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accompaniment
DEFINITION: Part of a composition, providing harmonic and rhythmic backing to a melody.
acquiesce
DEFINITION: To comply or submit.
advisory
DEFINITION: A person or committee that gives advice.
aerogramme
DEFINITION: A letter sent by airmail, usually refers to international mail.
alliteration
DEFINITION: The repetition of the same initial consonant or vowel, with several words, a literary style often used in poetry.
allotment
DEFINITION: A portion or share.
alphanumeric
DEFINITION: Consisting of both letters and numerals.
amateurish
DEFINITION: Characteristic of an amateur.
ambidextrous
DEFINITION: able to use both hands equally well.
amphitheater
DEFINITION: An oval or round building with an open center.
annul
DEFINITION: To abolish, nullify, or wipe out.
annulment
DEFINITION: The declaration that annuls a legal act, such as a marriage.
appellate
DEFINITION: Pertaining to an appeal, usually referring to a court, such as the Court of Appeals, where one can appeal his/her case if not satisfied with a prior decision.
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appendix
DEFINITION #1: a small tube-like body part joined to the large intestine in the right side of the abdomen. DEFINITION #2: An addition to the end of a book, listing extra material or references.
arabesque
DEFINITION: A position in ballet in which one leg is stretched behind and the body lowered forward.
arrhythmia
DEFINITION: Any interruption in the heartbeat.
arsenic
DEFINITION: A greyish-white element, which forms poisonous compound.
assassin
DEFINITION: A murderer.
babushka
DEFINITION: A woman’s scarf.
backgammon
DEFINITION: A board game for two people, using dice.
ballot
DEFINITION: A ticket or paper used to submit your vote.
bangalow
DEFINITION: A palm tree of New South Wales and Queensland, sometimes growing in clumps near the coast.
bankruptcy
DEFINITION: The state of being unable to pay your debts.
barracuda
DEFINITION: A long, thin, predatory fish.
beneficence
DEFINITION: Doing something good.
bizarre
DEFINITION: Very strange or unusual.
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boutique
DEFINITION: A small specialty shop, sometimes within a large mall.
boutonniere
DEFINITION: A flower worn by a man in his lapel.
boycott
DEFINITION: To refuse to buy a producrt or complete an order.
boysenberry
DEFINITION: A blackberry-like fruit with a flavor similar to a raspberry.
brusque
DEFINITION: Rough, rude, not very polite.
camaraderie
DEFINITION: Positive relationship with others.
campaign
DEFINITION: A systematic course of activities to convince others about a specific purpose, such as a political campaign.
canvass
DEFINITION: To solicit votes.
cardiopulmonary
DEFINITION: Pertaining to the heart and lungs.
cataclysm
DEFINITION: Any violent upheaval, usually referring to a geological event.
ceremonious
DEFINITION: A formal ceremony, or referring to a person who’s very formal in behavior.
charcoal
DEFINITION #1: Partly burnt wood sticks, used for drawing. DEFINITION #2: Burned wood chunks, used to cook food outdoors.
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charisma
DEFINITION: A personal quality that attracts others, giving one influence over a group of people.
chauffeur
DEFINITION: A person employed to drive an automobile.
chimpanzee
DEFINITION: A monkey found on several continents, spending much of its life in the trees.
chlorofluorocarbon
DEFINITION: A chemical substance, emitted from Earth, blamed for the hole in the ozone layer.
circumstantial
DEFINITION: Evidence that is indirect.
cirrhosis
DEFINITION: A disease of the liver.
community
DEFINITION: A group of people who live in the same area (such as a city, town, or neighborhood).
complexity
DEFINITION: The state or quality of being complex or intricate.
compost
DEFINITION: A mixture of things, such as vegetable scraps and leaves, left to rot and then used to fertilize the soil.
concession
DEFINITION: Something that you agree to do or to give, especially to end some disagreement.
concessionaire
DEFINITION: Someone to whom a special consideration has been granted.
condemn
DEFINITION: To strongly express your disapproval of someone or something, or a judge’s order to punish a criminal.
consumable
DEFINITION: To be able or meant to be consumed, as by eating, drinking, or using consumable goods.
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contingent
DEFINITION: Depending on something that is not yet certain.
contortionist
DEFINITION: A performer who twists his or her body into unusual positions.
coriander
DEFINITION: A small plant with strong-smelling, seedlike fruit, used in cooking and medicine.
custard
DEFINITION: A soft sweet food made from milk, eggs and sugar.
cutlery
DEFINITION: Knives, forks and spoons used for eating.
Dachshund
DEFINITION: A short, but long, German dog. (THIS WORD USES A CAPITAL LETTER BECAUSE IT’S A SPECIFIC BREED OF DOG.)
decaffeinate
DEFINITION: To extract caffeine from any drink that has caffeine.
decrepit
DEFINITION: Weakened or broken down, usually by old age.
deliverance
DEFINITION: An act or instance of delivering something, or saving something.
denomination
DEFINITION: The value of a particular coin or bill.
departmental
DEFINITION: One of the major parts of a company, organization, government, or school.
deploy
DEFINITION: To organize and send out (people or things) to be used for a particular purpose.
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dichotomy
DEFINITION: A division into two parts.
discern
DEFINITION: To see, recognize, or understand something clearly.
disciplinarian
DEFINITION: A person who uses assertive discipline.
disembark
DEFINITION: The act of leaving from a ship or plane.
disenchanted
DEFINITION: To have lost or be free from a dream, an enchantment, an illusion, or belief or credulity.
distillery
DEFINITION: A place for distilling liquids, especially alcoholic spirits.
dodecahedron
DEFINITION: A figure with 12 sides.
echolocation
DEFINITION: A physiological ability, such as with bats, for locating distant or invisible objects, using sound waves reflected back to the emitter from the object.
effervescent
DEFINITION: Is bubbling, vivacious or gay.
elderly
DEFINITION: Someone or something that is quite old.
elitism
DEFINITION: The concept that a certain group of people should have special advantages over others, due to economic, political, social, or religious influence.
eloquence
DEFINITION: Using oral or written language with fluency and aptness.
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emblem
DEFINITION: Badge or seal that serves as a sign or symbol.
emphysema
DEFINITION: An irreversible disease of the lungs caused by exposure to fumes from chemicals, such as cigarettes.
encouragement
DEFINITION: Making something more appealing, supporting someone emotionally, so that positive reactions are more likely to happen.
encyclopedia
DEFINITION: A reference work (such as a book, series of books, Web site, or CD-ROM) that contains information about many different subjects, organized by particular subject and/or alphabetically.
entourage
DEFINITION: A group of attendants or associates that group themselves around a specific person or event.
ephemeral
DEFINITION: Lasting a very short time.
Epiphany
DEFINITION: A Christian festival, celebrated on the 6th of January. (USED WITH A CAPITAL LETTER, AS IT IS A SPECIFIC FEAST.)
equestrian
DEFINITION: A person who rides horses, usually in competition.
exaggerated
DEFINITION: To enlarge or expand an idea or event, going beyond the actual truth.
exasperation
DEFINITION: The state of being very annoyed, frustrated, or upset.
executioner
DEFINITION: A person appointed to carry out the punishment of an execution (death sentence).
extortionate
DEFINITION: An excessively high price for something.
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feasible
DEFINITION: Something able to be done or achieved.
flamboyant
DEFINITION: Very bright and showy, dazzling, sometimes one is flamboyant to obtain attention from others.
fortuitous
DEFINITION: Happening by chance or by good luck.
fragmentation
DEFINITION: The act or process of breaking things apart or dismantling objects.
frivolous
DEFINITION: Not serious, silly.
galleon
DEFINITION: A kind of large sailing ship, in use several centuries ago.
gangrenous
DEFINITION: Affected by gangrene, a serious infection often needing amputation of limbs.
geisha
DEFINITION: A Japanese woman trained as a singer or dancer.
gnome
DEFINITION: A small being, such as an elf, usually magical, described in fairytales, and decribed as a little old man.
grotesque
DEFINITION: Odd, ugly, non-appealing, or unnatural in appearance or shape.
hallucination
DEFINITION: Something which someone imagines they have seen or heard, even though it did not occur, often caused by medicines, illness, or drug use.
hangar
DEFINITION: Shelter for airplanes.
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harmonica
DEFINITION: A small wind instrument with metal reeds, which you play by blowing into the holes.
heterogeneous
DEFINITION: Different in kind, a type of grouping of unlike, varied people or things.
hippopotamus
DEFINITION: A large, plant-eating land animal from Africa, which spends much time in water, to help support its heavy weight.
histrionic
DEFINITION: Exaggerating actions to get attention, often pertaining to actors.
humanitarian
DEFINITION: A person or agency which help people who live in poor or unhealthy conditions, or who are suffering.
humidifier
DEFINITION: A device for regulating the amount of moisture in the air in a room or building.
humiliate
DEFINITION: To cause a loss of pride or dignity.
hypotenuse
DEFINITION: Is the side of a right triangle opposite the right angle, projecting a 90 degree angle.
hypothermia
DEFINITION: An abnormally low body temperature.
idiosyncrasy
DEFINITION: A characteristic or habit peculiar to a person or incident.
immeasurable
DEFINITION: Not able to be measured.
impeccable
DEFINITION: Faultless, precise, flawless.
impenetrable
DEFINITION: Not able to be penetrated.
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impetuous
DEFINITION: Characterized by sudden or rash action, done without much thought.
impolite
DEFINITION: Not polite.
inaccessible
DEFINITION: Not able to be reached.
incision
DEFINITION: A cut, usually from sharp instrument, such as a knife.
indecisive
DEFINITION: A person who has difficulty in making decisions.
indefatigable
DEFINITION: Practically incapable of being tired out.
infallible
DEFINITION: Never makes mstakes or errors, absolutely trustworthy or sure.
infections
DEFINITION: Serious illnesses, usually caused by bacteria entering the body.
inflammable
DEFINITION: Something capable of being set on fire.
inflammation
DEFINITION: A red, painful, and often swollen, area on the body, usually caused by an infection.
influenza
DEFINITION: Is a viral, acute, sometimes epidemic disease.
insomnolence
DEFINITION: Sleeplessness.
insurgence
DEFINITION: An act of rebellion by a group of people, usually against a government.
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integer
DEFINITION: Any whole number.
intransigent
DEFINITION: Characterized by refusal to compromise or to abandon an extreme position or attitude.
intuitive
DEFINITION: Having the ability to know or understand things without any specific proof or evidence.
jackal
DEFINITION: A type of wild dog, related to the fox family.
jambalaya
DEFINITION: A type of food in southern USA of Creole origin.
javelin
DEFINITION: A long thin spear, thrown, used in sport or hunting.
jawbone
DEFINITION: The bone that forms the lower jaw.
jeopardy
DEFINITION: A situation that puts one into danger, exposure to, or imminence of death, loss, or injury.
jet-lag
DEFINITION: A tired and unpleasant feeling that you sometimes get when you travel by airplane, crossing several time zones.
jogging
DEFINITION: Running at a slow trot.
jumpsuit
DEFINITION: A piece of clothing consisting of a shirt with attached pants or shorts.
jurisdiction
DEFINITION: Having control or authority over a particular geographic area or group of people.
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jurisprudence
DEFINITION: The science or philosophy of law.
juvenescent
DEFINITION: Being youthful, young, or being able to project that one is young.
juxtaposition
DEFINITION: Two opposite things (such as ideas or furniture), paced close together so that differences can accentuate or call attention to each one.
kaiser
DEFINITION: Title of a German or Austrian emperor used in the 1800-1900 hundreds, a term similar to “president”, as used in other countries.
kepi
DEFINITION: A term for French military cap.
kerosene
DEFINITION: A flammable hydrocarbon oil usually obtained by distillation of petroleum and used as a fuel, solvent, and thinner.
kettle
DEFINITION: A metal container in which to cook foods or boil water.
kidnapped
DEFINITION: Being stolen, abducted, or carried off by force.
Kilimanjaro
DEFINITION: A tall, volcanic mountain in northeastern Tanzania. (THIS WORD IS CAPITALIZED AS IT’S A SPECIC TITLE OF A MOUNTAIN.)
knapsack
DEFINITION: A back-pack.
Kookaburra
DEFINITION: An Australian bird of the kingfisher family whose call sounds like human laughter. (THIS WORD IS CAPITALIZED AS IT”S A SPECIC BIRD.)
languid
DEFINITION: Lacking in vigor or vitality, lethargic.
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laryngitis
DEFINITION: A disease in which the throat and larynx become sore so that it is difficult to talk or swallow. EXAMPLE: She had to cancel her concert because she had laryngitis.
legionnaire
DEFINITION: Someone who belongs to a legion organization, such as the American Legion of War Veterans.
leisure
DEFINITION: Freedom from the demands of work, free time to relax or pursue hobbies.
leprechaun
DEFINITION: A fictional elf, dwarf, or sprite.
lieutenant
DEFINITION: An officer in the army, navy, coast guard or air force.
limousine
DEFINITION: A large, comfortable, elegant car, usually driven by a chauffeur.
linguistics
DEFINITION: The science and study of languages, including sounds, words and grammar.
litigation
DEFINITION: A legal process, challenging someone in court.
lymphatic
DEFINITION: Pertaining to, containing, or related to the lymph gland system.
magnanimous
DEFINITION: One who is extremely unselfish and generous.
magnetism
DEFINITION: The properties of attraction, possessed by magnets; the molecular properties common to magnets.
malfeasance
DEFINITION: Wrongdoing by a public official or other, usually to hurt others.
matriarch
DEFINITION: A female leader in a family, tribe, or in any professional field of activity.
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mauve
DEFINITION: A pale purplish-blue color.
mayonnaise
DEFINITION: Athick, creamy dressing, usually used on salads or sandwiches, well-mixed, containing eggs, oil, and various spices .
measles
DEFINITION: A type of infectious disease, with a fever and red rash, occurring mostly in children.
mechanism
DEFINITION: A piece or part of machinery.
megabyte
DEFINITION: A unit of measurement of computer memory size.
megastructure
DEFINITION: A very large building, usually a high-rise or complex, such as apartments, offices, stores.
melancholy
DEFINITION: A gloomy, sad state of mind.
mezzanine
DEFINITION: The lowest balcony level in a theater, hotel, or offce building, usually between the first and second floors.
microprocessor
DEFINITION: One of the most important electronic chips in a computer.
millennium
DEFINITION: A period of 1,000 years.
minuscule
DEFINITION: Tiny, very small.
molasses
DEFINITION: A thick, brown, sweet liquid cooked from raw sugar.
monotonous
DEFINITION: Boring, repetitive, tiresomely lacking in variety.
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Morocco
DEFINITION: A country north-west Africa bordering on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. (THIS WORD IS CAPITALIZED BECAUSE IT’S A SPECIFIC COUNTRY’S NAME.)
Mozzarella
DEFINITION: A mild, white, semi-soft Italian cheese. (THIS WORD IS CAPITALIZED BECAUSE IT’S THE NAME OF A SPECIFIC CHEESE.)
multiplicand
DEFINITION: A number to be multiplied by another.
municipality
DEFINITION: A district, such as a town, which has its own local government.
narcissism
DEFINITION: Excessive self-love; vanity, and sense of superiority over others.
naughty
DEFINITION: Disobedient or mischievous.
nebulous
DEFINITION: Hazy, vague, unclear, or indistinct.
nexus
DEFINITION: A means of connection; a tie; a link.
novice
DEFINITION: A person who is new to something.
nuisance
DEFINITION: Someone or something that is very annoying.
nuptial
DEFINITION: Pertaining to a marriage, or to the ceremony.
nurture
DEFINITION: To take care of, feed and protect.
nutritious
DEFINITION: Food providing a high degree of nourishment.
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obelisk
DEFINITION: A tapering, usually tall, four-sided shaft of stone, with a pyramidal top.
obnoxious
DEFINITION: Something or soemone highly objectionable or offensive.
obsequious
DEFINITION: Showing servile deference; fawning on someone, looking for approval.
omission
DEFINITION: Leaving out or eliminating something.
omniscience
DEFINITION: Infinite knowledge, one who knows an extreme amount of information.
orchid
DEFINITION: A flower of a plant of temperate and tropical regions.
orphanage
DEFINITION: An institution where children without family or parents can live and be cared for.
pachyderm
DEFINITION: Technical term for an elephant.
pamphlet
DEFINITION: A short booklet wih information describing or explaining something.
paraplegia
DEFINITION: Paralysis of the upper and /or lower parts of the body, or a body missing limbs.
patriarch
DEFINITION: The male head of a family or tribal line.
pauper
DEFINITION: An extremely poor person.
penitentiary
DEFINITION: A prison maintained for serious offenders.
perceptive
DEFINITION: Having or showing keenness of insight, understanding or intuition.
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permeable
DEFINITION: Something that allows a liquid or gas to be passed through its surface.
perplex
DEFINITION: Is to cause to be puzzled over what is not understood, a mystery.
personnel
DEFINITION: A body of persons employed by an organization.
petroleum
DEFINITION: An oily liquid, usually obtained from under the ground, used to make petrol and other fuels.
physiotherapy
DEFINITION: The treatment of disease and injuries by physical means such as massage and exercise.
piranha
DEFINITION: A type of predatory fish with sharp, knife-like biting teeth, found mainly in many South American rivers
pirouette
DEFINITION: Type of spinning turn, used in ballet or other dances.
platypus
DEFINITION: An Australian animal with webbed feet and a bill like a duck, lays eggs, and feeds its young with its own milk.
pneumonia
DEFINITION: An inflammation of the lungs, including congestion, fever, and coughing.
poinsettia
DEFINITION: A red tall flower, growing on bushes, sometimes called the “Christmas Flower” because it often blooms in December.
politicize
DEFINITION: Is to bring a political focus to an event or idea.
porcupine
DEFINITION: A small, nocturnal animal covered with stiff, sharp spines, found in Europe, Africa, and North America.
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potpourri
DEFINITION: Any mixture of unrelated objects or subjects.
precarious
DEFINITION: A situation involving danger.
prestigious
DEFINITION: Having a highly-regarded reputation.
prohibitive
DEFINITION: Something not allowed, or of a price too high for you to afford.
projectionist
DEFINITION: Someone who operates a film projector.
proportionate
DEFINITION: Two or more objects in balance or about the same size as each other.
purge
DEFINITION: To cleanse or to purify, or to eliminate totally what is unwanted.
quadriceps
DEFINITION: A large muscle in front of the thigh.
questionnaire
DEFINITION: A list of questions submitted for people to give their responses to questions.
quinella
DEFINITION: A type of bet on horse races.
quintuplets
DEFINITION: Five babies born at the same time from the same mother.
rabble
DEFINITION: A disorderly crowd or mob.
ramble
DEFINITION: To wander around in an aimless manner.
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rappel
DEFINITION: To move down a surface of a cliff in mountaineering.
rapport
DEFINITION: The relationship or connection between people.
rapture
DEFINITION: Ecstatic joy or delight.
rebellious
DEFINITION: Fighting against something, someone, or againts a government or other organised authority.
rehabilitate
DEFINITION: To help people or things to return to normal activities or conditions, especially after an illness or accident, or after having been in prison.
rehearse
DEFINITION: To practice.
rejuvenate
DEFINITION: To feel young or energetic again.
remembrance
DEFINITION: Something remembered, a memory.
requisition
DEFINITION: Requiring or demanding, or asking for something.
rescind
DEFINITION: To annul or repeal.
resurrection
DEFINITION: Rising from the dead, or bringing back something that had been in effect before.
rheumatism
DEFINITION: A disorder of the extremities or back, characterized by stiffness.
router
DEFINITION: A device which provides connection between computers in a network and controls the network areas that each can access.
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saccharin
DEFINITION: An artificial, chemical sweetener.
sacroiliac
DEFINITION: The joint in the back where the sacrum and ilium meet
sashimi
DEFINITION: A Japanese dish of fresh seafood fillets cut into bite-sized, oblong strips, and eaten raw.
schizophrenia
DEFINITION: A severe mental disorder where patients do not always see realituy.
Schnauzer
DEFINITION: A German breed of medium-sized dogs. (THIS WORD IS CAPITALIZED BECAUSE IT’S A SPECIC BREED NAME.)
scruple
DEFINITION: A moral standard that refers to one’s values and beliefs.
septuagenarian
DEFINITION: A person whose age is between 70 and 79.
sequester
DEFINITION: To keep a person or group apart from other people.
simile
DEFINITION: A figure of speech, often used in literary works, in which two unlike things are compared.
siphon
DEFINITION: Is a tube bent into legs of unequal length, for moving liquid from one container to another.
skeptic
DEFINITION: A doubting person who questions the validity of something, who doesn’t believe things unless he/she can see them.
solidify
DEFINITION: Something becoming solid or hard.
sovereignty
DEFINITION: Supreme power, control, or authority.
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squadron
DEFINITION: A military unit consisting of soldiers, ships, or aircraft.
succulent
DEFINITION: Juicy.
summerhouse
DEFINITION: A covered structure in a garden or park that is used as a resting place in summer; also can refer to a summer vacation home.
superintendent
DEFINITION: Is a person who oversees or directs work, an agency, or employees.
tachymeter
DEFINITION: An instrument to rapidly determine distances.
Taj Mahal
DEFINITION: A white marble mausoleum in central India, built (1632-43) by the emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife. (THIS WORD IS CAPITALIZED BECAUSE IT’S A SPECIC NAME OF A BUILDING.)
talisman
DEFINITION: Is an object that is supposed to possess magical, protective powers.
tambourine
DEFINITION: Type of drum which has small, round pieces of metal set into a frame, and is played by hitting or shaking it.
tarantula
DEFINITION: A large, hairy, sometimes poisonous spider, found in hot, dry climates.
tasteless
DEFINITION: Not having much positive flavor.
telecommunication
DEFINITION: The sending of information by line or radio waves.
telepathy
DEFINITION: Communication between minds.
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tempestuous
DEFINITION: Tumultuous, stormy, turbulent.
tetrahedron
DEFINITION: A polyhedron that has four faces.
toboggan
DEFINITION: A long, narrow, flat-bottomed sled, used usually on snow.
tombstone
DEFINITION: A marker on a tomb or grave.
tongue-twister
DEFINITION: A word, phrase, or sentence difficult to articulate because of a succession of similar consonantal sounds, useful and fun for oral fluency practice.
topography
DEFINITION: The art and science of making maps that show the height, shape, of the land in a particular area.
tough
DEFINITION: Strong and durable.
tumble-dry
DEFINITION: To dry clothes, sheets, etc. in a machine.
turbine
DEFINITION: A turning motor in which a wheel with blades is driven by a liquid or gas passing through it.
tuxedo
DEFINITION: A formal suit for a man.
twilight
DEFINITION: The light from the sky at the end of the day when night is just beginning.
ultraviolet
DEFINITION: Relating to, producing, or employing ultraviolet radiation.
unattractive
DEFINITION: Not attractive, ugly, not pretty or handsome.
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unconscionable
DEFINITION: Extremely bad, unfair, or wrong, uncrupulous, not guided by conscience.
unidimensional
DEFINITION: Having a single dimension.
unsophisticated
DEFINITION: Someone who is simple, with few worldly experiences.
unwarranted
DEFINITION: Not reasonable or justified.
unwholesome
DEFINITION: Harmful to health or well-being.
vanquishment
DEFINITION: The act of defeat or being conquered in battle.
velodrome
DEFINITION: An arena with sloping sides used for cycling races.
vengeance
DEFINITION: The act of doing something to hurt someone because that person did something that hurt you or someone else.
ventriloquist
DEFINITION: Someone who can project his/her voice, speaking with little or no lip/ mouth movement, yet can be hard by others.
vertiginous
DEFINITION: Whirling or spinning, causing dizziness.
wavelength
DEFINITION: The length of the radio wave used by a particular radio station for broadcasting
wheat-bread
DEFINITION: A type of bread made of a combination of white and whole wheat flours, distinguished from bread made entirely of white or whole wheat flour.
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wheelwright
DEFINITION: A person whose trade is making wheels.
whisper
DEFINITION: Something spoken in a very soft or quiet way.
wok
DEFINITION: A type of shallow, rounded-bottom pan used to cook some Chinese food.
xenophobe
DEFINITION: A person who fears, hates, and rejects foreigners.
xylose
DEFINITION: A colorless crystalline sugar.
youngster
DEFINITION: A young person.
zoological
DEFINITION: Pertaining to zoology.
zucchini
DEFINITION: A variety of summer squash.
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