surrogate
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C1 noun /ˈsɜːrəɡət/

surrogate

substitut
Meaning
A substitute, especially a person deputizing for another in a specific role or office.
Example
The surrogate mother gave birth to the child after carrying it for nine months.
La mère porteuse a donné naissance à l'enfant après l'avoir porté pendant neuf mois.
C1 noun /ʃɑːrd/

shard

éclat
Meaning
a broken piece of glass, metal, or pottery
Example
He cut his finger on a shard of glass.
Il s'est coupé le doigt avec un éclat de verre.
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 verb/noun /ˈsɒldər/

solder

souder
Meaning
To join metal parts together by melting and putting a filler metal into the joint
Example
He soldered the broken wires back together.
Il a soudé les fils cassés.
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 /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 adjective /ˈsteɪtli/

stately

majestueux et digne
Meaning
Having a dignified, majestic, and impressive appearance or manner.
Example
The stately mansion stood at the end of the long driveway.
Le manoir majestueux se tenait à l'extrémité de l'allée.
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 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 /səˈtɪrɪkəl/

satirical

satirique
Meaning
containing or using satire to criticize or mock
Example
The satirical cartoon mocked the government's new policy.
Le dessin satirique se moquait de la nouvelle politique du gouvernement.
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 ˌsætʃəˈreɪʃən

saturation

saturation
Meaning
The state of being saturated; the degree or extent to which something is dissolved or absorbed
Example
The saturation of the market with similar products reduced sales.
La saturation du marché avec des produits similaires a réduit les ventes.
C1 noun /ˈsʌm.ɪt əv ðə ˈfjuː.tʃər/

Summit of the Future

Sommet du futur
Meaning
A high-level conference focused on addressing future challenges and opportunities.
Example
The Summit of the Future addressed global challenges.
Le Sommet du Futur a abordé les défis mondiaux.
C1 verb /ˈstɪɡmətaɪz/

stigmatize

stigmatiser
Meaning
to describe or regard someone as worthy of disgrace or disapproval
Example
People with certain illnesses are often unfairly stigmatized.
Les personnes atteintes de certaines maladies sont souvent stigmatisées de manière injuste.
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 səˈblaɪm

sublime

sublime, magnifique, majestueux
Meaning
Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.
Example
The sublime beauty of the mountain landscape took my breath away.
La beauté sublime du paysage montagneux m'a coupé le souffle.
C1 verb /sərˈmaʊnt/

surmount

surmonter
Meaning
to overcome a difficulty or obstacle
Example
He surmounted all the challenges to achieve his dream.
Il a surmonté tous les défis pour atteindre son rêve.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪd.laɪn dɪˈskʌʃənz/

sideline discussions

discussions secondaires
Meaning
Informal or secondary conversations that occur outside the main agenda of a formal meeting.
Example
Sideline discussions often lead to agreements.
Les discussions secondaires mènent souvent à des accords.
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 noun /ʃeɪl/

shale

schiste
Meaning
a fine-grained sedimentary rock that can be split into thin layers
Example
The region is rich in shale and natural gas deposits.
La région est riche en schiste et en dépôts de gaz naturel.
C1 adjective /ˈstætʃətɔːri/

statutory

législatif
Meaning
Required, permitted, or enacted by law.
Example
The company must comply with all statutory regulations.
L'entreprise doit se conformer à toutes les régulations législatives.
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 /skwɒt/

squat

s'accroupir
Meaning
to crouch or sit with knees bent and body close to the ground
Example
He squatted down to tie his shoes.
Il s'est accroupi pour lacer ses chaussures.
C1 noun stɔːrm ɪnˌtensɪfɪˈkeɪʃən

storm intensification

intensification de la tempête
Meaning
The process by which storms become stronger and more severe in intensity.
Example
Storm intensification is linked to climate change.
L'intensification de la tempête est liée au changement climatique.
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 /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 /ˈsɛdətɪv/

sedative

sédatif
Meaning
A substance that calms the nerves or induces sleep.
Example
The doctor prescribed a sedative to help the patient sleep.
Le médecin a prescrit un sédatif pour aider le patient à dormir.
C1 noun /ˈstænzə/

stanza

strophe
Meaning
a group of lines forming a unit in a poem or song
Example
The poem begins with a stanza describing nature.
Le poème commence par une strophe décrivant la nature.
C1 noun /sɪlt/

silt

limon
Meaning
Fine sand, clay, or other material carried by running water and deposited as a sediment.
Example
The river deposited layers of silt along its banks.
Le fleuve a déposé des couches de limon le long de ses rives.
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 /ˈskæf.əld/

Scaffold

échafaud
Meaning
a temporary structure used by workers to stand on when building or repairing something high; a platform for execution
Example
The workers erected a scaffold to paint the building's exterior.
Les ouvriers ont érigé un échafaud pour peindre l'extérieur du bâtiment.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪtəs/

serendipitous

chanceux et inattendu
Meaning
Occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
Example
Their meeting at the café was purely serendipitous.
Leur rencontre au café était totalement chanceuse.
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 noun /ˈswiːt.miːt/

Sweetmeat

confiserie
Meaning
a small piece of confectionery or candy; a sweet delicacy
Example
The children enjoyed the traditional sweetmeats during the festival.
Les enfants ont apprécié les sucreries traditionnelles pendant le festival.
C1 verb /ˈstaɪmi/

stymie

entraver
Meaning
to prevent or hinder the progress of something
Example
The new regulations could stymie small businesses.
Les nouvelles régulations pourraient freiner les petites entreprises.
C1 verb /səˈlɪdəˌfaɪ/

solidify

solidifier
Meaning
To make something firm, strong, or more certain.
Example
The company solidified its position in the market.
L'entreprise a solidifié sa position sur le marché.
C1 noun /səˈnɑːtə/

sonata

composition musicale (sonate)
Meaning
A musical composition for one or more instruments, typically in several movements.
Example
She performed a beautiful Beethoven sonata on the piano.
Elle a joué une magnifique sonate de Beethoven au piano.
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 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 /straɪf/

strife

conflit, lutte
Meaning
angry or violent conflict; struggle or discord
Example
The region has been torn apart by political strife.
La région a été déchirée par des conflits politiques.
C1 noun /ʃraɪn/

Shrine

sanctuaire; temple; lieu sacré
Meaning
a holy or sacred place dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, or saint
Example
Pilgrims visit the shrine to pray for good health.
Les pèlerins visitent le sanctuaire pour prier pour une bonne santé.
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 adjective /ˌsækrɪˈfɪʃəl/

sacrificial

sacrificiel
Meaning
Relating to or involving sacrifice.
Example
The lamb was used as a sacrificial offering in the ritual.
L'agneau a été utilisé comme offrande sacrificielle dans le rituel.
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 ˈstræt.ə.sfɪər

stratosphere

stratosphère
Meaning
The layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, extending to about 50 km above the earth's surface.
Example
The stratosphere provides a unique environment.
La stratosphère offre un environnement unique.
C1 noun /ˈsɪmətri/

symmetry

symétrie
Meaning
the quality of having balanced proportions or identical parts facing each other
Example
The building’s symmetry impressed the visitors.
La symétrie du bâtiment a impressionné les visiteurs.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛlf ˈraɪtʃəs/

self-righteous

autojustifié
Meaning
Having or showing an attitude of moral superiority; believing one’s own beliefs are the only right ones.
Example
His self-righteous comments made everyone uncomfortable.
Ses commentaires autojustifiés ont mis tout le monde mal à l'aise.
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 adjective /ˈsɪlkən/

Silken

en soie; doux; lisse;
Meaning
made of silk; smooth and soft like silk
Example
She wore a beautiful silken dress to the party.
Elle portait une belle robe en soie à la fête.
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 noun /sɔːd fɪʃ/

Sword fish

poisson-épée
Meaning
A large marine fish with an elongated bill resembling a sword
Example
The swordfish can swim at speeds up to 60 mph.
Le poisson-épée peut nager à des vitesses allant jusqu’à 60 mph.
C1 noun /ˈskaʊndrəl/

scoundrel

scélérat
Meaning
a dishonest or unscrupulous person; a villain
Example
That scoundrel cheated the old man out of his savings.
Ce scélérat a trompé le vieux monsieur et lui a volé ses économies.
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 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 noun /səbˈmɜːrdʒəns/

submergence

immersion
Meaning
the act or process of being submerged or going underwater
Example
The submergence of coastal areas is a major concern due to rising sea levels.
L'immersion des zones côtières est une préoccupation majeure en raison de l'élévation du niveau de la mer.
C1 verb ˈsɪŋ.krə.naɪz

synchronize

synchroniser
Meaning
To coordinate in time; to cause to occur or operate at the same time or rate.
Example
The dancers need to synchronize their movements.
Les danseurs doivent synchroniser leurs mouvements.
C1 adjective /ˈʃeɪp.ləs/

Shapeless

sans forme
Meaning
having no definite or well-defined shape or form
Example
The fog created a shapeless mass in the distance.
Le brouillard a créé une masse sans forme au loin.
C1 verb /sɪˈdjuːs/

seduce

séduire
Meaning
to attract someone into doing something, especially something they might not normally do
Example
The advertisement was designed to seduce customers into buying luxury products.
La publicité a été conçue pour séduire les clients à acheter des produits de luxe.
C1 noun /sloʊθ/

Sloth

paresse; réticence à travailler ou à faire des efforts
Meaning
laziness; reluctance to work or make an effort
Example
His sloth prevented him from achieving his goals.
Sa paresse l'a empêché d'atteindre ses objectifs.
C1 verb /spɔːn/

spawn

générer
Meaning
to produce or generate, often in large numbers
Example
The video game has spawned many sequels.
Le jeu vidéo a généré de nombreuses suites.
C1 noun /ˈstɪklər/

stickler

personne exigeante sur les règles
Meaning
a person who insists on a certain quality or standard of behavior
Example
He is a stickler for punctuality and never tolerates delays.
Il est très strict sur la ponctualité et ne tolère pas les retards.
C1 noun /səˈprɑːnoʊ/

soprano

la voix féminine ou enfantine la plus haute
Meaning
the highest female or boy’s singing voice
Example
She sang beautifully in the soprano range during the concert.
Elle a chanté magnifiquement dans la gamme soprano pendant le concert.
C1 noun /sleɪ/

sleigh

traîneau
Meaning
A vehicle pulled by horses or reindeer over snow or ice.
Example
Children were excited to ride in the sleigh through the snowy village.
Les enfants étaient excités de monter dans le traîneau à travers le village enneigé.
C1 verb /snʌb/

snub

mépriser
Meaning
to insult or ignore someone by treating them rudely
Example
He felt hurt when his invitation was snubbed.
Il s'est senti blessé lorsque son invitation a été méprisée.
C1 verb /spɜːr/

spur

inciter / encourager
Meaning
To encourage or motivate someone to take action.
Example
The teacher's praise spurred him to study harder.
Les éloges du professeur l'ont incité à étudier plus dur.
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 /ˈseɪlaɪn/

Saline

salé; lié à l'eau salée
Meaning
containing salt; salty; relating to salt water
Example
The saline solution is used for medical treatments.
La solution saline est utilisée pour les traitements médicaux.
C1 verb, adjective, noun /spruːs/

spruce

ranger / un type d'arbre
Meaning
to make neat or tidy in appearance; also refers to an evergreen tree
Example
He spruced up his room before the guests arrived.
Il a arrangé sa chambre avant l'arrivée des invités.
C1 noun ˌsteɪbəlaɪˈzeɪʃən

stabilization

stabilisation
Meaning
The process of making or becoming stable.
Example
The stabilization of the structure was essential after the earthquake.
La stabilisation de la structure était essentielle après le tremblement de terre.
C1 noun /skraɪb/

scribe

scribe
Meaning
a person who writes documents, especially in ancient times; a professional copyist
Example
In ancient Egypt, scribes recorded important events.
Dans l'Égypte ancienne, les scribes enregistraient les événements importants.
C1 verb /ˈʃɪmər/

shimmer

scintiller
Meaning
To shine with a soft, wavering light.
Example
The lake shimmered under the moonlight.
Le lac scintillait sous la lumière de la lune.
C1 adjective /ˈsek.j ə.l ər/

Secular

laïque
Meaning
not connected with religious or spiritual matters; worldly
Example
The country maintains a secular government that separates religion from politics.
Le pays maintient un gouvernement laïque qui sépare la religion de la politique.
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 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 noun səbˈsɪs.təns

subsistence

subsistance
Meaning
The action or fact of maintaining or supporting oneself at a minimum level.
Example
Many farmers depend on subsistence agriculture.
De nombreux agriculteurs dépendent de l'agriculture de subsistance.
C1 adjective /ˈstɛlər/

stellar

exceptionnel
Meaning
Relating to stars; outstanding or excellent.
Example
She gave a stellar performance in the play.
Elle a donné une performance exceptionnelle dans la pièce.
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 /səˈbætɪkəl/

sabbatical

période de congé pour études ou voyages
Meaning
A period of paid leave granted to a teacher or worker for study or travel, traditionally every seventh year.
Example
She took a sabbatical to research her new book.
Elle a pris un congé sabbatique pour rechercher son nouveau livre.
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 /ˈstoʊɪk/

stoic

stoïque, implacable
Meaning
Showing little or no emotion, even in difficult situations.
Example
She remained stoic during the crisis, never showing fear or panic.
Elle est restée stoïque pendant la crise, sans montrer de peur ni de panique.
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 noun /ˈsɜːr.vɪ.tuːd/

Servitude

servitude
Meaning
the state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful
Example
Many people fought to escape the servitude imposed by the colonial system.
De nombreuses personnes se sont battues pour échapper à la servitude imposée par le système colonial.
C1 noun /ˈsɛntɪnəl/

sentinel

sentinelle
Meaning
A soldier or guard whose job is to stand and keep watch.
Example
A sentinel stood at the entrance of the camp.
Un sentinelle se tenait à l'entrée du camp.
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 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 noun /ˈstɪm.jʊ.laɪ/

stimuli

stimulant
Meaning
Things that create reactions or provide motivation.
Example
Bright light and loud sounds are common stimuli for alertness.
La lumière brillante et les bruits forts sont des stimuli courants pour la vigilance.
C1 noun /stɑːr fruːts/

Star Fruits

fruits étoilés
Meaning
yellow tropical fruits that form a star shape when sliced crosswise; tangy and crisp taste
Example
When you slice star fruits, they look like beautiful yellow stars on your plate.
Quand vous tranchez des fruits étoilés, ils ressemblent à de belles étoiles jaunes sur votre assiette.
C1 verb /skɪmp/

skimp

brader
Meaning
to use less of something than is necessary in order to save money or effort
Example
Don’t skimp on quality when buying a new laptop.
Ne fais pas d'économie sur la qualité lorsque tu achètes un nouvel ordinateur portable.
C1 adjective /ˈsaʊnd.pruːf/

Sound-proof

insonorisé; empêchant le son d'entrer ou de sortir
Meaning
impervious to sound; preventing sound from entering or leaving
Example
The recording studio has sound-proof walls.
Le studio d'enregistrement a des murs insonorisés.
C1 adjective /ˈstɛriəˌtaɪpt/

stereotyped

stéréotypé
Meaning
Conforming to a fixed or oversimplified idea of what someone or something is like.
Example
His stereotyped jokes failed to impress the audience.
Ses blagues stéréotypées n'ont pas réussi à impressionner le public.
C1 verb/noun /skɒtʃ/

scotch

mettre fin à / whisky écossais
Meaning
to put an end to something; also a type of whisky
Example
The report scotched the rumors of a merger.
Le rapport a mis fin aux rumeurs de fusion.
C1 noun /ˈsɒlstɪs/

solstice

solstice
Meaning
the two times in the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator (summer and winter solstice)
Example
People celebrate the summer solstice with festivals and rituals.
Les gens célèbrent le solstice d'été avec des festivals et des rituels.
C1 noun ˈsɪmbəlɪzəm

symbolism

symbolisme
Meaning
The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
Example
The use of symbolism in the novel is masterful.
L'utilisation du symbolisme dans le roman est magistrale.
C1 adjective ˈsɛd(ə)ntəri

sedentary

sédentaire
Meaning
Characterized by much sitting and little physical activity.
Example
A sedentary lifestyle can lead to numerous health problems.
Un mode de vie sédentaire peut entraîner de nombreux problèmes de santé.
C1 noun /ˈstɛnsəl/

stencil

pochoir
Meaning
A thin sheet of material with a design cut out, used to produce the design on the surface below by applying paint or ink through the cut-out holes.
Example
The artist used a stencil to paint identical stars on the wall.
L'artiste a utilisé un pochoir pour peindre des étoiles identiques sur le mur.
C1 noun ˈsæŋktɪti

sanctity

sainteté
Meaning
The state or quality of being holy, sacred, or saintly; ultimate importance.
Example
The sanctity of life should never be compromised.
La sainteté de la vie ne doit jamais être compromise.
C1 verb sɪˈkwɛstər

sequester

isoler, cacher
Meaning
To isolate or hide away.
Example
The carbon captured by trees can be sequestered for years.
Le carbone capturé par les arbres peut être isolé pendant des années.
C1 adjective /ˈseɪ.vər.i/

savory

savoureux (salé ou épicé)
Meaning
Having a pleasant salty or spicy taste; morally acceptable.
Example
The restaurant serves a variety of savory dishes.
Le restaurant sert une variété de plats savoureux.
C1 adjective /ˈspjʊəriəs/

spurious

faux / frauduleux
Meaning
Not genuine, authentic, or true; false or fake.
Example
The report was based on spurious claims.
Le rapport était basé sur des affirmations fausses.
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 /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 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 adjective /ˈsliːzi/

sleazy

bas, sale ou de mauvaise qualité
Meaning
morally low, dirty, or cheap in quality
Example
He avoided the sleazy nightclub downtown.
Il a évité le club de nuit sordide en centre-ville.
C1 noun, verb /ˈskʌf.əl/

scuffle

bagarre
Meaning
a short, confused fight or struggle; to engage in such a fight
Example
Two players scuffled on the field after the foul.
Deux joueurs se sont battus sur le terrain après la faute.
C1 noun /ˈstɛə.rɪ.əʊˌtaɪ.pɪŋ/

stereotyping

stéréotype
Meaning
A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Example
Stereotyping people based on their race is harmful.
Stéréotyper les gens en fonction de leur race est nuisible.
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 noun /spæt/

spat

dispute mineure
Meaning
a short, petty quarrel or argument
Example
They had a brief spat about who should do the dishes.
Ils ont eu une petite dispute sur qui devait faire la vaisselle.
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 verb /sɪˈsiːd/

secede

se séparer
Meaning
To formally withdraw from a political or organizational union.
Example
Several states threatened to secede from the union.
Plusieurs états ont menacé de se séparer de l'union.
C1 verb /snɪər/

sneer

sourire de façon moqueuse
Meaning
to smile or speak in a mocking or contemptuous way
Example
She sneered at his attempt to sing.
Elle se moquait de sa tentative de chanter.
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 adjective /ˈstɔːlwərt/

stalwart

fidèle, robuste
Meaning
Loyal, reliable, and hardworking; strongly built or sturdy.
Example
She has always been a stalwart supporter of the community.
Elle a toujours été une fidèle partisane de la communauté.
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 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 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 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 noun /ˈʃɜːrbət/

sherbet

sorbet
Meaning
a sweet flavored drink or a frozen dessert made from sweetened fruit juice
Example
On hot days, she enjoys a glass of lemon sherbet.
Lors des journées chaudes, elle apprécie un verre de sorbet au citron.
C1 verb /skwiːl/

squeal

crier
Meaning
to make a high-pitched cry; to inform on someone
Example
The children squealed with delight when they saw the surprise.
Les enfants ont crié de joie lorsqu'ils ont vu la surprise.
C1 adjective /ˈstɪltɪd/

stilted

artificiel, forcé
Meaning
Speech or writing that is stiff, unnatural, or overly formal.
Example
His speech sounded stilted and rehearsed.
Son discours semblait forcé et préparé.
C1 adjective /ˈspɪndli/

spindly

mince et fragile
Meaning
Long, thin, and weak-looking
Example
The spindly tree bent under the weight of the snow.
L'arbre mince s'est penché sous le poids de la neige.
C1 noun /ˈsɑːri/

Saree

sari
Meaning
a garment consisting of a length of cotton or silk elaborately draped around the body, traditionally worn by women from South Asia
Example
She looked elegant in her red silk saree at the festival.
Elle avait l'air élégante dans son sari en soie rouge lors du festival.