/
a feeling of great joy and celebration
There was jubilation amongst the students when a
holiday was announced.
jitter
noun /»dZIt´/
feelings of extreme nervousness
She is feeling jittery about the exam tomorrow.
jubilee
noun /»dZu˘bIli˘/
a special anniversary of an event, especially one
celebrating 25 or 50 years of a reign or activity
A golden jubilee is the 50th anniversary of an event.
jockey
noun /»dZÅki/
struggle by every available means to gain or achieve
something
The jockey riding the winning horse was praised.
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Judaism
justify
proper noun /»dZu˘deIIz´m/
the religion of the Jews
Judaism is one of the oldest religions of the world.
verb /»dZ√stIfaI/
to show that something is reasonable
He could not justify his rude behaviour.
judgement
juvenile
noun /»dZ√dZmńt/
the decision made by a law court
The court’s judgement was fair and just.
noun /»dZu˘vńaIl/
for or relating to young people
She is still a juvenile so she will be pardoned.
juggernaut
noun /»dZ√gńç˘t/
a huge cart or lorry
The juggernaut was used to transport cars.
juggle
verb /»dZ√gl/
to toss and catch a number of objects skilfully for
entertainment, keeping one or more in the air at any
time
The young circus boy had to learn to juggle.
jugular
adjective /»dZ√gjUl´[r]/
of the neck or throat
The jugular vein is found in the neck.
jumble
noun /»dZ√mbl/
a muddle
The clothes lay in a jumble on the floor.
junction
noun /»dZ√NkSn/
a place where roads or railway lines meet
He told me to come off the motorway at junction 6.
justification
noun /»dZ√stIfI»keISn/
a good reason for something
There is no justification for his rude behaviour.
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9 to 11
age group
kale
kindergarten
noun /keIl/
dark green vegetable like a cabbage
Kale is an excellent source of Vitamin A & C.
noun /»kInd´gA˘tn/
a school or class for very young children
Ali will join kindergarten in September.
kame
kindling
noun /keIm/
a short ridge or mound of sand and gravel deposited
during the melting of glacial ice
It is quite common to see a kame in the glaciated
valleys of the Scottish Lowlands.
noun /»kIndlIN/
small sticks or twigs used for lighting fires
The kindling we were using for the fire was wet and
would not burn.
kiosk
kangaroo
noun /»ki˘Åsk/
a small hut or stall where things are sold
He bought a drink from the kiosk on the beach.
noun /«kQNg´»ru˘/
an Australian animal that moves by jumping on its
strong hind legs
kleptomania
karate
noun /«klept´[U]»meInI´/
a strong impulse to steal
The poor woman suffers from kleptomania.
noun /k´»rA˘ti/
a Japanese method of self-defence in which the
hands and feet are used as weapons
Every year the school hosted a competition of karate.
knack
noun /nQk/
a special skill
He has a knack for solving puzzles.
kennel
noun /»kenl/
a shelter for a dog
I had a new kennel built for my puppy.
knapsack
noun /»nQpsQk/
a bag carried on the back by soldiers, hikers
He filled his knapsack with water and food for his
camping trip.
ketone
noun /»ki˘tÚn/
any of a class of organic compounds
Simple ketone is generally not highly toxic.
knead
kettle
verb /ni˘d/
to press and stretch something soft (especially
dough) with your hands
Before baking bread you must knead the dough.
noun /»ketl/
a container for boiling water in
Sara used the kettle to boil water for tea.
kilowatt
kneel
noun /»kIl´wÅt/
a unit of electrical power
In class we learnt that 1,000 watts is equal to 1
kilowatt.
noun /ni˘l/
be in a position in which the body is supported by a
knee or the knees, as when showing submission
The boy had to kneel down to fasten his shoelace.
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knit
verb /nIt/
to make something by looping together wool or other
yarn, using long needles or a machine
My grandmother will knit me a pink sweater to wear
this winter.
knob
noun /nÅb/
the round handle of a door
She twisted the knob to open the door.
knockout
noun /»nÅkaUt/
a contest in which the loser has to drop out
The result will be decided by a knockout.
knowledgeable
adjective /»nÅlIdZ´bl/
well informed
The knowledgeable professor gave an interesting
lecture on history.
knuckle
noun /»n√kl/
any of the joints in the fingers, especially those
connecting the fingers to the rest of the hand
He bruised his knuckle when he punched the wall.
krill
noun /krIl/
very small shellfish eaten by whales
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age group
laboratory
lair
noun /l´»bÅr´tri/
a room or building equipped for scientific
experiments
There was a small explosion in our school laboratory
yesterday.
noun /le´[r]/
a place where a wild animal lives
The bear had his lair in the cave.
lambaste
verb /lQm»beIst/
criticize (someone or something) harshly
They will lambaste us for coming home late.
laborious
adjective /l´»bç˘rI´s/
needing or using a lot of hard work and effort
I am not getting paid enough for such laborious work.
lamentable
adjective /»lQmńt´bl/
regrettable
She shows a lamentable lack of understanding.
labour
noun /»leIb´[r]/
physical work
The workers voted to withdraw their labour.
lampoon
verb /lQm»pu˘n/
publicly criticize
He used the newspaper to lampoon his opponent.
labyrinth
noun /»lQb´rInT/
a complicated arrangement of passages or paths
The boy was lost for hours inside the labyrinth.
lance
noun /lA˘ns/
a long spear
He threw the lance at the target with all his might.
laconic
adjective /l´»kÅnIk/
(of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very
few words
His laconic speech was over in two minutes.
languish
verb /»laNgwIS/
lose or lack vitality
The lion will languish away in the cage.
lacquer
noun /»lQk´/
the sap of the lacquer tree used as a varnish
He painted the table with black lacquer.
lanolin
noun /»lQn´lIn/
a wax obtained from sheep’s wool
Lanolin is used in soaps, creams, ointments and
cosmetics.
ladle
noun /»leIdl/
a large, deep spoon with a long handle
She used a ladle to serve him soup.
lapse
noun /lQps/
a period of time between two things that happen
After a lapse of six months we met up again.
lagoon
noun /l´»gu˘n/
a stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a
low sandbank or coral reef
It is safer to swim in the lagoon rather than the open
sea.
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lather
L
lease
noun /»lA˘D´[r]/
a frothy white mass of bubbles produced by soap,
washing powder, etc. when mixed with water
This soap gives plenty of lather.
noun /li˘s/
an agreement to allow someone to use a building or
land for a fixed period in return for payment
The lease on this house will expire next month and
we must look for a new place to live.
latitude
lecture
noun /»lQtItju˘d/
the distance of a place from the Equator measured in
degrees
In geography class today, we looked at the map to
find out the latitude of London.
noun /»lektS´[r]/
an educational talk to an audience, especially one of
students in a university
The history lecture was interesting because of the
colour slides.
laudable
ledge
adjective /»lç˘d´b´l/
(of an action, idea, or aim) deserving praise and
commendation
Her stage performance was laudable.
noun /ledZ/
a narrow shelf
I placed a bowl of water on the window ledge for the
birds.
laughable
leech
adjective /»lA˘f´bl/
deserving to be laughed at
His laughable attempt at bowling was an
embarrassment to the team.
noun /li˘tS/
a small, blood-sucking worm that lives in water
legendary
laundry
adjective /»ledZńdri/
very well known; famous and inspiring admiration
Oscar Wilde is a legendary aesthete.
noun /»lç˘ndri/
a place where clothes are washed and ironed
She will take her dirty clothes to the laundry after
work.
legislate
verb /»ledZIsleIt/
to make laws
The government promises to legislate in order to put
an end to child labour.
lavatory
noun /»lQv´tri/
a toilet; a room containing a toilet
The nearest public lavatory is at the station.
leisure
lavender
noun /»leZ´[r]/
time that is free from work, when you can do what
you like
Meet me during the lunch break so we can talk at
leisure.
noun /»lQvńd´[r]/
a shrub with sweet-smelling purple flowers
Lavender is used in the perfume industry.
lawnmower
lemonade
noun /»lç˘nmÚ´[r]/
a machine for cutting grass
Put the lawnmower in the garden shed after you have
finished cutting the grass.
noun /«lem´»neId/
a sweet lemon-flavoured drink
It is refreshing to drink cool lemonade on a hot
summer day.
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9 to 11
age group
lengthening
lilac
verb /»leNTńIN/
making or becoming longer
Grandma sat by the window lengthening my old skirt,
for I had grown too tall to wear it as it was.
noun /»laIl´k/
pale purple colour
All shades of lilac and purple are fashionable.
limpet
lenient
noun /»lImpIt/
a small shellfish that attaches itself firmly to rocks
adjective /»li˘nIńt/
more merciful or tolerant than expected
You are much too lenient with those naughty kids.
linger
verb /»lINg´[r]/
to be slow to leave
It is strange how childhood memories linger with time.
leopard
noun /»lep´d/
a wild animal like a big cat with yellow fur and dark
spots
lingual
adjective /»lINgw´l/
relating to speech or language
She has good lingual skills and speaks exceptionally
well.
lethargy
noun /»leT´dZi/
extreme lack of energy
A jog in the park will help take away your lethargy.
linguistics
lettuce
noun /lIN»gwIstIks/
the study of languages
He is studying linguistics at the university.
noun /»letIs/
a garden plant with broad, crisp leaves used in salads
Lettuce is good for your health.
liquid
liberal
noun /»lIkwId/
a substance like water or oil that flows freely but
(unlike a gas) has a constant volume
A liquid will take the shape of its container.
adjective /»lIb´r´l/
respecting others’ opinions
She has a very liberal attitude towards her children.
liberation
listen
noun /«lIb´»reISn/
freedom
The liberation of Algeria was a historic event.
verb /»lIsn/
to pay attention in order to hear something
I told her three times, but she did not listen.
licence
literacy
noun /»laIsns/
an official permit to do, use or own something
I got my driving licence yesterday.
noun /»lIt´r´si/
the ability to read and write
The literacy rate is not high in our country.
lieutenant
literature
noun /lef»tenńt/
an officer in the army or navy
The lieutenant performed his duties with great
responsibility.
noun /»lItr´tS´[r]/
books and other writings
William Shakespeare is famous for his great works of
literature.
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age group
litter
L
lopsided
verb /»lIt´[r]/
to make a place untidy with rubbish left lying about
Use the dustbin and do not litter the park.
adjective /»lÅpsaIdId/
having one side lower or smaller than the other
The lopsided tent collapsed when the wind blew.
livestock
loquacious
noun /»laIvstÅk/
farm animals
The livestock was well taken care of by the farmer.
adjective /l´»kweIS´s/
talkative
He is a very loquacious and amusing companion.
llama
lottery
noun /»lA˘m´/
a South American animal with woolly fur
noun /»lÅt´ri/
a way of raising money by selling numbered
tickets and giving prizes to people who hold winning
numbers
Amna was thrilled when she won the lottery last
week.
locomotive
noun /«lÚk´»mÚtIv/
a railway engine
The locomotive took six days to cross the desert.
lounge
noun /laUndZ/
a waiting area in an airport or hotel
My friends and I waited in the departure lounge.
locust
noun /»lÚk´st/
a kind of grasshopper that travels in large swarms
which eats all the plants in an area
lousy
adjective /»lauzi/
very bad or unpleasant
All she bought me was this lousy T-shirt.
lodging
noun /»lÅdZIN/
temporary accommodation
Boarding and lodging is free in this camp.
lubricate
verb /»lu˘brIkeIt/
to oil or grease something so that it moves smoothly
The mechanic will lubricate the engine of the car.
logically
adverb /»lÅdZIkli/
reasonably or sensibly
He answered the questions logically, using common
sense and reason.
luggage
noun /»l√gIdZ/
suitcases and bags
She had to carry her own luggage from the airport to
the car.
loiter
verb /»lçIt´[r]/
to linger or stand about idly
The high school students like to loiter in the market.
lullaby
noun /»l√l´baI/
a song that is sung to send a baby to sleep
The mother sang a lullaby to her baby son.
lollipop
noun /»lÅlIpÅp/
a large, round sweet on a stick
I am going to buy a lollipop from the canteen.
l 80 l
L
9 to 11
age group
luminary
noun /»lu˘mIn´ri/
a person who inspires or influences others ,
especially one prominent in a particular sphere
The legal luminary knows that the law will take its
own course.
luminous
adjective /»lu˘mIn´s/
glowing in the dark
I dared her to wear a luminous yellow hat.
luscious
adjective /»l√S´s/
richly sweet in taste or smell; delicious
We ate some luscious mangoes straight from the
tree.
l 81 l
9 to 11
age group
macaroon
M
magneto
noun /«mQk´»ru˘n/
a small sweet cake or biscuit made with ground
almonds
The coconut macaroon was stale.
noun /mQg»ni˘tÚ/
a small electric generator that has a permanent
magnet
Magneto is used in the iginition system of engines
such as of aircrafts, tractors & motorcycles.
machinery
magnificent
noun /m´»Si˘n´ri/
machines as a group, especially large ones
The farmer was in need of agricultural machinery.
adjective /mQg»nIfIsnt/
impressive
You have all done a magnificent job.
magenta
magnify
noun /m´»dZent´/
a colour between bright red and purple
The wall was painted magenta.
verb /»mQgnIfaI/
to make something look bigger than it really is
A microscope can magnify small objects so we can
see them better.
maggot
noun /»mQg´t/
the larva of a kind of fly
mahogany
noun /m´»hÅgńi/
a hard brown wood
The carpenter used mahogany to make the table.
magician
noun /m´»dZISn/
a person who does magic tricks
A magician performed tricks at Zara’s birthday party.
mainstream
noun /»meInstri˘m/
the most widely accepted ideas or opinions about
something
His radical views place him outside the mainstream of
politics.
magistrate
noun /»mQdZIstreIt/
an official who judges cases in a local court
The magistrate decided to fine the accused.
maintenance
magma
noun /»meIntńńs/
keeping something in good or workable condition
The engineer in charge of maintenance is on holiday.
noun /»mQgm´/
very hot liquid rock found below the earth’s surface
Magma becomes lava once it escapes from the
surface of a volcano.
maize
noun /meIz/
a kind of corn with large seeds on cobs
Maize is a popular fodder for livestock.
magnet
noun /»mQgnIt/
a piece of iron or steel that can attract iron and that
points North and South when it is hung up
A magnet is used to make a compass.
majestic
adjective /m´»dZestIk/
impressive because of size or beauty
Fujiyama is a majestic mountain.
l 82 l
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9 to 11
age group
majesty
malnutrition
noun /»mQdZ´sti/
impressiveness in scale or proportion
I was awe struck by the majesty of the great
mountains.
noun /mQlnjU»trISń/
lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough
to eat
Children in poor countries suffer from malnutrition.
majority
malpractice
noun /m´»dZÅr´ti/
the greatest part of a group of people or things
The majority of the class passed their exams.
noun /mQl»prQktIs/
improper, illegal, or negligent professional behaviour
He was sued for malpractice of funds.
malaria
maltreat
noun /m´»le´rI´/
a disease spread by mosquitoes that causes fever
Steps have been taken to control the spread of
malaria.
verb /mQl»tri˘t/
treat (a person or animal) cruelly or with violence
Do not maltreat any beings be they human or animal.
mammoth
malevolent
noun /»mQm´T/
an extinct elephant with hairy skin and curved tusks
adjective /m´»lev´lńt/
harmful; wishing to harm people
The man with the malevolent attitude was refused
admission at the club.
manacle
noun /»mQn´k´l/
a handcuff
His hands were tied with a manacle.
malfunction
noun /«mQl»f√NkSn/
faulty functioning
A malfunction in the car’s engine caused it to stall.
manageable
adjective /»mQnIdZ´bl/
able to be coped with
The situation after the earthquake was far from
manageable.
malign
adjective /m´»laIn/
evil in nature or effect
He intended to malign his rival in the talkshow.
manager
noun /»mQnIdZ´[r]/
a person who controls something
The manager of the cricket team arranged their
matches.
malignant
adjective /m´»lIgnńt/
harmful or cruel
Doctors had diagnosed malignant cancer in his liver.
mandarin
malleable
noun /»mQnd´rIn/
a kind of small orange
Mandarin is a citrus fruit.
adjective /»mQlI´b´l/
able to be hammered or pressed into shape without
breaking or cracking
Gold is the most malleable metal.
l 83 l
9 to 11
age group
manicure
M
manuscript
noun /»mQnIkjU´[r]/
care and treatment of hands and nails
She has a manicure every Thursday.
noun /»mQnjUskrIpt/
something written or typed but not printed
He submitted the manuscript to his publisher a few
days ago.
manifest
marathon
noun /»mQnIfest/
clear or obvious to the eye or mind
Her manifest charm and proven ability made her
popular with her colleagues.
noun /»mQr´Tń/
a long distance race
I am training to run the marathon.
manipulate
margarine
noun /«mA˘dZ´»ri˘n, »mA˘g´ri˘n/
a substance used like butter, made from animal or
vegetable fat
I like to eat my toast with margarine.
verb /m´»nIpjUleIt/
to handle or arrange something skilfully
The worker learnt to manipulate the levers of the
machine.
mannerism
marigold
noun /»mQn´rIz´m/
a habitual gesture or way of speaking or behaving
She has a peculiar mannerism of walking.
noun /»mQrIgÚld/
a plant of the daisy family with yellow, orange, or
copper-brown flowers, cultivated as an ornament
Marigold plants are cultivated for their showy yellow
flowers.
manoeuvre
noun /m´»nu˘v´[r]/
a difficult or skilful action
Parking in a small space is a difficult manoeuvre.
marionette
noun /«mQrI´»net/
a puppet worked by strings or wires
She likes playing with a marionette.
mansion
noun /»mQnSn/
a large, stately house
The rich man lived in a mansion.
marketable
adjective /»mA˘kIt´bl/
suitable for sale
Mobile phones are a very marketable item.
mantelpiece
noun /»mQntlpi˘s/
a shelf above a fireplace
We keep old pictures on the mantelpiece.
marriage
noun /»mQrIdZ/
the state of being married; a wedding
Their marriage took place in a local hotel.
manufacture
verb /«mQnjU»fQktS´[r]/
to make
He set up a factory to manufacture cloth.
marshmallow
noun /ma˘S»mQlÚ/
a soft item of confectionery made from a mixture of
sugar, albumen, and gelatin
He roasted the marshmallow.
l 84 l
M
9 to 11
age group
marsupial
materialise
noun /mA˘»su˘pI´l/
any animal having a pouch on the front of its body in
which its babies are carried e.g. a kangaroo
`Mary is from the land of the kangaroo,’ he said,
pointing to a picture of the marsupial on the wall.
verb /m´»tI´rI´laIz/
to take place or start to exist as expected or planned
His promotion failed to materialise.
matinee
noun /»mQtIneI/
an afternoon performance in a theatre or cinema
We bought tickets for the matinee show of the film.
martyr
noun /»mA˘t´/
a person who is killed because of their religious or
other beliefs
He is a martyr for he choose to die rather than betray
his companions.
matrimony
noun /»mQtrImńi/
the state of being married; marriage
Matrimony is the state of being husband and wife.
marvellous
adjective /»mA˘v´l´s/
wonderful
The boss told Rabia that she had done a marvellous
job.
mature
adjective /m´»tSU´[r]/
fully grown or developed
He must start acting like a mature adult.
marzipan
mauve
noun /»mA˘zIpQn/
a soft sugary food made of ground almonds, eggs,
and sugar
The cake was iced with marzipan.
noun /mÚv/
a pale purple colour
She wore a pretty mauve dress with black
embroidery.
masculine
maximum
adjective /»mQskjUlIn/
relating to men
Sumo wrestling is a largely masculine sport.
noun /»mQksIm´m/
the greatest possible number or amount
He could accommodate a maximum of five people in
his car.
masquerade
noun /mQsk´»reId, «mA˘sk´»reId/
a pretence
The whole thing turned out to be a masquerade.
mayonnaise
noun /«meI´»neIz/
a creamy sauce made from eggs, oil, vinegar
Make the tuna sandwich with plenty of mayonnaise.
massage
verb /»mQsA˘Z, »m´sA˘dZ/
to rub and press the body to make it less stiff or less
painful
Ali will massage your shoulders to help ease the pain.
meadow
noun /»medÚ/
a field of grass
The cows grazed in the meadow.
masterpiece
meagre
noun /»mA˘st´pi˘s/
a very good book, painting or film
The painting of Mona Lisa is truly a masterpiece.
adjective /»mi˘g´[r]/
barely enough
He was very thin due to his meagre diet.
l 85 l
9 to 11
age group
measles
M
meditation
noun /»mi˘zlz/
an infectious disease that causes small red spots on
the skin
The government is working out plans to control the
spread of measles in the area.
noun /«medI»teISn/
quiet thinking
Meditation makes you calm.
Mediterranean
adjective /«medIt´»reInIń/
to do with the Mediterranean Sea or the countries
round it
She loves Mediterranean food.
measurement
noun /»meZ´mńt/
the action of measuring something
I took the measurement of the carpet with a
measuring tape.
medium
adjective /»mi˘dI´m/
neither large nor small
I bought a medium sized T-shirt.
mechanic
noun /mI»kQnIk/
a person who maintains or repairs machinery
The mechanic repaired the car engine.
melancholy
noun /»melńk´li/
a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious
cause
A feeling of melancholy came over me and I cried.
mechanical
adjective /mI»kQnIkl/
to do with machines
I do not have the mechanical skills to fix it myself.
melodious
mechanism
adjective /mI»lÚdI´s/
like a melody; pleasant to listen to
He has a melodious voice.
noun /»mekńIz´m/
a set of moving parts in a machine that performs a
task
We were shown the delicate mechanism of a wristwatch in class this morning.
melodramatic
adjective /«mel´dr´»mQtIk/
emotional and overly dramatic
She enjoys telling her stories in a melodramatic way.
mediate
verb /»mi˘dIeIt/
intervene in a dispute in order to bring about an
agreement or reconciliation
The UN was asked to mediate between the two
fighting nations.
melody
noun /»mel´di/
a tune
The song had a pleasant melody.
medicated
membrane
adjective /»medIkeItId/
containing medicine
Medicated shampoos are useful for treating dandruff.
noun /»membreIn/
a thin skin or similar covering
The cell membrane is made up of fats.
mediocre
adjective /«mi˘dI»Úk´/
of only average quality; not very good
The mediocre film did not get any good reviews.
l 86 l
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9 to 11
age group
memorandum
mercury
noun /«mem´»rQnd´m/
a record of a legal agreement which has not yet been
formally prepared and signed
The government promised to sign a memorandum
with the rebel leaders.
noun /»mŒ˘kj´ri/
a heavy silver metal that is usually liquid, used in
thermometers
Our chemistry teacher taught us the properties of
mercury.
memorial
merge
noun /m´»mç˘ri´l/
something to remind people of a person or event
The war memorial was built to honour soldiers killed
in the war.
verb /mŒ˘dZ/
to combine
The banks are set to merge next year.
meritorious
memorise
adjective /«merI»tç˘rI´s/
deserving reward or praise
A meritorious student is to be granted the
scholarship.
noun /mem´raIz/
learn
We had to memorise the entire list of words.
menace
messenger
noun /»men´s/
a threat or danger
Speeding drivers are a menace to others on the road.
noun /»mesIndZ´[r]/
a person who carries or delivers a message
The messenger arrived on horseback.
mentality
messiah
noun /men»tQlIti/
a person’s mental attitude
His negative mentality means he always expects the
worst to happen.
noun /mI»saI´/
the promised deliverer of the Jewish nation
prophesied in the Hebrew Bible
The promised messiah will usher in an era of peace.
mentor
metallic
noun /»mentç˘[r]/
an experienced and trusted adviser
I regard my grandmother as my mentor as she
always gives sound advice.
adjective /mI»tQlIk/
relating to or resembling metal or metals
The brass vase really appears metallic.
metaphor
mercantile
noun /»met´f´[r]/
using a word or phrase in a way that is not literal
“The rug was pulled from under her feet”, is a
metaphor, meaning she was taken by surprise.
adjective /»mŒ˘kńtaIl/
relating to trade or commerce; commercial
East India company was a mercantile trading
company.
metaphysics
merchandising
noun /«met´»fIzIks/
the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of
existence, truth and knowledge
Metaphysics is a fascinating and vast subject.
noun /»mŒ˘tSńdaIzIN/
the selection and display of goods in a retail outlet
Quality merchandising increases the sales of a shop.
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9 to 11
age group
meteor
M
midnight
noun /»mi˘tI´[r]/
a piece of rock or metal that moves through space
and burns up when it enters the Earth’s atmosphere
He saw a meteor with a telescope.
noun /»mIdnaIt/
12 o clock at night
Cinderella had to return home before mignight.
military
methodical
noun /»mIlIt´ri/
relating to or characteristic of soldiers or armed
forces
The country is a military power having large armed
forces.
adjective /mI»TÅdIk´l/
done according to a systematic or established
procedure
Methodical research is needed to get the facts right.
meticulous
millennium
adjective /mI»tIkjUl´s/
showing great attention to detail; very careful and
precise
She showed meticulous attention to details to get the
correct results.
noun /mI»lenI´m/
a period of 1,000 years
The year 2001 marked the beginning of a new
millennium.
minefield
metropolitan
noun /»maInfi˘ld/
an area where explosive mines have been laid
The world’s biggest minefield is the border between
North and South Korea.
adjective /«metr´»pÅlItń/
connected with a large or capital city
The bus service operated in the metropolitan area.
microbiology
mineral
noun /«maIkrÚbaI»Ål´dZi/
the branch of science that deals with microorganisms
To learn about bacteria one needs to study
microbiology.
noun /mIn´r´l/
a hard inorganic substance found in the ground
Zinc is a useful mineral.
miniature
microprocessor
noun /»mInItS´[r]/
very small
This miniature television is small enough to fit in my
pocket.
noun /maIkr´[U]»prÚses´[r]/
an integrated circuit that contains all the functions of
a central processing unit of a computer
The microprocessor contains the processing unit in a
single chip.
ministry
noun /»mInIstri/
a government department
The ministry of defence is responsible for the safety
of the citizens.
microscopic
adjective /maIkr´»skÅpIk/
extremely small; too small to be seen without a
microscope
Bacteria are microscopic organisms.
minority
noun /maI»nÅr´ti/
a small group that is different from others
In Australia, Aborigines are a minority.
l 88 l
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9 to 11
age group
minuscule
mismanagement
adjective /»mIn´skju˘l/
extremely small; tiny
I could not read his miniscule handwriting.
noun /«mIs»mQnIdZmńt/
the act of managing badly or wrongly
The captain of the team was replaced due to his
mismanagement.
miscalculate
misshapen
verb /«mIs»kQlkjUleIt/
to calculate incorrectly
He tried hard not to miscalculate the figures.
adjective /«mIs»SeIpń/
badly shaped
His misshapen fingers were caused by arthritis.
mischief
mission
noun /»mIstSIf/
naughty or troublesome behaviour
The naughty child was full of mischief.
noun /»mISn/
a military or scientific expedition
The explorers set out on a mission to the North Pole.
misconception
mistletoe
noun /mIskń»sepSń/
a view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based
on faulty thinking or understanding
That the grass is greener on the other side of the
fence is a misconception.
noun /»mIsltÚ/
an evergreen shrub, with leathery leaves, yellowish
flowers and waxy white berries
They used the mistletoe to decorate the house at
Christmas.
misconduct
mobilise
noun /«mIs»kÅnd√kt/
bad behaviour
The principal scolded the student for his misconduct.
verb /»mÚb´laIz/
to assemble people or things for a particular purpose,
especially for war
The troops received orders to mobilise for war.
miserable
adjective /»mIzr´bl/
very unhappy
I spent a miserable weekend alone at home.
moderate
adjective /»mÅd´r´t/
between extremes
California has a moderate climate.
misfortune
noun /mIs»fç˘tSu˘n/
bad luck
I had the misfortune to break my arm just before the
match.
modernise
verb /»mÅdńaIz/
to make a thing more modern, up-to-date
We need to modernise our transport system.
mishap
moist
noun /»mIshQp/
an unlucky accident
The child died due to a medical mishap.
adjective /mçIst/
slightly wet
Wipe off any excess makeup with a clean moist cloth.
l 89 l
9 to 11
age group
moisture
M
monstrosity
noun /»mçIstS´[r]/
water in the air
Moisture is bad for electronic equipment.
noun /mÅn»strÅs´ti/
a monstrous thing
The new multi-storey car park is an utter monstrosity.
molecule
monument
noun /»mÅlIkju˘l/
the smallest part into which a substance can be
divided without changing its chemical nature
We studied the structure of a molecule in chemistry
class.
noun /»mÅnjUmńt/
a statue, building or column etc. put up as a memorial
of some person or event
The Great Pyramid is a magnificent monument.
moose
mollusc
noun /mu˘s/
a large, North American deer having large flattened
antlers
noun /»mÅl´sk/
any of a group of animals including snails, slugs, and
mussels, with soft bodies, no backbones, and
sometimes external shells
morose
adjective /m´»rÚs/
sullen and ill-tempered
He became morose after losing the tournament.
momentum
noun /m´»ment´m/
the ability to keep increasing or developing
The fight for his release gathers momentum each day.
mosquito
noun /m´»ski˘tÚ/
a kind of gnat that sucks blood
mongrel
noun /»m√Ngr´l/
a dog of mixed breeds
motive
noun /»mÚtIv/
reason for an action
There seemed to be no motive for the murder.
monopolise
verb /m´»nÅp´laIz/
to keep or get control of the whole of something that
others cannot share
She always likes to monopolise the conversation.
mountaineering
noun /«maUnt´»nI´rIN/
the sport of climbing mountains
His passion for mountaineering led him to climb
Mount Everest.
monopoly
noun /m´»nÅp´li/
the exclusive right to own something or to provide a
service
The company had a monopoly on supplying
electricity.
mountainous
adjective /»maUntIn´s/
having a lot of mountains
The government has decided to develop the
mountainous areas.
monotonous
adjective /m´»nÅtń´s/
boring because it does not change
The audience was getting bored by his monotonous
speech.
mule
noun /mju˘l/
an animal that is the offspring of a donkey and a
mare, known for being stubborn
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age group
multicultural
mythology
adjective /«m√ltI»k√ltS´r´l/
for or including people of different races, religions,
languages and traditions
Canada is a multicultural country.
noun /mI»TÅl´dZi/
myths or the study of myths
Greek mythology is full of interesting stories.
muscle
noun /»m√sl/
bundles of fibrous tissue that can contract and relax
to produce movement in parts of the body
Exercise will help strengthen your damaged muscle.
museum
noun /mju˘»zI´m/
a place where interesting, old or valuable objects are
displayed for people to see
My mother loves spending time at the national art
museum.
mussel
noun /»m√sl/
a marine creature having two valves with a dark
elongated shell
mysterious
adjective /mI»stI´rI´s/
puzzling
The mysterious circumstances of the murder were
never fully resolved.
mystify
verb /»mIstIfaI/
to puzzle or bewilder
The strange events are sure to mystify everyone.
mystique
noun /mI»sti˘k/
an aura of mystery, power and awe that surrounds a
person or thing
The actor had been attracted to his profession by the
mystique of the theatre.
mythical
adjective /»mITIkl/
imaginary; found only in myths
The unicorn is a mythical creature.
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naïve
N
navigate
adjective /nA˘»i˘v, naI»i˘v/
showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement
She is just a naïve young girl so she was fooled.
verb /»nQvIgeIt/
to make sure that a ship, aircraft, or vehicle is going
in the right direction
In the olden days people used to navigate with the
help of the stars.
naphtha
noun /»nafT´, »nQpT´/
an essence or distillate of petroleum or coal
Naphtha is used as a solvent in paints and varnishes.
necessary
adjective /»nes´s´ri/
not able to be done without; essential
The plumber packed his necessary tools.
narrate
verb /n´»reIt/
to tell
The teacher began to narrate a story to the class.
necessity
noun /n´»ses´ti/
need
Clean drinking water is an absolute necessity.
narrow
adjective /nQrÚ/
not wide or broad
The narrow bridge was difficult to cross.
negative
adjective /»neg´tIv/
not positive; bad or harmful
Ahmed has a very negative attitude.
nationality
noun /«nQS´»nQl´ti/
membership of a particular nation
All applicants will be considered, regardless of
religion or nationality.
neglect
noun /nI»glekt/
to not look after or pay attention to a person or thing
It is wrong to neglect a pet.
native
negligence
adjective /»neItIv/
belonging to a person because of the place of his or
her birth
China is her native country.
noun /»neglIdZńs/
lack of proper care or attention
The accident was the result of the driver’s negligence.
nausea
negotiable
noun /»nç˘zI´/
feeling of sickness
The strong medicine caused a feeling of nausea.
adjective /nI»gÚSI´bl/
able to be changed after being discussed
He purchased the negotiable bonds from the agent.
nauseous
negotiate
adjective /»nç˘zI´s, »nç˘sI´s/
feeling sickness or disgust
The treatment left him nauseous and weak.
verb /nI»gÚSieIt/
to bargain or discuss with others in order to reach an
agreement
She will negotiate a better price for the house.
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neighbourhood
nimble
noun /»neIb´hUd/
the surrounding area
This is a safe neighbourhood.
adjective /»nImbl/
able to move quickly; agile
He is a nimble fielder on the boundary line.
nemata
noisome
noun /n´»mQd´/
a group of unsegmented worms such as roundworms
or threadworms
adjective /»nçIs´m/
having an extremely offensive smell
This noisome odour is coming from the garbage
dump.
nematomorpha
nominate
noun /ne«mQt´»mç˘f´/
horsehair worms
verb /nÅmIneIt/
to propose someone as a candidate in an election
The class decided to nominate Akbar for the post of
prefect.
neon
adjective /»ni˘Ån/
extremely bright or vivid
Her neon purple nailpolish caught everyone’s
attention.
nonchalant
adjective /»nÅnS´lńt/
feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed
Although her heart beat fast she tried to appear
nonchalant.
nephew
noun /»nefju˘/
the son of a person’s brother or sister
His nephew is a doctor.
noncommittal
adjective /nÅnk´»mIt´l/
not expressing or revealing commitment to a definite
opinion or course of action
The minister gave a typically noncommittal reply.
nervous
adjective /»nŒ˘v´s/
slightly afraid
The nervous passenger refused to board the plane.
nondescript
adjective /»nÅndIskrIpt/
lacking distinctive or interesting features or
characteristics
It was a faraway nodescript face in the crowd.
nestle
verb /»nesl/
to curl up comfortably
The cat loves to nestle in my lap.
nonflammable
neutral
adjective /nÅn»flQm´b´l/
not catching fire easily
Asbestos is nonflammable and will not burn rapidly.
adjective /»nju˘tr´l/
not supporting either side in a war or quarrel
Switzerland is a neutral country.
nonsense
nicotine
noun /»nÅnsns/
stupid ideas or behaviour
She is fed up with his nonsense.
noun /»nIk´ti˘n/
a poisonous substance found in tobacco
Nicotine is deadly and is often used as a pesticide.
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nonsensical
N
nuclear
adjective /nÅn»sensIkl/
stupid and ridiculous
Osman comes up with the most nonsensical ideas.
adjective /»nju˘klI´[r]/
using, producing or resulting from nuclear energy
A nuclear power plant produces energy.
northward
nuisance
adjective /»nç˘Tw´d/
towards the north
The northward bound train arrived late.
noun /»nju˘sns/
an annoying person or thing
My little brother is a nuisance.
notation
numerator
noun /nÚ»teISń/
a series or system of written symbols used to
represent numbers, amounts, or elements
We shall use decimal notation for units in this module.
noun /»nju˘m´reIt´[r]/
the number above the line in a fraction
The numerator in the fraction is three.
numerous
noticeable
adjective /»nju˘m´r´s/
many
There were numerous questions in the exam.
adjective /»nÚtIs´bl/
easily seen
The noticeable stain on the carpet was difficult to
remove.
nurture
verb /»nŒ˘tS´[r]/
care for and protect (someone or something) while
they are growing
Water and minerals are needed to nurture the
seedlings.
notify
verb /»nÚtIfaI/
to inform; tell
The students were asked to notify the school if they
planned to be absent.
nutritious
notorious
adjective /njU»trIS´s/
nourishing
Milk is a nutritious drink.
adjective /nÚ»tç˘rI´s/
well known for something bad
The notorious gang leader was caught by the police.
nuzzle
nourish
verb /»n√zl/
to rub gently with the nose
The mare likes to nuzzle her foal.
verb /»n√rIS/
to keep alive and well by means of food
Mammals nourish their young ones till they have
grown.
nylon
noun /»naIlÅn/
a synthetic, strong, lightweight fibre or cloth
Ropes made of nylon are very strong.
novelist
noun /»nÅv´lIst/
a person who writes novels
J.K. Rowling is a novelist.
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obedience
oblivious
noun /´»bi˘dińs/
following orders
Teachers expect obedience from students.
adjective /´»blIvI´s/
not aware of or concerned about what is happening
around one
Oblivious that Rome was burning, Nero fiddled on.
obelisk
obnoxious
noun /»Ab´lIsk/
a tapering stone pillar, set up as a monument or
landmark
A tall marble obelisk marked the end of the road.
adjective /´b»nÅkS´s/
very unpleasant
Her obnoxious behaviour put everyone off.
obese
obscure
adjective /Ú»bi˘s/
excessively fat
The obese man was at risk of heart disease.
adjective /´b»skjU´[r]/
not discovered or known about; uncertain
The code was hidden in an ancient obscure text.
obituary
observant
noun /´[U]»bItSU´ri, ´[U]»bItS´ri, ´[U]»bItjU´ri/
a notice of a death, typically including a brief
biography of the deceased person
The obituary in the newspaper highlighted all his
achievements.
adjective /´b»zŒ˘vńt/
quick to notice things
He is quite an observant young man.
observation
noun /«Åbz´»veISn/
observing or watching
My research involves the observation of monkeys in
their natural habitat.
objectionable
adjective /´b»dZekSń´bl/
unpleasant or nasty
Teachers took offence to his objectionable behaviour.
obsess
obligation
verb /´b»ses/
preoccupy or fill the mind of (someone) continually
and to a troubling extent
Do not just obsess about cricket for ever.
noun /«ÅblI»geISn/
a duty
It is an obligation to look after your guests.
oblique
obsolete
adjective /´»bli˘k/
slanting
Her oblique handwriting was difficult to read.
adjective /»Åbs´li˘t/
not used any more
Obsolete locomotives cause air pollution.
obliterate
obstacle
verb /´»blIt´reIt/
to blot out; destroy and remove all traces of
something
She tried to obliterate the memories of her childhood.
noun /»Åbst´kl/
something that stands in the way or hampers
progress
The horse jumped over the obstacle with ease.
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obstruct
O
oedema
verb /´b»str√kt/
to stop a person or thing from getting past
The landslide will obstruct traffic.
noun /I»di˘m´/
a condition in which the liquid collects in the spaces
inside the body and makes it swell
Severe cases of oedema may require surgery.
obvious
offence
adjective /»ÅbvI´s/
easy to see or understand
The obvious answers fooled the students.
noun /´»fens/
an illegal action; a feeling of annoyance or resentment
He was not aware that he had committed an offence.
occasional
ointment
adjective /´»keIZńl/
happening from time to time but not regularly
Ali makes occasional visits to the museum.
noun /»çIntmńt/
a cream or paste for putting on sore skin and cuts
I have applied an ointment to the cut on my finger.
occultation
okra
noun /Å»k√lt»eISń/
temporary disappearance of a celestial body as it
moves behind another body
An occultation occurs when an apparently larger body
passes in front of an apparently smaller one.
noun /»Åkr´/
a plant that bears a vegetable called ladyfinger
Okra is grown in warm climate.
olfaction
occupational
noun /Ål»fQkSń/
the sense of smell
Insects primarily use their antennae for olfaction.
adjective /«ÅkjU»peISńl/
associated with one’s job
Exposure to infections is an occupational risk for
doctors.
olfactory
adjective /Ål»fQkt´ri/
relating to the sense of smell
I could not smell as my olfactory ability was impaired.
octagonal
adjective /Åk»tQgńl/
a flat shape with eight sides and eight angles
The new swimming pool is of an octagonal shape.
olivine
noun /»ÅlIvi˘n/
a hard olive green, grey green or brown mineral
Olivine is sometimes used in making bricks.
octopoda
noun /«Åkt´»pÚd´/
literal meaning is ‘eight-footed’ but refers to an eightarmed creature
An octopus is an octopoda.
omelette
noun /»ÅmlIt/
eggs beaten together and cooked in a pan, often with
a filling
I like to eat an omelette for breakfast.
odonata
noun /«Úd´»nA˘t´/
an order of predatory insects comprising the
dragonflies and damselflies
Dragonflies are an example of the odonata group of
insects.
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omnipotent
oppose
adjective /Åm»nIp´tńt/
having great power and influence
Only God is omnipotent.
verb /´»pÚz/
to argue or fight against
I oppose the use of child labour.
omnivorous
opposition
adjective /Åm»nIv´r´s/
eating all types of food, especially both plants and
meat
Man is an omnivorous mammal.
noun /Åp´»zISn/
resistance
The invading army met with a lot of opposition.
optician
onslaught
noun /Åp»tISń/
a person qualified to prescribe glasses and contact
lenses, and to detect eye diseases
The optician said coloured contact lenses may be
harmful for the eyes.
noun /»Ånslç˘t/
a fierce or destructive attack
The fields must be harvested before the onslaught of
rains.
opaque
optimist
adjective /Ú»peIk/
not transparent
She tried but could not see anything through the
opaque glass.
noun /»ÅptImIst/
a person who expects that things will turn out well
An optimist looks at the bright side of life.
option
opera
noun /»ÅpSn/
choice
I have the option of wearing black or white trousers.
noun /»Åpr´/
a drama set to music, with singers acting the story
I was very happy when we got tickets for the opera.
orangutan
operate
noun /ç˘«rQNu˘»tQn, ´«rQNu˘»tQn/
a large mainly solitary arboreal ape with long red hair,
long arms, and hooked hands and feet
The orangutan is smaller than the gorilla.
verb /»Åp´reIt/
to make a machine work
She learnt how to operate the computer.
opponent
orator
noun /´»pÚnńt/
a person or group opposing another in a contest or
war
I had a tough opponent in the debating competition.
noun /»År´t´/
a public speaker, especially one who is eloquent or
skilled
He is an orator of great power and crowds flock to
hear him.
opportunist
orchard
noun /«Åp´»tju˘nIst/
a person who is quick to seize opportunities
The businessman was a true opportunist.
noun /»ç˘tS´d/
an area planted with fruit trees
She had an orchard behind her house.
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orchestra
O
ostentatious
noun /»ç˘kIstr´/
a group of instrumentalists playing classical music
He plays the piano in the orchestra.
adjective /«Åsten»teIS´s/
expensive or noticeable in a way intended to impress
people
Her ostentatious clothes were always admired by her
freinds.
orchid
noun /»ç˘kId/
a kind of plant with brightly-coloured, often unevenly
shaped, flowers
The gardener planted the orchid.
ostrich
noun /»ÅstrItS/
a flightless swift-running African bird with a long neck,
long legs, and two toes on each foot
ordeal
outboard
noun /ç˘»di˘´l/
a very unpleasant and prolonged experience
The floods were a big ordeal for the farmers.
adjective /»aUtbç˘d/
on, towards or near the outside of a ship or aircraft
The technicial was called to fix the outboard engine of
the boat.
ordinal
adjective /»ç˘dIn´l/
relating to the order of something in a series
It has an ordinal rank of seventh in the listing.
outlandish
adjective /aUt»lQndIS/
looking or sounding bizarre or unfamiliar
Her outlandish clothes made her noticeable.
ordinance
noun /»ç˘dInńs/
an authoritative order
An ordinance was issused banning the use of plastic
bags.
outskirts
noun /»aUtskE˘ts/
the outer parts of a town or city
I live in the outskirts of Karachi.
oriental
ovation
adjective /«ç˘rI»entl/
to do with the countries east of the Mediterranean
Sea, especially China and Japan
This restaurant serves oriental food.
noun /Ú»veISń/
a sustained and enthusiastic show of appreciation
from an audience, especially by means of applause
She received standing ovation for her performance.
originate
overbearing
verb /´»rIdZIneIt/
to happen or appear for the first time
The rumour did not originate from him.
adjective /«Úv´»be´rIN/
domineering
His overbearing attitude was disliked by all.
oscillate
overwhelm
verb /»ÅsIleIt/
to move to and fro like a pendulum
Radio waves oscillate.
verb /«Úv´»welm/
to overcome completely
We do not want to overwhelm you with requests for
information.
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oxygen
noun /»ÅksIdZń/
a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas that exists in
the air and is essential for living things
He was given oxygen to help him breathe.
oyster
noun /»çIst´[r]/
a kind of shellfish whose shell sometimes contains a
pearl
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pacifist
P
palmistry
noun /»pQsIfIst/
a person who believes that war and violence are
unjustifiable
As a pacifist I stand against any form of violance.
noun /»pA˘mIstri/
the art or practice of interpreting a person’s character
or predicting their future by examining the lines and
other features of the hand
According to the palmistry book, I have a travel line.
pacify
palpable
verb /»pQsIfaI/
to calm
I tried to pacify the crying baby by giving her a toy.
adjective /»pQlp´b´l/
able to be touched or felt
There was a palpable sense of excitement in the
crowd.
packaging
noun /»pQkIdZIN/
material used to wrap an object
The packaging was sturdy enough to protect the
goods.
palpate
verb /pQl»peIt/
to medically examine part of the body by touching it
For initial diagnosis doctors usually palpate the
patient.
paddock
noun /»pQd´k/
a small field where horses are kept
The horses are grazing on the grass in the paddock.
palsy
noun /»pç˘lzi/
complete or partial muscle paralysis
Her grandmother was bedridden after a severe attack
of palsy.
pagination
noun /«pQdZI»neISń/
the sequence of numbers assigned to pages in a
book
The new edition follows the same pagination as the
original text.
pamper
verb /»pQmp´[r]/
to treat someone very kindly
My grandmother likes to pamper me by giving me
sweets.
painstaking
adjective /»peInzteIkIN/
very careful and thorough
He works with painstaking attention to detail.
pamphlet
noun /»pQmflIt/
a small booklet
The camera comes with a pamphlet which explains
how it works.
palatable
adjective /»pQl´t´b´l/
(of food or drink) pleasant to taste
The food is well prepared and palatable.
panacea
noun /«pQn´»si˘´/
a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases
There is no panacea for our problems, only hope and
action.
palatial
adjective /p´»leIS´l/
resembling a palace in being spacious and splendid
She lives in a palatial and grand mansion.
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pancreas
paragon
noun /»pQNkrI´s/
a gland near the stomach that secretes a digestive
fluid
If the cells in the pancreas fail to produce insulin, you
may develop diabetes.
noun /»pQr´gń/
a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a
particular quality
Cleopatra is regarded as a paragon of beauty.
parakeet
pandemonium
noun /»pQr´ki˘t/
small, long-tailed parrot
noun /«pQnd´»mÚnI´m/
uproar and complete confusion
Pandemonium broke out when the news was
announced.
parallel
adjective /»pQr´lel/
side by side and the same distance apart from each
other for their whole length
Parallel lines never converge.
pantograph
noun /»pQnt´grA˘f/
a device used for copying a plan or drawing on a
different scale
A pantograph has a scale system of hinged and
jointed rods.
paralysis
noun /p´»rQl´sIs/
a state of being unable to move
A snake bite can sometimes cause paralysis.
pantomime
noun /»pQnt´maIm/
a theatrical entertainment, mainly for children
The annual school pantomime is based on a popular
fairy tale.
paramedic
noun /«pQr´»medIk/
a person who is trained to do medical work,
especially emergency first aid
He was given aid by a paramedic at the scene of the
accident.
parachute
noun /»pQr´Su˘t/
an umbrella-like device on which people or things can
float to the ground from an aircraft
He fell forty thousand feet before opening his
parachute.
paramilitary
adjective /«pQr´»mIlIt´ri/
organized similarly to a military force
Fire brigades are also examples of paramilitary
organizations.
parade
noun /p´»reId/
a procession that displays people or things
The school band was at the front of the parade on
Sports Day.
paramount
adjective /»pQr´maUnt/
more important than anything else
Her paramount goal was to win the race.
paradox
parapet
noun /»pQr´dÅks/
self-contradictory statement that is or may be true
‘More haste, less speed’ is an example of a paradox.
noun /»pQr´pIt/
a low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge,
or balcony
She leant over the parapet to look down at the river.
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paraphernalia
P
partial
noun /«pQr´f´»neIlI´/
numerous pieces of equipment, belongings, etc.
The hikers carried all their camping paraphernalia in
backpacks.
adjective /»pA˘Sl/
not complete or total
The project was only a partial success.
participate
paraphrase
verb /pA˘»tIsIpeIt/
to take part in
They asked as many people as possible to participate
in the charity event.
verb /»pQr´freIz/
to give the meaning in different words
The teacher asked the class to paraphrase the poem.
particle
parasite
noun /»pA˘tIkl/
a very small portion or amount
He choked on a particle of food.
noun /»pQr´saIt/
an animal or plant that lives in or on another animal
or plant, from which it gets its food
Our crop has been safe from parasite attacks for
years now.
partridge
noun /»pA˘trIdZ/
a short- tailed game bird with mainly brown plumage
paratrooper
noun /»pQr´tru˘p´[r]/
a person trained to be dropped from an aircraft by
parachute
He always wanted to be a paratrooper because it
seemed exciting.
passenger
noun /»pQsIndZ´[r]/
a person who is driven or carried in a vehicle or
aircraft
The passenger next to me slept through the whole
flight.
parenthesis
noun /p´»renT´sIs/
a pair of brackets
He always states the name of his department in
parenthesis.
passion
noun /»pQSn/
great enthusiasm
Akbar has a passion for playing cricket.
parliament
pastry
noun /»pA˘l´mńt/
the assembly that makes a country’s laws
The parliament passed a law to make child labour
illegal.
noun /»peIstri/
dough made with flour, fat and water, rolled flat and
baked
If the oven is too hot, the pastry might burn.
parsley
pasture
noun /»pA˘sli/
a small, green plant used to flavour and decorate
food
Garnish the pasta with parsley.
noun /»pA˘stS´[r]/
land covered with grass that cattle or horses can eat
His horse is grazing in the pasture behind the house.
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pathetic
peasant
adjective /p´»TetIk/
arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or
sadness
The kitten looked so pathetic that we brought it home.
noun /»peznt/
a farm labourer, a worker on the land
The peasant was very busy at harvest time.
peculiar
patience
adjective /pI»kju˘li´[r]/
strange or unusual
This ice cream has a peculiar flavour.
noun /»peISns/
the quality of staying calm
A teacher needs patience to deal with young children.
peddler
patriot
noun /»pedl´[r]/
a person who goes from place to place selling small
goods
The peddler went from door to door selling shawls.
noun /»pQtrI´t/
a person who vigorously supports their country
I am a patriot and I will support my country with
fervour.
pedestrian
pauper
noun /pI»destrIń/
a person who is walking
A pedestrian should look in both directions before
crossing the road.
noun /»pç˘p´/
a very poor person
The pauper was begging for money but no one paid
him any heed.
pedicure
pavement
noun /»pedIkjU´[r]/
a cosmetic treatment of the feet and toenails
I have a regular pedicure to take care of my feet.
noun /»peIvmńt/
a flat part at the side of a road for people to walk on
The authorities removed the makeshift book stall on
the pavement.
peevish
adjective /»pi˘vIS/
having or showing an irritable disposition
The celebrity became peevish when she was made to
wait
pavilion
noun /p´»vIlIń/
a building for use by players and spectators at a
cricket ground
All of the batsman’s sixes landed on the roof of the
pavilion.
penalise
verb /»pi˘n´laIz/
to punish
The teacher decided to penalise the student for not
doing his homework.
peacefully
adverb /»pi˘sf´li/
quietly and calmly
The children played peacefully in the garden.
penalty
noun /»pen´lti/
a punishment for breaking the law
The motorist had to pay a penalty for speeding.
pearl
noun /pŒ˘l/
a small, shiny, white ball found in the shells of some
oysters and used as a jewel
The beautiful white pearl was very expensive.
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age group
pendant
P
peppermint
noun /»pendńt/
an ornament worn hanging on a chain around the
neck
She is wearing a pink pendant to match her dress.
noun /»pep´mInt/
a kind of mint used for flavouring
Peppermint is used to give a fresh taste to chewing
gum.
pendulous
perceive
adjective /»pendjUl´s/
hanging down loosely
The pendulous branches of the tree were laden with
fruit.
verb /p´»si˘v/
interpret or regard (someone or something) in a
particular way
Do not perceive only the faults of another person.
pendulum
perch
noun /»pendjUl´m/
a weight hung so that it can swing to and fro,
especially in a clock
The clock’s pendulum needs to be repaired.
noun /pŒ˘tS/
a place where a bird sits or rests
A crow was using the television antenna as a perch.
perchance
penicillin
adverb /p´»tSA˘ns/
by some chance; perhaps
I met her perchance at the library.
noun /«penI»sIlIn/
an antibiotic obtained from mould
Penicillin was discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming.
percussion
pension
noun /p´»k√Sn/
musical instruments such as drums or cymbals
The tabla is a percussion instrument.
noun /»penSn/
an income consisting of regular payments made by a
government or firm to someone who is retired
She is old and makes ends meet with a meagre
pension.
perfectionist
noun /p´»fekSńIst/
a person who likes to do things perfectly
He is a perfectionist and it shows in his work.
pensioner
noun /»penSń´[r]/
a person who is receiving a pension, especially from
the government
The old pensioner had to wait in a long line in the
bank.
periscope
noun /»perIskÚp/
a device with a tube and mirrors used on submarines
to see over the water’s surface
The crew of the submarine is blind without a
periscope.
pentathlon
noun /pen»tQTlń/
an athletic contest consisting of five events
The Czech athlete won a gold medal in the
pentathlon.
permissible
adjective /p´»mIs´bl/
permitted or allowed
The permissible speed limit on the motorway is 120
km/hour.
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9 to 11
age group
perpendicular
persuade
adjective /«pŒ˘pń»dIkj´l´[r]/
at a right angle (90 degrees) to a line or surface
The perpendicular staircase was difficult to climb.
verb /p´»sweId/
to make someone believe or agree to do something
We tried to persuade our teacher to take us on a field
trip to the zoo.
perplex
pervade
verb /p´»pleks/
to puzzle
The rules of chess perplex me.
verb /p´»veId/
spread through and be perceived in every part of
The smoke will soon pervade the whole area.
perseverance
pessimist
noun /«pŒ˘sI»vI´rńs/
continued steady effort to achieve an aim
Your perseverance will lead you to success.
noun /»pesImIst/
a person who expects that things will turn out badly
A pessimist always sees the glass as half empty.
Persian
pesticide
adjective /»pŒ˘Sn/
to do with Persia, the country now known as Iran
Persian carpets are beautiful.
noun /»pestIsaId/
a substance for killing harmful insects and other pests
The farmer used a pesticide to protect his crop.
persistent
petroleum
adjective /p´»sIstńt/
determined to continue doing something
How do you deal with a persistent salesman who
won’t take no for an answer?
noun /pI»trÚlI´m/
an oil found underground that is refined to make fuel
The price of petroleum has recently escalated.
personable
petunia
adjective /»pŒ˘sń´b´l/
having a pleasant appearance and manner
He is a charming and personable young man and
gets along well with other people.
noun /pI»tju˘nI´/
a garden plant with brightly coloured funnel-shaped
flowers
This petunia plant won the prize because of its
beautiful purple flowers.
personality
phalanx
noun /«pŒ˘s´»nQlIti/
a person’s character
She has a cheerful personality.
noun /»fQlQNks/
a body of troops or police officers standing or moving
in close formation
A phalanx of army vehicles passed by swiftly.
personnel
pl. noun /pŒ˘s´»nel/
people employed in an organization
The police personnel are highly trained.
phantom
noun /»fQnt´m/
a ghost; something that does not really exist
He says he was attacked by a phantom but nobody
seems to believe him.
perspective
noun /p´»spektIv/
viewpoint
The film gave me a new perspective on the subject.
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age group
pharmacy
P
photographer
noun /»fA˘m´si/
a shop selling medicines
I went to the pharmacy to buy cough syrup.
noun /f´»tÅgr´f´[r]/
a person who takes photographs
The photographer is loading film into his camera.
pheasant
photosynthesis
noun /»fezńt/
a large long-tailed game bird native to Asia
noun /«fÚtÚ»sInTIsIs/
the process by which green plants use sunlight to
turn carbon dioxide and water into food, giving off
oxygen
Photosynthesis is a natural process which provides
plants with food.
phenomenon
noun /fI»nÅmInń/
an event or fact, especially one that is remarkable
The solar eclipse was quite a phenomenon.
physiotherapy
noun /«fIzIÚ»Ter´pi/
the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by
physical methods
To regain the use of his arm physiotherapy was
advised.
philanthropy
noun /fI»lQnTr´pi/
the practice of performing charitable actions
The community benefited from the rich man’s
philanthropy.
physique
philosopher
noun /fI»zi˘k/
a person’s build
The wrestler has a large physique.
noun /fI»lÅs´f´[r]/
a person who has developed a set of ideas and
beliefs about the meaning of life
Aristotle was a famous philosopher.
piccolo
noun /»pIk´lÚ/
a small high-pitched flute
The music teacher is teaching him how to play the
piccolo.
phoenix
noun /»fi˘nIks/
a unique bird that lived for five or six centuries in the
Arabian desert
pilgrimage
phonetic
noun /»pIlgrImIdZ/
a journey to a holy place for religious reasons
Every year, Muslims from around the world gather at
Mecca for the holy pilgrimage known as Hajj.
adjective /f´»netIk/
relating to speech sounds
Children will be taught the phonetic alphabet.
phosphorus
piranha
noun /pI»rA˘n´, pI»rA˘nj´/
fresh water fish found in South America, with very
sharp teeth that attacks and destroys living things
noun /»fÅsf´r´s/
a chemical substance that glows in the dark
Phosphorous is an essential component of safety
matches.
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age group
pirouette
platoon
noun /«pIru»et/
a spinning movement of the body made while
balanced on the point of the toe or on one foot
A pirouette is a difficult dance movement.
noun /pl´»tu˘n/
a subdivision of a company of soldiers
The small platoon of soldiers captured the enemy
fort.
pistachio
plausible
noun /pI»stA˘SIÚ, pI»stQtSÚ/
the edible pale green seed of an Asian tree.
I love the green pistachio icecream.
adjective /»plç˘zIb´l/
(of an argument or statement) seeming reasonable or
probable
Her explanation certainly sounds plausible.
plagiarize
pleasant
verb /»pleIdZ´raIz/
take (the work or an idea of someone else) and pass
it off as one’s own
Do not plagiarize, try to come up with original ideas.
adjective /»pleznt/
pleasing; enjoyable
The weather was pleasant enough for a picnic.
plague
pleasurable
noun /pleIg/
a dangerous illness that spreads very quickly
The plague killed a lot of people.
adjective /»pleZ´r´bl/
enjoyable
Our trip to the zoo was a pleasurable experience.
planetarium
pledge
noun /«plQnI»te´rI´m/
a domed building in which images of stars and
planets are projected onto the ceiling
We are going on a field trip to the planetarium.
noun /pledZ/
a solemn promise
The Girl Guides took a pledge to be good citizens.
plight
plankton
noun /plaIt/
a difficult situation
The plight of the refugees brought tears to my eyes.
noun /»plQNktń/
small and microscopic organisms drifting or floating in
the sea
Plankton are used as food by nearly all aquatic
animals.
plumber
noun /»pl√m´[r]/
a person who fits and mends water pipes
The plumber charged a lot of money for his work.
plantation
noun /plQn»teISń/
an estate on which crops such as coffee, sugar, and
tobacco are grown
He owned a rubber plantation in Malaysia.
plunge
verb /pl√ndZ/
to dive
It is dangerous to plunge into the shallow end of the
swimming pool.
plateau
noun /»plQtÚ/
a flat area of high land
Quetta is situated on a plateau.
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age group
poacher
P
polytechnic
noun /»pÚtS´/
a pan for cooking eggs or other food by poaching
An egg poacher is used to cook eggs without oil or
butter.
noun /«pÅlI»teknIk/
an institution of higher education offering courses at
degree level or below
At the polytechnic institute courses are offered in
textile designing.
podium
polythene
noun /»pÚdI´m/
a small platform on which a person may stand to be
seen by an audience
The teacher stood on a podium to deliver the lecture.
noun /»pÅlITi˘n/
a lightweight plastic used to make bags and
wrappings
Our school discourages the use of polythene because
it harms the environment.
poignant
adjective /»pçInjńt/
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret
It was a poignant moment when I bade her goodbye.
pomegranate
noun /»pÅmIgrQnIt/
a spherical fruit with a tough golden-orange outer skin
The pomegranate was juicy and sweet.
political
adjective /p´»lItIkl/
connected with the governing of a country
Lenin was a famous political figure.
pompous
adjective /»pÅmp´s/
affectedly grand, solemn, or self-important
Toiletries is such a pompous word for just soap and
shampoo.
politician
noun /«pÅlI»tISn/
one who is a member of parliament or of the
government
The politician gave a wonderful speech.
ponderous
adjective /»pÅnd´r´s/
heavy and awkward; laborious and dull
He writes in a ponderous style.
pollination
noun /«pÅlI»neISn/
fertilisation of a plant with pollen
Pollination usually takes place in spring.
populace
noun /»pÅpjUl´s/
the people living in a particular country or area
The entire populace of the town turned out to greet
the cricket team.
pollution
noun /p´»lu˘Sn/
dirt or impurity
Water pollution has killed many fish in this lake.
porcelain
noun /»pç˘s´lIn/
a white vitrified translucent ceramic; china
The table was laid with porcelain china plates.
polyester
noun /«pÅlI»est´[r]/
a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked
by ester groups
This material is a blend of polyester and cotton.
porcupine
noun /»pç˘kjUpaIn/
a small animal covered with long quills
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9 to 11
age group
porpoise
pottery
noun /»pç˘p´s/
a sea animal rather like a small whale
noun /»pÅt´ri/
cups, plates, etc. made of baked clay
Multan is famous for its blue and white pottery.
portable
practical
adjective /»pç˘t´bl/
able to be carried
A laptop is a portable computer.
adjective /»prQktIkl/
able to do or make useful things
He is renowned for his practical approach.
portfolio
practise
noun /pç˘t»fÚlIÚ/
a large, thin, flat case for loose sheets of paper such
as drawings or maps
The artist kept all her drawings in a portfolio.
verb /»prQktIs/
to do something repeatedly in order to become better
at it
You must practise playing the piano every day.
possession
precarious
noun /p´»zeSn/
something you own
This collection of books is my most valuable
possession.
adjective /prI»ke´rI´s/
not very safe or secure
The museum is in a financially precarious position.
posthumous
precaution
adjective /»pÅstjUm´s/
occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of
the originator
The soldier was awarded a posthumous medal.
noun /prI»kç˘Sn/
something done to prevent future trouble or danger
She took the precaution of taking an umbrella with
her in case it rained.
postpone
precipice
verb /»pÚst«pÚn/
to arrange an event to take place at a later time
They had to postpone the annual charity dinner
because of rain.
noun /»presIpIs/
a very steep rock face or cliff, especially a tall one
The mountaineer managed to scale the precipice at
last.
postscript
precise
noun /»pÚstskrIpt/
a language used as a standard for describing pages
of text
The writer gives further information in a postscript .
adjective /prI»saIs/
marked by exactness and accuracy of expression or
detail
He is always very precise in giving directions.
posture
predator
noun /»pÅstS´[r]/
a particular position of the body, or the way in which a
person sits, stands or walks
His erect posture made him stand out in a crowd.
noun /»pred´t´[r]/
an animal that naturally preys on others
A lion is a predator.
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age group
predecessor
P
presence
noun /»pri˘dIses´[r]/
an earlier person or thing
His predecessor retired after thirty years of service.
noun /»prezńs/
the state or fact of existing, occurring, or being
present
The committee requires your presence at the
meeting.
prejudice
noun /»predZUdIs/
an unfavourable opinion or dislike formed without
examining the facts fairly
His prejudice against his co-workers did not go
unnoticed.
preserve
verb /prI»zŒ˘v/
to keep something safe
We should preserve our culture for future
generations.
preliminary
pressure
adjective /prI»lImIn´ri/
first stage of something
The winner of the preliminary matches will go on to
play the cricket finals.
noun /»preS´[r]/
an influence that persuades or compels one to do
something
He performs well under pressure.
premiere
prestige
noun /»premI´[r], »premI«e´[r]/
the first public performance of a play or film
Julia Roberts attended the premiere of her new film.
noun /pres»ti˘[d]Z/
good reputation
She has earned prestige as a good teacher.
premonition
prestigious
noun /«pri˘m´»nISn, «prem´»nISn/
a feeling that something is about to happen,
especially something bad
Aliya had a premonition that her cat was going to be
ill.
adjective /pre»stIdZ´s/
highly respected and admired
LUMS is a prestigious university.
presumably
preoccupied
adverb /prI»zju˘m´bli/
according to what you may suppose
Presumably the plane was late because of bad
weather.
adjective /pri˘»ÅkjUpaId/
having your thoughts completely busy with something
The preoccupied boy was too lost in his thoughts to
notice anything wrong.
presumptuous
prescription
adjective /prI»z√m[p]tSU´s/
too bold or confident
The duchess would not put up with presumptuous
servants.
noun /prI»skrIpSn/
a doctor’s written order for medicine
The prescription made out by the doctor was not
legible.
previous
adjective /»pri˘vI´s/
coming before this; preceding
All his previous crimes were pardoned by the judge.
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9 to 11
age group
primeval
projector
adjective /praI»mi˘v´l/
of the earliest time in history
It is a primeval forest with the trees being centuries
old.
noun /pr´»dZekt´[r]/
a machine for showing films or photographs on a
screen
The teacher used a projector to show us a film in
class.
privileged
promenade
adjective /»prIv´lIdZd/
having an advantage or opportunity that others do not
have
He enjoyed a privileged childhood.
noun /«prÅm´»nA˘d, «prÅm´»neId/
a place suitable for walking
Since the weather was so nice, grandfather and I
walked along the promenade.
procedure
prominent
noun /pr´»si˘dZ´[r]/
an orderly way of doing something
The procedure for changing the fuse was a complex
one.
adjective /»prÅmInńt/
easily seen
The house stood in a prominent position.
procession
prompt
noun /pr´»seSń/
a number of people or vehicles moving forward in an
orderly fashion
The procession moved slowly through the streets.
adjective /prÅmpt/
without delay
I would like a prompt reply to my letter.
pronunciation
professional
noun /pr´«n√nsI»eISn/
the way a word is pronounced
Unless you have heard a word before, it is difficult to
know its correct pronunciation.
adjective /pr´»feSńl/
having or showing high levels of skill
My brother is a professional footballer but I am just an
amateur.
proportional
professor
noun /pr´»pç˘Sń´l/
corresponding in size or amount to something else
The weight is not proportional to the height.
noun /pr´»fes´[r]/
a senior teacher at a university
The professor gave his students a long lecture.
proprietor
proficient
noun /pr´»praI´t´[r]/
the owner of a shop or business
The new proprietor plans to install security cameras
in the shop.
adjective /pr´»fISńt/
competent or skilled in doing or using something
He is proficient in several languages.
progressive
protein
adjective /pr´»gresIv/
happening or developing gradually or in stages
The progressive illness has weakened him greatly.
noun /»prÚti˘n/
a substance that is found in all living things and is an
essential part of the food of animals
Beans and meat contain a lot of protein.
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age group
provision
P
pygmy
noun /pr´»vIZń/
the action of providing or supplying something for use
The government is responsible for the provision of
education for all children.
adjective /»pIgmi/
a specie that is much smaller than other similar kinds
The pygmy hippopotamus is one species facing
extinction.
provoke
pyramid
verb /pr´»vÚk/
stimulate or give rise to a reaction or emotion in
someone
Your bad behaviour will provoke her into punishing
you.
noun /»pIr´mId/
a structure with a square base and sloping sides that
meet in a point at the top
He made a pyramid from sand at the beach.
python
prowess
noun /»paITń/
a large snake that kills its prey by coiling round and
crushing it
noun /»praUIs/
skill or expertise in a particular activity or field
His athletic prowess is unmatched.
pseudonym
noun /»sju˘dńIm/
a fictitious name, especially one used by an author
George Eliot wrote under a pseudonym.
psychology
noun /saI»kÅl´dZi/
the study of the mind and how it influences behaviour
She spent three years at university studying
psychology.
publication
noun /«p√blI»keISn/
a published book or newspaper
His publication won first prize at the convention.
publicity
noun /p√b»lIsIti/
the attention that is given to somebody/something by
newspapers, television, etc
There has been a great deal of publicity surrounding
his disappearance.
punctuation
noun /«p√NktSU»eISn/
marks such as commas, full stops, and brackets put
into a piece of writing to make it easier to read
She habitually neglects to use punctuation in her
sentences.
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9 to 11
age group
quadrature
quest
noun /»kwÅdr´tS´/
the arrangement of two celestial bodies at right
angles as viewed from the Earth
The half-moon is in quadrature to the sun.
noun /kwest/
a long search for something
His quest to find the treasure was unsuccessful.
questionable
quadrilateral
adjective /»kwestSń´bl/
causing doubt; not certainly true or honest or
advisable
He refused to sign the questionable contract.
noun /«kwÅdrI»lQt´r´l/
a flat geometric shape with four sides
A square is a quadrilateral.
quarantine
questionnaire
noun /»kwÅrńti˘n/
keeping a person or animal isolated in case they have
a disease which could spread to others
The dog was kept in quarantine for six months.
noun /«kwestS´»ne´[r]/
a form used to collect information about a particular
subject
Could you please fill in the questionnaire?
quarrel
queue
verb /»kwÅr´l/
to have an angry argument or disagreement
I was surprised to see the two friends quarrel with
each other.
noun /kju˘/
a line of people or vehicles waiting for something
There was a long queue of people outside the cinema
hall.
quarrying
quota
verb /»kwÅriIN/
excavation of rock used for various purposes
Quarrying over the centuries may have contributed
towards global warming.
noun /»kwÚt´/
a limited amount
You have had your quota of sweets for today.
quote
quarter
verb /kwÚt/
repeat words that were first written or spoken by
someone else
She decided to quote Shakespeare in her speech.
noun /»kwç˘t´[r]/
each of four equal parts into which a thing is or can
be divided
A quarter of a hundred is twenty-five.
quotient
quench
noun /»kwÚSnt/
the result of dividing one number by another
When six is divided by three, the quotient is two.
verb /kwentS/
to satisfy your thirst by drinking
He drank some juice to quench his thirst.
query
noun /»kwI´ri/
a question
I have a query about the test time-table.
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age group
rabies
R
rapture
noun /»reIbi˘z/
a fatal disease that affects dogs, cats, and can be
passed to humans by the bite of an infected animal
Pets must be vaccinated against rabies.
noun /»rQptS´[r]/
a feeling of extreme pleasure and happiness
The children gazed at her in rapture when she agreed
to take them out for a picnic.
racism
raspberry
noun /»reIsIz´m/
discrimination against or hostility towards people of
other races
Let’s all work towards ending racism.
noun /»rA˘zb´ri/
a small soft red fruit
Raspberry icecream is delicious.
ratio
radiant
noun /»reISIÚ/
proportion
Mix flour and butter in the ratio of two to one.
adjective /»reIdIńt/
looking very bright and happy
Women turned and looked at the radiant bride.
ravage
radioactive
verb /»rQvIdZ/
cause severe and extensive damage to
Floods will ravage this entire town.
adjective /«reIdIÚ»QktIv/
sending out harmful radiation caused when central
parts of atoms are broken up
Radioactive waste from industries is polluting our
rivers.
reassurance
noun /«ri˘´»SU´rńs/
advice or help that you give somebody to restore their
confidence
When the toddler fell down he looked at his mother
for reassurance.
radius
noun /»reIdI´s/
the distance from the centre of a circle to the
circumference
The radius of a circle may be used to calculate its
area.
rebellious
adjective /rI»belj´s/
showing a tendency towards rebellion
The rebellious outlaw was in trouble with the police.
ragged
adjective /»rQgId/
old and torn
The poor man was wearing ragged clothes.
receiver
noun /rI»si˘v´[r]/
something that receives electrically transmitted
sounds
She picked up the telephone receiver to answer a
call.
rampant
adjective /»rQmpńt/
flourishing or spreading unchecked
Rampant crime is reported in the city.
reception
ramshackle
noun /rI»sepSn/
a formal party
A wedding reception was held for the bride and
groom.
adjective /»rQmSQkl/
badly made and needing repair.
The ramshackle hut fell down during the storm.
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9 to 11
age group
recession
reconcile
noun /rI»seSn/
a reduction in a country’s trade or prosperity
A recession is bad for the country’s economy.
verb /»rekńsaIl/
to make people who have quarrelled become friendly
again
They tried to reconcile their differences but remained
unsuccessful.
recipe
noun /»res´pi/
instructions for cooking or preparing food
Mehr followed a recipe to bake a chocolate cake.
reconsider
verb /«ri˘kń»sId´[r]/
to consider again
The principal will reconsider his policy of imposing
fines on latecomers.
reciprocate
verb /rI»sIpr´keIt/
to give or feel in return
I must reciprocate his generosity with a gift.
reconstruct
verb /«ri˘kń»str√kt/
to rebuild
We will have to reconstruct the buildings damaged by
the earthquake.
recite
verb /rI»saIt/
to repeat aloud from memory
Sara will recite a poem at the school reunion.
redundant
adjective /rI»d√ndńt/
no longer needed
The redundant typewriters were sold when the office
was computerised.
reckless
adjective /»rekl´s/
ignoring risk or danger
He is a reckless driver and he often meets with
accidents.
referee
noun /ref´»ri˘/
an official who watches a game or match closely to
ensure that the rules are adhered to
The referee sent two of the players off the field.
recognise
verb /»rek´gnaIz/
know who someone is or what something is because
you have seen that person or thing before
She did not recognise me after such a long time.
reference
noun /»ref´rńs/
referring to something
There was no reference to recent events.
recommend
verb /rek´»mend/
to tell somebody that something is good or useful
Can you recommend a good hotel?
reflection
noun /rI»flekSn/
the image produced by a reflecting surface
She could see her reflection in the shiny metal tray.
recommendation
noun /»rek´men»deISn/
the act of saying that a person or thing would be
good or suitable for a particular job or purpose
The principal’s recommendation helped me get the
scholarship.
refrigerator
noun /rI»frIdZ´reIt´[r]/
a cabinet or room in which food is stored at a very
low temperature
Last night’s food is in the refrigerator.
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age group
refugee
R
religious
noun /«refjU»dZi˘/
someone who has had to leave their home or country
and seek safety elsewhere
The refugee fled from his war-torn country.
adjective /rI»lIdZ´s/
concerned with religion
Arif’s father is a religious scholar.
relinquish
reggae
verb /rI»lINkwIS/
voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up
The queen will relinquish control of the country.
noun /»regeI/
a West Indian style of music with a strong beat
Reggae is my favourite type of music.
reluctant
rehabilitate
adjective /rI»l√ktńt/
unwilling
The shy girl gave a reluctant smile.
verb /ri˘h´»bIlIteIt/
restore (someone) to health or normal life by training
and therapy
It took a long time to rehabilitate him back to health.
remarkable
adjective /rI»mA˘k´bl/
unusual or extraordinary
He climbed over the wall with remarkable ease.
rehearse
verb /rI»hŒ˘s/
to practise or make people practise a play or music
We only had two weeks to rehearse before the final
showing.
rendezvous
noun /»rÅndIvu˘/
a meeting at an agreed time and place
We had arranged a rendezvous for 5pm at the café.
reimburse
verb /«ri˘Im»bŒ˘s/
to repay money that has been spent
We will reimburse your travel expenses.
repetition
noun /repI»tISń/
the action of repeating something that has already
been said or written
After much repetition he finally got the equation right.
relentless
adjective /rI»lentl´s/
not stopping
The relentless rain caused floods.
reprimand
noun /»reprImA˘nd/
a formal expression of disapproval
He was given a severe reprimand by the principal.
relevant
adjective /»rel´vńt/
connected with what is being discussed or dealt with
She circulated the letter to all the relevant institutions.
repulsive
adjective /rI»p√lsIv/
disgusting
He was wearing a repulsive mask.
reliable
adjective /rI»laI´bl/
able to be trusted
The encyclopaedia is a reliable source of information.
reputation
noun /«repjU»teISN/
what people say about a person or thing
I’m aware of Mark’s reputation for being late.
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9 to 11
age group
request
respiration
verb /rI»kwest/
to ask for
Please request him to put my clothes in the
cupboard.
noun /«respI»reISn/
breathing
Running increases your rate of respiration.
respire
resemblance
verb /rI»spaI´[r]/
to breathe
We use our lungs to respire.
noun /rI»zemblńs/
similar traits
There was a remarkable resemblance between Ali
and Harris.
responsible
adjective /rI»spÅnsIbl/
reliable and trustworthy
Ali is a responsible student.
resentment
noun /rI»zentmńt/
bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly
There was much resentment at the unjust verdict.
restaurant
noun /»rest[´]rÅnt, »restr[´]nt/
a place where you can buy and eat a meal
The new restaurant serves good Chinese food.
resident
noun /»rezIdńt/
a person living in a particular place
Ali is a resident of Lahore.
resuscitate
verb /rI»s√sIteIt/
revive a person from unconsciousness or apparent
death
The life guard tried to resuscitate the little boy but it
was too late.
residential
adjective /«rezI»denSl/
containing people’s homes
There is a strict law against making noise in
residential areas.
retention
resilient
noun /rI»tenSń/
the continued possession, use, or control of
something
This place has been under his retention for many
years.
adjective /rI»zIlIńt/
able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending,
stretching, or being compressed
The ball was resilient and bounced back into shape.
resolution
retrieve
noun /«rez´»lu˘Sn/
something you have decided to do
I made a resolution to study hard for my exams.
verb /rI»tri˘v/
to bring or get something back
The dog ran to retrieve the ball.
resourceful
revelation
adjective /rI»sç˘sfl/
good at finding ways of doing things
He is an able and resourceful politician.
noun /«rev´»leISn/
disclosure of knowledge
The company secretary has a startling revelation
about the unexpected appointment of the director.
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revision
R
ruination
noun /rI»vIZn/
the act of going over work that you have already done
It took her a week to complete her revision before the
examination.
noun /ru˘I»neISń/
state of destruction or collapse
His ruination was caused by living beyond his means.
rumour
rhinoceros
noun /»ru˘m´[r]/
general report that may not be true
I heard a rumour that they are getting married.
noun /raI»nÅs´r´s/
a large, heavy animal with one or two horns on its
nose
rhododendron
noun /«rÚd´»dendrń/
an evergreen shrub with large trumpet-shaped
flowers
My father’s garden is full of rhododendron.
rhubarb
noun /»ru˘bA˘b/
a plant with thick reddish stalks that are cooked and
eaten as fruit
I like pies made from rhubarb.
rhythm
noun /»rID´m/
a regular pattern of beats, sounds, or movements
This song has a pleasant rhythm.
ridiculous
adjective /rI»dIkj´l´s/
very silly or unreasonable
She was wearing a ridiculous hat.
rouble
noun /»ru˘bl/
the unit of money in Russia
The Russian rouble cannot be used in America.
rugged
adjective /»r√gId/
having an uneven surface or outline
A jeep is designed to travel over rugged terrain.
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age group
sabotage
salute
noun /»sQb´tA˘Z/
deliberate damage or disruption to hinder an enemy,
employer, etc.
The people responsible for the sabotage of the
telephone exchange were severely punished.
verb /s´»lu˘t/
to raise your right hand to your forehead as a sign of
respect
Soldiers are taught to salute their superior officers.
sanctity
sachet
noun /»sQNktIti/
holiness
Visitors to a mosque should respect its sanctity.
noun /»sQSeI/
a small sealed bag or packet containing a small
quantity of something
I got this sachet of shampoo for travelling.
sanctuary
noun /»sQNktSU´ri/
a safe place; a refuge
She longed for the sanctuary of her own home.
sacrifice
noun /»sQkrIfaIs/
giving up a thing you value, so that something good
may happen
It was a sacrifice to devote my holidays to social
work.
sandwich
noun /»sQnwItS/
two or more slices of bread with jam, meat, or cheese
etc. between them
I usually take a sandwich to school to eat at lunch
time.
saffron
noun /»sQfrń/
an orange-yellow flavouring, food colouring, and dye
made from the dried stigmas of a crocus
Add saffron to the rice to give it an orange colour.
sapphire
noun /»sQfaI´[r]/
a bright blue jewel
He gave her a ring of sapphire for her birthday.
salamander
noun /»sQl´«mand´[r]/
a newt-like amphibian that typically has bright
markings
satire
noun /»sQtaI´[r]/
critical humour
The novel is full of political satire.
salary
noun /»sQl´ri/
a regular wage
Due to my hard work, my employer increased my
salary.
sausage
noun /»sÅsIdZ/
mixture of finely chopped meat, fat, bread, in a long
tube of skin
We had sausage and eggs for breakfast today.
saliva
noun /s´»laIv´/
the natural liquid in a person’s or animal’s mouth
Saliva plays an important part in digesting starch.
savage
adjective /»sQvIdZ/
wild and fierce; cruel
The savage dog tried to bite the man.
salmon
noun /»sQmń/
a large, edible fish with pink flesh
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age group
saviour
S
scramble
noun /»seIvj´[r]/
a person who saves someone
The fireman was hailed as a saviour by the people he
rescued from the burning building.
verb /»skrQmbl/
to cook eggs by mixing them up and heating them in
a pan
I am going to scramble eggs for my breakfast.
scarecrow
scream
noun /»ske´krÚ/
a figure of a person set up to frighten birds away from
crops
The birds have stopped paying attention to the
scarecrow.
verb /skri˘m/
to make a loud piercing sound
She was scared and began to scream.
screenplay
noun /»skri˘npleI/
the script of a film, with instructions to actors
The film was a success because of its good
screenplay.
scene
noun /si˘n/
the place where something has happened
The police arrived at the scene of the crime.
screwdriver
schedule
noun /»skru˘draIv´[r]/
a tool for turning screws
The robber used a screwdriver to unscrew the
handles of the door.
noun /»Sedju˘l/
a timetable of planned events or work
I have a busy schedule today.
scheme
scriptures
noun /ski˘m/
a plan of action
His scheme to make money proved fruitful.
pl. noun /»skrIptS´z/
sacred writings
The beliefs of a religion are often contained in its
scriptures.
scholarship
sculpture
noun /»skÅl´SIp/
a grant of money given to someone to help pay for his
or her education
She studied hard, for she had made up her mind to
win the scholarship.
noun /»sk√lptS´/
the art of making two-or three-dimensional
representative or abstract forms
She went to art school to study sculpture and
painting.
scissors
seasoning
noun /»sIz´z/
a tool for cutting that has two sharp parts that are
joined together
The scissors need to be sharpened.
noun /»si˘zńIN/
a substance used to season or add flavour to food,
especially salt and pepper
I felt the salad could do with a little more seasoning.
scorch
secluded
verb /skç˘tS/
to burn the surface of (something) with flame or heat
You will scorch the dress with the iron.
adjective /sI»klu˘dId/
quiet or sheltered from view
They picnicked on a secluded beach.
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age group
secretary
sequence
noun /»sekr´tri/
a person whose job is to help with letters, answer the
telephone, and make business arrangements for a
person or organisation
His new secretary is very efficient.
noun /»si˘kwńs/
the order in which things occur
The names of the students were in alphabetical
sequence.
serpent
secure
noun /»sŒ˘pńt/
a snake
adjective /sI»kjU´[r]/
safe
I hid my money in a secure place.
settlement
noun /»setlmńt/
settling something; a number of houses or people
established in a new area
There is a new settlement on the outskirts of town.
sedative
noun /»sed´tIv/
a drug that makes one sleep or feel calm and relaxed
The doctor prescribed a sedative to him as he was
going through the pain of losing his father.
shallow
adjective /»SQlÚ/
not deep
The food was served in a shallow dish.
sedimentary
adjective /«sedI»mentri/
formed from particles that have settled on a surface
The geologist studied sedimentary rocks.
sharpen
verb /»SA˘pń/
to make or become sharp
Mehr decided to sharpen her pencils.
seldom
adverb /»seld´m/
rarely; not often
It is very seldom that I have the time to visit the
cinema.
sheer
adjective /SI´[r]/
(said about material) very thin; transparent
She was wearing sheer silk stockings.
sensitivity
noun /«sens´»tIv´ti/
understanding of the feelings of others
Her sensitivity towards animals inspired her to
become a vet.
shepherd
noun /»Sep´d/
a person whose job is to look after sheep
The shepherd fell asleep and lost his sheep.
separate
sheriff
adjective /»sep´r´t/
not shared
My sister and I have separate rooms.
noun /»SerIf/
the chief law officer of a county, whose duties vary in
different countries
The sheriff was in charge of law and order in the
town.
separation
noun /«sep´»reISn/
division; being separated
They were reunited after a separation of more than
20 years.
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age group
shovel
S
silhouette
noun /»S√vl/
a tool like a spade with the sides turned up, used for
lifting coal, sand, earth, snow
Each miner carried a lamp and a shovel.
noun /«sIlU»et/
a dark shadow seen against a light background
The magnificent mountains stood out in silhouette.
simultaneously
shrewd
adverb /»sIml»teInI´sli/
at the same time
She studies and listens to music simultaneously.
adjective /Sru˘d/
having common sense and good judgement
He is a very shrewd man.
siren
shrimp
noun /»saIrń/
a device that makes a long, loud sound as a warning
The police car had flashing lights and a siren.
noun /SrImp/
a small shellfish, pink when boiled
shrubbery
situation
noun /»Sr√b´ri/
an area planted with shrubs
The plants in the shrubbery have been recently
planted.
noun /«sItSU»eISn/
a state of affairs at a certain time
We would be a lot more relaxed if the situation was
different.
sightseeing
skeleton
noun /»saItsi˘IN/
visiting interesting places in a town etc.
There are many historical monuments for sightseeing
in Asia.
noun /»skelItn/
the framework of the bones of the body or building
etc.
The human skeleton consists of 206 bones.
signature
skilful
noun /»sIgn´tS´[r]/
a person’s name written by himself or herself
My signature was required on the document.
adjective /»skIlfl/
having or showing great skill
He is a skilful craftsman.
significance
sledgehammer
noun /sIg»nIfIkńs/
importance
This new drug has great significance for the treatment
of the disease.
noun /»sledZhQm´[r]/
a very large heavy hammer
The labourer knocked the remaining wall down with a
sledgehammer.
silencer
smear
noun /»saIlńs´[r]/
a device for reducing the sound made by a gun or a
vehicle’s exhaust system
A car without a silencer is very noisy.
verb /smI´[r]/
to rub something greasy or sticky or dirty on a
surface
Don’t smear the glasses; I’ve just polished them.
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age group
smithereens
souvenir
noun /«smID´»ri˘nz/
small fragments
The glass fell and broke into smithereens.
noun /«su˘v´»nI´[r]/
something that you keep to remind you of a person,
place or event
This seashell is a souvenir from the beach.
soliloquy
spaghetti
noun /s´»lIl´kwi/
a speech in which a person speaks his or her
thoughts aloud
The play included a soliloquy.
noun /sp´»geti/
pasta made in long thin sticks
She makes delicious spaghetti.
solitary
specialist
adjective /»sÅlIt´ri/
done or existing alone
Her grandmother has been living a solitary life in the
huge house.
noun /»speS´lIst/
an expert in the subject
The eye specialist suggested that Akbar should wear
glasses.
solitude
species
noun /»sÅlItju˘d/
the state or situation of being alone
She likes solitude and prefers her own company.
noun /»spi˘Si˘z/
a group of animals or plants that are very similar
Certain species of birds have become extinct in this
area.
somersault
specimen
noun /»s√m´sç˘lt/
a movement in which you turn head over heels before
landing on your feet
The acrobat’s somersault amazed the audience.
noun /»spesImń/
a sample; an example
That is a fine specimen of an oak tree.
sophisticated
spectacular
adjective /s´»fIstIkeItId/
of fashionable life and its ways
The salesman did not exactly understand the taste of
the sophisticated client.
adjective /spek»tQkjUl´[r]/
impressive or striking
The Olympics are a spectacular event.
speedometer
sorcerer
noun /spi˘»dÅmIt´[r]/
a device showing a vehicle’s speed
I think your speedometer might be malfunctioning.
noun /»sç˘s´r´[r]/
a person who can perform magic
The sorcerer made a dragon appear magically from
smoke.
sphinx
noun /sfINks/
Greek Mythology: a winged monster of Thebes,
having a woman‘s head and a lion’s body
Half-woman half-lion, the sphinx is a strange
creature.
sorrowful
adjective /»sÅrÚfl/
feeling or showing sadness
There were tears in her sorrowful eyes.
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age group
spinach
S
stampede
noun /»spInItS, »spInIdZ/
a vegetable with dark green leaves
They had spinach for dinner.
noun /stQm»pi˘d/
a sudden rush by animals or people
The stampede at the football stadium caused many
injuries.
spontaneous
stationary
adjective /spÅn»teInI´s/
happening or done without planning or forethought
Spontaneous laughter is a beautiful thing.
adjective /»steISń´ri/
not moving or not intended to be moved
The car remained stationary.
sprinkle
statistics
verb /»sprINkl/
to make tiny drops or pieces fall on something
Mehr decided to sprinkle glitter over her artwork.
noun /st´»tIstIks/
the study of information based on the numbers of
things
According to official statistics, the disease killed over
500 people.
squadron
noun /»skwÅdrń/
part of an army, navy or air force
His squadron is due for more training soon.
statue
noun /»stQtSu˘/
a model made of stone or metal etc. to look like a
person or animal
A bronze statue of the brave soldier was placed in the
town square.
squid
noun /skwId/
a sea animal with eight short tentacles and two long
ones
steak
squirrel
noun /steIk/
a thick slice of meat or fish
I would like to have steak for dinner.
noun /»skwIr´l/
a small animal with a bushy tail and red or grey fur,
living in trees
stealthy
squirt
adjective /»stelTi/
doing things quietly or secretly
The stealthy tiger approached the deer.
verb /skwŒ˘t/
cause (a liquid) to be ejected from a small opening in
a thin, fast stream or jet
The soda will squirt out of the can if shaken.
stimulating
adjective /»stImjUleItIN/
full of interesting or exciting ideas
They had a stimulating discussion.
stabilize
adjective /»steIbIlaIz/
make or become unlikely to give way or overturn
The doctor will first stabilize his condition.
stocking
noun /»stÅkIN/
either of the pair of thin clothing fitting closely to legs
and feet
Her one silk stocking was missing.
stallion
noun /»stQlIń/
a male horse
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age group
straighten
subordinate
verb /»streItn/
make or become straight
Straighten up slowly, then repeat the exercise ten
times.
adjective /s´»bç˘dIn´t/
lower in rank or position
As a subordinate he must obey his seniors.
subside
stratification
verb /s´b»saId/
become less intense, violent, or severe
She needed to go to the market but had to wait for
the storm to subside.
noun /«strQtIfI»keISn/
the arrangement of sedimentary rocks in distinct
layers
It is possible to see the stratification of rocks in the
Salt Range.
substance
noun /»s√bstńs/
the main or essential part of something
We agree with the substance of your report but not
with its details.
stratosphere
noun /»strQt´sfI´[r]/
a layer of the atmosphere between 10 and 60
kilometres above the Earth’s surface
The air is very thin in the stratosphere.
substantial
adjective /s´b»stQnSl/
of considerable size, value or importance
She received a substantial raise in her salary last
month.
strenuous
adjective /»strenjU´s/
requiring or using great effort or exertion
It is a very strenuous climb to the top.
substitute
structure
noun /»s√bstItju˘t/
a person or thing that acts or is used instead of
another
The doctor advised them to substitute regular milk
with fat-free milk.
noun /»str√ktS´[r]/
something that has been constructed or built
The structure of the brain is really complex.
studious
subterranean
adjective /»stju˘dI´s/
spending a lot of time studying or reading
She is studious and will do well in the exams.
adjective /«s√bt´»reInIń/
underground
There are subterranean caves in this area.
subdue
successful
verb /s´b»dju˘/
overcome, quieten, or bring under control
I do not want to subdue his high spirits and
enthusiasm.
adjective /s´k»sesfl/
having success
We congratulated them on the completion of the
successful business venture.
submarine
sufficient
noun /«s√bm´»ri˘n/
a ship that can travel under water
The submarine stayed under water for a whole week.
adjective /s´»fISnt/
enough
Sufficient reasons were not given to justify the ban.
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age group
suffocate
S
symmetrical
verb /»s√f´keIt/
die or cause to die from lack of air or inability to
breathe
A baby may suffocate if it sleeps with a pillow.
adjective /sI»metrIk´l/
made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or
around an axis ; showing symmetry
She cut the cake in symmetrical pieces.
suitcase
symptom
noun /»su˘tkeIs/
a case with flat sides and handle to carry clothes
She unpacked her suitcase as soon as she reached
home after the vacation.
noun /»sImpt´m/
a physical or mental feature which is regarded as
indicating a condition of disease
High fever is a symptom of influenza.
supersonic
synagogue
adjective /«su˘p´»sÅnIk/
faster than the speed of sound
Modern jets travel at supersonic speeds.
noun /»sIn´gÅg/
a place where Jews meet for worship
Jacob goes to the synagogue every Saturday.
supplement
syrup
noun /»s√plImńt/
something added as an extra
Vitamins are added as a supplement to cereals.
noun /»sIr´p/
a thick sweet liquid
She loved to eat pancakes with maple syrup.
surgeon
systematic
noun /»sŒ˘dZń/
a doctor who treats an injury by operating on the
affected part of the body
The surgeon operated on the patient.
adjective /«sIst´»mQtIk/
methodical; carefully planned
The police were conducting a systematic investigation
of the criminal’s house.
suspense
noun /s´»spens/
an anxious or uncertain feeling while waiting for
something to happen or become known
The suspense in the movie kept the audience glued
to their seats.
suspicious
adjective /s´»spIS´s/
feeling or causing suspicion
The suspicious behaviour of the man alerted the
police.
syllable
noun /»sIl´b´l/
any of the units into which a word is divided,
containing a vowel and one or more consonants
‘Potato’ is stressed on the second syllable.
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age group
tableau
tantalum
noun /»tQblÚ/
a group of models or motionless figures representing
a scene from a story or from history
The tableau represtented the Mughal dynasty.
noun /»tQnt´l´m/
a chemical element
Tantalum is a hard silver-grey metal used in the
production of electronic parts.
tacan
taphonomy
noun /»tQkń/
air navigation systems which define an aircraft’s
position
Tacan is generally used by the military.
noun /tQ»fÅn´mi/
the study of the conditions and processes by which
organisms become fossilized
Taphonomy helps understand the environment and
life history of extinct organisms.
taconite
tattoo
noun /»tQkńaIt/
low-grade iron ore
The iron content in taconite is about 25-30%.
noun /tQ»tu˘/
a picture on somebody’s skin
I have a butterfly tattoo on my left arm.
tactile
tauntingly
adjective /»tQktaIl/
of or connected with the sense of touch
Braille is a tactile system of writing for the sight
impaired.
adverb /tç˘nt»INli/
provoke or challenge (someone) with insulting
remarks
He spoke tauntingly to provoke his opponent.
talkative
taxis
adjective /»tç˘k´tIv/
fond of or given to talking
She is a talkative person.
noun /»tQksIs/
restoration of displaced organs or bones by manual
pressure alone
The patient endured a lot of pain during the taxis.
tamarind
noun /»tQm´rInd/
sticky brown acidic pulp from the pod of a tree of the
pea family
The tamarind chutney was quite sour.
technician
noun /tek»nISn/
a person whose job is to look after scientific
equipment and do practical work in a laboratory
He is a computer technician.
tangerine
noun /«tQndZ´»ri˘n/
a kind of small orange
She put a tangerine in the fruit salad.
technique
noun /tek»ni˘k/
the method of doing something
There are hardly any flaws in his technique.
tantalising
adjective /»tQnt´laIzIN/
teasing or tempting a person by showing him or her
something good but keeping it out of reach
The tantalising smell of freshly baked cookies brought
him to the kitchen.
technology
noun /tek»nÅl´dZi/
the study of machinery, engineering and how things
work
Computer technology is making rapid advances.
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age group
temperamental
T
termite
adjective /«tempr´»mentl/
likely to become excitable or moody suddenly
The temperamental opera singer refused to perform.
noun /»tŒ˘maIt/
a small insect that is very destructive and consumes
timber
tempt
terrific
verb /tempt/
to try to persuade
Natasha tried to tempt me to eat more sweets.
adjective /t´»rIfIk/
excellent; wonderful
She’s doing a terrific job.
tenacious
terrify
adjective /t´»neIS´s/
not giving up something easily; determined; persistent
The tenacious soldiers fought bravely.
verb /»terIfaI/
to make someone feel extremely frightened
She likes to terrify us with scary stories.
tenant
testimony
noun /»tenńt/
a person who rents a house, building, or land from a
landlord
The tenant was late in paying his rent.
noun /»testImńi/
a declaration of truth or fact
The witness gave his testimony in court.
texture
tension
noun /»tekstS´[r]/
the way that the surface of something feels
The texture of the cloth was very rough.
noun /»tenSn/
the condition of being stretched or strained
I suffered from a lot of tension due to my exams.
theatre
terminal
noun /»TI´t´[r]/
a building where plays are performed to an audience
I enjoy visiting the theatre.
noun /»tŒ˘mInl/
a building where air passengers arrive or depart
I made my way to the air terminal to receive my
guests.
therapy
noun /»Ter´pi/
a way of treating a physical or mental illness
She needed therapy to recover from her illness.
terminate
verb /»tŒ˘mIneIt/
to end; stop immediately
Your contract of employment will terminate in
December.
thoroughfare
noun /»T√r´fe´[r]/
a road or path forming a route between two places
Do not park your car on a busy thoroughfare.
terminology
noun /«tŒ˘mI»nÅl´dZi/
the technical terms of a subject
I am not familiar with computer terminology.
throttle
noun /»TrÅtl/
a device that controls the flow of fuel to an engine; an
accelerator
The captain eased up on the throttle as he
approached the runway.
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9 to 11
age group
throughout
totalitarian
adverb /Tru˘»aUt/
in every part
The timber was rotten throughout.
adjective /tÚ«tQl´»te´rIń/
using a form of government where people are not
allowed to form rival political parties
The totalitarian government was unpopular.
thwart
tragedy
verb /Twç˘t/
prevent from succeeding
The police managed to thwart the plot against the
king.
noun /»trQdZ´di/
a very sad or distressing event
It was a real tragedy that the hailstorm destroyed all
the crops.
tincture
tranquilliser
noun /»tINktS´[r]/
a medicine made by dissolving a drug in alcohol
Tincture of iodine is used to treat cuts and bruises.
noun /»trQNkwIlaIz´[r]/
a drug used to diminish anxiety
The vet used a tranquilliser to calm the wild animal.
titanic
tranquillity
adjective /taI»tQnIk/
of exceptional strength, size, or power
K2 is titanic in scale and dimension.
noun /trQN»kwIl´ti/
state of calm and peace
The view from the mountains offered tranquillity to her
troubled mind.
tobacco
noun /t´»bQkÚ/
the dried leaves of certain plants prepared for
smoking in cigarettes and cigars
The tobacco in cigarettes is injurious to health.
transition
noun /trQn»zISn/
the process of changing from one condition to
another
The transition from school to college can be difficult
for students.
tolerable
adjective /»tÅl´r´bl/
able to be tolerated
They moved to the city in search of tolerable living
conditions.
translucent
adjective /trQns»lu˘snt/
allowing some light to shine through but not
transparent
She was wearing a bracelet made of translucent
plastic beads.
torrential
adjective /t´»renS´l/
falling rapidly and in copious quantities
Torrential rains have been forecast for this season.
transparent
adjective /trQns»pQrńt, trA˘n»spe´rńt/
able to be seen through
He was drawing on a large transparent sheet.
torso
noun /»tç˘sÚ/
the trunk of the human body
The boxer took several hits to the torso.
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age group
transplant
T
tuberculosis
verb /trQns»plA˘nt/
to move to another place
The gardener was asked to transplant the shrub to a
shadier spot.
noun /tju˘«bŒ˘kju»lÚsIs/
a disease producing lesions on the lungs
He is really weak because he had tuberculosis when
he was young.
trapeze
turquoise
noun /tr´»pi˘z/
a short bar hanging from two parallel ropes high
above the ground
The audience gasped when the gymnast on the
trapeze almost lost his balance.
adjective /»tŒ˘kwçIz/
a sky-blue or greenish-blue colour
She wore a turquoise jacket.
tweezers
noun /»twi˘z´z/
small pincers for picking up or pulling small things
I used tweezers to remove the thorn from my finger.
treacherous
adjective /»tretS´r´s/
dangerous or unreliable
The treacherous ice on the roads made it difficult for
him to drive.
typical
adjective /»tIpIkl/
having the usual characteristics of a particular sort of
person or thing
A typical car owner drives 10,000 miles a year.
tremendous
adjective /tr´»mend´s/
very large
A tremendous wave rocked the boat.
trespasser
noun /»tresp´s´[r]/
a person who enters someone’s land unlawfully
The trespasser was caught by the police.
tributary
noun /»trIbjUt[´]ri/
a river or stream that flows into a larger one
River Jhelum is a tributary of the River Indus.
tricycle
noun /»traIsIkl/
a vehicle like a bicycle but with three wheels
Atif got a tricycle for his fourth birthday.
triplicate
noun /»trIplIk´t/
done three times
Each sample was tested in triplicate.
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9 to 11
age group
ultimatum
unavoidable
noun /√ltI»meIt´m/
a final demand or statement of terms
The principal issued an ultimatum that till the culprit
owns up classes will not resume.
adjective /«√n´»vçId´bl/
not able to be avoided
Unavoidable circumstances led to the accident.
unbearable
ultraviolet
adjective /√n»be´r´bl/
not able to be endured
Mehr’s skin rash worsened because of the
unbearable heat.
adjective /«√ltr´»vaI´l´t/
beyond the violet end of the light spectrum and not
visible to the human eye
Ultraviolet rays can be very harmful for our skin.
unbelievable
unaccountable
adjective /«√nbI»li˘v´bl/
not able to be believed
She gave us an unbelievable excuse for being late.
adjective /«√n´»kaUnt´bl/
unable to be explained
For some unaccountable reason, I completely forgot
to do my homework.
unconcerned
adjective /«√nkń»sŒ˘nd/
not worried
The unconcerned policeman ignored the traffic jam.
unaccustomed
adjective /√n´»k√st´md/
not familiar or usual; out of the ordinary
I am unaccustomed to eating such spicy food.
unconquerable
adjective /√n»kÅNk´r´b´l/
not conquerable
It is an unconquerable team that has never been
defeated.
unacquainted
adjective /√n´»kweIntId/
not having met before; not knowing each other
I am unacquained with her but I know her sister well.
unconscious
unadventurous
adjective /√n»kÅnS´s/
not conscious; not aware of things
They ran towards the unconscious man.
adjective /√n´d»ventS´r´s/
not offering, involving, or eager for new or stimulating
things
He is unadventurous and will not go trekking with us.
uncooperative
adjective /√nkÚ»Åp´r´tIv/
unwilling to help others or do what they ask
She is uncooperative and nobody wants her in the
team.
unanimous
adjective /jU»nQnIm´s/
with everyone in agreement
They reached a unanimous decision to go to the
beach.
underneath
preposition /«√nd´»ni˘T/
below
Underneath her cool exterior, she was extremely
frightened.
unappreciated
adjective /√n´»pri˘SIeItId/
not fully understood, recognized, or valued
The poet was unappreciated during his lifetime.
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age group
undiagnosed
U
unkempt
adjective /√n»daI´gnÚzd/
not diagnosed or having been subject to diagnosis
Her illness remains undiagnosed.
adjective /«√n»kempt/
untidy or neglected
Her wild unkempt hair was difficult to comb.
unenthusiastic
unpleasantness
adjective /«√nInTju˘zI»QstIk/
not having or showing enthusiasm
The unenthusiastic audience did not applaud or
cheer.
noun /√n»plezntn´s/
the state or quality of being unpleasant
I did not want to cause any unpleasantness by
arriving late.
unfamiliar
unreasonable
adjective /«√nf´»mIli´[r]/
strange
I lost my way in the unfamiliar area.
adjective /√n»ri˘zn´bl/
going beyond the limits of what is reasonable
The greedy child made unreasonable demands.
unfashionable
unreliable
adjective /√n»fQSń´b´l/
not fashionable or popular at a particular time
This style is unfashionable now.
adjective /«√nrI»laI´bl/
not reliable
The unreliable student came late for the exam.
ungrateful
unsatisfactory
adjective /√n»greItfl/
not grateful or thankful
His ungrateful attitude upset his parents.
adjective /«√n«sQtIs»fQkt´ri/
not good enough
He went back to the shop to return all the
unsatisfactory goods.
uninhabitable
unscrupulous
adjective /«√nIn»hQbIt´bl/
unfit to live in
They were stuck on an uninhabitable island for
weeks.
adjective /√n»skru˘pj´l´s/
without scruples; unprincipled
His unscrupulous behaviour is shocking.
unintelligible
unsympathetic
adjective /«√nIn»telIdZ´bl/
not able to be understood
The baby uttered unintelligible words.
adjective /«√nsImp´»TetIk/
not feeling, showing, or expressing sympathy
He was unsympathetic to the suffering of the poor
man.
universal
untimely
adjective /«ju˘nI»vŒ˘sl/
to do with or including or done by everyone or
everything
English is fast becoming a universal language.
adjective /√n»taImli/
occurring before the expected, normal, or proper time
We were not prepared for the untimely arrival of our
guests.
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9 to 11
age group
unveil
verb /«√n»veIl/
to remove a veil or covering from something
The bride did not want to unveil during the wedding
ceremony.
upheaval
noun /√p»hi˘vl/
a sudden change or disturbance
Moving to a new house causes an upheaval.
utensil
noun /ju˘»tensl/
a tool, device, or container, especially one for use in
the house
Which utensil will you use to turn the pancakes?
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age group
vacation
V
variety
noun /v´»keISn, veI»keISn/
a holiday
We are going to take a vacation in the hills.
noun /v´»raI´ti/
an assortment
The bakery has a variety of cakes.
vague
varve
adjective /veIg/
not definite or clear
She gave a vague answer to my question.
noun /vA˘v/
an annual layer of sedimentary material deposited in
lakes by glacial meltwaters
Varve is usually formed in fresh water lakes.
valence
vector
noun /»veIlńs/
the capacity of an element to combine with another to
form molecules
Carbon always has a valence of four.
noun /»vekt´[r]/
an insect that carries a particular disease from one
living thing to another
The vector for malaria is the mosquito.
valley
vega
noun /»vQli/
a long, low area between hills or mountains
The Nile valley is very fertile.
noun /»veIg´, vi˘g´/
the fifth brightest star in the night sky
Vega has been extensively studied by astronomers.
vanadium
vegetarian
noun /v´»neIdI´m/
a bright white, soft chemical element found in several
minerals
Vanadium is added to some types of steel to make
them stronger.
noun /«vedZ´»te´rIń/
a person who does not eat meat
Ayesha is a vegetarian.
vehicle
vanquish
noun /»vi˘Ikl/
a means of transporting people or goods, especially
on land
A bus is a vehicle that can accommodate many
passengers.
verb /»vQNkwIS/
to defeat thoroughly
The army vowed to vanquish the enemy.
vapour
vengeance
noun /»veIp´[r]/
a visible gas; steam or mist
Water, when heated, turns into vapour.
noun /»vendZńs/
revenge
He swore vengeance on everyone involved in the
killing.
variable
adjective /»ve´rI´bl/
changeable
Variable temperatures are caused by global warming.
venison
noun /venIzń, venIsń/
meat from a deer
I prefer the smoked venison to the pizza.
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9 to 11
age group
vernacular
virtue
noun /»vŒtSu˘, »vŒ˘tju˘/
behaviour showing high moral standards
Honesty is a virtue.
noun /v´»nQkj´l´[r]/
the language of a country or district, as distinct from
an official or formal language
She is fluent in the vernacular of the area.
vision
vernier
noun /»vIZn/
the ability to see
He needs glasses to improve his vision.
noun /»vŒ˘nI´/
instrument for making very accurate linear or angular
measurements
Vernier was first introduced by a French
mathematician in 1631.
vocabulary
noun /v´[U]»kQbjUl´ri/
all the words used in a particular subject or language,
or that an individual person uses
Mehr has an extensive vocabulary.
versatile
adjective /»vŒ˘s´taIl/
able to do or be used for many different things
She is a versatile actress and can play many different
roles.
vocational
adjective /v´[U]»keISń´l/
connected with the skill that you need to do a
particular job
She went to vocational training institute lo learn
sewing.
versus
preposition /»vŒ˘s´s/
against; competing with
It is France versus Brazil in the finals.
volatile
vicious
adjective /»vÅl´taIl/
evaporating quickly
Volatile liquids should be kept covered or they will
evaporate.
adjective /»vIS´s/
cruel and aggressive
Atif has a vicious dog.
victorious
voluntary
adjective /vIk»tç˘rI´s/
having defeated an opponent
The victorious cricket team celebrated.
adjective /»vÅlńtri/
done willingly, not because you are forced to do it
Voluntary social workers distributed the medicine.
villain
volunteer
noun /»vIlń/
whose evil actions or motives are important to the
plot
The villain of the story is the evil magician.
noun /«vÅlń»tI´[r]/
a person who offers to do something
He is working as a volunteer at the hospital.
vulnerable
violin
adjective /»v√ln´r´bl/
able to be hurt or harmed or attacked
The vulnerable bridge was guarded by the army.
noun /«vaI´»lIn/
a musical instrument with four strings, played with a
bow
The violin makes a beautiful sound.
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age group
waive
W
wedge
verb /weIv/
refrain from insisting on or using (a right or claim)
The judge decided to waive the rule of silence in
court.
noun /wedZ/
a piece of wood, metal, etc. having one thick end and
tapering to a thin edge, that is driven between two
objects or parts of an object
She put a wedge under the door to prevent it
swinging shut.
wardrobe
noun /»wç˘drÚb/
a cupboard to hang clothes in
Hang your clothes up in the wardrobe.
weevil
noun /»wi˘vl, »wi˘vIl/
a small beetle that feeds on plants and fruits
warrant
werewolf
noun /»wÅrńt/
a document issued by a government official
authorizing the police to make an arrest
The police have a warrant for his arrest.
noun /»we´wUlf/
a person who sometimes changes into a wolf
(fictional character)
He turns into a werewolf when there is a full moon.
wayward
whereabouts
adjective /»weIw´d/
difficult to control or predict because of wilful or
perverse behaviour
He is a disobedient, wayward son.
noun /»we´r´baUts/
location
His whereabouts are still unknown.
weasel
whim
noun /»wi˘z´l/
a small, slender carnivorous mammal related to, but
smaller than, the stoat
The weasel feeds on rat and mice
noun /wIm/
a sudden desire or change of mind, especially one
that is unusual or unexplained
I decided to buy this dress on a sudden whim.
weathervane
whistle
noun /»weD´veIn/
a pointer that turns in the wind and shows from which
direction it is blowing
The weathervane shows that the wind is blowing from
the south.
noun /»wIsl/
a device that makes a shrill sound when air or steam
is blown through it
The referee blew his whistle repeatedly.
wilderness
weaver
noun /»wIldńIs/
a wild uncultivated area; a desert
You could get lost in the wilderness without a guide.
noun /»wi˘v´/
a person who weaves fabric
The weaver has woven an intricate design in the
fabric.
windshield
noun /»wIndSi˘ld/
a big window in front of a car
The windshield of the jeep was dirty after we returned
from the desert safari.
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9 to 11
age group
wisdom
noun /»wIzd´m/
being wise
Wisdom comes from experience.
woollen
adjective /»wUlń/
made of wool
He put on woollen socks when his feet got cold.
worrisome
adjective /»w√rIs´m/
causing anxiety or concern
His poor health is worrisome.
wreath
noun /ri˘T/
an arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened
in a ring and used for decoration
The wreath was made of dried flowers and hung on
the door.
wrestle
verb /»res´l/
take part in a fight, either as sport or in earnest, that
involves grappling with one’s opponent
The Rock will wrestle the Undertaker this weekend.
wretched
adjective /»retSId/
in a very unhappy or unfortunate state
She lives a wretched life without any money.
wriggle
verb /»rIgl/
to move with short twisting movements
They managed to wriggle through the thick hedge.
writhe
verb /raID/
to twist or move your body without stopping, often
because you are in great pain
She began to writhe around on the floor in agony.
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age group
xenolith
noun /»zen´lIT/
a rock fragment different in kind from the rock it is
enclosed in
A xenolith may be anything from angular to round in
its shape.
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Y
9 to 11
age group
yacht
noun /jAt/
a sailing boat used for racing or cruising
He went to sea in a yacht for the weekend.
yaws
noun /jç˘z/
a contagious tropical disease
Yaws is common in children in tropical countries.
yew
noun /ju˘/
a small tree with dark green leaves and small red
berries
Ten yew trees have been planted in the churchyard.
yoghurt
noun /»jÅg´t, »jÚg´t/
milk thickened by the action of certain bacteria, giving
it a sharp taste
My mother encourages me to have yoghurt as it is
rich in calcium.
yttrium
noun /»ItrI´m/
a silvery metallic chemical element
Yttrium is generally found in the rare-earth elements.
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age group
zeal
noun /zi˘l/
enthusiasm or keenness
She came back to work with renewed zeal.
zealot
noun /»zel´t/
a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in
pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals
He is a zealot who will not listen to any other view.
zenith
noun /»zenIT/
the time at which something is most powerful or
successful
He has reached the zenith of his career.
zirconium
noun /zŒ˘»kÚmI´m/
a hard metallic chemical element
Most of the zirconium produced today is used in
water-cooled nuclear reactors.
zodiac
noun /»zÚdIQk/
an area in the sky in which the Sun, moon and
planets appear
There are twelve signs of the zodiac.
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12 to 14
AGE GROUP
A
12
to 14
age group
abbreviate
abnegation
verb /´»bri˘vieIt/
to shorten a word by leaving out letters
To master the art of shorthand, one needs to know
how to abbreviate words.
noun /«QbnI»geISn/
rejection of a belief
Through the abnegation of his religion he may retain
his position.
abdicate
abnormality
verb /»QbdIkeIt/
to give up (the throne, a high office or position of
responsibility)
The Queen was forced to abdicate the throne.
noun /«Qbnç˘»mQl´ti/
a feature or event which is not usual
There was an abnormality in the test.
abolition
abdomen
noun /«Qb´»lISn/
the ending of a system, law or custom
Australia will vote on the possible abolition of the
monarchy.
noun /»Qbd´mń/
the part of the body below the chest that contains the
stomach and bowels
The woman fainted due to severe pain in her
abdomen.
aboriginal
noun /Qb´»rIdZIn´l/
relating to the original people or animals of a place
Her studies of the primitive art forms of aboriginal
Australians were widely reported.
abduction
noun /Qb»d√kSn/
kidnapping
The abduction of the little boy came as a shock to his
parents.
abrasion
noun /´»breIZn/
a damaged area of the skin where it has been rubbed
against something hard and rough
He suffered a slight abrasion due to his fall.
abeyance
noun /´»beIńs/
temporary disuse
The deal was held in abeyance until her arrival.
abrasive
abhorrent
adjective /´»breIsIv/
something that is rough and can be used to clean a
surface or to make it smooth
I scrubbed the counter with an abrasive kitchen
cleaner.
adjective /´b»hÅrńt/
disgusting or hateful
Spitting in public is an abhorrent practice.
ablaze
abreast
adjective /´»bleIz/
burning quickly and strongly
Cars and buses were set ablaze during the riot.
adverb /´»brest/
next to and facing the same way
A police car drew abreast of us and signalled us to
stop.
ablution
noun /´»blu˘Sn/
a ceremonial washing or cleansing of the body as an
act of religion
He performed his ablution before entering the
mosque.
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age group
abridged
A
academic
adjective /´»brIdZd/
a shortened version of a book or play leaving out
some parts
I am reading an abridged edition of Shakespeare’s
plays.
adjective /«Qk´»demIk/
connected with education
The academic year in my school is from September
to June.
academician
abscess
noun /Q«k´d´»mISn, ´«kQd´»mISn/
a member of an academy; related to a field of
learning
The highly reputed academician put forward a new
theory which won him the Nobel Prize.
noun /»Qbses/
a swelling or infected area on the skin or in the body
full of a thick yellowish liquid
She developed an abscess on her arm following an
injury.
accede
abscond
verb /Qk»si˘d, ´k»si˘d/
to agree to a proposal, demand or request
The government decided not to accede to the
terrorists’ demands.
verb /´b»skÅnd/
to depart secretly
The accountant planned to abscond with the money.
absenteeism
accelerando
adverb /Qk«sel´»rQndÚ, Qk«sel´»rAndÚ/
in music, gradually increasing in speed
He was asked to play the music accelerando.
noun /«Qbsń»ti˘Iz´m/
frequent non-attendance from work or school
The principal will take strict action to deal with
absenteeism.
accelerate
absolve
verb /Qk»sel´«reIt/
to increase speed
Fertilisers accelerate the growth of plants.
verb /´b»zÅlv/
to release a person (from sin, guilt, a promise, duty)
I absolve you of all responsibility in the matter.
access
absorbent
noun /»Qkses/
the way in to a place
We don’t have access to the garden from our flat.
adjective /´b»sç˘bńt, ´b»zç˘bńt/
able to soak up liquid easily
The absorbent tablecloth soaked up the spilt water on
the table.
accession
noun /Qk»seSń/
the attainment or acquisition of a position of rank or
power
The accession of the new king was marked by much
celebration.
abundance
noun /´»b√ndńs/
a very large quantity
The abundance of tourists in this region does
wonders for the local economy.
accessory
abyss
noun /´k»ses´ri/
a small article of dress
Her favourite accessory is her new leather belt
noun /´»bIs/
a very deep hole that seems to have no bottom
Ahead of the divers was a gaping abyss.
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12
to 14
age group
acclaim
acquiesce
noun /´»kleIm/
approval, applause
The actor of the film received great acclaim for his
extraordinary performance.
verb /«Qkwi»es/
to agre to or accept something without an argument
She refused to acquiesce in the reorganisation of the
committee.
acclimatise
acquire
verb /´»klaIm´taIz, Q»klIm´tAIz/
to get used to a new place, situation or climate
It’s not easy to acclimatise to harsh weather
conditions.
verb /´»kwaI´[r]/
to get, gain or buy
I would like to acquire one hundred stock shares.
acquisition
accommodation
noun /QkwI»zISń/
an asset or object bought or obtained, typically by a
library or museum
The museum added a new acquisition to its
Gandhara collection.
noun /´«kÅm´»deISn/
a place to live, work or stay in
Hotel accommodation is included in the price of your
holiday.
accord
acrimonious
noun /´»kç˘d/
an agreement
The two governments signed a peace accord last
year.
adjective /«QkrI»mÚni´s/
bitter
Their marriage came to an acrimonious end.
acronym
accusation
noun /»QkrńIm/
a word formed from the first letters of the words that
make up the name of something
AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome.
noun /QkjU»zeISń/
a charge or claim that someone has done something
illegal or wrong
I don’t want to make an accusation until I have some
proof.
acrophobia
acetone
noun /«Qkr´»fÚbI´/
fear of heights
I cannot go skydiving because I suffer from
acrophobia.
noun /»QsItÚn/
colourless liquid with a strong smell
Acetone is used to make paint thinner.
acoustic
acupressure
adjective /´»ku˘stIk/
of or relating to sound
As a birthday present, Ahmed wanted an acoustic
guitar from his father.
noun /»QkjU«preS´[r]/
a form of alternative therapy in which manual
pressure is used to stimulate specific points on the
body along what are considered to be lines of energy
Acupressure is used to relieve a variety of aches and
pains.
acquaint
verb /´»kweInt/
to make aware of or familiar with
Please acquaint me with the facts of the case.
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age group
acupuncture
A
adulterate
noun /»QkjUp√NktS´[r]/
a Chinese method of treating pain and illness using
special thin needles
He opted for acupuncture to treat his back pain.
verb /´»d√lt´reIt/
render(something)poorer in quality by adding another
substance
I will not adulterate my essay by copying from others.
adaptation
advection
noun /Qd´p»teISń/
the action or process of adapting or being adapted
This film is an adaptation of a novel.
noun /´d»vekSń/
transfer of heat, cold or humidity in the atmosphere
by the horizontal movement of an air mass
Today’s temperatures were higher due to the
advection of warm air into the region.
addictive
adjective /´»dIktIv/
substance or activity causing or likely to cause
someone to become addicted to it
The number game sudoko can become rather
addictive.
adventurous
adjective /´d»ventS´r´s/
willing to take risks or to try out new methods, ideas,
or experiences
Only an adventurous explorer can brave the arctic ice
solo.
adjudicate
verb /´»dZu˘dIkeIt/
make a formal judgement on a disputed matter
The tribunal’s function is to adjudicate disputes
between employers and employees.
adversity
noun /´d»vŒ˘s´ti/
misfortune; difficulty
She showed tremendous courage when faced with
adversity.
adjutant
noun /»QdZUtńt/
a military officer who assists senior officers with
administrative work
Ralph is an adjutant in the army.
advocate
noun /»Qdv´k´t/
one who publicly supports or recommends a
particular cause or policy
He is a staunch advocate of free speech.
adolescence
noun /«Qd´»lesns/
the time in a person’s life when he or she develops
from a child into an adult
Children start to think about their careers during their
adolescence.
aerobatics
pl. noun /e´rÚ»bQtIks/
loops, rolls, and other feats of spectacular flying
performed in one or more aircraft to entertain an
audience on the ground
The aerobatics team of fighter jets performed
spectacular stunts.
adulation
noun /QdjU»leISn/
great admiration and praise
His adulation for Waseem Akram made him
passionate about cricket.
aerodynamics
pl noun /«e´rÚdaI»nQmIks/
the study of the properties of moving air and the
interaction between the air and solid bodies moving
through it
Improved aerodynamics in the new race car model
will increase its performance.
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to 14
age group
aesthetic
agile
adjective /i˘s»TetIk, es»TetIk/
concerned with beauty and art and the understanding
of beautiful things
Her aesthetic sense was displayed in her beautifully
decorated home.
adjective /»QdZaIl/
able to move quickly and easily
The agile worker managed to complete the fitting of
doors well before the deadline.
agitate
affable
verb /»QdZIteIt/
to stir someone or something up
Low wages tend to agitate the workers.
adjective /»Qf´bl/
good-natured and friendly
Shan has an affable personality which makes him
easy to get along with.
alar
adjective /»eIl´/
pertaining to, resembling, or having wings
Da Vinci’s alar drawings are still being used as study
models by art students.
affiliation
noun /´«fIli»eISn/
a connection with an association or party
He was arrested due to his affiliation with the
liberation movement.
albinism
noun /»QlbInIz´m/
congenital absence of normal pigmentation
Albinism is an inherited condition.
affirmative
adjective /´»fŒ˘m´tIv/
affirmative
Majority voted affirmatively in their favour.
alexandrian
adjective /«QlIg»zA˘ndrIń/
of or relating to Alexander the Great
The head of a state had an alexandrain philosophy in
running the affairs of the country.
aggrandizement
noun /´»grQndaIzmńt/
increase the power, status, or wealth of
His sole aim is personal aggrandisement.
allegation
aggravate
noun /«Ql´»geISn/
a claim that someone has done something wrong or
illegal
The allegation against him is potentially damaging.
verb /»Qgr´veIt/
make worse
Pollution can aggravate asthma.
aggregate
alliteration
noun /»QgrIg´t/
a whole formed by combining several separate
elements
An aggregate rock is a mixture of mineral fragments
and crystals.
noun /´«lIt´»reISn/
the use of the same letter at the beginning of words
that are close together
“Sing a song of sixpence” is an example of
alliteration.
aggrieved
allocate
adjective /´»gri˘vd/
feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated
The students were aggrieved at being wrongfully
punished.
verb /»Ql´keIt/
assign
The university is planning to allocate more places for
overseas students this year.
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alluvium
A
ambiguity
noun /´»l[j]u˘vI´m/
a deposit of sand, mud, etc.,left by rivers or floods
Alluvium can contain valuable ores such as gold and
platinum and a wide variety of gemstones.
noun /«QmbI»gju˘´ti/
uncertain or inexact meaning
There is ambiguity in the statement which nobody
cares to clarify.
altercation
ambiguous
noun /«ç˘lt´»keISn/
a noisy disagreement
The police were notified of the altercation in the
parking lot.
adjective /Qm»bIgju´s/
having more than one meaning
His ambiguous statement left everyone thinking.
ambivalence
altruism
noun /Qm»bIv´lńs/
the state of having two opposing ideas or opinions
Many people show ambivalence regarding the effect
of television on children.
noun /»QltruIz´m/
an unselfish concern for the needs and happiness of
others
He is revered for his altruism and saintly deeds all
around town.
amble
verb /»Qmbl/
to walk at a leisurely pace
We would amble down to the beach every morning.
altruistic
adjective /»Qltru»IstIk/
concerned for others; unselfishly generous
Her altruistic nature was appreciated by everyone in
the family.
ameliorate
verb /´»mi˘lI´reIt/
to make something better
Steps have been taken to ameliorate the situation.
aluminium
noun /aljU»mInI´m/
the chemical element of atomic number 13, a light
silvery-grey metal
Being made of aluminium, this urn is light and shiny.
ammonia
noun /´»mÚni´/
a colourless strong-smelling chemical
Ammonia is often used in making cleaning
substances.
ambidextrous
adjective /«Qmbi»dekstr´s/
able to use both the left and the right hand equally
well
The tennis player’s ambidextrous skills proved to be
an advantage.
amphibious
adjective /Qm»fIbi´s/
living in or suited for both land and water
The frog’s amphibious nature serves it well both in
water and on land.
ambience
noun /»Qmbińs/
atmosphere
The ambience of the hotel was friendly and
welcoming.
amphipoda
proper noun /QmfI»pÚd´/
aquatic anthropods such as lobsters and crabs
Most amphipoda are marine animals.
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to 14
age group
amphitheatre
anecdote
noun /»amfITi˘´t´/
a semicircular seating gallery in a theatre
The school staged a play in the amphitheatre.
noun /»QnIkdÚt/
short, interesting story
He amused us with an anecdote about his visit to
Africa.
anaerobic
animalcule
adjective /«QnE˘»rÚbIk/
pertaining to exercise that increases strength,
promotes weight loss, but does not increase
cardiovascular efficiency
Anaerobic exercises include sprinting, throwing, and
weight-lifting.
noun /«anI»malkju˘l/
a minute or microscopic organism
Amoeba is an example of an animalcule.
animosity
noun /«QnI»mÅs´ti/
strong, active hatred
There was obvious animosity between the two
political parties.
analogue
noun /»Qn´lÅg/
a thing that is similar to another thing
Scientists have failed to find a living analogue for
dinosaurs.
annihilate
verb /´»naI´leIt/
to destroy or defeat completely
The army had enough weapons to annihilate the
enemy.
analysis
noun /´»nQl´sIs/
careful examination of how something is structured
Your analysis of the situation is different from mine.
anonymity
ancestry
noun /´»nÅnImiti/
the state of remaining unknown
Names of people in the book were changed to
preserve anonymity.
noun /»Qnsestri/
one’s family or ethnic descent
His family ancestry has been traced back to the tenth
century.
anorexia
anchovy
noun /«Qn´»reksi´/
a prolonged eating disorder with a psychological
cause
The patient received counselling as she was suffering
from anorexia.
noun /»QntS´vi/
a small fish with a strong salty flavour
androgynous
adjective /Qn»drÅdZń´s/
having both male and female characteristics
Her androgynous appearance made her a lonely and
misunderstood human being.
anorthosite
noun /´»nç˘T´saIt/
a granular plutonic rock
Anorthosite makes up about 60% of Earth’s crust.
android
antagonism
noun /»QndrçId/
(in science fiction) a robot with a human appearance
An android is an automaton made to resemble a
human.
noun /Qn»tQgńIz´m/
hostility or opposition
There is growing antagonism towards certain policies
of the government.
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age group
antecedent
A
apparatus
noun /«QntI»si˘dnt/
an event or situation happening before another
An antecedent can shape the future of a nation.
noun /«Qp´»reIt´s/
the equipment needed for a particular purpose
The apparatus needed for his physics experiment all
came out of a nifty little box.
anthracite
apparition
noun /»QnTr´saIt/
a very hard type of coal that burns slowly without
producing a lot of smoke or flames
Being in the business of producing steel, our
company deals with large quantities of anthracite.
noun /«Qp´»rISn/
a ghost or an image of a person who is dead
She saw an apparition of her deceased mother.
applique
anthropologist
noun /´»pli˘keI/
ornamental needlework in which pieces of fabric are
sewn to a larger piece to form a picture or pattern
I will sew an applique bedcover using different
coloured fabrics.
noun /«QnTr´»pÅl´dZIst/
an expert in, or student of, the history and science of
mankind
Margaret Mead was the first anthropologist to
observe varying gender roles in different societies.
aquamarine
antioxidant
noun /«akw´m´»ri˘n/
a precious stone consisting of a light bluish-green
variety of beryl
Aquamarine is my birthstone.
noun /QntI»ÅksIdńt/
a substance that inhibits oxidation
Vitamin E is an antioxidant used in cosmetics to
prevent ageing.
aquifer
apathy
noun /»akwIf´/
an underground layer of loose rock, sand, or gravel
that holds water in its spaces
Aquifer may occur at various depths.
noun /»Qp´Ti/
lack of interest/enthusiasm about something
There is widespread apathy among the people about
the present government.
arbitrate
aperiodic
verb /»A˘bItreIt/
to settle a dispute by acting as judge
Mr Smith was called to arbitrate between the
management and the employees.
adjective /«eIpI´rI»ÅdIk/
not periodic, occuring irregularly
They were receiving aperiodic signals from the
control tower.
archipelago
apocalypse
noun /«A˘kI»pel´gÚ/
a group of many islands
The Indonesian archipelago consists of hundreds of
islands.
very serious damage and destruction
A nuclear war has the potential to cause an
environmental apocalypse.
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to 14
age group
aristocracy
assurance
noun /«QrI»stÅkr´si/
the highest social class, consisting of people with
hereditary titles
Many of the French aristocracy were killed during the
revolution.
noun /´»SU´rńs/
a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a
promise
I give you my full assurance that the work will be
done on time.
Aristotelian
asterisk
adjective /«QrIst´»ti˘lIń/
of or relating to Greek Philosopher Aristotle or his
philosophy
He did not do justice to the Aristotelian theory in his
research paper.
noun /»Qst´rIsk/
a star-shaped character or symbol used to call
attention to something
I have placed an asterisk next to the tasks I want you
to do first.
arson
astrometry
noun /»A˘sń/
the crime of deliberately setting fire to something
The building owner was charged with arson.
noun /´»strÅmItri/
the scientific measurement of the positions, motions
and magnitudes of stars
Astrometry is a branch of astronomy.
articulate
astute
adjective /A˘»tIkjuleIt/
clearly expressed
Her articulate speech impressed the audience.
adjective /´»stju˘t/
shrewd; crafty
An astute businessman knows how to manage his
finances.
assessment
noun /´»sesmńt/
an opinion or judgement about something
What is your assessment of the situation?
audacious
adjective /ç˘»deIS´s/
willing to take bold risks
The judge made an audacious statement in his
closing, risking his entire judicial career.
asset
noun /»Qset/
a person or things that is valuable to someone
She will be asset to the organization.
audacity
noun /ç˘»dQs´ti/
bold rudeness
He had the audacity to say that I was too fat.
assignation
noun /asIg»neISń/
an appointment to meet someone in secret, typically
one made by lovers
She contacted him and arranged a secret
assignation.
audible
adjective /»ç˘dIb´l/
loud enough to be heard
The teacher’s voice was barely audible without the
microphone.
assuage
verb /´»sweIdZ/
to make an unpleasant feeling less severe
She managed to assuage the customer’s anger.
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age group
audit
noun /»ç˘dIt/
an official examination of business and financial
records
The team from head office was visiting for the annual
audit.
auxiliary
adjective /ç˘g»zIli´ri /
providing additional help or support
We have installed an auxiliary generator in case of
power cuts.
avail
noun /´»veIl/
with little or no success
The doctors tried everything to save his life but to no
avail.
avalanche
noun /»Qv´lA˘nS/
a mass of snow and ice falling rapidly down a
mountainside
The avalanche in the Alps took many lives.
avocado
noun /«Qv´»kA˘dÚ/
a pear-shaped fruit with pale green flesh and a large
stone
Avocado is the main ingredient in guacamole.
axiom
noun /»Qksi´m/
a rule or principle that most people believe to be true
A religious axiom is rarely questioned by believers.
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B
12
to 14
age group
bagatelle
batter
noun /«bQg´»tel/
a game in which small balls are hit into numbered
holes on a board
She enjoyed playing bagatelle.
noun /»bQt´[r]/
a mixture of eggs, milk and flour used in cooking
the batter for pancakes was lumpy.
bedouin
balsam
proper noun /»beduIn/
an Arab living as a nomad in the desert
After travelling for days the Bedouin reached an
oasis.
noun /»bç˘ls´m/
any palm or tree from which an oil with a pleasant
smell called balm is obtained
The chemist used balsam to make the medicine.
bedraggled
banal
adjective /bI»drag´ld/
dishevelled
He combed his bedraggled hair.
adjective /b´»nA˘l/
not original or interesting
His banal remarks were inappropriate for the happy
occasion.
beleaguer
verb /bI»li˘g´/
lay siege to
The general ordered his forces to beleaguer the
weakened enemy until they surrendered.
bankruptcy
noun /»bQNkr√ptsi/
inability to pay debts
The company declared its bankruptcy due to lack of
financial alternatives.
benevolent
adjective /b´»nev´lńt/
kind and helpful
After the flood, concerned citizens made benevolent
contributions for the relief effort.
barium
noun /»be´ri´m/
a soft silvery metallic element
Barium is used in making dyes and bleaches.
benign
barnacle
adjective /bI»naIn/
pleasant in nature or influence, gentle, kind
He is well-liked because of his benign manner.
noun /bA˘n´kl/
common sea creatures which encrust rocks and the
piles of piers
The barnacle clung to a rock.
bereavement
noun /bI»ri˘vmńt/
death or departure of a loved one
The president offered his condolences to the families
facing bereavement after the bomb blast.
barometer
noun /b´»rçmIt´[r]/
an instrument used to forecast the weather by
measuring atmospheric pressure
Noticing the change in the barometer reading, the
weatherman quickly updated his forecast.
berserk
adjective /b´»zŒ˘k /
uncontrollably wild
He went berserk and attacked me.
barrister
noun /»bQrIst´[r]/
counsellor-at-law
The barrister gave an emotional closing statement for
his case.
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besiege
B
billionaire
verb /bI»si˘dZ/
surround so as to force to give up
The king ordered his troops to besiege the town.
noun /«bIlj´»ne´[r]/
a person owning money and property worth at least a
billion dollars or rupees
Roman Abramovich was a billionaire at the age of 32.
besmirch
biodiversity
verb /bI»smŒ˘tS/
to soil, sully
The papers had deliberately set out to besmirch his
reputation.
noun /«b√IÚd√I»vE˘sItI/
the variety of plant and animal life in the world
Biodiversity of flora and fauna in the rainforest is truly
vast.
besought
biopharming
verb /bI»sç˘t/
past and past participle of beseech
We besought the authorities to come to our
assistance.
noun /»b√IÚ»fA˘mIN/
the application of genetic engineering on living
organisms to induce or increase production
Biopharming, which has has been around for a
number of years, continues to be a controversial
subject.
bewilderment
noun /bI»wIld´mńt/
cause (someone) to become perplexed and confused
His announcement made me stare at him in
bewilderment.
biophysicist
noun /«bAIÚ»fIzIsIst/
a physicist who applies the methods of physics to
biology
The biophysicist went into great detail when
explaining the process used in his experiment.
biannual
adjective /baI»Qnju´l/
occurring twice a year
The carnival is a biannual event in their school.
biosphere
noun /»b√IÚsfI´/
the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the
earth or another planet occupied by living organisms
Biosphere is the zone on earth where life naturally
occurs.
bicephalous
adjective /b√I»sef[´]l´s/
having two heads
The bicephalous eagle was displayed in the museum
of Natural History.
bizarre
bilateral
adjective /bI»zA˘[r]/
highly unconventional or unusual
She told us a bizarre story.
adjective /b√I»lat´r´l/
having or relating to two sides; affecting both sides
India and Pakistan signed a bilateral agreement to
work on a solution for Kashmir.
blandishment
noun /»blQndISmńt/
flattery intended to persuade
He used many a blandishment to try to persuade her
to marry him.
bilingual
adjective /«baI»lINgw´l/
using two languages
The bilingual movie attracted a large audience.
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12
to 14
age group
blare
bombardier
noun /»ble´[r]/
a loud unpleasant noise
He was awakened by the blare of car horns.
noun /«bÅmb´»dI´/
a rank of non-commissioned officer in certain artillery
regiments, equivalent to corporal
The soldier is a bombardier in the artillery regiment.
blasphemous
bonsai
adjective /»blQsf´m´s/
insulting or showing a lack of respect for God or
religion
Many Christians found the Da Vinci Code to have
been a blasphemous piece of literature.
noun /»bÅns√I/
the art of growing ornamental, artificially dwarfed
varieties of trees and shrubs in pots
Careful pruning and watering is needed for indoor
bonsai plants.
blithe
boomerang
adjective /blaID/
casual; lacking concern
He drove with a blithe disregard for traffic rules.
noun /»bu˘m´rQN/
a curved flat piece of wood that can be thrown so as
to return to the thrower
One is in danger of injuring oneself if a boomerang is
not caught.
blizzard
noun /»blIz´d/
a severe snowstorm with strong winds
Traffic slowed to a halt because of the blizzard.
bougainvillea
noun /«bu˘gń»vIli´/
a tropical climbing plant with brightly coloured
modified leaves surrounding the flowers
She grew bougainvillea in her garden.
blockade
noun /blÅ»keId/
the action of surrounding or closing a place
The police set up a blockade on the highway.
bountiful
adjective /»baUntIfl/
given or giving freely; plentiful
The charity home receives a bountiful supply of
goods from the government.
blotch
noun /»blÅtS/
an irregular mark on skin or material
The mosquito bite left a red blotch on her face.
bouquet
bluff
noun /bu»keI/
a bunch of flowers arranged in an attractive way
She was pleased to receive a bouquet of tulips on her
birthday.
noun /»bl√f/
deliberate deception intended to create the
impression of a stronger position than one actually
has
It was just a bluff that he would resign if his pay
wasn’t increased.
boutique
noun /bu˘»ti˘k/
a small shop/store that sells fashionable clothes
They bought the dress from the new boutique.
boisterous
noisy, lively and high-spirited
The boisterous crowd made its way home after the
game.
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age group
brace
B
brunette
noun /»breIs/
a device that holds firmly together
After the accident doctor advised her to wear a neck
brace for two weeks.
noun /bru˘»net/
a person with dark (brown) hair
Jane has dyed her hair red but she is actually a
brunette.
brachycardia
brusque
noun /»brQki»kA˘dI´/
slowness of the heart rate
Bradycardia may cause cardiac arrest in some
patients.
adjective /bru˘sk/
using very few words and sounding rude
The official spoke in a brusque tone.
buckle
brackish
noun /»b√k´l/
a metal or plastic used for joining the ends of belt or
bag
The colour of the silver buckle on the bag faded with
time.
adjective /»brQkIS/
(of water) having a somewhat salty, unpleasant taste
Brackish water commonly occurs in lakes, lagoons,
and marshes.
Braille
buckteeth
proper noun /breIl/
a written language for the blind using raised dots
He is very good at reading Braille.
noun /»b√kti˘T/
top teeth that stick forward
The dentist advised braces for his buckteeth.
brethren
Buddhism
pl noun /»brEDrIn/
fellow Christians or members of a male religious
order
The brethren of the religious order follow a vow of
silence.
proper noun /»bUdIz´m/
an Asian religion based on the teachings of Buddha
Buddhism is the main religion in Thailand.
budge
broccoli
verb /»b√dZ/
to move slightly
She pushed at the door but it wouldn’t budge.
noun /»brÅk´li/
a vegetable with a thick green or purple flower head
She made a stew of broccoli and carrots.
budgerigar
brochure
noun /»b√dZ´rigA˘[r]/
Australian parakeet, usually light green with black
markings
noun /»brúS´[r]/
a pamphlet or booklet
I decided to visit Singapore after going through the
travel brochure.
buffer
noun /»b√f´[r]/
a thing that protects against difficulties
Support from family acted as buffer against stress.
bronchitis
noun /brÅN»kaItIs/
an illness of the tubes leading to the lungs that
causes a very bad cough
When diagnosed with bronchitis, Brett decided to quit
smoking.
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12
to 14
age group
buffoonery
bursary
noun /b´»fu˘n´rI/
acting like a clown or buffoon
John was a well loved comedian, famous for his
buffoonery.
noun /»bŒ˘s´ri /
a scholarship
Dan was awarded a bursary to study at university.
buttress
bullion
noun /»b√trIs/
a structure of stone or brick built against a wall to
strengthen or support it
A stone buttress supported the crumbling wall.
noun /»bUljń/
gold or silver in bulk before coining, or valued by
weight
The gold bullion is in the form of bars and coins.
bulwark
noun /»bUlw´k/
a defensive wall
A bulwark is also made to break the impact of waves
before a harbour.
bumper
noun /»b√mp´[r]/
unusually large
Their scientific farming methods gave them a bumper
crop.
bungee
noun /»b√ndZi/
a stretchy, elasticated rope
The bungee was securely tied to his feet before he
jumped off the bridge.
bunting
noun /»b√ntIN/
small flags hung up to decorate streets
The colourful bunting gave the city a festive look.
bureaucrat
noun /»bjU´r´krQt/
an official who works in a government department
Being a bureaucrat in the transport department, he
travelled extensively.
burial
noun /»beri´l/
the act of placing a dead body in the ground.
His family insisted on him being given a proper burial.
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cache
C
caliper
noun /kaS/
a collection of items of the same type stored in a
hidden or inaccessible place
A cache of food items was found hidden in the cave.
noun /»kalIp´/
an instrument for measuring external or internal
dimensions
Calliper is adjustable and can be reset to measure
different dimensions.
cacophony
callous
noun /k´»kÅfńi/
a harsh mixture of sounds
The rock concert was no more than a mad
cacophony.
adjective /»kQl´s/
not caring about other people’s feelings
He had a very callous attitude towards his younger
siblings.
caffeine
calypso
noun /»kQfi˘n/
a substance in coffee, tea that causes a person to be
more awake
The caffeine in the coffee kept me awake all night.
noun /k´»lIpsÚ/
a Caribbean song or type of music about a subject of
current interest
They danced to the calypso beat.
cahoots
camembert
noun /k´»hu˘ts/
planning or doing something dishonest with
somebody
He should know better than to be in cahoots with
someone as shady as Tim.
noun /»kQm´mbe´[r]/
a rich, soft cheese originally made near Camembert
in Normandy, France
She will serve camembert with fruits.
cajole
camouflage
verb /k´»dZÚl/
to influence or persuade by flattering
I am not going to cajole you into accepting my views.
noun /»kQm´flA˘Z/
a colour, pattern, shape used for concealment
The soldiers used branches of trees as camouflage.
calamity
camphor
noun /k´»lQm´ti/
an event causing great and often sudden damage or
distress
The recent earthquake was the worst calamity in the
country’s history.
noun /»kamf´/
a white substance with a strong smell, used in
medicine
I put satches of camphor in my wardrobe to keep
insects away.
calculus
canine
noun /»kQlkj´l´s/
a type of mathematics that deals with variable
quantities
A-level mathematics consists primarily of calculus.
adjective /»keInaIn/
relating to dogs
Security officials at the airport depend on their canine
companions to sniff out anything suspicious.
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cannelloni
capsize
noun /«kQn´»lÚni/
large tubes of pasta filled with meat or cheese
Boil the cannelloni in salty water.
verb /kQp»saIz/
to turn over in the water
A large wave caused my boat to capsize.
cantaloupe
carcass
noun /»kQnt´lu˘p/
a kind of melon
A cantaloupe is low in calories and is a good source
of vitamin C.
noun /»kA˘k´s/
the dead body of an animal
Vultures fed on the carcass of the dead goat.
carcinogenic
cantankerous
adjective /«kA˘sIn´»dZenIk/
likely to cause cancer
The carbon monoxide percentage in the air is
reaching a carcinogenic level.
adjective /kQn»tQNk´r´s/
always complaining
He does not have many friends because of his
cantankerous nature.
cardamom
capacious
noun /»kA˘d´m´m/
the seeds of a plant, used as a spice
She used cardamom in the chicken curry.
spacious; roomy
Her capacious handbag was stuffed with makeup.
cardiac
capacitance
adjective /»kA˘diQk/
relating to the heart
He died suddenly following a cardiac arrest.
noun /k´»pasItńs/
the ability of a system to store an electrical charge
Capacitance is measured in a unit called farad.
cardiogram
capacitor
noun /»kA˘dIÚgram/
a record of muscle activity within the heart made by a
cardiograph
A cardiogram is used in the diagnoses of heart
disorders.
noun /k´»pasIt´/
a device used to store an electric charge, consisting
of one or more pairs of conductors separated by an
insulator
A capacitor is used in power supplies such as
amplifiers.
cardiovascular
adjective /«kA˘dIÚ»vaskjUl´/
relating to the heart and blood vessels
A healthy diet is necessary to keep the cardiovascular
system functioning normally.
capitulate
verb /k´»pItjUleIt/
cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome
demand; yield
I decided to capitulate to his demand for the iPhone.
caricature
a comic representation of a person or thing which
exaggerates certain features
The politician was not pleased to see his caricature in
the newspaper.
cappuccino
noun /«kQpu»tSi˘nÚ/
coffee made with milk that has been frothed up with
pressurised steam
They enjoyed a cappuccino after work.
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carriage
C
cathode
noun /»kQrIdZ/
a separate compartment in a train; a passenger
vehicle
We decided to sit in the carriage with the least
number of passengers.
noun /»kQTÚd/
a negative electrode in a battery
The negative terminal of a battery is known as the
cathode.
Caucasian
carton
adjective / kç˘»keIZń, kç˘»keIziń/
white-skinned people of European origin
Witnesses described the thief as a Caucasian male,
with blue eyes and blonde hair.
noun /»kA˘tń/
a cardboard box for holding goods
He off loaded the carton from the truck.
cartridge
cauldron
noun /»kA˘trIdZ/
a container holding film, ink or other items to be
inserted into a mechanism
His cartridge ran out of ink halfway through the exam.
noun /»kç˘ldrń/
a large metal pot with a lid and handle, used for
cooking over an open fire
The wicked witch made rabbit stew in her big black
cauldron.
cascade
cavalry
noun /kQ»skeId/
something that falls like a waterfall
A cascade of blonde hair surrounded her radiant face.
noun /»kQvlri/
soldiers who formerly fought on horseback, now in
armoured vehicles
The charge of the cavalry could not be halted by the
enemy.
cashmere
noun /»kQSmI´[r]/
a type of wool that is very fine and soft
The cardigan was very warm as it was made of
cashmere.
caviar
noun /»kQviA˘[r]/
the eggs of a type of fish that are eaten as a very
special kind of food
Caviar is considered to be a delicacy and is very
expensive.
casserole
noun /»kQs´rÚl/
a hot dish made with meat and/or vegetables
She prepared a casserole for dinner.
cedar
noun /»si˘d´[r]/
a tall coniferous tree with hard, sweet-smelling wood
The yacht is built of cedar.
catastrophe
a sudden event causing great suffering and
destruction
The recent flood was a great catastrophe.
celandine
noun /»selńdaIn/
a yellow-flowered plant of the buttercup family
Celandine grows in rich damp soil.
categorical
adjective /katI»gÅrIk´l/
unambiguously explicit and direct
He has issued a categorical denial of his involvement
in the plan.
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cello
certainty
noun /»tSelÚ/
an instrument like a large violin, held upright on the
floor between the knees of the seated player
She has been playing the cello for many years.
noun /»sŒ˘tnti/
the state of being sure
I cannot say with any certainty what will happen
tomorrow.
Celtic
chagrin
noun /»keltIk/
belonging to a race of people originating in Western
Europe
His red hair indicated that he was of Celtic origin.
noun /»SQgrIn/
a feeling of being disappointed or annoyed
To her chagrin, she failed the test again.
chameleon
census
noun /k´»mi˘liń/
a small lizard that can change colour according to its
surroundings
noun /»sens´s/
an official count of something especially a country’s
population
The last census was largely inaccurate.
chamois
noun /»SQmwA˘/
an animal like a small deer, that lives in the
mountains of Europe and Asia
centenary
noun /sen»ti˘n´ri/
the hundredth anniversary
Preparations for the centenary celebrations are in full
swing.
chandelier
noun /«SQnd´»lI´[r]/
a light fitting or candle holder with many branches
The chandelier in their lounge is very beautiful.
cephalopod
noun /»sef´l´pÅd/
marine mollusc with a well developed head and eyes
and sucker-bearing tentacles
chaos
noun /»keIÅs/
state of complete confusion and lack of order
Heavy snow has caused total chaos on the roads.
ceramic
adjective /s´»rQmIk /
made of clay that is permanently hardened by heat
She designs, moulds and sells ceramic pots.
chapel
noun /»tSQpl/
a small room or building used for Christian worship
She always went to the chapel on Sundays.
cerebellum
noun /«ser´»bel´m/
the part of the brain at the back of the head that
controls the movement of the muscles
The cerebellum is one of the main parts of the brain.
chapped
adjective /»tSQpt/
rough, dry and sore skin
She put vaseline on her chapped lips.
ceres
noun /»sI´ri˘z/
the closest dwarf planet to the sun
Ceres was the first object to be discovered in the
asteroid belt.
characteristically
adverb /«kQr´kt´»rIstIk´li/
typical of somebody’s character
Characteristically, she paid for everyone.
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charismatic
C
chisel
adjective /«kQrIz»mQtIk/
having charm
He is an immensely charismatic man and usually gets
his way.
noun /»tSIzl/
a hand tool with a long blade, used to cut or shape
wood, stone, or metal
The artisan used his chisel to chip away at the
marble.
charter
chivalry
noun /»tSA˘t´/
a written statement describing rights of a particular
group
The Charter of Democracy has been violated on
many occasions.
noun /»SIv´lri/
courteous and courageous behaviour shown by
mediaeval knights
St George demonstrated great chivalry when he killed
the dragon and rescued the princess.
chassis
chloroform
noun /»SQsi/
the metal frame of a vehicle
Even after the disastrous accident, the chassis of the
car was still intact.
noun /»klç˘r´fç˘m/
a colourless, volatile, sweet-smelling liquid used as a
solvent and formerly as a general anaesthetic
Chloroform was once widely used in human surgery.
chastise
choir
verb /tSQ»staIz/
to criticise
She should not chastise her secretary in front of other
colleagues.
noun /»kwaI´[r]/
a group of people who sing together
The school choir has won a large number of awards
in many contests.
chateau
cholera
noun /»SQtÚ/
a castle or large country house in France
The chateau we stayed at was next to a lake.
noun /»kÅl´r´/
an infectious disease of the small intestine
There is very little incidence of cholera in the city.
chauvinism
chromium
noun /»SÚvInIz´m/
too much support or enthusiasm for one’s own
gender, group, or kind
His male chauvinism made many people dislike him.
noun /»krÚmi´m/
a hard grey metal that shines brightly when polished
Coloured plastic bags contain harmful toxic metals
like chromium and copper .
chic
chromosome
adverb /Si˘k/
elegant and fashionable
She always manages to look extremely chic.
noun /»krÚm´sÚm/
a part of a cell in living things that determines
character, gender, shape
In human females, there is no Y chromosome.
chieftain
noun /»tSi˘ftń/
the leader of a people or clan
The chieftain was respected by the whole clan.
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chronicle
circumstantial
noun /»krÅnIkl/
a written record of historical events
The Sports Almanac is a chronicle of sports history.
adjective /«sŒ˘k´m»stQnSl /
strongly suggesting but not proof
The circumstantial evidence made it difficult for the
jury to come to a decision.
chrysalis
cirrostratus
noun /»krIs´lIs/
butterfly or moth
The child saw a chrysalis on the branch of a tree.
noun /«sIrÚ»strA˘t´s/
a type of cloud that forms a thin layer at a very high
level
Temperatures at the cirrostratus level are fairly low.
chrysanthemum
clairvoyant
noun /krI»sanTIm´m/
a plant of the daisy family with brightly coloured
ornamental flowers, existing in many cultivated
varieties
a person who is said to be able to predict future
events
The clairvoyant predicted that he would enjoy a long
and happy life
chuckle
classification
noun /»tS√k´l/
a quiet laugh
She gave a chuckle of delight.
noun /«klasIfI»keISń/
the action or process of classifying something
In classification systemtic grouping of organisms is
done.
chyme
noun /kaIm/
thick semifluid mass of partly digested food formed in
the stomach during digestion
The rhythmic muscular action of the stomach wall
moves the chyme into the first section of the small
intestine.
claustrophobia
noun /«klç˘str´»fÚbi´/
fear of being in a small or enclosed space
People who have claustrophobia avoid using lifts.
cicada
clench
noun /sI»kA˘d´/
a stout-bodied insect with large membranous wings
verb /»klentS/
to press hands together in anger
Whenever he was upset he would clench his fists.
cinnamon
clientele
noun /»sIn´mń/
a spice made from the bark of a tree
I used a lot of cinnamon when I made that apple pie.
noun /«kli˘ń»tel/
the customers of a business
The new restaurant attracted a young and trendy
clientele.
circumscribe
verb /»s´˘k´mskraIb/
restrict (something) within limits
They will circumscribe the garden with a fence.
climatology
noun /klaIm´»tÅl´dZi/
the scientific study of climate
The newsman was trained in climatology.
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coagulant
C
colliery
noun /kÚ»Qgjulńt/
a substance that causes a fluid to change to a solid
or semi-solid state
The doctors injected a coagulant to stop the bleeding.
noun /»kÅli´ri/
a coal mine
He has worked at the colliery almost all his life.
colloquial
cockerel
adjective /k´»lÚkwi´l/
conversational but not in formal language
Colloquial words should be avoided in formal speech
and writing.
noun /»kÅk´r´l/
a young male chicken
coerce
cologne
verb /kÚ»Œ˘s /
to persuade using force or threats
They tried to coerce him into robbing his friend.
noun /k´»lÚn/
a type of light perfume or scented water
A man’s choice of cologne says a lot about him.
cognitive
colonialism
adjective /»kÅgnItIv/
relating to cognition
His cognitive powers became impaired and he could
not remember details.
noun /k´»lÚnI´lIz´m/
the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial
political control over another country
A classic example of colonialism is the control of
India by Britain from the 18th century to 1947.
coincidence
noun /kÚ»InsIdńs/
similar things happening at the same time by chance
The two sisters ended up wearing identical clothes at
the dinner entirely by coincidence.
coloratura
noun /«kÅl´r´»tU´r´/
complicated passages for a singer
The opera singer was an expert in coloratura.
collaborate
columnist
verb /k´»lQb´reIt/
work together
In my work I would like to collaborate with the famous
architect.
noun /»kÅl´mnIst/
a journalist contributing regularly to a newspaper or
magazine
The columnist wrote about the festival in his column.
collateral
combative
adjective /k´»lQt´r´l/
connected but less important
Even targeted bombings result in some form of
collateral damage.
adjective /»kÅmb´tIv/
ready or eager to fight or argue
He was in a combative mood and argued with all.
collegiate
comeuppance
adjective /k´»li˘dZI´t/
belonging or relating to a college or its students
He is a collegiate athlete.
noun /k√m»√pńs/
a punishment or fate that someone deserves
Ideally, every evil-doer ought to get his comeuppance.
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commandant
commissioner
noun /»kÅmńdA˘nt/
the officer in charge
The commandant of our group is very strict and
disciplined.
noun /k´»mISń´[r]/
head of a particular department in a country
The police commissioner suspended the incompetent
constables.
commemorate
commodious
verb /k´»mem´reIt/
recall and show respect for (someone or something)
This monument was built to commemorate the war
hero.
adjective /k´»mÚdi´s/
roomy and comfortable
She fell asleep in the commodious armchair.
commotion
commendable
noun /k´»mÚSń/
a state of confused and noisy disturbance
There was commotion in class when the teacher was
absent.
adjective /k´»mend´b´l/
deserving praise
Your test score is commendable.
commensurate
communique
adjective /k´»menS´r´t/
equal in extent
Salary will be commensurate with experience.
noun /k´»mju˘nIkeI/
an official announcement or statement, especially one
made to the media
The communique was issued in the news bulletin.
commercialism
comparatively
noun /k´»mŒ˘S´lIzm/
emphasis on the maximizing of profit
Growing commercialism is causing new shopping
malls to be built.
adverb /k´m»pQr´tIvlI/
to a moderate degree as compared to something
else; relatively
Comparatively speaking, flossing is better than using
a dental stick.
commercialize
verb /k´»m´˘S´l√Iz/
manage or exploit (an organization, activity, etc.) in a
way designed to make a profit
Let’s not commercialize healthcare by advertising
about it.
compartmentalise
verb /«kÅmpA˘t»ment´laIz/
divide into sections and categories
Sometimes we are too ready to compartmentalise
people before we really get to know them.
commission
complacent
noun /k´»mISn/
a body of people with authority to perform certain
duties
The commission published a report of their
supervision of the election.
adjective /k´m»pleIsnt/
self-satisfied
Shahid lost his job because of his complacent
attitude.
complement
verb /»kÅmplIment /
to make something complete
The husband and wife complement each other.
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component
C
concierge
noun /k´m»pÚnńt/
one of the several parts of which something is made
Radiator is a very important component in a car.
noun /»kÅnsie´Z/
a resident caretaker of a block of flats or small hotel
The concierge told the noisy tenants on the fifth floor
not to play loud music.
composure
conciliatory
noun /k´m»pÚZ´[r]/
mental calmness
She showed great composure during the emergency.
adjective /kń»sIli´t´ri/
making calmer and less angry
The president’s speech was a conciliatory gesture
towards businessmen.
compulsion
noun /k´m»p√lSn/
obligation
There is no compulsion for you to attend the meeting.
concrete
noun /»kÅNkri˘t/
existing in a material or physical form; not abstract
We have concrete evidence that he is indeed the
culprit.
concede
verb /kń»si˘d/
to admit
He was forced to concede that there might be
difficulties.
concurrence
noun /kń»k√rńs/
agreement
The doctor must seek the concurrence of a relative
before proceeding with surgery.
conceivable
adjective /kń»si˘v´b´l/
capable of being imagined or grasped mentally
It is conceivable that difficulties will arise due to your
actions.
condolence
noun /kń»dÚlńs/
an expression of sympathy, especially on the
occasion of the death of a person’s relative or close
friend
I sent a letter of condolence on the demise of her
grandparent.
concentric
adjective /kń»sentrIk/
having a common centre
Planets orbit the Sun in concentric circles.
confetti
conception
noun /kń»feti/
small pieces of coloured paper traditionally thrown at
weddings
The bride and groom were showered with confetti as
they left the church.
noun /kń»sepSn/
formation
The country has been confronted with problems since
its conception.
concerto
conform
noun /kń»tSŒ˘tú /
a musical composition for an orchestra and one or
more solo instruments
She gave a wonderful performance at the concerto
last night.
verb /kń»fç˘m/
to behave and think in the same way as others
His ideas do not conform with mine.
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conjure
consultancy
verb /»k√ndZ´[r]/
to make things appear or disappear as if by magic
He is known to conjure up the spirits of the dead.
noun /kń»s√ltńsi/
a business or agency offering expert or professional
advice in a field
He opened a financial consultancy firm to advise
people on monetary issues.
connoisseur
noun /»kÅn´»sŒ˘[r] /
a person who knows a lot about art, good food and
music
He is a connoisseur of antiques.
contagious
adjective /kń»teIdZ´s/
transmissible by direct or indirect contact; infectious
Chicken pox is a contagious illness.
conscription
contaminate
noun /kń»skrIpSń/
compulsory military service
In the two world wars, the conscription issue almost
tore the country apart.
verb /kń»tQmIneIt/
pollute
The leak in the sewage system might contaminate the
main water supply.
consecrate
contemplate
verb /»kÅnsIkreIt/
to declare or set apart as sacred
They organised a ceremony to consecrate the new
mosque.
verb /»kÅnt´mpleIt/
to think about as possible
The idea of war is too awful to contemplate.
consequence
contemptible
noun /»kÅnsIkwńs/
a result
Twenty people lost their lives as a direct consequence
of the earthquake.
adjective /kń»temptIb´l/
deserving contempt; despicable
Hurting her feelings like that was a contemptible thing
to do.
consolidate
continuation
verb /kń»sÅlIdeIt/
to make firmer or stronger
The documents were signed to consolidate the
merger.
noun /kńtInjU»eISń/
the action of carrying something on over time or the
state of being carried on
The continuation of crime in the city is alarming.
constellation
continuous
noun /«kÅnst´»leISń/
a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern
The orion constellation was visible in the night sky.
adjective /kń»tInjU´s/
forming an unbroken whole; without interruption
The child’s continuous questioning about the movie
was annoying the audience.
constituency
noun /kń»stItjuńsi/
a district that elects its own representative to
parliament
He owns a house in his Oxford constituency.
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continuum
C
convene
noun /kń»tInju´m/
a continuous sequence in which the elements next to
each other are very similar, but the last and the first
are very different
It is impossible to say at what point along the
continuum a dialect becomes a separate language.
verb /kń»vi˘n/
to come together formally
The committee will convene at nine thirty tomorrow
morning.
convenience
noun /kń»vi˘nińs/
a useful device or situation
Supermarkets are a great convenience to most
people.
contour
noun /»kÅntU´[r]/
an outline representing or bounding the shape or
form of something
The contour of the lake was visible from the plane.
conversant
adjective /kń»vŒ˘snt /
familiar with
He was not conversant with the routines of his new
workplace.
contracture
noun /kń»trQktS´/
a disorder in which a skeletal muscle is permanently
contracted
He could function like a normal person after the
contracture.
conversationalist
noun /«kÅnv´»seISń´lIst/
a person who is good at or fond of engaging in
conversation
He is a terrific conversationalist and after-dinner
speaker.
contributory
adjective /kń»trIbjUt´ri/
playing a part in bringing something about
Negligence is a contributory factor to bad health.
converse
contrive
verb /kń»vŒ˘s /
to talk with
The ability to converse easily with strangers comes
naturally to some people.
verb /kń»traIv/
create or bring about (an object or a situation) by
deliberate use of skill and artifice
I will contrive ways of helping out.
convincing
controversial
adjective /kń»vInsIN/
capable of causing someone to believe that
something is true or real
It was a convincing story and everyone believed her.
adjective /«kÅntr´»vŒ˘Sl /
causing or likely to cause public debate
The European Union constitution is a very
controversial document, splitting opinion down the
middle.
convocation
noun /«kÅnv´»keISń/
a large formal assembly of people, in particular
She was awarded a degree at the convocation
ceremony.
convalesce
verb /«kÅnv´»les/
to return to health and strength after illness;
recuperate
She went to the mountains to convalesce after
leaving the hospital.
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convoy
correspondence
noun /»kÅnvçI/
a group of ships or vehicles travelling together
A convoy of trucks delivered aid to the refugees.
noun /«kÅr´»spÅndńs/
letters sent to or received from someone
Their correspondence lasted over a decade.
copious
corrode
adjective /»kÚpi´s/
abundant; plentiful
He had a copious supply of tools at his workshop.
verb /k´»rÚd/
to destroy something slowly especially by chemical
action
The bonnet of his car has started to corrode.
cordial
cosmonaut
adjective /»kç˘di´l/
pleasant, friendly
He greeted me with a cordial handshake.
noun /»kÅzmńç˘t/
a Russian astronaut
Yuri Gagarin is the most famous cosmonaut.
corduroy
councillor
noun /»kç˘d´rçI/
a thick cotton fabric with velvety ribs
She wanted to purchase a pair of corduroy trousers.
noun /»kaUns´l´[r]/
a member of a council
The councillor was elected on the basis of his past
experience.
coriander
noun /«kÅrI»and´/
an aromatic Mediterranean plant of the parsley family
I garnished the vegetables with green coriander.
countenance
noun /»kaUntńńs/
a person’s face or facial expression
Be friendly and have a smiling countenance.
corkscrew
noun /»kç˘kskru˘/
a device for drawing corks from bottles
She opened the bottle of champagne with a
corkscrew.
couplet
noun /»k√pl´t/
a pair of successive rhyming lines of verse
The poet recited a couplet from his latest poem.
cornea
courteous
noun /»kç˘ni´/
the transparent layer forming the outer part of the eye
She had to wear a patch over her eye as she had
injured her cornea.
adjective /»kŒ˘ti´s /
polite and considerate
I received a charmingly courteous reply to my
invitation.
corpse
covert
noun /kç˘ps/
a dead body
His corpse was taken to the city morgue.
adjective /»k√v´t, »kÚv´˘t/
secret, hidden
He stole a covert glance at her across the table.
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cranium
C
curator
noun /»kreIni´m/
the bone structure that forms the head and encloses
the brain
The cranium is the hardest part of the body as it
protects the brain.
noun /kjU´»reIt´[r]/
an official in charge of a museum or art gallery
The new curator of the museum was asked to plan
interesting events.
cyclotron
credence
noun /»saIkl´trÅn/
a machine that, using electrical and magnetic fields,
makes atoms or electrons move more quickly.
The design of a cyclotron varies according to the
specifications of the purchaser.
noun /»kri˘dns/
belief
One should not give any credence to rumours.
crimson
cynical
adjective /»krImzn/
a deep red colour
She was wearing a crimson dress.
adjective /»sInIkl/
doubtful or distrustful of human motives
The cynical old man had become bitter because of
what he had experienced during the war.
croissant
noun /»krw√sÅN or krwasA/
a crescent-shaped flaky bread roll
She ate a croissant for breakfast.
cypress
noun /»saIpr´s/
an evergreen coniferous tree with small rounded
woody cones and flattened shoots
Branches of the cypress are also used as a symbol of
mourning.
crucial
adjective /»kru˘Sl/
decisive, critical
She could not answer the crucial question correctly.
crustacean
noun /kr√»steISn/
any aquatic anthropoid usually with a segmented
body in a hard shell
Crabs, lobsters and shrimps are all examples of a
crustacean.
cubicle
noun /»kju˘bIkl/
a small division of a larger room making a separate
compartment
She studies in a cubicle at the school library.
cumulative
adjective /»kju˘mjUl´tIv/
increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force
by successive additions
The cumulative dosage caused the fever to subside.
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age group
dandruff
deceit
noun /»dQndr√f/
small pieces of dead skin in the hair, that look like
white flakes
He uses a special shampoo for his dandruff.
noun /dI»si˘t/
dishonest behaviour
He was accused of lies and deceit.
decibel
debilitate
noun /»desIbel/
a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound
The high decibel auditory effect of the speakers was
annoying.
verb /dI»bIlIteIt/
to weaken
His bout of malaria served to debilitate his already
questionable health.
decipher
debris
verb /dI»saIf´[r]/
convert (a text written in code, or a coded signal) into
normal language
I could not decipher the doctor’s handwriting.
noun /»debri˘/
scattered broken pieces of wood, metal, brick
Debris covered the farmland after the volcanic
eruption.
declamation
debye
noun /dekl´»meISń/
the action or art of declaiming
Her declamation of the poem was beautifully clear.
noun /d´»baI/
a unit used to express electric dipole moments of
molecules
The debye is still used in atomic physics and
chemistry.
decorum
noun /dI»kç˘r´m/
polite behaviour
She showed remarkable decorum at the reception.
decade
noun /»dekeId/
a period of ten years
The last decade saw many new developments in
science and technology.
decrepit
adjective /dI»krepIt/
worn out or ruined because of age or neglect
The government decided to demolish the decrepit
apartment complex.
decapitate
verb /dI»kQpIteIt/
to behead
They are going to decapitate him as a punishment for
his crime.
deductible
adjective /dI»d√kt´bl/
can be taken away from
The deductible amount from his income is quite
substantial.
deceased
noun /dI»si˘st/
a person who has died
The body of the deceased was moved from the
hospital to his home.
defamatory
adjective /dI»fQm´tri/
attacking one’s reputation
His defamatory remarks about the company ruined its
reputation.
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defiance
D
demagogue
noun /dI»faIńs/
open disobedience
He has made it a habit to act in defiance of the law.
noun /»dem´gÅg/
a political leader who tries to win support by using
arguments based on emotion rather than reason
Hitler is considered to be a demagogue by many
historians.
defibrillator
noun /dI˘»fIbrIleIt´[r]/
a piece of equipment used to control the movement
of the heart muscles
The patient was put on the defibrillator to restore
normal rhythm to his heart.
demeanour
behaviour; bearing
He maintained a professional demeanour during the
interview.
degenerative
demography
adjective /dI»dZen´r´tIv/
causing gradual deterioration
A degenerative disease like arthritis will eventually
make the patient bedridden.
noun /dI»mÅgr´fi/
the study of statistics such as births, deaths, income,
etc which illustrate the changing structure of human
populations
In order to complete the survey it is essential to
include information regarding demography.
deliberate
verb /dI»lIb´reIt/
to think very carefully
She took her time to deliberate over the menu before
placing an order.
demonic
adjective /di»mÅnIk/
connected with evil
The priest said the magician was using demonic
powers to perform certain acts.
delicacy
noun /»delIk´si/
a type of food considered to be special
Caviar is considered to be a delicacy.
demote
verb /dI»mÚt/
to move somebody to lower position as a punishment
His boss threatened to demote him if he did not
improve his work.
delicatessen
noun /«delIk´»tesn/
a shop that sells special, unusual foods
We go to the delicatessen everyday for their special
French cheese.
denizen
noun /»denIzn/
inhabitant or occupant of a particular place
He is a denizen of one of the remote mountainous
regions.
delirious
adjective /dI»lIri´s/
in an excited state and not able to think or speak
clearly, usually because of fever
The delirious patient did not recognise his children.
denounce
verb /dI»naUns/
to speak publicly strongly against, condemn
I was shocked to hear Jane denounce her sister as a
liar.
delusion
noun /dI»lu˘Zn/
a false impression or opinion
Her comments make it seem like she is living in a
world of delusion.
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age group
denudation
desiccated
noun /di˘njU»deISń/
the removal or exposure of a covering or surface layer
The denudation of forests may result in mudslides in
the monsoon.
adjective /»desIkeItId/
dried out
Amna put desiccated coconut in the dessert.
designation
deplorable
noun /dezIg»neISń/
the action of choosing someone to hold an office or
post
He will be given the designation of supervisor.
adjective /dI»plç˘r´b´l/
deserving strong condemnation; completely
unacceptable
The bombing was a deplorable act of violence.
despicable
depot
adjective /dI»spIk´bl/
very unpleasant or evil
His despicable behaviour was not acceptable.
noun /»depÚ/
a place where large amounts of food, goods or
equipment are stored
Flour bags were being carried to the ration depot.
despondency
noun /dI»spÅndńsi/
loss of hope
He was unable to conceal his despondency from his
parents.
dereliction
noun /«der´»lIkSn/
abandonment
The previous owners had rescued the building from
dereliction.
dessert
noun /dI»zŒ˘t/
sweet food eaten usually at the end of a meal
She served delicious chocolate brownies with vanilla
ice-cream for dessert.
deride
verb /dI»raId/
to ridicule
I think he will deride our views on the irrigation
system.
destitute
adjective /»destItju˘t/
without money, food and the other things necessary
for life
The destitute family had to sleep on the footpath as
they had no other place to go.
derive
verb /dI»raIv/
to get somethin from something
His mother knew that he would derive pleasure from
painting.
detergent
derogatory
noun /dI»tŒ˘dZńt /
a washing powder or liquid that removes dirt
This laundry detergent can remove grease stains
from clothes.
adjective /dI»rÅg´tri/
expressing a low opinion and lack of respect
He made derogatory statements about her behaviour.
desalination
detonation
noun /di˘»sQlIneISń/
remove salt from (seawater)
The desalination of sea water makes it drinkable.
noun /«det´»neISn/
a loud explosion
The detonation of the bomb was heard all over the
city.
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deuce
D
dichotomy
noun /dju˘s/
a playing card with the number two
I played the deuce which helped me win the game of
cards.
noun /daI»kÅt´mi/
difference or opposition between two things
There is a dichotomy between the academic and the
industrial worlds.
deuteron
dictate
noun /»dju˘t´rÅn/
a positively charged particle consisting of a proton
and a neutron
The deuteron is a stable particle.
verb /dIk»teIt/
to say words for somebody else to write down
He said he would dictate the whole letter to his
secretary.
devastate
digress
verb /»dev´steIt/
destroy or ruin
Floods will devastate the cotton fields.
verb /daI»gres/
Leave the main subject temporarily in speech or
writing
He was instructed not to digress from the main points
in his presentation.
devitalize
verb /di˘»vaIt´laIz/
deprive of strength and vigour
The disease will devitalize his immune system.
dilemma
noun /dI»lem´/
a difficult choice between two alternatives
She is in a dilemma about continuing with her job or
looking for a new one.
diabetes
noun /«daI´»bi˘ti˘z/
a disease of the pancreas in which sugars cannot be
properly absorbed
My friend was diagnosed with diabetes.
diphtheria
noun /dIf»TI´ri´/
a serious infectious disease causing inflammation of
the mucous membranes, especially in the throat
He cancelled his holiday because he was ill with
diphtheria.
diagonal
adjective /daI»Qgńl/
at an angle
The flag consists of red diagonal stripes.
directorate
noun /dI»rekt´r´t, daI»rekt´r´t/
a section of the government department in charge of
a particular activity
The environmental directorate banned the use of
black plastic bags.
diaphanous
adjective /daI»Qfń´s/
(especially of fabric) light, delicate, and translucent
The veil was made of diaphanous white silk.
diarrhoea
disarray
noun /«daI´»rI´/
an illness in which waste matter is emptied from the
bowels much more frequently than normal
She suffered from diarrhoea after eating the stale
food.
noun /«dIs´»reI/
a state of disorder
The peace talks broke up in disarray.
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discerning
dismal
adjective /dI»sŒ˘nIN /
able to perceive or distinguish well
His discerning mind is able to grasp all new concepts
in class.
adjective /»dIzm´l/
gloomy, depressing
I do not feel like going out in this dismal weather.
dismantle
discourteous
verb /dIs»mQnt´l/
take (a machine or structure) to pieces
I will dismantle the furniture before moving it.
adjective /dIs»kŒ˘ti´s /
rude and lacking consideration for others
His discourteous display of anger has seen him
struck off most party lists.
dispassionate
adjective /dIs»pQSń´t/
devoid of or uninfluenced by emotion or prejudice;
objective; impartial
In a dispassionate analysis, he carefully examined the
concerns of both parties.
discrete
adjective /dI»skri˘t/
separate from other things of the same type
The organisms can be divided into discrete
categories.
dispenser
disembarkation
noun /dIs»pens´[r]/
a machine or conatiner holding something that can be
obtained quickly
The water dispenser was empty.
noun /«dIs«embA˘»keISn/
leaving a ship, aircraft or train
The passengers awaited disembarkation at Crete.
dishevelled
disperse
adjective /dI»Sev´ld/
(of a person’s hair, clothes, or appearance) untidy;
disordered
He appeared dishevelled and unshaven.
verb /dI»spŒ˘s /
to scatter
The police was asked to disperse the crowd.
dispirited
disinclination
adjective /dI»spIrItId/
discouraged
She refused to be dispirited by her prolonged illness.
noun /dIs«InklI»neISn/
lack of willingness or enthusiasm
Some people have a strong disinclination for work.
disposable
disintegration
adjective /dI»spÚz´bl/
intended to be used once and then thrown away
The doctor put on disposable gloves before
examining the patient.
noun /dIs«IntI»greISń/
the process of losing cohesion or strength
Disintegration of the law and order has caused
crimes to rise.
disposition
disinterested
noun /dIsp´»zISń/
a person’s inherent qualities of mind and character
She is of a quiet disposition and does not like to
attract attention.
adjective /dIs»Intr´stId/
not influenced by personal concerns
He was a disinterested judge in the dispute.
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dissertation
D
dormitory
noun /«dIs´»teISn/
a long formal essay
Her dissertation was on modern poetry.
noun /»dç˘m´tri/
a bedroom for a number of people in an institution
The dormitory was large enough to sleep twenty
people.
diverge
dowager
verb /daI»vŒ˘dZ /
to proceed in different directions
The parallel lines appear to diverge.
noun /»daU´dZ´/
a widow with a title or property derived from her late
husband
It was an honor to meet dowager duchess of Norfolk.
divination
noun /«dIvI»neISn/
discovery of the unknown by supernatural means
The old man used divination to find the water source.
dowry
noun /»daUri/
money or property that, in some societies, a woman’s
family must pay to the man when getting married
She started collecting dowry for her daughter soon
after she was born.
docile
adjective /»dÚsaIl/
quiet and easy to control
The trainer gave a docile horse to the new rider.
dreadful
adjective /»dredfl/
extremely bad or serious
They treat their staff in the most dreadful way.
doldrums
plural noun /»dÅldr´mz/
the state of being sad or depressed
He has been down in the doldrums ever since he
failed in his monthly exams.
drizzle
noun /»drIzl/
light rain
The drizzle slowly turned into a heavy downpour.
dollop
noun /»dÅl´p/
a lump of soft food often dropped from a spoon
I added a dollop of whipped cream to the fruit trifle.
dromedary
noun /»drÅm´d´ri/
a camel with only one hump
domain
noun /d´»meIn/
an area of knowledge or activity
The care of older people is being placed firmly within
the domain of the family.
drought
noun /draUt/
a very long period of little or no rainfall
The drought in Ethiopia has killed thousands of
people.
domineering
adjective /«dÅmI»nI´rIN/
arrogant and overbearing
Nobody enjoys the company of a domineering
person.
drudge
noun /»dr√dZ/
a person who has to do hard and boring jobs
All these years he felt like a drudge so he decided to
take up a profession that motivated him
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age group
drudgery
dyslexia
noun /»dr√dZ´ri/
hard, menial, or dull work
Working at the factory all day on the assembly line is
sheer drudgery.
noun /dIs»leksi´/
a disorder of the brain that causes difficulty in reading
and spelling
She had difficulty taking exams as she suffered from
dyslexia.
dubious
adjective /»dju˘bi´s/
of questionable value or truth
They have indulged in dubious business practices to
obtain their current position in the market.
ductile
adjective /»d√ktaIl/
(of a metal) that can be made into a thin wire
Ductile metal is used for making wires.
dungeon
noun /»d√ndZń/
a strong underground prison cell
He was kidnapped and kept prisoner in the dungeon
of the old castle.
duress
noun /djU»res/
threats or force
He signed the statement under duress.
duvet
noun /»du˘veI/
a large, thick quilt filled with feathers or other soft
material
The duvet kept me warm and cosy last night.
dynamic
adjective /daI»nQmIk/
(of a person) positive in attitude and full of energy
and new ideas
The leader has a dynamic personality.
dynamometer
noun /«daIn´»mÅmIt´[r]/
an instrument which measures the power output of an
engine
Dynamometer testing of car engines should be done.
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age group
earnest
E
efflorescent
adjective /»Œ˘nIst/
serious or determined
I had an earnest conversation with him.
adjective /«efl´»resnt/
(of a substance) lose moisture and turn to a fine
powder on exposure to air
Efflorescent whitish powder is seen on brick walls.
easel
effluent
noun /»i˘zl/
a wooden frame on legs used for holding an artist’s
work in progress
His easel stands in the far corner of the studio.
noun /»eflUńt/
liquid waste or sewerage discharged into a river or
sea
Effluent from the river-side factories represents a
considerable pollution risk.
echelon
noun /»ES´lÅn, »eIS´lÅn/
a level or rank in an organization, a profession, or
society
The highest echelon is only reached by hard work.
effusive
adjective /I»fju˘sIv/
showing or expressing gratitude, pleasure, or
approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner
Effusive praise was showered on the paricipants.
eclipse
noun /I»klIps/
a partial or total disappearance of the light of the Sun
or the moon
A total solar eclipse is rarely sighted.
egalitarian
adjective /i«gQlI»te´riń/
believing that all people are equal and deserve equal
rights and opportunities
Sweden is a good model of an egalitarian society.
ecosphere
noun /»i˘kÚsfI´/
the biosphere of the earth or other planet
Ecosphere comprises of the regions where life can
exist.
egocentric
adjective /i˘«gÚ»sentrIk, e«gÚ»sentrIk/
thinking only of oneself, without regard for the feelings
or desires of others ; self-centred
This egocentric attitude will leave you friendless.
eczema
noun /»eksIm´ or Ig»zi˘m´/
a skin condition in which areas of skin become red,
rough and sore
I have tried a lot to cure the eczema on my legs but
nothing seems to work.
egotism
noun /»i˘g´tIz´m/
thinking that you are better or more important than
anyone else
Society is slowly deteriorating because of excessive
egotism and pride.
efface
verb /I»feIs/
to remove something
He tried to efface the memory of the accident.
eiderdown
noun /»aId´daUn/
a quilt filled with feathers or some other soft material
I snuggled under the eiderdown to stay warm.
effervescent
adjective /«ef´»vesnt/
having or producing small bubbles of gas
Cola is an effervescent drink.
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to 14
age group
electioneering
eloquence
noun /I«lekS´»nI´rIN/
the action of campaigning to be elected to a political
position
The party has started its electioneering early this
term.
noun /»el´kwńs/
fluent or persuasive writing or speaking
She is famous for her eloquence.
elusive
adjective /i»lu˘sIv/
difficult to find, capture
Wild rabbits are extremely elusive animals.
electrocute
verb /I»lektr´kju˘t/
injure or kill (someone) by electric shock
The exposed electric wires can electrocute someone.
emancipate
verb /I»mQnsIpeIt/
to set free
The attempts to emancipate the slaves were not
popular in Mississippi.
elicit
verb /i»lIsIt/
to draw out
The teacher was unable to elicit an answer from her
student.
embalm
verb /Im»bA˘m/
to treat a dead body with special substances to
preserve it and prevent it from decay
In ancient Egypt, it was a common ritual to embalm a
body before burying it.
eligible
adjective /»elIdZ´bl/
fit or suitable to be chosen
Adnan is considered to be the most eligible bachelor
in town.
embargo
eliminate
noun /em»bA˘gÚ/
an official ban on trade or other commercial activity
with a particular country
A trade embargo has been imposed on the country.
verb /I»lImIneIt/
completely remove or get rid of
Let us all strive to eliminate poverty.
elinvar
embellish
noun /»elń«va˘[r]/
a kind of steel known for its elasticity remaining
constant over a wide range of temperature
The largest use of Elinvar is in the balance springs for
mechanical watches and chronometers.
verb /Im»belIS/
to add details to something to make it more attractive
He planned to embellish the carved door of his house
with brass door knobs.
embezzlement
elixir
noun /Im»bezlmńt/
the act of stealing money that you are responsible for
The bank employee was found guilty of
embezzlement.
noun /I»lIks´/
a magical or medicinal potion
No magical elixer exists that can stop ageing.
elliptical
emblazon
oval shaped
The Earth follows an elliptical orbit around the Sun.
verb /Im»bleIzn/
to decorate something with a design, symbol or words
The Principal wanted to emblazon the school logo on
the sports shields.
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age group
embrocation
E
emphatic
noun /«embr´»keISń/
a liquid used for rubbing on the body to relieve pain
from sprains and strains
Embrocation should not be used on sensitive or
broken skin.
adjective /Im»fatIk/
expressing something forcibly and clearly
He responded to my question in an immediate and
emphatic manner.
emporium
embroidery
noun /em»pç˘rI´m/
a large retail store selling a wide variety of goods
At the furniture emporium she got everything she
wanted.
noun /Im»brçId´ri/
the art of sewing decorative needlework patterns on
fabric
The intricate embroidery on his kurta won many
admirers.
emulate
verb /»emjuleIt/
to imitate; to try to equal or excel
She hopes to emulate her sister’s sporting
achievements.
emigration
noun /«emI»greISn/
the act of leaving one’s own country to settle
permanently in another; moving abroad
Emigration procedures can take a long time to
finalise.
emulsion
noun /I»m√lSń/
a fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in
another in which it is not soluble or miscible
The emulsion paint gave the walls a glossy finish.
eminent
adjective /»EmInńt/
(of a person) famous and respected within a
particular sphere
He is an eminent architect.
encephalitis
noun /en«sef´»laIt´s/
an infection which causes the brain to become
swollen
David is suffering from encephalitis.
emission
noun /I»mISń/
the production and discharge of something, especially
gas or radiation
Emission of radiation from the nuclear plant is
alarming.
enclosure
noun /In»klÚZ´[r]/
an area (usually of land) surrounded by a fence or
wall
We got to sit in the best enclosure of the stadium
during the recent cricket match.
empathize
verb /»emp´TaIz/
understand and share the feelings of another
I can really empathize with the earthquake affected
people.
encumbrance
noun /In»k√mbrńs/
a burden or impediment
His heavy luggage was an encumbrance.
emphasize
verb /»emf´saIz/
give special importance or value to (something) in
speaking or writing
I can only emphasize the importance of a
sympathetic attitude.
encyclopedic
adjective /en«saIklÚ»pi˘dIk/
comprehensive in terms of information
His knowledge of history is encyclopaedic.
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age group
endangered
enhance
adjective /In»deIndZ´[r]d/
in danger of being destroyed
The giant panda is an endangered species.
verb /In»hA˘ns/
to intensify, heighten
High quality fuel can enhance the performance of
your car.
endearment
enigma
noun /In»dI´mńt/
an act, word or expression of affection
The word ‘darling’ is a term of endearment.
noun /I»nIgm´/
a puzzle or riddle
The student’s exceptional skill in mathematics was an
enigma.
endeavour
verb /In»dev´[r]/
try hard
Pakistan will endeavour to uphold the rights of
women.
enlighten
verb /In»laItn/
to give somebody information so they understand
something better
I would like him to enlighten me on what really
happened that night.
endorse
verb /In»dç˘s/
declare one’s public approval or support of
Endorse your support for the candidate by attending
the meeting.
enliven
verb /In»l√Ivń/
make (something) more entertaining, interesting, or
appealing
They should enliven the party with music.
endoscopy
noun /en»dÅsk´pi/
an instrument which can be introduced into the body
to give a view of its internal parts
Endoscopy of the alimentary canal was done.
ensnare
verb /In»sne´[r]/
catch in or as in a trap
He tried to ensnare the mouse in a trap.
endowment
noun /In»daUmńt/
the action of endowing something or someone
She made an endowment to the charity organization.
enthusiasm
noun /In»Tju˘ziQz´m/
great eagerness
The cricket team was welcomed with great
enthusiasm after their victory.
engrossed
verb /In»grÚst/
extremely busy with and interested in something
She was engrossed in conversation.
entomology
noun /«ent´»mÅl´dZi/
the scientific study of insects
I found entomology the most difficult part of my
biology course.
engulf
verb /In»g√lf/
(of a natural force ) sweep over (something) so as to
surround or cover it completely
Flames will soon engulf the entire building.
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age group
entrepreneur
E
epitome
noun /«Åntr´pr´»nŒ˘[r]/
a businessman or woman
She is a successful entrepreneur with a chain of
restaurants in the city.
noun /I»pIt´mi/
a perfect example of something
Her clothes are the epitome of good taste.
equatorial
entrepreneurial
adjective /«ekw´»tç˘rI´l/
of, at, or near the equator
Equatorial rainforests are disappearing fast.
adjective /«Åntr´pr´»nŒ˘ri´l/
making money through business activity
His entrepreneurial skills will help the company
greatly.
equilibrium
noun /«i˘kwI»lIbri´m/
a state of balance
Any disturbance to the body’s equilibrium can
produce stress.
envious
adjective /»envi´s/
jealous
He could see the envious look in the other boy’s eyes.
equipment
envisage
noun /I»kwIpmńt/
the items needed for a particular purpose
They loaded the equipment into the back of the van.
verb /In»vIzIdZ/
to imagine a future situation
I don’t envisage myself working with him next year.
equivalent
epicentre
adjective /I»kwIv´lńt/
equal in value, amount, function, meaning, etc
One dirham is equivalent to twenty three rupees.
noun /»epIsent´[r]/
the point on the earth’s surface vertically above the
focus of an earthquake
The epicentre of the earthquake was in the sea.
eradicate
verb /I»rQdIkeIt/
root out; get rid of
The citizens of this town are determined to eradicate
crime from their community.
epiglottis
noun /«epI»glÅtIs/
a thin piece of tissue behind the tongue that prevents
food or drink from entering the lungs
The epiglottis covers the windpipe while swallowing.
ergonomics
pl noun /«´˘g´»nÅmIks/
the study of people’s efficiency in their working
environment
Office furniture should be redesigned for better
ergonomics.
epilepsy
noun /»epIlepsi/
a neurological disorder
Epilepsy is characterised by sudden seizures.
epitaph
erroneous
noun /»epItA˘f/
words written in memory of a person who has died
The epitaph on his gravestone did not do justice to
his life.
adjective /I»rÚni´s/
incorrect
He was under the erroneous impression that the boss
was very fond of him.
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E
12
to 14
age group
esplanade
exacerbate
noun /«espl´»neId, «espl´»nA˘d/
a long, level area along which people may walk for
pleasure
The couple enjoy their walks along the esplanade.
verb /Ig»zQs´beIt/
make something worse
Your intrusion will only exacerbate the situation.
exceptional
estuary
adjective /Ik»sepSń´l/
unusual; not typical
The actor was praised for his exceptional
performance in the film.
noun /»estjU´ri/
the wide part of a river where it flows into the sea
An estuary contains both fresh and salt water.
ethical
excerpt
adjective /»eTIk´l/
connected with beliefs about what is right or wrong
There were severe ethical issues in the functioning of
the organization.
noun /»eksŒ˘pt /
a short piece of writing, music, film taken from a
longer whole
The magazine will be carrying an excerpt from his
new book.
eucalyptus
excessive
noun /«ju˘k´»lIpt´s/
a tall straight tree with leaves that produce an oil with
a strong smell
He was sitting under the shadow of a tall eucalyptus,
reading a book.
adjective /Ik»sesIv/
more than is necessary, normal, or desirable;
immoderate
Excessive rainfall has been predicted for this season.
euphemism
exchequer
noun /»ju˘f´mIz´m/
a mild word or phrase that is used to refer to
something unpleasant
“User fees” is a politician’s euphemism for taxes.
noun /Iks»tSek´[r]/
a royal or national treasury
The Chancellor of the Exchequer takes the credit for
the strong economy.
euphoria
exclusion
noun /ju˘»fç˘ri´/
strong feeling of well-being
I was in a state of euphoria after my victory.
noun /Ik»sklu˘Zń/
the process of excluding or the state of being
excluded
He was disappointed at his exclusion from the picnic.
evasion
exclusive
noun /I»veIZń/
the act of avoiding something that you are supposed
to do
His behaviour was an evasion of his reponsibilities as
a father.
adjective /Ik»sklu˘sIv/
excluding or not admitting other things
This club is exclusive for members only.
excursion
eventuality
noun /Ik»sk´˘Sń/
a short journey or trip, especially one taken as a
leisure activity
A holiday excursion is being planned for next month.
noun /I«ventSU»QlIti/
a possible event or outcome
Precautions must be taken against any unforseen
eventuality.
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age group
exemplary
E
extortionate
adjective /Ig»zempl´ri/
serving as a desirable model; very good
The teenager impressed everyone by his exemplary
behaviour.
adjective /Ik»stç˘Sń´t/
grossly over-priced
They are offering loans at extortionate rates of
interest.
exemplify
extradite
verb /Ig»zemplIfaI/
to be a typical example
I would like my food to exemplify Italian cooking at its
best.
verb /»ekstr´daIt/
to officially send back somebody who has been
accused of a crime to the place where the crime was
committed
The British government attempted to extradite the
suspects from Belgium.
exhilarate
verb /Ig»zIl´reIt/
cause to feel very happy
A bungee jump will exhilarate you more than a roller
coaster ride.
extrapolate
verb /Ik»strQp´leIt/
to estimate something not known from data or
information available
I am trying to extrapolate some results from research
done in other countries.
existential
adjective /«egzI»stenS´l/
connected with human existence
The existential philosopher put forward a new theory,
which was widely criticised.
extravagant
adjective /Ik»strQv´gńt/
spending or using more than you can afford
She has very extravagant tastes.
expedient
adjective /Ik»spi˘dińt/
advantageous but not always fair
The government has decided that a cut in interest
rates would be politically expedient.
extricate
verb /»EkstrIkeIt/
free (someone or something) from a constraint or
difficulty
He found that he could not extricate himself from the
meeting.
expenditure
noun /Ik»spendItS´[r]/
the action of spending funds
Building a house involves considerable expenditure.
extrovert
noun /»Ekstr´v´˘t/
an outgoing, socially confident person
As an extrovert she makes friends wherever she
goes.
explicit
adjective /Ik»splIsIt/
clear and easy to understand
He gave me very explicit directions on how to get to
his place.
exuberant
adjective /Ig»zju˘b´rńt/
full of energy, excitement and happiness
She gave an exuberant performance at the piano
recital.
extinction
noun /Ik»stINkSń/
the state or process of being or becoming extinct
The snow leopard is facing extinction.
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F
12
to 14
age group
fabricate
fallacious
verb /»fQbrIkeIt/
to make up something false
He likes to fabricate stories which have very little truth
in them.
adjective /f´»leIS´s/
wrong, based on a false idea
The fallacious arguments in his presentation were
pointed out by the teacher.
facet
fallacy
noun /»fQsIt/
a particular part or aspect of something
As they struggled to find a solution, they realised
there was another facet to the problem.
noun /»fQl´si/
a misleading argument
It is a fallacy to say that the camera never lies.
familiarize
facetious
verb /f´»mIlI´raIz/
give (someone) knowledge or understanding of
something
You must try to familarize yourself to the new
environment.
adjective /f´»si˘S´s/
joking
She was angry with him for making a facetious
remark about her appearance.
factorage
fanaticism
noun /»fQkt´rIdZ/
the commission payable to a factor
The factorage was decided by the authorities who
had appointed the factor.
noun /f´»nQtIsIz´m/
extreme beliefs or behaviour
The management decided to take action against
fanaticism.
factotum
fantasize
noun /fQk»tÚt´m/
an employee who does all kinds of work
He has been working as a factotum at this office for a
long time.
verb /»fQnt´saIz/
indulge in daydreaming about something desired
I fantasize about being a superhero.
fastidious
facula
adjective /fQ»stIdi´s/
very accurate and detailed
Everything was planned in fastidious detail.
noun /»fakjUl´/
an irregular, unusually bright patch on the sun’s
surface
Facula causes an appearance of spots on the surface
of the sun.
fatigue
noun /f´»ti˘g/
extreme tiredness
He was suffering from both physical and mental
fatigue.
falconry
noun /»fç˘lkńri/
the art or sport of keeping and breeding birds of prey
and training them to hunt
The sheikh’s interest in falconry far exceeded his
other hobbies.
febrifuge
noun /»febrIfju˘dZ/
a medicine or remedy that is used to reduce fever
Febrifuge is similar to any drug used to reduce fever.
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age group
feign
F
figurine
verb /feIn/
to pretend
She decided to feign illness so she could leave her
work place early.
noun /»fIg´ri˘n/
a small statue of a person or an animal used as a
decorative object
She presented me with a beautiful figurine from
China.
felicitous
filigree
adjective /f´»lIsIt´s/
apt; suitably expressed; well chosen
Being famous for his felicitous remarks, he was called
to serve as master-of-ceremonies at the banquet.
noun /»fIlIgri˘/
delicate, lace-like metal work
She wore beautiful silver filigree earrings.
fenestration
financier
noun /fenI»streISń/
the arrangement and design of windows in a building
He was impressed by the architect’s designs for the
fenestration of his new house.
noun /faI»nQnsI´[r]/
a person concerned in the management of large
amounts of money on behalf of governments or
organizations
The financier provided the funds required to start
construction.
ferocious
savagely fierce, cruel, or violent
The ferocious lion rushed towards the antelope.
fiscal
adjective /»fIskl/
connected with government or public money specially
taxes
The government proposed new fiscal policies to
improve the country’s economy.
fetish
noun /»fetIS/
an object or principle irrationally revered
Some women have a fetish about new clothes.
flamboyant
adjective /flQm»bçIńt/
ostentatious, showy
She dresses in a very flamboyant style.
fibrinogen
noun /faI»brIn´dZń/
a substance in the blood from which fibrin is
produced
A test was performed to check the level of fibrinogen
in his blood.
flaunt
verb /flç˘nt/
display (something) ostentatiously, especially in order
to provoke envy or admiration
He likes to flaunt his expensive cars.
fibrous
adjective /»faIbr´s/
having to do with or made of threads
Muscles are made up of fibrous tissue.
flounder
verb /»flaUnd´[r]/
to move clumsily or with difficulty
I am a very good swimmer and will not flounder in
deep water.
fictitious
adjective /fIk»tIS´s/
invented, not true
The fictitious places in the novel really fascinated the
readers.
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F
12
to 14
age group
fluctuation
formulistic
noun /«fl√ktSu»eISn/
irregular variation
The constant fluctuation in voltage prevented the air
conditioner from cooling the room.
adjective /«fç˘mjU»lIstIk/
tending to adhere to or believe in formulas
He preferred to have a formulistic approach to avoid
any errors.
fluorescence
fractionize
noun /«flç˘»resns/
light given out by a substance when it is exposed to
radiation
Fluorescence has been used to study the structure
and conformations of DNA techniques.
verb /»frQkS´«naIz/
divide (someone or something) into separate groups
or parts
I will have to fractionize the course material into
smaller portions.
fluoride
fractious
noun /»flç˘raId/
a chemical substance that protects teeth from decay
Fluoride is added to drinking water in some countries.
adjective /»frQkS´s/
(typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome
He is a fractious child who needs to be deciplined.
flutter
fraudulent
verb /»fl√t´[r]/
to move lightly and quickly
The wounded bird attempted to flutter its wings.
adjective /»frç˘dj´lńt/
dishonest
He was put in prison for his fraudulent behaviour.
foible
fraught
noun /»fçIbl/
a minor character flaw
The strict boss would not tolerate any foible in his
subordinate.
adjective /frç˘t/
(of a situation or course of action) filled with
(something undesirable)
This situation is fraught with danger.
foreboding
freighter
noun /fç˘»bÚdIN/
a feeling that something unpleasant is going to
happen
She had a sense of foreboding that the news would
be bad.
noun /»freIt´/
a large ship or aircraft designed to carry goods in
bulk
The freighter carrying the shipment is due in port
today.
formidable
frequency
difficult to deal with or overcome
His recent victories in tennis have given him the
reputation of being a formidable opponent.
noun /»fri˘kwńsi/
the number of any occurrence within a given time
Natural disasters appear to happen with increasing
frequency.
frigate
noun /»frIg´t/
a small fast ship
A frigate accompanied the battleship.
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12 to 14
age group
fritter
F
functionary
verb /»frIt´[r]/
to waste time or money on things that are not
important
His sincere friends advised him not to fritter away the
millions his father had left him.
noun /»f√nkSń´ri/
a person who has to perform official functions or
duties; an official
A high police functionary is in charge of security.
fundamental
frivolous
adjective /f√nd´»mEnt´l/
forming a necessary base or core; of central
importance
Believing in one God is a fundamental principle of
Islam.
adjective /»frIv´l´s/
not serious or important
She spends too much money on frivolous things.
frolicking
funereal
noun /»frÅlIkIN/
playing in a lively way
Please stop this frolicking around and get on with
your work.
adjective /fjU»nI´ri´l/
gloomy, dismal
There was a funereal atmosphere in their house for
days after their mother’s death.
frugal
adjective /»fru˘gl/
careful, economical
They had a frugal meal at a small restaurant.
fruition
noun /frU»ISń/
the realization or fulfilment of a plan or project
This book is the fruition of years of research.
fulfilment
noun /fUl»fIlmńt/
satisfaction
The members of the committee could look back on
their report with a feeling of fulfilment.
fumigate
verb /»fju˘mIgeIt/
to disinfect with chemical vapour
He had to fumigate his cotton fields every year.
functional
adjective /»f√NkSń´l/
of or having a special activity, purpose, or task
Our website is fully functional now.
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12
to 14
age group
gadget
gargantuan
noun /»gadZIt/
a small mechanical device or tool, especially an
ingenious or novel one
This gadget is used to open tins.
adjective /gA˘»gQntSuń/
enormous
Big Lenny has always had a gargantuan appetite.
gargle
gallivant
verb /»gA˘gl/
to wash the throat with a liquid
He was asked to gargle with salt and hot water
everyday to cure his sore throat.
verb /»gQlIvQnt/
to go from place to place in excitement
At the weekend he likes to gallivant from one party to
the next.
garrulous
galore
adjective /»gQr´l´s/
talking too much
One should not trust a garrulous person with a
secret.
adjective /g´»lç˘[r]/
in large numbers or amounts
They have flowers galore in their garden every spring.
galvanometer
gaseous
noun /«galv´»nÅmIt´/
an instrument for detecting and measuring small
electric currents
A sensitive galvanometer will measure a weak current
also.
adjective /»gQsI´s/
relating to or having the characteristics of a gas
A gaseous pollutant is causing breathing problems.
gauche
adjective /gÚS/
socially shy and clumsy
The gauche schoolgirl often landed in trouble by
saying the wrong things.
gander
noun /»gQnd´[r]/
a male goose
gangrene
gaunt
noun /»gQNgri˘n/
the decay of a part of the body due to obstructed
circulation
He has developed frostbite in his foot and is taking
antibiotics to stop gangrene from setting in.
adjective /gç˘nt/
very thin because of hunger, illness
The gaunt faces of the starved children in Ethiopia
was a sorrowful sight.
gazebo
gangrenous
noun /g´»zi˘bú/
a small building with open sides usually in a garden
offering a wide view of the surrounding area
We sat in the gazebo admiring the beautiful view of
the garden.
adjective /»gQNgrIn´s/
decomposing (of bodily tissue)
Patients with gangrenous limbs were treated at the
clinic.
ganymede
gazette
noun /»gQnImi˘d/
the largest moon of the planet Jupiter
Ganymede was originally sighted by Galileo and is
one of the largest satellites in the solar system.
noun /g´»zet/
an official newspaper published by an organisation
She frequently wrote for the company’s gazette.
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12 to 14
age group
gazillion
G
glaciation
noun /g´»zIljń/
a very large number or quantity (used for emphasis)
A gazillion of stars lit up the desert sky.
noun /«gleIsI»eISn/
the movement of a mass of ice over an area of land
Global warming is having a harmful effect on
glaciation.
gelatine
glacier
noun /»dZel´tIn/
a clear, tasteless substance used in foods
The chef used gelatine in the cheesecake.
noun /»gleIsi´[r], »glQsi´[r]/
a large mass of ice that moves very slowly down a
valley
A glacier is a slow-moving river of ice.
genesis
noun /»dZen´sIs/
the beginning or origin of something
He proposed a new theory about the genesis of
civilization.
glisten
verb /»glIsn/
to shine
He could see her eyes glisten with tears.
genius
glitch
noun /»dZi˘ni´s/
unusual great intelligence, skill or artistic ability
Her idea was a stroke of genius.
noun /glItS/
a small problem or fault
The pilot blamed the delay on a technical glitch.
genome
glitterati
noun /»dZi˘nÚm/
the complete set of genes in a cell or living thing
The human genome is a very complex yet intricate
part of nature.
plural noun /«glIt´»rA˘ti/
fashionable people involved in show business or other
glamorous activity
The red carpet affair was littered with glitterati from
television to the big screen.
geodesic
adjective /«dZi˘Ú»desIk/
denoting the shortest possible line between two
points on a curved surface
Geodesic structures are especially good at spanning
large spaces
globular
adjective /»glÅbj´l´[r]/
spherical or shaped like a globe
On her birthday, her father gave her a lovely lamp
with a globular shade.
germanium
glossary
noun /dZŒ˘»meIni´m /
a grey crystalline element with semiconducting
properties, resembling silicon
Garlic, along with several other minerals, contains
germanium.
noun /»glÅs´ri/
a list in a book with explanation of special words used
in the text
I found the glossary at the end of the book very
useful.
geyser
noun /»gi˘z´[r]/
a hot spring in which water intermittently boils and
gushes out
The local geyser attracts many tourists.
l 188 l
G
12
to 14
age group
gluon
grandiose
noun /»glu˘Ån/
a subatomic particle of a class that is thought to bind
quarks together
The first direct experimental evidence of a gluon was
noted in 1979.
on an impressive scale
I was greatly impressed by the grandiose architecture
of the mosque.
granulated
glutinous
adjective /«grQnjuleItId/
in the form of grains
Granulated salt is mixed with iodine to make it more
healthy.
adjective /»glu˘tń´s/
sticky
She served an unappetising and glutinous dessert.
goitre
gratuitous
noun /»gçIt´[r]/
a swelling of the throat caused by a disease of the
thyroid gland
Goitre is more common in females than in males.
adjective /gr´»tju˘It´s/
done without reason or purpose
Films are full of gratuitous violence these days.
gratuity
gondolier
noun /gr´»tju˘Iti/
a gift or reward, usually of money, for services
rendered
Waiters are usually paid a fifteen% gratuity in the
United States.
noun /«gÅnd´»lI´[r]/
a Venetian boatman
The gondolier sang a ballad while he rowed.
gorgonzola
gravelly
noun /«gç˘gen»zÚl´/
a strong-flavoured Italian cheese with bluish-green
veins
He bought a packet of gorgonzola from the store.
adjective /»grQv´li/
resembling, containing, or consisting of gravel
The gravelly beach made walking difficult.
gradient
Grecian
noun /»greIdińt/
the degree of a slope
The gradient of the hill was too steep to climb.
adjective /»gri˘Sn/
from ancient Greece
Grecian architecture is renowned for its beauty and
elegance.
graduation
gregarious
noun /«grQdZU»eISn/
successful completion of a university degree
She received many job offers even before her
graduation.
adjective /grI»ge´rI´s/
sociable or liking the company of others
The gregarious child amused everyone at the
birthday party.
graffiti
gristle
pl noun /gr´»fi˘ti/
writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed
illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place
The hooligans covered the college walls with graffiti.
noun /»grIsl/
tough, flexible tissue in vertebrates
The gristle in the meat really spoiled the dinner for
me.
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12 to 14
age group
grouse
noun /graUs/
a medium to large game bird with a plump body and
feathered legs
guacamole
noun /«gwA˘k´»mÚli/
a dish of mashed avocado
She made guacamole for the picnic.
gymnastics
noun /dZIm»nQstIks/
physical exercises using special equipment
Gymnastics is a sport that requires a lot of patience
and determination.
gynaecology
noun /«gaIn´»kÅl´dZi/
the scientific study and treatment of the diseases and
medical conditions of women
She is specialising in the field of gynaecology.
gypsum
noun /»dZIps´m/
a soft, white mineral like chalk
Pakistan has large deposits of high quality gypsum.
gyroscope
noun /»dZaIr´skÚp/
a device used to provide stability or maintain a fixed
direction
The gyroscope malfunctioned and threw them off
course.
l 190 l
G
H
12
to 14
age group
habitual
hammock
adjective /h´»bItSu´l/
regular, customary
She is a habitual liar.
noun /»hQm´k/
a hanging bed made of canvas or a network of ropes
Mark is always asleep in the hammock in his
backyard.
hackneyed
harangue
adjective /»hQknid/
unoriginal and dull
She often uses the most hackneyed phrase to make
her point.
noun /h´»rQN/
a long, forceful speech
We had to listen to his political harangue for over an
hour.
hacksaw
harmonious
noun /»hQksç˘/
a saw with a narrow fine-toothed blade set in a frame
, used especially for cutting metal
A hacksaw has been used to cut the thick iron grill.
adjective /hA˘»mÚni´s/
forming a pleasing combination
My wife and I have a harmonious relationship.
haemophilia
harpoon
noun /«hi˘m´»fIli´/
a medical condition in which the blood fails to clot
normally
Patients suffering from haemophilia must be
extremely wary of anything that could cause them
injury.
noun /hA˘»pu˘n/
a weapon like a spear on a rope, that is thrown or
fired from a gun
The hunters in Africa still use the harpoon as their
main weapon against wild animals.
hatchet
halitosis
noun /»hQtSIt/
a small axe
The angry man picked up a hatchet in a threatening
manner.
noun /«hQlI»tÚsIs/
a condition in which the breath smells unpleasant
Halitosis can often be remedied by something as
simple as toothpaste.
hazardous
hallucination
adjective /»hQz´d´s/
dangerous
The hazardous chemical waste should not be
disposed of in the ocean.
vision of something that is not present
Some drugs can cause a hallucination.
halogens
hearsay
noun /»hQl´dZńs/
any of a set of five chemical elements that react with
hydrogen to form acids
Halogens, in the form of gas, are used in lamps and
cookers.
noun /»hI´seI/
information received from other people which cannot
be substantiated; rumour
Hearsay testimony is not admissible in a court of law.
hegemony
noun /hI»dZemńi/
dominance of one group or state over another
Western hegemony is growing in most parts of Asia.
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age group
heiress
H
heterogeneous
noun /»e´rIs, e´»res/
a female heir
She was the sole heiress of her father’s entire
business and property.
adjective /«het´r´»dZi˘ni´s/
formed of parts of different kinds
The population is a heterogeneous mixture of various
races and ethnic groups.
hepatitis
hibiscus
noun /«hep´»taItIs/
inflammation of the liver
She has been missing school because she is
suffering from hepatitis.
noun /hI»bIsk´s/
a plant of the mallow family, grown in warm climates
for its large brightly coloured flowers
Hibiscus plants can beautify any garden.
herald
hideous
verb /»her´ld/
to signal the approach of
These talks could herald a new era of peace.
adjective /»hIdi´s/
frightful, very unpleasant
The whole experience seemed like some hideous
nightmare.
herbaceous
hierarchical
adjective /hŒ˘»beIS´s/
relating to certain plants
She wanted to put some herbaceous plants in the
house.
adjective /«haI´»rA˘kIkl/
related to a system of status or authority ranked one
above another
The new manager got rid of the company’s
complicated hierarchical structure.
hereditary
adjective /h´»redItri/
passed on from parent to child
Epilepsy is a hereditary illness.
hieroglyphics
noun /«haI´r´»glIfIks/
a system of writing using a picture to represent a
word or sound
Some Egyptian hieroglyphics are beautiful works of
art.
heritage
noun /»herItIdZ/
the history, traditions and qualities important to a
society or country
Europe is known for its rich cultural heritage.
hilarious
adjective /hI»le´ri´s/
extremely funny
The hilarious situation made everyone laugh.
heroin
noun /»herÚIn/
a strong addictive drug made from morphine
Customs officials arrested a man and recovered six
kilograms of heroin from him.
hindrance
noun /»hIndrńs/
an obstruction or obstacle
Stalled cars along the highway are a hindrance to
traffic.
herringbone
noun /»herINbÚn/
a pattern used in stitching consisting of V-shaped
lines that are parallel to each other
The napkin was embroidered in herringbone.
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H
12
to 14
age group
hippodrome
homogeneous
noun /»hIp´drÚm/
[as name] a theatre or concert hall
In ancient Rome chariot racing was done in a
hippodrome.
adjective /«hÅm´»dZi˘ni´s/
formed of parts of the same kind
The town caters well for the similar needs of its
homogeneous population.
hippopotamus
honeyed
noun /«hIp´»pÅt´m´s/
a large African animal with a thick skin, found in
swampy areas, lakes and rivers
adjective /»h√nId/
(of food) containing or coated with honey
Honeyed chicken wings were served with rice.
holocaust
honorable
noun /»hÅl´kç˘st/
a large scale destruction
We saw a documentary about the nuclear holocaust
in Japan.
adjective /»Ån´r´b´l/
bringing or deserving honour
Teaching is an honorable profession.
hoodwink
homeopathic
verb /»hUdwINk/
deceive or trick
Do not try to hoodwink me by lying.
adjective /«hÚmI»ÅpQTIk/
a system of complementary medicine in which
ailments are treated by minute doses of natural
substances
Homeopathic medicine can be given to babies too.
horde
noun /hç˘d/
a large group or crowd
A horde of spectators rushed onto the football field.
homeostasis
noun /«hÅmIÚsteIsIs/
the self regulating maintenance of the metabolic
process
Homeostatis is essential for survival.
horrendous
adjective /hÅ»rend´s/
extremely shocking and unpleasant
We saw a horrendous car accident on the motorway.
homicide
noun /»hÅmIsaId/
murder
In the United Kingdom, the punishment for homicide
is life imprisonment.
hubbub
noun /»h√b√b/
a chaotic din caused by a crowd of people
The excited hubbub of conversation was loud enough
to drown even the music in the background.
hominidae
noun /»hÅmInId/
modern man and his extinct predecessors
Chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and humans fall in
the category of hominidae.
hullabaloo
a lot of loud noise, an uproar
The protestors created a hullabaloo outside
Parliament House.
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age group
humanitarian
H
hymnology
noun /hju˘«mQnI»te´riń/
person concerned with human welfare
He is the consummate humanitarian and lives to
serve people in need.
noun /hIm»nÅl´dZi/
the study of hymn composition
We in the West have not been gifted with rich and
profound hymnology.
humiliation
hypertension
noun /«hju˘mIlI»eISn/
the action of humiliating someone or the state of
being humiliated
He suffered much humiliation after his defeat in the
election.
noun /haIp´»tenSń/
abnormally high blood pressure
Hypertension is usually caused by stress or anxiety.
hyperthermia
noun /«haIp´»TE˘mI´/
the condition of having a body temperature greatly
above normal
Hyperthermia is caused by infection or head injury.
husbandry
noun /»h√zbńdri/
farming
He is engaged in animal husbandry.
hypnosis
hybrid
noun /hIp»nÚsIs/
an artificially produced state like deep sleep
Many people use hypnosis to cure bad habits such as
smoking.
noun /»haIbrId/
a plant or animal produced by combining two different
species or varieties
The scientist announced that the odd-looking plant
was a hybrid.
hypnotic
adjective /hIp»nÅtIk/
inducing a trance-like sleep
His voice had an almost hypnotic effect on me.
hydrant
noun /»haIdrńt/
an outlet from a water main from which water can be
tapped for fighting fires
The parking meter close to a fire hydrant meant a
risk.
hypocrisy
noun /hI»pÅkr´si/
false virtue or goodness
He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who
say one thing and do another.
hydraulic
adjective /haI»drç˘lIk/
involving the movement of water or oil through pipes
under pressure
The hydraulic pump stopped working due to low
voltage.
hypocrite
noun /»hIp´krIt/
one who pretends to be good and virtuous
She was a hypocrite who pretended to be very
righteous and honest.
hyena
noun /haI»i˘n´/
a wild animal that looks like a wolf and makes
shrieking sounds
hypotenuse
noun /haI»pÅtńju˘z/
the longest side of a right-angled triangle, opposite
the right angle
Measure the hypotenuse of the triangle.
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12
to 14
age group
hypothesis
noun /haI»pÅT´sIs/
a theory
The scientist wanted to perform a series of
experiments to test his hypothesis.
hysterical
adjective /hI»sterIkl/
uncontrollably emotional
She broke into a hysterical giggle after listening to the
joke.
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age group
ideology
I
imbue
noun /«aIdi»Ål´dZi/
a system of ideas and principles forming the basis of
an economic or political theory
The constitution of Pakistan is based on the ideology
of Islam.
verb /Im»bju˘/
to fill somebody with strong feelings, opinions or
values
The leader gave an inspirational speech in an effort to
imbue the workers with a new spirit.
idiosyncrasy
imitation
noun /«Idi´»sINkr´si/
a person’s particular way of behaving, thinking
especially when it is unusual
It is her idiosyncrasy to wear a raincoat on a hot day.
noun /«ImI»teISn/
a copy
The thief stole an imitation of Van Gogh’s painting,
thinking it was the original.
igneous
immaculate
adjective /»Igni´s/
relating to rocks formed by action from volcanoes
Sarah carried out an in-depth research on igneous
rock formation as part of her geology course.
adjective /I»mQkj´l´t/
completely clean, without faults
The car is in immaculate condition.
immaterial
ignition
adjective /Im´»tI´rI´l/
unimportant under the circumstances; irrelevant
It is immaterial whether the firing was accidental or
not.
noun /Ig»nISn/
the electrical system of a vehicle that makes the fuel
begin to burn to start the engine
The car’s ignition needs to be repaired.
immature
illiterate
adjective /«Im´»tjU´[r]/
behaving in a way that is not sensible and is typical of
people who are much younger
The teenage girl’s immature behaviour was a cause
of concern for her parents.
adjective /I»lIt´r´t/
unable to read or write
A large number of the illiterate population was a
hindrance in the growth of the country.
illustration
immigration
noun /«Il´»streISn/
drawing or picture
The illustration on the cover of the book was made by
a famous artist.
noun /ImI»greISn/
the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign
country
Illegal immigration is on the rise as everyone wants to
get away.
imbecile
immiscible
noun /»Imb´si˘l/
a rude way to describe a person one believes to be
stupid
He behaved like an imbecile at the party last night.
adjective /I»mIs´bl/
cannot be mixed together
Oil and water are immiscible liquids.
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12
to 14
age group
immunization
impediment
noun /»ImjUnaI»zeISń/
make (a person or animal) immune to infection,
typically by inoculation
Immunization against polio is done by oral drops of
vaccine.
noun /Im»pedImńt/
obstruction
Lack of funds is a serious impediment to scientific
progress.
impenetrable
immutable
adjective /Im»penItr´bl/
that cannot be entered or passed through
The castle has strong, impenetrable walls.
adjective /I»mju˘t´bl/
unchangeable
Death is an immutable fact of life.
impenitent
impairment
adjective /Im»penItńt/
not sorry for having done wrong
The impenitent thief was not afraid of punishment.
noun /Im»pe´mńt/
a physical or a mental weakness
His physical impairment did not stop him from
excelling in his work.
imperceptible
adjective /Imp´»septIb´l/
so slight, gradual, or subtle as not to be perceived
Even after turning on the air conditioner, there was
only an imperceptible change in temperature.
impale
verb /Im»peIl/
to pierce with a sharp, pointed object
He picked up a skewer to impale the meat and
barbecue it.
imperious
adjective /Im»pI´ri´s/
domineering
I cannot tolerate his imperious demands any more.
impeach
verb /Im»pi˘tS/
to accuse an important public figure of a serious
crime
They wanted to impeach the president but were
forced to abandon their plan.
impermeable
adjective /Im»pŒ˘mi´bl /
not allowing fluid to pass through
Metal is an impermeable substance.
impeccable
adjective /Im»pek´bl/
faultless or flawless
His impeccable manners impressed his employer.
impetuous
adjective /Im»petSu´s/
acting without thinking about the results
She made an impetuous decision which she regretted
later.
impede
verb /Im»pi˘d/
to obstruct or hinder
Failure to pass this exam will impede your academic
progress.
implacable
adjective /Im»plQk´bl/
that cannot be appeased
He is Ted’s implacable enemy.
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age group
implementation
I
improvise
noun /«ImplImen»teISn/
carrying out of a plan
Very little has been achieved in the implementation of
the peace agreement signed last year.
verb /»Impr´vaIz/
to make or do something using whatever is available
I will improvise a costume for myself out of an old
blue dress.
importunate
impulse
adjective /Im»pç˘tjUn´t/
persistent
I tried to get rid of the importunate beggar but he kept
following me.
noun /»Imp√ls/
a sudden desire to do something without thinking
about the results
She felt an irresistible impulse to buy the expensive
shoes.
impostor
inaccessible
noun /Im»pÅst´[r]/
one who pretends to be somebody else
The impostor made his way carefully to the bank vault
dressed as a security guard.
adjective /In´k»sesIb´l/
unable to be reached
Medical camps were set up in inaccessible areas.
impoverish
inaccurate
verb /Im»pÅv´rIS/
make (a person or area) poor
Hospital bills will impoverish the family if no one helps
it.
adjective /In»QkjUr´t/
not accurate
She gave me a horribly inaccurate description of the
match between India and Pakistan.
impromptu
inadequate
adjective /Im»prÅmptju˘/
unplanned or unrehearsed
He was asked to give an impromptu speech after
dinner.
adjective /In»QdIkw´t/
not enough or not good enough
The inadequate food supplies could not meet the
needs of the hungry refugees.
impropriety
inapparent
noun /«Impr´»praI´ti/
failure to observe standards of honesty or modesty;
improper behaviour or character
His impropriety was noticed by one and all.
noun /In´»pQrńt/
not obvious
It was inapparent from her face that she was angry.
inarguable
improvident
adjective /In»A˘gjU´b[´]l/
that you cannot give a good reason for
It is an inarguable fact that lack of discipline will not
lead you to success.
adjective /Im»prÅvIdńt/
wasteful and not caring about future needs
I warned him to mend his improvident ways and to
begin saving for his future.
inauspicious
adjective /«Inç˘»spIS´s/
not favourable or promising, unlucky
Riots in the country lead to an inauspicious beginning
of the new year.
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12
to 14
age group
incandescent
incision
adjective /«InkQn»desnt/
glowing as a result of being heated
The incandescent lamps created a beautiful
ambience.
noun /In»sIZn/
a sharp cut
The surgeon made an incision below the patient’s
ribs.
incant
incite
verb /In»kQnt/
chant or intone
Harry Potter began to incant a spell to levitate his
broom.
verb /In»saIt/
to encourage someone to do something violent,
illegal or unpleasant
His poetry has the potential to incite the public to
rebel.
incapacitate
incontrovertible
verb /«Ink´»pQsIteIt/
to disable or make a person unfit for work
The sickness was going to eventually incapacitate the
old man.
adjective /«InkÅntr´»vŒ˘t´bl /
something that is true and cannot be disputed
The lawyer was able to present incontrovertible
evidence in favour of his client.
incapacity
inconvenient
noun /Ink´»pQsIti/
lack of ability and skill
The people can see the government’s incapacity to
govern the country effectively.
adjective /Inkń»vi˘nIńt/
causing trouble, difficulties, or discomfort
Frequent load shedding can be very inconvenient for
the people.
incarcerate
incorporeal
to imprison
They decided to incarcerate him in the dungeon of
the old castle.
adjective /«Inkç˘»pç˘ri´l/
without a material body or form
Ghosts are supposed to be incorporeal beings.
incarnate
incorrigible
adjective /In»kA˘n´t/
in human form
The leader seemed the devil incarnate.
adjective /In»kÅrIdZ´bl/
incurably bad
Her husband is an incorrigible flirt.
incinerate
increment
verb /In»sIn´reIt/
to consume by fire
The hospital must incinerate all waste on a daily
basis.
noun /»INkrImńt/
an increase or addition, especially one of a series on
a fixed scale
Huma got a 10% increment in her salary.
incipient
indebted
adjective /In»sIpińt/
at an early stage
The ruler could see the signs of incipient unrest.
adjective /In»detId/
owing gratitude
I am deeply indebted to my family for all their help.
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12 to 14
age group
indecipherable
I
indulgent
adjective /«IndI»saIfr´bl/
not able to be read or understood
There was an indecipherable message on the
notepad by the telephone.
adjective /In»d√ldZńt/
tending to allow somebody to have or do whatever
they want; ready to overlook faults
Mariah is always getting her way with her indulgent
parents.
indeterminate
inestimable
adjective /«IndI»t´˘mIn´t/
not exactly known, established, or defined
Mr. Shah has gone into exile for an indeterminate
period.
adjective /In»estIm´b´l/
too great to calculate
The flood caused inestimable damage to life and
property.
indiscriminate
inevitable
making no distinction
Terrorist gunmen engaged in indiscriminate firing last
night.
adjective /In»evIt´bl/
unavoidable
It was an inevitable consequence of the decision.
indisputable
inexorable
adjective /«IndI»spju˘t´bl/
unquestionable
The indisputable evidence made it easy for the jury to
come to a unanimous decision.
adjective /In»eks´r´bl/
relentless
The inexorable rise in crime is a result of the high
levels of unemployment.
indissoluble
inexplicable
adjective /«IndI»sÅlj´bl/
lasting
They were linked in an indissoluble bond of
friendship.
adjective /«InIk»splIk´b´l/
unable to be explained or accounted for
She left the meeting for inexplicable reasons.
inexplicit
inducement
adjective /InIk»splIsIt/
not definitely or clearly expressed or explained
Aftab’s reasons for leaving the company are quite
vague and inexplicit.
noun /In»dju˘smńt/
a thing that persuades or leads someone to do
something
We gave 5 % discount on all goods as an
inducement to buyers
infallible
adjective /In»fQl´bl/
never making mistakes or being wrong
The professor always gave infallible advice to his
students.
induction
noun /In»d√kSń/
the action or process of inducting someone to a post
or organization
The government has stopped further induction of
teachers in state run schools.
infatuated
adjective /In»fQtSu,eItId or In»fQtSuItId/
having a very strong love or attraction for someone
She was completely infatuated by him.
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12
to 14
age group
infectious
infringe
adjective /In»fekS´s/
likely to spread
Influenza is a highly infectious disease.
verb /In»frIndZ/
to violate
One should not infringe upon the rights of other
people.
inference
infuriate
noun /»Inf´rńs/
deduction
The clear inference from this data is that the universe
is expanding.
verb /In»fjU´rieIt/
to make someone extremely angry
Their constant criticism will infuriate him.
infiltrate
ingredient
verb /»InfIltreIt/
to enter gradually and imperceptibly
Enemy spies are planning to infiltrate the army
headquarters.
noun /In»gri˘dińt/
one of the things from which something is made,
especially one of the foods that are used together to
prepare a particular dish
The pasta did not taste very good because she forgot
to add the key ingredient.
infinitesimal
adjective /«InfInI»tesIml/
extremely small
The infinitesimal granules were barely visible to the
naked eye.
inhibition
noun /InhI»bISń/
a feeling that makes one self-conscious and unable to
act in a relaxed and natural way
She has no inhibition to travel alone at night.
infinitive
noun /In»fInItIv/
the basic form of a verb
In English an infinitive is used by itself.
inimitable
adjective /I»nImIt´b´l/
so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy;
unique
Ms Haroon declared that Eman’s drawings were
inimitable.
inflammable
adjective /In»flQm´bl/
burning quickly and easily
Parachutes are made of inflammable material.
initialize
verb /I»nIS´laIz/
set to the value or put in the condition appropriate to
the start of an operation
You have to initialize the document before we can
begin the work.
inflammatory
adjective /In»flQm´tri/
causing very strong feelings
The boss’s inflammatory remarks angered the
workers.
injudicious
inflexible
adjective /«IndZu»dIS´s/
showing poor judgement; unwise
Spending all that money on something so useless
was an injudicious act.
adjective /In»fleks´bl/
rigid, unbending
Her inflexible attitude may be the reason why nobody
likes her.
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age group
injunction
I
instability
noun /In»dZ√NkSn/
an official order from a court of law to do/not do
something
The court granted an injunction against the
defendants.
noun /Inst´»bIlIti/
the state of being unstable; lack of stability
Experts warn that soaring prices will lead to political
instability in the country.
insusceptible
innocuous
adjective /«Ins´»septIb´l/
not likely to be affected, impressed or moved
The police officer was insusceptible to all forms of
bribery and flattery.
adjective /I»nÅkju´s/
not intending or causing any harm
It seemed to be a perfectly innocuous remark.
inopportune
integrity
adjective /In»Åp´tju˘n/
occurring at an inconvenient or inappropriate time
Shaheen always arrives at the most inapportune time.
noun /In»tegr´ti/
the quality of being honest or moral
He is known to be a man of integrity.
insatiable
intellectual
adjective /In»seISebl/
cannot be satisfied
There seems to be an insatiable demand for more
powerful computers.
adjective /«Int´»lektSU´l/
relating to the intellect
Asma is known for her intellectual abilities.
intercede
inscription
verb /«Int´»si˘d/
to intervene on behalf of another
The argument got so heated that I had to intercede.
noun /In»skrIpSń/
a thing inscribed, as on a monument or in a book
A clay tablet with a strange inscription has been
found in a dig at Harappa.
interdependent
adjective /Int´dI»pendńt/
dependent on each other
We live in an increasingly interdependent world.
inscrutable
adjective /In»skru˘t´b´l/
impossible to understand or interpret
The note had an inscrutable mark in the centre.
interdisciplinary
adjective /Int´»dIsIplIn´ri/
relating to more than one branch of knowledge
Interdisciplinary courses were offered in philosophy
and psychology.
insidious
adjective /In»sIdi´s/
progressing secretly or subtly
The whole village suffers from the insidious effects of
a polluted water supply.
intermediary
noun /«Int´»mi˘dI´ri/
a person who acts as a link between people in order
to try and bring about an agreement; a mediator
He was appointed as intermediary at the meeting of
the 2 warring leaders.
insignia
noun /In»sIgnI´/
a distinguishing badge or emblem of military rank,
office, or membership of an organization
The school insignia has been engraved on the main
door.
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12
to 14
age group
intervene
invincible
verb /«Int´»vi˘n/
to interfere
The government had to intervene to prevent fighting
between the tribes.
adjective /In»vIns´bl/
too strong to be overcome or defeated
His invincible belief in his own ability made him
successful in life.
intimidation
inviolable
threatening or frightening behaviour
There was an inquiry into allegations of intimidation
during last week’s vote.
adjective /In»vaI´l´bl/
that must not or cannot be transgressed,
dishonoured, and kept sacred
The area around the mosque was declared an
inviolable territory.
intolerant
invulnerable
adjective /In»tÅl´rńt/
not willing to accept ideas or behaviour different from
your own
Her intolerant attitude towards other people’s religious
beliefs will cause a lot of suffering.
adjective /In»v√ln´r´bl/
impossible to harm or damage
The invulnerable submarine survived the attacks from
the enemy.
intoxicate
iodine
verb /In»tÅksIkeIt/
to get under the influence of drugs or alcohol
The maid servant attempted to intoxicate the family
and steal the valuable belongings in the house.
noun /»aI´di˘n/
a chemical substance used as an antiseptic
Iodine is used in making medicines.
iridescent
intractable
adjective /«IrI»desnt/
showing bright colours that seem to change when
seen from different angles
The hummingbird had iridescent blue feathers.
adjective /In»trQkt´bl/
very difficult to deal with
The country is facing intractable economic problems.
intrinsic
irrational
adjective /In»trInsIk/
existing within, what is essential and natural
These tasks were lengthy, repetitive and lacking any
intrinsic interest.
adjective /I»rQSń´l/
not logical or reasonable
His irrational behaviour surprised everyone.
irrefutable
introspection
adjective /I»rIfjUt´b´l, I»refjUt´b´l/
impossible to deny or disprove
It is a irrefutable fact that tigers will soon be extinct
from this planet.
noun /«Intr´»spekSn/
examination of one’s own feelings and thoughts
He was lost in introspection.
intruder
irrelevant
noun /In»tru˘d´[r]/
a person who enters a place without permission
Thankfully, the intruder did not steal anything.
adjective /I»rel´vńt/
not connected to a given situation
She has a habit of making irrelevant comments.
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12 to 14
age group
irreverent
adjective /I»rev´rńt/
lacking respect for sacred things
The comedy displayed the film-maker’s irreverent
view.
irrevocable
adjective /I»rev´k´bl/
unalterable
The judge passed an irrevocable legal decision in her
favour.
itinerary
noun /aI»tIn´r´ri/
a planned route or journey
Visits to four different countries are included in your
itinerary.
l 204 l
I
J
12
to 14
age group
Jacuzzi
jubilation
noun /dZ´»ku˘zi/
a large bath with jets of water to massage the body
A long soak in the Jacuzzi is the most relaxing way to
spend an hour.
great happiness because of a success
His graduation gave his family reason for jubilation.
judgement
jaundice
noun /»dZ√dZmńt/
ability to discern
Her poor judgement was reflected in all aspects of
her life.
noun /»dZç˘ndIs/
a medical condition in which one’s skin and the white
portion of the eyes becomes yellow
I have never had jaundice in my life.
judicial
jeopardy
adjective /dZu»dISl/
connected to a court of law, a judge or legal
judgement
The judicial system in our country needs massive
improvement.
noun /»dZep´di/
danger
He put his life in jeopardy by trying to attack the thief.
jettison
judicious
verb /»dZetIsn/
to throw something out of a moving aircraft or ship to
make it lighter
The cabin crew decided to jettison extra luggage from
the aircraft for fear of losing altitude.
adjective /dZu»dIS´s/
wise, showing or having good sense
She made a judicious decision which proved very
beneficial to her.
jockey
jugular
noun /»dZÅki/
a person who rides in horse races, especially as a
profession
The winner of the race was a young jockey by the
name of Gogo.
adjective /»dZ√gj´l´[r]/
of the neck or throat
The jugular vein carries blood from the head to the
heart.
julienne
jocund
noun /«dZu˘lI»en/
a portion of food cut into short, thin strips
The famous chef demonstrated the method of making
julienne cuts in carrots etc.
adjective /»dZÚkńd, »dZÅkńd/
cheerful and light-hearted
He always has a jocund remark up his sleeve.
journalism
juncture
noun /»dZŒ˘n´lIz´m /
the work of writing for, editing or publishing
newspapers, magazines
She hopes to have a career in journalism.
noun /»dZ√NktS´[r]/
a particular point or stage in an activity or series of
events
Mary should think carefully before proceeding at this
critical juncture.
jovial
adjective /»dZÚvi´l/
cheerful and friendly
He is a jovial and likeable person.
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12 to 14
age group
jurisprudence
noun /«dZU´rIs»pru˘dns/
the science and philosophy of law
He was a student of jurisprudence rather than a
practitioner of law.
justifiable
adjective /»dZ√stIfaI´bl/
able to be shown to be right or reasonable
It was a justifiable act to hit out in self defence.
juvenile
adjective /»dZu˘vńaIl/
of or suitable for young people
The juvenile court has been extremely successful in
decreasing the number of young offenders.
juxtapose
verb /«dZ√kst´»pÚz/
to place side by side
I am planning to juxtapose the photographs with the
poems in my book.
l 206 l
J
K
12
to 14
age group
kaleidoscope
kleptomania
noun /k´»laId´skÚp/
a tube that you look through to see brightly coloured
patterns which change as you turn the end of the
tube
Children found the ever-changing patterns in the
kaleidoscope fascinating.
noun /«klept´»meIni´/
recurring urge to steal
Winona Ryder’s kleptomania became headline news.
knead
verb /ni˘d/
to press and squeeze a mixture of flour and water to
make a firm paste
She would always knead the bread dough early in the
morning.
kamikaze
adjective /«kQmI»kA˘zi/
a Japanese word used to describe the way soldiers
attack the enemy knowing that they too will be killed
World War II saw a large number of kamikaze attacks.
knowledgeable
adjective /»nÅlIdZ´bl/
well informed
Her father is a very knowledgeable person and is
capable of winning any quiz contest.
kestrel
noun /»kestr´l/
a small falcon that hovers with rapidly beating wings
while searching for prey on the ground
The kestrel swooped down on its prey.
kookaburra
noun /»kUk´«b√r´/
an Australian bird with a strange laughing cry
kimono
noun /kI»mÚnÚ/
a long, loose traditional Japanese robe with wide
sleeves, tied with a sash
Saba wore a lovely kimono to the fancy dress party.
krill
noun /krIl/
a very small shellfish that lives in the Antarctic and is
eaten by whales
kindergarten
noun /»kInd´gA˘tn/
a school for very young children
It is essential for young children to attend
kindergarten.
kinetic
adjective /kI»netIk/
to do with or produced by movement
The car gained kinetic energy as it accelerated.
kiosk
noun /»ki˘Åsk/
a small open fronted hut or stall where newspapers,
sweets are sold
An old widow runs the kiosk in the nearby village.
l 207 l
12 to 14
age group
labyrinthine
L
languid
adjective /«lQb´»rInTaIn/
(of a network) like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting
Harry Potter went through the labyrinthine tunnel in
search of his friends.
adjective /»lQNgwId/
slow, lacking energy
She waved them away with a languid movement of
her arm.
laceration
languor
noun /«lQs´»reISn/
tear or deep cut
Falling off the bike resulted in a deep laceration on
his knee.
noun /»lQNg´[r]/
laziness, inertia
In the heat of the day an atmosphere of langour hung
over the city streets.
lackadaisical
laryngitis
adjective /«lQk´»deIzIkl/
lacking enthusiasm and thoroughness
Her lackadaisical attitude towards work will get her in
trouble.
noun /«lQrIn»dZaItIs/
a mild inflammation of the throat that makes it difficult
to speak
She could not participate in the debating contest
because she had laryngitis.
lacklustre
lateral
adjective /»lQkl√st´[r]/
dull
His lacklustre performance received hardly any
applause.
adjective /»lQt´r´l/
from the side
The plant takes up water through its lateral roots.
laconic
lattice
using very few words
His laconic speech was over in two minutes.
noun /»lQtIs/
a structure of strips of wood or metal that cross or
interlace with diamond-shaped spaces between them.
The rose was trained to climb up the lattice.
laggard
laudable
noun /»lQg´d/
a slow and lazy person or organisation
Tim is such a laggard that everyone in the village
calls him Lazy Tim.
adjective /»lç˘d´bl/
deserving praise or admiration
Her laudable work on the charity project earned her a
lot of respect.
lahar
laundry
noun /»lA˘hA˘/
a landslide of wet volcanic debris on the side of a
volcano
A lahar can bulldoze through virtually any structure in
its path.
noun /»lç˘ndri/
clothes or sheets that need washing, are being
washed, or have just been washed
She has to do at least two loads of laundry today.
lamentable
lavatory
adjective /»lQmńt´b´l/
very bad; deplorable
She shows a lamentable lack of understanding.
noun /»lQv´tri/
a toilet
He asked for directions to the lavatory.
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L
12
to 14
age group
league
legislature
noun /li˘g/
a group of people or nations who agree to work
together for a common purpose
The superheroes decided to form a league in order to
fight against injustice around the globe.
noun /»ledZIsleItS´[r]/
the law-making body of a state
The public is calling out for a democratically elected
legislature.
leisure
lease
noun /»leZ´[r]/
free time for relaxation or enjoyment
The long weekend gave us ample time for leisure.
noun /li˘s/
a legal agreement that allows you to use a room,
building or land for a fixed period of time, usually in
return for rent
The lease on the apartment was for six months.
lenient
adjective /»li˘nińt/
not as strict as expected
The lenient attitude of the teacher caused indiscipline
in class.
ledger
noun /»ledZ´[r]/
a book or collection of financial accounts
The accountant regularly updated the ledger with new
information.
lepton
noun /»leptÅn/
group of fundamental particles with half integral spin
which does not have any internal structure
The first charged lepton, the electron, was theorized
in the mid-19th century by several scientists.
leech
noun /li˘tS/
a blood-sucking worm that lives in water
legalize
lethargic
verb /»li˘g´l√Iz/
make (something that was previously illegal)
permissible by law
Some nations want to legalize the hunting of whales.
adjective /l´»TA˘dZIk/
lacking energy or enthusiasm
Her lethargic behaviour was caused by the hot
weather.
legerdemain
leukaemia
noun /»ledZ´d´meIn/
skilful movements of the hands that other people
cannot see
The magician demonstrated his renowned
legerdemain by making a bag of coins disappear into
thin air.
noun /lu˘»ki˘mi´/
serious disease in which too many white blood cells
are produced, causing weakness and sometimes
death
She was diagnosed with leukaemia and had to
undergo treatment.
legible
lexicology
adjective /»ledZ´bl/
readable
She was very weak and could barely write the letter
in a legible handwriting.
noun /«leksI»kÅl´dZi/
the study of the form, meaning and behaviour of
words
Her field is lexicology and her interest is in the origin
of words.
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12 to 14
age group
liaise
L
liquidizer
verb /li»eIz/
to work closely and exchange information with
He had to liaise directly with the police while writing
the report.
noun /»lIkwIdaIz´/
a machine for liquidizing food or other material
The next step in the recipe was to put the fruit in the
liquidizer.
libation
liquorice
noun /laI»beISn/
an act of pouring a liquid as a sacrifice (usually to a
god)
Hindus perform libation during worship.
noun /»lIk´rIS/
a black substance with a strong flavour a gummy or
rubbery texture used in medicines and sweets
Liquorice was one of the most widely known
medicines in ancient history.
lieutenant
litigious
noun /lef»tenńt or lu˘/
an officer of middle rank in the army, navy or air force
The lieutenant led the platoon on the battlefield.
adjective /lI»tIdZ´s/
having a tendency to go to the law to settle disputes
He was a litigious person and was frequently in court.
ligature
llama
noun /»lIg´tS´/
a thing used for tying or binding something tightly
The ligature of the artery was done with skill.
noun /»lA˘m´/
animal with a fleecy wool related to the camel family,
found in South America
limpet
loam
noun /»lImpIt/
a small shellfish that attaches itself firmly to rocks
noun /lÚm/
soil composed of a mixture of sand, clay, silt, and
organic matter
Loam is considered as a good qualilty soil ideal for
gardening and agricultural purposes.
lineaments
noun /»lIni´mńts/
distinctive features
The creature’s lineaments suggested that it might be
a relative of the common toad.
localize
verb /»lÚk´l√Iz/
restrict (something) to a particular place
The authorities did their best to localize the epedemic
to stop it from spreading.
linguistic
adjective /lIN»gwIstIk/
pertaining to language
Linguistic skills are valuable in the pursuit of almost
any career.
longevity
noun /lÅn»dZev´ti/
a long duration of individual life
That family is known for its longevity, with at least
three members living well into their nineties.
liquidate
verb /»lIkwIdeIt/
to sell everything one owns in order to pay off debts
He had to liquidate the business in order to pay off
his loans.
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L
12
to 14
age group
longitudinal
luxurious
adjective /«lÅNgI»tju˘dInl/
extending lengthwise
The surveyor measured the longitudinal distance
between the two points.
adjective /l√g»ZU´ri´s/
very comfortable, elegant, and expensive
I stayed at a luxurious hotel when I went to Spain.
loquacious
talkative
I got tired of listening to the tales of the loquacious
old man.
lozenge
noun /»lÅzIndZ/
small, sweet tablet
She had a lozenge to ease her sore throat.
lucrative
adjective /»lu˘kr´tIv/
making a large profit
He has a lucrative business, allowing him to
accommodate his expensive hobbies.
ludicrous
adjective /»lu˘dIkr´s/
ridiculous and unreasonable
The ludicrous plan was rejected by the board
members.
luminous
adjective /»lu˘mIn´s/
shining in the dark
The luminous stars on her ceiling looked soothing at
night.
luscious
having a rich, sweet taste
The luscious chocolate cake made her mouth water.
lustre
noun /»l√st´[r]/
a soft glow or shine
The polish gave the car a new lustre.
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12 to 14
age group
macadamia
M
magnetize
noun /«mQk´»deImi´/
the edible nut of an Australian tree
She roasted the macadamia nuts and seasoned them
with salt before serving.
verb /»mQgnItaIz/
to give magnetic properties to something
The teacher showed us how to magnetize an iron bar.
magnification
macaroni
noun /«mQgnIfI»keISń/
the action of magnifying something or the process of
being magnified
Magnification of the document is required so that it
can be read easily.
noun /«mQk´»rÚni/
pasta in the shape of hollow tubes
She wanted to have macaroni for lunch.
machiavellian
magnificent
adjective /«mQki´»veliń/
using crafty means to achieve what you want
The people were tired of the government’s
Machiavellian tactics.
adjective /mQg»nIfIsnt/
splendid and impressive
The Taj Mahal is a magnificent building.
machismo
magniloquent
noun /m´»tSIzmÚ, m´»kIzmÚ/
strong or aggressive male pride
Steve McQueen was famous for his machismo.
adjective /mQg»nIl´kwńt/
boastful; lofty in style
In their articles on the trial, the reporters ridiculed the
magniloquent speech of the defence attorney.
macrofossil
magnitude
noun /»mQkrÚ»fÅs´l/
a fossil large enough to be examined without a
microscope
Leaf, cone, and stem debris are examples of a plant’s
macrofossil.
noun /»magnItju˘d/
the great size or extent of something
The sheer magnitude of the task seemed
overwhelming.
maelstrom
maisonette
noun /»meIlstrÅm/
a situation of confusion or upheaval
We were all caught up in the maelstrom following the
boss’s sudden resignation.
noun /«meIz´»net/
a flat with rooms on two floors within a building
My father just bought a maisonette where he spends
most of his time.
maggot
malapropism
noun /»mQg´t/
the larva of the housefly and blowfly found commonly
in decaying organic matter
noun /»mQl´prÅpIz´m/
the usually unintentional and humorous misuse or
distortion of a word or phrase
This line will be rather difficult to translate because it
contains a malapropism.
magnanimous
adjective /mQg»nQnIm´s/
noble and generous
The king’s magnanimous nature has ensured that he
is beloved of his subjects.
malarkey
noun /m´»lA˘ki/
nonsense
I have no time for his malarkey.
l 212 l
M
12
to 14
age group
malevolent
mammoth
adjective /m´»lev´lńt/
wishing evil on others
That club did not allow people with malevolent
attitudes to become members.
adjective /»mQm´T/
extremely large
To try to memorise every word in this vocabulary list
would be a mammoth task.
malice
mandatory
noun /»mQlIs/
a desire to do harm
That man is so full of malice that nobody wants to be
around him.
adjective /»mQnd´t´ri/
required by law
The offence carries a mandatory life sentence.
mandrel
malicious
noun /»mandr´l/
a shaft that supports or holds any object to be rotated
Exhaust pipes in automobiles are frequently bent,
using a mandrel, during manufacture.
adjective /m´»lIS´s/
having or showing hatred and a desire to harm
somebody
Malicious gossip ruined her chances of being elected
as the class rep.
manipulate
verb /m´»nIpjuleIt/
to control or use in a skilful way
He claims to be able to manipulate people to do what
he wants.
malign
verb /m´»laIn/
to speak ill of
The press is doing its best to malign his character.
mannequin
malleable
noun /»mQnIkIn/
a model of a human body, used for displaying clothes
in shops
The dress looked beautiful on the mannequin, but not
as good when she tried it on.
adjective /»mQli´bl/
able to be hammered or pressed into shape without
breaking or cracking
Plasticine’s malleable quality makes it a child’s
favourite plaything.
manoeuvrable
malnutrition
adjective /m´»nu˘v´r´bl/
able to be moved or steered easily
This new car is not as manoeuvrable as the older
one.
noun /malnjU»trISń/
lack of proper nutrition
There is poverty, disease and malnutrition in many
parts of Africa.
manoeuvre
malodorous
noun /m´»nu˘v´[r]/
a movement performed with care and skill
She had to manoeuvre the car into the garage.
adjective /«mQl»Úd´r´s/
having an unpleasant smell
The malodorous heap was a nuisance for the
restaurant.
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age group
manticore
M
marvellous
noun /»mantIkç˘[r]/
a mythical animal typically depicted as having the
body of a lion, the head of a man, and the sting of a
scorpion
The historian aimed to document all known animals
including the manticore.
adjective /»mA˘v´l´s/
causing great wonder; extraordinary
Lake Saiful Muluk is one of the most marvelous
places in the world.
marzipan
noun /»mA˘zIpQn/
a sweet paste of ground almonds, sugar and egg
whites
The cake was iced with marzipan.
marauding
adjective /m´»rç˘dIN/
plundering
The marauding invaders were seen prowling in the
dark looking for anything they could steal.
masculinity
noun /«mQskju»lIn´ti/
manly
People are impressed by Sylvester Stallone’s
masculinity.
marination
noun /»marI»neISń/
soak (meat, fish, or other food) in a marinade
The chef said that the chicken required marination for
at least 5 hours.
masquerade
noun /«mQsk´»reId/
a false show; pretence
Her cheerful appearance is just a masquerade to
conceal her sorrow.
marionette
noun /«mQri´»net/
a puppet worked by strings
The marionette was 2 feet tall and was awe inspiring
in its movement.
masseuse
noun /mQ»sŒ˘z/
a woman whose job is to massage people
The masseuse did an excellent job on the athlete
after her track event was over.
marmalade
noun /»mA˘m´leId/
a preserve or jam made from oranges
Dad loves marmalade with his morning toast.
mastodon
marsupial
noun /»mast´dÅn/
extinct elephant-like mammal
noun /mA˘»su˘pi´l/
any mammal that carries its young in a pocket of skin
or pouch
The marsupial is found only in Australia.
materialize
verb /m´»tI´rI´laIz/
become actual fact; happen
Before Kazim’s plans could materialize he ran out of
money.
martyr
noun /»mA˘t´[r]/
a person who is killed because of his political or
religious beliefs
A martyr is given a very high position in Islam.
matrimony
noun /»mQtrImńi/
marriage
They were joined in matrimony by a priest.
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12
to 14
age group
matrix
meddlesome
noun /»meItrIks/
a situation or surrounding substance within which
something else originates, develops, or is contained
Freedom of expression is the matrix for almost every
other kind of freedom.
adjective /»medls´m/
interfering
Her meddlesome behaviour has caused enough
trouble already.
mediocre
maul
adjective /«mi˘di»Úk´[r]/
ordinary; of only average standard
We were disappointed because he gave a rather
mediocre performance this time.
verb /mç˘l/
to handle roughly
The savage dog doesn’t miss any opportunity to grab
and maul the neighbour’s cat.
Mediterranean
mauve
adjective /«medIt´»reIniń/
the name of a large sea between southern Europe
and northern Africa
They spent their holiday in a Mediterranean resort.
noun /mÚv/
pale purple
She painted the walls of her room in mauve.
maxim
melange
noun /»mQksIm/
a phrase that expresses a commonly held belief
“If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well”, was our
new CEO’s maxim.
noun /meI»lA˘nZ/
a mixture
There was a melange of different cultures at the
international cultural festival.
mayhem
melanism
noun /»meIhem/
uncontrolled and violent situation
There was absolute mayhem when the police sprayed
the protesters with tear gas.
noun /»mel´«niz´m/
excessive amounts of black or dark pigment in the
skin, hair and eyes
Melanism is often the result of genetic mutation.
meagreness
mellifluous
noun /»mi˘g´[r]n´s/
small in quantity
The meagreness of their offering was lamentable.
adjective /me»lIflu´s/
pleasingly smooth and musical to hear
She had a very mellifluous speaking voice.
measles
melodious
noun /»mi˘zlz/
an infectious disease that causes fever and small red
spots on the skin
Our child was forced to take a month off from school
because he had measles.
adjective /mI»lÚdI´s/
relating to or characterized by melody
Noor Jahan’s melodious voice left listeners
spellbound.
melodramatic
measurement
adjective /mel´dr´»matIk/
characteristic of melodrama, especially in being
exaggerated or overemotional
The drama was too melodramatic for our taste but the
music was good.
noun /»meZ´mńt/
the action of measuring
Accurate measurement is very important in science.
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age group
memorabilia
M
metaphorically
plural noun /«mem´r´»bIli´/
objects kept or collected because of their
associations with memorable events
Memorabilia from the 1966 World Cup are still lapped
up by nostalgic Englishmen everywhere.
adverb /«met´»fÅrIkli/
not literally
I hope you are speaking metaphorically.
meteorology
noun /«mi˘ti´»rÅl´dZi/
the study of conditions in the atmosphere, and for
weather forecasting
She spent three years at university studying
meteorology.
mercantile
adjective /»mŒ˘kńtaIl /
relating to trade or commerce
As industry in Pakistan grows, mercantile law
becomes a popular career option.
methodically
merchandise
adverb /mI»TÅdIk´lI/
done according to a systematic or established
procedure
Each and every stage of the project has been carried
out methodically.
noun /m´˘tSńd√Is/
goods to be bought and sold
Sindbad bought merchandise in Basra and sold it in
Calicut.
meringue
methodologically
noun /m´»rQN/
a sweet white mixture made from beaten egg whites
and sugar baked until crisp
She enjoyed the meringue in the lemon cake.
adverb /mET´»d´»lÅdZIk´li/
a system of methods used in a particular area of
study or activity
After the data was analysed the report was found to
be methodologically correct.
mesquite
meticulous
noun /me»ski˘t/
a North American tree, often used for making
charcoal for grilling food
In India, plantation of mesquite has been stopped.
adjective /m´»tIkj´l´s/
very careful about minute detail
Their room had been prepared with meticulous care.
messiah
metropolitan
noun /m´»saI´/
a liberator or saviour of oppressed people
He is seen by many as a political messiah.
adjective /metr´»pÅlItń/
relating to or denoting a metropolis
Karachi is a metropolitan city teeming with millions of
people.
metabolism
microcellular
noun /m´»tQb´lIz´m/
a chemical process in living things that changes food
into energy
An athlete has a faster metabolism than an ordinary
person.
adjective /»m√IkrÚ»sEljUl´/
containing or made up of minute cells
A virus is a microcellular organism which causes
disease.
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to 14
age group
microfiche
mischievous
noun /»maIkrÚfi˘S/
a piece of film with written information on it in print of
very small size
He used a special machine to read the small print of
the microfiche.
adjective /»mIstSIv´s/
enjoying playing tricks and annoying people
Ali was a mischievous little child who enjoyed making
other children cry.
moccasin
migraine
noun /»mÅk´sIn/
a type of shoe made of soft leather
A moccasin is a type of shoe originally worn by native
Americans.
noun /»mi˘greIn/
a very severe type of headache that often makes a
person feel sick and have difficulty seeing
My father gets a migraine whenever he is depressed.
monetarily
milieu
adverb /»m√nIt´rIli/
relating to money or currency
They are not well off monetarily but are still willing to
help the destitute girl.
noun /mi˘»ljŒ˘/
a person’s social environment
Moving to the city offered him a completely different
urban milieu.
monologue
millennium
noun /»mÅn´lÅg/
a long speech spoken by one actor
The monologue in Hamlet is very famous.
noun /mI»leni´m/
a period of 1000 years
I wish I could travel forward in time and visit the next
millennium.
montessori
noun /«mÅntI»sç˘ri/
a system of education for young children that seeks
to develop natural interests
She has decided to admit her child into a montessori
school.
mimicry
noun /»mImIkri/
the action or skill of being able to copy the voice,
actions, movements of others
He has a real talent for mimicry.
mortgage
minuscule
noun /»mç˘gIdZ/
the amount of money lent to a person for buying a
house, which has to be paid back over a particular
number of years
One job alone was not enough for him to be able to
pay his mortgage every month.
adjective /»mIn´skju˘l/
extremely small
The minuscule ant was carrying a piece of food five
times its own weight.
minute
mozzarella
adjective /maI»nju˘t/
extremely small
Minute objects have to be studied under the
microscope.
noun /«mÅts´»rel´/
a firm white Italian cheese made from buffalo’s or
cow’s milk
She sprinkled a handful of mozzarella on the pizza
before baking it.
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age group
mudguard
M
myriad
noun /»m√dgA˘d/
a curved cover over a wheel of cycle or vehicle
The mudguard of his car was scratched at the car
park.
noun /»mIri´d/
a very large number
The sky looks beautiful on clear nights as it is filled
with a myriad of stars.
multifarious
mysterious
adjective /«m√ltI»fe´ri´s/
having great variety
We have to accommodate the multifarious needs of
all the citizens.
adjective /mI»stI´ri´s/
difficult to understand or explain
His mysterious behaviour made his wife anxious.
multiplicity
noun /«m√ltI»plIs´ti/
a great number or variety
He was overwhelmed by the multiplicity of things he
had to do before setting out on his adventure.
munificent
adjective /mju˘»nIfIsnt/
very generous
The munificent gift was presented to the bride by her
uncle.
mutation
noun /mju˘»teISn/
a change in the form or structure
The process of mutation is necessary in order for
species to evolve.
mutinous
adjective /»mju˘tń´s/
refusing to obey the orders of someone in authority
The captain had to use force to silence his mutinous
crew.
myopic
adjective /maI»Úpik/
short-sighted
The myopic view of the businessman hampered the
growth of his business.
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12
to 14
age group
nascent
nectarine
adjective /»neIsnt, »nQsnt/
just coming into existence and beginning to develop
Financial help was provided to support the country’s
nascent industries.
noun /»nekt´ri˘n/
a variety of the peach
The nectarine is best eaten when it is slightly soft.
nefarious
nausea
adjective /nI»fe´ri´s/
evil; flagrantly wicked
The convicted murderer had committed several
nefarious acts.
noun /»nç˘zi´/
a feeling of sickness or disgust
The graphic account of his accident induced a feeling
of nausea in me.
negate
nauseous
verb /nI»geIt/
to stop something from having any effect
A sudden surge of adrenaline can negate the effects
of fatigue.
adjective /»nç˘zi´s/
offensive to taste or smell
The nauseous smell in the bus made her sick.
nautical
negligence
adjective /»nç˘tIkl/
connected with ships, sailors or sailing
We had to travel 300 nautical miles to get to our
destination.
the failure to give enough care or attention to
something or someone
This accident was a result of negligence on the
driver’s part.
nautilus
neologism
noun /»nç˘tIl´s/
ocean animal living in a beautiful spiral shell
noun /ni»Ål´dZIz´m/
a new word or expression
This new technology will necessitate the coining of
another neologism.
nebulizer
noun /»nebjUlaIz´[r]/
a device for producing a fine spray of liquid, used for
example for inhaling a medicinal drug
He never leaves home without a nebulizer as he is
prone to asthma.
neoplasia
noun /«ni˘Ú»pleIzI´/
the process of abnormal and uncontrolled growth of
cells
Neoplasia results in both cancerous and
noncancerous cells.
nebulous
adjective /»nebj´l´s/
vague; hazy; cloudy
The moon was surrounded by a nebulous glow.
neritic
adjective /nI»rItIk/
relating to the belt or region of shallow water
adjoining the seacoast
Free-floating creatures like small fish and shrimp, live
in the neritic zone.
necropolis
noun /ne»krÅp´lIs/
a cemetery, especially a large one belonging to an
ancient city
On the way to Kalri we visited the necropolis at Makli.
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age group
neural
N
nougat
noun /»n√g´t, »nu˘gA˘/
a hard sweet or candy containing nuts
I had nougat containing pistachios and almonds.
adjective /»njU´r´l/
pertaining to the nerves or nervous system
She is lucky that her accident didn’t result in neural
damage.
novice
nocturnal
noun /»nÅvIs/
a person who is new and has little experience in a
certain job or situation
He is just a novice and should therefore not be
expected to deal with the situation himself.
adjective /nÅk»tŒ˘nl /
happening during the night
Mr. Jones was concerned about nocturnal raids by
foxes on his chicken coops.
noisome
nowcast
extremely unpleasant or offensive
The noisome smells emanating from the oil refinery
bothered everyone living in the area.
noun /»naU«kast/
a short-term weather forecast, usually for the next few
hours
The nowcast for Islamabad is predicting rain.
nomogram
noxious
noun /»nÅm´gram/
a chart or diagram representing numercial
relationships
A nomogram is used to facilitate calculations.
adjective /»nÅkS´s/
harmful, offensive, poisonous
Due to the noxious gases produced in our laboratory,
we have to wear face masks.
nondescript
numeral
adjective /»nÅndIskrIpt/
lacking special or interesting features
We ate at a nondescript cafe in some small town.
noun /»nju˘m´r´l/
a sign or symbol that represents a number
The numeral seven occurs frequently in mythology.
nostalgia
nuthatch
noun /nÅ»stQldZ´/
a feeling of sadness mixed with pleasure and
affection when thinking of happy times in the past
I often find middle-aged couples wallowing in
nostalgia.
noun /»n√thQtS/
a songbird having strong feet and bill, and feeding on
insects, seeds, and nuts
nutraceutical
noun /«nju˘tr´»su˘tIk´l/
A food or dietary supplement that is believed to
provide health benefits
Many botanical and herbal extracts have been
marketed by the nutraceutical industry.
nostalgically
adverb /nÅ»stQldZIkli/
with sentimental yearning for the past
She looked back nostalgically to her childhood.
nutrient
notorious
noun /»nju˘trińt/
a substance that is needed to keep a living thing alive
and to help it to grow
Calcium is an essential nutrient for the growth and
maintenance of strong bones.
adjective /nÚ»tç˘ri´s/
well-known for being bad
The principal expelled the notorious boy from the
school.
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12
to 14
age group
nutritious
adjective /njU»trIS´s/
efficient as food; nourishing
Milk is a nutritious drink.
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obdurate
O
oblivious
adjective /»Åbdj´r´t/
stubborn
He is the most obdurate person I have ever met.
adjective /´»blIvi´s/
not aware of what is happening around oneself
They sang and danced the night away oblivious to the
approaching thunderstorm.
obedient
obscene
adjective /´»bi˘dińt/
doing what one is told to do
The obedient child was appreciated by his teachers.
adjective /´b»si˘n/
indecent in a very offensive way
One should not use obscene language.
obese
obscurantism
adjective /Ú»bi˘s/
very fat, in a way that is not healthy
Our obese friend needs to cut down on his food
intake.
noun /«Åbskju»rQntIz´m/
deliberately concealing
His obscurantism has led to the misinterpretation of
important information.
obituary
obscure
noun /´»bItSu´ri/
an article about a person’s life and achievements that
is printed in a newspaper soon after his/her death
I felt really sad after reading my uncle’s obituary in
the paper.
not well known, not easily seen or understood
‘Titus Andronicus’ is one of Shakespeare’s most
obscure plays.
objurgation
obsequious
noun /»ÅbdZ´geISn/
severe rebuke; scolding
Objurgation and the threat of punishment did not
deter the young hoodlums from harassing people.
adjective /´b»si˘kwi´s/
obedient or respectful to an excessive degree
The waiter greeted us with an obsequious smile.
observatory
oblique
noun /´b»zŒ˘v´tri /
a building designed for systematic astronomical
studies
The telescope is kept in the observatory.
adjective /´»bli˘k/
indirect
Her oblique references to literature make it very
difficult for her students to understand her.
obsolescence
obliterate
noun /«Åbs´»lesns/
falling into disuse
Atari video games have achieved obsolescence due
to the advent of virtual reality games.
destroy completely so that all signs of something are
removed
We did not expect the tidal wave to obliterate the
entire village.
obsolete
no longer practised, used or accepted
The obsolete system of printing was discarded to
adopt the latest technology.
oblivion
noun /´»blIviń/
the state of having been forgotten
His work faded into oblivion after his death.
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12
to 14
age group
obstacle
octennial
noun /»Åbst´kl/
a situation or event that makes it difficult for you to
achieve something
Lack of qualification can be a major obstacle in
finding a job.
adjective /Åk»tenI´l/
recurring every eight years
Scientists were awaiting the octennial appearance of
the comet.
octuplet
obstinate
noun /Åk»tju˘pl´t/
each of eight children born at one birth
The octuplet babies were kept in the incubator for 2
months.
adjective /»ÅbstIn´t/
stubborn
The obstinate stain on the tablecloth was impossible
to remove.
oddity
obstruction
noun /»Åd´ti/
a person or thing that is strange or unusual
I was puzzled by the oddity of her remark.
noun /´b»str√kSn/
an obstacle or blockage
The train had to stop because there was an
obstruction on the track.
odious
adjective /»Údi´s/
hateful; extremely unpleasant
His odious behaviour changed her feelings toward
him.
occupation
noun /«Åkju»peISn/
a job or a profession
His occupation as a professor earned him a lot of
respect.
odyssey
noun /»Åd´si/
long, eventful journey
The refugee’s odyssey from Cambodia to the USA
was a terrifying experience for him.
oceanic
adjective /«ÚSi»QnIk/
connected with the sea
Oceanic winds blow over the land resulting in a low
range of temperature.
ohm
noun /Úm/
a unit for measuring electrical resistance
One ohm is equal to one volt per ampere.
ochre
noun /»Úk´/
an earthy pigment containing ferric oxide, typically
with clay
He has painted the walls of his room yellow ochre.
oleaginous
adjective /«Úli»QdZIn´s/
oily or greasy
Germany exports oleaginous fruits to Pakistan.
octangular
adjective /Åk»taNgjUl´/
having eight angles
The tycoon lives in an octangular shaped tower in the
middle of the island.
oleander
noun /«ÚlI»and´/
a poisonous evergreen Old World shrub
Oleander, and other flower flowering plants are in full
bloom this time of the year.
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age group
oligarchy
O
operational
noun /»ÅlIgA˘ki/
a small group of people having control of a state
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an example of an
oligarchy.
adjective /Åp´»reISń´l/
in or ready for use
The under construction power house will be fully
operational next year.
omelette
opinionated
noun /»ÅmlIt/
a dish of beaten eggs cooked in a frying pan
Sophia made Spanish omelette with lots of eggs and
herbs.
adjective /´»pInjńeItId/
characterized by conceited assertiveness and
dogmatism
Rashid has been accused of being opinionated in his
thinking by one and all.
ominous
oppressive
adjective /»ÅmIn´s/
suggesting that something bad is going to happen
There were ominous dark clouds gathering overhead.
adjective /´»presIv/
cruel or unfair
The citizens protested against the general’s
oppressive regime.
omnivorous
adjective /Åm»nIv´r´s/
eating both plant and animal food
Omnivorous humans eat both meat and vegetables.
opprobrious
adjective /´»prÚbri´s/
critical, scornful
I am tired of your opprobrious remarks and will
suspend you.
onomatopoeia
noun /«Ån´«mQt´»pi˘´/
use of words that sound similar to the noises they
describe
‘Splash’, ‘wow’, and ‘gush’ are all examples of
onomatopoeia
optimism
noun /»ÅptImIz´m/
hopefulness and confidence about the future or the
success of something
Her optimism about winning the Spelling Bee amazed
us all.
opalescent
adjective /«Úp´»lesnt/
iridescent; changing colour
The ancient mariner was always fascinated by the
opalescent ocean.
optimum
adjective /»ÅptIm´m/
most favourable
There is an optimum temperature for each enzyme
reaction.
opaque
adjective /Ú»peIk/
not able to be seen through
Opaque pencil cases were not allowed during the
examination.
optometrist
noun /Åp»tÅm´trIst/
one whose job is to examine eyes and fit glasses to
remedy visual defects
Her vision is becoming blurry, so she is making an
appointment with her optometrist.
opera
noun /»Åpr´/
a dramatic work in which all or most of the words are
sung to music
We went to see an opera by Verdi.
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O
12
to 14
age group
opulent
originate
adjective /»Åpj´lńt/
luxurious
The palace was embellished with opulent furnishings.
verb /´»rIdZIneIt/
to happen or appear for the first time
My immediate family members originate from a small
town in Africa.
oratory
orphanage
noun /»År´tri/
powerful and effective public speaking
The crowd was entranced by her oratory.
noun /»ç˘fńIdZ/
a home which cares for children whose parents are
dead
The little boy was brought to the orphanage after his
parents died.
orchestral
adjective /ç˘»kestr´l/
pertaining to a large group of musicians trained to
play together
His orchestral work is a lot better than his solo
recordings.
orthodox
adjective /»ç˘T´dÅks/
generally accepted or approved of
She always sticks to her orthodox beliefs.
ordeal
orthologs
noun /ç˘»di˘l/
a difficult or unpleasant experience
They were spared the ordeal of having to talk about
their torture.
noun /»ç˘TÚlÅgz/
genes found in two or more species that can be
traced to a common ancestor
The beta globin chain genes in humans and
chimpanzees are examples of orthologs.
ordnance
noun /»ç˘dnńs/
mounted guns
Major Jamal was responsible for all the ordnance on
the base.
oscillate
verb /»ÅsIleIt/
to move to and fro between two points
He was so bored that he began watching the
pendulum of the clock oscillate back and forth for
entertainment.
organelle
noun /«ç˘g´»nel/
a specialized part within a cell having some specific
function
A large organelle is easily visible with a light
microscope.
oscilloscope
noun /´»sIl´skÚp/
a piece of equipment that shows changes in electrical
current as waves in a line, on a screen
Electronic engineers use the oscilloscope to study
wave patterns.
oriental
adjective /«ç˘ri»entl/
connected with the eastern part of the world,
especially China and Japan
She was always interested in learning different
oriental languages.
ostentatious
expensive or noticeable in a way intended to impress
people
The bride’s mother was dressed in a very
ostentatious style.
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age group
ostracise
verb /»Åstr´saIz/
to isolate socially
Upset by his behaviour, they decided to ostracise him
until he apologised.
outrageous
adjective /aUt»reIdZ´s/
very shocking and unacceptable
They spent an outrageous amount of money on the
mansion.
overwrought
adjective /«Úv´»rç˘t/
over excited or agitated
The overwrought children were unable to sleep.
oxygenate
verb /»ÅksIdZńeIt/
to supply with oxygen
Deforestation is a cause for concern, given that trees
significantly oxygenate the environment.
oyster
noun /»çIst´[r]/
shellfish that can be eaten and sometimes produces
precious pearls
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P
12
to 14
age group
pacifism
panache
noun /»pQsIfIz´m/
the belief that war and violence are always wrong
Pacifism is normally considered a good attitude but
people have to defend their nation and rights.
noun /p´»nQS/
impressive confidence or stylishly attractive manner
He wore his designer clothes with great panache.
pancreas
paddock
noun /»pQNkri´s/
an organ near the stomach that produces insulin and
a liquid to help digest food
The doctor’s report said that there was a problem with
his pancreas.
noun /»pQd´k/
a small field where horses are kept
Most homes in northern Pakistan have a paddock.
pageantry
panorama
noun /»pQdZńtri/
elaborate display or ceremony
The march-past was one full of pomp and pageantry.
noun /«pQn´»rA˘m´/
a view of a wide area of land
Tourists never forget the first impact of the panorama
of the Grand Canyon.
palate
noun /»pQl´t/
the top part of the inside of the mouth
The doctor prescribed several medicines for the
infection on his palate.
pantomime
noun /»pQnt´maIm/
theatrical entertainment involving music, jokes, and
slapstick comedy
Television and other forms of entertainment are
undermining the tradition of pantomime in Britain.
palette
noun /»pQl´t/
the range of colours used by an artist
The artist took his easel and palette to the beach and
started painting a sea-scape.
paparazzo
noun /«pQp´»rQtsÚ/
a freelance photographer who pursues celebrities to
take photographs of them
The paparazzo hid in the bushes to get better shots
of the sunbathing actor.
palpable
adjective /»pQlp´bl/
that can be felt or touched
After the examination, she heaved a palpable sense
of relief.
parachute
noun /»pQr´Su˘t/
a cloth canopy which allows a person or heavy object
attached to it to descend slowly when dropped from a
high position
Aeroplanes dropped supplies by parachute.
palpitate
verb /»pQlpIteIt/
to beat rapidly and/or irregularly
His heart began to palpitate when he spotted a
shadowy figure standing in the alley.
paradigm
noun /»pQr´daIm/
a typical example or pattern of something
The computer is a popular paradigm for how the brain
works.
pamphlet
noun /»pQmfl´t/
a very thin book with a paper cover containing
information about a particular subject
A pamphlet outlining his vision has recently been
published.
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age group
parallelogram
P
paraplegia
noun /«pQr´»lel´grQm/
flat shape with four straight sides, the opposite sides
being parallel and equal to each other
It is hard to draw an accurate parallelogram by hand.
noun /«pQr´»pli˘dZI´/
paralysis of the legs and lower body
Paraplegia restricts him to a wheelchair.
parasite
paralyse
noun /»pQr´saIt/
plant or animal that lives in or on another plant or
animal and gets its food from it
The mosquito is a blood sucking parasite.
verb /»par´l√Iz/
cause (a person or part of the body) to become partly
or wholly incapable of movement
The venom of the snake is so powerful that it can
paralyse a man within minutes of the bite.
parentage
noun /»pe´rńtIdZ/
the identity and origins of one’s father and mother
He is of mixed parentage.
paranoia
noun /«pQr´»nçI´/
chronic form of mental illness marked by delusions of
grandeur or persecution
The psychiatrists diagnosed him with paranoia when
he claimed that everyone hated him.
parliamentarian
noun /«pA˘l´mń»te´riń/
a member of parliament
He is a veteran parliamentarian whose views enjoy
widespread respect.
paranoid
adjective /»pQrńçId/
wrongly believing that other people are trying to harm
you
He has paranoid delusions that his neighbour is going
to kill him.
parmesan
noun /»pA˘mIzQn/
a hard, dry Italian cheese used chiefly in grated form
She used grated parmesan to make the sauce.
parapet
parsimonious
noun /»pQr´pIt/
a low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge
or balcony
The tourists had their photos taken standing on the
parapet of the bridge.
adjective /«pA˘sI»mÚni´s /
extremely unwilling to spend money
His parsimonious nature did not permit him to enjoy
any luxuries.
particular
paraphernalia
adjective /p´»tIkj´l´[r]/
referring to one individual person, thing, or type of
thing and not to others
The court did not agree with any particular opinion.
noun /«pQr´f´»neIli´/
miscellaneous equipment
We shall require a kettle and all the other
paraphernalia to make and serve tea.
parvenu
paraphrase
noun /»pA˘vńju˘/
a person from a humble background who has recently
become wealthy or famous
She rejected Mark saying that he was a parvenu with
no social graces.
verb /»pQr´freIz/
to express what somebody has said or written using
different words
He tried to paraphrase the question before he
answered it.
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12
to 14
age group
pastoral
pavilion
adjective /»pA˘st´r´l/
expressive of the life of country people especially in
an idealised and conventionalised manner
When I am in the city I long for the quiet pastoral
lifestyle.
noun /p´»vIliń/
a temporary building used at public events and
exhibitions
The workers put up a pavilion for the wedding party.
pawnbroker
patera
noun /»pç˘nbrÚk´[r]/
a person who lends money in exchange for articles
left with him
When he had used up all his income he was forced to
take his wife’s wedding ring to a pawnbroker.
noun /»pQt´r´/
a saucer like vessel of earthenware or metal
The patera was used by the Greeks and Romans
during their libations and sacrificies.
paternalism
peculiarity
noun /p´»tŒ˘n´lIz´m /
father-like behaviour
The company president’s paternalism made some of
his employees happy and some of them angry.
noun /pI«kju˘li»Qr´ti/
an unusual or distinctive feature or habit
A sharp ringing in the ears is a peculiarity of the
disease.
pathetic
pedantic
adjective /p´»TEtIk/
arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or
sadness
The pathetic man wearing torn and tattered clothes
had once been a rich and important man.
adjective /pI»dQntIk/
obsessed by book learning and theory
His pedantic nature makes him incapable of thinking
out of the box.
pedestrian
patriarchal
noun /p´»destriń/
one who journeys on foot
A pedestrian was injured when the car skidded.
adjective /«peItri»A˘kl/
ruled or controlled by men
In the past decade, changes in our patriarchal society
have resulted from greater awareness of gender
equality.
peerless
adjective /»pI´l´s/
better than all others; unrivalled
The audience gave the singer a standing ovation for
his peerless performance.
paunch
noun /pç˘ntS/
a stomach that is large and sticks out
His paunch was quite obvious, even in loose clothes.
pellucid
adjective /pI»lu˘sId, pe»lu˘sId/
transparent; extremely clear
They drank the pure and pellucid water from the
spring.
pauper
noun /»pç˘p´[r]/
a very poor person
Being a pauper, he seldom gets to eat a hearty meal.
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age group
penance
P
peon
noun /»penńs/
an act performed to show regret at having done
wrong
I must perform some penance for treating my mother
so cruelly.
noun /»pi˘ń/
an unskilled worker
The peon at our office is very organised and efficient.
peppercorn
noun /»pep´kç˘n/
a dried berry from a tropical plant, that is crushed to
make pepper
She used grated peppercorn to season the soup.
pendulous
adjective /»pendj´l´s/
hanging down loosely and swinging freely
Pendulous branches of fruit look beautiful in the
summer sun.
perceive
verb /p´»si˘v/
to notice or become aware of something
She could perceive that something was wrong.
pendulum
noun /»pendj´l´m/
a body suspended from a fixed point so as to swing
freely to and fro, and commonly used to regulate
movements
He was almost hypnotised by the back-and-forth
motion of the pendulum.
percussion
noun /p´»k√Sn/
a group of musical instruments that are played by
striking them with the hand or a stick
The track features Joey Langton on percussion.
penicillin
noun /«penI»sIlIn/
an antibiotic
The discovery of penicillin was hailed as one of the
greatest medical breakthroughs in the 19th century.
peregrination
noun /«perIgrI»neISn/
a journey, especially a long slow one
His peregrination across South America brought him
into contact with a number of different cultures.
peninsula
noun /p´»nInsj´l´/
a piece of land almost surrounded by water but joined
to a larger piece of land
The Arabian peninsula has become a hub of trade
and commerce in the past five years.
peremptory
adjective /p´»rempt´ri, »perempt´ri/
insisting on immediate attention or obedience
She dreaded his peremptory orders.
perforation
pension
verb /«p´˘f´»reISn/
a hole made by boring or piercing
The new drug has side effects like perforation of the
liver and spleen.
noun /»penSn/
a regular payment made by the state or a company to
retired people and to some widows and disabled
people
His pension is not even enough to cover the cost of
his utility bills.
perfumery
noun /p´»fju˘m´ri/
the action or business of producing or selling
perfumes
Her perfumery business is flourishing in the Gulf
countries.
penultimate
adjective /pen»√ltIm´t/
last but one; second last
They scored a boundary off the penultimate delivery.
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to 14
age group
perfunctorily
permissible
adverb /p´»f√Nkt´rIli/
carried out without real interest, feeling, or effort
Others clapped perfunctorily while the loyal
supporters gave him a standing ovation.
adjective /p´»mIs´bl/
allowable
The tube-well water contained permissible levels of
nitrates.
perfunctory
perpendicular
adjective /p´»f√Nkt´ri/
done as a duty or habit, without real interest, attention
or feeling
He was greeted at the door by a perfunctory hello
from his mother.
adjective /«p´˘pń»dIkjUl´/
at an angle of 90° to a given line, plane, or surface or
to the ground
The perpendicular staircase was difficult to climb.
perpetual
periapsis
adjective /p´»petSu´l/
continuing for ever
They have a perpetual fear of losing their jobs.
noun /«perI»QpsIs/
the point at which an orbiting object is closest to the
body it is orbiting
An object is at its greatest velocity at the periapsis.
perplex
verb /p´»pleks/
to bewilder or puzzle
His strange behaviour could perplex anyone.
peripheral
adjective /p´»rIf´r´l/
marginal
Matters of peripheral concern never bothered her.
perplexity
noun /p´»pleks´ti/
puzzlement
Her perplexity on hearing the news was obvious.
perishable
adjective /»pErIS´b´l/
(especially of food) likely to decay or go bad quickly
Don’t stock up on groceries particularly perishable
items before heading off on holidays.
persevere
verb /p´˘sI»vI´/
continue in a course of action even in the face of
difficulty or with little or no indication of success
If you persevere I am sure you will succeed.
periwinkle
noun /»perIwINk´l/
an Old World plant with flat five-petalled flowers and
glossy leaves
Rows of white periwinkle plants bordered the garden.
persimmon
noun /p´»sImń/
an edible fruit that resembles a large tomato and has
very sweet flesh
I bought 2 kilos of persimmon for my mother as she is
very fond of them.
perjury
noun /»pŒ˘dZ´ri/
the offence of deliberately telling a lie in court when
under oath
He is expected to be charged with perjury.
persona
permeate
noun /p´»sÚn´/
the aspect of a person’s character that is presented to
others
One should never be misled by a politician’s public
persona.
verb /»pŒ˘mieIt/
to spread to every part of an object or a place
If you do not open the window the smell of cooking
will permeate the entire house.
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age group
perspicacity
P
pestilence
noun /«pŒ˘spI»kQs´ti/
quality of being astute
He was respected for his perspicacity and wisdom.
noun /»pestIlńs/
a deadly epidemic disease
From 1257 to 1260 both the city and the country
suffered from disastrous earthquakes, droughts,
severe rains, floods, and pestilence.
perspicuity
noun /p´»spikUIti/
clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
His speech was praised for its perspicuity.
petrify
verb /»petrIfaI/
to paralyse with fear
If you want to petrify him, just tell him there is a
spider in the room.
persuasion
noun /p´»sweIZn/
the action of causing someone to believe something
through reasoning or argument
I doubt my attempts at persuasion would work on
him.
petulant
adjective /»petjulńt/
childishly sulky or bad-tempered
He behaved like a petulant child and refused to
cooperate.
pertinacious
adjective /«pŒ˘tI»neIS´s /
determined
He is bound to succeed because of his pertinacious
nature.
pharisaical
adjective /fQrI»seIIkl/
marked by hypocritical self-righteousness
Our society is plagued with hypocritical insincerity
and pharisaical pride.
pervade
verb /p´»veId/
spread through or be noticeable in every part of
something
A mood of fear seemed to pervade the camp
following the blast.
pharmaceutical
adjective /«fA˘m´»su˘tIkl/
relating to medicinal drugs
Pharmaceutical companies should reduce the cost of
drugs in poorer countries.
pervasive
pharmacist
adjective /p´»veIsIv/
existing in all parts of a place or thing
She could not rid her clothes of the pervasive odour
of mothballs even after washing them.
noun /»fA˘m´sIst/
one who prepares and sells medicines
We had to wait for the pharmacist to find the
prescribed medicine.
perversion
phenomenal
noun /p´»vŒ˘Sn /
changing something that is good or right into
something that is bad or wrong
We must prevent this perversion of the law.
adjective /f´»nÅmInl/
outstanding
Her phenomenal performance received rave reviews.
phenomenon
pesticide
noun /f´»nÅmInń/
a fact or an event in nature or society, especially one
that is not fully understood
The total eclipse of the sun is a rare phenomenon.
noun /»pestIsaId/
a chemical used for killing pests, especially insects
Too much pesticide can be harmful for the crops.
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to 14
age group
philosophy
physiological
noun /f´»lÅs´fi/
the study of the nature and meaning of the universe
and of human life
He is a professor of philosophy at King Edward’s
College.
adjective /«fIzi´»lÅdZIkl/
pertaining to the science of the normal functions of
living organisms
To understand this disease fully, we must examine not
only its physiological aspects but also its emotional
effects.
phlegm
physique
noun /flem/
thick mucus which forms in the nose and throat,
especially when one has a cold
He was advised to take steam inhalations to cure his
phlegm.
noun /fI»zi˘k/
the size and shape of a person’s body
He has the physique of a rugby player.
phytosanitary
phlegmatic
adjective /«faItÚ»sQnIt[´]ri/
relating to the health of plants, with respect to import
and export
The plant nursery was to abide by phytosanitary
regulations.
adjective /fleg»mQtIk/
not easily made angry or upset
The cadets had phlegmatic temperaments.
Phobos
piccolo
noun /»fÚbÅs/
inner and larger of the two satellites of Mars
Phobos was discovered by Hall in 1877.
noun /»pIk´lÚ/
a small flute
He is learning how to play the piccolo.
phoenix
piety
noun /»fi˘nIks/
a mythical bird that lives for several hundred years
before burning itself and then rising again from its
own ashes
noun /»paI´ti/
religious devotion
The priest was renowned for his piety.
photomontage
pillage
noun /«fÚtÚmÅn»tA˘Z/
a picture consisting of photographs placed together or
overlapping
She did her own photomontage to join the photos in a
panoramic folder.
noun /»pIlIdZ/
robbing or stealing with violence especially in a war
The soldiers returned from the war with stories of
murder and pillage.
pious
physiognomy
adjective /»paI´s/
having or showing deep respect for God and religion
The old woman is known for her pious acts.
noun /«fIzi»Å[g]n´mi/
the shape and features of a person’s face
He was proud of his ability to analyse a person’s
character by studying their physiognomy.
pipsqueak
noun /»pIpskwi˘k/
an unimportant person
The pipsqueak always receives rough treatment in
films.
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age group
piquancy
P
plague
noun /»pi˘kńsi/
strong or spicy taste
I liked the soup because of its slight piquancy.
noun /pleIg/
a dangerous illness that spreads very quickly
A lot of children died during the outbreak of plague in
the city.
piranha
plaintiff
noun /pI»rA˘n´/
fresh water fish with very sharp teeth that attack and
eat living animals
noun /»pleIntIf/
a person who makes a formal complaint against
somebody in court
The plaintiff demanded compensation for the damage
to his house.
pirouette
noun /«pIru»et/
spinning on one foot
The ballerina’s pirouette was flawless in form.
plankton
noun /»plQNktń/
tiny organisms living in the sea or fresh water
piste
noun /pi˘st/
a track of firm snow prepared for skiing
She skilfully skied down the piste.
plasticine
noun /»plQst´si˘n/
a soft modelling material
Plasticine was my favourite plaything as a child.
pivotal
adjective /»pIv´tl/
crucial
Saeed Anwar played a pivotal role in the team’s
victory.
platinum
noun /»plQtIn´m/
a silver grey precious metal that is often used for
making expensive jewellery
She ordered a bracelet of platinum and silver.
placebo
noun /pl´»si˘bÚ/
a dummy medicine prescribed for the mental benefit
of the patient or as a control in an experiment
The doctor prescribed a placebo to the patient.
platypus
noun /»plQtIp´s/
an amphibious egg-laying Australian mammal with a
duck-like bill and webbed feet
plagiarise
pleasantries
verb /»pleIdZ´raIz/
take the work of someone else and pretend it is
one’s own
The student was warned by the teacher not to
plagiarise.
noun /»plezntriz/
unimportant remarks made as part of a polite
conversation
After exchanging pleasantries, they got down to
serious discussion.
plagiarism
plebiscite
noun /»pleIdZ´rIz´m/
copying or stealing another person’s ideas, words or
work and pretending they are your own
The designer was accused of plagiarism because his
creations displayed a suspicious resemblance to
those of his rival.
noun /»plebIsIt/
direct vote by all electors of a state on an important
issue
The plebiscite has not yet been held.
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to 14
age group
plectrum
polystyrene
noun /»plektr´m/
thin flat piece of plastic, metal used to pluck the
strings of a guitar
He dropped his plectrum but continued using only his
fingers.
noun /«pÅli»staIri˘n/
a synthetic resin which is a polymer of styrene
She bought some cups made of polystyrene.
ponderous
adjective /»pÅnd´r´s/
serious and dull
His ponderous nature has ensured that he is never
the life of the party.
pliable
adjective /»plaI´bl/
easy to bend
Plasticine is a very pliable material.
pontiff
plough
noun /»pÅntIf/
chief priest; the Pope
The new pontiff has a challenging task ahead of him.
verb /plaU/
to dig and turn over a field or area of land
It took them a week to plough the large field.
porcupine
plume
noun /»pç˘kjupaIn/
an animal covered with long thin sharp needles
noun /plu˘m/
a long, soft feather or set of feathers
She wore a black hat with a red plume.
porpoise
noun /»pç˘p´s/
a sea animal similar to a dolphin having a blunt snout
and many teeth
pneumonia
noun /nju˘»mÚni´/
a serious illness affecting one or both lungs that
makes breathing difficult
The doctor revealed that the cause of his death was
pneumonia.
porridge
noun /»pÅrIdZ/
a type of soft thick white food made by boiling oats in
milk or water
He often has porridge for breakfast.
podium
noun /»pÚdi´m/
a small platform that a person stands on when giving
a speech or conducting an orchestra
His legs started shaking in nervous excitement as he
made his way to the podium.
posse
noun /»pÅsi/
a group of people summoned by a sheriff to enforce
the law or help him catch a criminal
The posse tracked the missing man after a long
search.
poignant
painfully sharp
She was so lost in poignant memories that her grief
showed on her face.
posthumous
adjective /»pÅstjUm´s/
occurring after a person has died
A posthumous collection of her work has just been
published.
polyglot
adjective /»pÅliglÅt/
containing or using several languages
Switzerland is a polyglot nation.
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age group
posture
P
precursor
the position in which you hold your body when
standing or sitting
Her graceful posture is the result of years of ballet
training.
noun /prI»k´˘s´/
a person or thing that comes before another of the
same kind; a forerunner
Colonial opposition to unfair taxation by the British
was a precursor of the American Revolution.
potassium
predatory
noun /p´»tQsi´m/
a soft silver-white metal that exists mainly in
compounds which is used in industry and farming
A small amount of potassium is essential to our diet.
adjective /»pred´tri/
living by killing and eating other animals
The hawk is a predatory bird.
predecessor
precarious
noun /»pri˘dIses´[r]/
a person who did a job before somebody else
The new director reversed many of the policies of his
predecessor.
adjective /prI»ke´ri´s/
not secure
The precarious path down to the beach worsened
after rain.
predictable
precedence
adjective /prI»dIkt´bl/
behaving as expected
The disease follows a highly predictable pattern.
noun /»presIdńs/
priority in time or importance
His desire for power took precedence over everything
else.
prehensile
adjective /prI»hensaIl/
adapted for seizing or grasping by wrapping around
Monkeys use not only their arms and legs but also
their prehensile tails when climbing trees.
preciosity
noun /«preSi»ÅsIti/
extreme meticulousness or over refinement
His greatest flaw as a writer is his tendency toward
preciosity.
prejudice
noun /»predZudIs/
an unreasonable dislike of or preference for a person,
group, custom
He was a tireless opponent of racial prejudice.
precious
adjective /»preS´s/
having great value
The crown was set with precious jewels.
preliminary
precision
happening before a more important action or event
He is going to announce the preliminary results.
noun /prI»sIZn/
extreme accuracy
Neurosurgery requires a great deal of precision.
premier
precocious
adjective /»premi´[r]/
most important, famous or successful
He is one of France’s premier chefs.
adjective /prI»kÚS´s/
prematurely developed
Little Timothy displayed a precocious talent for most
sports from an early age.
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to 14
age group
premonition
probabilistic
noun /«pri˘m´»nISn/
a forewarning
The lawyer had a premonition that the judge would
dismiss the case.
adjective /«prÅb´bI»lIstIk/
based on probability
The probabilistic risk involved in the experiment was
minimal.
preponderance
probes
noun /prI»pÅnd´rńs/
a superiority in number, weight, power, importance, or
strength
The rebels sought to overcome the preponderance of
government forces by engaging in guerrilla tactics.
noun /prÚbz/
unmanned spacecrafts that are sent to collect data
from space
Some of the probes launched by NASA are not
meant to return to Earth.
prerequisite
problematise
noun /«pri˘»rekw´zIt/
something required as a previous condition
A bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for this position.
verb /»prÅbl´m´t√Iz/
make into or regard as a problem requiring a solution
In his bid to simplify matters he has managed to
problematise them.
prescient
procure
adjective /»presińt/
having foreknowledge or foresight
The seer chronicled his prescient visions regularly.
verb /pr´»kjU´[r]/
to obtain something, especially with difficulty
She managed to procure a ticket for the concert.
pressurize
prodigious
verb /»prES´r√Iz/
produce or maintain raised pressure artificially in (a
gas or its container)
The crew will pressurize the astronaut’s spacesuit
before his walk in space.
adjective /pr´»dIdZ´s/
impressively large
Laser discs can store prodigious amounts of
information.
preternatural
professionalism
adjective /«pri˘t´»nQtSr´l/
inexplicable by natural laws
He has a preternatural gift for knowing what others
are thinking.
noun /pr´»fESń´lIz´m/
the competence or skill expected of a professional
Hamid bought a professionalism to the office that just
hadn’t been there before.
priority
prognathous
noun /praI»År´ti/
being put first
Priority was given to David as he was a senior citizen.
adjective /prÅgn´T´s/
having the jaws projecting beyond the upper part of
the face
His prognathous jaw made him seem more
determined to succeed than he actually was.
privilege
noun /»prIvIlIdZ/
a special right or advantage given to a particular
person or group
Education should be a universal right and not a
privilege.
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age group
prognosis
P
prophecy
noun /prÅg»nÚsIs /
a prediction of the likely development of a disease or
illness
If the doctor’s prognosis is correct, the patient will be
in a coma for at least twenty-four hours.
noun /»prÅf´si/
a statement about what is going to happen in the
future
The prophecy has yet to come true.
propinquity
prognosticate
noun /pr´»pINkw´ti/
nearness
His office’s propinquity to his home means that he
can walk to work.
verb /prÅg«nÅstI»keIt/
to predict
I prognosticate disaster unless we change our
wasteful ways.
prorogue
prohibit
verb /pr´»rÚg/
discontinue a session of (a parliament or other
legislative assembly) without dissolving it
The president had no option but to prorogue the
meeting.
verb /pr´»hIbIt/
to forbid
The university has decided to prohibit smoking on
campus.
proliferation
prosaic
noun /pr´«lIf´»reISn/
sudden increase
Smoking triggers off cell proliferation.
adjective /pr´»zeIIk/
ordinary and showing no imagination
He has a prosaic writing style.
promenade
prosperous
noun /«prÅm´»nA˘d/
a paved public walk, typically one along the seafront
at a resort
Since the weather was so nice, grandfather and I
walked along the promenade.
adjective /»prÅsp´r´s/
rich and successful
We want Pakistan to be amongst the prosperous
countries of the world.
protestant
promontory
noun /»prÅtIstńt/
a member of a part of the Western Christian Church
that separated from the Roman Catholic Church
The majority of the population of this town is
Protestant.
noun /»prÅmńtri/
a long narrow area of high land that goes out into the
sea
We crowded onto the promontory in order to catch a
glimpse of the battle ship.
protist
promulgate
noun /»prÚtIst/
a large grouping that comprises mostly single celled
organisms with animal and plant characteristics
A protist can live in almost any environment that
contains water, such as a fungus.
verb /»prÅmlgeIt/
to proclaim
We should promulgate these objectives within the
organisation.
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to 14
age group
protocol
psychic
noun /»prÚt´kÅl/
the accepted code of formal behaviour used at official
meetings or between governments
The senior official was given a high level of protocol.
adjective /»saIkIk/
connected with strange powers of the mind not
explainable by natural laws
He claimed he could use his psychic powers to
communicate with spirits.
providence
puckish
noun /»prÅvIdńs/
the protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual
power
We believe in divine providence, and pray to Allah for
His help and guidance.
adjective /»p√kIS/
playful, especially in a mischievous way
Haris is a fun loving guy with a puckish smile.
puerile
providential
adjective /»pjU´raIl/
childishly silly
Puerile behaviour only makes one look idiotic.
adjective /prÅvI»dEnS´l/
occurring at a favourable time; opportune
Athar’s arrival at the nick of time seemed providential.
pugnacious
provision
adjective /p√g»neIS´s/
eager or quick to argue or fight
He remained friendless due to his pugnacious nature.
noun /pr´»vIZn/
supply
The government is responsible for the provision of
health care to its citizens.
pulsating
verb /p√l»seItIN/
expand and contract with strong regular movements
Inside the hall stood a huge globe pulsating with
colour and energy.
prowess
noun /»praU´s/
great skill
We admire her prowess in athletics.
pungent
prudent
adjective /»p√ndZńt/
having a sharply strong taste or smell
A pungent smell of burning fuel filled the air.
adjective /»pru˘dnt/
sensible and careful in making judgements and
decisions
The prudent businessman consulted his associates
before going ahead with the plan.
pursuit
noun /p´»sju˘t/
following with the intent to capture
She travelled the world in pursuit of her dreams.
pseudonym
noun /»su˘dńIm/
a false name, especially one used by an author
Most writers write under a pseudonym to protect their
real identities.
pustule
noun /»p√stju˘l/
small blister or pimple on the skin containing pus
She refused to go to the party because she had a
pustule on her face.
psychedelic
adjective /«saIk´»delIk/
having intensely vivid colours
His psychedelic clothes attracted a lot of attention.
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age group
putrescent
adjective /pju˘tresńt/
rotting
It was a path lined with putrescent carcasses.
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Q
12
to 14
age group
qualia
quay
pl. noun /»kwA˘lI´/
a quality considered as an independent entity
The pain of a headache, the aroma of certain food,
and the sight of snow are examples of qualia.
noun /ki˘/
a platform in a harbour where boats load and unload
A crowd was waiting on the quay, eager to see the
latest shipment of goods.
qualm
queasy
noun /kwA˘m/
a feeling of doubt or worry about whether what you
are doing is right
He had been working very hard so he had no qualm
about taking a day off.
adjective /»kwi˘zi/
feeling sick; wanting to vomit
Travelling by boat gave me a queasy feeling.
querulous
adjective /»kwer´l´s/
habitually complaining
My grandmother has become rather querulous since
her illness.
quark
noun /kwA˘k/
a soft creamy acid-cured cheese of central Europe
made from whole milk
Quark usually has much lower fat content than cream
cheese.
questionnaire
a set of questions produced for a survey
The questionnaire wasn’t too long so she answered it
during her break.
quarrelsome
adjective /»kwÅr´ls´m/
argumentative
Her quarrelsome nature has made her many
enemies.
queue
noun /kju˘/
a line of people, cars waiting for something
We were asked to stand in an orderly queue to buy
tickets.
quarterly
adjective /»kwç˘t´li/
occurring or made four times a year
He could not attend the quarterly meeting of the
board.
quibble
verb /»kwIbl/
to argue about a small matter
I was told not to quibble over who got the last slice of
pizza.
quartet
noun /kwç˘»tEt/
a group of four people playing music or singing
together
A string quartet was playing when I entered the
ballroom.
quiche
noun /ki˘S/
an open pie filled with a mixture of eggs and milk with
meat, vegetables, cheese
Her mother made a spinach quiche for dinner.
quasar
noun /»kweIzA˘/
blue celestial object having the appearance of a star
when viewed through a telescope
A quasar is believed to be the most distant and most
luminous object in the universe.
quiescent
adjective /kwi»esnt/
inactive; inert
The quiescent sea shone dark in the moonlight.
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age group
quill
noun /kwIl/
the hollow stem of a feather
Pens made from quills were used during the middle
ages.
quintessence
noun /kwIn»tesns/
the perfect or most typical example
It was the quintessence of an English manor house.
quisling
noun /»kwIzlIN/
a person who helps an enemy that has taken control
of his or her country
The quisling leaked all the state secrets.
quiver
verb /»kwIv´[r]/
to shake slightly
An attack of nerves caused her hands to quiver.
quixotic
adjective /kwIk»sÅtIk/
enthusiastic but usually not practical
Her quixotic nature made her an unsuitable head of
state.
quizzical
adjective /»kwIzIk´l/
(of a person’s expression or behaviour) indicating mild
or amused puzzlement
She gave me a quizzical glance at my sarcastic reply
to the professor.
quotient
noun /kwÚSnt/
the number resulting from the division of one number
by another
The quotient is too high given the value of the
denominator.
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R
12
to 14
age group
racism
rational
noun /»reIsIz´m/
the unfair treatment of people who belong to another
race
Everyone appreciated the director for making a film
which condemned racism.
adjective /rQSn´l/
based on reason rather than emotion
The culprit was not able to give a rational reason for
committing the crime.
raucous
raconteur
adjective /»rç˘k´s/
sounding rough and loud
We could hear the sound of raucous laughter coming
from across the street.
noun /«rQkÅn»tŒ˘[r] /
a person who tells stories in an interesting way
He is very popular at dinner parties because he is
such a skilled raconteur.
ravenous
raisin
adjective /»rQvń´s/
very hungry
Piranhas are ferocious hunters with a ravenous
appetite for animal flesh.
noun /»reIzn/
a dried grape
He choked on the pip of the raisin.
rancour
realization
noun /»rQNk´[r]/
bitter feelings
She accepted the decision without rancour, even
though it was unfair.
noun /ri˘´l√I»zeISn/
an act of becoming fully aware of something as a fact
She drew back as realization grew that the branch
before her was actually a snake.
ransom
realm
noun /»rQns´m/
the money demanded by kidnappers to free someone
they are keeping prisoner
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of $500,000 for
the boy’s release.
noun /relm/
a field of activity, interest or knowledge
He seemed to drift into a realm of fantasy towards the
end of his speech.
rebuff
rapacious
noun /rI»b√f/
an abrupt or unkind refusal
Her offer of help was met with a sharp rebuff.
adjective /r´»peIS´s/
grasping; predatory
He is an unpopular member of the business
community because of his rapacious approach.
rebuke
verb /rI»bju˘k/
to speak severely to a person for doing something
wrong
You should rebuke him for sleeping when he should
be working.
rapport
noun /rQ»pç˘[r]/
a relation marked by harmony, conformity, or affinity
The rapport between them was obvious to all who
met them.
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age group
recalcitrant
R
recruit
adjective /rI»kQlsItrńt/
unwilling to cooperate; disobedient
A recalcitrant child usually grows up to be a fiercely
independent individual.
noun /rI»krU˘t/
a person who has just joined the military or another
organisation
The sergeant ordered the recruit to follow all rules
strictly.
receipt
rectify
noun /rI»si˘t/
a piece of paper showing that goods or services have
been paid for
Make sure you get a receipt for your expenses.
verb /»rektIfaI/
to put right something that is wrong
If he promises to rectify his mistakes, she might
consider forgiving him.
reciprocal
redolent
adjective /rI»sIpr´kl/
in return; mutual
The two nations signed a reciprocal trade agreement.
adjective /»red´lńt/
strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something
The flag was redolent of the regiment’s history.
recital
redundancy
noun /rI»saItl/
a concert given by an individual musician or dancer
Her piano recital was so successful that she received
a standing ovation.
noun /rI»d√ndńsi/
dismissal from employment because no work is
available
Many factory workers are facing redundancy.
recluse
referee
noun /rI»klu˘s/
a person who lives alone and avoids other people
After his daughter’s death he began to lead the life of
a recluse.
noun /«ref´»ri˘/
a person who controls matches and judges games
The referee blew the final whistle, bringing the match
to an end.
reconciliation
referendum
noun /«rekńsIli»eISn/
the end of a disagreement and the return to friendly
relations
Their change of policy brought about a reconciliation
with Britain.
noun /«ref´»rend´m/
a vote by all voters on an important issue
He became the president after a nation-wide
referendum.
refinery
reconnoitre
noun /rI»faIn´ri/
a place where substance such as oil is refined
Cigarettes were strictly prohibited at the oil refinery.
verb /«rEk´»nçIt´/
make a military observation of (a region)
The mountain climber went to reconnoitre the south
face of Mount Everest.
refrigerate
reconvene
verb /rI»frIdZ´reIt/
subject (food or drink) to cold in order to chill or
preserve it, typically by placing it in a refrigerator
Aunt Zara wanted us to refrigerate all the leftover
food.
verb /«ri˘kń»vi˘n/
meet again
The meeting was to reconvene after lunch.
l 244 l
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12
to 14
age group
regalia
reiterate
noun /rI»geIli´/
the distinctive clothing and objects of an order, rank,
or office, worn at formal occasions
They unveiled a portrait of the queen in her full
coronation regalia.
verb /ri˘»It´reIt/
to say again
Let me reiterate that we are fully committed to this
policy.
relegate
regime
verb /»relIgeIt/
to give somebody a lower rank than before
He was forced to relegate her to the role of an
assistant.
noun /reI»Zi˘m/
a method or system of government
When a Frenchman mentions the old regime, he
refers to the monarchy before the revolution.
reliance
regiment
noun /rI»l√Ińs/
dependence on or trust in someone or something
Our reliance on the mobile phone is increasing day by
day
noun /»redZImńt/
a large group of soldiers
The colonel led the regiment to the war front.
regolith
relic
noun /»rEg´lIT/
layer of loose rock resting on bedrock, constituting the
surface of most land
Regolith is another name for mantle rock.
noun /»relIk/
an object, tradition that has survived from a previous
era
This building is the last remaining relic of the town’s
cotton industry.
rehearsal
reluctance
noun /rI»hŒ˘sl/
a practice in preparation for a public performance
The rehearsal went so well that we were given the
next three days off.
noun /rI»l√ktńs/
unwillingness or disinclination to do something
Sara felt great reluctance to perform in front of a
rowdy crowd.
reign
remission
noun /reIn/
the period during which a king or queen rules
Queen Victoria’s reign was very long.
noun /rI»mISn/
lessening of force, effect or degree
Her illness went into remission following treatment
with the latest wonder drug.
reimburse
verb /«rI˘Im»bŒ˘s /
to pay back money
He was told that the firm would reimburse his travel
expenses.
remorse
noun /rI»mç˘s/
deep regret
I felt guilty and full of remorse for the way I treated
her.
reinforce
verb /«ri˘In»fç˘s/
to make something stronger
Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes.
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12 to 14
age group
remunerative
R
replica
adjective /rI»mju˘n´r´tIv/
paying a lot of money
She is lucky to have a remunerative job which is also
spiritually satisfying.
noun /»replIk´/
an exact copy of something
We are going to hang a replica of the Declaration of
Independence in our classroom.
renegade
repressive
noun /»renIgeId/
an individual who rejects lawful or conventional
behaviour
In his youth he was a bit of a renegade, and was
frequently in trouble with the police.
adjective /rI»prEsIv/
(especially of a social or political system) inhibiting or
restraining personal freedom
Since 1962 they have struggled under the repressive
rule of a general.
renovate
reprimand
verb /»ren´veIt/
to restore to good condition
We had to spend a lot of money to renovate our
house.
verb /»reprImA˘nd /
to tell someone officially that you do not approve of
them or their actions
Every time Ali made a mistake in class, he was afraid
that Mrs Hassan would reprimand him.
renunciation
reprisal
noun /rI«n√nsi»eISn/
giving up of something
The King’s renunciation of the throne sent
shockwaves through the entire country
noun /rI»praIzl/
an act of revenge
They did not want to give any evidence for fear of a
reprisal.
repartee
repugnance
noun /«repA˘»ti˘/
quick, witty comments or replies
The compere is known for his repartee and quick wit.
noun /rI»p√gnńs/
a feeling of strong disgust or dislike
The sight of his severed finger filled her with
repugnance.
repatriate
verb /«ri˘»pQtrieIt/
to return to native country
We will try to repatriate the refugees now that a
peace settlement has been reached.
repulsion
noun /rI»p√lSń/
a feeling of intense distaste or disgust
The magician’s show created a mixture of repulsion
and fascination in the audience.
repetition
noun /«rep´»tISn/
doing or saying the same thing more than once
There is a lot of repetition of the same phrase in this
essay.
requiem
noun /»rekwi´m/
a solemn chant or dirge for the repose of the dead
The requiem for the late Pope’s funeral had been
composed by Mozart.
l 246 l
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12
to 14
age group
researcher
resumption
noun /ri»sŒ˘tS´[r]/
a person who makes careful study of a subject in
order to discover new information about it
The researcher had to go all the way to Brazil to get a
sample of the rare plant.
noun /rI»z√mpSn/
beginning again
The resumption of building work will start early next
week.
retentive
reservation
adjective /rI»tEntIv/
(of a person’s memory) effective in retaining facts and
impressions
Ahmed has a sharp and retentive memory and can
recall facts and figures easily.
noun /rEz´»veISń/
the action of reserving something
Showing up at the airport without a seat reservation
can be problematic.
resolution
reticence
noun /«rez´»lu˘Sn/
formal statement of an opinion agreed on by a
committee, especially by means of a vote
The Pakistan Resolution was passed in 1940.
noun /»retIsns/
reserve in speech
Sadaf did not mind his reticence; in fact she liked it.
retribution
resonance
noun /«retrI»bju˘Sn/
vengeance
He feared divine retribution for his sins.
noun /»rezńńs/
echo, sympathetic vibration
The resonance of the sound of church bells in the
Alpine Valley added to the magic of the moment.
revamp
verb /ri˘»vamp/
to make changes to the form of something to improve
its appearance
Naila decided to revamp the whole script and start
afresh.
responsiveness
noun /rI»spÅnsIvn´s/
quick and positive reaction
They showed a lack of responsiveness to client
needs.
revelation
restitution
noun /rEv´»leISń/
a surprising and previously unknown fact that has
been disclosed to others
The company secretary has a startling revelation
about the unexpected appointment of the director.
noun /«restI»tju˘Sn/
restoration to the rightful owner; compensation
The man had to make a restitution of $1,000 for the
damage that he did.
restraint
reverberate
noun /rI»streInt/
calm and controlled behaviour
His ability to show restraint in the face of insults was
admirable.
verb /rI»vŒ˘b´reIt /
(of a sound) to be repeated several times as it is
reflected off different surfaces
The entire valley will soon reverberate with the sound
of church bells.
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12 to 14
age group
revere
R
ricochet
verb /rI»vI´[r]/
to feel great respect or admiration for
The students revere their teacher.
verb /»rIk´SeI/
rebound off a surface
It’s funny how bullets never seem to hit or ricochet in
action films.
reverie
righteous
noun /»rev´ri/
a daydream
She was jolted out of her reverie as the door opened.
adjective /»raItS´s/
morally right and good
Righteous deeds will get you to heaven.
reversal
rigorous
noun /rI»v´˘s´l/
a change to an opposite direction, position, or course
of action
A reversal in the policy decision led to much
confusion.
adjective /»rIg´r´s/
strictly applied
They had to go through a rigorous search at the
airport.
revolutionize
riparian
verb /rEv´»lu˘Sń√Iz/
change (something) radically or fundamentally
The old tycoon offered 5 tips that will allow anyone to
revolutionize their business.
adjective /raI»pe´rIń/
related to or situated on the banks of a river
All the riparian states must sign an agreement.
rivulet
revulsion
noun /»rIvj´l´t/
a very small stream
The rivulet joins the river at this point.
noun /rI»v√lSn/
a strong feeling of disgust or horror
We can only react to such ghastly acts with revulsion.
roseate
rhinoceros
adjective /»rÚzi´t/
rose-coloured or pink
The window’s roseate tint made everything inside
look pink.
noun /raI»nÅs´r´s/
a large animal with a thick skin with one or two horns
on its nose
There is a rhinoceros reserve in India.
rostrum
rhythm
noun /»rÅstr´m/
a platform for public speaking
I stood on the rostrum to deliver the speech.
noun /»rID´m/
a regular pattern of beats, sounds or movements
Although we dislike the lyrics, we loved the rhythm of
his music.
rouse
verb /raUz/
to wake someone up, especially when they are
sleeping deeply
If you want to rouse her, you’ll have to rap hard on
her bedroom door.
rickety
adjective /»rIk´ti/
not strong or well made; likely to break
The hermit lived in a rickety shack that looked like it
would fall over in a strong wind.
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12
to 14
age group
rubicund
adjective /»ru˘bIkńd/
having a reddish complexion
He has a cheerful rubicund face.
rudimentary
adjective /«rU˘dI»mentri/
basic
His dancing was limited to a few rudimentary steps.
ruffle
verb /»r√fl/
to make something untidy or no longer smooth
I watched the breeze ruffle the previously smooth
surface of the lake.
rumbustious
adjective /r√m»b√stS´s/
high-spirited or difficult to control
He has three energetic, rumbustious little boys.
ruminant
noun /»ru˘mInńt/
any animal, such as a cow or sheep, that regurgitates
food from its stomach and chews it again
A ruminant has a stomach consisting of four
compartments.
l 249 l
12 to 14
age group
sacrilege
S
sanction
noun /»sQkr´lIdZ/
disrespectful treatment of something sacred or highly
valued
Recent reports of the sacrilege of the holy book has
caused outrage.
verb /»sQNkSn/
to give permission for something to take place
The government refused to sanction a further cut in
the interest rate.
sanctity
sacrilegious
noun /»saNktIti/
the state or quality of being holy, sacred, or saintly
Visitors to a mosque should respect its sanctity.
adjective /»sQkr´»lIdZ´s/
disrespectful of a sacred place, person, or thing
Leading clerics condemned the book as a
sacrilegious attack on their faith.
sanctuary
noun /»sQNktSu´ri/
safety and protection
The government offered sanctuary to 4,000 refugees.
sacrosanct
adjective /»sQkrÚsQNkt/
considered too important to change or question
I’ll work till late in the evening, but cannot sacrifice my
sacrosanct weekends.
sanguine
adjective /»sQNgwIn/
hopeful and confident
He has chosen to take a sanguine view of the current
situation.
salamander
noun /»sQl´mQnd´[r]/
a small thin lizard with four legs and a long tail, of the
type that lives both on land and water
sanitizer
noun /»sanIt√Izr/
a disinfectant
There is still a controversy raging regarding using
water or hand sanitizer.
salient
adjective /»seIlińt/
most important or most noticeable
One of the salient features of the landscape is the
escarpment valley.
sapient
adjective /»seIpińt/
having great knowledge or intelligence
My father believes himself to be a sapient man.
salubrious
adjective /s´»lu˘bri´s/
good for one’s health
We naturally opted to live in the more salubrious part
of town.
sapphire
noun /»sQfaI´[r]/
a clear, bright blue precious stone
He gave her a sapphire ring for her birthday.
sanatorium
noun /«sQn´»tç˘ri´m/
a residential clinic
She contracted tuberculosis and, as a consequence,
had to be sent to a sanatorium.
sarcophagus
noun /sA˘»kÅf´g´s/
a stone coffin
The display of the sarcophagus in the art museum
was visited by many people.
l 250 l
S
12
to 14
age group
sardine
scabbard
noun /sA˘»di˘n/
a small young sea fish
noun /»skQb´d/
the cover for a sword or a similar bladed weapon
The drill master told his student to wipe the blood
from his sword before slipping it back into the
scabbard.
sardonic
adjective /sA˘»dÅnIk/
mocking
His sardonic smile was contrary to his words.
scabrous
noun /»skQbr´s/
rough and covered with scabs
His skin was scabrous following years of neglect.
sarong
noun /s´»rÅN/
a long strip of cotton or silk material tied round the
middle of the body like a skirt
She bought a Malaysian silk sarong from Kuala
Lumpur.
scaffolding
noun /»skQf´ldIN/
a temporary structure made of wooden planks and
metal poles, used while constructing, repairing, or
cleaning a building
The scaffolding was dismantled because it had been
unsteady.
satchel
noun /»sQtS´l/
a leather school bag that can be hung over the
shoulder or back
He slung his satchel over his shoulder and made his
way to school.
scalpel
noun /»skQlp´l/
a knife with a small sharp blade, used by a surgeon
The nurse handed the surgeon a scalpel as he began
to operate on the patient.
satiate
verb /»seISieIt/
to satisfy
It is impossible to satiate the fat man’s appetite.
scandalous
adjective /»skQnd´l´s/
shocking and unacceptable
His opponents are spreading scandalous stories
about the presidential candidate.
satisfying
adjective /»sQtIsfaIIN/
fulfilling; leaving nothing to be desired
The trip to the hills was a very satisfying experience.
scaremonger
noun /»ske´r«m√Ng´[r] /
a person who spreads stories deliberately to make
people frightened or nervous
He dismissed the expert on global warming as
nothing but a scaremonger.
saviour
noun /»seIvj´[r]/
a rescuer
The new manager has been hailed as the saviour of
the previously unpopular club.
scathing
savoury
adjective /»skeIDIN/
witheringly scornful; severely critical
Amina was almost in tears when she heard the
scathing remarks of her boss.
adjective /»seIv´ri/
tasting salty not sweet
He bought delicious savoury snacks for the tea party.
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12 to 14
age group
scatterbrain
S
scoff
noun /»skQt´breIn/
one who cannot think in an organised way
The student was such a scatterbrain that he often
forgot his homework and was hardly ever on time.
verb /skÅf/
to speak in a scornful way
I saw him scoff at their immature behaviour.
scrimmage
scavenger
noun /»skrImIdZ/
a confused struggle or fight
In the scrimmage that ensued, I lost my shoe while
he lost a tooth and his wallet.
noun /»skQvIndZ´[r]/
one who searches among what is unwanted by others
The bold raccoon became a scavenger when night
fell.
scriptural
scenario
adjective /»skrIptS´r´l/
pertaining to, contained in, or warranted by the holy
books of a particular religion
He has deep knowledge of the scriptural writings of
mediaeval times.
noun /s´»nA˘riÚ/
a description of how things might happen in the future
The worst-case scenario will be if I have to get a job
as a waitress.
sceptic
scruple
noun /»skeptIk/
one who doubts the truth of a fact or theory
One of the reasons I am such a sceptic is because I
have been lied to so often.
noun /»skru˘pl/
a feeling that prevents you from doing something that
may be morally wrong
She is totally without scruple when it comes to moral
values.
schizophrenia
scrutineer
noun /«skIts´»fri˘ni´/
a long-term mental disorder whose symptoms include
inappropriate actions and feelings and withdrawal
from reality into fantasy
The patient was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
noun /«skru˘t´»nI´[r]/
a person who ensures that an election is organised
correctly
The scrutineer from European Union monitored the
proceedings of the Afghan elections.
scholastic
scrutinise
adjective /sk´»lQstIk/
pertaining to education or schools
His scholastic achievements exceed his
extracurricular activities.
verb /»skru˘tńaIz/
to examine closely and carefully
I need to scrutinise each and every detail of the
magazine before sending it off for publication.
scintilla
scuttle
noun /sIn»tIl´/
a tiny trace or amount
There is not a scintilla of doubt that he is guilty.
verb /»sk√tl/
to run quickly with short steps or with the body close
to the ground
The spider tried to scuttle off when I attempted to
squash it.
scintillate
verb /»sIntIleIt/
give off flashes of light; sparkle
The substance began to scintillate when we exposed
it to the sun.
l 252 l
S
12
to 14
age group
secede
serpentine
verb /sI»si˘d/
to withdraw formally from a federation of states or a
political or religious organisation
Chechnya is trying hard to secede from the Russian
federation.
adjective /»s´˘pńt√In/
of or like a serpent or snake
All the tourists love to drive down the serpentine
street in San Francisco.
severity
secular
noun /sI»ver´ti/
harshness
I don’t think you will be able to bear the severity of the
weather there.
adjective /»sekj´l´[r]/
not religious or spiritual
Ours is not a secular society.
sedition
shibboleth
noun /sI»dISń/
the use of words intended to to encourage people to
oppose the government
He was jailed on sedition charges.
noun /»SIb´leT/
an old idea or phrase that is no longer accepted by
many people as important to modern life
This notion of the old man’s is just a shibboleth.
seiche
shingle
noun /seIS/
a temporary disturbance or oscillation in the water of
a sea, lake or bay
A sieche is caused by seismic or unusual
atmospheric activity.
noun /»SINgl/
a mass of small smooth stones lying on a beach
He saw tiny turtles on the shingle.
shrivel
verb /SrIv´l/
wrinkle and contract or cause to wrinkle and contract,
especially due to loss of moisture
The near drought conditions have caused plants to
shrivel up and die.
senescence
noun /sI»nesns/
the effects of being old
He did not show any signs of senescence until he
was well past seventy.
siege
septuagenarian
noun /si˘dZ/
an operation in which a police or other force surround
a building and cut off supplies
The palace was under seige by the angry citizens of
Paris.
noun /«septjU´dZ´»ne´riń/
a person who is between 70 and 79 years old
There was not a single septuagenarian in the
audience.
serenity
siesta
noun /s´»ren´ti/
calmness and placidity
The serenity of the sleepy town was shattered by a
tremendous explosion.
noun /sI»Est´/
an afternoon rest or nap, especially one taken during
the hottest hours of the day in a hot climate
In their home lunch is followed by 3 hours of siesta
time.
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12 to 14
age group
silhouette
S
solace
noun /«sIlu»et/
the dark shape and outline of someone or something
seen against a lighter background
The dress is fitted to give you a flattering silhouette.
noun /»sÅl´s/
emotional comfort
I hope you find solace in the thought that all of us
share your loss.
simultaneous
solemnity
adjective /«sIml»teIni´s/
occurring at the same time
There were several simultaneous shots fired.
noun /s´»lEmnIti/
the state or quality of being serious and dignified
The pact was signed with ceremonial solemnity in the
grand hall.
sledgehammer
soliloquy
noun /»slEdZham´/
a large, heavy hammer used for such jobs as
breaking rocks and driving in fence posts
A vandal armed with a sledgehammer badly
damaged the ancient statue of the goddess.
noun /s´»lIl´kwi/
a dramatic monologue intended to give the illusion of
unspoken reflections
She quoted Hamlet’s famous soliloquy in the
examination paper.
slipshod
solitaire
adjective /»slIpSÅd/
careless
His slipshod attitude affected his grades at the
university.
noun /»sÅlIte´/
a game for one player played by removing pegs one
at a time from a board by jumping others over them
from adjacent holes
Zara often relaxes by playing solitaire after everyone
has gone to bed.
sluggish
adjective /»sl√gIS/
moving or working more slowly than normal
The sluggish economy resulted in very poor business
activity
solitary
adjective /»sÅl´tri/
without other people
The Americans kept the prisoners of war in solitary
confinement.
slumber
noun /»sl√mb´[r]/
sleep
She fell into a deep and peaceful slumber.
sonar
noun /»sÚnA˘/
an equipment or a system for finding objects
underwater using sound waves
Submarines also use sonar to detect other ships.
smithereens
pl noun /«smID´»ri˘nz/
small pieces
The vase smashed into smithereens after it was
dropped by the baby.
sonorous
adjective /»sÅn´r´s/
sounding deep and full
The vocalist of the new rock band has a sonorous
voice.
sojourn
noun /»sÅdZE˘n/
a temporary stay
Their sojourn at the hill resort was very relaxing.
l 254 l
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12
to 14
age group
sophistication
spectacular
noun /s´«fIstI»keISn/
worldly knowledge about fashion, culture and social
etiquette
Her sophistication probably stems from the many
years she spent travelling around Europe and South
America.
adjective /spEk»takjUl´/
beautiful in a dramatic and eye-catching way
The Chinese city of Harbin hosts a spectacular
annual festival that is popular with tourists.
spectrograph
noun /»spEktrÚgrA˘f/
an instrument that separates an incoming wave into a
frequency spectrum
The plant pigment phytochrome was discovered using
a spectrograph.
southerner
noun /»s√Dń´[r]/
a person who comes from or lives in the southern
part of a country
Mahmud is a southerner since he was born in
Karachi.
speculative
adjective /»spekj´l´tIv/
based on theory or guesswork rather than knowledge
He cast a speculative look at Kate when she refused
to tell him why she was upset.
souvenir
noun /«su˘v´»nI´[r]/
something bought or kept as a reminder of a time or
place
On her last day in the Maldives, she bought a
souvenir to remind herself of the wonderful time she
had.
spendthrift
noun /»spEndTrIft/
a person who spends money in an extravagant,
irresponsible way
It is difficult for him to save money as he is a big
spendthrift.
spaghetti
plural noun /sp´»geti/
pasta in long strands
She makes delicious spaghetti.
spiritualist
noun /»spIrItSU´lIst, »spIrItjU´lIst/
a person who believes that people who have died can
send messages to the living
He went to a spiritualist to help him connect with his
dead father.
sparsely
adverb /spA˘slI/
thinly dispersed or scattered
We chose to camp in a sparsely populated area of
Thar.
spontaneity
speciation
noun /«spÅnt´»neI´ti/
lack of forethought or planning
What I like best about his parties is their spontaneity.
noun /«spi˘SI»eISń/
the formation of new and distinct species during the
course of evolution
Genetic drift may be the minor or major contributor to
speciation.
squelchy
adjective /skwEltSi/
make a soft sucking sound such as that made by
treading heavily through mud
With each step Hina’s shoes made a funny squelchy
sound.
spectacled
adjective /»spEkt´k´ld/
wearing spectacles
Zain, gray haired and spectacled, sat silently with the
ancient manuscript in his hand.
l 255 l
12 to 14
age group
squiggle
S
stochastic
noun /»skwIg´l/
a short line that curls and loops in an irregular way
The toddler drew a squiggle on the paper.
adjective /stÅ»kQstIk/
relating to skilful conjecturing
The result of a stochastic process in statistics can
only be verified once the figures have been
computed.
stability
noun /st´»bIlIti/
the state of being stable
There was peace and stability in the region before the
coming of the Sarracins.
stoical
adjective /stÚIkl/
enduring pain and hardship without showing one’s
feelings or complaining
The doctor was amazed at his stoical acceptance of
death.
stagnate
verb /stQg»neIt/
to stop developing, or making progress
If you don’t want your novel to stagnate, you need to
seriously consider modifying the plot.
strategy
noun /»strQt´dZi/
a plan
The company must devise a new strategy to beat the
competition.
stallion
noun /»stQliń/
a male horse
stricture
noun /»strIktS´/
a restriction on a person or activity
The same stricture should apply to both the boys’ as
well as the girls’ school.
stanchion
noun /»stQntSń/
an upright bar, post, or frame forming a support or
barrier
The ball hit the stanchion behind the goal.
suave
adjective /swA˘v/
confident, smooth and elegant
His suave manner impressed everyone at the party.
staunch
adjective /stç˘ntS/
very loyal and committed in attitude
I am a staunch believer in the rights of minorities,
women and children.
subliminal
adjective /«s√b»lImInl/
outside conscious awareness
Many people believe that television adverts contain
subliminal messages which induce you to buy their
products.
steak
noun /steIk/
a thick slice of any piece of meat
I would like a beef steak with mushroom sauce.
submersion
stipulate
noun /s´b»m´˘Sn/
the action or state of submerging or being submerged
According to newspaper the heir reportedly died from
asphyxiation related to submersion.
verb /»stIpjUleIt/
to say exactly and officially what must be done
The law is supposed to stipulate how often schools
have to be inspected.
l 256 l
S
12
to 14
age group
subsequent
suffice
adjective /»s√bsIkwńt/
following
In subsequent lessons, we shall try solving more
difficult problems.
verb /s´»faIs/
to be enough
One coat of paint should suffice.
supercilious
subsidence
adjective /«su˘p´»sIli´s/
contemptuous
I resent your supercilious and arrogant attitude.
noun /s´b»saIdńs/
the gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land
Widespread land subsidence is proving to be a threat
to the coastline.
supplemental
adjective /»s√plIment´l/
provided in addition in order to complete or improve it
The supplemental information proved very vital in
locating the thiefs.
subsidiary
adjective /s´b»sIdi´ri/
connected but less important
This information may be used as subsidiary evidence
but it is not sufficient by itself to prove your argument.
surfeit
noun /»sŒ˘fIt /
an excessive amount
He suffered from indigestion after eating a surfeit of
lasagne.
substantiate
verb /s´b»stQnSieIt/
to prove that something is true
I intend to substantiate my statement by producing
witnesses.
surreptitious
adjective /«s√r´p»tIS´s/
secret
The news of their surreptitious meeting gradually
leaked out.
subterranean
adjective /«s√bt´»reIniń/
below ground
The “Karez” is a subterranean canal.
surveyor
subtleness
noun /s´»veI´[r]/
one who examines and records the details of an area
of land
He works as a surveyor in the public works
department.
noun /»s√t´lnEs/
so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or
describe
The psychological patient has to be dealt with
subtleness and tact.
susceptibility
succinct
noun /s´«sept´»bIl´ti/
ability to be influenced
His old age has increased his susceptibility to
infection.
adjective /s´k»sINkt/
expressed briefly
The audience appreciated his succinct speech.
succumb
suspicious
verb /s´»k√m/
to give way to
I always succumb to the temptation of eating
chocolate when I go to the sweet shop.
feeling that something is wrong without having any
proof
He has his father’s suspicious nature.
l 257 l
12 to 14
age group
sustain
S
syringe
verb /s´»steIn/
to support
No one is sure whether Mars contains the right
conditions to sustain life.
noun /sI»rIndZ/
a plastic or glass tube with a long, hollow needle that
is used to take out blood or inject medicine into a
person’s body
The little girl started crying the minute she saw a
syringe in the nurse’s hand.
svelte
adjective /svelt/
slender and attractive
Her svelte figure was enhanced by the black dress.
swathe
verb /sweID/
to wrap or bind up
We should swathe his leg in bandages to prevent his
wound from becoming infected.
swivel
verb /»swIvl/
to turn around a fixed central point
She had to swivel the chair in order to see what I was
doing.
symmetry
noun /»sIm´tri/
the arrangement of parts in such a way that balance
is obtained
The addition of the second tower will give this edifice
the symmetry which it currently lacks.
synonym
noun /»sInńIm/
a word that has the same or nearly the same
meaning as another word
I am having trouble coming up with a synonym for
‘shaky’.
syntax
noun /»sIntQks/
the grammatical rules for forming sentences
It took her years to become comfortable with the
syntax of the English language.
l 258 l
T
12
to 14
age group
tabulate
taxon
verb /»tQbjuleIt/
to arrange facts or figures in columns or lists
DAWN put together a team of experts to tabulate the
words for the Spelling Bee.
noun /»taksÅn/
a category in the classification of living organisms
A particular taxon comprises of organisms that have
certain genetic characteristics in common.
taciturn
technicality
adjective /»tQsItŒ˘n/
not talkative
He is a taciturn man who does not make friends
easily.
noun /«teknI»kQl´ti/
a small detail in a law or set of rules
Although his client was guilty, the lawyer managed to
get him off on a technicality.
talisman
technophile
noun /»tQlIzmń/
an object thought to have magic powers and to bring
good luck
Joe believed that the pendant he found in Vietnam
had served as a talisman.
noun /»teknÚfaIl/
a person who is enthusiastic about new technology
My son is a true technophile and has to buy every
new gadget as soon as possible.
tedious
tandem
adjective /»ti˘di´s/
long and boring
I was given the tedious job of stamping a thousand
papers.
noun /»tQnd´m/
a bicycle for two riders, one behind the other
The child was so fascinated by bicycles that he built a
tandem.
tedium
tangerine
noun /»ti˘di´m/
boredom
She longed for something to relieve the tedium of
everyday life.
a type of small, sweet orange
She put a tangerine in the fruit salad.
tantamount
telekinesis
noun /«telIkI»ni˘sIs, «telIkaI»ni˘sIs/
the ability to move objects without touching them,
using mental powers
The girl used telekinesis to lift a pencil lying on a
nearby table.
adjective /»tQnt´maUnt/
having the same equivalent effect
Ignoring their pathetic condition and not lifting a finger
to help them is tantamount to murder.
taut
teleprompter
adjective /tç˘t/
tightly stretched
The taut violin strings cut her finger.
noun /»teliprÅmpt´[r]/
a device which displays words as they are to be
spoken
When the teleprompter malfunctioned, the
newscaster was at a complete loss for words.
tavern
noun /»tQvń/
a pub or an inn
Their car broke down at the highway and they had to
stay the night at the old tavern.
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12 to 14
age group
tenacious
T
theological
persistent; not letting go
The woman kept such a tenacious grip on her
handbag that the thief was not able to snatch it.
adjective /«Ti˘´»lÅdZIkl/
relating to the study of religion
Theological debates should be encouraged in order
to acquaint people with a wide range of beliefs.
tenant
therapeutic
noun /»tenńt/
a person who pays rent for the use of a room,
building, land to the person who owns it
My tenant is beginning to irritate me as he never pays
his rent on time.
adjective /«Ter´»pju˘tIk/
helpful in treating an illness
The doctors cannot deny the therapeutic properties of
herbs.
thermoelectric
tendentious
adjective /«T´˘mÚI»lektrIk/
denoting electricity produced by heat
The thermoelectric method is a more environmentally
friendly way to generate power.
adjective /ten»denS´s/
having an underlying purpose
The periodical’s readership dropped due to its
tendentious editorials.
thoroughbred
tendril
adjective /»T√r´bred/
an animal of pure breed
My daughter owns a thoroughbred horse.
noun /»tendrIl/
a thin curling stem that grows from a climbing plant
Each branch of the ivy was attached to the wall by a
tendril.
thoroughfare
a public street or road used by traffic
Her house is noisy because she lives close to a busy
thoroughfare.
tetanus
noun /»tetń´s/
a disease spread by bacteria causing the muscles to
stiffen and go into spasms
She was injected against tetanus.
threadbare
adjective /»Tredbe´[r]/
well-worn and therefore thin
His threadbare coat does little to keep the cold out.
texturize
verb /»tEkstS´r√Iz/
impart a particular texture to (a product, especially a
fabric or foodstuff) in order to make it more attractive
You can texturize the walls by using a compound in
the paint.
thriftiness
noun /»TrIftinEs/
using money and other resources carefully and not
wastefully
The Chinese immigrant considered hard work and
thriftiness as the key for survival.
theatre
noun /»TI´t´[r]/
a building or an outdoor area where plays are
performed
A new theatre has been built in London modelled on
Shakespeare’s Globe.
l 260 l
T
12
to 14
age group
thrombosis
tornadoes
noun /TrÅm»bÚsIs/
a serious medical condition caused by a blood clot
forming in a blood vessel
The patient’s heart attack occured due to a coronary
thrombosis.
pl noun /tç˘»neIdÚIz/
a mobile, destructive vortex of violently rotating winds
having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud
The American Mid West has been hit by many
tornadoes in the past couple of years.
throttle
torrential
noun /»TrÅt´l/
a device controlling the flow of fuel or power to an
engine
He drove full throttle round the bends and overtook
many cars along the way.
adjective /t´»renSl/
pouring heavily
Nobody expected such a torrential downpour last
night.
tortilla
timorous
noun /tç˘»ti˘´/
(in Mexican cooking) a thin, flat maize pancake
She served delicious tortilla with minced beef, beans
and cheese for lunch.
adjective /»tIm´r´s/
nervous and easily frightened
A squirrel is a timorous animal.
tirade
tourism
noun /taI»reId/
a long speech of angry criticism
She launched into a tirade of abuse against
politicians.
noun /»tU´rIz´m/
the commercial organization and operation of
holidays and visits to places of interest
Tourism is a flourishing industry in many countries of
Asia.
tolerant
tousle
adjective /»tÅl´rńt/
accepting of other people’s ideas or actions even
when not agreeing with them
He has a very tolerant attitude towards other
religions.
verb /»taUzl/
to handle roughly and make untidy
If you tousle my hair one more time I will tickle you.
traditional
topography
adjective /tr´»dISń´l/
existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established
The Indonesian troupe presented a traditional dance.
noun /t´»pÅgr´fi/
the physical features of an area of land
Before the generals gave the order to attack, they
ordered a complete study of the topography of the
region.
tranquil
adjective /»trQNkwIl/
calm and peaceful
She led a tranquil life in the countryside with her pet
animals.
torment
verb /»tç˘ment/
to tease excessively
He likes to torment his sister as she is too young to
stand up for herself.
l 261 l
12 to 14
age group
tranquilizer
T
trapezium
noun /»traNkwIl√Iz´/
a drug that calms a being without affecting clarity of
consciousness
Wardens used tranquilizer darts to subdue the wild
beast.
noun /tr´»pi˘zI´m/
a flat shape with four straight lines
The mathematics teacher asked the students to find
the area of the trapezium.
traumatic
transcend
adjective /trç˘»matIk/
deeply disturbing or distressing
Living through the terrible ordeal has been a
traumatic experience for her.
verb /trQn»send/
to be or go beyond the usual limits
Judging by the positive responses, this novel will
transcend the success of all his previous works.
tremulous
transcribe
adjective /»tremj´l´s/
shaking or quivering slightly
His tremulous voice told me that he was nervous.
verb /trQn»skraIb/
to record in written form
When you transcribe your notes, please send me a
copy for my own records.
tribulation
noun /«trIbju»leISn/
great trouble or suffering
The war was a time of tribulation for all of us.
transgenic
adjective /tranz»dZEnIk/
(of a plant or animal) having genetic material
introduced from another type of plant or animal
Transgenic fruits never taste the same as the original.
tribunal
noun /traI»bju˘nl/
a type of court with the authority to deal with a
particular problem or disagreement
The tribunal found the defendant guilty of war crimes
and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
transgress
verb /trQnz»gres/
to go beyond set bounds
If you continue to transgress the limits of civil
behaviour, no one will want to have anything to do
with you.
tributaries
pl noun /»trIbjUt´ri˘z/
a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake
The first gold in Australia was discovered in one of
the tributaries of the Yarra River.
transparent
adjective /trQns»pQrńt/
allowing you to see through
The transparent wings of the insect looked beautiful.
trigonometry
noun /«trIg´»nÅm´tri/
a branch of mathematics
She took trigonometry as an O level subject.
transporter
noun /trQn»spç˘t´[r]/
a large vehicle, used for carrying heavy objects, e.g.
other vehicles
Due to a mechanical fault, the new cars fell off the
transporter.
trinket
noun /»trINkIt/
an ornament or piece of jewellery that is not worth
much money
This may be just a trinket, but it is of great
sentimental value to me.
l 262 l
T
12
to 14
age group
trivial
turbulence
adjective /»trIvi´l/
of little importance
My friend treated my accident as a trivial matter,
which really upset me.
noun /»tŒ˘bj´lńs/
disturbance, irregular variation
Warned of approaching turbulence in the atmosphere,
the pilot asked the passengers to fasten their seat
belts.
truant
tycoon
noun /»tru˘ńt/
a pupil who stays away from school without
permission or explanation
Mrs. Smith was told that her son had been a truant
from school for a whole week.
noun /taI»ku˘n/
a rich and influential business person
He was such a successful business tycoon that he
made his first million by the age of twenty.
tuberculosis
tyranny
noun /tju˘«bŒ˘kju»lÚsIs/
an infectious disease transmitted by bacteria
He is really weak because he had tuberculosis when
he was young.
noun /»tIrńi/
unfair or cruel use of power or authority
Frederick Douglas fought against the tyranny of
slavery throughout his life.
tularemia
noun /«tju˘l´»ri˘mI´/
a severe infectious bacterial disease
Tularemia affects wild animals but can be transmitted
to humans through the bite of various insects or
contact with infected animals.
tumour
noun /»tju˘m´[r]/
a mass of cells growing in or on a part of the body
where they should not
He was completely shattered when the doctor told
him he had a brain tumour.
tumultuous
adjective /tju˘»m√ltSU´s/
disorderly, agitated
The presidential candidate received a tumultuous
welcome from the crowd.
tundra
noun /»t√ndr´/
the vast treeless plains of the arctic regions
The soil below the surface of tundra is always frozen.
l 263 l
12 to 14
age group
ubiquitous
U
unimpeachable
adjective /ju˘»bIkwIt´s/
seeming to be everywhere
She is one of the most ubiquitous media personalities
around.
adjective /«√nIm»pi˘tS´bl/
beyond reproach
The lawyer obtained evidence in favour of his client
from an unimpeachable source.
unbiased
unobtrusive
adjective /√n»baI´st/
fair and not influenced by your own or somebody
else’s opinions, desires
Her unbiased nature made her a perfect choice for
the judicial appointment.
adjective /«√n´b»tru˘sIv/
not obvious or easily noticeable
The unobtrusive behaviour of the bodyguard attracted
no attention
unprecedented
unconquerable
adjective /√n»presIdentId/
never having happened before; unexpected
The scheme has been hailed as an unprecedented
success.
adjective /√n»kÅNk´r´b´l/
not conquerable
The fort was said to be unconquerable but
Mohammed bin Qasim proved everyone wrong.
uproarious
unconscionable
adjective /√p»rç˘rI´s/
characterized by or provoking loud noise or uproar
The uproarious crowd waved and shouted as the
Titanic sailed out of the harbour.
adjective /√n»kÅnSń´bl/
causing shame
His unconscionable actions caused great distress to
his family.
uranium
uncouth
noun /jU»reIni´m/
a heavy, silver-white, radioactive metal
Uranium is a metal which is used to produce nuclear
energy.
adjective /√n»ku˘T/
rude or socially unacceptable
He was not offered the job because of his uncouth
behaviour.
utterance
unforeseen
noun /»√t´rńs/
a spoken word, statement, or vocal sound
She hardly ever gives utterance to her thoughts.
adjective /√nfç˘»si˘n/
not anticipated or predicted
He said his insurance policy will protect him against
any unforseen event.
uniformity
noun /«ju˘nI»fç˘m´ti/
lack of variation
They tried to ensure uniformity across the different
departments.
l 264 l
V
12
to 14
age group
vaccinate
vaporizer
verb /»vQksIneIt/
to inject a person or animal to protect them against a
disease
It is essential to vaccinate infants against infectious
diseases such as measles and hepatitis.
noun /»veIp´r√Iz´/
a device that generates a particular substance in the
form of vapour, especially for medicinal inhalation
Raheel always takes his vaporizer wherever he goes
because he has severe asthama.
vacuole
varnish
noun /»vakjUÚl/
a membrane-bound cavity within a cell, often
containing a watery liquid or secretion
The function and importance of a vacuole varies
greatly according to the type of cell in which it is
present.
verb /»vA˘nIS/
to put a clear liquid onto hard surfaces that gives it a
shiny, transparent surface
I always like to varnish my furniture because it gives it
a very nice shine.
vascular
vacuum
adjective /»vQskj´l´[r]/
made up of or containing vessels or ducts through
which blood flows
The doctor diagnosed her with vascular dementia.
noun /»vQkju´m/
a space completely empty of substance or gas
Light can travel through vacuum but sound cannot.
vagabond
vegetarian
noun /»vQg´bÅnd/
one who has no home or job and travels from place
to place
He roamed around the streets like a carefree
vagabond after quitting college.
adjective /«vedZ´»te´riń/
eating no meat
She followed a strict vegetarian diet
vehemently
adverb /»vi˘´mńtli/
with strong feeling
The charge was vehemently denied.
valedictory
adjective /«valI»dIkt´ri/
serving as a farewell
Mr. Khan intends to give his valedictory lecture in the
afternoon.
velocity
noun /v´»lÅs´ti/
speed
Jaguars can move with an astonishing velocity.
valet
noun /»vQleI/
manservant who looks after his master’s clothes,
serves his meals or an employee in a hotel with
similar duties
The valet at the hotel was very good at his work.
venturesome
adjective /»ventS´s´m/
bold, daring, willing to take risks
A group of venturesome women decided to scale
Mount Everest.
valve
noun /vQlv/
a device in a pipe or tube which controls the flow of
air, liquid or gas
The valve in the tap is faulty as it’s always blocked.
verbose
adjective /vŒ˘»bÚs /
using too many words
Her verbose style of writing is disliked by many
people.
l 265 l
12 to 14
age group
vertebrate
V
vigorous
noun /»vŒ˘tIbr´t /
any animal having a backbone
Any animal that has a spine or a backbone is a
vertebrate.
adjective /»vIg´r´s/
strong and active
The government launched a vigorous campaign
against tax fraud.
veterinarian
vindictive
noun /«vet´rI»ne´riń/
person caring for the health of animals
She is studying to be a veterinarian.
adjective /vIn»dIktIv/
tending to seek revenge
He is known to have a vindictive nature which is why I
always try to avoid him.
veterinary
vineyard
adjective /»vetrń´ri/
connected with the medical treatment of sick or
injured animals
The cat had to be rushed to a veterinary hospital
when it swallowed a coin.
noun /»vInjA˘d, »vInj´d/
a piece of land where grapes are grown for making
wine
He appointed two guards for the vineyard.
viable
virtually
adjective /»vaI´bl/
capable of becoming actual, useful, etc; practicable
It is not a viable option for him to leave the country.
adverb /»v´˘tjU´li/
nearly; almost
The snowstorm virtually blinded him.
vicious
virtuosity
adjective /»vIS´s/
violent and cruel
The vicious dog bit my leg.
noun /«vŒ˘tSu»Ås´ti /
(music) the quality of being a consummate master of
musical technique and artistry
Nikki gave a performance of breathtaking virtuosity at
the concert.
vicissitude
noun /vI»sIsItju˘d/
change of fortune
He considered injuring his leg a vicissitude from
which he would soon recover.
visibility
noun /«vIz´»bIl´ti/
range of vision
The plane could not take off because of poor visibility.
victorious
vitreous
adjective /vIk»tç˘rI´s/
successful in a competitive situation
The victorious team was greeted by a large crowd of
supporters when they reached their home country.
adjective /»vItri´s/
hard, shiny and transparent like glass
The scientist became famous by discovering a
vitreous substitute for glass.
vigilance
vivacious
noun /»vIdZIlńs/
watchfulness
She stressed the need for constant vigilance.
adjective /vI»veIS´s/
lively and high-spirited
She is a vivacious young girl.
l 266 l
V
12
to 14
age group
viviparous
adjective /vI»vIp´r´s/
(of animals) producing live babies from its body rather
than eggs
Viviparous offspring require an external food supply
once they are born.
vogue
noun /vÚg/
the current fashion or trend
Pointed shoes have gone out of vogue.
voltmeter
noun /»vÚltmi˘t´[r]/
an instrument for measuring voltage
The electrician used a voltmeter to check the flow of
electricity.
voluminous
adjective /v´»lu˘mIn´s/
very bulky and large
She had trouble walking because of her voluminous
skirt.
vortex
noun /»vç˘teks/
a mass of air, water that spins round and round and
pulls things into its centre
Sucked into the vortex, Dorothy and Toto were carried
from Kansas to Oz.
vouch
verb /vaUtS/
to express confidence in and accept responsibility for
a person’s behaviour
I am ready to vouch for his character.
l 267 l
12 to 14
age group
waive
W
whaler
verb /weIv/
to choose to forgo something to which one has a right
He requested the principal of the school to waive his
fee as he could not afford it.
noun /»weIl´/
a person who hunts whales
The whaler was hired to track down the killer whale.
wheelwright
waltz
noun /»wi˘lraIt/
one who makes or repairs wheels
John took his donkey cart to the wheelwright to have
the spokes of the wheel repaired.
noun /wç˘ls/
a slow-moving dance performed with a partner
The waltz is one of the most elegant dances.
wanderlust
whimsical
noun /»wÅnd´l√st/
a strong desire to travel
His wanderlust was only curtailed by a shrinking bank
balance.
adjective /»wImzIkl/
unusual in a way that can be either amusing or
annoying
He has a whimsical sense of humour.
wangle
whisker
verb /»wQNgl/
to get something by scheming
She managed to wangle an invitation to the reception.
noun /»wIsk´[r]/
the long, stiff hair growing near the mouth of a cat, rat
After the fight, not a single whisker was left on the
face of the cat.
wattage
whorl
noun /»wÅtIdZ/
an amount of electrical power
I need a bulb with a higher wattage for my bedside
lamp.
noun /wE˘l/
a ring of leaves, flowers,etc. around the stem of a
plant
The new plant in the garden grew a whorl of lilac
flowers.
wearisome
adjective /»wI´ris´m/
tiring
No one was interested in listening to her wearisome
chatter.
wilful
adjective /»wIlfl/
deliberately bad or harmful
They caused wilful damage to her shop while she
was away.
weighbridge
noun /»weIbrIdZ/
a machine that measures the mass of a vehicle
The truck passed over the weighbridge before
proceeding.
winsome
adjective /»wIns´m/
attractive or appealing in a fresh, innocent way
Little Maha’s winsome smile won her many friends.
wellington
wolverine
noun /»weliNtń/
a waterproof boot usually reaching the knee
He lost a wellington in the deep puddle.
noun /»wUlv´ri˘n/
a heavily built short-legged carnivorous mammal with
a long brown coat and a bushy tail
It was a tale of a man’s encounter with a wolverine.
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12
to 14
age group
wreath
noun /ri˘T/
a woven circle of flowers or leaves
She placed a beautiful wreath of flowers on her
grandfather’s grave.
wrestle
verb /»resl/
to fight somebody by holding them and trying force
them to the ground
I watched in fear as he tried to wrestle with the
intruder.
wrinkle
noun /»rINkl/
small fold or line on the surface of something
Even at the age of fifty, she hardly has a wrinkle on
her face.
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age group
xenophobia
noun /«zen´»fÚbi´/
a strong feeling of dislike or fear of people from other
countries
The government has decided to start a campaign
against racism and xenophobia.
xylophone
noun /»zaIl´fÚn/
a musical instrument made of two rows of wooden
bars of different lengths that you hit with two small
sticks
The musician played the xylophone really well.
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X
Y
12
to 14
age group
yield
verb /ji˘ld/
to produce as a result
The apple trees in our orchard no longer yield fruit.
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age group
zany
adjective /»zeIni/
strange or unusual in an amusing way
I can watch the twin brothers’ zany antics for hours.
zealous
adjective /»zel´s/
showing great energy and enthusiasm for something
The leader has earned the reputation of a zealous
reformer.
zenith
noun /»zenIT/
the point when something is strongest and most
successful
He has reached the zenith of his career and he is
only thirty years old.
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15 to 17
AGE GROUP
l l
15
to 17
age group
abbreviate
A
abortive
verb /´»bri˘vieIt/
to shorten
She does not like it when you abbreviate her name.
adjective /´»bç˘tIv/
unsuccessful; failed
After two abortive attempts at writing a novel, Ali
decided to give up.
abdicate
abracadabra
verb /»QbdIkeIt/
to renounce; to give up
Edward VIII surprised the entire world when he
decided to abdicate the British throne to marry Wallis
Simpson.
noun /«Qbr´k´»dQbr´/
a word said by conjurors when performing a magic
trick
“Abracadabra” said the magician and out flew a bird
from the hat.
abhor
abrogate
verb /´b»hç˘[r]/
to hate something very much, especially for moral
reasons
I abhor the practice of child labour.
verb /»Qbr´geIt/
to cancel or abolish
The general tried to abrogate the constitution.
abiogenesis
abscess
noun /«eIbaIÚ»dZenIsIs/
the supposed origin of living organisms from nonliving
matter
Abiogenesis proposes that life has arisen from nonlife at some particular point in the ancient,
unobservable past.
noun /»Qbses/
a swollen and infected area on your skin or in your
body, full of pus
The surgeon refused to lance the abscess.
abscond
verb /´b»skÅnd/
to run away secretly
Ali planned to abscond from his boarding school at
midnight.
abiotic
adjective /«eIbaI»ÅtIk/
without life
The abiotic factors of the environment include light,
temperature, and atmospheric gases.
abstinence
noun /»QbstInńs/
the practice of not allowing yourself something,
especially food or drink
The doctor recommended abstinence from fatty foods
for the heart patient.
abominable
adjective /´»bÅmIn´bl/
extremely unpleasant and causing disgust
The abominable treatment of prisoners by the military
caused international uproar.
abysmal
aboriginal
adjective /´»bIzm´l/
of a very low standard
The coach was very disappointed by his team’s
abysmal performance in the match.
adjective /«Qb´»rIdZńl/
relating to the original people or animals of a place
Her studies of the primitive art forms of aboriginal
Australians were widely reported.
abyss
noun /´»bIs/
a very deep hole that seems to have no bottom
Ahead of the divers was a gaping abyss.
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age group
accede
accusatory
verb /´k»si˘d, Qk»si˘d/
to agree to a policy or opinion
They will not accede to his unjust demands.
adjective /´»kju˘z´t´ri, QkjU»zeIt´ri/
accusing
The newspaper refused to publish the accusatory
article.
accentuate
acerbic
verb /´k»sentSUeIt, ´k»sentjUeIt/
to emphasise something or to make it more
noticeable
Girls use mascara to accentuate their eye lashes.
adjective /´»sŒ˘bIk/
critical in a direct and rather cruel way
The letter was written in her usual acerbic style.
accolade
achievement
noun /»Qk´leId/
an award of praise, approval or honour
To be chosen to represent their country is the highest
accolade for most athletes.
noun /´»tSi˘vmńt/
a thing done successfully, especially with effort and
skill
It was a remarkable achievement for such a young
player.
accomplice
acrimonious
noun /´»k√mplIs/
a partner in crime
The robber was caught, but his accomplice managed
to escape.
adjective /«QkrI»mÚnI´s/
bitter
The acrimonious dialogue with her boss led to her
immediate dismissal.
accordance
acromegaly
noun /´»kç˘dns/
conformity
All students are expected to behave in accordance
with the school’s regulations.
noun /«Qkr´[U]»meg´li/
chronic disease characterized by the enlargement of
various bones and organs of the body
Her disease has been diagnosed as acromegaly.
accrue
acronym
verb /´»kru˘/
to increase by growth or development (especially of
money)
Debts will accrue if regular payments are not made
on time.
noun /»QkrńIm/
a word formed from the first letters of the words that
make up the name
AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome.
accusative
acrostic
adjective /´»kju˘z´tIv/
a case of nouns, pronouns, which expresses the
object of an action or the goal of motion
The teacher said that the accusative case is called a
direct object.
noun /´»krÅstIk/
a poem, word puzzle, or other composition in which
certain letters in each line form a word or words
The acrostic verse spelt out the school motto.
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age group
acrylic
A
adolescence
noun /´»krIlIk/
a kind of fibre, plastic or resin made from an organic
acid
Acrylic dries very quickly as it does not absorb water.
noun /«Qd´»lesns/
the time in a person’s life when he or she develops
from a child into an adult
A happy childhood and adolescence is a result of
excellent parenting.
actinium
adventitious
noun /Qk»tInI´m/
the chemical element of atomic number 89
Actinium is a highly radioactive element.
adjective /«Qdven»tIS´s/
not planned; happening accidentally
The adventitious similarities of their actions surprised
their friends and families.
actinomorphic
adjective /«QktInÚ»mç˘fIk/
esp of a flower) having radial symmetry, as buttercups
He was mesmerised by the flower’s actinomorphic
beauty.
adversary
noun /»Qdv´s´ri/
opponent; enemy
Batman struggled to save Gotham City from the
schemes of his wicked adversary, the Joker.
adenoids
pl noun /»QdInçIdz/
a mass of enlarged lymphatic tissue between the
back of the nose and the throat
Swollen adenoids may interfere with breathing and
affect speech.
advertisement
noun /´d»v´˘tIzmńt/
a notice or announcement in a public medium
promoting a product, service , or event or publicizing
a job vacancy
We place an advertisement about our products in the
newspaper every week.
adhere
verb /´d»hI´[r]/
to stick firmly to something
You must adhere strictly to the terms of the treaty.
aegis
noun /»i˘dZIs/
with the protection or support of a particular
organisation or person
The peacekeepers in Somalia work under the aegis
of the UN.
adjudicate
verb /´»dZu˘dIkeIt/
to make an official decision about who is right in a
disagreement
The tribunal’s function is to adjudicate disputes
between employers and employees.
aeon
noun /»i˘ń/
a very long period of time; many thousands of millions
of years
It took an aeon for man to evolve.
adjutant
noun /»QdZUtńt/
an army officer who does office work and helps other
officers
The adjutant worked late, completing documents for
the general.
aerodrome
noun /»e´r´drÚm/
a small airport, used mainly by private planes
The millionaire keeps his private planes at a small
aerodrome on his estate.
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age group
aerogramme
agglomeration
noun /»e´r´grQm/
a pre-stamped, lightweight paper that folds into its
own envelope
The aerogramme has often been considered more
convenient than a separate letter and an envelope.
noun /´«glÅm´»reISn/
a group of things put together in no particular order or
arrangement
It took two weeks to sort through the agglomeration of
items she had collected on her trip.
aeronautics
agrarian
noun /«e´r´»nç˘tIks/
the science or practice of building and flying aircrafts
Her father encouraged her to study aeronautics.
adjective /´»gre´rIń/
connected to land or its cultivation
The country’s economy is based on its agrarian
strength.
aesthete
agrimony
noun /»i˘sTi˘t, »esTi˘t/
a person who has a love and understanding of art
and beautiful things
As an aesthete, she bought only the most beautiful
paintings for her new house.
noun /»QgrImńi/
plants which have compound leaves, long spikes of
small yellow flowers, and bristly burlike fruits
A yellow spire-like flower now opening on the grass
verges is agrimony.
affable
alacrity
adjective /»Qf´bl/
pleasant and friendly
Her affable personality won her many friends.
noun /´»lQkrIti/
eagerness or enthusiasm; great willingness
He accepted her offer with alacrity.
affirmation
albino
noun /«Qf´»meISn/
a solemn pledge in place of an oath
The constitution of this country requires an oath or
affirmation by its office holders.
noun /Ql»bi˘nÚ/
a person or animal lacking skin pigmentation
As an albino, I suffer from weak eyesight.
affluent
algae
adjective /»QflUńt/
having a lot of money and a good standard of living
One could tell from her clothes that she belonged to
an affluent family.
noun /»QldZi˘/
plants that grow in water, with no real stems or roots
I noticed that the pond was covered with a thick,
green blanket of algae.
afforest
alimony
verb /´»fÅrIst/
to plant trees on; convert into forested land
A project was started to afforest the land.
noun /»QlImńi/
the money paid regularly to a former wife or husband
when the marriage is ended
Mrs. Jones was awarded $200 monthly alimony by
the court when she was divorced by her husband.
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to 17
age group
allege
A
altercation
verb /´»ledZ/
to state something as a fact but without giving proof
To allege that John could have broken into their
house is absurd, as he was with me all afternoon.
noun /«Ålt´»keISń/
a noisy argument or disagreement
Throughout the entire altercation, not one sensible
word was said.
allegiance
alumnae
noun /´»li˘dZńs/
loyalty to a person or cause
The nobles all swore allegiance to their new king.
plural noun /´»l√mni˘/
former female pupils or students of a particular
school, college, or university
Several alumnae of the class of 1970 were present at
the college reunion.
alleviate
verb /´»li˘vIeIt/
to make more bearable, reduce pain, grief or suffering
The doctor prescribed a drug to alleviate his pain.
amalgamate
verb /´»mQlg´meIt/
to combine; to put two or more things together so that
they form one
The unions will attempt to amalgamate the local
committees into one national body.
alliance
noun /´»laIńs/
an association of countries or groups who wish to
support each other
An alliance was formed between two major charitable
organisations to help the victims of the Iranian
earthquake.
ambiguity
noun /«QmbI»gju˘Iti/
a double meaning
Please write clear definitions in order to avoid
ambiguity.
alliteration
noun /´«lIt´»reISn/
the use of the same letter or sound at the beginning
of words that are close together
“Wailing in the winter wind,” is an example of
alliteration.
ambisonics
noun /«QmbI»sÅnIks/
ambisonic reproduction or systems
Ambisonics offer advantages over other surround
sound systems.
allocation
ambivalence
noun /Ql´»keISń/
the action or process of allocating or sharing out
something
The allocation of funds was not sufficient for building
a shelter for the homeless.
noun /Qm»bIv´lńs/
the state of having contradictory or conflicting feelings
about something or someone
There is much ambivalence in the minds of the public
about our involvement in the war.
allotrope
ambivert
noun /»Ql´trÚp/
each of two or more different physical forms in which
an element can exist
Diamonds are an allotrope of carbon.
noun /»QmbIvŒ˘t/
a person who has a balance of extrovert and introvert
features in their personality
As an ambivert she enjoys social activities as well as
being on her own.
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age group
ambulant
amphora
adjective /»QmbjUlńt/
able to walk about; not confined to bed
The ambulant patient walked slowly in the corridor.
noun /»Qmf´r´/
a tall ancient Greek or Roman jar or jug with two
handles and a narrow neck
A decorative amphora has been recovered from the
ruins.
ameliorate
verb /´»mi˘lI´reIt/
make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better
Steps have been taken to ameliorate the situation.
amygdaloid
adjective /´»mIgd´lçId/
shaped like an almond
Amygdaloid nucleus in the brain is involved in the
processing of emotions such as fear and anger.
amenable
adjective /´»mi˘n´b´l/
open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded
or controlled
He is a leader amenable to change.
anabolism
noun /´»nQb´lIz´m/
constructive metabolism
Anabolism is the process whereby complex protiens
and fats are forms into simpler ones.
ammunition
noun /«QmjU»nISn/
supply of bullets to be fired from guns
The battle was lost due to the lack of ammunition.
anachronism
noun /´»nQkrńIz´m/
a person, a custom or an idea that seems oldfashioned and does not belong to the present
The monarchy is seen by many people as an
anachronism in the modern world.
amnesty
noun /»QmnIsti/
an official pardon
The president granted a general amnesty to all
political prisoners.
anaesthetic
noun /«QnIs»TetIk/
a substance that induces insensitivity to pain
The surgery was performed by local anaesthetic.
amok
adverb /´»mÅk/
in a state of wild and angry excitement
The crowd ran amok and set fire to government
buildings.
anaesthetist
noun /´»ni˘sT´tIst/
a medical specialist who administers anaesthetics
The anesthetist monitored the patient during surgery.
amphibian
noun /Qm»fIbIń/
an animal that can live both in water and on land
The frog is an amphibian.
anarchy
noun /»Qn´ki/
political disorder or confusion
The country was in a state of anarchy after the king’s
abdication.
amphisbaena
noun /QmfIs»bi˘n´ /
a mythological serpent having a head at each end of
its body
The amphisbaena struck with both its heads.
anchovy
noun /»QntS´vi/
a small fish with a strong salty flavour
The anchovy is a popular topping for pizzas.
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age group
anemone
A
antepenult
noun /´»nemńi/
a small plant with colourful flowers shaped like cups
The anemone was the show piece of her garden.
noun /«QntIpI»n√lt/
the third last syllable in a word
Antepenult is the third syllable from the end of a
word.
angiography
anthologize
noun /«QndZI»Ågr´fi/
radiography of blood or lymph vessels, carried out
after introduction of a radiopaque substance
Angiography gives detailed information about blood
vessels.
verb /Qn»TÅl´dZaIz/
include (an author or work ) in an anthology
The publisher will anthologize Faraz’s poems in the
next edition.
angstrom
anthropoid
noun /»QNstr√m/
a unit of length, equal to one tenth of a millimicron to
express electromagnetic wavelengths
While measuring the electromagnetic wavelengths in
the area, the scientist used angstrom as the unit of
measurement.
noun /»QnTr´pçId/
human-like, especially in shape
The statue had definite anthropoid characteristics.
anthropomorphic
adjective /«QnTr´p´»mç˘fIk/
suggesting human characteristics for animals or
inanimate things
Many religions have an anthropomorphic image of
God.
anhedonia
noun /«QnhI»dÚnI´/
inability to feel pleasure in normally pleasurable
activities
Anhedonia may be a symptom of depression.
anthropophagy
noun /«QnTr´»pÅf´dZi/
the eating of human flesh by human beings
Anthropophagy is cannibalism.
animadvert
verb /«QnIm´d»vŒ˘t/
pass criticism or censure on; speak out against
Do not animadvert too severely upon the young
generation.
anticoagulant
noun /«QntIkÚ»QgjUlńt/
having the effect of retarding or inhibiting the
coagulation of the blood
The saliva contains an anticoagulant that prevents
blood clotting.
animalcule
noun /«QnI»mQlkju˘l/
a microscopic animal
Amoeba is an example of an animalcule.
antipathy
antecedent
noun /Qn»tIp´Ti/
a feeling of strong dislike
She made no attempt to hide her feelings of
antipathy.
noun /«QntI»si˘dnt/
a thing or an event that exists or comes before
another, and may have influenced it
An antecedent can shape the future of a nation.
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age group
antipodean
apterous
adjective /«QntIp´»di˘ń/
things that come from Australia and New Zealand
This New Zealand factory produces some of the best
antipodean drinks.
adjective /»Qpt´r´s/
(of an insect) having no wings
Silverfish are apterous insects that cannot fly.
aquanaut
antiseptic
noun /»Qkwńç˘t/
a person who swims under water using an aqua lung
Aquanaut explorers conduct oceanographic research.
noun /«Qnti»septIk/
a substance that helps to prevent infection in wounds
by killing bacteria
It is advisable to apply an antiseptic to any wound.
arbitrate
verb /»A˘bItreIt/
to officially settle an argument or disagreement
between two people or groups
She was called upon to arbitrate in the dispute
between the union and the management.
aphid
noun /»eIfId/
very small insect that is harmful to plants
apoapsis
archaic
noun /«QpÚ»QpsIs/
the point in an orbit farthest from the body being
orbited
Kepler’s law of planetary motion states that an object
is at its lowest velocity at the apoapsis.
adjective /A˘»keIIk/
old and no longer used
“Thou art” is an archaic form of “you are”.
aristocracy
apocalypse
noun /«QrI»stÅkr´si/
The highest class in certain societies, typically
comprising people of noble birth holding hereditary
titles and offices
Many of the French aristocracy were killed during the
revolution.
the destruction of the world
It is said that many signs will herald the apocalypse.
apothecary
noun /´»pÅTIk´ri/
a person who made and sold medicines in the past
A famous apothecary once had his shop in the house
where we now live.
armamentarium
noun /«A˘m´men»te´rI´m/
the equipment, pharmaceuticals, and methods used
in medicine
The armamentarium for the treatment of multiple
sclerosis is fast increasing
appreciable
adjective /´»pri˘S[I]´b´l/
large or important enough to be noticed
An appreciable amount of time has passed since I left
school.
armistice
noun /»A˘mIstIs/
an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to
stop fighting for a certain time; a truce
An armistice agreement was signed for two years.
approbation
noun /«Qpr´»beISn/
approval or agreement
She looked for some sign of approbation from her
parents.
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to 17
age group
arrhythmia
A
assuage
noun /´»rIDmI´/
an alteration in rhythm of the heartbeat
The doctor told the patient that her discomfort was
caused by arrhythmia.
verb /´»sweIdZ/
to make an unpleasant feeling less severe
His reply did little to assuage my suspicions.
asteroid
artesian
noun /»Qst´rçId/
any one of the many small planets which go around
the Sun
The movie Armageddon was about an asteroid hitting
the Earth.
adjective /A˘»ti˘zIń, A˘»ti˘Zń/
relating to or denoting a well bored perpendicularly
into water-bearing strata lying at an angle, so that
natural pressure produces a constant supply of water
with little or no pumping
An artesian well is drilled through hard rock to reach
water.
astigmatism
noun /´»stIgm´tIz´m/
a fault in the shape of a person’s eye that prevents
them from seeing clearly
The optician told me that I suffer from astigmatism,
and require corrective glasses.
artichoke
noun /»A˘tItSÚk/
the flowerhead of a tall herb eaten as a vegetable
The recipe required an artichoke to be steamed,
chopped and added to rice.
astrakhan
noun /«Qstr´»kQn, «Qstr´»kA˘n/
the dark curly fleece of young karakul lambs from
central Asia
Astrakhan is also a wool fabric made from the pelt of
lambs.
asbestos
noun /Qs»bestÅs, Qz»bestÅs/
a fibrous mineral formerly used for making
incombustible or fireproof articles
As asbestos has been shown to cause lung cancer, it
is not used for insulation or as a fire proof material
any longer.
astrometry
noun /´»strÅmItri/
the measurement of the positions , motions, and
magnitudes of stars
Astrometry is a branch of astronomy.
asphyxiate
verb /´s»fIksIeIt/
to suffocate
The smoke in the burning house might asphyxiate the
residents.
asylum
noun /´»saIl´m/
protection that a government gives to people from
other countries, usually for political reasons
He was granted asylum.
assassin
noun /´»sQsIn/
a person who murders somebody important or
famous, for money or for political reasons
The assassin waited patiently for his victim to leave
the conference building.
atmolysis
noun /Qt»mÅlIsIs/
a process of separating gases or vapours of different
molecular weights
The students have been asked to carry out an
atmolysis experiment in the next hour.
assonance
noun /»Qsńńs/
resemblance of sounds in words that are close
together
Assonance is more a feature of verse than prose.
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atrociousness
avuncular
noun /´»trÚS´snes/
horrifyingly wicked
The atrociousness of the crime cannot be articulated.
adjective /´»v√NkjUl´[r]/
like an uncle in being friendly towards a younger
person
My father’s friend dotes on us with an avuncular
affection.
autecology
noun /«ç˘tI»kÅl´dZi/
the branch of ecology that deals with the individual
organism or species in relation to its environment
The chapter dealing with autecology was the first one
in the book.
axiomatic
adjective /«QksI´»mQtIk/
self-evident
It is axiomatic that life is not always easy.
authenticate
azure
adjective /»QZ´[r], »eIZ´[r]/
bright blue in colour like the sky
The artist had painted an angel in the azure sky.
verb /ç˘»TentIkeIt/
to prove that something is genuine, real or true
An expert was needed to authenticate the Van Gogh
painting.
autonomous
adjective /ç˘»tÅn´m´s/
self-governing
They proudly declared themselves part of a new
autonomous province.
autopsy
noun /»ç˘tÅpsi/
an official examination of a dead body by a doctor in
order to discover the cause of death
The medical examiner ordered an autopsy to
determine the cause of her death.
auxiliary
adjective /ç˘g»zIlI´ri/
giving help or support
The event managers arranged for an auxiliary
generator in case of a power failure.
avalanche
noun /»Qv´lA˘ntS, »Qv´lA˘nS/
a large mass of snow, ice and rock that falls down the
side of a mountain
It took rescuers three days to find the campers after
the avalanche.
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to 17
age group
baccalaureate
B
basilisk
noun /«bQk´»lç˘rI´t/
the last secondary school in some schools
After his failure to pass the baccalaureate for the third
time, he finally gave up his ambition to attend college.
noun /»bQzIlIsk/
(in ancient stories) a creature like a snake, that can
kill people by looking at them or breathing on them
bauxite
bactericide
noun /»bç˘ksaIt/
an amorphous clayey rock that is the chief
commercial ore of aluminium
Bauxite deposits are found in the mountains.
noun /bQk»tI´rIsaId/
a substance which kills bacteria
Bactericide disinfectants should be used on kitchen
surfaces.
bazooka
bacteriology
noun /b´»zu˘k´/
a short-range tubular rocket launcher used against
tanks
Rebels launched a bazooka attack to ward off the
tanks.
noun /bQk«tI´rI»Ål´dZi/
the study of bacteria
Bacteriology has importance in food processing and
agriculture.
balmy
beauteous
adjective /»bA˘mi/
pleasant, warm
He enjoyed the balmy weather in Florida.
adjective /»bju˘tI´s/
beautiful
The prince fell in love with the beauteous maiden.
bamboozle
beguile
verb /bQm»bu˘zl/
to confuse somebody, especially by tricking them
He tried to bamboozle the bank into investing in an
almost bankrupt company.
verb /bI»gaIl/
to cheat, to charm
The witness saw the woman beguile the elderly man
into giving her his savings.
barnacle
belch
noun /»bA˘n´kl/
a shellfish that attaches itself to rocks and the
bottoms of ships
verb /beltS/
to let air come up noisily from your stomach and out
through your mouth
In some cultures it is not considered rude to belch
after a good meal.
barracuda
noun /«bQr´»ku˘d´/
a large predatory tropical marine fish with a slender
body and large jaws and teeth
Barracuda can be seen patrolling the reef.
beleaguer
verb /bI»li˘g´/
lay siege
The general ordered his forces to beleaguer the
weakened enemy until they surrendered.
barricade
verb /«bQrI»keId/
to stop people from getting past or entering
They decided to barricade all the doors and windows.
belie
verb /bI»laI/
to give a false impression of somebody or something
Her energy and youthfulness belie her age.
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age group
bellicose
bicentenary
noun /«baIsen»ti˘n´ri, «baIsen»ten´ri/
the two-hundredth anniversary of an event
They marked Mozart’s bicentenary by arranging a
series of concerts.
adjective /»belIkÚs/
aggressive; willing to fight
The bellicose youth was cautioned by the police.
belligerent
bifurcate
adjective /b´»lIdZ´rńt/
unfriendly and aggressive
Her belligerent attitude earned her a bad reputation.
verb /»baIf´keIt/
divided into two branches or forked
Does the river bifurcate when it reaches the plains?
benefactor
billiards
noun /»benIfQkt´[r]/
a person who gives money or other help to an
organisation such as a school or charity
Edhi has become the benefactor of thousands of
destitute people.
pl noun /»bIlj´dz/
a game for two people, played on a billiard table
Billiards is similar to snooker.
bivouac
beneficiary
noun /»bIvUQk/
temporary camp without tents or cover, used
especially by soldiers or mountaineers
The soldiers had to camp in a bivouac on the
mountainside.
noun /«benI»fIS´ri/
a person who receives money or property when
somebody dies
I am the sole beneficiary of my uncle’s estate.
besiege
blithe
verb /bI»si˘dZ/
surround (a place) with armed forces in order to
capture it or force its surrender
The army was preparing to besiege the fortress.
bespectacled
adjective /blaID/
carefree
He drove with a blithe disregard for the rules of the
road.
blizzard
adjective /bI»spekt´kld/
wearing glasses
The mean children made fun of the bespectacled boy.
noun /»blIz´d/
a severe snowstorm with high winds
It is impossible to go outdoors in this blizzard.
betrothed
boisterous
noun /bI»trÚDd/
the person to whom one is engaged
Mariam was Yusaf’s betrothed and was due to be
married next month.
noisy and full of life and energy
It was a challenge keeping ten boisterous seven-yearolds amused.
bibliophile
bonapartism
noun /»bIblI´[U]faIl/
a person who loves or collects books
My father, a keen bibliophile, spent a year looking for
a rare anthology of poetry.
noun /»bÚn´pA˘tIz´m/
a centralized government by a military dictator, like
the political system of the Bonapartes
The dictatorial regime was equated with Bonapartism.
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bonhomie
B
buoyancy
noun /»bÅn´mi˘/
cheerful friendliness; geniality
A natural bonhomie characterizes him.
noun /»bçIńsi/
the power to float or rise in a fluid; relative lightness
Buoyancy allows a boat to float on water, and
provides a lift for balloons.
bourgeois
bureau
adjective /»bU´ZwA˘/
relating to urban middle class, mainly interested in
possessions and social status
They were a traditional bourgeois family.
noun /»bjU´rÚ/
an office or organisation that provides information on
a particular subject
The employment bureau was inundated with
applications after the closure of the coal mine.
brevity
noun /»brev´ti/
the quality of using few words when speaking or
writing
Brevity is the soul of wit.
bureaucracy
noun /bjU´»rÅkr´si/
the system of official rules and ways of doing things
that a government or an organisation has
As a civil servant, my uncle understands how
bureaucracy works.
brochure
noun /»brÚS´/
a small book or magazine containing pictures and
information about a product or service
The travel brochure contains information about
holidays in Muree.
butterscotch
noun /»b√t´skÅtS/
a kind of hard brittle toffee made with butter, brown
sugar, etc
Butterscotch was her favourite sweet.
brusque
adjective /bru˘sk/
using very few words and sounding rude
The sergeant spoke in an extremely brusque manner.
budgerigar
noun /»b√dZ´rIgA˘[r]/
a small bird of the parrot family, often kept in a cage
as a pet
buffoonery
noun /b´»fu˘n´ri/
the act of behaving in a silly but amusing way;
clowning
All the teachers are tired of Ali’s buffoonery in class.
bumptious
adjective /»b√m[p]S´s/
offensively conceited
His bumptious attitude irritates his colleagues.
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cadaverous
caldera
noun /kÅl»dI´r´, kÅl»de´r´/
a large volcanic crater, especially one formed by a
major eruption leading to the collapse of the mouth of
the volcano
Caldera can be upto 60 km in diameter.
adjective /k´»dQv´r´s/
like a corpse; deadly pale
Ali was a tall man with a long, cadaverous face.
cadence
noun /»keIdns/
the rise and fall of voice in speaking
The cadence of her mother’s voice lulls the baby to
sleep.
calibre
noun /»kQlIb´[r]/
the quality of something, especially a person’s ability
The firm needs more people of your calibre.
cadge
verb /kQdZ/
to beg for food or money
He managed to cadge some money from his friend.
callisthenics
noun /«kQlIs»TenIks/
physical exercises intended to develop a strong and
graceful body
The physical instructor recommended callisthenics to
his students.
cadre
noun /»kA˘d[r]´, »kQdri/
a small group of people who are specially chosen and
trained for a particular purpose
The general trained a secret cadre in desert warfare.
callous
adjective /»kQl´s/
hard hearted; unsympathetic
I abhor terrorists’ callous disregard for human life.
caffeine
noun /»kQfi˘n/
a stimulant found in tea and coffee
These days caffeine is added to drinks known as
“energy drinks.”
calypso
noun /k´»lIpsÚ/
a Caribbean song about a subject of current interest
Listening to a calypso is more interesting than
reading the newspaper.
cajole
verb /k´»dZÚl/
to persuade someone to do something by flattering
them; coax
She knows she can cajole her father into doing
anything for her.
camaraderie
noun /«kQm´»rA˘d´ri, «kQm´»ri˘d´ri/
friendly feeling and goodwill amongst comrades
What he loved about his job was the camaraderie
amongst his colleagues.
calamander
noun /»kQl´mQnd´[r]/
fine-grained, greyish-brown ebony streaked with
black, used in furniture
Calamander is a decorative lacquer used on screens.
cantankerous
adjective /kQn»tQNk´r´s/
bad tempered and always complaining
The school gatekeeper is a very cantankerous old
man.
calcification
noun /»kQlsIfI»keISń/
harden by deposition of or conversion into calcium
carbonate or some other insoluble calcium
compounds
Hard water also causes calcification on taps.
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capacious
C
carrion
spacious
Thousands of travellers waited for their flights in the
capacious lounges of the airport terminal.
noun /»kQrIń/
the decaying flesh of dead animals
The crows were feeding on carrion at the side of the
road.
capillary
castanets
noun /k´»pIl´ri/
any of the smallest tubes in the body which carry
blood
The medical student was amazed to see how tiny
each capillary was.
noun /«kQst´»nets/
a musical instrument, used by Spanish dancers,
consisting of two small round pieces of wood which
are held in the hand and hit together with the fingers
to make a noise
The dancers were performing to the rhythm of
castanets.
carcinogenic
adjective /«kA˘sIn´»dZenIk/
likely to cause cancer
The carcinogenic activity of several carcinogens is
attributed to the radiations they emit.
casualization
noun /«kQZjU´laI»zeISń/
the altering of working practices so that regular
workers are re-employed on a casual or short-term
basis
Allowing office workers to wear informal clothes is
casualization.
caricature
a picture, description of somebody that makes them
look funny by exaggerating certain characteristics
The caricature of the politician was very skilfully
drawn.
catacombs
pl noun /»kQt´ku˘mz/
underground cemetery consisting of a gallery as
constructed by the ancient Romans
There are atleast forty catacombs in Rome.
cariogenic
adjective /«kQrIÚ»dZenIk, «ke´rI´[U]»dZenIk/
causing tooth decay
Several food items, such as sugars, can be
cariogenic.
catadromous
noun /kQ»tQdr´m´s/
(of fish) living in fresh water but migrating to marine
waters to breed
To breed, the catadromous eels travel from
freshwater to the depths of the ocean.
carminative
noun /»kA˘mIn´tIv/
a drug that relieves flatulence
Carminative herbs are used for indigestion.
catafalque
noun /»kQt´fQlk/
a raised structure on which the body of a dead
person lies
The catafalque built for the president’s body, was the
most elaborate I have ever seen.
carnage
noun /»kA˘nIdZ/
the violent killing of a large number of people
He could not forget the scene of carnage which he
had witnessed as a boy.
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catalyst
cerebral
adjective /»serIbr´l, s´»ri˘br´l/
relating to the mind rather than the feelings
He writes extremely cerebral poetry and does not
emphasise emotions enough.
noun /»kQt´lIst/
a substance that makes a chemical reaction happen
faster without itself being changed
Iron is used as a catalyst in many chemical reactions.
catastrophe
cerebration
a sudden or widespread disaster
The tsunami of December 2004, was a catastrophe
that affected millions.
noun /serIbreISn/
thought
Mathematical problems frequently require much
cerebration.
categorical
chaetognaths
adjective /«kQt´»gÅrIkl/
explicit, direct, absolute
After his categorical refusal yesterday, I do not expect
him to change his mind.
noun /»ki˘t´gnQTs/
marine invertebrates comprising of arrow worms
chagrin
noun /»SQgrIn/
annoyance or distress at having failed or been
humiliated
To her chagrin, she failed the test again.
caucus
noun /»kç˘k´s/
a meeting of the members or leaders of a political
party to choose candidates or decide a common
policy
A caucus will be held on Tuesday to choose
delegates to the party’s national convention.
chameleon
noun /k´»mi˘lIń/
a small lizard that can change its colour to that of its
surroundings
cemetery
noun /»semItri/
a place set apart for graves or tombs
He was told that there was a large cemetery behind
the hill.
chamois
noun /»SQmwA˘/
a species of goat antelope that lives in mountainous
areas
centurion
chandler
noun /sen»tjU´rIń/
(in ancient Rome) an army officer who commanded
100 soldiers
The centurion marched his men to the furthest point
of the Roman Empire.
noun /»tSA˘ndl´/
a dealer in supplies and equipment for ships and
boats
A boat chandler will supply the necessary tow ropes.
chaos
cephalopod
noun /»sef´l´[U]pÅd, »kef´l´[U]pÅd/
a marine mollusc such as the octopus, squid,
cuttlefish, or nautilus, having a large head, large eyes
and prehensile tentacles
noun /»keIÅs/
a state of great confusion and disorder
The heavy snow has caused chaos on the roads.
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charade
C
chauffeur
noun /S´»rA˘d/
a situation in which people pretend that something is
true when it clearly is not
Their whole marriage had been a charade; they never
loved each other.
noun /»SÚf´[r]/
a person employed to drive a car
They are looking for a chauffeur to drive their son to
school.
chihuahua
charisma
noun /tSI»wA˘w´/
the capital of the state of Chihuahua, the principal city
of north central Mexico
Chihuahu also lends its name to a very small dog of a
breed originating in Mexico.
noun /k´»rIzm´/
the powerful personal quality that some people have
to attract and impress other people
The need for a political candidate to have charisma
has increased with the enhanced role of the media.
chinook
charred
noun /tSI»nu˘k, SI»nUk/
a member of an American Indian people
Chinook tribes traded widely throughout the Pacific
Northwest.
adjective /»tSA˘d/
burnt and black
He sat staring at the charred remains of his first
attempt at a barbeque.
chlorinate
chassis
verb /»klç˘rIneIt/
impregnate or treat with chlorine
Health authorities chlorinate tap water to make it safe
for drinking.
noun /»SQsi/
the frame that a vehicle is built on
The body of the car had been destroyed in the
accident, but the chassis was undamaged.
choir
chasten
noun /»kwaI´[r]/
a group of people trained to sing together, especially
in church services or public performances
My son sings in his school choir.
verb /»tSeIsn/
to make somebody feel sorry for something they have
done
To chasten the students, the teacher gave them extra
homework.
cholesterol
noun /k´»lest´rÅl/
a substance found in blood, fat and most tissues of
the body that can cause heart disease
Eating large amounts of ‘fast food’ can lead to
elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood.
chastise
verb /tSQ»staIz/
to scold
The coach began to chastise the team for their lack of
commitment.
choreography
chattel
noun /«kÅrI»Ågr´fi/
the designing and arranging the steps and
movements in dances
The choreography of the ballet was brilliantly done.
noun /»tSQtl/
something that belongs to you
People do not like to be treated like chattel.
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chronicle
circumnavigate
verb /»krÅnIkl/
to record events in the order in which they happened
The gossip columnist was paid to chronicle news
items on celebrities.
verb /sŒ˘k´m»nQvIgeIt/
sail all the way around (something, especially the
world)
The adventurer will circumnavigate the globe in a
sailboat.
chronological
circumscribe
adjective /krÅn´»lÅdZIk´l/
following the order in which they occurred
This diary is a chronological history of the events of
his life.
verb /»sŒ˘k´mskraIb/
restrict (something) within limits
The government should not circumscribe freedom of
the press.
chrysalis
cirrocumulus
noun /»krIs´lIs/
butterfly or moth
The butterfly emerged from its chrysalis and fluttered
its wings.
noun /«sIrÚ»kju˘mjUl´s/
a high altitude cloud form consisting of small white
rounded masses in regular groupings
Karachi’s skies are usually covered with cirrocumulus
during the summer evenings.
chrysanthemum
clairvoyant
noun /krI»sQnTIm´m/
a plant of the daisy family
a person believed to be able to see future events or
to communicate with people who are dead or far
away
You don’t have to be a clairvoyant to predict the
outcome of the election.
cicada
noun /sI»kA˘d´/
an insect which, in the male, has a pair of resonating
organs that produce a high-pitched, droning sound
claustrophobic
adjective /«klç˘str´»fÚbIk/
giving a feeling of dread for confined places
Prisoners are usually forced to live in small
claustrophobic cells.
cinematography
noun /«sIn´m´»tÅgr´fi/
the art or process of making films/movies
Cinematography is now being offered as a degree
course at many good universities.
clientele
noun /«kli˘Ån»tel/
clients collectively
The new restaurant attracted a young and trendy
clientele.
cinereous
adjective /sI»nI´rI´s/
(especially of hair or feathers) ash-grey
The bird’s plumage is cinereous.
clincher
circumlocution
noun /»klIntS´/
a fact, argument, or event that settles a matter
conclusively
That point proved to be the final clincher in the
debate.
noun /«sŒ˘k´ml´»kju˘Sn/
indirect or roundabout verbal expression
Because he couldn’t muster the courage to be blunt,
he used circumlocution.
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clump
C
collateral
noun /»kl√mp/
a cluster, as of trees or plants
We found shelter under a think clump of trees.
adjective /k´»lQt´r´l/
connected to something else, but in addition to it and
less important
Even targeted bombings result in some form of
collateral damage.
coalesce
verb /«kÚ´»les/
to come together to form one larger body
I watched the rain drops on my window coalesce into
streams as they neared the bottom of the frame.
columbarium
noun /«kÅl´m»be´rI´m/
a vault having niches for funeral urns
We took the urn to the columbarium.
coaxial
combustible
adjective /kÚ»QksI´l/
having a common axis
Coaxial digital cables are the most common type of
connection cable used for digital audio.
adjective /k´m»b√st´bl/
able to catch fire easily
The fire commissioner ordered that all combustible
materials be kept in safe containers.
cochlea
comeuppance
noun /»kÅklI´/
the spiral cavity of the inner ear which produces
nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations
Cochlea implants bring sound to the hard of hearing.
noun /k√m»√pńs/
a punishment or fate that one deserves
I was glad to see that the bad guy got his
comeuppance at the end of the film.
cognisance
commensurate
noun /»kÅgnIzńs/
knowledge or understanding of something
He was deputed to bring the affair to the cognisance
of the court.
adjective /k´»menS´r´t, k´»mensj´r´t/
matching something in size, importance, quality
His salary will be commensurate with his experience.
coherently
commiserate
adverb /kÚ»hI´rńtlI/
(of an argument, theory, or policy) logical and
consistent
He explained the theory coherently and clearly.
verb /k´»mIz´reIt /
to show sympathy
They went to commiserate with their cousin on having
lost the election.
collaborate
communique
verb /k´»lQb´reIt/
to work together with somebody in order to achieve
something
He decided to collaborate with a popular artist on
designing a cover for his new book.
noun /k´»mju˘nIkeI/
an official announcement or statement, especially one
made to the media
An official communique was issued in the news
bulletin.
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compendium
concomitant
noun /k´m»pendI´m/
a collection of facts, drawings and photographs on a
particular subject, especially in a book
You will find a compendium on the subject, from our
archives in the library.
adjective /kń»kÅmItńt/
happening at the same time as something else
Exercise has the concomitant result of feeling healthy
and looking good.
concuss
complaisance
verb /kń»k√s/
to become unconscious or confused for a short time
due to a blow on the head
The cricket ball hitting his head will probably concuss
him.
noun /k´m»pleIzńs/
willingness to accept what others say or do without
protest
Sometimes his complaisance was seen as a
weakness.
condescension
compunction
noun /«kÅndI»senSn/
an act or instance of assuming an air of superiority
With dry condescension Mr. Blain described the
natives as “primitive” and “uncivilised.”
noun /k´m»p√NkSn/
a feeling of guilt
They used inside information without compunction.
concentric
condiment
adjective /kń»sentrIk/
(of circles) having a common centre
The planets do not orbit the Sun in concentric circles.
noun /»kÅndImńt/
seasoning; spice
Each condiment adds to the rich flavour of the dish.
conceptualize
confiscate
verb /kń»septjU´laIz/
form a concept or idea of (something)
Efforts to conceptualize world peace have not
succeeded.
verb /»kÅnfIskeIt /
to officially take something away from somebody
The headmaster decided to confiscate the mobile
phone of any student found using one in class.
concession
confluence
noun /kń»seSn/
an act of giving something up, in order to end an
argument or to make a situation less difficult
It became apparent that one of the parties had to
make a concession for the talks to move on.
noun /»kÅnfluńs/
the place where two rivers flow together and become
one
They built the city at the confluence of two rivers.
conformity
conciliatory
noun /kń»fç˘mIti/
behaviour or actions that follow the accepted rules of
society
In conformity with the rules and regulations, she
requested the chairman to preside over their annual
meeting.
adjective /kń»sIli´t´ri/
reconciling; pacifying
She was still angry despite his conciliatory words.
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congenial
C
construe
adjective /kń»dZi˘nI´l/
sympathetic, agreeable
My father loves to go out for a meal with congenial
companions.
verb /kń»stru˘/
to interpret
He decided to construe her remark as an apology
and took the matter no further.
congenital
consummate
adjective /kń»s√m´t, kÅn»sj√m´t/
extremely skilled; perfect
He gave a consummate performance as a troubled
teenager in his latest film.
adjective /kń»dZenIt´l/
(of a disease or physical abnormality) present from
birth
The child has a congenital heart defect.
congregate
contemptuous
verb /»kÅNgrIgeIt/
gather into a crowd or mass
The students were asked to congregate on the
playing field.
adjective /kń»temptSU´s/
scornful
She gave him a contemptuous look.
contiguous
connivance
adjective /kń»tIgjU´s/
sharing a common border; touching
There are four geographically contiguous provinces.
noun /k´»naIvńs/
help in doing something wrong
With the connivance of his friends, he made a plan to
scare the teacher.
contingent
adjective /kń»tIndZńt/
dependent on something that may or may not occur
In case of rain the teacher had a contingent plan for
the kids.
conscientious
adjective /«kÅnSi»enS´s/
taking care to do things carefully and correctly
As a conscientious editor, she checked every
definition for its accuracy.
continuum
noun /kń»tInjU´m/
a sequence of things of a similar type
Historians see the past, the present and the future as
forming some kind of continuum.
consecutive
adjective /kń»sekjUtIv/
following each other continuously
Inzamam struck boundaries on consecutive
deliveries.
contraflow
noun /»kÅntr´flÚ/
redirected traffic sharing the road with traffic coming
in the other direction
The traffic police had to create a contraflow due to
the reconstruction of the parallel road.
conservatoire
noun /kń»sŒ˘v´twA˘[r]/
a school of music, drama especially in France
She studied at the Paris Conservatoire.
consonance
noun /»kÅnsńńs/
agreement
The policy is popular because of its consonance with
traditional party doctrine.
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contrariety
cornice
noun /«kÅntr´»raI´ti/
opposition between one thing and another;
disagreement
Their contrariety made it impossible for them to ever
be allies.
noun /»kç˘nIs/
an ornamental moulding round the wall of a room just
below the ceiling
An ornate cornice decrorates a wall of the room.
coronagraph
contravene
noun /k´»rÚn´grA˘f/
a telescope for observation of the sun’s corona
The coronagraph enables us to view the Sun’s
corona.
verb /«kÅntr´»vi˘n/
conflict with
He did not want to contravene the law in how he went
about his business.
corroborate
contretemps
verb /k´»rÅb´reIt/
to provide supporting evidence
Finding a witness to corroborate his client’s story
proved impossible.
noun /»kÅntr´«tA˘n/
a minor dispute or disagreement
A misunderstanding led to a bad contretemps with
the teacher.
corymb
convergence
noun /»kÅrImb/
a flat-topped cluster of flowers
The stem by which the flower is supported unites at
the head of the primary branches into thick, short,
irregular bundles, in the form of a corymb.
noun /kń»vŒ˘dZńs/
the process by which things stop being different and
become the same
The president stressed the need to move towards
greater economic convergence with neighbouring
countries.
cosmos
noun /»kÅzmÅs/
the universe seen as a well-ordered whole
Astronauts are required to have basic knowledge of
the cosmos.
conversant
adjective /kń»vŒ˘snt/
familiar with something
Tourists are not always conversant with the customs
of the countries they visit.
countermand
verb /«kaUnt´»mA˘nd/
to cancel an order that has been given
The new chairman wanted to countermand the last
directive given by his predecessor.
conveyance
noun /kń»veIńs/
a vehicle
During the transit strike, commuters used various
kinds of conveyance to get to their destinations.
counterpoise
noun /»kaUnt´pçIz/
a state of balance; equilibrium
Her overall healthiness largely counterpoised the
virulence of the infection.
copulative
adjective /»kÅpjUl´tIv/
serving to join or unite
Bittersweet is a copulative compound.
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covenant
C
culmination
noun /»k√vńńt/
a promise to somebody, or a legal agreement
We must comply with the terms of the covenant.
noun /«k√lmI»neISn/
attainment of the highest point
His inauguration as president marked the culmination
of his political career.
credence
cumbersome
noun /»kri˘dns/
belief in or acceptance of something as the truth
I have little credence in his promises.
adjective /»k√mb´s´m/
large and heavy; difficult to carry
The new television was a cumbersome object to get
up the stairs.
credulous
adjective /»kredjUl´s/
having or showing too great a readiness to believe
things
Where would he find one man so credulous as to
believe him?
curmudgeonly
adjective /kŒ˘»m√dZńli/
bad-tempered or miserly
Because of his curmudgeonly behaviour, he received
very few invitations.
cretaceous
cygnet
adjective /krI»teIS´s/
pertaining to the period from 146-65 million BC, when
dinosaurs existed until their extinction
The end of the cretaceous period heralds a time of
mass extinction for many groups of animals.
noun /»sIgn´t/
a young swan
cytoplasm
noun /»saIt´[U]plQz´m/
cell substance between the cell membrane and the
nucleus
Cytoplasm is all the living material in a cell, excluding
the nucleus.
crocus
noun /»krÚk´s/
a small yellow, purple or white flower that appears in
early spring
She plucked a crocus from her garden.
crustacean
noun /kr√»steISn/
any creature with a soft body that is divided into
sections, and a hard outer shell
A lobster is a crustacean.
cryptic
adjective /»krIptIk/
with a meaning that is hidden or not easily
understood
Her cryptic smile left us unsure of her feelings.
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age group
dais
decrepit
noun /»deIIs, »deIs/
a stage, especially at one end of a room, on which
people stand to make speeches
When he approached the dais, he was greeted with
cheers from the audience.
adjective /dI»krepIt/
very old and in poor condition or health
The movie had been shot in an old and decrepit
police station.
decrepitude
decapitate
noun /dI»krepItju˘d, dI»krepItSu˘d/
the state of being old and in poor condition or health
The house had a forlorn air of decrepitude.
verb /dI»kQpIteIt/
to cut someone’s head off
They used to decapitate convicted murderers in
France.
defalcation
noun /»di˘fQlkeISń/
the act of misusing or misappropriating property or
funds entrusted to one
Defalcation is serious offence.
deceased
noun /dI»si˘st/
dead person
The body of the deceased was carried to the
graveyard.
defection
noun /dI»fekSn/
desertion
There has been a defection from the ruling party.
deceitfulness
noun /dI»si˘tfUlnIs/
guilty of or involving deceit; deceiving or misleading
others
His deceitfullness has seen him lose money and
friends.
deference
noun /»def´rńs/
respectful behaviour
She showed deference to the wishes of her parents in
planning her wedding despite their disapproval.
decollement
noun /deI»kÅlmç/
Geology: a boundary separating deformed strata from
underlying strata
The decollement formed a boundary between the
strata.
delicatessen
noun /«delIk´»tesn/
a shop that sells cooked meats and cheeses, and
special or unusual foods that come from other
countries
Her brother is the owner of a delicatessen.
decomposition
noun /«di˘kÅmp´»zISn/
the process of breaking down gradually by natural
chemical processes
The science class observed the decomposition of the
orange over a period of two weeks.
delinquent
noun /dI»lINkwńt/
a young person who shows a tendency to commit
crimes
A juvenile delinquent is usually sent to a special
school by the courts.
decorticate
verb /di˘»kç˘tIkeIt/
to remove the bark or some other outer layer from
He would decorticate trees and then sell the barks for
money.
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age group
deliquescence
D
derision
noun /«delI»kwesńs/
liquification of salts by absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere
Some of the salt specimens in the lab melted due to
deliquescence.
noun /dI»rIZń/
contemptuous ridicule or mockery
The proposal was held in derision by members of the
board.
derivative
delusion
noun /dI»rIv´tIv/
something developed or produced from something
else
Petrol is a derivative of crude oil.
noun /dI»lu˘Zn/
a false belief or opinion about yourself or your
situation
He laboured under the delusion that success was at
hand.
derogatory
adjective /dI»rÅg´tri/
critical; discrediting
He resented her derogatory remarks.
desertification
demeanour
the way one looks or behaves
We were greatly impressed by his gentlemanly
demeanour.
noun /de«zŒ˘tIfIkeISn/
the process by which fertile land becomes a desert,
as a result of drought or deforestation
Desertification is also an environmental disaster.
demography
noun /dI»mÅgr´fi/
population changes over a period of time
In order to complete the survey it is essential to
include information regarding demography.
destitute
adjective /»destItju˘t/
without money, food and the other things necessary
for life
Destitute beggars live on the streets.
denouement
noun /«deI»nu˘mÅ)/
the end of a play or book in which everything is
explained or settled
I enjoyed the unexpected denouement in the film we
watched last night.
desuetude
noun /»deswI«tju˘d, d´»sju˘´tju˘d/
disused condition
People find it difficult to understand words that have
fallen into desuetude.
dentifrice
noun /»dentrIfIs/
any substance, esp paste or powder, for use in
cleaning the teeth
She used baking soda as a dentifrice.
dexterity
noun /dek»ster´ti/
skill in using your hands
A child’s dexterity is tested by getting him to place
blocks on top of each other.
denuclearize
verb /di˘»nju˘klI´raIz/
remove nuclear weapons from
There is a proposal to denuclearize Europe.
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15 to 17
age group
diabetes
differentiable
noun /«daI´»bi˘ti˘z/
a medical condition, caused by lack of insulin, which
makes the patient produce a lot of urine and feel very
thirsty
Even though Atif’s mother has diabetes, she doesn’t
let it hinder her active lifestyle.
adjective /dIf´»renSI´b´l/
able to be differentiated
The differentiable specimens had minute variations.
dilettante
noun /«dIlI»tQnteI, «dIlI»tQnti/
a person who does or studies something, but is not
serious about it and does not have much knowledge
I am looking for a serious painter, not a dilettante.
diagnosis
noun /«daI´g»nÚsIs/
the identification of the nature of an illness or other
problem by examination of the symptoms
To make an accurate diagnosis of the illness, a scan
must be done.
diminuendo
noun /dI«mInjU»endÚ/
a gradual decrease in how loudly a piece of music is
played or sung
The song was played with a diminuendo.
diaphanous
adjective /daI»Qfń´s/
(of cloth or fabric) so light, delicate and fine that you
can see through it
The veil was made of diaphanous white silk.
diocese
noun /»daI´sIs/
a district under the care of a bishop
The diocese raised money to help alleviate poverty in
the city.
diarrhoea
noun /«daI´»rI´/
a condition in which faeces are discharged from the
bowels frequently
Unfortunately she had a bad case of diarrhoea on the
day of her exam.
discarnate
adjective /dIs»kA˘n´t/
without flesh, having no physical body
Fear is a discarnate enemy.
diathermy
discern
noun /»daI´«TŒ˘mi/
local heating of the body tissues with an electric
current for medical or surgical purposes
The doctors performed diathermy on her before the
surgery.
verb /dI»sŒ˘n/
to know, recognise or understand something,
especially something that is not obvious
His father was unable to discern whether or not his
son was telling the truth.
diatribe
disconsolate
noun /»daI´traIb/
bitter verbal attack
The union launched a diatribe against the company.
adjective /dIs»kÅns´l´t/
very unhappy and disappointed
The disconsolate players left for home without a
trophy.
diegesis
noun /daI´»dZi˘sIs/
narrative or plot, typically of a film
The diegesis of his new film was so complicated that
even the director had trouble understanding it.
discountenance
verb /dIs»kaUntInńs/
to embarrass
With such composure, he survived every attempt to
discountenance him.
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age group
discrepancy
D
dissident
noun /dIs»krepńsi/
inconsistency
The teacher noticed a marked discrepancy between
the quality of Maya’s homework and her class work.
noun /»dIsIdńt/
a person who disagrees, especially someone who
opposes his government
He was a political dissident in his youth.
discursive
distrait
adjective /dIs»kŒ˘sIv/
rambling; without structure
They were irritated and bored by his discursive
comments.
adjective /dI»streI/
inattentive or preoccupied
The distrait student was unable to deliver his speech.
distributaries
disheartened
pl noun /dI»strIbjUt´rIz/
a branch of a river that does not return to the main
stream after leaving it (as in a delta)
There are several distributaries of the mighty river.
adjective /dIs»hA˘tnd/
lacking hope or confidence
The disheartened team did not stay for the farewell
dinner.
divergent
dispassionate
adjective /daI»vŒ˘dZńt, dI»vŒ˘dZńt/
differing in character, form or opinion; deviating
The two witnesses presented the jury with remarkably
divergent accounts of the same incident.
adjective /dIs»pQSń´t/
not influenced by emotion
The sensitive case required a dispassionate
prosecutor.
divination
dispossessed
noun /«dIvI»neISn/
the act of finding out and saying what will happen in
the future
I base my opinions not on any special gift of
divination but on the laws of probability.
noun /«dIsp´»zest/
people who have had property taken away from them
The dispossessed of today’s world are the refugees
who live in abject poverty.
disputatious
doctrinaire
adjective /«dIspjU»teIS´s/
argumentative; fond of argument
People avoided discussing contemporary issues with
him because of his disputatious behaviour.
adjective /«dÅktrI»ne´[r]/
strictly following a theory in all circumstances, even if
there are practical problems or disagreements
The repressive response of the doctrinaire hard-liners
crushed Weng’s dreams of democracy.
disquisition
domineering
noun /«dIskwI»zISn/
a long complicated speech or written report on a
particular subject
In his disquisition, he outlined the steps he had taken
to reach his conclusion.
adjective /«dÅmI»nI´rIN/
controlling; overbearing
His arrogant, domineering manner made people
resent him.
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age group
dominion
dyke
noun /d´»mInjń/
sovereignty or control
England exercised dominion over many nations.
noun /daIk/
a long thick wall constructed to prevent flooding
especially from the sea
To prevent the village being flooded, a temporary
dyke was created around the lake.
dormouse
noun /»dç˘maUs/
a small animal like a mouse, with a tail covered in fur
dyslexia
noun /dIs»leksI´/
a disorder of the brain that causes difficulty in reading
and spelling
Dyslexia has become commonly diagnosed among
children nowadays.
dossier
noun /»dÅsIeI, »dÅsI´, dÅsjeI/
a collection of documents
The company records contain a dossier on him.
dystrophia
dowager
noun /dIs«trÚfI´/
when lake water is too acidic and poor in oxygen to
support life
The lake was classified with a high level of dystrophia
and couldn’t support any living organisms in it.
noun /»daU´dZ´[r]/
a woman of high social rank who has a title from her
dead husband
It was an honour to meet the dowager Duchess of
Norfolk.
dromedary
noun /»drÅm´d´ri/
a one-humped domesticated camel widely used as a
beast of burden in northern Africa and western Asia
drought
noun /draUt/
a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading
to a shortage of water
The cistern was almost empty because of the
drought.
ductile
adjective /»d√ktaIl/
(of a metal) that can be made into a thin wire
Copper is a ductile metal.
duplicity
noun /dju˘»plIs´ti/
dishonest behaviour that is intended to make
somebody believe something that is not true
People were shocked when they found out about his
duplicity.
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ebullience
E
elicit
noun /I»b√lIńs/
high spirits
She emanated ebullience after learning of her
promotion.
verb /I»lIsIt/
to draw out information by reasoning or by
questioning
The teacher was able to elicit the names of the
students involved in the practical joke.
ecclesiastical
ellipsis
adjective /I«kli˘zi»QstIkl/
relating to the church
They visited an old ecclesiastical building.
noun /I»lIpsIs/
the act of leaving out a word or words deliberately,
when the meaning can be understood without them
The paragraph ended with an ellipsis.
eclectic
adjective /I»klektIk/
not following one style or set of ideas but choosing
from a wide variety
The exhibition contained an eclectic collection of
paintings and photographs.
elliptical
ambiguous, either purposely or because key words
have been left out
An elliptical remark baffles one because it is not
perfectly clear.
eclipse
noun /I»klIps/
an obscuring of the light from one celestial body by
the passage of another between it and the observer
In ancient times people thought that an eclipse was a
harbinger of bad luck.
emancipate
verb /I»mQnsIpeIt/
to free somebody, especially from legal, political or
social restrictions
Attempts to emancipate slaves were unpopular in
Mississippi.
effervescence
noun /«ef´»vesns/
enthusiasm and energy
She was never depressed for long; her natural
effervescence soon reasserted itself.
embellish
verb /Im»belIS/
to ornament something; add details to it
In order to embellish the design, the artist added
flowers to it.
effloresce
verb /«efl´»res/
(of a substance) lose moisture and turn to a fine
powder on exposure to air
Concrete and clay surfaces will effloresce easily.
embezzlement
noun /Im»bezlmńt/
theft of money that you are responsible for or that
belongs to your employer
He was found guilty of embezzlement.
einsteinium
noun /aIn»staInI´m/
the chemical element of atomic number 99, a
radioactive metal of the actinide series
Einsteinium was first isolated in an explosion site of a
hydrogen bomb.
emblazon
verb /Im»bleIzn/
to decorate something with a design
The man was asked to emblazon the baseball caps
with the team’s logo.
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age group
embrocation
empirical
adjective /Im»pIrIkl, em»pIrIkl/
based on experiments or experiences rather than
ideas or theories
He distrusted hunches and relied entirely on empirical
data.
noun /«embrÚ»keISń/
a liquid used for rubbing on the body to relieve pain
from sprains and strains
An embrocation helped in curing my backache.
embryogenesis
empiricism
noun /«embrIÚ»dZenIsIs/
the formation and development of an embryo
During the course of early embryogenesis brain
development starts.
noun /em»pIrIsIz´m/
a belief that knowledge is derived from observation
He supported empiricism and had little patience with
theories.
embryology
enamoured
noun /«embrI»Ål´dZi/
the scientific study of the development of embryos
She wants to go to a university renowned for its
department of research in embryology.
adjective /I»nQm´d, e»nQm´d/
liking a lot
Sara was quite enamoured of the fashion industry.
embryonic
encomiastic
adjective /«embrI»ÅnIk/
in an early stage of development
The plan, as yet, only exists in embryonic form.
adjective /enkÚmIQstIk/
giving praise
Some critics believe that his encomiastic statements
about Napoleon were inspired by his desire for
material advancement.
emendation
noun /«i˘men»deISn/
a change or correction in a text
A minor emendation was made to the minister’s
speech.
encroachment
noun /In»krÚtSmńt/
a gradual intrusion
The encroachment of new factories in the
neighbourhood lowered the value of property.
emeritus
adjective /I»merIt´s/
retired but retained in an honorary capacity
He is an emeritus professor of biology.
encumber
verb /In»k√mb´[r]/
to make it difficult to do something
Their heavy cases encumber them throughout the
journey.
eminent
adjective /»emInńt/
famous and respected, especially in a particular
profession
He is an eminent architect.
endearment
noun /In»dI´mńt, en»dI´mńt/
a word or an expression that is used to show affection
Your loving endearment that came with the flowers
brightened up my day.
emphatic
adjective /Im»fQtIk/
uttered with emphasis
He responded to my question in an immediate and
emphatic manner.
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age group
endoscopy
E
ephemeris
noun /I»fem´rIs, I»fi˘m´rIs/
data or tabular statement of the calculated positions
of a celestial body at regular intervals throughout a
period
You can compute an ephemeris for any comet that is
discovered and plot an accurate finder chart.
noun /en»dÅsk´pi/
an instrument which can be introduced into the body
to give a view of its internal parts
An endoscopy was done to detect the stomach
disorder.
enigmatic
epiglottis
adjective /«enIg»mQtIk/
mysterious and difficult to understand
Many have tried to fathom the enigmatic smile of
Mona Lisa.
noun /«epI»glÅtIs/
a flap of cartilage behind the root of the tongue,
which is depressed during swallowing to cover the
opening of the windpipe
The epiglottis covers the windpipe while swallowing.
entomologist
noun /«ent´»mÅl´dZIst/
person who is trained to study insects
An entomologist can help create insecticides for
various crops.
epilepsy
noun /»epIlepsi/
a neurological disorder
Epilepsy is also called seizure disorder.
entrepreneur
epiphany
noun /«Åntr´pr´»nŒ˘[r]/
a person who makes money by starting or running a
business
As an entrepreneur, she decided to open an internet
cafe in her area.
noun /I»pIfńi/
a moment of sudden and great revelation
I experienced an epiphany that changed the way I
viewed myself.
envision
epitaph
noun /»epItA˘f, »epItQf/
words that are written or said about a person,
especially on a gravestone
In his will, he dictated the epitaph he wanted on his
tombstone.
verb /In»vIZn/
to imagine a future situation
They envision a prosperous future for the country.
enzyme
noun /»enzaIm/
a biological substance, which helps a chemical
change happen or happen quickly, without being
changed itself
The new detergent formula had a special enzyme that
cleaned clothes better.
equanimity
noun /«ekw´»nIm´ti/
calmness of temperament
She accepted the prospect of her operation with
equanimity.
eocene
equinox
adjective /»i˘´[U]si˘n/
relating to, or denoting, the 2nd epoch of the Tertiary
period, which occurred 40 million years ago
The Himalayas were formed during the eocene
period.
noun /»i˘kwInÅks/
the time of year when day and night are equal in
length
The autumnal equinox is on or around 22nd of
September.
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age group
ergonomics
eutectic
noun /«Œ˘g´»nÅmIks/
the study of people’s efficiency in their working
environment
Ergonomics deals with making a safe and
comfortable workplace.
adjective /ju˘»tektIk/
denoting a mixture of substances in fixed proportions
that melts and freezes at a single temperature
The chemicals were mixed together in accordance to
their eutectic point.
eschewal
eutrophic
noun /Is»tSu˘´l, es»tSu˘´l/
deliberately avoid using; abstain from
An eschewal of meat products will lead to a healthier
life.
adjective /ju˘»trÚfIk/
the decomposition, and so deprevation of oxygen to,
the previously abundant plant life of a lake rich in
organic and mineral nutrients
The fish did not survive due to the eutrophic condition
in the lake.
escutcheon
noun /I»sk√tSn/
a shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms
The knight carried his escutcheon with great pride.
evacuation
noun /I«vQkjU»eISń/
the action of evacuating a person or a place
A hurricane alert led to an evacuation from the
coastal area.
espalier
noun /I»spQlj´[r], e»spQlj´[r]/
a fruit tree or ornamental shrub whose branches are
trained to grow flat against a wall, supported on a
lattice
I explained to the gardener that I wanted an espalier
on the wall, where it would get the sun.
evacuees
plural noun /I«vQkju˘»i˘z/
persons evacuated from a place of danger
The evacuees were moved uphill after the flood had
destroyed their houses.
estranged
evanescent
adjective /I»streIndZd/
no longer living with your husband, wife or family
He did not want to go to the party where his
estranged wife was expected to be.
adjective /«ev´»nesnt/
disappearing quickly from sight or memory
I love to search the night sky for the fleeting,
evanescent beauty of a shooting star.
eulogy
eviscerate
noun /»ju˘l´dZi/
a speech or piece of writing praising somebody or
something very much
The speaker delivered a heart-warming eulogy about
his colleague.
verb /I»vIs´reIt/
to disembowel
I witnessed two vultures eviscerate the carcass of a
buffalo near my village.
europa
evocation
noun /jU»rÚp´/
large natural satellite of the planet Jupiter
There has been speculation that life might exist
underneath the icy crust of Europa.
noun /ev´»keISń/
the act of recalling something to the conscious mind
The lawyer was successful in winning the case
through his evocation of some of the forgotten details.
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age group
exacerbate
E
exhort
verb /Ig»zQs´beIt/
to make something worse
By scratching a skin rash, you exacerbate the
condition.
verb /Ig»zç˘t/
to try hard to persuade somebody to do something
The teacher decided to exhort the students to work
harder for their final exams.
exasperate
existential
verb /Ig»zQsp´reIt/
annoy or irritate somebody very much
Traffic conditions in the city continue to exasperate
me.
adjective /«egzI»stenS´l/
connected with human existence
The professor of existential philosophy enlightened
the students with his views.
excruciating
exorbitant
adjective /Ik»skru˘SIeItIN/
extremely painful
He went through excruciating pain when his arm was
fractured.
adjective /Ig»zç˘bItńt/
(of a price) much too high
The exorbitant air fare means that I can only visit my
mother once a year.
exculpate
expatiate
verb /Ik»speISIeIt, ek»speISIeIt/
to write or speak in detail about a subject
I sat with the architect and listened to him expatiate
on his vision of a new city.
verb /»eksk√lpeIt/
show or declare that somebody is not guilty of
wrongdoing
We felt that we had to exculpate the innocent man as
soon as we could.
expedient
executive
adjective /Ik»spi˘dIńt, ek»spi˘dIńt/
useful or necessary for a particular purpose, but not
always fair or right
Most people, faced with a decision, will choose the
most expedient option.
noun /Ig»zekjUtIv/
relating to or having the power to put plans or actions
into effect
The chief executive officer finalised the deal.
exemplum
expedite
noun /Ig»zempl´m/
an example or illustration
He became an exemplum of heroism after his feats in
the war.
verb /»ekspIdaIt/
to make a process happen more quickly
Please do what you can to expedite the building work.
expeditiously
exhilarate
adverb /ekspI»dIS´sli/
rapidly and efficiently
The work was carried out as expeditiously as
possible.
verb /Ig»zIl´reIt/
to excite
Speed can exhilarate any young driver.
explicit
adjective /Ik»splIsIt/
clear and easy to understand
He gave me explicit directions on how to get there.
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age group
extemporaneous
adjective /Ik«stemp´»reInI´s/
carried out or performed with little or no preparation;
impromptu
They gave a delightful, extemporaneous performance
as an encore.
extenuate
verb /Ik»stenjUeIt, ek»stenjUeIt/
to lessen or attempt to lessen the seriousness of
something
It is easier for us to extenuate our own short comings
than those of others.
extradition
noun /ekstr´»dISń/
the surrender of an alleged offender or fugitive to the
state in whose territory the alleged offence was
committed
He is being imprisoned while awaiting extradition.
extraordinaire
adjective /Ik«strç˘dI»ne´/
outstanding in a particular capacity
He is a jazz singer extraordinaire.
extricate
verb /»ekstrIkeIt/
to escape or enable to escape from a difficult
situation
He found that he could not extricate himself from the
meeting.
exuberant
adjective /Ig»zju˘b´rńt/
full of energy, excitement and happiness
She gave an exuberant performance.
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age group
facetious
F
fanaticism
adjective /f´»si˘S´s/
trying to be amusing but in a way or at a time that is
not considered appropriate
Anna’s facetious behaviour made everyone at the
dining table angry.
noun /f´»nQtIsIz´m/
extreme beliefs or behaviour, especially in connection
with religion or politics
The leader of the group was held responsible for the
fanaticism of his followers.
facilitation
fascicle
noun /f´sIlI»teISn/
the action of facilitating something
Computers will be provided in classrooms for
facilitation of student learning.
noun /fQsIk´l/
a separately published instalment of a book or other
printed work
Charles Dickens published the first fascicle of his
novel, A Tale of Two Cities, to great acclaim.
facsimile
fastidious
noun /fQk»sImIlI/
an exact copy, especially of written or printed material
This is a facsimile of the first edition.
adjective /fQ»stIdI´s/
carefully selective
Everything was planned in fastidious detail.
factitious
feasibility
adjective /fQk»tIS´s/
not genuine but created deliberately and made to
appear to be true
I could see right through his factitious enthusiasm.
noun /fi˘zI»bIlIti/
the state or degree of being easily or conveniently
done
A feasibility study will be conducted into the
contruction of the dam.
faeces
noun /»fi˘si˘z/
excrement; solid waste matter that leaves the body
The faeces of most aquatic animals are enclosed in a
membrane.
featurette
noun /fi˘tS´»ret/
a short feature film or programme
A wildlife featurette highlighted the plight of the apes.
fallacious
feigned
adjective /f´»leIS´s/
wrong; based on a false idea
I could not listen to his fallacious arguments any
longer.
adjective /feInd/
simulated or pretended; insincere
The child feigned a stomach ache to avoid going to
school.
fallacy
felicitations
noun /»fQl´si/
a false idea that many people believe is true
It is a fallacy to say that the camera never lies.
noun /f´lIsIteISnz/
words expressing praise for an achievement or good
wishes on a special occasion
You deserve felicitations for your achievement.
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age group
felicitous
fission
adjective /f´»lIsIt´s/
very suitable; giving a good result
He was famous for his felicitous remarks.
noun /»fISn/
(physics) the act or process of splitting the nucleus of
an atom, when a large amount of energy is produced
Energy is produced in the sun by nuclear fission.
felicity
flabbergast
noun /fI»lIsIti/
intense happiness
They announced the birth of their son with joy and
felicity.
verb /»flQb´gA˘st/
to astonish; to strike with wonder
This news will flabbergast all those who had given up
hope.
ferocious
flagellate
very aggressive or violent
Our neighbour has a ferocious guard dog.
verb /»flQdZ´leIt/
to whip yourself or somebody else, especially as a
religious punishment
Some people believe that if they flagellate themselves
they will earn many spiritual rewards.
ferrule
noun /»feru˘l, »fer´l/
a piece of metal or rubber that covers the end of an
umbrella or a stick to protect it
The old lady’s walking-stick slipped because the
ferrule had come off.
flagellum
noun /fl´»dZel´m/
a long whiplike outgrowth from a cell that acts as an
organ of locomotion
The scientist was successful in making flagellum in a
test tube.
fictitious
adjective /fIk»tIS´s/
invented; not true
We are interested in the source of these fictitious
rumours.
flagrantly
adverb /»fleIgrńtlI/
conspicuously or obviously offensive
The player has flagrantly broken the rules of the
game.
filch
verb /fIltS/
to steal, commonly, that which is of little value
He tried to filch my pencils.
flamboyant
adjective /flQm»bçIńt/
showy; ostentatious
Freddie Mercury was a flamboyant star of the British
hard rock scene.
filigree
noun /»fIlIgri˘/
delicate decoration made from gold, silver or copper
wire
The filigree on the earring enhanced its beauty.
florigen
noun /»flÅrIdZń/
a plant hormone that promotes flowering
Florigen induced plants are a boon to the horticulture
industry.
firmament
noun /»fŒ˘m´mńt/
(old use or literary) the sky
He is a rising star in the literary firmament.
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flotsam
F
foible
noun /»flÅts´m/
parts of boats, pieces of wood or rubbish that are
found floating on the sea or along the shore
He took home an interesting piece of flotsam that he
found on the beach.
noun /»fçIbl/
a silly habit or strange or weak aspect of a person`s
character, that is considered harmless
He had the annoying foible of twiddling his thumbs.
forbearance
fluctuation
noun /fç˘»be´rńs/
patience
The woman exercised much forbearance when
dealing with her naughty children.
noun /:fl√kt[S]jUeISn/
variation in size, amount, quality
The frequent fluctuation of electricity has resulted in
my refrigerator breaking down.
foreboding
fluorescent
noun /fç˘»bÚdIN/
a premonition, especially of misfortune
She had a foreboding that the news would be bad.
adjective /«flç˘»resnt/
producing light by a form of radiation
He wore a fluorescent band across his coat to be
visible at night.
forensic
adjective /f´»rensIk/
connected with the scientific tests used by the police
when trying to solve a crime
Fifty years after the murder, forensic scientists were
able to solve the crime.
fluoridation
noun /«flç˘rI»deISn/
the addition of fluoride to drinking water to help
prevent tooth decay
Some people are against the fluoridation of potable
water.
forestall
verb /fç˘»stç˘l/
prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by
taking advance action
Forestall possible heart problems by exercising.
flurry
noun /»fl√rI/
a sudden commotion or burst of activity
She was awoken by the flurry of activity outside her
door.
forfeit
verb /»fç˘fIt/
give up the right to something
He had to forfeit the match because he failed the
drugs test.
fluvial
adjective /»flu˘vI´l/
of relating to, or living in a stream of river
The fluvial processes comprise of the motion of the
sediment and the erosion of the river bed.
formaldehyde
noun /fç˘»mQldIhaId/
a liquid made by mixing formaldehyde and water,
used for preserving biological specimens
Formaldehyde is used in the manufacture of resins
and fertilisers.
fluxion
noun /»fl√kSń/
a function corresponding to the rate of change of a
variable quantity
In the past, people could tell time by the fluxion of
sundials.
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age group
formidable
franglais
impressive or powerful
We must not take the battle lightly as we are facing a
formidable foe.
noun /»frÅngleI/
a blend of French and English
I tried speaking Franglais while in Paris.
frankincense
forsythia
noun /»frQNkInsens/
a substance that is burnt to give a pleasant smell
The Romans burned frankincense on their altars and
at cremations.
noun /fç˘»saITI´, f´»saITI´/
a shrub native to Asia and widely cultivated for its
early-blooming yellow flowers
When spring comes, forsythia bursts into yellow
blossoms spreading from the ground to the tip of
each branch.
fratricide
noun /»frQtrIsaId/
the crime of killing one’s brother
The risk of fratricide has always been a consequence
of civil warfare.
forthright
adjective /»fç˘TraIt/
direct and honest in manner and speech
He has a reputation for being a forthright critic.
fraudulent
adjective /»frç˘djUlńt/
intended to deceive somebody, usually in order to
make money illegally
The government is trying to stop fraudulent and
misleading advertisements.
fortissimo
adjective /fç˘»tIsImÚ/
(especially as a direction) very loud or loudly
The fortissimo climax of the musical score was ear
shattering.
frenetic
fortitudinous
adjective /fr´»netIk/
involving a lot of energy and activity in a way that is
not organised
His frenetic activities convinced us that he had no
action plan prepared.
adjective /«fç˘tI»tju˘dIn´s/
courageous
Citizens wish to see a fortitudinous leadership in the
country.
fortuitous
friction
adjective /fç˘»tju˘It´s/
happening by chance, especially a lucky chance that
brings a good result
His success was due to fortuitous circumstances.
noun /»frIkSń/
confict or disagreement
The constant friction between them caused tension in
the house.
francophile
frizzy
noun /»frQNkÚfaIl/
a person who is fond of or greatly admires France or
the French
As a Francophile she is interested in French
language, culture and food.
adjective /»frIzi/
(of the hair) in tight crisp wiry curls
Daily conditioning was needed to tame her frizzy hair.
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frolicsome
adjective /»frÅlIks´m/
lively and playsome
The frolicsome puppy tried to run away with my shoe.
fruition
noun /frU»ISń/
the realization or fulfilment of a plan or project
His long labour is finally coming to fruition.
fugacious
adjective /fjU»geIS´s/
tending to disappear; fleeting
The flowers are fugacious, gather them quickly.
functionary
noun /»f√NkSń´ri/
a person with official duties
As his case was transferred from one functionary to
another, he lost hope of ever getting his work done.
furtherance
noun /»fŒ˘D´rńs/
the act of furthering or helping forward; promotion;
advancement; progress
He took these actions purely in the furtherance of his
own interests.
fusillade
noun /«fju˘zI»leId, «fju˘zI»lA˘d/
a rapid series of shots fired from one or more guns
The gangster was shot in a fusillade of bullets fired
from all sides.
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G
15 to 17
age group
gaffe
gastronomy
noun /gQf/
a mistake that a person makes in public or in a social
situation, especially something embarrassing
He blushed when he realised what a gaffe he had
made.
noun /gQ»strÅn´mi/
the art and practice of cooking and eating good food
Whilst he was in Europe, he developed a keen
interest in gastronomy.
gastropod
gaiters
noun /»gQstr´pÅd/
a mollusc such as the snail, slug, or limpet
The thing sticking to a rock was a gastropod.
pl. noun /»geIt´s/
protective coverings of cloth or leather for the ankles
and lower legs
The stonemason presented himself for work wearing
a pair of strong leather gaiters.
gazillion
noun /g´»zIljń/
a very large number or quantity (used for emphasis)
I have seen the movie a gazillion times.
galleon
noun /»gQlIń/
a sailing ship in use (especially by Spain) from the
15th to the 18th centuries, originally as a warship,
later for trade
The Spanish galleon was carrying a cargo of silk and
gold.
gecko
noun /»gekÚ/
a small tropical and subtropical lizard having toes with
suction cups that enable them to climb on vertical
surfaces
garret
gelignite
noun /»gQr´t, »gQrIt/
a room, often dark and unpleasant, at the top of the
house especially in the roof
There is some old furniture in the garret that I’m
giving away.
noun /»dZelIgnaIt/
a powerful explosive
The engineers used gelignite to blast a tunnel through
the mountain.
genial
garrulity
adjective /»dZi˘nI´l/
friendly and cheerful
He is liked by everyone because of his genial
manner.
noun /gQ»ru˘lIti/
excessive talking, especially about trivial matters
His extreme garrulity irritated his colleagues.
gastrectomy
genteel
noun /gQ»strekt´mi/
surgical removal of a part or the whole of the
stomach
Gastrectomy was performed on the patient with
stomach cancer.
adjective /dZen»ti˘l/
behaving in a very polite way, often in order to make
people think that you are from a high social class
Her genteel speech occasionally lapsed into her
original cockney accent.
gastroenterology
genuflect
noun /«gQstrÚent´»rÅl´dZi/
the branch of medicine which deals with disorders of
the stomach and intestines
The clinic provides services in gastroenterology and
nutrition.
verb /»dZenjUflekt/
to bend the knee, as in worship
He did not genuflect when the leader entered the
room.
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to 17
age group
geometrician
G
geyser
noun /«dZi˘´mI»trISń/
a person who is practiced in or who studies geometry
Proficiency in mathematics is a pre-requisite for a
geometrician.
noun /gi˘z´[r]/
a natural spring that sometimes sends hot water or
steam up into the air
The geyser will remain quiescent for twenty-four
hours after it erupts.
geosphere
gherkin
noun /»dZi˘ÚsfI´/
any of the almost spherical concentric regions of the
earth and its atmosphere, especially the lithosphere
The geosphere consists of the inside of the Earth.
noun /»gŒ˘kIn/
a small cucumber that has been preserved in vinegar
before being eaten
I always eat a gherkin with my cheese sandwich.
geosynchronous
ghetto
adjective /«dZi˘Ú»sINkrń´s/
another term for synchronous
The spacecraft was in geosynchronous orbit over
Mars.
noun /»getÚ/
a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a
minority group or groups
The pop star reminisced about his childhood in the
ghetto.
gerontocracy
noun /«dZerń»tÅkr´si/
a state, society, or group governed by old people
The government is a gerontocracy with the same
people holding office for years.
gibberish
noun /»dZIb´rIS/
words that have no meaning or are impossible to
understand
You were talking gibberish in your sleep.
gerontology
noun /«dZerń»tÅl´dZi/
the scientific study of old age and the process of
growing old
As a student of gerontology, she often visits old
people’s homes.
gibbet
noun /»dZIbIt/
an upright wooden structure on which criminals used
to be hanged; the gallows
We saw a gibbet in the Tower of London from the
seventeenth century.
gesticulate
verb /dZe»stIkjUleIt/
to use expressive movements of the hands or body
with or instead of speech
He would often gesticulate during his lectures.
gingivitis
noun /«dZIndZI»vaItIs/
a condition in which the gums around the teeth
become painful, red and swollen
Gingivitis is often caused by bad oral hygiene.
gesundheit
exclamation /ge»zUndhaIt, ge»zUnthaIt/
used to wish good health to a person who has just
sneezed
Gesundheit means good health in German.
ginormous
adjective /dZaI»nç˘m´s/
extremely large
Outer space is ginormous.
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15 to 17
age group
glacial
goitre
adjective /»gleISl/
caused or made by glaciers
The deep valley had a glacial origin.
noun /»gçIt´/
a swelling of the neck resulting from enlargement of
the thyroid gland
Goitre is more common in females than in males.
gladiolus
gouge
noun /«glQdI»Úl´s/
an Old World plant of the iris family, with swordshaped leaves and spikes of brightly coloured flowers
Gladiolus is also called sword lily.
verb /gaUdZ, gu˘dZ/
to make a hole or cut in something with a sharp
object in a rough or violent way
The horrified boy watched the lion’s claw gouge a
wound in the horse’s side.
glaucoma
noun /glç˘»kÚm´/
a condition of increased pressure within the eyeball,
causing gradual loss of sight
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the
world.
gourmand
noun /»gU´mńd, »gç˘mńd/
a greedy or ravenous eater; a glutton
He is a gourmand; he ate the whole cake by himself.
globule
gourmet
adjective /»gU´meI, »gç˘meI/
a connoisseur of fine food and drink
His ambition was to become a gourmet chef and cook
at the finest restaurant in New York.
noun /»glÅbju˘l/
a little globe; a small particle of matter, of a spherical
form
A globule of fat dripped from the meat.
glossopharyngeal
graffiti
adjective /«glÅsÚf´»rIn[d]ZI´l, «glÅsÚfQrń»dZi˘´l/
relating to the tongue and pharynx
Problems with glossopharyngeal nerve can result in
trouble swallowing.
noun /gr´»fi˘ti/
drawings or writing on a wall in a public place
The hooligans covered the college wall with graffiti.
grandiloquence
gluttonous
noun /grQn»dIl´kwńs/
the use of long and difficult words
I was amused at the grandiloquence of his speech.
adjective /»gl√tń´s/
eating and drinking too much
The boy’s gluttonous appetite will cause him health
problems in the future.
grandiose
extravagantly or pretentiously imposing in appearance
or style
I was greatly impressed by the grandiose architecture
of the mosque.
gnaw
verb /nç˘/
to keep on biting or chewing something hard, so that
it gradually disappears
My dog will gnaw on a juicy bone for hours.
grapnel
noun /»grQpn´l/
a small anchor
The grapnel holding the ship in place broke and it
started to drift away.
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to 17
age group
gratification
G
guile
noun /«grQtIfI»keISn/
satisfaction
Teachers find gratification in the success of their
students.
noun /gaIl/
the use of clever but dishonest behaviour
She achieved her high position by guile.
guinea
gratuitous
noun /»gIni/
old British coin or unit of money worth 110p
The antique shop sold me a beautiful, golden guinea
which I gave to my son for his graduation.
adjective /gr´»tju˘It´s/
done without any good reason or purpose and often
having harmful effects
The increase of gratuitous violence on television is of
great concern to sociologists and parents alike.
gullible
adjective /»g√lIbl/
too willing to believe or accept what other people tell
you and therefore easily tricked
Farah is such a gullible person that she believes
everything anyone tells her.
gravitate
verb /»grQvIteIt/
to move towards somebody/something that you are
attracted to
Many young people gravitate to the cities in search of
work.
gumption
noun /»g√m[p]Sń/
shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness
You must show some gumption in dealing with the
senior students.
gregarious
adjective /grI»ge´rI´s/
enjoying the company of other people
She is such an outgoing and gregarious person.
gusset
gristle
noun /»g√sIt/
an extra piece of cloth sewn into a piece of clothing to
make it wider, stronger or more comfortable
The tailor inserted the gusset into the dress.
noun /»grIsl/
a hard substance in meat that is unpleasant to eat
The piece of meat was full of gristle, so it was
returned to the butcher.
gustatory
grotesque
adjective /»g√st´t´ri, g√»steIt´ri/
concerned with tasting or the sense of taste
The restaurant offered many gustatory delights.
adjective /grÚ»tesk/
strange in a way that is unpleasant or offensive
The cave walls were decorated with paintings of
grotesque creatures.
gyrate
verb /dZaI»reIt, dZI»reIt/
wind or coil round; take a circular course
According to the prediction, the stock prices will
gyrate around last week’s high.
guesstimate
noun /»gestIm´t/
an estimate based on a mixture of guesswork and
calculation
My guesstimate is that the house will be built in two
years.
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15 to 17
age group
haberdashery
halothane
noun /«hQb´»dQS´ri/
small articles for sewing e.g. needles, pins, buttons
and thread
They kept a good supply of haberdashery at the back
of the shop.
noun /»hQlÚTeIn/
a potent inhalational anesthetic
The kidnappers used halothane to anesthetise her.
hamadryas
noun /«hQm´»draI´s, «hQm´»draIQs/
a large Arabian and NE African baboon, the male of
which has a silvery-grey cape of hair and a naked red
face and rump
hacienda
noun /«hQsI»end´/
a large farm in a Spanish-speaking country
Many African slaves were brought to America to work
on a hacienda.
hammock
noun /»hQm´k/
a type of bed made from net, to hang between two
trees
Tim slept in his hammock all day long.
hackneyed
adjective /»hQknId/
used too often and therefore boring
The teacher advised her students to avoid hackneyed
phrases in their essays.
happenstance
noun /»hQpń«stQns/
coincidence
It was mere happenstance that we found each other.
hadrosaur
noun /»hQdr´sç˘/
a large herbivorous mainly bipedal dinosaur of the
late Cretaceous period
harangue
verb /h´»rQN/
to criticise loudly and angrily
He walked to the front of the stage and began to
harangue the audience.
haemoglobin
noun /«hi˘m´»glÚbIn/
a red substance in the blood that carries oxygen and
contains iron
Her blood test showed a low level of haemoglobin.
haulage
noun /»hç˘lIdZ/
the business of transporting goods by road or railway
The freight charges for the haulage of cargo has
been increased.
hagiology
noun /«hQgI»Ål´dZi/
literature concerned with the lives and legends of
saints
Our hagiology has venerated many undeserving
people.
hauteur
noun /Ú»tŒ˘[r]/
an unfriendly way of behaving with people,
suggesting you are better than them
Everyone disliked her due to her hauteur.
halcyon
adjective /»hQlsIń, »hQlSń/
peaceful and happy
He was remembering the halcyon days of his youth.
hawser
noun /»hç˘z´[r]/
a thick rope or steel cable used on a ship
The ship was tied to the pier by a hawser.
hallucination
an illusion
High temperatures can cause hallucination.
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to 17
age group
heifer
H
hierarchy
noun /»hef´[r]/
a young female cow, especially one that has not yet
given birth to a calf
noun /»haI´rA˘ki/
a system in which people are organised into different
levels of importance from highest to lowest
She is high up in the management hierarchy.
heinous
hieroglyphics
adjective /»heIn´s, »hi˘n´s/
morally very bad
He was sentenced to twelve years in prison for his
heinous crime.
noun /»haI´r´»glIfIks/
writing that uses pictures or symbols
The discovery of the Rosetta Stone enabled scholars
to read the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
heliozoan
histamine
noun /«hi˘lI´»zÚń/
single-celled animal having numerous spindle-like
pseudopods that radiate from a central cell mass
noun /»hIst´mi˘n/
chemical substance produced in the body in response
to an allergy or injury
The sneezing in respiratory allergies is caused by the
release of histamine.
hemiplegia
noun /«hemI»pli˘dZI´/
paralysis of one side of the body
Hemiplegia occurs as a result of a stroke or other
injury to the brain.
histrionic
adjective /«hIstri»ÅnIk/
very emotional and attention seeking
We grew tired of her histrionic displays and ignored
them.
herbarium
noun /»hŒ˘be´rI´m/
a collection of dried specimens of plants
systematically arranged
She has a large collection of plants in her herbarium.
hollandaise
noun /«hÅl»lńdeIz/
a creamy sauce of melted butter, egg yolks and
vinegar, served especially with fish
At the restaurant, she ordered grilled fish with
hollandaise.
heritage
noun /»herItIdZ/
that which is inherited
These ancient buildings are part of the national
heritage.
holocaust
noun /»hÅl´kç˘st/
a situation in which many things are destroyed and
people killed, especially because of war or a fire
The consequences of a nuclear holocaust would be
calamitous.
hermaphrodite
noun /hŒ˘»mQfr´daIt/
an animal or plant having both male and female
reproductive organs
Most invertebrates are hermaphrodites.
hornblende
noun /»hç˘nblend/
a dark brown, black, or green mineral consisting of a
silicate of calcium, magnesium, and iron
Hornblende is found in metamorphic and igneous
rocks.
heterotrophic
adjective /»het´rÚtrÚfIk, »het´r´trÅfIk/
(of organisms, such as animals) obtaining carbon for
growth and energy from organic compounds
Heterotrophic animals are dependent on complex
organic substances for nutrition.
l 317l
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15 to 17
age group
horology
hydrodynamics
noun /hÅ»rÅl´dZi/
the art or science of making timepieces or of
measuring time
He was interested in studying the history of horology.
noun /«haIdrÚdaI»nQmIks/
a branch of physics that deals with the motion of
fluids and the forces acting on solid bodies immersed
in liquids
Hydrodynamics plays a key role in Kayak racing.
horrendous
hydrophobia
adjective /hÅ»rend´s/
absolutely terrible
The horrendous accident had left him shaken.
noun /«haIdr´[U]»fÚbI´/
fear of water
My dog seemed to be developing hydrophobia, and
the vet told me it could be rabies.
hubbub
noun /»h√b√b/
a chaotic din caused by a crowd of people
We left the hubbub of the city far behind us.
hydrotropism
noun /haI»drÅtr´pIz´m/
the directional growth of plants in response to the
stimulus of water
Roots often display hydrotropism in growing towards
a water source.
hubristic
adjective /hju˘»brIstIk/
excessive pride or self-confidence
Their hubristic approach brought them nothing but
failure.
hypnagogic
adjective /«hIpn´»gÅdZIk/
relating to the state immediately before falling asleep
The strange images seen sometimes just before one
falls asleep are called hypnagogic hallucinations.
hullabaloo
a lot of loud noise, especially made by people who
are annoyed or excited about something
They looked out of the window to find out what the
hullabaloo was about.
hypoglycemia
noun /«haIpÚglaI»si˘mI´/
deficiency of glucose in the bloodstream
Make sure she always carries sweets to treat the
hypoglycemia.
humidistat
noun /hjU»mIdIstQt/
a machine or device which automatically regulates
the humidity of the air in a room or building
Humidistat fans switch on and off automatically
according to the dampness of the air.
hypotenuse
noun /haI»pÅtńju˘z, haI»pÅtńju˘s/
the side opposite the right-angle of a right-angled
triangle
The hypotenuse is the longest side of a right-angled
triangle.
hydrangea
noun /haI»dreIndZ´/
a bush with white, pink or blue flowers that grow
closely together in the shape of a ball
French hydrangea has either pink or blue flowers.
hypothalamus
noun /«haIpÚ»TQl´m´s/
a region of the forebrain below the thalamus
Feeding is controlled by a part of the brain called
hypothalamus.
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to 17
age group
hypothesis
noun /haI»pÅT´sIs/
a theory that has not yet been proved to be true or
correct
She needed to confirm the hypothesis of her thesis
with the professor.
hypothetical
adjective /«haIp´»TetIkl/
based on a situation or ideas which are possible and
imagined rather than real or true
Why do we have to consider hypothetical cases when
we have actual case histories before us?
hypoxia
noun /haI»pÅksI´/
a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the
tissues
The horse died due to hypoxia.
hysteria
noun /hI»stI´rI´/
a state of extreme excitement, fear or anger in which
a person loses control of their emotions
The crowd at the concert was gripped by mass
hysteria.
l 319 l
H
I
15 to 17
age group
iambic
illiteracy
adjective /aI»QmbIk/
(of rhythm in poetry) in which one short or weak
syllable is followed by one long or strong syllable
The poem was written in iambic pentameter.
noun /I»lIt´r´si/
inability to read and write
He was ashamed of his father’s illiteracy.
illustrious
icicle
adjective /I»l√strI´s/
very famous and much admired, luminous by
achievement
The composer was one of many illustrious visitors to
the town.
noun /»aIsIkl/
a pointed piece of ice that is formed when water
freezes as it falls
An icicle was hanging from the roof.
iconoclastic
imbricate
adjective /aI«kÅn´»klQstIk/
attacking cherished traditions
George Bernard Shaw’s iconoclastic plays startled
conventional people.
verb /»ImbrIkeIt/
arrange things so that they overlap
The worker was told to imbricate the roof tiles.
imbroglio
idiosyncratic
noun /Im»brÚlIÚ/
a complicated situation that causes confusion or
embarrassment, especially one that is political
He found himself in the middle of a political imbroglio.
adjective /«IdI´sIN»krQtIk/
relating to idiosyncrasy; peculiar or individual
We all have our own idiosyncratic ways of dealing
with grief.
imbrue
idolatry
verb /Im»bru˘/
to stain (something, especially one’s hands or sword)
They were unwilling to imbrue their hands with his
blood.
noun /aI»dÅl´tri/
the worship of idols, images, or anything which is not
God
He supports his local team with a fervour that borders
on idolatry.
imbue
verb /Im»bju˘/
to fill somebody or something with strong feelings,
opinions or values
I try to imbue my students with a sense of personal
responsibility for their actions.
idyllic
adjective /I»dIlIk/
peaceful, beautiful
She dreams of a house set in idyllic surroundings.
ignominious
immaculate
adjective /«Ign´»mInI´s/
humiliating
He made one disastrous mistake and his career
came to an ignominious end.
adjective /I»mQkjUl´t/
perfectly clean
He wore an immaculate white suit on his wedding.
immiscible
illicit
adjective /I»mIsIb´l/
not forming a homogeneous mixture when mixed
Oil and water are immiscible liquids.
adjective /I»lIsIt/
not permitted or allowed
His illicit business was being monitored by the police.
l 320 l
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to 17
age group
immiseration
I
impermeable
noun /I«mIz´»reISń/
economic impoverishment
Timely measures must be taken to end this state of
economic immiseration.
adjective /Im»pŒ˘mI´bl/
not allowing a liquid or gas to pass through
The canoe is made from an impermeable wood.
impertinent
impalpable
adjective /Im»pŒ˘tInńt/
not showing respect, rude
The teacher was quite annoyed with Faisal for asking
impertinent questions.
adjective /Im»pQlp´b´l/
unable to be felt by touch
There was an impalpable air of excitement in the
crowd.
imperturbable
impeach
adjective /«Imp´»tŒ˘b´bl/
not excitable
He remained imperturbable and in full command of
the situation, in spite of the panic surrounding him.
verb /Im»pi˘tS/
to charge an important public figure with a serious
crime
The American public hopes that Congress will not
have to impeach any more presidents.
impetuous
adjective /Im»petjU´s/
acting or done quickly and without thought or care
She made an impetuous decision which she regretted
later.
impeccable
adjective /Im»pek´bl/
perfect
The actress was acclaimed for her impeccable taste
in clothes.
impetus
noun /»ImpIt´s/
something that encourages a process or activity to
develop quickly
A new federal highway programme would create jobs
and give added impetus to our economic recovery.
impecunious
adjective /«ImpI»kju˘nI´s/
without money
He contributed to funds to assist impecunious and
disabled people.
impinge
imperceptible
verb /Im»pIn[d]Z/
to have a noticeable effect on somebody or
something, especially a bad one
He never allowed his work to impinge on his private
life.
adjective /«Imp´»septIbl/
slight; subtle
Even after turning on the air conditioner, there was
only an imperceptible change in temperature.
imperium
implacable
noun /Im»pI´rI´m/
the right to command; supreme power
The country’s economic imperium waned after the
war.
adjective /Im»plQk´bl/
(of strong negative opinions or feelings) that cannot
be changed
The families of Romeo and Juliet were implacable
enemies.
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15 to 17
age group
implicate
impulsive
verb /»ImplIkeIt/
to show that somebody is involved in something
She tried to avoid saying anything that would
implicate her further.
adjective /Im»p√lsIv/
acting suddenly without thinking
She is an impulsive buyer.
impunity
implication
noun /Im»pju˘nIti/
freedom from punishment or harmful consequences
of an action
She breaks traffic rules and regulations with impunity.
noun /«ImplI»keISn/
a possible effect or result of an action or a decision
The development of the site will have a serious
implication for the surrounding countryside.
impute
implicit
verb /Im»pju˘t/
to say, often unfairly, that somebody is responsible for
something
Her employers tried to impute the thefts to her.
adjective /Im»plIsIt/
suggested without being directly expressed
She has implicit faith in her husband’s ability.
imponderabilia
inadvertently
noun /Im«pÅnd´r´»bIlI´/
those things which cannot be weighed
Happiness and health are imponderabilia.
adverb /«In´d»vŒ˘tńtli/
by accident; without intending to
His hand inadvertently knocked over the cup of
coffee.
imponderable
inarticulate
adjective /Im»pÅnd´r´bl/
difficult or impossible to weigh or assess
I can evaluate the data gathered in this study, but the
imponderable items are not easy to analyse.
adjective /«InA˘»tIkjUl´t/
not able to express ideas or feelings clearly or easily
Ahmed was an inarticulate boy and was shy of
speaking in public.
imprescriptible
inaudible
adjective /«ImprI»skrIptIb´l/
not subject to being taken away by prescription or by
lapse of time
The imprescriptable rights of man cannot be taken
away.
adjective /In»ç˘d´bl/
not loud enough to be heard
The song was playing at such an inaudible volume
that we could hear nothing.
imprimatur
incandescence
noun /«ImprI»mA˘t´[r], «ImprI»meIt´[r]/
official approval of something, given by a person in a
position of authority
It is contempt of court to defy a judge’s imprimatur.
noun /InkQn»desńs/
the emission of visible light by a body, caused by its
high temperature
She was blinded by the extreme incandescence of
the high noon sun.
impromptu
adverb /Im»prÅm[p]tju˘/
done without preparation
One of his strong points is his ability to speak
impromptu.
l 322 l
15
to 17
age group
incapacitate
I
incognito
verb /«Ink´»pQsIteIt/
to make incapable or unfit
Mental illness alone will not incapacitate a person
from making a valid contract.
adverb /«InkÅg»ni˘tÚ/
in a way that prevents other people from finding out
who you are
Movie stars often prefer to travel incognito.
incarcerate
incoherence
to put somebody in prison or in another place from
which they cannot escape
To incarcerate him would mean dealing with the
anger of his tribe.
noun /«InkÚ»hI´rńs/
a lack of ability to express yourself clearly, often
because of emotion
His incoherence was due to his anger at missing the
flight.
incarnation
incommunicado
noun /«InkA˘»neISn/
a period of life in a particular form
He believed he had been a prince in a previous
incarnation.
adverb /«Ink´«mju˘nI»kA˘dÚ/
without means of communication
The prisoner has been held incommunicado for more
than a week.
incendiary
incompatible
adjective /In»sendI´ri/
designed to cause fire
The explosion was caused by an incendiary device.
adjective /«Ink´m»pQtIbl/
opposed in character
The doctor gave her a list of incompatible drugs, not
to be had with her prescription.
incense
inconceivable
verb /In»sens/
to make somebody very angry
Very few things incense me more than intolerance.
adjective /«Inkń»si˘v´bl/
unimaginable
We all protested when she gave the inconceivable
excuse of not being aware of the problem.
inception
noun /In»sepSn/
the start
She was involved with the project from its inception.
incongruous
adjective /In»kÅNgrU´s/
strange and not suitable in a particular situation
We should do away with incongruous traditional
methods in this technical age.
incessant
adjective /In»sesnt/
never stopping
The incessant meetings exhausted me.
inconsequential
adjective /In«kÅnsI»kwenSl/
not important
I’ve wasted an hour of my valuable time on
inconsequential chatter.
inclement
adjective /In»klemńt/
(of the weather) not pleasant; cold, wet
We were unable to go on the field trip due to
inclement weather conditions.
l 323 l
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15 to 17
age group
incontrovertible
indigene
adjective /«InkÅntr´»vŒ˘tIbl/
undeniably true
The case was dismissed so quickly because the
lawyer provided incontrovertible evidence.
noun /»IndIdZi˘n/
native
The indigenes had not merely adapted to the harsh
climate but had prospered in it.
incorporeal
indigenize
adjective /«Inkç˘»pç˘rI´l/
without body or form
We must devote less time pleasing our material
bodies, and concentrate on enriching our incorporeal
minds.
verb /In»dIdZInaIz/
bring (something) under the control, dominance, or
influence of indigenous or local people
We plan to indigenize more products to empower the
local people.
incriminate
indignation
verb /In»krImIneIt/
to prove the guilt of
The youths were arrested and searched for anything
that would incriminate them.
noun /«IndIg»neISn/
anger resulting from perceived injustice
He felt indignation at the ill treatment of helpless
animals.
incubate
indiscriminate
verb /»INkjubeIt/
(of a bird) to sit on its eggs in order to keep them
warm until they hatch
The bird sat for several weeks trying to incubate her
eggs, but they failed to hatch.
unselective
She disapproved of her son’s indiscriminate television
viewing.
indisputable
indefatigable
adjective /«IndI»spju˘t´bl/
undeniable
In the face of so many indisputable statements, I
withdrew my complaint.
adjective /«IndI»fQtIg´b´l/
persisting tirelessly
She is an indefatigable campaigner for freedom of
speech.
indissoluble
indelible
adjective /«IndI»sÅlj´bl/
lasting
The supposedly indissoluble bonds of marriage are
often broken.
adjective /In»delIbl/
impossible to forget or remove
The experience made an indelible impression on me.
indemnity
indistinguishable
noun /In»demnIti/
compensation for damage or loss
The victorious nation has demanded huge indemnity
from its former enemy.
adjective /«IndI»stINgwIS´bl/
not clear
His indistinguishable speech left many confused.
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15
to 17
age group
indology
I
infernal
noun /In»dÅl´dZi/
the study of Indian literature, history, philosophy, etc
Her interest in indonogy was awakened after her trip
to India.
adjective /In»fŒ˘n´l/
of or relating to a nether world of the dead or hell
The infernal noise made by the neighbour’s dog
infuriated him.
inerrant
infidel
adjective /In»erńt/
literally true and without error; infallible
His word was recognized as the inerrant truth.
noun /»InfId´l/
an offensive way of referring to somebody who does
not believe in what the speaker considers to be the
true religion
The radical cult leader called the non-believer an
infidel.
inertia
noun /I»nŒ˘S´/
lack of energy; lack of desire or ability to move or
change
According to Newton, an object in a state of inertia
will remain so for eternit unless force is applied to it.
inflammatory
adjective /In»flQm´t´ri/
relating to or causing inflammation of a part of the
body
The boss’s inflammatory remarks angered the
workers.
inevitable
adjective /In»evIt´bl/
that cannot be avoided or prevented
He met his inevitable fate.
infuriating
adjective /In»fjU´rIeItIN/
making you extremely angry
He has an infuriating habit of whistling while he is
reading.
inexorable
adjective /In»eks´r´bl/
relentless
The inexorable rise of crime is a cause for concern.
inhalant
adjective /In»heIlńt/
inhaled for its soothing or therapeutic effect
The medicine is now available as an inhalant.
inexplicable
adjective /«InIk»splIk´bl/
that cannot be understood or explained
For some inexplicable reason he gave up an excellent
job offer.
inherent
adjective /In»herńt, In»hI´rńt/
existing permanently in something
I felt there was an inherent weakness in the design.
infallible
adjective /In»fQlIbl/
never wrong; never making mistakes
He relied heavily on his infallible calculator for solving
his arithmetic problems.
inimitable
adjective /I»nImIt´b´l/
so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy;
unique
Moin was a brilliant comic with an inimitable sense of
humour.
infamous
adjective /»Inf´m´s/
well known for being bad or evil
Jesse James was an infamous outlaw.
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15 to 17
age group
iniquity
integrate
noun /I»nIkwIti/
immoral or grossly unfair behaviour
Her mother wouldn’t let her join the film industry as
she considered it a den of iniquity.
verb /»IntIgreIt/
to combine two or more things so that they work
together
The policy is to integrate children with special needs
into ordinary schools.
innocuous
integument
adjective /I»nÅkjU´s/
not harmful or offensive
It seemed to be a perfectly innocuous remark.
noun /In»tegjUment/
outer covering of skin
The turtle takes advantage of its hard integument to
protect itself from potential danger.
innuendo
noun /«InjU»endÚ/
an allusive or oblique remark
Humour should not include sarcasm, innuendo or any
other form of cruelty.
intelligentsia
noun /In«telI»dZentsI´/
intellectuals or highly educated people as a group
The intelligentsia advocated a social change but not a
revolution.
inordinate
adjective /In»ç˘dIn´t/
far more than is usual or expected
She had an inordinate amount of energy.
intermittent
adjective /«Int´»mItńt/
stopping and starting often over a period of time, but
not regularly
Intermittent rain marred our picnic.
insouciance
noun /In»su˘sIńs/
carefreeness; lack of concern
She approached the exam with an air of complete
insouciance.
internecine
adjective /«Int´»ni˘saIn/
mutually destructive
During the war internecine street fighting broke out
between rival groups.
inspissated
pt. verb /In»spIseItId/
thicken or congeal
The coffee had sat so long in his cup that it
inspissated and grew a thick, green mould on top.
intervale
noun /»Int´veIl/
bottomland
We enjoyed a picnic by the intervale.
insuperable
adjective /In»su˘p´r´bl/
cannot be overcome
In the face of insuperable difficulties he maintained
his equilibrium.
intimidation
bullying behaviour
The school bully was punished for his intimidation of
younger children.
insurrection
noun /«Ins´»rekSn/
uprising; resistance movement
An armed insurrection took place against the regime
of the dictator.
l 326 l
15
to 17
age group
intransigent
I
invulnerable
adjective /In»trQnsIdZńt, In»trA˘nsIdZńt/
refusing to behave differently or change one’s attitude
They put pressure on the government to change its
intransigent stance.
adjective /In»v√ln´r´bl/
that cannot be harmed or defeated
Gunners raked the beach from invulnerable positions
on the cliffs.
intrigue
irascible
noun /»Intri˘g/
underhand plotting
She writes novels that are based on mystery and
intrigue.
adjective /I»rQsIbl/
becoming angered very easily
His irascible temperament used to frighten me.
irreconcilable
introspective
adjective /I»rekńsaIl´bl/
implacably hostile
Even after much effort from both sides, they remain
irreconcilable enemies.
adjective /«Intr´»spektIv/
tending to think a lot about your own thoughts,
feelings
He writes deep introspective poetry.
irremediable
intuition
adjective /«IrI»mi˘dI´bl/
impossible to cure or put right
His lack of planning has put us all in an irremediable
situation.
noun /«IntjU»ISn/
immediate insight
She had an intuition that she would have a visitor that
day.
irreplaceable
invalidate
adjective /IrI»pleIs´b´l/
not able to be replaced
He was too scared to confess that he had broken the
irreplaceable antique.
verb /In»vQlIdeIt/
to prove that an idea, a story or an argument is wrong
The relatives who had received nothing from their
uncle, sought to invalidate the will.
irrepressible
invariant
adjective /«IrI»pres´bl/
not able to be controlled or restrained
The irrepressible David Beckham scored two goals.
adjective /In»ve´rIńt/
never changing
His invariant character made him dependable.
isotope
invective
noun /»aIs´tÚp/
one of two or more forms of a chemical element with
different physical properties
An isotope of carbon is used for carbon dating.
noun /In»vektIv/
vehement accusation or denunciation
His racist invectives against me left me speechless
with rage.
isthmus
inviolable
noun /»IsTm´s, »Istm´s, Ism´s/
a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming
a link between two larger areas of land
As we drove along the isthmus, we appreciated the
beauty of the sea on either side of us.
adjective /In»vaI´l´bl/
that must be respected and not attacked or destroyed
Her inviolable faith in her husband’s integrity never
wavered during his incarceration.
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15 to 17
age group
iterate
verb /»It´reIt/
perform or utter repeatedly
No matter how many times I iterate that this so-called
prank is a bad idea, no one listens.
itinerant
adjective /aI»tIn´rńt, I»tIn´rńt/
travelling from place to place
He was an itinerant peddler, and travelled widely
selling his wares.
itinerary
noun /aI»tIn´r´ri, I»tIn´r´ri/
a plan of a journey, including the route and the places
that you visit
Before leaving for France, we discussed the itinerary
with the travel agent.
l 328 l
15
to 17
age group
jacquard
J
jubilant
noun /»dZQkA˘d, »dZAk´d/
an apparatus with perforated cards, fitted to a loom to
facilitate the weaving of figured and brocaded fabrics
The jacquard loom simplifies the process of
manufacturing textiles with intricate patterns like
brocade.
adjective /»dZu˘bIlńt/
feeling or showing great happiness because of a
success
The fans were in a jubilant mood after the victory.
jubilation
a feeling of great happiness because of a success
There was great jubilation in the family when a baby
girl was born after four boys.
jactitation
noun /dZQktI»teISń/
the restless tossing of the body in illness
The doctor assured us that the jactitation of the
patient would begin to calm later in the day.
Judaism
proper noun /»dZu˘deIIz´m/
the religion of the Jewish people
Judaism is one of the world’s oldest religions.
jacuzzi
proper noun /dZ´»ku˘zi/
a large bath with a pump that moves the water
around, giving a pleasant feeling to your body
Once you get into a Jacuzzi, you do not want to come
out.
judicature
noun /»dZu˘dIk´tS´[r]/
the system and administration of justice in a country
No society can be stable if it does not have an
effective judicature.
jaundiced
adjective /»dZç˘ndIst/
not expecting something or someone to be good or
useful because of past experiences
I found it depressing to spend time with George
because he had such a jaundiced view of life.
judicious
adjective /dZu»dIS´s/
careful and sensible; showing good judgement
At a key moment in his life, he made a judicious
investment which resulted in his present good fortune.
jocund
adjective /»dZÅkńd, »dZÚkńd/
cheerful and light-hearted
He was a jocund character, always full of fun.
juggernaut
noun /»dZ√gńç˘t/
a very large lorry or truck
I felt very insecure in my tiny car when the juggernaut
pulled out of its lane to pass me.
jostle
verb /»dZÅsl/
to push roughly against somebody in a crowd
Someone always happens to jostle me when I am
standing with a cup of tea.
jugular
adjective /»dZ√gj´l´[r]/
any of the three large veins in the neck that carry
blood from the heart to the head
The knife nicked his jugular vein, but he survived.
journalese
noun /«dZŒ˘n´»li˘z/
a hackneyed writing style
The article was full of journalese and grammatical
errors.
l 329 l
J
15 to 17
age group
jurisdiction
noun /«dZU´rIs»dIkSn/
the authority that an official organisation has to make
legal decisions about somebody or something
Local courts do not have jurisdiction over a diplomat
of another country.
jurisprudence
noun /«dZU´rIs»pru˘dns/
the scientific study of law
I still visit the old professor who used to teach us
jurisprudence when we were at the university.
jussive
adjective /»dZ√sIv/
expressing a command
His requests were of a jussive nature.
justifiable
adjective /»dZ√stIfaI´bl/
capable of being justified, or shown to be just
To extend a loan, the bank must have a justifiable
reason.
juvenile
adjective /»dZu˘vńaIl/
not yet adult
She was appalled at her cousin’s juvenile behaviour.
juxtapose
verb /«dZ√kst´»pÚz/
to place things side by side
In his exhibition he decided to juxtapose photographs
of settled family life with those of refugees in camps.
l 330 l
15
to 17
age group
kaiser
K
kiosk
noun /»kaIz´/
the German Emperor, the Emperor of Austria, or the
head of the Holy Roman Empire
Franz Joseph the kaiser of the Austro Hungarian
Empire ruled for more than 65 years.
noun /»ki˘Åsk/
a small shop, open at the front, where newspapers
and drinks are sold
I buy my newspaper from the kiosk at the station.
kitchenette
kaleidoscope
noun /«kItSI»net/
a small room or part of a room used as a kitchen
The flat has a kitchenette overlooking the garden.
noun /k´»laId´skÚp/
a tube with coloured glass and mirrors at one end
which is turned to form different patterns
The child was fascinated by the colours and patterns
in the kaleidoscope.
kitsch
adjective /kItS/
popular but considered to have no artistic value and
to be lacking in good taste
There were a couple of kitsch plastic dogs on the
mantelpiece.
karaoke
noun /«kQrI»Úki/
a form of entertainment, in which people take turns to
sing popular songs into a microphone over prerecorded backing tracks
Karaoke is one of the most loved activities in the
Philippines.
knapsack
noun /»nQpsQk/
a soldier‘s or hiker’s bag
He filled his knapsack with water and food for his
camping trip.
keeshond
noun /»keIs«hÅnd/
a dog of a Dutch breed with long thick grey hair,
resembling a large Pomeranian
Keeshond dogs tend to be very playful and are quick
learners.
knave
noun /neIv/
a dishonest man or boy
The role of the knave in the play was quite
insignificant.
kenspeckle
adjective /»ken«spekl/
easily recognizable; conspicuous
He feared that he was too kenspeckle to escape
through the hall.
kookaburra
noun /»kUk´«b√r´/
a very large Australasian kingfisher that feeds on
terrestrial prey such as reptiles and birds
keratectomy
kosher
noun /«ker´»tekt´mi/
surgical removal of a section or layer of the cornea,
usually performed using a laser to correct myopia
My uncle had a keratectomy recently and does not
need to wear glasses now.
adjective /»kÚS´[r]/
prepared according to the rules of Jewish law
Muslims are also allowed to eat kosher meat.
krypton
kinetic
noun /»krIptÅn/
a colourless gas that does not react with anything
Krypton is mostly used in fluorescent lights and
lasers.
adjective /kI»netIk, kaI»netIk/
of or produced by movement
A car can move due to kinetic energy.
l 331 l
K
15 to 17
age group
kudos
noun /»kju˘dÅs/
the admiration and respect that goes with a particular
achievement or position
She did most of the work, but all the kudos went to
her partner.
kumquat
noun /»k√mkwÅt/
a fruit like a very small orange with sweet skin that is
eaten, and sour flesh
I have never eaten a kumquat.
l 332 l
15
to 17
age group
laboratory
L
lactulose
noun /l´»bÅr´tri/
a room or building used for scientific research,
experiments, teaching
Our school’s laboratory is very well equipped.
noun /»lQktjUlÚz/
a synthetic sugar with laxative properties. It is a
disaccharide consisting of glucose and fructose units
Uncle Yusuf has been taking lactulose for many years
says its very effective.
labyrinth
laggard
noun /»lQb´rInT/
a complicated series of paths, which is difficult to find
your way through
Once you enter the old city, you find yourself lost in a
labyrinth of narrow streets.
noun /»lQg´d/
a slow and lazy person
At boarding school you were labelled a laggard if you
were not out of bed by the second bell.
lacerate
lambaste
verb /»lQs´reIt/
to cut skin or flesh with something sharp
I taught the apprentice to use the machine carefully,
so that it would not lacerate his hand.
verb /lQm»beIst/
to attack or criticise somebody very severely,
especially in public
They could only lambaste the report as a gross
distortion of the truth.
lachrymose
lamellibranch
adjective /»lQkrImÚs, »lQkrImÚz/
(formal) having a tendency to cry easily; tearful
She has a lachrymose disposition.
noun /l´»melIbrQNk/
another term for bivalve
Lamellibranch or Bivalvia is a class of marine and
freshwater molluscs.
lackadaisical
adjective /«lQk´»deIzIk´l/
lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy
Her lackadaisical attitude towards work will get her in
trouble.
lamentable
adjective /»lQmńt´bl/
very disappointing
The new employee showed a lamentable lack of
interest in the work.
lacklustre
adjective /»lQkl√st´[r]/
not interesting or exciting; dull
We were disappointed by his lacklustre performance.
laminated
adjective /»lQmIneItId/
covered with a thin layer e.g. of plastic
All the delegates were given laminated identity cards
at the conference.
laconic
using a few words
He made a laconic remark.
languish
verb /»lQNgwIS/
to be forced to stay somewhere or suffer something
unpleasant for a long time
She continues to languish in a foreign prison.
lacquer
verb /»lQk´[r]/
to cover something such as wood or metal with
lacquer
The student learnt how to lacquer the paintings she
had done on wood.
l 333 l
L
15 to 17
age group
languor
layette
noun /»lQNg´[r]/
the state of feeling lazy and without energy
A pleasant feeling of languor stole over him.
noun /leI»jet/
a set of clothes and other things for a new baby
They went to London to buy the layette for their baby.
lapilli
league
noun /l´»pIlaI/
rock fragments ejected from a volcano
Lapilli usually range in size from 2mm to 64 mm in
diameter.
noun /li˘g/
a group of people or nations who have combined for
a particular purpose
She is attending a meeting of the Women’s League
for Peace.
laryngotomy
leatherette
noun /«lQrIN»gÅt´mi/
surgical incision into the larynx, typically to provide an
air passage when breathing is obstructed
The doctor had to perform a laryngotomy on Hina
when her passageway was blocked.
noun /«leD´»ret/
an artificial material that looks or feels like leather
I want to buy a jacket made of leatherette.
leeway
larynx
noun /»li˘weI/
the amount of freedom that you have to change
something or to do it in the way you want to
The new government has given the council greater
leeway to introduce and carry out reforms.
noun /»lQrINks/
the area at the top of the throat that contains the
vocal cords
When I had an infection in my larynx, I could hardly
speak.
legacy
lasagna
noun /»leg´si/
money or property that is left to you by somebody
when they die
They each received a legacy of Rs. 50,000 from their
grandfather.
noun /l´»zA˘nj´, l´»zQnj´, l´»sA˘nj´/
pasta in the form of sheets or wide strips
Sara is compiling a book of lasagna recipies.
lattice
legendary
noun /»lQtIs/
a structure made of strips of wood or metal that cross
over each other with spaces between them, used as
a fence or support for climbing plants
Last year I put up a lattice in the garden and had a
fine show of sweet peas.
adjective /»ledZńdri/
of or pertaining to a legend or legends; famous
We were told legendary tales of her adventures.
legerdemain
noun /»ledZ´d´meIn/
skilful use of your hands when performing tricks or
conjuring
We were fascinated by the legerdemain of the
magician, as he conjured various items out of thin air.
laureate
noun /»lÅrI´t/
a person who has been given an official honour or
prize for something important they have achieved
The Nobel Laureate was given a state reception
when he returned from Sweden.
l 334 l
15
to 17
age group
legion
L
lessor
noun /»li˘dZń/
a large group of soldiers that forms part of an army
To serve in a Roman legion was a great honour.
noun /le»sç˘[r]/
a person who allows somebody the use of a building
or area on lease
The lessor offered a five-year lease on the office.
legionnaire
leukaemia
noun /«li˘dZ´»ne´[r]/
a member of the legion, especially the French Foreign
Legion
The French legionnaire was renowned for his combat
tactics.
noun /lu˘»ki˘mI´/
a serious disease in which too many white blood cells
are produced, causing weakness and sometimes
death
When he was diagnosed with leukaemia, his family
was in a state of shock for many days.
legitimate
adjective /lI»dZItIm´t/
allowed and acceptable according to the law
It seemed a perfectly legitimate question.
leverage
noun /»li˘v´rIdZ, »lev´rIdZ/
the act of using a lever to open or lift something
The correct leverage is required to move this load.
legitimise
verb /lI»dZIt´maIz/
to make something wrong or unfair acceptable in law
They tried to legitimise their actions by going to court.
liaise
verb /li»eIz/
to work closely with somebody and exchange
information with them
She will liaise with teachers across the country to
improve the system of education.
leisurely
adjective /»leZ´li/
without hurrying
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we went to the
beach.
liaison
noun /lI»eIzń, lI»eIzÅn/
a relationship between two groups of people involving
the exchange of information or ideas
There is an excellent liaison between our two
departments.
leniency
noun /»li˘nIńsi/
quality of being less strict than expected
Considering the gravity of the offence, we were
surprised at the leniency of the sentence.
lieutenant
noun /lef»tenńt/
an officer of middle rank in the army, navy, or air force
The young naval lieutenant looked dashing in his
white uniform.
lenient
adjective /»li˘nIńt/
not as strict as expected
The lawyer pleaded with the judge to grant his client
a more lenient sentence.
ligature
verb /»lIg´tS´[r]/
the act of binding or tying up
The ligature of the artery was done with skill.
leonine
adjective /»li˘ńaIn/
of or resembling a lion or lions
He had leonine features.
l 335 l
L
15 to 17
age group
ligneous
longevity
adjective /»lIgnI´s/
made, consisting of, or resembling wood; woody
They built the table out of ligneous material.
noun /lÅn»dZev´ti/
long life; the fact of lasting a long time
They wished the bride and groom good health and
longevity.
lineaments
longitudinal
pl. noun /»lInI´mńts/
the typical features of something
Her actions were marked with the lineaments of her
character.
adjective /«lÅNgI»tju˘dIn´l, «lÅn[d]ZI»tju˘dIn´l/
running lengthwise rather than across
The surveyor measured the longitudinal distance
between the two points.
linguist
loquacious
noun /»lINgwIst/
a master of the use of language
She is an excellent linguist.
talkative
I find her loquacious nature very annoying.
linoleum
lucid
noun /lI»nÚlI´m/
a type of strong material with a hard, shiny surface,
used for covering floors
The architect advised the workers to cover the floor
with linoleum.
adjective /»lu˘sId/
clearly expressed; easy to understand
Ellen has a lucid writing style.
lucifugous
liquidate
adjective /lu˘»sIfjUg´s/
shunning the light
The lucifugous mole burrowed his tunnel under our
lawn.
verb /»lIkwIdeIt/
to close a business and sell everything it owns in
order to pay debts
She has to liquidate her property in order to pay off
her loans.
ludicrous
adjective /»lu˘dIkr´s/
so foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be
amusing
The ludicrous plan was rejected by the board
members.
lithography
noun /lI»TÅgr´fi/
the process of printing from a treated flat surface that
repels the ink except where it is required for printing
The art exhibition included some amazing pieces that
had been created using lithography.
lunacy
noun /»lu˘n´si/
behaviour that is stupid or crazy
It is sheer lunacy to drive in bad weather.
lithosphere
noun /»lIT´sfI´[r]/
the layer of rock that forms the outer part of the Earth
The lithosphere is about sixty miles thick.
lurid
adjective /»lU´rId/
too bright in colour, in a way that is not attractive
She was wearing a lurid orange and green blouse.
l 336 l
15
to 17
age group
luscious
having a pleasingly rich, sweet taste
We ate some luscious mangoes straight from the
tree.
luxurious
adjective /l√g»ZU´rI´s/
very comfortable; containing expensive and enjoyable
things
Queen Mary 2 is a luxurious liner.
l 337 l
L
M
15 to 17
age group
macabre
maestro
adjective /m´»kA˘br´/
unpleasant and strange because connected with
death and frightening things
The city morgue is a macabre place to visit.
noun /»maIstrÚ/
a master in any art, especially in music
The opera was composed by the maestro himself.
magisterial
macaque
adjective /«mQdZI»stI´ri´l/
showing power or authority
The head of the family behaved in a magisterial
manner.
noun /m´»kA˘k/
a medium-sized, chiefly forest-dwelling Old World
monkey which has a long face and cheek pouches for
holding food
magistrate
machete
noun /»mQdZIstreIt/
a civil officer who administers the law
The accused was ordered to come up before the
magistrate.
noun /m´»Seti/
a broad heavy knife used as a cutting tool and as a
weapon
The farmer cut open a coconut with a single blow
from his machete.
magnanimous
adjective /mQg»nQnIm´s/
kind, generous and forgiving, especially towards an
enemy or a rival
His refusal to take revenge was considered a
magnanimous gesture by many.
Machiavellian
adjective /«mQkI´»velIń/
cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in
politics
“The people were tired of the government’s
Machiavellian tactics.”
magnetostriction
noun /mQg«ni˘tÚ»strIkSń/
a change in the dimensions of ferromagnetic
materials when subjected to a magnetic field
Rapid, alternating magnetostriction causes the iron
cores of household transformers to hum or buzz.
macrocephalic
adjective /«mQkrÚsI»fQlIk/
having an unusually large head
A macrocephalic head may be due to bone
overgrowth or water on the brain or brain overgrowth.
magnitude
macrocosm
noun /»mQgnItju˘d/
largeness
The sheer magnitude of the task seemed
overwhelming.
noun /»mQkrÚkÅz´m/
the whole of a complex structure, especially the world
or the universe, contrasted with a small or
representative part of it
The foundation of Hindu astrology is based on the
connection between the microcosm and macrocosm.
maintenance
noun /»meIntńńs/
upkeep
The school pays for heating and the maintenance of
the buildings.
maelstrom
noun /»meIlstr´m/
a violent or turbulent situation
“We were all caught up in the maelstrom following the
boss’s sudden resignation.”
l 338 l
15
to 17
age group
maisonette
M
manageable
noun /«meIz´»net/
a flat with rooms on two floors within a building,
usually with a separate entrance
She lives in a rented maisonette.
adjective /»mQnIdZ´bl/
that can be managed, used or controlled
The debt has been reduced to a manageable level.
mandatory
malaise
adjective /»mQnd´t´ri/
required by law
They had to pay a mandatory fee to register for the
competition.
noun /m´»leIz/
a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease
After the weekend there was a general feeling of
malaise in the office.
maniacal
malcontent
adjective /m´»naI´kl/
wild or violent
He drove in a maniacal manner.
noun /»mQlkńtent/
a person who is not satisfied with a situation
A malcontent was leading the conspiracy.
manifestation
malign
noun /«mQnIfe»steISn/
display; revelation
The riots are a clear manifestation of the people’s
discontent.
adjective /m´»laIn/
harmful
She had a strong and malign influence on her friend.
malignant
Maori
adjective /m´»lIgnńt/
harmful
We were thankful that it was not a malignant tumour.
proper noun /»maUri/
a member of the aboriginal people of New Zealand
The language of the Maori is officially recognised in
New Zealand.
malleability
marionette
noun /»mQli´»bIl´ti/
being easily influenced
The fashion designer believes in flexibility and
malleability in regards to her design philosophy.
noun /«mQri´»net/
a puppet manipulated from above by strings
The toddlers watched in amazement as the
marionette danced.
mammoth
markhor
noun /»mQm´T/
an animal like a large elephant covered with hair, that
lived thousands of years ago and is now extinct
noun /»mA˘kç˘/
a large wild goat with very long twisted horns, native
to central Asia
manacle
Marseillaise
verb /»mQn´kl/
to fasten metal bands to a person’s hands or feet, to
stop them from escaping
The police had to manacle the prisoner so he could
not escape.
noun /«mA˘s´»leIz/
the national anthem of France, written by Rouget de
Lisle in 1792 and first sung in Paris by Marseilles
patriots
The Marseillais has been the inspiration of many
pieces of classical music.
l 339 l
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15 to 17
age group
marsupial
maul
noun /mA˘»su˘pi´l/
a mammal such as a kangaroo or wallaby of which
the female has a pouch in front of her body in which
its babies are carried
A marsupial is a mammal found only in Australia.
verb /mç˘l/
to attack and injure somebody by tearing their flesh
The helpless family watched the lion maul the keeper.
mauve
adjective /mÚv/
pale purple in colour
The mauve walls in her room pleased her.
martyr
noun /»mA˘t´[r]/
a person who suffers very much or is killed because
of their religious or political beliefs
He was officially announced a martyr ten years after
his death.
maverick
noun /»mQv´rIk/
a person with independent or unusual views
Politically, she is a real maverick.
masquerade
noun /«mQsk´»reId/
a way of behaving that hides the truth or a person’s
true feeling
Her sympathy is just a masquerade for her jealousy.
mawkish
adjective /»mç˘kIS/
expressing or sharing emotion in a way that is
exaggerated or embarrassing
The young man wrote mawkish poems about her.
masseur
noun /mQ»sŒ˘[r]/
a male whose job is giving people massages
She wanted to employ the best masseur in the city.
mayhem
noun /»meIhem/
confusion and fear
There was absolute mayhem when everyone tried to
get out of the burning cinema at once.
maternity
adjective /m´»tŒ˘n´ti/
related to being a mother
She applied for maternity leave.
mayonnaise
noun /meI´»neIz/
a thick creamy dressing consisting of egg yolks
beaten with oil and vinegar and seasoned
Make the tuna sandwich with plenty of mayonnaise.
matinee
noun /»mQtIneI/
an afternoon performance of a play or film
They all enjoyed the matinee.
meagre
adjective /»mi˘g´[r]/
small in quantity and poor in quality
He would often complain about the meagre salary
that he received.
matriarchal
adjective /«meItri»A˘kl/
controlled by females
Some animals live in matriarchal groups.
meander
matriculate
verb /mi»Qnd´[r]/
to take a winding, crooked or involved course
Streams tend to meander through level ground.
verb /m´»trIkjuleIt/
to be admitted to membership in a body or society,
particularly in a college or university
When did you matriculate?
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to 17
age group
mechanism
M
mendacious
noun /»mekńIz´m/
the parts of a machine, taken collectively
There was a problem with the car’s gear mechanism.
adjective /men»deIS´s/
not telling the truth
His friends learnt to discount his mendacious stories
when they found out that he was a habitual liar.
mediate
mercantile
verb /»mi˘dieIt/
to try to end a disagreement between two or more
people or groups
The secretary general was asked to mediate in the
dispute.
adjective /»mŒ˘kńtaIl3/
(formal) connected with trade and commercial affairs
This law is beneficial to mercantile interests.
meritorious
mediocre
adjective /«merI»tç˘ri´s/
deserving reward or praise
She deserves a medal for her meritorious conduct.
adjective /«mi˘di»Úk´[r]/
of only average standard
We were disappointed because he gave a rather
mediocre performance in the play.
mesmerise
verb /»mezm´raIz/
to hypnotise
The critic watched the singer mesmerise the
audience with her voice.
mediocrity
noun /«mi˘di»Åkr´ti/
the quality of being average or not very good
His novels seldom rise above mediocrity.
methane
melancholy
noun /»mi˘TeIn, »meTeIn/
a colourless odourless flammable gas
They used methane for the experiment in the science
project.
noun /»melńk´li/
a deep feeling of sadness
He had an air of sorrow and melancholy about him.
melange
meticulous
noun /meI»lA˘nZ/
a mixture or variety of different things
This salad is a melange of fruits.
adjective /m´»tIkj´l´s/
paying careful attention to every detail
Their room had been prepared with meticulous care.
melodrama
metropolis
noun /»mel´drA˘m´/
a sensational and dramatic play with exaggerated
characters and exciting events
She wrote a gripping melodrama about mistaken
identity.
noun /m´»trÅp´lIs/
a large, important city
Thousands of commuters travel daily from the
metropolis to their homes in the suburbs.
microcosm
memoir
noun /»maIkrÚkÅz´m/
a thing, a place or a group that has all the features
and qualities of something much larger
Our small village is a microcosm of the larger world.
noun /»memwA˘[r]/
an account written by somebody about their life and
experiences
His memoir contained both factual and fictional
material.
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15 to 17
age group
millennium
misconstrue
noun /mI»lenI´m/
a period of a thousand years, especially when
calculated from the traditional date of the birth of
Christ
The year 2001 marked the beginning of a new
millennium.
verb /«mIskń»stru˘/
to mistake the meaning of
The counsellor advised the couple not to misconstrue
what he was about to say.
misdemeanour
noun /«mIsdI»mi˘n´[r]/
an action that is bad or unacceptable, but not very
serious
As it was only a small misdemeanour, the child was
not punished.
millionaire
noun /«mIlj´»ne´[r]/
a person whose assets are worth one million
dollars/pounds or more
The philanthropic millionaire donated a large sum of
money to the local orphanage.
misogynist
noun /mI»sÅdZInIst/
a man who hates women
The misogynist refused to work with a female
secretary.
mingle
verb /»mINgl/
to mix or cause to mix
She tried to mingle with the new neighbours.
misshapen
miniaturise
adjective /«mIs»SeIpń/
with a shape that is not normal or natural
We laughed when our mother showed us the
misshapen potato that looked like a cat.
verb /»mIn´tS´raIz/
to make much smaller
He used to miniaturise models of ships and put them
in bottles as ornaments.
mnemonic
minutiae
noun /nI»mÅnIk/
a word, sentence that helps you remember something
He made up a mnemonic to remember the theorem.
noun /mI»nju˘SIi˘, maI»nju˘SIaI/
very small details
Before signing a contract one should always study the
minutiae.
module
noun /»mÅdju˘l/
a standard or unit of measurement
The writing module greatly helped improve her written
expression.
misanthrope
noun /»mIzńTrÚp/
one who avoids human society
He was labelled a misanthrope because he preferred
to remain secluded in his studio.
mollusc
noun /»mÅl´sk/
marine invertebrates having a soft unsegmented
body, and a protective calcareous shell
Molluscs are eaten at seaside resort.
miscellaneous
adjective /«mIs´»leIni´s/
consisting of many different kinds of things that are
not connected and do not easily form a group
He has a miscellaneous collection of books.
l 342 l
15
to 17
age group
monarchist
M
mortician
noun /»mÅn´kIst/
a person who believes that a country should be ruled
by a king or a queen
He has always been a monarchist and enjoys
watching the Queen’s speech on television.
noun /mç˘»tISn/
a person whose job is to prepare bodies for funerals
The mortician prepared the corpse for burial.
mozzarella
noun /«mÅts´»rel´/
a type of soft white Italian cheese with a mild flavour
She sprinkled a handful of mozzarella on the pizza
before baking it.
monochromatically
adverb /mÅnÚkr´»mQtIk´li/
containing or using only one colour
Some scenes in the film were filmed
monochromatically around one particular color.
muffle
verb /»m√fl/
to wrap something especially for wamth or to try to
deaden a noise
She tried to muffle her laughter in class.
monocyte
noun /»mÅnÚsaIt/
one of the main types of white blood cells
Monocyte cells are part of the human body’s immune
system.
mulligatawny
noun /«m√lIg´»tç˘ni/
a spicy meat soup originally made in India
I asked my mother for the recipe of mulligatawny
soup.
monotheism
noun /»mÅnÚ«Ti˘Iz´m/
the doctrine or belief that there is only one God
The concept of monotheism in Islam believes in
God’s oneness as being absolutely unquestionable.
multilingual
adjective /«m√lti»lINgw´l/
speaking or using several different languages
I went to the bookstore to purchase a multilingual
phrase book.
morbid
adjective /»mç˘bId/
having an unusual interest in death or unpleasant
events
Her morbid outlook on life made me suspect her of
being depressed.
multiplicity
noun /«m√ltI»plIs´ti/
a great number and variety of something
He was appalled by the multiplicity of details he had
to attend to before setting out on his mission.
morganatic
adjective /«mç˘g´»nQtIk/
a marriage in which neither the spouse of lower rank,
nor any children have any claim to the possessions or
title of the spouse of higher rank
Morganatic marriages used to be looked down upon
by the aristocracy.
munificent
adjective /mju˘»nIfIsnt/
very generous
A munificent gift was presented to the bride by her
father.
morose
adjective /m´»rÚs/
gloomy and unsocial
My brother wears a habitually morose expression.
murk
noun /mŒ˘k/
darkness caused by smoke, fog
The murk which hung over the house and garden was
depressing.
l 343 l
M
15 to 17
age group
musculature
myriad
noun /»m√skjUl´tS´/
the system or arrangement of muscles in a body, part
of the body, or an organ
The musculature system causes either locomotion of
the organism itself or movement of internal organs.
noun /»mIrI´d/
a countless or extremely great number of people or
things
The sky looks beautiful on clear nights as it is filled
with a myriad of stars.
musculoskeletal
mythopoeic
adjective /«m√skjUlÚ»skelIt´l/
relating to or denoting the musculature and skeleton
together
The musculoskeletal system provides form, support,
stability, and movement to the body.
adjective /«mITÚ»pi˘Ik/
the making of a myth or myths
The mythopoeic awards are given to authors of
outstanding works in the fields of myth and fantasy.
myxomatosis
mutilate
noun /«mIks´m´»tÚsIs/
an infectious disease of rabbits that usually causes
death
Her rabbits died of myxomatosis.
verb /»mju˘tIleIt/
to damage very severely, especially by cutting or
tearing off part of it
The torturer threatened to mutilate his victim.
mutinous
adjective /»mju˘tń´s/
refusing to obey the orders of somebody in authority
The captain had to use force to quieten his mutinous
crew.
muzzle
noun /»m√zl/
the projecting part of the face, usually the jaws and
nose, of animals such as a dog or horse
I gently stroked the horse’s muzzle to soothe him.
myopic
adjective /maI»ÚpIc/
lacking foresight or intellectual insight
He is very inexperienced and has a rather myopic
outlook on life.
myotome
noun /»maI´tÚm/
the segment in a vertebrate embryo that differentiates
into skeletal muscle such as in fishes
An amphibian’s skeletal muscles arise from its
myotome.
l 344 l
15
to 17
age group
narcissism
N
navigate
noun /»nA˘sIsIz´m/
the habit of admiring yourself too much, especially
your appearance
A superiority complex sometimes leads to narcissism.
verb /»nQvIgeIt/
to find the correct direction in which to travel
The upper reaches of the river are too dangerous to
navigate.
nascence
Neanderthal
noun /»nQsns/
birth
They celebrated the nascence of their first child with
great joy.
adjective /ni»Qnd´tA˘l/
used to describe a type of human being who used
stone tools and lived in Europe during the early
period of human history
The remains of a Neanderthal man were found in
Germany.
nascent
adjective /»nQsnt/
beginning to exist; not yet fully developed
It is not prudent to invest in the nascent space
tourism industry.
nebula
noun /»nebj´l´/
a mass of dust or gas that can be seen in the night
sky, often appearing very bright
The nebula was observed through the powerful
telescope.
nasturtium
noun /n´»stŒ˘S´m/
a garden plant with round flat leaves and red, orange
or yellow flowers that are sometimes eaten in salads
As an experiment, mother decided to put the flowers
of the nasturtium in the salad.
necessarily
adverb /«nes´»ser´li/
inevitably
Wealth does not necessarily make you happy.
natation
necessitate
noun /neI»teISn/
swimming
Natation is one of the best exercises for the human
body because it uses all the muscles.
verb /n´»sesIteIt/
compel
Your job may necessitate you working overtime at
least twice a week.
nausea
necromancer
noun /»nç˘zi´/
a feeling that you have when you want to vomit
His graphic account of the accident induced a feeling
of nausea.
noun /»nekrúmQns´[r]/
a person who claims to communicate by magic with
people who are dead
The village people used to visit the necromancer to
communicate with their deceased loved ones.
nautilus
noun /»nç˘tIl´s/
a mollusc having a spiral, pearly-lined shell with a
series of air-filled chambers
necropolis
noun /ne»krÅp´lIs/
a cemetery, especially a large one belonging to an
ancient city
The necropolis at Makli is considered to be one of the
largest in the world.
l 345 l
N
15 to 17
age group
nefarious
netiquette
adjective /nI»fe´ri´s/
wicked; not moral
He was ostracised because of his past nefarious
activities.
noun /»netIket/
the correct or acceptable way of using the Internet
It is advisable to exercise proper netiquette when
surfing the web.
negligence
neurology
the failure to give somebody or something enough
care or attention
The accident was a result of the driver’s negligence.
noun /njU´»rÅl´dZi/
the scientific study of nerves and their diseases
He has studied neurology.
neurosis
negligible
noun /njU´»rúsIs/
a mental illness in which a person suffers strong
feelings of fear and worry
Due to my neurosis, I am unable to enjoy a carefree
life.
adjective /»neglIdZ´bl/
of very little importance and not worth considering
Even after much bargaining the shopkeeper only
conceded a negligible amount.
negotiate
neutralise
verb /nI»gÚSieIt/
to try to reach an agreement by formal discussion
The government will not negotiate with terrorists.
verb /»nju˘tr´laIz/
to stop something from having any effect
In order to neutralise an acidic solution, an alkali must
be added to it.
neigh
niche
verb /neI/
a characteristic high-pitched sound uttered by a horse
She heard her horse neigh amongst all the other
horses at the show.
noun /ni˘S/
a comfortable or suitable role, job, way of life
He eventually found his niche in sports journalism.
neolithic
nicotine
adjective /«ni˘Ú»lITIk/
relating to or denoting the later part of the Stone Age,
when ground or polished stone weapons and
implements prevailed
The neolithic age was a period in the development of
human technology, beginning about 9500 BC.
noun /»nIk´ti˘n/
an alkaloid which is the active principle of tobacco
Nicotine is an intensely poisonous substance.
nirvana
noun /nI´»vA˘n´, nE˘»vA˘n´/
a transcendent state in which there is neither
suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is
released from the effects of karma and the cycle of
death and rebirth
Nirvana is the central concept of Buddhism and is the
only state of eternal happiness.
neonatal
adjective /«ni˘Ú»neItl/
of or relating to a child that has just been born
The hospital’s neonatal unit had many patients.
nescient
adjective /nesińt/
lacking knowledge; ignorant
This report is a product of nescient minds.
l 346 l
15
to 17
age group
nocturnal
N
nostalgia
adjective /nÅk»tŒ˘nl/
active at night
The farmer got himself a watchdog to prevent the
nocturnal raids on his chicken coops.
noun /nÅ»stQldZ´/
a feeling of sadness mixed with pleasure and
affection when you think of happy times in the past
The first settlers found so much work to do that they
had little time for nostalgia.
nodule
notorious
noun /»nÅdju˘l/
a small round lump or swelling, especially on a plant
The plant had a strange nodule on its stem.
adjective /nÚ»tç˘ri´s/
generally known and talked about, usually in an
unfavourable sense
The police are on a hunt for the notorious criminal.
noisome
extremely unpleasant or offensive
She left the chicken farm quickly as she found the
noisome smells disturbing.
nougat
noun /»nu˘gA˘ or »n√g´t/
a sweet made from sugar or honey, nuts and egg
white
Bits of nougat got stuck between her teeth.
nomadic
adjective /nÚ»mQdIk/
moving from place to place for subsistence
He lived a nomadic lifestyle.
nouveau
adjective /»nu˘vÚ or n√g´t/
modern or up to date.
The nouveau riche family lacks finesse and good
manners.
nominal
adjective /»nÅmInl/
very small
She charged only a nominal fee for her work.
novice
noun /»nÅvIs/
one who is new in any business or profession
She is a complete novice as a reporter.
nonchalance
noun /»nÅnS´lńs/
cool indifference
You had to admire his air of nonchalance as he faced
difficulties both at work and at home.
noxious
adjective /»nÅkS´s/
poisonous or harmful
Containers that hold noxious gases must be handled
with great care.
nonentity
noun /nÅ»nent´ti/
a person without any special qualities, who has not
achieved anything important
Mariam sincerely apologised to Tariq for calling him a
nonentity in a moment of anger.
nuance
noun /»nju˘A˘ns/
a very slight difference that is not usually very
obvious
He watched her face intently to catch every nuance of
expression.
nonsensical
adjective /nÅn»sensIkl/
without sense
His nonsensical argument bored everyone.
l 347 l
N
15 to 17
age group
nuclear
adjective /»nju˘kli´[r]/
of or pertaining to a nucleus
Nuclear powered aircraft carriers can stay at sea for
years at a time.
nucleotide
noun /»nju˘klI´taId/
any of a group of molecules that, when linked
together, form the building blocks of DNA
Nucleotides are the basic building blocks of
nucleic acids.
nucleus
noun /»nju˘kli´s/
the central part of something around which other
parts are situated
The fortress was the nucleus of the ancient city.
nugatory
adjective /»nju˘g´t´ri/
having no purpose or value
His contribution to the discussion was nugatory.
nuisance
noun /»nju˘sns/
that which annoys or gives trouble and vexation
Stop making a nuisance of yourself and do something
useful instead.
numerous
adjective /»nju˘m´r´s/
consisting of a great number of units or individual
objects
He has helped me on numerous occasions.
numismatic
adjective /«nju˘mIz»mQtIk/
relating to or consisting of coins or medals
The museum consulted the expert on numismatic
about the cashe of old silver coins.
nurture
verb /»nŒ˘tS´[r]/
to nourish or nurse
It’s important to nurture a good working relationship.
l 348 l
15
to 17
age group
oaf
O
objectification
noun /Úf/
a stupid, awkward person
He called the unfortunate waiter a clumsy oaf.
noun /´b«dZektIfI»keISn/
the act of treating people as if they are objects
without rights or feelings of their own
Most of the advertisements on T.V. indulge in the
objectification of women.
oaken
adjective /»Úkń/
made or consisting of oak or of the wood of oak
The old couple could not buy the oaken table as it
was very expensive.
objurgation
noun /»ÅbdZ´geISn/
a severe rebuke; scolding
The threat of an objurgation did not deter the
students from carrying out their end of term pranks.
obdurate
adjective /»Åbdj´r´t/
refusing to change your mind or your actions in any
way
His obdurate refusal to listen to our complaints
infuriated us.
obliterate
to remove all signs of something, by destroying or
covering it completely
The horrified boy watched the tidal wave obliterate his
fishing village.
obeisance
noun /Ú»beIsns/
the act of bending your head or the upper part of your
body in order to show respect for somebody or
something
He made an obeisance as the king and queen
entered the room.
oblivion
noun /´»blIviń/
the state in which somebody or something has been
forgotten and is no longer famous or important
Her work fell into oblivion after her death.
obelisk
obloquy
noun /»Åb´lIsk/
a tall pointed stone column with four sides, put up in
memory of a person or event
We saw an obelisk in the square as a memorial of the
war.
noun /»Åbl´kwi/
strong public criticism; loss of honour and respect
I have endured years of contempt and obloquy.
obnoxious
adjective /´b»nÅkS´s/
very unpleasant, offensive
He has the most obnoxious manners.
obfuscate
verb /»Åbf√skeIt/
to make something more difficult to understand
Do not obfuscate the issues by dragging in irrelevant
arguments.
oboe
noun /»Úbú/
a high-pitched woodwind instrument
He plays the oboe very well.
obituary
noun /´»bItSu´ri/
a notice of the death of a person, accompanied by a
biographical sketch
He wrote an obituary for the local newspaper on his
grandmother’s death.
obscure
hidden or unknown
The hymn was written by an obscure Greek
composer.
l 349 l
O
15 to 17
age group
obsequious
occipital
adjective /´b»si˘kwi´s/
trying too hard to please somebody
The waiter in the expensive hotel greeted us with an
obsequious smile.
adjective /»Åk»sIpIt´l/
of, pertaining to, or situated near the occiput
The occipital artery supplies blood to the back of the
scalp.
observation
occlusion
noun /«Åbz´»veISn/
the act of observing or taking notice
The patient was kept under observation for weeks.
noun /´»klu˘Zń/
Medicine the blockage or closing of a blood vessel or
hollow organ
Occlusion is relatively common in the retina, and can
cause partial or total loss of vision.
obsession
noun /´b»seSn/
the state in which a person’s mind is completely filled
with thoughts of one particular thing or person in a
way that is not normal
His obsession with computers began six months ago.
occult
noun /´»k√lt/
magic powers and things that cannot be explained by
reason or science
He has an unhealthy interest in witchcraft and the
occult.
obsolete
no longer in use
Many obsolete words were found in the old text.
oceanic
adjective /«ÚSi»QnIk/
of or pertaining to the ocean
The study of oceanic plant life can be very interesting
for young children.
obstetrician
noun /«Åbst´»trISn/
doctor skilled in obstetrics
Dr. Saad is a very well known obstetrician.
ochre
noun /»Úk´[r]/
a type of red or yellow earth used in some paints and
dyes
He has painted the walls of his room yellow ochre.
obstinate
adjective /»ÅbstIn´t/
refusing to change, usually implying
unreasonableness
The obstinate old man refused to go to the hospital.
octennial
adjective /Åk»tenI´l/
recurring every eight years
He gave a speech at the octennial gathering of
chancellors.
obtrude
verb /´b»tru˘d/
to thrust impertinently
He was trying to obtrude his opinions on others.
octogenarian
noun /«Åkt´dZ´»ne´riń/
a person between 80 and 89 years of age
My grandfather is an octogenarian.
obviate
verb /»ÅbvieIt/
to remove
The new evidence will obviate the need for any
further enquiries.
l 350 l
15
to 17
age group
odorous
O
ombre
adjective /»Úd´r´s/
having or emitting a scent
Apples have an odorous quality.
adjective /»Åmb´/
a trick-taking card game for three people using a pack
of forty cards, popular in Europe in the 17th -18th
centuries
Ombre is one of the earliest card games known in
Europe.
odyssey
noun /»Åd´si/
a long journey full of experiences
The refugee arrived in Australia after a terrifying
odyssey of six months.
ominous
adjective /»ÅmIn´s/
suggesting that something bad is going to happen in
the future
The ominous dark clouds suggested that a storm was
brewing in the Atlantic.
oesophagus
noun /i»sÅf´g´s/
the tube through which food passes from the mouth
to the stomach
His oesophagus was damaged in the car accident.
omnifarious
adjective /«Åmn´»fe´ri´s/
of all kinds
We went to the nursery to conduct a research on
omnifarious plants.
offensive
adjective /´»fensIv/
causing displeasure or resentment
His offensive attitude put everyone off.
omnipotent
adjective /Åm»nIp´tńt/
having unlimited power
The monarch thought of himself as an omnipotent
entity.
officious
adjective /´»fIS´s/
too ready or willing to give orders
I am tired of being pushed around by officious civil
servants.
omnipresent
adjective /«ÅmnI»preznt/
present in all places at the same time
The war brought with it the omnipresent sound of
sirens.
offing
noun /»ÅfIN/
near or foreseeable future
There was a wedding in the offing.
omniscient
oleaginous
adjective /Åm»nIsińt/
knowing everything
The Wall Street Journal has an omniscient data
gathering network.
adjective /«úli»QdZIn´s/
oily
Some organic substances have oleaginous
properties.
onerous
olfactory
adjective /»Ún´r´s/
needing great effort; causing trouble or worry
To chaperone the three active children was an
onerous task.
adjective /Ål»fQkt´ri/
of or connected with the sense of smell
Her olfactory senses are very sharp as she can smell
anything from a distance.
l 351 l
O
15 to 17
age group
onomatopoeia
oppressive
noun /«Ån´«mQt´»pi˘´/
the formation of words in imitation of sounds
He chose onomatopoeia as the style of writing for his
poem.
adjective /´»presIv/
unreasonably burdensome; unjustly severe, rigorous,
or harsh
The oppressive laws of the state can result in a civil
war.
onslaught
opprobrious
noun /»Ånslç˘t/
a strong or violent attack
The town survives the onslaught of tourists every
summer.
adjective /´»prÚbri´s/
(of language) expressing scorn or criticism
Her opprobrious remark about the president was
uncalled for.
opalescent
optimism
adjective /«Úp´»lesnt/
changing colour like an opal
The sailor was fascinated by the opalescent ocean.
noun /»ÅptImIz´m/
a feeling that good things will happen
There is a new feeling of optimism in the country.
ophthalmic
opulent
adjective /Åf»TQlmIk/
connected with the eye
She is going to have ophthalmic surgery.
adjective /»Åpj´lńt/
rich; wealthy
They enjoyed an opulent life style.
ophthalmology
oratorio
noun /«ÅfTQl»mÅl´dZi/
the scientific study of the eye
He is specialising in ophthalmology.
noun /«År´»tç˘riÚ/
a long piece of music for singers and an orchestra,
usually based on a story from the Bible
Our local choir decided to present an oratorio for their
annual recital.
opponent
noun /´»pÚnńt/
a person who is against another person in a game, a
struggle or an argument
He easily defeated his opponent in Saturday’s game.
orchestra
noun /»ç˘kIstr´/
a large group of people playing various musical
instruments together
She plays a flute in the school orchestra.
opportunist
noun /«Åp´»tju˘nIst/
making use of an opportunity, especially to get an
advantage for yourself
I know he will vote for the more influential candidate
as he is such an opportunist.
orchestrate
verb /»ç˘kIstreIt/
to organise a complicated plan or event very carefully
or secretly
John tried to orchestrate a surprise party for his best
friend.
opposition
noun /«Åp´»zISn/
resistance
The army met with fierce opposition in every town.
l 352 l
15
to 17
age group
orchid
O
osteoporosis
noun /»ç˘kId/
a plant with brightly coloured flowers of unusual
shapes
The gardener planted an orchid.
noun /«ÅstiÚp´»rÚsIs/
(medical) a condition in which the bones become
weak and are easily broken
Her mother was suffering from osteoporosis.
orthography
ostracise
noun /ç˘»TÅgr´fi/
conventionally correct spelling; also, mode of spelling
The two languages are essentially the same, but their
orthography is different.
verb /»Åstr´saIz/
to refuse to let somebody be a member of a social
group
His colleagues decided to ostracise him for refusing
to support the strike.
oscillate
otiose
verb /»ÅsIleIt/
to vary from one extreme to another, and back again
Her moods oscillate between depression and elation.
adjective /»ÚtiÚs/
having no useful purpose
He had to sit through an otiose round of meetings.
osmosis
outrageous
noun /Åz»mÚsIs/
process of absorption or diffusion, or often
unconscious assimilation of ideas
She seems to learn foreign languages by osmosis.
adjective /aUt»reIdZ´s/
exceeding the limits of right, reason, or decency
He says the most outrageous things sometimes.
ossify
overture
verb /»ÅsIfaI/
cause to become hard and bony
The disease will ossify the tissue.
noun /»Úv´tj[U]´[r]/
a suggestion or an action by which somebody tries to
make friends, start a business relationship, have
discussions with somebody else
He began making an overture to the leading
merchant bank.
ostensible
adjective /Å»stens´bl/
seeming or stated to be real or true, when this is
perhaps not the case
Although the ostensible purpose of the expedition
was to discover new lands, the explorers were really
interested in expanding trade.
overweening
adjective /«Úv´»wi˘nIN/
showing too much confidence or pride
His overweening pride in his accomplishments was
not justified.
ostentatious
overwrought
expensive or noticeable in a way that is intended to
impress people
She hosted an ostentatious wedding reception to
celebrate her daughter’s marriage.
adjective /Úv´»rç˘t/
in a state of nervous excitement or anxiety
The overwrought children were unable to sleep.
l 353 l
P
15 to 17
age group
pacifist
palatable
noun /»pQsIfIst/
a person who believes that war is always wrong, and
who refuses to fight in a war
A pacifist protests against war.
adjective /»pQl´t´bl/
having a pleasant or acceptable taste
The chef was instructed to prepare a palatable meal
for the dignitaries.
paddock
palindrome
noun /»pQd´k/
a small field where horses are kept or exercised
The child was staring at the paddock in order to see
the horses.
noun /»pQlIndrÚm/
a word or phrase that reads the same backwards as
forwards, e.g. madam
The series of palindromes in the dictionary confused
me.
paediatrician
pallid
noun /«pi˘di´»trISn/
a doctor who studies and treats the diseases of
children
They consulted a paediatrician when the baby
refused to eat.
adjective /»pQlId/
pale
Reena’s pallid complexion was the result of high
fever.
pageant
panacea
noun /»pQdZńt/
a public entertainment in which people dress in
historical costumes and give performances of scenes
from history
My friend was dressed as a princess in our city’s
pageant.
noun /«pQn´»si˘´/
something that will solve all the problems of a
particular situation
He claimed to have a panacea for the company’s
problems.
panache
pageantry
noun /p´»nQS/
a stylish way of doing something
She wears her clothes with great panache.
noun /»pQdZńtri/
scenic shows or spectacles, taken collectively;
spectacular quality; splendour
The pageantry of royal occasions gathers people
from various areas.
pancreas
noun /»pQNkri´s/
an organ near the stomach that produces insulin and
a liquid that helps the body to digest food
The pancreas secretes insulin to regulate the blood
sugar level in the body.
pahoehoe
noun /p´»hÚIhÚi/
a type of lava having a smooth, swirled surface
Pahoehoe is the second most abundant type of lava
flow.
pandemonium
noun /«pQnd´»mÚni´m/
a situation in which there is a lot of noise, activity and
confusion
Pandemonium broke out when the terrible news was
announced.
Palaeolithic
adjective /«pQli´»lITIk/
from or connected with the early part of the Stone
Age
Neanderthals in the Palaeolithic era lived a savage
life.
l 354 l
15
to 17
age group
pantomime
P
paramount
noun /»pQnt´maIm/
(in Britain) a type of play based on a fairy tale usually
performed at Christmas
We took the family to the pantomime last Christmas,
to see ‘Puss in Boots’ .
adjective /»pQr´maUnt/
having the highest rank or jurisdiction; superior to all
others
This matter is of paramount importance.
paranoia
paparazzi
noun /«pQr´»nçI´/
a mental illness in which a person believes that other
people are trying to harm them
His acute paranoia made itself evident, as he claimed
that more and more people were trying to kill him.
pl noun /«pQp´»rQtsi/
a freelance photographer who pursues celebrities to
get photographs of them
The paparazzi got a strict warning not to intrude on
the superstar’s privacy.
parapet
papyrus
noun /»pQr´pIt/
a low protective wall along the edge of a balcony,
bridge, roof
I leaned over the parapet and waved goodbye.
noun /p´»paIr´s/
a tall rush like plant, formerly growing in Egypt
The papyrus was used as paper, for recording facts
and figures, in ancient Egypt.
paraphernalia
paradigm
noun /«pQr´f´»neIli´/
a large number of objects or personal possessions,
especially the equipment that you need for a
particular activity or sport
There is a huge pile of paraphernalia in the garage
waiting to be sorted out.
noun /»pQr´daIm/
a typical example or pattern of something
The war was a paradigm of the worst side of human
nature.
paragon
paraselene
noun /»pQr´gń/
a person who is a perfect example of a particular
quality
I make no claim to be a paragon.
noun /«par´sI»li˘ni/
a bright spot in the sky similar to a parhelion but
formed by moonlight
A paraselene is also called a mock moon.
parallelism
parasite
noun /»pQr´lelIz´m/
the state of being similar; a similar feature
I think he exaggerates the parallelism between the
two cases.
noun /»pQr´saIt/
a small animal or plant that lives on or inside another
animal or plant and gets its food from it
A mosquito is a blood sucking parasite.
paralytic
paregoric
adjective /«pQr´»lItIk/
unable to move
She has been suffering from a paralytic illness since
she had the accident.
noun /pQrI»gÅrik/
medicine that eases pain
The doctor prescribed a paregoric to alleviate the
worst of his suffering.
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age group
parenthesize
parole
verb /p´»renTIsaIz/
put(a word or phrase) into brackets
The tutor made him parenthesize the intransitive
clauses in the passage.
noun /p´»rúl/
the release of a prisoner before the end of a
sentence
He is hoping to get parole.
pariah
paroxysm
noun /p´»raI´/
a social outcast
Huckleberry Finn was a pariah because he was the
son of the town drunkard.
noun /»pQr´ksIz´m/
a sudden strong feeling or expression of an emotion
that cannot be controlled
He went into a paroxysm of rage.
parisienne
parquet
noun /pQ«rIzI»en/
a Parisian girl or woman
noun /»pA˘keI/
a floor covering made of flat pieces of wood fixed
together in a pattern
They had a lovely house with a beautiful flooring in
parquet.
The novel concerns the Parisienne beauty Angelique.
parlance
partiality
noun /»pA˘lńs/
a particular way of using words or expressing yourself
Legal parlance confuses me; I need a lawyer to help
me understand.
noun /«pA˘Si˘Ql´ti/
the unfair support of one person, team, idea
As one of the judges of a competition, I must avoid
any partiality when I come to make my decision.
parliament
participle
noun /»pA˘l´mńt/
the group of people who are elected to make and
change the laws of a country
He has been a member of parliament for many years.
noun /pA˘»tIsIpl/
a word formed from a verb
The present participle of sing is singing.
parlous
partisan
adjective /»pA˘l´s/
very bad and uncertain
The parlous state of security in this country needs
immediate attention.
adjective /«pA˘tI»zQn/
showing too much support for one person, group or
idea
The partisan referee was disqualified for favouring
one team over another.
parochial
parvenu
adjective /p´»rÚki´l/
confined to a limited area
His parochial outlook meant he was out of touch with
the wider world.
noun /»pA˘vńju˘/
a person from a low social or economic position who
has suddenly become rich or powerful
The parvenu was invited everywhere because of his
political connections, but he never felt truly welcome.
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age group
pasquinade
P
patronage
noun /«pQskwI»neId/
a satire or lampoon, originally one displayed or
delivered in a public place
A pasquinade often assaulted misgovernment and
denounced injustice.
noun /»pQtrńIdZ/
favour, encouragement, or aid afforded to a person or
a work
Without the patronage of several large firms, the
festival would not have taken place.
paterfamilias
paucity
noun /«peIt´f´»mIlIas/
the male head of a family or household
Under Roman law a paterfamilias was responsible for
the well-being, legal & moral propriety of the family.
noun /»pç˘s´ti/
a small amount of something; less than enough of
something
The paucity of their savings kept them from returning
to their homeland.
pathogenesis
pauper
noun /«pQTÚ»dZenIsIs/
the manner of development of a disease
Types of pathogenesis include microbial infection,
inflammation, malignancy and tissue breakdown.
noun /»pç˘p´[r]/
a person who is very poor
He died a pauper, with not even enough money to
pay for his grave.
pathology
peculiar
noun /p´»TÅl´dZi/
the science which treats diseases, their nature,
causes, progress, symptoms
The diagnosis of diseases led to the science of
pathology.
adjective /pI»kju˘li´[r]/
odd or strange especially in a rather unpleasant way
I have a peculiar feeling that I have been here before.
pecuniary
pathos
adjective /pI»kju˘ni´ri/
relating to or connected with money
I did not expect a pecuniary reward for my work in
this project.
noun /»peITÅs/
quality that produces feelings of sadness and
sympathy
The film captured the pathos of their plight.
pedestrian
patisserie
noun /p´»destriń/
a person walking in the street
A pedestrian was injured when the car skidded.
noun /p´»ti˘s´ri/
a shop where pastries and cakes are sold
The patisserie has introduced hot cross buns which
delicious.
pediculicide
noun /«pedI»kju˘lIsaId/
a chemical used to kill lice
She is annoyed that the pediculicide she is using isn’t
very effective.
patrimony
noun /»pQtrImńi/
property that is inherited when a father dies
As predicted by his critics, he wasted his patrimony
within two years of his father’s death.
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age group
pediment
perception
noun /»pedImńt/
the part in the shape of a triangle above the entrance
of a building in the ancient Greek style
The pediment of the building was decorated with
figures from Greek mythology.
noun /p´»sepSn/
the way you notice things
She showed great perception in her assessment of
the family situation.
percussion
penchant
noun /p´»k√Sn/
musical instruments that you play by hitting them with
your hand or with a stick
The track features Joey Langton on percussion.
noun /»pentSńt/
special enjoyment of or tendency towards something
She has a penchant for Mexican food.
pendulum
peregrination
noun /»pendj´l´m/
a long straight part with a weight at the end that
moves regularly from side to side to control the
movement of a clock
She watched the clock pendulum as if in a daze.
noun /«per´grI»neISn/
a journey, especially a long, slow one
His peregrination in India taught him to be tolerant of
other cultures.
peregrine
peninsula
noun /»perIgrIn/
a powerful falcon found on most continents, breeding
chiefly on mountains and coastal cliffs and much
used for falconry
The peregrine is the world’s most widespread bird of
prey.
noun /p´»nInsj´l´/
a piece of land that is almost surrounded by water but
narrowly joined to a larger part of land
The Arabian Peninsula is one of the richest areas of
the world.
penultimate
perennial
adjective /pI»n√ltIm´t/
ast but one in a series of things
They scored a boundary off the penultimate delivery.
adjective /p´»reni´l/
continuing for a very long time
A perennial habit of many college students is to go
away on spring break vacation.
penurious
perfidiously
adjective /pI»njU´rI´s/
very poor
Her attempt to commit suicide was a result of her
penurious circumstances.
adverb /p´»fIdi´sli/
deceitfully
He was perfidiously playing one side against the
other.
perceive
perforate
verb /p´»si˘v/
to notice or become aware of something
I did not perceive a change in his behaviour.
verb /»pŒ˘f´reIt/
to put a hole or holes through something
The sound of an explosion can perforate one’s
eardrums.
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to 17
age group
performance
P
permissive
noun /p´»fç˘mńs/
the act of performing
Sara’s award winning performance in the play
received a standing ovation.
adjective /p´»mIsIv/
liberal
Claire’s children took her permissive attitude for
granted.
peripatetic
perpendicular
adjective /«perip´»tetIk/
going from place to place, for example in order to
work
I do not think that she will ever adapt to the
peripatetic nature of military life.
adjective /«pŒ˘pń»dIkj´l´[r]/
at right angles to the plane of the horizon
She slid down the rail of the perpendicular staircase.
perpetual
adjective /p´»petSu´l/
continuing forever or for an unlimited time
How can I work with these perpetual interruptions?
peripheral
adjective /p´»rIf´r´l/
of minor importance
Companies are increasingly keen to contract out
peripheral activities.
perquisite
noun /»pŒ˘kwIzIt/
incidental benefit
A car was a perquisite for his job.
periphery
noun /p´»rIf´ri/
the outer edge of a particular area
In such a condition it is difficult for patients to see
objects at the periphery of their vision.
persecute
verb /»pŒ˘sIkju˘t/
to treat someone in a cruel and unfair way, especially
because of their race, religion or political beliefs
Why does the media persecute him like this?
peritonitis
noun /perIt´»naItIs/
a serious condition in which the inside wall of the
body becomes swollen and infected
The doctor told the family that she was suffering from
peritonitis.
persevere
verb /«pŒ˘sI»vI´[r]/
to continue trying to do or achieve something despite
difficulties
If you persevere I am sure you will succeed.
perjure
verb /»pŒ˘dZ´[r]/
to tell a lie in a court of law after you have sworn to
tell the truth
To perjure oneself is to defeat the ends of justice.
personage
noun /»pŒ˘sńIdZ/
a person especially a famous or important one
A royal personage attended his wedding.
perjury
personnel
noun /»pŒ˘dZ´ri/
the crime of telling a lie in a court of law
The judge found him guilty of perjury.
noun /«pŒ˘s´»nel/
the body of persons employed in some public service,
as the army, navy
Army personnel are not allowed to leave the base.
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age group
perspicacious
perversion
adjective /«pŒ˘spI»keIS´s/
able to understand quickly
He was a most perspicacious student.
noun /p´»vŒ˘Sn/
change something good or right to something that is
bad or wrong
What happened in the court today was a perversion
of justice.
perspicacity
noun /«pŒ˘spI»kQs´ti/
insight; quality of being astute
The brilliant lawyer was known for his perspicacity.
perversity
noun /p´»v´˘sIti/
stubborn maintenance of a wrong cause
I cannot understand the perversity of Nalani’s
decision to not cooperate.
perspicuity
noun /pŒ˘spi»kju˘iti/
clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
The perspicuity of his writing style appeals to most of
his readers.
pessimism
noun /»pesImIz´m/
a feeling that bad things will happen and that
something will not be successful
There is a mood of pessimism in the company about
future job prospects.
perspiration
noun /«pŒ˘sp´»reISn/
sweat
Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead.
petition
noun /p´»tISn/
a formal written request, especially one signed by
many people appealing to somebody in authority
The victimised employees filed a petition against their
manager.
pertinacious
adjective /«pŒ˘tI»neIS´s/
determined to achieve a particular aim in spite of
difficulties or opposition
He is bound to succeed because of his pertinacious
nature.
petulant
adjective /»petjulńt/
bad tempered and unreasonable
Her family no longer puts up with her petulant
behaviour.
pertinent
adjective /»pŒ˘tInńt/
belonging or related to the subject or matter in hand
She had asked some pertinent questions.
pewter
pervasive
noun /»pjU˘t´[r]/
a grey metal made by mixing tin with lead, used
especially in the past for making cups, dishes
A fine collection of old pewter was sold at the auction.
adjective /p´»veIsIv/
existing in all parts of a place or a thing
Despite airing them for several hours, she could not
rid her clothes of the pervasive odour of mothballs.
pharaoh
perverse
noun /»fe´rÚ/
a ruler of ancient Egypt
The pharaoh ordered his people to worship him.
adjective /p´»vŒ˘s/
turned away from what is right; wilfully erring
She takes perverse pleasure in upsetting her parents.
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age group
pharmaceutical
P
philologist
adjective /«fA˘m´»su˘tIk´l/
a compound manufactured for use as a medicinal
drug
Pharmaceutical companies should reduce the cost of
drugs in poorer countries.
noun /fI»lÅl´dZIst/
a person who studies the structure, historical
development, and relationships of a language or
languages
J R R Tolkien, the author of the Lord of the Rings was
also a philologist.
pharmacognosy
phlegmatic
noun /«fA˘m´»kÅgn´si/
the branch of knowledge concerned with medicinal
drugs obtained from plants or other natural sources
His interest in medicinal herbs and roots has led him
to study pharmacognosy in depth.
adjective /fleg»mQtIk/
calm; not easily disturbed
The nurse was a cheerful and phlegmatic person.
phosphate
pharmacokinetics
noun /»fÅsfeIt/
a salt of phosphoric acid
Nitrate and phosphate are used as fertilisers.
noun /«fA˘m´kÚkI»netIks/
the branch of pharmacology concerned with the
movement of drugs within the body
Pharmacokinetics includes the study of the of
absorption, action, etc of an administered drug in the
body.
photogenic
adjective /«fÚtÚ»dZenIk/
looking attractive in photographs
She has such a photogenic face.
pharmacology
noun /«fA˘m´»kÅl´dZi/
knowledge of drugs or medicines; the art of preparing
medicines
Alexander specialised in pharmacology.
physiatrist
noun /«fIzI»atrIst/
a physician specializing in physical medicine
A physiatrist aims to restore functional ability to those
with physical impairments or disabilities.
phenomenal
adjective /f´»nÅmIn´l/
extraordinary; wonderful
The rocket travels at phenomenal speed.
picaresque
adjective /«pIk´»resk/
connected with literature that describes the
adventures of a person who is sometimes dishonest
but easy to like
‘Tom Jones’ has been hailed as one of the best
picaresque novels in English literature.
philanthropy
noun /fI»lQnTr´pi/
the practice of helping the poor and those in need,
especially by giving money
Philanthropy is something that all of us should
practice to the best of our ability.
picturesque
adjective /«pIktS´»resk/
suitable to be the subject of a striking picture
She couldn’t take her eyes off the photograph of the
picturesque cottage.
philistine
noun /»fIlIstaIn/
a person who does not like or understand art,
literature, music
I am not going to invite Ali to my photographic
exhibition; he is such a philistine.
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age group
piety
placebo
noun /»paI´ti/
devotion to religion
His piety has never been questioned.
noun /pl´»si˘bÚ/
a dummy medicine given to patients who do not need
medicine but think that they do
The doctor gave his patient a placebo and was
amused to hear that he had made a complete
recovery.
pigmentation
noun /«pIgmen»teISn/
the coloring of a person’s skin, especially when
abnormal or distinctive
She has a skin disorder that affects the pigmentation
in her skin.
plagiarism
noun /»pleIdZ´rIz´m/
the act or practice of plagiarising, cheating, copying
without permission
Those who get caught in the act of plagiarism will be
expelled from the school.
pinnacle
noun /»pIn´kl/
the highest, most important or successful part of
something
He has reached the pinnacle of his career.
plaintiff
noun /»pleIntIf/
person who brings a suit in a court of law
The plaintiff claimed that the land was allotted to him
by the government.
piquant
adjective /»pi˘kńt, A˘nt/
having a pleasantly strong or spicy taste
The piquant sauce improved the taste of the meal.
plaque
noun /plQk/
a flat piece of stone, metal usually with a name and
dates on, attached to a wall in memory of a person or
an event
A bronze plaque hung outside the house where the
poet was born.
piranha
noun /pI»rA˘n´/
a small South American freshwater fish that attacks
and eats live animals
piscivorous
plausible
adjective /pIsIv´r´s/
feeding on fish
The alligator is not completely piscivorous while
Aquatic Genet, is strictly dependent on fish for food.
adjective /»plç˘z´bl/
likely to be true
The only plausible explanation is that he had
forgotten.
pistachio
plebiscite
noun /pI»stQSiÚ/
the small green nut of an Asian tree
The prices of all dry fruits, including pistachio, almond
and cashew, have increased substantially.
noun /»plebIsIt/
a vote by universal political election
The question of which state the area should belong to
was decided by plebiscite.
pleiades
noun /»plaI´di˘z/
a well-known cluster of stars in the constellation
Tauras, also known as ‘Seven Sisters’
The pleiades is easily visible to the naked eye in the
night sky.
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to 17
age group
plenipotentiary
P
poignant
noun /«plenIp´»tenS´ri/
a person who has full powers to take action, make
decisions on behalf of their government
The commissioner acting as a plenipotentiary did
whatever was necessary to stop the riots.
arousing sympathy
Her face was a poignant reminder of the passing of
time.
polemic
plethora
noun /p´»lemIk/
a speech or piece of writing that presents a very
strong argument
Her speech was memorable for being polemic.
noun /»pleT´r´/
a quantity greater than what is needed or can be
used
The report contained a plethora of detail.
poliomyelitis
plummet
noun /«pÚlIÚmaI´»laItIs/
an infectious viral disease that affects the central
nervous system and cause paralysis
Poliomyelitis can be prevented through vaccination.
verb /»pl√mIt/
to drop down; plunge
The children watched the acrobat plummet into the
net.
politician
pneumococcus
noun /«pÅl´»tISn/
one versed or experienced in the activity of
government
Ahmed is a seasoned politician.
noun /«nju˘mÚ»kÅk´s/
a bacterium associated with pneumonia and some
forms of meningitis
Pneumococcal pneumonia is more common in the
very young and the very old.
pollution
noun /p´»lu˘Sn/
defilement; uncleanness; impurity
I wish the government would do something to reduce
the level of environmental pollution.
pneumoconiosis
noun /«nju˘mÚkÚnI»ÚsIs/
a cronic lung disease caused by the habitual
inhalation of irritants
Without proper protection factory and chemical
workers run the risk of developing pneumoconiosis
pomegranate
noun /»pÅmIgrQnIt/
a round fruit with thick smooth skin and red flesh full
of large seeds
Pomegranate is my favourite fruit.
pneumonia
noun /nju˘»mÚni´/
inflammation of the lungs
He is down with pneumonia.
pomposity
noun /pÅm»pÅs´ti/
self-important behaviour
Although the speaker had good things to say, we had
to laugh at his pomposity.
podzol
noun /»pÅdzÅl/
an infertile acidic soil having an ash-like subsurface
layer and a lower dark stratum
Podzols are typically found in temperate coniferous
woodlands.
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age group
pompous
precarious
adjective /»pÅmp´s/
self important; pretentious
His speech was delivered in a pompous manner.
adjective /prI»ke´ri´s/
not safe or certain
She makes a precarious living as a novelist.
porcelain
precedent
noun /»pç˘s´lIn/
fine china
My mother had a large collection of antique porcelain.
noun /»presIdńt/
similar action or event that happened earlier
The trial could set an important precedent for dealing
with large numbers of similar cases.
possession
preciosity
noun /p´»zeSn/
something one owns
My most precious possession is the bracelet that my
grandmother wore on her wedding day.
noun /«preSi»ÅsIti/
over refinement in behaviour; not natural
His preciosity is really absurd in modern times.
possessive
precipice
adjective /p´»zesIv/
not liking to lend or share things with others
Most people found his possessive nature very off
putting.
noun /»pres´pIs/
a very steep side of a high mountain or cliff
Indiana Jones found himself dangling from the edge
of the precipice.
posthumous
preclude
adjective /»pÅstjum´s/
happening after a person has died
The grieving widow received her husband’s
posthumous award for bravery.
verb /prI»klu˘d/
to prevent
His appearance for the England A team does not
preclude him from playing for Ireland.
posture
precocious
the position in which you hold your body when
standing or sitting
She has a very good posture.
adjective /prI»kÚS´s/
prematurely developed
He is an extremely precocious child and can read
very well.
poultice
precursor
noun /»pÚltIs/
a soft substance spread on a cloth, sometimes
heated, and put on the skin to reduce pain or swelling
The doctor advised him to apply a poultice to his
swollen arm.
noun /pri˘»kŒ˘s´[r]/
a person or a thing that comes before somebody or
something similar and that leads to or influences its
development
Colonial opposition to unfair taxation by the British
was a precursor of the American Revolution.
pragmatist
predicament
noun /»prQgm´tIst/
practical person
Being a pragmatist, he is the best person to call in an
emergency.
noun /prI»dIk´mńt/
an unfortunate or trying position
I am afraid we are in a bit of a predicament.
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to 17
age group
preferential
P
pretentious
adjective /«pref´»renSl/
unfairly favourable
Why should his son get preferential treatment at
work?
adjective /prI»tenS´s/
trying to appear important, intelligent in order to
impress other people
Everybody disliked her for her pretentious nature.
preliminary
preternatural
happening before a more important action or event
After a few preliminary remarks, he announced the
winners.
adjective /«pri˘t´»nQtSr´l/
beyond that which is normal in nature
Autumn has arrived with preternatural speed.
prevalent
preposterous
adjective /»prev´lńt/
commonly existing or occurring
Most of our prevalent beliefs are inherited from our
religion.
adjective /prI»pÅst´r´s/
completely unreasonable
The insurance company refuses to pay for his
preposterous claim.
prevaricate
prescription
verb /prI»vQrIkeIt/
to speak or act evasively
It is a well known fact that politicians will prevaricate
at news conferences.
noun /prI»skrIpSn/
the act of prescribing, also, that which is prescribed
The prescription of drugs is a doctor’s responsibility.
presentiment
primogeniture
noun /prI»zentImńt/
a feeling that something is going to happen,
especially something unpleasant
I had a presentiment this morning that my car was
not going to start.
noun /«praImÚ»dZenItS´[r]/
the fact of being the first child born in a family
His primogeniture makes him the heir to his father’s
title.
prion
presidential
noun /»pri˘Ån/
a very small unit of protein that is believed to be the
cause of brain diseases
The biology teacher explained to us what a prion was.
adjective /«prezI»denSl/
pertaining to the president
The campaign for the presidential elections is at its
peak these days.
privation
prestigious
noun /praI»veISn/
a lack of the basic things that people need for living
In his youth he had seen much hunger and privation
in Africa.
adjective /pre»stIdZ´s/
having a good reputation
One of the world’s most prestigious orchestras is
playing today.
privy
adjective /»prIvi/
sharing in the secret of something
He was a member of the privy council.
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age group
proclaim
prognathous
verb /pr´»kleIm/
to make known by public announcement
They dare not proclaim their intentions loudly.
adjective /prÅ»gn´T´s/
having projecting lower jaw or chin
His prognathous face made him appear quite
formidable.
procrastination
prognosis
noun /prÚ«krQstI»neISn/
deferring taking action
His boss is tired of his constant procrastination on
deadlines.
noun /prÅg»nÚsIs/
an opinion, based on medical experience, of a likely
development of a disease or illness
If the doctor’s prognosis is correct, the patient will be
in a coma for at least twenty-four hours.
procure
verb /pr´»kjU´[r]/
to acquire or provide for one’s self or for another
Can you procure a copy of the reports for me?
progression
noun /pr´»greSn/
the act of moving forward; a proceeding in a course
Her achievements are through normal professional
progression.
prodigious
adjective /pr´»dIdZ´s/
very large or powerful and causing surprise or
admiration
Young Mozart’s prodigious talents are talked about to
this day.
proletariat
noun /«prÚl´»te´ri´t/
the lowest class of a society
The proletariat welcomed the early ideas of
communism in Russia.
proficient
adjective /pr´»fISnt/
expert; skilled
The proficient architect presented them with several
ideas for their house.
proliferation
noun /pr´«lIf´»reISn/
sudden increase in the number or amount of
something
This medicine prevents cancer cell proliferation.
profundity
noun /pr´»f√nd´ti/
depth
His ideas lacked profundity and analytical precision.
prolific
adjective /pr´»lIfIk/
abundantly productive
She was a prolific writer and wrote as many as three
books a year.
profusion
noun /pr´»fju˘Zn/
a very large quantity of something
Seldom have I seen such a profusion of flowers in
one place.
prologue
noun /»prÚlÅg/
the preface or introduction to a document, poem, or
performance
The signing of the agreement was a prologue to
better relations between the two countries.
progenitor
noun /prÚ»dZenIt´[r]/
a person or a thing from which somebody/something
develops or is produced
He was a progenitor of a distinguished family.
l 366 l
15
to 17
age group
prominent
P
propulsion
adjective /»prÅmInńt/
standing out, or projecting, beyond the line of
something
The house is on a prominent position in the town
square.
adjective /pr´»p√lSn/
the force that drives something forward
The scientists at NASA are examining alternative
spacecraft propulsion concepts.
proscenium
promulgate
noun /pr´»si˘ni´m/
the part where the actors performed; the stage
He prefers working in a traditional theatre with a
proscenium.
verb /»prÅmlgeIt/
to spread an idea or a belief
The director decided that he would have to
promulgate a new policy within the company.
prosecution
propaganda
noun /«prÅsI»kju˘Sn/
the act or process of prosecuting
The prosecution lacks sufficient evidence.
noun /«prÅp´»gQnd´/
ideas or statements that are intended as publicity for
a particular cause and are often false
The play is sheer political propaganda.
prosperous
adjective /»prÅsp´r´s/
tending to prosperity
America is one of the most prosperous countries in
the world.
propagate
verb /»prÅp´geIt/
to spread something
If we are to live in harmony, we must propagate the
idea of peace.
protestation
noun /«prÅt´»steISn/
a solemn declaration, especially of dissent
She repeated her protestation of innocence.
prophecy
noun /»prÅf´si/
a declaration of something to come; a prediction
He seemed to have the gift of prophecy.
protrude
verb /pr´»tru˘d/
to thrust forward or outwards
The wart on his face had swelled and began to
protrude.
propitious
adjective /pr´»pIS´s/
likely to produce a successful result
It was not a propitious time to start a new business.
proverbial
proportionate
adjective /pr´»vŒ˘bi´l/
commonly known
They were known for their proverbial hospitality.
adjective /pr´»pç˘Sń´t/
corresponding in degree or amount
Increasing production costs resulted in a
proportionate price increase for the consumer.
provisions
noun /pr´»vIZnz/
supplies of food and drink for a journey
The expedition set out with enough provisions for two
weeks.
proprietor
noun /pr´»praI´t´[r]/
an owner
Please address all the complaints to the proprietor.
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15 to 17
age group
prowess
putative
noun /»praU´s/
outstanding skill
We admire his prowess as an oarsman.
adjective /»pju˘t´tIv/
supposed
The court was shown the putative weapon used in
the murder.
proximity
pygmy
noun /prÅk»sIm´ti/
immediate nearness
The restaurant benefits from its proximity to several
cinemas.
adjective /»pIgmi/
smaller than other similar kinds
The pygmy tribes are facing extinction.
prudent
pyromaniac
adjective /»pru˘dnt/
sensible and careful in making judgements and
decisions
Being a prudent person, Maria began preparing for
her exams well in advance.
noun /«paIrÚ»meIniQk/
a person who enjoys making or watching fires
The detectives searched the area for the pyromaniac
who had set the building on fire.
pythagorean
pseudonym
adjective /paI»TQg´»ri˘ń/
related to a mathematical order, named after its
inventor
The pythagorean theorum was my favourite topic at
school.
noun /»su˘dńIm/
a fictitious name assumed by an author
He writes under a pseudonym.
psychedelic
adjective /«saIk´»delIk/
having bright colours
Her walls were covered with psychedelic posters.
puddle
noun /»p√d´l/
a small pool of water, esp of rain
The puppies splashed around in the puddle.
punctilious
adjective /p√Nk»tIli´s/
attentive to detail
She is a punctilious hostess.
pusillanimous
adjective /«pju˘sI»lQnIm´s/
cowardly; faint hearted
It is pusillanimous act to leave a friend behind to face
danger alone.
l 368 l
15
to 17
age group
quadriceps
Q
quartz
noun /»kwÅdrIseps/
the great extensor muscle of the knee
The athlete injured his quadriceps.
noun /kwç˘ts/
a hard mineral, often in crystal form, that is used to
make very accurate clocks and watches
He had collected hundreds of specimens of quartz
from around the world.
quadripartite
adjective /kwÅdr´»pA˘taIt/
divided into four parts
The quadripartite painting was quite unusual.
quaternion
noun /kw´»tE˘nIń/
a set of four people or things
Quaternion algebra was introduced by an Irish
mathematician in 1843.
quadriplegia
noun /«kwÅdrI»pli˘dZ´/
paralysis of all four limbs; tetraplegia
Quadriplegia occurs when the neck area of the spinal
cord is injured.
queasy
adjective /»kwi˘zi/
feeling slightly sick; wanting to vomit
He had a queasy stomach and kept throwing up.
quaff
verb /kwÅf/
to drink a large amount of something quickly
I saw him quaff a whole jug of lemonade when he
came back from the gym.
quell
verb /kwel/
to stop something such as violent behaviour or
protests
The police used fire hoses and tear gas to quell the
rioters.
qualm
noun /kwA˘m/
a feeling of doubt or worry about whether what you
are doing is right
He had been working very hard therefore he had no
qualm about taking a day off.
quern
noun /kwŒ˘n/
a mill for grinding grain, the upper stone of which is
turned by hand
The flour was ground by the quern.
quandary
noun /»kwÅnd´ri/
a state of difficulty or perplexity
Hassan was in a quandary about whether or not he
should go to Lahore.
querulous
adjective /»kwer´l´s/
complaining
The old man asked the same question, over and over
again, in a querulous voice.
quartet
noun /kwç˘»tet/
a group of four musicians or singers who play or sing
together
A string quartet was playing when I entered the
ballroom.
questionnaire
a written list of questions that are answered by a
number of people so that information can be collected
from the answers
He happily filled out the questionnaire at the airport.
l 369 l
Q
15 to 17
age group
queue
quizzical
noun /kju˘/
a line of people, cars waiting for something or to do
something
There is always a long queue at the post office.
adjective /»kwIzIkl/
questioning
She gave me a quizzical glance at my sarcastic reply
to the professor.
quibble
verb /»kwIbl/
to argue about a small matter
I was told not to quibble about who got the last slice
of pizza.
quiche
noun /ki˘S/
an open pie filled with a mixture of eggs and milk with
meat, vegetables, cheese
My mother made me a delicious quiche for lunch.
quiddity
noun /»kwIdIti/
the essential nature of a person or thing
His generous quiddity has won him many friends.
quiescent
adjective /kwi»esnt/
being in a state of repose; at rest; still
Sometimes one longs for a quiescent mind.
quintessence
noun /kwIn»tesns/
the perfect example of something
He is the quintessence of an old-fashioned
Englishman.
quintessential
adjective /«kwIntI»senSl/
purest
I have a calendar with photographs of quintessential
English scenery.
quirk
noun /kwŒ˘k/
an aspect of somebody’s personality or behaviour
that is a little strange
His insistence on eating a banana from the wrong
end is an endearing quirk.
l 370 l
15
to 17
age group
rabbi
R
ratchet
noun /»rQbaI/
a Jewish title of respect or honour for a teacher or
doctor of the law
The rabbi delivered the sermon and everyone listened
attentively.
noun /»rQtSIt/
a wheel or bar with teeth along the edge and a metal
piece that fits between the teeth, allowing movement
in one direction only
His watch wasn’t working because a ratchet had
broken loose.
raconteur
rationale
noun /«rQkÅn»tE˘/
a person who tells anecdotes in a skilful and amusing
way
He is very popular at dinner parties because he is
such a skilled raconteur.
noun /«rQS´»nA˘l/
statement of reasons
What is the rationale behind this decision?
raucous
rampant
adjective /»rç˘k´s/
sounding loud and harsh
Raucous laughter could be heard from the club down
the street.
adjective /»rQmpńt/
existing or spreading in an uncontrolled way
Most of Africa is plagued with rampant
unemployment.
ravenous
rancid
adjective /»rQvń´s/
extremely hungry
Ali hogged all the food like a ravenous beast.
adjective /»rQnsId/
if food containing fat is rancid, it tastes or smells
unpleasant because it is no longer fresh
I got rid of the rancid butter stored in the refrigerator.
ravine
noun /r´»vi˘n/
a deep, narrow gorge or valley
The ravine was so deep and dark that we could not
see the bottom.
rancour
noun /»rQNk´[r]/
bitterness, spitefulness
She eventually learned to accept criticism without
rancour.
ravioli
noun /«rQvi»Úli/
pasta in the shape of small squares filled with meat,
cheese usually served with a sauce
In Italy, most regions have their own versions of
ravioli.
rapport
noun /rQ»pç˘[r]/
a friendly relationship in which people understand
each other well
There was little rapport between the two women.
realm
rapt
noun /relm/
an area of activity, interest or knowledge
His passions lie within the realm of ancient history.
adjective /rQpt/
so absorbed in one particular thing that you are not
aware of anything else
They listened to the music with rapt attention.
l 371 l
R
15 to 17
age group
reams
recipient
noun /ri˘mz/
a ream is five hundred sheets of paper, hence a large
quantity of writing
A hundred reams were ordered by the college
administration.
noun /rI»sIpińt/
a person or thing that receives something
The doctor is a recipient of many awards.
reciprocal
adjective /rI»sIpr´kl/
mutual
The two nations signed a reciprocal trade agreement.
rebellion
noun /rI»beljń/
open renunciation of the authority to which one owes
obedience
Government forces have failed to contain the
rebellion.
recital
noun /rI»saItl/
the act of reciting; the repetition of the words of
another
I had to listen to a long recital of all his misfortunes.
rebellious
adjective /rI»belj´s/
unwilling to obey rules or accept normal standards of
behaviour, dress
He has always had a rebellious streak.
recitative
noun /«resIt´»ti˘v /
a passage in an opera or oratorio that is sung in the
rhythm of ordinary speech with many words on the
same note
The recitative in the third act was the best part of the
whole opera.
rebuke
verb /rI»bju˘k/
speak severely to a person who has done wrong
Teachers are encouraged to rebuke students less,
and seek a more positive approach to discipline.
reconciliation
noun /«rekńsIli»eISn/
an end to a disagreement and the start of a good
relationship again
He has been asked to bring about a reconciliation
between the two sides.
recalcitrant
adjective /rI»kQlsItrńt/
unwilling to obey rules or instructions
His recalcitrant attitude should be carefully dealt with.
recapitulate
recrimination
verb /«ri˘k´»pItSuleIt/
repeat or give a summary of what has already been
stated
We were able to recapitulate the story later, and it
was much enjoyed by our friends.
noun /rI«krImI»neISn/
counter exchanges
We spent the rest of the evening in mutual
recrimination.
rectitude
recede
noun /»rektItju˘d/
correct and honest behaviour
He was a man known and appreciated for his
rectitude.
verb /rI»si˘d/
move gradually away from somebody or away from a
previous position
It is sad, but memories of childhood tend to recede as
time goes by.
l 372 l
15
to 17
age group
redemption
R
remanent
noun /rI»dempSn/
state of being saved from evil
She prayed regularly for her redemption.
adjective /»remńńt/
(of magnetism) remaining after the magnetizing field
has been removed
Remanent magnitization is necessary for
transformers, electric motors and generators.
refraction
noun /rI»frQkSn/
the change of direction of a ray of light when it goes
through at an angle
When you look at a stick inserted in water, it looks
bent because of the refraction of light.
reminiscence
noun /«remI»nIsns/
memory from one’s past life
The old lady loved to amuse us with reminiscences of
her youth.
regeneration
remonstrate
noun /rI«dZen´»reISn/
the regrowth and redevelopment of something that
has been damaged or destroyed
We desperately need to work on the regeneration of
the once forested areas.
verb /»remństreIt/
to protest or complain about something or somebody
I must remonstrate about the lack of police protection
in this area.
reggae
remunerative
noun /»regeI/
a type of West Indian popular music with a strong
rhythm
Bob Marley is considered the father of reggae.
adjective /rI»mju˘n´r´tIv/
paying a lot of money
It was remunerative work but it involved long hours
and a great deal of travel.
rehabilitate
renegade
verb /«ri˘´»bIlIteIt/
to help somebody to have a normal, useful life again
after they have been very ill or in prison for a long
time
The organisation aims to rehabilitate recovering
heroin addicts.
noun /»renIgeId/
a person who deserts and betrays an organization,
country, or set of principles
In his youth he was a bit of a renegade, and was
frequently in trouble with the police.
renunciation
reiterate
noun /rI«n√nsi»eISn/
giving something up
Do not sign this renunciation of your rights until you
have consulted a lawyer.
verb /ri»It´reIt/
to repeat something already said,
I had to reiterate the message several times, until I
was sure that they had understood it.
repercussion
rejuvenate
noun /«ri˘p´»k√Sn/
an indirect and usually bad result of an action or
event
Analysts felt the downfall in the stock market was a
repercussion of the terrorist attacks.
verb /rI»dZu˘vńeIt/
to make somebody or something feel or look younger
The magician claimed that his potion would
rejuvenate the aged.
l 373 l
R
15 to 17
age group
repertoire
reticence
noun /»rep´twA˘[r]/
all the plays, songs, pieces of music that a performer
knows and can perform
The opera company decided to include Madame
Butterfly in its repertoire.
noun /»retIsns/
uncommunicativeness
She did not mind her husband’s reticence.
retrieve
verb /rI»tri˘v/
to bring or get something back
She bent to retrieve the comb from under her seat.
replica
noun /»replIk´/
a very good or an exact copy of something
We decided to hang the replica of the painting in the
school auditorium.
retroactive
adjective /«retrÚ»QktIv/
taking effect from a particular date in the past rather
than from the present date
The public was pleased with the retroactive ruling of
the court.
reprimand
verb /»reprImA˘nd/
to tell somebody officially that you do not approve of
them or their actions
I am glad to say that the principal will not need to
reprimand me this term over my exam results.
retrospective
adjective /«retr´»spektIv/
looking to the past
This is a retrospective exhibition of the painter’s work.
repugnance
noun /rI»p√gnńs/
a strong feeling of disgust
She looked at the dead snake with repugnance.
reverberate
verb /rI»vŒ˘b´reIt/
echo
Repercussions of the case continue to reverberate
through the financial world.
rescind
verb /rI»sInd/
to officially state that a law, decision is no longer valid
The government was forced to rescind the harsh antiterrorist law, which was victimising innocent citizens.
revere
verb /rI»vI´[r]/
to feel great respect or admiration for somebody
We should revere Mother Nature and do our best to
stop global warming.
restitution
noun /«restI»tju˘Sn/
payment, usually money, for some harm or wrong that
somebody has suffered
The man had to make restitution for the damage that
he had done to his neighbour’s wall.
reverie
noun /»rev´ri/
a state of thinking about pleasant things almost as
though you are dreaming
He was awakened from his reverie by the teacher’s
question.
resuscitate
verb /rI»s√sIteIt/
to make somebody start breathing again or become
conscious again after they have almost died
The lifeguard was successful in his efforts to
resuscitate the unconscious child.
l 374 l
15
to 17
age group
rheumatism
R
riotous
noun /»ru˘m´tIz´m/
a disease that makes the muscles and joints painful,
stiff and swollen
She was advised not to walk on cold floors as she
was suffering from rheumatism.
adjective /»raI´t´s/
noisy or violent especially in a public place
The organisers of the march were charged with
assault and riotous assembly.
ritualistic
rhizome
adjective /«rItSu´»lIstIk/
performed as part of a ceremony
She was well acquainted with the ritualistic nature of
the graduation ceremony.
noun /»raIzÚm/
the thick stem of some plants that grows along or
under the ground and has roots and stems growing
from it
Our botany teacher taught us the characteristics of a
rhizome.
rivulet
noun /»rIvj´l´t/
a very small river; a small stream of water or other
liquid
A rivulet of sweat ran down her back.
rhyolite
noun /»raI´laIt/
a volcanic rock of granitic composition
Rhyolite mainly occurs in continental and submarine
volcanoes.
rogue
noun /rÚg/
a person who behaves badly, but in a harmless way
He’s a bit of a rogue, but very charming.
rickettsia
noun /rI»ketsI´/
a type of bacteria that can multiply only by in invading
other living cells
Rickettsia are transmitted to humans by lice, fleas,
ticks, and mites.
romanticise
verb /rÚ»mQntIsaIz/
to make something seem more attractive or
interesting than it really is
I like her novel because it refuses to romanticise the
grim realities of war.
ricochet
verb /»rIk´SeI/
rebound off a surface
It’s funny how bullets never seem to ricochet in action
films.
rotogravure
noun /«rÚtÚgr´»vjU´/
a printing system, using a rotary press, that runs at
high speeds
Rotogravure is used for long print runs of magazines
and stamps.
righteous
adjective /»raItS´s/
morally right and good
He is a righteous person who never breaks a law
knowingly.
rudder
noun /»r√d´[r]/
a flat piece hinged vertically near the stern of a boat
or ship for steering
He desperately tried to steer the rudder towards
shore.
rigorous
adjective /»rIg´r´s/
careful and with a lot of attention to detail
The company conducts rigorous testing of consumer
products.
l 375 l
R
15 to 17
age group
rudimentary
adjective /«ru˘dI»mentri/
basic
His dancing was limited to a few rudimentary steps.
rumbustious
adjective /r√m»b√stS´s, r√m»b√stI´s/
(informal) full of energy in a cheerful and noisy way
Her rumbustious disposition helped her in making lots
of friends.
ruminate
verb /»ru˘mIneIt/
to think deeply about something
He would often ruminate over why bad things happen
to good people.
rumpus
noun /»r√mp´s/
a noisy, confused, or disruptive commotion
He caused a rumpus with his flair for troublemaking.
rusticate
verb /»r√stIkeIt/
to suspend (a student) from a university as a
punishment (used chiefly at Oxford and Cambridge)
John Milton was rusticated from Cambridge in 1626
for quarreling with his tutor.
l 376 l
15
to 17
age group
sabbatical
S
salubrious
noun /s´»bQtIkl/
a period of time when somebody, especially a teacher
at a university, is allowed to stop their normal work in
order to study or travel
He has taken a sabbatical for one year to live and do
research in Jordan.
adjective /s´»lu˘bri´s/
clean and healthy; pleasant to live in
The growing pollution in the city has caused many
people to move to a more salubrious area.
salutary
adjective /»sQlj´tri/
having a good effect on someone/something, though
often seeming unpleasant
The accident is a salutary reminder of the dangers of
climbing.
sachet
noun /»sQSeI/
a closed plastic or paper packet that contains a very
small amount of a powder or liquid
When we opened our take-away burgers, we realised
that they had only given us one sachet of sauce.
sanatorium
noun /«sQn´»tç˘ri´m/
a hospital where patients who have a lasting illness or
who are getting better after an illness are treated
My uncle is being kept in a sanatorium until he
recovers.
sacrificial
adjective /«sQkrI»fISl/
given up in order to obtain something of greater value
Sacrificial animals are usually taken care of very well.
sacrilegious
sanctimonious
adjective /»sakr´»lIdZ´s/
violating sacred things
A number of churches were looted and sacrilegious
acts committed.
adjective /«sQNktI»mÚni´s/
appearing to be saintly
Her sanctimonious attitude towards her colleagues at
work has prevented her from making friends.
sacrosanct
sanctuary
adjective /»sQkrÚsQNkt/
that is considered too sacred or important to change
or question
Their father’s dying wishes were considered
sacrosanct by all the family.
noun /»sQNktSu´ri/
a sacred place; a consecrated spot
The priest entered the sanctuary and said his
prayers.
sanguine
sagacious
adjective /»sQNgwIn/
cheerful and confident about the future
He takes a more sanguine view of the future than
most analysts.
adjective /s´»geIS´s/
shrewd; wise
I was impressed by her sagacious decision.
salient
sapphire
adjective /»seIlińt/
most important or noticeable
She pointed out the salient features of the new
design.
noun /»sQfaI´[r]/
a clear, bright-blue precious stone
He gave her a sapphire ring for her birthday.
l 377 l
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15 to 17
age group
saprophytes
saturate
noun /»sQprÚfaIts/
a plant, fungus, or microorganism that lives on dead
or decaying organic matter
Saprophytes recycle organic material in the soil.
verb /»sQtS´reIt/
to make something completely wet
It is never a good thing to saturate a plant.
satyagraha
sarcasm
noun /s√»tjA˘gr´hA˘/
a policy of passive political resistance, especially that
advocated by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule in
India
Gandhi envisioned satyagraha as an universal solvent
for injustice and harm.
noun /»sA˘kQz´m/
a taunt; a gibe; a cutting jest
She had a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
sardonic
adjective /sA˘»dÅnIk/
scornful; mockingly bitter
There was a sardonic vein running through her
otherwise humorous article.
satyr
noun /»sQt´[r]/
(in ancient Greek stories) a god of the woods, with a
man’s face and body and a goat’s legs and horns
You will find mention of a satyr in the children’s book:
‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.’
sarsaparilla
noun /«sA˘s´p´»rIl´/
a dried substance that is used to flavour drinks and
medicines, obtained from a plant also called
sarsaparilla
I have yet to try a drink made with sarsaparilla.
saunter
verb /»sç˘nt´[r]/
to walk in a casual manner; stroll
The ladies used to saunter in the park every day.
sartorial
saviour
adjective /sA˘»tç˘ri´l/
relating to clothes, especially men’s clothes, and the
way they are made or worn
He was as famous for his sartorial elegance as for his
acting.
noun /»seIvj´[r]/
a person who rescues somebody or something from
a dangerous or difficult situation
The new manager has been hailed as the saviour of
the club.
sasquatch
sawyer
noun /»sQskwQtS/
another term for Bigfoot
Most scientists discount the existence of Bigfoot or
sasquatch.
noun /»sçI´r/
one whose occupation is to saw timber into planks or
boards, or to saw wood for fuel
He earns his living as a sawyer.
satellite
saxophone
noun /»sQt´laIt/
an electronic device that is sent into space and
moves around the Earth or another planet
The spy satellite was finally launched by the
government.
noun /»sQks´fÚn/
a wind instrument of brass, containing a reed, and
partaking of the qualities both of a brass instrument
and of a clarinet
Brass is normally used to make the body of a
saxophone.
l 378 l
15
to 17
age group
scabrous
S
schist
adjective /»skeIbr´s/
rough to the touch, like a file; having small raised
dots, scales, or points
The lizard has scabrous skin.
noun /SIst/
type of rock formed of layers of different minerals, that
breaks naturally into thin flat pieces
The piece of schist that I found in Baluchistan was so
sharp that I could have cut a piece of meat with it.
scapula
scholastic
noun /»skQpjUl´/
the shoulder blade
Adam fractured his scapula while playing football.
adjective /sk´»lQstIk/
connected with schools and education
We are extremely proud of Maya who has worked
hard for every one of her scholastic achievements.
scarab
noun /»skQr´b/
large black beetle regarded as sacred by the ancient
Egyptians
scintilla
noun /sIn»tIl´/
a tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling
There is not a single scintilla of doubt in my mind that
he is guilty of the crime.
scavenger
noun /»skQvIndZ´/
an animal that feeds on carrion, dead plant material,
or refuse
The bold raccoon became a scavenger when night
fell.
scour
verb /»skaU´[r]/
to clean something by rubbing its surface hard with
rough material
I had to scour the pans.
sceptre
noun /»sept´[r]/
a decorated rod carried by a king or queen at
ceremonies as a symbol of their power
You can see the queen’s sceptre and orb if you visit
the Tower of London.
screed
noun /skri˘d/
a long piece of writing, especially one that is not very
interesting
It took me three hours to read through the screed that
Aisha had sent me.
schematic
adjective /ski˘»mQtIk/
according to a fixed plan or pattern
The play has a very schematic plot.
scruple
noun /»skru˘pl/
a feeling that stops you from doing something that
you think may be morally wrong
He is totally without scruple; he borrowed money and
then refused to pay it back.
schism
noun /»skIz´m/
strong disagreement within an organisation,
especially a religious one, that makes its members
divide into different groups
Let us not widen the schism by further arguments.
scrupulosity
noun /«skru˘pjU»lÅsiti/
thoroughness
Sania told the doctor that Ali was tormenting himself
with his infinite scrupulosity.
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age group
scrupulous
secrete
adjective /»skru˘pj´l´s/
extremely thorough
Readers commend the author for his scrupulous
attention to detail.
verb /sI»kri˘t/
(of a cell, organ, etc) to synthesize and release (a
secretion)
The bug was seen to secrete a strange liquid.
scrutinise
secretion
verb /»skru˘tńaIz/
to look at or examine somebody or something closely
It is important to scrutinise articles for any typing
errors.
noun /sI»kri˘Sn/
the process by which liquid substances are produced
by parts of the body or plants
We were taught about the secretion of bile by the
liver.
sculptor
sectarian
noun /»sk√lpt´[r]/
one whose occupation is to carve statues, or works of
sculpture
Ali is a renowned sculptor.
adjective /sek»te´riń/
connected with the differences that exist between
groups of people who have different religious views
Sectarian violence is bad for society.
scurrilous
sedimentary
adjective /»sk√r´l´s/
very rude and insulting and intended to damage
somebody’s reputation
He wrote a scurrilous piece about me in the local
press.
adjective /«sedI»mentri/
having or pertaining to sediment; containing matter
that has subsided
While walking beside the lake, I came across some
sedimentary rocks.
scythe
sedulous
noun /saID/
a tool with a long handle and a slightly curved blade,
used for cutting long grass and wheat
Peasants still have to cut grass with a scythe.
adjective /»sedjUl´s/
showing dedication and diligence
She pays sedulous attention to detail.
secant
seismicity
adjective /»si˘kQnt/
cutting; dividing into two parts
She drew a perfect secant line on the cake.
noun /»saIzmIsIti/
the frequency of earthquakes in a region
I do not want to live in San Francisco, due to the high
seismicity of the area.
secession
seismograph
noun /sI»seSn/
formal withdrawal of membership of a group
Before the American Civil War, the southern states
declared their secession from the union.
noun /»saIzm´grA˘f/
an apparatus for registering and measuring
earthquakes
The government has placed a seismograph in the
earthquake prone area.
secrecy
noun /»si˘kr´si/
the state or quality of being hidden
The whole affair is still shrouded in secrecy.
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age group
semanticist
S
sequoia
noun /sI»mantIsIst/
one who is a specialist in the study of meanings of
words and phrases
The school invited a semanticist to conduct a
workshop for the English Language teachers.
noun /sI»kwçI´/
a very tall North American tree
The giant sequoia is said to be the oldest and most
massive of all living things.
serendipity
semaphore
noun /«serń»dIp´ti/
the fact of something interesting or pleasant
happening by chance
Many scientific discoveries were made by a stroke of
serendipity.
noun /»sem´fç˘[r]/
an apparatus for giving signals by the disposition of
lanterns, flags, oscillating arms
The soldiers communicated amongst each other
using semaphore in the battlefield.
serene
seminary
adjective /s´»ri˘n/
calm and peaceful
Serene music was playing in the background as they
had their dinner on a yacht.
noun /»semIn´ri/
a college where priests, ministers or rabbis are
trained
My brother joined the seminary because he wants to
become a priest.
sesquicentennial
noun /«seskwIsen»tenI´l/
relating to a sesquicentenary
The city celebrated its sesquicentennial last year.
sensory
adjective /»sens´ri/
connected with your physical senses
He was diagnosed with an illness which would affect
his sensory organs.
sewerage
noun /»su˘´rIdZ/
the system by which waste water is carried away from
houses and factories
The sewerage was totally blocked during the rainy
season.
sensuous
adjective /»senSu´s/
giving pleasure to your senses
I’m drawn to the poetic, sensuous qualities of her
paintings.
sharecropper
noun /»Se´krÅp´[r]/
a tenant farmer who receives an agreed share of the
value of the crop
The sharecropper was cheated out of his due share
of the crop.
septuagenarian
noun /«septjU´dZI»nE˘rIń/
a person who is between 70 and 79 years old
There was not a single septuagenarian in the
audience.
sharpshooter
sequacious
noun /»SA˘pSu˘t´[r]/
a proficient marksman
The sharpshooter never missed the mark.
adjective /sI»kweIS´s/
lacking independence or originality of thought
Her sequacious routine sounds very boring.
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age group
shellacking
silviculture
noun /S´»lakIN/
lac resin melted into thin flakes, used for making
varnish
He has business interests in the shellacking industry.
noun /»sIlvI«k√ltS´/
the growing and cultivation of trees
Silviculture should be practised in order to maintain
the balance in our ecosystem.
shibboleth
simulate
noun /»Sib´leT/
an old idea, principle or phrase that is no longer
accepted by many people as important or appropriate
to modern life
Elderly politicians are still clinging to more than one
shibboleth of party doctrine.
verb /»sImj´leIt/
to pretend to a particular feeling or quality
I tried to simulate surprise at the news.
sinister
adjective /»sInIst´[r]/
seeming evil or dangerous
The sinister man lurking outside the house turned out
to be the gas meter reader.
shoddy
adjective /»SÅdi/
of poor quality or imitating something of better quality
The painting was a shoddy imitation of the original.
sinuous
adjective /»sInju´s/
turning while moving, in an elegant way; having many
curves
We watched the sinuous movements of the dolphins
from our boat.
shrapnel
noun /»SrQpn´l/
small pieces of metal that are thrown outwards from
an exploding bomb
The doctor removed the tiny piece of shrapnel from
my shoulder with great difficulty.
sirius
noun /»sIrI´s/
the brightest star in the sky
Sirius is also known as the ‘Dog star’.
sibilant
adjective /»sIbIlńt/
making a hissing sound
The room was filled with the sibilant sound of
whispering.
slaughter
noun /»slç˘t´[r]/
the act of killing
I was shocked at the wide spread slaughter of
innocent civilians.
signorina
noun /«si˘nj´»ri˘n´/
a title or form of address used of or to an Italianspeaking unmarried woman, corresponding to Miss
We thanked the signorina for guiding us to the Sistine
Chapal.
sleuth
noun /»slu˘T/
a person who investigates crimes
I hired an amateur sleuth to work on the case.
silhouette
noun /«sIlu»et/
the outlines of an object filled in with a black colour
I saw the silhouette of a man against the evening sky.
slither
verb /»slID´[r]/
to slide on or as if on a loose gravelly surface
The snake would slither through the garden.
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to 17
age group
sludge
S
sombre
noun /sl√dZ/
soft mud; slush
There was some sludge at the bottom of the tank.
adjective /»sÅmb´[r]/
dark, dull or gloomy
I hate wearing sombre colours, especially in summer.
snobbery
somersault
noun /»snÅb´ri/
the attitudes and behaviour of people who despise
others for being socially inferior
There is still a great deal of snobbery in our society.
noun /»s√m´sÅlt/
an acrobatic movement in which a person turns head
over heels in the air or on the ground and lands or
finishes on their feet
The acrobat’s somersault amazed the audience.
snuggle
somnambulate
verb /»sn√g´l/
to nestle into or draw close to (somebody or
something) for warmth or from affection
She would snuggle with her teddy bear while
sleeping.
verb /sÅm»nambjUleIt/
to sleep-walk
There are many theories as to why some people tend
to somnambulate.
sobriety
sophistication
noun /s´»braI´ti/
the state of being moderate and well balanced; not
being under the influence of alcohol
He was a man noted for sobriety.
noun /s´«fIstI»keISn/
experience in worldly matters
His air of sophistication set him apart from the other
candidates.
sojourn
sopping
noun /»sÅdZń/
living in a place as a temporary resident
She was planning a summer sojourn abroad.
adjective /»sÅpIN/
wet through
His clothes were sopping from the rain.
solfatara
soprano
noun /«sÅlf´»tA˘r´/
a volcanic crater emitting sulfurous and other gases
The area close to solfatara is not fit for vegetation.
adjective /s´»prA˘nÚ/
musical instrument or voice with the highest range of
notes in its group
We heard the magical sound of a soprano
saxophone.
solicitude
noun /s´»lIsItju˘d/
concerned for others’ well-being
I was touched by his solicitude for the boy.
sordid
adjective /»sç˘dId/
filthy; foul; dirty
I don’t want to know all the sordid details.
solstice
noun /»sÅlstIs/
either of the two times of the year at which the Sun
reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at
midday, marked by the longest and shortest days
The children eagerly awaited the summer solstice.
souvenir
noun /«su˘v´»nI´/
a thing that is kept as a reminder of a person, place,
or event
This seashell is a souvenir from the beach.
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age group
sovereignty
spinster
noun /»sÅvrńti/
complete power to govern a country
The country claimed sovereignty over the island.
noun /»spInst´[r]/
an unmarried woman and especially one past the
common age for marrying
His spinster aunt left him a large fortune in her will.
spaghetti
splicing
noun /sp´»geti/
a kind of macaroni made in long tubes of small
diameter
She enjoys cooking spaghetti with meat sauce.
verb /spl√IsIN/
joining or connecting two ends (e.g. of a rope) by
interweaving the strands at the ends
Cloning and gene splicing are are highly advanced, if
not outright dangerous, practices of biology.
spasmodic
adjective /spQz»mÅdIk/
occurring in fits and starts; jerky
In the summer, he is accustomed to having
spasmodic asthma attacks.
spoliation
noun /«spÚlI»eISń/
the act or an instance of despoiling or plundering
The spoilation of the natural environment must be
stopped.
spatter
verb /»spat´/
cover with drops or spots
Be careful, the car radiator might spatter boiling water
on you.
spontaneity
noun /«spÅnt´»neI´ti/
impulsiveness; absence of premeditation
The audience loved the spontaneity of the
performance by the leading actress.
spectator
noun /spek»teIt´[r]/
one who is personally present at, and sees, any event
or activity
He went to the match as a spectator.
sputum
noun /»spju˘t´m/
liquid from the throat or lungs, especially when it is
coughed up because of disease
There was blood in his sputum.
spectre
noun /»spEkt´/
something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or
dangerous occurrence
The spectre of nuclear warfare is haunting world
leaders.
squadron
noun /»skwÅdrń/
a group of military aircraft or ships forming a section
of a military force
An entire air force squadron has been deployed to
safeguard the nuclear facility.
sphinx
noun /sfINks/
in ancient Egyptian art, a stone image, having a
human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon
the body of a lion
No man was able to solve the riddle of the sphinx.
squall
noun /skwç˘l/
a sudden violent gust of wind often attended with rain
or snow
An unexpected squall left us abandoned.
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to 17
age group
squander
S
stanchion
verb /»skwÅnd´[r]/
to waste money, time in a stupid or careless way
He was tempted to squander his first salary on a DVD
player.
noun /»stanSń/
an upright bar, post, or frame forming a support or
barrier
The ball hit the stanchion behind the goal.
squawk
stationary
noun /skwç˘k/
a loud harsh cry
A loud squawk was heard when the cat attacked the
crow.
adjective /»steISńri/
not moving
The car collided with a stationary vehicle.
statistician
squeamish
noun /«stQtI»stISn/
a person who studies or works with statistics
The statistician was requested to supply the
government with figures on rural health care workers.
adjective /»skwi˘mIS/
easily upset, or made to feel sick by unpleasant
sights or situations
I wouldn’t recommend this movie to squeamish
people.
statuary
noun /»stQtSu´ri/
statues
He has an impressive collection of marble statuary in
his drawing room.
squelchy
adjective /skwEltSi/
make a soft sucking sound such as that made by
treading heavily through mud
The shoes made a squelchy sound as we came
inside from the rain.
stature
noun /»stQtS´[r]/
the importance and respect that a person has
because of their ability and achievements
She is an actress of considerable stature.
stagnant
adjective /»stQgnńt/
of water or air, not moving and therefore smelling
unpleasant
Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
steeple
noun /»sti˘pl/
a tall pointed tower on the roof of a church, often with
a spire on it
The steeple of the old church collapsed during the
storm.
stalemate
noun /»steIlmeIt/
a disagreement or a situation in a competition in
which neither side is able to win or make any
progress
The negotiations ended in a stalemate.
steeplechase
noun /»sti˘p´ltSeIs/
a horse race across country with obstacles
Her horse stumbled over a fence in the steeplechase
and injured his leg.
stallion
noun /»stQliń/
a fully grown male horse, especially one that is used
for breeding
stellar
adjective /»stel´[r]/
connected with the stars
He is studying stellar constellations.
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age group
stethoscope
stoic
noun /»steT´skÚp/
an instrument used by doctors to listen to the chest,
heart and lungs
The doctor listened to his heart using a stethoscope.
adjective /»stÚIk/
able to suffer pain or trouble without complaining or
showing feelings
His stoic personality is a source of inspiration and
strength for many.
stevedore
stouthearted
noun /»sti˘v´dç˘[r]/
a person whose job is moving goods on and off ships
The stevedore nimbly avoided being hit by the crane.
adjective /«staUt»hA˘tId/
valiant, brave
We should honour our stouthearted policemen who
sacrifice their lives for us.
stigmatise
verb /»stIgm´taIz/
to treat somebody in a way that makes them feel that
they are very bad or unimportant
As a teacher, I make an effort never to stigmatise a
student as a failure.
strenuous
adjective /»strenju´s/
energetic
Every day he does an hour of strenuous exercise.
stiletto
strident
noun /stI»letÚ/
a kind of dagger with a slender, pointed blade
The youth was arrested for carrying a stiletto.
adjective /»straIdnt/
loud and harsh in sound
I don’t like the strident manner in which he scolds his
servants.
stipulate
strychnine
verb /»stIpjuleIt/
to state clearly and firmly that something must be
done, or how it must be done
Before signing the contract, I informed the bank
manager that I needed to stipulate one condition.
noun /»strIkni˘n/
a poisonous substance used in very small amounts
as a medicine
Many murderers in the past used strychnine as the
poison of choice.
stirrup
stucco
noun /»stIr´p/
a shaped piece of metal, wood or leather attached by
a strap to the saddle, used to assist a person in
mounting a horse
Put your foot in the stirrup.
noun /»st√kÚ/
plaster of any kind used as a coating for walls
The stucco was damaged by the heavy rains.
stultifying
stodgy
adjective /»st√ltIfaIIN/
rendering ineffective
I have to get away from the stultifying boredom of this
job.
adjective /»stÅdZi/
(of food) heavy and making you feel full
I try to avoid the stodgy pudding that my aunt makes.
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to 17
age group
stumpage
s
subsidiary
noun /»st√mpIdZ/
timber in standing trees, often sold without the land at
a fixed price per tree or per stump
Stumpage is hard to check and causes numerous
ecological problems.
adjective /s´b»sIdi´ri/
connected with something but less important than it
The economics ministry has increasingly played a
subsidiary role to the finance ministry.
substantiate
sturgeon
verb /s´b»stQnSieIt/
to prove the truth of
I intend to substantiate my statement by providing
documents and a tape recording.
noun /»stŒ˘dZń/
large fish valued as a source of caviar
suave
substrate
adjective /swA˘v/
gracious or agreeable in manner
The manager pacified the customer with a suave
apology for the error.
noun /»s√bstreIt/
the base on which an organism lives
Soil is the substrate of most seed plants.
subcutaneous
subversive
adjective /«s√bkju»teIni´s/
relating to or located below the skin
The subcutaneous injection was rather painful.
adjective /s´b»vŒ˘sIv/
seeking to undermine an established system or
authority
The police discovered that subversive literature was
being distributed at night by a network of volunteers.
subliminal
adjective /«s√b»lImInl/
affecting your mind even when you are not aware of it
The effect of subliminal advertising is more powerful
than most people realise.
succession
noun /s´k»seSn/
a following of one after another
The three explosions took place in quick succession.
submersible
succinct
adjective /s´b»mŒ˘s´bl/
that can be used underwater
A bathysphere is a large strong submersible sphere
used for deep sea observations.
adjective /s´k»sINkt/
expressed briefly and clearly
The students were asked to give succinct answers.
subsequent
suffice
adjective /»s√bsIkwńt/
happening after something else
In subsequent lessons, I intend to take the matter
further.
verb /s´»faIs/
to be enough, or sufficient
One example will suffice to illustrate the point.
sundry
subservient
adjective /»s√ndri/
various; not important enough to be named
separately
You have to take sundry items when you move into a
hostel.
adjective /s´b»sŒ˘vińt/
too willing to obey other people
In a perfect world, no human being should be
subservient to another.
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15 to 17
age group
supercilious
surfactant
adjective /«su˘p´»sIli´s/
showing an air of superiority towards others
He resented his colleague’s supercilious attitude.
noun /s´»fQktńt/
a substance, such as a detergent, that allow liquids to
foam or penetrate solids
Surfactant was used to clean the windows.
supererogatory
surfeit
adjective /«su˘p´rErI»rÅg´t´ri/
the performance of more work than duty requires
In some schools of thought, donating money to
charity is regarded as supererogatory.
noun /»sŒ˘fIt/
excess in eating and drinking
A surfeit of rich and heavy food will definitely upset
your stomach.
superficial
surmise
adjective /«su˘p´»fISl/
only affecting the surface
He only suffered some superficial injuries in the
accident.
noun /s´»maIz/
a guess based on some facts that you know already
This is pure surmise on my part.
superintendent
surmount
noun /«su˘p´rIn»tendńt/
a person with authority to manage and control
The superintendent of the nightshift is responsible for
the security of the building.
verb /s´»maUnt/
to overcome
Each time you surmount a difficulty, you gain
something by the experience.
supplant
surreptitious
verb /s´»plA˘nt/
supersede and replace
The ambitious deputy schemed to supplant the
party’s leader.
adjective /«s√r´p»tIS´s/
secret
News of their surreptitious agreement eventually
leaked out.
supplementary
surrogate
adjective /«s√plI»mentri/
additional
The paper had three supplementary answer sheets.
adjective /»s√r´g´t/
substitute
She looked upon them as a surrogate family when
her real parents were killed.
suppressant
surveillance
adjective /s´»presńt/
tending to suppress or restrain an action or condition
Acid suppressant capsules effectively neautralize the
acid.
noun /sŒ˘»veIlńs/
careful observation
The police are keeping the suspects under constant
surveillance.
supremacy
susceptibility
noun /su˘»prem´si/
highest or supreme authority or power
It is hard to challenge Japan’s supremacy in the field
of electronics.
noun /s´«sept´»bIl´ti/
the state of being very likely to be influenced
His weakness is his susceptibility to flattery.
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to 17
age group
suspicious
s
synchronous
making you feel that something is wrong or dishonest
He has his father’s suspicious nature.
adjective /»sINkrń´s/
happening or existing at the same time
My twin sister and I have had synchronous
experiences at many points in our lives.
sustenance
synecology
noun /»s√stńńs/
the food and drink that people, animals and plants
need to live and stay healthy
Rice is the daily sustenance in vast regions of the
world.
noun /«sInI»kÅl´dZi/
the ecological study of whole plant or animal
communities
Synecology is a science of observation, rather than
experimentation.
susurrating
syzygy
adjective /sju˘s´«reItIN/
whisperng or rustling
The silence so profound that I could hear the
susurrating of the curtains in the breeze.
noun /»sIzIdZi/
an alignment of three celestial objects, as the sun,
the earth and either the moon or planet
Syzygy in the sun-earth-moon system occurs at
the time of full moon and new moon.
swarthy
adjective /»swç˘Di/
dark skinned
She looked pale standing beside her swarthy brother.
szechuan
noun /se»tSwA˘n/
variant of Sichuan
Sichuan cuisine originated from Sichuan, China and
is famed for its bold flavours.
swathe
verb /sweID/
to wrap in layers of bandages, paper, or cloth
It was necessary to swathe his hand in bandages to
stop the bleeding.
sweltering
adjective /»swelt´[r]iN/
oppressively hot
The sweltering heat can be unbearable for visitors.
sycophancy
noun /»sIk´fńsi/
praising important and powerful people insincerely,
especially in order to get something from them
As the new director, I was warned about the
sycophancy of certain employees.
symposium
noun /sIm»pÚzi´m/
a meeting or conference to discuss something
He attended a symposium on environmental issues.
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15 to 17
age group
tableau
tankard
noun /»tQblú/
a scene showing, for example, events and people
from history
She prepared a splendid tableau for her art history
class.
noun /»tQNk´d/
a large drinking vessel, especially one with a cover
He was holding a tankard in his hands.
tantamount
adjective /»tQnt´maUnt/
having the same effect as something else; equivalent
If he resigned it would be tantamount to admitting that
he was guilty.
tacit
adjective /»tQsIt/
silent
The grim expression on his face was a tacit
admission of failure.
taphonomy
noun /ta»fÅn´mi/
the branch of palaeontology that deals with the
processes of fossilization
Taphonomy helps understand the environment and
life history of the once living organisms.
taciturn
adjective /»tQsItŒ˘n/
uncommunicative
The host found her taciturn attitude to be very rude.
talisman
tautology
noun /»tQlIzmń/
an object that is thought to have magic powers and to
bring good luck
I used to carry a pebble as a talisman to help me
pass exams.
noun /tç˘»tÅl´dZi/
a statement in which you say the same thing twice in
different words, when this is unnecessary
His speech was twice as long as necessary, due to
his excessive use of tautology.
tambourine
tavern
noun /«tQmb´»ri˘n/
a percussion instrument
They danced to the beat of the tambourine.
noun /»tQvń/
a public house which provides rooms and meals
Due to bad weather, they were forced to spend the
night in the tavern.
tangential
tawdry
adjective /tQn»dZenSl/
having only a slight or indirect connection with
something
The negotiator avoided the main point and only spoke
about tangential issues.
adjective /»tç˘dri/
intended to be bright and attractive but cheap and of
low quality
I fail to understand why a wealthy person like Saira
should wear such tawdry jewellery.
tangerine
taxidermy
a kind of orange, much like the mandarin, but of
deeper colour and higher flavour
She added a tangerine to the fruit salad.
noun /»tQksIdŒ˘mi/
the art of preserving, mounting and stuffing the skins
of animals so as to represent their natural
appearance
He earns his living by taxidermy.
l 390 l
15
to 17
age group
taxonomist
T
tenacious
noun /tak»sÅn´mIst/
the branch of science concerned with classification,
especially of organisms; systematics
To become a taxonomist, one must obtain a four year
degree in a field of biology.
persistent; keeping firm hold
He is regarded as a tenacious and persistent
interviewer.
tenancy
technophile
noun /»tenńsi/
a period of time during which you rent a house, land
His tenancy in that apartment has lasted twenty five
years.
noun /»teknÚfaIl/
a person who is enthusiastic about new technology
My son is a true technophile and has to buy every
new gadget as soon as possible.
tenement
tedium
noun /»ten´mńt/
block of flats
They live in a crumbling tenement.
noun /»ti˘di´m/
the quality of being boring
She longed for something to happen, to relieve the
tedium of everyday life.
tenet
noun /»tenIt/
one of the principles or beliefs that a theory or larger
set of beliefs is based on
Believing in one God is the central tenet of Islam.
teeter
verb /»ti˘t´[r]/
to move unsteadily
I watched the child teeter as she tried to walk in her
mother’s high-heeled shoes.
tenuous
adjective /»tenju´s/
thin, slender, small
There is a tenuous connection between what is
written and what really happened.
teleology
noun /«ti˘li»Ål´dZi/
the branch of philosophy that deals with ends or final
causes
He was extremely interested in studying teleology.
tercentenary
noun /«tŒ˘sen»ti˘n´ri/
the three-hundredth anniversary of something
The head master held a garden party in the grounds
to mark the tercentenary of the school.
tempera
noun /»temp´r´/
a mode or process of painting where the colouring is
bound by egg yoke
She painted in tempera on the school walls.
terminable
adjective /»tŒ˘mIn´b´l/
able to be ended
The contract clearly stated that he would be regarded
as a terminable employee.
tempestuous
adjective /tem»pestSu´s/
full of extreme emotions and excitement
She found out about his reckless and tempestuous
disposition only after she married him.
terminology
noun /«tŒ˘mI»nÅl´dZi/
the set of technical words or expressions used in a
particular subject
I find scientific terminology very hard to understand.
l 391 l
T
15 to 17
age group
termitary
textual
noun /»t´˘mIt´ri/
another term for termitarium
A termitary is a colony of termites, typically within a
mound of cemented earth.
adjective /»tekstSu´l/
pertaining to, or contained in, the text
He was extremely critical of the textual contents of
the book.
ternary
thalassemia
adjective /»t´˘n´ri/
proceeding by threes; consisting of three
In the air show, the aircraft flew in a ternary
formation.
noun /«Tal´»si˘mI´/
any of a group of hereditary haemolytic diseases
caused by faulty haemoglobin synthesis
She has been diagnosed with thalassemia and needs
blood transfusion.
terracotta
theocracy
noun /«ter´»kÅt´/
reddish brown clay that has been baked, used for
making pots
I went to the garden centre to buy a terracotta pot for
my new plant, but they only had plastic.
noun /Ti»Åkr´si/
a country that is governed by religious leaders
The Vatican City is a theocracy.
theology
terrestrial
noun /Ti»Ål´dZi/
the study of God or of religion
After his accident, he started studying theology.
adjective /t´»restri´l/
connected with the planet Earth
Increased ultraviolet radiation may disrupt terrestrial
ecosystems.
theophylline
noun /TI´»fIli˘n/
a bitter crystalline compound present in small
quantities in tea leaves,
Theophylline was first extracted from tea leaves
around 1888 in Germany.
tessera
noun /»tes´r´/
a small block of stone , tile, glass, or other material
used in the construction of a mosaic
Mirror tessera adds great depth and sparkle to a
mosaic.
therapeutic
adjective /«Ter´»pju˘tIk/
designed to help treat an illness
I have long been a believer in the therapeutic qualities
of herbs.
testimonial
noun /«testI»mÚni´l/
a writing or certificate which bears testimony in favour
of one’s character, good conduct, ability
The court asked the witness to give a testimonial.
thermionics
noun /T´˘mI»ÅnIks/
the branch of science and technology concerned with
thermionic emission
Ahmed was an electronics engineer working in the
area of thermionics.
tetragonal
adjective /tI»trQgńl/
of or relating to or shaped like a quadrilateral
The rhombus, and the trapezium are tetragonal
figures.
l 392 l
15
to 17
age group
thermography
T
thrombosis
noun /T´˘»mÅgr´fi/
a process of writing or printing involving the use of
heat
Thermography is commonly used on wedding
invitations, letterheads, business cards, greetings
cards etc.
noun /TrÅm»bÚsIs/
the obstruction of a blood vessel by a clot formed at
the site of obstruction
His heart attack was due to thrombosis.
thwart
verb /Twç˘t/
prevent (someone) from accomplishing something
Concentrated efforts should be made to thwart
terrorist attacks.
thermostat
noun /»TŒ˘m´stQt/
an automatic apparatus for regulating temperature
The thermostat of the engine was faulty and therefore
the car was overheating.
thyme
noun /taIm/
a plant with small leaves that has a sweet smell and
is used in cooking as a herb
Ancient Greeks burnt thyme as incense in their
temples.
thistle
noun /»TIsl/
a wild plant with prickly leaves and purple, yellow or
white flowers
A thistle had clung onto his pants, when he went for a
hike.
thyroid
noun /»TaIrçId/
a gland at the front of the neck that produces
hormones which control the way the body grows and
functions
Certain medications can cause damage to the
thyroid.
thoroughbred
noun /»T√r´bred/
an animal, especially a horse, of high quality; pureblooded
His beautiful mare is a thoroughbred.
thoroughfare
titubation
a public road or street used by traffic
The main thoroughfare is even busy on Sundays.
noun /«tItjU»beISń/
a staggering gait observed in some nervous
disturbances
His titubation made him the object of crude jokes.
threshold
titular
noun /»TreShÚld/
ground at the bottom of a doorway
The shy girl stood at the threshold of the room,
uncertain as to what she should do.
adjective /»tItjul´[r]/
existing only in name
The president is the titular head of the company, but
the real power lies with the chairman.
throes
topography
noun /TrÚz/
violent pains, especially at the moment of death
The creature was convulsed in its death throes.
noun /t´»pÅgr´fi/
the physical features of an area of land, especially the
position of its rivers, mountains
From the air, it is possible to see the entire
topography of a region.
l 393 l
T
15 to 17
age group
tortuous
trachyte
adjective /»tç˘tSu´s/
bent in different directions; twisted
We had to endure a tortuous mountain track on our
way to the hill station.
noun /»treIk√It/
a grey fine-grained volcanic rock consisting largely of
alkali feldspar
Trachyte is an igneous rock and is commonly found in
Europe.
touche
traitorous
exclamation /tu˘»SeI/
(in fencing) used as an acknowledgement of a hit by
one’s opponent
Though my opponent only grazed me with the tip of
his foil, he yelled “Touche!”
adjective /»treIt´r´s/
guilty of treason; treacherous
His traitorous behaviour will get him into a lot of
trouble.
toxoplasmosis
trajectory
noun /«tÅksÚplQz»mÚsIs/
a protozoal disease characterized by jaundice,
enlarged liver and spleen, and convulsions
Doctors failed to diagnose his toxoplasmosis.
noun /tr´»dZekt´ri/
the curved path of something that has been fired, hit
or thrown into the air
She was able to see the trajectory of her golf ball
much better with her new contact lens.
traceable
tranquil
adjective /»treIs´bl/
capable of being traced
He wanted to track down all traceable calls.
adjective /»trQNkwIl/
peaceful
I always wanted to lead a tranquil life in the country.
tracery
tranquillity
noun /»treIs´ri/
a decorative pattern of lines and curves in stone
Mogul craftsmen were highly skilled at producing
beautiful tracery in marble.
noun /trQN»kwIl´ti/
calmness
After battling the traffic to reach Shalimar Gardens, I
just wanted to sit under a tree and enjoy the
tranquillity of the ancient place.
tracheid
noun /»treIkIId/
a type of water conducting cell in the xylem which
lacks perforations in the cell wall
A tracheid is found in all vascular plants.
transcend
verb /trQn»send/
to rise above; to surmount
Her paintings are a means to transcend the human
experience.
tracheophyte
noun /»treIki´«faIt/
a plant that has a conducting system of xylem and
phloem elements
Tracheophyte is the dominant type of land plant, and
includes trees and flowering plants.
transcribe
verb /trQn»skraIb/
to change from one written form to another
After you transcribe your notes onto the computer,
please email a copy to Mr. Hasan.
l 394 l
15
to 17
age group
transcutaneous
T
transmissivity
adjective /«tranzkjU»teInI´s/
existing, applied, or measured across the depth of the
skin
Nitroglycerine is a transcutaneous medication applied
directly to the skin.
noun /«tranzmI»sIvIti/
the degree to which a medium allows something, in
particular electromagnetic radiation, to pass through it
The transparency and transmissivity of the
atmosphere is uniform over the globe.
transference
treacle
noun /»trQnsf´rńs/
redirection to a new place
Psychic healing is really just about the transference of
positive energy,” says Cole.
noun /»tri˘k´l/
a dark viscous syrup obtained during the refining of
sugar
We all loved her treacle pudding.
transfusion
triassic
noun /trQns»fju˘Zn/
the movement of a liquid from one vessel into another
The injured driver needed a blood transfusion.
adjective /tr√I»asIk/
relating to the earliest period of the Mesozoic Era
marked by the appearance of dinosaurs
The average climatic conditions of the Triassic Period
were on the hot and dry side.
transgression
noun /trQnz»greSn/
a breach of a law; a sin or a crime
As her transgression was a minor one, the principal
did not suspend her from school.
tribunal
noun /traI»bju˘nl/
a type of court with the authority to deal with a
particular problem or disagreement
A tribunal was set up to address the problem of tax
evasion.
transhumance
noun /tranz»hju˘mńs/
the action or practice of moving livestock from one
grazing ground to another in a seasonal cycle
In the 18th and 19 centuries mountain farmers used
to follow transhumance.
trickle
verb /»trIk´l/
to run or cause to run in thin or slow streams
She let the sand trickle through her fingers.
transient
triennium
adjective /»tranzIńt/
lasting only for a short time; impermanent
The chemist said that mild side effects which are
transient in nature may occur initially.
noun /tr√I»EnI´m/
a specified period of three years
The youth triennium is a gathering of representatives
from many countries.
translucent
trifling
adjective /trQns»lu˘snt/
allowing light to shine through but not transparent
I bought a beautiful, translucent, glass vase at the
exhibition yesterday.
adjective /»traIflIN/
small and unimportant
I had to request my secretary not to bother me with
trifling matters.
l 395 l
T
15 to 17
age group
triumphantly
turbulence
adverb /tr√I»√mfńtli/
having won a battle or contest; victorious
Alexander marched triumhantly through the streets of
Persipolis.
noun /»tŒ˘bj´lńs/
disturbance
The country has been in a state of turbulence since
the news report last night.
troglodyte
turbulent
noun /»trÅgl´daIt/
a person living in a cave, especially in prehistoric
times
The troglodyte covered the walls of the cave with
drawings of different animals.
adjective /»tŒ˘bj´lńt/
disturbed
His country has a turbulent history, but things seem
more settled now.
turmoil
tropopause
noun /»tŒ˘mç˘Il/
a state or condition of extreme confusion, agitation, or
commotion
In the teacher’s absence, the class was thrown in
turmoil
noun /»trÅpÚpç˘z/
the boundary, or transitional layer, between the
troposhere and the stratosphere
Going upward from the surface, the tropopause is
where air ceases to cool with height, and becomes
almost completely dry.
turquoise
noun /»tŒ˘kwçIz/
a blue or greenish-blue precious stone
She asked the jeweller to put a turquoise in her ring.
truffle
noun /»tr√f´l/
a candy made of chocolate, butter, sugar, and shaped
into balls
Truffle was her favourite sweet.
tusche
noun /»tu˘sh´, »tu˘sh/
a greasy black composition, in liquid for or to be
mixed with a liquid, used as ink for lithographic
drawings
Tusche mixed with water flows more freely and dries
more slowly.
truncheon
noun /»tr√ntSń/
a short thick stick that police officers carry as a
weapon
The policeman waved his truncheon in a warning
manner at the advancing youth.
tussock
noun /»t√s´k/
a small area of grass that is longer and thicker than
the grass around it
When I was a child, I thought that the tussock in the
garden was a magical place.
tuberculosis
noun /tju˘«bŒ˘kju»lÚsIs0/
a serious, infectious disease in which swellings
appear on the lungs and other parts of the body
He had tuberculosis and had to be quarantined.
typography
tumult
noun /taI»pÅgr´fi/
the art or work of preparing books for printing,
especially of designing how text will appear when it is
printed
He learnt the art of typography in his apprenticeship
at the printers.
noun /»tju˘m√lt/
a confused situation in which there is usually a lot of
noise and excitement
There was such a tumult around the notice board that
I could not see the exam results.
l 396 l
15
to 17
age group
tyrannical
adjective /tI»rQnIkl/
using power or authority over people in an unfair and
cruel way
His tyrannical rule did not last for long.
tyrannize
verb /»tIrń√Iz/
rule or treat (someone) despotically or cruelly
The invading Mongols began to tyrannize the local
population.
tyrannosaur
noun /tI»ran´sç˘/
a very large bipedal carnivorous dinosaur with
powerful jaws and small claw-like front legs
She has a recurring dream of a tyrannosaur trampling
her.
tyranny
noun /»tIrńi/
unfair or cruel use of power or authority
The students had no protection against the tyranny of
their class bully.
l 397 l
T
U
15 to 17
age group
ubiquitous
unilateral
adjective /ju˘»bIkwIt´s/
existing or being everywhere, or in all places, at the
same time
The movie star was tired of being followed by
ubiquitous paparazzi all the time.
adjective /«ju˘nI»lQtr´l/
being on one side only
It was a unilateral decision.
uninhibited
adjective /«√nIn»hIbItId/
behaving or expressing yourself freely without
worrying about what other people think
The other guests were shocked by her uninhibited
laughter during dinner.
ulcer
noun /»√ls´[r]/
a sore discharging pus
I have an ulcer in my mouth.
ultimatum
unkempt
noun /«√ltI»meIt´m/
a final demand
The government gave an ultimatum to the terrorists to
give up, or they would retaliate forcefully.
adjective /«√n»kempt/
not well cared for; not neat or tidy
Her wild unkempt hair was difficult to comb.
unremunerative
unanimity
adjective /√nrI»mju˘n´r´tIv/
bringing little or no profit or income
He is dishearted because his once flourishing
business is now quite unremunerative.
noun /«ju˘n´»nIm´ti/
complete agreement
There was remarkable unanimity between the
members of the parliament.
unrequited
unascertained
adjective /«√nrI»kwaItId/
(of love) not returned by the person you love
Unrequited love was what drove him to take a job in
central Africa.
adjective /«√nas´»teInd/
not confirmed or ascertained; unknown
It still remains unascertained whether the jet was hit
by a bird or a bullet.
unwavering
unauthenticated
adjective /√n»weIv´rIN/
not changing or becoming weaker in any way
His unwavering support for his wife during her long
illness showed how much he truly loved her.
adjective /√nç˘»TEntIkeItId/
not proven or validated
The validity of the document remains
unauthenticated.
unwieldy
uncouthness
adjective /√n»wi˘ldi/
difficult to move or control because of its size, shape
or weight
The postman was struggling with the unweildy parcel.
noun /√n»ku˘TnEs/
lacking good manners, refinement, or grace
We were attacked by a gang of uncouth men.
unerring
adjective /√n»Œ˘rIN/
always right or accurate
She had an unerring instinct for good business deals.
l 398 l
15
to 17
age group
upbraid
U
utterance
verb /√p»breId/
to criticise someone or because of something that
they have said or done
She should not upbraid him because he doesn’t take
criticism very well.
noun /»√t´rńs/
spoken words
She hardly ever gives utterance to her thoughts.
upheaval
noun /√p»hi˘vl/
a big change that causes a lot of confusion and worry
The upheaval of moving to a new house takes
months to recover from.
upsurge
noun /»√psŒ˘dZ/
sudden great increase
The recent upsurge in crime has caused some
serious troubles.
urchin
noun /»Œ˘tSInÀ/
a young child who is poor and dirty, often one who
has no home
The dirty little street urchin was begging for food.
utilitarian
adjective /«ju˘tIlI»te´riń/
designed to be practically useful rather than attractive
It was an exhibition displaying utilitarian sanitary
items.
utilitarianism
noun /«ju˘tIlI»te´rińIz´m/
the belief that the right course of action is the one
that will produce the greatest happiness for the
highest number of people
The problem with a theory like utilitarianism, is that it
takes free choice out of the equation.
utopia
noun /ju˘»tÚpi´/
an imaginary place or state where everything is
perfect
Utopia does not exist in reality, it is merely a figment
of our imagination.
l 399 l
V
15 to 17
age group
vaccine
vanquish
noun /»vQksi˘n/
a substance that is put into the blood and that
protects the body from a disease
The discovery of the polio vaccine has saved millions
of lives throughout the world.
verb /»vQNkwIS/
to defeat completely
I enjoyed watching the young Spaniard vanquish his
opponent in the final of the tennis tournament.
variability
vacuity
noun /«ve´ri´»bIl´ti/
tendency to change
The degree of variability in the exchange rate is
expected to decrease.
noun /v´»kju˘Iti/
lack of thought or intelligence; empty-headedness
The actress known for her vacuity loves to talk about
world affairs.
variegated
vacuum
adjective /»ve´ri´geItId/
having differently coloured spots or marks
The plant has attractive, variegated leaves.
noun /»vQkju´m/
emptiness of space
The fall of the old regime left a power vacuum which
the nationalists tried to fill.
vault
noun /vç˘lt/
an arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or
canopy
She kept her jewellery in a vault at the bank.
vainglorious
adjective /«veIn»glç˘ri´s/
too proud of your own abilities and achievements
He was a vainglorious and arrogant individual who
never made any friends.
vehement
adjective /»vi˘´mńt/
showing very strong feelings, especially anger
A vehement critic declared the exhibition as being
mere child’s play.
valedictory
noun /«valI»dIkt´ri/
serving as a farewell
Yahya will deliver the velidictory address at the
convocation.
veinous
adjective /»veIn´s/
having prominent veins
His veinous arm was wounded badly.
valency
noun /»veIlńsi/
a property of atoms or groups, equal to the number of
atoms of hydrogen
The scientist used a formula to determine the valency
of the compound.
velleity
noun /ve»li˘Iti/
a wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to
action
The notion intrigued me, but it remained a velleity.
valet
noun /»vQleI/
originally a manservant, now usually a person who
parks your car for you at a hotel or restaurant
The hotel manager asked the valet to park the car.
vendetta
noun /ven»det´/
a violent dispute between two groups in which people
are murdered in revenge for previous murders
Romeo and Juliet lost their lives on account of the
vendetta between their two families.
l 400 l
15
to 17
age group
venetian
V
vestibule
adjective /v´«ni˘Sn/
of or pertaining to Venice in Italy
The building was reminiscent of Venetian architecture.
noun /»vestIbju˘l/
an entrance hall
The vestibule of the hotel was magnificent.
vengeful
veterinary
adjective /»vendZfl/
wanting to take revenge
Her vengeful attitude will cause us great suffering.
adjective /»vetrń´ri/
connected with caring for the health of animals
She is a student of veterinary medicine.
ventriloquism
vicarious
noun /ven»trIl´kwIz´m/
the act of speaking in such a manner that the voice
appears to come from some other source
He could not master the art of ventriloquism.
adjective /vI»ke´ri´s/
performed, accomplished, or undergone by or on
behalf of another
He got a vicarious thrill out of watching his son score
the winning goal.
veracious
vicegerent
adjective /v´»reIS´s/
truthful
It was hard not to believe her veracious explanation.
adjective /v√Is»dZI´rńt/
a person exercising delegated power on behalf of a
sovereign or ruler
Bairam khan was appointed young Akbar’s
vicegerent.
verbatim
adverb /vŒ˘»beItIm/
exactly as spoken or written; word for word
He reported the speech verbatim.
vicinity
noun /v´»sIn´ti/
the surrounding district
There is no hospital in the immediate vicinity.
verisimilitude
noun /«verIsI»mIlItju˘d/
the quality of seeming to be true or real
To add verisimilitude, the stage is covered with sand
for the desert scenes.
vicissitude
noun /vI»sIsItju˘d/
change of circumstances
He considered injuring his leg only a vicissitude which
he would soon get over with.
versatile
adjective /»vŒ˘s´taIl/
adaptable
He’s a versatile actor who has played a wide variety
of roles.
villainous
adjective /»vIlń´s/
very wicked; very unpleasant
The detectives were unable to catch the villainous
robbers.
vertigo
noun /»vŒ˘tIgÚ/
dizziness and loss of balance caused by looking
down from a high place
He did not realise that he had vertigo until he went up
to the roof of the building and looked down.
vindicate
verb /»vIndIkeIt/
to clear of suspicion
New evidence was needed to vindicate him
completely.
l 401 l
V
15 to 17
age group
viridescent
volatile
adjective /«vIrI»dEsńt/
greenish or becoming green
He described her eyes as viridescent sparks.
adjective /»vÅl´taIl/
liable to change suddenly
He was worried about her volatile personality.
virtuosic
voluminous
adjective /«v´˘tjU»ÅsIk/
exhibiting characteristics of a person highly skilled in
music or another artistic pursuit
Some virtuosic sitar players were present at the
mucical conference.
adjective /v´»lu˘mIn´s/
very large; bulky
I sank down into a voluminous armchair.
voracious
adjective /v´»reIS´s/
greedy; insatiable
His obesity was indicative of a voracious appetite.
virtuous
adjective /»vŒ˘tSu´s/
morally correct
She lived an entirely virtuous life.
voyager
noun /»vçIIdZ´/
one of a series of US space probes that obtained
scientific information
The very first Voyager showed us an up-close view of
our Solar System.
virulent
adjective /»vIr´lńt/
extremely dangerous or harmful and quick to take
effect
She has recovered from a particularly virulent form of
typhoid.
vulcanization
noun /»v√lkń√I»zeISń/
procedure of treating rubber with sulphur and heat,
for greater elasticity and durability
Vulcanization is a complicated process.
viscountcy
noun /»vaIkaUntsi/
the rank or position of a viscount
His viscountcy made him a sought-after bachelor.
vulnerable
vituperation
adjective /»v√ln´r´bl/
able to be physically or emotionally hurt or damaged
The sudden resignation of the finance director put the
company in a very vulnerable position.
noun /vI«tju˘p´»reISn/
cruel and angry criticism
I do not enjoy reading his book reviews; every
sentence is steeped in vituperation.
vivacious
adjective /vI»veIS´s/
animated, lively, spirited
He had three pretty, vivacious daughters.
vociferous
adjective /v´»sIf´r´s/
noisy and insistent
The vociferous protests of the workers have given me
a headache.
l 402 l
15
to 17
age group
waltz
W
wearisome
noun /wç˘ls/
a graceful dance in which two people dance together
The waltz is easy to learn if you have a sense of
rhythm.
adjective /»wI´ris´m/
boring, tiring
After a long, wearisome day at work, she was so tired
that she slept for twelve hours.
wanton
weevil
adjective /»wÅntń/
childishly cruel or unruly
The teacher was disappointed by his wanton
behaviour.
noun /»wi˘vl/
beetle that characteristically has a downward-curving
snout and is destructive to nuts, fruits, stems, and
roots
warmonger
werewolf
noun /»wç˘m√Ng´[r]/
a person, especially a politician or leader, who wants
to start a war
He was advised not to pay heed to the fiery speeches
of the warmonger.
noun /»we´wUlf/
(in stories) a person who changes for periods of time
into a wolf, especially when there is a full moon
We thought the film about a werewolf was going to be
frightening, but it was really quite humorous.
warrantable
westernisation
adjective /»wÅrńt´bl/
able to be guaranteed
He made sure to buy a warrantable CD player.
noun /«westńaI»zeISn/
the process of becoming more like the developed
world
According to critics, globalisation is just another word
for the westernisation of the entire world.
wastrel
noun /»weIstr´l/
an idle, worthless, or disreputable person
Her husband was known as a wastrel.
wheatear
noun /»wi˘tI´/
a mainly Eurasian and African songbird related to the
chats, with black and buff or black and white plumage
and a white rump
The wheatear is a migratory bird that winters in
Africa.
waterborne
adjective /»wç˘t´rbç˘n/
spread or carried by water
Waterborne diseases are not rare.
wheedle
watercress
verb /»wi˘dl/
to persuade by flattery
The children managed to wheedle money out of their
father to go to the amusement park.
noun /»wç˘t´kres/
a water plant with small, round, green leaves and thin
stems. It has a strong taste and is often eaten raw in
salads
I added watercress to the salad.
whimsical
adjective /»wImzIkl/
playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing
and amusing way
Much of his writing has a whimsical quality to it.
weaponry
noun /»wepńri/
weapons (collectively)
The police force has very sophisticated weaponry.
l 403 l
W
15 to 17
age group
whippersnapper
noun /»wIp´snap´/
a young and inexperienced person considered to be
presumptuous or overconfident
Whippersnapper is an archaic term rarely heard
nowadays except in movies and plays.
whirligig
noun /»wE˘lI«gIg/
a toy that spins round, for example a top or windmill
He is an regular worrywart and and annoys us all with
his constant worrying.
wilderness
noun /»wIldń´s/
an uncultivated and uninhabited area
Antarctica is the world’s last great wilderness.
woebegone
adjective /»wÚbIgÅn/
looking very sad
I pitied him when I saw his woebegone expression.
wonderment
noun /»w√nd´mńt/
a feeling of pleasant surprise or wonder
She looked at him in surprise and wonderment.
wreckage
noun /»rekIdZ/
the results or remains of a disaster
The wreckage of the plane crash was spread over
miles.
wretch
noun /retS/
a person for whom you feel pity
That poor wretch has been begging at that spot ever
since I can remember.
wunderkind
noun /»vUnd´kInd/
a person who achieves great success when relatively
young
The term wunderkind is sometimes used as a
synonym for prodigy.
l 404 l
15
to 17
age group
xenobiology
noun /»zEnÚb√I»Ål´dZi/
a multidisciplinary field dealing with the nature,
existence, and search for extraterrestrial life
Xenobiology addresses the question whether life
exists beyond Earth, and how humans can detect it if
it does.
xenophobia
noun /«zen´»fÚbi´/
a strong feeling of dislike or fear of people from other
countries
The government has decided to launch a campaign
against racism and xenophobia.
xylophone
noun /»zaIl´fÚn/
a musical instrument
He played the xylophone in the school band.
l 405 l
X
Y
15 to 17
age group
yeoman
noun /»jÚmń/
a farmer who owned and worked his own land
The wealthy yeoman wanted to move to the city.
yield
verb /ji˘ld/
to produce or provide something, for example a profit,
result or crop
High-rate deposit accounts yield good returns.
yuan
noun /jU»A˘n/
a dynasty that ruled China 1279–1368, established by
the Mongols under Kublai Khan. It preceded the Ming
dynasty
The Yuan dynasty possessed extensive territory
including Tibet and Yunnan.
l 406 l
15
to 17
age group
zeal
noun /zi˘l/
great energy or enthusiasm connected with
something that you feel strongly about
He showed much zeal for his cause.
zealot
noun /»zel´t/
a person who is extremely enthusiastic about
something, especially religion or politics
He is a real zealot; he will not take a day’s rest until
his party wins the election.
zealous
adjective /»zel´s/
showing great energy and enthusiasm for something,
especially because you feel strongly about it
He was a zealous anti-smoker.
zephyr
noun /»zef´[r]/
a soft, gentle wind
The heat of summer nights is made bearable when a
zephyr blows.
Zeppelin
noun /»zEp´lIn/
a large German dirigible airship of the early 20th
century, long and cylindrical in shape and with a rigid
framework.
The zeppelin crashed to earth and burst in flames.
zinnia
noun /»zInia/
a plant with large brightly coloured flowers
Her garden had a breathtaking variety of zinnia.
zoetrope
noun /»zÚItrÚp/
a 19th -century optical toy
The toy was named zoetrope which means the wheel
of life.
l 407 l
Z

A 9to11 - da skbz college

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