| protection that a government gives to people who have left their own country, usually because they were in danger for political reasons | here was a nationwide debate on whether the ASYLUM laws should be changed |
| a lawyer, especially one who can act for somebody in court | The prosecuting ATTORNEY began with a short opening statement. |
| known to be real and what somebody claims it is and not a copy | I don't know if the painting is AUTHENTIC. |
| 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. | She was released on £2000 BAIL. |
| the action of turning something with your hand, or of turning a part of your body | He gave a shy smile and a little TWIST of his head. |
| not clear in a person’s mind | They had only a VAGUE idea where the place was. |
| writing that is arranged in lines, often with a regular rhythm or pattern of rhyme | Most of the play is written in VERSE, but some of it is in prose. |
| a tube that carries blood through the body of a person or an animal, or liquid through the parts of a plant | to burst/rupture a blood VESSEL |
| criminal activities that involve sex or drugs | The bright 21-year-old turned to a secret life of VICE after getting bored with her studies at college |
| violent and cruel | Police described the robbery as particularly VICIOUS. |
| a separate room or area in a hospital for people with the same type of medical condition | He worked as a nurse on the children's WARD. |
| a wild plant growing where it is not wanted, especially among crops or garden plants | Routine maintenance of the garden consists of keeping WEEDS under control. |
| to hit a person or an animal hard with a whip, as a punishment or to make them go faster or work harder | He was taken back to the jail and soundly WHIPPED. |
| to rub something against a surface, in order to remove dirt or liquid from it; to rub a surface with a cloth, etc. in order to clean it | Please WIPE your feet on the mat. |
| the ability to say or write things that are both clever and humorous | a book full of the WIT and wisdom of his 30 years in politics |
| a set of rooms, especially in a hotel | a hotel/private/honeymoon SUITE |
| (usually disapproving) (of a government, ruler, etc.) to put an end, often by force, to a group or an activity that is believed to threaten authority | The rebellion was brutally SUPPRESSED. |
| the act of officially removing somebody from their job, school, team, etc. for a period of time, usually as a punishment | The two players are appealing against their SUSPENSIONS. |
| to provide enough of what somebody/something needs in order to live or exist | The love and support of his family SUSTAINED him during his time in prison. |
| to attract somebody or make somebody want to do or have something, even if they know it is wrong | Don't TEMPT thieves by leaving valuables clearly visible. |
| the period of time when somebody holds an important job, especially a political one; the act of holding an important job | She had a long TENURE of office. |
| excellent; wonderful | I feel absolutely TERRIFIC today! |
| a long line or series of marks that is left by somebody/something | tourists who leave a TRAIL of litter everywhere they go |
| (psychology) a mental condition caused by severe shock, stress or fear, especially when the harmful effects last for a long time | the effects of TRAUMA and stress on the body |
| not connected with spiritual or religious matters | We live in a largely SECULAR society. |
| to get rid of something that is no longer wanted | a quick way to SHED unwanted pounds (= extra weight or fat on your body) |
| used to emphasize the size, degree or amount of something | The area is under threat from the SHEER number of tourists using it. |
| an act or the sound of sighing | We all breathed a SIGH of relief when it was over. |
| to raise your shoulders and then drop them to show that you do not know or care about something | shrug |
| to take and then let out a long deep breath that can be heard, to show that you are disappointed, sad, tired, etc. | She SIGHED with relief that it was all over. |
| a lawyer who prepares legal documents, for example for the sale of land or buildings, advises people on legal matters, and can speak for them in some courts of law | Her first step was to contact a SOLICITOR for advice. |
| a short period of time during which something lasts | There will be rain at first, with sunny SPELLS later. |
| a husband or wife | Fill in your SPOUSE'S name here. |
| unpleasant; real, and impossible to avoid | The government faced a STARK choice between civil war and martial law. |
| a single thin piece of thread, wire, hair, etc. | He pulled at a loose STRAND of wool in his sweater. |
| interesting and unusual enough to attract attention | She bears a STRIKING resemblance to her older sister. |
| a long narrow piece of paper, metal, cloth, etc. | Cut the meat into STRIPS. |
| to take off all or most of your clothes or another person’s clothes | She STRIPPED down to her underwear. |
| to try very hard to achieve something | We encourage all members to STRIVE for the highest standards. |
| the act of accepting that somebody has defeated you and that you must obey them | His response was one of resistance, not SUBMISSION. |
| the crime of forcing somebody to have sex when they do not want it or are not able to agree to it | an increase in the number of reported RAPES |
| (of behaviour, ideas, etc.) based on reason rather than emotions | There is no RATIONAL explanation for his actions. |
| to tell somebody about something, especially something that you have experienced | She was asked to RECOUNT the details of the conversation to the court. |
| (formal) to cause somebody/something to be in a particular state or condition | Hundreds of people were RENDERED homeless by the earthquake. |
| a small amount of something that remains at the end of a process | pesticide RESIDUES in fruit and vegetables |
| (formal) to bring or get something back, especially from a place where it should not be | She bent to RETRIEVE her comb from the floor. |
| (formal, often disapproving) speech or writing that is intended to influence people, but that is not completely honest or sincere | His speech was dismissed as mere RHETORIC by the opposition. |
| a gun with a long barrel which you hold to your shoulder to fire | an assault RIFLE |
| a large deep hole in the ground | The body had been dumped in a PIT. |
| (formal) a serious emotional request, especially for something needing action now | a PLEA to industries to stop pollution |
| to make a short explosive sound; to cause something to make this sound | He POPPED the cork on the champagne bottle. |
| an official action or decision that has happened in the past and that is seen as an example or a rule to be followed in a similar situation later | The ruling set a PRECEDENT for future libel cases. |
| to lead or be in charge of a meeting, ceremony, etc. | They asked if I would PRESIDE at the committee meeting. |
| to exist or be very common at a particular time or in a particular place | We were horrified at the conditions PREVAILING in local prisons. |
| a complete and careful investigation of something | a police PROBE into the financial affairs of the company |
| to ask questions in order to find out secret or hidden information about somebody/something | He didn't like the media PROBING into his past. |
| the money that you receive when you sell something or organize a performance, etc.; profits | The PROCEEDS of the concert will go to charity. |
| very great; felt or experienced very strongly | My father's death had a PROFOUND effect on us all. |
| an estimate or a statement of what figures, amounts, or events will be in the future, or what they were in the past, based on what is happening now | Sales have exceeded our PROJECTIONS. |
| very obvious, easy to notice or strongly expressed | He walked with a PRONOUNCED limp. |
| ideas or statements that may be false or present only one side of an argument that are used in order to gain support for a political leader, party, etc. | Several underground organizations were spreading anti-government PROPAGANDA. |
| an idea or a plan of action that is suggested, especially in business | He was trying to make it look like an attractive PROPOSITION. |
| elating to the most basic and important parts of something; complete and detailed | the need for RADICAL changes in education |
| a feeling of violent anger that is difficult to control | He flies into a RAGE if you even mention the subject. |
| (business) the complete control of trade in particular goods or the supply of a particular service; a type of goods or a service that is controlled in this way | In the past central government had a MONOPOLY on television broadcasting. |
| having or showing fine personal qualities that people admire, such as courage, honesty and care for others | He died for a NOBLE cause. |
| to formally suggest that somebody/something should be chosen for an important role, prize, position, etc. | She has been NOMINATED for the presidency. |
| a reason why you do not like or are opposed to something; a statement about this | The main OBJECTION to the plan was that it would cost too much. |
| to completely fill your mind so that you cannot think of anything else, in a way that is not reasonable or normal | She's completely OBSESSED with him. |
| the state in which a person’s mind is completely filled with thoughts of one particular thing or person in a way that is not reasonable or normal | There's a national OBSESSION with celebrity in England. |
| the degree to which something is likely to happen | The ODDS are very much in our favour (= we are likely to succeed). |
| a trip that you go on for pleasure or education, usually with a group of people and lasting no more than one day | Every year she organized an OUTING to the countryside. |
| a thick piece of soft material that is used, for example, for cleaning or protecting something or for holding liquid | medicated cleansing PADS for sensitive skin |
| a person who gives money and support to artists and writers | Frederick the Great was the PATRON of many artists. |
| an account written by somebody, especially somebody famous, about their life and experiences | O'Connor published a childhood MEMOIR. |
| very interesting because of being unusual or not having an obvious answer | These discoveries raise INTRIGUING questions. |
| showing that you really mean the opposite of what you are saying; expressing irony | an IRONIC comment |
| the funny or strange aspect of a situation that is very different from what you expect; a situation like this | The IRONY is that when he finally got the job, he discovered he didn't like it. |
| a boy or young man | Things have changed since I was a LAD. |
| the top part of your legs that forms a flat surface when you are sitting down | She sat with her hands in her LAP. |
| money or property that is given to you by somebody when they die | They each received a LEGACY of $5 000. |
| for which there is a fair and acceptable reason | It seemed a perfectly LEGITIMATE question. |
| to put information in an official record or write a record of events | The police LOG all phone calls. |
| that has existed or lasted for a long time | LONG-STANDING grievances were aired at the meeting. |
| to appear as a large shape that is not clear, especially in a frightening way | A dark shape LOOMED / loom up ahead of us. |
| small and not important | a MARGINAL improvement in weather conditions |
| the killing of a large number of people especially in a cruel way | the bloody MASSACRE of innocent civilians |
| a very strong feeling of dislike for somebody/something | She felt nothing but HATRED for her attacker. |
| aggressive or unfriendly and ready to argue or fight | She was openly HOSTILE towards her parents |
| showing you do not think that you are as important as other people | Be HUMBLE enough to learn from your mistakes. |
