IELTS VOCAB: A WORDS (definition)

abrupt

sudden and unexpected

abstain

to not do something that you would normally enjoy doing

abstract

based on ideas rather than specific examples or real events

abuse

the wrong or bad use of something:

accommodation

a place to live, stay, or work in:

accordingly

formal as a result of something that has just been mentioned; therefore:

acid

A type of liquid chemical substance. A strong acid can burn holes in the things it touches:

acknowledge

to accept or admit that something is true or that a situation exists:

acquire

to get something, especially by buying it:

acrylic

acrylic paints or cloth are made from a chemical substance

adapt

to change your behaviour or ideas to fit a new situation:

addict

someone who is unable to stop taking drugs

adept

good at doing something that needs care or skill

adopt

to begin to use a particular plan or way of doing something:

aerosol

a small metal container from which a liquid can be forced out by pressing a button:

affect

to cause a change in someone or something, or to change the situation they are in:

affiliate

to be officially connected with, or controlled by a larger organization:

agency

a business that arranges services for people

agitate

to protest in order to achieve social or political changes:

allergy

a condition that makes you ill when you eat, touch, or breathe a particular thing:

allocate

to decide to allow a particular amount of money, time etc to be used for a particular purpose:

allot

to give something to someone as their share, or to allow an amount of time for something:

almond

a flat white nut with a slightly sweet taste

alpine

belonging to or relating to the Alps or other high mountains:

alternate

happening in a regular way, first one thing, then the other thing, then the first one again:

alternative

an alternative plan, idea etc can be used instead of another one

aluminium

a silver-white metal that is light and easy to bend

amateur

doing something because you enjoy it and not as a job:

ambiguous

if what someone says or writes is ambiguous, it can have more than one possible meaning

amenity

something that is available for you to use or visit in a place, which makes living there enjoyable and pleasant:

ammonia

a gas or liquid with a strong unpleasant smell, used in cleaning substances

analysis

careful examination of something in order to understand it better or find out what it consists of:

annoy

to make someone feel a little angry

annual

happening once every year

anthropology

the scientific study of people, their customs, beliefs etc

anticlockwise

moving in the opposite direction to the hands of a clock;

anxious

very worried about something that may happen:

ape

a large monkey without a tail or with a very short tail, such as a GORILLA

apparel

formal clothes

appeal

to ask people for money, information etc, especially publicly:

appear

to seem

appetite

the feeling that makes you want to eat:

applicant

someone who has formally asked for a job, a place at a college etc, especially by writing a letter

appropriate

suitable for a particular time, situation, or purpose:

approximate

an amount, time. a measurement etc is not exact but is nearly right:

arable

arable land is suitable for growing crops

arduous

needing a lot of effort and hard work:

ascertain

to discover or find out something:

aspect

one of the parts of a situation or subject that can be considered separately:

aspiration

a strong desire to have or to achieve something:

assemble

to come together or gather people together in the same place

assert

to say firmly that something is true

assess

to examine something and make a decision about it, especially about its quality, amount, or value:

assignment

a piece of work that you are given to do:

assist

to help someone to do something

association

an organization for people who have the same aims or interests, or who do the same kind of work:

assume

to think that something is true although you have no proof:

asterisk

a mark like a star (*) used to show that there is a note about a particular word or phrase

asthmatic

an illness that causes difficulties in breathing

attain

to achieve something after trying for a long time

attract

to make someone like something or feel interested in it:

audio-visual

using recorded pictures and sound

aural

relating to the sense of hearing

authority

the power or right to make important decisions and control people:

available

if something is available, you can get it, buy it, or use it:

not be averse to

willing to do or enjoy something: