Unit 7

Word

Definition

Example

attract

to make someone interested in something, or make them want to take part in something

The story has attracted a lot of interest

blank

not showing any emotion

Sign your name in the blank space at the bottom of the form

brief

of short duration; not lasting for long

We had a very brief meeting in the morning

cater

to provide, and sometimes serve, food

This is the biggest event we've ever catered for

challenge

something new, exciting or difficult that you will need a lot of determination and effort to do

Do you like to have challenge in your job?

character

the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual

He has a cheerful but quiet character

competitive

situation in which people or organisations try to be more successful than others

Competitive people always want to win

consumer

a person who buys goods, products or services for their own use, not for business or to re-sell

China is the largest consumer of coal

create

to make something exist that did not exist before

He creates new products for Apple

cut out

to stop someone from doing something or being involved in something

Cut fast food out of your diet

design

to make a drawing or plan of something that will be made

Do you like the design of the building?

designer

someone whose job is to design new things or styles of clothes, cars, etc

Emma is a clothes designer too

develop

grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate

Active listening is one of the most important skills you can develop

echo

a sound that you hear again

Her scream was followed by a loud echo

enter

to come or go into a particular place

Press the return key to enter the information

expense

money spent

We must reduce our operating expenses

facilities

equipment, rooms, etc. that are provided for people to use

Intel is to expand its production facilities in Asia

feedback

advice, criticism etc about how successful or useful something is

I am waiting for your feedback

function

a named sequence of procedural code statements that perform a certain task

Many game consoles have more than one function

ground rules

the basic rules or principles that govern the way that something is done

Before we begin this discussion, I'd like to set a few ground rules

hang up

to finish a telephone conversation

Greg hung up and sat back in his chair

hospitality industry

businesses such as restaurants and hotels, that provide food, drink and places to stay

The hospitality industry is using the experience of retailers

human touch

dealing with people in a kind, friendly way, and able to understant what they need

The president has been accused of lacking the human touch

improvement

the act of improving something, or the state of being improved

Have you noticed any improvements with the new system?

innovation

the development and use of a new idea or method or the introduction of new things, ideas, methods

I'm interested in the latest innovations in computer technology

kiosk

a machine or small shop you can buy things or get information

I bought a map and a chewing gum in a kiosk

launch

to begin something such as a plan or introduce something new such as a product

He decided to launch Facebook in 2004

mute button

a nbutton or key on a phone or computer that stops other people hearing you

Someone took a remote control and pushed the mute button

operate

to do all the thigs that are needed to work

I will instruct the team how to operate these machines

operator

someone who works on a telephone switchboard, who you can call for help

An operator answered the phone and asked who I wanted to speak to

procedure

a set of actions that is the official or accepted way of doing something

He was surprised - wearing a face mask is basic hospital procedure

process

to deal with information or documents

28000 applications for visas have to be processed

product

something that is grown or made in a factory in large quantities, usually in order to be sold

An exciting new product is going to be launched this spring

product line

a range of similar products or services that are sold by the same company, with different features and different prices

They will add a new product to their product line

product tester

someone who uses a new product to find out whether it works properly

The job of a Product Tester is very varied

product testing

the action of using a new product to find out whether it works properly

Our company doesn't use animals in product testing

production

live version of a website or web application

Asus is increasing production of its popular line of laptops

prototype

the first example of something, such as a machine or other industrial product, from which all later forms are developed

Designers have built a working prototype of the car

purchase

something you buy, or the act of buying something

Every time you make a purchase, you pay tax

rebranded

when the name of a product or the way it is advertised is changed, so that people think differently about it

We rebranded our product a year ago

receipt

a piece of paper that shows you have paid for something

After buying anything you always get a receipt

research and development (R&D)

the part of a business that thinks of new ideas, plans new products and improves older products

I work in research and development department

setting

the place where something is or where something happens, and the general environment

I need to change some settings of my computer

signal

something that gives information about something

We got some alarming signals from some customers

sketch

a drawing made quickly that does not have many details

Dave drew a sketch of his apartment

solution

a way of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation

A short-term solution would be to send the files by email

step

an action in a series of actions taken for a particular purpose

A wrong step can be fatal

test

a set of questions, exercises, or practical activities to measure someone's skill, ability, or knowledge

At the end of the course students take tests

unique

unusually good and special

A brand name ought to be unique, memorable and easy to understand

usefulness

the quality of being useful

There are doubts about the usefulness of these tests

version

a form of something that is slightly different from others of the same type

I prefer the original version of that song