2013.11.12 word (week10-2)

1.prolong(v.)

[+ obj] : to make (something) last or continue for a longer time
▪ Chemotherapy helped to prolong [=extend] her life. ▪ Additives are used to prolong the shelf life of packaged food. ▪ High interest rates were prolonging the recession.

2.propel(v.)

[+ obj] : to push or drive (someone or something) forward or in a particular direction
▪ He grabbed him and propelled him through the door. ▪ The train is propelled by steam. — often used figuratively ▪ She was propelled [=motivated] by greed when she stole the money. ▪ The album propelled the band to fame.

 

3.prospect(n.)

1) : the possibility that something will happen in the future [singular] ▪ the frightening prospect of going to war ▪ She is excited by the prospect of returning to school. ▪ Bankruptcy is an unlikely prospect for the company. [noncount] ▪ There was no/little prospect that the two parties would reach an agreement anytime soon.

2) [count] : an opportunity for something to happen — usually plural ▪ He has few prospects for employment. ▪ She has a lot of business prospects. = She has a lot of prospects for doing business.

3) [count] : someone or something that is likely to succeed or to be chosen
▪ a young baseball player who's considered a top prospect ▪ We haven't decided which car to buy yet. We're still looking at a few prospects.

4 ) [count] formal : a wide view of an area from usually a high place — usually singular — usually + of ▪ a wide prospect of the surrounding country

 

4.postwar(a.)

: happening, existing, or made after a war
▪ the postwar generation ▪ postwar architecture ; especially : happening, existing, or made after World War II
▪ postwar Europe

 

5.postdate(v.)

[+ obj] 1) : to give (something) a date that is later than the actual or current date
▪ postdate a check ▪ We sent the company a postdated check for next month's payment.

2) : to exist, happen, or be made at a later time than (something)
▪ These buildings postdate World War II. [=they were built after World War II]

2013.11.11 word (week10-1)

1.postmortem(n.)
medical : happening after death
▪ a postmortem examination

2.recede(v.)

[no obj] 1) : to move away gradually
▪ The floodwaters slowly receded. ▪ I felt sad as I watched the ship recede from view.

2) : to become smaller or weaker
▪ We listened as the sound of the sirens receded [=faded] into the distance. ▪ The pain from my headache slowly began to recede.

3) ◊If your hair is receding, you are gradually losing the hair that is at the front of your head.
▪ His hair started receding when he was in his thirties. ▪ He has a receding hairline.

4) ◊A receding chin/forehead is a chin/forehead that slants backward.

 

3.reclaim(v.)

[+ obj] 1) : to get back (something that was lost or taken away)
▪ Sons and daughters are proudly reclaiming the traditions that their parents had forgotten. ▪ She reclaimed the title of world champion this year. ▪ You might be able to reclaim some of the money you contributed.

2) : to make (land) available for use by changing its condition
▪ Environmental groups have been reclaiming contaminated sites. ▪ Acres of land were reclaimed by conservationists. ▪ reclaimed swampland

3) : to get (a usable material) from materials that have been used before
▪ The factory reclaims fibers from textile wastes. ▪ These bottles were made from reclaimed [=(more commonly) recycled] plastic.

 

4.recrimination(n.)

: an angry statement in which you accuse or criticize a person who has accused or criticized you [count] ▪ The discussion turned into a heated debate with recriminations flying back and forth. [noncount] ▪ The meeting ended with bitterness and recrimination. ▪ words of recrimination

 

5.refract(v.)

[+ obj] technical, of an object or substance : to make (light) change direction when it goes through at an angle
▪ Prisms refract light. ▪ Light is refracted when it hits water.

2013.11.08 word (week9-5)

1. omnipresent (a.)
present or having an effect everywhere at the same time:
▪ The singer became an omnipresent icon of style and beauty.

 2. hyperactive ( a.)(esp. of children) extremely or unusually active:
▪ She wanted to keep her hyperactive son busy.

 3. hypersensitive  (a.)very easily changed or damaged by physical conditions, or easily upset:
▪ He’s hypersensitive about his height.

 4. antipathy (n.)
a feeling of strong dislike, opposition, or anger:
▪ Despite the deep antipathies between them, the two sides have managed to negotiate an agreement.

 5. antibiotic (n.)a medicine or chemical that can destroy harmful bacteria in the body or limit their growth:
▪ I’m taking an antibiotic for a throat infection.

2013.11.07 note:midterm exam (week9)

2013.11.07 word (week9-4)

1. gregarious (a.)
liking to be with other people: Leo was an open, gregarious, kind individual, who loved people.

 2. terrain (n.)an area of land, esp. when considering its natural features: rugged mountain terrain

 3. misanthrope (n.)
someone who dislikes other people and avoids involvement with society

 4. foreboding  (n.)the feeling that something bad is going to happen: The gloomy weather gave me a sense of foreboding.

 5. sedition ( n.)language or behavior intended to persuade other people to oppose their government and change it, sometimes by using violence:He himself was tried for sedition and sentenced to ten years in jail.

2013.11.06 word (week9-3)

1. sophomoric  (a.)(of an adult) typical of someone acting like a child: ▪sophomoric behavior

2. immature (a.)not completely developed physically, mentally, or emotionally, or lacking the expected type of responsible behavior for your age: ▪Some of the boys in my class are so immature – they’re always doing silly things.

 3. insult (v.)to act in a way or say something that is offensive or rude to someone: ▪Don’t insult me just because I can’t dance.

 4 slander (n.)
a false, spoken statement about someone which damages that person's reputation, or the making of such a statement:
▪Political campaigns are full of shameless slander.

5. smuggle  (v.)to take things or people to or from a country or place illegally and secretly: ▪He was caught trying to smuggle goods across the border.

2013.11.05 word (week9-2)

1. paradigm (n.)
a very clear or typical example used as a model: ▪His ruthless accumulation of wealth stands as a paradigm of greed in the business world.
2.telepathy (n.)
communication with another person by thinking rather than by using words or other signals

3. culpable (a.)
deserving to be blamed or considered responsible for something bad: ▪The landowner could be proved culpable for starting the fire.
4. euphemism (n.)
the use of a word or phrase to avoid saying another word or phrase that may be unpleasant or offensive, or the word or phrase used: ▪The phrase “left to pursue other interests” is a euphemism for “fired.”
5. antediluvian (a.)extremely old-fashioned:

▪My mother has some hopelessly antediluvian ideas about the role of women.