Page 337 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
328
rigid (RI jid) adj. 1. not flexible; unbending; stiff; 2. severe; exacting; strict
• Steel beams are rigid, which is why they are used in construction.
• Orthodox religions tend to be rigid in their interpretation of the right way
to live and worship.
• The rules for raising children should be consistent but not really rigid.
[-ly adv., -ity n.] [Syn. unbending]
rivet (RI vit) n. 1. a metal bolt with a head on one end (which is heated and put
through holes and then flattened on its straight end by hammering), used to fasten
metal girders or plates together; 2. something similar used to reinforce seams on
work clothes —vt. 1. to fasten with rivets; 2. to hold or fix (one’s attention, eyes,
and so on)
• Rivets are used to fasten steel beams together and to fasten an airplane’s
skin to its frame.
• Rivets are often used on blue jeans and coveralls.
• When parts are riveted together, they can’t be loosened the way they can
when screws are used.
• Roxane’s eyes were riveted by the sight of the jumbo jet coming in for a
landing.
[-ed, -ing]
rudder (RUHD er) n. 1. a flat board fixed to the back of a boat or ship and used
to steer; 2. a movable attachment to the vertical stabilizer of an aircraft; 3. a guide
or control
•A rudder seems to be a very effective way to steer a boat; it has been on
every watercraft except small, rowed boats since ancient times.
• An airplane’s rudder is almost always the rearmost part of the craft.
• The White House often tries to act as a rudder for public opinion.
ruminate (ROO min ayt) vt. 1. to chew cud, like a cow or other ruminant; 2. to
think over; consider; meditate
• Cattle, antelope, deer, buffalo, and giraffes all ruminate.
• Jerri ruminated over the job offer made to her by a competing company.
• Ian ruminated over which of the three universities’ offers of admission he
was going to accept.
[-d, ruminating] [Syn. meditate]
ruthless (ROOTH lis) adj. having no pity; pitiless; cruel
• Atilla the Hun was ruthless toward his opponents.
• Neil used to go out with a girl named Ruth, but since she ruthlessly left
him, he’s been Ruthless.
• Organized crime is looking for ruthless persons to work as enforcers.
[-ly adv., -ness n.] [Syn. cruel]