Word List

Cambridge Dictionary
A
Ab
abashed adjective [ after verb ]
embarrassed
He said nothing but looked abashed.
abate verb FORMAL
to become less strong
The storm-wind-rain has started to abate.
The fighting in the area shows no sign of abating.
abdicate verb KING-QUEEN
1. If a king or queen abdicates, they make a formal statement that they no longer
want to be king or queen
King Edward VIII abdicated (the British throne) in 1936 so that he could marry Mrs
Simpson, a divorced woman.
aberrant adjective FORMAL
different from what is typical or usual, especially in an unacceptable way
aberrant behaviour-sexuality
aberration noun FORMAL
a temporary change from the typical or usual way of behaving
In a moment of aberration, she agreed to go with him.
I'm sorry I'm late - I had a mental aberration and forgot we had a meeting today.
abet verb
to help or encourage someone to do something wrong or illegal
His accountant had aided and abetted him in the fraud.
abeyance noun FORMAL
a state of not happening or being used at present
Hostilities between the two groups have been in abeyance since last June.
The project is being held in abeyance until agreement is reached on funding it.
abhor verb [ not continuous ] FORMAL
to hate a way of behaving or thinking, often because you think it is not moral
I abhor all forms of racism.
abide verb OLD USE
1. can't abide somebody-something
If you can't abide someone or something, you dislike them very much
I can't abide her.
He couldn't abide laziness.
abject adjective FORMAL EXTREME
1. abject misery-poverty-terror, etc.
when someone is extremely unhappy, poor, frightened, etc
They live in abject poverty.
This policy has turned out to be an abject failure.
abjure verb FORMAL
to state publicly that you no longer agree with a belief or way of behaving
He abjured his religion-his life of dissipation.
ablution noun FORMAL
the act of washing yourself
Ablution is part of some religious ceremonies.
abominate verb [not continuous ] FORMAL
 to hate something very much
He abominates cruelty of all kinds.
abortive adjective FORMAL
describes an attempt or plan that you have to give up because it has failed
He made two abortive attempts on the French throne.
above board adjective [ after verb ]
describes a plan or business agreement that is honest and not trying to deceive
anyone
The deal was completely open and above board.
abrade verb SPECIALIZED
to remove part of the surface of something by rubbing
abrogate verb FORMAL
to end a law, agreement or custom formally
The treaty was abrogated in 1929.
abscond verb ESCAPE
1. to go away suddenly and secretly in order to escape from somewhere
Two prisoners absconded last night.
She absconded from boarding school with her boyfriend.
absolve verb FORMAL
(especially in religion or law) to free someone from guilt , blame or responsibility for
something
The report absolved her from-of all blame for the accident.
The priest absolved him (of all his sins).
abstain verb NOT DO
1. to not do something, especially something enjoyable that you think might be bad
He took a vow to abstain from alcohol-smoking-sex.
abstemious adjective FORMAL
not doing things which give you pleasure, especially not eating good food or drinking
alcohol
abut verb [ never passive ] FORMAL
If a building or area of land abuts on something, it is next to it or touches it on one
side
Mexico abuts on some of the richest parts of the United States.
Their house abutted onto the police station.
abysmal adjective
very bad
abysmal working conditions
The food was abysmal.
The standard of the students' work is abysmal.
Ac
accede to something phrasal verb FORMAL
1. to agree to do what people have asked you to do
He graciously acceded to our request.
It is doubtful whether the government will ever accede to the nationalists' demands
for independence.
2. accede to the throne-accede to power
to become king or queen, or to take a position of power
The diaries were written in 1837 when Queen Victoria acceded to the throne.
accentuate verb
to emphasize a particular feature of something or to make something more noticeable
Her dress was tightly belted, accentuating the slimness of her waist.
 The new policy only serves to accentuate the inadequacy of provision for the
homeless.
acclimatize , UK USUALLY acclimatise verb ( US ALSO acclimate )
to (cause to) change to suit different conditions of life, weather, etc
More time will be needed for the troops and equipment to become acclimatized to
desert conditions.
We found it impossible to acclimatize ourselves to the new working conditions.
The defending champion is Grant Turner of England, who has acclimatized to the 90°F
sunshine by spending the past month in Florida.
"Why is it that it rains all the time in England?" "Don't worry - you'll soon acclimatize."
accolade noun FORMAL
praise and approval
This is his centennial year and he's been granted the ultimate accolade - his face on
a set of three postage stamps.
Her approval was the highest accolade he could have received.
accost verb [ often passive ] FORMAL
to go up to or stop and speak to someone in a threatening way
I'm usually accosted by beggars and drunks as I walk to the station.
accretion noun FORMAL
gradual increase or growth by the addition of new layers or parts
The fund was increased by the accretion of new shareholders.
The room hadn't been cleaned for years and showed several accretions of dirt and
dust.
acerbic adjective FORMAL
describes something that is spoken or written in a way that is direct, clever and cruel
The letters show the acerbic wit for which Parker was both admired and feared.
the acme noun LITERARY
the highest point of perfection or achievement
To act on this world-famous stage is surely the acme of any actor's career.
acolyte noun FORMAL OR SPECIALIZED
anyone who follows or helps, or someone who helps a priest in some religious
ceremonies
acorn noun
an oval nut that grows on an oak tree and has an outer part shaped like a cup
acquiesce verb FORMAL
to accept or agree to something, often unwillingly
Reluctantly, he acquiesced to-in the plans.
acquisitive adjective FORMAL MAINLY DISAPPROVING
eager to own and collect things
We live in an acquisitive society which views success primarily in terms of material
possessions.
acrimonious adjective FORMAL
full of anger, arguments and bad feeling
an acrimonious dispute
Their marriage ended eight years ago in an acrimonious divorce .
acuity noun FORMAL
the ability to hear, see or think accurately and clearly
Tiredness also affects visual acuity.
He was a man of great political acuity.
Ad
adage noun
a wise saying; proverb
He remembered the old adage 'Look before you leap'.
adamant adjective
impossible to persuade, or unwilling to change an opinion or decision that I've told her
she should stay at home and rest but she's adamant that she's coming.
adept adjective
having a natural ability to do something that needs skill
She's very adept at dealing with the media.
Tamsin Palmer gave an impressive and technically adept performance on the piano.
admonish verb FORMAL
1. to tell someone that they have done something wrong
His mother admonished him for eating too quickly.
2. to advise someone to do something
Her teacher admonished her to work harder for her exams.
adorn verb LITERARY
to add something decorative to a person or thing
The bride's hair was adorned with pearls and white flowers.
adroit adjective
very skilful and quick in the way you think or move
an adroit reaction-answer-movement of the hand
She became adroit at deal ing with difficult questions.
adulation noun
very great admiration or praise for someone, especially when it is more than is
deserved
Minelli is a born performer - she loves the excitement and she loves the adulation.
adumbrate verb FORMAL
to give only the main facts and not the details about something, especially something
that will happen in the future
The project's objectives were adumbrated in the report.
adventitious adjective FORMAL
not expected or planned
an adventitious event-situation
Ae
aegis noun FORMAL
under the aegis of somebody-something
with the protection or support of someone or something, especially an organization
The project was set up under the aegis of the university.
aerate verb
1. to add a gas to liquid, especially a drink
aerated water
2. to allow air to act on something
Earthworms help to aerate the soil.
aerated soil
aerial noun ( US ALSO antenna )
a structure made of metal rods or wires which receives or sends out radio or television
signals
aesthete , US ALSO esthete noun
a person who understands and enjoys beauty
The ugliness of the city would make an aesthete like you shudder.
aesthetic , US ALSO esthetic adjective
1. relating to the enjoyment or study of beauty
The new building has little aesthetic value-appeal.
2. describes an object or a work of art that shows great beauty
furniture which is both aesthetic and functional
Af
affable adjective
friendly and easy to talk to
He struck me as an affable sort of a man.
She was quite affable at the meeting.
affectation noun DISAPPROVING
behaviour or speech that is not sincere
She has so many little affectations.
His manner reeks of affectation.
"It doesn't concern me," he said with an affectation of nonchalance.
affected adjective DISAPPROVING
artificial and not sincere
an affected manner-style of writing
I found her very affected.
affirm verb FORMAL
1. to state something as true
The suspect affirmed that he had been at home all evening.
She affirmed her intention to apply for the post.
2. to publicly state your support for an opinion or idea
The government has affirmed its commitment to equal rights.
affix verb FORMAL
to fix one thing to another
She affixed a stamp to the envelope.
afflict verb
If a problem or illness afflicts a person or thing, they suffer from it
It is an illness which afflicts women more than men.
a country afflicted by civil war
affront noun
a remark or action intended to insult or offend someone
He regarded the comments as an affront to his dignity.
Ag
agglomeration noun ( ALSO agglomerate ) FORMAL
a large group of many different things collected or brought together
an agglomeration of various ethnic and religious groupings
aggrandizement , UK USUALLY aggrandisement noun [ U ] FORMAL DISAPPROVING
increase in power or importance
He gives a lot of money to charity, but personal aggrandizement/ self-
aggrandizement is his motive.
agnostic noun
someone who does not know, or believes that it is impossible to know, whether a god
exists
Although he was raised a Catholic, he was an agnostic for most of his adult life.
agog adjective [ after verb ]
excited; eager to know or see more
We waited agog for news.
agrarian adjective SPECIALIZED
 1. related to the land, especially farms, and its ownership
This is prime agrarian land.
2. describes a place or country that makes its money from farming rather than
industry
This part of the country is mainly agrarian.
Ai
ail verb CAUSE DIFFICULTY
1. FORMAL to cause difficulty and problems for
The government seems to have no understanding of what ails the country.
Wa
wacky adjective INFORMAL
unusual in a pleasing and exciting or silly way
He decided to become a clown to join the wacky world of the circus.
waggish adjective OLD-FASHIONED INFORMAL
saying humorous things
wanderlust noun [ U ]
the wish to travel far away and to many different places
In July wanderlust takes over the whole nation.
wane verb [ I ]
1. to become weaker in strength or influence
By the late seventies the band's popularity was beginning to wane.
2. FORMAL The moon wanes when it gradually appears less and less round, after the full
moon .
wanton adjective WITHOUT CARE
1. FORMAL (of something bad, such as damage, cruelty , waste) extreme and showing
no care at all
wanton destruction of human life
a wanton disregard for safety
wanton extravagance
wanton adjective SEXUAL
2. OLD USE OR HUMOROUS (of a woman) behaving or appearing in a very sexual way
We
welter noun [ S ]
a large and especially badly organized number of things
We are reducing the company's welter of development projects and will streamline
sales and marketing.
wend verb
wend your way
to move slowly and not directly
The thieves then wended their way through the dark back streets to the docks.
Wh
whacky , US USUALLY wacky adjective INFORMAL
strange or unusual
The place is stuffed with whacky memorabilia like a sculpture of the Seven Dwarfs
that Walt Disney gave to Debbie Reynolds.
wheedle verb [ I T + adv/prep ] DISAPPROVING
to try to persuade someone to do something or give you something by praising them
or being intentionally charming
She's one of those children who can wheedle you into giving her anything she wants.
She wasn't invited, but somehow she managed to wheedle her way in .
 I tried all manner of different approaches - I wheedled, threatened, demanded,
cajoled.
wheeze verb [ I ]
to make a high, rough noise while breathing because of some breathing difficulty
I could hear the old man behind me wheezing.
I know when I've been smoking too much because I start to wheeze when I run for a
train.
wheeze noun [ C ] PLAN
1. UK OLD-FASHIONED INFORMAL a clever and often unusual idea or plan, especially one
which is intended to achieve a profit or some other advantage
As a part of their latest marketing wheeze they've planted fifty-pound notes in a
number of the crisp packets.
So the public actually pay to feed the animals in the zoo? That seems like a good
wheeze.
I've had a wheeze - why don't we put both kids in the small room and that will leave
the back room free.
wheeze noun [ C ] BREATH
2. a high, rough noise made when someone cannot breathe easily
The cough, wheeze and shortness of breath are things that go with smoking, not with
age.
whimper verb [ I ]
(especially of an animal) to make a series of small, weak sounds, expressing pain or
unhappiness
A half-starved dog lay in the corner, whimpering pathetically.
I said she couldn't have an ice cream and she started to whimper.
whimper noun [ C ]
She gave a little whimper as the vet inspected her paw.
whimsical adjective
unusual and strange in a way that might be funny or annoying
a whimsical tale
Despite his kindly, sometimes whimsical air, he was a shrewd observer of people.
Wi
wiles plural noun FORMAL
ways of persuading someone that cleverly trick them into doing something
She'll have to use all her feminine wiles to get him to agree.
wilful , US USUALLY willful adjective DISAPPROVING
(of something bad) done intentionally or (of a person) determined to do exactly as
you want, even if you know it is wrong
The present crisis is the result of years of wilful neglect by the council.
They eat huge quantities of sweet and fried foods, in wilful disregard of their health.
She developed into a wilful, difficult child.
winnow verb [ T ]
1. to blow the chaff (= the outer coverings) from grain before it can be used as food
2. FORMAL to reduce a large number of people or things to a much smaller number by
judging their quality
A list of 12 candidates has been winnowed down to a shortlist of three.
a winnowing process
winsome adjective LITERARY APPROVING
attractive and pleasing, with simple qualities, sometimes like those a child has
Maria brought along her eldest daughter - a winsome lass with brown eyes and a
ready smile.
wisp noun [ C ]
1. wisp of cloud/smoke/steam
a small, thin line of cloud/smoke/steam
A blue wisp of cigarette smoke curled in the air.
2. wisp of hair/grass, etc.
a thin, delicate piece of hair/grass, etc
A few wisps of hay still clung to her skirt.
soft wisps of baby hair
wispy adjective
in the form of a wisp or wisps
a wispy cloud/fringe
wistful adjective
sad and thinking about something that is impossible or in the past
a wistful smile
I thought about those days in Spain and grew wistful.
Wr
wrath noun [ U ] FORMAL OR OLD-FASHIONED
extreme anger
The people feared the wrath of God.
wry adjective [ before noun ]
showing that you find a bad or difficult situation slightly funny
a wry smile/comment
Xe
xenophobe noun [ C ]
a person who strongly dislikes or fears foreigners, their customs, their religions, etc.
Ya
spin verb spinning , spun , spun , UK ALSO span
4. spin ( sb ) a story/tale/yarn
to tell a story, either to deceive someone or for entertainment
He spun some tale about needing to take time off work because his mother was ill.
[ + two objects ] They spun us a story about being in desperate need of money.
yank verb
1. [ T usually + adverb or preposition ] INFORMAL to pull something forcefully with a
quick movement
He tripped over the wire and yanked the plug out .
She yanked open the cupboard and everything fell out.
2. [ T often passive ] MAINLY US INFORMAL to suddenly remove someone or something
I was yanked out of school and forced to seek work.
yank noun [ C usually singular ] INFORMAL
Give the door a yank and it should open.
Yank noun [ C ] ( ALSO Yankee ) INFORMAL
a person from the United States of America
DISAPPROVING The place was full of yanks.
yarn noun THREAD
1. [ C or U ] thread used for making cloth or for knitting
yarn noun STORY
2. [ C ] a story, usually a long one with a lot of excitement or interest
He knew how to spin a good yarn (= tell a good story) .
yawn noun
1. [ C ] an act of yawning
Her eyes watered as she tried to stifle (= stop) a yawn.
 2. a yawn
INFORMAL something or someone that is very boring
We have to go to dinner with Simon's boss on Saturday which is a bit of a yawn.
Ye
yearn verb [ I ]
to wish very strongly, especially something that you cannot have or something that is
very difficult to have
Despite his great commercial success he still yearns for critical approval.
[ + to infinitive ] Sometimes I just yearn to be alone.
Yi
yield verb PRODUCE
1. [ T ] to supply or produce something positive such as a profit, an amount of food or
information
an attempt to yield increased profits
The investigation yielded some unexpected results.
Favourable weather yielded a good crop.
yield verb GIVE UP
2. [ I or T ] to give up the control of or responsibility for something, often because you
have been forced to
They were forced to yield (up) their land to the occupying forces.
Despite renewed pressure to give up the occupied territory, they will not yield.
yield verb BEND/BREAK
3. [ I ] SLIGHTLY FORMAL to bend or break under pressure
His legs began to yield under the sheer weight of his body.
yield to sth phrasal verb AGREE
1. to agree to do something that you do not want to do or should not do
It's very easy to yield to temptation and spend too much money.
"We will not yield to pressure," said the president.
yield to sth phrasal verb STOP
2. US ( UK give way ) to stop in order to allow other vehicles to go past before you
drive onto a bigger road
yielding adjective SLIGHTLY FORMAL SOFT
1. describes soft substances or qualities that can bend
a yielding mire of wet leaves
yielding flesh/softness
yielding adjective SLIGHTLY FORMAL PERSON
2. describes a person who can change the way they normally behave or deal with
situations when it is helpful or necessary
Yo
yoke noun [ C ] WOODEN BAR
1. a wooden bar which is fastened over the necks of two animals, especially cattle ,
and connected to the vehicle or load that they are pulling
yoke noun [ C ] CLOTHES
2. a fitted part of a piece of clothing, especially a strip which goes around the
shoulders or waist, to which is sewn a looser piece of material
yoke noun [ C ] CONNECTION
3. FORMAL something which connects two things or people, usually in a way that
unfairly limits freedom
the yoke of marriage
Both countries had thrown off the communist yoke.
yoke verb WOODEN BAR
 1. [ T ] to put a yoke on animals, especially cattle , so that they are fastened together
and to a connected vehicle or load
Two oxen yoked to a plough walked wearily up and down the field.
yoke verb CONNECT
2. [ T often passive ] FORMAL to combine or connect two things
All these different political elements have somehow been yoked together to form a
new alliance.
yokel noun [ C ] USUALLY HUMOROUS
a stupid or awkward person who lives in the countryside rather than a town, especially
one whose appearance is in some way strange or humorous
He plays the country yokel in the butter ad.
yowl verb [ I ]
to make a long, high, unhappy cry, usually when hurt or fighting
I was woken up by cats yowling outside my window.
Za
zany adjective INFORMAL
strange, surprising or uncontrolled in a humorous way
a zany film
zany clothing/ideas
Ze
zealot noun [ C ]
a person who has very strong opinions about something, and tries to make other
people have them too
a religious zealot
zealous adjective
enthusiastic and eager
a zealous supporter of the government's policies
zenith noun [ C usually singular ]
the best or most successful point or time
In the 1860s, Tolstoy was at the zenith of his achievement.
His career reached its zenith in the 1960s.
zephyr noun [ C ] LITERARY
a light wind
zest noun EXCITEMENT
1. [ S or U ] enthusiasm, eagerness, energy and interest
It's wonderful to see the children's zest for life .
He approached every task with a boundless zest.
The recording captures the zest of this live concert performance.