Wonder Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms and definitions from the novel Wonder, covering pages 7-32 and Part 2 (Via).

flounder

A small flat sea fish that is used for food.

obnoxious

Extremely unpleasant, especially in a way that offends people. (Synonym: offensive)

a schlep

A slow, difficult journey, especially one that you do not want to make.

a white lie

A small lie, especially one that you tell to avoid hurting somebody.

homeroom

A room in a school where students go at the beginning of each school day, so that teachers can check who is in school.

electives

A course or subject that a student can choose.

middle school

(In the US and Canada) a school for children between the ages of about 11 and 14.

a lab

Short for laboratory; a room or building used for scientific research, experiments, testing, etc.

a lamb to the slaughter

Used to describe people who are going to do something dangerous without realizing it.

in hindsight

The understanding that you have of a situation only after it has happened and that means you would have done things in a different way.

groggy

Weak and unable to think or move well because you are ill or very tired.

to be giggly

Laughing a lot in a silly, nervous way.

to occur

To happen.

to exaggerate

To make something seem larger, better, worse or more important than it really is.

to know the ins and outs of sth.

All the details, especially the complicated or difficult ones.

percussion instruments

Musical instruments that you play by hitting them with your hand or with a stick, for example drums.

incubator

A piece of equipment in a hospital that new babies are placed in when they are weak or born too early, in order to help them survive. (Verb: to incubate)

to skip

To move forwards lightly and quickly making a little jump with each step.

to look puzzled

Unable to understand something or the reason for something. (Synonym: baffled)

supposedly

According to what is generally thought or believed but not known for certain. (Synonym: allegedly)

to orbit sth

To move in a curved path around a much larger object, especially a planet, star, etc.

vividly

In a way that produces very clear pictures in your mind.

raspy

Having a rough sound, as if the person has a sore throat (= a painful throat because of an infection).

to bulge

To stick out from sth in a round shape.

mischievous

Enjoying playing tricks and annoying people.

whim

A sudden wish to do or have sth, especially when it is sth unusual or unnecessary.

bizarre

Very strange or unusual.

instinctively

By using instinct (= a natural quality that makes sb/sth behave in a particular way) rather than thought or training.

indifferently

In a way that shows you are not interested in or do not care about sb/sth.

decisively

In a way that shows the ability to decide quickly and with confidence.

defective

Having a fault or faults; not perfect or complete.

momentarily

For a very short time.