Unit 12, Feats and Achievements

Word

Definition

Example

achieve

to successfully complete something or get a good result, especially by working hard

What things would you like to achieve in the next ten years?

earn

to do something or have qualities that make you deserve something

I tried to earn his respect with hard work, but he just doesn't like me

effort

an attempt to do something, especially when this involves a lot of hard work or determination

He made a huge effort and I think he really deserved that prize

fail

to not succeed in achieving something

Always remember that it's better to try and fail, than not to try because you're afraid of failing

famed

well-known

Cervantes was a famed writer and wrote what many people consider to be the first modern novel

infamous

well known for being bad or evil

Al Capone was an infamous American gangster in the 1930s

job

the regular paid work that you do for an employer

Jo's got a new job. She's working at weekends in the café

lose

to stop having a particular attitude, quality, ability etc, or to gradually have less of it

He lost the TV talent show, but went on to become a pop star

miss

to not go somewhere or do something, especially when you want to but cannot

She's incredibly hard working and has never missed a class

succeed

to do what you tried or wanted to do

Van Gogh didn't succeed in selling many paintings while he was alive, but his pictures now sell for millions

unknown

not known about, not famous

This piece of music is by an unknown composer, but I love it

work

a job or activity that you do regularly, especially in order to earn money

I can't go out this weekend, I've got far too much work to do

cut off

make a place difficult to enter or leave

The snowstorm completely cut off the village and no-one could get in or out

finish off

do the last part of sth so it is complete

I finally finished off the jigsaw I had been working on

log off

finish using a computer system

Make sure you log off when you've finished working on the computer

rope off

prevent people from entering an area using a rope

The path was dangerous so the caretaker roped it off

set off

make sth explode

We heard that somebody had threatened to set off a bomb in the city centre

shave off

cut hair from part of your body by shaving

You should shave that ridiculous moustache off!

spark off

make sth happen

When I forgot to do the washing up, it sparked off an argument

wipe off

remove sth by wiping

Let me just wipe my make-up off

keep sight of

to remember or remind oneself of something

If you keep sight of your aims, I'm sure you'll achieve them

keep your head

to be and remain in a calm, stable, sensible, and pragmatic state or condition despite stress

Keep your head in the final and you could be the world champion!

keep your word

to do as one has promised

You can trust Alice because she always keeps her word

lose track of

to lose visibility of, forget about, misplace, or neglect to pay close attention to something

I completely lost track of time when I was playing my favourite video game

lose your nerve

to no longer have the courage to do something

As we reached the top of the mountain, I began to lose my nerve

lose your temper

to become angered, enraged, or upset due to some provocation; to have an outburst upon losing one's patience

Dad lost his temper when I knocked his cup of tea on the floor

able

clever or good at doing something

Mrs Thomas is a very able teacher

disabled

someone who is disabled cannot use a part of their body properly, or cannot learn easily

Disabled people should have the same rights and choices as everyone else

unable

not able to do something 

Lucy was unable to find out what had happened

ability

the state of being able to do something

The health center serves all patients, regardless of their ability to pay

accomplish

to succeed in doing something, especially after trying very hard

We have accomplished all we set out to do

accomplishment

something successful or impressive that is achieved after a lot of effort and hard work

It was a major accomplishment for a player who had been injured so recently

capable

able to do things well

All the staff at the nursing home seemed very capable

incapable

not able to do something

He seemed incapable of understanding how she felt

capability

the natural ability, skill, or power that makes a machine, person, or organization able to do something, especially something difficult

I can speak French, but simultaneous translation is beyond my capabilities

incapacity

lack of the ability to do things or to do something

Evidence of his mental incapacity was never produced in court

celebrate

to show that an event or occasion is important by doing something special or enjoyable 

It's Dad's birthday and we're going out for a meal to celebrate

celebrated

famous

Van Gogh, perhaps Holland's most celebrated artist, died in poverty

celebrity

a famous living person

He's a national celebrity

celebration

an occasion or party when you celebrate something

The show is a celebration of new young talent

child

someone who is not yet an adult

I was very happy as a child

childish

relating to or typical of a child

Don't be so childish!

childlike

having qualities that are typical of a child, especially positive qualities such as innocence and eagerness

'You know I love you, ' she said with childlike simplicity

childhood

the period of time when you are a child

I had a very happy childhood

children

someone who is not yet an adult, child in plural

The hotel is ideal for families with young children

mathematics

the science of numbers and of shapes, including algebra, geometry, and arithmetic

Mathematics is her best subject at school

maths

informal mathematics (the science of numbers and of shapes, including algebra, geometry, and arithmetic)

I mostly enjoyed art and maths but I did not like P.E. very much

mathematical

relating to or using mathematics

The mathematical calculations are not easy, but the concepts are relatively familiar

mathematician

someone who studies or teaches mathematics, or is a specialist in mathematics

He is one of the world's foremost theoretical mathematicians

program

a set of instructions given to a computer to make it perform an operation

The pictures were generated by a computer program

programmer

someone whose job is to write computer programs

To do anything interesting with the software a good programmer and designer will be needed

programming

the activity of writing programs for computers, or something written by a programmer

I decided to take a course in computer programming

programmable

able to be controlled by a computer or an electronic program

We installed a programmable heating system in our house

wide

measuring a large distance from one side to the other

The boat was nearly as wide as the canal

width

the distance from one side of something to the other

What's the width of the desk?

widen

to become wider, or to make something wider

They're widening the road

widely

in a lot of different places or by a lot of people

Organic food is now widely available