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Turbocharge Your GMAT:GMAT Vocabulary List (Advanced)
Version 5.1 (December 18th, 2012)
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ii GMAT Vocabulary List (Advanced)
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GMAT Vocabulary List (Advanced) iii
About the Turbocharge your GMAT Series
The highly acclaimed Turbocharge Your GMAT series is the result of the arduous ef-fort of Manhattan Review to offer the most comprehensive and clear treatment of theconcepts tests in the GMAT. The Manhattan Review Turbocharge Your GMAT prepara-tion materials include over 600 pages of well-illustrated and professionally presentedstrategies and originally written problems for both the Verbal Section and Quantita-tive Section, 200 pages of detailed solutions, and more than 300 pages of internallydeveloped Quantitative Glossary and Verbal Vocabulary List with detailed definitions,related words and sentence examples. The detailed breakdown of exclusive practiceproblems per category is 40+ Reading Comprehension passages, 60 Critical Reasoningquestions, 250 Sentence Correction questions, and 300+ Quantitative questions.Manhattan Review uses this material when delivering its weekend crash courses, one-week intensive courses, weekday and weekend long courses, online workshops, freeseminars, and private tutoring to students in the US, UK, Continental Europe, Asia andthe rest of the world. Please visit www.manhattanreview.com to find out more and alsotake a free GMAT practice test!
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iv GMAT Vocabulary List (Advanced)
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GMAT Vocabulary List (Advanced) v
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GMAT Vocabulary List (Advanced) vii
Introduction
A great mastery of essential English words will no doubt be very helpful to you inachieving a satisfactory GMAT score and improving communication skills. To betterassist you in your GMAT preparation, Manhattan Review has developed an exclusiveVocabulary List for your reference.
This book includes about 2,500 words and phrases which have appeared in the pastGMATs. We have categorized all of them by their grammatical forms such as transitiveverb, intransitive verb, countable noun, uncountable noun, adjective and phrase. Inaddition to the first two columns of Words and Forms, we have also included another4 columns to the right: Grammatical Details, Key Definitions, Example Sentences andRelevant Words.
Grammatical Details cover all the different verb variations in the past tense, past par-ticiple, present participle, and third-person present singular forms.
Key Definitions show all the common and most important meanings of a word in a plainand succinct manner.
Example Sentences demonstrate the actual applications of a word in a simple context.We believe it is easier for students to memorize and use new vocabularies once theysee sample sentences involving the new words.
Relevant Words include all the related adjectives, nouns, adverbs and other forms of aword. They are shown to broaden students’ knowledge of a word and their ability tobetter maneuver the language in different contexts.
Please note that a portion of this list may have been distributed to you in advance ofyour GMAT course for the purpose of warming up your English grammar skills andrefreshing your command of English vocabulary.
To keep all our course materials at a consistently high level of quality, Manhattan Re-view will continue to update and broaden this list. If you have any comments, pleasefeel free to contact us.
Happy prepping and good luck on the test!
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Page 1GMAT - Vocabulary List
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
abscisic acid Phrase A plant hormone that
causes a plant's buds and
seeds to be dormant,
retards the growth of
plants, and leads the plant
to shed its leaves, flowers
and fruits.
Due to abscisic acid, plants
haven't exhibited any sign
of growth.
abscissa Noun Pl: abscissas or
abscissae
The x-coordinate in a two
dimensional system of
Cartesian coordinates
Though the student found it
easy to determine the y-
coordinate, he had difficulty
to pinpoint the x-coordinate
or abscissa.
acquiesce Verb
(Intrans)
PT: acquiesced
PP: acquiesced
PresP: acquiescing
3rd S: acquiesces
To agree to perform a task
passively instead of
expressing consent
explicitly.
The woman acquiesced to
her employers' request and
completed her assignment.
acquiescence (N)
acquiescent (Adj)
acquiescently (Adv)
acridine Noun A type of colorless,
crystalline solid that is used
in the manufacture of dyes.
Acridine was used by the
manufacturers of fabrics to
make beautiful dyes.
adipose Adjective Fat found in the body tissue
underneath the skin and
around vital organs.
In dissecting the body in
anatomy, the medical
student found a huge area
in the stomach filled with
adipose.
adiposeness (N)
adiposity (N)
adjudication Noun Pl: adjudications The official decision made
by the court.
The judge ordered that
adjudication of the case not
be interrupted.
admonition Noun Pl: admonitions A very mild reprimand or
caution given to a person.
The judge issued an
admonition to the hostile
witness.adulatory Adjective Flattering someone
excessively.
Adulatory phrases were
offered by the President in
describing his newly
appointed ambassador.
affinity Noun Pl: affinities A connection, natural liking,
or identification with
somebody or something.
The young rock star felt an
affinity for classical musical
as his father was an opera
singer.
afoul Adjective;
Adverb
Become involved into
trouble or conflict.
The young man ran afoul of
the law when he stole a car.
amalgam Noun Pl: amalgams A mixture of two or more
different characteristics.
An amalgam of materials
was gathered to create a
new building product.
amino acid Noun Pl: amino acids A complex belonging to a
class of proteins that
contain an amino group.
Amino acids are the
cornerstone of genetic
construction.
amphetamine Noun Pl: amphetamines A stimulant drug used in
the treatment of depression
and as an appetite
suppressant.
Amphetamines were once
used in weight loss as they
speed up the metabolic
system.
anachronism Noun Pl: anachronisms A mistake of placing
something from one time
period into another time
period.
It would be an anachronism
to talk of King Edwards
surfing the Internet.
anachronous (Adj)
anachronously (Adv)
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 2 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
anaerobe Noun Pl: anaerobes An organism that does not
require oxygen for
metabolism in order for it
to survive.
Anaerobe bacteria can cause
a rare form of tuberculosis.
anaerobic Adjective 1. Occurring or living
without the presence of
oxygen.
2. Not having or providing
oxygen.
Some plants are anaerobic.
They can grow without
oxygen.
anaerobically (Adv)
anesthetic Noun Pl: anesthetics A compound, used mostly
in medicine, that decreases
the feeling or pain and may
possibly result in
unconsciousness.
The injected anesthetic
helped the dentist perform
oral surgery without causing
the patient pain.
Anesthetics relieve pain and
are essential to modern
medical practice.
anesthetic (Adj)
anesthetically (Adv)
anopheles Noun Anopheles are one of the
mosquitoes that transmits
malaria.
antebellum Adjective Relating or describing the
period of time before the
Civil War.
Antebellum homes built
before the Civil War are now
often museums.
anthropological Adjective Pertaining to the study of
human kind.
Anthropological evidence
indicates Australian
aborigines remained
hunters/gatherers.
anthropologically
(Adv)
antiaristocratic Adjective Antiaristocratic tendencies
were seen in communistic
societies where labor was
valued.
antibiotics Noun;
Adjective
Noun
Pl: antibiotics
A substance used as a
medication and produced
naturally that will kill or
deactivate bacteria.
Antibiotics prevent the
spread of bacterial
infections.
antibiotically (Adv)
anticlimactic Noun Pl: anticlimaxes An unsatisfying or normal
end after an increasingly
exciting event.
An announcement of
resignation was
anticlimactic as the news
had been developed by the
young biologist.
anticlimactic (Adj)
anticlimactically
(Adv)
antipsychotic Adjective;
Noun
Noun
Pl: antipsychotics
Adjective
Gets rid of the effects of
psychosis.
Noun
A drug created to relieve
the effects of a psychiatric
disorder.
An antipsychotic drug aids
in treatment of
schizophrenia.
antithesis Noun Pl: antitheses The other extreme in
comparison.
The antithesis of a civil
progressive society is a
brutal dictatorship.
aperiodic Adjective Occurring at non-regular
intervals.
Aperiodic assessment of
temperature allowed for a
scientific approach covering
all generalities.
aperiodically (Adv)
aperiodicity (N)
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Page 3GMAT - Vocabulary List
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
apolitical Adjective Having no concern or
interest in politics.
Conservative churches in
the United States are no
longer apolitical. They often
lobby for their causes these
days.
apolitically (Adv)
apothecary Noun Pl: apothecaries Another name for a
pharmacist: a person who
supplies medicine.
A pharmacy can be called an
apothecary shop.
appropriation Noun Pl: appropriations An amount of money placed
aside, usually from a
governmental budget, to be
used for a particular
purpose.
The appropriation of land
for oil production caused
anger amongst
environmentalists.
archaeologist Noun A person who studies
ancient culture by
examining the material
remains of these cultures.
Archaeologists attempt to
understand the structure
and cultures of ancient
peoples.
archaeologist (N)
artisan Noun Pl: artisan A person who is trained in a
craft.
Fresco artisans assisted
Michelangelo in painting the
Sistine Chapel.
aspersion Noun Pl: aspersions 1. An oral attack on
someone's character or
reputation.
2. Stating a defamatory
comment.
The old woman cast
aspersions on the stranger
walking down the street.
asphyxiation Verb (Trans
and Intrans)
PT: asphyxiated
PP: asphyxiated
PresP: asphyxiating
3rd S: asphyxiates
To withhold oxygen from a
person or animal, or to be
withheld of oxygen, leading
to unconsciousness or
possibly death.
The patient's death was
resulted from asphyxiation.
asphyxiation (N)
asphyxiator (N)
asunder Adverb Broken apart or into pieces
(formal)
or dated)
The family was torn asunder
by the war.
as-yet-
unexploited
Phrase The as-yet-unexploited
mineral resources in the
mountains lie on
government-owned
property.at one stroke Phrase At one stoke of the clock,
the signal to advance was
given to the troops who
surrounded the fort.
austere Adjective Strict, disciplined,
especially suggesting
physical hardship.
The dorm life of St.
Stephen's School was
Spartan and austere.
austerely (Adv)
austereness (N)
auxin Noun Pl: auxins A plant hormone that is
produced either naturally of
synthetically that affects
the growth and
development of the plant's
shoots, roots, fruit, and
flowers.
auxinic (Adj)
auxinically (Adv)
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 4 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
balk Verb;
Noun
Verb
PT: balked
PP: balked
PresP: balking
3rd S: balks
Noun
plural balks
Verb
1. To refuse to go on or
stop suddenly.
2. To refuse to do
something based on your
own moral scruples or
because you have a natural
revulsion towards what you
are doing.
Noun
1. A large piece of wood
that is shaped like a square.
The teenager balked at the
idea of a weekend with his
grandparents in the country.
balker (N)
baroque Adjective;
Noun
Adjective
In a highly ornamental style
that is either bizarre or very
exaggerated.
Noun
A type of architecture that
is highly ornamental and is
particular to European
architecture of the mid-
16th to early 18th
centuries.
Baroque style furniture is
opulent, grandiose and
detailed in its design.
baroquely (Adv)
be at issue Phrase To disagree; to have a
different viewpoint.
To be at issue with the
prevailing view point, the
newspaper supported
alternative views.
be contained in Phrase To be included in. Alternative methods of
taxation were contained in
the legislation.
be priced out of Phrase To be forced out of
competition due to pricing.
Due to deep discounting by
large retailers, smaller
shops were priced out of the
market as a result of lack of
scale.
beatific Adjective Showing or emanating
extreme happiness and
serenity.
The beatific nature of the
young nun made her actions
seem angelic.
beatifically (Adv)
biota Noun Pl: biotas The total number of
organisms that live in a
specific area.
bona fide Adjective A true statement or account
of good intentions.
The bona fide winning
lottery ticket was presented
for cash.
boreal Adjective Describes a region with cold
winters and warm
summers, similar to a
northern temperate climate.
The aurora boreal is one of
the universe's primary star
systems.
bout Noun Pl: bouts An attack of illness that has
a limited duration.
A bout of flu forced the
student to remain in bed for
three days.
brandling Noun Pl: brandlings An earthworm that is
reddish brown in color and
is often used as bait.
The brandling was the
perfect worm to catch the
fish.
briny Adjective comparative: brinier
superlative: briniest
Having a connection with
made up of, or having the
quality of sea water.
Pickles are preserved in a
briny solution of vinegar
and salt.
brininess (N)
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Page 5GMAT - Vocabulary List
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
budworm Noun Pl: budworms A larva of a moth that lives
off conifer buds.
bugbear Noun Pl: bugbears A source of irritation or
difficulty that is
continuous.
The old husband was a
bugbear when it came to
pestering his wife about
dinner.
calamitous Adjective Creating great difficulty,
disaster, or tragedy.
Calamitous events in the
country included famine,
disease and pestilence.
calamitously (Adv)
caliph Noun Pl: caliphs The title taken by Muslim
rulers that claim religious
authority from Muhammad
to be able to rule.
A caliph, acting as lifetime
monarch, is a preferred
system of ruling in some
Islamic sects.
calligraphic Adjective Delightful and imaginative
handwriting.
The calligraphic design on
the wedding invitation made
the print look baroque.
calligrapher (N)
campesino Noun Pl: campesinos The name of an agricultural
worker in Latin-America.
Campesino did all the labor
on the fruit and vegetable
farm.
capricious Adjective Being predisposed to make
abrupt and random
changes.
Women are often spoken of
as capricious and flighty in
their decisions.
capriciously (Adv)
capriciousness (N)
captious Adjective Being predisposed to find
fault and make unimportant
and unnecessary criticisms.
We should not be concerned
with captious comments
from our peers from time to
time.
captiously (Adv)
captiousness (N)
carcinogen Noun Pl: carcinogens A compound or chemical
agent that can cause cancer.
Tobacco and asbestos are
carcinogens that cause
cancer.cardiopulmonary Adjective Involving both the heart
and lungs.
Cardiopulmonary
physicians treat ailments of
the heart and lungs.
cardiovascular Adjective Involving both the heart
and the blood vessels.
Cardiovascular disease
affects the arterial system
around the heart.
carol Noun;
Verb (Trans
and Intrans)
Noun
Pl: carols
Verb (Transitive and
Intransitive)
PT: caroled
PP: caroled
PresP: caroling
3rd S: carols
Noun
A joyful song or hymn that
is religious in nature.
Verb (Trans & Intrans)
To sing a hymn that
celebrates Christmas.
A group of singers
performed old fashioned
Christmas carols.
caroler (N)
carpal Adjective;
Noun
Pl: carpals Adjective
Pertaining to the bones that
are located in the wrist.
Noun
One of the bones located in
the wrist.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
affects hand and wrist
performance.
cartographer Noun Pl: cartographers A person that creates maps. Cartographers create
detailed maps of the
physical, cultural and
political features of the
earth.
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 6 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
caveat Noun Pl: caveats A statement that is made to
warn or caution.
A caveat for the lottery
winner was that taxes must
first be taken before
winnings are dispersed.
caviar Noun The salty fish eggs of a big
fish that
are consumed as a delicacy.
The tiny black fish eggs
were with hardboiled eggs
indicating Russian caviar.
centrifugal Adjective;
Noun
Adjective
In physics, it is describing
the action of either pulling
or moving away from the
center or the axis of
something.
Noun
A piece of machinery that
uses centrifugal force.
Centrifugal force separates
particles in the chamber.
centrifugalism (N)
centrifugally (Adv)
chaise Noun Pl: chaises A carriage for one or more
than one person that is
light, two-wheeled, drawn
by one horse, and is usually
hooded.
A chaise lounge is a long
decorative chair allowing
the legs to be extended.
chalice Noun Pl: chalices A goblet or drinking cup
that is made of metal.
The silver chalice sat on the
altar for ceremonial wine
drinking.
chameleon Noun Pl: chameleons A lizard mostly found in
Africa and Madagascar, that
is a tree-dweller and has
long thing legs, a long
sticky tongue, a small
curled tail, and is able to
change color.
The chameleon changes
colors to mesh with its
environment.
chameleonic (Adj)
chauvinism Noun Patriotism that is too
enthusiastic, aggressive, or
unreasoning.
The feminist movement
attempted to eradicate male
chauvinism from the
culture.
chiaroscuro Noun The artistic use of light and
shade in paintings and
drawing, especially for
contrast purposes.
The chiaroscuro approach in
the drawing is a
breakthrough in the era.
chiaroscurism (N)
chiaroscurist (N)
chisel Noun;
Verb (Trans
and Intrans)
Noun
Pl: chisels
Verb (Transitive and
Intransitive)
past tense: chiseled
PP: chiseled
PresP: chiseling
3rd S: chisels
A tool used to cut and
shape wood or stone that is
made up of a straight flat
blade with a sharp edge
shaped as a square placed
in the handle.
Verb (Trans & Intrans)
To work, cut, or carve wood
or stone with the use of a
chisel.
Sculptors chisel a block of
stone to create artistic form.
chlorofluorocarbo
ns
Noun A gas made of carbon,
hydrogen, chorine, and
fluorine mainly used as a
refrigerant and propellant
of aerosol.
Chlorofluorocarbons are
refrigerants used in air
conditioning systems.
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Page 7GMAT - Vocabulary List
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
cholesterol Noun A steroid alcohol, solid in
nature, that is found in
tissue, bile, blood, eggs, and
fats.
Cholesterol counts are used
to determine the potential
for heart disease.
chordate Adjective A class of animals that
includes the vertebrates
that at some developmental
stage has a main dorsal
nerve cord, a skeletal rod,
and gill slits.
All animals will a spinal
chord are known as
chordates.
chromosome Noun Rod shaped structures in
the nucleus of a cell that
carry the genes that
determine sex and other
characteristics that are
inherited from parents.
Chromosome studies maybe
used as indicators of genetic
diseases.
chromosomal (Adv)
cinder Noun Pl: cinders Noun
A little piece of burned
wood or coal that continues
to light up.
Plural Noun
The ashes that linger even
after the fire has stopped
burning.
The cinder's sparks on a dry
day caused a forest fire.
cindery (Adj)
circadian Adjective Describes a pattern that is
repeated every 24 hours.
Some job requires a
circadian work schedule.
climatologist Noun A person who studies the
science of climates.
The climatologist predicted
a change in weather
patterns.
coalesce Verb (Trans
and Intrans)
PT: coalesced
PP: coalesced
PresP: coalescing
3rd S: coalesces
To combine or make things
combine into one body or
group.
At the meeting, their ideas
coalesced into something
grand.
coalescence (N)
coalescent (Adj)
coda Noun The final section of a piece
of music that inserts
dramatic energy into the
musical work.
The coda of the composition
was challenging to most of
the musicians in the
orchestra.
coinage Noun Pl: coinages Money in the form of coins. The new country decided
against a coinage system in
favor of bills.
collaborate Verb PT: collaborated
PP: collaborated
PresP: collaborating
3rd S: collaborates
To work together with any
other or a group of people
so that a particular outcome
can be achieved.
The two academics in
different departments will
collaborate to create a
multidisciplinary work.
compulsory Adjective;
Noun
Pl: compulsories Adjective
Obligatory either by law or
some sort of authority.
Noun
An obligatory routine or
exercise that athletes in a
particular support are
required to do as part of
their competition.
Compulsory attendance at
school is required until a
minor turns sixteen.
compulsorily (Adv)
compulsoriness (N)
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 8 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
concerto Noun Pl: concertos or
concerti
A musical piece of work for
an orchestra that shows off
the work of a soloist or a
group of soloists.
Rachmaninoff's concerto in
D minor is a deeply moving
piece of music.
congenial Adjective Enjoyable and right to
someone's personality or
taste or particular to a
situation.
A congenial atmosphere
within the office creates
happier and more
productive employees.
congeniality (N)
congenially (Adv)
congenialness (N)
connive Verb
(Intrans)
PT: connived
PP: connived
PresP: conniving
3rd S: connives
To arrange something
secretly because it is
usually wrong or illegal.
The dishonest employee
connived with his friend to
steal company funds.
conniver (N)
connivery (N)
consortia Noun A combination or grouping
of institutions, financial
organization, and business
that are commonly set up
for a mutual purpose that
would beyond the actual
abilities of one individual
member of the group.
The consortia of media
companies lobbied for
stricter rules on media
piracy.
consortial (Adj)
contemptuous Adjective Demonstrating or showing
strong dislike or complete
lack or respect for someone
or something.
The daughter was
contemptuous of her
mother's advice.
contemptuously (Adv)
contemptuousness (N)
contralto Noun Pl: contraltos Also known as alto; The
lowest vocal range for
women's voices.
The contralto's rich tones
thrilled opera patrons for
years.coriander Noun A plant that grows every
year and is indigenous to
Asia and the
Mediterranean; it is grown
for its leaves and seeds that
are used in the flavoring of
food used in cooking.
Coriander and cilantro are
different names for the
same herb.
cornerstone Noun Pl: cornerstones A person or a thing is
extremely important to
something else.
The teacher laid the
cornerstone for the new
classroom building in honor
of his years of service.
corny Adjective comparative: cornier
superlative: corniest
Unoriginal and simple. Corny jokes are often silly. cornily (Adv)
corniness (N)
coronary Adjective Describing the arteries that
bring blood to the heart, or
the veins that take blood
away from the heart.
Coronary disease involves
the heart and its vascular
area.
coronary
angiography
Noun An artery that bring blood
to the muscles of the heart.
Coronary angiography
assists the physician in
determining vascular
blockage.
cortex Noun Pl: cortices or
cortexes
The outside layer of an
organ that is solid or the
outside part of the body.
The accident seems to have
bruised the women's
cerebral cortex.
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Page 9GMAT - Vocabulary List
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
cosmic Adjective Pertaining to the entire
universe.
Those interested in
astrology often refer to
cosmic forces at play in the
universe which influence
human emotions and action.
cosmically (Adv)
Cossack Noun Pl: Cossacks A farmer of Polish or
Russian ancestry that lives
in southeastern Russia,
Ukraine, or Siberia.
Brave Cossacks fought
invaders in the seventeenth
century Ukraine.
countervail Verb (Trans
and Intrans)
PT: countervailed
PP: countervailed
PresP:
countervailing
3rd S: countervails
To apply a power or
influence that acts against
something else.
We must countervail with
force and conviction to
defend our territory.
countervailing
duty
Noun Pl: countervailing
duties
An import tax on the
commodities that are made
inexpensively in their
nation of origin.
The countervailing duty on
goods from certain
countries aids domestic
producers.
courier Noun;
Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: couriers
Transitive Verb
PT: couriered
PP: couriered
PresP: couriering
3rd S: couriers
Noun
A person that is entrusted
with the responsibility of
transporting and
distributing official
documents; this person is
generally either a diplomat
or a soldier.
Verb (Trans)
To transport a document or
package by a commercial
messenger service.
The courier came with a
message and papers for the
lawyer.
crass Adjective comparative: crasser
superlative: crassest
Inconsiderate, offensive,
and, uncaring as to be void
of refinement and
gracefulness.
There was a crass element
in her way of speaking.
crassitude (N)
crassly (Adv)
crassness (N)
crest Noun;
Verb
Noun
plural; crests
Transitive Verb
PT: crested
PP: crested
PresP: cresting
3rd S: crests
Noun
The uppermost part of
something that rises or
slants upwards.
Verb (Trans & Intrans)
To arrive at or rise to a
peak.
The artist painted the crests
of mountains.
cupidity Noun Greediness. Her cupidity led her to
marry the wealthy old man.
cytokinin Noun Pl: cytokinins A hormone made in plants
that is responsible for
regulating cell division and
growth.
The cytokinin hormone
would enable the fern to
grow.
cytology Noun A section of biology that
deals with the study of
cells.
One section of the Biology
course focused on cytology.
cytologic (Adj)
cytological (Adj)
cytologically (Adv)
cytologist (N)
cytoplasm Noun A fluid consisting of the
chemical compounds and
structures within a plant or
animal cell, not including
the nucleus of the cell.
The diagram of the cell
identified its cytoplasm and
the many other cellular
structures within the cell.
cytoplasmic (Adj)
cytoplasmically (Adv)
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 10 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
darn Verb;
Noun
Verb
PT: darned
PP: darned
PresP: darning
3rd S: darns
Noun
Pl: darns
Verb
To mend a hole in an
article of clothing or piece
of fabric using long
connected stitches to fill
the hole.
Adjective; Adverb
Used in place of a curse
word to give importance to
or to show annoyance or
displeasure with a person
or thing.
Noun
To mend an article of
clothing or piece of fabric
using long connected
stitches.
Interjection
Used in place of a curse
word to show annoyance,
displeasure, or shock.
After doing the laundry, the
mother darned holes in the
children's clothes.
debenture Noun Pl: debentures A bond financed only by the
credit standing of the
person who issued the
bond; it may sometimes be
made into stock.
The company has issued a
few publicly traded
debentures.
debentured (Adj)
deferential Adjective Presenting or expressing
courtesy or high respect.
A deferential attitude was
shown to the hotel's guest
by the employees.
deferentially (Adv)
deice Verb
(Trans)
PT: deiced
PP: deiced
PresP: deicing
3rd S: deices
To get rid of ice from
something like a
windshield, or to stop ice
from developing on it.
The driver needed to deice
his windshield in the winter,
in order to be able to see
while he drove.
demobilization Noun To release members of the
armed forces from duty and
then send then home.
Demobilization of the
Japanese military occurred
after WWII.
demur Verb PT: demurred,
PP: demurred
PresP: demurring
3rd S: demurs
Show reluctance; try to not
do something because of
someone's own personal
objections or unwillingness.
The young girl demurred
against her mother's
suggestion to quit eating
sweets.
denationalization Noun Pl:
denationalizations
The sale of businesses or
other very large assets
owned by either the state or
private investors.
Denationalization of basic
utilities is required to create
capitalist societies.
denigrate Verb PT: denigrated
PP: denigrated
PresP: denigrating
3rd S: denigrates
To insult someone's
character or reputation.
Teachers should not
denigrate a student in the
presence of others.
denigration (N)
denigrator (N)
denouement Noun Pl: denouements A last and final part in
which all things are made
apparent so that no
question or surprises are
remained unanswered.
The denouement of the
novel occurred when the
hero was able to resolve his
self doubt.
dentition Noun The kind, number, and
organization of a group of
teeth.
The wildlife expert
examined the deer's teeth
and created a dentition
chart of its teeth.
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Page 11GMAT - Vocabulary List
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
denunciatory Adjective Accusatory, condemning. Denunciatory activity
against minority groups
occurred during the Spanish
Inquisitions.
deride Verb
(Trans)
PT: derided
PP: derided
PresP: deriding
3rd S: derides
To mock or show disrespect
for a person or a thing.
To deride a friend for his
failures creates a lack of
trust.
derider (N)
deridingly (adverb)
derision Noun Dislike and ridicule. Young boys often use
derision against weaker
members of the group.
detractor Noun Pl: detractors Someone who belittles or
undervalues someone or
something.
The old detractor attempted
to make the woman feel
unattractive.
diapir Noun Pl: diapirs A dome shaped mass of
stone that moves upwards
through heavier overlying
stone.
Diapirs or salt-deposits
often creates magnificent
geological structures.
diapiric (Adj)
dichotomy Noun Pl: dichotomies A division into two separate
parts or situations that are
very different or are
opposite to each other.
The dichotomy between the
serene message and its
brutal undertone was typical
of the dictator's
communication.
dichotomic (Adj)
dichotomous (Adj)
dichotomously (Adv)
didactic Adjective Having an ethical or
political message;
Inclination to instruct or
advise others.
The didactic teachings of
the minister were meant to
communicate morals.
didactically (Adv)
diphtheria Noun A severe contagious disease
that is caused by the
bacterium Corynebacterium
diphtheria, that
contaminates the throat
membranes and causes
toxins to be released that
hurt the heart and the
nervous system.
Diphtheria has been
eliminated throughout
much of the world through
the use of vaccinations.
diphtherial (Adj)
diphtheric (Adj)
diphtheritic (Adj)
diphtheroid (Adj)
disavow Verb
(Trans)
PT: disavowed
PP: disavowed
PresP: disavowing
3rd S: disavows
To reject or deny any
knowledge of or blame for
something, or any
connection with someone or
something.
The young woman
disavowed all responsibility
for the failure of her
marriage.
disavowable (Adj)
disavowal (N)
disavowedly (Adv)
disavower (N)
discretionary Adjective Giving someone the choice
to make decisions in
agreement with someone's
own circumstances.
Discretionary funds were
used to improve the
playground after all other
budgetary needs were met.
discretionarily (Adv)
disparate Adjective Describing things or people
that cannot be compared
because they are absolutely
different.
Disparate factions of
political parties have been
established in recent years.
disparately (Adv)
disparateness (N)
disparity Noun Pl: disparities Lack of equality or
similarity between things or
people.
There remains a great deal
of disparity among the
opportunities available to
young people based on their
education and class.
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 12 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
dissenter Noun Pl: dissenters Someone who holds a
different opinion.
A dissenter stood up in the
forum and spoke against the
proposed plan.
dissipate Verb (Trans
and Intrans)
PT: dissipated
PP: dissipated
PresP: dissipating
3rd S: dissipates
To make something fade or
vanish, or to partake in
such an event.
A steady decrease in rainfall
dissipated the probability of
high yield crops.
dissipater (N)
dissipative (Adj)
dissipator (N)
divest Verb
(Trans)
PT: divested
PP: divested
PresP: divesting
3rd S: divests
To remove something like
status or power from a
person or a thing.
In order to divest himself of
conflicts, the new politician
placed stocks in a blind
trust.
divestible (Adj)
divestment (N)
divesture (N)
divestment Noun The removal of something
like status or power from a
person or a thing.
The divestment of stocks
left the young politician free
to make better decisions.
dividend Noun Pl: dividends Something worthy or
desired that is acquired as a
bonus in conjunction with
something else.
Because profits were up a
dividend was granted to
shareholders.
dogma Noun Pl: dogmas or
dogmata
A principle or set of
principles that are held to
be true by a religion.
Strict dogma insures
rigorous adherence to
cultural tradition.
dogwood Noun Pl: dogwoods or
dogwood
A tree or bush that has
small clusters of white
flowers enclosed by four
large white or reddish
leaves.
The dogwood trees bloom in
spring throughout the
southern United States.
dopamine Noun Noun: plural
dopamines
A chemical compound that
transmits nerve impulses
and is involved in the
formation of epinephrine; it
is found in the brain.
Dopamines are used in
prescription drugs to
improve depression.
dote on Phrase Fond of; like a lot about. The grandmother doted on
the child and always
brought gifts.
dubious Adjective Unsure about a result or
outcome.
It was dubious that the
property sold despite the
poor economy.
dubiously (Adv)
dubiousness (N)
ductile Adjective Capable of being made into
a wire or into very thin
sheets.
Ductile work on the air-
conditioning unit was
necessary during
construction.
ductilely (Adv)
ductileness (N)
ductility (N)
dyskenesia Noun An impairment of the
control over regular muscle
movements, that usually
result in sporadic
movements or twitches.
The doctor diagnosed the
woman with dyskenesia
after she injured her chest
muscles.
echelon Noun;
Verb (Trans
and Intrans)
Noun
Pl: echelons
Verb (Transitive and
Intransitive)
PT: echeloned
PP: echeloned
PresP: echeloning
3rd S: echelons
Noun
A level of influence or order
in an association or
organization.
Verb (Trans & Intrans)
To organize something in
or create an echelon.
The echelon of success was
reached with his
appointment as chairman of
the board.
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Page 13GMAT - Vocabulary List
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Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
ecological systems Phrase Relating to the
environment, with a focus
on the interrelationship
between organisms and the
environmental system
Ecological systems are
easily destroyed by human
disruption or climactic
change.
effigy Noun Pl: effigies A mannequin made to
amuse or insult someone on
purpose; it is a
representation of a person
or a thing that is highly
loathed or disliked.
The radical group burned in
all the effigies of its brutal
dictator.
effluent Noun Pl: effluents Liquid waste released from
a sewage plant or other
type of industrial plant that
produces nuclear wastes.
Effluent waste from Calcutta
was carried by rivers to the
Indian Ocean.
egalitarianism Noun Pertaining to or founded on
an idea that every person is
equal and should be able to
enjoy social, and political
and equality, as well as the
same economic rights.
The egalitarianism of the
Bahia faith creates a sense
of equality among all its
members.
egregious Adjective Incredibly bad, ridiculous
or obvious.
The egregious acts of a
fraudulent accounting firm
left the company bankrupt.
egregiously (Adv)
egregiousness (N)
electromagnetic Adjective Made by or pertaining to
electromagnetism.
An electromagnetic field
was set up to prevent robots
from entering the secret
chamber.
electromagnetically
(Adv)
electron Noun Pl: electrons A negatively charged
fundamental particle with a
small mass; it is the
fundamental unit of matter
and it travel around the
nucleus of the atom.
An atom is made up of
protons, neutrons, and
electrons.
emanate Verb (Trans
and Intrans)
PT: emanated
PP: emanated
PresP: emanating
3rd S: emanates
To emerge from or out of a
person, place, or thing.
A sense of joy emanated
from the new mother's face
when she held her child.
emanative (Adj)
embalm Verb
(Trans)
PT: embalmed
PP: embalmed
PresP: embalming
3rd S: embalms
To add preservatives to a
body to prevent it from
decaying.
The Egyptian practice of
mummification involved the
embalming of the body with
chemicals.
embalmer (N)
embalmment (N)
embellish Verb
(Trans)
PT: embellished
PP: embellished
PresP: embellishing
3rd S: embellishes
Adding decorations or
ornaments in order to
intensify the beauty of
something.
The ambassador
embellished his speech with
platitudes but did not
appease the leadership.
embryo Noun Pl: embryos A baby in the mother's
womb before the end of the
eighth week, after which it
is classified as a fetus.
The embryo symbolizes the
beginning of a life.
empirical Adjective Centered on or
differentiated by
observation and experiment
instead of using theory.
Empirical data was utilized
to complete the US census.
empirically (Adv)
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 14 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
encapsulate Verb (Trans
and Intrans)
PT: encapsulated
PP: encapsulated
PresP: encapsulating
3rd S: encapsulates
To show something in a
brief way.
Her theories encapsulate the
full range of possible
alternatives in addition to
addressing exceptions to
the rule.
encapsulation (N)
encapsulator (N)
encephalitis Noun Pl: encephalitides A viral infection that causes
the brain to swell.
After becoming infected
with encephalitis, the
woman regretted not having
gotten the vaccine.
encephalitic (Adj)
encroach Verb
(Intrans)
PT: encroached
PP: encroached
PresP: encroaching
3rd S: encroaches
To trespass or intrude
slowly or cautiously on
someone, usually taking
away the person's rights,
property, or authority.
The city's authentic center
is being encroached upon by
unappealing commercial
shopping malls.
encroacher (N)
encroachingly (Adv)
encroachment (N)
endorphin Noun Pl: endorphins A chemical compound in
the brain that uses the
same receptors that
morphine has.
Positive endorphins often
are released by the brain as
a result of good exercise.
endothermic Adjective Describes a chemical
reaction in which heat is
absorbed.
The endothermic nature of
the human body enables it
to always keep the same
body temperature despite
climactic changes.
endothermy (N)
enervation Verb
(Trans)
PT: enervated
past participle tense:
enervated
PresP: enervating
3rd S: enervates
To diminish someone's
physical, emotional, or
ethical liveliness.
The enervation induced by
the long hot summer caused
everyone to loose any
motivation to do anything.
enervation (N)
engender Verb PT: engendered
PP: engendered
PresP: engendering
3rd S: engenders
To happen or arise into
being, or make something
do so.
The engendered the values
of politeness and good
manners in their children
from a very young age.
engenderer (N)
epic Noun;
Adjective
Noun
Pl: epics
Noun
A long story-telling poem
that uses lofty language to
celebrate the adventures
and triumphs of a
legendary hero.
Adjective
Pertaining to or being an
epic.
The epic poem written by
Milton Paradise Lost is read
and treasured today.
epical (Adj)
epically (Adv)
epochal Adjective Extremely important or
meaningful.
World War II was an epochal
event in world history.
ersatz Adjective Imitating something of
superior quality; artificial.
Movie stars of the 1930s
possessed a certain glamour
and ersatz not present in
contemporary actors.
eschew Verb
(Trans)
PT: eschewed
PP: eschewed
PresP: eschewing
3rd S: eschews
To evade doing or using
something based on a
dogma.
The old man eschewed the
possibility of traveling then
decided to stay home.
eschewal (Adj)
espionage Noun Using spies to acquire
information that is secret.
Espionage and spying were
clearly acceptable during
the Cold War period.
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Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
espouse Verb
(Trans)
PT: espoused
PP: espoused
PresP: espousing
3rd S: espouses
To take up or support
something as a basis or
belief.
The minister espoused the
practice of abstinence as a
clear moral choice.
espouser (N)
estrange Verb
(Trans)
PT: estranged
PP: estranged
PresP: estranging
3rd S: estranges
To make someone stop
feeling friendly or loving
toward another person,
tradition, or belief.
The two friends felt distant
and estranged after years of
separation.
estranger (N)
extrangement (N)
et al Phrase And elsewhere. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
et al were philosophers of
the classical period.
ethnocentric Adjective A faith in or assumption of
the dominance of your own
social or ethnic group.
The ethnocentric nature of
Latin American studies
appealed to the young
woman.
ethnocentric (Adj)
ethnocentrically (Adv)
ethnocentricity (N)
ethnographic Noun A section of anthropology
that concerns itself with the
explanation of cultural
groups.
Ethnographic charts
explained the percentage of
various cultural groups in
the country.
ethnographer (N)
ethnographic (Adj)
ethnographically (Adv)
ethnologist Noun Study of the comparison of
why and how cultures differ
from one another.
Ethnologists study the
effects of distinct cultures
historically and
geographically.
ethylene Noun A flammable colorless gas
contained in petroleum,
other natural gases, and
when fruit ripens.
Ethylene is an ingredient in
higher grade petroleum.
ethylenic (Adj)
etymology Noun Pl: etymologies The study of the origin of
words and how words got
their meaning.
Etymology, the study of
word origins, helps in
linguistic development.
eukaryotic Noun Pl: eukaryotes An organism that has one
or more cells and nuclei
and organelles that are
visible.
eukaryotic (Adj)
exacerbate Verb
(Trans)
PT: exacerbated
PP: exacerbated
PresP: exacerbating
3rd S: exacerbates
To worsen an already bad
or difficult situation.
The child's temper tantrum
only exacerbated the
mother's already strained
emotional state.
excise Noun;
Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: excises
Verb (Transitive)
PT: excised
PP: excised
PresP: excising
3rd S: excises
Noun
Imposing a tax on products
that are sold in the
domestic market.
Verb (Trans)
To remove, delete, or edit a
piece of something .
Excise taxes were charged at
the Canadian border on
goods purchased in the
United States.
excisable (Adj)
exclusionary Adjective The act of prohibiting the
inclusion of someone or
something.
Exclusionary efforts have
always been part of
immigration law preventing
some groups from entering
the United States
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 16 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
exigency Noun Pl: exigencies Something that a condition
needs or makes
immediately necessary and
that places pressure on the
people involved in the
situation unable to handle
the demands of a political
life.
Exigency plans need to be
considered should the
project not meet its goals.
exodus Noun Pl: exoduses An exit or departure of a
large amount of people
from a place.
The exodus of the monarch
butterfly each year from
Mexico to Texas is quite a
phenomenon.
expatriate Noun;
Adjective;
Verb
Noun
Pl: expatriates
Verb
PT: expatriated
PP: expatriated
PresP: expatriating
3rd S: expatriates
Noun
A person that has left his
home nation in order to live
or work in another nation.
Adjective
Pertaining to people that
live outside of their home
nation.
Verb (Trans & Intrans)
To live in another nation.
The expatriate ignored the
value of local customs and
behaviors.
expound Verb (Trans
and Intrans
PT: expounded
PP: expounded
PresP: expounding
3rd S: expounds
To explain or describe a
theory or opinion in detail
or the explanation or
description of the
significance of a written
piece of work.
The workers expounded
upon their need for benefits
at the union rally.
expounder (N)
extrapolation Noun - The use of facts that are
already known as the initial
point from where to draw
assumptions or conclusions
about an unknown thing.
The extrapolation of the
novel was performed by the
professor.
extraterrestrial Adjective;
Noun
Noun
Pl: extraterrestrials
Adjective
Stemming from or living
outside of the Earth.
Noun
An unknown creature that
supposedly lives outside of
the Earth.
Extraterrestrial existence is
deemed very likely to exist
by scientists.
extricate Verb
(Trans)
PT: extricated
PP: extricated
PresP: extricating
3rd S: extricates
To free a person or a thing
with difficulty from a
physical limitation or a
disagreeable or complex
situation.
The associate at the
investment bank tried to
extricate himself from the
scandal.
façade Noun Pl: façades The front side of a building
that shows the most
important part of that
building.
The building's façade
concealed its true state.
fall into a rut Phrase A consistent trend or track
record from which a person
cannot get out.
The man had fallen into a
rut of bad luck.
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Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
farce Noun - An absurd or ridiculous
situation where all things
go wrong or turn out to be a
sham.
Farce as a dramatic form
was used by Oscar Wilde in
the early 20th century to
provoke social ridicule and
enable understanding.
far-reaching Phrase With extensive or
widespread effects,
implications, or impacts.
The belief in equal
opportunity has led to far-
reaching positive reforms.
fauna Noun Pl: faunas or faunae The total animal life or a
specific area or era.
The flora and fauna of the
Indian Ocean can be viewed
by snorkeling or scuba
diving.
faunal (Adj)
faunally (Adv)
fava Noun A plant grown all over the
world because it is able to
produces edible seeds that
are called beans.
On the Thanksgiving
holiday, the family feasts on
turkey, cranberry sauce and
fava beans.
fervent Adjective Expressing fervent or very
passionate interest.
The gentleman has long
been a fervent supporter of
the arts.
fervently (Adv)
ferventness (N)
fetal Adjective Pertaining to or typical of a
fetus.
The children dissected a
fetal pig in their Biology
class.
fid Noun Pl: fids A pole or rod that is used to
give support to the topmast
of a ship or large boat.
field studies Phrase Part of the research is
carried out outside the
laboratory.
During his field studies in
Peru, the anthropologist met
his future wife.
filibuster Noun;
Verb
Noun
Pl: filibusters
Verb
PT: filibustered
PP: filibustered
PresP: filibustering
3rd S: filibusters
Noun
1. A method used to delay
or prevent the passage of a
law or laws.
2. A person who uses
methods, like performing
lengthy speeches, to hinder
or prevent the passage of
laws.
Verb (Trans & Intrans)
To try and block or stop
laws from being passed by
stating long speeches.
The minority senators have
chosen to filibuster the bill
as a last effort to prevent it
coming to a vote.
filibusterer (N)
fillibusterism (N)
filibusterous (Adj)
financial crash Phrase Economic debacle; Sudden
drop in finance or economy
The financial crash of five
years ago still affects
consumer confidence today.
fjord Noun Pl: fjord An elongated narrow
coastal cove, often formed
by glaciers, with steeply
sloping sides, especially
along the west coast of
Norway.
We will have to push the
wagon across the fjord.
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 18 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
fleck Noun;
Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: flecks
Verb (Transitive)
PT: flecked
PP: flecked
PresP: flecking
3rd S: flecks
Noun
Very small dots, speck, or
streaks that are dispersed
throughout the surface or
block of something.
Verb (Trans)
To place streaks, spots, or
specks on something.
There was just a fleck of
white in the puppy's black
coat which indicate to the
breeder the dog might not
be full bred.
fledgling Noun;
Adjective
Noun
Pl: fledglings
Noun
1. A baby bird that just
developed its feathers that
are used for flying.
2. A person that is young or
lacks experience.
Adjective
Lacking experience because
the person or animal is still
in the act of learning.
The fledging business
struggled to attract
customers.
flippant Adjective Expressing a lack of
maturity that is considered
to be inappropriate.
The discussion of flippant
matters by management is
often a waste of time and
energy.
flippancy (N)
flippantly (Adv)
fly by Phrase Go by in a quick and
unrealizable way.
Time flies by.
fool around Phrase To act in a way that lacks
thought or responsibility.
His wife persisted to fool
around despite the fact that
she knew her husband was
aware of her actions
forebear Noun Pl: forebears A relative who died a very
long time ago.
My forebears were natives
of this country.
foreshorten Verb
(Trans)
PT: foreshortened
PP: foreshortened
PresP:
foreshortening
3rd S: foreshortens
1. To abridge or make the
written work shorter.
2. To make something look
shorter than it really is so
that a three dimensional
effect is created.
In order to show distance,
the artist foreshortened
figures.
formaldehyde Noun A clear gas with a particular
odor that is used in the
production of resins and
fertilizers. If the gas is
dissolved in water, then this
allows for the preservation
of organize specimens.
The fetal pigs were
preserved in formaldehyde.
fratricide Noun Pl: fratricides The killing of someone's
own brother.
The killing of someone's
own brother.
fratricidal (Adj)
freestanding Adjective Not connected to a wall,
ceiling, or other type of
structure that is commonly
used for support.
The freestanding sculpture
made quite an impression
on the viewer.
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Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
fresco Noun;
Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: frescoes or
frescos
Verb (Transitive)
PT: frescoed
PP: frescoed
PresP: frescoing
3rd S: frescoes
Noun
A painting created on a wall
or ceiling that has fresh
plaster on it.
Verb (Trans)
To paint a fresco on a wall
or a ceiling.
We traveled to Italy to view
some of the greatest fresco
paintings.
frescoer (N)
frescoist (N)
Freudian Adjective Pertaining to Sigmund
Freud, or is
psychoanalytical theories,
methods, or writings
Freudian notions of
psychoanalysis remain vital.
Freudianism (N)
geometrid Noun Pl: geometrids A moth with a thin body,
wide wings, and larvae that
move with a distinctive
looping movement.
Slender moths belong to the
geometrid family.
geometrid (Adj)
gibberellin Noun Pl: gibberellins A fungi and plant hormone
that causes cells, stems,
and leaves to grow.
The expert gardener
described to us the process
by which gibberelin
enhances his plant's growth.
girdle Noun;
Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: girdles
Verb (Transitive)
PT: girdled
PP: girdled
PresP: girdling
3rd S: girdles
Cord or belt fastened round
the waist to keep clothes in
position; Corset
The girdle was designed to
improve a woman's figure.
gland Noun Pl: glands A group of cells or an organ
that is responsible for the
removal and excretion of
substances from the
bloodstream.
The thyroid gland directs
the growth hormones.
glandless (Adj)
glean Verb PT: gleaned
PP: gleaned
PresP: gleaning
3rd S: gleans
To accumulate small
quantities of information
gradually.
By rereading the text the
young student was able to
glean understanding.
gleaner (N)
glycerol Noun Glycerin. Glycerol is an ingredient in
many skin toner products.
GNP Abbreviation Gross National Product: the
nation's profits including
foreign assets.
The Economist reports GNP
and debt ratios of most
countries regularly.
gradient Noun;
Adjective
Noun
Pl: gradients
Noun
An upward or downward
slope.
Adjective
Sloping uniformly and
equally throughout.
The gradient on the steep
entrance forced the cars to
proceed in lower gears
grandiloquent Adjective An ostentatious or snobby
way to speak or write.
The writer waxed
grandiloquent to the press
about her new novel
grandiosity Noun Ostentatious, showy, and
pompous.
The grandiosity of the
palace made the poor
people sad and envious.
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 20 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
gravitate Verb PT: gravitated
PP: gravitated
PresP: gravitating
3rd S: gravitates
To gradually or carefully
move toward a person as if
done due to some external
force or attraction.
The magician was
fascinating and children
gravitated toward him
gregarious Adjective Extremely friendly and
outgoing.
The gregarious and
rambunctious children were
not easy to control
gregariously (Adv)
gregariousness (N)
gynecologist Noun The area of medicine that
focuses on women's health.
The gynecologist urged
annual woman's health
visits to her office
gynecologist (N)
gyration Noun Pl: gyrations A movement in a circular
pattern around a permanent
center.
The gyration of the rock star
began with Elvis Presley.
haberdashery Noun Pl: haberdasheries The products sold by a
haberdasher or person that
sells men's clothing.
A man's clothing store is
rarely call a haberdashery in
this century.
hadron Noun Pl: hadrons A subatomic particle that is
prone to strong nuclear
interaction.
The physicist was
particularly interested in the
interactions of subatomic
particles, in particular,
hadrons.
hadronic (Adj)
hedgehog Noun Pl: hedgehogs A type of small mammal
that is native to Europe,
Africa, and Asia that has a
small cone shaped head and
round body with hard
bristles on the back.
The hedgehogs appeared
tough from a distance
despite their size.
hegemony Noun Authority or governing
influence by one person or
group over another person
or group.
The hegemony of the U.S. in
political and economic
affairs has faded.
hegemonic (Adj)
hegemonism (N)
hegemonist (N)
helium Noun An inert, colorless, and
odorless gas that is
nonflammable.
Helium balloons flew up
into the sky.
hemoglobin Noun A protein found in red
blood cells that is able to
transport oxygen because it
has iron.
The doctor treated the red
blood cell count in her
hemoglobin.
hepatitis Noun The swelling of the liver
which causes fever,
abdominal pain, jaundice,
and fragility.
Hepatitis can easily be
contracted through the
exchange of blood fluids.
herbicide Noun Pl: herbicides A chemical compound used
for the killing of weeds or
inhibition of the growth or
weeds.
Herbicides were used to
destroy the jungles.
herbicidal (Adj)
herbicidally (Adv)
hinterland Noun Pl: hinterlands An area that is isolated
from a city or ethnic
influence.
Wyoming lies in the
hinterland of economic
involvement.
hit show Phrase A show with great
popularity.
The hit show found success
many seasons ago.
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Page 21GMAT - Vocabulary List
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
hominid Noun;
Adjective
Pl: hominids Noun
A primate belonging to the
same family as the current
human beings.
Adjective
Pertaining to hominids
In the classification of
species, hominids represent
the family in which human
and apes are a part.
hominization Noun The hypothesized
evolutionary progress of
human features that
separate hominids from
other primates.
Hominization is a theory
studied by evolution
specialists.
homogeneous Adjective Made up of the same
fundamental elements, or
being alike in nature.
The homogeneous nature of
the community made
anyone different stand out.
homogeneously (Adv)
homogeneousness (N)
hydrocarbon Noun Pl: hydrocarbons An organic chemical
compound that has only
hydrogen and carbon
atoms.
Hydrocarbon is a potentially
harmful molecule.
hydrocarbonaceous
(Adj)
hydrocarbonic (Adj)
hydrocarbonous (Adj)
hydrogen Noun The lightest and most
abundant chemical element
in the universe; it a
colorless and incredibly
reactive gas.
Hydrogen is a key element
in water.
hydrogenous (Adj)
hyperthermia Noun Unusually high body
temperature.
The lifeguard noticed the
blush skin of the winter
swimmer who shivered in
the water and proceeded to
treat him for hyperthermia.
hyperthermal (Adj)
hyperthermic (Adj)
hypnotist Noun The y or vertical coordinate
of a point on a graph or
diagram.
The hypnotist dazzles the
children with her magic
tricks.
hypnotism (N)
hypnotise (V)
hypnotic (Adj)
hypothalamus Noun Pl: hypothalami An area located on the
underside of the brain that
controls involuntary
functions.
The hypothalamus'
malfunction was
responsible for the child low
body temperature.
hypothalamic (Adj)
hysterectomy Noun Pl: hysterectomies A surgical removal of a
female's uterus.
In order to ensure that the
cancer would not spread the
woman chose to have a
hysterectomy
hysterectomize
(transitive verb)
ibuprofen Noun A pain-relieving and anti-
inflammatory drug that is
administered to decrease
pain and inflammation; it is
used in the treatment of
arthritis.
The doctor prescribed
ibuprofen for her pain
though she wanted
something stronger.
iconography Noun A series of symbol or
pictures that are used in a
specific area of activity and
recognized by people as
having a specific meaning.
The study of iconography
enabled the art historian to
be familiar in the Biblical
references.
iconographer (N)
iconographic (Adj)
iconographical (Adj)
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 22 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
idioglossia Noun A defect in a child's
development where a child
replaces the different
sounds for the right
sounds, so that speech is
only able to understood by
either the parents or people
that are close to the child.
The child's idioglossia
would fade when they
entered daycare and were
forced to make themselves
understood.
idiosyncrasy Noun A specific way of feeling,
behaving, or thinking that is
usually odd or weird.
One of her idiosyncrasies
was that she only slept in
black or white nightgowns.
immune Adjective Protection from catching a
specific disease due to a
natural resistance to that
disease.
The dog was immune to
rabies.
immunological Adjective The scientific study of the
way the immune system
functions inside the body,
including allergic reactions,
immunity to diseases, and
tolerance off foreign tissue.
Immunological study has
resulted sometimes in the
discovery of vaccines.
immunologic or
immunological (Adj)
immunologically (Adv)
immunologist (N)
import relief Verb
(Trans);
Noun
Verb (Transitive)
PT: imported
PP: imported
PresP: importing
3rd S: imports
Verb (Trans)
To bring something into
this nation from another
nation for commercial
reasons.
Noun
In commerce, it is a thing
brought into this nation
from another nation for
commercial reasons.
Import relief brought
domestic producers an
increased chance at success
in local markets
in favor of Phrase Agree with. We were in favor of the
election of the mayoral
candidate.in so far as Phrase To the extent that. In so far as the belief in
slavery has been eradicated
there is no longer a legal
basis in society for its
existence.
in terms of Phrase Pertaining to something. In terms of atmosphere the
restaurant is second to
none.incandescent Adjective Heating something to a very
high temperature so that is
emits light.
The incandescent lighting
distracted the workers.
incandescently (Adv)
incandescence (N)
incipient Adjective Starting to develop or show. If ovarian cancer is caught
in its incipient stage it can
be cured.
incipience (N)
incipiently (Adv)
indelible Adjective Remaining forever because
it is impossible to be
removed.
The wine had left an
indelible stain on her shirt.
indelibility (N)
indelibly (Adv)
indenture Noun Pl: indentures A contract binding a
person, either an apprentice
or servant, to work for an
employer or master for a
predetermined time period.
The indentured servant was
forced to slave away for the
family for seven years.
indentured (Adj)
indentureship (N)
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Page 23GMAT - Vocabulary List
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
indices Noun singular: index Alphabetic lists. The stock indices if
observed carefully would
explain long-term trends.
Indomethacin Noun A medication that is used to
decrease pain, swelling, and
fever.
The doctor prescribed
Indomethacin for the
patient's pain.
inducement Noun Pl: inducements A thing that provides a
stimulus or incentive to a
person to do something.
The applicant was offered
$10,000 as an inducement
to sign on with the
company.
induce (transitive
verb)
inexorable Adjective Not able to be stopped. There was an inexorable rise
in rainfall in the area in the
past decade.
inexorability (N)
inexorableness (N)
inexorably (Adv)
inextricable Adjective Not possible to be freed
from.
Racism seemed to have
inextricable links with
poverty and
a lack of opportunity.
inextricability (N)
inextricableness (N)
inextricably (Adv)
infield Noun Pl: infields The region of a baseball
field that is enclosed by a
home plate and the three
other bases; known as a
baseball diamond.
The infield of the baseball
field contains bases and the
pitcher's mound.
infielder (N)
iniquitous Adjective Extremely immoral, wrong,
and painful.
Iniquitous deeds of the
dictator created a brutal
environment.
iniquitously (Adv)
iniquitousness (N)
inquisitorial Adjective Looking like a formal
inquiry.
The inquisitorial nature of
the father's questions made
the child fee suspect.
inquisitorially (Adv)
interferometer Noun Pl: interferometers A mechanical instrument
that determines wave
frequency, length, or
velocity by using
interference patterns.
An interferometer was used
to measure the length of
light waves from the star.
interferometric (Adj)
interferometrically
(Adv)
interferometry (N)
internecine Adjective Happening within a group
or other type of institution.
The internecine nature of
the police state lead to
insurgency.
interpolation Noun To place something
unnecessarily between
already existing items of
another thing.
The interpolation of the
president's speech by the
translator changed its
meaning.
interpolation (N)
interpolative (Adj)
interpolator (N)
intracellular Adjective Inside a cell or cells. Intracellular activity made
tracking of the infection
point difficult.
intracellularly (Adv)
intuit Verb
(Trans)
PT: intuited
PP: intuited
PresP: intuiting
3rd S: intuits
To be conscious of or
realize something without
learning or thinking about
it.
The psychologist was able
to intuit the patients
depression without
dialogue.
intuitable (Adj)
invertebrate Noun;
Adjective
Noun
Pl: invertebrates
Noun
An animal that does not
have a backbone.
Adjective
Not having a spinal column
or backbone.
Worms are ancient
invertebrates with no spinal
formations.
inveterate Adjective Secured in a routine or
habit.
The inveterate enemies were
unable to resolve
differences after a century.
inveteracy (N)
inveterately (Adv)
inveterateness (N)
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 24 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
invigorate Verb
(Trans)
PT: invigorated
PP: invigorated
PresP: invigorating
3rd S: invigorates
To give energy to a person
or a thing.
To invigorate the saddened
community, a large festival
was held.
invigoration (N)
invigorative (Adj)
invigoratively (Adv)
invigorator (N)
ion Noun Pl: ions An atom that has become
electrically charged because
it either lost or gained
electrons.
Electrically charged ions
moved between two cells.
iridium Noun A silver-white metallic and
easily broken chemical
element; it creates hard rust-
resistant alloys used in a
number or different
objects.
Iridium is a white metal
often found with platinum
but not used in jewelry.
isotope Noun Pl: isotopes Having the same atomic
number as the element but
differing in the number of
neutrons.
The uranium isotope was
highly unstable.
isotopic (Adj)
jasper Noun Pl: jaspers A contaminated form of the
gemstone chalcedony; it is
red in color due to the
impurities that is contains.
She always wore a jasper
necklace which her mother
had given her.
jaspery (Adj)
juxtapose Verb
(Trans)
PT: juxtaposed
PP: juxtaposed
PresP: juxtaposing
3rd S: juxtaposes
To place things side by
side.
The concert juxtaposed
early Beethoven works and
later ones.
juxtaposition (N)
juxtapositional (Adj)
kelp Noun Pl: kelps Seaweed that is
characterized by its thick
brown fronds.
Kelp is used in some
Japanese cooking.
Keynesian Adjective A major school of economic
theory developed by
Keynes.
Keynesian economics
promotes the idea of
government spending to
create jobs and boost the
economy.
Keynesianism (N)
kinetic Adjective Pertaining to, caused by, or
making motion.
Kinetic energy drives
motion.
kinetically (Adv)
lactic Adjective Pertaining to or coming
from milk.
Lactic acid caused soreness
in the runner's muscles.
laissez-faire
capitalism
Noun The theory that states that
the best way to operate the
economy is to not regulate
private industry or the
market.
Laissez-faire capitalism has
served to create growth but
increased poverty.
laurel Noun;
Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: laurels
Verb (Transitive)
PT: laureled or
laurelled
PP: laureled or
laurelled
PresP: laureling or
laurelling
3rd S: laurels
Noun
A tree or shrub whose
berries, leaves, or aroma
look like those of the laurel.
Verb (Trans)
To crown a person with a
laurel as a sign or honor.
Laurel wreaths are
representative of the
classical period.
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Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
leery Adjective comparative tense:
leerier
superlative tense:
leeriest
Being suspicious of a
person or thing.
The children were told to be
leery of strangers.
leeriness (N)
lepidoptera Noun A butterfly or moth. With the classifications of
various living things,
Lepidoptera represents the
order of insects in which
butterflies lie.
lepidopteran
(adjective, noun)
lepidopterist (N)
lepidopterous (Adj)
leprosy Noun Pl: leprosies A tropical disease that
causes tissue change and
affects the skin and nerves.
Leprosy plagues many
impoverished nations.
leprotic (Adj)
leucine Noun An essential amino acid
that makes up proteins.
Leucine was one of the
essential amino acids
studied by the scientist.
leukemia Noun Pl: leukemias A blood cancer in which
there is an overproduction
of white blood cells.
Children infected with
leukemia, struggle to beat
the disease.
leukemic
(adjective, noun)
lexicographer Noun The writer or editor of
dictionaries.
The lexicographer wrote
definitions after definitions
with a great passion.
lexicography (N)
limestone Noun A rock made by the shells
and skeletons of marine
organisms and usually used
in construction.
Limestone was used to
make many of the houses in
the town.
linguist Noun Pl: linguists A person who speaks
different languages.
The linguist pursued the
study of German
intensively.
linguistics Noun The study of languages. The study of linguistics
enabled the student to
develop and understanding
of the language.
linguistician (N)
lionize Verb
(Trans)
PT: lionized
PP: lionized
PresP: lionizing
3rd S: lionizes
To treat a person as if he or
she is a celebrity or to make
a person into a celebrity.
The artist was lionized for
his achievements.
lionization (N)
lionizer (N)
lipid Noun Pl: lipids A group of organic
compounds that is made up
of fats and oils, and is part
of the fundamental
components of living cells.
Lipids represent an
essential part of cells.
lipidic (Adj)
lipoprotein Noun Pl: lipoproteins A protein carrying lipid
found in the bloodstream.
Lipoproteins distribute
essential lipids and proteins
throughout the body.
luminescence Noun The release of light without
the use of heat.
The luminescence of the sun
stunned primitive man.
luminescent (Adj)
lush Adjective 1. Making a lot of strong
plush young growth.
2. Tasting juicy, rich and
sweet.
1. plant The lush vegetation
filled the woods in the
summer. 2. luxurious The
lush apartment's
furnishings were surprising
especially considering her
poor financial situation.
lushly (Adv)
lushness (N)
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 26 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
lymph Noun A body fluid that contains
white blood cells; it is
drained from tissue spaces
by the lymphatic system.
Lymph tissues protect
against infection.
lymphatic Adjective;
Noun
Adjective
Pertaining to lymph or the
lymph system.
Noun
A vessel that moves or has
lymph.
The lymphatic system
transports materials good
and bad throughout the
body.
lymphatically (Adv)
lymphocyte Noun Pl: lymphocytes A type of white blood cell
that creates antibodies to
fight infection and
cancerous cells in the body.
Lymphocytes are part of the
immune defense system and
fight off disease.
lymphocytic (Adj)
lysis Noun Pl: lyses Cell death due to the
disruption of the cell
membrane.
Lysis resulted in the loss of
cells.
macaque Noun A strong, short-tailed
monkey that lives in the
rocky and wooded places of
Asia and northern Africa.
macrophage Noun Pl: macrophages A large cell that removes
waste products, dangerous
microorganisms, and
foreign material from the
blood; the cell is present in
blood, lymph, and
connective tissues.
macrophagic (Adj)
maim Verb
(Trans)
PT: maimed
PP: maimed
PresP: maiming
3rd S: maims
To inflict a serious and
enduring would on a person
or an animal.
That poor fellow was
maimed by a land mine.
make allowances Phrase Allocate money or resource
for special purposes.
Making allowances for
young mothers is required
by corporations.
malady Noun Pl: maladies A mental or physical
disease or illness..
The malady was diagnosed
as rheumatoid arthritis.
mammalian Adjective A class of vertebrate
animals that are warm-
blooded.
Mammalian animals feed
their young through milk
producing organs.
marrow Noun Pl: marrows Soft red or yellow fatty
tissue that is found in the
central hollow part of the
bone.
Noun: 1. Red marrow is the
site of blood cell
production. Bone marrow is
added to pet products for
dental health.
mason Noun;
Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: masons
Verb (Transitive)
PT: masoned
PP: masoned
PresP: masoning
3rd S: masons
Noun
A person that creates thing
from stone, or who
prepares stones for the use
of builders.
Verb (Trans)
To construct or reinforce
something with the use of
stone.
Stone masons built houses
in Ancient Greece that still
stand today.
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Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
matrix Noun Pl: matrices or
matrixes
A substance that has things
embedded in it.
The matrix created by
masses of tissue makes it
complex to perform heart
surgery.
measly Adjective An incredibly small and
inadequate amount.
The bush yielded a measly
amount of the red berries.
meek Adjective Expression a mild or quiet
nature.
The meek child lowered his
eyes and would not
respond.
meekly (Adv)
meekness (N)
megalith Noun Pl: megaliths A very large stone that is
able to stand upright or is
part of a prehistoric
structure.
A megalith of granite
signaled the opening of a
sacred cave.
megalithic (Adj)
membrane Noun Pl: membranes A flexible and thing layer of
tissue that connects, covers,
lines, or separates different
organs in an animal or
plant.
The membrane of the
placenta is thin and porous
requiring mothers to eat to
protect properly their
unborn children.
membranaceous (Adj)
membranal (Adj)
metabolize Verb (Trans
and Intrans)
PT: metabolized
PP: metabolized
PresP: metabolizing
3rd S: metabolizes
To undergo metabolism, or
to subject a person to the
biochemical process of
metabolism.
In order to metabolize the
vitamins patients must
drink much water.
metabolizable (Adj)
metamorphose Verb PT: metamorphosed
PP: metamorphosed
PresP:
metamorphosing
3rd S:
metamorphoses
To make a person or thing
undergo or to undergo a
total or noticeable change
in structure, substance, or
physical form.
The butterfly
metamorphoses from a
fuzzy caterpillar.
meteorite Noun Pl: meteorites A rock from outer space
that has reached Earth.
Some speculate a giant
meteorite hit the earth
ending the dinosaur period.
meteorologist Noun Pl: meteorologists A person who studies the
science of weather,
meteorology.
Meteorologists study
weather patterns.
meteorology Noun The scientific study of
weather.
Meteorology is concerned
with weather and climate
patterns in this age of global
warming.
meteorological (Adj)
meteorologically (Adv)
milieu Noun The setting or environment
that a person lives in and is
influenced by.
The milieu of Berlin after
World War II was physically
and emotionally depressing.
mite Noun Pl: mites An incredibly small eight-
legged creature that is
related to spiders and ticks.
The housewife checked the
children for mites when
they returned from the
woods.
mitochondria Noun singular tense:
mitochondrion
A rod-shaped or small
round body that is found in
the cytoplasm of almost all
cells and it makes enzymes
for the making of energy
from food.
Mitochondria aid the cell in
the creation of energy from
food.
molten Adjective Transformed into a liquid
by the use of heat.
Molten lava flowed from the
active volcano.
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 28 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
monochrome Adjective;
Noun
Noun: Pl:
monochromes
Adjective
Showing, using, or
photographed in only one
shade of color.
Noun
A black and white
photograph or
transparency.
The monochrome clothing
design was clearly in
fashion this season though
many resisted the lack of
color.
monochromic (Adj)
monochromist (N)
morphine Noun A pain-relieving drug that
is made dorm opium.
The doctor treated the
patient's chronic pain with
morphine, though he
warned that the patient
would develop an addiction.
morphogenetic Adjective The development of an
organism from embryo into
an adult.
Morphogenetic creation is
one of the miracles of
Biology
morphogenesis (N)
morphogenetically
(Adv)
morphogenic (Adj)
morphological Adjective The structure and shape of
an organism.
The morphological structure
of creatures is important in
biological research.
mosque Noun Pl: mosques A place of worship for
Muslims.
From the mosque the call
for prayer sings out five
times a day.
Mouflon Noun Pl: mouflons A wild sheep, reddish-
brown in color, that is part
of the Sardinian and
Corsican breed of sheep.
-
mutation Noun Pl: mutations A change in a gene or
chromosome due to chance
that can be inherited.
The fly was a result of a
strange mutation.
mutational (Adj)
mutationally (Adv)
mythological Adjective Pertaining to,
representative of, or
appearing in myth.
The mystical stories of
Greek gods and goddesses
still influence current
thought and literature.
mythologically (Adv)
nadir Noun Pl: nadirs The lowest possible point. He reached a nadir of
sadness when his child died
in an accident .
narcissistic Adjective Extreme selfishness and
self admiration.
The narcissistic personality
of most actors made true
friendship impossible.
natal Adjective Pertaining to birth or to the
time and location of a birth.
The prenatal care given to
mothers decreases rates of
birth defects.
NATO (North
Atlantic Treaty
Organization)
Noun An international military
alliance that was
established in 1949 to
encourage mutual defense
and collective security.
NATO's alliance may be
decreasing in power.
neologism Noun Pl: neologisms A new word, phrase or
meaning.
The variety of neologisms is
astounding.
neologist (N)
nologistic (Adj)
neologistically (Adv)
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Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
neo-orthodoxy Noun An early 20th century
Protestant movement that
places emphasis on ethics
and the teaching of the
Bible; the movement is
associated with the
theology of Karl Barth.
That church follows the
teachings of Karl Barth and
Neo-Orthodoxy.
neoorthodo (Adj)
Neurogenesis Noun The creation and growth of
cells of the nervous system.
Neurogenesis describes the
process of the creation of
nerve cells.
neurogenetic (Adj)
neurogenetically (Adv)
neuron Noun Pl: neurons A nerve cell made up of a
cell body, axon, and
dendrites that sends nerve
impulses to other cells; it is
the fundamental unit of the
nervous system.
Neurons are one of the
particles in the nucleus of
the atoms.
neuronal (Adj)
neuronally
(neuronally)
neutrino Noun Pl: neutrino An stable elementary
neutral particle with a zero
rest mass that belongs to
the lepton family.
Subatomic particles like
neutrinos have almost no
mass.
neutron star Noun Pl: neutron stars A star made up of a very
thick and condensed mass
of neutrons, the piece of a
star that has buckled under
its own gravity.
The neutron star will burn
out soon.
nexus Noun Pl: nexus or nexuses A link that associates or
connects people or things
together.
Dallas/Ft. Worth is the
nexus for American Airlines
service to the Southwestern
parts of the U.S.
nitric Adjective Produced from or having
nitrogen.
Nitric acid sometimes is
used in explosives.
nitrogen Noun A nonmetallic, odorless,
colorless gaseous element
that makes up four fifths of
the Earth's atmosphere.
Nitrogen is the largest
component of the earth's
atmosphere.
nitrogenous (Adj)
nova Noun Pl: novas or novae A star that unexpectedly
increases its brightness and
then fades to its original
brightness over a short
period of time.
The nova's rapid increase in
brightness was captured in
satellite pictures.
Novocain Noun A local anesthetic used in
medicine and dentistry that
is a white or colorless
crystalline ester.
Dentists often use Novocain
to numb the gums of their
patients.
nucleon Noun A proton or neutron located
within a nucleus.
Nucleons made up the
nucleus of an atom.
nucleotide Noun The fundamental units of
nucleic acids.
The scientists worked
toward an understanding of
the nucleotides in RNA.
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 30 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
nucleus Noun Pl: nuclei or
nucleuses
1. A central or most
important element that has
others gathered or
constructed around it.
2. The positively charged
middle region of an atom,
made up of protons and
neutrons, and contains
most of the mass of the
atom.
The nucleus of the atoms
holds protons and neutrons.
nylon Noun Pl: nylons Noun
A hard man-made material
that is used in
manufactured products.
Noun (Plural)
Women's stocking made up
of the man-made fiber
nylon.
Nylon is used to make many
fabrics.
obeisance Noun Pl: obeisances A gesture or sign
symbolizing respect or
admiration.
The obeisance of troops to
their leaders sometimes
seems extreme and
mindless.
obsidian Noun Pl: obsidians A jet-black volcanic glass
used by early civilizations
for making tools and
ceremonial objects; it is
chemically similar to
granite.
The necklace was made with
obsidian.
obsolescence Noun The condition becoming
obsolete because it is being
replaced by something that
is new.
The obsolescence of the
buildings' design made it
outdated before completion.
ocher Noun A brownish-yellow color. The ocher color of the
Moroccan influenced home
created an orange yellow
glow.
ocher (Adj)
ocherous (Adj)
ochery (Adj)
oligosaccharide Noun Pl: oligosaccharides A type of carbohydrate that
is made up of
monosaccharides that are
linked together.
The scientist studied the
effects of oligosaccharides
on the body versus other
carbohydrates.
on pain of death Phrase On pain of death the soldier
would not reveal his
comrade's location.
organelle Noun Pl: organelles A specialized piece of a cell
that has a specific function.
The students created
diagram and specified the
specialized functions of all
the organelles with the cell.
orthogenetic Noun Pl: orthogeneses An obsolete theory of
evolution that evolution can
proceed due to internal
genetic reasons, as opposed
to external forces
The shape of your children's
jaws may be orthogenetic in
its nature.
orthogenetic (Adj)
orthogenetically (Adv)
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Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
osprey Noun Pl: ospreys or
osprey
A hawk, found worldwide,
that it characterized by
having long wings, a white
head with a dark stripe
around the eyes, and it eats
fish.
The osprey is a bird native
to Yellowstone National
Park.
outmoded Adjective Not widely used or no
longer in fashion.
The typewriter has become
outmoded as most work is
done on keyboards.
overlord Noun Pl: overlords A principal rule that as
overall power over a region.
The overlord of the dance
was honored by the other
dancers.
overlordship (N)
oxide Noun Pl: oxides A combined that contains
oxygen.
Rust on the tools was a
result of iron oxide.
pagination Noun The chronological numbers
assigned to pages in a
written document.
Pagination of the Bible was
done in Roman numerals.
paleoclimatologist Noun A person that studies
prehistoric climates using
evidence preserved in
fossils, glaciers, and rocks.
A Paleocimatologist uses
fossils to attempt
understanding of ancient
weather patterns.
Paleolithic Noun The era of the Stone Age
where the earliest humans
began to make tools.
The Paleolithic period of
human development saw
the use of simple tools.
paleontologist Noun A person who studies life in
prehistoric times with the
use of evidence obtained
from fossils.
A Wyoming paleontologist
found a complete dinosaur
skeleton.
paleontology (N)
panacea Noun Pl: panaceas A hypothetical cure for all
problems or illnesses.
A good meal is a panacea
for a hungry stomach and
an disturbed spirit.
panacean (Adj)
parallax Noun An obvious change in the
position of an object when
the person changes his
position.
The parallax of the wild
horses seemed to change as
the rider mounted another
hill.
parallactic (Adj)
parallactically (Adv)
parapsychology Noun The study of mental
phenomena that is not able
to be explained.
The new age philosopher
used an unproven method
of parapsychology to
control the crowd.
parapsychologic (Adj)
parapsychologist (N)
pare Verb
(Trans)
PT: pared
PP: pared
PresP: paring
3rd S: pares
To thinly and neatly get rid
of the outermost layer or
skin of a fruit or vegetable.
The old mother pared the
apples for dessert with a
small knife.
passbook Noun Pl: passbooks A book where money
transactions are recorded.
The passbook allowed
twenty free admissions to
the museum.pathogenic Adjective Capable of causing disease. The pathogenic nature of
the bacteria created fever
and long term malaise.
pecuniary Adjective Pertaining to or involving
money.
Pertaining to or involving
money.
pecuniarily (Adv)
pedagogical Noun The profession or science
of teaching.
A pedagogical approach to
training made the
employees feel they were
back in school.
pedagogic (Adj)
pedagogical (Adj)
pedagogically (Adv)
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 32 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
penitentiary Noun;
Adjective
Noun
Pl: penitentiaries
Noun
A person who has been
found guilty of a serious
crime.
Adjective
Pertaining to penance.
The criminal was sentenced
to ten years in the federal
penitentiary.
penny-pinch Verb To be very stingy or
extremely careful with his
or her money.
The penny-pinching ways of
the old miser were written
of in A Christmas Carol.
peptide Noun Pl: peptides A compound with amino
acids that have bonds
between the carboxyl and
amino groups.
Peptide bonds at the cellular
level are the primary
linkages in proteins.
peptidic (Adj)
perfunctory Adjective Done routinely without
attention, thought, or
legitimate feeling.
Her perfunctory reply to the
complex question left the
young student dismayed.
perfunctorily (Adv)
perfunctoriness (N)
periwinkle Noun;
Adjective
Noun
A trailing evergreen plant,
native to Europe and Asia,
with dark green glossy
leaves and white or blue
flowers.
Adjective
Having a pale bluish purple
color.
The blue of her eye was the
color of periwinkle
blossoms.
pernicious Adjective Tending to cause serious
harm, damage, or death.
The pernicious gossip in the
small town poisoned the
very air of the village.
perniciously (Adv)
perrniciousness (N)
phagocytosis Noun The swallowing up and
eating of a foreign particles
by phagocytic cells.
Phagocytosis is a process
that could be used the
body's fight against cancer
cells.
phagocytotic (Adj)
phonograph Noun Pl: phonographs A machine that plays
records.
The old fashioned
phonograph play recordings
in the antique store.
phosphate Noun Pl: phosphates A salt or ester derived from
the reaction of phosphoric
acid with either a metal,
alcohol, or radical of
phosphoric acid.
Phosphate was once used to
affect a glow in the
darkness.
phosphatic (Adj)
photon Noun Pl: photons A quantum of any form of
electromagnetic radiation
that has both particle and
wave like properties.
The study of photons has
influenced the
understanding of the nature
of light.
photonic (Adj)
photosynthesis Noun The production of
carbohydrates by green
plants using the sun and
the plant's chlorophyll.
Photosynthesis is the
process through which the
sunflowers fed their growth.
photosynthetic (Adj)
photosynthetically
(Adv)
pituitary Adjective Pertaining to or made by
the pituitary gland.
The pituitary gland seemed
to control mood swings in
women.
plasma Noun Pl: plasmas A translucent fluid yellow
in color that is a component
of human milk, blood, or
lymph.
Blood banks are necessary
in disasters for buying and
selling human plasma.
plasmatic (Adj)
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Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
pleiotropic Adjective One single gene controls
two or more apparently
unrelated features of the
same organism.
The pleiotropic property of
certain genes confounded
scientists for decades.
Pleistocene Noun Pertaining to or used in the
description of the
Quaternary Period
in the Cenozoic Era.
During the Pleistocene
period great ice sheets
covered the earth.
plumb Noun;
Adverb;
Adjective;
Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: plumbs
Verb (Transitive)
PT: plumbed
PP: plumbed
PresP: plumbing
3rd S: plumbs
Noun
A lead weight that is
attached to a line and is
used to determine the
depth of water.
Adverb
Precisely or exactly.
Adjective
In a precise vertical
alignment.
Verb (Trans)
To understand something
to the fullest degree.
To plumb the depths of the
Arctic Ocean was the
explorers dream.
plummet Verb
(Intrans);
Noun
Verb (Intransitive)
PT: plummeted
PP: plummeted
PresP: plummeting
3rd S: plummets
Noun
Pl: plummets
Verb (Intransitive)
To drop steeply and in a
sudden downward motion.
Noun
A sudden decrease in
quantity or worth.
The skydiver plummeted to
the earth when his chute
failed to open.
plutonium Noun A radioactive metallic
element that is silver in
color and is found in
uranium ores.
Plutonium is the rare
mineral added to nuclear
material to create a third
nuclear device.
plywood Noun A construction material
made by the gluing of
several layers of wood on
top of each other.
Plywood is a bestseller at
Home Depot replacing
expensive real woods for
house framing.
poacher Noun Pl: poachers A person that trespasses on
another person's property
and practices illegal
hunting or fishing.
The elephant poacher
illegally entered the park to
kill two elephants
unbeknownst to authority.
polarity Noun Pl: polarities A situation in which people
or things have extreme
differences.
The liberal and conservative
members represented a
broad polarity of issues that
could not be bridged.
polyarchy Noun A political system in which
more than one leaders
share the ruling power.
Four men ruled as equals in
the science fiction story of a
polyarchy.
polymorph Noun Pl: polymorphs An organism, either a plant
or animal, that takes many
different shapes.
The art world polymorphs
and evolves constantly to
meet new social concepts.
polymorphic (Adj)
polymorphism (N)
portend Verb
(Trans)
PT: portended
PP: portended
PresP: portending
3rd S: portends
To be an omen of
something that will happen.
The dark prophesy portends
the beginnings of the
downfall of nations.
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 34 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
post structuralism Noun An intellectual movement
stemming from
structuralism but
questioning the
foundations upon which the
structures of society,
language, and norms have
been developed.
Post structuralism reflects
ideas developed by
sociologists of the 20th
Century.
precipitously Adverb 1. Completed or acted on
too quickly and in a rash
manner.
2. Extremely steep and high.
Crime has precipitously
risen in rural communities.
predicament Noun Pl: predicaments A disagreeable, hard, or
awkward situation in which
there is no easy way out.
The parents ugly divorce
and consistent fighting put
the children in a rough
predicament.
preponderance Noun The majority. There is a preponderance of
research that suggests
obesity is caused by a lack
of exercise.
pressboard Noun Pl: pressboards A heavy varnished
composition board.
Home Depot sells
pressboard made of
compressed scraps of other
lumbers.
probate Noun:
Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: probates
Verb (Transitive)
PT: probated
PP: probated
PresP: probating
3rd S: probates
Noun
The legal or official proof of
authenticity of a will.
Verb (Trans)
To certify legally that a will
is authentic.
Lawyers must analyze the
estate before granting
probate.
profitability Noun Generating a financial
profit.
The profitability of the
restaurant declined as
volume decreased.
profitableness (N)
profitably (Adv)
prokaryotic Noun An organism that does not
have a nucleus.
The prokaryotic organisms
like bacteria lack a cellular
nucleus.
prokaryotic (Adj)
promulgate Verb
(Trans)
PT: promulgated
PP: promulgated
PresP: promulgating
3rd S: promulgates
To official declare or
proclaim something.
The minister would
promulgate the gospel in
the church every Sunday.
promulgation (N)
promulgator (N)
propitious Adjective Encouraging and likely to
bring success.
The propitious moment
indicated that all parties
would agree and the venture
would go through.
propitiously (Adv)
propitiousness (N)
propound Verb
(Trans)
PT: propounded
PP: propounded
PresP: propounding
3rd S: propounds
Put something forward for
consideration or solution.
He propounds his idea on
social reform throughout
the college campuses.
propounder (N)
prosaic Adjective lacking features that are
either interesting or
imaginative.
The prosaic conversation
between the couple bored
them.
prosaically (Adv)
prosaicness (N)
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Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
prostaglandin Noun Pl: prostaglandins A mammalian hormone that
controls muscle
contraction, body
temperature, inflammation,
and blood pressure.
As a result of trauma, the
young man body increased
its production of the
prostaglandin hormone.
prostatectomy Noun Pl: prostatectomies The surgical removal of a
piece or the entire prostate
gland.
Prostate cancer forced the
man to have a
prostatectomy.
protégé Noun Pl: protégés A young person who id
trained by a more
experienced and usually
older person.
The famous artist's protégé
mastered certain elements
of the painters style, but
still the works were not
quite the same.
protein Noun Pl: proteins A complex natural
compound that is made up
of amino acids that are
linked together; it is an
essential component of all
living cells and viruses.
Protein found in beef,
chicken, fish and nuts is
part of a healthy diet.
proteinaceous (Adj)
proteinic (Adj)
proteinous (Adj)
protocol Noun;
Verb
Noun
Pl: protocols
Verb
PT: protocoled
PP: protocoled
PresP: protocoling
3rd S: protocols
Noun
The formal rules of
appropriate or proper
behavior.
Verb (Trans & Intrans)
To issue or put together a
protocol.
The dress protocol at the
benefit party was black tie.
proton Noun Pl: protons A fundamental elementary
particle in all atomic nuclei
that has a positive charge.
The atom is made up of
positively charged protons,
negatively charged electrons
and neutral neutrons.
protonic (Adj)
protonically (Adv)
protoplasm Noun The colorless liquid found
in a living cell; it is made up
of proteins, fats, and other
reorganize substances.
In Biology class the students
observed the clear
protoplasm under
microscopes.
protoplasmic (Adj)
provenance Noun The location of origin of
something.
The provenance of the
carpet was said to be
Uzbekistan.
prowl Verb;
Noun
Verb
PT: prowled
PP: prowled
PresP: prowling
3rd S: prowls
Verb (Trans & Intrans)
To wander around an area
in a secretive way in search
of food or prey.
Noun
The acting of wandering
around an area in a
secretive way to search for
food or prey.
The wolf prowled the field.
prudery Noun Pl: prudes A person who is easily
offended by sexual content.
Her prudery amongst close
friends was annoying.
prudery (N)
prudishness (N)
prudish (Adj)
prudishly (Adv)
pseudonym Noun Pl: pseudonyms A false name, usually used
by an author when he wants
to conceal his true identity.
Many writers adopt
pseudonyms to prevent the
revealing of their real
names.
pseudonymity (N)
pseudonymous (Adj)
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Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
pseudoscience Noun A method or theory thought
to be scientific when in
reality it is not.
The social sciences are
considered by some to be
pseudoscience.
pseudoscientific (Adj)
pseudoscientist (N)
psychoactive Adjective Describing drugs or
medication that affect a
person's mood or behavior.
The medication can have
psychoactive side effects.
psychopath Noun Pl: psychopaths An offensive term used to
describe a person that has a
personality disorder in
which the person acts in an
aggressive, violent, or
antisocial behavior.
The grotesque nature of the
murders indicated that they
were committed by a
psychopath.
adjective
(psychopathic)
psychopatically (Adv)
psychosis Noun Pl: psychoses A psychiatric disorder in
which there is a loss of
contact with the real world.
Unable to leave his house
for fear of the world, he
suffered from psychosis.
psychotherapy Noun The psychological
treatment of mental
disorders.
Many who engage in
psychotherapy have found
results to be encouraging.
psychotherapeutic
(Adj)
psychotherapeutically
(Adv)
psychotherapist (N)
pterosaur Noun Pl: pterosaurs An extinct reptile of the
Triassic, Jurassic, and
Cretaceous that is
characterized by having
membranous wings that
allowed it to fly.
Pterosaurs which once flew
over this valley are now
extinct.
pulsar Noun Pl: pulsars A small intense star that
gives off forceful bursts of
visible radiation, radio
waves, and X-rays.
The pulsar sent out radio
waves which were detected
by astronomers.
punitive Adjective Pertaining to, performed as,
or imposed as a
punishment.
The city took punitive
action against those with
unpaid parking tickets.
punitively (Adv)
punitiveness (N)
pupation Verb
(Intrans)
PT: pupated
PP: pupated
PresP: pupating
3rd S: pupates
To mature into a pupa from
a larva.
The stage of pupation in
insects is one of the most
fascinating to study.
pupation (N)
Quaker Noun Pl: Quakers A Christian denomination
that is a member of the
Society of Friends; the
denomination rejects
formal sacraments, creed,
and ministry and is
committed to the peaceful
resolution of conflicts.
Quakers founded this
college.
quanta Noun The smallest distinct
quantity of a physical
feature.
The physicist spend years
studying tiny quantas of
energy.
quasar Noun Pl: quasars A small object in space that
releases large amounts of
energy.
The quasar from satellite
pictures would be seen to
give off a great light.
quintessential Adjective The most perfect or pure
example or
embodiment of something.
The vehicle was a
quintessential
example of what a car can
be.
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Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
rabble Noun An unruly or noisy group of
people.
His speech caused a rabble
within
the auditorium.
radiometric Noun
Adverb;
Adjective
Noun
Pl: radiometers
An instrument used in the
detection and measurement
of radiant energy.
Radiometric devices are
used in warfare to
determine enemy position.
radiometric (Adj)
radiometrically(Adv)
radiometry (N)
radon Noun A gaseous radioactive
element, used in
radiotherapy, that is
created when radium
decays.
The radon in rock and soil
accounts for most of normal
background radiation. In
heavier concentrations,
however, sometimes
detected inside homes, it is
thought to pose a risk of
cancer. Radon was detected
at a site used to test atomic
weapons.
ragtime Noun A style of music that is
characterized by having
distinct syncopated right-
hand rhythms placed
against a regularly accented
left-hand beat.
The ragtime pianist played
nightly at a New Orleans
club.
rancher Noun A person who either owns
or manages a ranch.
Ranchers are especially busy
in the spring when new
calves are born.
rationale Noun The reasons or principles
behind a specific statement
or course of action.
The rationale behind a new
immigration policy was
explained by the politician.
ravenous Adjective Tremendously hungry. The young man was
ravenous after being lost in
the desert without supplies.
ravenously (Adv)
ravenousness (N)
rebut Verb PT: rebutted
PP: rebutted
PresP: rebutting
3rd S: rebuts
To refute or deny the truth
behind something.
The attorney attempted to
rebut the argument put
forward by the prosecution.
rebuttable (Adj)
rebuttal (N)
reclamation Noun The conversion of land
from being unusable to
being suitable for farming
or other uses.
A reclamation of forest land
was declared by the
government after long term
use by the timber industry.
recoup Verb To make up for something
lost. To regain.
In order to recoup losses
the investor decided to put
his money only in
conservative stocks.
recoupable (Adj)
recoupment (N)
recur Verb
(Intrans)
To occur repeatedly or once
again.
The drought continued to
recur for a period of ten
years destroying
agricultural production.
referendum Noun Pl: referendum A vote by the entire
population of the electorate
on a specific question or
questions.
A referendum was called on
the question of the
governor's impeachment.
regressive Adjective Returning to an earlier, less
developed way of acting.
Regressive development is
often seen in young children
after an additional child is
born.
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 38 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
rehash Noun;
Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: rehashes
Verb (Transitive)
PT: rehashed
PP: rehashed
PresP: rehashing
3rd S: rehashes
Verb (Trans)
To repeat and reuse
something by making only a
couple of small changes
without actually
introducing anything new.
Noun
An annoying reuse of old
ideas.
The two friends continued
to rehash old memories long
into the night.
relinquish Verb
(Trans)
PT: relinquished
PP: relinquished
PresP: relinquishing
3rd S: relinquishes
To give up or cede
something.
The man relinquished
possession of his home
after it was sold.
relinquisher (N)
reliquishment (N)
REM Noun Rapid Eye
Movement
Jerky movements of the
eyeball while one is asleep
indicative of dreaming.
REM movements were
detected in the subject after
he was deeply asleep.
rendition Noun Noun Pl: renditions A new version or
interpretation of literature
or art.
The rendition of the song
was not as memorable as
the original version.
repertoire Noun Pl: repertoires A collection of artistic
material.
A repertoire of songs from
the sixties was played by
the band.
repository Noun Pl: repositories 1. A container used for
storage.
2. A person who is
extremely knowledgeable.
The book repository was the
site of the Kennedy
assassination.
repudiation Noun Pl: repudiations The act of rejecting
something.
The repudiation of guilt was
not accepted and the case
was set for trial.
repudiationist (N)
respire Verb PT: respired
PP: respired
PresP: respiring
3rd S: respires
To breathe. To respire easily the lungs
must be healthy and the air
clean.
restitution Noun 1. Returning something
2. Returning to original
condition.
Restitution was required for
the crime of defrauding
stockholders
restitutive (Adj)
restitutory (Adj)
retaliation Noun To hurt someone in
response for what he or she
has done.
Retaliation for rape was
once taken in gold.
retaliation (N)
retaliative (Adj)
retaliatory (Adj)
rhetoric Noun 1. Persuasive speech or
writing.
2. Complex language that
sounds pretentious.
3. Skill with language.
4. Study of writing or
speaking effectively.
5. Fine-sounding but
insincere or empty
language.
Political rhetoric filled the
television airways during
the presidential campaign.
rheumatoid Adjective Relating to or affected with
rheumatism.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a
debilitating disease.
rheumatoidally(Adv)
rhinoceros Noun Pl: rhinoceroses or
rhinoceros or
rhinoceri
Massive horned mammal
with a thick skin and one or
two horns on its snout.
The horn of the rhinoceros
is said to contain an
aphrodisiac.
rhinocerotic (Adj)
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Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
rhinovirus Noun Pl: rhinoviruses Virus that causes colds. Rhinovirus spread quickly
through the school district.
rhythmical Adjective With a regularly recurring
pattern or beat.
The rhythmical beating of
the drum called the villagers
to meet.
rhythmically (Adv)
rhythmicity (N)
rough-hewn Adjective Cut or shaped roughly and
unsmoothed, crudely made.
Rough-hewn logs were used
to create a rustic exterior on
the cabin.sacralization Noun Pl: sacraments In Christianity, a rite to
bring grace to those
participating in or receiving
it.
Sacralization ceremonies are
part of the daily mass in the
Catholic church.
salable Adjective Suitable for selling. Salable items were placed
on tables at the garage sale.
salability (N)
salableness (N)
salably (Adv)
salience Noun 1. The quality of being
particularly important.
2. A particularly important
or striking feature.
The salience of the new
ambassador contributed to
his importance.
sanitarium Noun Pl: sanitariums or
sanitaria
A medical facility where
people affected by long-
term illnesses can receive
treatment or recuperate.
The young woman spent
two years in a sanitarium
recovering from mental
health issues.
schistosomiasis Noun A disease caused by blood
infection with a parasitic
flatworm (schistosome).
Schistosomias is carried by
bat dung and spelunkers
can be infected.
scintillate Verb PT: scintillated
PP: scintillated
PresP: scintillating
3rd S: scintillates
1. To give off or reflect light
in sparks or flashes.
2. To be dazzlingly lively,
clever, or witty.
Glitter makeup helps young
women look scintillating in
the night light.
scintillant (Adj)
scour Verb;
Noun
Verb
PT: scoured
PP: scoured
PresP: scouring
3rd S: scours
Noun
Pl: scours
To clean or brighten
something by rubbing it
with an abrasive substance
or material.
The dishwasher had to
scour burnt pots for hours
to make them clean.
scourer (N)
scrupulous Adjective 1. Having careful regard for
what is morally right.
2. Rigorously precise and
exact.
The executive insisted his
employees engage in
scrupulous ethical behavior.
scrupulosity (N)
scrupulousness (N)
scrupulously (Adv)
scurrilous Adjective 1. Containing abusive
language or defamatory
allegations.
2. Using or containing
course, vulgar, or obscene
language.
3. Behaving in ways thought
to be evil or immoral.
Scurrilous and offensive
language is often included
in rap lyrics.
scurrilously (Adv)
scurrilousness (N)
seance Noun Pl: seances A meeting at which a
spiritualist attempts to
communicate with the dead.
The fortune teller held a
séance to bring back the
spirits of dead relatives.
secretion Noun Pl: secretions A substance formed and
discharged by a cell, tissue,
gland, or organ.
Secretions from the flowers
caused a rash on the
gardener's hand.
secretionary (Adj)
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 40 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
seismic Adjective 1. Relating to or caused by
an earthquake.
2. Extremely large or great.
Seismic tremors under the
fault line indicated an
earthquake was possible.
seismically (Adv)
seismologist Noun One who engages in the
scientific study of
earthquakes.
Seismologists study
earthquake patterns across
the world.
semiconductor Noun Pl: semiconductors A solid that has electrical
conductivity between that
of a conductor and an
insulator.
Semiconductors are used for
research in aerospace
engineering.
semiconducting (Adj)
semicodutive (Adj)
semiconduction (N)
semiconductivity (N)
seminal Adjective Highly original and
influential.
A seminal book on the new
China attracted many
academics and much
acclaim.
seminality (N)
semiotic Adjective Relating to signs or
symbols, especially in
speech or writing.
The semiotic writing of
early Egyptians is called
hieroglyphics.
sentient Adjective 1. Capable of feeling and
perception.
2. Capable of responding
with feeling.
Though the priest was
highly spiritual he was a
sentient man capable of
warmth and understanding.
sentiently (Adv)
sentinel Noun;
Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: sentinels
Verb (Transitive)
PT: sentineled
PP: sentineled
PresP: sentineling
3rd S: sentinels
A sentry, somebody who is
assigned the duty of
keeping guard.
A sentinel guarded the
camp at night maintaining a
watch for enemy activity.
Seoul Noun The capital city of South
Korea.
The city of Seoul lies close
to the North Korean border.
sermonize Verb PT: sermonized
PP: sermonized
PresP: sermonizing
3rd S: sermonizes
Lecture about behavior. The minister sermonized
about lessons from the
Bible.
sermonizer (N)
serotonin Noun Neurotransmitter chemical. A high level of serotonin is
usually found in happy
people.
sickle Noun;
Verb;
Adjective
Noun
Pl: sickles
Verb
PT: sickled
PP: sickled
PresP: sickling
3rd S: sickles
A tool used for cutting
grass usually during
farming.
Ancient farmers used the
curved sickle to harvest
grains.
sidestep Verb Verb (Transitive)
PT: sidestepped
PP: sidestepped
PresP: sidestepping
3rd S: sidesteps
Noun
Pl: sidesteps
Step aside. In order to sidestep the
mess created by the sheep
the farmer went around
their pasture.
sidesteppern (N)
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Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
siege Noun;
Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: sieges
Verb (Transitive)
PT: seiged
PP: sieged
PresP: sieging
3rd S: sieges
Military operation in which
they surround a place to
force surrender.
The siege of the city was
successful and it fell after a
month.
silicone Noun Silicon-based compound Silicone implants are used
to maximize breast size in
women.
sinusitis Noun Inflammation of sinus. Sinusitis affected the
patient's ability to breathe.
smallpox Noun A viral disease that is
highly contagious which is
marked by high fever and
the formation of welts.
Smallpox was one of the
European diseases that
wiped out millions of native
Americans.
smite Verb PT: smote
PP: smitten or smote
PresP: smiting
3rd S: smites
1. Hit someone.
2. To fill someone with love.
The priest will smite the
wicked with the acts of his
god.
snapdragon Noun Pl: snapdragons A garden flower. The garden was filled in the
fall with snapdragons and
zinnias.
sodium Noun A chemical element that is
found in abundance on the
earth.
Sodium can collected in salt
lakes.
sojourn Noun;
Verb
(Intrans)
Verb (Intransitive)
PT: sojourned
PP: sojourned
PresP: sojourning
3rd S: sojourns
A short stay. A brief sojourn to the beach
relieved the summer heat.
solvency Noun Ability to afford what must
be spent.
The solvency of the small
business was an issue when
the owners requested a
bank loan.
somatic Adjective Something that affects the
body.
The spa offered somatic
remedies for physical
ailments.
somatically (Adv)
spate Noun Pl: spates Flood. Large supply of
something.
There was a spate of
demonstrations after the
neighborhood learned of the
new ordinances.
specter Noun Pl: specters A ghost or apparition. The specter of greed
haunted Scrooge in the
Christmas Carol.
spectrum Noun Pl: spectra or
spectrums
1. Distribution of colored
light.
2. Any range.
The designer choose from a
spectrum of colors,
particular shades of grey.
speculative fever Adjective Compulsive conjecture. Speculative fever inspired
the California Gold rush of
1849.
spew Verb PT: spewed
PP: spewed
PresP: spewing
3rd S: spews
1. To vomit.
2. To force something out.
Please do not spew out your
dinner despite your
discomfort.
spewer (N)
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 42 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
spherule Noun Pl: spherules A minute or tiny sphere. The spherule created by the
student to represent the
nucleus of an atom received
a variety of awards.
spherular (Adj)
splinter Noun;
Verb
Noun
Pl: splinters
Verb
PT: splintered
PP: splintered
PresP: splintering
3rd S: splinters
A sharp fragment. Will the union splinter into
several factions?
splintery (Adj)
stark Adjective;
Adverb
Adjective
comparative: starker
superlative: starkest
1. Desolate.
2.Completely bare.
The stark room lacked any
furniture.
starkly (Adv)
starkness (N)
startling Adjective Surprising or alarming. The acceptance to Harvard
Business School came as a
startling surprise to the
young man.
startlingly (Adv)
statutory Adjective Relating to a statute. The statutory crime was
prosecuted by the district
attorney.
statutorily (Adv)
stave Noun;
Verb
Noun
Pl: staves
Verb
PT: staved or stove
PP: staved
PresP: staving
3rd S: staves
1. A thin piece of wood.
2. To break a hole in an
object.
In order to stave off an
injection, the mother
applied antibiotic ointment
to the child's wounds.
steerage Noun The cheapest
accommodations on a ship.
After finishing college, we
jumped aboard a cargo ship
and slept in the steerage.
steppe Noun Pl: steppes A vast and extensive
treeless plain.
The steppe extends for
thousands of kilometers.
stinkwood Noun Pl: stinkwoods or
stinkwood
Tree with foul-smelling
wood.
We often wood that from
that tree stinkwood because
of its unpleasant odor.
strata Noun Plural of stratum Parallel layers. The company was separated
into various strata.
stratal (Adj)
stratigraphical Noun Pl: stratigraphies The study of origin,
composition, and
development of rock strata.
Stratigraphical notions of
the origins of this canyon
are remarkably thorough
and fascinating.
stratigrapher (N)
stratigraphist (N)
stratosphere Noun Part of the Earth's
atmosphere.
The stratosphere is one of
the layers of protection of
the earth against the sun.
strep throat Noun A sore throat that is
accompanied by fever and
inflammation.
Strep throat can easily be
diagnosed by a simple test.
streptomycin Noun An antibiotic used for
tuberculosis.
The doctor prescribed
streptomycin, but it had
little affect on the patient's
illness.
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Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
stultify Verb
(Trans)
PT: stultified
PP: stultified
PresP: stultifying
3rd S: stultifies
1. Decrease interest.
2. Make someone seems
stupid.
The environment
unfortunately stultified the
child's growth.
stultification (N)
stultifier (N)
subsidiary Adjective;
Noun
Noun
Pl: subsidiaries
Secondary or subordinate in
importance.
The subsidiary firms
developed from the large
corporation to hand specific
client needs.
subsidiarily (Adv)
subsidiariness (N)
subsidize Verb
(Trans)
PT: subsidized
PP: subsidized
PresP: subsidizing
3rd S: subsidizes
To give or contribute
money.
Farmers had long been
subsidized by the
government.
subsidizable (Adj)
subsidization (N)
subsidizer (N)
substrate Noun Pl: substrates Something that is acted
upon in a biochemical
reaction.
In Biochemistry, the
students studied the way in
which substrates were acted
upon by enzymes
subterfuge Noun Pl: subterfuges A plan that is meant to
deceive.
By subterfuge, you
discovered my secret.
sulfur Noun A yellow nonmetallic
element that is used to
make matches, gunpowder
and sulfuric acid.
Sulfur springs often carry
the odor of rotten eggs but
also speak of their healing
nature.
sulfur (Adj)
sulfury (Adj)
sulphate Noun Compound of sulphuric
acid and another chemical.
Sulphate chemicals are used
in many industrial plants.
supernova Noun Pl: supernovae or
supernovas
An exploding star. Astronauts studied the
development of supernova
with the use of satellites.
supplicant Noun;
Adjective
Noun
Pl: supplicants
A petitioner who addresses
a heartfelt plea to someone
of power.
The lone supplicant pleaded
to god for mercy.
supplicatory (Adj)
suppressant Noun Pl: suppressants Something that suppresses
something else.
An appetite suppressant
was used to decrease the
patient's desire to eat
during their recovery.
synthetase Noun Synthetase also known as
ligase is an important
enzyme in the body.
take issue with Phrase Discuss about something
vigorously.
I must take issue with the
way you treat your
subordinates.tamarind Noun Pl: tamarinds A tropical evergreen tree. Tamarinds are exported
from island nations.
tardive dyskinesin Phrase A medical condition
characterized by
involuntary movements of
facial muscles.
tartan Noun Pl: tartans A Scottish wool fabric. They used tartan patterns to
design the kilt.
technocrat Noun Pl: technocrats A bureaucrat who is also
educated in a form of
technology.
The technocrats advocated a
new program that would be
more efficient than the
current one.
technocratic (Adj)
tektite Noun Pl: tektites A small dark glassy rock. Tektites used in making
jewels have been found in
parts of Central Europe.
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 44 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
temblor Noun Pl: temblors An earthquake or tremor. The temblor shook the
island and toppled many
buildings.
temperance Noun Abstinence or refraining
from consuming alcohol.
The temperance movements
in United States grew
powerful in the early 20th
century.
tempo Noun Pl: tempi or tempos A musical piece's speed. To keep up with the tempo
of the current economy, the
company needed to hire
more workers and increase
productivity.
tenet Noun Pl: tenets Something that is accepted
as truth or a set of beliefs.
The major tenet of our
company policy towards our
workers is that happy
employees will to their job
better than unhappy ones.
terra-cotta Adjective Of a brownish red color. Our pots and our tiles are
made from terracotta.
terse Adjective comparative: terser
superlative: tersest
Abrupt and unfriendly. The terse remarks made by
the speaker left the
audience rather
disappointed.
tersely (Adv)
terseness (N)
the Bering sea Noun A part of the North Pacific
Ocean between Alaska and
Eastern Russia.
The Bering Sea was crossed
by humans and animals
during an Ice Age years ago.
the Federal
Reserve Bank
Noun Pl: Federal Reserve
Banks
One of the 12 reserve banks
that regulate affiliated
banks in a Federal Reserve
District in the US.
The Federal Reserve
increased interest rates
today as the government
seems to be recovering from
its recession.
the Great Lakes Noun A group of five large fresh-
water lakes between Canada
and the US.
The Great Lakes which
border Canada and the US
are full of fish.
the Parthenon Noun Athena's temple on the
Acropolis in Athens,
Greece.
The Parthenon sits atop the
city of Athens and draws
millions of visitors a year.
the Warsaw Pact Phrase The Warsaw Pact resulted in
the granting of huge amount
of territory to the Soviet
Union following World War
II.
throttle Noun; Verb
(Trans)
Noun
Pl: throttles
Verb (Transitive)
PT: throttled
PP: throttled
PresP: throttling
3rd S: throttles
A valve that controls the
flow of fluids such as fuel.
Pilots use the throttle to
cause the plane to go higher
and come down.
throttler (N)
thwart Verb;
Noun
Verb
PT: thwarted
PP: thwarted
PresP: thwarting
3rd S: thwarts
Noun
Pl: thwarts
1. To stop someone or
something from succeeding.
2. Extending across.
The soldier's mission was
thwarted by bad weather
and a lack of good visibility.
thwartedly (Adv)
thwarter (N)
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Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
thyroid Noun;
Adjective
Noun
Pl: thyroids
Thyroid gland. Without the thyroid gland,
children wouldn't grow.
tinge Noun;
Verb
(Trans)
Verb (Transitive)
PT: tinged
PP: tinged
PresP: tingeing or
tinging
3rd S: tinges
A slight amount of
something.
There was a tinge of regret
in his voice when he
resigned from his position.
tinker Noun;
Verb
(Trans)
Verb (Intransitive)
PT: tinkered
PP: tinkered
PresP: tinkering
3rd S: tinkers
1. Someone who traveled
from place to place,
mending metal items.
2. To fiddle with something.
1. (make changes) We will
have to tinker with some of
our figures before
submitting a final proposal
to the board.
tinkerer (N)
tonality Noun Quality of the tone. The composer emphasized
tonality in each of his
works.tonsillectomy Noun Pl: tonsillectomies The surgical removal of the
tonsils.
After weeks of a sore throat
and inflamed tonsils, the
child went in to the
operating room for a
tonsillectomy.
topographical Noun Pl: topographies A map that shows surface
features such as mountains,
rivers and roads.
The topographical map
displayed the altitude and
terrain of the forested
preserve.
topographer (N)
topographic (Adj)
topographical
topographically (Adv)
topple Verb PT: toppled
PP: toppled
PresP: toppling
3rd S: topples
To make something fall. The stock market toppled
after news of increased
unemployment levels hit the
market.
totalitarian Adjective;
Noun
Noun
Pl: totalitarians
A centralized or dictatorial
government.
Many political science
experts describe the Soviet
Union in the period of Stalin
as a totalitarian regime.
totalitarianism (N)
tout Verb;
Noun
Verb
PT: touted
PP: touted
PresP: touting
3rd S: touts
Noun
Pl: touts
1. To attract support.
2. To praise someone,
something, or a cause.
1.(make known) The grocery
stores touted their superior
service and high quality
products. 2. (sell
unofficially) The scalpers
touted basketball tickets at
rate triple that of the box
office.
touter (N)
tracheotomy Noun Pl: tracheotomies A medical procedure which
includes an incision
through the neck into the
trachea to assist breathing
when the upper airways are
blocked.
The surgeon performed a
tracheotomy on the young
woman to allow her to
breathe more freely.
traitorous Adjective Having the qualities of
someone who betrays or is
disloyal.
The traitorous behavior of
certain Americans during
the Cold War resulted in the
revealing of secret
information to the Soviet
Union.
traitorously (Adv)
traitorousness (N)
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 46 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
trajectory Noun Pl: trajectories The path an object takes
under certain forces
according to the laws of
physics.
The trajectory the bullet
followed was slightly altered
by the wind. 2. The economy
continues its downward
trajectory.
transatlantic Adjective To cross the Atlantic Ocean. The transatlantic pact on
issues of human rights
involved South American,
North American and
European nations.
transatlantic
migrate
Phrase In the previous centuries
many Europeans have made
the transatlantic migration
in hopes of finding a better
life in the Americas.
transnational
cooperation
Phrase Co-operation beyond
borders, between countries.
The company was able to
make the necessary
arrangements to ensure
transnational cooperation in
the distribution of their
products.
trapezium Noun Pl: trapeziums or
trapezia
A geometric shape with
four sides, none of which
are parallel.
The building's architect
created a trapezium
structure that incorporates
gardens.
trapezial (Adj)
trenchant Adjective Direct and deliberately
hurtful.
The publishing house
rejected the article of the
young writer because of the
trenchant criticism the work
had received.
trenchancy (N)
trenchantly (Adv)
trichotomy Noun Pl: trichotomies To divide into 3 sections. The sociologist would divide
his study into a trichotomy
addressing the rich, the
middle class, and the poor.
trichotomic (Adj)
trichotomous (Adj)
trichotomously (Adv)
trite Adjective Overused and banal The poet managed only
trite, cliched lines.
tritely (Adv)
triteness (N)
tryptophane Noun A chemical term; an amino
acid essential to the life of
vertebrates
turbine Noun Pl: turbines A machine powered n which
fluids are run through to
make blades turn in order
to generate something such
as electrical or mechanical
power.
The large turbine provided
energy to the community.
turbulent Adjective Characterized by chaotic or
violent movement.
The turbulent nature of the
advertising industry creates
job instability.
turbulently (Adv)
turmoil Noun Pl: turmoils Commotion or disruptive
event that causes
confusion.
Our government is in a state
of financial turmoil.
typology Noun The classification of types. Scientists would develop a
typology for classifying
languages.
typologic (Adj)
typological (Adj)
typologically (Adv)
typologist (N)
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Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
tyrannical Adjective Ruling with absolute power
unjustly.
The tyrannical behavior of
the nation's government did
not allow for dissenting
voices.
tyrannically (Adv)
tyrannicalness (N)
tyrosine Noun An amino acid. Tyrosine is one the amino
acids that is essential to a
properly functioning system
for breaking down proteins.
unbridled Adjective Freely and openly
expressed.
The unbridled usage of
firearms by civilians
threatens the safety of
communities.
unbridledly (Adv)
unridledness (N)
underpin Verb
(Trans)
PT: underpinned
PP: underpinned
PresP: underpinning
3rd S: underpins
To support a weakened
structure by putting
something beneath it.
The protesters offered little
to underpin their argument.
unicameral Adjective Having one legislative
chamber.
Most countries today reject
a unicameral government in
favor of two legislative
bodies.
unicameralism (N)
unicameralist (N)
unicamerally (Adv)
untenable Adjective Not defendable (argument). The protesters are making
an untenable argument
which few voters will
support.
untenability (N)
untenableness (N)
untenably (Adv)
unviable Verb
(Trans)
PT: unvoiced
PP: unvoiced
PresP: unvoicing
3rd S: unvoices
Not practicable;
unreasonable
The new method of
constructing the house with
its high costs and time
consuming techniques is an
unviable option.
unwieldy Adjective Hard to handle. The refrigerator was an
unwieldy machine to load
into the van.
unwieldily (Adv)
unwieldiness (N)
unwitting Adjective Unaware of something. Children refused to confess
to steal candy, stating that
they happened to be
unwitting victims of their
friend.
unwittingly (Adv)
upscale clientele Phrase A group of clients with
expensive taste
The restaurant caters to
upscale clientele, serving
only the finest and most
expensive wines.
upturn Verb;
Noun
Verb
PT: upturned
PP: upturned
PresP: upturning
3rd S: upturns
Noun
Pl: upturns
To cause something to turn. The recent upturn in the
economy can be attributed
to increased consumer
confidence and job growth.
uranium Noun A radioactive element. Uranium is one of the key
elements necessary for the
production of the atomic
bomb.
urchin Noun Pl: urchins A mischievous or ill-
behaved child.
The mother tried to calm
her child but the urchin
screamed and refused to
listen.
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GMAT Vocabulary List page 48 ..
Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
usurp Verb PT: usurped
PP: usurped
PresP: usurping
3rd S: usurps
1. Seize something without
the right to do so.
The federal government is
usurping the power of the
states to make decisions
regarding how to educate
their young people.
usurpation (N)
usurper (N)
vaccine Noun Pl: vaccines Inoculation that stimulates
the immune system to fight
against a disease.
The vaccine served to
immunize the children
against polio.
valance Noun Pl: valances Decorative cover for a
curtain rod.
A valance hangs on the base
of my bed.
varicose Adjective Swollen more than normal. Older women often get
varicose veins.
vascular Adjective Having to do with fluid-
carrying vessels.
The injection immediately
entered the patient's
vascular system.
vascularity (N)
vascularly (Adv)
velocity Noun Pl: velocities The speed or rate of
something.
The high velocity engine
allows the car to easily
climb mountains.veneer Noun Noun
Pl: veneers
A thin layer of material
attached to the surface of
an inferior material.
The simple wood was
covered by a beautifully
stained oak veneer.
venerable Adjective Revered or respected. Children are often more
venerable to harsh weather
than adults.
venerability (N)
venerably (Adv)
vengeance Noun Something done with the
intention of revenge.
Vengeance caused the
young woman to trick her
lover.
verifiability Noun PT: verified
PP: verified
PresP: verifying
3rd S: verifies
Ability to be proven. (verity) The verity of her
story was clear especially
when presented alongside
the falseness of other
onlookers.
verifiability (N)
verifiable (Adj)
verifiably (Adv)
verifier (N)
vernacular Noun Pl: vernaculars Everyday or ordinary
language.
The men at the market use a
vernacular non-native
speakers find difficult to
understand.
vernacular (Adj)
vernacularly (Adv)
versatility Adjective Having many uses. The versatility of the dancer
is seen in her ability to
dance in ballet and modern
performances.
versatilely (Adv)
versatility (N)
vestige Noun Pl: vestiges A trace of something that is
no longer present.
The last vestiges of the
previous government's
power are represented in
statues of former leaders
and in the minds of the
elderly.
Vichy government Noun A city in central France
famous for its mineral
springs.
The Vichy government
though it ruled France
during WWII is a distant
memory for the average
Frenchman.
vintner Noun Pl: vintners A wine merchant. Those vintners produced
and distributed fine Merlot.
vinyl Noun A chemical compound used
in plastics.
The vinyl siding on the
home appeared as if it were
actually wood.
vinylic (Adj)
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Words Form Grammatical
Details
Key Definitions Sentence Examples Relevant Words
(Notes: Trans: Transitive; Intrans: Intransitive; Pl: Plural; PT: Past Tense; PP: Past Participle; PresP: Present Participle;
3rd S: 3rd Person Present Singular; N: Noun; Adj: Adjective; Adv: Adverb; V: Verb)
viola Noun Pl: violas A stringed instrument that
is larger and lower in pitch
than a violin.
The viola plays beautiful
soft sounds.
vitriolic Adjective Having bitter hatred
towards someone or
something.
The lawyer began a vitriolic
attack on the judge who
made an unfavorable
decision against his client.
vitriolically (Adv)
voluminous Adjective Very large or long. The voluminous texts
produced by scholars on the
subject of the Soviet Union
became obsolete after its
demise.
voluminosity (N)
voluminously (Adv)
voluminousness (N)
whirligig Noun Noun
Pl: whirligigs
A toy that spins very
quickly such as a top.
Within the whirligig of the
Grand bazaar, the tourist
needed to keep track of
their belongings and mind.
white dwarf Noun A small dense star that has
collapsed on itself.
The satellite took never
before seen photographs of
the white dwarfs in far off
outer space.
willy-nilly Adverb;
Adjective
Uncontrollably; bound to
happen.
The teacher found herself
willy-nilly to give the test
regardless of her awareness
of the unpreparedness of
the students.
wither Verb PT: withered
PP: withered
PresP: withering
3rd S: withers
1. To shrivel or shrink.
2. To make someone
insecure.
The flower withered quickly
after being picked from the
garden.
withered (Adj)
witherer (N)
woodchuck Noun Pl: woodchucks or
woodchuck
A North American rodent. The woodchuck scurries
about the forests of North
America.
wristband Noun Pl: wristbands Something worn around the
wrist often to absorb sweat.
The tennis star wore
wristbands for style and
functional purposes.
xenophobia Noun The fear of something
unfamiliar such as
strangers.
Xenophobia pervaded the
rural community as no one
understood nor appreciated
different peoples or
cultures.
xenophobic (Adj)
yellow fever Noun An infectious and
sometimes deadly viral
disease of warm climates.
In order to travel to the far
reaches of the jungle, he
would need to be
immunized against yellow
fever.
zing Noun;
Verb
Verb
PT: zinged
PP: zinged
PresP: zinging
3rd S: zings
A sharp, high-pitched
sound.
The chef added a bit of zing
to his dishes by adding a
dash of chili pepper.
zingy (Adj)
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