embargo
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C1 noun /ɪmˈbɑː.ɡoʊ/

embargo

Meaning
A trade ban, restriction, or prohibition imposed by a government or international organization on a country.
Example
The UN imposed an embargo on arms exports.
C2 adjective /mɛnˈdeɪʃəs/

mendacious

Meaning
not telling the truth; lying
Example
The politician was known for his mendacious statements.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈdɪvaɪdɪd/

Undivided

Meaning
whole; complete; not separated or split
Example
The team showed undivided attention to the coach's instructions.
A1 noun/verb /fɪlm/

film

Meaning
a motion picture or movie; or to record on camera
Example
They watched a film together on the weekend.
B2 noun ˈæmbɪəns

ambience

Meaning
The character and atmosphere of a place.
Example
The restaurant's ambience was relaxed and inviting, perfect for a casual dinner.
C1 noun /kriːd/

creed

Meaning
A system of religious or spiritual beliefs or a guiding principle.
Example
Freedom of speech is part of his personal creed.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈses.ənt/

incessant

Meaning
Continuing without pause or interruption; constant.
Example
The incessant noise from the construction site made it hard to concentrate.
B1 adjective /ˈvælɪd/

Valid

Meaning
legally or officially acceptable; having a sound basis in logic or fact
Example
The passport is valid for ten years.
C1 adjective /səˈtɪrɪk/

satiric

Meaning
Relating to or using satire.
Example
The novel takes a satiric view of urban life.
A2 noun /ˈriːdər/

reader

Meaning
a person who reads or who is capable of reading
Example
She is a fast reader, finishing books in a day.
A1 noun /wɒtʃ/

Watch

Meaning
a small timepiece worn on the wrist; the act of observing or monitoring
Example
He checked his watch to see if he was late for the meeting.
A1 adjective /ˈθɜrti/

thirty

Meaning
equivalent to the number 30
Example
He is thirty years old.
C1 verb /ɪnˈkrəʊtʃ/

encroach

Meaning
to gradually take over or intrude on someone’s rights, territory, or space
Example
The buildings began to encroach on the protected forest land.
B2 noun /ˈskaɪˌskreɪpər/

Skyscraper

Meaning
a very tall building of many stories
Example
The new skyscraper dominates the city's skyline.
C1 adjective ˈɒptɪmaɪzd

optimized

Meaning
Made as fully perfect, functional, or effective as possible; improved to achieve maximum efficiency.
Example
The system has been optimized for faster performance.
C1 noun ˈθɜː.məl stres

thermal stress

Meaning
Stress caused by excessive heat that affects plant growth and development.
Example
High thermal stress affects plant growth.
C2 noun /ˈtʌtʃ.stoʊn/

Touchstone

Meaning
a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized; a test of genuineness
Example
His honesty became the touchstone by which all other employees were measured.
A2 noun /ˈbɑt.əm/

Bottom

Meaning
the lowest point or part of something; the ground under a body of water
Example
The treasure chest was lying at the bottom of the ocean.
C1 verb /ˈsɪnɚdʒaɪzd/

synergized

Meaning
Combine in such a way that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects.
Example
The teams were synergized to maximize productivity.
A2 adverb /ˈrɑː.ðər/

Rather

Meaning
to some extent; instead; preferably
Example
I would rather stay home than go to the party.
C1 verb /ɪnˈlɪst/

enlist

Meaning
to join or sign up, especially for military service; to secure someone's support or help
Example
He decided to enlist in the army after graduation.
A1 verb /wɜːrk/

work

Meaning
to perform tasks or duties to earn money or achieve goals
Example
He works as a teacher at the local school.
C1 verb /ˈtɒpl/

topple

Meaning
to fall or cause to fall over; to overthrow
Example
The earthquake caused the old building to topple.
B1 noun /ˈbed ʃiːt/

Bed sheet

Meaning
a large rectangular piece of cloth used as bedding to lie on or under
Example
The clean white bed sheet felt soft against her skin.
C2 noun /ˈdoʊtɪdʒ/

dotage

Meaning
The period of old age, especially when one is weak or senile.
Example
He spent his dotage reminiscing about his youth.
B1 verb /dɪˈlɪvər/

deliver

Meaning
to bring or hand over something to the intended recipient
Example
The courier will deliver the package tomorrow.
C2 noun /pɒmˈpɒsəti/

pomposity

Meaning
self-important behavior or exaggerated dignity
Example
His speech was full of pomposity and arrogance.
C1 noun /ʌpˈhiːvəl/

upheaval

Meaning
a violent or sudden change or disruption to something
Example
The company faced a major upheaval after the sudden resignation of its CEO.
A2 noun ˌpɒpjuˈleɪʃən

population

Meaning
All the inhabitants of a particular place; the number of people living in a country or region.
Example
The population supported autonomy.
C1 adverb /əˈfrɛʃ/

afresh

Meaning
From the beginning, in a new way.
Example
After the failure, they started the project afresh.
A2 adjective /fɪt/

Fit

Meaning
suitable; appropriate; healthy; in good physical condition; ready
Example
He is fit and healthy.
B1 noun /ˈleɪ.bəl/

Label

Meaning
a small piece of paper or material attached to something to identify or describe it
Example
Please read the label carefully before taking any medication.
B2 adjective /ˈbruː.təl/

brutal

Meaning
extremely cruel or harsh; violent and without feeling
Example
The dictator’s rule was marked by brutal violence.
C1 verb, noun /ˈbrɪsəl/

bristle

Meaning
to react angrily or defensively; a short stiff hair or fiber
Example
The cat bristled when it saw the dog.
C1 verb /ɪˈdʒektɪd/

ejected

Meaning
to force someone or something to leave a place; to push or throw something out forcefully
Example
The pilot was ejected from the aircraft during the emergency.
B1 noun /ˈdɛdˌlaɪnz/

deadlines

Meaning
The latest time or date by which something should be completed.
Example
Setting deadlines helps finish tasks.
C2 adjective /ˌhæfˈhɑːr.tɪd/

halfhearted

Meaning
lacking enthusiasm or determination; unenthusiastic
Example
His halfhearted attempt to study did not bring good results.
C2 noun /ˈbreɪziər/

Brazier

Meaning
a worker in brass; a portable container for burning charcoal or coal
Example
The brazier crafted beautiful brass ornaments.
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.
C1 noun/verb /snɛər/

snare

Meaning
a trap for catching animals; to catch or trap
Example
The hunter set a snare to catch rabbits.
C2 noun /ˈɛpɪkjʊr/

epicure

Meaning
A person who enjoys fine food and drink, often with refined taste.
Example
As an epicure, she always sought out the finest restaurants in the city.
C1 noun /ˈherən/

Heron

Meaning
large wading bird with long legs and neck that feeds on fish
Example
The heron stood motionless by the water's edge, waiting for fish.
B1 noun /ˈɛlɪmənt/

element

Meaning
A basic or essential part of something; a simple substance that cannot be broken down further.
Example
Trust is a key element of any strong relationship.
C1 verb /aʊst/

oust

Meaning
To remove someone from a position or place of power or authority.
Example
The rebels ousted the dictator from power.
C2 noun /ˈneɪdɪər/

nadir

Meaning
The lowest point of a situation or condition.
Example
The company reached its nadir during the financial crisis.
C1 adjective /ˈsæv.i/

savvy

Meaning
Having practical knowledge and the ability to make good judgments.
Example
She is a tech-savvy entrepreneur.
A2 adjective /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/

dangerous

Meaning
likely to cause harm or injury; unsafe
Example
Driving fast on icy roads is dangerous.
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 noun /ˈzaɪləfoʊn/

Xylophone

Meaning
a percussion instrument consisting of wooden bars that are struck with mallets to produce musical tones
Example
The children enjoyed playing the colorful xylophone in music class.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒs.ɪ.tɪd/

cosseted

Meaning
pampered, treated with excessive care and attention
Example
The cosseted child always got what he wanted.
A1 adverb /jɛs/

yes

Meaning
used to express affirmation, agreement, or consent
Example
Yes, I will be there at 5 o'clock.
C1 noun ˌɪnˈsaɪtfʊlnɪs

insightfulness

Meaning
The capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing.
Example
His insightfulness helped solve the complex problem.
C1 adjective /maɪˈkroʊ.bi.əl/

microbial

Meaning
Related to bacteria, fungi, and other microscopic organisms.
Example
Microbial activity in the soil improves fertility.
B2 adjective /ˈfes.tɪv/

Festive

Meaning
joyful; celebratory; having the characteristics of a festival
Example
The house looked festive with colorful decorations.
B2 noun /ˈmɛtəfɔːr/

metaphor

Meaning
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable.
Example
Time is a thief is a common metaphor for how quickly life passes.
C1 noun prɪˈzɝː.və.tɪv

preservative

Meaning
A chemical substance that prevents decay, fermentation, or other natural processes that cause food deterioration.
Example
Artificial preservatives are harmful to health.
B2 noun /ˌæl.əˈkeɪ.ʃən/

allocation

Meaning
The action or process of distributing resources or duties for a particular purpose.
Example
Budget allocation for education must be increased.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈvæljʊəbl/

invaluable

Meaning
Extremely useful or indispensable.
Example
Her advice proved invaluable to my success.
C2 noun /pəˈtruːn/

poltroon

Meaning
a cowardly person
Example
He acted like a poltroon during the crisis.
C2 noun /ˌdɛd ˈhiːt/

dead-heat

Meaning
a race or contest in which two or more competitors finish exactly equal
Example
The race ended in a dead-heat between the two runners.
B2 noun /strɔː/

straw

Meaning
a thin tube for sucking up liquids; dried stalks of grain plants
Example
She drank the juice through a straw.
C1 noun /əˈkwɪtl/

acquittal

Meaning
a judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which they have been charged
Example
The acquittal of the accused shocked the public.
B2 noun /ˈmaɪnə(r)/

miner

Meaning
a person who works in a mine, extracting minerals or other resources
Example
The miner worked in the coal mine for many years.
B2 verb /nɪˈɡoʊ.ʃi.eɪt/

negotiate

Meaning
To discuss something formally in order to reach an agreement.
Example
They negotiated a fair deal with the supplier.
B2 noun /ˈkwɔː.tərz/

Quarters

Meaning
living accommodation; lodgings; military housing
Example
The soldiers returned to their quarters after the training exercise.
C2 verb /dɪsˈmɛmbər/

dismember

Meaning
to cut or tear the limbs from a body; to divide into separate parts
Example
The king ordered his enemies to be dismembered.
B2 noun /ˈsʌm.ɪt/

summit

Meaning
A high-level meeting between leaders, especially of governments; a conference.
Example
The summit addressed pressing global issues.
C2 noun /broʊɡ/

brogue

Meaning
A strong outdoor shoe; also a marked accent, especially Irish or Scottish.
Example
He bought a pair of stylish brogues for the wedding.
C2 verb /bɪˈleɪ/

belay

Meaning
to secure a rope by winding it around an object; to stop or cancel an order (nautical/military use)
Example
The climber asked his partner to belay the rope tightly.
C1 adjective /ˈwɪr.i.səm/

Wearisome

Meaning
causing tiredness; tedious; boring and exhausting
Example
The wearisome journey took twelve hours to complete.
B2 adjective /ˈfɛmənɪn/

feminine

Meaning
having qualities traditionally associated with women; feminine in nature
Example
She has a very feminine style of dressing.
C1 noun /hɪˈstɪəriə/

hysteria

Meaning
An uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrational behavior.
Example
The crowd was in a state of hysteria during the concert.
B1 noun /rɪst/

Wrist

Meaning
the joint connecting the hand with the forearm
Example
He wore a watch on his wrist.
C2 adjective /ˈdʒes.tɪŋ/

Jesting

Meaning
joking or teasing in a playful manner
Example
He was only jesting when he said he would quit his job.
B2 adverb /bɪˈfɔːr.hænd/

Beforehand

Meaning
in advance; ahead of time; earlier
Example
We prepared everything beforehand.
B1 noun /ɛr pəˈluːʃən/

air pollution

Meaning
The presence of harmful or poisonous substances in the air, typically caused by industrial processes, vehicle emissions, or other human activities.
Example
Air pollution from factories led to the first environmental movement.
C1 adjective, noun, verb /ˈtrɛbəl/

treble

Meaning
triple; consisting of three parts; high-pitched sound in music
Example
The company's profits trebled in just two years.
C2 adjective /ˈsɪŋkəˌpeɪtɪd/

syncopated

Meaning
Characterized by displaced beats or rhythms, especially in music.
Example
The jazz piece had a syncopated rhythm that energized the crowd.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈhɜːd/

Unheard

Meaning
not heard or listened to; not given a hearing; unknown or unfamiliar
Example
His complaints went unheard by the management.
C2 noun /kwɪˈɛsəns/

quiescence

Meaning
A state of quietness, inactivity, or dormancy.
Example
The volcano has been in a state of quiescence for decades.
A2 noun ˈbræntʃɪz

Branches

Meaning
A part of a tree that grows out from the trunk or from a bough.
Example
Family tree branches show the relationship between family members.
C1 adjective /əˈfɜːrmətɪv/

affirmative

Meaning
expressing agreement, approval, or a positive response
Example
She gave an affirmative answer to the proposal.
C2 noun /ˈeɪ.pi.ˌɛr.i/

apiary

Meaning
A place where beehives are kept, especially for commercial purposes.
Example
The farmer built a new apiary to produce organic honey.
C2 noun /əkˈsɛʃən/

accession

Meaning
the attainment of a position of rank or power, especially a monarch or president; the formal acceptance of an agreement or treaty
Example
The king's accession to the throne was celebrated with great ceremony.
C1 noun /ɡʌst/

Gust

Meaning
a sudden strong rush of wind; a sudden burst or outburst of feeling
Example
A powerful gust of wind knocked over the outdoor umbrellas at the cafe.
C1 verb /ˈfæbrɪkeɪt/

fabricate

Meaning
to invent or concoct something, often with the intent to deceive; or to construct or manufacture
Example
The witness fabricated his testimony to protect himself.
C2 noun /ˌkɒnfəˈriː/

conferee

Meaning
a person who takes part in a conference
Example
Each conferee received a badge at the registration desk.
B2 noun /ˈtæksˌpeɪər/

taxpayer

Meaning
a person who pays tax to the government
Example
The taxpayers' money is used to fund public services.
B1 verb /ˈkæptʃər/

capture

Meaning
to take control of something or someone by force
Example
The soldiers managed to capture the enemy base.
C1 noun ˈoʊʃən əˌsɪdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən

ocean acidification

Meaning
The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Example
Ocean acidification is caused by atmospheric CO2 absorption.
C1 noun /ˈtrɛmər/

tremor

Meaning
a slight shaking movement in a person’s body or in the ground
Example
A small tremor was felt before the earthquake.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrdʒər/

forger

Meaning
a person who makes fake documents, artworks, or signatures
Example
The police arrested a forger who had been selling counterfeit paintings.
B2 noun /ˌpɜːrsəˈnel/

personnel

Meaning
People employed in an organization or engaged in an organized undertaking such as military service.
Example
The company is hiring more personnel for its new branch.
C1 noun /ˈtæbloʊ/

tableau

Meaning
a striking or artistic scene or arrangement of people or objects, often presented on stage or in art
Example
The actors froze in a tableau that captured the final moment of the play.
B2 noun ˈiː.kəʊˌsɪs.təm

ecosystem

Meaning
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Example
A balanced ecosystem is crucial for environmental sustainability.
B1 verb /stiːl/

steal

Meaning
to take something without permission; to rob
Example
It's wrong to steal from others.
C1 noun /pəˈrɪm.ɪ.tər/

perimeter

Meaning
the continuous line forming the boundary of a closed geometric figure or area
Example
The soldiers guarded the perimeter of the camp.
B2 noun /ˈsɜːr.plʌs/

surplus

Meaning
An amount that is more than what is needed.
Example
The country has a surplus of food this year.
C1 noun /prəˈspɛktəs/

prospectus

Meaning
a printed document that advertises or describes a school, business, or investment offering
Example
The university sent out a prospectus to attract new students.
B2 adjective /ˈskætərd/

Scattered

Meaning
spread widely apart; dispersed; occurring here and there
Example
Scattered showers are expected throughout the day.
B2 noun, verb /striːk/

streak

Meaning
a long, thin line or mark; to move very quickly in a specified direction
Example
Lightning streaked across the night sky.
B2 noun /kreɪn/

Crane

Meaning
a large tall bird with long legs and neck; a machine for lifting heavy objects
Example
The graceful crane stood motionless by the water's edge.
C1 adjective /ˈbreɪzən/

brazen

Meaning
Bold and without shame; shameless.
Example
She made a brazen attempt to lie in front of everyone.
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.
C2 verb /ˈbæstərdaɪz/

bastardize

Meaning
to corrupt or debase something by altering it from its original form; to change in a way that reduces quality or purity
Example
Critics argue that the remake bastardized the original novel.
C1 adjective /ˈʌndərhænd/

underhand

Meaning
done secretly and dishonestly; deceitful
Example
The politician was accused of using underhand tactics to win the election.
B2 adjective /steɪl/

Stale

Meaning
no longer fresh; lacking originality or novelty
Example
The bread became stale after sitting out for three days.
C2 noun /ˈbaɪəˌɡræf/

biograph

Meaning
A written account of a person's life; an early motion-picture projector (historical use).
Example
The library holds an old biograph of the poet.
C2 adjective /ˌʌn.təˈwɔːrd/

untoward

Meaning
Unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient.
Example
The meeting ended without any untoward incidents.
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 /ˈsiːkər/

seeker

Meaning
a person who is looking for something, especially knowledge or truth
Example
The seeker traveled far to find the answers to his questions.
C2 verb /ˈæbnɪˌɡeɪt/

abnegate

Meaning
to deny or renounce something, especially a right or desire
Example
She chose to abnegate her personal interests for the sake of the team.
C1 adjective /rɪˈtɔːrɪkəl/

rhetorical

Meaning
relating to the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing; often a question asked to make a point rather than get an answer
Example
He asked a rhetorical question during the debate.
A2 noun /ɡoʊl/

Goal

Meaning
the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result; a point scored in sports
Example
Her goal is to become a doctor and help people in underserved communities.
C1 verb /dɪsˈpleɪs/

displace

Meaning
to force someone or something out of their usual or original position; to replace or substitute
Example
The new technology will displace many traditional manufacturing jobs.
C1 noun /prɒɡˈnoʊsɪs/

prognosis

Meaning
A forecast of the likely outcome of a disease or situation.
Example
The doctor gave a positive prognosis for the patient's recovery.
B2 noun /ɪmˈpaʊə.mənt/

empowerment

Meaning
Authority or power given to someone to do something.
Example
Empowerment initiatives enhance confidence.
A2 noun /pleɪt/

Plate

Meaning
a flat, typically round dish used for serving or eating food
Example
Please put the rice on your plate.
A2 preposition /riː/

re

Meaning
concerning or about (used in formal letters or emails)
Example
The letter was sent re your recent application.
C1 noun /ˌsɛlf ɪnˈdʌldʒəns/

self-indulgence

Meaning
The act of allowing oneself to enjoy pleasures or desires excessively.
Example
His weekend of self-indulgence included eating sweets and watching movies nonstop.
A2 noun /ˈæθliːt/

athlete

Meaning
a person who is trained or skilled in physical exercises, sports, or games requiring strength, agility, or stamina
Example
The athlete trained hard for the upcoming Olympic Games.