picayune
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C2 adjective /ˌpɪkəˈjuːn/

picayune

Meaning
of little value or importance; trivial
Example
He complained about the picayune details of the contract.
C2 adjective /ˈfiːkənd/

fecund

Meaning
producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertile
Example
The fecund soil produced a bountiful harvest this year.
C2 adjective /ˈvɪndɪkeɪtɪv/

vindicative

Meaning
showing a tendency to vindicate or justify; inclined to defend
Example
Her vindicative tone showed that she strongly believed in her innocence.
B2 verb /rɪˈɡeɪn/

regain

Meaning
to get back something that was lost; to recover
Example
He regains his strength after the illness.
C1 adjective /ˌrɛtroʊˈæktɪv/

retroactive

Meaning
applying to a period before it was enacted or established
Example
The new law was made retroactive to cover past cases.
C1 noun /ˈdrɛsˌmeɪkər/

dressmaker

Meaning
A person who makes or alters women's clothing professionally.
Example
The dressmaker crafted a beautiful gown for the bride.
B2 noun /ˈmɪz.ər.i/

Misery

Meaning
Great mental or physical suffering; extreme unhappiness or distress
Example
The poor family lived in complete misery after losing their home.
C1 noun /taɪˈreɪd/

tirade

Meaning
a long, angry, or critical speech
Example
The manager launched into a tirade about poor performance.
C1 adjective /ˈskɔːrnfəl/

Scornful

Meaning
showing contempt or disdain; expressing scorn
Example
She gave him a scornful look when he made the rude comment.
C2 noun /ˈdʒaɪrəˌskoʊp/

gyroscope

Meaning
A device consisting of a wheel or disk mounted so it can spin rapidly and maintain orientation, used for navigation and balance.
Example
The airplane's navigation system relies on a gyroscope for stability.
C1 adjective /ˈsiːs.ləs/

Ceaseless

Meaning
continuing without pause or interruption; endless
Example
The ceaseless rain lasted for three days.
C1 noun /əˈkʌmpənɪmənt/

accompaniment

Meaning
Something that goes together with or complements another thing, often music or food.
Example
The dish was served with a spicy sauce as an accompaniment.
C2 noun /ˌdɛspəˈrɑːdoʊ/

desperado

Meaning
A bold, reckless, or dangerous person, often a criminal.
Example
The sheriff was determined to capture the desperado who terrorized the town.
C2 noun /ˌvɛrɪsɪˈmɪlɪtjuːd/

verisimilitude

Meaning
the appearance of being true or real
Example
The movie was praised for its verisimilitude to actual events.
A2 noun /ˈpɜːpəs/

purpose

Meaning
the reason for which something is done or created
Example
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the new project.
C2 adjective /ˈhɛtərəˌdɒks/

heterodox

Meaning
not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs
Example
The professor was known for his heterodox views on religion.
C2 noun /ˈdoʊtɪdʒ/

dotage

Meaning
The period of old age, especially when one is weak or senile.
Example
He spent his dotage reminiscing about his youth.
C1 noun ˈhɪn.drəns

hindrance

Meaning
Something that creates difficulties or delays in progress.
Example
Lack of funds was a major hindrance to the project.
C2 verb /rɪˈfrækt/

refract

Meaning
To bend light, sound, or heat as it passes through a medium.
Example
The water refracts light, making the straw look bent.
C1 adjective /pərˈtɜːrbd/

perturbed

Meaning
feeling anxious, unsettled, or disturbed
Example
He looked perturbed after hearing the bad news.
A2 noun /ɪˈlek.trɪk fæn/

Electric fan

Meaning
a device with rotating blades that creates airflow to cool or ventilate a room
Example
The electric fan keeps the room cool during hot summer days.
C2 verb /mʌlkt/

mulct

Meaning
to punish by a fine or to defraud someone of money
Example
The corrupt official was mulcted for his misconduct.
A2 noun rɪˈsɜːtʃ

research

Meaning
The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
Example
Research on radio waves began earlier in India.
C2 noun /θiˈɒkrəsi/

theocracy

Meaning
A system of government in which priests or religious leaders rule in the name of God or a deity.
Example
The country was governed as a theocracy where religious leaders had supreme authority.
C1 verb /rɪˈkɔɪl/

recoil

Meaning
To suddenly spring back in fear, horror, or from force such as a gun's kickback.
Example
She recoiled at the sight of the snake.
C2 noun /ˈɪrˌʃɑːt/

earshot

Meaning
the range or distance within which a sound can be heard
Example
The children whispered secrets out of earshot of their parents.
C2 noun /məˈlæsɪz/

Molasses

Meaning
thick, dark, sweet syrup made from sugar cane
Example
The recipe calls for molasses to give the bread a rich flavor.
C1 adjective /bɪˈriːvd/

Bereaved

Meaning
having lost a loved one through death
Example
The bereaved family received many condolences.
B2 noun daɪˈlem.ə

dilemma

Meaning
A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives.
Example
She faced a moral dilemma at work.
B1 noun /stoʊv/

Stove

Meaning
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food by applying heat
Example
She cooked dinner on the gas stove.
C1 verb /əˈseɪl/

assail

Meaning
to attack violently, either physically or with words
Example
The politician was assailed with difficult questions.
A2 noun /ˈwɒlɪt/

Wallet

Meaning
a small folding case for carrying money, credit cards, and identification
Example
He pulled out his wallet to pay for the coffee.
C2 noun /ˈbloʊˌhɑrd/

blowhard

Meaning
a person who brags a lot or talks in a boastful way
Example
Everyone avoided the blowhard at the party because he wouldn't stop bragging.
C1 noun /tækˈtɪʃ.ən/

tactician

Meaning
a person who is skilled at planning and achieving goals, especially in military or business
Example
Napoleon was a brilliant tactician.
C2 adjective /ɔːˈrɪkjʊlər/

auricular

Meaning
Relating to the ear or hearing.
Example
The doctor used an auricular thermometer to check the patient's temperature.
A2 adjective /ˈleɪ.zi/

Lazy

Meaning
idle; unwilling to work; sluggish
Example
He was too lazy to clean his room on the weekend.
C1 adjective /pəˈroʊkiəl/

parochial

Meaning
Having a limited or narrow outlook; relating to a parish.
Example
His parochial view prevented him from understanding global issues.
A2 adjective /əˈnɔɪd/

annoyed

Meaning
feeling slightly angry or irritated
Example
She felt annoyed by the constant noise.
C2 noun /boʊ/

beau

Meaning
a male admirer or boyfriend; a fashionable young man
Example
She arrived at the party with her beau.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtræn.sɪ.dʒəns/

intransigence

Meaning
Refusal to change one's views or to agree about something.
Example
The negotiations failed due to the intransigence of both parties.
C2 noun /ˈɛpɪˌsaɪkl/

epicycle

Meaning
a small circle whose center moves around the circumference of a larger one, used in ancient astronomy
Example
The concept of the epicycle was used to explain planetary motion.
C1 adjective kəˈlɒs.əl

Colossal

Meaning
Extremely large, gigantic, enormous in size or extent.
Example
The colossal pyramids of Egypt are a marvel of architecture.
B2 noun /ˈfɪlmˌmeɪkər/

filmmaker

Meaning
a person who makes films, typically as a profession
Example
He is a well-known filmmaker in the industry.
C1 verb /ˈviːtoʊ/

veto

Meaning
to reject or forbid a decision, proposal, or law
Example
The president decided to veto the new bill.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnæprɪˈhɛnsəbl/

inapprehensible

Meaning
not understandable; incomprehensible
Example
The concept was so abstract that it seemed inapprehensible to most students.
C1 verb /pərˈteɪn/

pertain

Meaning
to relate or have reference to something
Example
The rules pertain to all students in the school.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈnesəseri/

Unnecessary

Meaning
not needed; not required; pointless
Example
The meeting was unnecessary since all decisions were already made.
C2 adjective /əˈpɒ.krɪ.fəl/

apocryphal

Meaning
Of doubtful authenticity, though widely circulated as true.
Example
The story about him saving the village is probably apocryphal.
C1 adjective /prəˈfjuːs/

profuse

Meaning
existing or given in large amounts; abundant
Example
He offered profuse thanks for their timely help.
C2 noun /ˌsuː.pər.əˈbʌn.dəns/

superabundance

Meaning
An excessive or overflowing amount of something.
Example
The garden was filled with a superabundance of flowers.
C1 noun ˈɛksəʊˌplænɪt

exoplanet

Meaning
A planet that orbits a star outside the solar system.
Example
Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets in the last decade.
C1 verb /ræsp/

rasp

Meaning
to speak in a rough, harsh voice or to scrape with a coarse sound
Example
He rasped out a warning before collapsing.
C1 adjective /ˈskwɒlɪd/

squalid

Meaning
extremely dirty and unpleasant, often due to poverty or neglect
Example
He lived in a squalid room with broken furniture.
B2 verb /ˈmɑːdɪfaɪ/

modify

Meaning
to change or alter something; to make partial changes
Example
We need to modify the plan to include more details.
A2 noun /ˈdæm.ɪdʒ/

Damage

Meaning
physical harm caused to something; injury or harm that reduces value or usefulness
Example
The storm caused significant damage to the coastal buildings.
C2 adjective /səˈleɪʃəs/

salacious

Meaning
Having or conveying undue or inappropriate sexual interest.
Example
The tabloid published a salacious story about the celebrity.
B2 verb /ˈkɒntəmpleɪt/

contemplate

Meaning
to think deeply and carefully about something; to consider thoughtfully
Example
She sat quietly to contemplate her future plans.
B2 verb /ɪnˈtriːɡ/

intrigue

Meaning
to arouse curiosity or interest; to make someone fascinated
Example
The mystery novel will intrigue any reader.
C1 noun /ˈɪŋklɪŋ/

inkling

Meaning
A slight idea, hint, or suspicion about something.
Example
She had an inkling that he was planning a surprise.
C2 verb /pɑːrtʃ/

parch

Meaning
to make something extremely dry, especially by exposure to heat
Example
The scorching sun began to parch the fields.
B2 noun /ˈrɪŋkəl/

Wrinkle

Meaning
a small line or fold in something, especially fabric or skin; a crease
Example
She noticed a few wrinkles around her eyes.
B1 noun /ˌdes.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Destination

Meaning
the place to which someone or something is going; the ultimate purpose or end point
Example
Paris was their dream destination for their honeymoon trip.
B2 noun /ˈlɪvər/

liver

Meaning
a large organ in the body that cleans the blood and produces bile to help digest food.
Example
The liver plays a vital role in removing toxins from the body.
C1 verb /pərˈtɜːrb/

perturb

Meaning
To disturb or unsettle greatly in mind.
Example
The sudden noise perturbed the students during the exam.
B2 adjective /ˈsɪnɪstər/

sinister

Meaning
Giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen.
Example
The abandoned house had a sinister atmosphere.
C1 noun /ˈkʌvənənt/

covenant

Meaning
a formal agreement or promise, often legally binding
Example
The landlord and tenant signed a covenant to maintain the property.
C1 adjective /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/

Biting

Meaning
extremely cold; sharply critical or harsh
Example
The biting cold made everyone shiver.
A2 noun /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/

training

Meaning
the process of teaching or learning a particular skill or type of behavior
Example
She completed her training as a nurse last year.
B2 noun /kwəʊˈteɪʃən/

quotation

Meaning
a group of words taken from a text or speech and repeated exactly; an estimated price given for goods or services
Example
The article opened with a famous quotation from Shakespeare.
B1 noun /ˌɪntərˈækʃən/

interaction

Meaning
The process of people or things acting upon or influencing each other.
Example
The teacher encouraged more interaction between students.
B2 verb /ˈvɪʒuəlaɪz/

visualize

Meaning
To form a mental image of something; to imagine.
Example
She tried to visualize her success before the big presentation.
C1 noun /ʃəˈreɪd/

charade

Meaning
an absurd pretense or act intended to deceive; also a word-guessing game
Example
The trial was nothing more than a political charade.
B1 verb /kruːz/

cruise

Meaning
to travel smoothly at a moderate speed, especially for pleasure
Example
They decided to cruise along the coast during their vacation.
C1 verb ɪˈluːd

elude

Meaning
Evade or escape from, typically in a skillful or cunning way; avoid being caught.
Example
The thief managed to elude the police.
A2 adjective, noun /ɪˈtæliən/

italian

Meaning
relating to Italy, its people, or its language; a person from Italy
Example
She loves Italian food.
C1 verb /ˌæprɪˈhɛnd/

apprehend

Meaning
to arrest or seize someone; to understand or perceive something
Example
The police managed to apprehend the thief after a long chase.
B1 verb /ʃɪft/

shift

Meaning
To move or change from one place, position, or situation to another.
Example
She had to shift her focus to the new project.
C1 adjective /ˌɛm.briˈɒn.ɪk/

embryonic

Meaning
in an early or undeveloped stage; relating to an embryo
Example
The project is still in its embryonic stage.
C1 noun /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈniː/

Examinee

Meaning
a person who is being tested in an examination
Example
Each examinee was given two hours to complete the test.
B2 noun ɪˈmjuː.nɪ.ti

immunity

Meaning
The ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specific antibodies.
Example
A strong immunity protects against infections.
B1 noun /ˈker.ləs.nəs/

Carelessness

Meaning
failure to give sufficient attention to avoiding harm or errors
Example
His carelessness with money led to serious financial problems.
C2 noun /hæˈʃiːʃ/

hashish

Meaning
a drug made from the resin of the cannabis plant
Example
The police arrested him for possessing hashish.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪz.mə.ɡræf/

seismograph

Meaning
An instrument that measures and records details of earthquakes, such as force and duration.
Example
The seismograph detected a strong tremor in the area.
C2 noun /ɪˈmɒljʊmənt/

emolument

Meaning
payment for work or services; salary or fees
Example
The professor received his annual emolument from the university.
C2 adjective /ˌæn.θrə.pəˈdʒen.ɪk/

anthropogenic

Meaning
Originating in human activity; caused by humans.
Example
Climate change is largely due to anthropogenic activities.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈspiːdiənt/

inexpedient

Meaning
Not advisable, suitable, or practical in the circumstances.
Example
It would be inexpedient to invest without proper research.
B1 noun /ˈwɜːrkaʊt/

workout

Meaning
a session of physical exercise or training to improve fitness or health
Example
She does a full-body workout every morning before work.
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 noun /spiːd/

Speed

Meaning
the rate at which someone or something moves or operates
Example
The car reached a speed of 100 miles per hour.
C1 noun /vɛnˈdɛtə/

vendetta

Meaning
a prolonged bitter quarrel or campaign of revenge
Example
The two families were caught in a bitter vendetta for generations.
A1 noun /ˈbɛdruːm/

bedroom

Meaning
A room used for sleeping in.
Example
The children were playing in the bedroom.
C1 noun /təˈlɛpəθi/

telepathy

Meaning
the supposed communication of thoughts or ideas by means other than the known senses
Example
The twins claimed to share telepathy with each other.
B1 adjective /ˈɔːkwəd/

awkward

Meaning
causing or feeling embarrassment; difficult to deal with
Example
There was an awkward silence after his joke.
C1 adjective /ˈæntɪkweɪtɪd/

antiquated

Meaning
Old-fashioned or outdated.
Example
The office still uses an antiquated filing system.
C1 noun /ˈspɪnstər/

spinster

Meaning
An unmarried woman, often one who is older and considered unlikely to marry
Example
The novel featured a kind-hearted spinster who cared for the village children.
C2 noun /ˌmɛɡələˈmeɪniə/

megalomania

Meaning
A condition characterized by delusional fantasies of power, wealth, or omnipotence.
Example
The dictator’s megalomania led him to believe he was invincible.
C1 verb /ʃʌn/

Shun

Meaning
to deliberately avoid or stay away from someone or something
Example
He shuns public attention and prefers privacy.
B2 noun /hʌb/

hub

Meaning
the central part of a place or activity where things converge
Example
The city is the hub of the country's trade network.
C2 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈtɜːrmənət/

indeterminate

Meaning
Not exactly known, defined, or established; vague or uncertain.
Example
The project was delayed for an indeterminate amount of time.
C1 noun /pərˈkʌʃən/

percussion

Meaning
Musical instruments that are played by striking, shaking, or scraping, such as drums or cymbals.
Example
The percussion section added rhythm and energy to the orchestra.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈvɜːs/

Inverse

Meaning
opposite in order, nature, or effect; reversed
Example
There is an inverse relationship between price and demand.
B1 verb ˈɪndɪkeɪts

indicates

Meaning
Point out; show; be a sign or symptom of; suggest as a desirable or necessary course of action.
Example
The rising trend indicates an urgent need for action.
C2 adjective/noun /ˌhaɪərəˈɡlɪfɪk/

hieroglyphic

Meaning
Relating to or written in hieroglyphs; symbols or writing that is difficult to understand.
Example
The archaeologists studied the hieroglyphic inscriptions carefully.
C1 noun /dɪˈten.ʃən/

Detention

Meaning
the action of detaining someone or being detained in official custody
Example
The student received detention for repeatedly disrupting the class.
A1 article /æn/

an

Meaning
used before a noun to refer to a non-specific item that begins with a vowel sound
Example
She ate an apple for breakfast.
B2 verb rɪˈzaɪn

resign

Meaning
Voluntarily leave a job or other position.
Example
Ministers were forced to resign.
C2 verb /ˌɪmpɔːrˈtuːnd/

importuned

Meaning
asked someone persistently and pressingly for something
Example
She importuned her boss for a raise until he finally gave in.
A1 number /ˈfɔːrti/

forty

Meaning
the number 40; ten times four
Example
She celebrated her forty years of life with a big party.
C1 noun /səˈbraɪəti/

sobriety

Meaning
the state of being sober; self-restraint and seriousness
Example
He has maintained his sobriety for five years.
B1 adverb /ˈfɔːtʃənətli/

fortunately

Meaning
by good luck; luckily
Example
Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident.
C1 adjective /ˌrɛmɪˈnɪsənt/

reminiscent

Meaning
Tending to remind one of something; suggestive of something in the past.
Example
The smell of rain is reminiscent of my childhood in the village.
C1 adjective /ˈvɛlvəti/

velvety

Meaning
having a smooth, soft texture like velvet
Example
She spoke in a low, velvety voice.
C1 noun /ˌpɜːrspəˈreɪʃn/

perspiration

Meaning
The process of sweating.
Example
Heavy exercise causes perspiration.
C1 adjective /ˈspaɪn.ləs/

Spineless

Meaning
lacking courage or determination; weak-willed
Example
He was too spineless to stand up for his beliefs.
C1 verb /ˈrɪvɪt/

rivet

Meaning
to fasten or secure with a rivet; to hold someone’s attention firmly
Example
The craftsman riveted the metal plates together.
C2 noun /ˈpɛrɪstaɪl/

peristyle

Meaning
A continuous porch formed by a row of columns surrounding the perimeter of a building or courtyard.
Example
The Roman villa featured a beautiful peristyle garden.
C2 adjective /fəˈloʊniəs/

felonious

Meaning
relating to or involved in serious criminal activity
Example
He was charged with felonious assault after the incident.
B2 noun /fɪɡ/

Fig

Meaning
a soft sweet fruit that is purple or green on the outside and has many small seeds
Example
The fig tree in our backyard produces delicious fruits every summer.
A1 adjective /ˈevri/

Every

Meaning
each one; all; without exception
Example
Every student must complete their homework.
A1 noun /ˈfʊtˌbɔːl/

football

Meaning
A team sport played with a ball that is kicked or carried to score points.
Example
They watched a football match on TV.
B2 noun /beɪs/

bass

Meaning
the lowest adult male singing voice; also, low-frequency sounds in music or a type of fish
Example
He played the bass guitar at the concert.