Inexorably (a.) /ɪnˈeksərəb(ə)l/
impossible to stop
the inexorable growth of multinational companies
Converge(n.) /kənˈvɜrdʒ/
1.to come from different directions to reach the same point
Top diplomats were converging on Washington from all over the world.
2.to become the same or very similar
Our opinions seldom converged.
Inadequacy(n.) /ɪnˈædəkwəsi/
1.[UNCOUNTABLE] the failure to be of the quantity or quality needed for a particular purpose
These statistics show the total inadequacy of the present oil reserves.
2.[COUNTABLE] a fault in someone or something that prevents them from reaching the standard that is needed or expected
a recently published report highlighting the inadequacies of the tax system
3.[UNCOUNTABLE] a lack of confidence that makes someone feel they are not good enough to deal with a particular situation or with life in general
He was suffering from a deep sense of inadequacy.
Omnipotent(a.) /ɑmˈnɪpətənt/
powerful enough to do everything
comparatively (a.) /kəmˈperətɪvli/
as compared to something else or to a previous situation or state
A comparatively large number of students were absent.
The technology is still comparatively new.
Vine (n.) /vaɪn/
1.the plant on which grapes grow
vine leaves
a field of vines
2.any plant with a long thin stem that grows along the ground or up a tree, wall, etc.
a. the long thin stem of a plant that grows in this way
Coal (n.) /koʊl/
[UNCOUNTABLE] a hard black substance that is dug from the ground and burned as fuel to provide heat
Put some more coal on the fire.
coal dust
a piece of coal
a. [UNCOUNTABLE] used for talking about the industry of digging coal out of the ground
Is there a future for coal?
the coal industry
b. [COUNTABLE] a piece of coal, especially when it is burning
Nina stirred the coals with the poker.
Exploit (v.) /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/
1.to treat someone unfairly in order to get some benefit for yourself
Children are being exploited in many of these factories.
2.to use a situation so that you get benefit from it, even if it is wrong or unfair to do this
We need to exploit every opportunity for media coverage.
A lot of ads just exploit our insecurities.
an investment designed to exploit a tax loophole
3.to use natural resources such as trees, water, or oil so that you gain as much as possible
exploiting the mineral wealth of Alaska
Galley(n.) /ˈɡæli/
1.the kitchen on a boat or airplane
2.a long Ancient Greek or Roman ship that used sails and slaves with oars to move it
3.galley or galley proof a long sheet of paper on which a book is first printed, so that any mistakes can be corrected before the final pages are printed
a. a long flat container that holds type (=small blocks with letters on them), used for printing books
Propel(v.) /prəˈpel/
1.to move or push someone or something forward
a car propelled by solar energy
rocket-propelled grenade launchers
2.to cause someone to do a particular thing or to cause something to happen
She was propelled by a desire to prove everyone else wrong.
The movie’s success propelled him to stardom.
Peasantry(n.) /ˈpezəntri/
peasants, considered as a social class
Feudal(a.) /ˈfjud(ə)l/
relating to feudalism
the feudal system
a. similar to feudalism because ordinary people do not have many rights
Tracts(n.)
1. a large area of land
Vast tracts of land were being planted with these trees.
2.MEDICAL a group of organs and tubes that work together in your body
*the digestive/respiratory tract
3.a piece of writing expressing a strong belief, usually about religion or politics
Irrigated (v.)
1.to bring water to land through a system of pipes, ditches, etc. in order to make crops grow
2.MEDICAL to wash an injury using a continuous flow of liquid
Surplus (n.)
1.more of something than is necessary
Keep one cup of the liquid and throw away the surplus.
*surplus of: Canada has a surplus of hospital beds.
2.ECONOMICS an amount of money or goods that is left because a country or business has more than it needs
Congress is debating whether to spend the budget surplus.
Hieroglyphics (n.)
1. writing that uses pictures and symbols to represent sounds and words, especially Ancient Egyptian writing
2. written words or symbols that are difficult to read or understand
Cuneiform(a.)
relating to a writing system used in ancient times in the Middle East. The letters are long and thin and wide at one end and narrow at the other.
Sophisticated(a.)
1. knowing and understanding a lot about a complicated subject
Consumers are getting more sophisticated and more demanding.
Ten-year-olds can have a highly sophisticated grasp of morality.
2. complicated and advanced in design
highly sophisticated surveillance equipment
3. knowing a lot about things such as culture, fashion, and the modern world
She was elegant and sophisticated.
sophisticated dinner-table conversation
Indigenous (a.)
1. indigenous people lived in a place for a very long time before other people came to live there
2. indigenous plants and animals belong to a region because they developed there
Dominant(a.)
1. more important, powerful, or successful than the other people or things of the same type
The company cannot preserve its dominant position in the market.
The issue of climate change was the dominant theme of the conference.
a. a dominant person or animal is stronger than others in a group and wants to control them
It is easy to spot the dominant wolf in the pack.
a dominant personality
b. more noticeable than the other parts or aspects of something
Red is usually the dominant color in his paintings.
2.BIOLOGY a dominant gene causes someone to be born with particular genetic features, even if it is only present in one parent
Imperialism(n.)
1. the actions of a powerful country that tries to take control of other countries, often using military force
2. the actions of a powerful country that tries to gain control or influence over the economic, political, and social life of weaker countries
Opponents see globalization as a form of economic imperialism.
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American Literature (2)
