Level 2 Unit 7
basis
[ˈbeɪsɪs]
Definition
To do something on time’s basis is how often you do it.
Example
My grandfather gets his hearing checked on a yearly basis.
biology
[baɪˈɒlədʒɪ]
Definition
Biology is the study of living things.
Example
We learned about the human heart in biology class.
cage
[keɪdʒ]
Definition
A cage is something that holds an animal so it cannot leave.
Example
We put the parrots in their cage at night.
colleague
[ˈkɒliːɡ]
Definition
A colleague is somebody you work with.
Example
My colleague helped me finish the job.
colony
[ˈkɒlənɪ]
Definition
A colony is a country controlled by another country.
Example
The USA was at one time a colony of Great Britain.
debate
[dɪˈbeɪt]
Definition
To debate is to seriously discuss something with someone.
Example
The husband and wife debated over which TV to buy.
depart
[diːˈpɑːt]
Definition
To depart is to leave some place so you can go to another place.
Example
The plane departed for Italy at 3:00 this afternoon.
depress
[dɪˈprɛs]
Definition
To depress someone is to make them sad.
Example
The bad news from work depressed the man.
factual
[ˈfæktʃʊəl]
Definition
When something is factual, it is true.
Example
John learns about history from factual books.
fascinate
[ˈfæsɪneɪt]
Definition
To fascinate someone is to make them really like something.
Example
The kitten was fascinated by the ball of yarn.
mission
[ˈmɪʃ(ə)n]
Definition
A mission is an important job that is sometimes far away.
Example
The woman’s mission was to help sick people.
nevertheless
[ˌnɛvəðəˈlɛs]
Definition
You use nevertheless to show that something goes against a fact.
Example
He is usually friendly. Nevertheless, he wasn’t this afternoon.
occupation
[ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃ(ə)n]
Definition
An occupation is a person’s job.
Example
My father’s occupation is a dentist.
overseas
[ˌəʊvəˈsiː(z)]
Definition
If you go overseas, you go to a country on the other side of an ocean.
Example
John often goes overseas for vacations.
persuade
[pəˈsweɪd]
Definition
To persuade someone is to make them agree to do something.
Example
The children persuaded their parents to buy them gifts.
route
[ruːt]
Definition
A route is the way you go from one place to another.
Example
I saw many new houses along the route to the city.
ruins
[ˈruːɪn]
Definition
Ruins are old buildings that are not used anymore.
Example
I visited some interesting ruins in Greece.
scholar
[ˈskɒlə]
Definition
A scholar is a person who studies something and knows much about it.
Example
The scholar knew much about art history.
significant
[sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt]
Definition
When someone or something is significant, they are important.
Example
I read many significant novels as a literature major in university.
volcano
[vɒlˈkeɪn|əʊ], [-vɒlˈkeɪnəʊz]
Definition
A volcano is a mountain with a hole on top where hot liquid comes out.
Example
When the volcano erupted, smoke and heat filled the air.