WordNet

2021-09-01 11:15:00 "Supreme Court precedents forbid states from banning abortion before fetal viability, the point at which fetuses can sustain life outside the womb, or about 22 to 24 weeks."

precedent
/ˈpresɪdənt/

noun

[C, U] an official action or decision that has happened in the past and that is seen as an example or a rule to be followed in a similar situation later

fetal (also foetal)
/'fiːtəl/

adjective

[only before noun] connected with fetus

viability
/ˌvaɪəˈbɪləti/

noun

[U] the fact that something is capable of developing and surviving independently

fetus (also foetus)
/fiːtəs/

noun

[C] a baby or young animal before it is born

sustain
/səˈsteɪn/

verb

[T] to provide enough of what sb/sth needs in order to live or exist Open / Comment

2021-08-30 14:27:29 "America’s longest war has been by any measure a costly failure, and the errors in managing the conflict deserve scrutiny in the years to come."

scrutiny
/ˈskruːtəni/

noun

[U] careful and complete examination - inspection

to 'come

idiom

(used after a noun) in the future Open / Comment

2021-08-26 03:30:31 "While accurate statistics are hard to come by, a quick internet search indicates that most UK councils are well on their way to replacing all their streetlights with LEDs."

come by something
/'kʌm baɪ/

pharsal verb

to manage to get sth

be well on the way to sth/doing sth |
be well on one's way to sth/doing sth

idiom

to be close to doing something Open / Comment

2021-08-20 21:56:08 "Nurses are leaving the profession at a staggering rate. According to a 2021 report from Nursing Solutions, the turnover rate for registered nurses last year was close to 20 percent."

staggering
/'stæɡərɪŋ/

adjective

so great, shocking or surprising that it is difficult to believe - astounding

turnover
/'tɜːrnəʊvər/

noun

[singular] the rate at which employees leave a company and are replaced by other people Open / Comment

2021-08-17 11:18:53 "The researchers also found that when it comes to strengthening our immune system, microbes [that we're exposed to] pale in comparison to the power of vaccines."

pale in/by comparison (with/to sth)

idiom

to seem less important when compared with something else Open / Comment

2021-08-16 10:20:06 "Through her protests and speeches, she has galvanized the world about the climate crisis in ways few have before her."

galvanize
/ˈɡælvənaɪz/

verb

[T] to make somebody take action by shocking them or by making them excited

galvanize sb to do sth
galvanize sb into (doing) sth Open / Comment

2021-08-15 07:32:49 "Transforming the world's energy system is a huge undertaking, and it costs a lot of money."

undertaking
/ˌʌndərˈteɪkɪŋ/

noun

[C] a task or project, especially one that is important and/or difficult - venture Open / Comment

2021-08-12 19:42:24 "Our comparative advantage as humans is that we can take care of one another and overcome adversity together."

comparative
/kəmˈpærətɪv/

adjective

advantage/comfort/freedom etc. that is quite good when compared to how advantageous/comfortable etc. another situation is - relative

comparative comfort/wealth/advantage/freedom

adversity (plural adversities)
/ədˈvɜːrsəti/

noun

[C, U] a difficult or unpleasant situation Open / Comment

2021-08-11 12:40:36 "A stark UN report says it's unequivocal that humans are to blame for the irreversible effects of the climate crisis."

stark
/stɑːrk/

adjective

unpleasant; real, and impossible to avoid - harsh, bleak

unequivocal
/ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvəkl/

adjective

completely clear and without any possibility of doubt

irreversible
/ˌɪrɪˈvɜːrsəbl/

adjective

that cannot be changed back to what it was before Open / Comment

2021-08-10 22:27:49 "The Houston school district had announced it would implement a mask mandate for its students and staff later this week if its board approves."

implement
/'ɪmplɪment/

verb

[T] to make something that has been officially decided start to happen or be used - carry out

implement changes/decisions/policies/reforms/plans

mandate
/ˈmændeɪt/

noun

[C, U] an official order or requirement to do something

board
/bɔːrd/

noun

[C, + plural/singular verb] a group of people who have power to make decisions and control a company or other organization Open / Comment