Let’s expand our vocabulary! Academic Vocabulary Let’s expand our vocabulary!

TOLERANT DEFINITION – if I am tolerant of something, then I put up with it even though it is something unpleasant or harmful EXAMPLES – These plants are tolerant of hot climates. [=are able to live and grow in hot climates] Our teacher is not tolerant of bad grammar. [=will not tolerate/accept bad grammar]

BURROW DEFINITION – If I burrow, I dig to make a hole or tunnel in the ground.  EXAMPLES: The rabbit burrowed into the side of the hill. The frogs burrow under the mud. The mole burrowed its way under the ground.

EXCRETE DEFINITION – If I excrete something, I pass it (waste matter) from my body or from an organ in my body. EXAMPLES: excrete sweat The kidneys excrete toxins.

THRIVE DEFINITION – If I thrive, I become, and continue to be, successful, strong, and healthy. EXAMPLES: Business is thriving. [=booming] The region thrived [=prospered] under his rule. plants that thrive [=grow well] in the desert

NOCTURNAL DEFINITION – If an animal is nocturnal, it is active mainly during the night. EXAMPLES: Nocturnal animals such as the owl hunt at night. Raccoons are nocturnal; they sleep during the day and are awake at night.

SCATTER DEFINITION – to throw or drop things in different directions to separate and quickly go in different directions EXAMPLES: The marbles scattered across the floor. He scattered [=spread] the grass seed over the soil. She scattered the books on the table. He scatters his toys all around the house.

CAPACITY DEFINITION – the number of things or people that a container or space can hold EXAMPLES: The restaurant has a large seating capacity. [=many people can sit in the restaurant; it has many seats] The bottle has a capacity of two liters The theater has reached capacity. [=the theater is full] The auditorium was filled to capacity. [=was completely full]

CLARITY DEFINITION – If a picture, substance or sound has clarity, you can see or hear it very clearly, or see through it easily. EXAMPLES: The clarity of the photographs was amazing. The DVD has excellent clarity of sound. the clarity of the lake's water glass with exceptional clarity

PROTRUDE DEFINITION - to stick out EXAMPLES: His lower jaw protrudes slightly. A handkerchief protruded from his shirt pocket.

CONSUME DEFINITION - to eat or drink (something)  to use (fuel, time, resources, etc.)  to destroy (something) with fire  to take all of a person's attention, energy, time, etc. EXAMPLES: The dogs consume [=eat] a bag of dog food each week. The new lights consume less electricity. Most of our time was consumed [=taken up] by the search. Hundreds of books were consumed in the fire. Fire consumed the building. Work on the project has consumed his attention for many months. = Work on the project has consumed him.

PREFERENCE DEFINITION – a feeling of liking or wanting one person or thing more than another person or thing an advantage that is given to some people or things and not to others something that is liked or wanted more than another thing : something that is preferred EXAMPLES: When it comes to music, everyone has their own preferences. Car buyers have recently shown a growing/strong preference for smaller vehicles. Some people like small cars and some people like big cars. It's a matter of personal preference. She listed her favorite restaurants in order of preference. We could drive to New York, but my (personal) preference is to go by train. [=I would prefer to go by train] “We could go to an Italian or Chinese restaurant tonight. What's your preference?” “Either one is fine. I don't have a preference.”

BROMELIADS DEFINITION – any of numerous tropical American plants, having long, stiff leaves and showy flowers, and including the pineapple, Spanish moss, and many species grown as houseplants or ornamentals

BUTTRESS DEFINITION - a structure built against a wall in order to support or strengthen it

ACQUIRED DEFINITION – to get (something) : to come to own (something) to come to have (something)  to gain (a new skill, ability, etc.) usually by your own effort EXAMPLES: They're planning to acquire [=buy] a new home in the country. The team acquired three new players this year. She dreamed of acquiring [=gaining, getting] control of the company. She quickly acquired [=gained] fluency in French. He has acquired a reputation as a careful/careless worker. [=people regard him as a careful/careless worker] Although he usually avoided unusual foods, he eventually began to acquire a taste for raw fish.

INHERITED DEFINITION – to receive (money, property, etc.) from someone when that person dies to have (a characteristic, disease, etc.) because of the genes that you get from your parents when you are born EXAMPLES: She inherited the family business from her father. Baldness is inherited from the mother's side of the family. She inherited her father's deep blue eyes.

INSTINCT DEFINITION – a way of behaving, thinking, or feeling that is not learned a natural desire or tendency that makes you want to act in a particular way something you know without learning it or thinking about it EXAMPLES: Our first instinct was to run. Cats possess a natural hunting instinct.