chapter2 How we use sound
vocabulary(U1)
(1)catchy adj.
def: appealing and easy to remember
synonym: attractive、tricky、deceptive、misleading、reminiscent、nostalgic
Ex: I can't think of a catchy name for my blog.
(2)consciousness n.
def:1.the condition of being conscious
2.a person's mind and thoughts
3.awareness or knowledge of something specified.
antonym:unconsciousness
Ex:She slowly regained consciousness after the surgery.
(3)device n.
def: 1. an object,machine,or piece of equipment that has been made for some special
purpose.
2. a weapon that explodes.
3.something in a book, play , poem, movie, etc. that is used to achieve a
particular effect.
synonym: apparatus, implement, instrument, machine, plan ,scheme ,tool ,trick
Ex:The company's method of tracking expenses is just a device to make it seem
more profitable.
(4)familiar adj./n.
def:1.frequently seen, heard, or experienced
2.used to say that something is easy for you to recognize because you have seen,
heard ,or experienced it many times in the past.
3.possibly known but not clearly remembered.
4.relaxed and informal
5.too friendly
6.appropriate for use with people you know well.
synonym: close,friendly,intimate,knowledgeable,personal,popular, well-known
antonym:strange
Idiom: familiar with...
Ex:Don't be too familiar with the customers.
(5)function n.
def:1.the special purpose or activity for which a thing exists or is used.
2.the job or duty of a person
3.an official or formal ceremony or social gathering.
synonym:ceremony,perform, rite, ritual, serve, service, work, exercise,act
Ex:He often attends functions with his wife.
(6) get rid of v.
def: to do something so that you no longer have or are affected or bothered by
(something or someone that is unwanted)
synonym: throw away
Ex:It's time to get rid of our old computer and buy a new one.
(7)hum vi.
def:1. to make a low continuous sound
2.to sing the notes of a song while keeping your lips closed.
3.to be very active or busy
synonym:activate,busy,buzz,drone,murmur
Ex:By noon,the office was really humming.
(8)infect vt.
def:1. to cause (someone or something) to. become sick or affected by disease.
2. to cause (someone) to feel an emotion
of an emotion; to spread to (other people)
3. of a computer virus : to cause ( a computer or computer file) to stop working as
it should.
synonym: communicate, contaminate,corrupt, disease,poison, influence, pollute
Ex: Her enthusiasm has infected everyone.
(9) invade vt.
def:1. to enter (a place,such as a foreign country) in order to take control by military
force.
2. to enter (a place) in large numbers.
3. to spread over or into (something) in a harmful way.
4. to affect (something ,such as your life or privacy) in an unwanted way.
synonym:attack, encroach ,infringe ,intrude, overrun ,raid ,trespass
Ex: The troops invaded at down.
(10)itch vi.
def:1. to have or produce an unpleasant feeling on your skin or inside your mouth,
nose etc.that makes you want to scratch.
2. to have a strong desire to do something or for something.
synonym:craving,desire
Idiom:scratch an itch (def:to satisfy a desire or need for something)
Ex: I have an itch to travel around Taiwan.
(11)phenomenon n.
def:1.something (such as an interesting fact or event) that can be observed and studied
and that typically is unusual or difficult to understand or explain fully.
2.Someone or something that is very impressive or popular especially because of
an unusual ability or quality.
Ex:The movie eventually became a cultural phenomenon.
(12)subjected vt.
def:1. to cause or force (someone or something) to experience (something harmful,
unpleasant, etc.)
2. to bring (someone or something) under (your control or rule)
Ex:The test involved subjecting the sample to intense heat.
(13)susceptible adj.
def:1.easily affected,influenced, or harmed by something.
2.capable of being affected by a specified action or process
synonym:impressionable, open, pliable, pliant, suggestible, yielding
antonym:immune
Ex: The virus can infect susceptible individuals.
(14)tune vt./n.
def: a series of musical notes that produce a pleasing sound when played or sung.
synonym: harmony, melody,music, song
Ex: He played a delightful little tune on the piano.
vocabulary(U2)
(1)acoustic adj.
def:1.of or relating to sound or to the sense of hearing.
2. of a musical instrument : not having its sound changed by electrical devices
made with or using acoustic instruments
Ex:She loves listening to acoustic folk music.
(2)activate v.
def:1.to make (something) active or more active
2.to order (soldiers) to serve in a war
synonym:act
Ex:Sunlight activates a chemical reaction in the plant's leaves.
(3)beam n./v.
def:1.a line of light coming from a source (such as the sun or a headlight)
2.a long and heavy piece of wood or metal that is used as a support in a building or ship
synonym:bar,shine,shaft,smile,timber,glow
Ex:The space explorers were beamed onto the surface of the planet.
(4)deafening adj.
def:1.extremely loud
Ex:The silence was deafening as they both sat there stubbornly refusing to apologize.
(5)frequently adv.
def:1.happening often
2.acting or returning regularly or often
Ex:I see her frequently.
(6)high-pitched adj.
def:making a high sound
synonym:high
Ex:She has a high-pitched voice.
(7)innovation n.
def:1.a new idea, device, or method
2.the act or process of introducing new ideas, devices, or methods
Ex:She is responsible for many innovations in her field.
(8)lethal adj.
def:1.causing or able to cause death
2.often used figuratively
synonym:deadly
Ex:He was sentenced to death by lethal injection.
(9)offensive adj.
def:1.causing someone to feel hurt, angry, or upset : rude or insulting
2.very unpleasant
antonym:inoffensive
Ex:His behavior is offensive to many people.
(10)restore v.
def:1.to give back (someone or something that was lost or taken) :
to return (someone or something)
2.to put or bring (something) back into existence or use
3.to return (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc.
Ex:The police restored the stolen purse to its owner.
(11)temporarily adv.
def:1.continuing for a limited amount of time : not permanent
2.intended to be used for a limited amount of time
Ex:The store is temporarily closed for renovations.
