Colonel – military rank just below General
“The Colonel is in charge of 5000 men.” (pronounced kernel)
eyesore – something that is really ugly
“They never take care of their house, so it’s a real eyesore.”
Mongolia – country in central Asia
“Mongolia lies between Russia and China.”
bachelor – an unmarried man
“My mom says that Uncle Dave is really nice, and shouldn’t still be a bachelor.”
pedigree – an ancestral line, or line of descent
“The puppy cost $4,000 because his pedigree had many champions.”
hurl – to throw; slang – vomit
“The pitcher had to hurl the ball to first base to trap the runner.”
Himalayas – Highest mountain range in the world between India & China
“Mount Everest is in the Himalayas.”
barley – a distinct grain family, as are wheat, corn, and rice
“The farmer is growing barley.”
vagabond – wandering from place to place without a permanent home
“We spent the year traveling in our mobile home, feeling like vagabonds.”
hothouse – another name for a greenhouse – a building with glass roof and walls for keeping in heat and letting in lots of sunlight for growing plants
“The florist grows roses in a hothouse so he can sell them all year.”
suffocate – to kill by preventing air from getting into the lungs
“In the murder mystery, the villain killed the heir by tying a plastic bag over his head so he would suffocate.”
wisecrack – a smart, witty, or facetious remark
“John never learned anything in class because he was always busy making wisecracks about the teacher.”
lore – a body of knowledge on a specific subject, especially of traditional or popular nature
“People into fantasy games study books on dragon lore.”
rave – to talk or write with wild enthusiasm
“Everyone raved about her new hair style.”
sophomore – a second year student in high school or college
typhoon – a severe storm that starts over the Pacific ocean; a hurricane
“Typhoon Amil came ashore and created widespread flooding.”
abstract – theoretical, not practical, concrete, or physical
“People see different things in the abstract art of Jackson Pollock.”
immaculate – spotless, stainless, perfectly clean
“We spent the whole day cleaning; the house was immaculate.”
bauxite – the ore rock of aluminum
“The company mines bauxite, and then refines it into aluminum.”
mimeograph – a printing machine with an ink-fed drum
“In the years before photocopiers, teachers had to make worksheets using a mimeograph machine.”
anonymous – without a name, or knowing who is the author
“The company received an anonymous letter saying that they made bad products.”
boycott – to protest by not buying or using something
“We are going to boycott the lumber company because they are killing the spotted owls.”
microbe – bacteria that causes disease
“There are millions of microbes all over your skin.”
treacherous – deceptive, untrustworthy, betrayal
“Don’t cross that bridge – it’s treacherous!”
Easily Confused Words
access – a way of approach
“The doctor had to access the cancer tumor by cutting through the patient’s back.”
excess – that which surpasses a limit
“The tourist had excess baggage and had to pay an extra $100.”
fiscal – related to finance
“We made more money this fiscal year than last.”
physical – relating to the body
“In physical education we learn many sports and exercises.”
thorough – complete
“The doctor gave me a thorough exam and said I could play sports.”
through – going from beginning to end
“We drove through the tunnel.”