catastrophic
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B2 adjective ˌkæt.əˈstrɑː.fɪk

catastrophic

Meaning
Involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.
Example
Climate change has catastrophic consequences.
C1 noun /əˈrɪəz/

arrears

Meaning
Money that is owed and should have been paid earlier.
Example
She was months in arrears with her electricity bill.
B2 adjective ˈɡrædʒ.u.əl

gradual

Meaning
Taking place or progressing slowly or by degrees.
Example
Gradual changes are more sustainable.
C2 noun /priːˈɛmɪnəns/

preeminence

Meaning
The fact of surpassing all others; superiority.
Example
The university has gained preeminence in medical research.
A2 noun /klʌb/

club

Meaning
an organization of people with a common interest; also a place for social gatherings or entertainment
Example
He joined the local tennis club to meet new people.
B1 noun /ˈpænəl/

panel

Meaning
a group of people gathered to discuss, judge, or advise on a particular topic
Example
The panel of judges announced the winner of the competition.
C2 adjective /əˈkwɪzətɪv/

acquisitive

Meaning
excessively interested in acquiring money or material things
Example
The acquisitive businessman bought every piece of land he could find.
C2 noun /prəˈfʌn.dɪ.ti/

profundity

Meaning
Deep insight; great depth of knowledge or thought.
Example
The profundity of his words left a lasting impact.
C1 adjective /ˌoʊvərˈbloʊn/

overblown

Meaning
excessively exaggerated or inflated
Example
The controversy was overblown by the media.
C2 verb /ˈek.stər.peɪt/

extirpate

Meaning
to completely remove or destroy something unwanted
Example
The government launched a program to extirpate corruption from public offices.
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.
B1 noun /ʃrɪmp/

Shrimp

Meaning
a small marine crustacean with a slender body and long legs
Example
We ordered grilled shrimp with garlic butter for dinner.
C1 adjective /ˈfiːzəbl/

feasible

Meaning
possible to do easily or conveniently; practical and workable
Example
It is feasible to complete the project within two months.
B2 noun ˈsoʊʃəl rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti

social responsibility

Meaning
The duty to act in ways that benefit society as a whole.
Example
Social responsibility should be part of the education curriculum.
C1 verb /lʌl/

lull

Meaning
to soothe or calm; to cause to sleep or rest
Example
The gentle music lulled the baby to sleep.
A2 noun /ˈmiːnɪŋ/

Meaning

Meaning
What is meant by a word, text, or concept; significance or purpose
Example
The teacher explained the meaning of the difficult word to the students.
C2 adjective /ɡrʌf/

gruff

Meaning
Rough or stern in manner, speech, or voice.
Example
Despite his gruff manner, he was very kind-hearted.
B2 adjective /ˈbaɪəst/

Biased

Meaning
showing prejudice for or against someone or something unfairly
Example
The judge was accused of being biased against the defendant.
A2 noun /əˈtɛnʃən/

attention

Meaning
the act of focusing on something or someone
Example
The teacher asked for the students' attention.
A2 noun /dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/

Decision

Meaning
a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration; the action of deciding
Example
Making the right decision required careful analysis of all available options.
C2 verb /ɪnˈkʌmbər/

encumber

Meaning
to burden or weigh down something, making it difficult to move or progress
Example
She was encumbered by the heavy luggage during her journey.
C1 adjective ɪɡˈzɛmpləri

exemplary

Meaning
Serving as a desirable model; representing the best of its kind.
Example
She was praised for her exemplary work ethic and dedication.
C2 verb /feɪz/

faze

Meaning
to disturb or disconcert someone; to cause to feel unsettled
Example
She was not fazed by the unexpected question.
C1 adjective /ˈmeɪkˌʃɪft/

makeshift

Meaning
used as a temporary substitute; improvised
Example
They used boxes as a makeshift table.
B1 noun ˈreɪn.fɒr.ɪst

rainforest

Meaning
A luxuriant, dense forest rich in biodiversity, found typically in tropical areas with consistently heavy rainfall.
Example
The Amazon rainforest is home to millions of species.
C2 adjective /vɜːrˈtɪdʒɪnəs/

vertiginous

Meaning
Causing dizziness due to great height or steepness.
Example
The tourists looked down from the vertiginous cliffs with awe.
B1 noun /ˈviː.ɪ.kəlz/

Vehicles

Meaning
machines used for transporting people or goods from one place to another
Example
There are many different types of vehicles on the road today.
C1 noun /ˈsɔːjər/

Sawyer

Meaning
a person who saws wood, especially as an occupation
Example
The skilled sawyer cut the logs into planks.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪndmoʊst/

hindmost

Meaning
Farthest back; last in position.
Example
The hindmost car in the convoy broke down first.
B2 adjective /ˌpeɪ.triˈɑː.tɪk/

Patriotic

Meaning
showing love for one's country
Example
The patriotic citizens celebrated Independence Day with great enthusiasm.
C2 noun /ɛmˈpɔːriəm/

emporium

Meaning
A large retail store selling a wide variety of goods.
Example
They visited the new emporium to buy furniture and home decor.
A2 preposition /əˈpɒn/

upon

Meaning
on or immediately after
Example
Upon hearing the news, he rushed to the hospital.
C1 noun /fɪlθ/

filth

Meaning
dirty or disgusting matter; moral corruption
Example
The streets were full of filth after the storm.
B2 noun /dɪˈsper/

Despair

Meaning
the complete loss or absence of hope; a state of feeling hopeless
Example
After losing his job, he fell into despair and couldn't see any way forward.
C2 noun /ˌhoʊ.mi.oʊˈsteɪ.sɪs/

homeostasis

Meaning
The tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes.
Example
The human body maintains homeostasis through temperature regulation.
C2 noun /ˌɪnkænˈteɪʃən/

incantation

Meaning
a series of words used as a magic spell or charm
Example
The wizard chanted an incantation to summon the spirits.
A2 noun /ˈpɑːsˌpɔːrt/

passport

Meaning
an official government document that identifies a person and allows them to travel internationally
Example
She renewed her passport before traveling abroad.
C1 verb /ʌnˈsɛtl/

unsettle

Meaning
To disturb or make someone feel anxious or uneasy.
Example
The sudden news unsettled the entire community.
B2 adjective /əˈdɪktɪd/

addicted

Meaning
Being unable to stop engaging in a particular activity or consuming a particular substance.
Example
Many people are addicted to social media.
B2 noun/verb /dɪˈspjuːt/

dispute

Meaning
a disagreement or argument about something important
Example
The two countries are in dispute over the border issue.
C2 noun /krəˈdjuːlɪti/

credulity

Meaning
A tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true.
Example
The scam succeeded because of the victim's credulity.
C1 noun /ˈpriːˌkɜrsər/

precursor

Meaning
Something or someone that comes before another and indicates the approach of something else.
Example
The steam engine was a precursor to modern trains.
B2 noun /ˌspɛsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

specification

Meaning
a detailed description or assessment of something
Example
The product specification includes all the necessary details.
B1 noun ɪnˈven.ʃən

invention

Meaning
The action of inventing something, typically a process or device.
Example
The invention revolutionized communication.
C2 noun /ˈbærəˌɡræf/

barograph

Meaning
an instrument that records changes in atmospheric pressure
Example
The scientist checked the barograph for pressure variations.
B2 noun /prəˈtɛktər/

protector

Meaning
a person or thing that protects someone or something
Example
The dog was seen as the family's protector.
C1 adjective /ˌzɛnəˈfoʊbɪk/

xenophobic

Meaning
having or showing a dislike or fear of people from other countries
Example
The leader’s xenophobic comments sparked outrage across the country.
C1 noun, verb /pliːt/

pleat

Meaning
a fold in fabric made by doubling the material back upon itself
Example
She added a pleat to the skirt for extra volume.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvɪŋ/

unbelieving

Meaning
Not willing or able to believe; skeptical or doubtful
Example
She gave him an unbelieving look when he claimed to have met a celebrity.
A2 verb /kaʊnt/

count

Meaning
to determine the total number of something
Example
She carefully counted the money on the table.
C2 noun /ˈpæsɪt/

Passet

Meaning
Fresh cheese curds; cottage cheese made from curdled milk
Example
The cook prepared fresh passet by curdling warm milk with lemon juice.
B2 noun /ˈɑːrm.pɪt/

Armpit

Meaning
the hollow area under the arm where it joins the shoulder
Example
He applied deodorant to his armpit.
C2 noun /ˈræŋ.kər/

rancor

Meaning
A feeling of deep and bitter anger or resentment.
Example
There was a rancor between the two rivals that never faded.
A2 adjective /ˈkjʊriəs/

curious

Meaning
Eager to know or learn something.
Example
The curious explorers asked questions about Antarctica.
C1 noun /baʊt/

Bout

Meaning
a short period of intense activity of a specified kind; a wrestling or boxing match
Example
After a bout of illness, she finally recovered and returned to work.
C2 noun /ˈɛnsaɪn/

ensign

Meaning
A flag or standard, especially a military or naval one indicating nationality; also a junior officer in the navy or coast guard.
Example
The ship raised its national ensign before leaving the harbor.
C1 noun /rɪˈnaʊn/

Renown

Meaning
the condition of being known or talked about by many people; fame
Example
The scientist achieved international renown for her discoveries.
C2 noun /ˈkæl.əm.ni/

Calumny

Meaning
the making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation
Example
The politician sued the newspaper for spreading calumny about his personal life.
B1 noun ɪɡˈzek.jə.tɪv

executive

Meaning
The branch of government responsible for implementing and enforcing laws.
Example
The executive body enforces policies.
B2 verb kənˈdem

condemn

Meaning
To express complete disapproval of; to censure.
Example
The leaders condemned the actions as inhumane.
C2 noun /traɪˈʌmvɪər/

triumvir

Meaning
One of a group of three men holding power in ancient Rome.
Example
Caesar was a triumvir in the first Roman triumvirate.
C1 adjective /freɪl/

frail

Meaning
Physically weak and delicate.
Example
The old man was too frail to walk without help.
A2 adjective /ˈpɜːrfɪkt/

Perfect

Meaning
flawless; excellent; without fault
Example
She delivered a perfect performance on stage.
B2 adjective /ˈɔː.rəl/

Oral

Meaning
spoken rather than written; relating to the mouth
Example
The oral examination will test your speaking skills.
C1 noun /ˈbeɪsbɔːrd/

baseboard

Meaning
A narrow board running along the bottom of an interior wall, covering the joint between wall and floor.
Example
The carpenter painted the baseboard white.
A1 verb pleɪ

play

Meaning
To have a role or function in a situation; to contribute to something.
Example
Artemis will play a crucial role in Mars exploration.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈmænɪdʒəbəl/

Unmanageable

Meaning
difficult or impossible to control or handle
Example
The large class became unmanageable without proper supervision.
B1 adjective /rɪˈtaɪərd/

Retired

Meaning
having left one's job and ceased to work; withdrawn from activity
Example
My retired grandfather enjoys gardening in his free time.
B2 adjective /ˈɡreɪs.fəl/

Graceful

Meaning
elegant; smooth; refined; having beauty of movement or manner
Example
The dancer moved with graceful elegance.
C2 noun /ˈlæsɪtjuːd/

lassitude

Meaning
a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy
Example
After the long hike, a feeling of lassitude swept over the group.
B1 noun /braɪd/

Bride

Meaning
a woman on her wedding day or just before and after the event
Example
The beautiful bride walked down the aisle in her white wedding dress.
C1 noun /ˈtʃaɪ.nə.weər/

China-ware

Meaning
dishes, plates, cups, and other tableware made of porcelain or fine ceramic
Example
The expensive china-ware was displayed in the cabinet.
C2 noun /ɡæf/

gaff

Meaning
A social blunder or mistake; also a hook or device used in fishing or theater.
Example
He made a major gaff during the meeting by forgetting the client's name.
C1 noun /ˈrɛspɪt/

respite

Meaning
A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.
Example
The weekend provided a welcome respite from work.
B2 noun /əˈnælədʒi/

analogy

Meaning
A comparison between two things for the purpose of explanation or clarification.
Example
The teacher used the analogy of a tree to explain the structure of an essay.
C1 adjective /ˈnɔːtɪkəl/

nautical

Meaning
relating to ships, sailors, or navigation on water
Example
He studied nautical charts before setting sail.
C2 adjective /juːˈnɪsənənt/

unisonant

Meaning
Sounding together or in harmony.
Example
The unisonant voices created a powerful effect.
C1 verb /blɜːrt/

blurt

Meaning
to say something suddenly without thinking
Example
He blurts out the secret accidentally.
A2 adjective /ruːd/

Rude

Meaning
impolite; discourteous; lacking civility; rough or harsh in manner
Example
It was rude of him to interrupt the meeting.
C2 noun /ˈvæləns/

valance

Meaning
A decorative drapery hung across the top of a window or bed.
Example
She chose a floral valance to match the curtains in her bedroom.
C2 noun /ˈpoʊ.ɪˌtæs.tər/

poetaster

Meaning
an inferior or trivial poet
Example
He was mocked as a poetaster by the literary critics.
A2 pronoun /ðəmˈsɛlvz/

themselves

Meaning
used to emphasize the subject of the sentence or to refer to the subject doing something to itself
Example
They fixed the problem themselves.
C1 noun /ˈpær.ə.di/

Parody

Meaning
an imitation of a particular style for comic effect; a humorous exaggerated copy
Example
The comedy show featured a parody of famous politicians.
C1 verb /ˌdiːˈbʌŋk/

debunk

Meaning
Expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief).
Example
Scientists debunked the myth that vaccines cause autism.
B2 noun /ˌɛvəˈluːʃən/

evolution

Meaning
the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form
Example
The theory of evolution explains how species change over time.
B1 noun /ˌpɜr.sənˈæl.ə.ti/

Personality

Meaning
the combination of characteristics that form an individual's distinctive character; a famous person
Example
She has a very outgoing and friendly personality.
C1 verb /daɪˈvʌldʒ/

divulge

Meaning
to make known something private, secret, or previously unknown
Example
She refused to divulge the source of her information.
C1 verb /rɪˈfjuːt/

refute

Meaning
To prove a statement, argument, or theory to be false or invalid.
Example
The lawyer refuted the witness's testimony with solid evidence.
C1 noun /ˈvæntɪdʒ/

vantage

Meaning
a position or situation that gives an advantage or a good view
Example
From this vantage, we could see the entire valley.
C2 noun /ˈstrɪndʒənsi/

stringency

Meaning
the quality of being strict, precise, or severe
Example
The stringency of the new rules surprised everyone.
B2 noun /ˈtʃeɪmbər/

chamber

Meaning
a large room used for formal or public events, or a private room.
Example
The king held meetings in his private chamber.
C1 verb /rɪˈnɛɡ/

renege

Meaning
to go back on a promise, agreement, or commitment
Example
The company reneged on its promise to increase wages.
A2 noun/verb /ˈɪntrəst/ or /ˈɪntəˌrɛst/

interest

Meaning
A feeling of curiosity or concern about something; or money paid for the use of borrowed money.
Example
He showed great interest in learning new languages.
C1 verb /ˈhaɪdʒæk/

hijack

Meaning
to take control of a vehicle or situation illegally or by force
Example
The criminals attempted to hijack the airplane.
B2 verb, noun /ʃeɪv/

shave

Meaning
To remove hair from the body, typically using a razor; the act of removing hair
Example
He likes to shave every morning before work.
C1 adjective ˌɡæs.troʊ.ɪnˈtes.tɪ.nəl

gastrointestinal

Meaning
Relating to the stomach and intestines.
Example
Spicy food can cause gastrointestinal issues.
C1 verb /ˈiːkwəlaɪz/

equalize

Meaning
To make equal or level in status, value, or amount.
Example
The team equalized the score in the last minute.
C1 noun /ɪˈlɪpsɪs/

ellipsis

Meaning
The omission of words in a sentence, represented by three dots (...).
Example
The writer used an ellipsis to show that part of the quote was omitted.
B2 noun /ˈes.əns/

Essence

Meaning
the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something
Example
The essence of good teaching is the ability to inspire students.
C2 verb /əˈleɪ/

allay

Meaning
to reduce the intensity of fear, worry, or pain; to calm
Example
The teacher tried to allay the students’ fears before the exam.
B1 verb /træk/

track

Meaning
To follow or trace the course or progress of something.
Example
Someone can easily track your location on social media.
C2 noun /ˈkɒŋ.kɔː.dæt/

concordat

Meaning
An agreement or treaty, especially between the Vatican and a secular government.
Example
The concordat established the rights of the church within the country.
B2 noun /ˈrep.taɪl/

Reptile

Meaning
a cold-blooded animal with scaly skin that lays eggs on land
Example
The lizard is a common reptile found in gardens.
C2 noun /ˌɪnədˈvɜːrtəns/

inadvertence

Meaning
Failure to pay attention; carelessness.
Example
The error happened through sheer inadvertence.
A1 noun /tɛn/

ten

Meaning
the number following nine and preceding eleven
Example
I have ten apples in the basket.
A2 noun /dɪˈzæs.tər/

Disaster

Meaning
a sudden event causing great damage or loss of life; a complete failure
Example
The earthquake was a natural disaster that affected thousands of families.
B2 noun /ˈrɪb.ən/

ribbon

Meaning
a long, narrow strip of fabric used for tying or decoration
Example
She tied her hair with a red ribbon.
C1 verb ˈdwɪn.dl

dwindle

Meaning
To diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength; to become progressively smaller.
Example
His savings dwindled due to unexpected expenses.
C1 adjective ɪnˈkʌm.bənt

incumbent

Meaning
necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility.
Example
It is incumbent upon all citizens to obey the law.
B1 noun, verb /skiːm/

scheme

Meaning
a plan or arrangement, especially one that is secret or dishonest
Example
They devised a scheme to cheat investors.
C2 noun /ˌɛərəˈstætɪks/

aerostatics

Meaning
The branch of physics that deals with the equilibrium of air and gases and the forces acting on bodies in them.
Example
Aerostatics is essential for understanding how balloons float.
A2 noun /ˈklɑːsmeɪt/

classmate

Meaning
a person who is in the same class or course of study as another
Example
I met one of my old classmates at the university event.
B1 noun /rɪˈspɒns/

Response

Meaning
a reaction to something; an answer or reply; the way in which something reacts to external stimulus
Example
The government's response to the crisis was swift and decisive.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪz.mə.ɡræf/

seismograph

Meaning
An instrument that measures and records details of earthquakes, such as force and duration.
Example
The seismograph detected a strong tremor in the area.
C1 noun/verb /ˈkwɒr.i/

quarry

Meaning
A place where stone or minerals are extracted; also means prey when hunted.
Example
The workers quarried limestone from the hill.
B2 noun/verb /ˈfɒs.tər.ɪŋ/

fostering

Meaning
The process of encouraging or promoting the development or growth of something; nurturing and caring for.
Example
Good teachers play a key role in fostering creativity in students.
C1 adjective ɪmˈpɛkəbl

impeccable

Meaning
In accordance with the highest standards; faultless.
Example
His impeccable taste in fashion was admired by all his peers.
B2 noun /ˈprɛmɪs/

premise

Meaning
a statement or idea on which reasoning or an argument is based; also a building or property
Example
His argument was based on a false premise.
B2 verb /ˈræl.i/

rally

Meaning
to come together for a common purpose or to recover strength or spirit
Example
The team rallied after halftime and won the match.
A2 noun /ˈspiːkər/

speaker

Meaning
a person who speaks or talks, especially as an occupation
Example
The speaker delivered an inspiring speech at the conference.
C1 adverb /ˈnæroʊli/

Narrowly

Meaning
by a small margin; barely; in a limited way
Example
She narrowly escaped the accident.