fray
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C1 noun/verb /freɪ/

fray

Meaning
As a noun, a fight or heated dispute; as a verb, to unravel or wear out through friction.
Example
He tried to stay calm, but his nerves began to fray during the argument.
C2 verb /ˈrʌstɪkeɪt/

rusticate

Meaning
To go to the countryside or to suspend someone from university.
Example
He decided to rusticate in the village to escape the busy city life.
B1 adjective /ɪmˈpruːvd/

improved

Meaning
made better or enhanced in quality or condition
Example
Her health has significantly improved since last month.
A2 verb /ɪkˈspleɪn/

explain

Meaning
to make something clear or easy to understand by describing it in more detail
Example
The teacher explained the difficult concept to the students.
B2 noun /ˈbiː.təl/

Beetle

Meaning
a hard-bodied insect with wing covers
Example
The black beetle scurried across the garden path.
C1 noun /deɪˈtɑːnt/

detente

Meaning
the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries
Example
The two nations worked toward detente after decades of conflict.
C1 noun /ˌpiːdiˈætrɪks/

pediatrics

Meaning
the branch of medicine dealing with the health and medical care of children
Example
She decided to specialize in pediatrics after medical school.
C2 adjective /prəˈpʌlsɪv/

propulsive

Meaning
Having the power to drive or push something forward.
Example
The propulsive force of the rocket lifted it off the ground.
C1 verb /ˈkɒnsɪkreɪt/

consecrate

Meaning
to make something sacred, usually through a religious ceremony
Example
The church was consecrated by the bishop.
B2 adjective /mæɡˈnɪfɪsənt/

magnificent

Meaning
extremely beautiful, impressive, or splendid
Example
The view from the mountain was truly magnificent.
B1 adjective /peɪl/

Pale

Meaning
having a light color; lacking brightness or vividness; weak or faint
Example
She looked pale after being sick for a week.
C2 noun /ˈsʌplɪkənt/

supplicant

Meaning
A person who humbly or earnestly asks for something, usually from a person of authority.
Example
The temple was filled with supplicants seeking blessings.
C1 adjective /ˈspɛərɪŋ/

sparing

Meaning
Using or giving only a little of something; economical.
Example
She is sparing in her use of words.
C1 verb /eɪl/

ail

Meaning
to be ill or suffer from a physical or mental problem; to trouble or afflict
Example
She has been ailing since last winter.
C1 noun ˌskeɪ.ləˈbɪl.ə.ti

scalability

Meaning
The capacity to be changed in size or scale; the ability of a system to handle a growing amount of work.
Example
The new software offers high scalability for large enterprises.
C2 verb /kəˈlʌmnieɪt/

calumniate

Meaning
To make false and damaging statements about someone; to slander.
Example
He was furious when he realized they had calumniated his reputation.
B2 adjective /pəˈrɛntəl/

parental

Meaning
relating to a parent or parents; characteristic of a mother or father
Example
Parental guidance is important for a child's development.
C2 noun /ˈmæntl̩/

mantel

Meaning
A shelf above a fireplace, often used for decoration.
Example
She placed family photos on the mantel above the fireplace.
B2 adjective ɪkˈsɛsɪv

excessive

Meaning
More than is necessary, normal, or desirable; immoderate.
Example
Excessive population growth leads to resource depletion.
C2 noun /ˈdʒes.tər/

Jester

Meaning
a professional joker or fool at a medieval court; someone who jokes a lot
Example
The court jester entertained the king with witty remarks and amusing tricks.
C2 adjective /eɪˈsɛfələs/

acephalous

Meaning
having no leader or head; headless
Example
The acephalous group soon fell into disorganization.
A1 adjective, adverb, pronoun /mʌtʃ/

much

Meaning
a large amount or degree of something
Example
She doesn’t have much time to finish the project.
C1 adjective /ɪˈnɛpt/

inept

Meaning
lacking skill or ability; clumsy or incompetent
Example
His inept handling of the situation made it worse.
A1 numeral /θriː/

three

Meaning
the number equivalent to the sum of two and one
Example
She has three dogs at home.
C1 adjective /ˈrek.wɪ.zɪt/

Requisite

Meaning
made necessary by particular circumstances; required
Example
Good communication skills are requisite for this job.
B2 verb /həˈræs/

harass

Meaning
to persistently annoy or torment someone
Example
The employees complained that their boss harassed them.
C2 adjective /ˈrævənɪŋ/

ravening

Meaning
Extremely hungry and greedy; voracious.
Example
The ravening wolves circled the camp.
C1 noun /kənˈtɪnjuəm/

continuum

Meaning
A continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other, but the extremes are quite distinct.
Example
Life and death are often seen as part of the same continuum.
C2 noun /ˈkɪləˌliːtər/

kiloliter

Meaning
a unit of capacity equal to 1,000 liters
Example
The tank can hold up to three kiloliters of water.
B2 adjective /kənˈvɜːrtəbl/

convertible

Meaning
able to be changed into a different form or use; also a car with a roof that can be folded down
Example
She drove her new convertible along the coastal road.
B2 adjective /dɪˈsɛptɪv/

deceptive

Meaning
Giving an appearance or impression different from the truth; misleading.
Example
Appearances can be deceptive.
C1 noun /waɪld bɔːr/

Wild-Boar

Meaning
a wild pig that lives in forests and has long curved teeth
Example
The wild boar ran through the forest quickly.
C1 adjective /ˈviːəmənt/

Vehement

Meaning
showing strong feeling; forceful; passionate; intense
Example
She gave a vehement denial of the accusations.
B2 adjective /sɔːr/

sore

Meaning
painful or aching, usually in a specific part of the body
Example
After the long run, my legs were sore.
C2 adjective /ˈnjuː.mər.ə.bəl/

Numerable

Meaning
capable of being counted; countable
Example
The stars in the sky are not numerable.
C1 noun /ˌɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns/

insignificance

Meaning
The quality of being unimportant or trivial.
Example
He felt a sense of insignificance in the vast universe.
C2 adjective /ˈʌndjʊleɪtɪŋ/

undulating

Meaning
Having a smoothly rising and falling form or motion like waves.
Example
We drove through undulating hills.
B1 noun /ˈmʌðər ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/

mother language

Meaning
the first language a person learns from childhood; native language
Example
Children learn best when they are taught in their mother language.
C1 noun /prəˈdʒɛktaɪl/

projectile

Meaning
An object fired, thrown, or propelled, especially from a weapon.
Example
The soldier dodged the incoming projectile.
B2 noun /ˈwɪldərnəs/

Wilderness

Meaning
an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region; a wild or uncultivated state
Example
They got lost in the wilderness for three days.
B2 noun /ˈhɑːr.mə.ni/

harmony

Meaning
A pleasing combination of different elements or a state of peaceful coexistence.
Example
A society thrives when there is harmony among its people.
B2 noun rɪˈtɛnʃən

retention

Meaning
The continued possession, use, or control of something
Example
The retention of information is essential for academic success.
C2 adjective /dæŋk/

dank

Meaning
unpleasantly damp and cold
Example
The basement was dark and dank, filled with a musty smell.
A2 noun /ˈpɜːr.pəl/

Purple

Meaning
a color intermediate between red and blue; violet color
Example
The purple flowers bloomed beautifully in the garden.
C2 noun /ˈslæt.ən/

slattern

Meaning
a woman who is untidy or slovenly in appearance or habits
Example
The house looked as if a slattern lived there.
B2 noun ˈkæp.sjuːl

capsule

Meaning
A small soluble case of gelatin containing a dose of medicine, swallowed whole.
Example
Capsules contain controlled environments.
C1 adjective /θiːˈmætɪk/

thematic

Meaning
Relating to or based on a theme.
Example
The book is organized into thematic chapters.
C2 noun /ˌdɛprɪˈdeɪʃən/

depredation

Meaning
An act of attacking or plundering; damage caused by such acts.
Example
The villagers feared the depredation of wild animals at night.
C1 adjective /ˈpleɪntɪv/

plaintive

Meaning
expressing sadness or sorrow
Example
He raised a plaintive cry for help.
C1 noun /ˈtoʊɡə/

toga

Meaning
A loose outer garment worn in ancient Rome, typically draped over the shoulders and body.
Example
The senator wore a white toga during the ceremony.
B2 noun, verb /bəˈfeɪ/ (noun), /ˈbʌfɪt/ (verb)

buffet

Meaning
A meal where guests serve themselves from a variety of dishes arranged on a table; also means to strike repeatedly (as a verb).
Example
We enjoyed a large buffet at the wedding reception.
B1 adjective /ˈaʊtər/

outer

Meaning
situated on or toward the outside; external
Example
The outer layer of the jacket is waterproof.
A1 verb /meɪk/

make

Meaning
to create, produce, or construct something
Example
I make coffee every morning.
A2 noun /ˈsoʊ.fə/

Sofa

Meaning
a long upholstered seat for more than one person
Example
The family gathered on the sofa to watch TV.
C1 noun /ˈdʒuː.bɪ.liː/

Jubilee

Meaning
a special anniversary celebration, especially the 25th, 50th, or 60th anniversary of an important event
Example
The school celebrated its golden jubilee with a grand ceremony.
C1 noun /ˈvenəm/

Venom

Meaning
a poisonous substance secreted by animals such as snakes; extreme malice and bitterness
Example
The snake's venom can be deadly if not treated quickly.
B1 noun /ˈkwɒl.ɪ.ti taɪm/

quality time

Meaning
Time spent giving someone your full attention in order to strengthen your relationship with them.
Example
Spending quality time with family enhances relationships.
C2 verb /foʊˈmɛnt/

foment

Meaning
To instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action).
Example
The rebel leader tried to foment unrest among the people.
B2 noun /ˈænθəm/

anthem

Meaning
A song that is identified with a particular group, movement, or nation, often expressing pride or unity.
Example
The national anthem was played before the football match.
B2 noun /dʌv/

Dove

Meaning
a small, gentle bird with soft cooing sounds, often white and symbolizing peace
Example
The white dove flew peacefully across the blue sky.
C1 noun trəˈdʒek.tər.i

trajectory

Meaning
The path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces.
Example
The satellite followed its intended trajectory.
C2 noun /ˌpɛdəˈɡɒdʒɪks/

pedagogics

Meaning
the science or art of teaching
Example
He studied pedagogics to become a better teacher.
C2 adjective /ˈɛrənt/

errant

Meaning
behaving wrongly or straying from the proper course or standards
Example
The teacher disciplined the errant student.
B2 noun /ˈkaʊn.səl.ɪŋ/

counselling

Meaning
the process of giving professional guidance and support to help someone deal with personal, social, psychological, or career-related problems
Example
She decided to seek counselling to manage stress and anxiety.
C2 verb /ˈkɒr.ʌ.skeɪt/

coruscate

Meaning
to sparkle or flash brightly
Example
The fireworks coruscated across the night sky.
C1 noun ˈrəʊvə

rover

Meaning
A vehicle for driving over rough terrain, especially one driven by remote control over extraterrestrial terrain.
Example
The rover landed on Mars to begin its exploration.
A1 noun /ˈsʌn.deɪ/

sunday

Meaning
The day of the week between Saturday and Monday; often considered a day of rest or worship.
Example
We usually relax at home on Sunday.
B2 adjective /ˈstʌf.i/

Stuffy

Meaning
lacking fresh air; poorly ventilated; formal and conservative in attitude
Example
The room was stuffy and needed fresh air.
B2 noun, adjective /ˈkɒrəl/

coral

Meaning
a hard, rock-like marine organism formed by tiny sea animals; a pinkish-orange color resembling coral
Example
The coral in the reef provides shelter for many sea creatures.
C2 noun /ˌkɛəriˈætɪd/

caryatid

Meaning
A stone carving of a draped female figure, used as a supporting column in architecture.
Example
The ancient temple featured a caryatid holding up the roof.
B2 adjective; verb (past/participle) /əˈʃʊrd/

assured

Meaning
confident and certain; guaranteed or made certain
Example
She felt assured that everything would work out.
B2 verb /mɒk/

mock

Meaning
To make fun of someone or something in a cruel or unkind way.
Example
The students mocked his accent during class.
C1 verb /ˈkəʊ.dɪ.faɪ/

codify

Meaning
to arrange laws, rules, or ideas into a clear and systematic code
Example
The committee worked to codify the existing laws.
B2 noun /ˈboʊlər/

bowler

Meaning
a person who delivers the ball in cricket; also a type of hard felt hat with a rounded crown
Example
The bowler took three wickets in the first over.
C1 noun /ˈkɑːmənˌwɛlθ/

commonwealth

Meaning
an independent community or state, especially one founded for the common good; also an association of nations
Example
Australia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
C1 adjective /lʌʃ/

lush

Meaning
rich, abundant, and luxurious, especially referring to vegetation
Example
The valley was filled with lush green fields.
C1 noun /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/

demagogue

Meaning
A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.
Example
The crowd was swayed by the fiery speeches of the demagogue.
C1 adjective, noun /ˈkeɪnaɪn/

canine

Meaning
Relating to dogs; also refers to the pointed teeth in humans and animals
Example
The police trained a canine unit for search operations.
B2 noun /ˈdeɪ.tə briːtʃ/

data breach

Meaning
Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information through security violation
Example
A data breach exposed millions of users' passwords.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪŋɡwəl/

lingual

Meaning
Relating to the tongue or speech.
Example
The dentist examined the patient's lingual surface of the teeth.
C1 noun /ˈlæt.ɪ.tuːd/

Latitude

Meaning
the angular distance of a place north or south of the earth's equator; freedom to act or think
Example
The GPS device showed our exact latitude and longitude coordinates on the map.
C2 adjective /stəˈkɑː.təʊ/

staccato

Meaning
short and detached in sound or style, often used in music
Example
The pianist played the notes in a staccato rhythm.
C1 adjective /ɪˈstreɪndʒd/

estranged

Meaning
no longer close or affectionate with someone; alienated
Example
She felt estranged from her family after the long dispute.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈɑːrmd/

unarmed

Meaning
Not equipped with or carrying weapons
Example
The police found the suspect unarmed during the search.
B2 adjective /ˈlɪtərəl/

literal

Meaning
taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or exaggeration
Example
His comment was meant as a joke, not to be taken in a literal sense.
C1 verb /ˌpoʊstˈdeɪt/

postdate

Meaning
To assign a date later than the actual date to a document or event.
Example
She postdated the check to next month.
C1 noun /ˈkɔːkəs/

caucus

Meaning
A meeting of members of a political party to select candidates or decide policy.
Example
The party held a caucus to nominate their candidate for president.
B1 noun /nɛt/

net

Meaning
a piece of material made of threads or ropes woven together, used to catch or hold things
Example
The fisherman cast his net into the sea.
C1 noun, verb /bʌldʒ/

bulge

Meaning
A swelling or protruding part; to swell outward or protrude.
Example
The bag began to bulge with too many books inside.
C1 noun əˌsɪm.ɪˈleɪ.ʃən

Assimilation

Meaning
Connecting new information with existing knowledge
Example
Proper assimilation of knowledge leads to effective learning.
B2 noun /kəmˈpliːʃən/

completion

Meaning
the action or process of finishing something
Example
The completion of the project will take another few weeks.
B2 verb /feɪd/

fade

Meaning
To gradually lose brightness, color, or strength.
Example
The colors of the old photo have started to fade.
B2 noun /eɪd/

aide

Meaning
An assistant or helper, especially to an important person.
Example
The senator’s aide organized the meeting with journalists.
C2 verb /ˈɪndjʊˌreɪt/

indurate

Meaning
To harden or make something physically or emotionally tough.
Example
Years of hardship indurated his spirit.
C2 noun /ˈpɛdɪmənt/

pediment

Meaning
a triangular gable found above the horizontal structure of a building, often in classical architecture
Example
The ancient temple had a pediment decorated with sculptures.
B2 noun /ˈvɪɡ.ər/

Vigour

Meaning
physical strength and good health; effort, energy, and enthusiasm
Example
She approached her work with renewed vigour after the vacation.
A2 noun /ˈkrɪk.ɪt/

Cricket

Meaning
a jumping insect that makes a chirping sound by rubbing its wings together
Example
We could hear crickets chirping in the evening.
C1 adjective /hɔːrs/

Hoarse

Meaning
rough or harsh in sound; having a rough voice from shouting or illness
Example
His voice became hoarse after shouting at the concert.
C1 adjective /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv/

exhaustive

Meaning
Fully comprehensive and including all possibilities.
Example
The report provides an exhaustive analysis of the issue.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒrɪdʒəbl/

corrigible

Meaning
capable of being corrected or improved
Example
The student's mistakes were corrigible with practice.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛndiˌɛri/

incendiary

Meaning
designed to cause fires or stir up conflict
Example
The politician’s incendiary remarks angered the crowd.
B1 noun /ˈwaɪldˌlaɪf/

wildlife

Meaning
animals, birds, and plants living in their natural environment
Example
The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife.
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.
B1 verb /tɛmpt/

tempt

Meaning
to entice or attract someone to do something, often something wrong or unwise
Example
The smell of fresh bread tempted him to enter the bakery.
C2 verb /əˈɡrɛs/

aggress

Meaning
to initiate an attack or show hostile behavior
Example
The army chose not to aggress without provocation.
C1 adjective /ˌɛpɪˈsɒdɪk/

episodic

Meaning
Happening occasionally or in separate parts; related to episodes.
Example
Her interest in art was episodic, coming and going over the years.
C2 noun /ˈæp.ɪˌkʌl.tʃər/

apiculture

Meaning
The practice of keeping and raising bees for honey and other products.
Example
Apiculture plays a vital role in agriculture by supporting pollination.
B2 noun /ˈɡlæm.ər/

Glamour

Meaning
an attractive or exciting quality that makes certain people or things seem appealing; alluring charm
Example
The glamour of Hollywood attracted young actors from around the world.
C2 adjective /ˈvæpɪd/

vapid

Meaning
lacking liveliness, flavor, or interest; dull and uninspired
Example
The lecture was so vapid that half the audience fell asleep.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈplaɪəbl/

impliable

Meaning
Capable of being implied or suggested.
Example
The meaning of the statement is not directly clear but is impliable from the context.
B2 adjective /ˈlɪtərɛri/

literary

Meaning
concerning the writing, study, or content of literature
Example
She is a well-known figure in the literary world.
C1 noun /prɪˈzʌmp.ʃən/

Presumption

Meaning
an idea that is taken to be true without proof
Example
There is a presumption of innocence in the legal system.
B2 adjective /ˈlækɪŋ/

lacking

Meaning
not having enough of something; missing
Example
His report was lacking in detail.
B1 adjective /ˈsætɪsfaɪd/

satisfied

Meaning
Pleased or content with what has been achieved or received.
Example
He felt satisfied after finishing his project.
B1 verb /hiːl/

heal

Meaning
to cure; to become healthy again
Example
Time will heal all wounds.
B1 noun /prəʊ/

pro

Meaning
a professional, especially in sports; or a person who is in favor of something
Example
He plays tennis like a pro.
A2 noun /ˈbraʊzər/

browser

Meaning
a software application for accessing information on the World Wide Web.
Example
I use a web browser to search for information online.
B2 noun /ˈɡɑː.mənt/

garment

Meaning
An item of clothing.
Example
She bought a new garment for the party.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪspi/

wispy

Meaning
Thin, delicate, and weak in appearance or form.
Example
Her wispy hair blew gently in the breeze.
B2 adjective /ˈvɜːr.tʃu.əs/

Virtuous

Meaning
having high moral standards; righteous; morally excellent
Example
She is known for her virtuous character and honest dealings.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpæsɪbəl/

impassible

Meaning
Incapable of suffering or feeling pain (used mainly in theological or philosophical contexts).
Example
Some philosophers argue that God is impassible and cannot experience human emotions.