2012.09.16 TOEFL Words

betoken /bɪˈtoʊkən/ verb

betokens; betokened ; betokening

[+ obj] formal : to show (something) : to be a sign of (something)
▪ His strong handshake betokens [=indicates, bespeaks] his self-confidence.

aviary /ˈeɪviˌeri, Brit ˈeɪviəri/ noun

plural aviaries

[count] : a place (such as a large cage or a building) where many birds are kept
▪ The zoo has a new outdoor aviary.

waggish /ˈwægɪʃ/ adjective

: silly and playful
▪ waggish pranks ▪ waggish humor ▪ a waggish writer

— waggishly adverb

— waggishness noun [ noncount]

prank /ˈpræŋk/ noun

plural pranks

[count] : a trick that is done to someone usually as a joke
▪ a childish prank  

▪ He enjoys playing pranks on his friends. 

▪ (US) He's always pulling pranks.

adapt /əˈdæpt/ verb

adapts; adapt·ed; adapting

1 : to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation [no obj]  

▪ When children go to a different school, it usually takes them a while to adapt. — usually + to  

▪ These fish all adapt easily to colder water. 

▪ She has adapted to college life quite easily. [+ obj]  

▪ She has adapted herself to college life quite easily.

2 [+ obj] : to change (something) so that it functions better or is better suited for a purpose
▪ The teachers adapted [=modified] the curriculum so that students of all abilities will benefit  

   from it.  

▪ The camera has been adapted for underwater use.  

▪ The clock was adapted to run on batteries.

3 [+ obj] : to change (a movie, book, play, etc.) so that it can be presented in another form
▪ He adapted the novel for the stage. [=he rewrote the novel as a play] 

▪ The movie was adapted from the book of the same title. 

▪ adapting the movie for television

bugaboo /ˈbʌgəˌbu:/ noun

plural bugaboos

[count] US, often disapproving : something that makes people very worried or upset
▪ politicians complaining about that old bugaboo, high oil prices

foliage /ˈfoʊlijɪʤ/ noun

[noncount] : the leaves of a plant or of many plants
▪ a tree with pretty foliage

▪ the thick green foliage of the jungle 

▪ colorful autumn foliage

 

satellite /ˈsætəˌlaɪt/ noun

plural satellites

1 a [count] : an object (such as a moon) that moves around a much larger planet
b : a machine that is sent into space and that moves around the earth, moon, sun, or a planet ◊Satellites are used for radio, television, and other types of communication and for studying the objects they move around. [count] 

 ▪ Satellites help meteorologists predict the weather. [noncount]  

▪ Images of the planet are sent by satellite. — often used before another noun 

 ▪ satellite broadcasting/channels/images/radio/TV

2 [count] : a country, organization, etc., that is controlled by a larger and more powerful country, organization, etc.

bungle /ˈbʌŋgəl/ verb

bungles; bungled; bungling

: to make mistakes in doing (something) : to not do (something) well or successfully [+ obj]  

▪ The police bungled [=botched] the investigation and the crime was never solved. [no obj]  

▪ The government bungled badly in planning the campaign.

— bungle noun, plural bungles [count]
▪ They blamed him for the bungle.

— bungled adjective
▪ a bungled robbery

— bungler noun, plural bunglers [count]
▪ hapless bunglers

— bungling adjective
▪ a bungling attempt at humor

— bungling noun [noncount]
▪ The investigation was ruined by their bungling.

reinstate /ˌri:jənˈsteɪt/ verb

reinstates; reinstated; reinstating

[+ obj] 1 : to put (someone) back in a job or position that had been taken away
▪ After his name was cleared, he was reinstated as committee chairperson.  

▪ The company promised to reinstate [=rehire] the employees that had been laid off.

2 : to begin using or dealing with (a law, policy, system, etc.) again
▪ The school board voted to reinstate the school's uniform policy.  

▪ the year the death penalty was reinstated  

▪ The court case was dismissed by the judge but reinstated [=reopened] on appeal.

— reinstatement /ˌri:jənˈsteɪtmənt/ noun [noncount]
▪ the reinstatement of the death penalty

mnemonic /nɪˈmɑ:nɪk/ noun

plural mnemonics

[count] : something (such as a word, a sentence, or a song) that helps people remember something (such as a rule or a list of names)
▪ HOMES is used as a mnemonic for the names of the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.

— mnemonic adjective
▪ a mnemonic device

 conscript /kənˈskrɪpt/ verb conscripts; conscripted; con·scripting

[+ obj] : to force (someone) to serve in the armed forces : draft
▪ The government is conscripting men for the army.  

▪ He was conscripted into the army.

con·script /ˈkɑ:nˌskrɪpt/ noun plural conscripts

[count] : a person who is forced to serve in the armed forces : draftee

— con·script /ˈkɑ:nˌskrɪpt/ adjective always used before a noun
▪ conscript soldiers 

▪ a conscript army [=an army made up of conscripts]

contend /kənˈtɛnd/ verb

contends; contended; contending

1 [+ obj] : to argue or state (something) in a strong and definite way
▪ These people contend that they have earned the right to the land.  

▪ She contends [=maintains, asserts] the new law will only benefit the wealthy.

2 [no obj] : to compete with someone or for something
▪ A number of groups are contending (with each other) for power in the new government. : to compete with a good chance of winning 

 ▪ The team is expected to contend for the championship this year.

contend with [phrasal verb]

contend with (something) : to deal with (something difficult or unpleasant)
▪ Customers should not have to contend with the problems caused by these delays.  

▪ He's had a lot to contend with recently. [=he's had many problems to deal with]

functional /ˈfʌŋkʃənl̟/ adjective

1 : designed to have a practical use
▪ They worked outside, so they preferred wearing functional clothes. 

▪ The building's design is not only functional but also beautiful.  

▪ functional and decorative pottery

2 medical : affecting the way a part of your body works
▪ a functional heart disorder

3 : working properly
▪ The flashlight was still functional after I dropped it.  

▪ The computer network is fully functional.

4 : of or relating to the use or function of something
▪ the functional differences between the departments

— functionally adverb

資料來源 : Merriam-Webster.com