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arbitrary (adj) (/ˈɑɚbəˌtreri/)
An arbitrary number has been assigned to each district.
caricature (noun) (/ˈkerıkəˌʧɚ/)
An artist was doing caricatures in the park.
convenience (noun) (/kənˈviːnjəns/)
An elevator was available for the shoppers' convenience.
clutch (verb) (/ˈklʌʧ/)
I had to clutch the counter to keep from falling.
bump (verb) (/ˈbʌmp/)
I have a bruise from where I bumped my head.
cracking (adj) (/ˈkrækıŋ/)
I think it's a cracking story.
contemplate (verb) (/ˈkɑːntəmˌpleıt/)
I stopped to contemplate (= ponder) what might have happened.
advise (verb) (/ədˈvaız/)
I strongly advise you to sell your old car.
calmness (noun) (/ˈkɑːm/)
I suddenly had a great feeling of calmness.
another (adj) (/əˈnʌðɚ/)
Should we open another bottle of wine?
copious (adj) (/ˈkoʊpijəs/)
The storm produced a copious amount of rain.
attachment (noun) (/əˈtæʧmənt/)
The vacuum cleaner attachments help clean in tight spaces.
cash (noun) (/ˈkæʃ/)
The vending machine only accepts cash.
chastise (verb) (/ʧæˈstaız/)
The waiter was chastised for forgetting the customer's order.
advertising (noun) (/ˈædvɚˌtaızıŋ/)
These is a lot of advertising in that magazine.
air (noun) (/ˈeɚ/)
These laws are meant to produce cleaner air.
correspondence (noun) (/ˌkorəˈspɑːndəns/)
They communicated by telephone and correspondence.
above (adv) (/əˈbʌv/)
They stood under the tree and looked at the branches above. (= overhead)
arrival (noun) (/əˈraıvəl/)
They were awaiting the arrival of guests.
capture (verb) (/ˈkæpʧɚ/)
They were captured by enemy soldiers.
chomp (verb) (/ˈʧɑːmp/)
They were chomping burgers at a picnic.
counterfeit (verb) (/ˈkaʊntɚˌfıt/)
They were counterfeiting money in his garage.
cereal (noun) (/ˈsirijəl/)
Wheat and barley are common cereals.
apprentice (noun) (/əˈprɛntəs/)
a carpenter's apprentice (= an apprentice to a carpenter)
canteen (noun) (/kænˈtiːn/)
the school canteen (= cafeteria)
boom (verb) (/ˈbuːm/)
the sound of the bass drum booming
aerial (adj) (/ˈerijəl/)
the spectacular aerial acrobatics of the circus performers
code (noun) (/ˈkoʊd/)
the state's criminal code
arc (noun) (/ˈɑɚk/)
He bent the twig into an arc.
bite (verb) (/ˈbaıt/)
He bit the apple.
brisk (adj) (/ˈbrısk/)
a brisk, no-nonsense manager
brown (adj) (/ˈbraʊn/)
a brown cow
bully (noun) (/ˈbʊli/)
Bullies would often pick on him or beat him up after school.
bum (noun) (/ˈbʌm/)
Bums (= vagrants) often sleep on the park's benches.
comprise (verb) (/kəmˈpraız/)
Each army division comprised 4,500 troops.
address (verb) (/əˈdrɛs/)
I've addressed the letter, but it still needs a stamp.
come (verb) (/ˈkʌm/)
Please come here for a minute. I want to show you something.
civilian (noun) (/səˈvıljən/)
The bomb injured 12 civilians.
catalyst (noun) (/ˈkætələst/)
The bombing attack was the catalyst for war.
circumstantial (adj) (/ˌsɚkəmˈstænʃəl/)
The evidence is purely circumstantial.
covetous (adj) (/ˈkʌvətəs/)
The expensive car drew many covetous looks.
build (verb) (/ˈbıld/)
The house is built (out) of brick/logs.
acre (noun) (/ˈeıkɚ/)
The house sits/is on two acres of land.
ablaze (adj) (/əˈbleız/)
The house was ablaze.
booze (noun) (/ˈbuːz/)
We bought some chips and booze for the party.
brutal (adj) (/ˈbruːtl̩/)
a brutal military dictatorship
bubbly (adj) (/ˈbʌbli/)
a bubbly liquid
bull (noun) (/ˈbʊl/)
a bull elephant
bunch (noun) (/ˈbʌnʧ/)
a bunch of flowers/grapes
carnivorous (adj) (/kɑɚˈnıvərəs/)
a carnivorous animal
courageous (adj) (/kəˈreıʤəs/)
a courageous soldier
covert (adj) (/ˈkoʊvɚt/)
a covert glance/look
coy (adj) (/ˈkoı/)
a coy flirt
cozy (adj) (/ˈkoʊzi/)
a cozy restaurant/cottage
cider (noun) (/ˈsaıdɚ/)
a cup of apple cider
coffee (noun) (/ˈkɑːfi/)
a cup of coffee
contagion (noun) (/kənˈteıʤən/)
a disease that spreads by contagion
commander (noun) (/kəˈmændɚ/)
the platoon/battalion commander
concentration (noun) (/ˌkɑːnsənˈtreıʃən/)
the power of concentration
assassin (noun) (/əˈsæsn̩/)
He's a hired assassin. (= someone hired to kill someone)
cheater (noun) (/ˈʧiːt/)
He's a liar and a cheat. (= cheater)
addicted (adj) (/əˈdıktəd/)
He's addicted to heroin/nicotine.
adept (adj) (/əˈdɛpt/)
He's adept in several languages.
carp (verb) (/ˈkɑɚp/)
He's always carping about his boss.
arrears (noun) (/əˈriɚz/)
He's been trying pay off the arrears on his mortgage.
bagpipe (noun) (/ˈbægˌpaıp/)
He's learning to play the bagpipes.
bother (verb) (/ˈbɑːðɚ/)
He's so easygoing. Nothing seems to bother him.
Broadway (noun) (/ˈbrɑːdˌweı/)
He's starring in a play on Broadway.
bottom (noun) (/ˈbɑːtəm/)
He's waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
birthday (noun) (/ˈbɚθˌdeı/)
Her birthday is September 30th.
adult (noun) (/əˈdʌlt, ˈæˌdʌlt/)
Her books appeal both to children and to adults.
ape (noun) (/ˈeıp/)
Her boyfriend's some big ape she met at a party.
breathing (noun) (/ˈbriːðəbəl/)
Her breathing is heavy/shallow/labored.
annoy (verb) (/əˈnoı/)
Her constant chatter annoyed (= irritated) all of us.
caffeine (noun) (/kæˈfiːn/)
Her doctor told her to avoid caffeine.
accomplishment (noun) (/əˈkɑːmplıʃmənt/)
Her family is proud of all her academic accomplishments.
blossom (noun) (/ˈblɑːsəm/)
Her hair smelled of apple/cherry/orange blossoms.
clod (noun) (/ˈklɑːd/)
Her husband's such a clod.
change (verb) (/ˈʧeınʤ/)
Her mood changes every hour.
ache (verb) (/ˈeık/)
Her muscles were aching from shoveling snow.
adjoin (verb) (/əˈʤoın/)
Her office adjoins the library.
adorn (verb) (/əˈdoɚn/)
Her paintings adorn the walls.
civilize (verb) (/ˈsıvəˌlaız/)
Her parents hoped that boarding school might civilize her some.
acclaim (noun) (/əˈkleım/)
Her performance in the ballet earned her critical acclaim.
characterize (verb) (/ˈkerıktəˌraız/)
How would you characterize the situation/problem?
conveniently (adv) (/kənˈviːnjənt/)
Several restaurants are conveniently located nearby.
carelessly (adv) (/ˈkeɚləs/)
She carelessly left the stove on.
cautiously (adv) (/ˈkɑːʃəs/)
She cautiously moved down the dark hall.
bible (noun) (/ˈbaıbəl/)
She gave each of her grandchildren a Bible.
caress (noun) (/kəˈrɛs/)
She gave the baby's cheek a gentle caress.
compliment (noun) (/ˈkɑːmpləmənt/)
She gave/paid me a compliment. (= she said something nice about me)
angrily (adv) (/ˈæŋgrəli/)
She glared at us angrily.
coldly (adv) (/ˈkoʊld/)
She looked at me coldly and turned away.
admiration (noun) (/ˌædməˈreıʃən/)
She looked at them in admiration.
ceramics (noun) (/səˈræmıks/)
She studied ceramics in Japan.
buff (noun) (/ˈbʌf/)
She's a tennis buff. (= fan, enthusiast)
a (indefinite article) (/ə, ˈeı/)
She's a very nice lady.
anti (prep) (/ˈænti, ˈænˌtaı/)
She's anti big corporations.
busy (adj) (/ˈbızi/)
She's busy preparing for her test.
chop (verb) (/ˈʧɑːp/)
She's in the kitchen chopping vegetables.
boob (noun) (/ˈbuːb/)
She's not the helpless boob she seems to be.
clue (noun) (/ˈkluː/)
The book gives the reader plenty of clues to solve the mystery.
constituent (noun) (/kənˈstıʧəwənt/)
She's pledged to help her elderly constituents.
botany (noun) (/ˈbɑːtəni/)
She's studying botany.
considerably (adv) (/kənˈsıdɚrəbli/)
The house was considerably more expensive than what we could afford.
closely (adv) (/ˈkloʊs/)
The houses on our street are crowded very closely together.
chain (noun) (/ˈʧeın/)
The neighbor's dog is kept on a chain. (= is connected to a chain that keeps it from getting away)
comedy (noun) (/ˈkɑːmədi/)
The new comedy is the network's most popular television show.
centrally (adv) (/ˈsɛntrəli/)
The new hospital will be centrally located.
captor (noun) (/ˈkæptɚ/)
The men fought their captors and escaped.
COD (abbr) (/kəˈkuːnıŋ/)
The merchandise was shipped C.O.D.
augment (verb) (/ɑgˈmɛnt/)
The money augmented his fortune.
comment (noun) (/ˈkɑːˌmɛnt/)
The most frequent comment was that the service was slow.
churn (verb) (/ˈʧɚn/)
The motorboats churned the water.
actual (adj) (/ˈækʧəwəl/)
The movie is based on actual events. (= on events that really happened)
assail (verb) (/əˈseıl/)
The movie was assailed by critics.
climax (noun) (/ˈklaıˌmæks/)
The movie's climax is a fantastic chase scene.
awful (adj) (/ˈɑːfəl/)
The music was awful.
complication (noun) (/ˌkɑːmpləˈkeıʃən/)
The negotiations stalled when complications arose.
caller (noun) (/ˈkɑːlɚ/)
The police have received information from an anonymous caller.
badge (noun) (/ˈbæʤ/)
The policeman flashed his badge.
choose (verb) (/ˈʧuːz/)
The political party chose a leader.
craft (noun) (/ˈkræft/)
The potter has been studying his craft (= handicraft) for two decades.
courage (noun) (/ˈkɚrıʤ/)
The troops showed great courage (= bravery) in battle.
artillery (noun) (/ɑɚˈtıləri/)
The troops were being bombarded by artillery.
ammunition (noun) (/ˌæmjəˈnıʃən/)
The troops were supplied with weapons and ammunition.
cancerous (adj) (/ˈkænsərəs/)
The tumor is not cancerous.
alike (adj) (/əˈlaık/)
The two cars are much alike.
country (noun) (/ˈkʌntri/)
The two countries have a lot in common.
consolidate (verb) (/kənˈsɑːləˌdeıt/)
The two funds will consolidate into one.
akin (adj) (/əˈkın/)
The two languages are closely akin.
antipathy (noun) (/ænˈtıpəθi/)
There has always been strong antipathy between the two groups.
asleep (adj) (/əˈsliːp/)
"Are you asleep?" "No, I'm awake."
ago (adv) (/əˈgoʊ/)
"How long ago did she arrive?" "A few hours ago."
catching (adj) (/kæʧɚ, ˈkɛʧɚ/)
"I have a cold." "Is it catching?"
antecedent (noun) (/ˌæntəˈsiːdənt/)
"John" is the antecedent of the pronoun "him" in "Mary saw John and thanked him."
abbreviation (noun) (/əˌbriːviˈeıʃən/)
"USA" is an abbreviation of (for) "United States of America."
abbreviate (verb) (/əˈbriːviˌeıt/)
"United States of America" is commonly abbreviated to (as) "USA."
coefficient (noun) (/ˌkowəˈfıʃənt/)
5 is the coefficient of y in the term 5y.
banner (noun) (/ˈbænɚ/)
A banner was hung over the street advertising the local theater production.
bomb (noun) (/ˈbɑːm/)
A bomb went off downtown.
breakaway (adj) (/ˈbreıkəˌweı/)
A breakaway faction formed a new party.
alight (verb) (/əˈlaıt/)
A butterfly alighted (= landed) on her hat.
canopy (noun) (/ˈkænəpi/)
A canopy hung over the altar.
clamor (noun) (/ˈklæmɚ/)
A clamor outside woke them in the night.
colleague (noun) (/ˈkɑːˌliːg/)
A colleague of mine will be speaking at the conference.
comparable (adj) (/ˈkɑːmpərəbəl/)
A comparable refrigerator today would cost a lot more than the one I bought 10 years ago.
cent (noun) (/ˈsɛnt/)
A dime is worth 10 cents.
burn (verb) (/ˈbɚn/)
A flame is kept constantly burning at the monument.
beware (verb) (/bıˈweɚ/)
A ghostly voice cried "Beware!"
challenge (verb) (/ˈʧælənʤ/)
A number of doctors are challenging the study's claims.
bullpen (noun) (/ˈbʊlˌpɛn/)
A relief pitcher is warming up in the bullpen.
absorb (verb) (/əbˈsoɚb/)
A sponge absorbs water.
canvass (verb) (/ˈkænvəs/)
A team of volunteers is canvassing the city for the Republican Party.
controversial (adj) (/ˌkɑːntrəˈvɚʃəl/)
Abortion is a highly controversial subject/issue/topic.
calculation (noun) (/ˌkælkjəˈleıʃən/)
According to experts' calculations, that star will explode within two billion years.
census (noun) (/ˈsɛnsəs/)
According to the latest census, the racial makeup of the town has changed dramatically in the last 50 years.
catharsis (noun) (/kəˈθɑɚsıs/)
Acting is a means of catharsis for her.
Afro-American (noun) (/ˌæfrowəˈmerəkən/)
Afro-American scientists
backpack (verb) (/ˈbækˌlɑːg/)
After college, she backpacked through/around Europe.
bargaining (noun) (/ˈbɑɚgən/)
After hours of hard bargaining, they came to an agreement.
backstage (adv) (/ˈbækˌsteıʤ/)
After the show, we went backstage to meet the band.
brag (verb) (/ˈbræg/)
After winning the race, she couldn't stop bragging.
chafe (verb) (/ˈʧeıf/)
After working outdoors for years, he chafed at being stuck in an office all day.
alter (verb) (/ˈɑːltɚ/)
Alcohol can alter a person's mood.
appliance (noun) (/əˈplajəns/)
All household/domestic appliances are now on sale.
confidentiality (noun) (/ˌkɑːnfəˌdɛnʃiˈæləti/)
All medical records are treated with complete confidentiality. (= are kept completely private)
activist (noun) (/ˈæktıvıst/)
Antiwar activists were protesting in the streets.
assistance (noun) (/əˈsıstəns/)
Any assistance you can give me would be appreciated.
cautious (adj) (/ˈkɑːʃəs/)
Any cautious tourist will guard her passport.
agreement (noun) (/əˈgriːmənt/)
Any changes to the plan require the agreement of everyone involved.
calligraphy (noun) (/kəˈlıgrəfi/)
Arabic calligraphy
acquainted (adj) (/əˈkweıntn̩s/)
Are you acquainted with the facts in this case? (= do you know the facts?)
aware (adj) (/əˈweɚ/)
Are you aware how important you are to me?
certain (adj) (/ˈsɚtn̩/)
Are you certain (= sure) you want to leave today?
balm (noun) (/ˈbɑːm/)
Art can be a balm to the soul.
bonus (noun) (/ˈboʊnəs/)
As a bonus for good behavior you can stay up late.
administer (verb) (/ədˈmınıstɚ/)
As a cost-saving measure, voters have elected to have the two towns administered jointly.
action (noun) (/ˈækʃən/)
As its first official action (= act), the committee elected Ms. Jones as its president.
any (adj) (/ˈɛni/)
Ask any man you meet, and he will tell you the same thing.
coupon (noun) (/ˈkuːˌpɑːn, ˈkjuːˌpɑːn/)
Bring in this coupon for a free oil change.
aspirin (noun) (/ˈæspərən/)
Aspirin is effective in controlling headaches.
blissful (adj) (/ˈblısfəl/)
At first, their time together was blissful.
athlete (noun) (/ˈæθˌliːt/)
Athletes from around the world will be competing at the Olympics.
attentive (adj) (/əˈtɛntıv/)
Attentive (= observant) readers might notice some mistakes in the book.
audition (noun) (/ɑˈdıʃən/)
Auditions will be held next week for the spring musical.
colonist (noun) (/ˈkɑːlənıst/)
British colonists settled the area in the 18th century.
bamboo (noun) (/bæmˈbuː/)
Bamboo grows in the grove near the house.
adequate (adj) (/ˈædıkwət/)
Be sure to allow adequate (= sufficient, enough) time for the paint to dry.
countdown (noun) (/ˈkaʊntˌdaʊn/)
Begin the countdown.
British (adj) (/ˈbrıtıʃ/)
British newspapers
chancy (adj) (/ˈʧænsi/)
Building your own home is a chancy business.
blend (verb) (/ˈblɛnd/)
Blend the fruit, yogurt, and milk (together).
circulate (verb) (/ˈsɚkjəˌleıt/)
Blood circulates through the body.
annihilate (verb) (/əˈnajəˌleıt/)
Bombs annihilated the city.
clinical (adj) (/ˈklınıkəl/)
Both experimental and clinical evidence show that the treatment is effective.
brace (verb) (/ˈbreıs/)
Brace yourself. (= prepare yourself) I have some bad news.
amass (verb) (/əˈmæs/)
By the time he was 21, he had already amassed (= accumulated) a great fortune.
bye (interj) (/ˈbaı/)
Bye. I'll see you tomorrow.
Christian (adj) (/ˈkrısənıŋ/)
Christian scriptures
carcinogen (noun) (/kɑɚˈsınəʤən/)
Cigarette smoke contains known carcinogens.
blush (verb) (/ˈblʌʃ/)
He blushed at the compliment.
catch (verb) (/ˈkæʧ, ˈkɛʧ/)
Catch the ball and throw it to first base.
bitter (adj) (/ˈbıtɚ/)
Cocoa beans have a bitter flavor.
combustion (noun) (/kəmˈbʌsʧən/)
Combustion may occur at high temperatures.
count (verb) (/ˈkaʊnt/)
Count the plates on the table.
court (noun) (/ˈkoɚt/)
Court is now in session.
cardboard (noun) (/ˈkɑɚdˌboɚd/)
Cover the windows with cardboard.
antisocial (adj) (/ˌænˌtaıˈsoʊʃəl/)
Crime is antisocial.
anybody (pronoun) (/ˈɛniˌbɑːdi, ˈɛniˌbʌdi/)
Did anybody call?
anyone (pronoun) (/ˈɛniˌwʌn/)
Did anyone call?
babysitter (noun) (/ˈbeıbiˌsıt/)
Did you pay the babysitter?
after (adv) (/ˈæftɚ/)
Dinner was at six and we arrived shortly after. (= thereafter)
bath (noun) (/ˈbæθ/)
Do you prefer baths or showers?
cab (noun) (/ˈkæb/)
Do you want to catch/get a cab? (= to get a taxi to stop and give you a ride)
afraid (adj) (/əˈfreıd/)
Don't be afraid (= frightened, scared)-the dog won't hurt you.
baloney (noun) (/bəˈloʊni/)
Don't believe all of that baloney.
blame (verb) (/ˈbleım/)
Don't blame me. You are responsible for your own problems.
bluff (verb) (/ˈblʌf/)
Don't listen to his threats-he's just bluffing. (= he will not really do what he threatens to do)
blot (verb) (/ˈblɑːt/)
Don't rub the wine stain. Blot it dry with a paper towel.
apt (adj) (/ˈæpt/)
Don't wake him; he's apt to become angry.
cheers (interj) (/ˈʧiɚz/)
Drink up, everybody. Cheers!
commonplace (adj) (/ˈkɑːmənˌpleıs/)
Drug use has become commonplace at rock concerts.
attenuate (verb) (/əˈtɛnjəˌweıt/)
Earplugs will attenuate the loud sounds of the machinery.
chimera (noun) (/kaıˈmirə/)
Economic stability in that country is a chimera.
ambassador (noun) (/æmˈbæsədɚ/)
Embassy officials met with the ambassador.
colonize (verb) (/ˈkɑːləˌnaız/)
England colonized Australia.
cognate (adj) (/ˈkɑːgˌneıt/)
English "eat" and German "essen" are cognate.
camp (noun) (/ˈkæmp/)
Fishing camps are located all along the river.
analogy (noun) (/əˈnæləʤi/)
He drew/made an analogy between flying a kite and fishing. (= he compared flying a kite to fishing; he said that flying a kite was like fishing)
apply (verb) (/əˈplaı/)
For further information, apply to the address below.
beautify (verb) (/ˈbjuːtəˌfaı/)
Fresh flowers beautify every room.
commiserate (verb) (/kəˈmızəˌreıt/)
Friends called to commiserate (= sympathize) when they heard that he had to cancel the trip.
beyond (adv) (/biˈɑːnd/)
From the house we can see the valley and the hills beyond.
chancellor (noun) (/ˈʧænsəlɚ/)
Germany's Chancellor Helmut Kohl
asset (noun) (/ˈæˌsɛt/)
Good looks can be an asset (= advantage) in an acting career.
condition (noun) (/kənˈdıʃən/)
Happiness is the state or condition of being happy.
before (adv) (/bıˈfoɚ/)
Haven't we met before?
abjure (verb) (/æbˈʤuɚ/)
He abjured (= renounced) allegiance to his native country.
abstain (verb) (/əbˈsteın/)
He abstained from taking part in the discussion.
abuse (verb) (/əˈbjuːz/)
He abused (= mistreated) his wife both mentally and physically.
applause (noun) (/əˈplɑːz/)
He accepted the award to thunderous applause. (= people applauded very loudly as he accepted the award)
bang (verb) (/ˈbæŋ/)
He accidentally banged his knee against the door.
accidentally (adv) (/ˌæksəˈdɛntl̩i/)
He accidentally deleted the file.
acquaint (verb) (/əˈkweınt/)
He acquainted the new employee with her duties. (= he told her about her duties)
admit (verb) (/ədˈmıt/)
He admitted (to me) that he didn't know the answer.
aim (verb) (/ˈeım/)
He aimed the gun carefully before shooting.
bone (noun) (/ˈboʊn/)
He broke a bone in his left arm.
call (verb) (/ˈkɑːl/)
He called to passersby for help.
barge (verb) (/ˈbɑɚgənˈbeısmənt/)
He came rushing down the stairs, barging into the crowd of people at the bottom.
canoe (verb) (/ˈkæni/)
He canoed down the river to the camp.
clench (verb) (/ˈklɛnʧ/)
He clenched his teeth and continued to look straight ahead.
click (verb) (/ˈklık/)
He clicked his heels together and saluted the officer.
aboard (adv) (/əˈboɚd/)
He climbed aboard just as the train was leaving.
commend (verb) (/kəˈmɛnd/)
He commended her honesty.
commute (verb) (/kəˈmjuːt/)
He commutes to work every day by train.
compile (verb) (/kəmˈpajəl/)
He compiled a book of poems.
comrade (noun) (/ˈkɑːmˌræd/)
He enjoys spending time with his old army comrades.
brazen (adj) (/ˈbreızn̩/)
He exhibited a brazen disregard for other people's feelings.
contempt (noun) (/kənˈtɛmpt/)
He feels that wealthy people view/regard him with contempt because he is poor.
compassion (noun) (/kəmˈpæʃən/)
He felt compassion for the lost child.
betrayal (noun) (/bıˈtrejəl/)
He felt that accepting the money would be a betrayal of his principles.
brim (noun) (/ˈbrım/)
He filled the glass to the brim. (= to the top)
bloodless (adj) (/ˈblʌdləs/)
He fought his bloodless battles in the courtroom.
adultery (noun) (/əˈdʌltəri/)
He found out that his wife had committed adultery.
blessing (noun) (/ˈblɛsəd/)
He gave his blessing to the plan. (= he approved the plan)
barber (noun) (/ˈbɑɚbɚ/)
He goes to a barber downtown.
breed (verb) (/ˈbriːd/)
He got into the business of breeding cattle.
bet (noun) (/ˈbɛt/)
He has a bet on the game.
cone (noun) (/ˈkoʊn/)
He scooped out the popcorn with a paper cone.
astonishing (adj) (/əˈstɑːnıʃıŋ/)
He showed an astonishing lack of concern for others.
adversity (noun) (/ædˈvɚsəti/)
He showed courage in the face of adversity.
bunk (noun) (/ˈbʌŋk/)
He sleeps in the top/bottom bunk.
butt (noun) (/ˈbʌt/)
He slipped and landed on his butt. (= (chiefly Brit) bum)
asunder (adv) (/əˈsʌndɚ/)
He split the log asunder with an ax.
asperity (noun) (/əˈsperəti/)
He spoke about his ex-wife with asperity. (= acrimony)
abusive (adj) (/əˈbjuːsıv/)
He spoke to her in an abusive manner. (= He was abusive when he spoke to her.)
aggressive (adj) (/əˈgrɛsıv/)
He started to get aggressive and began to shout.
all (adj) (/ˈɑːl/)
He stayed awake all night. (= the whole/entire night)
aside (adv) (/əˈsaıd/)
He stepped aside and let her pass.
apart (adv) (/əˈpɑɚt/)
He stood with his feet planted far/wide apart.
cheekbone (noun) (/ˈʧiːkˌboʊn/)
He suffered a broken cheekbone.
constant (adj) (/ˈkɑːnstənt/)
He suffers from constant headaches.
apostrophe (noun) (/əˈpʰɑːstrəfi/)
In the contraction "can't," an apostrophe replaces two of the letters in the word "cannot."
brainless (adj) (/ˈbreınləs/)
He thought most of his coworkers were brainless.
cop (noun) (/ˈkɑːp/)
He threatened to call the cops on us.
arouse (verb) (/əˈraʊz/)
He tried to sneak past without arousing suspicion. (= without causing people to become suspicious)
competence (noun) (/ˈkɑːmpətəns/)
He trusts in the competence of his doctor.
confederate (noun) (/kənˈfɛdərət/)
He turned to his confederates (= allies, accomplices) for help.
chairmanship (noun) (/ˈʧeɚmənˌʃıp/)
He volunteered for the committee chairmanship.
counter (noun) (/ˈkaʊntɚ/)
He walked up to the counter and ordered his food.
brave (adj) (/ˈbreıv/)
He was a brave (= courageous, fearless) soldier.
chubby (adj) (/ˈʧʌbi/)
He was always chubby as a child.
citation (noun) (/saıˈteıʃən/)
He was issued a citation.
bigot (noun) (/ˈbıgət/)
He was labeled a bigot after making some offensive comments.
birth (noun) (/ˈbɚθ/)
He was present at/for the birth of his daughter.
candid (adj) (/ˈkændəd/)
He was quite candid about his past.
consent (verb) (/kənˈsɛnt/)
He was reluctant at first but finally consented.
accuse (verb) (/əˈkjuːz/)
He was unjustly accused.
communicative (adj) (/kəˈmjuːnəˌkeıtıv, kəˈmjuːnəkətıv/)
He wasn't very communicative. (= talkative)
arrogance (noun) (/ˈerəgəns/)
Her arrogance has earned her a lot of enemies.
beauty (noun) (/ˈbjuːti/)
Her beauty is beyond compare. (= she is very beautiful; no one is as beautiful as she is)
better (adj) (/ˈbɛtɚ/)
Her second book is better than her first one.
audible (adj) (/ˈɑːdəbəl/)
Her voice was barely audible over the noise.
advantage (noun) (/ədˈvæntıʤ/)
Higher ground gave the enemy the/an advantage.
bossy (adj) (/ˈbɑːsi/)
His advice may be good, but he's much too bossy.
consolation (noun) (/ˌkɑːnsəˈleıʃən/)
His apology was of little/no consolation (to me). (= his apology did not make me feel much/any better)
bizarre (adj) (/bəˈzɑɚ/)
His behavior was bizarre.
apocalypse (noun) (/əˈpɑːkəˌlıps/)
His book tells of an environmental apocalypse.
act (noun) (/ˈækt/)
His first official act (= action) as President was to sign the bill.
clang (verb) (/ˈklæŋ/)
His fork clanged against the plate.
cataract (noun) (/ˈkætəˌrækt/)
His grandmother developed cataracts.
clinch (verb) (/ˈklınʧ/)
His home run clinched the victory.
admonish (verb) (/ædˈmɑːnıʃ/)
His mother admonished him for shouting.
built-in (adj) (/ˈbıltˈın/)
His new watch has a built-in calculator.
adversary (noun) (/ˈædvɚˌseri/)
His political adversaries tried to prevent him from winning the nomination.
aura (noun) (/ˈorə/)
His presence brought an aura of dignity to the proceedings.
circumscribe (verb) (/ˈsɚkəmˌskraıb/)
His role as president was carefully circumscribed by the board.
backup (noun) (/ˈbækˌʌp/)
His role on the team is to be a backup to the regular quarterback.
amuse (verb) (/əˈmjuːz/)
His silly jokes amused the audience. = The audience was amused by his silly jokes. (= the audience found his silly jokes funny/entertaining/amusing)
adaptation (noun) (/ˌæˌdæpˈteıʃən/)
His stage adaptation of the novel was a success.
consistency (noun) (/kənˈsıstənsi/)
His statements on this subject have lacked consistency.
admire (verb) (/ədˈmajɚ/)
I admired the way he handled the crisis. (= I admired how he handled the crisis.)
bathe (verb) (/ˈbeıð/)
I always bathe (= bath) in the morning.
cheap (adj) (/ˈʧiːp/)
I always buy the cheapest brand of cereal.
answer (noun) (/ˈænsɚ/)
I asked him a simple question and he gave me a long and confusing answer.
compliant (adj) (/kəmˈplajənt/)
I asked him for a favor, and he was compliant.
associate (verb) (/əˈsoʊʃiˌeıt/)
I associate flowers with spring.
assume (verb) (/əˈsuːm/)
I assumed he was coming, so I was surprised when he didn't show up.
bake (verb) (/ˈbeık/)
I baked you a cake. (= I baked a cake for you.)
audacity (noun) (/ɑˈdæsəti/)
I could not believe their audacity.
cooking (noun) (/ˈkʊki/)
I do most of the cooking in our house.
approve (verb) (/əˈpruːv/)
I don't care if all the other parents are letting their kids do it; I still don't approve.
but (conj) (/ˈbʌt, bət/)
I don't know her, but my husband does.
actually (adv) (/ˈækʧəwəli/)
I don't know what actually (= really) happened.
can (verb) (/kən, ˈkæn/)
I don't need any help. I can do it myself.
belt (noun) (/ˈbɛlt/)
I fastened/unfastened the buckle on my belt. (= I buckled/unbuckled my belt.)
challenging (adj) (/ˈʧælənʤıŋ/)
I find the job challenging and fun.
compulsion (noun) (/kəmˈpʌlʃən/)
I gave in to one of my compulsions and ordered the chocolate dessert.
cat (noun) (/ˈkæt/)
I have two dogs and a cat.
clack (verb) (/ˈklæk/)
I heard her heels clacking down the hall.
ankle (noun) (/ˈæŋkəl/)
I hurt/twisted/sprained/broke my ankle.
businessman (noun) (/ˈbıznəsˌmæn/)
I know it's hard for him to sell his paintings. He's always been a better artist than businessman.
assumption (noun) (/əˈsʌmpʃən/)
I made the assumption that he was coming, so I was surprised when he didn't show up.
constructive (adj) (/kənˈstrʌktıv/)
I tried to offer constructive criticism/suggestions/comments.
cornstarch (noun) (/ˈkoɚnˌstɑɚʧ/)
I used some cornstarch to thicken the gravy.
career (noun) (/kəˈriɚ/)
I want to make teaching my career. = I want to have a career as a teacher. (= I want to be a teacher)
chance (noun) (/ˈʧæns/)
I wanted to call you, but I never got/had the chance (to).
bridesmaid (noun) (/ˈbraıdzˌmeıd/)
I was a bridesmaid in my sister's wedding.
alone (adj) (/əˈloʊn/)
I was all alone (= by myself) in the office yesterday.
cogitate (verb) (/ˈkɑːʤəˌteıt/)
I was cogitating about/on my chances of failing.
bestiality (noun) (/ˌbɛsʧiˈæləti/)
I was shocked by the bestiality of their behavior.
coolness (noun) (/ˈkuːlıʃ/)
I was surprised by his coolness towards us.
commotion (noun) (/kəˈmoʊʃən/)
I went outside to see what all the commotion (= hubbub) was about.
clumsy (adj) (/ˈklʌmzi/)
I'm sorry about spilling your wine-that was very clumsy of me.
colorful (adj) (/ˈkʌlɚfəl/)
I wore a colorful outfit.
bid (verb) (/ˈbıd/)
I'll bid $100 for/on the lamp but no higher.
bring (verb) (/ˈbrıŋ/)
I'll bring a bottle of wine (with me) when I come to your party.
accrue (verb) (/əˈkruː/)
I'll get back all the money I invested, plus any interest and dividends that have accrued.
anyplace (adv) (/ˈɛniˌpleıs/)
I'll go anyplace you want.
car (noun) (/ˈkɑɚ/)
I'll wait in the car.
Capricorn (noun) (/ˈkæprıˌkoɚn/)
I'm a Capricorn. What are you?
baker (noun) (/ˈbeıkɚ/)
I'm a very good baker.
awhile (adv) (/əˈwajəl/)
I'm going to sit and rest awhile.
bloke (noun) (/ˈbloʊk/)
I'm just an ordinary bloke. (= guy, fellow, chap)
continuing (adj) (/kənˈtınju/)
I'm surprised by the film's continuing popularity.
bored (adj) (/ˈboɚ/)
I've never been so bored.
confused (adj) (/kənˈfjuːzd/)
I've never been so confused.
aspiration (noun) (/ˌæspəˈreıʃən/)
I've never had any aspiration to become famous. (= I've never wanted to become famous)
angry (adj) (/ˈæŋgri/)
I've never seen her look so angry.
brevity (noun) (/ˈbrɛvəti/)
I've omitted certain passages for the sake of brevity. (= because I want to be brief)
correctly (adv) (/kəˈrɛkt/)
If I remember correctly, he was a good baseball player in high school.
agitate (verb) (/ˈæʤəˌteıt/)
If I talk about the problem with him it just agitates him even more.
conifer (noun) (/ˈkɑːnəfɚ/)
Most conifers are evergreen.
balk (verb) (/ˈbɑːk/)
If this witness balks (= refuses to cooperate in court), our lawyers will not have enough evidence to win the case.
behave (verb) (/bıˈheıv/)
If you can't behave in the store we'll have to leave.
compel (verb) (/kəmˈpɛl/)
Illness compelled him to stay in bed.
adverb (noun) (/ˈædˌvɚb/)
In "arrived early," "runs slowly," "stayed home," and "works hard" the words "early," "slowly," "home," and "hard" are adverbs.
balanced (adj) (/ˈbælənst/)
Most news articles gave a balanced (= fair, unbiased) account of the event.
correspond (verb) (/ˌkorəˈspɑːnd/)
In some countries, the role of president corresponds to that of prime minister.
basic (adj) (/ˈbeısık/)
In this class, you will learn the basic principles of chemistry.
appendix (noun) (/əˈpɛndıks/)
In your textbooks, turn to Appendix 3: Glossary of Terms.
accusation (noun) (/ˌækjəˈzeıʃən/)
Investigators have made (brought/leveled) accusations of corruption against a group of former officials.
arsonist (noun) (/ˈɑɚsn̩ıst/)
Investigators suspect that the fire was set by an arsonist.
able (adj) (/ˈeıbəl/)
Is he able to swim? (= can he swim?)
acquaintance (noun) (/əˈkweıntn̩s/)
Is he an acquaintance of yours? (= have you met him?)
conscious (adj) (/ˈkɑːnʃəs/)
Is the patient conscious yet?
alive (adj) (/əˈlaıv/)
It feels great to be alive.
attune (verb) (/əˈtuːn/)
It is important to attune the company to the needs of its customers.
coax (verb) (/ˈkoʊks/)
It took almost an hour to coax the cat down from the tree.
century (noun) (/ˈsɛnʧəri/)
It took more than a century to complete the cathedral.
awe (noun) (/ˈɑː/)
It was a sight that filled me with awe and reverence.
adrenaline (noun) (/əˈdrɛnələn/)
It was a thrilling experience that really got our adrenaline going. (= got us very excited)
amid (prep) (/əˈmıd/)
It was hard to hear amid all the cheering.
bogus (adj) (/ˈboʊgəs/)
It was just a bogus claim.
coincidence (noun) (/koʊˈınsədəns/)
It was mere/pure/sheer coincidence that brought them together so far from Chicago.
clumsiness (noun) (/ˈklʌmzinəs/)
It was my own clumsiness that caused the accident.
con (noun) (/ˈkɑːn/)
It was not a good investment but a con (= swindle, scam) to rob them of their savings.
anyhow (adv) (/ˈɛniˌhaʊ/)
It's OK if we don't go to the movie. I'm not that interested in seeing it anyhow.
boy (noun) (/ˈboı/)
It's a boy! She gave birth to a baby boy this morning.
appropriate (adj) (/əˈproʊprijət/)
It's a formal occasion and appropriate attire/dress/clothing is expected. (= you are expected to wear formal clothing)
bound (adj) (/ˈbaʊnsi/)
It's bound to rain soon.
ambient (adj) (/ˈæmbijənt/)
Keep the chemicals at an ambient temperature of 70°F.
brute (noun) (/ˈbruːt/)
Let go of me, you brute!
breather (noun) (/ˈbriːðɚ/)
Let's take a breather.
chief (noun) (/ˈʧiːf/)
She's the chief of surgery (= the doctor who is in charge of the surgical department) at the hospital.
clergy (noun) (/ˈklɚʤi/)
Local clergy have been invited to participate in an interfaith service.
bunny (noun) (/ˈbʌni/)
Look at the cute little bunny!
behead (verb) (/bıˈhɛd/)
Louis XVI was beheaded in 1793.
check (verb) (/ˈʧɛk/)
Make sure to check your spelling.
allay (verb) (/æˈleı/)
Managers tried to allay (= calm, ease) fears that some workers would lose their jobs.
consumer (noun) (/kənˈsuːmɚ/)
Many consumers are still not comfortable making purchases on the Internet.
allergy (noun) (/ˈælɚʤi/)
Many people have some form of allergy.
announcement (noun) (/əˈnaʊnsmənt/)
Many people were surprised by the government's announcement that there will be a cut in taxes.
ambush (noun) (/ˈæmˌbʊʃ/)
Many soldiers were killed in the ambush.
colony (noun) (/ˈkɑːləni/)
Massachusetts was one of the original 13 British colonies that later became the United States.
beverage (noun) (/ˈbɛvrıʤ/)
May I offer you a beverage? (= drink)
advice (noun) (/ədˈvaıs/)
My advice is to sell your old car and get a new one.
ancestor (noun) (/ˈænˌsɛstɚ/)
My ancestors came to America during the 1800s.
assignment (noun) (/əˈsaınmənt/)
My assignment was to clean the equipment. (= They gave me the assignment of cleaning the equipment.)
belly (noun) (/ˈbɛli/)
My belly was full.
boyfriend (noun) (/ˈboıˌfrɛnd/)
My boyfriend and I have only been dating for a couple of months.
achy (adj) (/ˈeıki/)
My feet are tired and achy from walking all day.
contradiction (noun) (/ˌkɑːntrəˈdıkʃən/)
No one was surprised by the defendant's contradiction of the plaintiff's accusations.
Ark (noun) (/ˈɑɚk/)
Noah's Ark
alibi (noun) (/ˈæləˌbaı/)
Nobody could confirm his alibi that he was at the movies.
barrel (noun) (/ˈberəl/)
Oak barrels are used for aging the wine.
background (noun) (/ˈbækˌgraʊnd/)
Objects in the foreground are drawn larger than those in the background.
blubber (verb) (/ˈblowi/)
Oh, stop blubbering, you big baby!
boredom (noun) (/ˈboɚdəm/)
On days when few customers came to shop, Bob felt overwhelmed by boredom.
bile (noun) (/ˈbajəl/)
One writer objected to what she described as "the bile that is spewed from the newspaper's editorial page."
authority (noun) (/əˈθorəti/)
Only department managers have the authority (= right, power) to change the schedule.
chosen (adj) (/ˈʧoʊzn̩/)
Only the/a chosen few will get to go on the trip. (= only a few people will get to go)
avail (verb) (/əˈveıl/)
Our best efforts availed (= gained) us nothing.
afloat (adj) (/əˈfloʊt/)
Our boat remained/stayed afloat through the storm.
bank (noun) (/ˈbæŋk/)
Our paychecks are deposited in/into the bank automatically.
contingent (adj) (/kənˈtınʤənt/)
Our plans are contingent on the weather.
aspect (noun) (/ˈæˌspɛkt/)
Our proposal differs from theirs in one important aspect. (= respect)
continued (adj) (/kənˈtınju/)
Please accept our best wishes for your continued success.
carbohydrate (noun) (/ˌkɑɚboʊˈhaıˌdreıt/)
Pasta has a lot of carbohydrates. (= carbs)
bit (noun) (/bıt/)
Put all the broken bits back together.
broiler (noun) (/ˈbroılɚ/)
Put the steaks under the broiler.
abundant (adj) (/əˈbʌndənt/)
Rainfall is more abundant in summer.
chuck (verb) (/ˈʧʌk/)
Someone chucked a snowball at me.
civic (adj) (/ˈsıvık/)
Recent improvements to the downtown area are a point of civic pride.
accent (noun) (/ˈækˌsɛnt/)
Regional accents are common in the U.S.
breathe (verb) (/ˈbriːð/)
Relax and breathe deeply.
capitalize (verb) (/ˈkæpətəˌlaız/)
Remember to capitalize the I in Internet.
confirmation (noun) (/ˌkɑːnfɚˈmeıʃən/)
Reporters awaited confirmation from the army about the battle.
cellular (adj) (/ˈsɛljəlɚ/)
Researchers are observing the course of the disease at the cellular level.
anomalous (adj) (/əˈnɑːmələs/)
Researchers could not explain the anomalous test results.
breakthrough (noun) (/ˈbreıkˌθruː/)
Researchers say they have made/achieved a major breakthrough in cancer treatment.
absorbing (adj) (/əbˈsoɚbəbəl/)
The book includes an absorbing (= engrossing, fascinating) account of her childhood.
blare (verb) (/ˈbleɚ/)
Rock music blared through the store from the loudspeakers.
bishop (noun) (/ˈbıʃəp/)
Roman Catholic bishops
comb (noun) (/ˈkoʊm/)
Roosters have red combs.
cede (verb) (/ˈsiːd/)
Russia ceded Alaska to the U.S. in 1867.
burp (verb) (/ˈbɚnˌaʊt/)
Say "excuse me" when you burp.
brain (noun) (/ˈbreın/)
Scientists are learning more about how the human brain works.
coaster (noun) (/ˈkoʊstɚ/)
Set the glass on a coaster.
area (noun) (/ˈerijə/)
Settlers came to this area from the east.
browse (verb) (/ˈbraʊz/)
Several customers were browsing in the bookstore.
briefly (adv) (/ˈbriːfli/)
Several important issues are only briefly mentioned.
bilingual (adj) (/baıˈlıŋgwəl/)
Several of the employees are bilingual.
childish (adj) (/ˈʧaıldıʃ/)
She has a childish face.
college (noun) (/ˈkɑːlıʤ/)
She teaches art at a local college.
cavity (noun) (/ˈkævəti/)
Some birds nest in tree cavities.
cliff (noun) (/ˈklıf/)
Standing at the edge of the cliff, we watched the waves crash on the shore far below.
batter (verb) (/ˈbætɚ/)
Storms battered the shore.
classify (verb) (/ˈklæsəˌfaı/)
Students will be learning about the ways scientists classify animals.
brainwash (verb) (/ˈbreınˌwɑːʃ/)
Terrorists brainwashed the prisoners.
abandon (verb) (/əˈbændən/)
That house was abandoned years ago.
becoming (adj) (/bıˈkʌmıŋ/)
That jacket is very becoming on you.
chatterbox (noun) (/ˈʧætɚˌbɑːks/)
That little girl is a chatterbox.
annoying (adj) (/əˈnoı/)
That noise is very annoying.
cardinal (noun) (/ˈkɑɚdənəl/)
The Pope appointed two new cardinals this year.
annex (verb) (/əˈnɛks/)
The United States annexed Texas in 1845.
aggregate (verb) (/ˈægrıˌgeıt/)
The Web site aggregates content from many other sites.
blood (noun) (/ˈblʌd/)
The accident victim has already lost a lot of blood.
celebrity (noun) (/səˈlɛbrəti/)
The actress lived a life of celebrity.
addressee (noun) (/ˌæˌdrɛˈsiː/)
The addressee no longer lives here, so I've returned the letter to the post office.
advertisement (noun) (/ˌædvɚˈtaızmənt/)
The advertisement will appear in three magazines.
alarm (noun) (/əˈlɑɚm/)
The alarm went off when he opened the door.
continuous (adj) (/kənˈtınjuwəs/)
The album is divided into different tracks, but it is really one continuous song.
cheer (noun) (/ˈʧiɚ/)
The audience let out a cheer.
clink (verb) (/ˈklıŋk/)
The bottles clinked together.
contain (verb) (/kənˈteın/)
The box contains (= holds) an assortment of old papers.
brainpower (noun) (/ˈbreınˌpawɚ/)
The brainpower of the staff constitutes the company's greatest asset.
bouquet (noun) (/boʊˈkeı, buːˈkeı/)
The bride carried a bouquet of white and red roses.
aisle (noun) (/ˈajəl/)
The bride walked down/up the aisle to the altar.
charter (noun) (/ˈʧɑɚtɚ/)
The charter allows for unrestricted trading.
buttery (adj) (/ˈbʌtəri/)
The cheese has a buttery flavor.
accommodating (adj) (/əˈkɑːməˌdeıt/)
The chef can be very accommodating (= obliging), often cooking meals that aren't even on the menu.
ably (adv) (/ˈeıbəli/)
The chef was ably assisted by two helpers.
cocoon (noun) (/kəˈkuːn/)
The child was wrapped in a cocoon of blankets.
bedtime (noun) (/ˈbɛdˌtaım/)
The children are still up? It's way past their bedtimes.
audience (noun) (/ˈɑːdijəns/)
The concert attracted a large audience.
constellation (noun) (/ˌkɑːnstəˈleıʃən/)
The constellation Ursa Major contains the stars of the Big Dipper.
contestant (noun) (/kənˈtɛstənt/)
The contestant who catches the most fish wins.
contract (noun) (/ˈkɑːnˌtrækt/)
The contract requires him to finish work by the end of the year.
codify (verb) (/ˈkɑːdəˌfaı/)
The convention codified the rules of war.
autopsy (noun) (/ˈɑːˌtɑːpsi/)
The coroner performed an autopsy on the murder victim's body.
chagrin (noun) (/ʃəˈgrın/)
The fact that he'd been unable to attend the funeral was a source of chagrin for Ted.
blaze (noun) (/ˈbleız/)
The family escaped the blaze.
arable (adj) (/ˈerəbəl/)
The family is selling several acres of arable land.
accessible (adj) (/ıkˈsɛsəbəl/)
The inn is accessible by train and bus.
conclude (verb) (/kənˈkluːd/)
The investigation has not yet concluded.
adventurous (adj) (/ədˈvɛnʧərəs/)
The island attracts adventurous travelers.
conscience (noun) (/ˈkɑːnʃəns/)
The issue is a matter of (individual) conscience. (= something that people must decide about according to what they believe is morally right)
coverage (noun) (/ˈkʌvərıʤ/)
The issue is not getting much coverage in the mainstream press.
clemency (noun) (/ˈklɛmənsi/)
The judge ignored the prisoner's pleas for clemency. (= mercy)
bail (noun) (/ˈbeıl/)
The judge/court set bail at $1 million. (= The bail was set at $1 million.)
compelling (adj) (/kəmˈpɛlıŋ/)
The novel was so compelling that I couldn't put it down.
beehive (noun) (/ˈbiːˌhaıv/)
The office was a beehive of activity.
catastrophe (noun) (/kəˈtæstrəfi/)
The oil spill was an environmental catastrophe.
conference (noun) (/ˈkɑːnfərəns/)
The organization held/hosted its annual conference in New York this year.
conserve (verb) (/kənˈsɚv/)
The organization works to conserve (= save) our national forests/wildlife.
cost (noun) (/ˈkɑːst/)
The original cost (= price) of the house was $200,000.
adjacent (adj) (/əˈʤeısn̩t/)
The other group is meeting in the adjacent room. (= the room that is next to this room)
countenance (noun) (/ˈkaʊntn̩əns/)
The photograph showed his somber countenance.
askew (adv) (/əˈskjuː/)
The picture hung askew (= crookedly) on the wall.
bloom (noun) (/ˈbluːm/)
The plant's purple blooms attract butterflies.
congregation (noun) (/ˌkɑːŋgrıˈgeıʃən/)
The priest addressed the congregation.
ban (verb) (/ˈbæn/)
The school banned that book for many years.
competition (noun) (/ˌkɑːmpəˈtıʃən/)
The school fosters an atmosphere of competition rather than cooperation. (= it encourages students to compete against each other instead of work together)
audio (adj) (/ˈɑːdiˌoʊ/)
The school has new audio equipment. (= equipment used for recording sound or listening to recorded sound)
blameless (adj) (/ˈbleımləs/)
The school is not blameless for the children's poor skills.
adherence (noun) (/ædˈhirəns/)
The school requires adherence to a strict dress code.
caliber (noun) (/ˈkæləbɚ/)
The school will only hire teachers of the highest caliber. (= will only hire the best teachers)
believe (verb) (/bəˈliːv/)
The scientists believed the reports.
clause (noun) (/ˈklɑːz/)
The sentence "When it rained they went inside" consists of two clauses: "when it rained" and "they went inside."
closet (noun) (/ˈklɑːzət/)
The sheets and blankets are in the hall closet.
bracket (noun) (/ˈbrækət/)
The shelf is held up with two brackets.
convene (verb) (/kənˈviːn/)
The students convened (= assembled) in the gym.
compartment (noun) (/kəmˈpɑɚtmənt/)
The suitcase has a zippered compartment for personal items.
cloud (noun) (/ˈklaʊd/)
The sun is shining and there's not a cloud in the sky.
conceal (verb) (/kənˈsiːl/)
The sunglasses conceal her eyes.
container (noun) (/kənˈteınɚ/)
The tea leaves come in a small metal container.
calm (adj) (/ˈkɑːm/)
The teacher asked us to remain/stay calm after the fire alarm went off.
chalk (noun) (/ˈʧɑːk/)
The teacher handed her a piece of chalk and asked her to write the answer on the chalkboard.
attendance (noun) (/əˈtɛndəns/)
The team wants to double attendance at its games this season.
continue (verb) (/kənˈtınju/)
The team will continue with their drills until the coach is satisfied with their performance.
contaminate (verb) (/kənˈtæməˌneıt/)
The water was contaminated (= polluted) with chemicals.
cold (adj) (/ˈkoʊld/)
The water was too cold for swimming.
attraction (noun) (/əˈtrækʃən/)
The waterfall continues to be the main attraction at the park.
abrasive (adj) (/əˈbreısıv/)
The waves had an abrasive action on the rocks.
bleak (adj) (/ˈbliːk/)
The weather is bleak. (= cold, rainy, dark, etc.)
around (adv) (/əˈraʊnd/)
The wheel went/turned around (and around).
connote (verb) (/kəˈnoʊt/)
The word "childlike" connotes innocence.
antidote (noun) (/ˈæntıˌdoʊt/)
There is no antidote to/for this poison.
accolade (noun) (/ˈækəˌleıd/)
There is no higher accolade at this school than an honorary degree.
convict (verb) (/kənˈvıkt/)
There is sufficient evidence to convict.
chill (noun) (/ˈʧıl/)
There was a chill in the autumn air.
bare (adj) (/ˈbeɚ/)
There was a rug in the front room of the house, but the other floors were bare.
bug (noun) (/ˈbʌg/)
There's a bug in my soup!
contend (verb) (/kənˈtɛnd/)
These people contend that they have earned the right to the land.
arise (verb) (/əˈraız/)
These problems arise when people try to avoid responsibility.
allure (noun) (/əˈluɚ/)
These rare books hold special allure for collectors.
constrict (verb) (/kənˈstrıkt/)
These shoes are too small and constrict (= squeeze) my feet.
basis (noun) (/ˈbeısəs/)
These stories have very little basis (= foundation) in fact/reality. (= these stories are not based on or supported by facts/reality)
abhor (verb) (/əbˈhoɚ/)
They abhor (= hate, loathe) violence (racism).
acknowledge (verb) (/ıkˈnɑːlıʤ/)
They acknowledged that the decision was a mistake.
appease (verb) (/əˈpiːz/)
They appeased the dictator by accepting his demands in an effort to avoid war.
advertise (verb) (/ˈædvɚˌtaız/)
They are advertising the new edition of the book.
banking (noun) (/ˈbæŋkəbəl/)
They are both in banking.
claimant (noun) (/ˈkleımənt/)
They are claimants to the dead man's estate.
cotton (noun) (/ˈkɑːtn̩/)
They are in the field picking cotton.
assign (verb) (/əˈsaın/)
They assigned me the job of cleaning the equipment. (= They assigned the job of cleaning the equipment to me. = They assigned me to clean the equipment.)
commencement (noun) (/kəˈmɛnsmənt/)
They awaited the commencement of the trial.
betray (verb) (/bıˈtreı/)
They betrayed their country by selling its secrets to other governments.
boast (verb) (/ˈboʊst/)
They boasted to their friends about their son's salary.
audacious (adj) (/ɑˈdeıʃəs/)
They have audacious plans for the new school.
advancement (noun) (/ədˈvænsmənt/)
They have been unable to slow the advancement (= advance) of the enemy troops.
concern (noun) (/kənˈsɚn/)
They have expressed/voiced concern about the cost of the project.
advisedly (adv) (/ədˈvaızədli/)
They have misled us-and I use the word "misled" advisedly.
banquet (noun) (/ˈbæŋkwət/)
They held a banquet in his honor.
belong (verb) (/bıˈlɑːŋ/)
This book belongs (= goes) on the top shelf.
breach (noun) (/ˈbriːʧ/)
This is clearly a breach of the treaty.
church (noun) (/ˈʧɚʧ/)
This is the oldest church in town.
ail (verb) (/ˈeıl/)
This medicine is good for what/whatever ails you.
cinch (noun) (/ˈsınʧ/)
This recipe is a cinch.
cookie (noun) (/ˈkʊki/)
This recipe makes about two dozen cookies.
anywhere (adv) (/ˈɛniˌweɚ/)
This type of plant can grow just about anywhere.
china (noun) (/ˈʧaınə/)
This vase is (made of) china.
continual (adj) (/kənˈtınjuwəl/)
This week we experienced days of continual sunshine.
clutter (verb) (/ˈklʌtɚ/)
Tools cluttered the garage.
activate (verb) (/ˈæktəˌveıt/)
Touch the screen to activate the system.
achieve (verb) (/əˈʧiːv/)
This year, our company was able to achieve (= accomplish, attain) all of its production goals.
bleach (verb) (/ˈbliːʧ/)
Those pants will look nicer if you bleach them. (= use bleach to make them cleaner and whiter)
boundary (noun) (/ˈbaʊndri/)
Those two trees mark the boundary of our property.
behold (verb) (/bıˈhoʊld/)
Those who have beheld the beauty of the desert never forget it.
compete (verb) (/kəmˈpiːt/)
Thousands of applicants are competing for the same job.
char (verb) (/ˈʧɑɚ/)
Thousands of trees were charred in the fire.
carpet (noun) (/ˈkɑɚpət/)
We bought a new carpet for the bedroom.
bass (noun) (/ˈbeıs/)
Turn down the treble on your radio and turn up the bass.
campus (noun) (/ˈkæmpəs/)
Visitors crowded the campus on graduation day.
bedding (noun) (/ˈbɛdıŋ/)
Wash your cat's bedding regularly.
combination (noun) (/ˌkɑːmbəˈneıʃən/)
Water is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen.
agree (verb) (/əˈgriː/)
We agreed about some things, but we disagreed about others.
bait (noun) (/ˈbeıt/)
We always use live bait (= worms that are alive) when we fish.
cannot (—) (/ˈkænɑt, kəˈnɑːt/)
We cannot (= can't) allow that to happen.
affirm (verb) (/əˈfɚm/)
We cannot affirm that this painting is genuine.
caravan (verb) (/ˈkɑɚməˌlaız, ˈkerəməˌlaız/)
We caravaned to the campsite.
carve (verb) (/ˈkɑɚv/)
We carved an ice sculpture.
chat (verb) (/ˈʧæt/)
We chatted about our plans for the summer.
circumvent (verb) (/ˌsɚkəmˈvɛnt/)
We circumvented the problem by using a different program.
affability (noun) (/ˌæfəˈbıləti/)
We were greeted affably by our host.
brand (noun) (/ˈbrænd/)
What brand are those jeans you are wearing?
age (noun) (/ˈeıʤ/)
What is your age? (= how old are you?)
conclusion (noun) (/kənˈkluːʒən/)
What is your conclusion? (= what do you conclude?)
correct (adj) (/kəˈrɛkt/)
What's the correct answer/response to this question?
could (verb) (/ˈkʊd, kəd/)
When I was younger I could run fast, but I can't run fast now.
adapt (verb) (/əˈdæpt/)
When children go to a different school, it usually takes them a while to adapt.
convenient (adj) (/kənˈviːnjənt/)
When is a convenient time for you to meet?
clueless (adj) (/ˈkluːləs/)
When it comes to computers, I'm clueless.
brass (noun) (/ˈbræs/)
a candlestick made of brass
avoid (verb) (/əˈvoıd/)
Why do you keep avoiding me?
coldness (noun) (/ˈkoʊld/)
Why does he treat me with such coldness and reserve?
boss (noun) (/ˈbɑːs/)
Why don't you ask your boss for a raise?
benefactor (noun) (/ˈbɛnəˌfæktɚ/)
With the help of a rich benefactor he set up a charity.
annotation (noun) (/ˌænəˈteıʃən/)
Without the annotations, the diagram would be hard to understand.
brightness (noun) (/ˈbraıt/)
You can adjust the light's brightness.
anytime (adv) (/ˈɛniˌtaım/)
You can call me anytime. I'm always home.
absolute (adj) (/ˈæbsəˌluːt/)
You can't predict the future with absolute certainty.
bastard (noun) (/ˈbæstɚd/)
You dirty bastard!
coherence (noun) (/koʊˈhirəns/)
You make some interesting points, but the essay as a whole lacks coherence. (= it moves in a disorganized or confusing way from one idea to another)
comedian (noun) (/kəˈmiːdijən/)
You'll like my friend. He's a real comedian.
box (noun) (/ˈbɑːks/)
a cardboard box
consideration (noun) (/kənˌsıdəˈreıʃən/)
You should give some serious consideration to your retirement plans.
ambiguity (noun) (/ˌæmbəˈgjuːwəti/)
You should remove ambiguity (= vagueness) from your essay by adding more details.
appreciation (noun) (/əˌpriːʃiˈeıʃən/)
You've been so generous, and I'd like to show my appreciation by cooking a meal for you.
apathetic (adj) (/ˌæpəˈθɛtık/)
Young people are becoming increasingly apathetic.
bulb (noun) (/ˈbʌlb/)
a 100-watt bulb
bazaar (noun) (/bəˈzɑɚ/)
a charity bazaar
abortion (noun) (/əˈboɚʃən/)
a doctor who performs abortions
column (noun) (/ˈkɑːləm/)
a facade with marble columns
bristle (noun) (/ˈbrısəl/)
a face covered with bristles
centered (adj) (/ˈsɛntɚd/)
a family-centered hotel
architect (noun) (/ˈɑɚkəˌtɛkt/)
a famous architect
contest (noun) (/ˈkɑːnˌtɛst/)
a fiddle/fishing/singing contest (= competition)
boat (noun) (/ˈboʊt/)
a fishing boat
client (noun) (/ˈklajənt/)
a lawyer's clients
assassination (noun) (/əˌsæsəˈneıʃən/)
a leader whose life was tragically cut short by assassination
blindness (noun) (/ˈblaınd/)
a leading cause of blindness
binding (noun) (/ˈbaındıŋ/)
a leather binding
album (noun) (/ˈælbəm/)
a photo/stamp album
cheese (noun) (/ˈʧiːz/)
a piece of cheese
cloth (noun) (/ˈklɑːθ/)
a piece of cloth (= fabric)
cork (noun) (/ˈkoɚk/)
a piece of cork
art (noun) (/ˈɑɚt/)
a piece of modern/contemporary art
cracker (noun) (/ˈkrækɚ/)
a plate of cheese and crackers
calculator (noun) (/ˈkælkjəˌleıtɚ/)
a pocket calculator (= a calculator that can fit in a shirt pocket)
cartoon (noun) (/kɑɚˈtuːn/)
a political cartoon
cheerleader (noun) (/ˈʧiɚˌliːdɚ/)
a politician who is a cheerleader for the government's new economic plan
butterfly (noun) (/ˈbʌtɚˌflaı/)
a social butterfly
bowl (noun) (/ˈboʊl/)
a soup/salad/pasta bowl (= a bowl used for serving or eating soup/salad/pasta)
compassionate (adj) (/kəmˈpæʃənət/)
a very compassionate person
cane (noun) (/ˈkeın/)
a wooden cane
autopilot (noun) (/ˈɑːtoʊˌpaılət/)
an airplane equipped with an autopilot
alcoholic (adj) (/ˌælkəˈhɑːlık/)
an alcoholic odor
all-purpose (adj) (/ˈɑːlˈpɚpəs/)
an all-purpose tool/knife/cleanser
allergic (adj) (/əˈlɚʤık/)
an allergic reaction/response/condition
amorous (adj) (/ˈæmərəs/)
an amorous woman
amorphous (adj) (/əˈmoɚfəs/)
an amorphous shape
angel (noun) (/ˈeınʤəl/)
an angel from heaven
antibiotic (noun) (/ˌænˌtaıbaıˈɑːtık/)
an antibiotic pill
appetizing (adj) (/ˈæpəˌtaızıŋ/)
an appetizing (= delicious, tasty) meal
core (noun) (/ˈkoɚ/)
an apple core
archery (noun) (/ˈɑɚʧəri/)
an archery competition/contest
arid (adj) (/ˈerəd/)
an arid desert
armchair (adj) (/ˈɑɚməmənt/)
an armchair adventurer
conflict (noun) (/ˈkɑːnˌflıkt/)
an armed conflict
arrogant (adj) (/ˈerəgənt/)
an arrogant young attorney
artsy (adj) (/ˈɑɚtsi/)
an artsy neighborhood
assertive (adj) (/əˈsɚtıv/)
an assertive attitude
assortment (noun) (/əˈsoɚtmənt/)
an assortment of vegetables
admissible (adj) (/ədˈmısəbəl/)
admissible evidence
advanced (adj) (/ədˈvænst/)
advanced mathematics
biology (noun) (/baıˈɑːləʤi/)
advances in the field of biology
antiquarian (adj) (/ænˌtıpəˈdiːjən/)
antiquarian bookstores
antique (adj) (/ænˈtiːk/)
antique furniture
adverse (adj) (/ædˈvɚs, ˈædˌvɚs/)
adverse criticism/remarks
aerobic (adj) (/ˌeɚˈoʊbık/)
aerobic exercises like running and swimming
agricultural (adj) (/ˌægrıˈkʌlʧərəl/)
agricultural machinery
association (noun) (/əˌsoʊsiˈeıʃən/)
an athletic association (= league)
atrocious (adj) (/əˈtroʊʃəs/)
an atrocious period in the nation's history
artful (adj) (/ˈɑɚtfəl/)
artful writing
artificial (adj) (/ˌɑɚtəˈfıʃl̩/)
artificial lighting/plants
atheism (noun) (/ˈeıθiˌızəm/)
atheistic beliefs
atomic (adj) (/əˈtɑːmık/)
atomic (= nuclear) physics/particles
atonement (noun) (/əˈtʰoʊnmənt/)
atonement for his sins
bulging (adj) (/ˈbʌlʤ/)
big bulging eyes
bilateral (adj) (/baıˈlætərəl/)
bilateral trade agreements
billiards (noun) (/ˈbıljɚdz/)
billiard balls
biological (adj) (/ˌbajəˈlɑːʤıkəl/)
biological processes
branch (noun) (/ˈbrænʧ/)
birds singing from the branches of a tree
bite-size (adj) (/ˈbaıtˌsaız/)
bite-size pieces
black (adj) (/ˈblæk/)
black ink
cheery (adj) (/ˈʧiri/)
cheery words/colors
compound (noun) (/ˈkɑːmˌpaund/)
chemical/organic compounds
chic (adj) (/ˈʃiːk/)
chic clothes
broth (noun) (/ˈbrɑːθ/)
chicken broth
costume (noun) (/ˈkɑːˌstuːm/)
children in their Halloween costumes
approval (noun) (/əˈpruːvəl/)
children who never gained/won their parents' approval
civil (adj) (/ˈsıvəl/)
civil liberties/duties
classic (adj) (/ˈklæsık/)
classic novels/movies
compatible (adj) (/kəmˈpætəbəl/)
compatible colors
competitive (adj) (/kəmˈpɛtətıv/)
competitive sports
cooperative (adj) (/koʊˈɑːprətıv/)
cooperative children
artery (noun) (/ˈɑɚtəri/)
coronary arteries
cosmic (adj) (/ˈkɑːzmık/)
cosmic theories
cosmopolitan (adj) (/ˌkɑːzməˈpɑːlətən/)
cosmopolitan (= worldly, sophisticated) writers
alcohol (noun) (/ˈælkəˌhɑːl/)
cough medicine that contains alcohol
apple (noun) (/ˈæpəl/)
crisp juicy apples
aversion (noun) (/əˈvɚʒən/)
deep aversions
believer (noun) (/bəˈliːvəbli/)
devout believers
cognition (noun) (/kɑːgˈnıʃən/)
disabilities affecting cognition and judgment
breath (noun) (/ˈbrɛθ/)
gum that freshens your breath
atrocity (noun) (/əˈtrɑːsəti/)
the atrocities of war
beast (noun) (/ˈbiːst/)
dogs and other four-footed beasts
corn (noun) (/ˈkoɚn/)
driving past fields of corn
accessory (noun) (/ıkˈsɛsəri/)
fashion (clothing) accessories such as scarves, handkerchiefs, bracelets, and rings
austerity (noun) (/ɑˈsterəti/)
the austerity of the design
anxiety (noun) (/æŋˈzajəti/)
feelings of anger and anxiety
clip (noun) (/ˈklıp/)
hair clips
buzzing (noun) (/ˈbʌz/)
hear the buzzing of bees
April (noun) (/ˈeıprəl/)
in (early/middle/mid-/late) April
autumn (noun) (/ˈɑːtəm/)
in the autumn of last year
commerce (noun) (/ˈkɑːmɚs/)
interstate commerce (= trade)
canal (noun) (/kəˈnæl/)
irrigation canals
afternoon (noun) (/ˌæftɚˈnuːn/)
morning, afternoon, evening, and night
concerning (prep) (/kənˈsɚn/)
news concerning friends
beep (noun) (/ˈbiːp/)
the beep of a car horn
benefit (noun) (/ˈbɛnəˌfıt/)
the benefits of fresh air and sunshine
child (noun) (/ˈʧajəld/)
the birth of a child
blackness (noun) (/ˈblæk/)
the blackness of the night
blackout (noun) (/ˈblækˌaʊt/)
the blackouts of World War II
bond (noun) (/ˈbɑːnd/)
the bonds of friendship
breeding (noun) (/ˈbriːd/)
the breeding season
antarctic (adj) (/æntˈɑɚktık/)
off the antarctic coast
arctic (adj) (/ˈɑɚktık/)
off the arctic coast
brotherhood (noun) (/ˈbrʌðɚˌhʊd/)
the brotherhood of humankind
bygone (adj) (/ˈbaıˌgɑːn/)
the bygone days of our ancestors
army (noun) (/ˈɑɚmi/)
the armies of Alexander the Great
anthem (noun) (/ˈænθəm/)
patriotic anthems
cobbler (noun) (/ˈkɑːblɚ/)
peach cobbler
animal (noun) (/ˈænəməl/)
people and animals
boycott (verb) (/ˈboıˌkɑːt/)
plans to boycott American products
adulthood (noun) (/əˈdʌltˌhʊd/)
preparing children for their adulthoods
aroma (noun) (/əˈroʊmə/)
the aroma of fresh-baked bread
compromise (noun) (/ˈkɑːmprəˌmaız/)
the art of political compromise
aloud (adv) (/əˈlaʊd/)
read aloud
conformity (noun) (/kənˈfoɚməti/)
religious conformity
buoyancy (noun) (/ˈbojənsi/)
the natural buoyancy of cork
abyss (noun) (/əˈbıs/)
the ocean's abysses
bell (noun) (/ˈbɛl/)
ring/sound/toll a bell
chestnut (noun) (/ˈʧɛsˌnʌt/)
roasted chestnuts
cheek (noun) (/ˈʧiːk/)
rosy/chubby cheeks
blunt (adj) (/ˈblʌnt/)
scissors with blunt (= rounded) ends
concrete (noun) (/ˈkɑːnˌkriːt/)
slabs of concrete
anguish (noun) (/ˈæŋgwıʃ/)
tears/cries of anguish
champion (noun) (/ˈʧæmpijən/)
tennis champions
Arab (noun) (/ˈerəb/)
the Arab states
abhorrence (noun) (/əbˈhorəns/)
their abhorrence of violence (racism)
aggravation (noun) (/ˌægrəˈveıʃən/)
trying to avoid the aggravation of an existing back problem
accustom (verb) (/əˈkʌstəm/)
trying to gradually accustom the students to their new surroundings
bun (noun) (/ˈbʌn/)
tuna salad served on a bun (= roll)
chopped (adj) (/ˈʧɑːp/)
two cups of chopped onions
cinnamon (noun) (/ˈsınəmən/)
two teaspoons of cinnamon
bullying (noun) (/ˈbʊli/)
verbal/political bullying
boulevard (noun) (/ˈbʊləˌvɑɚd/)
walking down the boulevard
booty (noun) (/ˈbuːti/)
war booty (= loot, plunder, spoils)
alignment (noun) (/əˈlaınmənt/)
wheel alignment
basket (noun) (/ˈbæskıt/)
wicker/straw/wire baskets
assert (verb) (/əˈsɚt/)
"Poverty is the city's most serious problem," the authors assert. (= The authors assert that poverty is the city's most serious problem.)
bob (verb) (/ˈbɑːb/)
A cork was bobbing in the water.
courier (noun) (/ˈkɚrijɚ/)
A courier (= messenger) will deliver the photo this afternoon.
await (verb) (/əˈweıt/)
A crowd of people awaited the train.
clever (adj) (/ˈklɛvɚ/)
A few clever (= smart, bright) students have started a business recycling old computers.
beg (verb) (/ˈbɛg/)
A homeless man begs on that corner every day.
certify (verb) (/ˈsɚtəˌfaı/)
A judge must certify the contract.
beset (verb) (/bıˈsɛt/)
A lack of money is the greatest problem besetting the city today.
boisterous (adj) (/ˈboıstrəs/)
A large and boisterous crowd attended the concert.
bird (noun) (/ˈbɚd/)
A large bird flew overhead.
booth (noun) (/ˈbuːθ/)
A local sheep farmer has a booth at the county fair and is selling wool yarn.
access (noun) (/ˈækˌsɛs/)
All public buildings should provide wheelchair access. (= a way for people in wheelchairs to enter)
concentrate (verb) (/ˈkɑːnsənˌtreıt/)
All that noise makes it hard to concentrate.
almighty (adj) (/ɑlˈmaıti/)
Almighty God (= God Almighty)
although (conj) (/ɑlˈðoʊ/)
Although (= while, even though) he was hungry, he could not eat.
become (verb) (/bıˈkʌm/)
Although I've known him for years, we didn't become close friends until recently.
amazingly (adv) (/əˈmeızmənt/)
Amazingly (enough), the dog swam all the way across the lake.
alert (adj) (/əˈlɚt/)
An alert guard stopped the robbers.
circumference (noun) (/sɚˈkʌmfrəns/)
Calculate the circle's circumference.
camping (noun) (/ˈkæmpˌfajɚ/)
Camping is one of our favorite things to do.
borrow (verb) (/ˈbɑroʊ/)
Can I borrow your camera? (= will you lend me your camera)
clarify (verb) (/ˈklerəˌfaı/)
Can you clarify exactly what it is you're proposing?
connect (verb) (/kəˈnɛkt/)
Can you connect the hose to the sprinkler?
clasp (noun) (/ˈklæsp/)
Can you fasten the clasp on this bracelet for me?
cavalry (noun) (/ˈkævəlri/)
Cavalry is used to perform reconnaissance.
complicate (verb) (/ˈkɑːmpləˌkeıt/)
Changing jobs now would complicate her life.
choke (verb) (/ˈʧoʊk/)
Chew your food well so you don't choke.
chatter (verb) (/ˈʧætɚ/)
Children chattered in the middle of the playground.
assimilate (verb) (/əˈsıməˌleıt/)
Children need to assimilate new ideas/concepts.
apostle (noun) (/əˈpɑːsəɬ/)
Christ's apostles
barrier (noun) (/ˈberijɚ/)
Concrete barriers surround the race track to protect spectators.
construction (noun) (/kənˈstrʌkʃən/)
Construction of the new bridge will begin in the spring.
conductive (adj) (/kənˈdʌktıv/)
Copper is a conductive material.
buoyant (adj) (/ˈbojənt/)
Cork is very buoyant.
caw (verb) (/kəˈvoɚt/)
Crows cawed in the trees.
accuracy (noun) (/ˈækjərəsi/)
Each experiment is performed twice to ensure accuracy.
card (noun) (/ˈkɑɚd/)
Each player is dealt five cards.
allot (verb) (/əˈlɑːt/)
Each speaker will be allotted 15 minutes.
cousin (noun) (/ˈkʌzən/)
Everyone came to the wedding, including a distant cousin no one had heard from in years.
amiable (adj) (/ˈeımijəbəl/)
Everyone knew him as an amiable fellow.
beetle (verb) (/ˈbiːt/)
Everyone looked very busy, beetling (= scurrying) about the office.
against (prep) (/əˈgɛnst/)
Everyone was against them. (= everyone opposed them)
atmosphere (noun) (/ˈætməˌsfiɚ/)
Experts have noticed changes in the atmosphere.
censor (noun) (/ˈsɛnsɚ/)
Government censors deleted all references to the protest.
confiscate (verb) (/ˈkɑːnfəˌskeıt/)
Guards confiscated knives and other weapons from the prisoners.
chorus (noun) (/ˈkorəs/)
Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus"
alienate (verb) (/ˈeılijəˌneıt/)
He alienated most of his colleagues with his bad temper.
compass (noun) (/ˈkʌmpəs/)
He always carries a compass when he walks in the woods.
always (adv) (/ˈɑːlˌweız/)
He always tries, but he doesn't always succeed.
arrive (verb) (/əˈraıv/)
He arrived home at six o'clock.
bundle (noun) (/ˈbʌndəl/)
He arrived with several bundles (= packages, parcels) under his arms.
absolution (noun) (/ˌæbsəˈluːʃən/)
He asked the priest to give (grant) him absolution for his sins.
attack (verb) (/əˈtæk/)
He attacked the guard with a knife.
beat (verb) (/ˈbiːt/)
He beat the door with his fists. (= He beat his fists against/on the door.)
befriend (verb) (/bıˈfrɛnd/)
He befriended the new student.
assure (verb) (/əˈʃuɚ/)
He believed that hard work would assure his success. (= that hard work would make him sure to succeed)
contentment (noun) (/kənˈtɛntmənt/)
He believes that people can find peace and contentment in living simply.
corrupt (verb) (/kəˈrʌpt/)
He believes that violence on television and film is corrupting our children. (= teaching bad beliefs and behaviors to our children)
bellow (verb) (/ˈbɛloʊ/)
He bellowed at/to/for her to come over at once.
bow (verb) (/ˈbaʊ/)
He bowed politely and introduced himself to us.
bluster (verb) (/ˈblʌstɚ/)
He brags and blusters, but he never really does what he says he'll do.
brighten (verb) (/ˈbraıtn̩/)
He brightened the picture on the television.
confess (verb) (/kənˈfɛs/)
He confessed after being questioned for many hours.
confide (verb) (/kənˈfaıd/)
He confided that he was very unhappy with his job.
construe (verb) (/kənˈstruː/)
He construed my actions as hostile.
contribute (verb) (/kənˈtrıbjuːt/)
He contributed (= donated) 100 dollars to the charity.
Catholicism (noun) (/kəˈθɑːləˌsızəm/)
He converted to Catholicism.
convince (verb) (/kənˈvıns/)
He convinced me that the story was true.
anger (noun) (/ˈæŋgɚ/)
He couldn't hide his anger with/at us.
anew (adv) (/əˈnuː/)
He demonstrated anew that he's not a good leader.
blaspheme (verb) (/blæsˈfiːm/)
He did not curse or blaspheme.
antagonize (verb) (/ænˈtægəˌnaız/)
He didn't mean to antagonize you.
colon (noun) (/ˈkoʊlən/)
He died of colon cancer.
benediction (noun) (/ˌbɛnəˈdıkʃən/)
He dismissed the congregation with a benediction.
bookkeeper (noun) (/ˈbʊkˌkiːpɚ/)
He does the bookkeeping.
conservatively (adv) (/kənˈsɚvətıv/)
He dresses conservatively.
automobile (noun) (/ˌɑːtəmoʊˈbiːl/)
He drives an expensive automobile.
beard (noun) (/ˈbiɚd/)
He grew a beard and mustache.
bruise (noun) (/ˈbruːz/)
He had a bad bruise on his leg after he fell.
coke (noun) (/kəˈhoʊˌneıs/)
He had a great career before he started snorting/using/taking coke.
breadwinner (noun) (/ˈbrɛdˌwınɚ/)
He had always been the (family) breadwinner.
calling (noun) (/ˈkɑːlıŋ/)
He had always felt a calling to help others.
boyish (adj) (/ˈboııʃ/)
He has a boyish charm about him.
cameo (noun) (/ˈkæmiˌoʊ/)
He has a brief cameo in the film.
addiction (noun) (/əˈdıkʃən/)
He has a drug addiction.
appetite (noun) (/ˈæpəˌtaıt/)
He has a healthy/good/hearty appetite.
aggression (noun) (/əˈgrɛʃən/)
He has a lot of pent-up aggression.
as (adv) (/ˈæz, əz/)
He has a lot of time but I don't have as much. (= I have less time than he has)
attitude (noun) (/ˈætəˌtuːd/)
He has a positive/negative attitude about the changes.
amaze (verb) (/əˈmeız/)
He has amazed audiences around the world with his magic tricks.
angular (adj) (/ˈæŋgjəlɚ/)
He has an angular face.
circulation (noun) (/ˌsɚkjəˈleıʃən/)
He has bad circulation in his legs.
beginning (noun) (/bıˈgınıŋ/)
He has been working there since the beginning of the year.
arm (noun) (/ˈɑɚm/)
He has big, strong, muscular arms.
broad (adj) (/ˈbrɑːd/)
He has broad shoulders.
comprehension (noun) (/ˌkɑːmprıˈhɛnʃən/)
He has not the slightest comprehension of the subject. (= he does not understand the subject at all)
aunt (noun) (/ˈænt, ˈɑːnt/)
He has three aunts and two uncles.
countless (adj) (/ˈkaʊntləs/)
He has written countless (= numerous) magazine and newspaper articles.
balance (noun) (/ˈbæləns/)
He held on to the rail for balance. (= He held on to the rail to keep/maintain his balance.)
bloody (adj) (/ˈblʌdi/)
He hit me and gave me a bloody nose.
beneficial (adj) (/ˌbɛnəˈfıʃəl/)
He hopes the new drug will prove beneficial to/for many people.
cowardly (adj) (/ˈkawɚdli/)
He insisted on avoiding a cowardly retreat.
careful (adj) (/ˈkeɚfəl/)
He is a careful driver.
careless (adj) (/ˈkeɚləs/)
He is a careless worker.
charismatic (adj) (/ˌkerəzˈmætık/)
He is a charismatic leader.
consistent (adj) (/kənˈsıstənt/)
He is a consistent supporter of the museum.
confidant (noun) (/ˈkɑːnfəˌdɑːnt/)
He is a trusted confidant of the president.
comprehend (verb) (/ˌkɑːmprıˈhɛnd/)
He is able to fully comprehend (= understand completely) what is happening and react appropriately.
absolutely (adv) (/ˈæbsəˌluːtli/)
He is absolutely certain who will win.
adorable (adj) (/əˈdorəbəl/)
He is an adorable (= delightful) child.
avid (adj) (/ˈævəd/)
He is an avid admirer of horror movies.
collector (noun) (/kəˈlɛktɚ/)
He is an avid stamp collector.
chronically (adv) (/ˈkrɑːnıkli/)
He is chronically short of money.
cognizant (adj) (/ˈkɑːgnəzənt/)
He is cognizant of his duties as a father.
abolish (verb) (/əˈbɑːlıʃ/)
He is in favor of abolishing the death penalty.
charm (noun) (/ˈʧɑɚm/)
He keeps a horseshoe as a good luck charm.
choice (noun) (/ˈʧoıs/)
He knew he had to make a choice. (= choose one thing or another)
bonnet (noun) (/ˈbɑːnət/)
He lifted the car's bonnet to check the engine.
baseball (noun) (/ˈbeısˌbɑːl/)
He likes playing baseball.
carousel (noun) (/ˌkerəˈsɛl/)
He loves to ride on the carousel at the park.
abortive (adj) (/əˈboɚtıv/)
He made several abortive (= aborted) attempts to escape.
banal (adj) (/bəˈnæl, bəˈnɑːl, ˈbeınəl/)
He made some banal remarks about the weather.
chaser (noun) (/ˈʧeısɚ/)
He ordered whiskey with a beer chaser.
bill (noun) (/ˈbıl/)
He paid the telephone bill.
blur (noun) (/ˈblɚ/)
He passed by in a blur of motion.
content (noun) (/ˈkɑːnˌtɛnt/)
He poured/dumped/emptied the contents of the package/box/drawer onto the floor.
coherent (adj) (/koʊˈhirənt/)
He proposed the most coherent plan to improve the schools.
chamber (noun) (/ˈʧeımbɚ/)
He put three bullets into the chamber of the gun.
character (noun) (/ˈkerıktɚ/)
He rarely shows his true character-that of a kind and sensitive person.
bravery (noun) (/ˈbreıvəri/)
He received a medal for bravery.
affront (noun) (/əˈfrʌnt/)
He regarded her rude behavior as a personal affront.
absently (adv) (/ˈæbsənt/)
He replied absently to her question.
characteristic (adj) (/ˌkerıktəˈrıstık/)
He responded to their comments with characteristic good humor.
colonel (noun) (/ˈkɚnl̩/)
He retired as a colonel in the air force.
buggy (noun) (/ˈbʌgi/)
He rode into town on his horse and buggy.
company (noun) (/ˈkʌmpəni/)
He runs his own trucking company.
absolve (verb) (/əbˈzɑːlv/)
He was absolved of the responsibility of repaying the loan. (= he was not required to repay the loan)
assault (noun) (/əˈsɑːlt/)
He was accused of assault. (= He was charged with assault. = Assault charges were brought against him.)
communicate (verb) (/kəˈmjuːnəˌkeıt/)
He was asked to communicate the news to the rest of the people.
banish (verb) (/ˈbænıʃ/)
He was banished for life.
bore (verb) (/ˈboɚ/)
He was bored by the lecture. (= The lecture bored him.)
bounce (verb) (/ˈbaʊns/)
He was bouncing a tennis ball against/off the garage door.
built (adj) (/ˈbılt/)
He was built for fighting.
bury (verb) (/ˈberi/)
He was buried with full military honors.
avalanche (noun) (/ˈævəˌlænʧ/)
He was buried/trapped by an avalanche.
busily (adv) (/ˈbızəli/)
He was busily engaged in his work.
concealed (adj) (/kənˈsiːl/)
He was carrying a concealed (= hidden) weapon.
cashier (verb) (/kæˈʃiɚ/)
He was cashiered from the army.
coerce (verb) (/koʊˈɚs/)
He was coerced into signing the confession.
accomplice (noun) (/əˈkɑːmpləs/)
He was convicted as an accomplice to murder.
caste (noun) (/ˈkæst/)
He was from a higher caste.
comforter (noun) (/ˈkʌmfɚtɚ/)
He was her longtime confidant and comforter.
bullet (noun) (/ˈbʊlət/)
He was hit by a stray bullet. (= the bullet missed its target and hit him instead)
coma (noun) (/ˈkoʊmə/)
He went into a coma.
arduous (adj) (/ˈɑɚʤəwəs/)
He went through a long and arduous training program.
completion (noun) (/kəmˈpliːʃən/)
He will receive his degree upon completion of his studies.
collar (noun) (/ˈkɑːlɚ/)
He wore a shirt with a tight-fitting collar.
circus (noun) (/ˈsɚkəs/)
He worked for a small circus.
computer (noun) (/kəmˈpjuːtɚ/)
He works all day on/with a computer.
corporation (noun) (/ˌkoɚpəˈreıʃən/)
He works as a consultant for/to several large corporations.
consulting (noun) (/kənˈsʌlt/)
He works for a consulting company. (= a company that gives professional advice to other companies for a fee)
complain (verb) (/kəmˈpleın/)
He works hard but he never complains.
administration (noun) (/ədˌmınəˈstreıʃən/)
He works in hospital administration. (= his work involves management of a hospital)
bandage (noun) (/ˈbændıʤ/)
He wrapped a bandage around his knee.
cellophane (noun) (/ˈsɛləˌfeın/)
He wrapped the gift basket in cellophane.
chap (noun) (/ˈʧæp/)
He's a friendly sort of chap. (= fellow, guy)
cook (noun) (/ˈkʊk/)
He's a good cook. (= he cooks well)
actor (noun) (/ˈæktɚ/)
He's a talented actor, and his wife is a well-known actress.
borrowing (noun) (/ˈbɑrəwıŋ/)
He's compiling a list of Japanese borrowings in English.
conceit (noun) (/kənˈsiːt/)
His conceit has earned him many enemies.
affect (verb) (/əˈfɛkt/)
His decisions could affect (= influence) the lives of millions of people.
bruising (noun) (/ˈbruːz/)
His ego took a bruising when he lost.
compensate (verb) (/ˈkɑːmpənˌseıt/)
His enthusiasm compensates for his lack of skill.
believable (adj) (/bəˈliːvəbəl/)
His excuse was barely/scarcely believable.
bravado (noun) (/brəˈvɑːdoʊ/)
His stories are always told with bravado.
cause (noun) (/ˈkɑːz/)
His symptoms had no apparent physical causes.
barely (adv) (/ˈbeɚli/)
I barely recognized you with your hair cut short.
beseech (verb) (/bıˈsiːʧ/)
I beseech you, let me live! (= please, don't kill me)
balloon (noun) (/bəˈluːn/)
I blew up a balloon but then it burst.
buy (verb) (/ˈbaı/)
I bought a computer.
battery (noun) (/ˈbætəri/)
I bought new batteries for the flashlights.
brand-name (adj) (/ˈbrændˈneım/)
I buy only brand-name (= branded) products.
caddie (verb) (/ˈkædi/)
I caddied for Mr. Brewer yesterday.
attest (verb) (/əˈtɛst/)
I can attest to the truth of his statement.
abide (verb) (/əˈbaıd/)
I can't abide his bad moods. (=I can't stand his bad moods; I hate his bad moods)
authorization (noun) (/ˌɑːθərəˈzeıʃən/)
I can't approve the request without a written authorization.
circumstance (noun) (/ˈsɚkəmˌstæns/)
I can't imagine a circumstance in/under which I would do that.
catchy (adj) (/ˈkæʧi, ˈkɛʧi/)
I can't think of a catchy name/title for my blog.
appeal (noun) (/əˈpiːl/)
I can't understand the appeal of skydiving. (= I can't understand why some people like it)
completely (adv) (/kəmˈpliːt/)
I completely agree.
concede (verb) (/kənˈsiːd/)
I concede that the work has been slow so far, but it should speed up soon.
cake (noun) (/ˈkeık/)
I made/baked three cakes for the party.
connecting (adj) (/kəˈnɛktəbəl/)
I missed my connecting flight in Detroit.
ask (verb) (/ˈæsk/)
I need to ask a question.
anymore (adv) (/ˌɛniˈmoɚ/)
I never see them anymore.
bribe (noun) (/ˈbraıb/)
I offered the children a bribe for finishing their homework.
buck (noun) (/ˈbʌk/)
I owe you a buck.
carry-on (noun) (/ˈkeriˌɑːn/)
I packed the book in my carry-on.
allegiance (noun) (/əˈliːʤəns/)
I pledge allegiance to my country. (= I promise to be loyal to my country)
carrier (noun) (/ˈkerijɚ/)
I put the pet carrier in the car.
because (conj) (/bıˈkɑːz, bıˈkʌz/)
I ran because I was afraid.
childhood (noun) (/ˈʧajəldˌhʊd/)
I remember this place from (my) childhood.
ad (noun) (/ˈæd/)
I saw your ad in the newspaper.
bargain (noun) (/ˈbɑɚgən/)
I think everyone involved was satisfied with the bargain we made.
appointment (noun) (/əˈpoıntmənt/)
I'm late for an appointment.
betting (adj) (/ˈbɛt/)
I'm not a betting man myself. (= I'm not a man who likes to bet)
amusement (noun) (/əˈmjuːzmənt/)
I'm reading this novel for amusement.
cooperate (verb) (/koʊˈɑːpəˌreıt/)
It will be much easier if everyone cooperates.
certainly (adv) (/ˈsɚtn̩li/)
It will certainly rain tomorrow.
additional (adj) (/əˈdıʃənl̩/)
Larger windows will require additional work, but the additional light they will provide may be worth the extra trouble.
boil (verb) (/ˈbojəl/)
Let the water boil.
conductor (noun) (/kənˈdʌktɚ/)
Metal is a good conductor of electricity.
cookery (noun) (/ˈkʊkəri/)
Mexican cookery (= cooking, cuisine)
castle (noun) (/ˈkæsəl/)
Millionaires built their castles along the lake.
compose (verb) (/kəmˈpoʊz/)
Minorities composed (= made up) about a third of the attendees at the conference.
breakup (noun) (/ˈbreıkˌʌp/)
Money problems often lead to marital breakups.
ambition (noun) (/æmˈbıʃən/)
My first ambition as a child was to be in the circus.
attend (verb) (/əˈtɛnd/)
My husband and I will both attend the banquet.
coolly (adv) (/ˈkuːlıʃ/)
My idea was received coolly.
cosign (verb) (/ˈkoʊˌsaın/)
My mother cosigned the loan on my car.
building (noun) (/ˈbıldıŋ/)
My office is in that small brick building.
babble (verb) (/ˈbæbəl/)
Pay no attention to her. She's just babbling.
bewitch (verb) (/bıˈwıʧ/)
People believed the girls had been bewitched.
apathy (noun) (/ˈæpəθi/)
People have shown surprising apathy toward/about these important social problems.
amen (interj) (/ɑˈmɛn, eıˈmɛn/)
People in the crowd shouted "Amen!" when the speaker said that change was needed.
contact (noun) (/ˈkɑːnˌtækt/)
Physical contact between a mother and child is very important.
close (verb) (/ˈkloʊz/)
Please close the door.
confine (verb) (/kənˈfaın/)
Please confine (= restrict, limit) your comments to 200 words.
attached (adj) (/əˈtæʧt/)
Please fill out the attached application.
append (verb) (/əˈpɛnd/)
Please read the notes appended to each chapter.
again (adv) (/əˈgɛn/)
Please, come see us again.
clash (verb) (/ˈklæʃ/)
Police and protesters clashed yesterday.
chase (noun) (/ˈʧeıs/)
Police caught the bank robbers after a high-speed chase on the highway.
bottle (noun) (/ˈbɑːtl̩/)
Shall I open another bottle of wine?
alacrity (noun) (/əˈlækrəti/)
She accepted the invitation with alacrity. (= very quickly and willingly)
adore (verb) (/əˈdoɚ/)
She adores her son.
aggravate (verb) (/ˈægrəˌveıt/)
She aggravated an old knee injury.
Buddhist (noun) (/ˈbuːdıst, ˈbʊdıst/)
She and her husband are Buddhists.
albeit (conj) (/ɑlˈbiːjət/)
She appeared on the show, albeit briefly.
appear (verb) (/əˈpiɚ/)
She appears angry.
citizenship (noun) (/ˈsıtəzənˌʃıp/)
She applied for Polish citizenship.
appraise (verb) (/əˈpreız/)
She appraised the painting at $1.2 million. (= she said that the painting is worth $1.2 million)
argue (verb) (/ˈɑɚgju/)
She argued against the proposed law.
arrange (verb) (/əˈreınʤ/)
She arranged her pictures on her desk.
asylum (noun) (/əˈsaıləm/)
She asked for political asylum.
avow (verb) (/əˈvaʊ/)
She avowed her innocence. (= She avowed that she was innocent.)
bread (noun) (/ˈbrɛd/)
She bakes bread every day.
constrain (verb) (/kənˈstreın/)
She believes that too much instruction constrains (= limits) an artist's creativity.
blink (verb) (/ˈblıŋk/)
She blinked when the light flashed.
bus (noun) (/ˈbʌs/)
She boarded a bus in Nashville.
brand-new (adj) (/ˈbrændˈnuː/)
She bought a brand-new car.
carving (noun) (/ˈkɑɚvıŋ/)
She bought a small wooden carving of a Buddha.
auction (noun) (/ˈɑːkʃən/)
She bought the desk at an auction.
bind (verb) (/ˈbaınd/)
She bound her hair in a ponytail.
brandish (verb) (/ˈbrændıʃ/)
She brandished a stick at the dog.
broach (verb) (/ˈbroʊʧ/)
She broached the idea of getting another cat.
break (verb) (/ˈbreık/)
She broke the cup when she dropped it on the floor.
bustle (verb) (/ˈbʌsəl/)
She bustled around the kitchen getting ready for dinner guests.
carefully (adv) (/ˈkeɚfəl/)
She carefully picked up the vase.
cherish (verb) (/ˈʧerıʃ/)
She cherishes her friends/family.
chide (verb) (/ˈʧaıd/)
She chided us for arriving late.
chisel (verb) (/ˈʧɚpi/)
She chiseled the stone/wood/marble.
carrot (noun) (/ˈkerət/)
She chopped some carrots for the soup.
abduct (verb) (/æbˈdʌkt/)
She claims that she was abducted by aliens. (= that she was carried away in a spaceship by creatures from another world)
coddle (verb) (/ˈkɑːdl̩/)
She coddles (= pampers) her children.
coil (verb) (/ˈkojəl/)
She coiled the loose thread around her finger.
command (verb) (/kəˈmænd/)
She commanded us to leave.
console (verb) (/kənˈsoʊl/)
She consoled (= comforted) him after his wife died.
chunk (noun) (/ˈʧʌŋk/)
She cut the fruit into large chunks.
accuser (noun) (/əˈkjuːz/)
She deserves the chance to meet (confront) her accuser.
blister (noun) (/ˈblıstɚ/)
She developed a blister on her heel where her shoe rubbed against it.
barb (noun) (/ˈbɑɚb/)
She directed/aimed a few barbs at reporters who had hounded her.
ballet (noun) (/bæˈleı, ˈbæˌleı/)
She does tap dancing and ballet.
circle (noun) (/ˈsɚkəl/)
She drew a circle around the correct answer.
chute (noun) (/ˈʃuːt/)
She dropped the towels into the laundry chute.
consciousness (noun) (/ˈkɑːnʃəsnəs/)
She experienced a brief loss of consciousness. = She lost consciousness (= became unconscious) briefly.
annoyance (noun) (/əˈnojəns/)
She expressed annoyance at the slow service.
anxious (adj) (/ˈæŋkʃəs/)
She feels anxious and depressed.
awake (verb) (/əˈweık/)
She fell asleep immediately but awoke an hour later.
bash (verb) (/ˈbæʃ/)
She fell down and bashed (= banged) her knee against a rock.
apparatus (noun) (/ˌæpəˈrætəs/)
She fell off a gymnastics apparatus and broke her leg.
alien (adj) (/ˈeılijən/)
She felt lost in an alien (= strange) culture when she moved to the city.
abhorrent (adj) (/əbˈhorənt/)
She finds violence in films abhorrent.
affirmative (adj) (/əˈfɚmətıv/)
She gave an affirmative answer, not a negative answer.
amazing (adj) (/əˈmeızmənt/)
She gave an amazing (= wonderful) performance in her first film.
checkup (noun) (/ˈʧɛkˌʌp/)
She goes for a checkup every year.
carton (noun) (/ˈkɑɚtn̩/)
She got a carton of ice cream out of the freezer.
cheerfully (adv) (/ˈʧiɚfəl/)
She greeted us cheerfully.
anticipation (noun) (/ænˌtısəˈpeıʃən/)
She had a feeling of great anticipation before her graduation ceremony.
cinema (noun) (/ˈsınəmə/)
She had a long career in (the) cinema.
baby (noun) (/ˈbeıbi/)
She had the baby yesterday. (= She gave birth to the baby yesterday.)
avert (verb) (/əˈvɚt/)
She had to avert her eyes (= to look away) at the sight of the accident.
carefree (adj) (/ˈkeɚˌfriː/)
She has a carefree attitude toward life.
certificate (noun) (/sɚˈtıfıkət/)
She has a certificate in midwifery.
companion (noun) (/kəmˈpænjən/)
She has been my closest companion since childhood.
blotch (noun) (/ˈblɑːʧ/)
She has brown blotches (= splotches) on her hands.
booking (noun) (/ˈbʊkıŋ/)
She has several concert bookings this fall.
ability (noun) (/əˈbıləti/)
She has shown some ability with foreign languages.
accumulate (verb) (/əˈkjuːmjəˌleıt/)
She has slowly accumulated (= amassed) a fortune.
affection (noun) (/əˈfɛkʃən/)
She has/feels deep affection for her parents.
backache (noun) (/ˈbækˌeık/)
She has/gets frequent backaches.
commercialize (verb) (/kəˈmɚʃəˌlaız/)
She hates to see Christmas commercialized.
carry (verb) (/ˈkeri/)
She helped me carry (= transport) the boxes out to my car.
conviction (noun) (/kənˈvıkʃən/)
She hopes to avoid conviction.
away (adv) (/əˈweı/)
She hopes to get away early.
accustomed (adj) (/əˈkʌstəmd/)
She is accustomed to (= used to) life (living) on the farm.
adamant (adj) (/ˈædəmənt/)
She is an adamant (= strong) defender of women's rights.
ardent (adj) (/ˈɑɚdn̩t/)
She is an ardent (= fervent) believer in her religion. (= she believes very strongly in her religion)
awkward (adj) (/ˈɑːkwɚd/)
She is awkward at dancing.
broke (adj) (/ˈbroʊk/)
She is broke and homeless.
abet (verb) (/əˈbɛt/)
She is charged with aiding and abetting (= helping and encouraging) the thief in his getaway.
concept (noun) (/ˈkɑːnˌsɛpt/)
She is familiar with basic concepts of psychology.
constitutional (adj) (/ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃənl̩/)
She is in favor of a constitutional amendment (= an amendment to the constitution) to overturn the unpopular law.
advocacy (noun) (/ˈædvəkəsi/)
She is known for her advocacy of birth control. (= she is known for advocating/supporting birth control)
considerate (adj) (/kənˈsıdərət/)
She is one of the most considerate people I know.
abed (adv) (/əˈbɛd/)
She is still abed.
agile (adj) (/ˈæʤəl/)
She is the most agile (= nimble) athlete on the team.
biased (adj) (/ˈbajəs/)
She is too biased to write about the case objectively.
convent (noun) (/ˈkɑːnvənt/)
She joined a convent.
comatose (adj) (/ˈkoʊməˌtoʊs/)
She lay in a comatose state.
countryside (noun) (/ˈkʌntriˌsaıd/)
She lives in the countryside. (= country)
clock (noun) (/ˈklɑːk/)
She looked/glanced at the clock on the wall. It was now 2:30.
affliction (noun) (/əˈflıkʃən/)
She lost her sight and is now learning to live with her/the affliction.
cappuccino (noun) (/ˌkæpəˈʧiːnoʊ/)
She loves cappuccino.
contribution (noun) (/ˌkɑːntrəˈbjuːʃən/)
She made a 100-dollar contribution (= donation) to breast cancer research.
complimentary (adj) (/ˌkɑːmpləˈmɛntəri/)
She made complimentary remarks about his work.
charitable (adj) (/ˈʧerətəbəl/)
She makes a charitable donation/contribution every year.
cleaning (noun) (/ˈkliːnɚ/)
She needs someone to help her with the cleaning (= housecleaning) while she is recovering from surgery.
cogent (adj) (/ˈkoʊʤənt/)
She offers some cogent (= convincing, persuasive) reasons for building new schools.
blast (noun) (/ˈblæst/)
She opened the door and felt a cold blast.
bag (noun) (/ˈbæg/)
She packed her lunch in a paper bag.
amateur (noun) (/ˈæməˌtɚ/)
She played soccer as an amateur before turning professional.
basketball (noun) (/ˈbæskıtˌbɑːl/)
She plays basketball.
bleeding (noun) (/ˈbliːdıŋ/)
She pressed on the wound to stop the bleeding.
both (adj) (/ˈboʊθ/)
She put both feet in the stream.
coat (noun) (/ˈkoʊt/)
She put on her coat, hat, and gloves, and then she went outside.
cologne (noun) (/kəˈloʊn/)
She put on some cologne and combed her hair.
collateral (noun) (/kəˈlætərəl/)
She put up her house as collateral for the loan. (= she agreed that she would give up her house if she did not repay the loan)
brow (noun) (/ˈbraʊ/)
She raised her brows in surprise.
beggarly (adj) (/ˈbɛgɚli/)
She received a beggarly sum for her efforts.
academic (adj) (/ˌækəˈdɛmık/)
She received awards for her academic achievements (accomplishments).
brake (noun) (/ˈbreık/)
She released the brake slowly.
aloof (adj) (/əˈluːf/)
She remained aloof (= distant) despite their efforts to make friends.
cradle (noun) (/ˈkreıdl̩/)
She rocked the cradle.
bicycle (noun) (/ˈbaısıkəl/)
She rode her bicycle (= bike) to school.
bike (noun) (/ˈbaık/)
She rode her bike to school.
catering (noun) (/ˈkeıtɚrɚ/)
She runs a catering business.
altar (noun) (/ˈɑːltɚ/)
She sacrificed honesty on the altar of success. (= she chose to be dishonest in order to achieve success)
bedside (noun) (/ˈbɛdˌsaıd/)
She sat at his bedside until the fever broke.
beside (prep) (/bıˈsaıd/)
She sat beside him during dinner.
commission (noun) (/kəˈmıʃən/)
She served on the city's water commission.
accompaniment (noun) (/əˈkʌmpənimənt/)
She sings without musical accompaniment.
corridor (noun) (/ˈkorədɚ, ˈkorəˌdoɚ/)
She slowly walked down the long, dark corridor. (= hall, hallway)
candor (noun) (/ˈkændɚ/)
She spoke with candor about racism.
accelerate (verb) (/ıkˈsɛləˌreıt/)
She stepped on the gas and the car accelerated.
choreography (noun) (/ˌkoriˈɑːgrəfi/)
She studied choreography.
blindly (adv) (/ˈblaındli/)
She stumbled blindly in the dark.
concussion (noun) (/kənˈkʌʃən/)
She suffered a severe concussion after falling on the ice.
ailment (noun) (/ˈeılmənt/)
She suffered from a chronic back ailment.
collaborator (noun) (/kəˈlæbəˌreıtɚ/)
She thanked her collaborators on the project.
chemotherapy (noun) (/ˌkiːmoʊˈθerəpi/)
She underwent (a course of) chemotherapy.
care (noun) (/ˈkeɚ/)
She used care in selecting a doctor for her son.
clout (noun) (/ˈklaʊt/)
She used her political clout to have another school built.
broadcasting (noun) (/ˈbrɑːdˌkæst/)
She wants to have a career in broadcasting.
citizen (noun) (/ˈsıtəzən/)
She was a United States citizen but lived most of her life abroad.
blackmail (noun) (/ˈblækˌmeıl/)
She was a victim of blackmail.
bookworm (noun) (/ˈbʊkˌwɚm/)
She was always a bookworm when she was a kid.
bleed (verb) (/ˈbliːd/)
She was bleeding from the/her face and hands.
born (adj) (/ˈboɚn/)
She was born in a hospital.
back (noun) (/ˈbæk/)
She was carrying her little daughter on her back.
cough (verb) (/ˈkɑːf/)
She was coughing and sneezing all day.
bridle (verb) (/ˈbrıʤˌhɛd/)
She was forced to bridle her anger.
agony (noun) (/ˈægəni/)
She was in terrible agony after breaking her leg.
compliance (noun) (/kəmˈplajəns/)
She was rewarded for her compliance.
by (prep) (/ˈbaı, bə/)
She was standing by (= beside) the window.
aback (adv) (/əˈbæk/)
She was taken aback (= she was very surprised) by his rude response.
bashful (adj) (/ˈbæʃfəl/)
She was very bashful (= shy) as a child.
bowling (noun) (/ˈboʊlıŋ/)
She watches bowling on TV.
confession (noun) (/kənˈfɛʃən/)
She went to the police station and made/gave a full confession.
accompany (verb) (/əˈkʌmpəni/)
She will accompany me to the store.
a.m. (abbr) (/eɪˈɛm/)
She woke up at 6 a.m. and didn't go to bed until midnight.
blouse (noun) (/ˈblaʊs/)
She wore a blouse and a skirt to work.
chunky (adj) (/ˈʧʌŋki/)
She wore chunky earrings.
braid (noun) (/ˈbreıd/)
She wore her hair in a long braid. (= (chiefly Brit) plait)
cord (noun) (/ˈkoɚd/)
She wore the key on a cord around her neck.
coordinate (verb) (/koʊˈoɚdəˌneıt/)
She'll be coordinating the relief effort.
also (adv) (/ˈɑːlˌsoʊ/)
She's a talented singer and also a fine actress.
articulate (adj) (/ɑɚˈtıkjələt/)
She's an intelligent and articulate speaker.
add (verb) (/ˈæd/)
She's planning to add some new flowers to the garden.
begrudge (verb) (/bıˈgrʌʤ/)
She's worked hard to get where she is. You shouldn't begrudge her the success she's earned.
conjunction (noun) (/kənˈʤʌŋkʃən/)
Some common conjunctions are "and," "but," and "although."
battle (noun) (/ˈbætl̩/)
That two-day conflict has become one of the most famous battles in history.
bummer (noun) (/ˈbʌmɚ/)
That was a real bummer of a movie.
case (noun) (/ˈkeıs/)
That was true in all three cases. (= instances)
awfully (adv) (/ˈɑːfəli, ˈɑːfli/)
That's awfully nice of you.
consensus (noun) (/kənˈsɛnsəs/)
The (general) consensus (of the group) was to go ahead with the plan.
compilation (noun) (/ˌkɑːmpəˈleıʃən/)
The CD is a compilation of greatest hits.
conspiracy (noun) (/kənˈspirəsi/)
The CIA uncovered a conspiracy against the government.
appoint (verb) (/əˈpoınt/)
The President appointed (= named, designated) him (as) Secretary of Education.
alphabet (noun) (/ˈælfəˌbɛt/)
The Roman alphabet begins with "A" and ends with "Z."
channel (noun) (/ˈʧænl̩/)
The TV program airs at 8:00 p.m. on Channel 5.
bunker (noun) (/ˈbʌŋkɚ/)
The ammunition is stored in concrete bunkers.
conform (verb) (/kənˈfoɚm/)
The animals' behavior conforms to a common pattern.
annual (adj) (/ˈænjəwəl/)
The annual meeting is in July.
bold (adj) (/ˈboʊld/)
The area was settled by bold (= brave, courageous) pioneers.
besiege (verb) (/bıˈsiːʤ/)
The army beseiged the castle.
camouflage (noun) (/ˈkæməˌflɑːʒ/)
The army tanks were painted green and brown for camouflage.
applaud (verb) (/əˈplɑːd/)
The audience stood and applauded (= clapped) at the end of the show.
author (noun) (/ˈɑːθɚ/)
The author of the article didn't check his facts.
average (noun) (/ˈævrıʤ/)
The average of 16, 8, and 6 is 10.
cleave (verb) (/ˈkliːv/)
The ax easily cleaves the log.
coo (verb) (/ˈkuː/)
The baby cooed quietly in her crib.
burlap (noun) (/ˈbɚˌlæp/)
The bag is made of burlap.
cannon (verb) (/ˈkænəbəˌlaız/)
The ball cannoned off the goalpost and into the net.
between (prep) (/bıˈtwiːn/)
The ball rolled between the desk and the wall.
burst (verb) (/ˈbɚst/)
The balloon burst. (= popped)
band (noun) (/ˈbænd/)
The band's drummer is also the lead singer.
concurrence (noun) (/kənˈkɚrəns/)
The bill was passed with the full concurrence of the Senate. (= everyone in the Senate agreed to pass the bill)
conjecture (noun) (/kənˈʤɛkʧɚ/)
The biography includes conjectures about the writer's earliest ambitions.
chirp (verb) (/ˈʧɚp/)
The birds were chirping in the trees.
barbarian (noun) (/bɑɚˈberijən/)
The book describes tribes of barbarians massing on the borders of the Roman Empire.
assessment (noun) (/əˈsɛsmənt/)
The book is a careful assessment (= appraisal, evaluation) of the president's achievements.
bypass (noun) (/ˈbaıˌpæs/)
The bridge is being rebuilt so we'll have to take the bypass.
cable (noun) (/ˈkeıbəl/)
The bridge is held up by cables.
collapse (verb) (/kəˈlæps/)
The bridge/building collapsed.
avenge (verb) (/əˈvɛnʤ/)
The brothers vowed to avenge the death of their father.
bud (noun) (/ˈbʌd/)
The bush has plenty of buds but no flowers yet.
buyer (noun) (/ˈbajɚ/)
The buyer and seller must agree on a price for the property.
compact (adj) (/kəmˈpækt/)
The camera is compact.
consternation (noun) (/ˌkɑːnstɚˈneıʃən/)
The candidate caused consternation among his supporters by changing positions on a key issue.
charisma (noun) (/kəˈrızmə/)
The candidate was lacking in charisma.
captain (noun) (/ˈkæptən/)
The captain has turned off the "fasten seat belt" sign.
caption (noun) (/ˈkæpʃən/)
The caption on the picture says "This year's contest winners."
captive (adj) (/ˈkæptıv/)
The captive soldiers planned their escape.
advance (verb) (/ədˈvæns/)
The car advanced slowly down the street.
backfire (verb) (/ˈbækˌfajɚ/)
The car backfired.
careen (verb) (/kəˈriːn/)
The car careened (= careered) down the hill.
acceleration (noun) (/ıkˌsɛləˈreıʃən/)
The car delivers quick (rapid) acceleration.
adjust (verb) (/əˈʤʌst/)
The car is easier to drive since the clutch was adjusted.
collision (noun) (/kəˈlıʒən/)
The car was destroyed in the collision.
category (noun) (/ˈkætəˌgori/)
The cars belong to the same category.
approach (verb) (/əˈproʊʧ/)
The cat approached the baby cautiously.
aptly (adv) (/ˈæpt/)
The cat is aptly named "Stripe."
arson (noun) (/ˈɑɚsn̩/)
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but investigators suspect arson.
badger (verb) (/ˈbæʤ/)
The celebrity was being badgered (= pestered) by reporters.
cellar (noun) (/ˈsɛlɚ/)
The cellar has a dirt floor.
convert (verb) (/kənˈvɚt/)
The cells absorb light and convert it to energy.
adjourn (verb) (/əˈʤɚn/)
The chairperson has adjourned the meeting.
clamber (verb) (/ˈklæmbɚ/)
The children clambered over the rocks.
cling (verb) (/ˈklıŋ/)
The children clung together under the little umbrella waiting for the storm to pass.
chore (noun) (/ˈʧoɚ/)
The children were each assigned different household chores.
auntie (noun) (/ˈænti, ˈɑːnti/)
The children were happy to see their Auntie Mary.
council (noun) (/ˈkaʊnsəl/)
The city council is considering a ban on smoking in restaurants.
abundance (noun) (/əˈbʌndəns/)
The city has an abundance of fine restaurants. (= has many fine restaurants)
conquer (verb) (/ˈkɑːŋkɚ/)
The city was conquered by the ancient Romans.
confuse (verb) (/kənˈfjuːz/)
The city's winding streets confuse (= perplex) most visitors.
confidence (noun) (/ˈkɑːnfədəns/)
The class gave me more confidence.
comer (noun) (/ˈkʌmɚ/)
The class is open to all comers.
confident (adj) (/ˈkɑːnfədənt/)
The class made me more confident (about myself).
courteous (adj) (/ˈkɚtijəs/)
The clerks were helpful and courteous.
clinic (noun) (/ˈklınık/)
The clinic is offering free screening for diabetes.
addict (noun) (/ˈædıkt/)
The clinic provides counseling for (drug) addicts.
chime (noun) (/ˈʧaım/)
The clock chime struck four.
calmly (adv) (/ˈkɑːm/)
The coach calmly told her players what to do next.
cock (noun) (/ˈkɑːk/)
The cock was crowing.
bitterness (noun) (/ˈbıtɚ/)
The cocktail recipe called for a dash of bitters.
color (noun) (/ˈkʌlɚ/)
The color of blood is red.
agenda (noun) (/əˈʤɛndə/)
The committee set the agenda for the next several years of research.
aboveboard (adj) (/əˈbʌvˌboɚd/)
The committee tried to be fair and aboveboard in its hiring.
attract (verb) (/əˈtrækt/)
The company has a difficult time attracting good employees because of its poor pay and benefits.
approbation (noun) (/ˌæprəˈbeıʃən/)
The company has even received the approbation of its former critics.
apology (noun) (/əˈpɑːləʤi/)
The company issued/delivered an official apology to its customers for its error.
appreciate (verb) (/əˈpriːʃiˌeıt/)
The company strives to make its employees feel appreciated.
assuage (verb) (/əˈsweıʤ/)
The company tried to assuage (= soothe, calm, ease) investors' fears.
ambitious (adj) (/æmˈbıʃəs/)
The company was created by two very ambitious young men in the early 1900s.
conciliate (verb) (/kənˈsıliˌeıt/)
The company's attempts to conciliate the strikers have failed.
anticipate (verb) (/ænˈtısəˌpeıt/)
The cost turned out to be higher than anticipated.
abode (noun) (/əˈboʊd/)
The cottage became their abode (= home) for the summer.
central (adj) (/ˈsɛntrəl/)
The country is in central Africa. (= the area that is in the middle of Africa)
clement (adj) (/ˈklɛmənt/)
The country is known for its clement (= (more commonly) mild) weather.
armament (noun) (/ˈɑɚməmənt/)
The country's armament will take years.
amend (verb) (/əˈmɛnd/)
The country's constitution was amended to allow women to vote.
annulment (noun) (/əˈnʌlmənt/)
The couple has filed for annulment.
compensation (noun) (/ˌkɑmpənˈseıʃən/)
The court awarded the victims millions of dollars in compensation.
blemish (noun) (/ˈblɛmıʃ/)
The cream is supposed to prevent blemishes on the skin.
chant (verb) (/ˈʧænt/)
The crowd began chanting her name.
ante (noun) (/ˈænti/)
The dealer called for a dollar ante.
controversy (noun) (/ˈkɑːntrəˌvɚsi/)
The decision aroused/created much controversy among the students.
arraignment (noun) (/əˈreınmənt/)
The defendant failed to appear for arraignment.
confusion (noun) (/kənˈfjuːʒən/)
The detour caused much confusion. (= the detour confused many people; the detour made many people uncertain about which roads to use)
assist (verb) (/əˈsıst/)
The device assists those who can't climb stairs.
capability (noun) (/ˌkeıpəˈbıləti/)
The device has the capability of recording two television channels at once.
CD-ROM (noun) (/ˌsiːˌdiːˈrɑːm/)
The dictionary comes with a free CD-ROM.
achievement (noun) (/əˈʧiːvmənt/)
The discovery of DNA was a major scientific achievement.
among (prep) (/əˈmʌŋ/)
The disease spread quickly among the members of the community.
alleviate (verb) (/əˈliːviˌeıt/)
The doctor tried to alleviate (= relieve) her symptoms/suffering.
bark (verb) (/ˈbɑɚk/)
The dog only barks when someone approaches the house.
consume (verb) (/kənˈsuːm/)
The dogs consume (= eat) a bag of dog food each week.
anonymous (adj) (/əˈnɑːnəməs/)
The donor wishes to remain anonymous.
amount (noun) (/əˈmaʊnt/)
The drug is not being produced in adequate amounts.
counteract (verb) (/ˌkaʊntɚˈækt/)
The drug will counteract the poison.
claw (noun) (/ˈklɑː/)
The eagle was carrying a mouse in its sharp claws.
coincide (verb) (/ˌkowənˈsaıd/)
The earthquakes coincided.
barricade (noun) (/ˈberəˌkeıd/)
The enemy broke through the barricade.
adjustment (noun) (/əˈʤʌstmənt/)
The engine only needed a minor adjustment.
clarity (noun) (/ˈklerəti/)
The essays are edited for clarity.
cancel (verb) (/ˈkænsəl/)
The event was canceled at the last minute when the speaker didn't show up.
available (adj) (/əˈveıləbəl/)
The family kept emergency supplies available.
boost (verb) (/ˈbuːst/)
The farm has boosted (= increased) wheat production by 25 percent.
automatically (adv) (/ˌɑːtəˈmætıkli/)
The fee will be automatically added to the bill.
cast iron (noun) (/ˈkæstıŋ/)
The fence is made of cast iron.
commemorate (verb) (/kəˈmɛməˌreıt/)
The festival commemorates the town's founding.
commence (verb) (/kəˈmɛns/)
The festivities will commence with a parade.
adventure (noun) (/ədˈvɛnʧɚ/)
The field trip was an adventure for the students.
cease (verb) (/ˈsiːs/)
The fighting along the border has temporarily ceased.
admirable (adj) (/ˈædmrəbəl/)
The film does an admirable (= excellent) job of depicting life in the 1940s.
briskly (adv) (/ˈbrısk/)
The flowers have been selling briskly.
complicated (adj) (/ˈkɑːmpləˌkeıtəd/)
The game's rules are too complicated.
cover (verb) (/ˈkʌvɚ/)
The gardener covered the soil with mulch.
assent (verb) (/əˈsɛnt/)
The general proposed a detailed plan and the President assented.
announce (verb) (/əˈnaʊns/)
The government announced a cut in taxes.
amnesty (noun) (/ˈæmnəsti/)
The government gave/granted amnesty to/for all political prisoners.
accede (verb) (/ækˈsiːd/)
The government was forced to accede to their demands.
carnation (noun) (/kɑɚˈneıʃən/)
The groom wore a carnation in his buttonhole.
covering (noun) (/ˈkʌvərıŋ/)
The ground was hidden under a covering (= cover) of snow.
affair (noun) (/əˈfeɚ/)
The group conducts its affairs (= business) in private.
coalition (noun) (/ˌkowəˈlıʃən/)
The groups united to form a coalition.
crack (verb) (/ˈkræk/)
The hailstones were big enough to crack some windows.
cackle (verb) (/ˈkækəl/)
The hens were cackling in the henhouse.
activity (noun) (/ækˈtıvəti/)
The holidays always set off a lot of activity in our home.
charity (noun) (/ˈʧerəti/)
The holidays are a time for charity and good will.
contraction (noun) (/kənˈtrækʃən/)
The hot metal undergoes contraction as it cools.
accommodate (verb) (/əˈkɑːməˌdeıt/)
The hotel can only accommodate about 100 people. (= is only large enough for about 100 people)
amenity (noun) (/əˈmɛnəti/)
The hotel has every amenity you could want.
chef (noun) (/ˈʃɛf/)
The hotel's chef trained at the finest culinary institutes in Europe.
ceiling (noun) (/ˈsiːlıŋ/)
The house has low ceilings.
award (verb) (/əˈwoɚd/)
The judges will award a prize to the best speaker.
acquit (verb) (/əˈkwıt/)
The jury acquitted the defendant because there wasn't enough evidence to convict him of the crime.
belonging (noun) (/bıˈlɑːŋ/)
The kindness that they showed to her when she first arrived gave her a real sense/feeling of belonging.
abdicate (verb) (/ˈæbdıˌkeıt/)
The king was forced to abdicate.
benevolence (noun) (/bəˈnɛvələns/)
The king's benevolence (= kindness, generosity) was known throughout the land.
cherry (noun) (/ˈʧeri/)
The kitchen cabinets are made of cherry.
cloakroom (noun) (/ˈkloʊkˌruːm/)
The ladies' cloakroom (= bathroom, restroom) is down the hall.
choppy (adj) (/ˈʧɑːpi/)
The lake was choppy.
bleat (verb) (/ˈbliːt/)
The lamb bleated as I approached.
base (noun) (/ˈbeıs/)
The lamp has a heavy base.
confer (verb) (/kənˈfɚ/)
The lawyer and judge conferred about the ruling.
animate (adj) (/ˈænəmət/)
The lecture was about ancient worship of animate and inanimate objects.
crackle (verb) (/ˈkrækəl/)
The logs crackled in the fire.
chaos (noun) (/ˈkeıˌɑːs/)
The loss of electricity caused chaos throughout the city.
allusion (noun) (/əˈluːʒən/)
The lyrics contain biblical allusions.
astound (verb) (/əˈstaʊnd/)
The magician will astound you with his latest tricks.
claim (verb) (/ˈkleım/)
The man claimed (that) he was a long-lost relative.
brief (adj) (/ˈbriːf/)
The meeting will be brief.
carelessness (noun) (/ˈkeɚləs/)
The mistake was the result of carelessness.
accurate (adj) (/ˈækjərət/)
The model is accurate down to the tiniest details.
aptitude (noun) (/ˈæptəˌtuːd/)
The new test is supposed to measure the aptitudes of the students.
aghast (adj) (/əˈgæst/)
The news left her aghast.
apparent (adj) (/əˈperənt/)
The other team's superiority was apparent (= evident) in the first half of the game.
copy (noun) (/ˈkɑːpi/)
The paintings at the museum are originals, not copies. (= reproductions)
control (verb) (/kənˈtroʊl/)
The parents could not control their child.
assembly (noun) (/əˈsɛmbli/)
The parts are made in this factory and then shipped to another country for assembly.
caterer (noun) (/ˈkeıtɚrɚ/)
The party was serviced by the best caterer in the area.
coconut (noun) (/ˈkoʊkəˌnʌt/)
The pastry is covered with shredded coconut.
auditory (adj) (/ˈɑːdəˌtori/)
The patient has damage to the auditory nerve.
convulsion (noun) (/kənˈvʌlʃən/)
The patient suffers from convulsions.
catheter (noun) (/ˈkæθətɚ/)
The patient underwent cardiac catheterization.
below (adv) (/bıˈloʊ/)
The pencil rolled off the desk and fell to the floor below.
ancient (adj) (/ˈeınʃənt/)
The people in the village still observe the ancient customs/traditions of their ancestors.
captivate (verb) (/ˈkæptəˌveıt/)
The play has been captivating audiences for years.
cheat (verb) (/ˈʧiːt/)
The players were accused of cheating.
compare (verb) (/kəmˈpeɚ/)
The poet compared (= likened) his sweetheart to a beautiful rose.
conduct (verb) (/kənˈdʌkt/)
The police are conducting an investigation into last week's robbery.
allegation (noun) (/ˌælıˈgeıʃən/)
The police are investigating allegations that the mayor has accepted bribes.
arrest (verb) (/əˈrɛst/)
The police arrested him on drug charges.
cohort (noun) (/ˈkoʊˌhoɚt/)
The police arrested the gang's leader and his cohorts.
baptize (verb) (/ˈbæpˌtaız, bæpˈtaız/)
The priest baptized the baby.
bless (verb) (/ˈblɛs/)
The priest blessed their marriage at the wedding.
contrive (verb) (/kənˈtraıv/)
The prisoners contrived a way to escape.
captivity (noun) (/kæpˈtıvəti/)
The prisoners were released from captivity.
brilliance (noun) (/ˈbrıljəns/)
The professor was known for his brilliance.
abstinence (noun) (/ˈæbstənəns/)
The program promoted sexual abstinence for young people.
complacency (noun) (/kəmˈpleısn̩si/)
The public was lulled into complacency.
burrow (verb) (/ˈbɚ/)
The rabbit burrowed into the side of the hill.
cocoa (noun) (/ˈkoʊkoʊ/)
The recipe calls for three tablespoons of cocoa.
charred (adj) (/ʧɑɚd/)
The remains of the house were charred.
approximately (adv) (/əˈprɑːksəmət/)
The repair should cost approximately (= about, around, roughly) $200.
cooperation (noun) (/koʊˌɑːpəˈreıʃən/)
The report cited a lack of cooperation between state and local officials.
cater (verb) (/ˈkeıtɚ/)
The restaurant caters for parties/banquets/receptions.
capacity (noun) (/kəˈpæsəti/)
The restaurant has a large seating capacity. (= many people can sit in the restaurant; it has many seats)
buffet (noun) (/bəˈfeı/)
The restaurant offers a breakfast buffet.
abnormal (adj) (/æbˈnoɚməl/)
The results of the blood test were abnormal.
cleft (noun) (/ˈklɛft/)
The river begins as a trickle of water from a cleft in the rock.
anyway (adv) (/ˈɛniˌweı/)
The road got worse, but they kept going anyway.
bumpy (adj) (/ˈbʌmpi/)
The road is very bumpy.
ahead (adv) (/əˈhɛd/)
The road stretched ahead for many miles.
bed (noun) (/ˈbɛd/)
The room contains only a bed and a dresser.
appearance (noun) (/əˈpirəns/)
The room has a neat/fresh/clean appearance. (= look)
airy (adj) (/ˈeri/)
The room is open, light, and airy.
book (noun) (/ˈbʊk/)
The shelves in his office are filled with books.
anchor (noun) (/ˈæŋkɚ/)
The ship dropped anchor in a secluded harbor.
cargo (noun) (/ˈkɑɚgoʊ/)
The ship was carrying a cargo of crude oil.
clear (adj) (/ˈkliɚ/)
The show was a clear failure. (= it was clearly a failure; there is no doubt that the show was a failure)
clatter (verb) (/ˈklætɚ/)
The shutters clattered against the house.
attestation (noun) (/ˌæˌtɛsˈteıʃən/)
The signature required attestation.
convey (verb) (/kənˈveı/)
The singer was conveyed from her hotel to the airport by limousine.
clog (verb) (/ˈklɑːg/)
The sink was clogged by/with dirt and grease.
contrary (adj) (/ˈkɑːnˌtreri/)
The sisters gave contrary answers: one said "yes" and one said "no."
consequence (noun) (/ˈkɑːnsəˌkwɛns/)
The slightest error can have serious consequences.
cooler (noun) (/ˈkuːlɚ/)
The sodas are in the cooler.
bayonet (verb) (/ˈbeı/)
The soldier was bayoneted in the chest.
barracks (noun) (/ˈberəks/)
The soldier was moved to a different barracks.
cloak (noun) (/ˈkloʊk/)
The soldiers began their attack under (the) cloak of darkness.
addition (noun) (/əˈdıʃən/)
The soup was thickened by the addition of cream in the last stage of cooking.
comeback (noun) (/ˈkʌmˌbæk/)
The species was nearly extinct but is now making/staging a comeback.
attrition (noun) (/əˈtrıʃən/)
The staff has been thinned through attrition. (= the staff has become smaller because people have left)
adhere (verb) (/ædˈhiɚ/)
The stamp failed to adhere.
connection (noun) (/kəˈnɛkʃən/)
The state plans to improve roads that serve as connections between major highways.
constitution (noun) (/ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃən/)
The state's constitution has strict rules about what tax money can be used for.
consequently (adv) (/ˈkɑːnsəˌkwɛntli/)
The state's economy was poor. Consequently, many college graduates were forced to move elsewhere in order to find jobs.
broadcast (verb) (/ˈbrɑːdˌkæst/)
The station broadcasts the symphony live every Friday night.
business (noun) (/ˈbıznəs/)
The store will be open for business next week. (= the store will be ready for customers next week)
contrivance (noun) (/kənˈtraıvəns/)
The story is filled with plot contrivances that do not fit the ending.
confound (verb) (/kənˈfaʊnd/)
The strategy confounded our opponents.
broken (adj) (/ˈbroʊkən/)
The street was covered with broken glass.
baking (adj) (/ˈbeık/)
The streets were baking hot.
complacent (adj) (/kəmˈpleısn̩t/)
The strong economy has made people complacent.
commentary (noun) (/ˈkɑːmənˌteri/)
The television show features political commentary by well-known journalists.
bulletin (noun) (/ˈbʊlətən/)
The television/radio program was interrupted for a news bulletin.
changeable (adj) (/ˈʧeınʤəbəl/)
The terms of this contract are easily changeable.
abnormality (noun) (/ˌæbnɚˈmæləti/)
The test results showed several genetic abnormalities.
confirm (verb) (/kənˈfɚm/)
The tests confirmed the doctors' suspicions of cancer.
bedevil (verb) (/bıˈdɛvəl/)
The theory bedevils scientists, none of whom have been able to prove it true or false.
alias (adv) (/ˈeılijəs/)
The thief was identified as John Smith, alias Richard Jones. (= John Smith, who is also known as Richard Jones)
apprehension (noun) (/ˌæprıˈhɛnʃən/)
The thought of moving to a new city fills me with apprehension.
ash (noun) (/ˈæʃ/)
The town lay under a thick layer/blanket of ash.
butcher (noun) (/ˈbʊʧɚ/)
The town was small but had a grocery store and a butcher (store/shop).
chug (verb) (/ˈʧʌg/)
The train chugged up the hill.
breathtaking (adj) (/ˈbrɛθˌteıkıŋ/)
The train raced past with breathtaking speed.
buttress (verb) (/ˈbʌtn̩dˈʌp/)
The treaty will buttress the cause of peace.
cope (verb) (/ˈkoʊp/)
The trial has been difficult, but I'm learning to cope.
clan (noun) (/ˈklæn/)
The tribe is divided into clans.
barter (noun) (/ˈbɑɚˌtɛnd/)
The tribes use a system of barter.
collaborate (verb) (/kəˈlæbəˌreıt/)
The two companies agreed to collaborate.
angle (noun) (/ˈæŋgəl/)
The two lines form a sharp angle. (= The two lines meet/intersect at a sharp angle to each other).
converge (verb) (/kənˈvɚʤ/)
The two roads converge in the center of town.
concurrently (adv) (/kənˈkɚrənt/)
The two sentences will be served concurrently.
accord (noun) (/əˈkoɚd/)
The two sides were able to reach an accord.
bane (noun) (/ˈbeın/)
The ugly school uniforms were the bane of the students' lives.
bestow (verb) (/bıˈstoʊ/)
The university bestowed on/upon her an honorary degree.
christening (noun) (/ˈkrısənıŋ/)
The whole family was invited to the christening.
blow (verb) (/ˈbloʊ/)
The wind was blowing earlier but it's not blowing now. (= there was wind earlier but there isn't any wind now)
apparently (adv) (/əˈperəntli/)
The window had apparently been forced open.
copper (noun) (/ˈkɑːpɚ/)
The wires are (made of) copper.
adjective (noun) (/ˈæʤıktıv/)
The words blue in "the blue car," deep in "the water is deep," and tired in "I'm very tired" are adjectives.
casting (noun) (/ˈkæstıŋ/)
The workers make metal castings for truck engines.
bookie (noun) (/ˈbʊki/)
Their bookie is giving good odds.
adolescent (noun) (/ˌædəˈlɛsn̩t/)
Their children are now adolescents.
brook (verb) (/ˈbrʊk/)
Their coach brooks (= tolerates) no disagreement.
budge (verb) (/ˈbʌʤ/)
Their horses refused to budge.
bathroom (noun) (/ˈbæθˌruːm/)
Their house has three bathrooms.
bliss (noun) (/ˈblıʃ/)
Their religion promises eternal bliss (= joy) in heaven.
cohesive (adj) (/koʊˈhiːsıv/)
Their tribe is a small but cohesive group.
afterthought (noun) (/ˈæftɚˌθɑːt/)
Then I remembered, almost as an afterthought, to feed the cat.
class (noun) (/ˈklæs/)
There are 20 students in the class.
basically (adv) (/ˈbeısıkli/)
There are a few boring parts, but basically (= generally, for the most part), it's a very good book.
aplenty (adj) (/əˈplɛnti/)
There are books aplenty on this subject. (= there are many books on this subject)
aesthetic (adj) (/ɛsˈθɛtık, iːsˈθɛtık/)
There are practical as well as aesthetic reasons for planting trees.
corruption (noun) (/kəˈrʌpʃən/)
There are rumors of widespread corruption in the city government.
cohere (verb) (/koʊˈhiɚ/)
There are several themes in the story but they never cohere (with one another).
amusing (adj) (/əˈmjuːzıŋ/)
There are some amusing (= funny) twists to the story.
animosity (noun) (/ˌænəˈmɑːsəti/)
There has always been animosity (= hostility) between them. (= they have always disliked each other)
ado (noun) (/əˈduː/)
There has been much ado about the need for campaign reform.
burglary (noun) (/ˈbɚgləri/)
There have been a number of burglaries in the neighborhood in recent months.
abruptness (noun) (/əˈbrʌpt/)
There is an abruptness in her manner.
arch (noun) (/ˈɑɚʧ/)
There was a slight arch to her eyebrows.
ample (adj) (/ˈæmpəl/)
There was ample room for a garden. (= there was plenty of room for a garden)
abrupt (adj) (/əˈbrʌpt/)
There was an abrupt change in the weather.
absence (noun) (/ˈæbsəns/)
There was an absence (= lack) of enthusiasm in the crowd. (= the crowd was not enthusiastic)
browser (noun) (/ˈbraʊzɚ/)
There were a few browsers in the bookstore.
conspicuous (adj) (/kənˈspıkjəwəs/)
There were a number of conspicuous changes to the building.
baptism (noun) (/ˈbæpˌtızəm/)
There were over 100 baptisms at our church last year.
confrontation (noun) (/ˌkɑːnfrənˈteıʃən/)
There were several violent confrontations between rival gangs.
besides (prep) (/bıˈsaıdz/)
There's no one here besides (= except) me.
comfort (noun) (/ˈkʌmfɚt/)
These boots provide warmth and comfort in the coldest temperatures.
confidential (adj) (/ˌkɑːnfəˈdɛnʃəl/)
These documents are completely/strictly confidential.
brew (verb) (/ˈbruː/)
They brew the beer on the premises.
ambulance (noun) (/ˈæmbjələns/)
They called (for) an ambulance.
catapult (verb) (/ˈkætələst/)
They catapulted rocks toward the castle.
arrangement (noun) (/əˈreınʤmənt/)
They changed the arrangement of furniture in the room.
clap (verb) (/ˈklæp/)
They cheered and clapped (= applauded) for the band.
adoption (noun) (/əˈdɑːpʃən/)
They chose adoption because they couldn't have children of their own.
agriculture (noun) (/ˈægrıˌkʌlʧɚ/)
They cleared the land to use it for agriculture.
cohabit (verb) (/koʊˈhæbət/)
They cohabited in a small apartment in the city.
constantly (adv) (/ˈkɑːnstənt/)
They complained constantly about the noise.
confront (verb) (/kənˈfrʌnt/)
They confronted the invaders at the shore.
cower (verb) (/ˈkawɚ/)
They cowered at the sight of the gun.
clumsily (adv) (/ˈklʌmzəli/)
They dealt with the situation clumsily.
abort (verb) (/əˈboɚt/)
They decided to abort the pregnancy.
conceivable (adj) (/kənˈsiːvəbəl/)
They discussed the question from every conceivable angle.
bodyguard (noun) (/ˈbɑːdiˌgɑɚd/)
They entered the building surrounded by bodyguards.
burden (noun) (/ˈbɚdn̩/)
They feared the donkey would collapse under the extra burden.
coexist (verb) (/ˌkoʊıgˈzıst/)
They found proof that dinosaurs and turtles coexisted (with each other).
aid (verb) (/ˈeıd/)
They gave money in order to aid the cause.
courtship (noun) (/ˈkoɚtˌʃıp/)
They had a two-year courtship before marrying.
awareness (noun) (/əˈweɚ/)
They had an acute awareness of what was going on.
altogether (adv) (/ˌɑːltəˈgɛðɚ/)
They had an altogether new idea.
affinity (noun) (/əˈfınəti/)
They had much in common and felt a close affinity (for/to/with each other).
common (adj) (/ˈkɑːmən/)
They have a common ancestor.
accomplish (verb) (/əˈkɑːmplıʃ/)
They have accomplished (= done, achieved) much in a very short period of time.
contractor (noun) (/ˈkɑːnˌtræktɚ/)
They hired a contractor to remodel the kitchen.
collect (verb) (/kəˈlɛkt/)
They hope to collect over 1,000 signatures on the petition.
assurance (noun) (/əˈʃurəns/)
They lent us the money with the assurance that they would be repaid soon.
barn (noun) (/ˈbɑɚn/)
They live in a big barn of a house.
abject (adj) (/ˈæbˌʤɛkt/)
They live in abject misery (poverty).
concord (noun) (/ˈkɑːnˌkoɚd/)
They lived in peace and concord. (= harmony)
argument (noun) (/ˈɑɚgjəmənt/)
They made a compelling/convincing/persuasive/strong argument for our participation.
astray (adv) (/əˈstreı/)
They marked the trail so hikers wouldn't go astray. (= become lost)
board (noun) (/ˈboɚd/)
They nailed some boards over the broken window.
array (noun) (/əˈreı/)
They offer a wide/vast/bewildering array of products and services.
armed (adj) (/ˈɑɚmd/)
They planned an armed attack/assault on the country's capital.
burial (noun) (/ˈberijəl/)
They prepared the body for burial.
correction (noun) (/kəˈrɛkʃən/)
They ran/published a correction in today's paper. (= there was a statement in the newspaper saying that something printed in an earlier newspaper was not accurate)
carriage (noun) (/ˈkerıʤ/)
They rode to the city in carriages.
affluence (noun) (/ˈæfluwəns/)
They rose from poverty to affluence. (= they were poor and became rich)
bubble (noun) (/ˈbʌbəl/)
They saw air bubbles in the water.
cognizance (noun) (/ˈkɑːgnəzəns/)
They seemed to have no cognizance of the crime.
courtesy (noun) (/ˈkɚtəsi/)
They treated us with courtesy and kindness.
coercion (noun) (/koʊˈɚʒən, koʊˈɚʃən/)
They used coercion to obtain the confession.
calumny (noun) (/ˈkæləmni/)
They uttered calumnies against him.
ascend (verb) (/əˈsɛnd/)
They watched their balloons slowly ascend into the sky.
bay (noun) (/ˈbeı/)
They went fishing in the bay.
catechism (noun) (/ˈkætəˌkızəm/)
They went to school to learn their catechism.
bribery (noun) (/ˈbraıbəri/)
They were arrested on charges of bribery.
absent (adj) (/ˈæbsənt/)
They were talking about absent friends. (= friends who were not there)
ascertain (verb) (/ˌæsɚˈteın/)
They were unable to ascertain (= (more commonly) determine) the cause of the fire.
adopt (verb) (/əˈdɑːpt/)
They were unable to have children of their own, so they decided to adopt.
begin (verb) (/bıˈgın/)
They will begin construction on the new school soon.
convincingly (adv) (/kənˈvıns/)
They won convincingly.
bakery (noun) (/ˈbeıkəri/)
They work at/in a bakery.
agent (noun) (/ˈeıʤənt/)
They worked with a travel agent to plan their vacation.
beforehand (adv) (/bıˈfoɚˌhænd/)
They'd agreed beforehand (= ahead of time) to leave early.
acquire (verb) (/əˈkwajɚ/)
They're planning to acquire (= buy) a new home in the country.
apiece (adv) (/əˈpiːs/)
They're selling tickets at/for 10 dollars apiece. (= each ticket costs 10 dollars)
already (adv) (/ɑːlˈrɛdi/)
They've already agreed to come.
attempt (verb) (/əˈtɛmpt/)
They've attempted a climb up Mount Everest once before.
acrid (adj) (/ˈækrəd/)
Thick, acrid smoke rose from the factory.
alternate (verb) (/ˈɑːltɚˌneıt/)
To make the appetizer, you should alternate layers of tomatoes and cheese. (= you should place a layer of tomatoes, then a layer of cheese, then a layer of tomatoes, etc.)
context (noun) (/ˈkɑːnˌtɛkst/)
To really know a word, you must be able to use it in context. (= in a sentence with other words)
be (verb) (/ˈbiː/)
Today is Wednesday.
cloudy (adj) (/ˈklaʊdi/)
Tomorrow will be cloudy and cold.
clockwise (adv) (/ˈklɑːkˌwaız/)
Turn the screw clockwise to tighten it.
collide (verb) (/kəˈlaıd/)
Two football players collided on the field.
bystander (noun) (/ˈbaıˌstændɚ/)
Two innocent bystanders were injured in the shooting.
cosmetic (noun) (/kɑzˈmɛtık/)
Use a cosmetic to hide the scar.
brush (noun) (/ˈbrʌʃ/)
Use a wire brush to get the rust off the metal.
cheapen (verb) (/ˈʧiːpən/)
Using plastic instead of steel will cheapen (= lower) the quality of the car.
celebrate (verb) (/ˈsɛləˌbreıt/)
We are celebrating my birthday by going out to dinner.
consider (verb) (/kənˈsıdɚ/)
We are considering you for the job.
balcony (noun) (/ˈbælkəni/)
We asked for a hotel room with a balcony.
autograph (noun) (/ˈɑːtəˌgræf/)
We asked her for her autograph.
bacon (noun) (/ˈbeıkən/)
We ate bacon and eggs for breakfast.
bean (noun) (/ˈbiːn/)
We ate rice and beans for dinner.
batch (noun) (/ˈbæʧ/)
We baked two batches of cookies.
blunder (verb) (/ˈblʌndɚ/)
We blundered along through the woods until we finally found the trail.
concur (verb) (/kənˈkɚ/)
We concur that more money should be spent on education.
combine (verb) (/kəmˈbaın/)
We decided to combine both methods/techniques.
ashore (adv) (/əˈʃoɚ/)
We docked our boat and went ashore to visit the island.
appalling (adj) (/əˈpɑːlıŋ/)
We drove by an appalling accident on the highway.
avenue (noun) (/ˈævəˌnuː/)
We drove down the avenue.
attention (noun) (/əˈtɛnʃən/)
We focused our attention on this particular poem.
convention (noun) (/kənˈvɛnʃən/)
We go to the weeklong annual teachers' convention every summer.
accident (noun) (/ˈæksədənt/)
We got in a car accident. (= We had a car accident.)
breakdown (noun) (/ˈbreıkˌdaʊn/)
We had a breakdown on the highway. (= our car broke down on the highway; our car stopped working on the highway)
chicken (noun) (/ˈʧıkn̩/)
We had chicken for dinner.
cocktail (noun) (/ˈkɑːkˌteıl/)
We had cocktails before dinner.
crab (noun) (/ˈkræb/)
We had crab for dinner.
anatomy (noun) (/əˈnætəmi/)
We had to take a class on/in anatomy.
alternative (adj) (/ɑlˈtɚnətıv/)
We have alternative (= other) plans in case the weather is bad.
and (conj) (/ˈænd, ənd, ən/)
We have ice cream and cake for dessert.
corporate (adj) (/ˈkoɚpərət/)
We have to change the corporate structure to survive.
apartment (noun) (/əˈpɑɚtmənt/)
We lived in an apartment for several years before buying a house.
complaint (noun) (/kəmˈpleınt/)
We lodged a complaint with the hotel manager. (= we complained to the hotel manager)
collective (adj) (/kəˈlɛktıv/)
We made a collective decision to go on strike.
collage (noun) (/kəˈlɑːʒ/)
We made collages in art class.
breadth (noun) (/ˈbrɛtθ/)
We measured the height, breadth, and depth of each piece of furniture.
accommodation (noun) (/əˌkɑːməˈdeıʃən/)
We need overnight accommodations (= lodging) for four people.
able-bodied (adj) (/ˌeıbəlˈbɑːdid/)
We need several able-bodied men and women to help with the project.
alliance (noun) (/əˈlajəns/)
We need to form/forge/encourage a closer alliance between government and industry.
competitor (noun) (/kəmˈpɛtətɚ/)
We offer better rates than our competitors.
blueberry (noun) (/ˈbluːˌberi/)
We picked blueberries.
chess (noun) (/ˈʧɛs/)
We played (a game of) chess.
badly (adv) (/ˈbædli/)
We played badly.
correctness (noun) (/kəˈrɛkt/)
We question the correctness of his actions.
considerable (adj) (/kənˈsıdɚrəbəl/)
We received a considerable number of complaints.
cordial (adj) (/ˈkoɚʤəl/)
We received a cordial greeting from our hostess at the party.
cottage (noun) (/ˈkɑːtıʤ/)
We rented a cottage for the weekend.
bask (verb) (/ˈbæsk/)
We sat basking in the sun.
authentic (adj) (/əˈθɛntık/)
We saw authentic examples of ancient Roman sculpture.
bulk (noun) (/ˈbʌlk/)
We spent the bulk of the summer at the beach.
beach (noun) (/ˈbiːʧ/)
We spent the day at the beach.
backyard (noun) (/ˈbækˈjɑɚd/)
We spent the evening relaxing in the backyard.
active (adj) (/ˈæktıv/)
We stay/keep active during the cold winter months by skiing and ice skating.
condemn (verb) (/kənˈdɛm/)
We strongly condemn this attack against our allies.
across (prep) (/əˈkʰrɑːs/)
We took a ferry across the river.
cavernous (adj) (/ˈkævɚnəs/)
We toured the cavernous airplane hangar.
charge (verb) (/ˈʧɑɚʤ/)
We tried to charge the car's battery.
august (adj) (/ɑˈgʌst/)
We visited their august mansion and expansive grounds.
alongside (adv) (/əˈlɑːŋˈsaıd/)
We waited for the other boat to come alongside.
abate (verb) (/əˈbeıt/)
We waited for the wind (storm) to abate.
along (prep) (/əˈlɑːŋ/)
We walked along the beach.
barefoot (adv) (/ˈbeɚˌfʊt/)
We walked barefoot in the stream.
compatriot (noun) (/kəmˈpeıtrijət/)
We watched our compatriots compete in the Olympics.
bar (noun) (/ˈbɑɚ/)
We went to a bar for a drink.
anything (pronoun) (/ˈɛniˌθıŋ/)
We were allowed to do anything we wanted to.
classmate (noun) (/ˈklæsˌmeıt/)
We were classmates in high school.
ambiguous (adj) (/æmˈbıgjəwəs/)
We were confused by the ambiguous wording of the message.
blizzard (noun) (/ˈblızɚd/)
We were snowed in by a raging/fierce blizzard.
chew (verb) (/ˈʧuː/)
We were taught to chew our food thoroughly before swallowing.
clot (noun) (/ˈklɑːt/)
We were told that his stroke was caused by a clot in his brain.
afford (verb) (/əˈfoɚd/)
We were too poor to afford a doctor.
about (adv) (/əˈbaʊt/)
We're about ready to go.
almost (adv) (/ˈɑːlˌmoʊst/)
We're almost finished.
climbing (noun) (/ˈklaım/)
We're going to go climbing this weekend.
altitude (noun) (/ˈæltəˌtuːd/)
We're now flying at an altitude (= height) of 10,000 feet.
Christmas (noun) (/ˈkrısməs/)
We're spending Christmas with my parents.
at (prep) (/ˈæt, ət/)
We're staying at a hotel.
committed (adj) (/kəˈmıtl̩/)
We're very committed to the cause.
buddy (noun) (/ˈbʌdi/)
We've been buddies (= pals, (chiefly Brit) mates) since junior high school.
beastly (adj) (/ˈbiːstli/)
We've been having such beastly (= terrible) weather lately.
commitment (noun) (/kəˈmıtmənt/)
We've got commitments from several charities to donate food and clothing.
application (noun) (/ˌæpləˈkeıʃən/)
We've made an application for certification. (= we have applied to be certified)
abbey (noun) (/ˈæbi/)
Westminster Abbey
carnival (noun) (/ˈkɑɚnəvəl/)
Will you be in town for (the) Carnival this year?
cessation (noun) (/sɛˈseıʃən/)
With news of the treaty came a cessation of hostilities. (= fighting stopped when the treaty was announced)
constitute (verb) (/ˈkɑːnstəˌtuːt/)
Women constitute 70 percent of the student population at the college.
beer (noun) (/ˈbiɚ/)
Would you like beer with dinner?
clearly (adv) (/ˈkliɚli/)
You should try to speak more clearly.
caution (noun) (/ˈkɑːʃən/)
You should use caution when operating the electric saw.
best (adj) (/ˈbɛst/)
You should wear your best clothes tonight.
counsel (noun) (/ˈkaʊnsəl/)
You were unwise to reject my counsel.
afterward (adv) (/ˈæftɚwɚd/)
You'll feel better afterward.
clearance (noun) (/ˈklirəns/)
You'll have to get clearance (= approval) from management to go ahead with the project.
boot (noun) (/ˈbuːt/)
You'll need a pair of warm boots for winter.
convincing (adj) (/kənˈvıns/)
Your argument/story isn't very convincing.
catholic (adj) (/ˈkæθlık/)
a Catholic bishop/nun/priest
congress (noun) (/ˈkɑːŋgrəs/)
a Communist Party congress
cap (noun) (/ˈkæp/)
a Harvard University cap (= a cap that has the name or symbol of Harvard University on it)
antenna (noun) (/ænˈtɛnə/)
a Senator with sensitive political antennae (= a Senator who is very aware of political issues and attitudes)
bad (adj) (/ˈbæd/)
a bad repair job
cement (noun) (/sıˈmɛnt/)
a bag of cement
bald (adj) (/ˈbɑːld/)
a bald man
bale (noun) (/ˈbeıl/)
a bale of cotton/paper
clerk (noun) (/ˈklɚk/)
a bank/office clerk
bankrupt (adj) (/ˈbæŋkˌrʌpt/)
a bankrupt company
chocolate (noun) (/ˈʧɑːklət/)
a bar of chocolate
barren (adj) (/ˈberən/)
a barren (= desolate) landscape
bat (noun) (/ˈbæt/)
a baseball bat
baseless (adj) (/ˈbeısləs/)
a baseless (= unfounded) accusation
basin (noun) (/ˈbeısn̩/)
a basin of cold water
arena (noun) (/əˈriːnə/)
a basketball/hockey arena
corpse (noun) (/ˈkoɚps/)
a battlefield strewn with corpses
brunette (noun) (/bruˈnɛt/)
a beautiful brunette
admirer (noun) (/ədˈmajɚ/)
a beautiful woman who has many admirers
beautiful (adj) (/ˈbjuːtıfəl/)
a beautiful young woman/child
beautifully (adv) (/ˈbjuːtıfli/)
a beautifully written poem
beaver (noun) (/ˈbiːvɚ/)
a beaver dam (= a dam built by beavers)
beefy (adj) (/ˈbiːfi/)
a beefy football player
beige (adj) (/bıˈhuːv/)
a beige skirt
buckle (noun) (/ˈbʌkəl/)
a belt buckle
benevolent (adj) (/bəˈnɛvələnt/)
a benevolent company/government
benign (adj) (/bıˈnaın/)
a benign infection/disease
bent (adj) (/ˈbɛnt/)
a bent metal wire
big (adj) (/ˈbıg/)
a big house/room/field
comfy (adj) (/ˈkʌmfi/)
a big, comfy armchair
big-hearted (adj) (/ˈbıgıʃ/)
a big-hearted kid/person
breakfast (noun) (/ˈbrɛkfəst/)
a big/good/hearty breakfast
coal (noun) (/ˈkoʊl/)
a bin of coal
advocate (noun) (/ˈædvəkət/)
a birth control advocate = an advocate of birth control (= a person who advocates birth control)
blank (adj) (/ˈblæŋk/)
a blank sheet of paper
blind (adj) (/ˈblaınd/)
a blind person
block (noun) (/ˈblɑːk/)
a block of ice/cheese
blue (adj) (/ˈbluː/)
a blue house/car/shirt/pen
bluish (adj) (/ˈbluːwıʃ/)
a bluish green (= a shade of green that is somewhat blue)
boastful (adj) (/ˈboʊstfəl/)
a boastful person/remark
boiling (adj) (/ˈboılıŋ/)
a boiling sun
bolt (noun) (/ˈboʊlt/)
a bolt of lightning (= a lightning bolt)
appealing (adj) (/əˈpiːlıŋ/)
a book with an appealing title
boring (adj) (/ˈborıŋ/)
a boring job/routine
bouncing (adj) (/ˈbaʊnsıŋ/)
a bouncing baby boy
bout (noun) (/ˈbaʊt/)
a bout of fever
beech (noun) (/ˈbiːʧ/)
a box made of beech
candy (noun) (/ˈkændi/)
a box/bowl/piece of candy
boxing (noun) (/ˈbɑːksıŋ/)
a boxing glove
brash (adj) (/ˈbræʃ/)
a brash young executive
breaker (noun) (/ˈbreıkɚ/)
a breaker of records (= a record-breaker)
bridal (adj) (/ˈbraıdl̩/)
a bridal shop/gown
attendant (noun) (/əˈtɛndənt/)
a bride and her attendants (= bridesmaids)
bridge (noun) (/ˈbrıʤ/)
a bridge connecting the island to the mainland
beam (noun) (/ˈbiːm/)
a bright beam of light
bright (adj) (/ˈbraıt/)
a bright light
banana (noun) (/bəˈnænə/)
a bunch of bananas
abound (verb) (/əˈbaʊnd/)
a business in which opportunities abound (= a business in which there are many opportunities)
buzz (verb) (/ˈbʌz/)
a buzzing bee
cabin (noun) (/ˈkæbən/)
a cabin in the woods
birch (noun) (/ˈbɚʧ/)
a cabinet made of birch
carbon (noun) (/ˈkɑɚbən/)
a carbon of the document
cascade (noun) (/kæˈskeıd/)
a cascade of water
cashmere (noun) (/ˈkæʒˌmiɚ, ˈkæʃˌmiɚ/)
a cashmere sweater
cassette (noun) (/kəˈsɛt/)
a cassette player/recorder
casual (adj) (/ˈkæʒəwəl/)
a casual encounter on the sidewalk
conversation (noun) (/ˌkɑːnvɚˈseıʃən/)
a casual/telephone/private conversation
cleverness (noun) (/ˈklɛvɚ/)
a cat's cleverness
ceramic (adj) (/səˈræmık/)
a ceramic bead/bowl
certified (adj) (/ˈsɚtəˌfaıd/)
a certified instructor
chair (noun) (/ˈʧeɚ/)
a chair by the window
cedar (noun) (/ˈsiːdɚ/)
a chair made of cedar
charming (adj) (/ˈʧɑɚmıŋ/)
a charming little café by the sea
chart (noun) (/ˈʧɑɚt/)
a chart showing the number of cars sold each month
chaste (adj) (/ˈʧeıst/)
a chaste young woman
cheerful (adj) (/ˈʧiɚfəl/)
a cheerful face/person
cheerless (adj) (/ˈʧiɚləs/)
a cheerless day/place
cheesy (adj) (/ˈʧiːzi/)
a cheesy texture/odor
chilly (adj) (/ˈʧıli/)
a chilly morning
chronic (adj) (/ˈkrɑːnık/)
a chronic disease
cipher (noun) (/ˈsaıfɚ/)
a cipher that can't be decoded
circular (adj) (/ˈsɚkjəlɚ/)
a circular (= round) table
clown (noun) (/ˈklaʊn/)
a circus clown
armpit (noun) (/ˈɑɚmˌpıt/)
a city described as the armpit of America
clairvoyant (adj) (/ˌkleɚˈvojənt/)
a clairvoyant man/woman
classified (adj) (/ˈklæsəˌfaıd/)
a classified directory
classy (adj) (/ˈklæsi/)
a classy (= fancy, high-class, upscale) hotel
clay (noun) (/ˈkleı/)
a clay pot/pipe/tablet
clean (adj) (/ˈkliːn/)
a clean floor
concise (adj) (/kənˈsaıs/)
a clear and concise account of the accident
cloudless (adj) (/ˈklaʊdləs/)
a cloudless (= clear) blue sky
cove (noun) (/ˈkoʊv/)
a coastline dotted with coves
cocky (adj) (/ˈkɑːki/)
a cocky young athlete
colloquial (adj) (/kəˈloʊkwijəl/)
a colloquial word/expression
ant (noun) (/ˈænt/)
a colony of ants (= an ant colony)
colossal (adj) (/kəˈlɑːsəl/)
a colossal (= gigantic) statue
comely (adj) (/ˈkʌmli/)
a comely young lady
berth (noun) (/ˈbɚθ/)
a comfortable cabin with a deep berth
comfortable (adj) (/ˈkʌmftɚbəl/)
a comfortable chair/bed
comic (adj) (/ˈkɑːmık/)
a comic actor/writer
commandment (noun) (/kəˈmændmənt/)
a commandment from God
commonwealth (noun) (/ˈkɑːmənˌwɛlθ/)
a commonwealth of states
comparison (noun) (/kəmˈperəsən/)
a comparison of the data from the two studies
competent (adj) (/ˈkɑːmpətənt/)
a competent (= capable) teacher
complete (adj) (/kəmˈpliːt/)
a complete (= entire; whole) set of encyclopedias
complex (adj) (/kɑmˈplɛks/)
a complex system
comprehensive (adj) (/ˌkɑːmprıˈhɛnsıv/)
a comprehensive list
confectionery (noun) (/kənˈfɛkʃəˌneri/)
a confectionery shop
conservative (adj) (/kənˈsɚvətıv/)
a conservative newspaper columnist
consignment (noun) (/kənˈsaınmənt/)
a consignment of books/goods/cars
contagious (adj) (/kənˈteıʤəs/)
a contagious disease
contented (adj) (/kənˈtɛntəd/)
a contented smile
contraceptive (adj) (/ˈkɑːntrəˌbænd/)
a contraceptive device/method/pill
convertible (adj) (/kənˈvɚtəbəl/)
a convertible sofa (= a sofa that converts into a bed)
apron (noun) (/ˈeıprən/)
a cook's apron
cool (adj) (/ˈkuːl/)
a cool breeze
corny (adj) (/ˈkoɚni/)
a corny joke
corpulent (adj) (/ˈkoɚpjələnt/)
a corpulent (= obese) man
chapel (noun) (/ˈʧæpəl/)
a country chapel
covered (adj) (/ˈkʌvɚˌɑːl/)
a covered dish/container/jar/bowl
alley (noun) (/ˈæli/)
a dark alley
bowel (noun) (/ˈbawəl/)
a disease of the bowel
cluster (noun) (/ˈklʌstɚ/)
a flower cluster
chopper (noun) (/ˈʧɑːpɚ/)
a food/wood chopper
clove (noun) (/ˈkloʊv/)
a garlic clove (= a clove of garlic)
ale (noun) (/ˈeıl/)
a glass of ale
cola (noun) (/ˈkoʊlə/)
a glass of cola
burger (noun) (/ˈbɚgɚ/)
a grilled burger
cart (noun) (/ˈkɑɚt/)
a grocery cart
cage (noun) (/ˈkeıʤ/)
a hamster/monkey/parrot cage
couple (noun) (/ˈkʌpəl/)
a happily married couple
belief (noun) (/bəˈliːf/)
a heartfelt/deep/deep-seated/firm/strong/passionate belief
clipper (noun) (/ˈklıpɚ/)
a hedge clipper
brood (noun) (/ˈbruːd/)
a hen and her brood of chicks
cattle (noun) (/ˈkætl̩/)
a herd of cattle
clamp (noun) (/ˈklæmp/)
a hose clamp
airless (adj) (/ˈeɚləs/)
a hot, airless room
bedroom (noun) (/ˈbɛdˌruːm/)
a house with three bedrooms (= a 3-bedroom house)
being (noun) (/ˈbiːjıŋ/)
a human/alien/mythical being
chivalrous (adj) (/ˈʃıvəlrəs/)
a kind and chivalrous man
bog (noun) (/ˈbɑːg/)
a kind of plant that commonly grows in bogs
cabinet (noun) (/ˈkæbnıt/)
a kitchen/medicine cabinet
blade (noun) (/ˈbleıd/)
a knife blade
breeze (noun) (/ˈbriːz/)
a light/gentle/cool breeze
chest (noun) (/ˈʧɛst/)
a linen chest
bitty (adj) (/ˈbıti/)
a little bitty (= tiny) room
affable (adj) (/ˈæfəbəɬ/)
a lively, affable young fellow
casualty (noun) (/ˈkæʒəwəlti/)
a low number of casualties
article (noun) (/ˈɑɚtıkəl/)
a magazine/newspaper article
conjure (verb) (/ˈkɑːnʤɚ/)
a magician who conjures live doves from silk scarves
assistant (noun) (/əˈsıstənt/)
a magician's assistant (= helper)
airline (noun) (/ˈeɚˌlaın/)
a major airline
bearing (noun) (/ˈberɚ/)
a man of military/dignified/regal bearing
bust (noun) (/ˈbʌst/)
a marble/bronze bust
aristocracy (noun) (/ˌerəˈstɑːkrəsi/)
a member of the aristocracy
academy (noun) (/əˈkædəmi/)
a military (naval) academy
briefing (noun) (/ˈbriːf/)
a military briefing
coup (noun) (/ˈkuː/)
a military coup
allowance (noun) (/əˈlawəns/)
a monthly allowance for household expenses
bear (noun) (/ˈbeɚ/)
a mother bear and her cubs
cowboy (noun) (/ˈkaʊˌboı/)
a movie about cowboys in the old West
cadet (noun) (/kəˈdɛt/)
a naval cadet
biography (noun) (/baıˈɑːgrəfi/)
a new biography of Abraham Lincoln
bride (noun) (/ˈbraıd/)
a new bride
aircraft (noun) (/ˈeɚˌkræft/)
a new military aircraft
capable (adj) (/ˈkeıpəbəl/)
a new train capable of (reaching) very high speeds
cigarette (noun) (/ˌsıgəˈrɛt/)
a pack of cigarettes
ballot (noun) (/ˈbælət/)
a paper ballot (= a ballot paper)
bench (noun) (/ˈbɛnʧ/)
a park bench
beef (noun) (/ˈbiːf/)
a pound of beef
aspirant (noun) (/ˈæspərənt/)
a presidential aspirant = an aspirant to the presidency (= someone who wants to become president)
candidate (noun) (/ˈkændəˌdeıt, ˈkændədət/)
a presidential candidate
cell (noun) (/ˈsɛl/)
a prison/jail cell
chemistry (noun) (/ˈkɛməstri/)
a professor of chemistry
coward (noun) (/ˈkawɚd/)
a proven coward who had deserted his troops
couch (noun) (/ˈkaʊʧ/)
a psychiatrist's couch
attain (verb) (/əˈteın/)
a quest to attain enlightenment
beacon (noun) (/ˈbiːkən/)
a radio beacon
broker (noun) (/ˈbroʊkɚ/)
a real estate broker
allow (verb) (/əˈlaʊ/)
a religion that does not allow divorce
community (noun) (/kəˈmjuːnəti/)
a respectable member of the community
concert (noun) (/ˈkɑːnsɚt/)
a rock concert
coastline (noun) (/ˈkoʊstˌlaın/)
a rocky/sandy coastline (= shoreline)
bush (noun) (/ˈbʊʃ/)
a rose/mulberry bush
auto (noun) (/ˈɑːtoʊ/)
a rusty auto
auxiliary (adj) (/ɑgˈzıljəri/)
a sailboat with an auxiliary engine
anchovy (noun) (/ˈænˌʧoʊvi/)
a salad topped with garlic and anchovies
cafeteria (noun) (/ˌkæfəˈtirijə/)
a school cafeteria
analysis (noun) (/əˈnæləsis/)
a scientific analysis of the data
casserole (noun) (/ˈkæsəˌroʊl/)
a seafood casserole
callous (adj) (/ˈkæləs/)
a selfish and callous young man
connected (adj) (/kəˈnɛktəbəl/)
a series of connected rooms
arcade (noun) (/ɑɚˈkeıd/)
a shopping arcade
biopsy (noun) (/ˈbaıˌɑːpsi/)
a skin biopsy
button (noun) (/ˈbʌtn̩/)
a skirt/coat button
cliché (noun) (/kliˈʃeı, ˈkliːˌʃeı/)
a speech filled with clichés about "finding your way" and "keeping the faith"
celery (noun) (/ˈsɛləri/)
a stalk of celery
bronze (noun) (/ˈbrɑːnz/)
a statue cast in bronze
bin (noun) (/ˈbın/)
a storage/laundry bin
bead (noun) (/ˈbiːd/)
a string of beads
beginner (noun) (/bıˈgınɚ/)
a swimming class for complete beginners (= a beginner class)
collection (noun) (/kəˈlɛkʃən/)
a system of tax collection
carver (noun) (/ˈkɑɚv/)
a talented carver
acne (noun) (/ˈækni/)
a teenager with bad acne
ball (noun) (/ˈbɑːl/)
a tennis/soccer ball
canvas (noun) (/ˈkænvəs/)
a tent made of canvas
agrarian (adj) (/əˈgrerijən/)
a town founded in 1811 as an agrarian community
coach (noun) (/ˈkoʊʧ/)
a track/tennis star who has been working with a new coach
brochure (noun) (/broʊˈʃuɚ/)
a travel brochure
celebration (noun) (/ˌsɛləˈbreıʃən/)
a victory/birthday/holiday celebration
calendar (noun) (/ˈkæləndɚ/)
a wall/desk calendar
blanket (noun) (/ˈblæŋkət/)
a wool blanket
billion (noun) (/ˈbıljən/)
a/one/two billion (of them)
aboriginal (adj) (/ˌæbəˈrıʤənl̩/)
aboriginal (= native) plant species
abridge (verb) (/əˈbrıʤ/)
abridge a dictionary by omitting rare (uncommon) words
abstract (adj) (/æbˈstrækt, ˈæbˌstrækt/)
abstract thinking
accept (verb) (/ıkˈsɛpt/)
accept a gift
acceptance (noun) (/ıkˈsɛptəns/)
acceptance of a gift
acrobat (noun) (/ˈækrəˌbæt/)
acrobatic skill
consumption (noun) (/kənˈsʌmpʃən/)
alcohol/milk/chocolate consumption (= the consumption of alcohol/milk/chocolate)
allege (verb) (/əˈlɛʤ/)
allege a person's guilt
allocate (verb) (/ˈæləˌkeıt/)
allocate funds among charities
aluminum (noun) (/əˈluːmənəm/)
aluminum cans
amoral (adj) (/eıˈmorəl/)
amoral politicians
amplify (verb) (/ˈæmpləˌfaı/)
amplify a weak radio signal
abandoned (adj) (/əˈbændənd/)
an abandoned baby
absurd (adj) (/əbˈsɚd/)
an absurd situation
accidental (adj) (/ˌæksəˈdɛntl̩/)
an accidental discovery of oil
accounting (noun) (/əˈkaʊntıŋ/)
an accounting firm
accredited (adj) (/əˌkrɛdəˈteıʃən/)
an accredited college (hospital)
abroad (adv) (/əˈbrɑːd/)
an actress who is popular both here and abroad
acute (adj) (/əˈkjuːt/)
an acute (= critical, severe) fuel shortage
adroit (adj) (/əˈdroıt/)
an adroit negotiator
consultant (noun) (/kənˈsʌltn̩t/)
an advertising/management consultant
affluent (adj) (/ˈæfluwənt/)
an affluent country
agreeable (adj) (/əˈgriːjəbəl/)
an agreeable taste
aimless (adj) (/ˈeımləs/)
an aimless young person
attending (adj) (/əˈtɛndıŋ/)
an attending physician/surgeon
attractive (adj) (/əˈtræktıv/)
an attractive flower arrangement
automatic (adj) (/ˌɑːtəˈmætık/)
an automatic door (= a door that opens without being pushed)
avocado (noun) (/ˌɑːvəˈkɑːdoʊ/)
an avocado tree
campaign (noun) (/kæmˈpeın/)
an election campaign (= a campaign to win a political election)
bachelor (noun) (/ˈbæʧəlɚ/)
an eligible bachelor (= an unmarried man who is regarded as a desirable husband)
archly (adv) (/ˈɑɚʧ/)
an essay with an archly comic title
club (noun) (/ˈklʌb/)
an exclusive social/men's club
clothing (noun) (/ˈkloʊðıŋ/)
an expensive article/item/piece of clothing
aviation (noun) (/ˌeıviˈeıʃən/)
an expert in aviation
appellation (noun) (/ˌæpəˈleıʃən/)
an honorary appellation
abduction (noun) (/æbˈdʌkʃən/)
an increase in the incidence of child abduction
agency (noun) (/ˈeıʤənsi/)
an insurance/travel/employment agency
an (indefinite article) (/ˈæn, ən/)
an oak
cask (noun) (/ˈkæsk/)
an oak cask for wine
analyze (verb) (/ˈænəˌlaız/)
analyze a problem
baggy (adj) (/ˈbægi/)
baggy jeans/sweaters
attire (noun) (/əˈtajɚ/)
beach/business/golf attire
beaten (adj) (/ˈbiːtn̩/)
beaten gold
bedridden (adj) (/ˈbɛdˌrıdn̩/)
bedridden patients
bend (verb) (/ˈbɛnd/)
bend a wire into a circle
bestial (adj) (/ˈbɛsʧəl/)
bestial behavior
bodily (adj) (/ˈbɑːdəli/)
bodily functions/fluids
butter (noun) (/ˈbʌtɚ/)
bread and butter
cancer (noun) (/ˈkænsɚ/)
breast/lung cancer
coral (noun) (/ˈkorəl/)
brightly colored fishes swimming among the coral
brilliant (adj) (/ˈbrıljənt/)
brilliant jewels
brittle (adj) (/ˈbrıtl̩/)
brittle glass
bloat (noun) (/ˈblızɚd/)
budget/bureaucratic bloat
closure (noun) (/ˈkloʊʒɚ/)
business closures (= closings)
calculate (verb) (/ˈkælkjəˌleıt/)
calculate the volume of a cylinder
candied (adj) (/ˈkændid/)
candied fruit/ginger
canned (adj) (/ˈkænd/)
canned (= tinned) goods
capital (adj) (/ˈkæpətl̩/)
capital letters
caraway (noun) (/ˈkerəˌweı/)
caraway seeds
cardiac (adj) (/ˈkɑɚdiˌæk/)
cardiac problems/disease/surgery
cast (verb) (/ˈkæst/)
cast (= throw, toss) a stone
climb (verb) (/ˈklaım/)
climb a ladder/tree
clotted (adj) (/ˈklɑːt/)
clotted arteries (= arteries that are blocked by blood clots)
coarse (adj) (/ˈkoɚs/)
coarse sand/salt
coercive (adj) (/koʊˈɚsıv/)
coercive measures/techniques/policies
coincident (adj) (/koʊˈınsədənt/)
coincident events
colonial (adj) (/kəˈloʊnijəl/)
colonial possessions/administration
abreast (adv) (/əˈbrɛst/)
columns (rows) of five men abreast (= columns/rows of men five abreast)
combustible (adj) (/kəmˈbʌstəbəl/)
combustible gases/materials
commercial (adj) (/kəˈmɚʃəl/)
commercial property/regulations/vehicles
commit (verb) (/kəˈmıt/)
commit (= perpetrate) a crime
compress (verb) (/kəmˈprɛs/)
compress the air in a closed chamber
compulsive (adj) (/kəmˈpʌlsıv/)
compulsive behavior
compute (verb) (/kəmˈpjuːt/)
compute a batting average
concealment (noun) (/kənˈsiːlmənt/)
concealment of evidence
conceive (verb) (/kənˈsiːv/)
conceive an idea
conclusive (adj) (/kənˈkluːsıv/)
conclusive evidence/proof
congratulate (verb) (/kənˈgræʧəˌleıt, kənˈgræʤəˌleıt/)
congratulate the winner
amendment (noun) (/əˈmɛndmənt/)
constitutional amendments
consult (verb) (/kənˈsʌlt/)
consult a lawyer/accountant about a business matter
contemporary (adj) (/kənˈtɛmpəreri/)
contemporary (= modern) jazz/poetry/art/furniture
continental (adj) (/ˌkɑːntəˈnɛntl̩/)
continental glaciers (= glaciers that cover a large portion of a continent)
contradict (verb) (/ˌkɑːntrəˈdıkt/)
contradict a rumor
calamity (noun) (/kəˈlæməti/)
floods, earthquakes, and other calamities
bee (noun) (/ˈbiː/)
flowers pollinated by bees and other insects
coin (noun) (/ˈkoın/)
gold/silver/copper coins
ceremony (noun) (/ˈserəˌmoʊni/)
graduation/wedding ceremonies
barbecue (noun) (/ˈbɑɚbıˌkjuː/)
grill a steak on the barbecue
artistic (adj) (/ɑɚˈtıstık/)
her artistic achievements
aging (adj) (/əˈʤıləti/)
his aging parents
cow (noun) (/ˈkaʊ/)
horses, chickens, and cows
communication (noun) (/kəˌmjuːnəˈkeıʃən/)
human communication
clad (adj) (/ˈklæd/)
ivy-clad buildings
climate (noun) (/ˈklaımət/)
living in a cold/dry/mild/hot climate
behind (adv) (/bıˈhaınd/)
look behind
city (noun) (/ˈsıti/)
major/big cities like London, Tokyo, and Rome
civilization (noun) (/ˌsıvələˈzeıʃən, ˌsıvıˌlaıˈzeıʃən/)
modern civilization
brother (noun) (/ˈbrʌðɚ/)
my little/younger brother
beloved (adj) (/bıˈlʌvəd, bıˈlʌvd/)
my own beloved grandmother
coast (noun) (/ˈkoʊst/)
sea/rocky coasts (= shores)
arrow (noun) (/ˈeroʊ/)
shoot an arrow
bureaucracy (noun) (/bjʊˈrɑːkrəsi/)
state/city bureaucracies
clam (noun) (/ˈklæm/)
steamed clams
cleaner (noun) (/ˈkliːnɚ/)
street/window cleaners
applicant (noun) (/ˈæplıkənt/)
successful college/job applicants
alloy (noun) (/ˈæˌloı/)
testing the properties of various alloys
continent (noun) (/ˈkɑːntənənt/)
the African continent (= the continent of Africa)
Canadian (noun) (/kəˈneıdijən/)
the Canadian government
cape (noun) (/ˈkeıp/)
the Cape of Good Hope
Celsius (adj) (/ˈsɛlsijəs/)
the Celsius scale
axis (noun) (/ˈæksəs/)
the Earth's axis of rotation
bureau (noun) (/ˈbjɚroʊ/)
the Federal Bureau of Investigation
canyon (noun) (/ˈkænjən/)
the Grand Canyon
borough (noun) (/ˈbɚroʊ/)
the London borough of Brent
consulate (noun) (/ˈkɑːnsələt/)
the Russian consulate in Washington, D.C.
committee (noun) (/kəˈmıti/)
the Senate Judiciary Committee
corps (noun) (/ˈkoɚ/)
the U.S. Marine Corps
ace (noun) (/ˈeıs/)
the ace of spades (diamonds/hearts/clubs)
acid (noun) (/ˈæsəd/)
the acids in your stomach
acquisition (noun) (/ˌækwəˈzıʃən/)
the acquisition of knowledge
admission (noun) (/ədˈmıʃən/)
the admission of evidence in a court of law
adornment (noun) (/əˈdoɚnmənt/)
the adornment of the walls with her paintings
alteration (noun) (/ˌɑːltəˈreıʃən/)
the alteration of the pattern
amber (noun) (/ˈæmbɚ/)
the amber light of the late afternoon sun
anniversary (noun) (/ˌænəˈvɚsəri/)
the anniversary of the invasion/attack
appraisal (noun) (/əˈpreızəl/)
the appraisal of some jewelry
archaic (adj) (/ɑɚˈkejık/)
the archaic word "methinks"
ascension (noun) (/əˈsɛnʃən/)
the ascension (= (more commonly) ascent) of a balloon
awesome (adj) (/ˈɑːsəm/)
the awesome sight of an erupting volcano
bearer (noun) (/ˈberɚ/)
the bearer of a U.S. passport
border (noun) (/ˈboɚdɚ/)
the border between Poland and Slovenia
bounty (noun) (/ˈbaʊnti/)
the bounty of nature (= nature's bounty)
caprice (noun) (/kəˈpriːs/)
the caprices of the weather
bumper (noun) (/ˈbʌmpɚ/)
the car's front/rear bumper
center (noun) (/ˈsɛntɚ/)
the center of the room/circle
changeless (adj) (/ˈʧeınʤləs/)
the changeless (= unchanging) rhythms of nature
commissioner (noun) (/kəˈmıʃənɚ/)
the city's library commissioners
classical (adj) (/ˈklæsıkəl/)
the classical (= traditional) idea of beauty
clearing (noun) (/ˈklirıŋ/)
the clearing of the table
clone (noun) (/ˈkloʊn/)
the clone of an adult female sheep
closeness (noun) (/ˈkloʊs/)
the closeness felt by a parent and child
concourse (noun) (/ˈkɑːnˌkoɚs/)
the concourse of the bus terminal
corner (noun) (/ˈkoɚnɚ/)
the corner of a box/table/tablecloth
coronation (noun) (/ˌkorəˈneıʃən/)
the coronation of Queen Elizabeth
correlation (noun) (/ˌkorəˈleıʃən/)
the correlation of brain size and/with intelligence
clothe (verb) (/ˈkloʊð/)
the cost of feeding and clothing your children
course (noun) (/ˈkoɚs/)
the course of a river
Chinese (noun) (/ʧaıˈniːz/)
the customs of the Chinese
artless (adj) (/ˈɑɚtləs/)
the dancer's artless grace
account (noun) (/əˈkaʊnt/)
the difference between the debit and credit sides of an account
artist (noun) (/ˈɑɚtıst/)
the great artists of the Renaissance
championship (noun) (/ˈʧæmpijənˌʃıp/)
the heavyweight boxing championship
body (noun) (/ˈbɑːdi/)
the human body
county (noun) (/ˈkaʊnti/)
the largest school district in the county
beneath (adv) (/bıˈniːθ/)
the mountains and the towns beneath
capacious (adj) (/kəˈpeıʃəs/)
the museum's capacious (= spacious) rooms
ally (noun) (/ˈæˌlaı/)
the nation's closest ally
armory (noun) (/ˈɑɚməri/)
the nation's nuclear armory (= arsenal)
athletic (adj) (/æθˈlɛtık/)
the national athletic association
composition (noun) (/ˌkɑːmpəˈzıʃən/)
the painting's unique composition
childbirth (noun) (/ˈʧajəldˌbɚθ/)
the total number of childbirths (= (more commonly) births)
congestion (noun) (/kənˈʤɛsʧən/)
traffic/airport congestion
airplane (noun) (/ˈeɚˌpleın/)
traveling on/in an airplane (= traveling by airplane)
combat (noun) (/ˈkɑːmˌbæt/)
troops ready for combat
banter (noun) (/ˈbæntɚ/)
two friends trading/exchanging lively/witty banter (with each other)
conservation (noun) (/ˌkɑːnsɚˈveıʃən/)
wildlife conservation
connoisseur (noun) (/ˌkɑːnəˈsɚ/)
wine connoisseurs
chip (noun) (/ˈʧıp/)
wood chips