Word Pronunciation Audio Definition
brisk [ˈbrisk] (often with "up") To make or become lively; to enliven; to animate.
nugget [ˈnə-gət] A small, compact chunk or clump.
dunce [ˈdən(t)s] An unintelligent person.
statesman [ˈstāts-mən] A man who is a leader in national or international affairs.
loophole [ˈlüp-ˌhōl] A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar window for shooting a ranged weapon or letting in light.
chorus [ˈkȯr-əs] A group of singers and dancers in the religious festivals of ancient Greece.
marble [ˈmär-bəl] A rock of crystalline limestone.
figurine [ˌfi-g(y)ə-ˈrēn] A small carved or molded figure; a statuette.
zircon [ˈzər-ˌkän] A mineral occurring in tetragonal crystals, usually of a brown or grey colour and consisting of silica and zirconia.
furrier [ˈfər-ē-ər] A person who sells, makes, repairs, alters, cleans, or otherwise deals in clothing made of fur.
dye [ˈdī] A colourant, especially one that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is applied.
syrup [ˈsər-əp] Any thick liquid that has a high sugar content and which is added to or poured over food as a flavouring.
venture [ˈven(t)-shər] A risky or daring undertaking or journey.
camouflage [ˈka-mə-ˌfläzh] A disguise or covering up.
drench [ˈdrench] A draught administered to an animal.
entrap [in-ˈtrap] To catch in a trap or snare.
snooty [ˈsnü-tē] Pompous; snobbish; inclined to turn up one's nose
forerunner [ˈfȯr-ˌrə-nər] A runner at the front or ahead.
constellation [ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən] An asterism, an arbitrary formation of stars perceived as a figure or pattern, or a division of the sky including it, especially one officially recognised by astronomers.
astrologer [ə-ˈsträ-lə-jər] One who studies or practices astrology.
detest [di-ˈtest] To dislike intensely; to loathe.
loathe [ˈlōt͟h] To detest, hate, revile.
semiprofessional [ˌse-mē-prə-ˈfe-sh(ə-)nəl] A semiprofessional person.
churn [ˈchərn] A vessel used for churning, especially for producing butter.
cadre [ˈka-ˌdrā] A frame or framework.
plotter [ˈplä-tər] A person who plots.
devotional [di-ˈvō-sh(ə-)nəl] A brief religious service.
astound [ə-ˈstau̇nd] To astonish, bewilder or dazzle.
phony [ˈfō-nē] A person who assumes an identity or quality other than their own.
establishment [i-ˈsta-blish-mənt] The act of establishing; a ratifying or ordaining; settlement; confirmation.
institute [ˈin(t)-stə-ˌtüt] An organization founded to promote a cause
pocket [ˈpä-kət] A bag stitched to an item of clothing, used for carrying small items.
chisel [ˈchi-zᵊl] A cutting tool consisting of a slim, oblong block of metal with a sharp wedge or bevel formed on one end. It may be provided with a handle at the other end. It is used to remove parts of stone, wood or metal by placing the sharp edge against the material to be cut and pushing or pounding the other end with a hammer or mallet.
principal [ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəl] The money originally invested or loaned, on which basis interest and returns are calculated.
dedication [ˌde-di-ˈkā-shən] The act of dedicating or the state of being dedicated.
ad hominem [(ˈ)ad-ˈhä-mə-nəm] A fallacious objection to an argument or factual claim by appealing to a characteristic or belief of the person making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim; an attempt to argue against an opponent's idea by discrediting the opponent himself or herself.
testimony [ˈte-stə-ˌmō-nē] Statements made by a witness in court.
roulette [rü-ˈlet] A game of chance, in which a small ball is made to move round rapidly on a circle divided off into numbered red and black spaces, the one on which it stops indicating the result of a variety of wagers permitted by the game.
logjam [ˈlȯg-ˌjam] An excess of logs being conveyed on a river, so that their motion halts.
kneel [ˈnēl] To rest on one's bent knees, sometimes only one; to move to such a position.
scrape [ˈskrāp] A broad, shallow injury left by scraping (rather than a cut or a scratch).
disruption [dis-ˈrəp-shən] An interruption to the regular flow or sequence of something.
clutch [ˈkləch] The claw of a predatory animal or bird.
pulley [ˈpu̇-lē] One of the simple machines; a sheave, a wheel with a grooved rim, in which a pulled rope or chain lifts an object (more useful when two or more pulleys are used together, as in a block and tackle arrangement, such that a small force moving through a greater distance can exert a larger force through a smaller distance).
lever [ˈle-vər] (except in generalized senses below) A crowbar.
deprive [di-ˈprīv] To take something away from (someone) and keep it away; to deny someone something.
zest [ˈzest] The outer skin of a citrus fruit, used as a flavouring or garnish.
dusk [ˈdəsk] A period of time at the end of day when the sun is below the horizon but before the full onset of night, especially the darker part of twilight.
raisin [ˈrā-zᵊn] A dried grape.
funnel [ˈfə-nᵊl] A utensil in the shape of an inverted hollow cone terminating in a narrow pipe, for channeling liquids or granular material; typically used when transferring said substances from any container into ones with a significantly smaller opening.
mountainous [ˈmau̇n-tə-nəs] Having many mountains; characterized by mountains; of the nature of a mountain; rough (terrain); rocky.
gravel [ˈgra-vəl] Small fragments of rock, used for laying on the beds of roads and railways, and as ballast.
cucumber [ˈkyü-(ˌ)kəm-bər] A vine in the gourd family, Cucumis sativus.
defiance [di-ˈfī-ən(t)s] The feeling, or spirit of being defiant.
pneumatic [nu̇-ˈma-tik] A vehicle, such as a bicycle, whose wheels are fitted with pneumatic tyres.
sterile [ˈster-əl] Unable to reproduce (or procreate).
uranium [yu̇-ˈrā-nē-əm] The element with atomic number 92 and symbol U: a radioactive silvery-grey metal in the actinide series.
petroleum [pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm] A flammable liquid ranging in color from clear to very dark brown and black, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring naturally in deposits under the Earth's surface
replenish [ri-ˈple-nish] To refill; to renew; to supply again or to add a fresh quantity to.
waterworks [ˈwȯ-tər-ˌwərks] The water supply system of a town etc., including reservoirs, pumps and pipes.
breastplate [ˈbres(t)-ˌplāt] A piece of armor that covers the chest.
bestow [bi-ˈstō] To lay up in store; deposit for safe keeping; to stow or place; to put something somewhere.
tantrum [ˈtan-trəm] An often childish display or fit of bad temper.
frontier [ˌfrən-ˈtir] The part of a country which borders or faces another country or unsettled region
pregame [ˈprē-ˌgām] A social gathering of several friends who get together to drink before going out to a party or a sports game. The goal of pre-gaming is to "get a buzz" before going out for the night.
maiden [ˈmā-dᵊn] One of the triune goddesses of the Lady in Wicca alongside the Crone and Mother representing a girl or a young woman