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C1 verb /wiːn/

wean

Meaning
To gradually stop a child or animal from breastfeeding; to detach from a habit.
Example
Parents often wean their babies around six months old.
C1 verb /veks/

vex

Meaning
to annoy or frustrate someone; to cause trouble
Example
The constant noise from construction vexes the residents.
C1 noun /stɑːr fruːts/

Star Fruits

Meaning
yellow tropical fruits that form a star shape when sliced crosswise; tangy and crisp taste
Example
When you slice star fruits, they look like beautiful yellow stars on your plate.
C1 noun /oʊˈmɪʃ.ən/

Omission

Meaning
the action of excluding or leaving out someone or something; a failure to include
Example
The omission of his name from the list was intentional.
C1 noun /ɪnˈsɜːʃən/

insertion

Meaning
the action of inserting something into something else
Example
The insertion of the new data was completed successfully.
C1 noun məˈnɒp.əl.i

monopoly

Meaning
The exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service.
Example
The company has a monopoly on electric car production.
C1 noun /skwɔːl/

squall

Meaning
a sudden violent gust of wind, often accompanied by rain, snow, or sleet
Example
A sudden squall caught the sailors off guard.
C1 adjective /ˈswoʊlən/

swollen

Meaning
Enlarged or puffed up, usually due to injury, inflammation, or fluid accumulation
Example
Her ankle was swollen after she twisted it during the hike.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈɒnəd/

unhonoured

Meaning
not respected or given the recognition that is deserved; treated without honor
Example
He felt unhonoured after his years of service were ignored.
C1 noun /djʊˈrɛs/

duress

Meaning
threats, violence, or pressure used to force someone to do something
Example
She signed the contract under duress.
C1 adjective /ˈfjuː.dəl/

feudal

Meaning
relating to the system of feudalism, a medieval social system based on land ownership and obligations
Example
The castle is a remnant of the feudal era.
C1 noun /kənˈvʌl.ʃən/

convulsion

Meaning
a sudden, violent, involuntary contraction of muscles; a seizure
Example
The medicine helped prevent convulsions in children.
C1 verb /mɪns/

mince

Meaning
to cut into very small pieces; to walk with short quick steps
Example
She minced the garlic for the recipe.
C1 noun /rɪˈteɪnər/

retainer

Meaning
a fee paid in advance to secure someone's services, or a device that holds something in place
Example
The lawyer asked for a retainer before taking the case.
C1 adjective /prəˈvoʊkɪŋ/

Provoking

Meaning
causing anger or strong reaction; irritating; stimulating
Example
His provoking comments made everyone angry.
C1 verb /ˌriːˈvæmp/

revamp

Meaning
To give a new and improved form, structure, or appearance to something.
Example
The company decided to revamp its website for a modern look.
C1 adjective /ˈɡæsiəs/

gaseous

Meaning
Relating to or having the form of gas.
Example
Carbon dioxide is a gaseous substance.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrdʒəri/

forgery

Meaning
the crime of making fake documents, money, or artworks
Example
The bank detected a forgery in the signature on the cheque.
C1 noun /ˈstɪm.jʊ.laɪ/

stimuli

Meaning
Things that create reactions or provide motivation.
Example
Bright light and loud sounds are common stimuli for alertness.
C1 noun /ˌrɛfjʊˈteɪʃən/

refutation

Meaning
The act of proving a statement or argument to be false or incorrect.
Example
Her essay was a strong refutation of the opposing theory.
C1 verb /kwɑːʃ/

quash

Meaning
To reject or void something legally or to put an end to something forcefully.
Example
The court quashed the decision due to lack of evidence.
C1 adjective, verb (past tense/participle of mire) /ˈmaɪərd/

mired

Meaning
Trapped or entangled in something, typically a difficult situation.
Example
The politician was mired in scandal.
C1 noun /ˈzɛnəˌfoʊb/

xenophobe

Meaning
a person who dislikes or fears people from other countries or cultures
Example
The politician was criticized as a xenophobe due to his anti-immigrant policies.
C1 verb /klɪntʃ/

clinch

Meaning
To secure or settle something decisively; to grasp tightly.
Example
The team clinched the championship with a last-minute goal.
C1 adjective /kənˈsɜːrtɪd/

concerted

Meaning
done with great effort, planned and performed together by multiple people
Example
The workers made a concerted effort to improve conditions.
C1 noun /ˈlæb.ə.rɪnθ/

labyrinth

Meaning
A complicated network of paths or passages; an intricate and confusing arrangement.
Example
The city's streets were like a labyrinth.
C1 verb ˌsɝː.kəmˈvent

circumvent

Meaning
To cleverly avoid or find a way around obstacles or rules.
Example
He tried to circumvent the security system.
C1 adjective /ˈlaɪf.laɪk/

lifelike

Meaning
Very similar to a real person, object, or scene; realistic.
Example
The wax figure was so lifelike that people thought it was a real person.
C1 adjective /ˈmæn.li/

Manly

Meaning
having qualities traditionally associated with men; brave; courageous
Example
He showed manly courage during the crisis.
C1 noun /kənˈsɜːvəˌtɔːri/

conservatory

Meaning
A greenhouse for growing plants or a school for music and the arts.
Example
They grew exotic plants in the conservatory.
C1 noun /ˌɔːkʃəˈnɪər/

auctioneer

Meaning
a person who conducts auctions by calling out bids and selling items to the highest bidder
Example
The auctioneer quickly raised the price as bidders competed for the painting.
C1 noun /ədˈhɪərənt/

adherent

Meaning
a person who supports or follows a particular belief, cause, or leader
Example
He is a strong adherent of democratic values.
C1 noun /ˌdʒɛr.iˈætrɪks/

geriatrics

Meaning
the branch of medicine dealing with the health and care of old people
Example
He specialized in geriatrics to care for the elderly.
C1 noun /ˈkɑːrkəs/

carcass

Meaning
the dead body of an animal, especially after being slaughtered
Example
Vultures fed on the carcass left in the field.
C1 noun /ˈpɪn.sərz/

Pincers

Meaning
a tool made of two curved or hinged pieces of metal used for gripping and pulling things
Example
The chef used pincers to remove the hot pot from the stove.
C1 noun /spæt/

spat

Meaning
a short, petty quarrel or argument
Example
They had a brief spat about who should do the dishes.
C1 verb /ɪnˈsɪnjueɪt/

insinuate

Meaning
To suggest or hint something indirectly and often unpleasantly.
Example
He insinuated that she had lied about her qualifications.
C1 adjective /ˈʃɑːdi/

shoddy

Meaning
badly made or done; of poor quality
Example
The contractor did a shoddy job on the repairs.
C1 verb /dɪsˈbænd/

disband

Meaning
to break up and stop functioning as a group or organization
Example
The club decided to disband after twenty years of activity.
C1 adjective /sər'pæs.ɪŋ/

Surpassing

Meaning
exceeding; going beyond; outstanding
Example
Her surpassing beauty made everyone stop and stare.
C1 noun /dɪˌlɪb.əˈreɪ.ʃənz/

deliberations

Meaning
Careful consideration and discussion before making decisions.
Example
Deliberations on sustainability continued for hours.
C1 verb /ˌriːɪmˈbɜːrs/

reimburse

Meaning
to pay back money to someone who has spent it or lost it
Example
The company reimbursed him for travel expenses.
C1 noun /əbˈzɜːvəns/

observance

Meaning
The practice of following a custom, rule, or religious law.
Example
The festival is held in observance of a centuries-old tradition.
C1 noun ˈpær.ə.daɪm

paradigm

Meaning
A typical example or pattern of something; a model or framework for understanding or approaching something.
Example
The paradigm of education is changing with digital technology.
C1 verb /ɪɡˈzæspəˌreɪt/

exasperate

Meaning
to irritate or annoy intensely
Example
His constant complaints began to exasperate his coworkers.
C1 noun /ˌɛksɪˈkjuːʃənər/

executioner

Meaning
A person who carries out a death sentence by execution.
Example
The executioner prepared the gallows for the condemned prisoner.
C1 verb /swɜːrv/

swerve

Meaning
to change direction suddenly, especially to avoid hitting something
Example
The car swerved to avoid the dog.
C1 adjective /rɪˈkʌr.ənt/

Recurrent

Meaning
happening repeatedly; occurring again and again; periodic;
Example
She has been suffering from recurrent headaches for months.
C1 noun /trɔːf/

trough

Meaning
A long, narrow container from which animals eat or drink; also, a low point between waves or in business cycles.
Example
The cows drank water from the wooden trough.
C1 noun /ˌrɛspɪˈreɪʃən/

respiration

Meaning
The process of breathing or the exchange of gases in living organisms.
Example
Respiration is essential for all living beings.
C1 noun /ˌmɪdˈsʌm.ər/

midsummer

Meaning
The middle of summer, often around the summer solstice in June.
Example
We had a festival to celebrate midsummer.
C1 verb /spɜːrn/

spurn

Meaning
To reject something or someone with disdain or contempt.
Example
She spurned his offer of help.
C1 noun /wɪm/

whim

Meaning
a sudden or unpredictable idea, desire, or decision
Example
She bought the dress on a whim.
C1 verb /ˈfɜːrmɛnt/

ferment

Meaning
to undergo a chemical process where sugars are converted to alcohol or acid; to incite or stir up change
Example
The grapes are left to ferment for several weeks.
C1 verb /ɪˈkweɪt/

equate

Meaning
To consider as equal or equivalent.
Example
Many people equate wealth with success.
C1 noun /ˈduːmz.deɪ/

Doomsday

Meaning
the last day of the world's existence; a time of catastrophic destruction
Example
The preacher spoke about doomsday and the importance of preparing spiritually.
C1 noun /ˈkærɪkətjʊə/

caricature

Meaning
A picture or description that exaggerates certain features for comic or satirical effect.
Example
The magazine published a caricature of the politician.
C1 noun /ˌævɒ̃ˈɡɑːrd/

avantgarde

Meaning
people or works that are innovative, experimental, and ahead of their time
Example
The avantgarde of the 20th century reshaped modern art.
C1 noun /ˈhɒrəˌskoʊp/

horoscope

Meaning
A forecast of a person's future based on the positions of the stars and planets at their birth.
Example
She read her horoscope every morning to see what the stars predicted.
C1 adjective /ɪɡˈzuːbərənt/

exuberant

Meaning
full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness
Example
The children were exuberant after winning the game.
C1 noun /ruːz/

Ruse

Meaning
an action intended to deceive someone; a trick or stratagem
Example
The thief used a clever ruse to distract the guard.
C1 noun /spɛk/

speck

Meaning
A very small spot, mark, or particle.
Example
There was a tiny speck of dust on the glass table.
C1 noun /ləˈɡuːn/

lagoon

Meaning
A shallow body of water separated from the sea by sandbars or reefs.
Example
We swam in the calm waters of the lagoon.
C1 noun ˈkiː.stəʊn ˈspiː.ʃiːz

keystone species

Meaning
A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.
Example
Wolves are a keystone species that regulate prey populations.
C1 verb /spɜːr/

spur

Meaning
To encourage or motivate someone to take action.
Example
The teacher's praise spurred him to study harder.
C1 noun /ˈpɔː.pəs/

Porpoise

Meaning
a small toothed whale with a low triangular dorsal fin and a blunt rounded snout
Example
The porpoise jumped gracefully out of the water.
C1 noun /ˈrɪɡər/

rigor

Meaning
strictness, severity, or demanding conditions
Example
The training was carried out with great rigor.
C1 adjective /ˈstæɡ.nənt/

Stagnant

Meaning
not moving or flowing; showing no activity or development
Example
The stagnant water in the pond was covered with algae.
C1 phrasal verb /ɡlɒs ˈoʊ.vər/

gloss over

Meaning
to avoid discussing something unpleasant or make it seem less important
Example
The report glossed over the company's financial problems.
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 adjective /dɪˈsɜːrnɪŋ/

discerning

Meaning
having good judgment or insight; able to distinguish well
Example
He is a discerning reader who notices subtle details.
C1 noun /kənˈtɪn.dʒən.si/

contingency

Meaning
A provision for an unforeseen event or circumstance, especially in financial planning.
Example
The company has a contingency plan for economic downturns.
C1 adjective /ˈbreɪzən/

brazen

Meaning
Bold and without shame; shameless.
Example
She made a brazen attempt to lie in front of everyone.
C1 noun /ˈkɒn.vɔɪ/

convoy

Meaning
a group of vehicles or ships traveling together, often for protection
Example
The military convoy moved through the desert at dawn.
C1 adjective /ˈmel.əʊ/

Mellow

Meaning
soft and pleasant; relaxed and gentle
Example
The mellow evening light created a peaceful atmosphere.
C1 noun prɪˌsɪp.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən

precipitation

Meaning
Rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to or condenses on the ground.
Example
Annual precipitation levels are decreasing.
C1 verb /ɔːɡˈmɛnt/

augment

Meaning
To increase or strengthen something.
Example
The company plans to augment its workforce.
C1 noun ɪnˌɛv.ɪ.təˈbɪl.ɪ.ti

inevitability

Meaning
The quality of being certain to happen and impossible to avoid or prevent.
Example
The inevitability of change is a part of life.
C1 adjective, noun /ɪnˈdɪkətɪv/

indicative

Meaning
Serving as a sign or expression of something; in grammar, a mood used to make factual statements.
Example
His tone was indicative of his frustration.
C1 adjective /əˈlʊr.ɪŋ/

Alluring

Meaning
attractive and tempting; fascinating
Example
The alluring fragrance of roses filled the garden.
C1 adjective /ˈfrɪvələs/

frivolous

Meaning
Not having any serious purpose or value; silly or unimportant.
Example
She dismissed the frivolous complaint quickly.
C1 adjective /dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪtɪŋ/

discriminating

Meaning
Having refined taste or good judgment; able to recognize subtle differences.
Example
She is known for her discriminating taste in art.
C1 noun /ˈmɛm.wɑːr/

memoir

Meaning
A historical account or autobiography written from personal experience.
Example
The author’s memoir details her journey through hardship and success.
C1 noun /dɪˈfɔː.mə.ti/

Deformity

Meaning
a distorted or unnatural shape or form; physical malformation
Example
The accident caused a permanent deformity in his left hand.
C1 noun /ˈmæɡneɪt/

Magnate

Meaning
A wealthy and powerful businessperson or industrialist
Example
The oil magnate owned dozens of refineries across the country.
C1 noun /ˌfɪɡjʊˈriːn/

figurine

Meaning
a small ornamental statue or model of a human or animal
Example
She bought a porcelain figurine of a dancing ballerina.
C1 noun /skraɪb/

scribe

Meaning
a person who writes documents, especially in ancient times; a professional copyist
Example
In ancient Egypt, scribes recorded important events.
C1 noun ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən

degradation

Meaning
The condition or process of degrading or being degraded.
Example
Soil degradation due to overuse is a growing issue.
C1 noun koʊˈhisɪv ˈjunɪts

cohesive units

Meaning
Groups or organizations that work together as unified wholes, with members closely bound together.
Example
Early humans formed cohesive units for survival.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnədˈmɪsəbl̩/

inadmissible

Meaning
Not allowed, especially as evidence in a court of law.
Example
The judge ruled the evidence inadmissible.
C1 noun ˌræʃ.ən.əl.ɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

rationalization

Meaning
The practice of finding reasons for behavior or actions that are not the real reasons.
Example
His rationalization of the mistake was not convincing.
C1 noun /lɒft/

loft

Meaning
An upper room or space, often under the roof of a building.
Example
She converted the old loft into a modern studio.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnəˈfɛnsɪv/

inoffensive

Meaning
Not likely to offend or provoke; harmless.
Example
His inoffensive remarks kept the conversation friendly.
C1 noun ˈoʊʃən əˌsɪdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən

ocean acidification

Meaning
The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Example
Ocean acidification is caused by atmospheric CO2 absorption.
C1 noun /ˈɑːnkɔːr/

encore

Meaning
An additional performance demanded by an audience at the end of a show.
Example
The band returned to the stage for an encore.
C1 noun /ˈeɪ.nəs/

Anus

Meaning
the opening at the end of the digestive tract through which waste leaves the body
Example
The doctor examined the patient's anus during the medical checkup.
C1 noun /ˈdiːviəns/

deviance

Meaning
Behavior that differs from accepted social or moral standards.
Example
The book studies deviance in urban youth culture.
C1 noun /maɪt/

mite

Meaning
a very small creature, often a tiny arachnid; also used to mean a very small amount
Example
The mattress was infested with dust mites.
C1 noun /ˈmeɪ.triˌɑːrk/

matriarch

Meaning
A woman who is the head of a family or community.
Example
The matriarch of the family made all important decisions.
C1 noun /ˈmɪmɪkri/

mimicry

Meaning
The act of imitating someone or something, often for humor or learning.
Example
The comedian’s mimicry of celebrities made the audience laugh.
C1 verb /ˈflɪk.ər/

flicker

Meaning
to shine unsteadily or waver between light and dark
Example
The candle flickered in the wind.
C1 adjective /ˈbɒt.əl ɡriːn/

Bottle-green

Meaning
a dark green color similar to that of a green glass bottle
Example
She wore a beautiful bottle-green dress to the evening party.
C1 adjective /ˈmɔːrbɪd/

morbid

Meaning
Having an abnormal interest in disturbing or unpleasant subjects such as death or disease.
Example
She had a morbid fascination with crime stories.
C1 verb /dɪˈnəʊt/

denote

Meaning
To be a sign of; to indicate or mean something.
Example
A red flag denotes danger.
C1 verb /ˌɪntərˈsɛpt/

intercept

Meaning
to stop, catch, or seize something on its way from one place to another
Example
The police intercepted the stolen car before it crossed the border.
C1 verb /ˈmæd.ən/

madden

Meaning
To make someone very angry or extremely annoyed.
Example
The constant noise maddened him.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪ.li.ə/

Dahlia

Meaning
a garden plant with brightly colored flowers that bloom in summer and autumn
Example
She planted colorful dahlias in her garden last summer.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈsəʊʃəl/

unsocial

Meaning
not enjoying the company of others; avoiding social interaction; contrary to social norms
Example
He prefers unsocial hours so he can work alone without interruptions.
C1 noun /ˈpærəˌlɛlɪzəm/

parallelism

Meaning
The state of being parallel or similar; in literature, the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same or similar in construction.
Example
The writer used parallelism to give rhythm to his prose.
C1 noun /ˈmɑːrtər/

Martyr

Meaning
A person who is killed because of their religious or political beliefs
Example
He became a martyr for the cause of freedom and democracy.
C1 noun /ˈstrɑːtəm/

stratum

Meaning
a layer or level of material, or a social class in society
Example
The upper stratum of society enjoyed privileges not available to others.
C1 phrase ˌdɪp.ləˈmæt.ɪk rɛz.əˈluː.ʃən

diplomatic resolution

Meaning
A peaceful solution to conflicts through negotiation and diplomatic channels.
Example
A diplomatic resolution is necessary for peace.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpɜːrviəs/

impervious

Meaning
Not allowing fluid to pass through; unable to be affected by something.
Example
The jacket is impervious to rain.
C1 adjective /ˌiːɡoʊˈsentrɪk/

egocentric

Meaning
thinking only about yourself and not about others
Example
His egocentric behavior annoyed everyone at the meeting.
C1 noun /ˈbeɪsbɔːrd/

baseboard

Meaning
A narrow board running along the bottom of an interior wall, covering the joint between wall and floor.
Example
The carpenter painted the baseboard white.
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 noun /pɪˈtaɪə/

Pitaya / Dragon fruit

Meaning
a tropical fruit with bright pink or red skin and white flesh speckled with black seeds
Example
The pitaya has a mild, sweet flavor and a unique appearance.
C1 adjective /ˈstɒdʒi/

stodgy

Meaning
Dull, uninspired, or old-fashioned; also heavy and hard to digest when referring to food.
Example
The lecture was so stodgy that many students struggled to stay awake.
C1 noun /ˈtɛnər/

tenor

Meaning
the general meaning, drift, or character of something; a male singing voice between baritone and alto
Example
The overall tenor of his speech was hopeful and reassuring.
C1 noun /krʊk/

crook

Meaning
a dishonest person, especially a criminal
Example
The police finally caught the crook who had been stealing cars.
C1 noun /ˈʃɪvəlri/

chivalry

Meaning
The medieval knightly system with its moral, social, and religious code; courteous behavior, especially toward women.
Example
The knight lived by the code of chivalry.