SAT WORDS
*********************
EQUILATERAL - describes a geometric figure with all sides equal in length
ISOSCELES - describes a geometric figure with two sides equal in length
TANGENT - a line that intersects a curve in only one point
PERIMETER - the distance around the outside of a polygon
CIRCUMFERENCE - the distance around the outside of a circle
*********************
FACTOR - one of two or more numbers or expressions that are multiplied together
MULTIPLE - a whole number that has a given number as a factor
DIVISIBLE - a number that can be evenly divided by a given number
LINE OF SYMMETRY - a line that cuts a figure into two parts that are mirror images of each other.
*********************
MEDIAN - the number that occurs in the middle when a set of data is put in order
RATIO - a fraction that compares two quantities
PROPORTION - two equivalent ratios
INTEGER - a whole number or its opposite
*********************
EQUIVALENT - quantities that are equal in value
OPERATION - a calculation in mathematics
ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSION - statement using only numbers, variables, and operations
EQUATION - an expression that states that two quantities are equal
MEAN - the arithmetic average of a set of numbers.
*********************
SUM - the answer to an addition problem
PRODUCT - the answer to a multiplication problem
QUOTIENT - the answer to a division problem
DIFFERENCE - the answer to a subtraction problem
PRIME - a number that has exactly two factors, 1 and itself
*********************
POROUS - will allow liquids to pass through
ALLOY - a mix of two or more metals
PREDATOR - an animal that acquires food by hunting other animals
HERMETIC - airtight
AMALGAM - a combination, mixture, blend
*********************
ASTRAL - pertaining to the stars
MARINE - pertaining to the sea
CELESTIAL - pertaining to the skies
ARBOREAL - pertaining to the trees
HYBRID - an offspring of two plants or animals of different species
*********************
EPISTOLARY - an epistle is a letter and an epistolary is a series of letters
MATRIARCHAL - rule by women
PROLIFERATION - to multiply, increase, spread rapidly
DOGMA - doctrine, set of beliefs
BELLIGERENT - nation at war, warlike
*********************
NULLIFY - To make void.
ENLIGHTEN - to inform, instruct
APPEASEMENT - To give into someone's demands
ELITE - a select group
ETHICS - a code of conduct
*********************
ANACHRONISM - a chronological misplacing of events, persons, or objects.
DUTY - a tax on imports
ENUMERATE - to ascertain the number of; to count.
BUTTRESS - to support, prop up.
DESICCATED - to become very dry, arid, parched
*********************
REPUDIATE - to take back or disavow
DISSOLUTION - to dissolve, break apart
ANARCHIST - opposes government and laws
*********************
FLIPPANT - lacks proper respect or seriousness
PRECARIOUS - lacks stability
DIFFIDENT - lacks self-confidence
SOPHOMORIC - immature
ERRATIC - unpredictable, changeable
*********************
CALLOUS - lacks sensitivity
DERIVATIVE - derived from and therefore lacking originality
INTREPID - brave and therefore lacking fear
VISCOUS - thick and syrupy
INEPT - lacking in skill
*********************
VAPID - dull, bland, lacking taste
TRANSIENT - lacking in permanence
NONDESCRIPT - ordinary
MERCILESS - cruel and therefore lacking compassion
DESOLATE - lacks inhabitants.
*********************
AMBIGUOUS - lacks clarity
TRIVIAL - lack of importance
SHIFTLESS - lazy, lackadaisical and therefore lacking ambition
RASH - impetuous and therefore lacking in restraint
*********************
DESPONDENT - feeling very down; discouraged
DEBACLE - a big disaster; a fiasco
DEROGATORY - to belittle; to say unfavorable things about someone
DEVOID - to go down in the sense of being empty; lacking content
AMBIVALENT - lacks conviction
*********************
DEPRECIATE - to go down in value. In a bear market, stocks depreciate in value.
DEMOLISH - to tear down; destroy
DECRY - to criticize, denounce, condemn
DEPLORABLE - wretched, awful, miserable. The destitute family lived in a deplorable slum.
DEPLETE - to exhaust
*********************
UPSTART - a person who has risen suddenly from a low position to great success
SEER - a person who can predict future events
PRAGMATIST - a person who is practical and thus not given to flights of fancy
DEVOTEE - an ardent follower, supporter, or enthusiast
NOMAD - a person who wanders and is thus itinerant
*********************
GLUTTON - a person given to greedy and voracious eating and drinking
VIRTUOSO - a person with great artistic talent
HYPOCRITE - a person who puts on a false appearance; someone who says one thing and then does another
BOOR - a person who is rude and insensitive; a boor lacks refinement
RECLUSE - a person who leads a secluded or solitary life; a hermit
*********************
SCOUNDREL - a disreputable person
SAVANT - a person with detailed knowledge in a specific field
JINGOIST - an extreme nationalist
BENEFACTOR - a person who helps others; often by giving generous gifts
*********************
MENTOR - a person who provides guidance; a tutor
REVELER - a person who engages in merrymaking, as a New Year's Eve reveler
PRODIGY - a person with great talent; a genius
STALWART - a loyal supporter, an adherent, someone who stands by you
SKINFLINT - a person who is overly thrifty with money; a miser
*********************
AUDACIOUS - very bold. It was audacious of the teen to ride down a very steep hill without a helmet on a bike without brakes
VORACIOUS - can't be satisfied; ravenous. Many teenagers have a voracious appetite for junk food.
VEHEMENT - passionate; ardent; intense. Elka had a vehement argument with her best friend, who told everyone Elka had cheated on a test when she really hadn't.
ZEALOUS - filled with enthusiasm, especially for a cause, ideal, or goal. The zealous rookie begged the coach to let him play all four quarters.
*********************
RENOWN - great fame. Michael Jordan's renown makes him a superhero in the eyes of children and adults alike.
INFAMY - dishonor; shame. The seventeen-year-old wanted renown; instead he got infamy and a ten-year prison sentence for dealing drugs.
SOLITUDE - isolation; aloneness. Because seven other people live in the apartment with her, Katie rarely finds a moment of solitude.
TENACIOUS - very persistent; resolute; unyielding; very firm. Parents must be tenacious in teaching their children right from wrong if we want to end violence in our society.
PERIPHERAL - of minor relevance or importance. Relatively speaking, academic achievement is paramount to our school's success while our athletic success is peripheral.
*********************
CURTAIL - to cut short. The trip was curtailed because of bad weather.
MEAGER - scanty, sparse, not abundant. The campers had a meager supply of food that would have to be rationed.
SOMBER - gloomy, cheerless, grave. His somber voice told us that the news was bad.
FLOURISH - to prosper, thrive. The rising profits showed that her new internet business was flourishing.
REJUVENATE - to make youthful again, revitalize, revive
*********************
ELUSIVE - hard to catch, evasive
PROCRASTINATE - delay, to be tardy.
CONVENTIONAL - a traditional customary way of doing things. White is the conventional color of a wedding gown.
OBSTINATE - stubborn
SOMBER - gloomy, cheerless, grave.
*********************
REVERE - to hold in great esteem, to honor, admire. Mother Theresa was revered by millions of people around the world.
TRITE - commonplace, dull, unimaginative. "Once upon a time," is a very trite way to begin a story.
*********************
AESTHETIC- appealing to the sense of beauty.
ECLECTIC - choosing from a variety of sources. A person with eclectic taste in music would like rap, soul, country, and hard rock.
ANOMALOUS - deviating from a general rule on irregularity; something that is incongruous.
ALLEVIATE - To lessen
INNOCUOUS - harmless; not damaging. The friends loved to meet and exchange innocuous gossip.
*********************
ACUTE (adj.) - very sharp; severe: The doctor gave me a prescription to alleviate the acute pain in my knee.
APPEASE (v.) - to calm or soothe by giving in to demands: The young mother thought she could appease her crying baby by giving him a lollipop.
FRUGAL (adj.) - thrifty; careful with money: Because he was frugal for so many years, Mr. Jeffers had enough money when he retired to take a trip around the world.
COLLABORATE (v.) - to work together on a project: Since all the students in that group refused to collaborate on their English project, everyone received an E.
*********************
LOATHE (v.) - to dislike intensely; to hate; to despise: Most kids loathe doing homework, but the diligent ones do it anyway.
REBUKE (v.) - to scold; to reprimand: Sara rebuked her dog for having chewed up her new Nikes.
ALLEVIATE (v.) - to relieve by making more bearable; to lessen: The Tylenol alleviated her headache but did nothing for her sore throat.
*********************
COSMOPOLITAN (adj.) worldly: After having traveled across Europe this summer, Gerald appeared to have become quite a cosmopolitan person.
ERADICATE (v.) eliminate; wipe out completely; annihilate: Fighting violence with violence will not eradicate the problem of violence in schools.
EXEMPLARY (adj.) outstanding example of: Because of her exemplary academic performance in all of her classes this year, the Journal wrote a feature article about Karen.
DESOLATE (adj) deserted; empty; uninhabited; barren: The residents returned to their fire-devastated, desolate town.
EGOTIST (n.) a self-centered person: The three favorite words of an egoist are me, myself, and I.
*********************
ARID (adj.) very dry: Desert regions are very arid.
FRAGILE (adj.) easily broken; frail: I have to wrap that fragile vase in plenty of newspaper so it won't break during the move.
PRUDENT (adj.) wise; sensible: It would be very prudent of you to take the SAT class before you take the real SAT.
CREST (n.) the top of: The crest of the wave was at least eight feet high.