censor(SEN soer) n.1. an official with the power to examine books, movies, TV
programs, etc. and to remove anything objectionable; 2. an official in times of war
who reads mail, news articles, etc. and removes anything he/she thinks might help
the enemy —vt.to put a book, writer, etc. to such treatment as just described
- Comic George Carlin made a living from parodying the TV censorwith his
routine about seven words you can’t say on TV. - During the Second World War, people at home received mail from their
relatives in the armed forces that had whole paragraphs blacked out by the
censors. - In the Soviet Union, every newspaper article was censored.
[-ed, -ing, -ship n.]
century(SEN che ree) n.1. any span of 100 years; 2. a specific period of 100
years dating from the beginning of the Christian (or Common) Era; 3. a series,
group, or subdivision of 100
•A centurypassed between the beginnings of the American Civil War and
our involvement in Vietnam.- Alexander the Great lived in the fourth centuryB.C.
- Roman legions were divided into centuries,each of which consisted of
100 men.
cerebral (SIR ib ril orsir EEB ril) adj. 1. concerning the brain or the cerebrum;
- appealing to the intellect—not the emotions; intellectual
•A cerebralhemorrhage is not a pleasant prospect.- The cerebralcortex is where higher brain functions occur.
- Tchaikovsky’s music is more emotional than cerebral.
certain(SOER tin) adj. 1. fixed, settled, or specific; 2. certain to occur;
inevitable; 3. undoubtable; unquestionable; 4. reliable; dependable; 5. an amount,
but not very much - We’ll get a certaintrade-in allowance for the old car.
- The sun is certainto rise tomorrow.
- It is certainthat Gary committed the robbery.
- You can be certainof a fair hearing.
•A certainnumber of people will believe anything.
[-ty n.] [Syn. sure]
challenge (CHA linj) n.1. a demand for identification; 2. questioning; a
demand for proof or for an explanation; 3. a dare or an urge to participate; 4. any
job that requires special effort; 5. a questioning of a vote or one’s right to vote —vt.
to do any of the preceding things - The sentry gave the challengeto the incoming patrol.
- It’s a challengeto explain Tom’s behaving so strangely.
- The Count answered the Marquis’ challengeto a duel.
- Getting the dog to behave properly is quite a challenge.
- The committee member challengedthe visitor’s right to take part in the
group’s vote. - I was challengedto show my ticket at the theater door.
[-d, challenging]
C: SAT Words 47