unit 22: vocabulary

Aggravate (v)

To make a disease or an adverse situation worse.

Pollution can aggravate asthma.

Better (v)

The organization works to better the lives of local people.

To improve something or to do something better than before.

Blemish (n)

The wine was perfect, without a single blemish.

A mark that spoils the appearance of something.

Chaos (n)

The house was in utter chaos after the party.

A state of complete confusion and lack of order.

Cheapen (v)

The constant scandals cheapened the office of the President.

To make something seem less valuable or respected.

Contaminate (v)

The drinking water had been contaminated with lead.

To make a substance or place dirty or no longer pure by adding a poisonous or carry-disease substance.

Decay (v)

The body had already begun to decay.

To be destroyed gradually by natural causes.

Decline (v)

The number of people buying houses has declined.

To become smaller, fewer, or less; to decrease.

Defective (adj)

The company is recalling all defective cars.

Not perfect; containing a flaw or fault.

Detrimental (adj)

Smoking is detrimental to your health.

Causing harm or damage.

Devastate (v)

The city was devastated by a huge earthquake.

To completely destroy a place or an area.

Enhance (v)

These scandals will not enhance the organization's reputation.

To further improve the quality, value, or extent of something.

Evaluate (v)

The researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of the drug.

To form an opinion of the amount, value, or quality of something after thinking about it carefully.

Exacerbate (v)

His aggressive reaction only exacerbated the situation.

To make a problem, a bad situation, or a negative feeling worse.

Exquisite (adj)

She has exquisite taste in art.

Extremely beautiful or carefully made.

First-rate (adj)

The hotel offers first-rate facilities.

Of the highest quality.

Flaw (n)

There is a fundamental flaw in his argument.

A fault, mistake, or weakness, especially one that happens while something is being planned or made.

Ideal (adj)

This beach is ideal for small children.

Perfect; most suitable.

Inadequate (adj)

The system is inadequate for the tasks it has to perform.

Not enough; not good enough.

Invaluable (adj)

Your help has been invaluable to us.

Extremely useful; so valuable that its value cannot be measured.

Optimum (n, adj)

The optimum temperature for the engine is 90 degrees.

The best possible; producing the best possible results.

Outclass (v)

The champion was outclassed by the young challenger.

To be much better than somebody/something that you are in competition with.

Prime (adj)

This is a prime example of 19th-century architecture.

Main; most important; of the best quality.

Redeeming feature (n phr)

The only redeeming feature of the movie was the soundtrack.

A good quality that someone or something has that prevents them from being completely bad.

Refurbish (v)

The developers refurbished the old warehouse into luxury flats.

To clean and decorate a room, building, etc. in order to make it look new again.

Reinforce (v)

The success of the project reinforced his confidence.

To make a feeling, an idea, or a structure stronger.

Renovate (v)

They spent a lot of money renovating the old farmhouse.

To repair and paint an old building so that it is in good condition again.

Rotten (adj)

The fruit smelled rotten.

Decayed; suffering from decay.

Rusty (adj)

The gate was old and rusty.

Covered with rust (a reddish-brown substance formed on iron).

Satisfactory (adj)

The output of the new factory is highly satisfactory.

Good enough for a particular purpose.

Shambles (n)

The government’s economic policy is in a shambles.

A state of great disorder; a mess.

Shoddy (adj)

I won't pay for such shoddy work.

Made or done badly and with not enough care.

Sound (adj)

The house is structurally sound.

In good condition; not damaged, hurt, or diseased.

Stale (adj)

The bread had gone stale.

No longer fresh and pleasant to eat (usually for bread or cake).

Streamline (v)

The company is streamlining its production process.

To make a system or organization quicker and more efficient.

Strengthen (v)

The new law will strengthen the economy.

To make something stronger or more effective.

Surpass (v)

The results surpassed all our expectations.

To do or be better than somebody/something.

Ultimate (adj)’

Their ultimate goal is to win the championship.

Happening at the end of a long process; being the best or most extreme example of something.

Worsen (v)

The weather began to worsen as the sun set.

To become or make something worse.

Wreck (v, n)

A car wreck blocked the main road.

To damage or destroy something completely.

Abstract (n, adj)

I prefer abstract paintings to realistic ones.

Art that does not attempt to represent external reality.

Auction (n)

The painting was sold at auction for $1 million.

A public sale in which property or items are sold to the person who bids the highest price.

Audition (n)

She has an audition for the lead role tomorrow.

A short performance by an actor, singer, etc., so that someone can decide if they are suitable for a part.

Bestseller (n)

Her latest novel became an instant bestseller.

A product (usually a book) that is extremely popular and has sold in very large numbers.

Collector’s item (n phr)

The first edition of the book is now a collector's item.

An object that is valuable because it is rare or part of a set.

Curator (n)

The curator is preparing a new exhibition of Greek art.

A person whose job is to look after the objects in a museum or art gallery.

Fine art (n phr)

He studied fine art at the university.

Creative art, especially visual art whose products are to be appreciated primarily or solely for their imaginative, aesthetic, or intellectual content.

Installation (n)

The modern art gallery features a new light installation.

An art work that is set up in a particular place, often for a short time.

Lines (n pl)

The actor forgot his lines during the performance.

The words that an actor speaks in a play or movie.

Lyrics (n pl)

The lyrics of this song are very poetic.

The words of a song.

Masterpiece (n)

The Mona Lisa is considered a masterpiece.

A work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.

Paperback (n)

The book is available in both hardback and paperback.

A book with a thin paper cover.

Period (n, adj)

They were wearing period costumes.

A length of time in history;

(adj) representing a specific historical time.

Priceless (adj)

The museum contains many priceless artifacts.

So valuable that it is impossible to put a price on it.

Recital (n)

She is giving a piano recital tonight.

A performance of music or poetry, usually given by one person or a small group.

Retrospective (n, adj)

The gallery is holding a retrospective of Picasso’s work.

An exhibition of the work of an artist over a long period.

Score (n)

The movie won an award for the best original score.

The written music for a movie, play, or musical work.

Sketch (v, n)

He did a quick sketch of the building.

A quick, rough drawing of something.

Work of art (n phr)

Every piece of furniture he makes is a work of art.

An object made by an artist of great skill.

Worthless

The stolen paintings were found to be worthless copies.

Having no value, importance, or use.