athlete(ATH leet) n.someone trained in exercises, games, or contests requiring
physical strength, speed, skill, stamina, etc.
- It takes a trained athleteto perform on the parallel bars.
- Tammy proved her ability as an athletewhen she ran the 100-meter sprint
in less than 11 seconds.
[athletic adj., athleticallyadv.]
attain(uh TAYN) vt.1. to gain; accomplish; achieve; 2. to reach or come to;
arrive at - Sherry worked very hard to attaina B+ average.
- It took Lillian and Bob the better part of two days’ worth of climbing to
attainthe peak of Mount Hood.
[-ed, -ing, -able adj., -ability n.] [Syn. reach]
attention(uh TEN shn) n.1. the act of keeping one’s mind on something or
the ability to do that; concentration; mental readiness for such concentration;
- observation or notice; 3. care or consideration; 4. thoughtfulness for the needs
of others; courtesy; 5. the military command to come to erect posture
- Debbie had to pay attentionto navigate the treacherous winding road.
- Mike’s attentionwasn’t always on his work.
- Farah’s smile caught Todd’s attention.
- This matter will receive our immediate attention.
- Smart congressmen always pay careful attentionto the needs of their
constituents. - The sergeant barked the order to come to attention.
attitude (AT i tood) n.1. the position or posture assumed by the body in con-
nection with an action, feeling, mood, etc.; 2. a manner of acting, thinking, or feel-
ing that shows one’s disposition, opinion, etc.; 3. one’s disposition, opinion, men-
tal set, etc.; 4. the position of an air- or spacecraft with respect to a given line or
plane, such as the horizon - Victor assumed a humble attitudeas he prayed.
- Phyllis made it clear that she was not impressed by Wilma’s haughty atti-
tudeof self-righteousness. - The coach was impressed by Joe’s positive attitude.
- The plane’s attitudechanged as it banked 45° to port.
[attitudinal adj.] [Syn. posture]
attribute(at TRIB yoot for vt.,AT rib YOOT for n.) vt.1. to think of as belong-
ing to, produced by, resulting from, or originating in; assign; ascribe to; 2. assign as
a characteristic or quality —n.1. a characteristic or quality of a person or thing; 2. a
thing in art or literature used as a symbol for a person, office, etc. - Scholars attributemany sonnets to Shakespeare without having any real
evidence that he wrote them. - The motion picture Gentle Ben attributesthe quality of gentleness to a bear.
- The attributeof winged sandals is often used to represent the Greek god
Hermes, or Roman Mercury.
[-d, attributing, attributable adj., attribution n.] [Syn. ascribe, quality]
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