Personally Speaking Vocabulary - Practice

Comprehensive flashcards covering key vocabulary, personality traits, body-related expressions, and brain science from the 'Personally Speaking' Unit 1 lecture notes.

gelada

a rare species of monkey native to Ethiopia

bare

uncover sth so that it is visible

interaction

the act of communicating with or reacting to others

individual

a particular person who behaves in a unique way

unbeknown (to sb)

without sb knowing

sustain

experience or suffer sth unpleasant

neuroscience

the science of studying the brain and nervous system

miraculous

extraordinary and unexpected

foreman

a worker who is responsible for leading a group of other workers, especially in construction or factory work

dynamite

a highly explosive substance

blast

destroy sth by using explosives

rod

a long thin straight pole

compact

compress the parts of sth closely together into a more solid state or into a smaller space

ignite

cause sth to start burning

subsequent

coming after sth else

propel

push sth/sb forward usually causing rapid movement

exit

leave; go out

skull

the bone that gives structure to the head and protects the brain

against all odds

despite seeming impossible

initially

at first

semicomatose

almost unconscious

physically

involving the body rather than the mind

mentally

involving the mind rather than the body

inappropriate

not suitable

acquaintance

sb you know but are not close friends with

hold down

manage to keep a job

epileptic

related to epilepsy, an illness affecting the brain

seizure

an attack of an illness that strikes suddenly

post-traumatic

as a result of a serious shock or injury, especially to the brain

disinhibition

the state of having no feeling of embarrassment or shyness to restrict behaviour

frontal lobe

one of the two parts of the brain which control behaviour, personality, etc.

cognitive

related to the processes of thinking and understanding

inhibit

restrict sb’s actions by causing them to feel shy or embarrassed

self-awareness

a sense of understanding your own behaviour and who you are

solid

certain

trauma

the effect of a serious shock or injury, especially on the brain

introductory

intended to introduce you to a subject or activity

sought-out

desired; wanted

ground-breaking

making a new and important discovery

temperament

your manner of behaving or reacting towards others

track

follow the progress of sth/sb

well-being

the state of good physical and psychological health

infancy

the stage of life from birth to early childhood

invaluable

very useful

intricate

finely-detailed and complex

mosaic

a pattern or image made with many small parts put together

keenly

enthusiastically; deeply

devoted

completely loyal and loving

optimal

to the maximum or best possible extent

attribute (n)

a quality or characteristic

ethically

in a morally acceptable way

empathetic

showing understanding for sb’s feelings

determinant

a deciding factor

adolescent

a teenager; sb going through the stage of life between childhood and adulthood

adolescence

the stage of life between childhood and adulthood

peer

sb of the same age or in the same social position as another

flourish

develop and do well

limitations

sth that limits sb/sth from achieving more or being better

infer

make an educated guess or develop an opinion about sth based on the information given

fascination

a strong interest in sth

baffle

confuse

troubled

worried

authority

the power to make decisions and tell others how to behave

eliminate

rule out; remove

encompass

include

multitude

large number of people or things together

interrelated

connected together; bearing a relation to each other

misspent

used in a careless or wasteful way

pleasurable

enjoyable

dysfunctional

not functioning normally

neglect

lack of care or attention

maladjusted

with emotional problems that prevent sb behaving in a socially acceptable way

at a loss

not knowing what to say

aberrant

antisocial

abnormal

not normal; unnatural

misanthrope

sb who does not like other people and avoids human company

adamant

having a fixed opinion about sth

cynical

not believing that sth is done for good or unselfish reasons; negatively thinking

inflexible

not willing to change your mind; difficult to change or bend

obstinate

stubborn; sticking to your opinion

elated

joyful and very excited

jubilant

very happy because of a successful result

overjoyed

extremely pleased

meticulous

with great attention to detail; thorough

apathetic

lacking interest or unwilling to take action

dispassionate

clear-thinking because of lack of emotional involvement

uneasy

worried or unconfident

withdrawn

quiet and introverted; not outgoing

compulsive

unable to stop doing sth

neurotic

behaving nervously or unreasonably

obsessive

focussed on one person or thing to an abnormal extent

obnoxious

horrible; offensive

amiable

likeable; good-natured

impassive

showing no sign of emotion

poised

with a calm and confident manner; not moving but ready to do so

serene

peaceful and not worried

eloquent

able to express opinions well in a clear and confident way, especially in public

principled

having strong moral beliefs

scrupulous

honest; giving careful attention to detail

upright

behaving honestly and ethically