Vocabularies

The desert is so ________ that nothing can grow there. ((of land or a climate) having little or no rain; very dry)

arid /ˈær.ɪd/ (adj) (C2)

The report suggests that there has only been a ________ improvement in women's pay over the past few years. (very small in amount or effect)

marginal /ˈmɑːr.dʒɪ.nəl/ (adj) (C2)

She turned off the light and ________ through the door. (to move slowly, quietly, and carefully, usually in order to avoid being noticed)

creep /kriːp/ (v) (C2)

Prices have risen ________. (gradually; calmly and in a controlled way)

steadily /ˈsted.əl.i/ (adv)

In order to turn the deserts into fertile and ________ land, engineers built an 800-mile canal.
We had a very ________meeting - I felt we solved lots of problems.
(resulting in or providing a large amount or supply of something; having positive results)

productive /prəˈdʌk.tɪv/ (adj)

She was taken into hospital last week when her condition ________ suddenly . (to become worse)

deteriorate /dɪˈtɪr.i.ə.reɪt/ (v) (C1)

We were having such a good time that we decided to ________ our stay by another week. (to make something last a longer time)

prolong /prəˈlɑːŋ/ (v) (C1)

________ use of the drug is known to have harmful side effects. (continuing for a long time)

Prolonged /prəˈlɑːŋd/ (adj) (C1)

One of the major causes of this desert ________ is poor agricultural land use. (the forward movement of something, or an improvement or development in something)

advance /ədˈvæns/ (n)

The farmer ________ cattle on this land in the summer months. ((cause animals to) eat grass)

graze /ɡreɪz/ (v)

They ________ his hands together. (to tie somebody/something with rope, string, etc. so they/it cannot move or are held together strongly)

bind /baɪnd/ (v) (C2)

Smoking has caused ________ damage to his lungs. (impossible to return to a previous condition)

irreversible /ˌɪr.əˈvɝː.sə.bəl/ (adj) (C2)

The police were ________ traffic on the parade route. (to stop; to make somebody/something stop)

halt /hɔːlt/ (v)

He took over his family's ________ business. (the activity or job of keeping bees in order to produce honey)

beekeeping /ˈbiːˌkiː.pɪŋ/ (n)

Savannah /səˈvæn.ə/ (n)

Many animals ________ only at certain times of the year. ((of animals) to have sex and produce young)

breed /briːd/ (v) (C1)

On their way home they ________ a woman selling flowers. (to meet somebody, or discover or experience something unexpectedly)

encounter /ɪnˈkaʊn.t̬ɚ/ (v)

They ________ the consumers' growing demand for quicker service. (to notice something)

note /noʊt/ (v)

We have no way of predicting next year's weather ________. (a particular way in which something is done, is organized, or happens)

pattern /ˈpæt̬.ɚn/ (n)

It's important to ________ children a well-balanced diet. (to give food to a person or an animal)

feed /fiːd/ (v)

They ________ the cows on hay. ((emphasizes hay as the regular diet) to give a particular type of food to a person, group, or animal)

feed someone/something on something (collocation)

He's highly ________ to flattery. (very likely to be influenced, harmed or affected by something)

susceptible /səˈseptəbl/ (adj)

The new CEO's speech ________ major changes in the company. (to be a sign that something is going to happen)

herald /ˈherəld/ (v)

Hundreds of people ________ to the football match. (to go or gather together somewhere in large numbers)

flock /flɑːk/ (v)

All his friends ________ on the change in him since his marriage. (something that you say, giving your opinion or stating a fact)

remark /rɪˈmɑːrk/ (v)

She ________ into her studies right after the holidays. (to start or join in something without hesitating, or with enthusiasm)

dive in/into something (phrasal verb)

Admittedly, this may be a ________ and unrealistic goal. (not likely to succeed or happen in the real world, based on imagination)

fanciful /ˈfæn.sɪ.fəl/ (adj)

I have only a vague ________ of what she does for a living. (a belief or idea)

notion /ˈnoʊ.ʃən/ (n) (C1)

The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were the iconic ________ of New York City before they were destroyed. (a building or place that is easily recognized, especially one that you can use to judge where you are)

landmark /ˈlændmɑːrk/ (n) (C1)

The image of the burning Twin Towers is ________ on the minds of millions around the world. (to fix an event in the memory so it cannot be forgotten)

imprint /ɪmˈprɪnt/ (v)

As the sun began to set, swallows ________ the evening sky. (to move or exist in a pattern of lines crossing something or each other)

criss-cross /ˈkrɪs.krɑːs/ (v)

Volunteers help ________ poverty by distributing food to those in need. (to make a determined effort to deal with a difficult problem or situation)

tackle /ˈtæk.əl/ (v)

The government is ________ to tackle inflation. (having made a definite decision to do something and not letting anyone prevent you)

to be determined to do something (phrase)