Vocabulary
A. = Adjective ADV. = Adverb IDM. = Idiom N. = Noun V. = Verb
an appetizer
N. a small dish at the beginning of a meal, a starter
a chef
N. a skilled cook
chives
N. a small onion-like herb commonly added to potatoes
chowder
N. a kind of soup usually containing fish and vegetables
to come with
V. to include (in a meal)
dressing
N. a sauce added to salads
an entree
N. a main dish
a menu
N. a list of dishes available in a restaurant
salmon
N. a large fish with silvery skin and pinkish meat
rare
A. very pink adjective used to describe a way of cooking meat
medium-rare
A. slightly pink adjective used to describe a way of cooking meat
medium
A. normally cooked adjective used to describe a way of cooking meat
well-done
A. fully cooked adjective used to describe a way of cooking meat
Higher Education
Vocabulary
A. = Adjective ADV. = Adverb IDM. = Idiom N. = Noun V. = Verb
apprenticeship
N. training in an art or a tradeThis word is also sometimes used to describe educational training programs, common in Europe and much of the world, in which young people learn their profession through on-the-job training in companies and organizations. Often this includes one or two days a week of in-class training. This kind of education is uncommon in the United States.
to be funded
V. to be paid for, to supply the money for
a degree
N. a title given by a university
facilities
N. services or conveniences
to major
V. to specialize in (a particular academic field)
a major
N. the main field of study in which a university student specializes
to minor
V. to have a secondary specialization in (a particular academic field)
a minor
N. the secondary field of study in which a student specializes
to stand for
V. to be the short form of, to represent, to mean
terminology
N. specialized words or expressions used in a particular field, activity, job, science, etc.
to transfer
V. 1) to change schools 2) to move from one place to another said of people or things
B.A.
N. Bachelor of Arts, an undergraduate degree in a humanities-related subject
B.S.
N. Bachelor of Science, an undergraduate degree in a science-related subject
master's
N. the graduate degree after a bachelor's and before a Ph.D. There are also different kinds of master's, including M.A. (Master of Arts), M.S. (Master of Science), M.B.A. (Master in Business Administration), etc.
Ph.D.
N. doctorate, highest graduate degree Although Ph.D. stands for Doctor of Philosophy, it is commonly used to refer to a doctorate in any field.
A. = Adjective ADV. = Adverb IDM. = Idiom N. = Noun V. = Verb
apprenticeship
N. training in an art or a tradeThis word is also sometimes used to describe educational training programs, common in Europe and much of the world, in which young people learn their profession through on-the-job training in companies and organizations. Often this includes one or two days a week of in-class training. This kind of education is uncommon in the United States.
to be funded
V. to be paid for, to supply the money for
a degree
N. a title given by a university
facilities
N. services or conveniences
to major
V. to specialize in (a particular academic field)
a major
N. the main field of study in which a university student specializes
to minor
V. to have a secondary specialization in (a particular academic field)
a minor
N. the secondary field of study in which a student specializes
to stand for
V. to be the short form of, to represent, to mean
terminology
N. specialized words or expressions used in a particular field, activity, job, science, etc.
to transfer
V. 1) to change schools 2) to move from one place to another said of people or things
B.A.
N. Bachelor of Arts, an undergraduate degree in a humanities-related subject
B.S.
N. Bachelor of Science, an undergraduate degree in a science-related subject
master's
N. the graduate degree after a bachelor's and before a Ph.D. There are also different kinds of master's, including M.A. (Master of Arts), M.S. (Master of Science), M.B.A. (Master in Business Administration), etc.
Ph.D.
N. doctorate, highest graduate degree Although Ph.D. stands for Doctor of Philosophy, it is commonly used to refer to a doctorate in any field.
Unique Personalities
Vocabulary
A. = Adjective ADV. = Adverb IDM. = Idiom N. = Noun V. = Verb
cynical
A. seeing little or no good in other people, believing that people do good things for bad reasons
eccentric
A. having strange, unusual or abnormal habits or tastes This term is less insulting than strange, weird or bizarre.
egotistical
A. thinking too highly of oneself, considering oneself better than others
imaginative
A. creative, having much imagination
indecisive
A. unable to decide quickly, not knowing what choice to make
picky
A. hard to please, too careful in choosing something
sensible
A. practical, reasonable, something that makes sense
sensitive
A. easily feels emotion, easily hurt emotionally can be positive or negative
sophisticated
A. representing high culture, very experienced in life
thoughtful
A. often doing things to make other people feel good
A. = Adjective ADV. = Adverb IDM. = Idiom N. = Noun V. = Verb
cynical
A. seeing little or no good in other people, believing that people do good things for bad reasons
eccentric
A. having strange, unusual or abnormal habits or tastes This term is less insulting than strange, weird or bizarre.
egotistical
A. thinking too highly of oneself, considering oneself better than others
imaginative
A. creative, having much imagination
indecisive
A. unable to decide quickly, not knowing what choice to make
picky
A. hard to please, too careful in choosing something
sensible
A. practical, reasonable, something that makes sense
sensitive
A. easily feels emotion, easily hurt emotionally can be positive or negative
sophisticated
A. representing high culture, very experienced in life
thoughtful
A. often doing things to make other people feel good
Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonym
A synonym is a word that means exactly the same as, or very nearly the same as, another word in the same language.
For example, "close" is a synonym of "shut".
You can find synonyms in a thesaurus.
Antonym
An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.
For example "good" and "bad" are antonyms.
You can find antonyms in a dictionary of antonyms.
A synonym is a word that means exactly the same as, or very nearly the same as, another word in the same language.
For example, "close" is a synonym of "shut".
You can find synonyms in a thesaurus.
Antonym
An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.
For example "good" and "bad" are antonyms.
You can find antonyms in a dictionary of antonyms.
Oxymoron
So fair and foul a day I have not seen!
William Shakespeare
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that deliberately uses two contradictory ideas. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. Some typical oxymorons are:
a living death
sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind
a deafening silence
bitter-sweet
The Sounds of Silence (song title)
make haste slowly
he was conspicuous by his absence
Pseudo Oxymorons
In the standard meaning of oxymoron the contradiction is deliberate. However, in popular usage oxymoron is sometimes used to mean "contradiction in terms", where the contradiction is unintentional. Such expressions, unlike real oxymorons, are commonly used without any sense of paradox in everyday language, for example:
anecdotal evidence
friendly fire
pretty ugly
A common attempt at humour is to describe a certain phrase as an oxymoron, implying that the two parts of the phrase are mutually exclusive and that consequently the phrase as a whole must be nonsensical:
airline food
American culture
eco-tourism
Microsoft security
military intelligence
William Shakespeare
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that deliberately uses two contradictory ideas. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. Some typical oxymorons are:
a living death
sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind
a deafening silence
bitter-sweet
The Sounds of Silence (song title)
make haste slowly
he was conspicuous by his absence
Pseudo Oxymorons
In the standard meaning of oxymoron the contradiction is deliberate. However, in popular usage oxymoron is sometimes used to mean "contradiction in terms", where the contradiction is unintentional. Such expressions, unlike real oxymorons, are commonly used without any sense of paradox in everyday language, for example:
anecdotal evidence
friendly fire
pretty ugly
A common attempt at humour is to describe a certain phrase as an oxymoron, implying that the two parts of the phrase are mutually exclusive and that consequently the phrase as a whole must be nonsensical:
airline food
American culture
eco-tourism
Microsoft security
military intelligence
Hyperbole
Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred,Then another thousand, then a second hundred,Then still another thousand, then a hundred
Catullus
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses an exaggerated or extravagant statement to create a strong emotional response. As a figure of speech it is not intended to be taken literally. Hyperbole is frequently used for humour. Examples of hyperbole are:
They ran like greased lightning.
He's got tons of money.
Her brain is the size of a pea.
He is older than the hills.
I will die if she asks me to dance.
She is as big as an elephant!
I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
I have told you a million times not to lie!
Catullus
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses an exaggerated or extravagant statement to create a strong emotional response. As a figure of speech it is not intended to be taken literally. Hyperbole is frequently used for humour. Examples of hyperbole are:
They ran like greased lightning.
He's got tons of money.
Her brain is the size of a pea.
He is older than the hills.
I will die if she asks me to dance.
She is as big as an elephant!
I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
I have told you a million times not to lie!
Metaphor
All the world's a stage,And all the men and women merely playersThey have their exits and their entrances
William Shakespeare
A metaphor is a figure of speech that says that one thing is another different thing. This allows us to use fewer words and forces the reader or listener to find the similarities.
The word metaphor comes from the Greek word metapherin (meaning "transfer").
The simplest form of metaphor is: "The [first thing] is a [second thing]."
Look at this example:
Her home was a prison.
In the above sentence, we understand immediately that her home had some of the characteristics of a prison. Mainly, we imagine, she could not leave her home. She was trapped inside. Why it was a prison we do not know, but that would be clear from the context--perhaps her husband forced her to stay at home, perhaps she was afraid of the outside. We don't know, but the rest of the story would tell us. What is important here is that in five simple words we understand a lot about her environment, how she felt and how she behaved. In this sentence, "prison" is a metaphor.
Look at another example:
George is a sheep.
What is one characteristic of sheep? They follow each other. So we can imagine that George is a follower, not a leader. In this sentence "sheep" is a metaphor.
Metaphors are very common in everyday language. But poets also like to use metaphors. In the following famous verse (from The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes), can you spot three metaphors in the first three lines?
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,And the highwayman came riding--Riding--riding--The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
Look at these examples of metaphors with sample sentences and meanings:
William Shakespeare
A metaphor is a figure of speech that says that one thing is another different thing. This allows us to use fewer words and forces the reader or listener to find the similarities.
The word metaphor comes from the Greek word metapherin (meaning "transfer").
The simplest form of metaphor is: "The [first thing] is a [second thing]."
Look at this example:
Her home was a prison.
In the above sentence, we understand immediately that her home had some of the characteristics of a prison. Mainly, we imagine, she could not leave her home. She was trapped inside. Why it was a prison we do not know, but that would be clear from the context--perhaps her husband forced her to stay at home, perhaps she was afraid of the outside. We don't know, but the rest of the story would tell us. What is important here is that in five simple words we understand a lot about her environment, how she felt and how she behaved. In this sentence, "prison" is a metaphor.
Look at another example:
George is a sheep.
What is one characteristic of sheep? They follow each other. So we can imagine that George is a follower, not a leader. In this sentence "sheep" is a metaphor.
Metaphors are very common in everyday language. But poets also like to use metaphors. In the following famous verse (from The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes), can you spot three metaphors in the first three lines?
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,And the highwayman came riding--Riding--riding--The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
Look at these examples of metaphors with sample sentences and meanings:
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