Essentials Vocabulary - Week 15
drab:
Meaning
[drab] Adjective/Noun To be dull or cheerless. (v.) Any of several fabrics of light greyish-brown colour, especially of thick wool or cotton. (n.)
● Usage ●
Why do you always wear that drab grey shirt that looks so boring? (v.) A young man dressed in drabs. (n.)
Synonyms
dull, colourless, bleak, desolate, dingy
Antonyms
bright, cheerful, clean
draft: Meaning
[draft] Noun/Verb The initial or preliminary version of a drawing, document or design. (n.) To create the initial version of a drawing, document or design. (v.) ●
Usage ●
My first draft of the essay was very basic and more work was required. (n.) Draft your ideas and submit them by tomorrow afternoon. (v.)
Synonyms
blueprint, plant, outline, version
Antonyms
none
drench:
[drench] Verb/Noun
Meaning
To wet thoroughly. (v.) A dose of medicine administered to an animal. (n.)
Usage
● ●
The rain was so sudden that we were drenched. (v.) The veterinarian administered a worming drench to the cows. (n.)
Synonyms
deluge, douse, drown, immerse
Antonyms
dehydrate, dry
dwindle:
[DWIN-dl] Verb
Meaning
To become smaller and smaller. ●
Usage
●
I didn't notice that the candies in the jar dwindled to almost nothing. Due to excessive rainfall and flooding, the crops dwindled and failed.
Synonyms
waste away, abate, decay, decline, decrease
Antonyms
ascend, develop, enhance
earnest:
[UR-nist] Adjective/ Noun
Meaning
Serious in intention, purpose, or effort. (adj.) Full seriousness, as of intention or purpose. (n.) ●
Usage ●
John is known to be an earnest worker and an honest person. (adj.) You need to speak in earnest to be taken seriously. (n.)
Synonyms
ardent, diligent, fervent, heartfelt
Antonyms
apathetic, cold, cool
ebb: Meaning
(eb] Noun/Verb A flowing backward or away. (n.) To flow back or away, as the water of a tide. (v.) ●
Usage
●
The ebb of the once great culture can be seen in the old dilapidated structures. (n.) The water is ebbing towards the sea in a slow, hypnotic manner. (v.)
Synonyms
regression, decline, abatement, backflow, decay, recede
Antonyms
advance, development, enlargement
economy:
Meaning
[ih-KON-uh-mee] Noun/Adjective Frugality in the expenditure or consumption of money, materials, etc.; Management of the resources of a community, country, etc. (n.) Costing less to make, buy, or operate. (adj.) ● ●
Usage
He attempted to combine good living with economy. (n.) Could I book an economy car for the trip? (adj.)
Synonyms
saving, frugality, recession, industry, wealth
Antonyms
addition, carelessness, disregard
eerie: Meaning
[EER-ee] Adjective Uncanny, so as to inspire superstitious fear. ● ●
Usage
I'm not happy that we are in an eerie forest at night. Hearing a midnight owl hoot is quite eerie and creepy.
Synonyms
spooky, bizarre, creepy, fantastic, ghostly
Antonyms
common, earthly, familiar
effervescent: Meaning
[ef-er-VES-uh nt] Adjective (Of a liquid) Giving off bubbles of gas. ●
Usage ●
This mineral water is quite effervescent and gives off a strong smell. The perfume that you just bought is very effervescent.
Synonyms
fizzing, foaming, airy, bouncy, bubbly
Antonyms
flat
elegant:
[EL-i-guh nt] Adjective
Meaning
Tastefully fine or luxurious in dress, style, design, etc. Gracefully refined and dignified, as in tastes, habits, or literary style. ●
Usage ●
An elegant young gentleman just arrived, greeting everyone in the party. The design of the building is quite elegant and sophisticated.
Synonyms
chic, beautiful, classic, dignified, exquisite
Antonyms
common, dull, inferior
eloquence:
[EL-uh-kwuh ns] Noun
Meaning
The practice or art of using language with fluency and aptness. ● ●
Usage
The candidate showed his eloquence during the elections. A certain level of eloquence takes time and effort to perfect.
Synonyms
expressiveness, fervor, fluency, passion, poise
Antonyms
none
embargo:
[em-BAHR-goh] Noun/Verb
Meaning
An order of a government prohibiting trade or other commercial activity.(n.) To impose an embargo on. (v.) ● ●
Usage
There was an announcement of embargo due to the storm. (n.) Due to the sudden announcement, many ships were embargoed. (v.)
Synonyms
ban, restraint
Antonyms
aid