Academic Vocabulary Review

Comprehensive vocabulary list from lecture notes covering a wide range of academic and general English terms with their definitions.

trifling

Insignificant or of little importance.

abundant

Existing or available in large quantities; plentiful.

consecutive

Following each other continuously in unbroken sequence.

deception

The act of hiding the truth, especially to get an advantage; fraud.

disperse

To scatter, go, or move in different directions.

exact

Precise, accurate, and complete in every detail.

formidable

Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, or intense.

graceful

Pleasant, attractive, or elegant in form or manner.

grasp

To seize and hold firmly; to understand or perceive something.

humid

Marked by a relatively high level of water vapor in the atmosphere; moist.

indifferent to

Uninterested or showing no concern toward something.

instill

To gradually but firmly establish an idea or attitude in a person's mind.

isolate

To set apart from others; to separate or insulate.

spontaneous

Occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse; natural rather than planned.

substantial

Of considerable importance, size, or worth.

precipitate

To cause an event or situation to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely; to accelerate.

quotation

A group of words taken from a text or speech and repeated by someone other than the original author.

realm

A field or domain of activity or interest; a kingdom.

legitimate

Conforming to the law or to rules; lawful and valid.

spoil

To decay or become unfit for consumption (especially food).

relentlessly

In a way that is continuous and never stops or weakens.

migration

Movement from one part of something to another, or from one place to another.

nullify

To make legally null and void; to invalidate or cancel out.

obesity

The state of being grossly fat or overweight.

poison

A substance that is capable of causing the illness or death of a living organism; a toxic substance.

susceptible to

Likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing; sensitive.

specify

To identify or state clearly and definitely.

supplant

To supersede and replace something else.

hostile

Unfriendly; showing or feeling opposition or dislike; aggressive.

deal

An agreement or settlement; a compromise.

decade

A period of ten years.

contempt

The feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration or worthless; disdain.

content with

Satisfied or happy with what one has or is.

punctual

Happening or doing something at the agreed or proper time; on time.

adjourn

To break off a meeting or legal case with the intention of resuming it later; to postpone.

assign

To allocate a job or task; to designate or set aside.

track

To follow the course or progress of something or someone.

treasure

To value something highly; to keep carefully or cherish.

threat

A statement of an intention to inflict pain, injury, or damage; a menace.

attach

To fasten, join, or connect something to something else.

attitude

A settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something; a manner.

apathy

Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern; indifference.

annihilation

Complete destruction or obliteration; the state of being destroyed.

consolidate

To make something physically stronger or more solid; to combine into a single more effective whole.

coerce

To persuade an unwilling person to do something by using force or threats.

compete with

To take part in a contest or strive against others for superiority; to race.

defect

A shortcoming, imperfection, or lack of something necessary.

corresponding

Analogous or equivalent in character, form, or function; related.

despise

To feel contempt or a deep repugnance for someone or something; to look down on.

expend

To spend or use up a resource such as money, time, or energy.

entitle

To give someone a legal right or a just claim to receive or do something.

erroneous

Wrong; incorrect; based on an error.

illustrate

To explain or make something clear by using examples, charts, or pictures.

influx

An arrival or entry of large numbers of people or things; an inflow.

grumble

To complain about something in a bad-tempered way; to moan or groan.

profound

Very great or intense; showing great knowledge or insight.

obligation

An act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty.

momentum

The quantity of motion of a moving body; speed or impetus gained by a process.

menace

To threaten, especially in a direct or hostile manner.

mature

Fully developed physically or mentally; adult.

negotiate

To try to reach an agreement or compromise by discussion with others.

pose

To present or constitute a problem, danger, or question.

just

Based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair.

gorgeous

Beautiful; very attractive or magnificent.

incredible

Impossible to believe; extraordinary.

extremely

To a very great degree; very or highly.

exaggerate

To represent something as being larger, better, or worse than it really is.

exhaust

To use up resources or data completely; to tire out someone greatly.

discriminate

To make an unjust or prejudicial distinction in the treatment of different categories of people.

dismiss

To order or allow to leave; to send away from employment.

custody

The legal right to care for a child, especially after a divorce; guardianship.

common

Occurring, found, or done often; shared by several people or groups.

commerce

The activity of buying and selling, especially on a large scale; trade.

ambition

A strong desire to do or to achieve something; a goal.

absurd

Wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate; ridiculous.

absorb

To take in or soak up energy, liquid, or other substances.

apprehension

Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.

assure

To tell someone something positively or confidently to dispel any doubts; to guarantee.

shortage

A state or situation in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts; scarcity.

tempt

To entice or try to entice someone to do something unwise or wrong.

ultimate

Being or happening at the end of a process; final or concluding.

ascend

To go up or climb; to rise through the air.

assault

A physical attack or a concerted attempt to do something.

compulsory

Required by law or a rule; obligatory or mandatory.

discern

To perceive or recognize something; to notice.

devoid of

Entirely lacking or free from; without.

evacuate

To remove someone from a place of danger to a safe place; to empty.

implicate

To show someone to be involved in a crime; to connect or associate with.

gauge

An instrument that measures and gives a visual display of the amount, level, or contents of something.

surveillance

Close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal; monitoring.

sparse

Thinly dispersed or scattered; small in amount.

superficial

Existing or occurring at or on the surface; shallow and not thorough.

pledge

A solemn promise or undertaking.

notorious

Famous or well known, typically for some bad quality or deed; infamous.

onslaught

A fierce or destructive attack.

permanent

Lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely; continuous.

relative

Considered in relation or in proportion to something else; comparative.

render

To cause to be or become; to provide or give.

reputation

The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something; fame.

reconciliation

The restoration of friendly relations or an agreement; settlement.