8 T1 S3
Brink Noun Synonym: Verge
The brink (of something) if you are on the brink of something, you are almost in a very new, dangerous or exciting situation
· On the brink of collapse/war/death/disaster
· Scientists are on the brink of making a major new discovery.
· He's pulled the company back from the brink (= he has saved it from disaster).
· Teetering/poised/hovering on the brink
· Animals hovering on the very brink of extinction
(literary) the extreme edge of land, for example at the top of a cliff or by a river
· The brink of the precipice
Concur Verb Synonym: Approve
[intransitive, transitive] concur (with somebody) (in something) | concur (with something) | concur (that…) | (+ speech) (formal) to agree
· Historians have concurred with each other in this view.
· The coroner concurred with this assessment.
Derision noun Synonym: Scorn
A strong feeling that somebody/something is ridiculous and not worth considering seriously, shown by laughing in an unkind way or by making unkind remarks
· Her speech was greeted with howls of derision.
· He became an object of universal derision.
Esoteric adjective Synonym: Mysterious
Likely to be understood or enjoyed by only a few people with a special knowledge or interest
· A programme of music for everyone, even those with the most esoteric taste
· Specialist dictionaries may be required to understand some of the more esoteric texts.
Implication Noun Synonym: Suggestion
[countable, usually plural] implication (of something) (for something) a possible effect or result of an action or a decision
· They failed to consider the wider implications of their actions.
· The development of the site will have implications for the surrounding countryside.
[countable, uncountable] something that is suggested or indirectly stated (= something that is implied)
· The implication in his article is that being a housewife is greatly inferior to every other occupation.
· He criticized the Director and, by implication, the whole of the organization.
[uncountable] implication (of somebody) (in something) the fact of being involved, or of involving somebody, in something, especially a crime
· The culprit implicated of some holy cows.
Meditation Noun Synonym: Contemplation
Your mind calm
· She found peace through yoga and meditation.
· He was deep in meditation and didn't see me come in.
[countable, usually plural] meditation (on something) (formal) serious thoughts on a particular subject that somebody writes down or speaks
· His meditations on life and art
Outright adjective Synonym: Unconditional
Complete and total
· An outright ban/rejection/victory
· She was the outright winner.
· No one party is expected to gain an outright majority.
Open and direct
· There was outright opposition to the plan.
Recline Verb Synonym: Sprawl
[intransitive] recline (against/in/on something) (formal) to sit or lie in a relaxed way, with your body leaning backwards
· She was reclining on a sofa.
· A reclining figure (= for example in a painting)
[intransitive, transitive] recline (something) when a seat reclines or when you recline a seat, the back of it moves into a comfortable sloping position
· A reclining chair
Sceptical adjective Synonym: Doubtful
Sceptical (about/of something) having doubts that a claim or statement is true or that something will happen
· I am sceptical about his chances of winning.
· The public remain sceptical of these claims.
· She looked highly sceptical.
Sceptic noun Synonym: Iconoclast
A person who usually doubts that claims or statements are true, especially those that other people believe in
· I am a born sceptic.
· He was unable to convince the sceptics in the audience.
Spark NOUN Synonym: Glimmer
[countable] a very small burning piece of material that is produced by something that is burning or by hitting two hard substances together
· A shower of sparks flew up the chimney.
· A spark from the machinery had set fire to some material.
[countable] a small flash of light produced by an electric current
· Sparks from a faulty light switch
· A spark ignites the fuel in a car engine.
[countable, usually singular] spark of something a small amount of a particular quality or feeling
· A spark of hopeThe woman’s eyes still had a spark of life in them.
[uncountable, singular] a special quality of energy, intelligence or enthusiasm that makes somebody very clever, amusing, etc.
· As a writer he seemed to lack creative spark.
· She was a real star.
· She had a certain spark—that something extra.
[countable] an action or event that causes something important to develop, especially trouble or violence
· The sparks of revolution
[countable, usually plural] feelings of anger or excitement between people
· Sparks flew at the meeting (= there was a lot of argument).
· She was suddenly aware of the romantic spark between them.
Suspect Verb Synonym: Doubt
[transitive, intransitive] to have an idea that something is probably true or likely to happen, especially something bad, but without having definite proof
Suspect (something)
· If you suspect a gas leak, do not strike a match or even turn on an electric light.
· Suspecting nothing, he walked right into the trap.
· I didn’t want the neighbours suspecting anything.
· As I had suspected all along, he was not a real policeman.
Suspect (that)…
· I began to suspect (that) they were trying to get rid of me.
· I suspect (that) she might be lying.
It is suspected that…
· It was suspected that the drugs had been brought into the country by boat.
Suspect somebody/something to be/have something
· She suspected him to be an impostor.
[transitive] to have an idea that somebody is guilty of something, without having definite proof
Suspect somebody/something of something
· He resigned after being suspected of theft.
Suspect somebody/something of doing something
· I suspected her of damaging the equipment.
· The drug is suspected of causing over 200 deaths.
Suspect somebody/something
· Whom do the police suspect?
[transitive] suspect something to be suspicious about something; to not trust something
· I suspected her motives in offering to help.
Swamp noun Marsh
[countable, uncountable] an area of ground that is very wet or covered with water and in which plants, trees, etc. are growing
· Tropical swamps
· The country contains around 700 square km of swamp.
Tranquillity Synonym: Relaxation
The state of being quiet and peaceful
· An atmosphere of peace and tranquillity