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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: jar

A jar is a wide open container, mostly cylinder shaped and made of glass, and also the quantity held by it. Completely unrelated, to jar means ‘to have an unpleasant and sudden effect on your nerves or feelings’ and, more generally, ‘to shake or vibrate.’ Jar also means ‘to clash or conflict.’ Related to this meaning, the noun jar is…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: cup

A cup is a container with a handle used for drinking or the content of this container, and it is also a unit of capacity, approximately half a pint, used mainly in cooking in the US. Cup is also an ornamental, cup-shaped trophy given as a prize after winning a competition and any cup-like thing, like the upper part of some flowers. The cup of a woman’s bra is the part that covers the breast…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: spell

To spell means ‘to name, say, or write the letters of a word’ and also, figuratively, ‘to mean or signify.’ As a noun, a spell has a really different meaning. It’s a word or phrase with magic powers, as well as the state of enchantment caused by it. Figuratively, any state of fascination is also called a spell. A spell is also a continuous period of activity…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: grace

Grace means ‘elegance and beauty in the manner of movement’, and also ‘proper behavior.’ Grace is also an expression of goodwill by a superior and, in religion, the favor and love of God. Related to this, the little prayer said by some Christians before eating is also called grace. As a verb, to grace means ‘to adorn something, adding grace to it,’ and also…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: chew

To chew means ‘to crush with the teeth,’ as when eating, and ‘to tear something by chewing,’ mostly like dogs do with things around the house. Figuratively, to chew, usually with the adverb over, means…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: ginger

Ginger is a plant, originally from Asia, with a strong smelling and spicy root used for cooking and medicine. It’s also the name for a yellow-brownish color, similar to the color of the plant. In British English, we call red-haired people ginger and you’d also call a cat with orange fur ginger. As an adjective, ginger refers to everything that tastes like ginger or that is made with ginger…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: grip

A grip is a firm grasp or hold or the power of holding. Figuratively, grip is also an intellectual hold or emotional control over a situation, as well as effectiveness when dealing with it. Figuratively, it means…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: jerk

A jerk is any sudden movement like a twist, or an involuntary and sudden muscle movement. Colloquially, and mainly in the US, we call someone stupid or foolish a jerk. As a verb, to jerk means…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: vault

To vault means ‘to leap, from place to another or over something.’ Figuratively, it means ‘to achieve something quickly,’ as though you have leapt past others or over obstacles to do so. A vault, as a noun, is the leap of a horse or any act of leaping in general. However, a vault is also an arched structure that forms a ceiling,…

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