Pompous
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C1 adjective /ˈpɑːm.pəs/

Pompous

Meaning
showing off; pretentious; overly grand
Example
His pompous attitude annoyed everyone at the meeting.
C2 noun/verb /ˈpɪləri/

pillory

Meaning
a device for publicly punishing someone / to expose to public ridicule
Example
The corrupt official was placed in the pillory for the town to jeer at.
B2 noun /dʒiˈɒl.ə.dʒi/

geology

Meaning
the science that deals with the Earth's physical structure and substances
Example
She studied geology to understand earthquakes.
C2 noun /ˈɒfərtɔːri/

offertory

Meaning
The part of a religious service when offerings are collected; the offering itself.
Example
The offertory was taken during the Sunday service.
C2 noun /bɪər/

bier

Meaning
a frame or stand on which a coffin or body is placed before burial or cremation
Example
The coffin was placed on the bier during the funeral service.
C1 verb /ˈhaɪtən/

heighten

Meaning
to make or become greater in intensity or degree
Example
The announcement served to heighten the excitement in the room.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈhɛrɪt/

disinherit

Meaning
to deprive someone, especially a child, of inheritance or right to property
Example
The father threatened to disinherit his son for his reckless actions.
C2 adjective /kəˈrɛlətɪv/

correlative

Meaning
having a mutual relationship; corresponding
Example
The increase in temperature is correlative with the melting of glaciers.
C1 verb /ɔːɡˈmɛnt/

augment

Meaning
To increase or strengthen something.
Example
The company plans to augment its workforce.
C2 adjective /rɪˈfrɪndʒənt/

refringent

Meaning
Capable of refracting light or other waves.
Example
The refringent properties of the crystal bent the light into a spectrum.
A1 verb, adjective /oʊn/

own

Meaning
to possess something; belonging to oneself
Example
She owns a beautiful house in the city.
C2 noun /ˈklaɪ.mɪŋ læŋ læŋ/

Climbing lang lang

Meaning
a climbing plant with fragrant flowers native to tropical regions
Example
The climbing lang lang vine produces beautiful fragrant flowers.
B1 noun /ˈnɑn.sens/

Nonsense

Meaning
words or language that have no meaning; foolish or unacceptable behavior
Example
Stop talking nonsense and be serious!
A2 noun /ˈmaʊn.tɪn/

Mountain

Meaning
a large natural elevation of earth and rock rising above the ground
Example
They climbed the highest mountain in the region.
C1 noun /ˈʌndərˌstʌdi/

understudy

Meaning
An actor who learns another's role to act as a replacement if needed.
Example
The understudy performed when the lead actor fell ill.
B1 noun /ˈwɜːrkpleɪs/

workplace

Meaning
a place where people work, such as an office, factory, or shop
Example
Maintaining good communication is vital in the workplace.
C1 noun /liːtʃ/

Leech

Meaning
an aquatic or terrestrial annelid worm with suckers at both ends; metaphorically, a person who extorts profit from others
Example
The leech attached itself to his leg while swimming.
B2 adjective /ɪˈmɒrəl/

immoral

Meaning
Not conforming to accepted standards of morality; unethical or wicked.
Example
He was fired for his immoral behavior.
B2 adjective /ɪnˈklaɪnd/

inclined

Meaning
having a tendency or disposition toward something
Example
He is inclined to help those in need.
C1 noun /ˈmʌltɪtuːd/

multitude

Meaning
A large number of people or things.
Example
A multitude of fans gathered at the stadium.
B1 noun /ˈfæn.si/

Fancy

Meaning
a feeling of liking or wanting something; imagination or fantasy
Example
The child had a fancy for becoming a famous astronaut when he grew up.
C1 adjective /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsəbl̩/

reprehensible

Meaning
Deserving strong criticism or blame.
Example
His dishonest actions were truly reprehensible.
B2 noun /beɪ liːf/

Bay leaf

Meaning
dried aromatic leaf of the bay laurel tree used as a culinary herb
Example
Add a bay leaf to the soup for extra flavor.
C1 noun /əˈkuːstɪks/

acoustics

Meaning
the science of sound, or the properties of a space that affect how sound is heard
Example
The hall’s excellent acoustics made the orchestra sound rich and clear.
C1 adjective /ɪkˈspiːdiənt/

expedient

Meaning
suitable or convenient for achieving a particular end, sometimes at the expense of morality
Example
It was expedient to take the shortcut despite the risks.
C2 noun /ˌdɪpsəˈmeɪniæk/

dipsomaniac

Meaning
A person with an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drinks.
Example
The novel portrayed the tragic downfall of a dipsomaniac who lost everything to alcohol.
C1 noun ˈdɛtrɪ.mənt

detriment

Meaning
Harm, damage, impairment.
Example
Smoking is a detriment to health.
C1 noun /ˈhɒl.ə.kɔːst/

holocaust

Meaning
A large-scale destruction, especially by fire; historically, the genocide of Jews during World War II.
Example
Millions of people perished during the Holocaust.
C2 noun /ˈnoʊmənˌkleɪtʃər/

nomenclature

Meaning
A system of names or terms used in a particular science, art, or field.
Example
The chemical nomenclature can be difficult for beginners to understand.
C2 noun /ˈmɒkəsɪn/

moccasin

Meaning
A soft leather shoe, traditionally worn by Native Americans, often made from deerskin.
Example
He slipped on a pair of comfortable moccasins before going outside.
B1 noun /dɪˈzɜːrts/ (noun: reward or punishment deserved)

deserts

Meaning
what someone deserves, especially punishment or reward
Example
He finally got his just deserts for cheating in the exam.
C2 noun /ˈpɒlɪɡæmɪst/

polygamist

Meaning
a person who has more than one spouse at the same time
Example
The polygamist had three wives living in different houses.
C1 adjective ˈmer.ɪt beɪst

merit-based

Meaning
Based on or determined by individual merit, ability, or achievement rather than other factors.
Example
Merit-based recruitment strengthens the workforce.
B2 noun /ˈproʊtəˌtaɪp/

prototype

Meaning
The first model or version of something, used as a sample for testing or improvement.
Example
The company built a prototype of the new smartphone before mass production.
B1 adverb /ˈrʌfli/

Roughly

Meaning
approximately; in a harsh or violent way
Example
The project will take roughly three months to complete.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːrtərər/

barterer

Meaning
A person who trades goods or services without using money.
Example
The barterer exchanged fruits for some pottery.
C2 verb /ɪnˈhjuːm/

inhume

Meaning
to bury a dead body in the ground
Example
They inhumed the warrior with full honors.
C2 noun /ˌsɒ̃ˈfrwɑː/

sang-froid

Meaning
Composure or coolness, especially in difficult situations.
Example
The leader handled the crisis with remarkable sang-froid.
B2 noun /ˈpleɪˌɔːf/

playoff

Meaning
a series of games played to determine a champion among top teams
Example
The team qualified for the playoffs after a strong season.
C1 noun /ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/

abstinence

Meaning
the practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically alcohol or sex
Example
His doctor advised abstinence from alcohol for better health.
C2 adjective /ˌɪntəˈrɒɡətəri/

interrogatory

Meaning
expressed in the form of a question; relating to questioning
Example
The lawyer’s interrogatory tone made the witness uncomfortable.
C1 adjective /ˈɒm.ɪ.nəs/

Ominous

Meaning
giving the impression that something bad will happen; threatening; foreboding
Example
The dark clouds looked ominous before the storm.
C1 noun /ˈleɪ.mən/

Layman

Meaning
a person without professional or specialized knowledge in a particular subject
Example
The doctor explained the procedure in layman's terms.
C1 noun /fæd/

fad

Meaning
a temporary fashion or trend; a short-lived craze
Example
The new diet became a popular fad among teenagers.
C1 noun /koʊˈɜː.ʃən/

coercion

Meaning
The practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.
Example
Cybercriminals use coercion to extract information.
C1 noun ˌɪnsjʊˈleɪʃən

insulation

Meaning
Material used to prevent heat, sound, or electricity from being transmitted from one area to another.
Example
Insulation of food storage areas can prevent pests from entering.
C1 adjective /ˈræb.ɪd/

rabid

Meaning
Having extreme or fanatical support for something; relating to or suffering from rabies.
Example
He was a rabid fan of the football team.
C2 noun /ˌsaɪ.kəʊˈɡræf.ɪks/

Psychographics

Meaning
The study and classification of people according to their attitudes, aspirations, and other psychological criteria.
Example
Psychographics reveal consumer buying motives.
A1 noun neɪmz

Names

Meaning
A word or set of words by which a person or thing is known.
Example
Names of family members are written on the family tree.
C1 verb /ɡrʌnt/

grunt

Meaning
to make a low, rough sound, often when exerting effort or expressing annoyance
Example
He grunted as he lifted the heavy box.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈkɒnʃənəbl/

unconscionable

Meaning
shockingly unfair or unreasonable
Example
The company made unconscionable profits from the crisis.
A1 verb /ˈvɪzɪt/

visit

Meaning
to go and see someone or somewhere; to pay a call
Example
We plan to visit the museum this weekend.
C1 adjective /ˈɑːtfəl/

Artful

Meaning
clever or skillful, especially in a cunning way
Example
She gave an artful answer that avoided the real question.
C1 noun /ˈɒptɪks/

optics

Meaning
The branch of physics dealing with light and vision.
Example
She studied optics to understand how lenses work.
B2 noun /ˌklæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

classification

Meaning
the action or process of classifying something into groups based on shared characteristics.
Example
The classification of animals helps in understanding their biology.
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 noun ˈfreɪm.wɜːks

frameworks

Meaning
A basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text; an essential supporting structure.
Example
Frameworks define the basis of systems.
B2 adjective /self səˈfɪʃənt/

Self-sufficient

Meaning
able to provide for oneself without depending on others
Example
The farm is completely self-sufficient in producing vegetables.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈstɪŋk.tɪv/

instinctive

Meaning
Based on instinct; done without conscious thought; natural and automatic.
Example
His instinctive reaction saved his life.
C1 noun /ˈdɒktrɪn/

doctrine

Meaning
A set of beliefs or principles held and taught by a religious, political, or other group.
Example
The church follows a strict doctrine on moral values.
C2 noun /ˈpɛd.ən.tri/

pedantry

Meaning
Excessive concern with minor details or rules.
Example
His pedantry made the meeting unnecessarily long.
B2 noun /kɜːrd/

Curd

Meaning
a white dairy product made by coagulating milk; yogurt
Example
She added fresh curd to the salad for a tangy flavor.
C1 verb /pɜːrtʃ/

perch

Meaning
To sit or rest on something high or narrow.
Example
The bird perched on the fence.
C2 noun /pərˈsɪpiəns/

percipience

Meaning
The ability to perceive, understand, or notice things quickly.
Example
His percipience in reading people made him a great negotiator.
A2 noun /ˈvedʒtəbəl ɔɪl/

Vegetable oil

Meaning
Oil extracted from plants, seeds, or nuts used for cooking
Example
She heated vegetable oil in the pan before adding the vegetables.
C2 verb /ˈstræɡəl/

straggle

Meaning
To move or spread in an irregular, scattered, or untidy way.
Example
The children began to straggle behind on the long hike.
C1 noun /ˈdʒɒt.ər/

Jotter

Meaning
a small notebook for writing quick notes or reminders
Example
The student carried a jotter to write down important points during lectures.
C1 noun /ˈpɪt.əns/

pittance

Meaning
a very small or inadequate amount of money
Example
She worked long hours for a mere pittance.
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.
A2 noun /ˌkæŋ.ɡəˈruː/

Kangaroo

Meaning
a large marsupial from Australia that moves by hopping on its strong hind legs
Example
The kangaroo jumped high with its joey in its pouch.
B1 noun /ˈboʊ.nəs/

Bonus

Meaning
an amount of money added to wages on a seasonal basis, especially as a reward for good performance
Example
She received a year-end bonus for her excellent work performance.
A1 pronoun /hɜːr/

her

Meaning
used to refer to a female person or animal already mentioned or easily identified
Example
I saw her at the park yesterday.
B2 verb /stæk/

stack

Meaning
to arrange things in a neat pile or one on top of another
Example
He stacked the books neatly on the shelf.
C1 noun /mæɡˈnɪfɪsəns/

magnificence

Meaning
splendor, grandeur, or impressive beauty
Example
The magnificence of the palace left everyone speechless.
B1 noun /ˈtɛkstbʊk/

textbook

Meaning
a book used for studying a subject in school or college
Example
She bought a new biology textbook for her class.
C1 adjective /ˈstɪltɪd/

stilted

Meaning
Speech or writing that is stiff, unnatural, or overly formal.
Example
His speech sounded stilted and rehearsed.
C2 noun /buːb/

boob

Meaning
a foolish or clumsy person; an informal and sometimes rude term for a woman's breast
Example
He felt like a complete boob after forgetting the meeting.
C2 noun /ˌæriˈviːst/

arriviste

Meaning
A person who has recently gained wealth or status but is considered arrogant or socially unsophisticated.
Example
The business world is full of ambitious arrivistes.
C1 noun /ˈaʊtpoʊst/

outpost

Meaning
A small military camp or position at some distance from the main force, used especially as a guard.
Example
The soldiers were stationed at a remote outpost.
B2 noun /plæˈtoʊ/

plateau

Meaning
an elevated flat area of land or a period of little change
Example
After months of growth, sales reached a plateau.
B2 noun /dʌv/

Dove

Meaning
a small, gentle bird with soft cooing sounds, often white and symbolizing peace
Example
The white dove flew peacefully across the blue sky.
B1 verb kənˈsjuːmz

consumes

Meaning
Use up (a resource); eat, drink, or ingest (food or drink).
Example
An individual consumes around 20 kg of plastic annually.
B2 adjective /ænˈdʒelɪk/

angelic

Meaning
Like or characteristic of an angel; pure, kind, or innocent.
Example
The child had an angelic smile.
C1 adjective /sɛkˈtɛəriən/

sectarian

Meaning
relating to or characterized by the differences between sects, often leading to conflict
Example
The region has been troubled by sectarian violence for decades.
B1 noun /broʊˈʃʊr/

brochure

Meaning
a small booklet or pamphlet containing information or advertising
Example
The travel agent gave us a brochure about the holiday package.
C1 adjective /ɒmˈnɪv.ər.əs/

Omnivorous

Meaning
eating both plants and animals; feeding on various kinds of food
Example
Bears are omnivorous animals that eat both plants and meat.
A1 verb /drɪŋk/

drink

Meaning
to take liquid into the mouth and swallow it
Example
I drink water every morning.
C2 noun /ˈbaɪpɛd/

biped

Meaning
An animal that walks on two feet.
Example
Humans are examples of biped creatures.
C2 noun /hɜːrˈbɛəriəm/

herbarium

Meaning
A collection of preserved plant specimens and associated data used for scientific study.
Example
The university maintains a large herbarium for research and education.
B2 noun /ˈtroʊfi/

trophy

Meaning
An object awarded as a prize for a victory or achievement.
Example
She proudly displayed the trophy she won in the competition.
B2 noun /ˈruːdnəs/

Rudeness

Meaning
the quality of being impolite, discourteous, or offensive in behavior or speech
Example
His rudeness shocked everyone at the dinner party.
C2 noun /ˈkɒntrəriz/

contraries

Meaning
things that are completely different or opposite to each other
Example
Freedom and slavery are contraries in every sense.
B2 noun /ˈpær.ə.dɒks/

paradox

Meaning
A seemingly contradictory statement or situation that may be true; an apparent inconsistency.
Example
The paradox of freedom is that it requires rules.
B1 noun /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/

Unemployment

Meaning
the state of being unemployed; lack of paid work
Example
The unemployment rate has increased significantly this year.
A2 noun /ˈmæstər/

Master

Meaning
A skilled practitioner of a particular art or activity; a teacher or expert
Example
Leonardo da Vinci was a master of both painting and sculpture.
C2 verb /ˈmæŋɡəl/

mangle

Meaning
to severely damage or mutilate something, often by tearing or crushing
Example
The car was mangled in the accident.
C1 noun /brɪm/

Brim

Meaning
the projecting edge of a hat; the edge or lip of something
Example
The wide brim of his hat protected him from the scorching sun.
C2 verb /əˈkuːtə/

accoutre

Meaning
to dress or equip, especially in something impressive or elaborate
Example
The knight was accoutred in shining armor.
B2 adjective /ˈnoʊ.ɪŋ/

Knowing

Meaning
showing awareness or understanding; perceptive; shrewd
Example
She gave him a knowing smile when he mentioned the secret.
C2 noun /hæɡ/

Hag

Meaning
an ugly old woman, especially a vicious or malicious one; a witch
Example
In the fairy tale, the wicked hag lived alone in a cottage deep in the forest.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɒnstənt/

inconstant

Meaning
frequently changing; not consistent or dependable
Example
His inconstant moods made it difficult to work with him.
C2 noun /djuːˈɛnə/

duenna

Meaning
an older woman acting as a governess or chaperone, especially in Spanish families
Example
The young lady was accompanied by a duenna during the festival.
B1 adjective ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk

economic

Meaning
Relating to economics or the economy.
Example
The issue had significant economic implications.
C1 adjective /səˈsɛp.tə.bəl/

susceptible

Meaning
Likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
Example
Children are more susceptible to infections.
B1 noun ˈstrʌk.tʃər

structure

Meaning
The arrangement of and relations between the parts or elements of something complex.
Example
The structure is designed for safety and functionality.
C2 verb /ˌfɔːrɔːrˈdeɪn/

foreordain

Meaning
to determine or decree something in advance; to predestine
Example
Some believe that our lives are foreordained by fate.
B1 verb /tʃɒp/

chop

Meaning
to cut with a sharp tool; to cut into pieces
Example
She chops vegetables for dinner.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrˌθɔːt/

forethought

Meaning
careful consideration of what will be necessary or may happen in the future
Example
With a little forethought, we could have avoided the problem.
C1 noun /ɪnˌkɑːsəˈreɪʃən/

incarceration

Meaning
the state of being imprisoned or confined
Example
The criminal faced years of incarceration for his crimes.
B2 noun /ˈtɛlɪˌskoʊp/

telescope

Meaning
An optical instrument used to make distant objects appear closer and larger by collecting and focusing light.
Example
The astronomer used a telescope to observe the distant planets.
C1 noun /ˈkrɛvɪs/

crevice

Meaning
a narrow crack or opening, especially in a rock or wall
Example
The lizard hid in a crevice between the stones.
C1 noun /ˈbjuːɡəl/

Bugle

Meaning
a brass musical instrument similar to a trumpet but without valves, used especially for military calls
Example
The soldier played the bugle to signal the start of the ceremony.
B1 noun /ˈprəʊsesɪŋ/

processing

Meaning
the series of actions or steps taken to achieve a particular end, especially in data or food handling
Example
Data processing takes place in the server.
C1 verb /dɪsˈpærɪdʒ/

disparage

Meaning
to criticize someone or something in a way that shows a lack of respect
Example
It is unfair to disparage people for their opinions.
C1 noun /ˈmʌf.lər/

Muffler

Meaning
a long strip of cloth worn around the neck for warmth
Example
She wrapped a warm muffler around her neck before going outside.
B2 verb /ˈsɪmpəθaɪz/

sympathize

Meaning
to feel sorry for someone; to understand and share someone's feelings
Example
I sympathize with your loss.
C2 adjective /ˌpɛstɪˈlɛnʃəl/

pestilential

Meaning
Relating to or causing pestilence; very harmful, troublesome, or dangerous.
Example
The pestilential smell of the garbage filled the street.
C1 noun /tækˈsɒnəmi/

taxonomy

Meaning
The science or practice of classifying things, especially organisms.
Example
Modern taxonomy helps scientists organize and study biodiversity.
A1 verb /læf/

laugh

Meaning
to make sounds and movements expressing happiness or amusement
Example
The joke made everyone laugh.
C1 noun /ˈpetɪkoʊt/

Petti-coat

Meaning
an undergarment worn by women under a dress or skirt
Example
She wore a white petticoat under her dress.
C1 noun /ˈæftərˌθɔːt/

afterthought

Meaning
Something added or considered later than originally planned.
Example
The gift seemed like an afterthought rather than a genuine gesture.