Academic Word List (A - D)

abandon v. go away from (a person or thing or place) not intending to return; forsake; desert
abstract adj. existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or practical existence
academy n. school for special training
access n. means of approaching or entering (a place); way in
accommodate v. provide lodging or room for
accompany v. walk or travel with (sb) as a companion or helper; escort
accumulate v. gradually get or gather together an increasing number or quantity of get (sth) in this way
accurate adj. free from error
achieve v. gain or reach (sth), usu by effort, skill, courage, etc
acknowledge v. accept the truth of admit (sth)
acquire v. gain (sth) by one's own ability, efforts or behaviour
adapt v. sth (for sth) make sth suitable for a new use, situation, etc; modify sth
adequate adj. satisfactory in quantity or quality; sufficient
adjacent adj. having a common endpoint or border also immediately preceding or following
adjust v. put (sth) into the correct order or position; arrange
administrate v. to administer
adult adj. grown to full size or strength
advocate v. speak publicly in favour of (sth); recommend; support
affect v. have an influence on (sb/sth); produce an effect on
aggregate v. sb (fml ) be formed or bring sb into an assembled group or amount
aid n. help
albeit conj although
allocate v. sth allot or assign sth (to sb/sth) for a special purpose
alter v. become different; change in character, position, size, shape, etc
alternative adj. available in place of sth else; other
ambiguous adj. having more than one possible meaning
amend v. correct an error in (sth); make minor improvements in; change slightly
analogy n. partial similarity between two things that are compared
analyse v. separate into its parts in order to study its nature or structure
annual adj. happening every year
anticipate v. expect
apparent adj. clearly seen or understood; obvious
append v. sth (fml ) attach or add sth (esp in writing)
appreciate v. understand and enjoy (sth); value highly
approach v. come near or nearer to in space or time
appropriate adj. suitable; right and proper
approximate adj. almost correct or exact but not completely so
arbitrary adj. based on personal opinion or impulse, not on reason
area n. extent or measurement of a surface
aspect n. particular part or feature of sth being considered
assemble v. come together; collect
assess v. sth decide or fix the amount of sth
assign v. sth to sb give sth to sb as a share of work to be done or of things to be used
assist v. in/with sth; (sb) in doing sth (fml ) help
assume v. accept as true before there is proof
assure v. tell (sb) positively or confidently
attach v. sth fasten or join sth (to sth)
attain v. succeed in getting (sth); achieve
attitude n. way of thinking or behaving
attribute v. sth to sb/sth regard sth as belonging to, caused by or produced by sb/sth
author n. writer of a book, play, etc
authority n. power to give orders and make others obey
automate v. cause to operate by automation
available adj. that can be used or obtained
aware adj. of sb/sth; that... having knowledge or realization of sb/sth
behalf n. on behalf of sb/on sb's behalf; US in behalf of sb/in sb's behalf as the representative of or spokesman for sb; in the interest of sb
benefit n. profit; gain; future good (used esp with the vs and preps shown)
bias n. opinion or feeling that strongly favours one side in an argument or one item in a group or series; predisposition; prejudice
bond n. written agreement or promise that has legal force; covenant
brief adj. lasting only a short time; short
bulk n. size, quantity or volume, esp when great
capable adj. having ability; able; competent
capacity n. ability to hold or contain sth
category n. class or group of things in a complete system of grouping
cease v. come or bring (sth) to an end; stop
challenge n. (to do sth) invitation or call (to sb) to take part in a game, contest, fight etc to prove who is better, stronger, more able, etc
channel n. sunken bed of a river, stream or canal
chapter n. (usu numbered) division of a book
chart n. detailed map used to help navigation at sea, showing coasts, rocks, the depth of the sea, etc
chemical adj. of or relating to chemistry
circumstance n. condition or fact connected with an event or action
cite v. commend
civil adj. of or relating to the citizens of a country
clarify v. (cause sth to) become clear or easier to understand
classic adj. having a high quality that is recognized and unquestioned; of lasting value and importance
clause n. group of words that includes a subject1(4a) and a verb, forming a sentence or part of a sentence
code n. (system of) words, letters, symbols, etc that represent others, used for secret messages or for presenting or recording information briefly
coherent adj. connected logically or consistent; easy to understand; clear
coincide v. (of events) occur at the same time or occupy the same period of time as sth else
collapse v. fall down or in suddenly
colleague n. person with whom one works, esp in a profession or business
commence v. begin (sth); start
comment n. written or spoken remark giving an opinion on, explaining or criticizing (an event, a person, a situation, etc)
commission n. action, task or piece of work given to sb to do
commit v. do (sth illegal, wrong or foolish)
commodity n. thing bought in a shop and put to use, esp in the home
communicate v. sth make sth known; convey sth
community n. the community the people living in one place, district or country, considered as a whole
compatible adj. (of people, ideas, arguments, principles, etc) suited; that can exist together
compensate v. for sth give (sb) sth good to balance or lessen the bad effect of damage, loss, injury, etc.
compile v. sth (for/from sth) collect (information) and arrange it in a book, list, report, etc
complement n. thing that goes well or suitably with sth else, or makes it complete
complex adj. made up of (usu several) closely connected parts
component n. any of the parts of which sth is made
compound n. thing made up of two or more separate things combined together
comprehensive adj. that includes everything
comprise v. have as parts or members; be made up of
compute v. sth calculate sth with a computer
conceive v. become pregnant
concentrate v. (sth) (on sth/doing sth) focus (one's attention, effort, etc) exclusively and intensely on sth, not thinking about other less important things
concept n. idea underlying sth; general notion
conclude v. (with sth) (usu fml ) come or bring (sth) to an end
concurrent adj. existing, happening or done at the same time
conduct n. person's behaviour
confer v. (with sb) (on/about sth) have discussions (esp in order to exchange opinions or get advice)
confine v. sb/sth keep (a person or an animal) in a restricted space
confirm v. provide evidence for the truth or correctness of (a report, an opinion, etc); establish the truth of
conflict n. struggle; fight
conform v. keep to or comply with (generally accepted rules, standards, etc)
consent v. give agreement or permission
consequent adj. (fml ) following sth as a result or an effect
considerable adj. great in amount or size
consist v. consist of sth be composed or made up of sth
constant adj. going on all the time; happening again and again
constitute v. (fml ) make up or form (a whole); be the components of
constrain v. make (sb) do sth by strong (moral) persuasion or by force
construct v. build (sth); put or fit together; form
consult v. sb/sth go to (a person, book, etc) for information, advice, etc
consume v. use (sth) up
contact n. state of touching (used esp with the vs shown)
contemporary adj. of the time or period being referred to; belonging to the same time
context writings preceding and following passage quoted
contract n. (for sth/to do sth) legally binding agreement, usu in writing
contradict v. say sth that conflicts with by (sb), suggesting that the person is mistaken or not telling the truth
contrary adj. opposite in nature, tendency or direction
contrast v. A and/with B compare so that differences are made clear
contribute v. (to/towards sth) give one's share of (money, help, advice, etc) to help a joint cause
controversy n. public discussion or argument, often rather angry, about sth which many people disagree with
convene v. summon to come together; arrange (a meeting, etc)
converse v. (about sth); (together) (fml ) talk
convert v. (sth) (from sth) (into/to sth) change (sth) from one form or use to another
convince v. sb make sb feel certain; cause sb to realize
cooperate v. work or act together
coordinate vt. to organize or integrate (diverse elements) in a harmonious operation
core n. centre of such fruits as the apple and pear, containing the seeds
corporate adj. of or shared by all the members of a group; collective
correspond v. be in agreement; not contradict sth or each other
couple n. two people or things that are seen together or associated, esp a man and woman together
create v. cause to exist; make (sth new or original)
credit n. permission to delay payment for goods and services until after they have been received; system of paying in this way
criteria n. (pl of criterion) standard by which sth is judged
crucial adj. very important; decisive
culture n. refined understanding and appreciation of art, literature, etc
currency n. money system in use in a country
cycle n. series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order
data n. facts or information used in deciding or discussing sth
debate n. formal argument or discussion of a question, eg at a public meeting or in Parliament, with two or more opposing speakers, and often ending in a vote
decade n. period of ten years
decline v. say `no' to (sth); refuse (sth offered), usu politely
deduce v. sth arrive at (facts, a theory, etc) by reasoning; infer sth
define v. sth state precisely the meaning of (eg words)
definite adj. clear; not doubtful
demonstrate v. sth (to sb) show sth clearly by giving proof or evidence
denote v. be the name, sign or symbol of (sth); refer to
deny v. say that (sth) is not true
depress v. make sad and without enthusiasm
derive v. sth from sth obtain sth from sth; get sth from sth
design n. (for sth) drawing or outline from which sth may be made
despite prep. without being affected by
detect v. discover or recognize that (sth) is present
deviate v. from sth stop following
device n. thing made or adapted for a special purpose
devote v. oneself/sth to sb/sth give to sb/sth; dedicate ;
differentiat v. between A and B; A (from B) see or show (two things) to be different;
dimension n. measurement of any sort
diminish v. become smaller or less; decrease
discrete adj. separate; distinct
discriminate v. A from B see or make a difference (between two things)
displace v. move from the usual or correct place
display v. sth put sth on show
dispose v. place(sb/sth) in a suitable way; arrange
distinct adj. easily heard, seen, felt or understood; definite
distort v. pull or twist out of its usual shape
distribute v. sth separate sth into parts and give a share to each person or thing
diverse adj. of different kinds; varied
document n. paper, form, book, etc giving information about sth, evidence or proof of sth
domain n. lands owned or ruled by a nobleman, government, etc
domestic adj. of the home, household or family
dominate v. have control of or a very strong influence on (people, events, etc)
draft n. rough preliminary written version of sth
drama n. play for the theatre, radio or TV
duration n. time during which sth lasts or continues
dynamic adj. of power or forces that produce movement