Ferris Beach — Vocabulary
Jill McCorkle
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	1	top 100
elaborateexplain in detail Please elaborate on the reasons you think this is the best plan.more Show sample from book He had gotten some clothes, some money, but didn't elaborate.6 more tell more details Show general definition for elaborate (as in: elaborate on your plan) add details or explain in detail
	6	top 500
elaborate#2complicated It's part of her elaborate plan for getting accepted at Harvard.more Show sample from book we spent a lot of time concocting elaborate plans that we never had the nerve to carry out.6 more detailed or complex Show general definition for elaborate (as in: an elaborate design) having details and complexity -- sometimes fancy or ornate Show editor's word notes Depending upon it's context, this sense of elaborate can additionally imply that details make something either:<ul><li>more special than others of its kind in a good way</li></ul>or:<ul><li>more complicated than necessary in a bad way</li></ul>
	6	top 500
simulateimitate or represent A computer model is used to simulate the effects of wind.more Show sample from book The coat was beautiful, white simulated-fur,5 more simulate → simulated:imitation Show general definition make an imitation or representation of
	7	top 1000
sparsenot dense The grass was sparse in the dry field, with patches of dirt showing everywhere.more Show sample from book Oliver was stretched out on the far end of the porch ... his fur sparse and gray with age.6 more not dense (thinning) Show general definition not dense; or few in number and spread out
	7	top 2000
interstatefreeway, or highway that runs between states There was an accident on the interstate.more Show context notes When a word begins with the prefix, "inter-", the prefix often means between. In this case, interstate means between different states. Interstate is often used as an abbreviation for interstate highway, a highway that runs between states. It has also come to mean freeway in a place like Hawaii where no major highway connects to another state. Show sample from book I concentrated on the street noise as a means of escape; with my eyes closed I tried to measure the distance of the coming and going of the cars on the interstate.†6 more freeway, or highway that runs between states… Show context notes When a word begins with the prefix, "inter-", the prefix often means between. In this case, interstate means between different states. Interstate is often used as an abbreviation for interstate highway, a highway that runs between states. It has also come to mean freeway in a place like Hawaii where no major highway connects to another state. Show general definition for interstate (as in: interstate commerce) freeway, or highway that runs between states or: relating to the mutual relations between states -- especially of the United States Show editor's word notes Note that interstate is often contrasted with intrastate. An intrastate highway is used to move from one location in a state to another, rather than to move between states. Similarly, interstate commerce is business between states; whereas intrastate commerce affects a state without affecting other states. Under the U.S. Constitution, the interstate/intrastate distinction is important when determining when the federal government has authority to override state government.
	1	top 1000
sheerso thin and delicate as to be transparent In the kitchen, I want sheer curtains that I can see through.more Show sample from book Angela was wearing a red dress, too, smocked at the top with a low neckline, long puffy sleeves, and folds of the thin sheer material that hung in different lengths about six inches above her knees.1 more thin and delicate Show general definition for sheer (as in: a sheer blouse) typically of fabric: very thin and delicate -- often transparent
	1	top 1000
sheer#2complete She had a look of sheer joy.more Show sample from book Soon the streetlights would come on and slowly the neighborhood would light up, Christmas trees and all the adornments that Mrs. Poole had called sheer tackiness.1 more pure or complete Show general definition for sheer (as in: sheer fun) complete or pure -- without restriction, qualification, or other elements (used for emphasis)
	6	top 2000
conjuresummon into action or bring into existence She fears his black magic will conjure up evil spirits.more Show sample from book Merle had once said that it might be good for him to be some place where no one had heard of his family, where the very mention of his name didn't conjure an image,5 more bring into existence Show general definition summon into action or bring into existence -- often as if by magic
	3	top 200
tactthe ability and tendency to say or handle things in such a way that others feel good about them She has the tact of a politician or diplomat.more Show sample from book In short, we all tactfully lied a few times during the opening of the gifts.†2 more tact → tactfully:in a manner that makes others feel good Show general definition the ability or act of saying or handling things in such a way that others feel good about them
	5	top 2000
auburnreddish-brown Her long auburn hair shimmered in the afternoon sun.more Show sample from book my hair looked auburn in certain lights.4 more colored a moderate reddish-brown Show general definition for auburn (as in: auburn hair) colored a moderate reddish-brown -- especially of hair
	2	top 100
primarilymainly Did the author mention multiple companies primarily to demonstrate diversity of solutions or to show that interest in the industry is widespread?more Show sample from book She was that misplaced woman who attempted to maintain aristocracy in a primarily blue-collar town.†1 more Show general definition mainly (most importantly)
	3	top 1000
distortalter in an unnatural or untrue way These sunglasses distort my vision.more Show sample from book My mother took great pride in the distortion of some of our windows; it meant they were the originals with all their impurities, the waves and tiny pinhead bubbles signs of imperfection.†2 more distort → distortion:to alter something in an unnatural or untrue way Show general definition to alter something in an unnatural or untrue way
	3	top 1000
speculatespeculate → speculated:thought and guessed without certainty Philosophers have speculated on the question for thousands of years.more Show sample from book We had all laughed about it, speculated on who those mean boys were and then...2 more speculate → speculated:wondered or guessed Show general definition for speculate (as in: don't know, but I'll speculate) to think about, wonder, guess or theorize with much uncertainty
	3	top 1000
nonethelessin spite of that (used to connect contrasting ideas) Sometimes she gets angry and loses her temper, but I love her nonetheless.more Show sample from book "I didn't mean to rile you up, Cleva," he whispered, and then waited for her smile—a weak one but a smile nonetheless.†2 more Show general definition in spite of that (Used to connect contrasting ideas. Other synonyms could include words and phrases such as nevertheless, all the same, still, and however.)
	4	top 2000
garishtastelessly showy The clown’s garish outfit, with its bright colors and bold patterns, made the children laugh.more Show sample from book The image of myself in the white fake fur was ugly and garish; I was ugly and garish, and I was prepared to hear her say it.†3 more Show general definition tastelessly showy; or excessively bright
	3
obituarya notice of someone's death with a short biography Her eldest daughter wrote an obituary that was published in the local paper and online.more Show sample from book For years he had cut the obituaries from several different newspapers.†2 more obituary → obituaries:published death notices with short biographies Show general definition a published notice of someone's death -- usually printed in a newspaper with a short biography Show editor's word notes The section of the newspaper that reports deaths is called the "Obituaries".
	2
balladslow, emotional song that tells a story The singer ended the concert with a heartfelt ballad about lost love.more Show sample from book Misty could quote every single word of "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde," and it seemed the tune stayed in my head for weeks after.†1 more a song (or poem) that tells a story or expresses strong feelings Show general definition a song (or poem) that tells a story or expresses strong feelings -- typically slow in tempo
	2
negaterender meaningless Her apology is welcome, but it does not negate her inexperience.more Show sample from book And how could God keep it all sorted, all these direct lines, these prayers that were shot up to him like bullets, crisscrossing, ricocheting, contradicting, negating.†1 more negate → negating:to contradict, offset, or render meaningless Show general definition to contradict, offset, or render meaningless
	2
preparatorygetting ready The preparatory school has a reputation for sending students to top colleges.more Show sample from book He prefaced everything with "Nobody in Greensboro would do that," or wear that, or say that; he called Fulton "Gritville" and said he couldn't wait to go off to prep school the next year.†1 more preparatory → prep school:done to get ready for something that will happen later Show general definition done to get ready for something that will happen later
	1	top 500
cumbersomedifficult to handle Can you help me move this box? It's not heavy, but it is cumbersome.more Show sample from book Get them out of those long, cumbersome clothes and they were free spirits.† difficult to handle or awkward Show general definition difficult to handle or awkward