GRADE: 3
1. border
WORDMASTERS 2016 – 2017
MEET: 2
noun
1 a line separating two political or geographical areas, especially
countries: the US border with Canada
• district near a line separating two political or geographical areas:
a refugee camp on the border.
2 the edge or boundary of something, or the part near it: the
northern border of their distribution area
3 a band or strip, especially a decorative one, around the edge of
something: put a white border around the picture.
• a strip of ground along the edge of a lawn or path for planting
flowers or shrubs: the garden borders are planted with flowers
synonyms: edge, margin, perimeter, circumference, periphery;
rim, fringe, verge; sides
verb
to form an edge along or beside (something): a pool bordered by
palm trees.
• be by (another country or area): regions bordering France
• be close to an extreme condition: Sam arrived in a state of
excitement bordering on chaos
• provide with a decorative edge: a curving driveway bordered with
chrysanthemums.
synonyms: surround, enclose, encircle, circle, edge, fringe, bound,
flank
2. quake
Verb
shake or tremble: the rumbling vibrations set the whole valley
quaking.
• shake or shudder with fear: those words should have them
quaking in their boots.
Synonyms: shake, tremble, quiver, shudder, sway, rock, wobble,
move, heave, convulse
3. hasty
adjective
done or acting with excessive speed or urgency; hurried: a hasty
decision
• acting with excessive speed or insufficient consideration: don't be
too hasty in criticizing others
synonyms: quick, hurried, fast, swift, rapid, speedy, brisk
4. hut
noun
a small single-story building of simple or crude construction,
serving as a poor, rough, or temporary house or shelter.
We spent two nights in a rustic little hut near the village.
Synonyms: shack, chantey, cabin, log cabin, shelter, shed, leanto, hovel; hovel; cabana.
1
GRADE: 3
5. boast
WORDMASTERS 2016 – 2017
MEET: 2
verb
1 talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's
achievements, possessions, or abilities: Ted used to boast, “I am
the best”
Synonyms: brag, crow, swagger, swank, gloat, show off;
exaggerate, overstate
2 have something that is a source of pride the hotel boasts high
standards of comfort.
noun
an act of talking with excessive pride and self-satisfaction: I said I
would score, and it wasn't an idle boast.
Synonyms: brag, self-praise, exaggeration, overstatement,
6. intense
adjective
1 of extreme force, degree, or strength: the job demands intense
concentration
• highly concentrated: a phase of intense activity.
Synonyms: extreme
2 having or showing strong feelings or opinions; extremely serious:
an intense young person, passionate about art
7. cathedral
noun
the principal church of a diocese, with which the bishop is officially
associated: St. Paul's Cathedral.
2
GRADE: 3
WORDMASTERS 2016 – 2017
MEET: 2
8. shuffle
verb
1 walk by dragging one's feet: I stepped into my skis and shuffled
to the edge of the steep slope.
• shift one's position while sitting or move one's feet while standing,
typically because of boredom, nervousness, or embarrassment:
Christine shuffled uneasily in her chair
• put part of one's body into (an item of clothing), typically in a
clumsy way: shuffling her feet into a pair of shoes, she tiptoed out
of the room.
2 rearrange (a deck of cards) by sliding the cards over each other
quickly.
• move (people or things) around so as to occupy different
positions or to be in a different order: she shuffled her papers into a
neat pile.
• play or arrange (tracks on a music player) in a random order. the
control lets you shuffle or skip songs by flicking the phone with your
wrist.
• sort or look through (a number of things) hurriedly: he shuffled
through the papers on his desk.
3 get out of or avoid a responsibility or obligation: some businesses
can shuffle off their responsibilities by claiming to have no
resources
noun
1 a shuffling movement, walk, or sound: there was a shuffle of
approaching feet.
• a quick dragging or scraping movement of the feet in dancing.
• a piece of music for or in the style of a shuffle.
2 an act of shuffling a deck of cards.
9. baffled
adjective
being confused by something, unsure They were baffled by the
directions
verb
Having confused someone. The teacher baffled them with the
question.
10. quartet
noun
a group of four people playing music or singing together.
• a set of four people or things.
3
GRADE: 3
11. shrink
12. punctual
WORDMASTERS 2016 – 2017
MEET: 2
Verb
1 become or make smaller in size or amount; the workforce has
shrunk to less than a thousand
• become smaller as a result of being immersed in water. Washing
a sweater may make it shrink.
• become withdrawn
2 move back or away, especially because of fear or disgust: they
shrank away from the snake
• be averse to or unwilling to do (something difficult or
unappealing): I don't shrink from my responsibilities.
adjective
happening or doing something at the agreed or proper time; on
time: They were punctual for the start of the party.
Synonym: prompt
13. shame
noun
a painful feeling of humiliation from doing wrong or being foolish:
They felt shame at having lied.
• a loss of respect: the incident brought shame on the family
• a regrettable situation or action: it is a shame that they are not
better known.
• something that brings a loss of respect or honor: dishonesty
would bring shame
verb
make someone feel ashamed: I tried to shame them into giving
working harder
• bring shame to: this has shamed our community
• cause someone to feel ashamed or by doing better than them:
their charity shames others into giving more
Synonym: dishonor, humiliation, embarrassment
14. jest
noun
a thing said or done for amusement; a joke: the teacher told jests
to make the class laugh
verb
speak or act in a joking manner: You must be jesting by asking if
I’m from another planet
15. grand
adjective
1 magnificent and imposing in appearance, size, or style: a grand
mansion
• of high rank and manner: she was such a grand lady.
• large or ambitious: his grand design for the future of Europe
• used to suggest size or splendor: the Grand Canyon
2 the largest or most important of something: the grand entrance.
• of the highest rank: the grand duke.
Synonyms: magnificent, impressive, imposing, majestic
4
GRADE: 3
WORDMASTERS 2016 – 2017
MEET: 2
16. alley
noun
a narrow passageway between or behind buildings.
• a path lined with trees, bushes, or stones.
• a long, narrow area in which games such as bowling are played.
Synonyms: lane, path, pathway, passage
17. resume
verb
begin to do something again after a stopping: normal service
resumed later that day
• begin speaking again after a pause or interruption: he sipped at
the glass of water on the lectern and then resumed
• take, pick up, or put on again; return to the use of: the judge
resumed his seat.
Synonyms: restart, renew, continue
18. vague
Adjective
of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning: many
patients suffer vague symptoms.
• thinking or communicating in an unclear way: he had been very
vague about his activities.
Synonyms: hazy, unclear, indistinct
19. flake
noun
1 a small, flat, thin piece of something, typically one that has
broken away or been peeled off from a larger piece: paint peeling
off the walls in flakes
• thin pieces of crushed dried food or bait for fish.
Synonyms: sliver, wafer, shaving, chip, scrap, shred
verb
1 come or fall away from a surface in thin pieces: the paint had
been flaking off for years.
• lose small fragments from the surface: my nails have started to
flake at the ends.
2 break or divide food into thin pieces: flake the fish
Synonyms: Peel, chip, blister, come off in layers
5
GRADE: 3
WORDMASTERS 2016 – 2017
MEET: 2
20. swell
verb
become larger or rounder in size, typically as a result of an
accumulation of fluid: her bruised knee was already swelling up
• become or make greater in intensity, number, amount, or volume:
the murmur swelled to a roar
• be intensely affected or filled with a particular emotion: she felt
herself swell with pride.
Synonyms: expand, bulge, inflate, dilate, bloat, puff up
noun
1 a full or gently rounded shape or form: the swell of the rising
dough
• a gradual increase in sound, amount, or intensity: there was a
swell of support in favor of him.
• a welling up of a feeling: a swell of pride swept over George.
2 a slow, regular movement of the sea in rolling waves that do not
break: there was a heavy swell.
Synonyms: increase, rise, escalation, surge, boost, wave
21. poky
adjective
1 annoyingly slow or dull: the poky old horse
2 uncomfortably small and cramped: five of us shared the poky
little room.
22. troupe
23. mock
Noun
a group of dancers, actors, or other entertainers who tour to
different places
Synonyms: Group, company, band, ensemble, set, cast
verb
tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous manner: do not
mock others who are trying their best
• make something seem laughably unreal or impossible:
Arguments mock peace
• mimic someone or something scornfully or contemptuously.
Synonyms: ridicule, jeer at, sneer at, make fun of, laugh at,
parody
adjective
not authentic or real, but without the intention to deceive: a mock
turtleneck sweater
• an event arranged for training, practice, or demonstration: a mock
debate
Synonyms: imitation, man-made, simulated, synthetic, fake, false,
faux, reproduction, pretend, phony
6
GRADE: 3
24. faint
25. orchard
WORDMASTERS 2016 – 2017
MEET: 2
adjective
1 a sight, smell, or sound that is barely noticeable: the faint murmur
of voices.
• a slight hope, chance, or possibility: there is a faint chance of that
happening
• lacking in strength or enthusiasm; feeble: the faint beat of a
butterfly's wing.
2 weak and dizzy; close to losing consciousness: the heat made
him feel faint.
Synonyms: indistinct, vague, unclear, muted, quiet, muffled, weak,
small, slight
verb
lose consciousness for a short time: I fainted from the smell, but
was then OK
noun
a sudden loss of consciousness: she fell to the floor in a faint.
noun
a piece of land planted with fruit trees.
7