B vocabulary

Babble (verb)

to talk aimlessly or incoherently.

At approximately the age of six months, a child begins to babble, but many of the sounds he/she makes may not yet carry meaning for the child.

Backed (adjective)

characterized as promoting the interests or cause of or upholding or defending as valid.

The U.S. House earlier this year passed a Bush administration backed measure that would ban both types of cloning. The measure hasn't been acted on in the Senate.

Backsplash(noun)

the act of hurling or scattering a liquid in a reverse motion of its normal path.

At the lower end of the esophagus, a one way valve (the esophageal sphincter) prevents the backsplash of stomach contents upward into the esophagus.

Bald (noun)

without the usual covering.

Chemotherapy causes patients to become bald although it is usually a temporary condition.

Ballistic (adjective)

moving under the force of gravity only.

A method of stretching is ballistic which involves 'bouncing' in your stretch.

Balmy (adjective)

not severe, temperate.

It is balmy in Paris and the birds and the bees are busy.

Banal (adjective)

without freshness or appeal due to overuse

At a garage sale, what may seem as banal objects to one person may be valued by another.

Bandage (noun)

a therapeutic material applied to a wound

To stop the bleeding and to prevent infection, the paramedic put bandages on the woman’s cut arm.

Bard (noun)

someone who writes verse or poetry.

Sir Walter Scott, a Scottish hero and bard, published many works still read in college classes today.

Baron (noun)

a man of great power or influence in some field of activity.

Jesse Fish, a native from New York City, moved to St. Augustine where he became Florida’s first orange baron.

Baseline (noun)

a set of critical observations or data used for comparison or a control.

Sales calls made within one state will fall under the new rules, setting a national baseline above which states can set tougher guidelines if they wish.

Basin (noun)

the region drained by a river system, an area sunk below its surroundings.

Sitting just west of the Nevada boundary, in the basin and range district of the Mojave Desert, Death Valley is all but surrounded by mountain ranges, with a few roads connecting the valley to the outside world through narrow passes.

Befriend (verb)

to favor, to act as a friend to

Later the Mozart children displayed (1763-66) their talents to audiences in Germany, in Paris, at court in Versailles, and in London (where Wolfgang wrote his first symphonies and was befriended by Johann Christian Bach, whose musical influence on Wolfgang was profound).

Belabor (verb)

to hit heavily and repeatedly.

It is not the point of this discussion to belabor the issues of abortion. Rather, we will examine why women choose to have one.

Berserk (adjective)

in a violent rage, especially to “go” berserk

After finding out that his wife had cheated on him, the murder suspect allegedly went berserk and shot her five times.

Bestow (verb)

to convey as a gift -- usually used with on or upon.

According to tradition, Brigit took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the presence of the missionary bishop, Saint Patrick, who bestowed on her the nun's veil.

Bewildering(adjective)

difficult to understand or solve: puzzling.

From components to software to accessories, new PCs offer a bewildering array of choices, and for some folks, sifting through the large number of options can be daunting.

Bicentennial(adjective)

lasting two hundred years or occurring every two hundred years.

Maya Angelou returned to the United States in 1974 and was appointed by Gerald Ford to the Bicentennial Commission and later by Jimmy Carter to the Commission for International Woman of the Year.

Binding (noun)

the act of making fast or firmly fixed by means of a cord, rope, etc.

A properly constructed shoe supports and protects the foot without any pressure or binding.

Bipedal (adjective)

a two footed animal.

Anatomical details indicate that A. anamnesis, a hominid whose remains were discovered by Leakey in 1995 in Kenya, to between 4.07 million and 4.17 million years ago, was capable of bipedal walking.

Birthmark (noun)

brown or red mark on one’s body from birth; a naturally occurring mark on an inanimate object.

Almost all diamonds contain very tiny natural birthmarks known as inclusions.

Bitter (adjective)

bitingly feeling or showing unfriendliness

After the government lent the two companies money and gave them large sections of land for every mile they built, the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad became bitter rivals, with each company laying as much track as possible.

Bizarre (adjective)

departing from the customary.

The stars would be moving three times faster across the sky while observers at other points on Mercury's surface would see different but equally bizarre motions.

Blanketed (verb)

to extend over the surface.

One could see what the world was like when ice sheets a thousand feet thick blanketed Canada and northern Europe, or when the Indonesian volcano Toba blew its top in the largest volcanic eruption of the last half million years.

Blaze (noun)

the visible signs of combustion (a fire).

Once any blaze begins to threaten human life or property or there is high danger of wildfire, the blaze is to be stopped or controlled.

Bleak (adjective)

cold and forbidding; dark and depressing.

One bleak wintery day, a major snowstorm dumped 34 inches on Buffalo, New York.

Blemish (noun)

something that mars the appearance.

In addition to internal inclusions in a diamond, surface irregularities are referred to as blemishes.

Blend (verb)

to mingle in a way that is not readily noticeable.

But other poisonous animals blend into their environments, perhaps because they use their poisons to attack and disable prey.

Blight (noun)

a deteriorated condition.

Think of the inner city and you envision images of physical blight, high crime and moral decay. But up against that bad news image, there's a good news reality-- and it's emerging in the heart of the inner city.

Blob (noun)

a small drop or lump of something viscid or thick ; a daub or spot of color.

A pink blob indicating above normal fire danger colors the map across eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho, and then reaches down the Sierra Nevada through Southern California and into western Arizona.

Bloodstream(noun)

the flowing blood in a circulatory system.

When responding to sudden fright, the human brain releases adrenaline, the fight-or flight hormone, into the bloodstream.

Bog down (verb)

to sink or submerge in mud or mire; idiom: to become overly concerned with something at the point of distraction.

Then read the essay over once, quickly, looking for the main idea, for what the essay is about in general, and for what the author seems to be saying. Don't get bogged down in details.

Bogus (adjective)

fraudulently or deceptively imitative.

Although several successful mining ventures were launched, much of the hype was bogus.

Bombard (verb)

to direct a concentrated outpouring at something such as missiles, words, or blows.

The lunar surface is bombarded with water rich objects such as comets, and scientists have suspected that some of the water in these objects could migrate to permanently dark areas at the lunar poles, perhaps accumulating to useable quantities.

Bone (noun)

any piece of hard tissue making up the skeleton.

Another benefit of exercising is that it increases bone mass.

Boon (noun)

something beneficial.

The tax reduction package passed by congress last year was a boon to middle class households with annual earnings less than $75,000.

Boost (verb)

to push or shove up from below; increase or raise.

Vivendi was also boosted as Moody's Investors Service late Thursday said that it had changed the outlook on the Franco-American group to stable from negative.

Botch (verb)

to foul up hopelessly -- often used with up.

The Maryland inmate claims inexperienced lawyers badly botched his trial.

Brace (verb)

to get ready as for an attack.

Emergency officials braced for more rain Tuesday following storms that sent torrents of mud and water down already saturated hillsides in central Appalachia, forcing dozens of

people to flee their homes and blocking roads.

Branch out(verb)

to extend activities over a wide area; to increase in dimensions, scope, or inclusiveness.

In the early 1800's, factories were most common in Massachusetts although they later branched out into the more populous areas of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Brand (verb)

to mark with a brand or name.

By the mid - 90's Patagonian Tooth fish was a highly prized catch, branded 'white gold'by industrial long range fishing fleets.

Breadth (noun)

the extent of something from side to side.

Regardless of your career path, the breadth of your preparation as a liberal arts major is very important.

Breakage (noun)

an act, instance, or consequence of making something unusable or inoperative

Homeowners with hillside homes can recognize the beginnings of slope failure through the following indicators: stairs that have pulled away from the building, widening of previously patched cracks in driveways, yards creaking and making groaning sounds,

breakage of underground utility lines, or leakage from swimming pools.

Breakthrough(noun)

an offensive thrust that penetrates and carries beyond a defensive line in warfare; an act or instance of breaking through an obstruction; a sudden advance especially in knowledge or technique <a medical breakthrough>; a person's first notable success.

The possibility of a breakthrough raised hopes for some progress toward peace on the 1,000th day of the current intifada, the Palestinian uprising against Israel.

Breeding (adjective)

characterized by producing descendants directly from the same parents or ancestors.

The larval stage of the Rhinoceros Beetle lasts for 2.5 to 7 months after which pupation takes place within the breeding site.

Brew (verb)

to prepare as beer or ale by steeping, boiling, and fermentation or by infusion and fermentation.

People have been brewing and fermenting alcoholic drinks since the dawn of civilization.

Brilliant (adjective)

having of showing intelligence, often of a high order.

His speeches and writings (especially a newspaper series signed "Novanglus" in 1775) articulating the colonial cause and his brilliant championing of American rights in Congress caused Thomas Jefferson to call him the "Colossus of Independence."

Bristle (noun)

a short stiff coarse hair or filament.

Caterpillars of giant silkworm moths and royal moths often bear stiff bristles on their bodies.

Brooch (noun)

an ornament that is held by a pin or clasp and is worn at or near the neck.

Even though most people do not believe that birthstone’s affect the wearer’s life, many still choose their birthstones to be set in rings, brooches, and other pieces of jewelry.

Bubble up (verb)

to become progressively greater as in size, amount, number, or intensity.

When it comes to home prices, Bergson does not believe values are bubbling up, reasoning that prices are being driven higher by income gains as well as a shortage of supply.

Buffer (adjective)

something serving to separate two items; something acting as a cushion.

Georgia was valued by the British as a buffer zone to protect the highly valued  Carolinas against attack from the Spanish in Florida and the French in Louisiana..

Buggy (noun)

a light one horse carriage made with four wheels.

Before the invention of the automobile, the horse and buggy was a popular form of transportation.

Built-up(adjective)

covered with buildings.

Crime tends to occur in heavily built-up areas since they are more opportunities for the criminals.

Bundle (verb)

to make into a bundle or package: wrap; to include a product or service with a related product for sale at a single price.

Gateway bundled a wealth of blank media for these tasks, including six DVD-R and one DVD-RAM disc, as well as three CD-RW and five CD-R discs.

Burgeoning(adjective)

to become greater in number, amount, or intensity.

Before the mid 1800s, there was no "Dante's View," nor was there a "Devil's Corn Field."

These names were coined by the hustlers and con-men who sought to attract visitors and investors to this burgeoning mining area.

Burrow (noun)

a hollow place used as an animal’s dwelling.

The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake hibernates in the burrows of other small animals, but is often seen lying in the sun on rocks and on the side of roads.

Burst (noun)

a concentrated outpouring, as of missiles, words, or blows.

A sudden burst of recognition came upon Albert Einstein on November 7, 1919, when British astronomers announced they had found the first confirmation of Einstein’s theory of relativity.

Butchered (adjective)

relating to slaughtering and dressing for market or killing in a barbarous manner.

The fossils include two adult males and one child and are estimated to be 160,000 years old. They were found among stone tools and butchered hippopotamus bones.

C vocabulary

Callisthenic(adjective)

fitness exercises.

After doing some boxing style punch drills and after flicking your wrists, you can also do some callisthenic exercises such as sit ups, crunches, and push ups.

Camouflage(noun)

to change or modify so as to prevent recognition of the true identity or character of.

The color pattern of the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake is due to its environment, as it helps to camouflage the snake in the sand or rocks.

Campaign(noun)

an organized effort to accomplish a purpose.

Miguel Cervantes worked to get Barrack Obama elected in the political campaign.

Canal(noun)

man-made waterway for inland navigation or irrigation.

Many slow moving rivers feed many canals that irrigate farmlands.

Candor(noun)

unreserved, honest, or sincere expression.

Her look of candor depicts a sense or realness to her characters, which is why she is a talented actress.

Canister(noun)

an often cylindrical container for holding a usually specified object or substance.

Mayor Mehmet Ozhaseki said a gas canister had likely exploded in the kitchen, causing the building's collapse.

Canvas(noun)

a firm closely woven cloth usually of linen, hemp, or cotton used for clothing, sails, etc.

Before the invention of nylon and other synthetic fabrics, tents were made of canvas.

Capability (noun)

physical, mental, financial, or legal power to perform.

The evidence seems to overwhelmingly state that there is indeed a critical period by which learning must commence in order to afford the learner the chance to achieve native-like capabilities.

Capacity(noun)

maximum amount of work that can be produced or contained

There is a natural decline of physical working capacity with age, but regular exercise can reduce this rate of decline.

Catastrophic(adjective)

a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth.

Deforestation may have catastrophic global effects as well. Trees are natural consumers of carbon dioxide——one of the greenhouse gases whose buildup in the atmosphere contributes to global warming.

Clutch(noun)

a nest of eggs or a brood of chicks.

The mother, who has been housed in a tank with a female brown banded bamboo shark for the last six years, laid a clutch of eggs in April.

Comparatively(adverb)

characterized by the systematic comparison of.

phenomenon and especially of likenesses and dissimilarities

The number of words in the English language that have been directly borrowed from German is comparatively small, most of them having been borrowed in recent years.

Cap(noun)

an upper limit as on expenditures.

The allowances will have a monetary value because companies that reduce their emissions will be able to sell excess credits to other firms that can not reach their CO2 caps.

Caption(noun)

title or brief explanation appended or joined to an illustration

Before you read, survey the chapter, the title, headings, and subheadings, captions under pictures, charts, graphs or maps.

Captive(adjective)

person or animal that has been taken prisoner or confined

Onhis way back to Spain in 1575, the galley El Sol was attacked by Turkish ships, and Cervantes was taken captive to Algeria.

Carat(noun)

unit of weight for precious stones.

The weight of a diamond is expressed in carats.

Caravan(noun)

a group of vehicles traveling in a single file

Larger, slower camels are employed in caravans, whereas the faster, lighter camels serve as mounts for couriers and soldiers.

Cabaret(adjective)

describing a restaurant serving liquor and providing entertainment as by singers or dancers.

Gregg Marx, a direct descendant of the Marx Brothers, performs his cabaret act, “Wet Night...Dry Martini,” 8:30 p.m. at Feinstein’s at the Cine Grill.

Calamity(noun)

a state of deep distress or misery caused by major misfortune or loss; an extraordinarily grave event marked by great loss and lasting distress and affliction.

British economist Thomas Malthus in 1798 proposed the unsettling theory that population growth would outrun the ability to produce food. This, he said, would lead to war, famine, disease, and other calamities.

Canine(noun)

Dog.

From dawn until dusk, there are dozens of things for humans and canines to do together: sports, games, lectures, contests, and crafts.

Carbohydrate(noun)

energy producing organic compound containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

There are three main food categories: carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Cardiac(adjective)

of, near, or affecting the heart.

Cardiac rehabilitation professionals find themselves increasingly drawn into discussions about healthcare reform, particularly when it relates to cost containment.

Cardiovascular(adjective)

of the heart and the blood vessels as a unified body system.

About one of every two Americans dies of cardiovascular disease.

Cargo(noun)

something carried physically.

Cargo-carrying ships docking at the Port of Los Angeles are unloaded each day, and the goods from those ships contain merchandise which is shipped to businesses all over the United States.

Carnivore(noun)

any of an order of typically flesh-eating mammals that includes dogs, foxes, bears, raccoons.

All spiders are carnivores, so they eat a variety of insects and will inject enzymes into their food either before or while they are breaking it up.

Cascade(noun)

small waterfall, especially one in a series

The cascades and rapids on the Kern River are some of the most difficult in California for kayakers.

Cataclysmic(adjective)

broadly : an event that brings great changes; a momentous and violent event marked by overwhelming upheaval and demolition.

But as such cataclysmic collisions occur on average only once in a million years or so, are they really worth worrying about?

Causative(adjective)

producing an effect.

Possible causative agents for brain cancer in firefighters include vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile and formaldehyde.

Cavalry(noun)

combat troops mounted originally on horses but most often in motorized armored vehicles.

If a member of your party is buried by an avalanche, his only real chance of survival is if you rescue them; don't go for help unless you're sure they're dead, because they will be by the time you get back with the cavalry.

Cavern(noun)

a hallow in the side of a cliff, a hill, or beneath the earth’s surface.

Sabah, Malaysia is home to the largest cavern in the world.

Cavity(noun)

a space in an otherwise solid mass.

Our larynxes are low in our throats, and our vocal tracts have a sharp right angle bend that creates two independently modifiable resonant cavities (the mouth and the pharynx or throat) that defines a large two dimensional range of vowel sounds.

Cease(verb)

to bring or come to a natural or proper conclusion, to come to a termination.

The lake disappears soon after the rains cease in the spring.

Cease-fire(noun)

a military order to cease firing; a suspension of active hostilities

If those assurances are given, Palestinian officials said, the Palestinian Authority will accept the cease-fire proposal from the three radical groups and an announcement will be made in Cairo where the Egyptian government has been instrumental in getting the radical groups to consider halting their attacks.

Cell(noun)

a small compartment, cavity, or bounded space.

In the country's Muslim south, the police arrested three men they said were members of a terrorist cell that was planning to attack embassies and entertainment spots.

Cellulose(noun)

the chief substance composing the cell walls or fibers of all plant tissue.

Starch and cellulose are complex carbohydrates.

Cement(verb)

to join or unite or as with cement.

It began in the early 1970s, when lesbian and gay couples applied for marriage licenses, asked courts to allow one partner to adopt the other, and took other steps to legally cement their relationship.

Cemetery(noun)

a place for the burial of the dead; a graveyard.

Many of the soldiers killed while fighting in Vietnam have been buried in a cemetery in Washington D.C.

Centrist(adjective)

moderate, not extreme.

The Senate bill was centrist enough for Republican Leader Frist and Democratic Leader Tom Daschle to support it.

Certified(adjective)

to confirm formally as true, accurate, or genuine.

A laboratory certified clarity rating of SI2 represents the point at which inclusions in a diamond are technically not apparent to the average naked eye.

Chameleon(noun)

any of the various American lizards capable of changing their color

Usually, the green anole lizard is sold in pet shops as a chameleon, but actually the true chameleon and the green anole are different animals.

Championing(noun)

to aid the cause by approving or favoring.

His speeches and writings (especially a newspaper series signed "Novanglus" in 1775) articulating the colonial cause and his brilliant championing of American rights in Congress caused Thomas Jefferson to call him the "Colossus of Independence."

Charm(noun)

the power or quality or attracting.

And whereas a lot of eastern and San Francisco investors lost money, this has become one of the enduring charms of Death Valley, adding a human dimension to the natural mystique.

Cherish(verb)

the recognize the value of; to have the highest regard for

Americans cherish the freedom of owning a car.

Chivalry(noun)

respectful attention, especially toward women.

Cervantes's book was read as a parody of novels of chivalry until the Romantics revealed its true importance as a novel.

Chlorophyll(noun)

green pigment found in plant cells.

Many types of seaweed and other plants that do not appear to be green also have chlorophyll and therefore can convert the sun's energy into food.

Chronicle(verb)

a recounting of past events.

The Titanic, though largely a fictional romance movie, is believed to chronicle some historical events of the doomed ship.

Cipher(noun)

a totally insignificant person.

Dead due to the extreme cold, a cipher’s body was found in the snow just outside of town.

Circle(noun)

a group of people sharing an interest, activity, or achievement.

An electronic funds transfer system called E.F.T. in banking circles is replacing the paperwork in banking processes.

Circuit(noun)

a course, process, or journey that ends where it began or repeats itself.

The radio talk show host is going a public speaking circuit for the next months.

Circulated(adjective)

something which is passed out.

The New York Times is one of the most widely circulated US newspapers.

Civilian(noun)

one not on active duty in a military, police, or fire fighting force; outsider.

Scientists and privacy experts who already have seen the use of face recognition technologies at a Super Bowl and monitoring cameras in London are concerned about the potential impact of the emerging technologies if they are applied to civilians by commercial or government agencies outside the Pentagon.

Clad(adjective)

being covered or clothed with.

The park, with its glacier-clad mountains and rich growth of trees and flowers, is often called America's "last frontier."

Clairvoyance(noun)

the supposed ability to perceive things that are not in sight or that cannot be seen.

Cervantes's work, a keen critique of the literature of his time, presented the clash between reality and the ideals which Don Quixote sought to revive, and at the same time originated the theme of the clairvoyance of insanity.

Clarity(noun)

the condition of being clean and free of contaminants.

The value of a diamond is determined by its exact quality as defined by the 4C's: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight.

Clash(verb)

to fail to be in agreement with.

Larry clashed with his professor over the grade he had received on his research paper.

Claw(noun)

pointed horny nail on an animal’s foot.

With its razor sharp claws and powerful jaw, the bear is one of the most dangerous predators in a forest.

Clearing(noun)

the act of removing the wood and brush from a tract of land

Unaware of the dangers of deforestation, early settlers made clearings, after which they could plant crops and build settlements.

Clump(verb)

to move heavily; to be of an irregular shape or of an indefinite size.

We can imagine a cloud of weakly interacting massive particles clumped around our galaxy, with the solar system sweeping through this cloud as we orbit the center of the Milky Way.

Clumsiness(noun)

the act of lacking skillfulness in the use of the hands and the body and grace in physical movement .

Despite the slowness and clumsiness of porcupines on the ground, they are good climbers because they have long, curving claws on all four paws.

Cluster(noun)

a number of entities making up or considered a unit

Amphibians lay clusters of eggs in bushes in close proximity to ponds.

Cocoon(noun)

a shell-like container.

We'd all be a lot kinder and gentler if the driver's seat were lashed to the front bumper instead of encased in a padded steel cocoon.

Cognition(noun)

the process of knowing in the broadest sense.

Welcome to today’s seminar about the Cognition and Perception Program offered through the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan.

Coherent(adjective)

logically connected, consistent.

The planning stage of writing requires one to put his ideas into a coherent, purposeful order appropriate to his readers.

Cold-shoulder(verb)

to give intentionally cold or unsympathetic treatment.

Asked if he would repeat his anti-Bush message in person, Mandela replied: "You assume that he is going to meet me. I wouldn't make that assumption. I have said what I wanted to say and I don't have to repeat it." It was unclear who would cold-shoulder whom.

Collaborate(verb)

to work together toward a common end.

Quincy Jones' first major success as a pop music producer came in the early 1960's when he collaborated with Lesley Gore to create a dozen pop hits including It's My Party and Judy's Turn to Cry.

Collapse(noun)

an abrupt, disastrous failure.

The balance of fusion reactions versus gravitational collapse which occurred in this little cloud is fondly referred to as a star, and this story is about the birth and life of the closest star to Earth, the Sun.

Collectively(adverb)

the manner of gathering something into a whole; characteristic of a group acting together.

Collectively, these frozen archives give scientists unprecedented views of global climate over the eons.

Collide(verb)

to come together or come up against with force.

Particles within the cloud's center (core) became so densely packed that they often collided and stuck (fused) together.

Colossal(adjective)

vast, enormous, gigantic, mammoth.

A colossal earthquake registering 8.4 on the Richter scale occurred in Alaska in the 1960's.

Colonize(verb)

to found or establish an area which is subject to rule by an outside power.

Portugal, France, Holland, and England colonizing the continents now called the Americas decided to stay and the rest is history.

Comeback(noun)

a return to a former position or condition as of success or prosperity.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has changed the wolf's status from "endangered" to "threatened" in the lower 48 states. This lack of federal protection is allowing many western states to wage a war on wolves -- just as they were beginning to make a comeback.

Combat(verb)

to strive in opposition with force.

Once all of the hydrogen is turned into helium, a star will stop fusing hydrogen and will lose its ability to combat gravity.

Commentary(noun)

critical explanation or analysis.

Hits like “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” introduced a darker edge to the music to complement the serious commentary in the lyrics.

Commemorate(verb)

to mark by some ceremony or observation.

Jones said Tuesday at a forum commemorating the 40th anniversary of the event that Wallace later apologized to her for blocking the doors of Foster Auditorium on June 11, 1963.

Commerce(noun)

commercial, industrial, or professional activity in general.

In Roman mythology, Mercury is the god of commerce, travel, and thievery, the Roman counterpart of the Greek god Hermes, the messenger of the Gods.

Comparable(adjective)

possessing the same or almost the same characteristics.

Body composition is the comparable amounts of fat and lean body tissue found in the body.

Compatible(adjective)

capable of existing together in harmony.

The scientific community should take on the responsibility to investigate all objects that could potentially impact Earth down to the size compatible with available technology and with the public perception of acceptable risk.

Compensate(verb)

to make up for the defects of.

Saville and Dewey aptly call their formula reading The Barnum Effect, which goes, "You have a strong need for other people to like you and for them to admire you. You have a tendency to be critical of yourself. You have a great deal of unused energy which you have not turned to your advantage. While you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them."

Competence(noun)

physical, mental, financial, or legal power to perform.

The activities and requirements of the cognition and perception program are designed primarily to develop the student's competence as a researcher.

Complement(verb)

to fill in what is lacking and make perfect.

Hits like “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” introduced a darker edge to the music to complement the serious commentary in the lyrics.

Complex(adjective)

difficult to understand due to its intricacy.

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life.

Complication(noun)

something that causes difficulty, trouble, or lack of ease.

If left untreated, an anorexic person could starve to death or die from complications of malnutrition.

Compose of (verb)

to be the constituents parts of.

Comets are composed of dust and frozen gases that scientists believe are little changed since the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago.

Composite(adjective)

combining the typical or essential characteristics of individuals making up a group.

Disclosing the list ''would give terrorist organizations a composite picture of the government investigation,'' Sentelle wrote.

Compound(noun)

consisting of two or more interconnected parts.

A molecule is a compound or group of atoms.

Compress(verb)

to reduce in size by or as if by drawing together.

Less than 5 billion years ago, in a distant spiral arm of our galaxy, called the Milky Way, a small cloud of gas and dust began to compress under its own weight.

Comprise of (verb)

to have as integral parts.

On the east side of the valley is the Armargosa Range, comprised of three separate units.

Compulsion(noun)

an irresistible, repeated, irrational, impulse to perform some act.

People with Multiple Personality Disorder may experience any of the following: depression, mood swings, suicidal tendencies, sleep disorders, panic attacks and phobias, alcohol and drug abuse, and compulsions.

Computational(adjective)

describing the process of determining a number or amount through calculation and through the use of a computer.

Cognitive Psychology is an empirical science and depends on careful experimental procedures and paradigms to test theories about these mental processes. This program is especially geared towards the application of formal and computational modeling and

neuroscience methods to these basic questions.

Conceivable(adjective)

capable of being anticipated, considered, or imagined.

The community consists of an enormous number of people of every conceivable age, race, religion, lifestyle, income and opinion.

Concord(noun)

the state of individuals who are in complete agreement.

Initially, when settlers migrated west to settle on their own farmlands, there was no concord with the Native American population.

Concrete(adjective)

having actual reality.

There is no concrete proof for the existence of a supreme being, which is why some people are atheists.

Conditioning(noun)

to make familiar through constant practice or use.

Researchers have continued to use the techniques of classical conditioning for both learning and unlearning certain behaviors or fears.

Condolence(noun)

sympathy with another in sorrow; an expression of sympathy.

We would like to express to her majesty and the people of the United Kingdom our sincere condolences for the loss of the British soldiers.

Conducive(adjective)

tending to promote or assist.

Our intense winter storms, high rainfall amounts, and steep terrain area all conductive to land sliding.

Confluence(noun)

the act or fact of coming together.

A confluence of researchers brought about the invention of the atomic bomb.

Conformity(noun)

an act of willingly carrying out the wishes of others.

The control theory’s explanation of criminal behavior focuses on the control mechanisms, techniques, and strategies for regulating human behavior, leading to conformity or obedience to society's rules.

Confound(verb)

to throw a person into confusion or perplexity.

Earlier this week, Fed policy setters elected to trim the fed funds rate to 1.00 percent from 1.25 percent, confounding some market expectations for a reduction of half a percentage point.

Conical(adjective)

resembling a cone in shape.

The conical shaped space rocket was launched into space.

Conjure up (verb)

imagine or contrive.

A family is the basic unit in society having as its nucleus two or more adults living together and cooperating in the care and rearing of their own or adopted children.

Despite this all-inclusive definition, a lesbian or gay couple with or without children are not the image conjured up when most people create a picture of a family.

Con-man(noun)

one who tells falsehoods in order to get financial gain.

"Dante's View" and the "Devil's Corn Field" are names coined by the hustlers and conmen who sought to attract visitors and investors to this burgeoning mining area.

Consciousness(noun)

the condition of being aware.

The Sun Dance was a type of self torture which included a loss of consciousness.

Consecutive(adjective)

following one after another in an orderly pattern.

An anorexic girl weighs at least 15 percent less than her ideal weight, has an extreme fear of gaining weight, and has missed at least three consecutive menstrual periods.

Consequence(noun)

something brought about by a cause.

Deviance is seen as a consequence of society's decision to apply that term to a person, and deviant behavior is behavior that society labels as deviant.

Conservatism(noun)

a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions and preferring gradual development to abrupt change.

Although he never wavered in his devotion to colonial rights and early committed himself to independence as an unwelcome last resort, Adams's innate conservatism made him determined in 1770 that the British soldiers accused of the Boston Massacre receive a fair hearing.

Conserve(verb)

to protect an asset from loss or destruction.

Now that we know what is involved in obtaining water and how quickly it is being used, everyone must do his/her part to conserve water.

Consistently(adverb)

without variation or change.

Long time Death Valley residents say that daily temperatures at Bad water are consistently higher than those at Furnace Creek.

Consort(noun)

a husband or wife.

Prince Albert was Queen Elizabeth’s consort and her first cousin and the nephew of the king of the Belgians, Leopold I.

Conspire(verb)

to work out a secret plan to achieve an evil or illegal end.

Martin’s Luther King’s house was bombed, and he was convicted along with other boycott leaders on charges of conspiring to interfere with the bus company's operations.

Constituent(adjective)

one of the individual entities contributing to a whole.

If water rich asteroids added water to the lunar surface, most of the water would be split by sunlight into its constituent atoms of hydrogen and oxygen and lost into space, but some would migrate by literally hopping along to places where it is very cold.

Constitute(verb)

to put in force by legal authority.

The death penalty is constituted by most state judicial courts as a legal force of punishment for criminals who have committed premeditated murder.

Constrain(verb)

to control, or restrict.

Still others are enjoying a higher level of economic prosperity than the average American and don't feel constrained in any way by a lack of marriage rights.

Consul(noun)

an official appointed by a government to reside in a country to represent the commercial.

interests of citizens of the appointing country Bret Harte served as a consul in Germany and Scotland, after which he settled in

England, where he remained until he died in 1902.

Consultant(noun)

one who advises another, especially officially or professionally.

Business consultants often advise their clients to make long term investments.

Consummate(adjective)

supremely excellent in quality or nature.

Mozart was commissioned to compose a new opera for Munich, Idomeneo (1781), which proved that he was a consummate master of opera series.

Containment(noun)

the state of holding back or within fixed limits; to restrain.

The government is increasingly drawn into discussions about healthcare reform, particularly when it relates to cost containment.

Contemporary(adjective)

modern, in existence now.

In 1989, the musician came back with “Back On the Block,” another grand tour of contemporary Rhythm and Blues (R&B) with a guest list that read like a Who's Who of R&B.

Contentious(adjective)

inclined to act in a hostile way; given to arguing.

A contentious argument erupted during the classroom debate.

Continental(adjective)

of the mainland; any of the main large land areas of the earth.

Around the margins of the Pacific Ocean, for example, denser oceanic plates slip under continental plates in a process known as seduction.

Contour(adjective)

following contour lines or forming furrows or ridges along them.

Contour plowing diminishes water-polluting runoff.

Contraception(noun)

deliberate prevention of conception or impregnation.

It is widely known as the "morning-after pill," but new research confirms that emergency contraception reliably prevents  regnancy even when taken as long as five days after having sex.

Contract(verb)

to reduce in size by or as by drawing together.

A partner will stretch your muscle group to a comfortable level. Then you contract as tight as you can and hold for about 6 to 10 seconds. You then relax and your partner stretches you further, repeating the process.

Contrive(verb)

to form a strategy for.

Chimpanzees require massive regimented teaching sequences contrived by humans to acquire quite rudimentary abilities.

Conversely(adverb)

the manner of being the opposite of.

Lack of physical activity causes an increase in body fat. Conversely, regular exercise leads to a loss of body fat.

Convert(verb)

to alter or change the physical or chemical properties of something.

Our gut converts the protein from our dinner lamb chop into smaller amino acids.

Convey(verb)

to make known; to put into words.

The best philosophy to be conveyed about how to avoid problems is the principle of the three red flags, which states that most accidents or avalanches are not the result of an unavoidable "karmic cannonball," but rather are the predictable outcome of a series of related events.

Conveyor(noun)

a mechanical apparatus which carries packages or bulk material from one place to another.

Muscular contractions cause a ripple like movement that carries the contents down the small intestine somewhat like a conveyor belt.

Convoy(verb)

to accompany, especially to escort for protection.

So Marin County parents started "walking school buses," where they convoy groups of kids to school. It's a concept used in Chicago city schools where gang crime is the biggest threat to children.

Cooing(verb)

making a low soft cry

Usually ranging from approximately 0 to six months, cooing is the first stage of linguistic development in children.

Cooperating(verb)

to work together toward a common end.

A family is the basic unit in society having as its nucleus two or more adults living together and cooperating in the care and rearing of their own or adopted children.

Coordinator(noun)

one who brings something into accord; one who combines and adapts in order to attain a particular effect.

Maya Angelou became the northern coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Cordially(adverb)

manner relating to kindness, warmth, and unaffected courtesy.

In 1762 the Mozart children played at court in Vienna; the Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Emperor Francis I, received them cordially.

Core(noun)

 the most central and material part; a point of origin from which ideas, influences, etc., emanate.

Earth's density is due in part to gravitational compression; if not for this, Mercury would be denser than Earth, indicating that Mercury's dense iron core is relatively larger than Earth's, probably comprising the majority of the planet.

Corporate(adjective)

being a commercial organization.

Corporate interviewers are looking for applicants who display purpose and commitment to their future occupation.

Corpse(noun)

the physical frame of a dead person or animal.

Zurbaran attempted to capture the fact that it is a corpse by painting a somewhat frightening face.

Correlate(verb)

to come or bring together in one’s mind or imagination.

One of his students found that scores on these tests did not correlate with class standing among undergraduates at Columbia University.

Corrode(verb)

to eat away by degrees as if by gnawing; especially : to wear away gradually usually by.

chemical action; to weaken or destroy gradually : to undermine

CO2 might corrode concrete plugs meant to seal wells.

Costume(noun)

clothes or other personal effects, such as make-up, worn to conceal one’s identity.

To celebrate Halloween, children dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for candy.

Counterpart(noun)

something possessing the same or almost the same characteristics as something else.

In Roman mythology, Mercury is the god of commerce, travel, and thievery, the Roman counterpart of the Greek god Hermes, the messenger of the Gods.

Countless(adjective)

too great to be calculated.

Indeed, fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear accident has turned up in ice cores, as has dust from violent desert storms countless millennia ago.

Coupe(noun)

a 2-door automobile often seating only two persons; also : one with a tightly spaced rear seat.

The Corvette Coupe, from the United States, is a popular sports car.

Covet(verb)

characterized as having an inordinate desire for what belongs to another

He is the only art critic to have twice won America's most coveted award for art criticism, the Frank Jewett Mather Award, given by the College Art Association.

Cowhand(noun)

a cowboy; one who tends cows.

In the 1800's, some worked as cowhands on ranches in Montana, during which they experienced devastating snowstorms and temperatures as cold as -40 F.

Crack(noun)

to undergo partial breaking.

A small pebble caused a crack in the windshield.

Cradle(noun)

a place in which a thing begins or is nurtured in its infancy.

Ancient Greece, once the cradle of Western culture, is responsible for many of the moral and scientific concepts that exist today.

Cramp(verb)

to be retrained or confined.

The Scots fought from a better position and the English were too cramped for space to use their superior numbers.

Cranium(noun) skull

 the part of the head that encloses the brain.

It was believed in the nineteenth that bumps on a person’s cranium revealed his or her personality.

Cratered(verb)

to exhibit bowl-shaped depressions caused by the impact of a meteorite.

Mercury is in many ways similar to the Moon: its surface is heavily cratered and very old.

Creaking(verb)

a prolonged grating or squeaking sound.

Yards creaking and making groaning sounds can be early warnings of slope failure.

Cremate(verb)

to reduce a dead body to ashes by burning.

His last wish before he died was to be cremated and have his ashes spread over the Pacific Ocean.

Crevice(noun)

a narrow opening resulting from a split or crack.

Found in waters all over the earth, octopuses like to hide in rocks and crevices and can squeeze into tiny holes, as they have no bones.

Criterion(noun)

a standard of comparison.

In order for doctors to know whether or not a baby is normal, there are certain criteria or standards of judgment, but individual babies will vary somewhat from these standards.

Critique(noun)

evaluative and critical discourse.

William Faulkner was a keen critique of the literature of his time.

Crucial(adjective)

so serious as to be at the point of crisis.

The sociological perspective is crucial for working in today's multiethnic and multinational business environment.

Crude(adjective)

in a natural state and still not prepared for use.

Crude oil needs to be refined before it can be used for automobile consumption.

Crumple(verb)

to make irregular folds in, especially by pressing or twisting; to be unable to hold up.

The front and rear ends of an automobile are designed to crumple during a collision.

Crushing(verb)

pressing forcefully so as to break up into pulpy mass.

The core thus begins to fuse helium into carbon to make enough energy to maintain its balance with the crushing force of gravity.

Crustal(adjective)

relating to the outer exterior of the earth consisting of rock.

Tectonic earthquakes are a particular kind of earthquake that are associated with the earth's crustal deformation; when these earthquakes occur beneath the sea, the water above the deformed area is displaced from its equilibrium position.

Crystallized(adjective)

formed with a clear colorless rock.

Diamond is the name given to the crystallized form of the element Carbon.

Cull(noun)

something rejected especially as being inferior or worthless.

Animal activists are angry about the kangaroo cull.

Cultivate(verb)

to prepare or prepare and use for something.

The proposal focused on a laboratory procedure designed to create embryos to cultivate their stem cells, which are master cells that can potentially grow into any type of human tissue.

Cumulative(adjective)

increasing, as in force, by successive additions.

Scientific knowledge is not absolute, but cumulative in that new facts are constantly being added while old facts are discarded.

Curio(adjective)

something such as a decorative object considered novel, rare, or bizarre.

A further one million are fished for the curio trade because seahorses retain their shape and color when dried.

Current(noun)

occurring in or belonging to the present time.

Although the three currents discussed so far in 20th century painting may also be found in sculpture, the parallelism should not be overstressed.

Curve(verb)

having bends, curves, or angles; deviating from a straight line.

Unstable areas may sometimes be identified by trees or telephone poles tilted at odd angles, or by curved tree trunks.

Cyclical(adjective)

of, relating to, or being an interval of time during which a sequence of a recurring succession of events or phenomena is completed.

The one thing we don't know is whether it will be cyclical, whether it will occur seasonally.

Cylinder(adjective)

the surface traced by a straight line moving parallel to a fixed straight line and intersecting a fixed curve.

The long cylinders of ancient ice that they retrieve provide a dazzlingly detailed record of what was happening in the world over the past several ice ages.