Extensive Reading-Book B (E)
1600 카드 | CompassPublishing
세트공유
binomial nomenclature
a formal system of naming species
In biology, binomial nomenclature is how species are called.
characteristics
a distinguishing feature or quality
One of the characteristics of a gifted child is their ability to solve complex puzzles.
convention
a representative party assembly to nominate candidates and adopt platforms and party rules
The national convention had the task of rebuilding after the government.
eproduction
being reproduction
The reproduction of human beings occurs in the union of an egg and a sperm.
fungi
one of the five kingdoms of animal and plant classification
Yeasts, molds, and mushrooms are examples of fungi.
genus
a type of classification
Human beings belong to the Homo Sapien genus.
hierarchical
of being arranged by order or class
John works in a very hierarchical company; he never has an opportunity to express his opinions.
kingdoms
the highest category in the classification of plants or animals
In biology, living organisms are subdivided into five major kingdoms: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
life forms
a newly discovered type of life form
The survival of the life forms will depend on its ability to replicate itself.
naturalist
a person who studies plants and animals
The naturalist at the state park leads daily hikes for over 100 people a day.
nutrients
any substance which plants or animals need in order to live and grow
The baby monkey failed to thrive because he did not receive vital nutrients from its mother.
orders
the subdivision of a class
In biology, order is the category between class and family.
organisms
any living thing, plant, or animal
Human organisms are different from other organisms in that they have a thought process.
originator
a person or thing that starts something
Charles Schulz was the originator of the famous Peanuts comic strips.
photosynthesis
the process where a plant's chloroplasts capture the sun's energy and convert it into food
photosynthesis involves several complex chemical reactions.
phylum
the second category, below kingdom, in the classification of plants or animals
Human beings belong to the Chordate phylum.
prokaryotes
an organism lacking a true nucleus
prokaryotes are the smallest and original inhabitants of planet earth.
protists
Any one-celled organism belonging to the kingdom Protista
protists are a diverse group of organisms that cannot be classified in any of the other kingdoms; They are classified in their own kingdom.
species
a category of living things
A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of producing fertile offspring.
taxonomy
the system of classifying plants and animals
Most people view taxonomy as a rather dry field of science.
abnormalities
the condition of not being normal
A new study shows that many people are walking around with brain abnormalities and may not be aware of them.
cancerous
a malignant new growth anywhere in the body of a person or animal
The doctors did not realize the fibroids were cancerous until they opened up the patient.
detect
To discover or ascertain the existence
The children were not able to detect the poison in the hamburger, which ultimately led to their death.
diagnosing
to recognize and name the exact character of a disease or a problem
The physician had difficulty diagnosing her medical condition because of the unclear symptoms.
electromagnetic
having magnetic and electrical parts
electromagnetic radiation is classified into types according to the frequency of the wave.
imaging
making an image of something
In medical imaging, doctors create images of the human body or parts of it, to diagnose or examine a disease.
lesions
an injury; hurt; damage
A cancerous tumor is an example of a lesion.
light-opaque
inability of light to pass
It was difficult to see the shadows through the light-opaque windows.
physicians
doctors
All the physicians agreed that surgery was unavoidable
positron
a positive electron
The positron is the counterpart of the electron
radiation
the process in which energy is emitted as particles or waves
In cancer patients, radiation therapy is sometimes used concurrently with chemotherapy.
radiation
the process in which energy is emitted as particles or waves
In cancer patients, radiation therapy is sometimes used concurrently with chemotherapy.
radiopaque
Not allowing the passage of x-rays or other radiation
Metal is a radiopaque substance that will appear white on a plain X-ray.
reproductive
serving to reproduce
Her unhealthy lifestyle had damaged her reproductive system, and she no longer is able to have children.
resonance
the prolongation of sound by reflection
Without resonance we wouldn't have radio, television or music.
respiratory
involving the respiratory system
The respiratory system is what enables us to breathe.
skeletal
like a skeleton
The two important functions of the skeletal system is to provide the shape and form for our bodies.
tomography
a process for producing an image of a single plane of an object excluding all other planes
In tomography is a device called tomograph is used to image section by section.
tuberculosis
an infectious disease that may affect the lungs
Coughing is often the only initial indication of tuberculosis.
ultrasound
the application of ultrasonic waves to therapy or diagnostics
An ultrasound of her uterus showed the fetus to be normal.
archaeologists
someone who studies objects of people who lived in the past
archaeologists uncovered the ancient city of Pompeii; the town was in almost the same condition as it had been years ago.
botanical
of plants and plant life
The New York Botanical Garden is one of the oldest and largest botanical gardens in the world.
concentrated
a substance that has been that has been made denser
Most orange juice sold today is concentrated orange juice.
constipation
unable to empty your bowels as often as you should
Many people who do not exercise, sit all day at work, and lack fiber in their diets suffer from constipation.
herbalism
herbal medicine
herbalism is traditional medicine based on the use of plants and plant extracts.
hieroglyphs
a picture or symbol which represents a word
The Egyptian form of writing is known as hieroglyphs.
holistic
dealing with or treating the whole of something or someone and not just a part
Rather than treating just the symptom, Eastern medicine takes a holistic approach in treating disease.
homeopathic
of the method of treating disease by drugs, given in minute doses
When the doctors failed to find a cure in conventional medicine, the family turned to homeopathic remedies.
ingested
to take food into the body
The boy, who was allergic to peanut butter, had ingested some by accident which caused his face to swell up.
ingredients
a component part, or constituent, of anything
The mother looked all over town for the ingredients to make her daughter's favorite recipe.
metabolites
any substance produced by or taking part in metabolism
Secondary metabolites are organic compounds that are not directly involved in the normal growth, development or reproduction of organisms.
naturopathic
a system of treating diseases, largely employing natural agencies
naturopathic medicine seeks to improve health and treat disease chiefly by assisting the body's innate capacity to recover from illness and injury.
pharmaceuticals
a medicine
Many pharmaceutical companies are investing a lot of money for research in an attempt to find a cure for cancer.
predators
an animal that hunts, kills and eats other animals
Coyotes are natural predators of many of the small creatures.
remedies
any medicine or treatment that cures
Since conventional remedies were not effective, they decided to try alternative therapies.
respiratory
involving the respiratory system
The respiratory system is what enables us to breathe.
subsided
to become less strong or extreme
As the violence subsided, the police were able to interview each suspect and get a better picture of what had happened.
symptoms
any feeling of illness or physical or mental change which is caused by a particular disease
Although he complained of all the flu symptoms, the doctors had to investigate further because he didn't get better after four weeks.
toxicity
poisonous
Tests of the candy have shown that it has a high level of toxicity.
tranquilizer
a person or thing that is used as a calming agent in relieving and controlling various emotional disturbances
The doctor prescribed a tranquilizer so that his patient can cope with his panic attacks.
archaeologists
someone who studies objects of people who lived in the past
archaeologists uncovered the ancient city of Pompeii; the town was in almost the same condition as it had been years ago.
botanical
of plants and plant life
The New York Botanical Garden is one of the oldest and largest botanical gardens in the world.
concentrated
a substance that has been that has been made denser
Most orange juice sold today is concentrated orange juice.
constipation
unable to empty your bowels as often as you should
Many people who do not exercise, sit all day at work, and lack fiber in their diets suffer from constipation.
herbalism
herbal medicine
herbalism is traditional medicine based on the use of plants and plant extracts.
hieroglyphs
a picture or symbol which represents a word
The Egyptian form of writing is known as hieroglyphs.
holistic
dealing with or treating the whole of something or someone and not just a part
Rather than treating just the symptom, Eastern medicine takes a holistic approach in treating disease.
homeopathic
of the method of treating disease by drugs, given in minute doses
When the doctors failed to find a cure in conventional medicine, the family turned to homeopathic remedies.
ingested
to take food into the body
The boy, who was allergic to peanut butter, had ingested some by accident which caused his face to swell up.
ingredients
a component part, or constituent, of anything
The mother looked all over town for the ingredients to make her daughter's favorite recipe.
metabolites
any substance produced by or taking part in metabolism
Secondary metabolites are organic compounds that are not directly involved in the normal growth, development or reproduction of organisms.
naturopathic
a system of treating diseases, largely employing natural agencies
naturopathic medicine seeks to improve health and treat disease chiefly by assisting the body's innate capacity to recover from illness and injury.
pharmaceuticals
a medicine
Many pharmaceutical companies are investing a lot of money for research in an attempt to find a cure for cancer.
predators
an animal that hunts, kills and eats other animals
Coyotes are natural predators of many of the small creatures.
remedies
any medicine or treatment that cures
Since conventional remedies were not effective, they decided to try alternative therapies.
respiratory
involving the respiratory system
The respiratory system is what enables us to breathe.
subsided
to become less strong or extreme
As the violence subsided, the police were able to interview each suspect and get a better picture of what had happened.
symptoms
any feeling of illness or physical or mental change which is caused by a particular disease
Although he complained of all the flu symptoms, the doctors had to investigate further because he didn't get better after four weeks.
toxicity
poisonous
Tests of the candy have shown that it has a high level of toxicity.
tranquilizer
a person or thing that is used as a calming agent in relieving and controlling various emotional disturbances
The doctor prescribed a tranquilizer so that his patient can cope with his panic attacks.
annihilated
to destroy completely so that nothing is left
The bomb had completely annihilated the village.
at-risk
Being endangered
The doctor gave up his prestigious job and decided to go work in the slums with at-risk children.
contained
to check the power, expansion, or influence of
The forest fire could not be contained, and it ultimately burned down 2,000 homes in the nearby vicinity.
containment
when something or someone harmful is controlled and limited
containment of crowd violence was the police's main concern.
disfiguring
to hurt the appearance or attractiveness of
The actress looked completely different after she had applied disfiguring make up on.
drastic
severe and sudden or having very noticeable effects
When the normal disciplinary methods were not effective, the teacher had to take drastic measures.
eliminated
get rid of
Through the use of effective vaccines, polio has been eliminated from the United States since the 1970s.
eradication
to get rid of; wipe out
eradication of polio was possible with the discovery of a vaccine.
extracted
take out something
Because of the cavity, the tooth was extracted.
infected
to pass a disease to a person, animal or plant
After treating the patient, the doctor had infected the same disease for which he was treating.
injections
an act or instance of injecting
She had severe allergies which required her to take daily injections of medicine.
inoculation
the injection of a disease agent into an animal or plant, usually to cause a mild form of the disease and build up immunity to it
The word "inoculation" refers to the placement of something to where it will grow or reproduce,
instigate
to urge on
The little boy instigated his classmates to rebel against the teacher.
milkmaids
a girl or woman who milks cows or works in a dairy
My mother worked as a milkmaid for over thirty years; I worked hard so that I could escape this fate.
outbreaks
a sudden beginning of something
The outbreak of mad cow disease frightened the entire village.
panic
a sudden strong feeling of anxiety or fear that prevents reasonable thought and action
panic spread through the entire building when they heard the plane crash.
procedure
a set of actions which is the official or accepted way of doing something
We have a new procedure of handling students who cheat on their tests.
rampantly
in full sway
Surgery was unavoidable; the cancer cells had spread rampantly.
surveillance
the careful watching of a person or place
They were able to capture the bank robbers because the robbery was caught on the surveillance camera.
susceptible
capable of being affected
A city without walls is susceptible for an enemy invasion.
administered
to cause someone to receive something
The drug was administered to the patient through his IV.
adverse
having a negative or harmful effect on something
The benefits of the drug out weighed the adverse effects.
agents
a person who acts for or represents another
The government agents decided to purchase new vehicles for the department.
antibodies
a protein produced in the blood which fights diseases by attacking and killing harmful bacteria
Young mothers are encouraged to breast feed their babies because the antibodies found in breast milk protect newborn babies against infection.
coined
create a phrase
My son had coined a new word and wanted to know how to get it into dictionaries.
consequentially
having consequence
The disease had affected the entire population, consequentially there were no doctors to asset in the hospitals.
contagious
spread by direct or indirect contact
The viral infection was very contagious, thus she was barred from getting on the plane.
deactivated
to cause something to be no longer active or effective
After the war, many firearm factories were deactivated.
ethics
a system of moral standards or values
The ethics of journalism is much debated.
exaggerated
to make something seem larger, more important, better or worse than it really is
The seriousness of the situation had been exaggerated and did not require 20 fire trucks.
inaccessible
impossible to reach or enter
The oval office is inaccessible to the general public; you can only visit when you are invited by the president.
initiative
the first step
The student took the initiative to learn Chinese before going on his exchange program to China.
instituted
to set up
After the death of her daughter, she instituted a scholarship fund for aspiring writers in memory of her daughter.
mortality
the death rate from a particular disease
The mortality of children from the outbreak of the disease surpassed that of previous years.
pathogens
any small organism which can cause disease
A pathogen is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host.
programs
a plan or procedure for dealing with some matter
Several programs were implemented in order to deal with the influx of new immigrants.
strands
Something that is plaited or twisted as a ropelike length
She was wearing several strands of pearl necklaces.
toxoids
A substance that has been treated to destroy its toxic properties but retains the capacity to stimulate production of antitoxins
toxoids are used in vaccines as they induce an immune response to the original toxin or increase the response to another antigen.
treated
to use drugs, exercises, etc. to cure a person of a disease or heal an injury
The doctor treated the wound by first washing away the dirt and blood.
vulnerable
easy to attack
Because the deer was standing in the middle of an open field, he was a vulnerable target.
abdomen
the part of the body of a mammal between the thorax and the pelvis
The doctor an incision in her abdomen during her c-section.
anesthesiologist
a doctors who administers anesthetics
It is crucial that all patients discuss their medical conditions with their anesthesiologist prior to surgery.
anesthetics
An agent that causes loss of sensation with or without the loss of consciousness
Due to her extreme fear of dentists, the doctor gave her an anesthetics before he cleaned her teeth.
antiseptics
a chemical used for preventing infection in an injury
antiseptics are used to clean the area before blood is withdrawn.
carbolic acid
a poisonous compound used as a disinfectant and antiseptic
Injecting carbolilc acid can cause death.
impulses
driving forward with sudden force
After watching the movie, I had an impulse to suddenly run away to a secluded island.
incisions
a cut into a body tissue or organ
The doctor had to make several incisions during surgery.
infection
the act of causing to become diseased
The infection had spread to all over her body; Surgery was her only option.
inflated
puffed out
They inflated the air mattress only to find out that it had a hole in it.
inhale
to draw air into the lungs
It is not healthy for children to inhale smoke from cigarettes.
instruments
an object for making music, such as a violin, piano, or horn
She plays several musical instruments, and now she is learning to conduct.
invasive
tending to spread into healthy tissue
She was given six weeks to recover because of the invasive nature of the surgery.
laparoscopic
surgery using a flexible instrument that is passed through a small incision in the abdominal wall perform minor surgery
Because her fibroids had grown too big in her uterus, laparoscopic surgery was not an option.
malfunctions
to fail to function as it should
My computer continues to malfunction despite the fact it is only two weeks old.
minimizes
to reduce to a minimum
In order to minimize the negative effects of television, all the shows the children watch are monitored.
operating
to work, perform, or function
operating the machine effectively proved to be a challenge for the soldier due to his lack of experience.
overdose
An excessive dose
The woman took an overdose of her medication which caused her condition to worsen.
pelvic
of or near the pelvis
He had a cramp in his pelvic area, and he had to be taken to the hospital immediately.
sterile
free from living germs
All instruments used in surgery must be sterile.
surgery
an operation to treat disease
She had to have surgery to remove cysts; the doctors were worried that they could be cancerous.
acquired
to obtain something
She acquired the building after the death of her husband.
blood vessels
The flexible tubular canals through which blood circulates in the body
The blood vessels transport blood throughout the body.
cardiovascular
relating to the heart
Blood vessels are part of the cardiovascular system.
cerebrovascular
of or pertaining to the blood vessels of the brain
The most commonly known cerebrovascular disease is stroke.
clot
an almost solid lump
She often has big bruises because her body is not able to clot the blood.
communicable
able to be given from one person to another
Mad Cow Disease was attributed to the communicable disease that was now ravaging the country.
deficiency
lack of what is needed
Pregnant woman often suffer from iron deficiency.
detrimental
causing damage
Her poor study habits proved to be detrimental in her ability to get into a good college.
devastating
causing a lot of damage or destruction
The hurricane was devastating because it affected the entire village.
diabetes
a disease in which the body cannot control the level of sugar in the blood
diabetes is occurring more often in children who are obese.
immunodeficiency
a condition in which the ability of the immune system to produce antibodies is impaired
An immunodeficiency disorder may be present at birth or may develop later in life, often as a result of another disorder.
malignant
describes a disease or a diseased growth that is likely to get uncontrollably worse and lead to death
Her tumor turned out to be malignant, and the doctor only gave her six months to live.
mutation
the way in which genes change and produce permanent differences
Since radiation can cause mutations, pregnant women are discouraged from taking x-rays.
obesity
being very fat
The introduction of fast foods is the leading cause of obesity in developing countries.
prevalent
existing very commonly or happening frequently
Christianity is probably the most prevalent religion in the world today.
ravaging
to cause great damage to something
When the enemy finished ravaging the village, it lay in ruins.
strain
a particular type or quality
A particular strain of bacteria caused the outbreak of eye disease in the school.
stroke
a sudden change in the blood supply to a part of the brain, which can cause a loss of the ability to move particular parts of the body
The stroke that her mother had last year has impaired her mother's ability to drive.
syndrome
a number of symptoms occurring together and characterizing a specific disease or condition
Down's syndrome is a genetic condition in which a person is born with lower than average mental ability.
unchecked
something harmful that is increasing without any limits or attempts to prevent it
If the present trend continue unchecked, the disease will devastate the entire town.
afflictions
something that makes you suffer
She had several afflictions which prevented her from being able to participate classroom activities.
agencies
an organization that offers a particular kind of assistance
The social service agencies offer aide to hurricane victims.
challenges
something needing great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully
She is a very motivated and intelligent person and she will rise to the challenges of her new job.
chartered
to establish a local branch or chapter
The bank took a risk and chartered a branch in Africa.
conferences
a formal meeting of a number of people for discussion or consultation
The doctor presented his new research ideas at several medical conferences.
constitution
the principles and rules, set forth in a written document, governing a country
The constitution of the United states, which contain the fundamental laws of the country, was adopted in 1789.
credited
to give credit to or deserved commendation for
The actor was credited with starting a movement in promoting foreign adoption.
encourages
to make someone more likely to do something
My teacher always encourages me to do my best.
eradication
to get rid of; wipe out
eradication of polio was possible with the discovery of a vaccine.
founded
to set up
The university was founded in 1922.
funding
money given by a government or organization for an event or activity
The funding for the school building project was not sufficient, so project had to be halted.
geographic
of a particular location
The decorations are distinctive based on geographic regions.
hemisphere
half of a sphere, especially the Earth
The northern hemisphere lies on the north side of the equator.
inception
the establishment of an organization or official activity
Since its inception, the university has been the forerunner in producing highly trained engineers.
infrastructure
a substructure or underlying foundation
The war damaged the country's infrastructure.
monitors
to check the performance of
The parole officer monitors his every move; one bad decision and he goes back to jail.
objectives
something which you plan to do or achieve
After she was elected to the presidency, her main objective was to stay in power.
personnel
persons employed in any work, enterprise, service, establishment
The personnel at his company are highly trained; they all have a doctorate degree.
promote
to further the popularity
The event was held to promote world peace.
sponsors
to support a person, organization or activity
Our company sponsors a run every year to support breast cancer.
abbreviated
to shorten a word or phrase by leaving out letters
Because her name was so long, she abbreviated her name to Ann.
alleviate
to make something bad such as pain or problems less severe
The drugs did not alleviate her pain; in fact, they made it worse.
alter
to make different in details but not in substance
When they edited the movie, they had altered the writer's original theme.
antibiotics
any chemical substances that is able to inhibit the growth of or to destroy bacteria
She was on antibiotics for two weeks before her symptoms started to get better.
anticoagulants
a substance that prevents the clotting of blood
My friend suffers from a blood clotting disease for which she takes an anticoagulants medicine.
antifungals
destroying or inhibiting the growth of fungi
The doctor prescribed an antifungal cream for the fungi that was growing on her toe.
beneficial
advantageous
The mother's comments were not beneficial when she presented her arguments for buying a car to her father.
bloodstream
the blood flowing through the circulatory system of a body
It was too late to save the girl; the poison had entered her bloodstream.
comprehensive
complete and including everything that is necessary
The company offered comprehensive training for all those that are hired.
disrupting
to interrupt the orderly course of
The neighbors barged into the house, disrupting the family's quiet dinner.
drawbacks
the negative part of a situation
The benefits of the new project are apparent, but we also need to consider any drawbacks.
eliminates
get rid of
The new cleaning solution promises to eliminate all household odors.
healthcare
the prevention and treatment of illness or injury
Because of her love for people and medicine, she decided to enter the healthcare profession.
insulin
a hormone in the body which controls the amount of sugar in the blood
She has to have daily insulin injections for her diabetes.
metabolizes
to change by or subject to metabolism
When you have diabetes, it is important that you understand how your body metabolizes sugar.
pharmaceutical
a medicine
With the population living longer, the sales of pharmaceuticals related to geriatrics is anticipated to rise 50%.
pharmacology
the study of the preparation, qualities, and uses of drugs
My uncle entered the field of pharmacology because he liked to do research.
professionals
a person practicing a profession
The professionals knew what they were doing; they didn’t waste any time.
substances
material with particular physical characteristics
Hazardous and toxic substances are defined as those chemicals present in the workplace which are capable of causing harm.
undiscovered
not discovered yet
Given his risk-taking nature, he likes to explore undiscovered islands.
advantages
a more favorable position
The advantages outweighed the disadvantages, so they decided to go ahead with the surgery.
burden
to weigh down
My friend was burdened by the fact that she now had to care for her sister's five children.
combination
a mixture obtained when two or more things are combined
Hot chocolate and a good book is a perfect combination on a rainy day.
competition
when someone is trying to win something or be more successful than someone else
With the current recession, competition for jobs is intense.
compulsory
that must be done
Education is compulsory in the United States until the 12th grade.
considerably
worth considering
After ten months of physically therapy, his ability to walk was considerably much better.
contribute
to help to cause or bring about
Many elements contributed to her promotion, the main factor being her ability to work under severe pressure.
disadvantages
a condition or situation which causes problems
Athletes who are not physically fit have many disadvantages during a tournament.
exploitation
use for profit
The company went out of business because of their exploitation of minors in their factories abroad.
finance
to provide the money needed for something to happen
The rich father refused to finance any of his son's adventures since all proved to be unsuccessful.
government-funded
receiving money from the government
She lived in a government-funded housing project.
impoverished
very poor
She grew up in an impoverished family and had never used utensils while eating.
insurance
coverage by contract in which one party agrees to reimburse another for loss that occurs under the terms of the contract
The cost of health insurance is sky rocketing, making it unaffordable for most people.
monopoly
exclusive control of a commodity or service
With the support of the government, the company had a monopoly on the telecommunications industry for 50 years.
portion
a part or share of something larger
A significant portion of his salary goes to charity.
predominantly
mostly
This neighborhood is predominantly comprised of people who moved here during the 1940s.
professionals
a person practicing a profession
The professionals knew what they were doing; they didn’t waste any time.
self-reliance
dependence on one's own powers, resources, skills, thoughts, etc.
Her parents were surprised by the extent of her self-reliance.
subsidized
to pay part of the cost of something
Because she is a low income, single mother, the government subsidizes her rent.
universal
existing everywhere
The universal healthcare proposal was rejected because it lacked credible evidence that it would be effective.
altitude
height above sea level
It is difficult to breathe in higher altitudes; oxygen masks are highly recommend.
arcs
a bowlike curved line or object
As the hot-air balloon descended behind our house, it made a colorful arc right above the roof.
charged particles
a particle with an electric charge
charged particles can be positive, negative, or neutral.
electrons
an extremely small piece of matter with a negative electrical charge
An element has the same number of protons as electrons.
emanating
to send forth
Factors affecting effective cooperation of the team members are perceptions emanating from the failure of past projects.
emits
to send out
Our broken television emits a rattling sound from the speakers.
flicker
to move quickly
We had to stop watching TV because there was too much flicker; we need to get the TV fixed.
gaseous
of, having the nature of, or in the form of, gas
Jupiter is a gaseous planet and has no solid surface.
gusts
a sudden, strong rush of air or wind
The 130 mile per hour gusts of wind destroyed the entire village.
hemisphere
half of a sphere, especially the Earth
The northern hemisphere lies on the north side of the equator.
horizon
the place in one's view where the earth's surface forms a line with the sky
As the ship sailed smoothly across the ocean, the people could see another ship over the horizon.
magnetic field
a region of space near an electric current in which a magnetic force acts on any other electric current
magnetic fields surround electric currents, magnetic dipoles, and changing electric fields.
magnetic poles
the north and south poles of a magnet
Earth has two magnetic poles: north and south.
magnitude
size or dimension
The magnitude of the earthquake was unclear until all the debris was cleared away.
particles
one of the most simple parts of all matter, such as an electron, a proton or a neutron
The atom is the smallest indivisible particle of matter.
photon
a particle having energy but no mass or electric charge
The photon has no mass, and therefore, can travel at the speed of light.
radiates
to give forth or spread
She always has a positive disposition; she radiates happiness.
spectrum
the series of colored bands dispersed and arranged in the order of their respective wavelengths
In a rainbow we can see all the colors of the visible spectrum.
streaks
a line or long mark
What is in vogue these days is for teenagers to highlight their hair with different streaks of color.
wavelength
the distance from one point to the same point on the next sound or electromagnetic wave
Waves with a longer wavelength take longer to travel than shorter waves.
charged
to put electricity into an electrical device such as a battery
My phone went dead during a very important conversation because the battery was not charged.
column
a vertical row or list
The elements on a periodic chart that are in the same column have the same number of electrons.
electrons
an extremely small piece of matter with a negative electrical charge
An element has the same number of protons as electrons.
elements
an element is a substance that is made entirely from one type of atom
As of 2006, scientist know of 117 elements.
horizontally
parallel to the ground
As part of his physical therapy, he was required to lie horizontally for 20 hours a day.
intervals
a period between two events or times, or the space between two points
Most dentists recommend that you get your teeth cleaned at regular intervals--usually every six months.
isotopes
a form of an atom which has a different atomic weight from other forms of the same atom but the same chemical structure
An isotope of hydrogen called deuterium has one neutron.
negatively
having a negative charge
The negatively charged particle of an element is called the electron.
neutrons
a part of an atom that has no electrical charge
You can figure out the number of neutrons by subtracting the atomic number from the mass number.
noble
chemically noncreative
There are six noble gases on the periodic table; they rarely react with other elements.
nucleus
the central part of an atom
The nucleus of an atom is usually made up of protons and neutrons.
particles
one of the most simple parts of all matter, such as an electron, a proton or a neutron
The atom is the smallest indivisible particle of matter.
periodic table
an arrangement of the chemical elements according to their atomic numbers, to exhibit the periodic law
Every student that studies chemistry has to become familiar with the periodic table.
positively
having a positive charge
The positively charged particle of an element is called the proton.
properties
an essential or distinctive attribute or quality of a thing
Many scientists attempted to study the properties of his mind; they were curious to know what made him so intelligent.
protons
a type of elementary particle which has a positive electrical charge and is found in the nucleus of all atoms
The number of protons in an atom determines the atomic number of a chemical element.
respectively
in regard to each of two or more
The first and second prizes went to Tom and Jerry, respectively.
revolve
to move or cause something to move round a central point or line
The Earth revolves around the sun.
shell
a group of nucleons of approximately the same energy
A shell can be any seven energy levels on which an electron may exist within an atom.
vertical
straight up or down
The vertical blinds made the house look bigger.
absolute zero
the lowest temperature possible
The absolute zero temperature is -273.15°C.
capacity
the ability to do something
The movie theater has a capacity of 100 seats.
capillarity
the state of being of or like a hair
capillarity is when the surface of a liquid contacts a solid is elevated or depressed, because of the relative attraction of the molecules of the liquid for each other and for those of the solid.
characteristic
of or constituting the special character
Kimchee has a characteristic odor that offends many westerners.
compositions
a mixture of several parts or ingredients
Chemical substances are classified in terms of their structure, phase as well as their chemical compositions.
dissolve
to make or become liquid; liquefy; melt
It is easier to dissolve salt in hot water than it is in cold water.
environmental
relating to the environment
Many schools are teaching their students to become more aware of environmental issues.
evaporates
to cause a liquid to change to a gas, especially by heating
Plants keep cool during the summer by evaporating water from their leaves.
evaporation
to cause a liquid to change to a gas, especially by heating
evaporation is the process in which water is transformed from its liquid state to vapor state.
extraordinarily
very unusually
Her extraordinarily beauty captivated every man that entered her office.
latent
present but needing particular conditions to become active
The art program hopes to bring out the latent artistic talents in the children that they may not realize they have.
liquid
readily flowing
liquid water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius and becomes ice.
machinery
a group of large machines or the parts of a machine which make it work
While working at the factory, he was injured by the machinery.
molecules
the simplest unit of a chemical substance, usually a group of two or more atoms
A water molecule is made up of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen.
nutrients
any substance which plants or animals need in order to live and grow
The baby monkey failed to thrive because he did not receive vital nutrients from its mother.
solvent
that dissolves or can dissolve another substance
A solvent is a liquid that dissolves a solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution.
surface tension
the elastic like force existing in the surface of a body,
You can see the effects of surface tension when a child jumps into a swimming pool.
temperature
the measured amount of heat in a place or in the body
The normal human body temperature is 98.6 Fahrenheit.
universal
existing everywhere
The universal healthcare proposal was rejected because it lacked credible evidence that it would be effective.
vaporizes
to turn something from a solid or liquid state into gas
Water normally vaporizes at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
antiseptics
a chemical used for preventing infection in an injury
antiseptics are used to clean the area before blood is withdrawn.
by-products
something that is produced as a result of making something else
Illness is a by-product of overcrowded living conditions.
carcinogenic
describes a substance which causes cancer
The government found the drinking water to be carcinogenic.
chlorides
a chemical compound that is a mixture of chlorine and another substance
Sodium chloride is the chemical name for table salt.
chlorination
to pass chlorine into water or sewage for purification
chlorination will remove impurities from your drinking water.
chlorine
a greenish-yellow gas with a strong smell, which is added to water in order to kill organisms that might cause infection
She developed an allergic reaction to the chlorine in the swimming pool.
compounds
to make by combining parts or elements
compounds are two or more elements that are bonded together.
Disinfection
to destroy the harmful bacteria
disinfection is an important step in ensuring that water is safe to drink.
elasticity
the quality of being flexible
Natural gut tennis strings offer more elasticity than synthetic strings.
electrolysis
the use of an electric current to cause chemical change in a liquid
electrolysis involves separating chemically bonded elements and compounds by passing an electric current through them.
hydrochloric acid
an acid containing hydrogen and chlorine
hydrochloric acid must be handled with precautions because it is a highly corrosive liquid; it can damage the skin and the eye.
hydroxide
a chemical compound containing the hydroxyl group
Alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide are strong bases and are very soluble in water.
insecticides
a chemical substance made and used for killing insects
Spraying insecticides around the perimeter of the house prevented the spiders from finding their way inside the house.
oxidizing
to remove electrons from
If one element in a reaction contributes oxygen, extracts hydrogen, or extracts electrons, it is said to be an oxidizing agent.
petroleum
a dark thick oil obtained from under the ground
petroleum is considered to be a fossil fuel because it was formed from the remains of tiny sea plants and animals that died millions of years ago.
poisonous
capable of injuring or killing by or as by poison
There are many forms of poisonous mushrooms.
saturation point
to reach a stage where no more can be added, contained or accepted
With most households having two or three cars, the demand for automobiles will reach a saturation point in about 30 years.
sodium
a soft silver-white chemical element that is found in salt
Too much sodium is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease.
solution
a liquid into which a solid has been mixed and has dissolved
When sugar dissolves and spreads throughout the water in a glass, it is considered a solution.
synthetic
describes products that are made from artificial substances
synthetic tennis strings are more affordable than natural gut tennis strings.
bullion
gold or silver in the form of bars
When they opened up the safe of the king, the found boxes of gold bullion.
certification
a certified statement
Her diamond ring came with certification of its quality and value.
commodities
a substance or product that can be traded, bought or sold
The country's most valuable commodities include gold and tin.
conductivity
to allow electricity or heat to go through
Aluminum has a high level of conductivity.
currency
a system of money in general use in a country
If you travel to another country, you will need to convert your money to its currency.
desirability
worth having or wanting
The desirability of wanting a new car grew in his heart as he saw his friends all acquiring new automobiles.
ductility
that can be stretched, drawn, or hammered thin without breaking
Gold and aluminum are metals that have high ductility.
lustrous
very shiny
The new girl in class has very lustrous hair.
malleability
describes a substance that is easily changed into a new shape
malleability occurs as a result of the specific type of bond found in metals; Lead and tin are malleable metals.
Mint
a place where money is coined by authority of the government
The United States mint operates six facilities in different parts of the country.
molten
describes metal or rock that is in a liquid state because of great heat
Glassblowing is the art of using molten glass and forming it into different shapes.
monetary
relating to the money in a country
During the economic crises of 1997, the International monetary Fund had to bail Korea out.
nationality
national quality or character
His nationality was never an issue until he ran for the office of presidency.
ornaments
anything serving to adorn
Her Christmas ornaments were all made of glass.
precious metal
a metal which is valuable and usually rare
God is a precious metal thus gold is very expensive.
purity
the quality or condition of being pure
There is a big movement for teenagers where they vow abstinence; they wear purity rings to show their commitment.
rarity
the quality or condition of being rare
My sister is a homebody; it's a rarity to see her at an all night party.
simultaneously
occurring or done together or at the same time
The boy was very gifted and was able to learn five languages simultaneously.
transportable
to carry from one place to another
transportable bathrooms are usually called port-a-potty.
troy
expressed or computed in troy weight
In troy weight, there are 12 ounces to a pound versus 16 ounces to a pound.
application
anything applied
After several applications of the ointment, the wound finally healed.
concentrations
strength or density, as of a solution
Her new cosmetics had a high concentration of oil in it and made her skin sag.
consumption
a consuming or being consumed
When the economy improved the consumption of beef by consumers also increased.
cosmetics
a powder, lotion, lipstick, rouge, or other preparation for beautifying the face, skin, hair, nails, etc
She is very concerned about her beauty and spends a lot of money on cosmetics.
distillate
liquid obtained by distilling
To make a distillate, wine is heated in an enclosed copper pot until it boils and the alcohol evaporates.
enormous
greatly exceeding the common size
When James woke up from his nap, he was surprised to find an enormous teddy bear sitting on his bed.
fraction
A small part
When crude oil is refined, the lighter fractions (gasoline, kerosene, diesel, etc.) are removed by distillation.
generator
a machine that converts one form of energy into another
When there was a blackout, we had to use the back up generator to keep the lights.
hydrogen-powered
Using hydrogen for fuel
Many automobile makers are turning out hydrogen-powered cars in hopes of becoming less dependent on fossil fuel.
impurity
the quality or state of being impure
After the flood, the citizens were warned not to drink the water because of impurities.
industrialized
establish or develop industrialism in
Famine is no longer a problem for many industrialized nations.
irreplaceable
not replaceable
When she lost her wedding ring, she was deeply sadden; it was irreplaceable.
lubricant
A substance, such as grease or oil, that reduces friction when applied as a surface coating to moving parts.
When the ring would not come off his finger, they used a lubricant to get it off.
marketable
that can be sold; fit for sale
After working on his invention for twenty years, he finally felt that it was marketable.
petrochemicals
a chemical derived ultimately from petroleum or natural gas
Ammonia is a petrochemical and it is used to produce a variety of cleaning solutions.
preservation
to keep alive or in existence
Her grandmother's house was identified by the historical preservation committee as a building that the president was born in.
refinery
An industrial plant for purifying a crude substance, such as petroleum or sugar
The refinery in town was fined for not handling its waste in an appropriate manner.
reservoir
An underground accumulation of petroleum or natural gas
She didn't realize there was a reservoir running under her house.
residual
left over after part or most is taken away
residual oil is oil that does not move when fluids are flowed through the rock in normal conditions.
solar-heated
to heat (a building) by means of solar energy
Although the concept of solar-heating have been around for thousands of years, solar-heated homes have recently come into vogue.
alchemists
someone who practices the magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value, into a substance of great value
alchemists were popular during the middle ages.
alloys
A mixture or solid solution of two or more metals
Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper.
amalgams
any alloy of mercury with another metal or other metals
Silver amalgam that was used as a dental filling is no longer widely prescribed by dentists.
banned
to prohibit
Students are banned from bringing fire arms to school.
carroting
a process of separating fur from the hide.
carroting is no longer used in the process of making felt hats.
cavities
a hollow place in a tooth caused by decay
Many cities put fluoride in their water to prevent cavities in children.
cinnabar
mercuric sulfide, HgS, a heavy, bright-red mineral, the principal ore of mercury
cinnabar is generally found in a massive, granular or earthy form and is bright scarlet to brick-red in color.
concern
to have a relation to or bearing on
When the baby failed to thrive, ensuring her growth became the mother's major concern.
controversy
a prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; disputation concerning a matter of opinion
Major controversy regarding his service records surrounds the new presidential candidate.
detrimental
causing damage
Her poor study habits proved to be detrimental in her ability to get into a good college.
fluorescent
possessing the property of fluorescence
Some studies have shown fluorescent lights can increase intelligence.
isolate
to cause to be alone or apart from others
The teacher isolated the bad child from the class before talking with her.
liabilities
something disadvantageous
The children were prohibited from playing on the construction site because of the liabilities the owners can face.
maintained
To keep up or carry on
Despite the fact the fire had ravaged their home, she maintained a sense of normalcy for her children.
Mercury
a heavy, silver-white metallic chemical element,
mercury is used in thermometers.
ointments
a fatty substance applied to the skin for healing
Her mother made a special ointment that healed all types of ailments.
poisonous
capable of injuring or killing by or as by poison
There are many forms of poisonous mushrooms.
prohibit
forbid by law or by an order
He prohibited his son from going to the party because of his poor grades.
prolonged
to lengthen or extend in time or space
When her husband was deployed to the war zone, she tried to prolong her goodbye as long as possible.
properties
an essential or distinctive attribute or quality of a thing
Many scientists attempted to study the properties of his mind; they were curious to know what made him so intelligent.
atmosphere
the air in any given place
The Earth's atmosphere protects life on Earth.
conducted
To direct the course of
The school principal conducted a school-wide survey to see if they should offer an after school program.
cost
to cause someone to lose or destroy something valuable
His gambling addition cost him everything--his family, his career, and his status.
deadly
causing death or likely to cause death
The toys were recalled because it had been painted with a deadly substance.
decay
to become gradually damaged
Too much sugar in a child's diet can cause teeth decay.
derived
to get or obtain something from something else
The mother derived great pleasure from watching her twins play.
downside
the disadvantage of a situation
San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world; the downside, however, is that it is very expensive to live there.
electron microscopes
microscope that uses electrons as a way to illuminate and create an image of a specimen
The electron microscope has a higher magnification than an optical microscope which allows for greater observation of small objects.
electronegative
having a negative electrical charge
Atoms that are more electronegative attract more electrons.
give off
to put forth
Roses give off a very strong fragrance.
incidences
the rate at which something happens
With the city budget cuts, there have been higher incidences of burglary.
insulation
any material used to insulate
If your home has inadequate insulation, your energy bill can be much higher in the winter and summer.
odor
an unpleasant smell
Her husband does not like to eat fish because he doesn't want fish odor in the house.
oxidize
combines with oxygen to form another substance
The Statue of Liberty is green in color because the copper has naturally been oxidized.
ozone layer
a layer of air above the Earth, which contains a lot of ozone, and which prevents harmful ultraviolet light from the sun from reaching the Earth
The ozone layer protects humans from the sun's harmful radiation, however, human activity has damaged this layer.
pollutants
a substance that pollutes
Until lead was found to be a harmful pollutant, it was used in paint.
purification
to cause to make pure
After the hurricane, the purification of the water system began immediately.
reactive
reacting to events or situations rather than acting first to change or prevent something
The child's parents tend to be reactive rather than proactive in responding to the child's misbehavior.
refrigerants
cooling or freezing something
refrigerants are used in Air Conditioners and refrigerators.
ultraviolet radiation
radiation lying in the ultraviolet range
Too much exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause skin cancer.
attribute
characteristic that someone or something has
Public speaking skills and honesty are attributes that a presidential candidate must have.
bonds
the attraction between atoms in a molecule
A molecule is two or more atoms joined together through a chemical bond.
circumstances
a condition or factor which has effects on others
Several circumstances lead to his decision to leave the company.
cohesively
well-integrated
Molecules that are cohesively bonded remain fixed and in a set pattern.
collisions
coming together with sudden, violent force
The collision was unavoidable since both cars were traveling at dangerous speeds.
constant
staying the same
In order to grow the bacteria, the temperature must be constant.
droplets
a small drop of liquid
Large droplets of rain fall faster than smaller droplets.
exemplified
to be or give a typical example of something
The two novels exemplified the poor circumstances in which he was raised.
gaseous
of, having the nature of, or in the form of, gas
Jupiter is a gaseous planet and has no solid surface.
inflates
to cause to increase in size by filling with air
The balloon inflates when you fill it with air.
lightning
a flash of bright light in the sky which is produced by electricity moving between clouds or from clouds to the ground
The lightning looked scarier in the country side with no tall buildings to block it.
membrane
a very thin piece of material that covers an opening
A cell may die because of damage to its membrane.
relative
related each to the other
Happiness is relative to your attitude towards life.
spontaneous
acting in accordance with or resulting from a natural feeling
My brother is very spontaneous; he never plans out his vacations.
sporadically
happening irregularly
The father had a very busy schedule and only visited his son sporadically.
substance
material with particular physical characteristics
What kind of substance can withstand the heat of the sun?
tension
a balancing of forces or elements in opposition
Even though a pin is heavier than water, the surface tension of water holds up the pin.
unique
existing as the only one or as the sole example
She always stands out in class; she has a very unique voice.
uphold
to keep from falling
The foundation was too weak to uphold the six ton statue.
volume
a certain, usually large amount of something
The main difficulty with teaching is the volume of work.
acquires
to obtain something
It was relatively easy for her to acquire profiency in math--both her parents are math professors.
assumes
to take on or put on
When her mother visits, she assumes the responsibility of taking care of her grand children.
capabilities
the quality of being capable
He had remarkable capabilities and was soon promoted to the position of CEO.
configure
to construct or arrange in a certain way
She had configured her furniture so that she could watch television from every room.
covalent
the number of pairs of electrons that an atom can share with its neighboring atoms
covalent bonds are formed when atoms share electrons.
density
the quality or condition of being dense
The density of a bowling ball is higher than a basketball.
expansion
when something increases in size, number or importance
The rapid expansion of the telecommunications industry led the inventors to become wealthy very quickly.
freezing point
the temperature at which water becomes ice
The freezing point of water is zero degrees Celsius.
generality
the condition or quality of being general
In order to check the generality of creativeness, a study was conducted with both girls and boys.
intermolecular
existing or occurring between molecules
The forces that hold molecules together are generally called intermolecular forces.
kinetic
of or caused by motion
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy it possesses because of its motion.
lava
hot liquid rock which comes out of the earth through a volcano
During our field trip to the volcanoes on the Big Island, we were able to see the lava flowing.
ordered
neatly or conveniently arranged
He had a very analytical mind and liked to conduct business in a very ordered way.
overpower
to defeat someone by having greater strength or power
The gunmen were finally overpowered by the police men.
progressively
continuing by successive steps
His healthy progressively got worse, and we finally had to put her in a rest home.
survival
the act, state, or fact of surviving
Her survival in the snowstorm depended on her ability to build a snow shelter.
thermal
pertaining to, or caused by heat or temperature
thermal expansion is when matter to changes in volume due to a change in temperature.
trapped
unable to move or escape from a place or situation
After the gunmen entered the building, the customers were trapped inside.
typically
in a typical manner
It's typically American culture to tip the waiters and waitress.
vat
a large container used for mixing or storing liquid substances
To make wine, grapes are dumped together in a vat and allowed to ferment.
acceptors
one who accepts
Automatic coin acceptors were installed on the toll way to alleviate some of the congestion.
acetic acid
a sour, colorless, liquid organic acid found in vinegar
acetic acid is what gives vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell.
building blocks
the basic things that are put together to make something exist
Reading classic books are the building blocks to a good education.
categorize
to put people or things into groups with the same features
The books are categorized by the author's last name.
citrus
any of a group of plants which produce juicy acidic fruits
Oranges and lemons are citrus fruits.
digestion
when your body digests food
Yogurt helps the digestion process to move along smoothly.
donor
a person who donates
The primary donor of the museum wanted to remain anonymous.
dyes
A substance used to color materials
She used several bright dyes to give her fabric a very refreshing feel.
explosives
a substance that can explode, as gunpowder
The terrorists hid the explosives inside toy dolls.
extent
area or length
The extent of the damage caused by the fire was not known.
fertilizers
a natural or chemical substance which is spread on the land or given to plants, to make plants grow well
It is important that you purchase the correct fertilizers for your plants.
formulated
to develop all the details of a plan for doing something
When the initial project failed, the team formulated a new plan to present to the CEO.
independently
free from the influence
The goal of most home schooling families is to teach their children to think critically and independently.
ingested
to take food into the body
The boy, who was allergic to peanut butter, had ingested some by accident which caused his face to swell up.
lichens
a grey, green or yellow plant-like organism that grows especially on rocks, walls and trees
lichens can survive in extreme environments; they can live in hot, dry places as well as in wet rain forests.
litmus
a powder which is turned red by acid and blue by alkali
Neutral litmus is purple in color.
majority
the greater number
The majority of the school children were from single parent homes.
manufacturing
the making of goods or wares by manual labor or by machinery
Most cheap toy manufacturing companies are based in China.
scale
used to measure or compare the level of something
Centigrade and Fahrenheit scales are what is used to measure temperature.
solvent
a substance that dissolves another to form a solution:
Water is a solvent for sugar.
absorbing
to take in and incorporate
By absorbing the nutrients and water through its roots, a tree continues to grow in the winter when their leaves have fallen off.
binocular
using both eyes at the same time
binocular vision is vision in which both eyes are used together.
blur
become difficult to see clearly
After the impact of the accident, her surroundings began to blur.
ciliary
relating to certain fine structures of the eyeball
The ciliary body inside the eye is part of the uveal tract-the layer of tissue which provides most of the nutrients in the eye
compensate
to make equivalent
His zeal and compassion more than compensates his lack of experience in the field.
contraction
when something becomes smaller or shorter
The contraction of certain muscles in our body enable our arms and legs to move.
converge
to come together
All the various roads converge at the main gate.
converts
to change from one form or use to another
The human body converts the food we eat into energy that we can use.
cornea
the transparent outer covering of the eye
The cornea covers the iris and the pupil.
depth
the quality of being deep
He dove into the swimming pool, he did not realize the depth of it.
exceptional
unusually excellent
The exceptional violinist started playing her instrument at the age of three.
iris
the colored part of the eye around the pupil:
People have different colored irises--some are blue, brown, and green.
merge
to join together
The goal of our meeting is to merge our differing ideas into one workable solution.
perception
mental grasp of objects, qualities
There is a perception in the western world that Asian people are all good at math.
phenomenal
unusual, remarkable
The results of the test were phenomenal; she will no longer require surgery.
processing
To put through the steps of a procedure
processing the information they learn at school is crutial if students are to be successful.
retina
the inner lining of the eye that contains many light-sensitive cells and sends messages about light and color to the brain
The retina is the most complicated part of the eye; it is like a messenger that sends information to the brain.
simultaneously
occurring or done together or at the same time
The boy was very gifted and was able to learn five languages simultaneously.
transmitted
to send
The ship was able to transmit their message safely without the enemy intercepting them.
transparent
allowing light to pass through so images can be clearly seen:
He didn't realize he was walking into a glass door because it was so transparent.
applications
a way of applying or method of applying or using
Scientific discoveries have many applications in everyday life.
base
any compound that can react with an acid to form a salt
In chemistry, a base is a substance that can accept protons.
cation
a positively charged ion
Cations have a positive charge because there are more protons than electrons.
composition
the makeup of a thing or person
Because the chemical composition of the solution was unknown, the researchers were reluctant to mix it with any other solution.
corrosive
causing damage by chemical action
Household bleach is a strong corrosive that can burn or irritate the skin.
demonstrate
to display, to prove
Arriving to work on time everyday demonstrated the new secretary's sense of responsibility.
equated
to make equal or equivalent
Wisdom and knowledge cannot be equated.
fundamentals
the main or most important rules or parts
It is important to teach children the fundamentals of math.
interchangeably
that can be put or used in place of each other
Many students use the words "exchange student" and "foreign student" interchangeably.
limitations
the act of controlling and especially reducing something
Living in the city has many limitations for large families.
neutralization
to destroy the distinctive or active properties of
The reaction between acids and bases is called neutralization.
noted
a brief record of something written down to assist the memory or for future reference
While counting the beads, he noted there were very few red ones.
noticed
to see or become aware of something or someone
While walking around the block, I noticed a strange car parked by the school.
proclaimed
to announce something publicly or officially, especially something positive
I wore the bright red button that proclaimed my choice for the presidency.
proposed
to offer or state a possible plan or action for other people to consider
I propose that we delay our plans to build the new complex until we have sufficient funding.
pungent
describes a very strong smell or taste
Vinegar has a very pungent smell.
responsible
expected or obliged to account for something or to someone
He is responsible for alerting the president of all possible invasions.
slippery
wet, smooth or oily so that it slides easily or causes something to slide
After the snow fall, the road was very slippery and made it difficult to drive.
texture
the quality of something that can be decided by touch
The queen liked the texture of silk and ordered all her blankets to be made of this material.
uncovered
to discover something secret or hidden or remove something covering something else
While working in her garden, she uncovered an antique statue.
abundance
more than enough
There was an abundance of food at the party.
agricultural
of farming
With the development of new buildings, the agricultural land is shrinking rapidly.
aptly
suitable or right for a particular situation
The bear was very big and aptly named "Big Bear."
aqueous
of, like, or containing water
The students mixed the chemical into the aqueous solution.
assume
to guess to be the case, without proof
The Duchess assumed that Agatha and her husband would remain in England.
attraction
the act of attracting or condition of being attracted
There was a strong attraction between the two people.
attraction
the act of attracting or condition of being attracted
There was a strong attraction between the two people.
biological
pertaining to biology
Three of her children were biological and three were adopted.
electrolytes
electrically charged substances
When you exercise you lose much electrolytes through your sweat.
electrostatic
of or pertaining to static electricity
In a hydrogen atom, there is an electrostatic attraction between the proton and the electron.
evaporated
to change a liquid or solid into vapor
The sun evaporated the bowl of water that was sitting outside.
fertilizers
a natural or chemical substance which is spread on the land or given to plants, to make plants grow well
It is important that you purchase the correct fertilizers for your plants.
flavoring
something that gives flavor
The chocolate chip cookie tasted awful because she forgot to put in vanilla flavoring.
geological
pertaining to geology
There is geological evidence to show that the last ice age did happen billions of years ago.
industrial
having the nature of or characterized by industries
During the industrial Revolution of the 1800s, there was an abundance of new inventions.
lattice
an openwork structure of crossed strips or bars of wood or metal
A lattice is when a positive and negative ion combine to create an ordered, repeating pattern.
mined
to dig from the earth
Coal is energy that is mined from the earth.
preservation
something that is kept alive or in existence
Refrigeration and freezing are two food preservation methods that are commonly used today.
shells
a hard outer covering of an animal
The shell of a turtle protects it from its predators.
specifically
of a special or particular kind
The daughter specifically asked for a black and white puppy.
accidentally
happening by chance
The little boy accidentally lit a match which caused his house to burn.
artificially
made by human work or art
The boy had many food allergies, and his mother does not buy any food that is artifically flavored.
biochemistry
the scientific study of the chemistry of living things
She wanted to be a doctor and decided on biochemistry as her major.
breakthrough
an innovation; a new and better product or technique
The breakthroughs in computer technology over the past twenty years have helped humankind improve speed in communication
chromatography
the separation of mixtures into their constituents
Police often use chromatography to identify drugs in urine and blood samples.
confirmation
something that confirms or proves
We received confirmation the diplomat was on the plane that had crashed.
contributed
to give or furnish
The church members contributed generously to the hurricane victims.
crystallography
the science dealing with crystallization and the forms and structure of crystals
X-ray crystallography is the science of determining the arrangement of atoms within a crystal.
culprit
a person guilty of a crime or offense
We could not figure out who was eating all the cookies; the culprit turned out to be their puppy.
disproved
to prove to be false or in error
His theory of life on the sun was disproved by scientific evidence.
encoding
to convert information into code
The army's method of encoding was inadequate which allowed the enemy to figure out their plans.
ferment
to breakdown complex molecules in organic compounds, caused by the influence of a ferment
Kimchee ferments faster in warmer temperature.
furthered
additional
The trip was canceled until further notice.
genetic
pertaining or according to genetics
Everyone has their own special genetic code that makes them who they are.
hereditary
of characteristics or diseases passed from the genes of a parent to a child
One of the reasons the distant cousins were not allowed to marry was because of the hereditary disease in the family.
inherited
to have certain characteristics by heredity
She inherited her good looks from her mother.
metabolic
relating to the chemical processes in the body
Diabetes is a metabolic disease where the body does not produce enough insulin, so there is too much blood sugar.
publication
a book, journal, etc. made for sale to the public
The government banned publication of his book.
traits
a distinguishing quality
Humility and gentleness were two character traits the teacher was trying to teach her children.
undefined
without fixed limits
The children behaved rudely because their boundaries of appropriate actions had been undefined.
conversion
change in character, form, or function
Her conversion of faith surprised the entire family.
factors
any of the circumstances or conditions that bring about a result
One of the greatest factors in the singer's decision to perform in Europe was that her mother had grown up there.
inhibitors
a substance that retards or stops a chemical reaction
In chemistry, inhibitors slow the rate of reaction.
initiated
to introduce or start something new
I initiated a discussion on today's topic.
mechanisms
the working parts or arrangement of parts of a machine
Once the students took the clock apart, they were able to understand its mechanisms.
nutrients
any substance which plants or animals need in order to live and grow
The baby monkey failed to thrive because he did not receive vital nutrients from its mother.
pathways
A path
In biochemistry, a metabolic pathway is a series of chemical reactions occurring within a cell.
pigmentation
the natural color of something
Albinism is a skin pigmentation disorder which causes people to have light skin and white or pale yellow hair.
puberty
The stage of adolescence in which an individual becomes physiologically capable of sexual reproduction
A boy can first show signs of puberty between the ages of nine and fifteen.
quota
the allotment of something for a specific period of time
I have to sell eight boxes of cookies in the next week to make my monthly quota.
regulate
to control by rules and regulations
A water plant called the sacred lotus regulates its temperature in order to benefit insects that it needs to reproduce.
secrete
to discharge
Some bees secrete poison.
selective
intentionally choosing some things and not others
The actress was very selective about the colors she wore on stage.
strands
Something that is plaited or twisted as a ropelike length
She was wearing several strands of pearl necklaces.
substrates
a substance acted upon
In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process are called substrates.
sustaining
To keep in existence
Team work and cooperation were the key to sustaining a healthy work environment.
transcription
a transcript
The process of transcription happens in the nucleus of the cell.
traverse
to cross, travel over
The braver hikers traversed across the United States.
triggers
To set off
Being in the same house as the accident triggers too many memories for her.
vital
necessary to the existence
Laughter is vital for a long life.
Carbohydrates
one of several substances such as sugar or starch, which provide the body with energy,
She could no longer eat rice; her doctor had put her on low carbohydrate diet.
cellobiose
A disaccharide that is produced from the partial hydrolysis of cellulose
cellobiose molecule is derived from the condensation of two glucose molecules.
complexity
the state or quality of being complicated
The complexity of the project required several departments to work together.
condensation
a reaction between two molecules leading to the formation of a larger molecule by eliminating of a simple molecule such as water
A condensation reaction is a chemical reaction in which two molecules combine to form one single molecule.
crustaceans
any of various types of animal which live in water and have a hard outer shell
My brother is allergic to crustaceans; he ate a clam once and developed a rash all over his body.
dairy
a product made with milk
She can not eat cheese because she is allergic to all dairy products.
demanding
requiring of a lot of time or effort
Bob's boss was very demanding.
disaccharides
A class of sugars composed of two glycosidically linked monosaccharides.
Sucrose, table sugar, is a disaccharides.
exoskeletons
any hard, external, supporting structure, as the shell of an oyster
Humans have used armors an artificial exoskeleton.
formula
a plan or method for doing, making, or achieving something
This formula is used to calculate the area of a circle.
Fructose
a crystalline monosaccharide found in sweet fruits and in honey
Consuming too much fructose at once can be bad for you.
Galactose
a common monosaccharide found in milk
galactose is less sweet than glucose and considered a nutritive sweetener because it has food energy.
germinating
to start developing
After having writer's block for several days, he felt an idea germinating in his head.
glucose
a type of sugar which is found in plants, especially fruit, and which supplies an important part of the energy animals need
glucose is the primary source of energy for the body's cells.
Lactose
a type of sugar which is found in milk
lactose intolerant people can not drink milk or eat ice cream.
maltose
malt sugar
The production of maltose on germinating cereals, such as barley, is an important part of the brewing process.
monosaccharides
Any of several carbohydrates that cannot be broken down to simpler sugars
monosaccharides are also called simple sugars.
polysaccharides
Any of a class of carbohydrates, such as starch and cellulose, consisting of a number of monosaccharides joined by glycosidic bonds
polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates.
respiration
act or process of breathing; inhaling and exhaling air
The lung is a main organ used during respiration.
Sucrose
the type of sugar that exists naturally in most plants that grow on land
sucrose is table sugar.
abbreviated
to shorten a word or phrase by leaving out letters
Because her name was so long, she abbreviated her name to Ann.
code
a set of rules or guidelines related to behavior or activity in a particular area
Right and wrong are often defined differently by individuals who each have a unique moral code.
consequentially
having consequence
The disease had affected the entire population, consequentially there were no doctors to asset in the hospitals.
continuation
the act or state of continuing
The continuation of her business was not affected by the riot.
deciphered
to translate a message in code into ordinary, understandable language
Her training in the military allowed her to decipher the enemy's code.
free-floating
lacking an apparent cause
In order to promote creativity, students are allowed to participate in free-floating experiments.
generation
the group of people born and living at about the same time
Many generations of families have immigrated to the United States from that country.
helix
a spiral
Guggenheim Museum is shaped in a helix.
instruction
the act of teaching or giving lessons
The teacher gave us instructions to sing in harmony.
ladder
a piece of equipment consisting of two vertical bars or rope joined to each other by a set of horizontal steps
Romeo climbed his rope ladder to reach Juliet's room.
mathematically
concerned with mathematics
She knew the answer, but she couldn't figure out the sequence mathematically.
respectively
in regard to each of two or more
The first and second prizes went to Tom and Jerry, respectively.
reverse
to change the direction, order or position
She purchased a lottery ticket; she hoped to reverse her luck.
rungs
the horizontal bars on a ladder
She didn't realize one of the rungs was broken and fell off the ladder.
segments
section of something
Lucy divided into three segments.
sequence
the way a series of things is ordered
What is the sequence for doing the tasks?
submerged
to place under or cover with water or the like
He submerged himself in the swimming pool for 10 minutes and broke the world record.
twisted
to turn, wind or bend
Andy twisted the bottle cap to open it.
unique
existing as the only one or as the sole example
She always stands out in class; she has a very unique voice.
utilized
to use something in an effective way
She utilized her time in prison effectively by earning a high school degree.
absorbent
capable of absorbing moisture
The paper towel was very absorbent, and we were able to reuse it several times.
absorption
the state or process of being absorbed
absorption is the process in which grains of rice soaks up the water in which it is immersed in.
analysis
this process as a method of studying the nature of something
The teacher's analysis of the student's academic skills was inaccurate.
captured
to record or take a picture of something using a camera
The tourist captured the entire bank robbery on her video camera.
detailed
giving a lot of information with many details
The host didn't want the family to get lost, so she gave a very detailed map to her house.
dynamics
the various forces operating in any field
The dynamics between the teacher and student was not a positive one.
emissions
something emitted
Automobile emissions contribute to environmental problems such as smog.
invisible
impossible to see
The monster was invisible, nonetheless, the little girl was still terrified of it.
magnification
the power of magnifying
The magnification of the insect allowed us to see the intricate details.
magnify
increase the apparent size of
A microscope can magnify an object to show the details.
naked eye
The eye unassisted by an optical instrument
Germs are invisible to the naked eye.
predominant
present as the strongest or main element
Fatique is the predominant reason for her absence from class.
radioisotopic
a radioactive isotope, usually artificially produced
radioisotopic labeling is a technique for tracking the passage of a sample of substance through a system.
resolution
the ability to show things clearly and with a lot of detail
Setting your camera at a higher resolution will allow you to maker bigger prints of your pictures.
resonance
the prolongation of sound by reflection
Without resonance we wouldn't have radio, television or music.
specimen
a sample
In order to determine the cause of the child's illness, the doctor took a blood specimen.
spectroscopy
the science that deals with the use of the spectroscope and with spectrum analysis
spectroscopy pertains to the dispersion of an object's light into its component colors.
techniques
a way of doing an activity which needs skill
She is a good tennis player, but she doesn't have the techniques to be a professional.
tremendous
very large
She had the tremendous task of organizing the company's annual dinner for 500 people and their families.
vibrate
to set in to-and-fro motion
When you set your phone to vibrating mode and your phone does vibrate, it may startle you initially.
circulated
to make something move around or through something
The news of the student's dismissal circulated throughout the school.
cliches
A trite or overused expression or idea
I know it's such a cliche, but I really do want you to have a nice life.
conveyed
to express a thought, feeling or idea so that it is understood by other people
I was not able to convey all of my thoughts in the two minute speech.
extraneous
not pertinent
The judge got tired of the lawyer's extraneous arguments.
fluidity
the quality or state of being fluid
The story lacked coherence and fluidity.
heritage
features belonging to the culture of a particular society
His European heritage taught him to be chivalrous.
indications
something that points out
Runny nose and body aches are indications of a flu.
infallible
never wrong, failing or making a mistake
No one is infallible except for God.
instructive
giving useful or interesting information
The child rearing seminar was very instructive.
linguists
a specialist in linguistics
linguists often find jobs in research.
manuscript
written by hand or with a typewriter, not printed
She sent her 600 page manuscript to the publishers in hopes of getting her book published.
medium
art form or material (such as clay, metal, etc.)
Concrete is one of the artist's favorite mediums.
printing presses
a machine that prints books, newspapers or magazines
Johannes Gutenberg made the first printing press.
punch line
the surprise line carrying the point of a joke
No one ever laughs at his jokes because he always mess up the punch line.
recorded
set down or registered in a permanent form
recorded music was possible with the invention of the phonautograph by Frenchman Leon Scott in 1857.
related
to tell the story of or give an account of
When she related the story, she left out the main points.
simplicity
a simple state or quality
The simplicity of the story is what captivated the children.
storyteller
a person who narrates stories
Hans Christian Andersen is a famous storyteller.
storytelling
narrating stories
storytelling is the children's favorite time in school.
versions
A description or account from one point of view, especially as opposed to another
My sister's version of the accident is different than yours.
acquisition
an acquiring or being acquired
She worked for the acquisition and mergers department of the company.
adept
having a natural ability to do something that needs skill
She was very adept at telling stories.
association
a connection in the mind between ideas, sensations, memories,
Word association games helps people improve their memories.
conditioning
the act of training a person or animal so that they do a particular thing without thinking about it
conditioning of sexual stereotypes begins as soon as girls are given dolls and boys are given guns to play.
encountered
to meet with
She grew up in a very sheltered environment and had never encountered any rude people.
expertise
special skill or knowledge in a particular field
He was a computer expertise so he can deal with any problems related to computers.
hypothesis
a possible explanation based on limited information
Scientists first make a hypothesis and then test it with an experiment.
imitation
made to resemble something specified
She saved a lot of money by buying imitation purses.
impart
to give; communicate
The students were hoping the speaker would impart some words of wisdom.
inclination
a particular disposition or bent of mind
She has an inclination to talk too much at parties.
inherent
existing as a natural or basic part of something
There are inherent danger to any sport.
innateness
existing naturally rather than acquired
innateness Theory states that humans have a genetic predisposition to learn language.
innovative
new and interesting; different from that which came before
His innovative way of thinking got him a top position in the company.
integrate
make a part of
Traditional television is integrated as it contains images, sound and text.
mysterious
characterized by mystery
It was very mysterious why she would always leave the house at eight o'clock.
over-regularization
applying regular grammatical patterns to irregular words
Saying "comedy" for the past tense of "come" is an example of over-regularization.
reinforcement
when something is made stronger
Positive reinforcement encourages students to work harder.
simulating
to give a false indication or appearance of
The amusement park provides space simulating rides.
subtleties
a small but important detail
Our company teaches westerners on the subtleties of doing business in Asia.
supplementation
something added, esp. to make up for a lack or deficiency
There is controversy surrounding vitamin supplementation and their effects.
acoustic
relating to sound or hearing
Acoustic phonetics deals with acoustic aspects of speech sounds.
amplitudes
the distance between the top and the base of a curve
Small variations in amplitude indicate weak or quiet sounds.
applications
a way of applying or method of applying or using
Scientific discoveries have many applications in everyday life.
articulatory
the act or process of articulating speech
articulatory phonetics deals with how different structures of the vocal tract interact to create specific sounds.
auditory
of or having to do with hearing
She was an auditory learner and often memorized while listening to music.
designates
to point out
The mother designated her best friend as the baby's guardian in the event anything should happen to her.
electrodes
the point at which an electric current enters or leaves something, for example, a battery
A battery has two electrodes, a cathode (positive electric current) and an anode (negative electric current).
forensics
the art or study of argumentation and formal debate
He was part of the forensics team in high school.
generated
to cause something to exist
The 2002 World Cup generated a lot of enthusiasm among the fans.
impediments
hindrance
Despite his speech impediments, he went on to become one of the greatest journalists.
integrated
to combine
The school hopes to integrate the special needs students with the rest of the student body.
pathologists
an expert in the study of diseases
Speech pathologists work with people who cannot produce speech sounds or cannot produce them clearly.
perception
mental grasp of objects, qualities
There is a perception in the western world that Asian people are all good at math.
phoneticians
an expert in phonetics
Dr. Frank Laubach was a phonetician who claimed he could teach children to read in three months.
physiological
of or pertaining to physiology
Certain physiological traits are consistent within a culture.
principle
a fundamental truth, law, doctrine, or motivating force, upon which others are based
One of the main principles of Christianity is to love others.
sonogram
a visual pattern representing the sound waves of a voice, call, or noise
A sonogram is another word for spectrogram.
spectrogram
an instrument that analyzes the vocal quality of a selected excerpt of an individual's speech
In a spectrogram, the horizontal line represents time and the vertical line represents frequency.
spectrum
the series of colored bands dispersed and arranged in the order of their respective wavelengths
In a rainbow we can see all the colors of the visible spectrum.
Voice-recognition
the task of recognizing people from their voices
Voice recognition is the ability of a machine or program to understand and carry out spoken commands.
additives
something added to a substance to improve it or to preserve it
Because of the additive, the paint was fresh for more than 20 years.
appliances
an electrical machine that is used in the home
Most apartments in the United States are supplied with appliances.
compounds
to make by combining parts or elements
compounds are two or more elements that are bonded together.
disposable
intended to be thrown away after use
When people have a picnic, they prefer to use disposable plates.
durable
able to last a long time without being damaged
durable items in the house include such items as appliances and furniture.
extrusion
the process in which plastic films and bags are made
extrusion produces items such as adhesive tape and wire insulation.
fibers
a slender, threadlike structure made from a mineral or synthetically
The thieves were caught because the police was able to trace the cloth fibers found at the scene of the crime.
granules
a small grain-like piece of something
Granule is a generic term used for a small particle or grain
hazardous
risky or dangerous
Drinking too much alcohol can be hazardous to your health.
hydrocarbon
any compound containing only hydrogen and carbon
Natural hydrocarbons are found in crude oil.
insulators
a device for protecting and supporting electric wires
In most modern homes, you will not see exposed wires because they have been covered with insulators.
molded
to form into a shape
The children molded the big piece of clay into a artistic masterpiece.
molded
to form into a shape
The children molded the big piece of clay into a artistic masterpiece.
monomers
a simple molecule that can form polymers by combining with identical or similar molecules
When two monomers are chemically bonded, they make a polymer.
pellets
a small hard ball or tube-shaped piece of any substance
The little boy, unknowingly, shot pellets from his toy gun, which killed the bird.
polymers
a chemical substance consisting of large molecules made from many smaller and simpler molecules
polymers are consist of natural and synthetic materials which are used for a variety of purposes.
synthetic
describes products that are made from artificial substances
synthetic tennis strings are more affordable than natural gut tennis strings.
thermoplastics
a type of plastic that can be melted and reformed
thermoplastics get their name from the fact that they can be melted and reshaped and then frozen again.
thermosets
a type of plastic that can not be melted and reformed
Thermoset material is stronger than thermoplastic material and, therefore, are used in making work surfaces.
utensils
any implement or container ordinarily used as in a kitchen
People of different cultures use different eating utensils; Koreans use chopsticks and spoon, and Americans use forks, knives, and spoons.
accustomed
familiar with something
Although they had different personalities, she grew accustomed to his messiness.
biographical
giving the story of a person's life
I would not be surprised if they made a biographical movie about Mother Theresa.
Braille
printed language (using raised dots) read with one's fingers
braille is a system of raised patterns on paper that allows the blind to read.
championing
to fight for or support
The foundation was set up for championing family education.
controversial
causing or likely to cause public disagreement
The president has made several controversial decisions that many people do not agree with.
daunting
challenging; formidable
Due to the schedule change, she faced the daunting task of studying for five exams in a single night.
devastating
extremely harmful
The devastating news caused her mother to have a heart attack.
endeavor
an earnest attempt
Her endeavor to become a doctor was finally realized when she received a scholarship for medical school.
espousing
embrace a cause
Her speech was very clear on her stance espousing women's rights.
feature-length
describes a film or television play that is 90 or more minutes long
Her brother won the critic's award for his feature-length documentary on the holocaust.
incessantly
never ceasing
The little girl is quite intelligent and talks incessantly.
indomitable
not easily discouraged, defeated, or subdued
The indomitable Martin Luther King Jr. continued to fight for justice.
inspiration
something that makes a person work hard or be creative
The inspiration for the movie came from watching his mother deal with the disease.
insurmountable
that cannot be passed over or overcome
The family was faced with an insurmountable hospital bill.
landmark
famous site or building (either natural or manmade)
Everyone in town knows the building on the corner. It is a landmark.
manuscript
written by hand or with a typewriter, not printed
She sent her 600 page manuscript to the publishers in hopes of getting her book published.
perseverance
a determination to stay with some course of action or some decision
Although everyone told her she would fail, she kept working because she has a lot of perseverance.
resounding
very great
Her inspirational biography was a resounding success.
turning point
a point at which something changes direction
Getting married was a turning point in my life.
vaudeville
a type of theatre entertainment in the 1800s and early 1900s which included music, dancing and jokes
Her uncle was a vaudeville actor that was known internationally.
auxiliary
supplemental
The auxiliary unit her husband belonged to was deployed to Iraq.
bureaucratic
arbitrary and routine
The company continued to lose money because of their highly bureaucratic procedures.
coalesced
merge into a single body
The many different educational ideas coalesced into one main theory.
codify
systematize, classify
The manger worked incessantly to codify the office procedures.
contemporary
belonging to or occurring in the present; modern
She chose to live in this city because she liked the contemporary buildings.
dialects
a form of a language that people speak in a particular part of a country
Some experts estimate that there are over 8,000 dialects spoken in China.
diphthongs
a vowel sound in which the tongue changes position to produce the sound of two vowels
The word "boil" is an example of a diphthong.
epidemics
Widely prevalent
The avian flu epidemic scared the entire country.
fascinating
extremely interesting
The tour offered a fascinating view of the city's history.
incorporated
to combine or join with something already formed
The book incorporates all of his ideas on education.
insurrection
a rising up against established authority
To avoid the possibility of insurrection, the king killed all of the prisoners.
invasions
An intrusion or encroachment
The country was ravaged by the constant invasions from its neighbors.
legions
a large group of soldiers
The Roman legions at times consisted of 3,000 to 6,000.
linguists
a specialist in linguistics
linguists often find jobs in research.
mobility
moving or able to move to a higher social class
People who live in poverty have limited opportunities for upward mobility.
occupation
the seizure and control of a country or area by military forces
Japan's occupation of Korea lasted for 35 years.
pace
a rate of movement
She ran at a steady pace.
plague
serious disease which kills many people
In the 14th century, the bubonic plague killed half the people in Europe.
static
not changing for a long time
The education system has remained static for the past 50 years.
supplemented
add to make up for a lack or deficiency
His wife supplemented his income by working at the department store.
accents
the way in which people pronounce words
The people from the north and the people from the south have different accents.
asymmetry
lack of similarity
In science, there seems to be asymmetry in the way boys and girls are trained.
coherence
the quality of being clear
After they pulled her out from the debris, she lacked coherence to account the details of the accident.
colloquial
having to do with or like conversation
Although she had studied in the United States, she was only familiar with colloquial English.
colonization
establishing a colony or colonies in
The French colonization of Vietnam had its basis in economic profit.
cross-sections
a small group which is representative of all the different types within the total group
The student population represented a well represented cross-section of the city.
cursory
quick and probably not detailed
A cursory examination of the water revealed that it was contaminated.
independently
free from the influence
The goal of most home schooling families is to teach their children to think critically and independently.
lexicon
all the words used in a particular language
When they first studied the African lexicon, they tried to understand the relationship between the words.
marked
noticeable
She had a marked taste for unusual foods.
morph
to change one image into another
Many cartoon characters are able to morph into other characters in an instant.
mother tongue
the first language that you learn when you are a baby
Since leaving her country, she had not heard anyone speaking her mother tongue till now.
prevalent
existing very commonly or happening frequently
Christianity is probably the most prevalent religion in the world today.
pronounced
very noticeable
The teacher had pronounced views on how children should be educated.
respective
as relates individually to each of two or more persons or things
The two missionaries decided to go their respective ways.
streamlining
to alter in order to make more efficient or simple
streamlining the product approval process improved the company's sales.
succinctly
said in a clear and short way
She was able to express her ideas succinctly.
uniformity
not varying or different in any way
In order to promote uniformity in the students' thinking, the teacher recommended they all read the same classic books.
variations
the act, fact, or process of varying
There were many variations of the story, but they all had the same ending.
vernacular
commonly spoken by the people of a particular country or place
The Spanish that is taught in school is very different than the vernacular of the village.
agents
a person who acts for or represents another
The government agents decided to purchase new vehicles for the department.
appalling
shocking and very bad
The Jews were kept in the most appalling concentration camps.
body
the main or central part of anything
The student body decided to plant trees around the campus.
considerations
A factor to be considered in forming a judgment or decision
The amount of scholarship offered was the most important consideration in choosing a university.
constituent
one of the parts that a substance is made of
The scientists looked at the constituent parts of the proposal.
detached
separated
The mother had not seen her while she was in prison, and she felt very detached from them.
dissected
cut up into parts
When they had dissected the plan, they realized it did not have a solid foundation.
distraction
anything that distracts
The children's singing was a huge distraction for him.
encompass
to include, especially a variety of things
The International Studies major encompasses many different disciplines.
humanities
the branches of learning concerned with human thought and relations
Her father wanted her to be an engineer, but she was drawn to the humanities.
immensely
extremely
She is an immensely talented concert pianist.
imperfection
containing problems or lacking something
She is a perfectionist and cannot tolerate any imperfections in her work.
influenced
to change how someone or something
Her decision to become a doctor was influenced by her uncle.
linguistics
the science of language
She studied linguistics in college, and she hoped to one day become a translator.
phenomenon
movement; trend; happening
The wrapping of Christmas presents is a fairly recent phenomenon in American life.
postmodern
extremely modern
postmodern architecture is an international style that first appeared in the 1950s.
presumption
an assumption, often not fully established
presumption of innocence is a legal right that Americans have.
radically
complete or extreme
The accident had radically altered her lifestyle.
skepticism
unbelief
Her skepticism about his honesty ultimately led to their separation.
structuralism
any theory that embodies structural principles
Towering over the French intellectual scene in the 1960s and 1970s, he founded the school of thought known as structuralism.
abstract
not based on a particular instance; theoretical
Love is an abstract concept for many people.
aspects
a component part or quality
What aspect of her personality do you like?
bare
scarcely or just sufficient
She lived simply by only purchasing the bare necessities.
components
a part of a whole of something
The English course has three components: literature analysis, grammar and writing.
considerations
A factor to be considered in forming a judgment or decision
The amount of scholarship offered was the most important consideration in choosing a university.
context
the text or speech that comes immediately before and after a particular phrase or piece of text and helps to explain its meaning
Although she did not understand the word, she was guess the meaning from the context.
essentials
something fundamental
Water is essential to human survival.
glean
to collect information in small amounts and often with difficulty
I was not able to glean much information from the police.
govern
to influence the action or conduct of
They were not sure what governs public opinion of the presidential candidates.
inflections
a change in or addition to the form of a word which shows a change in the way it is used in sentences
If you add the plural inflection '-s' to 'cat' you get 'cats'.
intimately
showing a close union or combination
Language acquisition and intelligence are intimately associated with each other.
medium
a way of expressing something
She represented the tragedy through the medium of dance.
prefixes
a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to make a new word
In the word 'submarine', 'sub-' is the prefix.
retain
to continue to have something; to keep something
Even by the afternoon, the day had retained the morning’s freshness.
reverse
to change the direction, order or position
She purchased a lottery ticket; she hoped to reverse her luck.
specifics
exact details
He could not discuss the specifics of the investigation.
structure
the way in which the parts of a system or object are arranged or organized
The grammatical structure of the two languages is quite different.
suffixes
a letter or group of letters added at the end of a word to make a new word
The suffix of a word can change the function of the word.
syntax
the grammatical arrangement of words in a sentence
Research of the two languages revealed their syntax to be very similar.
word order
the way in which words are arranged in sequence in a sentence
Latin is an inflected language where word order is not as important as the English language.
alignment
people who want to work together because of shared interests or aims
He formed new alignments at work in hopes of getting promoted.
assimilation
The process of becoming similar to
The assimilation of the refugees in their host country was aided by a creative training program.
attributed
be the reason for
He attributed his success to the moral values his mother had taught him.
convictions
a strong belief
The president's convictions about the war was unwavering.
disparities
a lack of equality and similarity
The discovery of diamonds in the country caused a greater disparity between the rich and poor.
distinguished
to notice or understand the difference between two things
She is color blind and is not able to distinguish between red and green colors.
expatriate
someone who does not live in their own country
Many American artists live as expatriates in Europe.
expectations
a thing looked forward to
She did not have much expectations from the blind date.
function
something which results from something else
His success if s function of hard work and endurance.
indicator
a person or thing that indicates
His relations with his siblings is a good indicator of how he will adjust in society.
intellectuals
a person of superior intellect
The seminar was attended by intellectuals in the field of genetic engineering.
intentions
the end or object intended
He had very good intentions, but his involvement in the projected set the team back two weeks.
motivations
enthusiasm for doing something
He is a very bright student, but he lacks the motivation to succeed.
populace
the common people
The populace of the village revolted against the king.
profession
an occupation requiring a specific education
The profession of doctor requires many years of education but also compassion.
relative
considered in relation to something else
Having a lot of money is all relative and not as important to having good health.
retrofitted
a change in design in order to incorporate later improvements
The retrofitted computers worked perfectly in the schools.
sociolinguistics
the branch of linguistics that analyzes the effects of social and cultural factors within a speech community upon its language patterns
sociolinguistics study the external aspects of a language and the way the language affects the culture around it.
stripped
to take away
As a prisoner of war, he was stripped of all his human rights.
workings
functioning
As a new comer to the company, she was not able to understand the inner workings of the company culture.
accessible
obtainable; reachable
Our hotel was easily accessible by car.
account
to give an explanation
The child never had to give an account of his behavior.
advances
an improvement
Recent advances in medicine allowed her father to survive the disease.
advent
the arrival of an event, invention or person
Life in American was transformed by the advent of automobiles.
calculating
to determine or ascertain by mathematical methods
The waiter made an error in calculating the total bill.
catalog
classify
The librarian had to catalog the 2,000 books that were donated.
concordances
an alphabetical list of the chief words used in a book or by a writer, with the passages in which they occur identified or cited
In order to fully understand Shakespeare, you need a good concordance.
entirety
with nothing missing
I have never read the book in its entirety.
entry
the recording of an item
A typical dictionary entry contains the part of speech, definition, and the number of syllables.
etymological
the study of the origin and history of words
As a linguist, she always carried an etymological dictionary incase she encountered a new word.
exclusively
only
This book is offered exclusively through the internet.
extensive
having a great range
His new phone did not cover an extensive range and could only be used in the city.
formation
the way something is naturally made
The students admired the beautiful cloud formations.
indispensable
absolutely necessary or required
The mother's help was indispensable in putting on the Christmas show.
originate
coming from a particular place, time, situation
The game originated from Asia.
synonyms
a word or phrase which has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase in the same language
The words catalog and record are synonyms.
thesauruses
a book of synonyms and antonyms
All high school students were required to purchase a thesauruses.
topical
arranged by topics, subjects, or headings
Rather than study they bible book by book, he decided to do a topical study on forgiveness.
wealth
a large amount of something good
The new employee came with a wealth of knowledge.
worldwide
existing or happening in all parts of the world
The agency distributes the bible worldwide.
agriculture
farming
The region depends on agriculture for its income.
astronomy
the science of the stars and planets
After studying astronomy in her science class, she was fascinated with watching the starts at night.
civilizations
social organization of a high order, marked by the development and use of a written language and by advances in the arts and sciences, government,
When they landed on the island, they did not see any signs of civilization.
corpses
a dead body, usually of a person
There was no identifying mark on the corpse.
craftsmen
a person who is skilled in a particular craft
The Amish craftsmen are gifted in producing simple yet elegant furniture designs.
cuneiform
a form of writing used by the Sumerians
The earliest cuneiform inscriptions were composed of pictographs.
domesticate
to tame wild animals and breed for human use
They domesticated the wolf and now he is considered to be a part of the family.
embalmed
to use chemicals to prevent a dead body from decaying
In order to understand the Egyptian culture, our science class embalmed a chicken.
hieroglyphics
a system of writing which uses pictures instead of words used in ancient Egypt
When they uncovered the cave, they discovered hieroglyphics on the walls.
inhabit
to live in a place
The native Indians were the first people to inhabit America.
inscriptions
words that are written or cut in something
The inscription on the ring had worn away.
irrigation
the artificial application of water so that crops and plants will grow
The Egyptians built canals and dams to bring water from the Nile fro irrigation.
mathematics
the study of numbers, shapes and space using reason and usually a special system of symbols and rules for organizing them
The mathematics of the Chinese calendar is quite different than the western calendar.
mummification
the process of making a dead body into a mummy
mummification was important to the Egyptians because they believed the bodies would live in another world.
nomadic
characteristic of people who have no fixed home and move from place to place in search of food, water, and grazing land
In my desire to see the world, I lived a very nomadic life for ten years.
oracle bone
the oldest known form of Chinese written language
oracle bone is given its name because some of the objects are thought to be used as oracles.
pursuit
an effort to secure or attain
In pursuit of the fox, the cat fell into the river.
settlements
a small or isolated community
The book accounts the details of the settlement of the pilgrims in the new land.
transactions
to do and complete a business activity
Although the business was legal, most of their foreign transactions were illegal.
vessels
a curved container which is used to hold liquid
The artistic achievements of the Chinese bronze vessels were extremely brilliant.
afterlife
a life after death
Egyptians were often buried with their possessions for the afterlife.
architecture
the science, art, or profession of designing and constructing buildings, bridges
She studied architecture in college.
arithmetic
the part of mathematics that involves the adding and multiplying
A solid understanding of arithmetic is crucial for studying algebra.
astronomy
the science of the stars and planets
After studying astronomy in her science class, she was fascinated with watching the starts at night.
commission
a group of people with an official function
The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison.
deceased
dead
Five of the deceased were students.
elaborate
containing a lot of careful detail or many detailed parts
The stained glass windows had elaborate designs.
endured
to continue to exist for a long time
The dynasty endured several invasions from its neighbors.
engineering
the scientific planning of a machine, road, bridge
She studied civil engineering because she wanted to build bridges.
fleet
a group of ships, or all of the ships in a country's navy
The military had an impressive fleet of sailing ships.
geography
the scientific study of the earth's surface, features, climate, people
I bought a new globe for my geography class.
machinery
a group of large machines or the parts of a machine which make it work
While working at the factory, he was injured by the machinery.
mined
to dig from the earth
Coal is energy that is mined from the earth.
pleasantries
A polite social utterance
The diplomats exchanged pleasantries before getting down to business.
prompted
to make something happen
The school shooting prompted school officials to rethink the school's safety measures.
quarries
a place where building stone, marble, or slate is excavated, as by cutting or blasting
After quarries have fulfilled their mining purposes, they usually fill with water to become ponds.
sculpting
the process of sculpturing an object
sculpting utilizes clay to from objects.
significance
importance
The significance of the new drug was not realized until they started experimenting.
speculate
to think about the various aspects of a given subject
Since she never talks, we can only speculate what she is thinking.
suggested
to mention an idea
The suggested she practice her handwriting for 30 minutes each day.
assembly
a legislative body
His uncle was an important figure in the ruling assembly of their country.
birthplace
the place where something originated
Many people regard New York as the birthplace of pizza.
city-states
in the ancient world, a city and the area around it with an independent government
Rome and Athens were two of the greatest city-states in the ancient world.
columns
a tall vertical stone post which is used as a support for a roof or in classical buildings for decoration
The roof of the cathedral was supported by several thick stone columns.
discernible
capable of being discerned
After the surgery, his speech was not discernible at all; he had to write everything down.
elected
to decide by voting
The American president is elected for a four year term.
epic
a long narrative poem in a dignified style about the deeds of a traditional or historical hero or heroes
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are considered epics.
ethics
a system of moral standards or values
The ethics of journalism is much debated.
exemplary
very good and suitable to be copied by other people
He was an exemplary student, and the teacher wished more students were like him.
founded
To set up
The university was founded by his great-grandfather.
institution
a place or building where people are sent to be cared for
The school he founded was the first institution of its kind in the country.
legendary
very famous for a long period of time
His mother was a legendary tennis player in the 1930s.
logical
using reason
Her arguments were never logical, and she always felt frustrated after their conversations.
methodologies
a system of methods, principles, and rules for regulating a given discipline
The teacher used different methodologies in teaching her students.
oligarchic
having the form of government where ruling power belongs to a few persons
Australia has always been an oligarchic country.
personalities
the quality or fact of being a particular person
All three of her children had different personalities.
pioneers
a person who is one of the first people to do something
Ann Preston was a pioneer medical doctor who founded the Woman's Hospital.
progressions
a sequence or succession
The normal progression of the disease prepared the family for his death.
public speaking
the act of delivering speeches in public
His favorite subject in school was public speaking.
symmetry
the quality of balance and proportion in objects with two sides that correspond like mirror images in size, form, and arrangement of parts
He used a lot of symmetry in his paintings.
alternative
another choice
There must be an alternative to children eating junk food all the time.
altitude
height above sea level
It is difficult to breathe in higher altitudes; oxygen masks are highly recommend.
apparatuses
a set of equipment or tools or machines which is used for a particular purpose
Before the rescue workers dove into the ocean, they checked their breathing apparatuses.
aviation
the art or science of flying airplanes
During the 1930s, America recaptured the technological lead in aviation.
BCE
before the common (or Christian) era
There is much debate about when the bible was written, but some scholars believe that the current first five books continued to be edited until about 800 bce.
crude
oil in a natural state that has not yet been treated
The world's top five crude oil producing countries are: Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States, Iran and China.
declines
to lessen in force
Gold increases in value over time, however, appliances declines in value.
engineering
the scientific planning of a machine, road, bridge
She studied civil engineering because she wanted to build bridges.
free-floating
lacking an apparent cause
In order to promote creativity, students are allowed to participate in free-floating experiments.
heavy-load
something that weighs a lot
The construction and stability of heavy-load ships allow them to carry extremely heavy objects
manned
to furnish with men, as for service
The phones at the crises center is manned 24 hours a day.
navigate
to steer a ship or airplane
Historians have found that even ancient ships were able to navigate the large open sea.
precursors
something which happened or existed before another thing
Biological research is often been a precursor to medical breakthroughs which benefit patients.
pressurized
to keep nearly standard atmospheric pressure inside
In recent years, pressurized rice cookers have come in vogue; cooks prefer the taste of rice cooked this way.
propelled
to push or move forward
The paddle boats at the lake are manually propelled.
scheduled
a list of the times when events are planned to happen
Our scheduled flight was delayed for more than ten hours.
supersonic
faster than the sound of sound
A French company was one of the first to successfully operate a supersonic passenger airline.
transnational
going beyond national boundaries
After the tsunami last year, aid came from transnational sources.
transportation
a means or system of moving something from one place to another
Korea's subway system is a very convenient form of public transportation; personal automobiles are not needed in Korea.
warring
describes countries or groups of people that are at war with each other
The two warring countries were in conflict with each other for centuries.
aqueducts
a structure for carrying water across land
The Roman aqueducts are among the greatest achievements in the ancient world.
conquerors
someone who has conquered a country or its people
It was discovered that Roman conquerors wore wooly socks during their conquest of England.
downfall
something that causes a fall from power or a high position
His downfall was caused by his empty promises.
empires
A political unit having an extensive territory or comprising a number of territories or nations and ruled by a single supreme authority
The British empire was one of the largest empires in history.
excelled
to be extremely good at something
Her son excelled in math in school.
governance
the action, manner, function, or power of government
This book discusses good governance in democratic societies.
height
the top
When was at the height of her career when she got pregnant.
inhabitants
a person or animal that lives in a particular place
Seoul is a city with 40 million inhabitants.
justice
the quality of being right or correct
The army was charged with the task of bringing justice to the villagers.
legal
connected with the law
After her car accident, she needed some legal advice.
legal code
a code of laws adopted by a state or nation
Hammurabi, a Babylonian ruler, developed legal codes that still influences us today.
legendary
very famous for a long period of time
His mother was a legendary tennis player in the 1930s.
monarchy
a government ruled by a king or queen
The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.
official
formally set or prescribed
The official language in the school was English, although the students spoke Spanish at home.
peak
the point of greatest activity, strength, or success
She had reached the peak of her career and decided to start a family.
priestess
a female priest
She was stoned to death because the people believed she was a witch priestess.
prosecuted
to institute legal proceedings against
Her neighbor was prosecuted after the police found stolen cars in his garage.
prosperity
the state of being successful and having a lot of money
The country's future prosperity depends on the education of its children.
struggles
Strenuous effort
She finally had to move out because of her struggles with her mother.
worship
a church service
Her family always attended worship on Sunday mornings.
abolished
to end an activity or custom officially
Child abuse needs to be abolished from society.
acupuncture
a Chinese medical procedure that treats illness by the inserting needles at specified sites of the body
When all tradition remedies failed to heal her back pain, she tried acupuncture.
armada
a fleet of warships
The Spanish armada's task was to overthrow protestant England.
authority
to be in charge
She had complete authority over her servants.
currency
the money used to pay for goods and services in a country
The currency of that country does not contain any coins.
discipline
control of the mind and body
In order for students to do well in school, they need self discipline.
dynasties
series of family members who hold power in politics or business
The Han dynasty ruled for over 400 years.
eliminated
to remove or get rid of
We eliminated all meat from our diet.
expeditions
a journey made by a group organized and equipped for a special purpose
On his first trip, Columbus led an expedition with three ships.
explorers
one who explores an unknown or little-known region
Christopher Columbus was a famous explorer.
flourish
to become rich, grow strong
The orphan flourished in her new environment.
imperial
of an empire
imperial Japan annexed Korean in 1910.
instruments
an object for making music, such as a violin, piano, or horn
She plays several musical instruments, and now she is learning to conduct.
nautical
relating to ships, sailing or sailors
They purchased a nautical map before sailing off.
nobility
the noble class or the body of nobles in a country
She married into nobility and has regretted the decision ever since.
residents
person who lives in a certain area
My mother has been a resident of San Francisco for over 30 years.
shared
have in common
They fell in love because of their shared interest in rock climbing.
suffering
the state of a person or thing that suffers
While visiting the country she witnessed the suffering of the inhabitants.
trading post
a store established in an unsettled or thinly settled region by a trader or trading company
Once they settled, the pilgrims built a trading post.
tutored
teach privately; to be taught privately
In preparation for her marriage, she was tutored in proper etiquettes of a princess.
abruptly
suddenly
She abruptly got up and left the table.
advisees
One that is advised
The advisee was not very thrilled with the suggestion.
advisory
advising or given the power to advise
He was part of the advisory committee that made decisions on the spending of the money.
blending
To combine
The blending of the two families was not easy at first.
castles
a large building or group of buildings with thick walls and other defenses against attack
The king did not allow any jousting in the castle.
cathedrals
A large, important church
No one really knows who built the great cathedrals in Europe.
Christianity
the Christian religion
christianity was introduced to Korea over 100 years ago.
council
a group of people called together for consultation, discussion, advice
After a long deliberation, the council decided to free the hostages.
exodus
a going out or forth in a large group
After the terrorist attack, there was a mass exodus of people from the city.
feudal
relating to a political and social system in which a king and the people of the upper classes owned the land and people of the lower classes worked it
The feudal system lasted for over six centuries in Europe.
fortified
to make strong or stronger
The soldiers fortified the building by building an outer wall.
forts
a group of buildings surrounded by high walls and used for military purposes
The enemy first attacked the fort.
livestock
animals, such as cattle, sheep, and chickens
He was hired to take care of the livestock.
missionaries
a person sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism or other activities
The Christian missionaries first came to North Korea long ago.
monarchical
pertaining to a monarch or monarchy
Over time, however, monarchical rule in the colonies began to weaken.
prehistoric
describing the period before there were written records
Dinosaurs lived during prehistoric times.
reaches
The extent or distance something can reach
They built a fence to protect the reaches of their community.
reign
the period of rule, dominance
The family's reign last for over a century.
settlements
a small or isolated community
The book accounts the details of the settlement of the pilgrims in the new land.
tribes
a political, ethnic, or ancestral division of ancient states and cultures
There were several different Indian tribes in the northern part of the country.
accounts
a report, story
In some accounts, the prince never dies.
certainty
that is certain
With the bad weather, it’s a certainty that the flights will be cancelled.
chivalry
the noble qualities a knight was supposed to have, such as courage, honor, and a readiness to help the weak and protect women
She fell in love with her husband because of his chivalry.
coveted
to desire something strongly
She coveted her neighbor's lifestyle.
dedication
personal commitment to something
The teacher had great dedication to her students.
derived
to get something from a source
She derived great pleasure from watching her grandchildren sing.
disciples
an early follower of Jesus
Jesus had 12 original disciples.
dispersed
vanished
There were no traces of the culture because it had dispersed completely.
dissolved
to break up
After the scandal of the president, the company dissolved.
extract
to draw out by effort
Due to cavities, the dentist had to extract 10 teeth.
fellowship
an association of persons having similar tastes
In theory, they were brothers; however, jealousy, envy and hatred existed with the fellowship of the Round Table.
Holy Grail
A cup or plate that, according to medieval legend, was used by Jesus at the Last Supper
In the movie, Harrison Ford seeks after the Holy Grail.
Last Supper
the last supper eaten by Jesus with his disciples before the Crucifixion
Leonardo da Vinci created a mural painting of the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples.
mythical
imaginary, fictitious, or not based on facts or scientific study
Zeus is a mythical character.
obliterated
to remove all traces of
The Japanese tried to obliterate all traces of Korean culture.
proclaimed
to announce officially
He proclaimed to be the new king.
purity
the quality or condition of being pure
There is a big movement for teenagers where they vow abstinence; they wear purity rings to show their commitment.
scandal
any act, person, or thing that offends or shocks moral feelings of the community and leads to disgrace
After the sex scandal, the family had to move out of their community.
spell
spoken words which are thought to have magical power
The witch cast a spell on the prince and turned him into a frog.
usurped
to take control or a position of power
The son had usurped his father's kingdom and the treasures.
aristocracy
a privileged ruling class
Much of the aristocracy fled during the war.
clergy
the group or body of ordained persons in a religion
The presidential candidates asked for advice from the clergy.
deemed
To have as an opinion
The father deemed it was time the son left and lived independently.
disease
serious disorder that is inherited or caused by infection or bad living conditions
The disease was passed down through three generations.
emergence
the process of appearing
The emergence of fast food threatened the physical well being of children.
famine
an acute and general shortage of food
The prolonged war caused a famine in the entire country.
feudalism
a political and social system in which a king and the people of the upper classes owned the land and people of the lower classes worked it
feudalism was common during the middle ages.
fiefs
under feudalism, land held from a lord in return for service
Land in medieval times was broken up into fiefs.
game
wild animals, birds, and fishes
The hunter captured wild game for fun.
jousting
a fight between two mounted knights or men-at-arms using long sticks
The jousting between the two knights was fun to watch.
ladder
a piece of equipment consisting of two vertical bars or rope joined to each other by a set of horizontal steps
Romeo climbed his rope ladder to reach Juliet's room.
manors
in feudal times, the district over which a lord held authority
Medieval manor houses were owned by Medieval England's wealthy.
monasteries
a place where monks live, work, and pray
Some monasteries are open to the public.
monks
a member of a religious order who lives in a monastery
Buddhist monks usually shave their heads.
passport
anything that ensures admission or acceptance
A good education was his passport out of poverty.
populated
to supply with inhabitants
The entire city was populated by refugees.
poverty-stricken
very poor
The poverty-stricken family lived on the streets.
scholarship
study, learning, and knowledge
The doctor is well known for his scholarship.
tournaments
competition in a series of events leading to a winner
He won first place in the tennis tournament.
vassals
a person granted the use of land, in return for rendering homage and usually military service or its equivalent to a lord or other superior
The vassal did not keep his promise to his lord.
academics
people who study and think
The academics at the university did not agree with the policies.
adventures
an unusual, exciting and possibly dangerous activity such as a journey or experience
They had some exciting adventures on their vacation.
allegory
a story in which people, things, and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning
allegories are usually used to teach a moral.
attributed
be the reason for
He attributed his longetivity to smoking a cigar every day.
authorship
with reference to an author
Establishing the authorship of ancient manuscripts is a daunting task.
civil war
a war between groups in a country
The civil war in the United States was between the north and south.
contrasted
to compare two people or things in order to show the differences between them
If you contrast the personalities of the two brothers, you will see which one took after the mother.
diverse
different from each other
San Francisco has a very diverse population.
generosity
readiness to give
He was overwhelmed by the generosity of the church.
genres
a specific type of literature, art, or music grouped according to a style or subject
The encouraged her students to read different genres in preparation for the English test.
literature
written works, such as novels, poems, and plays
She has an interest in British literature.
masterful
able to do things well
He is masterful at creating magnificent buildings.
medieval
related to the Middle Ages
Jousting was a form of entertainment during medieval times.
minstrels
a traveling musician and singer common between the 11th and 15th centuries
The minstrel's song described a romance between the king and queen.
narrative
in the form of a story
Her book was a narrative tale of a man and his search for truth.
orally
uttered by the mouth; spoken
Because he couldn't read English, the test was administered orally.
portray
to describe something or someone in a certain way
She portrayed her mother as a loving and gentle person.
recounted
to describe how something happened
He recounted the accident with much details.
romance
a love affair with excitement, adventure, and happiness
She wrote many romance novels.
virtuous
having good moral qualities
A virtuous person does not tell lies.
accuracy
something that is correct and true
People questioned the accuracy of his statements.
antiquity
the time of ancient societies
In antiquity the Roman civilization was very powerful.
circulation
the number of copies of each issue of a newspaper, magazine, etc., distributed
The newspaper company went out of business because of their lack of circulation.
civilized
describes a society or country that has a highly developed system of government, culture and way of life
The people were not as civilized as she thought they would be.
devotion
dedication
Her devotion to her children was evidenced by her sacrificing her career to home school them.
dignity
self-respect, a calm and formal manner
The priest was a man of great dignity.
elegance
the quality of being graceful
The princess was known for her elegance and charm.
envisioned
to have in mind
While she was growing up, she never envisioned herself getting married.
founding
To establish or set up
The founding fathers of America envisioned a country that would grant religious freedom for all individuals.
generations
All of the offspring that are at the same stage of descent from a common ancestor
The disease skips a generation and then appears in males in the following generation.
grandeur
beauty on a large scale
The grandeur of the Grand Canyon is beyond words.
humanism
a theory that searched for truth and morality based on the history and actions of humans
The word humanism can refer to several different thoughts or theories.
inspiration
something that makes a person work hard or be creative
The inspiration for the movie came from watching his mother deal with the disease.
redeem
to save from sin
Christians believe Jesus redeemed mankind by dying on the cross.
remnants
something that remains
The remnants of the city's former glory can be seen in huge cathedrals.
renowned
famous, well-known and liked
San Francisco is renowned for its beauty.
technique
procedure by which something is performed
She had learned very good techniques; now all she needed to do was execute them.
the classics
the most famous works of literature
As a child, she enjoyed reading all the American classics.
theology
the study of God and religion
In order to become a pastor, most denominations require you study theology in an academic setting.
wake
directly following, as a result of
In the wake of the hurricane, the city lay in ruins.
aesthetic
related to understanding and liking beauty and art
She was very impressed by the aesthetic presentation of Japanese food.
anatomical
of or connected with anatomy
The little girl learned all the names of her body parts by looking at the anatomical chart.
biblical
in keeping with or according to the Bible
In biblical times, people often lived for a very long time.
celebrate
to honor
Many people celebrate Easter by going to church.
commissioned
authorization to do a certain duty or task
The mayor commissioned the French artist to paint his portrait.
dominant
holding the most important position or greatest influence
Healthcare was a dominant issue during the presidential debate.
endowed
to think of as having some quality or characteristic
In mythology, the gods are endowed as having human traits.
exquisite
delicate, finely made
The details on the stained glass window were exquisite.
frescos
painting on wet plaster on a wall or ceiling
Michelangelo used frescos in painting the The Last Judgment on the wall of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.
grounded
to be based firmly on something
Her hatred towards men was grounded in her childhood experience.
idealized
making it seem more pleasant than it was
The movie had an idealized view of the Holocaust.
insatiable
not satisfied with a normal amount
He could not satisfy his insatiable hunger and had to eat five hamburgers.
lifelike
so real as to seem alive
The mannequins seemed so lifelike that even the manager was surprised.
masterpiece
painting, film or book which is done or made with great skill, and is often a person's greatest work
Falling water is considered to be Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece.
patron
a wealthy or powerful person who encourages and supports the activity of others
The princess was a patron of art and supported struggling artists.
perspective
a particular way of considering something
Her perspective of the situation was very different than mine.
portraits
a painting, photograph, or drawing of a person
She commissioned the artist to paint her portrait.
secular
not religious
She decided to home school her children because she was not satisfied with the secular public education.
spirituality
religious devotion or piety
The pastor attempted to understand the spirituality of people who do not go to church.
vehicles
a means by which thoughts are expressed or made known
For many small businesses, the web is a new vehicle for advertising.
altarpiece
a painted or carved screen behind or above the altar or communion table in Christian churches
The church altarpiece had a painting of the last supper.
anatomist
a specialist in anatomy
Many anatomist work in universities teaching anatomy.
apprehension
worry, fear
The parents were filled with apprehension at the thought of their daughter starting school.
apprentice
one who is learning a skill or trade from an expert
Ranofer is an apprentice at the goldsmiths.
architect
a trained professional who designs buildings and is often in charge of their construction
Frank Lloyd Wright was a famous architect.
arrangement
something made by putting things together:
She always made the flower arrangements for church.
artillery
very large guns that are moved on wheels or metal tracks
The artillery designs were untraditional and although they looked great, they were ineffective.
astronomer
a scientist who studies heavenly bodies and outer space
The astronomer slept during the day and worked at night, when the stars are out.
contraptions
a device that looks awkward or old-fashioned, especially one that you do not know how to use
He was an inventor and always had strange contraptions in his garage.
diversions
The act or an instance of diverting or turning aside
Dams are used as river diversions.
genius
A person of extraordinary intellect and talent
Jenny was a child genius.
illegitimate
born to unmarried parents
The illegitimate son sued his father for his fortune.
interests
something that draws the attention of the curiosity of a person
His interests in the arts prompted him to pursue a career in painting.
legacy
something that is a part of your history or which stays from an earlier time
The Greeks left a rich legacy of literature and art.
paternal
related through a father
His paternal grandfather lives in China.
plate tectonics
a theory in which the lithosphere is divided into a number of crystal plates, each of which moves on the plastic asthenosphere more or less independently to collide with, slide under, or move past adjacent plates
When the plate tectonics theory was developed, it replaced the older continental drift theory about the Earth's motions.
rudimentary
simple
He has a rudimentary knowledge of the language and is only able to order food at restaurants.
universal
available to everybody
The ‘thumbs up’ gesture is a universal sign of approval.
untraditional
not conforming to or in accord with tradition
She liked untraditional architectural designs and built a house shaped like a donut.
versatility
able to be used for many different purposes
The versatility of his techniques enabled him to create artistic masterpieces.
assassinated
to kill someone famous or important
After the president was assassinated, the country faced great confusion.
camaraderie
a good feeling of togetherness
The camaraderie between the brothers astonished everyone.
cavalry
soldiers trained to fight on horseback
The cavalry fought with great intensity.
crowned
To confer honor, dignity, or reward upon
After his brave battle, he was crowned as knight.
dispersion
a spread over an area
The dispersion of Israelites out of Israel is known as the Jewish Diaspora.
Hellenistic
of or pertaining to the Greeks or their language, culture, etc., after the time of Alexander the Great
The hellenistic period began in AD 323 with the death of Alexander the Great.
infamous
famous because of something bad
The teacher was infamous for giving too much homework.
infantry
soldiers who fight on foot
Tanks rode ahead of the infantry.
initiated
to introduce or start something new
I initiated a discussion on today's topic.
instilled
to give a quality by example or teaching
Her academic parents instilled in the girl a love for learning.
kingship
being a king
The duties of a kingship include being very diplomatic.
landscape
a large area of countryside, especially in relation to its appearance
The landscape was covered with thousands of rabbits.
mythological
connected with myths
Zeus was a very powerful mythological character.
outnumbered
to be greater in number than
The children outnumbered the adults at the amusement park.
pharaoh
a ruler of ancient Egypt
Egyptians believed the pharaohs to be a god.
tactics
the combination of military plans to achieve a strategy
The generals tactics were successful in capturing the enemy.
throne
the state of being a ruler
Her brother is next in line to the throne.
traverse
to cross, travel over
The braver hikers traversed across the United States.
treacherous
dangerous, harmful
The car had stalled, and they had to travel on foot through the treacherous mountain road.
warfare
the way a war is fought
Germ warfare is a great threat to modern countries.
crystallize
to form into crystals
When a diamond is crystallized, it has definite and characteristic angles.
decelerates
to go more slowly; to reduce speed
Most drivers instinctively decelerate when they see a police car.
dispersion
a spread over an area
The dispersion of Israelites out of Israel is known as the Jewish Diaspora.
faceted
to cut or make polished plane surfaces on a gem
The diamond was carefully faceted by a diamond cutter.
gems
a jewel or precious stone, usu. cut into a shape:
The queen keeps her gems, mostly diamonds and rubies in a safe deposit box at the bank.
geometric
characterized by or using straight lines, triangles, circles, or similar regular shapes or forms
The greatest form of geometric patterns can be found in Islamic art.
gravity
the force that makes things fall to the ground
Without gravity, we would all float in the air.
impurities
the quality or state of being impure
After the flood, the citizens were warned not to drink the water because of impurities.
jewelry
ornaments such as rings, brooches, bracelets, etc
Many movie stars like to wear a lot of jewelry.
mineralogists
a person who studies minerals
mineralogists from all over the world came to observe the twenty pound diamond that was discovered.
monetarily
of or having to do with the currency of a country
The clay pot she found in the dumpster had great monetarily value.
octahedrons
a solid figure having eight faces
An octahedron diamond has eight faces that are all equilateral triangles.
ornaments
anything serving to adorn
Her Christmas ornaments were all made of glass.
providing
on the condition or understanding
The bench under the oak tree was the perfect escape--providing shelter from the rain.
refraction
the turning or bending of any wave
refraction is the change in direction of a wave due to a change in its speed.
resin
a sticky substance found in some plants
When rubber tree is cut, resin comes out which is then used to make rubber.
retarded
to cause to move or proceed slowly
In recent years, many clothing manufacturers are using flame-retarded textiles in children's clothes due to the demands from parent groups.
skeletons
the hard framework of an animal body
When the archeologist dug up the remains, he found the skeletons of several kings.
symmetrical
the quality of having balance and proportion
The symmetrical design of the cathedral makes it an esthetical beauty.
wearable
suitable for wear
Having lived in Alaska for so long, I have no wearable clothes for the summer.
administration
control of the business
The administration of the university was praised for the effective use of the funds.
alliances
a group of countries, political parties, or people joined for a purpose
The three companies formed an alliance to develop a new drug.
campaign
operation; movement
The local farmers have organized a campaign to get the government to increase taxes on imported vegetables.
chiefdom
the rank or office of a chief
He was denied the chiefdom of his tribe because of his light colored skin.
chieftains
the leader of a tribe
The chieftain had become a Christian and ordered his people to kill no more.
civil officers
government employee
The civil officers were reprimanded for criticizing their government.
demolished
to destroy
The house was completely demolished during the earthquake.
descendants
someone born into a certain family line
She is a descendant of Thomas Jefferson.
downfall
something that causes a fall from power or a high position
His downfall was caused by his empty promises.
genius
A person of extraordinary intellect and talent
Jenny was a child genius.
invasion
an attack, entrance by force
His invasion of China was stopped by the cold winter.
isolation
an act or instance of isolating
After being in isolation for two weeks, the prisoner was finally ready to confess.
poisoned
to harm or kill with a poison
The rats were poisoned.
prisoners
A person held in custody, captivity especially while on trial
The prisoners tried to escape by running across the field.
prosperous
successful, usually by earning a lot of money
American is a very prosperous country.
revolted
fight against a government or other power
The villagers revolted against their leader.
ruthless
not thinking about the feelings or health of other people
He is a ruthless businessman and nothing will stop him when it comes to a business opportunity.
solicit
to ask someone for money, information or help
The candidates went door to door to solicit votes.
tolerant
accepting of different beliefs and behavior
The parents were tolerant of their son's bad behavior.
warriors
a person taking part or experienced in conflict especially war
The warriors invaded the castle by breaking down the wall.
architect
a trained professional who designs buildings and is often in charge of their construction
Frank Lloyd Wright was a famous architect.
artisans
A skilled manual worker
The chest was built by an artisan in India.
calligraphers
a person who uses highly decorative handwriting
They asked a calligrapher to hand write all their wedding invitations.
celebrated
much spoken of
He was once a celebrated actor who made a lot of money.
commissioned
authorization to do a certain duty or task
The mayor commissioned the French artist to paint his portrait.
confidante
A woman to whom secrets or private matters are disclosed
Mary was a confidante to the president.
connoisseur
an expert
Meanwhile the project seems to have provoked some bemused commentary among art connoisseurs.
counsel
advice given by an expert
His wife provided wise counsel to her husband.
disrepair
a condition of being broken down and needing to be fixed
The church building was in a condition of disrepair after the earthquake.
elaborate
containing a lot of careful detail or many detailed parts
The stained glass windows had elaborate designs.
exquisite
delicate, finely made
The details on the stained glass window were exquisite.
immortal
living forever
He was deceived by the witch's promise that he would be immortal.
imprisoned
to send to jail
He was imprisoned for stealing the car.
masons
a skilled worker in brick or stone
They called a mason to lay the bricks for their house.
masterpiece
painting, film or book which is done or made with great skill, and is often a person's greatest work
Falling water is considered to be Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece.
mausoleum
a large burial tomb
Wealthy families used to build mausoleums.
obsession
idea or habit that controls the mind
Her obsession with cats was the cause of their divorce.
rebellions
an act or state of armed resistance to one's government
The students were expelled from the university because of their rebellion against the government.
sculptors
an artist who makes non-flat art with stone, metal, and other substances
The sculptor created the beautiful statue out of metal.
timeless
lasting forever
The timeless beauty of Michelangelo's paintings delights all people.
absolute
certain, definite
The mother was not certain that her son was telling the absolute truth.
appointment
an office, position, or the like, to which a person is appointed
He received his appointment as the university's new president on Monday.
aristocrats
member of the aristocracy
The orphan turned out to be an aristocrat from an old family.
Barbaric
wild, uncivilized
She decided not to marry John because she felt he was too barbaric.
chancellor
a high government official
The new chancellor of Germany came to visit the United States.
deficient
not enough
The baby did not grow because her diet was deficient in calcium.
devastated
destroyed completely
The devastated village took twenty years to rebuild.
Gentry
people of high social standing
Many of the gentry in Boston live in mansions.
imperialist
of a system in which a country rules other countries
Britain's imperialist activities in Africa lasted from 1869 to 1912.
National assembly
in some countries, the name of a legislature
There are 299 members in the Korean National assembly.
popularity
widespread acceptance
The popularity of the new phone caused the company to expand rapidly.
proclaimed
to declare publicly
He proclaimed his love for her in front of 5,000 people.
recaptured
to capture again
The soldiers recaptured the village back from the rebels.
reputation
an opinion, about the quality of a person's character
She had a very bad reputation among her friends.
revolution
extreme change
There is a phone revolution occurring with so many people making phone calls over the internet.
rivalries
a special desire to defeat an opponent
rivalries exist between siblings because they compete for their parents attention.
Serf
a slave
The serf was committed to serving his master for 20 years.
Serfdom
related to a serfs
serfdom was a labor system under which most European agricultural workers lived during the Middle Ages.
terrible
horrible
There was a terrible fire that destroyed 2,000 homes.
throne
the state of being a ruler
Her brother is next in line to the throne.
consensus
agreement
The consensus of the community members was that the city should build a new park.
constitution
A constitution is a document of principles for a government.
The country's constitution said a prime minister could only serve three terms.
convention
a way in which something is usually done, especially within a particular area or activity
In the US, a popular convention is to shake hands when you meet someone.
defenders
someone who protects a place against attack
The defenders of the city gave up when they were outnumbered by the besieging army.
directory
A group or body of directors
The universities directory included two former presidents.
executive branch
the branch of government empowered and required to administer the laws and affairs of a nation
The president is the chief of the executive branch of the American government.
financing
to supply with money or capital
After financing the medical project for years, the people decided to end their support because they did not see any results.
foundations
the basis on which a thing stands, is founded, or is supported
The parents commitment to reading to their daughter each night built a solid foundation for her education.
fraternity
a group of people with the same beliefs
He belongs to the fraternity of medical doctors.
harboring
to hold in the mind
The daughter harbored a grudge against her father for over 30 years.
instability
the quality or state of being unstable
The instability of the market caused the investor to worry constantly.
legislative
having the function of making laws
The French Parliament is the legislative body of the French government
legislature
a governmental body with the power to make laws for a nation or state
The legislature makes laws to improve the life of its citizens.
prominence
importance
She came to prominence as an artist in the 1960s.
provision
a clause in a legal document stipulating or requiring some specific thing
The divorce agreement included a provision that the mother could not remarry until the children were 18 years old.
rebellions
an act or state of armed resistance to one's government
The students were expelled from the university because of their rebellion against the government.
redistribution
a distribution performed again or anew
After the colonist left the country, they had to work out the redistribution of the land.
representative
serving to represent
The representative film about life after WWI won the highest award.
revenue
the return from property or investment
The revenue from her income property was not sufficient to cover her expenses.
stipulations
when someone says exactly how something must be done
The only stipulation in the marriage contract was that the wife will not receive any money if they divorce.
blending
To combine
The blending of the two families was not easy at first.
conqueror
a person who conquers or vanquishes
William the conqueror was an illegimate son of Duke Robert of Normandy.
constitutional monarchy
a system in which the king or queen's power is severely limited, because they act on the advice of the politicians who form the government
Britain is an example of a constitutional monarchy.
continuation
the act or state of continuing
The continuation of her business was not affected by the riot.
dictatorship
absolute, imperious, or overbearing power or control
Germany under the leadership of Hitler became a dictatorship.
enduring
existing for a long time
I will have many enduring memories of my time in Africa.
entertained
to hold the interest of and give pleasure to
The little boy entertained himself by watching TV.
installation
an installing or being installed
The installation ceremony of the new president lasted for three weeks.
lavish
more than enough
Kim Jong Il is known for his lavish spending despite his country's poor economic condition.
merchant
seller; trader
Amelia’s father was a rich merchant who bought and sold things.
nobleman
a member of the nobility
When the nobleman was put in prison, it brought shame to his family.
opportunities
an advantageous time to act:
Jane had the opportunity to travel to Europe this summer.
parliament
an official council usually concerned with government or public affairs
The parliament of Great Britain is composed of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Prime Minister
the chief executive and, usually, head of the cabinet
Margaret Thatcher was the first woman and longest serving Prime Minister in Britain.
prohibited
to refuse to permit
The parents prohibited their son from marrying because he loved someone of a different race.
Protestant
any member of the various Christian churches established as a result of the Reformation
There are many protestant churches in Korea.
reformation
a reforming or being reformed
Martin Luther started the Protestant reformation movement in 1517.
self-indulgent
indulging one's own desires without restraint
The self-indulgent girl buys a new dress and shoe every week.
short-lived
having or tending to have a short life span or existence
The new fad was short-lived.
stake out
to establish a claim by marking the location or boundaries of
I arrived early at the park to stake out a picnic table.
advances
an improvement
During the Industrial revolution, there were many advances in textiles and manufacturing.
booming
to increase suddenly in size, importance, or activity
Frisco is the fastest booming city in the United States.
crippling
very damaging
The mad cow scare could have a crippling impact on the U.S. economy.
crop rotation
the system of varying crops order on the same ground to avoid depleting the soil and to control weeds, diseases, and pests
crop rotation replenishes the soil with nutrients.
cultivation
the act of promoting the growth or development of
The cultivation of his musical skills allowed him to tour the world with the symphony.
depleted
to make less by gradually using up resources, funds or strength
The country's natural resources are rapidly being depleted.
far-reaching
having a strong effect or influence
The court verdict had far-reaching effects on the way children are educated.
improvements
an improving or being improved
The family spent their weekends working on home improvements.
innovations
something new made or improved with creativity
Personal computers were an innovation so the 1970s, but now they are common.
irrevocably
that cannot be revoked, recalled, or undone
Marriage between a man and a woman in the Catholic church become irrevocably united.
offspring
a child or animal as related to its parent
The man's offspring's refused to talk to him.
permanently
always and forever
The family decided to settle permanentely in the United States.
population
all the people in a country, region
The population for the city of Norfolk has increased 50% in the past 10 years.
remedy
something that corrects
The remedy for the solution was only a temporary one.
replenished
to make full or complete again
After the bed rest, her strength was replenished.
significant
important
The accident victim made significant progress in his physical therapy sessions.
staggering
tending to stagger or overwhelm
A staggering amount of money was required to rebuil the house.
ubiquitous
present, or seeming to be present, everywhere at the same time
Denim jeans are ubiquitous in the United States; everyone has a pair of jeans.
urbanization
growth of cities and city life
urbanization can be very good for people.
witnessed
to see, observe an incident
The man witnessed the accident from his office window.
aggression
unfriendly or harmful action against someone
The father was arrested because he continued to show too much aggression against his children.
assimilating
to absorb groups of different cultures into the main cultural body
assimilating the refugees into the new culture involved much training and educating.
bloodshed
acts of killing and injury
There was much bloodshed after the battle.
bonds
anything that binds, fastens, or restrains
The government's attempt to break the bonds of poverty is making strides.
bribes
anything given to induce a person to do something illegal or wrong
The prisoner offered a bribe to the guard so that he could break free.
colonialism
the system by which a country maintains foreign colonies in order to exploit them economically
The French colonialism inhibited the development of indigenous technology in Africa.
defeated
beaten or overcome
The defeated army returned home full of shame.
disarm
to take away weapons
The policeman disarmed the thief's weapons.
documentation
the supplying of documents or supporting references
He could not cross the border because he did not have correct documentation.
incurred
to take on
He incurred many expenses when starting his new business.
installed
to put something in place and make it work
The plumber installed a new sink to replace the broken one.
manipulate
to control by shrewd use of influence, often in an unfair or fraudulent way
The child knew how to manipulate the adults to get what she wanted.
occupations
the seizure and control of a country or area by military forces
The young soldier was responsible for enforcing the military occupation in the small village.
oppressive
cruelly overbearing
The daughter ran away from home because of her oppressive home environment.
puppet
a person or group whose actions are controlled by someone else
Western countries have been accused of setting up puppet governments in poor countries.
resistance
opposition of some force or thing to another or others
The school faced resistance from parents when they tried to institute a mandatory uniform policy.
tangible
physical; able to be seen or touched
The police had no tangible evidence against the suspect; it was only a suspicion.
temporality
the quality or state of being temporal
The themes of his songs address the fragility and temporality of life.
unethical
not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior
The employee was fired because of his unethical sales practices.
venture
an undertaking involving uncertainty as to the outcome
The company's new venture to create a theme park in the slums was met with harsh criticism.
assets
items of value to a person, business, or institution
The financial aid was based on her parent's assets.
careers
a profession or occupation which one trains for and pursues as a lifework
She made a career change when she was 50 years old.
conception
an idea or opinion; a way of thinking about something
A conception of something is an idea that you have of it in your mind.
connotations
the meaning that a word can have beyond its basic one
For some people the word 'pig' has connotations of 'dirty' and 'smelly'.
consent
to give permission
The parents gave their consent for the daughter to marry a foreigner.
constitutes
to make up
Many scientists have pondered what constitutes a healthy marriage.
debate
discuss an issue
I watched the political debates on television.
mindset
a fixed mental attitude formed by experience, education, or prejudice
She had a very positive mindset; she saw the good in everyone.
mores
customs of a people or culture
As an anthropologist, he studies the social mores of various cultures.
nuclear family
a basic social unit consisting of parents and their dependent children living in one household
With the divorce rates on the rise, the concept of nuclear family is crumbling.
outsiders
one who is outside or not included
As an outsider, she was able to see the dangers of the current system.
peers
a person who is one's equal in age, rank, ability, or other quality
She was much taller than her peers.
polygamy
the state or practice of having two or more spouses at the same time
The Mormon church denounced polygamy in 1890, but there are people who still practice it.
professional
of, relating to, or connected with a certain job or career
Most of the students at our school want to be professional athletes in the future!
rethink
to think over again, with a view to changing
When her initial plans failed, she had to rethink her strategy.
sanctions
to support
The Catholic church sanctions sexual relations after marriage.
spouses
a husband or wife
Her spouse worked and lived in another state.
structured
to put together systematically
Each scene must be carefully structured and rehearsed.
submissive
having or showing a tendency to submit without resistance
The submissive wife cooked and cleaned for her husband without complaining.
union
marriage
The union between the man and woman lasted for 50 years.
adherence
attention to laws, rules
He is a teacher's pet mostly because of his adherence to school rules.
advocating
to speak or write in support of
She conducted seminars advocating the rights of children.
consequences
the result of doing something
The child was fully aware of his consequences for lying to his parents.
criminal
involving or relating to crime
The criminal charges against Jack were dropped.
equity
fairness; impartiality
There needs to be equity in education for all children regardless of their sex, race or religion.
execution
carrying out
The execution of the plan will require the entire team.
irrelevant
not pertinent
The student's book report was full or irrelevant information.
justice
the quality of being right or correct
The army was charged with the task of bringing justice to the villagers.
liaison
an exchange between individuals, businesses, or governments
The liaison between the two countries was possible after the marriage of the princess.
maxims
a concisely expressed principle or rule of conduct
"The early bird catches the worm," is a maxim people should not be lazy.
per se
considered by itself
The results per se are positive, but the means of achieving it are questionable.
proceedings
a series of actions in a law court
Legal proceedings can take a long time.
proponents
a person who espouses or supports a cause
Hillary Clinton is a proponent for universal healthcare.
rational
based on reason or logic
I made a very rational argument, but she wouldn't believe me.
resolution
the ability to show things clearly and with a lot of detail
Setting your camera at a higher resolution will allow you to maker bigger prints of your pictures.
statute
an established rule
Statutes of limitations is a statute setting a time limit on legal action in certain cases.
the Enlightenment
a philosophical movement of the 18th century
the Enlightenment was characterized by innovations in political, religious, and education.
under fire
under censure or criticism
The school came under fire for its handling of the classroom shooting.
violation
infringement of a law, rule or right
A violation of school rules will result in detention.
virtue
right action and thinking
William J. Bennett wrote a children's book on virtues.
addresses
to deal with
The new policy addresses the issue of poverty in children.
argued
present logically
She argued her case before the judges.
bent
an inclination
After taking a sculpting class, she discovered her artistic bent.
by and large
in general; on the whole
by and large, there is not much to be said of the new system.
capitalist
an advocate of capitalism
Efficiency is important in a capitalist economy.
contemporary
in the style of the present or recent times
She favored contemporary over classic designs.
cruel
willing to cause others mental or physical pain
The prisoner of war suffered cruel treatment during his captivity.
despots
king with unlimited powers
Ivan the Terrible was a Russian despot who ruled for over 30 years.
egregious
outstanding for undesirable qualities
The teacher made an egregious mistake, and the students had to take the test over.
endorsement
support; backing
The issue of full independence received overwhelming endorsement.
exploit
to make use of or get benefit from something or someone, usually in an unfair way
Some textile factories exploit children and make them work under deplorable conditions.
factions
A group of persons forming a cohesive contentious minority within a larger group
There were several factions that fought for control of the country.
identity
who or what something is
After living in American for 30 years, she faced an identity crises when she returned to her homeland.
inhumane
unmoved by the suffering of others
She was sent to jail for her inhumane treatment of animals.
rationality
reasonableness or the possession or use of reason
There was no rationality in the way he behaved in front of the guests.
reflective
meditative
The current economic situation is reflective of the government's management of tax dollars.
sentiments
a thought, opinion, or judgment
After the bombing, anti-American sentiments swept through the country.
theorists
One who theorizes
Some educational theorists believe education is initiated by students and not teachers.
uprisings
an outbreak against a government
An uprising of the people occurred because of lack of food.
warranted
to serve as justification or reasonable grounds for an act or belief
Her behavior warranted extreme disciplinary measures.
aligned
to bring into agreement
To make sure the bookcase did not fall forward, we had to align one of the sides against the wall.
alloys
A mixture or solid solution of two or more metals
Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper.
electron
a part of the atom with a negative charge
electrons spin around outside the nucleus.
magnifications
the process of enlarging the size of something
Magnification of the microscopic insects allowed him to see the intricate details of the body.
magnifying
to increase the apparent size of
He used his magnifying glass in the garden to examine the microscopic insects.
microscopic
extremely small
The bugs in the house were so microscopic that they were not visible to the naked eye.
mounted
to place or fix
We mounted the children's drawings on bright colored paper and then placed them on the walls.
objective
the lens nearest to the object observed, as in a microscope or telescope
Microscope objectives are typically designed to be parfocal, which means that when one changes from one lens to another on a microscope, the sample stays in focus.
ocular
the lens constituting the eyepiece of an optical instrument
The ocular is the lenses that is closest to the eye.
optical
of the eye or the sense of sight
optical illusions are tricks that make us perceive something differently than it actually exists.
photographic
related to photography
She has a very photographic memory; she was able to describe the scene in great detail.
resolution
a solution to a problem
A resolution to the conflict did not seem possible.
rotates
to turn around or cause to turn around a center point or axis
In order to get a better view of the White House, we had to rotate the eye piece of the telescope.
scanning
to glance at or over or read hastily
scanning the book before you read will give you a general idea of what the book will be about.
specimen
a sample
In order to determine the cause of the child's illness, the doctor took a blood specimen.
stereoscope
an instrument with two eyepieces through which a pair of photographs of the same scene or subject, taken at slightly different angles, are viewed side by side
A stereoscope allows a double-image of the same picture to appear to be one three-dimensional photograph.
technicians
a worker trained with special skills
The x-ray technician was very good at what he did; he was able to take an x-ray of the crying baby.
three-dimensional
having height, width, and depth
In order to view a three-dimensional movie, you need to wear special glasses.
tremendous
very large
She had the tremendous task of organizing the company's annual dinner for 500 people and their families.
variations
the act, fact, or process of varying
There were many variations of the story, but they all had the same ending.
authoritarian
Any type of government where the power is placed in a select individual or few individuals
In an authoritarian form of government, citizens have very limited rights.
centralize
to organize under one control
The city government's main goal was to centralize the education system.
core
the central or most important part of something
The core of the problem is that he is very lazy and does not like to work hard.
delegate
to entrust authority or power to a person acting as one's agent or representative
Because he likes to control everything, he does not delegate any responsibilities to his subordinates.
discrepancies
lack of agreement
There was a discrepancy between the price on the price tag and what she was actually charged.
effectively
adequate to accomplish a purpose
The school teaches strategies for using your memory effectively.
expectations
a thing looked forward to
She did not have much expectations from the blind date.
head
the person who is foremost or in charge
The father was not the head of the household; the mother was.
incorporated
assimilated
The two accounting systems were incorporated into one.
issues
a point, matter, or question to be disputed or decided
The major issues of the campaign were debated extensively.
mandating
to order someone to do something
The delegates were mandated to vote against the proposal.
measures
a procedure; course of action
We have taken measures to ensure this type of accident does not happen again.
oligarchy
a form of government in which the ruling power belongs to a few persons
Historically, many oligarchies gave the political power to the aristocracy.
oversight
supervision
The girl's behavior required oversight of her activities.
populace
the common people of a nation, region, or local area, such as a city
The populace of the city travel to work by public transportation.
purview
the range of operation, authority or control
All administrative decisions are under the purview of the principal.
republican
Favoring a republic as the best form of government
In a republican government, the people have the freedom to elect government officials.
restrict
put certain limitations on
Due to a drought, the city restricts water usage.
rests
To depend
His future rests in the outcome of the jury's decision.
select
to make a selection
The mother did not allow her daughter to select her clothes each day.
abject
in the worst condition, miserable
In the slums of Brazil, people live in abject poverty.
alienated
to make an enemy of someone
He alienated his family by gambling too much.
artifacts
an object that is made by a person, such as a tool or a decoration, especially one that is of historical interest
The museum contained many artifacts from the Ming Dynasty.
blatantly
describes something bad that is very obvious or intentional
She blatantly told lies, to get her way.
bourgeoisie
upper class
He broke up with his girlfriend because her bourgeoisie family would not allow her to marry him.
climate
the prevailing attitudes, standards, or environmental conditions of a group, period, or place
The city officials wanted to create an ethical political climate and prohibited council members from receving any gifts.
determinism
the doctrine that all facts and events exemplify natural laws
Economic determinism explains a social structure and culture as a product of the social and technical organization of economic life.
disparities
a difference
There is a big disparity between the rich and poor.
dissatisfaction
lack of satisfaction
When the new manager arrived, there was much dissatisfaction among the workers.
fueled
to provide energy
Her desire to help the poor was fueled by her religious convictions.
inherently
existing in something as a permanent, essential characteristic
There is nothing inherently wrong with adhering to specific practices and strategies.
manifesto
a written statement of the beliefs, aims and policies of an organization, especially a political party
In their election manifesto, the replublican party proposed universal healthcare.
observations
a remark about something that you have noticed
After making several observations, the teacher gave his student critical advice.
oppressed
to govern or treat cruelly and unjustly
The upper class oppressed the lower class by taking their lands away from them.
predictions
a statement about what will happen in the future
The weather man's prediction that it would be sunny today was correct.
proletariat
ordinary people
Members belonging to the proletariat class usually work in factories.
revolutionary
wanting or causing a complete change
revolutionary discoveries in science is helping people to live longer lives.
shortcomings
A deficiency
Despite her shortcomings, James decided to marry her.
speculations
Reasoning based on inconclusive evidence
The people had many speculations about why the couple had left the country.
spontaneous
acting in accordance with or resulting from a natural feeling
My brother is very spontaneous; he never plans out his vacations.
agitating
to disturb or excite emotionally
The politician was disliked for always agitating the crowd into a frenzy.
antitrust
preventing one company from taking over all the sales of a certain good or service in an effort to control the price
The United States' antitrust laws have kept energy rates down.
cooperation
when you work together with someone or do what they ask you
In kindergarten, one of the learning goals for children is cooperation.
distribute
to give out
The church distributes free dinners on Thanksgiving Day.
endorsement
a public statement of your approval or support for something or someone
The CEO gave his endorsement to the republican candidate.
entities
something which exists apart from other things, having its own independent existence
Although the organizations work together, they are all separate entities.
exclusive
belonging to one person, company, or contract
The company has exclusive rights to sell the cell phones in Latin America.
frenzy
a state of panic, causing a wild display of emotion
When she learned of her mother's death, she went into a frenzy.
interaction
action or influence between two or more people
Children need interaction with others their age to help them develop their social skills.
invest
to give one's time, resources, effort, or energy to something, expecting a positive result
If you invest in my business, I can promise a good return.
markets
the business or trade in a particular product, including financial products
The auto market did very poorly last year due to the increase in gas prices.
motivated
to want to do something well
He was always very motivated and did well at Harvard.
mutually
doing the same thing to or for each other
The project will be mutually beneficial for both companies.
outlets
a way in which emotion or energy can be expressed or made use of
Her career provided no outlet for her creative ideas.
profit
money remaining after business expenses are deducted
She made a big profit selling Christmas decorations.
regime
a government, system of ruling
The revolutionaries replaced the communist regime.
socialism
a political belief that says the government should own and run factories, hospitals, schools with the people sharing in work and products
In socialism, the government pays for most of the education.
status quo
the way things are now
Many people want to maintain the status quo.
subsequently
happening after something else
He was convicted of the charges and subsequently had to serve 30 years in prison.
tacit
understood without being expressed directly
The businessmen had a tacit agreement to share all the profits from the venture.
bonds
anything that binds, fastens, or restrains
The government's attempt to break the bonds of poverty is making strides.
components
a part of a whole of something
The English course has three components: literature analysis, grammar and writing.
confidence
belief in one's abilities
She lacked confidence to pursue a career in medicine.
converted
to cause something or someone to change in form
The tourists converted their American dollars into Euros.
deflation
drop in prices of goods and services
There was a sharp deflation in automobile prices.
demand
the desire to purchase, coupled with the power to do so
The demand for the talking doll was high during the Christmas holiday.
employment
a job paying a salary or wages
He was laid off from his job and is not looking for employment.
gauging
to appraise, estimate, or judge
A poll was conducted to gauge the people's interest in the new product.
inflation
a rise in prices and lowering of currency's value
The inflation was so bad that milk cost three times as much.
integral
necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental
He grew up in a farming community and within a very large family, so living simply was integral to his life philosophy.
interest
money which is charged by a bank or other financial organization for borrowing money
The bank charged 15% interest rate for the loan.
liquidity
the ability or ease with which assets can be converted into cash
She likes to buy gold because if its liquidity.
macroeconomics
the study of national economies
macroeconomics deals with the performance, structure, and behavior of a national economy as a whole.
microeconomics
the study of types of businesses in an economy, rather than the overall economy
microeconomics studies how individuals, households, and firms make decisions to allocate limited resources.
prescriptive
saying exactly what must happen, especially by giving an instruction or making a rule
Most teachers feel the school's policy on homework is too prescriptive.
resources
a useful or valuable possession or quality of a country, organization or person
The company's resources are its hard working employees.
robust
having physical vigor, energetic good health
Even at the age of 70, he is robust and plays golf every day.
scarcity
a very small or limited amount of something
There is a scarcity skilled workers in the country.
scope
the limits or range of something
Statistics is outside the scope of my math knowledge.
stock market
a particular market where stocks and bonds are traded
A stock market is a market for the trading of company stock.
alliances
a group of countries, political parties, or people joined for a purpose
The three companies formed an alliance to develop a new drug.
conducive
helping to produce
Watching too much TV is not conducive developing an intelligent mind.
cost-efficient
productive relative to the cost
Automakers are competing to develop the most cost-efficient automobile.
edge
a small advantage
In terms of education, she had an edge over the other applicants.
embargoes
a restriction or total ban on trade with another nation
The United States placed an embargo on imports from Canada.
evolution
to cause something or someone to develop gradually
With the evolution of personal computers, people are able to communicate much more effectively.
exploitation
The act of employing to the greatest possible advantage
The exploitation of the company's resources was crucial in order for the company to make a profit.
fluctuating
to change continually
Because of his fluctuating grades, his parents decided to home school him so that he could get more individualized help.
foreign
outside one's own country
After graduating from college, she visited over 30 foreign countries.
fostered
to help to develop
The teacher fostered a love of reading in her students.
hassle
an unpleasant task or chore that is harder than it should be
She shopped online because she wanted to avoid the hassle of waiting in long lines.
investors
a person who puts money into a business idea or activity in the hopes of making more money if the idea is successful:
The inventor was able to market his product with the help of three investors.
lucrative
producing a lot of money
Selling used cars was quite lucrative until the economy faces a recession.
offending
unwanted, often because unpleasant and causing problems or inconvenience
The mother decided to cancel her cable service because of too many offending TV shows.
spawn
to cause, give life to
The loosening of government control has spawned many new businesses.
standardized
to make things of the same type all have the same basic features
American students take a standardized test each year to asses their academic achievements.
transactions
to do and complete a business activity
Although the business was legal, most of their foreign transactions were illegal.
unions
a joining of forces
A union of a man and a wife is called a marriage.
viably
having the ability to grow, expand or develop
The fetus could not viably survive in the mother's womb.
waged
to fight a war or organize a series of activities in order to achieve something
The conflict between the two countries waged on for decades.
civil law
the body of law dealing with the rights of individual citizens
Divorce cases are covered unde civil law rather than criminal law.
codified
to arrange something, such as laws or rules, into a system
The Babylonians codified the Jewish laws.
common law
the legal system in England and most of the US which has developed over a period of time from old customs and court decisions
British common law became the basis of law in the United States.
compensation
payment in money
She was paid $4,000 in compensation for her work.
criminal law
the part of the legal system which relates to punishing people who break the law
Murder cases are covered under criminal law.
defense
a defendant and his or her counsel
The defense presented an effective argument to the judge.
directives
An order or instruction, especially one issued by a central authority
The purpose of the directive was to outline the procedures for releasing government records to the public.
incarcerate
to put in jail
The woman was incarcerated for bank robbery.
inheritance
money, land, etc. received by someone when a relative dies
The uncle left a large inheritance to his nephews and nieces.
inquisitive
asking lots of questions
The inquisitive child asked questions incessantly.
judicial
related to courts and judges:
In the United States, the judicial branch of the government is the Supreme Court.
jurisdiction
a specific area of such authority
The Frisco police department has jurisdiction in the city of Allen as well.
jury
a group of 12 citizens who listen to information about the problem or crime, receive instructions from the judge, and decide the guilt or innocence of the person on trial
The jury decided the defendant was guilty.
mediator
someone who talks to two separate people involved in a disagreement to try to help them to agree or find a solution to their problems
Because of their hostile relationship, a mediator was required whenever the father visited the child.
perpetrator
a person who commits wrongdoing
The police caught the perpetrator and took him to the police station.
platform
a statement of political beliefs and goals
The candidate ran on the platform of lowering taxes.
prosecution
the institution and carrying on of legal proceedings against a person
The witness for the prosecution gave a convincing testimony against the defendant.
ramifications
a result, an effect of an action
The father decided to quit his job, and the financial ramifications really affected the family
tort law
law that deals with a private or civil wrongful act that causes another person harm or damage and entitles him or her to compensation
Tort law is a branch of civil law.
verdict
a decision of guilty or not guilty
The 'guilty' verdict crushed the man's family.
adversarial
involving opposition or disagreement
The two lawyers were on adversarial sides of the case.
advocates
a worker for a cause
Mother Theresa was an advocate for the poor.
arguments
a process of reasoning
It was diffiult to follow the lawyer's arguments.
benefit
an advantage or profit gained from something
The benefit of a big family is that you always have someone to talk to when you are sad.
canon law
law used for the internal ecclesiastical law which governs various churches
The way canon laws are interpreted among churches varies.
cropping up
to happen or appear unexpectedly
He recently broke up with his girlfriend, and her name keeps cropping up during conversations.
dictated
to say what someone must do
The government dictates how families must educate their children.
disputes
a lawsuit
The landlord and the tenant have a dispute over the rent.
drafting
writing a first or preliminary form of something
He spent the night drafting his argument for his case.
immigration
when someone comes to live in a different country
immigration into the United States is getting more difficult.
inquisitorial
a trial where a judge is charged with prosecuting the individual before him
The inquisitorial systems seems more economic than the American legal system.
intellectual property
someone's idea or invention which can be protected by law from being copied by someone else
Most books are protected by intellectual property law.
marginalized
to make less important
With the arrival of the American military, the host nation's military has been marginalized.
onset
the beginning of something
The onset of his illness began last year.
orators
a skilled public speaker
Many consider Bill Clinton to be an expert orator; his arguments were very convincing.
plead
to request urgently
The woman pleaded her husband not to leave her.
property
an object or objects that belong to someone
The park is private property and not open to the public.
recorded
set down or registered in a permanent form
recorded music was possible with the invention of the phonautograph by Frenchman Leon Scott in 1857.
specializations
the process of specializing
Orthopedic Surgery is a specialization in medicine.
the deceased
the dead person
The deceased was taken out of the room.
beliefs
the feeling of certainty that something exists or is true
Her belief that she would be rewarded in heaven allowed her to live a very sacrificial life.
deference
respect for another's preferences
She showed deference to her husband in planning their vacation.
destiny
the influence of uncontrollable forces on the course of life and its events
It was destiny and not an accident that brought lovers together.
detachment
emotional distance
Her detachment from her children was the only option available to her since losing custody of them.
dichotomy
a difference between two completely opposite ideas or things
There is a dichotomy of what the mother says and she does.
doctrine
a belief or set of beliefs taught and accepted by a particular group
The Christian advocates the importance of the nuclear family.
espouse
to take up, support, or advocate
She espouses the view that women should have equal rights as men.
karma
in Buddhism and Hinduism, the total effect of one's behavior during one's life
She had rejected several marriage proposals because of the bad karma she sensed from the men.
limitations
the act of controlling and especially reducing something
Living in the city has many limitations for large families.
methodologies
a system of methods, principles, and rules for regulating a given discipline
The teacher used different methodologies in teaching her students.
monotheistic
the belief that there is only one god
Christianity is a monotheistic religion.
mysticism
the belief that there is hidden meaning in life or that each human being can unite with God
Some factions of mysticism believe you can use meditation to reach God.
nonviolence
a doctrine that prohibits the use of force in bringing about political reform
Martin Luther King believed in nonviolence in fighting for civil rights.
occurrences
something that happens
Accidents are an everyday occurrences on that street corner.
reincarnation
rebirth in a new person or form after death
Many people believe in reincarnation; many believe they will reincarnate as an animal.
ritualistic
a set of fixed actions and sometimes words performed regularly
Her morning routine was very ritualistic--she always ate a banana after she brushed her teeth.
synthesis
the mixing of different ideas
The menu contained dishes that were a synthesis of Asian and Western food.
Taoism
the philosophical system advocating a life of complete simplicity and naturalness and of noninterference with the course of natural events, in order to attain a happy existence in harmony with the Tao
taoism was started by the Chinese philosopher Lao Tze in 440 BC.
transcending
to go beyond, rise above or be more important or better than something
Some religions espouse the idea of transcending above God through meditation.
wariness
not completely trusting or certain about something or someone
Her wariness about the doctor's ability caused her to find another doctor.
classical
relating to formal music in the European tradition, including opera and symphony
classical music and jazz both aim to provide a depth of expression and detail.
empiricist
someone who employs empirical methods, as in science
The last famous empiricist is David Hume (1711-1776) a Scottish philosopher.
epistemology
the part of philosophy that is about the study of how we know things
epistemology is mainly concerned with analyzing the nature of knowledge and how it relates to similar notions such as truth, belief, and justification.
expound
to comment or talk
He uses his blog to expound his views on same-sex marriage.
idealists
a person who maintains that the real is of the nature of thought or that the object of external perception consists of ideas
idealists believes that everything we experience is of a mental nature.
implication
consequence; effect
Are you interested in the political implications of weblogs and social software?
intangible
not capable of being touched
There are many intangible rewards of raising children.
interplay
action between people or things
The interplay of spices gives Korean food their highly flavorful taste.
linear
connected
There is a linear relationship between the number hours students sleep and their academic progress.
mental
related to the mind
Jobs with the federal government require a mental health examination.
metaphysical
the part of philosophy that is about understanding existence and knowledge
Most teenagers ask themselves metaphysical questions such as "What is love?" and "What is death?"
postmodernism
any of a number of trends or movements in the arts and literature developing in the 1970s
postmodernism is hard to define, because it is a concept that appears in a wide variety of disciplines or areas of study
premise
a basis for a line of reasoning
The forefathers started with the premise that all men are created equal.
presuppositions
take for granted in advance
Philosophy of science is concerned with the methods of science, with its characteristic concepts and with its presuppositions.
profoundly
deeply
We are all profoundly grateful for all of your help.
reconcile
to bring together people or ideas that were separated
The husband and wife reconciled after living apart for 20 years.
reconciling
to bring into agreement or harmony
reconciling their differences was the key to rebuilding the marriage.
theologian
a scholar of religion
Billy Graham is a renowned theologian.
theology
the study of God and religion
In order to become a pastor, most denominations require you study theology in an academic setting.
troublesome
causing difficulty
Science was a subject that was troublesome for the youth.
abide
to comply with
She no longer wanted to abide by her father's rules.
beneficial
advantageous
The mother's comments were not beneficial when she presented her arguments for buying a car to her father.
bravery
the quality of being brave
The girls all admired the bravery of the new student.
calculus
estimation or computation
One problem with pleasure calculus is that it is dificult to measure pleasure.
categorical
with complete certainty
He made a categorical statement that he was telling the truth.
complications
something which makes a situation more difficult
The patient died during surgery due to complications.
concentration camp
type of prison camp where captured soldiers or ordinary people thought to be enemies of the state are kept
Corrie Ten Boom was sent to a concentration camp because she tried to help save Jews.
consequentialism
the theory that human actions derive their moral worth solely from their outcomes or consequences
consequentialism is a theory that believes the ends justify the means.
deontology
the branh of ethics that deals with duty, moral obligation, and right action
Deontologists believe that ethical rules "bind you to your duty."
edicts
especially one which is given in a forceful and unfair way
Many merchants are ignoring the governments edicts about selling alcohol on Sundays.
explicitly
clearly and exactly
The mother explicitly told her children to clean their room, but they did not obey.
extension
the process of stretching out
The extension of our math knowledge was limited to algebra.
foolhardiness
recklessly or thoughtlessly bold
I am amazed at his foolhardiness of going after all 10 gang members by himself.
forbidden
to prohibit
Smoking is forbidden inside any buildings.
imperative
something that demands attention or action
It is an imperative that we solve the water shortage.
postulates
to suggest a theory or idea as a basic principle from which a further idea is formed or developed
The Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, postulated that the Earth was at the center of the universe.
shortcomings
A deficiency
Despite her shortcomings, James decided to marry her.
skeptical
doubting that something is true or useful
Some scientists are skeptical that humans are responsible for global warming.
utilitarianism
The belief that the value of a thing or an action is determined by its utility
utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism that believes the moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome.
vices
an immoral or evil habit or practice
Her only vice is that she drinks coffee every day.
antibiotic
a medicine or chemical that can destroy harmful bacteria in the body or limit their growth
I had to take an antibiotic for my ear infection.
blood poisoning
invasion of the blood by toxic matter or microorganisms
There are some foods that can cause blood poisoning in pregnant women.
chicken pox
an acute, contagious viral disease
chicken pox is highly contagious; you need to stay indoors if you have this disease.
complications
something which makes a situation more difficult
The patient died during surgery due to complications.
disrupting
to interrupt the orderly course of
The neighbors barged into the house, disrupting the family's quiet dinner.
dosage
the amount of medicine that you should take at one time
It is very important that you take the correct dosage of the medicine.
fatal
causes death
Taking the wrong drugs can be fatal.
infectious
able to pass a disease to a person
John was not able to leave the hospital because he was considered to be very infectious.
membrane
a very thin piece of material that covers an opening
A cell may die because of damage to its membrane.
microbes
a very small living thing, especially one which causes disease
Many people are not aware of the microbes that are living in the kitchen sponge.
microbial
having the quality of a microbe
The microbial organisms were living on the dog.
mold
a fungus that grows on materials
We can not eat the bread because there is mold growing on it.
mold-infested
filled with mold
The family had to leave their home because the mold-infested building was causing their child to be very sick.
nucleic acids
a type of acid that exists in all living cells
DNA and RNA are nucleic acids.
pathogenic
capable of producing disease
There are good bacteria and bad bacteria; bad bacteria are called pathogenic bacteria.
poisonous
capable of injuring or killing by or as by poison
There are many forms of poisonous mushrooms.
selectively
making a selection
He was chosen through a very selectively detailed process.
side effects
an unpleasant effect of a drug that happens in addition to the main effect
Chemotherapy is effective in treating cancer, but the side effects are what gets the people very sick.
toxic
poisonous
Many companies are dumping toxic wastes into the ocean which is killing the fish.
viral
or caused by a virus
He had a viral eye infection and could not go out doors for two weeks.
agreeable
willing
He was very agreeable and always did whatever his teachers told him.
bestow
to give something as an honor or present
The queen bestowed a medal to the soldier for his bravery.
considerations
something that is or is to be kept in mind in making a decision
The color and texture was an important consideration in their decision.
critics
someone whose job is to give their opinion about something
She was a film critic for the daily newspaper.
curiosity
interest in knowing about things
The little girl showed great curiosity in music.
divide
a difference or separation
The divide between the rich and poor increased after the new tax laws were implemented.
essential
necessary; very important
It is essential to welcome people with good writing skills into your company.
fascinating
extremely interesting
The tour offered a fascinating view of the city's history.
foolproof
not capable of going wrong
The husband announced he had found a foolproof way for a successful marriage: always wash the dishes.
hesitant
unsure, reluctant
She was hesitant about buying the dress because it was very expensive.
indifferent
not caring, without feeling
He did not want to vote because he was indifferent to what was going on in his community.
interprets
to decide what the intended meaning of something is
Many cultures interprets dreams differently.
judgments
the opinion formed
He regretted the judgments he made against the single mothers.
relegate
to send or consign to an inferior position, place, or condition
The soldier was relegated to an office position because of his disobedience.
rendering
to become
He didn't give a clear account of his whereabouts, rendering his alibi highly doubtful.
repulsion
the feeling of being repelled, as by the thought or presence of something
She felt intense repulsion whenever she went near the man.
speculate
to guess possible answers when you do not have enough information to be certain
The fire fighter declined to speculate on what started the fire.
subjective
to personal feeling and opinion, rather than facts
He hated to argue with his wife because her arguments were always subjective.
symposium
an occasion at which people who have great knowledge of a particular subject meet in order to discuss a matter of interest
There was a symposium in Europe on AIDS and HIV.
thinkers
One who devotes much time to thought or meditation
Plato is considered to be one of the great thinkers in history.
anatomy
the structure of a living thing
In biology class, we have been studying the anatomy of a leaf.
anesthetics
An agent that causes loss of sensation with or without the loss of consciousness
Due to her extreme fear of dentists, the doctor gave her an anesthetics before he cleaned her teeth.
antiseptics
a chemical used for preventing infection in an injury
antiseptics are used to clean the area before blood is withdrawn.
chemotherapy
the treatment of diseases using chemicals
chemotherapy is effective in treating cancer.
contracting
to catch, or become ill with, a disease
Keeping physically fit and eating well prevented the surgeon from contracting the flu.
corpses
a dead body, usually of a person
There was no identifying mark on the corpse.
diagnoses
to identify a disease
The diagnoses of her condition was not favorable; she had cancer.
disinfecting
to destroy the harmful bacteria and viruses
Periodically disinfecting the home is crucial for families with small children.
dissection
the process of cutting apart piece by piece
Many high school biology students look forward to the dissection of the frog.
drastically
having a strong or violent effect
After the allergic reaction to peanut butter, the family had to drastically alter their eating habits.
epidemics
Widely prevalent
The avian flu epidemic scared the entire country.
immunity
resistance to or protection against a specified disease
Vaccination provides immunity from many debilitating diseases.
immunology
the study of immunity and its causes and effects
immunology is the branch of science that deals with the components of the immune system, immunity from disease, and the immune response.
pacemakers
a small device which is put inside someone's chest in order to help their heart beat at the correct speed
Due to his poor heart condition, the doctors placed an artificial pacemaker in hopes of improving his health.
pacify
to cause someone who is angry or upset to be calm and satisfied
The baby was crying uncontrollable, and the only way to pacify her was to give her a warm bottle of milk.
prehistoric
describing the period before there were written records
Dinosaurs lived during prehistoric times.
restrictions
something that limits
After the recent bombing, many restrictions were placed on passengers.
rituals
a set actions performed regularly, especially as part of a ceremony
The groom kissing the bride is a ritual that is part of the American wedding ceremony.
surgical
related to surgery
Doctors need all their surgical instruments in order to perform successful surgeries.
treatments
healing of a disease
They had tried various treatments for his illness, but none proved to be effective.
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