CPE-Progress to proficiency Part Two

Ralph (Ireland)
Cambridge English: Proficiency, also known as Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), is the most advanced exam of the Cambridge University (http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/cpe/index.html), for learners who have achieved an extremely high level of skill in the English language.

This list is based on the self-study book "Progress to proficiency".

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181 words 99 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. pastiche
    a work of art that imitates the style of some previous work
  2. extrude
    form or shape by forcing through an opening
  3. tripper
    a tourist who is visiting sights of interest
  4. foolproof
    not liable to failure
  5. malted
    of grain that has been converted into malt
  6. fiendishly
    as a devil; in an evil manner
  7. attenuation
    a weakening in force or intensity
  8. pay heed
    give heed (to)
  9. kindhearted
    having or proceeding from an innately kind disposition
  10. glitz
    extravagant showiness that is tasteless or superficial
  11. easy going
    easy unobstructed progress
  12. broadsheet
    an advertisement intended for wide distribution
  13. imprecise
    not sharply exact or accurate
  14. pejorative
    expressing disapproval
  15. comestible
    suitable for use as food
  16. megalomaniac
    a pathological egotist
  17. prefab
    manufactured in standard sizes to be shipped and assembled elsewhere
  18. accusatory
    containing or expressing blame
  19. manque
    unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition
  20. titillated
    feeling mild pleasurable excitement
  21. barmy
    marked by spirited enjoyment
  22. emulsify
    thoroughly combine liquids that do not normally stay mixed
  23. fairish
    not excessive or extreme
  24. off the beaten track
    remote from populous or much-traveled regions
  25. gawp
    look with amazement; look stupidly
  26. bulimia
    a disorder of eating in which the person alternates between strong craving for food and aversion to food; characterized by excessive eating followed by periods of fasting or self-induced vomiting
  27. antsy
    nervous and unable to relax
  28. godforsaken
    located in a dismal or remote area; desolate
  29. homophone
    a word pronounced the same with another meaning or spelling
  30. homonym
    a word pronounced or spelled the same with another meaning
  31. homonym
    a word pronounced or spelled the same with another meaning
  32. cloze
    based on or being a test of reading skill using the cloze procedure
  33. eeriness
    strangeness by virtue of being mysterious and inspiring fear
  34. kiln-dried
    dried in a kiln
  35. overenthusiastic
    unduly enthusiastic
  36. lusciously
    so as to produce a delightful taste
  37. unrewarding
    not rewarding; not providing personal satisfaction
  38. fulsomely
    in an unctuous manner
  39. impingement
    influencing strongly
  40. unagitated
    not physically disturbed or set in motion
  41. anonym
    a fake name used to engage in some activity
  42. esurient
    extremely hungry
  43. gormless
    (British informal) lacking intelligence and vitality
  44. unmalted
    of grain that has not been converted into malt
  45. anaphoric
    relating to anaphora
  46. Dodgem
    a small low-powered electrically powered vehicle driven on a special platform where there are many others to be dodged
  47. homograph
    one of two words spelled the same way that differ in meaning
  48. have-to doe with
    be relevant to
  49. phrasal verb
    an English verb followed by one or more particles where the combination behaves as a syntactic and semantic unit
  50. effeminate
    lacking traits typically associated with men or masculinity
  51. oratory
    the act of addressing an audience formally
  52. debauchery
    a wild gathering
  53. recuperation
    gradual healing through rest
  54. remonstrate
    argue in protest or opposition
  55. incapacitated
    lacking in or deprived of strength or power
  56. smutty
    characterized by obscenity
  57. recuperation
    gradual healing through rest
  58. breadth
    the extent of something from side to side
  59. paragon
    a perfect embodiment of a concept
  60. classicist
    a student of ancient Greek and Latin
  61. diffident
    showing modest reserve
  62. dangerous
    involving or causing risk; liable to hurt or harm
  63. endangered
    in imminent threat of extinction
  64. risk
    a source of danger
  65. risky
    involving risk or danger
  66. cultivation
    production of food by preparing the land to grow crops
  67. mating
    the act of pairing a male and female for reproductive purposes
  68. naturist
    a person who practices nudity for reasons of health or religion
  69. naturalist
    a biologist knowledgeable about botany and zoology
  70. worked up
    (of persons) excessively affected by emotion
  71. thrive
    make steady progress
  72. decompose
    break down
  73. incinerate
    become reduced to ashes
  74. amphibian
    cold-blooded vertebrate living on land but breeding in water
  75. carnivore
    a terrestrial or aquatic flesh-eating mammal
  76. marsupial
    a mammal the female of which has a pouch carrying the young
  77. rodent
    a mammal having two pairs of ever-growing front teeth for gnawing
  78. crustacean
    mainly aquatic arthropod usually having a segmented body
  79. herbivore
    any animal that feeds chiefly on grass and other plants
  80. mammal
    a warm-blooded vertebrate having the skin covered with hair
  81. reptile
    a cold-blooded vertebrate including snakes and lizards
  82. game
    an amusement or pastime
  83. cuddly
    inviting cuddling or hugging
  84. vermin
    any of various small animals or insects that are pests
  85. bark
    the sound made by a dog
  86. coat
    an outer garment that covers the body from shoulder down
  87. fleece
    the outer coat of an animal, especially sheep and yaks
  88. fur
    dense coat of fine silky hairs on mammals
  89. hide
    prevent from being seen or discovered
  90. plumage
    the covering of feathers on a bird
  91. endearing
    lovable especially in a childlike or naive way
  92. amiable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
  93. mischievous
    naughtily or annoyingly playful
  94. centipede
    a long, venomous insect-like creature with many pairs of legs
  95. clam
    burrowing marine mollusk living on sand or mud
  96. pygmy
    an unusually small individual
  97. willow
    a tree that typically grows near water and has narrow leaves
  98. warbler
    a singer
  99. beaver
    large semiaquatic rodent with webbed hind feet and flat tail
  100. bowerbird
    any of various birds of the Australian region whose males build ornamented structures resembling bowers in order to attract females
  101. propensity
    a natural inclination
  102. alas
    by bad luck
  103. inculcate
    teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions
  104. pupil
    a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
  105. anathema
    a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication
  106. permed
    styled with permanent waves
  107. permutation
    a complete change in character or condition
  108. plucked
    of a stringed instrument
  109. dust jacket
    a paper jacket for a book
  110. whodunit
    a story about a crime presented as a novel, play, or movie
  111. self-effacing
    reluctant to draw attention to yourself
  112. miscellaneous
    having many aspects
  113. palatable
    acceptable to the taste or mind
  114. exculpatory
    clearing of guilt or blame
  115. exonerative
    providing absolution
  116. rivulet
    a small stream
  117. rabid
    marked by excessive enthusiasm for a cause or idea
  118. scavenger
    someone who collects things discarded by others
  119. imbecilic
    having a mental age of three to seven years
  120. circumvent
    surround so as to force to give up
  121. Velcro
    nylon fabric used as a fastening
  122. sojourn
    a temporary stay
  123. frail
    physically weak
  124. irascible
    quickly aroused to anger
  125. erroneous
    containing or characterized by mistakes
  126. flamboyant
    tending to attract attention; marked by ostentatious display
  127. concoct
    make something by mixing
  128. fortuitous
    lucky; occurring by happy chance
  129. gallows
    an instrument from which a person is executed by hanging
  130. wilt
    become limp
  131. repartee
    adroitness and cleverness in reply
  132. check up on
    examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
  133. climb down
    come down
  134. cool off
    become quiet or calm, especially after a state of agitation
  135. close in
    advance or converge on
  136. die out
    become extinct
  137. fall apart
    go to pieces
  138. fall behind
    hang or fall in movement, progress, development, etc.
  139. pass away
    pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
  140. pay up
    cancel or discharge a debt
  141. settle down
    become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style
  142. speak up
    express one's opinion openly and without fear or hesitation
  143. stand out
    be highly noticeable
  144. stay on
    continue in a place, position, or situation
  145. stop over
    interrupt a journey temporarily, e.g., overnight
  146. wear off
    diminish, as by friction
  147. carry out
    put in effect
  148. cut back
    cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of
  149. dream up
    devise or invent
  150. drive out
    force or drive out
  151. follow up
    increase the effectiveness or success of by further action
  152. leave behind
    depart and not take along
  153. pay back
    act or give recompense in recognition of someone's behavior or actions
  154. rip off
    deprive somebody of something by deceit
  155. sendup
    a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way
  156. sort out
    arrange or order by classes or categories
  157. think up
    devise or invent
  158. tone down
    make less strong or intense; soften
  159. trade in
    turn in as payment or part payment for a purchase
  160. try out
    put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to
  161. use up
    use up (resources or materials)
  162. win over
    make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something
  163. write out
    put into writing; write in complete form
  164. innocuous
    not injurious to physical or mental health
  165. exude
    release in drops or small quantities
  166. invigorating
    imparting strength and vitality
  167. concur
    happen simultaneously
  168. skier
    someone who skis
  169. reminiscent
    serving to bring to mind
  170. soluble
    capable of being dissolved in some solvent
  171. residue
    matter that remains after something has been removed
  172. strut
    walk in a proud, confident way
  173. turgid
    ostentatiously lofty in style
  174. traipse
    walk or tramp about
  175. preprandial
    preceding a meal (especially dinner)
  176. foraging
    the act of searching for food and provisions
  177. ascribe
    attribute or credit to
  178. qualm
    uneasiness about the fitness of an action
  179. slog
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
  180. fatuous
    devoid of intelligence
  181. futility
    uselessness as a consequence of having no practical result
Created on Fri Oct 26 12:31:26 EDT 2012 (updated Sat May 24 09:54:25 EDT 2014)

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