Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

abstain verb [I ] NOT DO

1. to not do something, especially something enjoyable that you think might be bad He took a vow to abstain from alcohol/smoking/sex.

adulterate verb [T always passive ]

to make food or drink weaker or to lower its quality, by adding something else There were complaints that the beer had been adulterated with water.

advocate verb [T ]
to publicly support or suggest an idea, development or way of doing something [+ -ing verb She advocates taking a more long-term view. He advocates the return of capital punishment.

anomaly noun [C or U ] !"#$%&

a person or thing that is different from what is usual, or not in agreement with something else and therefore not satisfactory Statistical anomalies can make it difficult to compare economic data from one year to the next. The anomaly of the social security system is that you sometimes have more money without a job.

antipathy noun [C or U ]
'an e(ample of) strong dislike, opposition or anger espite the deep antipathies between them! the two sides have managed to negotiate an agreement. eclarations of racial antipathy against ethnic minorities will not be tolerated. He is a private man with a deep antipathy to/towards the press.

apathy noun [U ]
when someone shows no interest or energy and is unwilling to take action, especially over something important widespread apathy among students voter apathy

assuage verb [T ] !"#$%&

to make unpleasant feelings less strong The government has tried to assuage the public"s fears.

audacious adjective
showing a willingness to take risks or offend people He described the plan as ambitious and audacious. an audacious remark/suggestion

bolster verb [T ]
to support or improve something or make it stronger #ore money is needed to bolster the industry. She tried to bolster my confidence/morale $% encourage me and make me feel stronger& by telling me that ' had a special talent. They need to do something to bolster their image.

cacophony noun [S ]
an unpleasant mi(ture of loud sounds (hat a cacophony)

Cambridge University Press 2008

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

*s we entered the farmyard we were met with a cacophony of animal sounds.

capricious adjective &*+,#%#changing mood or behaviour suddenly and une(pectedly a capricious child He was a cruel and capricious tyrant.

corroborate verb [T ] !"#$%&

to add proof to an account, statement, idea, etc. with new information +ecent research seems to corroborate his theory.

deride verb [T ] !"#$%&

to laugh at someone or something in a way which shows you think they are stupid or of no value He derided my singing as pathetic. This building! once derided by critics! is now a major tourist attraction.

desiccated adjective
1. dried ,--g of desiccated $% dried and broken into small pieces& coconut .. /*0%11#"2*34 not interesting or completely without imagination *ll the party seems to have to offer is the same desiccated old ideas.

dissonance noun [U ]
1. 01,5*%&*6,/ a combination of sounds or musical notes that are not pleasant when heard together the jarring dissonance of .lein"s musical score .. !"#$%& disagreement

enervate verb [T] &*+,#%#-

engender verb [T ] !"#$%&

to make people have a particular feeling or make a situation start to e(ist Her latest book has engendered a lot of controversy. The minister"s speech did not engender confidence in his judgment.

enigma noun [C ]
something that is mysterious and seems impossible to understand completely She is a bit of an enigma. The newspapers were full of stories about the enigma of /ord /ucan"s disappearance.

equivocal adjective !"#$%&

not clear and seeming to have two opposing meanings, or confusing and able to be understood in two different ways His words to the press were deliberately e0uivocal - he didn"t deny the reports but neither did he confirm them.

erudite adjective !"#$%&

having or containing a lot of specialist knowledge He"s the author of an erudite book on Scottish history.

eulogy noun [C or U ] !"#$%&

a speech, piece of writing, poem, etc. containing great praise, especially for someone who recently died or stopped working

Cambridge University Press 2008

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

He was the most self-effacing of men - the last thing he would have relished was a eulogy. The song was a eulogy to the joys of travelling.

fervent adjective '%&0" fervid) !"#$%&

describes beliefs that are strongly and sincerely felt or people who have strong and sincere beliefs a fervent supporter of the communist party 't is his fervent hope that a peaceful solution will soon be found.

garrulous adjective
having the habit of talking a lot, especially about things which are not important

gullible adjective
easily deceived or tricked, and too willing to believe everything that other people say There are any number of miracle cures on the market for people gullible enough to buy them.

ingenuous adjective !"#$%&

honest, sincere and trusting, sometimes in a way that seems silly 't has to be said it was rather ingenuous of him to ask a complete stranger to look after his luggage.

laconic adjective !"#$%&

using very few words to e(press what you mean She had a laconic wit.

laudable adjective !"#$%&

'of actions and behaviour) deserving praise, even if there is little or no success a laudable aim/ambition The recycling programme is laudable! but does it save much money1

lethargic adjective
having little energy7 feeling unwilling and unable to do anything ' was feeling tired and lethargic.

loquacious adjective !"#$%&

describes someone who talks a lot

lucid adjective
clearly e(pressed and easy to understand or 'of a person) thinking or speaking clearly She gave a clear and lucid account of her plans for the company"s future. The drugs she"s taking make her drowsy and confused! but there are times when she"s 0uite lucid.

malleable adjective
1. describes a substance that is easily changed into a new shape /ead and tin are malleable metals. .. easily influenced, trained or controlled He had an actor"s typically malleable features. 2urope saw its colonies as a source of raw material and a malleable workforce.

misanthrope noun [C ] '%&0" misanthropist)

someone who dislikes other people and avoids involvement with society

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Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

mitigate verb [T ] !"#$%&

to make something less harmful, unpleasant or bad 't is unclear how to mitigate the effects of tourism on the island.

obdurate adjective !"#$%&

1. /*0%11#"2*34 e(tremely determined to act in a particular way and not to change despite what anyone else says The 3resident remains obdurate on the 0uestion of tax cuts. .. describes a person who refuses to change their mind, or someone or something that is difficult to deal with or change The union remains obdurate that any redundancies must be voluntary. Several obdurate facts/differences remain! preventing a compromise solution.

opaque adjective
1. preventing light from travelling through, and therefore not transparent or translucent opa0ue glass/tights .. !"#$%& describes writing or speech that is difficult to understand ' find her poetry rather opa0ue.

ostentation noun [U ] /*0%11#"2*34

the quality of being ostentatious Her luxurious lifestyle and personal ostentation were both hated and envied.

paradox noun [C or U ]
a situation or statement which seems impossible or is difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts or characteristics [+ that 't"s a curious paradox that drinking a lot of water can often make you feel thirsty.

philanthropist noun [C ]
a person who helps the poor, especially by giving them money a donation from a wealthy ,4th-century philanthropist

placate verb [T ]
to stop someone from feeling angry 5utraged minority groups will not be placated by promises of future improvements.

pragmatic adjective $%*3&-

%11#"2*34

solving problems in a realistic way which suits the present conditions rather than obeying fi(ed theories, ideas or rules 'n business! the pragmatic approach to problems is often more successful than an idealistic one.

precipitate verb MAKE

A!!EN

1. [+ !"#$%& to make something happen suddenly or sooner than e(pected *n invasion would certainly precipitate a political crisis. 6ear of losing her job precipitated $% suddenly forced& her into action.

prevaricate verb [I ] !"#$%&

to avoid telling the truth or saying e(actly what you think He accused the minister of prevaricating.

prodigal adjective !"#$%&

Cambridge University Press 2008

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

wasteful with money7 often spending large amounts without thinking of the future There have been rumours that he has been prodigal with company funds.

vacillate verb [I ] /*0%11#"2*34

to be uncertain what to do, or to change often between two opinions Her mood vacillated between hope and despair.

venerate verb [T ] !"#$%&

to honour or very much respect a person or thing +obert 7urns is Scotland"s most venerated poet.

volatile adjective
1. likely to change suddenly and une(pectedly or suddenly become violent or angry 6ood and fuel prices are very volatile in a war situation. The situation was made more volatile by the fact that people had been drinking a lot of alcohol. He had a rather volatile temper and can"t have been easy to live with. .. % volatile liquid or solid substance will change easily into a gas.

"aver verb [I ]
1. to lose strength, determination or purpose, especially temporarily '"m afraid my concentration began to waver as lunch approached. He has never wavered in his support for the leader. .. *f you waver between two possibilities, you cannot decide which of them to choose or you keep choosing one way and then the other 8(hat are you having18 82r! '"m wavering between the fish soup and the mushroom tart.8

#eal noun [S or U ]
great enthusiasm or eagerness reforming/missionary/religious 9eal a 9eal for money-making

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