Cambridge IELTS 8 Reading Vocabulary Practice

Comprehensive vocabulary list from Cambridge IELTS 8 Reading passages, including definitions and synonyms for academic terms found in timekeeping, air traffic control, telepathy, manufacturing, and nature.

chronicle

A record, account, or history of events.

advent

The arrival, emergence, or beginning of something.

communal

Related to something shared, collective, or public.

wax and wane

To increase and decrease over time; to rise and fall or ebb and flow.

conspicuous

Obvious, noticeable, or prominent.

temporal hours

Variable or seasonal hours used in ancient timekeeping.

disseminate

To spread, distribute, or circulate information or objects.

counterpart

An equivalent, parallel, or match to something else.

supersede

To replace, displace, or succeed something else.

escapement

A regulating mechanism or clock control device.

precision

The quality of accuracy, exactness, or correctness.

congested

Overcrowded, blocked, or jammed, often referring to traffic.

rudimentary

Basic, primitive, or elementary in nature.

fortuitous

Lucky, accidental, or coincidental.

virtually

Almost, nearly, or practically.

telepathy

The supposed communication of thoughts; mind-reading or thought transfer.

derision

The act of mockery, ridicule, or scorn.

rigorous

Strict, thorough, or precise.

on the brink of

On the verge of or about to happen; close to a specific state.

concur

To agree, coincide, or be in accord with.

esoteric

Obscure, mysterious, or intended for a small number of people with specialized knowledge.

molten

Melted, liquefied, or fused by heat.

unblemished

Flawless, perfect, or spotless.

homogenise

To unify, standardise, or blend something evenly.

famine

A period of starvation, extreme food shortage, or hunger.

olfaction

The sense of smell or the act of smelling.

elusive

Hard to define, intangible, or evasive.

undervalued

Underestimated, underrated, or overlooked.

neutralize

To counteract, cancel out, or defuse a force or effect.

stumbling block

An obstacle, barrier, or hurdle to progress.

prodigy

A child genius, wonder kid, or highly gifted individual.

ambivalent

Feeling uncertain, conflicted, or undecided.

eccentric

Quirky, unconventional, or odd in behavior.

mediocre

Average, ordinary, or unremarkable in quality.

perseverance

Persistence, determination, or tenacity in the face of difficulty.

inexorable

Unstoppable, relentless, or inevitable.

attainment

An achievement, accomplishment, or result.

homogeneity

The quality of uniformity, consistency, or sameness.

counter-productive

Self-defeating, backfiring, or harmful to the original intent.

eradicate

To eliminate, wipe out, or exterminate completely.

far-flung

Remote, distant, or outlying.

nocturnal

Active at night or occurring during the night-time.