English Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards from lecture notes.

activation

The act of making something start or making it start working

align

To put two or more things into a straight line

allure

The quality of being very attractive or interesting

assume

To accept something to be true without question or proof

bias

The action of supporting or opposing a particular person or thing in an unfair way

broadly speaking

In a general way, without considering specific examples or all the details

chaos

A state of total confusion with no order

counter

To react to something with an opposing opinion or action

crave

To have a very strong feeling of wanting something

disclose

To make something known publicly, or to show something that was hidden

distinct

Clearly noticeable; that certainly exists

embrace

To accept something enthusiastically

endorse

To make a public statement of your approval or support for something or someone

escalate

To become or make something become greater or more serious

essentially

Relating to the most important characteristics or ideas of something

exaggerated

Seeming larger, more important, better, or worse than it really is

feature

A typical quality or an important part of something

functional

Designed to be practical and useful rather than attractive

grant

To give or allow someone something, usually in an official way

imply

To communicate an idea or feeling without saying it directly

impulsive

Showing behavior in which you do things suddenly without any planning

inflexible

Fixed and unable or unwilling to change

insight

The ability to have a clear, deep, and sometimes sudden understanding of a complicated problem or situation

legal

Connected with the law

manipulate

To control something or someone to your advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly

manufacture

To produce goods in large numbers, usually in a factory using machines

metric

A system for measuring something

moderately

In a way that is neither small nor large in size, amount, degree, or strength

monopoly

An organization or group that has complete control of something, especially an area of business

obsession

Something or someone that you think about all the time

obtain

To get something, especially by asking for it, buying it, working for it, or producing it from something else

open-minded

Willing to consider ideas and opinions that are new or different to your own

point out

To make a person notice someone or something, sometimes by holding up one of your fingers towards him, her, or it

purchase

Something that you buy

put a premium on

To consider one quality or type of thing as being much more important than others

recognize

To accept that something is legal, true, or important

resistance

The act of fighting against something that is attacking you, or refusing to accept something

revert

To return to doing, using, being, or referring to something, usually something bad or less satisfactory

shade

A slight difference or something that is not exactly the same as something else

stifle

To prevent something from happening, being expressed, or continuing

stimulating

If something is stimulating, it encourages new ideas

stumble upon

To discover something by chance, or to meet someone by chance

tactic

A planned way of doing something

theme

The main subject of a talk, book, film, etc.

tolerant

Willing to accept behavior and beliefs that are different from your own, even if you disagree with or disapprove of them

trademark

To register something as a trademark

transparency

The characteristic of being easy to see through

turn out

To happen in a particular way or to have a particular result