quark
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C2 noun kwɔːrk

quark

Meaning
A fundamental subatomic particle that combines to form protons and neutrons.
Example
Quarks form protons and neutrons.
C1 noun/verb /ˈkwɒr.i/

quarry

Meaning
A place where stone or minerals are extracted; also means prey when hunted.
Example
The workers quarried limestone from the hill.
C1 verb /ˈkwɪkən/

quicken

Meaning
to make or become faster; to accelerate
Example
His pulse began to quicken as he approached the finish line.
C1 noun (plural) /kwɑːmz/

qualms

Meaning
feelings of doubt, worry, or uneasiness
Example
He had serious qualms about accepting the offer.
C1 adjective ˈkwɒn.tɪ.faɪ.ə.bəl

quantifiable

Meaning
Able to be expressed or measured as a quantity; capable of being counted or calculated.
Example
The impact of the project is quantifiable.
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.
C2 noun /kwaɪˈiːtəs/

Quietus

Meaning
death or something that causes death; a final settlement
Example
The hero received his quietus from the villain's sword.
C2 noun /ˌkiː ˈviːv/

qui vive

Meaning
A state of alertness or vigilance.
Example
The guards were on the qui vive during the night.
C1 verb/noun /ˈkwɪbəl/

quibble

Meaning
To argue or raise objections about a trivial matter; a petty objection.
Example
They quibbled over who should pay the bill.
C1 noun /ˈkwɔːrəm/

quorum

Meaning
The minimum number of members needed to conduct official business in a meeting.
Example
The board meeting was postponed because there was no quorum.
C2 adjective /kwɪkˈsɑː.t̬ɪk/

quixotic

Meaning
Extremely idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical.
Example
His quixotic dreams often led to disappointment.
C1 adjective /ˈkwɪzɪkəl/

quizzical

Meaning
Expressing mild or amused puzzlement.
Example
She gave him a quizzical look when he made the strange comment.
C1 verb /kwɑːʃ/

quash

Meaning
To reject or void something legally or to put an end to something forcefully.
Example
The court quashed the decision due to lack of evidence.
C2 noun /ˈkwaɪəˌtuːd/

quietude

Meaning
A state of stillness and tranquility.
Example
She enjoys the quietude of the countryside.
C1 adjective /ˈkwɑː.rəl.səm/

Quarrelsome

Meaning
given to arguing and fighting; argumentative and confrontational
Example
His quarrelsome nature makes it difficult to work with him.
C1 adjective /kweɪnt/

quaint

Meaning
attractively unusual or old-fashioned
Example
They stayed in a quaint little cottage by the sea.
C2 noun /ˈkwɔːrtoʊ/

quarto

Meaning
A book size resulting from folding each printed sheet into four leaves (eight pages).
Example
The library has rare Shakespeare quartos.
C1 verb, noun /kweɪl/

quail

Meaning
verb: to feel or show fear; noun: a small, short-tailed bird
Example
She quailed at the sight of the approaching storm.
B2 noun /ˈkwɔː.tərz/

Quarters

Meaning
living accommodation; lodgings; military housing
Example
The soldiers returned to their quarters after the training exercise.
C1 adjective /kwɪər/

Queer

Meaning
strange; unusual; peculiar; odd
Example
The old house had a queer atmosphere that made visitors uncomfortable.
C1 noun /kwɜːrk/

Quirk

Meaning
a peculiar behavioral habit; an unexpected turn or twist
Example
Her quirk of always wearing mismatched socks made her unique.
A1 adjective /kwɪk/

Quick

Meaning
fast; rapid; swift; happening in a short time
Example
She gave a quick answer to the teacher's question.
C2 noun /ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvər/

quicksilver

Meaning
Mercury; a liquid metal, or something that is quick and unpredictable.
Example
His mood was as changeable as quicksilver.
B2 verb /kweɪk/

quake

Meaning
to shake or tremble, often due to fear or a natural event like an earthquake
Example
The ground began to quake during the earthquake.
A1 adverb /ˈkwɪk.li/

Quickly

Meaning
at a fast speed; with little delay; rapidly
Example
He quickly finished his homework.
B1 adjective /ˈkwɑː.lɪ.faɪd/

Qualified

Meaning
having the necessary skills, knowledge, or experience for a particular job or activity; certified
Example
She is a qualified doctor with years of experience.
C2 verb, noun /ˈkweɪvər/

quaver

Meaning
To shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion.
Example
Her voice quavered as she spoke before the crowd.
B2 noun /kwest/

Quest

Meaning
a journey or search for something; an adventure to achieve a goal
Example
The knight embarked on a quest to find the legendary treasure.
C2 noun /ˈkwɒdrʊpɛd/

quadruped

Meaning
an animal that walks on four feet
Example
Most mammals are quadruped creatures adapted for running and stability.
C1 noun /kwoʊ/

quo

Meaning
The existing state of affairs or situation, often used in the phrase 'status quo'.
Example
He wanted to maintain the status quo at work.
B2 adjective /ˈkwɑːn.tɪ.teɪ.tɪv/

Quantitative

Meaning
relating to quantity or amount; expressed in terms of numbers or measurements
Example
The study provides quantitative evidence of climate change effects.
B1 verb /kwoʊt/

quote

Meaning
to repeat someone else's words; to give a price or estimate
Example
The teacher asked students to quote the famous author in their essays.
B2 adjective /ˈkwestʃənəbl/

Questionable

Meaning
doubtful; dubious; suspicious; open to doubt or suspicion
Example
His questionable business practices led to an investigation.
C1 verb /ˈkwentʃɪŋ/

quenching

Meaning
The act of satisfying thirst or extinguishing something like fire.
Example
Drinking cold water was quenching her thirst.
B1 noun /ˈkwɒl.ɪ.ti taɪm/

quality time

Meaning
Time spent giving someone your full attention in order to strengthen your relationship with them.
Example
Spending quality time with family enhances relationships.
C2 adjective /ˈkwɛrʊləs/

querulous

Meaning
Complaining in a whining or irritable manner.
Example
The querulous customer kept finding fault with every detail.
C1 noun /kwæk/

Quack

Meaning
a person who pretends to be a doctor but has no medical training; the sound a duck makes
Example
People should be careful not to trust medical advice from a quack.
A2 adjective /ˈkwaɪ.ɪt/

Quiet

Meaning
silent; peaceful; calm; making little or no noise
Example
Please keep quiet during the movie.
A2 noun ˈkwɒl.ɪ.ti

quality

Meaning
The standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something.
Example
Quality assurance is vital in medical education.
C1 verb /kwɛl/

quell

Meaning
To suppress or put an end to something, usually by force.
Example
The police were called to quell the violent protest.
B2 adjective /ˈkwɜːrki/

quirky

Meaning
Unusual in an interesting, charming, or odd way.
Example
She has a quirky sense of fashion that makes her stand out.
C1 noun /kwɪnˈtɛt/

quintet

Meaning
A group of five people or things, especially musicians.
Example
The jazz quintet performed beautifully.
A2 verb /kwɪt/

quit

Meaning
to stop doing something; to leave a job or position
Example
She decided to quit her job and start her own business.
C1 verb /ˈkwɪvər/

quiver

Meaning
To tremble or shake with slight but rapid motion.
Example
Her lips began to quiver as she tried not to cry.
C2 verb /kwɒf/

quaff

Meaning
to drink something heartily or in large gulps, especially an alcoholic drink
Example
He quaffed a mug of ale after the long day.
C2 noun /kwɪˈɛsəns/

quiescence

Meaning
A state of quietness, inactivity, or dormancy.
Example
The volcano has been in a state of quiescence for decades.
C2 adjective /ˈkwɒdreɪt/

quadrate

Meaning
square or nearly square; having four sides or being suited or corresponding to something
Example
The tiles had a neat quadrate shape that made the floor look orderly.
B1 noun /ˈkwɒn.tə.ti/

Quantity

Meaning
an amount or number of something; the measurable property of something
Example
The quantity of water in the bottle is sufficient for the trip.
C2 adjective /kwəʊˈtɪdiən/

quotidian

Meaning
Ordinary or everyday, especially when mundane.
Example
He focused on the quotidian details of family life.
C1 noun /kwɪnˈtɛsəns/

quintessence

Meaning
The purest or most perfect example of something.
Example
She is the quintessence of elegance.
B1 noun /ˈkwɔː.tər/

Quarter

Meaning
one of four equal parts of something; a period of three months
Example
The company reported strong profits in the first quarter of the year.
C1 verb /kwentʃ/

quench

Meaning
to satisfy thirst by drinking; to extinguish fire
Example
He drank water to quench his thirst after the long run.
C1 noun /kwɔːrˈtɛt/

quartet

Meaning
A group of four people playing music or singing together.
Example
The string quartet performed beautifully at the concert.
C2 noun /ˈkwɪzlɪŋ/

quisling

Meaning
A traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country.
Example
During the war, he was branded a quisling for aiding the invaders.
B2 noun /ˈkwɒr.əl/

Quarrel

Meaning
an angry argument or disagreement between people
Example
They had a quarrel about money and stopped talking to each other.
C1 noun /ˈkwɒn.dər.i/

Quandary

Meaning
a difficult situation where you cannot decide what to do; dilemma
Example
She was in a quandary about which job offer to accept.
B2 noun/verb /ˈkwɒr.ən.tiːn/

quarantine

Meaning
A period of isolation to prevent the spread of disease.
Example
The travelers were placed in quarantine for two weeks.
A1 noun /ˈkwes.tʃən/

Question

Meaning
a sentence asking for information or a response; an interrogative expression
Example
The teacher asked a difficult question during the exam.
B2 noun ˈkwəʊ.tə

quota

Meaning
A limited or fixed number or amount of people or things, in particular.
Example
The quota reform was a key demand.
B2 noun /ˈkwɔːtərˌbæk/

quarterback

Meaning
the player who directs a team’s offense in American football
Example
The quarterback threw a perfect pass.
C1 adjective /ˈkwiːzi/

queasy

Meaning
Feeling sick to one's stomach; nauseated.
Example
She felt queasy after the long boat ride.
B2 noun ˈkwɒlɪti sliːp

quality sleep

Meaning
Deep and healthy sleep that is adequate and restorative, ensuring physical and mental well-being
Example
Quality sleep improves cognitive function and overall health.
C2 adjective /kwaɪˈesnt/

Quiescent

Meaning
quiet; peaceful; inactive; dormant; at rest
Example
The volcano has been quiescent for over a century.
A2 adverb /kwaɪt/

Quite

Meaning
to a considerable extent; fairly; rather; completely
Example
The movie was quite interesting.
A2 noun /kwiːn/

queen

Meaning
a female ruler of a country or the wife of a king
Example
The queen addressed her people with grace.
B1 noun /ˌkwɒl.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Qualification

Meaning
official record showing that someone has finished a training course or has necessary skills; condition or requirement
Example
She has the right qualifications for this engineering job.
B1 noun /kjuː/

Queue

Meaning
a line of people or things waiting for something; a sequence
Example
We had to wait in a long queue to buy tickets for the movie.
C1 adjective ˌkwɪn.tɪˈsen.ʃəl

quintessential

Meaning
representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
Example
The artist's work is the quintessential example of modernism.
B2 adjective /ˈkwɑː.lɪ.teɪ.tɪv/

Qualitative

Meaning
relating to quality or character rather than quantity; descriptive rather than numerical
Example
The research focuses on qualitative analysis rather than numbers.
B2 adjective /ˈkwɔːrtərli/

Quarterly

Meaning
occurring every three months; relating to a quarter of a year
Example
The company publishes quarterly reports to shareholders.
C1 noun /kwɑːm/

qualm

Meaning
a feeling of doubt, worry, or fear about something
Example
She had no qualm about speaking her mind.
C1 adjective /ˈkwɑː.drʊ.pəl/

Quadruple

Meaning
four times as much or as many; consisting of four parts
Example
The company's profits have shown quadruple growth this year.
C1 noun /kiː/

quay

Meaning
A platform lying alongside or projecting into water for loading and unloading ships.
Example
The cargo was unloaded at the quay.
A2 adverb /ˈkwaɪ.ət.li/

Quietly

Meaning
without making much noise; silently; in a calm manner
Example
She spoke quietly so she wouldn't wake the baby.
B2 noun /ˈkwɪə.ri/

Query

Meaning
a question or inquiry; a request for information
Example
I have a query about the new policy changes in the company.
B1 verb /ˈkwɒlɪfaɪ/

qualify

Meaning
to successfully complete a course or pass an exam; to become eligible
Example
She worked hard to qualify for the competition.
C2 noun /kwiːn kreɪp ˈmɜːrtəl/

Queen crape myrtle

Meaning
A flowering tree with colorful, crepe-like flowers, scientifically known as Lagerstroemia
Example
The Queen crape myrtle bloomed beautifully in the garden with its purple flowers.
C1 noun/verb /kwɪp/

quip

Meaning
A witty remark; to make a witty or clever comment.
Example
She quipped about the weather during the meeting.
C1 noun /ˈkwæɡˌmaɪər/

quagmire

Meaning
a soft, wet area of land that gives way underfoot; a complex or dangerous situation
Example
The hikers were trapped in a political quagmire.
B2 noun /kwɪlt/

Quilt

Meaning
a warm bed covering made of padding enclosed between layers of fabric
Example
Grandmother made a beautiful quilt with colorful patches for my bed.
C1 noun /ˈkwɪk.sænd/

Quick-sand

Meaning
loose wet sand that yields easily to pressure and sucks in anything on its surface
Example
The explorer got trapped in quicksand while crossing the desert.
B2 noun /ˌkwes.tʃəˈneər/

questionnaire

Meaning
a set of written questions used to collect information or opinions
Example
Participants filled out a detailed questionnaire about their habits.