startled
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B2 adjective /ˈstɑːrtəld/

startled

Meaning
suddenly shocked or surprised by something unexpected
Example
She was startled by the loud noise outside.
B2 verb /səˈrɛndər/

surrender

Meaning
to give up or yield to an opponent or authority
Example
The army finally surrendered after weeks of fighting.
B2 verb /ˈskræmbəl/

scramble

Meaning
to move or climb quickly using hands and feet; to mix or arrange in a hurried way
Example
The kids scrambled up the hill to catch the kite.
B2 noun sliːp ˌdɛprɪˈveɪʃən

sleep deprivation

Meaning
The condition of not having enough sleep; lack of adequate sleep.
Example
Sleep deprivation can severely impact mental health.
B2 noun /stɑːr fɪʃ/

Star fish

Meaning
a marine echinoderm with five or more radiating arms, typically found on the sea floor
Example
The starfish slowly moved across the ocean floor searching for food.
B2 noun /ˈsɜːr.plʌs/

surplus

Meaning
An amount that is more than what is needed.
Example
The country has a surplus of food this year.
B2 noun/verb /skɔːrn/

scorn

Meaning
the feeling or expression of contempt or disdain; to treat with contempt
Example
She looked at him with open scorn.
B2 noun ˈstɪmjələs

stimulus

Meaning
A thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue.
Example
Plants respond to external stimulus.
B2 noun /ˈsaɪrən/

siren

Meaning
A device that makes a loud prolonged sound as a signal or warning; in mythology, a creature that lures sailors with enchanting songs.
Example
The police car passed with its siren blaring.
B2 adjective /ˌsen.tɪˈmen.təl/

Sentimental

Meaning
having tender feelings; being emotional about memories or experiences
Example
She became sentimental when looking at old family photographs.
B2 adjective /slɪk/

slick

Meaning
Smooth, clever, or efficient, often in a way that seems superficial.
Example
He gave a slick presentation to impress the investors.
B2 noun səbˈstænʃəl ˈɪmpækt

substantial impact

Meaning
A significant, considerable, and meaningful effect or influence.
Example
Substantial impact is possible even with a few hours of volunteering.
B2 noun /ˈsaɪd.laɪn/

sideline

Meaning
An activity done in addition to one's main job or area of work.
Example
The sideline discussions led to mutual understanding.
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 adjective /ˈstɜːrdi/

sturdy

Meaning
strongly and solidly built; not easily weakened
Example
The carpenter made a sturdy wooden table.
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.
B2 verb /skoʊld/

scold

Meaning
to criticize angrily; to rebuke
Example
The teacher scolded the students for being late.
B2 noun /spekˈteɪtər/

Spectator

Meaning
a person who watches at a show, game, or other event; an observer
Example
The stadium was filled with excited spectators.
B2 verb /ˈsprɪŋkəl/

sprinkle

Meaning
to scatter small drops or particles of a substance over a surface
Example
She sprinkled sugar on top of the cake.
B2 noun /ˈsiːkər/

seeker

Meaning
a person who is looking for something, especially knowledge or truth
Example
The seeker traveled far to find the answers to his questions.
B2 noun /ˈsɛtlər/

settler

Meaning
a person who settles in a new area or land
Example
The settlers arrived in the new town and started building homes.
B2 verb /ˈsʌfəkeɪt/

suffocate

Meaning
to cause someone to die or have difficulty breathing by depriving them of air
Example
The child nearly suffocated when trapped in the locked room.
B2 verb /skwɒʃ/

squash

Meaning
to crush or squeeze something with force so that it becomes flat or broken
Example
She accidentally squashed the bug with her shoe.
B2 verb /ʃrɪŋk/

shrink

Meaning
to become smaller in size; to draw back in fear
Example
The sweater shrank after washing in hot water.
B2 noun /spaɪs/

spice

Meaning
a substance used to add flavor to food
Example
She added a pinch of spice to the curry for extra flavor.
B2 adjective /stɑːrk/

stark

Meaning
Severe, sharp, or clearly defined; plain and without any decoration.
Example
The stark contrast between poverty and wealth was evident in the city.
B2 noun /sɪv/

Seive

Meaning
a utensil consisting of a wire or plastic mesh held in a frame, used for straining solids from liquids
Example
She used a sieve to separate the flour from lumps.
B2 verb /swaɪp/

swipe

Meaning
to move your finger across a touch screen or to hit with a sweeping motion
Example
He swiped left on the photo.
B2 verb /ʃʌv/

shove

Meaning
to push someone or something roughly
Example
He shoved the box into the corner.
B2 noun /ˈsəʊ.ʃəl.ɪ.zəm/

socialism

Meaning
An economic system where the means of production are owned by the state or community.
Example
In socialism, resources are distributed equally among citizens.
B2 verb /stroʊk/

stroke

Meaning
to move your hand gently over something; to hit or touch something gently
Example
She stroked the cat's fur gently.
B2 verb /səˈspɛnd/

suspend

Meaning
To temporarily stop something from being active or valid.
Example
The company decided to suspend his membership.
B2 verb /slæm/

slam

Meaning
to close or hit something with great force
Example
He slammed the door angrily after the argument.
B2 noun /ˈsɪləbəs/

syllabus

Meaning
An outline or summary of topics to be covered in a course of study.
Example
The professor handed out the syllabus on the first day of class.
B2 adjective /ˈstɪki/

sticky

Meaning
having the quality of adhering or clinging; difficult to remove or deal with
Example
The candy is too sticky to eat with your hands.
B2 noun /ˈʃʌtəl/

shuttle

Meaning
a vehicle or craft that travels regularly between two places.
Example
The airport shuttle runs every 30 minutes.
B2 noun /ˈsɑːrdʒənt/

sergeant

Meaning
A rank of non-commissioned officer in the armed forces or police.
Example
The sergeant gave orders to the soldiers before the mission.
B2 noun /ˌstɪm.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/

stimulation

Meaning
The action of arousing interest, enthusiasm, or excitement.
Example
Stimulation reduces stress and aids relaxation.
B2 noun /ˈspɛktrəm/

spectrum

Meaning
A range of different things, often related to colors, ideas, or classifications.
Example
The festival attracted people from across the political spectrum.
B2 adjective /ˈstʌf.i/

Stuffy

Meaning
lacking fresh air; poorly ventilated; formal and conservative in attitude
Example
The room was stuffy and needed fresh air.
B2 noun /ˈsæb.ə.tɑːʒ/

Sabotage

Meaning
deliberate destruction of equipment or disruption of activities
Example
The factory was shut down due to an act of sabotage.
B2 noun /ˌsɛlf əˈwɛə.nəs/

self-awareness

Meaning
Conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives, and desires.
Example
Self-awareness helps in understanding one's emotions and actions.
B2 adjective /səˈbɜːrbən/

suburban

Meaning
relating to or characteristic of a suburb or the people living there
Example
They bought a house in a quiet suburban area.
B2 adjective /ˈstʌb.ərn/

Stubborn

Meaning
refusing to change opinion or course of action; persistent; obstinate
Example
The stubborn child refused to eat his vegetables.
B2 adjective ˈstrʌktʃərd

structured

Meaning
Having a clear organization or framework; systematically arranged.
Example
A structured execution plan is crucial for success.
B2 noun /ˈsiː.mən/

Seaman

Meaning
a person who works on a ship; sailor
Example
The experienced seaman navigated the ship through the storm.
B2 noun /slʌm/

Slum

Meaning
a poor urban area with substandard housing and squalid conditions
Example
The government is working to improve conditions in the slum.
B2 verb /swiːp/

sweep

Meaning
to clean by brushing; to move quickly and smoothly
Example
She sweeps the floor every morning.
B2 noun /spɑːrk/

Spark

Meaning
a small fiery particle thrown off from a fire; a flash of light; something that triggers or initiates
Example
A spark from the campfire ignited the dry leaves.
B2 verb /spreɪ/

spray

Meaning
to apply liquid to something in a fine mist
Example
She sprayed perfume on her wrist before leaving.
B2 adjective, noun /ˈsɪŋɡjələr/

singular

Meaning
Remarkable, extraordinary; or grammatical form referring to one person or thing.
Example
She has a singular talent for painting.
B2 noun /ˌsoʊsiˈɑːlədʒi/

sociology

Meaning
the study of society, human relationships, and social institutions
Example
She is studying sociology at university.
B2 noun/verb /ˈsɜːveɪ/

survey

Meaning
noun: an examination or inspection; verb: to examine or measure (an area or subject)
Example
They conducted a survey to understand customer preferences.
B2 noun /spaɪn/

Spine

Meaning
the backbone or vertebral column of a vertebrate; the central support of a structure
Example
She injured her spine in the accident.
B2 noun ˈsʌbˌaɪtəlz

subtitles

Meaning
Captions displayed at the bottom of a movie or television screen that translate or transcribe the dialogue or narrative.
Example
Use subtitles for better understanding.
B2 verb /skæn/

scan

Meaning
To look at something carefully or quickly; to digitally copy or capture an image or document.
Example
She scanned the document before sending it by email.
B2 noun /stəˈbɪl.ə.ti/

Stability

Meaning
the state of being stable; firmness; steadiness
Example
Political stability is essential for economic growth.
B2 adjective /ˈspiː.di/

Speedy

Meaning
moving or happening quickly; fast
Example
The speedy delivery service arrived within an hour.
B2 noun /ˈspɛk.tə.kəl/

spectacle

Meaning
An impressive display or performance for viewers.
Example
The fireworks created a breathtaking spectacle in the night sky.
B2 adjective /ˈsʌb.sɪ.kwənt/

subsequent

Meaning
Coming after something in time; following in time or order.
Example
Subsequent events clarified the outcomes.
B2 noun ˈʃeɪdɪd ˈɛəriə

shaded area

Meaning
An area that is protected from direct sunlight.
Example
We sat in a shaded area by the riverbank.
B2 adjective sɪnˈθet̬.ɪk

synthetic

Meaning
Made by chemical synthesis, especially to imitate a natural product; artificial.
Example
Synthetic chemicals are used in processed foods.
B2 verb /slæʃ/

slash

Meaning
to cut with a sharp blade; to reduce drastically
Example
The company slashed prices to attract more customers.
B2 noun, verb /striːk/

streak

Meaning
a long, thin line or mark; to move very quickly in a specified direction
Example
Lightning streaked across the night sky.
B2 noun /ˌspeʃiˈælɪti/

Speciality

Meaning
a particular area of activity or interest that someone focuses on; expertise in a specific field
Example
His speciality is Italian cuisine.
B2 adjective /ˈspɒtɪd/

Spotted

Meaning
having spots or marks; noticed or seen
Example
The spotted leopard moved silently through the jungle.
B2 verb ˈstɪmjəleɪt

stimulate

Meaning
To encourage or promote the development or growth of something
Example
Proper sunlight stimulates plant growth.
B2 noun /sɛnt/

scent

Meaning
a distinctive smell, especially a pleasant one
Example
The scent of roses filled the garden.
B2 verb, noun, adjective /streɪ/

stray

Meaning
to move away from the correct path or go off course; a person or animal that has wandered off; something that is not where it belongs
Example
The dog strayed from the yard and got lost.
B2 noun /ˈsætaɪər/

satire

Meaning
The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people's stupidity or vices.
Example
The play was a brilliant satire on modern politics.
B2 verb /ˈstɑːrtl/

startle

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

self-respect

Meaning
A feeling of pride and confidence in oneself; self-worth.
Example
She refused to compromise her self-respect by accepting unfair treatment.
B2 adjective /ˈspeɪ.ʃəs/

Spacious

Meaning
having a lot of space; roomy and comfortable
Example
The house has a spacious living room with high ceilings.
B2 adjective /ˈsɛkʃʊəl/

sexual

Meaning
relating to the instincts, physiological processes, and activities connected with physical attraction or intimate physical contact between individuals
Example
The sexual health of individuals is an important topic in modern medicine.
B2 noun /sɪɡˈnɪf.ɪ.kəns/

Significance

Meaning
the quality of being worthy of attention; importance
Example
The discovery has great significance for medical research.
B2 adjective /ˈsɪk.li/

Sickly

Meaning
weak and unhealthy; prone to illness; appearing weak or pale
Example
The sickly child needed extra care and attention.
B2 noun ˈsiːzənəl ˈvedʒtəbəlz

seasonal vegetables

Meaning
Vegetables that grow during specific seasons or times of the year
Example
Seasonal vegetables grow abundantly in winter.
B2 noun, verb /steɪk/

stake

Meaning
A share or interest in a business or venture; to risk or support something of value.
Example
He has a major stake in the new company.
B2 verb /səˈsteɪn/

sustain

Meaning
To support, maintain, or keep something going over time.
Example
The team worked hard to sustain their success.
B2 noun /ˈstrʌk.tʃərz/

structures

Meaning
Buildings or other objects constructed from several parts.
Example
The region has ancient structures.
B2 noun /səˈvaɪvl/

survival

Meaning
the state of continuing to live or exist, typically in difficult conditions
Example
Survival in the wild can be a challenging experience.
B2 adverb /sɪˈvɪərli/

severely

Meaning
to a great degree; very seriously or harshly
Example
The patient was severely injured in the accident.
B2 adjective /steɪl/

Stale

Meaning
no longer fresh; lacking originality or novelty
Example
The bread became stale after sitting out for three days.
B2 noun /ˈsɪɡ.nəlz/

signals

Meaning
A gesture, action, or sound conveying information or instructions.
Example
Signals from deep space were detected last week.
B2 noun /sɪlk/

silk

Meaning
a fine, smooth fabric made from the threads produced by silkworms
Example
The dress was made of pure silk.
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.
B2 noun ˈskeə.sɪ.ti

scarcity

Meaning
The state of being scarce or in short supply; shortage.
Example
Water scarcity threatens agriculture.
B2 noun /ˈsɛktər/

sector

Meaning
a distinct part or area of an economy, society, or industry
Example
The technology sector is growing rapidly.
B2 noun ˈskruːtɪni

scrutiny

Meaning
Critical observation or examination
Example
The new law is under scrutiny by the legislative body.
B2 verb /sɜːrdʒ/

surge

Meaning
to move suddenly and powerfully forward or upward
Example
The crowd surged forward when the gates opened.
B2 noun /sliːv/

Sleeve

Meaning
the part of a garment that covers the arm
Example
She rolled up her sleeves before starting to cook.
B2 noun /ˈseɪf.ɡɑːrd/

Safeguard

Meaning
measure or action designed to protect someone or something
Example
New safeguards were implemented to prevent data breaches.
B2 noun /ˈskaɪˌskreɪpər/

Skyscraper

Meaning
a very tall building of many stories
Example
The new skyscraper dominates the city's skyline.
B2 adjective /ˈsteɪʃəˌneri/

stationary

Meaning
Not moving or not intended to be moved.
Example
The car remained stationary at the red light.
B2 adjective /ˈsæv.ɪdʒ/

Savage

Meaning
extremely cruel or violent; wild and fierce; uncivilized
Example
The savage attack shocked everyone.
B2 verb /sɑːb/

sob

Meaning
to cry noisily while taking short breaths
Example
She began to sob uncontrollably after hearing the news.
B2 noun /swɪŋ/

Swing

Meaning
move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side while suspended or on an axis
Example
The children love to swing in the park.
B2 noun /ˈsɜːdʒən/

surgeon

Meaning
a doctor who performs medical operations
Example
The surgeon performed a complex heart operation.
B2 noun /ˈskɛlɪtən/

skeleton

Meaning
The internal framework of bones that supports the body of a human or animal.
Example
The teacher showed the students a human skeleton in the biology class.
B2 noun /streɪn/

Strain

Meaning
pressure or tension; excessive demand on strength or resources
Example
Working long hours put a strain on his health.
B2 noun /ˌsuːvəˈnɪər/

Souvenir

Meaning
a thing that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event; a memento
Example
I bought a small souvenir from the gift shop.
B2 noun /spæm/

spam

Meaning
unsolicited or unwanted electronic communication, typically in the form of email
Example
My inbox is full of spam emails that I need to delete.
B2 noun /səbˈskraɪbər/

subscriber

Meaning
a person who receives or subscribes to a service, magazine, or service
Example
She is a subscriber to the monthly magazine.
B2 noun /səkˈsɛʃ.ən/

succession

Meaning
The process of ecological change in which one community of organisms is gradually replaced by another.
Example
Forest succession occurs when old ecosystems are replaced by new ones.
B2 adjective /ˈstɑː.ri/

Starry

Meaning
full of stars; shining like stars; relating to stars
Example
We enjoyed the starry night sky while camping in the mountains.
B2 adjective /ˌsuː.pəˈfɪʃ.əl/

superficial

Meaning
Existing or occurring at or on the surface; not thorough or deep.
Example
His understanding of the subject was rather superficial.
B2 noun /ˈswiː.pər/

Sweeper

Meaning
a person whose job is to clean floors and streets by sweeping
Example
The sweeper cleaned the school corridor every morning.
B2 noun /ˈset.əl.mənt/

Settlement

Meaning
a place where people establish a community; an agreement that ends a dispute
Example
The early settlement was built near the river for easy access to water.
B2 noun ˈsuː.pər.fuːdz

superfoods

Meaning
Nutrient-dense foods that are particularly beneficial for health and well-being.
Example
Blueberries and spinach are superfoods rich in vitamins.
B2 verb /ˈʃɔːrtn/

shorten

Meaning
To make something shorter in length, duration, or extent
Example
She decided to shorten her speech to fit the time limit.
B2 noun /stɔːrk/

Stork

Meaning
large wading bird with long legs and a long neck
Example
The stork built its nest on top of the tall chimney.
B2 noun ˌsɛlf.kənˈtrəʊl

self-control

Meaning
The ability to control one's emotions, behavior, and desires in order to obtain some reward, or avoid some punishment, typically in the longer term.
Example
Self-control is important for maintaining a balanced life.
B2 verb /ˈsteɪ.bə.laɪz/

stabilize

Meaning
to make something steady, secure, or unlikely to change suddenly
Example
The government took measures to stabilize the economy.
B2 adjective /ˈskɑː.lət/

Scarlet

Meaning
a bright red color with a slightly orange tinge
Example
The scarlet roses in the garden looked magnificent in the morning light.
B2 adjective /ˈʃɔːrt ˌsaɪtɪd/

Short-sighted

Meaning
lacking foresight or consideration for the future; myopic
Example
His short-sighted decision to quit school early affected his career prospects.
B2 adjective /suːˈpriːm/

Supreme

Meaning
highest in rank, authority, or quality; greatest; most important
Example
The Supreme Court made the final decision.
B2 verb /ˈstrɛŋkθən/

strengthen

Meaning
To make or become stronger.
Example
Communication can strengthen bonds between people.
B2 noun/verb /stʌmp/

stump

Meaning
the base of a tree left after the trunk is cut down; to puzzle or confuse
Example
The question completely stumped the students.
B2 noun /səkˈses.ər/

Successor

Meaning
a person who succeeds another in office; someone who takes over a position or role
Example
The CEO announced his retirement and named his successor for the company.
B2 verb /ˈstræŋɡəl/

strangle

Meaning
to kill or stop someone or something by squeezing the throat or restricting flow
Example
The villain tried to strangle his opponent in the dark alley.
B2 adjective/noun /staʊt/

stout

Meaning
Strong, thick, or heavily built; also a kind of dark beer
Example
The stout man lifted the heavy box with ease.