v. make shorter; reduce to shorter form intended to represent full form, as for word or phrase
E.g. Because we were running out of time, the lecturer had to abbreviate her speech.
ad. on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle; in or into a group, organization, or business
E.g. He did make some calls aboard Air Force One, we are told, on his way back to from the Azores.
n. one who is absent or not in residence
E.g. Absentee voting begins 35 days before primary and general elections.
a. perfect in quality or nature; complete; totally unlimited; certain
E.g. Although the King was an absolute monarch, he did not want to behead his unfaithful wife without certain evidence.
n. process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion; state of mental concentration
E.g. I agree that the reader's absorption is a measure of good writing.
a. preposterous; ridiculously incongruous or unreasonable; foolish
E.g. Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked so grave that she did not dare to laugh.
n. great or plentiful amount; fullness to overflowing
E.g. It is good for those who have in abundance to share with those who suffer from want.
a. plentiful; possessing riches or resources
E.g. At his immigration interview, Ivan listed his abundant reasons for coming to America: the hope of religious freedom and the prospect of employment.
n. improper use or handling; misuse
E.g. Thanks to Vito, the commenter said, he has stopped 7 years of girl abuse in this area.
a. related to school; not practical or directly useful; relating to scholarly organization; based on formal education
E.g. The dean's talk about reforming the college admissions system was only an academic discussion.
v. move faster; cause to develop or progress more quickly; occur sooner than expected
E.g. Demand for Taiwanese goods likely will accelerate from the second quarter, as strong Asian demand offsets the effects of a U.S. slowdown.
a. rapid; caused to move faster
E.g. Khronos has set up a working group to create a standard for accelerated 3D graphics on the web.
n. one who maintains and audits business accounts
E.g. Our business and finance group is looking for a dynamic accountant to join accounting team in support of the Company's new area.
v. pile up; collect; mount up; increase
E.g. The tendency of Capital to accumulate is a big threat to the free market.
n. quality of nearness to the truth or the true value
E.g. He was beginning to doubt the accuracy of his compass.
a. capable of providing a correct reading or measurement; performing with care and precision
E.g. Very Interesting, can anyone tell me, how accurate is the English translation in the posted clip?
n. pH values below 7; taste experience when something acidic is taken into the mouth
E.g. High acidity and elevated levels of metals can seriously impair the ability of water bodies to support life, resulting in a decline in species diversity.
n. personal knowledge or information about someone or something
E.g. He also reconnected with Doris Schmitz, an acquaintance from the University of Frankfurt.
v. make active or more active; stimulate; make radioactive
E.g. The carriers say they want to encrypt and store the credentials in the phone's SIM card, the small chips to activate access to mobile networks.
v. put into motion or action; activate
E.g. I fail to understand what might actuate you to reply to this letter so nastily.
n. mental keenness; quickness of perception
E.g. However, her team's political acumen is clearly beyond mine, an Ivy League Medical Science Professor and NOT a Political "Science" Professor.
a. quickly perceptive; keen; having a sharp point or tip; extremely sharp or severe
E.g. Her early writing was grounded in acute observation of the natural world.
v. make fit for; change to suit a new purpose
E.g. One way to adapt is to become smaller, generation by generation.
n. modification; alteration or adjustment in structure or habits
E.g. The play is an adaptation of a short novel.
a. neighboring; being in contact at some point or line; joining to
E.g. Did you hear a noise? I dare say it is only a rat scrambling along the rafters of the adjoining schoolroom.
n. making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
E.g. This form is used by an individual to request an adjustment to an individual income tax return.
n. management; supervision; people who are in charge for management; activity of government for powers and duties
E.g. Obviously, the key person in administration is the man in the White House.
a. of or relating to or responsible for administration
E.g. The open trial of twenty-one medical workers is taking place in a hall in one of the administrative buildings.
n. one who manages a government agency or department
E.g. One college administrator says it'll be difficult for them to meet the increased demand without a massive expansion in teaching staff and other facilities.
v. regard with wonder or astonishment; view with surprise; marvel at
E.g. You may not like him, but you have got to admire his persistence.
n. progress; promotion; forward step; improvement
E.g. Our greatest tool for advancement is also our greatest push towards downfall: intelligence.
n. one who enjoys exciting, dangerous activities, often in foreign countries
E.g. He was great romantic hero of his century, an adventurer, and after his death in 1967, he became a symbol of revolution on t-shirts and walls of student homes.
ad. negatively; in an adverse manner; oppositely; inimically; offensively; unfortunately
E.g. Global Witness says that in the same way that blood diamonds have adversely affected the lives of people in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
n. one that argues for a cause; supporter or defender
E.g. I guess a Twitter security advocate is a Twitter user whose account has been hacked.
n. natural attraction, liking, or feeling of kinship; relationship by marriage
E.g. She felt an affinity with all who suffered; their pains were her pains.
v. cause pain, suffering or distress
E.g. Restless legs syndrome is thought to afflict millions, though there's argument about just how many.
v. pay; provide; have the financial means for; bear the cost of
E.g. The deal not only reduces the cost of certain AIDS drugs, but it also gives poor countries the confidence that they can afford to treat citizens in the long-term.
a. moving quickly and lightly; mentally quick
E.g. He is quick and agile, which is something we relied on.
n. mentally quick; moving quickly and lightly
E.g. The agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled the audience.
a. ready to consent or submit; acceptable
E.g. 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.