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avant-garde [ uh'-vahnt-GAHRD, uh'-vant-, av-ahnt-, ah-vahnt-; Fr. a-vahn*-GA*R*D ]

  [ noun, adjective ]
  MEANING :
1. (n.) a radical or advanced group esp. belonging to the art forms that come up with the most innovative and
  experimental ideas
2. (adj.) pertaining or belonging to the avant-garde

  USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
  The avant-garde Burj Arab hotel with it's sky high helipad is a must-see sight if you happen to visit Dubai.
  USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
The Royal Bank Plaza is the most eye-catching of the many avant-garde commercial buildings in the city - coated
  with real gold it provides wonderful reflections and is stunning at sunset.
SKY News, Tribute To Toronto's Winning Sport, October 15, 2003
 
non sequitur [ non SEK-wi-ter, -too’ r; Lat. nohn SE-kwi-too’ r ]
  [ noun ]
  MEANING :
1. a fallacy or a conclusion or inference that is illogical or not derived from the premises
  2. a statement that logically does not succeed its predecessor

  USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
  This argument is a non sequitur.
  USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
Andrew Shouler's related point (Letters, January 12) that the current global recession was caused by government
  mistakes is a non sequitur.
Financial Times, Auto industry failure can lead to an overall decline, by Mr Robert Denham, January 14 2009
 
cling [ kling ]
  [ noun, intransitive verb ]
  MEANING :
1. (intr.v.) to adhere to or stick to something
  2. (intr.v.) to resist separation or be emotionally attached to something
3. (n.) attachment

  USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
  The scared children clung to their parents.
  USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
Sticky foods like raisins and cookies that tend to stay in the mouth longer and/or cling to teeth can be a
  significant source of dental cavities.
abcNews, Pepsi's First Statement to ABC News, Feb. 11, 2009
 
mediocre [ mee-dee-OH-ker ]
  [ adjective ]
  MEANING :
1. (adj.) of moderate quality
  2. (adj.) neither good nor bad
3. (adj.) barely adequate
   USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
Although he fared well in the test, the company rejected his application because he had mediocre
  communication skills.

  USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
Despite the strongest Booker Prize shortlist in years, Michael Prodger has learned from his time on the judging
  panel that there is nothing more dispiriting than a mediocre literary novel
The Telegraph, Confessions of Booker Prize judge Michael Prodger, Michael Prodger, 4 October 2009.
 
vertigo [ VUR-ti-goh ]
  [ noun ]
  MEANING :
1. a dizzying sensation characteristic of spinning or tilting within stable surroundings
  2. a disoriented state of mind
3. lightheadedness

  USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
  Her friend told her that her vertigo attacks were probably caused by an ear infection.
  USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
The physiotherapist and audiologist explained I had visual vertigo which was affecting my balance.
  BBC, 'Dizzy attacks left me spinning', Jane Elliott, 8 November 2009.
 
Spelled Pronunciation Key
Stress marks: [ CAPS ] indicates the primary stressed syllable,
as in newspaper [NOOZ-pey-per ] and information [ in-fer-MEY-shuh' n ]
CONSONANTS   VOWELS
[b] boy, baby, rob [a] apple, can, hat
[d] do, ladder, bed [ey] aid, hate, day
[f] food, offer, safe [ah] arm, father, aha
[g] get, bigger, dog [air] air, careful, wear
[h] happy, ahead [aw] all, or, talk, lost, saw
[j] jump, budget, age [e] ever, head, get
[k] can, speaker, stick [ee] eat, see, need
[l] let, follow, still [eer] ear, hero, beer
[m] make, summer, time [er] teacher, afterward, murderer
[n] no, dinner, thin [i] it, big, finishes
[ng] singer, think, long [ahy
I, ice, hide, deny
[p] put, apple, cup ]
[r] run, marry, far, store [o] odd, hot, woffle
[s] sit, city, passing, face [oh] owe, road, below
[sh] she, station, push [oo] ooze, food, soup, sue
[t] top, better, cat [oo'] good, book, put
[ch] church, watching, nature, witch [oi] oil, choice, toy
[th] thirsty, nothing, math [ou] out, loud, how
[th'] this, mother, breathe [uh] up, mother, mud
[v] very, seven, love [uh'] about, animal, problem, circus
[w] wear, away [ur] early, bird, stirring
[hw
where, somewhat
]
[y] yes, onion
[z] zoo, easy, buzz
[zh] measure, television, beige
 
FOREIGN SOUNDS SAMPLE NASALIZED VOWELS
[a*] Fr. ami [an*] Fr. bien
[kh* [ahn*] Fr. croissant
Scot. loch, Ger. ach or ich
] [awn*] Fr. bon
[œ] Fr. feu, Ger. schön   [œn*] Fr. parfum
[r*] Fr. au revoir, Yiddish rebbe [in*] Port. Principe
[uh*
Fr. oeuvre
]
[y*] Fr. tu, Ger. über