Academic Word List (P - W)

panel n. separate, usu rectangular, part of the surface of a door, wall, ceiling, etc, usu raised above or sunk below the surrounding area
paradigm n. set of all the different forms of a word
paragraph n. distinct section of a written or printed text, usu consisting of several sentences dealing with a single theme and starting on a new line
parallel adj. (of two or more lines) having the same distance between each other at every point
parameter n. quantity that does not vary in a particular case but does vary in other cases
participate v. take part or become involved (in an activity)
partner n. person who takes part in an activity with another or others, esp one of several owners of a business
passive adj. not active; submissive
perceive v. become aware of (sb/sth); notice; observe
period n. length or portion of time
persist v. continue to do sth, esp in an obstinate and determined way and in spite of opposition, argument or failure
perspective n. art of drawing solid objects on a flat surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth and position in relation to each other
phase n. stage in a process of change or development
phenomenon n. fact or occurrence, esp in nature or society, that can be perceived by the senses
philosophy n. search for knowledge and understanding of the nature and meaning of the universe and of human life
physical adj. of or concerning material things
plus prep. with the addition of
policy n. plan of action, statement of ideals, etc proposed or adopted by a government, political party, business, etc
portion n. part or share into which sth is divided
pose v. (for sb) sit or stand in a particular position in order to be painted, drawn or photographed
positive adj. with no possibility of doubt; clear and definite
potential adj. that can or may come into existence; possible
practitioner n. person who practises a skill or an art
precede v. come or go before in time, order, rank, etc
precise adj. stated clearly andaccurately
predict v. say in advance that will happen; forecast
predominant adj. having more power or influence than others
preliminary adj. coming before a more important action or event; preparatory
presume v. suppose to be true; take (sth) for granted
previous adj. coming before in time or order
primary adj. earliest in time or order of development
prime adj. most important; chief; fundamental
principal adj. first in rank or importance; chief; main
principle n. basic general truth that underlies sth
prior adj. coming before in time, order or importance
priority n. (state of) being more important (in rank)
proceed v. (to sth) go to a further or the next stage; go on
process n. series of actions or operations performed in order to do, make or achieve sth
professional adj. of or belonging to a profession
prohibit v. sth/sb (from doing sth) forbid sth or sb from doing sth esp by laws, rules or regulations
project n. scheme or undertaking
promote v. to contribute to the growth or prosperity of:FURTHER
proportion n. comparative part or share of a whole; fraction
prospect n. (dated ) wide view of a landscape, etc
protocol n. system of rules governing formal occasions, eg meetings between governments, diplomats, etc; official etiquette
psychology n. science or study of the mind and how it functions
publication n. action of making a book or periodical, available to the public
publish v. prepare, have printed and distribute to the public (a book, periodical, etc)
purchase n. (action of) buying sth
pursue v. follow (sb/sth), esp in order to catch or kill; chase ,
qualitative adj. of or concerned with quality
quote v. (from sb/sth) repeat in speech or writing (words previously said or written by another person)
radical adj. of or from the root or base; fundamental
random adj. done, chosen, etc without method or conscious choice; haphazard
range n. connected line or row of mountains, hills, etc
ratio n. relation between two amounts determined by the number of times one contains the other
rational adj. able to reason
react v. behave differently or change as a result of sth; respond
recover v. sth find again (sth stolen, lost, etc); regain possession of sth
refine v. remove impurities from (sth); purify
regime n. method or system of government
region n. part of a surface or bodyor space with or without definite boundaries or characteristicfeatures
register n. official list or record of names, items, attendances, etc
regulate v. control or direct by means of rules and restrictions
reinforce v. make stronger by adding material, etc
reject v. refuse to accept
relax v. (make sth) become less tight, stiff, etc
release v. sb/sth (from sth) allow (a person or an animal) to go; set free or liberate sb/sth ;
relevant adj. (to sth/sb)connected with what is being discussed, what is happening,what is being done, etc
reluctance Unwillingness.
rely v. (pt, pp relied) on/upon sb/sth (to do sth) count or depend on sb/sth
remove v. sth/sb (from sth) take sth/sb away from one place to another
require v. depend on (sb/sth) for success, fulfilment, etc; need
research n. (on sb) careful study or investigation, esp in order to discover new facts or information
reside v. (in/at...) have one's home (in a certain place); live
resolve v. on/upon/against sth/doing sth decide firmly; determine
resource n. supply of raw materials, etc which bring a country, person, etc wealth
respond v. (with sth) give a verbal or written answer
restore v. sth (fml ) give back (sth lost, etc) to its owner
restrain v. sb/sthhold back sb/sth from movementor action; keep sb/sth under control or in check
restrict v. sb/sth (to sth) put a limit on sb/sth
retain v. keep (sth) in one's possession or use
reveal v. sth make (facts, etc) known
revenue n. income, esp the total annual income of the State from taxes, etc
reverse adj. contrary or opposite to what is expected
revise v. re-examine (sth), esp in order to correct or improve it
revolution n. overthrow of a system of government, esp by force
rigid adj. stiff; not bending or yielding
role n. actor's part in a play
route n. way taken or planned to get from one place to another
scenario n. written outline of a film, play, etc with details of the scenes and plot
schedule n. programme of work to be done or of planned events
scheme n. plan for doing or organizing sth
scope n. opportunity to do or achieve sth
section n. any of the parts into which sth may be or has been divided
sector n. part of a circle lying between two straight lines drawn from the centre to the circumference
secure adj. not feeling worry, doubt, etc
seek v. (after/for sth) look (for sth); try to find or obtain (sth)
select v. sb/sth choose sb/sth, esp as being the best or most suitable
sequence n. set of events, numbers, actions, etc with each following the one before continuously or in a particular order
series n. number of things, events, etc of a similar kind, esp. placed or occurring one after another
sex n. condition of being male or female; gender
shift v. (sth/sb/oneself) (from.../to...); (sth/sb/oneself) (about/around) (cause sth/sb/oneself to) change or move from one position or direction to another
significant adj. having a meaning, esp one that is immediately obvious
similar adj. resembling sb/sth but not the same; alike
simulate v. pretend to have or feel
site n. place where a building, town, etc was, is, or will be situated
so-called adj. (used to suggest that the words used to describe sb/sth are not appropriate )
sole n. flat sea-fish that is eaten as food
somewhat adv. to some degree; rather
source n. starting-point of a river
specific adj. detailed, precise and exact
specify v. (esp fml ) state or name clearly and definitely (details, materials, etc)
sphere n. solid figure that is entirely round (ie with every point on the surface at an equal distance from the centre)
stable adj. firmly established or fixed; not likely to move or change
statistic n. item of information expressed in numbers
status n. person's social, legal or professional position or rank in relation to others
straightforward adj. honest and frank, without evasion
strategy n. planning and directing an operation in a war or campaign
stress n. mental or physical distress, difficult circumstances, etc
structure n. way in which sth is put together, organized, built, etc
style n. manner of writing or speaking, esp contrasted with what is actually written or said
submit v. (to sb/sth) accept the control, superior strength, etc (of sb/sth); yield (to sb/sth) ; ,
subordinate adj. (to sb) lower in rank or position
subsequent adj. later; following
subsidy n. money paid, esp by a government, to help an industry, to support the arts, to keep prices down, etc
substitute n. person or thing that replaces, acts for or serves as sb or sth else
successor n. person or thing that comes after and takes the place of (sb/sth)
sufficient adj. enough
sum n. arithmetical calculation
summary n. brief statement of themain points of sth
supplement n. thing added to sth else to improve or complete it
survey v. look carefully at all of (sth/sb), esp from a distance
survive v. (on sth) continue to live or exist
suspend v. sth (fml ) hang sth up
sustain v. bear (weight) without breaking or falling
symbol n. image, object, etc that suggests or refers to sth else; emblem
tape n. narrow strip of material used for tying, fastening or labelling things
target n. object or mark that a person tries to hit in shooting, etc; disc marked with concentric circles for this purpose in archery ; .
task n. piece of work that has to be done
team n. group of players forming one side in certain games and sports
technical adj. of or involving the mechanical arts and applied sciences
technique n. method of doing or performing sth, esp in the arts or sciences
technology n. scientificstudy and use of mechanical arts and applied sciences, eg engineering
temporary adj. lasting or meant to last for a limited time only; notpermanent
tense adj. stretched tightly; taut ;
terminate v. come to an end or bring (sth) to an end
text n. main written or printed part of a book or page
theme n. subject of a talk, a piece of writing or a person's thoughts; topic
theory n. set of reasoned ideas intended to explain facts or events
thereby adv. by that means
thesis n. statement or theory put forward and supported by arguments
topic n. subject of a discussion, talk, programme, written work, etc
trace n. mark, track, sign, etc showing what has existed or happened
tradition n. passing of beliefs or customs from one generation to the next, esp without writing
transfer v. sth/sb (from...) (to...) move sth/sb from one place to another
transform v. sth/sb (into sth) completely change the appearance or character of sth/sb
transit n. process of going or being taken or transported from one place to another
transmit v. To send trough or across.
transport v. sth/sb (to...) take sth/sb from one place to another in a vehicle
trend n. general tendency or direction
trigger n. lever that releases a spring, esp so as to fire a gun
ultimate adj. beyond which no other exists or is possible; last or final
undergo v. experience or endure (sth unpleasant or painful)
underlie v. lie or exist beneath (sth)
undertake v.(fml) (start to) make oneself responsible for (sth)
uniform adj. not changing in form or character; unvarying
unify v. form (sth) into a single unit or make uniform
unique adj. being the only one of its type
utilise vt. (=utilize) to put to use, especially to find a profitable or practical use for
valid adj. legally effective because made or done with the correct formalities
vary v. (in sth) be different in size, volume, strength, etc
vehicle n. conveyance such as a car, lorry or cart used for transporting goods or passengers on land
version n. account of an event, etc from the point of view of one person
via prep by way of (sth); through
violate v. break or be contrary to
virtual adj. being or acting as what is described, but not accepted as such in name or officially
visible adj. that can be seen; in sight
vision n. power of seeing; sight
visual adj. concerned with or used in seeing
volume n. book, esp one of a matching set or a series
voluntary adj. acting,done or given willingly
welfare n. good health, happiness, prosperity, etc of a person or group
whereas conj taking into consideration the fact that ...
whereby adv. by which
widespread v.; extending over a wide area