Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
accession noun [U ]
1. the time when someone starts a position of authority, especially king or queen
FORMAL
1926 was the year of Emperor Hirohito's accession to the throne.
2. the time when a country officially joins a group of countries or signs an agreement
Poland's accession to the EU
annotation noun [C or U]
The annotation of literary texts makes them more accessible.
The revised edition of the book includes many useful annotations.
appalling adjective
1. shocking and very bad
appalling injuries
Prisoners were kept in the most appalling conditions.
2. very bad
appalling weather
The journey home was appalling.
belated adjective
coming later than expected
a belated apology
They did make a belated attempt to reduce the noise.
Belated birthday greetings!
belatedly adverb
bleak adjective
1. If weather or a place is bleak, it is cold, empty and not welcoming or attractive
The house stands on a bleak, windswept moor.
2. If a situation is bleak, there is little or no hope for the future
The economic outlook is bleak.
callous adjective
unkind or cruel; without sympathy or feeling for other people
It might sound callous, but I don't care if he's homeless. He's not living with me!
callously adverb
chaotic adjective
in a state of chaos
The house is a bit chaotic at the moment - we've got all these extra people staying and we're still
decorating.
He's a chaotic sort of a person - always trying to do twenty things at once.
comatose adjective
1. SPECIALIZED in a coma
2. INFORMAL very tired or in a deep sleep because of extreme tiredness, hard work or too much
alcohol
By midnight I was virtually comatose.
constrained adjective
1. constrained to do sth
forced to do something against your will
Don't feel constrained to do what he says - he's got no authority.
2. describes behaviour that is forced and unnatural
a constrained voice/manner
cynically adverb
dent noun [C ]
a small hollow mark in the surface of something, caused by pressure or by being hit
a dent in the door of a car
dent verb [T ]
1. to make a small hollow mark in the surface of something
I dropped a hammer on the floor, and it dented the floorboard.
2. If you dent someone's confidence or pride, you make them feel less confident or proud
His confidence was badly dented when he didn't get into the football team.
ferocious adjective
frightening and violent
a ferocious dog
a ferocious battle
She's got a ferocious (= very bad) temper.
The president came in for some ferocious criticism.
gory adjective
involving violence and blood
a very gory film
the gory details of the operation
hearsay noun [U ]
information you have heard, although you do not know whether it is true or not
The evidence against them is all hearsay.
hoax noun [C ]
a plan to deceive someone, such as telling the police there is a bomb somewhere when there is not
one, or a trick
The bomb threat turned out to be a hoax.
He'd made a hoax call claiming to be the President.
hover verb
1. [I usually + adverb or preposition] to stay in one place in the air, usually by moving the wings
quickly
A hawk hovered in the sky, waiting to swoop down on its prey.
I heard the noise of a helicopter hovering overhead.
2. [I usually + adverb or preposition] to stand somewhere, especially near another person, eagerly
or nervously waiting for their attention
A waiter hovered at the table, ready to take our order.
I could sense him behind me, hovering and building up the courage to ask me a question.
3. [I + adverb or preposition] to stay at or near a particular level
Inflation is hovering at 3%.
leisure noun [U ]
the time when you are not working or doing other duties
leisure activities
Most people only have a limited amount of leisure time.
The town lacks leisure facilities such as a swimming pool or squash courts.
oblivious adjective
not conscious of something, especially what is happening around you
Absorbed in her work, she was totally oblivious of her surroundings.
The government seems oblivious to the likely effects of the new legislation.
obliviously adverb
ombudsman noun [C ]
someone who works for a government or large organization and deals with the complaints made
against it
Complaints to the Banking Ombudsman grew by 50 per cent last year.
rapport noun [S or U ]
a good understanding of someone and an ability to communicate well with them
We'd worked together for years and developed a close/good rapport.
She has an excellent rapport with her staff.
renaissance noun [S ]
a new growth of activity or interest in something, especially art, literature or music
Opera in Britain is enjoying a long-awaited renaissance.
restrain verb [T ]
to control the actions or behaviour of someone by force, especially in order to stop them from doing
something, or to limit the growth or force of something
When he started fighting, it took four police officers to restrain him.
[R] She was so angry that she could hardly restrain herself.
You should try to restrain your ambitions and be more realistic.
Growth in car ownership could be restrained by increasing taxes.
restrained adjective
1. acting in a calm and controlled way
I was expecting him to be furious but he was very restrained.
2. controlled
rottweiler noun [C ]
a large, frightening and sometimes dangerous type of dog
FIGURATIVE Jenkins is one of the new breed of political rottweilers in his party.
squawk verb [I ]
1. to make an unpleasantly loud sharp cry
As the fox came into the yard, the chickens began squawking in alarm.
2. INFORMAL DISAPPROVING to complain about something noisily
Environmental groups have been squawking about the decision to build the motorway through a
forest.
temptation noun
1. [C or U] the wish to do or have something which you know you should not do or have
[+ to infinitive] As a young actress, she managed to resist the temptation to move to
Hollywood.
2. [C] something that makes you want to do or have something that you know you should not
He knew it was wrong to steal, but the money just lying there was too great a temptation.
tempting adjective
If something is tempting, you want to do or have it
a tempting offer
That pie looks very tempting.
[+ to infinitive] It's tempting to blame television for the increase in crime.
unduly adverb
There's no need to be unduly pessimistic about the situation.
variegated adjective
having a pattern of different colours or marks
variegated leaves
a variegated plant
yearning noun [C or U ]
a strong feeling of wishing for something, especially something that you cannot have or get easily
I suppose it's because I live in a city that I have this yearning for open spaces.