Max Vocab - TOEFL 4500

This TOEFL vocabulary list has 4500 words. It is particularly useful when test day is coming, and you are planning to review TOEFL words in a short time frame.

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TOEFL 4500 - Set 11

(300 words)

Word	POS	Definition
bubble	noun	A small, round body of liquid surrounded by a thin film
buck	noun	A male deer, antelope, rabbit, or hare.
buckle	verb	To fasten or secure with a clasp
buddy	noun	A close friend
buffalo	noun	A large animal with a shaggy mane and horns, found in North America and Asia
bulb	noun	A rounded part of a plant that grows underground and stores nutrients
bulletin	noun	A brief public notice or announcement
bump	verb	To hit or knock against something
bundle	noun	A collection of things or quantity of material tied or wrapped together
bureau	noun	An office or department for transacting particular business
burgeon	verb	To grow or develop rapidly
burrow	verb	To dig a hole or tunnel into or under something
cabin	noun	A small, simple house made of wood
cabinet	noun	A piece of furniture with shelves or drawers for storing or displaying items
cable	noun	A thick, strong rope made of wires twisted together
cactus	noun	A plant that typically grows in arid regions and has thick, fleshy parts to store water.
cafeteria	noun	A place where people, often in schools or workplaces, can select food from a counter and eat it on the premises.
calcium	noun	A chemical element that is important for bones and teeth
calculus	noun	A branch of mathematics dealing with rates of change and accumulation
calendar	noun	A chart or series of pages showing the days, weeks, and months of a particular year
camouflage	noun	A disguise or cover that makes something blend in with its surroundings
campaign	noun	A series of activities designed to achieve a goal, often in politics or business
cannibalism	noun	The practice of eating the flesh of one's own species
canopy	noun	An overhead covering or layer
canyon	noun	A deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it
capability	noun	The power or ability to do something
capacity	noun	The maximum amount that something can contain or produce
cape	noun	A sleeveless outer garment that drapes over the shoulders and fastens at the neck
captive	noun	A person who has been taken prisoner or an animal that has been confined
cardiac	adj.	Related to the heart
cargo	noun	The goods carried by a ship, aircraft, or other large vehicle
caribou	noun	A large North American deer with large antlers
carnivore	noun	An animal that eats meat
carp	verb	To complain or find fault continually
cart	noun	A small vehicle with two or four wheels that is pushed or pulled and used for carrying things.
cartilage	noun	Flexible connective tissue found in various parts of the body, such as joints, ear, and nose
carve	verb	To cut into a surface to create an object or design
cascade	noun	A series of small waterfalls or a process where something, typically information or effects, is passed on in a sequence.
cascara	noun	Dried bark of a buckthorn tree used as a laxative
cassette	noun	A small container holding magnetic tape for audio or video recording and playback
cast	verb	To throw or fling something
catalog	noun	A complete list of items, typically in alphabetical or systematic order
catalyst	noun	A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.
category	noun	A class or division of people or things regarded as having particular shared characteristics
caterpillar	noun	The larva of a butterfly or moth, which has a segmented wormlike body with three pairs of true legs and several pairs of leg-like appendages.
cavity	noun	A hollow space within a solid object
cease	verb	To stop or come to an end
celebrate	verb	To mark a special occasion with festivities or other enjoyable activities
celebrated	adj.	Widely known and praised
cell	noun	The basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known living organisms.
census	noun	An official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals.
centennial	adj.	Relating to a 100th anniversary
ceramic	noun	An object made from clay and hardened by heat
cereal	noun	Grains used for food
certificate	noun	A document serving as proof of a fact or qualification
chamber	noun	A room used for a special or official purpose, or a group of people who form (part of) a legislature
championship	noun	A competition to determine a winner
channel	noun	A length of water wider than a strait, joining two larger areas of water, especially two seas.
chapel	noun	A small place of worship
characteristic	noun	A feature or quality belonging to a person, place, or thing that helps to identify it
characterize	verb	To describe the distinctive qualities or features of someone or something
charcoal	noun	A black substance made from burnt wood
chart	noun	A visual representation of data
charter	noun	A document outlining the principles, functions, and organization of a corporate body
checked	verb	To examine something to determine its accuracy, quality, or condition
chief	noun	A leader or person in charge
chilled	adj.	Cooled to a low temperature
chimpanzee	noun	A great ape native to the forests and savannahs of tropical Africa.
chip	noun	A small piece broken off
chlorine	noun	A chemical element with a strong smell, used to disinfect and bleach
choir	noun	A group of singers who perform together, typically in a church or school setting.
cholesterol	noun	A type of fat found in your blood that is necessary for building cells but can be harmful in excess
choreographer	noun	A person who creates and arranges dances
chromosome	noun	A thread-like structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
chronical	adj.	Persisting for a long time or constantly recurring
circuit	noun	A complete and closed path around which a circulating electric current can flow.
circumstance	noun	A condition or fact affecting a situation
claim	verb	To state something as true, typically without providing evidence or proof.
clam	noun	A marine bivalve mollusk with a shell
classic	adj.	Having lasting significance or recognized value
classify	verb	To arrange or organize by categories
clay	noun	A natural, earthy material that is plastic when wet and hardens when heated, used for making bricks, pottery, etc.
client	noun	A person or organization using the services of a professional person or company
cliff	noun	A steep rock face, especially at the edge of the sea
clipper	noun	A fast sailing ship used in the 19th century, known for its speed.
closet	noun	A small room or space used for storage
clue	noun	A piece of evidence or information used in the detection of a crime or solving of a mystery
clump	noun	A group or bunch of things clustered together
clutch	noun	A tight grasp or an act of holding on to something tightly
code	noun	A system of symbols and rules used to represent instructions to a computer
coexist	verb	To live or exist together at the same time or in the same place
cognition	noun	The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses
collaborator	noun	A person who works jointly on an activity or project
collect	verb	To bring together from various places
collectively	adv.	As a group or whole
collide	verb	To crash into something
colonize	verb	To establish control over an area and its people
colony	noun	A group of people living in a new territory but maintaining ties with their homeland
column	noun	A vertical structural element that supports a building or other structure.
combat	verb	To take action to reduce or prevent something bad
combine	verb	To join or merge to form a single unit or substance
combustible	adj.	Able to catch fire and burn easily
comedy	noun	A genre of entertainment intended to make people laugh.
comic	adj.	Causing laughter or amusement
command	verb	To give an authoritative order
commemorate	verb	To honor or remember someone or something with a ceremony or action
comment	noun	A statement or remark expressing an opinion or reaction
commentary	noun	A spoken or written discussion providing opinions or explanations about an event or situation.
commit	verb	To carry out or perpetrate a mistake, crime, or immoral act
commitment	noun	A promise or firm decision to do something
commodity	noun	A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold.
communal	adj.	Shared by all members of a community
commute	verb	To travel regularly between two places, especially between home and work.
companion	noun	A person or animal with whom one spends a lot of time or with whom one travels
comparison	noun	The act of evaluating similarities and differences between two or more things
compass	noun	An instrument used for navigation and orientation that shows direction
compensate	verb	To make up for something unwelcome or unpleasant by exerting an opposite force or effect
competence	noun	The ability to do something successfully or efficiently
completion	noun	The act of finishing something
complicated	adj.	Consisting of many interconnecting parts or elements
compose	verb	To write or create (music, poetry, or other artistic works)
composition	noun	The way in which a whole or mixture is made up
compound	noun	A substance made from two or more elements chemically combined
compress	verb	To press together or reduce in size
compromise	noun	An agreement where each side makes concessions
concentration	noun	The action or power of focusing one's attention or mental effort
concept	noun	An idea or mental image which corresponds to some distinct entity or class of entities.
condensation	noun	The process by which a gas changes into a liquid
condense	verb	To make something shorter or more compact
conductivity	noun	The ability of a material to allow the flow of electric current or heat.
conductor	noun	A person who directs the performance of an orchestra or choir.
confederacy	noun	A union of groups or states with a common purpose
confession	noun	A statement admitting guilt or responsibility
configuration	noun	An arrangement of parts or elements
conflict	noun	A serious disagreement or argument
conform	verb	To comply with rules or standards
confront	verb	To face someone or something, especially in a challenging way
congestion	noun	Overcrowding or clogging
congress	noun	A formal meeting or assembly for discussion between delegates
consciously	adv.	In a deliberate and intentional manner
consent	noun	Permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.
consequence	noun	A result or effect of an action or condition
consequently	adv.	As a result
conservation	noun	Protection and preservation of the environment and wildlife
consistent	adj.	Acting or done in the same way over time, especially to be fair or accurate.
consistently	adv.	In a steady and regular way
consonant	noun	A speech sound that is not a vowel
constantly	adv.	Happening all the time or very often
constituent	noun	A component part of something
constitution	noun	A set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed.
constricted	adj.	Made narrower or tighter
consumption	noun	The act of using up a resource
contain	verb	To hold or have within
contemporary	adj.	Belonging to the same time period as something else
contest	noun	A competition where individuals or teams strive to win
context	noun	The circumstances or setting surrounding an event, statement, or idea
continuation	noun	The act of carrying on or extending something
continuity	noun	The unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over time.
continuum	noun	A continuous sequence or range
contribute	verb	To give something, especially money or goods, to help achieve or provide something
convection	noun	Transfer of heat through fluid movement
convenience	noun	The state of being able to proceed with something with little effort or difficulty.
conventional	adj.	Following accepted customs or practices
converge	verb	To come together and meet at a point
conversation	noun	A talk between two or more people
converse	verb	To engage in spoken exchange of thoughts, ideas, or feelings.
convince	verb	To persuade someone to do something or to believe that something is true
cooperative	adj.	Willing to work together with others
coral	noun	A marine invertebrate that builds reefs
corona	noun	The outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere
corporate	adj.	Relating to a large company or group
correspond	verb	To communicate by exchanging letters or messages
corrosion	noun	The gradual destruction of materials, usually metals, by chemical reaction with the environment.
corrosive	adj.	Able to destroy or damage by chemical action
cosmic	adj.	Related to the universe or outer space
cosmos	noun	The universe seen as a well-ordered whole
counseling	noun	Professional guidance to resolve personal or psychological problems
counselor	noun	A person who provides advice or guidance
counteract	verb	To act against something to reduce its force or neutralize it.
coupon	noun	A voucher entitling the holder to a discount
crab	noun	A marine crustacean with a broad carapace, stalked eyes, and pincers
crack	verb	To break without dividing into separate parts
cramped	adj.	Uncomfortably small or restricted in space
crater	noun	A large, bowl-shaped cavity in the ground or on the surface of a planet or the moon, typically one caused by an explosion or the impact of a meteorite.
crawl	verb	To move slowly on hands and knees
creativity	noun	The use of imagination or original ideas
crest	noun	The top or highest point of something, especially a mountain or wave.
crippling	adj.	Causing severe damage or impairment
crisscross	verb	To move back and forth or intersect
criterion	noun	A standard or principle used to judge or decide something
critic	noun	A person who evaluates or judges
critique	noun	A detailed analysis and assessment of something, especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory.
crow	noun	A large bird with black feathers and a loud, harsh call
crown	noun	A circular ornamental headdress worn by a monarch as a symbol of authority
crusade	noun	A vigorous campaign for a cause
crustacean	noun	An aquatic arthropod with a hard shell
cube	noun	A solid three-dimensional shape with six square faces of equal size.
cue	noun	A signal for action
cultivated	adj.	Developed through education or training; refined
culture	noun	The arts, customs, and habits that characterize a particular society or nation.
cumbersome	adj.	Large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; unwieldy.
cuneiform	noun	An ancient writing system used in the Near East, characterized by wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets.
curriculum	noun	The subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college
curve	noun	A line or surface that bends smoothly without any sharp angles
cylinder	noun	A solid geometric figure with straight parallel sides and a circular or oval cross section.
dairy	noun	A place where milk is processed and products like cheese and butter are made
dam	noun	A barrier built to hold back water and raise its level
dawn	noun	The first light of day
deadline	noun	A specific time or date by which something must be completed
dealer	noun	A person or business that buys and sells goods
debate	noun	A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward.
debris	noun	The remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
debut	noun	The first public appearance or performance.
decade	noun	A period of ten years
deciduous	adj.	Shedding leaves annually
decipher	verb	To interpret or make sense of something difficult to understand
declaration	noun	A formal or explicit statement or announcement
declare	verb	To announce something clearly, firmly, publicly, or officially
decode	verb	To convert a coded message into understandable language
decompose	verb	To break down into simpler parts
decorate	verb	To add something to an object or place to make it look more attractive
decrease	verb	To become smaller or less in size, amount, intensity, or degree
dedication	noun	Commitment to a task or purpose
defense	noun	Action of protecting from attack
deficiency	noun	A lack of something necessary
deficient	adj.	Lacking something essential
define	verb	To explain the meaning of something
definitive	adj.	Serving as a final solution or authority
deform	verb	To change shape, often in a way that is not desired
deliberate	adj.	Done consciously and intentionally
delight	noun	Great pleasure or joy
deliver	verb	To bring or transport to a designated place
delta	noun	A landform at the mouth of a river
demanding	adj.	Requiring much effort or attention
democrat	noun	A person who supports democracy
democratic	adj.	Relating to a system of government where the people have the power to make decisions through elected representatives
dentist	noun	A professional who treats teeth and gums
depend	verb	To rely on for support or to be influenced by
deplete	verb	To use up the supply or resources of
deprive	verb	To take something away from
derive	verb	To obtain something from a source
descend	verb	To go or come down
descent	noun	The act of moving downward
describe	verb	To give an account of in words
descriptive	adj.	Providing details or information
deserted	adj.	Empty of people
destined	adj.	Certain to happen or be achieved
destruction	noun	The act of causing so much damage to something that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired
detective	noun	A person, often a police officer, whose job is to investigate crimes and gather evidence.
deter	verb	To discourage someone from doing something
deteriorate	verb	To become progressively worse
devote	verb	To give time or resources to a person, activity, or cause
diagonal	adj.	Joining two opposite corners of a shape or surface
dictate	verb	To give orders or commands
diction	noun	Choice and use of words in speech or writing
differentiate	verb	To recognize or express the difference between things
digest	verb	To break down food in the body into substances that can be used for energy
digestive	adj.	Related to the process of breaking down food in the body
dinosaur	noun	A large extinct reptile
dioxide	noun	A chemical compound with two oxygen atoms bonded to another element
diplomat	noun	A person appointed by a government to conduct negotiations and maintain relations with other countries.
director	noun	A person in charge of an activity, department, or organization
directory	noun	A book or collection of information listing individuals or organizations alphabetically or thematically with details such as names, addresses, and phone numbers
disadvantage	noun	An unfavorable condition or circumstance
discipline	noun	Training to improve strength or self-control
disease	noun	A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific signs or symptoms.
disguise	verb	To change appearance to hide identity
disintegrate	verb	To break into parts or components
disorder	noun	A state of confusion or mess
display	verb	To show or exhibit something
dispute	verb	To argue or debate about something
dissolve	verb	To mix with a liquid and become part of it
distinct	adj.	Easily or clearly heard, seen, or understood; different in a way that is clear to the senses.
distinguish	verb	To recognize or identify as different
distress	noun	Extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain
disturbance	noun	An interruption or disruption
dive	verb	To plunge into water headfirst
diversification	noun	The process of varying or expanding
diversity	noun	The state of having a range of different things or people
divert	verb	To change the direction or path of something
division	noun	The act of separating something into parts or the process of being separated.
documentary	noun	A non-fiction film or television program presenting facts about a subject
documentation	noun	Written or printed information that provides instructions or records
domain	noun	An area of knowledge or activity
downtown	noun	The central business district of a city
draft	noun	A preliminary version of a piece of writing
drain	verb	To remove liquid
dramatic	adj.	Sudden and striking
drift	verb	To be carried slowly by a current of air or water
drill	noun	A tool or machine used for making holes
dull	adj.	Lacking interest or excitement
dump	verb	To release or dispose of something carelessly
dwarf	noun	A person or creature of unusually small size.
ease	verb	To make something less severe or intense
eclipse	noun	An event in which the shadow of one celestial body falls on another
ecology	noun	The study of interactions among living organisms and their environment
economy	noun	The system of production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services
ecosystem	noun	A community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system.
edifice	noun	A large or impressive building
editorial	noun	An article that expresses opinions