IELTS Vocabulary — Set 141

Set 141 of IELTS Vocabulary covers 5 words: cheat, overestimate, retain, spin, dig. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. cheat · verb/tʃit/

   to act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage

   He decided to cheat on the test because he was unprepared and anxious about failing.

   Synonyms: deceive,fool,trick

   Origin: Middle English 'cheten', from Old French 'escheat', meaning an unlawful action or act of deceit.

2. overestimate · verb/ˌoʊ.vɚˈɛs.tɪ.meɪt/

   to assess or estimate something as being greater or more important than it actually is

   Many students tend to overestimate their abilities when preparing for exams, believing they can score higher than they realistically will.

   Synonyms: exaggerate, inflate, overrate

   Origin: The word 'overestimate' is formed from the prefix 'over-' meaning 'excessively' combined with 'estimate' which comes from the Latin 'aestimare', meaning 'to value or appraise'.

3. retain · verb/rɪˈteɪn/

   to keep possession of or continue to have something

   To succeed in business, it is crucial to retain important customers by providing excellent service.

   Synonyms: keep, hold, preserve

   Origin: Middle French retenir, from Latin retinere, from re- 'back' + tenere 'to hold'

4. spin · noun/spɪn/

   the act of rotating around an axis or a central point

   The child laughed as the merry-go-round gained speed, enjoying the dizzying spin of the ride.

   Synonyms: twirl, rotation, whirl

   Origin: The word 'spin' originates from the Old English 'spinner', which is related to the Proto-Germanic '*spinōną', meaning 'to turn, to twirl'.

5. dig · verb/dɪɡ/

   to break up and move earth or other material with a tool or machine

   The workers had to dig a trench to lay the new water pipes beneath the street.

   Synonyms: excavate, scoop, burrow

   Origin: Middle English 'diggen', of uncertain origin, possibly from Old English 'dycgan'.