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US election 2020: What is the electoral college? - BBC News

Video vocabulary

crucial

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US / 'kru:ʃl /

UK / ˈkruʃəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Extremely important or necessary

their

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US / ðɛː /

UK / ðer /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to them

they

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US / ðeɪ /

UK / ðe /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Two or more people, animals, or things

proponent

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US / prəˈpəʊnənt /

UK / prəˈponənt /

B2
  • noun
  • Person who supports or argues for something

country

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US / ˈkʌntri /

UK / ˈkʌntri /

A1
  • noun
  • An area of land that is controlled by a government
  • Open land that is away from towns and cities

consistently

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US / kən'sɪstəntlɪ /

UK / kənˈsɪstəntlɪ /

B1
  • adverb
  • In a manner that is the same almost every time

result

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US / rɪ'zʌlt /

UK / rɪˈzʌlt /

A2
  • noun
  • Something produced through tests or experiments
  • Final score of a competition, election or game
  • verb
  • To be the outcome of other causes and effects

change

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US / tʃeɪndʒ /

UK / tʃendʒ /

A1
  • noun
  • Exchange of one set of clothes for another
  • Money in the form of coins instead of paper
  • Money returned after giving too much
  • Act of making or becoming something else
  • verb
  • To exchange one set of clothes for another
  • To exchange one kind of money for another
  • To replace something with another thing
  • To make or become something else
  • To go from one train, bus, etc. and go to another

vote

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US / vəʊt /

UK / vot /

A2
  • noun
  • Act of deciding who to choose in an election
  • verb
  • To make a choice for or against, as in an election

possible

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US / ˈpɒsəbl /

UK / ˈpɑsəbəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being able or appropriate for a task or purpose
  • Having a chance of happening, or being true

who

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US / hu: /

UK / hu /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Which person
  • Used to introduce information about people

its

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US / ɪts /

UK / ɪts /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Referring to or belonging to ‘it’
  • determiner
  • Of something; belonging or related to something
  • other
  • Possessive form of “it”

everyone

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US / ˈevriwʌn /

UK / ˈɛvriˌwʌn /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Every person; everybody

electoral

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US / ɪˈlektərəl /

UK / ɪˈlɛktərəl /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning elections

election

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US / ɪ'lekʃn /

UK / ɪˈlɛkʃən /

B1
  • noun
  • Process of choosing someone by voting

battleground

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US / 'bætlɡraʊnd /

UK / ˈbætlˌɡraʊnd /

C2
  • noun
  • Region where a battle was, or is being fought

all

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US / ɔ:l /

UK / ɔl /

A1
  • adverb
  • Completely; totally
  • determiner
  • Being every one of something
  • pronoun
  • 100% of something; the complete amount

trump

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US / trʌmp /

UK / trʌmp /

A1
  • noun
  • Any playing card of a suit that outranks another
  • verb
  • To gain an advantage over others

order

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US / 'ɔ:də(r) /

UK / ˈɔrdɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Religious or social group, as of nuns
  • Instructions to others to do what you want
  • State in which things are neat and organized
  • What you ask to buy, e.g. food in restaurant
  • Social or political control of an area
  • verb
  • To put things in a sequence, e.g. a, b, c
  • To give instructions to others to do what you want
  • To ask for something you want to buy, e.g. a meal

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person someone is speaking or writing to
  • Person or people in general

year

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US / jə: /

UK / jɪr /

A1
  • noun
  • Unit of time equal to 12 months or 365 or 366 days
  • Used to refer to the age of a person

simply

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US / ˈsɪmpli /

UK / ˈsɪmpli /

A1
  • adverb
  • In an easy or clear manner

how

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US / haʊ /

UK / haʊ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To what degree? in what amount?
  • adverb
  • (Used to explain the way to do something)
  • exclamation
  • For what purpose or reason?
  • (Used to ask someone or something's condition)

although

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US / ɔ:lˈðəu /

UK / ɔlˈðo /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Despite the fact that; however

december

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US / dɪˈsembə(r) /

UK / dɪˈsɛmbɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • The 12th month of the year

turn

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US / tɜ:n /

UK / tɚn /

A1
  • noun
  • Place where changing of direction happens
  • Your time or chance to perform a duty
  • Your chance to play or do in say a game
  • Unexpected change, as in the weather
  • verb
  • To become (a particular age)
  • To become a different quality, color, etc.
  • To change the direction of something, e.g. a car
  • To move in an opposite direction or position
  • To shape metal with a spinning tool

won

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US / wʌn /

UK / wʌn, won /

A1
  • verb
  • To gain something you want because of your efforts
  • To succeed in a game or contest

settle

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US / 'setl /

UK / ˈsɛtl /

A2
  • noun
  • Type of wooden seat
  • verb
  • To make (a child, etc.) feel calm/ready for sleep
  • To complete or finalize e.g. a contract or debt
  • To end some troubles by reaching an agreement
  • To become accustomed to a new environment
  • (Of liquids) to move to the bottom of a container

than

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US / ðən /

UK / ðən /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to compare two things that are not equal

word

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US / wɜ:d /

UK / wɚd /

A1
  • noun
  • Unit of language that has a meaning
  • Promise
  • Short remark or piece of information
  • verb
  • To express something by choosing particular words

this

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US / ðɪs /

UK / ðɪs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Used to indicate something already been discussed
  • Used to indicate something happening around now
  • adverb
  • An indication by a physical motion or gesture
  • A specific amount of
  • determiner
  • Person, thing, or idea near you
  • pronoun
  • Person, thing that has already been discussed

may

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US / meɪ /

UK / me /

A1
  • noun
  • 5th month of the year
  • other
  • Used to express a desire
  • Expresses permission, possibility or probability
  • Used to show that a thing could be true

play

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US / pleɪ /

UK / pleɪ /

A1
  • noun
  • Loose, free movement between two objects
  • Single action in a sports game
  • Performance in which people act in a theater
  • verb
  • To act as a character in a movie, or on stage
  • To perform music on an instrument
  • To use a device, e.g. a video game
  • To do something for enjoyment and fun
  • To do or perform a game or sport

compromise

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US / 'kɒmprəmaɪz /

UK / ˈkɑmprəˌmaɪz /

B1
  • noun
  • When you lessen your demands to get agreement
  • verb
  • To weaken your position or views
  • To lessen your demands so as to reach agreement
  • To put something at risk or in danger

across

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US / əˈkrɔs /

UK / əˈkrɔs,əˈkrɑs /

A1
  • adverb
  • Distance from one side to another
  • (Go) from one side to the other of something

state

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US / steɪt /

UK / stet /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning region within a country
  • noun
  • Region within a country, with its own government
  • Situation or condition something is in
  • verb
  • To say; declare as fact

candidate

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US / ˈkændɪdət /

UK / ˈkændɪˌdet, -dɪt /

B1
  • noun
  • Politician who is running for public office

the

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US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • article
  • Used to refer to something already mentioned
  • Used to show there is only one of something
  • determiner
  • Used to describe all of a family

receive

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US / rɪ'si:v /

UK / rɪˈsiv /

A1
  • verb
  • To get something someone has given or sent to you
  • To allow someone to become a member (of a club)
  • To welcome someone as a guest into your home
  • To respond to (e.g. news) in a particular way

might

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US / maɪt /

UK / maɪt /

A1
  • other
  • Used to politely request an action
  • Used to express that something could happen
  • Power, strength, force or influence

lead

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US / li:d /

UK / lid /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being the main part in movies or plays
  • noun
  • Wire for electricity, computer, etc.; cable
  • Information that could help to solve a crime
  • Main part in a play or movie
  • Heavy, gray metal element
  • Rope used to tie something to stop it escaping
  • Act of being at the front in a race or game
  • verb
  • To show the way or guide others
  • To be at the front of a race or game
  • To travel in front of; go in advance of others

technically

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US / ˈteknɪkli /

UK / ˈtɛknɪkl:ɪ /

A2
  • adverb
  • In an exact and particular manner

give

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US / ɡɪv /

UK / ɡɪv /

A1
  • noun
  • Degree of flexibility in something, a material
  • verb
  • To hand over or present something to someone
  • To cause someone to have or experience something

but

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US / bət /

UK / bʌt,bət /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used before you say something different, opposite

voter

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US / ˈvəʊtə(r) /

UK / ˈvotɚ /

B1
  • noun
  • Person who can vote in an election

role

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US / rəʊl /

UK / rol /

A2
  • noun
  • Character played by an actor
  • Part you play in an activity; job; responsibility

same

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US / seɪm /

UK / sem /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in quality and amount
  • Identical; not different
  • Not changing; constant

become

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US / bɪ'kʌm /

UK / bɪˈkʌm /

A1
  • verb
  • To begin to be; grow to be; develop into
  • To be suitable for a particular job or role

democratic

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US / ˌdeməˈkrætɪk /

UK / ˌdɛməˈkrætɪk /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • (Of government) giving the people power, a vote
  • Having certain aspects of democracy

would

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US / wʊd /

UK / wʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Used to indicate something imagined
  • Used to ask or request something politely
  • Verb used to indicate possibility, request etc.
  • Used to indicate a preference
  • Used to indicate a reaction
  • Indicates something that occurred repeatedly
  • Used to indicate willingness or ability to do

member

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US / ˈmembə(r) /

UK / ˈmɛmbɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Part of the body of a human, animal
  • Person or thing belonging to a group or team

concerned

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US / kənˈsɜ:nd /

UK / kənˈsə:nd /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Worried or anxious
  • verb
  • To be about a particular topic
  • To have a direct impact on someone
  • To be responsible or mixed up in; to be involved
  • To feel worry or anxiety

deliver

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US / dɪ'lɪvə(r) /

UK / dɪˈlɪvɚ /

A2
  • verb
  • To give birth to a child; help a woman give birth
  • To save someone from a problem or crisis
  • To keep a promise; do what you say you would
  • To present something to a group, as a speech
  • To take something to a person or place

size

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US / saɪz /

UK / saɪz /

A1
  • noun
  • How big or small a thing is
  • Standard measurements for clothing, shoes
  • verb
  • To make something to fit a particular measurement
  • To organize or group from small to large

not

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US / nɒt /

UK / nɑt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Word indicating the negative
  • (Used to form the negative of verbs)

want

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US / wɔnt /

UK / wɑnt, wɔnt /

A1
  • noun
  • Something you desire or wish for
  • State or condition of poverty
  • verb
  • To desire or wish for something; hope for a thing

significant

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US / sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt /

UK / sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Large enough to be noticed or have an effect
  • Having meaning; important; noticeable
  • (Statistics) being clearly different

whether

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US / ˈweðə(r) /

UK / ˈhwɛðɚ, ˈwɛð- /

A1
  • conjunction
  • If something will happen or not

support

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US / səˈpɔ:t /

UK / səˈpɔrt, -ˈport /

A1
  • noun
  • Assistance or advice given to someone
  • Evidence that helps prove something is true
  • A thing to hold up or prevent from falling down
  • verb
  • To give assistance or advice to someone
  • To help prove or show that something is true
  • To hold up or prevent from falling down

establish

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US / ɪˈstæblɪʃ /

UK / ɪˈstæblɪʃ /

A2
  • verb
  • To set or create something to last for a long time
  • To use facts, evidence to show truth or clarity

million

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US / ˈmɪljən /

UK / ˈmɪljən /

A1
  • number
  • 1,000,000

day

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US / deɪ /

UK / de /

A1
  • noun
  • A period of 24 hours beginning at midnight
  • The period of time when it is light outside
  • Person's name

actually

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US / ˈæktʃuəli /

UK / ˈæktʃuəli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to add new (often different) information

unsuitable

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US / ʌnˈsu:təbl /

UK / ʌnˈsutəbəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Not being right or appropriate for something

population

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US / ˌpɒpjuˈleɪʃn /

UK / ˌpɑpjəˈleʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Number of people who live in a country, area etc.

popular

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US / ˈpɒpjələ(r) /

UK / ˈpɑ:pjələ(r) /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Liked or enjoyed by many people

try

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US / traɪ /

UK / traɪ /

A1
  • noun
  • Act of putting the ball over the rugby goal line
  • verb
  • To make an effort, to attempt to do something
  • To examine someone or something in a court of law
  • To test to see if it is good or you like it
  • To make a person go through hardship; test
  • To examine something to see if it works

strategy

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US / 'strætədʒɪ /

UK / ˈstrætədʒi /

A2
  • noun
  • Careful plan or method for achieving a goal
  • other
  • Branch of military dealing with command

lose

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US / lu:z /

UK / luz /

A1
  • verb
  • To be unable to keep in check or control something
  • To decrease in value or quantity (e.g. weight)
  • To stop having certain qualities or abilities
  • To stop having or being entitled to
  • To fail to win something that is being contested
  • To be unable to find something you once had
  • To be dependent on someone (used with 'not')

will

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US / wɪl /

UK / wɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Desire or choice of someone
  • Document saying who gets your money when you die
  • Strong desire to do something; determination
  • Desire to do something; strong wish to do
  • other
  • Used with verbs to express the future
  • verb
  • To leave property to someone after your death
  • To use mental effort to make something happen
  • Am (is, are) likely to do
  • To influence someone to do something
  • To make something happen by strongly wanting it

elector

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US / ɪˈlektə(r) /

UK / ɪˈlɛktɚ /

B2
  • noun
  • Citizen who has a legal right to vote

elect

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US / ɪ'lekt /

UK / ɪˈlɛkt /

B1
  • verb
  • To select someone for a position by voting

system

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US / 'sɪstəm /

UK / ˈsɪstəm /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Working in an organized, logical way
  • noun
  • Set of organized, planned ideas that work together

fact

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US / fækt /

UK / fækt /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that is known or proved to be true

few

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US / fju: /

UK / fju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Not many, a small number

why

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US / waɪ /

UK / hwaɪ, waɪ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Question word to ask for a reason
  • exclamation
  • (Used to express surprise or approval)

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

A1
  • preposition
  • Used to show the purpose, or need of something

california

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US / ˌkælɪ'fɔ:njə, -'fɔ:ni:ə /

UK / ˌkælɪ'fɔ:rnjəˌ -'fɔ:rni:ə /

A1
  • noun
  • A state in the western United States on the Pacific; the rd largest state; known for earthquakes

vast

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US / vɑ:st /

UK / væst /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being very large in size or amount

two

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US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • number
  • 2

back

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US / bæk /

UK / bæk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Farthest from the front e.g. in a classroom
  • adverb
  • Have returned to a place you were before
  • noun
  • The part of a chair that the upper body leans upon
  • Location at the rear of something
  • The reverse of side something
  • Area on the rear of your body
  • verb
  • To bet money on something
  • To go backwards in a car
  • To support and encourage someone or some cause

base

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US / beɪs /

UK / bes /

A2
  • noun
  • Place military personnel live, train, and operate
  • Bottom part of an object that touches a surface
  • Unit of counting, e.g. 10 for counting
  • Most important idea or ingredient to add others
  • Origin or start from which something came
  • Main place where an organization or a person works
  • verb
  • To use as the starting point or origin for
  • To have as the main location for (company, etc.)

and

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US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

share

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US / ʃeə(r) /

UK / ʃɛr /

A2
  • noun
  • Part-ownership in a property, business or company
  • Part of a company you own, shown by a certificate
  • verb
  • To divide something between two or more people
  • To allow others to use your things equally
  • To give information, etc. to someone

over

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US / 'əʊvə(r) /

UK / ˈovɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Finished; no longer happening
  • Towards the ground/away from a standing position
  • noun
  • A set of six consecutive balls bowled in cricket
  • other
  • Finished
  • preposition
  • Showing the relation when a thing is above another
  • On or covering something
  • Above or across something
  • More than you need
  • From one side to the other
  • In the direction of; toward

out

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US / aʊt /

UK / aʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • No longer stylish (e.g. fashion)
  • Away from home, business, or the usual place
  • In a direction/movement away from inside or center
  • noun
  • Act when a batter cannot continue playing
  • verb
  • To tell people a secret

something

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US / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

UK / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

A1
  • adverb
  • In some degree or measure
  • noun
  • a person or thing of some value or consequence
  • pronoun
  • Thing that is not yet known or named
  • Approximately

rather

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US / 'rɑ:ðə(r) /

UK / ˈræðɚ, ˈrɑðɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Somewhat; fairly; not that much

majority

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US / mə'dʒɒrətɪ /

UK / məˈdʒɔrɪti, -ˈdʒɑr- /

B1
  • noun
  • Amount that is more than half of a group

most

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US / məʊst /

UK / most /

A1
  • adverb
  • Very; extremely
  • Greatest possible degree
  • pronoun
  • Nearly all of something

direct

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US / də'rekt /

UK / dɪˈrɛkt, daɪ- /

A2
  • adverb
  • Coming straight from something
  • verb
  • To tell someone in a very clear way to do something
  • To show the way by conducting or leading
  • To control the acting in a movie or play

decisive

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US / dɪˈsaɪsɪv /

UK / dɪˈsaɪsɪv /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Able to make choices quickly and confidently

presidential

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US / ˌprezɪ'denʃl /

UK / ˌprɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the president

college

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US / 'kɒlɪdʒ /

UK / 'kɑːlɪdʒ /

A2
  • noun
  • School or educational institution for adults

call

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US / kɔ:l /

UK / kɔl /

A1
  • noun
  • A order or request for action
  • The sound an animal makes, often when in danger
  • A correct prediction, e.g. a decision in a game
  • A short visit to a place or person
  • A decision by a referee or umpire in a game
  • verb
  • To make a request or order for action
  • (Animal) to make sounds to warn of danger
  • To announce the date of an election
  • To make a judgment about something
  • To give someone or something a name
  • To guess in advance the result or outcome
  • To visit a place or person for a short time
  • To phone someone
  • To speak, announce or shout in a loud voice

think

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US / θɪŋk /

UK / θɪŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To have an idea about something without certainty
  • To have an idea, opinion or belief about something

help

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US / help /

UK / hɛlp /

A1
  • noun
  • Something given to enable a person to do something
  • Assistance given to someone in need
  • Someone who makes something easier or possible
  • verb
  • To act to enable a person to do something; assist
  • To make something better or less difficult

game

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US / ɡeɪm /

UK / ɡem /

A1
  • noun
  • Activity with rules that people play to have fun
  • Birds and animals people hunt to kill and eat
  • Match between two teams

come

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US / kʌm /

UK / kʌm /

A1
  • verb
  • To arrive at a place
  • (Of mail) to be delivered
  • To move toward someone; go with someone
  • To reach a certain point or state

effort

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US / ˈefət /

UK / ˈɛfət /

A2
  • noun
  • Amount of work used trying to do something

each

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US / i:tʃ /

UK / itʃ /

A1
  • determiner
  • Every one of two or more things
  • pronoun
  • Per one person or thing

happen

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US / 'hæpən /

UK / ˈhæpən /

A1
  • verb
  • To take place or occur

example

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US / ɪgˈzɑ:mpl /

UK / ɪɡˈzæmpəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Thing, person which represents a category

biden

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US / baɪd /

UK / baɪd /

A1

that

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US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

what

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US / wɒt /

UK / hwɑt, hwʌt, wɔt, wʌt,hwət, wət /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Thing or things that; the same kind as
  • Used to emphasize something you are about to say
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to a particular amount, or number
  • Used to place emphasis on a particular quality
  • adverb
  • To a certain degree
  • determiner
  • Question words used for asking for information
  • exclamation
  • Used to express excitement, shock, or surprise
  • Used to ask people to repeat something they said

rival

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US / 'raɪvl /

UK / 'raɪvl /

A2
  • verb
  • To be nearly as good as others in quality, skill
  • To be in opposition often as competitors
  • adjecitve
  • Matching the quality, skill, et. of others
  • Opposing; being the team you compete against
  • noun
  • Someone you are competing against/trying to beat

secure

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US / sɪ'kjʊə(r) /

UK / sɪˈkjʊr /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being attached to something tightly and surely
  • (Place that is) locked, guarded and safe
  • verb
  • To get or achieve something with certainty
  • To firmly attach something to something else
  • To protect from danger or harm, keep things safe

people

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US / 'pi:pl /

UK / ˈpipəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Persons sharing culture, country, background, etc.
  • Men, Women, Children

tend

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US / tend /

UK / tɛnd /

A2
  • verb
  • To move or act in a certain manner
  • To take care of
  • To regularly behave in a certain way

task

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US / tɑ:sk /

UK / tæsk /

A2
  • noun
  • Big or small piece of work someone has to do
  • verb
  • To be given something to do, e.g. wash dishes

mean

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US / mi:n /

UK / min /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being good at
  • Nasty; unkind
  • Not liking to spend money; cheap; stingy
  • noun
  • Average of a set of numbers
  • verb
  • To express a particular idea or thought
  • To intend to do something in particular
  • To have a particular meaning or value

swing

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US / swɪŋ /

UK / swɪŋ /

A2
  • noun
  • Movement in a curved motion
  • Flowing, curved movement, e.g. of the arm
  • A back and forth motion, while hanging
  • Change in opinion or theme
  • Outdoor seat that hangs by two ropes, or chains
  • verb
  • To move something in a back and forth motion
  • To move in a back and forth motion, while hanging
  • To change opinion or mood, usually quickly

least

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US / li:st /

UK / list /

A1
  • adverb
  • In the smallest or lowest way
  • noun
  • Something that is of the lowest or smallest degree

despite

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US / dɪˈspaɪt /

UK / dɪˈspaɪt /

A2
  • preposition
  • Without being affected by something; in spite of

step

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US / step /

UK / stɛp /

A1
  • noun
  • Movement done as part of a particular dance
  • Distance covered by one movement of a leg; stride
  • One part or stage in a process
  • Sound made by the feet while walking; footstep
  • Flat horizontal piece that forms stairs
  • verb
  • To raise and moving the foot to put it down

down

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US / daʊn /

UK / daʊn /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being sad, sick, or unhappy
  • Not operating, working, or functioning as expected
  • adverb
  • In a sitting or lying position
  • Towards or on the ground, floor, or bottom
  • Written or copied onto a piece of paper or book
  • noun
  • A period of play in American Football
  • The soft, smooth hairs that cover a bird's body
  • preposition
  • Along something's path, course, or direction
  • Going from a higher position to a lower position
  • verb
  • To eat or drink very quickly and without stopping

number

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US / ˈnʌmbə(r) /

UK / ˈnʌmbɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Symbols such as 1, 2, 56, 793
  • Particular song or dance performed during a show
  • Total quantity or amount of things
  • verb
  • To put numbers on things
  • To assign a sequence within a group, series, set
  • To claim to be part of a larger group, series, set

win

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US / wɪn /

UK / wɪn /

A1
  • noun
  • Success in beating the other team or competitors
  • Success in a game or contest
  • verb
  • To get something as a prize because of a success
  • To gain something you want because of your efforts
  • To succeed in a game or contest

roughly

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US / ˈrʌfli /

UK / ˈrʌflɪ /

B1
  • adverb
  • Approximately; (of numbers) about; around
  • In a manner that is violent or not careful
  • In an inexact, imprecise or violent way
  • In a basic, simple manner

president

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US / ˈprezɪdənt /

UK / ˈprɛzɪdənt,-ˌdɛnt /

A2
  • noun
  • Person in charge of a country, or organization

get

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US / ɡet /

UK / ɡɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To become affected by illness or disease
  • To begin to feel or understand an emotion or idea
  • To send or bring someone or something home, etc.
  • To go somewhere to obtain something
  • To (cause to) do a particular thing
  • To obtain, receive or be given something
  • To currently have
  • To prepare for use
  • To understand something being said or read

focus

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US / 'fəʊkəs /

UK / ˈfokəs /

A2
  • noun
  • Main purpose or center of interest or activity
  • verb
  • To see clearly by adjusting your eyes or a camera
  • To keep your attention, concentration on one thing

with

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US / wɪð /

UK / wɪð, wɪθ /

A1
  • preposition
  • As an employee of a certain company
  • Against something or someone
  • By using something as a means
  • Due to; because of
  • Including
  • Possessing as a feature
  • Related to
  • (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
  • Used to express that people or things are together

his

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US / hɪz /

UK / hɪz /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Something belonging to a male person

founder

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US / ˈfaʊndə(r) /

UK / ˈfaʊndɚ /

B1
  • noun
  • Person establishing an organization, school etc.
  • verb
  • (Of business, idea, etc.) to fail
  • (Of a ship) To be sinking after hitting rocks

group

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US / ɡru:p /

UK / ɡrup /

A1
  • noun
  • Two or more musicians who play music together
  • Number of people or things gathered together
  • verb
  • To combine or collect objects or people together

often

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US / ˈɔfən /

UK / ˈɔfən,ˈɑfən,ˈɔftən,ˈɑf- /

A1
  • adverb
  • Many times; frequently; on many occasions

know

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US / nəʊ /

UK / noʊ /

A1
  • verb
  • To be familiar with a person or place, thing
  • To feel sure or be convinced about something
  • To discover or be aware of something
  • To be able to distinguish
  • To have knowledge of things

six

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US / sɪks /

UK / sɪks /

A1
  • number
  • 6

last

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US / lɑ:st /

UK / læst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Most recent; the latest
  • The one before
  • adverb
  • Final; with nothing following; after all others
  • Most recent; the latest
  • determiner
  • The one at the end
  • verb
  • To remain or continue for a certain period of time

have

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US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

before

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US / bɪˈfɔ:(r) /

UK / bɪˈfɔr,-ˈfor /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a time earlier than the present; previously
  • conjunction
  • In advance of something happening
  • preposition
  • In front of someone or something

almost

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US / 'ɔ:lməʊst /

UK / ˈɔlˌmost, ɔlˈmost /

A1
  • adverb
  • Only a little less than, nearly, not quite

see

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US / si: /

UK / si /

A1
  • verb
  • To go on a date with someone
  • To predict whether something is, or will be true
  • To understand what someone says
  • To use your eyes to look at something
  • To visit a place often for sightseeing or pleasure
  • To visit or meet with someone
  • To find out by waiting or looking
  • To watch (a game, movie or TV show)

donald

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US / dəˈmɪnɪkən /

UK / dəˈmɪnɪkən /

A1
  • Subtitles section
  • You may think the U.S. election is over and Joe Biden has secured the presidency with 80 million votes, but there's still a significant step to go on December 14th, and it all comes down to how the U.S. president is actually elected.
  • When Americans went to the polls, they weren't technically voting for Donald Trump or Joe Biden, but for members of something called the Electoral College.
  • The word college simply refers to a group of people, or electors, with a shared task, to choose the president of the United States.
  • The system goes back more than 200 years.
  • The founders of the United States wanted to establish a democratic system, but were concerned that a direct popular vote might lead to the election of an unsuitable president.
  • Electors were settled on as a compromise.
  • Each state was given a number of electors, based roughly on the size of its population.
  • Today, there are 538 electors, and the successful presidential candidate will need to get a majority of these, at least 270, in order to win.
  • In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote gets the support of all of that state's electors.
  • For example, whether a winning candidate gets 99 or 51% of the vote in California, they would still receive all the state's 55 Electoral College votes.
  • That's why it's possible for a candidate to lose the popular vote across the country, but still secure a majority of Electoral College votes and become president.
  • That's what happened in 2016, when Trump secured the presidency despite getting almost 3 million fewer votes than his election rival.
  • Two out of the last six elections were won by candidates who had fewer votes than their rivals, although this hadn't happened for more than 100 years before the 2000 election.
  • What all this means is that campaigns often focus on strategies that help secure the 270 electoral votes needed to win.
  • They tend to target battleground, or swing states, rather than trying to turn out voters in states which consistently vote for the same party.
  • In fact, in the 2020 presidential election, 12 battleground states saw 96% of campaign events.
  • 33 states saw no events at all.
  • So the 538 members of the Electoral College play a crucial role in how the president of the United States is elected.
  • Over the years, there have been efforts to change the Electoral College system, but proponents say it helps deliver decisive results across a vast country, and everyone knows the rules of the game before Election Day.