The Hindu Editorial (High base effect) – Mar 19, 2025

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The Hindu Editorial (​​​​​​​High base effect) – Mar 19, 2025:

1. base effect (noun) – an effect in a current data figure/point caused by exceptionally high or low levels of data figure/point in the previous reference period.
2. shrinking (adjective) – decreasing, declining, reducing, lessening, diminishing, falling.
3. trade deficit (noun) – a trade deficit (a deficit in the balance of trade) occurs when the value of a country’s imports exceeds that of its exports. It is also called a trade gap.
4. steepest superlative adjective of steep (adjective) – sudden, sharp, rapid.
5. fell past of fall (verb) – decrease, decline, reduce, plunge, plummet, lessen.
6. drop (verb) – reduce, decrease, lessen, diminish, slip, slid, fall, slump.
7. result in (verb) – cause, lead to, bring on, bring about, produce, give rise to.
8. drive (verb) – cause to happen.
9. development (noun) – turn of events, incident, situation, circumstance, occurrence, happening.
10. cause for concern (phrase) – a reason to be worried about something.
11. attribute (verb) – connect with, associate with
12. narrow (verb) – reduce, decrease, diminish, become smaller.
13. leap year (noun) – In an ordinary year, there are 365 days. But approximately every four years, February has 29 days instead of 28. So, there are 366 days in the year. This is called a leap year.  
14. hold back (phrasal verb) – hesitate, pause, stop oneself, refrain oneself, discontinue, withhold from doing something, not to do something.
15. counter-tariff (or) retaliatory tariff (noun) – punitive tariff; an extra tariff/tax that a country charges on import goods from another country to punish the another country for charging tax on its own export goods.
16. reciprocal tax (noun) – a tax imposed by one country on imports from another country in response to similar tariffs. The tariffs aim to match or offset tariffs and other trade barriers imposed on US goods by foreign nations.
17. tariff (noun) – a tax imposed by one country on the goods and services imported from another country.
18. set to (adjective) – ready, prepared, equipped, primed.
19. take effect on (phrase) – come into force, become operative.
20. unveil (verb) – present, make public, introduce, launch, release; reveal, disclose.
21. ambitious (adjective) – formidable, difficult, challenging, demanding.
22. bilateral (adjective) – involving two groups or countries.
23. Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) (noun) – a formal agreement/deal between two countries which outlines specific terms for trade, commerce, transit, or investment.
24. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) (noun) – an agreement between two or more countries designed to reduce or eliminate certain barriers to trade and investment, and to facilitate stronger trade and commercial ties between participating countries.
25. diplomatic (adjective) – tactful, sensitive, subtle, delicate; consular, foreign-policy.
26. outreach (noun) – the level of reaching out/activity/effort; involvement.
27. U.S. Commerce Secretary (noun) – counterpart to India’s Union Commerce Minister.
28. yield (verb) – give, provide, bring in, earn, realize, generate, produce.
29. commitment (noun) – dedication, engagement, obligation, responsibility, onus, liability, accountability.
30. negotiations (noun) – discussion, discourse, debate, dialogue, deliberation, talks, parley.
31. looming (adjective) – appearing/emerging as a large/threatening one; imminent, impending, forthcoming, fast approaching.
32. loom (verb) – emerge, appear, become visible, take a threatening shape.
33. unsettle (verb) – upset, disturb, disquiet, trouble, alarm, bother.
34. account for (phrasal verb) – comprise, compose, constitute, make up.
35. fiscal year (noun) – financial year.
36. trade surplus (noun) – it occurs when the value of a country’s exports exceeds that of its imports.
37. plunge (noun) – decrease, slide, drop, decline, slump, tumble, slip, plummet.
38. surge (verb) – increase or rise suddenly.
39. dampen (verb) – lessen, decrease, diminish, reduce, lower.
40. diversify (verb) – vary, bring variety to; modify, alter/change, transform, expand, enlarge.
41. sanctions (noun) – action taken, or an order given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc
42. tanker (noun) – a cargo ship, a vehicle, or aircraft for transporting fuel.
43. crude oil (noun) – the raw natural resource that is extracted from the earth and refined into products such as gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and other petroleum products.
44. invasion (noun) – attack, assault, onslaught, raid, act of war, incursion, offensive.
45. neutralise (verb) – eliminate, cancel out, nullify/invalidate.
46. widening (noun) – increase.
47. shortfall (noun) – deficit, inadequacy, insufficiency, deficiency.
48. reliance (noun) – trust, belief, faith, conviction, confidence, dependence.
49. potential (adjective) – prospective, probable, likely, possible.
50. trade imbalance (noun) – trade deficit.
51. imbalance (noun) – disparity, variation, variance, disproportion, unevenness, lopsidedness.
52. shift (verb) – change, tilt.
53. balance (noun) – equilibrium, stability; the distribution of power/influence in a situation.
54. tilt/tip/shift the balance (phrase) – to change the balance of a situation, so that one side is gaining advantage.
55. in one’s favour (phrase) – to one’s advantage.

Note : 

1. Click each one of the words above for their definition, more synonyms, pronunciation, example sentences, phrases, derivatives, origin and etc. from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/.

2. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are my personal work and not that of Oxford University Press. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context.  

3. This word list is for personal use only. Reproduction in any format and/or Commercial use of it is/are strictly prohibited.

The Hindu Editorial (​​​​High base effect) – Mar 19, 2025: