Unit 1 Breaking records
Part Two: Teaching Resources
Section 3: Words and expressions from Unit 1 Breaking records
approximate
adj. (abbr. approx) almost correct or accurate, but not completely so: an approximate number / total / cost The cost given is only approximate. Use these figures as an approximate guide in your calculations.
conventional
adj.
1. (often disapproving) tending to follow what is done or considered acceptable by society in general; normal and ordinary, and perhaps not very interesting: conventional behaviour / morality She抯 very conventional in her views. 2. [usually before noun] following what is traditional or the way sth has been done for a long time: conventional methods / approaches It抯 not a hotel, in the conventional sense, but rather a whole village turned into a hotel. 3. [usually before noun] (especially of weapons) not nuclear: conventional forces / weapons A conventional war would still cause unacceptable devastation. a conventional power station (= using oil or coal as fuel, rather than nuclear power)
laughter
noun [U] the act or sound of laughing: to roar with laughter tears/gales / peals / shrieks of laughter to burst / dissolve into laughter a house full of laughter (= with a happy atmosphere) He gave a snort of derisive laughter.
reality
noun (pl. -ies)
1. [U] the true situation and the problems that actually exist in life, in contrast to how you would like life to be: She refuses to face reality. You抮e out of touch with reality. The reality is that there is not enough money to pay for this project. They seemed to have the perfect marriage but the reality was very different. 2. [C] a thing that is actually experienced or seen, in contrast to what people might imagine: the harsh realities of life This decision reflects the realities of the political situation. The paperless office is still far from being a reality. Will time travel ever become a reality?
adjustment
noun [C, U]
1. a small change made to sth in order to correct or improve it: I抳e made a few adjustments to the design. Some adjustment of the lens may be necessary.2. a change in the way a person behaves or thinks: She went through a period of emotional adjustment after her marriage broke up.
tough
adj. (tougher, toughest)
DIFFICULT
1. having or causing problems or difficulties: a tough childhood It was a tough decision to make. She抯 been having a tough time of it (= a lot of problems) lately. He faces the toughest test of his leadership so far. It can be tough trying to juggle a career and a family.
STRICT / FIRM
2. ~ (on / with sb/sth) demanding that particular rules be obeyed and showing a lack of sympathy for any problems or suffering that this may cause: Don抰 be too tough on him梙e was only trying to help. It抯 about time teachers started to get tough with bullies. The school takes a tough line on (= punishes severely) cheating. Local traders are calling for tougher action against vandals.
STRONG
3. strong enough to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations: a tough breed of cattle He抯 not tough enough for a career in sales. She抯 a tough cookie / customer (= sb who knows what they want and is not easily influenced by other people).
4. (of a person) physically strong and likely to be violent: You think you抮e so tough, don抰 you? He plays the tough guy in the movie.
MEAT
5. difficult to cut or chew
NOT EASILY DAMAGED
6. not easily cut, broken, torn, etc.: a tough pair of shoes The reptile抯 skin is tough and scaly.
UNFORTUNATE
7 ~ (on sb) (informal) unfortunate for sb in a way that seems unfair: It was tough on her being dropped from the team like that. (ironic) 慖 can抰 get it finished in time.?慣ough!?(= I don抰 feel sorry about it.)
extreme
adj.
1. [usually before noun] very great in degree: We are working under extreme pressure at the moment. people living in extreme poverty I抦 having extreme difficulty in not losing my temper with her. The heat in the desert was extreme.2. not ordinary or usual; serious or severe: Children will be removed from their parents only in extreme circumstances. Don抰 go doing anything extreme like leaving the country. It was the most extreme example of cruelty to animals I had ever seen. extreme weather conditions 3. (of people, political organizations, opinions, etc.) far from what most people consider to be normal, reasonable or acceptable: extreme left-wing / right-wing views an extreme nationalist organization Their ideas are too extreme for me. 4. [only before noun] as far as possible from the centre, the beginning or in the direction mentioned: Kerry is in the extreme west of Ireland. She sat on the extreme edge of her seat. politicians on the extreme left of the party
noun
1. a feeling, situation, way of behaving, etc. that is as different as possible from another or is opposite to it: extremes of love and hate He used to be very shy, but now he抯 gone to the opposite extreme (= changed from one extreme kind of behaviour to another). 2. the greatest or highest degree of sth: extremes of cold, wind or rain the climatic extremes of the mountains
go, etc. to extremes | take sth to extremes to act or be forced to act in a way that is far from normal or reasonable: It抯 embarrassing the extremes he抣l go to in order to impress his boss. Taken to extremes, this kind of behaviour can be dangerous. In the jungle they were driven to extremes in order to survive.
in the extreme (formal) to a great degree: The journey would be dangerous in the extreme.
unfit
adj.
1. ~ (for sth)| ~ (to eat, drink, live in, etc.)| ~ (to do sth) not of an acceptable standard; not suitable: The housing was unfit for human habitation. The food on offer was unfit for human consumption. This water is unfit to drink. Most of the buildings are unfit to live in. They described him as unfit to govern. (technical) Many of the houses were condemned as unfit. (technical) The court claims she is an unfit mother. 2. ~ for sth| ~ to do sth not capable of doing sth, for example because of illness: He抯 still unfit for work. The company抯 doctor found that she was unfit to carry out her normal work. 3. (especially BrE) (of a person) not in good physical condition; not fit, because you have not taken exercise: The captain is still unfit and will miss tonight抯 game.
fascinate
verb to attract or interest sb very much: [vn] China has always fascinated me. It was a question that had fascinated him since he was a boy. [v] The private lives of movie stars never fail to fascinate.
meditation
noun
1. [U] the practice of thinking deeply in silence, especially for religious reasons or in order to make your mind calm: She found peace through yoga and meditation. He was deep in meditation and didn抰 see me come in. 2. [C, usually pl.] ~ (on sth) (formal) serious thoughts on a particular subject that sb writes down or speaks: his meditations on life and art
urge
verb
1. to advise or try hard to persuade sb to do sth: [vn to inf] She urged him to stay. Police are urging anyone who saw the accident to contact them immediately. [v that] The report urged that all children be taught to swim. 2. [vn] ~ sth (on / upon sb) to recommend sth strongly: The situation is dangerous and the UN is urging caution. 3. [vn + adv. / prep.] (formal) to make a person or an animal move more quickly and/or in a particular direction, especially by pushing or forcing them: He urged his horse forward.
urge sb on to encourage sb to do sth or support them so that they do it better: She could hear him urging her on as she ran past.
accomplish
verb
[vn] to succeed in doing or completing sth, achieve: The first part of the plan has been safely accomplished. I don抰 feel I抳e accomplished very much today. That抯 it. Mission accomplished (= we have done what we aimed to do).
motivate
verb
1. [vn] [often passive] to be the reason why sb does sth or behaves in a particular way: He is motivated entirely by self-interest.2. to make sb want to do sth, especially sth that involves hard work and effort: [vn] She抯 very good at motivating her students. [vn to inf] The plan is designed to motivate employees to work more efficiently.3. [vn] (formal) to give reasons for sth that you have stated: Please motivate your answer to question 5.
motivated
adj.: a racially motivated attack a highly motivated student (= one who is very interested and works hard)
motivation
noun [C, U]: What is the motivation behind this sudden change? Most people said that pay was their main motivation for working. He抯 intelligent enough but he lacks motivation. All research proposals must be accompanied by a full motivation.
devotion
noun ~ (to sb/sth)
1. [U, sing.] great love, care and support for sb/sth: His devotion to his wife and family is touching.
2. [U, sing.] the action of spending a lot of time or energy on sth: her devotion to duty Her devotion to the job left her with very little free time.3. devotions [pl.] prayers and other religious practices
soul
noun
SPIRIT OF PERSON
1. [C] the spiritual part of a person, believed to exist after death: He believed his immortal soul was in peril. The howling wind sounded like the wailing of lost souls (= the spirits of dead people who are not in heaven).
INNER CHARACTER
2. [C] a person抯 inner character, containing their true thoughts and feelings: There was a feeling of restlessness deep in her soul.
SPIRITUAL / MORAL / ARTISTIC QUALITIES
3. [sing.] the spiritual and moral qualities of humans in general: the dark side of the human soul
4. [U, C] strong and good human feeling, especially that gives a work of art its quality or enables sb to recognize and enjoy that quality: It was a very polished performance, but it lacked soul.
5. [sing.] the ~ of sth a perfect example of a good quality: He is the soul of discretion.
PERSON
6. [C] (becoming old-fashioned) a person of a particular type: She抯 lost all her money, poor soul. You抮e a brave soul.
7.[C] (especially in negative sentences) a person: There wasn抰 a soul in sight (= nobody was in sight). Don抰 tell a soul (= do not tell anyone). (literary) a village of 3.00 souls (= with 3.00 people living there)
MUSIC
8. (also soul music) [U] a type of music that expresses strong emotions, made popular by African American musicians: a soul singer
good for the soul (humorous) good for you, even if it seems unpleasant: 慦ant a ride??慛o thanks. Walking is good for the soul.?br>sacred
adj.
1. connected with God or a god; considered to be holy: a sacred image / shrine / temple sacred music Cows are sacred to Hindus.2. very important and treated with great respect sacrosanct: Human life must always be sacred. For journalists nothing is sacred (= they can write about anything). Some companies offer five-year plans but there is nothing sacred about this length of time (= it can be changed).
deed
noun
1. (formal, literary) a thing that sb does that is usually very good or very bad act: a brave / charitable / evil / good deed a tale of heroic deeds 2. (often plural in British English) a legal document that you sign, especially one that proves that you own a house or a building: the deeds of the house your good deed for the day a helpful, kind thing that you do: I took Sarah抯 children to school so I抳e done my good deed for the day.
conception
noun
1. [U] the process of forming an idea or a plan: The plan was brilliant in its conception but failed because of lack of money.2. [C, U] ~ (of sth)| ~ (that ... ) an understanding or a belief of what sth is or what sth should be: Marx抯 conception of social justice He has no conception of how difficult life is if you抮e unemployed.3. [U, C] the process of an egg being fertilized inside a woman抯 body so that she becomes pregnant: the moment of conception A child is born about 40 weeks after conception takes place.
tact
noun [U] the ability to deal with difficult or embarrassing situations carefully and without doing or saying anything that will annoy or upset other people sensitivity: Settling the dispute required great tact and diplomacy. She is not exactly known for her tact.
regret
verb (-tt-)
1. to feel sorry about sth you have done or about sth that you have not been able to do: [vn] If you don抰 do it now, you抣l only regret it. The decision could be one he lives to regret. 慖抳e had a wonderful life,?she said, 慖 don抰 regret a thing.? She regretted the words the moment they were out of her mouth. [v -ing] He bitterly regretted ever having mentioned it. [v wh-] I deeply regret what I said. 2. (formal) used to say in a polite or formal way that you are sorry or sad about a situation: [vn] The airline regrets any inconvenience. [v that] I regret that I am unable to accept your kind invitation. [v to inf] We regret to inform you that your application has not been successful. [vn that] It is to be regretted that so many young people leave school without qualifications.
noun [U, C] a feeling of sadness or disappointment that you have because of sth that has happened or sth that you have done or not done: It is with great regret that I accept your resignation. She expressed her regret at the decision. a pang / twinge of regret I have no regrets about leaving Newcastle (= I do not feel sorry about it). What is your greatest regret (= the thing that you are most sorry about doing or not doing)? He gave up teaching in 2001, much to the regret of his students.
repentance
noun [U] ~ (for sth) the fact of showing that you are sorry for sth wrong that you have done contrition, remorse: He shows no sign of repentance. The book speaks of the need for repentance and atonement.
wisdom
noun [U]
1. the ability to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the experience and knowledge that you have: a woman of great wisdom: words of wisdom 2. ~ of sth / of doing sth how sensible sth is: I question the wisdom of giving a child so much money. 3. the knowledge that a society or culture has gained over a long period of time: the collective wisdom of the Native American people
conventional / received wisdom the view or belief that most people hold: Conventional wisdom has it that riots only ever happen in cities.
in his / her / its, etc. (infinite) wisdom used when you are saying that you do not understand why sb has done sth: The government in its wisdom has decided to support the ban.
virtue
noun
1. [U] (formal) behaviour or attitudes that show high moral standards: He led a life of virtue. She was certainly no paragon of virtue!2. [C] a particular good quality or habit: Patience is not one of her virtues, I抦 afraid. As a politician, he always emphasized the virtues of compromise and conciliation.3. [C, U] an attractive or useful quality: The plan has the virtue of simplicity. He was extolling the virtues of the Internet. They could see no virtue in discussing it further.
by / in virtue of sth (formal) by means of or because of sth: She got the job by virtue of her greater experience.
make a virtue of necessity to manage to gain an advantage from sth that you have to do and cannot avoid: She decided to make a virtue of necessity and combined a business trip to Paris with a visit to her cousins there.
virtue is its own reward (saying) the reward for acting in a moral or correct way is the knowledge that you have done so, and you should not expect more than this, for example praise from other people or payment
noble
adj. (nobler); (noblest)
1. having fine personal qualities that people admire, such as courage, honesty and care for others: a noble leader noble ideals He died for a noble cause. It was very noble of you to go so far to take him home.2. very impressive in size or quality: a noble building 3. belonging to a family of high social rank (= belonging to the nobility): a man of noble birth one of the noblest families in Portugal
nobly
adv.: She bore the disappointment nobly. to be nobly born
noun a person who comes from a family of high social rank; a member of the nobility
doom
noun [U] death or destruction; any terrible event that you cannot avoid: to meet your doom She had a sense of impending doom (= felt that sth very bad was going to happen).
doom merchant a person who predicts that things will go very badly: The prophets of doom who said television would kill off the book were wrong.
verb [vn] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (to sth) to make sb/sth certain to fail, suffer, die, etc.: The plan was doomed to failure. The marriage was doomed from the start.
bid
verb (bidding, bade, bidden) or (bidding, bid, bid)
1. ~ (sb) good morning, farewell, etc. (formal) to say 慻ood morning? etc. to sb: [vn, vnn] I bade farewell to all the friends I had made in Paris. I bade all my friends farewell.2. (old use or literary) to tell sb to do sth: [vn inf] He bade me come closer.
juggle
verb
1. ~ (with sth) to throw a set of three or more objects such as balls into the air and catch and throw them again quickly, one at a time: [v] to juggle with balls My uncle taught me to juggle. [vn] (figurative) I was juggling books, shopping bags and the baby (= I was trying to hold them all without dropping them).2. ~ sth (with sth) to try to deal with two or more important jobs or activities at the same time so that you can fit all of them into your life: [vn] Working mothers are used to juggling their jobs, their children抯 needs and their housework. [also v] 3. [vn] to organize information, figures, the money you spend, etc. in the most useful or effective way
entire
adj. [only before noun] (used when you are emphasizing that the whole of sth is involved) including everything, everyone or every part: The entire village was destroyed. I wasted an entire day on it. I have never in my entire life heard such nonsense! The disease threatens to wipe out the entire population.
attain
verb [vn]
1. to succeed in getting sth, usually after a lot of effort: Most of our students attained five 慉?grades in their exams.2. (formal) to reach a particular age, level or condition: The cheetah can attain speeds of up to 97 kph.
appreciate
verb
1. [vn] (not used in the progressive tenses) to recognize the good qualities of sb/sth: You can抰 really appreciate foreign literature in translation. His talents are not fully appreciated in that company. Her family doesn抰 appreciate her.2. (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be grateful for sth that sb has done; to welcome sth: [vn] I抎 appreciate some help. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thanks for coming. I appreciate it. I would appreciate any comments you might have. I would appreciate it if you paid in cash. [v -ing] I don抰 appreciate being treated like a second-class citizen. [vn -ing] We would appreciate you letting us know of any problems.
3. (not used in the progressive tenses) to understand that sth is true: [vn] What I failed to appreciate was the distance between the two cities. [v wh-] I don抰 think you appreciate how expensive it will be. [v that] We didn抰 fully appreciate that he was seriously ill.4. [v] to increase in value over a period of time: Their investments have appreciated over the years.
salary
noun (pl. -ies) money that employees receive for doing their job, especially professional employees or people working in an office, usually paid every month: an annual salary of $40 000 a 9% salary increase She抯 on a salary of ?4 000. He gets a basic salary plus commission.
wage
noun [sing.] (also wages [pl.]) a regular amount of money that you earn, usually every week, for work or services: wages of ?.00 a week a weekly wage of ?00 wage cuts a wage increase of 3% (BrE) a wage rise of 3% wage demands / claims / settlements Wages are paid on Fridays. There are extra benefits for people on low wages. Tax and insurance are deducted from your wages. The staff have agreed to a voluntary wage freeze (= a situation in which wages are not increased for a time). living wage, minimum wage
verb [vn] ~ sth (against / on sb/sth) to begin and continue a war, a battle, etc.: The rebels have waged a guerrilla war since 2000. He alleged that a press campaign was being waged against him.