< V > TOEFL Vocabulary (61)

Ache (noun) 

a sensation of physical discomfort occurring as the result of disease or injury

The athlete experienced aches in his right shoulder after pitching nine innings in

yesterday’s baseball game.

Acoustic (adjective) 

relating to the sound or the sense of hearing

The acoustics of this auditorium are so remarkable that when one drops a pin on the

stage, an audience member can hear it hit the floor while sitting in the back.

Acquisition (noun) 

the act of successfully coming into possession of something

In considering the biology of language acquisition, consider that human language is

made possible by special adaptations of the human mind and body that occurred in the

course of human evolution, and which are put to use by children in acquiring their

mother tongue.

Acronym (noun) 

NATO, radar, or snafu, formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the 

successive parts or major parts of a compound term 

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by the Spanish acronym FARC, 

was seeking a $3 million ransom for the couple, who had three children, they said. 

Activation (noun) 

to make active or more active

The learning theory is based on the assumption that although human aggression may be

influenced by physiological characteristics, the activation of those characteristics

depends on learning and is subject to the person's control. 

Activism (noun) 

a policy of vigorous action in a cause, especially in politics

College president Benjamin Mays and other proponents of Christian social activism

influenced Martin Luther King's decision after his junior year at Morehouse to become a

minister and thereby serve society.  

Actualize (verb) 

to make real or to put into effect

From another perspective, we can also conclude that the village with the most resources

is able to better actualize the cultural ideal of choosing marriage partners within the

same tribe.    

Adaptability (noun) 

to act of becoming suitable to particular situation or use

The knowledge of key social factors and a firm grasp on research design and methods, all

of which are learned upon completion of a B.A. in a sociology program, provides breadth

and the potential for adaptability in the workplace.

Adjacent (adjective) 

sharing a common boundary

When a customer attempts to book hotel accommodations on the Internet, it is sometimes

hard to find two adjacent rooms at a discounted rate.

Adolescent (noun) 

the period between childhood and adulthood

Because girls strongly relate their self worth to their attractiveness, many adolescents

are unhappy with their weight.

Adoption (noun)  

the act of choosing a suitable course of action

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."