Learner’s
Word of the Day
November
1
organize
/ˈoɚgəˌnaɪz/
verb
British
spelling:organise
inflected
forms:
organizes;
organized; organizing
meaning :
1
[with object] : to arrange and plan (an event or
activity) • They hired a professional to help
organize
their wedding. • We are organizing
a fund-raiser.
2
: to arrange or order things so that they can be found or used
easily and quickly : to put things into a particular
arrangement or order [with object] •
His office is a mess. He needs someone to help him organize
his work/papers. • She took a moment to organize
[=collect]
her thoughts before she responded. • The book is organized
around a central theme. [=the
action, plot, characters, etc., of the book are guided by a central
theme] • I spent some time organizing
my closet last weekend. [no
object] • You need to learn to organize
better.
3
a : to gather (people) into a group that will work on something
together [with object] • She organized
people to work for social justice. •
The players were organized into
separate teams. [no object] •
He encouraged them to organize for
social justice.
3
b : to form a labor union [no object] •
The company has tried to prevent the workers from organizing.
[with object] • He tried to
organize [=unionize]
the workers in the factory.
—
organizer
also
British
organiser
/ˈoɚgəˌnaɪzɚ/
noun,
plural organizers
[count]
•
an events organizer
• She's a skillful organizer.
• a labor/union/political organizer
November
2
access
/ˈækˌsɛs/
noun
[noncount]
meaning
:
1
: a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone •
All public buildings should provide wheelchair access.
[=a way for people in wheelchairs to enter] • The cup holders are
conveniently placed for easy access.
[=so that they can be easily reached] — often followed by to
• The town wants to increase public access
to
beaches. • A dirt road provides access
to the home.
2
: a way of being able to use or get something • We have
Internet access at the library. — usually followed by to
• We have access
to the
Internet at the library. • I don't have access
to a car right now. [=I don't have a
car that I can use right now] • Patients need better access
to medical
care. • They tried to gain illegal access
to
the company’s network.
3
: permission or the right to enter, get near, or make use of
something or to have contact with someone — usually followed by to
• They refused to give the police access
to their
home. • Investigators are trying to gain/get access to
his financial records. [=trying to get the
right to see his financial records] • He was granted/denied
access to the report. [=he was
given/refused permission to see the report]
November
3
finding
/ˈfaɪndɪŋ/
noun
[count]
plural
findings
meaning
:
1
: a
legal decision :
verdict
•
The Supreme Court overturned the lower court's finding.
2
: the
results of an investigation — usually plural •
He published his findings in a medical journal.
November
4
strategy
/ˈstrætəʤi/
noun
plural
strategies
meaning
:
1
[count] : a careful plan or method for achieving a
particular goal usually over a long period of time •
They are proposing a new strategy
for treating the disease with a combination of medications. • The
government is developing innovative strategies
to help people without insurance get medical care. •
marketing/business/investment/defense strategies
2
[noncount] : the skill of making or carrying out
plans to achieve a goal • a specialist in
campaign/military strategy
November
5
opponent
/əˈpoʊnənt/
noun
[count]
plural
opponents
meaning
:
1
: a person, team, group, etc. that is competing against another
in a contest • She is a formidable opponent
in the race for senator. • The
team’s opponents have
not lost a game this season. • He knocked out his opponent
in the third round.
2
: a person, group, etc., that is against something (such as an
action, law, or system) : someone or something that does not
want something to exist, be done, etc. — often followed by of •
opponents of the
war • opponents of building
a new baseball stadium • opponents
of abortion/slavery/communism
November 6
smug ˈsmʌg/
adjective
comparative
and superlative forms: smugger;
smuggest
Status: disapproving
meaning :
: having or showing the annoying
quality of people who feel very pleased or satisfied with their
abilities, achievements, etc. • It's OK
to celebrate your success, but try not to be too smug about
it. • You can wipe that smug look
off your face. • a smug smile/expression
— smugly adverb [more
smugly; most smugly] •
She smiledsmugly.
— smugness noun [noncount]
November 7
that's
the way the cookie crumbles !
Diom
Status: informal
meaning :
That’s the way the cookie crumbles is
used when something bad has happened to say that you must accept
things the way they are • I'm
disappointed that I didn't get the job but that's
the way the cookie crumbles. [=that's
how it goes]
November 8
concede
kənˈsi:d/ verb
inflected
forms: concedes;
conceded; conceding
meaning :
1 [with object] : to
say that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of
(something) : to admit (something) usually in an
unwilling way • I concede that
the work has been slow so far, but it should speed up soon. • When
she noted that the economy was actually improving, he
grudgingly/reluctantly conceded the
point. [=he admitted that she was right] • "Your plan might
work," sheconceded,
"but I still think mine is better." • It is
generally conceded[=acknowledged,
agreed] that they are the superior
team. [=most people agree that they are the superior team]
2 : to admit that you
have been defeated and stop trying to win [no object] •
Although it seems clear that he has lost the election, he still
refuses to concede. [with
object] • He’s not ready
to concede the
election. • They were forced to concede defeat.
[=to admit that they were defeated]
3 [with object] : to
give away (something) usually in an unwilling way•
The former ruler was forced to concede power
to a new government. • The company says that workers are
not concedingenough
in negotiations.
4 [with object] sports : to
allow an opponent to score (a point, goal, etc.) •
The team has not conceded [=allowed]
a goal this half.
November 9
hazy /ˈheɪzi/
adjective
comparative
and superlative forms: hazier;
haziest
meaning :
1 : partly hidden, darkened, or
clouded by dust, smoke, or mist :hidden by haze •
We had only a hazy view
of the mountain. • hazysunshine; also : having
or filled with haze • hazy weather
2 a : not clear in thought or
meaning : vague • He
gave us a hazyaccount
of how he had spent the last two weeks. • She has only hazymemories
of the accident.
2 b : not certain •
I’m a little hazy [=unclear]
on/about the details.
— hazily /ˈheɪzəli/ adverb • hazily remembered
— haziness /ˈheɪzinəs/ noun [noncount] •
the haziness of
the view/memories
November 10
backlash /ˈbækˌlæʃ/
noun
[count]
plural backlashes
meaning
:
: a strong public reaction against
something • a backlash against
feminism
Note: A backlash occurs when many people react
to an event, movement, etc., in a way that is opposite to its
intended effect.
November 11
Desperate /ˈdɛsprət/
adjective
comparative
and superlative forms: more
desperate; most desperate
meaning :
1 : very sad and upset because of
having little or no hope : feeling or showing
despair • The collapse of her business
had made herdesperate.
• As the supply of food ran out, people becamedesperate.
• We could hear their desperate cries
for help. • adesperate phone
call
2 : very bad or difficult to deal
with • The building is
in desperate[=terrible,
awful] shape and may have to be
demolished. • desperate[=hopeless]
situations • The outlook was desperate.
3 : done with all of your strength
or energy and with little hope of succeeding •
a desperate struggle
to defeat the enemy • He made adesperate bid/attempt
to save his job. • They made one lastdesperate attempt
to fight their way out.
4 : having a strong need or
desire for something or to do something •
He is desperate
for money/attention/work. •
After traveling all night, they were desperate
for sleep. • She
was desperate to
prove that she was right.
5 : very severe or strong •
The animals were in desperate need
of food and water when they were found. • a desperate shortage
of medical supplies • The situation called for desperate measures.
— desperately /ˈdɛsprətli/ adverb •
We are trying desperately to
find a solution. • They desperately struggled
to defeat the enemy. • They were desperately [=extremely,
terribly]
unhappy/poor. • desperatelyill
patients • We were desperately in
need of food and water.
November 12
retaliate
/rɪˈtæliˌeɪt/ verb
[no object]
inflected
forms: retaliates; retaliated;
retaliating
meaning :
: to do something bad to someone
who has hurt you or treated you badly : to get
revenge against someone • After the
company announced plans to reduce benefits, the union threatened
to retaliateby
calling for a strike.
— retaliation /rɪˌtæliˈeɪʃən/ noun,
plural retaliations [noncount] •
They lived under the threat of retaliation.
• The union has threatened a strike in
retaliation for the
company's plans to reduce benefits.[count] •
a quick retaliation
— retaliatory /rɪˈtælijəˌtori/ adjective • retaliatory attacks
November 13
weakeniˈwi:kən/ verb
inflected
forms: weakens;
weakened; weakening
meaning :
1 [with object] : to
make (something or someone) weaker, less forceful, less effective,
etc. • The disease weakens the
immune system. • people (whose bodies are) weakened by
hunger • Some are concerned that the increase in taxes
will weaken the
economy. • The beams had been weakened by
water damage. • efforts toweaken environmental
laws • The recent setbacks have notweakened our
resolve. • These kinds of contradictions weaken your
argument.
2 [no object] : to
become weaker, less forceful, less effective, etc. •
The disease causes the immune system to weaken.
• The housing market is weakening.
[=fewer people are buying houses]
3 of money : to
decrease in value when compared to money from other countries [no
object] • The dollar has continued
to weakenagainst the
euro. [with object] •
Lower interest rates have weakenedthe
dollar.
— weakening noun [noncount] •
the weakening of
environmental laws
November 14
be
toastdiomStatus: informal
meaning :
: to be in a lot of trouble • If
anyone finds out about this, we're toast. :to be
completely ruined, defeated, etc. • His
career is toast.
[=is finished/ruined]
November 15
Fatal
/ˈfeɪtl̟/ adjective
comparative
and superlative forms: more
fatal; most fatal
meaning :
1 : causing death •
a fatal accident
• a disease that is often fatal •
afatal blow
• a chemical that can be fatal to
birds
2 : causing ruin or failure •
She made a fatal mistake/error.
• The plan contained a fatal flaw.
[=a flaw that would cause it to fail] • afatal weakness
— fatally adverb • fatally shot/wounded
November 16
cope ˈkoʊp/
verb
[no object]
inflected
forms: copes; coped;
coping
meaning :
: to deal with problems and
difficult situations and try to come up with solutions •
The trial has been difficult, but I'm learning to cope. —
often followed by with •
You'll just have to cope
with the situation. • The
book is about coping
with stress. • He says he can
no longercope with the
demands of the job.
— coping adjective,
always used before a noun • copingskills/strategies
[=skills/strategies that help a person cope]
as a noun.
November 17
endureɪnˈdɚ,
British ɪnˈdjʊə/
verb
inflected
forms: endures;
endured; enduring
meaning :
1 [no object] : to
continue to exist in the same state or condition •
This tradition has endured [=lasted]
for centuries. • She wants to make sure her legacy will endure.
2 a [with object] : to
experience (pain or suffering) for a long time •
The refugees have endured [=suffered]
more hardship than most people can imagine. • He endured five
years as a prisoner of war.
2 b [with object] : to
deal with or accept (something unpleasant) •
Weendured the
lecture for as long as we could. — often used in
negative statements • I
cannot endure [=(more
commonly) stand]
the sound of her voice. • I refuse to endure [=(more
commonly) put up with, stand
for] such behavior any longer.
— endurable /ɪnˈdɚrəbəl,
Brit ɪnˈdjʊərəbəl/ adjective •
Such behavior is no longer endurable. [=it
is unendurable]
— enduring adjective • enduring [=lasting]
friendships • an enduringtradition/legacy
— enduringly adverb •
an enduringly popular
tradition
November 18
Holdoutˈhoʊldˌaʊt/
noun
[count]
plural holdouts
1 a : a person who refuses to reach
an agreement until certain terms are met : a person
who holds out • He says he might be
a holdout at
the start of the next season if the team doesn't agree to pay him
more.
1 b : an act of holding
out for something • He is expected to
end his three-week holdout and
join the team tomorrow.
2 : a person who continues to do or
use something after others have stopped doing or using it •
A few holdouts still
use typewriters, but nearly everybody uses computers now.
November 19
procedureprəˈsi:ʤɚ/
noun
plural procedures
meaning :
1 : a series of actions that are
done in a certain way or order : an established or
accepted way of doing something [count] •
Installing a car battery is a simple procedure. •
What is the procedure for
applying for a loan? • New employees are taught the proper
safetyprocedures. [noncount] •
We must follow proper court/legal/parliamentary procedure. •
An identity check is standard police procedure.
2 [count] : a
medical treatment or operation •
the procedure for
treating a burn • surgical procedures •
The procedure will
take two hours.
— procedural /prəˈsi:ʤərəl/ adjective,
always used before a noun, formal • procedural steps •
Congress will vote on a proceduralmatter/bill.
November 20
transplant
/ˈtrænsˌplænt/
noun
plural transplants
meaning :
1 a medical : a
medical operation in which an organ or other part is removed from the
body of one person and put into the body of another person [count] •
The heart transplant was
successful. • He is going to need a liver transplant. [noncount] •
The doctors are trying to keep him alive until a liver can be found
for transplant.
• transplantpatients/recipients
1 b [count]medical : an
organ, piece of skin, etc., that is transplanted•
The patient's body rejected the transplant.
• She received a bone marrow transplant from
an unknown donor.
2 [count] : a
person who has moved to a new home especially in a different region
or country • She’s a
Southern transplant who
now lives in New York.
as a verb.
November 21
have
a bun in the ovendiom
Status: informal
meaning :
to be pregnant •
Rumor has it, she has a bun in the oven.
November 22
gratefulˈgreɪtfəl/
adjective
comparative
and superlative forms: more
grateful; most grateful
meaning :
: feeling or showing thanks •
She was grateful (that)
she didn't have to work on the holiday. • the grateful [=thankful]
recipient of a new heart • The college sent us
a grateful acknowledgment
of our donation. : feeling or showing thanks
tosomeone forsome helpful act•
I'm grateful to
you for your help. • He's grateful forthe
attention. • I'mgrateful (to
you) for this opportunity. = I'm grateful to
have this opportunity. = I'm grateful that
I have this opportunity. • a gratefulsmile
— gratefully adverb •
The college gratefully [=thankfully]
acknowledges your donation.
— gratefulness noun [noncount] •
expressing my gratefulness [=(more
commonly) gratitude]
for this opportunity
November 23
bare–bonesadjective
comparative
and superlative forms: more
bare-bones; most bare-bones
meaning
:
: including only what is most basic
or needed • a bare-bones Web
site • a bare-bones wedding
ceremony • The hotel rooms are bare-bones.
November 24
Cautiousˈkɑ:ʃəs/
adjective
comparative
and superlative forms: more
cautious; most cautious
meaning :
: careful about avoiding danger or
risk • Any cautious tourist
will guard her passport. • You cannot be overly/too cautious when
you’re driving in snow. • He answered the question with
a cautious reply.
— cautiously adverb [more
cautious; most cautious] •
Shecautiously moved
down the dark hall.
— cautiousness noun [noncount] •
They proceeded withcautiousness.
[=caution]
November 25
mentality mɛnˈtæləti/
noun
[count]
plural mentalities
meaning :
: a particular way of thinking —
usually singular • You can only wonder
about the mentality of
someone who does such things. • He criticizes filmmakers for their
blockbuster mentality. [=for
thinking only about making movies that could be blockbusters] • a
warmentality
November 27
Noviceˈnɑ:vəs/
noun
[count]
plural novices
meaning :
1 : a person who has just started
learning or doing something • He's
a novice in
cooking. • a novice [=beginner]
at skiing • a book for thenovice chess
player
2 : a new member of a religious
group who is preparing to become a nun or a monk
November 28
icing
on the cakediom
meaning :
: something extra that makes a good
thing even better • The concert itself
was great, and getting to meet the band afterward was (the)icing
on the cake.
November 29
likable
ˈlaɪkəbəl/
adjective
Variant
spelling: likeable
comparative
and superlative forms: more
likable; most likable
meaning :
: easy to like : having
pleasant or appealing qualities •
Detective Grant is the most likeable character
in the novel. • She seems like a friendly, likable young
woman.
—likability or likeability /ˌlaɪkəˈbɪləti/ noun [noncount]
November 30
influx ˈɪnˌflʌks/
noun
[count]
plural influxes
meaning :
1 : the arrival of a large number
of people • The city is preparing for a
large influx of
tourists this summer.
2 : the arrival or inward flow of a
large amount of something (such as money) •
The company has had a sudden influx of
capital.
