Lesson 35

a straight line that touches a curve or surface at exactly one point, known as the point of tangency

In geometry class, we learned how to draw a tangent to a circle, ensuring it only touched the circle at a single point.

not or barely relevant to something

His comments about vacation plans were tangential to the discussion on budget cuts.

capable of being felt or touched

The soft texture of the fabric was immediately tangible as she ran her fingers over it.

to create an hole or gap in something, allowing access or entry

The battering ram breached the castle wall, creating an entry point.

the back part of a gun's barrel where bullets are loaded

The safety procedures required checking the breech first when inspecting the unloaded weapon.

impossible to explain or justify

She had an unaccountable feeling of unease when entering the old building.

emotionally unmoved

pure and free from any other elements or substances

The jeweler confirmed that the gold ring was unalloyed, making it quite valuable.

relating to or typical of winter

The hibernal landscape was blanketed in snow and ice.

to wrongly or intentionally damage someone's reputation

Rumors can quickly defame an innocent person if they spread uncontrollably.

(of statements) intending to ruin someone's reputation with the use of unpleasant or false information

Social media platforms have policies in place to remove defamatory content that users might post.

a false statement damaging a person's reputation

She filed a lawsuit for defamation after the false accusations were published.

to annoy someone, often due to repeated actions or persistent issues

It irks him when someone leaves the door open and lets the cold air in.

causing annoyance or weariness due to its dull or repetitive nature

The children's constant bickering on the long car ride was especially irksome for the parents.

to examine or study something in detail in order to explain or understand it

The scientist needed to analyze the data to draw meaningful conclusions from the experiment.

a trained individual who evaluates information and data to provide insights and make informed decisions in various fields such as finance, economics, business, technology, etc.

The market analyst predicted a surge in stock prices based on recent economic indicators.

(grammar) a gender of words that are neither masculine nor feminine

Understanding noun genders, including neuter, is important in language learning.

not favoring either side in a conflict, competition, debate, etc.

It’s important to keep a neutral tone when discussing sensitive topics.

the process of counteracting or eliminating the impact of a previous action

The company's apology was a neutralisation aimed at mending its damaged public image.