servile
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C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrvaɪl/ or /ˈsɜːrvəl/

servile

servile
Meaning
having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others
Example
His servile attitude annoyed his colleagues.
Son attitude servile agaçait ses collègues.
C1 noun /ˈstjuːpər/

stupor

stupéfaction
Meaning
a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility
Example
He remained in a stupor after hearing the shocking news.
Il est resté dans un état de stupéfaction après avoir entendu la nouvelle choquante.
C1 verb /struː/

strew

répandre
Meaning
to scatter or spread things untidily over a surface or area
Example
Clothes were strewn across the floor.
Les vêtements étaient éparpillés sur le sol.
C1 adjective/noun /ˈsʌkjələnt/

succulent

juteux
Meaning
Juicy or full of juice; also refers to a plant with thick, fleshy leaves adapted to storing water.
Example
The steak was so succulent that everyone enjoyed it.
Le steak était tellement juteux que tout le monde l'a apprécié.
C1 verb /skɒf/

scoff

se moquer
Meaning
to speak about something in a mocking or dismissive way
Example
He scoffed at the idea of moving abroad.
Il s'est moqué de l'idée de déménager à l'étranger.
C1 adjective /ˈspaɪni/

spiny

épineux
Meaning
covered with or full of spines; having sharp points
Example
The spiny cactus stood tall in the desert.
Le cactus épineux se dressait haut dans le désert.
C1 verb /swɜːrv/

swerve

changer brusquement de direction
Meaning
to change direction suddenly, especially to avoid hitting something
Example
The car swerved to avoid the dog.
La voiture a changé brusquement de direction pour éviter le chien.
C1 adjective /ˈspaɪn.ləs/

Spineless

sans courage; de volonté faible; lâche
Meaning
lacking courage or determination; weak-willed
Example
He was too spineless to stand up for his beliefs.
Il était trop sans colonne vertébrale pour défendre ses croyances.
C1 verb /skwɪnt/

squint

plisser les yeux
Meaning
to look with partly closed eyes
Example
She squinted at the bright sunlight.
Elle plissa les yeux à cause de la lumière brillante du soleil.
C1 noun /slæb/

slab

dalle
Meaning
a large, thick, flat piece of stone, concrete, or other hard material
Example
The workers laid a concrete slab for the foundation.
Les ouvriers ont posé une dalle de béton pour la fondation.
C1 adjective /ˈsɪnjuəs/

sinuous

sinueux
Meaning
Having many curves, bends, or turns; winding.
Example
The hikers followed a sinuous path through the forest.
Les randonneurs ont suivi un chemin sinueux à travers la forêt.
C1 noun ˈsʌs.tɪ.nəns

Sustenance

subsistance ou alimentation
Meaning
Food or support necessary for sustaining life
Example
Water is essential for human sustenance.
L'eau est essentielle à la subsistance humaine.
C1 adjective /ˈsɔːsi/

saucy

effronté
Meaning
Boldly rude, cheeky, or playfully disrespectful.
Example
The child gave a saucy reply to his teacher.
L'enfant a donné une réponse effrontée à son professeur.
C1 verb /sleɪ/

slay

tuer
Meaning
to kill violently; informally, to impress greatly
Example
The hero vowed to slay the dragon.
Le héros a juré de tuer le dragon.
C1 noun/verb /sleɪt/

slate

ardoise / programmer
Meaning
a fine-grained rock used for roofing or writing; to schedule or designate for a task
Example
The meeting is slated for next Monday.
La réunion est prévue pour lundi prochain.
C1 noun /saɪð/

scythe

faux
Meaning
A tool with a long curved blade used for cutting grass or grain.
Example
The farmer sharpened his scythe before harvesting the wheat.
Le fermier a aiguisé sa faux avant de récolter le blé.
C1 adjective /seɪdʒ/

Sage

sage; prudent; ayant bon jugement
Meaning
wise; showing wisdom from experience; prudent; having good judgment
Example
The sage advice from the elder helped solve the problem.
Le sage conseil de l'aîné a aidé à résoudre le problème.
C1 adjective /ˈswɛltərɪŋ/

sweltering

accablant
Meaning
uncomfortably hot
Example
The sweltering heat made it hard to work.
La chaleur accablante rendait le travail difficile.
C1 verb /sɪˈkluːd/

seclude

isoler
Meaning
To keep someone away from other people; to isolate.
Example
The monk chose to seclude himself in the mountains.
Le moine a choisi de s'isoler dans les montagnes.
C1 verb /səbˈdjuː/

subdue

soumettre
Meaning
To bring under control, especially by force; to overcome or quiet.
Example
The army was able to subdue the rebellion quickly.
L'armée a pu soumettre la rébellion rapidement.
C1 verb /ˈstriːm.laɪn/

streamline

rationaliser ou augmenter l'efficacité
Meaning
To make a process simpler and more efficient.
Example
The company aims to streamline production to reduce costs.
L'entreprise vise à simplifier la production pour réduire les coûts.
C1 verb /sluː/

slew

virer brusquement
Meaning
To turn or slide violently in a particular direction.
Example
The car slewed across the icy road.
La voiture a dérapé sur la route glacée.
C1 noun/verb /smʌdʒ/

smudge

tache, marque sale
Meaning
a dirty mark or smear; to make something dirty or unclear by rubbing or touching
Example
She accidentally smudged her lipstick on the napkin.
Elle a accidentellement étalé son rouge à lèvres sur la serviette.
C1 verb /ˈsmoʊldər/

smolder

fumer lentement
Meaning
to burn slowly with smoke but no flame; to show suppressed anger or emotion
Example
The fire smoldered for hours before it went out.
Le feu a fumé lentement pendant des heures avant de s'éteindre.
C1 noun /ˈskrɪmɪdʒ/

scrimmage

match d'entraînement
Meaning
A practice game or informal match, often in sports, especially football.
Example
The team had a scrimmage before the official season started.
L'équipe a joué un match d'entraînement avant que la saison officielle commence.
C1 adjective /ˈskɛtʃi/

sketchy

incomplet
Meaning
not thorough or detailed; suspicious or unsafe
Example
The details of the project were still sketchy.
Les détails du projet étaient encore incomplets.
C1 noun /səˈlɛmnɪti/

solemnity

solennité
Meaning
the state or quality of being serious and dignified
Example
The ceremony was conducted with great solemnity.
La cérémonie a été menée avec grande solennité.
C1 noun /slæɡ/

slag

scories
Meaning
Stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting process.
Example
The factory dumped the slag near the river.
L'usine a déversé les scories près de la rivière.
C1 verb /ˈswɛltər/

swelter

souffrir de chaleur intense
Meaning
to suffer from intense heat
Example
We began to swelter in the midday sun.
Nous avons commencé à transpirer sous le soleil de midi.
C1 adjective /ˈspɛktrəl/

spectral

spectral
Meaning
Relating to a ghost or specter; ghostly. Also relating to a spectrum.
Example
The old mansion had a spectral atmosphere at night.
Le vieux manoir avait une atmosphère spectrale la nuit.
C1 verb /ˈʃʌdər/

shudder

frissonner
Meaning
to tremble or shake suddenly, often due to fear, cold, or strong emotion
Example
She shuddered at the thought of walking alone in the dark forest.
Elle frissonna à l'idée de marcher seule dans la forêt sombre.
C1 verb /splaɪs/

splice

joindre
Meaning
to join two pieces of rope, film, or other material by weaving or attaching them together
Example
The technician spliced the two wires to restore the connection.
Le technicien a joint les deux fils pour restaurer la connexion.
C1 /splɪnt/

splint

attelle
Meaning
A rigid device used to support and immobilize a broken or injured body part.
Example
The doctor applied a splint to stabilize the patient's broken arm.
Le médecin a appliqué une attelle pour stabiliser le bras cassé du patient.
C1 noun /ʃoʊl/

shoal

école de poissons
Meaning
a large group of fish swimming together; a shallow place in water
Example
We saw a shoal of fish near the coast.
Nous avons vu une école de poissons près de la côte.
C1 adverb spɒnˈteɪnɪəsli

spontaneously

spontanément
Meaning
In a spontaneous way; naturally and without planning or external cause.
Example
Children learn spontaneously through peer interactions.
Les enfants apprennent spontanément à travers les interactions entre pairs.
C1 noun /ˈspiːʃiː/

specie

monnaie
Meaning
money in the form of coins rather than notes or credit
Example
The transaction was made in specie.
La transaction a été effectuée en pièces.
C1 noun /sɛkt/

sect

secte
Meaning
a subgroup of a larger religious or political group, often with differing beliefs
Example
The group split into different sects due to doctrinal differences.
Le groupe s'est divisé en différentes sectes en raison des différences doctrinales.
C1 noun ˌsɛlf.rɪˈstreɪnt

self-restraint

autocontrôle
Meaning
The practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically an impulse or desire.
Example
Practicing self-restraint helps in avoiding impulsive decisions.
Pratiquer l'autocontrôle aide à éviter les décisions impulsives.
C1 noun /səˈprɛʃən/

suppression

suppression
Meaning
the act of forcibly stopping something or holding back feelings or actions
Example
The suppression of free speech led to protests.
La suppression de la liberté d'expression a conduit à des manifestations.
C1 adjective sɪˈmæn.tɪk

semantic

relatif au sens dans le langage
Meaning
Related to meaning in language; concerning the interpretation of words and sentences.
Example
AI models use semantic analysis to understand context.
Les modèles d'IA utilisent l'analyse sémantique pour comprendre le contexte.
C1 adjective /səˈnɔːrəs/

sonorous

son sonore
Meaning
Deep, full, and rich in sound.
Example
The actor's sonorous voice filled the entire theater.
La voix sonore de l'acteur remplissait tout le théâtre.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌpl/

supple

souple
Meaning
Easily bending or moving without breaking; flexible and adaptable.
Example
The gymnast’s body was remarkably supple.
Le corps de la gymnaste était remarquablement souple.
C1 adjective /ˈstɛr.aɪl/

sterile

stérile
Meaning
Free from bacteria or other living microorganisms; incapable of producing offspring.
Example
The surgeon worked in a sterile environment to avoid infection.
Le chirurgien a travaillé dans un environnement stérile pour éviter l'infection.
C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrvɪsəbl/

serviceable

utilisable
Meaning
fit for use; usable; in working order
Example
The old bicycle is still serviceable despite its age.
Le vieux vélo est encore utilisable malgré son âge.
C1 verb /ˈsɪnɚdʒaɪzd/

synergized

synchronisé, énergisé, coordonné
Meaning
Combine in such a way that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects.
Example
The teams were synergized to maximize productivity.
Les équipes ont été synchronisées pour maximiser la productivité.
C1 noun/verb /ˈsuː.tʃər/

suture

suture
Meaning
A stitch or row of stitches holding together the edges of a wound or surgical incision.
Example
The doctor used a suture to close the wound.
Le docteur a utilisé une suture pour fermer la plaie.
C1 noun /ˌsəʊ.ʃi.əʊˈek.ə.nɒm.ɪk ˈprɒɡ.res/

socioeconomic progress

progrès socioéconomique
Meaning
Advancement in both social and economic conditions of a society or community.
Example
Socioeconomic progress uplifts marginalized communities.
Le progrès socioéconomique élève les communautés marginalisées.
C1 adjective /ˈsæljʊˌtɛri/

salutary

salutaire
Meaning
Producing good effects; beneficial, especially after something unpleasant.
Example
The accident was a salutary reminder to drive carefully.
L'accident a été un rappel salutaire de conduire prudemment.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/

substantive

important
Meaning
Having a firm basis in reality; important, meaningful, or considerable.
Example
The company made substantive changes to its policy.
L'entreprise a apporté des changements importants à sa politique.
C1 noun /ˌsɛnsɪtaɪˈzeɪʃən/

sensitization

sensibilisation
Meaning
The process of becoming sensitive to a substance, situation, or influence.
Example
The doctor warned about the sensitization caused by repeated exposure to chemicals.
Le médecin a averti de la sensibilisation causée par une exposition répétée aux produits chimiques.
C1 verb /ˈstɪntɪŋ/

stinting

donner avec parcimonie
Meaning
to supply sparingly or with restrictions
Example
He never stinting his efforts to help the poor.
Il ne fait jamais de restrictions dans ses efforts pour aider les pauvres.
C1 noun /səˈsteɪnəbl ˈæɡrɪkʌltʃər/

sustainable agriculture

agriculture durable
Meaning
Farming practices that meet current food needs while preserving environmental resources and maintaining the ability to produce food for future generations through ecologically sound methods.
Example
Sustainable agriculture practices protect the environment while ensuring food security.
Les pratiques d'agriculture durable protègent l'environnement tout en assurant la sécurité alimentaire.
C1 adjective /sɔɪld/

soiled

sale
Meaning
dirty or stained; not clean
Example
His clothes were soiled after playing in the mud.
Ses vêtements étaient sales après avoir joué dans la boue.
C1 verb /skrɔːl/

scrawl

écrire rapidement et négligemment
Meaning
to write or draw something quickly and carelessly, making it hard to read
Example
He scrawled his signature at the bottom of the page.
Il a griffonné sa signature au bas de la page.
C1 adjective /ˈsɔːrdɪd/

sordid

sordide
Meaning
involving immoral or dishonorable actions; dirty or unpleasant
Example
The newspaper exposed the politician's sordid past.
Le journal a exposé le passé sordide du politicien.
C1 noun/verb /ˈskɜːrmɪʃ/

skirmish

escarmouche
Meaning
a small or brief fight between groups of soldiers; to engage in such a fight
Example
The soldiers got into a skirmish near the border.
Les soldats se sont engagés dans une escarmouche près de la frontière.
C1 noun /sɪr/

seer

voyant
Meaning
A person who is supposed to be able to see what will happen in the future; a prophet.
Example
The seer predicted a great change in the kingdom.
Le voyant a prédit un grand changement dans le royaume.
C1 noun /sɪˈkluːʒən/

seclusion

isolement
Meaning
The state of being private, away from other people.
Example
She spent the weekend in complete seclusion in her cabin.
Elle a passé le week-end en complète isolement dans sa cabine.
C1 noun /ˈsteɪl.meɪt/

stalemate

impasse
Meaning
A situation in which no progress can be made or no party can win.
Example
Negotiations ended in a stalemate.
Les négociations se sont terminées par un impasse.
C1 verb ˈsɪn.θə.saɪ.zɪŋ

synthesizing

synthétiser, combiner, présenter de manière cohérente
Meaning
Combine (a number of things) into a coherent whole.
Example
He excels in synthesizing ideas from different sources.
Il excelle à synthétiser des idées provenant de différentes sources.
C1 noun /sɪlk klɔːθ/

Silk cloth

tissu en soie
Meaning
fabric made from natural fibers produced by silkworms
Example
The bride wore a beautiful dress made of silk cloth.
La mariée portait une belle robe faite de tissu en soie.
C1 verb /ˌsuːpərɪmˈpoʊz/

superimpose

superposer
Meaning
to place one thing on top of another so that both can be seen
Example
The editor superimposed text over the image.
L'éditeur a superposé le texte sur l'image.
C1 adjective /ˈskræpi/

scrappy

combattant / en désordre
Meaning
Determined and willing to fight or argue; also messy or disorganized.
Example
Despite being small, he was a scrappy fighter.
Malgré sa petite taille, il était un combattant déterminé.
C1 verb /ˈskaʊər/

scour

frotter / chercher minutieusement
Meaning
to clean or brighten the surface of something by scrubbing; to search thoroughly
Example
She scoured the kitchen until it shone.
Elle a frotté la cuisine jusqu'à ce qu'elle brille.
C1 noun /speɪt/

spate

série
Meaning
a large number of things occurring in quick succession
Example
There has been a spate of robberies in the city.
Il y a eu une série de cambriolages dans la ville.
C1 noun /ˈspɔɪlˌspɔːrt/

spoilsport

rabat-joie
Meaning
A person who ruins other people's enjoyment or fun.
Example
Don't be a spoilsport and let us enjoy the party.
Ne sois pas un rabat-joie et laisse-nous profiter de la fête.
C1 noun /ˈsɪstərhʊd/

sisterhood

sororité
Meaning
The relationship between sisters, or a community of women united by shared experiences or goals.
Example
The feminist movement created a strong sense of sisterhood among women.
Le mouvement féministe a créé un fort sentiment de sororité parmi les femmes.
C1 adjective /ˈspel.baʊnd/

Spellbound

fasciné; envoûté
Meaning
completely fascinated and unable to move or think about anything else; enchanted
Example
The children sat spellbound as the magician performed his tricks.
Les enfants sont restés fascinés tandis que le magicien faisait ses tours.
C1 noun /ˌsɒl.jʊˈbɪləti/

solubility

solubilité
Meaning
The ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent.
Example
The solubility of salt in water is high.
La solubilité du sel dans l'eau est élevée.
C1 verb /skɔːrtʃ/

scorch

brûler
Meaning
to burn the surface of something slightly
Example
The fire scorched the walls of the building.
Le feu a brûlé les murs du bâtiment.
C1 adjective /ˈsiː.naɪl/

senile

faiblesse liée à la vieillesse
Meaning
Showing the weaknesses of old age, especially mental decline.
Example
The old man became senile and forgot familiar faces.
Le vieil homme est devenu sénile et a oublié des visages familiers.
C1 noun ˈsɪnədʒi

synergy

synergie, coopération
Meaning
The interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.
Example
The synergy between the two companies led to a successful partnership.
La synergie entre les deux entreprises a conduit à un partenariat réussi.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌlən/

sullen

maussade
Meaning
bad-tempered and gloomy; silently resentful
Example
She gave him a sullen look and walked away.
Elle lui lança un regard maussade et s'éloigna.
C1 noun, adjective /ˈsɒlvənt/

solvent

solvant, capable de rembourser ses dettes
Meaning
a liquid that dissolves other substances; also means able to pay debts
Example
Acetone is a common solvent used in laboratories.
L'acétone est un solvant couramment utilisé dans les laboratoires.
C1 noun /ˈsʌtlti/

subtlety

subtilité
Meaning
The quality or state of being subtle.
Example
She understood the subtlety of the situation.
Elle comprit la subtilité de la situation.
C1 noun /ˈstaɪləs/

stylus

stylet
Meaning
a small tool used for writing, drawing, or touching screens
Example
She used a stylus to draw on her tablet.
Elle a utilisé un stylet pour dessiner sur sa tablette.
C1 adjective /ˈskrɔːni/

scrawny

maigre
Meaning
very thin and bony, often looking unhealthy
Example
The scrawny boy could barely lift the heavy bag.
Le garçon maigre pouvait à peine soulever le sac lourd.
C1 adjective /ˈsæk.rəˌsæŋkt/

sacrosanct

sacré
Meaning
Regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with; sacred.
Example
Freedom of speech is considered sacrosanct in democratic societies.
La liberté d'expression est considérée comme sacrée dans les sociétés démocratiques.
C1 verb/noun /skaʊl/

scowl

froncer les sourcils
Meaning
To frown in an angry or bad-tempered way.
Example
She scowled when she heard the unfair remark.
Elle fronça les sourcils quand elle entendit la remarque injuste.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛreɪtɪd/

serrated

dentelé
Meaning
Having a notched or saw-toothed edge.
Example
The bread knife had a serrated blade.
Le couteau à pain avait une lame dentelée.
C1 noun /səbˈvɜːrʒən/

subversion

subversion
Meaning
the act of trying to destroy or undermine an established system or authority
Example
The government accused the rebels of planning subversion.
Le gouvernement a accusé les rebelles de planifier une subversion.
C1 adjective /spəˈrædɪk/

sporadic

sporadique
Meaning
Occurring irregularly or in scattered instances rather than continuously.
Example
The region experienced sporadic rain showers throughout the week.
La région a connu des averses sporadiques tout au long de la semaine.
C1 noun səˈsteɪnəbəl ænd kəˈlæbərətɪv əˈproʊtʃ

sustainable and collaborative approach

approche durable et collaborative
Meaning
A method of working together that can be maintained over time without depleting resources or causing harm.
Example
A sustainable and collaborative approach is crucial for solving environmental problems.
Une approche durable et collaborative est cruciale pour résoudre les problèmes environnementaux.
C1 adjective /ˈspɛərɪŋ/

sparing

économe / modéré
Meaning
Using or giving only a little of something; economical.
Example
She is sparing in her use of words.
Elle est économe dans l'utilisation des mots.
C1 noun /stɛntʃ/

stench

puanteur
Meaning
A very strong and unpleasant smell.
Example
The stench of garbage filled the alley.
La puanteur des ordures remplit la ruelle.
C1 adjective /snaɪd/

snide

moqueur
Meaning
mocking or insulting in an indirect way
Example
He couldn’t resist making a snide comment about her dress.
Il ne pouvait s'empêcher de faire un commentaire moqueur sur sa robe.
C1 verb /ˈsætʃəˌreɪt/

saturate

saturer
Meaning
to fill completely with something until no more can be absorbed
Example
The heavy rain saturated the ground within minutes.
La forte pluie a saturé le sol en quelques minutes.
C1 noun səˌfɪs.tɪˈkeɪ.ʃən

sophistication

niveau élevé de complexité ou de raffinement
Meaning
High level of complexity or refinement.
Example
The sophistication of modern AI technology is remarkable.
La sophistication de la technologie moderne de l'IA est remarquable.
C1 adjective /ˈspeɪʃəl/

spatial

spatial
Meaning
relating to space or the position, area, and size of things
Example
The scientist studied the spatial arrangement of stars.
Le scientifique a étudié l'agencement spatial des étoiles.
C1 adjective /ˈsɪm.jʊ.leɪ.tɪd/

simulated

simulé
Meaning
Artificially created to look real but not actually real.
Example
The pilot trained in a simulated flight environment.
Le pilote a été formé dans un environnement de vol simulé.
C1 verb /səˈkʌm/

succumb

céder
Meaning
To give in to pressure, temptation, or illness; to yield or fail to resist.
Example
He finally succumbed to his illness after a long struggle.
Il a finalement succombé à sa maladie après une longue lutte.
C1 adjective /sɪər/

Sear

séché; brûlé; fané
Meaning
withered; dried up; burned or scorched
Example
The sear leaves fell from the trees in autumn.
Les feuilles séchées sont tombées des arbres en automne.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛm.iˈæn.ju.əl/

semiannual

semi-annuel
Meaning
Occurring twice a year; every six months.
Example
The company holds a semiannual meeting with all employees.
L'entreprise organise une réunion semi-annuelle avec tous les employés.
C1 adjective /sɪˈmɛtrɪkəl/

symmetrical

symétrique
Meaning
having parts on either side that match or are the same in shape, size, or arrangement
Example
The artist designed a symmetrical pattern on the floor.
L'artiste a conçu un motif symétrique sur le sol.
C1 noun /ˈspɪnstər/

spinster

femme célibataire
Meaning
An unmarried woman, often one who is older and considered unlikely to marry
Example
The novel featured a kind-hearted spinster who cared for the village children.
Le roman présentait une femme célibataire au grand cœur qui s'occupait des enfants du village.
C1 noun ˈsʌb.tɛkst

subtext

sous-texte
Meaning
Hidden meaning or message behind spoken or written words
Example
The subtext of his speech suggested disagreement.
Le sous-texte de son discours suggérait un désaccord.
C1 verb /ˈslækən/

slacken

desserrer
Meaning
to make or become less tight, less active, or slower
Example
The driver slackened his speed as he approached the village.
Le conducteur a ralenti sa vitesse en approchant du village.
C1 adjective /ˈsleɪ.vɪʃ/

slavish

esclave
Meaning
showing no originality; completely imitative or overly submissive
Example
His slavish devotion to tradition prevented any innovation.
Sa dévotion esclave à la tradition a empêché toute innovation.
C1 noun /stɪˈlɛtoʊ/

stiletto

chaussure à talon aigu / poignard
Meaning
A small, thin, high-heeled shoe or a dagger with a slender blade.
Example
She wore elegant stiletto heels to the party.
Elle portait des talons stiletto élégants à la fête.
C1 adjective /ˈʃɪp.ʃeɪp/

Shipshape

propre et bien organisé; en bon ordre
Meaning
neat and tidy; in good order; well-organized
Example
Everything was shipshape before the inspection.
Tout était impeccable avant l'inspection.
C1 adverb /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋli/

searchingly

scrutatoirement
Meaning
In a way that seems to look for hidden meanings or truth.
Example
She looked at him searchingly, hoping for an honest answer.
Elle le regarda d'un œil scrutateur, espérant une réponse honnête.
C1 adjective /ˌsekənd ˈreɪt/

second-rate

de seconde zone
Meaning
Of mediocre or inferior quality.
Example
The movie was entertaining but clearly second-rate compared to the original.
Le film était divertissant mais clairement de seconde zone comparé à l'original.
C1 /ʃrɛd/

shred

déchiqueter
Meaning
to tear or cut something into small pieces
Example
She shredded the old documents before throwing them away.
Elle a déchiqueté les vieux documents avant de les jeter.
C1 noun /spɛk/

speck

tache
Meaning
A very small spot, mark, or particle.
Example
There was a tiny speck of dust on the glass table.
Il y avait une petite tache de poussière sur la table en verre.
C1 verb /ˈseɪ.vər/

savor

savourer pleinement
Meaning
To enjoy something completely, especially by dwelling on it.
Example
He savored every bite of the delicious cake.
Il savoura chaque bouchée du délicieux gâteau.
C1 adjective ˈsek.tər spəˈsɪf.ɪk

sector-specific

sectoriel
Meaning
Relating to or designed for a particular sector or industry.
Example
Sector-specific policies attract targeted investments.
Les politiques sectorielles attirent les investissements ciblés.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪnəs/

sinus

sinus
Meaning
A cavity within a bone or tissue, especially those in the bones of the face connected with the nasal cavities.
Example
He suffered from a sinus infection that caused headaches.
Il souffrait d'une infection des sinus qui lui causait des maux de tête.
C1 noun /ˈstreɪnər/

Strainer

passoire
Meaning
a device having holes punched in it or made of crossed wires for separating solid matter from a liquid
Example
Use a strainer to drain the pasta water.
Utilisez une passoire pour égoutter l'eau des pâtes.
C1 noun /ˈsæŋk.ʃən/

Sanction

sanction
Meaning
official permission or approval; a penalty for disobeying a rule
Example
The government imposed economic sanctions on the country.
Le gouvernement a imposé des sanctions économiques au pays.
C1 verb /ˈsmʌðər/

smother

étouffer / asphyxier
Meaning
to kill someone by covering their nose and mouth to prevent breathing; to cover something completely; to overwhelm with excessive attention or affection
Example
She smothered the fire with a blanket.
Elle a étouffé le feu avec une couverture.
C1 noun /ˌsɛlfsəˈfɪʃənsi/

Self-sufficiency

autosuffisance
Meaning
the ability to supply one's own needs without external assistance; independence
Example
The farm achieved complete self-sufficiency in food production.
La ferme a atteint l'autosuffisance totale en production alimentaire.
C1 noun /sɪˈsɛʃən/

secession

sécession
Meaning
The action of formally withdrawing from membership of a federation or body.
Example
The secession of the southern states led to the Civil War.
La sécession des états du sud a conduit à la guerre civile.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛlf əbˈzɔːrbd/

self-absorbed

égocentrique
Meaning
Excessively preoccupied with oneself and one’s own thoughts, feelings, or interests.
Example
He was too self-absorbed to notice his friend's distress.
Il était trop égocentrique pour remarquer la détresse de son ami.
C1 noun /ˌsɪmbɪˈəʊsɪs/

symbiosis

relation symbiotique
Meaning
A mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups.
Example
The symbiosis between the two companies led to mutual growth.
La symbiose entre les deux entreprises a conduit à une croissance mutuelle.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌl.ki/

Sulky

bougon et maussade; lunatique
Meaning
bad-tempered and sullen; moody
Example
The child became sulky when he couldn't get his favorite toy.
L'enfant est devenu bougon quand il n'a pas pu obtenir son jouet préféré.
C1 verb /ˈslɪðər/

slither

glisser
Meaning
to move smoothly over a surface with a twisting, sliding motion, like a snake
Example
The snake slithered through the grass.
Le serpent a glissé à travers l'herbe.
C1 noun /ˈseɪɑːns/

seance

séance
Meaning
A meeting where people attempt to communicate with the spirits of the dead.
Example
They held a seance to contact their late grandmother.
Ils ont organisé une séance pour contacter leur grand-mère décédée.
C1 noun /ˈsmætərɪŋ/

smattering

connaissance superficielle
Meaning
A small amount or superficial knowledge of something.
Example
He has a smattering of Spanish.
Il a une connaissance superficielle de l'espagnol.
C1 verb /sɪft/

sift

tamis / examiner soigneusement
Meaning
to separate or sort through carefully, often using a sieve or by examining closely
Example
She sifted the flour before adding it to the cake mixture.
Elle tamisait la farine avant de l'ajouter au mélange de gâteau.
C1 noun /ˈskævɪndʒər/

scavenger

charognard / collecteur de déchets
Meaning
an animal or person that feeds on dead or discarded material
Example
Vultures are natural scavengers that clean up the environment.
Les vautours sont des scavengers naturels qui nettoient l'environnement.
C1 adjective/verb /ˈsiːzənd/

seasoned

expérimenté / assaisonné
Meaning
Experienced in a particular activity; also, flavored with spices.
Example
She is a seasoned teacher with over 20 years of experience.
Elle est une enseignante expérimentée avec plus de 20 ans d'expérience.