abstract
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
abstract art
Tally remembered growing up surrounded by Sol's woodwork, abstract shapes fashioned from fallen branches she would collect from parks as a littlie.
abstract = not imitating objects of nature
(editor's note: Littlie is a word used in Australia to refer to a young child.)
(editor's note: Littlie is a word used in Australia to refer to a young child.)
Definition
Generally this sense of abstract means:not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
adapt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
adapted to the new rules
About three hundred years ago, some Rusty figured a way to engineer the species to adapt to wider conditions.
adapt = change to fit
Definition
Generally this sense of adapt means:changed to fit a different situation; or made suitable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
approach (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 6 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
approached the city
When they reached the closest approach of the hoverpath to his parents' house, David jumped off and dashed down the slope.†
approach = getting near
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to get closer to (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 104 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
2 —2 uses as in:
use the best approach
The final approach began with a huge climb.†
approach = route (way to get somewhere)
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
augment
2 uses
They augmented their diet with fish caught from the river, and Tally roasted a rabbit on a fire she'd built herself.
augmented = enlarged (in this case, what they could eat)
Definition
Generally augment means:enlarge or increase
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
cacophony
3 uses
His harsh voice cut through the cacophony of the attack.
cacophony = loud noises
Definition
Generally cacophony means:loud confusing disagreeable sounds
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
chasm
7 uses
But her first problem was getting across the chasm.
chasm = deep hole
Definition
Generally chasm means:a large and deep and steep-sided opening on the earth's surface; or (more rarely) any large gap
or:
a very large difference — often of opinion
or:
a very large difference — often of opinion
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
convey
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
convey her thoughts
It was there in her dull, metal-gray eyes, a cold, terrible surety unlike anything a normal pretty could ever convey.†
convey = communicate or express
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
dehydrated
6 uses
We can't make dehydrated food here, except fruit, and traveling with regular food is a total pain.
dehydrated = dried (by removing natural moisture)
Definition
Generally dehydrated means:suffering from excessive loss of water from the body
or:
dried and/or preserved by removing natural moisture
or:
dried and/or preserved by removing natural moisture
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
descend the mountain
She bent her knees, and her board started to descend.
descend = move downward
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:move or slope downward
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
despise
11 uses
Four days later take the side you despise...
despise = dislike strongly and look down upon
Definition
Generally despise means:to dislike strongly and to look down upon with disrespect
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
direct (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
She raced David halfway around the greenbelt, until the lights of the big hospital sat directly across the river from them.†
directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
2 —1 use as in:
directed the jury to...
Shay giggled at Tally's heartfelt words, but she wrote them down as directed.†
directed = instructed
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:give instructions or commands
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
diversion
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a diversion to draw troops away
"We just need a diversion," Tally said.
diversion = distraction
Definition
Generally this sense of diversion means:a distraction — something that draws someone's attention so they don't notice something else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
dubious
2 uses
David sounded dubious.
dubious = doubtful
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
factor
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
It was the deciding factor.
We ruled out blood type, gender, physical size, intelligence factors, genetic markers-nothing seemed to account for the negatives.†
factors = things that affect a result or outcome
Definition
Generally this sense of factor means:something that affects a result or outcome
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
species
6 uses
They crowd out every other species,
species = types of animals or plants
Definition
Generally species means:a group of animals or plants that are similar — typically identified as a group because they can procreate together (reproduce new members of the group)
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
subtle
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a subtle difference or thinker
Somehow, they carried the authority of middle pretties without the firm jaw, the subtly lined eyes, or the elegant clothing.
subtly = slightly noticeable
Definition
Generally this sense of subtle means:not obvious, but understandable by someone with adequate sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps depending upon fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
symmetry
3 uses
So the first thing the morpho software did was take each side of your face and double it, like holding a mirror right down the middle, creating two examples of perfect symmetry.
symmetry = exact reflection of form on opposite sides of a dividing plane
Definition
Generally symmetry means:balance among the parts of something
or more specifically:
having an exact reflection of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane
or more specifically:
having an exact reflection of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
white water
12 uses
Spray struck their faces as they hit the white water.
white water = frothy water (like in rapids)
Definition
Generally white water means:frothy water — especially from rapids (water flowing rapidly downhill)
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |