Academic Word List (A - D)

  1. abandon    v.  go away from (a person or thing or place) not intending to return; forsake; desert
  2. abstract    adj.  existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or practical existence
  3. academy    n.  school for special training
  4. access    n.  means of approaching or entering (a place); way in
  5. accommodate    v.  provide lodging or room for
  6. accompany    v.  walk or travel with (sb) as a companion or helper; escort
  7. accumulate    v.  gradually get or gather together an increasing number or quantity of get (sth) in this way
  8. accurate    adj.  free from error
  9. achieve    v.  gain or reach (sth), usu by effort, skill, courage, etc
  10. acknowledge    v.  accept the truth of admit (sth)
  11. acquire    v.  gain (sth) by one's own ability, efforts or behaviour
  12. adapt    v.  sth (for sth) make sth suitable for a new use, situation, etc; modify sth
  13. adequate    adj.  satisfactory in quantity or quality; sufficient
  14. adjacent    adj.  having a common endpoint or border  also immediately preceding or following
  15. adjust    v.  put (sth) into the correct order or position; arrange
  16. administrate    v.  to administer
  17. adult    adj.  grown to full size or strength
  18. advocate    v.  speak publicly in favour of (sth); recommend; support
  19. affect    v.  have an influence on (sb/sth); produce an effect on
  20. aggregate    v.  sb (fml ) be formed or bring sb into an assembled group or amount
  21. aid    n.  help
  22. albeit    conj although
  23. allocate    v.  sth allot or assign sth (to sb/sth) for a special purpose
  24. alter    v.  become different; change in character, position, size, shape, etc
  25. alternative    adj.  available in place of sth else; other
  26. ambiguous    adj.  having more than one possible meaning
  27. amend    v.  correct an error in (sth); make minor improvements in; change slightly
  28. analogy    n.  partial similarity between two things that are compared
  29. analyse    v.  separate into its parts in order to study its nature or structure
  30. annual    adj.  happening every year
  31. anticipate    v.  expect
  32. apparent    adj.  clearly seen or understood; obvious
  33. append    v.  sth (fml ) attach or add sth (esp in writing)
  34. appreciate    v.  understand and enjoy (sth); value highly
  35. approach    v.  come near or nearer to in space or time
  36. appropriate    adj.  suitable; right and proper
  37. approximate    adj.  almost correct or exact but not completely so
  38. arbitrary    adj.  based on personal opinion or impulse, not on reason
  39. area    n.  extent or measurement of a surface
  40. aspect    n.  particular part or feature of sth being considered
  41. assemble    v.  come together; collect
  42. assess    v.  sth decide or fix the amount of sth
  43. assign    v.  sth to sb give sth to sb as a share of work to be done or of things to be used
  44. assist    v.  in/with sth; (sb) in doing sth (fml ) help
  45. assume    v.  accept as true before there is proof
  46. assure    v.  tell (sb) positively or confidently
  47. attach    v.  sth fasten or join sth (to sth)
  48. attain    v.  succeed in getting (sth); achieve
  49. attitude    n.  way of thinking or behaving
  50. attribute    v.  sth to sb/sth regard sth as belonging to, caused by or produced by sb/sth
  51. author    n.  writer of a book, play, etc
  52. authority    n.  power to give orders and make others obey
  53. automate    v.  cause to operate by automation
  54. available    adj.  that can be used or obtained
  55. aware    adj.  of sb/sth; that... having knowledge or realization of sb/sth
  56. 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
  57. benefit    n.  profit; gain; future good (used esp with the vs and preps shown)
  58. bias    n.  opinion or feeling that strongly favours one side in an argument or one item in a group or series; predisposition; prejudice
  59. bond    n.  written agreement or promise that has legal force; covenant
  60. brief    adj.  lasting only a short time; short
  61. bulk    n.  size, quantity or volume, esp when great
  62. capable    adj.  having ability; able; competent
  63. capacity    n.  ability to hold or contain sth
  64. category    n.  class or group of things in a complete system of grouping
  65. cease    v.  come or bring (sth) to an end; stop
  66. 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
  67. channel    n.  sunken bed of a river, stream or canal
  68. chapter    n.  (usu numbered) division of a book
  69. chart    n.  detailed map used to help navigation at sea, showing coasts, rocks, the depth of the sea, etc
  70. chemical    adj.  of or relating to chemistry
  71. circumstance    n.  condition or fact connected with an event or action
  72. cite    v.  commend
  73. civil    adj.  of or relating to the citizens of a country
  74. clarify    v.  (cause sth to) become clear or easier to understand
  75. classic    adj.  having a high quality that is recognized and unquestioned; of lasting value and importance
  76. clause    n.  group of words that includes a subject1(4a) and a verb, forming a sentence or part of a sentence
  77. code    n.  (system of) words, letters, symbols, etc that represent others, used for secret messages or for presenting or recording information briefly
  78. coherent    adj.  connected logically or consistent; easy to understand; clear
  79. coincide    v.  (of events) occur at the same time or occupy the same period of time as sth else
  80. collapse    v.  fall down or in suddenly
  81. colleague    n.  person with whom one works, esp in a profession or business
  82. commence    v.  begin (sth); start
  83. comment    n.  written or spoken remark giving an opinion on, explaining or criticizing (an event, a person, a situation, etc)
  84. commission    n.  action, task or piece of work given to sb to do
  85. commit    v.  do (sth illegal, wrong or foolish)
  86. commodity    n.  thing bought in a shop and put to use, esp in the home
  87. communicate    v.  sth make sth known; convey sth
  88. community    n.  the community the people living in one place, district or country, considered as a whole
  89. compatible    adj.  (of people, ideas, arguments, principles, etc) suited; that can exist together
  90. compensate    v.  for sth give (sb) sth good to balance or lessen the bad effect of damage, loss, injury, etc.
  91. compile    v.  sth (for/from sth) collect (information) and arrange it in a book, list, report, etc
  92. complement    n.  thing that goes well or suitably with sth else, or makes it complete
  93. complex    adj.  made up of (usu several) closely connected parts
  94. component    n.  any of the parts of which sth is made
  95. compound    n.  thing made up of two or more separate things combined together
  96. comprehensive    adj.  that includes everything
  97. comprise    v.  have as parts or members; be made up of
  98. compute    v.  sth calculate sth with a computer
  99. conceive    v.  become pregnant
  100. 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
  101. concept    n.  idea underlying sth; general notion
  102. conclude    v.  (with sth) (usu fml ) come or bring (sth) to an end
  103. concurrent    adj.  existing, happening or done at the same time
  104. conduct    n.  person's behaviour
  105. confer    v.  (with sb) (on/about sth) have discussions (esp in order to exchange opinions or get advice)
  106. confine    v.  sb/sth keep (a person or an animal) in a restricted space
  107. confirm    v.  provide evidence for the truth or correctness of (a report, an opinion, etc); establish the truth of
  108. conflict    n.  struggle; fight
  109. conform    v.  keep to or comply with (generally accepted rules, standards, etc)
  110. consent    v.  give agreement or permission
  111. consequent    adj.  (fml ) following sth as a result or an effect
  112. considerable    adj.  great in amount or size
  113. consist    v.  consist of sth be composed or made up of sth
  114. constant    adj.  going on all the time; happening again and again
  115. constitute    v.  (fml ) make up or form (a whole); be the components of
  116. constrain    v.  make (sb) do sth by strong (moral) persuasion or by force
  117. construct    v.  build (sth); put or fit together; form
  118. consult    v.  sb/sth go to (a person, book, etc) for information, advice, etc
  119. consume    v.  use (sth) up
  120. contact    n.  state of touching (used esp with the vs shown)
  121. contemporary    adj.  of the time or period being referred to; belonging to the same time
  122. context    writings preceding and following passage quoted
  123. contract    n.  (for sth/to do sth) legally binding agreement, usu in writing
  124. contradict    v.  say sth that conflicts with by (sb), suggesting that the person is mistaken or not telling the truth
  125. contrary    adj.  opposite in nature, tendency or direction
  126. contrast    v.  A and/with B compare so that differences are made clear
  127. contribute    v.  (to/towards sth) give one's share of (money, help, advice, etc) to help a joint cause
  128. controversy    n.  public discussion or argument, often rather angry, about sth which many people disagree with
  129. convene    v.  summon to come together; arrange (a meeting, etc)
  130. converse    v.  (about sth); (together) (fml ) talk
  131. convert    v.  (sth) (from sth) (into/to sth) change (sth) from one form or use to another
  132. convince    v.  sb make sb feel certain; cause sb to realize
  133. cooperate    v.  work or act together
  134. coordinate    vt.  to organize or integrate (diverse elements) in a harmonious operation
  135. core    n.  centre of such fruits as the apple and pear, containing the seeds
  136. corporate    adj.  of or shared by all the members of a group; collective
  137. correspond    v.  be in agreement; not contradict sth or each other
  138. couple    n.  two people or things that are seen together or associated, esp a man and woman together
  139. create    v.  cause to exist; make (sth new or original)
  140. credit    n.  permission to delay payment for goods and services until after they have been received; system of paying in this way
  141. criteria    n.  (pl of criterion) standard by which sth is judged
  142. crucial    adj.  very important; decisive
  143. culture    n.  refined understanding and appreciation of art, literature, etc
  144. currency    n.  money system in use in a country
  145. cycle    n.  series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order
  146. data    n.  facts or information used in deciding or discussing sth
  147. 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
  148. decade    n.  period of ten years
  149. decline    v.  say `no' to (sth); refuse (sth offered), usu politely
  150. deduce    v.  sth arrive at (facts, a theory, etc) by reasoning; infer sth
  151. define    v.  sth state precisely the meaning of (eg words)
  152. definite    adj. clear; not doubtful
  153. demonstrate    v.  sth (to sb) show sth clearly by giving proof or evidence
  154. denote    v.  be the name, sign or symbol of (sth); refer to
  155. deny    v.  say that (sth) is not true
  156. depress    v.  make sad and without enthusiasm
  157. derive    v.  sth from sth obtain sth from sth; get sth from sth
  158. design    n.  (for sth) drawing or outline from which sth may be made
  159. despite    prep.  without being affected by
  160. detect    v.  discover or recognize that (sth) is present
  161. deviate    v.  from sth stop following
  162. device    n.  thing made or adapted for a special purpose
  163. devote    v.  oneself/sth to sb/sth give to sb/sth; dedicate  ;
  164. differentiat    v.  between A and B; A (from B) see or show (two things) to be different;
  165. dimension    n.  measurement of any sort
  166. diminish    v.  become smaller or less; decrease
  167. discrete    adj.  separate; distinct
  168. discriminate    v.  A from B see or make a difference (between two things)
  169. displace    v.  move from the usual or correct place
  170. display    v.  sth  put sth on show
  171. dispose    v.  place(sb/sth) in a suitable way; arrange
  172. distinct    adj.  easily heard, seen, felt or understood; definite
  173. distort    v.  pull or twist out of its usual shape
  174. distribute    v.  sth separate sth into parts and give a share to each person or thing
  175. diverse    adj.  of different kinds; varied
  176. document    n.  paper, form, book, etc giving information about sth, evidence or proof of sth
  177. domain    n.  lands owned or ruled by a nobleman, government, etc
  178. domestic    adj.  of the home, household or family
  179. dominate    v.  have control of or a very strong influence on (people, events, etc)
  180. draft    n.  rough preliminary written version of sth
  181. drama    n.  play for the theatre, radio or TV
  182. duration    n.  time during which sth lasts or continues
  183. dynamic    adj.  of power or forces that produce movement