2013新编英语教程5 text book 词汇解释何兆熊版

Unit1 Hit the Nail on the Head1.more or less: imprecise but fairly close to correct; almost but not exact2.scrupulous: correct even in the smallest detail; exact; painstaking; meticulous 严格认真的,审慎的3.afield: far away from home or one’s usual surroundings4.rife: 1) widespread, common 2)full of5.malapropism: the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that soundssimilar.6.coercion: the act of compelling by force of authority; using force to cause something7.epitomize: be typical of; serve as the typical example of. Embody the essentialcharacteristics of or be a typical example of8.disprove: prove to be contrary/false; refute9.expire: die, pass away; come to an end; terminate; conclude10.indigent: poverty-stricken, penniless; poor enough to need help from others11.drive sth home: force (the nail) into the right place; make sth unmistakably clear.Unit2 The Great Escape1.economy: reduction in cost; careful management of money, etc. to avoid waste2.motive: reason (for an action ); sth that makes a person choose to act ?? ticular way3.manoeuvre: move skilfully; drive a car4.paradox: a statement that seems impossible because it contains two opposite that are bothtrue, like “More haste, less speed” and “ The more you learn, the less you ?”5.entail: have as a logical consequence; involve, or imply as a necessary part?6.Insularity: the state of being isolated or detached; (here) narrow-mindedness7.Self-containment: one who does not seem to need other people or show their feelingabsorbedness; selfishness; self-contentedness8.Preponderance: a superiority in number or amount9.Wary: watchful, cautious, or alert10.Alienate: cause to become unfriendly or hostile; estrangeUnit3 My Friend, Albert Einstein1. knack: a clever way of doing things2. be in awe of: have respect as well as fear and reverence for3. staggering: unexpectedly surprising; astounding4. vestiges: traces5. ultimately: finally; after a long series of time6. recalcitrant: hard to deal with; unmanageable7. worry: assail a problem again and again until it is solved, just like a dog biting some small animals repeatedly, shaking it or pulling it with the teeth8. surcease: (archaic) cessation, pause9. plausible: seeming to be reasonable10. a house of cards: an insecure scheme11. ineffable: unutterable; incapable of being expressed in words12. elusively whimsical: indescribably quaint or strange 捉摸不透的，古怪Unit4 Preparing for College1.Adenture: an unusual or exciting experience; an adventure in dining2.Curiosity: an eager desire desire to know or learn; inquisitiveness3.Rudiments: the first simple facts or rules of anything: to learn the rudiments of coo?erythe basics, the fundamentals (The word rudiments is always in the plural form when used in this sense.)4.Fanatic: a person whose enthusiasm or zeal for sth is extreme or beyond normal limits5.underline: indicate the importance of. Emphasize or cause to stand out; underscore6.balked: baffled; frustrated. 1)stop or turn away abruptly or unexpectedly 2)avoiddeliberately7.essential truth: absolute truth8.relish: 味,味道,兴趣;开胃小菜; great enjoyment9.metaphysics: the branch of philosophy that deals with abstract concepts, etc. 形而上学，玄学，纯粹哲学10.conscious culture: the culture (i.e. customs, arts, etc,) that is directly perceptible or known tous11.fanatic: one who is very enthusiastic about a particular activity12.personify: express or represent ( a quality in human form)13.sedentary: inactive; done while sitting down14. a maddening lot: a wild, uncontrollable group15.righteous sects: morally justifiable groups of people whose religious beliefs are considereddifferent form those of a larger groupUnit 5 Why Nothing Works1.attributed to: considered or believed to be done or caused by2.savant: a learned man/scholar; someone who knows a lot about a subject; someone whohas mental problems and may have lower intelligence than average, but can do one thing very well, such as adding numbers very quickly. of learning, especially a person with detailed knowledge in some specialized field3.Corollary: sth that is the direct result of sth else; a practical consequence that followsnaturally. an immediate inference from a proved proposition4.Shoddy: cheap and inferior( in quality); made or done cheaply and badly5.forestall: prevent from happening or arising; make impossible; act in advance of deal withahead of time. defeat, prevent by prior measures6.do the trick: perform the function; make/be effective7.evoke: produce or call forth (emotions, feeling, and responses) bring to mind8.fashion: make sth from sth, using hands or only a few took9.alienation from the company and ots products: a feeling of not belonging company and notbeing involved in the production of goods; a withdrawing or separation of a person from an object or position of former attachment10.alienation from: separation from (society or a group)mitment: a pledge to follow certain beliefs or a certain course of action; devotion (to dutyetc. )12.artifact: a usually small object (as a tool or an ornament) showing human workmanship thathas special historical interest13.projectile point: the tip of a weapon that is thrust forward; spear or arrowhead14.band: a group of people formed for some common purpose and often with a leader15.barter: trade by exchanging one commodity for anotherunit 6 Where is the News Leading Us?1.Aggressive: making an all-out effort to win or succeed; competitive?; vigorously energetic,esp. in the use of initiative and force? ???2.Solid(reporting): sound/proved/reliable/dependable(solid facts/evidence)3.Scrutinize: look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail4.Ingredient: an element in a mixture or compound5.Deplete: use up(supplies, money, energy,etc); reduce or exhaust;?6.Roundup: a collection or summary of news items,such as a weather?7.Envision:imagine sth that you think might happen in the ? thing that will be good.8.Caricature: a representation of a person in literature or art made so that pars of his bodyappear more noticeable, odd, or amusing9.Transmit: send or convey from one person or place to another; convey by or as if byinheritance or heredity10.Addressed a question: asked a question11.Distortions in the world: created or modified news12.Downside news: bad/negative/distorted news13.Underinformed: insufficiently informed14.Sharping the world: impacting/influencing/affectingUnit7 Things: The Throw-Away Society1.Dramatic: sudden. Surprising and noticeable2.Clutch(to/onto/at): hold sth tightly lest it should get lost3.transience: short-time/brief continuity as in “the transience of fame”temporariness,impermanence; the quality or state of being temporary or impermanent4.embed(in/with usu. pass): fix firmly and deeply in(a mass of surrounding) cause to be anintegral part of a surrounding whole5.boutique: a small shop that sells fashionable clothes, shoes, jewellery etc.a small fashionableclothes shop6.Sumptuous: very impressive and expensive; luxurious and showing? expensive and grand7.Devil-may-care: easygoing/carefree; careless/reckless/unconcerned8.Mentality: the state or quality of mental or intellectual ability; a way ? habitual orcharacteristic mental attitude (that determines how one interprets?)9.supplant: take the place of or move into the position of a person or ? tricks or deceit;replace10.Humanoid: having human form or characteristics11.texture: the degree of roughness or smoothness, coarseness or fineness, of a substance ormaterial, especially as felt by touch; visual and tactile qualities of a surface12.staggering: stunning, wondrous, breathtaking13.deride: laugh at contemptuously; to scoff at or mock14.at a rapid clip: (informal) at a fast pace15.inextricably embedded: so deeply involved that it is impossible to get free16.train: a part of a long dress that spreads over the ground behind the wearer17.A-line dresses: dresses with a flared bottom and close-fitting top, having an "A" or tent-likeshapeUnit8 cultivating a hobby1.Spasm:An involuntary muscular contraction: muscle/muscular/facial/back/shoulder/throat,etc.spasm; a sudden violent/strong feeling or reaction for a brief period of timeA spasm of the emotion-a sudden burst of a strong feeling2.Futile: meaningless/pointless/useless/ineffective: be/prove/seem futile; consider/describe sth.as futile; absolutely/completely/quite/utterly/apparently/seemingly futile3.Insinuate: introduce/suggest sth gradually and indirectly into4.Undue: more than is reasonable/suitable/necessary; a little excessive; (under) undueinfluence/pressure/stress/strain/delay, etc5.Policy: a particular principle/strategy/approach of action that one adopts to guide one;sdecision or behavior6.Improvise: make or do without preparation/practice/sufficient material, etc;invent/provide/accomplish offhandmand: n. order; v. deserve and get, be in a position to use; have at one’s service8.Gratify: satisfy/grant: gratify a desire/wish/whim, etc.9.Caprice: sudden wish to have or do sth; whim /fancy10.Harmony: pleasant combination/ a state ofagreement: achieve/maintain/preserve/foster/promote, etc.harmony; absolute/complete/prefect/reasonable/relative, etc.harmony in/between/with, etc.11.Banish: try to stop thinking about sb. Or sth.; drive out;get rid of: banish the memonary/ thought/image, etc(of sb./sth)12.Into its convulsive grasp: (in this context) worry; a spasm of the emotion; the mind catches holdof sth and will not let it go; undue grip; the strain of mental effort13.They must be sedulously tended: sincerely/diligently/carefully/with painstaking effort14.The vivifying fruits: relieving/satisfactory15.Aggravates the strain of mental effort: intensifies/ makes worse16.Only an additional satiation: pleasure, excitement;satisfaction17.Avenging boredom: inflicted as punishment/revenge18.An absorbing vocation: an enjoyable and interesting job/profession that one is ? happy anfwilling to be indulged in。