debates
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B1 noun /dɪˈbeɪts/

debates

Meaning
Formal discussions where different viewpoints are presented and argued.
Example
Debates on governance lasted throughout the session.
B2 adjective /ˈærəɡənt/

Arrogant

Meaning
having an exaggerated sense of one's importance; proud
Example
His arrogant behavior made him very unpopular.
B2 noun /ˈteɪ.lər/

Tailor

Meaning
a person whose job is making and altering clothes
Example
The tailor measured him for a new suit.
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.
B2 noun /ˈpɔːt.fəʊ.li.əʊ/

portfolio

Meaning
A collection of work or samples demonstrating skills and expertise.
Example
His portfolio showcased his diverse range of skills.
B2 noun /prəˈfɪʃənsi/

proficiency

Meaning
Competency or skill; expertise.
Example
His proficiency in multiple languages is remarkable.
C1 noun /ˈhɛksəˌɡɒn/

hexagon

Meaning
A six-sided polygon.
Example
A honeycomb cell is shaped like a hexagon.
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.
C1 noun, verb /ˈfɜːrloʊ/

furlough

Meaning
temporary leave of absence from work, especially that granted to an employee or soldier
Example
Many workers were placed on furlough during the crisis.
B2 adjective /ˌʌn.əkˈsep.tə.bəl/

Unacceptable

Meaning
not satisfactory or allowable; not acceptable
Example
The quality of work was completely unacceptable.
B2 noun /ɪnˈfɔːrsmənt/

enforcement

Meaning
the act of making sure that laws or rules are followed
Example
The police are responsible for law enforcement.
B1 adjective, verb /əˈproʊpriət/ (adj), /əˈproʊprieɪt/ (verb)

appropriate

Meaning
suitable or proper in the circumstances (adj); to take something for one’s own use, often without permission (verb)
Example
Wearing formal clothes was appropriate for the ceremony.
B2 noun /ˈmɜːrdərər/

murderer

Meaning
a person who unlawfully kills another human being with intent
Example
The murderer was caught by the police within hours.
C2 noun /kɒnˌtek.stʃu.ə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

contextualization

Meaning
The process of placing something in its proper context or setting to understand it better.
Example
Contextualization of historical events helps students understand them better.
C2 noun /ˈstænʃən/

stanchion

Meaning
a strong upright bar or post used as support or to control movement
Example
The red rope was attached to the stanchions to guide the crowd.
B2 noun /ˈseɪf.ɡɑːrd/

Safeguard

Meaning
measure or action designed to protect someone or something
Example
New safeguards were implemented to prevent data breaches.
A1 noun /ˈbeɪbi/

baby

Meaning
a very young child, especially one newly or recently born
Example
The baby is sleeping peacefully in the crib.
C1 verb /səbˈdjuː/

subdue

Meaning
To bring under control, especially by force; to overcome or quiet.
Example
The army was able to subdue the rebellion quickly.
A2 noun /ˈɒbdʒɪkt/

object

Meaning
a thing that can be seen and touched
Example
The table is an object in the room.
A2 verb /sɜːrtʃ/

search

Meaning
to look carefully for someone or something; to examine thoroughly
Example
The police searched the house for evidence.
C2 noun /ˌvælɪˌtjuːdɪˈnɛəriən/

valetudinarian

Meaning
A person who is unduly anxious about their health or constantly concerned with minor ailments.
Example
He was regarded as a valetudinarian, always worrying about his health.
A2 preposition /əˈmʌŋ/

among

Meaning
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
Example
He was sitting among his friends.
A2 preposition /wɪðˈɪn/

within

Meaning
inside the limits of something, or as part of a particular space or time
Example
The keys are within the drawer.
B2 verb /ɪnˈfɔːrs/

enforce

Meaning
to make sure that a rule, law, or policy is obeyed
Example
The police are responsible for enforcing the law.
B1 noun /ˈlæbrətɔːri/

laboratory

Meaning
A room or building equipped for scientific experiments, research, or teaching.
Example
The students conducted the experiment in the chemistry laboratory.
C2 noun /ɪkˈskrɛsəns/

excrescence

Meaning
An abnormal outgrowth or lump, often considered unattractive.
Example
The building was considered an excrescence on the landscape.
C1 verb /ˈpʌməl/

pummel

Meaning
To strike repeatedly with the fists; to beat or hit forcefully.
Example
The boxer pummeled his opponent in the final round.
C2 adjective/adverb /ˌæ.prəˈpoʊ/

apropos

Meaning
Appropriate to the situation; relevant. As an adverb, it means 'with reference to' or 'regarding'.
Example
His comments were not apropos of the discussion.
C1 verb /skɪmp/

skimp

Meaning
to use less of something than is necessary in order to save money or effort
Example
Don’t skimp on quality when buying a new laptop.
B2 verb /rɪˈzɛnt/

resent

Meaning
to feel bitterness or displeasure about something or someone
Example
She began to resent the constant criticism from her boss.
C2 noun /ˈkɒŋ.ɡru.əns/

congruence

Meaning
Harmony, compatibility and agreement between different elements.
Example
The congruence between their ideas made collaboration easy.
C1 noun /ˈɑːlɪˌɡɑːrki/

oligarchy

Meaning
A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.
Example
The nation was ruled by a wealthy oligarchy that controlled all resources.
A1 verb /bʌt/

but

Meaning
to hit or push with the head or horns; to strike forcefully
Example
The goat butted against the fence.
B2 adjective /ˈvɛriənt/

Variant

Meaning
differing in form, details, or in some other respect; alternative
Example
There are several variant spellings of this word.
C1 noun /ˈkroʊ.bɑːr/

Crowbar

Meaning
a heavy iron bar with a curved end used as a lever for prying things apart
Example
He used a crowbar to remove the old nails.
C2 verb /ˈvɪʃieɪt/

vitiate

Meaning
to spoil, weaken, or make something less effective
Example
One careless remark can vitiate the entire argument.
B1 noun /əˈsaɪnmənt/

assignment

Meaning
a task or piece of work given to someone as part of their duties
Example
The students completed their homework assignment on time.
C2 noun /ˈæpəˌθɛm/

apothegm

Meaning
A short, witty, and instructive saying or maxim.
Example
His speech was filled with apothegms about life and success.
B1 noun /nuːn/

noon

Meaning
12 o'clock in the daytime; midday
Example
The meeting will start at noon.
B2 noun ˌɪmplɪmenˈteɪʃən

implementation

Meaning
The process of putting a decision or plan into effect; execution.
Example
Proper implementation of policies is crucial.
A1 noun /ˈwɛnzdeɪ/

wednesday

Meaning
the fourth day of the week, following Tuesday and preceding Thursday
Example
The meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
C1 noun /ˈkruːsɪbəl/

crucible

Meaning
a severe test or trial; a container used for heating substances to very high temperatures
Example
The team emerged stronger from the crucible of competition.
C1 noun /kwæk/

Quack

Meaning
a person who pretends to be a doctor but has no medical training; the sound a duck makes
Example
People should be careful not to trust medical advice from a quack.
C2 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈtɜːrmənət/

indeterminate

Meaning
Not exactly known, defined, or established; vague or uncertain.
Example
The project was delayed for an indeterminate amount of time.
C2 noun /prəˈpɪŋkwɪti/

propinquity

Meaning
the state of being close to someone or something; proximity
Example
The propinquity of their houses made them close friends.
B2 noun /ˈkɑn.trəˌvɜr.si/

Controversy

Meaning
prolonged public disagreement or heated discussion; a dispute or argument involving opposing viewpoints
Example
The new policy sparked a major controversy among the citizens.
A2 noun /ˈæmbjʊləns/

ambulance

Meaning
A specially equipped vehicle used to transport sick or injured people to the hospital.
Example
The ambulance rushed to the accident site within minutes.
C1 adjective /ˈpɒlɪtɪk/

politic

Meaning
shrewd, prudent, or tactful in practical matters
Example
It was politic of him to remain silent during the argument.
C2 noun /ˈbʊlrʌʃ/

bulrush

Meaning
A tall plant with long leaves that grows in or near water, also known as a cattail.
Example
The pond was surrounded by tall bulrushes swaying in the wind.
C1 noun /ˌɪnfɪˈdɛləti/

infidelity

Meaning
the act of being unfaithful to a spouse or partner
Example
Their marriage ended due to his infidelity.
C2 noun /ˌɡæskəˈneɪd/

gasconade

Meaning
Extravagant boasting or bragging.
Example
His endless gasconade made him unpopular among his peers.
C1 noun /əˈsɛndənsi/

ascendancy

Meaning
A position of power, influence, or control over others.
Example
The company gained ascendancy in the market through innovation.
B1 verb /əˈtʃiːv/

achieve

Meaning
to successfully bring about or reach a desired goal or result
Example
She worked hard to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor.
C2 noun /ˈsɜːrfɪt/

surfeit

Meaning
an excessive amount of something
Example
There was a surfeit of food at the festival.
A2 verb /ɡaɪd/

guide

Meaning
to show someone the way; to direct or influence behavior
Example
The teacher guides the students.
C1 adjective /ˌʌndərɪkˈspoʊzd/

underexposed

Meaning
insufficiently exposed to light (in photography) or not given enough attention
Example
The photo was underexposed and looked too dark.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈstɛdi/

unsteady

Meaning
not firm or stable; likely to change or fail
Example
She felt unsteady on her feet after the long journey.
B1 verb /məˈsɑːʒ/

massage

Meaning
to rub and press muscles to relieve pain or tension; to manipulate information
Example
The therapist will massage your back to reduce muscle tension.
C1 adjective /maɪˈkroʊ.bi.əl/

microbial

Meaning
Related to bacteria, fungi, and other microscopic organisms.
Example
Microbial activity in the soil improves fertility.
C2 noun /ˈklaɪmɪŋ fɪʃ/

Climbing-fish

Meaning
a type of fish that can climb trees and survive out of water for short periods
Example
The climbing-fish can move from one pond to another by climbing trees.
C1 noun /ˈæd.və.ser.i/

adversary

Meaning
One's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute.
Example
The boxer faced a strong adversary in the ring.
C2 noun /ˌbræɡəˈdoʊʃioʊ/

braggadocio

Meaning
boastful or arrogant behavior; empty boasting
Example
His endless braggadocio annoyed everyone at the party.
C1 adjective /ˈbreɪzən/

brazen

Meaning
Bold and without shame; shameless.
Example
She made a brazen attempt to lie in front of everyone.
C1 adjective /ˈɡleɪʃəl/

glacial

Meaning
relating to ice or glaciers; extremely cold or unfriendly
Example
The mountains were covered in glacial ice.
B2 adjective ɪˈmɜː.sɪv

immersive

Meaning
Providing, involving, or characterized by deep absorption or immersion in something.
Example
Virtual reality creates an immersive learning environment.
B2 noun /fɪˈzɪʃən/

physician

Meaning
a person qualified to practice medicine; a doctor
Example
The physician prescribed some medicine to treat the condition.
B2 noun /ˈʃʌv.əl/

Shovel

Meaning
a tool with a broad flat blade and long handle used for digging and moving earth, snow, or other materials
Example
He grabbed a shovel to clear the snow from the driveway.
B1 noun ˈsaɪləns

silence

Meaning
Complete absence of sound; quietness.
Example
Silence filled the air near the graves.
C1 noun /ˈloʊ.fər/

Loafer

Meaning
a person who avoids work or effort; an idler
Example
Don't be a loafer, help us with the work.
C1 adjective /ˈmiːɡər/

meager

Meaning
Lacking in quantity or quality; inadequate.
Example
He could barely survive on his meager salary.
C1 adjective /ˌɪntərˈtwaɪnd/

intertwined

Meaning
closely connected or twisted together
Example
Their lives became deeply intertwined after the accident.
B1 noun /ɪkˈspens/

Expense

Meaning
the cost required for something; money spent on something
Example
The travel expense for the business trip was covered by the company.
B2 noun /ˈlʊkɪŋ ɡlæs/

Looking glass

Meaning
a mirror; a piece of glass that reflects images
Example
She looked at herself in the looking glass.
B2 noun sɛlf rɪˈlaɪ.əns

self-reliance

Meaning
Reliance on one's own powers and resources rather than those of others; independence.
Example
Self-reliance helps build confidence.
A2 adjective /ˈɛkstrə/

extra

Meaning
More than what is usual, expected, or necessary
Example
She brought some extra food for the picnic.
B2 adjective /ˈhevənli/

Heavenly

Meaning
relating to heaven; extremely pleasant or beautiful
Example
The chocolate cake had a heavenly taste that melted in my mouth.
B2 verb /ˈvaɪbreɪt/

vibrate

Meaning
To move or cause to move continuously and rapidly back and forth.
Example
The phone began to vibrate on the table.
C1 noun ɪnˈsɛpʃən

inception

Meaning
The establishment or starting point of an institution or activity.
Example
The inception of the company marked a new era in the industry.
B2 adjective /ˈtruːθ.fəl/

Truthful

Meaning
telling or expressing the truth; honest and sincere
Example
She was always truthful in her answers during the interview.
C2 noun /ˌrep.ɑːˈtiː/

Repartee

Meaning
conversation or speech characterized by quick, witty comments or replies
Example
The dinner party was filled with brilliant repartee between the guests.
B1 noun /ˈkændɪdeɪt/

candidate

Meaning
A person who applies for a job or is nominated for election.
Example
The candidate gave a strong speech during the debate.
C2 noun /ˈplɛnɪtjuːd/

plenitude

Meaning
the condition of being full or abundant; a great quantity
Example
The garden was a plenitude of flowers in spring.
C1 noun /kənˈtɪn.dʒən.si/

contingency

Meaning
A provision for an unforeseen event or circumstance, especially in financial planning.
Example
The company has a contingency plan for economic downturns.
C2 verb /bɪˈhəʊv/

behove

Meaning
British spelling of 'behoove'; to be appropriate or necessary
Example
It would behove the company to listen to its customers.
C2 noun /prɪˈsɛntɪmənt/

presentiment

Meaning
An intuitive feeling about the future, especially of something bad about to happen.
Example
He had a strong presentiment that the plan would fail.
C2 noun /ˈdeɪ.ɪs/

Dais

Meaning
a raised platform, typically at one end of a room or hall, for speakers or honored guests
Example
The principal stood on the dais to address the entire school assembly.
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.
B2 noun /ˈkænjən/

canyon

Meaning
A deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it.
Example
The Colorado River carved the Grand Canyon over millions of years.
C1 noun /ˈstoʊəˌweɪ/

stowaway

Meaning
A person who hides on a ship, plane, or other vehicle in order to travel secretly without paying.
Example
The crew discovered a stowaway hiding in the cargo hold.
C1 adjective /ˈfruːt.ləs/

Fruitless

Meaning
unsuccessful; futile; pointless;
Example
After hours of searching, their efforts proved fruitless.
C1 verb /əˈpɔːl/

appall

Meaning
To shock or horrify someone with something unpleasant or bad.
Example
The cruelty of the crime appalled the entire community.
B2 noun /əbˈdʒek.ʃən/

Objection

Meaning
an expression of disagreement or disapproval; a reason for disagreeing
Example
The lawyer raised an objection during the trial.
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.
C1 noun/verb /dɪsˈkwaɪət/

disquiet

Meaning
A feeling of worry or unease; to make someone feel anxious or uneasy.
Example
The strange silence filled the room with disquiet.
A1 verb /feɪs/

face

Meaning
to confront or deal with; to turn toward; to have the front in a particular direction
Example
She had to face many challenges in her new job.
C2 adjective /dʒoʊˈkoʊs/

jocose

Meaning
playful or humorous in speech or behavior
Example
The professor’s jocose remarks kept the class entertained.
C1 noun /jɛn/

yen

Meaning
A deep, strong desire or craving.
Example
She felt a strong yen to travel the world.
B1 noun /ˈtreɪlər/

trailer

Meaning
a preview of a movie or a vehicle used for transporting goods
Example
The movie trailer was released last week.
C2 noun /ˌædjʊˈleɪʃən/

adulation

Meaning
excessive admiration or flattery
Example
The singer enjoyed the adulation of her fans.
C1 noun ˌkæl.ɪˈbreɪ.ʃən

calibration

Meaning
The action or process of adjusting or determining the accuracy of measuring instruments.
Example
The accuracy of a scale depends on regular calibration.
A2 adjective /wiːk/

Weak

Meaning
lacking physical strength; not strong; fragile
Example
After the illness, he felt weak and tired.
A2 noun/verb /əˈmaʊnt/

amount

Meaning
a quantity of something, typically the total of a thing or things in number, size, value, or extent
Example
The total amount of money is not enough.
C1 noun /kwɪnˈtɛt/

quintet

Meaning
A group of five people or things, especially musicians.
Example
The jazz quintet performed beautifully.
B2 adjective /ˈsɛl.əˌbreɪ.tɪd/

celebrated

Meaning
Widely known and praised; famous for an achievement.
Example
He is a celebrated author in the field of literature.
B2 noun /ˌhez.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/

Hesitation

Meaning
the action of pausing or delaying; uncertainty or unwillingness to act
Example
After a moment of hesitation, she decided to accept the challenging job offer from the company.
C2 noun /ˌdɪvɪˈneɪʃən/

divination

Meaning
the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means
Example
Ancient people often relied on divination to guide important decisions.
B1 adjective /ˈmiː.nɪŋ.fəl/

Meaningful

Meaning
having significance; purposeful; important
Example
She found meaningful work helping others.
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.
B2 noun /bɪˈliːvər/

believer

Meaning
a person who believes in something, especially a religious faith, idea, or principle
Example
She is a strong believer in hard work and honesty.
C1 verb /ʌnˈrævəl/

unravel

Meaning
To undo twisted or knitted threads; to solve or explain something complicated.
Example
The detective worked hard to unravel the mystery.
C2 adjective/noun /fɪˈduː.ʃi.er.i/

fiduciary

Meaning
Involving trust, especially with regard to the relationship between a trustee and a beneficiary.
Example
Banks have fiduciary duties towards their clients.
C2 adjective kaɪˈmɛr.ɪ.kəl

chimerical

Meaning
Illusory or impossible to achieve; existing only in imagination.
Example
His chimerical ideas often baffled realists.
A1 pronoun /ˈɛvrɪθɪŋ/

everything

Meaning
all things; the whole lot
Example
He packed everything in his suitcase.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpɔːrtʃənət/

importunate

Meaning
Persistent to the point of annoyance or intrusion
Example
The importunate salesman kept calling despite repeated refusals.
C1 verb /priːn/

preen

Meaning
To groom or dress oneself with care; to show pride in one's appearance.
Example
She preened in front of the mirror before leaving for the party.
A2 noun /teɪl/

Tail

Meaning
the rear part of an animal that extends from the back or bottom
Example
The dog wagged its tail happily when it saw its owner.
C2 adjective/noun /haɪˈbɜːrniən/

hibernian

Meaning
Relating to Ireland or the Irish.
Example
He enjoyed reading about Hibernian culture and history.
A2 noun /ɡlʌv/

glove

Meaning
A covering for the hand with separate parts for the fingers and thumb.
Example
She wore gloves to protect her hands from the cold.
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 /nɪl/

Nil

Meaning
nothing; zero; no amount
Example
His chances of winning were nil after the scandal.
C2 noun /ˈflɪpənsi/

flippancy

Meaning
lack of seriousness; showing a disrespectful or trivial attitude
Example
His flippancy during the meeting offended his colleagues.