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Why the Middle East is Re-Engaging with Assad

Video vocabulary

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

investigation

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US / ɪnˌvestɪ'ɡeɪʃn /

UK / ɪnˌvɛstɪˈɡeʃən /

B1
  • noun
  • Search for information about something

intervene

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US / ˌɪntəˈvi:n /

UK / ˌɪntərˈvi:n /

B1
  • verb
  • To get involved to try to prevent trouble

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

allegedly

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US / ə'ledʒɪdlɪ /

UK / ə'ledʒɪdlɪ /

B2
  • adverb
  • According to what has been alleged

relation

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US / rɪˈleɪʃn /

UK / rɪˈleɪʃn /

A2
  • noun
  • Connection between two or more things
  • A member of your family
  • Way in which two or more things are connected

ruin

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US / 'ru:ɪn /

UK / ˈruɪn /

B1
  • verb
  • To damage or completely destroy something
  • To cause someone to lose their money or status
  • noun
  • Remains of a building that has been destroyed

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

end

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US / end /

UK / ɛnd /

A1
  • noun
  • The point where a process or activity stops
  • A point that marks the limit of something; finish
  • Goal or desired result
  • The tip, edge or limit of something
  • verb
  • To be the last part of something

turkey

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US / ˈtɜ:ki /

UK / ˈtɜ:rki /

C1
  • noun
  • Edible bird resembling a large chicken
  • other
  • An event that fails badly or is totally ineffectual
  • Flesh of large domesticated fowl usually roasted

subscribe

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US / səb'skraɪb /

UK / səbˈskraɪb /

B1
  • verb
  • To regularly pay to receive a service

iraq

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US / ɪ'rɑ:k /

UK / ɪ'ræk /

A1
  • noun
  • A republic in the Middle East in western Asia; the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia was in the ar

democratic

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US / ˌdeməˈkrætɪk /

UK / ˌdɛməˈkrætɪk /

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

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

ally

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US / 'ælaɪ /

UK / 'ælaɪ /

B1
  • noun
  • Someone who supports, helps, or defends you
  • verb
  • To join a group to offer or receive support

yet

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US / jet /

UK / jɛt /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a later time (used after ‘not’)
  • (Used to emphasize that thing is, will be greater)
  • Eventually; at a future time
  • Until now; up to the present
  • conjunction
  • Adding to what has been said, often as a contrast

video

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US / 'vɪdɪəʊ /

UK / ˈvɪdiˌo /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Of a moving film, with sound
  • noun
  • Recording capturing action with sound
  • verb
  • To make a moving film of, with sound

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

include

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US / ɪnˈklu:d /

UK / ɪnˈklud /

A1
  • verb
  • To make someone, something part of a group

sanction

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US / 'sæŋkʃn /

UK / ˈsæŋkʃən /

B2
  • noun
  • Official support or approval
  • Action taken to force a country to obey laws
  • verb
  • To allow or approve something

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

then

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US / ðen /

UK / ðɛn /

A1
  • adverb
  • A time that is not now
  • Following another thing in time or arrangement
  • Following on reasonably from what was just stated
  • At that time, not now

sympathy

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US / 'sɪmpəθɪ /

UK / ˈsɪmpəθi /

A2
  • noun
  • Feeling for other people when they are in trouble

annoying

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US / əˈnɔɪɪŋ /

UK / əˈnɔɪɪŋ /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • A little angry; upset
  • verb
  • To make someone angry

barack

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US / /

UK / /

A1
  • noun
  • A type of apricot brandy made in Hungary; a drink of this.

directly

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US / dəˈrektli /

UK / dɪˈrɛktli, daɪ- /

A2
  • adverb
  • In a frank and honest way
  • Right away; immediately

first

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US / fɜ:st /

UK / fɚst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • 1st; Coming before all others in time or place
  • noun
  • Something that has not happened before
  • Position of the winner of a competition

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

president

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US / ˈprezɪdənt /

UK / ˈprɛzɪdənt,-ˌdɛnt /

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

second

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US / 'sekənd /

UK / ˈsɛkənd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • 2nd; the one following first
  • noun
  • Unit of time; one sixtieth of a minute
  • Short period of time that you wait for someone
  • (Do) soon
  • verb
  • To agree to support a proposal at a meeting

syrian

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US / 'sɪrɪən /

UK / 'sɪrɪrn /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of Syria
  • noun
  • Person from Syria

autocratic

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US / ˌɔ:tə'krætɪk /

UK / ˌɔ:tə'krætɪk /

C1
  • adjecitve
  • Ruling with absolute power; ignoring others' ideas

case

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US / keɪs /

UK / kes /

A1
  • noun
  • Container used to carry things, e.g. clothes
  • Set of facts about a crime
  • Set of facts about an event
  • Example or instance of something
  • verb
  • To find out about a place, as in planning to steal

great

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US / ɡreɪt /

UK / ɡret /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Very large in size
  • Very important
  • Very good; fantastic; wonderful
  • adverb
  • Very good; better than before
  • noun
  • Successful and well-admired person

kick

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US / kɪk /

UK / kɪk /

A2
  • noun
  • Feeling of enjoyment or excitement
  • verb
  • To hit or move something with the foot

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

despite

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US / dɪˈspaɪt /

UK / dɪˈspaɪt /

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

essentially

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US / ɪˈsenʃəli /

UK / ɪˈsenʃəli /

A2
  • adverb
  • Basically; (said when stating the basic facts)

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

normalize

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US / ˈnɔ:məlaɪz /

UK / ˈnɔ:rməlaɪz /

B2
  • verb
  • To make something normal or regular

right

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US / raɪt /

UK / raɪt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Correct or true
  • The south side of you looking at the rising sun
  • adverb
  • Exactly in a place or time
  • Being appropriate for a particular event
  • In a straight or direct manner
  • noun
  • Something you are legally or morally allowed to do
  • Ideal of what is just and good
  • Political view based on conservatism
  • verb
  • To fix something previously wrong or unjust
  • To make upright, as a boat that has turned over

ukraine

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US / ju:'kreɪn /

UK / ju:'kreɪn /

A1
  • other
  • A republic in southeastern Europe; formerly a European soviet; the center of the original Russian st

value

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US / 'vælju: /

UK / ˈvælju /

A1
  • noun
  • Importance you attach to something
  • Some information expressed as a number
  • Stated price of something; worth
  • verb
  • To place a high importance on something
  • To say how much money something is worth

servant

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US / ˈsɜ:vənt /

UK / ˈsɚvənt /

A2
  • noun
  • Person paid to clean, cook, etc. in another's home

civil

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US / ˈsɪvl /

UK / ˈsɪvəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Of citizens of a country; not military, criminal
  • Acting in a polite, but not truly friendly manner

officially

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US / əˈfɪʃəli /

UK / əˈfɪʃəlɪ /

A2
  • adverb
  • According to what is stated by an authority figure

stay

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US / steɪ /

UK / ste /

A1
  • noun
  • Legal order to stop or delay an action
  • Strong rope or wire that supports a ship's mast
  • Period of time spent living in or visiting a place
  • verb
  • To keep trying without giving up
  • To remain in the same place and not move away
  • To spend time visiting a place or someone's home

about

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US / ə'baʊt /

UK / əˈbaʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • To be ready to; going to
  • Nearly; approximately; roughly
  • Near; next to; close to
  • In every direction; in the area of
  • preposition
  • Concerning or of (a topic)

bashar

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US / bəˈʃɑr /

UK / /

A1

even

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US / 'i:vn /

UK / ˈivən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in influence, power, possibility etc.
  • Being divided equally or fairly
  • (Of teams/contest) with similar chances of success
  • Smooth, level, or regular
  • Can be divided by 2; ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0
  • At a regular, equally steady manner
  • Remaining steady and unchanging
  • adverb
  • (When this is surprising) as well; too
  • (Used to compare two things/stress the difference)
  • verb
  • To make something level; to flatten
  • To make something equal

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

repair

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US / rɪˈpeə(r) /

UK / rɪˈper /

A2
  • noun
  • How well cared for a thing is; physical condition
  • Action to fix or restore something that is broken
  • verb
  • To fix or restore something that is broken
  • To fix or correct the damage that one has caused

separatist

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US / ˈseprətɪst /

UK / ˈsɛpərətɪst, ˈsɛprə-, ˈsɛpəˌre- /

B1
  • noun
  • Believer in the separatism

reform

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US / rɪ'fɔ:m /

UK / rɪˈfɔrm /

A2
  • noun
  • An improvement, especially in a person's behaviour or in the structure of something
  • verb
  • To re-shape something to a better condition
  • To (cause to) lead a non-criminal life
  • To improve society by removing abuse/injustice
  • To re-shape something into a different form

expect

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US / ɪk'spekt /

UK / ɪkˈspɛkt /

A1
  • verb
  • To believe something is probably going to happen

currently

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US / ˈkʌrəntli /

UK / ˈkʌrənt(ə)li /

A2
  • adverb
  • Happening or being in the present time

anxiety

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US / æŋ'zaɪətɪ /

UK / æŋˈzaɪɪti /

B1
  • noun
  • Fear about what might happen; worry

trial

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US / ˈtraɪəl /

UK / ˈtraɪəl, traɪl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being made or done as a test or experiment
  • noun
  • Hearing and judgment of a case in court
  • Act or process of testing or experimenting
  • verb
  • To be made or done as a test or experiment

raqqa

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US / ˈræpə(r) /

UK / ˈræpɚ /

A1

now

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US / naʊ /

UK / naʊ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At the present time or moment
  • Right away or in the next possible moment
  • Used to refer to something that just happened
  • Time between the present and a moment in the past
  • conjunction
  • Resulting from or because of something

iran

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US / ɪˈrɑːn /

UK / ɪ'ræn /

A1
  • noun
  • A theocratic Islamic republic in the Middle East in western Asia; Iran was the core of the ancient e

export

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US / ˈekspɔ:t /

UK / ˈekspɔ:rt /

A2
  • noun
  • When goods are sold to another country
  • verb
  • To send goods to be sold in another country

deal

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US / di:l /

UK / dil /

A1
  • verb
  • To cope with something - usually troubles
  • To give (something bad e.g. news) to
  • To buy and sell illegal drugs
  • To give out (cards, etc.) to; distribute
  • To do business with someone or to sell products

against

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US / əˈgenst /

UK / əˈɡenst /

A1
  • preposition
  • In physical contact with, as for support; next to
  • In opposition to; disagreeing with

war

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US / wɔ:(r) /

UK / wɔr /

A2
  • noun
  • Situation where armies fight each other

recent

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US / 'ri:snt /

UK / ˈrisənt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Happening or beginning not long ago

peaceful

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US / ˈpi:sfl /

UK / ˈpisfəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • In a calm and quiet state
  • Being unlikely or unwilling to act violently

notify

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US / 'nəʊtɪfaɪ /

UK / ˈnotəˌfaɪ /

B2
  • verb
  • To inform; to communicate specific information

nearly

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US / ˈniəli /

UK / ˈnɪrli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Not completely; almost

edit

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US / ˈedɪt /

UK / ˈɛdɪt /

A2
  • verb
  • To check and make changes before publication
  • To prepare scenes of a film into the final version

assad

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US / ˈæsæd /

UK / əˈsɑːd /

A1

understand

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US / ˌʌndə'stænd /

UK / ˌʌndɚˈstænd /

A1
  • verb
  • To know the meaning of language, what someone says

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

really

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US / ˈri:əli /

UK / ˈriəˌli, ˈrili /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to stress something that is said; definitely
  • In a true or accurate manner
  • Very

please

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US / pli:z /

UK / pliz /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used when you politely ask people for things
  • verb
  • To entertain someone, by dancing, singing etc.
  • To make someone happy by doing something

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

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

reluctance

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US / rɪ'lʌktəns /

UK / rɪˈlʌktəns /

B2
  • noun
  • Unwillingness to do something

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

business

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US / ˈbɪznəs /

UK / ˈbɪznɪs /

A1
  • noun
  • A company formed for making profit
  • Matter that has to be dealt with; task; situation
  • Activity of working to make a profit

can

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US / kæn /

UK / kən,kæn /

A1
  • noun
  • A metal container for storing food
  • other
  • Able to; have the skill to; have the time to
  • verb
  • To have permission to
  • To be possible to do
  • To preserve food by sealing it in a metal container

arab

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US / ˈærəb /

UK / ˈærəb /

C2
  • noun
  • Citizen of an Arabic speaking nation

refugee

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US / ˌrefjuˈdʒi: /

UK / ˌrɛfjʊˈdʒi /

B2
  • noun
  • Person forced to leave their home e.g. due to war

not

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US / nɒt /

UK / nɑt /

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

our

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US / 'aʊə(r) /

UK / aʊr /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to us

incredibly

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US / ɪnˈkredəbli /

UK / ɪnˈkrɛdəblɪ /

A2
  • adverb
  • To a great degree; very; amazingly

security

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US / sɪ'kjʊərətɪ /

UK / sɪˈkjʊrɪtisə'kjurətɪ /

A2
  • noun
  • Department in a company in charge of protection
  • Financial document, like stocks, bonds and notes
  • Person paid to protect property and people
  • Things done to protect people, buildings etc.
  • Condition of being safe from danger or harm

spiral

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US / 'spaɪrəl /

UK / ˈspaɪrəl /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Curved in a continuous circle
  • noun
  • A continuous curve round a central point
  • verb
  • To move in a continuous curve round a point

opioid

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US / /

UK / /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Hallucinogenic narcotics, having similar effects to opium

kurdistan

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US / /

UK / /

A1
  • other
  • An extensive geographical region in the Middle East to the south of the Caucasus
  • An oriental rug woven by Kurds that is noted for fine colors and durability

good

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US / ɡʊd /

UK / ɡʊd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper, appropriate or right
  • (Of an amount) enough; plenty
  • Excellent; high quality
  • Acting well or properly; of moral character
  • In a positive or happy emotional state
  • noun
  • Advantage or benefit

finish

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US / ˈfɪnɪʃ /

UK / ˈfɪnɪʃ /

A1
  • noun
  • End of something; completion
  • Final coat (of paint) applied to a surface
  • verb
  • To use or consume all of something
  • To reach the end; to complete something
  • To put a final surface (e.g. paint) on something

especially

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US / ɪˈspeʃəli /

UK / ɛˈspɛʃəli, ɪˈspɛʃ- /

A1
  • adverb
  • More than usual; extremely

but

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US / bət /

UK / bʌt,bət /

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

syria

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US / 'sɪrɪə /

UK / 'sɪrɪr /

A1
  • other
  • An Asian republic in the Middle East at the east end of the Mediterranean; site of some of the world

sentiment

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US / ˈsentɪmənt /

UK / ˈsɛntəmənt /

B1
  • noun
  • Feeling or attitude you have about something
  • Feeling of love, sympathy and friendly emotions

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

invite

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US / ɪnˈvaɪt /

UK / ɪnˈvaɪt /

A2
  • noun
  • An invitation
  • verb
  • To ask someone to go somewhere or do something

grip

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US / ɡrɪp /

UK / ɡrɪp /

A2
  • noun
  • Strong understanding of an idea
  • Control over something or someone
  • Part of an object to help you hold onto it
  • Act of holding something firmly
  • other
  • Control over something or someone
  • verb
  • To hold someone's interest
  • To hold something in your hand very firmly

from

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US / frəm /

UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /

A1
  • preposition
  • Starting at a particular place, time or level

dissident

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US / ˈdɪsɪdənt /

UK / ˈdɪsɪdənt /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Challenging a government's authority; rebelling
  • noun
  • Person challenging a government's authority; rebel

where

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US / hwɛə /

UK / hwɛr, wɛr /

A1
  • conjunction
  • At or in the place which
  • In whatever place
  • pronoun
  • Word you use to ask the location of something

understandable

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US / ˌʌndəˈstændəbl /

UK / ˌʌndɚˈstændəbəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Able to be understood; intelligible
  • Which would be reasonable in the circumstances

seize

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US / si:z /

UK / siz /

B1
  • verb
  • To take a place with force, as by military action
  • To arrest or catch someone
  • To take someone's property with legal authority
  • To take hold of something suddenly and violently

reduce

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US / rɪ'dju:s /

UK / rɪˈdus, -ˈdjus /

A2
  • verb
  • To try to decrease, e.g. your weight if overweight
  • To boil a liquid until it has decreased in amount
  • To make something smaller in size, amount, level

far

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US / fɑ:(r) /

UK / fɑr /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • A long way away
  • Being a long way away
  • adverb
  • To a large degree or extent

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

until

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US / ənˈtɪl /

UK / ʌnˈtɪl /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Up to; to a time when something happens
  • preposition
  • Before (a specific time)

relief

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US / rɪˈli:f /

UK / rɪˈlif /

B1
  • noun
  • Aid given to people in need as after war/disaster
  • Artwork, e.g. part of wall, that partly sticks out
  • People who replace other workers and their duties
  • Release from worry, stress or tension

poor

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US / pʊə(r) /

UK / pʊr /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Inferior; below the normal standard
  • Deserving of pity or sympathy
  • Without money; not rich

hope

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US / həʊp /

UK / hop /

A1
  • noun
  • When you wish something will happen; what you wish
  • verb
  • To expect and want something to happen

bloody

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US / 'blʌdɪ /

UK / ˈblʌdi /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Covered or spotted with blood on the surface
  • A word used when swearing or cursing
  • Violent and causing death

cameron

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US / 'kæmərəz /

UK / 'kæmərəz /

A1

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

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

rest

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US / rest /

UK / rɛst /

A1
  • noun
  • Time when one relaxes, sleeps, or is inactive
  • State in which there is a lack of motion
  • Part of something remaining after some was used
  • verb
  • To stop working or avoid activity to recover
  • (Of dead person) to lie in a grave
  • To lean, support or place something against
  • To not be tired because you had enough sleep

saudi

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US / 'saʊdɪ /

UK / 'saʊdɪ /

A1
  • other
  • A native or inhabitant of Saudi Arabia

mostly

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US / ˈməʊstli /

UK / ˈmoʊstli /

A2
  • adverb
  • In large part; mainly or chiefly

most

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US / məʊst /

UK / most /

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

majority

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US / mə'dʒɒrətɪ /

UK / məˈdʒɔrɪti, -ˈdʒɑr- /

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

large

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US / lɑ:dʒ /

UK / lɑ:rdʒ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Big; of great size; broad, tall, wide, or fat

industry

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US / 'ɪndəstrɪ /

UK / ˈɪndəstri /

A1
  • noun
  • Hard work; being busy working
  • Factories or businesses that make certain products

rather

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US / 'rɑ:ðə(r) /

UK / ˈræðɚ, ˈrɑðɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Somewhat; fairly; not that much

maintain

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US / meɪn'teɪn /

UK / menˈten /

A2
  • verb
  • To keep saying something a certain way
  • To keep (machine) working by checking, repairing
  • To keep, exist or continue without changing

forge

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US / fɔ:dʒ /

UK / fɔ:rdʒ /

B1
  • noun
  • A furnace to melt and shape metals with heat
  • verb
  • To create something by hammering hot metal
  • To form something new, such a relationship
  • To make a false copy to deceive others

east

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US / i:st /

UK / i:st /

A1
  • noun
  • Direction where the sun rises
  • Geographic area including India, China, Japan etc.

densely

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US / denslɪ /

UK / ˈdɛnslɪ /

B1
  • adverb
  • Thickly (filled or covered)

wave

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US / weɪv /

UK / wev /

A2
  • noun
  • Movement of sound, air or energy
  • Deep and strong emotion that is suddenly felt
  • Slightly curved shape in hair
  • Frequency of movement of objects together
  • Up and down movement of water in a lake or sea
  • Signal with your hand to say hello or goodbye
  • verb
  • To cause to move side to side or back and forth
  • To swing back and forth as a result of the wind
  • To move your hand or arm to say hello or goodbye

suit

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US / su:t /

UK / sut /

A1
  • noun
  • Set of clothes including jacket and pants or skirt
  • Law case involving a claim of some kind
  • Set of playing cards such as hearts or diamonds
  • verb
  • To be appropriate for a given situation
  • (Of clothes) to look good on someone

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

local

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US / ˈləʊkl /

UK / ˈloʊkl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Relating to a particular area, city, or town
  • noun
  • Bus or train, that stops at most stations
  • People who live in the area being discussed
  • The pub you most frequently go to

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

decide

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US / dɪ'saɪd /

UK / dɪˈsaɪd /

A2
  • verb
  • To make a choice or choose after thinking about it
  • To make a legal judgment in court
  • to affect the result of something

channel

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US / 'tʃænl /

UK / ˈtʃænəl /

B1
  • noun
  • Long hole dug in the ground, e.g. to move water
  • TV or radio station or its programs
  • Method or way of sending or receiving information
  • Narrow passage through which water travels
  • Method or route used for sending or getting things
  • verb
  • To dig a long hole for carrying water
  • To send (e.g. money) to a certain place or person
  • To direct water or liquid through a passage
  • To direct energy or feelings into something

airstrikes

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US / ˈæpl /

UK / ˈæpəl /

A1
  • other
  • Attacks on somewhere by fighting planes

zone

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US / zəʊn /

UK / zoʊn /

B1
  • noun
  • Area of space designated for a particular use
  • verb
  • To divide an area for a particular reason

libya

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US / 'lɪbɪə /

UK / 'lɪbɪr /

A1
  • noun
  • A military dictatorship in northern Africa on the Mediterranean; consists almost entirely of desert;

guide

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US / ɡaɪd /

UK / ɡaɪd /

A2
  • noun
  • Book or a magazine containing information/advice
  • Person leading others visiting an unknown place
  • verb
  • To help or advise someone about something
  • To control missile to hit a target by radio signal
  • To lead people visiting a new or unknown place

critic

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US / 'krɪtɪk /

UK / ˈkrɪtɪk /

A2
  • noun
  • Person who judges (e.g. art) and gives opinions

another

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US / əˈnʌðə(r) /

UK / əˈnʌðɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • One more, but not this
  • determiner
  • One more added
  • pronoun
  • One more (thing)

two

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US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • number
  • 2

train

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US / treɪn /

UK / tren /

A1
  • noun
  • Line of people, animals moving the same direction
  • Vehicle that carries people and runs on rails
  • Long rear section of a (e.g. wedding) dress
  • Series of events happening one after another
  • verb
  • To teach a pet a behavior or a trick
  • To educate someone in something, e.g. medicine
  • To cause a plant to grow a certain way by cutting
  • To point a certain way or toward something
  • To practice to get better at a thing, e.g. sports

spring

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US / sprɪŋ /

UK / sprɪŋ /

A1
  • noun
  • Coil of metal that lessens impact, e.g. on cars
  • Sudden jump from one place to another
  • The time when plants start growing after winter
  • Place where water flows from beneath the ground
  • verb
  • To lessen the impact of something under pressure
  • To jump into the air

release

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US / rɪ'li:s /

UK / rɪ'li:s /

A2
  • noun
  • Act of freeing someone from a duty or burden
  • Introduction of a new product, film, book, etc.
  • Relief from sadness, suffering or trouble
  • Act of freeing from a jail, cage, prison, etc.
  • verb
  • To free someone from a responsibility or burden
  • To allow a film, music etc. to be sold/distributed
  • To allow to leave a jail, cage, etc.; let out
  • To let go of something you are holding

put

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US / pʊt /

UK / pʊt /

A1
  • phrasal verb
  • to make a light stop shining by pressing or moving a switch
  • verb
  • To move or place a thing in a particular position
  • To rate something in importance or value
  • To write or say something in a certain manner

nonetheless

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US / ˌnʌnðəˈles /

UK / ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs /

B1
  • adverb
  • In spite of that; nevertheless

join

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US / dʒɔɪn /

UK / dʒɔɪn /

A1
  • verb
  • To bring something close to another, to become one
  • To become a member of
  • To participate in an activity with others

completely

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US / kəmˈpli:tli /

UK / kəmˈpliːtli /

A1
  • adverb
  • In every way or as much as possible

brush

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US / brʌʃ /

UK / brʌʃ /

A2
  • noun
  • Quick and gentle movement
  • Thing with hairs used to apply paint, etc.
  • Thing used to comb your hair or to clean the floor
  • verb
  • To touch against a thing very lightly when moving
  • To clean, paint, or apply something with a brush
  • To clean using a long stick with stiff hairs

affect

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US / ə'fekt /

UK / əˈfɛkt /

A2
  • verb
  • To cause a change in something else

through

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US / θru: /

UK / θru /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • having finished using or doing something
  • adverb
  • From the beginning of something until the end
  • preposition
  • Over, in, across an entire thing or place
  • Allowing you to pass between, or to
  • By a particular way or process; by the use of

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)

worth

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US / wɜ:θ /

UK / wɚθ /

A2
  • other
  • the financial, practical or moral value of somebody/something
  • having a particular value, especially in money

time

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US / taɪm /

UK / taɪm /

A1
  • noun
  • Speed at which music is played; tempo
  • Point as shown on a clock, e.g. 3 p.m
  • Number of hours, minutes needed to do something
  • Occasion when something happens
  • Period or occasion that something occurred
  • Period in history or the past
  • Something measured in minutes, hours, days, etc.
  • How long an event takes; duration
  • verb
  • To check speed at which music is performed
  • To choose a specific moment to do something
  • To measure how long an event takes, e.g. a race
  • To schedule something to occur at a specific moment

solid

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US / 'sɒlɪd /

UK / ˈsɑlɪd /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being able to be trusted; reliable
  • Substance that is hard or of fixed shape
  • Being well made and expected to last long
  • Having no space or emptiness inside
  • Being made entirely of one material or substance
  • noun
  • Something firm or hard; not gas or liquid

salvo

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US / ˈsælvəʊ /

UK / ˈsælvoʊ /

C1
  • noun
  • Firing of several guns at the same time

necessarily

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US / ˌnesəˈserəli /

UK / ˌnɛsɪˈsɛrəli, -ˈsɛr- /

A2
  • adverb
  • In a way that is needed/required/is unavoidable

league

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US / li:ɡ /

UK / liɡ /

A2
  • noun
  • Group of people, countries with a common goal
  • Association of sports teams that organizes matches

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

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

training

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US / ˈtreɪnɪŋ /

UK / ˈtrenɪŋ /

A1
  • noun
  • Act of educating someone to get better at
  • verb
  • To teach a pet a behavior or a trick
  • To educate someone in something, e.g. medicine
  • To cause a plant to grow a certain way by cutting
  • To point a certain way or toward something
  • To practice to get better at a thing, e.g. sports

convince

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US / kən'vɪns /

UK / kənˈvɪns /

A2
  • verb
  • To persuade someone, or make them feel sure

difficult

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US / 'dɪfɪkəlt /

UK / ˈdɪfɪˌkʌlt, -kəlt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Hard; not easy; you need to work hard to do it

usage

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US / ˈju:sɪdʒ /

UK / ˈjusɪdʒ, -zɪdʒ /

B2
  • noun
  • Amount something is used
  • Way something is actually used

oil

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US / ɔɪl /

UK / ɔɪl /

A2
  • noun
  • A liquid used for frying foods
  • Thick, black liquid in the ground used as fuel
  • verb
  • To add a liquid for frying foods
  • To put liquid in a machine so it will run smoothly

few

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US / fju: /

UK / fju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Not many, a small number

constant

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US / 'kɒnstənt /

UK / ˈkɑnstənt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Happening frequently or without pause
  • noun
  • Thing that happens always or at a regular rate

photography

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US / fəˈtɒgrəfi /

UK / fəˈtɑ:grəfi /

B1
  • noun
  • Art of taking pictures with a camera

line

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US / laɪn /

UK / laɪn /

A1
  • noun
  • Border that divides two places or regions
  • Long crease in the skin, often from age
  • Mark that is long, straight and very thin
  • Row of words, letters or numbers that are written
  • Telephone connection
  • People waiting one behind the other; queue
  • Long thin wire, e.g. for electrical signal
  • verb
  • To put material along the inside of something

just

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US / dʒʌst /

UK / dʒʌst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper or appropriate; as is deserved
  • Doing or being what is right or fair
  • Legally correct; having enough evidence
  • adverb
  • Almost; nearly
  • Exactly at the time of
  • Exactly (the same as, like)

career

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US / kə'rɪə(r) /

UK / kəˈrɪr /

A2
  • noun
  • Particular occupation in professional life
  • verb
  • To move forward very fast and without control

traditional

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US / trəˈdɪʃənl /

UK / trəˈdɪʃənəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Involved in a custom or event common to a people

stable

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US / 'steɪbl /

UK / ˈstebəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • In a position where something does not fall over
  • Having a chemical state that is not easily changed
  • Reacting in an even way; having good mental health
  • In good condition, and not likely to deteriorate
  • noun
  • Group of racing horses that belong to one owner
  • verb
  • To put horses in a stable

neighbouring

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US / ˈneɪbərɪŋ /

UK / ˈnebərɪŋ /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Being near or beside someone or something

obama

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US / əʊˈbɑːmə /

UK / ˌoʊˈbɑmə /

A1

middle

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US / 'mɪdl /

UK / ˈmidl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Equal distance from extremes
  • noun
  • Place that is halfway between two things

head

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US / hed /

UK / hɛd /

A1
  • noun
  • Counter for the number of cattle
  • Natural mental ability or intelligence
  • Leader or person with the greatest authority
  • Mind; mental ability; mental state
  • Side of a coin with a head on it
  • Top part of your body with eyes and a mouth
  • Starting point of something, e.g. a river
  • verb
  • To hit a ball with your head in a game
  • To be first or at the front or top (e.g. a list)
  • To travel or move toward a particular place; To go in a particular direction
  • To become the leader of something
  • To lead or be responsible for something

extraordinarily

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US / ɪk'strɔ:dnrəlɪ /

UK / ɪkˈstrɔrdn:ˌɛrɪlɪ /

B1
  • adverb
  • Extremely

autocrat

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US / ˈɔ:təkræt /

UK / ˈɔtəˌkræt /

C1
  • noun
  • Person having complete power and control

anyway

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US / ˈeniweɪ /

UK / ˈɛniˌwe /

A1
  • adverb
  • A word used to change the topic of a conversation

aid

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US / eɪd /

UK / ed /

A2
  • noun
  • Action of giving help to others
  • Money or help given to those who need it
  • verb
  • To help others and provide things

amount

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US / ə'maʊnt /

UK / əˈmaʊnt /

A1
  • noun
  • Quantity of something
  • verb
  • To add up to a certain figure

relax

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US / rɪˈlæks /

UK / rɪˈlæks /

A1
  • verb
  • To calm or quiet yourself, or stop worrying
  • To release the tightness in muscles
  • To make a rule or law less strict

populate

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US / 'pɒpjʊleɪt /

UK / ˈpɑpjəˌlet /

A2
  • verb
  • To live in a particular area, as a group

kill

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US / kɪl /

UK / kɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Animal killed by a person or other animal
  • verb
  • To cause someone to experience a lot of pain
  • To end the life of a person or other living thing
  • To be very funny
  • To prevent something from continuing or operating
  • To do something unimportant to pass time quickly

job

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US / dʒɒb /

UK / dʒɑ:b /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that must be done
  • Regular work at which you earn money

begin

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US / bɪ'ɡɪn /

UK / ˈbeɡɪn /

A1
  • verb
  • To do the first part of an action; to start

within

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US / wɪˈðɪn /

UK / wɪðˈɪn, wɪθ- /

A1
  • adverb
  • Inside the limits of an area, time or range
  • preposition
  • From the inside of something

well

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US / wel /

UK / wɛl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being in a fortunate, good condition or state
  • Healthy and in good condition
  • adverb
  • In an acceptable, proper, or successful manner
  • In a complete, total, or full manner
  • A great and considerable degree
  • In a successful way, in a good or satisfactory way
  • exclamation
  • Used to begin or continue a particular statement
  • Used to show you want to start saying something
  • Used to express that you are waiting for a reply
  • You say this to change the topic of a conversation
  • Used to indicate you are making a final remark
  • noun
  • Long deep hole in the ground to get water
  • verb
  • To cause your eyes to fill with tears

source

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US / sɔ:s /

UK / sɔrs, sors /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Produces or provides what is wanted or needed
  • noun
  • Piece of information; a person giving information
  • Place from which something necessary comes
  • verb
  • To get, e.g. a raw material, from somewhere

ruthless

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US / ˈru:θləs /

UK / ˈruθlɪs /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Not considering the feelings or health of others

since

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US / sɪns /

UK / sɪns /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a point before the present time
  • conjunction
  • For this reason; because
  • preposition
  • From the time in the past that

start

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US / stɑ:t /

UK / stɑrt /

A1
  • noun
  • First time or place that a thing exists; beginning
  • First opportunity to achieve something, e.g. a job
  • Sudden action or movement because you are scared
  • other
  • Beginning of something in place or time
  • verb
  • To do, be or happen for the first time; begin
  • To turn something on

protest

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US / 'prəʊtest /

UK / ˈproʊtɛst /

A2
  • noun
  • Forceful argument against something
  • Objection to something
  • verb
  • To argue against something in a forceful way
  • To express a strong objection or dislike

grow

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US / ɡrəʊ /

UK / ɡro /

A1
  • verb
  • To get bigger and more mature; make plants do this
  • To improve; to develop better skills over time
  • To develop and become bigger or taller over time

arabic

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US / ˈærəbɪk /

UK / ˈærəbɪk /

A1
  • noun
  • A spirited graceful and intelligent riding horse native to Arabia
  • The Semitic language of the Arabs; spoken in a variety of dialects

rebel

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US / 'rebl /

UK / rɪˈbɛl /

B1
  • noun
  • Person who fights against established government
  • Person who insists on doing things their way
  • verb
  • To fight against an established government/power
  • To resist and fight against existing authority

promise

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US / 'prɒmɪs /

UK / ˈprɑmɪs /

A1
  • verb
  • To say you will certainly do something

lebanon

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US / 'lebənən /

UK / 'lebənən /

A1
  • other
  • An Asian republic at east end of Mediterranean

light

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US / laɪt /

UK / laɪt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being bright making it easy to see; not dark
  • Being pale and lacking darkness of color
  • Not heavy; weighing only a little
  • adverb
  • Carrying few bags when traveling
  • noun
  • A source of energy that makes a room or area bright
  • Way in which something or someone is understood
  • verb
  • To cause something to burn; put a burning match to
  • To provide a way to see ahead

control

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US / kən'trəʊl /

UK / kənˈtrol /

A1
  • noun
  • A device designed to operate a machine
  • Participant in experiment that is left untouched
  • Act to dominate or command; make manageable
  • A law limiting the growth or spread of something
  • A place which overseas or manages e.g. a factory
  • verb
  • To direct or influence the behavior of something

diplomatic

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US / ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk /

UK / ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning formal relationships between countries
  • Not being offensive

pretty

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US / 'prɪtɪ /

UK / ˈprɪti /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being attractive to the eye in a simple way
  • adverb
  • Very; to a great degree

main

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US / meɪn /

UK / men /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Most important; most often used

excuse

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US / ɪk'skju:s /

UK / ɪkˈskjuz /

A2
  • noun
  • Note explaining why someone cannot do or attend
  • Reason why you did or didn't do something
  • verb
  • To allow someone not to do (jury service, etc.)
  • To explain acting in a bad or impolite manner
  • To forgive someone for something bad or impolite

account

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US / ə'kaʊnt /

UK / əˈkaʊnt /

A1
  • noun
  • An advantage
  • Arrangement with a bank to keep your money for you
  • An invoice for things bought
  • Arrangement whereby you can use online services
  • A description, often written, of events; report

way

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US / weɪ /

UK / we /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to emphasize the amount of something
  • noun
  • Particular aspect of something being thought about
  • One of various choices that could be made
  • Particular existing condition or state
  • (Often long) distance or length of time
  • How something is done
  • Route to go to a place
  • Small street
  • Usual behavior, emotions or habits of someone

their

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US / ðɛː /

UK / ðer /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to them

notably

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US / ˈnəʊtəbli /

UK / ˈnoʊtəbli /

A2
  • adverb
  • In a way that deserves notice; particularly

minority

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US / maɪ'nɒrətɪ /

UK / məˈnɔrɪti, -ˈnɑr-, maɪ- /

B1
  • noun
  • Group that is smaller and different from the rest
  • Part that is less than half the whole; small part

israel

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US / 'ɪzreɪl /

UK / 'ɪzreɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of Mediterranean; formerly part of Palestine

involvement

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US / ɪnˈvɒlvmənt /

UK / ɪnˈvɑːlvmənt /

B1
  • noun
  • Act or process of joining in a particular activity

design

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US / dɪˈzaɪn /

UK / dɪˈzaɪn /

A1
  • noun
  • The way something is planned, to fulfill a purpose
  • verb
  • To plan in a particular way to fulfill a purpose
  • To think of a plan

ago

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US / əˈgəʊ /

UK / əˈgoʊ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a specified length of time in the past

abide

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US / ə'baɪd /

UK / əˈbaɪd /

B2
  • verb
  • To live somewhere (formal, old-fashioned)

territory

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US / 'terətrɪ /

UK / ˈtɛrɪˌtɔri, -ˌtori /

B1
  • noun
  • Area of land defended by an animal
  • Area of particular knowledge or experience
  • Area owned or controlled by a government, person
  • Area of land with a specific defining feature

show

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US / ʃəʊ /

UK / ʃo /

A1
  • noun
  • False display of love, emotion or action
  • An event for displaying or promoting goods
  • Play, opera or theater production
  • Presentation that is broadcast on TV or radio
  • verb
  • To be easily seen or displayed
  • To display your emotions or feelings
  • To let someone see something; display
  • To explain or teach how something is done
  • To lead someone somewhere; point them to something
  • To prove something to be true, correct
  • To reveal or allow something to be seen

pressure

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US / 'preʃə(r) /

UK / ˈprɛʃɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Anxiety caused by difficult problems
  • Force, weight when pressing against a thing
  • Strong persuasion to do something
  • verb
  • To apply force to something
  • To persuade or force someone to do something

both

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US / bəuθ /

UK / boθ /

A1
  • determiner
  • Used to refer to two things at the same time
  • pronoun
  • Used to refer to two things at the same time

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

thank

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US / θæŋk /

UK / θæŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To tell someone you are grateful to them

red

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US / red /

UK / rɛd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being the color of blood

pay

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US / peɪ /

UK / pe /

A1
  • noun
  • Money you receive from your job, work, etc.
  • verb
  • To give money for goods or work done
  • To give (attention, respect, etc.) to
  • To be punished or suffer for something you did
  • To make (a visit) to a person or place

look

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US / lʊk /

UK / lʊk /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's beauty or physical attractiveness
  • Particular style of dress, clothes, or appearance
  • The way someone, something appears to be
  • Act of searching for or examining something
  • verb
  • To appear to be; seem

effectively

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US / ɪˈfektɪvli /

UK / ɪˈfɛktɪvli /

B1
  • adverb
  • In a way that produces the desired result

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

bit

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US / bɪt /

UK / bɪt /

A1
  • noun
  • Device put in a horse's mouth to control it
  • Small piece of something
  • verb
  • (E.g. of fish) to take bait and be caught

act

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US / ækt /

UK / ækt /

A1
  • noun
  • What someone did; action; behavior
  • A law or rule passed by a government we must obey
  • One of the parts that a stage play is divided into
  • verb
  • To behave in a certain way
  • To perform on a stage or in a movie

who

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US / hu: /

UK / hu /

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

workflow

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US / 'wɜ:kfləʊ /

UK / 'wɜ:kfloʊ /

A1
  • noun
  • The flow or progress of work done by a company, industry, department, or person

worker

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US / ˈwɜ:kə(r) /

UK / ˈwɜ:rkə(r) /

A1
  • noun
  • Person who works

top

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US / tɒp /

UK / tɑp /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being good or great; excellent
  • Being the most in degree or quality
  • noun
  • Item of clothing covering shoulders to waist, hips
  • A cover or lid
  • Part (e.g. road) that is the furthest away
  • Highest or upper part or point of something
  • Best or highest status or position
  • Flat upper surface or edge of an object
  • Child's toy that spins on its point
  • Upper section or leaves of fruits and vegetables
  • Winning in a sport or contest
  • verb
  • To be higher or larger than a specific value
  • To arrive at the highest point of something
  • To put a cover or layer or over something
  • To kill; murder
  • To hold the highest position on a list
  • To be more important, successful or better than
  • To beat someone or win at a game

return

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US / rɪ'tɜ:n /

UK / rɪ'tɜ:rn /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Do again; repeated
  • noun
  • Faulty or unwanted product sent back to a company
  • Enter key; the main key on the computer keyboard
  • Profit made as a result of a business activity
  • Process of going back to a previous way or state
  • verb
  • To hit something back to the other player or team
  • To come back after being away from somewhere
  • To repay someone's actions, kindness etc.
  • To put, bring, take, give, or send something back
  • To occur again

russia

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US / 'rʌʃə /

UK / 'rʌʃə /

A1
  • proper noun
  • A country in northern Asia and eastern Europe; population 143,500,000 (estimated 2015); capital, Mos

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”

grid

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US / ɡrɪd /

UK / ɡrɪd /

B2
  • noun
  • Electrical network supplying electricity to area
  • Metal structure with bars used to cover a hole
  • Pattern made up of lines and small squares

election

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US / ɪ'lekʃn /

UK / ɪˈlɛkʃən /

B1
  • noun
  • Process of choosing someone by voting

everyone

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US / ˈevriwʌn /

UK / ˈɛvriˌwʌn /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Every person; everybody

common

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US / 'kɒmən /

UK / ˈkɑmən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Shared; Belonging to or used by everyone
  • Typical, normal; not unusual
  • noun
  • Area in a city or town that is open to everyone
  • Field near a village owned by the local community

chance

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US / tʃɑ:ns /

UK / tʃæns /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Happening by luck; not planned
  • Taking a risk to try something
  • noun
  • The way something happens without planning
  • An opportunity; favorable circumstances, situation
  • The possibility that something will happen
  • verb
  • To occur just through luck; happen
  • To take a risk to try something

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

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

work

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US / wɜ:k /

UK / wɚk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Activity completed in order to make money
  • noun
  • The product of some artistic or literary endeavor
  • Everything created by an author, artist, musician
  • Activity you do in order to make money
  • Place of employment
  • Final product or result of a some labor or effort
  • verb
  • To bring into a specific state of success
  • To be functioning properly, e.g. a car
  • To do your job in your company or workplace
  • To make an effort to do something
  • To operate a machine or device

lebanese

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US / ˌlebə'ni:z /

UK / ˌlebə'ni:z /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of Lebanon

apparent

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US / ə'pærənt /

UK / əˈpærənt, əˈpɛr- /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Easy to see or clearly understand
  • Seeming to exist or be true, but may not be

update

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US / ˌʌpˈdeɪt /

UK / ʌpˈdet /

B1
  • noun
  • Addition of a current version of something
  • New information or data to make more current
  • verb
  • To download the latest version of software
  • To make more current or modern

succeed

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US / sək'si:d /

UK / səkˈsid /

A2
  • verb
  • To have achieved what you were trying to achieve
  • To take over position of one who has died or left
  • To come after or replace in a series

take

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US / teɪk /

UK / tek /

A1
  • noun
  • Filming of a single scene for TV or the movies
  • verb
  • To accept something that is offered
  • To use a method of traveling, e.g. a bus or train
  • To use a camera to make (a photo)
  • To pick up something and go away with it
  • To study a subject in school
  • To attempt to pass (an exam)
  • To require a certain amount of time, money, space

project

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US / prəˈdʒekt /

UK / prəˈdʒɛkt /

A1
  • noun
  • A planned piece of work for specific purpose
  • Group of homes built by government for poor people
  • verb
  • To predict what will happen in the future
  • To show something on a screen using light
  • To stick out past the edge of something

newspaper

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US / ˈnju:zpeɪpə(r) /

UK / ˈnuzˌpepɚ, ˈnjuz- /

A1
  • noun
  • Sheets of paper (or online) containing the news

neighbour

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US / 'neɪbə(r) /

UK / ˈnebɚ /

B1
  • noun
  • Person who lives, or is near, you

link

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US / lɪŋk /

UK / lɪŋk /

A2
  • noun
  • Any one of the rings that are part of a chain
  • Connection between two or more things or people
  • Webpage item you click to go to another webpage
  • verb
  • To join or connect together

erdogan

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US / /

UK / /

A1

extensive

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US / ɪkˈstensɪv /

UK / ɪkˈstɛnsɪv /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Large; full or complete

bring

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US / brɪŋ /

UK / brɪŋ /

A1
  • verb
  • To take or go with someone to a place

turkish

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US / ˈtɜ:kɪʃ /

UK / ˈtə:kɪʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of Turkey

quickly

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US / ˈkwɪkli /

UK / ˈkwɪklɪ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Without taking a lot of time; fast

economic

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US / ˌi:kəˈnɒmɪk /

UK / ˌɛkəˈnɑmɪk, ˌikə- /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning trade, industry, and money

undermine

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US / ˌʌndəˈmaɪn /

UK / ˌʌndərˈmaɪn /

B2
  • verb
  • To weaken or destroy secretly and usually slowly

stronghold

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US / ˈstrɔ:ŋˌhəʊld /

UK / ˈstrɔŋˌhold /

C2
  • noun
  • Castle, fort etc. place that is fortified or secure

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)

insofar

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US / ˌɪnsəʊ'fɑ: /

UK / ˌɪnsoʊ'fɑ: /

C1
  • other
  • To the degree or extent that

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

southern

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US / ˈsʌðən /

UK / ˈsʌðərn /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning a region in the south
  • Being in or toward the south

sectarian

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US / sekˈteəriən /

UK / sekˈteriən /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Restricted to one particular religious group

recently

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US / ˈri:sntli /

UK / 'risṇtlɪ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Just a while ago; not long ago

process

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US / prə'ses /

UK / ˈprɑsˌɛs, ˈproˌsɛs /

A2
  • noun
  • Dealing with official forms in the way required
  • Set of changes that occur slowly and naturally
  • verb
  • To organize and use data in a computer
  • To deal with official forms in the way required
  • To prepare by treating something in a certain way
  • To adopt a set of actions that produce a result
  • To convert by putting something through a machine

mitigate

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US / 'mɪtɪɡeɪt /

UK / ˈmɪtˌɪɡet /

B2
  • verb
  • To make less severe or serious

internationalize

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US / ˌɪntəˈnæʃnəlaɪz /

UK / ˌɪntərˈnæʃnəlaɪz /

A1
  • verb
  • To put or bring under international control

honest

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US / ˈɒnɪst /

UK / ˈɑnɪst /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Good, truthful, sincere, or faithful; trustworthy

government

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US / ˈgʌvənmənt /

UK / ˈɡʌvənmənt /

A1
  • noun
  • Group of people and system that rule a nation

his

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US / hɪz /

UK / hɪz /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Something belonging to a male person

father

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US / ˈfɑ:ðə(r) /

UK / ˈfɑðɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • A male parent
  • Man who is the first to do or invent something
  • verb
  • To create a child by making a woman pregnant

collapse

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US / kə'læps /

UK / kəˈlæps /

B1
  • verb
  • To fold (e.g. a stroller) down to make it smaller
  • To suddenly fall down or break apart into pieces
  • To fall down suddenly due to being ill or tired

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

could

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US / kəd /

UK / kʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Past form of 'can' to mean have ability
  • Used to ask for something politely, or to offer

hundred

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US / 'hʌndrəd /

UK / ˈhʌndrɪd /

A1
  • number
  • 100

estimate

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US / 'estɪmət /

UK / ˈɛstəˌmet /

A2
  • noun
  • Guess or calculation of cost, size or value
  • verb
  • To guess or calculate the cost, size or value of

concentrate

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US / 'kɒnsntreɪt /

UK / ˈkɑnsənˌtret /

A2
  • verb
  • To cause to be present in large amount or number
  • To pay great attention to a task; focus
  • To remove water from a thing to make it more pure

away

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US / ə'weɪ /

UK / əˈwe /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not present
  • adverb
  • Disappear completely
  • Doing something with a lot of energy
  • Not here; far from here; in a different direction
  • To a different area, location

lira

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US / ˈlɪərə /

UK / ˈlɪrə /

C1
  • noun
  • A unit of money, e.g. formerly in Italy

decade

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US / ˈdekeɪd /

UK / ˈdɛkˌed, dɛˈked /

B1
  • noun
  • Period of 10 years

break

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US / breɪk /

UK / brek /

A1
  • noun
  • Time you stop an activity before continuing
  • End of a relationship
  • An escape from a place such as a jail
  • (Lucky) advantage or benefit from something
  • Find a solution or answer to a problem or crime
  • Change in the weather
  • verb
  • To create a new record e.g. running the 100m dash
  • To form a crack in something
  • To burst or become damaged
  • To end a relationship
  • To escape from a place such as a jail
  • To train a wild animal e.g. a horse
  • To separate into pieces by force, or by dropping
  • To act against a law, rule, or promise
  • To become known suddenly, as in the news
  • To not do what you promised e.g. not keep promises
  • To solve a crime, or answer a problem
  • To stop functioning properly
  • To suddenly start, open or commence
  • To change in pitch suddenly, as in a voice
  • To fall on the shore, as in waves
  • To begin or change suddenly; the dawn or weather
  • To defeat by causing the person to lose their will

without

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US / wɪˈðaʊt /

UK / wɪðˈaʊt, wɪθ- /

A1
  • preposition
  • Not with; not having

western

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US / ˈwestən /

UK / ˈwestərn /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Movies often about cowboys in the American West
  • Coming from, found in, or facing towards the west

part

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US / pɑ:t /

UK / pɑ:rt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To some degree; half; not fully
  • noun
  • Division of a book
  • Ratio of something, e.g. 3 of gin, 1 of tonic
  • A line in a person's hair, made with a comb
  • Character an actor plays on stage, movie, or TV
  • Some, but not all of a specific thing
  • Role in causing something to happen
  • verb
  • To make a line in a person's hair, by using a comb
  • To move two things apart creating a space
  • To leave someone, or to break off a relationship

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

between

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US / bɪˈtwi:n /

UK / bɪˈtwin /

A1
  • preposition
  • From one person, thing, or place, to another
  • In the space that separates two objects
  • Among two or more people who share something

billion

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US / ˈbɪljən /

UK / ˈbɪljən /

A2
  • noun
  • Number 1,000,000,000

damage

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US / ˈdæmɪdʒ /

UK / ˈdæmɪdʒ /

A2
  • noun
  • Physical harm that is done to something
  • verb
  • To harm physically; to hurt or break something

dollar

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US / ˈdɒlə(r) /

UK / ˈdɑ:lə(r) /

A1
  • noun
  • A basic unit of money equal to 100 cent

everything

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US / 'evrɪθɪŋ /

UK / ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ /

A1
  • pronoun
  • All of the things mentioned

they

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US / ðeɪ /

UK / ðe /

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

topic

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US / 'tɒpɪk /

UK / ˈtɑpɪk /

A2
  • noun
  • Subject or issue people talk or write about

city

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US / 'sɪtɪ /

UK / ˈsɪti /

A1
  • noun
  • Area with many buildings, roads and people

happen

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US / 'hæpən /

UK / ˈhæpən /

A1
  • verb
  • To take place or occur

inspire

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US / ɪn'spaɪə(r) /

UK / ɪnˈspaɪr /

B1
  • verb
  • To give someone an idea to do or make something
  • To make someone feel a certain emotion

uptick

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US / ˈʌptɪk /

UK / ˈʌpˌtɪk /

A1
  • noun
  • Transaction in the stock market at a price above the price of the preceding transaction

unsurprisingly

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US / /

UK / /

B1
  • adverb
  • In an expected manner; predictably

access

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US / 'ækses /

UK / ˈæksɛs /

A2
  • noun
  • Way to enter a place, e.g. a station or stadium
  • verb
  • To be able to use or have permission to use

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

fire

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US / 'faɪə(r) /

UK / faɪr /

A1
  • noun
  • Heat and the flame produced when burning
  • Intense energy for or about something
  • verb
  • To apply heat to something to make it hard
  • To make a person leave their job; dismiss
  • To shoot a gun or weapon
  • To launch something into the sky, e.g. a rocket
  • To start working on something e.g. a project

force

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US / fɔ:s /

UK / fɔrs, fors /

A1
  • noun
  • Group of persons trained for military action; army
  • Pressure; attraction
  • The use of physical strength/violence to persuade
  • verb
  • To use physical strength or violence to persuade

family

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US / 'fæməlɪ /

UK / ˈfæmli /

A1
  • noun
  • Close group of people or organizations
  • A group of people who are related through blood
  • Group of related plants or animals

like

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US / laɪk /

UK / laɪk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in status or kind to something else
  • Similar; the same
  • adverb
  • For example
  • preposition
  • Used as a filler; used to ad emphasis
  • In a way similar to the way something is done
  • Such as; for example
  • verb
  • To want to
  • To find something pleasing; to prefer something

people

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US / 'pi:pl /

UK / ˈpipəl /

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

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

economy

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US / ɪ'kɒnəmɪ /

UK / ɪˈkɑnəmi /

A1
  • noun
  • Using money, resources in a careful, effective way
  • Total of all goods, services and wages in an area

million

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US / ˈmɪljən /

UK / ˈmɪljən /

A1
  • number
  • 1,000,000

while

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US / waɪl /

UK / hwaɪl, waɪl /

A1
  • conjunction
  • In spite of the fact that; although
  • During the time that; at the same time
  • noun
  • Short amount of time

among

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US / əˈmʌŋ /

UK / əˈmʌŋ /

A1
  • preposition
  • In the center of several things

army

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US / 'ɑ:mɪ /

UK / ˈɑrmi /

A2
  • noun
  • Large group of soldiers organized to fight in wars

currency

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US / 'kʌrənsɪ /

UK / ˈkɚrənsi, ˈkʌr- /

B1
  • noun
  • Widespread acceptance
  • Money system that a country uses

either

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US / ˈaɪðə(r) /

UK / ˈiðɚ, ˈaɪðɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • One of two (used when there is a choice of two)
  • adverb
  • (After negative statements) likewise, in addition
  • conjunction
  • Used as the first of two connected things
  • determiner
  • Used as the first of two connected things
  • pronoun
  • The one or the other

impressively

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US / ɪm'presɪvlɪ /

UK / ɪm'presɪvlɪ /

B1
  • adverb
  • In a way that commands respect or admiration

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')

occupy

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US / 'ɒkjʊpaɪ /

UK / ˈɑkjəˌpaɪ /

A2
  • verb
  • To enter and take control of land/property
  • To fill a time, a space, or an area
  • To live in a particular building
  • To fill someone's thoughts or make a person busy

new

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US / nju: /

UK / nu, nju /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not old, recently born, built or made
  • Being or doing something for the first time
  • Not felt, seen or known previously
  • Having been recently bought or obtained

provoke

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US / prəˈvəʊk /

UK / prəˈvoʊk /

B2
  • verb
  • To deliberately annoy to make someone aggressive

supply

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US / sə'plaɪ /

UK / səˈplaɪ /

A2
  • noun
  • Availability of products and services for use
  • Specific things needed to perform a certain task
  • verb
  • To give or sell goods to others for their use

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

area

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US / 'eərɪə /

UK / ˈɛriə /

A1
  • noun
  • Amount of measured space
  • A specific section or space; part of a region
  • A subject or field of study

feel

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US / fi:l /

UK / fil /

A1
  • verb
  • To be aware of or experience an emotion, sensation
  • To sense through direct contact; touch

himself

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US / hɪmˈself /

UK / hɪmˈsɛlf /

A1
  • pronoun
  • The same (male) person who did the action

reason

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US / 'ri:zn /

UK / ˈrizən /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to think about facts and form a judgment
  • Explanation for why something occurred or was done
  • verb
  • To think and make conclusions in a logical manner

too

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US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • adverb
  • In addition, also; with emphasis
  • Say that something is more than you want

actually

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US / ˈæktʃuəli /

UK / ˈæktʃuəli /

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

politician

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US / ˌpɒləˈtɪʃn /

UK / ˌpɑlɪˈtɪʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Someone whose job is in politics

sell

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US / sel /

UK / sɛl /

A1
  • verb
  • To exchange something for money
  • To persuade people to do, like or agree

use

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US / ju:s /

UK / ju:s /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to employ something
  • Need to enable it to work
  • Permission to do something with something
  • Act of spending money
  • Operation of a machine for its function
  • verb
  • To have; to eat, drink, consume etc.
  • To need to operate or work
  • To operate a machine, e.g. a computer
  • To treat a person badly
  • To do something with, for a task or purpose

violent

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US / ˈvaɪələnt /

UK / ˈvaɪələnt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Done with force; likely to produce physical damage

consider

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US / kən'sɪdə(r) /

UK / kənˈsɪdər /

A1
  • verb
  • To think carefully about something

convention

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US / kənˈvenʃn /

UK / kənˈvɛnʃən /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning a large formal assembly or meeting
  • noun
  • Official agreement between two or more countries
  • Large formal assembly, e.g. to make laws
  • Proper and widely accepted way of behaving

ordinary

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US / 'ɔ:dnrɪ /

UK / ˈɔ:rdneri /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Normal or usual

story

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US / 'stɔ:rɪ /

UK / ˈstɔri, ˈstori /

A1
  • noun
  • One of many floors or levels in a building
  • Account or description of how something happened

straight

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US / streɪt /

UK / stret /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Not having curves, bends, or angles
  • Not gay; heterosexual
  • honest and direct
  • adverb
  • in a line; immediately; honestly and directly

visit

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US / ˈvɪzɪt /

UK / ˈvɪzɪt /

A1
  • noun
  • Trip to a place for a time, usually for a reason
  • verb
  • To go to a place for a time, usually for a reason

withdraw

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US / wɪð'drɔ: /

UK / wɪðˈdrɔ, wɪθ- /

B1
  • verb
  • To take money out of a bank account
  • To pull back; move away or backward from something
  • To remove something from its place or position
  • To stop taking a strong, usually illegal, drug
  • To take something back that was given or offered

council

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US / 'kaʊnsl /

UK / ˈkaʊnsəl /

A2
  • noun
  • Group chosen to make decisions about something

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

sure

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US / ʃʊə(r) /

UK / ʃʊr /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Having no doubts about something
  • Have confidence in your own words or actions
  • Firmly established or held; being firm or stable
  • Being correct or true
  • adverb
  • What you say to agree willingly

skill

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US / skɪl /

UK / skɪl /

A2
  • noun
  • Ability to do something well

summit

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US / 'sʌmɪt /

UK / ˈsʌmɪt /

B1
  • noun
  • Official meeting(s) of the leaders of countries
  • Highest part or top point of a mountain

third

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US / θɜ:d /

UK / θɜ:rd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • 3rd: Number after second

after

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US / 'ɑ:ftə(r) /

UK / ˈæftɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Later than another time, or behind something
  • conjunction
  • Following something before
  • preposition
  • When an event happened or time has passed

already

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US / ɔ:lˈredi /

UK / ɔlˈrɛdi /

A1
  • adverb
  • Having happened or been done before this time

always

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US / 'ɔ:lweɪz /

UK / ˈɔlwez,-wɪz,-wiz /

A1
  • adverb
  • For a very long time
  • At all times; in every situation
  • For ever

dimension

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US / daɪˈmenʃn /

UK / dɪˈmɛnʃən, daɪ- /

B1
  • noun
  • Number of planes (X, Y, Z axes) an object has
  • Measurement in space, e.g. length or diameter
  • Scope, extent or size of something abstract

drug

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US / drʌɡ /

UK / drʌɡ /

A2
  • noun
  • Illegal substance taken for effect on the mind
  • Chemical used as a medicine
  • verb
  • To give drugs to someone to make them sleep

many

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US / 'menɪ /

UK / ˈmɛni /

A1
  • determiner
  • Used to refer a large number of things

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

thousand

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US / ˈθaʊznd /

UK / ˈθaʊzənd /

A1
  • number
  • Number 1,000

beat

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US / bi:t /

UK / bit /

A2
  • noun
  • Regular movement or rhythm (e.g. heart or music)
  • verb
  • To move in regular motions in order to push blood
  • To strike or hit repeatedly and with great force
  • To mix ingredients together with a fork or machine
  • To play a drum
  • To win against another person or team; defeat

authority

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US / ɔ:ˈθɒrəti /

UK / əˈθɔrɪti, əˈθɑr-, ɔˈθɔr-, ɔˈθɑr- /

A2
  • noun
  • The power to give orders to people
  • Person who is an expert on a particular topic
  • Expert knowledge on a given subject
  • The power to decide or approve things
  • a group of people who have the official power to make decisions

illustration

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US / ˌɪləˈstreɪʃn /

UK / ˌɪləˈstreʃən /

B1
  • noun
  • Picture that helps explain something
  • Making an analogy to explain something

peak

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US / pi:k /

UK / pik /

B1
  • noun
  • Part of a cap that sticks out over your eyes
  • The very top of a mountain
  • State when something is at its best
  • Time or point when the highest level occurs
  • verb
  • To reach the highest or best point

northwest

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US / 'nɔ:θ'west /

UK / nɔrθˈwɛst, nɔrˈwɛst /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Being between west and north
  • Coming from the northwest, e.g. a northwest wind

should

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US / ʃʊd /

UK / ʃʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Used to indicate what is proper or reasonable

sort

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US / sɔ:t /

UK / sɔrt /

A1
  • noun
  • Group or class of similar things or people
  • verb
  • To organize things by putting them into groups
  • To deal with things in an organized way

worried

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US / ˈwʌrid /

UK / ˈwɜ:rid /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Feeling troubled or concerned
  • verb
  • To cause concern or trouble over something
  • To feel concerned or troubled about something

crackdown

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US / ˈkrækdaʊn /

UK / ˈkrækˌdaʊn /

C2
  • noun
  • Increased effort to enforce the law or a rule

isis

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US / ˈaisis /

UK / ˈaɪsɪs /

A1
  • proper noun
  • A goddess of fertility, wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. Her worship spread to western Asia, Gree
  • A name for the part of the River Thames that flows through Oxford, England.
  • A militant Islamic fundamentalist group active particularly in Syria and Iraq.

make

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US / meɪk /

UK / mek /

A1
  • noun
  • Product made by a particular company; brand
  • verb
  • To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
  • To get to (a place) on time
  • To gain the status of (teacher, lawyer, etc.)
  • To create something by putting things together
  • To earn a certain amount of money at a job
  • To cause or force a person to do something
  • To cause something to happen or be formed

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

path

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US / pɑ:θ /

UK / pæθ, pɑθ /

A2
  • noun
  • Method of living leading to a particular result
  • Track made with stones, by walking over the ground

tacitly

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US / 'tæsɪtlɪ /

UK / 'tæsɪtlɪ /

B2
  • adverb
  • In a tacit manner; by unexpressed agreement

youtube

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US / 'ju:tju:b /

UK / 'ju:tu:b /

A1
  • transitive verb
  • Upload a video of (someone or something) to the video-sharing website YouTube.

conclude

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US / kənˈklu:d /

UK / kənˈklud /

A2
  • verb
  • To finish or cause to finish; end
  • To arrive at a judgment or opinion

free

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US / fri: /

UK / fri /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Living, happening without being controlled
  • Costing no money
  • Not working; not busy
  • verb
  • To release (e.g. bird) from a cage or prison

olive

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US / ˈɒlɪv /

UK / ˈɑ:lɪv /

B1
  • noun
  • Person's name
  • Small, oval-shaped black or green fruit

synthetic

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US / sɪnˈθetɪk /

UK / sɪnˈθɛtɪk /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Not natural; made from artificial materials

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

fit

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US / fɪt /

UK / fɪt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Good looking; physically attractive
  • Proper or acceptable; morally or socially correct
  • noun
  • Sudden loss of body control; attack (of crying)
  • verb
  • To install a machine, equipment etc.
  • To adjust or change to the right size or shape
  • To be the right size and shape that you want

electricity

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US / ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti /

UK / ɪlɛkˈtrɪsɪti,ˌilɛk- /

A2
  • noun
  • Energy generated positive and negative charges

let

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US / let /

UK / lɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To allow someone to do something
  • Introducing a suggestion to do something together
  • To rent a house, etc. to others

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

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

rocket

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US / 'rɒkɪt /

UK / ˈrɑkɪt /

B1
  • noun
  • Powerful engine that releases hot gases
  • Dark green, hot-tasting salad leaf
  • Weapon shaped like a long tube carrying bombs
  • Vehicle transporting people or things into space
  • verb
  • To travel, increase, or rise very quickly

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

genuinely

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US / 'dʒenjʊɪnlɪ /

UK / ˈdʒɛnjʊɪnlɪ /

A2
  • adverb
  • In a real, actual, not false or artificial way

supervise

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US / 'su:pəvaɪz /

UK / ˈsupɚˌvaɪz /

B1
  • verb
  • To watch, direct, and be in charge of

three

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US / θri: /

UK / θri /

A1
  • number
  • Number 3

uae

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US / /

UK / /

A1
  • abbreviation
  • United Arab Emirates.

university

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US / ˌju:nɪ'vɜ:sətɪ /

UK / ˌjunɪˈvɜrsəti /

A1
  • noun
  • High-level educational institution; college

bell

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US / bel /

UK / bɛl /

A2
  • noun
  • Metal object shaped like a cup that rings when hit
  • Electronic device that makes a ringing sound

capitalize

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US / ˈkæpɪtəlaɪz /

UK / ˈkæpɪtl:ˌaɪz /

B1
  • verb
  • To write words, the first letter in BIG LETTERS
  • To supply the money needed to build a business
  • To take advantage of an opportunity

earthquake

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US / ˈɜ:θkweɪk /

UK / ˈɜ:rθkweɪk /

B1
  • noun
  • Heavy shaking of the ground due to natural forces

entire

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US / ɪn'taɪə(r) /

UK / ɛnˈtaɪr /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Complete or full; with no part left out; whole

into

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US / 'ɪntə /

UK / ˈɪntu /

A1
  • preposition
  • Moving or going inside something
  • In the same direction as; in the direction of
  • So as to become; taking the state of

maximize

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US / ˈmæksɪmaɪz /

UK / ˈmæksəˌmaɪz /

B1
  • verb
  • To make as large or great as possible

other

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US / 'ʌðə(r) /

UK / ˈʌðər /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • A thing different from that mentioned
  • determiner
  • (Something) else; not the first (one)
  • pronoun
  • Being the one and only thing of that category

perfect

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US / 'pɜ:fɪkt /

UK / ˈpɚfɪkt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • So good it cannot be improved
  • verb
  • To do something so well, it cannot be done better

one

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US / wʌn /

UK / wʌn /

A1
  • pronoun
  • You; we; people in general; someone
  • The thing or person previously referred to
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to people generally
  • Being a strong example of (something mentioned)
  • number
  • Number 1

power

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US / 'paʊə(r) /

UK / ˈpaʊɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Legal or official right to perform certain actions
  • Ability to move forcefully and quickly
  • Energy of something (e.g. electricity or fuel)
  • Mathematical way to multiply a number
  • Condition of being in political control
  • Physical force, energy, and strength
  • verb
  • To give energy to something, e.g. by electricity
  • To move something forcefully and quickly

quote

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US / kwəʊt /

UK / kwot /

A2
  • noun
  • Written statement of the cost of something
  • The (often wise or famous) words of another person
  • verb
  • To tell someone how much a task will cost
  • To repeat precisely what a person said or wrote

than

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US / ðən /

UK / ðən /

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

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

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

also

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US / 'ɔ:lsəʊ /

UK / ˈɔlso /

A1
  • adverb
  • In addition; too; in a similar way

attempt

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US / ə'tempt /

UK / əˈtɛmpt /

A2
  • noun
  • Effort made to try to do or accomplish something
  • verb
  • To try to do something challenging or difficult

live

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US / lɪv /

UK / liv /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being broadcast as events happen, not recorded
  • Carrying electric current; able to give a shock
  • Glowing because burning; hot
  • Not yet killed (for food)
  • adverb
  • (Music, drama) as it is performed
  • verb
  • To be alive
  • To experience a particular type of life
  • To make your home in a house or town

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)

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

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

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

accept

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US / ək'sept /

UK / ækˈsɛpt /

A1
  • verb
  • To agree to receive or take something offered
  • To admit that something is true or correct

chemical

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US / ˈkemɪkl /

UK / ˈkɛmɪkəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Made of various elements
  • noun
  • Basic substance produced by mixing elements

half

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US / hɑ:f /

UK / hæf, hɑf /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not complete
  • adverb
  • Partly; somewhat
  • noun
  • One of two equal periods of game time in a sport
  • The part you get when one is divided into two;

legal

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US / 'li:ɡl /

UK / ˈliɡəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the law; allowed by law

poverty

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US / ˈpɔvəti /

UK / ˈpɑvəti /

B1
  • noun
  • State of being poor
  • Lack of something necessary

stand

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US / stænd /

UK / stænd /

A1
  • noun
  • Effort to fight against something
  • Piece of furniture; device to hold or support
  • Place in a stadium where spectators watch
  • Table where things are sold at a fair or market
  • verb
  • To be a candidate in an election
  • To be able to accept someone, something; bear
  • To last for a long time
  • To be upright; not be sitting or lying down
  • To place something in a particular position; place
  • To be (as stated)
  • To still be valid
  • To have an opinion about 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

wane

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US / weɪn /

UK / wen /

B2
  • verb
  • To become smaller, weaker or less

youth

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US / ju:θ /

UK / juθ /

A2
  • noun
  • Being young; time when you are young
  • Young person or teenager
  • Quality or state of being young
  • Boy or a young man

constitution

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US / ˌkɔnstiˈtju:ʃən /

UK / ˌkɑnstɪˈtuʃən, -ˈtju- /

B1
  • noun
  • Statement of fundamental principles of a country
  • Condition of your health
  • Different parts that make something

follow

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US / ˈfɔləu /

UK / ˈfɑlo /

A1
  • verb
  • To come after someone; be guided by someone
  • To support someone, e.g. singer or comedian
  • To be the logical result of something
  • To happen after something else happens
  • To believe a set of values or a moral teacher
  • To understand something happening or being said

kurds

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US / /

UK / /

A1
  • noun
  • A member of a mainly Islamic people living in parts of eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, western Iran,

originally

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US / əˈrɪdʒənəli /

UK / əˈrɪdʒənəli /

A2
  • adverb
  • At first; in the beginning
  • In a new and unique manner

pit

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US / pɪt /

UK / pɪt /

B1
  • noun
  • Hole in the ground
  • Garage area for racing cars on a circuit
  • Large, hard seed in the center of a fruit
  • verb
  • To use your strength, skill or wit to beat another
  • To make holes or marks on a surface
  • (Racing car) to come into a garage to change tires
  • To take the seed out of a fruit

resolution

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US / ˌrezə'lu:ʃn /

UK / ˌrɛzəˈluʃən /

B1
  • noun
  • End part of a story resolving the conflict
  • Ability of a screen or camera to display pixels
  • Statement of the decisions of a group
  • Answer to a problem or conflict
  • Promise made to accomplish something
  • Introduction to Video Content
  • Why the Middle East is Re-Engaging with AssadIt has been over a decade since protests erupted in Syria against President Bashar al-Assad. These protests, similar to those in other Arab Spring countries, did not result in democratic reform but instead escalated into a protracted and bloody civil war that has spanned more than ten years and claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. With support from Russia and Iran, Assad has managed to maintain control over the majority of the country, and recently, there has been a renewed engagement with him from the Middle East.In this video, we will delve into how Assad emerged victorious in the war, his diplomatic reintegration, and the implications for the West. But before we proceed, if you haven't done so already, please consider subscribing and enabling notifications to stay informed about our upcoming videos.To comprehend this narrative, we need to rewind all the way back to 2011 when ordinary Syrians, inspired by the anti-government protests of the Arab Spring in Tunisia and Libya, began demonstrating against Bashar al-Assad, who had held office since 2000. When Assad assumed power from his father, who had been the president since 1971, he pledged to implement democratic reforms and hold multi-party elections. However, these promises remained unfulfilled, and as time passed, Assad solidified his position as a brutal autocrat.Within a year of his ascension, he was already incarcerating dissident politicians and critics. In 2005, a United Nations investigation revealed that members of the Assad family were directly involved in the assassination of Rafik Hariri, a former anti-Syrian Lebanese president. The initial protests in Syria were primarily peaceful and demanding democratic reforms. However, they descended into a civil war after Syrian security forces launched a violent crackdown on the demonstrators.
  • Subtitles section
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  • It's been over a decade since protests broke out in Syria against President Bashar al-Assad.
  • As in many other Arab Spring countries, the protests didn't end in democratic reform, but rather in a long and bloody civil war, lasting over a decade and costing hundreds of thousands of lives.
  • Thanks to help from Russia and Iran, 12 years later Assad still controls a majority of the country, and the Middle East has recently begun to re-engage.
  • So, in this video, we'll take a look at how Assad won the war, his diplomatic return, and what the West should do about it.
  • Before we start, if you haven't already, please consider subscribing and ringing the bell to stay in the loop and be notified when we release new videos.
  • So, to understand this story, we need to go back all the way to 2011, when ordinary Syrians, inspired by Arab Spring anti-government protests in Tunisia and Libya, began protesting against Bashar al-Assad,
  • Who'd been in power since 2000.
  • When Assad succeeded his father, who'd himself been president since 1971, he promised democratic reforms and multi-party elections.
  • But, somewhat unsurprisingly, this didn't happen.
  • And, by the time the Arab Spring kicked off, Assad had established himself as a ruthless autocrat.
  • Within a year of coming to power, he was already jailing dissident politicians and critics.
  • And, in 2005, a UN investigation concluded that members of the Assad family had directly supervised the assassination of former anti-Syrian Lebanese president Rafik Hariri.
  • Anyway, the protests were originally mostly peaceful and focused on democratic reforms, but spiralled into a civil war after Syrian security forces staged a violent crackdown.
  • The war quickly took on a sectarian dimension, pitting Syria's Sunni majority against its Shia minority, including Assad, who were mostly concentrated in the densely populated northwest.
  • While the west helped train and supply the rebels, it didn't really intervene in the first half of the war.
  • Both because David Cameron lost a vote on intervention in the commons, and because, despite saying that the use of chemical weapons would be, quote, a red line when Assad fired sarin-filled rockets at rebel strongholds in Gouda in 2013,
  • Barack Obama didn't intervene and, instead, decided to get Russia, an Assad ally, to pressure Assad into joining the Chemical Weapons Convention.
  • The Syrian civil war really became internationalised in the second half of the 2010s, when both the west and Assad's allies, most notably Iran and Russia, stepped up their involvement to beat back ISIS in 2014.
  • At its peak, ISIS controlled about 40% of Iraq and a third of Syria, including the northern city of Raqqa.
  • The US and its allies, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, decided that Kurds in northern Syria had the best chance of beating back ISIS, so they supported them with training and airstrikes.
  • The intervention was successful, insofar as it basically killed off ISIS, who had lost 95% of their territory since 2017.
  • But it didn't go down well in Turkey.
  • Turkey had always been anti-Assad, but Erdogan was worried that Kurdish separatists, trained and supplied by the US, might spread out into eastern Turkey.
  • For context, Kurds account for a majority in eastern Turkey, and the Turkish state has been dealing with a Kurdish separatist insurgency, led by the Kurdistan Workers' Party since the 80s.
  • Anyway, this is why, from 2016 until 2019, the Kurdish army intervenes in northern Syria at least three times, occupying significant amounts of Syrian territory that now act as a sort of buffer zone between Turkey and the Kurd-occupied bits of Syria.
  • Today, there are basically three states within what used to be Syria.
  • A Kurdish state in the northeast where locals have ditched Arabic for Kurdish and used the US dollar as their main currency.
  • A Turkish state in the northwest, and a bit in the northeast where locals use the lira, civil servants are paid by the Turkish state, and electricity comes from southern Turkey's electricity grid.
  • And then the rest of the country, which is basically ruled by Assad, who reasserted himself with the help of Russia in the late 2010s, and now controls about 60% of the country.
  • While there was some hope amongst rebels that Russia's involvement in Ukraine would undermine Assad, and there have been some anti-Assad protests recently, Assad's grip on power is pretty solid, and it seems like most Syrians have tacitly accepted that stable autocratic rule is better than civil war.
  • This is one of the reasons why many Middle Eastern countries recently have started re-engaging.
  • Last year, Assad paid a visit to the UAE.
  • His first trip to an Arab country since 2011.
  • And this year, he was invited both to the Arab League Summit and even Saudi Arabia.
  • This is part of a larger diplomatic salvo by the Saudis, who've been repairing relations with everyone from Iran to Israel in an attempt to forge a more peaceful Middle East.
  • But there are at least two more reasons why other Middle Eastern countries are normalising relations with Assad.
  • The first is drugs.
  • In part, thanks to Western sanctions, Syria's formal economy has completely collapsed.
  • And by far and away, its largest export and source of foreign currency today is Captagon, a synthetic opioid that's allegedly being mass-manufactured by the Syrian state and sold on to its neighbours.
  • Authorities seized over $3 billion worth of Captagon last year, and the UK government estimates that the entire industry is worth nearly $60 billion.
  • For context, Syria's largest legal export is olive oil, worth about $100 million a year.
  • This has provoked some anxiety amongst Syria's neighbours, who've seen an uptick in drug usage amongst their youth, and many of them hope to convince Assad to end his drug dealing by normalising relations.
  • The second reason is refugees.
  • Since the civil war, some 6 million Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries.
  • While some countries, especially Turkey and Lebanon, have been impressively accommodating after a decade of war in Syria, sympathy is waning.
  • This was apparent in Turkey's recent election, when both Erdogan and Kilic Dirolu tried to capitalise on anti-refugee sentiment by promising to return at least some of Turkey's 3 million or so Syrian refugees.
  • In this context, the recent earthquake provided the perfect excuse for many countries to re-engage with Syria without annoying the US. They genuinely wanted to mitigate the humanitarian damage, but they also hoped that,
  • By providing aid to affected areas, they'd reduce the odds of another wave of Syrian refugees.
  • The Middle East's re-engagement has put pressure on the West to follow suit.
  • But as things stand, the US has shown no sign of withdrawing its extensive sanctions and officially maintains that it expects Assad to abide by UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which calls for a new constitution and free elections.
  • Nonetheless, while the West's reluctance is understandable, there is a humanitarian case for re-engaging with Syria.
  • Syria today is extraordinarily poor.
  • The Syrian pound has lost 99% of its value, GDP is down 80% and 90% of the 16 million or so people in Syria live in poverty.
  • Even relaxing the sanctions could provide some economic relief to a country that's been essentially ruined by 12 years of constant war.
  • But, so far, they're not yet to re-engage.
  • Things are expected to change with a story like this, so make sure you stay on top of updates.
  • That way, you know what's going on and, let's be honest, it always feels great to stay on top of things.
  • Even within TLDR, a few of us have been brushing up our in-design skills in order to create the newspaper we're currently working on.
  • It turns out that making a professional-looking newspaper is pretty difficult, so we headed to Skillshare to take their course on the topic.
  • Unlike when I tried to learn in-design for another never-released project a few years ago, this time I was guided through the process quickly and effectively, and this time the project will actually see the light of day thanks to Skillshare's incredibly easy-to-follow guides.
  • It's not just that, either.
  • You likely already knew Skillshare for classes on things like photography, editing, and illustration.
  • But Skillshare also has hundreds of career-focused classes, too.
  • We all know at this stage that traditional jobs aren't one-size-fits-all.
  • I mean, I finished university and came straight into a job at a YouTube channel.
  • That's not necessarily the path that you want to take, but the courses on Skillshare can help you design a career to fit you.
  • There's courses on everything from how to start a business, to maximizing your workflow, or how to grow in e-commerce, another course that Jack's actually taking to help with the newspaper project.
  • And if you use our link, you can get access to all of that for free.
  • That's right, the first 1,000 people to use the link will get a one-month free trial of Skillshare.