Term
aggrandizement , UK usually aggrandisement /əˈgræn.dɪz.mənt/ noun [ U ] formal disapproving
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Definition
increase in power or importance
He gives a lot of money to charity, but personal aggrandizement/ self- aggrandizement is his motive.
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Term
aggregate /ˈæg.rɪ.gət/ noun [ C or U ] adjective [ before noun ] verb [ T ]
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Definition
something formed by adding together several amounts or things; a total
They purchased an aggregate of 3000 shares in the company.
Snowflakes are loose aggregates of ice crystals.
Arsenal lost the second game, but got through to the final on aggregate (= adding together the goals in both matches) .
aggregate /ˈæg.rɪ.gət/ adjective [ before noun ] total
The seven companies have an aggregate turnover of £5.2 million.
aggregate /ˈæg.rɪ.geɪt/ verb [ T ] to combine into a single group or total
aggregation /ˌæg.rɪˈgeɪ.ʃ ə n/ noun [ U ] |
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Term
*alacrity /əˈlæk.rə.ti/ /-t ̬i/ noun [ U ] formal
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Definition
speed and eagerness
She accepted the money with alacrity.
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Term
alchemy /ˈæl.kə.mi/ noun [ U ]
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Definition
1. a type of chemistry, especially from about the years 1100 to 1500, which dealt with trying to find a way to change ordinary metals into gold and with trying to find a medicine which would cure any disease
2. literary a process that is so effective that it seems like magic
She manages, by some extraordinary alchemy, to turn the most ordinary of ingredients into the most delicious of dishes.
alchemist /ˈæl.kə.mɪst/ noun [ C ] |
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Term
allay /əˈleɪ/ verb [ T ] formal
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Definition
If you allay a strong emotion felt by someone, such as fear or worry, you cause them to feel it less or to feel calm again
The government is trying to allay public fears/concern about the spread of the disease.
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Term
*alleviate /əˈliː.vi.eɪt/ verb [ T ] formal
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Definition
to make something bad such as pain or problems less severe
The drugs did nothing to alleviate her pain/suffering.
alleviation /əˌliː.viˈeɪ.ʃ ə n/ noun [ U ]
the alleviation of poverty
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Term
alloy /ˈæl.ɔɪ/ noun [ C ] verb [ T ]
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Definition
a metal that is made by mixing two or more metals, or a metal and another substance
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.
alloy /əˈlɔɪ/ verb [ T ] literary
to spoil or reduce in value
My pleasure in receiving the letter was somewhat alloyed by its contents.
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Term
allure /əˈljʊə r / , /-ˈlʊə r / /-ˈlʊr/ noun [ U ]
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Definition
the quality of being attractive, interesting or exciting
the allure of work ing in television
sexual allure
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Term
*amalgamate /əˈmæl.gə.meɪt/ verb [ I or T ]
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Definition
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.
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Term
*ambiguous /æmˈbɪg.ju.əs/ adjective
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Definition
having or expressing more than one possible meaning, sometimes intentionally
His reply to my question was somewhat ambiguous.
The wording of the agreement is ambiguous.
The government has been ambiguous on this issue.
ambiguously /æmˈbɪg.ju.ə.sli/ adverb
Some questions were badly or ambiguously worded.
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Term
*ambivalent /æmˈbɪv.ə.lənt/ adjective
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Definition
having two opposing feelings at the same time, or being uncertain about how you feel
I felt very ambivalent about leaving home.
He has fairly ambivalent feelings towards his father.
an ambivalent attitude to exercise
ambivalently /æmˈbɪv.ə.lənt.li/ adverb
ambivalence /æmˈbɪv.ə.lən t s/ noun [ U ]
the state of feeling or being ambivalent
her ambivalence towards men
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Term
ambrosia /æmˈbrəʊ.zi.ə/ , /-ʒə/ /-ˈbroʊ.ʒə/ noun [ U ] literary
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Definition
the food eaten by Greek and Roman gods, or a very pleasant food which could be compared with this
The chocolate mousse she makes is sheer ambrosia (= tastes extremely good) .
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Term
*ameliorate /əˈmiː.ljə.reɪt/ verb [ T ] formal
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Definition
to make a bad or unpleasant situation better
Foreign aid is badly needed to ameliorate the effects of the drought.
amelioration /əˌmiː.li.əˈreɪ.ʃ ə n/ noun [ U ] |
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Term
amenable /əˈmiː.nə.bl ̩/ adjective
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Definition
willing to accept or be influenced by a suggestion
She might be more amenable to the idea if you explained how much money it would save.
Do you think the new manager will prove more amenable to our proposals?
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Term
amenity /əˈmiː.nɪ.ti/ /əˈmen.ə.t ̬i/ noun [ C usually plural ]
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Definition
1. something, such as a swimming pool or shopping centre, that is intended to make life more pleasant or comfortable for the people in a town, hotel or other place
The council has some spare cash which it proposes to spend on public amenities.
2. basic amenities
things considered to be necessary to live comfortably such as hot water
The 200-year-old jail is overcrowded, understaffed and lacking in basic amenities.
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Term
amulet /ˈæm.jʊ.lət/ /-jə-/ noun [ C ]
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Definition
an object worn because it is believed to protect against evil, disease or unhappiness |
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Term
*anachronism /əˈnæk.rə.nɪ.z ə m/ noun [ C ]
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Definition
a person, thing or idea which exists out of its time in history, especially one which happened or existed later than the period being shown, discussed, etc.
For some people, marriage is an anachronism from the days when women needed to be protected.
anachronistic /əˌnæk.rəˈnɪs.tɪk/ adjective
He described the law as anachronistic (= more suitable for an earlier time) and ridiculous.
anachronistically /əˌnæk.rəˈnɪs.tɪ.kli/ adverb |
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Term
analgesic /ˌæn.əlˈdʒiː.zɪk/ noun [ C ]
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Definition
a type of drug which stops you from feeling pain
This cream contains a mild analgesic to soothe stings and bites.
analgesic adjective
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Term
*analogy /əˈnæl.ə.dʒi/ noun [ C or U ]
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Definition
a comparison between things which have similar features, often used to help explain a principle or idea
He drew an analogy between the brain and a vast computer.
It is sometimes easier to illustrate an abstract concept by analogy with (= by comparing it with) something concrete.
analogous /əˈnæl.ə.gəs/ adjective
The experience of mystic trance is in a sense analogous to sleep or drunkenness.
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Term
anarchy /ˈæn.ə.ki/ /-ɚ-/ noun [ U ]
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Definition
a situation in which there is no organization and control, especially in society because there is no effective government
What we are witnessing is the country's slow slide into anarchy.
The country has been in a state of anarchy since the inconclusive election.
If the pay deal isn't settled amicably there'll be anarchy in the factories.
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Term
entice /ɪnˈtaɪs/ verb [ T ]
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Definition
to persuade someone to do something by offering them something pleasant
The adverts entice the customer into buy ing things they don't really want.
People are being enticed away from the profession by higher salaries elsewhere.
[ + to infinitive ] A smell of coffee in the doorway enticed people to enter the shop.
enticement /ɪnˈtaɪ.smənt/ noun [ C or U ]
One of the enticements of the job is the company car.
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