A Word A Day

[Binoy]

Word-40 (21-02-12)

apology (noun)

1. ক্ষমা; an act of saying sorry (to somebody for something)
a letter of apology
to offer/make/demand/accept an apology
I think you owe me an apology.
You owe him an apology for what you said.
We received a letter of apology.
I have an apology to make to you - I'm afraid I opened your letter by mistake.
"Was he at all sorry for what he'd done?" "Oh he was full of apologies.
She wouldn't give in until she received a full apology.
He sent me some flowers by way of an apology.

2. কোনোকিছুর সমর্থনে ব্যাখ্যা; a formal explanation or defence of a belief or system
His book was seen as an apology for the war.

Derived words:

apologetic (adjective)
ক্ষমাশীল; expressing regret about having caused someone inconvenience or unhappiness
‘Sorry,’ she said, with an apologetic smile.
He was apoplectic with rage at the decision.
They were very apologetic about the trouble they’d caused.
I hope he was suitably apologetic for breaking your glasses.
She was so apologetic about forgetting my birthday it was almost embarrassing.

apologetically (adverb)
ক্ষমাশীলভাবে; in an apologetic way
‘I’m sorry I’m late,’ he murmured apologetically.
She offered us her burnt cakes and smiled apologetically.

apologist (noun)
কোনো মত বা আদর্শের সমর্থক; a person who supports a particular belief or political system
communism and its apologists
There are few apologists for the old system.

apologize/apologise (verb)
ক্ষমা প্রার্থনা করা; to tell someone that you are sorry for
Why should I apologize?
Go and apologize to her.
We apologize for the late departure of this flight.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
She apologized profusely for having to leave early.

Phrases:

(someone’s) apologies
সভায় উপস্থিত থাকতে পারবে না বলে দুঃখ প্রকাশ করা; a message politely informing that one cannot be present at a meeting
She made her apologies and left early.
The vice-chair has sent his apologies - he's abroad at present.
Apologies were received from them.

be an apology for sth  
কোনোকিছুর খারাপ দৃষ্টান্ত হওয়া; to be an extremely bad example of something
You're not coming out because you're tired? That's an apology for an excuse!

make one’s apologies for sth
দুঃখ প্রকাশ করা; to say that one is sorry for something
I made my apologies and left.

[Binoy]

Word-41 (22-02-12)

appraise (verb)
মূল্যায়ন করা; to examine someone or something in order to judge their qualities, success or needs
an appraising glance/look
She stepped back to appraise her workmanship.
His eyes coolly appraised the young woman before him.
Managers must appraise all staff.
The ring was appraised at $40, 000.
At the end of each teaching practice, trainee teachers are asked to appraise their own performance.
In co-operation with other professionals, social workers will appraise the individual's needs.
He coolly appraised the situation, deciding which person would be most likely to succeed.

Derived words:

appraisal (noun)
মূল্যায়ন; judgment of qualities, success or needs
staff/performance appraisal
I have my appraisal today.
She was honest in her appraisal of her team’s chances.
He had read many detailed critical appraisals of her work.
Many companies operate regular job appraisals, often on an annual basis.
The newspaper gave an editorial appraisal of the government's achievements of the past year.

appraiser (noun)
যে মূল্যায়ন করে;  a person who appraises someone or something
He is reputed as a good job appraiser.

appraisee (noun)
যে মূল্যায়িত হয়; a person who is being appraised
His name has not been included in the appraisee list.

[Binoy]

Word-42 (23-02-12)

apprehend (verb)

1. কাউকে ধরা বা গ্রেপ্তার করা; to catch or arrest someone
The police apprehended the burglars.
The law enforcers finally apprehended the killer.

2. কোনোকিছু বোঝা; to understand something
I could not apprehend what the speaker said.
The lecture was apprehended well by the students.

3. আশঙ্কা করা; to expect with anxiety, suspicion, or fear
to apprehend violence
We did not apprehend any such accident.

Derived words:

apprehension (noun)
2. ধরা বা গ্রেপ্তার; the act of apprehending
Apprehension of the leader sparked violence in the country.
Both the army and the police were involved in the apprehension of the terrorists.

2. বোঝা; the state of understanding
Full apprehension of the codes
Apprehension of the text needs profound knowledge on the subject.

3. আশঙ্কা; anxiety, worry or fear that sth unpleasant may happen
It's normal to feel a little apprehension before starting a new job.
There is some apprehension in the office about who the new director will be.
There is growing apprehension that fighting will begin again.
He watched the election results with some apprehension.

apprehensive (adjective) […about/of sth; …that]
আশঙ্কাপুর্ণ; worried or anxious that sth unpleasant may happen
an apprehensive face/glance/look
I'm a bit apprehensive about tomorrow's meeting.
You have no reason to be apprehensive of the future.
I was a little apprehensive about the effects of what I had said.
She was deeply apprehensive that something might go wrong.
I've invited a lot of people to the party, but I'm a bit apprehensive that no one will come.

apprehensively (adverb)
আশঙ্কাপুর্ণভাবে; in an apprehensive way
They looked at each other apprehensively.
They left the room apprehensively.

[Binoy]

Word-43 (24-02-12)

archeology/archaeology   (noun)
প্রত্নতত্ত্ব; the study of cultures of the past by examining the remains of buildings and objects found in the ground
industrial archeology
aerial photography has revolutionized the study of archeology.

Derived words:

archeological/archaeological  (adjective)
প্রত্নতাত্ত্বিক; concerning archeology
archeological excavation/dig/evidence
an area/site of archeological interest

archeologist/archaeologist  (noun)
প্রত্নতাত্ত্বিক বা প্রত্নতত্ত্ববিদ; a person who studies archaeology
He is a famous archeologist
Archeologists are collecting evidence for their claims.

[Binoy]

Word-44 (25-02-12)

architect (noun)
স্থপতি; a person whose job is to design buildings planning of ideas
She is a highly recommended architect.
He is probably the best known living architect.
After years of study, Tarek is now a fully-fledged architect.
The architect showed us the house plans that she had drawn up.
Luis Kahn is the architect of the Parliament Building of Bangladesh.
The architects have made imaginative use of glass and transparent plastic.
He was one of the principal architects of the revolution.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the architect of the independence of Bangladesh.

Derived words:

architecture (noun)
স্থাপত্য; 1 the art and science of designing and making buildings
to study architecture
Roman architecture
This is a prime example of 1930s architecture.
I like the clean-cut shapes of classical architecture.
The town's modern architecture is very well integrated with the old.
Modernist architecture tries to conquer nature instead of working with it.
Almost every visitor to Edinburgh is seduced by its splendid architecture.

architectural (adjective)
স্থাপত্যবিষয়ক; relating to architecture
architectural features
architectural drawings/plans
a building of architectural interest

[Binoy]

Word-45 (26-02-12)

arrears (noun)
বকেয়া টাকা; money that is owed and should already have been paid
rent/mortgage/tax arrears
interest paid in arrears
The arrears rates are only tiny.
The president of our board is in arrears on his maintenance.
Interest on arrears would not be considered for this calculation.
British regulators have fined executives for misreporting figures on loan arrears.

Idioms:

in arrears
বকেয়া পড়েছে এমন; situation in which money should have been paid in the past
My account is badly in arrears.
We’re two months in arrears with the rent.
They are in arrears on/with their mortgage payments.

get/fall into arrears
বকেয়া পড়া; to be late in paying money that you owe:
They fell into arrears on their mortgage repayments.
If you fall into arrears with these payments, the consequences are bad.
Getting into rent arrears can be distressing and you can end up losing your home.

Note: The noun 'arrears' ends with ‘s’ (plural marker), but it can be used as a singular or plural noun. For example: The arrears has/have been too heavy by now.

[Binoy]

Word-46 (27-02-12)

ascend (verb) [… to sth] [ant. descend]
আরোহন করা বা উঁচুতে ওঠা; to climb, rise or move up
Mist ascended from the valley.
The air became colder as we ascended.
The path started to ascend more steeply.
He ascended to the peak of sporting achievement.
Her heart was thumping as she ascended the stairs.
They slowly ascended the steep path up the mountain.
He eventually ascended to the position of chief executive.
The divers have begun to ascend to the surface of the water.
There's a long flight of steps ascending to the cathedral doors.

Derived words:

ascent/ascension (noun)
আরোহন বা উঁচুতে ওঠা; the act of ascending
her ascension to the throne
the first ascent of Mount Everest
The rocket steepened its ascent.
We struggled up the slippery ascent.
The cart began its gradual ascent up the hill.
His ascent to power was rapid and unexpected.
She made her first successful ascent of Everest last year.

ascendancy/ascendency (noun) [… over sb/sth]
শক্তিমত্তা বা সফলতা; a position of power, strength or success
moral/intellectual ascendancy
The opposition party was in the ascendancy.
They are in danger of losing their political ascendancy.
Supporters of the proposal are currently in the ascendancy over its opponents.

ascending (adjective)
বর্ধনশীল; increasing in size or value
I shall list my objections to the plan in ascending order of importance.

Phrases:

ascend the throne  
সিংহাসনে আরোহন করা; to become queen or king
Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne after the death of her father.

in the ascendant
ক্রমাগত সফলতা বা শক্তি অর্জন করছে এমন; increasingly successful or powerful
He's very much in the ascendant in Hollywood.

[Binoy]

Word-47 (28-02-12)

aspire (verb) [… to]
তীব্রভাবে আকাঙ্ক্ষা করা; to have a strong desire to achieve or to become sth
She aspired to a scientific career.
He aspired to be their next leader.
As a child, he aspired to be a great writer.
Few people who aspire to fame ever achieve it.

Derived words:

aspiring (adjective)
উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষী; wanting strongly to achieve a position of importance
an aspiring actor/politician/writer
Aspiring musicians need hours of practice every day.
He came from an aspiring working-class background.

aspirant (noun) [… to/for sth]
উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষী ব্যক্তি; a person with a strong desire to achieve a position of importance
an aspirant to the throne
aspirants to the title of world champion

aspiration (noun) [… for sth / … to do sth]
তীব্র আকাঙ্ক্ষা;  a strong desire to have or do sth
I didn’t realize you had political aspirations.
He has never had any aspiration to earn a lot of money.
I've never had any political aspirations.
It's a story about the lives and aspirations of poor Bangladeshi immigrants.

aspirational (adjective)
তীব্র আকাঙ্ক্ষামূলক;  wanting very much to improve one’s social status
Trendy attires have become aspirational status symbols, especially among the young.

[Binoy]

Word-48 (29-02-12)

atone (verb) [… for sth]
প্রায়শ্চিত্ত করা; to do something that shows that someone is sorry for something wrong
to atone for a crime
You have to atone for this sin.
The country's leader has expressed a wish to atone for his actions in the past.

Derived word:

atonement (noun)
প্রায়শ্চিত্ত; the act of atoning
to make atonement for his sins
Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement
He said that young hooligans should do community service as atonement for their crimes.

[Binoy]

Word-49 (01-03-12)

audacious (adjective)
উদ্ধত; showing a willingness to take risks or offend people
an audacious decision
an audacious remark/suggestion
He described the plan as ambitious and audacious.

Derived words:

audaciously (adverb)
উদ্ধতভাবে; in an audacious way
He acted audaciously in that situation.
Teachers were irritated by his audaciously bad behavior.

audacity (noun)  [+ to infinitive]
ঔদ্ধত্য; state of being audacious
He had the audacity to say I was too fat.
He had the audacity to blame me for his mistake.
It took a lot of audacity to stand up and criticize the chairman.

[Binoy]

Word-50 (02-03-12)

audio (adjective) [before noun]
শব্দ বা শ্রুতি; connected with sound that is recorded
an audio cassette/tape/signal
an audiobook

Derived words:

audio-visual (adjective) [before noun]
শ্রুতিদর্শনমূলক; describes something that involves hearing and seeing
audio-visual equipment/aids/software

audio-lingual (adjective)
শ্রুতিভাষিক; relating to a method of language teaching that teaches speaking and listening rather than reading or writing
We were taught English in audio-lingual method.

audiology (noun)
শ্রুতিবিজ্ঞান; the science and medicine that deals with the sense of hearing
He studied audiology in a medical college.

audible (adjective) [ant. inaudible]
শ্রবনযোগ্য; able to be heard
She gave an audible sigh of relief.
Her voice was barely audible above the noise.
The lecturer spoke so quietly that he was scarcely audible at the back of the hall.

audibly (adverb)
শ্রবনযোগ্যভাবে; in an audible way
He spoke audibly in the hall.

auditory (adjective)
শ্রুতিমূলক; of or about hearing
auditory stimuli/phonetics
It's an artificial device which stimulates the auditory areas of the brain.

audience (noun)

1. শ্রোতামণ্ডলী; group of people gathered in one place to watch or listen to something
an audience of 10,000
TV/cinema/movie audience(s)
She lectures to audiences all over the world.
The audience was/were clapping for 10 minutes.
The debate was televised in front of a live audience.
The audience was/were clearly delighted with the performance.
The secret to public speaking is to get the audience on your side.
The magic show had a lot of audience participation.
An audience of millions watched the wedding on TV.
The play shocked audiences when it was first performed.
The audience clapped and cheered when she stood up to speak.
The target audience for this advertisement was mainly teenagers.
She announced the winner of the competition to an excited audience.
She is a confident and practiced speaker who always impresses her audience.

2. পাঠক; readers
Her latest book should appeal to a large audience.
His book reached an even wider audience when it was made into a movie.

[ishaquemijee]

Useful knowledge sharing, thanks.

[Binoy]

Thanks for the good comment. Best wishes!

[Binoy]

Word-51 (03-03-12)

baffle (verb)
হতভম্ব করা; to confuse sb completely
His comment baffles me.
I’m baffled why she hasn’t called.
Many computer terms can baffle the users.
The vastness of creation baffles imagination.
The new findings baffle the scholars in the field.
She was completely baffled by his strange behavior.
Economic statistics bemuse and baffle in equal measure.
Tareq is notorious for its power to baffle the rational mind.
He was baffled by the technical language of the instructions.
Dark matter, the substance no one has ever seen, continues to baffle cosmologists.
To baffle opponents, grandmasters create new, unexpected openings not found in chess literature.

bafflement (noun)
হতভম্ব অবস্থা; state of being baffled
His reaction was one of bafflement.
The comment came completely to his bafflement.

baffling (adjective)
হতভম্বকর; having the effect of bafflement
I found what he was saying completely baffling.
It is baffling to find him engaged in such silly argument.

baffled (adjective)
হতভম্ব বা হতবিহ্বল; extremely confused
a baffled look
The science fiction left me baffled.

[Binoy]

Word-52 (04-03-12)

banal (adjective) [syn. trite, mundane]
তুচ্ছ; ordinary and uninteresting
banal pop songs
Their interest is just banal.
Background music need not be banal.
The architecture is, for the most part, banal.
He just sat there making banal remarks all evening.
The session turned sometimes raucous, sometimes banal.
The script is freighted with a mighty load of banal incidents.
Only a banal solution to the mystery spoils an otherwise engrossing read.

Derived word:

banality (noun)
তুচ্ছতা; the state of being banal
the banality of everyday business
the banality of modern city life
His words are full of banality.
They exchanged banalities for a couple of minutes.
We sat around the dinner table exchanging banalities.