考研英语真题生词

perceive [pə'si:v]}(2005.0) vt.察觉 v.感知,感到,认识到 This means that our noses are limited to perceiving those smells which float through the alr, missing the majority of smells which stick to surfaces. When we perceive something, we become aware of or notice it. Sometimes we perceive things by using our senses of sight, hearing, and smell. Or we can use our mind to perceive things, which means that we are able to recognize or understand them. We can also perceive a person or thing as having certain qualities: Do you perceive yourself as a good student? The Latin root percipere means "to receive, understand," from the prefix per- "thoroughly" plus capere "to seize, take." ★★☆☆☆

capable ['keipəb(ə)l]}(2005.0) adj.有能力的,能干的,有可能的,可以...的 Our noses are capable of detecting human smells even when these are diluted to far below one part in one million. To be capable of something is to be able to do it, like your little brother who is perfectly capable of tying his own shoes, but likes having everyone else do it for him. When people are capable, they can handle whatever task is at hand, like a capable teacher who can explain difficult concepts and make it fun. You may also have heard that someone "isn't capable" of, say, committing a crime or hurting someone's feelings. In this case, not being capable is a compliment — it means you just won't let yourself do something to violate your own standards for behavior. ★★★☆☆

dilute [dai'lju:t; dai'lju:t]}(2005.0) v.冲淡,变淡,变弱,稀释 adj.淡的,弱的,稀释的 Our noses are capable of detecting human smells even when these are diluted to far below one part in one million. When you dilute something, you make it thinner, weaker or more watered down. Like ice-cubes melting into your soda — it totally dilutes the bubbly taste! Think about diluting as lessening the quality but increasing the quantity. Unless you're diluting a really strong drink to make it taste better or diluting heavy paint to get a lighter shade — then the quality actually improves. Quipped President John F. Kennedy, “Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary.” ★★☆☆☆

dissolve [di'zɔlv]}(2005.0) v.溶解,解散 To dissolve something is to break it up or weaken it, making it no longer recognizable. You could dissolve your book club or you could even dissolve a pill by dropping it into a glass of water. You can use the verb dissolve to describe things that are coming apart or diminishing. Dissolve goes back to the Latin root dissolvere, meaning "to loosen," and it came into English in the 14th century. Physical objects dissolve, as when bubbles dissolve in the tub or a cube of sugar will dissolve in hot tea, and intangible, or non-physical, things can fade away too: "Their friendship started to dissolve when he moved across country and they communicated less frequently." ★★☆☆☆

diffuse [di'fju:s]}(2005.0) v.散播,传播,漫射,扩散,(使)慢慢混合 adj.散开的,弥漫的 Diffuse mean spread out, or the action of spreading out. If lots of people in school believe invisible angels are everywhere, you could say that opinion is diffuse. You might even think angels are diffuse as well. As a verb, diffuse means to spread something out, but also applies to spreading things such as ideas or culture so that they become widely known. When something is diffused, it's mixed in, and when you drop propaganda pamphlets out of airplanes you're diffusing the propaganda. The adjective comes from Latin diffusus, from diffundere "to pour in different directions," from the prefix dis- "apart" plus fundere "to pour." ★☆☆☆☆

incompetent [in'kɔmpitənt]}(2005.0) adj.不合格的,不胜任的 n.无能力者 If you are incompetent, you are not able to complete a task, like if you only ever made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches — you would be incompetent in the kitchen of a fancy French restaurant. Someone who is not very good at getting a job done is incompetent. An incompetent salesperson can't sell anything. A learned professor may be quite incompetent when it comes to controlling a room full of rowdy pre-schoolers. Legally speaking, you can be declared incompetent if you do not have necessary qualifications, like being certified or licensed to do a certain job, like cut hair or fix cars. ★☆☆☆☆

inefficient [ini'fiʃ(ə)nt]}(2005.0) adj.效率低的,效率差的,(指人)不能胜任的,无能的 The explanation for insensitivity to smell seems to be that the brain finds it inefficient to keep all smell receptors working all the time but can create new receptors if necessary. Inefficient things waste time, money, or other resources. Your old inefficient dishwasher uses much more water and electricity than a new model would. Shame on you. Inefficient businesses have trouble making money and growing, and an inefficient city bus system might transport just a few passengers at a time. If your car is inefficient, it gets terrible gas mileage and is expensive to drive. If something is efficient, it's productive and inexpensive. Inefficient has the opposite meaning, which is clear from the "not" prefix in-. ★★☆☆☆

insufficient [insə'fiʃ(ə)nt]}(2005.0) adj.不足的,不够的 n.不足 If something is insufficient, it isn't enough. A high school diploma is very helpful for getting a job, but by itself, it's probably insufficient to land you a job as an astronaut. Something adequate is sufficient, and something inadequate is insufficient (in- meaning "not"). If you have $100 in the bank and you try to use a debit card for a $102 purchase, even though you’re close to having enough, your funds are insufficient to cover the sale. Anything that falls short of a required amount or expected measure is insufficient, whether it's the amount of air in a bike tire or the votes needed to win an election. ★★☆☆☆

summon ['sʌmən]}(2005.0) v.召集,召唤,号召,鼓起,振作 To summon is to formally call for the presence of someone. If, as soccer team captain, you find that your team members are an hour late for the big game, you might need to summon them — and fast. Summon can also mean “gather up,” as one might summon one’s courage" before that big game. Summon is also occasionally used in reference to the supernatural, as when one tries to call forth a spirit or ghost. If you think the team needs additional help on the field, you might try to summon some supernatural backup. ★★☆☆☆

trigger ['trigə(r)]}(2005.0) vt.引发,引起,触发 n.板机 A trigger is a metal lever that when pulled discharges a gun. You shoot the gun by pulling the trigger. Trigger can also mean the start of a process––violent protests might trigger a revolution. Certain scents, places, or old love songs can be said to trigger, or activate, memories. If you get weepy when you hear the national anthem, that may be because it triggers thoughts of family, home, baseball and the Fourth of July. For someone in frail health, a seemingly minor problem like getting a common cold, might trigger a series of physical responses that end up landing them in the hospital. ★★★☆☆

repel [ri'pel]}(2005.0) vt.击退,抵制,使厌恶,使不愉快 Use the verb repel when you want to turn something away, like drenched yourself in bug spray in an attempt to repel the mosquitoes that plague you when you go camping. This versatile word can be used in relation to everything from bugs to unwanted romantic advances. The word repel can be used to describe the act of driving something away, as in the case of bugs or other pesky critters, including potential suitors. It can also be used to describe something that causes disgust or distaste. For example, the thought of eating snails might repel you. ★☆☆☆☆

reputation [repju'teiʃ(ə)n]}(2005.1) n.名誉,名声 Indeed, if he has a reputation for slacking, you might even be outraged. Your reputation is the general belief or opinion that other people have about you. If you are considered trustworthy and kind, you have a good reputation. Reputation comes from the Latin word reputationem, which means "consideration." It's how people consider, or label, you — good or bad. The noun reputation can also mean "being known for having a specific skill or characteristic." For example, if you have a reputation in snow shoveling, your phone will soon be ringing off the hook with your lazy neighbors calling. ★★★☆☆

slack [slæk]}(2005.1) n.松弛,静止,淡季,闲散,家常裤 adj.松弛的,不流畅的,疏忽的,软弱的,漏水的,呆滞的,懒散的 adv.马虎地,缓慢地 vt.使松弛,使缓慢,马虎从事 vi.松懈,减弱,松驰 Indeed, if he has a reputation for slacking, you might even be outraged. If you slow down at the end of a race, you slack off. When you use slack this way, it means to reduce your speed, to be sluggish, or to be negligent. If something is loose, it's also said to be slack. A clothesline, for example, is slack if it is just hanging loosely between two trees. If you pull the clothesline tight, you reduce the slack. The root word of slack is the Old English word slæc, which means loose or careless. When you scold your friend for being careless about his responsibilities, you can say, "Pick up the slack!" ★☆☆☆☆

outrage ['autreidʒ]}(2005.1) n.暴行,侮辱,愤怒 vt.凌辱,引起...义愤,强奸 Indeed, if he has a reputation for slacking, you might even be outraged. If you consider how people are treated in airports an outrage, you get really angry over airport security or the price of airport food. Six dollars for a piece of pizza? What an outrage! Something is an outrage when it is shocking and makes you angry. Stealing from an orphanage? That's an outrage. Sometimes outrage leads to action. Public outrage over the latest political scandal often makes the news. ★★☆☆☆

underlie [ʌndə'lai]}(2005.1) vt.位于...之下,成为...的基础 Such behaviour is regarded as “all too human,” with the underlying assumption that other animals would not be capable of this finely developed sense of grievance. While it’s true that when something underlies something else, it is beneath it, this does not necessarily mean subservience — it can also indicate a strong foundation or bedrock that underlies, or supports, an idea or decision. The Old English word underlicgan meant to serve or submit to another, and that meaning does carry through to the modern word underlie — to a point. Although still referring to something under something else, around 1850 the meaning of the verb shifted to include something that makes a foundation for something else. For example, one factor that underlies a patient's unusual symptoms might be his recent trip to a foreign country, where he could have picked up a local infection. ★☆☆☆☆

assumption [ə'sʌmpʃ(ə)n]}(2005.1) n.假定,设想,担任,承当,假装,作态 Such behaviour is regarded as “all too human,” with the underlying assumption that other animals would not be capable of this finely developed sense of grievance. An assumption is something that you assume to be the case, even without proof. For example, people might make the assumption that you're a nerd if you wear glasses, even though that's not true. Or very nice. From the Latin assumptionem, meaning “a taking or receiving,” assumption was recorded circa 1300 as a noun describing “the reception of the Virgin Mary into heaven.” The word later shook its religious roots and developed into the noun we hear more often today, usually when a person takes something for granted or literally takes possession of something. ★★★☆☆

grievance ['gri:vəns]}(2005.1) n.委屈,冤情,不平 Such behaviour is regarded as “all too human,” with the underlying assumption that other animals would not be capable of this finely developed sense of grievance. A grievance is a complaint. It can be formal, like an employee files grievance because of unsafe working conditions, or more of an emotional matter, like a grievance against an old friend who betrayed you. A grievance is a complaint that may or may not be justified. Often a grievance is a complaint about something that breaks a rule or a law, like a grievance filed against a person who builds a fence in his front yard in a town that does not allow that. If that same neighbor plants flowers he knows make you sneeze uncontrollably, you might be unhappy about that, but this is the kind of grievance you can work out among yourselves. ★☆☆☆☆

token ['təukən]}(2005.1) n.表示,向征,记号,代币 adj.象征的,表意的 The researchers spent two years teaching their monkeys to exchange tokens for food. When you give someone a flower or a friendship bracelet or something symbolic of the way you feel about them, you're giving them a token of your affection. A token is not only something sentimental (like a keepsake) or symbolic (like your friendship bracelet). You, yourself, can also be a token: If you're the only female in your office, for instance, and you were hired just so there'd be at least one woman, then you're the "token female." Tokens can also be a kind of special currency, like the coins you use in slot machines. Before the Metro Card, New York City subway riders paid their fares with tokens. ★★☆☆☆

reluctant [ri'lʌktənt]}(2005.1) adj.不顾的,勉强的,难得到的,难处理的 So when one monkey was handed a grape in exchange for her token, the second was reluctant to hand hers over for a mere piece of cucumber. If the adjective reluctant applies to you, it means that you are undergoing some inner struggle and are unwilling or unable to decide. The word reluctant comes from the Latin reluctantem, which means "to struggle against." These days reluctant means “unwilling.” If you’re reluctant to dance to a terrible song, you’re unwilling to shake your booty, and you might even have to struggle against your friends who try to get you on the dance floor. You might offer them a reluctant smile instead (and hope it doesn’t look like a grimace). ★★★☆☆

toss [tɔs; tɔ:s]}(2005.1) v.投,掷 And if one received a grape without having to provide her token in exchange at all, the other either tossed her own token at the researcher or out of the chamber, or refused to accept the slice of cucumber. When you lightly throw something, you toss it. You might toss your lifejacket and backpack into a canoe before climbing in with the paddles. You can toss a baseball to your friend in the backyard, or toss your trash in a wastebasket when you're finished with lunch. You can also toss a coin or toss a salad. Another way to toss is to move back and forth — or thrash — like an insomniac in bed or a boat on a stormy ocean. ★★☆☆☆

righteous ['raitʃəs]}(2005.1) adj.正直的,正当的,正义的 Feelings of righteous indignation, it seems, are not the preserve of people alone. Do you consider yourself a moral person, who tries to do good and be good? If the answer is yes, you are righteous — in the right. Being righteous literally means to be right, especially in a moral way. Religious people often talk about being righteous. In their view, the righteous person not only does the right thing for other people but also follows the laws of their religion. Heroes like Martin Luther King are often called righteous. On the other hand, this word can be a little negative. If you call someone self-righteous, it means they're a little too sure they're right and better than other people. ★☆☆☆☆

contrast [kən'tra:st; kən'træst]}(2005.1) vt.使与...对比,使与...对照 vi.和...形成对照 n.对比,对照,(对照中的)差异 In the opening paragraph, the author introduces his topic by posing a contrast. The verb contrast means to show a difference, like photos that reveal how much weight someone lost by contrasting the "before" and "after" shots. You probably know contrast in its relation to compare. To contrast something is to look for differences among two or more elements, but compare is to do the opposite, to look for similarities. It's easy to tell the difference if you remember that contrast comes from the Latin root contra, and means "against." Contrast is also a noun meaning basically the same thing — you might notice the contrast of a dark tree against a snow-covered hill. ★★★☆☆

rival ['raiv(ə)l]}(2005.1) n.竞争者,对手 v.竞争,对抗,相匹敌 Monkeys are also outraged by slack rivals. A rival is a competitor or contender that you want to defeat, whether in an actual competition or for another goal. It may be a tennis rival or a rival for you true love’s affections. There are all types of rivals, but they tend to show up a lot in sports. For example, in college football, the Army and Navy have been rivals since their first meeting in 1890. Something that is able to rival something else is seen as comparable to it in quality, and something that is said to be “without rival” is unmatched, or better than everything else. ★★★★☆

jealous ['dʒeləs]}(2005.1) adj.妒忌的,猜疑的,警惕的,嫉妒的 Monkeys, like humans, tend to be jealous of each other. If you're jealous of someone, you want what they've got. This is one of the most basic human emotions, and it is not pretty. Don't be jealous of my good looks: you're cute too. Being jealous is among the least attractive things you can be. The word jealous is actually derived from a Middle English word related to zealous, which means emotionally intense. It conveys a sense of emotional pain at someone else's good fortune. Jealousy is a close cousin of envy, but it can also mean "fiercely guarding" — as in "I am jealous of the little money I've managed to make, so I'm not likely to blow it on a cheap toy." ★★☆☆☆

indignation [indig'neiʃ(ə)n]}(2005.1) n.愤慨,义愤 Feelings of righteous indignation, it seems, are not the preserve of people alone. Call your anger at an unjust situation indignation. If recess gets canceled for everyone because two students get into a fight, the rest of the student body will respond with indignation. Indignation traces back to the Latin prefix in- "not" and root dignus "worthy" and means anger at something that is unfair or unjust. Another word for indignation is outrage. Be careful using these words as they have a bit of a negative slant. A person who feels indignation is a little self-righteous and focused on not being treated the way he feels he should be. ★☆☆☆☆

triumph ['traiəmf]}(2005.4) n.胜利,成功 v.获得胜利 John McWhorter, a linguist and controversialist of mixed liberal and conservative views, sees the triumph of 1960s counter-culture as responsible for the decline of formal English. A triumph is a well-earned victory. It'll make you pump your fist and yell "Hurrah!" Triumph can be a noun or a verb, so you can have a triumph after the big game when you triumph over your opponents. Either way, it's a way to rejoice and a reason to whoop it up. The word comes from the Latin triumphus which is an "achievement, success, procession for a victorious general or admiral." The jury's still out on whether it comes from the Greek thriambos, as a "hymn to Dionysus," but it's fun to imagine that a triumph is a song to the Greek god of party animals. Fittingly, a Triumph is also the name of a motorcycle, a cool car, and a hard rockin' band from Canada. ★★★☆☆

susceptible [sə'septib(ə)l]}(2005.3) adj.易受影响的,易感动的,容许...的 n.(因缺乏免疫力而)易得病的人 Researchers have come to believe that dreams are susceptible to emotional changes. If you are susceptible to something such as infections or earaches, it means you are likely to become sick with these things. Have you ever received something you don't want? Well, with susceptible meaning "likely to be influenced or affected by" that is probably going to be the case. If you're susceptible to flattery, and someone wants something from you, all they have to do is give you a compliment or two and you'll do what they want. Material that's susceptible to cracking won't be in good condition for long. ★☆☆☆☆

cult [kʌlt]}(2005.4) n.礼拜,热潮 But the cult of the authentic and the personal, “doing our own thing,” has spelt the death of formal speech, writing, poetry and music. People argue about whether the major religions of the world are just well-established cults — that, age and size aside, they are no different from any group that follows a spiritual leader. A cult is group of people defined by a "religious" devotion to something — often a self-appointed leader. Most people view cults as strange and frightening, mostly because cults have, over the years, done some strange and frightening things, including murders and mass suicides. Sometimes, too, you'll see cult used as an adjective to describe something or someone with a small, devoted fan-base. John Water's movies are cult favorites, adored by a select group of film lovers but not by the public at large. ★★☆☆☆

authentic [ə:'θentik]}(2005.4) adj.可信的 But the cult of the authentic and the personal, “doing our own thing,” has spelt the death of formal speech, writing, poetry and music. The adjective authentic describes something that is real or genuine and not counterfeit. Be careful when you are buying jewelry or watches. If you are going to buy a diamond ring, you want an authentic diamond and not glass. That would be authentic glass but a fake diamond! In addition to describing something real, the adjective authentic describes something reliable, based on fact, and believable. If you have to write a research paper for school, be sure to use authentic facts and figures. The teacher is sure to check if you write, "My little sister told me that the Eiffel Tower is about 10,000 feet high," when in fact it's 1,063 feet tall. ★★☆☆☆

illustrate ['iləstreit]}(2005.4) vt.举例说明,图解,加插图于,阐明 vi.举例 Illustrated with an entertaining array of examples from both high and low culture, the trend that Mr. McWhorter documents is unmistakable. To illustrate is to make something more clear or visible. Children's books are illustrated with pictures. An example can illustrate an abstract idea. The word illustrate comes from the Latin illustrare 'to light up or enlighten.' Pictures in a book enlighten the reader, and a good example can enlighten someone on a complex topic. Another use: The government's actions illustrate how out of touch it is with the people. The history of this word illustrates how language changes over time, and how knowing the original meaning can help you understand the word in a deeper way. ★★★☆☆

array [ə'rei]}(2005.4) n.排列,编队,军队,衣服,大批; vt.部署,穿着,排列 Illustrated with an entertaining array of examples from both high and low culture, the trend that Mr. McWhorter documents is unmistakable. An array is a display of something — usually something varied. So, you might encounter an array of bathing suits on the beach or an array of cereal brands in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. Which would you prefer? Although the word array comes from the Old French areyer, "to put in order," an array often just comes together. It can be an intentional design of people or features — everything from software packages to fashion shows can have an "impressive array" of components. Or, an array can fall together in nature or by chance: "the clouds became an array of beautiful shapes after the storm." ★★☆☆☆

decline [di'klain]}(2005.4) vi.下倾,下降,下垂 v.拒绝,衰落 n.下倾,下降,下垂,斜面,斜坡,衰败,衰落 According to McWhorter, the decline of formal English is but all too natural in language development. Her breath smelled so bad he had to decline her invitation for a kiss. Ever since then, their love affair has been on the decline. Watch those parts of speech! The verb to decline means to refuse to accept, but the noun decline means a downward slope, the opposite of an "incline." At the gym, the treadmill usually has an "incline" button to control how steep a slope you're climbing. Sadly, there's no button for "decline," which would be so much easier. Nationally, wages are on the decline, but, surprisingly, spending seems to be holding steady. These are not the only words that contain the element cline, which means "to bend." The prefix is what tells you which way the bend is going. Decline implies a going, or turning, down. ★★★★☆

convey [kən'vei]}(2005.6) vt.搬运,传达,转让 Television& is one of the means by which these feelings are created and conveyed -- and perhaps never before has it served so much to connect different peoples and nations as in the recent events in Europe. When you convey something, you carry or deliver it. Little Red Riding Hood conveyed a basket of muffins to her grandmother. Your sad smile might convey more about your feelings than words ever could. You can also convey a message or information, which means that you communicate it to someone directly or indirectly through your words or actions. In law, the word convey means to transfer or pass property to someone. This verb is from Middle English conveyen, from Old French conveier, ultimately from the Latin prefix com- "together" plus via "way." ★★☆☆☆

demonstrate ['demənstreit]}(2005.6) vt.示范,证明,论证 vi.示威 This alone demonstrates that the television business is not an easy world to survive in, a fact underlined by statistics that show that out of eighty European television networks, no less than 50% took a loss in 1989. When you demonstrate something, you show what it is or how it works. To demonstrate how your new juicer works, you should have lots of kale, carrots, and beets on hand — and some brave friends to try your concoction. Demonstrate comes from the Latin word demonstrare, meaning “to point out by argument or deduction.” To demonstrate a point you must make a valid argument and give examples of why you think it's true. Demonstrate can also refer to a public protest. You can demonstrate with your comrades by marching through the streets with homemade protest signs. ★★★☆☆

statistics [stə'tistiks]}(2005.6) n.统计学,统计表 This alone demonstrates that the television business is not an easy world to survive in, a fact underlined by statistics that show that out of eighty European television networks, no less than 50% took a loss in 1989. Statistics is a branch of mathematics that allows you to draw conclusions about a large group of people based on information collected from a smaller group. It's also a tough college math course. Say an Australian study reports that 45% of fifteen-year-old Australians like grape soda. The people who conducted that study didn't interview 45% of Australian fifteen-year-olds; they interviewed perhaps a fraction of the Australian fifteen-year-old population and based their conclusions about the entire population on that. This is the essence of statistics, and the uncertainty surrounding such studies is one reason why people who practice statistics have to take tough college courses.

fabric ['fæbrik]}(2005.6) n.织品,织物,布,结构,建筑物,构造 Creating a “European identity” that respects the different cultures and traditions which go to make up the connecting fabric of the Old Continent is no easy task and demands a strategic choice -- that of producing programs in Europe for Europe. Fabric is what something is made from, especially clothing. Silk is a common fabric, but you can also talk about "the fabric of society." The most common use of fabric is for clothes: for example, denim is the fabric used to make jeans. All clothes are made of some type or combination of fabrics. The basic structure of a building or a vehicle can also be called fabric, and non-physical things can be represented as fabric too. Metaphorically, you could say honesty is part of the fabric of friendship, or love is part of the fabric of family. Fabric is always the foundation or essence of something. ★★★☆☆

scale [skeil]}(2005.6) n.刻度,衡量,比例,数值范围,比例尺,天平,等级 vt.依比例决定,攀登,测量 vi.剥落,生水垢,重,攀登,衡量 dealing with a challenge on such a scale, it is no exaggeration to say “United we stand, divided we fall”. A scale is a series that climbs up or down. Think of scaling, or climbing, a mountain; a musical scale: do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do; or a scale you weigh yourself on––it counts up the pounds one after another after another. Scale can be a ratio too––when maps are drawn "to scale," that means one mile of real road might translate to one inch of road on the map. Even fish scales can be understood this way––they repeat the same shape row after row after row. You can also rate something using a scale: "How much do you love pizza? Rate it on a scale of one to ten, with one being blech and ten being amazing." ★★★★☆

exaggeration [igzædʒə'reiʃ(ə)n]}(2005.6) n.夸张,夸大之词 In dealing with a challenge on such a scale, it is no exaggeration to say “United we stand, divided we fall”. If you're prone to exaggeration, it means you habitually overstate the truth. If you have a dog and a hamster, it would be an exaggeration to describe yourself as "practically Doctor Dolittle," living in a house full of animals. When you make something showier, or more noticeable than normal, that's also called exaggeration. The exaggeration of your hand movements might be necessary on stage so the audience can see them, but in real life it just looks silly. Exaggeration comes from the Latin word exaggerare, which means to magnify or to heap or pile on.

incline [in'klain]}(2005.1) n.倾斜,斜坡,斜面 vt.使倾向于,使倾斜 vi.倾向,倾斜 Female capuchin monkeys were chosen for the research most probably because they are more inclined to weigh what they get. Something that slopes — that is, something that deviates from the straight horizontal or vertical — can be called an incline. If you like to walk up and down hills, you enjoy walking on inclines. The Latin root of the word incline is inclinare, meaning "to lean." As a verb, the word incline can mean to bend, so you incline your head. It can also mean to be favorably disposed toward something and you can think of it as having a bent for or leaning toward something. If the weather is nasty, you may be inclined to stay home to watch a movie with a bowl of popcorn at your side. ☆☆☆☆☆

aggravate ['ægrəveit]}(2005.2) vt.使恶化,加重 The author associates the issue of global warming with that of smoking because the outcome of the latter aggravates the former. People who chew with their mouths open often aggravate the people near them, meaning that they exasperate their neighbors. One trick for remembering the meaning of aggravate is to recall that it rhymes with one of its synonyms, irritate. When you irritate, you aggravate. Younger brothers often aggravate their older brothers, because they find it entertaining to get a reaction out of them. Aggravate is also used is to mean "make worse." For example, if you have an old knee injury, it's probably best not to climb Mount Everest, because you might aggravate the injury. If your house is in foreclosure, calling your banker an ugly name is likely only to aggravate the situation. Try a little sweet talk instead! ★☆☆☆☆

thermostat ['θəməstæt]}(2005.3) n.温度调节装置；恒温器 Now researchers suspect that dreams are part of the mind’s emotional thermostat, regulating moods while the brain is “off-line.” If your house is always too cold in the winter, you might need to adjust the thermostat, or the dial that controls the indoor temperature. Most devices that emit heat have a thermostat, which controls how hot or cold things get. Car engines, electric blankets, furnaces, and ovens are all equipped with thermostats so that people can change the temperature, or in the case of cars, so that the car itself can keep the engine at the ideal temperature. The noun thermostat comes from the Greek word for heat, thermos, plus statos, or "a standing." ☆☆☆☆☆

suspect ['sʌspekt]}(2005.3) n.嫌疑犯 adj.令人怀疑的,不可信的,可疑的 v.怀疑,猜想,对...有所觉察 Now researchers suspect that dreams are part of the mind’s emotional thermostat, regulating moods while the brain is “off-line.” A suspect is a person who is believed to be guilty of a crime. If you leave the scene of a murder with blood on your hands and a weapon in your pocket, you’re likely to become a prime suspect. If others believe you have committed a crime, you are a suspect. The word can also be used as a verb and an adjective. To suspect someone of something is to believe that they probably did it. Do you ever suspect your parents of taking some of your Halloween candy? If something such as someone's excuse or motive is suspect, it seems a bit off. That bad-smelling piece of fish is suspect — you'd better not eat it. ★★★★☆

induce [in'dju:s; in'du:s]}(2005.1) vt.劝诱,促使,导致,引起,感应 Indeed, the mere presence of a grape in the other chamber (without an actual monkey to eat it) was enough to induce resentment in a female capuchin. To induce is to move or lead someone to action. A promise of a lollipop can induce a toddler to do just about anything, even sit down and be polite to Aunt Edna. Older kids need something more substantial. Some people believe that if you offer someone a large enough sum of money, you could induce them to do almost anything. But a movie heroine might say to the villain, "Nothing could induce me to marry you. Not all the money in the world. Not if you were the last man on Earth!" Induce also means to stimulate the occurrence of something, such as medications used to induce vomiting, or to induce a pregnant woman to go into labor. ★★☆☆☆

resentment [ri'zentmənt]}(2005.1) n.怨恨,愤恨 Indeed, the mere presence of a grape in the other chamber (without an actual monkey to eat it) was enough to induce resentment in a female capuchin. Resentment, or the strong and painful bitterness you feel when someone does something wrong to you, doesn’t have actual physical weight, but it feels very heavy and can last a long time. Forgiveness is one way to get rid of resentment. Sometimes resentment lasts for years. It can be strong and hard to pull out, like an old, gnarled tree root. While resentment over being wronged can come from just one act against you, it also can get stronger over time, as in "your growing resentment might just come from the fact that the team captain always picks you last." It also comes from misunderstandings, like feeling resentment over a dirty look you thought was directed at you but really wasn't. It's usually best to root out resentment early. ★★☆☆☆

preserve [pri'zə:v]}(2005.1) vt.保护,保持,保存,保藏 vi.做蜜饯,禁猎 n.蜜饯,果酱,禁猎地,禁区,防护物,专属工作 Feelings of righteous indignation, it seems, are not the preserve of people alone. When you preserve something, you maintain its condition, like trying to preserve your good health by exercising regularly and eating right. The verb preserve describes keeping something as it is now, without a decline in quality. It can also refer to keeping something safe from harm, as in “The group worked hard to preserve the regional ecosystem.” When you preserve food, such as fruit, you keep it from rotting. Jellies and jams are preserves, the noun form. A preserve can also be lands set aside, or preserved, as animal habitats. ★★★☆☆

grave [greiv]}(2005.2) n.墓穴,坟墓 adj.严重的,(颜色)黯淡的,(声音)低沉的 v.雕刻,铭记 Lots of Americans bought that nonsense, and over three decades, some 10 million smokers went to early graves. A grave is the place where a body is buried. Usually, a grave is dug in the ground, and a stone with information about the deceased person marks its location. Grave is used as an adjective, too. It can describe something serious, or of great importance. If a situation is grave, it is serious and sad, like when a loved one is very sick. Grave can also describe causing fear or anxiety. If you are in grave danger, your personal safety is threatened. If you have a grave personality, you are solemn and dignified and don't joke around very much. ★★★☆☆

panel ['pæn(ə)l]}(2005.2) n.面板,嵌板,仪表板,座谈小组,全体陪审员 vt.嵌镶板 The latest was a panel from the National Academy of Sciences, enlisted by the White House, to tell us that the Earth‘s atmosphere is definitely warming and that the problem is largely man-made. If you are participating in some kind of contest, it is not ethical to bribe the judges on the panel with brownies. On the other hand, don’t stick your tongue out at them either, since they’ll be determining the winner. Panel is derived from Old French and originally meant “a piece of cloth.” It’s still used as a sewing term, but now it has additional meanings. It can mean “jury,” as above, and can also refer to a flat piece of a hard surface, often rectangular, such as the wood panel of a door or wall. Panel is also a verb meaning "to install panels." Finally, a control panel has a lot of switches and is a way to make some machines work. ★★★☆☆

fume [fju:m]}(2005.2) n.(浓烈或难闻的)烟,气体,一阵愤怒(或不安) v.用烟熏,冒烟,发怒 Just as on smoking, voices now come from many quarters insisting that the science about global warming is incomplete, that it‘s OK to keep pouring fumes into the air until we know for sure. To fume is to feel or express great anger. You would fume if your teacher accused you of cheating when you didn't. As a verb, fume is usually used figuratively to mean "to feel very angry," whereas as a noun, it is used more as its Latin root fumus "smoke, steam, vapor." A strong-smelling gas, smoke or vapor is also called a fume. In cartoons, when a character is fuming, it is often drawn with fumes coming out of its ears. You may fume about the inconsiderate person who sits in the car with the engine running, spewing clouds of exhaust fumes. ★☆☆☆☆

prudent ['pru:dənt]}(2005.2) adj.谨慎的；精明的 With the risks obvious and growing, a prudent people would take out an insurance policy now. Describe an action as prudent if it is the wise thing to do under the existing circumstances. If you're getting in trouble, it is probably prudent to keep your mouth closed and just listen. If you show good and careful judgment when handling practical matters, you can be described as prudent. Similarly, a wise and well-thought-through decision or action can be called prudent. The word comes from a contracted form of the Latin prōvidēns from the verb "to foresee." The English word provident "wise in planning for the future" is the non-contracted descendent of the same Latin root. ★☆☆☆☆

steward ['stju:wəd]}(2005.2) n.管理人，招待员，管家，乘务员 To serve as responsible stewards of the planet, we must press forward on deeper atmospheric and oceanic research. A steward is someone who takes care of the grounds or animals of a particular place. If your parents are always traveling and you have to take care of your six younger siblings, you probably feel like the steward of the house. You might have heard the term "stewardess," a female flight attendant, but the name has trickled out of use in favor of the gender-neutral "flight attendant." A steward is the male version of that. Anyone who takes care of places or people is a steward. You can be a steward of artifacts from an architectural dig. You can also be elected to be the steward of your co-workers retirement fund. Either way, someone's trusting you with their stuff. ★★☆☆☆

legislative ['ledʒislətiv]}(2005.2) adj.立法的,立法机关的 n.立法机关 If the Administration won‘t take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures. Legislative is an adjective that describes the act or process of passing laws. Congress is the legislative branch of the United States government. They're the ones who can pass bills, which the president can sign into law or veto. A legislator is someone charged with creating and passing new laws in the legislature. All of these words come from the same root words — lex and legis (meaning "law") and lator (meaning "proposer"). So a legislator is literally a proposer of law, and their actions are legislative in nature. If you are interested in the legislative process, you might consider going to law school and running for office. Or you might just enjoy a movie about politics instead. ★★☆☆☆

initiative [i'niʃiətiv]}(2005.2) n.积极的行动；倡议；主动性 If the Administration won‘t take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures. Initiative is all about taking charge. An initiative is the first in a series of actions. Initiative can also mean a personal quality that shows a willingness to get things done and take responsibility. An initiative is the start of something, with the hope that it will continue. Government and business start initiatives all the time. You can also talk about initiative as a personal quality. A person with initiative is motivated to do things. If you take the initiative, you're willing to get things done on your own. Taking initiative can be risky: If you do something on your own initiative, then there's nobody you can blame if it goes wrong. ★★★☆☆

conservation [kɔnsə'veiʃ(ə)n]}(2005.2) n.保存,保持,保护 If the Administration won‘t take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures. Conservation is when you keep something from running out — whether it's plants, animals, or resources. Your new conservation project, "Save the Pigeons," might not catch on as quickly as you'd hoped. Conservation is closely related to preservation. Both are positive words that give an impression of care and attention. Your habit of never leaving the couch might sound more impressive if you refer to it as "energy conservation." ★★☆☆☆

incentive [in'sentiv]}(2005.2) n.动机；刺激；激励；奖励 adj.激励的 A bill by Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, which would offer financial incentives for private industry, is a promising start. If your mom wants you to mow the lawn but you don't feel like it, she might offer to treat you to ice cream after as an incentive. An incentive is something that stimulates you to take action or work harder. This noun dates back to Middle English, from Late Latin incentivum, from incentivus "stimulating." In Latin, incentivus meant "setting the tune," from incinere "to sing." The related English verb is incentivize. The less common verb incent was first used in the early 1980s, and has been criticized as business jargon. ★★☆☆☆

promising ['prɔmisi]}(2005.2) adj.有希望的,有前途的 A bill by Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, which would offer financial incentives for private industry, is a promising start. Promising things are encouraging or hopeful — they give you every sign that they'll be successful in the future. A promising early spring hints that the rest of the season will be warm and full of flowers. A promising ballet dancer is young, but off to a very talented start. If you pick up a novel in a bookstore and the first few pages look promising, you'll probably buy it. Promising things are full of promise, "an indication that something will occur." The Latin root is promittere, "put forth," from pro-, "forward," and mittere, "send." ★★☆☆☆

crucial ['kru:ʃ(ə)l]}(2005.2) adj.至关紧要的 If we are ever going to protect the atmosphere, it is crucial that those new plants be environmentally sound. The word crucial describes something that is important or essential to success, like the crucial dress rehearsals that ensure will run smoothly on your play's opening night. Usage experts insist that the word crucial should be used only to describe something that is truly critical for solving a problem or for resolving a situation, such as a crucial vote that determines a final outcome. In this case the crucial vote is decisive: it determines the outcome. But the word has gained popularity as a way to say that something is important. You might hear someone say, for example, that it is crucial to allow employees to vote on the new schedule to make them feel like they’re part of the process. In this case the sense is “important”: nothing decisive is taking place. ★★★☆☆

hinder ['haində(r)]}(2005.2) adj.后面的 v.阻碍,打扰 Prudent planning hinders progress. The verb hinder means to block or put something in the way of, so if you’re in a high-speed car chase with the police, they might put up a blockade to hinder your progress. The word hinder came from the Old English hindrian, which means to "injure or damage." That's a little more extreme than what it means today, because, now it just means to get in the way of something or someone. People might not like you too much if you make it a practice to hinder their progress or get in the way of things they want, even it's a small hindrance like blocking someone from getting to the cookie jar. ★☆☆☆☆

extensive [ik'stensiv]}(2005.2) adj.广大的,广阔的,广泛的 Extensive research helps decision-making. When something is far-reaching or expansive it is extensive. When your friend knows every single place and time that his favorite band has played any given song, he has extensive knowledge of that band. Use the adjective extensive for something that goes on and on and on. It works for anything that covers a lot of territory either in physical space, as in "the gardens at the palace are extensive," or conceptually, as in "her knowledge of the mortgage-backed securities market is extensive." If you are a farmer, you would also use extensive to mean that you are able to work a lot of land without too much effort or manual labor. ★★★☆☆

suspend [sə'spend]}(2005.3) vt.吊,悬挂 v.延缓 In dreams, a window opens into a world where logic is suspended and dead people speak. The oil price was given another push up this week when Iraq suspended oil exports. You can use the verb suspend any time you need to stop something. Whether it’s your judgment, a rule, or bus service, when you suspend it, you temporarily bring it to a halt. Suspend often describes stopping an activity for a while. A winter storm, for example, may suspend air travel until weather conditions improve. Suspend also works in a more figurative sense, such as when you suspend your doubt in order to give someone or something a fair chance. A student who is suspended is temporarily forbidden from attending class. Don't confuse this with expel, which means he or she may never return. ★★★☆☆

formulate ['fɔ:mjuleit]}(2005.3) vt.用公式表示,明确地表达,作简洁陈述 v.阐明 A century ago, Freud formulated his revolutionary theory that dreams were the disguised shadows of our unconscious desires and fears. To formulate is to come up with a plan. If you are locked out of your house, you'll need to formulate a plan to get back inside — preferably one that doesn't involving kicking in the door. You can also use the verb formulate to mean "put into words." If too many people are showing up at your work in inappropriate clothes, your company may formulate a dress code policy. They may, for example, decree that either socks or shoes must be worn. The verb can also mean to develop a formula for something. If the dog ate the chicken you were going to use in your dinner, you may need to formulate a new recipe for chicken-less pot pie. ★★☆☆☆

disguise [dis'gaiz]}(2005.3) v.假装,伪装,掩饰 n.伪装 A century ago, Freud formulated his revolutionary theory that dreams were the disguised shadows of our unconscious desires and fears. A disguise is something you put on so no one recognizes you. It also can be used as a verb. You can disguise yourself with a wig and mustache; that's a great disguise. Disguise can be used anytime you're talking about concealing or hiding something. Most of the time we think of a disguise as something you wear, but you can also disguise your feelings. Criminals might disguise their intentions. You can also use the word to describe something that seems to be one thing, but turns out to be another. You missed the plane, but then the plane crashed. That's a blessing in disguise. ★★☆☆☆

intense [in'tens]}(2005.3) adj.强烈的,剧烈的,热切的,热情的,激烈的 And one leading authority says that these intensely powerful mental events can be not only harnessed but actually brought under conscious control, to help us sleep and feel better. Intense means strong or extreme. If you accidentally spill a cup of hot coffee on yourself, you’ll probably feel intense heat, intense pain, and — if anyone happened to be watching — intense embarrassment. When using intense, we often refer to a specific feeling or emotion, as in the case of “intense dread” or “intense happiness.” Intense can also be used to describe exciting experiences as well as people with strong or insistent personalities. For example, if your intense friend insists on taking you bungee jumping, you’re guaranteed to have an intense experience. Intense comes from a Latin word meaning “stretched,” implying that something has been stretched to its maximum limit. ★★★☆☆

harness ['ha:nis]}(2005.3) n.(全套)马具,系在身上的绳子,甲胄 vt.上马具,披上甲胄,利用(河流、瀑布等)产生动力(尤指电力) And one leading authority says that these intensely powerful mental events can be not only harnessed but actually brought under conscious control, to help us sleep and feel better. A harness is a set of straps that are put on a horse so it can be hitched to a wagon or a carriage. The harness distributes the effort across larger sections of the horse's body. Other animals and people can also wear harnesses. Your dog might have a harness for walking, with the leash attaching to the harness and not the collar, keeping the dog from choking itself when it pulls. People wear harnesses for safety, when climbing trees or bungee jumping, for example. As a verb, harness means to control or direct as if with a harness for a specific purpose, the way solar power harnesses the power of the sun. ★☆☆☆☆

intellect ['intilekt]}(2005.3) n.智力 But not all parts of the brain are equally involved; the limbic system (the “emotional brain”) is especially active, while the prefrontal cortex (the center of intellect and reasoning) is relatively quiet. Intellect is how much intelligence you have. Einstein was known for having a great intellect. Mickey Mouse's friend Goofy has almost no intellect to speak of. Intellect is the mental equivalent of athletic ability or fashion sense, so someone is an intellect if they have great intellectual ability just as an athlete is someone who has great athletic ability. Intellect is something everyone has in some degree. If someone talks down to you, it's an insult to your intellect. Your teacher might say you have a sharp intellect if you have the intellect to figure out difficult problems. An intellectual is a person who has a lot of knowledge and prefers to think about things on an abstract or theoretical level rather than a practical one. ★☆☆☆☆

reasoning ['ri:z(ə)ni]}(2005.3) n.推理,评理,论证 adj.推理的 But not all parts of the brain are equally involved; the limbic system (the “emotional brain”) is especially active, while the prefrontal cortex (the center of intellect and reasoning) is relatively quiet. Reasoning is a logical, thoughtful way of thinking. When your teacher explains the reasoning behind his classroom rules, he makes it clear exactly why and how he came up with them. Voters often want to understand the reasoning behind certain laws, and toddlers almost always want to know the reasoning behind rules about bedtime and wearing warm clothes on cold days. You can also use reasoning as an adjective, to describe someone who can think logically. A reasoning adult can make decisions for herself. The word comes from reason, which is rooted in the Old French raisoner, "discuss or argue," and the Late Latin rationare, "to discourse." ★☆☆☆☆

aspire [ə'spaiə(r)]}(2005.4) vi.热望,立志,渴望,向往 Nor do they aspire to such command themselves. Does your life goal include world domination? Have an ambitious plan that involves gold medals and international fame? Then you definitely know what it means to aspire toward something big. The verb aspire commonly means to aim or shoot for. But it comes from the Latin word aspirare, which means “to breathe upon.” So here's a trick for remembering this word: Think of yourself reaching up towards a spire, that really tall, tapered structure at the top of a church. Or, if you’re in a poetic mood, imagine your wish as a feather that moves forward when you blow on it. ★☆☆☆☆

controversialist [ˌkɔntrə'və:ʃəlist]}(2005.4) n.争论者,好争论者 John McWhorter, a linguist and controversialist of mixed liberal and conservative views, sees the triumph of 1960s counter-culture as responsible for the decline of formal English.

conservative [kən'sə:vətiv]}(2005.4) adj.保守的,守旧的 n.保守派 John McWhorter, a linguist and controversialist of mixed liberal and conservative views, sees the triumph of 1960s counter-culture as responsible for the decline of formal English. If you are conservative, you aren’t necessarily a card-carrying member of the Republican party (though you might be); it means you resist change. Conservative has the word conserve in it, which means to hold on to, or save. In a drought, you want to be conservative in your water use. If you don’t get paid that much and don’t want to use credit cards, you’d better be conservative with your money. When we talk about environmental conservation, we mean the protection of natural resources. ★★★★☆

permissive [pə'misiv]}(2005.4) adj.纵容的；放任的；姑息的 Blaming the permissive 1960s is nothing new, but this is not yet another criticism against the decline in education. Being permissive is the opposite of being strict. Permissive parents let their kids stay up later and have more sweets. A permissive person is a little more lenient or loosey-goosey with the rules. A permissive teacher is easier on the students and lets them get away with more. A permissive coach will cut players slack during practices and games. Laws can be permissive too — about drugs, guns, and other things that could be tightly controlled. A permissive society is one with more freedom. When a situation is permissive, there's permission to do more things. ☆☆☆☆☆

modestly }(2005.4) adv.谨慎地,适当地 While even the modestly educated sought an elevated tone when they put pen to paper before the 1960s, even the most well regarded writing since then has sought to capture spoken English on the page. To do something modestly is to do it in a humble way, without showing off. After her play's successful opening night, a playwright might choose to sit modestly in the audience rather than going on stage to bow. When you act in an unpretentious way, you act modestly, and when you do something in the simplest way possible, you also do it modestly. The adjective modest can mean both "humble" and "small." Modesty and modest come from the Latin modestia, "sense of honor," or "correctness of conduct," from the root word modus, "measure or manner."

elevated ['eliveitid]}(2005.4) adj.提高的,严肃的,欢欣的 While even the modestly educated sought an elevated tone when they put pen to paper before the 1960s, even the most well regarded writing since then has sought to capture spoken English on the page. Something that's elevated is raised up higher than it usually is, or is higher than things around it. An elevated train line has tracks up high above the ground. If your house is elevated on a hill, it won't be in danger of flooding, but it'll be hard to drive up the driveway on snowy days. As well as being physically elevated, things can also be figuratively elevated: your elevated social status might make you feel superior to your friends, and your favorite soccer team might hold an elevated position in the league after winning several games. In both cases, something has a higher value than it once did. ☆☆☆☆☆

dialect ['daiəlekt]}(2005.4) n.方言,语调 As a linguist, he acknowledges that all varieties of human language, including non-standard ones like Black English, can be powerfully expressive -- there exists no language or dialect in the world that cannot convey complex ideas. If the language you speak in your region is different in vocabulary, grammar and accent than the main form of the language, you speak a dialect. If your cousin in rural Arkansas can't understand your jokes, blame it on differences in dialect. Both an accent and a dialect contain variations in pronunciation from the standard form of a language. When you speak a dialect, however, you also use different words and grammar, sometimes to such a degree that speakers of the dialect and the standard form of the language have a hard time understanding each other. ★☆☆☆☆

chunk [tʃʌk]}(2005.4) n.大块,矮胖的人或物 Russians have a deep love for their own language and carry large chunks of memorized poetry in their heads, while Italian politicians tend to elaborate speech that would seem old-fashioned to most English-speakers. ★★☆☆☆

elaborate [i'læbərət]}(2005.4) adj.精心制作的,详细阐述的,精细 vt.精心制作,详细阐述 v.详细描述 Russians have a deep love for their own language and carry large chunks of memorized poetry in their heads, while Italian politicians tend to elaborate speech that would seem old-fashioned to most English-speakers. Use the adjective elaborate when you want to describe how something is very detailed or especially complicated, like a devilish prank planned out weeks in advance. The adjective elaborate is used to describe when something is planned with a lot of attention to detail or when something is intricate or detailed itself. The word comes from the Latin elaborare, which means "to produce by labor" but it has come to mean a lot of labor, especially work that is very complicated and precise. To imagine this word, think of a painting with lots of flourishes or a story with many sub-plots and characters that all fit together in extensive ways. ★★☆☆☆

grieve [gri:v]}(2005.4) v.(使)悲痛,(使)伤心,忧伤 Mr. McWhorter acknowledges that formal language is not strictly necessary, and proposes no radical education reforms -- he is really grieving over the loss of something beautiful more than useful. To grieve is to feel sorrow over something, especially people who have died. The most common use of grieve has to do with death: usually there are grieving family members and grieving friends, feeling sadness over the loss of a loved one. You can also grieve over a pet who died, a job you didn't get, or a favorite pair of shoes that were ruined. Usually there's some kind of loss involved, but as long as you feel extremely sad about something that's happened, you're grieving. ★☆☆☆☆

inevitable [in'evitəbl]}(2005.4) adj.不可避免的,必然的 A shame, perhaps, but probably an inevitable one. If something is inevitable, it will definitely happen, like death or tax season. Inevitable comes from the Latin word inevitabilis, which means unavoidable. If you say something is inevitable, you give the sense that no matter what scheme you come with to get around it, it's going to happen sooner or later. You can use all the skin products you want, but wrinkles are inevitable. ★★★☆☆

groan [grəun]}(2005.5) n.呻吟,叹息 vi.呻吟,受折磨,受压迫发出嘎吱声 vt.呻吟着说 They‘re all groaning about soaring health budgets, the fastest-growing component of which are pharmaceutical costs. A groan is a sound of pain or disapproval that doesn't consist of words, usually heard after homework is assigned or bad jokes are told. People groan for lots of reasons: headaches, stomachaches, traffic jams, and bad news are just a few groan-worthy things that can provoke that moaning, "uuugghhhhh" sound. If someone is complaining about something, you could say she's "moaning and groaning." People like to moan and groan about the weather, politics, and just about everything else. ★★☆☆☆

soar [sɔ:(r)]}(2005.5) v.高飞,高丛,滑翔,剧增,昂扬 n.高飞范围,高涨程度 They‘re all groaning about soaring health budgets, the fastest-growing component of which are pharmaceutical costs. To soar means more than just to fly; it means to rise swiftly, to feel the wind slipping below you as you ride it higher, higher, higher. Flying is just moving through the air. Soaring, though, suggests exhilaration, even joy. Think about the anticipation you feel when you buy a lottery ticket — your hopes soar as you contemplate the possibilities. It's the same wonderful feeling you get when someone you have a crush on notices you, when you land that perfect job, when you hold your child. The word soar comes from the Latin, ex-, which means "out," and aura, meaning "breeze, air," together meaning "out of the air," which is precisely how it feels to soar. ★★☆☆☆

bureaucracy [bju'rɔkrəsi]}(2005.5) n.官僚,官僚作风,官僚机构 Instead of each province having its own list of approved drugs, bureaucracy, procedures and limited bargaining power, all would pool resources, work with Ottawa, and create a national institution. A bureaucracy is an organization made up of many departments and divisions that are administered by lots of people. If you've ever had to deal with health insurance or financial aid, you're familiar with the dark side of bureaucracy. Bureaucracy has a bad reputation because it has come to mean an organization or government that is chin-deep in red tape and unnecessary procedures. When dealing with a bureaucracy, expect to fill out lots of forms and wait. Bureaucracies are mocked in the hilarious film "Brazil," where people have mind-numbing jobs they do while sitting at desks. Bureaucracy is an organization administered by people behind desks, or bureaus. Bureaus, get it? ★★☆☆☆

procedure [prə'si:dʒə(r)]}(2005.5) n.程序,手续,步骤 Instead of each province having its own list of approved drugs, bureaucracy, procedures and limited bargaining power, all would pool resources, work with Ottawa, and create a national institution. A procedure is a tried and true process or method used to accomplish a particular task. Using sharp metal picks, dentists scrape the plaque from their patients’ teeth. While effective, it’s a procedure most people despise. The word procedure is often used in the fields of medicine and law, sometimes in combination with other words, as in "surgical procedure" or "legal procedure." A "Parliamentary procedure" is the set of rules that you follow at a meeting of a club or some other organization (not necessarily a House of Parliament). Procedure is also related to the word procedural, which is sometimes used a term for a genre of television drama in which the plot revolves around a technical procedure, like the solving of a police case. ★★★☆☆

pool [pu:l]}(2005.5) n.池,撞球,联营,石油层 vt.合伙经营,共享,共有,集中(钱、力量等),采掘,汇聚成 vi.汇合成塘,郁积,联营 Instead of each province having its own list of approved drugs, bureaucracy, procedures and limited bargaining power, all would pool resources, work with Ottawa, and create a national institution. ★★★☆☆

negotiate [ni'gəuʃieit]}(2005.5) v.(与某人)商议,谈判,磋商,,买卖,让渡(支票、债券等),通过,越过 Either way, one benefit of a ―national organization would be to negotiate better prices, if possible, with drug manufacturers. To negotiate is to try to work out an agreement between parties that each want something out of the deal. You might negotiate with your mom — offering to do more chores for a raise in your allowance. Good luck. Negotiation is all about give and take. Governments are always negotiating with unions, trying to define the terms of new contracts. The government might offer the teachers union a raise, if they agree to work 200 days a year instead of 180. The verb negotiate can also mean to successfully pass through or travel along. You may have to negotiate a hazardous road, or a tricky path through sticker bushes. ★★★★☆

given ['giv(ə)n]}(2005.5) adj.赠予的,沉溺的,特定的,假设的 vbl.give的过去分词 Instead of having one province -- or a series of hospitals within a province -- negotiate a price for a given drug on the provincial list, the national agency would negotiate on behalf of all provinces. A given is some detail or fact that is known to be true. Your mother might say, "It's a given that I'll always love you, no matter how annoying you are." Something's a given if it's an established situation that you're sure of. It's a given that a first class airplane ticket will cost a lot more than a seat in coach, and it's also a given that the earth orbits the sun. It can also be an adjective: "After considering the given facts, mark an answer on the multiple-choice test." Given comes from the verb give, which has an Old English root of giefan, "to bestow, allot, or commit." ★★★☆☆

suspicious [sə'spiʃəs]}(2005.5) adj.(～ of) 可疑的,怀疑的 A few premiers are suspicious of any federal-provincial deal-making. Suspicious behavior inspires distrust. Prancing around your backyard in a trench coat and fake mustache during daylight might elicit weird looks from your neighbors; do it at night, though, so that your silhouette glides past their windows, and what appeared innocent enough hours before will quickly transition to suspicious. Use this adjective to describe a behavior or event that arouses doubt or mistrust. How to avoid appearing suspicious? Well, for one, stop pausing mid-conversation to take covert notes in that little journal of yours. And two, don’t wear sunglasses indoors, and don’t try to walk without making a sound. That will make people cagey, which is a synonym for suspicious. Other synonyms include apprehensive, doubtful, wary, and watchful. ★★☆☆☆

constrain [kən'strein]}(2005.5) vt.强迫,抑制,拘束,约束,限制 A national drug agency would provide governments more influence on pharmaceutical companies in order to constrain the ever-increasing cost of drugs. To constrain is to hold back, restrain, or confine. If you've ever had to constrain a toddler in the middle of a temper tantrum, you know you have to watch out for flailing limbs. The verb constrain comes from the Latin word constringere, which means to bind together or tie tightly. Constrain can imply both literal and figurative bindings. You can constrain someone by physically holding on to something like a person's shirt. Or, you can figuratively constrain someone by putting up obstacles. Your teenagers, for example, may feel constrained by your rules and accuse you of sucking the fun out of their social lives. ★☆☆☆☆

crack [kræk]}(2005.5) n.裂缝,噼啪声 v.(使)破裂,裂纹,(使)爆裂 ；找到解决…的办法 adj.最好的,高明的 So when the premiers gather in Niagara Falls to assemble their usual complaint list, they should also get cracking about something in their jurisdiction that would help their budgets and patients. In February the FTC and Digltal Adwertising Alliance (DAA) agreed that the industry would get cracking on responging to DNT requests. A crack is a very narrow space, chink, or opening. If you favorite mug has a crack in it, it might leak. A crack can be as thin as a pencil line, or a wider gap, like a crack where your foot gets stuck as you climb down the side of a mountain. Crack is also a verb, meaning "to split or break," and also "to give way under pressure," as when a suspect cracks after hours of being interrogated. An informal kind of crack is a joke: "That crack he made about my haircut really hurt my feelings." ★★☆☆☆

jurisdiction [dʒuəris'dikʃ(ə)n]}(2005.5) n.权限 So when the premiers gather in Niagara Falls to assemble their usual complaint list, they should also get cracking about something in their jurisdiction that would help their budgets and patients. Jurisdiction means having a legal right over something. A court can have jurisdiction over a legal question, a government can have jurisdiction over another country or territory. Even your parents could be said to have jurisdiction over you while you're under 18. This noun jurisdiction descends from Latin jūrisdictiō, formed from jūris (from jūs "law") plus dictio "act of saying." Think of it as who has the right to "say" what's "the law." In the US, certain crimes are tried in state courts, but when a crime involves more than one state, jurisdiction moves to the federal court system, just as the local police step down and the investigation is handled by the FBI. ★☆☆☆☆

resistance [ri'zistlns]}(2005.5) n.反抗,抵抗,抵抗力,阻力,电阻,阻抗 Quebec‘s resistance to a national agency is provincialist ideology. If you've ever seen a dog on a leash suddenly refuse to walk any farther, you know how much resistance one little pet can put up. Resistance means "refusal to comply with or accept something." An individual person can put up resistance against something she disagrees with or doesn't want to participate in. On a larger scale, groups of people and even whole countries can display resistance, like when the British put up resistance against Napoleon. Another meaning of resistance is "the ability not to be affected by," like a resistance to getting colds, which you can imagine as your immune system putting up a fierce resistance against invading germs. ★★★☆☆

ideology [aidi'ɔlədʒi]}(2005.5) n.意识形态；思想体系 Quebec‘s resistance to a national agency is provincialist ideology. An ideology is a set of opinions or beliefs of a group or an individual. Very often ideology refers to a set of political beliefs or a set of ideas that characterize a particular culture. Capitalism, communism, socialism, and Marxism are ideologies. But not all -ism words are. Think: cronyism (a system of graft whereby friends unfairly help each other make money.) Our English noun is from French idéologie. The suffix –logy, used with many English words describing theories or doctrines, is from Greek logos "word, reason, speech, account." ★★☆☆☆

advocate ['ædvəkət]}(2005.5) n.提倡者,鼓吹者 vt.提倡,主张,鼓吹 One of the first advocates for a national list was a researcher at Laval University. An advocate (AD-və-kit) is someone who supports a cause, like an advocate for outdoor recess. Advocate (AD-və-kate) is also a verb meaning to speak in favor of, so you can advocate for that outdoor recess by urging your school to play outside! As a noun, an advocate is a person who represents another person’s interests, like a lawyer does. In fact, the word comes from the courtroom – it’s from Latin advocare, to “add” a “voice.” To advocate is to add a voice of support to a cause or person. An advocate is anyone who adds that voice by representing another person in court, or by supporting or working toward a particular course of action. ★★★☆☆

substantial [səb'stænʃ(ə)l]}(2005.5) adj.坚固的,实质的,真实的,充实的 The substantial buying power of such an agency would strengthen the public prescription-drug insurance plans to negotiate the lowest possible purchase prices from drug companies. Something substantial is large in size, number, or amount: If you want to say someone spent a lot of money without being too specific, you could say they spent a substantial amount of money. The adjective substantial derives from the Latin substantia "substance," which means "stuff." A substantial meal is large enough to satisfy hunger. A substantial structure is strongly made or built. And a substantial man possesses wealth and property. Related to this last sense, "a man of substance" refers to a wealthy man with property. ★★★☆☆

stark [sta:k]}(2005.5) adj.刻板的,十足的,赤裸的,荒凉的,严峻的 adv.完全地 The problem is simple and stark: health-care costs have been, are, and will continue to increase faster than government revenues. Stark means "complete or extreme," like the stark contrast between your music taste — punk and weird metal — and your mom's, with all her 1950's doo-wop favorites. In describing a place, stark means "providing no shelter or sustenance." A barren desert or a room with no furniture or curtains is stark. It can also mean "severe, stern, or austere," like the stark beauty of the rocky cliffs in the west of Ireland. Stark can also be used to mean "totally." If you are called stark, raving mad, there's no question about it: you are acting completely crazy. ★★☆☆☆

revenue ['revənju:; 'revənu:]}(2005.5) n.收入,国家的收入,税收 The problem is simple and stark: health-care costs have been, are, and will continue to increase faster than government revenues. Revenue is money earned by a business, or income received by the government from taxes. The government is always interested in dreaming up new sources of revenue, and so is the average head of a company unless she doesn't want to be the head anymore. Revenue is from a French word meaning "to return or come back," and dollar returns are always a welcome thing. Declining advertising revenue will doom your website, no matter how great it is. If your lemonade stand is not making a profit, you might consider lowering costs. Maybe you could get cheaper lemonade mix? Or you might look for more creative and exciting ways to increase revenue––like raiding the pantry for cookies you can sell as well. ★★★☆☆

duplication [ˌdju:pli'keiʃən]}(2005.5) n.副本,复制 So, if the provinces want to run the health-care show, they should prove they can run it, starting with an interprovincial health list that would end duplication, save administrative costs, prevent one province from being played off against another, and bargain for better drug prices. ☆☆☆☆☆

phase [feiz]}(2005.6) n.阶段,状态,相,相位 v.定相 It is not easy to talk about the role of the mass media in this overwhelmingly significant phase in European history. A phase is a particular period of time, like someone whose "teenage rebellion" phase lasts well into her thirties. The word phase can mean a stage in a person’s development or a step in a process, such as “the next phase in the Interstate 57 project.” Phase can also be a verb, usually followed by in or out, to mean slowly introducing or getting rid of something. For example, your school might phase in a new rule or phase out an old one, as new students arrive. ★★★☆☆

integration [ˌinti'greiʃən]}(2005.6) n.综合 Moreover, the integration of the European community will oblige television companies to cooperate more closely in terms of both production and distribution. Integration occurs when separate people or things are brought together, like the integration of students from all of the district's elementary schools at the new middle school, or the integration of snowboarding on all ski slopes. You may know the word differentiate, meaning "set apart." Integrate is its opposite. When you integrate things, you bring them together. So integration is the act of doing just that, like the integration of African-American students into mixed-race schools after segregation was outlawed in the 1950s, or the integration of computers in businesses that had previously only used paper-based record-keeping.

oblige [ə'blaidʒ]}(2005.6) vt.迫使,责成 Moreover, the integration of the European community will oblige television companies to cooperate more closely in terms of both production and distribution. To oblige is to do something you have to, because you're bound by either good manners or the law. You are obliged to pay back your student loans, or for your portion of the dinner bill. You may also feel obliged to bring a gift if you're invited to a wedding. You can also tip your cowboy hat and be "much obliged" if someone does you a favor. The French phrase, noblesse oblige means basically that "privilege entails responsibility," or that the wealthy are obliged to do something productive in the world and not just sit around polishing their silver spoons. ★★☆☆☆

entail [in'teil]}(2005.6) vt.使必需,使蒙受,使承担,遗传给 n.[建]限定继承权 This entails reducing our dependence on the North American market, whose programs relate to experiences and cultural traditions which are different from our own. Entail means what something involves. "The job entailed us standing in the snow for hours dressed as giant, human hot dogs. It entailed far too much humiliation to justify the $3.55 an hour we were paid." The word entail is connected to the idea of preconditions. If you want something, you better figure out what it entails. If we want to see the movie at 9 o'clock, that will entail us waiting in the lobby another hour. If we want to stay out of trouble with our moms, that will entail us calling them and letting them know we're going to be later than we said. ★☆☆☆☆

diversity [dai'və:siti]}(2005.6) n.差异,多样性 If I had to choose a slogan it would be “Unity in our diversity.” When there's diversity, there's variety. Often, this word is used for diversity of race, class, or gender. To have diversity, you need a mix of whatever you're talking about. If you like science fiction, romantic comedies, cartoons, and action movies, then you like a diversity of types of films. If you like nothing but kung fu films, then you don't like a diversity of films. No matter what kind of diversity you're talking about, there needs to be a real mix, kind of like a huge box of Crayolas. ★★☆☆☆

peculiarity [pikju:li'æriti]}(2005.6) n.特性,怪癖 A unity of objectives that nonetheless respect the varied peculiarities of each country. Some characteristic or habit that's odd or distinctive is a peculiarity. Your brother's peculiarities might include always wearing a red knit hat, even in summer. A peculiarity is a quirk or strange feature. You might be self conscious about the fact that your ears are uneven, something you think of as an obvious peculiarity. Another kind of peculiarity is a quality that is specific to someone or something: "One peculiarity of people from the Midwest is that they call soda pop." This "special characteristic" meaning is the original one, which makes sense given the Latin root, peculiaris, "of one's own." ☆☆☆☆☆