agitate
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C1 verb /ˈædʒ.ɪ.teɪt/

agitate

Meaning
to stir up feelings or disturb; to campaign for change
Example
The protesters agitated for better working conditions.
B2 noun /ˈkæp.tɪv/

Captive

Meaning
a person who has been taken prisoner or an animal that has been confined
Example
The captive was held in a small cell for several months.
C1 noun /ɪˈklɪps/

Eclipse

Meaning
an obscuring of light from one celestial body by another; a decline or loss
Example
The total solar eclipse darkened the sky for several minutes.
C2 adjective /mɜːrˈkjʊriəl/

mercurial

Meaning
subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.
Example
She is known for her mercurial temperament.
B2 noun /ˈtɛkstʃər/

texture

Meaning
the way something feels when you touch it; the quality of a surface or substance
Example
The fabric has a soft and smooth texture.
C2 noun /ˈkeɪ.tɪf/

caitiff

Meaning
A contemptible or cowardly person.
Example
The knight despised the caitiff who betrayed his comrades.
C2 noun /ˈproʊtoʊˌplæzəm/

protoplasm

Meaning
The living substance inside a cell, including the cytoplasm and nucleus.
Example
Scientists observed the movement of protoplasm under the microscope.
B2 noun /ˈpæm.flət/

pamphlet

Meaning
a small booklet or brochure containing information or arguments about a subject
Example
The health department distributed a pamphlet about nutrition.
C1 adjective /maɪˈɑːpɪk/

myopic

Meaning
lacking foresight or long-term perspective; also refers to nearsightedness
Example
The company’s myopic strategy led to long-term losses.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈfeər/

Unfair

Meaning
not right or just; treating people in a way that favors some over others
Example
It's unfair to blame her for something she didn't do.
C2 noun /ˈtæmbər/ or /ˈtɪmbər/

timbre

Meaning
The character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity.
Example
Her voice had a warm timbre that soothed the audience.
C1 adverb /ˈhɛdˌlɔŋ/

headlong

Meaning
With the head leading; in a rush or without thinking.
Example
She rushed headlong into the new project.
A2 verb /wɛr/

wear

Meaning
to have clothing or accessories on one's body
Example
She likes to wear bright colors.
B2 noun ˈlɛɡ.ə.si

legacy

Meaning
An amount of money or property left to someone in a will; something left or handed down by a predecessor.
Example
His contributions left a lasting legacy in the industry.
C2 noun /ˈʌn.dɚˌstɔː.ri/

understory

Meaning
The layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest.
Example
The understory of a rainforest is home to small mammals and insects.
C1 noun /ˈkæləs/

callus

Meaning
A thickened and hardened part of the skin or soft tissue, especially in an area subjected to friction.
Example
A callus formed on his palm from using tools every day.
C2 noun /əˈfleɪtəs/

afflatus

Meaning
a sudden divine inspiration or creative impulse
Example
The poet wrote the verses under a sudden afflatus of inspiration.
B2 noun /ˈet.ɪ.kət/

Etiquette

Meaning
the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession
Example
Proper etiquette requires standing when a lady enters the room.
C1 adjective /ɪˈrɛvəkəbl/

irrevocable

Meaning
Not able to be revoked, changed, or undone.
Example
She made an irrevocable decision to leave the company.
C2 noun /ˈpɪkəloʊ/

piccolo

Meaning
a small flute, higher in pitch than the regular flute
Example
She played a lively tune on the piccolo during the concert.
C1 verb /priːˈɒkjʊpaɪ/

preoccupy

Meaning
To dominate or engross the mind of someone to the exclusion of other thoughts.
Example
Worries about the future preoccupy him constantly.
C1 noun /ˈvaɪəˌleɪtər/

violator

Meaning
A person who breaks or disregards a law, rule, or agreement.
Example
The police caught the traffic violator at the intersection.
C1 adverb /ˌhɛdˈfɜrst/

headfirst

Meaning
With the head leading; in a reckless or hasty manner.
Example
He dived headfirst into the pool.
C2 noun /ˌsuː.pɚˈfluː.ə.t̬i/

superfluity

Meaning
An excessive amount of something; more than what is needed.
Example
The room was filled with a superfluity of decorations.
B2 adjective /dɪˈfensɪv/

Defensive

Meaning
used or intended to defend or protect; showing a tendency to react in an angry or hurt way when criticized
Example
He became defensive when criticized about his work.
C2 noun /fɔːrˈbɛrəns/

forbearance

Meaning
Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance, especially in difficult situations.
Example
She showed remarkable forbearance during the heated argument.
C1 verb ɪˈluːd

elude

Meaning
Evade or escape from, typically in a skillful or cunning way; avoid being caught.
Example
The thief managed to elude the police.
C1 noun /ʃəˈmiːz/

Chemise

Meaning
a woman's loose-fitting undergarment or dress hanging straight from the shoulders
Example
The vintage chemise was made of delicate lace and silk.
A2 adjective /ˈpɜːrsənl/

personal

Meaning
relating to a particular person rather than anyone else
Example
She shared some personal details about her family.
B1 adjective /ˈɪrɪteɪtɪŋ/

irritating

Meaning
causing annoyance, impatience, or mild anger
Example
The constant noise from the street is extremely irritating.
C1 noun flɛər

flair

Meaning
A natural ability to do something well.
Example
She has a flair for design, always creating visually stunning work.
A2 noun /ˈdrɔːər/

drawer

Meaning
a box-shaped storage compartment that slides in and out of furniture
Example
She kept her jewelry in the top drawer of the dresser.
C1 noun /moʊl/

Mole

Meaning
a small burrowing mammal with tiny eyes and soft fur
Example
The mole dug tunnels under the garden.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈfriːkwənt/

infrequent

Meaning
Happening rarely or not often.
Example
He made infrequent visits to his hometown after moving abroad.
B1 verb /dɪˈfɛnd/

defend

Meaning
To protect someone or something from harm or attack.
Example
The lawyer worked hard to defend her client.
C1 verb /ˈmʌd.əl/

muddle

Meaning
to mix things up in a confused way or to make a mess of something
Example
He muddled the papers and couldn’t find the report.
B1 adjective /hɪˈstɔːrɪkəl/

historical

Meaning
Related to history or past events.
Example
The museum has a large collection of historical documents.
C2 adjective /ɛɡˈzɪɡjuəs/

exiguous

Meaning
small in amount; scanty or inadequate
Example
They survived on exiguous rations during the journey.
C1 verb /kraʊtʃ/

crouch

Meaning
to bend your knees and lower your body close to the ground
Example
The cat crouched before leaping at its prey.
C1 verb /rɪˈtælieɪt/

retaliate

Meaning
to make an attack in return for a similar attack
Example
The army retaliated after the enemy attack.
C2 noun /ɪksˈtʃɛkər/

exchequer

Meaning
The treasury of a state or country.
Example
The government announced new measures to improve the exchequer.
A2 noun /ˈfɪʃ.ər.mən/

Fisherman

Meaning
a person who catches fish as a job or hobby
Example
The fisherman caught three large fish in the river today.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈvʌlnərəbl/

invulnerable

Meaning
Impossible to harm, damage, or defeat.
Example
The fortress was thought to be invulnerable to attack.
C2 noun /ˈfaɪər.brænd/

firebrand

Meaning
a person who is passionate about a cause, often inciting change or action
Example
The activist was a true firebrand, inspiring everyone around him to join the protest.
C2 adjective /lɪˈtɪdʒəs/

litigious

Meaning
prone to engage in lawsuits or overly inclined to argue legally
Example
He is known as a litigious neighbor who often sues people.
C1 noun /ˈæspɪrənt/

aspirant

Meaning
a person who seeks or hopes to achieve a position of honor or advancement
Example
She is an aspirant for the university's top scholarship.
A2 noun /ˈhʌni/

Honey

Meaning
a sweet, sticky substance made by bees from flower nectar
Example
I like to add honey to my tea.
C2 noun /ˈkoʊdə/

coda

Meaning
the concluding passage of a piece of music or a literary work
Example
The novel ends with a reflective coda that ties up the themes.
C1 noun /ˈmænəˌrɪzəm/

Mannerism

Meaning
A habitual gesture or way of speaking or behaving; an idiosyncrasy
Example
His constant throat clearing had become an annoying mannerism.
C1 noun /pɔl/

Pall

Meaning
a cloth spread over a coffin; a dark covering that creates a gloomy atmosphere
Example
A pall of smoke hung over the burning building.
C2 verb /ˈɡɑːɡəl/

goggle

Meaning
to stare with wide open eyes, often in surprise or wonder
Example
The tourists goggled at the tall skyscrapers.
B1 noun pɑːˈtɪs.ɪ.pənts

participants

Meaning
People who take part in something; those involved in an activity or event.
Example
Participants will enjoy breathtaking views.
B2 verb /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/

compromise

Meaning
To expose or make vulnerable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute.
Example
Excessive sharing can compromise your privacy.
C1 noun ˈrəʊvə

rover

Meaning
A vehicle for driving over rough terrain, especially one driven by remote control over extraterrestrial terrain.
Example
The rover landed on Mars to begin its exploration.
B2 noun /ˈdʒel.i fɪʃ/

Jelly fish

Meaning
a soft-bodied marine animal with a gelatinous umbrella-shaped body and trailing tentacles
Example
The jellyfish floated gracefully through the water with its translucent body.
B2 noun /ˈkɜːr.tə.si/

Courtesy

Meaning
the showing of politeness in one's attitude and behavior toward others; a polite gesture or remark
Example
He showed great courtesy by holding the door open for elderly people.
C2 adjective /ˈrɛkriənt/

recreant

Meaning
cowardly or unfaithful to duty
Example
The recreant soldier abandoned his post in fear.
C1 adjective /ˈluː.krə.tɪv/

lucrative

Meaning
Producing a great deal of profit; highly profitable or financially rewarding.
Example
The real estate business is highly lucrative in urban areas.
C1 adjective /aɪˈreɪt/

irate

Meaning
Extremely angry.
Example
The customer became irate after waiting for hours.
C1 verb /tɔːnt/

taunt

Meaning
to provoke or challenge someone with insulting remarks
Example
The bully tried to taunt him with cruel words.
C2 noun, adjective /klɛərˈvɔɪənt/

clairvoyant

Meaning
a person who claims to have clairvoyance; having the ability to see beyond normal senses
Example
The clairvoyant predicted that she would travel abroad soon.
A2 noun /biːf/

Beef

Meaning
meat from a cow or bull
Example
The restaurant serves the best beef steak in town.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈlaɪkli/

Unlikely

Meaning
not likely to happen; improbable
Example
It's unlikely to rain today with such clear skies.
C1 adjective tɪˈneɪ.ʃəs

tenacious

Meaning
Not readily letting go of, giving up, or separated from an object that one holds, a position, or a principle; persistent.
Example
Her tenacious spirit helped her overcome hardships.
C1 adjective /səbˈsɪd.i.ər.i/

Subsidiary

Meaning
less important than the main thing; secondary; of or relating to a subsidiary company
Example
The subsidiary company handles all overseas operations.
C1 adjective /ˈædʒɪteɪtɪd/

Agitated

Meaning
disturbed; anxious; restless; excited in a negative way
Example
He became agitated when he heard the bad news.
B2 adverb /ˈfræŋkli/

Frankly

Meaning
honestly; openly; in a direct manner
Example
Frankly, I think this plan needs more consideration.
B1 noun /ˈɑː.kɪ.tekt/

architect

Meaning
a person who designs buildings and oversees their construction
Example
The architect designed a modern office building.
A2 noun /ræt/

Rat

Meaning
a large long-tailed rodent that is typically considered a pest
Example
The rat scurried across the kitchen floor.
C1 noun /kriːd/

creed

Meaning
A system of religious or spiritual beliefs or a guiding principle.
Example
Freedom of speech is part of his personal creed.
C2 verb /ˈmæk.jʊˌleɪt/

maculate

Meaning
To stain, spot, or pollute something.
Example
The white cloth was maculated by ink stains.
C1 adjective /ˈeɪmləs/

Aimless

Meaning
without purpose or direction; lacking a goal
Example
He wandered around the city in an aimless manner.
B1 noun /vəˈraɪəti/

Variety

Meaning
the quality of being different or diverse; a number of things of the same general class that are distinct in character or quality
Example
The restaurant offers a wide variety of international dishes.
B1 verb rɪˈdjuːst

reduced

Meaning
Make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
Example
Singapore has reduced plastic usage significantly.
B2 adjective ˌɪnɪˈfɛktɪv

ineffective

Meaning
Not producing any significant or desired effect; not achieving the intended result.
Example
Rote learning often proves to be ineffective.
B2 adjective /ˈvɜːrtɪkl/

vertical

Meaning
Standing or pointing straight up; perpendicular to the ground.
Example
The skyscraper has a perfectly vertical design.
C2 noun /ˈflæɡ ˌɒfɪsər/

flag-officer

Meaning
a senior naval officer entitled to fly a flag to mark the command
Example
The flag-officer reviewed the fleet before the ceremony.
B2 adjective /ˈstɪki/

sticky

Meaning
having the quality of adhering or clinging; difficult to remove or deal with
Example
The candy is too sticky to eat with your hands.
C2 noun /ˈneɪdɪər/

nadir

Meaning
The lowest point of a situation or condition.
Example
The company reached its nadir during the financial crisis.
C1 noun dʒəˈnɛt.ɪk ˌmɒd.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən

genetic modification

Meaning
The process of altering the genetic code of plants or animals.
Example
Genetic modification enhances crop resistance to pests and diseases.
C1 noun /ˈkælɪbər/

caliber

Meaning
The quality of someone's ability or character; the internal diameter of a gun barrel.
Example
The university attracts students of high caliber.
B2 adjective/noun /ˈmaɪ.nər/

minor

Meaning
less important, serious, or significant; a person under the legal age
Example
Luckily, the accident caused only minor injuries.
C1 adjective /ˈnɑːkʃəs/

noxious

Meaning
harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant
Example
The factory released noxious fumes into the air.
B1 verb kənˈsjuːmz

consumes

Meaning
Use up (a resource); eat, drink, or ingest (food or drink).
Example
An individual consumes around 20 kg of plastic annually.
B2 noun /ˈpæd.i/

Paddy

Meaning
rice in its natural state before processing; a field where rice is grown
Example
The farmers worked hard in the paddy fields during harvest season.
B1 noun /ˌkæl.kjəˈleɪ.ʃən/

Calculation

Meaning
a mathematical determination of the size or number of something
Example
His calculation of the total cost was accurate to the penny.
C2 noun /əˈstɪɡmətɪzəm/

astigmatism

Meaning
An eye defect causing blurred vision due to irregular curvature of the cornea or lens.
Example
She wears glasses to correct her astigmatism.
A1 adjective /ˈjeloʊ/

Yellow

Meaning
having the color of the sun or gold; cowardly
Example
The yellow flowers bloomed in spring.
B2 noun /ˈmʌs.tərd/

Mustard

Meaning
A pungent seed or condiment made from ground mustard seeds
Example
She added mustard seeds to the curry for extra flavor.
B2 noun /əˈɡrɛʃən/

aggression

Meaning
hostile or violent behavior towards others
Example
His sudden aggression surprised everyone in the meeting.
B2 noun /ˌsɪmjuˈleɪʃən/

simulation

Meaning
the imitation of a situation or process
Example
The simulation helped the students understand the complex theory.
C2 noun /luːˈbrɪsɪti/

lubricity

Meaning
the quality of being slippery or smooth; sometimes also refers to lewdness
Example
The lubricity of the surface made it difficult to walk on.
B2 noun, verb /pɪə(r)/

peer

Meaning
noun: a person of the same rank or status; verb: to look closely or with difficulty
Example
He tried to peer through the fog to see his peers on the other side.
C2 noun /ˈlɒdʒ.mənt/

lodgment

Meaning
The act of lodging or a place of temporary stay; also a deposit of something.
Example
The soldiers found lodgment in the abandoned house.
A1 pronoun /aʊərz/

ours

Meaning
belonging to or associated with us
Example
This victory is ours.
C2 noun /miːn/

mien

Meaning
A person's appearance or manner, especially as an indication of their character or mood.
Example
His serious mien made everyone fall silent.
A2 noun /ˈmaɪkroʊweɪv/

Microwave

Meaning
an electric oven that uses electromagnetic radiation to heat food quickly
Example
She heated the leftover pizza in the microwave for two minutes.
B2 noun /əkˈnɒlɪdʒmənt/

acknowledgement

Meaning
the act of recognizing or accepting something as true or valid; an expression of gratitude or recognition
Example
She received an acknowledgement for her contribution to the project.
C2 noun /ˌbæstərdaɪˈzeɪʃən/

bastardization

Meaning
the act of corrupting, degrading, or misrepresenting something
Example
Critics called the remake a bastardization of the original film.
B2 verb /ˈsʌfəkeɪt/

suffocate

Meaning
to cause someone to die or have difficulty breathing by depriving them of air
Example
The child nearly suffocated when trapped in the locked room.
C2 adjective /daɪˈɡrɛsɪv/

digressive

Meaning
Tending to depart from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example
The speaker's digressive style made the lecture difficult to follow.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈiːvən/

Uneven

Meaning
not level or smooth; not regular or consistent
Example
The road was uneven and full of potholes.
B1 noun ˈem.fə.sɪs

emphasis

Meaning
Special importance, value, or prominence given to something; stress laid on a particular point or aspect.
Example
The speaker placed emphasis on sustainable development.
C1 noun /ˈef.ɪ.dʒi/

Effigy

Meaning
a sculpture or model of a person, especially one made as a protest
Example
The protesters burned an effigy of the corrupt politician in the square.
B2 verb, noun /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/

exploit

Meaning
to make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource); to use someone unfairly for one’s own advantage
Example
The company was accused of exploiting child labor.
C2 noun ˈtræn.zi.əns

transience

Meaning
The state or fact of lasting only for a short time; impermanence.
Example
The transience of youth makes it more precious.
C1 noun /ˈmɑː.kɪt ˌpen.ɪˈtreɪ.ʃən/

Market Penetration

Meaning
A measure of the amount of sales or adoption of a product or service compared to the total theoretical market for that product or service.
Example
High market penetration ensures competitive dominance.
C1 noun /ˌplɔː.zəˈbɪl.ə.ti/

plausibility

Meaning
The quality of being reasonable or probable.
Example
The plausibility of his explanation convinced the jury.
C2 noun /ˈæstər/

Aster

Meaning
a flowering plant with daisy-like flowers that typically bloom in fall
Example
The purple asters bloomed beautifully in the autumn garden.
B2 verb /kəˈmɛnd/

commend

Meaning
to praise formally or officially
Example
The teacher commended the students for their hard work.
B2 adverb /ˈsiː.krət.li/

secretly

Meaning
in a way that is hidden or not known by others
Example
She secretly planned a surprise party for her friend.
B2 adjective /ˈklʌm.zi/

clumsy

Meaning
awkward in movement or lacking skill
Example
He is so clumsy that he drops things all the time.
B1 adverb /sɪnˈsɪrli/

sincerely

Meaning
with genuine feelings; honestly and truly
Example
I sincerely hope you recover soon.
C1 verb /ˈwɒd.əl/

waddle

Meaning
to walk with short steps and a clumsy swaying motion, like a duck
Example
The duck waddled across the yard.
C2 noun /ˈluː.məˌnɛr.i/

luminary

Meaning
A person who inspires or influences others, especially in a particular field.
Example
He is considered a luminary in the world of science.
B2 adjective /ˈtæn.dʒɪ.bəl/

tangible

Meaning
Perceptible by touch; clear and definite; real.
Example
The benefits of exercise are tangible and measurable.
C2 adjective /kəˈnjuːbiəl/

connubial

Meaning
Relating to marriage or the relationship of a married couple.
Example
They celebrated their connubial bliss with a honeymoon trip.
B2 verb /ˈkeɪtər/

cater

Meaning
To provide food, drinks, or services, usually for an event or group.
Example
The company catered the wedding reception.
C1 noun /ˈhɪr.seɪ/

Hearsay

Meaning
information received from other people that one cannot adequately substantiate; rumor
Example
The accusations were based on hearsay rather than concrete evidence or eyewitness testimony.
B2 noun /liːk/

Leek

Meaning
vegetable related to onion with long green leaves and white bulb, milder than onion
Example
The soup was made with potatoes and leeks.
C2 verb /ˌɪntərˈpoʊz/

interpose

Meaning
To place or insert between one thing and another; to intervene in a situation.
Example
He quickly interposed himself between the fighters to stop the quarrel.