Words:

endeavour UK , US endeavor verb [I + to infinitive]

to try (to do something)  

Engineers are endeavouring to locate the source of the problem.

I endeavored to explain the legal consequences of his action.

endeavour UK , US endeavor   noun [C or U]

an effort or attempt to do something  



In spite of our best endeavours, it has proven impossible to contact her.

Crossing the North Pole on foot was an amazing feat of human endeavour.

artistic endeavour

Writing is a very different endeavor than teaching.

inflame   verb [T]

to excite (someone's) strong feelings or make them stronger  



Reducing the number of staff is certain to inflame the already angry medical profession.

Pictures of the bombed and burning city inflamed

The defense objected to the graphic pictures, claiming they were meant merely to inflame the jury.

These brutal attacks have inflamed passions in a peaceful country.

delusion    noun [C or U]

something a person believes to be true because they want it to be true, when it is actually not true  

We have no delusions that these kids are going to play pro basketball, but they are having fun.

[+ (that)] She is under the delusion that her debts will just go [+ that] He's under the delusion that he will be promoted this year.



delusive    adjective ( ALSO delusory )

false



delusively    adverb

self-delusion    noun [C or U]

when you allow yourself to believe something that is not true:

It's self-delusion if he thinks he'll be offered a better contract.

labour under the delusion/illusion/misapprehension, etc.

to wrongly believe that something is true:

At the time I was still labouring under the delusion that the project might be a success.

 

pitfall    noun [C usually plural]

an unexpected danger or difficulty  

The store fell into one of the major pitfalls of small business, borrowing from suppliers by paying bills late.

There's a video that tells new students about pitfalls to avoid .

Who knows what kind of pitfalls they're going to run into.

the pitfalls of buying a house

mosaic   noun [C]

a pattern or picture of many small pieces of colored stone or glass  

a beautiful 10th century mosaic

FIGURATIVE The country is now a cultural and social mosaic (= mixture) due to the influx of several different ethnic groups.

a mosaic floor

impose   

verb [T]

1 ORDER OFFICIALLY to officially order that a rule, tax, punishment, etc will happen

to impose a ban/tax

She's always imposing on people for favors.

I hope I'm not imposing by staying another night.

The judge imposed the death penalty on both men.

Very high taxes have recently been imposed on cigarettes.

Judges are imposing increasingly heavy fines for minor driving offences.

The council has imposed a ban on alcohol in the city parks.

Are you sure it's all right for me to come tonight? I don't want to impose.

She's always imposing on people - asking favours and getting everyone to do things for her

Settlers often imposed their culture on the peoples of the countries they conquered.



2 FORCE TO ACCEPT to force someone to accept a belief or way of living

I don't want them to impose their religious beliefs on my children.

I don't want them to impose their religious beliefs on my children.

We must impose some kind of order on the way this office is run.

impose on sb phrasal verb

to ask or expect someone to do something that may give them extra work or trouble

I hate to impose on you, but could I stay the night?

impose sth on/upon sb formal



to force a group of people to accept something, or to give someone a punishment [e.g. fine, ban]  

Strict financial controls were imposed on the BBC.

The settlers imposed their own culture and religion on the native people.

The court imposed a £10,000 fine on the newspaper for printing the story.

impose on/upon sb



to expect someone to do something for you or to spend time with you when they do not want to or when it causes them problems  

I think Alex imposes on you too much - he's perfectly capable of doing his own cooking and washing.

Are you sure it's alright if I come and stay? I don't want to impose

imposition    noun [U]

when someone imposes on another person:

the imposition of the death penalty/martial law/sanctions

Would it be too much of an imposition to ask you to pick my parents up from the airport?

on you.

steep (MAKE WET)   verb [I or T]

to cause to stay in a liquid, especially in order to become soft or clean or to improve flavour:

Leave the cloth to steep in the dye overnight.

We had pears steeped in red wine for dessert.

This stain will come out if you steep the cloth in cold water.

Let the tea steep for five minutes.

To be steeped in something is to be filled with it or knowledgeable about it: The college is steeped in tradition.

 

steep sth/sb in sth phrasal verb

If something or someone is steeped in something, they are completely surrounded by or involved in it, or they know a lot about it:

The college is steeped in history/tradition .

These ancient scholars were steeped in poetry and painting, as well as maths and astronomy.

The town is steeped in history.

 

Steep adjective INFORMAL

1 SLOPE A steep slope, hill, etc goes up or down very quickly.

a steep slope

It's a steep climb to the top of the mountain, but the view is worth it.

The castle is set on a steep hill/hillside .

The hill was too steep to cycle up.



The train slowed as it went up a steep incline.

A steep rise or fall is one that goes very quickly from low to high or from high to low: Yesterday's steep decline in the value of the dollar was unexpected.



2 CHANGE A steep increase or fall in something is very big and quick.

a steep rise in prices

There has been a steep increase/rise in prices.



3 PRICE INFORMAL very expensive

Hotel prices are steep at $300 for a room.

They are having to face very steep taxes.

We enjoyed our meal at the restaurant, but the bill was a bit steep.

The membership fees at the golf club are pretty steep.

We enjoyed our stay at the hotel, but the charges were a bit steep.

steepen    verb

1 [I or T] to become steeper, or to make something do this:

The trail began to steepen near the top of the hill.



2 [I] If something such as a cost steepens, it increases:

Our costs have steepened since we began this project.



steeply    adverb

The beach slopes steeply down to the sea.

The value of the land has risen steeply.

Food prices have risen steeply.

The beach slopes steeply down to the sea.

steepness    noun [U]

It's/That's a bit steep! British & Australian



something that you say when you think something is not fair  

Keith, calling me boring? That's a bit steep!

voracious    adjective

very eager for something, especially a lot of food:

He has a voracious appetite (= he eats a lot) .

He's a voracious reader of historical novels (= He reads a lot of them eagerly and quickly) .

Wolves are voracious eaters.

As a child, I had a voracious appetite for books.

She has a voracious appetite.

a voracious reader of historical novels



voraciously    adverb



voraciousness    noun [U]

voracious   

adjective

wanting to do something a lot, especially wanting to eat a lot of food

voracity    noun [U]