CEFR Level
Informal or secondary conversations that occur outside the main agenda of a formal meeting.
"Sideline discussions often lead to agreements."
To avoid something by stepping aside; to evade a problem or question indirectly.
"The politician tried to sidestep the difficult question."
To distract from the main subject or activity.
"She was sidetracked by an unexpected phone call."
An American environmental organization founded in 1892 by John Muir, focused on promoting conservation of the natural environment by influencing public policy decisions.
"John Muir founded the Sierra Club in 1892 to protect wild areas."
a utensil with a mesh or perforated bottom, used for straining or sifting
"She used a sieve to strain the pasta."
to separate or sort through carefully, often using a sieve or by examining closely
"She sifted the flour before adding it to the cake mixture."
unable to see; blind; lacking vision
"The sightless man navigated the street with his guide dog."
fabric made from natural fibers produced by silkworms
"The bride wore a beautiful dress made of silk cloth."
the caterpillar of a moth that produces silk fibers used to make silk fabric
"Silkworms feed on mulberry leaves to produce silk."
made of silk; smooth and soft like silk
"She wore a beautiful silken dress to the party."
Fine sand, clay, or other material carried by running water and deposited as a sediment.
"The river deposited layers of silt along its banks."
A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another using 'like' or 'as'.
"She used a simile to describe her eyes as bright as stars."
treating complex issues as if they were much simpler than they really are
"His explanation was too simplistic and ignored key details."
to imitate the appearance, character, or behavior of something; to pretend or reproduce conditions artificially
"The pilot had to simulate an emergency landing during training."
Artificially created to look real but not actually real.
"The pilot trained in a simulated flight environment."
To burn something superficially or lightly, especially at the edges.
"The fire singed his eyebrows."
free from sin; pure and innocent; without moral fault
"The innocent child appeared sinless in her pure white dress."
Having many curves, bends, or turns; winding.
"The hikers followed a sinuous path through the forest."
A cavity within a bone or tissue, especially those in the bones of the face connected with the nasal cavities.
"He suffered from a sinus infection that caused headaches."
The relationship between sisters, or a community of women united by shared experiences or goals.
"The feminist movement created a strong sense of sisterhood among women."
a traditional Indian stringed musical instrument with a long neck and resonating body
"The sitar creates beautiful ragas in Indian classical music."
A person who doubts or questions accepted beliefs or claims.
"The scientist was a skeptic of theories without solid evidence."
An attitude of doubt or disbelief toward claims or accepted ideas.
"Her skepticism about the project grew after the failed trial."
not thorough or detailed; suspicious or unsafe
"The details of the project were still sketchy."
to use less of something than is necessary in order to save money or effort
"Don’t skimp on quality when buying a new laptop."
a small or brief fight between groups of soldiers; to engage in such a fight
"The soldiers got into a skirmish near the border."
a short, humorous performance or piece of writing
"The students performed a funny skit at the event."
easily frightened or nervous; unpredictable
"The horse was too skittish to ride."
a small brown bird known for singing while flying high in the sky
"The skylark sang beautifully as it soared above the meadow."
a large, thick, flat piece of stone, concrete, or other hard material
"The workers laid a concrete slab for the foundation."
to make or become less tight, less active, or slower
"The driver slackened his speed as he approached the village."
Stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting process.
"The factory dumped the slag near the river."
The action of making false spoken statements damaging to a person's reputation.
"He sued the newspaper for slander."
a fine-grained rock used for roofing or writing; to schedule or designate for a task
"The meeting is slated for next Monday."
showing no originality; completely imitative or overly submissive
"His slavish devotion to tradition prevented any innovation."
to kill violently; informally, to impress greatly
"The hero vowed to slay the dragon."
morally low, dirty, or cheap in quality
"He avoided the sleazy nightclub downtown."
smooth, shiny, and stylish
"She drove a sleek black sports car."
A vehicle pulled by horses or reindeer over snow or ice.
"Children were excited to ride in the sleigh through the snowy village."
To turn or slide violently in a particular direction.
"The car slewed across the icy road."
to throw or hang something roughly or carelessly
"He slung his bag over his shoulder before leaving."
to move quietly and secretly, often to avoid being noticed
"The cat slunk into the room without making a sound."
a long narrow opening or cut
"There was a small slit in the fabric."
to move smoothly over a surface with a twisting, sliding motion, like a snake
"The snake slithered through the grass."
A lack of effort or laziness; also a slow-moving mammal in Central and South America.
"His constant sloth kept him from achieving his goals."
To stand, sit, or move in a lazy or awkward way.
"He slouched in the chair, looking tired."
A state of sleep; to sleep lightly or rest.
"The child slumbered peacefully through the night."
An insulting remark or suggestion; or to speak indistinctly.
"He made a slur against her character."
A small amount or superficial knowledge of something.
"He has a smattering of Spanish."
to spread or apply a substance messily; to damage someone's reputation with false or unfair words
"The child smeared paint across the wall."
