elegant      
 
 a. beautiful, attractive, or graceful 优雅的；文雅的 
  elegant manners文雅的举止 
  an elegant person举止优雅的人 
 
application       
 
n. 1. [C, U] a formal request for sth. or for permission to do sth. 申请 
  Free information will be sent out on application to the office.公司收到申请将免费提供信息。 
  I've sent off applications for four different jobs.我对四份不同的工作寄出了求职信。 
 2. [C, U] the use of a particular method, law, process, etc. 应用；使用；运用 
  The theory has no application in this case.这理论不适用于这个情况。 
  The design has many applications.这项设计有很多用途。 
 
impulsively       
 
ad. without thinking about the possible results of what one is doing 冲动地 
  These children tend to behave impulsively.这些孩子的行为往往很冲动。 
  His early training was in the sciences and he never acts impulsively in his work.
  他早期受过理科方面的训练，因此在工作中他从不冲动。 
 
substitute       
 
vt. use sth. new or different instead of sth. else 代替；替换 
  We must substitute a new chair for the broken one.我们得用新椅子代替这把破椅子。 
  Honey can be substituted for sugar in this recipe.在这种烹饪法里蜂蜜能代替糖。 
n. [C] a person or thing that replaces sb. or sth. else 代替者；替代物 
  The manager was unable to attend but sent his secretary as a substitute.
  经理不能出席，但派了他的秘书代替他出席。 
  The teacher's ill, so a substitute is teaching today.
  老师生病了，因此今天由一位代课老师来上课。 

professional       
 
a. relating to a job that needs special education and training 职业的；专业的 
  A lawyer or a doctor is a professional man.律师或医生是专业人员。 
  Sometimes an amateur can perform as well or better than a professional.
  有时候业余人员的表现与专业人员的同样好，甚至比专业人员的更好。
 
n. [C] sb. who has special skills or does sth. as a job rather than for enjoyment 专业人员 
  She's a real professional in this field.她是该领域真正的内行。 
  This house was decorated by a professional.这房子是由专业人员装饰的。 
 
talent       
n. 1. [C, U] a natural ability to do sth. well 天才；天赋 
  Her talents are well known.她的才华是众所周知的。 
  Her talent for music showed at an early age.她小时侯就表现出了音乐方面的天赋。 
 
  2. [U] a person or people with a natural ability or skill 天才；人才 
  We're always looking for new talent.我们总是在寻觅新的人才。 
  Promising talent is hard to find.很难找到有发展前途的人才。 
 
bible       
n. (the B~) 《圣经》 
  In the Bible it says that Adam and Eve were the first human beings.
  圣经上说，亚当和夏娃是人类的始祖。 
  He studies the Bible every day.他每天都在研习《圣经》。 
 
definition       
n. [C] an exact statement of the meaning of sth. 定义；释义 
  Your definition of "ideal husband" is much different from mine.
  你对“理想丈夫”的定义同我的定义大相径庭。 
  In this dictionary, definitions have been written using words from a specially chosen list.
  这本字典释义所用的单词都是经过特别挑选的。 
 
characteristic       
a. (of) typical of a particular thing or of sb.'s character 特有的；典型的 
  Such honesty is characteristic of him.他一向如此诚实。 
  With the friendly and generous care so characteristic of these people, they opened their house

to over fifty guests.
  这些人本性乐善好施，他们在家里接待了五十多个客人。
 
n. [C] a quality or feature of sb. or sth. that is typical of them 特点，特征 
  Genes determine the characteristics of every living thing.基因决定了每种生物的特征。 
  What characteristics separate Americans from Canadians?美国人和加拿大人的性格特点有什么不同？ 
 
descriptive       
a. giving a description of sth. 描写的；描述的 
  He teaches descriptive linguistics at a university.他在大学教描写语言学。 
  a descriptive passage in a novel小说里的一段描写 
 
approval       
n. 1. [U] the fact of believing sth. is good or right 赞成；同意 
  Do the plans meet with your approval?你赞成这些计划吗？ 
  Sam always tried hard to win his father's approval.萨姆总是想尽办法去获得父亲的同意。
 
 2. [U] official permission 批准；认可 
  The president's approval of the deal was vital.总统的批准对这份协议是至关重要的。 
  I need the approval of the government to travel abroad.我需要获得政府的批准才能去国外旅行。 
 
disapproval       
n. [U] a feeling of not approving of sb. or sth. 反对；不赞成 
  Although they said nothing, she could sense their disapproval.
  虽然他们没说什么，她能感觉到他们并不赞同。 
  He expressed his disapproval of what they had done.
  他表示自己并不赞同他们的所作所为。 
 

reserve       
n. 1. [U] the quality of self-control or restraint 克制，拘谨 
  He was a man of such reserve that not even his closest friends really understood him.
  他是一个很克制的人，甚至他最亲密的朋友都难以真正理解他。 
  A few drinks broke through his reserve.几杯酒下肚他就放开了。
 
 2. [C] (usu. pl.) sth. kept or saved for later use 储备物 
  the gold reserve黄金储备 
  I have a reserve of food in case of emergency.我储备了些粮食，以防万一。
 
vt. 1. keep sth. for a particular purpose 保留；储备 
   I reserve Mondays for cleaning up my desk and answering letters.
   我留出周一来清理书桌，答复信件。 
   Reserve your strength for the climb.留点力气爬山吧。
 
 2. arrange for a place in a hotel, restaurant, plane, etc. to be kept for sb. to use later 预定 
   I rang the hotel to reserve a double room for a week.
   我打电话给旅馆，预定一间双人房，为期一周。 
   If you get there early, please reserve a seat for me.
   如果你先到，请给我预定一个座位。 
 
plainness       
n. [U] lacking beauty or attractiveness 不好看；平常 
  the obvious plainness of the young lady相貌平平的年轻女子 
  The plainness of these houses discourages many prospective buyers.
  这些房子很难看，使许多潜在的买主望而却步。 
 
convey       
 
vt. communicate or express sth., with or without using words 传达；表达 
  The manufacturer has used posters and produced a video to convey the message to prospective  

buyers.为了把信息传达给潜在的顾客，制造商张贴出广告，并制作了一盘录像。 
  His music conveys a sense of optimism.他的音乐表达出一种乐观情绪。 
 
specific       
a. 1. particular 特有的；特定的 
  The money is to be used for a specific purpose: the building of the new theatre.
  这笔款将专款专用：兴建新剧院。 
  They seem to have no specific plans for dealing with the problem.
  他们似乎没有特别的计划来处理这问题。
 
  2. detailed and exact 具体的；明确的 
  I asked you a specific question. Please give me a specific answer.
  我问你一个具体问题，请给我明确的回答。 
  Are you doing anything specific this weekend?
  这个周末你有什么具体的事情要做？ 
 
latter       
a. being the second of two people or things （两者中）后者的 
  There are plastic and wooden garden chairs but the latter ones are more expensive.
  花园椅有塑料和木制的两种，不过后者贵些。 
  Of ham and beef, I like the latter meat better.
  在火腿和牛肉两者之间，我更喜欢后者。 
n. (the ~) the second of two people or things just mentioned （两者中的）后者 
   We have to make the kitchen and the hall more attractive. I'd rather do the latter first.
   我们得把厨房和客厅装饰得更漂亮些──我情愿先装饰客厅。 
   Many support the former plan, but personally I'm for the latter.
   许多人支持前面那个计划，但我个人赞同后者。 
 
qualify       
v. (make) have the necessary skills, knowledge, ability, etc. to do sth. （使）有资格；取得资格 
  I won't qualify until next year. 我要到明年才够格。 
  Being a single parent qualifies you for extra benefits.作为一个单身父 (母) 亲，你有权获得额外的

福利金。 
 
critic       
n. [C] sb. whose job is to judge the good and bad qualities of literary or artistic works 评论家

；批评家 
  She's a film critic for the Irish Times.她是《爱尔兰时报》的一名电影评论家。 
  He is a renowned literary critic.他是著名的文学评论家。 
 
prominent       
a. well-known and important 重要的；知名的 
  a prominent magazine著名杂志 
  The government should be playing a more prominent role in improving public traffic.
  政府应该在改善公共交通方面发挥更大的作用。 
 
by-line       
n. [C] a line at the beginning of an article that gives the writer's name 作者署名处 
  The essays published in this section usually carry no by-lines.发表在这个专栏里的文章通常不署名

。 
  She is a financial journalist with her own by-line.她是金融记者，写文章都署名。 
 
refine       
 vt. 1. make sb. become more elegant 使变得文雅 
    Delia has been refined. You can't imagine she is now an elegant lady.
    德丽娅变文雅了。你想象不到她现在已是一位优雅的女士了。 
    refine one's language使某人的语言更为文雅
 
 2. make a substance pure 提炼；精炼 
    refining processes精炼过程 
    Oil is industrially refined.燃油是经过工业提炼的。 
 
refined       
 a. polite and seeming to be well-educated or to belong to a high social class 有教养的；高雅的 
  She is a woman of refined manners.她举止文雅。 
  She is so refined that she never loses her temper in public.她非常有教养，从不在公共场合发脾气

。 
 
attractive       
a. pleasing to the eye or mind 动人的；有吸引力的 
  She's so attractive, but I'd never dare ask her out.她非常美丽动人，但我始终没有勇气邀她出去。 
  The pay they're offering is very attractive, but I still don't want the job.他们给的薪水很有吸 

引力，但我还是不想要这份工作。 
 
impressive       
 a. having a strong effect on sb. 使人印象深刻的 
  There are some very impressive buildings in the town.城里一些建筑物给人留下非常深刻的印象。 
  His speech is the most impressive.他的演讲最感人。 
 
stereotype       
 vt. have fixed unfair ideas about sb. or sth. 对...有成见；把...模式化 
   The study says that British advertisements stereotype women.
   该项研究说，英国的广告对妇女抱有成见。 
   The police have been criticized for having stereotyped images of black people.
   有人批评警方对黑人有成见。 

n. [C] a belief or idea of what a particular type of person or thing is like 模式化的思想 
  He doesn't fit the national stereotype of a Frenchman.他与法国人的固有形象大相径庭。 
  The characters in the book are just stereotypes.这书中的角色都很老套。 
 
extent       
 n. [sing., U] the degree to which sth. happens 程度 
  To some extent you are correct.在某种程度上你是对的。 
  To what extent can he be believed?他有多可信？ 
 
confess       
v. 1. admit sth. that one is embarrassed about 承认 
   I'm rather bored, I must confess.我不得不承认我有点厌烦了。 
   I'm afraid that I've got something to confess: I've broken your vase.
   恐怕有件事我得告诉你──我打破了你的花瓶。
 
 2. admit, esp. to the police, that one has done sth. wrong or illegal 供认；招供 
   Eventually she confessed to the police.最后她终于向警方认罪。 
   After hours of interrogation, he confessed everything.经过数小时的审问，他全部招供了。 
 
carpenter       
 n. [C] sb. whose job is making and repairing wooden objects 木匠，木工 
  We've found a good carpenter to build some bookcases for us.他们找了个好木匠为我们做一些书橱。 
 
physicist       
 n. [C] a scientist trained in physics 物理学家 
   Two American physicists were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics this year.
   两位美国物理学家获得今年的诺贝尔物理奖。 
   She's one of the few women physicists in the country.
   她是国内仅有的几名女物理学家之一。 
 
Pope       
 n. [C] ( the ~) 教皇 
  Pope John Paul II 教皇约翰·保罗二世 
 
nursery       
 n. [C] a place where children are cared for while their parents are at work 托儿所 
   Their two children have been going to a nursery since they were small babies.
   他们的两个孩子从婴儿时起就一直上托儿所。 
   It was a room that might, in time, become a nursery.
   这个房间到时候可以用做托儿室。 
 
nursery school       
 
n. [C] a school for children between the ages of three and five 幼儿园 
  Christine has been a nursery school teacher for 27 years.克里斯汀当幼儿园老师已经有27年了。 
  Her son attends a nursery school in the church.她儿子在教会办的一家幼儿园里上学。 
 
thoughtful       
 
a. 1. engaged in thought 深思的；思考的 
   The doctor gave a thoughtful look and then started to write something on the paper.
   医生若有所思地看了一眼，开始在纸上写了起来。 
   When Beth is writing a letter, she looks thoughtful.
   当贝思写信时，她看上去像在沉思。 

 2. showing care for the need of others 体贴的；考虑周到的 
   She's a very thoughtful person.她是个很体贴别人的人。 
   Thank you for phoning to see if I was feeling better—it was very thoughtful of you.
   谢谢你打电话问我是否觉得好点了──你真关心人。 
 

creature       
 n. [C] a living thing or being, esp. a person or an animal 生物；人 
   John is a strange creature.约翰是个怪人。 
   We could see amazing creatures through the glass in the bottom of the boat.
   透过船底的玻璃我们可以看到一些惊人的生物。 
 
award       
 vt. give sb. sth. as a reward for what they have done 授予；给予 
  The university has awarded Jane $500 for travel.学校给予简500美元旅行补助。 
  She was awarded a medal for bravery.她因勇敢而被授予一枚奖章。
 
n. [C] sth. given to sb. as a reward for sth. they have done 奖金；奖品 
  an award ceremony颁奖仪式 
  They gave an award of $900 to each of the winners.他们给予每位获胜者900美元作奖励。 
 
Dr.  
 
abbr. (doctor 的缩略词) 博士；医生 
   Dr. Li is a professor of mathematics at a Korean university.
   李博士是韩国一所大学的数学教授。 
   Dr. Wang works in this hospital.王医生在这所医院工作。 
 
objective       
a. based on facts, or making a decision that is based on facts 客观的 
   How can you make an objective decision if she's your own daughter?
   如果她是你女儿，你怎么可能做出客观的决定呢？ 
   It is an objective report.   这是一篇客观的报道。
 
n. [C] what one tries hard to do or achieve 目标 
   Her main objective now is to become an internationally famous scientist.
   她现在的主要目标是成为国际知名的科学家。 
   I don't know what his objectives were in making such a criticism?
   我不知道他这样指责的目的是什么？ 
 
objectively       
 
ad. based on facts 客观地 
    Are the laws of physics objectively true?物理定律在客观上都正确吗？ 
  Judges are supposed to judge each case objectively.法官应公正处理每一个案子。 
 
appealing       
 a. attractive; inviting 吸引人的；悦人的 
   The idea of a whole week on the beach is very appealing.
   在海边度假一周，这个主意挺吸引人的。 
   Having someone to do all my cleaning for me was an appealing prospect.
   有人帮我做清洁，这想法挺诱人的。 
 
popularity       
 n. [U] the state of being liked or supported by a lot of people 受欢迎；流行 
   Prolonged recession and high unemployment knocked his popularity down to rock-bottom.
   经济长期衰退，失业率也很高，这些使他的受欢迎程度降到了最低。 
   Margaret has profited from her own popularity among her film fans.
   玛格丽特因深受影迷欢迎而获利。 
 
despair       
 vi. feel that there is no hope at all 失望；绝望 
   We've despaired of him; he can't keep a job for more than six months.
   我们对他非常失望，没有哪个工作他能干半年以上。 
   Don't despair! We'll find a way out!
   不要绝望！我们会找到解决办法的！
 
n. [U] a feeling that one has no hope at all 失望；绝望 
   He gave up the struggle in despair.他绝望地放弃了斗争。 
   To the despair of her teachers, Nicole never does the work that she's told him to do.
   尼科尔从来不做布置给他的作业，令老师们感到很失望。 
 
label       
 
n. 1. [C] a word or phrase describing sb. or sth. 称号；绰号 
   A critic called her first novel "super-romantic" and the label has stuck.
   一位评论家称她的第一部小说为 “超级浪漫小说”，于是这雅号就传下来了。 
   "Middle-class" is the label generally applied to this magazine.
   人们一般用“中产阶级” 这个词来形容这本杂志。 

   2. [C] a piece of paper or another material that is attached to sth. and gives information

about it 标签 
   I read the information on the label before deciding which to buy.
   我先看标签上的说明，然后再决定买哪一种。 
   Remember to put some address labels on the suitcases.
   记住在衣箱上贴几张地址标签。
 
vt. 1. use a word or phrase to describe sb. or sth. 把...归类；描述 
    His work is difficult to label precisely.他的工作难以准确描述。 
    We shouldn't label these boys as criminals so early in their lives.
    我们不应该把这些男孩子早早地归为罪犯，他们的人生道路还长着呢。
 
 2. put a label on an object 给...加标签 
    He was busy labeling all the bottles of wine that he'd made that year.
    他忙着往所有装那一年酿的酒的瓶子上贴标签。 
    This jam is labeled "apple and banana".
    这瓶果酱上贴着“苹果和香蕉”的标签。 
 

  fill out：write necessary information on an official document, form, etc. 填写
 
All the applicants for the job must fill out this form.
所有申请这一工作的人都要填写这张表。
 
Please fill out your check and sign it.
请填写你的支票并在上面签字。

  if only ： used for saying that sth. is good only for a limited purpose or time 就算...都行；哪

怕...也好
 
Just call her, if only to say that you are sorry.
给她打电话吧，哪怕就告诉她你感到很抱歉也好啊。

  for better or (for) worse：whether the result is good or bad 无论好坏；不管怎样
 
It's been done, and for better or worse, we can't change it now.
木已成舟，好也罢，坏也罢，我们现在已无法改变。
 
I decided to follow her advice, for better or worse.
不管怎样我都决定采纳她的意见。
 

  even so：in spite of this 即使如此；尽管这样
 
There are many spelling mistakes; even so it's quite a good essay.
虽然有很多拼写错误，但这仍不失为一篇相当不错的文章。
 
I had a terrible headache, but even so I went to the concert.
我头痛得厉害，但我还是去了音乐会。
 

  turn down：refuse to accept an offer or request 拒绝
 
He tried to join the army but was turned down because of poor health.
他想参军，但因身体不好被拒绝了。
 
Why was I turned down for the job? Is it because I'm a woman?
为什么不让我做那项工作？因为我是一个女人吗？
 

  come up to：move toward sb. 走近，靠近
 
A man came up to me and asked for a match. 一名男子走到我跟前向我借火柴。
 
She came up to me and laughed. 她朝我走来，哈哈大笑。
 

  press for：try in a determined way to get sth. 催促；竭力争取
 
The chairman is pressing for improved working conditions.主席一再要求改善工作条件。
 
Many parents have been pressing for the local school to be reopened.
许多家长一直迫切要求重开当地那所学校。

  ill at ease：uncomfortable; not relaxed 不自在
 
Pat was ill at ease with his family, wondering whether or not to announce his news.
帕特和家人在一起很不自在，不知是否要宣布他的事。
 
She was ill at ease when she was criticized by her mother.
母亲批评她的时候，她觉得非常难堪。

  free from：not containing or involving sth. unpleasant 无...的；不涉及...的
 
Is the President free from prejudice?总统不会有偏见吧？
 
Make sure the wound is free from dirt. 保证伤口不沾上污物。

  take charge of：take control and become responsible for sb. or sth. 负责；管理
 
The department was badly organized until she took charge of it.
在她负责以前，这个部门的管理是一团糟。
 
The boss asked him to take charge of the office for a few days while she was away.
老板让他在她离开时掌管办公室几天。

  be stuck with：be forced to have or use sth. 被迫拥有或使用
 
We were stuck with relatives who came to stay with us the whole holiday.
亲戚来我们家了，我们整个暑假都得和他们呆在一起。
 
The landlady didn't allow us to make any change to her house, so we were stuck with the tasteless

decoration.
房东不让我们随意更改房子的任何一处，因此我们不得不忍受这没品味的装修了。