This vocabulary list defines the less common words or particular meanings used in the Story texts.

List of Abbreviations

A

account executive, n.

manager of the work done for clients

act, v.

to behave

actually, adv.

in fact, = really

advertising agency, n.

business that creates advertising for other companies or organizations

afford, v.

to be able to pay for

amazing, adj.

incredible, hard to believe

approach, v.

to go close to

arrange, v.

to put in order

arrive, v.

to come; to get to a destination

assemble, v.

to put pieces together

B

blackboard, n.

smooth, vertical surface that you write on with chalk

block, n.

length between two streets

blush, v.

to turn red with embarassment

boil, v.

to cook a liquid, to cook a food in a liquid

brick, n.

block of building material, made of fired clay

brush, n.

painting tool, with a handle and soft bristles

budget, n.

list of items and services and what they cost

bunch, n.

group, handful

C

café, n.

informal restaurant for a light meal

care for, v.

to like (often in the negative)

EX: I don't really care for mushrooms.

cashier, n.

person who takes the money in a store, usually using a cash register

cent, n.

one hundredth of a dollar

cereal, n.

(short for "breakfast cereal") toasted, sweetened grains

EX: Cornflakes are Becky's favorite cereal.

chanterelle, n.

type of edible mushroom, yellow and trumpet-shaped

chat, v.

to talk casually

chicken pot pie, n.

dish of chicken and vegetables with a pie crust

clerk, n.

person who sells in a store

close up, v.

to get a store or restaurant ready to close at the end of the day

collect, v.

to gather, to pick up

considering, conj.

since, in view of the fact that

cornflakes, n.

toasted corn breakfast cereal

counter, n.

level surface for selling, serving, or eating food or other things

course, n.

class in school or university, including lectures or discussions

croissant, n.

crescent-shaped pastry, sometimes filled with fruit, cheese or almond paste

crowded, adj.

filled with people

cute, adj.

attractive, good-looking

D

deliver, v.

to take something to someone

deserve, v.

to earn or be worthy of a reward

EX: She deserves a chance to relax.

dice, v.

to cut in cubes

discover, v.

to find

dish, n.

a food, one part of a meal

dorm, n.

student residence (short for "dormitory")

dough, n.

raw flour and water mixture, turns into bread when baked

downtown, n.

city center

drawer, n.

box that slides for storing things, often clothes

drive, n.

act of driving a car

dude, n.

man (very informal)

E

embarass, v.

to make someone feel uncomfortable or put someone in an awkward situation

enchilada, n.

Mexican dish of tortillas that wrap up meat and beans, with tomato sauce and cheese on top

episode, n.

one of a series of scenes

expect, v.

to consider likely

F

fantastic, adj.

wonderful, great

figure, v.

to decide after thinking

filling, n.

food mixture in a pie

fix, v.

to repair; (of food) to cook

EX: Could you fix me an omelette?

floppy disk, n.

small, flat storage device for computer data

format, n.

organization and appearance of something written

fridge, n.

short for "refrigerator"

front hall, n.

room just inside the front door

G

gather, v.

to bring together, collect

get going, v.

to make a start

go right ahead, idiom

= please do

grab, v.

to take, get (informal)

graduate, v.

to finish one's schooling

grapefruit, n.

large, somewhat sour, citrus fruit

grilled cheese sandwich, n.

sandwich made from two slices of bread and mild cheese, fried on a grill

gulp, v.

to swallow hard

H

head, n.

compact, leafy part of a plant

EX: Could you get me a head of romaine lettuce?

head, v.

to walk in a certain direction

hectic, adj.

very busy, almost chaotic

hold on, v.

to wait

homework, n.

work assigned by a teacher for schoolchildren to do at home

hypertext, n.

a set of information linked together so that various paths through it are possible

EX: Half Moon Café is a hypertext about daily life for some people in an American city.

I

immediately, adv.

= at once

indignantly, adv.

with anger at something unjust or mean

ingredient, n.

any food used in making a dish

in one's tracks, adj.

right where one is standing

EX: Mike stops in his tracks.

insist, v.

to stay with what you said, to persist

introduce, v.

bring a thing or person to the knowledge of another person

J

jack o'lantern, n.

type of poisonous mushroom

jam, n.

fruit preserves to eat with bread

jar, n.

small, glass container

jot down, v.

to write briefly, to make a note

juice box, n.

child-sized serving of juice in a box with a straw

K

kinky, adj.

unusual, unconventional (implies something sexual)

L

lack, v.

to not have

laundry room, n.

room that contains a washer and dryer

leftover, adj.

saved from a previous use

liquid, n.

flowing substance, such as water, opposed to a solid and a gas

literature, n.

writings: novels, stories and poetry

little-used, adj.

not used very often

look through, v.

to examine briefly

EX: Carl looks through the mail he got today.

M

magazine, n.

monthly or weekly periodical, often printed on glossy paper

make it, idiom

to succeed

mole, n.

small, furry, insect-eating animal that digs holes

mood, n.

state of mind, feeling

EX: I'm just in such a good mood.

munch, v.

to eat (especially something crunchy)

My treat., idiom

= I'll pay, as a favor to you

N

neighbor, n.

person who lives nearby or in the same building

newsstand, n.

booth or shop where you buy newspapers and magazines

notebook, n.

book of blank paper for notes

now and then, adv.

= from time to time

O

objective, adj.

not biased or subjective

order, v.

to ask for something in order to buy it

P

party, v.

to go out and have fun (implies drinking alcohol)

peel, v.

to cut the outer skin off a vegetable

perishable, adj.

easily spoiled (of food)

petite, adj.

small (of women or clothing)

Ping-Pong, n.

game with two paddles and a lightweight ball, = table tennis

pour, v.

1. to serve a liquid; 2. to rain heavily

preview, n.

short excerpt of a movie, shown before a full-length movie in a theater or on video

properly, adv.

in the right way, carefully following rules

proposal, n.

written report that states how a job will be done

pursue an avenue, idiom

follow or continue with a desired route

EX: Don't pursue that avenue any further.

= Don't continue with that plan. (the plan is not said)

puzzle, n.

a game consisting of a set of pieces that fit together

Q

R

rack, n.

metal or wooden stand for displaying things

radish, n.

small, strong-flavored salad vegetable, red with white inside

realize, v.

to notice

recipe, n.

list of ingredients and method for cooking a dish

reluctantly, adv.

unwillingly, after pausing

ride, n.

an act of riding, especially by car, = lift

right, adv.

quite, very; very soon.

EX: I work right near here. I'll be right there.

romaine, adj.

type of lettuce with long, dark green leaves

roll out, v.

to flatten, as with a rolling pin

rough draft, n.

first written version

rushed, adj.

= hurried, (p. p. of "rush")

S

scan, v.

to convert from paper to computer readable form, using a scanner

seat, n.

1. something to sit on, such as a chair 2. a place to sit

section, n.

= part

semester, n.

academic period, usually about 15 weeks long

senior, n.

the last (usually fourth) year of high school or university

set off, v.

to leave, to get going

settled, adj.

moved in, (p. p. of "settle")

silverware, n.

= cutlery, flatware of silver or steel

sip, v.

to drink carefully

slice, v.

to cut in flat pieces

snack, n.

light meal, often food eaten between meals

special, n.

dish that is available specially, not on the regular menu

spot, n.

small place

EX: Let me show you my spot for chanterelles.

spot, v.

to notice, identify

spread, v.

to cover something with

stack, n.

pile, bunch of things arranged on top of each other

stool, n.

tall chair

stuff, n.

things (informal)

subject, n.

topic, what one is talking about

swamped, adj.

overwhelmed, having too much (p. p. of "swamp")

EX: She's been swamped with work lately

switch on, v.

to turn on the electricity for

T

tasty, adj.

good to eat, = yummy

tortilla, n.

Latin American flat bread made from corn or wheat flour

tortilla chip, n.

flat, crunchy corn snack

treat, v.

to pay for someone else's food, as a favor

trip, n.

period of travel

twist, v.

to turn

U

unpack, v.

unload, take out of a storage box

V

W

way too, adv.

excessively

EX: I am taking way too many courses this semester. Today seems way too short.

What do you do for a living?, question

= What is your job?

wholesaler, n.

business that sells to other companies

withstand, v.

to continue to operate or do well

wonder, n.

the cause of astonishment or surprise

EX: No wonder you're acting like this.

worth, prep.

deserving of

EX: It's definitely worth gathering.

X

Y

yell, v.

to shout words

Z