Set 123 · Study 1 / 5

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polish

noun/ˈpɑː.lɪʃ/

a substance used to give something a smooth and glossy surface

After sanding the furniture, he applied a coat of wood polish to give it a beautiful shine.

gleamlustershine
word origin — from Middle English 'polisshen', derived from the Old French 'polir', from Latin 'polire', meaning 'to polish, to make smooth'.

SAT Vocabulary Level 1 — Set 123

Set 123 of SAT Vocabulary Level 1 covers 5 words: polish, stimulate, correlate, utter, flee. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. polish · noun/ˈpɑː.lɪʃ/

    a substance used to give something a smooth and glossy surface

    After sanding the furniture, he applied a coat of wood polish to give it a beautiful shine.

    Synonyms: gleam, luster, shine

    Origin: from Middle English 'polisshen', derived from the Old French 'polir', from Latin 'polire', meaning 'to polish, to make smooth'.

  2. stimulate · verb/ˈstɪmjəˌleɪt/

    to encourage or strengthen the activity of something

    The government implemented new policies to stimulate economic growth in the region.

    Synonyms: encourage, invigorate, boost

    Origin: from Latin 'stimulus', meaning 'a goad, impetus, or incentive'

  3. correlate · verb/ˈkɔːrəleɪt/

    to show a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things

    Researchers found that there is a strong correlation between sleep quality and overall mental health, indicating that they correlate significantly over time.

    Synonyms: connect, relate, associate

    Origin: Late Latin 'correlare', from 'com-' (together) + 'relare' (to relate)

  4. utter · verb/ˈʌtər/

    to express audibly or to speak

    She didn't utter a single word during the entire meeting, leaving everyone puzzled about her thoughts.

    Synonyms: speak, say, vocalize

    Origin: from Middle English 'uttren', from Old English 'ūttra', meaning 'to put out, to express'.

  5. flee · verb/fli/

    to run away from a place or situation of danger

    When the fire broke out, the residents had to flee their homes in search of safety.

    Synonyms: run away, escape, bolt

    Origin: Old English 'flēon', meaning 'to run away, to escape'