Unit 9

Word

Definition

Example

advertising campaign

Organized effort to promote a product or service

The company ran a successful advertising campaign

advertisments

Promotional materials or messages for products

The marketing department created the series of advertisments

brand

Unique identity and reputation of a product or company

The brand became famous because of a powerful advertising campaign

claims

Assertions or statements about a product's qualities

The advert made claims that the product would help you become stronger

consumers

People who buy and use goods and services

Consumers are spending their money carefully

misleading

Giving false or deceptive information

Companies can be sued for misleading advertisments

publicity

Public attention and awareness, often for promotion

The company hoped to get a lot of good publicity by demonstrating their product

slogan

Catchy phrase used in advertising or branding

A memorable slogan is very important in advertising

sue

File a lawsuit against someone for legal action

The company threatened to sue the journalists who had published stories about it

become the market leader

Attain the top position in a market

The company set out to become the market leader and grew rapidly

boom

Period of economic growth and prosperity

The economic boom helped many people to improve their lives

branch

Subsidiary or division of a company

This chain of shops has branches in many cities around the world

chain

Group of stores under the same brand

It's a large chain of shops with branches in many major cities

close down

Cease operation or shut a business

The company had to close down after two hundred years in business

make a deal

Reach an agreement, often in business

I want to make a deal with you to trade in my old car when I buy a new one

do a job

Perform a task or work assignment

Do a job well and you'll get promoted

do badly

Perform inadequately or poorly

I think companies will do badly because of economic problems

do business

Engage in commercial activities

Many companies do business in a variety of countries

do market research

Conduct studies on the market

Many companies do market research to find out more about their customers

do well

Perform successfully or effectively

If I do well I might make more money

drop

Decrease or decline in quantity

The standard of living will drop if we have a recession

expand

Grow or extend in size or scope

The company is set to expand later in the year and take on more staff

export

Send goods to another country

They export the product around the world

flop

Fail miserably or be unsuccessful

The product was a complete flop. Hardly anyone bought it

get down to business

Start focusing on work or tasks

Let's get down to business. We can't waste any time

go out of business

Cease to operate or close down

My favourite local cafe went out of business last winter

grow

Increase in size, quantity, or importance

Our company hopes to grow by 5% next year

head office

Main administrative center of a company

The company has branches in many British cities, but the head office is in London

import

Bring goods from another country

Our country imports most of its oil

launch

Introduce a product or service to the market

The launch of the new phone is next week

make a decision

Reach a choice or conclusion

I have to make a decision before the end of the day

make a loss

Experience financial deficit

The large company made a loss for the first time this year

make a profit

Earn financial gain

I think my business will make a profit this year

make money

Generate income or profit

I need to make money quickly

make (sb) redundant

Dismiss or lay off someone from a job

When you make someone redundant it's important to manage it effectively

manufacture

Produce goods using machinery or labor

China manufactures many products for the world

merge

Combine or unite entities into one

The two companies will merge to create one large company

mind your own business

Focus on your own affairs

What's in your bag? Mind your own business!

mix business with pleasure

Combine work and enjoyment

I'm going to a conference, but I'll mix business with pleasure and also go sightseeing

none of your business

Not someone's concern or affair

What are you thinking about? None of your business. Don't be so nosy!

produce

Create or manufacture goods

The region produces most of the world's supply of oil

recession

Economic decline and slowdown

Many companies failed because of the recession and many people lost their jobs

set up

Establish or start a business

The company was set up in 1990

take over

Assume control or ownership

The larger company wants to take over our smaller company

unfinished business

Matters still requiring attention or resolution

I've got some unfinished business with the company. I'm still arguing with them

absence

State of not being present or available

Her absence was noted by the teacher

abundance

Large quantity or plenty of something

The city is famous for its abundance of parks and plazas

accommodation

Lodging or a place to stay

Accommodation for tourists can be very expensive in London

alcoholism

Chronic and excessive consumption of alcohol

Alcoholism is a growing problem as drink becomes cheaper

antisocial

Behaving in a way that disregards social norms

Vandalism, especially breaking public property, is antisocial behaviour

autopilot

Mechanism that controls a vehicle without active input

The pilot put the plane on autopilot for most of the flight

belief

Conviction in the truth or existence of something

It's my belief that this news story isn't entirely true

bilingual

Able to speak two languages fluently

Many people in Montreal are bilingual; they speak both French and English

brotherhood

Close relationship among a group of people

Brotherhood is sometimes used a general term for the friendship between groups of people

bulletproof

Resistant to penetration by bullets

The windows of the president's car are made of bulletproof glass

careful

Exercising caution or prudence

Be careful how you drive!

childhood

Early period of life before adulthood

Childhood was my favourite time in my life

coldness

Low temperature or lack of warmth

The coldness hit me as soon as I walked outside

connection

Link or relationship between things

The connection between diet and health is well-known

convenience

Quality of being easy and suitable

I live here because of the convenience of the buses and trains

death

Cessation of life or existence

My uncle's death was difficult for me

development

Process of growth and progress

There are major plans for the development of the town, with 600 new houses

distance

Measurement of space between two points

The average distance that commuters in the UK travel to work is 8.5 miles

employment

Act of being employed or working

How easy is it to find employment in your city?

entertainment

Amusement or enjoyment

New York has a huge range of entertainment, from Broadway shows to top sporting events

excitement

Feeling of enthusiasm or exhilaration

The excitement at the end of the game was amazing

expectation

Anticipation or belief in something happening

Do you have any expectations about what you will learn on this course?

friendliness

Kind and affable demeanor

The friendliness of the people was wonderful – they were so welcoming

government

Authority or system of governing

The country has elected a new government

heat

Form of energy resulting in higher temperature

The heat was too much for me. I had to go inside

height

Measurement from base to top

You might have to tell the doctor your height and weight

homeless

Lacking permanent residence or shelter

There are a lot of homeless people in this city

hopeless

Feeling without hope or optimism

The situation is hopeless. There's nothing I can do to help

hunger

Strong desire for food

Hunger is a big problem in the country because of the poor harvest

ignorance

Lack of knowledge or awareness

I'm surprised by their ignorance about the topic. It's been in the news for weeks

improvement

Act of making something better

The improvement in the system really helped the company

intention

Purpose or plan to do something

It's my intention to leave the company at the end of the month

loneliness

Feeling of being alone or isolated

Loneliness is often a problem in large cities where people don't know each other

loss

Act of losing or failing to keep something

The financial loss was a problem for the company

megacity

Extremely large and populous city

Tokyo is one of the world's megacities

misunderstood

Not correctly interpreted or comprehended

This idea is often misunderstood , but it's a very simple idea

modernism

Artistic and cultural movement emphasizing innovation

There's a chilly modernism in the new concrete buildings

monorail

Railway system with single rail track

Is that a train? No, it only has one track. It's a monorail

multicultural

Involving or consisting of multiple cultures

London is a very multicultural city, with people of many different races and religions

neighbourhood

Area or locality where people live

I don't know my city well, yet. I just know my little neighbourhood

overcrowded

Containing too many people or things

The city is completely overcrowded. It's difficult to find anywhere to live

pollution

Contamination or impurity of the environment

Pollution is a terrible problem in this city

postgraduate

Pursuing further studies after graduation

I'm doing a postgraduate degree in aeronautical engineering

racism

Discrimination based on race or ethnicity

You can help stop racism by fighting it

silence

Absence of sound or noise

The silence in the house was noticeable after the noisy ride home

strength

Physical or mental power and vigor

You need to work harder to lift it – use your full strength

subway

Underground railway or passage for pedestrians

The quickest way to get around New York is on the subway

success

Achievement of desired outcomes or goals

Success is more important to me than money

thought

Mental process of considering or reflecting

What are your thoughts on the subject?

ugliness

Unpleasant or unattractive appearance

The ugliness of the buildings contrasted with the beauty of the nearby countryside

unbreakable

Not able to be broken or damaged

The designers claim that the machines are unbreakable

underdeveloped

Not fully developed or advanced

This part of the city is very poor and underdeveloped

undrinkable

Not fit for drinking

The tap water there is undrinkable. We'll take bottled water instead

useful

Having practical value or purpose

Your instructions were very useful. Thanks!

vandalism

Willful destruction of property or assets

The area has had problems with antisocial behaviour and vandalism

violence

Physical force causing injury or damage

They were prone to violence and aggressive behaviour

waterproof

Resistant to penetration by water

My watch is waterproof. I can wear it to go swimming

weakness

State of lacking strength or firmness

I was asked about my strengths and weaknesses in my job interview

width

Measurement from side to side

My little boy swam the width of the swimming pool – I was very proud

do a deal

I want to do a deal with you to trade in my old car when I buy a new one