The Hindu Editorial (A tragic loss) – Dec 10, 2021

India has lost a capable and experienced military leader in the tragic death of the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in the Nilgiris on Wednesday. For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-1 for The Hindu Editorial (A tragic loss) – Dec 10, 2021.

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The Hindu Editorial (A tragic loss) – Dec 10, 2021:

tragic (adjective) – sad, painful, sorrowful, heart-rending.
tri-service (adjective) – relating to three services, especially an army, navy, and air force.
operational (adjective) – working, functioning, operative.
capable (adjective) – talented, skilful, accomplished, adept, competent.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) (noun) – Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is a single-point military advisor to the government, and to coordinate long-term planning, procurements, training and logistics of the three services. The CDS is a four star General and functions as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister and also as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) which has the three service chiefs as members. India being a nuclear weapons state, the CDS will also act as the military advisor to the Prime Minister on nuclear issues. General Bipin Rawat was appointed as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on 31 December 2019.
perish (verb) – die, be killed violently/suddenly.
Mi-17V5 helicopter (noun) – Mi-17V-5 (domestic designation Mi-8MTV-5) is a military transport variant in the Mi-8/17 family of helicopters. It is produced by Kazan Helicopters, a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters. Mi-17V5 is a 13 tonne-class helicopter. With this whopping 2700hp engine, it can quickly climb to an altitude of 18,000 feet and perform its task. It can transport 36 armed soldiers or 4,500kg of load on a sling. This is probably the only helicopter in the IAF’s inventory with full-authority digital control system (FADEC). The Mi-17V5 has a maximum speed of 250km/h. With two auxiliary fuel tanks, it has a range of 1000+ kms and without it nearly 600 kms.
came down (phrasal verb) – (of an aircraft/helicopter/chopper) crash, fall, plummet, plunge (suddenly & uncontrollably).
wooded (adjective) – covered with many trees; forested, afforested, tree-covered.
inquiry (noun) – enquiry, investigation.
cockpit (noun) – the pilot’s compartment in an aircraft.
Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) (noun) – a device used to record the audio environment in the flight deck for accidents and incident investigation purposes. The CVR records and stores the audio signals of the microphones and earphones of the pilots’ headsets and of an area microphone installed in the cockpit.
Flight Data Recorder (FDR) (noun) – a device used to record specific aircraft performance parameters. The purpose of an FDR is to collect and record data from a variety of aircraft sensors onto a medium designed to survive an accident.
black box (noun) – The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) popularly known as ‘black box’.
insight (noun) – understanding, realization, recognition, experience (of a thing).
imperative (adjective) – vitally important, crucial, critical, essential, necessary.
thoroughly (adverb) – in detail, meticulously, scrupulously, assiduously, completely, comprehensively, fully, intensively.
speedily (adjective) – rapidly, swiftly, promptly, quickly.
speculate (verb) – guess.
stress (verb) – give emphasis to, emphasize, focus attention on.
course correction (noun) – modifying, improving, rectifying (the plan of action).
chopper (noun) – helicopter.
ferry (verb) – transport.
the length and breadth of (phrase) – every part of a large place/area; all over, throughout, everywhere.
tenure (noun) – term, time, period, stint (in office); incumbency.
slip into (verb) – get into, change into.
lose no time (phrase) – be quick, hurry up, move quickly, go fast, speed up.
successor (noun) – inheritor, next-in-line, descendant.
on the drawing board (phrase) – (of an idea, plan, or proposal) being thought about and not yet ready to execute/carry out.
aggressive (adjective) – hostile, belligerent, bellicose, hawkish, combative.
Line of Actual Control (LAC) (noun) – the de-facto (effective) border between India and China. The LAC is a 4,057-km border running through three areas-Western (Ladakh, Ladakh (Kashmir)), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal), and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal).
stare down (phrasal verb) – look fixedly at someone (in a threatening way).
proximate (adjective) – nearest, near, closest (in relationship).
the establishment (noun) – the powers that be, the authorities, the system, the ruling class, the regime.
not/never mince words (phrase) – to say something directly and openly despite the fact that it will hurt someone; talk frankly, call a spade a spade.
wade into (phrasal verb) – to get involved in a difficult situation (argument, debate, fight & etc) without thinking about the possible consequences.
in tandem (phrase) – alongside each other.
domain (noun) – a particular field, area, sphere (of activity).
in the making (phrase) – developing, burgeoning, up and coming.
bear/keep something in mind (phrase) – take into account, remember, consider, heed, take into consideration.
seniority (noun) – the state of being higher in rank.