departure noun (LEAVING)
/dɪˈpɑː.tʃər /
/-ˈpɑːr.tʃɚ/ n [plural forms."">C or noun with no plural form. Cannot be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U]
/-ˈpɑːr.tʃɚ/ n [plural forms."">C or noun with no plural form. Cannot be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U]•
when a person or vehicle, etc. leaves somewhere
There are several departures (= buses, trains, ships or aircraft leaving) for Paris every day.
Our departure was delayed because of bad weather.
departure time
•
when someone leaves a job
Everyone in the office was surprised by Graham's sudden departure.
catastrophe event or thing."">noun
/kəˈtæs.trə.fi/ n [C]
•
parentof__def__is__sense_b"">a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction
They were warned of the ecological catastrophe to come.
•
a bad situation
The emigration of scientists is a catastrophe for the country.
catastrophic
adjective/ˌkæt.əˈstrɒf.ɪk//ˌkæt ̬.əˈstrɑː.fɪk/ adj
/ˌkæt ̬.əˈstrɑː.fɪk/ adjAn unchecked increase in the use of fossil fuels could have catastrophic results for the planet.
seize verb
/siːz/ v
•
parentof__grams__is__sense_b"">[T] to take something quickly and keep or hold it
I seized his arm and made him turn to look at me.
He seized the chance/opportunity of a free flight with both hands (= with eagerness or enthusiasm).
•
[T] to take using sudden force
The rebels have seized ten soldiers to use as hostages.
Political instability helped the army to seize power.
Troops yesterday seized control of the broadcasting station.
•
[T] If the police or other officials seize something, they take possession of it with legal authority
Customs officers at Heathrow have seized 60 kilos of heroin.
•
[usually passive] parentof__def__is__sense_b"">If a strong emotion or pain seizes you, you feel it suddenly
I was suddenly seized by/with a feeling of great insecurity and loneliness.
herd noun
/hɜːd//hɝːd/ n [plural forms."">C a group and can be used with either a singular or a plural verb."">+ singular or plural verb]
/hɝːd/ n [plural forms."">C a group and can be used with either a singular or a plural verb."">+ singular or plural verb]•
parentof__def__is__sense_b"">a large group of animals of the same type that live and feed together
a herd of cattle/elephants/goats
•
mainly have a bad opinion of someone or something."">disapproving a large group of people that is considered together as a group and not separately
Poor Janine - she just follows the herd (= does what all the other people are doing).
herd experience."">verb
/hɜːd//hɝːd/ v
/hɝːd/ v•
parentof__grams__is__sense_b"">[I or object."">T preposition."">+ adverb or preposition] tomake animals move together as a group
A old woman was herding the goats up the mountainside.
•
[T adverb or preposition."">+ adverb or preposition] mainly have a bad opinion of someone or something."">disapproving tomake people move somewhere as a group, often with force or against theirwishes
The football fans complained that they had been herded into a small alley.
strictly other adverb."">adverb
/ˈstrɪkt .li/ adv
•
parentof__def__is__sense_b"">in a way that would bring severe punishment if not obeyed
The speed limit is strictly enforced on urban roads.
The use of cameras in this museum is strictly forbidden.
•
in a very limited or limiting way
Should I mark this letter to your accountant 'strictly confidential'?
The proposed change in the law would make abortion illegal except for strictly defined medical reasons.
This unrepeatable offer is only available for a strictly limited period.
•
parentof__def__is__sense_b"">exactly or correctly
I have acted strictly in accordance with the regulations at all times.
It is essential that the safety procedures are strictly adhered to.
Their salaries are not strictly comparable (= cannot be directly compared) because of the differences in UK and US tax rates.
Are all these questions strictly (= really) necessary?
self-evident adjective
/ˌselfˈev.ɪ.dənt/ adj
clear or obvious without needing any proof or explanation
Solutions which seem self-evident to humans are often beyond the grasp of computers.
self-evidently
adverb."">adverb/ˌselfˈev.ɪ.dənt.li/ adv
Any growth in unemployment is self-evidently a matter of extreme seriousness.
timid adjective
/ˈtɪm.ɪd/ adj
parentof__def__is__sense_b"">shy and nervous; without much confidence; easily frightened
parentof__eg__is__examp__firstchild"">Lucy is a rather timid child.
My horse is a bit timid and is easily frightened by traffic.
timidity
noun/tɪˈmɪd.ɪ.ti/ pronunciation symbol"">/-ə.i/ n [ be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U]
pronunciation symbol"">/-ə.i/ n [ be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U]timidly
adverb/ˈtɪm.ɪd.li/ adv
"Um, excuse me," he said timidly.
sprig noun
/sprɪg/ n [C]
a single small plant stem with leaves on it
Garnish the dish with sprigs of parsley.
inoffensive adjective
/ˌɪn.əˈfent .sɪv/ adj
parentof__def__is__sense_b"">(especially of a person or their behaviour) not causing any harm or offence
an inoffensive article
He seemed like a quiet, inoffensive sort of a guy.
sprout verb
/spraʊt/ v
•
parentof__grams__is__sense_b"">[I or object."">T] to produce leaves, hair and other new developing parts, or (of leaves, hair and other developingparts) to begin to grow
It takes about three days for the seeds to sprout.
Your hair is sticking up - it looks like you're sprouting horns!
•
[I]
(also
Used more in speech."">informal If a large number of thingssprout (up), they suddenly appear or begin to existsprout up
)New factories have sprouted up everywhere.
sprout noun
/spraʊt/ n [C]
•
parentof__def__is__sense_b"">a part of a plant that is just beginning to grow
•
mainly UK a brussels sprout
toilet noun (WASHING)
/ˈtɔɪ.lət/ n
[U] or phrases that sound old-fashioned, not modern."">old-fashioned with people in a serious or polite way."">formal the process of washing and dressing yourself
Virginia had spent longer than usual over her toilet that evening, with pleasing results.
tedious adjective
/ˈtiː.di.əs/ adj
boring
a tedious job
The trouble is I find most forms of exercise so tedious.
tediously
adverb."">adverb/ˈtiː.di.ə.sli/ adv
tediousness
noun /ˈtiː.di.ə.snəs/ n [ be used with 'a', 'an', or 'one'."">U]resemble verb
/rɪˈzem.bl ̩/ v [ that has an object."">T]
to look like or be like someone or something
You resemble your mother very closely.
After the earthquake, the city resembled a battlefield.
neglected adjective
/nɪˈglek.tɪd/ adj
not receiving enough care or attention
She was distressed at how neglected the children looked.
neglect experience."">verb
/nɪˈglekt/ v [T]
to give not enough care or attention to people or things that are your responsibility
to neglect your appearance/the garden
He neglects that poor dog - he never takes him for walks or gives him any attention.
I'm afraid I've rather neglected my studies this week.
neglect to do sth
to not do something, often because you forget
I'd neglected to give him the name of the hotel where I'd be staying.
He neglected to mention the fact that we could lose money on the deal.
neglect noun
/nɪˈglekt/ n [U]
when you do not give enough care or attention to someone or something, or the state of not receiving enough care or attention
Both parents were found guilty of neglect and their child was taken away from them.
Over the years the church has fallen into a state of neglect.
skirt verb
/skɜːt//skɝːt/ v [T object."">I + prep]
/skɝːt/ v [T object."">I + prep](also)
skirt around/round
•
to be on or move along the edge of something; to avoid
Take the road which skirts (round) the village, not the one which goes through it.
•
to avoid discussing a subject or problem, usually because there are difficulties that you do not want to deal with
Though the government has promised to deal with drug abuse, it has been accused of skirting round the issue.
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