TOEFL wordlist 17

1. prevalent [ˈprevələnt]

adj. A condition, practice, or belief that is prevalent is common.

Colds are particularly prevalent in winter in this area.

2. miserable [ˈmɪzrəbl]

(1). adj. If you are miserable, you are very unhappy.

(2). adj. If you describe a place or situation as miserable, you mean that it makes you feel unhappy or depressed.

(3). adj. If you describe the weather as miserable, you mean that it makes you feel depressed, because it is raining or dull.

(4). adj. If you describe someone as miserable, you mean that you do not like them because they are bad-tempered or unfriendly.

(5). adj. You can describe a quantity or quality as miserable when you think that it is much smaller or worse than it ought to be.

(6). adj. A miserable failure is a very great one.

I spent a miserable weekend alone at home.

3. hazel [ˈheɪzl]

(1). n. A hazel is a small tree which produces nuts that you can eat.

(2). phrase. Hazel eyes are greenish-brown in colour.

Hazel is widely distributed throughout much of Europe.

4. sewerage [ˈsuːərɪdʒ]

n. Sewerage is the system by which waste matter is carried away in sewers and made harmless.

About 4 billion tonnes of untreated sewerage flows daily into the river.

5. rim [rɪm]

(1). n. The rim of a container such as a cup or glass is the edge that goes all the way round the top.

(2). n. The rim of a circular object is its outside edge.

(3). n. If there is a rim of dirt around a surface there is a dirty mark around it.

(4). n. In basketball, the rim is the metal ring that holds the net through which players have to try to throw the ball to score.

Unluckily, his shot hit the rim of the hoop and bounced out.

6. stunt [stʌnt]

(1). n. A stunt is something interesting that is done in order to attract attention and get publicity for the person or company responsible for it.

(2). n. A stunt is a dangerous and exciting piece of action in a film.

(3). v. If something stunts the growth or development of a person or thing, it prevents it from growing or developing as much as it should.

(4). phrase. If someone pulls a stunt, they do something silly or risky.

His illness had not stunted his creativity.

She did all her own stunts.

7. squash [skwɒʃ]

(1). v. If someone or something is squashed, they are pressed or crushed with such force that they become injured or lose their shape.

(2). adj. If people or things are squashed into a place, they are put or pushed into a place where there is not enough room for them to be.

(3). n. If you say that getting a number of people into a small space is a squash, you mean that it is only just possible for them all to get into it.

(4). v. If you squash something that is causing you trouble, you put a stop to it, often by force.

(5). n. Squash is a game in which two players hit a small rubber ball against the walls of a court using rackets.

(6). n. Squash is a drink made from fruit juice, sugar, and water. Squash is sold in bottles in a concentrated form to which you add water.

(7). n. A squash is one of a family of vegetables that have thick skin and soft or firm flesh inside.

The statement was an attempt to squash the rumors.

8. simmer [ˈsɪmə(r)]

(1). phrase. When you simmer food or when it simmers, you cook it by keeping it at boiling point or just below boiling point.

(2). v. If a conflict or a quarrel simmers, it does not actually happen for a period of time, but eventually builds up to the point where it does.

You are not going to like your new neighbors when you do meet them if you keep on simmering.

9. entrench [ɪnˈtrentʃ]

v. If something such as power, a custom, or an idea is entrenched, it is firmly established, so that it would be difficult to change it.

Sexism is deeply entrenched in our society.

10. acquiesce [ˌækwiˈes]

v. If you acquiesce in something, you agree to do what someone wants or to accept what they do.

I have to acquiesce to his decision even though I have a different opinion.

11. ensconce [ɪnˈskɒns] 

She ensconced herself in a comfortable armchair.

12. secular [ˈsekjələ(r)]

adj. You use secular to describe things that have no connection with religion.

Lisa believes in eternal love in his secular world.

13. chromosome [ˈkrəʊməsəʊm]

n. A chromosome is a part of a cell in an animal or plant. It contains genes which determine what characteristics the animal or plant will have.

Chromosomes also determine the sex of animals.

14. righteous [ˈraɪtʃəs]

adj. If you think that someone behaves or lives in a way that is morally good, you can say that they are righteous. People sometimes use righteous to express their disapproval when they think someone is only behaving in this way so that others will admire or support them.

The judgment of the court is true and righteous.

15. audible [ˈɔːdəbl]

adj. A sound that is audible is loud enough to be heard.

I was sitting in the back row of the theater, and the music was barely audible.

16. mellow [ˈmeləʊ]

(1). adj. Mellow is used to describe things that have a pleasant, soft, rich colour, usually red, orange, yellow, or brown.

(2). adj. A mellow sound or flavour is pleasant, smooth, and rich.

(3). phrase. If someone mellows or if something mellows them, they become kinder or less extreme in their behaviour, especially as a result of growing older.

(4). adj. If someone is mellow, they feel very relaxed and cheerful, especially as the result of alcohol or good food.

The mellow wine is as inviting as freshly served desserts.

17. deplore [dɪˈplɔː(r)]

v. If you say that you deplore something, you think it is very wrong or immoral.

What deplored Jack greatly was his wife left him.

18. esteem [ɪˈstiːm]

(1). n. Esteem is the admiration and respect that you feel towards another person.

(2). v. If you esteem someone or something, you respect or admire them.

In this situation, too much self-esteem can be very dangerous.

19. alienate [ˈeɪliəneɪt]

(1). v. If you alienate someone, you make them become unfriendly or unsympathetic towards you.

(2). v. To alienate a person from someone or something that they are normally linked with means to cause them to emotionally or intellectually separated from them.

You'd better not alienate yourself from your colleagues and friends.

20. fabulous [ˈfæbjələs]

(1). adj. If you describe something as fabulous, you are emphasizing that you like it a lot or think that it is very good.

(2). adj. If you talk about someone's fabulous beauty, for example, or their fabulous success, you are emphasizing that they are extremely beautiful or extremely successful.

His descriptions about the things he met during his travels were fabulous.

21. rectify [ˈrektɪfaɪ]

v. If you rectify something that is wrong, you change it so that it becomes correct or satisfactory.

Now we have a chance to rectify it, and we must take action.

22. scuffle [ˈskʌfl]

(1). n. A scuffle is a short, disorganizaed fight or struggle.

(2). phrase. If people scuffle, they fight for a short time in a disorganized way.

It is said that a scuffle broke out between the two teams the night after the match.

23. mundane [mʌnˈdeɪn]

adj. Something that is mundane is very oridinary and not at all interesting or unusual.

The thinker or philosopher stood apart from this mundane world.

24. granite [ˈɡrænɪt]

n. Granite is a very hard rock used in building.

This building is made of whit granite and marble.

25. plaque  [plæk]

(1). n. A plaque is a flat piece of metal or stone with writing on it which is fixed to a wall or other structure to remind people of an important person or event.

(2). n. Plaque is a substance containing bacteria that forms on the surface of your teeth.

There is a rock behind the bushes with a rusty plaque riveted it.

26. tedium [ˈtiːdiəm]

n. If you talk about the tedium of a job, task, or situation, you think it is boring and rather frustrating.

Their ancestors had traditionally relieved the tedium of life.

27. versatile [ˈvɜːsətaɪl]

(1). adj. If you say that a person is versatile, you approve of them because they have many different skills.

(2). adj. A tool, machine, or material that is versatile can be used for many different purposes.

Her unique background made her an unusually interesting and versatile human being.

28. thrive [θraɪv]

(1). v. If someone or something thrives, they do well and are successful, healthy, or strong.

(2). v. If you say that someone thrives on a particular situation, you mean that they enjoy it or that they can deal with it very well, especially when other people find it unpleasant or difficult.

Fungi thrive in a wide variety of environments.

Why have ants been able to thrive for such a long time?

29. domestic [dəˈmestɪk]

(1). adj. Domestic political activities, events, and situations happen or exist within one particular country.

(2). adj. Domestic duties and activities are concerned with the running of a home and family.

(3). adj. Domestic items and services are intended to be used in people's homes rather than in factories or offices.

(4). adj. A domestic situation or atmosphere is one which involves a familiy and their home.

(5). adj. Someone who is domestic enjoys being at home and running a family.

(6). adj. A domestic animal is one that is not wild and is kept either on a farm to produce food or in someone's home as a pet.

(7). n. A domestic, a domestic help, or a domestic worker is a person who is paid to come to help with the work that has to be done in a house such as the cleaning, washing, and ironing.

At twelve she left home and was in domestic service until twenty-seven.

30. fume [fjuːm]

(1). n. Fumes are the unpleasant and often unhealthy smoke and gases that are produced by fires or by things such as chemicals, fuel, or cooking.

(2). v. If you fume over something, you express annoyance and anger about it.

He sat in the car, silently fuming at the traffic jam.

31. barb [bɑːb]

(1). n. A barb is a sharp curved point near the end of an arrow or fish-hook which makes it difficult to pull out.

(2). n. A barb is an unkind remark meant as a criticism of someone or something.

32. pebble [ˈpebl]

n. A pebble is a small, smooth, round stone which is found on beaches and at the bottom of rivers.

You are not the only pebble on the beach.

33. devoid [dɪˈvɔɪd]

adj. If you say that someone or something is devoid of a quality or thing, you are emphasizing that they have none of it.

The hot air is devoid of even the slightest amount of moisture.

整理自《柯林斯词典》、《新东方托福词汇》，侵删歉。