BARRONS GRE (A)
Terms
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- actuary
- n. expert who calculates insurance risks and premiums
- appraise
- v. assess the value or quality of
- acknowledge
- v. accept the truth of admit (sth)
- absolute
- adj. complete; total
- acuity
- n. (esp of thought or the senses) sharpness; acuteness
- assimilate
- v. (cause sth to) become absorbed into the body after digestion
- aghast
- adj. ~ filled with horror or amazement
- apotheosis
- n. (of a human being) making or becoming a god or a sain
- adulation
- n. excessive admiration or praise; flattery
- affidavit
- n. written statement that can be used as evidence in court, made by sb who swears that it is true
- allocate
- v. ~ sth allot or assign sth (to sb/sth) for a special purpose
- abominate
- v. feel hatred or disgust for (sth/sb); detest; loathe
- adulterate
- v. make poorer in quality by adding another substance
- assessment
- n. action of assessing
- abrasive
- adj. that scrapes or rubs sth away; rough
- attribute
- v. ~ sth to sb/sth regard sth as belonging to, caused by or produced by sb/sth
- anthropologist
- n. student of or expert in anthropology
- accost
- v. approach and speak to (sb) boldly
- assert
- v. make others recognize (sth) by behaving firmly and confidently
- annihilate
- v. destroy completely
- arid
- adj. having little or no rainfall; dry
- alcove
- n. small space in a room, etc formed by part of the wall being set back; recess
- antiquated
- adj. (of things) out of date, obsolete ,
- acclaim
- v. welcome (sb/sth) with shouts of approval; applaud loudly
- aptitude
- n. ~ natural ability or skill
- anomaly
- n. anomalous thing; irregularity
- agog
- adj. eager; excited
- anticlimax
- n. disappointing end to a series of events which had seemed likely to become more interesting, exciting or impressive
- ascetic
- adj. not allowing oneself pleasures and comforts; having or involving a very austere life
- artisan
- a manually skilled worker
- amiss
- adj. , adv wrong(ly); inappropriate(ly)
- amenable
- adj. ~ (of people) willing to be influenced or controlled (by sth)
- ascendancy
- n. ~ (position of) having dominant power or control
- abstain
- v. ~ keep oneself from doing or enjoying sth, esp from taking alcoholic drinks; refrain ;
- acoustics
- n. qualities of a room, hall, etc that make it good or bad for carrying sound
- ardor
- extreme vigor or energy:INTENSITY
- authenticate
- Rractical experience of sth
- argot
- n. words and phrases used by a particular group and not intended to be understood by others; cant ;
- apropos
- adv, adj appropriate or relevant to what is being said or done
- advocate
- v. speak publicly in favour of (sth); recommend; support
- Advent
- n. the ~ of sth/sb the approach or arrival of
- awl
- n. small pointed tool for making holes, esp in leather or wood
- accord
- n. peace treaty; agreement
- arboretum
- n. place where trees are grown for scientific study or for display
- authoritative
- adj. having authority; that can be trusted; reliable
- amulet
- n. piece of jewellery, etc worn as a charm1(
- asinine
- adj. stupid or stubborn
- amphibian
- n. animal able to live both on land and in water
- avuncular
- adj. of or like an uncle, esp in manner
- armada
- n. large fleet of ships
- auspicious
- adj. showing signs of future success; favourable; promising
- abscission
- The act of cutting off, as in a surgical operation.
- anthem
- n. short musical composition, usu for a choir and an organ, to be sung in religious services, often with words taken from the Bible ,
- analogous
- adj. ~ partially similar or parallel; offering an analogy
- adversary
- n. opponent in a contest; enemy
- annuity
- n. fixed sum of money paid to sb yearly, usu for the remaining part of his lifetime
- alleviate
- v. make less severe; ease
- abortive
- adj. coming to nothing; unsuccessful
- accede
- v. ~ (fml ) take office
- acumen
- n. ability to understand and judge things quickly and clearly; shrewdness
- authoritarian
- adj. favouring complete obedience to authority before personal freedom
- artless
- adj. simple and natural; without deceit
- aver
- v. (fml ) state (sth) firmly and positively; assert ;
- array
- v. place (esp armed forces, troops, etc) in battle order
- aromatic
- adj. having a pleasant, distinctive smell; fragrant
- adage
- n. traditional saying; proverb ;
- allegiance
- n. ~ (to sb/sth) support of or loyalty to a government, ruler, cause, etc
- address
- n. details of where a person lives, works or can be found, and where letters, etc may be delivered
- abash
- to destroy the self-possession or self-confidence of:disconcert
- awful
- adj. extremely bad or unpleasant; terrible
- abet
- v. ~ sb (in sth) help or encourage sb to commit an offence or do sth wrong
- asymmetric
- adj. not having parts that correspond to each other in size, shape, etc; lacking symmetry
- adamant
- adj. firmly or stubbornly determined; unwilling to be persuaded
- audit
- n. official examination of accounts to see that they are in order
- ambivalence
- the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes
- arbitrary
- adj. based on personal opinion or impulse, not on reason
- ape
- n. any of the four primates (gorilla, chimpanzee, orang-utan, gibbon) most closely related to man .
- artful
- adj. cunningly clever at getting what one wants; crafty
- agrarian
- adj. of land
- artery
- n. any of the tubes carrying blood from the heart to all parts of the body
- addiction
- n. ~ condition of taking drugs, etc habitually and being unable to stop doing so without suffering adverse effects
- abysmal
- adj. extremely bad
- avalanche
- n. mass of snow, ice and rock that slides rapidly down the side of a mountain
- abode
- n. house; home
- actuarial
- calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
- arbitrate
- v. ~ (between A and B) make a judgement about or settle (a dispute) between two parties (usu when asked by them to do so)
- agenda
- n. matters of business to be discussed at a meeting, etc
- arcane
- requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
- abase
- v. ~ oneself/sb lower oneself/sb in dignity; degrade oneself/sb ;
- artifacts
- something created by humans usually for a practical purpose; especially :an object remaining from a particular period
- amenities
- [ amenity: ] [often pl] a useful or pleasant facility or service
- amazon
- n. tall strong athletic woman
- anthology
- n. collection of poems or pieces of prose on the same subject or by the same writer
- affirmation
- n. affirming
- altruistic
- (adj.) unselfish
- amalgamate
- v. ~ (with sb/sth) (cause people or things to) combine or unite
- acidulous
- adj. rather sharp or bitter in taste or manner
- adjourn
- v. stop (a meeting, etc) for a time; postpone
- axiom
- n. statement that is accepted as true without further proof or argument
- archetype
- n. original or ideal model from which others are copied; prototype ;
- attrition
- n. process of gradually weakening sb's strength and confidence by continuous harassment
- anchor
- n. heavy metal device attached to a rope, chain, etc and used to moor a ship or boat to the sea-bottom or a balloon to the ground
- annotate
- v. add notes to giving explanation or comment
- arboreal
- adj. of or living in trees
- allay
- v. make (sth) less; relieve
- avarice
- n. greed for wealth or gain
- atheistic
- adj.
- apathetic
- adj. showing or feeling apathy
- autocrat
- n. ruler of an autocracy
- accelerate
- v. make move faster or happen earlier; increase the speed of
- adverse
- adj. not favourable; contrary
- astronomical
- adj. of astronomy
- adore
- v. love deeply and respect (sb) highly
- alacrity
- n. prompt and eager readiness
- assiduous
- adj. showing constant and careful attention
- autonomous
- adj. self-governing; acting independently
- astral
- adj. of or from the stars
- anarchy
- n. absence of government or control in society; lawlessness
- apprehensive
- adj. ~ ~ (that.../for sb/sth) feeling anxiety; fearful; uneasy
- assuage
- v. make (sth) less severe; soothe
- apoplexy
- n. sudden inability to feel or move, caused by the blockage or rupture of an artery in the brain ,
- artifice
- n. clever trickery; deception
- altercation
- n. (act of) quarrelling or arguing noisily
- apparent
- adj. clearly seen or understood; obvious
- addle
- v. confuse (sth/sb); muddle
- animated
- adj. lively
- agglomeration
- n. action of agglomerating
- atavism
- n. reappearance in a person of a characteristic or quality that has not been seen in his family for many generations
- attenuate
- v. make (sth/sb) thin or slender
- aria
- n. song for one voice, esp in an opera or oratorio
- anvil
- n. iron block on which a smith shapes heated metal by hammering it
- alchemy
- n. medieval form of chemistry, the chief aim of which was to discover how to turn ordinary metals into gold ,
- apologist
- n. person who defends a doctrine by logical argument
- agnostic
- n. person who believes that nothing can be known about the existence of God or of anything except material things
- aegis
- n. under the aegis of sb/sth with the protection or support of sb/sth, esp a public institution
- annex
- v. take possession of
- adversity
- n. unfavourable conditions; trouble
- appease
- v. make quiet or calm, usu by making concessions or by satisfying demands
- aerie
- #NAME?
- aperture
- n. narrow opening
- apothecary
- n. person who prepares and sells medicines and medical goods
- allure
- v. tempt or attract (sb) by the expectation of gaining sth
- aureole
- sun's corona; halo
- archaeology
- n. study of ancient civilizations by scientific analysis of physical remains found in the ground
- amoral
- adj. not based on moral standards; not following any moral rules ;
- abominable
- adj. ~(fml ) causing disgust; detestable
- abide
- v. (esp with can/could, in negative sentences or questions can/could) tolerate (sb/sth); endure; bear
- anonymity
- n. state of being anonymous
- angular
- adj. having angles or sharp corners
- amity
- n. friendly relationship between people or countries
- aviary
- n. large cage or building for keeping birds in, eg in a zoo ,
- affected
- adj. not natural or genuine; pretended; artificial
- antecedents
- ancestr
- archaic
- adj. of a much earlier or an ancient period in history
- aloft
- adv. up in the air; overhead
- appurtenances
- [ appurtenance: ] a secondary or less significant thing or part
- ascertain
- v. discover (sth) so that one is certain; get to know
- antagonistic
- adj. ~ showing or feeling antagonism; hostile
- adjuration
- solemn urging
- amphitheater
- oval building with tiers of seats
- ancillary
- adj. ~ helping in a subsidiary way
- assay
- n. testing of esp metals for quality
- arbiter
- n. ~ person who has power to decide what will be done, accepted, etc with regard to sth
- adjunct
- n. ~ thing that is added or attached to sth else but is less important and not essential
- ablution
- n. (fml or joc ) ceremonial washing of the body, hands, sacred vessels, etc
- amiable
- adj. showing and inspiring friendliness; pleasant and good-tempered
- astigmatism
- n. defect in an eye or a lens that prevents correct focusing
- arrogance
- a feeling or an impression of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or presumptuous claims
- aggregate
- v. ~ sb (fml ) be formed or bring sb into an assembled group or amount
- acquittal
- n. judgement that a person is not guilty of the crime with which he has been charged
- apocalyptic
- adj. prophesying great and dramatic events like those in the Apocalypse
- apolitical
- adj. not interested or involved in politics
- abolish
- v. end the existence of
- anathematize
- declare to be evil or anathema
- amok
- adv. run amok rush about in a wild and angry frenzy
- aberration
- n. deviation from what is accepted as normal or right
- aesthetic
- adj. concerned with beauty and the appreciation of beauty
- allude
- v. ~ to sb/sth (fml ) mention sb/sth briefly or indirectly
- application
- n. ~ (to sb) (for sth) formal request
- acrophobia
- "acro'phobic adjectiv
- aphasia
- n. partial or total loss of ability to speak or understand spoken language, caused by damage to the brain
- auroral
- [ aurora: ] an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of bands, curtains, or streamers of light, usually green, red, or yellow, that move across the sky in polar regions.
- accessory
- n. thing that is a useful or decorative extra but that is not essential; minor fitting or attachment
- adventitious
- adj. not planned; accidental
- abnegation
- n. denial or renunciation (of a doctrine)
- approbation
- n. approval; consent
- accrue
- v. ~ (from sth) come as a natural increase or advantage, esp financial; accumulate
- alms
- n. money, clothes, food, etc given to poor people
- accolade
- n. praise; approval
- abhor
- v. feel hatred and disgust for (sb/sth); detest
- agitate
- v. cause anxiety to (a person, his feelings, etc); disturb; excite
- actuate
- v. make (a machine, an electrical device, etc) move or work; make (a process) begin , ;
- aspirant
- n. ~ (fml ) person who is ambitious (for fame, promotion, success, etc)
- ameliorate
- v. (cause sth to) become better
- accoutre
- equip
- alimony
- n. allowance that a court may order a man to pay to his wife or former wife before or after a legal separation or divorce
- arrhythmic
- lacking rhythm or regularity
- alloy
- n. metal formed of a mixture of metals or of metal and another substance
- abbreviate
- v. ~ sth shorten (a word, phrase, etc), esp by omitting letters
- alliteration
- n. occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of two or more words in succession, as in sing a song of sixpence or as thick as thieves , sing a song of sixpence as thick as thieves
- arduous
- adj. needing much effort or energy; laborious
- ambush
- n. waiting in a hidden position to make a surprise attack
- atypical
- adj. not representative or characteristic of its type; not typical
- amend
- v. correct an error in (sth); make minor improvements in; change slightly
- affliction
- n. pain; suffering; distress
- askew
- adj. , adv not in a straight or level position; crooked
- acquiesce
- v. ~ (fml ) accept sth without protest; offer no opposition (to a plan, conclusion, etc)
- asperity
- n. harshness or severity, esp of manner
- arch-
- comb form chief; most important
- anathema
- n. detested person or thing
- autopsy
- n. examination of a dead body to learn the cause of death; post-mortem ()
- accommodate
- v. provide lodging or room for
- arcade
- n. covered passage or area, esp one with an arched roof and shops along one or both sides
- ascribe
- v. ~ sth to sb/sth consider sth to be caused by, written by or belonging to sb/sth
- attest
- v. ~ (to) sth be or give clear proof of sth
- adjutant
- n. army officer responsible for administrative work in a battalion
- acetic
- adj. of, containing, producing, or derived from acetic acid or vinegar
- academic
- adj. of schools, colleges, etc
- amass
- v. gather together or collect (sth), esp in large quantities
- anomalous
- adj. different from what is normal; irregular
- abrogate
- v. cancel, repeal or annul (sth)
- abscond
- v. ~go away suddenly and secretly, esp in order to avoid arrest
- abjure
- v. promise or swear to give up (a claim, an opinion, a belief, etc); renounce formally
- alienate
- v. ~ sb cause sb to become unfriendly or indifferent; estrange sb
- atrophy
- n. wasting away of the body or part of it through lack of nourishment or use
- amble
- v. ride or walk at a slow, leisurely pace
- apiculture
- the cultivation of bees on a commercial scale for the production of honey
- aphorism
- n. short wise saying; maxim ;
- accretion
- n. growth or increase by means of gradual additions
- antipathy
- settled aversion or dislike:DISTASTE
- awry
- adv. crookedly; out of position; askew ;
- automaton
- n. = robot 1
- audacious
- adj. showing a willingness to take risks; daring; fearless
- adorn
- v. ~ sth/sb/oneself add beauty or ornament to sth/sb/oneself
- assent
- n. ~ (fml ) agreement; approval
- aversion
- n. ~ strong dislike
- amnesty
- n. general pardon, esp for offences against the State
- anecdote
- n. short, interesting or amusing story about a real person or event ,
- abyss
- n. hole so deep that it seems to have no bottom
- animosity
- n. ~ ~ (between A and B) (instance of) strong dislike or of hostility
- antique
- adj. belonging to the distant past
- arraign
- v. ~ sb (law ) bring a criminal charge against sb; bring sb to court for trial
- atone
- v. ~ (fml ) act in a way that compensates for a previous wrong, error, etc
- animus
- n. animosity shown in speech or action
- aspire
- v. ~ after/to sth desire strongly to achieve sth; have ambition for sth
- anarchist
- n. person who believes in anarchism
- allege
- v. state (sth) as a fact but without proof; give as an argument or excuse
- anachronism
- n. mistake of placing sth in the wrong historical period
- agape
- adj. ~ (of the mouth) wide open, esp with wonder
- acne
- n. inflammation of the oil-glands of the skin, producing red pimples on the face and neck
- archives
- n. historical documents or records of a government, town, etc
- avocation
- secondary or minor occupation
- airy
- adj. having plenty of fresh air moving about; well-ventilated
- affiliation
- n. affiliating or being affiliated
- austere
- adj. severely and strictly moral; having no pleasures or comforts
- azure
- n. , adj bright blue, as of the sky
- anodyne
- n, adj that can relieve pain
- augment
- v. make (sth) larger in number or size; increase
- awe
- n. feeling of respect combined with fear or wonder
- august
- majestic, venerable
- abstinence
- n. ~ abstaining, esp from food or alcoholic drinks
- ancestry
- n. line of ancestors
- anoint
- v. ~ sb apply oil or ointment to sb (esp as a religious ceremony)
- antler
- n. branched horn of a stag or of some other deer
- alluvial
- adj. made of sand, earth, etc left by rivers or floods, esp in a delta
- anesthetic
- #NAME?
- apiary
- n. place with a number of hives where bees are kept
- abstemious
- adj. not taking much food or drink; not self-indulgent; moderate
- acerbity
- Sourness of taste, character, or tone.
- admonish
- to express warning or disapproval to especially in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner
- apex
- n. top or highest point
- anthropoid
- adj. man-like in form
- ambidextrous
- adj. able to use the left hand or the right hand equally well
- annals
- n. story of events year by year; historical records
- autocratic
- adj.
- adapt
- v. ~ sth (for sth) make sth suitable for a new use, situation, etc; modify sth
- anemia
- condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles
- aberrant
- adj. not following the normal or correct way
- arsenal
- n. place where weapons and ammunition are made or stored
- archipelago
- n. (sea surrounding a) group of many islands
- asunder
- adv. into pieces; apart
- aspiration
- n. ~ ~ (to do sth) strong desire or ambition
- amicable
- adj. showing friendliness; without hostility
- appellation
- n. name or title; system of naming ;
- amalgam
- n. alloy of mercury with another metal
- anneal
- v. make tough by cooling slowly after heating
- analgesic
- adj. n substance that relieves pain
- antecede
- be earlier in time; go back further
- averse
- adj. ~ to sth not liking sth; opposed to sth
- acrid
- adj. having a strongly bitter smell or taste
- arrears
- n. money that is owed and should have been paid earlier
- atrocity
- n. great wickedness or cruelty
- amorous
- adj. readily showing or feeling love; relating to love
- advert
- n. = advertisement
- aquiline
- adj. of or like an eagle
- addendum
- n. thing that is to be added
- amnesia
- n. partial or total loss of memory
- adept
- adj. ~ ~ (at/in doing sth) expert or skilful in (doing) sth
- affluence
- n. abundance of money, goods or property; wealth
- astringent
- n. substance, used medically or in cosmetics, that makes skin or body tissue contract and so stops bleeding
- analogy
- n. ~ partial similarity between two things that are compared
- antiseptic
- n. substance that prevents a wound, etc from becoming septic, esp by destroying bacteria
- affinity
- n. ~ ~ (between A and B) structural resemblance or similarity of character; relationship
- acrimonious
- adj. bitter
- antithesis
- n. ~ (of/to sth/sb) direct opposite
- affix
- v. ~ sth (fml ) stick, fasten or attach sth
- acclivity
- n. upward slope
- attire
- n. clothes; dress
- ambrosia
- n. food of the gods
- arroyo
- a brook; a creek a water-carved gully or channel
- abject
- adj. wretched; hopeless
- assail
- v. ~ sb (fml ) attack sb violently or repeatedly
- apparition
- n. appearance, esp of sth startling, strange or unexpected ,
- amorphous
- adj. having no definite shape or form; not organized
- anthropomorphic
- adj. treating gods, animals, etc as human in form and personality ,
- animadversion
- n. criticism
- append
- v. ~ sth (fml ) attach or add sth (esp in writing)
- accessible
- adj. ~ that can be reached, used, etc
- anguish
- n. severe physical or mental pain
- absolve
- v. ~ sb (fml esp law , ) clear sb (of guilt); declare sb free (from blame, a promise, a duty, etc)
- adjacent
- having a common endpoint or border also immediately preceding or following
- amputate
- v. cut off by surgical operation
- advocacy
- n. ~ giving of support (to a cause, etc)
- apprehend
- v. seize (sb); arrest
- arable
- n. , adj suitable for ploughing and for growing crops
- aspersion
- slanderous remark
- antagonism
- n~ ~ (between A and B) (instance of) active opposition or hostility, esp between two people
- abusive
- adj. criticizing harshly and rudely; insulting
- adhere
- v. ~ (to sth) remain attached (to sth); stick (as if) by means of glue or suction
- astute
- adj. clever and quick at seeing how to gain an advantage; shrewd
- abeyance
- n. be in abeyance; fall/go into abeyance (of a right, rule, problem, etc) be suspended temporarily; not be in force or use for a time
- allusion
- n. ~ indirect reference
- abstract
- adj. existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or practical existence
- auxiliary
- adj. giving help or support; additional
- avenge
- v. take or get revenge for
- aloof
- adj. ~ cool and remote in character; unconcerned
- abstruse
- adj. difficult to understand
- abdicate
- v. resign from or formally renounce the throne
- alimentary
- adj. of food and digestion
- acme
- n. highest stage of development; point of perfection
- apathy
- n. ~ lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern; indifference
- abate
- v. make or become less
- avert
- v. ~ sth turn sth away
- appall
- to overcome with consternation, shock, or dismay
- asylum
- n. safety; refuge
- aggrandize
- to make appear great or greater:praise highly
- affable
- adj. polite and friendly
- ambulatory
- walking
- assumption
- n. thing accepted as true or as sure to happen, but not proved
- aseptic
- adj. free from bacteria that cause a thing to become septic; surgically clean
- ambiguous
- adj. having more than one possible meaning
- ample
- adj. enough
- appreciate
- v. understand and enjoy (sth); value highly
- askance
- adv. look
- acclimate
- to adapt to a new temperature, altitude, climate, environment, or situation
- augury
- omen; prophecy
- antiquity
- n. ancient times, esp before the Middle Ages
- apposite
- adj. ~ (of a remark, etc) very appropriate (for a purpose or an occasion)
- apprise
- v. ~ sb of sth inform sb of sth
- austerity
- n. quality of being austere
- avid
- adj. ~ eager; greedy
- adroit
- adj. ~ skilful; clever
- afterlife
- n. existence that is thought by some to follow death
- avow
- v. declare (sth) openly; admit
- adherent
- n. supporter of a party or doctrine
- allegory
- n. story, painting or description in which the characters and events are meant as symbols of purity, truth, patience, etc ,
- appropriate
- adj. ~ suitable; right and proper
- asteroid
- n. any of many small planets revolving round the sun, esp between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
- ashen
- adj. like ashes in colour; very pale
- amplify
- v. increase (sth) in size or strength
- alias
- n. name by which a person is called at other times or in other places; false name
- annul
- v. declare (sth) no longer valid; abolish; cancel
- antidote
- n. ~ substance that acts against the effects of a poison or disease
- apogee
- n. position in the orbit of the moon, a planet or a satellite when it is at its greatest distance from the earth ,
- agility
- nimbleness
- apostate
- n. person who renounces his former beliefs, etc
- acute
- adj. very great; severe
- articulate
- adj. able to express one's ideas clearly in words
- affront
- n. ~ (to sb/sth) deliberately insulting or disrespectful remark, action, etc, esp in public
- assurance
- n. confident belief in one's own abilities and powers
- attentive
- adj. ~ giving attention (to sb/sth); alert and watchful
- apiarist
- n. person who keeps bees
- abridge
- v. make shorter, esp by using fewer words; condense
- antediluvian
- adj. of the time before Noah's Flood
- ambience
- n. environment; atmosphere of a place
- aristocracy
- n. highest social class; the nobility
- adjoin
- v. be next or nearest to and joined with
- apocryphal
- adj. not likely to be genuine; untrue or invented
- accomplice
- n. person who helps another to do sth wicked or illegal
- aplomb
- n. confidence and self-control; poise
- analgesia
- n. loss of ability to feel pain while still conscious
- apothegm
- pithy compact saying
- aboriginal
- adj. inhabiting a land from a very early period, esp before the arrival of colonists
- abut
- v. ~ on/against sth (of land or a building) have a common boundary or side with sth; adjoin sth