cost
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A1 verb /kɔːst/

cost

Meaning
to have a price of; to require payment; to cause loss
Example
This book will cost twenty dollars.
C2 noun /ˈmiːliərɪzəm/

meliorism

Meaning
The belief that the world tends to improve and that humans can aid its betterment.
Example
Her philosophy of meliorism kept her hopeful during difficult times.
B2 noun /rɪˈfɔːr.mər/

Reformer

Meaning
a person who works to bring about positive changes in society or institutions
Example
The social reformer dedicated her life to improving education for all children.
C1 verb /ˈdæŋɡəl/

dangle

Meaning
to hang loosely or swing freely
Example
The keys dangled from his belt.
C2 noun /ˈfɪl.ɪ.staɪn/

philistine

Meaning
a person who is indifferent or hostile to culture and the arts
Example
He was criticized as a philistine for dismissing modern art.
C1 noun /ˌmɪsˈdiːd/

Misdeed

Meaning
A wicked or illegal act; wrongdoing
Example
He regretted his past misdeeds and tried to make amends.
C1 adjective ˈkɒn.təm.plə.tɪv

contemplative

Meaning
Expressing or involving prolonged thought; meditative and reflective.
Example
He spent a contemplative evening reflecting on his decisions.
C2 adjective /mæɡˈnɪləkwənt/

magniloquent

Meaning
using high-flown or pompous language
Example
The politician’s magniloquent speech impressed the crowd.
C2 adjective /ˌpærəˈdɪɡmətɪk/

paradigmatic

Meaning
Serving as a typical example or model of something.
Example
Her success story is paradigmatic of the opportunities education can provide.
C1 adjective /ˈtʃɪə.ləs/

Cheerless

Meaning
lacking happiness or comfort; gloomy; depressing; without cheer
Example
The old house looked cheerless and abandoned in the winter rain.
C1 adjective /ɪˈrɒtɪk/

erotic

Meaning
relating to or tending to arouse sexual desire or excitement
Example
The novel contained several erotic scenes.
B2 noun /ˈkɒmənˌtɛri/

commentary

Meaning
An expression of opinions or explanations about an event, situation, or text.
Example
The professor's commentary on the novel was insightful.
C1 adjective + noun ˈfeɪvərəbəl klaɪˈmætɪk kənˈdɪʃənz

favorable climatic conditions

Meaning
Weather conditions that are suitable and beneficial for growth or development
Example
Winter offers favorable climatic conditions for farming.
B2 noun /ˈleɪzər/

laser

Meaning
a device that emits a concentrated beam of light
Example
The doctor used a laser to perform eye surgery.
C1 verb /veks/

vex

Meaning
to annoy or frustrate someone; to cause trouble
Example
The constant noise from construction vexes the residents.
B1 noun /ˈkaʊnti/

county

Meaning
A territorial division within a country, typically a region with its own local government.
Example
She grew up in a small county in northern England.
C2 adjective /ˈtɛsəleɪtɪd/

tessellated

Meaning
arranged in a pattern of repeated shapes fitting together without gaps
Example
The tessellated floor was made of colorful tiles arranged in perfect symmetry.
A1 noun /tɒp/

top

Meaning
the highest or uppermost point, part, or surface of something
Example
The book is on the top shelf.
B2 noun /ˈsɒlɪtjuːd/

solitude

Meaning
The state or situation of being alone.
Example
Solitude can provide the opportunity for deep reflection.
B2 adjective /ˈstʌb.ərn/

Stubborn

Meaning
refusing to change opinion or course of action; persistent; obstinate
Example
The stubborn child refused to eat his vegetables.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛm.ɪ.nəl/

seminal

Meaning
Strongly influencing later developments; highly original and influential.
Example
His seminal book changed the course of modern philosophy.
C1 noun /ˈkɒnstənsi/

constancy

Meaning
the quality of being faithful and dependable
Example
Her constancy in friendship is admirable.
A2 adverb /ˈbædli/

badly

Meaning
in a way that is not good; poorly or severely
Example
He performed badly in the exam.
B2 noun ˈsækrɪfaɪs

sacrifice

Meaning
An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else.
Example
The country was freed due to the sacrifice of the warriors.
C2 adjective /tʃəˈruːbɪk/

cherubic

Meaning
Innocent, sweet, and angelic, like a cherub.
Example
The baby had a cherubic smile that melted everyone’s heart.
C2 verb /ɪˈfjuːz/

effuse

Meaning
To pour out or express feelings freely and openly.
Example
She effused gratitude for the help she received.
A2 verb /rɪˈpleɪs/

replace

Meaning
to take the place of something or someone; to put something new in place of something old
Example
He decided to replace the broken lamp with a new one.
C1 noun məˈnɒp.əl.i

monopoly

Meaning
The exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service.
Example
The company has a monopoly on electric car production.
B2 adjective /ɪˈreɡjələr/

irregular

Meaning
not even or consistent in shape, pattern, time, or behavior; not following normal rules
Example
His attendance at work has been irregular this month.
C1 noun /ɪmˈpɜː.mə.nəns/

impermanence

Meaning
The state or fact of lasting for only a limited period of time.
Example
The philosophy of Buddhism emphasizes the impermanence of life.
C2 verb /ɪnˈkæmp/

encamp

Meaning
to set up or establish a camp
Example
The soldiers encamped near the river for the night.
B1 noun æmˈbɪʃ.ən

ambition

Meaning
A strong desire to do or achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.
Example
Their ambition is to build a quantum computer.
B2 noun/verb /krɪˈtiːk/

critique

Meaning
A detailed analysis and assessment of something, especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory; to evaluate critically.
Example
The professor asked the students to critique each other's essays.
B2 adjective /ˈkɜːrtiəs/

courteous

Meaning
polite, respectful, or considerate in manner
Example
The staff at the hotel were very courteous to all guests.
A1 adjective /red/

Red

Meaning
having the color of blood or fire; of the color red
Example
She wore a beautiful red dress to the party.
B1 noun /ʃel/

Shell

Meaning
hard outer covering of an animal; explosive projectile for a gun
Example
The artillery fired a shell at the enemy position.
A2 noun /ˈkiːbɔːrd/

keyboard

Meaning
a set of keys used to operate a computer, typewriter, or similar device for inputting text and commands
Example
She typed the report quickly on her keyboard.
B1 adjective /ˈvɪʒuəl/

visual

Meaning
Relating to seeing or sight.
Example
The movie was praised for its stunning visual effects.
B2 noun ˌreɪ.di.oʊ.ækˈtɪv.ə.ti

radioactivity

Meaning
The emission of ionizing radiation or particles caused by the spontaneous disintegration of atomic nuclei.
Example
Radioactivity is used in medical treatments like cancer therapy.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌmblɪŋ/

bumbling

Meaning
Acting in a clumsy, awkward, or confused way.
Example
The bumbling waiter spilled the drinks on the table.
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 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.
C2 noun /ˈɡɜːrn.zi/

Guernsey

Meaning
a knitted sweater; a type of woolen pullover
Example
He wore a warm guernsey during the cold winter evening.
C1 noun /koʊˈhɪr.əns/

coherence

Meaning
The quality of being logical and consistent; forming a unified whole.
Example
The essay lacked coherence, making it hard to follow.
C1 adjective /ˈwɪntri/

wintry

Meaning
Characteristic of or suitable for winter; cold and bleak.
Example
The wintry wind made everyone shiver as they walked outside.
C2 adjective /ˈrɛkənˌdaɪt/ or /ˈrɛkəndaɪt/

recondite

Meaning
Little known or difficult to understand.
Example
The professor’s lecture was full of recondite theories.
C1 noun /ˈfɔː.nə/

fauna

Meaning
The animal life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.
Example
The fauna of the African savannah includes lions and elephants.
C1 noun /səˈvɪləti/

civility

Meaning
Polite and courteous behavior.
Example
He treated his opponent with civility despite their differences.
A1 adjective /tɔːl/

tall

Meaning
having a greater than average height
Example
He is the tallest player on the team.
A1 adjective /ˈbɔːrɪŋ/

boring

Meaning
not interesting or exciting; dull.
Example
The lecture was so boring that several students fell asleep.
A2 adjective /ˈtiːnˌeɪdʒ/

teenage

Meaning
relating to or characteristic of people aged between 13 and 19 years old
Example
She spent her teenage years in a small town.
C2 noun /ˌɪnədˈvɜːrtəns/

inadvertence

Meaning
Failure to pay attention; carelessness.
Example
The error happened through sheer inadvertence.
C1 noun /ˈsteɪl.meɪt/

stalemate

Meaning
A situation in which no progress can be made or no party can win.
Example
Negotiations ended in a stalemate.
C2 noun /laʊs/

Louse

Meaning
a small insect that lives on the hair or skin of people or animals
Example
The child had a louse in his hair.
C2 verb /ˈbeɪɪŋ/

baying

Meaning
making a loud, prolonged barking or howling sound, especially of dogs
Example
The baying of the hounds echoed through the forest.
A2 noun /ˈdʒɜːr.ni/

Journey

Meaning
an act of travelling from one place to another; a long and often difficult process of personal development
Example
Their journey across the country took three weeks to complete.
C2 noun /neɪv/

Knave

Meaning
a dishonest person, especially a man; a playing card with a picture of a male servant
Example
The knave tried to cheat the old woman out of her savings.
C2 adjective /ˈeɪ.li.ə.nə.bəl/

alienable

Meaning
Able to be transferred or surrendered, usually referring to rights or property.
Example
Property rights are alienable and can be sold or transferred.
A2 noun /ˈkɒf.i ˈmeɪ.kər/

Coffee maker

Meaning
an electric appliance used to brew coffee automatically
Example
I use my coffee maker every morning to brew fresh coffee.
C1 noun /ˈreɪ.vən/

Raven

Meaning
a large, black bird with a thick bill and harsh croaking voice
Example
The raven perched on the old oak tree and cawed loudly.
C1 noun ˌnæn.oʊ.tekˈnɒl.ə.dʒi

nanotechnology

Meaning
The branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers.
Example
Nanotechnology is advancing medical treatments.
C2 noun /ˈkɒliər/

collier

Meaning
a person who works in coal mines or a ship carrying coal
Example
The collier spent long hours underground extracting coal.
C1 adjective /sliːk/

sleek

Meaning
smooth, shiny, and stylish
Example
She drove a sleek black sports car.
B1 noun /ˈneɪbərˌhʊd/

neighborhood

Meaning
a district or area around or near a particular place
Example
I grew up in a quiet neighborhood.
C1 adjective /dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪtɪŋ/

discriminating

Meaning
Having refined taste or good judgment; able to recognize subtle differences.
Example
She is known for her discriminating taste in art.
C1 verb /ɪˈdʒɛkt/

eject

Meaning
to force someone or something out, usually from a place or position
Example
The referee had to eject the player for unsportsmanlike behavior.
A1 noun /tuː/

two

Meaning
the number following one
Example
She has two children.
C1 noun /ˈkæpɪˌlɛri/

capillary

Meaning
a very thin blood vessel that connects arteries and veins
Example
Oxygen passes from the blood into tissues through capillaries.
C1 noun /mɪˈrɑːʒ/

Mirage

Meaning
An optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, especially in deserts
Example
The travelers saw a mirage of water in the desert.
C2 noun /ˌmɛtəfɪˈzɪʃən/

metaphysician

Meaning
A person who studies or is an expert in metaphysics.
Example
The metaphysician debated the essence of reality with his peers.
C2 noun /ˈhelmz.mən/

Helmsman

Meaning
a person who steers a ship or boat; the person at the helm of a vessel
Example
The experienced helmsman skillfully guided the yacht through the narrow channel during the storm.
A2 noun /ˈpækɪdʒ/

package

Meaning
a container or wrapping in which something is packed
Example
He received a package in the mail.
A2 adjective /ˈhevi/

Heavy

Meaning
having great weight; intense or severe
Example
The heavy suitcase was difficult to carry up the stairs.
A1 noun /kloʊðz/

clothes

Meaning
garments worn on the body
Example
She bought new clothes for the party.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈdʒʊəriəs/

injurious

Meaning
Causing or likely to cause harm or damage.
Example
Smoking is injurious to health.
C2 noun /ˈstrɪndʒənsi/

stringency

Meaning
the quality of being strict, precise, or severe
Example
The stringency of the new rules surprised everyone.
C1 adjective /ˌɪn.səbˈstæn.ʃəl/

insubstantial

Meaning
Lacking strength, substance, or solidity.
Example
The evidence provided was insubstantial and unconvincing.
A1 adjective /ɡʊd/

Good

Meaning
satisfactory; pleasant; beneficial; of high quality
Example
She is a good student.
B1 verb /əˈrɛst/

arrest

Meaning
to catch and hold by legal authority; to stop suddenly
Example
The police will arrest the suspect tomorrow.
C2 noun /ˈpætrɪsaɪd/

patricide

Meaning
The act of killing one's own father.
Example
The ancient myth describes a son committing patricide to take the throne.
B2 noun /ˈvɜː.dɪkt/

verdict

Meaning
a decision made by a jury or judge in a court case
Example
The jury returned a guilty verdict after three hours of deliberation.
C2 verb, adjective /ˈstraɪeɪt/

striate

Meaning
to mark with stripes or grooves; striped or streaked in appearance
Example
The rock surface was striated by glacial movement.
C2 noun /ɪnˌtɛl.ɪˈdʒɛntsi.ə/

intelligentsia

Meaning
The group of people engaged in intellectual and cultural pursuits in a society.
Example
The intelligentsia played a key role in shaping public opinion.
C2 noun /ɪˈklɛktɪˌsɪzəm/

eclecticism

Meaning
A method or practice of deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
Example
The architect’s work shows eclecticism by blending modern and traditional elements.
C2 verb /kædʒ/

cadge

Meaning
To beg or obtain something, especially food or money, without paying for it.
Example
He tried to cadge a free meal from the restaurant.
B2 adjective /ɪkˈstræv.ə.ɡənt/

Extravagant

Meaning
spending much more than is necessary; wasteful; lacking restraint in spending
Example
His extravagant lifestyle included expensive cars and luxury vacations.
B2 verb /ˈnoʊtɪfaɪ/

notify

Meaning
to inform someone officially about something
Example
The manager will notify the staff about the schedule change.
C1 adverb /ˈkrɒswaɪz/

Crosswise

Meaning
in the form of a cross; diagonally across
Example
Place the logs crosswise to build a stable fire.
B2 noun /rɛlm/

realm

Meaning
A kingdom or domain; a field or area of activity or interest.
Example
He is well known in the realm of science.
B1 adjective /trɪˈmendəs/

Tremendous

Meaning
extremely large, great, or intense; extraordinary
Example
She made tremendous progress in her studies.
B2 noun /ˈfɪks.tʃər/

fixture

Meaning
a permanent or fixed object, often in a house or building
Example
The bathroom fixture was installed yesterday.
C2 adjective /ˈtɜːrdʒɪd/

turgid

Meaning
Swollen or distended; (of language) pompous and overcomplicated.
Example
The professor’s lecture was so turgid that many students lost interest.
B1 noun /θʌm/

Thumb

Meaning
the short thick finger of the human hand
Example
She gave me a thumbs up to show her approval.
C2 verb /ɪˈluːmɪn/

illumine

Meaning
to light up or make clear
Example
The rising sun illumined the mountain peaks.
B2 adjective /ˈfɔːrtʃənət/

fortunate

Meaning
Having good luck or receiving something desirable by chance.
Example
She was fortunate to escape the accident without injuries.
B2 verb /səˈluːt/

salute

Meaning
to greet with respect; to honor
Example
The soldiers saluted their commanding officer.
B1 verb /ʃuːt/

shoot

Meaning
to fire a bullet or arrow from a weapon; to take a photograph or film
Example
He learned how to shoot a bow and arrow.
C2 adjective /dɪˈtɜːrmɪnət/

determinate

Meaning
having exact and definite limits or form
Example
The contract is for a determinate period of two years.
B2 noun /swɪŋ/

Swing

Meaning
move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side while suspended or on an axis
Example
The children love to swing in the park.
B1 adverb /ˈpɜːfɪktli/

perfectly

Meaning
in a perfect manner; without flaws
Example
She performed the task perfectly.
C1 noun /ˈloʊ.kəst/

Locust

Meaning
a large insect that flies in groups and eats crops
Example
The locusts destroyed the entire wheat field.
B1 noun /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒmənt/

encouragement

Meaning
the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope
Example
Her encouragement helped me finish the project.
B1 noun /ˈtɛmpəl/

temple

Meaning
a building used for the worship of a god or gods
Example
They visited an ancient temple during their trip to India.
C2 noun /ˈækmi/

acme

Meaning
the highest point of achievement or excellence
Example
Winning the award was the acme of his career.
B1 noun /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks/ or /ˌɛkəˈnɒmɪks/

economics

Meaning
The study of production, consumption, and transfer of wealth.
Example
He is studying economics at university.
C2 noun /ˈʌndərlɪŋ/

underling

Meaning
a person of low rank or importance; a subordinate
Example
The manager ordered his underlings to finish the task quickly.
C1 adjective məˈdʒes.tɪk

Majestic

Meaning
Having impressive beauty, dignity, or grandeur; regal and stately in appearance.
Example
The majestic Himalayas stand tall against the sky.
C1 verb /dɪsˈɑːrm/

disarm

Meaning
to take weapons away from someone; to make someone feel less hostile
Example
The soldiers were ordered to disarm the rebels.
C1 noun /ˈnɔːrmən/

Norman

Meaning
A member of a people of mixed Scandinavian and Frankish origin who settled in Normandy, or relating to their culture.
Example
The Normans conquered England in 1066.
C2 verb /ˈʌndərˌmæn/

underman

Meaning
to supply with fewer workers or personnel than needed
Example
The hospital was undermanned during the flu outbreak.
C2 verb /ˈfæmɪʃ/

famish

Meaning
to suffer or cause to suffer from extreme hunger
Example
The stranded hikers began to famish after several days without food.
C1 adjective /ˈneɪzl/

nasal

Meaning
Relating to the nose; a sound produced through the nose.
Example
He spoke with a nasal voice due to his cold.
B2 noun /ˈmɑːrkər/

marker

Meaning
an object used to indicate a position, place, or boundary; a pen with a thick tip used for writing or drawing
Example
He used a red marker to underline the important points.
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.
C2 adjective /ˈmjuːtɪnəs/

mutinous

Meaning
refusing to obey authority; rebellious
Example
The soldiers grew mutinous after months without pay.
C1 noun /ˈkærɪkətjʊə/

caricature

Meaning
A picture or description that exaggerates certain features for comic or satirical effect.
Example
The magazine published a caricature of the politician.
C1 noun /ˈpæntəmaɪm/

pantomime

Meaning
A type of theatrical performance using gestures and movements without spoken words; in Britain, a musical comedy play for families performed at Christmas.
Example
The children enjoyed the Christmas pantomime at the local theater.
C1 noun /ˌmɔːrəˈtɔːriəm/

moratorium

Meaning
A temporary suspension or delay of an activity, law, or obligation.
Example
The government announced a moratorium on new mining licenses.
C1 adjective /ˈhiːdləs/

heedless

Meaning
showing a reckless lack of care or attention
Example
He drove with heedless disregard for the rules.
B2 noun /ˈrɔɪəlti/

royalty

Meaning
Members of a royal family or payment made to the owner of a patent, copyright, or natural resource.
Example
The author receives a royalty for every book sold.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈtaɪərɪŋ/

Untiring

Meaning
continuing without stopping; persistent; tireless
Example
Her untiring efforts finally led to success.