Interactive Vocabulary - Amy E. Olsen 2017
Glossary
A
access v. to be able to reach or open n. 1. the right to use or enter 2. the state of being able to enter or approach 3. a means of entry; a passage
acquire v. to get possession of; to obtain
affirm v. 1. to confirm; to approve 2. to assert; to
insist
allot v. to give; to assign
analogy n. a comparison; likeness
anticipate v. to look forward to; to expect
appease v. 1. to calm, to soothe 2. to satisfy
aptitude n. 1. talent; ability 2. quickness in learning; intelligence
aspect n. 1. a part; a phase; a characteristic
2. an expression or appearance
assessment n. testing; evaluation
attain v. 1. to reach; to arrive at, especially through hard work or time 2. to achieve; to accomplish
avid adj. eager; enthusiastic
awareness n. alertness; consciousness; knowledge
B
baffle v. to confuse; to frustrate
bliss n. absolute joy; great happiness
C
chronicle v. to record n. a chronological record of historical events
chronological adj. arranged in order of time; sequential
clarify v. to make clear; to explain
clarity n. clearness; brightness; easy to understand
collaborative adj. working together; working with other people
colleague n. co-worker; associate; partner
compatible adj. 1. capable of being in an agreeable situation with others; well-matched 2. capable of efficient operation with other elements
confidential adj. spoken or written for only a few people to know about; secret
confront v. to face head on
congenial adj. friendly; pleasant; agreeable
constraint n. limitation; restriction
contention n. 1. a determination to win in competition
2. an argument; an opinion
contradictory adj. stating the opposite; conflicting; differing
converge v. to come together; to meet
cooperate v. to work together; to agree
D
debt n. something owed; an obligation
declare v. to announce formally; strongly assert
dedication n. 1. the state of being devoted to a cause;
commitment 2. a message attached to a book or other artistic work to show thanks or respect 3. a ceremony to open a building
delve v. to investigate; to dig into
depletion n. the act of decreasing something; reduction
derive v. 1. to obtain 2. to arrive at by reasoning
3. to come from a source; originate
dilate v. to make larger or wider; to enlarge; to expand
diligent adj. hard-working; attentive; careful
disarray n. a state of disorder; confusion v. to throw into confusion; to upset
disclose v. to make public
dismal adj. miserable; depressing; dull
E
efficient adj. effective; well-organized
elaborate v. 1. to provide more information
2. to work out completely adj. planned with attention to details; complicated
elusive adj. tending to avoid or escape understanding or reach; hard to get hold of; mysterious
empathize v. to identify with another person's situation; to understand a person's feelings
empower v. to enable; to authorize; to permit
envision v. to picture mentally, especially future events; imagine; foresee
evident adj. easily seen; clear
exude v. to give off; to release; to project
F
factor n. a part that adds to an outcome or a situation; a cause; a component v. to consider as important when making a decision; a reason
faculty n. 1. teachers at a school, college, or univer
sity 2. the ability to do something
fluke n. a lucky chance; accidental good luck
formulate v. to invent, develop, or devise
fray n. 1. a fight or battle 2. a competition, especially in sports v. 1. to strain; to upset 2. to wear away by rubbing, such as the edges of cloth
G
generate v. to start up; to develop; to create
genesis n. origin; beginning
genuine adj. real; true
global adj. involving the entire Earth; international
gullible adj. easily fooled; believing; trusting
H
hectic adj. busy and confused; chaotic; wild
hone v. to sharpen; to work on n. a tool for sharpening cutting instruments
hypothesis n. a statement that provides a possible explanation for a set of facts, often the starting point for experiments; a theory; a suggestion
I
immerse v. 1. to surround; to absorb 2. to cover entirely in a liquid; to submerge
impartial adj. fair; unprejudiced
impassive adj. having a lack of interest; not showing emotion; expressionless
implausible adj. causing disbelief; unlikely;
doubtful
impress v. to interest; to amaze; to influence
inaccurate adj. mistaken; incorrect
incentive n. encouragement; something that motivates action or greater effort adj. motivating, as to action
inevitable adj. incapable of being prevented; unavoidable; certain n. something that is unavoidable
initiative n. the first step; the ability to start a plan
innovative adj. using or showing new ideas; original; inventive
inquisitive adj. curious; eager for knowledge
inscribe v. to write or carve on a surface or page
integrity n. honesty; reliability; truthfulness; honor
intense adj. to an extreme degree; deep
intercede v. to request something for someone else; to intervene
interpret v. 1. to explain the meaning of; to takefo mean 2. to reveal the meaning of in performance (in music, drama) 3. to translate what is said in a foreign language
intimidate v. to scare or frighten; to threaten
invest v. to use or give (money, time, etc.) in order to reach something, often for profit; to put in
irrational adj. l. illogical; foolish; unreasonable
2. confused, as from shock
J
jeopardize v. to risk; to threaten
jubilant adj. joyful; thrilled
K
keen adj. l. extremely alert or sensitive; sharp
2. eager; enthusiastic; intense 3. intelligent
L
laborious adj. l. requiring hard work; difficult
2. hard-working; industrious
lament v. to express grief; to mourn
lavish v. to give or spend in large amounts; heap adj. extravagant; abundant; generous
liberal adj. l. generous; abundant 2. tolerant of the ideas or actions of others; open-minded n. a person with liberal views
M
malady n. 1. an illness; a disease 2. a disagreeable condition
malevolent adj. wishing or producing evil or ham on others; mean
malicious adj. feeling or showing a desire to harm another; hateful; mean
management n. l. the ability to control something
2. the people who direct a business
maneuver v. 1. to manage with skill 2. to steer in
various directions as needed 3. to scheme n. 1. an
act of changing directions as needed 2. a skillful move
manipulative adj. using for one's own purposes; controlling
manuscript n. a document, generally handwritten
methodical adj. l. orderly; logical 2. precise;
careful
moderation n. avoidance of extremes; control
N
naive or naive adj. ignorant; innocent; inexperienced
networking n. 1. a supportive method of sharing information among people with shared interests 2. the creation of a computer network
nimble adj. l. quick and light in movement; lively
2. quick to think or comprehend
О
opportune adj. 1. favorable; appropriate 2. convenient; well-timed
opposition n. 1. conflict; resistance 2. a competitor, enemy, or challenger
option n. choosing; choice; alternative; the thing chosen
orientation n. a program intended to help people adapt to a new environment
overextend v. to promise more (money, time, etc.) than one can deliver; to try to do too much
p
passionate adj. having strong emotions; enthusiastic; loving
perspective n. 1. a point of view; outlook; attitude
2. a view; prospect
pheromone n. a chemical released by an animal that influences behavior or development in others of the same type
precarious adj. 1. insecure; dangerously lacking security 2. subject to change
preclude v. to keep from happening; to prevent
predicament n. a difficult, embarrassing, or ridiculous situation
preliminary adj. beginning; introductory
prescribe v. to give as a rle or guide; to recommend the use of
prioritize v. to place in order of importance procrastinate v. to postpone; to put off proficient adj. accomplished in a subject; skilled
Q
quandary n. a confused state; a difficulty
query n. a question v to question; to ask
R
rapport n. a relationship or connection, especially one involving trust
reflect v. 1. to think seriously about 2. to mirror
3. to show as a result of what one does; to signal
regimen n. a plan; discipline
reluctant adj. unwilling; hesitant
remiss adj. careless or slow in meeting one's responsibilities; inattentive
reputable adj. respectable; honorable; trustworthy
resolve v. 1. to make up one's mind; to decide firmly
2. to solve or settle, such as an argument
n. determination; a frm decision or plan
retain v. to hold; to keep; to remember
retrospect n. looking back at the past v. to look back on; to remember
revive v. 1. to regain health 2. to restore to use; to renew 3. to bring back to life
s
sedentary adj. requiring a lot of sitting; getting little exercise; inactive
specimen n. 1. a thing (i.e., plant, rock, animal) collected as an example for examination; a sample 2. an individual or object considered typical of the group to which it belongs; type; model
speculate v. to suppose; to wonder; to think curiously about
stimulate v. to excite; to inspire; to cause to do
surmise v. to guess; to suspect; to assume n. a suspicion; a theory
sustainable adj. capable of being maintained with little lasting effect on the environment; supportable
symbolize v. to represent; to mean
synchronize v. 1. to function together; to match
2. to happen at the same time; to cause to show the same time
T
tangible adj. 1. possible to understand or accomplish
2. possible to touch; real
tenacious adj. holding fast; stubborn; tough; firm
tenuous adj. slight; weak; thin
tenure n. 1. the period of holding something; term; the possession of something, like an office 2. the right of permanent employment, especially for teachers
thwart v. 1. to prevent; to stop 2. to frustrate
trend n. a general direction in which something tends to move; a leaning
u
uncertain adj. not known; doubtful; undecided
unprecedented adj. never before known or experienced; frst-time; exceptional
V
verify v. to prove the truth of; to confirm
vie v. to compete for something; to struggle
visionary adj. imaginative, creative, farsighted n. one with an unusual ability to look ahead; a prophet; a dreamer
vital adj. important; essential
w
waver v. 1. to be unsure; to hesitate 2. to move back and forth 3. to shake, used of a sound
weary adj. tired; exhausted v. to tire; to grow tired