The Hindu Editorial (Take the gauntlet) – Oct 14, 2024

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The Hindu Editorial (Take the gauntlet) – Oct 14, 2024:

take/pick up the gauntlet (phrase) – to accept a challenge (whereas ‘throw down a gauntlet’ means ‘to issue a challenge’): ‘gauntlet’ literally means ‘a medieval, armoured/protective gloves’ and it figuratively means ‘an open challenge”.
Kavach (noun) – it is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with the Indian Railways.
implementation (noun) – execution, application, carrying out.
silver bullet (noun) – a simple solution to a complex problem; (simple) remedy, resolution, solution, panacea, antidote, quick fix.
stationary (adjective) – stopped, halted, unmoving, immobile.
bogie (noun) – a railway carriage, coach, bogie, car (of a train for the transportation of passenger).
overturn (verb) – turn over, topple over, tip over, upset, upend, capsize.
catch fire (phrase) – begin to burn, burst into flames.
casualty (noun) – victim, fatality, loss.
swift (adjective) – rapid, quick, speedy, fast, instant, prompt, immediate, sudden, expeditious.
render (verb) – display, represent, depict, portray, make, cause to become.
if not (phrase) – perhaps even; used to talk about the negative result/effect of something.
spate (noun) – series, flurry; a large number of something (taking place at the same period).
spotlight (verb) – focus attention on, highlight, draw attention to, underline, underscore.
oft (adverb) – literary form of often
precarious (adjective) – risky, dangerous, unsafe; hazardous, perilous, unreliable.
infrastructure (noun) – the basic physical or organisational structure or framework that a country or organization needs in order to function properly. For a whole nation, it includes all the physical systems such as buildings, roads & railways networks, utilities, etc.
official (noun) – officer
rear-end (phrase) – to crash into/collide with the back of (a vehicle).
of choice (phrase) – something that is chosen most often by a particular group of people or for a particular purpose
decade (noun) – a period of ten years.
capital spending/capital expenditure (CAPEX) (noun) – the money spent on the acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, equipment, as well as investment in shares.
of course (phrase) – certainly, obviously, definitely, needless to say, to be sure, by all means.
span (noun) – period, time, duration, course, stretch.
political class (noun) – political group.
seemingly (adverb) – apparently, ostensibly, supposedly, evidently, presumably, surely, certainly, probably, may be, perhaps.
straightforward (adjective) – honest, candid, truthful, unambiguous, forthright.
cause (noun) – reason, grounds, basis.
due to (phrase) – because of, as a result of, thanks to, on account of, owing to.
naive (adjective) – childish, inexperienced, immature.
turn into (phrasal verb) – to become something.
precarity (noun) – the state of being uncertain/insecure/unsafe.
overhaul (verb) – modernize, rebuild, renovate, revamp, recondition, remodel, refurbish.
long-standing (adjective) – long-term, long-lasting, enduring, constant, perennial.
symptomatic (adjective) – indicative, warning, signalling, suggestive, symbolic.
shortfall (noun) – flaw, shortcoming, deficit, lack, deficiency, insufficiency.
deplorable (adjective) – disgraceful, dishonourable, unacceptable.
loco informal for locomotive (noun) – the engine of a train.
loco pilot (noun) – a person who is operating and driving the train.
unhygienic (adjective) – insanitary, unclean,
vigilance (noun) – careful observation, surveillance, alertness/carefulness.
vigil (noun) – observation, surveillance, scrutiny, inspection,
amenity (noun) – facility, utility, service.
attention (noun) – notice, heed, attentiveness, consideration, thinking.
dependence (noun) – reliance.
allocation (verb) – allotment, granting, grant, distribution, doling out, budgeting, earmarking, setting aside (especially of money, that is given to a particular person or used for a particular purpose).
freight (noun) – shipment of goods or cargo (carried by ship, aircraft, train or truck).
basket (noun) – a group of something (taxes, investments, freights, commodities, etc.).
vulnerable (adjective) – endangered, unsafe, unprotected, undefended, attackable, defenceless, helpless, powerless.
decarbonise (verb) – reduce carbon dioxide emissions through the use of sources, achieving a lower output of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
high-density (adjective) – very crowded.
high-utilisation (adjective) – very busy.
pandemic (noun) – the worldwide spread of a new disease; The illness spreads around the world and typically affects a large number of people across a wide area.
in a vacuum (phrase) – in isolation; without connected with/related to other activities.
address (verb) – tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out.
stressor (noun) – something that causes stress/tension.
consonance (noun) – agreement, conformity, compatibility, accordance.
counter-terrorism (noun) – anti-terrorism; actions taken to combat or prevent terrorism.
due diligence (noun) – reasonable, careful assessment/investigation done in advance.
veil (noun) – covering, cover, screen, shield, curtain, mask.
secrecy (noun) – concealment, confidentiality, stealthiness, secretiveness.