Page 35 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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appreciate (uh PREE shee AYT) vt. 1. to think well of; to understand or enjoy;
esteem; 2. to recognize and be thankful for; 3. to estimate the quality or value of
(especially favorably); 4. to be sensitively aware of; 5. to increase the price or value of
• We all appreciate how well mannered Shewana is.
• Many of her students appreciate the educational experience Mrs. Sheridan
provides in her applied physics class.
• The connoisseur appreciated the fineness of the woodwork.
• The college entrance committee fully appreciates all the applicants’ concern
for its ethnic and racial blindness.
• The price of fine art continues to appreciate even as you are reading this
sentence.
[-d, appreciating, appreciation n.] [Syn. treasure, cherish, pride]
approach (uh PROHch) vt. 1. to come close or closer to; 2. to be similar to; to
approximate; 3. a proposal or request to; to make advances; 4. to start dealing with
• You may approach the rim of the Grand Canyon, but don’t approach it too
closely—for obvious reasons.
• Digital audiotape approaches the quality of CD sound.
• Do you have the nerve to approach your boss for a raise?
• It’s time to approach the matter of clearing the flood waters’ debris out of
the basement.
[-es pl., -ed, -ing, -able adj., -ability n. (also approach n.)]
appropriate (uh PROH pree AYT for v., uh PROH pree it for adj.) vt. 1. to take for
one’s exclusive use; 2. to take without permission or improperly; 3. to set aside for a
certain use or particular person —adj. right for the purpose; suitable; fit; proper
• The Duchess has been known to appropriate the entire seating area of a
town’s only restaurant when she desires to have tea.
• Jane’s mother overruled Jane’s attempt to appropriate her neighbor’s lawn
chair.
• Farmer Jack had to appropriate the horse to draw the sleigh—at least until
the snowmobile was fixed.
• A bathing suit is appropriate for the swimming pool but not at all appropri-
ate for the igloo.
[-d, appropriating, -ness, appropriation n.] [Syn. fit]
aquarium (uh KWAER ee uhm) n. 1. a tank, usually having glass sides, or a
pool, bowl, etc. for keeping live water plants, fish, and/or aquatic mammals; 2. a
building used to put such collections on exhibit
• Margie had tropical fish in the 20-gallon aquarium that she kept against a
wall of the living room.
• The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, is a major tourist attrac-
tion in that city’s inner harbor.