Page 59 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

07_571656 ch03.qxd 11/10/04 12:34 PM Page 50
Essential Vocabulary
50
clique (KLEEK or KLIK) n. a small, exclusive circle of people; snobbish or narrow
coterie (Common interest and snobbery are implied.)
• The cheerleaders kept together in their own clique.
• The Obscure Poets Society was a self-important, highbrow clique that gener-
ally looked down on others.
[-ish or cliquish adj., cliquishly adv., cliquishness n.] [Syn. coterie]
cloying (KLOY ing) adj. 1. displeasing or distasteful due to excess; 2. excessively
sweet, sentimental, etc.
• The romance novel was cloying in its sentimentality.
• The date can have a cloying sweetness that causes many people to avoid
eating that fruit unless it is only one of several ingredients, as in date-nut
bread.
[-ly adv., (to) cloy vt.]
cohere (koh HEER) vi. 1. to stick together; 2. to be connected naturally or logi-
cally, as by some common idea or principle; 3. to become or stay united in action;
be in accord
• Grapes appear to cohere until you notice the tiny stems.
• Freedoms of religion and press seem to logically cohere.
• The U.S. and U.K. cohered from 1941 through 1945 in their fight against
the Nazis.
[-d, cohering, -nt adj., -nce, cohesion, cohesiveness n.] [Syn. stick]
colleague (KAH leeg) n. a fellow worker; one in the same profession
• Matt and Louise were colleagues at the electric company.
• Dr. Lang and Dr. Griffith were colleagues at Lehigh Hospital.
[Syn. associate]
collect (kuh LEKT) vt. 1. to bring together; assemble; 2. to call for and receive
(for example, taxes); 3. to regain control (of oneself); 4. to pick up; go get —vi. to
gather; assemble —adj., adv. to be payed for by the recipient
• Libby collects bottle caps as a hobby.
• The news boy collects fees weekly from his patrons.
• You need to collect your wits before reading another word.
• June collects aluminum cans to turn in for the 10¢ deposit.
• The crowd collected outside the ballpark.
• When you get there, call collect.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. gather]
collection (kuh LEK shin) n. 1. the act or process of accumulating; 2. the things
collected; 3. a pile; an accumulation; 4. money collected, as by a fund-raiser
• A weekly collection of garbage is essential for urban living.
• Laurie has quite an extensive stamp collection.
• Ian has some collection of dirty clothes in his room.
• After the religious service, a collection plate was passed.