Vocabulary Insight 1

a group of people or objects placed in a line

The students sat in a row during the assembly, listening attentively to the guest speaker.

to say or show one's unwillingness to do something that someone has asked

The student had to refuse the invitation to join the extracurricular club due to time constraints.

to guide or show the direction for others to follow

The tour guide led us through the museum.

(usually plural) the things that are held, included, or contained within something

She emptied the contents of her bag onto the table.

a drop of salty liquid produced by the eyes

to help a person, who is either disappointed or emotionally suffering, feel better

Friends consoled her after the failure of her project.

gradual movement toward a goal or a desired state

The scientist made significant progress in her research on renewable energy.

a non-living thing that one can touch or see

The sculpture in the museum is an ancient object made of marble.

completely without mistakes or flaws, reaching the best possible standard

He's the perfect candidate for the job with all his experience.

the action of taking something from one place to another

The transfer of power took place peacefully after the election results were announced.

a continuation of a line of poetry to the next without a pause or punctuation at the end

He employed run-ons to emphasize the continuous nature of his thoughts.

involving behaviors, actions, or decisions that are morally wrong

It was considered unethical to take credit for someone else’s work.

to treat a person, group, or concept as insignificant or of secondary or minor importance

Historically, indigenous communities have been marginalized and deprived of their land rights.

the act of pretending to be someone else, often with the intent to deceive or mislead others

His impersonation of the famous actor was spot on.

with the use of computers or electronic devices

The photograph was stored digitally on the computer's hard drive.

in a manner that causes sudden concern or fear

The lights flickered alarmingly before the power cut out.

in accordance with methods, beliefs, or customs that have remained unchanged for a long period of time

Thanksgiving dinner is traditionally celebrated with a turkey feast.

in a manner expressing the capability or likelihood of something happening or developing in the future

The new investment could potentially bring significant returns.

the process or act of subjecting someone to harm, mistreatment, or abuse

for a limited period of time

She lived in the city temporarily while her house was being renovated.

the act of breaking a legal code

in a way that is related to someone's mind or emotions

The therapy session addressed issues psychologically, focusing on the patient's emotional well-being.

in a way that is related to money or its management

Mary manages her budget well and is financially secure.

used to refer to someone who is extremely thin, often in an unattractive and unhealthy way

After the illness, he was reduced to skin and bone.

(of two things) to be closely connected to one another, particularly in a way that one of them causes the occurrence of another

In a loving relationship, trust and emotional support are hand in hand, creating a strong bond between partners.

a subject over which people disagree

The allocation of funds became the bone of contention during the budget meeting, leading to heated debates among department heads.

close in space; within reach

to not hesitate to do or say what one truly wants

He made no bones about his dislike for spicy food and refused to eat anything with even a hint of spice.

to change the appearance, character, or nature of a person or object

The renovation project aims to transform the old building into a modern and functional space.

to learn of and confirm the facts about something through calculation or research

Scientists regularly determine the chemical composition of substances in the laboratory.

the outer form or edges of something or someone

The children enjoyed cutting out different shapes from colored paper during the art class.

to go back to a previous state, condition, or behavior

After the updates caused issues, they decided to revert to the previous version of the software.

to better or increase someone or something's quality, strength, value, etc.

Adding new features can enhance the functionality of a software application.

a sense of discontent, particularly towards a governing system

If the government doesn’t address the growing disaffection among the people, it may face serious consequences in the upcoming elections.

a state of separation between persons or groups

a close relationship in which there is a good understanding and communication between people

Despite meeting for the first time, their shared interests and easy conversation quickly established a strong rapport between them.

a social or business relationship

to be one's property

The antique clock belongs to my grandmother.

‌the feeling that one is different from others and therefore not part of a particular group

The constant moving left her with a deep sense of alienation from her peers.

the act of doing or performing something again

The athlete's success was due to the repetition of his training routine.

a literary device where human qualities or characteristics are attributed to non-human entities, objects, or ideas

The poem’s personification of the wind made it seem alive and restless.

a figure of speech that combines two contradictory or contrasting terms to create a unique expression

The phrase "bittersweet victory" is an oxymoron, highlighting the mixed emotions of winning a hard-fought battle at a great cost.

a question that is not meant to be answered, but is instead used to make a point or to create emphasis or effect

He asked a rhetorical question to emphasize his point about fairness.

the figurative language in literature by which the audience can form vivid mental images