Unit 9

assess (v) /əˈses/ to make a judgement about the

nature or quality of sb/sth It’s difficult to assess the

effects of these changes.

backup (n) /ˈbækʌp/ a copy of a file, etc. that can

be used if the original is lost or damaged Always

make a backup of your work.

bug (n) /bʌɡ/ a fault in a machine, especially in

a computer system or program The latest version

this computer program has a bug.

bulky (adj) /ˈbʌlki/ large and difficult to move or

carry Bulky items are not allowed in the cabin.

close (adv) /kləʊs/ near in space or time

The second twin was born close after the first.

closely (adv) /ˈkləʊsli/ in a close relation or

position in time or space He walked into the room,

closely followed by the rest of the family.

convenient (adj) /kənˈviːniənt/ useful, easy

or quick to do You’ll find these meals quick and

convenient to prepare.

cookie (n) /ˈkʊki/ a computer file with

information in it that is sent to the central server

each time a particular person uses a network or

the internet This website uses cookies.

cord (n) /kɔːd/ a piece of wire that is covered

with plastic, used for carrying electricity to a piece

of equipment It’s not wireless; the telephone has

a cord.
cumbersome (adj) /ˈkʌmbəsəm/ large and

heavy; difficult to carry You might have to use

some cumbersome machinery.

cutting-edge (n) /ˌkʌtɪŋ ˈedʒ/ the newest, most

advanced stage in the development of sth I am

working at the cutting-edge of computer technology.

data (n) /ˈdeɪtə/ information that is stored by a

computer It is important to back up your data.

dedicated (adj) /ˈdedɪkeɪtɪd/ working hard at

sth because it is very important to you She is

dedicated to her job.

demonstrate (v) /ˈdemənstreɪt/ to show sth

clearly by giving proof or evidence These results

demonstrate convincingly that our campaign is

working.

earbud(s) (n) /ˈɪəbʌd/ a very small headphone

that is worn inside the ear I need to attach my

earbuds to the CD player.

early adopter (n) /ˈɜːli əˈdɒptə(r)/ a person who

starts using a product or technology as soon as it

becomes available They’re early adopters of new

technology, and new ideas.

elegant (adj) /ˈelɪɡənt/ attractive and showing a

good sense of style She was tall and elegant.

emerging technologies (n)

/iˈmɜːdʒɪŋ tekˈnɒlədʒiz/ new technologies that

are currently developing or will be developed

over the next five to ten years, and which will

substantially alter the business and social

hydroelectricity safer.

examine (v) /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/ to consider or study an

idea, a subject, etc. very carefully It is necessary to

examine how the proposals can be carried out.

exorbitant (adj) /ɪɡˈzɔːbɪtənt/ much too high

The prices are exorbitant.

(launch with) fanfare (n) /ˈfænfeə(r)/ a large

amount of activity and discussion on television, in

newspapers, etc. to celebrate sb/sth The product

was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.

firewall (n) /ˈfaɪəwɔːl/ a part of a computer

system that prevents people from getting at

information without permission, but still allows

them to receive information that is sent to them

My computer is protected with a firewall.

fragile (adj) /ˈfrædʒaɪl/ easily broken or

damaged Be careful not to drop it; it’s very fragile.

groan-inducing (adj) /ɡrəʊn ɪnˈdjuːsɪŋ/ an act

that causes someone to groan Read this groan-

inducing love letter.

hallmark(s) (n) /ˈhɔːlmɑːk/ a feature or quality

that is typical of sb/sth Police said the explosion

bore all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.

handset (n) /ˈhændset/ the part of a telephone

that you hold close to your mouth and ear to

speak into and listen I can’t hear you, are you

handy (adj) /ˈhændi/ easy to use or to do That’s a

handy little tool.

hard (adv) /hɑːd/ with great effort You must try

hard to get a good result.

hardly (adv) /ˈhɑːdli/ almost none There’s hardly

any tea left.

hard-wearing (adj) /ˌhɑːd ˈweərɪŋ/ that lasts a

long time and remains in good condition I want

shoes that are practical and hard-wearing.

(to) have legs (idiom) /həv leɡz/ to continue to

be of interest This latest scandal has legs; you’ll

probably still be reading about it in a year’s time.

headset(s) (n) /ˈhedset/ a pair of headphones,

especially one with a microphone attached to it

Speak clearly into the headset.

high (adv) /haɪ/ at or to a position or level that

is a long way up from the ground or from the

bottom A dish piled high with food.

highly (adv) /ˈhaɪli/ with admiration or praise

She speaks highly of you.

innovative (adj) /ˈɪnəveɪtɪv/ introducing or

using new ideas, ways of doing sth, etc. There will

be a prize for the most innovative design.

just (adv) /dʒʌst/ only I decided to learn Japanese

just for fun.

justly (adv) /ˈdʒʌstli/ according to what is

morally right or fair I want to be treated justly.

with numbers on used to operate a telephone,

television, etc. Enter your name using the keypad.

late (adv) /leɪt/ arriving, happening or done after

the expected, arranged or usual time My flight

was an hour late.

lately (adv) /ˈleɪtli/ recently It’s only lately that

she’s been well enough to go out.

lightweight (adj) /ˈlaɪtweɪt/ made of thinner

material and less heavy than usual The car

features a lightweight aluminium engine.

murmur (reassurances) (v) /ˈmɜːmə(r)/ to say

sth in a soft quiet voice that is difficult to hear or

understand She murmured an excuse and hurried

away.

obsolete (adj) /ˈɒbsəliːt/ no longer used because

sth new has been invented With technological

changes many traditional skills have become obsolete.

plain (adj) /pleɪn/ simple or basic in character

The curtains were made from a plain fabric.

pricey (adj) /ˈpraɪsi/ overpriced, too expensive

She wears pricey designer clothes.

prove (v) /pruːv/ to use facts, evidence, etc. to

show that sth is true He felt he needed to prove his

point.

reasonable (adj) /ˈriːznəbl/ fair, practical and

sensible Any reasonable person would have done

exactly as you did.

sink (v) /sɪŋk/ to go down below the surface or

The ship sank to the bottom of the sea.

sleek (adj) /sliːk/ having an elegant smooth

shape The sleek lines of the new car.

spam (n) /spæm/ advertising material sent by

email to people who have not asked for it Check

your spam folder.

spyware (n) /spɑɪweə(r) software that enables a

user to obtain covert information about another’s

computer activities by transmitting data covertly

from their hard drive It’s important to scan for

spyware.

(tech) start-ups (n) /ˈstɑːt ʌps/ connected with

starting a new business or project Kickstarter is a

great platform for tech start-ups.

suggest (v) /səˈdʒest/ to put forward an idea or a

plan for other people to think about May I suggest

a white wine with this dish, Sir?

Trojan (n) /ˈtrəʊdʒən/ a Trojan horse, or Trojan,

is a hacking program that is a non-self-replicating

type of malware That Trojan has wiped my hard

drive!

under age (idiom) /ˈʌndəreɪdʒ/ not legally old

enough to do a particular thing It is illegal to sell

cigarettes to children who are under age.

under attack (adj) /ˈʌndə(r) əˈtæk/ subjected

to enemy attack or censure Our freedom is under

attack.

under control (idiom) /ˈʌndə(r) kənˈtrəʊl/ to

everything’s under control!

under pressure (idiom) /ˈʌndə(r) ˈpreʃə(r)/

being forced to do sth The director is under

increasing pressure to resign.

under scrutiny (idiom) /ˈʌndə(r) ˈskruːtəni/

being watched or examined closely Foreign policy

has come under close scrutiny recently.

Insight UpperInt WL for [Link] 8 22/01/2014 11:33

Definitions adapted from Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 8th edition © Oxford University Press
Wordlist 9

under the radar (idiom) /ˈʌndə(r) ðə ˈreɪdɑː(r)/

used to say that people are not aware of sth

Experts say a lot of corporate crime stays under the

radar.

under the weather (idiom) /ˈʌndə(r) ðə ˈweðə(r)/

slightly ill/sick and not as well as usual I feel a bit

under the weather today.

under your belt (idiom) /ˈʌndə(r) jɔː(r) belt/

to have already achieved or obtained sth

She already has a couple of good wins under her belt.

update (n) /ˌʌpˈdeɪt/ the most recent

improvements to a computer program that are

sent to users of the program Have you installed

the latest update?

(bring) up to speed (idiom) /ʌp tə spiːd/ having

the most recent and accurate information or

with the latest developments?

useless (adj) /juːsləs/ not useful; not doing or

achieving what is needed or wanted This pen is

useless there’s no ink in it.

virus (n) /ˈvaɪrəs/ instructions that are hidden

within a computer program and are designed

to cause faults or destroy data The virus in the

software was programmed to corrupt the hard disk.