5000 Collegiate Words with Brief Definitions
Speak and write with an Ivy League graduate's vocabulary!
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The 5000 words below, with brief definitions, are free for individual and classroom use. These words are also downloadable from Texas Instruments in a format for some Texas Instruments calculators. A 36-page, small-print, two-column PDF
version is also downloadable for printing. Audio Version - All you have to do is listen: A professionally-read audio
edition of the 5000 words is now available on 7 CDs. Listen to sample tracks: (Requires speakers turned on.) Sample Track 1 - Sample Track 2 - Sample Track 3. Use both your auditory memory of the spoken words and your visual memory of the printed words for
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Developed by Steve Baba, Ph.D.-Copyright 1999 EEENI Inc., a Nonprofit Corp.w
There is more information on SAT vocabulary building at the bottom of this page.
A
abase v. To lower in position,
estimation, or the like;
degrade.
abbess n. The lady superior of a nunnery.
abbey n. The group of buildings which
collectively form the dwelling-place of a society of monks or nuns.
abbot n. The superior of a
community of monks.
abdicate v. To give up (royal power or the like).
abdomen n. In mammals, the visceral
cavity between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor; the belly.
abdominal n. Of, pertaining to, or situated on the
abdomen.
abduction n. A carrying away of a person against his will, or illegally.
abed adv. In bed; on a bed.
aberration n. Deviation from a right,
customary, or prescribed course.
abet v. To aid, promote, or encourage the
commission of (an offense).
abeyance n. A state of
suspension or
temporary inaction.
abhorrence n. The act of detesting extremely.
abhorrent adj. Very repugnant;
hateful.
abidance n. An abiding.
abject adj. Sunk to a low condition.
abjure v. To recant,
renounce, repudiate under oath.
able-bodied adj. Competent for physical service.
ablution n. A washing or cleansing, especially of the body.
abnegate v. To
renounce (a right or privilege).
abnormal adj. Not conformed to the ordinary rule or standard.
abominable adj. Very
hateful.
abominate v. To hate
violently.
abomination n. A very detestable act or practice.
aboriginal adj. Primitive; unsophisticated. n+m
aborigines n. The original of earliest known inhabitants of a country.
aboveboard adv. & adj. Without
concealment, fraud, or trickery.
abrade v. To wear away the surface or some part of by
friction.
abrasion n. That which is rubbed off.
abridge v. To make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor
particles. abridgment n. A condensed form as of a book or play.
abrogate v. To abolish,
repeal.
abrupt adj. Beginning,
ending, or changing suddenly or with a break.
abscess n. A Collection of pus in a
cavity formed within some
tissue of the body.
abscission n. The act of cutting off, as in a surgical operation.
abscond v. To depart suddenly and
secretly, as for the purpose of escaping arrest.
absence n. The fact of not being present or available.
absent-minded adj. Lacking in attention to immediate surroundings or business.
absolution n. Forgiveness, or passing over of offenses.
absolve v. To free from sin or its penalties.
absorb v. To drink in or suck up, as a
sponge absorbs water.
absorption n. The act or process of absorbing.
abstain v. To keep oneself back (from doing or using something).
abstemious adj. Characterized by self
denial or abstinence, as in the use of drink, food.
abstinence n. Self
denial.
abstruse adj. Dealing with matters difficult to be understood.
absurd adj. Inconsistent with reason or common sense.
abundant adj. Plentiful.
abusive adj. Employing harsh words or ill treatment.
abut v. To touch at the end or boundary line.
abyss n. Bottomless gulf.
academic adj. Of or pertaining to an academy, college, or university.
academician n. A member of an academy of literature, art, or science.
academy n. Any institution where the higher branches of learning are taught.
accede v. To agree.
accelerate v. To move faster.
accept v. To take when offered.
access n. A way of approach or entrance; passage.
accessible adj. Approachable.
accession n. Induction or
elevation, as to dignity, office, or government.
accessory n. A person or thing that aids the principal agent.
acclaim v. To utter with a shout.
accommodate v. To furnish something as a kindness or favor.
accompaniment n. A
subordinate part or parts, enriching or supporting the leading part.
accompanist n. One who or that which accompanies.
accompany v. To go with, or be associated with, as a companion.
accomplice n. An associate in wrong-doing.
accomplish v. To bring to pass.
accordion n. A
portable free-reed musical instrument.
accost v. To speak to.
account n. A record or statement of receipts and expenditures, or of business transactions.
accouter v. To dress.
accredit v. To give credit or authority to.
accumulate v. To become greater in quantity or number.
accuracy n. Exactness.
accurate adj. Conforming exactly to truth or to a standard.
accursed adj. Doomed to evil, misery, or
misfortune.R
accusation n. A charge of crime, misdemeanor, or error.
accusatory adj. Of, pertaining to, or involving an
accusation.
accuse v. To charge with wrong doing, misconduct, or error.
accustom v. To make familiar by use.
acerbity n. Sourness, with
bitterness and astringency.
acetate n. A salt of acetic acid.
acetic adj. Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of
vinegar.
Achillean adj. Invulnerable.
achromatic adj. Colorless,
acid n. A sour substance.
acidify v. To change into acid.
acknowledge v. To recognize; to admit the
genuineness or validity of.
acknowledgment n. Recognition.
acme n. The highest point, or
summit.
acoustic adj. Pertaining to the act or sense of
hearing.
acquaint v. To make familiar or conversant.
acquiesce v. To
comply; submit.
acquiescence n. Passive consent.
acquire v. To get as one's own.
acquisition n. Anything gained, or made one's own, usually by effort or labor.
acquit v. To free or clear, as from
accusation.
acquittal n. A discharge from
accusation by
judicial action.
acquittance n. Release or discharge from indebtedness, obligation, or responsibility.
acreage n. Quantity or extent of land, especially of
cultivated land.
acrid adj. Harshly pungent or bitter.
acrimonious adj. Full of
bitterness.
acrimony n. Sharpness or
bitterness of speech or temper.
actionable adj. Affording cause for instituting an action, as
trespass,
slanderous words.
actuality n. Any reality.
actuary n. An officer, as of an insurance company, who calculates and states the risks and premiums.
actuate v. To move or incite to action.
acumen n. Quickness of
intellectual" title="n.知识分子">
intellectual insight,or discernment; keenness of discrimination.
acute adj. Having fine and penetrating discernment.
adamant n. Any substance of
exceedinghardness or impenetrability.
addendum n. Something added, or to be added.
addle v. To make inefficient or
worthless; muddle.
adduce v. To bring forward or name for consideration.
adhere v. To stick fast or together.
adherence n. Attachment.
adherent" title="n.拥护者 a.粘着的">
adherent adj. Clinging or sticking fast.
adhesion n. The state of being attached or joined. w
adieu inter. Good-by; farewell.
adjacency n. The state of being
adjacent.
adjacent n. That which is near or bordering upon.
adjudge v. To award or bestow by formal decision.
adjunct n. Something joined to or connected with another thing, but
holding a
subordinate place.
adjuration n. A
vehementappeal.
adjutant adj. Auxiliary.
administrator n. One who manages affairs of any kind.
admissible adj. Having the right or privilege of entry.
admittance n. Entrance, or the right or permission to enter.
admonish v. To warn of a fault.
admonition n. Gentle
reproof.
ado n. unnecessary activity or ceremony.
adoration n. Profound devotion.
adroit adj. Having skill in the use of the
bodily or mental powers.
adulterant n. An adulterating substance.
adulterate v. To make impure by the admixture of other or baser ingredients.
adumbrate v. To represent
beforehand in outline or by
emblem.
advent n. The coming or arrival, as of any important change, event, state, or personage.
adverse adj. Opposing or opposed.
adversity n. Misfortune. J
advert v. To refer
incidentally" title="ad.顺便一提;偶然地">
incidentally.
advertiser n. One who advertises, especially in newspapers.
advisory adj. Not mandatory.
advocacy n. The act of pleading a cause.
advocate n. One who pleads the cause of another, as in a legal or
ecclesiastical court.
aerial adj. Of, pertaining to, or like the air.
aeronaut n. One who navigates the air, a
balloonist.
aeronautics n. the art or practice of flying aircraft
aerostat n. A
balloon or other
apparatus floating in or sustained by the air.
aerostatics n. The branch of pneumatics that treats of the
equilibrium, pressure, and mechanical properties.
affable adj. Easy to approach.
affect v. To act upon
affectation n. A
studied or ostentatious pretense or attempt.
affiliate n. Some auxiliary person or thing.
affirmative adj. Answering yes; to a question at issue.
affix v. To fasten.
affluence n. A profuse or abundant supply of riches.
affront n. An open insult or indignity.
afire adv. & adj. On fire,
literally or figuratively.
afoot adv. In progress.
aforesaid adj. Said in a
preceding part or before.
afresh adv. Once more, after rest or interval.
afterthought n. A thought that comes later than its
appropriate or expected time.
agglomerate v. To pile or heap together.
aggrandize v. To cause to appear greatly.
aggravate v. To make heavier, worse, or more burdensome.
aggravation n. The fact of being made heavier or more heinous, as a crime , offense,
misfortune, etc.
aggregate n. The entire number, sum, mass, or quantity of something.
aggress v. To make the first attack.
aggression n. An unprovoked attack.
aggrieve v. To give grief or sorrow to.
aghast adj. Struck with terror and amazement.
agile adj. Able to move or act quickly,
physically, or mentally.
agitate v. To move or excite (the feelings or thoughts).
agrarian adj. Pertaining to land, especially agricultural land.
aide-de-camp n. An officer who receives and transmits the orders of the general.
ailment n. Slight sickness.
airy adj. Delicate,
ethereal.
akin adj. Of similar nature or qualities.
alabaster n. A white or
delicately tinted fine-grained gypsum.
alacrity n. Cheerful
willingness.
albeit conj. Even though.
albino n. A person with milky white skin and hair, and eyes with bright red pupil and usually pink iris.
album n. A book whose leaves are so made to form paper frames for
holding photographs or the like.
alchemy n. Chemistry of the middle ages,
characterized by the pursuit of changing base metals to gold.
alcohol n. A volatile, inflammable, colorless liquid of a penetrating odor and burning taste.
alcoholism n. A condition resulting from the inordinate or
persistent use of
alcoholic beverages.
alcove n. A covered
recess connected with or at the side of a larger room.
alder n. Any shrub or small tree of the genus Alumnus, of the oak family.
alderman n. A member of a
municipallegislative body, who usually exercises also certain
judicial functions.
aldermanship n. The dignity, condition, office, or term of office of an
alderman.
alias n. An assumed name.
alien n. One who owes
allegiance to a foreign government.
alienable adj. Capable of being aliened or alienated, as lands.
alienate v. To cause to turn away.