splendor ：impressive beauty, especially of a large building or large place
splendour of
We marvelled at the splendour of the scenery.
The palace has now been restored to its original splendour.
libretto ：the words of an opera or musical play
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
neglect ：to pay too little attention to something
Many of these ideas have been neglected by modern historians.
The police officer was accused of neglecting his duty (=not doing everything he should) .
orchestra ：a large group of musicians playing many different kinds of instruments and led by a conductor
the Berlin Symphony Orchestra
the school orchestra
chord ：a combination of several musical notes that are played at the same time and sound pleasant together
extravagant ：doing or using something too much or more than is necessary
extravagant with
Don't be too extravagant with the wine.
an extravagant display of loyalty
pasteboard ：flat stiff cardboard made by sticking sheets of paper together
reveal ：to make known something that was previously secret or unknown
He may be prosecuted for revealing secrets about the security agency.
a test that can reveal a teacher's hidden skills
reveal (that)
He revealed that he had been in prison twice before.
reveal yourself (as/to be something)
The violinist revealed himself as a talented interpreter of classical music.
gape ：to look at something for a long time, especially with your mouth open, because you are very surprised or shocked
gape at
What are all these people gaping at?
ineptitude ：lack of skill
the ineptitude of the people in charge
perceptible ：something that is perceptible can be noticed, although it is very small
small but perceptible change
The sound was barely perceptible .
grasp ：to completely understand a fact or an idea, especially a complicated one
At that time, we did not fully grasp the significance of what had happened.
Some people find the idea of relativity difficult to grasp.
grasp what/how etc
A short opening paragraph enables the reader to quickly grasp what the article is about.
grasp that
Nick had grasped that something was wrong.
absurd ：completely stupid or unreasonable
quite/slightly/completely etc absurd
It seems quite absurd to expect anyone to drive for 3 hours just for a 20 minute meeting.
It seems an absurd idea.
passionate ：if you are passionate about something, you like it a lot
She developed a passionate interest in wild flowers.
passionate about
I've always been passionate about football.
contrary ：on the contrary/quite the contrary
used to add to a negative statement, to disagree with a negative statement by someone else, or to answer no to a question
It wasn't a good thing; on the contrary it was a huge mistake.
'I suppose your wife doesn't understand you.' 'On the contrary, she understands me very well.'
'Are they happy?' 'No, no, quite the contrary.'
bind ：to form a strong emotional or economic connection between two people, countries etc
bind somebody/something together
Their shared experiences in war helped to bind the two communities together.
invention ：the ability to think of new and clever ideas
With such powers of invention he should get a job easily.
represent ：to describe someone or something in a particular way, especially in a way that is not true
represent somebody/something as something
The article represents the millionaire as a simple family man.
He had represented himself as an employee in order to gain access to the files.
incident ：an event, especially one that is unusual, important, or violent
A spokesman said it was an isolated incident .
Am I at risk because of some incident in my sexual past?
shooting/stabbing incident
Many shooting incidents go unreported.
without incident
The plane landed without incident.
concern ：concern yourself with/about something
to become involved in something because you are interested in it or because it worries you
He told them not to concern themselves about him.
He loved his wife, and concerned himself with her needs and desires.
improbable ：surprising and slightly strange
improbable combinations of colours
keen ：a keen sense of smell or keen sight or hearing is an extremely good ability to smell etc
Dogs have a very keen sense of smell.
She has a keen eye for (=is good at noticing) talent.
perceive ： to understand or think of something or someone in a particular way
perceive something/somebody as something
Even as a young woman she had been perceived as a future chief executive.
perceive something/somebody to be something
Often what is perceived to be aggression is simply fear.
Children who do badly in school tests often perceive themselves to be failures.
grotesque ：extremely ugly in a strange or unnatural way
a grotesque figure with a huge head
fleshy ：having a lot of flesh
the fleshy part of your hand
deformed ：something that is deformed has the wrong shape, especially because it has grown or developed wrongly
the deformed toe on his right foot
chorus ：the part of a song that is repeated after each verse
Everyone joined in the chorus.
gesture ：something that you say or do, often something small, to show how you feel about someone or something
They decided it would be a nice gesture to send her a card.
Tearing up the price list was simply a symbolic gesture.
gesture of
As a gesture of goodwill, we have decided to waive the charges on this occasion.
gesture towards
The Queen has now made a gesture towards public opinion.
bloated ：full of liquid, gas, food etc, so that you look or feel much larger than normal
a red bloated face
I feel really bloated after that meal.
shriek ：a loud high sound made because you are frightened, excited, angry etc
shriek of
a shriek of laughter
with a shriek
With a shriek of delight, Jean hugged Maggie.
give/let out a shriek
Ella let out a piercing shriek.
wig ：artificial hair that you wear on your head
tenor ：a male singing voice that can reach the range of notes below the lowest woman's voice, or a man with a voice like this
streak ：to cover something with lines of colour, liquid etc
The sky was streaked yellow and purple.
streak with
His hands and arms were streaked with paint.
variegated ：consisting of a lot of different types of thing
pencil ：to write something or make a mark with a pencil
a name pencilled on the envelope
pencil somebody/something ↔ in
to make an arrangement for a meeting or other event, knowing that it might have to be changed later
Pickford has been pencilled in as Robson's replacement.
passion ：a very strong liking for something
passion for
his passion for football
Gardening was her great passion.
blind ：to make someone lose their good sense or judgment and be unable to see the truth about something
He should have known better. But he was blinded by his own self-centredness.
blind somebody to something
Children's bad behaviour should not blind us to their need for love.
His single-minded determination to win the war is blinding him to other dangers.
aspect ：one part of a situation, idea, plan etc that has many parts
aspect of
Dealing with people is the most important aspect of my work.
Alcoholism affects all aspects of family life.
illusion ：an idea or opinion that is wrong, especially about yourself
illusion that
They suffer from the illusion that they cannot solve their problems.
She was under no illusion that he loved her.
It is an illusion that the Arctic is dark in winter.
She had no illusions about her physical attractions.
'I hate to shatter your illusions,' he said.
sensation ：a feeling that you get from one of your five senses, especially the sense of touch
burning/prickling/tingling etc sensation
One sign of a heart attack is a tingling sensation in the left arm.
sensation of
a sensation of heat
transform ：to completely change the appearance, form, or character of something or someone, especially in a way that improves it
Increased population has transformed the landscape.
transform somebody/something (from something) into something
The movie transformed her almost overnight from an unknown schoolgirl into a megastar.
scene ：a particular set of activities and the people who are involved in them
I'm not into the club scene (=going to night clubs) .
LA's music scene
the drug scene
a newcomer to the political scene
atmosphere ：the feeling that an event or place gives you
The hotel had a lovely relaxed atmosphere .
The atmosphere at home was rather tense.
atmosphere of
An atmosphere of optimism dominated the conference.
breed ：to cause a particular feeling or condition
Poor living conditions breed violence and despair.
desperate ：needing or wanting something very much
desperate for
The team is desperate for a win.
I was desperate for a cigarette.
desperate to do something
He was desperate to get a job.
phantom ：something that exists only in your imagination
viod ：a situation in which something important or interesting is needed or wanted, but does not exist
The amusement park will fill a void in this town, which has little entertainment for children.
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.
emotion ：a strong human feeling such as love, hate, or anger
Her voice was full of emotion .
conflicting/mixed emotions
Sara listened with mixed emotions.
She was good at hiding her emotions .
Kim received the news without showing any visible sign of emotion .
gesture ：a movement of part of your body, especially your hands or head, to show what you mean or how you feel
in a ... gesture (of something)
Jim raised his hands in a despairing gesture.
Luke made an obscene gesture with his finger.
gesture of
She shook her head with a gesture of impatience.
phrase ：a short group of musical notes that is part of a longer piece
文章，领教，受教
distress ：a feeling of extreme unhappiness
Luke's behaviour caused his parents great distress.
in distress
The girl was crying and clearly in distress.
catastrophe ：a terrible event in which there is a lot of destruction, suffering, or death
environmental/nuclear/economic etc catastrophe
The Black Sea is facing ecological catastrophe as a result of pollution.
prevent/avert a catastrophe
Sudan requires food immediately to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
inevitably ：used for saying that something is certain to happen and cannot be avoided
The decision will inevitably lead to political tensions.
Inevitably, the situation did not please everyone.
prima donna ：the most important woman singer in an opera company
show ：to try to make people admire your abilities, achievements, or possessions - used to show disapproval
He couldn't resist showing off on the tennis court.
saliva ：the liquid that is produced naturally in your mouth
well ：if a liquid wells or wells up, it comes to the surface of something and starts to flow out
I felt tears well up in my eyes.
simplicity ：the quality of being simple and not complicated, especially when this is attractive or useful
Mona wrote with a beautiful simplicity of style.
For the sake of simplicity, the tax form is divided into three sections.
James's solution to this problem was simplicity itself (=very simple) .
dramatic ：exciting or impressive
A superb goal by Owen earned United a dramatic victory yesterday.
Some of the most dramatic events in American history happened here.
the dramatic scenery of the Grand Canyon
passage ：a short part of a book, poem, speech, piece of music etc
passage from/of
He read out a short passage from the Bible.
enchantment ：the quality of being very pleasant or attractive
the enchantment of poetry
serene ：very calm or peaceful
The child's face was serene and beautiful.
a serene mountain lake
spell ：break the spell
to make someone stop paying all their attention to something, or to make a time stop feeling special
He lay still, not wanting to break the spell.
trade ：a particular job, especially one needing special skill with your hands
Brian insisted that his sons learn a trade .
My grandfather was a plumber by trade (=that was his job) .
tools of your trade (=the things that you need to do your job)
spectacle ：a very impressive show or scene
a multimedia dance and opera spectacle
glorious ：having or deserving great fame, praise, and honour
We have in our grasp a truly glorious future.
a glorious victory
occur ：occur to somebody
if an idea or thought occurs to you, it suddenly comes into your mind
it occurs to somebody to do something
I suppose it didn't occur to you to phone the police?
It never seems to occur to my children to contact me.
it occurs to somebody (that)
It had never occurred to him that he might be falling in love with her.
cross ：angry or annoyed
get/be cross (with somebody)
She gets cross when he goes out drinking.
Sometimes I get very cross with the children.
cross at/about
She was cross at being interrupted.
inspiration ：a good idea about what you should do, write, say etc, especially one which you get suddenly
The Malvern Hills have provided inspiration for many artists and musicians over the decades.
He raised his eyes to the altar as if seeking inspiration .
He draws inspiration from ordinary scenes.
Mary Quant's inspiration comes from the glam style of the 70s.
He had a sudden flash of inspiration .
He has always been a source of inspiration for me.
betray ：to be disloyal to someone who trusts you so that they are harmed or upset
He felt that she had betrayed him.
betray somebody to somebody
What kind of man would betray his own sister to the police?
She had betrayed her parents' trust .
I would never betray a confidence (=tell a secret which someone has trusted me with) .
submit ：to give a plan, piece of writing etc to someone in authority for them to consider or approve
submit an application/claim/proposal etc
All applications must be submitted by Monday.
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.
doze ：to sleep lightly for a short time
Grandad was dozing in his chair.
doze off
to go to sleep, especially when you did not intend to
I must have dozed off.
distinctly ：clearly
Speak clearly and distinctly.
He distinctly remembered the day his father left.
buzz ：if your head or mind is buzzing with thoughts, ideas etc, you cannot stop thinking about them
buzz with
My mind was buzzing with new ideas.
Questions started buzzing round in my head.
keen ：wanting to do something or wanting something to happen very much
keen to do something
He told Hayling that he was keen to help.
keen on doing something
I wasn't keen on going there on my own.
keen for something to happen
The government is keen for peace talks to start again soon.
keen that
The chairman is keen that the company should expand its product range.
symptom ：something wrong with your body or mind which shows that you have a particular illness
symptom of
Common symptoms of diabetes are weight loss and fatigue.
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!
agony ：very severe pain
the agony of arthritis
in agony
I was in agony.
He groaned in agony.
procure ：to obtain something, especially something that is difficult to get
procure something for somebody
He was accused of procuring weapons for terrorists.
perform ：to do something to entertain people, for example by acting a play or playing a piece of music
Chenier and the band are performing at the Silver Palace tomorrow.
The children perform two plays each school year.
stall ：the stalls
the seats on the main level of a theatre or cinema
a good seat in the front row of the stalls
convinced ：feeling certain that something is true
Molly agreed, but she did not sound very convinced.
be convinced (that)
I was convinced that we were doing the right thing.
convinced of
Researchers are convinced of a genetic cause for the disease.
firmly/totally/fully etc convinced
Herschel was firmly convinced of the possibility of life on other planets.
reassure ：to make someone feel calmer and less worried or frightened about a problem or situation
Teachers reassured anxious parents.
reassure somebody (that)
He tried to reassure me that my mother would be okay.
lynx ：a large wild cat that has no tail and lives in forests
untoward ：unexpected, unusual, or not wanted
anything/nothing untoward
I walked past but didn't notice anything untoward.
thump ：if your heart thumps, it beats very strongly and quickly because you are frightened or excited
My heart was thumping inside my chest.
overture ：a short piece of music written as an introduction to a long piece of music, especially an opera
bowl ：bowl somebody ↔ over
to surprise, please, or excite someone very much
He was bowled over by her beauty.
conduct ：to take or lead someone somewhere
conduct somebody to something
On arrival, I was conducted to the commandant’s office.
conducted tour (of something) (=a tour of a building, city, or area with someone who tells you about that place)
a conducted tour of Berlin
consist ：consist of something
to be formed from two or more things or people
The buffet consisted of several different Indian dishes.
composition ：a piece of music, a poem, or a piece of writing
a composition by jazzman Dave Brubeck, called 'Chromatic Fantasy'
a mixture of traditional songs and original compositions
topic ：a subject that people talk or write about
The environment is a popular topic these days.
topic of
We shall return to the topic of education in Chapter 7.
topic of conversation/debate etc
The wedding has been the only topic of conversation for weeks.
The main topic for discussion will be the proposed new supermarket.
a wide range of topics
matter ：be (quite) a different matter
also be (quite) another matter
used to say that a situation or action is very different from the one you have just mentioned, and may not be as easy, pleasant etc
She didn't mind seeing him in a group but an intimate dinner in a restaurant was another matter altogether.
extravagant ：very impressive because of being very expensive, beautiful etc
extravagant celebrations
notion ：an idea, belief, or opinion
notion of
misguided notions of male superiority
The traditional notion of marriage goes back thousands of years.
She had only a vague notion of what she wanted to do.
notion that
the notion that human beings are basically good
She had no notion what he meant.
accept/challenge/reject etc a notion
They reject the notion of group guilt.
eccentricity ：strange or unusual behaviour
Kate's mother had a reputation for eccentricity.
narrative ：a description of events in a story, especially in a novel
At several points in the narrative the two stories cross.
tread ：to put your foot on or in something while you are walking
tread in/on
Sorry, did I tread on your foot?
She trod barefoot on the soft grass.
exaltation ：a very strong feeling of happiness
dumb ：unable to speak, because you are angry, surprised, shocked etc
He stared at the burnt-out car in dumb disbelief.
She was struck dumb with terror.
rehearsal ：a time when all the people involved in a big event practise it together before it happens
a wedding rehearsal
thrust ：to push something somewhere roughly
She thrust a letter into my hand.
He thrust me roughly towards the door.
jostle ：to push or knock against someone in a crowd, especially so that you can get somewhere or do something before other people
jostle for
Followers of the president jostled for position in front of the TV cameras.
console ：to make someone feel better when they are feeling sad or disappointed
No one could console her when Peter died.
console yourself with something
She consoled herself with the fact that no one else had done well in the exam either.
console yourself that
He consoled himself that he would see Kate again soon.
shutter ：one of a pair of wooden or metal covers on the outside of a window that can be closed to keep light out or prevent thieves from coming in
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) .
surmount ：to be above or on top of something
a tower surmounted by a dome
chubby ：slightly fat in a way that looks healthy and attractive
a chubby six-year-old
a baby with round chubby cheeks
gala ：a public entertainment or performance to celebrate a special occasion
gala dinner/performance/night etc
the Society's Gala Dinnera charity gala evening
array ：a group of people or things, especially one that is large or impressive
array of
a dazzling array of flowers
a bewildering array of options
a vast/impressive/wide array
There was a vast array of colours to choose from.
laurel ：a small tree with smooth shiny dark green leaves that do not fall in winter
chorus ：in chorus
if people say something in chorus, they say the same thing at the same time
'Thank you,' they said in chorus.
devour ：to read something quickly and eagerly, or watch something with great interest
He devoured science fiction books as a teenager.
puffy ：if a part of your body is puffy, it is swollen
Her eyes were puffy from crying.
temple ：one of the two fairly flat areas on each side of your forehead
bald ：having little or no hair on your head
a bald man his shiny bald head
Dad started going bald when he was in his thirties.
He combed his hair and tried to hide his bald patch (=part of someone's head where there is no hair) .
fair ：someone who is fair, or who has fair hair or skin, has hair or skin that is very light in colour
vague ：not having a clear shape or form
The vague shape of a figure loomed through the mist.
expressive ：showing very clearly what someone thinks or feels
her wonderfully expressive eyes
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.
imperceptible ：almost impossible to see or notice
Such changes are imperceptible to even the best-trained eye.
awkward ：not relaxed or comfortable
She liked to dance but felt awkward if someone was watching her.
Geoff looked uneasy and awkward.
Make sure that the baby is not sleeping in an awkward position.
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.
boredom ：the feeling you have when you are bored, or the quality of being boring
a game to relieve the boredom of a long journey
the sheer boredom of being in jail
boredom with
his boredom with life in a small town
capricious ：likely to change your mind suddenly or behave in an unexpected way
She was as capricious as her mother had been.
lithe ：having a body that moves easily and gracefully
the strong lithe bodies of gymnasts
sway ：to move slowly from one side to another
The trees swayed gently in the breeze.
jerky ：jerky movements are rough, with many starts and stops
His skin was dry and hot, his breathing rapid and jerky.
The bus came to a jerky halt.
quiver ：to shake slightly because you are cold, or because you feel very afraid, angry, excited etc
The child was quivering in her arms.
Her mouth quivered slightly as she turned away.
quiver with indignation/anger etc
I lay there quivering with fear.
His voice was quivering with rage.
apathy ：the feeling of not being interested in something, and not willing to make any effort to change or improve things
The campaign failed because of public apathy.
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!
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
enthusiastic ：feeling or showing a lot of interest and excitement about something
enthusiastic about (doing) something
All the staff are enthusiastic about the project.
The singer got an enthusiastic reception.
an enthusiastic supporter of reform
trumpet ：a musical instrument that you blow into, which consists of a curved metal tube that is wide at the end, and three buttons you press to change the notes
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
blare ：to make a very loud unpleasant noise
Horns blared in the street outside.
The radio was blaring out the latest pop songs.
salute ：something that expresses praise to someone for something they have achieved, or that expresses honour or respect to someone or something
in salute
Everyone at the table raised their glasses in salute.
salute to
His first words were a salute to the people of South Africa.
conqueror ：to become very successful in a place
In the last few years, the company has succeeded in conquering the European market.
enthusiast ：someone who is very interested in a particular activity or subject
baseball/outdoors/sailing etc enthusiast
a keep-fit enthusiast
enthusiast for
an enthusiast for the latest management thinking
flee ：to leave somewhere very quickly, in order to escape from danger
His attackers turned and fled.
Masaari spent six months in prison before fleeing the country .
flee to/from/into
Many German artists fled to America at the beginning of World War II.
butt ：to hit or push against something or someone with your head
ram ：an adult male sheep
serenade ：if you serenade someone, you sing or play music to them, especially to show them that you love them
fragment ：a small piece of something that has broken off or that comes from something larger
glass fragments
fragment of
fragments of broken pottery
fresco ：a painting made on a wall while the plaster is still wet
represent ：to officially speak or take action for another person or group of people
Mr Kobayashi was chosen to represent the company at the conference.
helmet ：a strong hard hat that soldiers, motorcycle riders, the police etc wear to protect their heads
reddish ：slightly red
reddish-brown lipstick
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.
gesture ：a movement of part of your body, especially your hands or head, to show what you mean or how you feel
in a ... gesture (of something)
Jim raised his hands in a despairing gesture.
Luke made an obscene gesture with his finger.
gesture of
She shook her head with a gesture of impatience.
sponger ：a light cake made from flour, sugar, butter and eggs
a Victoria sponge
clad ：snow-clad/ivy-clad etc
covered in a particular thing
an armour-clad ship
tread ：the particular sound that someone makes when they walk
I heard the back door bang, and Rex’s tread in the hall.
inaudible ：too quiet to be heard
The noise of the wind made her cries inaudible.
laden ：heavily loaded with something, or containing a lot of something
laden with
The tables were laden with food.
fully/heavily laden
The lorry was fully laden.
snow-laden branches
extricate ：to remove someone from a place in which they are trapped
extricate somebody/yourself from something
Firemen had to extricate the driver from the wreckage.
quip ：to say something clever and amusing
'Giving up smoking is easy,' he quipped. 'I've done it hundreds of times.'
single ：single somebody/something ↔ out
to choose one person or thing from among a group because they are better, worse, more important etc than the others
single somebody/something ↔ out for
I don't see why he should be singled out for special treatment.
single somebody/something ↔ out as
One programme was singled out as being particularly good.
flattering ：clothes, pictures etc that are flattering make someone look as attractive as they can or make something as good as possible, even if it is not really very good
That colour is very flattering.
gratitude ：the feeling of being grateful
Tears of gratitude filled her eyes.
gratitude to/towards
She had a deep gratitude towards David, but she did not love him.
gratitude for
The committee expressed its gratitude for the contribution he had made.
in gratitude for something
Will you let me take you out to dinner tomorrow in gratitude for what you've done?
with gratitude
She accepted his offer with gratitude.
profuse ：produced or existing in large quantities
He made profuse apologies .
Profuse sweating is one of the symptoms of heat exhaustion.
eulogy ：a speech or piece of writing in which you praise someone or something very much, especially at a funeral
The minister delivered a long eulogy.
adoration ：great love and admiration
the look of adoration in his eyes
rational ：rational thoughts, decisions etc are based on reasons rather than emotions
Parents need to be fully informed so they can make a rational decision.
I'm sure there's a rational explanation for all this.
It's impossible to have a rational conversation with him.
rigmarole ：a long confusing process or description
I don't want to go through the rigmarole of taking him to court.
anticipation ：do something in anticipation of something
to do something because you expect something to happen
The workers have called off their strike in anticipation of a pay offer.
ply ：ply somebody with questions
to keep asking someone questions
venture ：to say or do something in an uncertain way because you are afraid it is wrong or will seem stupid
'You're on holiday here?' he ventured.
venture to do something
I ventured to ask him what he was writing.
venture an opinion/question/word etc
If we had more information, it would be easier to venture a firm opinion.
Roy ventured a tentative smile.
venture that
I ventured that the experiment was not conclusive.
affection ：a feeling of liking or love and caring
affection for
Bart had a deep affection for the old man.
She looked back on those days with affection .
Their father never showed them much affection .
The church was held in great affection (=loved and cared about a lot) by the local residents.
tickle ：to move your fingers gently over someone's body in order to make them laugh
Stop tickling me!
ease ：at ease
feeling relaxed, especially in a situation in which people might feel a little nervous
at ease with
She felt completely at ease with Bernard.
put/set somebody at (their) ease (=make someone feel relaxed)
She had an ability to put people at their ease.
accord ：of somebody's/something's own accord
without being asked or forced to do something
He decided to go of his own accord.
The door seemed to move of its own accord.
ecstasy ：a feeling of extreme happiness
in (an) ecstasy
She was in an ecstasy of love.
go into ecstasies (=become very happy and excited)
prattle ：to talk continuously about silly and unimportant things
prattle away/on
What's Sarah prattling on about ?
tease ：to laugh at someone and make jokes in order to have fun by embarrassing them, either in a friendly way or in an unkind way
Don't get upset. I was only teasing .
He used to tease her mercilessly .
tease somebody about something
She used to tease me about my hair.
bargain ：an agreement, made between two people or groups to do something in return for something else
make/strike a bargain
Management and unions have struck a bargain over wage increases.
I've kept my side of the bargain and I expect you to keep yours.
self-conscious ：worried and embarrassed about what you look like or what other people think of you
self-conscious about
Jerry's pretty self-conscious about his weight.
jolly ：happy and enjoying yourself
Everybody was in a very relaxed and jolly mood.
harden ： if your face or voice hardens, or if something hardens it, you look or sound less sympathetic or happy
His face hardened momentarily, then he looked away.
champagne ：a French white wine with a lot of bubbles, drunk on special occasions
intoxicated ：happy, excited, and unable to think clearly, especially as a result of love, success, power etc
intoxicated by/with
He rapidly became intoxicated with his own power.
lock ：be locked up (in something)
if your money is locked up, you have put it into a business, investment etc and cannot easily move it or use it
meteor ：a piece of rock or metal that travels through space, and makes a bright line in the night sky when it falls down towards the Earth
Astronomers track large meteors using radar.
a meteor shower (=a lot of meteors that fall down towards the Earth at the same time)
decisive ：an action, event etc that is decisive has a big effect on the way that something develops
decisive factor/effect/influence etc
Women can play a decisive role in the debate over cloning.
decisive action/steps
We will take decisive steps towards political union with Europe.
decided ：definite and easily noticed
a decided change for the better
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.
compose ：to write a piece of music
Barrington has composed the music for a new production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
throb ：if music or a machine throbs, it makes a low sound or vibration with a strong regular beat
a throbbing bass line
palpitate ：if your heart palpitates, it beats quickly in an irregular way
sunlit ：made brighter by light from the sun
a sunlit garden
flicker ：to burn or shine with an unsteady light that goes on and off quickly
The overhead lights flickered momentarily.
loathe ：to hate someone or something very much
He loathes their politics.
loathe doing something
I absolutely loathe shopping.
creak ：if something such as a door, wooden floor, old bed, or stair creaks, it makes a long high noise when someone opens it, walks on it, sits on it etc
The floorboards creaked as she walked across the room.
The door creaked open.
vein ：one of the tubes which carries blood to your heart from other parts of your body
the pulmonary vein
She felt the blood racing through her veins as they kissed.
hive ：a hive of industry/activity etc
a place that is full of people who are very busy
This marketplace was once a hive of activity.
least ：least of all
especially not a particular person or thing
She hardly ever lost her temper - least of all with Anne.
hum ：to sing a tune by making a continuous sound with your lips closed
hum to yourself
Tony was humming to himself as he drove along.
He began to hum a tune.
perpetual ：continuing all the time without changing or stopping
the perpetual noise of the machines
a little girl with a perpetual smile
absorb ：to interest someone so much that they do not pay attention to other things
The movement and noise of the machines absorbed him completely.
be absorbed in something
Judith lay on the settee, absorbed in her book.
twilight ：the small amount of light in the sky as the day ends
in the twilight
The end of the cigarette glowed in the twilight.
monotonous ：boring because of always being the same
a monotonous diet
a little boy who wet his bed with monotonous regularity
protest ：to say that you strongly disagree with or are angry about something because you think it is wrong or unfair
'I don't see why I should take the blame for this!' she protested.
protest that
Clive protested that he hadn't been given enough time to do everything.
basin ：a round container attached to the wall in a bathroom, where you wash your hands and face
The room has a wash basin.
splash ：to make water fly up in the air with a loud noise by hitting it or by moving around in it
The children were splashing about in the pool.
splash through
She ran up the drive, splashing through the puddles.
detest ：to hate something or someone very much
Liz and Mo detested each other.
blare ：to make a very loud unpleasant noise
Horns blared in the street outside.
The radio was blaring out the latest pop songs.
triumphal ：done or made to celebrate a victory
a triumphal procession
a triumphal arch
solemn ：very serious and not happy, for example because something bad has happened or because you are at an important occasion
a solemn expression
Their faces suddenly grew solemn.
a solemn procession of mourners
procession ：a line of people or vehicles moving slowly as part of a ceremony
funeral/wedding/carnival etc procession
They marched in procession to the Capitol building.
file ：if people file somewhere, they walk there in a line
We began to file out into the car park.
The mourners filed past the coffin.
proper ：right, suitable, or correct
Everything was in its proper place (=where it should be) .
the proper way to clean your teeth
The proper name for Matthew's condition is hyperkinetic syndrome.
appropriate ：to take something, especially money, to use for a particular purpose
appropriate something for something
Congress appropriated $5 million for International Woman's Year.
strictly ：in a way that must be obeyed
Alcohol is strictly forbidden on school premises.
The ban on hunting is not strictly enforced .
shade ：shade of meaning/opinion/feeling etc
a meaning etc that is slightly different from other ones
There is room in the Democratic party for many shades of opinion.
click ：to make a short hard sound, or make something produce this sound
The door clicked shut behind me.
Mother clicked her tongue (=made a short sound to show disapproval) and sighed.
Edmund clicked his fingers (=made a short sound to get someone's attention) for John to follow him.
Sergeant Vogel clicked his heels (=hit the heels of his shoes together) and bowed.
Twist the lever and the gears click into place .
comedy ：entertainment that is intended to make people laugh
comedy writer/series/show/actor etc
a career in stand-up comedy (=telling jokes in front of people as a job)
scrap ： a small amount of information, truth etc
scrap of
He obtained every scrap of information available.
There isn't a single scrap of evidence.
pirouette ：a dance movement in which the dancer turns very quickly, standing on one toe or the front part of one foot
abashed ：embarrassed or ashamed because you have done something wrong or stupid
She looked rather abashed.
vanity ：too much pride in yourself, so that you are always thinking about yourself and your appearance
Sabrina had none of the vanity so often associated with beautiful women.
appreciate ：to understand how good or useful someone or something is
Her abilities are not fully appreciated by her employer.
I'm not an expert, but I appreciate fine works of art.
incline ：to think that a particular belief or opinion is most likely to be correct
incline to do something
I incline to accept the official version of events.
incline to/towards
I incline to the opinion that this principle extends to cases of religious discrimination.
latter ：the latter
the second of two people or things just mentioned
Where unemployment and crime are high, it can be assumed that the latter is due to the former.
rack ：a frame or shelf that has bars or hooks on which you can put things
a wine rack
a magazine rack
decipher ：to change a message written in a code into ordinary language so that you can read it
heading ：the title written at the beginning of a piece of writing, or at the beginning of part of a book
chapter headings
adorn ：to decorate something
adorn something with something
church walls adorned with religious paintings
scroll ：a design shaped like a piece of rolled up paper
flourish ：a loud part of a piece of music, played especially when an important person enters
a flourish of trumpets
dawn ：if a feeling or idea dawns, you have it for the first time
It began to dawn that something was wrong.
thump ：if your heart thumps, it beats very strongly and quickly because you are frightened or excited
My heart was thumping inside my chest.
Gothic ：Gothic writing, printing etc has thick decorated letters
dazzle ：to make someone feel strong admiration
As children, we were dazzled by my uncle's good looks and charm.
break ：break down
to fail or stop working in a successful way
Negotiations broke down after only two days.
I left London when my marriage broke down.
accompaniment ：music that is played in the background at the same time as another instrument or singer that plays or sings the main tune
piano/orchestral/organ/guitar etc accompaniment
He plays folk music with guitar accompaniment.
to the accompaniment of something
An elderly man puffed on a trumpet to the accompaniment of drums and piano.
harmony ：notes of music combined together in a pleasant way
in harmony
a choir singing in perfect harmony
the gorgeous vocal harmonies on 'Mexicali Rose'
three-part harmonies
trio ：a piece of music for three performers
collaborate ：to work together with a person or group in order to achieve something, especially in science or art
collaborate on
The two nations are collaborating on several satellite projects.
collaborate with
During the late seventies, he collaborated with the legendary Muddy Waters.
collaborate to do something
Researchers are collaborating to develop the vaccine.
collaborate in (doing) something
Elephants collaborate in looking after their young.
destined ：seeming certain to happen at some time in the future
destined for
She seemed destined for a successful career.
destined to do something
We were destined never to meet again.
survive ：to continue to be successful
The car industry cannot survive without government help.
A lot of smaller firms did not survive the recession.
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.
humble ：not considering yourself or your ideas to be as important as other people's
a modest and humble man
anonymous ：done, sent, or given by someone who does not want their name to be known
an anonymous donation of $5,000
anonymous phone call/letter etc (=one that is often unpleasant or contains threats)
transmit ：to send or pass something from one person, place or thing to another
transmit something (from somebody/something) to somebody/something
Mathematical knowledge is transmitted from teacher to student.
posterity ：all the people in the future who will be alive after you are dead
preserve/record/keep etc something for posterity
a priceless work of art that must be kept for posterity
scrap ：a small piece of paper, cloth etc
scrap of
He wrote his address on a scrap of paper.
a rug made out of old scraps of material
perish ：if rubber or leather perishes, it decays
perceive ：to notice, see, or recognize something
That morning, he perceived a change in Franca's mood.
Cats are not able to perceive colour.
perceive that
He perceived that there was no other way out of the crisis.
foretell ：to say what will happen in the future, especially by using special magical powers
the birth of Christ, foretold by prophets
reluctant ：slow and unwilling
She gave a reluctant smile.
reluctant to do something
Maddox was reluctant to talk about it.
moody ：often changing quickly from being in a good temper to being in a bad temper
a moody teenager
Lewis was aggressive, eccentric, moody, and brilliantly clever.
manuscript ：a book or document written by hand before printing was invented
a fine collection of medieval manuscripts
bewildered ：totally confused
a bewildered expression on his face
sober ：to become more serious in behaviour or attitude, or to make someone become more serious
His expression sobered instantly.
sober up
to gradually become less drunk, or to make someone become less drunk
I had sobered up by now and felt terrible.
sober sb↔ up
Some coffee should sober you up.
reception ：a particular type of welcome for someone, or a particular type of reaction to their ideas, work etc
She was unsure of her reception after everything that had happened.
a warm/good/enthusiastic reception
The delegates gave him a warm reception .
a hostile/cool/frosty reception
His ideas met with a hostile reception.
receive/have/get/meet with a ... reception
He got a great reception from the crowd.
The plans received a mixed reception from unions (=some people liked it, others did not) .
blurt ：blurt something ↔ out
to say something suddenly and without thinking, usually because you are nervous or excited
Peter blurted the news out before we could stop him.
splendor ：impressive beauty, especially of a large building or large place
splendour of
We marvelled at the splendour of the scenery.
The palace has now been restored to its original splendour.
exploit ：a brave and exciting adventure that someone has had
exploit of
the daring exploits of the British Parachute Regiment
set ：set about something/somebody
to start doing or dealing with something, especially something that needs a lot of time and effort
A team of volunteers set about the task with determination.
set about doing something
How do senior managers set about making these decisions?
folly ：a very stupid thing to do, especially one that is likely to have serious results
Somerville bitterly regretted his folly at becoming involved.
it would be folly to do something
It would be sheer folly to reduce spending on health education.
the follies of aristocratic society
properly ：correctly, or in a way that is considered right
The brakes don't seem to be working properly.
Then he's not doing his job properly.
Parents should teach their children to behave properly in public.
properly trained staff
compose ：to write a piece of music
Barrington has composed the music for a new production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
as ：as for somebody/something
used when you are starting to talk about someone or something new that is connected with what you were talking about before
Kitty's got so thin. And as for Carl, he always seems to be ill.
You can ask the others, but as for myself, I'll be busy in the office.
indicate ：to show that a particular situation exists, or that something is likely to be true
indicate (that)
Research indicates that over 81% of teachers are dissatisfied with their salary.
Long skid marks on the pavement indicated the driver had attempted to brake.
The study indicates a strong connection between poverty and crime.
exaltation ：a very strong feeling of happiness
virtuoso ：someone who is a very skilful performer, especially in music
violin virtuoso Stephane Grappelli
insensible ：not knowing about something that could happen to you
insensible of
She remained insensible of the dangers that lay ahead.
tremendous ：very big, fast, powerful etc
Suddenly, there was a tremendous bang, and the whole station shook.
She was making a tremendous effort to appear calm.
She praised her husband for the tremendous support he had given her.
Sales have been tremendous so far this year.
This plan could save us a tremendous amount of money.
enthusiasm ：a strong feeling of interest and enjoyment about something and an eagerness to be involved in it
Gillian and Darren greeted the speakers with great enthusiasm .
We went along to the local diving club, full of enthusiasm .
They go about their tasks with little enthusiasm .
enthusiasm for
Britain's apparent lack of enthusiasm for such a scheme
Employers showed little enthusiasm for the new regulations.
He shares your enthusiasm for jazz.
I left university fired with enthusiasm for work.
A delay of two hours did not dampen their enthusiasm .
rouse ：to wake someone who is sleeping deeply
His banging roused the neighbours.
rouse somebody from sleep/dreams etc
A persistent ringing roused Christina from a pleasant dream.
ovation ：if a group of people give someone an ovation, they clap to show approval
The Chancellor’s entrance was greeted with a standing ovation (=everyone stood up) .
Fans gave the rock group a thunderous ovation.
respect ：when you admire someone, especially because of their personal qualities, knowledge, or skills
respect for
I have the greatest respect for Jane's work.
win/earn/gain the respect of somebody
She has earned the respect of her fellow athletes.
He commands (=has and deserves) the respect of everyone in the profession.
mingle ：if two feelings, sounds, smells etc mingle, they mix together with each other
Add the mint and allow the flavours to mingle.
mingle with
Her perfume mingled with the smell of woodsmoke from the fire.
be mingled with something
Her excitement was mingled with a slight feeling of fear.
remarkable ：unusual or surprising and therefore deserving attention or praise
She has made remarkable progress.
a remarkable coincidence
remarkable feat/achievement/accomplishment
It's a remarkable achievement for the company.
it is remarkable that
It is remarkable that women did not have the vote until that time.
remarkable for
His drawings are remarkable for their accuracy.
He's a remarkable man .
fruitful ：producing good results
Today's meeting proved more fruitful than last week's.
a busy and fruitful time
Annual business reports were a fruitful source of information.
flattering ：clothes, pictures etc that are flattering make someone look as attractive as they can or make something as good as possible, even if it is not really very good
That colour is very flattering.
consequence ：something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions
consequence of
Many believe that poverty is a direct consequence of overpopulation.
consequence for
Our findings have far-reaching consequences for researchers.
dire/disastrous/serious etc consequences
Errors in forecasting can have dire consequences.
with ... consequences
He ate some poisonous mushrooms, with fatal consequences.
take/suffer/face the consequences (of something) (=accept the bad results of something you have done)
He broke the law, and now he must face the consequences of his actions.
affect ：to do something that produces an effect or change in something or in someone's situation
the areas affected by the hurricane
a disease that affects the central nervous system
decisions which affect our lives
Trading has been adversely affected by the downturn in consumer spending.
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
homage ：something you do to show respect for someone or something you think is important
The film pays homage to Martin Scorsese's 'Mean Streets'.
absurd ：completely stupid or unreasonable
quite/slightly/completely etc absurd
It seems quite absurd to expect anyone to drive for 3 hours just for a 20 minute meeting.
It seems an absurd idea.
anecdote ：a short story based on your personal experience
The book is full of amusing anecdotes about his life in Japan.
present ：to show or describe someone or something
The artist was determined to present an accurate picture.
We'll present the information using a chart.
present somebody as something
Shakespeare presents the hero as a noble man doomed to make mistakes.
present yourself as something
The government presents itself as being sensitive to environmental issues.
moral ：principles or standards of good behaviour, especially in matters of sex
the morals and customs of the Victorian period
Values and morals are independent of religious faith.
the corruption of public morals (=the standards of behaviour, especially sexual behaviour, expected by society)
a young woman of loose morals (=low standards of sexual behaviour - often used humorously)
lamentable ：very unsatisfactory or disappointing
a lamentable state of affairs
a lamentable lack of support for the idea
It is lamentable that the officer failed to deal with the situation.
restore ：to give back to someone something that was lost or taken from them
restore something to somebody
The treaty restored Okinawa to Japan.
sulk ：to be silently angry and refuse to be friendly or discuss what is annoying or upsetting you - used to show disapproval
Nicola sulked all morning.
sake ：for the sake of somebody/something
also for somebody's/something's sake
in order to help, improve, or please someone or something
He moved to the seaside for the sake of his health.
I only went for Kay's sake.
I hope he's told the truth for his own sake (=because it will be good for him) .
obedience ：when someone does what they are told to do, or what a law, rule etc says they must do
obedience to
obedience to God
in obedience to something
He lived in obedience to the church's teachings.
blind/unquestioning/complete obedience (=complete obedience without any thought)
With blind obedience, I allowed my father to organize my life.
obedience classes for dogs and their owners
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.
interminable ：very long and boring
interminable delays
cipher ：a system of secret writing
expert in ciphers
messages written in cipher
crotchet ：a musical note which continues for a quarter of the length of a semibreve
quaver ：a musical note which continues for an eighth of the length of a semibreve
triumph ：a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction that you get from victory or success
a shout of triumph
in triumph
He rode in triumph to the Tsar.
pretension ：an attempt to seem more important, more intelligent, or of a higher class than you really are
pretension to
Lilith resented Adam's pretensions to superiority.
the humbleness and lack of pretension of Jordan's cafe
common sense ：the ability to behave in a sensible way and make practical decisions
Use your common sense for once!
a common-sense approach to education
puny ：a puny person is small, thin, and weak
a puny little guy
puny arms
wrinkled ：skin or cloth that is wrinkled has small lines or folds in it
her wrinkled old face
complexion ：the natural colour or appearance of the skin on your face
Drinking lots of water is good for the complexion.
pale/fair/ruddy etc complexion (=a pale, fair, red etc face)
fair-complexioned/smooth-complexioned etc
She was fair-complexioned with pale blonde hair.
fade ：to lose colour and brightness, or to make something do this
the fading evening light
a pair of faded jeans
The sun had faded the curtains.
fussy ：very concerned about small, usually unimportant details, and difficult to please
fussy about
Leonora was fussy about her looks.
A lot of small children are fussy eaters (=they dislike many types of food) .
'Do you want to go out or just rent a movie?' 'I'm not fussy.' (=I don't mind)
draught ：cold air that moves through a room and that you can feel
Can you close the window? I'm in a draught .
expose ：to show something that is usually covered or hidden
He lifted his T-shirt to expose a jagged scar across his chest.
expose something to something
Potatoes turn green when exposed to light.
bald ：having little or no hair on your head
a bald man
his shiny bald head
Dad started going bald when he was in his thirties.
He combed his hair and tried to hide his bald patch (=part of someone's head where there is no hair) .
conical ：shaped like a cone
huts with conical roofs
tease ：to laugh at someone and make jokes in order to have fun by embarrassing them, either in a friendly way or in an unkind way
Don't get upset. I was only teasing .
He used to tease her mercilessly .
tease somebody about something
She used to tease me about my hair.
pleasantry ：things that you say to someone in order to be polite, but which are not very important
Stephen and Mr Illing exchanged pleasantries .
smack ：to hit someone, especially a child, with your open hand in order to punish them
the debate about whether parents should smack their children
put ：put up with somebody/something
to accept an unpleasant situation or person without complaining
She put up with his violent temper.
groceries ：food and other goods that are sold by a grocer or a supermarket
stationery ：paper for writing letters, usually with matching envelopes
a letter on hotel stationery
confectionery ：sweets, chocolates etc
scarves ：the plural of scarf1
pickle ：a thick cold sauce that is made from pieces of vegetables preserved in vinegar. It is usually eaten with cold meat or cheese
cheese and pickle sandwiches
a selection of cold meats and pickles
almanac ：a book produced each year containing information about a particular subject, especially a sport, or important dates, times etc
a football almanac
a nautical almanac
drug ：a substance such as tobacco, coffee, or alcohol, that makes you want more and more of it
drapery ：cloth and other goods sold by a draper
a drapery business
fumble ：to try to hold, move, or find something with your hands in an awkward way
fumble at/in/with
She dressed, her cold fingers fumbling with the buttons.
fumble for
I fumbled around in my bag for a cigarette.
She reached round to fumble the light on.
timid ：not having courage or confidence
I was a timid child.
a policy that is both timid and inadequate
salute ：to greet someone in a polite way, especially by moving your hand or body
remote ：far from towns or other places where people live
a remote border town
a fire in a remote mountain area
huddle ：to lie or sit with your arms and legs close to your body because you are cold or frightened
She huddled under the blankets.
The snow blew against his huddled body.
jeering ：a jeering remark or sound is unkind and shows that you do not respect someone
jeering laughter
contempt ：a feeling that someone or something is not important and deserves no respect
contempt for
The contempt he felt for his fellow students was obvious.
utter/deep contempt
The report shows utter contempt for women's judgement.
open/undisguised contempt
She looked at him with undisguised contempt.
The public is treated with contempt by broadcasters.
How could she have loved a man who so clearly held her in contempt ?
beneath contempt
That sort of behaviour is simply beneath contempt (=does not deserve respect or attention) .
freak ：someone who is extremely interested in a particular subject so that other people think they are strange or unusual
a fitness freak
a religious freak
a computer freak
ridiculous ：very silly or unreasonable
That's a ridiculous idea!
Don't be ridiculous!
I'd look ridiculous in a dress like that.
absolutely/totally/utterly ridiculous
It's an absolutely ridiculous decision.
it is ridiculous that
It's ridiculous that we have to wait six weeks.
crush ：to make someone feel extremely upset or shocked
Sara was crushed by their insults.
accustomed ：be accustomed to (doing) something
to be familiar with something and accept it as normal
We were accustomed to working together.
become/grow/get accustomed to something
Her eyes quickly became accustomed to the dark.
dispute ：to say that something such as a fact or idea is not correct or true
The main facts of the book have never been disputed.
dispute that
Few would dispute that travel broadens the mind.
intellectual ：relating to the ability to understand things and think intelligently
intellectual development/ability/activity etc
a job that requires considerable intellectual effort
superiority ：the quality of being better, more skilful, more powerful etc than other people or things
superiority of
the supposed superiority of the male sex
superiority over
the intellectual superiority of humans over other animals
superiority in
US superiority in air power
adoration ：great love and admiration
the look of adoration in his eyes
thrust ：thrust something ↔ aside
to refuse to think about something
Our complaints were thrust aside and ignored.