< V > TOEFL Vocabulary (114)

Flower (verb) 

to blossom; to reach a peak

City-states importance were enlarged by the rapid flowering of the Internet and the

digital revolution. 

Fluffy (adjective) 

downy, soft, light, puffy

Fluffy down-filled pillows provide much needed to those who suffer from insomnia.  

Fluid (adjective) 

substance, especially a gas or liquid, whose shape is determined by its container

Hawaii’s volcanic eruptions are typically characterized by the relatively quiet outflow of

very fluid lava and by sometimes spectacular lava fountains.

Flux (noun) 

something suggestive of running water

The tsunami's energy flux, which is dependent on both its wave speed and wave height,

remains nearly constant. 

Foe (noun) 

one who is hostile to or opposes the purpose or interests of another

In three remarkable careers as a foe of British oppression and champion of Independence

(1761-77), as an American diplomat in Europe (1778-88), and as the first vice president

(1789-97) and then the second president (1797-1801) of the United States John Adams was

a founder of the United States.

Follow-up (adjective) 

a news story presenting new information on a story published earlier 

In a follow-up report published in the May 31 issue of The Lancet, the same group of

researchers report that after four years, the children who were exposed to the probiotic

were 40% less likely to have atopic eczema than the children in the placebo group. 

Forbid (verb) 

so disagreeably austere as to discourage approach

Despite the forbidding conditions, scientists have found certain fish and other animals

to exist in the oceans’ deepest regions.

Forefront (noun) 

something that occupies a front position; in or into a position of prominence 

At the end of the 19th century, a new way of transmitting power came to the forefront-

electricity.  

Forecaster (noun) 

one who predicts future events such as the weather  

Computer modeling to track these downdrafts and the cloud level ice crystals that help

produce them were developed to give forecasters the edge in predicting severe storm

systems, and possibly flooding, over the plains. 

Former (adjective) 

having been such previously

The term "Multiple Personality Disorder" or (MPD) has been largely replaced by

Dissociative Identity Disorder or (DID).  As the former name implies, MPD/DID is a

mental condition in which two more personalities appear to inhabit a single body.