Learn English Vocabulary - via Word of the Day

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Showing posts from July, 2014

Quirk

By Shamli Seth - July 31, 2014

Quirk [ kwurk ] [ noun, transitive verb ] MEANING : 1. (n.) an idiosyncrasy, whim, or peculiar mannerism or trait 2. (n.) a sharp turn or twist 3. (n.) an accident or vagary 4. (n.) a subterfuge, shift or quibble 5. (tr.v.) to form with a twist or curve 6. (adj.) formed with a curve or twist. USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : His quirks made him stand out in a crowd

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Tempo

By Shamli Seth - July 30, 2014

Tempo [ TEM-poh ] [ noun ] MEANING : 1. (music) speed at which music is played 2. pace, rhythm or speed USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : His music consisted of fast tempo accompanied by a foot-tapping beat.

Remorse

By Shamli Seth - July 29, 2014

Remorse [ ri-MAWRS ] [ noun ] MEANING : regret, penitence, self-reproach or guilt owing to some wrong doing USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The remorse shown by the accused led the judge to reduce his sentence.

Succumb

By Shamli Seth - July 28, 2014

Succumb [ suh’-KUHM ] [ intransitive verb ] MEANING : 1. to yield or give in to superior force 2. to die USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The soldier succumbed to his injuries due to heavy blood loss.

Tyranny

By Shamli Seth - July 27, 2014

Tyranny [ TIR-uh'-nee ] [ noun ] MEANING : 1. oppressive or abusive use of power 2. undue harshness, strictness or severity 3. the rule of an absolute ruler USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The people rose against the tyranny of the dictator.

Spectral

By Shamli Seth - July 26, 2014

Spectral [ SPEK-truh’ l ] [ adjective ] MEANING : 1. ghostly 2. pertaining to, resembling or of a spectre 3. related to or of a spectrum USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The detective set up machines to record spectral activity in the vicinity.

Shrew

By Shamli Seth - July 25, 2014

Shrew [ shroo ] [ noun, transitive verb ] MEANING : 1. an ill-tempered woman known for her scolding 2. a small, mouse-like insectivorous mammal that has a long, pointed snout and soft fur USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The shrew screeched the house down.

Tarn

By Shamli Seth - July 24, 2014

Tarn [ tahrn ] [ noun ] MEANING : a small lake or pool esp. one that is in a cirque USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The tarn was considered dangerous as many people had drowned in it.

Shoal

By Shamli Seth - July 23, 2014

Shoal [ shohl ] [ noun, adjective, transitive verb ] MEANING : 1. (n.) the place where the river or sea is shallow 2. (adj.) shallow 3. (tr.v.) to cause to become shallow USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The lifeguard mentioned that the shoal was a safe place to swim.

Veneer

By Shamli Seth - July 22, 2014

Veneer [ vuh'-NEER ] [ noun, transitive verb ] MEANING : 1. (n.) a thin layer of wood that is glued to the surface of inferior wood 2. (n.) facade or superficial or deceptive pleasing appearance or experience 3. (tr.v.) to overlay inferior wood with a thin sheet of wood for decoration 4. (tr.v.) to conceal or hide under superficial attractiveness USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The contractor decided to cover up the floor with veneer in order to reduce refurbishing costs.

Apartheid

By Shamli Seth - July 21, 2014

Apartheid [ uh'-PAHRT-heyt, -hahyt ] [ noun ] MEANING : 1. a policy that was earlier practised in the republic of south africa to separate the non-white community from the white community 2. segregation or separation USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The practice of apartheid should be abolished.

Allegiance

By Shamli Seth - July 20, 2014

Allegiance [ uh'-LEE-juh' ns ] [ noun ] MEANING : 1. the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a vassal, feudal lord, sovereign or country 2. loyalty or devotion to a person or cause USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : He promised allegiance to the Nawab.

Apotheosis

By Shamli Seth - July 19, 2014

Apotheosis [ uh'-poth-ee-Oh- sis, ap-uh'-Thee-uh'-sis ] [ noun ] MEANING : 1. deification or elevation or exaltation to a divine stature 2. quintessence, epitome or glorified example USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : Their love story became the apotheosis for generations to come.

Spasmodic

By Shamli Seth - July 18, 2014

Spasmodic [ spaz-MOD-ik ] [ adjective ] MEANING : 1. pertaining to or resembling spasms 2. intermittent, sporadic or fitful 3. excitable or extremely emotional USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : Spasmodic jerks seemed to rack his body.

Ambivalent

By Shamli Seth - July 17, 2014

Ambivalent [ am-BIV-uh'-luh' nt ] [ adjective ] MEANING : exhibiting simultaneous, contradictory emotions, attitudes or feelings USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : Her ambivalent reactions confused everyone.

Sophist

By Shamli Seth - July 15, 2014

Sophist [ SOF-ist ] [ noun ] MEANING : 1. a philosopher, thinker or scholar 2. one who is skilled at reasoning or arguing adroitly or speciously 3. a teacher or philosopher in ancient greece who reasoned out or argued or speculated on theology, metaphysics, and the sciences USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : He considered himself to be a sophist.

Megalomania

By Shamli Seth - July 14, 2014

Megalomania [ meg-uh’-loh-MEY- nee-uh’ ] [ noun ] MEANING : a mental ailment characterised by delusions of wealth, power or greatness USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : It would probably be correct to arrive at the conclusion that most great men suffer from a sense of megalomania.

Engrave

By Shamli Seth - July 12, 2014

Engrave [ en-GREYV ] [ transitive verb ] MEANING : 1. to etch or carve into the surface of a material 2. to print from such an engraved surface 3. to deeply etch or impress in memory USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : He engraved his vows on a tablet made of solid gold.

Amorous

By Shamli Seth - July 11, 2014

Amorous [ AM-er-uh' s ] [ adjective ] MEANING : 1. strongly disposed, attracted to or fond of love esp. making love 2. enamoured or being in love 3. suggestive of, indicating or expressing love 4. associated with or pertaining to love USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : She ridiculed his amorous intentions towards her.

Irascible

By Shamli Seth - July 10, 2014

Irascible [ i-ras-uh-buh l ] [ adjective ] MEANING : 1. very irritable; short-tempered 2. marked or produced by anger or hot temper USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The irascible Sales Manager gave a dressing down to his team for not achieving their monthly targets.

Potpourri

By Shamli Seth - July 09, 2014

Potpourri [ poh-poo'-REE POH-poo'-ree ] [ noun ] MEANING : 1. a mixture of spices and petals of fragrant flowers 2. a musical medley 3. a collection or a mixture of USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : A gentle fragrance emanated from the jar of potpourri in her bedroom.

Conspicuous

By Shamli Seth - July 08, 2014

Conspicuous [ kuh’ n-SPIK-yoo-uh’ s ] [ adjective ] MEANING : 1. noticeable, observable or obvious 2. unusual, outstanding, striking or egregious USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The conspicuous changes to the design included a change in the fabric used and an addition of decorative laces.

Conglomerate

By Shamli Seth - July 07, 2014

conglomerate [ n., adj. kuh'n-GLOM-er-it, kuh'ng-; v. kuh'n-GLOM-uh'-reyt, kuh'ng- ] [ noun, adjective, intransitive verb ] MEANING : 1. (n.) a company that consists of a grouping of businesses from unrelated industries 2. (n.) something composed of heterogeneous materials or elements 3. (adj.) clustered or comprising of parts gathered into a mass 4. (adj.) having heterogeneous parts or elements 5. (tr. v.) to form into a mass 6. (intr. v.) to cause to form into a mass USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The CEO declared that their company had become a conglomerate with the successful completion of the acquisition and diversification program.

Staccato

By Shamli Seth - July 07, 2014

Staccato [ stuh’-KAH-toh ] [ noun, adjective, adverb ] MEANING : 1. (adj.) composed of or marked by disconnected, disjointed, short and abrupt sounds 2. (adv.) in a staccato way or manner 3. (n.) a passage, performance or speech that is staccato USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The staccato beep woke up everyone.

Abnegation

By Shamli Seth - July 06, 2014

Abnegation [ AB-ni-gey-shuh'n ] [ noun ] MEANING : 1. self denial in favour of the interests of others 2.the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief; "abnegation of the Holy Trinity" USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The children were taught the value of abnegation from a young age.

Onomatopoeia

By Shamli Seth - July 05, 2014

Onomatopoeia [ on-uh’-mat-uh’- PEE-uh’, mah-tuh’ ] [ noun ] MEANING : the formation or use of words that imitate natural sounds like buzz, crack, splash, etc. USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The word hiss can be said to be an onomatopoeia.

Punitive

By Shamli Seth - July 04, 2014

Punitive [ PYOO-ni-tiv ] [ adjective ] MEANING : 1. inflicting punishment 2. punishing USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : Punitive action was taken against the errant secretary of the housing society.

Antagonism

By Shamli Seth - July 03, 2014

Antagonism [ an-TAG-uh'-niz- uh'm ] [ noun ] MEANING : 1. an active opposition 2. hostility that results in active resistance USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The lawyer cross-examined the witness in such a way that the witness was overcome with antagonism.

Drowsiness

By Shamli Seth - July 02, 2014

Drowsiness [ DROU-zee-nis ] [ noun ] MEANING : somnolence or sleepiness USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The drowsiness she experienced was a result of the medication.

Nefarious

By Shamli Seth - July 01, 2014

Nefarious [ ni-FAIR-ee-uh’ s ] [ adjective ] MEANING : blatantly wicked USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The clandestine sale of nuclear technology to Pakistan by China and other such nefarious activities is a matter of great concern for the international community.

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