ethical
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B2 adjective ˈeθ.ɪ.kəl

ethical

Meaning
Relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these.
Example
Ethical considerations guide decisions.
C2 noun /ˌkɑːrt ˈblɑːnʃ/

carte blanche

Meaning
complete freedom to act as one wishes
Example
The manager gave her team carte blanche to design the project.
C2 verb ɪɡˈzɔːrt

exhort

Meaning
To strongly encourage or urge someone to do something.
Example
The teacher exhorted students to work hard for exams.
B1 noun /ˈkiː.wi/

Kiwi

Meaning
a small brown fruit with green flesh and black seeds; a flightless bird from New Zealand
Example
I love eating fresh kiwi for breakfast.
B2 verb /suː/

sue

Meaning
to bring a lawsuit against someone in a court of law
Example
She decided to sue the company for damages.
C1 verb /ˈpoʊ.lə.raɪz/

polarize

Meaning
to divide or cause to divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs
Example
The controversial decision polarized public opinion.
A2 noun/verb /sɛns/

sense

Meaning
A faculty by which the body perceives external stimuli; or to perceive something without being told.
Example
She had a strong sense of responsibility.
C1 noun /ˈtrɛtʃəri/

treachery

Meaning
Betrayal of trust; deceptive action or nature.
Example
His treachery was revealed when he sided with the enemy.
B2 noun /ˈwɒr.i.ər/

Warrior

Meaning
a person who fights in battles; a brave or experienced fighter
Example
The brave warrior defended his village from the invaders.
C1 noun /ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃən/

elevation

Meaning
The act of raising something to a higher position or level.
Example
The hikers reached a high elevation after hours of climbing.
B2 noun /ˈpɜː.tʃəs.ɪŋ ˈpaʊ.ɚ/

purchasing power

Meaning
The amount of goods and services that can be purchased with a unit of currency.
Example
Due to inflation, people's purchasing power has decreased.
B2 adjective /ˈnær.ə.tɪv/

Narrative

Meaning
relating to storytelling; descriptive; telling a story; recounting events
Example
The narrative structure of the novel was quite complex.
C1 noun/verb /dɛnt/

dent

Meaning
a small hollow mark on the surface of something; to make a small hollow mark
Example
The accident left a dent in the car door.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈæk.tɪv/

Inactive

Meaning
not active; not working; dormant; idle
Example
The volcano has been inactive for over a century.
B2 adverb /ˈɒdli/

oddly

Meaning
in a strange or unusual way; unexpectedly
Example
Oddly, he didn’t seem upset by the bad news.
C2 adjective /ˈbɔːlki/

balky

Meaning
difficult, uncooperative, or stubborn
Example
The balky printer refused to work when needed most.
A1 adjective /juːzd/

used

Meaning
having already been used
Example
This is a used car.
B2 adjective /ˌɪnəˈproʊpriət/

inappropriate

Meaning
not suitable or proper in the circumstances
Example
It was inappropriate to talk loudly in the library.
C1 phrasal verb /ɡlɒs ˈoʊ.vər/

gloss over

Meaning
to avoid discussing something unpleasant or make it seem less important
Example
The report glossed over the company's financial problems.
B2 adjective /ˈpɒlɪʃt/

polished

Meaning
refined, sophisticated, and elegant in appearance or behavior
Example
She gave a polished performance at the recital.
C2 noun /ˌɔːrəˈtɔːri.oʊ/

oratorio

Meaning
A large-scale musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists, usually on a sacred theme, performed without costumes or scenery.
Example
Handel's 'Messiah' is one of the most famous oratorios ever written.
A2 adverb /ˈtruːli/

Truly

Meaning
in accordance with fact or reality; genuinely
Example
She truly loves her family.
C1 adjective /wɒn/

wan

Meaning
looking pale or sickly; lacking color or vitality
Example
After the long illness, his face looked wan and tired.
B2 noun /ˈrɛfjuːdʒ/

refuge

Meaning
a place that provides shelter or protection from danger or distress
Example
The villagers took refuge in the temple during the storm.
C1 verb /ˈpæri/

parry

Meaning
to ward off or deflect an attack, especially in fencing or conversation
Example
He managed to parry the opponent’s sword with quick reflexes.
B2 adjective ˌɒn.trə.prəˈnɜː.ri.əl

entrepreneurial

Meaning
Relating to or characterized by the activity of setting up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.
Example
His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish a successful startup.
C1 adjective ˌæd.vɚˈser.i.əl

adversarial

Meaning
Involving or characterized by conflict or opposition.
Example
The two companies have an adversarial relationship in the market.
B1 noun /əˈfer/

Affair

Meaning
an event or situation; a matter that someone deals with
Example
The wedding was a grand affair with hundreds of guests.
C2 noun /ˈpɜr.kwɪ.zɪt/

Perquisite

Meaning
an additional benefit or privilege given to an employee beyond their regular salary; a special right or advantage
Example
Company car was one of the perquisites of his executive position.
B1 noun /ˈsɛtʌp/

setup

Meaning
an arrangement of things or the way in which something is organized or prepared
Example
The setup of the event took hours to complete.
B1 noun ˈsɛʃənz

sessions

Meaning
A meeting of an official body, especially a court of law, to conduct its business; a period devoted to a particular activity.
Example
The sessions lasted for three hours.
C2 adjective /ˌsɛm.iˈkɒn.ʃəs/

semiconscious

Meaning
Only partly conscious; not fully aware of surroundings.
Example
He was semiconscious after the accident and could barely respond.
C1 adverb /əˈraɪ/

awry

Meaning
away from the expected or proper direction; wrong or amiss
Example
The plan went awry when the weather suddenly changed.
C2 verb /diːˈpɒpjʊˌleɪt/

depopulate

Meaning
To reduce the number of people living in a place.
Example
The war threatened to depopulate the once-thriving town.
C1 noun /ˌɪməˈrælɪti/

immorality

Meaning
the quality of being immoral; behavior that violates accepted moral standards
Example
The community condemned the immorality of the corrupt officials.
A2 noun /ˈjuːnɪt/

unit

Meaning
an individual thing or person regarded as a single and complete entity
Example
Each unit in the production line is carefully tested.
A2 verb /riːtʃ/

reach

Meaning
to arrive at a destination; to extend one's arm to touch something
Example
We will reach the station in ten minutes.
B2 verb /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒ/

discharge

Meaning
to release or dismiss from duty; to emit or give off
Example
The hospital will discharge the patient tomorrow.
C2 noun /ɑːlˈfækʃən/

olfaction

Meaning
The sense of smell; the process of detecting and perceiving odors.
Example
Dogs have a highly developed sense of olfaction.
C2 noun /ˌʃæŋɡriˈlɑː/

shangri-la

Meaning
a remote, beautiful, imaginary place where life is perfect and peaceful
Example
They described the island as a modern-day Shangri-La.
C1 noun /slæb/

slab

Meaning
a large, thick, flat piece of stone, concrete, or other hard material
Example
The workers laid a concrete slab for the foundation.
B2 adjective /ˈfɪr.fəl/

fearful

Meaning
feeling afraid or showing fear
Example
She was fearful of walking alone at night.
C1 adjective ˈkɒn.və.luː.tɪd

convoluted

Meaning
Extremely complex and difficult to follow; twisted or intricate.
Example
His argument was so convoluted that no one understood it.
C1 adjective /ˈflæɡɪŋ/

flagging

Meaning
becoming tired, weaker, or less enthusiastic
Example
After hours of work, his energy was flagging.
C2 adjective /ˌnɒnˈtrɪviəl/

nontrivial

Meaning
Not simple or easy; requiring effort or significant thought.
Example
Solving the equation turned out to be a nontrivial task.
B2 adjective /ˈhɑːrtˌbreɪkɪŋ/

Heartbreaking

Meaning
causing overwhelming distress; very sad or disappointing
Example
The documentary showed heartbreaking scenes of children in poverty.
B2 adjective /ˌæksɪˈdɛntl/

accidental

Meaning
happening by chance, unintentionally
Example
The fire was caused by an accidental spark.
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.
B1 noun /foʊk/

folk

Meaning
people in general, often referring to a group or community
Example
Country folk often live a simple life.
C2 adjective /ˈfer.əs/

ferrous

Meaning
containing or consisting of iron
Example
Ferrous metals are commonly used in construction.
C1 verb prəˈpel

propel

Meaning
To drive, push, or cause to move in a particular direction, typically forward.
Example
Lack of proper guidance can propel adolescents toward delinquency.
C2 verb /ˈprɒsəˌlaɪtaɪz/

proselytize

Meaning
To try to persuade someone to convert to a different belief or religion.
Example
They tried to proselytize the villagers with their new ideas.
B2 verb /ɪnˈrɪtʃ/

enrich

Meaning
To improve or enhance the quality or value of something.
Example
Space exploration enriches human understanding.
C2 noun /ˈfriːˌbuːtər/

freebooter

Meaning
A pirate or plunderer who roams freely in search of wealth.
Example
The freebooter raided the merchant ships along the coast.
C1 verb /dɪˈstɪl/

distill

Meaning
To purify a liquid by heating and cooling; to extract the essential meaning or most important aspects.
Example
The factory distills water to make it safe for drinking.
A1 noun /ˈdɒktər/

doctor

Meaning
A qualified medical professional who treats illnesses and injuries.
Example
The doctor prescribed medicine for the patient.
B2 noun /ɡriːd/

Greed

Meaning
intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food
Example
His greed for money led him to make unethical business decisions.
B2 adjective /ˈkɒŋ.kriːt/

Concrete

Meaning
solid; real; tangible; actual and specific
Example
We need concrete evidence to support our claims.
A2 noun/verb /ˈsiːzən/

season

Meaning
One of the four periods of the year characterized by specific weather conditions; also, to add flavor to food.
Example
Spring is my favorite season of the year.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒs.ɪ.tɪd/

cosseted

Meaning
pampered, treated with excessive care and attention
Example
The cosseted child always got what he wanted.
B2 noun /frɒk/

Frock

Meaning
a dress, especially a simple or casual one for women or children
Example
The little girl wore a pink frock to her birthday party.
C1 noun /pʌn/

pun

Meaning
A humorous use of words that suggests different meanings or words that sound alike.
Example
He made a clever pun about the bakery's bread rising.
B2 adjective /ˌʌndərˈlaɪɪŋ/

underlying

Meaning
basic or hidden but important; forming the foundation of something
Example
The underlying reason for the conflict was never addressed.
C1 noun /ˈprɛljuːd/

prelude

Meaning
An action, event, or statement that serves as an introduction to something more important.
Example
The small fight was only a prelude to a bigger conflict.
B2 noun /wɜːrd fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/

word formation

Meaning
the process by which new words are created or existing words are modified in a language
Example
Word formation helps learners understand how new vocabulary develops in English.
B1 adjective /hɪˈstɔːrɪkəl/

historical

Meaning
Related to history or past events.
Example
The museum has a large collection of historical documents.
C2 adjective /ˈek.wə.bəl/

Equable

Meaning
calm and even-tempered; not easily disturbed
Example
He maintained an equable temperament throughout the crisis.
C1 noun ɔːrˈdiːl

ordeal

Meaning
A physical or mental painful experience that must be endured
Example
Surviving the wilderness was a tough ordeal for them.
A2 adjective /kəˈneɪdiən/

canadian

Meaning
Relating to Canada or its people.
Example
She enjoys Canadian culture and traditions.
B2 noun /ɪnˈdʌstriəl ˌrɛvəˈluːʃən/

Industrial Revolution

Meaning
The rapid development of industry that occurred in Britain in the late 18th and 19th centuries, brought about by the introduction of machinery and characterized by the use of steam power and the growth of factories.
Example
The Industrial Revolution marked a shift in production processes.
B2 verb /ˈresəl/

wrestle

Meaning
to fight by grappling and trying to throw down an opponent; to struggle with a problem
Example
The children like to wrestle on the playground.
B1 noun /ˌnæʃəˈnæləti/

nationality

Meaning
The status of belonging to a particular nation, either by birth or naturalization.
Example
Her nationality is Canadian, though she was born in France.
C1 noun /ɡræft/

Graft

Meaning
a shoot or twig inserted into a slit on the trunk of a living tree to form a new growth; corruption in politics or business
Example
The gardener used a graft to combine different varieties of apple trees.
C1 noun dɪˈfleɪʃən

deflation

Meaning
Reduction of the general level of prices in an economy.
Example
Deflation often leads to decreased consumer spending.
B1 noun /ˈpɔːrʃən/

portion

Meaning
A part or share of something.
Example
She ate only a small portion of the meal.
C1 verb /fɔrˈstɔl/

forestall

Meaning
to prevent by acting in advance; to anticipate and counter
Example
They forestalled the crisis by taking immediate action.
C1 adverb /ˈduːli/

Duly

Meaning
in accordance with what is required or appropriate; at the proper time
Example
The documents were duly signed and submitted.
C2 verb /ˌmælˈtriːt/

maltreat

Meaning
To treat someone cruelly or unfairly.
Example
The law punishes those who maltreat animals.
C2 adjective /ˈliːənaɪn/

leonine

Meaning
Of or resembling a lion.
Example
His leonine hair made him stand out in the crowd.
B1 noun ɪmˈplɔɪmənt

employment

Meaning
The condition of having paid work; the action of giving work to someone.
Example
Employment was limited to Urdu speakers.
C2 noun /ˌdʒiː.niˈæl.ə.ti/

geniality

Meaning
the quality of being friendly and cheerful
Example
His geniality made him popular among his colleagues.
C2 verb /diːˈmoʊbəlaɪz/

demobilize

Meaning
To release from military service or to disband troops.
Example
The government decided to demobilize the army after the war.
B2 adjective /ˈræp.ɪd/

Rapid

Meaning
happening in a short time or at a fast pace
Example
The rapid growth of technology has changed our daily lives.
C2 noun /ˈmeɪleɪ/

melee

Meaning
A noisy, confused fight or crowd situation.
Example
A melee broke out during the football match.
B2 adjective /ˈslɪp.ər.i/

Slippery

Meaning
smooth and difficult to hold; causing sliding or slipping
Example
The wet floor was very slippery after cleaning.
C2 noun /ræpˈskæliən/

rapscallion

Meaning
A mischievous or cheeky person; a rascal.
Example
The little rapscallion hid his brother’s shoes as a prank.
C1 noun dɪˈtɜː.mɪ.nənt

determinant

Meaning
A factor that decisively affects the nature or outcome of something.
Example
Education is a key determinant of success.
B2 noun prɪˈsɪʒ.ən

precision

Meaning
The quality of being exact and accurate.
Example
High precision instruments are used in surgery.
B1 noun /dɪsk/

disk

Meaning
a flat, circular object, often used to store data electronically
Example
All the data is saved on a hard disk.
B1 noun /bʌlb/

bulb

Meaning
a rounded glass part of an electric lamp that produces light when lit; also an underground storage organ in some plants
Example
The light bulb burned out, so she replaced it with a new one.
B2 adjective /ˈmænɪdʒəbəl/

Manageable

Meaning
able to be controlled or dealt with; feasible
Example
The workload is manageable if we plan properly.
B2 noun /əˈsʌmpʃən/

Assumption

Meaning
a thing that is accepted as true without proof; a supposition
Example
His assumption about the weather proved to be wrong.
B2 noun /ˈleɪbərər/

laborer

Meaning
a person who does physical work, especially work that requires strength rather than skill
Example
The laborer worked long hours at the construction site.
B1 noun /ˈaɪ.braʊ/

Eyebrow

Meaning
the strip of hair growing on the ridge above the eye socket
Example
She raised her eyebrow in surprise.
C2 noun /ræŋˈɡuːn ˈkriːpər/

Rangoon creeper

Meaning
A climbing vine with fragrant flowers that change color from white to pink to red
Example
The Rangoon creeper covered the entire fence with its sweet-smelling flowers.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈtæŋɡl/

disentangle

Meaning
To free something or someone from a tangle or complication.
Example
She tried to disentangle her hair from the branches.
B2 noun /ˈtriː.oʊ/

trio

Meaning
A group of three people or things, especially in music or performance.
Example
The jazz trio played beautifully at the concert.
C2 noun /ˈmæl.kənˌtɛnt/

malcontent

Meaning
A person who is dissatisfied or rebellious; one who is not content.
Example
The malcontent voiced his grievances against the government.
A1 noun, verb /hɛd/

head

Meaning
The upper part of the human body or to lead or be in charge of something.
Example
She turned her head to look out the window.
C1 noun /fiˈæs.koʊ/

fiasco

Meaning
a complete failure, especially a ludicrous or humiliating one
Example
The event turned into a complete fiasco due to poor planning.
B1 noun /bʌntʃ/

Bunch

Meaning
a number of things of the same type fastened together or occurring close together
Example
She picked a bunch of flowers from the garden for her mother.
B2 noun /ˈpleɪsmənt/

placement

Meaning
the act of putting something or someone in a particular position or job
Example
The company arranged job placement for the graduates.
B2 verb /rɪˈvɜːrt/

revert

Meaning
to return to a previous state, condition, or practice
Example
The system will revert to its original settings after the update.
B1 adjective /θrɪld/

thrilled

Meaning
extremely happy or excited
Example
She was thrilled with the surprise party.
C2 noun /ˌæv.oʊˈkeɪ.ʃən/

avocation

Meaning
a hobby or minor occupation pursued in addition to one's main work
Example
Painting is his avocation after office hours.
B2 adjective /ˈpæʃənət/

passionate

Meaning
showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief
Example
He is passionate about environmental conservation.
C2 noun /ˈʌŋkʃən/

unction

Meaning
The act of anointing as part of a religious or ceremonial ritual; excessive or insincere flattery.
Example
The priest performed the holy unction with solemnity.
C1 adjective /ˈɡɔːri/

gory

Meaning
involving or showing a lot of bloodshed and violence
Example
The movie was too gory for children.
B1 adjective ˈliː.ɡəl

legal

Meaning
Permitted by law; relating to the law.
Example
Legal systems ensure justice.
B1 noun /ˈfeɪvər/

favor

Meaning
An act of kindness or approval.
Example
She asked him for a small favor.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈbloʊtɪd/

bloated

Meaning
swollen or puffed up, often unpleasantly
Example
After the big meal, he felt bloated and uncomfortable.
C2 noun /ˈprɛlət/

prelate

Meaning
A high-ranking member of the clergy, especially a bishop or abbot.
Example
The prelate delivered a sermon to the congregation.
C1 noun /ˈmɔː.tər ænd ˈpes.əl/

Mortar and Pestle

Meaning
a bowl and grinding tool used to crush and grind spices, herbs, and other substances
Example
She ground the spices using a mortar and pestle.
B2 adjective /ˈɪmɪnənt/

imminent

Meaning
About to happen; likely to occur very soon.
Example
Dark clouds signaled that a storm was imminent.
C1 noun /weɪ/

Whey

Meaning
the watery part of milk that separates from the curds when making cheese
Example
Whey protein is popular among athletes and bodybuilders.
C1 adjective /ˈærɪd/

arid

Meaning
extremely dry; lacking in interest or excitement
Example
The desert is known for its arid climate.
C1 verb /ˈkrʌmpəl/

crumple

Meaning
to crush something into folds or wrinkles
Example
He crumpled the paper and threw it in the bin.
C1 adjective /ˈreɪ.kɪʃ/

Rakish

Meaning
having a dashing, jaunty, or slightly disreputable quality or appearance
Example
He wore his hat at a rakish angle that gave him a charming appearance.
B2 adjective /əˈbrʌpt/

abrupt

Meaning
Sudden or unexpected, often without warning.
Example
The car came to an abrupt stop in the middle of the road.
B2 adjective /ˈbɒdɪli/

bodily

Meaning
relating to or concerning the body
Example
He suffered bodily harm in the accident.