circuitous adj.

  1. ADJ-GRADED A circuitous route is long and complicated rather than simple and direct.

contaminate vt.

  1. VERB If something is contaminated by dirt, chemicals, or radiation, they make it dirty or harmful.

hubbub n.

  1. N-VAR A hubbub is a noise by a lot of people all talking or shouting at the same time.
  2. N-SING You can describe a situation where there is great confusion or excitement as a hubbub.

orchid n.

  1. N-COUNT Orchid are plants with brightly coloured, unusually shaped flowers.

ascend v.

  1. VERB if you ascend a hill or staircase, you go up it.
  2. VERB If a staircase or path ascends, it leads up to a higher position.
  3. VERB If something ascends, it moves up, usually vertically or into the air.

dispute n./vi./vt.

  1. N-VAR A dispute is an argument or disagreement between people or groups.
  2. VERB If you describe a fact, statement, or theory, you say that it is incorrect or untrue.
  3. V-RECIP When people dispute something, they fight for control or ownship of it. You can also say that one group of people dispute something with another group.

accost v.

  1. VERB If someone accosts another person, especially a stranger, they stop them or go up to them and speak to them in a way that seems rude or threatening.

obscene adj.

  1. ADJ-GRADED If you describe something as obscene, you mean it offends you because it relates to sex or violence in a way that you think is unpleasant and shocking.
  2. ADJ In legal contexts, books, picture, or films which are judged obscene are illegal because they deal with sex or violence in a way that is considered offensive to the general public.
  3. ADJ-GRADED If you describe something as obscene, you disapprove of it very strongly and consider it to be offensive or immoral.

disburse vt.

  1. VERB To disburse an amount of money means to pay it out, usually from a fund which has been collected for a particular purpose.

nostalgia n.

  1. N-UNCOUNT Nostalgia is an affectionate feeling you have for the past, especially for a particularly happy time.

necrosis n.

  1. N-UNCOUNT Nevrosis is the death of part of someone's body, for example because it is not getting enough blood.

irrepressible adj.

  1. ADJ-GRADED An irrepressible person is lively and energetic and never seems to be depressed.

connoisseur n.

  1. N-COUNT A connoisseur is someone who knows a lot about the arts, food, drink, or some other subject.

squabble v./n.

  1. V-RECIP When people squabble, they quarrel about something that is not really important.

authentic adj.

  1. ADJ An authentic person, object, or emotion is genuine.
  2. ADJ-GRADED If you describe something as authentic, you mean that it is such a good imitation that it is almost the same as or as good as the original.
  3. ADJ An authentic piece of information or account of something is reliable and accurate.

nutrition n.

  1. N-UNCOUNT Nutrition is the process of taking food into the body and absorbing the nutrients in those foods.

authoritative adj.

monogamous n.

despicable adj.

inventory n./vt.