1. facade
facade |fəˈsäd| (also façade)
noun
the face of a building, esp. the principal front that looks onto a street or open space.
• figurative an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or
creditable reality : her flawless public facade masked private despair.
2. glisten
glisten |ˈglisən|
verb [ intrans. ]
(of something wet or greasy) shine; glitter : his cheeks glistened with tears | [as adj. ] (
glistening) the glistening swimming pool.
noun [in sing. ]
a sparkling light reflected from something wet : there was a glisten of perspiration across
her top lip.
3. thickset
thickset |ˈθikˌset|
adjective
(of a person or animal) heavily or solidly built; stocky.
4. contraband
contraband |ˈkäntrəˌband|
noun
goods that have been imported or exported illegally : the police looked for drugs, guns,
and other contraband.
• trade in smuggled goods : the government has declared a nationwide war on
contraband.
• (also contraband of war) goods forbidden to be supplied by neutrals to those engaged
in war.
• during the U.S. Civil War, a black slave who escaped or was transported across Union
lines.
adjective
imported or exported illegally, either in defiance of a total ban or without payment of
duty : contraband drug shipments.
• relating to traffic in illegal goods : the contraband market.
5. hinder
hinder 1 |ˈhindər|
verb [ trans. ]
create difficulties for (someone or something), resulting in delay or obstruction : various
family stalemates were hindering communication. See note at prohibit .
ORIGIN Old English hindrian [injure or damage,] of Germanic origin; related to German
hindern, also to behind .
6. abundant
abundant |əˈbəndənt|
adjective
existing or available in large quantities; plentiful : there was abundant evidence to
support the theory. See note at prevalent .
• [ predic. ] ( abundant in) having plenty of something : the riverbanks were abundant in
wild plants.
7. scythe
scythe |sīð|
noun
a tool used for cutting crops such as grass or wheat, with a long curved blade at the end of
a long pole attached to which are one or two short handles.
verb [ trans. ]
cut with a scythe.
• [ intrans. ] move through or penetrate something rapidly and forcefully : attacking
players can scythe through defenses.
8. dismantle
dismantle |disˈmantl|
verb [ trans. ] (often be dismantled)
take to pieces : the engines were dismantled and the bits piled into a heap figurative :
the old regime was dismantled.
9. mobile
mobile
adjective |ˈmōbəl; -ˌbēl; -ˌbīl|
able to move or be moved freely or easily : he has a major weight problem and is not
very mobile | highly mobile international capital.
• (of the face or its features) indicating feelings with fluid and expressive movements :
her mobile features working overtime to register shock and disapproval.
• (of a store, library, or other service) accommodated in a vehicle so as to travel around
and serve various places.
• (of a military or police unit) equipped and prepared to move quickly to any place it is
needed : mobile army combat units.
• able or willing to move easily or freely between occupations, places of residence, or
social classes : an increasingly mobile and polarized society.
noun |ˈmōˌbēl|
a decorative structure that is suspended so as to turn freely in the air.
10. restraint
restraint |riˈstrānt|
noun
1 (often restraints) a measure or condition that keeps someone or something under
control or within limits : decisions are made within the financial restraints of the budget.
• the action of keeping someone or something under control.
• deprivation or restriction of personal liberty or freedom of movement : he remained
aggressive and required physical restraint.
• a device that limits or prevents freedom of movement : car safety restraints.
2 unemotional, dispassionate, or moderate behavior; self-control : he urged the protestors
to exercise restraint.
• understatement, esp. of artistic expression : with strings and piano, all restraint
vanished.
11. hobble
hobble |ˈhäbəl|
verb
1 [ intrans. ] walk in an awkward way, typically because of pain from an injury : he was
hobbling around on crutches.
• figurative proceed haltingly in action or speech : inertia and habit will keep it hobbling
along.
2 [ trans. ] (often be hobbled) tie or strap together (the legs of a horse or other animal) to
prevent it from straying. [ORIGIN: variant of hopple .]
• cause (a person or animal) to limp : Johnson was still hobbled slightly by an ankle
injury.
• figurative be or cause a problem for : cotton farmers hobbled by low prices.
noun
1 [in sing. ] an awkward way of walking, typically due to pain from an injury : he
finished the game almost reduced to a hobble.
2 a rope or strap used for hobbling a horse or other animal.
12. ornate
ornate |ôrˈnāt|
adjective
made in an intricate shape or decorated with complex patterns : an ornate wrought-iron
railing.
• (of literary style) using unusual words and complex constructions : peculiarly ornate
and metaphorical language.
• (of musical composition or performance) using many ornaments such as grace notes
and trills.
13. scuffle
scuffle |ˈskəfəl|
noun
1 a short, confused fight or struggle at close quarters : there were minor scuffles with
police.
2 an act or sound of moving in a hurried, confused, or shuffling manner : he heard the
scuffle of feet.
verb [ intrans. ]
1 engage in a short, confused fight or struggle at close quarters : the teacher noticed two
students scuffling in the corridor.
2 [with adverbial of direction ] move in a hurried, confused, or awkward way, making a
rustling or shuffling sound : a drenched woman scuffled through the doorway.
• [ trans. ] (of an animal or person) move (something) in a scrambling or confused
manner : the rabbit struggled free, scuffling his front paws.
14. devastate
devastate |ˈdevəˌstāt|
verb [ trans. ]
destroy or ruin (something) : the city was devastated by a huge earthquake | bad weather
has devastated the tourist industry. See note at ravage .
• cause (someone) severe and overwhelming shock or grief : she was devastated by the
loss of Damian.
15. stark
stark |stärk|
adjective
1 severe or bare in appearance or outline : the ridge formed a stark silhouette against the
sky.
• unpleasantly or sharply clear; impossible to avoid : his position on civil rights is in
stark contrast to that of his liberal opponent | the stark reality of life for deprived
minorities.
2 [ attrib. ] complete; sheer : he came running back in stark terror.
• rare completely naked.
3 archaic or poetic/literary stiff, rigid, or incapable of movement : a human body lying
stiff and stark by the stream.
• physically strong or powerful : the dragoons were stark fellows.
16. lumber
lumber 1 |ˈləmbər|
verb [ intrans. ]
move in a slow, heavy, awkward way : a truck filled his mirror and lumbered past | [as
adj. ] ( lumbering) Bob was the big, lumbering, gentle sort | figurative a lumbering
bureaucracy.
ORIGIN late Middle English lomere, perhaps symbolic of clumsy movement.
lumber 2
noun
1 timber sawn into rough planks or otherwise partly prepared.
2 chiefly Brit. articles of furniture or other household items that are no longer useful and
inconveniently take up storage space. : [as adj. ] a lumber room.
• figurative a collection of beliefs or concepts that are regarded as no longer valid and
encumber one's mental outlook.
verb
1 [ intrans. ] [usu. as n. ] ( lumbering) cut and prepare forest timber for transport and sale
: the traditional resource industries of the nation, chiefly fishing and lumbering.
2 [ trans. ] (usu. be lumbered with) Brit., informal burden (someone) with an unwanted
responsibility, task, or set of circumstances.
17. alter
alter |ˈôltər|
verb
change or cause to change in character or composition, typically in a comparatively small
but significant way : [ trans. ] Eliot was persuaded to alter the passage | nothing alters
the fact that children are our responsibility | [ intrans. ] our outward appearance alters as
we get older | [as adj. ] ( altered) an altered state.
• [ trans. ] make structural changes to (a building) : plans to alter the dining hall.
• [ trans. ] tailor (clothing) for a better fit or to conform to fashion : skirts with the
hemlines altered a dozen different times.
• [ trans. ] castrate or spay (a domestic animal).
18. invincible
invincible |inˈvinsəbəl|
adjective
too powerful to be defeated or overcome : an invincible warrior.
DERIVATIVES
invincibility |-ˌvinsəˈbilitē| noun
invincibly |-blē| adverb
19. skinflint
skinflint |ˈskinˌflint|
noun informal
a person who spends as little money as possible; a miser.
20. construct
construct
verb |kənˈstrəkt| [ trans. ]
build or erect (something, typically a building, road, or machine) : a company that
constructs oil rigs.
• form (an idea or theory) by bringing together various conceptual elements, typically
over a period of time : Ptolemy combined his interests to construct a theory in support of
Aristotle.
• Grammar form (a sentence) according to grammatical rules.
• Geometry draw or delineate (a geometric figure) accurately to given conditions.
noun |ˈkänˌstrəkt|
an idea or theory containing various conceptual elements, typically one considered to be
subjective and not based on empirical evidence : history is largely an ideological
construct.
• Linguistics a group of words forming a phrase.
• a physical thing that is deliberately built or formed.
21. willowy
willowy |ˈwilōē|
adjective
1 bordered, shaded, or covered by willows : willowy meadow land.
2 (of a person) tall, slim, and lithe.
22. slaughter
slaughter |ˈslôtər|
noun
the killing of animals for food.
• the killing of a large number of people or animals in a cruel or violent way; massacre :
the slaughter of 20 peaceful demonstrators.
• informal a thorough defeat : an absolute slaughter by the Red Sox.
verb [ trans. ] (usu. be slaughtered)
kill (animals) for food. See note at kill .
• kill (people or animals) in a cruel or violent way, typically in large numbers : innocent
civilians are being slaughtered.
• informal defeat (an opponent) thoroughly : our team was slaughtered in the finals.
23. cultivate
cultivate |ˈkəltəˌvāt|
verb [ trans. ]
1 prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening.
• break up (soil) in preparation for sowing or planting.
• raise or grow (plants), esp. on a large scale for commercial purposes.
• Biology grow or maintain (living cells or tissue) in culture.
2 try to acquire or develop (a quality, sentiment, or skill) : he cultivated an air of
indifference.
• try to win the friendship or favor of (someone) : it helps if you go out of your way to
cultivate the local people.
• [usu. as adj. ] ( cultivated) apply oneself to improving or developing (one's mind or
manners) : he was a remarkably cultivated and educated man.
24. scanty
scanty |ˈskantē|
adjective ( scantier , scantiest )
small or insufficient in quantity or amount : scanty wages.
• (of clothing) revealing; skimpy : the women looked cold in their scanty gowns.
25. catapult
catapult |ˈkatəˌpəlt; -ˌpoŏlt|
noun
a device in which accumulated tension is suddenly released to hurl an object some
distance, in particular
• historical a military machine worked by a lever and ropes for hurling large stones or
other missiles.
• a mechanical device for launching a glider or other aircraft, esp. from the deck of a ship.
• chiefly Brit. a slingshot.
verb [ trans. ]
hurl or launch (something) in a specified direction with or as if with a catapult : the plane
was refueled and catapulted back into the air again | the explosion catapulted the car 30
yards along the road | figurative their music catapulted them to the top of the charts.
• [ intrans. ] move suddenly or at great speed as though hurled by a catapult : the horse
catapulted away from the fence.