4000 Essential English Words 6 Unit 10: The Avalanche
Word List
- accumulate [əˈkjuːmjəleit] v.
To accumulate something is to collect a lot of it over time.
→ The mail accumulated in their mailbox while they were on vacation.
- aerial [ˈɛəriəl] adj.
When something is aerial, it relates to being in the air or flying.
→ The aerial photographer took pictures from the air balloon.
- apparatus [ˌæpəˈræitəs] n.
An apparatus is a device used for a particular purpose.
→ The campers had an apparatus that showed them their exact location.
- avalanche [ˈævəlæntʃ] n.
An avalanche is a large amount of snow, ice, and rock falling off a mountain.
→ The avalanche destroyed the mountain village.
- consistency [kənˈsistənsi] n.
Consistency is the state of always behaving in the same way.
→ Her consistency in archery meant that our team had a chance to win.
- convection [kənˈvekʃən] n.
Convection is the flow of hot air through gas or liquid.
→ The weather changed because of convection in the atmosphere.
- discharge [ˈdistʃɑːrdʒ] v.
To discharge someone is to allow them to leave from a place, usually a hospital.
→ I was discharged from the hospital after three days.
- intact [inˈtækt] adj.
When something is intact, it is complete and not damaged.
→ Despite being over ten years old, my father’s model ship is still intact.
- mortal [ˈmɔːrtl] adj.
When a person is mortal, they cannot live forever.
→ All people are mortal.
- omen [ˈɑumən] n.
An omen is a sign of what will happen in the future.
→ He thought that seeing a black cat in the street was an omen of bad luck.
- overcast [ˈouvərˈkæst] adj.
When the sky is overcast, it is full of clouds and is not sunny.
→ The sky was overcast in the morning, but by noon it was bright again.
- poignant [ˈpɔinjənt] adj.
When something is poignant, it causes a very strong feeling of sadness.
→ The girls cried at the end of the poignant movie.
- ranger [ˈreindʒə:r] n.
A ranger is a person who protects the forest or parks.
→ Peter wanted to be a ranger because he liked spending time outside.
- rubble [ˈrʌbəl] n.
Rubble is piles of broken stone and wood created after a building is destroyed.
→ There was rubble all over the city after the earthquake.
- seclude [siˈklu:d] v.
To seclude someone means to keep them away from other people.
→ She was secluded on an island for over a year.
- sideways [ˈsaidˌweiz] adv.
If something moves sideways, then it moves to or from the side.
→ Jim turned sideways in order to slow down and stop his snowboard.
- sob [sɒb] v.
To sob is to cry loudly.
→ I sobbed when my youngest daughter got married.
- sober [ˈsoubə:r] adj.
When something or someone is sober, they are serious and calm.
→ After the funeral, everybody felt very sober.
- speck [spek] n.
A speck is a very small mark or amount.
→ A speck of blood appeared where the mosquito bit him.
- upbringing [ˈʌpˌbriŋiŋ] n.
An upbringing is the way that someone is taught to behave by their parents.
→ He had a strict upbringing and was never allowed to watch television.
