Tuesday, August 14, 2012

< V > TOEFL Vocabulary (136)


Inversely (adverb) 
in an inverted order or manner, as when one quantity is greater or less according as
another is less or greater  
In the Pacific Ocean, where the typical water depth is about 4000 m, a tsunami travels at
about 200 m/s, or over 700 km/hr. Because the rate at which a wave loses its energy is
inversely related to its wave length, tsunamis not only propagate at high speeds, they
can also travel great, transoceanic distances with limited energy losses.

Invincible (adjective) 
incapable of being conquered, overrun, or subjugated
Juan Gil obtained Cervantes's freedom in 1580 in exchange for 500 ducats. Once back in
Spain, he became a tax collector for the Invincible Armada.

Invoke (verb) 
bring about, cause
Our giant impact hypothesis had the advantage of invoking a stochastic catastrophic
event that might happen only to one or two planets out of nine. 

Inwardly (adverb) 
in the mind or heart; privately; secretly
She inwardly keeps her feelings from the rest of her family.
   
Irregularity (noun) 
lack of smoothness or regularity
To determine a diamond's clarity, an expert views it under 10 power magnifications. In
addition to internal inclusions, surface irregularities are referred to as blemishes.

Irrigate (verb) 
to cause a stream to flow over land so as to water it
These slow moving rivers feed many canals that irrigate farmlands.
 
Irritate (verb) 
to trouble the nerves or peace of mind of, especially by repeated, needless trouble
The latter, at first sympathetic to the Mozart’s, later became irritated by Wolfgang's
prolonged absences and stubborn ways.

Isolation (noun) 
the quality of state of being alone 
A person who engages in criminal behavior can be differentiated by the quality or
quantity of his  learning through associations with those who define criminal activity
favorable and the relative isolation from lawful social norms.

Jaw-dropping (adjective) 
characterized as causing amazement or wonder 
He has been admiring the sleek TV displays for years, watching as prices decline from
jaw-dropping levels. 

Junction (noun) 
a point or position at which two or more things are joined
Just outside of Barstow, California is the junction of Interstate 15 and 40. 

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