having a sharp, sometimes unpleasant, taste or smell, like a lemon, and not sweet.
grapefruit
[ˈgrāp-ˌfrüt]
The tree of the species Citrus paradisi, a hybrid of pomelo (Citrus maxima) and sweet orange.
lime
[ˈlīm]
Any inorganic material containing calcium, usually calcium oxide (quicklime) or calcium hydroxide (slaked lime).
nasty
[ˈna-stē]
rude or offensive.
smog
[ˈsmäg]
A noxious mixture of particulates and gases that is the result of urban air pollution.
pall
[ˈpȯl]
a thick, dark cloud of smoke.
cutting
[ˈkə-tiŋ]
unkind and intending to upset someone.
buildup
[ˈbild-ˌəp]
An accumulation; an increase; a gradual development.
leech
[ˈlēch]
An aquatic blood-sucking annelid of class Hirudinea, especially Hirudo medicinalis.
marijuana
[ˌmer-ə-ˈwä-nə]
A drug smoked or ingested for euphoric effect, cannabis.
covenant
[ˈkəv-nənt]
An agreement to do or not do a particular thing.
fiber
[ˈfī-bər]
A single elongated piece of a given material, roughly round in cross-section, often twisted with other fibers to form thread.
antihistamine
[ˌan-tē-ˈhi-stə-ˌmēn]
A drug or substance that counteracts the effects of a histamine. Commonly used to alleviate the symptoms of hay fever and other allergies.
amphetamine
[am-ˈfe-tə-ˌmēn]
(proper) The racemic freebase of 1-phenylpropan-2-amine; an equal parts mixture of levoamphetamine and dextroamphetamine in their pure amine forms.
runny
[ˈrə-nē]
Fluid; capable of flowing.
bloodshot
[ˈbləd-ˌshät]
(of the eyes) reddened and inflamed because of congested blood vessels
vasodilator
[ˌvā-zō-dī-ˈlā-tər]
A drug or chemical agent that causes dilation of the blood vessels thereby reducing blood pressure.
irritate
[ˈir-ə-ˌtāt]
To provoke impatience, anger, or displeasure in.
deposit
[di-ˈpä-zət]
a substance or layer that is left, usually after a liquid is removed.
coronary
[ˈkȯr-ə-ˌner-ē]
relating to the arteries (= thick tubes) that supply blood to the muscles of the heart.
custody
[ˈkə-stə-dē]
The legal right to take care of something or somebody, especially children.
stringent
[ˈstrin-jənt]
Strict; binding strongly; making strict requirements; restrictive; rigid; severe
demolition
[ˌde-mə-ˈli-shən]
The process of demolishing or destroying buildings or other structures.
oppression
[ə-ˈpre-shən]
The exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.
cosmetic
[käz-ˈme-tik]
Any substances applied to enhance the external color or texture of the skin, e.g. lipstick, eyeshadow, eyeliner; makeup.
carpenter
[ˈkär-pən-tər]
A person skilled at carpentry, the trade of cutting and joining timber in order to construct buildings or other structures.
bow
[ˈbau̇]
A weapon made of a curved piece of wood or other flexible material whose ends are connected by a string, used for shooting arrows.
wrench
[ˈrench]
A movement that twists or pulls violently; a tug.
pliers
[ˈplī(-ə)rz]
a small tool with two handles for holding or pulling small things like nails, or for cutting wire.
proprietor
[prə-ˈprī-ə-tər]
An owner.
bleacher
[ˈblē-chər]
rows of seats at a sports ground that are cheaper and not covered by a roof.
elaborate
[i-ˈla-b(ə-)rət]
To develop in detail or complexity.
defiantly
[di-ˈfī-ənt-lē]
in a way that shows you are not willing to accept criticism or disapproval.
refinery
[ri-ˈfī-nə-rē]
A building, or a mass of machinery, used to produce refined products such as sugar, oil, or metals.
monastery
[ˈmä-nə-ˌster-ē]
Building for housing monks or others who have taken religious vows
grant
[ˈgrant]
The act of granting; a bestowing or conferring; concession; allowance; permission.
portrayal
[pȯr-ˈtrā(-ə)l]
the way that someone or something is described or represented in a painting, film, book, or other artistic work.
dome
[ˈdōm]
a rounded roof on a building or a room, or a building with such a roof.
melodic
[mə-ˈlä-dik]
very pleasant to listen to.
wrongful
[ˈrȯŋ-fəl]
Wrongful actions are unfair or illegal.
damage
[ˈda-mij]
money that is paid to someone by a person or organization who has been responsible for causing them some injury or loss.
bankrupt
[ˈbaŋk-(ˌ)rəpt]
One who becomes unable to pay his or her debts; an insolvent person.
asbestos
[as-ˈbe-stəs]
Any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate, used for fireproofing, electrical insulation, building materials, brake linings, chemical filters, suits, fireman's gloves, etc.
liability
[ˌlī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē]
An obligation, debt or responsibility owed to someone.
libel
[ˈlī-bəl]
A written or pictorial false statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.
mainstay
[ˈmān-ˌstā]
A chief support.
mobster
[ˈmäb-stər]
a member of a group of people who are involved in organized crime.
pretzel
[ˈpret-səl]
A toasted bread or cracker usually in the shape of a loose knot.
barrel
[ˈber-əl]
to travel or move very fast.
labyrinth
[ˈla-bə-ˌrin(t)th]
A maze-like structure built by Daedalus in Knossos, containing the Minotaur.
novelist
[ˈnä-və-list]
An author of novels.
swank
[ˈswaŋk]
full of life or energy.
midtown
[ˈmid-ˌtau̇n]
the part of a city near the centre.
tipsy
[ˈtip-sē]
Slightly drunk, fuddled, staggering, foolish as a result of drinking alcoholic beverages
tend
[ˈtend]
to care for something or someone.
recruit
[ri-ˈkrüt]
a new member of an organization, especially the army.
reinvigorate
[ˌrē-in-ˈvi-gə-ˌrāt]
To give new life, energy or strength to someone or something; to revitalize
downtown
[ˌdau̇n-ˈtau̇n]
The main business part of a city or town, usually located at or near its center.
trail
[ˈtrāl]
The track or indication marking the route followed by something that has passed, such as the footprints of animal on land or the contrail of an airplane in the sky.
retain
[ri-ˈtān]
To keep in possession or use.
deformity
[di-ˈfȯr-mə-tē]
The state of being deformed.
attic
[ˈa-tik]
The space, often unfinished and with sloped walls, directly below the roof in the uppermost part of a house or other building, generally used for storage or habitation.
rugged
[ˈrə-gəd]
Broken into sharp or irregular points; uneven; not smooth; rough.
damn
[ˈdam]
to blame or strongly criticize something or someone.
faint
[ˈfānt]
not strong or clear; slight.
sturdy
[ˈstər-dē]
physically strong and solid or thick, and therefore unlikely to break or be hurt.
serf
[ˈsərf]
a member of a low social class in medieval times who worked on the land and had to obey the person who owned that land.
bondage
[ˈbän-dij]
The state of being enslaved or the practice of slavery.
resort
[ri-ˈzȯrt]
a place where many people go for rest, sport, or another stated purpose.
indenture
[in-ˈden-chər]
A contract which binds a person to work for another, under specified conditions, for a specified time (often as an apprentice).
populate
[ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt]
If an area is populated by people or animals, they live in that area.
oblige
[ə-ˈblīj]
to force someone to do something, or to make it necessary for someone to do something.
slavish
[ˈslā-vish]
In the manner of a slave; abject.
salute
[sə-ˈlüt]
An utterance or gesture expressing greeting or honor towards someone, now especially a formal, non-verbal gesture made with the arms or hands in any of various specific positions.
blockage
[ˈblä-kij]
The state of being blocked.
plaque
[ˈplak]
Any flat, thin piece of clay, ivory, metal, etc., used for ornament, or for painting pictures upon, as a dish, plate, slab, etc., hung upon a wall; also, a smaller decoration worn by a person, such as a brooch.
malocclusion
[ˌma-lə-ˈklü-zhən]
A misalignment of the upper and lower sets of teeth.
stoop
[ˈstüp]
If someone stoops, their head and shoulders are always bent forwards and down.
screening
[ˈskrē-niŋ]
To filter by passing through a screen.
decisive
[di-ˈsī-siv]
Having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy; putting an end to contest or controversy; final; conclusive.
dismissal
[dis-ˈmi-səl]
The act of sending someone away.
summit
[ˈsə-mət]
A peak; the topmost point or surface, as of a mountain.
upset
[(ˌ)əp-ˈset]
an occasion when someone beats the team or player that was expected to win.
gigantic
[jī-ˈgan-tik]
Very large.
debris
[də-ˈbrē]
Rubble, wreckage, scattered remains of something destroyed.
litter
[ˈli-tər]
to spread across an area or place untidily.
erosion
[i-ˈrō-zhən]
The result of having been worn away or eroded, as by a glacier on rock or the sea on a cliff face.
stalk
[ˈstȯk]
The stem or main axis of a plant, which supports the seed-carrying parts.
vine
[ˈvīn]
The climbing plant that produces grapes.
trowel
[ˈtrau̇(-ə)l]
A mason’s tool, used in spreading and dressing mortar, and breaking bricks to shape them.
junkyard
[ˈjəŋk-ˌyärd]
A place where rubbish is placed.
riffraff
[ˈrif-ˌraf]
The rabble; crowds; the common people.
hoity-toity
[ˌhȯi-tē-ˈtȯi-tē]
Pompous, self-important and snobbish.
stuck-up
[ˈstək-ˈəp]
Snobbish, conceited; believing oneself to be better than others, usually because of abundant success; haughty; arrogant or egotistical.
stain
[ˈstān]
A discoloured spot or area.
demanding
[di-ˈman-diŋ]
needing a lot of time, attention, or energy.
contend
[kən-ˈtend]
To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
hut
[ˈhət]
A small, simple one-storey dwelling or shelter, often with just one room, and generally built of readily available local materials.
charade
[shə-ˈrād]
A genre of riddles where the clues to the answer are descriptions or puns on its syllables, with a final clue to the whole.
clause
[ˈklȯz]
a particular part of a written legal document.
plaza
[ˈplä-zə]
A town's public square.
spicy
[ˈspī-sē]
containing strong flavours from spices.
tangy
[ˈtaŋ-ē]
A tangy flavour is pleasantly strong and sharp.
sting
[ˈstiŋ]
A bump left on the skin after having been stung.
twirl
[ˈtwər-(-ə)l]
to give a sudden quick turn or set of turns in a circle.
unnerve
[ˌən-ˈnərv]
to make someone feel less confident and slightly frightened.