Important Vocabulary to Improve your English-10

barrister

In England and Wales, a barrister is a lawyer who represents clients in the higher courts of law. Compare solicitor.


confession
A confession is a signed statement by someone in which they admit that they have committed a particular crime.

Confession is the act of admitting that you have done something that you are ashamed of or embarrassed about.

If you make a confession of your beliefs or feelings, you publicly tell people that this is what you believe or feel.
= declaration
In the Catholic church and in some other churches, if you go to confession, you privately tell a priest about your sins and ask for forgiveness.


blot
If something is a blot on a person's or thing's reputation, it spoils their reputation.

A blot is a drop of liquid that has fallen on to a surface and has dried.

If you blot a surface, you remove liquid from it by pressing a piece of soft paper or cloth onto it.

If you describe something such as a building as a blot on the landscape, you mean that you think it is very ugly and spoils an otherwise attractive place.


drown
When someone drowns or is drowned, they die because they have gone or been pushed under water and cannot breathe.

If you say that a person or thing is drowning in something, you are emphasizing that they have a very large amount of it, or are completely covered in it.

If something drowns a sound, it is so loud that you cannot hear that sound properly.

PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron)
Drown out means the same as drown.

If you say that someone is drowning their sorrows, you mean that they are drinking alcohol in order to forget something sad or upsetting that has happened to them.


stormy
If there is stormy weather, there are strong winds and heavy rain.
calm
Stormy seas have very large strong waves because there are strong winds.
calm
If you describe a situation as stormy, you mean it involves a lot of angry argument or criticism.


subdued
Someone who is subdued is very quiet, often because they are sad or worried about something.

Subdued sounds are not very loud.

Subdued lights or colours are not very bright.


compelling
A compelling argument or reason is one that convinces you that something is true or that something should be done.

If you describe something such as a film or book, or someone's appearance, as compelling, you mean you want to keep looking at it or reading it because you find it so interesting.