congest
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C1 verb /kənˈdʒɛst/

congest

Meaning
To block or overcrowd a space, making movement or flow difficult.
Example
Heavy traffic can congest the city streets during rush hour.
C1 noun /lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪks/

linguistics

Meaning
The scientific study of language and its structure.
Example
She decided to major in linguistics at university.
C1 noun ˌrev.əˈluː.ʃən.ər.i ɪˈnɪʃ.ə.tɪv

revolutionary initiative

Meaning
A groundbreaking action or plan that brings about significant change or transformation.
Example
The revolutionary initiative promotes sustainable energy.
C1 noun /ˌtɛknɪˈkæləti/

technicality

Meaning
A small detail of law, rule, or procedure; a minor point that affects an outcome.
Example
The case was dismissed on a technicality.
C1 verb /wiːn/

wean

Meaning
To gradually stop a child or animal from breastfeeding; to detach from a habit.
Example
Parents often wean their babies around six months old.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrˌrʌnər/

forerunner

Meaning
A person or thing that comes before another; a predecessor or harbinger.
Example
The Wright brothers were the forerunners of modern aviation.
C1 verb /əˈsæsɪneɪt/

assassinate

Meaning
To murder someone important, often a political or religious leader, usually by surprise attack.
Example
The rebels planned to assassinate the king.
C1 noun /ˈkaʊərdɪs/

cowardice

Meaning
lack of courage; behavior showing fear
Example
His cowardice prevented him from speaking up.
C1 adjective /ˈɡæstrɪk/

gastric

Meaning
Relating to the stomach.
Example
She was prescribed medicine for her gastric problems.
C1 noun /kuː/

coup

Meaning
a sudden, decisive action that brings about a change, especially in government
Example
The military staged a coup to overthrow the existing regime.
C1 verb /rɪˈkaʊnt/

recount

Meaning
to narrate or tell the details of an event or experience
Example
She recounted her adventures during the summer trip.
C1 adjective /ˈvɛlvəti/

velvety

Meaning
having a smooth, soft texture like velvet
Example
She spoke in a low, velvety voice.
C1 noun /kənˈstɪtʃuənsi/

constituency

Meaning
A geographical area whose residents elect a representative to a legislative body.
Example
She campaigned tirelessly across her constituency.
C1 noun /oʊˈveɪʃən/

ovation

Meaning
an enthusiastic show of approval, especially by clapping hands
Example
The actor received a standing ovation after his performance.
C1 noun /səˈvɪləti/

civility

Meaning
Polite and courteous behavior.
Example
He treated his opponent with civility despite their differences.
C1 adjective daɪˈvɜː.dʒənt

divergent

Meaning
Tending to be different or develop in different directions
Example
Divergent policies create challenges in collaboration.
C1 adjective /ˌoʊvərˈbloʊn/

overblown

Meaning
excessively exaggerated or inflated
Example
The controversy was overblown by the media.
C1 noun/verb /skɜːrdʒ/

scourge

Meaning
A source of great pain or punishment; to whip or inflict suffering on someone.
Example
Disease and poverty remain a scourge in many regions.
C1 noun /ˈpɛsəl/

pestle

Meaning
A heavy tool with a rounded end used for crushing or grinding substances in a mortar.
Example
She used a pestle to grind the spices.
C1 adjective /ɑːrˈkeɪɪk/

archaic

Meaning
very old or old-fashioned; belonging to an earlier time
Example
Some laws are considered archaic and no longer relevant.
C1 noun /krʊk/

crook

Meaning
a dishonest person, especially a criminal
Example
The police finally caught the crook who had been stealing cars.
C1 adjective ɪˈroʊ.ni.əs

erroneous

Meaning
Wrong; incorrect.
Example
His assumptions were completely erroneous.
C1 noun /rɪˈtriː.vəl/

retrieval

Meaning
The process of getting something back, especially from storage or memory.
Example
The brain's retrieval system helps recall past experiences.
C1 noun /ˈsɛtərə/

cetera

Meaning
Latin for 'the rest' or 'others'; commonly used in the phrase 'et cetera' meaning 'and so on'.
Example
We need to buy pens, paper, notebooks, et cetera.
C1 noun /ɪnˈdʌstriəsnəs/

industriousness

Meaning
The quality of being hardworking and diligent.
Example
His industriousness earned him a promotion at work.
C1 adjective /ˌeɪsɪˈmɛtrɪkəl/

asymmetrical

Meaning
Having parts that are not the same in size, shape, or arrangement.
Example
She wore an asymmetrical dress that drew everyone’s attention.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpiːd/

impede

Meaning
To obstruct or hinder the progress or development of something.
Example
Lack of funds can impede business growth.
C1 noun /vəˈlɒs.ɪ.ti/

velocity

Meaning
Speed or acceleration, the rate of movement of any object or vehicle.
Example
High velocity trains reduce travel time significantly.
C1 noun ˈhaɪ.drə.dʒən ˈpaʊ.əd bʌsɪz

hydrogen-powered buses

Meaning
Buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells that produce only water vapor as emission.
Example
Hydrogen-powered buses reduce air pollution.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbl/

inexplicable

Meaning
Impossible to explain or understand.
Example
The sudden disappearance of the file was inexplicable.
C1 verb ˌsɝː.kəmˈvent

circumvent

Meaning
To cleverly avoid or find a way around obstacles or rules.
Example
He tried to circumvent the security system.
C1 adverb /ˈvaɪtəli/

vitally

Meaning
in an extremely important or essential way; in a manner relating to life or vitality
Example
Access to clean water is vitally important for public health.
C1 adjective ˈmer.ɪt beɪst

merit-based

Meaning
Based on or determined by individual merit, ability, or achievement rather than other factors.
Example
Merit-based recruitment strengthens the workforce.
C1 noun /ˈpræɡ.mə.tɪ.zəm/

pragmatism

Meaning
A practical approach to problems and affairs; dealing with things sensibly and realistically.
Example
His pragmatism helped solve the financial crisis.
C1 noun /ɡruːv/

groove

Meaning
a long narrow cut or depression, or a rhythmic pattern in music
Example
The DJ kept the crowd dancing to the groove.
C1 noun

Peck

C1 adjective/noun nɪˈmɒn.ɪk

mnemonic

Meaning
Assisting or intended to assist memory; a device or technique to aid memory.
Example
A mnemonic device helps students remember complex concepts.
C1 noun /ˈɪntərˌpleɪ/

interplay

Meaning
The way in which two or more things have an effect on each other.
Example
The interplay between culture and technology shapes modern life.
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.
C1 noun /ɛkˈspeɪtriət/

expatriate

Meaning
a person who lives outside their native country
Example
Many expatriates gather in the city’s international community.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈfriːkwənt/

infrequent

Meaning
Happening rarely or not often.
Example
He made infrequent visits to his hometown after moving abroad.
C1 noun ˌhaɪ.droʊˈpɒn.ɪks

hydroponics

Meaning
Growing plants using nutrient-rich water instead of soil.
Example
Hydroponics allows crops to grow without soil.
C1 adjective ˈskruː.pjʊ.ləs

scrupulous

Meaning
Diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details; having moral integrity; acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper.
Example
He is known for being scrupulous in his work.
C1 noun /ænˈθɒlədʒi/

anthology

Meaning
A collection of literary works, such as poems, short stories, or essays, compiled into one volume.
Example
She contributed a poem to the new poetry anthology.
C1 noun /ˈpɔːrsəlɪn/

porcelain

Meaning
A white, hard ceramic material often used for dishes and ornaments.
Example
The museum displayed ancient porcelain vases from China.
C1 adjective /ˈluːdɪkrəs/

ludicrous

Meaning
so foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing
Example
It is ludicrous to think the Earth is flat.
C1 noun /ˈɔːr.ə.tɔːr.i/

oratory

Meaning
The art of public speaking; skilled and confident delivery of speeches to an audience.
Example
His exceptional oratory skills won him the debate competition.
C1 noun ˈprɛvələns

prevalence

Meaning
The fact or condition of being widespread; the extent to which something exists or occurs
Example
The prevalence of aging issues requires immediate attention.
C1 noun /kənˈkʌrəns/

concurrence

Meaning
Agreement or union in action, opinion, or occurrence; simultaneous happening of events.
Example
The project was completed with the concurrence of all departments.
C1 adjective /ˈmaʊntɪnəs/

Mountainous

Meaning
having many mountains; characterized by mountains
Example
The mountainous region was difficult to travel through.
C1 noun /ˈkaʊntərˌpɔɪnt/

counterpoint

Meaning
an argument, idea, or theme contrasting with another; also a musical term for independent melody
Example
Her calm attitude was a counterpoint to his anger.
C1 verb /flɔːnt/

flaunt

Meaning
to show off something proudly, often to attract attention
Example
She likes to flaunt her new jewelry at parties.
C1 adjective /ˌaʊt əv ðə ˈweɪ/

out-of-the-way

Meaning
remote or unusual; not in a convenient or usual location
Example
They stayed in an out-of-the-way village.
C1 noun /ˈtoʊɡə/

toga

Meaning
A loose outer garment worn in ancient Rome, typically draped over the shoulders and body.
Example
The senator wore a white toga during the ceremony.
C1 noun /ˌeɪ.li.əˈneɪ.ʃən/

alienation

Meaning
The state of being isolated or estranged from a group or activity.
Example
The new policies created a sense of alienation among employees.
C1 noun /vəˈræs.ə.ti/

veracity

Meaning
Conformity to facts; accuracy and truthfulness.
Example
The journalist checked the veracity of the report.
C1 noun /ˈhaɪdəweɪ/

hideaway

Meaning
A place used as a retreat or a place to hide.
Example
The cabin in the woods was their secret hideaway.
C1 noun /ˈoʊvərˌtoʊn/

overtone

Meaning
A subtle quality, implication, or additional meaning beyond the obvious.
Example
His speech had political overtones that were hard to ignore.
C1 noun /ɡəˈrɪlə/

guerrilla

Meaning
a member of a small independent group taking part in irregular fighting, typically against larger forces
Example
The guerrilla fighters used ambushes to attack enemy positions.
C1 noun /jiːld ˌɒptɪmaɪˈzeɪʃən/

yield optimization

Meaning
The process of maximizing the productivity or efficiency of crop production through various agricultural techniques and practices.
Example
Yield optimization techniques can significantly improve crop production.
C1 noun /ˈhɜːrniə/

hernia

Meaning
A medical condition where an organ pushes through the muscle or tissue holding it in place.
Example
The doctor diagnosed him with an inguinal hernia.
C1 adjective /ˌpæθəˈdʒɛnɪk/

pathogenic

Meaning
Capable of causing disease.
Example
Some bacteria are harmless, while others are highly pathogenic.
C1 noun /kwɑːm/

qualm

Meaning
a feeling of doubt, worry, or fear about something
Example
She had no qualm about speaking her mind.
C1 noun /ˈmænɪkɪn/

mannequin

Meaning
a life-sized model of a human figure used by shops to display clothes
Example
The mannequin in the shop window was dressed in a red gown.
C1 adjective /swɑːv/

suave

Meaning
charming, confident, and elegant, often in a smooth or polished way
Example
He was a suave gentleman who impressed everyone at the party.
C1 verb /ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/

intimidate

Meaning
To frighten or overawe someone, especially to make them do what one wants.
Example
The bully tried to intimidate the smaller kids.
C1 verb /prəˈkjʊər/

procure

Meaning
to obtain something, especially with effort or difficulty
Example
They managed to procure enough supplies for the expedition.
C1 noun /ˈbærɪstər/

barrister

Meaning
A type of lawyer in certain legal systems who specializes in courtroom advocacy and litigation.
Example
The barrister argued the case passionately before the judge.
C1 verb /wɪlt/

wilt

Meaning
To become limp, weak, or drooping, often due to lack of water or energy.
Example
The flowers wilted in the heat of the sun.
C1 adjective /ˈpɪt.i.ləs/

pitiless

Meaning
showing no pity or compassion; cruel
Example
The pitiless ruler ignored the suffering of his people.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈmaɪndfəl/

Unmindful

Meaning
not paying attention; careless; heedless
Example
She was unmindful of the danger around her.
C1 noun /ˈprəʊsiːdz/

proceeds

Meaning
money obtained from an event, activity, or sale
Example
The proceeds from the charity event were donated to the orphanage.
C1 adjective /ɪˈspeʃəl/

especial

Meaning
Particularly remarkable or significant; distinguished from others
Example
This is an especial opportunity you should not miss.
C1 noun /ɒpˈtɒmətri/

optometry

Meaning
The practice or profession of examining the eyes and prescribing corrective lenses.
Example
She studied optometry at the university to become an eye specialist.
C1 verb /sɪndʒ/

singe

Meaning
To burn something superficially or lightly, especially at the edges.
Example
The fire singed his eyebrows.
C1 verb /ˈpɜːrpətreɪt/

perpetrate

Meaning
To commit or carry out, typically a harmful, illegal, or immoral act.
Example
The hackers perpetrated a massive cyber attack on the company.
C1 noun /ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪti/

serendipity

Meaning
The occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
Example
Finding that old photo album was pure serendipity.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈpɔɪ.njənt/

poignant

Meaning
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; deeply touching
Example
The movie's ending was so poignant that many in the audience were moved to tears.
C1 noun /ˌɪnkoʊˈhɪrəns/

incoherence

Meaning
The quality of being unclear, confused, or lacking logical connection.
Example
His speech was full of incoherence and difficult to follow.
C1 noun /ˈdɪs.ə.nəns/

dissonance

Meaning
Disagreement, lack of harmony, conflict between ideas or beliefs.
Example
The cultural dissonance created misunderstandings.
C1 noun /pləˈsiːboʊ/

placebo

Meaning
a substance with no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs
Example
The patient was given a placebo to compare the effect of the real drug.
C1 noun /ˈtændʒənt/

tangent

Meaning
a straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point but does not cross it
Example
The teacher drew a tangent to the circle on the board.
C1 verb /pɑːrs/

parse

Meaning
to analyze a sentence or text grammatically or logically
Example
The software can parse large amounts of text data efficiently.
C1 noun ˌɛkstərˈnælɪtiz

externalities

Meaning
A side effect or consequence of an industrial or commercial activity.
Example
Pollution is a negative externality of industrialization.
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 /dʌsk/

Dusk

Meaning
the period of the day when daylight is fading; twilight
Example
They walked along the beach during dusk, watching the sunset.
C1 adjective /stjuːˈpɛndəs/

stupendous

Meaning
extremely impressive; amazing in size, degree, or excellence
Example
The magician’s performance was simply stupendous.
C1 noun /dɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/

Deficiency

Meaning
a lack or shortage of something; inadequacy or insufficiency
Example
The doctor diagnosed a vitamin D deficiency in the patient's blood test.
C1 adjective /ˈtʌf.tɪd/

Tufted

Meaning
having a tuft or tufts; furnished with a tuft or clump of threads, hairs, or other material
Example
The tufted sofa looked elegant in the living room.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈflæməˌtɔːri/

inflammatory

Meaning
causing inflammation in the body; arousing anger, hostility, or strong emotion
Example
His inflammatory speech triggered protests across the city.
C1 noun /ˌʌnriˈælɪti/

unreality

Meaning
the state or quality of being unreal; lack of reality or truth
Example
The dreamlike setting gave the story a sense of unreality.
C1 verb /ˈɒs.ɪ.leɪt/

oscillate

Meaning
To swing or move back and forth between two points or states
Example
The stock market tends to oscillate during uncertain times.
C1 noun /ˈmɒnəˌlɒɡ/

monologue

Meaning
A long speech by one person, often in a play or performance.
Example
The actor delivered a powerful monologue on stage.
C1 noun /ˌbaɪˈlæt.ər.əl nɪˌɡəʊ.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃənz/

bilateral negotiations

Meaning
Negotiations or discussions between two parties, typically countries or organizations.
Example
Bilateral negotiations resolve disputes.
C1 adverb /ˈnæroʊli/

Narrowly

Meaning
by a small margin; barely; in a limited way
Example
She narrowly escaped the accident.
C1 noun /ˈruːdɪmənt/

rudiment

Meaning
A basic principle, element, or fundamental part of something.
Example
He learned the rudiments of music before joining the band.
C1 noun /təˈpɒɡrəfi/

topography

Meaning
the arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area
Example
The topography of the region made construction very challenging.
C1 noun ˌskeɪ.ləˈbɪl.ə.ti

scalability

Meaning
The capacity to be changed in size or scale; the ability of a system to handle a growing amount of work.
Example
The new software offers high scalability for large enterprises.
C1 verb /skɔːrtʃ/

scorch

Meaning
to burn the surface of something slightly
Example
The fire scorched the walls of the building.
C1 noun /ˈek.stə.si/

Ecstasy

Meaning
an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement
Example
She was in complete ecstasy when she heard the good news.
C1 adjective /ˈpɑːm.pəs/

Pompous

Meaning
showing off; pretentious; overly grand
Example
His pompous attitude annoyed everyone at the meeting.
C1 noun /ˈplæz.mə/

Plasma

Meaning
the liquid part of blood; ionized gas; blood serum without clotting proteins
Example
Blood plasma contains various proteins and nutrients.
C1 noun /ˌæktʃuˈæləti/

actuality

Meaning
The state of existing in reality rather than in appearance or imagination.
Example
The movie was based on historical actuality.
C1 adjective /ˈloʊli/

lowly

Meaning
humble in status, position, or manner
Example
She rose from a lowly position to become the company's CEO.
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 noun /ˈrʌfiən/

Ruffian

Meaning
a violent person, especially one involved in crime; a brutal or lawless person
Example
The ruffian threatened the shopkeeper for money.
C1 noun /ˈʌndərˌɡɑːrmənt/

undergarment

Meaning
a piece of clothing worn under outer clothes, usually next to the skin
Example
He bought new undergarments for the wedding.
C1 noun /ˌmɪsˈkɒn.dʌkt/

Misconduct

Meaning
Unacceptable or improper behavior, especially by a professional person
Example
The officer was dismissed for professional misconduct.
C1 noun /ˈruːbrɪk/

rubric

Meaning
A set of instructions, rules, or a heading in a document, often used for grading criteria.
Example
The teacher provided a grading rubric for the assignment.
C1 adjective /ˈpaɪ.əs/

Pious

Meaning
devoutly religious; showing reverence for God
Example
The pious monk spent hours in prayer every day.
C1 adjective /ˈpriːmə/

prima

Meaning
first or most important; excellent
Example
She was treated as the prima ballerina of the troupe.
C1 noun /ˈpɒlɪɡlɒt/

polyglot

Meaning
a person who knows and can use several languages
Example
She is a polyglot, fluent in English, Spanish, and Bengali.
C1 verb /ɪkˈstɔːrt/

extort

Meaning
to obtain something, especially money, by force, threats, or unfair means
Example
The gang attempted to extort money from local shopkeepers.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈdʒɔɪntɪd/

disjointed

Meaning
Lacking order, coherence, or connection; disconnected.
Example
The movie felt disjointed and hard to follow.
C1 noun /kwɔːrˈtɛt/

quartet

Meaning
A group of four people playing music or singing together.
Example
The string quartet performed beautifully at the concert.
C1 verb /ɪnˈfɛst/

infest

Meaning
to overrun in large numbers, especially so as to cause damage or discomfort
Example
The old house was infested with rats.
C1 noun /bɑːrb/

barb

Meaning
a sharp projection such as on a fishhook; a cutting remark
Example
The fishhook has a small barb to keep the fish from escaping.
C1 noun /ˈθɪk.ɪt/

Thicket

Meaning
a dense group of bushes or trees; a thick growth of shrubs
Example
The rabbit disappeared into the thicket.
C1 noun /səˈlɪn.ə.t̬i/

salinity

Meaning
The salt content of soil or water, typically measured as a concentration.
Example
The salinity of the ocean varies depending on depth and location.
C1 noun /ˈdʒɪŋ.ɡəl/

Jingle

Meaning
a light ringing sound such as that made by metal objects being shaken together; a short catchy song
Example
The jingle of keys could be heard as she walked down the hallway.