< V > TOEFL Vocabulary (201)

Turmoil (noun) 

a state or condition of extreme confusion, agitation, or commotion 

To escape the escalating turmoil, Church headquarters moved from New York to Ohio,

then to Missouri, and later to Illinois.

Twilight (noun) 

the period between afternoon and nighttime

It recommended that drivers turn on their headlights at the first sign of twilight.

Ubiquitous (adjective) 

ever present in all places

The Coconut Palm, considered to some as the Tree of Life, is a ubiquitous species to the

Pacific Islands.

 

Ultra cold (adjective) 

marked by an extremely low temperature 

To reduce the number of other effects that could create similar signals, physicists shield

the detector and keep it ultra cold.

Ultrafast (adjective) 

marked by an extremely high rate of speed

A hydroelectric dam is built in mountainous land, where the water will have a steep drop

that will build up pressure to keep the turbines turning ultrafast.

Ultraviolet (adjective) 

situated beyond the visible spectrum at its violet end used of radiation having a wavelength  

shorter than wavelengths of visible light and longer than those of X rays 

Some air pollutants have reduced the capacity of the atmosphere to filter out the sun's

harmful ultraviolet radiation. 

Unanimous (adjective) 

shared as a view by all of the people concerned, with nobody disagreeing

Adams helped draft the Declaration of Independence, secured its unanimous adoption

in Congress, and wrote his wife on July 3, 1776, that "the most memorable Epoch in the

History of America has begun."

Underbrush (noun) 

shrubs, small trees, or other vegetation growing beneath the trees in a forest

If fires are always suppressed, dense  underbrush soon becomes so abundant that a

simple spark can start a fire within minutes.

Underclassman (noun) 

a member of the freshman or sophomore class in a school or college 

Juniors, too, may have their math grades substituted for their test scores, though

underclassmen that did not pass will have to retake the exam. 

Undercut (verb) 

to offer to sell at lower prices than or to work for lower wages than a competitor

Even computer maker Gateway has joined the fray. It undercut  competitors last fall

with its debut of a $3,000 42-inch plasma TV and promises to have a dozen other

plasma, LCD and rear-projection models for sale later this year. 

Undergo (verb)

to participate in or partake of personally 

Some patients suffering from chronic pain undergo hypnosis, a highly concentrated but

relaxed awareness, in which the perception of pain is altered.