words per minute
36
SafoGoldenSmile
00:00
Speed
abandon: to leave someone or something somewhere, sometimes not returning to get them
They were forced to abandon the car.
As a baby, he'd been abandoned by his mother.
We were sinking fast, and the captain gave the order to abandon ship.
I lived with my mother and brother but my father was never there. I knew that he had abandoned
us for another woman.
left empty or not working
an abandoned factory/village
Arriving at an altitude of 2000m, people can visit the abandoned salt-mines.
having been left somewhere, intentionally
An abandoned baby was found in a box on the hospital steps.
Please, just have a look at your wife Margaret and her eyes will tell you that she is this
abandoned princess of your childhood fairy-tale.
abolish
to officially end something, especially a law or system
I think bullfighting should be abolished.
National Service was abolished in Britain in 1962.
Therefore, I suggest you should not change or abolish any event for any reason.
absence
when someone is not where they are usually expected to be
A new manager was appointed during/in her absence.
She has had repeated absences from work this year.
Thank you very much for letting me stay in your flat during your absence on holiday.
when something does not exist
He drew attention to the absence of concrete evidence against the defendant.
The biggest difference the absence of TV made in my life was that I actually started living.
absolute
complete and definite
absolute control
He's an absolute idiot!
I have no experience of surfing - I am an absolute beginner with high motivation.
absorb
to take something in, especially gradually
Plants absorb carbon dioxide.
The drug is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.
Everything is getting intermingled and absorbed into the system, making life terribly efficient,
quick and easy.
be absorbed in sth: to give all your attention to something that you are doing
Simon was so absorbed in his computer game that he didn't notice me come in.
We hadn't noticed them at first because we were absorbed in listening to the birds singing.
abstract: relating to ideas and not real things
abstract ideas
Truth and beauty are abstract concepts.
Reading improves your ability to imagine and your abstract thinking skills.
ART: Abstract art involves shapes and colours and not images of real things or people.
abstract paintings/sculpture
What kind of material will you use for this painting? Will it be a realistic picture or an abstract one?
absurd : very silly
What an absurd explanation!
Don't be so absurd! Of course I want you to come.
It's an absurd situation - neither of them will talk to the other.
In your article, some performers are called 'second-rate', which, in my view, is absurd when
talking about such famous groups as 'Snakes' and 'KGB'.
abuse: BAD TREATMENT
! bad or cruel treatment of people or animals
sexual/psychological/mental abuse
The rescued dogs had been victims of physical abuse.
The one side opposes this treatment as an abuse of living creatures while the other side denies
any suffering and points at the values of zoos for people.
WRONG USE
! the use of a substance in an unsuitable and harmful way or for the wrong
purpose
Drug and alcohol abuse contributed to his early death.
This program tries to address problems that lead to substance abuse.
Get information about the effects of drug abuse and make your generation a better one.
academic
relating to schools, colleges and universities, or to subjects which involve thinking
and studying and not technical or practical skills
academic subjects/qualifications/books
academic standards
As a member of our academic community, I'm very glad to hear that our college will have a
surplus in its annual budget.
accent
a mark written or printed over a letter to show you how to pronounce it
There's an acute accent on the 'e' of 'café'.
accept
to admit that something is true, often something unpleasant
He refuses to accept that he's made a mistake.
I can't accept that there's nothing we can do.
David told her that the reason for his failure was her, because she used to press him a lot and
she couldn't accept that he wanted to be an actor.
to allow someone to join an organization or become part of a group
She's been accepted by two universities.
He was accepted as a full member of the society.
His fellow workers refused to accept him.
When I returned home I checked my mail and I had a new message from my uncle, saying that
the university have accepted me.
accept responsibility/blame
to admit that you caused something bad that happened
I accept full responsibility for the failure of the plan.
access: to find or see information, especially using a computer
You can access the files over the Internet.
We have more time to stay together at home, because we can access the internet at home.
accessible: able to be reached or easily got
The resort is easily accessible by road, rail and air.
It is very accessible because it is situated in the centre.
accidental: happening by chance
accidental damage
The archeological site was located after the accidental discovery of bones in a field.
accidentally: by chance or by mistake
She accidentally knocked over a glass of water.
I accidentally broke one of your vases - the most beautiful one.
according to: in a way that agrees with
Students are all put in different groups according to their ability.
The job included organizing suitable activities according to their age, capability and wishes.
account
a written or spoken description of something that has happened
She gave a thrilling account of her life in the jungle.
The documents provide a detailed account of the town's early history.
I would be very interested in participating and writing the accounts of our journeys.
take account of sth: to consider something when judging a situation
A good architect takes account of the building's surroundings.
I hope you will take account of our request.
take into account sth: to consider something when judging a situation
I think you have to take into account the fact that he's a good deal younger than the rest of us.
Taking into account all these arguments, I also think, like many people, that keeping animals in
zoos is cruel and unnecessary.
on account of sth
because of something
He doesn't eat any dairy products on account of the diet he is following.
On account of its location, it is always busy.
accuracy: how correct or exact something is
We can predict changes with a surprising degree of accuracy.
I was very disappointed to observe your lack of accuracy in the description of this wonderful
event.
to say that someone has done something bad
He's been accused of robbery/murder.
Are you accusing me of lying?
They were accused of vandalism.
ache: to have a continuous pain that is unpleasant but not strong
My head/tooth/back aches.
I ache/I'm aching all over.
After an hour of horseback riding your muscles can really ache.
acid: a liquid substance which can react chemically with and sometimes dissolve other materials
hydrochloric/fatty acid
Vinegar is an acid.
We saw a little black dragon with scales like iron charging at us and spitting acid.
acquire: FORMAL to get something
He acquired the firm in 1978.
I seem to have acquired two copies of this book.
I would like to join the club because I will be able to acquire more stamps for my collection.
to learn something
to acquire knowledge/skills
I have already acquired experience in the Tourism Field, working as a guard in a summer camp in
Florida in 1997.
act
a kind/thoughtless/selfish act
action: something that you do
We must take action before the problem gets worse.
She has to accept the consequences of her actions.
What do you think is the best course of action?
I decided to take action on my own.
active
very involved in an organization or planned activity
Dictionary examples:
He played an active role in the campaign.
Both of his parents were politically active.
Enemy forces remain active in the mountainous areas around the city.
I have always been very active in different organizations, sports as well as c[h]arity.
actively
in a way that involves positive action
He's very actively involved in the local Labour Party.
I've been actively looking for a job for six months.
There's statistic[al] evidence that maths can train a brain to study actively.
activity
the work of a group or organization to achieve an aim
He was found guilty of terrorist activity.
But Rollo was also a good man, so when a policeman, called Calloway, informed him about
Harry's illegal activity, he turned against him.
when a lot of things are happening or people are moving around
Ministers are concerned by the low level of economic activity.
There was a lot of activity the other side of the room.
Technical progress and industrial activity are causing a lot of problems.
actual
real, not guessed or imagined
We had estimated about 300 visitors, but the actual number was much higher.
The exams are in July, but the actual results don't appear until September.
In my opinion, Burgers' Bush, Safari & Zoo in Arnhem has found the perfect solution. The actual
zoo is rather small but each animal has a lot of space for running or wandering around.
in actual fact: used to emphasize what is really true, or to give more information
I thought she was Portuguese, but in actual fact she's Brazilian.
Nowadays almost all people own a car and in actual fact more and more people have been facing
death as a consequence of careless driving.
used when you are correcting someone, disagreeing with someone, or saying no to
a request
Actually, Gavin, it was Tuesday of last week, not Wednesday.
"You didn't tell me about needing the car." "Actually, I did."
"Do you mind if I smoke?" "Actually, I'd rather you didn't."