Download academic vocabulary exemplars 3/27

Academic Vocabulary in Reading/Week of 3/27/17
1. elaborate: adjective. 1. Planned or made with great attention to numerous parts or details.
elaborate: verb. 1. To work out with care and detail. To develop thoroughly. 2. To express
oneself at greater length or in greater detail. To provide further information.
Synonyms: (adjectives) intricate, detailed, exact, complex, ornate, fancy, sophisticated
Antonyms: (adjectives) simple, plain, unsophisticated, general, basic
Synonyms: (verbs) enhance, expand, embellish, specify, detail, expound, clarify
Antonyms: (verbs) simplify, reduce, abridge, condense, diminish
Conjugations:
present tense: elaborate, elaborates, elaborating
past tense: elaborated
future tense: will elaborate, shall elaborate
Other parts of speech and definitions in this word family:
elaboration: noun. 1. An act or instance of elaborating. 2. The state of being elaborated. 3.
Something that has been elaborated.
elaborately: adverb. 1. In an elaborate way.
Sample sentences:
Used as an adjective: The palace doors have elaborate carvings of historic events throughout the
history of the kingdom.
Used as a verb: Your plan sounds so interesting that I’d really like you to elaborate by telling me
more about it.
2. modify: verb. 1. To change in form or character. 2. In grammar, to qualify or limit the meaning
(of a word or phrase, for example). 2. To be or become modified or changed. 3. To reduce or
lessen in degree or extent.
Synonyms: change, alter, adjust, shape, adapt, reform, vary, qualify
Antonyms: stay, remain, stagnate
Conjugations:
present tense: modify, modifies, modifying
past tense: modified
future tense: will modify, shall modify
Other parts of speech and definitions in this word family:
modifier: noun. 1. A word, phrase, or clause that qualifies or limits the sense of another word or
phrase. 2. Someone or something that modifies.
modification: noun. 1. The action or process of modifying. 2. A result of modifying; a change or
adaptation. 3. A small alteration, adjustment or limitation.
Sample sentences:
Used as a verb: Adjectives modify nouns and adverbs modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.
Used as a verb: Before I can sign this contract, you need to modify the conditions to be less
restricting.
Used as a noun: The tailor made some modifications to this suit so it would better fit me.
3. decode: verb. 1. To change (information) from a form that is in code to ordinary language. 2.
To exact or draw meaning from spoken or written symbols.
Synonyms: translate, decrypt, interpret, decipher, unscramble, read
Antonyms: encrypt, encode, scramble
Conjugations:
present tense: decode, decodes, decoding
past tense: decoded
future tense: will decode, shall decode
Other parts of speech and definitions in this word family:
decoder: noun. Someone or something that decodes.
Sample sentences:
Used as a verb: Good readers are able to decode meaning from the text on a page.
Used as a verb: The spies are working to decode the secret message they intercepted.
Used as a noun: During World War II, the United States and Britain worked together to create and
use a decoder called “Enigma” that was instrumental in deciphering messages that helped defeat
Hitler.
4. debate: verb. 1. To consider something or to try to decide about something. 2. To present or
discuss arguments for and against something. 1. To consider or try to decide. 2. To discuss or
argue about something.
debate: noun. 1. A discussion or consideration of the arguments for and against something. 2. A
formal contest in which opponents argue for opposite sides of an issue.
Synonyms: (verbs) argue, dissent, quarrel, quibble, dispute, disagree, contend
Antonyms: agree, endorse, harmonize
Synonyms: (nouns) argument, contest, deliberation, dispute, mediation, argumentation
Antonyms: (nouns) agreement, peace, harmony
Conjugations:
present tense: debate, debates, debating
past tense: debated
future tense: will debate, shall debate
Other parts of speech and definitions in this word family:
debatable: adjective. 1. Open to question, argument or dispute.
debater: noun. A person who debates or is debating.
Sample sentences:
(Used as a verb): I am debating whether I should go to the beach or the mountains for vacation this
year.
(Used as a verb): The rules regarding dress code cannot be debated.
(Used as a noun): The debate over health care is not settled even though the Affordable Health Care
Act remains the law of the land.
(Used as an adjective): If you think the issue is debatable, I would be more than happy to engage in
friendly discourse and we can each argue our position.
5. perceive: verb. 1. To become aware of through the senses, especially to see or hear. 2. To
achieve understanding of.
Synonyms: distinguish, observe, distinguish, recognize, identify, grasp, behold
Antonyms: ignore, disbelieve, disregard, misunderstand, neglect,
Conjugations:
present tense: perceive, perceives, perceiving
past tense: perceived
future tense: will perceive, shall perceive
Other parts of speech and definitions in this word family:
perception: noun. 1. The ability, act, or process of perceiving. 2. Something perceived; an insight.
perceptive: adjective. 1. Having the ability to perceive; having keen insight. 2. Marked by
understanding and insight.
perceiver: noun. 1. A person who perceives or is perceiving.
perceptible: adjective. 1. Capable of being perceived by the senses or the mind.
perceptual: adjective. 1. Of, based on, or involving perception.
Sample sentences:
(Used as a noun): It is my perception that the more you try, the more you succeed.
(Used as a verb): I’m trying to perceive how you arrived at your conclusion.
(Used as an adjective): You have made a perceptible improvement in your singing.