Firm
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B1 adjective /fɜːrm/

Firm

Meaning
solid; stable; strong; not yielding to pressure
Example
She has a firm grip on the rope.
C2 noun /krəˈnɒmɪtər/

chronometer

Meaning
An instrument for measuring time precisely, especially used in navigation.
Example
The sailor relied on the chronometer to determine his position at sea.
B2 noun, verb /stiːm/

steam

Meaning
the vapor into which water is converted when heated; to emit or treat with steam
Example
The kettle was steaming on the stove.
C2 noun /ˈɑb.lə.kwi/

Obloquy

Meaning
harsh criticism or verbal abuse; strong public condemnation
Example
The politician faced obloquy after the scandal.
C1 adjective /ˈprɒdɪɡəl/

prodigal

Meaning
spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant
Example
The prodigal son returned home after wasting his inheritance.
B2 adjective /ˈfruːt.fəl/

Fruitful

Meaning
productive; beneficial; successful;
Example
Our discussion was very fruitful and led to many new ideas.
A1 noun /breɪk/

break

Meaning
A pause in work or during an activity or event.
Example
Short breaks refresh your mind.
B2 noun /ɪkˈskɜː.ʃən/

Excursion

Meaning
a short journey or trip, especially one engaged in as a leisure activity
Example
The school organized an excursion to the science museum for all students.
C1 noun ˈlɪniɪdʒ

Lineage

Meaning
Direct descent from an ancestor; ancestry or pedigree.
Example
Tracing your lineage can reveal unknown ancestors.
B2 noun ˌæs.pɪˈreɪ.ʃən

aspiration

Meaning
A hope or ambition of achieving something, a strong desire or goal to achieve something.
Example
His aspiration is to become a successful entrepreneur.
B1 adjective /əˈlɜːrt/

alert

Meaning
quick to notice and respond to potential danger or issues; aware and attentive
Example
The alert dog barked at the stranger approaching the house.
C2 noun /ˈɪndɪkənt/

indicant

Meaning
Something that indicates or points to a fact or condition.
Example
High fever is often an indicant of infection.
C2 noun ˌmɛtəkɒɡˈnɪʃən

metacognition

Meaning
Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes
Example
Metacognition enhances problem-solving abilities.
A2 noun /ɡəˈrɪl.ə/

Gorilla

Meaning
a large powerful ape found in the forests of central Africa
Example
The gorilla beat its chest to show dominance.
C2 noun /hoʊ/

Hoe

Meaning
a gardening tool with a thin metal blade used for breaking up soil and removing weeds
Example
The farmer used a hoe to remove weeds from his vegetable garden.
B2 noun /ˈtɒl.ər.əns/

Tolerance

Meaning
the ability to accept different opinions or behavior; willingness to allow something to exist
Example
Religious tolerance is important in a diverse society.
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.
A2 adverb /ɪnˈstɛd/

instead

Meaning
As an alternative or substitute.
Example
She didn’t buy the dress; instead, she chose a pair of shoes.
C1 adjective /ˌaʊtˈspoʊkən/

Outspoken

Meaning
frank; speaking directly
Example
She is known for being outspoken about social issues.
C1 adjective /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsəbl̩/

reprehensible

Meaning
Deserving strong criticism or blame.
Example
His dishonest actions were truly reprehensible.
B2 adverb /ˈnɔɪzɪli/

Noisily

Meaning
in a way that makes a lot of noise; loudly
Example
The children were playing noisily in the playground.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsəˈbiːdiəns/

disobedience

Meaning
failure or refusal to obey rules, laws, or authority
Example
The child's disobedience worried his parents.
C1 adjective /ˌpæn.əˈræm.ɪk/

panoramic

Meaning
Giving a wide view of an extensive area in all directions.
Example
The hotel offers panoramic views of the ocean.
B2 noun /ˈkæp.tɪv/

Captive

Meaning
a person who has been taken prisoner or an animal that has been confined
Example
The captive was held in a small cell for several months.
C1 verb /skwɪnt/

squint

Meaning
to look with partly closed eyes
Example
She squinted at the bright sunlight.
B2 noun /buːˈtiːk/

boutique

Meaning
a small shop that sells fashionable clothes or accessories
Example
She bought a beautiful dress from a boutique downtown.
B1 noun /kræft/

craft

Meaning
an activity involving skill in making things by hand; a trade or occupation
Example
She has mastered the craft of pottery.
C2 noun /əbˈstrʌkʃənɪst/

obstructionist

Meaning
a person who deliberately delays or prevents progress by being uncooperative or oppositional
Example
The obstructionist in the committee kept delaying the decision-making process.
B1 adjective /ˈhɑːrmfəl/

Harmful

Meaning
causing or likely to cause harm; damaging
Example
Smoking is harmful to your health.
A1 verb /teɪk/

take

Meaning
to get possession of; to carry or bring with oneself
Example
Please take this book to the library.
C2 noun /ˌɪməʊˈbɪləti/

immobility

Meaning
The state of being unable to move.
Example
After the accident, she suffered from immobility in her legs.
B1 noun /səˈlɛbrɪti/

celebrity

Meaning
a famous person, especially in entertainment or sports
Example
The celebrity was surrounded by fans at the airport.
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.
C1 noun /ˈklaɪəntɛl/

clientele

Meaning
The clients or customers of a professional person or business.
Example
The salon's clientele includes many high-profile individuals.
B2 noun /ɡriːf/

Grief

Meaning
deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone's death; trouble or suffering
Example
The family was overwhelmed with grief after losing their beloved pet.
A2 noun /hoʊl/

Hole

Meaning
a hollow place in a solid body or surface; an opening through something
Example
The dog dug a deep hole in the backyard to bury its favorite bone.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpiːtʃ/

impeach

Meaning
To charge a public official with misconduct while in office.
Example
The parliament voted to impeach the president.
B1 noun /ˈfæn.si/

Fancy

Meaning
a feeling of liking or wanting something; imagination or fantasy
Example
The child had a fancy for becoming a famous astronaut when he grew up.
C2 adjective /əˈɡeɪp/ or /əˈɡɑːp/

agape

Meaning
With the mouth wide open in surprise or wonder.
Example
She stood agape at the breathtaking view.
A1 noun /mʌnθ/

month

Meaning
a period of about four weeks or one-twelfth of a year
Example
She visits her grandparents once a month.
B2 noun ˈæsɛt

asset

Meaning
A useful or valuable thing, person, or quality.
Example
Real estate is one of the most valuable assets.
C1 adjective ˌɪn.krəˈmen.təl

incremental

Meaning
Relating to or denoting an increase or addition, especially one of a series on a fixed scale; proceeding in small stages.
Example
Incremental changes ensure sustainability.
A2 noun/verb/adjective /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/ (noun), /səbˈdʒɛkt/ (verb)

subject

Meaning
noun: a topic or theme; verb: to cause to undergo; adjective: dependent or under authority
Example
The teacher introduced a new subject in class.
A2 noun /ˌkæŋ.ɡəˈruː/

Kangaroo

Meaning
a large marsupial from Australia that moves by hopping on its strong hind legs
Example
The kangaroo jumped high with its joey in its pouch.
C2 noun /səbˈsɜːviəns/

subservience

Meaning
the condition of being too willing to obey or serve others
Example
His subservience to authority annoyed his colleagues.
C2 adjective /ˈvɜːrnəl/

vernal

Meaning
related to spring; fresh, youthful
Example
The garden was filled with vernal beauty after the long winter.
C1 adjective /ˈvɛnərəbəl/

Venerable

Meaning
deserving respect due to age, wisdom, or character; revered
Example
The venerable professor has taught at the university for fifty years.
A2 noun pəˈzɪʃ.ən

position

Meaning
A particular way in which someone or something is placed or arranged.
Example
The team's position reflects consistent performance.
B2 noun /mɪˈθɒlədʒi/

mythology

Meaning
A collection of myths, especially belonging to a particular culture or religion.
Example
Greek mythology is filled with stories of gods and heroes.
C2 verb /ˌweɪˈleɪ/

waylay

Meaning
to stop or interrupt someone unexpectedly, often to attack or detain them
Example
He was waylaid by reporters as he left the courthouse.
A1 preposition /baɪ/

by

Meaning
indicating the agent performing an action, or the means of achieving something
Example
The book was written by a famous author.
C2 noun /ˈɛdi/

eddy

Meaning
A circular movement of water, air, or smoke, counter to the main current, causing a small whirlpool or turbulence.
Example
The canoe was caught in an eddy near the rocks.
C1 adjective /ˌtaɪpəˈɡræfɪkəl/

typographical

Meaning
relating to the style, arrangement, or appearance of printed text
Example
There was a typographical error in the book.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈtræk.tə.bəl/

intractable

Meaning
Difficult or impossible to manage, control, or solve.
Example
The conflict has become an intractable problem.
B1 noun /blaʊz/

Blouse

Meaning
a woman's loose upper garment resembling a shirt
Example
She wore a beautiful silk blouse to the party.
B2 noun /ɪkˈspəʊʒər/

exposure

Meaning
the state of being exposed to contact with something, especially harmful
Example
Prolonged exposure to the sun can damage your skin.
A1 pronoun /ɪts/

its

Meaning
Belonging to or associated with a thing previously mentioned.
Example
The company changed its logo last year.
C2 noun ˌiːkwəˈnɪməti

equanimity

Meaning
Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.
Example
She handled the news with remarkable equanimity.
C1 adjective /ˌmiː.diˈoʊ.kər/

mediocre

Meaning
Of only average quality; not very good.
Example
The movie was entertaining but overall mediocre.
A2 noun /stɔːrm/

Storm

Meaning
a violent weather condition with strong winds, rain, thunder, and lightning
Example
The storm caused power outages across the city.
B1 verb /dɪˈspleɪ/

display

Meaning
to show or exhibit; to present for others to see
Example
The museum displays ancient artifacts.
B2 noun /ˈbɒdiɡɑːrd/

bodyguard

Meaning
a person employed to protect someone from harm
Example
The celebrity arrived with her bodyguard.
C2 adjective /ˈbeɪlfəl/

baleful

Meaning
Threatening harm; menacing or expressing hatred.
Example
She gave him a baleful look after the insult.
C1 noun/adjective /dɪˈtɜː.rənt/

deterrent

Meaning
A thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something.
Example
A strict law serves as a deterrent to crime.
B2 noun /beɪs/

bass

Meaning
the lowest adult male singing voice; also, low-frequency sounds in music or a type of fish
Example
He played the bass guitar at the concert.
A2 adverb /ˈsʌd.ən.li/

Suddenly

Meaning
quickly and without warning; unexpectedly
Example
The car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road.
B2 verb əbˈzɜːrvd

observed

Meaning
To celebrate or keep a religious or other festival.
Example
The day is observed annually to raise awareness.
B2 adverb /ˈbəʊld.li/

Boldly

Meaning
in a confident and brave way; without fear
Example
She boldly stepped forward to face the challenge.
C1 adjective /ˈræb.ɪd/

rabid

Meaning
Having extreme or fanatical support for something; relating to or suffering from rabies.
Example
He was a rabid fan of the football team.
C2 adjective /ˈlɔːdəˌtɔːri/

laudatory

Meaning
Expressing praise or admiration.
Example
She wrote a laudatory review of the new book.
B1 noun /skriːn/

Screen

Meaning
a flat surface on which pictures or words are shown; a movable partition used to divide a room
Example
The movie was displayed on a large screen in the theater.
C2 noun /pərˈsɪpiəns/

percipience

Meaning
The ability to perceive, understand, or notice things quickly.
Example
His percipience in reading people made him a great negotiator.
B2 noun /ˈtɛlɪˌskoʊp/

telescope

Meaning
An optical instrument used to make distant objects appear closer and larger by collecting and focusing light.
Example
The astronomer used a telescope to observe the distant planets.
C2 noun /ˈtrɛsəl/

trestle

Meaning
a frame or support consisting of a horizontal beam held up by two pairs of sloping legs, used especially for supporting a bridge or table
Example
The workers built a wooden trestle to support the temporary bridge.
B2 verb /nɪt/

knit

Meaning
To make clothes or fabric by interlocking loops of yarn with needles.
Example
She loves to knit scarves for her friends during the winter.
C1 verb /aɪˈdiː.ə.laɪz/

idealize

Meaning
To regard or represent something as perfect or better than it really is.
Example
Children often idealize their parents.
C1 noun/adjective /ɪˈliːtɪst/

elitist

Meaning
A person who believes that a society should be led by an elite; showing preference for a privileged class.
Example
His elitist attitude made him unpopular among his peers.
C2 noun /proʊˈbɑːsɪs/

proboscis

Meaning
The long, flexible nose of some animals, especially an elephant, or a tubular feeding and sucking organ in insects.
Example
The elephant used its proboscis to grab food.
C2 adjective /pərˈspɪkjuəs/

perspicuous

Meaning
Clearly expressed and easily understood; lucid.
Example
The teacher gave a perspicuous explanation of the theory.
B2 noun /ˌvʌl.nər.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

vulnerability

Meaning
The quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed.
Example
Addressing vulnerability is crucial for stability.
B2 noun /ˌkɒndɛnˈseɪʃən/

condensation

Meaning
The process of water vapor changing into liquid; also, the act of making something more concise.
Example
Condensation formed on the windows during the cold night.
A2 noun /mæp/

map

Meaning
a drawing that shows the features of an area of land or sea
Example
He studied the map before starting his journey.
C1 noun /plaɪt/

Plight

Meaning
a dangerous, difficult, or unfortunate situation
Example
The refugees were in a desperate plight.
C2 noun /ˈvæsəl/

vassal

Meaning
A person or country in a subordinate position to another, especially in feudal times under a lord.
Example
The king granted land to his vassal in return for loyalty and service.
C1 noun /ˈɒntʊrɑːʒ/

entourage

Meaning
A group of people attending or surrounding an important person.
Example
The celebrity arrived with her entourage of assistants and bodyguards.
B2 verb /reɪl/

rail

Meaning
to complain or protest strongly about something
Example
He railed against the unfair decision.
B2 adverb /ˈmen.tə.li/

Mentally

Meaning
relating to the mind; in terms of mental processes
Example
She was mentally preparing herself for the exam.
C1 adjective /ˈʃeɪp.ləs/

Shapeless

Meaning
having no definite or well-defined shape or form
Example
The fog created a shapeless mass in the distance.
B2 adjective /rɪˈzɜːrvd/

Reserved

Meaning
slow to reveal emotion or opinions; restrained in manner
Example
She is quite reserved and doesn't talk much in meetings.
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.
A1 noun /ˈbɔɪˌfrɛnd/

boyfriend

Meaning
a man or boy that someone is having a romantic or close relationship with
Example
She introduced her boyfriend to her parents.
C2 noun /bænˈdænə/

bandanna

Meaning
A large, often brightly colored handkerchief, typically worn on the head or around the neck.
Example
He tied a red bandanna around his neck.
C1 adjective /ˌsaɪkəˈpæθɪk/

psychopathic

Meaning
Relating to or affected by psychopathy; showing chronic mental disorder with abnormal or violent behavior.
Example
The film portrayed a psychopathic killer with no sense of empathy.
C1 noun /næk/

knack

Meaning
a natural skill or ability; a special talent for doing something easily
Example
She has a knack for making people feel comfortable.
B2 noun /vɪˈsɪn.ə.ti/

Vicinity

Meaning
the area near or surrounding a particular place; neighborhood
Example
There are many shops in the vicinity of the school.
A2 adjective ˈiːkwəl

equal

Meaning
Being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value; having the same status or treatment.
Example
Bose was regarded as Galileo's equal.
C1 noun /ˈpræɡmətɪst/

pragmatist

Meaning
A person who deals with things in a practical and realistic way.
Example
He is a true pragmatist who values results over ideals.
B1 noun ˈdɪsɪplɪn

discipline

Meaning
The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience
Example
Discipline helps maintain focus and productivity.
C1 noun /ˈɪŋ.krə.mənt/

Increment

Meaning
an increase or addition, especially one of a series on a fixed scale; a regular increase in salary
Example
He received an annual increment of five percent in his salary this year.
A2 verb /tʃɪər/

cheer

Meaning
to shout in encouragement or support; to make someone feel happier
Example
The fans cheered loudly when their team scored a goal.
C1 noun /ˈɡlɒs.ər.i/

Glossary

Meaning
an alphabetical list of terms in a particular domain of knowledge with explanations; a brief dictionary
Example
The textbook includes a helpful glossary at the end to define technical terms.
B2 adjective /ˈʌpˌhɪl/

Uphill

Meaning
difficult; requiring great effort; sloping upward
Example
Learning a new language can be an uphill battle.
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 verb /ˈdɛpɪleɪt/

depilate

Meaning
to remove hair from the skin, especially by mechanical or chemical means
Example
She decided to depilate her legs before the event.
C2 adjective /ˈkæloʊ/

callow

Meaning
Inexperienced and immature.
Example
The callow intern made several mistakes on his first day.
C1 adjective /ˌmɪsəˈleɪniəs/

Miscellaneous

Meaning
various; diverse; mixed; assorted
Example
The box contained miscellaneous items from different periods.
B2 noun /ɪkˈses/

Excess

Meaning
an amount of something that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable
Example
The excess food from the party was donated to the local shelter.
C2 noun /ˌnɒvəˈlɛt/

novellette

Meaning
A short novel or long short story.
Example
The author published a novellette as a preview of her upcoming series.
C1 noun /ˌdɛsɪˈmeɪʃən/

decimation

Meaning
The act of destroying or killing a large proportion of something.
Example
The decimation of the city left thousands homeless.
B2 noun /ˈlɛtɪs/

lettuce

Meaning
a leafy green vegetable commonly used in salads and sandwiches
Example
She added fresh lettuce to the sandwich.
A2 noun /vəˈkæbjʊləri/

vocabulary

Meaning
the set of words known and used by a person, group, or language; the words used in a particular field or subject
Example
Reading every day helps improve your vocabulary.
C1 noun /spæt/

spat

Meaning
a short, petty quarrel or argument
Example
They had a brief spat about who should do the dishes.
C2 noun /pɪˈnɒlədʒi/

penology

Meaning
The study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation.
Example
He decided to specialize in penology to help improve the prison system.
B2 adjective /dɪˈskriːt/

discreet

Meaning
careful and prudent in one's speech or actions, especially to keep something confidential or avoid embarrassment
Example
She was discreet about the details of their conversation.
B2 adjective ˈnjuːtrəl

neutral

Meaning
Having no electric charge; neither positive nor negative.
Example
Neutrons are electrically neutral.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪz.mə.ɡræf/

seismograph

Meaning
An instrument that measures and records details of earthquakes, such as force and duration.
Example
The seismograph detected a strong tremor in the area.
C1 noun /ˈdɪɡnɪˌtɛri/

dignitary

Meaning
a person considered to be important because of high rank or office
Example
Several foreign dignitaries attended the state banquet.
C2 noun /dɪˌsɪdəˈreɪtəm/

desideratum

Meaning
something that is desired or considered necessary
Example
For many students, financial aid is a desideratum.
C1 noun /kjʊˈreɪtər/

curator

Meaning
a person who is responsible for the care and management of a museum, gallery, or collection
Example
The curator organized a new exhibition of ancient artifacts.
B1 noun /kɒp/

cop

Meaning
a police officer (informal)
Example
The cop stopped the car for speeding.
A2 noun /ˈsuː.pəˌmɑː.kɪt/

supermarket

Meaning
a large self-service store selling food and household goods
Example
She went to the supermarket to buy groceries.