Gre Big Book Words

GRE Big Book

1

Abscond

2

Acorn

Leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself, often to avoid arrest or prosecution. The fruit of an oak

3

Acquittal

judgment that a person is not guilty of a crime

4

Aerate

To supply or charge (liquid) with a gas

5

Aide

An assistant

6

Alcove

7

Alienate

A recess or partly enclosed extension connected to or forming part of a room To cause to become unfriendly or hostile

8

Allay

To reduce the intensity of

9

Allies

To place in a friendly association

10

Allusive

indirect reference

11

Amble

slow walk

12

Amortize

13

Anachronistic

14

Annotation

To liquidate (a debt, such as a mortgage) by installment payments or payment into a sinking fund. Representation of someone as existing or something as happening in other than the chronological, proper, or historical order to add notes to give explanation

15

Anthology

16

Anvil

17

Aorta

18

Arbitrate

To judge or decide in or as in the manner of an arbitrator

19

Archaism

An archaic word, phrase, idiom, or other expression.

20

Archivist

One who is in charge of archives.

21

Aria

A solo vocal piece

22

Armada

large fleet of ships

23

Arson

The crime of maliciously, voluntarily, and willfully setting fire to the building, buildings, or other property of another or of burning one's own property for an improper purpose, as to collect insurance

24

Artery

Any of a branching system of muscular

25

Artistry

Artistic ability

26

Assault

violent physical or verbal attack.

27

Assay

28

Atonement

Qualitative or quantitative analysis of a substance, especially of an ore or drug, to determine its components. mends or reparation made for an injury or wrong; expiation

A collection of literary pieces, such as poems, short stories, or plays. A heavy block of iron or steel with a smooth, flat top on which metals are shaped by hammering. The main trunk of the systemic arteries, carrying blood from the left side of the heart to the arteries of all limbs and organs except the lungs.

29 30

Attic

Zubaer, November 2004

Of, relating to, or characteristic of ancient Attica, Athens, or the Athenians. 2. Characterized by purity, simplicity, and elegant wit.

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31

Avalanche

32

Aver

A fall or slide of a large mass, as of snow or rock, down a mountainside To affirm positively; declare

33

Averts

To turn away

34

Awe of

35

Awe-inspiring

A mixed emotion of reverence, respect, dread, and wonder inspired by authority, genius, great beauty, sublimity, or might causing awe

36

Awl

A pointed tool for making holes, as in wood or leather.

37

Bait

An enticement; a temptation.

38

Bale

39

Ballads

A large package of raw or finished material tightly bound with twine or wire and often wrapped The music for such a poem

40

Ballet

A classical dance form characterized by grace and precision of movement and elaborate formal technique, often but not always performed on point by the women dancers.

41

Balloon

A flexible, nonporous bag inflated with a gas, such as helium, that is lighter than the surrounding air, that causes the bag to rise and float in the atmosphere.

42

Barge

43

Bark

A large, open pleasure boat used for parties, pageants, or formal ceremonies. The harsh, abrupt sound uttered by a dog.

44

Bask

To expose oneself to pleasant warmth.

45

Baste

46

Baton

47

Bereft

To sew loosely with large running stitches so as to hold together temporarily. slender wooden stick or rod used by a conductor to direct an orchestra or band o leave desolate or alone, especially by death

48

Berry

49

Bile

An indehiscent fruit derived from a single ovary and having the whole wall fleshy, such as the grape or tomato A bitter, alkaline, brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow fluid that is secreted by the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and discharged into the duodenum and aids in the emulsification,

50

Bleak

Gloomy and somber; dreary

51

Blizzard

A violent snowstorm with winds blowing at a minimum speed of 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour and visibility of less than one-quarter mile (400 meters) for three hours

52

Blowhard

boaster or braggart.

53

Blush

54

Boggle

To become red in the face, especially from modesty, embarrassment, or shame; flush. 2. To become red or rosy. To hesitate as if in fear or

55

Bolster

long, narrow pillow or cushion.

56

Boulder

57

Bout

large rounded mass of rock lying on the surface of the ground or embedded in the soil. A contest between antagonists; a match.

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58

Brat

child, especially a spoiled or ill-mannered one.

59

Breached

An opening, a tear, or a rupture. b. A gap or rift, especially in or as if in a solid structure such as a dike or fortification. 2. A violation or infraction, as of a law, a legal obligation, or a promise.

60

Bricklayer

A person skilled in building with bricks

61

Brood

62

Brooked

The young of certain animals, especially a group of young birds or fowl hatched at one time and cared for by the same mother. To put up with; tolerate.

63

Bruised

o injure the underlying soft tissue or bone of (part of the body) without breaking the skin, as by a blow. b. To damage (plant tissue), as by abrasion or pressure. 2. To dent or mar.

64

Bud

A person or thing that is not yet fully developed

65

Bulge

A protruding part; an outward curve or swelling.

66

Buoy

67

Burgle

Nautical. A float, often having a bell or light, moored in water as a warning of danger or as a marker for a channel. to enter a building by force and steal from it

68

Buttress

69

Byline

70

Canonical

structure, usually brick or stone, built against a wall for support or reinforcement. A line at the head of a newspaper or magazine article carrying the writer's name. Of, relating to, or required by canon law

71

Capricious

Characterized by or subject to whim

72

Caret

73

Carp

A proofreading symbol (^) used to indicate where something is to be inserted in a line of printed or written matter. To find fault in a disagreeable way; complain

74

Carve

To divide into pieces by cutting

75

Cast

To throw with force

76

Caste

Any of four classes

77

Caterpillar

78

Caulk

The wormlike, often brightly colored, hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth. To make watertight or airtight by filling or sealing.

79

Cavalry

Troops trained to fight on horseback.

80

Cavern

A large cave

81

Caves

To dig or hollow out

82

Ceases

To put an end to; discontinue

83

Censorious

Tending to censure

84

Chandelier

85

Chanteys

branched, decorative lighting fixture that holds a number of bulbs or candles and is suspended from a ceiling. A song sung by sailors

86

Charade

Zubaer, November 2004

A game in which words or phrases are represented in pantomime, sometimes syllable by syllable, until they are guessed by the other players

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87

Chauvinist

88

Chipmunk

89

Chisel

90

Choir

Militant devotion to and glorification of one's country; fanatical patriotism Any of several small, striped, terrestrial squirrels of the genera Tamias and Eutamias A metal tool with a sharp beveled edge, used to cut and shape stone, wood, or metal. An organized company of singers

91

Chorales

A chorus or choir.

92

Chrysanthemum

Any of numerous, mostly Eurasian plants of the genus Chrysanthemum in the composite family, many of which are cultivated as ornamentals for their showy, radiate flower heads.

93

Churlishness

Rude, boorish

94

Cinder

95

Clam

burned or partly burned substance, such as coal, that is not reduced to ashes but is incapable of further combustion. Any of various usually burrowing marine and freshwater bivalve mollusks of the class Pelecypoda, including members of the genera Venus and Mya, many of which are edible

96

Claw

A sharp, curved nail on the toe of a mammal, reptile, or bird

97

Cleaved

To split with or as if with a sharp instrument.

98

Cleaver

A heavy, broad-bladed knife or hatchet used especially by butchers

99

Clinch

100

Cloistered

To fix or secure (a nail or bolt, for example) by bending down or flattening the pointed end that protrudes. A secluded, quiet place.

101

Clot

A thick, viscous, or coagulated mass or lump, as of blood.

102

Cloture

A parliamentary procedure by which debate is ended and an immediate vote is taken on the matter under discussion. Also called closure

103

Cloudburst

A sudden, heavy rainstorm; a downpour.

104

Cob

A male swan

105

Codify

. To reduce to a code. 2. To arrange or systematize.

106

Cohabit

To live together as spouses.

107

Collate

108

Collusion

109

Comma

To examine and compare carefully in order to note points of disagreement. To act together secretly to achieve a fraudulent, illegal, or deceitful purpose; conspire A pause or separation; a caesura.

110

Commensurate

Of the same size, extent, or duration as another

111

Compendium

A short, complete summary; an abstract.

112

Concur

To be of the same opinion; agree

113

Conniving

To cooperate secretly in an illegal or wrongful action; collude.

114

Conscript

115

Constrict

One compulsorily enrolled for service, especially in the armed forces; a draftee To make smaller or narrower by binding or squeezing

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116

Contiguity

Sharing an edge or boundary; touching.

117

Coop

An enclosure or cage, as for poultry or small animals

118

Cordon

119

Corn

A line of people, military posts, or ships stationed around an area to enclose or guard it. Any of numerous cultivated forms of a widely grown, usually tall annual cereal grass (Zea mays) bearing grains or kernels on large ears

120

Corral

121

Courted

122

Cramp

123

Crass

124

Crate

125

Cravat

o crude and unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility. A container, such as a slatted wooden case, used for storing or shipping A scarf or band of fabric worn around the neck as a tie

126

Crave

To have an intense desire for.

127

Craven

haracterized by abject fear; cowardly.

128

Crawl

129

Crease

To move slowly on the hands and knees or by dragging the body along the ground; creep. line made by pressing, folding, or wrinkling.

130

Croak

A low, hoarse sound, as that characteristic of frogs and crows.

131

Crochet

132

Crumb

133

Crumble

To make a piece of needlework by looping thread with a hooked needle. A very small piece broken from a baked item, such as a cookie, cake, or bread. To break into small fragments or particles.

134

Curt

Rudely brief or abrupt, as in speech or manner.

135

Curtain

136

Dally

137

Damp

Material that hangs in a window or other opening as a decoration, shade, or screen. To play amorously; flirt. 2. To trifle; toy. 3. To waste time; dawdle. -tr. To waste (time). Slightly wet.

138

Daredevil

One who is recklessly bold

139

Darn

140

Dart

141

Dash

To mend (a garment, for example) by weaving thread or yarn across a gap or hole. A slender, pointed missile, often having tail fins, thrown by hand, shot from a blowgun, or expelled by an exploding bomb To break or smash by striking violently.

142

Dawdler

To take more time than necessary.

143

Debrief

To question to obtain knowledge or intelligence gathered especially on a military mission.

Zubaer, November 2004

An enclosure formed by a circle of wagons for defense against attack during an encampment An extent of open ground partially or completely enclosed by walls or buildings; a courtyard. sudden, involuntary, spasmodic muscular contraction causing severe pain, often occurring in the leg or shoulder as the result of strain or chill.

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144

Decried

To condemn openly

145

Dehumanizing

146

Demur

To deprive of human qualities such as individuality, compassion, or civility. To voice opposition; object.

147

Den

The shelter or retreat of a wild animal; a lair.

148

Denigrating

To attack the character or reputation of; speak ill of; defame.

149

Denomination

A name or designation, especially for a class or group

150

Dent

A depression in a surface made by pressure or a blow.

151

Denture

152

Deposition

A partial or complete set of artificial teeth for either the upper or lower jaw. The act of deposing, as from high office

153

Derision

To speak of or treat with contemptuous mirth.

154

Descry

To catch sight of (something difficult to discern).

155

Deter

156

Dichotomy

To prevent or discourage from acting, as by means of fear or doubt. Division into two usually contradictory parts or opinions.

157

Dilettante

A lover of the fine arts; a connoisseur.

158

Din

A jumble of loud, usually discordant sounds

159

Disabuse

To free from a falsehood or misconception.

160

Disaffect

To cause to lose affection or loyalty

161

Disarm

162

Disbar

163

Disburse

To divest of a weapon or weapons. b. To deprive of the means of attack or defense; render harmless. To expel (an attorney) from the practice of law by official action or procedure. To pay out, as from a fund; expend.

164

Disciples

165

Disintegration

One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another. To become reduced to components, fragments, or particles

166

Disinter

To dig up or remove from a grave or tomb; exhume

167

Dislodge

168

Disparate

To remove or force out from a position or dwelling previously occupied. Fundamentally distinct or different in kind; entirely dissimilar.

169

Dispel

170

Disposed

To rid one's mind of. 2. To drive away or off by or as if by scattering. To place or set in a particular order; arrange.

171

Disrupt

To interrupt or impede

172

Dissemble

To disguise or conceal behind a false appearance

173

Dissident

Disagreeing

174

Distraught

Deeply agitated

175

Divestiture

To deprive, as of rights or property

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176

Dodge

To avoid (a blow, for example) by moving or shifting quickly aside

177

Doff

To take off; remove.

178

Doggerel

Crudely or irregularly fashioned verse

179

Dogma

An authoritative principle

180

Dome

A hemispherical roof

181

Don

To put on (clothing).

182

Dossier

183

Dote

A collection of papers giving detailed information about a particular person or subject. To show excessive love or fondness.

184

Drabness

Of a dull light brown.

185

Drawbridge

186

Drawl

A bridge that can be raised or drawn aside either to prevent access or to permit passage beneath it. To speak with lengthened or drawn-out vowels.

187

Drift

To be carried along by currents of air or water.

188

Droll

Amusingly odd or whimsically comical.

189

Drone

To make a continuous low dull humming sound.

190

Dross

Worthless

191

Duck

Any of various wild or domesticated swimming birds of the family Anatidae, characteristically having a broad, flat bill, short legs, and webbed feet.

192

Dune

A hill or ridge of wind-blown sand.

193

Dupe

An easily deceived person.

194

Dwindles

195

Dyslexia

196

Eavesdropper

To become gradually less until little remains. --tr. To cause to dwindle A learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to recognize and comprehend written words To listen secretly to the private conversation of others.

197

Edifying

To instruct especially so as to encourage intellectual,

198

Effrontery

Brazen boldness; presumptuousness.

199

Egotist

200

Egress

The tendency to speak or write of oneself excessively and boastfully. The act of coming or going out; emergence

201

Elegy

A poem composed in elegiac couplets

202

Ellipsis

203

Elusive

The omission of a word or phrase necessary for a complete syntactical construction but not necessary for understanding Tending to elude capture, perception, comprehension, or memory

204

Embark

To cause to board a vessel or aircraft.

205

Embellish

To make beautiful, as by ornamentation; decorate.

206

Enacted

To make into law.

207

Enamored

To inspire with love;

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208

Encapsulate

To encase in or as if in a capsule.

209

Encomium

A formal expression of praise

210

Encumbering

To put a heavy load on; burden.

211

Endow

To provide with property, income, or a source of income

212

Engerders

To bring into existence; give rise to

213

Ensemble

214

Ensign

A unit or group of complementary parts that contribute to a single effect, especially A standard or banner, as of a military unit

215

Entrenched

To fix firmly

216

Entrust

217

Enunciate

To give over (something) to another for care, protection, or performance. To pronounce; articulate

218

Epaulet

219

Epilogue

220

Epistemology

221

Epistle

A shoulder ornament, especially a fringed strap worn on military uniforms. A short poem or speech spoken directly to the audience following the conclusion of a play. The branch of philosophy that studies the nature of knowledge, its presuppositions and foundations, and its extent and validity. A letter, especially a formal one

222

Erratic

aving no fixed or regular course; wandering.

223

Escalating

To increase, enlarge, or intensify.

224

Eschew

To avoid; shun.

225

Esophagus

226

Espionage

227

Espy

228

Estrangement

The muscular, membranous tube for the passage of food from the pharynx to the stomach; the gullet The act or practice of spying or of using spies to obtain secret information, as about another government or a business competitor. To catch sight of (something distant, partially hidden, or obscure); glimpse. To make hostile, unsympathetic, or indifferent; alienate.

229

Etiquette

230

Eucalyptus

The practices and forms prescribed by social convention or by authority. Any of numerous tall trees of the genus Eucalyptus,

231

Evict

To put out (a tenant, for example) by legal process; expel

232

Excoriation

233

Exorcised

234

Exotic

o tear or wear off the skin of; abrade. 2. To censure strongly; denounce To expel (an evil spirit) by or as if by incantation, command, or prayer. From another part of the world; foreign

235

Expel

To force or drive out.

236

Exposition

A setting forth of meaning or intent.

237

Extant

Still in existence; not destroyed, lost, or extinct

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238

Extemporaneous

Carried out or performed with little or no preparation; impromptu.

239

Extemporize

To do or perform (something) without prior preparation or practice. --intr. To perform an act or utter something in an impromptu manner; improvise.

240

Extenuating

241

Extirpation

To lessen or attempt to lessen the magnitude or seriousness of, especially by providing partial excuses. To pull up by the roots.

242

Fable

A story about legendary persons and exploits

243

Façade

The face of a building, especially the principal face.

244

Faddish

245

Fallibility

A fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of time; a craze Capable of making an error.

246

Famish

To cause to endure severe hunger.

247

Fatten

To make plump or fat

248

Fatuity

Smug stupidity; utter foolishness

249

Faucet

250

Fawn

251

Feckless

A device for regulating the flow of a liquid from a reservoir such as a pipe or drum. To exhibit affection or attempt to please, as a dog does by wagging its tail, whining, Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective.

252

Feeble

Lacking strength; weak.

253

Feint

254

Fell

A feigned attack designed to draw defensive action away from an intended target The hide of an animal; a pelt.

255

Felon

One who has committed a felony. 2. Archaic. An evil person.

256

Ferret

257

Fickle

258

Fidget

A weasellike, usually albino mammal (Mustela putorius furo) related to the polecat and often trained to hunt rats or rabbits. Characterized by erratic changeableness or instability, especially with regard to affections or attachments; capricious. To behave or move nervously or restlessly

259

Figurine

A small molded or sculptured figure; a statuette.

260

Filibuster

n instance of the use of this delaying tactic.

261

Filigree

262

Finesse

Delicate and intricate ornamental work made from gold, silver, or other fine twisted wire. Refinement and delicacy of performance, execution, or artisanship

263

Finicky

264

Flag

265

Flagged

266

Flail

267

Flaunting

Zubaer, November 2004

Insisting capriciously on getting just what one wants; difficult to please; fastidious. A piece of cloth, usually rectangular, of distinctive color and design, used as a symbol, a standard, a signal, or an emblem. A distinctively shaped or marked tail, as of a dog or deer. A manual threshing device consisting of a long wooden handle or staff and a shorter, free-swinging stick attached to its end. To exhibit ostentatiously or shamelessly.

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Flax

269

Fledge

Any of several plants of the genus Linum, especially the widely cultivated To take care of (a young bird) until it is ready to fly.

270

Flex

To bend (something pliant or elastic).

271

Flinch

To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.

272

Flint

A very hard, fine-grained quartz that sparks when struck with steel.

273

Flippant

Marked by disrespectful levity or casualness; pert.

274

Flounder

To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.

275

Flouting

To show contempt for; scorn.

276

Fluke

A stroke of good luck.

277

Flustered

To make or become nervous or upset

278

Foil

To prevent from being successful; thwart.

279

Fordable

280

Foreclosure

281

Forestall

282

Forfeited

283

Forgery

A shallow place in a body of water, such as a river, where one can cross by walking or riding on an animal or in a vehicle. The act of foreclosing, especially a legal proceeding by which a mortgage is foreclosed. To delay, hinder, or prevent by taking precautionary measures beforehand. Something surrendered or subject to surrender as punishment for a crime, an offense, an error, or a breach of contract. To make a forgery or counterfeit.

284

Foyer

An entrance hall; a vestibule.

285

Fracas

A noisy, disorderly fight or quarrel; a brawl.

286

Frantic

Highly excited with strong emotion or frustration; frenzied.

287

Freckle

288

Fresco

289

Frieze

290

Fringe

291

Frontier

A small brownish spot on the skin, often turning darker or increasing in number upon exposure to the sun. The art of painting on fresh, moist plaster with pigments dissolved in water. A decorative horizontal band, as along the upper part of a wall in a room. A decorative border or edging of hanging threads, cords, or strips, often attached to a separate band. An international border.

292

Frown

To wrinkle the brow, as in thought or displeasure.

293

Fumble

To touch or handle nervously or idly.

294

Fur

295

Furtive

The thick coat of soft hair covering the skin of a mammal, such as a fox or beaver Characterized by stealth; surreptitious.

296

Fuss

Needlessly nervous or useless activity; commotion.

297

Gadgets

A small specialized mechanical or electronic device; a contrivance.

298

Gainsay

To declare false; deny.

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299

Gall

. Bitterness of feeling; rancor.

300

Gambol

To leap about playfully; frolic.

301

Gangway

A passage along either side of a ship's upper deck.

302

Garble

303

Gargoyle

To mix up or distort to such an extent as to make misleading or incomprehensible. grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

304

Gaucheness

Lacking social polish;

305

Gavel

306

Gerontocracy

A small mallet used by a presiding officer or an auctioneer to signal for attention or order or to mark the conclusion of a transaction Government based on rule by elders.

307

Giggle

To laugh with repeated short, spasmodic sounds.

308

Gild

To cover with or as if with a thin layer of gold.

309

Gimmick

A device employed to cheat, deceive, or trick, especially a mechanism for the secret and dishonest control of gambling apparatus.

310

Girder

311

Gladiator

312

Glare

A horizontal beam, as of steel or wood, used as a main support for a building or bridge. person engaged in a controversy or debate, especially in public; a disputant. To stare fixedly and angrily.

313

Glaring

Shining intensely and blindingly.

314

Gleanable

To gather grain left behind by reapers.

315

Glib

Performed with a natural, offhand ease.

316

Glide

To move in a smooth, effortless manner.

317

Glimmer

A dim or intermittent flicker or flash of light

318

Glower

To look or stare angrily or sullenly

319

Goaded

A long stick with a pointed end used for prodding animals.

320

Goblet

A drinking vessel, such as a glass, that has a stem and base.

321

Gorge

A deep, narrow passage with steep rocky sides; a ravine.

322

Gouge

A chisel with a rounded, troughlike blade.

323

Graft

324

Grate

325

Gravel

To unite (a shoot or bud) with a growing plant by insertion or by placing in close contact To reduce to fragments, shreds, or powder by rubbing against an abrasive surface. An unconsolidated mixture of rock fragments or pebbles.

326

Grill

To broil on a gridiron.

327

Grisly

Inspiring repugnance; gruesome

328

Gristle

Cartilage, especially when present in meat.

329

Groan

330

Groom

To voice a deep, inarticulate sound, as of pain, grief, or displeasure. A man or boy employed to take care of horses.

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331

Groove

A long, narrow furrow or channel

332

Grouch

A habitually complaining or irritable person.

333

Grouse

To complain; grumble.

334

Grovel

To behave in a servile or demeaning manner; cringe.

335

Grudging

To be reluctant to give or admit. 2. To resent for having; begrudge

336

Grumble

To complain in a surly manner; mutter discontentedly.

337

Gulled

A person who is easily tricked or cheated; a dupe.

338

Gulp

To swallow greedily or rapidly in large amounts.

339

Gush

To flow forth suddenly in great volume.

340

Gusher

One that gushes, especially an abundantly flowing gas or oil well.

341

Gust

A strong, abrupt rush of wind

342

Guy

rope, cord, or cable used to steady, guide, or secure something

343

Guzzle

To drink greedily or habitually

344

Hack

To cut or chop with repeated and irregular blows.

345

Hallmark

A mark indicating quality or excellence.

346

Hallway

An entrance hall.

347

Halo

348

Hangar

The aura of majesty or glory surrounding a person, a thing, or an event that is regarded with reverence, awe, or sentiment A shelter especially for housing or repairing aircraft.

349

Harangue

350

Harrow

A speech or piece of writing characterized by strong feeling or expression; a tirade To break up and level (soil or land) with a harrow.

351

Haven

A harbor or an anchorage; a port

352

Hawk

Any of various similar birds of prey.

353

Hay

354

Headstrong

355

Heal

Grass or other plants, such as clover or alfalfa, cut and dried for fodder. Determined to have one's own way; stubbornly and often recklessly willful. o restore to health or soundness; cure

356

Hedge

A line of people or objects forming a barrier.

357

Hedonist

358

Herbaceous

Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses Green and leaflike in appearance or texture.

359

Herd

360

Heretical

361

Hoist

362

Holster

To raise or haul up with or as if with the help of a mechanical apparatus. leather case shaped to hold a pistol.

363

Homiletics

Relating to or of the nature of a homily

Zubaer, November 2004

A group of cattle or other domestic animals of a single kind kept together for a specific purpose. A person who holds controversial opinions

12

GRE Big Book

364

Hoodwink

To take in by deceptive means; deceive

365

Hurl

To throw with great force; fling

366

Hush

To make silent or quiet

367

Hymn

A song of praise or thanksgiving to God or a deity

368

Hyperactivity

Highly or excessively active

369

Hysteria

Excessive or uncontrollable emotion, such as fear or panic.

370

Icicle

A tapering spike of ice

371

Idolatry

Blind or excessive devotion to something.

372

Idolized

To regard with blind admiration or devotion.

373

Idyll

374

Imbue

A short poem or prose piece depicting a rural or pastoral scene, usually in idealized terms. To inspire, permeate, or invade

375

Impede

To retard or obstruct the progress of.

376

Impiety

The quality or state of being impious

377

Improvisation

To invent, compose, or recite without preparation

378

Impugn

To attack as false or questionable; challenge in argument.

379

Inadvertent

Not duly attentive.

380

Inchoate

In an initial or early stage; incipient.

381

Incriminate

To accuse of a crime or other wrongful act.

382

Indomitable

383

Infatuation

Incapable of being overcome, subdued, or vanquished; unconquerable o inspire with unreasoning love or attachment.

384

Inflate

To enlarge or amplify unduly or improperly; aggrandize.

385

Ingest

To take into the body by the mouth for digestion or absorption.

386

Ingrained

Firmly established; deep-seated

387

Inhibitor

388

Inimical

One that inhibits, as a substance that retards or stops a chemical reaction. Injurious or harmful in effect; adverse.

389

Inopportune

Inappropriate or ill-timed; not opportune.

390

Insignia

A badge of office, rank, membership, or nationality; an emblem.

391

Insinuate

To introduce or insert (oneself) by subtle and artful means.

392

Insulin

A polypeptide hormone

393

Insured

The party who stands to benefit from an insurance policy

394

Intelligibility

Capable of being understood.

395

Intemperate

396

Interplay

Lack of temperance, as in the indulgence of an appetite or a passion. Reciprocal action and reaction; interaction.

397

Intertwined

To join or become joined by twining together.

Zubaer, November 2004

13

GRE Big Book

398

Intrepid

Resolutely courageous; fearless.

399

Introspection

400

Inured

401

Inveigle

Contemplation of one's own thoughts, feelings, and sensations; self-examination. To habituate to something undesirable, especially by prolonged subjection; accustom. To obtain by cajolery.

402

Inveterate

Firmly and long established; deep-rooted

403

Ire

Anger; wrath.

404

Ironclad

Rigid; fixed.

405

Isolationist

406

Ivory

407

Jamb

national policy of abstaining from political or economic relations with other countries. A hard, smooth, yellowish-white substance composed primarily of dentin that forms the tusks of the elephant A projecting mass or columnar part.

408

Jeer

To speak or shout derisively; mock.

409

Jibe

To make taunting, heckling, or jeering remarks

410

Knocker

411

Labial

A hinged fixture, such as a metal ring or bar, used for knocking on a door. made with the lips

412

Lace

413

Lackluster

A cord or ribbon used to draw and tie together two opposite edges, as of a shoe. Lacking brightness, luster, or vitality; dull.

414

Lair

The den or dwelling of a wild animal.

415

Laity

416

Lambaste

All those persons who are not members of a given profession or other specialized field To scold sharply; berate

417

Lancet

A surgical knife with a short, wide, pointed double-edged blade

418

Landslide

The downward sliding of a relatively dry mass of earth and rock.

419

Largesse

Money or gifts bestowed

420

Lasso

421

Lavishing

A long rope with a running noose at one end, used especially to catch horses and cattle Characterized by or produced with extravagance and profusion.

422

Lawn

light cotton or linen fabric of very fine weave.

423

Laxative

A food or drug that stimulates evacuation of the bowels

424

Leaven

425

Lectern

426

Leer

427

Leniency

An agent, such as yeast, that causes batter or dough to rise, especially by fermentation. A stand that serves as a support for the notes or books of a speaker To look with a sidelong glance, indicative especially of sexual desire or sly and malicious intent. Inclined not to be harsh or strict; merciful, generous, or indulgent

428

Levee

An embankment raised to prevent a river from overflowing.

Zubaer, November 2004

14

GRE Big Book

429

Leverage

The action of a lever.

430

Levy

To impose or collect

431

Libertine

One who acts without moral restraint; a dissolute person.

432

Lien

433

Limerick

434

Limn

The right to take and hold or sell the property of a debtor as security or payment for a debt or duty. A light humorous, nonsensical, or bawdy verse of five anapestic lines usually with the rhyme scheme o depict by painting or drawing

435

Limousine

luxurious automobile

436

Linen

Thread made from fibers of the flax plant

437

Lionize

To look on or treat (a person) as a celebrity.

438

Literati

he literary intelligentsia.

439

Liturgy

440

Log

A prescribed form or set of forms for public Christian ceremonies; ritual. A usually large section of a trunk or limb of a fallen or felled tree

441

Loll

To move, stand, or recline in an indolent or relaxed manner

442

Loner

One who avoids the company of other people.

443

Loom

An apparatus for making thread

444

Lope

To run or ride with a steady, easy gait

445

Lull

To cause to sleep or rest; soothe or calm

446

Lullaby

A soothing song with which to lull a child to sleep

447

Lumber

To cut down the timber of.

448

Lumen

449

Lurk

The inner open space or cavity of a tubular organ, as of a blood vessel or an intestine. To lie in wait, as in ambush.

450

Mace

451

Maize

A ceremonial staff borne or displayed as the symbol of authority of a legislative body A light yellow to moderate orange yellow

452

Malinger

To feign illness or other incapacity in order to avoid duty or work

453

Mannered

454

Margarine

Having manners of a specific kind. 2.a. Having or showing a certain manner. b. Artificial or affected. A fatty solid butter substitute consisting of a blend of hydrogenated vegetable oils mixed with emulsifiers, vitamins, coloring matter, and other ingredients.

455

Marvel

One that evokes surprise, admiration, or wonder. 2. Strong surprise

456

Mash

457

Mason

A fermentable starchy mixture from which alcohol or spirits can be distilled. One who builds or works with stone or brick.

458

Mast

A vertical pole

459

Maul

A heavy hammer having a wedge-shaped head and used for splitting logs

Zubaer, November 2004

15

GRE Big Book

460

Meadow

461

Mediate

462

Mediocrity

A tract of grassland, either in its natural state or used as pasture or for growing hay. o resolve or settle (differences) by working with all the conflicting parties Moderate to inferior in quality; ordinary.

463

Menace

The act of threatening

464

Menthol

A white crystalline organic compound, CH3C6H9(C3H7)OH, obtained from peppermint oil or synthesized. It is used in perfumes, in cigarettes, as a mild topical anesthetic, and as a mint flavoring.

465

Mercenary

Motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain.

466

Meretricious

Attracting attention in a vulgar manner.

467

Metaphysics

The theoretical or first principles of a particular discipline

468

Meteoric

Of, relating to, or formed by a meteoroid

469

Microbe

470

Millinery

A minute life form; a microorganism, especially a bacterium that causes disease. One that makes, trims, designs, or sells hats.

471

Mime

A form of ancient Greek and Roman theatrical entertainment in which familiar characters and situations were farcically portrayed on stage, often with coarse dialogue and ludicrous actions.

472

Minatory

menacing or threatening nature; minacious.

473

Mince

To cut or chop into very small pieces

474

Minnow

Any of various other small, often silver-colored fishes

475

Minutiae

A small or trivial detail

476

Mitten

477

Moan

A covering for the hand that encases the thumb separately and the four fingers together A low, sustained, mournful cry, usually indicative of sorrow or pain

478

Moat

A ditch similar to one surrounding a fortification

479

Molt

480

Monocle

To shed periodically part or all of a coat or an outer covering, such as feathers, cuticle, or skin, which is then replaced by a new growth. An eyeglass for one eye.

481

Moratorium

A suspension of an ongoing or planned activity.

482

Mortar

A vessel in which substances are crushed or ground with a pestle

483

Mortify

484

Motto

To cause to experience shame, humiliation, or wounded pride; humiliate. A brief statement used to express a principle, a goal, or an ideal.

485

Mundane

Of, relating to, or typical of this world; secular.

486

Muted

Unable to speak.

487

Mutter

To speak indistinctly in low tones

488

Nag

To annoy by constant scolding, complaining, or urging.

489

Naivete

An artless, credulous, or uncritical statement or act.

Zubaer, November 2004

16

GRE Big Book

490

Nascent

Coming into existence; emerging

491

Natty

Neat, trim, and smart; dapper.

492

Nauseating

493

Neologism

To feel or cause to feel nausea. 2. To feel or cause to feel loathing or disgust. A new word, expression, or usage.

494

Noisome

Harmful or dangerous

495

Nostrum

A favorite but untested remedy for problems or evils.

496

Numismatist

The study or collection of money

497

Oblivious

Lacking all memory; forgetful

498

Occult

499

Odometer

Of, relating to, or dealing with supernatural influences, agencies, or phenomena An instrument that indicates distance traveled by a vehicle

500

Offhand

Without preparation or forethought; extemporaneously

501

Off-key

Being out of accord with what is considered normal or appropriate

502

Oncologist

503

Operetta

504

Opprobrious

The branch of medicine that deals with tumors, including study of their development, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention theatrical production that has many of the musical elements of opera Bringing disgrace; shameful or infamous.

505

Optimism

506

Optometrist

507

Oration

A formal speech, especially one given on a ceremonial occasion.

508

Orchard

n area of land devoted to the cultivation of fruit or nut trees

509

Orchestra

A large group of musicians who play together on various instruments, usually including strings, woodwinds, brass instruments, and percussion instruments.

510

Orient

The countries of Asia, especially of eastern Asia.

511

Ossified

To change into bone; become bony

512

Ostracism

513

Otter

To exclude from a group. 2. To banish by ostracism, as in ancient Greece. Any of various aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the genus

514

Outlandish

Conspicuously unconventional; bizarre.

515

Outmoded

No longer usable or practical; obsolete.

516

Outrage

An act of extreme violence or viciousness.

517

Outset

The beginning; the start

518

Outstrips

To leave behind; outrun. 2. To exceed or surpass.

519

Overawed

To control or subdue by inspiring awe.

520

Overreach

To reach or extend over or beyond.

521

Overwrought

Excessively nervous or excited; agitated

Zubaer, November 2004

A tendency to expect the best possible outcome or dwell on the most hopeful aspects of a situation

17

GRE Big Book

522

Oyster

Something from which benefits may be extracted

523

Padding

The act of stuffing, filling, or lining

524

Paean

A song of joyful praise or exultation

525

Pageant

526

Palette

527

Palpitate

An elaborate public dramatic presentation that usually depicts a historical or traditional event board, typically with a hole for the thumb, which an artist can hold while painting and on which the artist mixes colors To move with a slight tremulous motion; tremble, shake, or quiver.

528

Pan

529

Pancreas

A shallow, wide, open container, usually of metal and without a lid, used for holding liquids, cooking, and other domestic purposes A long, irregularly shaped gland in vertebrates, lying behind the stomach, that secretes pancreatic juice into the duodenum and insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin into the bloodstream

530

Panther

The leopard, especially in its black, unspotted form.

531

Paragon

A model of excellence or perfection of a kind; a peerless example.

532

Parch

To make extremely dry, especially by exposure to heat

533

Parquet

A floor made of parquetry

534

Parquetry

535

Parse

Inlay of wood, often of different colors, that is worked into a geometric pattern or mosaic and is used especially for floors To break (a sentence) down into its component parts of speech with an explanation of the form, function, and syntactical relationship of each part

536

Patch

537

Paternalism

538

Patio

539

Patron

540

Pawnbroker

541

Pearl

One that lends money at interest in exchange for personal property deposited as security One that is highly regarded for one's beauty or value

542

Pebble

A small stone, especially one worn smooth by erosion

543

Pedagogy

he art or profession of teaching.

544

Pedestal

An architectural support or base, as for a column or statue

545

Pediatrics

546

Peel

The branch of medicine that deals with the care of infants and children and the treatment of their diseases The skin or rind of certain fruits and vegetables

547

Peer

To look intently, searchingly, or with difficulty

548

Peppery

Of, containing, or resembling pepper; sharp or pungent in flavor

549

Perch

A rod or branch serving as a roost for a bird

Zubaer, November 2004

A small piece of material affixed to another, larger piece to conceal, reinforce, or repair a worn area, hole, or tear A policy or practice of treating or governing people in a fatherly manner, especially by providing for their needs without giving them rights or responsibilities An outdoor space for dining or recreation that adjoins a residence and is often paved One that supports, protects, or champions someone or something, such as an institutuion, an event, or a cause; a sponsor or benefactor

18

GRE Big Book

550

Periscope

Any of various tubular optical instruments that contain reflecting elements, such as mirrors and prisms, to permit observation from a position displaced from a direct line of sight.

551

Perish

To die or be destroyed, especially in a violent or untimely manner.

552

Pernicious

Tending to cause death or serious injury; deadly

553

Peroration

To conclude a speech with a formal recapitulation

554

Perpetrated

To be responsible for; commit

555

Persecute

556

Pertain

To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, sexual orientation, or beliefs. To have reference; relate

557

Pervasive

Having the quality or tendency to pervade or permeate

558

Pestle

559

Petrify

560

Philatelist

561

Picker

A club-shaped, hand-held tool for grinding or mashing substances in a mortar To convert (wood or other organic matter) into a stony replica by petrifaction The collection and study of postage stamps, postmarks, and related materials; stamp collecting To select from a group.

562

Pied

Patchy in color; splotched or piebald.

563

Pigment

substance used as coloring

564

Pinch

565

Pine

o squeeze between the thumb and a finger, the jaws of a tool, or other edges The wood of any of these trees

566

Piquant

Pleasantly pungent or tart in taste; spicy.

567

Pique

568

Pirate

569

Pitcher

A state of vexation caused by a perceived slight or indignity; a feeling of wounded pride One who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without commission from a sovereign nation A container for liquids

570

Pith

571

Plaque

572

Platitude

The soft, spongelike, central cylinder of the stems of most flowering plants, composed mainly of parenchyma. A small pin or brooch worn as an ornament or a badge of membership. Lack of originality; triteness.

573

Plea

An earnest request; an appeal

574

Plead

To appeal earnestly;

575

Pledge

576

Pliant

A solemn binding promise to do, give, or refrain from doing something Easily bent or flexed

577

Pluck

578

Plumb

Zubaer, November 2004

To remove or detach by grasping and pulling abruptly with the fingers; pick. A weight on the end of a line, used to determine water depth.

19

GRE Big Book

579

Plumbing

580

Plummet

The pipes, fixtures, and other apparatus of a water, gas, or sewage system in a building. Something that weighs down or oppresses; a burden. -

581

Plutocracy

Government by the wealthy

582

Ply

To join together, as by molding or twisting

583

Podiatrist

584

Podium

585

Poignant

The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the human foot. An elevated platform, as for an orchestra conductor or a public speaker. Physically painful.

586

Polemical

587

poll

588

Pollen

589

Poncho

The fine, powderlike material consisting of pollen grains that is produced by the anthers of seed plants. A similar garment having a hood used as a raincoat.

590

Pontifical

Relating to, characteristic of, or suitable for a pope or a bishop

591

Poseur

592

Posse

One who affects a particular attitude, character, or manner to impress others A group of people summoned by a sheriff to aid in law enforcement

593

Poster

594

Prate

A large, usually printed placard, bill, or announcement, often illustrated To talk idly and at length; chatter.

595

Prattle

To talk or chatter idly or meaninglessly; babble or prate

596

Preach

To proclaim or put forth in a sermon.

597

Précis

598

Precursory

599

Predestine

A concise summary of a book, an article, or another text; an abstract One that precedes and indicates, suggests, or announces someone or something to come. To fix upon, decide, or decree in advance; foreordain.

600

Preempted

To appropriate, seize, or take for oneself before others.

601

Preen

To smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak or bill.

602

Prescience

Knowledge of actions or events before they occur; foresight.

603

Presumptuous

Going beyond what is right or proper; excessively forward.

604

Prevalent

Widely or commonly occurring, existing, accepted, or practiced.

605

Probity

Complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness.

606

Proclivity

A natural propensity or inclination; predisposition.

607

Procrastinate

To postpone or delay needlessly.

608

Proctor

A dormitory and examination supervisor in a school.

609

Proliferate

To increase or spread at a rapid rate.

Zubaer, November 2004

A controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine. The casting and registering of votes in an election.

20

GRE Big Book

610

Prolixity

611

Propitiate

Tediously prolonged; wordy. 2. Tending to speak or write at excessive length. To conciliate (an offended power); appease.

612

Propitiatory

Of or offered in propitiation; conciliatory

613

Prune

To remove or cut out as superfluous.

614

Puddle

A small pool of water,

615

Puissance

Power; might.

616

Pull

617

Pulverize

To apply force to so as to cause or tend to cause motion toward the source of the force. To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust.

618

Punch

A tool for circular or other piercing.

619

Pungent

Affecting the organs of taste or smell with a sharp, acrid sensation

620

Purist

621

Putrefaction

622

Pylon

One who practices or urges strict correctness, especially in the use of words. Decomposition of organic matter, especially protein, by microorganisms, resulting in production of foul-smelling matter. A steel tower supporting high-tension wires

623

Pyre

A heap of combustibles for burning a corpse as a funeral rite.

624

Quaff

To drink a liquid heartily.

625

Qualms

sudden feeling of sickness, faintness, or nausea

626

Quarry

A hunted animal; prey.

627

Quashing

To set aside or annul, especially by judicial action.

628

quibbles

To find fault or criticize for petty reasons; cavil.

629

Quilt

A thick protective cover similar to or suggestive of a quilt

630

Quisling

631

Quiver

A traitor who serves as the puppet of the enemy occupying his or her country. To shake with a slight, rapid, tremulous movement.

632

Quixotic

Capricious; impulsive.

633

Rafter

One of the sloping beams that supports a pitched roof.

634

Rampage

A course of violent, frenzied action or behavior.

635

Rampant

Extending unchecked; unrestrained.

636

Rapacious

Greedy; ravenous

637

Rarefaction

638

Rarefy

A decrease in density and pressure in a medium, such as air, caused by the passage of a sound wave. o make thin, less compact, or less dense.

639

Rarity

Something rare.

640

Rash

Characterized by or resulting from ill-considered haste or boldness.

641

Rashness

Characterized by or resulting from ill-considered haste or boldness

642

Ratification

. The act of ratifying or the condition of being ratified.

Zubaer, November 2004

21

GRE Big Book

643

Raucous

Rough-sounding and harsh. 2. Boisterous and disorderly

644

Rave

To speak wildly, irrationally, or incoherently.

645

Raze

To level to the ground; demolish. 2. To scrape or shave off.

646

Reactionaries

647

Receptive

Characterized by reaction, especially opposition to progress or liberalism; extremely conservative. Capable of or qualified for receiving.

648

Recitals

The act of reading or reciting in a public performance.

649

Rectitude

Moral uprightness; righteousness.

650

Recumbent

Lying down, especially in a position of comfort or rest; reclining.

651

Redoubtable

Worthy of respect or honor

652

Reed

Any of various tall perennial grasses, especially of the genera Phragmites or Arundo, having hollow stems, broad leaves, and large plumelike terminal panicles.

653

Reformers

654

Refrain

To improve by alteration, correction of error, or removal of defects; put into a better form or condition. To hold oneself back; forbear.

655

Regale

To provide with great enjoyment; entertain.

656

Rehabilitative

657

Relinquishment

To restore to good health or useful life, as through therapy and education To retire from; give up or abandon.

658

Reminisce

To recollect and tell of past experiences or events.

659

Remnant

omething left over; a remainder.

660

Renegade

661

Rent

One who rejects a religion, a cause, an allegiance, or a group for another; a deserter Payment, usually of an amount fixed by contract, made by a tenant at specified intervals in return for the right to occupy or use the property of another.

662

Repine

To be discontented or low in spirits; complain or fret

663

Reportorial

A writer, an investigator, or a presenter of news stories.

664

Requiem

A mass for a deceased person.

665

Requite

To make repayment or return for

666

Rescind

To make void; repeal

667

Resent

To feel indignantly aggrieved at.

668

Restitution

A return to or restoration of a previous state or position.

669

Resurgence

A restoration to use, acceptance, activity, or vigor; a revival.

670

Resurrect

To bring back to life; raise from the dead.

671

Resuscitated

To restore consciousness, vigor, or life to.

672

Retreat

673

Revile

The act or process of withdrawing, especially from something hazardous, formidable, or unpleasant. To assail with abusive language; vituperate. --intr. To use abusive language.

Zubaer, November 2004

22

GRE Big Book

674

Revived

To bring back to life or consciousness; resuscitate.

675

Rhinestone

676

Rhubarb

A colorless artificial gem of paste or glass, often with facets that sparkle in imitation of a diamond. The dried, bitter-tasting rhizome and roots of Rheum palmatum or

677

Riddle

To spread throughout.

678

Ridged

A long narrow upper section or crest.

679

Rifle

A firearm with a rifled bore, designed to be fired from the shoulder

680

Rift

A narrow fissure in rock.

681

Rigor

Strictness or severity, as in temperament, action, or judgment.

682

Rind

683

Ringlets

. A tough outer covering such as bark, the skin of some fruits, or the coating on cheese or bacon. A long, spirally curled lock of hair.

684

Ripple

To rise and fall gently in tone or volume.

685

rippled

686

Rival

687

Rivalry

To form or display little undulations or waves on the surface, as disturbed water does. One who attempts to equal or surpass another, or who pursues the same object as another; a competitor. The act of competing or emulating

688

Roe

The eggs or the egg-laden ovary of a fish.

689

Rogue

690

Roster

An unprincipled, deceitful, and unreliable person; a scoundrel or rascal. A list, especially of names

691

Rot

692

Rue

To undergo decomposition, especially organic decomposition; decay. To feel regret, remorse, or sorrow for.

693

Rueful

Inspiring pity or compassion.

694

Ruffian

A tough or rowdy fellow

695

Ruffle

696

Rug

A strip of frilled or closely pleated fabric used for trimming or decoration. heavy fabric used to cover a floor.

697

Rumors

698

Rumple

Unverified information of uncertain origin usually spread by word of mouth To wrinkle or form into folds or creases

699

Rung

A rod or bar forming a step of a ladder

700

Sabotaged

701

Saddle`

702

Sale

Destruction of property or obstruction of normal operations, as by civilians or enemy agents in time of war. A leather seat for a rider, secured on an animal's back by a girth. Also called Regional: rig. An instance of selling

703

Salvation

704

Sampler

Zubaer, November 2004

Preservation or deliverance from destruction, difficulty, or evil. b. A source, means, or cause of such preservation or deliverance. ne who is employed to take and appraise samples, as of a food product.

23

GRE Big Book

705

Sap

The fluid contents of a plant cell vacuole.

706

Sash

707

Sate

A band or ribbon worn about the waist, as for ornament, or over the shoulder as a symbol of rank. To satisfy (an appetite) fully. 2. To satisfy to excess.

708

Saunter

To walk at a leisurely pace; stroll.

709

Savor

The taste or smell of something. 2. A specific taste or smell.

710

Scaffold

A temporary platform, either supported from below or suspended from above, on which workers sit or stand when performing tasks at heights above the ground.

711

Scalpel

712

Scarf

A small, straight knife with a thin, sharp blade used in surgery and dissection. A long piece of cloth worn about the head, neck, or shoulders.

713

Scoop

714

Score

A shovellike utensil, usually having a deep, curved dish and a short handle. A notch or an incision, especially one that is made to keep a tally.

715

Scotch

To put an abrupt end to. 2. To injure so as to render harmless.

716

Sculpt

717

Scurvy

To shape, mold, or fashion especially with artistry or precision. -intr. To be a sculptor. A disease caused by deficiency of vitamin C, characterized by spongy and bleeding gums, bleeding under the skin, and extreme weakness.

718

Seamy

Having, marked with, or showing a seam.

719

Sear

720

Seemly

To char, scorch, or burn the surface of with or as if with a hot instrument Conforming to standards of conduct and good taste; suitable.

721

Seminal

Of, relating to, containing, or conveying semen or seed.

722

Sere

Withered; dry.

723

Serrated

724

Serration

Having or forming a row of small, sharp, projections resembling the teeth of a saw. The state of being serrate.

725

Sever

To set or keep apart; divide or separate

726

Sewer

727

Shard

728

Shatter

729

Shaving

An artificial, usually underground conduit for carrying off sewage or rainwater. A piece of broken pottery, especially one found in an archaeological dig; a potsherd. To cause to break or burst suddenly into pieces, as with a violent blow. A thin slice or sliver, as of wood or metal, that is shaved off.

730

Sheer

To swerve or cause to swerve from a course.

731

Sheet

732

Shell

733

Sheriff

A broad rectangular piece of fabric serving as a basic article of bedding The usually hard outer covering that encases certain organisms, such as mollusks, insects, and turtles; the carapace. The chief law enforcement officer for the courts in a U.S. county.

Zubaer, November 2004

24

GRE Big Book

734

Shirk

To avoid or neglect

735

Shove

To push forward or along.

736

Shriek

A shrill, often frantic cry. 2. A sound suggestive of such a cry.

737

Shrill

High-pitched and piercing in tone or sound.

738

Shrine

A container or receptacle for sacred relics; a reliquary.

739

Shuck

A husk, pod, or shell, as of an ear of corn, a pea, or a hickory nut.

740

Shun

To avoid deliberately; keep away from.

741

Sibyl

742

Sidestep

One of a number of women regarded as oracles or prophets by the ancient Greeks and Romans. To step aside. 2. To dodge an issue or a responsibility.

743

Sigh

To exhale audibly in a long, deep breath, as in weariness or relief.

744

Silversmith

One that makes, repairs, or replates articles of silver.

745

Simper

To smile in a silly, self-conscious, often coy manner. -

746

Sinecure

747

Sinewy

A position or an office that requires little or no work but provides a salary. Consisting of or resembling sinews.

748

Sinkhole

A natural depression in a land surface communicating with a subterranean passage, generally occurring in limestone regions and formed by solution or by collapse of a cavern roof.

749

Sip

To drink in small quantities.

750

Skiff

751

Skimp

A flatbottom open boat of shallow draft, having a pointed bow and a square stern and propelled by oars, sail, or motor. To deal with hastily, carelessly, or with poor material.

752

Skinflint

One who is very reluctant to spend money; a miser.

753

Skirmish

754

Skit

755

Slab

A minor battle in war, as one between small forces or between large forces avoiding direct conflict. short, usually comic dramatic performance or work; a theatrical sketch A broad, flat, thick piece, as of cake, stone, or cheese.

756

Slate

757

Slew

758

Slither

759

Sliver

760

Slouch

761

Sluggard

To sit, stand, or walk with an awkward, drooping, excessively relaxed posture A slothful person; an idler

762

Slur

To pronounce indistinctly.

763

Smirk

To smile in an affected, often offensively self-satisfied manner.

764

Smudge

To make dirty, especially in one small area.

Zubaer, November 2004

A fine-grained metamorphic rock that splits into thin, smoothsurfaced layers. A large amount or number; a lot. To slip and slide, as on a loose or uneven surface, often with friction and noise A slender piece cut, split, or broken off; a splinter.

25

GRE Big Book

765

Snatch

To grasp or seize hastily, eagerly, or suddenly.

766

Sneer

767

Snide

A scornful facial expression characterized by a slight raising of one corner of the upper lip Derogatory in a malicious, superior way; sarcastic.

768

Snip

To cut, clip, or separate (something) with short, quick strokes.

769

Snub

To ignore or behave coldly toward; slight

770

Soar

o rise, fly, or glide high and with little apparent effort.

771

Soggy

Saturated or sodden with moisture; soaked.

772

Soliloquy

A dramatic or literary form of discourse in which a character reveals his or her thoughts when alone or unaware of the presence of other characters

773

Solitary

774

Somatic

775

Somber

Existing, living, or going without others; alone. 2. Happening, done, or made alone. Of, relating to, or affecting the body, especially as distinguished from a body part, the mind, or the environment; corporeal or physical. Dark; gloomy

776

Sonata

A composition for one to four instruments, one of which is usually a keyboard instrument, usually consisting of three or four independent movements varying in key, mood, and tempo.

777

Sonnet

778

Soot

779

Sparse

780

Spatula

781

Spear

14-line verse form usually having one of several conventional rhyme schemes. The fine black particles, chiefly composed of carbon, produced by incomplete combustion of coal, oil, wood, or other fuels Occurring, growing, or settled at widely spaced intervals; not thick or dense. A small implement having a broad, flat, flexible blade that is used especially to mix, spread, or lift material. A weapon consisting of a long shaft with a sharply pointed end.

782

Sphinx

783

Spice

Mythology. A figure in Egyptian myth having the body of a lion and the head of a man, ram, or hawk. Any of various pungent, aromatic plant substances, such as cinnamon or nutmeg, used to flavor foods or beverages. b. These substances considered as a group

784

Spin

To draw out and twist (fibers) into thread

785

Splice

To join (film, for example) at the ends.

786

Splinter

787

Sprinkler

A sharp, slender piece, as of wood, bone, glass, or metal, split or broken off from a main body. One that sprinkles, especially: a. An outlet on a sprinkler system.

788

Spurious

789

Spurned

790

Squalor

Lacking authenticity or validity in essence or origin; not genuine; false To reject disdainfully or contemptuously; scorn. 2. To kick at or tread on disdainfully A filthy and wretched condition or quality.

791

Squander

To spend wastefully or extravagantly; dissipate.

Zubaer, November 2004

26

GRE Big Book

792

Squat

793

Squelch

794

Stake

795

Stanch

796

Stanza

One of the divisions of a poem, composed of two or more lines usually characterized by a common pattern of meter, rhyme, and number of lines. -

797

Stark

Bare; blunt

798

Stasis

A condition of balance among various forces; motionlessness

799

Statuary

Statues considered as a group. 2. The art of making statues

800

Statute

A law enacted by a legislature.

801

Stew

To cook (food) by simmering or boiling slowly. --intr.

802

Stickler

One who insists on something unyieldingly.

803

Stingy

Giving or spending reluctantly.

804

Stint

To restrict or limit, as in amount or number; be sparing with.

805

Stinting

To restrict or limit, as in amount or number; be sparing with.

806

Stitch

807

Stockade

808

Streak

809

Striate

A single complete movement of a threaded needle in sewing or surgical suturing. A defensive barrier made of strong posts or timbers driven upright side by side into the ground. A line, mark, smear, or band differentiated by color or texture from its surroundings. marked with lines or ridges

810

Stride

To walk with long steps, especially in a hasty or vigorous way.

811

Strolling

To go for a leisurely walk.

812

Strut

To walk with pompous bearing; swagger.

813

Stymie

To thwart; stump

814

Subliminal

Below the threshold of conscious perception. Used of stimuli.

815

Suborn

To induce (a person) to commit an unlawful or evil act.

816

Subpoena

A writ requiring appearance in court to give testimony.

817

Subsume

818

Suede

To classify, include, or incorporate in a more comprehensive category Leather with a soft napped surface.

819

Suffrage

The right or privilege of voting; the franchise.

820

Sullenness

Showing a brooding ill humor or silent resentment; morose or sulky

821

Supine

Lying on the back or having the face upward.

822

Surcharge

An additional sum added to the usual amount or cost.

823

Surf

The waves of the sea as they break upon a shore or reef.

Zubaer, November 2004

To sit in a crouching position with knees bent and the hams resting on or near the heels. To crush by or as if by trampling; squash. A piece of wood or metal pointed at one end for driving into the ground as a marker, fence pole, or tent peg To stop or check the flow of (blood or tears, for example).

27

GRE Big Book

824

Surfeit

To feed or supply to excess, satiety, or disgust.

825

Surly

Sullenly ill-humored; gruff.

826

Surmounted

To overcome (an obstacle, for example); conquer.

827

Surrogate

One that takes the place of another; a substitute

828

Surveyor

To examine or look at in a comprehensive way.

829

Sustenance

The act of sustaining.

830

Swamp

831

Sway

832

Swerve

A seasonally flooded bottomland with more woody plants than a marsh and better drainage than a bog. To swing back and forth or to and fro. 2. To incline or bend to one side; veer. To turn aside or be turned aside from a straight course.

833

Swine

A person regarded as brutish or contemptible.

834

Syllogism

Reasoning from the general to the specific; deduction.

835

Symphony

An instrumental passage in a vocal or choral composition.

836

Synopsis

837

Synoptic

A brief outline or general view, as of a subject or written work; an abstract or a summary. Of or relating to synapsis or a synapse.

838

Tadpole

The limbless aquatic larva of a frog or toad, having gills and a long flat tail. As the tadpole approaches the adult stage, legs and lungs develop, and the tail gradually disappears. Also called polliwog.

839

Tainted

The limbless aquatic larva of a frog or toad, having gills and a long flat tail. As the tadpole approaches the adult stage, legs and lungs develop, and the tail gradually disappears. Also called polliwog.

840

Talon

841

Tamp

842

Tan

The claw of a bird of prey. b. The similar claw of a predatory animal. To pack down tightly by a succession of blows or taps. 2. To pack clay, sand, or dirt into (a drill hole) above an explosive. To convert (hide) into leather, as by treating with tannin.

843

Tangling

To mix together or intertwine in a confused mass; snarl.

844

Tango

845

Tanner

American ballroom dance in 2/4 or 4/4 time. 2. The music for this dance A sixpenny coin formerly used in Britain; a sixpence.

846

Tapestry

Something felt to resemble a richly and complexly designed cloth

847

Tare

848

Tassel

849

Taunt

850

Taunted

Any of various weedy plants of the genus Vicia, especially the common vetch. Something that resembles such an ornament, especially the pollenbearing inflorescence of a corn plant. To reproach in a mocking, insulting, or contemptuous manner. 2. To drive or incite (a person) by taunting. To reproach in a mocking, insulting, or contemptuous manner.

851

Technocracy

852

Tempers

Zubaer, November 2004

A government or social system controlled by technicians, especially scientists and technical experts. To modify by the addition of a moderating element; moderate.

28

GRE Big Book

853

Tepid

Moderately warm; lukewarm.

854

Terrace

A porch or walkway bordered by colonnades.

855

Thatch

856

Theatrical

Plant stalks or foliage, such as reeds or palm fronds, used for roofing. Of, relating to, or suitable for dramatic performance or the theater.

857

Theatrically

Of, relating to, or suitable for dramatic performance or the theater.

858

Tiff

A petty quarrel. --tiff intr.v. tiffed, tiff·ing, tiffs. To quarrel.

859

Tirade

860

Toady

861

Toil

A long angry or violent speech, usually of a censorious or denunciatory nature; a diatribe. A person who flatters or defers to others for self-serving reasons; a sycophant. To labor continuously; work strenuously.

862

Tombstone

A gravestone

863

Tonality

The scheme or interrelation of the tones in a painting.

864

Tongs

865

Topsoil

A grasping device consisting of two arms joined at one end by a pivot or hingelike scissors. To remove the surface layer of soil from (land).

866

Totality

The quality or state of being total.

867

Totem

An animal, a plant, or a natural object serving among certain tribal or traditional peoples as the emblem of a clan or family and sometimes revered as its founder, ancestor, or guardian.

868

Tourniquet

A device, typically a tightly encircling bandage, used to check bleeding by temporarily stopping the flow of blood through a large artery in a limb.

869

Tout

870

Touting

871

Trample

872

Transcribe

To solicit customers, votes, or patronage, especially in a brazen way. To solicit customers, votes, or patronage, especially in a brazen way. To beat down with the feet so as to crush, bruise, or destroy; tramp on. To make a full written or typewritten copy of

873

Trapeze

874

Treason

A short horizontal bar suspended from two parallel ropes, used for exercises or for acrobatic stunts. A betrayal of trust or confidence.

875

Treatise

A systematic, usually extensive written discourse on a subject.

876

Tremor

A shaking or vibrating movement, as of the earth.

877

Tribunal

A seat or court of justice.

878

Tribute

879

Trickle

A gift, payment, declaration, or other acknowledgment of gratitude, respect, or admiration. To flow or fall in drops or in a thin stream

880

Trinkets

A small ornament, such as a piece of jewelry.

881

Trio

. A group of three people or things joined or associated

Zubaer, November 2004

29

GRE Big Book

882

Troupe

883

Trowel

884

Trudge

A company or group, especially of touring actors, singers, or dancers. A flat-bladed hand tool for leveling, spreading, or shaping substances such as cement or mortar. To walk in a laborious, heavy-footed way; plod.

885

Tuber

A rounded projection or swelling; a tubercle.

886

Tulip

887

Turkey

Any of several bulbous plants of the genus Tulipa, native chiefly to Asia and widely cultivated for their showy, variously colored flowers. A large North American bird (Meleagris gallopavo) that has brownish plumage and a bare, wattled head and neck and is widely domesticated for food.

888

Turret

A small tower or tower-shaped projection on a building.

889

Tusk

890

Tussle

An elongated, pointed tooth, usually one of a pair, extending outside of the mouth in certain animals such as the walrus, To struggle roughly; scuffle.

891

Tuxedo

892

Twig

893

Typify

894

Tyranny

895

Tyro

A man's dress jacket, usually black with satin or grosgrain lapels, worn for formal or semiformal occasions. Also called dinner jacket. A young shoot representing the current season's growth of a woody plant. To serve as a typical example of; embody the essential characteristics of. A government in which a single ruler is vested with absolute power. A beginner in learning something.

896

Unassailable

Impossible to dispute or disprove; undeniable

897

Underrate

To rate too low; underestimate.

898

Unfettered

To set free or keep free from restrictions or bonds.

899

Unicorn

900

Unsettling

A fabled creature symbolic of virginity and usually represented as a horse with a single straight spiraled horn projecting from its forehead. To displace from a settled condition; disrupt.

901

Untoward

Not favorable; unpropitious. 2. Troublesome; adverse.

902

Upholstery

Fabric, stuffing, and other materials used in upholstering.

903

Usurp

904

Valorous

To seize and hold (the power or rights of another, for example) by force and without legal authority. Courageous

905

Veil

906

Venturing

A length of cloth worn by women over the head, shoulders, and often the face. An undertaking that is dangerous, daring, or of uncertain outcome.

907

Verbiage

An excess of words for the purpose; wordiness

908

Verdant

Green with vegetation; covered with green growth

909

Veritable

Being truly so called; real or genuine.

910

Vertigo

The sensation of dizziness. b. An instance of such a sensation.

Zubaer, November 2004

30

GRE Big Book

911

Vigilance

Alert watchfulness.

912

Vista

913

Vociferous

A distant view or prospect, especially one seen through an opening, as between rows of buildings or trees. Making, given to, or marked by noisy and vehement outcry.

914

Voluntarily

Arising from or acting on one's own free will.

915

Vulture

Any of various large birds of prey of the New World family Cathartidae or of the Old World family Accipitridae, characteristically having dark plumage and a featherless head and neck and generally feeding on carrion.

916

Waddle

To walk with short steps that tilt the body from side to side

917

Waft

To cause to go gently and smoothly through the air or over water.

918

Wag

919

Waggish

To move briskly and repeatedly from side to side, to and fro, or up and down. Characteristic of or resembling a wag; jocular or witty

920

Wagon

921

Walrus

922

Waltz

923

Wax

924

Wean

925

Web

To accustom (the young of a mammal) to take nourishment other than by suckling A woven fabric, especially one on a loom or just removed from it.

926

Welter

A confused mass; a jumble. 2. Confusion; turmoil.

927

Whale

Any of various marine mammals of the order Cetacea, having the general shape of a fish with forelimbs modified to form flippers, a tail with horizontal flukes, and one or two blowholes for breathing, especially one of the very large species as distinguished from the smaller dolphins and porpoises.

928

Wheedle

To persuade or attempt to persuade by flattery or guile; cajole.

929

Whet

930

Whine

931

Whittle

To sharpen (a knife, for example); hone. 2. To make more keen; stimulate. To utter a plaintive, high-pitched, protracted sound, as in pain, fear, supplication, or complaint. To cut small bits or pare shavings from (a piece of wood)

932

Wick

A cord or strand of loosely woven, twisted, or braided fibers, as on a candle or an oil lamp, that draws up fuel to the flame by capillary action.

933

Wield

934

Wily

To handle (a weapon or tool, for example) with skill and ease. 2. To exercise (authority or influence, for example) effectively. Full of wiles;

935

Wink

Zubaer, November 2004

A four-wheeled, usually horse-drawn vehicle with a large rectangular body, used for transporting loads. A large marine mammal A ballroom dance in triple time with a strong accent on the first beat. Any of various natural, oily or greasy heat-sensitive substances, consisting of hydrocarbons or esters of fatty acids that are insoluble in water but soluble in most organic solvents.

To close and open the eyelid of one eye deliberately, as to convey a message, signal, or suggestion.

31

GRE Big Book

936

Woo

937

Woodpile

938

Wool

The dense, soft, often curly hair forming the coat of sheep and certain other mammals, such as the goat and alpaca, consisting of cylindrical fibers of keratin covered by minute overlapping scales and much valued as a textile fabric.

939

Worship

940

Writ

941

Wry

The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object. Law. A written order issued by a court, commanding the party to whom it is addressed to perform or cease performing a specified act. Dryly humorous, often with a touch of irony.

942

Xenophobia

943

Yacht

Zubaer, November 2004

To seek the affection of with intent to romance. 2.a. To seek to achieve; try to gain. A pile of wood, especially when used for fuel.

A person unduly fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples Any of various relatively small sailing or motor-driven vessels, generally with smart, graceful lines, used for pleasure cruises or racing.

32