Unit 11vital (adj) 

necessary to life

 Having its mother's milk was vital to the kitten's survival. 

Synonyms: essential, critical

Unit 11

arid (adj) 

extremely dry 

The farmland was so arid that no crops could grow. 

Antonyms: wet, moist

Unit 11

accommodate (verb) 

1. to do a favor or service for 2. to hold comfortably without crowding 1. We made burgers, but also veggie burgers to accommodate the vegetarians. 2. The bus accommodates 50 passengers. 

Other forms: The word accommodation (noun) can mean both the act of accommodating and also a place to stay like a hotel or lodge.

Unit 11

swarm (verb) 

to move or gather in large numbers (as with bees) 

The kids on my block swarmed to the ice cream truck last night. 

Other forms: A swarm (noun) also means "a large number of insects moving together," and is

especially used to describe bees.

Unit 11

leeway (noun) extra time, space or materials to work with, or a bit of freedom My parents are very relaxed, so they gave us plenty of leeway when it came to building a tree house. 

Synonyms: flexibility

Unit 11

cordial (adj) 

friendly and warm 

She gave me a cordial greeting when I got off the plane. 

Antonyms: cold, distant 

Unit 11commend (verb) 

to congratulate or praise 

Makela, I must commend you for a job well done. 

Antonyms: to insult, to diss 

Other forms: A commendable (adj) job is one that is worthy of praise and may receive a commendation(noun).

Unit 11

compact (adj) 

dense, solid or packed together 

The doughnuts were so compact in the box that their powdered sugar was coming off.

Unit 11

plummet (verb) 

to fall straight down 

The skydiver was going to plummet from the plane and land on the top of a hotel in Las Vegas. 

Synonyms: to plunge, drop 

Antonyms: to ascend, increase, rise

Unit 11

stationary (adj) 

standing still, not moving 

The gym had lots of stationary bikes; even though you didn't go anywhere, you got a good

workout.

Unit 11

declare (verb) 

to make known officially; to announce 

After hearing how children were being treated in African mines, Ed declared that he was against buying diamonds. 

Synonyms: to pronounce, to state

 Other forms: If you declare something, you make a declaration (noun).

Unit 11

transport (verb) 

to carry or move from one place to another 

The ferry transported the new cars from maker to seller. 

Synonyms: to carry, convey 

Other forms: Transport can also be a noun, meaning "a vehicle that carries something, especially a plane or ship."

Unit 11

knack (noun) 

a clever skill, or a special way of doing something

 David had a knack for computer programming; he had been doing it since he was six.

Unit 11

blunder (noun) 

a careless mistake 

It was quite a blunder when the principal cancelled school because he thought there would be a snowstorm: not a single snowflake fell. Synonyms: error, slip-up 

Other forms: Blunder is also a verb meaning "to make a mistake," as in: The announcer blundered the names of the musicians in the performance; he couldn't pronounce

any of them.

Unit 11soothe (verb) 

to calm or comfort (someone); to ease or relieve pain 

Applying fresh aloe vera can soothe a sunburn.

 Antonyms: to upset 

Other forms: Something that soothes can be soothing (adj), like a mother's voice to a baby.

Unit 11