UG ETV1 VOC - Word List - Full detail

cursory

Definition: hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
Notes: E.g. ‘A cursory glance at the headlines suggests he has more interviews to conduct before anybody starts to believe him.’
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: adjective

curt

Definition: appearing rude because very few words are used, or because something is done in a very quick way
Notes: E.g. 'It was Mr Bentley, crisp and curt — for he greatly disliked using the instrument.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: adjective

cut someone some slack

Definition: to allow someone some leeway in their conduct
Notes:
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: phrase

dawn

Definition: 1) to begin to grow light as the sun rises, 2) to begin to appear or develop, 3) to begin to be perceived or understood
Notes: E.g. 'Dawning of a new era.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: verb

deadlock

Definition: 1) a situation, typically one involving opposing parties, in which no progress can be made, 2) a situation in a game or match where the scores are level
Notes: (British English) a type of lock requiring a key to open and close it, as distinct from a spring lock, (American English) 'deadbolt'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: noun

deception

Definition: 1) the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid; the act of deceiving, 2) the fact or condition of being deceived, 3) something that deceives
Notes: E.g. 'Your lifeboat of deception is now sailing.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: noun

decisive

Definition: 1) settling an issue; producing a definite result, 2) having or showing the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively
Notes:
Synonym: 1) deciding, conclusive, 2) effective
Antonym:
Lexical: adjective

deduce

Definition: to reach an answer or a decision by thinking carefully about the known facts
Notes: E.g. 'The detective could deduce from the suspect's strange behaviour that he was lying.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: verb

default

Definition: 1) failure to fulfil an obligation, especially to repay a loan or appear in a law court, 2) something that is usual or standard
Notes: E.g. 2) 'She is always so happy; a smile is her default facial expression.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: noun

defer

Definition: to put something off in time
Notes: E.g. 'Let us defer that decision until our next meeting, when we have more information on the case.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: verb

deficiency

Definition: a lack of something that is necessary
Notes:
Synonym: insufficiency
Antonym: abundance, advantage, strength
Lexical: noun

deficient

Definition: 1) insufficient or inadequate, 2) not having enough of a specified quality or ingredient
Notes: E.g. 1) ‘The report accuses prosecutors of conducting deficient investigations or presenting inadequate evidence at the trials.’
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: adjective

definitively

Definition: 1) the end of an action, 2) authoritative and apparently exhaustive, 3) to define or specify precisely, 4) to serve as a perfect example
Notes: E.g. 'The war was renewed in 1688 and continued until 1697, when the peace of Ryswick confirmed definitively the annexation of Strasburg to France.'
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: adverb

defy

Definition: to oppose with boldness, offer resistance
Notes:
Synonym: to stand up to, to face
Antonym:
Lexical: verb

demonstrably

Definition: in a way that is clearly apparent or capable of being logically proved
Notes:
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: adverb

denounce

Definition: 1) publicly declare to be wrong or evil or accuse someone of being evil, 2) to criticise something or someone strongly and publicly
Notes: E.g. 'He was widely denounced as a traitor.'
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Antonym:
Lexical: verb

deplorable

Definition: 1) deserving strong condemnation; completely unacceptable, 2) shockingly bad in quality
Notes:
Synonym:
Antonym:
Lexical: adjective

derivative

Definition: imitative of the work of another artist, writer, etc., and usually disapproved of for that reason
Notes:
Synonym: copied
Antonym:
Lexical: adjective

derogatory

Definition: showing a critical or disrespectful attitude
Notes:
Synonym: disparaging, disrespectful, critical, hurtful
Antonym: complimentary, flattering
Lexical: adjective

destitute

Definition: 1) without money, food, a home, or possessions 2) devoid of
Notes: E.g. 1) 'The destitute widow had no idea how she was going to buy food for her five children'.
Synonym: penniless, impoverished, lacking, deprived of
Antonym: affluent
Lexical: adjective