400 Must Have Words for the TOEFL LESSON 4 – Petroleum Alternatives Vocabulary Test

Word List

constraint [kənˈstreɪnt] n.

Something that restricts thought or action

→ The constraints of military life kept Eileen from seeing Private Morris more than once a month.

Parts of speech     constrain v.

contamination [kənˌtæməˈneɪʃ(ə)n] n.

Being made less clean by a germ or hazardous substance

→ The contamination in the river came from the factory located just upstream.

Parts of speech     contaminate v., contaminant n.

deplete [dəˈplit] v.

To greatly decrease the supply of a resource or material

→ The prolonged war depleted the country’s national treasury.

Parts of speech     depletion n.

dispose of [diˈspouzəv] v.

To throw away; to get rid of; to kill

→ She disposed of her unwanted possessions before moving.

Usage tips     Dispose of should be learned as a unit.In this meaning, dispose does not occur without of.

Parts of speech     disposal n., disposable adj.

elementally [ˌeləˈmen(t)li] adv.

In terms of elements; basically

→ Elementally, coal and diamonds are the same.

Parts of speech     element n., elemental adj.

emission [əˈmɪʃ(ə)n] n.

Sending out from a small space into the general environment; a substance discharged into the air

→ The Environmental Protection Agency regulates the emission of pollutants into the air.

Usage tips     Emission is usually followed by an of phrase.

Parts of speech     emit v.

extinction [ɪkˈstɪŋ(k)ʃ(ə)n] n.

Complete disappearance; the end of existence

→ Human beings have caused the extinction of many other species.

Usage tips     Extinction implies an absolute end; an extinct thing cannot be brought back into existence.

Parts of speech     extinct adj.

reservoir [ˈrezəvwɑːr] n.

A place where a liquid is collected and stored

→ Cult members threatened to poison the town’s water reservoir.

Parts of speech     reserve v.

shrink [ʃrɪŋk] v.

To become reduced in size, amount, or value

→ If you dry your clothing on the “high heat” setting, they may shrink.

Parts of speech     shrinkage n., shrinkable adj.

stable [ˈsteɪbəl] adj.

Firm and dependable; showing little change

→ He fell because the ladder wasn’t stable.

Parts of speech     stability n., stably adv.