High-Intermediate Vocabulary for Midterm

Vocabulary practice flashcards for high-intermediate midterm exam preparation covering terms, parts of speech, and definitions directly from the lecture notes.

absurd (adj.)

very silly; ridiculous

allergic (adj.)

having a health problem caused by a sensitivity to something, e.g., a food

alternative (n.)

something chosen as a substitute

appliance (n.)

kitchen or other device

asset (n.)

valuable thing a person or business owns

astonishing (adj.)

amazing; very surprising

biological (adj.)

related to the study of living things

bounce (v.)

to hit a surface and go upward

breed (v.)

to mate to produce babies

commence (v.)

to start; begin

commodity (n.)

product bought and sold

compulsory (adj.)

required by rule or law

confine (v.)

to be forced to stay in a certain area

contaminate (v.)

to make harmful with chemicals or radiation

controversy (n.)

issue causing strong disagreement

convenience (n.)

thing that makes life easier

conventional (adj.)

following socially acceptable or traditional beliefs

countless (adj.)

very large in number

deficiency (n.)

not enough of something

democracy (n.)

government in which people choose, vote for, and can change their leaders

descend (v.)

to go down stairs, a mountain, or another slope

determine (v.)

to discover the facts about something

device (n.)

equipment used for a particular purpose

diminish (v.)

to become smaller in size or importance

disturb (v.)

to move or knock into something; to interrupt

dramatic (adj.)

large and sudden

drawback (n.)

thing that is a problem or disadvantage

drug (n.)

medicine; illegal substance that can change a mood or physical ability

embrace (v.)

to accept something enthusiastically

enrich (v.)

to make a thing better or richer

essentially (adv.)

basically; (used to emphasize the most important facts about something)

evolution (n.)

long process of developing and changing

expectation (n.)

belief that something will happen

factor (n.)

something having an effect on a situation

faith (n.)

belief that something is good or trustworthy

fantasy (n.)

idea or belief based on imagination

feasible (adj.)

possible; practical

flash (v.)

to shine brightly for a moment

foresee (v.)

to know a thing will happen before it happens

forthcoming (adj.)

willing to give information or help

fraction (n.)

small amount; less than $1$, e.g., $\frac{1}{4}$

fraud (n.)

something deceitful done to get someone’s money

fund (v.)

to provide money for a group or event

gap (n.)

empty space in the middle of something; large difference between two things

gradually (adv.)

little by little; antonym of immediately

harsh (adj.)

very mean or severe

infect (v.)

to affect with disease-making germs

insight (n.)

deep understanding of what something means or is like

instantly (adv.)

immediately; very quickly

integral (adj.)

necessary and important part

invisible (adj.)

not able to be seen

judgement (n.)

ability to make decisions

layer (n.)

thin sheet of a substance or material

manufacture (v.)

to make or produce things in large amounts

modify (v.)

to improve something by making small changes to it

nationwide (adj.)

in all parts of the country

noble (adj.)

having qualities people like

nonetheless (adv.)

in spite of

notwithstanding (adj.)

true in spite of something

nutritional (adj.)

related to food that is good for one’s health

obsessed (adj.)

thinking too much about something

optimistic (adj.)

hopeful about the future

overcome (v.)

to deal successfully with or solve a problem

payment (n.)

money given for a product or service

phase (n.)

step or stage in a process

policy (n.)

official set of rules explaining how certain situations will be handled

portable (adj.)

able to be carried

portrait (n.)

picture of someone

predator (n.)

animal that kills and eats other animals

principle (n.)

idea or theory something is based on

profound (adj.)

having a strong influence

project (v.)

to show a certain quality or image

prominently (adv.)

in a noticeable way

relevant (adj.)

relating to something being discussed or considered

revolution (n.)

large or dramatic change in ways of thinking about or doing something

rigid (adj.)

not bending or moving easily; not easily changed

ritual (n.)

ceremony, often religious, always performed the same way

represent (v.)

to show what something is like

scarce (adj.)

not enough to fill the demand for; hard to find large amounts of

signify (v.)

to be a sign or symbol of something

sincere (adj.)

genuine or true feelings expressed honestly

sophisticated (adj.)

advanced, well designed, and clever

stable (adj.)

unlikely to change or end

stocks (n.)

financial product giving part ownership in a company in exchange for money

supposedly (adv.)

generally believed to be true but not yet proven

suspend (v.)

to attach something to a higher place so that it hangs down

teamwork (n.)

cooperation among people in order to do something

thereby (adv.)

as a result of a particular event

thus (conj. adv.)

therefore

trait (n.)

quality or characteristic

transaction (n.)

exchange for something, usually money

transparent (adj.)

able to be seen through

tremendous (adj.)

very good; very large

trigger (v.)

to cause something to happen quickly or suddenly

tuition (n.)

payment for instruction, especially in a college or university

turn out (phrasal v.)

to end in a certain way

undergo (v.)

to experience something necessary but unpleasant

verify (v.)

to check to ensure that something is true or correct

vertical (adj.)

straight up and down; at $90$ degrees to the ground

vital (adj.)

essential or necessary