6000 IELTS Academic Words

abbreviation  
n. shortening something by omitting parts of it
For example, the word abbreviation can itself be represented by the 'abbrev.'
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abolish  
v. cancel; put an end to; destroy completely
In a letter to the British government, the EU has demanded that Britain abolish laws protecting religious freedom rights regarding sexual orientation.
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aboriginal  
a. being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native
Her studies of the primitive art forms of the aboriginal Indians were widely reported in scientific journals.
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abound  
v. be full of; be plentiful
The rooms abound with screaming children.
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abrasion  
n. scratch; friction; the process of rubbing away the surface of something
Dust also is a significant cause of the abrasion of book papers and covers.
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abridge  
v. condense; shorten; reduce length of written text
Because the publishers felt the public wanted a shorter version of War and Peace, they proceeded to abridge the novel.
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abundance  
n. great or plentiful amount; fullness to overflowing
It is good for those who have in abundance to share with those who suffer from want.
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accelerate  
v. move faster; cause to develop or progress more quickly; occur sooner than expected
Demand for Taiwanese goods likely will accelerate from the second quarter, as strong Asian demand offsets the effects of a U.S. slowdown.
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acclaim  
v. applaud; announce with great approval
The NBC sportscasters will acclaim every American victory in the Olympics.
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accommodation  
n. living quarters provided for public convenience; something that meets a need; convenience
When traveling, accommodation is a very important issue for most people.
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accord  
n. settlement or compromise of conflicting opinions; written agreement between two states
Although the accord is a small step forward, politicians worldwide have their work cut out for them.
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accumulate  
v. pile up; collect;  mount up; increase
The tendency of Capital to accumulate is a big threat to the free market.
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accuser  
n. one who accuses; one who brings a charge of crime or fault
I think the right to face your accuser is fundamental in that no one should be convicted on the evidence of an anonymous witness.
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acquaint  
v. inform about; cause to come to know personally; make familiar
Please acquaint the colleagues with your plans to move faster.
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adept  
a. expert at; very skilled; having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
Williams was known as an adept improviser who effortlessly switched between classical, jazz, and pop styles.
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adhere  
v. stick fast; stick to firmly; be compatible or in accordance with
That is why the claying is necessary; it makes the grain adhere to the earth; otherwise, it would float.
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adjacent  
a. adjoining; neighboring; close to; lying near
Philip's best friend Jason lived only four houses down the block, close but not immediately adjacent.
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adjoin  
v. be next to; be contiguous to; border on
A breakfast-room would adjoin the drawing-room, I slipped in there.
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administrate  
v. administer; supply; supervise or be in charge of
Remember that Democrats want to increase spending and create more laws, which creates more government to administrate and enforce.
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adolescence  
n. state of growing up from childhood to manhood or womanhood; transitional period between youth and maturity
The big issue in adolescence is that all kids strive for independence.
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advent  
n. coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important
Reasoning by analogy, we can come to no other conclusion unless their advent is anticipated by the arrival of ready-made colonists from the more advanced earth, like ourselves.
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adverse  
a. in opposing direction; harmful or unfavorable; acting or serving to oppose
The recession had a highly adverse effect on his father's investment portfolio: he lost so much money that he could no longer afford the house.
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aerial  
a. of the air or atmosphere; produced by or found in the air; performed in the air
But in aerial combat, the possibility of mechanical failure paled beside the dangers of enemy fire.
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aesthetic  
a. elegant or tasteful; of or concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste
Kenneth Cole, the American designer, known for his modern, urban aesthetic, is hawking $35 T-shirts.
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affiliate  
v. associate; cause a group to become part of or form a close relationship with another
Our Affiliate programs empower our associates to earn commissions and receive ticket discounts.
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affirm  
v. state something as true; assert; confirm
Briggs calmly took a paper from his pocket and read out in a sort of official voice: 'I affirm and can prove that on the 20th of October.'
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affix  
v. fasten; append; add on; secure to something
First, the registrar had to add her signature to the license; then, she had to affix her official seal.
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afflict  
v. cause pain, suffering, or distress
Restless legs syndrome is thought to afflict millions, though there's an argument about just how many.
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aggregate  
v. gather into a mass, sum, or whole; amount to
Before the Wall Street scandals, dealers managed to aggregate great wealth in short periods of time.
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agitation  
n. anxiety; extreme emotional disturbance
The result of all this agitation is an unsettlement that paralyzes business.
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agreeable  
a. ready to consent or submit; acceptable
They will have a great deal of money, and you will have none: it is your place to be humble and to try to make yourself agreeable to them.
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airing  
a. exposure to air for freshening or drying; exposure to public attention; radio or television broadcast
The Mass will begin airing at 8 am EST; and will be re-aired at midnight EST.
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albeit  
ad. even though; although; notwithstanding
This question bothers me, albeit from a different perspective.
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allege  
v. state without proof; assert to be true
If what Justice Department prosecutors allege is true, the five guards should have to answer for what happened on Sept. 16, 2007.
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alleviate  
v. provide physical relief, as from pain; make easier; remove in part
This should alleviate the pain; if it does not, we shall have to use stronger drugs.
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allocate  
v. assign; distribute according to plan
Even though the Red Cross did allocate a large sum to relieve the sufferers of the disaster, many people perished.
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allot  
v. parcel out in parts or portions; distribute to each individual concerned; assign as a share or lot
Who will she allot the easy jobs to?
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alloy  
v. combine; mix; make less pure; lessen or moderate
Our concern for Dwight Gooden, who injured his pitching arm in the game,  will alloy our delight at the Yankees' victory.
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alphabetical  
a. arranged in customary order of the letters of a language
The books are listed in alphabetical order and are as follows.
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ambiguity  
n. state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty
This ambiguity is also becoming part of US policy toward Israel; we all have to guess the next step.
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ambiguous  
a. unclear or doubtful in meaning
His ambiguous instructions misled us; we did not know which road to take.
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amend  
v. change for the better; improve; remove faults or errors
Would McCain amend executive orders to ensure that communications between persons outside government and White House staff are disclosed to the public?
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amid  
ad. in the middle of; among; surrounded by
He and other leaders are more optimistic than eight years ago when Easley began his term amid a recession.
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amidst  
ad. amid; in the middle of; among
He found that a traveler's life includes much pain amidst its enjoyments.
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amplify  
v. broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make larger or more powerful; increase
Charlie Brown tried to amplify his remarks, but jeers from the audience drowned him out.
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analyse  
v. resolve anything complex into its elements; separate into parts for examination of each separately
Don't spend all day calling agents about fees - pick three in your locality and analyse which is the best one.
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analytical  
a. of analysis; resolving into elements or parts
He totally lacks the analytical, logical, thoughtful intelligence needed by a leader, much less a President.
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ancestor  
n. forefather; forebear; forerunner or predecessor
He said it was a very old name in that neighborhood, that the house's ancestor was wealthy.
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anecdote  
n. a short account of the amusing or interesting event; short narrative; a secret story of history or biography
Of all the millions who are moved by this historic occasion, my anecdote is and would be far less remarkable while I am amongst these.
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annihilate  
v. destroy completely; reduce to nonexistence
The enemy, in its revenge, tried to annihilate the entire population.
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annuity  
n. annual payment of allowance or income; periodical payment, amounting to a fixed sum in each year
The annuity he set up with the insurance company supplements his social security benefits to live very comfortably without working.
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antagonism  
n. active resistance; condition of being an opposing principle, force, or factor
Barry showed his antagonism toward his new stepmother by ignoring her whenever she tried talking to him.
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antarctic  
a. opposite to the northern or arctic pole; relating to the southern pole or the region near it
The scientist has spent six months in the solitudes of the antarctic.
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anthology  
n. book of literary selections by various authors
The late Isaac Asimov compiled this anthology of science fiction.
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apologetic  
a. offering or expressing an apology or excuse; serving as or containing a formal justification or defense
As they went by, one of their leaders shouted out to me in apologetic explanation.
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apparatus  
n. a group of parts that work together to perform a given function; appliance, or device for a particular purpose
When the apparatus is at work, this gas becomes luminous, giving out a white and continuous light.
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append  
v. attach; add as supplement or appendix
When you append a bibliography to a text, you have just created supplementary material.
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appliance  
n. durable goods for home or office use; device or instrument for household use
It has served North Americans with small appliance needs for many years.
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applicant  
n. candidate; a person who formally requests something, especially a job
If the applicant doesn't pass the first time, he can try again and again.
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appraisal  
n. assessment; evaluation; the classification of someone or something with respect to its worth
An auto damage appraisal firm offering assessments for insurance and private purposes throughout the province.
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appreciable  
a. large enough to be noticed or to affect; perceptible
Her office had no appreciable impact on improving global perceptions of the United States and made things worse in some situations.
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apprentice  
n. works for an expert to learn a trade; beginner; learner
One of the greatest opportunities for the out-of-school unemployed youth will always be found in apprentice programs.
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approximate  
v. come near or nearer to something or someone in space, time, quality, or amount
The conclusions of yours both approximate the truth.
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apt  
a. likely; precisely suitable; appropriate; quick to learn or understand
The England coach, Bobby Robson, described it as a miracle, which following 'the Hand-of-God' goal seems supremely apt.
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aquatic  
a. consisting of, relating to, or being in the water
Paul enjoyed aquatic sports such as scuba diving and snorkeling.
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arbitrary  
a. randomly chosen; determined by chance or impulse, and not by reason or principle
He threw an arbitrary assortment of clothes into his suitcase and headed off, not caring where he went.
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archaic  
a. no longer current or applicable; antiquated
'Methinks,' 'thee,' and 'thou' are archaic words that are no longer part of our normal vocabulary.
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ardent  
a. displaying or by strong enthusiasm or devotion; passionate
Her fellow demonstrators were busily making posters and handing out flyers, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
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arduous  
a. demanding great effort or labor; difficult
Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy.
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armour  
n. defensive covering, as of metal, wood, or leather, worn to protect the body against weapons
He girded himself with armour for the battle.
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arouse  
v. excite; stimulate; awaken from or as if from sleep
He suddenly seemed to arouse himself: the conviction of the reality seized him.
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array  
v. set out for display or use; place in orderly arrangement
He requested to array the whole regiment on the parade ground.
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ascend  
v. move up or climb something; mount
Boys ascend through the skylight onto the roof.
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ascent  
n. upward slope or grade; movement upward
An unforgettable 2-hour ascent follows a 30-minute hike up to the base of the ferrate up the cliff.
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ascertain  
v. find out for certain; discover with certainty; make sure of
Please ascertain her present address.
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ascribe  
v. inscribe or dedicate; attribute to a specified cause, source, or origin; assign as a quality
Other people ascribe his exclusion from the canon to an unsubtle form of racism.
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aspiration  
n. ambition; something that you hope to achieve
The basic aspiration is that culture should serve as a rallying point for nation-building - in practice, neither the finances nor the security conditions seem very favorable.
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aspire  
v. seek to attain; long for; strive toward an end
If you aspire to a career in professional sports, please enroll in a graduate program in sports management.
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assert  
v. declare or state with confidence; put oneself forward boldly
If you quit acting like a wimp and assert yourself a bit more, you'd improve your chances of getting a date.
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assorted  
a. varied;  consisting of various types mixed together  
Watching the large and varied bird population or following assorted trails on horseback.
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astound  
v. affect with wonder; surprise; shock
The past events dovetail into those of the present, with parallels that surprise, astound, shock and delight.
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attain  
v. achieve or accomplish; gain
The scarecrow sought to attain one goal: he wished to obtain a brain.
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attribute  
n. essential quality; reputation; honor
His outstanding attribute was his kindness.
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audible  
a. perceptible; heard or perceptible by the ear
He turned his head slightly, his lips moving in a phrase audible only to the Caverna.
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augment  
v. make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity
Armies augment their forces by calling up reinforcements.
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authoritative  
a. weighting authority; peremptory and dictatorial
Impressed by the young researcher's well-documented presentation, we accepted her analysis of the experiment as authoritative.
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automate  
v. replace or enhance human labor with machines
The other reason to automate is to get people out of dangerous circumstances.
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automation  
n. the use of machines and computers that can operate without needing human control
As small business proprietors, most doctors have had little incentive to invest in automation efforts.
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autonomy  
n. independence; self-government or the right of self-government; self-determination
The study also called for the three thousand Rapa Nui people of Easter Island to be given greater autonomy.
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auxiliary  
a. helper, additional or subsidiary
To prepare for the emergency, they built an auxiliary power station.
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avail  
v. turn to the advantage of; be of service to; profit; promote
When his power ceases to avail, that is when a stronger than he appears upon the scene.
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avert  
v. prevent; turn or cause to turn off or away
She had to avert her eyes from the dead cat on the highway.
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aviation  
n. art or science of flying; flight; aeronautics
A group of British and French civil aviation experts meeting in Paris had failed to develop new proposals to improve Concorde's security.
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axis  
n. the center around which something rotates; pivot
Then Tehran was bracketed, along with its old enemy Iraq, and North Korea, in President Bush's evil axis.
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badminton  
n. game played on a court with light long-handled rackets
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs.
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baffle  
v. frustrate as by confusing or perplexing; impede force or movement of
The new code will baffle the enemy agents.
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bamboo  
n. plant of the family of grasses, and genus Bambusa, growing in tropical countries
Many farmers' fields are irrigated by water brought from a river or lake through bamboo pipes.
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barometer  
n. an instrument for determining the weight or pressure of the atmosphere
So far, our country's barometer is National Bookstore's and Powerbooks' bestsellers list.
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barricade  
n. hastily put together defensive barrier; obstacle
Marius and his fellow students hurriedly improvised a rough barricade to block police access to the students' quarter.
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barter  
v. trade goods or services without the exchange of money
Trashbank is an online site where you can barter, buy, sell, trade, or swap your items or services.
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bead  
n. small piece of material, such as glass, plastic, or wood that is pierced for stringing
They started riding towards the store; then up gets one of the boys, draws a steady bead over the wood-rank.
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beautician  
n. one skilled in giving cosmetic treatments; one who does hair styling, manicures, and other beauty treatments
I now prefer to call a beautician home rather than visit a salon and uncover my head in public.
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beneficial  
a. helpful; tending to promote physical well-being
Tiny Tim's cheerful good nature had a beneficial influence on Scrooge's charitable disposition.
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berth  
n. space for the ship to dock or anchor; allotted place; the place to sleep or stay; appointment or job
They might not have to give cats a wide berth for the rest of their lives.
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beset  
v. attack from all sides; trouble persistently; hem in
Many vexing problems beset the American public school system.
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bewilder  
v. lead into perplexity or confusion; perplex with mazes
You bewilder us by the city traffic; none of us can back hotel independently.
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bibliography  
n. list of works of a specific author or publisher; list of writings relating to a given subject
Plus, a narrative bibliography is included to discuss the professional literature and topics covered in the book.
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bilateral  
a. two-sided; mutual;  involving two groups or countries  
In general, China does not consider them as refugees but economic migrants and has repatriated those caught on its territory under a bilateral treaty with North Korea.
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bilingual  
n. using or able to use two languages, especially with equal or nearly equal fluency
The diagram illustrates how the aid of theories provided by monolingual studies was used to investigate reading development in bilingual settings.
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bitumen  
n. mineral pitch; black, tarry substance, burning with a bright flame
In what you might call a giant washing machine, agitation and heat begin to separate the bitumen from the sand.
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bloc  
n. a group of nations, parties, or persons united for common action
Today the Jewish bloc is interested primarily in Palestine and will continue to be an uncertain quantity right up to election time.
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blot  
n. spot or stain, as of ink on paper; blur; a weak point or failing
A memory without blot or contamination must be an exquisite treasure: is it not?
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blunder  
n. serious mistake typically caused by ignorance or confusion
The criminal's fatal blunder led to his capture.
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boast  
v. show off oneself;  speak of with excessive pride
Many of the sports facilities are already in place, and the city can boast one of the most compact proposals running alongside the Moscow river.
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bookcase  
n. case with shelves for holding books, especially one with glazed doors
They bought a bookcase to put the books and notebooks on.
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bookkeeper  
n. one who keeps accounts; one who has charge of keeping books and accounts in an office
Eric earned his bread and butter as a bookkeeper but added a little jam by working with a dance band on weekends.
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bookstall  
n. stall where books are sold, as on the street; table with enclosed sides, for displaying books for sale
Even the tiny bookstall at Sheffield railway station had a full set of the Lensman novels.
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boundary  
n. dividing line; border; frontier
Planning drawings sometimes show a boundary line, though there is no legal requirement for it.
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boycott  
v. refrain from buying or using
Cesar Chavez called for consumers to boycott grapes to put pressure on grape growers to stop using pesticides that harmed the farm workers' health.
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brashness  
n. characteristic of being brash; the trait of being rash and hasty; tasteless showiness
The brashness is gone; there seems to be more patient, as long as it's not about his other love - horse racing.
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brisk  
a. marked by speed, liveliness, and vigor; energetic; swift; keen or sharp in speech or manner
'Come in!' Called a brisk, familiar voice as Ronny knocked lightly on the almost closed door.
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browse  
v. graze; skim or glance at casually
'How now, brown cow, browsing in the green, green grass.' I remember lines of verse that I came across while I browsed through the bookstore's poetry section.
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bulge  
v. cause to curve outward; swell up; stick out; protrude
When the inserted balloon is filled with water, they bulge out in a variety of shapes.
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bungalow  
n. small house or cottage usually having a single story and attic
Every summer, we rent a bungalow on Cape Cod for our vacation home.
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buoyant  
a. able to float; cheerful and optimistic
When the boat capsized, her buoyant life jacket kept Jody afloat.
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bureaucracy  
n. over-regulated administrative system
The Internal Revenue Service is the ultimate bureaucracy; taxpayers wasted so much paper filling out IRS forms to comply with the Paper-work Reduction Act.
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burrow  
n. tunnel; hole in the ground made by an animal for shelter; moving through by or as by digging
They will return to breed in the fall, and the male will reclaim his burrow, waiting to reconnect with his mate.
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bustle  
v. move or cause to move energetically and busily; teem
David and the children bustle about the house getting in each other's way as they try to pack for the camping trip.
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calamity  
n. the event that brings terrible loss, lasting distress, or severe affliction; disaster; misery
As news of the calamity spread, offers of relief poured into the stricken community.
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calcium  
n. silvery, moderately hard metallic element
We need some calcium every day; it is an essential element for bone health.
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calorie  
n. unit of heat equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree
It's quite likely that a reduction in calorie intake yields a reduction in metabolic rates.
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canteen  
n. a vessel used by soldiers for carrying water or other drinks; snack bar or small cafeteria
Collins filled his canteen from the water barrel and dug out a box of shells for the shotgun.
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caption  
n. title; chapter heading; text under illustration
We got a caption error in The Far Side cartoons shown yesterday.
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carcass  
n. the dead body of an animal, especially one slaughtered and dressed for food
Hunters must check the animals in at stations while the carcass is still fresh.
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catalyst  
n. an agent which brings about chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged
Many chemical reactions cannot take place without the presence of a catalyst.
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caustic  
a. capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action
The critic's caustic remarks angered the hapless actors who were the subjects of his sarcasm.
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censor  
n. overseer of morals; official responsible for removal of objectionable or sensitive content
Soldiers dislike having their mail read by a censor but understand the need for this precaution.
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centenary  
a. relating to a 100-year period; occurring once every 100 years
The bridge, restored for its centenary, is a worthy contribution to future tourism in Durango state.
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certify  
v. give certain information to; assure; make certain
That section that requires to certify is the search will not involve 'the premises, information, material, or property of a United States person.'
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characterize  
v. distinguish; be characteristic of; be a distinctive trait or mark of
Clarity and reasonableness in this essay again characterize Chris's writing.
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chasm  
n. deep opening in the earth surface
They could not see the bottom of the chasm.
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chaste  
a. morally pure in thought or conduct; decent and modest
However, if he remarried or did not remain chaste, the money would pass to her mother.
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chore  
n. a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee
This chore duty is an extension of the laundry duty.
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chronological  
a. arranged in order of time of occurrence
A public library has sponsored guide to cover letter writing, chronological samples, and resume templates.
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circulate  
v. move through space, circuit, or system, returning to the starting point
The doctor shows me how blood to circulate in my veins in pictures.
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circumference  
n. the boundary line of a circle,  figure, area, or object
The earth has a circumference of approximately 24900 miles.
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cite  
v. quote; adduce as an instance
She could cite passages in the Bible from memory.
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clasp  
n. fastening device; firm grip
When the clasp on Judy's bracelet broke, Fred repaired it, bending the hook back into shape.
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classify  
v. declare unavailable, as for security reasons; arrange or order by classes or categories
The US government agency responsible to classify viruses, the Centre for Disease Control, says it was in the process of deciding whether to change the strain's classification.
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clockwise  
ad. in the direction that the hands of a clock move
Please move clockwise in a circle.
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cluster  
n. group; bunch; group of the same or similar elements gathered or occurring closely
The powerful earthquake, measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale, struck a cluster of small villages and towns in Xinjiang's remote region.
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coarse  
a. rough; harsh; of low, common, or inferior quality
Trade in coarse grains, dairy products, and beef is also the subject of special attention, looking towards freer and better managed trading arrangements.
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coeducation  
n. system of education in which both men and women attend the same institution or classes
I now serve as president of Oberlin College, the first college in America to admit students of color and women to coeducation.
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cognitive  
a. knowing or perceiving; part of mental functions that deals with logic
Though Jack was emotionally immature, his cognitive development was admirable; he was very advanced intellectually.
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coherent  
a. adhesive; sticking together; capable of thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and consistent manner
If the EU is to form any coherent common foreign policy, it needs France and Britain singing from the same song sheet.
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coil  
n. a series of connected spirals or concentric rings formed by gathering or winding; spiral pipe or series of spiral pipes
A divergent bundle of electrons passing through the coil is focused to a point.
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coincide  
v. occur at the same time as; correspond
To coincide with World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization and UN AIDS are launching a campaign to treat three million HIV sufferers by 2005.
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collaboration  
n. act of working together; act of cooperating with an enemy, especially it occupying one's own country
This is something that I can see as a potential long-term relationship rather than a short-term collaboration.
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collide  
v. bump; hit something violently
Two small planes collide over Florida Everglades and crash into a swamp, no survivors.
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combustible  
a. capable of igniting and burning; easily aroused or excited
After the recent fires in private homes, the fire commissioner ordered that all combustible materials be kept in safe containers.
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commemorate  
v. serve as a memorial to; honor the memory of with a ceremony
The story of Fairchild that Mr. Moore was helping to commemorate is well-known in Silicon Valley.
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commend  
v. commit, entrust, or give in charge for care or preservation; recommend as worthy of confidence or regard
I will commend the child to her sister's care.
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commodity  
n. goods; article of trade; advantage; benefit
While some world stock and commodity markets show signs of calming down, China is usually an exception.
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commonplace  
a. ordinary; having no remarkable features
We think the key to making this stuff more commonplace is keeping it affordable for everyone.
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commute  
v. obtain or bargain for exemption or substitution; regularly travel from a place of residence to another place
In exchange for cooperating with detectives on another case, he criminally tried to commute his charges.
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commuter  
n. someone who regularly travels from home in a suburb to work in a city
Vancouver is increasingly becoming a commuter city.
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comparable  
a. similar or equivalent; being of equal regard; worthy of being ranked with
People whose jobs are comparable in difficulty should receive similar pay.
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compel  
v. force; coerce; necessitate or pressure by force
Why, Jane, what would you have? I fear you will compel me to go through a private marriage ceremony.
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compile  
v. put together or compose from materials gathered from several sources
We planned to compile a list of the words most frequently used on these examinations.
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complement  
v. complete; consummate; make perfect
The waiter recommended a glass of port to complement the cheese.
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compliance  
n. readiness to yield; happy friendly agreement
Bullheaded Bill was not noted for easy compliance with the demands of others.
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compose  
v. write; create; make or create by putting together parts or elements
As you begin to compose, improvise on that melody and see where it naturally wants to take you.
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composite  
a. made up of distinct parts or elements; compounded
The Living area is a rectangular space, eighty percent enclosed by retractable glass walls and single-span composite timber beams supporting the sub-roof ceiling.
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compress  
v. close; squeeze or press together; contract
She has to compress the package under her arm.
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comprise  
v. include; consist of; be composed of
If the District of Columbia were to be granted statehood, the United States of America would comprise fifty-one states, not just fifty.
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compulsory  
a. mandatory; obligatory; required by rule
In 2004 Britain introduced a compulsory citizenship ceremony which required new citizens to take a broader oath promising to respect Britain's rights, freedoms, and laws.
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compute  
v. reckon; make a mathematical calculation
He failed to compute the interest, so his bank balance was not accurate.
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concerted  
a. planned or accomplished together; combined
All the Girl Scouts made a concerted effort to raise funds for their annual outing.
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concise  
a. brief and compact; expressing much in few words
When you define a new word, be concise: the shorter the definition, the easier it is to remember.
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concoct  
v. digest; convert into nourishment by the organs of nutrition
It really does make you look rather stupid and like you're trying to concoct something where nothing exists.
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concurrent  
a. simultaneous; coincident; occurring or operating at the same time
The Winter War fought between Finland, and the Soviet Union was a concurrent war to World War II, and thus is covered in its own main article.
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condense  
v. change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops; compress or concentrate
This showed that the more we condense air, the fitter we make it for purposes of combustion.
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condolence  
n. expression of sympathy with another in sorrow or grief.
The FBI has seized a two-page, handwritten letter of condolence sent by Jacqueline Kennedy to the widow of Robert F. Kennedy shortly after he was assassinated in 1968.
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confer  
v. bestow; present; have a conference in order to talk something over
I need some time to confer with my lawyer.
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configuration  
n. arrangement of parts or elements; outline
The outcome depends on the configuration of influences at the time.
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confine  
v. restrict in movement; circumscribe
You may take the maniac with you to England; confine her with due attendance and precautions at Thornfield.
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conform  
v. comply with; follow; fit; meet
Why, in defiance of every precept and principle of this house, does she conform to the world so openly?
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congestion  
n. act of gathering or heaping together or forming a mass
International contractors started tunneling under this city of fifteen million to help relieve horrendous congestion.
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congruent  
a. possessing congruity; suitable; agreeing; corresponding
I would have definitely given the film more marks were it something more congruent with my tastes.
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conscientious  
a. diligent; responsible; reliable
He made me feel what severe punishment a good yet stern, conscientious yet implacable man can inflict on one who has offended him.
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consecutive  
a. following one after another without interruption; sequential
The consecutive file saving method also created some problems.
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consequent  
a. resulting; following as a logical conclusion
His retirement and consequent spare time enabled him to travel more.
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conservation  
n. preservation or restoration from loss, damage, or neglect
According to new research, rapid and large-scale natural habitats have already affected biodiversity in the area, and urgent conservation efforts are now needed.
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conservatory  
n. greenhouse; school of music or dramatic art
Even though he was not conservatory trained, his passion for music took him to the point where eventually he was considered one of the best guitar accompanists in Cuba.
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conserve  
v. retain; protect from loss or harm; preserve; use carefully or sparingly, avoiding waste
One way to conserve is to make cars more efficient.
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consign  
v. give, transfer, or deliver formally, as if by signing over into the possession of another
Perhaps it would be better to consign it to a place where others may not so readily gain access to it.
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consist  
v. be made up or composed; be comprised or contained in
A sudden renewed interest in action movies from the early nineties whose titles consist of three words, one of which is usually either 'kill,' 'law' or 'justice.'
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consolidate  
v. make solid; unite or press together into a compact mass; harden or make dense and firm
He bribes his leader to consolidate his position.
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conspicuous  
a. noticeable; prominent; easy to notice; obvious
The next morning, Miss Scatcherd wrote in conspicuous characters on a piece of pasteboard the word 'Slattern.'
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constituent  
n. component or part; citizen, voter
A machine will not function properly if any constituent of it is defective.
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constitute  
v. make up; form something
She went to the open door, stood in it, and looked out among the tomato vines that would constitute the garden.
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constrain  
v. restrain; keep within close bounds; confine
His idea is to constrain commercial banks' lending.
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constrict  
v. restrict; shrink; make smaller or narrower by binding or squeezing
Freezing temperatures also constrict peripheral blood vessels, further stressing the heart.
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construct  
v. form by assembling or combining parts; build; create
After all, perhaps there were different ways to construct machines that would have different properties.
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contaminate  
v. make impure or unclean by contact or mixture; pollute; defile
Compact fluorescent light bulbs contaminate the environment with 30000 pounds of mercury each year.
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contemplate  
v. look at attentively and thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
He used to contemplate the problem from all sides.
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contend  
v. strive in opposition; contest; dispute; struggle for
John has to contend with great difficulties in coming IELTS test.
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contention  
n. competing as for any profit or prize
The teams were in fierce contention for first place.
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continuity  
n. property of a continuous and connected period of time
I think you need to hire someone to maintain continuity on your blog if you intend to have any longevity.
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contradict  
v. confront; state the opposite of what someone has said
Now act as you please: write and contradict my assertion--expose my falsehood as soon as you like.
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contradiction  
n. the assertion of contrary; denial of the truth of a statement; opposition, whether by argument or conduct
A contradiction is the signal of defeat with formal logic, but in the evolution of real knowledge, it marks the first step in progress toward a victory.
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contrive  
v. form by an exercise of ingenuity; invent or design
Can you contrive to escape here early?
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convene  
v. cause to come together formally
Six days' public notice must be given when announcing the meeting schedules, meaning the earliest the board can next convene is July 24.
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converge  
v. approach; tend to meet; come together
African-American men from all over the United States will converge on Washington to participate in the historic Million Men march.
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converse  
v. chat; talk informally; engage in a spoken exchange of thoughts
Eva is all ears while Lulu and Lola converse.
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conversely  
ad. in a converse manner; with change of order or relation; reciprocally.
Economies don't get in trouble overnight and, conversely, don't improve overnight.
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correlate  
v. relate; associate; bring into a mutual relation
I cannot correlate these two pieces of information.
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correspond  
v. be compatible, similar or consistent; exchange messages
My Russian pen pal and I correspond for several years.
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correspondence  
n. similarity or analogy; communication by the exchange of letters
For a long time, he had been in correspondence with the chief banks in Shanghai and Macao.
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correspondent  
a. one who communicates information, especially, by letter or telegram to newspaper or periodical
Our correspondent of Hong Kong compiled the information below.
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corresponding  
a. accompanying; analogous or equivalent in character, form, or function; comparable
She pointed to a wide arch corresponding to the window and hung like it with a Tyrian-dyed curtain, now looped up.
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cosmopolitan  
a. sophisticated; of worldwide scope
Her years in the capitol had transformed her into a cosmopolitan young woman highly aware of international affairs.
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cosy  
n. padded or knitted covering placed especially over a teapot to keep the tea hot; cozy
A teapot under a cosy is stewing, not brewing, the tea.
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counterbalance  
v. act as force or influence that balances, checks, or limits an opposite one
It is common in America to counterbalance a Democratic president with Republicans in the Congress and vice versa.
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counterpart  
n. duplicate copy; one that closely resembles another
Robinson becomes the Bishop of New Hampshire only weeks after John, his counterpart, was forced to stand down for fear his election would divide the Church.
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crater  
n. a bowl-shaped opening at the top of a volcano
At least one village about three kilometers from the crater has been covered in volcanic ash dusting.
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crease  
n. a line or long thin mark made by folding or doubling
He cut across the crease from the left side.
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criterion  
n. standard of judging; any approved or established rule or test
Among the reasons for adding this as a criterion is an obvious point that Nobel wanted the Prize to have political effects.
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crouch  
v. bend down; stoop low; lie close to the ground with the legs bent, as an animal when waiting for prey or in fear
They did not crouch under the oppression.
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culminate  
v. reach the highest or most decisive point;  rise to the summit
Wednesday's anniversary is to culminate in a recreation of the student march that started the Velvet Revolution.
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cultivate  
v. improve and prepare, as by plowing or fertilizing, for raising crops; promote the growth of
I think probably the most popular habit we writers cultivate is having coffee to hand.
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cumbersome  
a. heavy; difficult to handle because of weight or bulk
He was burdened down with cumbersome parcels.
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cumulative  
a. increasing by successive addition
Vocabulary building is a cumulative process: as you go through your flashcards, you will add new words to your vocabulary, one by one.
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curriculum  
n. the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college; course or program
While these arguments about evolution are in the UK, a minister says that Intelligent Design is not included in the national curriculum and should not be taught in schools.
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curtail  
v. cut short or reduce; cut off end or tail, or any part
When Herb asked Diane for a date, she said she was really sorry she couldn't go out with him; her dad had ordered her to curtail her social life.
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custodian  
n. a person who has responsibility for or looks after something; guardian
Every veteran has his or her own war, and each is the custodian of a unique story and memories.
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deadlock  
n. standstill resulting from the opposition of two forces or factions; stalemate
Because negotiations had reached a deadlock, some of the delegates had begun to mutter about breaking off the talks.
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dearth  
n. scarcity; shortage of food; famine from failure or loss of crops
The dearth of skilled labor compelled employers to open trade schools.
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decompose  
v. decay, or to cause something to decay
Unless the plastic is specially designed to decompose in the soil, such materials can last a very long time.
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decrease  
v. lessen; reduce; make a quantity smaller
Can I increase or decrease the sum insured under the council home contents insurance policy?
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decrepit  
a. weakened, worn out, or broken down by old age, illness, or hard use
The decrepit car blocked traffic on the highway.
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deduce  
v. lead forth; conclude by reasoning; trace the origin or derivation of
Our investors deduce from the figures that the report shows.
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deduct  
v. lead forth or out; take away, separate, or remove, in numbering, estimating, or calculating; subtract
I will deduct tax from your salary.
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deem  
v. decide; judge; sentence; condemn
I am simply going to keep looking forward and do what I deem is right.
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default  
n. failure to act; an option that is selected automatically
When the visiting team failed to show up for the big game, they lost the game by default.
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defer  
v. delay till later; put off; hold back to a later time
I would again defer to responsible judgment when we're dealing with this kind of thing.
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defiance  
n. refusal to yield; readiness to contend or resist
Now I feel by imperceptible signs, which I cannot yet interpret but will later, that his defiance is about to thaw.
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defile  
v. pollute; make dirty or spotty
The hoodlums defile the church with their scurrilous writing.
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deflate  
v. reduce from an inflated condition; release contained air or gas from
His goal must be to deflate the opposition, not to encourage it.
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deflect  
v. turn aside; draw someone's attention away from something
No one believed that his life was saved because his cigarette case could deflect the bullet.
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defraud  
v. deprive of some right, interest, or property, by a deceitful device
Are you saying that Socialism Welfare states don't defraud, mislead, and embezzle?
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deft  
a. quick and skillful; neat in action or performance
The deft waiter uncorked the champagne without spilling a drop.
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degrade  
v. reduce level; lower grade of something
To reduce in worth or value: degrade a currency.
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delectable  
a. delightful; delicious; extremely pleasing to the sense of taste
We thanked our host for a most delectable meal.
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delegate  
n. a person authorized to act as a representative for another; deputy
Some religious groups are boycotting the event, but one delegate told the BBC that it was vital to work with the Americans to get Iraq up and running again.
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delirium  
n. a mental disorder marked by confusion
In his delirium, the drunkard saw pink panthers and talking pigs.
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delude  
v. deceive mind or judgment of; lead from truth or into error; frustrate or disappoint
His mistress may delude herself into believing that he would leave his wife and marry her.
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deluge  
n. great flood; heavy downpour; any overflowing of water
When we advertised the position, we received a deluge of applications.
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demolish  
v. raze; destroy; do away with completely; put an end to
Authorities plan to demolish many buildings left weakened by the quake, which is threatening to fall.
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denomination  
n. class, society, or collection of individuals called by the same name; specifically, a religious sect
Every denomination is experiencing tension, and Southern Baptists are no exception.
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denote  
v. indicate; signify directly; refer to specifically
The word 'sex' is simply that—a word to denote whether a person is male or female.
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depict  
v. represent in a picture or sculpture; portray in words; describe
Here, we can see how the author to depict Beatle John Lennon as a drug-crazed neurotic.
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deplete  
v. decrease fullness of; use up or empty out
We must wait until we deplete our present inventory before we order replacements.
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depletion  
n. act of emptying, reducing, or exhausting
Freshwater depletion is especially worrisome in Egypt, Libya, and several Persian Gulf states.
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deplore  
v. feel or express strong disapproval of; condemn; express sorrow or grief over; regret
Although I deplore the vulgarity of your language, I defend your right to express yourself freely.
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depress  
v. lower in spirits; press down
There are hopes that this could help to revive the internet and technology sector, which has shown to depress since the dot-com crash of 2000.
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derelict  
a. left and abandoned; negligent in performing a duty
As a former South Chicago community organizer, the President knows all about schools in derelict areas.
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derive  
v. obtain or receive from a source; trace the origin or development of
For I knew Diana and Mary would derive more pleasure from seeing the old homely tables than from the spectacle of the smartest innovations again.
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descend  
v. move downward and lower; come from; be connected by a relationship of blood
You could see a rough path descend like a steep stair into the plain.
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designate  
v. indicate or specify; point out; assign a name or title to
I did not designate Mr. Irons as my representative, and as far as I know, he acted on his own initiative and spoke for himself.
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desolate  
a. unpopulated; providing no shelter or sustenance; devoid of inhabitants
The sounds of Nature are detailed with great delicacy in this appeal, and we see that the Alps are referred to as desolate regions.
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destine  
v. intend or choose someone or something for a particular purpose or end  
Since last October, the eight elephants, which were to destine for zoos in Sydney and Melbourne, have been in quarantine in Thailand.
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detach  
v. part; separate or disunite; disengage
He tried to detach the link from the chain.
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detain  
v. keep back or from; withhold; restrain from proceeding; stay or stop; delay
The power to detain people without filing criminal charges against them is dictatorial.
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deter  
v. keep from; stop; prevent or discourage from acting
He hopes a charge would not deter people from enjoying this great invention.
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detriment  
n. harm; damage; injury; something that causes damage, harm, or loss
Any short-term detriment will be overwhelmed by the long-term utility of a station at Woolwich.
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detrimental  
a. causing damage or harm; injurious
The acceptance of a financial contributions from a well-known racist ultimately proved detrimental to his campaign, for he lost the backing of early grassroots supporters.
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devastate  
v. ruin; lay waste; destroy; make desolate
She says the disease can devastate Sudan, as HIV spreads quickly among the nation's youth.
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deviate  
v. turn away from a principle, norm; depart; diverge
Richard did not deviate from his daily routine: every day, he set off for work at eight o'clock, had his sack lunch at 12:15, and headed home at the stroke of five.
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devise  
v. form, plan, or arrange in mind; transmit or give by will
How clever he must be to devise such a devious plan!.
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devour  
v. consume; eat greedily; destroy completely
He seemed to devour me with his flaming glance: physically, I felt, at the moment, powerless as stubble exposed to the draught and glow of a furnace.
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diagnose  
v. analyze; examine; identify the cause of something
How to diagnose a sick fish by their behavioral changes and what you can do to cure the illness.
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diagram  
n. graph; chart; figure or drawing made to illustrate a statement; plan
The pie diagram shows the level of spending on health in Japan.
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dialect  
n. vocabulary that is for a specific group of people
The immigrants spoke an odd dialect of English.
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diameter  
n. length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle and connecting two points on the circumference
The recommendations on dish diameter are based on the use of a perfectly shaped parabolic dish.
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differentiate  
v. set apart; distinguish; perceive or show the difference in or between
You can differentiate car parts using different color markers; maybe you use one color for the left side and another for the right.
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diffuse  
v. spread out widely; scatter freely; pour out and cause to spread freely
Hamilton wished to concentrate power; Jefferson to diffuse power.
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dilapidated  
a. in disrepair, run-down; of very poor quality or condition
Rather than get discouraged, the architect saw great potential in the dilapidated house.
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dilate  
v. make wider or larger; cause to expand; enlarge; widen
I just had an eye exam, and that eye drops that dilate your eyes make things fuzzy!
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diligent  
a. assiduous; industrious; hard-working
It gratified all the vicious vanity in him, so instead of winning him, it only set him up the more and made him the more diligent to avoid betraying what he knew.
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dilute  
v. weaken; make thinner or less concentrated by adding a liquid such as water
A couple of years back, you very loudly opposed the creation of '60 MINUTES 2'; I think it might dilute the brand you helped build up.
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diminish  
v. dwindle; reduce; make smaller or less or to cause to appear so
The only way to diminish mistakes is to bring competitors into the game.
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din  
n. loud, confused, harsh noise; loud, continuous, rattling, or clanging sound
They were unable to sleep because of the din coming from the bar.
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dingy  
a. darkened with smoke and grime; dirty or discolored
The only observation I have is the colors are a bit too gloomy and dingy.
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diplomat  
n. one who is in charge to deal with others, like an ambassador, who is appointed to represent a government
The diplomat solved the international problem by negotiating.
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disarray  
v. throw into disorder; break the array of.
Then the NASDAQ crash of 2000 left the US equity markets in disarray for more than a year.
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discard  
v. throw out something from one's hand; get rid of
Right now, what we discard is an inherent part of what we consume.
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discern  
v. detect; perceive, recognize, or understand something that is not clear
I discern in the course of the morning that Thornfield Hall was a changed place.
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disclose  
v. unclose; open; remove a cover or envelope from; lay open or expose to view
I have no intention to disclose their names for security reasons.
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discord  
n. conflict; lack of agreement among persons, groups, or things
Watching Tweedledum battle Tweedledee, Alice wondered what had caused this pointless discord.
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