architect n.a person who plans designs and oversees the construction of buildings
He is probably the best-known living architect.
planner n.a person who makes decisions about how something will be done in the future
The city planners are considering the options.
delay v.make (someone or something) late or slow
The train was delayed.
detection n.the fact of noticing or discovering something
It is also fitted with equipment to avoid detection.
faulty a.working badly or unreliably because of imperfections
The money will be used to repair faulty equipment.
inspection n.an examination of the structure of a building by a specially trained person
A routine inspection revealed several faults with the engine.
hype v.to advertise something a lot in newspapers, on television, online, etc. in order to make people excited about it and want to buy or try it
Europe was hyped up as the place to invest last year.
amenity n.something intended to make life more pleasant or comfortable for people
Heating is regarded as a basic amenity.
wander v.walk or move in a leisurely, casual, or aimless way
He wandered aimlessly through the narrow streets.
run-down a.used to describe a building or area that is in poor condition
The office building was rundown, so the rents were low.
donkey’s years n.a very long time
She's been in the same job for donkey's years.
laughing stock n.someone or something that seems silly or stupid, especially by trying to be serious or important and not succeeding
He was the laughing stock of the company when he announced his plan.
run-of-the-mill a.ordinary and not special or exciting in any way
He gave a fairly run-of-the-mill speech.
pass the time v.to do something to keep busy while waiting
We passed the time in the airport playing cards.
stack up v.to produce a particular result or impression
How do the three project proposals and their financing stack up?
density n.the quality of being close together and difficult to go or see-through
The density of the smoke made it difficult to breathe.
skyrocket v.(of a price, rate, or amount) increase very steeply or rapidly
The cost of housing has skyrocketed.
torn a.finding it difficult to choose between two possibilities
She was torn between staying and going.
monstrosity n.something, especially a building, that is very large and is considered unsightly
The shopping center, a multistory monstrosity of raw concrete.
justification n.the action of showing something to be right or reasonable
He made a speech in justification of his career.
renovate v.to repair and improve something, especially a building
He renovates old houses and sells them at a profit.
castle n.a large strong building, built in the past by a ruler or important person to protect the people inside from attack
The castle is set on a steep hill.
ruin v.to spoil or destroy something completely
Huge modern hotels have ruined this once unspoiled coastline.
quaint a.old-fashioned
In Spain, we visited a cobblestone plaza with quaint little cafes around its perimeter.
attraction n.something that makes people want to go to a place or do a particular thing
Skiing holds no attraction for me.
hassle n.(a situation causing) difficulty or trouble
I can’t face the hassle of moving again.
irrelevant a.not related to what is being discussed or considered
These documents are totally irrelevant to the investigation.
aesthetically adv.in a way that gives pleasure through beauty
The buildings and gardens of the factory have been aesthetically designed and laid out.
outskirts n.the outer parts of a town or city
The park was built on the outskirts of New York in 1857.
handful n.a small number of people or things
She invited all her friends to her party, but only a handful of them turned up.
façade n.the front of a building, especially a large or attractive building
Meanwhile, the building of the facade had run into difficulties.
blight n.a thing that spoils or damages something
Those new buildings are a blight on the neighborhood and make it look terrible.
landscape n.a large area of countryside, especially in relation to its appearance
The cathedral dominates the landscape for miles around.
inclination n.a feeling that you want to do a particular thing
My own inclination would be to look for another job.
erect v.to build a building, wall, or other structure
They decided to erect a bridge across the Niagara Gorge.