foray
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C1 noun /ˈfɔːreɪ/

foray

Meaning
A sudden short attack or attempt, especially into new activity or territory.
Example
The company made its first foray into the international market.
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.
B1 noun /məˈkænɪk/

mechanic

Meaning
a person who repairs and maintains machines or vehicles
Example
The mechanic fixed the engine in less than an hour.
C1 verb /ˈprɒpəɡeɪt/

propagate

Meaning
To spread or transmit an idea, belief, or information widely; also to reproduce in plants or animals.
Example
Scientists work to propagate the species in captivity.
B2 noun /ɪˈluː.ʒən/

Illusion

Meaning
a thing that is or is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted; a false idea or belief
Example
The magician created a spectacular illusion that made the elephant appear to vanish.
C1 noun /kliːk/

clique

Meaning
a small, exclusive group of people
Example
The students formed a clique that excluded others.
B2 adjective /ˈsoʊʃəbəl/

Sociable

Meaning
friendly and enjoys being with other people; outgoing
Example
She is very sociable and makes friends easily.
A2 noun /ˈdɪʃ ˌwɒʃər/

Dish washer

Meaning
an appliance for washing dishes automatically
Example
We installed a new dishwasher in our kitchen last week.
C2 noun /ˌriːkəˌpɪtjʊˈleɪʃən/

recapitulation

Meaning
The act of summarizing or repeating the main points of something.
Example
The professor gave a brief recapitulation of the lecture before ending the class.
A2 adjective /ˈnɔɪ.zi/

Noisy

Meaning
making a lot of loud or unpleasant sound; clamorous
Example
The noisy construction work outside made it difficult to concentrate.
B1 adverb; adjective /ˈkaɪndli/

kindly

Meaning
in a kind or gentle manner; showing kindness or goodwill
Example
She kindly helped the old man cross the street.
C1 noun /dʌsk/

Dusk

Meaning
the period of the day when daylight is fading; twilight
Example
They walked along the beach during dusk, watching the sunset.
A1 verb /ˈhæpən/

happen

Meaning
to occur or take place; to come about by chance
Example
What happened at the meeting yesterday?
C2 verb /baɪd/

bide

Meaning
to wait patiently for the right time or opportunity
Example
He decided to bide his time before making a move.
C2 verb /ʌnˈkaʊtʃ/

uncouch

Meaning
to remove from a couch or to release from being laid down (rare/archaic usage)
Example
The surgeon attempted to uncouch the cataract.
C2 adjective /əˈstrɪndʒənt/

astringent

Meaning
sharp or severe in manner or style; also describes a substance that contracts skin or body tissues
Example
Her astringent tone silenced the noisy class.
B1 noun /kraʊn/

Crown

Meaning
a circular ornamental headdress worn by a monarch as a symbol of authority
Example
The queen wore a magnificent crown during the coronation ceremony.
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.
C1 noun /ˈspɪnstər/

spinster

Meaning
An unmarried woman, often one who is older and considered unlikely to marry
Example
The novel featured a kind-hearted spinster who cared for the village children.
C1 noun /ˈbjuːɡəl/

Bugle

Meaning
a brass musical instrument similar to a trumpet but without valves, used especially for military calls
Example
The soldier played the bugle to signal the start of the ceremony.
C1 noun /ˈmɪmɪkri/

mimicry

Meaning
The act of imitating someone or something, often for humor or learning.
Example
The comedian’s mimicry of celebrities made the audience laugh.
C1 verb /ɪnˈɡreɪv/

engrave

Meaning
to cut or carve a design, letter, or pattern into a hard surface
Example
The craftsman engraved her name on the silver ring.
A2 noun /ˈmiːnɪŋ/

Meaning

Meaning
What is meant by a word, text, or concept; significance or purpose
Example
The teacher explained the meaning of the difficult word to the students.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪspi/

wispy

Meaning
Thin, delicate, and weak in appearance or form.
Example
Her wispy hair blew gently in the breeze.
C1 noun /ˈkæzəm/

chasm

Meaning
a deep fissure in the earth's surface or a wide difference between people or ideas
Example
There was a great chasm between the two political parties.
B2 noun /ɪnˈsen.tɪv/

Incentive

Meaning
a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something; a reward or penalty that influences behavior
Example
The company offered a cash incentive to employees who exceeded their sales targets.
B1 noun /ˈsʌb.ɜːb/

Suburb

Meaning
a residential area outside the central part of a city; an outlying district of a city
Example
They moved to a quiet suburb to raise their children away from city noise.
B2 adverb /səˈpəʊzɪdli/

supposedly

Meaning
used to show that something is believed or claimed to be true, though it may not be
Example
He is supposedly the best player on the team.
A1 noun /ˈpɑːpə/

papa

Meaning
an informal or affectionate term for one’s father
Example
Papa is picking me up from school today.
C1 noun /fɑːrs/

farce

Meaning
a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay, or a ridiculous situation
Example
The meeting turned into a complete farce with everyone arguing.
C2 noun, verb /əˈfrʌnt/

affront

Meaning
An action or remark that causes outrage or offense.
Example
He took her criticism as a personal affront.
C2 noun /ˈlæŋɡər/

languor

Meaning
A state of tiredness, inertia, or dreamy relaxation.
Example
The hot afternoon filled her with languor.
A2 preposition /riː/

re

Meaning
concerning or about (used in formal letters or emails)
Example
The letter was sent re your recent application.
B2 noun /ˈstɔːrɪdʒ/

storage

Meaning
the action or method of storing something for future use
Example
The warehouse offers plenty of storage space.
B2 noun, verb /steɪk/

stake

Meaning
A share or interest in a business or venture; to risk or support something of value.
Example
He has a major stake in the new company.
A1 noun /suːp/

Soup

Meaning
a liquid food made by boiling meat, vegetables, or other ingredients in water
Example
I had a bowl of chicken soup for lunch.
A2 noun ˈsaɪən.tɪst

scientist

Meaning
A person who is studying or has expert knowledge of one or more of the natural or physical sciences.
Example
The scientist proposed data-driven reforms.
C1 noun /ˈpɪt.fɔːl/

pitfall

Meaning
a hidden or unexpected danger or difficulty
Example
Investors must be aware of the pitfalls of the market.
C2 noun /ˈdəʊ.lər/

dolor

Meaning
A state of great sorrow or distress.
Example
The nation was in deep dolor after the tragedy.
C1 noun /ˈkliː.vər/

Cleaver

Meaning
a heavy knife with a broad blade used for chopping meat or vegetables
Example
The chef used a cleaver to chop the chicken bones.
C1 verb /ˈrʌf.l̩/

ruffle

Meaning
to disturb the smoothness of something; to annoy or upset someone
Example
The wind ruffled her hair.
C1 noun /əbˈzɜːrvətɔːri/

observatory

Meaning
A building equipped for observing astronomical or meteorological events.
Example
The observatory is open to the public on weekends.
C2 noun /ˌdɪpsəˈmeɪniæk/

dipsomaniac

Meaning
A person with an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drinks.
Example
The novel portrayed the tragic downfall of a dipsomaniac who lost everything to alcohol.
B1 noun /əˈpiːl/

Appeal

Meaning
a serious or urgent request, typically to the public; the quality of being attractive or interesting
Example
The charity made an appeal for donations.
C1 noun /ˈmoʊldɪŋ/

molding

Meaning
A decorative strip or design, often used on walls, ceilings, or furniture.
Example
The wooden molding gave the room a classic look.
C2 adjective /ˈvɜːrdənt/

verdant

Meaning
Green with grass or other rich vegetation; lush and fertile.
Example
The hills looked verdant after the monsoon rains.
B2 adjective /ˈmɪl.ki waɪt/

Milky white

Meaning
a pure white color resembling milk
Example
The clouds looked milky white against the blue sky.
C1 noun /ɪˈlɪpsɪs/

ellipsis

Meaning
The omission of words in a sentence, represented by three dots (...).
Example
The writer used an ellipsis to show that part of the quote was omitted.
B1 verb /ˈpʌblɪʃ/

publish

Meaning
to print and distribute books, magazines, etc.; to make information available
Example
The author will publish her new novel next month.
C1 verb bɪˈkwiːð

bequeath

Meaning
Leave something to someone in a will; pass down or hand down to the next generation.
Example
The scientist bequeathed his research papers to the university.
C1 adjective /kənˈsɪliətɔːri/

conciliatory

Meaning
intended to make someone less angry or more agreeable; soothing
Example
She spoke in a conciliatory tone to ease the tension.
B1 adjective /ˈfæʃənəbəl/

fashionable

Meaning
Following the latest styles or trends in clothing, behavior, or ideas
Example
She always wears fashionable clothes to every party.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnəˈsweɪdʒd/

unassuaged

Meaning
Not made less intense or relieved; unrelieved.
Example
His grief remained unassuaged despite the passage of time.
C1 noun /ˈkʌn.stə.bəl/

constable

Meaning
a police officer of the lowest rank
Example
The constable directed traffic at the busy intersection.
C2 verb /kənˈdʒɔɪn/

conjoin

Meaning
to join together or unite; to combine
Example
The two rivers conjoin just before reaching the sea.
C2 adjective /pərˈfɜrvɪd/

perfervid

Meaning
intensely passionate or fervent
Example
She gave a perfervid speech in defense of human rights.
C2 verb /ˈtʃeɪfɪŋ/

chafing

Meaning
To make sore by rubbing; to become irritated.
Example
The rough shoes were chafing his heels.
B1 adverb /ˈæftərwərd/

afterward

Meaning
at a later time; subsequently
Example
We went to dinner and watched a movie afterward.
C2 noun /ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/

schadenfreude

Meaning
pleasure derived from another person's misfortune
Example
He felt a sense of schadenfreude when his rival failed.
C1 adjective /ˌhɒməˈdʒiːniəs/

homogeneous

Meaning
Of the same kind; alike.
Example
The team was not homogeneous in their skills.
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.
B2 noun pɪər ˈɪnfluəns

peer influence

Meaning
The effect that members of a peer group have on each other, especially in terms of behavior, attitudes, and decision-making.
Example
Peer influence can shape juvenile behavior significantly.
B2 noun /ˈkænjən/

canyon

Meaning
A deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it.
Example
The Colorado River carved the Grand Canyon over millions of years.
C2 adjective /ˌlɪlɪˈpjuːʃən/

lilliputian

Meaning
Extremely small or tiny; trivial or petty.
Example
The model village was filled with lilliputian houses.
B1 noun ˈtʊə.rɪ.zəm

tourism

Meaning
The commercial organization and operation of vacations and visits to places of interest.
Example
Tourism drives economic growth in many countries.
C1 noun, verb /ˈɔːtɒpsi/

autopsy

Meaning
a post-mortem examination to discover the cause of death or the extent of disease
Example
The autopsy revealed that the victim had died from poisoning.
C2 verb /əˈleɪ/

allay

Meaning
to reduce the intensity of fear, worry, or pain; to calm
Example
The teacher tried to allay the students’ fears before the exam.
C2 noun/verb /ɡəˈfɔː/

guffaw

Meaning
a loud and boisterous laugh
Example
The audience guffawed at the comedian’s joke.
B2 noun /ɡoʊl ˈsɛt.ɪŋ/

goal-setting

Meaning
The process of identifying something that you want to accomplish and establishing measurable objectives to achieve it.
Example
Effective goal-setting helps individuals stay focused and motivated.
C2 verb /ˈʌndjʊleɪt/

undulate

Meaning
To move with a smooth, wave-like motion.
Example
The snake undulated across the sand.
A2 adjective /maɪˈnuːt/

Minute

Meaning
extremely small; tiny; detailed; precise
Example
The scientist examined minute details under the microscope.
C2 adjective /koʊˈiːvəl/

coeval

Meaning
Having the same age, date of origin, or duration; contemporary.
Example
The philosopher was coeval with the rise of modern science.
B2 verb /ˈlaɪɪŋ/

lying

Meaning
the act of not telling the truth
Example
He was caught lying about his grades.
A1 verb /rʌn/

run

Meaning
to move quickly on foot; to operate or function
Example
I run every morning for exercise.
C1 adjective /læks/

lax

Meaning
Not strict, severe, or careful; negligent or careless.
Example
The security at the airport was surprisingly lax.
B2 adjective/noun /staʊt/

stout

Meaning
Strong, thick, or heavily built; also a kind of dark beer
Example
The stout man lifted the heavy box with ease.
A1 noun /ɡlæs/

Glass

Meaning
a drinking container made of glass; hard transparent material
Example
He drank a glass of cold water after the workout.
C2 verb /priːˈfɪɡjər/

prefigure

Meaning
to represent, show, or foreshadow something in advance
Example
The economic reforms prefigure major social changes.
B2 noun /ɡɪə(r)/

gear

Meaning
Equipment or apparatus for a particular purpose; also a toothed wheel in machinery.
Example
The climber packed all his gear before starting the journey.
C2 noun /ˌbʌkəˈnɪər/

buccaneer

Meaning
a pirate, especially one active in the Caribbean during the 17th and 18th centuries
Example
The buccaneer sailed across the Caribbean in search of treasure.
B1 verb /ʌnˈræp/

unwrap

Meaning
remove wrapping or covering from something; reveal something gradually or clearly
Example
She carefully unwrapped the gift with excitement.
C2 noun /ˈɛmbəˌlɪzəm/

embolism

Meaning
the sudden blockage of a blood vessel by a clot or other foreign matter
Example
The patient suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism.
B2 adjective /suːˈpɪə.ri.ər/

Superior

Meaning
higher in rank, quality, or importance; better than average
Example
This product is superior to all others in the market.
B2 verb /hɔːlt/

halt

Meaning
to stop or bring to a stop
Example
The train suddenly halted at the station.
C2 noun /dɪˈstɛnʃən/

distention

Meaning
The state of being swollen due to internal pressure.
Example
The patient complained of abdominal pain and distention.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfʌŋkt/

defunct

Meaning
No longer existing, operating, or functioning.
Example
The company became defunct after the financial crisis.
C2 adjective /dɪˈkɔːrəs/

decourous

Meaning
characterized by propriety, good taste, and proper manners
Example
She maintained a decourous silence during the ceremony.
A2 noun /ˈtɜːrki/

turkey

Meaning
a large bird native to North America, often eaten at special occasions like Thanksgiving; also the meat of this bird.
Example
We roasted a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.
C1 adjective /wɒn/

wan

Meaning
looking pale or sickly; lacking color or vitality
Example
After the long illness, his face looked wan and tired.
A2 noun /ˈfɔːrənər/ or /ˈfɑːrənər/

foreigner

Meaning
A person from another country.
Example
The city welcomes every foreigner with kindness.
C1 verb /ˈwɪtl/

whittle

Meaning
to carve or shape something by cutting off small pieces; to gradually reduce
Example
He spent the afternoon whittling a piece of wood into a toy.
C2 noun /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃə/

differentia

Meaning
A distinguishing characteristic that sets one thing apart from another.
Example
The differentia of humans is their ability to reason abstractly.
B2 adjective /daɪˈnæm.ɪk/

dynamic

Meaning
Characterized by constant change, activity, or progress.
Example
Life flows in a dynamic stream.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪˌsɪləbəl/

disyllable

Meaning
a word consisting of two syllables
Example
The word 'happy' is a disyllable.
B1 noun /ˈjʌŋstər/

Youngster

Meaning
a young person; a child or teenager; someone who is young in experience
Example
The youngster showed great talent in sports.
C2 adjective /ˈdəʊ.lə.rəs/

dolorous

Meaning
Expressing great sorrow or distress.
Example
He spoke in a dolorous tone after the loss.
B2 noun prəʊb

probe

Meaning
An unmanned exploratory spacecraft designed to transmit information about its environment.
Example
The probe collected data from the planet's surface.
C1 adjective /ˈbrɪslɪŋ/

bristling

Meaning
full of energy, anger, or excitement; showing bristles standing up
Example
He entered the room bristling with confidence.
A2 adjective /ˈpɑːt taɪm/

part-time

Meaning
working for only part of the usual working day or week
Example
She works part-time as a waitress.
C1 adjective /pərˈtɜːrbd/

perturbed

Meaning
feeling anxious, unsettled, or disturbed
Example
He looked perturbed after hearing the bad news.
C1 adjective /ˈtɔːrtʃuəs/

tortuous

Meaning
Full of twists and turns; excessively complex or complicated.
Example
The tortuous mountain road made driving very difficult.
C2 adjective /ˌsuːprəˈmʌndeɪn/

supramundane

Meaning
beyond the physical or ordinary world; transcendent
Example
The monk spoke of supramundane peace beyond material life.
B2 adjective /rɪˈliːvd/

relieved

Meaning
feeling happy and less worried after something stressful has been removed or resolved
Example
She felt relieved after hearing the good news.
C1 adjective /ˈɡrændioʊs/

grandiose

Meaning
Impressive or magnificent in appearance or style, often pretentiously so.
Example
He had grandiose plans of building a futuristic city in the desert.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈkɒmən/

uncommon

Meaning
rare, unusual, or remarkable
Example
It is uncommon to see snow in this region.
C2 verb /leɪv/

lave

Meaning
To wash or bathe.
Example
She laved her face with cool water.
C1 noun /əˌfɪl.iˈeɪ.ʃən/

affiliation

Meaning
The state or process of affiliating or being affiliated; a connection or association.
Example
His affiliation with the company lasted for a decade.
A2 noun /ˈhæn.dəl/

Handle

Meaning
the part by which a thing is held, carried, or controlled; to manage or deal with something
Example
The suitcase has a sturdy handle that makes it easy to carry through the airport.
C2 adjective /ˈfɒksi/

foxy

Meaning
Clever, cunning, or attractive.
Example
He came up with a foxy plan to win the game.
B2 adjective /ˈteɪst.ləs/

Tasteless

Meaning
lacking flavor; showing poor judgment in style
Example
The soup was completely tasteless and needed more seasoning.
C1 noun /hɒˈstɪləti/

hostility

Meaning
hostile behavior; unfriendliness or opposition
Example
The negotiations ended in an atmosphere of hostility.
B2 adjective /əˈdɪktɪd/

addicted

Meaning
Being unable to stop engaging in a particular activity or consuming a particular substance.
Example
Many people are addicted to social media.
C1 noun səˌfɪs.tɪˈkeɪ.ʃən

sophistication

Meaning
High level of complexity or refinement.
Example
The sophistication of modern AI technology is remarkable.
B2 noun ˈlɪt.ər.ə.si ˌreɪts

literacy rates

Meaning
The percentage of people in a population who can read and write; measures of educational levels in a population.
Example
Literacy rates impact socioeconomic conditions.
C1 noun /ɪˈnɪɡ.mə/

enigma

Meaning
A person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.
Example
Life remains an enigma to many.
C1 noun /ˈdɒktrɪn/

doctrine

Meaning
A set of beliefs or principles held and taught by a religious, political, or other group.
Example
The church follows a strict doctrine on moral values.
C2 verb /læmˈbæst/

lambast

Meaning
To criticize harshly or to beat severely.
Example
The coach lambasted the team for their poor performance.
C1 noun /ˈbænɪstər/

banister

Meaning
a railing supported by posts at the side of a staircase or balcony
Example
She held the banister tightly while going down the stairs.
B2 noun /hoʊm ˈdɪstrɪkt/

home district

Meaning
the district where a person was born or originally comes from
Example
He returned to his home district after many years abroad.
C2 noun /ˈæpədʒiː/

apogee

Meaning
the highest or most distant point; the climax or peak of something
Example
The empire reached its apogee during the 18th century.
B1 noun /boʊ/

Bow

Meaning
a weapon for shooting arrows, made of a curved piece of wood
Example
The archer drew his bow and aimed at the target.