startle
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B2 verb /ˈstɑːrtl/

startle

Meaning
To surprise or frighten someone suddenly.
Example
The loud noise startled the children.
B2 noun /joʊlk/

Yolk

Meaning
the yellow internal part of a bird's egg, especially a hen's egg, which is rich in protein and fat
Example
She separated the egg white from the yolk.
B2 adjective/noun ˌdem.əˈɡræf.ɪk

demographic

Meaning
Relating to the structure of populations; statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.
Example
The company analyzes demographic trends before launching a product.
C1 verb /trænˈzækt/

transact

Meaning
to conduct or carry out business, a deal, or activity
Example
Customers can transact their banking online.
B2 verb /rɪˈkʌvərɪŋ/

recovering

Meaning
the process of getting better after illness, loss, or difficulty
Example
She is still recovering from the flu.
C2 adjective /ˈpɔːrtli/

portly

Meaning
Having a stout or somewhat fat body, often implying dignity or authority.
Example
The portly man entered the room with confidence.
A1 adjective /rɒŋ/

wrong

Meaning
not correct or true; mistaken
Example
It is wrong to cheat on a test.
B1 noun /feɪθ/

Faith

Meaning
complete trust or confidence in someone or something; strong belief in religion
Example
She had unwavering faith in her team's ability to succeed.
C2 verb /ɪnˈræptʃər/

enrapture

Meaning
To fill someone with great delight or joy.
Example
The beautiful music enraptured the audience.
A1 noun/adjective/preposition /pɑːst/

past

Meaning
the time before the present; gone by in time
Example
He often thinks about his past mistakes.
C1 noun /ˌkæm.əˈrɑː.dɚ.i/

camaraderie

Meaning
Mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.
Example
The camaraderie among teammates was inspiring.
C1 noun /ˈpriːˌæmbəl/

preamble

Meaning
a preliminary statement, especially the introduction to a formal document
Example
The preamble of the constitution outlines its guiding principles.
C2 adverb /ˌfɔːrθˈwɪθ/

Forthwith

Meaning
immediately; without delay; at once
Example
The manager ordered the employee to stop the unsafe practice forthwith.
C1 adjective /ˌæbəˈrɪdʒənəl/

aboriginal

Meaning
Relating to the original inhabitants of a region.
Example
The museum has a large collection of aboriginal art.
B2 noun /ˈloʊ.təs/

Lotus

Meaning
a large water flower that floats on the surface of ponds and lakes
Example
The lotus flower blooms beautifully in the quiet pond.
C1 noun səˈfɪʃənsi

sufficiency

Meaning
The condition of being adequate or enough; adequacy.
Example
The sufficiency of food supply is critical for survival.
B2 adjective /ˈlæstɪŋ/

Lasting

Meaning
enduring for a long time; permanent; durable
Example
Their friendship had a lasting impact on both their lives.
B2 adjective /ˈdɪl.ɪ.dʒənt/

Diligent

Meaning
hardworking and careful; showing persistent effort
Example
She is a diligent student who studies every day.
B1 noun /rɪˈɡret/

Regret

Meaning
a feeling of sadness or disappointment about something that has happened or been done
Example
She felt deep regret about her harsh words.
B2 noun /ɔː/

awe

Meaning
a feeling of deep respect mixed with fear or wonder
Example
The children looked at the fireworks in awe.
A1 noun /ˈweɪtər/

waiter

Meaning
a person whose job is to serve food and drinks to customers in a restaurant or café
Example
The waiter brought the menu and took our order politely.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈsaɪklɔɪd/

cycloid

Meaning
a curve traced by a point on the rim of a circle as it rolls along a straight line
Example
The cycloid is often studied in mathematics and physics.
C1 noun /aɪˈtɪnərɛri/

itinerary

Meaning
A planned route or schedule of a journey or trip.
Example
The travel agent gave us a detailed itinerary for our vacation.
B2 noun /ˌprɒp.əˈɡæn.də/

Propaganda

Meaning
information spread to promote a particular political cause or point of view
Example
The government used propaganda to influence public opinion during the war.
A2 adjective /ˈpɑːt taɪm/

part-time

Meaning
working for only part of the usual working day or week
Example
She works part-time as a waitress.
B2 noun /klɔː/

Claw

Meaning
sharp curved nail on the foot of an animal or bird
Example
The cat extended its sharp claws to climb the tree.
C2 noun /ɪmˈpjuːɪsəns/

impuissance

Meaning
inability to take effective action; helplessness
Example
The government’s impuissance in the face of crisis frustrated the people.
C2 noun /ˈkærəm/

Carom

Meaning
aromatic seeds of a plant used as a spice, especially in Indian cooking
Example
Carom seeds are often used in traditional Indian bread recipes.
A1 numeral /θriː/

three

Meaning
the number equivalent to the sum of two and one
Example
She has three dogs at home.
B2 verb /dɪˈplɔɪ/

deploy

Meaning
to position strategically; to use effectively
Example
The military will deploy troops to the border.
C1 adjective vəˈreɪ.ʃəs

voracious

Meaning
Having a very eager approach to an activity; wanting or devouring great quantities of food or having an insatiable appetite.
Example
He has a voracious appetite for knowledge.
A2 adjective /ˈfraɪtənd/

frightened

Meaning
feeling fear or anxiety; scared
Example
The child was frightened by the loud noise.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈlɔːfl/

Unlawful

Meaning
not authorized by law; illegal
Example
The court declared the search unlawful.
C2 verb ˈɪnʌndeɪt

inundate

Meaning
To flood; overwhelm someone or something with things or people to be dealt with
Example
The company was inundated with requests after the advertisement.
B2 verb /ɪˈvæljueɪt/

evaluate

Meaning
To assess or judge the value, quality, or significance of something.
Example
The teacher will evaluate the students’ projects tomorrow.
C1 verb /rɪˈklaɪn/

recline

Meaning
To lean or lie back in a relaxed position.
Example
She reclined on the sofa with a book.
B1 noun ɪˈkwɒl.ə.ti

equality

Meaning
The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.
Example
Equality in education is a key goal.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈtʌtʃ.ɪŋ/

Touching

Meaning
causing feelings of sympathy or emotion; moving
Example
The touching story brought tears to everyone's eyes.
B2 verb /ʃɛd/

shed

Meaning
to let something fall off naturally, such as leaves, hair, or tears
Example
Trees shed their leaves in autumn.
C1 noun /ˈtʃʌk.əl/

Chuckle

Meaning
a quiet or suppressed laugh; to laugh quietly or with amusement
Example
He gave a soft chuckle when he heard the funny joke.
B2 adjective /ˈdɛntəl/

dental

Meaning
relating to teeth or dentistry
Example
She goes for a dental checkup every six months.
C1 verb /daɪˈvɜːrdʒ/

diverge

Meaning
to separate and go in different directions; to differ
Example
The two paths diverge at the fork in the road.
C2 noun /prəˈlɪksɪti/

prolixity

Meaning
the quality of being tediously wordy and long
Example
The book’s prolixity made it difficult to read in one sitting.
B2 verb /briːd/

breed

Meaning
to produce young animals; to reproduce; to keep animals for producing young
Example
They breed horses on their farm.
B2 adverb /ˈskɪl.fəl.i/

Skilfully/US: Skillfully

Meaning
in a way that shows ability and training; expertly
Example
She skilfully painted the portrait in just two hours.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈhjuːmən/

Inhuman

Meaning
lacking human qualities; cruel; brutal; savage
Example
The dictator's inhuman treatment of prisoners shocked the international community.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsæprəˈbeɪʃən/

disapprobation

Meaning
strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds
Example
The policy was met with widespread disapprobation.
B2 noun/verb /beɪt/

bait

Meaning
Food or lure used to attract fish or animals; to deliberately provoke or annoy.
Example
He used worms as bait to catch fish.
A1 adjective /red/

Red

Meaning
having the color of blood or fire; of the color red
Example
She wore a beautiful red dress to the party.
C2 noun /kəˈlɒsəs/

colossus

Meaning
A person or thing of enormous size, importance, or ability.
Example
Einstein was a colossus in the world of science.
C1 noun/verb /ˈræfəl/

raffle

Meaning
A means of raising money by selling numbered tickets, one or more of which are drawn at random for a prize; to sell something in such a lottery.
Example
The charity decided to raffle a bicycle to raise funds.
C2 noun /ˈmæsəkɪst/

masochist

Meaning
a person who derives pleasure from their own pain or humiliation
Example
He was called a masochist for enjoying tough challenges.
B1 noun /ˈpeɪstri/

pastry

Meaning
a baked food product made from flour, fat, and water, often sweet or savory
Example
I bought a box of fresh pastries for breakfast.
C1 verb /rɒmp/

romp

Meaning
to play or move in a lively, carefree, and energetic way
Example
The children romped happily in the garden.
C1 noun ˈdaɪ.nə.sti

dynasty

Meaning
A line of hereditary rulers of a country; a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field.
Example
The Ming dynasty ruled China for centuries.
C1 adjective /ɪˈspeʃəl/

especial

Meaning
Particularly remarkable or significant; distinguished from others
Example
This is an especial opportunity you should not miss.
C1 noun /dɪsˈɪntrəst/

disinterest

Meaning
lack of interest or concern
Example
His disinterest in the project was obvious.
B2 adjective /ˈdaʊt.fəl/

Doubtful

Meaning
uncertain; questionable; feeling uncertain about something
Example
I am doubtful about the success of this project.
B2 adjective /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/

Waking

Meaning
awake and conscious; relating to the time when one is awake
Example
She spent her waking hours studying for the exam.
A2 verb, noun /drɒp/

drop

Meaning
to let something fall; a small quantity of liquid
Example
Be careful not to drop your phone.
B1 noun /ˈdʒɛntəlmən/

gentleman

Meaning
a man who is polite, courteous, and honorable
Example
He opened the door for her like a true gentleman.
C2 verb /ˈflædʒəˌleɪt/

flagellate

Meaning
to whip or flog someone, either literally or as a form of punishment or self-discipline
Example
In history, some monks would flagellate themselves as penance.
B2 noun /ˈsɪmfəni/

Symphony

Meaning
an elaborate musical composition for full orchestra, typically in four movements
Example
The orchestra performed Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
C1 noun ˌmɪsˈmænɪdʒmənt

mismanagement

Meaning
Bad or careless management of something.
Example
Mismanagement of plastic waste worsens pollution.
C2 noun, verb /ˈæseɪ/

assay

Meaning
To test or analyze the quality, purity, or content of a substance; the act of such testing.
Example
The scientists assayed the mineral sample for gold content.
B2 noun /sɔːrd/

Sword

Meaning
a weapon with a long metal blade and a handle, used for fighting
Example
The knight drew his sword to defend the castle.
C2 adjective /tʃeɪst/

Chaste

Meaning
pure and morally good; abstaining from sexual activity
Example
She lived a chaste and virtuous life.
B2 noun ˈmoʊ.baɪl sɪˈkjʊr.ə.ti

mobile security

Meaning
Protection of mobile devices and the data stored on them from security threats.
Example
Strong mobile security protects personal information.
A1 noun /ˈlet.ər/

Letter

Meaning
a character representing one or more of the sounds used in speech; a written message, typically sent in an envelope
Example
She wrote a letter to her grandmother.
B2 noun /ˈvɜː.dɪkt/

verdict

Meaning
a decision made by a jury or judge in a court case
Example
The jury returned a guilty verdict after three hours of deliberation.
C2 noun /kænˈtoʊnmənt/

Cantonment

Meaning
a military base or permanent military station
Example
The soldiers lived in the cantonment outside the city.
A2 adjective /ˌdʒæpəˈniːz/

japanese

Meaning
relating to Japan, its people, or their language
Example
She loves Japanese culture and traditions.
C2 noun /ˈlænjæp/

lagniappe

Meaning
A small gift or bonus given by a seller to a customer.
Example
The shopkeeper offered a piece of candy as a lagniappe.
C1 adjective /ˈhæpləs/

hapless

Meaning
unfortunate, unlucky, deserving pity
Example
The hapless traveler lost his passport on the very first day.
A1 noun /bəˈnæn.ə/

Banana

Meaning
a long curved fruit with yellow skin and soft sweet flesh
Example
Bananas are a good source of potassium.
B2 adjective /ˈprɒmɪnənt/

prominent

Meaning
Important, famous, or easily noticeable.
Example
He is a prominent leader in the community.
C1 verb /ˈkaʊər/

cower

Meaning
to crouch down in fear
Example
The child cowered behind the sofa during the thunderstorm.
C2 verb /ˈsʌplɪˌkeɪt/

supplicate

Meaning
To ask for something earnestly or humbly, often in a religious context.
Example
The villagers supplicated the gods for rain during the drought.
C2 verb /sʌbˈtɛnd/

subtend

Meaning
To extend across or form an angle at a particular point, often used in geometry.
Example
The arc subtends a 60-degree angle at the center of the circle.
B1 noun /ɪmˈprɛʃən/

impression

Meaning
an idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone
Example
The book gave me a good first impression.
C1 noun /krəˈʃɛndoʊ/

crescendo

Meaning
a gradual increase in loudness or intensity, especially in music
Example
The orchestra built to a powerful crescendo before the finale.
C1 adjective /bɪˈnaɪn/

benign

Meaning
Gentle, kind, or not harmful (especially of a disease or tumor).
Example
The doctor assured her that the tumor was benign.
C1 noun /ˌzɛnəˈfoʊbiə/

xenophobia

Meaning
fear or hatred of foreigners, people from different cultures, or strangers
Example
Xenophobia can lead to discrimination and social division.
C1 noun/verb /dɪsˈkwaɪət/

disquiet

Meaning
A feeling of worry or unease; to make someone feel anxious or uneasy.
Example
The strange silence filled the room with disquiet.
B1 noun /əˈsaɪnmənt/

assignment

Meaning
a task or piece of work given to someone as part of their duties
Example
The students completed their homework assignment on time.
B2 noun /ˌɑːr.kiˈɑː.lə.dʒi/

archeology

Meaning
the study of human history and prehistory through excavation and analysis of artifacts and structures
Example
She decided to study archeology to learn about ancient civilizations.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnækˈsɛsəbl/

inaccessible

Meaning
unable to be reached, entered, or understood
Example
The remote village is almost inaccessible during the rainy season.
C1 verb /dɪsˈmæntəl/

dismantle

Meaning
to take apart; to remove or destroy the parts of
Example
Workers will dismantle the old bridge next month.
C2 noun /kɪθ/

kith

Meaning
Friends, acquaintances, and relations.
Example
He invited all his kith and kin to the wedding.
A2 noun /ˈketʃ.ʌp/

Ketch-up

Meaning
a thick sauce made chiefly from tomatoes, vinegar, and spices
Example
She squeezed some ketchup on her french fries before eating them.
C2 verb /dʒɛˈstɪkjʊleɪt/

gesticulate

Meaning
to use gestures, especially dramatic ones, instead of speaking or to emphasize one's words
Example
He gesticulated wildly to get their attention.
C2 verb /ˈæd.l̩/

addle

Meaning
To confuse or muddle someone’s mind.
Example
The complicated instructions only served to addle him.
C2 noun /hʊˈzɑːr/

hussar

Meaning
a member of a light cavalry regiment in European armies, especially the Hungarian cavalry
Example
The hussar rode swiftly across the battlefield.
C2 noun /mɪˈtɒnɪmi/

metonymy

Meaning
A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted with another closely related word or concept.
Example
In the phrase 'the crown will decide,' 'crown' is a metonymy for monarchy.
B2 adjective /kəmˈpæʃənət/

Compassionate

Meaning
feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others who are suffering
Example
The compassionate nurse took extra time to comfort the worried patients.
B2 noun /ˈkɪlɪŋ/

killing

Meaning
the act of causing death, especially deliberately
Example
The movie depicts the brutal killing of the villagers.
B2 adjective /ˈvoʊkəl/

vocal

Meaning
expressing opinions or feelings freely and loudly; relating to the voice
Example
She was very vocal about her dissatisfaction.
C2 noun ˈvaɪ.və ˈvəʊs

viva voce

Meaning
An oral examination, typically for an academic qualification.
Example
Viva Voce tests communication skills.
C1 adjective /ˌɔːrnəˈmɛntl/

ornamental

Meaning
Serving as decoration; decorative rather than functional.
Example
The garden was filled with ornamental plants.
C2 verb /ˌmæn.juˈmɪt/

manumit

Meaning
to release from slavery or servitude; to set free
Example
The landowner decided to manumit his slaves.
C2 noun /ˈpoʊltɪs/

poultice

Meaning
a soft, moist mass of material applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation
Example
The nurse applied a warm poultice to his injured leg.
B2 noun /ˌɑb.zɚˈveɪ.ʃən/

Observation

Meaning
the action of watching something carefully; a comment or remark
Example
The scientist made careful observations of the experiment.
C2 adverb /hərˈmɛtɪkli/

hermetically

Meaning
In a way that is completely airtight or sealed off.
Example
The jars were hermetically sealed to preserve freshness.
A2 noun /ruːlz/

rules

Meaning
explicit principles or regulations governing conduct or procedure within a particular area of activity
Example
The teacher reminded the students to follow the classroom rules.
B2 adjective /æʃ ˈkʌl.ər/

Ash-colour

Meaning
a grayish color resembling ash
Example
The old building had ash-colour walls that needed painting.
C2 verb /trænsˈfɪɡjʊər/

transfigure

Meaning
To transform the outward appearance or form, often in a way that elevates or glorifies.
Example
The artist managed to transfigure simple clay into a beautiful sculpture.
C2 adjective /ˈfæsaɪl/

Facile

Meaning
easily achieved; superficial; lacking depth
Example
His facile explanation didn't address the real problem.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

diacritical

Meaning
Relating to a mark added to a letter to indicate a different pronunciation or stress.
Example
The word résumé has diacritical marks that change its meaning from resume.
C2 adjective /ˌkɑːmənˈsɛnsɪkəl/

commonsensical

Meaning
based on or showing sound practical judgment; sensible
Example
It was commonsensical to carry an umbrella on a rainy day.
A1 noun wɜːrdz

words

Meaning
A single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others to form communication.
Example
Learning new words expands vocabulary.
C2 noun /ˈveɪɡəri/

vagary

Meaning
An unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or someone's behavior.
Example
The vagaries of the weather made planning difficult.
B2 noun, verb /kɜːrs/

curse

Meaning
a solemn wish that harm or misfortune should befall someone; a rude or offensive word or phrase; to utter offensive words or wish harm upon someone
Example
He cursed loudly when he realized he had lost his wallet.
C2 noun /foʊl fʊt/

Foal-foot

Meaning
a yellow flowering plant with leaves shaped like a horse's hoof, also known as coltsfoot
Example
The foal-foot plant grows wild in many meadows and is often the first flower to bloom in spring.
A1 verb /faɪnd/

find

Meaning
to discover or locate something that was lost or hidden
Example
I can't find my keys anywhere.
C2 noun, verb /ˈbɛvəl/

bevel

Meaning
A sloping edge or surface; to cut or shape an edge at an angle.
Example
The carpenter beveled the edges of the table.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrsɪflɑːʒ/

persiflage

Meaning
light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter
Example
Their conversation was full of persiflage and jokes.
C2 noun /ˈpoʊ.ɪˌtæs.tər/

poetaster

Meaning
an inferior or trivial poet
Example
He was mocked as a poetaster by the literary critics.
C1 verb /trænsˈɡrɛs/

transgress

Meaning
to go beyond the limits of a moral law, command, or boundary; to sin
Example
He apologized after realizing he had transgressed the community's rules.
C1 adjective /ˈɑːr.dənt/

Ardent

Meaning
very enthusiastic; passionate; fervent
Example
She is an ardent supporter of environmental conservation.
C2 verb /ænˈtɪpəθaɪz/

antipathize

Meaning
to feel or express a strong dislike or aversion toward something or someone
Example
He seemed to antipathize with the new management's approach.