profound ：having a strong influence or effect
profound effect/influence/impact/consequence etc
Tolstoy's experiences of war had a profound effect on his work.
The mother's behaviour has a profound impact on the developing child.
profound changes in society
agitate ：to make someone feel anxious, upset, and nervous
I must warn you that any mention of Clare agitates your grandmother.
bear ：to have a particular name or title
He bore the name 'Magnus'.
trifle ：something unimportant or not valuable
There's no point in arguing over trifles.
gay ：cheerful and excited
She felt excited and quite gay.
advance ：in advance (of something)
before something happens or is expected to happen
I should warn you in advance that I'm not a very good dancer.
Many thanks, in advance, for your help.
six months/a year etc in advance
The airline suggests booking tickets 21 days in advance.
Could you distribute copies well in advance of the meeting?
heap ：a large untidy pile of things
a rubbish heap
heap of
There was a heap of stones where the building used to be.
in a heap
The envelopes for posting lay in a heap on her desk.
We piled the branches into heaps for burning.
contain ：to control strong feelings of anger, excitement etc
Jane couldn't contain her amusement any longer.
contain yourself
He was so excited he could hardly contain himself.
clutch ：to hold something tightly because you do not want to lose it
She was clutching a bottle of champagne.
grief ：extreme sadness, especially because someone you love has died
grief over/at
The grief she felt over Helen's death was almost unbearable.
with grief
Charles was overcome with grief.
urchin ：a poor dirty untidy child
recess ：a space in the wall of a room, especially for shelves, cupboards etc
absently ：in a way that shows that you are not paying attention to or thinking about what is happening
Laura gazed absently out of the window.
boom ：to say something in a loud deep voice
'Ladies and gentlemen,' his voice boomed out.
grieved ：very sad and upset
grieved at
King George V had been very grieved at the outbreak of the Great War.
prick ：prick (up) your ears
if you prick up your ears or your ears prick up, you listen carefully because you have heard something interesting
Jay pricked up his ears when I mentioned a vacation.
typhoid ：a serious infectious disease that is caused by dirty food or drink
a sudden outbreak of typhoid
delirium ：a state in which someone is delirious, especially because they are very ill
Before she died she had fits of delirium.
lump ：a lump in/to somebody's throat
a feeling that you want to cry
There was a lump in her throat as she gazed at the child.
choke ：to be unable to breathe properly because something is in your throat or there is not enough air
choke on
He choked on a piece of bread.
Six people choked to death on the fumes.
shudder ：to shake for a short time because you are afraid or cold, or because you think something is very unpleasant
Maria shuddered as she stepped outside.
shudder with
I shudder with embarrassment whenever I think I think about it.
shudder at
She shuddered at the thought that she could have been killed.
glean ：to find out information slowly and with difficulty
glean something from somebody/something
Additional information was gleaned from other sources.
contagious ：a person who is contagious has a disease that can be passed to another person by touch
The patient is still highly contagious.
imitate ：to copy something because you think it is good
vegetarian products which imitate meat
The Japanese have no wish to imitate Western social customs and attitudes.
coward ：someone who is not at all brave
Try it. Don't be such a coward.
agony ：very severe pain
the agony of arthritis
in agony
I was in agony.
He groaned in agony.
stricture ：a rule that strictly limits what you can do
stricture on/against
religious strictures on marriage
deliver ：deliver something ↔ up
to give something to someone else
A bankrupt must deliver up all his books, papers and records.
baseless ：not based on facts or good reasons - used to show disapproval
baseless rumours/charges/accusations
depression ：a feeling of sadness that makes you think there is no hope for the future
Lucy's mood was one of deep depression .
riot ：run riot
if your imagination, emotions, thoughts etc run riot, you cannot or do not control them
Manufacturers have let their imaginations run riot to create new computer games.
cowardice ：lack of courage
cowardice in the face of danger
conceal ：to hide your real feelings or the truth
She tried to conceal the fact that she was pregnant.
conceal something from somebody
She was taking drugs and trying to conceal it from me.
jumble ：a lot of different things mixed together in an untidy way, without any order
jumble of
a jumble of old toys
Inside she was a jumble of emotions.
scrupulous ：doing something very carefully so that nothing is left out
scrupulous about (doing) something
He was not very scrupulous about keeping himself clean.
scrupulous attention to detail
forbid ：to tell someone that they are not allowed to do something, or that something is not allowed
forbid somebody to do something
He was forbidden to leave the house, as a punishment.
forbid somebody from doing something
Women are forbidden from going out without a veil.
strictly/expressly/explicitly etc forbid
The law strictly forbids racial or sexual discrimination.
cease ：to stop doing something or stop happening
cease to do something
He ceased to be a member of the association.
The things people will do for charity never cease to amaze me (=I am always surprised by them) .
cease doing something
the decision to cease using CFCs in packaging
The rain ceased and the sky cleared.
cease trading/production/operations etc (=stop operating a business)
The company ceased production at their Norwich plant last year.
cease fire! (=used to order soldiers to stop shooting)
diphtheria ：a serious infectious throat disease that makes breathing difficult
religious ：believing strongly in your religion and obeying its rules carefully
a deeply religious person
ascend ：to move up through the air
The plane ascended rapidly.
pious ：having strong religious beliefs, and showing this in the way you behave
He was a quiet, pious man.
envious ：wanting something that someone else has
envious of
Colleagues were envious of her success.
envious looks
recompense ：something that you give to someone for trouble or losses that you have caused them, or as a reward for their help
recompense for
financial recompense for the victims of violence
indulge ：to let yourself do or have something that you enjoy, especially something that is considered bad for you
indulge in
Most of us were too busy to indulge in heavy lunchtime drinking.
Eva had never been one to indulge in self-pity.
indulge yourself
Even if you're dieting, you can indulge yourself (=eat what you want) once in a while.
Ray has enough money to indulge his taste for expensive wines.
whimsy ：a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that is unusual, strange, and often amusing
a sense of fancy and whimsy
expense ：at somebody's expense
if you do something at someone's expense, they pay for you to do it
void ：an empty area of space where nothing exists
She looked over the cliff into the void.
revolting ：extremely unpleasant
The food was revolting!
What a revolting colour!
cemetery ：a piece of land, usually not belonging to a church, in which dead people are buried
joyous ：very happy, or likely to make people very happy
a joyous occasion
Our music is a joyous celebration of life.
insulting ：very rude and offensive to someone
insulting remarks
insulting to
Sexist language is insulting to women.
humiliate ：to make someone feel ashamed or stupid, especially when other people are present
Her boss humiliated her in front of all her colleagues.
surge ：if a feeling surges or surges up, you begin to feel it very strongly
She could feel anger surging inside her.
wrath ：extreme anger
He was scared of incurring his father's wrath .
afar ：from afar
from a long distance away
I saw him from afar.
gag ：be gagging to do something/be gagging for something
to be very eager to do or have something
They were gagging to sign the contract.
swaddle ：to wrap a baby tightly to keep it warm and protect it
paralyzed ：unable to think clearly or deal with a situation
paralysed by/with
paralysed by fear
paralyzed with shock
He stood paralysed for a moment, and then ran away.
stirring ：producing strong feelings or excitement in someone
a stirring speech
stirring music
savage ：very violent or cruel
a savage dog
a savage murder
ponder ：to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about a problem, a difficult question, or something that has happened
He continued to ponder the problem as he walked home.
ponder on/over/about
The university board is still pondering over the matter.
ponder how/what/whether
Jay stood still for a moment, pondering whether to go or not.
dominate ：to control someone or something or to have more importance than other people or things
The industry is dominated by five multinational companies.
New Orleans dominated throughout the game.
Her loud voice totally dominated the conversation.
Education issues dominated the election campaign.
prefer ：to like someone or something more than someone or something else, so that you would choose it if you could
This type of owl prefers a desert habitat.
She prefers her coffee black.
the government's preferred option
prefer somebody/something to somebody/something
a child that prefers his imaginary world to reality
Employees said they would prefer more flexible working hours.
prefer to do something
I prefer to wear clothes made of natural fibers.
Or, if you prefer , you can email us.
prefer doing something
Chantal prefers travelling by train.
prefer that
We prefer that our teachers have a degree in early childhood education.
scold ：to angrily criticize someone, especially a child, about something they have done
Do not scold the puppy, but simply and firmly say 'no.'
scold somebody for (doing) something
Her father scolded her for upsetting her mother.
rage ：a strong feeling of uncontrollable anger
Sobbing with rage, Carol was taken to the hospital.
in a rage
Sam became quite frightening when he was in a rage.
cry/scream/roar etc of rage
Just then, she heard Mr Evan's bellow of rage.
red/dark/purple with rage
His face was red with rage.
trembling/shaking with rage
Forester stared at his car, trembling with rage.
seething/incandescent with rage (=as angry as a person can possibly be)
Animal rights supporters were incandescent with rage.
Richens was 17 when he flew into a rage and stabbed another teenager.
torture ：if a feeling or knowledge tortures you, it makes you suffer a lot mentally
Rachel sat alone for hours at home, tortured by jealousy.
disgust ：a strong feeling of dislike, annoyance, or disapproval
with disgust
Joan looked at him with disgust.
in disgust
Sam threw his books down in disgust and stormed out of the room.
to somebody's disgust
Much to my disgust , I found that there were no toilets for the disabled.
disgust with
Nelson's disgust with US politics
disgust at
The fans didn't hide their disgust at the umpire's decision.
midst ：in the midst of something
in the middle of a place or a group of things or people
We were sitting in the midst of an elegant and well-dressed audience.
gloomy ：dark, especially in a way that makes you feel sad
It was a gloomy room with one small window.
stifling ：a room or weather that is stifling is very hot and uncomfortable, so that it seems difficult to breathe
a stifling, crowded train
the stifling heat of the tropics
intensify ：to increase in degree or strength, or to make something do this
In June the civil war intensified.
His mother's death intensified his loneliness.
Illuminate ：to make a light shine on something, or to fill a place with light
A single candle illuminated his face.
At night the canals are beautifully illuminated.
divine ：very pleasant or good
client ：someone who gets services or advice from a professional person, company, or organization
a meeting with an important client
rid ：be rid of somebody/something
to have taken action so that something or someone is no longer there to worry or annoy you
The clerical part of his job was tedious, and he was glad to be rid of it.
He was a bully, and we're well rid of him (=it is good that he has gone) .
ingenuity ：skill at inventing things and thinking of new ideas
ruin ：to spoil or destroy something completely
This illness has ruined my life.
His career would be ruined.
All this mud’s going to ruin my shoes.
marvelous ：extremely good, enjoyable, impressive etc
'How was your holiday?' 'Marvellous!'
We had a marvellous time.
I can't stand him, but my wife thinks he’s marvellous.
It's marvellous what they can do these days.
mutual ：mutual feelings such as respect, trust, or hatred are feelings that two or more people have for each other
mutual respect/trust/understanding etc
Mutual respect is necessary for any partnership to work.
European nations can live together in a spirit of mutual trust.
I didn't like Dev, and the feeling seemed to be mutual.
The two men were a mutual admiration society , gushing about how much they were learning from each other.
arpeggio ：the notes of a musical chord played separately but quickly one after the other
puff ：a sudden small movement of wind, air, or smoke
puff of smoke/wind/air/steam etc
The dragon disappeared in a puff of smoke.
encore ：an additional or repeated part of a performance, especially a musical one
The band came back onstage for an encore.
scornful ：feeling or showing scorn
a scornful look
scornful of
He was scornful of the women's movement.
hover ：to stay nervously in the same place, especially because you are waiting for something or are not certain what to do
Her younger brother hovered in the background watching us.
hover around/about
I noticed several reporters hovering around outside the courtroom.
haste ：great speed in doing something, especially because you do not have enough time
I soon regretted my haste.
in your haste to do something
In his haste to leave, he forgot his briefcase.
pinch ：to press a part of someone's skin very tightly between your finger and thumb, especially so that it hurts
We have to stop her pinching her baby brother.
He pinched her cheek.
cruel ：making someone suffer or feel unhappy
His death was a cruel blow .
Sometimes life seems unbearably cruel.
piteous ：expressing suffering and sadness in a way that makes you feel pity
She gave a long piteous cry.
bruise ：if part of your body bruises or if you bruise part of your body, it gets hit or hurt and a bruise appears
She fell off her bike and bruised her knee.
perch ：be perched on/above etc something
to be in a position on top of something or on the edge of something
a house perched on a cliff above the town
issue ：issue from something
if something issues from a place or thing, it comes out of it
Smoke issued from the factory chimneys.
hover ：if a bird, insect, or helicopter hovers, it stays in one place in the air
hover over/above
flies hovering above the surface of the water
drone ：to make a continuous low dull sound
An airplane droned overhead.
drone on
to speak in a boring way, usually for a long time
drone on about
Tom was droning on and on about work.
region ：a large area of a country or of the world, usually without exact limits
efforts to bring peace to the region
region of
the Choco region of Columbia
coastal/border/central etc region
Flooding is likely in some coastal regions of the Northeast during the early part of the week.
obedient ：always doing what you are told to do, or what the law, a rule etc says you must do
an obedient child
obedient to
citizens who are obedient to the law
captive ：someone who is kept as a prisoner, especially in a war
hostile ：angry and deliberately unfriendly towards someone and ready to argue with them
Southampton fans gave their former coach a hostile reception .
Carr wouldn't meet Feng’s stare, which was openly hostile .
his hostile attitude
hostile to/towards
The boy feels hostile towards his father.
buzz ：to make a continuous sound, like the sound of a bee
a loud buzzing noise
testy ：impatient and easily annoyed
testy remarks
It had been a long day, and Sarah was getting a little testy.
adore ：to like something very much
I simply adore chocolate.
fetter ：the things that prevent someone from being free
fetters of
breaking the fetters of convention
imprison ：to put someone in prison or to keep them somewhere and prevent them from leaving
The government imprisoned all opposition leaders.
She was imprisoned within his strong arms.
flatter ：to praise someone in order to please them or get something from them, even though you do not mean it
Perry would always flatter Mrs. Mitchell by praising her cooking.
cajole ：to gradually persuade someone to do something by being nice to them, or making promises to them
cajole somebody into doing something
Aid workers do their best to cajole rich countries into helping.
lure ：to persuade someone to do something, especially something wrong or dangerous, by making it seem attractive or exciting
lure somebody into (doing) something
People may be lured into buying tickets by clever advertising.
lure somebody away
Computer games are luring youngsters away from their lessons.
disturb ：to interrupt someone so that they cannot continue what they are doing
Sorry to disturb you , but I have an urgent message.
The thieves fled when they were disturbed by a neighbour.
Do not disturb (=a sign you put on a door so that people will not interrupt you) .
blush ：to become red in the face, usually because you are embarrassed
Wilson saw she was watching him and blushed.
Joan blushed at the unexpected compliment.
Kate blushed scarlet.
embrace ：to put your arms around someone and hold them in a friendly or loving way
Jack warmly embraced his son.
Maggie and Laura embraced.
gracious ：behaving in a polite, kind, and generous way, especially to people of a lower rank
Sibyl was the most gracious, helpful, and generous person to work with.
a gracious apology
weary ：very tired or bored, especially because you have been doing something for a long time
She found Rachel in the kitchen, looking old and weary.
She sat down with a weary sigh.
weary of (doing) something
He was weary of the constant battle between them.
conscious ：noticing or realizing something
conscious of (doing) something
I became conscious of someone watching me.
I was very conscious of the fact that I had to make a good impression.
conscious that
She was conscious that Marie was listening to every word.
devour ：to read something quickly and eagerly, or watch something with great interest
He devoured science fiction books as a teenager.
ward ：ward something ↔ off
to do something to try to protect yourself from something bad, such as illness, danger, or attack
Don't forget insect repellent to ward off the mosquitoes.
a spell to ward off evil spirits
blow ：a hard hit with someone's hand, a tool, or a weapon
She died from a heavy blow to the head.
He struck a blow which threw her to the floor.
Martin received a blow on the nose.
He had been struck a glancing blow (=a blow that did not hit him directly) by the car.
blow to
He gave her a violent blow to the head.
attentive ：listening to or watching someone carefully because you are interested
an attentive audience
syllable ：a word or part of a word which contains a single vowel sound
familiarity ：a good knowledge of a particular subject or place
familiarity with
In fact his familiarity with the Bronx was pretty limited.
evoke ：to produce a strong feeling or memory in someone
The photographs evoked strong memories of our holidays in France.
His appearance is bound to evoke sympathy.
Her speech evoked a hostile response.
indifferent ：not at all interested in someone or something
indifferent to
Sarah was absolutely indifferent to him, and it hurt.
hierarchy ：a system of organization in which people or things are divided into levels of importance
a rigid social hierarchy
She worked her way up through the corporate hierarchy to become president.
scale ：a series of musical notes that become higher or lower, with fixed distances between each note
the scale of G major
monarch ：a king or queen
the old monarchical system
battalion ：a large group of people who are doing something with a particular purpose
battalion of
a battalion of supporters
thread ：an idea, feeling, or feature that connects the different parts of an explanation, story etc
a common thread running within his work
His mind wandered, and he lost the thread of what she was saying (=was no longer able to understand it) .
a thread running through the film
thread of
a thread of spirituality in her work
enchant ：if something that you see or hear enchants you, you like it very much
I was enchanted by the way she smiled.
The garden enchanted her.
tiresome ：making you feel annoyed or impatient
the whole tiresome business of filling out the forms
docile ：quiet and easily controlled
Labradors are gentle, docile dogs.
chamber music ：classical music written for a small group of instruments
violoncello ：a cello
knit ：knit your brows
to show you are worried, thinking hard etc by moving your eyebrows together
grunt ：to make short sounds or say a few words in a rough voice, when you do not want to talk
He just grunted and carried on reading his book.
incapable ：not able to do something
incapable of
He seemed incapable of understanding how she felt.
75% of the electorate believe his party is incapable of government.
The stroke rendered her incapable of speech.
rail ：go off the rails
to start behaving in a strange or socially unacceptable way
At 17 he suddenly went off the rails and started stealing.
faithfully ：in a regular way
She wrote faithfully in her journal every day.
Every year, we faithfully make a trip up there to see him.
facility ：rooms, equipment, or services that are provided for a particular purpose
All rooms have private facilities (=private bathroom and toilet) .
The hotel has its own pool and leisure facilities .
toilet facilities
childcare facilities
mediocre ：not very good
I thought the book was pretty mediocre.
a mediocre student
perfection ：the state of being perfect
My father expected perfection from all of us.
the search for technical perfection
to perfection
(=perfectly) The beef was cooked to perfection.
plentiful ：more than enough in quantity
a plentiful supply of food
appetite ：a desire for food
All that walking has given me an appetite for dinner.
I seem to have lost my appetite lately.
Symptoms include headaches, tiredness and loss of appetite
Let's just say he's got a healthy appetite .
spoil/ruin your appetite
Don't eat that cake now; you'll spoil your appetite.
substantial ：large in amount or number
We have the support of a substantial number of parents.
a substantial salary
a substantial breakfast
The document requires substantial changes.
room ：to rent and live in a room somewhere
room with somebody phrasal verb
to share a room or house with someone, especially at college
I roomed with Al at UCSD.
huddle ：if a group of people huddle together, they stay very close to each other, especially because they are cold or frightened
We lay huddled together for warmth.
huddle around
People huddled around the radio, waiting for news.
flake ：a small thin piece that breaks away easily from something else
flake of
flakes of snow
chocolate flakes
squat ：to sit with your knees bent under you and your bottom just off the ground, balancing on your feet
squat down
He squatted down beside the little girl.
widen ：to become wider, or to make something wider
They're widening the road.
The river widens and splits.
formulate ：to think carefully about what to say, and say it clearly
We are studying the situation but have not formulated any response yet.
wrinkle ：if you wrinkle a part of your face, or if it wrinkles, small lines appear on it
Alex wrinkled up her nose at the smell.
Carter wrinkled his forehead in concentration.
His brow wrinkled when he saw us.
grind ：grind your teeth
to rub your upper and lower teeth together, making a noise
droop ：to hang or bend down, or to make something do this
The plant needs some water - it's starting to droop.
His eyelids began to droop (=close, because he was sleepy) .
Jessie drooped her head.
languid ：slow or lazy and involving very little energy or activity
He greeted Charles with a languid wave of his hand.
We spent a languid afternoon by the pool.
defiant ：clearly refusing to do what someone tells you to do
Mark smashed a fist on the desk in a defiant gesture.
valiant ：very brave, especially in a difficult situation
Tarr threw himself in front of a train in a valiant effort to save the child.
lunge ：to make a sudden strong movement towards someone or something, especially to attack them
lunge at/forward/towards/out etc
The goats lunged at each other with their horns.
John lunged forward and grabbed him by the throat.
pulverize ：to completely defeat someone
Stewart completely pulverized the opposition.
fidget ：to keep moving your hands or feet, especially because you are bored or nervous
The kids had started to fidget.
fidget with
Stop fidgeting with your pens!
crestfallen ：looking disappointed and upset
He came back looking crestfallen .
torment ：to make someone suffer a lot, especially mentally
Seth was tormented by feelings of guilt.
chime ：to be the same as something else or to have the same effect
chime with
Her views on life didn't quite chime with mine.
chime in
to say something in a conversation, especially to agree with what someone has just said
'We'll miss you too,' the children chimed in.
chide ：to tell someone that you do not approve of something that they have done or said
'Edward, you are naughty,' Dorothy chided.
chide somebody for (doing) something
She chided him for not responding to her Christmas cards.
He swiftly chided himself for such thoughts.
grind ：to say something in a rough, angry, or emotional way
'You don't love him,' he ground out.
concerto ：a piece of classical music, usually for one instrument and an orchestra
rear ：if an animal rears, it rises up to stand on its back legs
The horse reared and threw me off.
air ：a simple tune, often used in the title of a piece of classical music
triumph ：an important victory or success after a difficult struggle
Winning the championship is a great personal triumph .
triumph for
a tremendous diplomatic triumph for France
triumph over
the triumph over hardship
wag ：to move your finger or head from side to side, especially to show disapproval
'You naughty girl!' Mom said, wagging her finger at me.
placid ：a placid person does not often get angry or upset and does not usually mind doing what other people want them to
a large, placid baby
She sat still, placid and waiting.
chatter ：to talk quickly in a friendly way without stopping, especially about things that are not serious or important
She chattered away happily until she noticed I wasn't listening.
She chattered excitedly like a child.
chatter about
We were chattering about the events of last night.
harsh ：severe, cruel, or unkind
harsh criticism/treatment/punishment etc
His theory met with harsh criticism from colleagues.
the harsh measures taken against the protestors
'She's an idiot!' 'Aren't you being a bit harsh?'
a harsh, authoritarian regime
He had harsh words (=severe criticism) for the Government.
drowsy ：so peaceful that you feel relaxed and almost asleep
a drowsy summer afternoon
limb ：an arm or leg
numb ：to make someone unable to feel pain or feel things they are touching
The cold had numbed her fingers.
the numbing effect of the drug
consecutive ：consecutive numbers or periods of time follow one after the other without any interruptions
It had rained for four consecutive days.
Can they win the title for the third consecutive season?
cling ：to hold someone or something tightly, especially because you do not feel safe
cling to/on/at etc
He wailed and clung to his mother.
Passengers clung desperately onto the lifeboats.
whip ：a long thin piece of rope or leather with a handle, that you hit animals with to make them move or that you hit someone with to punish them
The coachman cracked his whip and the carriage lurched forward.
crop ：crop up
if a problem crops up, it happens or appears suddenly and in an unexpected way
innumerable ：very many, or too many to be counted
She's served on innumerable committees.
infinite ：very great in amount or degree
a woman of infinite patience
an infinite number/variety of something
There was an infinite variety of drinks to choose from.
debase ：to make someone or something lose its value or people's respect
The medical profession has been debased by these revelations.
debase yourself
actors who debased themselves by participating in the show
debase a currency/coinage (=reduce its value)
humiliation ：a feeling of shame and great embarrassment, because you have been made to look stupid or weak
the humiliation of having to ask her parents for money
melancholy ：very sad
The music suited her melancholy mood.
calm ：a situation or time that is quiet and peaceful
calm of
They remained on the terrace after dinner, enjoying the calm of the evening.
morning/afternoon/evening calm
A scream shattered the late afternoon calm.
Hindu leaders appealed for calm (=asked that the public stay calm) after a temple was burnt to the ground.
The presence of soldiers helped restore calm .
The last five years have seen a period of relative calm .
shed ：to drop something or allow it to fall
He strode across the bathroom, shedding wet clothes as he went.
shed a load
A lorry shed its load of steel bars on the M25.
torrent ：a large amount of water moving very quickly and strongly in a particular direction
After five days of heavy rain the Telle river was a raging torrent (=a very violent torrent) .
in torrents
The rain came down in torrents.
dune ：a hill made of sand near the sea or in the desert
conscious ：noticing or realizing something
conscious of (doing) something
I became conscious of someone watching me.
I was very conscious of the fact that I had to make a good impression.
conscious that
She was conscious that Marie was listening to every word.
barrier ：a rule, problem etc that prevents people from doing something, or limits what they can do
the removal of trade barriers (=something such as a tax that makes trade between countries difficult)
barrier to
Problems with childcare remain the biggest barrier to women succeeding at work.
barrier between
We want to break down barriers between doctors and patients.
The language barrier (=the inability to communicate with someone because you speak a different language) makes debate impossible.
soothe ：to make a pain become less severe, or slowly disappear
I bought some lozenges to soothe my sore throat.
Massage can gently soothe away your aches and pains.
injurious ：causing injury, harm, or damage
injurious to
Smoking is injurious to health.
mediocre ：not very good
I thought the book was pretty mediocre.
a mediocre student
intoxicated ：drunk
The driver was clearly intoxicated.
devil ：poor/lucky/handsome etc devil
used to talk about someone who you feel sorry for, who is lucky etc
What on earth is wrong with the poor devil?
tag ：to attach a tag to something
Each bird was tagged and released into the wild.
defiance ：behaviour that shows you refuse to do what someone tells you to do, especially because you do not respect them
act/gesture of defiance
Running away was an act of defiance against his parents.
in defiance (of something)
Many people were drinking in the streets, in flagrant defiance of the ban.
Her fists clenched in defiance.
handle ：to do the things that are necessary to complete a job
I handled most of the paperwork.
The case is being handled by a top lawyer.
The finance department handles all the accounts.
Computers can handle huge amounts of data.
imperious ：giving orders and expecting to be obeyed, in a way that seems too proud
She raised her hand in an imperious gesture.
ponder ：to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about a problem, a difficult question, or something that has happened
He continued to ponder the problem as he walked home.
ponder on/over/about
The university board is still pondering over the matter.
ponder how/what/whether
Jay stood still for a moment, pondering whether to go or not.
prodigy ：a young person who has a great natural ability in a subject or skill
child/infant prodigy
Mozart was a musical prodigy.
peasant ：an insulting word for someone who does not behave politely in social situations or is not well-educated
boot ：to boot
in addition to everything else you have mentioned
She was a great sportswoman, and beautiful to boot.
nobility ：the nobility
the group of people in some countries who belong to the highest social class and have titles such as 'Duke' or 'Countess'
assurance ：a promise that something will definitely happen or is definitely true, made especially to make someone less worried
Despite my repeated assurances, Rob still looked very nervous.
give/seek/receive an assurance (that)
He gave an assurance that the work would be completed by Wednesday.
dump ：to put something somewhere in a careless untidy way
Merrill dumped her suitcase down in the hall.
dump something on something
They dump tons of salt on icy road surfaces to make driving safer.
dump something in/into something
He found a can of beef stew and dumped it in a saucepan to heat.
weary ：very tired or bored, especially because you have been doing something for a long time
She found Rachel in the kitchen, looking old and weary.
She sat down with a weary sigh.
weary of (doing) something
He was weary of the constant battle between them.
revolt ：a refusal to accept someone's authority or obey rules or laws
The prime minister is now facing a revolt by members of his own party.
revolt against
a revolt against authority
revolt over
a revolt over the proposed spending cuts
in revolt
French farmers are in revolt over cheap imports.
loose ：to make something unpleasant begin
And now the anger Maggie had feared was loosed.
exercise ：to make a particular part of your body move in order to make it stronger
Swimming exercises all the major muscle groups.
cling ：cling to something phrasal verb
to stay in a position of power or stay ahead, when this is difficult, or to try to do this
an attempt to cling to power
awkward ：difficult to do, use, or deal with
It'll be awkward getting cars in and out.
The new financial arrangements were awkward to manage.
A good carpenter can make a cupboard to fit the most awkward space.
She was afraid he was going to ask an awkward question.
monotonous ：boring because of always being the same
a monotonous diet
a little boy who wet his bed with monotonous regularity
absently ：in a way that shows that you are not paying attention to or thinking about what is happening
Laura gazed absently out of the window.
severely ：very badly or to a great degree
The town was severely damaged in the war.
She's now severely disabled.
reprimand ：to tell someone officially that something they have done is very wrong
reprimand somebody for (doing) something
The military court reprimanded him for failing to do his duty.
grace ：with (a) good/bad grace
in a willing and pleasant way, or an unwilling and angry way
Kevin smiled and accepted his defeat with good grace.
With typical bad grace, they refused to come to the party.
abuse ：rude or offensive things that someone says when they are angry
vandalism and verbal abuse directed at old people
a torrent/stream of abuse (=a series of rude or angry words)
shout/hurl/scream abuse at somebody
The other driver started hurling abuse at me.
badger ：to try to persuade someone by asking them something several times
She badgered me for weeks until I finally gave in.
badger somebody to do something
My friends keep badgering me to get a cell phone.
badger somebody into doing something
I had to badger the kids into doing their homework.
ivory ：something made of ivory, especially a small figure of a person or animal
a collection of Chinese ivories
liberty ：the freedom and the right to do whatever you want without asking permission or being afraid of authority
the fight for liberty and equality
individual/personal liberty
threats to individual liberty
religious/political/economic liberty
struggles for political liberty
discourage ：to persuade someone not to do something, especially by making it seem difficult or bad
attempts to discourage illegal immigration
discourage somebody from doing something
My father is a lawyer, and he discouraged me from entering the field.
cost ：something that you lose, give away, damage etc in order to achieve something
at (a) cost to somebody
She had kept her promise to Christine, but at what cost to herself?
social/environmental etc cost
the environmental cost of such mining projects
They need to weigh up the costs and benefits (=disadvantages and advantages) of regulation.
He's determined to win, whatever the cost (=no matter how much work, money, risk etc is needed) .
We must avoid a scandal at all costs (=whatever happens) .
independence ：the freedom and ability to make your own decisions in life, without having to ask other people for permission, help, or money
ways of helping old people maintain their independence
Having a job gives you financial independence .
execution ：a process in which you do something that has been carefully planned
execution of
the formulation and execution of urban policy
conscientious ：careful to do everything that it is your job or duty to do
A conscientious teacher may feel inclined to take work home.
a conscientious and hard-working student
awry ：not in the correct position
He rushed out, hat awry.
bungle ：to fail to do something properly, because you have made stupid mistakes - used especially in news reports
The whole police operation was bungled.
twitch ：if a part of someone's body twitches, or if they twitch it, it makes a small sudden movement
His mouth twitched slightly, and then he smiled.
He twitched his eyebrows.
tinder ：dry material that burns easily and can be used for lighting fires
stoical ：not showing emotion or not complaining when bad things happen to you
bob ：bob your head
to move your head down quickly as a way of showing respect, greeting someone, or agreeing with them
He spoke rapidly to the girl, who bobbed her head.
obstinate ：determined not to change your ideas, behaviour, opinions etc, even when other people think you are being unreasonable
He was the most obstinate man I've ever met.
Don't be so obstinate!
an obstinate refusal to obey
deliberately ：done or said in a slow careful way
He shook his head slowly and deliberately.
suspect ：to think that something is probably true, especially something bad
suspect (that)
I suspected that there was something wrong with the engine.
She strongly suspected he was lying to her.
She's not going to be very happy about this, I suspect .
intent ：the intention to do something illegal
with intent (to do something)
Jones was found guilty of wounding with intent.
He is charged with possession of a gun with intent to commit a robbery.
sniff ：to breathe air into your nose noisily, for example when you are crying or have a cold
Margaret sniffed miserably and nodded.
Stop sniffing and blow your nose.
gain ：to get an advantage from a situation, opportunity, or event
gain (something) from (doing) something
There is much to be gained from seeking expert advice early.
an attempt to gain a competitive advantage over their rivals
Who really stands to gain (=is likely to get an advantage) from these tax cuts?
There's nothing to be gained (=it will not help you) by losing your temper.
resort ：resort to something
to do something bad, extreme, or difficult because you cannot think of any other way to deal with a problem
Officials fear that extremists may resort to violence .
resort to doing something
Vets have had to resort to killing the animals.
desperate ：a desperate action is something that you only do because you are in a very bad situation
desperate attempt/bid/effort
She made a desperate attempt to escape.
We had to resort to desperate measures .
desperate battle/struggle/fight
a desperate struggle to rescue the men
valiant ：very brave, especially in a difficult situation
Tarr threw himself in front of a train in a valiant effort to save the child.
bawl ：to cry loudly
They could hear a baby bawling somewhere.
knuckle ：your knuckles are the joints in your fingers, including the ones where your fingers join your hands
Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the gun.
surrender ：to give up something or someone because you are forced to
Cath was most reluctant to surrender her independence.
Marchers who had cameras were forced to surrender their film.
thrash ：to move or make something move from side to side in a violent or uncontrolled way
thrash about/around
The girl was thrashing about in the water.
Salmon thrash their tails and leap from the water.
thrust ：to push something somewhere roughly
She thrust a letter into my hand.
He thrust me roughly towards the door.
draught ：cold air that moves through a room and that you can feel
Can you close the window? I'm in a draught .
pane ：a piece of glass used in a window or door
a window pane
a pane of glass
dripping ：extremely wet
Take off that jacket - you're dripping wet .
greasy ：slippery
Police say the rain's making the roads greasy.
gross ：clearly wrong and unacceptable
gross negligence/misconduct etc
soldiers accused of gross violations of human rights
The company described reports of environmental disaster as gross exaggeration.
gross indecency (=the crime of doing something that is sexually offensive)
brute ：a man who is cruel, violent, and not sensitive
swell ：to become larger and rounder than normal - used especially about parts of the body
Her ankle was already starting to swell.
The window frame was swollen shut.
desperately ：in a desperate way
The doctors tried desperately to save her life.
He looked round desperately for someone to help him.
swinging ：exciting and enjoyable
a swinging social life
banister ：a row of wooden posts with a bar along the top, that stops you from falling over the edge of stairs
remorse ：a strong feeling of being sorry that you have done something very bad
Throughout the trial, he had shown no remorse .
remorse for
She felt a pang of remorse for what she had done.
be full of remorse/be filled with remorse
Filled with remorse, Dillon decided to resign.
agonized ：expressing very severe pain
an agonized scream
From some place close by she heard agonized sobbing.
clatter ：to move quickly and noisily
children clattering up and down the stairs
wretch ：someone that you feel sorry for
He was a lonely, miserable wretch.
revenge ：something you do in order to punish someone who has harmed or offended you
get/have/take (your) revenge (on somebody)
He took revenge on his employers by setting fire to the factory.
revenge for
She is seeking revenge for the murder of her husband.
in revenge for something
a bomb attack in revenge for the imprisonment of the terrorists
The murder was an act of revenge for the earlier killings.
revenge attacks on British troops
filthy ：very dirty
The house was filthy, with clothes and newspapers strewn everywhere.
distraction ：something that stops you paying attention to what you are doing
I study in the library as there are too many distractions at home.
distraction from
Demands for equality were seen as a distraction from more serious issues.
moan ：to make a long low sound expressing pain, unhappiness, or sexual pleasure
She moaned and cried out in pain.
conviction ：a very strong belief or opinion
religious/political etc convictions
a woman of strong political convictions
deep/strong conviction
The Dotens have a deep conviction that marriage is for life.
conviction that
The students possess the conviction that they can make a difference to their community.
mechanical ：a mechanical action, reply etc is done without thinking, and has been done many times before
He was asked the same question so many times that the answer became mechanical.
sill ：the narrow shelf at the base of a window frame
furtive ：behaving as if you want to keep something secret
There was something furtive about his actions.
furtive glances/looks
Chris kept stealing furtive glances at me.
revolt ：if something revolts you, it is so unpleasant that it makes you feel sick and shocked
He was revolted by the smell.
suspend ：to attach something to a high place so that it hangs down
suspend something from something
A large light was suspended from the ceiling.
suspend something by something
He was suspended by his feet and beaten with metal bars.
limp ：to walk slowly and with difficulty because one leg is hurt or injured
Moreno limped off the field with a foot injury.
inexplicable ：too unusual or strange to be explained or understood
inexplicable behaviour
For some inexplicable reason, he felt depressed.
sharpen ：to make a feeling stronger and more urgent
A series of attacks have sharpened fears of more violence.
flatten ：flatten yourself against something
to press your body against something
I flattened myself against the wall.
rejoice ：to feel or show that you are very happy
rejoice at/over/in
His family rejoiced at the news.
We rejoiced in our good fortune.
pebble ：a small smooth stone found especially on a beach or on the bottom of a river
The beach was covered with smooth white pebbles.
crisp ：to become crisp or make something become crisp by cooking or heating it
Cook the chicken until the skin is nicely crisped.
cramp ：to prevent the development of someone or something
Stricter anti-pollution laws may cramp economic growth.
greedy ：always wanting more food, money, power, possessions etc than you need
a greedy and selfish society
He looked at the gold with greedy eyes.
Have you eaten them all, you greedy pig?
greedy for
They are greedy for profits.
bear ：to carry someone or something, especially something important
The wedding guests arrived, bearing gifts.
The US Constitution states that the people have a right to bear arms .
chase ：to decorate metal with a special tool
chased silver
shape：take shape
to develop into a clear and definite form
An idea was beginning to take shape in his mind.
breeze ：a gentle wind
flowers waving in the breeze
scented ：with a particular smell, especially a pleasant one
scented soap
scented with
The dry cold air was scented with wood smoke.
rose-scented/vanilla-scented/pine-scented etc
mint ：a small plant with green leaves that have a fresh smell and taste and are used in cooking
new potatoes sprinkled with chopped mint
roast lamb with mint sauce
Decorate with a sprig of mint .
bewildered ：totally confused
a bewildered expression on his face
feast ：a day or period when there is a religious celebration
the feast day of St. Francis
delicate ：easily damaged or broken
delicate hand-cut glass
The sun can easily damage a child's delicate skin .
dip ：to move down, or to make something move down, usually for just a short time
We watched the sun dip below the horizon.
She dipped her head and spoke into the microphone.
cypress ：a tree with dark green leaves and hard wood, which does not lose its leaves in winter
gorge ：a deep narrow valley with steep sides
vine ：a plant with long thin stems that attach themselves to other plants, trees, buildings etc
slope ：a piece of ground or a surface that slopes
a steep slope
a gentle (=not steep) slope
She looked back up the grassy slope.
ripple ：a small low wave on the surface of a liquid
ripples on the surface of the pond
She dived into the pool, making scarcely a ripple.
oily ：covered with oil
He wiped his hands on an oily rag.
ceaseless ：happening for a long time without stopping
the ceaseless fight against crime
giddy ：feeling slightly sick and unable to balance, because everything seems to be moving
Greg stared down from the seventh floor and began to feel giddy .
exalt ：to put someone or something into a high rank or position
eternal ：continuing for ever and having no end
the Christian promise of eternal life
She's an eternal optimist (=she always expects that good things will happen) .
masterful ：controlling people or situations in a skilful and confident way
Klein handled the situation in a masterful way
turmoil ：a state of confusion, excitement, or anxiety
political/emotional/economic/religious etc turmoil
the prospect of another week of political turmoil
in (a) turmoil
Ashley gazed at him, her thoughts in turmoil.
rhythm ：a regular pattern of changes
the body's natural rhythms
rhythm of
Jim liked the rhythm of agricultural life.
swift ：moving, or able to move, very fast
a swift runner
She wiped her tears away in one swift movement.
ardent ：showing strong feelings of love
an ardent lover
ascend ：to move up through the air
The plane ascended rapidly.
trellis ：a frame made of long narrow pieces of wood that cross each other, used to support climbing plants
arpeggio ：the notes of a musical chord played separately but quickly one after the other
velvety ：looking, feeling, tasting, or sounding smooth and soft
the velvety texture of her skin
His voice was soft and velvety.
twilight ：twilight world
a strange situation involving mystery, dishonesty etc
twilight world of
the twilight world of espionage
flutter ：if your heart or your stomach flutters, you feel very excited or nervous
tresses ：a woman's beautiful long hair
mock ：to laugh at someone or something and try to make them look stupid by saying unkind things about them or by copying them
Opposition MPs mocked the government's decision.
'Running away?' he mocked.
It's easy for you to mock, but we put a lot of work into this play.
melancholy ：very sad
The music suited her melancholy mood.
provoke ：to make someone angry, especially deliberately
The dog would not have attacked if it hadn't been provoked.
provoke somebody into (doing) something
Paul tried to provoke Fletch into a fight.
affectionate ：showing in a gentle way that you love someone and care about them
affectionate towards
Jo is very affectionate towards her.
an affectionate hug
mournful ：very sad
Durant was thin, mournful and silent.
the slow, mournful music of the bagpipes
imperious ：giving orders and expecting to be obeyed, in a way that seems too proud
She raised her hand in an imperious gesture.
suffering ：serious physical or mental pain
the suffering of the refugees after the war
the pain and suffering caused by road accidents
obscure ：to prevent something from being seen or heard clearly
The view was obscured by mist.
feature ：a part of someone's face, such as their eyes, nose etc
He had fine delicate features.
Her eyes were her best feature.
ardor ：very strong admiration or excitement
with ardour
They sang with real ardour.
gleam ：to shine softly
His teeth gleamed under his moustache.
gleam with
The wooden panelling was gleaming with wax polish.
ineffable ：too great to be described in words
ineffable joy
airy ：done in a happy and confident way, even when you should be serious or worried
He dismissed her concerns with an airy wave of the hand.
serene ：very calm or peaceful
The child's face was serene and beautiful.
a serene mountain lake
gossamer ：a very light thin material
veil ：veil of mist/cloud/smoke etc
a thin layer of mist, cloud etc that makes it difficult to see clearly
The moon was hidden behind a veil of clouds.
majestic ：very big, impressive, or beautiful
This lovely village is surrounded by majestic mountain scenery.
steely ：having a grey colour like steel
a steely sky
rhythm ：a regular repeated pattern of sounds or movements
Drums are basic to African rhythm.
complicated dance rhythms
rhythm of
She started moving to the rhythm of the music.
the steady rhythm of her heartbeat
swing ：to make regular movements forwards and backwards or from one side to another while hanging from a particular point, or to make something do this
Let your arms swing as you walk.
a sign swinging in the wind
He was swinging his bag back and forth .
She swung her legs from side to side .
swing something by something
He marched around, swinging the gun by its handle.
triumphant ：showing pleasure and pride because of a victory or success
I feel exhausted, but also triumphant.
triumphant look/smile/expression etc
a triumphant grin
whirligig ：a toy that spins
cleave ：cleave the air/darkness etc
to move quickly through the air etc
His fist cleft the air.
drunk ：drunk on/with something
so excited by a feeling that you behave in a strange way
drunk with happiness
shrill ：a shrill sound is very high and unpleasant
'That's not true,' she protested in a shrill voice.
a shrill whistle
Fran uttered a shrill scream.
infinite ：without limits in space or time
The universe is infinite.
gown ：a long dress that a woman wears on formal occasions
wedding/evening/ball gown
a white silk wedding gown
bear ：if wind, water, or air bears something, it carries it somewhere
The sound of music was borne along on the wind.
murderous ：murderous look/expression/glare etc
an expression or look which shows that someone is very angry
withdraw ：to leave a place, especially in order to be alone or go somewhere quiet
withdraw to
We withdrew to the garden for a private talk.
surrender ：to give up something or someone because you are forced to
Cath was most reluctant to surrender her independence.
Marchers who had cameras were forced to surrender their film.
obstinate ：determined not to change your ideas, behaviour, opinions etc, even when other people think you are being unreasonable
He was the most obstinate man I've ever met.
Don't be so obstinate!
an obstinate refusal to obey
triumph ：an important victory or success after a difficult struggle
Winning the championship is a great personal triumph .
triumph for
a tremendous diplomatic triumph for France
triumph over
the triumph over hardship
ill will ：unfriendly or unkind feelings towards someone
He said the accusation had been made from hatred and ill will.
torture ：an act of deliberately hurting someone in order to force them to tell you something, to punish them, or to be cruel
He died after five days of excruciating torture.
stiff ：if someone or a part of their body is stiff, their muscles hurt and it is difficult for them to move
stiff from doing something
Her legs were stiff from kneeling.
stiff with
Her fingers were stiff with cold.
stiff neck/back/joint etc
Alastair woke with a stiff neck.
I never felt stiff after training until I was in my thirties.
The next morning I was as stiff as a board (=very stiff) .
harangue ：to speak in a loud angry way, often for a long time, in order to criticize someone or to persuade them that you are right
harangue somebody about something
He stood on the street corner, haranguing passers-by about the stupidity of the forthcoming war.
odious ：extremely unpleasant
an odious little man
zest ：eager interest and enjoyment
zest for
She had a great zest for life .
gravity ：an extremely serious way of behaving or speaking
The Consul spoke slowly and with great gravity.
consolation ：something that makes you feel better when you are sad or disappointed
consolation for/to
The only consolation for the team is that they get a chance to play the game again.
If it's any consolation , things do get easier as the child gets older.
He had the consolation of knowing that he couldn't have done any better.
be little/no consolation
The fact that there has been a reduction in crime is little consolation to victims of crime.
glory ：the importance, honour, and praise that people give someone they admire a lot
She dreamt of future glory as an Olympic champion.
Goran's moment of glory came when he defeated Rafter.
He began the season in a blaze of glory , scoring seven goals in as many games.
sort ：to deal with a situation so that all the problems are solved and everything is organized
Right, I'll leave this for Roger and Terry to sort, then.
stoicism ：patience and calmness when bad things happen to you
enslave ：if something enslaves you, it completely controls your life and your actions
She seemed enslaved by hatred.
bound ：to run with a lot of energy, because you are happy, excited, or frightened
bound up/towards/across etc
Suddenly a huge dog came bounding towards me.
detest ：to hate something or someone very much
Liz and Mo detested each other.
rebel ：to oppose or fight against someone in authority or against an idea or situation which you do not agree with
rebel against
teenage boys rebelling against their parents
operetta ：a funny or romantic musical play in which some of the words are spoken and some are sung
drama ：a play for the theatre, television, radio etc, usually a serious one, or plays in general
the great traditions of ancient Greek drama
a TV/television/radio drama
the award-winning TV drama
'Prime Suspect'a new drama series for Saturday nights
a drama critic
a courtroom drama (=one that takes place in a court of law)
a lavish costume drama (=one about events in a past century)
He plays a Russian spy in the comedy drama 'Sleepers'.
comedy ：a play, film, or television programme that is intended to make people laugh
a highly successful TV comedy
vaudeville ：a type of theatre entertainment, popular from the 1880s to the 1950s, in which there were many short performances of different kinds, including singing, dancing, jokes etc
equally ：to the same degree or amount
You must have a good education, but practical training is equally important.
beforehand ：before something else happens or is done
The police need to be briefed beforehand on how to deal with this sort of situation.
When you give a speech, it's natural to feel nervous beforehand.
consume ：if a feeling or idea consumes you, it affects you very strongly, so that you cannot think about anything else
She was scared by the depression which threatened to consume her.
be consumed with something
He was consumed with guilt after the accident.
confess ：to admit, especially to the police, that you have done something wrong or illegal
confess to (doing) something
Edwards confessed to being a spy for the KGB.
Occasionally people confess to crimes they haven't committed just to get attention.
confess (that)
My husband confessed he'd been having an affair with a woman in his office.
Torture was used and Fian confessed.
leap ：if your heart leaps, you feel a sudden surprise, happiness, or excitement
My heart leaped when I saw Paul at the airport.
acquaintance ：someone you know, but who is not a close friend
She was a casual acquaintance of my family in Vienna.
He heard about the job through a mutual acquaintance (=someone you and another person both know) .
orchestra ：a large group of musicians playing many different kinds of instruments and led by a conductor
the Berlin Symphony Orchestra
the school orchestra
balustrade ：a row of wooden, stone, or metal posts that stop someone falling from a bridge or balcony
contra- ：acting against something, or opposite to something
contraceptive devices (=against conception)
abuse ：to treat something so badly that you start to destroy it
James abused his body for years with heroin and cocaine.
overwhelm ：if someone is overwhelmed by an emotion, they feel it so strongly that they cannot think clearly
be overwhelmed by something
Harriet was overwhelmed by a feeling of homesickness.
be overwhelmed with something
The children were overwhelmed with excitement.
Grief overwhelmed me.