4000 Essential English Words 6 Unit 3: Dressed to Excess
Word List
- absurd [əbˈsəːrd] adj.
If something or someone is absurd, they are ridiculous.
→ That group of people making animal noises sounds completely absurd.
- anemia [əˈniːmiə] n.
Anemia is a blood condition that causes a person to be pale and tired.
→ When she first developed anemia, she became tired often.
- aristocracy [ӕrəˈstokrəsi] n.
The aristocracy is the highest class of people in certain societies.
→ Most members of the aristocracy were very well-fed.
- aristocrat [ˈæristəkræt] n.
An aristocrat is a person who is of the highest class in certain societies.
→ The aristocrat did not need a job because his family was wealthy.
- attire [əˈtaiər] n.
Attire is nice or special clothing.
→ Everyone wore their best attire to the president’s daughter’s wedding.
- craze [kreiz] n.
A craze is a brief and popular activity or object.
→ Wearing bright red socks was a craze when I was in high school.
- enlarge [enˈlaːrdʒ] v.
To enlarge something means to make it bigger.
→ The classrooms were enlarged over the summer to make room for more students.
- excess [ekˈses] n.
An excess is an amount of something that is more than needed or wanted.
→ Because it never got cold that winter, many stores had an excess of coats.
- feminine [ˈfemənin] adj.
If something is feminine, then it has qualities that are commonly related to women.
→ Many of the older people thought his long hair made him look too feminine.
- hallmark [ˈhɔːlmɑːrk] n.
A hallmark is a unique characteristic of something.
→ Different types of pasta and tomato sauces are hallmarks of Italian food.
- pad [pæd] n.
A pad is a thick piece of soft material used to protect or clean things.
→ Football players wear shoulder pads to keep them safe.
- predominant [priˈdɒmənənt] adj.
If something is predominant, then it is the most important, common or strongest.
→ Before cars were invented, horses were the predominant method of travel.
- reputable [repjəˈtəbəl] adj.
If someone or something is reputable, then they have a good reputation.
→ The service from the less than reputable company made her angry.
- rouge [ruːʒ] n.
Rouge is a red powder or cream used as makeup on the cheeks or lips.
→ Even when she didn’t wear rouge, her cheeks appeared red.
- signify [ˈsignəfai] v.
To signify means to be a symbol of something.
→ A red octagon is used to signify to stop.
- strap [stræp] n.
A strap is a thin long piece of fabric used to fasten, carry, or hold something.
→ She put the strap of her purse over her shoulder and walked out of the door.
- tangle [ˈtæŋgəl] n.
A tangle is something or many things twisted together.
→ The laces of his shoes were in such a tangle that he could not untie them.
- vanity [ˈvænəti] n.
Vanity is excessive pride or love of one’s own appearance or things one has done.
→ Her vanity won’t allow her to pass a mirror without looking at herself.
- vie [vai] v.
To vie for something means to compete against others for it.
→ The three boys vied for the prize in the chemistry contest.
- vulgar [ˈvʌlgər] adj.
If something or someone is vulgar, then they are rude or lacking in style.
→ Her vulgar behavior got her into trouble with her parents.
