Part8 Chapter 1tense adjective ( NERVOUS )/tent s/ adj•nervous and worried and unable to relaxShe was very tense as she waited for the interview.•If a situation is tense, it causes feelings of worry or nervousnessThere were some tense moments in the second half of the game.tense verb/tent s/ v [I or T] (also tense up)If you or your muscles tense, your muscles become stiff and tight because you are frightened or nervous, or are preparing yourself to do somethingDon't tense your shoulders, just relax.I could feel myself tense up as he touched my neck.tensed upvery nervous and worried and unable to relax because of something that is going to happenYou seem very tensed up. Are you still waiting for that call?ewe noun/juː/ n [C]a female sheep, especially an adult oneewe's milkslaughter noun/ˈslɔː.tər/ /ˈslɑː.t ̬ɚ/ n•[S or U] the killing of many people cruelly and unfairly, especially in a warHardly anyone in the town escaped the slaughter when the rebels were defeated.We must find ways of reducing the slaughter which takes place on our roads (= death of many people in motor accidents) every year.•[U] the killing of animals for meatThe geese are being fattened for slaughter.See also: slaughterhouse•[S] when one team is very easily defeated by the otherSaturday's game was an absolute slaughter.slaughter verb/ˈslɔː.tər/ /ˈslɑː.t ̬ɚ/ v [T]•to cruelly and unfairly kill a lot of peopleThousands of people were slaughtered in the civil war.•to kill an animal for meatThe animals are slaughtered in abattoirs.•to defeat someone very easilyEngland slaughtered Germany 5-1 at football.the Levant noun/ðə.ləˈvænt/ n [S]the countries and islands of the eastern Mediterraneanveil verb ( MATERIAL )/veɪl/ v[T often passive] to cover something, especially the face or body, with a veilIn some societies, women are expected to be veiled when they go out in public.veil verb ( HIDE )/veɪl/ v[T] to hide or cover something so that you cannot see it clearlyThick fog veiled the city.omen noun/ˈəʊ.mən/ /ˈoʊ-/ n [C]something that is considered to be a sign of how a future event will take placeEngland's victory over France is a good omen for next week's match against Germany.a bad omenMany people believe that a broken mirror is an omen of bad luck.lame adjective ( UNABLE TO WALK )/leɪm/ adj(especially of animals) not able to walk correctly because of physical injury to or weakness in the legs or feetLame adjective ( NOT SATISFACTORY )/leɪm/ adj(especially of an excuse or argument) weak and unsatisfactorya lame excuselamé noun/ˈlɑː.meɪ/ n [U]a type of cloth with threads of gold or silver in itgold/silver laméstartle verb/ˈstɑː.tl ̩/ /ˈstɑːr.l ̩/ v [T]to do something unexpected which surprises and sometimes worries a person or animalShe was concentrating on her book and his voice startled her.The noise of the car startled the birds and the whole flock flew up into the air.Her article on diet startled many people into changing their eating habits.startled adjective/ˈstɑː.tl ̩d/ /ˈstɑːr.l ̩d/ adja startled expressionstartle verb/ˈstɑː.tl ̩/ /ˈstɑːr.l ̩/ v [T]to do something unexpected which surprises and sometimes worries a person or animalShe was concentrating on her book and his voice startled her.The noise of the car startled the birds and the whole flock flew up into the air.Her article on diet startled many people into changing their eating habits.flutter verb ( MOVE )/ˈflʌt.ər / /ˈflʌt ̬.ɚ/ v[I or T] to make a series of quick delicate movements up and down or from side to side, or to cause something to do thisBrightly coloured flags were fluttering in the breeze.Leaves fluttered down onto the path.Butterflies fluttered about in the sunshine.A white bird poised on a wire and fluttered its wings.flutter verb ( MOVE )/ˈflʌt.ər / /ˈflʌt ̬.ɚ/ v[I or T] to make a series of quick delicate movements up and down or from side to side, or to cause something to do thisBrightly coloured flags were fluttering in the breeze.Leaves fluttered down onto the path.Butterflies fluttered about in the sunshine.A white bird poised on a wire and fluttered its wings.breastplate noun/ˈbrest .pleɪt/ n [C]a piece of armour (= metal military clothing worn in the past) that protects the chestprecious adjective ( VALUABLE )/ˈpreʃ.əs/ adjof great value because of being rare, expensive or importanta precious gifta precious moment/memoryClean water is a precious commodity in many parts of the world.You're so precious to me.precious adjective ( DISLIKE )/ˈpreʃ.əs/ adj[before noun] informal used to express dislike and/or angerYou and your precious car - it's all you're interested in!embedded adjective ( FIXED )(US also imbedded) /ɪmˈbed.ɪd/ adjfixed into the surface of somethingThe thorn was embedded in her thumb.embedded adjective ( EMOTION )(US also imbedded) /ɪmˈbed.ɪd/ adjIf an emotion, opinion, etc. is embedded in someone or something, it is a very strong or important part of themA sense of guilt was deeply embedded in my conscience.atop preposition/əˈtɒp/ /-ˈtɑːp/ prep mainly USon or at the top ofShe sat atop a two-metre high wall.platter noun/ˈplæt.ər/ /ˈplæt ̬.ɚ/ n [C]a large plate used for serving food or a meal with one type of food served on a large platea fish plattertapestry noun/ˈtæp.ɪ.stri/ n [C]a piece of cloth whose pattern or picture is created by sewing or weaving different coloured threads onto a special type of strong clothparchment noun/ˈpɑːtʃ.mənt/ /ˈpɑːrtʃ-/ n•[U] the thin dried skin of some animals which was used in the past for writing on, or a high quality paper made to look like thisancient parchmentHe'd been ill for a long time, and his skin was like parchment.•[C] a document written on parchmentA framed parchment hung on the wall.marvel verb/ˈmɑː.vəl/ /ˈmɑːr-/ v [I] (-ll- or US USUALLY -l-)to show or experience great surprise or admirationWe paused to marvel at the view.[+ that] 'I often marvel that humans can treat each other so badly.[+ speech] "Just look at that waterfall! Isn't it amazing?" she marvelled.marvel noun/ˈmɑː.vəl/ /ˈmɑːr-/ n [C]a thing or person that is very surprising or causes a lot of admirationThis miniature TV is the latest technological marvel from Japan.It's a marvel (to me) how they've managed to build the tunnel so quickly.relieved adjective/rɪˈliːvd/ adjhappy that something unpleasant has not happened or has ended[+ to infinitive] I'm so relieved to find you - I thought you'd already gone.He was relieved to see Jeannie reach the other side of the river safely.[+ (that)] I'm relieved (that) you didn't tell her.relieve verb ( MAKE BETTER )/rɪˈliːv/ v•[T] to make an unpleasant feeling, such as pain or worry, less strongShe was given a shot of morphine to relieve the pain.She relieved her boredom at home by learning how to type.•[T] to improve an unpleasant situationThe council is considering banning vehicles from the town centre to relieve congestion.relieve verb ( HELP )/rɪˈliːv/ v•[T] to provide relief for a bad situation or for people in needemergency food aid to help relieve the famine•[T] to take the place of someone and continue doing their job or dutiesI'm on duty until 2 p.m. and then Peter is coming to relieve me.•[T] formal to free a place that has been surrounded by an enemy army by military forceAn armoured battalion was sent to relieve the besieged town.
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Is anything wrong? You look a little tense.
Massage is great if your neck and back are tense.
She tried to relax her tense muscles.
She tried to relax her tense muscles.
Every time the phone rang, she tensed.
Brian got so tensed up he could hardly speak.