New Horizon College English Unit 1 Vocabulary

Vocabulary and expressions from New Horizon College English Fourth Edition, Unit 1.

tedious

Boring and continuing for too long.

If you describe something such as a job, task, or situation as tedious, you mean it is boring and rather frustrating.

oblige

1.(Formal, usually passive) Make someone feel that it is necessary to do something.

Parents are obliged by law to send their children to school.

2.~ sb (by doing sth) | ~ sb (with sth) to help sb by doing what they ask or what you know they want

(formal)Would you oblige me with some information?

absorb

1.Interest someone so much that they do not pay attention to other things.

This work had absorbed him for several years

2. Take in liquid, gas, or another substance from the surface or space around something.

The cream is easily absorbed into the skin.

absorbed

So interested or involved in something that you do not notice anything else.

[not usually before noun] ~ in sth/sb

She seemed totally absorbed in her book.

allergic

1.(be allergic to something/someone) (Informal) Have a strong dislike of something or someone.

[not before noun] ~ to

You could see he was allergic to housework.

2.Having an allergy.

I like cats but unfortunately I'm allergic to them

excursion

1.a short journey made for pleasure, especially one that has been organized for a group of people

They've gone on an excursion to York.

2.~ into sth

(formal)a short period of trying a new or different activity

After a brief excursion into drama, he concentrated on his main interest, which was poetry.

earnest

Very serious and sincere.

exclaim

Say something suddenly and loudly because of surprise, anger, or excitement.

civilization

A society that is well organized and developed, used especially about a particular society in a particular place or at a particular time.

architecture

The style and design of a building or buildings.

capture

Succeed in recording, showing, or describing a situation or feeling, using words or pictures.

condense

Make something that is spoken or written shorter, by not giving as much detail or using fewer words to give the same information.

condensed

Made shorter, usually by including only the most important parts.

exceed

(Formal) Be more than a particular number or amount.

distress

A feeling of extreme unhappiness.

downturn

A period or process in which business activity, production, etc. is reduced and conditions become worse.

distinguish

Recognize the difference between things or people.

complimentary

1. Given free to people. 2. Saying that you admire someone or something.

complementary

Complementary things go well together, although they are usually different.

bulk

(the bulk of something) The majority or largest part of something.

criticism

Remarks that say what you think is bad about someone or something.

deficit

1. A lack of a quality, skill, or ability that you should have. 2. The amount by which something is less than you need or should have.

dumb

(Informal) Stupid.

grocery store

(American English) A supermarket.

stationary

Standing still instead of moving.

stationery

Materials used for writing, such as paper, pens, and pencils.

proclaim

(Formal) Say publicly or officially that something important is true or exists.

scandal

1. A situation that shocks you and makes you angry, especially one that you think someone in authority should change. 2. An event in which someone, especially someone important, behaves in a bad way that shocks people.

proficiency

A good standard of ability and skill.

moreover

(Formal) In addition.

vital

1. Extremely important and necessary for something to succeed or exist. 2. Full of energy in a way that is exciting and attractive.

adequately

In a way that is enough for a particular purpose.

accurate

Correct and true in every detail.

competent

1. Satisfactory but not especially good. 2. Having enough skill or knowledge to do something to a satisfactory standard.

jerk

A sudden quick movement.

jerky

Moving roughly with many starts and stops.

function

Noun: The purpose that something has, or the job that someone or something does. Verb: Work or operate in the correct or normal way.

span

A period of time between two dates or events.

scratch

1. (from scratch) From a point where nothing has been done, so you have to do everything yourself. 2. A thin mark or cut on the surface of something or on someone's skin.

tune

1. (also tune up) Make small changes to an engine so that it works as well as possible. 2. Make small changes to a musical instrument so that it will produce the correct notes.

adjust

1. Change or move something slightly to improve it or make it more suitable for a particular purpose. 2. Gradually become familiar with a new situation.

destination

The place that someone or something is going to.

precise

Exact, clear, and correct.

asset

1. Something or someone that is useful because they help you succeed or deal with problems. 2. Something valuable belonging to a person or organization which can be used for the payment of debts.

sour

Having a sharp acid taste, like the taste of a lemon or a fruit that is not ready to be eaten.

swell

1. (swell with pride / anger, etc.) Feel very proud, angry, etc. 2. (also swell up) Become larger and rounder than normal, used especially about parts of the body.

subjunctive

Relating to a mood of a verb, used in some languages to express doubt, wishes, etc.

be / feel obliged to do sth.

Have to do something because the situation, the law, a duty, etc. makes it necessary.

get / be serious about

Become or be sincere about what you are saying, doing, or intending to do.

run into sb.

(Informal) Meet someone by chance.

fresh from

Having just come from a particular place or experience.

distinguish between

Recognize and understand the difference between two or more things or people.

nail sth. down

1. Fasten something to something else with nails. 2. (Informal) Reach a final and definite agreement or decision about something.

get / feel / be lost

Be unable to understand something because it is new, difficult, complicated, etc.

become / be attracted to sth.

Become or be interested in something.

out of curiosity

Because of curiosity.

look upon … as

Consider someone or something in a particular way, or as a particular thing.

be equipped with sth.

Be provided with the things that are needed for a particular kind of activity or work.