flounder
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C1 verb /ˈflaʊndər/

flounder

Meaning
To struggle or stagger clumsily; to experience difficulty or confusion.
Example
He floundered in the interview when asked difficult questions.
C1 noun ˈsʌb.tɛkst

subtext

Meaning
Hidden meaning or message behind spoken or written words
Example
The subtext of his speech suggested disagreement.
C1 noun /ˈfjuː.də.lɪ.zəm/

feudalism

Meaning
the social system in medieval Europe in which people worked and fought for nobles who gave them protection and land in return
Example
Feudalism shaped the political structure of medieval Europe.
C2 noun /rɪˈfrækʃən/

refraction

Meaning
The bending of light, sound, or other waves when they pass from one medium to another of different density.
Example
The refraction of light in water makes objects appear bent.
C1 noun /fɪˈziːk/

physique

Meaning
the form, size, and development of a person's body
Example
He has an athletic physique due to years of training.
C2 verb /bɪˈleɪt/

belate

Meaning
to delay or make late
Example
Heavy traffic belated our arrival at the party.
B1 adjective /kəˈmɪtɪd/

committed

Meaning
Dedicated and loyal to a cause, activity, or relationship.
Example
She is a committed teacher who cares deeply for her students.
B1 noun, verb /bʌz/

buzz

Meaning
to make a low continuous humming sound; a feeling of excitement or interest
Example
I could hear the phone buzz during the meeting.
C2 adjective /vəˈnɪəriəl/

venereal

Meaning
relating to sexual intercourse or sexually transmitted diseases
Example
Doctors warn about the dangers of venereal diseases.
C1 noun /ˈaʊtˌɡroʊθ/

outgrowth

Meaning
something that grows out of something else; a natural development or result
Example
The new policy was an outgrowth of years of debate.
B2 adjective /prəˈvɪʒənəl/

Provisional

Meaning
arranged for the present; temporary; subject to later confirmation
Example
The provisional agreement will be reviewed next month.
B2 adjective /ˌʌnkənˈtroʊld/

uncontrolled

Meaning
not restrained or managed; lacking control
Example
The wildfire spread in an uncontrolled manner, causing widespread damage.
C2 noun /skriːd/

screed

Meaning
a long, tedious piece of writing or speech; also a layer of material like cement spread on a surface
Example
He delivered a long screed against corruption.
C2 noun /ˈmɛtrəˌnoʊm/

metronome

Meaning
A device that produces regular ticks or beats to help musicians maintain tempo.
Example
She practiced the piano with a metronome to keep steady timing.
B2 noun ˈʃɔːtkʌmɪŋz

shortcomings

Meaning
A fault or failure to meet a certain standard; deficiencies.
Example
Institutional shortcomings affect student behavior negatively.
C1 noun/verb /spuːf/

spoof

Meaning
A humorous imitation of something, or to trick or parody someone or something.
Example
The comedian spoofed the politician’s speech to entertain the audience.
B2 verb /ɒpt/

opt

Meaning
to choose or decide to do something instead of something else
Example
Many students opt to study abroad for better opportunities.
C1 verb /ʌnˈnɜːrv/

unnerve

Meaning
to make someone lose confidence, courage, or composure
Example
The hostile questions began to unnerve the witness.
B2 noun /ˌkɑn.frənˈteɪ.ʃən/

Confrontation

Meaning
a hostile or argumentative meeting or situation between opposing parties; direct challenge or opposition
Example
The confrontation between the two leaders ended without any agreement.
C1 adjective /ˈfræɡməntɪd/

fragmented

Meaning
Having been broken into fragments; disjointed or incomplete.
Example
The information was fragmented and difficult to understand.
B1 noun /ˈvaɪrəs/

virus

Meaning
A tiny infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of an organism.
Example
The computer was infected with a dangerous virus.
C1 verb /reɪz/

raze

Meaning
To completely destroy or demolish something, especially a building.
Example
The old factory was razed to make way for new apartments.
C1 adjective /ˈtæŋ.i/

tangy

Meaning
Having a strong, sharp, and pleasantly biting flavor or taste.
Example
The sauce had a tangy flavor that brightened the dish.
C2 adjective /ˈfuːlˌhɑːrdi/

foolhardy

Meaning
Recklessly bold or rash; taking foolish risks.
Example
It was foolhardy of him to climb the mountain without proper gear.
C1 noun /ˈtæn.dəm/

Tandem

Meaning
a bicycle built for two riders, one behind the other
Example
The couple enjoyed riding their tandem bicycle through the park.
B2 adjective /veɪn/

Vain

Meaning
having excessive pride in one's appearance; futile or unsuccessful
Example
She spent hours in front of the mirror being quite vain.
C1 adjective /ˈdestatəʊt/

Destitute

Meaning
extremely poor; without money or possessions
Example
Many families became destitute after the economic collapse.
A2 verb /ˈdʌbəl/

double

Meaning
to make twice as much in size, number, or amount
Example
The company hopes to double its profits this year.
B2 adjective daɪˈvɜːs

diverse

Meaning
Showing a great deal of variety; very different.
Example
Diverse industries enhance economic resilience.
B2 noun ˈlæbrətɔːriz

laboratories

Meaning
A room or building equipped for scientific experiments, research, or teaching, or for the manufacture of drugs or chemicals.
Example
Advanced laboratories enabled groundbreaking discoveries.
C2 noun /ˈdændi/

dandy

Meaning
a man who gives too much attention to his appearance and clothes
Example
The young dandy spent hours grooming himself before the party.
B1 noun, verb /ˈɡrædʒuət/ (noun), /ˈɡrædʒueɪt/ (verb)

graduate

Meaning
As a noun: a person who has completed a course of study; As a verb: to complete a course of study successfully.
Example
She will graduate from university next year.
C1 noun /trænsˈfjuːʒən/

transfusion

Meaning
the process of transferring blood or another fluid into a person's vein
Example
The patient received a blood transfusion after the accident.
C1 noun /ˈslændər/

Slander

Meaning
the action of making false spoken statements damaging to someone's reputation
Example
The politician sued the newspaper for slander.
C1 noun /ˈɛspiənɑːʒ/

espionage

Meaning
The practice of spying or using spies to gather secret information, usually for political or military purposes.
Example
The agent was arrested on charges of espionage against the state.
A1 pronoun /ðiːz/

these

Meaning
used to refer to things or people that are near or present
Example
These are my friends.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbl/

inexplicable

Meaning
Impossible to explain or understand.
Example
The sudden disappearance of the file was inexplicable.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmɒtɪk/

demotic

Meaning
relating to ordinary people or everyday language
Example
The poet used demotic language to connect with common readers.
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 adjective /ˌmɪsəˈleɪniəs/

Miscellaneous

Meaning
various; diverse; mixed; assorted
Example
The box contained miscellaneous items from different periods.
A2 verb /rɪˈsiːv/

receive

Meaning
to get or accept something given; to welcome
Example
She receives a gift from her friend.
B1 noun /rɪˈkwaɪə(r)mənt/

requirement

Meaning
something that is necessary or demanded
Example
The job has specific educational requirements.
C1 adjective /ˈswoʊlən/

swollen

Meaning
Enlarged or puffed up, usually due to injury, inflammation, or fluid accumulation
Example
Her ankle was swollen after she twisted it during the hike.
B2 verb ˈɪmplɪment

implement

Meaning
To put a decision or plan into effect; to execute or apply.
Example
Implementing educational policies is essential for progress.
B2 noun /ˈkruː.əl.ti/

Cruelty

Meaning
behavior that causes pain or suffering to others; the quality of being cruel
Example
The documentary exposed the cruelty of factory farming to animals.
B2 noun /træŋˈkwɪl.ɪ.ti/

tranquillity

Meaning
the state of being calm, peaceful, and free from disturbance
Example
She enjoyed the tranquillity of the countryside after years in the city.
C2 noun /ˈrɛvəlri/

revelry

Meaning
Lively and noisy festivities, especially involving drinking and dancing.
Example
The sound of revelry could be heard throughout the night.
A1 adjective /rɒŋ/

wrong

Meaning
not correct or true; mistaken
Example
It is wrong to cheat on a test.
B1 noun /ˈvɪərər/

viewer

Meaning
a person who watches something, especially television or video content
Example
The viewer is able to switch channels with the remote control.
A1 noun /ˈvedʒ.tə.bəlz/

Vegetables

Meaning
plants or parts of plants that are eaten as food, such as peas, beans, cabbage, potatoes, onions, or carrots
Example
We should eat more vegetables to maintain a healthy diet.
C1 noun /ˌdaɪəˈrɑːmə/

diorama

Meaning
a three-dimensional model representing a scene, often with miniature figures
Example
The museum displayed a diorama of an ancient village.
A2 noun /bænd/

band

Meaning
a group of musicians who play music together
Example
The band performed live at the concert.
C1 noun, adjective, verb /ʃæm/

sham

Meaning
something that is not what it appears to be; a false or fake thing; to pretend
Example
The deal turned out to be a sham.
B2 adjective /ˌkɒn.fɪˈden.ʃəl/

Confidential

Meaning
secret; private; intended to be kept secret
Example
Please keep this information confidential.
C2 noun /aɪˈkɒnəklæst/

iconoclast

Meaning
A person who attacks or criticizes cherished beliefs, traditions, or institutions.
Example
He was known as an iconoclast who challenged old traditions.
C1 verb /ˈfɛdərət/

federate

Meaning
to unite in a league or federation; to form an alliance
Example
Several states federated to create a stronger union.
B2 verb /ʌnˈtaɪ/

untie

Meaning
to loosen or remove a knot or binding; to release something that is tied
Example
She untied the rope to free the boat.
B2 noun /swiːt/

suite

Meaning
a set of rooms designated for one person's or family's use or for a particular purpose
Example
They stayed in the presidential suite at the hotel.
B1 noun /ˈmɪs.tər.i/

Mystery

Meaning
something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain
Example
The disappearance of the plane remains a mystery.
C2 verb /rɪˈkænt/

recant

Meaning
to withdraw or renounce a statement or belief formally
Example
He recanted his previous statement in court.
C1 noun /səˈvænə/

savanna

Meaning
a grassy plain with scattered trees, typical of tropical and subtropical regions
Example
Giraffes browsed on acacia trees across the wide savanna.
B2 noun /ˈep.ɪk/

Epic

Meaning
a long poem telling of heroic deeds; something heroic or grand in scale
Example
The Iliad is one of the most famous epics in world literature.
B1 noun /ˈmeɪkʌp/

makeup

Meaning
cosmetics used to enhance or alter appearance
Example
She applied makeup before the party.
A2 verb /wɔːrm/

Warm

Meaning
to make or become warm; to heat something gently
Example
The sun warms the earth during the day.
C2 verb /kəmˈpɔːrt/

comport

Meaning
to behave or conduct oneself in a particular way
Example
She comported herself with grace during the ceremony.
A2 preposition /ɪnˈkluːdɪŋ/

including

Meaning
used to show that someone or something is part of a larger group
Example
Many people attended the event, including students and teachers.
C2 noun /krɪpˈtɒɡ.rə.fi/

cryptography

Meaning
The practice of securing information through encryption or coding techniques
Example
Modern cryptography ensures secure online transactions.
C2 adjective /ˈbiːstiəl/

bestial

Meaning
Relating to beasts; showing savagery, brutality, or lacking human sensibility.
Example
The prisoners were treated in a bestial manner.
C2 verb /ˈwɪzn/

wizen

Meaning
To become dry, shrunken, and wrinkled.
Example
The flowers began to wizen after days without water.
C1 noun /ɪˈlɛk.trəʊ.laɪts/

electrolytes

Meaning
Minerals in body fluids that carry an electric charge and are essential for many bodily functions.
Example
Electrolytes help maintain proper fluid balance in the body.
B2 noun /fraɪt/

Fright

Meaning
a sudden intense feeling of fear; a shock or surprise that causes fear
Example
The loud thunder gave her such a fright that she dropped her coffee cup.
B1 noun /twɪst/

Twist

Meaning
a turn, curve, or bend; an unexpected development; a dance
Example
The story had an unexpected twist at the end.
C1 noun /ˈoʊ.mən/

Omen

Meaning
an event regarded as a sign of future good or bad luck
Example
Many people consider a black cat crossing your path a bad omen.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪələˈtɪʃən/

dialectician

Meaning
A person skilled in dialectic or logical argument.
Example
Socrates is often considered the greatest dialectician in history.
B2 adverb /kənˈtɪnjuəsli/

Continuously

Meaning
without interruption; in an unbroken sequence
Example
The machine operates continuously for 24 hours.
A2 adverb /ˈnɔːməli/

Normally

Meaning
in the usual way; under normal circumstances
Example
I normally wake up at 7 AM every day.
C1 noun /ˌrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

Ratification

Meaning
the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement
Example
The treaty required ratification by both countries' parliaments.
C1 adjective /ˈstɪltɪd/

stilted

Meaning
Speech or writing that is stiff, unnatural, or overly formal.
Example
His speech sounded stilted and rehearsed.
A2 noun /ˈbiː.ɪŋ/

Being

Meaning
existence; a living creature; the state of existing
Example
Every human being deserves respect and dignity.
B2 noun /ˈhɑːr.bər/

Harbour

Meaning
a place on the coast where vessels may find shelter; a place of safety or refuge
Example
The fishing boats returned safely to the harbour before the storm hit the coastline.
B1 noun /ˈtreɪ.dər/

Trader

Meaning
a person who buys and sells goods or financial securities for profit
Example
The trader made a good profit from selling imported goods.
C1 adjective /ˈəʊnərəs/

onerous

Meaning
involving a great deal of effort, difficulty, or burden
Example
Fulfilling the contract proved to be an onerous task for the company.
C1 noun /ˈrɛtɪsəns/

reticence

Meaning
the quality of being reserved or unwilling to speak freely
Example
His reticence made it difficult to know what he was thinking.
B1 verb /ˈθretən/

threaten

Meaning
to express an intention to harm or punish someone; to be likely to cause harm
Example
The storm clouds threaten to bring heavy rain tonight.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/

unchanging

Meaning
remaining the same over time; not changing
Example
Her love for her family was unchanging throughout the years.
C1 noun /lʌst/

Lust

Meaning
very strong sexual desire; a passionate desire for something
Example
His lust for power corrupted him completely.
B2 noun /heɪst/

Haste

Meaning
swiftness of motion; urgent need of quick action; excessive speed or urgency
Example
In his haste to catch the train, he forgot to take his wallet from the table.
B2 noun /menˈtæləti/

Mentality

Meaning
The characteristic attitude of mind or way of thinking of a person or group
Example
The team needs to develop a winning mentality to succeed.
C2 adjective /rɪˈflɛktɪbəl/

reflectible

Meaning
capable of being reflected, as light or an image
Example
The surface of the lake is highly reflectible in the morning sun.
B2 noun /ˌdʒʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

justification

Meaning
a reason, explanation, or excuse that shows something is right or reasonable
Example
There is no justification for such rude behavior.
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 adjective /ˈdɪstəl/

distal

Meaning
situated away from the center of the body or from the point of attachment
Example
The doctor examined the distal end of the patient’s arm.
C1 adjective /ɪˈlɪptɪkl/

elliptical

Meaning
Having the shape of an ellipse; also, a style of speech that is concise and sometimes obscure.
Example
The planet follows an elliptical orbit around the sun.
C2 noun /spɪˈlʌŋkər/

spelunker

Meaning
A person who explores caves as a hobby.
Example
The spelunker carried ropes and lights into the dark cave.
B2 noun /ˈɡuːs.ber.i/

Gooseberry

Meaning
a small round green or red berry that grows on a thorny bush
Example
Gooseberries are rich in vitamin C and make excellent jams.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɜːrst/

dispersed

Meaning
Scattered or spread across a wide area.
Example
The dispersed population made it difficult to provide public services.
C2 noun /oʊd/

ode

Meaning
a lyrical poem, often expressing praise or strong emotions
Example
The poet wrote an ode to the beauty of nature.
C1 verb /kənˈtɛkstʃuəlaɪz/

contextualize

Meaning
to place something in a context or interpret it in relation to its surroundings
Example
The teacher contextualized the historical event to make it more relevant for students.
B1 verb /ɪnˈstɔːl/

install

Meaning
To place or fix equipment or software so it is ready for use.
Example
He installed the new software on his computer.
B1 noun ˈdɪdʒ.ɪ.təl tuːlz

digital tools

Meaning
Electronic software and applications used for learning and educational purposes.
Example
Schools are integrating digital tools to enhance learning.
C1 noun /ˈkleɪmənt/

claimant

Meaning
a person who makes a claim, especially in a legal or financial context
Example
The claimant filed for compensation after the accident.
C2 adjective /fəˈsiːʃəs/

facetious

Meaning
Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor
Example
He was being facetious when he said he wanted to live on the moon.
C2 verb /trænsˈfjuːz/

transfuse

Meaning
to transfer blood or another fluid into a vein or body part; to instill a quality or idea into someone or something
Example
The doctor had to transfuse blood into the patient after the surgery.
A2 noun /ˈprɛzɪdənt/

president

Meaning
the elected head of a republican state
Example
The president addressed the nation last night.
B1 noun /ɪˈmoʊ.ʃən/

Emotion

Meaning
a strong feeling deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships
Example
Her face showed every emotion she was feeling inside.
B2 verb /ˈkɑːmpənseɪt/

compensate

Meaning
to give something to make up for loss or damage; to counterbalance
Example
The company will compensate employees for overtime work.
C2 noun /ˌoʊpəˈlɛsəns/

opalescence

Meaning
a milky or pearly appearance of a surface like that of an opal
Example
The pearl had a gentle opalescence under the light.
B2 verb /ɪkˈspoʊz/

expose

Meaning
to reveal or uncover; to make visible or known
Example
The investigation exposed the truth about the scandal.
C1 noun /noʊˈbɪl.ə.ti/

Nobility

Meaning
the quality of being noble in character; people of noble rank
Example
He showed great nobility in forgiving his enemies.
C2 noun /ˌpriːdɪˈlɛkʃən/

predilection

Meaning
A strong liking or preference for something.
Example
She has a predilection for classical music.
C2 noun /ˌɪnəməˈrɑːtə/

inamorata

Meaning
A woman with whom someone is in love; a female lover.
Example
He wrote a poem dedicated to his inamorata.
C2 noun /kəˈnaɪ.vəns/

connivance

Meaning
the act of secretly allowing or being involved in wrongdoing
Example
The theft happened with the connivance of the security guard.
C2 noun /kænˈtoʊnmənt/

Cantonment

Meaning
a military base or permanent military station
Example
The soldiers lived in the cantonment outside the city.
B1 noun /ˈtʃiːtər/

cheater

Meaning
a person who cheats or acts dishonestly to gain an advantage
Example
He was caught and labeled as a cheater during the exam.
C2 noun /ˈterəpɪn/

terrapin

Meaning
a small freshwater turtle, especially one found in North America
Example
The terrapin slowly crawled into the pond.
C1 noun /dɪˈsiːt/

Deceit

Meaning
the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth
Example
His deceit was discovered when the truth about his qualifications came to light.
A2 noun /ˈroʊbɒt/

robot

Meaning
a machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically
Example
The factory uses robots to assemble cars efficiently.
A2 noun /ˈseɪf.ti/

Safety

Meaning
condition of being protected from danger, risk, or injury
Example
The company prioritizes workplace safety above all else.
C1 noun ˈpær.ə.daɪm

paradigm

Meaning
A typical example or pattern of something; a model or framework for understanding or approaching something.
Example
The paradigm of education is changing with digital technology.
B1 adverb /ɪˈfɛktɪvli/

effectively

Meaning
in a way that produces the desired result; efficiently and successfully
Example
The team worked together effectively to finish the project on time.
A2 noun ˈpræktɪs

practice

Meaning
The actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method; repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill.
Example
Daily practice improves fluency.