Noun
1. a
person who designs
buildings and in many cases also
supervises their construction.
“The architect of the high school
needed to change his plans."
Synonyms :designer, planner, draftsman
2. a person who is responsible
for inventing or realizing a
particular idea or project.
“The chief architect of the plan
to raise taxes received some
criticism."
Synonyms: originator, author, creator
Verb
1. To adopt a position where the
knees are bent and the upper
body is brought forward and
down, sometimes to avoid
detection or to defend oneself.
We crouched in the room, so no one
could see us.
Synonyms: squat, bend , stoop, kneel
2. To bend over and forward
with knees bent so as to be close
to (someone or something).
She was crouching over a flower bed.
Noun
1. a crouching stance or posture.
Adjective
1. happening quickly or
promptly.
"a remarkably swift recovery"
Synonyms: prompt, rapid, sudden,
immediate
Antonyms: unhurried
2. moving or capable of moving
at high speed.
"the water was very swift"
Synonyms: fast, rapid, quick, speedy
Noun
1. a swift-flying insectivorous
bird with long slender wings
and a superficial resemblance to
a swallow.
Noun
1. a homeless and helpless
person, especially a
neglected or abandoned
child.
The waif found help at the
shelter
Synonyms: urchin
Verb
1. To walk or move unsteadily, as
if about to fall.
He staggered to his feet, swaying a little
Synonyms: walk unsteadily, sway,
stumble, wobble
2. To astonish or deeply shock.
I was staggered to find it was already six
o'clock
Synonyms: amaze, astound, astonish,
surprise
3. arrange (events, payments,
hours, etc.) so that they do not
occur at the same time; spread
over a period of time.
Meetings are staggered throughout the
day
Synonyms: spread (out), space (out)
Adjective
1. (of the sky or weather)
marked by a covering of gray
clouds; dull.
"a chilly overcast day“
Synonyms: cloudy, sunless, darkened,
dark, gray, dreary
Antonyms: bright
Verb
1. To cover with clouds or shade.
"the pebbled beach, overcast with the
shadows of the high cliffs"
Noun
1. a person who directs the
performance of an
orchestra or choir.
He was appointed principal
conductor of the
BerlinPhilharmonic Orchestra"
2. NORTH AMERICAN
a person in charge of a
train, streetcar, or other
public conveyance, who
collects fares and sells
tickets.
We gave our money to the
conductor when we got on the train.
Noun
3. PHYSICS
a material or device that
conducts or transmits heat,
electricity, or sound,
especially when regarded
in terms of its capacity to
do this.
Graphite is a reasonably good
conductor of electricity.
Verb
1. (of an animal or bird of
prey) to spring or swoop
suddenly so as to catch prey.
The wolf pounced on the rat.
2. (of a person) to spring
forward suddenly so as to
attack or seize someone or
something.
Synonyms: jump on, spring on, lunge at, fall
on,
3. To notice and take swift
and eager advantage of a
mistake, remark, or sign of
weakness.
Reporters are just as eager to pounce
on a mistake as on a significant news
story.
Adjective
1. of high quality.
This was a fine piece of woodworking
Synonyms: excellent, first-class, great,
exceptional,
Antonyms: poor

(of a person) worthy of or
eliciting admiration.
What a fine human being he is
Synonyms: worthy, admirable, respectable
2. (of a thread, filament, or
person's hair) thin.
I have always had fine and dry hair
Synonyms: thin, light, delicate, wispy,
Noun
1. a sum of money exacted
as a penalty by a court of
law or other authority.
My mom had to pay a parking fine
for coming back to her car late
Synonyms:(financial) penalty, fee, charge
Noun
1. the main stem of a herbaceous
plant.
He chewed a stalk of grass.
Synonyms: stem, shoot, trunk
2. The slender attachment or
support of a leaf, flower, or fruit.
The acorns grow on stalks.
Synonyms: stem, trunk
Verb
1. pursue or approach
stealthily.
A cat stalking a bird is very quiet.
Synonyms: creep up on, trail, follow,
track down,
Noun
1. a deep gorge, typically
one with a river flowing
through it.
Synonyms: ravine, gorge, gully
Adjective
1 . having a small and dainty
build.
Because they lived in a small
apartment, they wanted a petite
dog.
Synonyms: small, dainty, slight, tiny,
delicate, small-boned
Verb
1. throw (something) forcefully
in a specified direction.
He cast the stone into the stream.
Synonyms: throw, toss, fling, pitch
2.throw (something) so as to
cause it to spread over an area.
The fishermen cast a large net around a
school of tuna.
Synonyms: spread, throw
3. To direct (one's eyes or a look) at
something.
She cast a fearful glance over her
shoulder.
4.To register (a vote).
Residents turned out in record numbers
to cast their votes.
Verb
5. To cause (light or shadow) to
appear on a surface.
The moon cast a pale light on the beach.
Synonyms: emit, give off, send
6. To cause (a magic spell) to take
effect.
The witch cast a spell on her to turn her
into a beast.
Synonyms: bewitch, enchant,
7. To shape (metal or other
material) by pouring it into a
mold while molten.
A bell was cast for the church.
Noun
1. an object made by shaping
molten metal or similar material in
a mold.
Bronze casts of the sculpture were on
display.
Synonyms: mold
2. a bandage stiffened with plaster
of Paris, molded to the shape of a
limb that is broken, and used to
support and protect it.
After I broke my elbow, I needed to have a
cast for several weeks.
3. the actors taking part in a play,
movie, or other production.
Synonyms: actors, performers
Verb
1. to move away aimlessly from
a group or from the right course
or place.
I strayed a few blocks in the wrong
direction.
Synonyms: wander off, get separated,
get lost
Adjective
1. not in the right place;
separated from the group or
target.
He pushed a few stray hairs from her
face.
Synonyms: random, chance, isolated,
lone,
2. (of a domestic animal) having
no home or having wandered
away from home.
Stray dogs wandered the streets.
Synonyms: homeless, lost
Adjective
1. of very great extent or
quantity; immense.
I looked out on a vast plain of
buffalo grass.
Synonyms: huge, extensive, expansive,
broad, wide, sweeping
Antonym: tiny
Noun
1. narrow opening or
fissure, especially in a rock
or wall.
Lizards and snakes were able to come
through the crevices of the rock wall.
Synonyms: crack, fissure, nook, slit,
Verb
1. (of a plant, leaf, or
flower) to become limp
through heat, loss of water,
or disease; droop.
The orchids became wilted as the
water evaporated.
Synonyms: droop, sag, become limp,
Antonyms: flourish, thrive

(of a person) lose one's
energy or vigor.
My friend wilted as the temperature
increased.
Synonyms: languish, droop, tire
Antonym: perk up
Adjective
1. deliberately cruel or
violent.
The police officer avoided a vicious
assault.
Synonyms: brutal, ferocious, dangerous,,
cruel, harsh,
Antonyms: gentle, kindly

(of an animal) wild and
dangerous to people.
Tigers need to be vicious in the wild
in order to survive.

serious or dangerous.
There was a vicious flu bug keeping
everyone from coming to school.
Noun
1. an outdoor overgarment,
typically sleeveless, that hangs
loosely from the shoulders.
Red Riding Hood wore a cloak when she
went to her grandmother’s house.
Synonyms: cape, poncho, serape, shawl,
2. something serving to hide or
disguise something.
“Lifting the cloak of secrecy on the deal”
Synonyms: cover, veil, screen
Verb
1. To dress in a cloak.
She cloaked herself in black.
Verb
1. To move with a smooth
continuous motion, typically
with little noise.
A few gondolas glided past
Synonyms: sail, float
cause to move with a smooth
continuous motion.
synonyms:
slide, slip, sail,
float, drift, flow; More
2. To make an unpowered flight,
either in a glider or in an aircraft
with engine failure.
The airplane glided into a landing
3. (of a bird)To fly through the
air with very little movement of
the wings.
Synonyms: soar, fly
Seagulls gliding over the wave
Adjective
1. (of a person) careful
to avoid potential
problems or dangers.
A cautious driver
Synonyms: careful, alert
Antonyms: reckless, careless
Noun
1. a fence or boundary formed by
closely growing bushes or
shrubs.
She was standing in a corner of the
lawn, trimming the hedge.
Synonyms: bushes
Verb
1. surround or bound with a
hedge.
There was garden hedged with yews
outside the building.
Synonyms: surround, border, edge,
bound
Verb
1. To keep from sight; hide.
A line of sand dunes concealed the
distant sea.
Synonyms: hide, screen, cover
Antonym: reveal
2. keep (something) secret;
prevent from being known or
noticed.
They kept their secret hidden from their
friends.
Synonyms : hide, disguise
Antonyms:: reveal, confess
Adjective
1. looking or feeling
dejected; morose.
They looked glum but later cheered
up.
Synonyms: gloomy, downcast
Antonyms: cheerful
Verb
1. To give (someone or oneself) a
different appearance in order to
conceal one's identity.
He disguised himself as a girl to avoid
detection.
Synonyms: dress up as, pretend
2. make (something) unrecognizable
by altering its appearance, sound,
taste, or smell.
Does holding a handkerchief over the
mouthpiece really disguise your voice?
Synonyms: camouflage, conceal, hide,
cover up,
Antonyms: expose
Noun
1. a means of altering one's
appearance or concealing one's
identity.
His bizarre disguise drew stares from fellow
shoppers.