tawny
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C2 adjective /ˈtɔːni/

tawny

Meaning
A warm, sandy or golden-brown color.
Example
The owl's tawny feathers blended with the tree bark.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɒs.stɪk/

Joss-stick

Meaning
a thin stick of incense that is burned for its pleasant smell, especially in religious ceremonies
Example
She lit a joss-stick in the temple during her prayers.
B1 noun

Kingdom

B2 adverb /ˈlaɪtli/

lightly

Meaning
gently or with little force or weight
Example
She touched the baby’s hand lightly.
C1 noun /ˈlaɪm.stoʊn/

Lime stone

Meaning
a hard sedimentary rock, composed mainly of calcium carbonate or dolomite, used as building material and in the making of cement
Example
The ancient building was made of limestone blocks.
C2 adjective /ˈɡɑːrbəld/

garbled

Meaning
Describes speech or text that is distorted or unclear.
Example
The radio broadcast was full of garbled messages.
C2 adjective /ˌnɒnˈtrɪviəl/

nontrivial

Meaning
Not simple or easy; requiring effort or significant thought.
Example
Solving the equation turned out to be a nontrivial task.
B1 verb /ˈtrɪp.əl/

triple

Meaning
To increase or become three times as much.
Example
The company tripled its profits in just one year.
B1 verb /floʊt/

float

Meaning
to rest or move on the surface of a liquid or in the air without sinking
Example
The boat began to float gently down the river.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈjuːθfəl/

Youthful

Meaning
having the qualities of youth; energetic and fresh
Example
Her youthful energy impressed everyone at work.
C2 noun prəˈklɪv.ə.ti

proclivity

Meaning
A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing.
Example
She has a proclivity for learning new languages.
A1 verb /biː/

be

Meaning
To exist, to occur, or to have a particular quality.
Example
She wants to be a doctor.
C1 noun /kɑːɡ/

cog

Meaning
A tooth on the rim of a wheel or gear; metaphorically, a minor but necessary part of a larger system.
Example
He felt like just a small cog in a big machine.
C2 noun /ˈfaɪnəri/

finery

Meaning
expensive or elaborate clothes, decorations, or accessories
Example
She attended the party in her finest finery.
C2 adjective /ɪˈmɒdərət/

immoderate

Meaning
excessive; beyond reasonable limits
Example
He has an immoderate love for sweets.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkənˈsɪdərəbl/

inconsiderable

Meaning
Too small or unimportant to be worth considering.
Example
The donation was not inconsiderable, though smaller than expected.
C1 adjective, verb /ˈeɪlɪŋ/

ailing

Meaning
suffering from illness or poor health; experiencing problems or decline
Example
The ailing patient slowly began to recover after treatment.
C2 verb /ˈproʊtjuːbəreɪt/

protuberate

Meaning
To swell out or bulge.
Example
The roots began to protuberate from the ground.
B2 verb /ɪɡˈzɜrt/

exert

Meaning
to apply or bring to bear; to use physical or mental effort
Example
He exerted all his strength to lift the heavy box.
B2 noun /ˈænsestər/

Ancestor

Meaning
a person, typically one more remote than a grandparent, from whom one is descended
Example
She researched her family tree to learn about her ancestors.
C2 verb /lɔːd/

laud

Meaning
To praise someone or something highly, especially in public.
Example
The critic lauded the actor's performance as a masterpiece.
B2 noun /pəˈnɪn.sjə.lə/

Peninsula

Meaning
a piece of land that is almost completely surrounded by water but connected to the mainland
Example
The Korean Peninsula is located in East Asia.
C1 verb /ˈsenʃər/

censure

Meaning
to criticize severely; to express strong disapproval
Example
The committee censured the politician for his misconduct.
C1 adjective /ˈdɛkədənt/

decadent

Meaning
Characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline; excessively self-indulgent.
Example
The party was filled with decadent luxury and excess.
C2 noun /ˈɡɔːntlɪt/

gauntlet

Meaning
a protective glove; a challenge or trial; to 'throw down the gauntlet' means to issue a challenge
Example
The knight threw down his gauntlet as a sign of challenge.
C2 noun ˌsʌb.dʒʊˈɡeɪ.ʃən

subjugation

Meaning
The action of bringing someone or something under domination or control, especially by force.
Example
The subjugation of weaker nations by colonial powers shaped history.
B2 adverb /ˈsɛkʃuəli/

sexually

Meaning
in a way that relates to or involves sexual activity or feelings
Example
The film was considered too sexually explicit for young audiences.
B2 noun /ˌdɪsɪnˈfɛktənt/

disinfectant

Meaning
a chemical substance used to kill harmful microorganisms on surfaces
Example
The cleaner sprayed disinfectant on the table.
C2 noun /ˈθiːɪzəm/

theism

Meaning
Belief in the existence of a god or gods, especially a creator who intervenes in the universe.
Example
Theism is central to many world religions.
C2 adjective /ˈbrɪndl̩d/

brindled

Meaning
Having a brownish or tawny color with streaks or spots of another color.
Example
The farmer owned a brindled cow with distinctive stripes.
C1 adjective /ˈmɔːrn.fəl/

mournful

Meaning
feeling, expressing, or causing sadness or grief
Example
The mournful song reminded her of lost loved ones.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈfæt.ɪk/

Emphatic

Meaning
forceful; strong; showing emphasis; expressed with force and conviction
Example
She gave an emphatic 'no' to the proposal.
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.
A2 adjective /ˈkraʊdɪd/

crowded

Meaning
filled with too many people or things
Example
The bus was so crowded that I could hardly move.
B2 verb /əˈsɛmbəl/

assemble

Meaning
to gather or bring together in one place
Example
The students assembled in the hall for the meeting.
C2 noun /ɪˈrɛvərəns/

irreverence

Meaning
a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously
Example
His jokes about religion showed irreverence to the sacred traditions.
C2 noun /ˈaɪsinəs/

iciness

Meaning
The state of being cold in manner or temperature.
Example
There was a distinct iciness in his voice.
C2 noun /ˈmɜːkinəs/

murkiness

Meaning
The quality of being dark, gloomy, or unclear.
Example
The murkiness of the water made it hard to see the fish.
C2 adjective /ˌɒbsəˈlɛsnt/

obsolescent

Meaning
Becoming outdated or on the way to becoming obsolete.
Example
The obsolescent technology could not compete with modern devices.
C1 adjective /ˈfrɪdʒɪd/

Frigid

Meaning
extremely cold; freezing; icy
Example
The frigid weather made it difficult to go outside.
B1 adjective /dʌl/

Dull

Meaning
lacking interest or excitement; not bright; lacking intelligence; tedious
Example
The lecture was very dull and boring.
C1 noun /ˈpɪt.əns/

pittance

Meaning
a very small or inadequate amount of money
Example
She worked long hours for a mere pittance.
B2 noun ˈɡloʊbəl ɪˈnɪʃətɪvz

global initiatives

Meaning
Worldwide efforts or programs aimed at addressing global challenges or achieving common goals.
Example
Global initiatives inspire better waste management practices.
B1 adjective ɪkˈstriːm

extreme

Meaning
Reaching a high or the highest degree; very great.
Example
Extreme weather patterns disrupt ecosystems.
B2 noun /prɒkˈsɪmɪti/

proximity

Meaning
Nearness in space, time, or relationship.
Example
The proximity of the school to her house made it convenient.
A1 noun /dɔːr/

Door

Meaning
a movable barrier used to close an entrance to a building or room
Example
Please close the door when you leave the room.
B2 noun rɪˈkruːt.mənt

recruitment

Meaning
The action of finding new people to join an organization or support a cause.
Example
Recruitment strengthens the workforce.
A1 adjective /fjuː/

few

Meaning
A small number of; not many.
Example
Only a few students attended the class.
B2 verb /kəˈlæps/

collapse

Meaning
to fall down or inward suddenly; to break down completely
Example
The old building collapsed after the earthquake.
A1 adjective /ˈeɪbl/

able

Meaning
having the power, skill, or means to do something
Example
She is able to speak three languages fluently.
B2 adjective dʒəˈnet.ɪk

genetic

Meaning
Relating to genes or heredity; concerning the transmission of inherited characteristics.
Example
Genetic traits influence physical characteristics.
B1 verb /siːl/

seal

Meaning
to close or secure something tightly or officially confirm something
Example
He sealed the envelope before sending the letter.
C2 adjective /ˈæpəˌleɪt/

appellate

Meaning
relating to appeals in a court of law
Example
The case was taken to an appellate court.
C1 noun /ɪnˈtaɪərəti/

entirety

Meaning
the whole of something; the complete form
Example
He watched the movie in its entirety.
B2 noun ˈmɛn.təl ˈfoʊ.kəs

mental focus

Meaning
The ability to concentrate deeply on a specific task or thought; mental concentration and attention.
Example
Meditation improves mental focus and cognitive performance.
C1 adjective /məˈlɛvələnt/

malevolent

Meaning
Having or showing a wish to do evil or harm to others.
Example
The malevolent glare in his eyes frightened the children.
B2 noun /ˈsɛktər/

sector

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

gene

Meaning
A unit of heredity in living organisms, transferred from parent to offspring, determining traits.
Example
Eye color is influenced by genes inherited from parents.
B2 adverb /wɒtˈsəʊɛvər/

whatsoever

Meaning
used for emphasis after a negative statement to mean 'at all'
Example
She has no interest in the matter whatsoever.
B1 noun /ˈvəʊtə/

voter

Meaning
a person who votes in an election
Example
Voters lined up outside the polling station to cast their ballots.
A2 adjective /waɪld/

Wild

Meaning
living in natural conditions; not domesticated or cultivated; uncontrolled
Example
We saw wild animals in the forest.
C1 noun /ˈæspɪrənt/

aspirant

Meaning
a person who seeks or hopes to achieve a position of honor or advancement
Example
She is an aspirant for the university's top scholarship.
A2 verb /mɪks/

mix

Meaning
To combine different substances or elements together.
Example
She likes to mix different colors to create new shades.
B2 verb /ˈɪmɪteɪt/

imitate

Meaning
to copy the behavior or manner of someone or something
Example
Children often imitate their parents' behavior.
C1 /ˈdʒɛtɪsən/

jettison

Meaning
to throw or drop something from a ship, aircraft, or vehicle to lighten the load; to abandon something no longer wanted
Example
The crew had to jettison cargo to save the sinking ship.
A1 adjective /oʊld/

old

Meaning
having lived for a long time; not new or young
Example
He still drives his old car.
C2 noun /ɪˌluːmɪˈnɑːti/

illuminati

Meaning
a group of people claiming to have special enlightenment or secret knowledge, often linked to conspiracies
Example
Many conspiracy theories involve the Illuminati as a secret world-controlling group.
B2 noun /ˌklærɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

clarification

Meaning
The action of making a statement or situation less confused and more clearly comprehensible.
Example
The manager requested clarification on the project details.
B1 noun /ˈdɛv.əl/

devil

Meaning
An evil spirit or supernatural being often regarded as the embodiment of wickedness and harm.
Example
The story warned children about making deals with the devil.
B2 noun, verb /ˈaʊtlɔː/

outlaw

Meaning
as a noun: a person who breaks the law and lives outside its protection; as a verb: to make something illegal
Example
The government decided to outlaw the harmful practice.
C1 noun /dɪˈfɛkʃən/

defection

Meaning
The act of abandoning one’s country, cause, or group in favor of another.
Example
The politician’s defection shocked his supporters.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈplɔːzəbl/

implausible

Meaning
Not seeming reasonable or probable; unlikely to be true.
Example
The story she told was so implausible that no one believed her.
C1 noun, verb /ˈbʌtrəs/

buttress

Meaning
a structure built against a wall for support; to support or strengthen
Example
The cathedral walls were buttressed to prevent collapse.
C1 adjective, noun /ɔːɡˈzɪliəri/

auxiliary

Meaning
(adjective) providing supplementary or additional help and support; (noun) a person or thing that provides auxiliary support
Example
The hospital has an auxiliary power generator in case of emergencies.
C2 verb /dʌn/

dun

Meaning
to demand payment of a debt persistently
Example
The landlord dunned the tenant for unpaid rent.
C1 verb /ˈtɪpɪfaɪ/

typify

Meaning
to represent or be a typical example of something
Example
His leadership style typifies the new corporate culture.
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.
C2 noun /ˌvɛəriəˈɡeɪʃən/

variegation

Meaning
The appearance of differently colored zones in the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants.
Example
Variegation makes the foliage look more attractive.
C1 noun /ˈtoʊɡə/

toga

Meaning
A loose outer garment worn in ancient Rome, typically draped over the shoulders and body.
Example
The senator wore a white toga during the ceremony.
C2 noun /ˌdɛrɪˈlɪkʃən/

dereliction

Meaning
the state of being abandoned; neglect of duty
Example
The officer was charged with dereliction of duty.
C2 noun /rɪˈsɪdɪˌvɪzəm/

recidivism

Meaning
The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend or relapse into criminal behavior.
Example
The government introduced new programs to reduce recidivism among former inmates.
C2 verb /ˈrɔɪstər/

roister

Meaning
to revel noisily; to engage in loud, boisterous celebration
Example
The fans roistered in the streets after the victory.
C2 adjective /ˈruːnɪk/

runic

Meaning
relating to or consisting of runes; mysterious or magical
Example
The old stone had strange runic carvings on it.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈbæləns/

Unbalanced

Meaning
not balanced; lacking stability or equilibrium; mentally unstable
Example
The unbalanced table kept wobbling.
C2 noun /ˈpɛtrəˌɡræf/

petrograph

Meaning
a description or representation of rocks, especially in detailed scientific writing
Example
The scientist studied the petrograph to understand the rock composition.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkəmˈprɛsəbl/

incompressible

Meaning
Not able to be pressed or squeezed into a smaller space.
Example
Liquids are generally considered incompressible.
B2 noun /ˈɑːr.tɪ.zən/

Artison

Meaning
a skilled craftsperson who makes things by hand
Example
The artisan created a beautiful wooden sculpture.
B2 adjective /rɪˈzɜːrvd/

Reserved

Meaning
slow to reveal emotion or opinions; restrained in manner
Example
She is quite reserved and doesn't talk much in meetings.
C1 noun /lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪks/

linguistics

Meaning
The scientific study of language and its structure.
Example
She decided to major in linguistics at university.
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.
B2 noun /braʊ/

brow

Meaning
the part of the face above the eyes; forehead
Example
She wiped the sweat from her brow.
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.
C1 verb /ˈtræmpəl/

trample

Meaning
to tread heavily on something and cause damage or injury
Example
The crowd trampled the flowers in the park.
B2 verb /ˈsɒfən/

soften

Meaning
to make or become less hard, severe, or strong.
Example
Heat will soften the butter quickly.
C2 noun /dɪsˈtɛmpər/

distemper

Meaning
a viral disease affecting animals, especially dogs; also refers to a state of disorder
Example
The dog was diagnosed with distemper and needed immediate care.
C1 noun /ˈkɒl.ə.bəʊn/

Collar-bone

Meaning
either of the pair of bones joining the breastbone to the shoulder blades; clavicle
Example
He broke his collar-bone in the accident.
C2 noun ˌæɡ.roʊˈiː.koʊˌsɪs.təm

agroecosystem

Meaning
An ecological system centered on agricultural activities and processes.
Example
A healthy agroecosystem improves soil fertility.
A2 noun /ɡəʊlz/

goals

Meaning
Objectives or targets that someone aims to achieve.
Example
Achieving development goals requires cooperation.
C2 verb /bɪˈweɪl/

bewail

Meaning
to express deep sorrow or regret over something; to mourn openly
Example
She bewailed the loss of her childhood home.
C1 noun /ˈfaɪərɑːm/

firearm

Meaning
a weapon capable of firing a projectile using gunpowder or other propellant
Example
The police found a hidden firearm during the investigation.
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 noun /ɪnˈsɪstəns/

insistence

Meaning
the act of demanding something firmly or repeatedly
Example
At his insistence, we stayed longer.
C2 verb /fɪˈlɪsɪˌteɪt/

felicitate

Meaning
to congratulate; to express good wishes
Example
We felicitated the graduating students at the ceremony.
C2 verb /ˈtrʌŋkeɪt/

truncate

Meaning
to shorten something by cutting off the top or the end
Example
The article was truncated to fit the limited space.
B2 noun ˈtreɪd.ɒf

trade-off

Meaning
A situation where accepting one advantage means giving up another benefit.
Example
There is always a trade-off between price and quality.
B2 adjective /ˈpʌz.lɪŋ/

Puzzling

Meaning
confusing; perplexing;
Example
The scientist found the results puzzling.
C1 adjective /riˈæk.tɪv/

Reactive

Meaning
responding to situations rather than initiating them; chemically active
Example
The company took a reactive approach to customer complaints.
C2 verb /θrɛʃ/

thresh

Meaning
to separate grain from the plant by beating or by using a machine
Example
Farmers used machines to thresh the wheat after harvest.
B2 noun /məˌnɪp.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/

manipulation

Meaning
The action of manipulating someone or something in a skillful manner; handling or controlling in a subtle, unfair, or unscrupulous way.
Example
Media manipulation influences public opinion.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪnəs/

sinus

Meaning
A cavity within a bone or tissue, especially those in the bones of the face connected with the nasal cavities.
Example
He suffered from a sinus infection that caused headaches.
A2 adjective /ˈæfrɪkən/

african

Meaning
relating to Africa or its people
Example
She studied African culture in university.
C1 adjective /trænsˈfɜːrəbəl/

Transferable

Meaning
able to be moved from one place to another; able to be given to someone else
Example
The skills you learn here are transferable to other jobs.
C2 verb /ˈmæk.jʊˌleɪt/

maculate

Meaning
To stain, spot, or pollute something.
Example
The white cloth was maculated by ink stains.
A2 noun /ˈreɪl.weɪ/

Railway

Meaning
a track made of steel rails along which trains run; a system of tracks with trains, stations, and other facilities
Example
The railway connects major cities across the country.
C1 verb /ˈræŋɡl̩/

wrangle

Meaning
to argue or dispute noisily or angrily
Example
The two neighbors wrangled over the property line for hours.
B2 noun /wæks ˈkændəl/

Wax-candle

Meaning
a cylinder of wax with a wick through it that burns to give light
Example
We lit a wax candle during the power outage.
B1 adjective /rɔː/

Raw

Meaning
uncooked; not processed; in natural state; inexperienced
Example
The chef prefers to use raw vegetables in his salads.
C2 adjective /kəˈrʌp.tə.bəl/

corruptible

Meaning
able to be morally or ethically corrupted
Example
He was known to be corruptible and often accepted bribes.
A1 adjective /ˈmɛni/

many

Meaning
a large number of
Example
Many students attended the lecture.