de‧moc‧ra‧tize ( also democratise British English ) / dɪˈmɒkrətaɪz $ dɪˈmɑː- / verb [ transitive ]

to change the way in which a government, company etc is organized, so that it is more democratic :

efforts to democratize school management structures

— democratization / dɪˌmɒkrətaɪˈzeɪʃ ə n $ dɪˌmɑːkrətə- / noun [ uncountable ]

u‧ni‧form‧i‧ty AC / ˌjuːnəˈfɔːməti, ˌjuːnɪˈfɔːməti $ -ɔːr- / noun [ uncountable ]

the quality of being or looking the same as all other members of a group :

There seems to be no uniformity among the various systems.

dis‧course 1 / ˈdɪskɔːs $ -ɔːrs / noun formal

1 [ countable ] a serious speech or piece of writing on a particular subject

discourse on/upon

a discourse on art

2 [ uncountable ] serious conversation or discussion between people :

Candidates should engage in serious political discourse.

3 [ uncountable ] the language used in particular types of speech or writing :

a study of spoken discourse

dis‧course 2 / dɪsˈkɔːs $ -ɔːrs / verb

discourse on/upon something phrasal verb formal

to make a long formal speech about something, or to discuss something seriously

def‧er‧ence / ˈdef ə rəns / noun [ uncountable ] formal

polite behaviour that shows that you respect someone and are therefore willing to accept their opinions or judgment

deference to

Lewis was annoyed that Adam did not show enough respect and deference to him.

out of/in deference to something (= because you respect someone’s beliefs, opinions etc )

They were married in church out of deference to their parents’ wishes.

— deferential / ˌdefəˈrenʃ ə l◂ / adjective :

deferential treatment

— deferentially adverb

ar‧ray 1 / əˈreɪ / noun [ countable ]

1 [ usually singular ] a group of people or things, especially one that is large or impressive

array of

a dazzling array of flowers

a bewildering array of options

a vast/impressive/wide array

There was a vast array of colours to choose from.

2 technical a set of numbers or signs, or of computer memory units, arranged in lines across or down

in‧ti‧mate 1 / ˈɪntəmət, ˈɪntɪmət / adjective

1 restaurant/meal/place private and friendly so that you feel comfortable :

the intimate atmosphere of a country pub

an intimate meal for two

2 friends having an extremely close friendship :

an intimate relationship

She’s on intimate terms with people in government.

3 intimate knowledge of something very detailed knowledge of something as a result of careful study or a lot of experience :

his intimate knowledge of the coal industry

4 private relating to very private or personal matters :

the publication of intimate details of their affair

5 sex formal

a) relating to sex :

The virus can only be transmitted through intimate contact.

b) be intimate with somebody to have sex with someone

6 intimate link/connection etc a very close connection between two things :

the intimate connection between physical and mental health

— intimately adverb :

The two aspects are intimately connected.

in‧ti‧mate 2 / ˈɪntəmeɪt, ˈɪntɪmeɪt / verb [ transitive ] formal

to make people understand what you mean without saying it directly

intimate that

He intimated, politely but firmly, that we were not welcome.

intimate something to somebody

She had already intimated to me her wish to leave.

in‧ti‧mate 3 / ˈɪntəmət, ˈɪntɪmət / noun [ countable ] formal

a close personal friend

in‧ti‧ma‧tion / ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃ ə n, ˌɪntɪˈmeɪʃ ə n / noun [ uncountable and countable ] formal

1 an indirect or unclear sign that something may happen :

the first intimations of the approaching conflict

2 the act of officially telling someone about something :

Without early intimation of the dates of the training sessions, enthusiasm for training could decrease.

ca‧ter / ˈkeɪtə $ -ər / verb [ intransitive and transitive ]

to provide and serve food and drinks at a party, meeting etc, usually as a business

cater for

This is the biggest event we’ve ever catered for.

Joan has catered functions for up to 200 people.

cater for somebody/something ( also cater to somebody/something ) phrasal verb

to provide a particular group of people with the things they need or want :

an LA bank catering to Asian businesses

Vegetarians are well catered for.

mass 2 W3 adjective [ only before noun ]

involving or intended for a very large number of people :

a mass protest

weapons of mass destruction

the problem of mass unemployment

mass marketing/entertainment etc

a mass marketing campaign

Email has made mass mailings possible at the touch of a button.

for‧um / ˈfɔːrəm / noun [ countable ]

1 an organization, meeting, TV programme etc where people have a chance to publicly discuss an important subject

forum for

The journal aims to provide a forum for discussion and debate.

forum on

the new national forum on the environment

2 a group of computer users who are interested in a particular subject and discuss it using email or the Internet

3 a large outdoor public place in ancient Rome used for business and discussion

un‧pre‧ce‧dent‧ed AC / ʌnˈpresədentəd, ʌnˈpresɪdentəd / adjective

never having happened before, or never having happened so much :

He took the unprecedented step of stating that the rumours were false.

Crime has increased on an unprecedented scale.

unprecedented in

an event that is unprecedented in recent history

— unprecedentedly adverb

as‧sim‧i‧late / əˈsɪməleɪt, əˈsɪmɪleɪt / verb

1 [ transitive ] to completely understand and begin to use new ideas, information etc SYN absorb :

It will take time to assimilate all these facts.

2 [ intransitive and transitive ] if people assimilate, or are assimilated into a country or group, they become part of that group and are accepted by the people in that group

assimilate into

Refugees find it difficult to become assimilated into the community.

re‧sis‧tant / rɪˈzɪst ə nt / adjective

1 not damaged or affected by something → proof

resistant to

an infection that’s resistant to antibiotics

heat-resistant/stain-resistant/fire-resistant etc

shock-resistant rubber

2 opposed to something and wanting to prevent it from happening

resistant to

Many managers are resistant to change.

pri‧or 1 W3 AC / ˈpraɪə $ praɪr / adjective

1 existing or arranged before something else or before the present situation SYN previous :

You do not need any prior knowledge of the subject.

Some prior experience with the software is needed.

2 prior warning/notice a warning or announcement made before something happens :

The bomb exploded without any prior warning .

3 prior to something formal before :

All the arrangements should be completed prior to your departure.

in‧dex 1 W2 AC / ˈɪndeks / noun [ countable ]

1 ( plural indexes ) an alphabetical list of names, subjects etc at the back of a book, with the numbers of the pages where they can be found

2 ( plural indexes ) a set of cards or a database containing information, usually arranged in alphabetical order and used especially in a library

3 ( plural indices / ˈɪndəsiːz, ˈɪndɪsiːz / ) a standard by which the level of something can be judged or measured

index of

The changing size of an infant’s head is considered an index of brain growth.

4 ( plural indices / ˈɪndəsiːz, ˈɪndɪsiːz / or indexes ) technical a system by which prices, costs etc can be compared to those of a previous date

cen‧sus / ˈsensəs / noun ( plural censuses ) [ countable ]

1 an official process of counting a country’s population and finding out about the people

2 an official process of counting something for government planning :

a traffic census

bi‧lin‧gual / baɪˈlɪŋɡwəl / adjective

1 written or spoken in two languages :

a bilingual dictionary

The report proposed bilingual education in schools.

2 able to speak two languages equally well :

Their kids are bilingual.

bilingual in

Louis is virtually bilingual in Dutch and German.

— bilingual noun [ countable ]

→ monolingual

pro‧fi‧cient / prəˈfɪʃ ə nt / adjective

able to do something well or skilfully

proficient in/at

Martha is proficient in Swedish.

— proficiently adverb

some‧how S2 W2 / ˈsʌmhaʊ / adverb

1 in some way, or by some means, although you do not know how :

Don’t worry, we’ll get the money back somehow.

Somehow, I managed to lose my keys.

2 for some reason that is not clear to you or that you do not understand :

Somehow, I just don’t think it’ll work.

di‧vi‧sive / dəˈvaɪsɪv, dɪˈvaɪsɪv / adjective

causing a lot of disagreement between people :

The strike was a divisive issue in the community.

socially/economically/politically etc divisive

socially divisive policies

pock‧et 1 S2 W2 / ˈpɒkət, ˈpɒkɪt $ ˈpɑː- / noun [ countable ]

1 in clothes a type of small bag in or on a coat, trousers etc that you can put money, keys etc in :

pocket of

the inside pocket of his jacket

2 money the amount of money that you have to spend :

For investors with deep pockets (= a lot of money ) , the Berlin property market is attractive.

3 small container a small bag or piece of material fastened to something so that you can put things into it :

Please read the air safety card in the pocket of the seat in front.

4 small area/amount a small area or amount of something that is different from what surrounds it

pocket of

In some parts, there are still pockets of violence and unrest.

pockets of air inside the hull of the ship

5 be in sb’s pocket to be controlled or strongly influenced by someone in authority, and willing to do whatever they want :

The judge was in the defense lawyer’s pocket.

seethe / siːð / verb [ intransitive ]

1 to feel an emotion, especially anger, so strongly that you are almost shaking SYN fume

seethe with

He was seething with anger.

I was absolutely seething.

2 be seething (with something) if a place is seething with people, insects etc, there are a lot of them all moving quickly in different directions :

The cellar was seething with spiders.

tur‧bu‧lent / ˈtɜːbjələnt, ˈtɜːbjʊlənt $ ˈtɜːr- / adjective

1 a turbulent situation or period of time is one in which there are a lot of sudden changes :

the turbulent times of the French Revolution

He has had a turbulent political career.

2 turbulent air or water moves around a lot :

the dark turbulent waters of the river

de‧te‧ri‧o‧rate / dɪˈtɪəriəreɪt $ -ˈtɪr- / verb [ intransitive ]

1 to become worse :

Ethel’s health has deteriorated.

America’s deteriorating economy

2 deteriorate into something to develop into a bad or worse situation :

The argument deteriorated into a fight.

— deterioration / dɪˌtɪərɪˈreɪʃ ə n $ -ˌtɪr- / noun [ uncountable ]

THESAURUS

deteriorate to become worse : Air quality is rapidly deteriorating in our cities. | Living conditions here have deteriorated in the past few years.

decline especially written to become gradually worse – used especially about standards of living, education, health etc : After the war, the standard of living declined. | Over the years, the standard of public transport has declined.

degenerate formal to become worse, or to become something bad instead of something good : Relations between the two countries have degenerated. | The debate degenerated into an argument between the two sides.

escalate to become much worse very quickly – used especially about fighting, violence, or a bad situation : Further violence could escalate into a full-scale armed conflict. | The political crisis escalated.

spiral out of control to become worse in a way that cannot be controlled and is extremely serious and worrying : Police say that the violence has spiralled out of control. | Scientists are worried that global warming could soon spiral out of control. | Costs have been spiralling out of control.