Money and Finance

an economic system that is not operated by the government rather by free competition and supply and demand

In a free market economy, prices are determined by supply and demand rather than government intervention.

a place in which shares and stocks are traded

The New York Stock Exchange is one of the largest and most influential stock exchanges in the world.

to cause a person or organization to become legally unable to pay debts

Poor sales bankrupted the family business within a year.

to separate something into more pieces, often in a sudden way

Be careful not to break the glass when you wash the dishes.

to tie or fasten something or someone securely to a stake for stability or control

The dog was staked in the yard to prevent it from wandering off.

an economic system in which private businesses determine production, prices, and salaries not the government

A market economy allows businesses to operate based on supply and demand without government interference in pricing.

(always plural) money received for work done or services provided

The company reported higher-than-expected earnings for the quarter, boosting investor confidence.

something that is used as an encouraging and motivating factor

The opportunity to travel abroad was a great incentive for volunteers to participate in the program.

to gather and store a large supply of food, money, etc., usually somewhere secret

The survivalist hoarded canned food and water in a hidden bunker in preparation for a potential disaster.

costing a lot of money, more than the necessary or affordable amount

She threw an extravagant birthday party with live music and gourmet catering.

to vary or waver between two or more states or amounts

The economy fluctuates, affecting businesses and individuals alike.

to become hard or turn to ice because of reaching or going below 0° Celsius

As the temperature dropped overnight, the water in the pond began to freeze.

to reach a stable or steady state after a period of fluctuation or change

Sales have leveled off after a period of rapid growth, indicating a more sustainable pace of expansion.

to seek financial contributions or donations for a particular cause, organization, or event

They fundraised tirelessly to support cancer research.

a state characterized by constant feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of enegry or interest in activities

After the breakup, he fell into a deep depression.

a balanced state between opposing influences or powers

The tightrope walker maintained perfect equilibrium as they carefully balanced along the narrow line.

a type of board game in which players use game currency to buy buildings or streets represented on the board

The Monopoly game lasted for hours, with everyone strategizing their moves.

the joining of two companies or organizations together to form a larger one

The merger between the two leading airlines created one of the largest aviation companies in the world.

someone or something that gives money, clothes, etc. to a charity for free

The hospital honored its largest donor for contributing funds to build a new pediatric wing.

the finger adjacent to the thumb, commonly used for pointing

She wore a ring on her index finger.

a large, flat case, often made of leather, used for carrying loose papers, drawings, or maps

She carried her portfolio of sketches to the meeting.

a technology that allows short-range data transfer between cell phones and other electronic devices to do things such as paying for a purchase, etc.

Many modern smartphones are equipped with near-field communication technology for contactless payments.

a male deer, rabbit, or antelope

The buck stood proudly in the meadow during mating season.

a hard, silvery, malleable, and corrosion-resistant metallic element used in alloys and plating

The coin is made primarily of nickel and copper.

a ten-cent coin of Canada and the US

He placed a dime in the vending machine to buy a small piece of candy.

the pointed top of a mountain

The climbers reached the peak of Mount Everest after weeks of strenuous effort.

having no meaningful value, impact, or utility

The broken watch was deemed worthless and thrown away.

costing much money, often more than one is willing to pay

The decision to renovate the kitchen was a costly undertaking.

to divide a thing into smaller pieces using a sharp object

I cut the paper with scissors to make a snowflake.

already paid for

She bought a prepaid phone card to make international calls without running up a large bill.

having great value or importance

The handwritten letter from her late grandmother was a priceless keepsake.

to change the ownership of an industry, service, or business from public to private

The government decided to privatize the national airline to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

a sentence or group of words from a movie, book, etc. that someone else repeats

She included a famous quotation from Shakespeare in her essay.

an amount of money that a government or organization pays to lower the costs of producing goods or providing services so that prices do not increase

The government provides subsidies to farmers to support agricultural production and maintain food security.

a tax paid on goods imported or exported

The government imposed a tariff on imported steel to protect domestic producers.

an accountant's profession or tasks

She pursued a degree in accountancy to become a certified public accountant (CPA).

in or to the direction behind us

He stepped back to give his friend more room to dance.

to combine two or more things in order to make them easier to handle or increase their efficiency

The company decided to consolidate its various departments to streamline operations and improve communication.

to place or fix something in a specific location

To secure the valuable artifact, the museum decided to deposit it in a high-security vault.