IELTS Vocabulary — Set 14

Set 14 of IELTS Vocabulary covers 5 words: scarce, concise, futuristic, biological, sensational. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. scarce · adjective/skɛrs/

   occurring in small quantities or not easily available

   Due to the ongoing drought, water has become scarce in the region, affecting both agriculture and daily life.

   Synonyms: rare, limited, sparse

   Origin: Middle English 'scars', from Old French 'escarce', from Latin 'excarceo' meaning to be free from, to be short of.

2. concise · adjective/kənˈsaɪs/

   expressing much in few words

   Her presentation was concise, focusing on the key points without unnecessary details.

   Synonyms: succinct, brief, terse

   Origin: from Latin 'concisus', past participle of 'concidere', meaning 'to cut up, cut short'.

3. futuristic · adjective/fjuˈtʃʊrɪstɪk/

   having or involving very modern technology or design

   The city unveiled its futuristic architecture, featuring sleek skyscrapers and advanced energy systems.

   Synonyms: advanced, cutting-edge, forward-looking

   Origin: The word 'futuristic' is derived from the root 'future', which comes from the Latin word 'futurus', meaning 'about to be', combined with the suffix '-istic', used to form adjectives.

4. biological · adjective/ˌbaɪəˈlɑdʒɪkəl/

   related to living organisms and their biological processes

   The researchers focused on understanding the biological mechanisms that govern cell division.

   Synonyms: organic, living, physical

   Origin: from the Greek 'biologos', meaning 'relating to life', combining 'bio-' (life) and 'logos' (study or discourse)

5. sensational · adjective/sɛnˈseɪʃənl/

   causing great public interest and excitement

   The journalist wrote a sensational story that captivated the entire nation.

   Synonyms: exciting, thrilling, spectacular

   Origin: from Latin 'sensatio', meaning 'sensation', combined with the suffix '-al'.