canine, collaborative, harmful, leisurely, authoritative: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 1 set 74. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. canine · adjective/ˈkeɪnaɪn/

   relating to or resembling dogs

   The canine friendly park offers plenty of space for dogs to play and socialize.

   Synonyms: dog-like, canine-like, doggish

   Origin: from the Latin 'caninus', which derives from 'canis' meaning dog

2. collaborative · adjective/kəˈlæb.əˌreɪ.tɪv/

   involving mutual assistance in working toward a common goal

   The team focused on a collaborative approach to problem-solving, ensuring that everyone's ideas contributed to the project's success.

   Synonyms: cooperative, joint, collective

   Origin: from Latin 'collaborare', meaning 'to work together', from 'com-' (together) + 'laborare' (to work)

3. harmful · adjective/ˈhɑːrmfəl/

   causing or capable of causing damage or injury

   Smoking is known to have harmful effects on health, leading to severe respiratory problems.

   Synonyms: detrimental, damaging, injurious

   Origin: late Middle English, from harmful + -ful

4. leisurely · adverb/ˈliː.ʒər.li/

   in a relaxed and unhurried manner

   We strolled leisurely through the park, enjoying the beautiful weather and the sounds of nature.

   Synonyms: unhurried, relaxed, easygoing

   Origin: from 'leisure' which derives from the Latin 'licere' meaning 'to be permitted'

5. authoritative · adjective/əˈθɔrɪtətɪv/

   having or showing an ability to be commanding and reliable

   The teacher's authoritative presence in the classroom ensured that all students paid attention and respected the rules.

   Synonyms: commanding, reliable, influential

   Origin: from Middle French 'authoritatif' (from 'authorité' meaning authority, from Latin 'auctoritas')