Vocabularies

English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples

🏃

spry

adjective
/spraɪ/

active and lively, especially in old age

"The spry grandmother surprised everyone with her quick dance steps."

🌊

spume

noun
/spjuːm/

Froth or foam, especially found on waves or liquids.

"The waves crashed against the rocks, leaving spume in the air."

🏇

spur

verb
/spɜːr/

To encourage or motivate someone to take action.

"The teacher's praise spurred him to study harder."

⚠️

spurious

adjective
/ˈspjʊəriəs/

Not genuine, authentic, or true; false or fake.

"The report was based on spurious claims."

🚫

spurn

verb
/spɜːrn/

To reject something or someone with disdain or contempt.

"She spurned his offer of help."

🕵️‍♂️

spy

verb
/spaɪ/

to secretly collect information about a person, group, or country

"He was caught spying on his neighbor through the window."

👶🍰

squabble

verb
/ˈskwɒbəl/

To argue noisily over something small or unimportant.

"The children squabbled over the last piece of cake."

👥

squad

noun
/skwɒd/

a small group of people organized for a specific purpose or task, often in the military or sports

"The football squad trained hard before the championship match."

🏚️

squalid

adjective
/ˈskwɒlɪd/

extremely dirty and unpleasant, often due to poverty or neglect

"He lived in a squalid room with broken furniture."

🌬️

squall

noun
/skwɔːl/

a sudden violent gust of wind, often accompanied by rain, snow, or sleet

"A sudden squall caught the sailors off guard."

squalor definition card — visual illustration of the meaning
🗑️

squalor

noun
/ˈskwɒlər/

the state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially due to poverty or neglect

"They lived in squalor without basic facilities."

squander definition card — visual illustration of the meaning
verb
/ˈskwɒndər/

to waste something, especially money or time, in a reckless or foolish manner

"He squandered all his savings on gambling."

noun
/skwɛə(r)/

a shape with four equal straight sides and four right angles

"The table has a square shape."

verb
/skwɒʃ/

to crush or squeeze something with force so that it becomes flat or broken

"She accidentally squashed the bug with her shoe."

🏋️

squat

/skwɒt/

to crouch or sit with knees bent and body close to the ground

"He squatted down to tie his shoes."

noun
/ˈskwɒtər/

a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land

"The police removed the squatters from the abandoned house."

squeal definition card — visual illustration of the meaning
verb
/skwiːl/

to make a high-pitched cry; to inform on someone

"The children squealed with delight when they saw the surprise."

adjective
/ˈskwiːmɪʃ/

easily made to feel sick, faint, or disgusted

"She felt squeamish at the sight of blood."

verb
/skwiːz/

to press something firmly, especially from all sides in order to extract or compress it

"She squeezed the toothpaste to get the last bit."

🌧️

squelch

verb
/skwɛltʃ/

to make a soft sucking sound, such as when walking on mud; to suppress or silence

"His boots squelched in the wet ground."

verb
/skwɪnt/

to look with partly closed eyes

"She squinted at the bright sunlight."

🐿️

Squirrel

noun
/ˈskwɪr.əl/

a small agile tree-dwelling rodent with a long bushy tail

"The squirrel gathered nuts for winter."

🔪

stab

verb, noun
/stæb/

to pierce or wound with a pointed weapon or object

"He was stabbed in the back during the altercation."

noun
/stəˈbɪləti/

the quality of being steady and unchanging over time

"The stability of the economy is crucial for growth."

stabilization definition card — visual illustration of the meaning
noun
ˌsteɪbəlaɪˈzeɪʃən

The process of making or becoming stable.

"The stabilization of the structure was essential after the earthquake."

verb
/ˈsteɪ.bə.laɪz/

to make something steady, secure, or unlikely to change suddenly

"The government took measures to stabilize the economy."

stable definition card — visual illustration of the meaning
adjective
/ˈsteɪ.bəl/

firmly fixed or not likely to change; also a building where horses are kept

"Her condition is stable after the operation."

staccato definition card — visual illustration of the meaning
adjective
/stəˈkɑː.təʊ/

short and detached in sound or style, often used in music

"The pianist played the notes in a staccato rhythm."

📚

stack

verb
/stæk/

to arrange things in a neat pile or one on top of another

"He stacked the books neatly on the shelf."

🏟️

stadium

noun
/ˈsteɪdiəm/

a large structure with seating for sports, concerts, or other events

"Thousands of fans filled the stadium to watch the final match."

👩‍💼

staff

noun
/stæf/

a group of employees working together in an organization

"The staff at the hospital are very helpful."

🎭

stage

noun
/steɪdʒ/

a raised platform or area for performances or presentations

"The actor stepped onto the stage to deliver his speech."

adjective
/ˈstæɡ.nənt/

not moving, changing, or developing; inactive

"The company’s growth remained stagnant for several years."

verb
/ˈstæɡ.neɪt/

to stop developing, progressing, or moving

"Without innovation, the business will stagnate."

stagnation definition card — visual illustration of the meaning
noun
/stæɡˈneɪ.ʃən/

a state of not advancing, developing, or moving

"The country suffered from economic stagnation during the crisis."

🎭

stagy

adjective
/ˈsteɪ.dʒi/

Overly theatrical, artificial, or exaggerated in manner or style.

"Her performance felt stagy and unnatural."

👔

staid

adjective
/steɪd/

Serious, respectable, and unadventurous.

"He came from a staid family background."

🩸

Stain

verb
/steɪn/

to mark or discolor something permanently; a spot or mark left behind

"The coffee spilled and stained the tablecloth."

🪜

stair

noun
/stɛə/

a step or set of steps leading from one level to another

"He tripped on the stair and fell down."

📈

stake

noun, verb
/steɪk/

A share or interest in a business or venture; to risk or support something of value.

"He has a major stake in the new company."

stakes definition card — visual illustration of the meaning
noun
steɪks

A strong wooden or metal post with a point at one end, driven into the ground.

"The stakes were high for the success of the project."

🍞

Stale

adjective
/steɪl/

no longer fresh; lacking originality or novelty

"The bread became stale after sitting out for three days."

noun
/ˈsteɪl.meɪt/

A situation in which no progress can be made or no party can win.

"Negotiations ended in a stalemate."

🛑

stall

verb, noun
/stɔːl/

to stop or cause to stop temporarily; a small shop or stand

"The car stalled on the way to the office."

noun
/ˈstæl.i.ən/

An adult male horse that is not castrated, often used for breeding.

"The farm owns a powerful stallion for breeding purposes."

🛡️

stalwart

adjective
/ˈstɔːlwərt/

Loyal, reliable, and hardworking; strongly built or sturdy.

"She has always been a stalwart supporter of the community."

noun
/ˈstæmɪnə/

The physical or mental strength to sustain prolonged effort or activity.

"Marathon runners need great stamina to finish the race."

verb
/ˈstæmər/

To speak with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to repeat the initial letters of words.

"The nervous student began to stammer during his speech."

📮

stamp

verb
/stæmp/

To bring down (one's foot) heavily on the ground; to imprint a mark or seal.

"She stamped her foot in frustration."

noun/verb
/stæmˈpiːd/

A sudden, uncontrolled rush of people or animals; to cause a mass movement.

"The loud noise caused a stampede of the crowd."