4000 Essential English Words 5 Unit 20: Microchips
Word List
- aggregate [ˈӕgrəgit] adj.
When a number is aggregate, it is made up of smaller amounts added together.
→ The company totaled its aggregate sales for the entire year.
- antibiotic [ˈæntibaiˈɒtik] n.
An antibiotic is a medical drug used to kill bacteria and treat infections.
→ The doctor gave me a shot of an antibiotic when I got the flu.
- circuit [ˈsəːrkit] n.
A circuit is a piece of an electronic device that allows electricity to flow.
→ Be very careful not to shock yourself when fixing an electrical circuit.
- complement [ˈkɒmpləment] v.
To complement something or someone is to make them better.
→ The wool scarf complemented her lovely eyes.
- compress [kəmˈpres] v.
To compress something means to press or squeeze it so that it takes up less space.
→ I compressed my clothes to fit into a single suitcase.
- database [ˈdeitəbeis] n.
A database is a collection of data that is stored in a computer.
→ The company has a database of all the names and accounts of their customers.
- equivalent [iˈkwivələnt] n.
An equivalent is an amount or value that is the same as another amount or value.
→ I worked the equivalent of sixty hours this week.
- immune [iˈmjuːn] adj.
When someone is immune to a disease, they cannot be affected by it.
→ Children usually get shots to make them immune to certain diseases.
- input [ˈinput] n.
Input is information that is put into a computer.
→ Type the input into the computer program.
- intimate [ˈintəmit] adj.
When a relationship is intimate, the two things are very closely connected.
→ I only tell my secrets to my most intimate friends.
- magnet [ˈmægnit] n.
A magnet is a piece of iron or other material which attracts iron toward it.
→ I used a magnet to pick up the nails that were scattered on the floor.
- metabolism [məˈtæbəlizəm] n.
A person’s metabolism is the way chemical processes in their body use energy.
→ If you exercise every day, your metabolism speeds up.
- microchip [ˈmaikrouˌtʃip] n.
A microchip is a small device inside a computer that holds information.
→ I can put more data on my computer if I buy a more powerful microchip.
- phase [feiz] n.
A phase is a stage in a process or the gradual development of something.
→ The first phase in the recycling project involves finding volunteers to help out.
- pinch [pintʃ] v.
To pinch means to take a piece of skin between one’s fingers and squeeze.
→ I pinched my nose, so I couldn’t smell the odor from the garbage.
- prevalent [ˈprevələnt] adj.
When something is prevalent, it is common.
→ Growing a beard is more prevalent behavior in men than women.
- quantum [ˈkwɒntəm] adj.
When something is quantum, it relates to the behavior of atomic particles.
→ The physics student studied quantum mechanics.
- ratio [ˈreiʃou] n.
A ratio is a relationship between two things expressed in numbers or amounts.
→ The boy to girl ratio is one to three.
- spiral [ˈspaiərəl] n.
A spiral is a shape which winds round and round in a larger and larger circle.
→ A strand of DNA looks like two interlocking spirals.
- viral [ˈvaiərəl] adj.
When something is viral, it is a disease or infection that is caused by a virus.
→ The girl was in bed fora week when she had a viral infection.
