Studied by 30 people
admit (to sth) (v) /ədˈmɪt/
to agree, often unwillingly, that something is true.
Don't be afraid to admit to your mistakes.
approve (of sd/sth) (v)/əˈpruːv/
to think that somebody/something is good, acceptable or suitable
She didn't quite approve of the way he was running things.
absolute (adj) /ˈæbsəluːt
total and complete.
Ex:‘You’re wrong,’ she said with absolute certainty.
accelerate (v) /əkˈseləreɪt/
to start to go faster.
Ex: The car accelerated to overtake me.
advance (v) /ədˈvɑːns/
to move forward towards sb/sth, often in order to attack or threaten them or it
Ex: They had advanced twenty miles by nightfall.
alternate (adj) /ɔːlˈtɜːnət/
happening or following one after the other regularly
Ex: Stretch up thirty times with alternate arms as a warm-up exercise.
alternative (adj) /ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv
that can be used instead of sth else.
Ex: Do you have an alternative solution?
the Antipodes (n) /ði ænˈtɪpədiːz/
a way of referring to Australia and New Zealand Ex: She was heading across the southern Indian Ocean towards the Antipodes.
backdrop (n) /ˈbækdrɒp/
the general conditions in which an event takes place, which sometimes help to explain that event It was against this backdrop of racial tension that the civil war began.
chief /tʃiːf/ (adj)
most important.
Her chief rival for the gold medal is Jones of the USA.
chug (v) /tʃʌg/
to move making the sound of an engine running slowly
The train chugged steadily along the West Highland Line.
collide (with) (v) /kəˈlaɪd
to crash into another person or vehicle, etc. As he fell, his head collided with the table.
come a long way (idiom) /ˌkʌm ə lɒŋ ˈweɪ/
to have made a lot of progress We’ve come a long way since the early days of the project.
complete with (adj) /kəmˈpliːt wɪð/
including sth as an extra part or feature
The book, complete with CD, costs £35.
compulsive (adj) /kəmˈpʌlsɪv/
that makes you pay attention to it because it is so interesting and exciting The programme made compulsive viewing.
compulsory (adj) /kəmˈpʌlsəri/
that must be done because of a law or a rule. English is a compulsory subject at this level.
crackdown (n) /ˈkrækdaʊn/
severe action taken to restrict the activities of criminals or of people opposed to the government or sb in authority
The government has ordered a crackdown on truancy.
crash into (v) /ˌkræʃ ˈɪntuː
to hit an object or another vehicle, causing damage
A truck went out of control and crashed into the back of a bus.
creep (v) /kriːp/
to move slowly, quietly and carefully, because you do not want to be seen or heard.
I crept up the stairs, trying not to wake my parents.
definite (adj) /ˈdefɪnət/
sure or certain; unlikely to change
Can you give me a definite answer by tomorrow?
definitive (adj) /dɪˈfɪnətɪv/
considered to be the best of its kind and almost impossible to improve
This is the definitive biography of Einstein.
downfall (n) /ˈdaʊnfɔːl/
the loss of sb’s money, power, social position, etc. The thing that caused this loss Greed was her downfall.
downpour (n) /ˈdaʊnpɔ:(r)/
a heavy fall of rain that often starts suddenly
We got caught in a torrential downpour.
economic (adj) /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk, ˌekəˈ-/
connected with the trade, industry and development of wealth of a country, an area or a society
Economic growth was fastest in Japan.
economical (adj) /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪklˌ ˌekəˈ-/
providing good service or value in relation to the amount of time or money spent It would be more economical to buy the bigger size.
equator (n) /ɪˈkweɪtə(r)/
an imaginary line around the earth at an equal distance from the North and South Poles
The island is twenty degrees south of the equator.
entire (adj) /ɪnˈtaɪə(r)/
including everything, everyone or every part
The entire village was destroyed.
exact (adj) /ɪgˈzækt/
correct in every detail
She gave an exact description of the attacker.
extreme (adj) /ɪkˈstriːm/
not ordinary or usual; serious or severe Children will be removed from their parents only in extreme circumstances.
foremost (adj) /ˈfɔːməʊst/
the most important or famous; in a position at the front
This question has been foremost in our minds recently.
further down the road (idiom) /ˈfɜːðə daʊn ðə ˌrəʊd/
at some time in the future
There are certain to be more job losses further down the road.
glide (v) /glaɪd/
to move smoothly and quietly, especially as though it takes no effort
The skaters were gliding over the ice.
gross (adj) /grəʊs/
very obvious and unacceptable
It was a gross miscarriage of justice.
hemisphere (n) /ˈhemɪsfɪə(r)/
one half of the earth, especially the half above or below the equator
In the northern hemisphere, December is a winter month.
historic (adj) /hɪˈstɒrɪk/
important in history; likely to be thought of as important at some time in the future
The party has won a historic victory at the polls.
historical (adj) /hɪˈstɒrɪkl/
connected with the past
You must place these events in their historical context.
hit head-on (idiom) /hɪt ˌhed ˈɒn/
to collide in such a way that the front part of one vehicle goes into the front part of another vehicle or thing
The cars hit head-on.
hit the road (idiom) /ˌhɪt ðə ˈrəʊd/
to start a journey/trip
Our flight leaves just before midday – we should hit the road.
hold-up (n) /ˈhəʊld ʌp/
a situation in which sth is prevented from happening for a short time
We should finish by tonight, barring hold-ups.
hurtle (v) /ˈhɜːtl/
to move very fast in a particular direction
A runaway car came hurtling towards us.
jackknife (v) /ˈdʒæk naɪf/
(of an articulated vehicle) bend into a V-shape in an uncontrolled skidding movement
The motorway was closed for several hours after a huge lorry jackknifed across all three lanes.
latitude (n) /ˈlætɪtjuːd/
the distance of a place north or south of the equator, measured in degrees
The sun is directly overhead at noon at this latitude.
let-down (n) /ˈlet daʊn/
sth that is disappointing because it is not as good as you expected it to be
The London exhibition was a bit of a let-down.
longitude (n) /ˈlɒŋgɪtjuːd/
the distance of a place east or west of the Greenwich meridian, measured in degrees
The town is at longitude twenty-eight degrees west.
lose track of (idiom) /luːz ˈtræk əv/
to not have information about what is happening or where sb/sth is
I lost all track of time.
main (adj) /meɪn/
being the largest or most important of its kind
Be careful crossing the main road.
major (adj) /ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/
very large or important
We have encountered major problems.
make your way (into) (idiom) /ˈmeɪk jɔː(r) weɪ/
to move or get somewhere; to make progress
The blues eventually made its way into different kinds of music.
notable (adj) /ˈnəʊtəbl/
deserving to be noticed or to receive attention; important
His eyes are his most notable feature.
noticeable (adj) /ˈnəʊtɪsəbl/
easy to see or notice; clear or definite
Her scars are hardly noticeable now.
(be) on the right track (idiom) /ɒn ðə ˌraɪt ˈtræk/
to think or behave in the right way
We haven’t found a cure yet – but we are on the right track.
(be) on the road (idiom) /ɒn ðə ˈrəʊd/
travelling, especially for long distances or periods of time
The band has been on the road for six months.
only (adj) /ˈəʊnli/
used to say that no other or others of the same group exist or are there
She’s their only daughter.
outbreak (n) /ˈaʊtbreɪk/
the sudden start of sth unpleasant, especially violence or a disease
Outbreaks of rain are expected in the afternoon.
outcome (n) /ˈaʊtkʌm/
the result or effect of an action or event
We are waiting to hear the final outcome of the negotiations.
outlook (n) /ˈaʊtlʊk/
the probable future for sb/sth; what is likely to happen
The outlook for jobs is bleak.
overshoot (v) /əʊvəˈʃʊːt/
to go further than the place you intended to stop or turn
The aircraft overshot the runway.
the Pacific Rim (n) /ðə pəˌsɪfɪk ˈrɪm/
the countries around the Pacific Ocean, especially the countries of eastern Asia, considered as an economic group
He was promoted to Regional Sales Director for the Pacific Rim.
parallel (n) /ˈpærəlel/
an imaginary line around the earth that is always the same distance from the equator; this line on a map
The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are the parallels which form the boundaries of the hottest part of the world.
(our) paths cross (idiom) /pɑːðz ˈkrɒs/
meet by chance
Our paths were to cross again many years later.
prime meridian (n) /praɪm məˈrɪdiən/
a line of longitude at which longitude is defined as zero degrees
The Royal Observatory is the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the prime meridian of the world.
principal (adj) /ˈprɪnsəpl/
most important; main
The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.
prowl (v) /praʊl/
to move quietly and carefully around an area, especially with the intention of committing a crime A man was seen prowling around outside the factory just before the fire started.
pull up (v) /pʊl ˈʌp/
to stop
He pulled up at the traffic lights.
real (adj) /rɪəl/
actually existing or happening and not imagined or pretended
It wasn’t a ghost; it was a real person.
run-up (n) /ˈrʌn ʌp/
a period of time leading up to an important event; the preparation for this
The shops are fully stocked for the Christmas run-up.
setback (n) /ˈsetbæk/
a difficulty or problem that delays or prevents sth, or makes a situation worse
The team suffered a major setback when their best player was injured.
shatter (v) /ˈʃætə(r)/
to make sth suddenly break into small pieces Windows were shattered in the blast.
shed its load (v) /ˌʃed ɪts ˈləʊd/
(of a vehicle) to lose or drop what it is carrying
The traffic jam was caused by a lorry shedding its load.
sheer /ʃiə(r)/
used to emphasize the size, degree or amount of sth
The area is under threat from the sheer number of tourists using it.
skid (v) /skɪd/
to slide sideways or forwards in an uncontrolled way
The car skidded on the ice and went straight into the wall.
smash into (v) /ˈsmæʃ ˌɪntə, ˌɪntuː/
to move with a lot of force against sth solid
The car smashed into a tree.
smooth the path (for) (idiom) /smuːð ðə ˈpɑːθ/
to make it easier for sb/sth to develop or make progress
These negotiations are intended to smooth the path for the emergence of a peace treaty.
sole (adj) /səʊl/
only; single
My sole reason for coming here was to see you.
specific (adj) /spəˈsɪfɪk/
detailed and exact
I gave you specific instructions.
stop dead in your tracks (idiom) /stɒp ˌded ɪn jɔː(r) ˈtræks/
to suddenly stop because sth has frightened or surprised you
The sight made him stop dead in his tracks.
stride (v) /straɪd/
to walk with long steps in a particular direction She came striding along to meet me.
stroll (v) /strəʊl/
to walk somewhere in a slow relaxed way
People were strolling along the beach.
the Subcontinent (n) /ðə ˌsʌbˈkɒntɪnənt/
a large land mass that forms part of a continent, especially the part of Asia that includes India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
Large areas of the Subcontinent have been badly affected by recent flooding.
swerve (v) /swɜːv/
to change direction suddenly, especially in order to avoid hitting sb/sth
He swerved sharply to avoid a cyclist.
technical (adj) /ˈteknɪkl/
connected with the practical use of machinery, methods, etc. in science and industry
We offer free technical support for those buying our software.
technological (adj) /ˌteknəˈlɒdʒɪkl/
connected with technology Wireless computing was a major technological breakthrough.
(reach) the end of the road (idiom) /ði ˌend əv ðə ˈrəʊd/
the point at which sth can no longer continue in the same way
Last year’s champions reached the end of the road with a defeat in the second round.
total (adj) /ˈtəʊtl/
including everything
The evening was a total disaster.
tropic (n) /ˈtrɒpɪk/
one of the two imaginary lines drawn around the world 23° 26’ north or south of the equator
The temperature is high between the tropics because the sun is high in the sky, causing intense convection of rising air.
upbringing (n) /ˈʌpbrɪŋɪŋ/
the way in which a child is cared for and taught how to behave while it is growing up
Her upbringing had given her the social skills to cope with such situations.
uprising (n) /ˈʌpraɪzɪŋ/
a situation in which a group of people join together in order to fight against the people who are in power
He led an armed uprising against the government.
utter (adj) /ˈʌtə(r)/
used to emphasize how complete sth is
To my utter amazement, she agreed.
veer (v) /vɪə(r)/
to change direction suddenly
It is still not clear why the missile veered off course.
washout (n) /ˈwɒʃaʊt/
an event, etc. that is a complete failure, especially because of rain
They feared that the wedding was going to be a washout after torrential rain.
write off (v) /ˌraɪt ˈɒf/
to damage sth, especially a vehicle, so badly that it cannot be repaired
He’s written off two cars this year.
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