Friday, August 10, 2012

< V > TOEFL Vocabulary (17)


Military Operations


1. allegiance n. Loyalty
My allegiance to my country is based on respect for its principles.
Usage tips Allegiance is commonly followed by a to phrase.


2. artillery n. Large guns that shoot powerful shells; army units that handle such guns
An artillery barrage broke down the city’s thick walls within seconds.
The 47th Artillery fired on rebels camped in the city center.
Usage tips When it means a part of an army, artillery is sometimes plural.


3. battle v. To fight against
The Viet Minh battled French forces at Dien Bien Phu for nearly two months in 1954.
Parts of speech battle n


4. cease v. Stop
The lightning continued even after the thunder had ceased.
Usage tips Cease is found in official statements, not usually in everyday speech.
Parts of speech cessation n, ceaseless adj


5. hierarchy n. A system of levels that places people high or low according to their importance
Starting as a lowly private, Burt Jones gradually rose through the hierarchy of the army.
Usage tips Hierarchy is often followed by an of phrase.
Parts of speech hierarchical adj, hierarchically adv


6. in the trenches adv’l. In the middle of the hardest fighting or work
With their unrealistic view of this war, our generals don’t know what things are like out in the trenches.
Usage tips Creates an image of soldiers fighting in a long, dug-out
place in the battlefield.


7. mobilize v. To put members of a group into motion
After a terrible storm, the governor mobilized the National Guard to rescue victims.
Parts of speech mobilization n


8. rank v. To put into a many-leveled order, depending on importance or achievement
The Marines ranked Jim Hurst highest among all their officer candidates.
Parts of speech rank n


9. ratio n. The relationship of one number or amount to another
Military analysts say that the ratio of attackers to defenders in a battle should be about three to one for the attackers to win.
Usage tips Ratio is very often followed by an of...to structure.


10. strategic adj. Related to long-term plans for achieving a goal
The United States has formed strategic friendships with Tajikistan and Mongolia to have Central Asian bases in the future.
Usage tips Strategic is often used with nouns for plans.
Parts of speech strategy n, strategize v, strategically adv

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