Stiff
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B2 adjective /stɪf/

Stiff

Meaning
not easily bent or changed; rigid; firm
Example
The old wooden board was too stiff to bend.
C1 noun /əˈlʌmnəs/

alumnus

Meaning
a former student or graduate of a school, college, or university
Example
He is an alumnus of Harvard University.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfɪdəns/

diffidence

Meaning
Lack of self-confidence; shyness or modesty.
Example
Her diffidence made it hard for her to speak in public.
C2 noun /ɪɡˈzɛmplɑːr/

exemplar

Meaning
A model or pattern to be copied or imitated.
Example
She is an exemplar of kindness and generosity.
C1 noun /ˈpæl.ə.tə.bəl miːt/

Palatable meat

Meaning
Meat that is pleasant to taste; appetizing meat dish
Example
The chef prepared palatable meat dishes for the dinner party.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈspiːdiənt/

inexpedient

Meaning
Not advisable, suitable, or practical in the circumstances.
Example
It would be inexpedient to invest without proper research.
C2 noun /məˈʃiː.nɪst/

machinist

Meaning
a person who operates machine tools or makes and repairs machines
Example
The machinist carefully adjusted the gears on the lathe.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈseɪvəri/

unsavory

Meaning
Disagreeable, unpleasant, or morally offensive.
Example
The politician was linked to an unsavory scandal.
C2 adjective /ʌkˈsɔːriəs/

uxorious

Meaning
excessively fond of or submissive to one's wife
Example
He was so uxorious that he agreed with everything his wife said.
C2 adjective /ˈæn.ə.daɪn/

anodyne

Meaning
Not likely to cause offense; bland or harmless. Also refers to something that relieves pain.
Example
The speaker’s anodyne remarks avoided controversy.
B2 adverb /ˌælfəˈbɛtɪkli/

alphabetically

Meaning
in the order of the letters of the alphabet
Example
The names are listed alphabetically in the register.
C2 noun /ˌdiːnəʊˈteɪʃən/

denotation

Meaning
The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.
Example
The denotation of the word 'rose' is a type of flower.
C1 noun /ˈhaɪ.drəʊˌpaʊər ˌdʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

hydropower generation

Meaning
The production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water.
Example
Hydropower generation promotes green energy.
C2 adjective /ˌbiːəˈtɪfɪk/

beatific

Meaning
blissfully happy or showing great joy
Example
She had a beatific smile after hearing the good news.
B2 noun /bædʒ/

badge

Meaning
A small emblem or sign worn to show membership, authority, or achievement.
Example
The police officer showed his badge to identify himself.
B1 noun ˈem.fə.sɪs

emphasis

Meaning
Special importance, value, or prominence given to something; stress laid on a particular point or aspect.
Example
The speaker placed emphasis on sustainable development.
A2 verb /ɪmˈpruːv/

improve

Meaning
to make or become better; to enhance quality or condition
Example
Practice helps improve your skills.
C1 noun /miːlˈjuː/

milieu

Meaning
A person's social environment or surroundings.
Example
She grew up in an artistic milieu.
B2 noun /ˈpaɪpˌlaɪn/

pipeline

Meaning
a long tube through which liquids or gases are transported
Example
The company is building a new pipeline to transport natural gas.
C1 noun /ˈpɒ̃ʃɒ̃/

penchant

Meaning
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something
Example
She has a penchant for collecting rare books.
B1 adjective /kənˈvɪnst/

convinced

Meaning
completely certain or sure about something
Example
She was convinced that he was telling the truth.
C2 verb /ˈproʊtjuːbəreɪt/

protuberate

Meaning
To swell out or bulge.
Example
The roots began to protuberate from the ground.
C1 adjective /rɪˈɡrɛtfəl/

regretful

Meaning
feeling or showing sadness or disappointment about something that has happened or been done
Example
She gave him a regretful smile as she turned away.
C1 noun mɪˈtɪkjʊləsnɪs

meticulousness

Meaning
Great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
Example
His meticulousness made the project successful.
C2 noun /ˌɛpɪˈdɜːrmɪs/

epidermis

Meaning
the outer layer of cells covering the body of an organism, especially the skin
Example
The epidermis protects the body from harmful bacteria.
C2 adjective /ˈflæb.i/

Flabby

Meaning
soft and loose; lacking firmness or muscle tone; weak
Example
His flabby arms showed he needed to exercise more.
C1 adjective ˌɪn.təˈmɪt.ənt

intermittent

Meaning
Happening irregularly, not continuously.
Example
The rain was intermittent throughout the day.
C1 noun /ˈef.ɪ.dʒi/

Effigy

Meaning
a sculpture or model of a person, especially one made as a protest
Example
The protesters burned an effigy of the corrupt politician in the square.
B2 adjective /ˈvɛərid/

Varied

Meaning
showing differences; diverse; containing different types
Example
The museum has a varied collection of ancient artifacts.
C1 adjective /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv/

exhaustive

Meaning
Fully comprehensive and including all possibilities.
Example
The report provides an exhaustive analysis of the issue.
C1 noun prəˈpɛn.sə.ti

propensity

Meaning
An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.
Example
He has a propensity for taking risks in business.
C2 adjective /pərˈfɛktəbl/

perfectible

Meaning
capable of being made perfect or improved
Example
Human nature is imperfect but perfectible.
C1 noun /ˈhɔːr.nət/

Hornet

Meaning
a large wasp that can sting and is often aggressive
Example
The hornet built its nest under the roof.
C2 adjective /prɪˈhɛnsaɪl/

prehensile

Meaning
adapted for seizing or grasping, especially by wrapping around an object
Example
The monkey used its prehensile tail to hang from the branch.
C2 verb /diːˈmoʊbəlaɪz/

demobilize

Meaning
To release from military service or to disband troops.
Example
The government decided to demobilize the army after the war.
B2 noun /reɪˈʒiːm/

regime

Meaning
a system or form of government, often authoritarian
Example
The military regime controlled the country for decades.
A2 adverb /ˌɪnˈdɔːrz/

indoors

Meaning
inside a building; within an enclosed space
Example
Because of the rain, everyone stayed indoors.
B2 noun /ˈlaɪf.taɪm/

lifetime

Meaning
The duration of a person's life or the existence of something.
Example
She achieved more in her lifetime than most people dream of.
A2 noun /ˈkɒlɪdʒ/

college

Meaning
An educational institution where students study for degrees or professional qualifications.
Example
She hopes to attend college in the city next year.
C2 adjective /pɒnˈtɪfɪkəl/

pontifical

Meaning
relating to a pope or bishop; pompous or self-important
Example
His pontifical manner annoyed the other members of the committee.
B1 verb /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/

disappoint

Meaning
to fail to fulfill the hopes or expectations of someone; to make someone feel sad or displeased
Example
I hope I won't disappoint you with my performance.
C1 noun ˈnɛktər

Nectar

Meaning
A sweet liquid produced by flowers that serves as food for butterflies.
Example
Butterflies drink nectar from flowers.
C1 noun /kənˈtɛnʃən/

contention

Meaning
heated disagreement or argument; a point asserted in debate
Example
The main contention between the two parties was over tax reform.
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.
C1 noun /ˌmɪsˈtrʌst/

Mistrust

Meaning
Lack of trust; suspicion or doubt about someone or something
Example
There was deep mistrust between the two political parties.
B2 noun /iˈkɒl.ə.dʒi/

ecology

Meaning
the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment
Example
Ecology helps us understand how pollution affects animals and plants.
C1 noun ˌɪntədɪˈpɛndənsi

interdependency

Meaning
The dependence of two or more people or things on each other.
Example
The interdependency of the countries led to greater cooperation.
B2 verb /ˈtɪkəl/

Tickle

Meaning
to touch someone lightly to make them laugh; to amuse or please
Example
The feather tickles when it touches your skin.
B2 noun /ˈfreʃmən/

freshman

Meaning
a first-year student at a high school, college, or university
Example
The freshman felt nervous on his first day at university.
C2 verb /nɑːrl/

gnarl

Meaning
To twist into a knotted or distorted form.
Example
The tree roots began to gnarl around the stones.
C2 adverb /ˈfɔːrbi/

forby

Meaning
In addition; besides (archaic Scottish/English word).
Example
He is kind and generous, and wise forby.
B2 adjective ˈnjuːtrəl

neutral

Meaning
Having no electric charge; neither positive nor negative.
Example
Neutrons are electrically neutral.
C1 noun ˈkætəlɪst

catalyst

Meaning
A person or thing that precipitates an event or change.
Example
His speech acted as a catalyst for change in the community.
B1 noun /ˈmæn.ɪdʒ.mənt/

management

Meaning
The process of dealing with or controlling things or people.
Example
Proper management minimizes environmental damage.
B2 adverb /ˌæksɪˈdɛntəli/

accidentally

Meaning
happening by chance or unexpectedly
Example
He accidentally dropped the glass.
B2 adjective /ˌæn.tiˈsoʊ.ʃəl/

Antisocial

Meaning
avoiding social interaction; hostile to social order
Example
His antisocial behavior made it difficult for him to make friends.
B2 adjective, verb (present participle) /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/

floating

Meaning
remaining on the surface of a liquid without sinking; moving lightly or freely
Example
The boat was floating gently on the calm lake.
B1 noun /wɜːrm/

Worm

Meaning
a long, soft-bodied invertebrate animal that lives in soil
Example
The bird caught a worm from the garden soil.
C1 noun /ɪnˌkɑːsəˈreɪʃən/

incarceration

Meaning
the state of being imprisoned or confined
Example
The criminal faced years of incarceration for his crimes.
B1 noun /ˈhʌŋɡər/

hunger

Meaning
the feeling of discomfort caused by lack of food
Example
The child cried out of hunger.
C1 noun /ˈɡɑːr.lənd/

Garland

Meaning
a wreath of flowers and leaves, worn on the head or hung as decoration
Example
The bride wore a beautiful floral garland during the traditional ceremony.
B2 adjective, noun /ədˈvaɪzəri/

advisory

Meaning
(adjective) having the power to give advice but not to make sure that it is followed; (noun) an official announcement containing information or a warning
Example
The committee serves in an advisory capacity to the board of directors.
C1 adjective /ˈdiːviəs/

devious

Meaning
Skillful at using underhanded tactics to achieve goals; not straightforward.
Example
He used a devious plan to gain control of the company.
B2 adjective ˈkʌtɪŋ ˌɛdʒ

cutting-edge

Meaning
The most advanced or innovative; at the forefront of development.
Example
This company develops cutting-edge technology.
B2 noun /ɡɪɡ/

gig

Meaning
A live performance by a musician, band, or entertainer; also a temporary job.
Example
The band has a gig at the local club tonight.
B1 noun /swɒn/

Swan

Meaning
a large waterbird with a long curved neck and usually white plumage
Example
The elegant swan glided silently across the water.
A2 adjective /pəˈlaɪt/

Polite

Meaning
having good manners; respectful; courteous
Example
He was very polite and respectful to everyone.
B1 verb /ˈsʌfər/

suffer

Meaning
to experience pain, distress, or hardship
Example
She suffered from a severe headache all day.
C1 adjective /ˈseɪ.li.ənt/

salient

Meaning
Most important, prominent, or noticeable
Example
The report highlighted the salient points of the discussion.
B2 noun ˈmɪdl klæs

middle-class

Meaning
The social group between the upper and working classes, typically consisting of well-educated people.
Example
The middle-class was largely affected by the decision.
C1 adjective /oʊˈvɜːrt/

overt

Meaning
Done or shown openly; not hidden or secret.
Example
There was an overt display of hostility between the rivals.
A1 noun /ˈpɪk.tʃər/

Picture

Meaning
a visual representation such as a painting, drawing, or photograph
Example
There is a beautiful picture hanging on the wall.
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.
C1 verb /nəˈsɛsɪteɪt/

necessitate

Meaning
To make something necessary or unavoidable.
Example
The heavy rains necessitated the cancellation of the event.
C2 noun /ˈfɪli/

filly

Meaning
a young female horse
Example
The filly ran swiftly across the meadow.
C1 noun /ˈmjʊr.əl/

Mural

Meaning
a painting or artwork applied directly on a wall or ceiling
Example
The artist painted a beautiful mural on the school wall.
B2 noun /ˈsmɑːrt.nəs/

Smartness

Meaning
intelligence; cleverness; neat and fashionable appearance
Example
Her smartness in solving problems impressed everyone.
B1 verb /ɪnˈʃʊər/

ensure

Meaning
To make certain that something will happen or be the case.
Example
Please ensure that the door is locked before you leave.
A2 adjective, adverb /ˈfʊl taɪm/

full-time

Meaning
working or studying for the whole standard period of time
Example
She works full-time as a teacher.
B2 verb /ˈræm.bəl/

ramble

Meaning
to talk or write at length in a confused or inconsequential way; to walk for pleasure without a fixed route.
Example
He rambled on about his childhood for hours.
B2 verb /əˈweɪt/

await

Meaning
to wait for someone or something; to expect
Example
We await your response with great anticipation.
C1 noun /səˈlaɪ.və/

Saliva

Meaning
the watery liquid secreted into the mouth by glands
Example
The dentist asked her to rinse the saliva from her mouth.
C2 verb /ˈkɒsɪt/

cosset

Meaning
to care for and protect in an overindulgent way
Example
The little girl was cosseted by her grandparents.
C2 adjective /ˈdɔːrsəl/

dorsal

Meaning
Relating to the back or upper side of an animal or body part.
Example
Sharks have a prominent dorsal fin.
A2 adjective, noun /ˈplæstɪk/

plastic

Meaning
a synthetic material that can be molded; flexible or easily shaped
Example
These containers are made of durable plastic.
B2 noun /ˈnjuːzˌlɛtər/

newsletter

Meaning
a printed or electronic report containing news or information about a company or organization
Example
The company sends a weekly newsletter to its employees.
B2 adjective /ˌmænˈmeɪd/

manmade

Meaning
something created or built by humans rather than occurring naturally
Example
This lake is manmade, not natural.
B1 noun /ɪkˈsep.ʃən/

Exception

Meaning
a person or thing that is excluded from a general statement or does not follow a rule
Example
Most students passed the exam, with the exception of a few who were absent.
C1 noun /ˌklɔːstrəˈfəʊbiə/

claustrophobia

Meaning
an extreme or irrational fear of being in confined spaces
Example
He avoids elevators because of his claustrophobia.
C1 noun /ˈɪŋ.krə.mənt/

Increment

Meaning
an increase or addition, especially one of a series on a fixed scale; a regular increase in salary
Example
He received an annual increment of five percent in his salary this year.
C2 verb /əˈkriːt/

accrete

Meaning
to grow or increase gradually by accumulation or addition
Example
Dust particles accrete over time to form larger celestial bodies.
A2 noun /ɡəˈrɪl.ə/

Gorilla

Meaning
a large powerful ape found in the forests of central Africa
Example
The gorilla beat its chest to show dominance.
C2 adjective /pəˈlɛmɪkəl/

polemical

Meaning
relating to or involving strongly critical or controversial writing or speech
Example
She wrote a polemical article challenging traditional beliefs.
B2 noun /mjuːl/

Mule

Meaning
the offspring of a donkey and a horse, used as a working animal
Example
The farmer used a mule to carry heavy loads.
B1 noun, verb /flæɡ/

flag

Meaning
a piece of fabric with a symbol or colors; or to mark or signal attention
Example
They raised the national flag during the ceremony.
B2 noun /əˌbriːviˈeɪʃən/

abbreviation

Meaning
a shortened form of a word or phrase
Example
NASA is an abbreviation for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
B1 adjective /ˌɪmpəˈlaɪt/

impolite

Meaning
Not showing good manners; rude.
Example
It is impolite to interrupt someone while they are speaking.
B2 noun rɪˈzɪl.i.əns

resilience

Meaning
The ability to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
Example
Testing the resilience of wood is crucial.
B1 noun /ɪˈlɛkʃən/

election

Meaning
The process of choosing someone for public office by voting.
Example
The election will be held next month.
C2 verb /pərˈtɪkjələrˌaɪz/

particularize

Meaning
to mention or describe something in detail
Example
The witness was asked to particularize the events of that night.
B2 verb /rɪˈfaɪn/

refine

Meaning
to improve by making small changes; to purify
Example
The chef refines the recipe to perfection.
C1 noun kəˈlɛktɪvɪzəm

collectivism

Meaning
The practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.
Example
Collectivism emphasizes the importance of group over individual interests.
C2 adjective /ˈprʊəriənt/

prurient

Meaning
having or showing an excessive interest in sexual matters
Example
The magazine was criticized for its prurient content.
C2 adjective /ˈluː.ni/

Loony

Meaning
crazy; silly; mentally unstable
Example
His loony behavior made everyone laugh.
B1 verb /ˈwɒndər/

Wander

Meaning
to walk aimlessly without a fixed destination
Example
She likes to wander through the old city streets.
B1 noun /ˈtʃɛərmən/

chairman

Meaning
the leader or head of a meeting, committee, or organization
Example
The chairman opened the meeting with a short speech.
C1 noun /dɜːrθ/

dearth

Meaning
A scarcity or lack of something.
Example
There was a dearth of food during the famine.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsˈmaʊnt/

dismount

Meaning
to get off or down from something, especially a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle
Example
The rider dismounted from the horse after a long journey.
C1 adjective /ˌoʊvərˈbloʊn/

overblown

Meaning
excessively exaggerated or inflated
Example
The controversy was overblown by the media.
B2 noun /plænˈteɪʃən/

plantation

Meaning
a large area of land where crops are grown, often for commercial purposes
Example
The sugarcane plantation stretched for miles across the valley.
C1 noun /ˈrɛpərˌtɔːri/

repertory

Meaning
A collection of works that a company, performer, or institution regularly performs; also a storehouse of information or skills.
Example
The theater has a repertory of classic plays.
C1 noun /ɪmˈbæl.əns/

Imbalance

Meaning
lack of proportion or relation between corresponding things; unequal distribution
Example
The doctor said the patient's dizziness was caused by an inner ear imbalance.
B1 verb /rɪˈdʒekt/

reject

Meaning
to refuse to accept or consider something
Example
The committee decided to reject the proposal.
B2 noun /əˈlaɪnmənt/

alignment

Meaning
arrangement in a straight line or in proper position
Example
The alignment of the planets was perfect for the celestial event.
B2 noun /pərˈspek.tɪv/

Perspective

Meaning
a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view; the art of representing three-dimensional objects
Example
From his perspective, the decision was completely wrong.
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.
B2 verb ˈtrɪɡərz

triggers

Meaning
To cause or initiate something to happen
Example
Air pollution triggers chronic diseases.
C2 adjective /ˈsɜːrkəmskraɪbd/

circumscribed

Meaning
restricted or limited in scope or freedom
Example
Her freedom of choice was circumscribed by social rules.
C2 noun /dɪˈstreɪnər/

distrainor

Meaning
a person, usually a landlord, who seizes another's property for unpaid debt or rent
Example
The distrainor took possession of the tenant's car until the debt was cleared.
B2 verb /ɪnˈherɪt/

inherit

Meaning
to receive money, property, or characteristics from someone when they die; to acquire from predecessors
Example
She inherited her grandmother's house.
A2 noun /ˈfəʊtəɡrɑːf/

photograph

Meaning
a picture made using a camera
Example
She took a photograph of the sunset.