Design, Technology, and Global Issues Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive collection of vocabulary terms covering design and innovation, information technology, global sociological trends, urbanization challenges, environmental issues, energy sources, business practices, and legal systems.

balcony

a platform that sticks out from the wall of a building, usually above the ground, surrounded by a wall or railing.

brick

a rectangular block of baked clay used for building walls and houses.

concrete

a hard building material made by mixing cement, sand, stones, and water.

innovation

a new idea, method, or invention.

landmark

an important building or place that is easy to recognize.

skyscraper

a very tall modern building with many floors.

timber

wood prepared for use in building and making things.

airy

with plenty of fresh air and space.

disposable

designed to be used once or for a short time and then thrown away.

futuristic

looking very modern or as if it belongs to the future.

ornate

decorated with many detailed patterns or designs.

prefabricated

made from parts produced in a factory and then put together where needed.

demolish

to completely destroy a building, especially in order to build something else.

devise

to invent or plan something carefully, especially a new system or method.

hoist

to lift something heavy using ropes or machinery.

automatic pilot

a system that controls an aircraft, ship, or vehicle without a person operating it all the time.

data

information, especially facts or numbers, collected to be examined.

silicon chip

a very small piece of silicon containing electronic circuits used in computers and other electronic devices.

cutting-edge

very modern and using the newest ideas or methods.

labour-saving

reducing the amount of work needed to do something.

user-friendly

easy for people to use.

envisage

to imagine or expect that something will happen.

revolutionise

to change something completely and in a very positive way.

globalisation

the increase of trade and communication between countries around the world.

identity

who a person is, or the qualities and beliefs that make a person or group different from others.

implication

a possible effect or result of an action or decision.

joint venture

a business arrangement in which two or more companies work together on a particular project.

have a monopoly

to have complete control of something so that no one else is able to sell or provide it.

projection

a calculation or statement about what is expected to happen in the future, based on the information available now.

ageing

becoming older.

sceptical

doubting that something is true or useful.

infrastructure

the basic systems and services that a country or city needs to operate effectively.

megacity

a very large city with a population of more than ten million people.

setback

a problem that delays or prevents progress.

urbanization

the process of more people moving to cities and towns.

double-edged

having both positive and negative effects.

long-sighted

able to think carefully about the future and make good decisions.

pressing

needing to be dealt with immediately.

exacerbate

to make a problem or bad situation worse.

tackle

to try to deal with a difficult problem.

biodiversity

the variety of plants and animals in a particular place or in the world.

climate change

changes in the world’s weather, especially a rise in temperature caused by human activity.

deforestation

the process of cutting down large areas of forests.

greenhouse gases

gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and cause the Earth’s temperature to rise.

chronic

continuing for a long time and difficult to solve or treat.

feasible

possible and practical to do successfully.

environmentally friendly

not harmful to the environment.

irreparable

impossible to repair or correct.

pervasive

existing or spreading widely throughout an area or group.

sustainable

able to continue for a long time without causing damage to the environment.

unprecedented

never having happened before or never experienced before.

inexorably

in a way that cannot be stopped or changed.

biofuel

fuel made from plants or other natural materials.

fossil fuel

a natural fuel such as coal, oil, or gas formed from ancient plants and animals.

hybrid

a vehicle that uses two different types of power, usually petrol and electricity.

advertisement

a picture, short film, song, etc. that tries to persuade people to buy a product or service.

credibility

the quality of being trusted and believed.

job satisfaction

the feeling of enjoying your job and being happy with it.

manual work

work that involves using your hands and physical effort rather than your mind or machines.

perk

an extra advantage or benefit that you get from a job.

prospects

the possibility of being successful or achieving something in the future.

retail

relating to the selling of goods directly to customers.

endorse

to say publicly that you support or approve of someone or something.

arson

the crime of intentionally setting fire to a building, vehicle, or other property.

burglary

the crime of entering a building illegally in order to steal things.

deterrent

something that prevents people from doing something by making them afraid of the consequences.

fraud

the crime of getting money or goods by deceiving people.

imprisonment

the state of being kept in prison as a punishment for a crime.

prosecutor

a lawyer who represents the government and tries to prove that someone accused of a crime is guilty.

recklessness

behaviour that shows a lack of care about the possible results of your actions.

smuggling

the illegal act of taking goods, people, or substances into or out of a country secretly.

vandalism

the crime of deliberately damaging public or private property.

law-abiding

obeying and respecting the law.

abolish

to officially end a law, system, or practice.

perpetrate

to commit a crime or do something harmful or illegal.