grudging
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C1 adjective /ˈɡrʌdʒɪŋ/

grudging

Meaning
Reluctant or unwilling; given or allowed only with hesitation.
Example
She gave him a grudging smile after the argument.
C2 noun /ˈsɪnəd/

synod

Meaning
An assembly of the clergy in a Christian church convened to decide on issues of doctrine or administration.
Example
The synod gathered to discuss reforms in the church.
C2 noun /ˌsæv.wɑːr ˈfeər/

savoir-faire

Meaning
The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations; polished social skills.
Example
She handled the delicate situation with remarkable savoir-faire.
A2 noun /ˈpɛpər/

pepper

Meaning
a pungent spice obtained from pepper plants, used to flavor food
Example
I like to add pepper to my soup.
A1 noun /ˈbɒt.əl/

Bottle

Meaning
a container with a narrow neck, typically made of glass or plastic, used for storing liquids
Example
She drank water from a plastic bottle.
B2 noun /ˈkɒnsənənt/

consonant

Meaning
A speech sound produced by blocking air flow, or a letter representing such a sound.
Example
The word 'cat' has two consonants and one vowel.
C1 adjective /ˈfɜːr.vənt/

fervent

Meaning
having or showing intense passion or enthusiasm
Example
She gave a fervent speech about climate change.
C1 noun /ˈæmpɛər/

ampere

Meaning
A unit of electric current in the International System of Units (SI), symbolized as A.
Example
The current flowing through the wire is measured in amperes.
B1 noun /kənˈstrʌk.ʃən/

construction

Meaning
The building of something, typically a large structure.
Example
Construction dust significantly contributes to pollution.
C2 noun /ˈænɪməs/

animus

Meaning
A strong feeling of hostility; motivation or purpose behind an action.
Example
His speech was driven by animus against the policy.
C1 noun /ˈrez.ɪ.dənt ˈkəʊ.ɔː.dɪ.neɪ.tər/

resident coordinator

Meaning
A local administrator or official who coordinates activities in a specific region.
Example
The resident coordinator welcomed all representatives.
C2 adjective /ɪkˈstɛnsəbl/

extensible

Meaning
able to be extended; capable of expansion.
Example
The software is designed to be extensible with new features.
C1 verb /ˈrʌm.ɪdʒ/

rummage

Meaning
to search through something in a disorderly way
Example
He rummaged through the drawer for his keys.
C1 noun /ˌɑːsɪˈleɪʃən/

oscillation

Meaning
The movement back and forth at a regular speed.
Example
The oscillation of the pendulum controls the clock.
B2 adverb /rɪˈmɑːrkəbli/

remarkably

Meaning
in a way that is worthy of attention or notice; surprisingly
Example
She did remarkably well in the competition.
C2 verb /ɛkˈskɔːrieɪt/

excoriate

Meaning
To strongly criticize someone; to denounce severely.
Example
The critic excoriated the film for its poor script.
B2 noun /ˈbel.i/

Belly

Meaning
the front part of the human trunk below the ribs, containing the stomach and bowels; abdomen
Example
The baby kicked in her belly during pregnancy.
C2 noun /ˈskɪz.əm/ or /ˈsɪz.əm/

schism

Meaning
A division or split between strongly opposed parties, often in religion or organizations.
Example
The schism in the church led to the formation of two separate groups.
C1 adjective /səˈtɪrɪk/

satiric

Meaning
Relating to or using satire.
Example
The novel takes a satiric view of urban life.
C1 noun, verb /ˈliːvər/ or /ˈlɛvər/

lever

Meaning
a rigid bar used to move or lift heavy objects; to move something using leverage.
Example
He used a lever to lift the heavy stone.
C1 noun /traɪˈbjuːnəl/

tribunal

Meaning
a court of justice or body established to settle disputes
Example
The case was heard in an international tribunal.
C1 noun /ˈmedoʊ/

Meadow

Meaning
A piece of grassland, especially one used for hay
Example
The cows grazed peacefully in the green meadow.
C2 verb /fɔrˈswɛr/

forswear

Meaning
to renounce or reject; to give up completely
Example
He forswore his old habits and started a new life.
B1 verb /krɔːl/

crawl

Meaning
to move slowly on hands and knees; to move very slowly
Example
The baby crawled across the floor to reach the toy.
C2 verb /ˈbɜːrdʒən/

burgeon

Meaning
To grow or develop rapidly; to flourish.
Example
The city's population began to burgeon after the new factory opened.
C2 noun /ˈhɛptɑːrki/

heptarchy

Meaning
A group of seven rulers or governments, especially the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in early England.
Example
The history book described the heptarchy of Anglo-Saxon England.
B2 noun səbˈstænʃəl ˈɪmpækt

substantial impact

Meaning
A significant, considerable, and meaningful effect or influence.
Example
Substantial impact is possible even with a few hours of volunteering.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈvæljʊəbl/

invaluable

Meaning
Extremely useful or indispensable.
Example
Her advice proved invaluable to my success.
B2 noun /ˈɡreɪt.fəl.nəs/

Gratefulness

Meaning
the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for kindness
Example
She expressed her gratefulness to the doctors who saved her life.
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 noun /ˈmæt.rəs/

Mattress

Meaning
a large rectangular pad for supporting the reclining body, used as or on a bed
Example
We bought a new mattress for our bedroom.
C1 noun/verb /θrɒŋ/

throng

Meaning
A large, densely packed crowd of people or animals; to fill or be present in a place in large numbers.
Example
Tourists thronged the streets during the festival.
C2 noun /ˌkɒnsæŋˈɡwɪnɪti/

consanguinity

Meaning
The fact of being descended from the same ancestor; blood relationship.
Example
The degree of consanguinity was important in inheritance laws.
B1 noun /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

Shadow

Meaning
a dark area where light is blocked by something; a person's silhouette
Example
The tree cast a long shadow across the garden in the evening.
B1 noun /ˈkʌˈs.təm/

Custom

Meaning
a traditional practice or behavior; duties levied on imports; habitual practice
Example
It is a local custom to remove shoes before entering someone's home.
B1 noun /ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃən/

publication

Meaning
the act of making something publicly known or available
Example
The publication of the report sparked a debate.
C2 adjective /ɪˈmɛrɪtəs/

emeritus

Meaning
having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honor
Example
He is a professor emeritus at the university.
C2 noun /dɪˈkæmərən/

decameron

Meaning
A collection of 100 tales written by Giovanni Boccaccio in the 14th century, told by a group of people over ten days.
Example
The Decameron is considered a masterpiece of classical Italian literature.
B2 noun /hɔrn/

Horn

Meaning
a hard pointed projection on the head of certain animals; a musical instrument
Example
The rhinoceros used its horn to defend itself.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈseɪf/

Unsafe

Meaning
involving or causing danger or risk; not protected from harm
Example
It is unsafe to walk alone in this neighborhood at night.
B2 verb /ˈkɒmbæt/

combat

Meaning
to fight against something, especially to reduce or stop it
Example
The government is taking steps to combat corruption.
C1 noun, verb /spreɪn/

sprain

Meaning
an injury to a joint in which the ligaments are stretched or torn
Example
She sprained her ankle while running in the park.
C1 noun, verb /ˈfɜːrloʊ/

furlough

Meaning
temporary leave of absence from work, especially that granted to an employee or soldier
Example
Many workers were placed on furlough during the crisis.
B1 noun /ˌvɒl.ənˈtɪər/

Volunteer

Meaning
a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task
Example
Many volunteers helped distribute food to the homeless.
C1 noun /ˈlaɪm.stoʊn/

Lime stone

Meaning
a hard sedimentary rock, composed mainly of calcium carbonate or dolomite, used as building material and in the making of cement
Example
The ancient building was made of limestone blocks.
C2 noun/adjective /rɪˈmɒnstrənt/

remonstrant

Meaning
A person who makes a forceful protest (noun); protesting or objecting (adjective).
Example
He was a remonstrant voice in the assembly.
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.
B2 noun ˈkwəʊ.tə

quota

Meaning
A limited or fixed number or amount of people or things, in particular.
Example
The quota reform was a key demand.
C2 adjective /juːˈnɪsənənt/

unisonant

Meaning
Sounding together or in harmony.
Example
The unisonant voices created a powerful effect.
C1 adjective kənˈkɝː.ənt

concurrent

Meaning
Existing, happening, or done at the same time.
Example
The conference had concurrent sessions on various topics.
B2 noun /ˈhændlɪŋ/

handling

Meaning
the act of managing or dealing with something or someone
Example
His handling of the situation was impressive.
C1 noun /ˈwiː.vər bɜːd/

Weaver bird

Meaning
a small bird that builds elaborate woven nests from grass and twigs
Example
The weaver bird skillfully constructs its intricate nest.
C1 noun ˌdɪs.ɪnˈfek.ʃən

disinfection

Meaning
The process of destroying harmful microorganisms to prevent infection.
Example
Kitchen appliances require frequent disinfection.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɔːrˈdeɪn/

preordain

Meaning
To decide or determine an outcome in advance, especially by fate or divine will.
Example
They believed their meeting was preordained by destiny.
C1 adjective /dʒuːˈdɪʃ.əl/

judicial

Meaning
relating to judges, courts, or the administration of justice
Example
The new law faced strong judicial review before implementation.
A2 modal verb /ʃæl/

shall

Meaning
used to express the future or indicate an intention or determination
Example
I shall return before sunset.
C2 noun /ˈstiː.vəˌdɔːr/

stevedore

Meaning
A person employed to load and unload cargo from ships.
Example
The stevedores worked tirelessly to unload the cargo before dawn.
C2 noun /ˈɡʌl.i/

gully

Meaning
A narrow channel or ravine worn away by water.
Example
After the storm, the road was cut by a deep gully.
C1 noun, verb /dɪsˈɑːnər/

dishonor

Meaning
a state of shame or loss of respect; to bring shame upon someone or something
Example
The soldier felt he had brought dishonor to his family.
C2 verb /bɪˈɡaɪl/

beguile

Meaning
to charm or enchant someone, often in a deceptive way
Example
She beguiled the audience with her storytelling.
C2 noun /ˌkʌmˈʌpəns/

comeuppance

Meaning
A deserved punishment or fate; just deserts.
Example
The corrupt official finally got his comeuppance in court.
C1 adverb /ˈeɪ.mi.ə.bli/

Amiably

Meaning
in a friendly and pleasant manner
Example
They discussed the issue amiably without any arguments.
B2 verb /dɪˈtɜːr/

deter

Meaning
to discourage someone from doing something by instilling doubt or fear
Example
High fines are meant to deter people from breaking the law.
C2 noun /pəˈtruːn/

poltroon

Meaning
a cowardly person
Example
He acted like a poltroon during the crisis.
C2 adjective /ˈnɛðər/

nether

Meaning
situated down or below; lower
Example
They explored the nether regions of the cave.
A2 noun /θɔːt/

thought

Meaning
an idea or opinion produced by thinking or considering something
Example
She had a sudden thought about the future.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnkɒmprɪˈhɛnsəbl/

incomprehensible

Meaning
Impossible or very difficult to understand.
Example
The professor’s lecture was so fast it became incomprehensible.
C1 verb /niːd/

knead

Meaning
to work dough or clay into a uniform mixture by pressing, folding, and stretching
Example
She kneads the dough until it becomes smooth.
B1 verb /θrɪl/

Thrill

Meaning
to cause someone to feel very excited and pleased
Example
The roller coaster ride thrills adventure seekers.
C1 noun/adjective /ˈbæstərd/

bastard

Meaning
a child born to unmarried parents (offensive); also used informally as an insult or to describe something unpleasant
Example
He called him a bastard in anger.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsæprəˈbeɪʃən/

disapprobation

Meaning
strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds
Example
The policy was met with widespread disapprobation.
C2 verb /məˈlɪŋɡər/

malinger

Meaning
to exaggerate or fake illness in order to escape duty or work
Example
He tried to malinger to avoid going to school.
B1 adjective /ˈsuːtəbl/

suitable

Meaning
appropriate or right for a particular person, purpose, or situation
Example
This dress is suitable for the wedding.
B2 verb /səbˈmɪt/

submit

Meaning
to present for consideration; to surrender; to yield
Example
Please submit your assignment by Friday.
A2 noun /klaʊn/

Clown

Meaning
a comic entertainer, especially one in a circus, wearing a traditional costume and exaggerated makeup
Example
The children laughed loudly at the funny clown's silly antics.
B2 noun /ˈɡʌv.ən.əns/

governance

Meaning
The action or manner of governing and controlling a state or organization.
Example
Effective governance ensures sustainable development.
C2 noun /ˈhaɪərəˌɡlɪf/

hieroglyph

Meaning
A picture or symbol used in ancient writing systems, especially Egyptian writing.
Example
The walls of the temple were covered in hieroglyphs.
A1 noun, verb /ɡruːp/

group

Meaning
A number of people or things considered together; to arrange things or people into categories.
Example
The students formed a study group.
C1 noun /ˈpɛndənt/

pendant

Meaning
a piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain worn around the neck
Example
She wore a silver pendant around her neck.
B1 adjective /ɪmˈbær.ə.sɪŋ/

Embarrassing

Meaning
causing shame or awkwardness; uncomfortable; humiliating
Example
It was embarrassing when I forgot her name.
B2 verb /mɔːrn/

mourn

Meaning
To feel or express deep sadness or grief, especially because of someone's death.
Example
They gathered to mourn the loss of their friend.
B2 noun /ˈdʒɜːrnəlɪzəm/

journalism

Meaning
the activity or profession of collecting, writing, and publishing news and articles for newspapers, magazines, or broadcast media
Example
He studied journalism to become a news reporter.
C1 adjective /rɪˈvoʊltɪŋ/

revolting

Meaning
extremely unpleasant or disgusting
Example
The smell of the garbage was revolting.
C1 noun /ˈmeɪ.triˌɑːrk/

matriarch

Meaning
A woman who is the head of a family or community.
Example
The matriarch of the family made all important decisions.
B2 adjective /ˈmɪstʃɪvəs/

Mischievous

Meaning
playfully naughty; causing minor trouble; impish
Example
The mischievous child hid his sister's favorite toy.
A1 noun/verb /pɛn/

pen

Meaning
A writing instrument using ink; also, to write something.
Example
She used a pen to sign the document.
B2 verb /səˈrɛndər/

surrender

Meaning
to give up or yield to an opponent or authority
Example
The army finally surrendered after weeks of fighting.
A2 noun /ˈkjuː.kʌm.bər/

Cucumber

Meaning
a long green vegetable with watery flesh, eaten raw in salads or cooked
Example
I added fresh cucumber slices to my salad.
C2 noun /sfɛˈrɪsɪti/

sphericity

Meaning
The quality or state of being spherical; roundness.
Example
The sphericity of the ball made it roll smoothly on the ground.
C2 noun /ˈkɪzmɛt/

kismet

Meaning
Destiny or fate.
Example
Meeting her on that day felt like pure kismet.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌɡræm/

decagram

Meaning
A metric unit of mass equal to ten grams.
Example
The package weighed exactly one decagram.
A2 adjective /sər'praɪzd/

Surprised

Meaning
feeling or showing surprise; astonished
Example
I was surprised to see my old friend at the market.
C1 verb /ˌmɪsˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt/

misrepresent

Meaning
to give a false or misleading account of something
Example
The lawyer accused the witness of trying to misrepresent the facts.
A2 verb /ˈhɜːri/

hurry

Meaning
to move or act with great speed; to rush
Example
We need to hurry or we'll be late.
B2 adjective /ˈmɛtrɪk/

metric

Meaning
Relating to the metric system of measurement; also, a standard of measurement used to assess performance.
Example
The company tracks success using clear performance metrics.
B1 noun /kəˈnuː/

Canoe

Meaning
a narrow boat pointed at both ends and moved with a paddle
Example
They paddled their canoe down the peaceful stream.
B2 noun /ˈkɪlɪŋ/

killing

Meaning
the act of causing death, especially deliberately
Example
The movie depicts the brutal killing of the villagers.
C2 noun /jɔːr/

yore

Meaning
Time long past; bygone days.
Example
Legends of yore still inspire people today.
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.
B2 noun /ˈkwɒr.əl/

Quarrel

Meaning
an angry argument or disagreement between people
Example
They had a quarrel about money and stopped talking to each other.
B1 noun aɪˈdɛntɪti

identity

Meaning
The fact of being who or what a person or thing is; the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is.
Example
The day reinforces our national identity.
C2 verb /dɪˈkænt/

decant

Meaning
To pour liquid gently from one container into another, especially without disturbing the sediment.
Example
She carefully decanted the wine into a clean glass.
C1 noun, verb /ˈbʌtrəs/

buttress

Meaning
a structure built against a wall for support; to support or strengthen
Example
The cathedral walls were buttressed to prevent collapse.
C2 noun /sɛnˈtjʊəriən/

centurion

Meaning
A commander of a unit of one hundred soldiers in the ancient Roman army.
Example
The centurion led his men into battle with courage.
B1 noun /ˈleʒ.ər/

Leisure

Meaning
time when one is not working or occupied; free time used for enjoyment
Example
She enjoys reading books in her leisure time.
A1 noun /eər/

Air

Meaning
the invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth; a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen
Example
Fresh air is essential for good health.
C1 noun /pʌnˈdʒɑː.bi/

Punjabi

Meaning
a traditional long shirt worn in South Asia, typically loose-fitting
Example
He wore a white punjabi for the festival celebration.
C1 adjective /ˌhɛtərəˈʤiːniəs/

heterogeneous

Meaning
consisting of different kinds or diverse elements
Example
The classroom was filled with a heterogeneous group of students.
B1 noun ɡreɪt wɔːl əv ˈtʃaɪ.nə

Great Wall of China

Meaning
A massive ancient fortification system in China, built to protect against invasions and considered one of the most famous landmarks in the world.
Example
The Great Wall of China is one of the most famous landmarks in the world.
A2 noun /ˈmʌʃ.ruːm/

Mushroom

Meaning
a type of fungus that can be eaten, often used in cooking
Example
The pizza was topped with fresh mushrooms.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrbər/

arbor

Meaning
a shady garden shelter formed by trees, climbing plants, or latticework
Example
They rested under the arbor covered with roses.
B1 adjective /ˈhæn.səm/

handsome

Meaning
attractive in appearance, usually referring to men; also can mean generous or impressive in size.
Example
He looked very handsome in his new suit.
A2 verb /riːˈsaɪ.kəl/

recycle

Meaning
to process used materials so they can be used again instead of being thrown away
Example
We should recycle paper and plastic to reduce waste.
C2 adjective /ˈkjʊərətɪv/

curative

Meaning
Able to cure disease or restore health.
Example
The doctor prescribed a curative treatment for the illness.
C2 verb /ˈnuːkliˌeɪt/

nucleate

Meaning
to form into a nucleus or bring together into a central part
Example
The droplets began to nucleate around tiny particles in the air.
C1 noun /rɪˈvʌlʃən/

revulsion

Meaning
a strong feeling of disgust or repulsion
Example
She felt revulsion at the sight of the cruel act.
B2 noun /ɪnˈspɛktər/

inspector

Meaning
An official employed to ensure regulations are obeyed or standards are met.
Example
The inspector carefully checked the restaurant's kitchen for hygiene standards.
B2 noun /ˌnɔːrθˈiːst/

northeast

Meaning
the direction between north and east; a region or area located in that direction.
Example
The storm is moving toward the northeast.
C1 adjective /ˈtʌf.tɪd/

Tufted

Meaning
having a tuft or tufts; furnished with a tuft or clump of threads, hairs, or other material
Example
The tufted sofa looked elegant in the living room.
B2 verb /krʌʃ/

crush

Meaning
to press or squeeze something so hard that it is damaged or destroyed
Example
He accidentally crushed the paper cup in his hand.
B2 adjective /mæɡˈnɛtɪk/

magnetic

Meaning
having the power to attract metal objects or to attract people or things in a strong way
Example
The magnetic field of the Earth protects us from harmful solar radiation.