Learzing

"Function" means "to work or operate in the correct or normal way." Example #1: We need to get this department functioning efficiently. Example #2: The operation should help his lungs to function properly again. As a noun: Example #3: The function of the heart is to pump blood through the body. Example #4: Surely the function of the law is to protect everyone's rights.

"Account for something" means "to be the explanation or cause of something." Example: The bad weather may have accounted for the small crowd. Example: How do you account for the missing money?

"Adjust" means "to change something slightly." Example #1: Adjust the angle of your monitor so you can easily read it. Example #2: If the chair is too high you can adjust it to suit you. Example #3: You don't need to adjust the setting every time you take a photo. Example #4: As a teacher you have to adjust your methods to suit the needs of slower children.

"Mug" means "face."

A concept is an idea or abstract principle. Example #1: I failed to grasp the film's central concept. Example #2: It is very difficult to define the concept of beauty. Example #3: She added that the concept of arranged marriages is misunderstood in the west.

"Bind" means "to tie or wrap something with rope, string, etc." Forms: bind / bound / bound

"Predict" means "to say that an event or action will happen in the future." Example #1: I cannot predict what will happen next year. Example #2: It's still not possible to accurately predict the occurrence of earthquakes. Example #3: Who could have predicted that within ten years he'd be in charge of the whole company?

At the village of Nazareth in Israel, there lived a young girl called Mary who was a virgin. Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, who was a carpenter. One day an angel appeared, "Mary, you will give birth to God’s Son and His name shall be Jesus, the Saviour." Mary's relative Elizabeth was also pregnant. Her child would become known as John the Baptist. Joseph and Mary left Nazareth. They walked 60 miles to register for the Roman census. Eventually they arrived in Bethlehem. But they couldn’t find any accommodation. All that was offered to Joseph was a stable. So it came to pass, that the Son of God was born in a stable. Nearby shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks. Suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared. The angel announced, "Today in the city of David, a Saviour, the Christ, is born." The shepherds ran to Bethlehem to see this miracle. Also wise men from the east followed a star to see the new King. When the wise men arrived at Jerusalem, they were directed to king Herod's palace. When Herod heard of a newly born Baby King, he was troubled. The priests told Herod that the King would be born in Bethlehem. So the wise men followed the star, until it stopped over where the young Child was. They worshipped the Child with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The wise men took a different route home after being warned in a dream. Joseph and Mary took the baby to Jerusalem. The baby was taken to the temple to be named, and sacrifices were offered, as was the custom.

"Involve" means "to include someone in something, or to make them take part in or feel part of it." Example #1: I prefer teaching methods that actively involve students in learning. Example #2: They said that the job would involve travelling to Paris. Example #3: The test involves simple calculations, such as addition and subtraction.

"Sick as a dog" means "very sick."

"Modify" means "to change something slightly, usually in order to improve it." Example #1: He modified the recipe by using oil instead of butter. Example #2: We can help you modify an existing home or build a new one. Example #3: All files are marked with the date and time they were last modified. Example #4: The school board decided to modify its existing employment policy.

"Within" means "inside or not beyond (a particular area, limit, or period of time)." Example #1: Most Californians live within 20 miles of the coast. Example #2: We recommend that this wine should be consumed within six months. Example #3: If we plan carefully, we should be able to stay within our budget. Example #4: He's very highly regarded within his profession.

"Restrict" means "to limit the actions or movements of someone." Example #1: She was told to restrict the amount of salt she uses. Example #2: Having small children really restricts your social life. Example #3: The government has restricted freedom of movement into and out of the country.

"Turn up" means "to come somewhere, especially unexpectedly."

"Select" means "to choose something from a number of things of the same kind." Example #1: How do you select people for promotion? Example #2: There was a choice of four prizes, and the winner could select one of them. Example #3: Click 'Tools', then select 'Options' from the pull-down menu.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And then He created a man in His own image. God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, where he named all of the animals. Then God created a woman. Adam called her Eve, and together they lived in the garden. Adam told his wife, "God has said that we must not eat from the tree of knowledge." The devil tempted Eve, "When you eat from that tree, you will become like God." Eve ate the fruit, and then gave some to her husband. God found them hiding and asked, "Adam, have you eaten from the tree?" Then God covered their nakedness and banned them from Eden.

"Indicate" means "to show, point, or make clear in another way." Example #1: The map indicates where the treasure is buried. Example #2: The thermometer indicates air temperature. Example #3: Evidence indicates that the experiments were unsuccessful. Example #4: Her reply indicated a very full understanding of the current situation.

"Guts" means "courage." Example #1: Jim had real guts to fight a man twice as big as himself. Example #2: I don't think I'd have the guts to say that to his face.

"Substitute" means "to use something or someone instead of another thing or person." Example #1: You can substitute oil for butter in this recipe. Example #2: Dayton was substituted for Williams in the second half of the game. Example #3: She is trying to be supportive but she can't substitute for Jackie as a mother.

"Fluke" is something good that happens by chance. Example #1: The first goal was just a fluke. Example #2: I got the job by a fluke. Example #3: Passing the exam was a fluke – I had done no work. Example #4: It was just a fluke that you won. You won't be so lucky next time.

"Issue" is an important subject or problem that people are thinking and talking about. Example #1: Abortion is a highly controversial issue. Example #2: We met on several occasions to discuss the issue. Example #3: Agents will raise the issue of prize money for next year's world championships.

"Shrink" means "to become smaller, or to make something smaller." Forms: shrink / shrank / shrunk Example #1: The sweater shrank when it was washed. Example #2: The show's audience has shrunk in the last few months. Example #3: The mountains shrank in the distance as we drove away. Example #4: The company's profits have shrunk from $2 million to $400,000.

"Abide" means "to accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation.)" Forms: Abide / Abode / Abiden

"Investigate" means "to examine a crime, problem, statement, etc. carefully, especially to discover the truth." Example #1: Police are still investigating how the accident happened. Example #2: The aim of the study is to investigate how climate change is affecting animal behavior. Example #3: I wonder what that noise was in the kitchen - I'd better go and investigate.

"Left out in the cold" means "to be ignored, forgotten, or excluded."