illustrative
serving to explain or make something clear
Vocabulary directory
Browse original bilingual teaching entries. 15544 entries · Page 31 / 156
sparingly
in small amounts or only when necessary
wither
to become dry, weak, and shriveled
eggplant
a purple vegetable with soft flesh
grocer
a person who sells food and household supplies
hibernation
a state of deep rest some animals enter during winter
hindrance
something that makes progress more difficult
legislate
to make or pass laws
individualism
a belief in personal freedom and independence
pushy
too forceful in trying to get what one wants
regimental
relating to a military regiment
silvery
shining or colored like silver
apologetic
showing that one is sorry for a mistake
aristocrat
a member of a family with inherited high social rank
fluctuate
to rise and fall or change irregularly
abort
to stop an activity before it is finished
abreast
at the same level or side by side
abrupt
sudden and unexpected
absorption
the process of taking in a liquid, energy, or information
academician
a member of an academic society or academy
acceptance
the act of agreeing to receive or approve something
accessory
a small item worn or carried to complement clothing
accumulation
a gradual increase in amount over time
accumulative
growing through repeated additions
accustom
to make someone familiar with something through experience
acquaint
to make someone familiar with a person or subject
acquisition
the act of obtaining something
activate
to make a machine, system, or process start working
adaptive
able to change to suit new conditions
adequacy
the degree to which something is sufficient for a need
adhere
to stick firmly to a surface
adherence
careful observance of a rule or plan
adjustment
a small change made to improve something
administer
to manage or organize the operation of something
admittance
permission or the right to enter a place
adolescent
a young person between childhood and adulthood
adverb
a word that describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb
advocacy
public support for a cause or policy
aerial
relating to or viewed from the air
aesthetic
concerned with beauty or artistic appearance
aesthetics
the study or principles of beauty and artistic taste
affiliate
to connect an organization officially with another
affiliation
an official connection with an organization
affirmation
a clear statement that something is true or supported
affirmative
expressing agreement or saying yes
affix
to attach something firmly to something else
affixation
the addition of a prefix or suffix to a word
affluence
the state of having a great deal of money
affordability
the ability to pay for something without serious difficulty
aged
of a stated age or old
aggravate
to make a problem or condition worse
aggravation
a worsening of a problem or condition
aggregate
a total formed by combining several amounts
agitate
to make people feel strongly about an issue and demand change
agitation
a state of nervous excitement or worry
ail
to trouble someone or cause them pain
ailment
a minor illness or health problem
airplane
a powered aircraft with fixed wings
alienation
a feeling of being isolated from others
align
to arrange things in a straight line or matching position
alignment
the position of parts arranged correctly in relation to one another
allege
to claim something without yet proving it
alleviation
a reduction in pain or difficulty
alliance
an agreement between groups or countries to work together
allot
to give a share of something to each person or purpose
alloy
a metal made by combining two or more elements
allude
to mention something indirectly
allurement
an attractive quality that tempts someone
allusion
an indirect reference to something
almighty
having unlimited power
aloft
up in the air or in a high position
alphabetic
using an alphabet rather than a different writing system
alphabetical
arranged in the order of the alphabet
alter
to change something
alternate
happening in turns or every other one
alternation
a repeated change between two states or activities
aluminum
a light, silvery metal used in many products
amass
to collect a large amount over time
amendment
a change made to a document, rule, or law
amiable
friendly and pleasant to be with
amid
in the middle of something
amplify
to make a sound louder or an effect stronger
amusing
funny and entertaining
analogue
a thing that is similar to or comparable with another
analytical
using careful examination to understand a problem
anchor
a heavy object that keeps a boat from drifting
anchorage
a place where ships can safely stop and anchor
anguish
severe mental pain or distress
animate
to make something seem lively or active
animated
full of life and excitement
animation
the process or art of making moving pictures
annexation
the act of taking control of a territory and adding it to another
annoyance
a feeling of mild anger caused by something irritating
antagonism
strong opposition or hostility between people or groups
antagonistic
openly opposed or hostile
antagonistically
in an openly hostile or opposing way
anticipation
a feeling of excited expectation about something ahead
antonym
a word with a meaning opposite to another word
ape
a large primate without a tail, such as a gorilla
appal
to shock someone deeply