| The machine comes with a plastic guard over the BLADE to protect the operator. | the flat part of a knife, tool or machine, which has a sharp edge or edges for cutting |
| here was a nationwide debate on whether the ASYLUM laws should be changed | protection that a government gives to people who have left their own country, usually because they were in danger for political reasons |
| In the war, both sides committed ATROCITIES. | a cruel and violent act, especially in a war |
| Most of our students ATTAINED five ‘A’ grades in their exams. | to succeed in getting something, usually after a lot of effort |
| ATTENDANCE at these lectures is not compulsory. | the act of being present at a place, for example at school |
| The prosecuting ATTORNEY began with a short opening statement. | a lawyer, especially one who can act for somebody in court |
| Patience is one of the most important ATTRIBUTES in a teacher. | a quality or feature of somebody/something |
| She ATTRIBUTES her success to hard work and a little luck | to say or believe that something is the result of a particular thing |
| an annual AUDIT | an official examination of business and financial records to see that they are true and correct |
| I don't know if the painting is AUTHENTIC. | known to be real and what somebody claims it is and not a copy |
| I have AUTHORIZED him to act for me while I am away | to give official permission for something, or for somebody to do something |
| auto | a car |
| There is pressure for some degree of AUTONOMY from minorities in the north of the country. | the freedom for a country, a region or an organization to govern itself independently |
| the AVAILABILITY of cheap flights | the fact that something is possible to get, buy or find |
| Her latest novel is eagerly AWAITED. | to wait for somebody/something |
| The mountains provided a dramatic BACKDROP for our picnic. | everything that can be seen around an event or scene |
| The police gave the proposals their full BACKING | help and support from somebody to do something; financial support for something |
| We can use him as a BACKUP if one of the other players drops out. | extra help or support that you can get if necessary |
| She was released on £2000 BAIL. | money that somebody agrees to pay if a person accused of a crime does not appear at their trial. When bail has been arranged, the accused person is allowed to go free until the trial. |
| The chairperson is chosen by secret BALLOT. | the system of voting in writing and usually in secret; an occasion on which a vote is held |
| A huge BANNER over the street said ‘Welcome home’. | a long piece of cloth with a message on it that is carried between two poles or hung in a public place to show support for something |
| She likes to walk around in BARE feet. | not covered by any clothes |
| They filled the BARRELS with cider. | a large round container, usually made of wood or metal, with flat ends and, usually, curved sides |
| He always plays his stereo with the BASS turned right up. | the lowest tone or part in music, for instruments or voices |
| He went to BAT, two runs down, with his team about to lose. | to hit a ball with a bat, especially in a game of baseball or cricket |
| heavy casualties on the BATTLEFIELD | a place where a battle is being fought or has been fought |
| a magnificent view across the BAY | a part of the sea, or of a large lake, partly surrounded by a wide curve of the land |
| narrow BEAMS of light/sunlight | a line of light, electromagnetic waves or particles |
| wild/savage/ferocious BEASTS | an animal, especially one that is large or dangerous, or one that is unusual |
| on BEHALF of somebody or on somebody’s BEHALF | as the representative of somebody or instead of them |
| in memory of our dearly BELOVED son, John | loved very much |
| bench | a long seat for two or more people, usually made of wood |
| Tests at the age of seven provide a BENCHMARK against which the child's progress at school can be measured. | something that can be measured and used as a standard that other things can be compared with |
| They found the body buried BENEATH a pile of leaves. | in or to a lower position than somebody/something; under somebody/something |
| Who will be the main BENEFICIARY of the cuts in income tax? | a person who gains as a result of something |
| He was offered money to BETRAY his colleagues. | to give information about somebody/something to an enemy |
| She was BOUND to a chair. | to tie somebody/something with rope, string, etc. so that they/it cannot move or are held together strongly |
| The book gives potted BIOGRAPHIES of all the major painters. | the story of a person’s life written by somebody else; this type of writing |
| He was appointed BISHOP of Ely. | a senior priest in charge of the work of the Church in a city or district |
| a BIZARRE situation/incident/story | very strange or unusual |
| The machine comes with a plastic guard over the BLADE to protect the operator. | the flat part of a knife, tool or machine, which has a sharp edge or edges for cutting |
| The BLAST ripped through the building. | an explosion or a powerful movement of air caused by an explosion |
| They had to BLAST a tunnel through the mountain | to violently destroy or break something into pieces, using explosives |
| She slowly BLED to death. | to lose blood, especially from a wound or an injury |
| We offer several different BLENDS of freshly ground coffee | a mixture of different types of the same thing |
| BLEND the flour with the milk to make a smooth paste. | to mix two or more substances together |
| They brought the children to Jesus and he BLESSED them. | to ask God to protect somebody/something |
| The bishop said the BLESSING | God’s help and protection, or a prayer asking for this |
| She is always BOASTING about how wonderful her children are. | to have something that is impressive |
| What is actually paid will depend on the BONUS payments made at the end of the policy. | an extra amount of money that is added to a payment, especially to somebody’s wages or salary as a reward |
| Living standards improved rapidly during the post-war BOOM. | a sudden increase in trade and economic activity; a period of wealth and success |
| She BOUNCED the ball against the wall. | if something bounces or you bounce it, it moves quickly away from a surface it has just hit or you make it do this |
| After the war the national BOUNDARIES were redrawn. | a real or imagined line that marks the limits or edges of something and separates it from other things or places; a dividing line |
| She gave a slight BOW of her head in greeting. | the act of bending your head or the upper part of your body forward in order to say hello or goodbye to somebody or to show respect |
| He BOWED low to the assembled crowd. | to move your head or the top half of your body forwards and downwards as a sign of respect or to say hello or goodbye |
| They are in BREACH of Article 119. | a failure to do something that must be done by law |
| The government is accused of BREACHING the terms of the treaty. | to not keep to an agreement or not keep a promise |
| Most BREAKDOWN services give priority to women travelling alone | an occasion when a vehicle or machine stops working |
| to make/achieve a BREAKTHROUGH | an important development that may lead to an agreement or achievement |
| Labradors and other large BREEDS of dog | a particular type of animal that has been developed by people in a certain way, especially a type of dog, cat or farm animal |
| Many animals BREED only at certain times of the year. | (of animals) to have sex and produce young |
| plans to provide rural areas with fast BROADBAND | a way of connecting to the internet that allows you to receive information, including pictures, etc., very quickly and that is always active (so that the user does not have to connect each time) |
| What do you use as your default BROWSER? | a computer program that lets you look at or read documents on the World Wide Web |
| a BRUTAL attack/murder/rape/killing | violent and cruel |
| They cost ten BUCKS. | a US, Australian or New Zealand dollar; a South African rand; an Indian rupee |
| I’d like you to meet an old college BUDDY of mine. | a friend |
| Support from family and friends acts as a BUFFER against stress. | a thing or person that reduces a shock or protects somebody/something against difficulties |
| The BULK of the population lives in cities. | the main part of something; most of something |
| to bear/carry/ease/reduce/share the BURDEN | a duty, responsibility, etc. that causes worry, difficulty or hard work |
| We need to reduce paperwork and BUREAUCRACY (bureaucracy) in the company. | the system of official rules and ways of doing things that a government or an organization has, especially when these seem to be too complicated |
| His family insisted he should be given a proper BURIAL. | the act or ceremony of burying a dead body |
| That balloon will BURST if you blow it up any more. | to break open or apart, especially because of pressure from inside; to make something break in this way |
| a CABINET meeting | a group of senior members of a government that is responsible for advising and deciding on government policy |
| By my CALCULATION(s), we made a profit of £20 000 last year. | the act or process of using numbers to find out an amount |
| tents made from heavy CANVAS | a strong heavy rough material used for making tents, sails, etc. and by artists for painting on |
| She has the CAPABILITY to become a very fine actor. | the quality of being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally |
| the growth of industrial CAPITALISM ( capitalism ) in the West | an economic system in which a country’s businesses and industry are controlled and run for profit by private owners rather than by the government |
| a CAPITALIST society/system/economy | based on the principles of capitalism |
| cargo | the goods carried in a ship, an aircraft or a motor vehicle |
| a horse-drawn CARRIAGE | a separate section of a train for carrying passengers |
| The statue was CARVED out of a single piece of stone. | to make objects, patterns, etc. by cutting away material from a piece of wood or stone, or another hard material |
| a new hotel and CASINO in Las Vegas | a public building or room where people play gambling games for money |
| Our primary objective is reducing road CASUALTIES | a person who is killed or injured in war or in an accident |
| An illustrated CATALOGUE accompanies the exhibition. | a complete list of items, for example of things that people can look at or buy
a mail-order catalogue |
| Most of our work now involves CATERING for weddings. | to provide food and drinks for a social event |
| The prisoners were herded into trucks like CATTLE. | cows and bulls that are kept as farm animals for their milk or meat |
| Statistics should be treated with CAUTION. | care that you take in order to avoid danger or mistakes; the fact of not taking any risks |
| The government has been CAUTIOUS in its response to the report. | being careful about what you say or do, especially to avoid danger or mistakes; not taking any risks |
| Welfare payments CEASE as soon as an individual starts a job. | to stop happening or existing; to stop something from happening or existing |
| He was buried in a private CEMETERY. | an area of land used for burying dead people, especially one that is not next to a church |
| The members left the council CHAMBER. | a hall in a public building that is used for formal meetings |
| The country was thrown/plunged into CHAOS by the president's death. | a complete lack of order |
| The city is CHARACTERIZED by tall modern buildings in steel and glass. | to be typical of a person, place or thing |
| The hotel is full of CHARM and character. | the power of pleasing or attracting people |
| the European Social CHARTER of workers’ rights | a written statement describing the rights that a particular group of people should have |
| CHRONIC bronchitis/arthritis/asthma | (of a disease) lasting for a long time; difficult to cure |
| He cut the food up into bite-size CHUNKS. | a thick, solid piece that has been cut or broken off something |
| The condition prevents the blood from CIRCULATING freely | when a liquid, gas or air circulates or is circulated, it moves continuously around a place or system |
| Regular exercise will improve blood CIRCULATION. | the movement of blood around the body |
| They were granted full French CITIZENSHIP. | the legal right to belong to a particular country |
