shudder
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C1 verb /ˈʃʌdər/

shudder

Meaning
to tremble or shake suddenly, often due to fear, cold, or strong emotion
Example
She shuddered at the thought of walking alone in the dark forest.
C2 noun /sɜːrˈsiːs/

surcease

Meaning
a temporary or final ending or stopping of something
Example
The noise finally came to a surcease after midnight.
B1 noun /ˈsɛkʃən/

section

Meaning
a distinct part or subdivision of something larger
Example
This section of the report needs further review.
A2 noun /staɪl/

Style

Meaning
a particular way of doing something; a distinctive appearance or manner of expression
Example
She has her own unique style of writing that captivates readers.
A2 adjective /sər'praɪz.ɪŋ/

Surprising

Meaning
causing surprise; unexpected; remarkable
Example
It's surprising how quickly children learn new languages.
A2 adjective /ˈsɪmələr/

Similar

Meaning
alike; having characteristics in common
Example
The two sisters have similar interests in music.
C1 adjective /ˌsuː.pəˈsɒn.ɪk/

Supersonic

Meaning
faster than the speed of sound; relating to speeds greater than the speed of sound
Example
The supersonic jet broke the sound barrier.
B1 noun /sɛks/

sex

Meaning
the biological distinction between male and female; sexual activity
Example
He was asked about his sex at the doctor's office.
C2 adjective /spæzˈmɒdɪk/

spasmodic

Meaning
occurring irregularly or in sudden bursts
Example
The patient experienced spasmodic coughing during the night.
A2 noun, verb, adjective /saʊnd/

sound

Meaning
a sensation perceived by the ear; to make or cause to make a noise; in good condition
Example
The bell sounded across the valley.
C1 verb /səˈlɪdəˌfaɪ/

solidify

Meaning
To make something firm, strong, or more certain.
Example
The company solidified its position in the market.
B1 noun /skɑːrf/

Scarf

Meaning
a length of fabric worn around the neck or head for warmth, protection, or fashion
Example
She wrapped a warm scarf around her neck in the cold weather.
B1 adjective ˈsteɪbl

stable

Meaning
Not likely to change or fail; firmly established.
Example
Strong nuclear force keeps the nucleus stable.
A2 noun /ʃer/

Share

Meaning
a portion of something; a part or portion of a larger amount
Example
Each partner received an equal share of the company profits.
B1 noun/verb /skeɪl/

scale

Meaning
A system of ordered marks used for measurement; also means to climb or to adjust in size.
Example
The company plans to scale its operations globally.
B2 noun /ˈsɛnət/

senate

Meaning
a legislative or governing body, typically the upper chamber in a bicameral legislature
Example
The senate voted in favor of the new healthcare bill.
B2 noun /səˈspɛnʃən/

suspension

Meaning
The act of temporarily stopping something; also refers to a system in vehicles that absorbs shock.
Example
The player received a three-game suspension for misconduct.
C2 adjective /ˈsɪlvən/

sylvan

Meaning
Relating to or characteristic of the woods or forest.
Example
The cottage was set in a sylvan landscape full of tall trees.
C1 verb /ˈskwɒbəl/

squabble

Meaning
To argue noisily over something small or unimportant.
Example
The children squabbled over the last piece of cake.
B2 noun /sɛnˈseɪʃən/

Sensation

Meaning
a physical feeling or perception resulting from something that happens to or comes into contact with the body; a widespread reaction of interest and excitement
Example
The new singer became an overnight sensation.
C2 noun /səbˈsɜːviəns/

subservience

Meaning
the condition of being too willing to obey or serve others
Example
His subservience to authority annoyed his colleagues.
A2 verb /ˈstɑːtɪŋ/

starting

Meaning
beginning to do or experience something
Example
She is starting a new job next week.
B2 noun /ˈstɑːrtər/

starter

Meaning
a person or thing that starts something; the first course of a meal
Example
The starter of the meal was a fresh salad.
C1 verb /skɪmp/

skimp

Meaning
to use less of something than is necessary in order to save money or effort
Example
Don’t skimp on quality when buying a new laptop.
B2 adverb /sɪˈvɪərli/

severely

Meaning
to a great degree; very seriously or harshly
Example
The patient was severely injured in the accident.
A1 noun /sɔːŋ/

song

Meaning
a short piece of music with words that are sung
Example
She sang a beautiful song at the concert.
B2 noun /ˈspaɪs bɒks/

Spice box

Meaning
a container used to store various spices and seasonings
Example
She opened the spice box to find cumin for her curry.
B1 noun /ˈsʌn.flaʊər/

Sun flower

Meaning
a large yellow flower that turns to face the sun
Example
The sunflower field looked amazing in the bright sunlight.
C1 noun /ˈʃeɪvɪŋ/

shaving

Meaning
the act of removing hair with a razor; a thin strip or piece shaved from something
Example
He bought a new cream for shaving.
B1 noun, verb /spoʊk/

spoke

Meaning
As a noun, a bar connecting the center of a wheel to its rim; as the past tense of 'speak'.
Example
The bicycle's spoke was bent after the accident.
B2 noun ˈstræt.ɪ.dʒiz

strategies

Meaning
A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim; the art of planning and directing operations.
Example
Effective strategies can mitigate climate change impacts.
B1 adverb /ˈsel.dəm/

Seldom

Meaning
not often; rarely; infrequently
Example
She seldom goes to the cinema.
A2 noun/verb/adjective /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/ (noun), /səbˈdʒɛkt/ (verb)

subject

Meaning
noun: a topic or theme; verb: to cause to undergo; adjective: dependent or under authority
Example
The teacher introduced a new subject in class.
B2 verb /sɪp/

sip

Meaning
to drink in small quantities; to taste carefully
Example
She sipped her tea slowly while reading the newspaper.
B2 noun /strɔː/

straw

Meaning
a thin tube for sucking up liquids; dried stalks of grain plants
Example
She drank the juice through a straw.
B2 noun /ˈskriːnɪŋ/

screening

Meaning
the act of examining or testing people to detect disease or evaluate suitability; a showing of a movie or program
Example
The hospital offered free health screening for all employees.
A2 noun /ˈsɪriz/

Series

Meaning
a number of events, objects, or people of a similar or related kind coming one after another; a set of related television or radio programmes
Example
The detective series ran for five successful seasons.
C1 adjective ˌsəʊsɪəʊpəˈlɪtɪkəl

sociopolitical

Meaning
Combining social and political factors.
Example
Sociopolitical factors often influence public policy decisions.
B1 verb /stretʃ/

stretch

Meaning
to extend or expand; to make or become longer or wider
Example
Athletes stretch their muscles before exercising.
C2 adjective /ˈspaɪnəs/

spinous

Meaning
Having spines or thorn-like projections
Example
The spinous cactus was difficult to handle without gloves.
C1 verb/noun /snɑːrl/

snarl

Meaning
to growl aggressively with bared teeth; a tangle or mess
Example
The dog snarled at the stranger near the gate.
C1 noun/verb /skɜːrdʒ/

scourge

Meaning
A source of great pain or punishment; to whip or inflict suffering on someone.
Example
Disease and poverty remain a scourge in many regions.
B2 verb /stɜːr/

stir

Meaning
to mix or move something in a circular motion, especially in liquid
Example
She stirred the soup to make sure it didn't burn.
C1 noun ˈsɛlfləsnɪs

selflessness

Meaning
The quality of being concerned more with the needs of others than with one's own.
Example
Selflessness is a key value for community building.
C2 noun /ˈsʌfərəns/

sufferance

Meaning
patient endurance of pain, hardship, or delay; passive consent or tolerance
Example
He lived in poverty with quiet sufferance.
B2 adjective /ˈsændi/

Sandy

Meaning
covered with sand; containing sand; having the texture of sand
Example
The sandy beach stretched for miles along the coast.
A1 verb /sel/

sell

Meaning
to give something to someone in exchange for money
Example
They sell fresh fruits at the market.
C2 adjective /ˈsfɪŋks laɪk/

sphinx-like

Meaning
Mysterious, enigmatic, or difficult to interpret
Example
Her sphinx-like smile made it hard to guess what she was thinking.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪnɪkjʊər/

sinecure

Meaning
a position requiring little or no work but giving financial benefit or status
Example
He was given a sinecure at the university as a reward for his loyalty.
B2 adjective /ˈsɜːdʒɪkəl/

surgical

Meaning
relating to or involving surgery
Example
She underwent surgical treatment to repair the damage.
B2 adverb /ˈstɛdɪli/

steadily

Meaning
in a regular and continuous way; without stopping or changing
Example
The company's profits have been increasing steadily.
C1 adjective /ˌsuːɪˈsaɪdəl/

Suicidal

Meaning
relating to or having thoughts of killing oneself; extremely dangerous or harmful
Example
The reckless driving was suicidal behavior.
B1 adverb /ˈspeʃ.əl.i/

Specially

Meaning
for a particular purpose; especially; specifically
Example
This gift was specially made for you.
C1 noun /ˌsɛlf ɪnˈdʌldʒəns/

self-indulgence

Meaning
The act of allowing oneself to enjoy pleasures or desires excessively.
Example
His weekend of self-indulgence included eating sweets and watching movies nonstop.
C1 noun /ˈskævɪndʒər/

scavenger

Meaning
an animal or person that feeds on dead or discarded material
Example
Vultures are natural scavengers that clean up the environment.
B2 verb /ˈstɑːrtl/

startle

Meaning
To surprise or frighten someone suddenly.
Example
The loud noise startled the children.
C1 verb /sʌlk/

sulk

Meaning
to be silent and bad-tempered because you are angry or disappointed
Example
She sulked in her room after the argument.
B2 adjective /səˈraʊndɪŋ/

surrounding

Meaning
located all around a particular place or thing; nearby
Example
The surrounding hills were covered in mist.
B2 adverb /ˈsel.fɪʃ.li/

Selfishly

Meaning
in a selfish manner; caring only about oneself
Example
He selfishly took all the cookies.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌlən/

sullen

Meaning
bad-tempered and gloomy; silently resentful
Example
She gave him a sullen look and walked away.
B1 noun /ˈskwɪr.əl/

Squirrel

Meaning
a small agile tree-dwelling rodent with a long bushy tail
Example
The squirrel gathered nuts for winter.
B2 noun /ˌsɪmjuˈleɪʃən/

simulation

Meaning
the imitation of a situation or process
Example
The simulation helped the students understand the complex theory.
C2 noun /səˈlɪsɪˌtuːd/

solicitude

Meaning
Care or concern for someone or something.
Example
His mother showed great solicitude for his safety.
C1 noun ˈsɪnədʒi

synergy

Meaning
The interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.
Example
The synergy between the two companies led to a successful partnership.
C2 noun /sɛnˈsɔːrɪəm/

sensorium

Meaning
The part of the brain or mind concerned with the reception and interpretation of sensory stimuli.
Example
The patient’s sensorium was clouded after the accident.
C1 noun /sloʊθ/

Sloth

Meaning
laziness; reluctance to work or make an effort
Example
His sloth prevented him from achieving his goals.
C1 noun /ˈʃʊɡ.ər ˈkæn.di/

Sugar candy

Meaning
crystallized sugar formed into small pieces; rock candy made from sugar syrup
Example
The children enjoyed eating colorful sugar candy at the festival.
C1 noun /ˈstɛə.rɪ.əʊˌtaɪ.pɪŋ/

stereotyping

Meaning
A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Example
Stereotyping people based on their race is harmful.
B2 adjective /stɜːrn/

Stern

Meaning
serious and demanding exact conformity to rules; strict and severe
Example
The teacher gave the students a stern warning about cheating.
C2 noun/verb /ˈsoʊdʒɜrn/

sojourn

Meaning
A temporary stay at a place; to stay temporarily
Example
She enjoyed a brief sojourn in Paris during the summer.
B1 noun /ˌsaʊθˈwɛst/

southwest

Meaning
the direction that is between south and west; a region in that direction
Example
They traveled to the southwest of the country for their vacation.
C1 adjective/noun /ˈsʌkjələnt/

succulent

Meaning
Juicy or full of juice; also refers to a plant with thick, fleshy leaves adapted to storing water.
Example
The steak was so succulent that everyone enjoyed it.
B2 adjective /ˈskeptɪkəl/

Sceptical

Meaning
having doubts; not easily convinced; questioning the truth of something
Example
Many scientists remain sceptical about the new theory.
B2 adjective /ˈʃɔːrt ˌtempərd/

Short-tempered

Meaning
quick to lose one's temper; easily angered
Example
She became short-tempered when the traffic made her late for the meeting.
C2 verb /ʃʌk/

shuck

Meaning
To remove the outer covering, such as the husk of corn or shell of shellfish.
Example
She learned how to shuck oysters quickly.
A2 noun /stʌf/

stuff

Meaning
a collection of things or materials, typically unspecified or uncountable
Example
She packed all her stuff into the suitcase.
B2 noun, verb /stɛm/

stem

Meaning
Noun: The main stalk of a plant. Verb: To stop or restrict the flow or development of something.
Example
The gardener cut the stem of the rose; New policies aim to stem the flow of pollution.
B2 noun /sɜːˈveɪ.ləns/

surveillance

Meaning
Close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal; continuous watching of a place, person, or situation.
Example
Government agencies conduct surveillance on cyber threats.
B1 adjective ˈsen.sɪ.tɪv

sensitive

Meaning
Quick to detect or respond to slight changes, signals, or influences.
Example
Sensitive systems require precise handling.
B2 noun /ˈsɪr.i.əs.nəs/

Seriousness

Meaning
the quality of being serious; gravity; importance
Example
The seriousness of the situation became clear when the doctor spoke.
C1 verb /ˈsmʌðər/

smother

Meaning
to kill someone by covering their nose and mouth to prevent breathing; to cover something completely; to overwhelm with excessive attention or affection
Example
She smothered the fire with a blanket.
A2 verb /ʃaɪn/

shine

Meaning
to give out a bright light or glow
Example
The sun will shine brightly tomorrow.
B2 noun ˌsænɪˈteɪʃən

sanitation

Meaning
Conditions relating to public health, especially the provision of clean drinking water and adequate sewage disposal.
Example
Good sanitation practices are key to preventing infestations.
C2 noun /ˈstiː.vəˌdɔːr/

stevedore

Meaning
A person employed to load and unload cargo from ships.
Example
The stevedores worked tirelessly to unload the cargo before dawn.
C1 verb /ʃʌn/

Shun

Meaning
to deliberately avoid or stay away from someone or something
Example
He shuns public attention and prefers privacy.
C1 noun /ˈsɜːrəɡət/

surrogate

Meaning
A substitute, especially a person deputizing for another in a specific role or office.
Example
The surrogate mother gave birth to the child after carrying it for nine months.
B2 verb /straɪd/

stride

Meaning
to walk with long, decisive steps; to make progress
Example
She strode confidently across the stage.
B2 adjective /ˈsɪnɪstər/

sinister

Meaning
Giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen.
Example
The abandoned house had a sinister atmosphere.
C2 adjective /səˈluːtəˌtɔri/

salutatory

Meaning
Relating to or expressing a greeting or an address, especially at the beginning of a speech.
Example
She delivered a salutatory address at the graduation ceremony.
C1 noun /ˈsʌtlti/

subtlety

Meaning
The quality or state of being subtle.
Example
She understood the subtlety of the situation.
A2 adverb /ˈseɪf.li/

Safely

Meaning
in a safe manner; without danger or risk
Example
Drive safely on the icy road.
B2 verb /skeər/

scare

Meaning
to frighten someone or make them feel afraid
Example
The loud noise scared the baby.
B2 noun /ˈsɪmp.təmz/

symptoms

Meaning
signs or indications of a disease or condition
Example
Fever and cough are common symptoms of the flu.
C1 adjective /səˈtɪrɪk/

satiric

Meaning
Relating to or using satire.
Example
The novel takes a satiric view of urban life.
A2 noun /ˈsɛlər/

seller

Meaning
a person who sells something
Example
The seller offered a discount on bulk purchases.
A1 adjective /seɪm/

same

Meaning
identical; not different or changed
Example
We wore the same dress at the party.
B2 noun /ˌspɛsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

specification

Meaning
a detailed description or assessment of something
Example
The product specification includes all the necessary details.
C1 verb /sɪˈdjuːs/

seduce

Meaning
to attract someone into doing something, especially something they might not normally do
Example
The advertisement was designed to seduce customers into buying luxury products.
C2 verb /ˈstræɡəl/

straggle

Meaning
To move or spread in an irregular, scattered, or untidy way.
Example
The children began to straggle behind on the long hike.
B2 verb /skreɪp/

scrape

Meaning
to remove or damage the surface of something by rubbing or scratching; to collect something by effort
Example
He scraped his knee while playing football.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛn.sər.i/

sensory

Meaning
Related to the five human senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell).
Example
Sensory feedback enhances the VR experience.
C1 adjective /ˈsek.j ə.l ər/

Secular

Meaning
not connected with religious or spiritual matters; worldly
Example
The country maintains a secular government that separates religion from politics.
C1 noun /sʌˈmeɪʃən/

summation

Meaning
The process of adding things together; a summary of points.
Example
The lawyer gave a powerful summation of the case.
A2 noun /siːn/

scene

Meaning
a place or setting of an event or activity, or the part of a play or film
Example
The final scene of the movie was very emotional.
A2 noun /ˈsoʊldʒər/

soldier

Meaning
a person who serves in an army, especially as a professional fighter
Example
The soldier marched proudly with his unit.
C2 noun /sɒmˈnæmbjʊlɪst/

somnambulist

Meaning
A person who sleepwalks.
Example
The somnambulist wandered out of the house at night.
C1 verb /smɜrk/

smirk

Meaning
to smile in a self-satisfied, smug, or silly way
Example
He smirked when he won the argument.
B2 noun /ˈstɛriəˌtaɪp/

stereotype

Meaning
A widely held but oversimplified and fixed idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Example
It is a stereotype that all gamers are antisocial.
B2 verb /spɛər/

spare

Meaning
To give something that one has extra of; to refrain from harming or killing.
Example
Could you spare me a few minutes of your time?
C1 adjective /ˌsɛlf ɪˈfeɪsɪŋ/

self-effacing

Meaning
not drawing attention to oneself; modest
Example
Despite his success, he remained self-effacing and humble.
B1 adjective ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk

scientific

Meaning
Based on or characterized by the methods and principles of science.
Example
Scientific discoveries continue to shape our understanding of the world.
C2 adjective /sɪmˈfoʊniəs/

symphonious

Meaning
Harmonious; producing a pleasant sound or agreement of sound.
Example
The choir's voices were symphonious and filled the hall with beauty.
C1 noun /ˈskwɒtər/

squatter

Meaning
a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land
Example
The police removed the squatters from the abandoned house.
C2 noun /slaɪt/

sleight

Meaning
Skill or dexterity, especially in performing tricks.
Example
The magician amazed the crowd with his sleight of hand.
B2 noun /ˈsɛm.ɪ.nɑːr/

seminar

Meaning
A meeting for discussion or training, especially in an academic setting.
Example
The professor invited all students to attend the seminar on climate change.
B2 adjective ˈstrʌktʃərəl

structural

Meaning
Relating to or forming part of a structure.
Example
The structural integrity of the bridge was tested after the storm.
C1 noun stɔːrm ɪnˌtensɪfɪˈkeɪʃən

storm intensification

Meaning
The process by which storms become stronger and more severe in intensity.
Example
Storm intensification is linked to climate change.
B2 adverb /ˈsiː.mɪŋ.li/

seemingly

Meaning
appearing to be true, but not necessarily so
Example
He was seemingly calm despite the chaos around him.
B1 verb /spɔɪl/

spoil

Meaning
to damage or ruin something
Example
The rain spoiled the outdoor event.
A2 noun /sməʊk/

smoke

Meaning
A visible suspension of carbon or other particles in air, typically one emitted from a burning substance.
Example
Smoke from vehicles worsens air quality.
B2 adjective ˈskɒl.ə.li

scholarly

Meaning
Having or showing great knowledge or learning; academic in approach or method.
Example
He wrote a scholarly article on ancient philosophy.