GRE word list C

cabal

small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
cache hiding place; V.
cacophonous discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture of loud sounds
cadaver corpse; dead human body
cadaverous like a corpse; pale
cadence rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm
cadet student at a military school
cajole persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle
calamity disaster; misery
calculated deliberately planned; likely
caldron(cauldron) large kettle
caliber ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber
calligraphy beautiful writing; excellent penmanship
callous hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind
callow youthful; immature; inexperienced
callus area of thick hard skin
calorific heat-producing; N. calorie
calumny malicious misrepresentation; slander
camaraderie good-fellowship; CF. comrade
cameo shell or jewel carved in relief; star’s special appearance in a minor role in a film
camp group sharing a common cause or opinion
canard unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report
candor
frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid
canine related to dogs; doglike
canker any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer
canny shrewd in money matters; thrifty
cant insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people
cantankerous ill-humored; irritable
cantata story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)
canter slow gallop; V. CF. trot
canto division of a long poem
canvass determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.
capacious spacious
capacity mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president
capillary having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity
capitulate surrender; give up all resistance
caprice whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause
capricious unpredictable; fickle
capsize (of a boat) turn over
caption
title; chapter heading; text under illustration
captious faultfinding; too critical
carafe glass water bottle; decanter
carapace shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)
carat(karat) unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold
carcinogenic causing cancer; N. carcinogen
cardinal chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order
cardiologist doctor specializing in ailments of the heart
careen lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger
career rush wildly; go at full speed
carefree free from worries; having no problems
caricature distortion; burlesque
carillon a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played
carnage destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals
carnal

fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body
carnivorous meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore
carousal drunken revel; V. carouse
carping
petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble
carrion rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
cartographer map-maker
cascade small waterfall
caste one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige
castigation punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
castrate remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)
casual happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark
casualty serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle
cataclysm deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change
catalyst agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis
catapult slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult
cataract great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)
catastrophe calamity ; disaster
catcall shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.
catechism book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize
categorical without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute
cater provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of a bad kind)
catharsis purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art
cathartic purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.
catholic
(of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes
caucus private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston
caulk(calk) make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)
causal implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality
caustic burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless
cauterize burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection
cavalcade procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry
cavalier casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight
cavil quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily
cede yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession
celerity speed; rapidity
celestial heavenly
celibate abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy
cemetery place for burying the dead
censor (in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.
censorious severely critical
censure blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval
centaur mythical figure, half man and half horse
centigrade denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)
centrifugal radiating; departing from the center
centrifuge machine that separates substances by whirling them
centripetal tending toward the center
centurion Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)
cerebral pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum
cerebration
thought; working of the brain
ceremonious marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy
certitude certainty
cessation stoppage
cession yielding to another; ceding
chafe warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.
chaff worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff
chaffing bantering; joking
chagrin annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)
chalice goblet; consecrated cup
chameleon lizard that changes color in different situations
champion support militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or supports strongly (a principle, movement, person, etc.)
championship position of champion; defense or support; competition held to determine a champion
chancellor legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): position of a chancellor
chant tune(melody) in which a number of words are sung on the same note; V: sing (a chant); utter (a slogan) in the manner of a chant
chaotic in utter disorder
chapel small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)
chaperon older person who accompanies and supervises a young unmarried woman
chaplain clergyman attached to a chapel
char make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced to carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning wood) by incomplete combustion
charisma
divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism
charlatan quack; pretender to knowledge (esp. in medicine)
charm quality of pleasing; amulet; action or formula thought to have magical power; spell; V: attract; cast a spell on; bewitch
chary cautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold
chase ornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch
chasm abyss; very deep crack
chassis framework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached
chaste morally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; modest; simple (of a style of writing); not highly decorated; austere
chasten discipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate
chastise punish as by beating; criticize severely
chauvinist blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin
check stop motion; curb or restrain
checkered(chequered) marked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of fortuene; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares
cherubic angelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged angel of the highest order
chicanery trickery; deception
chide
scold; rebuke (someone who has done wrong)
chimerical fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature
chip lose a small piece from the surface or edge; N: small piece broken off something; CF. French fry; Potato chip/crisp
chisel swindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting
chivalrous courteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry
choice delicate; of very fine quality
choir group of people who sing together (esp. during religious services); place for choir
choleric hot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera
chore daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking, and shopping); unpleasant task
choreography art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances
chortle chuckle with delight; N.
chorus phrase repeated throughout a song or poem
chronic long established as a disease
chronicle report; record (in chronological order)
chuckle laugh quietly
churlish boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo
ciliated having minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash
cipher nonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V.
circlet small ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. (worn on the head, arms, or neck as decoration)
circuit closed circular line around an area; circumference; regularly repeated journey from place to place
circuitous roundabout
circumlocution indirect or roundabout expression (by using an uncecessarily large number of words esp. when trying to avoid answering a difficult question directly)
circumscribe limit; confine; draw a line around
circumspect prudent; cautious; acting after careful thought
circumvent outwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around
cistern reservoir or water tank
citadel

fortress
cite quote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record
civil having to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic
clairvoyant having foresight; fortuneteller; N. clairvoyance
clamber climb by crawling with difficulties; scramble
clamor loud continous noise; continuous demand or complaint made by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express (a demand) continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous
clandestine secret
clangor loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging
clap strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden explosive sound; come together suddenly with a sharp sound; put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping; loud or explosive sound; CF. applause
clapper striker (tongue) of a bell
clarion shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times
clasp hold firmly within arms
claustrophobia fear of being locked in
clavicle collarbone
cleave split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven
cleft N: split
clemency disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement
clich\’e phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ. clich\’ed
clientele body of customers
climactic relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic
clime climate
clip cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as a short extract from film); clasp or fastener
clipper sailing vessel built for great speed
clique small exclusive group of people
cloister monastery or convent
clot half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.
clout great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist
clown
act stupidly; play the fool
cloying distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess
coagulate congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant
coalesce combine; fuse; N. coalescence
coalition partnership; league; union of separate political parties
coax persuade by flattery
coda concluding section of a musical or literary composition
coddle treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs
codicil supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will
codify arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs
coercion use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce
coeval living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age
cog tooth projecting from a wheel
cogent convincing
cogitate think over; ponder
cognate having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.
cognitive having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing
cognizance knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware
cohabit live together
cohere stick together
cohesion tendency to keep together
cohorts
group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)
coiffure hairstyle
coin make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented
coincidence the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more seemingly connected events; V. coincide: happen at the same time; be in agreement; CF. coincident; CF. coincidental
colander utensil with perforated bottom used for straining
collaborate work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy
collage work of art put together from fragments
collate examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)
collateral security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters
collation a light meal; collating
collected composed; calm; self-possessed
colloquial pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression
colloquy informal discussion; conversation
collusion conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude
colossal huge
colossus gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance
coma deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison, or a severe blow
comatose in a coma; extremely sleepy
combustible easily burned; N. CF. combustion
comeback retort; quick clever reply; return to former status
comely attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance
comestible something fit to be eaten
comeuppance deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke
comity courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations
commandeer take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes
commemorate honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war
commemorative remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative stamp
commensurate equal in extent; of the same size
commiserate feel or express pity or sympathy for
commodious spacious and comfortable
commonplace ordinary; N: something ordinary or common; trite remark
commonwealth nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation
communal held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune
commune small (often rural) community whose members share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature
compact agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; concise; Ex. compact statement
compartment one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided
compassion sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ. compassionate
compatible harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together
compelling overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one’s attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel
compendium brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious
compensatory making up for; repaying
compilation listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling
compile assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary
complacency self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent
complaisant trying to please; obliging; willing to please others
complement complete; consummate; make perfect; N.
complementary serving to complete something
compliance conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield; disposition to yield to others; V. comply
compliant readily acting in accordance with a rule, order, or the wishes or others; yielding; comforming to requirements
complicity participation; involvement (in a questionable act or a crime)
component element; ingredient
comport bear one’s self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment
compost mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer; V: put or make compost
composure mental calmness
compound combine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound an error; ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing a group of buildings;
comprehend include; understand
comprehensive broad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive
compress force into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc.
comprise include; consist of
compromise adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of; put into danger, disrepute, or a dishonorable position; Ex. compromise one’s principle; N.
compulsion compelling; strong desire that is difficult to control; irresistible impulse
compulsive resulting from compulsion
compulsory obligatory; that must be done
compunction remorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt
compute reckon; calculate
concatenate link as in a chain
concave hollow; curved inwards; OP. convex
concede admit; acknowledge as being true (often reluctantly); yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal
conceit vanity or self-love; too high opinion of one’s own value; extravagant metaphor (in poetry)
concentric having a common center
conception beginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception
concerted mutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together
concession an act of yielding; conceding; something conceded; point, right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege of maintaining a business in a certain place; Ex. oil concessions in the North sea; CF. concessionaire
conciliatory reconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the friendly feelings (by removing anger)
concise brief and compact
conclave private secret meeting
conclusive decisive; ending all debate
concoct prepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise (something false) so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction
concomitant that which accompanies; Ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else
concord harmony; accord
concordat formal agreement
concur agree; coincide; happen at the same time
concurrent happening at the same time; in agreement
condescend (derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the level of one considered inferior
condign adequate; (of punishment) severe and well deserved
condiments seasonings; spices
condole express condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow
condone overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
conducive helpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards
conduit aqueduct; passageway for fluids
confidant(confidante) trusted friend (to whom one tells one’s secret)
confide tell in confidence (to a person one trusts); be confident about
confidence self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on a strong belief in one’s abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I’m telling yo
confidential spoken or written in secret; trusted with private matters; Ex. confidential secretary
confine shut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confinement
confiscate seize; take possession of (private property) by official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer
conflagration great fire
confluence flowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together
conformist person who uncritically conforms to the customs of a group; OP. nonconformist: one who does not conform to accepted beliefs of norms
conformity harmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance
confound confuse; puzzle
congeal freeze; coagulate
congenial pleasant; friendly; in agreement with one’s tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather
congenital existing at birth
conglomerate corporation made up of several different companies in diversified fields; mass of various material gathered together; rock consisting of small stones held together by clay; V.
conglomeration mass of material sticking together
congruence correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF. congruity
congruent in agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding exactly; CF. congruous
conifer pine tree (usu. evergreen); cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen
conjecture surmise; guess; V.
conjugal pertaining to marriage
conjure cause to appear by magic; summon (a devil or a spirit) by magical power; practice magic (esp. by very quick movement of the hands); evoke; conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat.
connivance pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance (of a wrong); cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire
connoisseur person competent to act as a judge of art, etc. (whose judgments are respected); a lover of an art
connotation suggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote
connubial pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state
consanguineous(consanguine) having a common ancestor
consanguinity kinship; relationship by birth
conscientious scrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker
conscript draftee; person forced into military service; V.
consecrate dedicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one’s life to helping the poor
consensus general agreement; opinion reached by a group
consequential self-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent
conservatory(conservatoire) school of the fine arts (especially music or drama); glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy
consign send to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart (for a special purpose); N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee
consistency absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous
console lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay the sorrow of; N. consolation
consolidation unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger; V. consolidate: merge; strengthen
consonance harmony; agreement
consonant harmonious; in agreement; N.
consort associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)
conspiracy treacherous plot; secret plan against the law (by two or more people)
conspire take part in a conspiracy; (of events) work together; combine; Ex. Events conspired to produce great difficulties.
consternation great shock; dismay
constituency voters represented by an elected official; district so represented; group of supporters (or constituents)
constituent supporter; voter; member of a constituency; component
constitution constituting; system of laws; composition of something; physical makeup or structure of a person; Ex. men with strong constitutions
constraint restraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison
construe explain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue
consummate complete; V.
contagion infection (by contact); ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air
contaminate pollute
contempt scorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible
contend struggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly
contention assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition
contentious quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments
contest dispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for; try to win; Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a seat in Parliament; N.
context writings preceding and following the passage quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs
contiguous adjacent to; touching upon
continence self-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent
contingent dependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency
contortions twistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; CF. contortionist
contraband illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ.
contravene contradict; oppose; violate (a rule, law, or custom); N. contravention
contrite penitent; repentant; N. contrition
contrivance something contrived; machine or apparatus; clever deceitful plan; scheme
contrive invent or fabricate in a clever way (by improvisation); manage; Ex. contrive to attract his attention
contrived unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived.
controvert oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy
contumacious stubborn and disobedient; resisting authority (esp. disobedient to an order made by a court)
contusion bruise
conundrum riddle; difficult problem
convene come together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene the council
convention social or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting; international agreement
conventional ordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons
converge approach; tend to meet; come together
conversant familiar with; having knowledge of
converse opposite; ADJ.
convert one who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: change into another form; (persuade to) adopt a particular religion or belief
convex curving outward
conveyance vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance
conviction judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief
convivial pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial
convoke call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation
convoluted coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain
convulsion violent uncontrollable shaking movement (caused by illness); V. convulse; ADJ. convulsive
copious plentiful
coquette flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.
cordial warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome
cordon extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; V.
cornice projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars);
cornucopia horn (or horn-shaped container) overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty
corollary natural consequence (which naturally follows from something else)
coroner public official who investigates any death thought to be of other than natural causes
corporeal bodily (rather than spiritual); of a bodily form; material; tangible
corpulent very fat; N. corpulence
corpus collection (of writings or information); Ex. the corpus of Shakespear’s works; Cf. corpse
corpuscle red or white cell in the blood
correlate either of the correlated things; V.
correlation mutual relationship
corroborate confirm; support; strengthen
corrode destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a long period)
corrosive eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce
corrugated wrinkled; ridged
cosmic pertaining to the universe; vast
coterie group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests
countenance approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance
countermand cancel; revoke (an order)
counterpart thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system
coup highly successful action or sudden attack; coup(s) d’\'etat; CF. coup de gr\^ace: deathblow or shot which kills
couple join; unite; OP. uncouple
courier messenger
court attempt to gain; seek; woo; risk; behave so as to invite; attempt to gain the favor of by attention; Ex. court disaster
covenant binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise
covert secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt
covetous avaricious; desirous of (someone else’s possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else’s possessions)
cow terrorize; intimidate
cower shrink quivering as from fear; cringe
coy shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer
cozen cheat; hoodwink; swindle
crabbed sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting
craft skill (esp. with one’s hands); skill in deceiving people; guile; ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning
crass very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior
crave desire; want intensely
craven cowardly
credence belief
credential evidence concerning one’s authority; written proof of a person’s position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court.
credo creed
credulity belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet\’e; ADJ. credulous
creed system of religious or ethical belief
creep move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N.
cremate incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium
crescendo increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent
crest top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head of a bird
crestfallen dejected; dispirited
crevice crack; fissure
cringe shrink back as if in fear; cower
crinkle wrinkle
criteria standards used in judging; CF. criterion
crochet make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet
crone hag; ugly old woman
cross bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry
crossbreed hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed
crotchety (of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion
crust hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
crux essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance
crypt secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)
cryptic mysterious; hidden; secret
cubicle small chamber used for sleeping or work
cue word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor’s speech or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to
cuisine style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine
culinary relating to cooking or kitchen
cull pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.
culmination highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
culpable deserving blame; blameworthy
culprit one guilty of a crime
culvert artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road
cumbersome heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
cumulative growing by addition; accumulative
cunning clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving; deceit
cupidity greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
curator superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library)
curb chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain
curfew regulation requiring all people to leave the streets at stated times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a curfew
curmudgeon churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person
cursive (of writing) flowing; running; having the successive letters joined
cursory casual; hastily done with little attention to detail
curtail shorten; reduce
cynical skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness
cynosure object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor