scour
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C1 verb /ˈskaʊər/

scour

Meaning
to clean or brighten the surface of something by scrubbing; to search thoroughly
Example
She scoured the kitchen until it shone.
C1 noun /ˈɛksələnsɪ/

excellency

Meaning
a title of honor for people of high rank, especially ambassadors or governors
Example
His Excellency the Ambassador attended the ceremony.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsərˈteɪʃən/

dissertation

Meaning
A long piece of writing on a particular subject, usually written for a university degree.
Example
She spent two years writing her doctoral dissertation.
C1 noun /ˈmæk.ər.əl/

Mackerel

Meaning
a streamlined marine fish with a forked tail and wavy stripes
Example
Mackerel is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
C1 noun /twɪt/

Twit

Meaning
a silly or foolish person; to tease or make fun of someone
Example
Don't be such a twit and listen carefully.
C1 noun /kwɪnˈtɛt/

quintet

Meaning
A group of five people or things, especially musicians.
Example
The jazz quintet performed beautifully.
C1 noun /kəˈmoʊʃən/

commotion

Meaning
A state of noisy confusion or disturbance.
Example
The sudden commotion in the market drew everyone's attention.
C1 verb /dɪˈraɪd/

deride

Meaning
to mock or ridicule someone or something
Example
The critics derided the new movie for its poor script.
C1 noun /ˌkɔr.diˈæl.ɪ.ti/

Cordiality

Meaning
sincere affection and kindness; warm and friendly behavior
Example
The host's cordiality made all the guests feel welcome and comfortable.
C1 verb /diːˈfɒrɪst/

deforest

Meaning
to clear an area of trees, usually on a large scale
Example
The region has been heavily deforested for agriculture.
C1 verb /ˈmɜːrmər/

murmur

Meaning
To say something in a low, soft, or indistinct voice.
Example
She murmured a prayer before going to sleep.
C1 adjective /ˈtɑːrdi/

tardy

Meaning
Delayed; arriving or happening late.
Example
The student received a warning for being tardy to class.
C1 noun /ˈɡreɪvstoʊn/

gravestone

Meaning
A stone that marks a grave, usually inscribed with the name of the deceased.
Example
The gravestone had her name carved beautifully.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnkəmˈpætəbl/

incompatible

Meaning
Not able to exist or work together without conflict.
Example
Their personalities were completely incompatible.
C1 verb, noun /ˈbreɪnˌwɒʃ/

brainwash

Meaning
to manipulate someone into adopting certain beliefs by repeated pressure or propaganda; the act or process of such manipulation
Example
The group tried to brainwash new members with constant propaganda.
C1 noun/verb /fliːs/

fleece

Meaning
The woolly covering of a sheep; as a verb, to swindle or cheat someone.
Example
The farmer sheared the sheep’s fleece carefully.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈtæŋɡl/

disentangle

Meaning
To free something or someone from a tangle or complication.
Example
She tried to disentangle her hair from the branches.
C1 noun /ˌmɔːrəˈtɔːriəm/

moratorium

Meaning
A temporary suspension or delay of an activity, law, or obligation.
Example
The government announced a moratorium on new mining licenses.
C1 noun /ˌsæl.jʊˈteɪ.ʃən/

Salutation

Meaning
a greeting; an expression of goodwill
Example
The letter began with a formal salutation.
C1 adjective /ɪˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/

Illogical

Meaning
not reasonable or sensible; lacking logic
Example
It would be illogical to go swimming in such cold weather.
C1 verb /ˌkaʊntərˈbæləns/

counterbalance

Meaning
to offset or balance the effect of something
Example
Exercise can counterbalance the negative effects of stress.
C1 noun /ˈskeɪp.ɡəʊt/

Scapegoat

Meaning
a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others
Example
He became the scapegoat for the team's poor performance.
C1 noun /ˈplʌn.dər.ər/

Plunderer

Meaning
a person who steals goods, especially during war or civil disorder
Example
The plunderers ransacked the village after the battle.
C1 noun /ˈpreɪsiː/

precis

Meaning
A concise summary of a text or speech.
Example
The student submitted a précis of the long article.
C1 noun /ˈsɪməli/

simile

Meaning
A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another using 'like' or 'as'.
Example
She used a simile to describe her eyes as bright as stars.
C1 noun prɪˈzɜː.və.tɪvz

preservatives

Meaning
A substance used to preserve foodstuffs, wood, or other materials against decay.
Example
Many processed foods contain harmful preservatives.
C1 noun /ˈstændˌstɪl/

standstill

Meaning
a situation in which all movement or activity stops
Example
The traffic came to a standstill after the accident.
C1 adjective /ˌʌndərˈsaɪzd/

undersized

Meaning
Smaller than the usual or expected size.
Example
The undersized puppy struggled to keep up with its siblings.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈsɛp(ə)rəbəl/

inseparable

Meaning
Unable to be separated or always together.
Example
The two friends have been inseparable since childhood.
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 adjective /ˈlaɪf.laɪk/

lifelike

Meaning
Very similar to a real person, object, or scene; realistic.
Example
The wax figure was so lifelike that people thought it was a real person.
C1 noun /ˌdɛfəˈmeɪʃən/

defamation

Meaning
the act of damaging someone's reputation by making false statements
Example
The newspaper was sued for defamation of character.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsbɪˈliːvər/

disbeliever

Meaning
a person who does not believe in something, especially a religion or idea
Example
He was called a disbeliever for rejecting the traditional faith.
C1 noun /ˈdʒʌɡərˌnɔːt/

juggernaut

Meaning
A huge, powerful, and unstoppable force or institution.
Example
The new tech company has become a juggernaut in the industry.
C1 adverb /ˈfɜː.vənt.li/

Fervently

Meaning
with passionate intensity; ardently; with great emotion or enthusiasm
Example
She fervently hoped that her dreams would come true.
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 /ˈtɜːrmɪnəs/

terminus

Meaning
the final point or end of something, especially the final station on a railway line
Example
The train finally arrived at the terminus after a long journey.
C1 noun /trɔːf/

trough

Meaning
A long, narrow container from which animals eat or drink; also, a low point between waves or in business cycles.
Example
The cows drank water from the wooden trough.
C1 noun /təˈlɛpəθi/

telepathy

Meaning
the supposed communication of thoughts or ideas by means other than the known senses
Example
The twins claimed to share telepathy with each other.
C1 verb /ˈkɒnsɪkreɪt/

consecrate

Meaning
to make something sacred, usually through a religious ceremony
Example
The church was consecrated by the bishop.
C1 verb /ˈstæmər/

stammer

Meaning
To speak with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to repeat the initial letters of words.
Example
The nervous student began to stammer during his speech.
C1 noun /ræmˈbuːtən/

Rambutan

Meaning
a tropical fruit with red spiky skin and white translucent sweet flesh similar to litchi
Example
The rambutan looks scary with its hairy skin but tastes very sweet inside.
C1 noun /ˈwɪzərdri/

wizardry

Meaning
The art or practice of magic; great skill or expertise in something.
Example
The programmer's wizardry amazed everyone in the room.
C1 noun /juːnəˈnɪməti/

Unanimity

Meaning
complete agreement among all members of a group
Example
The committee reached unanimity on the new policy.
C1 adjective /ˌeɪθiˈɪstɪk/

atheistic

Meaning
Relating to or characteristic of atheists or atheism.
Example
She grew up in an atheistic household with no religious rituals.
C1 noun/adjective /dɪˈtɜː.rənt/

deterrent

Meaning
A thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something.
Example
A strict law serves as a deterrent to crime.
C1 verb /dɪˈluːd/

delude

Meaning
To mislead someone into believing something that is not true.
Example
He deluded himself into thinking he could win the race without training.
C1 noun /ˈskɛptɪk/

skeptic

Meaning
A person who doubts or questions accepted beliefs or claims.
Example
The scientist was a skeptic of theories without solid evidence.
C1 adjective /traɪt/

trite

Meaning
Overused and lacking originality.
Example
The speech was full of trite phrases.
C1 noun/adjective /ˈmɒnəkrəʊm/

monochrome

Meaning
A photograph, painting, or screen image in black and white or varying tones of one color.
Example
The old film was shot entirely in monochrome.
C1 noun ˌsæn.ɪ.taɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

sanitization

Meaning
The process of cleaning and disinfecting to eliminate germs and bacteria.
Example
Regular sanitization keeps appliances germ-free.
C1 verb /ˈmæsəkər/

massacre

Meaning
to kill a large number of people brutally; to defeat decisively
Example
The army massacred the innocent civilians.
C1 adjective /ˈhæloʊd/

hallowed

Meaning
regarded as holy or greatly respected
Example
They walked across the hallowed halls of the old university.
C1 verb/noun /ˈsɒldər/

solder

Meaning
To join metal parts together by melting and putting a filler metal into the joint
Example
He soldered the broken wires back together.
C1 adjective /kəmˈpʌlsɪv/

compulsive

Meaning
Resulting from or acting on an irresistible urge, especially one that is against one's conscious wishes.
Example
He is a compulsive gambler who cannot stop placing bets.
C1 noun /bəˈtɒn/

baton

Meaning
A thin stick carried by a conductor to direct an orchestra, or used as a symbol of authority.
Example
The conductor raised his baton to begin the symphony.
C1 noun /pəˈtɜːrnəti/

paternity

Meaning
The state of being someone's father.
Example
He demanded a paternity test to confirm his relationship with the child.
C1 noun /kəˈloʊkwiəˌlɪzəm/

colloquialism

Meaning
a word or phrase used in informal speech or writing
Example
The novel is full of regional colloquialisms.
C1 noun /ˈpen.əns/

Penance

Meaning
punishment that you accept for doing something wrong; an act of showing that you are sorry for sin
Example
The monk performed penance for his past mistakes.
C1 adjective /ˈpɪt.i.ə.bəl/

pitiable

Meaning
deserving sympathy or compassion
Example
The stray dog looked pitiable in the rain.
C1 verb, noun /træmp/

tramp

Meaning
to walk heavily or noisily; a person who travels from place to place on foot, often homeless
Example
They tramped through the forest in heavy boots.
C1 noun /ˈdjuːplɛks/

duplex

Meaning
A house or apartment divided into two separate residences.
Example
They live in a duplex near the city center.
C1 noun /ɪmˈprɪzənmənt/

imprisonment

Meaning
the act of putting someone in prison; the state of being confined as punishment
Example
He faced imprisonment for violating the court order.
C1 noun /dɪˈvaɪzər/

divisor

Meaning
A number by which another number is divided.
Example
In the equation 12 ÷ 3, the number 3 is the divisor.
C1 adjective ɪnˈtrɪn.zɪk

intrinsic

Meaning
Belonging naturally; essential. Existing as a natural or basic part of something.
Example
Creativity is an intrinsic quality of a great artist.
C1 noun /ˈtwɪstər/

twister

Meaning
A tornado or something that twists; also refers to a challenging tongue twister.
Example
The twister destroyed several houses in the village.
C1 noun /ˌkɔːriˈɒɡrəfi/

choreography

Meaning
The art of designing and arranging dances and movements.
Example
The choreography of the ballet was breathtaking.
C1 verb /ɪnˈfjʊərieɪt/

infuriate

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

outstretch

Meaning
To extend or stretch something outward.
Example
He outstretched his hand to help her up.
C1 verb /ˈθiːəraɪz/

theorize

Meaning
To form a theory or set of ideas to explain something.
Example
Scientists often theorize about the origins of the universe.
C1 adjective /əbˈtjuːs/

Obtuse

Meaning
annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand; lacking in intelligence or perception
Example
He was being deliberately obtuse about the instructions.
C1 adjective /riˈæk.tɪv/

Reactive

Meaning
responding to situations rather than initiating them; chemically active
Example
The company took a reactive approach to customer complaints.
C1 adjective məˈdʒes.tɪk

Majestic

Meaning
Having impressive beauty, dignity, or grandeur; regal and stately in appearance.
Example
The majestic Himalayas stand tall against the sky.
C1 noun æmˈbɪvələns

ambivalence

Meaning
Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something; uncertainty or confusion.
Example
She felt ambivalence about taking the job offer.
C1 noun /blɜːrb/

blurb

Meaning
a short promotional description of a book, product, or service
Example
The back cover had a blurb praising the novel.
C1 noun /ˈʃæpəroʊn/

chaperon

Meaning
An older person who accompanies and supervises young people in social situations.
Example
The teacher acted as a chaperon during the school dance.
C1 verb /ˈɡɑː.nər/

garner

Meaning
To gather or collect, especially information, support, or approval.
Example
The politician garnered support from young voters.
C1 adjective /ˈriː.fleks/

Reflex

Meaning
an action performed without conscious thought; relating to reflection
Example
The doctor tested her reflex response by tapping her knee.
C1 verb /ˈɑːrbɪtreɪt/

arbitrate

Meaning
to settle a dispute between two parties by acting as an impartial judge
Example
The committee agreed to arbitrate the contract dispute.
C1 verb /ˈpæmpər/

pamper

Meaning
to treat with excessive care and attention; to spoil
Example
Parents often pamper their first child.
C1 adjective /ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk/

apathetic

Meaning
showing or feeling little or no interest, enthusiasm, or concern
Example
He was apathetic about the outcome of the match.
C1 verb /ˌriːˈkɒn.stɪ.tʃuːt/

reconstitute

Meaning
to restore something to its original form or state; to reassemble
Example
The group was reconstituted after the leader returned.
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 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 adjective ʌnˈskruːpjʊləs

unscrupulous

Meaning
Having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.
Example
Unscrupulous peers can lead adolescents to delinquency.
C1 noun /ɡrəˈtjuːɪti/

gratuity

Meaning
A sum of money given as a tip or a retirement benefit.
Example
The waiter received a generous gratuity for his excellent service.
C1 noun/verb /rɪˈlæps/

relapse

Meaning
to return to a worse condition, especially after improvement; a deterioration after recovery
Example
After months of progress, he suffered a relapse.
C1 noun /ˈfoʊ.kəs ˈtræk.ɪŋ/

focus tracking

Meaning
A technique of monitoring and maintaining attention on specific tasks or goals.
Example
Proper focus tracking improves productivity.
C1 verb/noun /ˈswæɡ.ər/

swagger

Meaning
To walk or behave in a very confident and arrogant way.
Example
He swaggered into the room as if he owned the place.
C1 noun /dɪˈfen.dənt/

Defendant

Meaning
an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law
Example
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him.
C1 adverb /ˌɪn.ədˈvɜːr.tənt.li/

Inadvertently

Meaning
without being aware of what you are doing; unintentionally; by mistake
Example
She inadvertently deleted the important file while cleaning her computer.
C1 noun /ˈækəleɪd/

accolade

Meaning
An award, honor, or expression of praise.
Example
She received an accolade for her outstanding performance.
C1 proper noun ˈɡləʊbəl ˈfaʊndriz

GlobalFoundries

Meaning
A specific company in semiconductor manufacturing.
Example
GlobalFoundries is a leading semiconductor company.
C1 noun /stɑːr ˈæn.ɪs/

Star Anise

Meaning
star-shaped spice pod with a licorice-like flavor used in cooking
Example
She added star anise to the soup for aromatic flavor.
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 ˌdiː.sen.trə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

decentralization

Meaning
The transfer of authority from central to local government.
Example
Decentralization promotes regional autonomy.
C1 noun /ɪɡˈzuːbərəns/

exuberance

Meaning
the quality of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness
Example
Her exuberance made the whole team feel motivated.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpɜːmiəbl/

impermeable

Meaning
Not allowing fluid or gas to pass through.
Example
The container is made of impermeable plastic.
C1 adjective /ˌpɛd.əˈɡɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/

pedagogical

Meaning
Relating to teaching and education; concerned with the methods and practice of teaching.
Example
The school adopted new pedagogical techniques to improve learning.
C1 noun /ˌæbəˈrɪdʒəniːz/

aborigines

Meaning
The original inhabitants of a land, especially in Australia.
Example
The aborigines have preserved their traditions for thousands of years.
C1 adjective /ˌʃoʊ.vəˈnɪs.tɪk/

chauvinistic

Meaning
Displaying or characterized by excessive or prejudiced loyalty or support, especially towards one's own gender or group.
Example
His chauvinistic attitude alienated many of his female colleagues.
C1 adjective /rɪˈvɜː.sə.bəl/

Reversible

Meaning
able to be turned the other way around; able to be undone or changed back
Example
This jacket is reversible and can be worn on both sides.
C1 noun /ˈweɪs(t).koʊt/

waistcoat

Meaning
a sleeveless garment worn over a shirt and under a jacket
Example
He wore a black waistcoat with his suit.
C1 adjective /əˈsɛndənt/

ascendant

Meaning
Rising in power or influence; dominant.
Example
She is an ascendant leader in the political party.
C1 adjective /ˈtrɛtʃərəs/

treacherous

Meaning
Dangerously unstable or deceptive; likely to betray trust.
Example
The treacherous road made driving difficult.
C1 adjective ɪmˈpɪr.ɪ.kəl

empirical

Meaning
Based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.
Example
Scientific research relies on empirical evidence.
C1 noun /ˈræp.tʃər/

rapture

Meaning
A feeling of intense joy, delight, or ecstasy.
Example
She listened to the music in rapture.
C1 noun ˌæprɪˈhɛnʃən

apprehension

Meaning
Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
Example
There is an apprehension about the depletion of fish stocks.
C1 noun ˈɪn.fər.əns

inference

Meaning
A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning; logical deduction.
Example
Scientists make inferences based on experimental data.
C1 noun ˌɪn.toʊˈneɪ.ʃən

intonation

Meaning
The rise and fall of tone in speech and pronunciation.
Example
Proper intonation enhances the clarity of a speech.
C1 verb /ʃɪə/

shear

Meaning
to cut the wool off a sheep or to cut something with sharp tools like scissors or shears
Example
The farmer will shear the sheep in the spring.
C1 noun /taɪˈpɒɡrəfi/

typography

Meaning
the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible and visually appealing
Example
Good typography improves the readability of a website.
C1 adjective /ˌærɪˈstɒkrætɪk/

Aristocratic

Meaning
noble; having the manners of the upper class
Example
She had an aristocratic bearing that commanded respect.
C1 noun /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪtər/

demonstrator

Meaning
a person who shows how something works or takes part in a public protest
Example
The demonstrators marched peacefully through the city streets.
C1 adjective /pərˈsɛptəbl̩/

perceptible

Meaning
Able to be noticed or recognized by the senses or the mind.
Example
There was a perceptible change in the atmosphere.
C1 noun /kənˈkʌrəns/

concurrence

Meaning
Agreement or union in action, opinion, or occurrence; simultaneous happening of events.
Example
The project was completed with the concurrence of all departments.
C1 noun /ˈstɪɡmə/

stigma

Meaning
a mark of shame or disgrace associated with a particular circumstance or quality
Example
There is still a stigma around mental health issues in many societies.
C1 noun /ˈwɪŋˌspæn/

wingspan

Meaning
the distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other wing
Example
The eagle has an impressive wingspan of over two meters.
C1 noun /rɪˈkluːs/

recluse

Meaning
A person who lives alone and avoids other people; someone who lives a solitary life.
Example
The old man lived as a recluse in the mountains.
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 ˈeʃ.ə.lɒn

echelon

Meaning
A level or rank in an organization, a profession, or society.
Example
He climbed to the upper echelon of the corporate world.