|
| abase |
v. ~ oneself/sb lower oneself/sb in dignity; degrade oneself/sb ; |
| abbess |
n. woman who is head of a convent or nunnery |
| abbey |
n. buildingin which monks or nuns live as a community under an abbot or abbess |
| abbot |
n. man who is head of a monastery or abbey |
| abdicate |
v. resign from or formally renounce the throne |
| abdomen |
n. part of the body below the chest and diaphragm, containing the stomach, bowels and digestive organs |
| abduction |
A carrying away of a person against his will, or illegally. |
| abed |
In bed; on a bed. |
| aberration |
n. deviation from what is accepted as normal or right |
| abet |
v. ~ sb (in sth) help or encourage sb to commit an offence or do sth wrong |
| abeyance |
n. be in abeyance; fall/go into abeyance (of a right, rule, problem, etc) be suspended temporarily; not be in force or use for a time |
| abhorrence |
n. hatred and disgust |
| abhorrent |
adj. ~ disgusting; hateful |
| abidance |
An abiding. |
| abject |
adj. wretched; hopeless |
| abjure |
v. promise or swear to give up (a claim, an opinion, a belief, etc); renounce formally |
| able-bodied |
adj. healthy, fit and strong |
| ablution |
n. (fml or joc ) ceremonial washing of the body, hands, sacred vessels, etc |
| abnegate |
vt. to give up (rights or a claim, for example); renounce. |
| abnormal |
adj. different, esp in an undesirable way, from what is normal, ordinary or expected |
| abominable |
adj. ~(fml ) causing disgust; detestable |
| abominate |
v. feel hatred or disgust for (sth/sb); detest; loathe |
| abomination |
n. feeling of disgust and extreme hatred |
| aboriginal |
adj. inhabiting a land from a very early period, esp before the arrival of colonists |
| aborigine |
n. aboriginal inhabitant |
| aboveboard |
be in a straightforward manner |
| abrade |
v. wear away by rubbing; scrape off |
| abrasion |
n. scraping or wearing away; rubbing off ; |
| abridge |
v. make shorter, esp by using fewer words; condense |
| abridgment |
a shortened version of a written work |
| abrogate |
v. cancel, repeal or annul (sth) |
| abrupt |
adj. sudden and unexpected |
| abscess |
n. swollen part of the body in which a thick yellowish liquid has collected |
| abscission |
The act of cutting off, as in a surgical operation. |
| abscond |
v. ~go away suddenly and secretly, esp in order to avoid arrest |
| absence |
n. ~ being away |
| absolution |
n. formal declaration by a priest that a person's sins have been forgiven |
| absolve |
v. ~ sb (fml esp law , ) clear sb (of guilt); declare sb free (from blame, a promise, a duty, etc) |
| absorb |
v. take (sth) in; suck up |
| absorption |
n. ~ absorbing or being absorbed |
| abstain |
v. ~ keep oneself from doing or enjoying sth, esp from taking alcoholic drinks; refrain ; |
| abstemious |
adj. not taking much food or drink; not self-indulgent; moderate |
| abstinence |
n. ~ abstaining, esp from food or alcoholic drinks |
| abstruse |
adj. difficult to understand |
| absurd |
adj. unreasonable; not sensible |
| abundant |
adj. more than enough; plentiful |
| abusive |
adj. criticizing harshly and rudely; insulting |
| abut |
v. ~ on/against sth (of land or a building) have a common boundary or side with sth; adjoin sth |
| abyss |
n. hole so deep that it seems to have no bottom |
| academic |
adj. of schools, colleges, etc |
| academician |
n. member of an academy |
| academy |
n. school for special training |
| accede |
v. ~ (fml ) take office |
| accelerate |
v. make move faster or happen earlier; increase the speed of |
| accept |
v. take (sth offered) willingly |
| access |
n. ~ means of approaching or entering (a place); way in |
| accessible |
adj. ~ that can be reached, used, etc |
| accession |
n. ~ reaching a rank or position |
| accessory |
n. thing that is a useful or decorative extra but that is not essential; minor fitting or attachment |
| acclaim |
v. welcome (sb/sth) with shouts of approval; applaud loudly |
| accommodate |
v. provide lodging or room for |
| accompaniment |
n. thing that naturally or often goes with another thing |
| accompanist |
n. person who plays a musical accompaniment |
| accompany |
v. walk or travel with (sb) as a companion or helper; escort |
| accomplice |
n. person who helps another to do sth wicked or illegal |
| accomplish |
v. succeed in doing (sth); complete successfully; achieve |
| accordion |
n. portable musical instrument with a bellows, metal reeds and a keyboard . |
| accost |
v. approach and speak to (sb) boldly |
| account |
n. statement of money paid or owed for goods or services |
| accredit |
v. ~ sth to sb/~ sb with sth attribute to sb; credit sb with (a saying, etc) |
| accumulate |
v. gradually get or gather together an increasing number or quantity of get (sth) in this way |
| accuracy |
n. precision or exactness, esp resulting from careful effort |
| accurate |
adj. free from error |
| accursed |
adj. hateful; detestable; annoying |
| accusation |
n. accusing or being accused |
| accusatory |
adj. of or indicating an accusation |
| accuse |
v. ~ sb say that sb has done wrong, is guilty (of sth) or has broken the law |
| accustom |
v. ~ oneself/sb/sth to sth make oneself, etc used to sth |
| acerbity |
Sourness of taste, character, or tone. |
| acetate |
n. compound derived from acetic acid |
| ache |
n. continuous dull pain |
| achromatic |
designating color perceived to have zero saturation and therefore no hue, such as neutral grays, white, or black |
| acid |
n. substance that contains hydrogen, which can be replaced by a metal to form a salt |
| acidify |
v. (cause sth to) become acid |
| acknowledge |
v. accept the truth of admit (sth) |
| acknowledgment |
Recognition. |
| acme |
n. highest stage of development; point of perfection |
| acoustic |
adj. of sound or the sense of hearing |
| acquaint |
v. ~ sb/oneself with sth make sb/oneself familiar with or aware of sth |
| acquiesce |
v. ~ (fml ) accept sth without protest; offer no opposition (to a plan, conclusion, etc) |
| acquiescence |
submission; compliance |
| acquire |
v. gain (sth) by one's own ability, efforts or behaviour |
| acquisition |
n. action of acquiring |
| acquit |
v. ~ sb (of sth) declare sb to be not guilty (of a crime, etc); free or clear sb (of blame, responsibility, etc) |
| acquittal |
n. judgement that a person is not guilty of the crime with which he has been charged |
| acquittance |
Release or discharge from indebtedness, obligation, or responsibility. |
| acreage |
n. area of land measured in acres |
| acrid |
adj. having a strongly bitter smell or taste |
| acrimonious |
adj. bitter |
| acrimony |
n. bitterness of manner or words |
| actionable |
adj. giving sufficient cause for a lawsuit |
| actuality |
n. actual existence; reality ; |
| actuary |
n. expert who calculates insurance risks and premiums |
| actuate |
v. make (a machine, an electrical device, etc) move or work; make (a process) begin , ; |
| acumen |
n. ability to understand and judge things quickly and clearly; shrewdness |
| acute |
adj. very great; severe |
| adamant |
adj. firmly or stubbornly determined; unwilling to be persuaded |
| addendum |
n. thing that is to be added |
| addle |
v. confuse (sth/sb); muddle |
| adduce |
v. put (sth) forward as an example or as proof |
| adhere |
v. ~ (to sth) remain attached (to sth); stick (as if) by means of glue or suction |
| adherence |
n. ~ (to sth) |
| adherent |
n. supporter of a party or doctrine |
| adhesion |
n. ~ being or becoming attached (to sth) |
| adieu |
Good-by; farewell. |
| adjacency |
The state of being adjacent. |
| adjacent |
having a common endpoint or border also immediately preceding or following |
| adjudge |
v. (also adjudicate) declare officially or decide by law |
| adjunct |
n. ~ thing that is added or attached to sth else but is less important and not essential |
| adjuration |
solemn urging |
| adjutant |
n. army officer responsible for administrative work in a battalion |
| administrator |
n. person responsible for managing (esp business) affairs |
| admissible |
adj. that can be allowed |
| admittance |
n. allowing sb or being allowed to enter (esp a private place); right of entry |
| admonish |
to express warning or disapproval to especially in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner |
| admonition |
warning |
| ado |
n. trouble; fuss; unnecessary activity |
| adoration |
n. great love or worship |
| adroit |
adj. ~ skilful; clever |
| adulterant |
An adulterating substance. |
| adulterate |
v. make poorer in quality by adding another substance |
| adumbrate |
v. indicate (sth) faintly or in outline |
| Advent |
n. the ~ of sth/sb the approach or arrival of |
| adverse |
adj. not favourable; contrary |
| adversity |
n. unfavourable conditions; trouble |
| advert |
n. = advertisement |
| advisory |
adj. having the power to advise; giving advice |
| advocacy |
n. ~ giving of support (to a cause, etc) |
| advocate |
v. speak publicly in favour of (sth); recommend; support |
| aerial |
n. one or more wires or rods for sending or receiving radio waves . |
| aeronaut |
One who navigates the air, a balloonist. |
| aeronautics |
n. scientific study or practice of flying and navigating aircraft |
| aerostat |
A balloon or other apparatus floating in or sustained by the air. |
| aerostatics |
The branch of pneumatics that treats of the equilibrium, pressure, and mechanical properties. |
| affable |
adj. polite and friendly |
| affect |
v. have an influence on (sb/sth); produce an effect on |
| affectation |
n. unnatural behaviour, manner of speaking, etc, intended to impress others |
| affiliate |
to bring or receive into close connection as a member or branch |
| affirmative |
adj. expressing agreement; indicating `yes' |
| affix |
v. ~ sth (fml ) stick, fasten or attach sth |
| affluence |
n. abundance of money, goods or property; wealth |
| affront |
n. ~ (to sb/sth) deliberately insulting or disrespectful remark, action, etc, esp in public |
| afire |
& adj. On fire, literally or figuratively. |
| afoot |
adj. being prepared or progressing |
| aforesaid |
Said in a preceding part or before. |
| afresh |
adv. again, esp from the very beginning |
| afterthought |
n. thing that is thought of or added later |
| agglomerate |
v. become collected into a mass |
| aggrandize |
to make appear great or greater:praise highly |
| aggravate |
v. make worse or more serious |
| aggravation |
n. making more serious; irritation ; |
| aggregate |
v. ~ sb (fml ) be formed or bring sb into an assembled group or amount |
| aggress |
To make the first attack. |
| aggression |
n. unprovoked attacking or hostility by one country against another |
| aggrieve |
to give pain or trouble to:DISTRESS |
| aghast |
adj. ~ filled with horror or amazement |
| agile |
adj. able to move quickly and easily; active; nimble |
| agitate |
v. cause anxiety to (a person, his feelings, etc); disturb; excite |
| agrarian |
adj. of land |
| aide-de-camp |
n. (abbr ADC) naval or military officer who acts as assistant to a senior officer |
| ailment |
n. illness, esp a slight one |
| airy |
adj. having plenty of fresh air moving about; well-ventilated |
| akin |
adj. ~ similar; related |
| alabaster |
n. soft stone, like marble in appearance, often carved to make ornaments , |
| alacrity |
n. prompt and eager readiness |
| albeit |
conj although |
| albino |
n. person or animal born with no colouring pigment in the skin and hair (which are white) and the eyes (which are pink) |
| album |
n. book in which a collection of photographs, autographs, postage stamps, etc can be kept , |
| alchemy |
n. medieval form of chemistry, the chief aim of which was to discover how to turn ordinary metals into gold , |
| alcohol |
n. colourless liquid that can cause drunkenness, contained in drinks such as beer, wine, brandy and whisky |
| alcoholism |
n. continual heavy drinking of alcohol |
| alcove |
n. small space in a room, etc formed by part of the wall being set back; recess |
| alder |
n. tree of the birch family, usu growing in marshy places , |
| alderman |
n. (Brit) (esp formerly) member of a county or borough council, next in rank below the mayor |
| alias |
n. name by which a person is called at other times or in other places; false name |
| alien |
n. person who is not a naturalized citizen of the country in which he is living |
| alienable |
Capable of being aliened or alienated, as lands. |
| alienate |
v. ~ sb cause sb to become unfriendly or indifferent; estrange sb |
| alienation |
n. ~ alienating or being alienated; estrangement |
| aliment |
That which nourishes. |
| alkali |
n. any of a class of substances (eg caustic soda and ammonia) that neutralize acids and form caustic or corrosive solutions in water |
| allay |
v. make (sth) less; relieve |
| allege |
v. state (sth) as a fact but without proof; give as an argument or excuse |
| allegory |
n. story, painting or description in which the characters and events are meant as symbols of purity, truth, patience, etc , |
| alleviate |
v. make less severe; ease |
| alley |
n. narrow passage, esp between or behind houses or other buildings, usu for pedestrians only |
| alliance |
n. action or state of being joined or associated |
| allot |
v. ~ sth (to sb/sth) give (time, money, duties, etc) as a share of what is available; apportion sth |
| allotment |
n. action of allotting |
| allude |
v. ~ to sb/sth (fml ) mention sb/sth briefly or indirectly |
| allusion |
n. ~ indirect reference |
| alluvion |
Flood. |
| ally |
v. ~ (sb/oneself) with/to sb/sth join or become joined with sb/sth by treaty, marriage, etc |
| almanac |
n. annual book or calendar of months and days, giving information about the sun, moon, tides, anniversaries, etc , |
| aloof |
adj. ~ cool and remote in character; unconcerned |
| altar |
n. table on which bread and wine are consecrated in the Communion service . |
| alter |
v. become different; change in character, position, size, shape, etc |
| alteration |
n. changing; making a change |
| altercate |
To contend angrily or zealously in words. |
| alternate |
adj. happening or following one after the other |
| alternative |
adj. available in place of sth else; other |
| altitude |
n. height above sea-level |
| alto |
n. (music ) (singer with a) voice of the highest adult male pitch |
| altruism |
n. principle of considering the welfare and happiness of others before one's own; unselfishness ; |
| altruist |
n. unselfish person |
| amalgam |
n. alloy of mercury with another metal |
| amalgamate |
v. ~ (with sb/sth) (cause people or things to) combine or unite |
| amateur |
n. person who practises a sport or artistic skill without receiving money for it |
| amatory |
adj. relating to or inspired by sexual love |
| ambidextrous |
adj. able to use the left hand or the right hand equally well |
| ambiguous |
adj. having more than one possible meaning |
| ambitious |
adj. ~ ~ (for sth) full of ambition, esp for success or money |
| ambulance |
n. vehicle equipped to carry sick or injured people to hospital, etc |
| ambulate |
To walk about |
| ambush |
n. waiting in a hidden position to make a surprise attack |
| ameliorate |
v. (cause sth to) become better |
| amenable |
adj. ~ (of people) willing to be influenced or controlled (by sth) |
| Americanism |
n. word or phrase used in American English but not in standard English in Britain |
| amicable |
adj. showing friendliness; without hostility |
| amity |
n. friendly relationship between people or countries |
| amorous |
adj. readily showing or feeling love; relating to love |
| amorphous |
adj. having no definite shape or form; not organized |
| amour |
n. (esp secret) love affair |
| ampere |
n. unit for measuring electric current . |
| ampersand |
n. sign meaning `and' `&' , `and' |
| amphibious |
adj. living or operating both on land and in water |
| amphitheater |
oval building with tiers of seats |
| amplitude |
n. breadth; largeness; abundance ; |
| amputate |
v. cut off by surgical operation |
| amusement |
thing that makes time pass pleasantly |
| anachronism |
n. mistake of placing sth in the wrong historical period |
| anagram |
n. word or phrase made by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase |
| analogous |
adj. ~ partially similar or parallel; offering an analogy |
| analogy |
n. ~ partial similarity between two things that are compared |
| analyst |
n. person skilled in making analyses |
| analyze |
To examine minutely or critically. |
| anarchy |
n. absence of government or control in society; lawlessness |
| anathema |
n. detested person or thing |
| anatomy |
n. scientific study of the structure of animal bodies |
| ancestry |
n. line of ancestors |
| anecdote |
n. short, interesting or amusing story about a real person or event , |
| anemia |
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles |
| anemic |
lacking force, vitality, or spirit |
| anemometer |
n. instrument for measuring the force of the wind |
| anesthetic |
= anaesthesia, anaesthetic |
| anew |
adv. in a new or different way; again |
| Anglophobe |
n. person who hates or fears England or English things |
| Anglo-Saxon |
n. person of English descent |
| angular |
adj. having angles or sharp corners |
| anhydrous |
free from water and especially water of crystallization |
| animadversion |
n. criticism |
| animadvert |
v. ~ (fml ) make (esp critical) remarks about sb/sth |
| animalcule |
n. microscopically small animal |
| animate |
adj. living; having life |
| animosity |
n. ~ ~ (between A and B) (instance of) strong dislike or of hostility |
| annalist |
n. person who writes annals |
| annals |
n. story of events year by year; historical records |
| annex |
v. take possession of |
| annihilate |
v. destroy completely |
| annotate |
v. add notes to giving explanation or comment |
| annual |
adj. happening every year |
| annuity |
n. fixed sum of money paid to sb yearly, usu for the remaining part of his lifetime |
| annunciation |
n. the Annunciation (festival held on 25 March to commemorate) the announcement to Mary that she was to be the mother of Christ , ; 325 |
| anode |
n. positive electrode by which an electric current enters a device |
| anonymous |
adj. with a name that is not known or not made public |
| antagonism |
n~ ~ (between A and B) (instance of) active opposition or hostility, esp between two people |
| antarctic |
adj. of the regions around the South Pole . |
| ante |
n. stake in poker2, etc that a player must make before receiving new cards |
| antecede |
be earlier in time; go back further |
| antecedent |
n. thing or circumstance that is or comes before another |
| antechamber |
n. = ante-room |
| antedate |
v. put an earlier date on than the one at the time of writing |
| antediluvian |
adj. of the time before Noah's Flood |
| antenatal |
adj. existing or occurring before birth; pre-natal |
| anterior |
adj. coming before in position or time; nearer the front ; |
| anteroom |
A room situated before and opening into another, usually larger. |
| anthology |
n. collection of poems or pieces of prose on the same subject or by the same writer |
| anthracite |
n. very hard form of coal that burns with little smoke or flame |
| anthropology |
n. study of mankind, esp of its origins, development, customs and beliefs , |
| antic |
n. absurd or exaggerated movement or behaviour intended to amuse people |
| Antichrist |
Any opponent or enemy of Christ, whether a person or a power. |
| anticlimax |
n. disappointing end to a series of events which had seemed likely to become more interesting, exciting or impressive |
| anticyclone |
n. area in which atmospheric pressure is high, producing fine and settled weather, with an outward flow of air |
| antidote |
n. ~ substance that acts against the effects of a poison or disease |
| antiphon |
A response or alteration of responses, generally musical. |
| antiphony |
An anthem or other composition sung responsively. |
| antipode |
the exact or direct opposit |
| antiquary |
n. person who studies, collects or sells antiques , |
| antiquate |
To make old or out of date. |
| antique |
adj. belonging to the distant past |
| antiseptic |
n. substance that prevents a wound, etc from becoming septic, esp by destroying bacteria |
| antispasmodic |
Tending to prevent or relieve non-inflammatory spasmodic affections. |
| antistrophe |
The inversion of terms in successive classes, as in "the home of joy and the joy of home". |
| antitoxin |
n. substance that acts against a poisonous substance and prevents it from having a harmful effect |
| antonym |
n. word that is opposite in meaning to another |
| anxious |
adj. ~ feeling anxiety; worried; uneasy |
| apathy |
n. ~ lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern; indifference |
| aperture |
n. narrow opening |
| apex |
n. top or highest point |
| aphorism |
n. short wise saying; maxim ; |
| apiary |
n. place with a number of hives where bees are kept |
| apogee |
n. position in the orbit of the moon, a planet or a satellite when it is at its greatest distance from the earth , |
| apology |
n. ~ (for sth) statement to say one is sorry for having done wrong or hurt sb's feelings |
| apostasy |
n. abandoning one's religious beliefs, principles, political party, etc |
| apostate |
n. person who renounces his former beliefs, etc |
| apostle |
n. any of the twelve men sent out by Christ to spread his teaching |
| apothecary |
n. person who prepares and sells medicines and medical goods |
| apotheosis |
n. (of a human being) making or becoming a god or a sain |
| appall |
to overcome with consternation, shock, or dismay |
| apparent |
adj. clearly seen or understood; obvious |
| apparition |
n. appearance, esp of sth startling, strange or unexpected , |
| appease |
v. make quiet or calm, usu by making concessions or by satisfying demands |
| appellate |
Capable of being appealed to. |
| appellation |
n. name or title; system of naming ; |
| append |
v. ~ sth (fml ) attach or add sth (esp in writing) |
| appertain |
v. ~ to sb/sth belong or relate to sb/sth as a right; be appropriate to sb/sth ; |
| apposite |
adj. ~ (of a remark, etc) very appropriate (for a purpose or an occasion) |
| apposition |
n. addition of one word or phrase to another word or phrase as an explanation |
| appraise |
v. assess the value or quality of |
| appreciable |
adj. that can be seen or felt; considerable |
| apprehend |
v. seize (sb); arrest |
| apprehensible |
Capable of being conceived. |
| approbation |
n. approval; consent |
| appropriate |
adj. ~ suitable; right and proper |
| aqueduct |
n. structure for carrying water across country, esp one built like a bridge over a valley or low ground , |
| aqueous |
adj. of or like water; produced by water |
| arbiter |
n. ~ person who has power to decide what will be done, accepted, etc with regard to sth |
| arbitrary |
adj. based on personal opinion or impulse, not on reason |
| arbitrate |
v. ~ (between A and B) make a judgement about or settle (a dispute) between two parties (usu when asked by them to do so) |
| arbor |
a shelter of vines or branches or of latticework covered with climbing shrubs or vines |
| arboreal |
adj. of or living in trees |
| arborescent |
Having the nature of a tree. |
| arboretum |
n. place where trees are grown for scientific study or for display |
| arboriculture |
The cultivation of trees or shrubs. |
| arcade |
n. covered passage or area, esp one with an arched roof and shops along one or both sides |
| archaeology |
n. study of ancient civilizations by scientific analysis of physical remains found in the ground |
| archaic |
adj. of a much earlier or an ancient period in history |
| archaism |
n. archaic word or expression |
| archangel |
n. angel of the highest rank |
| archbishop |
n. bishop of the highest rank, responsible for a large church district |
| archdeacon |
n. priest next below the rank of bishop |
| archetype |
n. original or ideal model from which others are copied; prototype ; |
| archipelago |
n. (sea surrounding a) group of many islands |
| ardent |
adj. full of ardour; enthusiastic |
| ardor |
extreme vigor or energy:INTENSITY |
| arid |
adj. having little or no rainfall; dry |
| aristocracy |
n. highest social class; the nobility |
| aristocrat |
n. member of the aristocracy; nobleman or noblewoman ; |
| armada |
n. large fleet of ships |
| armful |
n. quantity that can be carried by one or both arms |
| armory |
a place where arms and military equipment are stored |
| aroma |
n. distinctive smell; fragrance |
| arraign |
v. ~ sb (law ) bring a criminal charge against sb; bring sb to court for trial |
| arrange |
v. put in order; make tidy, neat or attractive |
| arrangement |
n. putting in order; arranging |
| arrant |
adj. to the highest degree; utter |
| arrear |
Something overdue and unpaid. |
| arrival |
n. act of arriving |
| arrogant |
adj. behaving in a proud and superior manner; showing too much pride in oneself and too little consideration for others |
| arrogate |
v. ~ sth to oneself claim or take sth to which one has no right |
| artful |
adj. cunningly clever at getting what one wants; crafty |
| Arthurian |
Pertaining to King Arthur, the real or legendary hero of British poetic story. |
| artifice |
n. clever trickery; deception |
| artless |
adj. simple and natural; without deceit |
| ascendant |
n. in the ascendant rising in power and influence |
| ascension |
n. act of ascending |
| ascent |
n. act of ascending |
| ascetic |
adj. not allowing oneself pleasures and comforts; having or involving a very austere life |
| ascribe |
v. ~ sth to sb/sth consider sth to be caused by, written by or belonging to sb/sth |
| asexual |
adj. without sex or sex organs |
| ashen |
adj. like ashes in colour; very pale |
| askance |
adv. look |
| asperity |
n. harshness or severity, esp of manner |
| aspirant |
n. ~ (fml ) person who is ambitious (for fame, promotion, success, etc) |
| aspiration |
n. ~ ~ (to do sth) strong desire or ambition |
| aspire |
v. ~ after/to sth desire strongly to achieve sth; have ambition for sth |
| assassin |
n. killer, esp one who kills an important or famous person for money or for political reasons , |
| assassinate |
v. kill for money or for political reasons |
| assassination |
n. murder of this kind |
| assay |
n. testing of esp metals for quality |
| assent |
n. ~ (fml ) agreement; approval |
| assess |
v. ~ sth decide or fix the amount of sth |
| assessor |
n. person who assesses taxes or the value of property, etc , |
| assiduous |
adj. showing constant and careful attention |
| assignee |
One who is appointed to act for another in the management of certain property and interests. |
| assimilate |
v. (cause sth to) become absorbed into the body after digestion |
| assonance |
n. similarity between the vowel sounds only or the consonant sounds only of two words or syllables, as in sharper and garter or killed and cold , sharper garter killed cold |
| assuage |
v. make (sth) less severe; soothe |
| astringent |
n. substance, used medically or in cosmetics, that makes skin or body tissue contract and so stops bleeding |
| astute |
adj. clever and quick at seeing how to gain an advantage; shrewd |
| atheism |
n. belief that there is no God |
| athirst |
Wanting water. |
| athwart |
adv, prep obliquely across (sth); from one side to the other side (of) |
| atomizer |
An apparatus for reducing a liquid to a fine spray, as for disinfection, inhalation, etc. |
| atone |
v. ~ (fml ) act in a way that compensates for a previous wrong, error, etc |
| atonement |
n. act of atoning |
| atrocious |
adj. very wicked, cruel or shocking |
| atrocity |
n. great wickedness or cruelty |
| attache |
n. person attached to an ambassador's staff with a particular responsibility |
| attest |
v. ~ (to) sth be or give clear proof of sth |
| auburn |
adj. reddish-brown |
| audacious |
adj. showing a willingness to take risks; daring; fearless |
| audible |
adj. that can be heard clearly |
| audition |
n. trial hearing of a person who wants to perform as an actor, a singer, a musician, etc |
| auditory |
adj. of or concerned with hearing |
| augment |
v. make (sth) larger in number or size; increase |
| augur |
to foretell especially from omens |
| Augustinian |
Pertaining to St. Augustine, his doctrines, or the religious orders called after him. |
| aura |
n. distinctive atmosphere that seems to surround and be caused by a person or thing |
| aural |
adj. of or concerning the ear or hearing |
| auricle |
One of the two chambers of the heart which receives the blood from the veins. |
| auricular |
adj. of or like the ear |
| auriferous |
Containing gold. |
| aurora |
n. (also the northern lights) bands of coloured light, mainly red and green, seen in the sky at night near the North Pole and caused by electrical radiation |
| auspice |
protection or support, patronage |
| austere |
adj. severely and strictly moral; having no pleasures or comforts |
| autarchy |
Unrestricted power. |
| authentic |
adj. known to be true or genuine |
| autobiography |
n. story of a person's life written by that person |
| autocracy |
n. government by one person with unlimited power; despotism ; |
| autocrat |
n. ruler of an autocracy |
| automaton |
n. = robot 1 |
| autonomous |
adj. self-governing; acting independently |
| autonomy |
n. self-government; independence |
| autopsy |
n. examination of a dead body to learn the cause of death; post-mortem () |
| auxiliary |
adj. giving help or support; additional |
| avalanche |
n. mass of snow, ice and rock that slides rapidly down the side of a mountain |
| avarice |
n. greed for wealth or gain |
| aver |
v. (fml ) state (sth) firmly and positively; assert ; |
| averse |
adj. ~ to sth not liking sth; opposed to sth |
| aversion |
n. ~ strong dislike |
| avert |
v. ~ sth turn sth away |
| aviary |
n. large cage or building for keeping birds in, eg in a zoo , |
| avidity |
n. eagerness |
| avocation |
secondary or minor occupation |
| avow |
v. declare (sth) openly; admit |
| awaken |
v. stop sleeping; waken |
| awry |
adv. crookedly; out of position; askew ; |
| aye |
interj yes |
| azalea |
n. flowering shrub of the rhododendron family |
| azure |
n. , adj bright blue, as of the sky |
