Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

abate verb [I ] FORMAL

to become less strong
The storm/wind/rain has started to abate.
The fighting in the area shows no sign of abating.

accommodating adjective
describes a person who is eager or willing to help other people, for example by changing their
plans
I'm sure she'll help you - she's always very accommodating.

anoint verb [T ] CHOOSE

3. FORMAL to choose someone to do a particular job, usually by a person in authority
[+ as + noun] It remains to be seen whom the chairman will anoint as his successor.

apparel noun [U ]
1. MAINLY US clothes of a particular type when they are being sold in a shop
sports apparel
2. OLD USE OR FORMAL clothes

archetypal adjective (ALSO archetypical)

an archetypal English gentleman

aseptic adjective
medically clean or without infection
an aseptic wound/dressing/bandage

barrister noun [C ]
a type of lawyer in Britain, Australia and some other countries who is qualified to give
specialist legal advice and can argue a case in both higher and lower law courts

behemoth noun [C ] FORMAL

something that is extremely large and often extremely powerful
a grocery chain behemoth

bill noun LAW

2. [C] a formal statement of a planned new law that is discussed before being voted on
The bill was amended (= changed).
When a bill is passed in parliament it becomes law.
INFORMAL The bill was thrown out (= did not go past the first stage of discussion and will
not become law).

bombastic adjective
using long and difficult words, usually to make people think you know more than you do
a bombastic preacher
a bombastic statement

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 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

bountiful adjective LITERARY

1. large in amount
We found a bountiful supply of coconuts on the island.
2. generous in giving to others
our bountiful benefactor

caveat noun [C ] FORMAL

a warning to consider something before acting further, or a statement which limits a more
general statement; a proviso
He agreed to the interview, with the caveat that he could approve the final article.

cognizance noun FORMAL OR LEGAL

take cognizance of sth
to take notice of and consider something, especially when judging
The lawyer asked the jury to take cognizance of the defendant's generosity in giving to
charity.

cognizant adjective FORMAL

Unfortunately, we were not cognizant of (= did not know about) the full facts.

concur verb [I ] (-rr-) FORMAL

1. to agree with someone or have the same opinion as someone else
The new report concurs with previous findings.
[+ that] The board concurred that the editor should have full control over editorial
matters.
[+ speech] "I think you're absolutely right, " concurred Chris.
2. If two or more events concur, they happen at the same time.

concurrence noun [U ] FORMAL

when people, things or events concur

concurrent adjective
happening or existing at the same time
The judge imposed concurrent sentences totalling 14 years for the attacks on the girls.

contend verb CLAIM

2. [T + (that)] FORMAL to state that something is true or is a fact
The lawyer contended (that) her client had never been near the scene of the crime.

countervailing adjective [before noun ] FORMAL

having equal force but an opposite effect
There was nobody strong enough to lead an effective countervailing force against the
dictator.
a countervailing argument

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 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

credit verb BELIEVE

2. [T not continuous] to believe something which seems unlikely to be true
He even tried to pretend he was a film star's son - can you credit it?
It was hard to credit some of the stories we heard about her.

currency noun ACCEPTANCE

2. [U] the state of being commonly known or accepted, or of being used in many places
His ideas enjoyed wide currency during the last century.
Many informal expressions are gaining currency in serious newspapers.

defamatory adjective
He claims the remarks were highly defamatory.

depository noun [C ]
a place, especially a large building, for storing things
The government is having difficulty finding a safe depository for nuclear waste.

despondent adjective
unhappy and with no hope or enthusiasm because you feel you are in a difficult situation
He became/grew increasingly despondent when she failed to return his phone calls.
She started to feel despondent about ever finding a job.

despotism noun [U]

After years of despotism, the country is now moving towards democracy.

determinism noun [U ] SPECIALIZED

the theory that everything which happens must happen as it does and could not have
happened any other way

discomfit verb [T ] FORMAL

to make someone feel uncomfortable, especially mentally

dispense with sth/sb phrasal verb

to get rid of something or someone or stop using them because you do not need them
They've had to dispense with a lot of luxuries since Mike lost his job.

dissension noun [U ] SLIGHTLY FORMAL

arguments and disagreement, especially in an organization, group, political party, etc.
There are signs of dissension within the ruling political party.

distil verb (-ll-) INFORMATION

2. [T usually passive] LITERARY to get or show only the most important part of something
Over 80 hours of footage have been distilled into these 40 minutes.

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 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

the doldrums plural noun

1. in the doldrums
a. INFORMAL unsuccessful or showing no activity or development
Her career was in the doldrums during those years.
b. UK INFORMAL sad and with no energy or enthusiasm

evident adjective SLIGHTLY FORMAL

easily seen or understood; obvious
The full extent of the damage only became evident the following morning.
From the smell it was evident that the drains had been blocked for several days.
Harry's courage during his illness was evident to everyone.
Her love for him was evident in all that she did.

expedient adjective FORMAL

helpful or useful in a particular situation, but sometimes not morally acceptable
It might be expedient not to pay him until the work is finished.
The management has taken a series of expedient measures to improve the company's
financial situation.

expedite verb [T ] FORMAL

to cause to be done more quickly; to hurry
Something needs to be done to expedite the process.

expedition noun SPEED

3. [U] FORMAL speed in doing something
We will deal with your order with the greatest possible expedition.

experiential adjective FORMAL

based on experience
experiential learning

take sth at face value

to accept something for what it appears to be rather than studying it more closely
I took the offer at face value. I didn't think they might be trying to trick me.

fiduciary adjective SPECIALIZED

relating to the responsibility to look after someone else's money in a correct way
a breach of fiduciary duty

fiendish adjective
1. evil and cruel
a fiendish attack
2. clever and difficult, sometimes in a bad way
a fiendish crossword
a fiendish plot/scheme
3. UK OLD-FASHIONED very great
a fiendish price

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 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

I'm in a fiendish hurry.

footnote noun
1. [C] a note printed at the bottom of a page which gives extra information about something
that has been written on that page
2. [C usually singular] an event, subject or detail which is not important
His tumultuous triumph 5 years ago now seems a mere footnote in history.

give way
1. UK to allow other vehicles to go past before you move onto a road
You have to give way to traffic coming from the right.
2. to break, especially when under pressure from strong forces
Because of an unusually strong current, the bridge's central support gave way, tipping a
coach into the river.
3. to stop arguing or fighting against someone or something
Neither of them will give way, so they could be arguing for a very long time.
Don't give way to your fears.

grandeur noun [U ]
the quality of being very large and special or beautiful
the silent grandeur of the desert
the grandeur of Wagner's music

hark back to sth phrasal verb BE SIMILAR

2. If something harks back to something in the past, it is similar to it
The director's latest film harks back to the early years of cinema.

homely adjective UGLY

2. US DISAPPROVING describes a person who is ugly

illusory adjective (ALSO illusive) FORMAL

not real; based on illusion
Their hopes of a peaceful solution turned out to be illusory.

impassioned adjective
describes speech or writing that is full of strongly felt and strongly expressed emotion
Relatives of the dead made an impassioned plea for the bodies to be flown back to this
country.

incubation noun [U]

The incubation period varies depending on the time of year when the eggs were laid.
In smallpox, there is an incubation period of 8-18 days between initial infection and first
symptoms.

indebted adjective GRATEFUL

1. [after verb] grateful because of help given
We're deeply indebted to you for your help.

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 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

indebted adjective OWING

2. owing money
indebted countries
The company is heavily indebted.

indiscretion noun
1. [U] when a person or their behaviour is indiscreet
Jones was censured for indiscretion in leaking a secret report to the press.
2. [C] something, especially a sexual relationship, that is considered embarrassing or morally
wrong
We should forgive him a few youthful indiscretions.

indoctrinate verb [T ] DISAPPROVING

to often repeat an idea or belief to someone in order to persuade them to accept it
Some parents were critical of attempts to indoctrinate children in green ideology.
They have been indoctrinated by television to believe that violence is normal.

intranet noun [C ]
a system of connected computers which works like the Internet and which allows people within
an organization to communicate with each other and share information
I'll post the agenda for next week's meeting on the intranet.

jettison verb [T ]
1. to get rid of something or someone that is not wanted or needed
The station has jettisoned educational broadcasts.
2. to decide not to use an idea or plan
We've had to jettison our holiday plans because of David's accident.
3. to throw goods, fuel or equipment from a ship or aircraft to make it lighter
The captain was forced to jettison the cargo and make an emergency landing.

loutish adjective INFORMAL

loutish behaviour

loutishness noun [U]

rude, offensive behaviour

Luddite noun [C ] USUALLY DISAPPROVING

a person who is opposed to the introduction of new working methods, especially new machines

mass market noun [C usually singular ]

A product that is designed for the mass market is intended to be bought by as many people as
possible, not just by people with a lot of money or a special interest
Advances in microchip technology have made these cameras smaller and cheaper and
affordable to the mass market.

Cambridge University Press 2008

 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

mendacious adjective FORMAL

not telling the truth
Some of these statements are misleading and some downright mendacious.

mercantile adjective FORMAL

related to trade or business

metaphysics noun [U ]
the part of philosophy that is about understanding existence and knowledge

misdeed noun [C ] FORMAL

an act that is criminal or bad
She's been making up for her past misdeeds by doing a lot of voluntary work.

misdemeanour UK , US misdemeanor noun [C ]

an action which is slightly bad or breaks a rule but is not a crime
sexual/youthful misdemeanours
Every week, as children, we were beaten for some minor misdemeanour.

motif noun [C ] PATTERN

1. a pattern or design
We chose some curtains with a flower motif.

nascent adjective FORMAL

only recently formed or started, but likely to grow larger quickly
a nascent political party
a nascent problem

objectionable adjective FORMAL

describes people or things that you dislike or oppose because they are so unpleasant or wrong
an objectionable smell
I found the violence in that film really objectionable.

overrun verb (overrunning, overran, overrun) FILL

1. [T] If unwanted people or things overrun, they fill a place quickly and in large numbers
Rebel soldiers overran the embassy last night.
Our kitchen is overrun with cockroaches.

overrun verb (overrunning, overran, overrun) GO PAST

2. [I or T] to continue past an intended limit, especially a finishing time or a cost
My evening class overran by ten minutes.
It looks as if we're going to overrun our budget.

patronage noun [U ] SUPPORT

1. the support given to an organization by someone

Cambridge University Press 2008

 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

The Conservative Party enjoys the patronage of much of the business community.
2. MAINLY DISAPPROVING the power of a person to give someone an important job or position
Patronage is a potent force if used politically.

peddle verb [T ] MAINLY DISAPPROVING

1. to sell things, especially by taking them to different places
These products are generally peddled (from) door to door.
He travels around, peddling his wares.
2. If you peddle stories or information, you spread them by telling different people
The organization has peddled the myth that they are supporting the local population.

pernicious adjective FORMAL

having a very harmful effect or influence
The cuts in government funding have had a pernicious effect on local health services.

pit sb/sth against sb/sth phrasal verb

to cause one person, group or thing to fight against or be in competition with another
It was a bitter civil war, that pitted neighbour against neighbour.
[R] The climbers pitted themselves against the mountain.

politicking noun [U ] MAINLY DISAPPROVING

the activity of trying to persuade or even force others to vote for a particular political party or
candidate

predicate verb [T ] FORMAL

1. to state that something is true
[+ that] It would be unwise to predicate that the disease is caused by a virus before
further tests have been carried out.
2. be predicated on sth
If an idea or argument is predicated on something, it depends on the existence or truth of
this thing
The sales forecast is predicated on the assumption that the economy will grow by four per
cent.

prime verb [T ]
1. to tell someone something that will prepare them for a particular situation
I'd been primed so I knew not to mention her son.
2. to cover the surface of wood with a special paint before the main paint is put on
3. to make a bomb or gun ready to explode or fire

protectionism noun [U ] DISAPPROVING

the actions of a government to help its country's trade or industry by taxing goods bought
from other countries

pulchritude noun [U ] FORMAL

beauty, especially a woman's beauty

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 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

pulp noun BOOKS

3. [U] DISAPPROVING books and magazines which are of low quality in the way they are
produced and the stories and articles they contain
pulp fiction

quell verb [T ]
to stop something, especially by using force
Police in riot gear were called in to quell the disturbances/unrest.
This latest setback will have done nothing to quell the growing doubts about the future of
the club.

quench verb [T ]
1. to satisfy your thirst by having a drink
When it's hot, it's best to quench your thirst with water.
2. LITERARY to cause a fire to stop burning with water
The flames were quenched by heavy rain.
3. to satisfy a need or wish
Her thirst for knowledge will never be quenched.

Renaissance man noun [C usually singular ] MAINLY HUMOROUS

a man who does many different things very well
He's a writer, politician, musician and athlete - a real Renaissance man.

requisite adjective [before noun ] FORMAL

necessary; needed for a particular purpose
He lacked the requisite skills for the job.
The requisite number of countries have now ratified the convention.

requisite noun [C usually plural ] FORMAL

an important necessary thing
A good book is a requisite for long journeys.
Self-esteem, self-judgment and self-will are said to be the three requisites of
independence.

rough and ready

1. produced quickly, with little preparation
2. simple but good enough
rough and ready accommodation

secede verb [I ] FORMAL

to become independent of a country or area of government
There is likely to be civil war if the region tries to secede from the south.

secession noun [U]

simple-minded adjective DISAPPROVING

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 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

1. describes a person who does not have the ability to reason and understand
2. describes an action or opinion that is based on a limited understanding of a situation

springboard noun [C ] GOOD START

2. something which provides you either with the opportunity to follow a particular plan of
action, or the encouragement that is needed to make it successful
The firm's director is confident that the new project will act as a springboard for/to further
contracts.

standing ovation noun [C ]

when the people in an audience stand up to clap at the end of a performance or speech
because they liked it very much
She received a standing ovation at the end of her speech.

supermarket tabloid noun [C ] US

a newspaper sold in supermarkets which contains reports about famous people's private lives,
or other things that have happened which are often hard to believe

synergy noun [U ] (ALSO synergism) SPECIALIZED

the combined power of a group of things when they are working together which is greater than
the total power achieved by each working separately
Team work at its best results in a synergy that can be very productive.

term noun TIME

1. [C] the fixed period of time which something lasts for
He received a prison term for drunk driving.
The Government's term of office (= The period in which they have power) expires at the
end of the year.
2. [C] MAINLY UK (US USUALLY semester , ALSO quarter) one of the periods into which a year is
divided at school, college or university
In Britain, the spring term starts in January and ends just before Easter.
We're very busy in term-time (= during the term).
3. [C] FORMAL the period of time which a legal agreement lasts for
The lease on our house is near the end of its term.
4. [U] SPECIALIZED the end of a pregnancy when a baby is expected to be born
Her last pregnancy went to term (= The baby was born after the expected number of
weeks).
a full-term pregnancy
5. in the long/medium/short term
for a long, medium or short period of time in the future
Taking this decision will cost us more in the short term, but will be beneficial in the long
term.

tumultuous adjective FORMAL

very loud, or full of confusion, change or uncertainty
Dame Joan appeared to tumultuous applause and a standing ovation.
After the tumultuous events of 1990, Eastern Europe was completely transformed.

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 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

unabated adjective [usually after verb ] FORMAL

without becoming weaker in strength or force
The fighting continued unabated throughout the night.

vintage adjective HIGH QUALITY

1. of high quality and lasting value, or showing the best and most typical characteristics of a
particular type of thing, especially from the past
a vintage aircraft
a vintage comic book
This film is vintage (= has the best characteristics typical of films made by) Disney.
She loves buying vintage clothing.

the visual arts plural noun

the arts of painting and sculpture, rather than literature and music

wanderlust noun [U ]
the wish to travel far away and to many different places
In July wanderlust takes over the whole nation.

wardrobe noun
1. [C or U] a tall cupboard in which you hang your clothes, or all of the clothes that a person
owns
She was showing me her new built-in/ UK fitted wardrobes.
I sometimes feel that my summer wardrobe is rather lacking (= I don't have many clothes
for summer).
2. [U] a department in a theatre, film company, etc. that is in charge of the clothes that the
actors wear on stage, making certain that they are clean, repairing them and sometimes
making them
He's in charge of wardrobe at the local amateur theatre.

wayside noun
fall by the wayside
If someone falls by the wayside, they fail to finish an activity, and if something falls by the
wayside, people stop doing it, making it, or using it.
So why does one company survive a recession while its competitors fall by the wayside?

wield verb [T ]
1. to hold a weapon or tool and look as if you are going to use it
She was confronted by a man wielding a knife.
2. wield influence/power, etc.
to have a lot of influence or power over other people
He still wields enormous influence within the party.

yield to sth phrasal verb AGREE

1. to agree to do something that you do not want to do or should not do
It's very easy to yield to temptation and spend too much money.
"We will not yield to pressure," said the president.

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 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

yield to sth phrasal verb STOP

2. US (UK give way) to stop in order to allow other vehicles to go past before you drive onto a
bigger road

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