Unit 5

Word

Definition

Example

active

busy with a particular activity

He's a really active person. He does sports every day

activate

to cause something to start

Fumes from cooking are enough to activate the alarm

affection

a gentle feeling of fondness or liking

Bart had a deep affection for the old man.

affectionate

readily feeling or showing fondness or tenderness.

Affectionate people show that they love people very much

consider

think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision

I seriously considered resigning

consideration

the act of thinking about something carefully

After some consideration, we've decided to sell the house.

decorate

make (something) look more attractive by adding extra items or images to it

Children's pictures decorated the walls of the classroom

despair

a feeling that you have no hope at all

But his laughter was quickly followed by despair

equal

the same in importance and deserving the same treatment

Are the two bags equal in weight?

fortune

the set of good or bad events that happen to you and have an effect on your life

He couldn't believe his good fortune when he found $20.

misfortune

Bad fortune or ill luck.

General Monk's "misfortune" is no less a calamity than his marriage.

motive

a reason for doing something

Police were unable to establish a motive for his murder

motivational

relating to the reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way

A bonus system based on production targets was a strong motivational factor

special

different from other things or people in some way and often better or more important

I want to do something special for my birthday.

stimulate

to make someone excited and interested about something

The film was intended to stimulate and amuse.

value

used to say that something is worth what you pay for it, or not worth what you pay for it

At only $45 a night, the hotel is great value for money

evaluate

to judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount, or value of something

Clarify and then evaluate the idea.

drop off

fall asleep

Dad was watching TV and dropped off on the sofa.

feel up to doing

feel well enough to do sth

I felt so ill yesterday I didn't feel up to getting out of bed.

get (sb) down

make sb feel upset or depressed

Hearing that terrible news today really got me down.

let (sb) off

not punish

Mr Tibbs caught me texting in class but let me off with a warning.

look back (on)

think about sth from the past

When Dad looks back on his childhood, he's amazed by how little technology there was then.

put (sb) down

say negative things to/about sb

Don't put Ben down just because he's not very good at history.

sort out

solve, resolve

Let's sort out who's sleeping on the sofa and who's in the tent.

stand for

put up with, tolerate

I won't stand for rudeness in my classroom, Alex.

board game

an indoor game that you play by moving small pieces around a special board

My family and I love playing traditional board games like Monopoly and Cluedo.

martial arts

a sport that is a traditional Japanese or Chinese form of fighting or defending yourself

They say that doing martial arts is good for your body and your mind.

mountain biking

riding a bicycle with thick tires, to ride on hills

Mum knows I want to go mountain biking but she's worried that I'll hurt myself.

painting

the activity or skill of creating pictures by using paint

I wish I was good at painting but unfortunately I'm simply not artistic at all.

photography

the skill or process of taking photographs

Digital cameras have made photography a lot easier; everyone can take good photos now!

scuba diving

the sport of swimming under water while breathing through a tube that is connected to a container of air on your back

Have you ever been scuba diving and seen all the brightly coloured fish that live underwater?

social networking

the use of websites and other internet services to communicate with other people and make friends

Flo's a big fan of social networking and says that it's helped her to make new friends all over the world.

yoga

a set of physical and mental exercises, originally from India, intended to give control over the body and mind

Yoga helps you to relax and it's good exercise as well.