college words

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  1. abjure-- v.
    1) To renounce under oath 2) To recant solemnly 3) To give up (an action or practice)
  2. abrogate-- v.
    To abolish, do away with, or annul
  3. abstemious--adj.
    1) Eating and drinking in moderation 2) Sparingly used or consumed; restricted to bare necessities
  4. acumen-- n.
    Quickness and keenness of judgment or insight
  5. antebellum-- adj.
    Belonging to the period before a war, especially the American Civil War
  6. auspicious-- adj.
    1) Attended by favorable circumstances 2) Successful; prosperous
  7. belie-- v.
    1) To picture falsely; misrepresent 2) To show to be false 3) To be counter to; contradict
  8. bellicose-- adj.
    Warlike in manner or temperament; pugnacious
  9. bowdlerize-- v.
    1) To expurgate (a book, for example) prudishly 2) To modify, as by shortening or simplifying or by skewing content
  10. chicanery-- n.
    1) Deception by trickery or sophistry 2) A trick; a subterfuge
  11. chromosome-- n.
    1) A linear strand of DNA and associated proteins in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells that carries the genes and functions in the transmission of hereditary information 2) A circular strand of DNA in bacteria that contains the hereditary information necessary for cell life
  12. churlish-- adj.
    1) Of, like, or befitting a churl; boorish or vulgar 2) Surly 3) Difficult to work with, such as soil
  13. circumlocution-- n.
    1) The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language 2) Evasion in speech or writing 3) A roundabout expression
  14. circumnavigate-- v.
    1) To proceed completely around 2) To go around; circumvent
  15. deciduous-- adj.
    1) Falling off or shed at a specific season or stage of growth 2) Shedding or losing foliage at the end of the growing season 3) Not lasting; ephemeral
  16. deleterious-- adj.
    Having a harmful effect; injurious
  17. diffident-- adj.
    1) Lacking or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy 2) Reserved in manner
  18. enervate-- v. or adj.
    • 1) To weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of 2) Medicine to remove a nerve or part of a nerve
    • 1) Deprived of strength; debilitated
  19. enfranchise-- v.
    1) To bestow a franchise on 2) To endow with the rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote 3) To free
  20. epiphany-- n.
    1) A revelatory manifestation of a divine being 2) A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something; a comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization
  21. equinox-- n.
    1) Either of two points on the celestial sphere at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator 2) Either of the two times during a year when the sun crosses the celestial equator and when day and night are of approximately equal length
  22. euro or Euro-- n.
    The basic unit of currency among members of the European Monetary Union
  23. evanescent-- adj.
    Vanishing or likely to vanish like vapor
  24. expurgate-- v.
    To remove erroneous, vulgar, or otherwise objectionable material from (a book, for example) before publication
  25. facetious-- adj.
    Playfully jocular; humorous
  26. fatuous-- adj.
    1) Vacuously, smugly, and unconsciously foolish 2) Delusive; unreal
  27. feckless-- adj.
    1) Feeble or ineffective 2) Careless and irresponsible
  28. fiduciary-- adj. or n.
    • 1) Of or relating to a holding of something in trust for another 2) Of or consisting of fiat money
    • 1) One, such as a company director, that has a special relation of trust or responsibility in certain obligations to others
  29. filibuster-- n. or v.
    • 1) The use of obstructionist tactics, especially prolonged speechmaking, in order to delay legislative action 2) An adventurer who engages in a private military action in a foreign country
    • 1) To use obstructionist tactics in a legislative body 2) To take part in a military action in a foreign country
  30. gamete-- n.
    A reproductive cell having the haploid number of chromosomes, especially a mature sperm or egg capable of fusing with a gamete of the opposite sex to produce the fertilized egg
  31. gauche-- adj.
    Lacking social polish; tactless
  32. gerrymander-- n.
    1) To divide (a geographic area) into voting districts so as to give unfair advantage to one party in elections 2) A district of configuration of districts differing widely in size or population because of gerrymandering
  33. hegemony-- n.
    The predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or others
  34. hemoglobin-- n.
    The iron-containing respiratory pigment in red blood cells of vertebrates, consisting of about 6% heme and 94% globin
  35. homogeneous-- adj.
    1) Of the same or similar nature or kind 2) Uniform in structure of composition 3) (Mathematics) Consisting of terms of the same degree or elements of the same dimension
  36. hubris (also hybris)-- n.
    Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance
  37. hypotenuse (also hypothenuse)-- n.
    The side of a right triangle opposite the right angle
  38. impeach-- v.
    1) To accuse; to charge (a public official) with improper conduct in office before a proper tribunal 2) To try to discredit
  39. incognito-- adv. & adj. or n.
    • With one's identity disguised or concealed
    • One whose identity is disguised or concealed
  40. incontrovertible-- adj.
    Impossible to dispute; unquestionable
  41. inculcate-- v.
    1) To impress (something) upon the mind of another by frequent instruction or repetition 2) To indoctrinate
  42. infrastructure-- n.
    1) An underlying foundation, espcially for an organization or a system 2) The basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a community or society
  43. interpolate-- v.
    1) To insert or introduce between other elements or parts 2) To change or falsify (a text) with new or incorrect material 3) (Mathematics) To estimate a value (a function or series) between two known values
  44. irony-- n.
    1) The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning 2) Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs
  45. jejune-- adj.
    1) Dull 2) Lacking maturity; childish 3) Lacking in nutrition
  46. kinetic-- adj.
    1) Of, relating to, or produced by motion 2) Relating to or exhibiting kinesis
  47. kowtow-- v. or n.
    • 1) To kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in expression of deep respect, worship, or submission
    • 1) The act of kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground 2) An obsequious act
  48. laissez faire (also laisser faire)-- n.
    1) An economic doctrine that opposes governmental regulation of or interference in commerce 2) Noninterference in the affairs of others
  49. lexicon-- n.
    1) A dictionary 2) A stock of terms used in a particular profession, subject, or style 3) (Linguistics) The morphemes of a language considered as a group
  50. loquacious-- adj.
    Very talkative; garrulous
  51. lugubrious-- adj.
    Mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree
  52. metamorphosis-- n.
    1) A transformation, as by magic 2) A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function 3) (Biology) Change in the form and often habits of an animal during normal development after the embryonic stage
  53. mitosis-- n.
    (Biology) 1) The process in cell division by which the nucleus divides 2) The entire process of cell division including division of the nucleus and the cytoplasm
  54. moiety-- n.
    1) A half 2) A part, portion, or share 3) Either of two kinship groups based on unilateral descent that together make up a tribe or society
  55. nanotechnology-- n.
    The science and technology of building electronic circuits and devices from individual atoms and molecules
  56. nihilism-- n.
    1) (Philosophy) An extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence 2) Rejection of all distinctions in moral or religious value 3) The belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement
  57. nomenclature-- n.
    1) A system of names used in an art or science 2) The procedure of assigning names to organisms listed in a taxonomic classification
  58. nonsectarian-- adj.
    Not limited to or associated with a particular religious denomination
  59. notarize-- v.
    To certify or attest to (the validity of a signature on a document, for example) as a notary public
  60. obsequious-- adj.
    Full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning
  61. oligarchy-- n.
    1) Government by a few, especially by a small faction of persons or families; those making up such a government 2) A state goverened by an oligarchy
  62. omnipotent-- adj. or n.
    • Having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force
    • One who is omnipotent
  63. orthography-- n.
    1) The art or study of standard spelling 2) A method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols; spelling
  64. oxidize-- v.
    1) To combine with oxygen 2) To increase the positive charge or valence of (an element) by removing electrons 3) To coat with oxide
  65. parabola-- n.
    A plane curve formed by the intersection of a right circular cone and a plane parallel to an element of the cone or by the locus of points equidistant from a fixed line and a fixed point not on the line
  66. paradigm-- n.
    1) One that serves as pattern or model 2) A set or list of all the inflectional forms of a word or of one of its grammatical categories 3) A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them
  67. parameter-- n.
    1) (Mathematics) A constant in an equation that varies in other equations of the same general form 2) One of a set of measurable factors that define a system and determine its behavior and are varied in an experiment 3) A distinguishing characteristic or feature
  68. pecuniary-- adj.
    1) Of or relating to money 2) Requiring payment of money
  69. photosynthesis-- n.
    The process by which green plants and certain other organisms synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source and usually releasing oxygen as a byproduct
  70. plagiarize-- v.
    To use and pass off (the ideas or writings of another) as one's own
  71. plasma (also plasm)-- n.
    1) The clear yellowish fluid portion of blood, lymph, or intramuscular fluid in which cells are suspended 2) (Medicine) Cell-free sterilized blood plasma, used in transfusions
  72. polymer-- n.
    Any of numerous natural or synthetic compounds of usually high molecular weight consisting of repeated linked units, each a relatively light and simple molecule
  73. precipitous-- adj.
    1) Extremely steep 2) Having several precipices
  74. quasar-- n.
    An extremely distant celestial object whose power output is thousands of times that of our entire galaxy
  75. quotidian-- adj.
    1) Everyday commonplace 2) Recurring daily. Used especially of attacks of malaria
  76. recapitulate-- v.
    1) To repeat in concise form 2) (Biology) To appear to repeat (the evolutionary stages of the species) during the embryonic development of the individual organism
  77. reciprocal-- adj. or n.
    • 1) Concerning each of two or more persons or things 2) Given or owed to each other 3) Interchangeable; complimentary
    • 1) Something that is reciprocal to something else
  78. reparation-- n.
    1) The act or process of repairing or the condition of being repaired 2) The act or process of making amends
  79. respiration-- n.
    1) The act or process of inhaling and exhaling 2) Any of various metabolic processes by which certain organisms, such as fungi, obtain energy from organic molecules
  80. sanguine-- adj.
    1) Of the color of blood; a healthy reddish color 2) Cheerfully confident; optimistic
  81. soliloquy--
    1) A dramatic or literary form of discourse in which a character reveals his or her thoughts when alone or unaware of the presence of other characters 2) The act of speaking to oneself
  82. subjugate-- v.
    1) To bring under control; conquer 2) enslave
  83. suffragist-- n.
    An advocate of the extension of political voting rights, especially to women
  84. supercilious-- adj.
    Feeling or showing haughty disdain
  85. tautology- n.
    1) Needless repitition of the same sense in different words 2) (Logic) An empty statement composed of simpler statements in a fashion that makes it logically true whether the simpler statements are factually true or false; for example, Either we'll go or we'll stay
  86. taxonomy-- n.
    1) The classification of organisms in an ordered system that indicates natural relationships 2) The science, laws, or principles of classification
  87. tectonic-- adj.
    1) (Geology) Relating to, causing, or resulting from structural deformation of the earth's crust 2) Relating to construction of building
  88. tempestuous-- adj.
    Tumultuous; stormy
  89. thermodynamics-- n.
    The branch of physics that deals with the relationships and conversions between heat and other forms of energy
  90. totalitarian-- adj. or n.
    • Of, being, or composing a form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life
    • A practitioner or supporter of such a government
  91. unctuous-- adj.
    1) Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness 2) Having the quality or characteristics of oil or ointment; slippery 3) Abundant in organic material; soft and rich
  92. usurp-- v.
    To seize and hold (the power or rights of another, for example) by force and without legal authority
  93. vacuous-- adj.
    1) Devoid of matter 2) Stupid 3) Idle
  94. vehement-- adj.
    1) Forceful or intense in expression, emotion, or conviction 2) Vigorous or energetic
  95. vortex-- n.
    1) A spiral motion of fluid within a limited area especially a whirling mass of water or air that sucks everything near it towards its center 2) A place or situation regarded as drawing into its center all that surrounds it
  96. winnow-- v.
    1) To seperate the chaff from (grain) by means of a current of air 2) To blow (chaff) off or away
  97. wrought-- adj.
    1) Created 2) Shaped by hammering with tools 3) Made delicately or elaborately
  98. xenophobe-- n.
    A person unduly fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples
  99. yeoman-- n.
    1) An attendant or lesser official in a royal or noble household 2) A petty officer performing chiefly clerical duties in the US Navy 3) An assistant or other subordinate 4) A diligent, dependable worker
  100. ziggurat-- n.
    A temple tower of the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians, having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories

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Author:
 c_starrett
ID:
 89635
Filename:
 college words
Updated:
2011-06-07 21:47:14
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college words
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100 college words every student should know
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