Stern
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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.
B1 adjective /ˈsekənderi/

secondary

Meaning
Less important than something else; derived from or dependent on something primary.
Example
Safety is our primary concern, while speed is only secondary.
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.
C2 noun /sɑːrˈkɒfəɡəs/

sarcophagus

Meaning
A stone coffin, often decorated, used in ancient times.
Example
The museum displayed a beautifully carved sarcophagus from ancient Egypt.
B2 noun /soʊl/

Sole

Meaning
the bottom part of the foot; the bottom part of a shoe
Example
I have a blister on the sole of my foot.
B2 adjective /səbˈstæn.ʃəl/

Substantial

Meaning
large in size, amount, or importance; considerable; significant
Example
There was a substantial increase in sales this quarter.
A1 noun /skuːl/

school

Meaning
An institution for educating children; also a group of people sharing the same ideas or discipline.
Example
The children walked to school together.
C1 verb /səbˈstænʃieɪt/

substantiate

Meaning
To provide evidence to support or prove the truth of something.
Example
The lawyer worked to substantiate the claims with solid evidence.
C2 adjective /stəˈkɑː.təʊ/

staccato

Meaning
short and detached in sound or style, often used in music
Example
The pianist played the notes in a staccato rhythm.
A2 verb /siːm/

seem

Meaning
to give the impression of being something or having a particular quality
Example
He seems tired after the long journey.
B2 noun /ˈsɑːfmɔːr/

sophomore

Meaning
a student in their second year of study at a university or high school
Example
He’s a sophomore in college, studying computer science.
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.
B1 noun /ʃɒk/

shock

Meaning
a sudden upsetting or surprising event or experience
Example
The news of his sudden departure was a shock to everyone.
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 /splɪnt/

splint

Meaning
A rigid device used to support and immobilize a broken or injured body part.
Example
The doctor applied a splint to stabilize the patient's broken arm.
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.
C2 adjective /spraɪ/

spry

Meaning
active and lively, especially in old age
Example
The spry grandmother surprised everyone with her quick dance steps.
B1 noun /ʃeɪm/

Shame

Meaning
a painful feeling of humiliation or distress; something regrettable
Example
He felt deep shame for his dishonest behavior at work.
C1 verb /səbˈsɪst/

subsist

Meaning
To maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level.
Example
Many villagers still subsist on fishing and farming.
C1 verb /ˈstrætɪfaɪ/

stratify

Meaning
to arrange or divide into layers, classes, or categories
Example
The researchers plan to stratify the data based on age groups.
C1 noun /ˈsɛvərəns/

severance

Meaning
the act of ending something, especially a relationship or employment; compensation paid upon termination
Example
The company offered him severance pay after his job ended.
C1 adjective /səˈtɪrɪk/

satiric

Meaning
Relating to or using satire.
Example
The novel takes a satiric view of urban life.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrli/

surly

Meaning
bad-tempered and unfriendly
Example
The waiter gave us a surly look when we asked for more water.
B2 verb /spɪn/

spin

Meaning
To turn around quickly or cause something to rotate
Example
The dancer began to spin gracefully on the stage.
C2 adjective /sʌbˈdʒeɪsənt/

subjacent

Meaning
lying immediately beneath; underlying
Example
The geological survey revealed subjacent layers of rock.
C1 adjective /ˈskræpi/

scrappy

Meaning
Determined and willing to fight or argue; also messy or disorganized.
Example
Despite being small, he was a scrappy fighter.
B2 adjective /ˈsiː.z ə n.əl/

Seasonal

Meaning
relating to or occurring in a particular season; changing according to the seasons
Example
Many businesses hire seasonal workers during the holidays.
A2 noun ˈsɜːvɪsɪz

services

Meaning
The action of helping or doing work for someone.
Example
Services in the healthcare industry are essential for well-being.
A2 adjective /smuːð/

Smooth

Meaning
having an even surface; without difficulties; flowing easily
Example
The road was smooth and comfortable to drive on.
C1 verb /ˈsɪnɚdʒaɪzd/

synergized

Meaning
Combine in such a way that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects.
Example
The teams were synergized to maximize productivity.
C1 noun /ˈskruːpəl/

scruple

Meaning
A moral or ethical consideration that restrains actions.
Example
He had no scruples about lying to get ahead.
C2 verb /ˈsɪn.tɪ.leɪt/

scintillate

Meaning
to sparkle or shine brightly; to emit flashes of light
Example
The diamond ring scintillated under the bright lights.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈspɛərɪŋ/

sparing

Meaning
Using or giving only a little of something; economical.
Example
She is sparing in her use of words.
C1 noun /ˌstætɪˈstɪʃən/

statistician

Meaning
A person who specializes in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting numerical data.
Example
The statistician presented the survey results with great clarity.
C1 adjective /ˈsæŋɡwɪn/

sanguine

Meaning
Optimistic or positive, especially in a difficult situation.
Example
Despite the challenges, she remained sanguine about the future.
C1 adjective /sliːk/

sleek

Meaning
smooth, shiny, and stylish
Example
She drove a sleek black sports car.
C1 noun /ˈsiːskeɪp/

seascape

Meaning
A view or painting of the sea.
Example
The artist painted a beautiful seascape at sunset.
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.
C1 noun /ˌsəʊʃəˈbɪləti/

sociability

Meaning
The quality or state of being sociable; friendliness.
Example
Her sociability made her popular in the office.
A2 verb /sɜːrtʃ/

search

Meaning
to look carefully for someone or something; to examine thoroughly
Example
The police searched the house for evidence.
C2 adjective /ˈsiːkwənt/

sequent

Meaning
Following in order or as a result.
Example
The sequent events changed the course of history.
C1 adjective /ˈstoʊɪk/

stoic

Meaning
Showing little or no emotion, even in difficult situations.
Example
She remained stoic during the crisis, never showing fear or panic.
C1 noun /səˈnɑːtə/

sonata

Meaning
A musical composition for one or more instruments, typically in several movements.
Example
She performed a beautiful Beethoven sonata on the piano.
B1 verb/adjective /sɪˈkjʊər/

secure

Meaning
to make safe or protect; to fix something firmly in place
Example
Please secure the door before you leave.
B2 adjective /suːˈpɜːrb/

superb

Meaning
extremely good; excellent
Example
The hotel provided superb service during our stay.
A2 noun /ˈstʌmək/

Stomach

Meaning
the organ in the body where food is digested; the belly or abdomen
Example
My stomach hurts after eating too much.
B2 noun /ˈswɛər wɜːrd/

swear-word

Meaning
An offensive or rude word used to express anger or frustration.
Example
He shouted a swear-word when he hit his toe.
B2 noun /ˈsɪnˌdroʊm/

syndrome

Meaning
a group of symptoms that occur together and characterize a condition or disease
Example
Down syndrome affects a person's physical and mental development.
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 adjective /ˈstaɪ.lɪʃ/

Stylish

Meaning
fashionable and attractive; having elegance or taste in appearance
Example
She wore a stylish dress to the party.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈsleɪ.vɪʃ/

slavish

Meaning
showing no originality; completely imitative or overly submissive
Example
His slavish devotion to tradition prevented any innovation.
B2 noun /ˈsloʊɡən/

slogan

Meaning
a short and memorable phrase used to promote a cause or product
Example
The campaign used a powerful slogan to inspire people.
C1 noun /sɪˈdʌk.ʃən/

Seduction

Meaning
the action of seducing someone; temptation to do something wrong
Example
He fell victim to the seduction of easy money.
C2 noun /sʌbˈɔːl.tən/

subaltern

Meaning
A person holding a subordinate position; in the military, a junior officer.
Example
The subaltern was responsible for leading a small platoon of soldiers.
C2 verb /ˈsʌk.əl/

suckle

Meaning
to feed a baby or young animal with milk from the breast or udder
Example
The mother cat suckled her kittens in the basket.
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.
A2 verb /smel/

smell

Meaning
to perceive odor through the nose; to have an odor
Example
The flowers smell sweet.
C1 verb /ˈsælvɪdʒ/

salvage

Meaning
To save something from loss, damage, or destruction.
Example
They managed to salvage some goods from the fire.
C1 adjective /ˈsɪlkən/

Silken

Meaning
made of silk; smooth and soft like silk
Example
She wore a beautiful silken dress to the party.
C1 verb /ˈstɪp.jʊ.leɪt/

stipulate

Meaning
to demand or specify a condition in an agreement or contract
Example
The contract stipulates that payment must be made within 30 days.
B2 adjective ˈsiːm.ləs

seamless

Meaning
A process or service that works without any interruption.
Example
A seamless checkout process improves user satisfaction.
C1 noun /ˈsɔːrsəri/

sorcery

Meaning
the use of magical powers, especially through spells and enchantments
Example
The villagers believed the illness was caused by sorcery.
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.
C2 adjective /ˌsuː.pər.ɪˈrɑː.ɡə.tɔːr.i/

supererogatory

Meaning
Going beyond what is required or expected; more than necessary.
Example
His donation was supererogatory, far beyond what anyone had asked for.
C1 adjective /ˈstætʃətɔːri/

statutory

Meaning
Required, permitted, or enacted by law.
Example
The company must comply with all statutory regulations.
C1 adjective ˌsʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl

subliminal

Meaning
Existing or operating below the threshold of consciousness; perceived by or affecting someone's mind without their being aware of it.
Example
Advertisements often have subliminal messages.
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.
C2 verb /ˈsʌli/

sully

Meaning
to damage the purity, integrity, or reputation of something
Example
The scandal sullied the politician’s reputation.
B1 noun /ˈstætʃuː/

Statue

Meaning
a three-dimensional work of art, typically made of stone, metal, or wood
Example
The statue of liberty is a famous landmark in New York.
A2 adjective /ˈspænɪʃ/

spanish

Meaning
relating to Spain or the Spanish language
Example
She is fluent in Spanish and French.
B2 verb /səˈrɛndər/

surrender

Meaning
to give up or yield to an opponent or authority
Example
The army finally surrendered after weeks of fighting.
A2 verb /ʃʌt/

shut

Meaning
to close something, especially a door or window
Example
Please shut the door before you leave.
A2 adjective /sɪksθ/

sixth

Meaning
coming after the fifth in order, position, or rank
Example
He finished the race in sixth place.
B1 adjective /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/

significant

Meaning
Sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy.
Example
Social media has a significant impact on relationships.
B2 adjective /ˈʃeɪ.ki/

Shaky

Meaning
unstable; trembling; unreliable; weak
Example
His voice was shaky with nervousness.
A2 noun /ʃeɪp/

Shape

Meaning
the external form or appearance of something; condition or state
Example
The artist drew a perfect circle shape on the canvas.
C2 adjective /ˈsloʊθfəl/

slothful

Meaning
Lazy, idle, and unwilling to work.
Example
She was too slothful to get out of bed early.
C2 verb /swɪl/

swill

Meaning
to drink something greedily or in large amounts
Example
He swilled down the beer in seconds.
B2 verb /skrʌb/

scrub

Meaning
To rub hard so as to clean, typically with a brush and water.
Example
Excessive scrubbing of the eyes is harmful.
B2 verb /suː/

sue

Meaning
to bring a lawsuit against someone in a court of law
Example
She decided to sue the company for damages.
C1 noun /ˈstaɪləs/

stylus

Meaning
a small tool used for writing, drawing, or touching screens
Example
She used a stylus to draw on her tablet.
C1 noun/adjective /ˈstɜː.lɪŋ/

sterling

Meaning
British money, especially pounds; of excellent quality.
Example
She was praised for her sterling work on the project.
B2 verb /ʃriːk/

shriek

Meaning
to make a loud, high-pitched cry
Example
She shrieked when she saw the spider.
A1 verb /stɑːrt/

start

Meaning
to begin something; to commence; to initiate
Example
Let's start the meeting now.
C1 noun /ˌsɛlfsəˈfɪʃənsi/

Self-sufficiency

Meaning
the ability to supply one's own needs without external assistance; independence
Example
The farm achieved complete self-sufficiency in food production.
C1 noun /ʃɑːrd/

shard

Meaning
a broken piece of glass, metal, or pottery
Example
He cut his finger on a shard of glass.
A2 adjective /skɛrd/

scared

Meaning
feeling afraid or worried
Example
She was scared of the dark.
B2 noun /ˈsuːpəvaɪzə(r)/

supervisor

Meaning
a person who manages or directs the work of others
Example
The supervisor checked the progress of each employee.
B2 verb ˈstɪmjəleɪt

stimulate

Meaning
To encourage or promote the development or growth of something
Example
Proper sunlight stimulates plant growth.
B1 adjective /ˌstreɪt ˈfɔːr.wərd/

Straight forward

Meaning
honest and open; not complicated; easy to understand
Example
His explanation was very straightforward and easy to follow.
C2 adjective /ˈstɜːr.tər.əs/

stertorous

Meaning
Characterized by heavy snoring or breathing.
Example
The patient’s stertorous breathing alarmed the nurses.
B2 verb /stɪŋ/

sting

Meaning
to pierce with a sharp point; to cause sharp pain
Example
The bee stung him on his arm while he was gardening.
C1 noun /ˈsɛdətɪv/

sedative

Meaning
A substance that calms the nerves or induces sleep.
Example
The doctor prescribed a sedative to help the patient sleep.
B1 noun /ˈsoʊ.lər ˌsɪs.təm/

Solar system

Meaning
the sun and all the planets, moons, asteroids and other objects that orbit around it
Example
Our solar system has eight planets orbiting the sun.
B2 noun /ˌsɪm.ɪˈlær.ə.ti/

Similarity

Meaning
the quality or state of being similar; resemblance
Example
There is a striking similarity between the two paintings.
C2 adjective /sɪər/

sere

Meaning
Dry or withered, especially vegetation.
Example
The sere leaves crumbled under his feet.
C1 adjective /ˌsækrəˈlɪdʒəs/

sacrilegious

Meaning
Showing disrespect or irreverence toward something sacred.
Example
The painting was criticized as being sacrilegious.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌn.dri/

sundry

Meaning
Various or miscellaneous.
Example
The shop sells fruits, clothes, and sundry items.
C1 adjective /ˈskwiːmɪʃ/

squeamish

Meaning
easily made to feel sick, faint, or disgusted
Example
She felt squeamish at the sight of blood.
B2 noun /ˈsnoʊ.fɔːl/

Snowfall

Meaning
the process of snow falling from the sky; the amount of snow that falls
Example
The heavy snowfall blocked all the roads yesterday.
A2 noun /smɔːl boʊl/

Small bowl

Meaning
a round, shallow container of small size used for serving food or liquids
Example
She served the soup in a small bowl.
C1 noun /ˈskæf.əld/

Scaffold

Meaning
a temporary structure used by workers to stand on when building or repairing something high; a platform for execution
Example
The workers erected a scaffold to paint the building's exterior.
A1 noun /sʌn/

Sun

Meaning
the star around which the earth orbits; the source of light and heat for planets
Example
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
C1 verb /ˈskævɪndʒ/

scavenge

Meaning
to search through waste or discarded material to find useful items
Example
The children scavenged for food in the garbage dump.
C2 verb /ˈseɪʃiˌeɪt/

satiate

Meaning
To satisfy fully, especially with food or desire.
Example
The large meal satiated his hunger.
C1 noun /ˈstæl.i.ən/

stallion

Meaning
An adult male horse that is not castrated, often used for breeding.
Example
The farm owns a powerful stallion for breeding purposes.
C2 noun /ˌsɪŋ.krəˈnɪs.ɪ.ti/

synchronicity

Meaning
The meaningful coincidence of two or more events that are not planned.
Example
The synchronicity of their thoughts amazed everyone.
C2 noun /sɪˈrɒkoʊ/

sirocco

Meaning
A hot, dry wind blowing from North Africa across the Mediterranean to southern Europe.
Example
The sirocco made the city unbearably hot and dusty.
A2 adjective /ˈstuː.pɪd/

Stupid

Meaning
lacking intelligence or common sense; foolish
Example
It was stupid of me to forget my umbrella on a rainy day.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌmp.tʃu.əs/

sumptuous

Meaning
Splendid and expensive-looking; luxurious.
Example
The guests were treated to a sumptuous banquet.
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.
A2 noun /ˈstændərd/

standard

Meaning
a level of quality or achievement, or a measure of comparison
Example
This car meets all the safety standards.
C2 adjective /səˈræfɪk/

seraphic

Meaning
Of or like a seraph; angelic, pure, and blissful.
Example
She gave him a seraphic smile that calmed his fears.
A2 noun, verb /ˈsɛntəns/

sentence

Meaning
A set of words that expresses a complete thought; or a punishment given by a court of law.
Example
The judge gave him a five-year prison sentence.
B2 adjective /ˈstʌdid/

studied

Meaning
carefully considered, deliberate, or planned
Example
Her response was calm and studied, not impulsive.
C1 noun ˈstræt.ə.sfɪər

stratosphere

Meaning
The layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, extending to about 50 km above the earth's surface.
Example
The stratosphere provides a unique environment.
C1 adjective ˈskruː.pjʊ.ləs

scrupulous

Meaning
Diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details; having moral integrity; acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper.
Example
He is known for being scrupulous in his work.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛreɪtɪd/

serrated

Meaning
Having a notched or saw-toothed edge.
Example
The bread knife had a serrated blade.