何兆熊英语综合教程第一册Unit2词汇

adjust

1 [intransitive and transitive] to gradually become familiar with a new situation [= adapt]:

They'll soon settle in - kids are very good at adjusting.

adjust to

It took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.

adjust to doing something

My parents had trouble adjusting to living in an apartment.

adjust yourself to something

It took time to adjust myself to motherhood.

2 [transitive] to change or move something slightly to improve it or make it more suitable for a particular purpose:

"You don't have to come,'' Lewis said, as he adjusted his tie in a mirror.

adjust the volume / temperature

awfully:

very:

It's awfully cold in here.

It's awfully noisy.

She felt sick too, awfully, awfully sick.

calculate

I'm trying to calculate how much paint we need.

Their accountant calculated the total cost of the project.

dispute

1 [transitive] to say that something such as a fact or idea is not correct or true:

The main facts of the book have never been disputed.

dispute that

Few would dispute that travel broadens the mind.

2 [intransitive and transitive] formal to argue or disagree with someone

dispute (something) with somebody

love to dispute with everyone

insert

to put something inside or into something else

insert something in/into/between something

His hand shook slightly as he inserted the key into the lock.

A nurse carefully inserted the needle into my left arm.

inspector

ticket inspectors

a Health and Safety inspector

a quality control inspector

mechanical

affecting or involving a machine:

The flight has been cancelled due to mechanical failure.

The plane had to make an emergency landing because of mechanical problems.

mechanical arm

Unlike mechanical clocks, which are completely blind to their surroundings, a biological clock gets reset every day by the sun.

scorn

to show that you think that something is stupid, unreasonable, or not worth accepting:

Many women scorn the use of make-up.

admired by the young and scorned by the old

feeling or showing scorn:

a scornful look

scornful of

He was scornful of the women's movement.

He talked about money, disco music and was scornful of grazing as a profession.

superior

1 better, more powerful, more effective etc than a similar person or thing, especially one that you are competing against [≠inferior]:

superior craftsmanship

Fletcher's superior technique brought him victory.

Your computer is far superior to mine.

2 thinking that you are better than other people - used to show disapproval:

a superior attitude

He loves making fun of women. It makes him feel superior.

tuck

to push something, especially the edge of a piece of cloth or paper, into or behind something so that it looks tidier or stays in place

tuck something in

Jack tucked his shirt in.

Please help me tuck up my sleeves.

Giles was tucking his pile of books under his arm.

whistle

whistle to somebody (=whistle to get someone's attention)

Dad whistled to us to come home for dinner.

whistle at somebody (=whistle to let someone know that you think they are attractive)

Men are always whistling at pretty girls on the street.