2013.11.25 word (week12-1)

1.absentminded (adj.): tending to forget things or to not notice things : having or showing a lack of attention
▪ Her absentminded husband forgot their anniversary.

2.abstraction(n.)1) [noncount] : the act of obtaining or removing something from a source : the act of abstracting something
▪ abstraction of data from hospital records

2) formal : a general idea or quality rather than an actual person, object, or event : an abstract idea or quality
[count] ▪ “Beauty” and “truth” are abstractions.[noncount] ▪ the abstraction [=abstract quality] of his ideas

3) [noncount] somewhat formal : the state of someone who is not paying attention to what is happening or being said : an abstracted state

▪ She gazed out the window in abstraction.

3.accountable(adj.)1) : required to explain actions or decisions to someone
 — usually + to ▪ Political leaders need to be accountable to the people they represent.

2) : required to be responsible for something
▪ If anything goes wrong I will hold you personally accountable!
—

often + for ▪ They hold you accountable for your mistakes.

▪ Each child is accountable [=responsible] for his or her own behavior.

4.analogy(n.)1) [count] : a comparison of two things based on their being alike in some way
▪ He drew/made an analogy between flying a kite and fishing. [=he compared flying a kite to fishing; he said that flying a kite was like fishing]

2) [noncount] : the act of comparing two things that are alike in some way
▪ coining new words by analogy to/with existing ones [=coining new words so that they are formed in a way similar to old ones]

5.articulate(adj.)

[more articulate; most articulate]

1) : able to express ideas clearly and effectively in speech or writing
▪ She's an intelligent and articulate speaker.
2) : clearly expressed and easily understood
▪ The baby is beginning to form articulate words and phrases.