circuitous adj.
- ADJ-GRADED A circuitous route is long and complicated rather than simple and direct.
contaminate vt.
- VERB If something is contaminated by dirt, chemicals, or radiation, they make it dirty or harmful.
hubbub n.
- N-VAR A hubbub is a noise by a lot of people all talking or shouting at the same time.
- N-SING You can describe a situation where there is great confusion or excitement as a hubbub.
orchid n.
- N-COUNT Orchid are plants with brightly coloured, unusually shaped flowers.
ascend v.
- VERB if you ascend a hill or staircase, you go up it.
- VERB If a staircase or path ascends, it leads up to a higher position.
- VERB If something ascends, it moves up, usually vertically or into the air.
dispute n./vi./vt.
- N-VAR A dispute is an argument or disagreement between people or groups.
- VERB If you describe a fact, statement, or theory, you say that it is incorrect or untrue.
- V-RECIP When people dispute something, they fight for control or ownship of it. You can also say that one group of people dispute something with another group.
accost v.
- VERB If someone accosts another person, especially a stranger, they stop them or go up to them and speak to them in a way that seems rude or threatening.
obscene adj.
- ADJ-GRADED If you describe something as obscene, you mean it offends you because it relates to sex or violence in a way that you think is unpleasant and shocking.
- ADJ In legal contexts, books, picture, or films which are judged obscene are illegal because they deal with sex or violence in a way that is considered offensive to the general public.
- ADJ-GRADED If you describe something as obscene, you disapprove of it very strongly and consider it to be offensive or immoral.
disburse vt.
- VERB To disburse an amount of money means to pay it out, usually from a fund which has been collected for a particular purpose.
nostalgia n.
- N-UNCOUNT Nostalgia is an affectionate feeling you have for the past, especially for a particularly happy time.
necrosis n.
- N-UNCOUNT Nevrosis is the death of part of someone's body, for example because it is not getting enough blood.
irrepressible adj.
- ADJ-GRADED An irrepressible person is lively and energetic and never seems to be depressed.
connoisseur n.
- N-COUNT A connoisseur is someone who knows a lot about the arts, food, drink, or some other subject.
squabble v./n.
- V-RECIP When people squabble, they quarrel about something that is not really important.
authentic adj.
- ADJ An authentic person, object, or emotion is genuine.
- ADJ-GRADED If you describe something as authentic, you mean that it is such a good imitation that it is almost the same as or as good as the original.
- ADJ An authentic piece of information or account of something is reliable and accurate.
nutrition n.
- N-UNCOUNT Nutrition is the process of taking food into the body and absorbing the nutrients in those foods.