matter
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A2 noun, verb /ˈmætər/

matter

Meaning
A subject or situation under consideration; to be important.
Example
It doesn’t matter what others think.
B1 adverb /ˈhaɪli/

highly

Meaning
to a great degree; very
Example
She is highly respected in her field.
B2 noun/verb /stʌmp/

stump

Meaning
the base of a tree left after the trunk is cut down; to puzzle or confuse
Example
The question completely stumped the students.
C2 noun /ˈfuːləri/

foolery

Meaning
Silly or foolish behavior or actions.
Example
His constant foolery made the meeting hard to take seriously.
B2 noun /əˈmɛnəti/

amenity

Meaning
a useful or pleasant facility or feature of a place
Example
The apartment has every amenity needed for comfortable living.
C1 adjective ˌæv.ɒ̃ˈɡɑːd

avant-garde

Meaning
New and experimental; characterized by departure from or rejection of accepted standards.
Example
Avant-garde designs redefine the dining experience.
B2 noun /ˈpɒlən/

pollen

Meaning
fine powder produced by flowers, used in fertilization
Example
Bees collect pollen from flowers to make honey.
C2 adjective /ˈɒfɪʃ/

offish

Meaning
Unfriendly, distant, or reserved in manner.
Example
He seemed offish at the party and avoided most conversations.
C1 noun /ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/

indignation

Meaning
Strong displeasure or anger caused by something unjust, offensive, or insulting.
Example
Public indignation grew after the unfair verdict.
C2 noun /səbˈdʌk.ʃən/

subduction

Meaning
The lateral and downward movement of the edge of a plate of the earth's crust into the mantle beneath another plate.
Example
The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area of intense subduction.
C1 verb /vəˈkeɪt/

vacate

Meaning
to leave a place; to make empty by leaving
Example
The tenants must vacate the apartment by the end of the month.
C1 verb rɪˈlɪŋ.kwɪʃ

relinquish

Meaning
To give up any authority, responsibility, or property.
Example
He decided to relinquish his position as CEO.
C2 adjective /ˌoʊvərˈwiːnɪŋ/

overweening

Meaning
excessively arrogant or prideful
Example
His overweening pride cost him many friends.
C1 noun/adjective/verb /bʌf/

buff

Meaning
A fan or enthusiast; also to polish or shine something.
Example
He is a movie buff who watches films every weekend.
C2 noun /kaɪˈmɪərə/

chimera

Meaning
A mythical creature with parts from different animals; also used to mean a fanciful illusion or unattainable dream.
Example
The idea of a perfect society is often a chimera.
C2 adjective /ɛɡˈzɪɡjuəs/

exiguous

Meaning
small in amount; scanty or inadequate
Example
They survived on exiguous rations during the journey.
A2 noun/adjective /ˈfiːmeɪl/

female

Meaning
a person or animal of the sex that can bear offspring; relating to women or girls
Example
The female lion protects her cubs fiercely.
B1 adjective /ˈɪnəsənt/

Innocent

Meaning
free from guilt or sin; pure; harmless; naive
Example
The innocent child had no idea that her parents were planning a surprise party.
A2 noun /pen stænd/

Pen stand

Meaning
a container or holder designed to keep pens, pencils, and other writing instruments organized
Example
He organized his pens in the pen stand on his desk.
C2 verb /fɔrˈswɛr/

forswear

Meaning
to renounce or reject; to give up completely
Example
He forswore his old habits and started a new life.
C1 verb /əˈprɛs/

oppress

Meaning
to keep someone down by harsh and unfair use of authority; to suppress
Example
The dictator oppressed the people for decades.
C2 noun /biˈætɪtjuːd/

beatitude

Meaning
supreme blessedness or happiness, often used in reference to the sayings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount
Example
She felt a state of beatitude after receiving the good news.
B2 adjective /səˈraʊndɪŋ/

surrounding

Meaning
located all around a particular place or thing; nearby
Example
The surrounding hills were covered in mist.
C2 verb /sweɪð/

swathe

Meaning
To wrap or cover closely or completely.
Example
She swathed the baby in a soft blanket.
C2 adjective /ˈʌndjʊləs/

undulous

Meaning
Having a wavy surface or form.
Example
The artist painted the undulous sea at sunset.
C1 adjective /ˈwaɪ.li/

Wily

Meaning
clever; cunning; sly
Example
The wily fox escaped from the trap using his cunning intelligence.
C1 adjective /ˈtɛmpərd/

tempered

Meaning
having a specified temper or disposition; strengthened or moderated.
Example
She gave a tempered response to the criticism.
C2 noun /kənˈfɛsər/

confessor

Meaning
A person who confesses sins or secrets, especially to a priest.
Example
The confessor listened patiently to the troubled man.
C2 noun /ˌɪrɪˈdɛsəns/

iridescence

Meaning
a play of lustrous, changing colors like those of a rainbow
Example
The butterfly's wings shimmered with iridescence.
B1 noun /ˈædvərˌtaɪzɪŋ/

advertising

Meaning
the activity of producing advertisements for products or services
Example
The company spends millions on advertising every year.
C2 adjective /sɪˈlæbɪk/

syllabic

Meaning
Relating to or based on syllables.
Example
The teacher explained the syllabic structure of the word.
C1 adjective /pərˈtɜːrbd/

perturbed

Meaning
feeling anxious, unsettled, or disturbed
Example
He looked perturbed after hearing the bad news.
C1 noun səbˈsɪs.təns

subsistence

Meaning
The action or fact of maintaining or supporting oneself at a minimum level.
Example
Many farmers depend on subsistence agriculture.
C1 adjective /kənˈtraɪvd/

contrived

Meaning
artificial or forced; not natural or spontaneous
Example
The ending of the movie felt contrived and unrealistic.
C1 noun /ʌpˈhiːvəl/

upheaval

Meaning
a violent or sudden change or disruption to something
Example
The company faced a major upheaval after the sudden resignation of its CEO.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛləˌreɪt/

decelerate

Meaning
to reduce speed; to slow down
Example
The car began to decelerate as it approached the traffic light.
B1 verb /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/

contribute

Meaning
to give something, especially money, time, or effort, to help achieve or provide something
Example
Everyone contributed money to buy a farewell gift for the teacher.
B1 noun /ˈtʃɛərmən/

chairman

Meaning
the leader or head of a meeting, committee, or organization
Example
The chairman opened the meeting with a short speech.
B2 noun/verb /ˈlɪtər/

litter

Meaning
rubbish or waste left lying in a public place; to make a place untidy by leaving rubbish
Example
The park was full of litter after the festival.
A2 noun fɔːrs

force

Meaning
A physical power or energy that can cause movement, change, or influence.
Example
Strong nuclear force binds particles.
B2 noun /ˈwɪkɪdnəs/

wickedness

Meaning
Evil or morally bad behavior.
Example
The story highlights the wickedness of the cruel king.
C1 verb /ˌriː.kənˈviːn/

reconvene

Meaning
to gather or assemble again, especially for a meeting
Example
The committee will reconvene after lunch.
B1 noun /ˈɡɪvər/

giver

Meaning
a person who gives something
Example
She was always a generous giver to charity.
C1 noun nɪˈmɒnɪks

mnemonics

Meaning
A technique to aid memory; a device such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations
Example
Mnemonics help in remembering complex concepts easily.
C2 noun /ˈsɪʒ.ən/

scission

Meaning
the act of cutting or dividing something
Example
The political party suffered a scission over ideological disputes.
C1 noun/verb /ˈræfəl/

raffle

Meaning
A means of raising money by selling numbered tickets, one or more of which are drawn at random for a prize; to sell something in such a lottery.
Example
The charity decided to raffle a bicycle to raise funds.
B2 noun /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊərɪti/

insecurity

Meaning
lack of confidence or assurance; a state of uncertainty or vulnerability
Example
Her insecurity made her doubt her abilities despite her experience.
C2 noun /kəˈtæb.ə.lɪ.zəm/

catabolism

Meaning
The breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones together with the release of energy; destructive metabolism.
Example
Catabolism plays a crucial role in cellular energy production.
C1 verb /ˌɪntərˈsɛpt/

intercept

Meaning
to stop, catch, or seize something on its way from one place to another
Example
The police intercepted the stolen car before it crossed the border.
C2 verb /ɪˈmæskjʊleɪt/

emasculate

Meaning
To make someone weaker or less effective; to deprive of strength or vigor.
Example
The constant criticism emasculated his confidence.
B2 verb /feɪnt/

faint

Meaning
to lose consciousness for a short time because of a temporary lack of oxygen to the brain
Example
He felt dizzy and fainted in the heat.
C1 verb /əˈkrɛdɪt/

accredit

Meaning
to officially recognize, authorize, or approve someone or something
Example
The university is accredited by the national education board.
C1 noun /rɪft/

rift

Meaning
a serious break in a relationship; a split or crack
Example
A rift developed between the two friends after the argument.
C1 noun /hɑːrp/

Harp

Meaning
a large triangular musical instrument with strings that are plucked
Example
The angel played a beautiful melody on the harp.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpɑːlɪtɪk/

impolitic

Meaning
Unwise or imprudent; not showing good judgment.
Example
It would be impolitic to criticize them openly.
C1 adjective /trænˈsen.dənt/

transcendent

Meaning
Beyond or above the range of normal or merely physical human experience.
Example
His art has a transcendent quality.
C1 phrase ˌhjuː.məˈnɪt.ər.i.kəˈtæs.trə.fi

humanitarian catastrophe

Meaning
A widespread disaster affecting human life, health, and well-being on a large scale.
Example
The war created a humanitarian catastrophe.
B2 adjective /ˌɛm.pəˈθɛ.tɪk/

empathetic

Meaning
Showing ability to understand and share feelings of others.
Example
She was empathetic towards her friend's struggles.
C1 noun /ˈvɜːrtɪˌɡoʊ/

vertigo

Meaning
A sensation of spinning or dizziness, often caused by problems in the inner ear or brain.
Example
She felt a sudden vertigo when she looked down from the tall building.
A2 noun /ˈbiː.ɪŋ/

Being

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

cuban

Meaning
relating to Cuba, its people, or its culture
Example
We enjoyed delicious Cuban coffee at the café.
C2 noun /ˈhɑː.mə.li/

Homily

Meaning
a religious discourse delivered as part of a church service; a tedious moralizing lecture
Example
The priest delivered an inspiring homily about compassion and forgiveness during Sunday service.
C1 noun /ˈkɔːl.drən/

Cauldron

Meaning
a large metal pot with a lid and handle, used for cooking over a fire
Example
The witch stirred her potion in a large cauldron.
C1 adjective /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsəbl̩/

reprehensible

Meaning
Deserving strong criticism or blame.
Example
His dishonest actions were truly reprehensible.
B1 noun

Pattern

C1 verb /raɪð/

writhe

Meaning
To twist or squirm in pain or discomfort.
Example
He writhed in pain after twisting his ankle.
B1 noun trend

trend

Meaning
A general direction in which something is developing or changing; a pattern or tendency.
Example
The current trend of deforestation is alarming.
C2 adjective /ˌhæfˈhɑːr.tɪd/

halfhearted

Meaning
lacking enthusiasm or determination; unenthusiastic
Example
His halfhearted attempt to study did not bring good results.
A2 adjective /ˈpiːs.fəl/

Peaceful

Meaning
free from disturbance; calm and quiet; not involving war or violence
Example
The garden is a peaceful place to relax.
C2 noun /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnʃən/

reprehension

Meaning
The act of rebuking or criticizing severely.
Example
The teacher’s reprehension of the student’s behavior was justified.
C1 verb /iːk/

eke

Meaning
to make a small amount of something last longer by using it sparingly
Example
The family tried to eke out their savings during the tough months.
B2 noun /ˈɡlɔː.ri/

Glory

Meaning
magnificent beauty or splendor; praise, honor, and distinction; a state of absolute happiness
Example
The athlete basked in the glory of winning the Olympic gold medal.
B2 noun /ˈɑːftərmɑːθ/

aftermath

Meaning
the consequences or aftereffects of an event or situation, especially a disastrous one
Example
The aftermath of the earthquake was devastating.
A2 verb /hʌnt/

hunt

Meaning
to chase and kill wild animals; to search for something
Example
The tigers hunt their prey at night.
A1 adjective /fɜːrst/

first

Meaning
coming before all others in time, order, or importance
Example
She was the first to arrive at the meeting.
C2 verb əˈtɛn.ju.eɪt

attenuate

Meaning
To reduce the force, effect, or value of something; to make weak or thin.
Example
The medicine helps attenuate the pain.
B2 adjective /ˈtɒl.ər.ə.bəl/

Tolerable

Meaning
able to be endured; acceptable though not ideal
Example
The heat was barely tolerable in the afternoon.
C2 adjective /ˈflaɪti/

flighty

Meaning
unstable, impulsive, or easily distracted; lacking seriousness or stability
Example
She’s too flighty to stick with one job for long.
B2 adverb /ˈmɒdərətli/

moderately

Meaning
to a reasonable extent, not excessively
Example
She exercises moderately to stay healthy.
C2 noun /ˈæbɪs/

abbess

Meaning
the woman in charge of a convent of nuns
Example
The abbess welcomed the visitors to the convent.
B1 adjective /feɪld/

failed

Meaning
not successful in achieving a desired result
Example
The project failed to meet the expectations.
B2 verb /ɪɡˈzædʒəˌreɪt/

exaggerate

Meaning
to describe something as better, worse, or more important than it really is
Example
He tends to exaggerate his achievements.
C1 noun /ɑːˌtɪkjʊˈleɪʃən/

articulation

Meaning
The action of putting into words an idea or feeling of a specified type.
Example
His articulation during the debate impressed everyone.
B1 noun /ˌprezənˈteɪʃən/

presentation

Meaning
The manner or style in which something is given, offered, or displayed.
Example
The presentation of the new product was well received.
B2 noun /braʊ/

brow

Meaning
the part of the face above the eyes; forehead
Example
She wiped the sweat from her brow.
B1 noun ɪˈnɪʃətɪv

initiative

Meaning
An act or strategy intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation; a fresh approach to something.
Example
NASA's initiative to return humans to the Moon is ambitious.
B2 noun /ˈmɪsaɪl/ or /ˈmɪsəl/

missile

Meaning
a weapon that is self-propelled and directed toward a target
Example
The army launched a missile towards the enemy base.
C2 verb /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnd/

reprehend

Meaning
to express disapproval or criticism of someone or something
Example
The teacher reprehended the student for being dishonest.
B2 verb /ˈsʌfəkeɪt/

suffocate

Meaning
to cause someone to die or have difficulty breathing by depriving them of air
Example
The child nearly suffocated when trapped in the locked room.
B1 adjective /ˈvæljʊəbl/

Valuable

Meaning
worth a great deal of money; extremely useful or important
Example
The painting is very valuable and worth millions.
C2 noun /ˈsɑːrdʒənt ət ɑːrmz/

sergeant-at-arms

Meaning
An officer responsible for maintaining order during meetings or legislative sessions.
Example
The sergeant-at-arms escorted the disruptive member out of the hall.
A2 noun /ɡoʊst/

Ghost

Meaning
an apparition of a dead person believed to be able to become visible to the living; a spirit
Example
The old mansion was rumored to be haunted by the ghost of its former owner.
B2 noun ˌɔː.təˈmeɪ.ʃən

automation

Meaning
Replacing manual work with machines or software.
Example
Automation increases efficiency and reduces errors in production.
B2 adjective /ˈlɒŋ ˈstændɪŋ/

long-standing

Meaning
having existed or continued for a long period of time
Example
They have a long-standing relationship with their suppliers.
B1 noun /ˈspiːʃiːz/

Species

Meaning
a group of living organisms that can reproduce with each other; a type or kind
Example
The Amazon rainforest is home to thousands of animal species.
C2 verb /leɪv/

lave

Meaning
To wash or bathe.
Example
She laved her face with cool water.
C2 noun /ˈfiːəlti/

fealty

Meaning
loyalty or allegiance, especially to a sovereign or lord
Example
The knight swore fealty to his king.
C1 adjective /əˈvɜːrs/

averse

Meaning
having a strong dislike of or opposition to something
Example
He was averse to taking unnecessary risks.
C2 noun /ˈoʊ.vər.let/

Overlet

Meaning
a thin mattress or pad placed over a bed for additional comfort
Example
The overlet makes the bed more comfortable to sleep on.
B2 verb /ˈtaɪtən/

Tighten

Meaning
to make something more secure or less loose
Example
He tightened the screws to secure the shelf.
B2 adjective /ˈsoʊ.vi.ət/

soviet

Meaning
relating to the Soviet Union or its government
Example
The Soviet era saw significant changes in Eastern Europe.
C2 noun /ˈkwɒdrʊpɛd/

quadruped

Meaning
an animal that walks on four feet
Example
Most mammals are quadruped creatures adapted for running and stability.
B2 noun /ɪnˌsaɪkləˈpiːdiə/

encyclopedia

Meaning
a book or set of books containing information on many subjects, usually arranged alphabetically
Example
She used an encyclopedia to complete her school project.
C1 verb /ˈvɪn.dɪ.keɪt/

vindicate

Meaning
To clear someone of blame or suspicion; to show or prove to be right, reasonable, or justified.
Example
The new evidence helped vindicate the wrongly accused man.
B2 adjective /ˈvaɪəbəl/

viable

Meaning
Capable of working successfully; feasible.
Example
A viable solution is necessary for long-term success.
C1 noun /ˈpɜːrpɪtreɪtər/

perpetrator

Meaning
a person who commits a harmful, illegal, or immoral act
Example
The police arrested the perpetrator of the crime.
B2 noun /ˈpredʒ.ə.dɪs/

Prejudice

Meaning
preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience
Example
We must fight against prejudice and discrimination in our society.
C2 noun /ˌdɛd ˈhiːt/

dead-heat

Meaning
a race or contest in which two or more competitors finish exactly equal
Example
The race ended in a dead-heat between the two runners.
B1 noun /slaɪd/

Slide

Meaning
a smooth surface for sliding down; a piece of playground equipment
Example
The children enjoyed playing on the slide at the park.
B2 noun /ˈɪɡ.nər.əns/

Ignorance

Meaning
lack of knowledge or information; the state of being uninformed about something
Example
His ignorance about basic computer skills made it difficult for him to find a job.
C1 noun /rɪˈtriː.vəl/

retrieval

Meaning
The process of getting something back, especially from storage or memory.
Example
The brain's retrieval system helps recall past experiences.
C1 verb /siːd/

cede

Meaning
to give up power, territory, or rights to another
Example
The country ceded territory after losing the war.
B2 noun /ˌsɛpəˈreɪʃən/

Separation

Meaning
the action or state of moving or being moved apart; the division of something into constituent or distinct elements
Example
The separation of the two countries was peaceful.
C2 adjective /rəˈʃɛrʃ/

recherche

Meaning
Rare, exotic, or obscure, often in a sophisticated or refined way.
Example
The gallery displayed many recherche artworks from unknown artists.
C2 verb /ɪɡˈzɪləreɪt/

exhilarate

Meaning
To make someone feel very happy, animated, or excited.
Example
The mountain view exhilarated the travelers.
C2 adjective /ˈstɜːr.tər.əs/

stertorous

Meaning
Characterized by heavy snoring or breathing.
Example
The patient’s stertorous breathing alarmed the nurses.
C2 verb /ˈnɪɡəl/

niggle

Meaning
to cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or worry
Example
A small doubt niggled at her mind.
C1 verb /riˈɪtəreɪt/

reiterate

Meaning
To say something again or repeatedly for emphasis or clarity.
Example
The teacher reiterated the importance of honesty.
C1 noun /ˈskrɪmɪdʒ/

scrimmage

Meaning
A practice game or informal match, often in sports, especially football.
Example
The team had a scrimmage before the official season started.
B2 adjective /əˈkaʊntəbl/

accountable

Meaning
Required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible.
Example
Staying accountable helps reduce delays.
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.