mediator(MEE dee AY toer) n. a person who serves as an intermediary for
bringing about a peaceful solution to a problem between two or more persons,
groups, companies, and so on
- The Taft-Hartley Act calls for strikers to return to work for an 80-day
cooling-down period, while mediatorstry to broker a settlement between
workers and management.
•A mediatoris often used to settle disputes between a company and a dissat-
isfied customer. - When both sides agree in advance to abide by the mediator’sdecision, it is
known as binding arbitration.
membrane(MEM brayn) n. 1. a soft, thin, pliable sheet of animal or vegetable
tissue that protects an organ, and through which dissolved nutrients can pass;
- any thin sheet meant to separate or filter
- Every living cell is contained within a membrane.
- Modern coffeemakers use a membranecalled a filter to hold the coffee
grounds and keep them out of your cup.
mercenary(MOER sin ER ee) adj. 1. working exclusively for money, rather than
for an ideal; 2. seeking payment —n.1. a soldier working for pay in the army of
another country, or in a paid private military force; 2. a person who will do nearly
anything for money
•A mercenaryworker welcomes the opportunity to work at a dangerous job
for high pay.- High steelworkers are not just mercenarybut rather have a knack for work-
ing in high places. - Hessian troops were mercenarieswho fought for the British during the
American Revolutionary War.
mercurial(mer KYUR ee il) adj. 1. of or containing the element mercury;
- having qualities attributed to the god Mercury—for example, cleverness, shrewd-
ness, eloquence; 3. quick; quick witted; changeable; fleeting
- Fever thermometers used to be mercurial,but now, few are.
- A speedy messenger could be called mercurialin the classical sense of the
word. - A good businessman should have mercurialqualities.
mettle(MET il) n. quality of temperament and character, especially high quali-
ty; steadfast; reliable; brave - Dwight Eisenhower exhibited his mettleas a wartime leader in Europe.
- Boeing’s B-29 Superfortress showed its mettleas a long-range bomber dur-
ing the war in the Pacific. - Aluminum has shown its mettleas the metal of choice for building airplanes.
milieu(mil YU) n. one’s surroundings or environment, especially a cultural or
social setting - Fran thrived in the party milieu.
- Kenneth was much more comfortable in an intellectual milieuthan he was
in a sporting arena. - A symphony orchestra’s milieuis the concert hall.
M – N: GRE Words 307