SOUNDS VOCABULARY
"Spending time looking at
other students' work, rather than producing their own
work, may seem like 'time
off-task', but the evidence is that it is a considerable
benefit, particularly for
'low-attainers'."
- Dylan Wiliam
This activity is taken from Gold CAE. The definitions of the words were taken from Longman online dictionary.
CAE
L
ooking for words in a dictionary can be on the tip of your fingers using Longman online dictionary.
After reading the definitions of the words students can answer the questions.
Deep
deep1 S2 W1
comparative deeper, superlative deepest
1 going far down
a) going far down from the top or from
the surface [≠ shallow]:
The castle is on an island
surrounded by a deep lake.
The swimming pool has a deep end and
a shallow end for kids.
We'll take the boat out into deep
water where we can dive.
a deep narrow valley
b) you use deep to say what distance
something goes down from the top or surface
2 metres/6 feet etc deep
Dig a hole around 12 inches deep.
ankle-deep/waist-deep etc
In places, the snow was waist-deep (=deep enough to reach
a person's waist).
2going far in
going far in from the outside or
from the front edge of something:
a deep wound
She was sitting in a deep leather
chair.
3serious
serious or severe:
Despite the peace process, there are
deep divisions in the community.
The country is in a deep recession.
Evan would be in deep trouble
if he was caught.
4breath
a deep breath or sigh is one in which you
breathe a lot of air in or out:
She stopped and took a deep
breath.
Tom gave a deep sigh of relief.
5feeling/belief
a deep feeling, belief etc is very
strong and sincere [= profound]:
May I express my deepest sympathy.
The letters show her deep affection
for him.
He has a deep understanding of the
environment.
6sound
a deep sound is very low:
Her laugh was deep and loud.
I love that deep bass line.
7colour
a deep colour is dark and strong [≠ light, pale]:
She gazed at him with wide deep blue
eyes.
The berries are a deep red colour.
8difficult to understand
important but complicated or
difficult to understand:
These problems are too deep for me.
There is a deep issue of principle
involved.
9sleep
if someone is in a deep sleep, it is
difficult to wake them:
He lay down and fell into a
deep sleep.
10deep in thought/conversation etc
thinking so hard or paying attention
to something so much that you do not notice anything else that is happening
around you
11deep in debt
owing a lot of money
12a deep impression
a strong effect or influence that
remains for a long time:
What he said made a deep
impression on me.
13person
a deep person is serious and
intelligent, but is hard to know well:
Henry has always been a deep one.
He keeps his views to himself.
14be in deep shit
spoken not polite to be in a bad situation because of
something you have done
15be in deep water
to be in trouble or in a difficult
or serious situation:
The company is in deep water over
their refusal to reduce prices.
16ball games
a deep ball is hit, thrown, or
kicked to a far part of the sports field
17jump/be thrown in at the deep end
to choose to do or be made to do a
very difficult job without having prepared for it:
She decided to jump in at the deep
end, buy a farm, and teach herself.
18go off at the deep end
informal
to become angry suddenly and violently, usually when there is not a good reason
HUSKY
hus‧ky1
1
a husky voice is deep, quiet, and attractive :
'Come quickly,' she said in a husky
whisper.
2 especially American English a man or boy who is husky is big and strong
NASAL
na‧sal1 1 [only before noun]HBH
related to the nose:
the nasal passage
2C a sound or voice that is nasal
comes mainly through your nose:
He spoke in a high nasal voice.
3SL [only before noun] technical a nasal
consonant or vowel such as /n/ or /m/ is one that is produced completely
or partly through your nose
warm
1be warm
slightly hot, especially in a
pleasant way [≠ cool; ↪ warmth]:
The house was lovely and warm.
I hope we get some warm weather
soon.
I've put your dinner in the oven to
keep it warm.
warm water
2feel warm
if you are warm, your body is at a
comfortable temperature:
Are you warm enough?
keep/stay warm (=wear enough clothes
not to feel cold)
Make sure you keep warm!
You'll be as warm as toast in
that sleeping bag.
3clothes/buildings
clothes or buildings that are warm
can keep in heat or keep out cold:
Here, put on your nice warm coat.
4friendly
friendly or making someone feel
comfortable and relaxed:
a warm, reassuring smile
Please give a warm welcome to
our special guest.
a warm glow of satisfaction
The Hungarian people are warm and
friendly.
5colour
CC warm colours contain the colours
red, yellow, and orange, which make you feel comfortable and happy [≠ cool]
6correct
DG [not before noun] used especially in games to say
that someone is near to guessing the correct answer or finding a hidden object [≠ cold]:
You're
getting warmer.
FLAT
flat1 S2 W2 comparative flatter, superlative flattest
1surface
smooth and level, without raised or
hollow areas, and not sloping or curving:
houses with flat roofs
a perfectly flat sandy beach
The countryside near there is
flat as a pancake (=very flat).
Work on a clean, flat surface.
2money
BBT a flat rate, amount of money etc is
fixed and does not change or have anything added to it:
Clients are charged a flat rate
of £250 annually.
We charge a flat fee for car
hire.
3tyre/ball
TTCDS a flat tyre or ball has no air or
not enough air in it
4not deep
not very deep, thick, or high,
especially in comparison to its width or length:
The cake came out of the oven flat,
not fluffy.
5drink
DFD a drink that is flat does not taste
fresh because it has no more bubbles of gas in it
[≠ fizzy]
6not interesting
[not before noun] a performance, book etc that is
flat lacks interest, excitement, or energy:
Arsenal looked flat for large parts
of the game.
7battery
British EnglishHPED a flat battery has lost its electrical power [= dead
American English]
Have you checked that the batteries
haven't gone flat (=become flat)?
8business/trade
B if prices, economic conditions,
trade etc are flat, they have not increased or improved over a period of time:
Analysts are expecting flat sales in
the coming months.
9E flat/B flat/A flat etc
APM a musical note that is one semitone lower than the
note E, B, A etc [↪ sharp, natural]
10musical sound
APM if a musical note is flat, it is
played or sung slightly lower than it should be
[≠ sharp]
11voice
not showing much emotion, or not
changing much in sound as you speak:
'He's dead,' she said in a flat
voice.
12a flat refusal/denial etc
a refusal etc that is definite and
which someone will not change:
Our requests were met with a flat
refusal.
13be flat on your back
a) to be lying down so that all of your
back is touching the floor
b) to be very ill so that you have to
stay in bed for a period of time:
I've been flat on my back with the
flu all week.
14shoes
DCC flat shoes have very low heels
15light
C having little variety of light and
dark:
Flat lighting is typical of Avedon's
portraits.
16and that's flat!
British English spoken
old-fashioned
used to say that you will definitely not change what you have just said [= and that's that]:
I won't go, and that's flat!
LIVELY
live‧ly S3 comparative livelier, superlative liveliest
1people
someone who is lively has a lot of
energy and is very active:
a lively child
2place/situation
a place or situation that is lively
is exciting because a lot of things are happening:
The hotel is situated next to the
lively bustling port.
the city's lively nightlife
3music/movements
lively movements or music are very
quick and exciting:
a lively Spanish dance
4discussion/description etc
a lively discussion, description etc
is very interesting and involves a lot of ideas:
The book offers a lively account of
her travels.
a lively debate on
environmental issues
5mind/thoughts
someone who has a lively mind is
intelligent and interested in a lot of things:
Even Paula has shown a lively
interest in politics.
Charlie has a very lively
imagination (=he often invents stories, descriptions etc that are not true).
6colour
very bright:
a lively combination of colours
7taste
something that has a lively taste
has a strong but pleasant taste:
The wine has a lively fruity
flavour.
8Look lively!
BrE spoken Step lively! American English
spoken used to
tell someone to hurry
SOFT
soft S2 W2 comparative softer, superlative softest
1not hard
a) not hard, firm, or stiff, but easy
to press [≠ hard]:
My feet sank into the soft ground.
the softest sofa and pillows
Cook the onions until they go
soft.
b) less hard than average [≠ hard]:
a soft lead pencil
soft cheese
2not rough
having a surface that is smooth and
pleasant to touch [≠ rough]:
a baby's soft skin
The fur was soft to the touch.
3not loud
C a soft sound, voice, or music is
quiet and pleasant to listen to [≠ loud, harsh]:
soft music
His voice was softer now.
4colour/light
[only before noun]CC soft colours or lights are pleasant
and relaxing because they are not too bright [≠ bright]:
All the stores will be re-fitted
with softer lighting.
a soft shade of peach
5no hard edges
not having any hard edges or sharp
angles:
soft curves
6rain/wind
gentle and without much force:
a soft breeze
soft rain
7not strict
someone who is soft seems weak
because they are not strict enough with other people [≠ strict, tough]:
If you appear to be soft, people
take advantage of you.
soft on
No politician wants to seem soft
on crime.
Courts have been taking a soft
line
(=not being strict enough)
with young offenders.
8sensitive
kind, gentle, and sympathetic to
other people [≠ hard]:
He has a soft heart beneath
that cold exterior.
a soft kiss
9weak character
not very brave and not having a
strong character [≠ hard]:
Don't be soft - just jump!
10sales/markets
decreasing in price, value, or the
amount sold:
soft oil prices
11soft loan/credit
money that is lent at a lower
interest rate than usual, because it will be used to help people in some way
12soft money
money that people, companies, or
organizations give to political parties, rather than to a particular candidate
13too easy
informal a soft job, life etc is too easy
and does not involve much work or hard physical work:
Mike's found himself a soft job in
the stores.
soft option British English (=a choice that allows
you to avoid difficulties or hard work)
Taking the soft option won't help your career to develop.
14weak body
informal having a body that is not in a
strong physical condition, because you do not do enough exercise:
He'd got soft after all those
years in a desk job.
15water
HC soft water does not contain many
minerals, so that it forms bubbles from soap easily
16have a soft spot for somebody
to continue to like someone even
when they do not behave well:
She's always had a soft spot for
Grant.
17a soft touch
informal someone from whom you can easily
get what you want, because they are kind or easy to deceive
18soft in the head
old-fashioned very stupid or crazy
19stupid
British English stupid or silly:
You must be soft if you think I'll
give you fifty quid!
20be soft on somebody
old-fashioned to be sexually attracted to someone
21consonants
technical not sounding hard:
a
soft g
WOBBLY
wob‧bly1
1 moving unsteadily from side to
side:
a wobbly table
2 informal if you or your legs feel wobbly,
you feel weak and unable to keep your balance
[= shaky]
3 a wobbly voice is weak and shakes,
especially because you feel frightened or upset
[= shaky]
4 not very good or not likely to be
successful [= shaky]:
The
meeting yesterday got off to a wobbly start.
HARSH
1conditions
harsh conditions are difficult to
live in and very uncomfortable [= severe]:
The hostages are being held in
harsh conditions.
harsh
winter/weather/climate
the harsh Canadian winters
a young girl suddenly exposed to the
harsh realities of life
2treatment/criticism
severe, cruel, or unkind
harsh
criticism/treatment/punishment etc
His theory met with harsh criticism
from colleagues.
the harsh measures taken against the
protestors
'She's an idiot!' 'Aren't you being
a bit harsh?'
a harsh, authoritarian regime
He had harsh words (=severe criticism) for the Government.
3sound
unpleasantly loud and rough [≠ soft]
harsh voice/laugh/tone
etc
His voice was harsh and menacing.
4light/colour
unpleasantly bright [≠ soft]:
She stood outside, blinking in the
harsh sunlight.
5lines/shapes etc
ugly and unpleasant to look at:
the harsh outline of the factories
against the sky
6cleaning substance
too strong and likely to damage the
thing you are cleaning:
My
skin is quite sensitive and I find some soaps too harsh.
MELLOW
1not bright
CC a mellow colour or light looks
soft, warm, and not too bright:
the mellow golden light of early
evening
2not loud or harsh
C a mellow sound is pleasant and
smooth:
a warm, mellow voice
3not strong in flavour
DF mellow wine or fruit has a smooth,
pleasant taste:
its smooth, mellow flavour
4not strict
someone who is mellow is gentle and
calm and does not criticize other people, because they have a lot of experience
of life
5relaxed
if you feel
mellow, you feel calm and relaxed, especially after drinking alcohol
SOOTHING
—soothing adjective:
gentle,
soothing music
HIGH-PITCHED
high-pitched
a high-pitched
voice or sound is very high [≠ low-pitched]
MONOTONOUS
mo‧not‧o‧nous
boring because of always being the
same:
a monotonous diet
a
little boy who wet his bed with monotonous regularity
SQUEAKY
squeak‧y
1 making very high noises that are
not loud:
a squeaky voice
squeaky floorboards
2squeaky clean
informal
a) never having done anything morally
wrong:
politicians who are less than
squeaky clean
b) completely clean:
squeaky clean hair
