petrify
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C1 verb /ˈpɛtrɪfaɪ/

petrify

Meaning
to make someone so frightened that they are unable to move or think; to turn into stone
Example
The loud noise petrified the little child.
C1 verb /piːk/

pique

Meaning
to stimulate interest or curiosity; to arouse resentment or anger
Example
Her remarks piqued his curiosity about the secret project.
B2 noun /ˈpɒm.ɪˌɡræn.ɪt/

Pomegranate

Meaning
a round fruit with thick red skin containing many small red seeds with juice
Example
The pomegranate seeds were sweet and refreshing.
B2 verb /prəˈhɪbɪt/

prohibit

Meaning
to forbid something by law, rule, or other authority
Example
The law prohibits smoking in public places.
C2 noun /ˈpaʊ.waʊ/

powwow

Meaning
an informal meeting or conference to discuss something
Example
The team held a quick powwow before the presentation.
B2 noun /prəˈpɔːʃən/

proportion

Meaning
a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation to a whole
Example
The proportion of students passing the exam was high.
C1 adjective /ˈpiːkənt/

piquant

Meaning
having a pleasantly sharp or spicy taste; interestingly provocative
Example
The chef added a piquant sauce to the dish to enhance its flavor.
B2 noun /ˈprɛsɪdənt/

precedent

Meaning
An earlier event or decision that serves as a guide or example for future similar situations.
Example
The judge’s ruling set a new precedent for similar cases.
C1 adjective /ˈpəʊ.tənt/

Potent

Meaning
having great strength, power, or effect; influential
Example
The medicine is very potent and should be taken carefully.
B2 verb /plaʊ/

plough

Meaning
to break up and turn over soil using a plough; to move through something with difficulty
Example
The farmer ploughs the field every spring.
A2 adjective /ˈpraɪ.mɛr.i/

primary

Meaning
Most important; main; happening first.
Example
Education is a primary factor in economic growth.
C2 noun /ˈpʌlkrɪˌtjuːd/

pulchritude

Meaning
physical beauty
Example
The actress was admired for her pulchritude as well as her talent.
C2 noun /ˈprɒsədi/

prosody

Meaning
The patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry and speech.
Example
The professor explained how prosody affects the mood of a poem.
C1 noun /pæŋ/

pang

Meaning
a sudden sharp feeling of pain or emotional distress
Example
She felt a pang of guilt after the argument.
C1 noun /ˈpæstər/

pastor

Meaning
a minister in charge of a Christian church or congregation
Example
The pastor delivered a heartfelt sermon on compassion.
B2 noun /ˈpriː.tɛns/ or /prɪˈtɛns/

pretense

Meaning
A false appearance or claim; an act of pretending.
Example
His kindness was only a pretense to gain trust.
C1 noun ˌprɒf.ɪ.təˈbɪl.ɪ.ti

profitability

Meaning
The degree to which a business or activity yields profit or financial gain.
Example
Increasing sales and reducing costs boosted profitability.
C1 verb /ˈpærəlaɪz/

paralyze

Meaning
to cause someone or something to lose the ability to move or function normally
Example
The sudden shock seemed to paralyze him.
C2 noun /ˈfærɪsiː/

pharisee

Meaning
A member of an ancient Jewish sect; by extension, a self-righteous or hypocritical person.
Example
He acted like a pharisee, judging others while ignoring his own faults.
B2 verb /pɪəs/

pierce

Meaning
to make a hole through something; to penetrate with a sharp object
Example
The arrow will pierce through the target.
C2 adjective /pʌɡˈneɪʃəs/

pugnacious

Meaning
Having a quarrelsome or combative nature; eager to fight.
Example
His pugnacious attitude often got him into trouble.
B1 noun/verb /ˈprɛʃər/

pressure

Meaning
the force applied to something or the feeling of stress or tension
Example
The pressure of the situation made him nervous.
C1 noun /ˈpɔːpər/

pauper

Meaning
A very poor person.
Example
The pauper begged for food on the street corner.
A2 noun /pɛt/

pet

Meaning
a domesticated animal kept for companionship or pleasure
Example
My dog is my favorite pet.
C1 adjective /ˈpɜːrtɪnənt/

pertinent

Meaning
Relevant or applicable to a particular matter.
Example
She asked a pertinent question during the meeting.
B2 adjective /prəˈfaʊnd/

profound

Meaning
Very great or intense; having deep insight or understanding.
Example
The speech had a profound impact on the audience.
C2 adjective, noun /pləˈbiːən/

plebeian

Meaning
common, ordinary, or belonging to the lower social classes
Example
The festival was enjoyed by both plebeian and noble citizens.
B2 noun /ˈfɪʃ.ɪŋ/

phishing

Meaning
The fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information.
Example
Phishing emails often trick people into revealing passwords.
C2 noun /prɪˈzɛntmənt/

presentment

Meaning
The act of presenting something formally or officially; a formal statement or document.
Example
The lawyer made a presentment of the evidence to the court.
B2 noun /ˈpjʊə.rɪ.ti/

Purity

Meaning
the state of being pure; cleanness or freedom from contamination
Example
The purity of the mountain water was remarkable.
C2 noun /proʊˈskrɪp.ʃən/

proscription

Meaning
the act of forbidding something, especially by law
Example
The proscription of child labor is an important human rights achievement.
B2 adjective /prəˈdʌk.tɪv/

Productive

Meaning
efficient; yielding good results; fruitful
Example
Working from home has made me more productive than ever before.
C2 noun /prəˈfjuːʒən/

profusion

Meaning
an abundance or large quantity of something
Example
Spring brought a profusion of wildflowers to the valley.
C2 adjective /ˌpaɪroʊˈtɛknɪk/

pyrotechnic

Meaning
Relating to fireworks or spectacular displays involving fire.
Example
The city celebrated with a grand pyrotechnic display on New Year's Eve.
C1 noun /ˈpɒ̃ʃɒ̃/

penchant

Meaning
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something
Example
She has a penchant for collecting rare books.
C2 noun ˈpær.ə.ɡən

paragon

Meaning
A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality; a model of excellence.
Example
Neom is a paragon of sustainable urban design.
B2 noun /ˈpɔːt.fəʊ.li.əʊ/

portfolio

Meaning
A collection of work or samples demonstrating skills and expertise.
Example
His portfolio showcased his diverse range of skills.
C2 noun /ˌpɛkəˈdɪloʊ/

peccadillo

Meaning
a small or minor fault or sin
Example
Forgetting to call was just a small peccadillo, not a serious mistake.
C1 noun /prɪˈrɒɡətɪv/

prerogative

Meaning
a special right or privilege exclusive to a particular person or group
Example
It is the manager’s prerogative to make the final decision.
B2 adjective /ˈpen.dɪŋ/

Pending

Meaning
awaiting; not yet decided or settled; in the process of being completed
Example
The application is still pending approval.
B1 adjective /pərˈtɪk.jʊ.lər/

particular

Meaning
specific or special; distinct from others
Example
He is very particular about his diet.
C1 noun /ˈpriːˌkɜrsər/

precursor

Meaning
Something or someone that comes before another and indicates the approach of something else.
Example
The steam engine was a precursor to modern trains.
B2 adjective /ˌprɒb.ləˈmæt.ɪk/

Problematic

Meaning
causing problems; troublesome; difficult to deal with
Example
The new policy changes are problematic and need to be reviewed.
B2 noun /saɪˈkɒlədʒi/

psychology

Meaning
the scientific study of the mind and behavior
Example
Psychology helps us understand how people think and act.
B1 noun /pərˈfɔːrmər/

performer

Meaning
a person who entertains an audience by acting, singing, dancing, or playing music
Example
The performer received a standing ovation for her song.
C2 noun /ˈpoʊ.ɪˌtæs.tər/

poetaster

Meaning
an inferior or trivial poet
Example
He was mocked as a poetaster by the literary critics.
C2 adjective /ˌprɛsɪˈdɛnʃəl/

precedential

Meaning
Relating to, or serving as, a precedent; having authority as an example.
Example
The court’s decision has precedential value.
C2 noun /ˌpɑːrtjʊˈrɪʃən/

parturition

Meaning
The act of giving birth; childbirth.
Example
The doctor explained the stages of parturition to the students.
C2 noun /ˈplɛntɪtjuːd/

plentitude

Meaning
the condition of being full or abundant
Example
The garden offered a plentitude of flowers in spring.
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.
C2 adjective /pəˈlɛmɪkəl/

polemical

Meaning
relating to or involving strongly critical or controversial writing or speech
Example
She wrote a polemical article challenging traditional beliefs.
B2 adverb /prɪˈzjuːməbli/

presumably

Meaning
used to convey that something is assumed to be true though not known for certain
Example
Presumably, he forgot to send the email.
C2 noun /fɪˈlæt.əl.i/

philately

Meaning
the collection and study of postage stamps
Example
Philately is a hobby enjoyed by people of all ages.
C1 noun /ˈpræɡmətɪst/

pragmatist

Meaning
A person who deals with things in a practical and realistic way.
Example
He is a true pragmatist who values results over ideals.
C2 noun /paɪər/

pyre

Meaning
A heap of combustible material, especially one used for burning a corpse as part of a funeral ceremony.
Example
The villagers built a pyre to honor the deceased.
C1 verb ˈplʌmɪtɪŋ

plummeting

Meaning
Falling or dropping suddenly and steeply; decreasing rapidly
Example
The fertility rate in Bangladesh is plummeting.
C1 adjective /ˌsaɪkoʊsəˈmætɪk/

psychosomatic

Meaning
Relating to a physical illness or condition caused or aggravated by mental factors such as stress.
Example
Her stomach pain was diagnosed as psychosomatic, linked to stress.
B2 adjective /ˈpæʃənət/

passionate

Meaning
showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief
Example
He is passionate about environmental conservation.
B2 adjective /ˈpəʊstwɔːr/

postwar

Meaning
occurring or existing after a war
Example
The postwar period saw significant economic growth.
A2 adjective /ˈpeɪ.ʃənt/

Patient

Meaning
able to wait calmly; tolerant
Example
She was very patient with her young students.
C1 noun /ˌpærəˈnɔɪə/

paranoia

Meaning
an irrational and persistent feeling that people are 'out to get you' or are constantly watching you
Example
His constant paranoia made it hard for him to trust anyone.
C2 noun /pəˈræm.bjə.leɪ.tər/

Perambulator

Meaning
a four-wheeled carriage for a baby; baby stroller or pram
Example
She pushed the perambulator through the park while the baby slept peacefully.
B2 noun /pledʒ/

Pledge

Meaning
a solemn promise or undertaking; something given as security for a loan; a commitment or guarantee
Example
He made a pledge to donate money to charity.
C1 noun /pʌn/

pun

Meaning
A humorous use of words that suggests different meanings or words that sound alike.
Example
He made a clever pun about the bakery's bread rising.
C1 adjective /pɪˈkjuːniˌɛri/

pecuniary

Meaning
relating to money or financial matters
Example
They faced pecuniary difficulties after the business failed.
B2 verb /pəˈluːt/

pollute

Meaning
to make air, water, or land dirty and harmful to people, animals, and plants
Example
Factories pollute the environment with toxic chemicals.
B2 adjective /pælɛˈstɪnɪən/

palestinian

Meaning
relating to Palestine or its people
Example
The Palestinian people have a rich cultural heritage.
B2 adverb /ˈpʌb.lɪk.li/

Publicly

Meaning
in a public manner; openly; for everyone to see or know
Example
The company publicly announced their new policy.
B2 adjective /ˈfoʊni/

phony

Meaning
not genuine; fraudulent or insincere
Example
He gave a phony smile to hide his true feelings.
A2 adverb /ˈpɒs.ə.bli/

Possibly

Meaning
perhaps; maybe; it may be the case that
Example
It will possibly rain tomorrow.
C2 adjective /prəˈtuːbərənt/

protuberant

Meaning
Sticking out or bulging.
Example
His protuberant belly showed after the meal.
B2 verb /pɔːˈtreɪ/

portray

Meaning
to describe or represent something or someone in a work of art or literature
Example
The novel portrays a vivid picture of life in the countryside.
C2 adjective /njuːˈmætɪk/

pneumatic

Meaning
operated by air or gas under pressure
Example
The factory uses pneumatic tools for assembly.
C2 adjective /ˈprɒmɪsəri/

promissory

Meaning
Containing or conveying a promise, especially in writing.
Example
He signed a promissory note to repay the loan.
C1 noun /ˈpɔː.pəs/

Porpoise

Meaning
a small toothed whale with a low triangular dorsal fin and a blunt rounded snout
Example
The porpoise jumped gracefully out of the water.
C1 adjective /ˈfɒnɪk/

phonic

Meaning
relating to speech sounds or their production; connected to phonics
Example
Children learn phonic rules to read new words accurately.
A2 noun /ˈpæs.ən.dʒər/

Passenger

Meaning
A person who travels in a vehicle but is not driving it
Example
The bus can carry thirty passengers.
C1 verb /ˈpruːfˌriːd/

proofread

Meaning
to read written material and mark any errors
Example
She proofread the report before submission.
C1 noun /ˈpæl.ət/

Palate

Meaning
the roof of the mouth; a person's ability to distinguish between different flavors
Example
The chef created dishes to please every palate.
C1 adjective /ˌpɜːrpənˈdɪkjələr/

perpendicular

Meaning
At an angle of 90 degrees to a given line, plane, or surface.
Example
The ladder was placed perpendicular to the ground for safety.
C2 noun /pruːd/

prude

Meaning
A person who is easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity; someone overly modest.
Example
He was called a prude for blushing at the movie scenes.
C1 verb /praɪ/

pry

Meaning
to look closely into something; to try to find out private information
Example
She tried to pry into her neighbor’s private life.
C1 verb /prəˈfes/

profess

Meaning
to declare or claim openly; to state one's belief
Example
He professes his love for classical music.
B1 noun /freɪz/

phrase

Meaning
a small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit
Example
He gave a memorable phrase at the conference.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛstɪlənt/

pestilent

Meaning
Causing or tending to cause death or destruction; harmful or pernicious.
Example
The pestilent atmosphere of the swamp made people sick.
A2 verb /pʊl/

pull

Meaning
to exert force to move something toward oneself; to drag or tug
Example
Please pull the door to open it.
C1 adjective /ˈpɑːr.dən.ə.bəl/

Pardonable

Meaning
able to be forgiven; excusable
Example
His mistake was pardonable given the difficult circumstances.
B1 noun /ˈpɒlɪtɪks/

politics

Meaning
activities related to the governance of a country or area, especially the debate between parties having power
Example
Politics often involves making difficult decisions.
C1 noun /ˈpærəbl/

parable

Meaning
A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.
Example
Jesus often taught using a parable to convey deeper truths.
C1 noun /ˌpɜːrmjuˈteɪʃən/

permutation

Meaning
An arrangement or reordering of elements, often in mathematics or logic.
Example
The puzzle can be solved by trying all possible permutations of the tiles.
B2 noun /pænˈdɛmɪk/

pandemic

Meaning
An outbreak of a disease that occurs on a global scale.
Example
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world dramatically.
C1 noun, adjective /ˌpəʊstˈmɔːtəm/

postmortem

Meaning
An examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death.
Example
The doctor carried out a postmortem on the body.
C1 adjective /prəˈlɪf.ɪk/

prolific

Meaning
Present in large numbers or quantities; plentiful; producing many works, results, or offspring.
Example
The author is prolific, having written over 30 books.
A1 noun /pəˈliːs/

police

Meaning
a body of officers representing the civil authority of government
Example
The police arrived quickly to investigate the scene.
B2 adjective /pɪˈkjuː.li.ər/

Peculiar

Meaning
strange or odd; unusual; belonging exclusively to
Example
She has a peculiar way of speaking.
B2 adjective /ˈpeɪ.ə.bəl/

Payable

Meaning
required to be paid; owed as a debt
Example
The amount is payable within thirty days of the invoice date.
C1 noun /prəˈpɛlənt/

propellant

Meaning
A substance that drives or pushes something forward, especially fuel in rockets or engines.
Example
The rocket uses a liquid propellant to launch into space.
C2 noun /ˈpɑːrləns/

parlance

Meaning
a particular way of speaking or using words, common to a group
Example
In legal parlance, the term has a different meaning.
B2 noun /plʌɡ/

plug

Meaning
a device used to connect or block an opening
Example
She inserted the plug into the socket.
A2 noun ˈpaʊ.ər

power

Meaning
The ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way; authority.
Example
Power distribution ensures efficiency.
A2 noun /ˈpoʊst ˌɒfɪs/

post office

Meaning
a public building or agency where mail is sent, received, and other postal services are provided
Example
I went to the post office to mail a package.
B2 adjective /prəˈvɪʒənəl/

Provisional

Meaning
arranged for the present; temporary; subject to later confirmation
Example
The provisional agreement will be reviewed next month.
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.
C2 noun prɒkˈsiː.mɪks

proxemics

Meaning
The study of how people use space and distance to indicate relationships
Example
Understanding proxemics helps in improving interpersonal communication.
C1 adjective + noun ˌpaɪəˈnɪərɪŋ ˈmɪʃən

pioneering mission

Meaning
A groundbreaking or innovative undertaking that leads the way in a particular field.
Example
Artemis is a pioneering mission in space exploration.
C2 adjective /pruːˈdɛnʃəl/

prudential

Meaning
involving or showing prudence, especially in financial or business matters
Example
The bank has set prudential rules to protect depositors.
C1 noun prəˈkjʊrmənt

procurement

Meaning
The action of obtaining or procuring something, especially for official purposes.
Example
The procurement of modern equipment has improved research accuracy.
A2 noun /pəˈliːsmən/

policeman

Meaning
a man whose job is to enforce the law and keep public order
Example
The policeman directed the traffic at the intersection.
C1 noun /ˈpoʊl.stɑːr/

Polestar

Meaning
a bright star that appears to stay in the same position in the sky and is used for navigation
Example
Sailors used the polestar to navigate across the ocean.
B2 verb /prɪˈsiːd/

precede

Meaning
to come before something in time, order, or position
Example
A brief introduction precedes each chapter.
B2 noun /ˌpɜː.sɪˈvɪə.rəns/

perseverance

Meaning
Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success
Example
His perseverance helped him achieve his dreams.
B2 verb /pərˈsɪst/

persist

Meaning
to continue firmly in an action or opinion despite difficulty or opposition
Example
She decided to persist in her efforts to learn French.
C2 noun /ˌfɪziˈɒnəmi/

physiognomy

Meaning
the study of facial features to judge character or personality
Example
He believed in physiognomy and tried to read people's personalities from their faces.
B2 verb /priːtʃ/

preach

Meaning
to deliver a religious or moral talk, often in a church setting
Example
The pastor preached about forgiveness and kindness.
C2 noun /ˈpɪnəs/

pinnace

Meaning
a small boat, often carried by a larger ship
Example
The sailors used a pinnace to reach the shore.
C1 noun ˌpɒlɪˈneɪʃən

Pollination

Meaning
The process by which pollen is transferred from flowers, enabling plant reproduction.
Example
Butterflies play a vital role in pollination.
A2 noun ˈprɒdʒekt

project

Meaning
An individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim
Example
Working on two projects simultaneously is difficult.
C2 adjective /ˌpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/

prepossessing

Meaning
Attractive or appealing in appearance or manner.
Example
She had a prepossessing smile that charmed everyone.
C2 noun /ˈpʌndʒənsi/

pungency

Meaning
The quality of having a strong, sharp taste or smell.
Example
The pungency of garlic filled the kitchen.
C2 adjective /ˈpeɪli/

paly

Meaning
striped with different colors, usually used in heraldry
Example
The knight’s shield was decorated with paly stripes of red and gold.
C1 adjective /prɪˈtɛnʃəs/

pretentious

Meaning
Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.
Example
The restaurant was stylish but far too pretentious for my taste.