tightwad
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C2 noun /ˈtaɪtwɒd/

tightwad

Meaning
a person who is unwilling to spend money; a miser
Example
Everyone calls him a tightwad because he never buys gifts.
C2 verb /ˈtɛmpəˌraɪz/

temporize

Meaning
To delay making a decision or taking action in order to gain time.
Example
The politician temporized when asked about the controversial issue.
C2 noun /tɛkˈnɒɡrəfi/

technography

Meaning
the descriptive study or writing about the practical arts, technologies, or technical methods of a society
Example
The anthropologist specialized in technography to understand indigenous tool-making traditions.
C2 noun /θrɔːl/

thrall

Meaning
The state of being in someone's power or under strong influence; slavery or bondage.
Example
He was in thrall to the powerful leader.
C2 noun /tɑːrn/

tarn

Meaning
A small mountain lake or pool.
Example
We camped near a tranquil tarn in the highlands.
C2 noun /ˈθɔːməˌtɜrdʒɪst/

thaumaturgist

Meaning
A worker of miracles or magician.
Example
The thaumaturgist amazed the audience with his tricks.
C2 verb /ˈtæri/

tarry

Meaning
To delay or linger; to stay longer than intended.
Example
Do not tarry, or you will miss the train.
C2 adjective /ˈtriːkli/

treacly

Meaning
Excessively sweet or sentimental, like treacle.
Example
The movie was too treacly for my taste.
C2 noun /ˈtrɛsəl/

trestle

Meaning
a frame or support consisting of a horizontal beam held up by two pairs of sloping legs, used especially for supporting a bridge or table
Example
The workers built a wooden trestle to support the temporary bridge.
C2 adjective /ˌtaɪtˈfɪstɪd/

tightfisted

Meaning
unwilling to spend money; stingy
Example
He is so tightfisted that he refuses to tip at restaurants.
C2 noun, verb /ˈtræməl/

trammel

Meaning
A restriction or impediment to freedom of action; to restrict.
Example
The strict rules trammel the creativity of the students.
C2 verb /ˈtɪtəleɪt/

titillate

Meaning
To excite or amuse, especially in a slightly sexual or playful way.
Example
The comedian's jokes titillated the audience.
C2 noun /ˈtɪŋktʃər/

tincture

Meaning
a slight trace of something; a medicine made by dissolving a drug in alcohol
Example
There was a tincture of sadness in her smile.
C2 noun, adjective /ˌtætərdɪˈmeɪliən/

tatterdemalion

Meaning
A person dressed in ragged clothes; ragged or dilapidated in appearance.
Example
A tatterdemalion wandered the streets in search of food.
C2 noun /ˈtrɪp.lɪ.kət/

triplicate

Meaning
A set of three identical copies of something.
Example
The documents were prepared in triplicate for official use.
C2 noun /ˈθɝː.moʊ.klaɪn/

thermocline

Meaning
A layer in a body of water in which temperature changes rapidly with depth.
Example
The thermocline separates warm surface water from cold deep water.
C2 adjective /ˌtɛmɪˈrɛəriəs/

temerarious

Meaning
Reckless or rash; showing a lack of caution.
Example
It was a temerarious decision to cross the river during the storm.
C2 noun /ˈtrɒɡlədaɪt/

troglodyte

Meaning
A person who lives in a cave or is considered old-fashioned and out of touch.
Example
Some called him a troglodyte for refusing to use modern technology.
C2 noun /ˈtɔːrpər/

torpor

Meaning
A state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy.
Example
The heat induced a state of torpor in the workers.
C2 adjective /ˈtɛnɪbrəs/

tenebrous

Meaning
dark, shadowy, or obscure
Example
The cave was damp and tenebrous, filled with eerie sounds.
C2 noun /ˌtrænspəˈzɪʃən/

transposition

Meaning
the act of changing the order or position of something
Example
The transposition of digits caused an error in the calculation.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːrpɪd/

torpid

Meaning
Mentally or physically inactive; sluggish or lethargic.
Example
After the long hike, he felt torpid and unmotivated.
C2 adjective /ˈtrɛmjələs/

tremulous

Meaning
shaking or quivering slightly, often from nervousness or weakness
Example
Her voice was tremulous as she gave her speech.
C2 noun /ˌtɜːdʒɪvərˈseɪʃən/

tergiversation

Meaning
Evasion of straightforward action or speech; changing sides or being inconsistent.
Example
The politician’s tergiversation frustrated his supporters.
C2 noun /ˈtælən/

talon

Meaning
A claw, especially one belonging to a bird of prey.
Example
The eagle gripped the fish with its sharp talons.
C2 adjective /trænzˈæl.paɪn/

transalpine

Meaning
situated beyond or across the Alps, especially from the viewpoint of Italy
Example
The Romans referred to France as Transalpine Gaul.
C2 adjective /ˈθrɛdˌbɛr/

threadbare

Meaning
Worn out and thin from too much use; shabby.
Example
His threadbare coat could not keep him warm in winter.
C2 noun /tʊˈriːn/

tureen

Meaning
A large deep dish with a cover, used for serving soups or stews.
Example
She brought the hot soup to the table in a silver tureen.
C2 adjective /ˈtɪmərəs/

timorous

Meaning
showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or lack of confidence
Example
The timorous student hesitated to ask the teacher a question.
C2 noun /ˈtɒnʃər/

tonsure

Meaning
the practice of shaving or cutting the hair on the scalp, especially in a religious context
Example
The monk received his tonsure as part of his religious initiation.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːni/

tawny

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

tortious

Meaning
Relating to or involving a wrongful act leading to legal liability.
Example
The company was found guilty of tortious interference with contracts.
C2 noun /ˈtɜːrnkoʊt/

turncoat

Meaning
a person who switches allegiance, often betraying a cause or group
Example
He was branded a turncoat after joining the rival political party.
C2 noun /θiˈɒkrəsi/

theocracy

Meaning
A system of government in which priests or religious leaders rule in the name of God or a deity.
Example
The country was governed as a theocracy where religious leaders had supreme authority.
C2 noun /ˈtuːb.roʊz/

Tube-rose

Meaning
a night-blooming flower with an intensely sweet fragrance, native to Mexico
Example
The tuberose flowers filled the evening air with their heavenly scent.
C2 adjective /ˈtɛsəleɪtɪd/

tessellated

Meaning
arranged in a pattern of repeated shapes fitting together without gaps
Example
The tessellated floor was made of colorful tiles arranged in perfect symmetry.
C2 noun /trʌs/

truss

Meaning
a framework, typically consisting of rafters, posts, and struts, supporting a roof, bridge, or other structure
Example
The engineer designed a strong truss for the new bridge.
C2 adjective /tɒnˈsɔːriəl/

tonsorial

Meaning
relating to barbers or hairdressing
Example
The town's new barber offered a wide range of tonsorial services.
C2 noun /ˌtɜːsənˈtɛnəri/

tercentenary

Meaning
The 300th anniversary of an event.
Example
The city celebrated its tercentenary with a grand festival.
C2 noun /θiˈɒsəfi/

theosophy

Meaning
A religious or philosophical belief system that seeks direct knowledge of the mysteries of life and the divine.
Example
Theosophy attracted people interested in mysticism and spiritual growth.
C2 noun /traɪˈʌmvɪrət/

triumvirate

Meaning
A political regime ruled or dominated by three powerful individuals.
Example
The Roman Republic was once governed by a triumvirate.
C2 noun /ˈθiː.ɑːr.ki/

thearchy

Meaning
Rule or government by the gods; divine sovereignty.
Example
In ancient cultures, some societies believed in thearchy where gods directly guided human affairs.
C2 noun /ˌθiːəˈloʊdʒən/

theologian

Meaning
A person who studies or is an expert in theology.
Example
Theologians often debate complex questions of faith and morality.
C2 noun /ˈteɪbər/

Tabour

Meaning
a small side drum or tambourine used especially in folk music
Example
The folk musician played a lively tune on his tabour.
C2 adjective /ˈtjuːmɪd/

tumid

Meaning
Swollen, enlarged, or pompous in style.
Example
His tumid prose was difficult to read.
C2 noun ট্রোপোস্ফিয়ার

troposphere

Meaning
The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere where weather phenomena occur.
Example
The troposphere is where weather phenomena occur.
C2 noun /ˌtɛliˈɒlədʒi/

teleology

Meaning
the explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by cause
Example
Aristotle is often associated with the concept of teleology in philosophy.
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.
C2 adverb /ˌðeərˈwɪð/

Therewith

Meaning
together with that; in addition to that
Example
He handed me the contract and the pen therewith.
C2 noun /tiːˈtoʊtəlɪzəm/

teetotalism

Meaning
the practice or principle of abstaining completely from alcoholic drinks
Example
He practiced teetotalism throughout his life.
C2 noun /ˈtjuːtərʃɪp/

tutorship

Meaning
The office or position of a tutor; guidance or instruction given by a tutor.
Example
He thrived under the tutorship of his mentor.
C2 noun /ˌθɜː.məʊˈdʒen.ɪ.sɪs/

thermogenesis

Meaning
The process of heat production in living organisms, often associated with burning calories and energy expenditure.
Example
Spicy foods can enhance thermogenesis and calorie burning.
C2 adjective /ˌtɔːtəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/

tautological

Meaning
expressing something by repeating the same idea in different words; redundant
Example
Saying 'free gift' is considered tautological.
C2 noun /ˈtʌmbrəl/

tumbrel

Meaning
A two-wheeled cart, especially one used during the French Revolution to carry prisoners to the guillotine.
Example
The prisoners were carried to the square in a wooden tumbrel.
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.
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 /ˈtɜːrbɪd/

turbid

Meaning
Cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter; confused or obscure in meaning.
Example
The river water became turbid after the heavy rains.
C2 noun /ˈterəpɪn/

terrapin

Meaning
a small freshwater turtle, especially one found in North America
Example
The terrapin slowly crawled into the pond.
C2 noun /ˈtɜːrpɪtuːd/

turpitude

Meaning
depraved or wicked behavior or character
Example
The judge condemned the criminal’s act of moral turpitude.
C2 adjective /traɪˈɛniəl/

triennial

Meaning
Occurring once every three years.
Example
The art festival is a triennial event in the city.
C2 noun /təˈmɛrɪti/

temerity

Meaning
Excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
Example
He had the temerity to challenge the professor’s argument.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːdri/

tawdry

Meaning
cheap and showy but of poor quality
Example
She wore a tawdry necklace that broke easily.
C2 noun /trəˈveɪl/

travail

Meaning
Painful or laborious effort; suffering or hardship.
Example
After years of travail, she finally completed her degree.
C2 adjective /ˈtjuːtɪlɑːr/

tutelar

Meaning
Serving as a guardian or protector.
Example
The tutelar spirit of the forest was believed to protect travelers.
C2 noun /ˈtæksɪˌdɜːrmi/

taxidermy

Meaning
The art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals for display.
Example
The museum had a large collection of taxidermy animals.
C2 verb /trænsˈfɪɡjʊər/

transfigure

Meaning
To transform the outward appearance or form, often in a way that elevates or glorifies.
Example
The artist managed to transfigure simple clay into a beautiful sculpture.
C2 verb /trænzˈmjuːt/

transmute

Meaning
to change in form, nature, or substance
Example
Alchemy aimed to transmute lead into gold.
C2 noun ˈtræn.zi.əns

transience

Meaning
The state or fact of lasting only for a short time; impermanence.
Example
The transience of youth makes it more precious.
C2 noun /θroʊz/

throes

Meaning
intense or violent pain and struggle, often at the beginning or end of something
Example
The country was in the throes of a political crisis.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈtraɪkʌlər/

tricolor

Meaning
A flag with three colors; consisting of three colors.
Example
The French tricolor is one of the most famous national flags in the world.
C2 adjective /ˈtɪd.li/

Tiddley

Meaning
slightly drunk; small or tiny
Example
After a few drinks, he felt a bit tiddley.
C2 adjective /ˈtɜːrdʒɪd/

turgid

Meaning
Swollen or distended; (of language) pompous and overcomplicated.
Example
The professor’s lecture was so turgid that many students lost interest.
C2 noun /ˈtʊrnɪkɪt/

tourniquet

Meaning
a device used to stop bleeding by compressing blood vessels
Example
The medic applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
C2 noun /ˈtjuːtɪlɪdʒ/

tutelage

Meaning
The act of guarding, protecting, or guiding; instruction or teaching.
Example
She studied painting under the tutelage of a famous artist.
C2 adjective /trænzˈmɪsəbl/

transmissible

Meaning
able to be passed or spread from one person or thing to another
Example
COVID-19 is a highly transmissible disease.
C2 adjective /ˈtæsɪtɜrn/

taciturn

Meaning
reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little
Example
He was a taciturn man who rarely spoke in meetings.
C2 noun /ˌtrænsfəˈriː/

transferee

Meaning
A person to whom a right, property, or responsibility is transferred.
Example
The transferee must sign the contract before taking ownership.
C2 noun /troʊθ/

troth

Meaning
Faith or loyalty when pledged in a solemn agreement or vow, especially in marriage.
Example
He pledged his troth to her before the gathering.
C2 noun /ˈtɪl.ər/

Tiller

Meaning
a person who tills or cultivates land; a farmer
Example
The tiller worked hard in the fields every morning.
C2 noun /traɪst/

tryst

Meaning
a private romantic meeting between lovers
Example
They arranged a secret tryst in the park.
C2 noun /taɪð/

tithe

Meaning
A tenth part of one’s income or produce, often given as a religious offering.
Example
He gave a tithe of his earnings to the church.
C2 adjective /tɛnˈdɛnʃəs/

tendentious

Meaning
Expressing or promoting a particular cause or point of view, often biased.
Example
The article was criticized for its tendentious tone.
C2 noun /ˈtʌtʃ.stoʊn/

Touchstone

Meaning
a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized; a test of genuineness
Example
His honesty became the touchstone by which all other employees were measured.
C2 noun /ˈθɛspiən/

thespian

Meaning
An actor or actress; relating to drama or theater.
Example
The festival was filled with talented thespians from across the country.
C2 verb /ˈtɪtər/

titter

Meaning
to laugh in a quiet, nervous, or restrained way
Example
The students began to titter when the projector froze.
C2 noun /ˈtaɪroʊ/

tyro

Meaning
A beginner or novice in a field or activity.
Example
As a tyro in programming, she needed constant guidance.
C2 adjective /ˈtrɛntʃənt/

trenchant

Meaning
expressed strongly, effectively, and clearly; sharp or cutting in style or expression
Example
Her trenchant criticism of the policy left no room for misunderstanding.
C2 verb /trænsˈfjuːz/

transfuse

Meaning
to transfer blood or another fluid into a vein or body part; to instill a quality or idea into someone or something
Example
The doctor had to transfuse blood into the patient after the surgery.
C2 adverb /ˈtrɛbli/

trebly

Meaning
in a triple manner or to a threefold degree
Example
The sound was trebly distorted through the old speakers.
C2 noun /ˈtoʊ.di/

Toady

Meaning
a person who acts obsequiously to gain favor; a sycophant
Example
He was known as a toady who always agreed with the boss.
C2 noun /ˈtændʒənsi/

tangency

Meaning
the condition of touching but not intersecting, especially in geometry
Example
The circle and the line are in a state of tangency at one point.
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 /tɪlθ/

tilth

Meaning
The physical condition of soil in relation to its suitability for planting crops.
Example
The farmer checked the soil's tilth before planting the seeds.
C2 adjective ˈtɛnsaɪl

tensile

Meaning
Relating to tension; capable of being stretched.
Example
The tensile strength of the material is crucial for the construction project.
C2 verb /trænˈspoʊz/

transpose

Meaning
to change the order or position of something
Example
The editor transposed two paragraphs in the article.
C2 noun /ˈtrʌmpəri/

trumpery

Meaning
worthless nonsense or showy but worthless things
Example
The speech was full of political trumpery.
C2 noun /ˈtruːɪzəm/

truism

Meaning
a statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting
Example
It is a truism that hard work leads to success.
C2 verb /trəˈdjuːs/

traduce

Meaning
To speak badly of someone or tell lies to damage their reputation.
Example
He was furious when he found out that his rivals had traduced him.
C2 noun /tɔːˈtɒlədʒi/

tautology

Meaning
the unnecessary repetition of the same idea in different words
Example
The phrase 'it will happen or it won’t' is a tautology.
C2 noun /ˈtrʌk.jʊ.ləns/

truculence

Meaning
Aggressiveness or eagerness to fight.
Example
His speech was full of truculence and threats.
C2 noun /troʊp/

trope

Meaning
A common or overused theme, idea, or device in literature, film, or speech.
Example
The film avoided the usual superhero tropes.
C2 noun ˈtɪl.ɪdʒ

tillage

Meaning
The preparation of land for growing crops.
Example
Excessive tillage can lead to soil erosion.
C2 adjective /ˈtriːzənəbl/

treasonable

Meaning
Relating to or involving the crime of treason.
Example
The general was accused of treasonable conduct.
C2 noun /ˈtɒksɪn/

tocsin

Meaning
an alarm bell or signal; a warning that something bad is about to happen
Example
The data breach sounded a tocsin for stricter security.
C2 noun /traɪˈʌmvɪər/

triumvir

Meaning
One of a group of three men holding power in ancient Rome.
Example
Caesar was a triumvir in the first Roman triumvirate.
C2 adjective /ˈtjuːtɪləri/

tutelary

Meaning
Relating to or serving as a guardian or protector, often used for deities or spirits.
Example
Athena was considered the tutelary goddess of Athens.
C2 noun /ˈθrɛnədi/

threnody

Meaning
A song, poem, or speech of mourning for someone who has died; a lament.
Example
The poet composed a moving threnody for the fallen soldiers.
C2 noun /θiˈɒkrəsi/

theocrasy

Meaning
Government or rule by religious leaders or clergy.
Example
Theocrasy often merges religious authority with political power.
C2 noun /ˈtrɛntʃərmən/

trencherman

Meaning
a person who eats in a hearty or robust manner; a big eater
Example
The trencherman devoured the feast with great enthusiasm.
C2 noun /ˈtraɪdənt/

trident

Meaning
A three-pronged spear, often associated with Neptune or Poseidon.
Example
The statue of Poseidon holds a mighty trident.
C2 noun /ˈtæmbər/ or /ˈtɪmbər/

timbre

Meaning
The character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity.
Example
Her voice had a warm timbre that soothed the audience.
C2 noun /trænsˈluːsəns/

translucence

Meaning
the quality of allowing light to pass through but not detailed shapes
Example
The translucence of the curtains filled the room with soft light.
C2 noun /trɪˈplɪs.ə.ti/

triplicity

Meaning
The state of being triple or consisting of three parts.
Example
The design shows a triplicity of forms combined harmoniously.
C2 verb /tæmp/

tamp

Meaning
to press down tightly by packing
Example
He tamped the soil around the plant to secure it.
C2 verb /traɪˈsɛkt/

trisect

Meaning
To divide into three parts.
Example
The teacher asked the students to trisect the line segment.
C2 adjective /ˈtræktəbəl/

tractable

Meaning
easy to control or influence
Example
The child was surprisingly tractable during the long journey.
C2 noun /tækˈsɒnəmɪst/

taxonomist

Meaning
A scientist who classifies organisms into groups based on their characteristics.
Example
The taxonomist discovered a new species of insect.
C2 noun /ˈtrɪmnəs/

trimness

Meaning
the quality of being neat, orderly, or slender and well-proportioned
Example
Her room’s trimness reflected a habit of putting everything back in its place.
C2 adjective /ˈtrʌŋkeɪtɪd/

truncated

Meaning
shortened by cutting off a part; cut short
Example
The meeting was truncated due to time constraints.
C2 noun ˈtɛlɪˌmɛtri

telemetry

Meaning
The process of recording and transmitting the readings of an instrument.
Example
The spacecraft transmitted telemetry data back to Earth.
C2 adjective /trænsˈfjuːzəbl̩/

transfusible

Meaning
capable of being transfused, especially referring to blood or fluids
Example
Only transfusible blood types are used in the hospital.