incubus
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C2 noun /ˈɪŋkjʊbəs/

incubus

Meaning
An oppressive or nightmarish burden; in folklore, an evil spirit that lies upon sleeping people.
Example
Debt became an incubus that weighed heavily on the family.
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 /tʌf/

tough

Meaning
strong, durable, and difficult to break or deal with
Example
He had a tough day at work.
C2 verb /diːˈpɒpjʊˌleɪt/

depopulate

Meaning
To reduce the number of people living in a place.
Example
The war threatened to depopulate the once-thriving town.
C1 adjective /ˌpærəˈdɒksɪkəl/

paradoxical

Meaning
Seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense, yet possibly true.
Example
It is paradoxical that standing is often more tiring than walking.
C1 noun /ˈpæŋkriəs/

pancreas

Meaning
A gland in the abdomen that produces insulin and digestive enzymes.
Example
The pancreas plays a vital role in digestion and blood sugar regulation.
C1 adjective /ˈpʌlməˌneri/

pulmonary

Meaning
relating to the lungs
Example
The patient suffered from a serious pulmonary infection.
B2 verb /ˈæmplɪˌfaɪ/

amplify

Meaning
to make sounds louder; to make something larger or more significant
Example
The microphone amplifies her voice.
C1 noun məˈriːn ˈsɜː.veɪ

marine survey

Meaning
A systematic examination of the sea, seabed, and underwater features for the purpose of making maps or gathering other information.
Example
The marine survey identified the ideal cable routes.
C1 noun /ˈkɜːrnəl/

kernel

Meaning
the central, most important part of something; the edible part of a nut or seed
Example
The kernel of the argument was about fairness.
B1 adjective /ˈdiː.teɪld/

detailed

Meaning
Having many details; very thorough.
Example
The report provided a detailed analysis of the situation.
C2 noun /ˌfɑːsfəˈrɛsəns/

phosphorescence

Meaning
the property of emitting light without noticeable heat
Example
The deep-sea creatures displayed a beautiful phosphorescence.
B2 adjective /ɡeɪ/

gay

Meaning
sexually attracted to people of the same sex; also used to mean cheerful or lively
Example
He came out as gay during college.
A1 noun /ʃɜːrt/

Shirt

Meaning
a piece of clothing worn on the upper body with sleeves and buttons
Example
He wore a white shirt to the office.
C1 noun /hɪˈpɑː.krə.si/

Hypocrisy

Meaning
the practice of claiming to have moral standards that one does not actually possess; insincerity
Example
His hypocrisy was exposed when he criticized others for the same mistakes he had made.
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.
C1 noun /krʌˈsteɪʃən/

crustacean

Meaning
an aquatic animal with a hard shell, such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimps
Example
Crabs and lobsters are well-known crustaceans.
C1 noun /ˈlʌɡ.ɪdʒ væn/

Luggage van

Meaning
a vehicle designed for carrying luggage and cargo
Example
The luggage van carried all the passengers' suitcases.
C2 verb /ɪnˈtɜːrpəˌleɪt/

interpolate

Meaning
To insert something, often words, into a text or conversation; to estimate values between known data points.
Example
The editor interpolated a missing paragraph into the manuscript.
C1 noun /ˌdʒiːniˈælədʒi/

genealogy

Meaning
The study and tracing of lines of descent or family history.
Example
She spent years researching her family's genealogy.
B2 adjective /flɔːd/

flawed

Meaning
having a mistake or fault that reduces its value or quality
Example
The flawed design of the car led to a recall.
C2 adjective /prəˈhɪbɪtɔːri/

prohibitory

Meaning
Serving or tending to prohibit or forbid.
Example
The prohibitory laws were strictly enforced in the region.
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.
B1 noun /preɪz/

Praise

Meaning
words that show approval or admiration; to express approval or admiration
Example
The teacher gave praise to the students for their hard work.
C1 noun /ˌkɒrəˈneɪʃən/

coronation

Meaning
the act or ceremony of crowning a sovereign or monarch
Example
The coronation of the new king was attended by thousands of people.
C2 noun /kænt/

cant

Meaning
Hypocritical and insincere talk, especially about moral or religious principles.
Example
The politician's speech was filled with cant about honesty and integrity.
B2 noun, verb /ˈævəlæntʃ/

avalanche

Meaning
(noun) a mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside; a sudden overwhelming quantity; (verb) to descend like an avalanche
Example
The avalanche buried the mountain road under tons of snow.
B2 adjective /əˈnɒn.ɪ.məs/

Anonymous

Meaning
having an unknown name or identity; nameless
Example
The author published the book under an anonymous pseudonym.
C1 verb /skʌf/

scuff

Meaning
to mark or scratch the surface of something by rubbing
Example
He scuffed his shoes on the pavement.
C1 verb /pərˈspaɪər/

perspire

Meaning
To give out sweat through the pores of the skin as a result of heat, physical exertion, or stress.
Example
He began to perspire after running for 10 minutes.
C1 adjective /ˌsuː.pəˈsɒn.ɪk/

Supersonic

Meaning
faster than the speed of sound; relating to speeds greater than the speed of sound
Example
The supersonic jet broke the sound barrier.
B2 adverb /ˈtʃiːfli/

chiefly

Meaning
mainly; primarily
Example
The festival is celebrated chiefly by young people.
B2 noun /ɡeɪz/

Gaze

Meaning
a steady intent look; to look steadily and intently in a particular direction
Example
She met his intense gaze across the crowded room and felt her heart skip a beat.
C1 adjective /ˈfrɪdʒɪd/

Frigid

Meaning
extremely cold; freezing; icy
Example
The frigid weather made it difficult to go outside.
B1 adjective ɪnˈdʌs.tri.əl

industrial

Meaning
Relating to or characterized by industry.
Example
Industrial sectors boost exports.
C1 adjective /ˈhær.oʊ.ɪŋ/

harrowing

Meaning
extremely distressing or upsetting
Example
It was a harrowing experience to witness the accident.
A2 adjective /streɪndʒ/

strange

Meaning
unusual or not normal
Example
It was strange to see him at the party after so long.
B2 noun /ˈoʊ.dər/

Odour

Meaning
a distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one
Example
The odour of fresh bread filled the kitchen.
C2 noun /ˈvɔːdəvɪl/

vaudeville

Meaning
A type of entertainment popular in the early 20th century, featuring a mixture of comedy, song, dance, and variety acts.
Example
The vaudeville show included comedians, magicians, and dancers.
C2 adverb /ˈtrɛbli/

trebly

Meaning
in a triple manner or to a threefold degree
Example
The sound was trebly distorted through the old speakers.
C2 adjective /ˌɒbsəˈlɛsnt/

obsolescent

Meaning
Becoming outdated or on the way to becoming obsolete.
Example
The obsolescent technology could not compete with modern devices.
C2 adjective /prɪˈsɛnʃənt/

presentient

Meaning
Having a feeling or sense of something about to happen; predictive.
Example
She was presentient of the coming disaster.
C2 noun /ɪɡˈzɛmplɑːr/

exemplar

Meaning
A model or pattern to be copied or imitated.
Example
She is an exemplar of kindness and generosity.
B1 adjective ˈliː.ɡəl

legal

Meaning
Permitted by law; relating to the law.
Example
Legal systems ensure justice.
B2 adjective /stɪf/

Stiff

Meaning
not easily bent or changed; rigid; firm
Example
The old wooden board was too stiff to bend.
B2 adjective /ˌɪd.iˈɒt.ɪk/

Idiotic

Meaning
extremely stupid; foolish; senseless
Example
His idiotic behavior embarrassed everyone at the meeting.
A2 noun /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/

childhood

Meaning
the period of being a child
Example
She spent her childhood in a small village.
C1 noun /ˌdʒʊə.rɪsˈdɪk.ʃən/

Jurisdiction

Meaning
the official power to make legal decisions and judgments; the extent of this power
Example
This case falls under the jurisdiction of the federal court.
C2 adjective/noun /haɪˈbɜːrniən/

hibernian

Meaning
Relating to Ireland or the Irish.
Example
He enjoyed reading about Hibernian culture and history.
C1 noun /æmˈniːʒə/

amnesia

Meaning
A partial or total loss of memory, usually caused by injury, illness, or psychological trauma.
Example
After the accident, she suffered from amnesia and could not remember her own name.
B1 noun, verb /ˈɛksˌreɪ/

x-ray

Meaning
a form of electromagnetic radiation used to see inside objects or the human body; to examine or scan using X-rays
Example
The doctor ordered an X-ray to check for a broken bone.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈθɪŋkəbl/

Unthinkable

Meaning
impossible to conceive or imagine; beyond belief or consideration
Example
It was unthinkable that such a tragedy could happen in our peaceful town.
B2 adjective /ˌæbsənt ˈmaɪndɪd/

absent-minded

Meaning
often forgetting things or not paying attention
Example
He is so absent-minded that he often forgets his keys.
C1 noun /ˈsɪtəˌdɛl/

citadel

Meaning
A fortress protecting or dominating a city.
Example
The ancient citadel stood guard over the town for centuries.
B2 noun /ˈloʊ.təs/

Lotus

Meaning
a large water flower that floats on the surface of ponds and lakes
Example
The lotus flower blooms beautifully in the quiet pond.
B1 verb /əˈmjuːz/

amuse

Meaning
to entertain or make someone laugh or smile; to occupy pleasantly
Example
The clown amused the children at the party.
B2 noun /ˌiː.kəˈnɒm.ɪk ˈsɪs.təm/

economic system

Meaning
The organized framework for production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services in society.
Example
Capitalism, socialism, and mixed economies are types of economic systems.
C2 verb /lʌɡ/

lug

Meaning
to carry or drag something heavy or cumbersome with effort
Example
He had to lug the suitcase up three flights of stairs.
C1 verb /əkˈsɛntʃueɪt/

accentuate

Meaning
to emphasize or make something more noticeable
Example
The lighting accentuated the beauty of the painting.
C2 noun /ˈreɪləri/

raillery

Meaning
good-humored teasing or joking
Example
Their friendship was full of light-hearted raillery.
B2 noun /ˈblʌn.dər/

blunder

Meaning
A stupid or careless mistake; a serious error in judgment.
Example
His blunder cost the company a fortune.
C2 adjective kaɪˈmɛr.ɪ.kəl

chimerical

Meaning
Illusory or impossible to achieve; existing only in imagination.
Example
His chimerical ideas often baffled realists.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/

deferential

Meaning
Showing or expressing respect and high regard.
Example
He was always deferential toward his teachers.
B2 noun kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃən

collaboration

Meaning
The action of working with someone to produce or create something
Example
International collaboration is necessary to fight pollution.
C2 verb /ˈæsəneɪt/

assonate

Meaning
To correspond or agree in sound, especially by vowel sounds; to rhyme approximately.
Example
The lines assonate beautifully, giving the song a unique flow.
C2 verb /həˈmɑː.dʒə.naɪz/

homogenize

Meaning
To make uniform or similar by blending or mixing different elements.
Example
The company tried to homogenize its products across global markets.
B2 verb, noun /ˈtæk.əl/

tackle

Meaning
to try to deal with or solve a difficult problem; to physically stop someone in sports by knocking them down
Example
The coach taught the players how to tackle properly.
B1 noun /hjuːˈmænɪti/

humanity

Meaning
the quality of being human; kindness or compassion towards others; all human beings collectively
Example
Kindness is one of the greatest expressions of humanity.
C1 verb /ɪnˈkæp.sjʊ.leɪt/

encapsulate

Meaning
To express the essential features of something succinctly; to summarize or contain within.
Example
The introduction should encapsulate the main points of the article.
B2 adjective /ˈhɑːrtˌbreɪkɪŋ/

Heartbreaking

Meaning
causing overwhelming distress; very sad or disappointing
Example
The documentary showed heartbreaking scenes of children in poverty.
B2 verb /ˈɒkjʊpaɪ/

occupy

Meaning
to take up space or time; to live or work in a place
Example
The new family will occupy the house next month.
C1 verb /ˈɛkstrɪkeɪt/

extricate

Meaning
To free someone or something from a constraint or difficulty.
Example
The firefighters extricated the passengers from the wrecked car.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/

substantive

Meaning
Having a firm basis in reality; important, meaningful, or considerable.
Example
The company made substantive changes to its policy.
C1 verb /ˈfɪdʒɪt/

fidget

Meaning
to make small movements, especially because of nervousness or impatience
Example
The child began to fidget during the long lecture.
C2 adjective /ˈbeɪnfəl/

baneful

Meaning
Causing harm, ruin, or destruction; deadly or poisonous.
Example
His baneful influence ruined the community.
B2 adjective /ˈkʌltʃəd/

cultured

Meaning
characterized by refined taste, manners, and education
Example
She is a cultured woman who loves art and literature.
B2 verb /əbˈzɔːrb/

absorb

Meaning
to take in or soak up a liquid, energy, or information
Example
The sponge absorbed all the water.
C2 noun /kəˈræf/

carafe

Meaning
a glass container without handles used for serving drinks like water or wine
Example
The waiter brought a carafe of water to the table.
B1 noun zəʊn

zone

Meaning
An area or stretch of land having a particular characteristic, purpose, or use, or subject to particular restrictions.
Example
Industrial zones attract investments.
B2 noun /ˈkaʊn.tər/

counter

Meaning
a flat surface in a shop, bank, or kitchen where transactions or work are done
Example
The cashier stood behind the counter.
B2 adjective /ˈkɑːmjənl/

communal

Meaning
Shared by all members of a community; for common use.
Example
The villagers worked together in the communal garden.
A1 preposition/adverb/conjunction /bɪˈfɔːr/

before

Meaning
At an earlier time; in front of in order or place.
Example
She arrived before the meeting started.
C1 noun, verb /klɒt/

clot

Meaning
a thick mass of coagulated liquid, especially blood; to form such a mass.
Example
The doctor removed a blood clot from the patient.
C2 noun /ˈstrɪndʒənsi/

stringency

Meaning
the quality of being strict, precise, or severe
Example
The stringency of the new rules surprised everyone.
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 adjective /kənˈtɛmptʃuəs/

contemptuous

Meaning
showing or expressing contempt; scornful
Example
She gave him a contemptuous glance.
C1 noun /kwɪnˈtɛsəns/

quintessence

Meaning
The purest or most perfect example of something.
Example
She is the quintessence of elegance.
B1 verb /dɪˈlɪvər/

deliver

Meaning
to bring or hand over something to the intended recipient
Example
The courier will deliver the package tomorrow.
C2 verb /dɪˈstreɪn/

distrain

Meaning
to seize someone's property in order to obtain payment of rent or other money owed
Example
The landlord distrained the tenant's furniture for unpaid rent.
B2 verb /ˌriːkriˈeɪt/

recreate

Meaning
to create or produce something again, especially a new version of something lost or destroyed
Example
The team recreated the lost dataset from backups.
B2 noun /əkˌsɛs.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

accessibility

Meaning
Accessibility or availability, easy availability of any place or service.
Example
Improved accessibility helps people with disabilities.
C1 verb /ˈrɪdɪkjuːl/

ridicule

Meaning
To make fun of someone or something in a cruel or dismissive way.
Example
He was ridiculed for his strange ideas.
B1 noun /ˈbʊt.ʃər/

Butcher

Meaning
a person whose job is cutting up and selling meat in a shop
Example
The butcher recommended the best cut of beef for our dinner.
C1 verb /ˈstɪɡmətaɪz/

stigmatize

Meaning
to describe or regard someone as worthy of disgrace or disapproval
Example
People with certain illnesses are often unfairly stigmatized.
C2 adjective /ˈblæs.fə.məs/

blasphemous

Meaning
showing disrespect or lack of reverence for God or sacred things
Example
The book was banned for its blasphemous content.
C1 noun dəˌmɛstɪˈkeɪʃən

domestication

Meaning
The process of taming an animal and keeping it as a pet or for farm produce.
Example
Domestication of animals has been crucial for human survival.
B2 noun /ˈtʃæpəl/

chapel

Meaning
A small church or a room used for Christian worship, often within a larger building.
Example
The couple got married in a small countryside chapel.
B2 verb /dʌmp/

dump

Meaning
to drop or dispose of something carelessly; to end a relationship suddenly
Example
He dumped all the trash into the bin.
C1 noun /ˈbraɪ.dəl/

Bridle

Meaning
the headgear used to control a horse, consisting of buckled straps and a bit
Example
The rider adjusted the horse's bridle before mounting for the race.
A1 adverb /ɔːlˈredi/

Already

Meaning
before now; by this time; previously
Example
I have already finished my homework for today.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌpɒd/

decapod

Meaning
An arthropod with ten limbs, such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimps.
Example
The lobster is a well-known decapod.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛptɪv/

inceptive

Meaning
Relating to or marking the beginning or initial stage of something.
Example
The inceptive phase of the project was marked by enthusiastic planning.
B2 noun səˈsteɪnəbl dɪˈvɛləpmənt

Sustainable Development

Meaning
Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Example
Eco-tourism contributes to sustainable development in local communities.
B1 verb /kəmˈbaɪn/

combine

Meaning
To bring two or more things together to form a single unit.
Example
They decided to combine their resources for the project.
B1 adverb /ˈdʒen.tli/

Gently

Meaning
in a mild, soft, or careful manner
Example
She gently touched the baby's face.
B2 noun/verb /flɑːk/

flock

Meaning
a group of birds or animals; to gather or move in a crowd
Example
Tourists flocked to the beach during summer.
C2 noun /rɪˈpoʊst/

riposte

Meaning
a quick and clever reply to criticism or an insult
Example
Her sharp riposte left everyone in silence.
A1 verb /sɪŋ/

sing

Meaning
to make musical sounds with the voice
Example
She sings beautifully in the choir.
C1 verb /ˈkætəˌlaɪz/

catalyze

Meaning
To cause or accelerate a reaction or change.
Example
The new law catalyzed reforms across the sector.
B2 adjective /ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪzd/

specialized

Meaning
designed or developed for a particular purpose or function
Example
He has a specialized knowledge of ancient civilizations.
B2 noun /skoʊp/

scope

Meaning
the range of one's perception, understanding, or activity
Example
The project is beyond the scope of our resources.
B1 verb /əˈfɛkt/

affect

Meaning
to influence or make a difference to something
Example
The weather can greatly affect our mood.
A1 noun, adjective /hæf/

half

Meaning
one of two equal parts of something
Example
He ate half of the cake.
B2 adverb /ˈleɪ.zɪ.li/

Lazily

Meaning
in a way that shows unwillingness to work or use energy; sluggishly
Example
He lazily stretched his arms and yawned in the morning.
B2 verb /əˈweɪkən/

awaken

Meaning
to stop sleeping; to cause to become aware
Example
The loud noise awakened the entire neighborhood.
B2 noun /ˈkɒn.ʃəs.nəs/

consciousness

Meaning
The state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, sensations, thoughts, and surroundings.
Example
Meditation helps improve consciousness and clarity of thought.
B2 adjective + noun aɪˈdiːəl ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt

ideal environment

Meaning
Perfect or most suitable conditions for growth or development
Example
Winter creates an ideal environment for vegetable growth.
C2 noun /daɪˈɡrɛʃən/

digression

Meaning
A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example
Her story was full of interesting digressions.
B2 adjective /ˈkjuːbən/

cuban

Meaning
relating to Cuba, its people, or its culture
Example
We enjoyed delicious Cuban coffee at the café.
B2 noun /səkˈses.ər/

Successor

Meaning
a person who succeeds another in office; someone who takes over a position or role
Example
The CEO announced his retirement and named his successor for the company.
C1 noun /ˈhɔː.kər/

Hawker

Meaning
a person who travels about selling goods, typically from door to door or on the street
Example
The hawker sold fresh fruits from his cart.