acoustic (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —1 use as in:
auditorium acoustics
It was at a hall in town, a place that usually showcased local bands, so the acoustics were terrible for unamplified classical.
acoustics = sound quality (resulting from such things as the surfaces off of which sound bounces)
Definition
Generally this sense of acoustic means:sound quality or its study based on such things as the surfaces off of which sound bounces — such as how well a voice on stage can be heard in the back of an auditorium, or how noisy a restaurant sounds
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
2 —3 uses as in:
acoustic guitar
He was riffing about on his acoustic guitar.†
acoustic = not using electricity to amplify sound
Definition
Generally this sense of acoustic means:of a guitar or other musical instrument: not using electricity to amplify sound
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
aesthetic
1 use
Forgive Simon. We haven't had high-quality cellists for a couple years, so he's excited about new blood. In a purely aesthetic way.
aesthetic = related to a sense of what is beautiful (in this case, beautiful music)
Definition
Generally aesthetic means:related to beauty or good taste — often referring to one's appreciation of beauty or one's sense of what is beautiful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
approximate
1 use
"Where's the rest?" asks a bearded guy in scrubs.
"Other driver suffering mild concussions, being treated at the scene. Parents DOA. Boy, approximately seven years old, just behind us."
"Other driver suffering mild concussions, being treated at the scene. Parents DOA. Boy, approximately seven years old, just behind us."
approximately = about (in this case, the person speaking doesn't know the age for sure)
Definition
Generally approximate means:almost, but not exact; or similar
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
concerto
5 uses
"That's sounding quite beautiful," Simon said toward the end of camp as he listened to me practice a movement from Hayden's Cello Concerto no. 2, a piece that had given me no end of trouble when I'd first attempted it last spring.
concerto = music written for orchestra and a solo instrument
(editor's note: In other contexts, concerto can refer to music written for orchestra and more than one solo instrument.)
(editor's note: In other contexts, concerto can refer to music written for orchestra and more than one solo instrument.)
Definition
Generally concerto means:music written for orchestra and one (or more) solo instruments
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
context
1 use
I worried that he was bored, but after a while I got too caught up in the music to care. Then, when Yo-Yo Ma played "Le Grand Tango," Adam reached over and grasped my hand. In any other context, this would have been cheesy, the old yawn-and-cop-a-feel move. But Adam wasn't looking at me. His eyes were closed and he was swaying slightly in his seat. He was lost in the music, too.
context = situation
Definition
Generally context means:the setting or situation in which something occurs
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
contrast
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
contrast their writing styles
"Neither sleet nor rain nor a half inch of snow will compel me to dress like a lumberjack."
"Hey, my relatives were lumberjacks," Mom warns. "No making fun of the white-trash woodsmen."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Dad replies. "Just making stylistic contrasts."
"Hey, my relatives were lumberjacks," Mom warns. "No making fun of the white-trash woodsmen."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Dad replies. "Just making stylistic contrasts."
contrasts = comparisons (to show differences)
Definition
Generally this sense of contrast means:point to differences between; or compare to show differences
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
establish
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
establish that there is a need
I think we've established that I'm not very good at trigonometry.†
established = demonstrated
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
frenetic
2 uses
...a nighttime hush has fallen over the place. It is less frenetic than it was during the day, like the nurses and machines are all a little tired and have reverted to power-save mode.
frenetic = frenzied (with lots of excited activity)
Definition
Generally frenetic means:fast, energetic — often with confusion
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
highlight
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
highlight the main findings
The operating room is small and crowded, full of blindingly bright lights, which highlight how grubby this place is.
highlight = emphasize (call attention to)
Definition
Generally this sense of highlight means:emphasize (call attention to something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
lament
3 uses
My parents were lamenting that they hadn't seen Willow and Henry and the baby in months.
lamenting = regretting
Definition
Generally lament means:to express grief or regret
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
lilt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an Irish lilt
And the other is a woman with skin so black it's blue and a lilt in her voice.†
lilt = pleasing sound
Definition
Generally this sense of lilt means:a way of speaking, singing, or making music — typically cheerful, lively or pleasing — sometimes with the pitch of the voice rising and falling
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
midwife
11 uses
The midwife was telling Mom to push, then hold, then push.
midwife = someone skilled in aiding the delivery of babies
Definition
Generally midwife means:a non-doctor who practices the profession of assisting women in childbirth; or to assist in childbirth
or:
someone who helps bring something into existence; or the act of helping to bring something into existence
or:
someone who helps bring something into existence; or the act of helping to bring something into existence
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
perspective
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Look at it from her perspective
I try to think about it from their perspectives.
perspectives = ways of seeing or thinking about things
Definition
Generally this sense of perspective means:a particular way of seeing or thinking about things
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
positive
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
had a positive effect
I remember the social worker telling my grandparents and Aunt Diane that this was a positive step.†
positive = good or beneficial
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
pragmatic
1 use
"I still don't understand why you don't just go to her family?" asks Kim, pragmatic as ever. ... But I also know that sometimes Adam needs to do things the dramatic way. He is fond of the Grand Gesture. Like saving up two weeks of pizza-delivery tips to take me to Yo-Yo Ma instead of just asking me out on a regular date.
pragmatic = practical
Definition
Generally pragmatic means:concerned with practical matters — especially where quick results and/or practical experience triumph over theory
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
repudiate
1 use
"That funeral wasn't about celebrating Kerry's life," Mom growled, yanking at her scarf. "It was about repudiating it. It was like they killed him all over again."
repudiating = strongly rejecting
Definition
Generally repudiate means:strong rejection — especially when the idea or thing being rejected was once embraced
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
superficial
1 use
I don't know that I'd call Mr. Dunlap "just fine," no matter how superficial his injuries.
superficial = relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or serious
Definition
Generally superficial means:relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or penetrating (often of injuries or thinking)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
symphony
7 uses
Well, you know how we all perform in an orchestra for the final symphony?
symphony = a long and complex piece of music
Definition
Generally symphony means:a long and complex piece of music — typically for full orchestra in four parts;
or: an orchestra that plays such; or such a performance
or: an orchestra that plays such; or such a performance
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
tranquil
2 uses
The car radio somehow still is attached to a battery and so Beethoven is broadcasting into the once-again tranquil February morning. [after the car accident]
tranquil = calm
Definition
Generally tranquil means:calm and undisturbed
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |