UG ETV1 VOC - Word List - Full detail

bluster

Definition: 1) to talk in a loud, aggressive, or indignant way with little effect, 2) (of a storm, wind, or rain) blow or beat fiercely and noisily
Notes: E.g. 1) ‘You threaten and bluster but won't carry it through.’ 2) ‘A winter gale blustered against the sides of the house.’
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: verb

boisterous

Definition: (of a person, event or behaviour) noisy, energetic, full of life and cheerful
Notes:
Synonym: clamorous, rambunctious, riotous, rowdy
Antonym:
Lexical: adjective

bolster

Definition: to support, to strengthen
Notes: E.g. 'The fall in interest rates is starting to bolster confidence.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: verb

bona fide

Definition: genuine; real
Notes:
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: adjective

brazen

Definition: 1) bold and without shame, 2) made of brass, 3) harsh in sound
Notes: E.g. 'He told me a brazen lie.'
Synonym: bold, shameless
Antonym: humble, modest
Lexical: adjective

brevity

Definition: 1) concise and exact use of words in writing or speech, 2) shortness of duration
Notes: E.g. 1) 'The staff will edit manuscripts with a view to brevity and clarity.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: noun

brittle

Definition: 1) something easy to break, 2) an unstable mood or situation, 3) a loud, short and sharp sound
Notes:
Synonym: fragile
Antonym:
Lexical: adjective

brood

Definition: think deeply about something that makes one unhappy, angry, or worried
Notes:
Synonym: agonize over
Antonym:
Lexical: verb

burgeon

Definition: to grow and flourish
Notes: Adjective: burgeoning
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: verb

by and large

Definition: everything considered
Notes:
Synonym: largely, mostly, mainly, to a large extent, to a great extent, to a great degree, on the whole, chiefly, generally, in general
Antonym:
Lexical: phrase

by the book

Definition: strictly according to the rules
Notes: E.g. 'Business as usual, even when done strictly by the book, is not necessarily the safest way of operating.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: phrase

candour

Definition: the quality of being open and honest
Notes: Am.E. 'candor'
Synonym: frankness
Antonym:
Lexical: noun

canon

Definition: 1) the works of a particular author or artist that are recognised as genuine, 2) the list of works considered to be permanently established as being of the highest quality
Notes: E.g. 1) 'There was never a doubt that Macbeth is part of the Shakespearean canon.' 2) 'Dickens takes up a prominent place in the canon of English prose.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: noun

cave in

Definition: to collapse and fall into the space below
Notes: E.g. 'The ground caved in between where we were standing and the holy grail, which fell into the gap.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: verb

chain of events

Definition: a series of actions that follow up on each other, each one caused by its predecessor
Notes:
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: phrase

clutch at straws

Definition: to be in such a desperate situation as to resort to even the most unlikely means of salvation
Notes: Also: 'to grasp at straws' or 'to catch at straws'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: phrase

coarse

Definition: 1) of ordinary or inferior quality or value, 2) of loose or rough texture, 3) designed for fast, heavy or rough labour, 4) unrefined in language, manners or taste
Notes:
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: adjective

coax

Definition: persuade (someone) gradually or gently to do something
Notes: E.g. 'We did not want to work late shifts, but our employer coaxed us into doing it anyway. After many attempts, we gave in.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: verb

cogent

Definition: convincing; relevant, to the point
Notes: E.g. 'The politician's cogent argument against the war won him many votes in the election.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: adjective

coherence

Definition: 1) the quality of being logical and consistent, 2) the quality of forming a unified whole
Notes: E.g. ‘The accessibility and coherence of this book are among its main strengths.’
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: noun