Understanding 40 Essential Vocabulary Words

Wallow (verb)

To roll about or lie in water, snow, mud, dust, or the like, as for refreshment.

Taillights (noun)

A light, usually red, at the rear of an automobile or train.

Dangled (verb)

To hang loosely, especially with a jerking or swaying motion.

Upholstery (noun)

The materials used to cushion and cover furniture.

Leer (verb)

To look with a sideways or oblique glance, especially suggestive of lascivious interest or sly and malicious intention.

Sizzling (verb)

To make a hissing sound, as in frying or burning.

Haggle (verb)

To bargain in a petty, quibbling, and often contentious manner.

Strew (verb)

To let fall in separate pieces or particles over a surface; scatter or sprinkle.

Pail (noun)

A deep, cylindrical vessel, usually of metal, plastic, or wood, with a flat bottom and a semicircular bail, for collecting, carrying, or holding water, sand, fruit, etc.

Scoffed (verb)

To speak derisively; mock; jeer (often followed by at).

Sift (verb)

To separate and retain the coarse parts of (flour, ashes, etc.) with a sieve.

Thorny (adjective)

Abounding in or characterized by thorns; spiny; prickly.

Wince (verb)

To draw back or tense the body, as from pain or from a blow; start; flinch.

Prank (noun)

A trick of an amusing, playful, or sometimes malicious nature.

Brood (noun)

A number of young produced or hatched at one time; a family of offspring or young.

Prognosis (noun)

Medicine. A forecasting of the probable course and outcome of a disease, especially of the chances of recovery.

Ponder (verb)

To consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate (often followed by over or upon).

Perk up (verb)

To become lively, cheerful, or vigorous, as after depression or sickness.

Padded (adjective)

A cushion-like mass of soft material used for comfort, protection, or stuffing.

Dangle (verb)

To hang loosely, especially with a jerking or swaying motion.

Slingshot (noun)

A Y-shaped stick with an elastic strip between the prongs for shooting stones and other small missiles.

Gutter (noun)

A channel at the side or in the middle of a road or street, for leading off surface water.

Tattered (adjective)

Torn to tatters; ragged.

Ruffled (adjective)

Having breaks in the smoothness or evenness of some surface; undulation.

Baffled (verb)

To confuse, bewilder, or perplex.

Coax (verb)

To attempt to influence by gentle persuasion, flattery, etc.; cajole.

Coyly (adjective)

Artfully or affectedly shy or reserved; slyly hesitant; coquettish.

Muffled (verb)

To wrap with something to deaden or prevent sound.

Screech (verb)

To utter or make a harsh, shrill cry or sound.

Lurking (verb)

To lie or wait in concealment, as a person in ambush; remain in or around a place secretly or furtively.

Brew (verb)

To make (beer, ale, etc.) by steeping, boiling, and fermenting malt and hops.

Scour (verb)

To remove dirt, grease, etc., from or to cleanse or polish by hard rubbing, as with a rough or abrasive material.

Chasm (noun)

A yawning fissure or deep cleft in the earth's surface; gorge.

Lanky (adjective)

Ungracefully thin and rawboned; bony; gaunt.

Loom (noun)

A hand-operated or power-driven apparatus for weaving fabrics, containing harnesses, lay, etc.

Scuffled (verb)

To struggle or fight in a rough, confused manner.

Sheepish (adjective)

Embarrassed or bashful, as by having done something wrong or foolish.

Fret (verb)

To feel or express worry, annoyance, discontent, or the like.

Snippet (noun)

A small piece snipped off; a small bit, scrap, or fragment.

Wither (verb)

To shrivel; fade; decay.