IELTS Vocabulary PDF

Word List - IELTS abase lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect abash embarrass abate subside or moderate abbreviate shorten abdicate renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility) aberrant abnormal or deviant aberration devia...

Word List - IELTS abase lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect abash embarrass abate subside or moderate abbreviate shorten abdicate renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility) aberrant abnormal or deviant aberration deviation from the normal; mental disorder abet assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage abeyance suspended action abhor detest; hate Dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I abide can't abide rude people. (of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing abject lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology abjure renounce upon oath ablution washing abnegation renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation abode dwelling place; home abolish cancel; put an end to abominable detestable; extremely unpleasant abominate loathe; hate aboriginal being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine abortive unsuccessful; fruitless abrasive rubbing away; tending to grind down abridge condense or shorten abrogate abolish abscission cutting off; separation abscond depart secretly and hide complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism absolve pardon (an offense) abstain refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote; abstemious sparing in eating and drinking; temperate restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstinence abstaining from vote abstract theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational abstruse obscure; profound; difficult to understand abusive coarsely insulting; physically harmful abut border upon; adjoin abysmal bottomless abyss enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit academic related to a school; not practical or directly useful accede agree accelerate move faster accessible easy to approach; obtainable accessory additional object; useful but not essential thing applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The acclaim new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise acclimate adjust to climate or environment; adapt acclivity sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity accolade award of merit; strong praise and approval oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space accommodate for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging accomplice partner in crime accord agreement accost approach and speak first to a person accoutre equip; N. accoutrement growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by accretion natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits accrue that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or acerbity tone) acetic vinegary acidulous slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic acknowledge recognize; admit acme peak; pinnacle; highest point acne skin disease (on the face) acoustics science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in acquiesce assent; agree passively; comply without protest deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge acquittal from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner acrid bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured acrimonious animosity in speech or behavior acrophobia fear of heights actuarial calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics actuary someone who advises insurance companies actuate motivate; activate; cause to act acuity sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing) mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. acumen business acumen (of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute acute sense of smell/analysis/pain adage wise saying; proverb adamant hard; inflexible make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: adapt act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel. addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or addendum book) addiction compulsive habitual need addle make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg) direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention address to; make with a destination; N: formal speech adept expert at; very skilled adhere stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality adherent supporter; follower adjacent adjoining; neighboring; close by adjoin be next to adjourn suspend until a later time; move from one place to another adjunct something attached to but holding an inferior position adjuration solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly adjutant staff officer assisting the commander; assistant admonish warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove adore love deeply and respect highly adorn decorate adroit skillful (in using mind or hand) adulation flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) adulterate substances Advent arrival adventitious accidental; casual; happening by chance adversary opponent; enemy adverse going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile adversity great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event advert refer advocacy support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something advocate speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for aegis shield; protection; defense aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry) nest of a large bird of prey artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or aesthetic building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics affable easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly affected artificial; pretended affidavit written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law) affiliation joining; associating with feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities affinity between two languages positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an affirmation oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous affliction suffering on affluence abundance; wealth  insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of affront intentionally afterlife life after death; later part of one's life agape openmouthed agenda items of business at a meeting collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: agglomeration jumbled mass; heap aggrandize make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate aggregate 100 dollars aghast filled with great surprise or fear; horrified agility nimbleness; ability to move quickly agitate stir up; disturb agnostic one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality agog highly excited; intensely curious agrarian pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform airy of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal alacrity cheerful promptness without reluctance alchemy medieval chemistry alcove nook; recess alias an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias alienate make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of alimentary supplying nourishment alimony payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce allay calm; pacify allege state without proof allegiance loyalty allegory story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable alleviate relieve (pain) alliteration repetition of beginning sound in poetry allocate assign; set apart for a particular purpose mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; alloy make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness allude refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference allure entice; attract; tempt alluvial pertaining to soil deposits left by running water alms money or goods given to the poor aloft upward; high up in the air aloof apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV. altercation noisy quarrel unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the altruistic welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for amalgam filling holes in teeth amalgamate (of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body amass collect (gradually, in a very large amount) amazon female warrior ambidextrous capable of using either hand with equal ease environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambience ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature ambiguous unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation ambivalence the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions amble walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly ambrosia food of the gods ambulatory able to walk act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed ambush position; Ex. lie in ambush; V. ameliorate improve obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable amenable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests amend correct; change ; generally for the better amenities convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies amiable agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly amicable peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement amiss wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV. amity friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations amnesia loss of memory amnesty pardon (allowed by government to political criminals) amok(amuck) in a state of rage; Ex. run amok amoral nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong amorous moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances amorphous formless; lacking shape or definition amphibian able to live both on land and in water; N. amphitheater oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. ample amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make amplify stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph amputate cut off part of body; prune (a limb) amulet charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronism anachronistic analgesia condition of being unable to feel pain analgesic causing insensitivity to pain; N. analogous comparable; similar analogy similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing anarchist authority anarchy absence of governing body; state of disorder anathema solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize ancestry family descent; ADJ. ancestral anchor secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage ancillary serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N. anecdote short story of an amusing or interesting event anemia condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthetic anesthesia anguish acute pain; extreme suffering sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in angular manner animadversion critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval animated lively; spirited animosity active enmity animus hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition annals records arranged in yearly parts; history anneal reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass) attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a annex larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one annihilate destroy annotate comment; make explanatory notes annuity yearly allowance annul make void anodyne drug that relieves pain or trouble;opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement anoint consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony) anomalous abnormal; irregular anomaly irregularity anonymity state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonism antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist antecede precede antecedents preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background antediluvian antiquated; extremely ancient anthem song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem anthology book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus anthropoid manlike; resembling a human being; N. anthropologist student of the history and science of humankind anthropomorphic having human form or characteristics letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing anticlimax coming after something important or exciting antidote remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles antipathy aversion; dislike or opposition antiquated obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated antique made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N: object that was made in an earlier  period and that is rare or valuable antiquity quality of being very old; ancient times; antiseptic substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ. antithesis contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical antler bony growth on the head of a deer anvil iron block used in hammering out metals lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. apathy He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic ape imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner) aperture opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light apex tip; summit; climax; highest point aphasia loss of speech due to injury or illness aphorism pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic apiarist person who keeps bees apiary a place where bees are kept apiculture bee-keeping aplomb poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence apocalyptic prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse apocryphal (of a story) widely believed but untrue apogee highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee apolitical having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs apologist one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia apoplexy stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain apostate one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy apothecary druggist; pharmacist apothegm(apophthegm) pithy, compact saying apotheosis elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something appall dismay; shock deeply apparent evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement apparition ghost; phantom appease pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement appellation name; title append attach application diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself apposite appropriate; fitting appraise estimate value of; N. appraisal be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: appreciate enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference apprehend arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension apprehensive fearful; discerning apprise inform approbation approval acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a appropriate particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate appurtenances subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. apropos ADV. aptitude fitness; talent aquiline curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose arable fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot arbiter make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware arbitrary unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler arbitrate act as judge (at the request of both sides) arboreal of or living in trees arboretum place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited arcade a covered passageway usually lined with shops esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener arch- chief; first; Ex. archbishop archaeology study of artifacts and relics of early mankind archaic antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N. archetype prototype; primitive pattern archipelago group of closely located islands archives public records; place where public records are kept ardor heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent arduous hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work argot slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people aria operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio arid (of land) dry; barren; unproductive aristocracy hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat armada fleet of warships aromatic fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell arraign charge in court; indict marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine array clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been arrears done arrhythmic lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong arrogance confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people) arroyo gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater arsenal storage place for military equipment artery blood-vessel; CF. vein artful exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints artifacts object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced artifice deception; trickery artisan a manually skilled worker artless without guile; open and honest ascendancy controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant ascertain find out for certain; make certain practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism ascribe refer; attribute; assign aseptic preventing infection; having a cleansing effect ashen ash-colored; deadly pale asinine stupid; Ex. asinine remarks askance with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at askew crookedly; slanted; at an angle sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian asperity winter aspersion slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on aspirant seeker after position or status seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire aspire to/after the leadership assail assault assay analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore) assent agree; accept; N. assessment state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a assert claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence assiduous diligent absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) assimilate completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking) assuage mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger) something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption assumption of power; V. assume firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, assurance he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assuranc asteroid small planet astigmatism eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism astral relating to the stars binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent astringent criticism astronomical enormously large or extensive astute wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage asunder into parts; apart; V. sunder asylum place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political) asymmetric not identical on both sides of a dividing central line resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier atavism type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic atheistic denying the existence of God; N. atheism atone make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for atrocity brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack atrophy of use) alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; attentive politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration attenuate make thin; weaken attest testify; bear witness attire clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel attribute essential quality; V: ascribe; explain rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in attrition the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition atypical not normal; not typical audacious daring; bold; N. audacity audit examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V. augment increase; add to omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of augury (something in future) august impressive; majestic aureole sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light auroral pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis auspicious favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and austere unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity authenticate prove genuine subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; authoritarian Ex. authoritarian regime/father having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be authoritative trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive autocratic having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy automaton mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself autonomous self-governing; N. autonomy autopsy examination of a dead body; postmortem; V. auxiliary offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant avalanche great mass of falling snow and ice group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. avantgarde vanguard avarice greediness for wealth take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death avenge by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy. aver state confidently; declare as true reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house averse work aversion firm dislike prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his avert quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight. aviary enclosure for birds; large cage avid greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity avocation secondary or minor occupation avow declare openly; N. avowal avuncular of or like an uncle solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; awe ADJ. awesome awful terrible; very bad awl pointed tool used for piercing awry distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry. axiom self-evident truth requiring no proof azure sky blue chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running babble gently over rounded stone; N. bacchanal noisy party with a lot of drinking bacchanalia the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus bacchanalian drunken backslide revert (to bad habits); N. reverter and forwards; Ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; N. backwards reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of advantages between two groups; Ex. reciprocity in trading rights pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and badger again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal badinage teasing conversation; banter; joking talk baffle frustrate; perplex harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to bait catch fish or trap animals evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; baleful portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop balk or get in the way of; frustrate ballast heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast balm something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees balmy soft and mild (of air); fragrant banal hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) bandy heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with bane posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in bank turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning bantering joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line dividing a staff into bar equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars; forbid; exclude; CF. barrister sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting barb remark bard poet shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering barefaced on the face; Ex. barefaced lie agreement between two groups or people; something for sale at a price bargain advantageous to the buyer; V: negotiate; trade; Ex. bargaining power baroque highly ornate  barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number barrage of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism barrister counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar barterer trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron bask luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth bastard illegitimate child stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion bastion of male chauvinism let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; bate CF. abate battalion army unit made up of four or more companies bauble trinket; cheap jewel; trifle bawdy indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd bearing deportment; connection beatific giving or showing bliss; blissful beatitude blessedness; state of great happiness bedizen dress with vulgar finery bedraggle wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled beeline direct quick route befuddle confuse thoroughly beget father; become the father of; produce; give rise to envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him begrudge his success. deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; beguile Ex. beguiling smile behemoth huge creature; something of monstrous size or power beholden obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves behoove(behove) one to do. harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a belabor ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically belated delayed beleaguer besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset  contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our belie high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure. belittle disparage; depreciate bellicose warlike belligerent quarrelsome bemoan lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of bemused confused; lost in thought; preoccupied benediction blessing gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good benefactor purpose beneficent kindly; doing good beneficial helpful; useful; advantageous beneficiary person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will advantage; anything that brings helpl, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public benefit entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits benevolent generous; charitable; having a wish to do good benign kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor benison blessing determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or bent inclination bequeath leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest berate scold strongly bereaved deprived of (someone beloved through death) state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereavement bereaved or bereft bereft deprived of (something valuable); lacking berserk mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited beseech beg; plead with beset harass or trouble from all directions; hem in besiege surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually besmirch soil; defile; make dirty bestial beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel bestow confer betoken signify; indicate; be a sign of be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling betray hands betray her anxiety. betroth become engaged to marry bevy large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets beware be cautious (of) bewitch cast a spell over; captivate completely bicameral two-chambered as a legislative body bicker quarrel command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount bid offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom biennial every two years bifurcated divided into two branches; forked bigot one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics) bigotry stubborn intolerance suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; bilious easily irritated bilk swindle; cheat large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll billow in billows billowing swelling out in waves; surging biting sharply painful to the body or mind; Ex. biting wind/remarks having a sharp biting taste; 敬; causing sharp pain to the body or mind; bitter filled with resentment, disappointment, or other unpleasant feelings; Ex. bitter wind/sorrow/tears bivouac temporary encampment; camp without tents; V. bizarre fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional blackball vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative vote blanch bleach; whiten; make white or pale bland soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence blandishment flattery blare loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light blase bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored blasphemy irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V.  blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatant blatancy bleak cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils blemish perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished blight plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy blighted suffering from a disease; destroyed bliss complete happiness; ADJ. blissful blithe(blithesome) gay; joyous bloated (unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air blotch spot; blot; CF. blot+botch blowhard talkative boaster; braggart bludgeon club; heavy-headed weapon; V. blue gloomy; depressed state of depression or melancholy; style of slow, mournful music (evolved blues from southern Black American songs) pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good- bluff natured blunder error; stupid mistake having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or manner; brusque; V: blunt make or become blunt blurt utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement become red in the face (from embarrassment or shame); become red or blush rosy; N. blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying bluster manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale bode foreshadow; portend bog soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud bogus counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview Bohemian unconventional (in an artistic way) boisterous violent; rough; noisy bolster support; reinforce door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: bolt dash or dart off; fasten (a | door); gobble down bombardment attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard bombast grandiloquent, pompous speech bombastic pompous; using inflated language bookish fond of books and reading boon blessing; benefit; something very helpful boor rude, insensitive person boorish rude; insensitive boost lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N: push upward; increase botch mismanage; blow bouillon clear beef (or meat) soup leap or spring; limit or confine; constitute the limit of; Ex. bounded by Canada; N: leap or jumping; boundary; ADJ: certain; having a duty to do bound something (legally or morally); confined by bonds; Ex. We are bound to be late; Ex. I am bound to bountiful generous; graciously generous; showing bounty bourgeois middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of bout drinking/flu bovine cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm bowdlerize expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler brackish somewhat saline brag boast braggadocio boasting braggart boaster; bragger plait; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; braid N: braided segment (as of hair) trademark; mark burned on the hide of an animal; mark burned into the brand flesh of criminals; mark of disgrace; V: mark with a brand; give a lasting bad name; stigmatize; Ex. The press branded him a liar. brandish wave around (a weapon); flourish bravado swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery brave face courageously; Ex. brave the storm brawl noisy quarrel brawn human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness brawny muscular; having well-developed muscles  insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self- brazen assurance or with unshamed confidence breach breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V. breadth width; extent produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an undesirable condition); N: breed kind or sort of animal or plant brevity conciseness; shortness of duration harness fitted about a horse's head (used to restrain); curb; check; V: put bridle a bridle on; control or restrain; show anger uppermost edge of a cup; projecting rim (as on a hat); Ex. The glass was brim full to the brim; V: be full to the brim brindled tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals) brink edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the Grand Canyon brisk quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor bristle short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly bristling rising like bristles; showing irritation brittle hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation broach introduce as a subject; moot; open up brocade rich, figured(patterned) fabric brochure pamphlet broil cook by direct heat; N. bromide platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement brooch ornamental clasp; pin sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of brood certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time brook tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream browbeat bully; intimidate browse graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually bruise injure without breaking the skin; N. brunt main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument brusque blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice buccaneer pirate bucolic rustic; pastoral buffet strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for  people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set buffoon stupid person; clown buffoonery clowning bugaboo bugbear; object of baseless terror protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The apple made a bulge in his bulge pocket; V: swell outward; protrude size or volume (esp. when very large); main part; Ex. The bulk of the work bulk has already been done; ADJ. bulky: having great size bullion gold and silver in the form of bars bully one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V. strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person bulwark who defends bump hit or knock against with force; N. bungle mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of buoyant wood/water/American market overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucracy bureaucratic grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer burgeon industry; CF. bludgeon burlesque give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly burnish make shiny by rubbing; polish piece of sculpture showing a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest; bust V: break up; arrest; Ex. crimebuster support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress buttress buxom full-bosomed; plump; jolly small group of persons secretly united to promote their own cabal interests cache hiding place; V.  discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture cacophonous of loud sounds cadaver corpse; dead human body cadaverous like a corpse; pale rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat cadence of sound; rhythm cadet student at a military school cajole persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle calamity disaster; misery calculated deliberately planned; likely caldron(cauldron) large kettle ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex. caliber work of very high caliber calligraphy beautiful writing; excellent penmanship hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of callous others; unkind callow youthful; immature; inexperienced callus area of thick hard skin calorific heat-producing; N. calorie calumny malicious misrepresentation; slander camaraderie good-fellowship; CF. comrade shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a cameo minor role in a film camp group sharing a common cause or opinion canard unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report candor frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid canine related to dogs; doglike canker any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer canny shrewd in money matters; thrifty insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; cant special words used by a particular group of people cantankerous ill-humored; irritable story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an cantata oratorio) canter slow gallop; V. CF. trot canto division of a long poem determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) canvass to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N. capacious spacious mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to capacity accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; capillary Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity capitulate surrender; give up all resistance caprice whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause capricious unpredictable; fickle capsize (of a boat) turn over caption title; chapter heading; text under illustration captious faultfinding; too critical carafe glass water bottle; decanter carapace shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.) unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of carat(karat) gold carcinogenic causing cancer; N. carcinogen chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number cardinal that shows quantity rather thatn order cardiologist doctor specializing in ailments of the heart lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging careen movement; stagger career rush wildly; go at full speed carefree free from worries; having no problems caricature distortion; burlesque carillon a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of carnage people or animals carnal fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body carnivorous meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore carousal drunken revel; V. carouse carping petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble carrion rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture cartographer map-maker cascade small waterfall one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social caste stratification; prestige castigation punishment; severe criticism or disapproval castrate remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person) happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; casual showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an casualty accident or battle deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or cataclysm change agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains catalyst unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis catapult slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of cataract eyesight) catastrophe calamity ; disaster shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a catcall sports match); boo; V. book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; catechism religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; categorical unqualified; absolute provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of cater a bad kind) purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and catharsis weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art cathartic purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ. (of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including catholic many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes private meeting of a group of people in a political party to caucus select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston caulk(calk) make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship) causal implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; caustic sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic cauterize substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalcade cavalry cavalier casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight cavil quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender cede formally; N. cession celerity speed; rapidity celestial heavenly celibate abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy cemetery place for burying the dead (in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); censor person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V. censorious severely critical blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe censure criticism; strong disapproval centaur mythical figure, half man and half horse denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as centigrade Celsius) centrifugal radiating; departing from the center centrifuge machine that separates substances by whirling them centripetal tending toward the center Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 centurion soldiers) pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than cerebral emotional; CF. cerebrum cerebration thought; working of the brain marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremonious ceremony: conventional social courtesy certitude certainty cessation stoppage cession yielding to another; ceding chafe warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N. worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) chaff separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff chaffing bantering; joking annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by chagrin humiliation or injured pride) chalice goblet; consecrated cup chameleon lizard that changes color in different situations support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or champion supports strongly (a principle, movement, person, etc.) position of champion; defense or support; competition held championship to determine a champion legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): chancellor position of a chancellor tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the chant same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of a chant chaotic in utter disorder chapel small church (in a prison, college, or hospital) older person who accompanies and supervises a young chaperon unmarried woman chaplain clergyman attached to a chapel make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced to char carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning wood) by incomplete combustion charisma divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism charlatan quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine) quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have charm magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about chary giving; OP. bold ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to chase catch chasm abyss; very deep crack  framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to chassis which components are attached morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; chaste modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated; austere chasten discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate chastise punish as by beating; criticize severely blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or chauvinist sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin check stop motion; curb or restrain marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of checkered(chequered) fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged cherubic angel of the highest order chicanery trickery; deception chide scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong) fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: chimerical unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: small piece chip broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato chip/crisp chisel swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting chivalrous courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry choice delicate; of very fine quality group of people who sing together (esp. during religious choir services); place for choir hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. choleric cholera daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and chore shopping); unpleasant task art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of choreography dances chortle chuckle with delight; N. chorus phrase repeated throughout a song or poem chronic long established as a disease chronicle report; record (in chronological order) chuckle laugh quietly churlish boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo ciliated having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash cipher nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V. small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, circlet arms, or neck as decoration) closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly circuit repeated journey from place to place circuitous roundabout indirect or roundabout expression (by using an uncecessarily circumlocution large number of words esp. when trying to avoid answering a difficult question directly) circumscribe limit; confine; draw a line around circumspect prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; circumvent avoid; get around cistern reservoir or water tank citadel fortress cite quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record having to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous civil and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic clairvoyant having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance clamber climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made clamor by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express (a demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous clandestine secret clangor loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden explosive sound; come together suddenly with a sharp sound; clap put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping; loud or explosive sound; CF. applause clapper striker (tongue) of a bell shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former clarion times clasp hold firmly within arms claustrophobia fear of being locked in clavicle collarbone split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cleave cloven cleft N: split disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness clemency as of the weather; ADJ. clement phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ. clich\'e clich\'ed clientele body of customers climactic relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic clime climate cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as a clip short extract from film); clasp or fastener clipper sailing vessel built for great speed clique small exclusive group of people cloister monastery or convent clot half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V. great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with clout fist clown act stupidly; play the fool; N. distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or cloying sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess coagulate congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant coalesce combine; fuse; N. coalescence coalition partnership; league; union of separate political parties coax persuade by flattery coda concluding section of a musical or literary composition treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; coddle cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs codicil supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of codify words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs coercion use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce living at the same time as; existing during the same period of coeval time; contemporary; of the same age cog tooth projecting from a wheel cogent convincing cogitate think over; ponder having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by cognate blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N. having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental cognitive processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing cognizance knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware cohabit live together cohere stick together cohesion tendency to keep together group of people who share some common quality; armed cohorts band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome) coiffure hairstyle make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N. coin coinage: word or phrase recently invented the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more coincidence seemingly connected events; V. coincide: happen at the same time; be in agreement; CF. coincident; CF. coincidental colander utensil with perforated bottom used for straining collaborate work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy collage work of art put together from fragments examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange collate in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound) security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the collateral same person but through different sons or daughters collation a light meal; collating collected composed; calm; self-possessed pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquial colloquialism: colloquial expression colloquy informal discussion; conversation collusion conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others;  V. collude colossal huge colossus gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison, coma or a severe blow comatose in a coma; extremely sleepy combustible easily burned; N. CF. combustion comeback retort; quick clever reply; return to former status comely attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance comestible something fit to be eaten comeuppance deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke comity courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations take (private property) for military use without needing commandeer permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative commemorative stamp commensurate equal in extent; of the same size commiserate feel or express pity or sympathy for commodious spacious and comfortable commonplace ordinary; N: something ordinary or common; trite remark commonwealth nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation communal held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune small (often rural) community whose members share work commune and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; compact concise; Ex. compact statement compartment one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided compassion sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ. compassionate compatible harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's attention; compelling that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling  adventure story; V. compel compendium brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious compensatory making up for; repaying compilation listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from compile facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary complacency self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent complaisant trying to please; obliging; willing to please others complement complete; consummate; make perfect; N. complementary serving to complete something conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield; compliance disposition to yield to others; V. comply readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, or the wishes compliant or others; yielding; comforming to requirements complicity participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime) component element; ingredient comport bear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer; V: put compost or make compost composure mental calmness combine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound an error; compound ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing a group of buildings; comprehend include; understand comprehensive broad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; compress N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc. comprise include; consist of adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the compromise interests or reputation of; put into danger, disrepute, or a dishonorable position; Ex. compromise one's principle; N. compelling; strong desire that is difficult to control; compulsion irresistible impulse compulsive resulting from compulsion compulsory obligatory; that must be done compunction remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt compute reckon; calculate concatenate link as in a chain concave hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly); yield; concede grant; Ex. concede a goal vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own value; conceit extravagant metaphor (in poetry) concentric having a common center beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form conception an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together an act of yielding; conceding; something conceded; point, right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege of maintaining a concession business in a certain place; Ex. oil concessions in the North sea; CF. concessionaire reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the conciliatory friendly feelings (by removing anger) concise brief and compact conclave private secret meeting conclusive decisive; ending all debate prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise concoct (something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concomitant concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else concord harmony; accord concordat formal agreement concur agree; coincide; happen at the same time concurrent happening at the same time; in agreement (derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the condescend level of one considered inferior condign adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved condiments seasonings; spices express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone condole who has experienced great sorrow condone overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse conducive helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards conduit aqueduct; passageway for fluids confidant(confidante) trusted friend (to whom one tells one's secret) confide tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on a strong belief in one's abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person confidence or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I'm telling yo spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential confidential secretary shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confine confinement seize; take possession of (private property) by official order confiscate (usu. as a punishment); commandeer conflagration great fire flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; confluence crowd; gathering together person who uncritically conforms to the customs of a group; conformist OP. nonconformist: one who does not conform to accepted beliefs of norms harmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be conformity similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance confound confuse; puzzle congeal freeze; coagulate pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; congenial Ex. congenial weather congenital existing at birth corporation made up of several different companies in conglomerate diversified fields; mass of various material gathered together; rock consisting of small stones held together by clay; V. conglomeration mass of material sticking together correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF. congruence congruity in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding congruent exactly; CF. congruous pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. conifer coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen conjecture surmise; guess; V. conjugal pertaining to marriage cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or a spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp. by very quick movement conjure of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat. pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; connivance permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire person competent to act as a judge of art, etc. (whose connoisseur judgments are respected); a lover of an art connotation suggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote connubial pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state consanguineous(consanguine) having a common ancestor consanguinity kinship; relationship by birth conscientious scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker conscript draftee; person forced into military service; V. dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one's life consecrate to helping the poor consensus general agreement; opinion reached by a group self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; consequential Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass- conservatory(conservatoire) enclosed area; CF. conservancy send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; consign put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or consistency firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous console lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay the  sorrow of; N. consolation unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger; V. consolidation consolidate: merge; strengthen consonance harmony; agreement consonant harmonious; in agreement; N. consort associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler) treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by two or more conspiracy people) take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine; conspire Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties. consternation great shock; dismay voters represented by an elected official; district so constituency represented; group of supporters (or constituents) constituent supporter; voter; member of a constituency; component constituting; system of laws; composition of something; constitution physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex. men with strong constitutions restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constraint constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that construe she agreed; CF. misconstrue consummate complete; V. infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that contagion can be passed by infection in the air contaminate pollute contempt scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible contend struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly contention assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition contentious quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for; try to win; contest Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a seat in Parliament; N. writings preceding and following the passage quoted; context circumstance in which an event occurs contiguous adjacent to; touching upon  self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary continence control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent dependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of contingent soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; contortions CF. contortionist contraband illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ. contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravene contravention contrite penitent; repentant; N. contrition something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful contrivance plan; scheme invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation); contrive manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The contrived ending was rather contrived. oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controvert controversial; N. controversy stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. contumacious disobedient to an order made by a court) contusion bruise conundrum riddle; difficult problem come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene the convene council social or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting; convention international agreement conventional ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons converge approach; tend to meet; come together conversant familiar with; having knowledge of converse opposite; ADJ. one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: convert change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular religion or belief convex curving outward conveyance vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held conviction belief pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by convivial joviality; jovial convoke call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate; convoluted complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness); convulsion V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive copious plentiful flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the coquette admiration of men without sincere feelings; V. cordial warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or cordon egress; V. projecting molding on building (usually above columns or cornice pillars); horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and cornucopia grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty natural consequence (which naturally follows from something corollary else) public official who investigates any death thought to be of coroner other than natural causes bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material; corporeal tangible corpulent very fat; N. corpulence collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of corpus Shakespear's works; Cf. corpse corpuscle red or white cell in the blood correlate either of the correlated things; V. correlation mutual relationship corroborate confirm; support; strengthen destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a corrode long period) corrosive eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce corrugated wrinkled; ridged cosmic pertaining to the universe; vast group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people coterie with shared interests approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude countenance behavior; N: face; appearance countermand cancel; revoke (an order) thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing counterpart that has the same purpose in a different system highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d'\'etat; coup CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills couple join; unite; OP. uncouple courier messenger attempt to gain; seek; woo; risk; behave so as to invite; court attempt to gain the favor of by attention; Ex. court disaster binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; covenant V: enter into a covenant; promise covert secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: covetous desire eagerly (someone else's possessions) cow terrorize; intimidate cower shrink quivering as from fear; cringe shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self- coy confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer cozen cheat; hoodwink; swindle crabbed sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting skill (esp. with one's hands); skill in deceiving people; guile; craft ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and crass undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior crave desire; want intensely craven cowardly credence belief evidence concerning one's authority; written proof of a credential person's position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court. credo creed credulity belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\'e; ADJ. credulous creed system of religious or ethical belief move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or creep slowly; N. cremate incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; crescendo climax; CF. crescent crest top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head of a bird crestfallen dejected; dispirited crevice crack; fissure cringe shrink back as if in fear; cower crinkle wrinkle criteria standards used in judging; CF. criterion make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a crochet hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet crone hag; ugly old woman cross bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry crossbreed hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed (of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchety crotchet: odd or whimsical notion crust hard outer covering (as of earth or snow) essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crux crucial: of deciding importance secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground crypt room (under a church) cryptic mysterious; hidden; secret cubicle small chamber used for sleeping or work word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor's speech cue or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to cuisine style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine culinary relating to cooking or kitchen pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; cull select; collect (information); N. culmination highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point  in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war culpable deserving blame; blameworthy culprit one guilty of a crime culvert artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome cumbersome parcel/uniform cumulative growing by addition; accumulative cunning clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving; deceit cupidity greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid curator superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library) chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something curb that checks; V: check; restrain regulation requiring all people to leave the streets at stated curfew times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a curfew curmudgeon churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person (of writing) flowing; running; having the successive letters cursive joined cursory casual; hastily done with little attention to detail curtail shorten; reduce skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynical cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of cynosure attention; CF. Ursa Minor work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a dabble liquid delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to please; Ex. dainty dainty movement/dress dais raised platform for speakers or other important people trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; dally procrastinate; waste time  condemn; criticize severely; condemn to everlasting punishment; damn doom; bring to ruin; N. damnation dank damp; unpleasantly wet neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance dapper and quick in movements; neat; spry dappled spotted dart move or throw suddenly and quickly smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's daub clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint daunt intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten dauntless bold; fearless dawdle loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing daze stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N. dazzle make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; deadlock stalemate wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless deadpan face dearth scarcity debacle sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster debar bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury services degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; debase disgrace; N. debasement corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior debauch (with sex and alcohol) debilitate weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble (of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to debonair please; CF. of good disposition rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or debris destroyed debunk expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young debut woman to society debutante young woman making formal entrance into society decadence decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ.  decadent decant pour off gently (wine or liquid) decapitate behead decelerate slow down falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous deciduous tree/teeth kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a decimate large part of decipher decode; CF. indecipherable declivity downward slope (of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\'ecolletage: low decollete neckline (on a dress) decomposition decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts decorous proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance) propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness decorum of behavior or conduct decoy lure or bait; V. authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or decree judge by decree weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old decrepit chair/man decrepitude state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something decry dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films deducible derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning deface mar; disfigure defalcate embezzle harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defame defamation; ADJ. defamatory default failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V. resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural defeatist outcome; N. CF. defeatism defect shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one) defection desertion  give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. defer deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's deference wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery defiance refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: defile narrow passage or gorge through mountains most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; definitive conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court deflect turn aside; turn away from a straight course destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliate defoliant defray provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay defrock strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock deft neat; skillful defunct dead; no longer in use or existence become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; degenerate Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; degradation disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank dehydrate remove water from; dry out turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deify deity deign condescend; stoop delete erase; strike out deleterious harmful deliberate consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow delineate portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; delirium ADJ. delirious delta flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river delude deceive deluge flood; rush; V. delusion false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex.  under the delusion that deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive delusive promises delve dig; search deeply; investigate person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagogue demagoguery demean disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave demeanor behavior; bearing demented insane demerit fault; bad quality demise death related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of demographic human population demolition destruction; V. demolish demoniac(demoniacal) fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil demotic of or pertaining to the people object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing demur qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday (of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure demure denigrate blacken; defame (animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular denizen place; regular visitor religious group; unit in a system; name or designation; CF. denomination denominator: common trait or characteristic meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to denotation directly; mean; CF. connotation final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other denouement literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained denounce condemn; criticize; N. denunciation depict portray deplete reduce; exhaust regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; deplore Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition deploy spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line;  distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically deport send out of the country; behave; N. deportation, deportment depose dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify deposition testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning depravity extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecate deprecatory depreciate lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value depredation plundering; destruction work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power deputize