Cambridge Advanced English Word List

a hotbed of something

a place where there is a lot of a particular activity

a link between something and something

a relationship or connection between two things

absolutely perfect

of the best quality and without any faults at all

accelerator

the part of a car which you push with your foot to make it go faster

acclimatise

to start to feel happy with the weather, the way of life, etc. in a new place

account for something

give a reason for something

act on somebody's advice

to do something because someone has said that you should

add insult to injury

to make someone's bad situation worse by doing something else to upset them

adept

good at doing something difficult

adjust something

to change the way you behave or think in order to suit a new situation

adrenalin

a substance that your body produces when you are angry, excited, or frightened which makes your heart beat faster

adventurous

willing to try new and often difficult things

affliction

something that makes you suffer

all the more

even more

ambience

the qualities of a place and the way it makes you feel

anathema

something which is strongly disliked or disapproved of

anecdote

a short story that you tell someone about something that happened to you or someone else

anonymous

having no interesting or unusual features

anticipate

to expect something and to prepare for it before it happens

archaeologist

someone who studies very old cultures by examining their buildings, tools, and other objects

assertion

something that you say is certainly true

at heart

used to say what someone is really like

at something's last gasp

going to soon disappear completely

atmospheric pressure

the force with which the atmosphere presses down on the surface of the Earth

attention span

the length of time that you can keep your thoughts and interest fixed on something

attention to detail

the ability to notice and consider every small part or detail of something and check that everything is perfect

bad-temperedness

when someone gets angry easily

bark

if a dog does this, it makes loud, short sounds

be a touch aggrieved

slightly upset or angry at an unfair situation

be accustomed to something

to have experienced something often enough for it to seem normal to you

be familiar with something

to know about something or have experienced it many times before

be glued to something

to be watching something, especially a screen, with all your attention

be in two minds about something

to have difficulty making a decision

be in your element

to be very happy because you are doing what you like doing and are good at

be intent on doing something

to be determined to do or achieve something

be made up of

to consist of or be formed from two or more things

be on the mend

if you are on the mend, your health is improving after an illness or an injury

be only natural to do something

to be normal or expected

be scared to death

very afraid

be up to scratch

to be of good enough quality (informal)

be up to something

to be doing something

be well on the way to achieving something

to be making good progress towards a particular goal

believe wholeheartedly

to believe something completely, without any doubts

beloved

someone that you love and have a romantic relationship with

benefit rates

how much money the government gives to people who are ill, poor, not working, etc. depending on their situation

bilingual

using or able to speak two languages

bland

not interesting or exciting

blissful

making you feel very happy

blur

something that you cannot see or remember clearly

booming industry

a very successful industry that is increasing in size

break up something

to divide something into different areas

browse

to look at information on the Internet

brutally

in an extreme way, showing no consideration or pity for others

buckle

a metal object used to fasten the ends of a belt or strap

burst its banks

if a river bursts its banks, the water in it gets so high that it spreads over the land near the river

by attrition

the use of force to gradually make something weaker and destroying it, especially the strength and confidence of an enemy

byways

facts about a subject that are known only by a few people

call centre

a place where organisations employ people to talk over the telephone to customers to provide information, or sell goods or services

catch your eye

if this happens, you notice it because it is attractive, interesting or unusual

censor

someone who examines books, documents, or films and removes parts of them that are offensive or not allowed by law

change gradually

to change slowly over a period of time

characteristics

typical or obvious qualities that make one person or thing different from another

claustrophobic

a place that makes you feel anxious because it is very small or crowded

clump (of trees)

a group of plants growing closely together

clutter

a lot of objects that are not tidy or well organized

clutter something up

to cover a surface or fill a place with things that are not tidy or well organised

cohesion

when the members of a group or society are united

come across something or somebody

to discover something or someone by chance

come round

to visit someone at their house

come to terms with something

to accept and deal with a difficult situation

committed

loyal and willing to give your time and energy to something that you believe in

commonplace

happening often or existing in large numbers, and so not considered special or unusual

consumerism

buying and selling things, especially when this is an important part of a society's activities

contemplate something

to consider something for a long time or in a serious way

converse

to talk with someone (formal)

cramped

such a room or building is unpleasant because it is not big enough

crucial

extremely important or necessary

crude

made or done in a simple way and without much skill

crystal clear

very clear

deal with something

to take action in order to achieve something or to solve a problem

décor

the style of decoration and furniture in a room or building

dedication

when you are willing to give a lot of time and energy to something because you believe it is very important

deranged

behaving in a way that is not normal, especially when suffering from a mental illness

design feature

a piece of furniture or part of a room that is intended to be stylish and attractive

determine something

to control what will happen

diagnosis

when a doctor says what is wrong with someone who is ill

die out

to become more and more rare and then disappear completely

digital technology

the use of an electronic system that changes sounds or images into signals in the form of numbers before it stores or sends them

discriminate

to notice and/or act on a difference between two or more things

disorder

a disease or mental problem

disturbing

unpleasant in a way that makes you feel anxious or upset

ditch

a long, narrow hole in the ground next to a road or field, which water can flow through

do business

to buy or sell goods or services for someone

do something in tandem with somebody

do together with someone else, at the same time

doom

death, destruction, and other unpleasant events that cannot be avoided

download something

to copy computer programs, music or other information electronically using the Internet

drag somebody or something

to pull somebody or something somewhere, usually with difficulty

draw the line at something

to not allow something

dream something up

to think of a new idea or plan

dreariness

when something is boring and makes you feel unhappy