English vocabulary UNIT 1

words and definitions

A bone of contention

A subject or issue that causes disagreement or conflict between people

alienate

to make someone feel that they do not belong in a group

alter

to change or modify something

association

a connection or relationship between people or groups

assonance

the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words, used in poetry and prose to create rhythm and enhance meaning.

attachment

a strong feeling of affection for sb / sth

back to square one (idiom)

a return to the situation you were in at the beginning of sth

change for the better

to improve in a noticeably positive way

chop and change (idiom)

to keep changing your mind or what you are doing

consequently

as a result

decay 

to be destroyed or become worse over time

despite

used to show that sth happened or is true although sth else might have happened to prevent it

determine

to discover the facts about sth; to calculate sth exactly

disaffection

the feeling of being no longer satisfied with your situation, organization, belief ect. therefore not loyal to it.

due to

caused by sth

enhance

to increase or further improve the good quality, value, status of sb/ sth

even though

despite the fact

evolve

to develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complicated form.

exclude (from)

to prevent sb / sth from taking part in sth or entering a place

exclusive

only to be used / given to one person or a group 

fly in a face of (idiom)

to oppose or to be opposite of sth that is usual or expected; to contradict

get under sb’ s skin (idiom)

to annoy sb

give rise to

to cause sth happen or exist

imagery

language that produces pictures in the minds of people reading or listening

improve

to make sb / sth better than before

irony

the funny or strange aspect of a situation that is very different from what you expect

isolate (from)

to separate sb / sth physically or socially from other people or things

lead to 

to have sth as a result

let’s face it

let’s look at and deal with the problem

loyalty

the quality of being faithful

make great strides

to improve the way in which sth is developing 

make no bones about sth

to be honest and open about sth; to not hesitate to do sth

marginalization

the process or result of making sb feel as if they are not important and cannot influence decisions or events.

move the goalposts

to change the rules for sth, or conditions under which it is done, so that the situation becomes more difficult for sb

personification

the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.

progress

develop over a period of time

pull your sock up

try to improve your performance, work, behavior ect.

rapport

a friendly relationship in which people understand each other very well

refine

to improve sth by making small changes to it

rejection

the act of refusing to accept, approve or support sth

repetition 

the fact of doing or saying the same thing many times

restore

to repair a building, work of art, furniture ect. so it looks as good as the original

segregate

to separate people of different races, religions or sexes and treat them in a different way

set foot 

to enter or visit a place 

shift

to move

skin deep 

superficial, not that deep 

substitute

to replace 

transform

to completely change the appearance or character of sth , especially so that it is better

turn around

to start being successful after being unsuccessful for a time

turn the corner 

to pass a very important point in an illness or a difficult situation and begin to improve

turn upside down

to cause large changes and confusion in a person’s life

although

despite the fact

as a result

caused by or because of

because of 

used before a none to say that sb / sth is the reason for sth

due to

caused by sth / sb

even though 

despite the fact

further more

in addition to what has just been stated

however

used before a statement that contradicts with sth that has been said

in addition 

as well

in spite

(used before one fact that makes another fact surprising) despite

moreover

(used to add information) also and most importantly

on account of 

because of sb / sth

owning to

because of

that said

nevertheless

the effect of 

a result ; a change that sb / sth causes in sb / sth else

the influence of

the effect that sb / sth has on the way that a person behaves, thinks. 

therefore

for that reason

what’s more

used to add a point that i even more important

whereas

used to compare or contrast two facts

while

during the time that, or at the same time as