Index of Word Meanings
1: funeral pyre: A pyre, also known as a funeral pyre, is a structure, usually made of wood, for burning a body as part of a funeral rite or execution. As a form of cremation, a body is placed upon or under the pyre, which is then set on fire. 2. glisten /ˈɡlɪs(ə)n/ Learn to pronounce verb past tense: glistened; past participle: glistened (of something wet or greasy) shine with a sparkling light. "his cheeks glistened with tears" h Similar: shine sparkle twinkle glint glitter catch the light glimmer 3. satin /ˈsatɪn/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: satin a smooth, glossy fabric, usually of silk, produced by a weave in which the threads of the warp are caught and looped by the weft only at certain intervals. "flowing skirts made of satin, chiffon, and velvet" denoting or having a surface or finish resembling satin. modifier noun: satin "an aluminium alloy with a black satin finish" 4. mound1 /maʊnd/ Learn to pronounce Filter definitions by topic See definitions in: all geography archaeology baseball heraldry royalty noun noun: mound; plural noun: mounds 1. a rounded mass projecting above a surface. "the bushes were little more than vague mounds beneath the snow" a small hill. "he built his castle high upon the mound" h Similar: hillock hill knoll rise hummock hump embankment bank ridge dune tor elevation acclivity tump drumlin brae law butte a raised mass of earth and stones created for purposes of defence or burial. "the dead were cremated, and then buried at the centre of a great mound" h Similar: barrow tumulus motte tell kurgan Baseball a slight elevation from which the pitcher delivers the ball. 2. a large pile or quantity of something. "a mound of dirty crockery" h Similar: heap pile stack mass collection accumulation aggregation assemblage mountain pyramid rickle bing verb verb: mound; 3rd person present: mounds; past tense: mounded; past participle: mounded; gerund or present participle: mounding 1. heap up into a rounded pile. "basmati rice was mounded on our plates" h Similar: pile pile up heap heap up 2. archaic enclose or fortify with an embankment. "a sand-built ridge Of heaped hills that mound the sea" Phrases take the mound — (of a pitcher) have a turn at pitching. "he took the mound yesterday for the first in time in over a year" Origin early 16th century (as a verb in the sense ‘enclose with a fence or hedge’): of obscure origin. An early sense of the noun was ‘boundary hedge or fence’. mound2 /maʊnd/ Learn to pronounce nounarchaic noun: mound; plural noun: mounds a ball representing the earth, used as part of royal regalia, e.g. on top of a crown, typically of gold and surmounted by a cross. Origin Middle English (denoting the world): from Old French monde, from Latin mundus ‘world’. --- 5. fidelity /fɪˈdɛlɪti/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: fidelity 1. faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support. "he sought only the strictest fidelity to justice" h Similar: loyalty allegiance obedience constancy fealty homage staunchness fastness sexual faithfulness to a spouse or partner. h Similar: faithfulness loyalty constancy devotedness devotion commitment adherence true-heartedness trustworthiness trustiness honesty dependability reliability monogamy troth h Opposite: disloyalty infidelity 2. the degree of exactness with which something is copied or reproduced. "the 1949 recording provides reasonable fidelity" h Similar: accuracy exactness exactitude precision preciseness correctness scrupulousness strictness closeness faithfulness correspondence literalness conformity realism verisimilitude veracity authenticity naturalism h Opposite: inaccuracy Origin --- 6. crouch /kraʊtʃ/ Learn to pronounce verb verb: crouch; 3rd person present: crouches; past tense: crouched; past participle: crouched; gerund or present participle: crouching adopt a position where the knees are bent and the upper body is brought forward and down, typically in order to avoid detection or to defend oneself. "we crouched down in the trench" h Similar: squat (down) duck (down) hunker down bob down hunch over bend (down) stoop (down) bow (down) kneel (down) cower cringe shrink huddle scooch noun noun: crouch; plural noun: crouches a crouching stance or posture. "he dropped into a defensive crouch" Origin --- 7. lentil /ˈlɛnt(ə)l/ Learn to pronounce noun plural noun: lentils 1. a high-protein pulse which is dried and then soaked and cooked prior to eating. 2. the plant which yields lentils, native to the Mediterranean and Africa and grown also for fodder. Origin Middle English: from Old French lentille, from Latin lenticula, diminutive of lens, lent- ‘lentil’. --- 8. clavicle /ˈklavɪk(ə)l/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: clavicle; plural noun: clavicles technical term for collarbone. Origin early 17th century: from Latin clavicula ‘small key’, diminutive of clavis (because of its shape). --- 9. stupendous /stjuːˈpɛndəs/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: stupendous extremely impressive. "the most stupendous views" h Similar: amazing astounding astonishing extraordinary remarkable wonderful prodigious phenomenal staggering breathtaking fantastic mind-boggling mind-blowing great terrific awesome unreal amazeballs wondrous h Opposite: run-of-the-mill ordinary Origin --- 10. sickle /ˈsɪk(ə)l/ Learn to pronounce noun plural noun: sickles a short-handled farming tool with a semicircular blade, used for cutting corn, lopping, or trimming. Origin Old English sicol, sicel, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch sikkel and German Sichel, based on Latin secula, from secare ‘to cut’. --- 11. spittle /ˈspɪt(ə)l/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: spittle saliva, especially as ejected from the mouth. Origin late 15th century: alteration of dialect spattle, by association with spit1. --- 12. spittoon /spɪˈtuːn/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: spittoon; plural noun: spittoons a metal or earthenware pot typically having a funnel-shaped top, used for spitting into. --- 13. hump /hʌmp/ verb gerund or present participle: humping 1. informal•British carry (a heavy object) with difficulty. "he continued to hump cases up and down the hotel corridor" h Similar: carry lug heave lift shoulder hoist heft tote schlep humph upheave 2. make hump-shaped. "he turned and humped his body to avoid a rope" h Similar: arch curve hunch bend bow curl crook h Opposite: straighten 3. vulgar slang have sex with. 4. informal•Irish go away. Origin early 18th century: probably related to Low German humpe ‘hump’, also to Dutch homp, Low German humpe ‘lump, hunk (of bread)’. --- 14. glaring: glaring /ˈɡlɛːrɪŋ/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: glaring 1. giving out or reflecting a strong or dazzling light. "the glaring sun" h Similar: dazzling blinding blazing strong extremely bright harsh fluorescent h Opposite: dim soft 2. staring fiercely or fixedly. "their glaring eyes" 3. highly obvious or conspicuous. "there is a glaring omission in the data" h Similar: obvious conspicuous plain to see unmistakable obtrusive striking flagrant blatant staring someone in the face as plain as a pikestaff as plain as day inescapable unmissable outrageous gross overt patent transparent manifest visible apparent unconcealed undisguised standing/sticking out a mile right under one's nose egregious h Opposite: inconspicuous minor glare /ɡlɛː/ Learn to pronounce verb gerund or present participle: glaring 1. stare in an angry or fierce way. "she glared at him, her cheeks flushing" h Similar: stare angrily scowl glower look daggers frown lour give someone a black look look threateningly/menacingly give someone a dirty look give someone a death stare glout glunch h Opposite: smile express (a feeling) by staring fiercely. "he glared defiance at the pistols pointing at him" 2. (of the sun or an electric light) shine with a strong or dazzling light. "the sun glared out of a clear blue sky" h Similar: blaze be dazzling be blinding shine brightly flare flame beam Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘shine strongly’): from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German glaren ‘to gleam, glare’: perhaps related to glass. The sense ‘stare’ occurred first in the adjective glaring (late Middle English). --- 15. dazzle /ˈdaz(ə)l/ Learn to pronounce verb verb: dazzle; 3rd person present: dazzles; past tense: dazzled; past participle: dazzled; gerund or present participle: dazzling (of a bright light) blind (a person or their eyes) temporarily. "she was dazzled by the headlights" h Similar: blind temporarily deprive of sight amaze or overwhelm (someone) with a particular impressive quality. "I was dazzled by the beauty and breadth of the exhibition" h Similar: overpower overcome overwhelm impress bedazzle strike move stir affect touch sweep someone off their feet awe overawe leave speechless take someone's breath away spellbind hypnotize fascinate take aback daze stagger floor amaze astonish bowl over blow away knock out noun noun: dazzle; plural noun: dazzles brightness that blinds someone temporarily. "I screwed my eyes up against the dazzle" h Similar: glare flare blaze brightness brilliance gleam flash shimmer radiance shine Origin late 15th century (in the sense ‘be dazzled’): frequentative of the verb daze. --- 16. degenerate See definitions in: all mathematics physics astronomy biology adjective adjective: degenerate /dɪˈdʒɛn(ə)rət/ 1. having lost the physical, mental, or moral qualities considered normal and desirable; showing evidence of decline. "a degenerate form of a higher civilization" h Similar: debased degraded corrupt corrupted vitiated bastard impure h Opposite: pure 2. technical lacking some usual or expected property or quality. h Similar: corrupt decadent dissolute dissipated debauched rakish reprobate profligate depraved perverted despicable base vice-ridden wicked sinful ungodly immoral unprincipled amoral dishonourable disreputable unsavoury sordid low mean ignoble lewd lecherous lascivious licentious libidinous loose promiscuous wanton libertine intemperate pervy h Opposite: moral Mathematics (of a type of equation, curve, etc.) equivalent to a simpler type, especially when a variable or parameter is set to zero. Physics (of an energy level) corresponding to more than one quantum state. Physics (of matter) at densities so high that gravitational contraction is counteracted, either by the Pauli exclusion principle or by an analogous quantum effect between closely packed neutrons. Biology having reverted to a simpler form as a result of losing a complex or adaptive structure present in the ancestral form. "degenerate offshoots from the main line of vertebrate progress" noun noun: degenerate; plural noun: degenerates /dɪˈdʒɛn(ə)rət/ an immoral or corrupt person. "get out of my house, you degenerate!" h Similar: reprobate debauchee rake profligate libertine roué loose-liver pervert deviant deviate perv retrograde dissolute verb verb: degenerate; 3rd person present: degenerates; past tense: degenerated; past participle: degenerated; gerund or present participle: degenerating /dɪˈdʒɛnəreɪt/ decline or deteriorate physically, mentally, or morally. "the quality of life had degenerated" h Similar: deteriorate decline sink slip slide worsen get/grow worse take a turn for the worse lapse fail fall off slump go downhill regress retrogress decay rot go to rack and ruin go to pot go to the dogs hit the skids go down the tubes go down the toilet go to the pack retrograde devolve waste away waste atrophy weaken become debilitated h Opposite: improve Origin late 15th century: from Latin degeneratus ‘no longer of its kind’, from the verb degenerare, from degener ‘debased’, from de- ‘away from’ + genus, gener- ‘race, kind’. --- 17. Quote: Like eunuchs discussing the Kamasutra, the voters discuss the elections in Laxmangarh. --- 18. fumble /ˈfʌmb(ə)l/ Learn to pronounce See definitions in: all sport sex · informal verb verb: fumble; 3rd person present: fumbles; past tense: fumbled; past participle: fumbled; gerund or present participle: fumbling do or handle something clumsily. "she fumbled with the lock" h Similar: grope feel about search blindly scrabble around muddle around fish delve cast about for cast round for cast around for grabble for move clumsily in various directions using the hands to find one's way. "he fumbled about in the dark but could not find her" h Similar: stumble blunder flounder lumber bumble stagger totter lurch move clumsily move awkwardly feel one's way grope one's way use the hands clumsily to move (something) as specified. "she fumbled a cigarette from her bag" (in ball games) fail to catch or field (the ball) cleanly. "have you ever seen him fumble a ball?" h Similar: fail to catch miss drop mishandle handle awkwardly misfield express oneself or deal with something clumsily or nervously. "Michael had fumbled for words" h Similar: botch bungle mismanage mishandle spoil blunder make a mistake make a mess of make a hash of fluff muff screw up foul up blow louse up make a pig's ear of make a muck of cock up flub noun noun: fumble; plural noun: fumbles an act of doing or handling something clumsily. "just one fumble during a tyre change could separate the winners from the losers" informal an act of fondling someone for sexual pleasure. "a quick fumble in a downtown tavern" h Similar: fondle grope caress hug embrace cuddle feel-up (in ball games) an act of failing to catch or field the ball cleanly. "he recovered a fumble after a bad exchange" h Similar: slip miss drop mishandling misfielding mistake error gaffe fault botch slip-up boo-boo howler foul-up fail cock-up boob clanger an act of managing or dealing with something clumsily. "we are not talking about subtle errors of judgement, but major fumbles" Origin late Middle English: from Low German fommeln or Dutch fommelen . --- 19. shackle /ˈʃak(ə)l/ Learn to pronounce See definitions in: all penal motoring noun plural noun: shackles 1. a pair of fetters connected together by a chain, used to fasten a prisoner's wrists or ankles together. h Similar: chains fetters irons leg irons manacles handcuffs bonds tethers ropes restraints cuffs bracelets darbies gyves bilboes a situation or factor that restrains or restricts someone or something. noun: shackle "society is going to throw off the shackles of racism and colonialism" h Similar: restrictions trammels restraints constraints straitjacket impediments hindrances obstacles barriers encumbrances obstructions checks curbs ball and chain 2. a metal link, typically U-shaped, closed by a bolt, used to secure a chain or rope to something. a pivoted link connecting a spring in a vehicle's suspension to the body of the vehicle. verb verb: shackle; 3rd person present: shackles; past tense: shackled; past participle: shackled; gerund or present participle: shackling chain with shackles. "the prisoner was shackled to the heavy steel chair in the centre of the room" h Similar: chain fetter manacle secure tie (up) bind tether hobble put in chains put/clap in irons handcuff gyve h Opposite: free restrain; limit. "they seek to shackle the oil and gas companies by imposing new controls" h Similar: restrain restrict limit constrain hamper hinder impede obstruct handicap hamstring encumber inhibit check curb tie down tie someone's hands cramp someone's style trammel h Opposite: give someone free rein Origin Old English sc(e)acul ‘fetter’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schakel ‘link, coupling’. --- 20. marvel /ˈmɑːv(ə)l/ Learn to pronounce verb 3rd person present: marvels be filled with wonder or astonishment. "she marvelled at Jeffrey's composure" h Similar: be amazed be filled with amazement be astonished be surprised be awed stand in awe wonder be full of wonder stare gape goggle not believe one's eyes/ears not know what to say be dumbfounded admire applaud think highly of respect venerate appreciate be flabbergasted h Opposite: be indifferent disregard noun plural noun: marvels a wonderful or astonishing person or thing. "the marvels of technology" h Similar: wonder miracle wonderful thing amazing thing sensation spectacle phenomenon genius miracle worker prodigy paragon virtuoso wizard something else something to shout about something to write home about eye-opener whizz whizz-kid ninja Origin Middle English (as a noun): from Old French merveille, from late Latin mirabilia, neuter plural of Latin mirabilis ‘wonderful’, from mirari ‘wonder at’. --- 21. stork /stɔːk/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: stork; plural noun: storks; noun: white stork; plural noun: white storks a very tall long-legged wading bird with a long heavy bill and typically with white and black plumage. the white stork as the supposed bringer of newborn babies. Origin Old English storc, of Germanic origin; probably related to stark (because of its rigid stance). --- 22. simper /ˈsɪmpə/ Learn to pronounce verb past tense: simpered; past participle: simpered smile in an affectedly coy or ingratiating manner. "she simpered, looking pleased with herself" h Similar: smile affectedly smile coquettishly giggle titter smirk look coy Origin mid 16th century: of unknown origin; compare with German zimpfer ‘elegant, delicate’. --- 23. coy /kɔɪ/ adjective adjective: coy; comparative adjective: coyer; superlative adjective: coyest 1. (especially with reference to a woman) making a pretence of shyness or modesty which is intended to be alluring. "she treated him to a coy smile of invitation" h Similar: arch simpering coquettish flirtatious kittenish skittish shy modest bashful reticent diffident retiring backward self-effacing shrinking withdrawn timid demure h Opposite: brazen 2. reluctant to give details about something regarded as sensitive. "he is coy about his age" Origin Middle English: from Old French coi, quei, from Latin quietus (see quiet). The original sense was ‘quiet, still’ (especially in behaviour), later ‘modestly retiring’, and hence (of a woman) ‘affecting to be unresponsive to advances’. Coy /kɔɪ/ abbreviationMilitary symbol: Coy Company. --- 24. loiter /ˈlɔɪtə/ Learn to pronounce verb verb: loiter; 3rd person present: loiters; past tense: loitered; past participle: loitered; gerund or present participle: loitering stand or wait around without apparent purpose. "she saw Mary loitering near the cloakrooms" h Similar: linger potter wait skulk loaf lounge idle laze waste time kill time while away time hang around/round hang about mooch about/around tarry walk slowly and with no apparent purpose; dawdle. "the weather had tempted them to loiter along the banks of the Cherwell" h Similar: dawdle dally stroll saunter loll go slowly take one's time go/move at a snail's pace drag one's feet delay dilly-dally mosey mooch Phrases loiter with intent — stand or wait around with the intention of committing an offence. Origin late Middle English: perhaps from Middle Dutch loteren ‘wag about’. --- 25. shrug /ʃrʌɡ/ Learn to pronounce verb past tense: shrugged; past participle: shrugged raise (one's shoulders) slightly and momentarily to express doubt, ignorance, or indifference. "Jimmy looked enquiringly at Pete, who shrugged his shoulders" dismiss something as unimportant. "the managing director shrugged off the criticism" h Similar: disregard dismiss take no notice of ignore set aside pay no heed to forget not trouble about gloss over play down talk down make light of make little/nothing of minimize discount diminish downgrade trivialize Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘fidget’): of unknown origin. --- 26. wade /weɪd/ verb verb: wade; 3rd person present: wades; past tense: waded; past participle: waded; gerund or present participle: wading walk with effort through water or another liquid or viscous substance. "he waded out to the boat" h Similar: paddle wallow dabble slop squelch trudge plod splosh ford cross traverse walk across make one's way across walk through (something filled with water). "I waded ditches instead of finding easier crossing places" noun noun: wade; plural noun: wades an act of wading. Phrases wade in make a vigorous attack or intervention. "the elderly man waded in and wrestled the robber to the floor" wade into intervene in a situation or attack someone vigorously or forcefully. "Seb waded into the melee and started to beat off the boys" wade through read laboriously through a long piece of writing. "they could just click it up on screen rather than have to wade through some hefty document" Origin Old English wadan ‘move onward’, also ‘penetrate’, from a Germanic word meaning ‘go (through)’, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin vadere ‘go’. --- 27. abuzz /əˈbʌz/ adjective adjective: abuzz filled with a continuous humming sound. "the room was abuzz with mosquitoes" --- 28. stencil /ˈstɛns(ə)l/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: stencil; plural noun: stencils a thin sheet of card, plastic, or metal with a pattern or letters cut out of it, used to produce the cut design on the surface below by the application of ink or paint through the holes. "stencil designs such as fruit" a design produced by a stencil. "a floral stencil around the top of the room" verb verb: stencil; 3rd person present: stencils; past tense: stencilled; past participle: stencilled; gerund or present participle: stencilling; past tense: stenciled; past participle: stenciled; gerund or present participle: stenciling decorate (a surface) with a stencil. "the walls had been stencilled with designs" produce (a design) with a stencil. "stencil a border around the door" Origin early 18th century: from earlier stansel ‘ornament with various colours’ (based on Latin scintilla ‘spark’). --- 29. gnarl /nɑːl/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: gnarl; plural noun: gnarls a rough, knotty protuberance, especially on a tree. "a blackthorn topped with a two-humped gnarl" Origin early 19th century: back-formation from gnarled. --- 30. banyan /ˈbanjən/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: banyan; plural noun: banyans; noun: banian; plural noun: banians; noun: banyan tree; plural noun: banyan trees; noun: banian tree; plural noun: banian trees 1. an Indian fig tree, the branches of which produce wide-ranging aerial roots which later become accessory trunks. 2. a loose flannel undergarment worn in India. Origin late 16th century: from Portuguese, from Gujarati vāṇiyo ‘man of the trading caste’, from Sanskrit. Originally denoting a Hindu merchant, the term was applied, by Europeans in the mid 17th century, to a tree under which such traders had built a pagoda. --- 31. bugger /ˈbʌɡə/ noun noun: bugger; plural noun: buggers 1. vulgar slang•British used as a term of abuse, typically for a man. used as a term of affection or respect, typically grudgingly. "I just hope you didn't hurt the poor bugger" an annoyingly awkward thing. "muskets are a bugger to load" 2. a person who penetrates the anus of someone during sexual intercourse. verb verb: bugger; 3rd person present: buggers; past tense: buggered; past participle: buggered; gerund or present participle: buggering 1. vulgar slang•British cause serious harm or damage to. used to express an angry or dismissive attitude to (someone or something). "I'm all for living life to the full and bugger the consequences" 2. penetrate the anus of (someone) during sex. exclamationvulgar slang•British exclamation: bugger used to express annoyance or anger. Phrases bugger all nothing. bugger me used to express surprise or amazement. I'm buggered if — used to make the following clause negative. not give a bugger not care in the slightest. play silly buggers act in a foolish way. I'm buggered used to express one's amazement at something. bugger about waste time or act in a stupid way. "don't bugger about, this is important" bugger off go away. bugger up cause serious harm or damage to. "they'll probably bugger up the page layout" Origin Middle English (originally denoting a heretic, specifically an Albigensian): from Middle Dutch, from Old French bougre ‘heretic’, from medieval Latin Bulgarus ‘Bulgarian’, particularly one belonging to the Orthodox Church and therefore regarded as a heretic by the Roman Church. The sense ‘sodomite’ (16th century) arose from an association of heresy with forbidden sexual practices; its use as a general insult dates from the early 18th century. --- 32. dubiously /ˈdjuːbɪəsli/ Learn to pronounce adverb adverb: dubiously 1. with hesitation or doubt. "I looked at him dubiously" 2. in a way that arouses suspicion, distrust, or uncertainty. "he dubiously claimed that he was a self-made man" ----
No comments:
Post a Comment