The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time — Vocabulary
Mark Haddon
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	2	top 10
illustratemake clear Pictures of flooding help to illustrate the problem of global warming.more Show sample from book Here is a famous story called The Monty Hall Problem which I have included in this book because it illustrates what I mean.2 more illustrate → illustrates:helps make clear Show general definition for illustrate (as in: as illustrated by this example) to help make clear -- typically by example
	1	top 2000
illustrate#2draw pictures to accompany I write and illustrate children's books.more Show sample from book The deerstalker hat was invented by a man called Sidney Paget, who did the illustrations for the original books.2 more illustrate → illustrations:drawings Show general definition for illustrate (as in: an illustrated children's book) to draw pictures (or provide photographs) to accompany a book or other writing
	2	top 100
hypothesisa seemingly reasonable, but unproven, idea The study will test the hypothesis that a good marriage is more important than a higher income when measuring happiness.more Show sample from book And when X is between 1 and 3, the population gets bigger and then it stays stable like this (and these graphs are hypothetical, too).2 more hypothesis → hypothetical:based on something that is seemingly reasonable, but unproven Show general definition for hypothesis (as in: a study to test her hypothesis) a seemingly reasonable, but unproven idea or explanation based upon known facts Show editor's word notes In casual conversation, theory is a synonym for hypothesis, but a scientist would say that a hypothesis needs to pass rigorous tests before it could be accepted as a theory.
	1
hypothesis#2something that may or may not be true, but is temporarily treated as true to advance a discussion or to further investigation For the purpose of discussion, let's accept that the hypothesis that she is guilty as true. What would we have expected her to do after the incident?more Show sample from book And if something is nearby you can find it by moving in a spiral, walking clockwise and taking every right turn until you come back to a road you've already walked on, then taking the next left, then taking every right turn and so on, like this (but this is a hypothetical diagram, too, and not a map of Swindon).2 more hypothesis → hypothetical:something temporarily treated as true to advance a discussion or to further investigation Show general definition for hypothesis (as in: assume as a working hypothesis) something that may or may not be true, but is temporarily treated as true to advance a discussion or to further investigation Show editor's word notes This sense of hypothesis is typically seen in the form, hypothetical, or hypothetically.
	9
junctiona place where things come together The store is at the junction of the 10 and 5 freeways.†more Show sample from book Says Underground Take the Bakerloo Line to Willesden Junction or the Jubilee to Willesden Green.†8 more Show general definition a place where two or more things come together
	8	top 1000
metaphormetaphor → metaphorically:with a figure of speech in which a similarity between two things is highlighted by using a word to refer to something that it does not literally denote He was speaking metaphorically when he referred to being mugged by reality.more Show sample from book It was falling so hard that it looked like white sparks (and this is a simile, too, not a metaphor).7 more a figure of speech in which a word is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity -- as when Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage." Show general definition a figure of speech in which a similarity between two things is implied by using a word to refer to something it does not literally mean—as in, "All the world’s a stage." Show editor's word notes When Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players." he was not saying the world is really a stage and all people are actors. But he was pointing to the similarities he wants us to recognize. While metaphors and similes are both techniques of figurative language. The distinction is that a simile explicitly shows that a comparison is being made, by using words such as "like" or "as". A metaphor simply substitutes words assuming the reader will understand the meaning should not be take literally. "She is like a diamond in the rough" is a simile; while "She is a diamond in the rough" is a metaphor.
	6	top 500
approximateapproximate → approximately:about The state has approximately as many Republicans as Democrats.more Show sample from book And Mr. Jeavons smells of soap and wears brown shoes that have approximately 60 tiny circular holes in each of them.†5 more approximate → approximately:about (but not exactly) Show general definition almost, but not exact; or similar
	7	top 2000
physicsthe science of matter and energy In physics class, we learned how gravity affects falling objects.more Show sample from book And after I've taken A-level maths I am going to take A-level further maths and physics and then I can go to university.†6 more Show general definition the science of matter and energy and their interactions
	1	top 2000
focusinto view (as an area of attention) The bridge collapse brought aging infrastructure into focus as a political issue.more Show sample from book And the advert said "DREAM HOLIDAY, THINK KUONI IN MALAYSIA" and behind the writing there was a big photograph of 2 orangutans and they were swinging on branches and there were trees behind them but the leaves were blurred because the camera was focusing on the orangutans and not the leaves and the orangutans were moving.1 more focus → focusing:with lens adjusted for a clear image Show general definition for focus (as in: bring into focus; or out of focus) a state where something has come into view or can be seen clearly; or an adjustment made to permit a clear view
	1
focus#2focus → focuses:concentrates The satellite dish focuses the signal into a relatively narrow beam.more Show sample from book I decided that my best plan would be to wait for a really sunny day and then use my glasses to focus the sunlight on a piece of my clothing and start a fire.1 more concentrate at one spot Show general definition for focus (as with technical usage) technical usage typically involves some sense of center or concentration such as: physics — a point where things come together such as the point where light rays meet geometry — a fixed reference point (as of a parabola) geology — the point of origin of an earthquake See a comprehensive dictionary for other less common meanings.
	3	top 500
intuitionintuition → intuitive:able to understand things from feeling or instinct rather than conscious reasoning They were perfect partners--one highly intuitive and the other highly analytical.more Show sample from book But if you use your intuition you think that chance is 50-50 because you think there is an equal chance that the car is behind any door.†2 more the ability to known instinctively rather than through reasoning; or the thing that is known in such a way Show general definition something known based on feeling or instinct rather than conscious reasoning; or the ability to know things in such a manner
	4	top 1000
moleculechemical substance They want to genetically engineer bacteria or yeast to produce the molecule required to replace gasoline.more Show sample from book And stars are the places where the molecules that life is made of were constructed billions of years ago.†3 more molecule → molecules:chemical substance comprised of the smallest amount of a chemical substance that can exist by itself Show general definition the smallest amount of a chemical substance that can exist by itself -- usually consisting of 2 or more atoms
	4	top 2000
detachdetach → detached:emotionally uninvolved (separated from emotions) She spoke in a cold, detached manner as though she didn't care about him anymore.more Show sample from book Also it says in the book Sherlock Holmes had, in a very remarkable degree, the power of detaching his mind at will.†3 more detach → detaching:separating Show general definition to separate something from something else (physically or emotionally)
	2	top 1000
nucleusthe center (in this case, key central members) They have the nucleus of a good team.†more Show sample from book And they are nuclear explosions billions of miles away.†1 more nucleus → nuclear:relating to the central or most important part of something Show general definition the center (or most important part) of something such as: in physics: the center of an atom where protons & neutrons are found in biology: the center of a cell where DNA is found in sociology: the closest family (mother/father/children in contrast to the extended family)
	7
white liean unimportant lie told to be helpful I told a white lie to bolster her battered ego.more Show sample from book This is called a white lie.†6 more an unimportant lie (especially one told to be polite or helpful) Show general definition an unimportant lie (especially one told to be polite or helpful)
	5
similea figure of speech that highlights similarity between things of different kinds A commonly heard simile is, "It's like looking for a needle in a haystack."more Show sample from book It was falling so hard that it looked like white sparks (and this is a simile, too, not a metaphor).4 more a phrase that highlights similarity between things of different kinds Show context notes While metaphors and similes are both techniques of figurative language. The distinction is that a simile explicitly shows that a comparison is being made, by using words such as like or as. A metaphor simply substitutes words assuming the reader will understand the meaning should not be taken literally. Show general definition a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things—usually using the words "like" or "as" — as in, "She is as quiet as a mouse." Show editor's word notes While metaphors and similes are both techniques of figurative language. The distinction is that a simile explicitly shows that a comparison is being made, by using words such as like or as. A metaphor simply substitutes words assuming the reader will understand that the meaning should not be taken literally. "She is like a diamond in the rough" is a simile; while "She is a diamond in the rough" is a metaphor.
	4
speed of lightabout 186,000 miles per second Light does not travel at the speed of light unless it is in a vacuum. It travels more slowly through air, water, or fiber optic cables.more Show sample from book Then they worked out that the universe was expanding, that the stars were all rushing away from one another after the Big Bang, and the further the stars were away from us the faster they were moving, some of them nearly as fast as the speed of light, which was why their light never reached us.†3 more about 186,000 miles per second (or 300,000,000 meters per second) in a vacuum Show general definition about 186,000 miles per second (or 300,000,000 meters per second) in a vacuum
	3
rhetorical questionrhetorical question → rhetorical questions:questions asked to emphasize a point or to generate interest rather than to get information She asks and answers rhetorical questions faster than I can consider them.more Show sample from book This is what Siobhan says is called a rhetorical question.†2 more a question asked to emphasize a point or to generate interest rather than to get… Show general definition a question asked to emphasize a point or to generate interest rather than to get information Show editor's word notes If you're familiar with the word rhetoric, you can think of this as a question that is asked for rhetorical effect.
	3
red herringa diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue The politician used a red herring argument to divert attention away from the real issue at hand.more Show sample from book I like The Hound of the Baskervilles because it is a detective story, which means that there are clues and Red Herrings.2 more red herring → red herrings:diversions intended to distract attention from the truth
	1	top 500
digressdigress → digresses:wanders from a direct course She always digresses when telling a story.more Show sample from book But this is what is called a digression, and now I am going to go back to the fact that it was a Good Day. digress → digression:instance of getting off the main topic Show general definition wander from a direct or straight course -- typically verbally