4000 Essential English Words

(WallPaper) #1

outback [autbaek] n.


The outback is the wild inland region of Australia where very few people live.
—* Many Australian farmers use the outback to raise cattle.


outweigh [autwei] V.


To outweigh something means to exceed it in value, amount, or importance.


—► Finding a warm place to sleep outweighed the need to fin d something to eat.


p a r a d o x [pseraddks] n.

A paradox is a true statement or real event that seems illogical.
—► The paradox o f her work was that the less she worked, the more she got done.


pier [piar] n.


A pier is a structure that extends into a body of water.
—► I f you want to catch bigger fish, then go to the fa r end o f the pier.


Shortcut [JoirtkAt] n.
A shortcut is a route that is shorter than the main route.
—+ We got to the house firs t because we took a shortcut through the forest.

tariff [tserif] n.
A tariff is a tax or fee paid on certain imports or exports.
—► Our ta riff on imported wool makes foreign wool more expensive.

thermometer tea :rmcimita:r] n.
A thermometer is a device that measures temperature.
—► The thermometer outside the window indicated that it was a hot day today.

tilt [tilt] v.
To tilt something means to tip it into a sloping position.
—► She tilte d her glass and almost spilled some o f the wine inside.

vice versa [vaisivaxsa] adv.
If a statement is vice versa, then its two main ideas are switched with one another.
-+ Students learn from their teachers, and vice versa.

whereabouts [ftwearabauts] n.
The whereabouts of someone or something is the place where they are.
—* The police looked fo r the lost dog, b ut its whereabouts were still unknown.
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