Topic Vocabulary: Thinking, Learning, Change, Technology, Time, and Work

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Thinking, Learning, Change, Technology, Time, and Work based on the Destination C1-C2 transcript.

assess (v)

To make a judgment (evaluate, appraise) or calculate the amount/value of something (estimate, measure).

assume (v)

To accept something as true without proof, to take responsibility/control, or to begin to have a particular quality/experience.

baffle (v)

To confuse someone completely (~bewilder, perplex, confound).

biased (adj)

Showing an unreasonable like or dislike for something based on personal opinions (~prejudiced, partial).

concentrate (v)

To focus all attention on something, to gather things in one place, or to increase the strength of a substance (condense).

consider (v)

To think carefully about something before making a decision (~contemplate) or to think of someone/something in a particular way.

contemplate (v)

To think deeply about something for a long time (~ponder, reflect) or to look at something thoughtfully for a long time (~observe, gaze).

cynical (adj)

Distrustful of human sincerity or integrity, or doubtful as to whether something is worthwhile.

deduce (v)

To reach a conclusion about something by reasoning from known facts (~infer).

deliberate (v)

To consider something very carefully, often before reaching a formal verdict.

dilemma (n)

A difficult choice between two options (~quandary, predicament).

discriminate (v)

To recognize a difference (~differentiate) or to treat someone unfairly based on difference (~prejudice).

dubious (adj)

Doubtful or uncertain, or unreliable and suspicious.

estimate (v/n)

To roughly calculate or judge (v), or an approximate calculation (n).

faith (n)

Strong belief or trust in someone/something, or religious belief.

gather (v)

To collect or bring things together, or to understand/believe something (~deduce).

genius (n)

A person with exceptional ability (~prodigy, mastermind).

grasp (v)

To take hold of something firmly or to understand something fully (~comprehend).

guesswork (n)

The process of making guesses (~speculation, conjecture).

hunch (n)

A feeling or guess based on intuition rather than facts.

ideology (n)

A set of beliefs (~doctrine, philosophy).

ingenious (adj)

Clever, original, and inventive (~resourceful).

inspiration (n)

The process of being mentally stimulated to do something creative, or a sudden brilliant idea.

intuition (n)

The ability to understand something immediately without the need for conscious reasoning (~instinct, gut feeling).

justify (v)

To show or prove to be right or reasonable (~defend, rationalize).

naive (adj)

Lacking experience or understanding; innocent and simple (~gullible).

notion (n)

A conception of or belief about something (~concept).

optimistic (adj)

Hopeful and confident about the future.

paradox (n)

A person, thing, or situation that has two opposite features and therefore seems strange (~contradiction).

pessimistic (adj)

Expecting bad things to happen or something not to be successful (~gloomy).

plausible (adj)

Seeming reasonable or probable (~credible, believable).

ponder (v)

To think carefully or consider deeply (~contemplate, reflect).

prejudiced (adj)

Having an unreasonable preference for someone or something (~biased).

presume (v)

To suppose something is true (~assume).

query (v/n)

To ask a question (v) or a question itself (n).

reckon (v)

To think or suppose something (~believe).

reflect (v)

To think deeply/carefully, to show/express something, or to throw back light/heat from a surface.

skeptical (adj)

Having doubts about something (~doubtful, dubious).

speculate (v)

To form a theory/guess without firm evidence (~theorize), or to buy property/shares hoping for profit.

suppose (v)

To think or assume without certain knowledge, to introduce a possibility, or to expect something based on rules.

academic (adj/n)

Relating to education (adj), theoretical rather than practical (adj), or a teacher/scholar in higher education (n).

conscientious (adj)

Taking care to do things carefully and correctly (~diligent, meticulous).

cram (v)

To force many things into a small space or to prepare hastily for an exam (~swot).

curriculum (n)

The subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college (~syllabus).

distance learning (n phr)

A way of learning that does not require physical presence at an institution.

graduate (v/n)

To complete a degree/course (v) or a person who has a university degree (n).

ignorant (adj)

Discourteous/rude, or uneducated and lacking knowledge.

inattentive (adj)

Not paying attention to something (~distracted, heedless).

intellectual (n/adj)

A person with a highly developed intellect (n), or relating to/appealing to the intellect (adj).

intelligent (adj)

Having or showing intelligence (~smart, clever).

intensive (adj)

Complete and extremely detailed; done with a lot of care (~thorough).

knowledgeable (adj)

Intelligent and well-informed (~erudite).

lecture (v/n)

To deliver an educational talk (v), to criticize someone angrily (v), or the educational talk/reprimand itself (n).

mock exam (n phr)

A practice examination taken as preparation for an actual exam.

plagiarise (v)

To take the work or idea of someone else and pass it off as one's own.

self-study (n)

Learning about a subject by studying alone without a teacher.

seminar (n)

A meeting for discussion or training (~workshop).

special needs (n phr)

Particular requirements of those with disabilities.

tuition (n)

Money paid to be taught (fees), or the teaching/instruction itself.

tutorial (n)

A period of instruction by a tutor to an individual, or an instructional program used as a step-by-step guide.

brush up (on)

To improve knowledge of something not used for a period of time (~refresh, revise).

come (a)round (to)

To become conscious again, to visit for a short time, or to change your mood/opinion.

come up with

To think of an idea, plan, or solution (~devise, invent).

face up to

To accept and deal with something difficult or unpleasant (~confront, tackle).

figure out

To think about something until you understand it, or to calculate an amount/cost.

hit upon

To discover or think of something, especially by chance (~stumble upon).

make out

To see, hear, or understand something with difficulty, or to write out/complete a document.

mull over

To think carefully about something for a long time (~contemplate, ponder).

piece together

To understand a situation by considering all separate bits of information, or to put separate parts together.

puzzle out

To find the answer to a difficult problem by thinking carefully.

read up (on/about)

To spend time reading in order to find out information about something.

swot up (on)

To study a particular subject very hard (~cram).

take in

To understand/absorb information, or to deceive/trick someone.

think over

To consider something carefully (~reflect on).

think through

To consider the facts about something in an organized and thorough way.

think up

To invent or imagine something, especially an excuse.

account for

To explain the reason/cause for something, or to form a total amount ($Computer consumption accounts for 5\%$).

take into account

To consider a specific factor when judging a situation.

on balance

When all factors are considered; overall.

rack your brain(s)

To think very hard, usually to try to remember something or solve a problem.

foregone conclusion

A result that is obvious to everyone even before it happens.

beyond (any) doubt

With no doubt; certain or definite (~undeniably).

go to your head

To make you feel overly proud or important; to become conceited.

not see the wood for the trees

To focus too much on details and miss the bigger picture.

quick/slow on the uptake

To understand things quickly or take a long time to understand something.

ring a bell

To sound familiar without being able to recall exactly.

split hairs

To argue over insignificant details.

adapt (v)

To change something to suit different conditions (~modify), to become used to a new situation, or to change a book/play for film.

amend (v)

To make minor changes to a document/law to make it fairer, more accurate, or up-to-date.

status quo (n phr)

The existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues.

breakthrough (n)

An important discovery or development that helps improve a situation or solve a problem.

broadband (adj/n)

High-capacity transmission using a wide range of frequencies (adj), or the high-speed data transmission service itself (n).

abrupt (adj)

Sudden and unexpected, or brief to the point of rudeness (~terse, curt).

anachronism (n)

A thing belonging to a different period than the one it exists in, or something old-fashioned.

civil service (n phr)

The permanent professional branches of a government's administration, excluding military, judicial, and elected politicians.

headhunt (v)

To identify and approach a suitable person employed elsewhere to fill a business position.

redundant (adj)

No longer needed or useful, or no longer employed because no more work is available.

knuckle down

To start working hard, especially after a period of low activity.

snow under

To overwhelm someone with a large amount of work.

in the nick of time

At the last possible moment.