Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

abase yourself verb [R ] FORMAL

to make yourself seem to be less important or not to deserve respect

allusion noun [C ]
something that is said or written that is intended to make you think of a particular thing or
person
The film is full of allusions to Hitchcock.
Her novels are packed with literary allusions.

allusive adjective FORMAL

containing a lot of allusions
Her music is witty, ironic and allusive.

amalgamate verb [I or T ]
to join or unite to form a larger organization or group, or to make separate organizations do
this
The electricians' union is planning to amalgamate with the technicians' union.
The different offices will be amalgamated as/into employment advice centres.

beneficent adjective FORMAL

helping people and doing good acts
a beneficent aunt

calamity noun [C ]
a serious accident or bad event causing damage or suffering
A series of calamities ruined them - floods, a failed harvest and the death of a son.

cantankerous adjective
arguing and complaining a lot
He's getting a bit cantankerous in his old age.

commemoration noun [C or U ]
something which is done to remember officially and give respect to a great person or event
A set of stamps has been commissioned in commemoration of Independence Day.
Thousands of veterans will take part in a commemoration of the battle.

commentator noun [C ]
a reporter for radio or television who provides a spoken description of and remarks on an
event, especially a sports competition, as it happens
a radio commentator
a sports/football commentator.

covert adjective
hidden or secret
covert actions

Cambridge University Press 2008

 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

The government was accused of covert military operations against the regime.

demonize , UK USUALLY demonise verb [T ]

to try to make someone or a group of people seem as if they are completely evil
The Nazis used racist propaganda in an attempt to demonize the Jews.

divisive adjective
describes something that causes great and sometimes unfriendly disagreement within a group
of people
The Vietnam war was an extremely divisive issue in the US.

expatiate verb [I ] FORMAL DISAPPROVING

to speak or write about something in great detail or for a long time
She expatiated on/upon her work for the duration of the meal.

filch verb [T ] INFORMAL

to steal something of little value
Who's filched my pencils?

fray verb BECOME ANNOYED

2. [I] If your temper frays or your nerves fray, you gradually become upset or annoyed
Tempers frayed as thousands of motorists began the Christmas holiday with long waits in
traffic jams.

fray around/at the edges

to start to become less effective or successful
Without the unifying forces of the army and the monarchy, it seems, the nation would begin
to fray at the edges.

fray noun [S ]
the fray
an energetic and often not well organized effort, activity, fight or disagreement
With a third country about to enter (= take part in) the fray, the fighting looks set to
continue.
A good holiday should leave you feeling refreshed and ready for the fray (= ready to
work) again.

garrulous adjective
having the habit of talking a lot, especially about things which are not important

illusion noun
1. [C or U] an idea or belief which is not true
He had no illusions about his talents as a singer.
I'm under no illusions (= I understand the truth) about the man I married.
My boss is labouring under the illusion that (= wrongly believes that) the project will be
completed on time.
2. [C] something that is not really what it seems to be

Cambridge University Press 2008

 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

A large mirror in a room can create the illusion of space.

The impression of calm in the office is just an illusion.

impetus noun [S or U ]
something which encourages a particular activity or makes that activity more energetic or
effective
The recent publicity surrounding homelessness has given (a) fresh impetus to the cause.

infiltrate verb [I + adv/prep T ]

1. to secretly become part of a group in order to get information or to influence the way that
group thinks or behaves
A journalist managed to infiltrate the powerful drug cartel.
2. to move slowly into a substance, place, system or organization
At about this time the new ideas about 'corporate management' had begun to infiltrate
(into) local government.

infuriate verb [T ]
to make someone extremely angry
His sexist attitude infuriates me.

innuendo noun [C or U ] (plural innuendoes or innuendos)

(the making of) a remark or remarks that suggest something sexual or something unpleasant
but do not refer to it directly
There's always an element of sexual innuendo in our conversations.

insidious adjective
(of something unpleasant or dangerous) gradually and secretly causing harm
High-blood pressure is an insidious condition which has few symptoms.

insinuate verb [T ]
to suggest, without being direct, that something unpleasant is true
[+ (that)] Are you insinuating (that) I'm losing my nerve?
What are you insinuating, Daniel?

irate adjective
very angry
We have received some irate phone calls from customers.

overt adjective
done or shown publicly or in an obvious way; not secret
overt criticism
overt racism
He shows no overt signs of his unhappiness.

permeate verb [I usually + adv/prep T ] FORMAL

to spread through something and be present in every part of it

Cambridge University Press 2008

 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

Dissatisfaction with the government seems to have permeated every section of society.
A foul smell of stale beer permeated the whole building.
The table has a plastic coating which prevents liquids from permeating into the wood
beneath.

poach verb TAKE

2. [I or T] to catch and kill animals without permission on someone else's land
The farmer claimed that he shot the men because they were poaching on his land.
3. [I or T] to take and use for yourself unfairly or dishonestly something, usually an idea, that
belongs to someone else
Jeff always poaches my ideas, and then pretends that they're his own.
4. [I or T] DISAPPROVING to persuade someone who works for someone else to come and work
for you
They were furious when one of their best managers was poached by another company.

profess verb [T ]
to state something, sometimes in a way which is not sincere
[+ to infinitive] She professes not to be interested in money.
I don't profess to know all the details about the case.
She professes ignorance of the whole affair, though I'm not sure I believe her.

realist noun [C ] THOUGHT

1. someone who hopes for or accepts only what seems possible or likely, and does not hope
for or expect more
I'm a realist - I knew there was no way I could win, so I swam for a good finish, for points.

realist noun [C ] ART

2. SPECIALIZED an artist, writer, etc. who represents life as it really is, rather than in an
imagined way

repudiate verb [T ] FORMAL

to refuse to accept something or someone as true, good or reasonable
He repudiated the allegation/charge/claim that he had tried to deceive them.
I utterly repudiate those remarks.

seethe verb [I ] FEEL ANGER

1. to feel very angry but to be unable or unwilling to express it clearly
The class positively seethed with indignation when Julia won the award.
By the end of the meeting he was seething.

seethe verb [I ] MOVE

2. (of a large number or amount) to move about energetically in a small space
The streets were seething (= busy and crowded) with tourists.

spoof noun [C ]
a funny and silly piece of writing, music, theatre, etc. that copies the style of an original work
They did a spoof on/of the Nine O'Clock News.

Cambridge University Press 2008

 Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

It was a spoof cowboy film.

subordinate verb [T ]
to put someone or something into a less important position
Her personal life has been subordinated to her career.

substantive adjective FORMAL

important, serious or related to real facts
Substantive research on the subject needs to be carried out.
The documents are the first substantive information obtained by the investigators.

subvert verb [T ] FORMAL

to try to destroy or damage something, especially an established political system
The rebel army is attempting to subvert the government.
Our best intentions are sometimes subverted by our natural tendency to selfishness.

Cambridge University Press 2008