TOEFL wordlist 34

1. elusive [iˈluːsɪv]

adj. Something or someone that is elusive is difficult to find, describe, remember, or achieve.

A solution to the problem of toxic waste is proving elusive.

2. reproach [rɪˈprəʊtʃ]

(1). v. If you reproach someone, you say or show that you are disappointed, upset, or angry because they have done something wrong.

(2). n. If you look at or speak to someone with reproach, you show or say that you are disappointed, upset, or angry because they have done something wrong.

(3). v. If you reproach yourself, you think with regret about something you have done wrong.

(4). n. If you consider someone's actions or behaviour to be a reproach to a group of people, you consider them to be harmful or insulting to that group.

The girl reproached her brothers for ruining her birthday party.

3. gratify [ˈɡrætɪfaɪ]

(1). v. If you are gratified by something, it gives you pleasure or satisfaction.

(2). v. If you gratify your own or another person's desire, you do what is necessary to please yourself or them.

The parents were very gratified at their daughter's growth and progress.

4. pharaoh [ˈfeərəʊ]

n. A pharaoh was a king of ancient Egypt.

A pharaoh is ancient Egypt is the counterpart of Emperor in ancient China.

5. encroach [ɪnˈkrəʊtʃ]

(1). v. If one thing encroaches on another, the first thing spreads or becomes stronger, and slowly begins to restrict the power, range, or effectiveness of the second thing.

(2). v. If something encroaches on a place, it spreads and takes over more and more of that place.

After the old man died, the step-son encroached on his whole property.

6. hearsay [ˈhɪəseɪ]

n. Hearsay is information which you have been told but do not know to be true.

It's just hearsay, so don't believe it.

7. ambivalent [æmˈbɪvələnt]

adj. If you say that someone is ambivalent about something, they seem to be uncertain whether they really want it, or whether they really approve of it.

People often keep an ambivalent attitude towards white lies.

8. lofty [ˈlɒfti]

(1). adj. A lofty ideal or ambition is noble, important, and admirable.

(2). adj. A lofty building or room is very high.

(3). adj. If you say that someone bahaves in a lofty way, you are critical of them for behaving in a proud and rather unpleasant way, as if they think they are very important.

The mountain climbers are going to conquer this lofty mountain.

9. scrupulous [ˈskruːpjələs]

(1). adj. Someone who is scrupulous takes great care to do what is fair, honest, or morally right.

(2). adj. Scrupulous means thorough, exact, and careful about details.

This job requires someone very scrupulous and careful.

10. nimble [ˈnɪmbl]

(1). adj. Someone who is nimble is able to move their fingers, hands, or legs quickly and easily.

(2). adj. If you say that someone has a nimble mind, you mean they are clever and can think very quickly.

The team needs a leader who has a nimble mind.

11. perpetual [pəˈpetʃuəl]

(1). adj. A perpetual feeling, state, or quality is one that never ends or changes.

(2). adj. A perpetual act, situation, or state is one that happens again and again and so seems never to end.

The perpetual snow of the Arctic began to melt.

12. dote [dəʊt]

v. If you say that someone dotes on a person or a thing, you mean that they love or care about them very much and ignore any faults they may have.

It is common that grandparents dote on their grandchildren.

13. clump [klʌmp]

(1). n. A clump of things such as trees or plants is a small group of them growing together.

(2). n. A clump of things such as wires or hair is a group of them collected together in one place.

(3). v. If someone clumps somewhere, they walk there with heavy, clumsy steps.

(4). v. If things clump together, they gather together and form small groups or lumps.

He got a clump of soil from the edge of a cow pasture.

14. repertoire [ˈrepətwɑː(r)]

(1). n. A per-former's repertoire is all the plays or pieces of music that he or she has learned and can perform.

(2). n. The repertoire of a person or thing is all the things of a particular kind that the person or thing is capable of doing.

(3). n. You can refer to all the plays or music of a particular kind as, for example, the classical repertoire or the jazz repertoire.

All teachers have a variety of techniques and activities that they regularly use -- their repertoire.

15. rally [ˈræli]

(1). n. A rally is a large public meeting that is held in order to show support for something such as a political party.

(2). v. When people rally to something or when something rallies them, they unite to support it.

(3). v. When someone or something rallies, they begin to recover or improve after having been weak.

(4). n. A rally is a competition in which vehicles are driven over public roads.

(5). n. A rally in tennis, badminton, or squash is a continuous series of shots that the players exchange without stopping.

They have rallied a great deal of support for their campaign.

16. errand [ˈerənd]

(1). n. An errand is a short trip that you make in order to do a job for someone, for example when you go to a shop to buy something for them.

(2). phrase. If you run an errand for someone, you do or get something for them, usually by making a short trip somewhere.

I have to pick up my car and do a couple of errands.

17. horde [hɔːd]

n. If you describe a crowd of people as a horde, you mean that the crowd is very large and excited and, often, rather frightening or unpleasant.

There are hordes of traders at the jumble sale today.

18. literacy [ˈlɪtərəsi]

n. Literacy is the ability to read and write.

Franklin's newspaper was especially significant because literacy was increasing at the time.

19. cape [keɪp]

(1). n. A cape is a large piece of land that sticks out into the sea from the coast.

(2). n. A cape is a short cloak.

The need for ships to round the Cape Horn was greatly reduced by the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914.

20. sled [sled]

(1). n. A sled is the same as sledge.

(2). v. If you go sledding, you ride on a sled.

We were hoping we could go sledding.

21. besiege [bɪˈsiːdʒ] 

(1). v. If you are besieged by people, many people want something from you and continually bother you.

(2). v. If soldiers besiege a place, they surround it and wait for the people in it to stop fighting or resisting.

Almost daily the public is besieged by claims for no-aging diets, new vitamins, and other wonder foods.

22. buck [bʌk]

(1). n. A buck is a US or Australian dollar.

(2). n. A buck is the male of various animals, including the deer, antelope, rabbit and kangaroo.

(3). n. A buck is a young Native American or African American man.

(4). adj. If someone has buck teeth, their upper front teeth stick forward out of their mouth.

(5). v. If a horse bucks,  it kicks both of its back legs wildly into the air, or jumps into the air wildly with all four feet off the ground.

(6). v. If you buck the trend, you obtain different results from others in the same area. If you buck the system, you get what you want by breaking or ignoring the rules.

(7). phrase. If you get more bang for the buck, you spend your money wisely and get more for your money than if you were to spend it in a different way.

(8). phrase. When someone makes a fast buck or makes a quick buck, they earn a lot of money quickly and easily, often by doing something which is considered to be dishonest.

(9). phrase. If you are trying to make a duck, you are trying to earn some money.

(10). phrase. Someone who is buck naked is not wearing any clothes at all.

(11). phrase. If you pass the buck, you refuse to accept responsibility for something, and say that someone else is responsible.

(12). phrase. If you say 'The buck stops here' or 'The buck stops with me', you mean that you have to take responsibility for something and will not try to pass the responsibility on to someone else.

He admired her willingness to buck the system.

23. avert [əˈvɜːt]

(1). v. If you avert something unpleasant, you prevent it from happening.

(2). v. If you avert your eyes or gaze from someone or something, you look away from them.

A fresh tragedy was narrowly averted yesterday.

24. flap [flæp]

(1). v. If something such as a piece of cloth or paper flaps or if you flap it, it moves quickly up and down or from side to side.

(2). v. If a bird or insect flaps its wings or if its wings flap, the wings move quickly up and down.

(3). v. If you flap your arms, you move them quickly up and down as if they were the wings of a bird.

(4). n. A flap of cloth or skin, for example, is a flat piece of it that can move freely up and down or from side to side because it is held or attached by only one edge.

(5). n. A flap on the wing of an aircraft is an area along the edge of the wing that can be raised or lowered to control the movement of the aircraft.

(6). n. A flap is a sudden noise or movement made by a bird's wing or by a piece of paper or cloth when it flaps.

(7). n. Someone who is in a flap is in a state of great excitement, worry, or panic.

The flags are flapping in the breeze.

25. wasp [wɒsp]

(1). n. WASP is used to refer to the people in American society whose ancestors came from northern Europe, especially England, and who were formerly considered to have a lot of power and influence. WASP is an abbreviation for 'White Anglo-Saxon Protestant'.

(2). n. A wasp is an insect with wings and yellow and black stripes across its body. Wasps have a painful sting like a bee but do not provide honey.

The various species of wasps fall into two main categories: solitary wasps and social wasps.

26. foment [fəʊˈment]

v. If someone or something foments trouble or violent opposition, they cause it to develop.

Three sailors were fomenting a mutiny on the ship.

27. stalk [stɔːk]

(1). n. The stalk of a flower, leaf, or fruit is the thin part that joins it to the plant or tree.

(2). v. If you stalk a person or a wild animal, you follow them quietly in order to kill them, catch them, or observe them carefully.

(3). v. If someone stalks someone else, especially a famous person or a person they used to have a relationship with, they keep following them or contacting them in an annoying and frightening way.

(4). v. If you stalk somewhere, you walk there in a stiff, proud, or angry way.

(5). v. If you say that something bad such as death, fear, or evil stalks a place, you mean it is there.

Its stalk is not strong enough to support its weight.

28. irrigate [ˈɪrɪɡeɪt]

v. To irrigate land means to supply it with water in order to help crops grow.

The irrigation system was built in 256BCE to irrigate an enormous area of farmland.

29. clinic [ˈklɪnɪk]

n. A clinic is a building where people go to receive medical advice or treatment.

In America, patients have to make an appointment with doctors in the clinic first.

30. sanctuary [ˈsæŋktʃuəri]

(1). n. A sanctuary is a place where people who are in danger from other people can go to be safe.

(2). n. Sanctuary is the safety provided in a sanctuary.

(3). n. A sanctuary is a place where birds or animals are protected and allowed to live freely.

Hunters are forbidden from hunting in wildlife sanctuaries of this region.

31. closet [ˈklɒzɪt]

(1). n. A closet is a piece of furniture with doors at the front and shelves inside, which is used for storing things.

(2). n. A closet is a very small room for storing things, especially one without windows.

(3). adj. Closet is used to describe a person who has beliefs, habits, or feelings which they keep secret, often because they are embarrassed about them. Closet is also used of their beliefs, habits, or feelings.

(4). phrase. If someone comes out of the closet, they tell people that they are homosexual after kept this a secret.

(5). phrase. If someone comes out of the closet, they reveal or discuss something which they have previously kept secret. You can also say that an issue comes out of the closet when it starts to be publicly discussed.

He had closeted himself away in the room after failing the exam.

32. abiding [əˈbaɪdɪŋ]

adj. An abiding feeling, memory, or interest in one that you have for a very long time.

The old man has an abiding love for music and drama.

33. saturate [ˈsætʃəreɪt]

(1). v. If people or things saturate a place or object, they fill it completely so that no more can be added.

(2). v. If someone or something is saturated, they become extremely wet.

The ocean saturates the atmosphere with water.

整理自《柯林斯词典》、《新东方托福词汇》，侵删歉。