l   contour /ˋkɑntʊr/

Definition: the shape of the outside edge of something

Example: The sculpture reproduces the smooth contours of the human body.

l   depict /dɪˈpɪkt/

Definition: to describe someone or something using words or pictures

Example1: a television drama depicting the life of the artist

Example2: He was depicted as a hero who died for his beliefs.

l   forlorn/fərˈlɔrn/

Definition1: appearing lonely and sad

Example: We watched her, a forlorn figure alone on the platform.

Definition2: used about places that are empty and in bad condition

Example: One of the city's best-loved landmarks now stands forlorn and almost derelict.

Definition3: wanted by you very much despite knowing that there is little chance of getting what you want

Example: He knew that winning a medal was a forlorn hope.

l   fortitude /ˈfɔrtɪˌtud/

Definition: a brave and determined attitude

Example: She bore her long illness with great fortitude.

l   impartial /ɪmˋpɑrʃəl/

Definition: not connected to or influenced by one particular person or group

Example1: Judges need to be impartial at all times.

Example2: impartial professional advice

l   hinge /hɪndʒ/

Definition: an object, usually made of metal, that fastens a door to a wall, or a lid to a container, and allows it to open and shut

Example: The door has gone off the hinges.

l   imperative/ɪmˈperətɪv/

Definition1: extremely important and urgent

Example: Long-term investing is risky, and careful planning is imperative.

Definition2: It is imperative that these claims are dealt with quickly.

Example: It was imperative to maintain peace and stability in the region.

l   distort /dɪˈstɔrt/

Definition1: to change something such as information so that it is no longer true or accurate

Example1: The paper was accused of distorting the truth.

Example2: The program presented a distorted picture of her life.

Definition2: to change the way that something looks, sounds, or behaves so that it becomes strange or difficult to recognize

Example1: Electronic faults can distort the radio signal.

Example2: Her face was distorted with pain.

l   impending /ɪmˈpendɪŋ/

Definition: an impending event or situation, especially an unpleasant one, is one that will happen very soon

Example1: He was unaware of the impending disaster.

Example2: the impending elections

l   reassure /ˌriəˈʃʊr/

Definition1: to make someone feel less worried about something

Example1: I'm afraid there's not much I can say to reassure you.

Example2: new efforts to reassure the public about the safety of air travel

Example3: She checked the bolts to reassure herself that the door was locked.

l   pretense /prɪˈtens/

Definition: a way of behaving that does not honestly express your real feelings, thoughts, or intentions

Example1: She said she was really pleased to see us, but I could tell it was just a pretense.

Example2: Harper was convicted without even the pretense of a proper trial.

Yeltsin, now seriously ill, had given up any pretense of being in charge.

Example3: A man stopped her on the pretense of asking directions.

Example4: Alex made no pretense of hiding her disappointment.

l   reactionary /riˈækʃənˌeri/

Definition: strongly opposed to any social or political change

Example: reactionary views on the role of women

l   lounge /laʊndʒ/

Definition1: a public room in a place such as a hotel, university, or hospital where people can sit and relax

Example: the TV/coffee lounge

Definition2: a room or area in a place such as an airport where people can sit and wait

Example: the departure lounge

l   brutish /ˈbrutɪʃ/

Definition: violent and cruel

Example: He was brutish and rough, and he terrified his opponents.

l   exuberant /ɪɡˈzjubərənt/

Definition1: happy, excited, and full of energy

Example: an exuberant crowd

Definition2: showing happiness, excitement, and energy

Example: exuberant designs by a local artist

l   dim /dɪm/

Definition1: dim light is not bright

Example: the dim glow of the streetlamp

Definition2: dim places do not have much light in them, so you cannot see very well

Example: The room was very dim.

Definition3: dim shapes are not clear, because there is not much light or because they are far away

Example: She caught a glimpse of a dim figure in the dark kitchen.

Definition4: a dim memory is something that you cannot remember very well because it happened a long time ago

Example: I had a dim recollection of a visit to a big dark house.

Definition5: used about something that you do not know much about or cannot understand very well

Example: He only had a dim awareness of the issues involved.

Definition6: if the chances of something good happening are dim, it is not likely to happen

Example: Their chances of victory were starting to look dim.

l   blur /blɜr/

Definition1: if a thing blurs, or if something blurs it, it becomes difficult to see it clearly, often because its edges are not clear

Example1: With eyesight as poor as mine, faces blur into featureless ovals.

Example2: The paper had gotten wet and blurred the ink.

Definition2: if something such as a memory or an idea has blurred, or if something has blurred it, it is no longer clear in your mind

Example: Childhood recollections had blurred into a mix of reality and fantasy.

Definition3: if the difference between two things blurs, or if something blurs it, they become more similar, so that you are no longer sure that they are clearly different

Example: Their ads blur the line between art and advertising.

l   elation /ɪˈleɪʃ(ə)n/

Definition: a feeling of great happiness and excitement

Example: This little incident filled me with elation.

l   abortive /əˈbɔrtɪv/

Definition: not finished and therefore not successful

Example1: an abortive takeover bid by the larger company

Example2: an abortive attempt to climb Mt. Everest

l   privy /ˈprɪvi/

Definition: knowing about something, usually official information, that other people do not know

Example: He had not been privy to their talks.

l   vulnerable /ˈvʌln(ə)rəb(ə)l/

Definition1: someone who is vulnerable is weak or easy to hurt physically or mentally

Example1: The government must help the most vulnerable groups in our society.

Example2: Their constant arguments left her feeling increasingly vulnerable and insecure.

Definition2: a thing, person, or place that is vulnerable is easy to attack

Example1: The long Russian frontier was highly vulnerable to a German attack.

Example2: While feeding, the birds are vulnerable to predators.

Example3: This procedure has improved, but it is still vulnerable to criticism.

Definition3: easily damaged by something negative or harmful

Example1: We are in the vulnerable position of producing barely half our food.

Example2: The wound is vulnerable to infection.

l   reverse /rɪˈvɜrs/

Definition1: to change the order or development of events, a process, or a situation to be the opposite of what it was

Example1: The effects of the disease can only be reversed by a bone-marrow donation.

Example2: The stock market reversed course and closed with a modest gain.

Definition2: to change a court decision to be the opposite of what it was

Example: The appeals court reversed his conviction and ordered his release.

Definition3: to change your views, policies, etc. to the opposite ones

Example: The new government set about reversing previous policies.

Definiton4: to go backward in a vehicle, or to make a vehicle do this

Example: She reversed into the parking space.

Definition5: to turn something so that the part that is usually on the outside is on the inside

Example: You can reverse the jacket so that the pattern is on the outside.

Definition: to trade your activities or status with that of another person

Example: He's always taught me, but now the roles are reversed and I can teach him.

l   contribute/kənˈtrɪbjut/

Definition1: to give money, goods, or your time and effort in order to achieve something, especially when other people are also helping

Example1: Many local businesses offered to contribute to the school rebuilding fund.

Example2: He promised to contribute $5,000 toward the cost of the lawsuit.

Example3: The U.K. will contribute 8,000 troops to the NATO operation.

Definition2: to be a part of a group or an activity and help it to be successful

Example1: Davis didn't really contribute much to the game in the second half.

Example2: He felt he had nothing to contribute to the discussion.

Definition3: to be one of the things that help to make something happen

Example1: The scandal certainly contributed to their defeat in the last election.

Example2: Speed is a contributing factor in many automobile accidents.

Definition4: to write stories or articles for a newspaper or magazine

Example: She continued to contribute articles to sports magazines.

l   penalty /ˈpen(ə)lti/

Definition1: a punishment for breaking a rule or law

Example1: The maximum penalty for the offense is two years' imprisonment.

Example2: There are severe penalties for companies who breach environmental laws.

Example3: Under the law the president is able to impose tough penalties.

Example4: The crime carries a much heavier penalty in the U.S.

Definition2: something bad that happens to you because of your behavior or position in society

Example1: Increased risk of skin cancer is one of the penalties of sunbathing.

Example2: Some farmers are paying the penalty for not watering crops sufficiently in hot weather.

l   swank /swæŋk/

Definition: fashionable and expensive

Example: a swank apartment/hotel/car