The Hindu Opinion Article (In pandemic crisis, bridging the gulf with West Asia) – Jun 16, 2020

As the world continues to collaborate in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic which has shattered lives, economies and,… For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-2 for The Hindu Opinion Article (In pandemic crisis, bridging the gulf with West Asia) – Jun 16, 2020.

To read this article, click here.

This preview is provided here with permission. 

Courtesy: The Hindu

Today’s Advanced Word List 2 For The Hindu Opinion Article (In pandemic crisis, bridging the gulf with West Asia) – Jun 16, 2020:

1. 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.
2. bridge the gulf/gap (phrase) – try to find a way to reduce the gap and bring the two separate viewpoints together.
3. well-placed (adjective) – having an advantageous position.
4. shatter (verb) – destroy, wreck, ruin/devastate.
5. arguably (adverb) – possibly, conceivably, maybe, potentially.
6. architecture (noun) – structure, framework, formation.
7. hold court (phrase) – to serve as a center of attention.
8. energy security (noun) – it is the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.
9. reverse-migration (adjective) – a process in which migrants go back to their place of origin.
10. blue -collar workers (noun) – it describes people who do manual work. Workers who work in a factory, for example, who wear a uniform. (Courtesy: BBC Learning English)
11. white-collar workers (noun) – people who work in offices, doing administration or managerial tasks – clerks for example – were referred to as white-collar workers. (Courtesy: BBC Learning English)
12. stall (verb) – stop, halt, stop running/functioning.
13. contract (verb) – decrease, decline, reduce.
14. Great Depression (noun) – a worldwide economic depression that started in 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s (almost for 10 years until about 1939). Although it originated in the United States, the Great Depression caused drastic declines in output, severe unemployment, and acute deflation in almost every country of the world.
15. stake (noun) – share, interest, investment, involvement.
16. repatriate (verb) – send (a person) back to his/her own country or land of citizenship; banish, deport, expel.
17. infusion (noun) – the introduction/ instilling/imbuing of a new thing.
18. (foreign exchange) remittance (noun) – money transfers (called remittance) from a foreign worker employed outside the country to family, friends or relatives residing in home countries. In many countries, remittance accounts for a significant portion of a nation’s gross domestic product or GDP.
19. crash (noun) – a sudden drop in value/price of something.
20. cap (noun) – ceiling, maximum limit, upper limit, highest permissible level.
21. exacerbate verb) – aggravate, worsen, compound, intensify, heighten.
22. bear the brunt (phrase) – to suffer or endure the worst part of something (force/burden/pressure) when a very bad or unpleasant thing happens.
23. put something into perspective (phrase) – to compare with something similar to give a clearer, more accurate idea.
24. Gross domestic product (GDP) (noun) – a measure of economic activity in a country. It is the total value of a country’s annual output of goods and service.
25. blow (noun) – shock, surprise, rude awakening; misfortune, setback, disappointment.
26. envision (verb) – visualize, imagine, envisage.
27. futuristic (adjective) – unprecedented, innovatory, new, unconventional.
28. open up (phrasal verb) – make available (to create/start developing new opportunities).
29. ecosystem (noun) – complex situation/environment.
30. overt (adjective) – clear, visible, noticeable/unconcealed.
31. hydrocarbon (noun) – it is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon which are the main components of petroleum and natural gas.
32. Brent (crude) (noun) – a classification of crude oil produced from the oil platform in the North Sea.
33. hover (verb) – remain at a level.
34. soften (verb) – lessen, diminish, decrease.
35. cushion (verb) – mitigate, lessen, reduce (the adverse effects of).
36. lockdown (noun) – an emergency protocol implemented by the authorities that prevents people from leaving from a place; An extended state of confinement/encirclement/isolation of a person by the authority.
37. build up (phrasal verb) – set up, develop, establish.
38. strategic reserve (noun) – the reserve of a commodity (e.g. oil) that is held back from normal use by government/organisation to cope with unexpected events.
39. offshore (adjective) – registered/situated at foreign country to take advantage of lower taxes or less regulation.
40. sovereign wealth fund (SWF) (noun) – sovereign investment fund, or social wealth fund; It’s simply a mechanism through which countries make investments. A pot of money – often derived from oil or other commodities – that is then invested in shares, bonds, property or other areas of potential growth. Many of the countries that use sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) have economies that are heavily reliant on one source of income, for example oil revenues in the Middle East. The investments made through the SWFs are effectively a way for those countries to diversify and become less reliant on a single stream of income.
41. portfolio (noun) – a range of investments (like shares, holdings, securities, equities, bonds).
42. shrink (verb) – lessen, reduce, decrease.
43. Public Investment Fund (PIF) (noun) – The Public Investment Fund is the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. It is among the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world with total estimated assets of $320 billion. It was founded for the purpose of investing funds on behalf of the Government of Saudi Arabia.
44. case in point (phrase) – example, instance, sample.
45. need of the hour (phrase) – some need/requirement/demand at a particular point of time.
46. expedite (verb) – accelerate, speed up, quicken.
47. acquisition (noun) – acquiring, procuring, procurement, purchasing.
48. litigation (noun) – legal process, legal proceeding, legal action.
49. bedevil (verb) – afflict, torment, trouble.
50. consortium (noun) – union, league, syndicate/corporation. Consortia is a plural form of consortium.
51. sovereign fund (noun) – a state-owned investment fund.
52. send out (phrasal verb) – give out, announce, deliver/release.
53. landscape (noun) – the distinctive features of a field of activity.
54. empowered (adjective) – authorized, allowed, entitled.
55. foreign direct investment (FDI) (noun) – Investment from one country into another (normally by companies rather than governments) that involves establishing operations or acquiring tangible assets, including stakes in other businesses.
56. prophecy (noun) – prediction, forecast, prognosis, augury.
57. brunt (noun) – burden, pressure, strain, stress.
58. in this regard (phrase) – in connection with the aspect/point referred earlier.
59. semi-skilled (adjective) – having some training and skills, but not enough to do specialized work.
60. alike (adverb) – equally.
61. mitigate (verb) – reduce, lessen, decrease, make less severe.
62. bilateral (adjective) – involving two groups or countries.
63. multilateral (adjective) – involving many different countries.
64. trade-diplomacy (noun) – diplomacy that focuses on development of trade (business) between two countries.
65. tectonic (adjective) – very important, significant, substantial/considerable, big/major (change/shift/development that will have a strong, global impact all over the place.

Today’s Advanced Word List 2 For The Hindu Opinion Article (In pandemic crisis, bridging the gulf with West Asia) – Jun 16, 2020:

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 purpose only and they may vary in 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.

“Phrasal Verbs” We Learnt Last Week

“Idioms & Phrases” We Learnt Last Week

“Important Definitions” We Learnt Last Week