< V > TOEFL Vocabulary (63)

Aglow (adjective) 

glowing especially with warmth or excitement 

Three years later, Thomas Edison announced his invention of the incandescent light bulb,

and on New Year's Eve in 1879 drew a crowd of 3,000 visitors to his Menlo Park, New

Jersey, complex to see the buildings and grounds aglow in the softer light of his creation.

Alarming (adjective) 

relating to a sudden sharp apprehension and fear resulting from the perception of 

imminent danger Brazil and Indonesia, which contain the world’s two largest surviving regions of rain

forest, are being stripped at an alarming rate by logging, fires, and land-clearing for

agriculture and cattle-grazing. 

Albeit (conjunction) 

conceding the fact that; even though 

Saliva provides another example, albeit less exotic, of taste modification.

Alias (noun) 

a false or assumed name  

Similar to past Russian revolutionaries, Joseph Stalin adopted many aliases to evade

arrest. 

Alien (noun)   

A person coming from another country

During World War II, restrictions were imposed upon many aliens in the US, especially

if they were of Japanese origin.

Alignment (noun) 

the act of adjusting to a line; the state of being so adjusted

Due to the car accident, his back went out of alignment.

Allocate (verb) 

to apportion for a specific purpose or to particular persons or things 

The industries affected -- including oil refineries, steel, cement, ceramics, glass and paper

-- will feel the pinch next March when European Union governments must say how they

will allocate the 2 allowances firms will need to operate from 2005. 

Alternative (noun) 

the power or right of choosing

Recently, wind power has become an appealing alternative to fossil based fuels,

especially in countries with scarce petroleum and ample wind. 

Alter (noun) 

the act of changing some particular aspect of someone (i.e., personality) or 

something

Various triggers can cause the brains alter to take control of the mental processes of the

victim for periods of time.

Altitude (noun) 

the distance of something from a given level, especially referring to sea level

The summit of Mount Everest is at an altitude of 29,000 feet.

Amateur (noun) 

one lacking professional skill

It is learned that the impact might produce a sudden brightening of the comet visible to

amateur astronomers with small telescopes.

Ambitious (adjective) 

full of strong desire to achieve something

George Washington was well informed, ambitious, and public spirited.