Word Meaning

1. dish·ev·elled
dis·in·ter
dis·in·ter·est·ed
dis·junc·tion
dis·lodge
dis·pirited
dis·port
dis·pu·ta·tion
dis·quiet
dis·quisi·tion
dis·sem·ble
dis·ser·ta·tion
dis·simu·late
dis·sol·ution
(from dissolve)
dis·suade
dis·tend
dis·traught
di·ur·nal
diva
di·vest
docket
dod·der·ing
doff
dog·gerel
(DOG-GARAL)
dol·drums
dole·ful
Word List 15
1) (of hair, clothes or sb’s general appearance) very untidy SYN unkempt:He looked tired and
dishevelled.
1) to dig up sth, especially a dead body, from the ground OPP inter
2) disinter sth (from sth) to find sth that has been hidden or lost for a long time
1) not influenced by personal feelings, or by the chance of getting some advantage for
yourself SYN impartial, objective, unbiased:a disinterested onlooker / spectator Ç Her
advice appeared to be disinterested.
2) (informal) not interestedò note at interested
1) disjunction (between A and B) (formal) a difference between two things that you would
expect to be in agreement with each other
1) dislodge sth (from sth) to force or knock sth out of its position:The wind dislodged one or two
tiles from the roof.
with di'spatch
1) (formal) quickly and efficiently
1) having no hope or enthusiasm:She looked tired and dispirited.
1) disport yourself (old-fashioned or humorous) to enjoy yourself by doing sth active
1) (from dispute)(formal) a discussion about sth that people cannot agree on
1) disquiet (about / over sth) (formal) feelings of worry and unhappiness about sth SYN unease
:There is considerable public disquiet about the safety of the new trains.
1) (formal) a long complicated speech or written report on a particular subject
1) (formal) to hide your real feelings or intentions, often by pretending to have different
ones:[v] She was a very honest person who was incapable of dissembling.
1) dissertation (on sth) a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one written for
a university degree
1) (formal) to hide your real feelings or intentions, often by pretending to have different
ones SYN dissemble
1) the act of officially ending a marriage, a business agreement, or a parliament
2) the process in which sth gradually disappears:the dissolution of barriers of class and race
3) the act of breaking up an organization, etc.
1) dissuade sb (from sth / from doing sth) to persuade sb not to do sth:I tried to dissuade him
from giving up his job. Ç They were going to set off in the fog, but were dissuaded.
1) (formal or medical) to swell or make sth swell because of pressure from inside:[vn] starving
children with huge distended bellies
1) extremely upset and anxious so that you cannot think clearly
1) (biology) (of animals) active during the day OPP nocturnal
2) (astronomy) taking one day:the diurnal rotation of the earth
1) a famous woman singer, especially an opera singer
1) divest sb / yourself of sth to remove clothes:He divested himself of his jacket.
2) divest yourself of sth to get rid of sth:The company is divesting itself of some of its assets.
3) divest sb/sth of sth to take sth away from sb/sth:After her illness she was divested of much
of her responsibility.
1) (business) a document or label that shows what is in a package, which goods have been
delivered, which jobs have been done, etc.
2) (also 'docket sheet) a list of cases to be dealt with in a particular court
3) a list of items to be discussed at a meeting
1) weak, slow and not able to walk in a steady way, especially because you are old
1) (old-fashioned) to take off your hat, especially to show respect for sb/sth
2) (informal) stupid
1) poetry that is badly written or ridiculous, sometimes because the writer has not intended it
to be serious
1) the state of feeling sad or depressed:He’s been in the doldrums ever since she left him.
2) a lack of activity or improvement:The bond market normally revives after the summer
doldrums. Ç Despite these measures, the economy remains in the doldrums.
1) very sad SYN mournful :a doleful expression / face / song Ç a doleful looking man

2. dol·or·ous
dolt
domi·cile
don
dormer
'window
(also dormer)
dor·sal
dot·age
dote
dowdy
down·cast
drab
dregs
drivel
droll
drone
dross
drudg·ery
duc·tile
dul·cet
dumb·found
dupe
du·pli·city
1) (literary) feeling or showing great sadness
1) (disapproving) a stupid person SYN idiot
1) (formal or law) the place where sb lives, especially when it is stated for official or legal
purposes
noun
1) a teacher at a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge—see also donnish
2) (informal) the leader of a group of criminals involved with the Mafia
verb
1) (formal) to put clothes, etc. on:He donned his jacket and went out.
1) a vertical window in a room that is built into a sloping roof—picture at house
1) (technical) on or connected with the back of a fish or an animal:a shark’s dorsal fin
IDIOMS
be in your dotage
1) to be old and not always able to think clearly
PHRASAL VERBS
'dote on / upon sb
1) to feel and show great love for sb, ignoring their faults:He dotes on his children.
1) (of a woman) not attractive or fashionable
2) (of a thing) dull or boring and not attractive SYN drab :a dowdy dress
1) (of eyes) looking down:Eyes downcast, she continued eating.
2) (of a person or an expression) sad or depressed SYN dejected:A group of downcast men
stood waiting for food.
1) (drab·ber, drab·best) without interest or colour; dull and boring:a cold drab little office Ç
drab women, dressed in browns and greys
1) the last drops of a liquid, mixed with little pieces of solid material that are left in the bottom
of a container:coffee dregs
2) the worst and most useless parts of sth:the dregs of society
3) (literary) the last parts of sth:the last dregs of daylight
noun
1) (informal, disapproving) silly nonsense:How can you watch that drivel on TV?
verb
1) drivel (on) (about sth) (usually used in the progressive tenses) to keep talking about silly or
unimportant things
1) (old-fashioned or ironic) amusing, but not in a way that you expect
1) a continuous low noise:the distant drone of traffic
2) a male bee that does not work—compare queen bee, worker
3) a person who is lazy and gives nothing to society while others work
4) an aircraft without a pilot, controlled from the ground
PHRASAL VERBS
drone 'on (about sth)
1) to talk for a long time in a boring way
1) something of very low quality; the least valuable part of sth:mass-produced dross
2) (technical) a waste substance, especially that separated from a metal when it is melted
1) hard boring work
1) (technical) (of a metal) that can be made into a thin wire
1) (humorous or ironic) sounding sweet and pleasant:I thought I recognized your dulcet tones (=
the sound of your voice).
1) to surprise or shock sb so much that they are unable to speak:His reply dumbfounded me.
verb
1) dupe sb (into doing sth) to trick or cheat sb:They soon realized they had been duped. Ç He
was duped into giving them his credit card.
noun
1) (formal) a person who is tricked or cheated
1) (formal) dishonest behaviour that is intended to make sb believe sth which is not true SYN

3. deceit
dys·pep·tic
ebul·li·ent
(EBAL-LIENT)
ec·cle·si·as·tic
eclec·tic
eddy
edict
edify
eerie
ef·fem·in·ate
ef·fer·ves·cent
ef·fete
ef·figy
ef·front·ery
ef·fu·sion
e·gress
in·gress
ejacu·la·tion
elated
elegy
el·lip·sis
Elys·ian
ema·ci·ated
eman·ci·pate
em·bel·lish
em·boss
em·brace
Word List 16
1) (medical) connected with or suffering from dyspepsia (Indigestion)
2) (formal) bad-tempered
1) (formal) full of confidence, energy and good humour:The Prime Minister was in ebullient
mood.
1) (formal) a priest or minister in the Christian Church
1) (formal) not following one style or set of ideas but choosing from or using a wide variety:She
has very eclectic tastes in literature.
1) (ed·dies, eddy·ing, ed·died, ed·died) [v] (of air, dust, water, etc.) to move around in a
circle SYN swirl :The waves swirled and eddied around the rocks.
1) (formal) an official order or statement given by sb in authority SYN decree
1) (edi·fies, edify·ing, edi·fied, edi·fied) [v, vn+ (formal) to improve people’s minds or characters
by teaching them about sth
1) strange, mysterious and frightening SYN uncanny :an eerie yellow light Ç I found the silence
underwater really eerie.
1) (disapproving) (of a man or a boy) looking, behaving or sounding like a woman or a girl
1) (approving) (of people and their behaviour) excited, enthusiastic and full of energy SYN
bubbly
2) (of a liquid) having or producing small bubbles of gas SYN fizzy
1) weak; without the power that it once had
2) (of a man) without strength; looking or behaving like a woman
1) a statue of a famous person, a saint or a god:stone effigies in the church
2) a model of a person that makes them look ugly:The demonstrators burned a crude effigy of
the president.
1) (formal) behaviour that is confident and very rude, without any feeling of shame SYN nerve
1) (technical) something, especially a liquid, that flows out of sb/sth; the act of flowing out
2) (formal) the expression of feelings in an exaggerated way; feelings that are expressed in this
way
1) (formal) the act of leaving a place
1) (formal) the act of entering a place; the right to enter a place
1) (formal) a sudden shout or sound that you make when you are angry or surprised SYN
exclamation
1) elated (at / by sth) very happy and excited because of sth good that has happened, or will
happen:They were elated at the result. Ç I was elated by the prospect of the new job ahead.
1) a poem or song that expresses sadness, especially for sb who has died
1) (grammar) the act of leaving out a word or words from a sentence deliberately, when the
meaning can be understood without them
2) three dots ( … ) used to show that a word or words have been left out
1) (literary) relating to heaven or to a place of perfect happiness
IDIOMS
the Elysian 'Fields
1) (in ancient Greek stories) a wonderful place where some people were taken by the gods after
death
1) thin and weak, usually because of illness or lack of food
1) emancipate sb (from sth) to free sb, especially from legal, political or social restrictions. SYN
set free :Slaves were not emancipated until 1863 in the United States.
1) to make sth more beautiful by adding decorations to it SYN decorate
2) to make a story more interesting by adding details that are not always true SYN embroider
1) emboss A with B | emboss B on A to put a raised design or piece of writing on paper, leather,
etc.:stationery embossed with the hotel’s name Ç The hotel’s name was embossed on the
stationery.
1) (formal) to put your arms around sb as a sign of love or friendship SYN hug: [v] They
embraced and promised to keep in touch. Ç [vn] She embraced her son warmly.
2) (formal) to accept an idea, a proposal, a set of beliefs, etc., especially when it is done with

4. em·broil
em·bry·on·ic
emet·ic
emol·li·ent
emolu·ment
en·am·oured
(en·amored)
en·clave
en·co·mium
en·cum·ber
en·cum·brance
ener·vate
en·fran·chise
en·join
en·mity
(from enemy)
Ennui
(ON-U-EE)
en·rap·ture
en·sconce
en·to·mol·ogy
en·treat
en·trée
(ON-TRAY)
en·vir·ons
ep·aul·ette
(APPELLETE)
epi·cure
epi·logue
enthusiasm:to embrace democracy / feminism / Islam
3) (formal) to include sth:The talks embraced a wide range of issues.
1) embroil sb / yourself (in sth) (formal) to involve sb/yourself in an argument or a difficult
situation:He became embroiled in a dispute with his neighbours. Ç I was reluctant to embroil
myself in his problems.
1) (formal) in an early stage of development:The plan, as yet, only exists in embryonic form.
2) (technical) of an embryo:embryonic cells
1) (medical) a substance that makes you vomit (= bring up food from the stomach)
1) making a person or situation calmer in the hope of keeping relations peaceful SYN soothing
:an emollient reply
2) (technical) used for making your skin soft or less painful SYN soothing:an emollient cream
1) (formal) money paid to sb for work they have done, especially to sb who earns a lot of money
1) enamoured of / with sth (formal) (often in negative sentences) liking sth a lot:He was less
than enamoured of the music. Ç (humorous) I’m not exactly enamoured with the idea of
spending a whole day with them.
2) enamoured of / with sb (literary) in love with sb
1) an area of a country or city where the people have a different religion, culture or nationality
from those who live in the country or city that surrounds it
1) (pl. en·co·miums or en·co·mia) (formal) a speech or piece of writing that praises sb or sth
highly
Word List 17
1) to make it difficult for sb to do sth or for sth to happen:The police operation was
encumbered by crowds of reporters.
2) to be large and/or heavy and make it difficult for sb to move:The frogmen were encumbered
by their diving equipment.
1) (formal) a person or thing that prevents sb from moving easily or from doing what they
want SYN burden :I felt I was being an encumbrance to them.
1) (formal) to make sb feel weak and tired:an enervating disease / climate
1) (formal) to give sb the right to vote in an election OPP disenfranchise
1) (formal) to order or strongly advise sb to do sth; to say that a particular action or quality is
necessary
2) enjoin sb from doing sth (law) to legally prevent sb from doing sth, for example with an
injunction
1) enmity (between A and B) feelings of hatred towards sb:the traditional problem of the
enmity between Protestants and Catholics Ç personal enmities and political conflicts Ç Her
action earned her the enmity of two or three colleagues.
1) (from French, literary) feelings of being bored and not satisfied because nothing interesting is
happening
1) (formal) to give sb great pleasure or joy SYN enchant
1) (formal) if you are ensconced or ensconce yourself somewhere, you are made or make
yourself comfortable and safe in that place or position
1) the scientific study of insects
1) (formal) to ask sb to do sth in a serious and often emotional way SYN beg, implore: [vn]
Please help me, I entreat you. Ç [vn to inf] She entreated him not to go.
(from French)
1) (in a restaurant or at a formal meal) the main dish of the meal or a dish served before the
main course
2) entrée (into / to sth) (formal) the right or ability to enter a social group or institution
1) (formal) the area surrounding a place:Berlin and its environs Ç people living in the immediate
environs of a nuclear plant
(usually ep·aulet)
1) a decoration on the shoulder of a coat, jacket, etc., especially when part of a military uniform
1) (formal) a person who enjoys food and drink of high quality and knows a lot about it
1) a speech, etc. at the end of a play, book, or film / movie that comments on or acts as a
conclusion to what has happened

5. epi·taph
(EPI-TAFF)
epi·thet
epit·ome
epoch
equ·able
equa·nim·ity
eques·trian
equine
equi·nox
equi·poise
equivo·cal
un·equivo·cal
equivo·cate
er·rant
eru·dite
es·cap·ade
eso·ter·ic
es·pi·on·age
essay
es·teem
eth·no·logy
ethos
eu·gen·ics
eu·pho·ni·ous
EU-PHA-NIOUS
eu·tha·nasia
1) words that are written or said about a dead person, especially words on a gravestone
2) epitaph (to sb/sth) something which is left to remind people of a particular person, a period
of time or an event:These slums are an epitaph to the housing policy of the 1960s.
1) an adjective or phrase that is used to describe sb/sth’s character or most important quality,
especially in order to give praise or criticism:The film is long and dramatic but does not quite
earn the epithet ‘epic’.
2) an offensive word or phrase that is used about a person or group of people:Racial epithets
were scrawled on the walls.
1) the ~ of sth a perfect example of sth SYN embodiment :He is the epitome of a modern
young man. Ç clothes that are the epitome of good taste
1) a period of time in history, especially one during which important events or changes
happen SYN era :The death of the emperor marked the end of an epoch in the country’s
history.
2) (geology) a length of time which is a division of a period:geological epochs
1) calm and not easily upset or annoyed:an equable temperament
2) (of weather) keeping a steady temperature with no sudden changes
1) (formal) a calm state of mind which means that you do not become angry or upset, especially
in difficult situations:She accepted the prospect of her operation with equanimity.
1) connected with riding horses, especially as a sport:equestrian events at the Olympic Games
1) (formal) connected with horses; like a horse
1) one of the two times in the year (around 20 March and 22 September) when the sun is above
the equator and day and night are of equal length:the spring / autumn equinox
1) (formal) a state of balance
1) (of words or statements) not having one clear or definite meaning or intention; able to be
understood in more than one way SYN ambiguous :She gave an equivocal answer, typical of
a politician.
2) (of actions or behaviour) difficult to understand or explain clearly or easily:The experiments
produced equivocal results.
1) (formal) expressing your opinion or intention very clearly and firmly SYN unambiguous :an
unequivocal rejection Ç The answer was an unequivocal ‘no’. OPP equivocal ò note at plain
1) (formal) to talk about sth in a way that is deliberately not clear in order to avoid or hide the
truth
1) doing sth that is wrong; not behaving in an acceptable way (figurative)
2) (of a husband or wife) not sexually faithful
1) (formal) having or showing great knowledge that is gained from academic study SYN learned
1) an exciting adventure (often one that people think is dangerous or stupid):Isabel’s latest
romantic escapade
1) (formal) likely to be understood or enjoyed by only a few people with a special knowledge or
interest
1) the activity of secretly getting important political or military information about another
country or of finding out another company’s secrets by using spies SYN spying:Some of the
commercial activities were a cover for espionage. Ç She may call it research; I call it industrial
espionage.
1) essay (in sth) (formal) an attempt to do sth:His first essay in politics was a complete disaster.
1) (formal) great respect and admiration; a good opinion of sb:She is held in high esteem by her
colleagues. Ç Please accept this small gift as a token of our esteem.
1) the scientific study and comparison of human races
1) (formal) the moral ideas and attitudes that belong to a particular group or society:an ethos of
public service
1) the study of methods to improve the mental and physical characteristics of the human race
by choosing who may become parents
Word List 18
1) (formal) (of a sound, word, etc.) pleasant to listen to
1) the practice (illegal in most countries) of killing without pain a person who is suffering from a
disease that cannot be cured SYN mercy killing :They argued in favour of legalizing voluntary

6. evan·es·cent
evince
ewe
ex·cise
ex·cori·ate
ex·cul·pate
exe·crable
exe·gesis
ex·hort
ex·hume
exi·gency
ex·igu·ous
exo·dus
ex·on·er·ate
ex·or·cize
( ex·or·cise)
ex·pan·sive
ex·pati·ate
ex·pi·ate
ex·ple·tive
ex·pli·cate
Exploits
ex·pos·ition
(from expose)
ex·pos·tu·late
ex·pro·pri·ate
ex·punge
ex·pur·gate
ex·tant
ex·tem·pore
ex·tenu·at·ing
euthanasia (= people being able to ask for euthanasia themselves).
1) (literary) disappearing quickly from sight or memory
1) (formal) to show clearly that you have a feeling or quality:He evinced a strong desire to be
reconciled with his family.
1) a female sheep
1) a government tax on some goods made, sold or used within a country:new excise duties on
low-alcohol drinks Ç a sharp increase in vehicle excise Ç an excise officer (= an official whose
job is to collect excise)—compare customs ò note at tax
2) excise sth (from sth) (formal) to remove sth completely:Certain passages were excised from
the book.
1) (medical) to irritate a person’s skin so that it starts to come off
2) (formal) to criticize sb/sth severely
1) (formal) to prove or state officially that sb is not guilty of sth
1) (formal) very bad SYN terrible
1) (formal) the detailed explanation of a piece of writing, especially religious writing
1) exhort sb (to sth / to do sth) (formal) to try hard to persuade sb to do sth SYN urge:
[vn to inf] The party leader exhorted his members to start preparing for government. Ç [vn]
They had been exhorted to action.
1) (formal) to remove a dead body from the ground especially in order to examine how the
person died SYN dig up
1) (formal) an urgent need or demand that you must deal with SYN demand
1) (formal) very small in size or amount; hardly enough
1) exodus (from … ) (to … ) (formal or humorous) a situation in which many people leave a place
at the same time:the mass exodus from Paris to the country in the summer
1) exonerate sb (from sth) (formal) to officially state that sb is not responsible for sth that they
have been blamed for:The police report exonerated Lewis from all charges of corruption.
1) exorcize sth (from sb/sth) to make an evil spirit leave a place or sb’s body by special prayers
or magic
2) (formal) to remove sth that is bad or painful from your mind:She had managed to exorcize
these unhappy memories from her mind.
1) friendly and willing to talk a lot:She was clearly relaxed and in an expansive mood.
ex'patiate on / upon sth
1) (formal) to write or speak in detail about a subject
1) (formal) to accept punishment for sth that you have done wrong in order to show that you
are sorry:He had a chance to confess and expiate his guilt.
1) (formal) a word, especially a rude word, that you use when you are angry, or in pain SYN
swear word
1) (formal) to explain an idea or a work of literature in a lot of detail
1) a brave, exciting or interesting act:the daring exploits of Roman heroes
1) a full explanation of a theory, plan, etc.:a clear and detailed exposition of their legal position
2) an event at which people, businesses, etc. show and sell their goods; a trade fair
1) (formal) to argue, disagree or protest about sth
1) (formal or law) (of a government or an authority) to officially take away private property
from its owner for public use
2) (formal) to take sb’s property and use it without permission
1) expunge sth (from sth) (formal) to remove or get rid of sth, such as a name, piece of
information or a memory, from a book or list, or from your mind SYN erase:Details of his
criminal activities were expunged from the file. Ç What happened just before the accident
was expunged from his memory.
1) (formal) to remove or leave out parts of a piece of writing or a conversation when printing or
reporting it, because you think those parts could offend people
1) (formal) (of sth very old) still in existence:extant remains of the ancient wall
1) (formal) spoken or done without any previous thought or preparation SYN impromptu
1) (formal) showing reasons why a wrong or illegal act, or a bad situation, should be judged less
seriously or excused:There were extenuating circumstances and the defendant did not

7. ex·tirp·ate
ex·tra·ne·ous
1)
1)
ex·trin·sic
1)
ex·trude
1)
ex·uber·ant
2)
1)
exude
2)
1)
2)
exult
1)
fa·cetious
(FA-SEE-TIOUS)
1)
fa·cile
fac·ti·tious
fac·to·tum
1)
2)
1)
2)
1)
1)
fal·low
1)
fac·sim·ile
2)
fal·ter
(hesitate)
1)
2)
3)
fan·cier
1)
fan·fare
1)
2)
fas·tidi·ous
1)
2)
fa·tal·ism
1)
fatu·ous
faze
1)
1)
fe·brile
1)
receive a prison sentence.
(formal) to destroy or get rid of sth that is bad or not wanted
extraneous (to sth) (formal) not directly connected with the particular situation you are in or
the subject you are dealing with SYN irrelevant:We do not want any extraneous information
on the page. Ç We shall ignore factors extraneous to the problem.
(formal) not belonging naturally to sb/sth; coming from or existing outside sb/sth rather than
within them:extrinsic factors
(formal) to force or push sth out of sth; to be forced or pushed in this way:[vn] Lava is
extruded from the volcano. [also v]
(technical) to shape metal or plastic by forcing it through a hole
full of energy, excitement and happiness:She gave an exuberant performance. Ç an
exuberant personality / imagination Ç a picture painted in exuberant reds and yellows
(of plants, etc.) strong and healthy; growing quickly and well
if you exude a particular feeling or quality, or it exudes from you, people can easily see that
you have it:[vn] She exuded confidence. [also v]
if sth exudes a liquid or smell, or a liquid or smell exudes from somewhere, the liquid, etc.
comes out slowly:[vn] The plant exudes a sticky fluid. Ç [v] An awful smell exuded from the
creature’s body.
exult (at / in sth) (formal) to feel and show that you are very excited and happy because of
sth that has happened:[v] He leaned back, exulting at the success of his plan. Ç [v speech]
‘We won!’ she exulted. *also v that]
trying to appear amusing and intelligent at a time when other people do not think it is
appropriate, and when it would be better to be serious SYN flippant :a facetious
comment / remark Ç Stop being facetious; this is serious.
produced without effort or careful thought SYN glib :a facile remark / generalization
(formal) obtained too easily and having little value:a facile victory
an exact copy of sth:a facsimile edition Ç a manuscript reproduced in facsimile
(formal) = fax:a facsimile machine
(formal) not genuine but created deliberately and made to appear to be true
(formal or humorous) a person employed to do a wide variety of jobs for sb
Word List 19
(of farm land) not used for growing crops, especially so that the quality of the land will
improve:Farmers are now paid to let their land lie fallow.
(of a period of time) when nothing is created or produced; not successful:Contemporary
dance is coming onto the arts scene again after a long fallow period.
to become weaker or less effective SYN waver :The economy shows no signs of faltering. Ç
Her courage never faltered.
to speak in a way that shows that you are not confident:[v] His voice faltered as he began his
speech. [also v speech]
to walk or behave in a way that shows that you are not confident:She walked up to the
platform without faltering. Ç He never faltered in his commitment to the party.
(usually in compounds) (especially BrE) a person who has a special interest in sth, especially
sb who keeps or breeds birds, animals or plants:a pigeon fancier
a short loud piece of music that is played to celebrate sb/sth important arriving
a large amount of activity and discussion on television, in newspapers, etc. to celebrate
sb/sth:The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.
being careful that every detail of sth is correct SYN meticulous:Everything was planned in
fastidious detail. Ç He was fastidious in his preparation for the big day.
(sometimes disapproving) not liking things to be dirty or untidy:She wasn’t very fastidious
about personal hygiene.
the belief that events are decided by fate and that you cannot control them; the fact of
accepting that you cannot prevent sth from happening
(formal) stupid:a fatuous comment / grin
(informal) to make you feel confused or shocked, so that you do not know what to do SYN
disconcert :She wasn’t fazed by his comments. Ç He looked as if nothing could faze him.
(formal) nervous, excited and very active:a product of her febrile imagination

8. feck·less
fec·und
feint
fe·lici·tous
fe·li·city
Fell
feral
fer·vent
fer·vid
fête (also fete)
fet·ter
fiat
fi·del·ity
fig·ura·tive
fig·ur·ine
filch
fili·bus·ter
fili·gree
fin·icky
fire·brand
flac·cid
Flag
fla·grant
flail
2) (medical) (of an illness) caused by fever
1) having a weak character; not behaving in a responsible way:Her husband was a charming, but
lazy and feckless man.
1) able to produce a lot of children, crops, etc. SYN fertile
2) producing new and useful things, especially ideas
1) (especially in sport) a movement that is intended to make your opponent think you are going
to do one thing when you are really going to do sth else
1) (formal or literary) (especially of words) chosen well; very suitable; giving a good result SYN
apt, happy :a felicitous turn of phrase
1) great happiness
2) the quality of being well chosen or suitable
3) felicities [pl.] well-chosen or successful features, especially in a speech or piece of writing
1) very evil and violent
1) (of animals) living wild, especially after escaping from life as a pet or on a farm:feral cats
(figurative)
1) having or showing very strong and sincere feelings about sth SYN ardent :a fervent
admirer / believer / supporter Ç a fervent belief / hope / desire
1) (formal) feeling sth too strongly; showing feelings that are too strong
1) (also fair)an outdoor entertainment at which people can play games to win prizes, buy food
and drink, etc., usually arranged to make money for a special purpose:the
school / village / church fête
verb
1) (formal) to welcome, praise or entertain sb publicly
1) (literary) to restrict sb’s freedom to do what they want
2) to put chains around a prisoner’s feet SYN shackle
1) (formal) an official order given by sb in authority SYN decree
1) fidelity (to sth) (formal) the quality of being loyal to sb/sth:fidelity to your principles
2) fidelity (to sb) the quality of being faithful to your husband, wife or partner by not having a
sexual relationship with anyone else:marital / sexual fidelity OPP infidelity
3) fidelity (of sth) (to sth) (formal) the quality of being accurate:the fidelity of the translation to
the original text—see also high fidelity
1) (of language, words, phrases, etc.) used in a way that is different from the usual meaning, in
order to create a particular mental picture. For example, ‘He exploded with rage’ shows a
figurative use of the verb ‘explode’.—compare literal, metaphorical
2) (of paintings, art, etc.) showing people, animals and objects as they really look:a figurative
artist—compare abstract
1) a small statue of a person or an animal used as a decorative object
1) (informal) to steal sth, especially sth small or not very valuable SYN pinch
1) a long speech made in a parliament in order to delay a vote
1) delicate decoration made from gold or silver wire
1) (disapproving) too worried about what you eat, wear, etc.; disliking many things SYN fussy:a
finicky eater
2) needing great care and attention to detail SYN fiddly :It’s a very finicky job.
1) a person who is always encouraging other people to take strong political action, often
causing trouble
1) (formal) soft and weak; not firm and hard:flaccid breasts
1) (also means) to become tired, weaker or less enthusiastic
1) (of an action) shocking because it is done in a very obvious way and shows no respect for
people, laws, etc. SYN blatant :a flagrant abuse of human rights Ç He showed a flagrant
disregard for anyone else’s feelings.
verb
1) flail (sth) (about / around) to move around without control; to move your arms and legs
around without control:[v] The boys flailed around on the floor. Ç He was running along, his
arms flailing wildly. [also vn]
2) to hit sb/sth very hard, especially with a stick

9. flair
flay
fleck
fledg·ling
(fledge·ling)
fleece
flit
floe
ice floe
flot·sam
flout
fluted
foi·ble
foist
fo·li·age
fo·ment
fool·hardy
fop
foray
noun
1) a tool that has a long handle with a stick swinging from it, used especially in the past to
separate grains of wheat from their dry outer covering, by beating the wheat
1) flair for sth a natural ability to do sth well SYN talent :He has a flair for languages.
2) a quality showing the ability to do things in an interesting way that shows imagination:artistic
flair Ç She dresses with real flair.
1) to remove the skin from an animal or person, usually when they are dead
2) to hit or whip sb very hard so that some of their skin comes off
3) (formal) to criticize sb/yourself severely
1) a very small area of a particular colour:His hair was dark, with flecks of grey.
2) a very small piece of sth:flecks of dust / foam / dandruff
1) a young bird that has just learnt to fly
2) a person, an organization or a system that is new and without experience:fledgling
democracies
1) the wool coat of a sheep; this coat when it has been removed from a sheep (by shearing)—
picture at sheep
2) a type of soft warm cloth that feels like sheep’s wool; a jacket or sweatshirt that is made
from this cloth:a fleece lining Ç a bright red fleece
verb
1) (informal) to take a lot of money from sb by charging them too much:Some local shops have
been fleecing tourists.
Word List 20
1) flit (from A to B) | flit (between A and B) to move lightly and quickly from one place or thing
to another:Butterflies flitted from flower to flower. Ç He flits from one job to another. Ç A
smile flitted across his face. Ç A thought flitted through my mind.
2) to change the place where you live:I had to change schools every time my parents flitted.
IDIOMS
do a moonlight / midnight 'flit
1) to leave a place suddenly and secretly at night, usually in order to avoid paying money that
you owe to sb
1) ice floe
1) a large area of ice, floating in the sea
1) parts of boats, pieces of wood or rubbish / garbage, etc. that are found on land near the sea
or floating on the sea; any kind of rubbish / garbage:The beaches are wide and filled with
interesting flotsam and jetsam.
2) people who have no home or job and who move from place to place, often rejected by
society:the human flotsam of inner cities
1) to show that you have no respect for a law, etc. by openly not obeying it SYN defy :Motorists
regularly flout the law. Ç to flout authority / convention
1) (especially of a round object) with a pattern of curves cut around the outside:fluted columns
1) a silly habit or a strange or weak aspect of a person’s character, that is considered harmless
by other people SYN idio.syn.crasy :We have to tolerate each other’s little foibles.
PHRASAL VERBS
'foist sb/sth on / upon sb
1) to force sb to accept sb/sth that they do not want:The title for her novel was foisted on her
by the publishers.
1) the leaves of a tree or plant; leaves and branches together:dense green foliage
1) (formal) to create trouble or violence or make it worse SYN incite :They accused him of
fomenting political unrest.
1) (disapproving) taking unnecessary risks SYN reckless :It would be foolhardy to sail in weather
like this.
1) (old-fashioned) a man who is too interested in his clothes and the way he looks
1) foray (into sth) an attempt to become involved in a different activity or profession:the
company’s first foray into the computer market
2) foray (into sth) a short sudden attack made by a group of soldiers
3) foray (to / into … ) a short journey to find a particular thing or to visit a new place SYN

10. for·bear·ance
ford
for·bear
fore·bod·ing
fo·ren·sic
fore·shadow
for·sake
for·swear
forte
forth·right
for·tuit·ous
foun·der
fra·cas
frac·tious
fre·net·ic
frenzy
fresco
fret
frieze
frit·ter
expedition:weekend shopping forays to France
1) (formal) the quality of being patient and sympathetic towards other people, especially when
they have done sth wrong
noun
1) a shallow place in a river where it is possible to drive or walk across
verb
1) to walk or drive across a river or stream
1) forbear (from sth / from doing sth) (formal) to stop yourself from saying or doing sth that you
could or would like to say or do:[v] He wanted to answer back, but he forbore from doing so.
Ç [v to inf] She forbore to ask any further questions.
1) a strong feeling that sth unpleasant or dangerous is going to happen:She had a sense of
foreboding that the news would be bad. Ç He knew from her face that his forebodings had
been justified.ò note at fear
1) connected with the scientific tests used by the police when trying to solve a crime:forensic
evidence / medicine / science / tests Ç the forensic laboratory Ç a forensic pathologist
2) connected with or used in court:a forensic psychiatrist (= one who examines people who
have been accused of a crime)
1) (formal) to be a sign of sth that will happen in the future
1) to leave sb/sth, especially when you have a responsibility to stay SYN abandon :He had
made it clear to his wife that he would never forsake her.
2) to stop doing sth, or leave sth, especially sth that you enjoy SYN renounce :She forsook the
glamour of the city and went to live in the wilds of Scotland.
1) (formal or literary) to stop doing or using sth; to make a promise that you will stop doing or
using sth SYN renounce :The group forswears all worldly possessions. Ç The country has not
forsworn the use of chemical weapons.
noun
1) a thing that sb does particularly well:Languages were never my forte.
adverb
1) (music) played or sung loudly OPP piano
1) direct and honest in manner and speech SYN frank :a woman of forthright views
1) (formal) happening by chance, especially a lucky chance that brings a good result
noun
1) a person who starts an organization, institution, etc. or causes sth to be built:the founder and
president of the company
verb [v] founder (on sth) (formal)
1) (of a plan, etc.) to fail because of a particular problem or difficulty:The peace talks foundered
on a basic lack of trust.
2) (of a ship) to fill with water and sink:Our boat foundered on a reef.
1) a noisy argument or fight, usually involving several people
1) bad-tempered or easily upset, especially by small things SYN irritable :Children often get
fractious and tearful when tired.
2) (formal) making trouble and complaining:The six fractious republics are demanding
autonomy.
1) involving a lot of energy and activity in a way that is not organized:a scene of frenetic activity
1) frenzy (of sth) a state of great activity and strong emotion that is often violent or frightening
and not under control:in a frenzy of activity / excitement / violence Ç The speaker worked
the crowd up into a frenzy. Ç an outbreak of patriotic frenzy Ç a killing frenzy—see also
feeding frenzy
1) a picture that is painted on a wall while the plaster is still wet; the method of painting in this
way
1) fret (about / over sth) to be worried or unhappy and not able to relax:[v] Fretting about it
won’t help. Ç Her baby starts to fret as soon as she goes out of the room.
1) a border that goes around the top of a room or building with pictures or carvings on it
2) a long narrow picture, usually put up in a school, that children have made or that teaches
them sth
fritter sthƒa'way (on sth)

11. frivo·lous
fru·ition
ful·min·ate
ful·some
(FULL-SOME)
fu·sil·lade
gad·fly
gaffe
1) to waste time or money on things that are not important:He frittered away the millions his
father had left him.
noun
1) (usually in compounds) a piece of fruit, meat or vegetable that is covered with batter and
fried
1) (of people or their behaviour) silly or amusing, especially when such behaviour is not
suitable:frivolous comments / suggestions Ç Sorry, I was being frivolous.
2) having no useful or serious purpose:frivolous pastimes / pleasures
1) (formal) the successful result of a plan, a process or an activity:After months of hard work,
our plans finally came to fruition. Ç His extravagant ideas were never brought to fruition.
1) fulminate against (sb/sth) (formal) to criticize sb/sth angrily
1) (disapproving) too generous in praising or thanking sb, or in saying sorry, so that you do not
sound sincere:a fulsome apology Ç He was fulsome in his praise of the Prime Minister.
1) a rapid series of shots fired from one or more guns; a rapid series of objects that are
thrown SYN barrage :a fusillade of bullets / stones Ç (figurative) He faced a fusillade of
questions from the waiting journalists.
1) (usually disapproving) a person who annoys or criticizes other people in order to make them
do sth
1) a mistake that a person makes in public or in a social situation, especially sth
embarrassing SYN faux pas