abstruse
adj. difficult to understand 深奥的
When explaining how airplanes are able to fly to a child, you shouldn't use such abstruse technical terms.
对小孩子解释飞机为何能飞时,你不应该用这么深奥的科技术语。
Synonym
同义词：profound; recondite
atheistic
adj. denying the existence of God 无神论者的
Gordon's deeply religious family was shocked to hear him declare his atheistic beliefs at the dinner table.
高登在吃晚餐时，表明他的无神论信仰，便信仰虔诚的家人十分震惊。
Synonym
同义词：infidel; irreligious
attenuate
v. to make thin 使变细
The thick mass of telephone wires was attenuated to a single filament for the connection in the circuit board.
为了连接在电路板上，一大堆药电活线最后都束成一条细线。
* filament
细线；细丝
* circuit
电路
attribute
v. to consider something as being the cause 归因于
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n. attribution
Although he attributed his wealth to his hard work, the majority of Lance's money was inherited from his uncle.
虽然蓝斯将他的富有归因于努力工作，但他大多数的财富都是由叔叔那里继承而来。
Synonym
同义词：ascribe; impute
contortion
n. twisting out of the usual shape 扭曲
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v. contort
Some of the contortions young gymnasts perform are unnatural and eventually will damage their joints and muscles.
年轻的体操选手所做的身体扭曲，有些是违反自然的，最后将会伤害到他们的关节和肌肉。
* gymnast
体操选手
Synonym
同义词：distortion
detraction
n. taking away from somebody's credit, reputation , etc. 减损；贬低
Dr. Lin's failure in the project was a great detraction to his reputation.
林博士这项计划的失败，大大地减损了他的名声。
Synonym
同义词：belittlement; disparagement
Antonym
反义词：commendation; approbation
distortion
n. twisting out of the usual shape 扭曲
?
v. distort
Because the glass was poorly made, there is terrible distortion when you look out this window.
因为玻璃做得很差，所以当你从这个窗子向外看时，景物会有严重的扭曲。
Synonym
同义词：contortion; crookedness; perversion
extenuate
v. to make less serious 减轻
The judge decided to extenuate the defendant's sentence from a ten-year prison stay to six years.
法官决定减轻被告的刑期，由监禁十年减为六年。
Synonym
同义词：palliate; mitigate
extort
v. to obtain by threats 勒索
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n. extortion
The kidnappers were able to extort three million dollars from the company president.
绑匪向公司董事长勒索了三百万元。
Synonym
同义词：exact; blackmail
extrude
v. to force somebody or something out 逐出
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n. extrusion
Police officers extruded the mob from the hotel lobby out onto the street.
警察将暴民由旅馆大厅赶到街上去。
Synonym
同义词：eject; expel
intrude
v. to enter without permission 1. 闯入 2 .干扰
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n. intrusion
Although they said my surprise visit was not unwelcomed, I still felt I had intruded on their privacy.
虽然他们表示欢迎我意外的拜访，我还是觉得干扰了他们的私生活。
Synonym
同义词：1. trespass 2. intervene
Mediterranean
adj. of the Mediterranean Sea 地中海的
The cuisine of the Mediterranean region is characterized by the heavy use of olive oil.
地中海地区烹饪的特色，是大量使用橄榄油。
* cuisine
烹饪法；烹调方式
obtrusive
adj. inclined to push forward 强入的；冒失的
The obtrusive presence of her ex-boyfriend at the wedding created an awkward situation for Joanna.
琼安娜以前的男朋友冒失地出现在她的婚礼中，使得场面很尴尬。
Synonym
同义词：intrusive; impertinent
protract
v. to length the time 延长
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n. protraction
Although there was little content to his speech, Andrew was able to protract it out to forty-five minutes.
虽然没什么内容，安德鲁还是有办法把他的演说延长到四十五分钟。
Synonym
同义词：prolong; extend
Antonym
反义词：curtail
protrusion
n. sticking out 伸出；突起
A small protrusion in the track caused the subway car to jump the track, injuring tens of commuters.
铁轨上一个小突起使得地铁列车出轨，数十个使用长期车票的乘客受伤。
Synonym
同义词：projection; protuberance
retraction
n. drawing back 缩回；撤销
Nick asked the judge for a retraction of his statement from the court record.
尼克要求法官将他的陈述航法庭记录中删除。
Synonym
同义词：withdrawal;repeal;revocation
retribution
n. 1. deserved punishment 报应 2. vengeance 报复
For years, Vanessa planned her retribution to punish the gang that had killed her parents.
凡妮莎计划多年，要对杀害他双亲的帮派进行报复。
Synonym
同义词：1. nemesis 2. requital
subterranean
adj. underground 地下的；秘密的
During the war, many rebel groups made their lodgings in large subterranean caverns.
在战争期间，许多反叛团体藏身在巨大的秘密的洞穴中。
* lodging
住宿处
* cavern
洞穴
tenuous
adj. thin; slight 1. 细的；稀薄的2. 薄弱的
The rope supporting the mountain-climber unraveled until she hung only by a tenuous thread.
支撑着登山者的绳索松开了，最后她只靠一条细线悬吊着。
* unravel
解开；松开
* hang by a thread
千钧一发
Synonym
同义词：2. feeble
Antonym
反义词：2. substantial
territory
n. land 土地
Both countries claimed the border territory as their own, leading to an all-out war between them.
两国都宣称边界的土地归他们所有，结果导致全面的战争。
* all-out
全面性的
theocracy
n. government by religious leaders 神权政治；僧侣政治
Several religious groups believe theocracy is the perfect form of government, but those who value religious freedom do not agree.
一些宗教团体相信，神权政治是最完善的政治型态；但那些提倡宗教自由的人不同意。
theosophy
n. philosophy which aims at direct communication with God 通神论
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n. theosophist
Scott joined a group that practiced theosophy through fasting and meditation.
史考特参加一个透过斋戒与冥想来实践通神论的团体。
* fasting
绝食；斋戒
* meditation
冥想；沉思
tortuous
adj. full of twists 弯曲的；歪曲的
Nancy got carsick during the ride on the tortuous road up the mountain to the ski resort.
南西在前往滑雪胜地蜿蜒的山路途中晕车了。
Synonym
同义词：winding; sinuous
tractable
adj. easily controlled or guided 1. 易处理的 2. 温顺的
Because of extensive irrigation ditches connecting all the fields, water management has become a tractable problem.
因为有四通八达的灌溉沟渠连接所有农地，水的问题很容易处理。
* irrigation
灌溉
Synonym
同义词：1. manageable 2. docile
Antonym
反义词 2 . unruly; defiant; refractory
tributary
adj. 1. (of a river) flowing into another 支流的 2. paying to another country 纳贡的
Our small town lies on a major tributary river of the Mississippi River.
我们的小镇位于密西西比河一条主要的支流上。
Throughout history, tributary payments were commonly made to stronger countries or kingdoms by lesser states.
在历史上，小国经常要向强国纳贡。