somber
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C1 adjective /ˈsɒmbər/

somber

Meaning
Dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy or serious.
Example
The funeral had a somber atmosphere.
C1 noun /ˌdɪstɪˈleɪʃən/

distillation

Meaning
The process of purifying a liquid by heating and cooling; the extraction of the essential meaning.
Example
Distillation is commonly used to produce alcoholic beverages.
C1 noun /ˌæn.ɪˈmɒs.ə.ti/

Animosity

Meaning
strong hostility or dislike; active hatred or ill will
Example
There was clear animosity between the two rival teams.
C1 noun /ˈflæn.əl/

Flannel

Meaning
a soft woven fabric, typically made of wool or cotton and slightly milled and raised
Example
He wore a warm flannel shirt in winter.
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 /ˈmuːdi.nəs/

moodiness

Meaning
The state of being frequently subject to changes in mood, especially irritability or sadness.
Example
Her moodiness made it difficult to predict how she would react.
C1 verb /əˈdɔːrn/

adorn

Meaning
to decorate or add beauty to something
Example
The hall was adorned with flowers for the wedding.
C1 adjective /ˌkævəˈlɪər/

cavalier

Meaning
showing a lack of proper concern; dismissive or offhand
Example
He had a cavalier attitude toward safety regulations.
C1 adjective /bəˈlɪdʒ.ər.ənt/

belligerent

Meaning
Hostile and aggressive, ready to fight or argue.
Example
His belligerent attitude often leads to conflicts.
C1 verb /ˈsætʃəˌreɪt/

saturate

Meaning
to fill completely with something until no more can be absorbed
Example
The heavy rain saturated the ground within minutes.
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 verb /ˈduːdəl/

doodle

Meaning
To draw or scribble absentmindedly, often while thinking about something else.
Example
She doodled flowers in the corner of her notebook during class.
C1 noun /ˈmæntl̩/

mantle

Meaning
A cloak or covering; also the layer of the earth between the crust and the core.
Example
The leader assumed the mantle of responsibility.
C1 verb ˌkəʊ.əˈles

coalesce

Meaning
Come together and form one mass or whole; unite to form one organization or group.
Example
The different theories coalesced into one unified idea.
C1 adjective /stiːpt/

steeped

Meaning
Completely surrounded by or filled with a particular quality, influence, or experience.
Example
The town is steeped in history and tradition.
C1 noun pɔɪz

poise

Meaning
Natural confidence and composure maintained under pressure.
Example
A good speaker maintains poise under pressure.
C1 noun /ˈwiː.vər bɜːd/

Weaver bird

Meaning
a small bird that builds elaborate woven nests from grass and twigs
Example
The weaver bird skillfully constructs its intricate nest.
C1 verb /hjuːˈmɪlieɪt/

humiliate

Meaning
to make someone feel ashamed or foolish by injuring their dignity
Example
He was humiliated by his public failure.
C1 noun /ˈveɪpəraɪzər/

vaporizer

Meaning
a device that turns a liquid into vapor, often for inhalation
Example
She used a vaporizer to ease her cough.
C1 noun /ˈkɒləmnɪst/

columnist

Meaning
a journalist who regularly writes articles or opinions for a newspaper or magazine
Example
The columnist wrote an article about climate change.
C1 verb /ˈvɪn.dɪ.keɪt/

vindicate

Meaning
To clear someone of blame or suspicion; to show or prove to be right, reasonable, or justified.
Example
The new evidence helped vindicate the wrongly accused man.
C1 verb /nɪˈɡeɪt/

negate

Meaning
To cancel out or make ineffective; to deny the truth of something.
Example
The new evidence will negate the claims made earlier.
C1 noun /kɪˈməʊnoʊ/

kimono

Meaning
a traditional Japanese robe with wide sleeves, tied with a sash
Example
She wore a beautiful silk kimono at the ceremony.
C1 adjective /kənˈsɜːrtɪd/

concerted

Meaning
done with great effort, planned and performed together by multiple people
Example
The workers made a concerted effort to improve conditions.
C1 adjective /spɑːrs/

sparse

Meaning
thinly scattered or distributed; not dense or abundant
Example
Vegetation was sparse in the desert.
C1 noun /ɡəˈzet/

Gazette

Meaning
an official journal or newspaper, especially one published by an organization or government
Example
The promotion was officially announced in the government gazette last week.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈtɒl.ər.ə.bəl/

Intolerable

Meaning
unable to be endured; extremely unpleasant or painful
Example
The noise from the construction site was intolerable.
C1 adjective ɔːˈspɪʃ.əs

auspicious

Meaning
Favorable or bringing good luck and success
Example
The wedding was held on an auspicious day.
C1 noun /ˈvɔːrtɛks/

vortex

Meaning
A mass of whirling fluid or air, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind.
Example
The plane was caught in a dangerous vortex of air.
C1 adjective /tɔːt/

taut

Meaning
stretched or pulled tight; tense
Example
The rope was pulled taut between the two poles.
C1 phrase ˈiː.kəʊˌsɪs.təm kəˈlæps

ecosystem collapse

Meaning
The complete breakdown of an ecological system, resulting in the inability to maintain its structure and function.
Example
Unchecked deforestation can lead to ecosystem collapse.
C1 noun /ɡɔːrd/

Gourd

Meaning
a climbing plant with large fruits that have hard shells when dried
Example
The bottle gourd curry was delicious and nutritious.
C1 noun /fəˈtæləti/

fatality

Meaning
An occurrence of death by accident, disaster, or violence.
Example
The accident resulted in one fatality.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈɡɑː.dɪd/

Unguarded

Meaning
not protected or defended; careless about revealing private thoughts or information
Example
In an unguarded moment, she revealed her true feelings about the project.
C1 noun /ˈdʒʊərər/

juror

Meaning
a member of a jury who is chosen to hear evidence in a legal case and help make a decision
Example
The juror listened carefully to the witness’s testimony.
C1 noun ˈdɛtrɪ.mənt

detriment

Meaning
Harm, damage, impairment.
Example
Smoking is a detriment to health.
C1 adverb /ˈfeɪ.təl.i/

Fatally

Meaning
in a way that causes death; with deadly consequences; critically
Example
The accident fatally injured two passengers.
C1 adjective /əbˈsɛsɪv/

obsessive

Meaning
Relating to or characterized by an obsession; thinking about something too much.
Example
He has an obsessive interest in cleanliness.
C1 noun /ˌdɛtəˈneɪʃən/

detonation

Meaning
The act of exploding or causing something to explode.
Example
The sudden detonation shook the entire building.
C1 noun /ˌpɜːrspəˈreɪʃn/

perspiration

Meaning
The process of sweating.
Example
Heavy exercise causes perspiration.
C1 noun /ˈfɛtɪʃ/

fetish

Meaning
an excessive or irrational devotion to something
Example
He has a fetish for collecting rare stamps.
C1 adjective fæsˈtɪd.i.əs

fastidious

Meaning
Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
Example
She is fastidious about maintaining cleanliness.
C1 noun /ˌɪntərˈmiːdiˌɛri/

intermediary

Meaning
A person who acts as a link between people in order to try to bring about an agreement; a mediator.
Example
The diplomat served as an intermediary between the two conflicting nations.
C1 adverb /ˈpiːs.miːl/

Piecemeal

Meaning
done or made gradually, one piece at a time; fragmentary; unsystematic
Example
The renovation was done piecemeal over several years due to budget constraints.
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 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈskjuːzəbl/

inexcusable

Meaning
Too bad to be justified or overlooked; unforgivable.
Example
His rude behavior was inexcusable.
C1 adjective /ˈhɛlθfəl/

healthful

Meaning
Promoting good health; beneficial to health.
Example
A healthful diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables.
C1 noun /ˈlaɪk.nəs/

Likeness

Meaning
the fact or quality of being alike; resemblance; a portrait or representation
Example
The portrait shows a strong likeness to her grandmother.
C1 verb /ˈbæbəl/

babble

Meaning
to talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish way
Example
The baby babbles all day long.
C1 phrase ˈriː.dʒən.əl ˈfɔː.rəm

regional forum

Meaning
A meeting or conference where representatives from countries or organizations in a specific geographical area discuss issues of common interest.
Example
The Regional Forum discussed deforestation impacts.
C1 adjective ˈklaɪ.mət rɪˈzɪl.i.ənt

climate-resilient

Meaning
Able to cope with the adverse effects of climate change; sustainable and adaptable.
Example
Climate-resilient crops can survive extreme weather conditions.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈdɪɡnənt/

indignant

Meaning
Feeling or showing anger at something considered unfair or unjust.
Example
She was indignant when accused of cheating.
C1 verb /ɛtʃ/

etch

Meaning
to cut or carve a design onto a surface
Example
The artist etched her initials into the glass.
C1 noun ˈpraʊ.es

prowess

Meaning
Skill or expertise in a particular activity or field.
Example
Prowess in sports enhances team strength.
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 adjective /ˌbaɪˈlæt.ər.əl/

bilateral

Meaning
An agreement or relationship between two parties that is mutual, two-sided, or reciprocal.
Example
The two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement.
C1 noun /ˈtæntrəm/

tantrum

Meaning
An uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child.
Example
The child threw a tantrum when he didn’t get the toy.
C1 noun /ˈraɪtʃəsnəs/

righteousness

Meaning
the quality of being morally right or justifiable
Example
His life was dedicated to righteousness and truth.
C1 adjective /prəˈmɪskjuəs/

promiscuous

Meaning
Having or showing a casual and unselective approach, often used to describe indiscriminate sexual relationships.
Example
The novel depicts a character with a promiscuous lifestyle.
C1 verb /sɪˈsiːd/

secede

Meaning
To formally withdraw from a political or organizational union.
Example
Several states threatened to secede from the union.
C1 adjective /ˈnɒnʃələnt/

nonchalant

Meaning
Appearing calm, casual, and unconcerned.
Example
He gave a nonchalant shrug and walked away.
C1 adjective /ˌkaʊntərɪnˈtuːɪtɪv/

counterintuitive

Meaning
contrary to what one would intuitively expect
Example
His approach seems counterintuitive but it actually works.
C1 verb /bɪˈsɛt/

beset

Meaning
to trouble, harass, or attack on all sides
Example
The village was beset by constant floods.
C1 verb ˈflʌk.tʃu.eɪt

fluctuate

Meaning
To regularly increase or decrease.
Example
Stock prices fluctuate due to market conditions.
C1 noun /ˌkɒnvəˈlɛsns/

convalescence

Meaning
the period of time spent recovering from an illness or medical treatment
Example
His convalescence lasted for almost two months after the accident.
C1 verb /drɛntʃ/

drench

Meaning
to make someone or something completely wet
Example
The sudden rain drenched the players on the field.
C1 adjective /ɪˈluː.sɪv/

Illusive

Meaning
deceptive; appearing to exist but not real; misleading
Example
The promise of easy money proved to be illusive and misleading.
C1 verb /ˈɡlædən/

gladden

Meaning
to make someone happy or bring joy
Example
The news of her recovery gladdened everyone.
C1 verb /ˈdæŋɡəl/

dangle

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

spurious

Meaning
Not genuine, authentic, or true; false or fake.
Example
The report was based on spurious claims.
C1 noun /ˈdɪs.ə.nəns/

dissonance

Meaning
Disagreement, lack of harmony, conflict between ideas or beliefs.
Example
The cultural dissonance created misunderstandings.
C1 noun /pəˈsweɪsɪvnes/

persuasiveness

Meaning
The quality of being good at persuading someone to do or believe something.
Example
Her persuasiveness convinced the team to follow her suggestions.
C1 adjective /ˈnɪp.i/

Nippy

Meaning
cold; chilly; quick and agile in movement
Example
It's quite nippy outside today, you should wear a jacket.
C1 noun /ˌlaɪ.sənˈsiː/

Licensee

Meaning
a person or organization that holds a license to do something
Example
The licensee is responsible for following all regulations.
C1 noun ziːl

zeal

Meaning
Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective; passion.
Example
She approached the project with great zeal and determination.
C1 verb /feɪn/

feign

Meaning
to pretend or fake; to give a false appearance of
Example
She feigned illness to avoid going to work.
C1 verb /ˈræn.sæk/

ransack

Meaning
to search a place roughly and steal or damage things
Example
Burglars ransacked the house while the family was away.
C1 adjective /ˈdeɪnti/

dainty

Meaning
Delicately small, pretty, and often considered elegant.
Example
She wore a dainty necklace made of pearls.
C1 adjective /ˈfeɪt.fəl/

fateful

Meaning
having significant or disastrous consequences
Example
Their fateful decision changed the course of history.
C1 verb /ɪnˈɡroʊs/

engross

Meaning
to absorb all the attention or interest of someone
Example
She was so engrossed in the book that she forgot the time.
C1 verb /ɡreɪt/

grate

Meaning
to shred food into small pieces using a grater; to irritate or annoy
Example
She grated the cheese for the pasta dish.
C1 noun /ˈɑn.set/

Onset

Meaning
the beginning or early stages of something; the start of a medical condition
Example
The onset of winter brought heavy snowfall.
C1 noun /ˈʃɪvəlri/

chivalry

Meaning
The medieval knightly system with its moral, social, and religious code; courteous behavior, especially toward women.
Example
The knight lived by the code of chivalry.
C1 verb /ˌpoʊstˈdeɪt/

postdate

Meaning
To assign a date later than the actual date to a document or event.
Example
She postdated the check to next month.
C1 noun /ˈreɪdiəns/

radiance

Meaning
the quality of shining with bright light; a glowing or beaming quality
Example
Her face was filled with radiance after hearing the good news.
C1 noun dəˌmɛstɪˈkeɪʃən

domestication

Meaning
The process of taming an animal and keeping it as a pet or for farm produce.
Example
Domestication of animals has been crucial for human survival.
C1 noun /jɛn/

yen

Meaning
A deep, strong desire or craving.
Example
She felt a strong yen to travel the world.
C1 verb /priːˈɛmpt/

pre-empt

Meaning
to act in advance to prevent an anticipated event from happening; forestall
Example
The government moved to pre-empt a crisis by introducing new policies.
C1 noun /ˈleɪ.dəl/

Ladle

Meaning
a large deep spoon with a long handle, used for serving soup or other liquids
Example
Use the ladle to serve the hot soup into bowls.
C1 noun /kəˈθɑːrsɪs/

catharsis

Meaning
The process of releasing strong emotions, providing relief.
Example
Writing in her diary was a form of catharsis for her.
C1 noun /brɪˈɡeɪd/

brigade

Meaning
A large group of people organized for a specific purpose, especially a military unit.
Example
The fire brigade arrived quickly to put out the flames.
C1 noun /ˈɪtʃ.i.nəs/

itchiness

Meaning
The quality or condition of feeling an irritating sensation on the skin that causes a desire to scratch.
Example
Eye itchiness often leads to rubbing.
C1 adjective /əˈniːmɪk/

anemic

Meaning
Suffering from anemia; lacking in vitality, strength, or color.
Example
The doctor prescribed iron supplements for her anemic condition.
C1 adjective /pɪˈkjuːniˌɛri/

pecuniary

Meaning
relating to money or financial matters
Example
They faced pecuniary difficulties after the business failed.
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 noun /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnɪst/

opportunist

Meaning
A person who takes advantage of situations for personal gain, often disregarding principles.
Example
He is seen as an opportunist who always puts his interests first.
C1 adjective /ˌrɛtroʊˈæktɪv/

retroactive

Meaning
applying to a period before it was enacted or established
Example
The new law was made retroactive to cover past cases.
C1 noun /prɪˈtɛnʃən/

pretension

Meaning
A claim or assertion to something, often without justification; an attempt to impress by showing greater importance or talent than is actually possessed.
Example
His pretension to be an expert was quickly exposed.
C1 adverb /ˈæm.ɪ.kə.bli/

Amicably

Meaning
in a friendly way without anger or resentment
Example
The divorce was settled amicably between both parties.
C1 noun /ˌkɒndʒʊˈɡeɪʃən/

conjugation

Meaning
the variation of the form of a verb to indicate tense, person, and number
Example
French verbs have complex conjugations.
C1 adjective /fərˈlɔːrn/

forlorn

Meaning
extremely sad, lonely, or abandoned
Example
The abandoned puppy looked so forlorn in the rain.
C1 verb /əbˈsɛs/

obsess

Meaning
To preoccupy or fill the mind of someone continually and to an excessive degree.
Example
She tends to obsess over small details.
C1 noun /ˈmɛm.breɪn/

membrane

Meaning
A thin layer of tissue or material that covers, separates, or connects structures.
Example
The cell membrane controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell.
C1 noun /ˌdɪspɛnˈseɪʃən/

dispensation

Meaning
An exemption from a rule or usual requirement; a system of order, government, or control.
Example
The school granted him a special dispensation to skip the exam due to illness.
C1 noun /ˈævətɑːr/

avatar

Meaning
an icon or figure representing a person in digital contexts; in Hinduism, a divine incarnation
Example
She changed her social media avatar to a new cartoon image.
C1 adjective /ˌhæpˈhæz.ɚd/

haphazard

Meaning
Lacking any obvious principle of organization; random.
Example
His haphazard approach led to project failure.
C1 noun /ˈæbət/

abbot

Meaning
The head of a monastery for monks.
Example
The abbot welcomed the visitors to the monastery.
C1 adjective /ˈpɜːrsənəbl/

personable

Meaning
having a pleasant appearance and manner; attractive and friendly
Example
The new teacher is very personable and easy to talk to.
C1 noun /ˌluː.brɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

lubrication

Meaning
The action of applying a substance to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact.
Example
Lubrication of the eyes is essential for well-being.
C1 noun /ˈdaʊri/

dowry

Meaning
Property or money brought by a bride to her husband at marriage.
Example
The dowry tradition is still followed in some cultures.
C1 adjective /ˈhɛdˌstrɔŋ/

headstrong

Meaning
Determined to do what one wants, even if it is not sensible.
Example
The headstrong child refused to listen to anyone.
C1 verb /ˈaɪdəlaɪz/

idolize

Meaning
To admire or worship someone excessively.
Example
Fans often idolize celebrities for their talent and lifestyle.
C1 noun /əˈnɒməli/

anomaly

Meaning
something that deviates from the norm or expected result
Example
The sudden drop in temperature was considered an anomaly.
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 noun /dɪˈsɜːn.mənt/

discernment

Meaning
The ability to judge well or understand something correctly; keen insight.
Example
His discernment in business decisions made him successful.
C1 noun /ˌrev.əˈluː.ʃən.ər.i ˈbreɪk.θruː/

revolutionary breakthrough

Meaning
A sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development that changes everything.
Example
Robotic surgery is a revolutionary breakthrough in healthcare.
C1 adjective /ˈper.ɪ.ləs/

perilous

Meaning
Full of danger or risk; hazardous and threatening.
Example
The explorers took a perilous journey.
C1 adjective /sɪˈnɒnɪməs/

synonymous

Meaning
having the same or nearly the same meaning; closely associated with something
Example
For many people, her name is synonymous with generosity.
C1 noun /truːp/

troupe

Meaning
A group of dancers, actors, or performers who work together.
Example
The theater troupe performed brilliantly on stage.
C1 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈskrɪmɪnət/

indiscriminate

Meaning
Done without careful judgment; random or haphazard.
Example
The indiscriminate use of pesticides harms the environment.
C1 noun /ˈderˌdevəl/

daredevil

Meaning
A person who enjoys doing dangerous or risky things.
Example
The stunt was performed by a famous daredevil.