Reading Explorer 2 Target Vocabulary Definitions

abandon (v.) to leave and never return to

absorb (v.) to draw or take in

accept (v.) to receive or take (something offered)

addiction (n.) a strong and harmful need to regularly have or do (something)

administration (n.) the activities that relate to running an organization

admire (v.) to feel respect or approval for (someone or something)

admit (v.) to confess to be true or to be the case

adopt (v.) to take a child of other biological parents legally as your own child

advertise (v.) to describe or give information about a product in order to promote sales

affection (n.) a feeling of liking for someone or something

alarm (v.) to make fearful or apprehensive

analyze (v.) to study (something) closely and carefully

apparently (adj.) according to appearances, initial evidence or incomplete results

approve (v.) to officially accept (an idea, action, plan, etc.)

arrange (v.) to put things in a neat, attractive, or required order

ascent (n.) the act of moving upward

attach (v.) to be or become joined or connected

authority (n.) an expert on a subject

aware (adj.) knowing that something exists

awful (adj.) very bad or unpleasant

basis (n.) something from which another thing develops

battle (n.) a fight between people or groups

beneath (adv.) in or to a lower position

bill (n.) a statement of money owed for goods or services supplied

bite (v.) to use teeth to cut into (something)

block (v.) to stop (someone or something) from moving through or going by

board (v.) to get on or into

boundary (n.) a line which marks the limits of an area

brilliantly (adv.) very brightly broaden (v.) to increase the breadth; widen

budget (n.) an amount of money available for spending for a particular purpose

categorize (v.) to put (something) into a group based on similar properties

ceremony (n.) a formal act or event that is a part of a social or religious occasion

claim (v.) to say that (something) is true, typically without providing evidence or proof

cliff (n.) a high steep face of a rock

clumsily (adv.) in an awkward manner, without skill or grace

coincidence (n.) the remarkable occurrence of events that happen at the same time in a way that is not planned or expected

colleague (n.) a person with whom one works in a profession or business

complain (v.) to express dissatisfaction or grief; find fault complex (adj.) having parts that go together in a complicated way; not simple

conclude (v.) to decide, determine or resolve

concrete (n.) a hard, strong material that is used for building

conduct (v.) to plan and do (something, such as an activity)

confident (adj.) feeling that you can do something well or succeed at something

confusion (n.) the state of being unclear of what is happening

congratulate (v.) to tell (someone) that you are happy because of his or her success or good luck

conquer (v.) to successfully overcome

consent (v.) to agree to do or allow something

consequence (n.) a result or effect of something

conservation (n.) the protection of animals, plants and natural resources

considerable (adj.) large in size, amount or quantity

constitute (v.) to make up or form something

consumption (n.) the act of eating or drinking something

continent (n.) any of the world’s main landmasses

contribution (n.) something that is given to a common collection

convince (v.) to cause (someone) to agree to do something

cooperation (n.) the action or process of working together to the same end

corporation (n.) a large business or organization united as one body

countless (adj.) too many to be counted

courage (n.) the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous

crack (n.) a break without complete separation of parts

credit (v.) to attribute (an achievement or good quality) to someone or something

critical (adj.) of or relating to a turning point or specially important juncture; critical

crop (n.) a plant or plant product that is grown by farmers

cruelly (adv.) in a manner that willingly or knowingly causing pain or distress

curiously (adv.) in a manner with a desire to learn or know more about something or someone

cut down on (phrase) to eat or drink less of a particular thing

dare (v.) to not be afraid to do something

deal (with) (v.) to be concerned with

debatable (adj.) open to question

declare (v.) to announce officially, proclaim

deduce (v.) to use logic or reason to decide something

delay (n.) the amount of time by which something is late or postponed

demonstrate (v.) to show clearly

depth (n.) the quality of being deep; deepness

derive (v.) to take or get (something) from (something else)

descend (v.) to go down; to move from a higher to a lower place

digital (adj.) using or characterized by computer technology

disappointed (v.) feeling sad, unhappy or displeased because something was not as good as expected

display (v.) to put (something) where people can see it

distinctive (adj.) different in a way that is easy to notice

divorce (v.) the ending of a marriage by a legal process

dominate (v.) to be more powerful or successful than others, with a commanding position

donate (v.) to give (something) in order to help a person or organization

drown (v.) to die by being underwater too long and unable to breathe

drug (n.) a substance that affects the affects the structure or any function of the body when taken

ease (v.) to make (something unpleasant or intense) less serious or severe

effective (adj.) producing a result that is wanted

efficient (adj.) performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort

emerge (v.) to rise or appear from a hidden or unknown place; to come out into view

emphasis (n.) special importance or attention given to something

enable (v.) to make (something) possible

engine (n.) a machine that converts energy into mechanical force or motion

ensure (v.) to make sure

entrance (n.) a point or place of entering; an opening or passage for entering

essence (n.) a substance that contains in very strong form the special qualities (such as taste and smell) of the thing from which it is taken

exceed (v.) to go beyond the limit of (something)

exhilarated (adj.) very happy and excited

exotic (adj.) of foreign origin or character; introduced from abroad

experienced (adj.) having skill or knowledge from doing something

export (v.) to send a product to be sold in another country

facility (n.) something designed or built to serve a specific function, affording a convenience of service

fantastic (adj.) extraordinarily good

feat (n.) an extraordinary act or achievement

fellow (adj.) belonging to the same class or group

finance (v.) to provide money for (something or someone)

flavor (n.) a particular type of taste

flow (v.) to move in continuous and smooth way

frozen (adj.) turned into ice

fund (v.) to provide with money for a particular purpose

garbage (n.) things that are no longer wanted and have been thrown out

gather (v.) to choose and collect

generation (n.) the average length of time between the birth of parents and the birth of their children

genetic (adj.) of, relating to, or involving genes

guard (v.) to protect (someone or something) from danger of attack

handle (v.) to manage, deal with or be responsible for

historic (adj.) famous or important in history

horror (n.) a very strong feeling of fear, dread and shock

host (v.) to receive or entertain guests

hypothesize (v.) to suggest an idea or theory

imply (v.) to express (something) in an indirect way

impulse (n.) a sudden strong desire to do something

inaccurate (adj.) not correct or exact

indicate (v.) to be a sign of; show

informal (adj.) having a friendly and relaxed quality

injury (n.) harm or damage

inspire (v.) to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create

intense (adj.) very great in degree; very strong

intention (n.) the thing that you plan to do or achieve; aim or purpose

interact (v.) to talk or do things with (someone)

invest (v.) to put in (money) in order to earn a return

iron (n.) a type of metal

jealous (adj.) feeling resentment because of another’s success or advantage

joke (v.) to say something in fun or teasing

journal (n.) a record of personal experiences and thoughts kept regularly

laborer (n.) a person who does hard physical work for money

leap (v.) to jump through the air from one point to another

link (v.) to make or form a connection with or between

(a) living (n.) an income sufficient to live on or the means of earning it

loyalty (n.) the quality of being faithful

luggage (n.) the bags and suitcases that a person carries when traveling

luxurious (adj.) very comfortable and expensive

make sense (phrase) to be reasonable, wise or practical

marketplace (n.) the world of trade or economic activity

mineral (n.) a substance (such as quartz, coal, etc.) that is naturally formed under the ground

misfortune (n.) bad luck

motivate (v.) to give (someone) a reason for doing something

murder (n.) the crime of deliberately killing a person

necessity (n.) something that you must have or do

negative (adj.) harmful or bad; not wanted

nest (n.) a place where an animal or insect lives and usually lays its eggs or takes care of its young

obedient (adj.) willing to do what someone tells you to do

objective (n.) something you are trying to do or achieve; a goal or purpose

observe (v.) to watch and sometimes also listen to (someone or something) carefully

obtain (v.) to gain or get (something), usually through effort or by request

obvious (adj.) easily seen, recognized or understood

occupy (v.) to take or hold possession or control

offer (v.) to present or put forward

opportunity (n.) a good chance or situation

out of time (phrase) time limit is used up; too late

overwhelming (adj.) very great in number, effect or force; used to describe something that is so confusing, difficult, etc. that you feel unable to do it

perceive (v.) to notice or become aware of (something)

permit (v.) to allow (someone) to do or have something

plant (n.) a building or factory where something is made

pleasure (n.) a feeling of happiness, enjoyment or satisfaction

plenty (adj.) a large or sufficient amount of quantitiy

pollution (n.) substances that make land, water, air, etc., dirty and not safe or suitable to use

precede (v.) to come ahead or in front of

predictable (adj.) able to be foretold; expected

prevent (v.) to stop (something) from happening

prey (n.) an animal hunted or seized for food

prior (adj.) earlier in time or order

publicity (n.) something that attracts the attention of the public

quantity (n.) a particular amount of something

raise (v.) to bring up (a child)

reaction (n.) something done, felt or thought in response to a situation or event

realize (v.) to understand or become aware of (something)

recommend (v.) to suggest that someone do (something)

relatively (adv.) when compared to others

release (v.) to allow (something) to move, act, or flow freely

remarkable (adj.) unusual or surprising; likely to be noticed

remind (v.) to cause (someone) to remember something

remote (adj.) far away

renowned (adj.) known and admired by many people for some special quality

rescue (v.) save (someone) from a dangerous or difficult situation

reserve (v.) to keep (something) for a special or future use

resource (n.) a source of supply, especially that can be drawn upon when needed

retain (v.) to continue to have or use (something); keep

reunite (v.) to bring (people or things) together again, especially after they have been apart for a long time

reward (n.) something given or received in return for service, effort or achievement

risk (n.) the possibility that something bad or unpleasant will happen

rule (out) (phrase) to prove to be unrelated or not to be considered; exclude

scale (n.) a system of measurement or comparison

sculpture (n.) a piece of art that is made by carving or molding clay, stone, metal, etc.

season (n.) a period of the year associated with a particular activity

seed (n.) a small unit produced by a plant from which a new plant can grow

selection (n.) the act of carefully choosing someone or something as being the best or most suitable

self-defense (n.) the act of defending yourself

series (n.) a number of things or events that are arranged or happen one after the other

severe (adj.)

shallow (adj.) of little depth

shift (v.) to move or to cause (something) to move to a different place

silent (adj.) not having or making any noise

single (adj.) only one

slide (v.) to move smoothly along a surface while maintaining continuous contact with it

slippery (adj.) difficult to hold firmly or stand on because it is smooth, wet or slimy

solely (adv.) only or just

starve (v.) to suffer or die from hunger

steer (v.) to guide or control the movement (of a vehicle)

store (v.) to collect and put (something) in one location for future use

sufficient (adj.) adequate for the purpose; enough

suggest (v.) to mention (something) as a possible thing to be done, used or thought about

symbol (n.) a thing that represents or stands for something else

talent (n.) a special ability that allows someone to do something well

tell (apart) (v.) to recognize the differences between two people or things that are very similar; to distinguish between

tempting (adj.) causing a desire to have or do something

tent (n.) a portable shelter used outdoors that is made of cloth and held up with poles and ropes

thrill (n.) a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure

thrive (v.) to grow or develop successfully; to flourish

tightly (adv.) very closely; strongly fixed or held

tow (v.) to pull by a rope, chain, or other device

track (v.) to follow and find by looking for signs to show where (someone or something) has gone

translate (v.) to change words from one language into another language

trend (n.) something that is currently popular or fashionable

tunnel (n.) an underground passage

undertake (v.) to take upon oneself; attempt

unexpected (adj.) not expected; unforeseen; surprising

unknown (adj.) not known

unparalleled (adj.) having no equal; better or greater than anyone or anything else

unstoppable (adj.) not able to be stopped

urgently (adv.) calling for immediate attention; pressing

variety (n.) a number or collection of different things or people

victim (n.) a person who has been attacked or harmed

violence (n.) the use of physical force to harm someone, to damage property, etc.

voyage (n.) a long journey involving travel by sea or in space

vulnerable (adj.) easily hurt or harmed

wealthy (adj.) having a lot of money or possessions; rich

wedding (n.) a ceremony in which two people are married to each other

wisdom (n.) knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life

wrap (v.) to cover (something) by winding or folding a piece of material around it