Eazyprep brings to you ‘Words in News’, an easy and interesting way to learn vocabulary important for your exam. Now discover new meanings while also going through current affairs articles at the same time!
Today’s article talks about the decrease in the rate of covid-19 spread in Mumbai, India.
The article title is: ‘Mumbai Slowdown’.
Did you find words that were absolutely new? Great! Below are the explanations given for some of those difficult words you found. Go through them slowly and don’t forget to do the exercises at the end.
Important words and idioms from the article
BELLWETHER
Pronunciation: bel-veh-dhuh
Part of Speech: noun
Meaning: something or someone who leads a trend
Synonyms: doyen, forerunner, guide, leader
Antonyms: follower
Usage: Susheela was the bellwether of the company in taking such progressive initiatives.
INTERVENTION
Pronunciation: in-tuh-ven-shn
Part of Speech: noun
Meaning: a) the act of taking part in something in order to change the course of events
b) action taken to improve medical disorder
Synonyms: interference, mediation, arbitration, intercession
Usage: All the crime suspects were taken into intervention.
Forms: intervene(verb)
EQUIPPED
Pronunciation: uh-kvipt
Part of Speech: verb
Meaning: a) supply with necessary items for a particular purpose
b) prepare someone for a particular task
Synonyms: armed, supplied, rigged, arrayed
Forms: unarmed, unprepared
Usage: Dr.Sheena was fully equipped to proceed with the surgery.
Forms : equip(verb), equipment(noun)
OVERTAKE
Pronunciation: ow-vuh-teik
Part of Speech: verb
Meaning: come suddenly upon and take on the ongoing task
Synonyms: beat, befall, outdo, engulf
Antonyms: fall behind
Usage: A speeding car approached and overtook me on the road.
PROVISION
Pronunciation: prow-vi-zhn
Part of Speech: noun, verb
Meaning: a) the action of providing or supplying something for use(noun)
b) an amount or thing supplied or provided(noun)
c) supply with food, drink, or equipment, especially for a journey(verb)
Synonyms: catering, arrangement, stock
Antonyms: taking
Usage: The provision of food materials to the remote areas is not enough.
Forms: provide(noun) , provisional(noun,adjective)
MISINTERPRET
Pronunciation: mis-uhn-tuh-pruht
Part of Speech: verb
Meaning: to explain or understand something wrongly
Synonyms: misunderstand, miscalculate, garble, err
Antonyms: clarify, interpret, decipher
Usage: I misinterpreted the ending of the book.
Forms: misinterpretation(noun)
ERRONEOUS
Pronunciation: uh-row-nee-uhs
Part of Speech: adjective
Meaning: wrong
Synonyms: false, faulty, incorrect, flawed
Antonyms: accurate, correct, real
Usage: His judgement aboutRohan was erroneous.
Forms: error(noun)
STAGNANT
Pronunciation: stag-nuhnt
Part of Speech: adjective
Meaning: showing no activity
Synonyms: dormant, inactive, idle, static
Antonyms: active, mobile, energetic
Usage: The robbery case remained stagnant for years.
Forms: stagnation(noun), stagnancy(adjective)
CONSOLIDATE
Pronunciation: kuhn-saw-luhd-eit
Part of Speech: verb
Meaning: a)make something physically stronger or more solid
b)combine a number of things into a single more effective
Synonyms: cement, concretise, develop, fortify
Antonyms: decrease, lessen, weaken
Usage: Jake flew over from Australia to consolidate the family bond.
Forms: consolidation(noun)
SURVEILLANCE
Pronunciation: suh-vei-luhns
Part of Speech: noun
Meaning: close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal
Synonyms: control, vigilance, scrutiny, supervision
Antonyms: negligence, unobservance
Usage: There were surveillance cameras everywhere in the crime scene.
Forms: survey(verb,noun)
Practice Questions
Q1) If the words ‘stagnant’ and ‘active’ make a perfect pair, select the correct pair from the following set of words following the same logic:
- Bellwether-Follower
- Erroneous-Flawed
- Equipped-Provided
- Consolidate-Efficient
Q2) Create sentences of your own with the following words:
- Surveillance
- Provision
- Bellwether
- Misinterpret
- Overtake
Tell us your answers in the comments below.
