wincewince

wince  /w ns/  wince  /w ns/  v. v. [I] [I] n.n. winced, wincing, winceswinced, wincing, winces to make a facial expression of pain, (to make a facial expression of pain, (syn.syn.) to ) to flinchflinch

He winced when the door shut on his thumb.He winced when the door shut on his thumb.

leagueleague

league  / lig/  league  / lig/  n.n. 1 1 a group of sports teams a group of sports teams that compete against each otherthat compete against each other

Our local team belongs to the National Our local team belongs to the National Football League.Football League.

strivestrive

strive  /stra v/  strive  /stra v/  v. v. [I] [I] strovestrove /stro v/, /stro v/, strivenstriven / str v n/ or / str v n/ or strived, striving, strived, striving, strivesstrives to work hard for s.t.: to work hard for s.t.: to strive for to strive for perfectionperfection --n.n. striver.striver.

She strives for perfection.She strives for perfection.

routineroutine

routine  /ru tin/  routine  /ru tin/  n.n. [C;U] a series of things [C;U] a series of things s.o. does regularlys.o. does regularly

He has a different routine on Saturday He has a different routine on Saturday and Sunday than he does on weekdays.and Sunday than he does on weekdays.

promptprompt

prompt  /pr mpt/  prompt  /pr mpt/  adj.adj. 11 on time, punctual on time, punctual

He was prompt.He was prompt.

strainstrain

strain  /stre n/  strain  /stre n/  v.v. 1 1 [I;T] to use great effort[I;T] to use great effort

I strained to lift a heavy box.I strained to lift a heavy box.

The singer strained to hit a high note.The singer strained to hit a high note.

meantmeant

mean  /min/  mean  /min/  v.v. meantmeant /m nt/, /m nt/, meaningmeaning / / min /, min /, meansmeans 1 1 [T] to indicate, have [T] to indicate, have significancesignificance

That flashing red light means to stop your That flashing red light means to stop your car and wait for the train to go by.car and wait for the train to go by.

foulfoul

foul  /fa l/  foul  /fa l/  v.v. 1 1 [T] to dirty, often with mud, [T] to dirty, often with mud, bodily waste, etc.bodily waste, etc.

The farmer fell in the mud and fouled his The farmer fell in the mud and fouled his clothes.clothes.

hoisthoist

hoist  /h st/  hoist  /h st/  v.v. [T] to lift and move an [T] to lift and move an objectobject

The father hoisted his small child onto his The father hoisted his small child onto his shoulders.shoulders.

naughtynaughty

naughty  / n ti/  naughty  / n ti/  adj.adj. -tier, -tiest-tier, -tiest badly badly behavedbehaved

That boy is a naughty child.That boy is a naughty child.

bulkbulk

bulk  /b lk/  bulk  /b lk/  n.n. [U] [U] 11 large size large size

Big animals, such as elephants and Big animals, such as elephants and whales, have huge bulk.whales, have huge bulk.

themetheme

theme  / im/  theme  / im/  n.n. a central idea or main a central idea or main pattern, such as in daily life, an artistic pattern, such as in daily life, an artistic work, or another areawork, or another area

The theme in that novel is one of The theme in that novel is one of adventure in exploring the Arctic.adventure in exploring the Arctic.

mutemute

mute  /myut/  mute  /myut/  n.adj.n.adj. 11 unable or unwilling unable or unwilling to speak: to speak:

He was born mute, and he has been a He was born mute, and he has been a mute since birth.mute since birth.

spongesponge

sponge  /sp nd /  sponge  /sp nd /  n.n. 11 [C] such an animal [C] such an animal after it has died, or a similar-looking after it has died, or a similar-looking piece of cellulose, used to take up liquid piece of cellulose, used to take up liquid or for cleaningor for cleaning

Get a sponge. I spilled some juice.Get a sponge. I spilled some juice.

bloombloom

bloom  /blum/  bloom  /blum/  v.v. [I] (of plants) to flower: [I] (of plants) to flower:

Our apple tree bloomed last week.Our apple tree bloomed last week.

craftcraft

craft  /kr ft/  craft  /kr ft/  n.n. a boat, airplane, or space a boat, airplane, or space vehicle: vehicle: watercraft, aircraft, spacecraftwatercraft, aircraft, spacecraft

The craft sailed the seas for one month.The craft sailed the seas for one month.

thronethrone

throne  / ro n/  throne  / ro n/  n.n. a decorated chair used a decorated chair used esp. by royalty in ceremonies as a esp. by royalty in ceremonies as a symbol of power and position symbol of power and position

The king sat on his throne.The king sat on his throne.

rhythmrhythm

rhythm  / r m/  rhythm  / r m/  n.n. [C;U] a regular beat, [C;U] a regular beat, esp. in music or movementesp. in music or movement

A symphony conductor keeps the rhythm A symphony conductor keeps the rhythm for the orchestra.for the orchestra.

vaultvault

vault  /v lt/  vault  /v lt/  v.v. 1 1 [I;T] to leap over[I;T] to leap over

He vaulted the fence.He vaulted the fence.

avoidavoid

avoid  / v d/  avoid  / v d/  v. v. [T] [T] 1 1 to stay away fromto stay away from

She avoids walking on dark streets at She avoids walking on dark streets at night.night.

depthdepth

depth  /d p /  depth  /d p /  n.n. 1 1 a distance below a a distance below a surfacesurface

The swimmer went down to a depth of The swimmer went down to a depth of five meters.five meters.

roamroam

roam  /ro m/  roam  /ro m/  v.v. [I;T] to go freely over a [I;T] to go freely over a large area, (large area, (syn.syn.) to wander) to wander

We roamed through the woods after we We roamed through the woods after we had a picnic.had a picnic.

replyreply

reply  /r pla /  reply  /r pla /  v.v. [I;T] [I;T] -plied, -plying, -plies-plied, -plying, -plies to to answer s.t answer s.t

He replied to my letter that I sent last month.He replied to my letter that I sent last month. n.n. -plies-plies [C;U] an answer, response: [C;U] an answer, response: I received I received his reply yesterday.his reply yesterday.

stoutstout

stout  /sta t/  stout  /sta t/  adj.adj. 11 slightly fat, ( slightly fat, (syns.syns.) ) portly, plumpportly, plump

The stout man filled the whole chair.The stout man filled the whole chair.

squawksquawk

squawk  /skw k/  squawk  /skw k/  n.v.n.v. [I] [I] 11 a loud, harsh a loud, harsh bird cry: bird cry: the <n.> squawk of a chickenthe <n.> squawk of a chicken 22 a cry or complaint: a cry or complaint:

He let out a squawk when I stepped on He let out a squawk when I stepped on his toe.his toe.

gazegaze

gaze  /ge z/  gaze  /ge z/  v. v. [I] [I] n.n. gazed, gazing, gazed, gazing, gazesgazes 1 1 to look steadily at s.o. or s.t. for to look steadily at s.o. or s.t. for a long time, usu. without giving it much a long time, usu. without giving it much attentionattention

The students gazed out of the window The students gazed out of the window because their class was boring.because their class was boring.

sleevesleeve

sleeve  /sliv/  sleeve  /sliv/  n.n. 11 the part of a piece of the part of a piece of clothing that covers all or part of the armclothing that covers all or part of the arm

In the summer, she likes blouses with In the summer, she likes blouses with short sleeves.short sleeves.

ravineravine

ravine  /r vin/  ravine  /r vin/  n.n. a low area in the earth a low area in the earth with steep sides, a deep gully, (with steep sides, a deep gully, (syn.syn.) a ) a gorgegorge

A fast river has cut out a ravine in the A fast river has cut out a ravine in the rock.rock.

soughtsought

sought  /s t/  sought  /s t/  v.v. past tense & past part. of past tense & past part. of seek seek

He sought an answer to the Math He sought an answer to the Math problem.problem.

annoyannoy

annoy  / n /  annoy  / n /  v.v. [T] to cause mild anger [T] to cause mild anger

The constant noise from the street traffic The constant noise from the street traffic annoyed me.annoyed me.

cobwebcobweb

cobweb  / k b w b/  cobweb  / k b w b/  n.n. a net of thin, sticky a net of thin, sticky threads made by spiders to catch food: threads made by spiders to catch food:

She cleaned away the dust and cobwebs She cleaned away the dust and cobwebs in the old house.in the old house.

tepidtepid

tepid  / t p d/  tepid  / t p d/  adj.adj. lukewarm: lukewarm:

Babies are bathed in tepid water, not too Babies are bathed in tepid water, not too hot.hot.

refugeerefugee

refugee  / r fyu d i/  refugee  / r fyu d i/  n.n. a person trying to leave a person trying to leave bad living conditions, such as oppression, war, bad living conditions, such as oppression, war, hunger, etc.hunger, etc.

During the war, many refugees went to safer During the war, many refugees went to safer countries nearby to try to live better lives.countries nearby to try to live better lives.

coaxcoax

coax  /ko ks/  coax  /ko ks/  v.v. [T] [T] coaxescoaxes to try to try patiently to ask someone to do patiently to ask someone to do something, (something, (syn.syn.) to persuade) to persuade

The mother coaxed her child to take The mother coaxed her child to take some bad tasting medicine.some bad tasting medicine.

nylonnylon

nylon  / na l n/  nylon  / na l n/  n.n. [U] [U] 1 1 a strong, artificial a strong, artificial fiber used in making cloth, thread, and fiber used in making cloth, thread, and stockingsstockings

Women wear stockings made of nylon.Women wear stockings made of nylon.

endeavorendeavor

endeavor  / n d v r/  endeavor  / n d v r/  v.frml. v.frml. [I;T] to try, [I;T] to try, attemptattempt

He endeavors to do his best work all the He endeavors to do his best work all the time.time.

oxygenoxygen

oxygen  / ks d n/  oxygen  / ks d n/  n.n. [U] a colorless, [U] a colorless, odorless gas (chemical symbol odorless gas (chemical symbol OO) ) present in air, which is necessary for all present in air, which is necessary for all forms of lifeforms of life

People must breathe oxygen in order to People must breathe oxygen in order to live.live.

nauseousnauseous

nauseous  / n s, n zi s/  nauseous  / n s, n zi s/  adj.adj. 1 1 infrml.infrml. feeling nausea, (feeling nausea, (syn.syn.) nauseated: ) nauseated:

She felt nauseous from the boat ride.She felt nauseous from the boat ride.

bountifulbountiful

bountiful  / ba nt f l/  or bountiful  / ba nt f l/  or bounteous bounteous / ba / ba nti s/ nti s/ adj.adj. much of s.t., ( much of s.t., (syn.syn.) abundant: ) abundant:

The harvest of wheat and corn was The harvest of wheat and corn was bountiful this year.bountiful this year.

heirloomheirloom

heirloom  / r lum/  heirloom  / r lum/  n.n. an object of real or an object of real or sentimental value passed from one sentimental value passed from one generation to anothergeneration to another

The silver tea set is a family heirloom.The silver tea set is a family heirloom.