ESL Vocabulary Resources - Learn to Speak English

Academic Vocabulary List

Word Definition, meaning

A
adolescent affiliate alarm alley almanac alphabet alternative analgesic antique apiece appetite approach ardor assemble astonish astronomy athlete attic authenticity axe	a teenager associate as a member a device that sound a warning a narrow passageway or street book of facts published annually a set of English letters choice, selection, option something used to reduce pain object prized for its age each, individually desire to eat get closer with great intensity come together, meet surprise, amaze science that deals with the universe sportsman or woman area between the roof and ceiling of a house reality, certainty instrument used in chopping wood

B
bake banknote bargain barrel bat bathrobe blackout blade blame blank blissful boast bounce burglar	to cook in an oven paper money or currency something you can buy cheaply a large round container used for holding great amounts of liquid a small, furry mammal which flies at night clothing worn after taking a shower electric power outage the flat, cutting edge of a knife or tool to accuse someone or wrongdoing empty, without any marks extremely happy brag; say great things about yourself spring or leap like a ball one who breaks into a building and steals

C
cage carve cattle cellophane century challenge charge chew chime cite coffin collapse combination compassion compensation concoct condominium confess confront conquer consumer contact contemporary cope cork coward cracker cream credentials crook crummy curiosity	a structure made of wires or bars for confining animals to create a form by cutting a general name for "cows" a plastic wrapping period of one hundred years call for energetic work or action postpone or delay payment until the bill comes to cut and grind with the teeth device that produces a bell-like sound give reference to a box in which a dead body is placed for burial fall down joining together of things or ideas feeling of sympathy towards another person payment for service, loss or expense create by combining various ingredients individual home within a building of similar homes admit to wrongdoing raise an issue directly and argumentatively defeat, overcome person who buys things to get in touch with; get together to talk with from the same time period handle or deal with a difficult situation material from the bark of a tree, often used for wine bottles tops a person who is not brave a hard, salty, cookie-like food thick, fluffy milk based product qualifications or background a thief, criminal, swindler lousy, miserable, or worthless desire to know; inquisitive interest

D
decathlon decorative dent depending deposit desperate dessert detect devout dip discrimination dozen drudgery dull dweller	ten track and field events ornamental, with artistic design weaken, lessen the value of something, usually by hitting trusting, relying on put money into a bank account without hope sweet dish served after a meal to discover the existence of something very religious put lightly into water or liquid treating people unfairly because of their differences a set of twelve hard, uninteresting labor boring, not exciting; not bright or sharp inhabitant, person who lives at a certain place

E
earn eclipse emerald encourage ensure enthusiastic entirely estate evaluate evolve exhausted exile expansion expert eyelid	get money through working event obscuring the sun or moon a precious stone of bright green color give help, support or confidence make certain, insure very interested or excited about something on the whole property, land, possessions give feedback develop slowly extremely tired forced removal from one's country growth a person with a high degree of knowledge or skill a fold of skin which covers the eyeball

F
fantasy fascinating fatal finesse fleet flock fold former fortune frighten fugitive fur	imagination, dream world very interesting, exciting, fun causing death ability to handle difficult situations well group of ships group of sheep to lay or bend something over upon itself the first of two things good or bad luck, fate to make someone scared or afraid one who tries to escape, runaway thick animal hair

G
galaxy gallery generous gigantic glance glimpse goofy	a group of millions of stars place where art is displayed for the public giving unselfishly, usually large amounts huge, large, enormous to look quickly a brief look; an indication funny, silly

H
hanger harvest hatch havoc heir hemorrhage hop	a device upon which clothing is hung gather crops at the end of growing season break out of an egg a lot of trouble, chaos one who inherits from a parent excessive bleeding jump a short distance, sometimes on one foot

I
ignore illusion immigrant incident incredible inferior inform inhabitant inquire inquiry instinct interfere irrational irrelevant issue	don't pay attention false idea, dream person who comes into a country to live an occurrence or even; happening unbelievable of lower or lesser quality to tell, give the facts resident ask questions the act or process of questioning natural or innate ability to get in the way; prevent someone from doing a task impossible to explain reasonably not related or applicable things that need to be discussed

J
jam jogging juvenile	sweet preserved fruit spread running slowly young, immature, youthful

K
knot	formed when two ropes are tied together

L
lack latter leak lecturer legitimate listless log lonely lumber	absence, deficiency the second of two things a hole or crack which allows water to pass thorough a university professor lawful, conforming to accepted standards lacking energy or spirit a fallen tree trunk or bulky piece of timber without needed companionship wood which has been sawed into boards

M
magician maid mathematics melt monopoly motive museum	one who performs illusions paid housekeeper course subject dealing with numbers and calculations to reduce from a solid to a liquid by heat complete commercial control reason institute that displays artifacts for the public

N
naked narrow nationwide negligent	without covering or clothing thin, not wide everywhere in the country failing to give proper care or attention

O
observe octopus opaque ounce outraged outskirts outstanding owe own	perceive thorough the senses, see deep sea animal with eight legs not transparent unit of weight, one-sixteenth of a pound upset, very mad the suburbs, area around a city distinguished, excellent to be under obligation or indebted to someone possess

P
parlance participation patriotic peak peasant peddler perceive perceive personality plug pocket poll portion pounding poverty practical premarital prevent priceless profit proportion province psychiatry punish puppet	language, usually used by a particular group taking part, getting involved in a group activity having feelings of devotion towards one's country top of the mountain poor, simple farmer someone who sells things sense, notice, observe through the senses to sense (see, hear, smell, touch) the nature or character of a person part of a machine connected to an electrical source a flat pouch sewn into the clothing survey from the general population small part or section beating, hitting repeatedly condition of being poor useful and realistic before marriage stop something from happening very valuable money people make from business segment or section, percentage of the whole a designated political area within a country branch of medicine dealing with mental disorders impose a penalty for wrongful behavior doll or toy which can be animated by manipulation

Q
qualm	feeling of uneasiness, doubt or fear

R
railing rainbow ramble rancher region reinforce relationship release reluctance rendezvous revenue revolver ribbon rinse rise risk roam rough route	a bar which is used for support when climbing stairs an arch containing the colors of the spectrum to talk on an on without saying much person who owns a large farm with animals area, location give support to, strengthen social connection between people set free, allow to go out hesitation, unwillingness to do something meeting at a pre-arranged place earnings, income from a business gun, pistol a narrow strip of cloth used for decoration to cleanse with water after washing with soap go up, get higher possibility of danger or loss wander, walk around without direction having a bumpy surface; not smooth path, road, way

S
sample sand scientist seal severe sheet significantly skill slang slim soak sober spill spoil sponge squeeze starvation stow struggle subsequent supply survey (noun) survey (verb) swallow swell swing	try or test food for taste a grainy type of soil found on beaches an expert in a field of study an aquatic mammal prized for its fur cruel, harsh a large thin cloth which can be spread on a bed in an important or meaningful way ability, talent informal language skinny; thin to immerse or drench in water or other liquid not drunk; serious allow something to fall or run out of a vessel or container to make the quality of something worse an absorbent material used for washing to compress; press closely, usually for extracting juice terrible hunger put something in a small space for storage have difficulty doing something; fight coming after, following materials kept in stock for future use a questionnaire, or a report showing results of a poll ask questions to find out people's opinions to move food or drinks down the throat get bigger, enlarge to move back and forth, sway

T
tap telescope teller textile therapy thermometer thrilling thunder tipping toss trampoline transfer trapper treat trend trophy	to strike or hit gently instrument for viewing distant objects a person who works at a bank window fabric, cloth, woven material professional psychological counseling an instrument used for measuring temperature exciting noise usually followed by a flash of lightning giving extra money for services throw lightly athletic equipment used for jumping into the air change vehicles or transportation en route to one's destination person who catches wild animals for a living special delight a fad that lasts for a long time prize given in a race or competition

U
unflattering upgrade	not in a complimentary way improve the quality of something

V
varnish vast vocational volunteer	a substance painted on wood to make it glossy huge, immense pertaining to a specific job person who gives service without pay

W
walrus warehouse warrior waste wed widespread widow wilderness withdraw wooden workaholic wrap	large seal-like mammal with tusks large building for storage fighter use wrongly, use too much of get married covering a large area woman whose husband has died wild, unsettled area take money out of the bank made of lumber or timber products compulsive worker to cover with paper, cloth, or plastic

Y
yawn	open the mouth in an expression of sleepiness

Note: These are general meanings for the words. You may encounter other definitions depending on context.

Check a dictionary for other meanings.

See Academic Vocabulary Exercises for quizzes matching words and definitions.

Words in the News
ESLgold Dictionary

Rosetta Stone - English

Speak English as a Second Language

Learning English - Lesson One

English Greetings & Phrases

English Pronunciation

English - Introductions

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