corral noun/kəˈrɑːl/ /-ˈræl/ n [C]an area surrounded by a fence for keeping horses or cattle in, especially in North Americacorral verb/kəˈrɑːl/ /-ˈræl/ v [T] (-ll-)•to guide horses or cattle into a corral•to bring a group of people together and keep them in one place, especially in order to control themPolice corralled most of the demonstrators in a small area near the station.Unravel verb ( CLOTH )/ʌnˈræv.əl/ v (-ll- or US USUALLY -l-)[I or T] If a piece of woollen or woven cloth, a knot, or a mass of thread unravels, it separates into a single thread, and if you unravel it, you separate it into a single threadYou'd better mend that hole before the whole sweater starts to unravel.I had to unravel one of the sleeves because I realised I'd knitted it too small.unravel verb ( SUBJECT )/ʌnˈræv.əl/ v (-ll- or US USUALLY -l-)[I or T] If you unravel a mysterious, unknown or complicated subject, you make it known or understood, and if it unravels, it becomes known or understoodWe've got a long way to go before we unravel the secrets of genetics.unravel verb ( DESTROY )/ʌnˈræv.əl/ v (-ll- or US USUALLY -l-)[I T usually passive] If a process or achievement that was slow and complicated unravels or is unravelled, it is destroyedAs talks between the leaders broke down, several months of careful diplomacy were unravelled.vain adjective ( NOT SUCCESSFUL )/veɪn/ adjunsuccessful or useless; of no valueThe doctors gave him more powerful drugs in the vain hope that he might recover.formal It was vain to pretend to himself that he was not disappointed.in vainunsuccessfully or uselesslyI tried in vain to start a conversation.All the police's efforts to find him were in vain.vain adjective ( SELFISH )/veɪn/ adjtoo interested in your own appearance or achievementsHe was very vain about his hair and his clothes.fruitless adjective/ˈfruːt.ləs/ adjIf an action or attempt to do something is fruitless, it is unsuccessful or produces nothing of valueAll diplomatic attempts at a peaceful solution to the crisis have been fruitless.Opposite: fruitfulfruitlessly adverb/ˈfruːt.lə.sli/ advfruitlessness noun/ˈfruːt.lə.snəs/ n [U]elixir noun/ɪˈlɪk.sɪər / /-sjɚ/ n [C usually singular] literarya substance, usually a liquid, with a magical power to cure, improve or preserveIt's yet another health product claiming to be the elixir of life/youth (= something to make you live longer/stay young).profoundly adverb/prəˈfaʊnd.li/ advdeeply or extremelySociety has changed so profoundly over the last fifty years.We are all profoundly grateful for your help and encouragement.myth noun ( ANCIENT STORY )/mɪθ/ n[C or U] an ancient story or set of stories, especially explaining in a literary way the early history of a group of people or about natural events and factsancient mythsThe children enjoyed the stories about the gods and goddesses of Greek and Roman myth.Most societies have their own creation myths.archaeological adjective(US also archeological) /ˌɑː.ki.əˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/ /ˌɑːr.ki.əˈlɑː.dʒɪ-/ adjinvolving or relating to archaeologyan archaeological dig/excavationan area/site of archaeological interestarchaeologically adverbUS also archeologically /ˌɑː.ki.əˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kli/ /ˌɑːr.ki.əˈlɑː.dʒɪ-/expedition noun ( JOURNEY )/ˌek.spəˈdɪʃ.ən/ n•[C] an organized journey for a particular purposeWe're going on a shopping expedition on Saturday.Scott died while he was on an expedition to the Antarctic in 1912.•[C] the people, vehicles, animals, etc. taking part in an expeditionThe British expedition to Mount Everest is leaving next month.expedition noun ( SPEED )/ˌek.spəˈdɪʃ.ən/ n[U] formal speed in doing somethingWe will deal with your order with the greatest possible expedition.
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