reading vocab 3

Lament (v/n)

To express sadness or regret; an expression of grief. (Synonyms: mourn, grieve, sorrow)

Fade away (v)

To gradually disappear or become weaker. (Synonyms: disappear, diminish, die out)

Serendipitously (adv)

By chance, in a way that brings a good or useful result. (Synonyms: accidentally, unexpectedly, fortuitously)

Premises (n, plural)

A building or place used for a particular purpose; the land and buildings belonging to a business. (Synonyms: property, site, facilities)

Girdle (n/v)

A belt or band around something; to surround or encircle. (Synonyms: belt, band, encircle)

Inferior (adj)

Lower in quality, value, or status. (Synonyms: poorer, lesser, substandard)

Make (v)

To create, produce, or cause something to happen. (Synonyms: create, produce, cause)

Shoddy (adj)

Poorly made or of low quality. (Synonyms: inferior, substandard, badly made, flimsy)

Accolade (n)

An award or expression of praise for an achievement. (Synonyms: honour, recognition, distinction, praise)

Stilt (n)

A long pole used to support a structure above the ground or to help someone walk at a greater height. (Synonyms: support pole, post)

Float (v/n)

To stay on the surface of a liquid or move through the air without sinking. (Synonyms: drift, hover, stay afloat)

Chase away (phr v)

To force someone or something to leave. (Synonyms: drive away, scare off, repel)

Intervention (n)

An action taken to change a situation or prevent a problem. (Synonyms: involvement, interference, action)

Diffract (v)

To bend or spread waves as they pass an obstacle or through a narrow opening. (Synonyms: bend, spread)

Outwards (adv)

Towards the outside or away from the centre. (Synonyms: outward, externally, away from the centre)

Grating (n)

A structure made of parallel bars or lines; in physics, a surface with closely spaced lines that diffracts light. (Synonyms: grid, lattice, screen)

Clumsy (adj)

Awkward in movement or poorly done. (Synonyms: awkward, ungainly, unskillful)

Narrow beam (n phrase)

A thin, concentrated stream of light or other energy. (Synonyms: focused ray, thin ray)

Fire (v/n)

To shoot a weapon or send out a projectile; to dismiss someone from a job. (Synonyms: shoot, discharge, dismiss)

Audacious (adj)

Willing to take bold risks; daring and unconventional. (Synonyms: bold, daring, adventurous)

Experiment (n/v)

A scientific test to discover or prove something. (Synonyms: test, trial, investigation)

Deftly (adv)

In a skilful, quick, and controlled way. (Synonyms: skilfully, expertly, adroitly)

Settlement (n)

A place where people establish a community; an agreement that resolves a dispute. (Synonyms: community, colony, agreement, resolution)

Attribute to (v)

To regard something as being caused by a particular person or thing. (Synonyms: ascribe to, credit to, assign to)

Cut mark / burn mark (n)

A visible sign left by cutting or burning. (Synonyms: incision, scratch, scorch mark)

Butcher (v/n)

To cut up an animal for meat; to kill or slaughter an animal. (Synonyms: slaughter, dismember)

Disassemble (v)

To take something apart into separate pieces. (Synonyms: dismantle, take apart, break down)

Carnivore (n)

An animal that mainly eats other animals. (Synonyms: meat-eater, predator)

Limb (n)

An arm or leg; the part of an animal's body used for movement. (Synonyms: arm, leg, extremity)

Pelt (n/v)

An animal's skin with its fur; to throw things repeatedly at someone or something. (Synonyms: fur-covered skin, hide)

Prey (n/v)

An animal hunted and eaten by another animal; to hunt or exploit someone or something. (Synonyms: quarry, victim)

Scavenge (v)

To search for and collect discarded things or feed on dead animals. (Synonyms: forage, search, feed on carrion)

Swiftly (adv)

Quickly and without delay. (Synonyms: rapidly, speedily, promptly)

Fix (v)

To repair, attach, or make something stable; to arrange or settle something. (Synonyms: repair, attach, secure, establish)

Nightmarish (adj)

Extremely frightening, disturbing, or unpleasant. (Synonyms: terrifying, horrific, dreadful)

Invalidate (v)

To make an argument, result, or claim no longer valid. (Synonyms: disprove, undermine, nullify)

Wreck (v/n)

To destroy or severely damage something; a badly damaged object or vehicle. (Synonyms: ruin, devastate, destroy)

Fatal (adj)

Causing death; leading to complete failure or disaster. (Synonyms: deadly, lethal, disastrous)

Harbinger (n)

A sign that something, often something bad, is about to happen. (Synonyms: omen, warning sign, precursor)

Lurk (v)

To remain hidden or stay somewhere while waiting, often with a threatening implication. (Synonyms: hide, loiter, lie in wait)