incubate, misrepresent, flatter, delve, immigrate: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 77. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. incubate · verb/ˈɪŋkjʊˌbeɪt/

   to keep something in a controlled environment for development or growth

   The scientists decided to incubate the embryos in a controlled lab environment to ensure their healthy development.

   Synonyms: cultivate, nurture, develop

   Origin: from Latin 'incubare', meaning 'to lie upon or hatch, to brood over'

2. misrepresent · verb/ˌmɪsrɪˈprɛzɛnt/

   to present information in a false or misleading way

   The documentary seemed to misrepresent the facts about climate change, portraying the science as less credible than it is.

   Synonyms: distort, falsify, misstate

   Origin: The word misrepresent is formed from the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'wrongly' or 'badly', and 'represent' which comes from the Latin 'repraesentare', meaning 'to present again' or 'to show'.

3. flatter · verb/ˈflæt̬ər/

   to praise excessively or insincerely

   She always tries to flatter her boss with compliments about his leadership skills to gain favor at work.

   Synonyms: blarney, praise, adulate

   Origin: Middle English 'flateren', from Old French 'flatter', probably of imitative origin

4. delve · verb/dɛlv/

   to investigate or research deeply

   The journalist decided to delve into the corruption scandal that had been shaking the city for months.

   Synonyms: explore, investigate, probe

   Origin: Middle English 'delven', from Old English 'delfan', meaning 'to dig'.

5. immigrate · verb/ˈɪmɪˌɡreɪt/

   to come to live permanently in a foreign country

   Many families choose to immigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities.

   Synonyms: migrate, settle, relocate

   Origin: from Latin 'immigrare' which means 'to remove, move in'.