2013.12.24 word (week16-2)

1.fruitless(a.)
: producing no good results : not successful
▪ They made a fruitless attempt to find a solution.

*fruitlessly (adv.)
▪ They argued fruitlessly.

*fruitlessness [noncount]

 

2.decimate(v.)

[+ obj] 1) : to destroy a large number of (plants, animals, people, etc.)
▪ This kind of moth is responsible for decimating thousands of trees in our town. 

— usually used as (be) decimated 

▪ The bay's lobsters have been decimated by disease. 

▪ The village/population was decimated by plague.

2)  : to severely damage or destroy a large part of (something)
▪ Budget cuts have decimated public services in small towns. 

— usually used as (be) decimated 

▪ The landscape is decimated by pollution.

 *decimation  (noun)

3.unwind(v.)
1) : to move the end of something (such as a piece of string) that is wound in a roll, coil, etc., so that it becomes straight
[+ obj] 
▪ She unwound some thread from the spool.
[no obj] 
▪ The fishing line unwound quickly.

2) [no obj] : to relax and stop thinking about work, problems, etc.
▪ I wanted to unwind after a hard day.

 

4.patronage(n.)

[noncount]

1) : money and support that is given to an artist, organization, etc.
▪ The college relied on the patronage of its wealthy graduates to expand its funds.

2) chiefly US, somewhat formal : support that is given to a business, library, etc., by buying its goods or using its services
▪ The city should do more to encourage patronage of local businesses.

3) often disapproving : the power to give jobs or provide other help to people as a reward for their support
▪ a system of political patronage

 

5.comply(v.)

[no obj] : to do what you have been asked or ordered to do
▪ I asked the waitress to refill my coffee cup and she happily complied.  

— often + with 

▪ You still have not complied with our request. [=have not done what we requested you to do]