If you want to learn more about a word, go to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary and look it up. Just copy the word and paste it in the SEARCH bar below. Use your BACK arrow to come back to this page.
Touchstone 3 - Unit 12 Words and Expressions
In the News, events, weather, disasters
1. aftershock – 1. a small earthquake, usually one of several, that follows a larger one
2. a delayed psychological or physical reaction to a serious event or trauma
2. badly – 1. in an unsatisfactory, incompetent, or incorrect way
2. to a degree that causes serious concern for the person or thing involved
3. camper – 1. a person who stays temporarily in a tent
2. a motor vehicle equipped as a self - contained traveling home
4. careless – 1. disregarding or showing no concern about something
2. not carefully nurtured or practiced, but done or assumed easily and naturally
5. catastrophic – 1. causing or liable to cause widespread damage or death
2. completely unsuccessful or very bad
6. cause – 1. a person or thing that makes something happen or exist
2. a principle or idea that people believe in or work for
7. current – 1. happening, existing, or in force at the present
2. a flow of electricity, water, or air in one direction
8. damage – 1. physical injury that makes something less useful, valuable, or able to function
2. the cost or price of something (informal)
9. delay – 1. to postpone something, or wait until later before doing something
2. to make somebody or something late or slow
10. destroy – 1. to ruin something or make something useless
2. to abolish, rescind, or end something
3. to kill something or somebody, especially an animal
11. disrupt – 1. to interrupt the usual course of a process or activity
2. to destroy the order or orderly progression of something
12. duty – 1. something that somebody is obliged to do for moral, legal, or religious reasons
2. a tax on goods, especially imports and exports
13. exactly – 1. used to emphasize that a particular quality or quantity is stated precisely
2. used to indicate agreement that what has just been said is true or correct
14. flash – 1. to cause light to appear suddenly or in brief bursts from something, or appear in this way
2. to move or pass very quickly in a particular direction
3. to fill something suddenly with a great flow of water
15. freak – 1. something that is strikingly unusual and appears to be unique or occurs very rarely
2. something somebody suddenly does or decides for no real reason
3. an offensive term for somebody who is thought to behave unconventionally
16. hail – 1. small balls of ice and hardened snow that fall like rain
2. a barrage of something such as missiles or insults
3. to praise or approve a person, action, or accomplishment with enthusiasm
4. to attract the attention of somebody or something like a taxicab or ship by calling or signaling
5. to welcome or greet somebody upon meeting
17. investigator – somebody who seeks facts about somebody or something on a professional basis
18. measure – 1. a unit used to determine the dimensions, area, volume, or weight of something
2. an action taken to make something happen or prevent something
19. partially – 1. to a degree but not completely
2. in a way that shows an unfair preference for one person or thing over another
20. report – 1. to give information about something that has happened
2. to be subordinate and responsible to somebody or something
21. steal – 1. to take something that belongs to somebody else, illegally or without the owner's permission
2. in baseball, to gain a base by running without the ball being hit by the batter
3. something that does not cost very much or that costs a lot less than would be expected
22. strike – 1. to hit somebody or something with a hand, tool, weapon, or other object
2. to stop working as a collective form of protest against an employer
23. suspect – 1. to believe that somebody may have committed a crime or wrongdoing
2. to doubt the truth or validity of something
3. to think that something is probable or likely
24. throughout - during the whole time; happening or existing in all parts
25. thunder - a loud rumbling noise caused by the rapid expansion of air suddenly heated by lightning
26. wildfire – 1. a fierce fire that spreads rapidly, especially in an area of wilderness
2. lightning that occurs without audible thunder
27. yard – 1. the area of land immediately surrounding a house, often covered with grass or landscaping
2. a unit of length equal to 0.9144 m/3 ft
2. a delayed psychological or physical reaction to a serious event or trauma
2. badly – 1. in an unsatisfactory, incompetent, or incorrect way
2. to a degree that causes serious concern for the person or thing involved
3. camper – 1. a person who stays temporarily in a tent
2. a motor vehicle equipped as a self - contained traveling home
4. careless – 1. disregarding or showing no concern about something
2. not carefully nurtured or practiced, but done or assumed easily and naturally
5. catastrophic – 1. causing or liable to cause widespread damage or death
2. completely unsuccessful or very bad
6. cause – 1. a person or thing that makes something happen or exist
2. a principle or idea that people believe in or work for
7. current – 1. happening, existing, or in force at the present
2. a flow of electricity, water, or air in one direction
8. damage – 1. physical injury that makes something less useful, valuable, or able to function
2. the cost or price of something (informal)
9. delay – 1. to postpone something, or wait until later before doing something
2. to make somebody or something late or slow
10. destroy – 1. to ruin something or make something useless
2. to abolish, rescind, or end something
3. to kill something or somebody, especially an animal
11. disrupt – 1. to interrupt the usual course of a process or activity
2. to destroy the order or orderly progression of something
12. duty – 1. something that somebody is obliged to do for moral, legal, or religious reasons
2. a tax on goods, especially imports and exports
13. exactly – 1. used to emphasize that a particular quality or quantity is stated precisely
2. used to indicate agreement that what has just been said is true or correct
14. flash – 1. to cause light to appear suddenly or in brief bursts from something, or appear in this way
2. to move or pass very quickly in a particular direction
3. to fill something suddenly with a great flow of water
15. freak – 1. something that is strikingly unusual and appears to be unique or occurs very rarely
2. something somebody suddenly does or decides for no real reason
3. an offensive term for somebody who is thought to behave unconventionally
16. hail – 1. small balls of ice and hardened snow that fall like rain
2. a barrage of something such as missiles or insults
3. to praise or approve a person, action, or accomplishment with enthusiasm
4. to attract the attention of somebody or something like a taxicab or ship by calling or signaling
5. to welcome or greet somebody upon meeting
17. investigator – somebody who seeks facts about somebody or something on a professional basis
18. measure – 1. a unit used to determine the dimensions, area, volume, or weight of something
2. an action taken to make something happen or prevent something
19. partially – 1. to a degree but not completely
2. in a way that shows an unfair preference for one person or thing over another
20. report – 1. to give information about something that has happened
2. to be subordinate and responsible to somebody or something
21. steal – 1. to take something that belongs to somebody else, illegally or without the owner's permission
2. in baseball, to gain a base by running without the ball being hit by the batter
3. something that does not cost very much or that costs a lot less than would be expected
22. strike – 1. to hit somebody or something with a hand, tool, weapon, or other object
2. to stop working as a collective form of protest against an employer
23. suspect – 1. to believe that somebody may have committed a crime or wrongdoing
2. to doubt the truth or validity of something
3. to think that something is probable or likely
24. throughout - during the whole time; happening or existing in all parts
25. thunder - a loud rumbling noise caused by the rapid expansion of air suddenly heated by lightning
26. wildfire – 1. a fierce fire that spreads rapidly, especially in an area of wilderness
2. lightning that occurs without audible thunder
27. yard – 1. the area of land immediately surrounding a house, often covered with grass or landscaping
2. a unit of length equal to 0.9144 m/3 ft