ruffle
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C1 verb /ˈrʌf.l̩/

ruffle

Meaning
to disturb the smoothness of something; to annoy or upset someone
Example
The wind ruffled her hair.
C1 noun /ɡlɔːs/

Gloss

Meaning
a shiny or lustrous surface finish; a superficially attractive appearance; lip gloss
Example
She applied a clear gloss to her lips to give them a shiny, healthy appearance.
C1 noun /ˌprɒk.ləˈmeɪ.ʃən/

Proclamation

Meaning
an official public announcement, especially one made by someone in authority
Example
The king issued a proclamation declaring peace.
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.
C1 adjective /rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ/

retiring

Meaning
Shy and reserved; avoiding social contact.
Example
She is a quiet, retiring woman who avoids attention.
C1 adjective dɪ ˈskrɛʃ.ən.er.i

discretionary

Meaning
Available for use at the discretion of the user; not required or mandatory.
Example
He set aside some discretionary income for travel.
C1 noun /ˈpɛrəntɪdʒ/

parentage

Meaning
The identity and origins of one's parents; descent or lineage.
Example
Her noble parentage gave her access to the royal court.
C1 adjective ˌmiː.ti.ər.əˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl

meteorological

Meaning
Relating to weather conditions and atmospheric phenomena.
Example
Meteorological conditions affect farming cycles.
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 adjective ˈzɛləs

zealous

Meaning
Having or showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective; fervent.
Example
The zealous volunteers worked tirelessly for the cause.
C1 noun /ˌɪn.səˌbɔːr.dɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

insubordination

Meaning
Defiance of authority; refusal to obey orders.
Example
The soldier was punished for insubordination during the mission.
C1 noun /ˈrɪdəns/

riddance

Meaning
The action of getting rid of something unwanted or unpleasant.
Example
His departure was considered a welcome riddance by the team.
C1 noun /ˈtrɪŋkɪt/

trinket

Meaning
a small ornament or piece of jewelry that is not expensive
Example
She bought a little trinket from the beach market as a souvenir.
C1 adjective /rɪˈtæl.i.ə.tɔːr.i/

retaliatory

Meaning
Taking action in response to another's action, characterized as punitive, revengeful, or counteractive.
Example
The country imposed retaliatory tariffs in response to trade sanctions.
C1 noun /ˌdʒæm.bəˈriː/

Jamboree

Meaning
a large celebration or party; a gathering with entertainment; a festive event
Example
The scout jamboree brought together thousands of young people from around the world.
C1 adjective /kənˈvɜːrdʒənt/

convergent

Meaning
tending to move toward a common point or result
Example
The two rivers have a convergent path before entering the lake.
C1 noun /ˌrek.ənˌsɪl.iˈeɪ.ʃən/

reconciliation

Meaning
The restoration of friendly relations; the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.
Example
The peace treaty was a major step toward reconciliation.
C1 noun ˈrez.ɪ.djuː

residue

Meaning
A small amount of something that remains after the main part has gone or been removed.
Example
Soap residue affects appliance efficiency.
C1 noun /ˌʌl.tɪˈmeɪ.təm/

Ultimatum

Meaning
a final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in retaliation
Example
The boss gave him an ultimatum: improve or be fired.
C1 noun /rɪˈteɪnər/

retainer

Meaning
a fee paid in advance to secure someone's services, or a device that holds something in place
Example
The lawyer asked for a retainer before taking the case.
C1 noun /ˈpriːˌkɜrsər/

precursor

Meaning
Something or someone that comes before another and indicates the approach of something else.
Example
The steam engine was a precursor to modern trains.
C1 noun /ˌpriːməˈnɪʃən/ or /ˌprɛm-/

premonition

Meaning
a strong feeling that something is about to happen, often something negative
Example
She had a premonition of danger before the trip.
C1 noun /ˈfæm.ɪn/

Famine

Meaning
extreme scarcity of food; a period when food is extremely scarce
Example
The severe drought led to widespread famine in the region.
C1 noun /ˈhɜː.mɪt/

Hermit

Meaning
a person living in solitude as a religious discipline; someone who withdraws from society
Example
The old hermit lived alone in a small cabin deep in the mountains, away from civilization.
C1 verb /dɪsˈmæntəl/

dismantle

Meaning
to take apart; to remove or destroy the parts of
Example
Workers will dismantle the old bridge next month.
C1 adjective ˈkrɪp.tɪk

cryptic

Meaning
Having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure; difficult to understand.
Example
The message was cryptic and hard to decipher.
C1 adjective /ˈsted.fæst/

Steadfast

Meaning
firm in belief, determination, or adherence; unwavering
Example
She remained steadfast in her commitment to helping the poor.
C1 noun /nɑːrˈkɒtɪk/

narcotic

Meaning
A drug that dulls the senses and relieves pain, often causing sleep and sometimes addiction.
Example
The police seized a large amount of narcotic substances.
C1 noun /ɪkˈspæns/

expanse

Meaning
a wide, open area of land, sea, or sky
Example
The desert is a vast expanse of sand and rock.
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.
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 səˈsteɪ.nə.bəl tekˈnɒl.ə.dʒi

sustainable technology

Meaning
Technology designed to meet present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs.
Example
Sustainable technology ensures a cleaner future.
C1 noun /ˈeɪθiɪzəm/

atheism

Meaning
The belief that there is no God or gods.
Example
He declared his atheism openly despite social pressure.
C1 noun ˌoʊ.vɚˈɡreɪ.zɪŋ

overgrazing

Meaning
The practice of allowing livestock to graze to the point of damaging vegetation.
Example
Overgrazing leads to soil erosion and loss of biodiversity.
C1 adjective /ˈtæntəmaʊnt/

tantamount

Meaning
Equivalent in seriousness or effect; virtually the same as.
Example
His refusal to speak was tantamount to an admission of guilt.
C1 noun/verb /ˈkætəpʌlt/

catapult

Meaning
A device for launching objects at high speed; to hurl or launch something suddenly.
Example
The invention catapulted him to international fame.
C1 noun, verb /dɪsˈɑːnər/

dishonor

Meaning
a state of shame or loss of respect; to bring shame upon someone or something
Example
The soldier felt he had brought dishonor to his family.
C1 noun /əˈkʌmplɪs/

accomplice

Meaning
a person who helps another commit a crime
Example
The thief was arrested along with his accomplice.
C1 adjective /wɪðˈdrɔːn/

withdrawn

Meaning
quiet and shy; not wanting to talk to others
Example
After the incident, he became withdrawn and avoided his friends.
C1 noun /kənˈstɪtʃuənsi/

constituency

Meaning
A geographical area whose residents elect a representative to a legislative body.
Example
She campaigned tirelessly across her constituency.
C1 adjective /ˈɜːr.θən/

Earthen

Meaning
made of earth or clay; relating to pottery or ceramic materials
Example
The kitchen had beautiful earthen pots for storage.
C1 adjective /ˈɒptɪməm/

optimum

Meaning
Most conducive to a favorable outcome; best.
Example
To achieve optimum results, we need to improve efficiency.
C1 verb /kənˈtɛkstʃuəlaɪz/

contextualize

Meaning
to place something in a context or interpret it in relation to its surroundings
Example
The teacher contextualized the historical event to make it more relevant for students.
C1 noun /ˌtɛrəˈdæktɪl/

pterodactyl

Meaning
An extinct flying reptile of the Jurassic period, with a long slender head and wings formed by a membrane stretching along the body.
Example
The museum displayed a fossil of a giant pterodactyl.
C1 adjective /ˈɔːrəl/

aural

Meaning
Relating to the ear or the sense of hearing.
Example
The lecture was an aural experience as well as an intellectual one.
C1 noun ˈpɛd.ə.ɡɒ.dʒi

pedagogy

Meaning
The method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept.
Example
Modern pedagogy focuses on student-centered learning.
C1 noun /ˈmɛləˌdrɑːmə/

melodrama

Meaning
A dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions.
Example
The movie was criticized for its excessive melodrama.
C1 noun /pəˈraɪə/

pariah

Meaning
An outcast; someone who is rejected by society or a social group.
Example
After the scandal, he became a social pariah.
C1 verb /flɪntʃ/

flinch

Meaning
to suddenly move back or away due to fear or pain
Example
He didn’t flinch when the doctor gave him the injection.
C1 noun /ˌkɒnfləˈɡreɪʃən/

conflagaration

Meaning
This is a common misspelling of 'conflagration', which means a large, destructive fire.
Example
The term 'conflagaration' is often incorrectly used instead of 'conflagration'.
C1 noun /ˌbaɪˈlæt.ər.əl nɪˌɡəʊ.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃənz/

bilateral negotiations

Meaning
Negotiations or discussions between two parties, typically countries or organizations.
Example
Bilateral negotiations resolve disputes.
C1 noun /ˈʌp.tɜːn/

upturn

Meaning
An improvement or upward trend in a situation, especially in business or economy.
Example
The company experienced an upturn in sales last quarter.
C1 noun (plural) /kwɑːmz/

qualms

Meaning
feelings of doubt, worry, or uneasiness
Example
He had serious qualms about accepting the offer.
C1 noun /ˌdiː.mɑːˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Demarcation

Meaning
the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something; separation or division
Example
The demarcation between public and private land was clearly marked.
C1 verb /ˈheɪsən/

hasten

Meaning
To move or act quickly; to cause something to happen sooner.
Example
He hastened to finish his work before the deadline.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈdefɪnət/

Indefinite

Meaning
not clearly defined; uncertain; vague; unlimited in time
Example
The meeting has been postponed for an indefinite period.
C1 adjective /ˈstʌm.pi/

Stumpy

Meaning
short and thick; having a short, thick appearance
Example
The stumpy little dog wagged its tail enthusiastically.
C1 noun /ˈθʌroʊˌbrɛd/

thoroughbred

Meaning
a horse of pure and recognized breed; a person of good breeding or education
Example
The jockey rode a fast thoroughbred in the race.
C1 verb/adjective /dɪˈdʒɛnəreɪt/

degenerate

Meaning
To decline or deteriorate in quality, character, or condition; or someone with low moral standards.
Example
The once thriving empire began to degenerate into chaos.
C1 adjective /ˈkɒz.mɪk/

cosmic

Meaning
relating to the universe or cosmos; vast
Example
Astronomers study cosmic phenomena to understand the universe.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈhɑːrtənd/

Disheartened

Meaning
discouraged; feeling dejected; losing hope or confidence
Example
She felt disheartened after failing the exam twice.
C1 adjective /rɪˈpres.ɪv/

Repressive

Meaning
restraining freedom or preventing self-expression; oppressive
Example
The repressive government banned all forms of protest.
C1 verb /wɔːrp/

warp

Meaning
To twist or bend out of shape, often due to heat or moisture.
Example
The wooden door warped in the summer heat.
C1 verb /ˈweɪvər/

waver

Meaning
to become unsteady or indecisive; to hesitate or shake
Example
She began to waver in her decision to move abroad.
C1 adjective /ˈfleɪɡrənt/

flagrant

Meaning
shockingly noticeable or evident; glaringly wrong
Example
It was a flagrant violation of the rules.
C1 adjective /əˈdɛpt/

adept

Meaning
Very skilled or proficient at something.
Example
She is adept at solving complex mathematical problems.
C1 adjective /fəˈnɛtɪk/

phonetic

Meaning
relating to the sounds of speech or pronunciation
Example
The teacher taught the students the phonetic spelling of difficult words.
C1 noun /oʊˈbɪt.ʃu.er.i/

Obituary

Meaning
a notice of someone's death published in a newspaper; biographical account of deceased person
Example
The newspaper published his obituary yesterday.
C1 noun /ˈpriːsɪŋkt/

precinct

Meaning
A district or area within the boundaries of a city, often for police or electoral purposes.
Example
She went to vote at her local precinct.
C1 verb /ˈfɪdʒɪt/

fidget

Meaning
to make small movements, especially because of nervousness or impatience
Example
The child began to fidget during the long lecture.
C1 noun /ˈstætʃər/

stature

Meaning
A person's natural height or their reputation and importance.
Example
Her intellectual stature made her a respected figure in academia.
C1 noun /ˈtændʒənt/

tangent

Meaning
a straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point but does not cross it
Example
The teacher drew a tangent to the circle on the board.
C1 verb /ədˈmɪnɪstreɪt/

administrate

Meaning
to manage or supervise the execution of duties, laws, or resources; to formally give or apply something such as a test or medicine
Example
The committee will administrate the new policy across all departments.
C1 adverb /ˈrɪdʒɪdli/

Rigidly

Meaning
in a strict, inflexible manner; without compromise
Example
The rules are rigidly enforced in this institution.
C1 verb /ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənəlaɪz/

institutionalize

Meaning
to establish something as a formal institution, custom, or practice
Example
The government seeks to institutionalize environmental protection.
C1 adjective /ɪkˈskjuːzəbl/

excusable

Meaning
Able to be forgiven or justified.
Example
Her mistake was excusable given the circumstances.
C1 noun /ˈliːniənsi/

leniency

Meaning
The quality of being more merciful or tolerant than expected.
Example
The judge showed leniency in his ruling.
C1 verb, noun /ˈbʌsəl/

bustle

Meaning
to move in an energetic or noisy manner; busy activity in a place
Example
The marketplace bustled with vendors and customers.
C1 noun /ˈlɛdʒɪsleɪtər/

legislator

Meaning
a person who makes laws, especially a member of a legislative body
Example
The legislator introduced a bill to improve healthcare.
C1 verb /θræʃ/

thrash

Meaning
to beat someone or something violently; to move wildly or violently
Example
The angry man threatened to thrash his opponent.
C1 verb /blæntʃ/

blanch

Meaning
to turn pale from shock, fear, or to briefly boil food to remove skin or prepare it
Example
She blanched at the sight of blood.
C1 noun/adjective /ˈmæm.əθ/

mammoth

Meaning
An extinct large elephant-like animal with long curved tusks; also means something huge.
Example
The company faced a mammoth challenge during expansion.
C1 verb /ɡleɪz/

glaze

Meaning
to cover with a smooth, shiny surface; to coat with a glossy finish
Example
The chef glazed the cake with chocolate.
C1 noun /ˈkɒndjuɪt/ or /ˈkɑːnduɪt/

conduit

Meaning
a channel or pipe for conveying water, electricity, or information
Example
The cable was placed inside a protective conduit.
C1 noun /ˌrɛpəˈreɪʃən/

reparation

Meaning
the making of amends for a wrong done by paying money or helping those who were wronged
Example
The government offered reparations to the victims of the conflict.
C1 noun /oʊˈveɪʃən/

ovation

Meaning
an enthusiastic show of approval, especially by clapping hands
Example
The actor received a standing ovation after his performance.
C1 adjective ˈɒk.sɪ.də.tɪv

oxidative

Meaning
Related to or caused by oxidation, especially cellular damage from free radicals.
Example
Excess stress can lead to oxidative damage in cells.
C1 noun /ˌdep.rɪˈveɪ.ʃən/

deprivation

Meaning
The damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society.
Example
Sleep deprivation affects cognitive function.
C1 noun /məˈdɜːrnəti/

modernity

Meaning
The quality or condition of being modern; up-to-date ideas, practices, or style.
Example
The city’s architecture reflects both tradition and modernity.
C1 adjective /ˈlætərəl/

lateral

Meaning
Relating to the side or sideways movement.
Example
The football player made a quick lateral pass.
C1 noun /ˈkɪləˌwɒt/

kilowatt

Meaning
a unit of power equal to 1,000 watts
Example
The generator produces ten kilowatts of electricity.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈɡreɪnd/

ingrained

Meaning
Firmly fixed or established; deeply rooted and difficult to change.
Example
His ingrained habits were hard to break.
C1 adjective /snaɪd/

snide

Meaning
mocking or insulting in an indirect way
Example
He couldn’t resist making a snide comment about her dress.
C1 verb /ˈdʒepərdaɪz/

jeopardize

Meaning
to put something at risk of being damaged or destroyed
Example
His reckless behavior could jeopardize his career.
C1 adjective /əˈfɜːrmətɪv/

affirmative

Meaning
expressing agreement, approval, or a positive response
Example
She gave an affirmative answer to the proposal.
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 /ˈænti ˈeəkræft ɡʌn/

Anti-aircraft-gun

Meaning
a weapon designed to attack aircraft from the ground
Example
The anti-aircraft gun was positioned to defend the military base.
C1 adjective /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs/

gratuitous

Meaning
Unnecessary, unwarranted, or given freely without reason or cause.
Example
The movie was criticized for its gratuitous violence.
C1 adjective /ˈkwiːzi/

queasy

Meaning
Feeling sick to one's stomach; nauseated.
Example
She felt queasy after the long boat ride.
C1 adjective ˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs

synchronous

Meaning
Existing or occurring at the same time.
Example
Synchronous learning involves live online classes.
C1 adjective /ɪˈnɔːrdənət/

inordinate

Meaning
Excessive or unusually large in degree.
Example
She spent an inordinate amount of time on her phone.
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.
C1 adjective /vɜːrˈboʊs/

verbose

Meaning
Using or expressed in more words than are needed; wordy.
Example
His verbose explanation confused the audience instead of clarifying the issue.
C1 adjective /rɪˈsɛsɪv/

recessive

Meaning
In genetics, relating to a trait that is expressed only when two copies of the gene are present.
Example
Blue eye color is often a recessive trait.
C1 verb /ˈdæŋɡəl/

dangle

Meaning
to hang loosely or swing freely
Example
The keys dangled from his belt.
C1 verb /dɪˈspɛl/

dispel

Meaning
to make a doubt, feeling, or belief disappear
Example
The teacher's explanation dispelled the students' confusion.
C1 noun /kjʊˈreɪtər/

curator

Meaning
a person who is responsible for the care and management of a museum, gallery, or collection
Example
The curator organized a new exhibition of ancient artifacts.
C1 noun /ˌaɪ.diˈɒl.ə.dʒi/

ideology

Meaning
A system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Example
Democracy is based on the ideology of freedom and equality.
C1 verb /ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/

intimidate

Meaning
To frighten or overawe someone, especially to make them do what one wants.
Example
The bully tried to intimidate the smaller kids.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnprɪˈtɛnʃəs/

unpretentious

Meaning
modest; not attempting to impress others with appearance or importance
Example
She lives in an unpretentious home but is very happy.
C1 noun /ˈskeɪ.biːz/

Scabies

Meaning
a contagious skin disease caused by mites that causes intense itching
Example
The doctor diagnosed him with scabies after examining the rash.
C1 noun/verb /ɡrʌdʒ/

grudge

Meaning
A persistent feeling of ill will or resentment from a past insult or injury.
Example
She still holds a grudge against him for what happened years ago.
C1 noun /ˌbɪbliˈɒɡrəfi/

bibliography

Meaning
a list of books, articles, or other sources used or referred to in scholarly work
Example
The report includes a detailed bibliography at the end.
C1 noun /ɡræft/

Graft

Meaning
a shoot or twig inserted into a slit on the trunk of a living tree to form a new growth; corruption in politics or business
Example
The gardener used a graft to combine different varieties of apple trees.
C1 noun kənˈsjuː.mə.rɪ.zəm

consumerism

Meaning
The tendency to increase consumption of goods and the importance given to consuming products.
Example
Modern consumerism leads to increased demand for luxury goods.
C1 adjective /ˈtʃɛk.ərd/

checkered

Meaning
Having a pattern of alternating squares of different colors; also describing a past full of ups and downs or varied experiences.
Example
He had a checkered career with many highs and lows.
C1 adjective /ˈbɔɪənt/ or /ˈbuːjənt/

buoyant

Meaning
Able to float easily; cheerful and optimistic.
Example
She remained buoyant despite the difficulties.
C1 verb /kəmˈpjuːt/

compute

Meaning
To calculate or determine by using a computer or mathematical methods.
Example
The software can compute the total cost in seconds.
C1 noun /ˈkælɪbər/

caliber

Meaning
The quality of someone's ability or character; the internal diameter of a gun barrel.
Example
The university attracts students of high caliber.
C1 noun /ˈzɪn.i.ə/

Zinnia

Meaning
A colorful garden flower with daisy-like blooms, popular for its vibrant colors and long-lasting nature
Example
The garden was filled with bright zinnias in various colors.
C1 noun /ɪɡˈzɜːr.ʃən/

exertion

Meaning
Using energy or effort to achieve something.
Example
Excessive exertion can lead to fatigue and burnout.