portrait
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B1 noun /ˈpɔːtrət/

portrait

Meaning
a painting, drawing, photograph, or engraving of a person, especially one showing the face
Example
The artist painted a beautiful portrait of his wife.
B2 verb /ˈɔː.tə.meɪt/

automate

Meaning
To make a process or system operate automatically by means of machines or computers.
Example
Many companies automate their processes to save time.
A1 preposition /ˈdjʊərɪŋ/

during

Meaning
throughout the course of a period of time
Example
I fell asleep during the movie.
B2 noun /ˈtɜːrkwɔɪz/

turquoise

Meaning
a greenish-blue color or gemstone
Example
She wore a necklace with a beautiful turquoise stone.
C1 noun /ɡeɪl/

Gale

Meaning
a very strong wind; a wind of force 7 to 10 on the Beaufort scale
Example
The fishing boats returned to harbor early due to the approaching gale.
C1 verb /ˈdʒɒsl/

jostle

Meaning
to push, elbow, or bump against someone roughly, typically in a crowd
Example
The fans jostled each other to get closer to the stage.
C1 adjective /ˌjuːtɪlɪˈtɛəriən/

utilitarian

Meaning
Designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive; relating to the doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority.
Example
The building had a simple utilitarian design.
C1 noun ˈdaɪ.nə.sti

dynasty

Meaning
A line of hereditary rulers of a country; a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field.
Example
The Ming dynasty ruled China for centuries.
B2 adjective /ˈdʒɔɪfəl/

joyful

Meaning
full of joy and happiness; causing joy or delight
Example
She felt joyful when she heard the good news.
C2 noun /ˈpoʊ.ə.si/

poesy

Meaning
poetry; the art or composition of poems
Example
The anthology was filled with romantic poesy.
C2 verb /ɛksˈproʊprieɪt/

expropriate

Meaning
To take property from its owner, especially by authority or for public use.
Example
The government decided to expropriate the land for a new highway.
B2 verb /ˈtɛrəˌfaɪ/

terrify

Meaning
To cause someone to feel extreme fear.
Example
The loud thunder terrified the children.
B2 verb /straɪd/

stride

Meaning
to walk with long, decisive steps; to make progress
Example
She strode confidently across the stage.
C2 noun /spɪˈlʌŋkər/

spelunker

Meaning
A person who explores caves as a hobby.
Example
The spelunker carried ropes and lights into the dark cave.
C1 noun /pləˈsiːboʊ/

placebo

Meaning
a substance with no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs
Example
The patient was given a placebo to compare the effect of the real drug.
C1 noun /ˈʃoʊ.və.nɪst/

chauvinist

Meaning
A person displaying excessive or prejudiced loyalty to a group, cause, or gender.
Example
He was labeled a chauvinist after his remarks about women in the workplace.
C2 adjective /ˈhoʊm.spʌn/

homespun

Meaning
Simple and unsophisticated; made at home rather than in a factory.
Example
She wore a homespun dress to the village festival.
B2 noun /depθ/

Depth

Meaning
the distance from the top or surface to the bottom; the quality of being intense or profound
Example
The depth of the ocean in this area reaches over three thousand meters.
C1 noun/verb /pɔːr/

pore

Meaning
As a noun: a tiny opening in the skin or surface. As a verb: to study something carefully.
Example
She pored over the documents for hours before making a decision.
B1 noun /ˈædvərˌtaɪzɪŋ/

advertising

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

defy

Meaning
to openly resist or refuse to obey someone or something; to challenge or dare someone to do something
Example
The protesters continued to defy the government's ban on public gatherings.
C1 adverb /ˈfɪksɪdli/

Fixedly

Meaning
in a steady, unmoving manner; with intense concentration
Example
He stared fixedly at the painting.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpɛər/

impair

Meaning
to weaken or damage something, especially a function or ability
Example
Smoking can impair your lung capacity.
A2 adjective /ˈselfɪʃ/

Selfish

Meaning
caring only about oneself rather than others
Example
He was too selfish to share his food with others.
B1 adverb /ðʌs/

thus

Meaning
as a result or consequence of something previously stated
Example
He was late, thus he missed the meeting.
B2 noun /ˈten.dən.si/

Tendency

Meaning
an inclination toward a particular characteristic or type of behavior
Example
She has a tendency to arrive late for meetings.
B1 adjective /ˈsensəbəl/

Sensible

Meaning
having or showing good sense; practical and reasonable
Example
It would be sensible to take an umbrella because it might rain.
A2 noun ˈɡrænˌpɛrənts

Grandparents

Meaning
The parents of one's father or mother.
Example
Grandparents are an important part of the family tree.
B1 adjective /ˈprɛʃəs/

precious

Meaning
of great value; highly esteemed or cherished
Example
This ring is very precious to my grandmother.
B2 noun /kənˈfɛkʃəneri/

confectionery

Meaning
sweets, candies, and other food items made with sugar
Example
The shop sells a wide variety of confectionery.
B2 noun /ˈdiːlər/

dealer

Meaning
a person or business that buys and sells goods; someone who distributes
Example
The car dealer offered a discount to attract customers.
A1 preposition /tuː/

to

Meaning
used for expressing motion or direction
Example
She is going to the market.
C2 noun /ˈhʌvəl/

hovel

Meaning
a small, poorly built, and dirty house
Example
The refugees lived in a makeshift hovel.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpɑːlɪtɪk/

impolitic

Meaning
Unwise or imprudent; not showing good judgment.
Example
It would be impolitic to criticize them openly.
C2 noun /ˌɛpɪˈsaɪklɔɪd/

epicycloid

Meaning
a curve traced by a point on the circumference of a circle that rolls around the outside of another circle
Example
The mathematician demonstrated how to draw an epicycloid.
B1 noun /ˈɡɪvər/

giver

Meaning
a person who gives something
Example
She was always a generous giver to charity.
C1 verb, noun /mjuːz/

muse

Meaning
to think deeply about something; a source of inspiration, especially for an artist or writer
Example
She sat by the window to muse about her future.
B2 noun /ˈpɒp.i/

Poppy

Meaning
a bright red flower with black seeds, often used as a symbol of remembrance
Example
The red poppy bloomed beautifully in the garden.
B1 noun /ˈpʌn.ɪʃ.mənt/

Punishment

Meaning
penalty given for doing something wrong or breaking a rule
Example
The student received punishment for cheating on the exam.
B2 noun /ˈdɛsɪməl/

decimal

Meaning
A number system based on 10; a number expressed in the base-10 system.
Example
The number 0.75 is a decimal.
C1 noun /ɪnˈsɜːrdʒəns/

insurgence

Meaning
An act of rebellion or uprising against authority.
Example
The government struggled to contain the growing insurgence.
B2 adverb /ˈtʃiːfli/

chiefly

Meaning
mainly; primarily
Example
The festival is celebrated chiefly by young people.
C2 adjective /ˈkoʊltɪʃ/

coltish

Meaning
Playful, energetic, and not fully mature or disciplined.
Example
The coltish boy ran around the field without a care.
B2 adjective /ˌʌn.əkˈsep.tə.bəl/

Unacceptable

Meaning
not satisfactory or allowable; not acceptable
Example
The quality of work was completely unacceptable.
B2 noun /ˈsɛnətər/

senator

Meaning
a member of a senate, especially in a legislative body
Example
The senator spoke passionately about environmental policies.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbl/

inexplicable

Meaning
Impossible to explain or understand.
Example
The sudden disappearance of the file was inexplicable.
A2 adverb /ˈnaʊədeɪz/

nowadays

Meaning
At the present time; in contrast with the past.
Example
Nowadays, many people prefer shopping online.
C2 noun /ˌbuː.ɡənˈvɪl.i.ə/

Bougainvillea

Meaning
a tropical climbing plant with colorful bracts surrounding small flowers
Example
The bougainvillea climbing over the garden wall creates a beautiful purple display.
B2 adverb /ˈskeəs.li/

Scarcely

Meaning
hardly; barely; only just
Example
I could scarcely believe my eyes.
A2 noun /waɪn/

wine

Meaning
an alcoholic drink made from fermented grapes or other fruits
Example
They served a glass of red wine at the dinner.
C2 noun /ˌænɪmædˈvɜːʒən/

animadversion

Meaning
Strong criticism or censure.
Example
The policy attracted severe animadversion from the public.
B2 noun /ˈɪə.rə/

Era

Meaning
a long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic
Example
The Renaissance was an era of great artistic and cultural achievement.
B1 noun /ˈdɛv.əl/

devil

Meaning
An evil spirit or supernatural being often regarded as the embodiment of wickedness and harm.
Example
The story warned children about making deals with the devil.
A2 verb /dɪsˈkʌvər/

discover

Meaning
to find something for the first time
Example
Scientists discovered a new planet last year.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnəˈsweɪdʒd/

unassuaged

Meaning
Not made less intense or relieved; unrelieved.
Example
His grief remained unassuaged despite the passage of time.
B1 adverb /ˈdeɪndʒərəsli/

Dangerously

Meaning
in a way that could cause harm or injury; riskily
Example
He was driving dangerously fast on the highway.
B1 noun /ˈfɑːrməsi/

pharmacy

Meaning
A place where medicinal drugs are prepared and sold.
Example
I went to the pharmacy to buy antibiotics.
C1 noun /ˈiːɡoʊɪst/

egoist

Meaning
A person who is excessively concerned with themselves; someone who believes in or practices egoism.
Example
She avoided him because he was a selfish egoist.
C1 verb /əˈlʊər/

allure

Meaning
to attract or tempt someone with something desirable; to entice
Example
The beautiful garden allured visitors from far away.
B1 noun, verb /ˈkrɛdɪt/

credit

Meaning
As a noun: the ability to obtain goods or services before payment; recognition for an achievement. As a verb: to publicly acknowledge someone's contribution.
Example
She received credit for her contribution to the project.
C2 adjective /ˌmɒnəkrəˈmætɪk/

monochromatic

Meaning
Consisting of or displaying only one color.
Example
The artist created a striking monochromatic painting in shades of blue.
C2 noun /ˈfɪli/

filly

Meaning
a young female horse
Example
The filly ran swiftly across the meadow.
B1 adjective /ˈliː.dɪŋ/

Leading

Meaning
foremost; principal; most important; guiding
Example
She is a leading expert in environmental science.
C2 noun /ˌdoʊ.məˈstɪs.ə.ti/

domesticity

Meaning
Life at home or devotion to family life.
Example
She enjoys the domesticity of cooking and gardening.
C1 noun /məˈrɑːl/

Morale

Meaning
the confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group
Example
The team's morale improved after the victory.
C1 verb /ˈstrætɪfaɪ/

stratify

Meaning
to arrange or divide into layers, classes, or categories
Example
The researchers plan to stratify the data based on age groups.
A2 adjective /ɪmˈbærəst/

embarrassed

Meaning
feeling awkward, ashamed, or self-conscious about something
Example
He felt embarrassed when he forgot her name.
C1 verb /ʌnˈroʊl/

unroll

Meaning
to open something that is rolled up; to spread out gradually
Example
She unrolled the map on the table to find the route.
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.
C1 noun /ˈskælpəl/

scalpel

Meaning
A small and extremely sharp bladed instrument used for surgery and dissection.
Example
The surgeon carefully used a scalpel to make the first incision.
C2 adjective /ˌprɒfɪˈlæktɪk/

prophylactic

Meaning
intended to prevent disease or an unwanted outcome; protective
Example
The doctor prescribed a prophylactic treatment to prevent infection.
C1 noun /ˈrʌmpəs/

Rumpus

Meaning
a noisy disturbance; an uproar or commotion
Example
The children caused quite a rumpus in the playground.
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.
B2 verb /ˈvænɪʃ/

vanish

Meaning
to disappear suddenly; to become invisible
Example
The magician made the rabbit vanish from the hat.
C1 noun /ˈɪntərˌpleɪ/

interplay

Meaning
The way in which two or more things have an effect on each other.
Example
The interplay between culture and technology shapes modern life.
C2 noun /ɪˈmɒdəsti/

immodesty

Meaning
lack of modesty or decency; behavior or attitude that is overly bold or improper
Example
The article was criticized for its tone of immodesty.
B1 verb /ɪnˈtend/

intend

Meaning
to plan or have in mind as a purpose; to mean
Example
I intend to finish this project by tomorrow.
B2 noun /ˈɪntərfeɪs/

interface

Meaning
a point where two systems, subjects, or organizations meet and interact
Example
The user interface is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly.
B2 noun ˈmɛn.təl ˈfoʊ.kəs

mental focus

Meaning
The ability to concentrate deeply on a specific task or thought; mental concentration and attention.
Example
Meditation improves mental focus and cognitive performance.
C1 adjective /əˈsɛndənt/

ascendant

Meaning
Rising in power or influence; dominant.
Example
She is an ascendant leader in the political party.
C2 noun /ˈbɛlˌwɛðər/

bellwether

Meaning
A person or thing that leads or indicates a trend.
Example
The company is seen as a bellwether of the technology industry.
C1 adjective /sɪˈmɛtrɪkəl/

symmetrical

Meaning
having parts on either side that match or are the same in shape, size, or arrangement
Example
The artist designed a symmetrical pattern on the floor.
A1 noun /wɒnt/

Want

Meaning
lack or shortage of something; poverty or need
Example
There is a want of fresh water in the drought-affected areas.
C1 noun /ˈves.tɪdʒ/

Vestige

Meaning
a trace or remnant of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
Example
No vestige of the ancient city remains.
A2 interjection /mˈhm/

mm-hmm

Meaning
A sound used to express agreement or acknowledgment in conversation.
Example
‘Do you understand?’ ‘Mm-hmm.’
C2 noun /ˌæd.ʌmˈbreɪ.ʃən/

adumbration

Meaning
a vague foreshadowing or symbolic representation of something
Example
The play offers an adumbration of the political unrest to come.
A1 noun /ˈtɪkɪt/

ticket

Meaning
a small piece of paper or card that gives the holder a right to access a service or event
Example
He bought a ticket to the concert.
C1 noun səˌsɛp.təˈbɪl.ə.ti

susceptibility

Meaning
The quality of being likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing; vulnerability.
Example
High susceptibility to infections requires extra care.
C1 verb /ˈkrɪstəlaɪz/

crystallize

Meaning
to form crystals; to make an idea or plan clear and definite
Example
Her vague thoughts began to crystallize into a solid plan.
B1 noun pəˈten.ʃəl

potential

Meaning
Having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future.
Example
The potential for innovation is immense.
B2 noun /ˈkɑː.bən ˈfʊt.prɪnt/

carbon footprint

Meaning
The amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.
Example
Reducing carbon footprint is essential for combating climate change.
B2 verb /səbˈskraɪb/

subscribe

Meaning
to pay to receive a service regularly; to agree with or support something
Example
I subscribe to several online magazines.
B2 adjective /aʊtˈreɪdʒəs/

outrageous

Meaning
Shockingly bad or excessive; very unusual or amusing.
Example
The comedian told an outrageous joke.
A2 verb /riːtʃ/

reach

Meaning
to arrive at a destination; to extend one's arm to touch something
Example
We will reach the station in ten minutes.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌl.ki/

Sulky

Meaning
bad-tempered and sullen; moody
Example
The child became sulky when he couldn't get his favorite toy.
C1 adjective /rɪˈzɪstɪv/

resistive

Meaning
tending to resist or oppose; in physics, relating to electrical resistance
Example
The material has resistive properties that slow down current flow.
C1 adjective /ˈseɪlaɪn/

Saline

Meaning
containing salt; salty; relating to salt water
Example
The saline solution is used for medical treatments.
A2 noun /ˈɛləˌveɪtər/

elevator

Meaning
a machine that carries people or goods up and down between floors in a building
Example
We took the elevator to the tenth floor.
C2 noun /kəˈnaɪ.vəns/

connivance

Meaning
the act of secretly allowing or being involved in wrongdoing
Example
The theft happened with the connivance of the security guard.
B2 noun /ɪnˈkwaɪəri/ or /ˈɪnkwəri/

inquiry

Meaning
An act of asking for information; an investigation into something.
Example
The committee launched an inquiry into the financial irregularities.
C1 noun /ˈdɪɡnɪˌtɛri/

dignitary

Meaning
a person considered to be important because of high rank or office
Example
Several foreign dignitaries attended the state banquet.
B2 verb /ɪˈvoʊk/

evoke

Meaning
to bring a feeling, memory, or image into the mind
Example
The old song evoked memories of her childhood.
C1 adjective /səbˈsɜːviənt/

subservient

Meaning
prepared to obey others unquestioningly; less important than something else
Example
She was too subservient to challenge his decision.
C2 noun əˌdʌl.təˈreɪ.ʃən

adulteration

Meaning
The action of making something poorer in quality by the addition of another substance.
Example
Adulteration of food is a serious health risk.
B2 adjective /ɪˈven.tʃu.əl/

Eventual

Meaning
happening or existing at the end of a process; final; ultimate
Example
The eventual outcome was better than expected.
B2 noun /əˈsaɪləm/

asylum

Meaning
Protection or shelter, especially given to refugees or the mentally ill.
Example
The refugees sought asylum in the neighboring country.
C1 verb /ˈkʌn.dʒər/

conjure

Meaning
to summon something as if by magic; to imagine vividly
Example
The magician conjured a rabbit out of the hat.
C2 verb /ˈmæsəˌreɪt/

macerate

Meaning
to soften or break up something, especially food, by soaking in liquid
Example
The chef macerated the fruit in wine before serving.
C2 noun /brɪˈtæniə/

britannia

Meaning
the personification of Britain, often shown as a woman with a helmet and shield
Example
Britannia has been a symbol of Britain since Roman times.
B1 noun /ˈsɛtɪŋ/

setting

Meaning
the environment or place where something happens
Example
The setting of the movie was a beautiful beach.
C1 noun /ˈtʌrɪt/

turret

Meaning
A small tower on top of a larger tower or building, often used in castles or fortifications.
Example
The castle was guarded by soldiers stationed in the turret.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɪpiənt/

incipient

Meaning
in an initial stage; beginning to develop
Example
The incipient storm made the sky turn dark and heavy.
C2 noun /ˈæsənəns/

assonance

Meaning
the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words in poetry or prose
Example
The poet used assonance to create a musical effect in his verse.
B2 noun /ˌledʒɪsˈleɪʃən/

legislation

Meaning
laws considered collectively, or the act of making laws
Example
The government passed new legislation to protect the environment.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈprɒvɪdənt/

improvident

Meaning
Not having or showing foresight; spending wastefully or without thought for the future.
Example
His improvident habits left him with no savings.
A2 adverb /ˈwiːkli/

Weekly

Meaning
happening or done once every week; every week
Example
I visit my grandmother weekly on Sundays.
C2 verb, noun /ɡaʊdʒ/

gouge

Meaning
To cut or scoop out a deep hole or groove; to overcharge unfairly.
Example
He accidentally gouged a hole in the wooden table.
C1 noun ˌkɒm.pjʊˈteɪ.ʃən

computation

Meaning
The action of mathematical calculation.
Example
Complex computation is required for AI models.
B1 noun /ˌɒp.əˈtjuː.nə.ti/

opportunity

Meaning
A favorable chance or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.
Example
She seized the opportunity to study abroad.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɪˈstæblɪʃ/

preestablish

Meaning
To establish or set up beforehand.
Example
Certain rules were preestablished before the meeting.