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B1 adjective /strɪkt/

Strict

Meaning
demanding exact conformity to rules; severe; rigorous
Example
The teacher is very strict about homework deadlines.
C1 verb /ˈɪnstɪˌɡeɪt/

instigate

Meaning
To bring about or initiate an action, often something negative.
Example
He was accused of instigating the riot.
B1 noun /ˈnaɪt.meər/

Nightmare

Meaning
a frightening or unpleasant dream; a very unpleasant experience
Example
The exam was a complete nightmare for unprepared students.
C2 verb /fleɪl/

flail

Meaning
to wave or swing something about wildly; to thrash about
Example
He flailed his arms to keep afloat in the water.
B2 noun /ˈɒs.trɪtʃ/

Ostrich

Meaning
a large flightless bird native to Africa with long legs and neck
Example
The ostrich is the world's largest bird.
C2 noun /ˌlɪt.əˈrɑː.ti/

literati

Meaning
well-educated, literary, or scholarly people
Example
The event was attended by poets, critics, and other members of the literati.
C2 noun vəˈlɪʃən

volition

Meaning
The faculty or power of using one's will; the power of choosing or determining.
Example
She left the job of her own volition.
C1 noun /ˈdʒɔːn.dɪs/

jaundice

Meaning
A medical condition in which the skin and eyes become yellow due to liver problems.
Example
The doctor diagnosed the baby with jaundice.
B2 noun /ˈlænd.ɪŋ/

Landing

Meaning
the action of coming to rest on the ground or another surface; a level area at the top of a staircase
Example
The pilot made a smooth landing despite the stormy weather conditions.
B2 noun /ˈɡuːs.ber.i/

Gooseberry

Meaning
a small round green or red berry that grows on a thorny bush
Example
Gooseberries are rich in vitamin C and make excellent jams.
C2 noun /ˈnɑːstrəm/

nostrum

Meaning
a medicine or remedy, especially one that is not considered effective; a questionable solution
Example
The politician’s plan was dismissed as a mere nostrum for a complex problem.
B1 noun /dɪˈvɪʒən/

division

Meaning
the action of separating something into parts; or a large administrative unit
Example
The company has a separate division for research and development.
C2 adjective /ˈprɒvɪdənt/

provident

Meaning
making or indicative of timely preparation for the future
Example
She was provident in saving money for her children’s education.
C1 adjective /ˈkæl.əs/

Callous

Meaning
showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others; emotionally hardened
Example
He showed a callous disregard for others' feelings.
C2 noun /ˈveɪnɡlɔːri/

vainglory

Meaning
Excessive vanity or boastfulness about one's achievements.
Example
His speech was filled with vainglory and self-praise.
C1 verb /ˈskwɒndər/

squander

Meaning
to waste money, time, or opportunities in a careless way
Example
He squandered his inheritance on gambling.
A2 noun /ˈmiːdiə/

Media

Meaning
The main means of mass communication regarded collectively
Example
The news was widely reported in all forms of media.
C2 noun /ˌæntiˈsaɪkloʊn/

anticyclone

Meaning
A weather system with high atmospheric pressure at its center, usually bringing calm and clear conditions.
Example
An anticyclone brought sunny weather across the region.
C2 noun /əˈblɪkwɪti/

obliquity

Meaning
Deviation from moral or usual conduct; indirectness or lack of straightforwardness.
Example
The politician was criticized for the obliquity of his answers.
A2 noun /ˈʃaʊər/

shower

Meaning
a brief fall of rain or snow or a device for taking a bath or washing oneself
Example
After the workout, I took a quick shower to refresh myself.
C1 noun /ˈstɪklər/

stickler

Meaning
a person who insists on a certain quality or standard of behavior
Example
He is a stickler for punctuality and never tolerates delays.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈfeɪv(ə)rəbəl/

unfavorable

Meaning
not beneficial or advantageous; showing disapproval or opposition
Example
The proposal received an unfavorable response from the committee.
B1 adjective /ɡrænd/

Grand

Meaning
impressive; magnificent; excellent;
Example
The grand palace impressed all the visitors.
C1 adjective /ˈraɪ.tʃəs/

Righteous

Meaning
morally right or justifiable; virtuous; having strong moral principles
Example
She felt righteous anger at the unfair treatment of workers.
B1 noun /dʒʌdʒ/

Judge

Meaning
a public official appointed to decide cases in a law court; a person who decides the results of a competition
Example
The judge carefully reviewed all the evidence before making a decision.
A1 determiner, pronoun, adverb /ɔːl/

all

Meaning
the whole quantity or extent of something; every one of something
Example
She spent all her money on books.
B1 noun fəˈsɪl.ɪ.tiz

facilities

Meaning
A place, amenity, or piece of equipment provided for a particular purpose.
Example
Facilities improve industrial productivity.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔɪl.səm/

toilsome

Meaning
Involving hard or exhausting work; laborious.
Example
The workers had a toilsome day in the hot sun.
C2 noun /ˈprɒm.ən.tɔːr.i/

promontory

Meaning
A high point of land or rock projecting into a body of water.
Example
The lighthouse stood on a promontory overlooking the sea.
C2 noun /ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt/

billingsgate

Meaning
Coarse or abusive language; vulgar or offensive speech.
Example
The heated argument quickly descended into billingsgate.
B1 noun ˈtɑː.ɡɪt

target

Meaning
An object, person, or place selected as the aim of an attack or focus of attention.
Example
Achieving energy targets is critical for global progress.
C1 adjective /rɪˈper.ə.bəl/

Repairable

Meaning
able to be fixed or mended; capable of being repaired
Example
The broken phone is repairable with the right parts.
C2 verb /ʌnˈfɛtər/

unfetter

Meaning
to release from restraint or restriction; to free
Example
The new law will unfetter small businesses from excessive regulations.
B1 adjective /ˈsætɪsfaɪd/

satisfied

Meaning
Pleased or content with what has been achieved or received.
Example
He felt satisfied after finishing his project.
A1 verb /ɡɪv/

give

Meaning
to freely transfer something to someone
Example
I give gifts to my friends on their birthdays.
C2 adjective /ɪˈfiːt/

effete

Meaning
Lacking vitality, strength, or effectiveness; weak and overrefined.
Example
The empire became effete after centuries of indulgence.
C2 noun /proʊˈdʒɛnɪtər/

progenitor

Meaning
a direct ancestor; a person or thing that originates something
Example
Researchers traced the custom back to a common progenitor.
B1 noun /loʊn/

Loan

Meaning
a thing that is borrowed, especially a sum of money that is expected to be paid back with interest
Example
He took a loan to buy a new car.
C1 noun /ˈzoʊdiæk/

Zodiac

Meaning
a belt of the heavens within which lie the paths of the sun, moon, and planets; the twelve astrological signs
Example
What is your zodiac sign?
B2 verb /sweɪ/

sway

Meaning
To move or cause to move slowly or rhythmically back and forth; to influence someone's opinion or decision.
Example
The trees swayed gently in the breeze.
C2 adjective /ɡlɪb/

glib

Meaning
speaking easily but without sincerity or depth
Example
The politician gave a glib answer to a serious question.
C2 noun /ˌɒktədʒəˈnɛəriən/

octogenarian

Meaning
A person who is between 80 and 89 years old.
Example
The octogenarian still jogs every morning to stay healthy.
C2 verb /ˈkæstreɪt/

castrate

Meaning
To remove the testicles of a male animal or human.
Example
The farmer castrated the young bulls to make them easier to manage.
C2 adjective ˌvɪz.ju.oʊˈspeɪ.ʃəl

visuospatial

Meaning
Related to understanding the relationship between space and objects through vision.
Example
Good visuospatial skills are important for architecture and design.
B1 noun əˈwɛrnɪs

Awareness

Meaning
Knowledge or understanding about important issues, particularly environmental conservation.
Example
Spreading awareness is essential to save butterflies.
B2 noun /ˈpɪm.pəl/

Pimple

Meaning
a small, inflamed elevation of the skin; a spot on the skin, especially on the face
Example
She was embarrassed about the pimple on her forehead.
C1 noun /pləˈsiːboʊ/

placebo

Meaning
a substance with no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs
Example
The patient was given a placebo to compare the effect of the real drug.
B2 noun /ˈpær.ə.dɒks/

paradox

Meaning
A seemingly contradictory statement or situation that may be true; an apparent inconsistency.
Example
The paradox of freedom is that it requires rules.
A1 noun /ˈrɛst(ə)rɒnt/

restaurant

Meaning
a place where meals are prepared and served to customers
Example
We went to the restaurant for dinner.
C2 noun /ˈʃɑːrlətən/

charlatan

Meaning
a person who pretends to have knowledge or skills that they do not really possess; a fraud
Example
The so-called healer was exposed as a charlatan.
A2 noun /ˈfɪɡ.jər/

Figure

Meaning
a number, especially one which forms part of official statistics; the shape of a human body
Example
The sales figure for this quarter exceeded all expectations.
B2 noun /ˈkɒn.ʃəs.nəs/

consciousness

Meaning
The state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, sensations, thoughts, and surroundings.
Example
Meditation helps improve consciousness and clarity of thought.
B1 adjective /əˈlɜːrt/

alert

Meaning
quick to notice and respond to potential danger or issues; aware and attentive
Example
The alert dog barked at the stranger approaching the house.
C2 adjective /ˌæk.rɪˈmoʊ.ni.əs/

acrimonious

Meaning
Bitter and angry, often involving harsh words.
Example
The debate turned acrimonious after the controversial remark.
C1 noun /ˈvʌl.tʃər/

Vulture

Meaning
a large bird of prey that feeds mainly on carrion
Example
The vulture circled overhead, waiting for its prey.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈwɪlɪŋli/

unwillingly

Meaning
in a way that shows reluctance or lack of desire; not willingly
Example
She unwillingly agreed to attend the meeting.
A2 noun /ˈprɛzɪdənt/

president

Meaning
the elected head of a republican state
Example
The president addressed the nation last night.
C2 noun /ˈɔːrɪndʒfɪn ˈleɪbiːoʊ/

Orangefin labeo

Meaning
a freshwater fish species native to South Asian rivers, commonly found in Bangladesh and India
Example
The orangefin labeo is an important food fish in Bangladesh.
C2 noun /rɪˈfræk.tər/

refractor

Meaning
A type of telescope that uses lenses to focus light.
Example
Refractor telescopes use lenses to focus light.
B2 adjective /sɔːr/

sore

Meaning
painful or aching, usually in a specific part of the body
Example
After the long run, my legs were sore.
B2 noun /ˈrɔɪəlti/

royalty

Meaning
Members of a royal family or payment made to the owner of a patent, copyright, or natural resource.
Example
The author receives a royalty for every book sold.
B1 noun ˈmɪlɪteri

military

Meaning
The armed forces of a country.
Example
The military was called for assistance.
B2 noun /ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃən/

distribution

Meaning
the act of sharing or delivering something to multiple people or places
Example
The company manages the distribution of food supplies to rural areas.
C2 noun /ˈpɑːrləns/

parlance

Meaning
a particular way of speaking or using words, common to a group
Example
In legal parlance, the term has a different meaning.
C2 adjective /fəˈloʊniəs/

felonious

Meaning
relating to or involved in serious criminal activity
Example
He was charged with felonious assault after the incident.
C1 noun, verb /ˈfrænʧaɪz/

franchise

Meaning
A legal right to sell or distribute goods or services in a specific area; to grant such a right.
Example
He opened a new fast-food franchise in the city.
C1 noun /rɪˈpraɪ.zəl/

Reprisal

Meaning
an act of retaliation; revenge taken for an injury or wrong
Example
The attack was carried out as a reprisal for the earlier bombing.
C1 noun /ˈræʃən/

ration

Meaning
a fixed amount of something, especially food, officially allowed to each person
Example
During the war, each family received a weekly ration of rice.
C2 noun /ˈstrɪk.tʃər/

stricture

Meaning
a restriction or limitation; a critical remark
Example
The new law placed a severe stricture on free speech.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/

dissipation

Meaning
the process of disappearing or wasting; excessive indulgence in pleasure
Example
The dissipation of his fortune left him in poverty.
C2 noun (plural) /maɪˈnjuːʃiiː/

minutiae

Meaning
the small, precise, or trivial details of something
Example
The lawyer focused on the minutiae of the contract.
B2 noun /saɪˈkɒlədʒɪst/

psychologist

Meaning
a person who studies mental processes and behavior
Example
The psychologist helped him cope with his anxiety.
B2 noun /ˌnɔːrθˈiːst/

northeast

Meaning
the direction between north and east; a region or area located in that direction.
Example
The storm is moving toward the northeast.
B2 noun /ˈkrɪstəl/

crystal

Meaning
a clear, transparent mineral or glass that forms a solid structure with regular patterns
Example
She wore a necklace made of sparkling crystal.
C1 noun /rɪˈmɔːrs/

Remorse

Meaning
deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed; bitter regret for something done
Example
He felt deep remorse for his actions.
A1 noun /klɑːs/

class

Meaning
a group of students taught together or a category of people or things with shared characteristics
Example
Our class meets every morning at nine.
C1 verb /ˈkʌn.dʒər/

conjure

Meaning
to summon something as if by magic; to imagine vividly
Example
The magician conjured a rabbit out of the hat.
A2 noun /ˈbɑt.əm/

Bottom

Meaning
the lowest point or part of something; the ground under a body of water
Example
The treasure chest was lying at the bottom of the ocean.
C2 verb /bɪˈdɛk/

bedeck

Meaning
to decorate or adorn something in a showy way
Example
The hall was bedecked with flowers for the wedding.
B2 verb /nɒd/

nod

Meaning
to move one's head down and up to show agreement or acknowledgment
Example
She nodded in agreement with the proposal.
C1 noun ˌriːˈstrʌk.tʃər.ɪŋ

restructuring

Meaning
The action of organizing something differently.
Example
The company underwent restructuring to improve efficiency.
C1 noun pɔɪz

poise

Meaning
Natural confidence and composure maintained under pressure.
Example
A good speaker maintains poise under pressure.
B2 noun /ˈsɛktər/

sector

Meaning
a distinct part or area of an economy, society, or industry
Example
The technology sector is growing rapidly.
B1 verb /hʊk/

hook

Meaning
to catch with a hook; to fasten
Example
He hooked the fish successfully.
B2 noun /ˈɪə.rə/

Era

Meaning
a long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic
Example
The Renaissance was an era of great artistic and cultural achievement.
B2 noun /ˌnəʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

notification

Meaning
an official or formal notice or message informing someone of something; an alert delivered by a system or device
Example
You will receive a notification when your application is approved.
A2 noun /ʃɪp/

Ship

Meaning
a large watercraft that travels the world's oceans and seas
Example
The cargo ship departed from the port at dawn.
B2 noun/adjective /ˈtɜːrmɪnəl/

terminal

Meaning
As a noun: A place where transport routes begin or end. As an adjective: Relating to the end or final stage of something, often an illness.
Example
He waited for the bus at the central terminal.
B2 adjective /ˈstuː.di.əs/

Studious

Meaning
characterized by diligent study; devoted to learning
Example
She is a studious student who spends hours in the library.
C2 adjective /ˈkoʊməˌtoʊs/

comatose

Meaning
In a state of deep unconsciousness, resembling or related to coma.
Example
The comatose patient was kept under constant observation.
C2 verb /ˈɪŋkʌlpeɪt/

inculpate

Meaning
To blame or accuse someone of wrongdoing.
Example
The evidence seemed to inculpate the suspect in the crime.
C2 verb /ˈɡɑːrbəl/

garble

Meaning
To reproduce a message in a confused, distorted, or unclear way.
Example
The poor phone connection garbled his words.
C1 adjective /ˈreɪ.kɪʃ/

Rakish

Meaning
having a dashing, jaunty, or slightly disreputable quality or appearance
Example
He wore his hat at a rakish angle that gave him a charming appearance.
C1 adjective dɪˈskrɪmɪnətɔːri

discriminatory

Meaning
Making or showing an unfair or prejudicial distinction between different categories of people or things.
Example
Discriminatory policies triggered protests.
A2 noun /skɪn/

Skin

Meaning
the outer covering of the body; the natural outer covering of a fruit or vegetable
Example
Her skin was soft and smooth.
B2 adjective /flɔːd/

flawed

Meaning
having a mistake or fault that reduces its value or quality
Example
The flawed design of the car led to a recall.
A1 pronoun /aʊər/

our

Meaning
belonging to or associated with the speaker and one or more other people
Example
This is our house.
C1 noun /ˌmɒd.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən/

modulation

Meaning
The process of varying or controlling something.
Example
Proper modulation of voice enhances communication skills.
B2 noun /ˈɪntərvəl/

interval

Meaning
a period of time between two events or points; a pause or break in activity
Example
There was a short interval between the two performances.
B2 adjective /ˈmɪnɪməm/

minimum

Meaning
The least or smallest amount or quantity possible, attained, or required.
Example
This year saw a minimum unemployment rate.
B2 adjective /mɪr/

mere

Meaning
Used to emphasize how small or insignificant something is.
Example
It was a mere suggestion, not a command.
C2 verb /ɪkˈspeɪʃiˌeɪt/

expatiate

Meaning
to speak or write at length or in detail
Example
The professor expatiated on the importance of critical thinking.
C1 verb /rɪˈnaʊns/

renounce

Meaning
to formally declare rejection of something, such as a claim, belief, or way of life
Example
She renounced her citizenship to move abroad permanently.
C2 noun /ɡaɪl/

guile

Meaning
Cleverness or cunning used to achieve a goal, often in a deceptive way
Example
He used guile to win the negotiation.
C1 noun /prɪˈdɒmɪnəns/

predominance

Meaning
The state of being greater in number, strength, or importance.
Example
The predominance of online shopping has changed retail forever.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛləˌreɪt/

decelerate

Meaning
to reduce speed; to slow down
Example
The car began to decelerate as it approached the traffic light.
A1 noun /ˈʌŋkəl/

uncle

Meaning
the brother of one's father or mother
Example
My uncle is visiting us next week.
C1 noun əˈpreɪ.zəl

appraisal

Meaning
An assessment or evaluation of performance or quality.
Example
The annual appraisal determines salary increments.
A2 verb /roʊl/

roll

Meaning
to move by turning over and over on an axis
Example
She rolled the ball down the hill.
C1 adjective /ˈteɪn.tɪd/

Tainted

Meaning
contaminated or affected by something bad or undesirable
Example
The water supply was tainted with harmful chemicals.
C2 noun /ˈzuːəʊˌplæŋktən/

zooplankton

Meaning
Microscopic aquatic animals that drift in water bodies and form an essential part of the aquatic food chain, serving as food for fish and other marine organisms.
Example
Zooplankton plays an important role in the aquatic food chain.
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.
C1 noun /ˈɡlædiˌeɪtər/

gladiator

Meaning
A man trained to fight in public contests in ancient Rome.
Example
The gladiator fought bravely in the arena.
C1 noun/adjective /ˈbæstərd/

bastard

Meaning
a child born to unmarried parents (offensive); also used informally as an insult or to describe something unpleasant
Example
He called him a bastard in anger.
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.
C2 verb /slʌf/ or /sluː/

slough

Meaning
To shed or cast off (like dead skin); also a swampy or muddy area.
Example
The snake sloughed off its old skin.
C2 adjective /ˈspɔːrtɪv/

sportive

Meaning
Playful, lively, or full of fun.
Example
The children were in a sportive mood during the picnic.
B2 adjective /ˈdæz.lɪŋ/

Dazzling

Meaning
extremely bright and impressive; brilliant and stunning
Example
The dazzling lights of the city amazed the tourists.
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.
C2 verb /ˈpʌlvəraɪz/

pulverize

Meaning
To crush or grind something into a fine powder; to completely defeat or destroy.
Example
The machine can pulverize stones into dust.
C2 noun /ˈluː.nə.si/

lunacy

Meaning
Extreme foolishness or madness; insanity.
Example
It was sheer lunacy to go hiking in the storm.