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Target Vocabulary Definitions

abandon (v.) to give up or leave something behind

abstract (adj.) theoretical, not related to real things
abuse (v.) to treat cruelly or violently, to misuse
accumulate (v.) to collect, to gather together an increasing quantity of something
accustomed (to) (adj.) used to a situation
acknowledge (v.) to accept or admit that something is true
acquire (v.) to come into possession or ownership of
adapt (v.) to change your ideas or behavior to fit a new situation
adjust (v.) to change something so it fits properly; adapt
advocate (n.) a person who argues for or supports a cause or policy
aggression (n.) anger and violence toward others
allocate (v.) to give something (time or money) for a particular purpose
alter (v.) to change something
ancestor (n.) a person from whom you are descended who lived long ago
anxiety (n.) fear or nervousness about what might happen
appreciate (v.) to value highly, to be grateful for something or somebody
architecture (n.) the art of planning, designing, and constructing buildings
associate (with) (v.) to think of one person or thing when you think of another person or thing
attribute (v.) to credit or say that something is responsible for a situation
automatic (adj.) done unconsciously or from force of habit
back (v.) to support by material or moral assistance
ban (n.) a legal or formal prohibition
biological (adj.) of or relating to the characteristics of living things
bold (adj.) fearless and daring, standing out from others
bond (v.) to join together
bonus (n.) an extra, unexpected amount beyond the usual amount
capable (adj.) able to do something
capacity (n.) the maximum amount that something can hold or produce
caution (v.) to warn or tell (someone) about a possible danger, problem, etc.
champion (n.) a winner of a contest or competition such as the Olympics
chemical (n.) a substance with distinct composition and properties
citizen (n.) a person who lives in a particular place
classic (adj.) used to describe something that has been popular for a long time
community (n.) a group of people who have the same interests, religion, race, etc.
compel (v.) to force (someone) to do something
competitor (n.) someone who is trying to win or do better than all others especially in
business or sports
concerned (adj.) feeling worry; anxious
conflict (n.) a serious disagreement and argument
conform (v.) to behave in a way that is expected or to meet standards
consciousness (n.) the normal state of being awake and able to understand what is happening
around you
consequently (adv.) as a result
conservative (adj.) cautious and on the low side when giving estimates
contradict (v.) to disagree with what someone says
convert (v.) to change (something) into a different form so that it can be used in a
different way
convey (v.) to make (something) known to someone
criminal (n.) a person who breaks the law
crucial (adj.) extremely important
cure (n.) something that restores health
current (adj.) happening or existing now; existing in the present time
customer (n.) a person who purchases goods or services from another; buyer
data (plural n.) information, facts, or statistics that you can analyze
dawn (n.) sunrise or the beginning of something
decade (n.) a period of ten years
decline (v.) to become less in quantity, importance or strength
defeat (n.) failure to succeed or to win
demanding (adj.) requiring much time, attention or effort
demolish (v.) to destroy (a building, bridge, etc.); to forcefully tear down or take apart (a
structure)
denote (v.) to be a sign or indication of something; to have a particular meaning
dense (adj.) tightly packed together, very thick
dependence (n.) a need to rely on someone or something for help or support
depressed (adj.) feeling very sad and hopeless
destination (n.) the end of a trip; the place you
intend to reach
detect (v.) to notice or discover the existence of something
devote (v.) to give a lot of your time or energy to something
differentiate (v.) to show dissimilarities between two things
disaster (n.) an extremely bad accident or natural event like an earthquake
dismiss (v.) to decide not to think about or consider (something or someone)
displace (v.) to move something from its usual place or to replace it
disposal (n.) the act or process of getting rid of something
distinctive (adj.) having a quality or characteristic that makes a person or thing different
from others; different in a way that is easy to notice
diverse (adj.) varied, made up of many
different things
drag (v.) to pull a heavy weight across the ground
drill (v.) to make a hole in something
drive (v.) to compel or urge
eager (adj.) enthusiastic, looking forward to something
economic (adj.) pertaining to the production, distribution, and use of income, wealth and
commodities
effective (adj.) producing a result that is wanted; having an intended effect
eliminate (v.) to remove completely
emergency (n.) an unexpected and serious situation that must be dealt with immediately
enforce (v.) to make sure that laws are obeyed
enhance (v.) to make something better, to improve it
enormous (adj.) very large, huge
entity (n.) something that exists separately from other things and has its own identity
equivalent (n.) an amount, value, or function that is the same
establish (v.) to set up on a firm and permanent basis
exhibit (v.) to show or put something in a place where people can see it
expand (v.) to become larger
extensive (adj.) vast, covering a large area
external (adj.) something on the outside
extract (v.) to take or pull something out of the place where it was
extraordinary (adj.) having an extremely special quality, very unusual
extremely (adv.) very great in degree
facilitate (v.) to make something easier
fade (v.) to become paler or less noticeable over time
familiarize (v.) to make known or well acquainted
fever (n.) an illness with a very high body temperature
finite (adj.) having bounds or limits
flexible (adj.) easily changed; able to change or to do different things
float (v.) to rest on top of liquid
fluctuate (v.) to change level, strength or value frequently
former (adj.) someone who used to have a position but no longer has
fortune (n.) a store of riches and wealth
founder (n.) person who started or established (something)
fundamental (adj.) important or essential, basic
furthermore (adv.) in addition (introducing more information on the same point)
gender (n.) the categories of male and female
generate (v.) to produce or cause something to begin
genetics (n.) the study of how characteristics are inherited through genes
greed (n.) excessive desire for something like food or money
guarantee (v.) to promise or make certain
holy (adj.) sacred, having to do with religion
humble (adj.) modest and respectful, not too proud
identity (n.) the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different
from others
illustrate (v.) to make clear by examples or analogies
impact (n.) influence; effect
impressive (adj.) deserving attention, admiration, or respect
in time (phrase) eventually
inaccessible (adj.) difficult or impossible to reach
incentive (n.) the reason for doing something, the motive
incidence (n.) an act or occurrence
inevitable (adj.) certain to happen and unable to be prevented
inevitably (adv.) in a way that is certain to happen and unable to be prevented
inhibit (v.) to restrain or prevent
inject (v.) to force (a liquid) into someone or something by using a special needle
innovative (adj.) new and creative
insert (v.) to put an object inside something
isolated (adj.) remote, far from people or towns, difficult to reach
laboratory (n.) a building or room where scientific research takes place
landscape (n.) natural scenery in the countryside (fields, lakes, hills etc.)
leisure (n.) time when you are not working and can relax
literally (adv.) in a true and accurate manner; not exaggerated
location (n.) a place or position
magnificent (adj.) extremely good, beautiful or impressive
manage (v.) to handle and take care of (something) with a degree of skill
massive (adj.) very severe
master (v.) to become highly skilled in doing something
mate (n.) a partner or spouse
mature (adj.) adult; physically and mentally developed
meanwhile (adv.) a period between two events or a time while something is happening
migrate (v.) to move to a new or different place
minimize (v.) to make something as small as it can be
monitor (v.) to regularly check the development or progress of something
monster (n.) a beast-like animal, sometimes imaginary
motion (n.) a body movement
move on (phrase) to start to continue with your life after you have had a bad experience
multiply (v.) to increase in amount
naturally (adv.) used to describe something that happens or exists by itself without being
controlled or changed by someone
neutral (adj.) neither strongly in favor of something nor against it
notion (n.) an idea or belief about something
occur (v.) to appear or exist; to be found
original (adj.) happening or existing first or at the beginning
outcome (n.) a final product or end result; consequence
package (n.) a container like a box or a parcel
partially (adj.) somewhat but not completely; to some extent or degree
participate (v.) to be involved; to take part
passive (adj.) not actively taking part, letting others make decisions
permanent (adj.) lasting forever
persistent (adj.) continuing to do something or to try even though it is difficult
perspective (n.) a point of view or a particular way of thinking about something
pioneer (n.) one of the first people to do something
poisonous (adj.) causing illness or death if swallowed or touched
pose (v.) to cause a problem or danger
poverty (n.) the condition of being very poor
practical (adj.) relating to what is real rather than to what is possible or imagined
precious (adj.) very valuable
precise (adj.) exact
predominantly (adv.) mainly, mostly
presume (v.) to think that something is the case without being certain
primitive (adj.) very simple, belonging to an early period of development
priority (n.) something very important that must be dealt with first
prohibit (v.) to not allow; (adj) not allowed or illegal
promote (v.) to support or actively encourage; to further the progress of
pronounce (v.) to say something using particular sounds
psychological (adj.) related to the human mind
pursuit (n.) an attempt to achieve or reach something
radically (adv.) extremely , very; significant changes
random (adj.) not following a definite order or pattern
rank (n.) a position or grade compared to others
recovery (n.) a return to health or to a normal state
refine (v.) to improve (something) by making small changes
regional (adj.) of, relating to or characteristic of a part of the world that is different or
separate from other parts in some way
reinforce (v.) to strengthen something by giving it more support
reluctant (adj.) not willing or eager to do something
remind (v.) to cause (a person) to remember
renovation (n.) the process of making changes and repairs to (an old house, building, etc.)
so that it is back in good condition
repair (v.) to restore to a good or sound condition after decay or damage; mend
replace (v.) to put someone or something new in the place or position of (someone or
something)
reputation (n.) the opinion people have about someone or something
require (v.) to need (something)
resist (v.) to stand firm against or oppose something
responsible (adj.) able to be trusted to do what is right or to do the things that are expected
or required
reveal (v.) to show or make people aware of something
reverse (v.) to go backwards
ritual (n.) a series of actions that people regularly carry out in a particular situation
and in the same way each time
root (n.) the cause of something, usually bad
ruin (n.) a state of complete destruction
satisfaction (n.) a happy or pleased feeling because of something that you did or something
that happened to you
schedule (n.) a list of events with the times when they will occur
sensible (adj) practical, showing good judgment
sensitive (adj.) easily upset by the things that people think or say about you; showing
awareness and understanding of others
severe (adj.) very strong or powerful
simulate (v.) to pretend to do something in artificial conditions
spectacular (adj.) very impressive or dramatic
spoiled (adj.) damaged or harmed
stalk (v.) to follow (an animal or person that you are hunting or trying to capture) by
moving slowly and quietly
status (n.) the position or rank of someone or something compared to others in a
society, organization or group
steep (adj.) sloping sharply at an angle; rising or falling suddenly
strictly (adv.) in a manner that has to be obeyed
subjective (adj.) based on personal feelings and opinions instead of facts
subsidy (n.) money given to help pay for expenses
substitute (n.) a replacement for somebody or something
sustain (v.) to nourish or provide support so someone can live
swelling (n.) an area on someone’s body that is larger than normal because of an illness
or injury
temporary (adj.) existing for a limited time, not permanent
tension (n.) mental strain, stress
thoroughly (adv) completely and carefully
track (v.) to follow a trail or evidence left by something
transform (v.) to change something totally
transmit (v.) to pass something (message, disease) to another person
transport (v.) to carry something from one place to another
trap (v.) to catch
ultimate (adj.) greatest or most extreme
underlying (adj.) used to identify the idea, cause, problem, etc. that forms the basis of
something
underscore (v.) to emphasize (something) or show the importance of (something)
uniform (adj.) unchanging, consistent, being the same as others
unify (v.) to cause (people or things) to be joined of brought together
unique (adj.) being the only one of its kind
universal (adj.) applicable everywhere or in all cases; general
utilize (v.) to use something [formal]
vast (adj.) immense, extremely large
vehicle (n.) a machine used for transporting people or things like a car, bus, or truck
venture (v.) to go somewhere that is unknown, dangerous, etc.
victim (n.) a person who is hurt or killed, especially in an accident or disaster
victory (n.) a success or triumph over any opponent
visualize (v.) in medicine, to use equipment to create an image of an internal part of
the body like the brain
wander (v.) to walk in an aimless way without a destination; to stop concentrating and
let your mind think about other things
welfare (n.) well-being, health, comfort,
happiness
willing (adj.) happy to do something voluntarily, helpful, cooperative
witness (n.) a person who was on the scene of an accident or crime and saw it take place
zone (n.) an area that is different from others in a particular way