Tuesday, August 14, 2012

< V > TOEFL Vocabulary (184)


Slump (noun) 
a period of poor or losing play by a team or individual 
Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano continued their slumps at the top of the order, going a
combined 0 for 8.

Smack (verb) 
to strike so as to produce a sharp slap or blow  At some point in the geological future a large chunk of rock and ice will smack into
Earth and destroy life as we know it. 

Smashing (verb) 
to deliver a powerful blow suddenly and sharply so as to cause something to split into 
fragments
Michael A’ Hearn will lead a team that's planning to find out what's inside comet Temple
1 by smashing into it with a 771 pound copper "hammer"  the biggest they could loft into
space.

Smattering (noun) 
a small scattered number or amount 
Even though only a smattering of digital programming is currently available, digital
televisions will eventually become the norm, as surely as color replaced black and white. 

Sober (adjective) 
marked by sedate or gravely or earnestly thoughtful character or demeanor
It is almost certain that Earth will one day be hit by an asteroid large enough to 
exterminate a large percentage of our planet's life. 

Societal (adjective) 
relating to society
Over the past 30 years, same-sex couples have sought societal recognition of their
families.

Sociological (adjective) 
relating to the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective 
behavior of organized groups of human beings  
Sociological research influences the way we think about work and organizational life,
and enables us to discover new knowledge.

Sodomy (noun) 
copulation with a member of the same sex or with an animal; non-coital and especially 
anal or oral copulation with a member of the opposite sex 
Issues still before the court which could be decided Thursday include a Texas ban on 
sodomy.

Solidarity (noun) 
an identity or coincidence of interests, purposes, or sympathies among the members of a 
group
This outcome is a reflection of strong sense of solidarity within the corporate peasant
community, also apparent in the tendency for almost every man to remain within his
village over his lifetime.

Soil (noun) 
the upper layer of earth that may be dug or plowed and in which plants grow   
The volcanic soil in Hawaii is fertile, and the warm climate makes it possible to grow
crops all year around.  

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