rubric
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C1 noun /ˈruːbrɪk/

rubric

Meaning
A set of instructions, rules, or a heading in a document, often used for grading criteria.
Example
The teacher provided a grading rubric for the assignment.
C1 noun /ˈmɛm.wɑːr/

memoir

Meaning
A historical account or autobiography written from personal experience.
Example
The author’s memoir details her journey through hardship and success.
C1 noun /kliːˈʃeɪ/

cliche

Meaning
An overused expression or idea that has lost its originality or impact.
Example
The speech was filled with old clichés that failed to inspire the audience.
C1 adjective /ˈbloʊtɪd/

bloated

Meaning
swollen or puffed up, often unpleasantly
Example
After the big meal, he felt bloated and uncomfortable.
C1 noun /beɪl/

bale

Meaning
A large bundle of goods tightly wrapped and bound.
Example
The workers loaded the bale of cotton onto the truck.
C1 adjective /ˈweɪwərd/

wayward

Meaning
Difficult to control or predict because of unusual or perverse behavior.
Example
The teacher struggled to manage the wayward students.
C1 adverb /ˈwɪmzɪkli/

Whimsically

Meaning
In a playful, fanciful, or capricious manner; with sudden changes of mind
Example
She decorated her room whimsically with colorful balloons.
C1 noun /slæɡ/

slag

Meaning
Stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting process.
Example
The factory dumped the slag near the river.
C1 verb /blɜːrt/

blurt

Meaning
to say something suddenly without thinking
Example
He blurts out the secret accidentally.
C1 noun /ˈeɪ.peks/

apex

Meaning
The highest point or peak of something; the top or summit.
Example
He reached the apex of his career.
C1 verb /dɪˈteɪn/

detain

Meaning
to keep someone from proceeding; to hold back, especially by official authority
Example
The police detained the suspect for questioning.
C1 noun /moʊˈzeɪɪk/

mosaic

Meaning
A picture or pattern produced by arranging together small pieces of stone, tile, or glass.
Example
The church ceiling was decorated with a beautiful mosaic.
C1 noun /ˈwɔː.tər ˈspɪn.ɪtʃ/

Water Spinach

Meaning
A semi-aquatic leafy vegetable with hollow stems, popular in Asian cuisine
Example
Water spinach grows well in wet soil.
C1 adjective /frɔːt/

fraught

Meaning
Filled with or likely to result in something undesirable.
Example
The negotiations were fraught with tension and uncertainty.
C1 adjective /præɡˈmæt.ɪk/

pragmatic

Meaning
Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than idealistic considerations.
Example
He took a pragmatic approach to solving the financial crisis.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnfɔːrˈsiːn/

unforeseen

Meaning
Not anticipated or predicted; unexpected.
Example
The project faced unforeseen challenges that delayed its completion.
C1 verb /əbˈstrʌkt/

obstruct

Meaning
to block or hinder progress; to prevent or impede movement
Example
The fallen tree obstructed the road for several hours.
C1 adjective /ˈskræpi/

scrappy

Meaning
Determined and willing to fight or argue; also messy or disorganized.
Example
Despite being small, he was a scrappy fighter.
C1 noun/adjective /ˈbæstərd/

bastard

Meaning
a child born to unmarried parents (offensive); also used informally as an insult or to describe something unpleasant
Example
He called him a bastard in anger.
C1 adjective, noun /ˈɪnvəlɪd/ (adjective), /ɪnˈvælɪd/ (noun)

invalid

Meaning
Not valid; having no force or effect. Also refers to a person too weak or ill to care for themselves.
Example
The court declared the contract invalid.
C1 adjective /ˈkjʊərəbl/

curable

Meaning
Able to be cured or healed.
Example
The doctor assured her that the disease was curable.
C1 noun /kliːk/

clique

Meaning
a small, exclusive group of people
Example
The students formed a clique that excluded others.
C1 noun /əˈseɪlənt/

assailant

Meaning
a person who attacks another
Example
The police arrested the assailant at the scene.
C1 noun /ˈvɜːrtɛks/

vertex

Meaning
The highest point; the top or the apex.
Example
The climber reached the vertex of the mountain.
C1 noun /ˈpleɪdʒərɪzəm/

plagiarism

Meaning
the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own
Example
The student was expelled for committing plagiarism in his essay.
C1 noun /ˈɪd.i.əm/

idiom

Meaning
A group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words.
Example
The idiom 'break the ice' means to start a conversation in a friendly way.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈplɔːzəbl/

implausible

Meaning
Not seeming reasonable or probable; unlikely to be true.
Example
The story she told was so implausible that no one believed her.
C1 noun ˈpɜː.mə.kʌl.tʃər

permaculture

Meaning
The development of agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient.
Example
Permaculture promotes self-sufficient farming systems.
C1 noun /ɪmˈbɑː.ɡoʊ/

embargo

Meaning
A trade ban, restriction, or prohibition imposed by a government or international organization on a country.
Example
The UN imposed an embargo on arms exports.
C1 verb /ˈsenʃər/

censure

Meaning
to criticize severely; to express strong disapproval
Example
The committee censured the politician for his misconduct.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsɜːrvɪsəbəl/

Unserviceable

Meaning
not in working order; unable to be used; defective
Example
The old computer became unserviceable after the system crash.
C1 adjective /rɪˈflek.sɪv/

Reflexive

Meaning
directed back on itself; showing deep thought about oneself
Example
She became more reflexive about her behavior after the feedback.
C1 noun /ˈrɒndɪvuː/

rendezvous

Meaning
a meeting or appointment at an agreed time and place
Example
They arranged a secret rendezvous at the café.
C1 verb /ˌkɒm.pɑːtˈmen.təl.aɪz/

compartmentalize

Meaning
To divide into sections or categories; to separate things into compartments.
Example
To increase efficiency, he compartmentalized his work tasks.
C1 verb /ɪnˈsɜːrkəl/

encircle

Meaning
to form a circle around something
Example
The protesters encircled the building in a human chain.
C1 noun /ˈbeɪsbɔːrd/

baseboard

Meaning
A narrow board running along the bottom of an interior wall, covering the joint between wall and floor.
Example
The carpenter painted the baseboard white.
C1 noun /ˈtrɪviə/

trivia

Meaning
Details or information that are considered unimportant or of little value.
Example
The quiz was filled with fun trivia about movies and music.
C1 verb /kənˈvɜːrdʒ/

converge

Meaning
to come together from different directions; to meet at a point
Example
The roads converge at the city center.
C1 noun, verb /ˈliːvər/ or /ˈlɛvər/

lever

Meaning
a rigid bar used to move or lift heavy objects; to move something using leverage.
Example
He used a lever to lift the heavy stone.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvəkəl/

unequivocal

Meaning
Leaving no doubt; clear and unambiguous
Example
She gave an unequivocal answer to the question.
C1 noun /aɪ/

aye

Meaning
an affirmative vote or expression of agreement
Example
The committee voted aye on the proposal.
C1 noun ˈdɪskɔrd

discord

Meaning
Disagreement or conflict between people or ideas.
Example
Discord among people disrupts societal stability.
C1 verb /əˈpɔːl/

appall

Meaning
To shock or horrify someone with something unpleasant or bad.
Example
The cruelty of the crime appalled the entire community.
C1 noun /ˈpærəˌlɛlɪzəm/

parallelism

Meaning
The state of being parallel or similar; in literature, the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same or similar in construction.
Example
The writer used parallelism to give rhythm to his prose.
C1 noun /kɔːrs flaʊər/

Course flour

Meaning
coarsely ground flour with larger particles, typically used for baking bread
Example
She used course flour to make homemade bread with a rustic texture.
C1 noun, adjective /ˈpɑːrtɪzən/

partisan

Meaning
A strong supporter of a party, cause, or person; showing biased allegiance.
Example
The debate quickly turned partisan, with each side defending their own agenda.
C1 verb /skwɪnt/

squint

Meaning
to look with partly closed eyes
Example
She squinted at the bright sunlight.
C1 noun /diːˈkrɪp.ʃən/

decryption

Meaning
The process of converting encrypted data back into its original form so it can be understood.
Example
Hackers attempted decryption of classified data.
C1 noun /ˈæd.vənt/

advent

Meaning
The arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.
Example
The advent of the internet changed the way people communicate.
C1 verb dɪˈsɜːn

discern

Meaning
To perceive or recognize something; to distinguish with difficulty by sight or with the other senses.
Example
He could barely discern the distant figure in the fog.
C1 noun /krʌst/

crust

Meaning
the hard outer surface of something, especially bread or the Earth's outer layer
Example
He cut off the crust of the bread before eating.
C1 adjective /pəˈrɛniəl/

perennial

Meaning
lasting or existing for a long time, or recurring continually
Example
Climate change is a perennial concern for scientists.
C1 noun /ˈdɑːsieɪ/

dossier

Meaning
A collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject.
Example
The lawyer presented a dossier of evidence to the court.
C1 adjective /ˈɪrɪtəbl/

irritable

Meaning
easily annoyed or made angry
Example
She became irritable after working long hours without rest.
C1 verb /ˈmæd.ən/

madden

Meaning
To make someone very angry or extremely annoyed.
Example
The constant noise maddened him.
C1 noun /ˈsɛtərə/

cetera

Meaning
Latin for 'the rest' or 'others'; commonly used in the phrase 'et cetera' meaning 'and so on'.
Example
We need to buy pens, paper, notebooks, et cetera.
C1 verb /ɪnˈfjʊərieɪt/

infuriate

Meaning
To make someone extremely angry.
Example
His careless remarks infuriated the entire team.
C1 adjective /ˌpriːˈmɛdɪˌteɪtɪd/

premeditated

Meaning
planned in advance; done deliberately
Example
The crime was clearly premeditated.
C1 verb /əˈpɛnd/

append

Meaning
to add something as an attachment or supplement, usually at the end of a document or list
Example
She decided to append a note to the end of the report.
C1 noun /rɪˈflɛktər/

reflector

Meaning
A surface or device that reflects light, heat, or sound, often used to direct beams or improve visibility.
Example
The cyclist attached a red reflector to the back of his bike for safety.
C1 noun /ˌfɪziˈɑːlədʒi/

physiology

Meaning
the scientific study of the functions and mechanisms in a living system
Example
She is majoring in human physiology at the university.
C1 noun /ˈtɛnər/

tenor

Meaning
the general meaning, drift, or character of something; a male singing voice between baritone and alto
Example
The overall tenor of his speech was hopeful and reassuring.
C1 verb /fret/

fret

Meaning
to worry or be anxious; to be troubled
Example
Don't fret about the exam results.
C1 noun ˈnuːkliəs

nucleus

Meaning
The central core of an atom containing protons and neutrons.
Example
The nucleus consists of protons.
C1 noun /ˌkɒrəˈneɪʃən/

coronation

Meaning
the act or ceremony of crowning a sovereign or monarch
Example
The coronation of the new king was attended by thousands of people.
C1 verb /trəˈvɜːrs/

traverse

Meaning
To travel across or through something.
Example
They traversed the desert on camels.
C1 noun /ədˈhɪə.rəns/

adherence

Meaning
The practice of following or keeping to a rule, standard, or belief.
Example
Adherence to rules is crucial in any organization.
C1 verb /trʌdʒ/

trudge

Meaning
To walk slowly and with heavy steps, typically because of exhaustion or harsh conditions.
Example
They had to trudge through the snow to reach the village.
C1 adjective /rɪˈpjuː.t̬ɪd/

Reputed

Meaning
generally said or believed to be; having a particular reputation
Example
He is reputed to be one of the best doctors in the country.
C1 noun /streɪt/

strait

Meaning
A narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two large areas of water.
Example
The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
C1 noun /ˈrɛtrəsˌpɛkt/

retrospect

Meaning
the act of looking back on or reviewing past events
Example
In retrospect, the decision seemed unwise.
C1 noun /ɡroʊv/

grove

Meaning
A small group of trees growing close together.
Example
They walked through the orange grove.
C1 noun njuːˈtræl.ə.ti

neutrality

Meaning
The state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict, disagreement, etc.; impartiality.
Example
Neutrality fosters trust in decision-making.
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 noun /stɪnt/

stint

Meaning
a period of time spent doing a particular job or activity
Example
She did a short stint as a teacher before moving abroad.
C1 verb /ˈrævɪdʒ/

ravage

Meaning
to cause severe and extensive damage or destruction
Example
The hurricane ravaged the coastal villages.
C1 adjective /ˈplɒd.ɪŋ/

plodding

Meaning
slow-moving and unexciting; showing steady effort
Example
The movie was entertaining but a bit plodding in the middle.
C1 noun /dʒɛˈsteɪʃən/

gestation

Meaning
the process of carrying or being carried in the womb between conception and birth; the development of an idea or plan
Example
The gestation period of an elephant is nearly two years.
C1 noun /rɪˈmɛmbrəns/

remembrance

Meaning
the act of remembering or honoring someone or something
Example
A service was held in remembrance of the fallen soldiers.
C1 noun, adjective /ˈrɛvərənd/

reverend

Meaning
A title of respect used for members of the clergy; deserving deep respect.
Example
The Reverend gave an inspiring sermon at the church.
C1 adverb /əˈnjuː/

anew

Meaning
In a new or different way; once more.
Example
After the failure, she decided to start her life anew.
C1 noun sɜːrˈkeɪdiən ˈrɪðəm

circadian rhythm

Meaning
The body's natural sleep-wake cycle that occurs within 24 hours
Example
Exposure to natural light regulates the circadian rhythm.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈfleɪtɪd/

inflated

Meaning
excessively increased in size, value, or importance; filled with air or gas
Example
The company faced criticism for its inflated prices.
C1 adjective /ˌwɛl tə ˈduː/

well-to-do

Meaning
Prosperous, wealthy, or financially comfortable.
Example
They belong to a well-to-do family in the city.
C1 noun /trʌsˈtiː/

trustee

Meaning
a person who holds or manages property or assets for the benefit of others
Example
She was appointed as the trustee of the family estate.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnhɒˈspɪtəbl/

inhospitable

Meaning
Harsh and difficult to live in; unfriendly or unwelcoming to guests.
Example
The desert is an inhospitable environment for most plants.
C1 noun /mɜːrθ/

mirth

Meaning
Great joy, amusement, or laughter.
Example
The festival was full of mirth and laughter.
C1 adverb /ˌwɛr.əˈpɒn/

whereupon

Meaning
Immediately after which; as a result of which.
Example
He confessed his mistake, whereupon she forgave him.
C1 noun ˌmɒdɪfɪˈkeɪʃn

modification

Meaning
The action of making changes to something.
Example
The plan required modification.
C1 verb /fɔːrˈkloʊz/

foreclose

Meaning
to take possession of a property due to the owner's failure to keep up mortgage payments
Example
The bank decided to foreclose on the property after months of missed payments.
C1 noun /ɪnˈækjʊrəsi/

inaccuracy

Meaning
lack of accuracy or precision; an incorrect or wrong detail
Example
The report contained several factual inaccuracies.
C1 noun /ɪˌluːmɪˈneɪʃən/

illumination

Meaning
the act of lighting something or making something clear
Example
The street was filled with bright illumination from the lamps.
C1 verb prəˈpel

propel

Meaning
To drive, push, or cause to move in a particular direction, typically forward.
Example
Lack of proper guidance can propel adolescents toward delinquency.
C1 verb /sɪˈkluːd/

seclude

Meaning
To keep someone away from other people; to isolate.
Example
The monk chose to seclude himself in the mountains.
C1 noun /skraɪb/

scribe

Meaning
a person who writes documents, especially in ancient times; a professional copyist
Example
In ancient Egypt, scribes recorded important events.
C1 noun /ˈfɛlən/

felon

Meaning
a person who has committed a serious crime
Example
The felon was sentenced to ten years in prison.
C1 noun /ˈoʊvərˌtʊr/

overture

Meaning
An introduction to something more substantial; a proposal or preliminary action.
Example
The peace overture was welcomed by both nations.
C1 noun /aɪˈdiː.ə.lɪ.zəm/

Idealism

Meaning
the pursuit of high principles and noble goals; unrealistic pursuit of perfection
Example
His youthful idealism motivated him to join various social justice movements.
C1 noun, verb /pliːt/

pleat

Meaning
a fold in fabric made by doubling the material back upon itself
Example
She added a pleat to the skirt for extra volume.
C1 noun dɪˌlɪb.əˈreɪ.ʃən

deliberation

Meaning
Long and careful consideration or discussion.
Example
The agreement was finalized after much deliberation.
C1 noun dɪˈspær.ə.ti

disparity

Meaning
A great difference or inequality.
Example
Disparity between countries must be reduced.
C1 noun (plural) /ˈɪndɪˌsiːz/

indices

Meaning
plural form of index; statistical measures or reference points used for comparison
Example
Stock market indices fell sharply after the announcement.
C1 adjective /tɪˈrænɪkəl/

tyrannical

Meaning
exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way
Example
The tyrannical ruler silenced all opposition.
C1 noun /ˈwɛlˌduːər/

well-doer

Meaning
A person who does good deeds; a benefactor.
Example
The community praised the well-doer for his charity.
C1 verb /əˈsæsɪneɪt/

assassinate

Meaning
To murder someone important, often a political or religious leader, usually by surprise attack.
Example
The rebels planned to assassinate the king.
C1 adjective /ˈɛərˌtaɪt/

airtight

Meaning
Completely sealed so that no air can get in or out.
Example
Store the cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
C1 noun /ˈnoʊ.və/

Nova

Meaning
a star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness
Example
Astronomers discovered a new nova in the constellation.
C1 verb /kəmˈprɛs/

compress

Meaning
to press or squeeze something so that it becomes smaller
Example
The file was compressed to save storage space.
C1 verb /kəˈleɪt/

collate

Meaning
to collect, arrange, and combine in order
Example
The secretary collated the reports before the meeting.
C1 adjective /ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsəbl/

comprehensible

Meaning
able to be understood; intelligible
Example
The teacher explained the topic in a comprehensible way.
C1 noun /əbˈzɜːvəns/

observance

Meaning
The practice of following a custom, rule, or religious law.
Example
The festival is held in observance of a centuries-old tradition.
C1 adjective rɪˈsɛʃ.ən.er.i

recessionary

Meaning
Relating to or characterized by economic recession.
Example
Governments introduce policies to counter recessionary effects.
C1 verb /ˈɡloʊbəlaɪz/

globalize

Meaning
to make something worldwide in scope or application; to integrate into a global system
Example
Many companies globalize their operations to reach international markets.
C1 adjective /ˌmel.ənˈkɒl.ɪk/

Melancholic

Meaning
sad and thoughtful; feeling or expressing sadness
Example
The melancholic music made everyone feel sad.
C1 adjective /ˈpæs.ə.bəl/

passable

Meaning
good enough to be accepted, though not excellent
Example
The road is barely passable after the storm.
C1 adjective /ˈrɛtroʊˌɡreɪd/

retrograde

Meaning
moving backward or returning to a worse condition
Example
The policy was seen as a retrograde step for human rights.
C1 adjective /ˈbleɪtənt/

blatant

Meaning
done openly and unashamedly; obvious and offensive
Example
The company's blatant disregard for safety regulations angered the public.
C1 verb /aʊtˈlæst/

outlast

Meaning
to continue longer than; to endure beyond someone or something else
Example
The old castle has outlasted many generations.
C1 noun /əˈtrɑːsəti/

atrocity

Meaning
an extremely cruel or violent act, often involving physical violence
Example
The world condemned the atrocity committed against civilians.
C1 verb, noun /klɑːɡ/

clog

Meaning
to block or become blocked; a type of heavy wooden shoe
Example
The sink was clogged with food waste.
C1 adjective /fərˈlɔːrn/

forlorn

Meaning
extremely sad, lonely, or abandoned
Example
The abandoned puppy looked so forlorn in the rain.