dowry
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C1 noun /ˈdaʊri/

dowry

Meaning
Property or money brought by a bride to her husband at marriage.
Example
The dowry tradition is still followed in some cultures.
B2 noun /ˈmɛntɔːr/

mentor

Meaning
an experienced person who advises and guides someone less experienced
Example
She acted as a mentor for the new employees.
C2 adjective /ˈɔːrnəri/

ornery

Meaning
bad-tempered and combative; stubborn
Example
The ornery old man refused to leave his chair.
B2 noun /ˌmɒd.ən.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

modernization

Meaning
The process of adapting something to modern needs or habits.
Example
Modernization of industries reduces pollution.
C1 noun /prɪˈtɛnʃən/

pretension

Meaning
A claim or assertion to something, often without justification; an attempt to impress by showing greater importance or talent than is actually possessed.
Example
His pretension to be an expert was quickly exposed.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrsəm/

foursome

Meaning
a group of four people or things, especially in games or social activities
Example
The foursome enjoyed a game of golf together.
B2 adjective /ˈtʃiːzi/

cheesy

Meaning
tacky, overly sentimental, or cheap in quality
Example
The movie was funny but a bit too cheesy.
C1 verb /diːˈfjuːz/

defuse

Meaning
To make a situation less dangerous, tense, or explosive; to remove a fuse from a bomb.
Example
The negotiator helped defuse the tense situation.
B1 adjective /əˈɡrɛsɪv/

aggressive

Meaning
ready or likely to attack or confront; forceful
Example
The salesman used an aggressive strategy to close the deal.
B2 noun ɪnˈtɛɡrɪti

integrity

Meaning
The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.
Example
Teachers' integrity fosters a positive learning environment.
A1 adjective /hɑːrd/

hard

Meaning
solid, firm, or difficult to do or endure
Example
The exam was very hard for most students.
B1 adjective /ˈkriːmi/

creamy

Meaning
having a smooth, rich texture like cream
Example
She poured a creamy sauce over the pasta.
B1 noun /ˈdʒɪn.dʒər/

Ginger

Meaning
a hot fragrant spice made from the rhizome of a plant; the plant itself
Example
The chef added fresh ginger to the stir-fry to enhance its flavor and aroma.
C1 verb /kənˈvɜːrdʒ/

converge

Meaning
to come together from different directions; to meet at a point
Example
The roads converge at the city center.
A2 adjective /ˈwʊdən/

wooden

Meaning
made of wood
Example
The house had beautiful wooden floors.
B1 noun /əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/

association

Meaning
an organized group of people who have joined together for a common purpose
Example
She is a member of the local teachers' association.
C2 noun /ˌɪnsjəˈlærəti/

insularity

Meaning
The state of being isolated or narrow-minded.
Example
The insularity of the group prevented them from accepting new ideas.
B2 adjective /ˈhoʊmli/

Homely

Meaning
simple and comfortable; unpretentious; plain in appearance; cozy and familiar
Example
She enjoyed the homely atmosphere of the small café.
B2 noun /ˌprɒpəˈzɪʃən/

proposition

Meaning
A statement, idea, or plan put forward for consideration or discussion.
Example
The company made a business proposition to the investors.
B2 noun /reɪˈʒiːm/

regime

Meaning
a system or form of government, often authoritarian
Example
The military regime controlled the country for decades.
C2 verb /ʌnˈɑːrm/

unarm

Meaning
to remove weapons from someone or to deprive of means of attack or defense
Example
The soldiers were ordered to unarm the prisoners.
C1 verb /ˌriːɪnˈtɪɡreɪt/

reintegrate

Meaning
To bring someone or something back into a group or society after being separated.
Example
The program helps prisoners reintegrate into society.
C2 verb /fɔrˈswɛr/

forswear

Meaning
to renounce or reject; to give up completely
Example
He forswore his old habits and started a new life.
C2 noun /əˈsper.ɪ.ti/

asperity

Meaning
Harshness of tone, manner, or surface.
Example
She spoke with asperity when she was interrupted.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛreɪtɪd/

serrated

Meaning
Having a notched or saw-toothed edge.
Example
The bread knife had a serrated blade.
A2 noun /ˈpeɪmənt/

payment

Meaning
the action or process of paying money for something
Example
The payment for the order was received yesterday.
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.
B2 noun /ˌvaɪ.əˈleɪ.ʃən/

Violation

Meaning
the action of violating someone or something; the action of breaking or failing to comply with a rule or formal agreement
Example
The company was fined for violation of environmental regulations.
C1 noun ɡrɪt

grit

Meaning
Long-term determination and perseverance in the face of hardship and challenges.
Example
His grit and hard work led him to success.
B2 verb /skeər/

scare

Meaning
to frighten someone or make them feel afraid
Example
The loud noise scared the baby.
A2 verb /friːz/

freeze

Meaning
to become solid due to cold; to preserve by cold
Example
Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.
A1 verb /ɡes/

guess

Meaning
to give an answer or opinion without complete knowledge; to estimate
Example
Can you guess the answer?
C1 noun koʊˈhisɪv ˈjunɪts

cohesive units

Meaning
Groups or organizations that work together as unified wholes, with members closely bound together.
Example
Early humans formed cohesive units for survival.
C2 adjective /ˌsuːpərˈnuːmərɛri/

supernumerary

Meaning
Exceeding the usual number; extra or unnecessary.
Example
The play included several supernumerary actors to fill the background scenes.
B2 adjective /ˌæbsənt ˈmaɪndɪd/

absent-minded

Meaning
often forgetting things or not paying attention
Example
He is so absent-minded that he often forgets his keys.
C1 noun /ɪkˈstrɛmɪti/

extremity

Meaning
The farthest point or limit of something; a severe or extreme condition.
Example
He was pushed to the extremity of his patience.
A2 noun /ˈælbəm/

album

Meaning
A collection of songs or photographs compiled into a single book, record, or digital file.
Example
She showed me her travel album full of beautiful pictures.
C2 noun /ˌfrɪdʒɪˈdɛːriəm/

frigidarium

Meaning
a large cold pool in ancient Roman baths used for cooling off after hot baths
Example
The ruins of the Roman frigidarium are still visible today.
C2 noun /ˈdeb.juː.tɑːnt/

debutante

Meaning
A young woman making her first formal appearance in society.
Example
The debutante wore a white gown at the ball.
C1 noun /rɪˈpɔːrtɪʒ/

reportage

Meaning
the act of reporting news or describing events in the media
Example
The magazine is known for its detailed reportage of political issues.
C2 noun /ˌmæləˈdɪkʃən/

Malediction

Meaning
A magical word used to invoke a curse; an evil spell
Example
The witch uttered a terrible malediction upon her enemies.
B2 noun /ˈbæŋ.ɡəl/

Bangle

Meaning
a rigid bracelet or anklet worn as jewelry
Example
She wore beautiful gold bangles on her wrists.
A2 noun /ˈhɛdeɪk/

headache

Meaning
a continuous pain in the head; something that causes worry or difficulty
Example
Too much screen time can give you a terrible headache.
B2 noun ˌrɛvəˈluːʃən

revolution

Meaning
A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system.
Example
The story is set during the French Revolution.
C1 adjective /ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪd/

exhilarated

Meaning
feeling very happy, animated, or elated
Example
She felt exhilarated after finishing the marathon.
C2 noun /kənˈtraɪ.vəns/

contrivance

Meaning
a device or plan that is cleverly or artificially created
Example
The clock was an intricate contrivance of gears and springs.
C1 noun /ˈtaɪ.ɡrəs/

Tigress

Meaning
an adult female tiger
Example
The powerful tigress hunted silently through the jungle.
C1 noun /ˈweɪs(t).koʊt/

waistcoat

Meaning
a sleeveless garment worn over a shirt and under a jacket
Example
He wore a black waistcoat with his suit.
C1 adjective /fərˈlɔːrn/

forlorn

Meaning
extremely sad, lonely, or abandoned
Example
The abandoned puppy looked so forlorn in the rain.
C1 verb/adjective /ˈɡræspɪŋ/

grasping

Meaning
Holding firmly; or (as an adjective) excessively greedy.
Example
The child was grasping her mother’s hand tightly.
A2 adverb /kəmˈpliːtli/

completely

Meaning
totally; in every way possible
Example
The room was completely silent.
C2 noun /ˈɒksɪdənt/

occident

Meaning
The countries of the West, especially Europe and America.
Example
The Occident has a long history of philosophical thought.
C2 noun /ˌæd.ʌmˈbreɪ.ʃən/

adumbration

Meaning
a vague foreshadowing or symbolic representation of something
Example
The play offers an adumbration of the political unrest to come.
C1 noun /ˌsaɪkoʊˈθɛrəpi/

psychotherapy

Meaning
The treatment of mental disorder by psychological rather than medical means.
Example
She attended weekly psychotherapy sessions to cope with her anxiety.
B2 verb /dɪˈtekt/

detect

Meaning
to discover or identify the presence or existence of something; to notice something that is not immediately obvious
Example
The security system can detect movement in the building.
C2 noun /ˌiː.mɛnˈdeɪ.ʃən/

emendation

Meaning
a correction or improvement made to a text
Example
The article required several emendations before it was ready for print.
B2 noun /ˌɪntəˈrʌpʃən/

interruption

Meaning
the act of stopping or breaking the continuity of something; a pause caused by an external action
Example
The meeting was delayed due to an unexpected interruption.
C1 noun /ˈpleɪˌraɪt/

playwright

Meaning
a person who writes plays
Example
Shakespeare is considered the greatest playwright of all time.
B2 noun /sɛnˈseɪʃən/

Sensation

Meaning
a physical feeling or perception resulting from something that happens to or comes into contact with the body; a widespread reaction of interest and excitement
Example
The new singer became an overnight sensation.
B1 verb /ræp/

wrap

Meaning
to cover something completely with paper or cloth; to enclose
Example
Please wrap the gift in colorful paper.
C1 adjective /ˈen.vi.ə.bəl/

Enviable

Meaning
causing envy; desirable
Example
Her success was enviable among her peers.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvəkəl/

unequivocal

Meaning
Leaving no doubt; clear and unambiguous
Example
She gave an unequivocal answer to the question.
C1 noun /ˌɔːkʃəˈnɪər/

auctioneer

Meaning
a person who conducts auctions by calling out bids and selling items to the highest bidder
Example
The auctioneer quickly raised the price as bidders competed for the painting.
B2 noun ˈæn.ɪk.doʊt

anecdote

Meaning
A short interesting story used in speeches or writing.
Example
A well-placed anecdote makes a speech more relatable.
B2 noun, verb /ˈfaɪlɪŋ/

filing

Meaning
the act of submitting documents; the process of organizing papers
Example
The lawyer handled the filing of all court documents.
B1 adverb /əˈlaʊd/

Aloud

Meaning
in a voice that can be heard; not silently
Example
Please read the instructions aloud so everyone can hear.
B1 verb /pərˈmɪt/

permit

Meaning
to allow or give permission; to make possible
Example
The teacher permits students to use calculators during the exam.
C2 verb /ˈkrɪŋ.kəl/

crinkle

Meaning
To form small creases or wrinkles.
Example
She crinkled her nose at the strange smell.
B1 verb /ɪnˈvɛnt/

invent

Meaning
to create or design something that has not existed before
Example
Thomas Edison invented the electric bulb.
A2 verb /rɪˈsiːv/

receive

Meaning
to get or accept something given; to welcome
Example
She receives a gift from her friend.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈdʌktɪv/

inductive

Meaning
characterized by the inference of general laws from particular instances; reasoning from specific cases to general principles
Example
The scientist used inductive reasoning to form a hypothesis.
B1 noun, verb /strɪŋ/

string

Meaning
a thin piece of cord or thread; to tie or fasten with a string
Example
She tied the package with a string.
A2 noun /ˈsuːt.keɪs/

suitcase

Meaning
A portable rectangular container for carrying clothes and personal items when traveling
Example
She packed her clothes into a suitcase for the trip.
C1 noun /ˌmæn.ɪ.fɛsˈteɪ.ʃən/

manifestation

Meaning
A visible form or expression of an idea, concept, or feeling; the action of displaying or showing.
Example
His generosity was a manifestation of his kind nature.
C1 verb /fɔrˈstɔl/

forestall

Meaning
to prevent by acting in advance; to anticipate and counter
Example
They forestalled the crisis by taking immediate action.
C2 noun /tʃɜːrl/

churl

Meaning
A rude, boorish, or ill-mannered person.
Example
The waiter was such a churl that customers left unhappy.
C1 noun /meər/

Mare

Meaning
an adult female horse
Example
The beautiful mare galloped across the meadow.
B2 verb /ʃrɪŋk/

shrink

Meaning
to become smaller in size; to draw back in fear
Example
The sweater shrank after washing in hot water.
B2 noun, verb /bluːm/

bloom

Meaning
to produce flowers; to develop or flourish; a flower or the state of flowering
Example
The roses bloom beautifully every spring.
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 + noun æmˈbɪʃəs ɪnˈdevər

ambitious endeavor

Meaning
A bold and determined attempt to achieve something challenging.
Example
Artemis is an ambitious endeavor in space exploration.
C1 adjective /ˌfɪz.i.əˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/

physiological

Meaning
Relating to bodily functions and activities.
Example
Exercise improves physiological functions of the body.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːrtərər/

barterer

Meaning
A person who trades goods or services without using money.
Example
The barterer exchanged fruits for some pottery.
C2 adjective /ˈmoʊtaɪl/

motile

Meaning
Capable of movement or locomotion.
Example
Certain bacteria are motile and can swim toward nutrients.
C1 noun /ɑːrˈmɑːdə/

armada

Meaning
A large fleet of warships.
Example
The Spanish Armada sailed against England in 1588.
C1 verb /ˈsætəˌraɪz/

satirize

Meaning
to mock or criticize something using satire
Example
The play satirizes the greed of modern corporations.
B2 noun /ˈtrɔːmə/

trauma

Meaning
a deeply distressing or disturbing experience; physical injury or emotional shock
Example
The accident left her with lasting emotional trauma.
C1 noun /rɪˈsɜː.dʒəns/

resurgence

Meaning
An increase or revival after a period of little activity, popularity, or occurrence.
Example
The city saw a resurgence in tourism after the pandemic.
C1 adjective ˌɪm.pəˈsɛp.tɪ.bəl

imperceptible

Meaning
So subtle or gradual that it is difficult to notice or perceive
Example
The changes in his behavior were imperceptible at first.
C1 noun rɪˈdʌndənsi

redundancy

Meaning
The state of being not or no longer needed or useful; superfluousness.
Example
The redundancy in the company's workforce led to many layoffs.
B2 verb /mɜːrdʒ/

merge

Meaning
to combine or join together; to blend into one
Example
The two companies decided to merge to increase their market share.
C1 noun /buːn/

boon

Meaning
A thing that is helpful or beneficial.
Example
The internet is a boon to modern education.
C1 noun /ˈfɔɪeɪr/

foyer

Meaning
An entrance hall or lobby in a building.
Example
The guests waited in the hotel foyer before checking in.
C1 adjective /ɪɡˈzæspəˌreɪtɪd/

exasperated

Meaning
greatly annoyed or irritated
Example
She gave him an exasperated look after his repeated mistakes.
A2 adjective /wiːk/

Weak

Meaning
lacking physical strength; not strong; fragile
Example
After the illness, he felt weak and tired.
B2 adjective /ˈlɛdʒəndɛri/

legendary

Meaning
remarkable enough to be famous; often used to describe something that is iconic or widely known
Example
The legendary musician performed in front of a packed stadium.
B1 verb /dæm/

damn

Meaning
to condemn or criticize strongly; used as an expletive to express anger or emphasis
Example
He damned the unfair system in his speech.
B1 noun /əˈmjuːzmənt/

Amusement

Meaning
the state or experience of finding something funny; entertainment or recreational activities
Example
The children's laughter showed their amusement at the clown's performance.
B2 noun /mɪkst ˈkʌlər/

Mixed colour

Meaning
a color created by combining two or more different colors
Example
The mixed colour created a beautiful gradient on the canvas.
C1 noun /ˈpɒ̃ʃɒ̃/

penchant

Meaning
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something
Example
She has a penchant for collecting rare books.
C1 verb /ˈhɪpnətaɪz/

hypnotize

Meaning
to put someone into a state of hypnosis; to influence someone's mind deeply
Example
The magician tried to hypnotize the audience.
B1 noun ˈvɪktəri

victory

Meaning
The act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle, game, or other competition.
Example
The victory of Bangladesh on December 16 is a moment of pride.
B2 verb /pərˈsuː/

pursue

Meaning
to follow or chase with the intent to catch or achieve something
Example
She decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a doctor.
A2 noun /ˈsɪk.nəs/

Sickness

Meaning
the state of being ill; a disease or illness
Example
She took time off work due to sickness.
A1 adjective /seɪm/

same

Meaning
identical; not different or changed
Example
We wore the same dress at the party.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪŋɡwəl/

lingual

Meaning
Relating to the tongue or speech.
Example
The dentist examined the patient's lingual surface of the teeth.
B1 noun /koʊm/

Comb

Meaning
a toothed device for arranging or cleaning the hair
Example
She used a comb to style her hair before the party.
B1 verb /kənˈɡrætʃʊleɪt/

congratulate

Meaning
to praise someone for an achievement or for a special occasion
Example
I want to congratulate you on your promotion.
C2 verb /vɪˈtjuːpəreɪt/

vituperate

Meaning
To criticize harshly or abuse verbally.
Example
The politician was quick to vituperate his opponents during the debate.
B2 noun /vəˈlɪd.ɪ.ti/

Validity

Meaning
the quality of being legally or officially acceptable; the quality of being logically or factually sound
Example
The validity of the contract expires next month.
A1 adjective /ɪmˈpɔː.tənt/

important

Meaning
Of great significance or value; likely to have a profound effect on success, survival, or well-being.
Example
Important steps must be taken to address pollution.
C1 verb /ˈlɪbəreɪt/

liberate

Meaning
to set free from imprisonment, oppression, or restraint
Example
The army liberated the city from enemy control.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/

substantive

Meaning
Having a firm basis in reality; important, meaningful, or considerable.
Example
The company made substantive changes to its policy.
A2 verb /klɪk/

click

Meaning
to press a button on a computer mouse or similar device
Example
She clicked the link to open the website.
C2 noun /ɛˌspriː də ˈkɔːr/

esprit de corps

Meaning
A feeling of pride, fellowship, and loyalty shared by members of a group.
Example
The team's esprit de corps was evident in their cooperative effort.
B2 adjective /ˌɪd.iˈɒt.ɪk/

Idiotic

Meaning
extremely stupid; foolish; senseless
Example
His idiotic behavior embarrassed everyone at the meeting.
C1 adjective /ˈwɔːrˌlaɪk/

warlike

Meaning
Having an aggressive or militant nature; inclined to fight or engage in war.
Example
The tribe was known for its warlike traditions.
C1 adjective /ˈtækt.fəl/

Tactful

Meaning
showing skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or difficult situations
Example
He gave a tactful response to avoid hurting her feelings.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpɜːmiəbl/

impermeable

Meaning
Not allowing fluid or gas to pass through.
Example
The container is made of impermeable plastic.
C1 verb dɪˈsaɪ.fɚ

decipher

Meaning
To convert something written in code into normal language; to succeed in understanding the meaning of something.
Example
It took hours to decipher the ancient script.
C2 noun /ˌkiː.təʊˈdʒen.ɪ.sɪs/

ketogenesis

Meaning
The metabolic process by which the liver produces ketones from fatty acids, providing an alternative energy source during low carbohydrate availability.
Example
Ketogenesis occurs during fasting or low-carb diets.