Unit 3

juvenile

silly and typical of a child rather than an adult

childlike

having qualities that are typical of a child, especially positive qualities such as innocence and eagerness

youthful

typical of young people, or seeming young

demeanor

the way someone behaves, dresses, speaks etc that shows what their character is like

mature

someone, especially a child or young person, who is mature behaves in a sensible and reasonable way, as you would expect an adult to behave

puerile

silly and stupid

geriatric

too old to work well

adolescent

a young person, usually between the ages of 12 and 18, who is developing into an adult

childish

behaving in a silly way that makes you seem much younger than you really are

boyish

someone who is boyish looks or behaves like a boy in a way that is attractive

infantile

infantile behaviour seems silly in an adult because it is typical of a child

aging

becoming old

adult

typical of an adult’s behaviour or of the things adults do

obsession

an extreme unhealthy interest in something or worry about something, which stops you from thinking about anything else

vampire

in stories, a dead person that sucks people’s blood by biting their necks

fascination

the state of being very interested in something, so that you want to look at it, learn about it etc

lust

a very strong desire to have something, usually power or money

barely

only with great difficulty or effort

appeal to

if someone or something appeals to you, they seem attractive and interesting

myth

an idea or story that many people believe, but which is not true

eternal

continuing for ever and having no end

youth

the quality or state of being young

embody

to be a very good example of an idea or quality

mysterious

mysterious events or situations are difficult to explain or understand

tongue-tied

unable to talk in a relaxed way because you feel nervous or embarrassed

will

what someone wants to happen in a particular situation

alienation

the feeling of not being part of society or a group

origin

the place or situation in which something begins to exist

profound

having a strong influence or effect

columnist

someone who writes articles, especially about a particular subject, that appear regularly in a newspaper or magazine

contradictory

two statements, beliefs etc that are contradictory are different and therefore cannot both be true or correct

amusement

the feeling you have when you think something is funny

cringe

to feel embarrassed by something you have said or done because you think it makes you seem silly

raw

raw feelings are strong and natural, but not fully controlled

trivial

not serious, important, or valuable

impermanent

not staying the same forever

sibling

a brother or sister

temptation

a strong desire to have or do something even though you know you should not

make fun of

to make unkind insulting remarks about someone or something

prospect

the possibility that something will happen

well-founded

a belief or feeling etc that is well-founded is based on facts or good judgment

threat

the possibility that something very bad will happen

pose

to exist in a way that may cause a problem, danger, difficulty etc

induce

to persuade someone to do something, especially something that does not seem wise

pent-up

pent-up feelings or energy have not been expressed or used for a long time

resentment

a feeling of anger because something has happened that you think is unfair

jealousy

a feeling of being jealous

infatuation

a strong feeling of love for someone or interest in something, especially a feeling that is unreasonable and does not continue for a long time

outpouring

an expression of strong feelings

rage

a strong feeling of uncontrollable anger

irksome

annoying

confront

to deal with something very difficult or unpleasant in a brave and determined way

substitute

a person or thing that you use instead of the one that you usually have, because the usual one is not available

diarist

someone who writes a diary, especially one that is later sold

fantasise

to imagine that you are doing something which is very pleasant or exciting, but which is very unlikely to happen

exaggerate

to make something seem better, larger, worse etc than it really is

downplay

to make something seem less important than it really is

render

to cause someone or something to be in a particular condition

autobiography

a book in which someone writes about their own life, or books of this type

reticence

the state of being unwilling to talk about what you feel or what you know

retain

to keep something or continue to have something

popularity

when something or someone is liked or supported by a lot of people

approval

when a plan, decision, or person is officially accepted

disapproval

an attitude that shows you think that someone or their behaviour, ideas etc are bad or not suitable

cyber bullying

the activity of sending internet or text messages that threaten or insult someone

bare one's soul

to reveal your most secret feelings

sentimentality

the quality of being sentimental

dedicated

someone who is dedicated works very hard at what they do because they care a lot about it

fancy

to feel sexually attracted to someone

reliant

dependent on someone or something

status

your social or professional rank or position, considered in relation to other people

transition

when something changes from one form or state to another

longevity

the amount of time that someone or something lives

complex

consisting of many different parts and often difficult to understand

interplay

the way in which two people or things affect each other

genetics

the study of how the qualities of living things are passed on in their genes

centenarian

someone who is 100 years old or older

disability

a physical or mental condition that makes it difficult for someone to use a part of their body properly, or to learn normally

diverse

very different from each other

overeat

to eat too much, or eat more than is healthy

purposeful

having a clear aim or purpose

appreciate

to understand how good or useful someone or something is

beg

to ask for something in an anxious or urgent way, because you want it very much

amount

a quantity of something such as time, money, or a substance

instance

an example of a particular kind of situation

concentration

the ability to think about something carefully or for a long time

figure

a number representing an amount, especially an official number

anticipation

when you are expecting something to happen

expectancy

the feeling that something pleasant or exciting is going to happen

equal

someone who is as important, intelligent etc as you are, or who has the same rights and opportunities as you do

peers

your peers are the people who are the same age as you, or who have the same type of job, social class etc

colleague

someone you work with - used especially by professional people

partner

one of two people who are married, or who live together and have a sexual relationship

on-campus

the land and buildings of a university or college, including the buildings where students live

proportion

a part of a number or an amount, considered in relation to the whole

withdraw

to take money out of a bank account

century

one of the 100-year periods measured from before or after the year of Christ’s birth

stressful

a job, experience, or situation that is stressful makes you worry a lot

attribute

to believe or say that a situation or event is caused by something

genetic

relating to genes or genetics

deliberately

done in a way that is intended or planned

unwilling

not wanting to do something and refusing to do it

risk

the possibility that something bad, unpleasant, or dangerous may happen

prevalence

the quality of being common at a particular time, in a particular place, or among a particular group of people

untreatable

an untreatable illness or injury cannot be helped with drugs or an operation

disagreeable

not at all enjoyable or pleasant

burden

something difficult or worrying that you are responsible for

deadline

a date or time by which you have to do or complete something

in accordance with

according to a rule, system etc

conscientiousness

the quality of being careful to do everything that it is your job or duty to do

contribute

to help to make something happen

content

happy and satisfied

convinced

feeling certain that something is true

valid

a reason, argument etc that is based on what is reasonable or sensible

alternative

an alternative idea, plan etc is different from the one you have and can be used instead

speculation

when you guess about the possible causes or effects of something without knowing all the facts, or the guesses that you make

wishful thinking

when you believe that what you want to happen will happen, when in fact it is not possible

foolhardy

taking stupid and unnecessary risks

granted

used when you admit that something is true

laid-back

relaxed and seeming not to be worried about anything

veer

if opinions, ideas, attitudes etc veer in a particular direction, they gradually change and become quite different

the boot is on the other foot

used to say someone who has caused problems for other people in the past is now in a situation in which people are causing problems for them

generation

all people of about the same age

attitude

the opinions and feelings that you usually have about something, especially when this is shown in your behaviour

conduct

to carry out a particular activity or process, especially in order to get information or prove facts

survey

a set of questions that you ask a large number of people in order to find out about their opinions or behaviour

invent

to think of an idea, story etc that is not true, usually in order to deceive people

statistics

a set of numbers which represent facts or measurements

succinct

clearly expressed in a few words

appropriate

correct or suitable for a particular time, situation, or purpose

mistrust

to not trust someone, especially because you think they may treat you unfairly or dishonestly

embarrass

to make someone feel ashamed, nervous, or uncomfortable, especially in front of other people

colloquial

language or words that are colloquial are used mainly in informal conversations rather than in writing or formal speech

coin

to invent a new word or expression, especially one that many people start to use

depict

to describe something or someone in writing or speech, or to show them in a painting, picture etc

conflict

a state of disagreement or argument between people, groups, countries etc

bandwagon

if you jump on the bandwagon, you start doing or saying something that a lot of people are already doing or saying

reign

a period during which something is the most powerful or most important feature of a place

idiom

a group of words that has a special meaning that is different from the ordinary meaning of each separate word. For example, ‘under the weather’ is an idiom meaning ‘ill’.

subsist

to stay alive when you only have small amounts of food or money

endure

to remain alive or continue to exist for a long time

aim

something you hope to achieve by doing something

target

to make something have an effect on a particular limited group or area

pitch

to aim a product at a particular type of organization, group of people etc, or to describe it in a particular way, in order to sell it