Barron GRE word list - C

catechism	book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize
categorical	without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute
cater	provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of a bad kind)
catharsis	purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art
cathartic	purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.
catholic	(of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes
caucus	private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston
caulk(calk)	make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)
causal	implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality
caustic	burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless
cauterize	burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection
cavalcade	procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry
cavalier	casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight
cavil	quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily
cede	yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession
celerity	speed; rapidity
celestial	heavenly
celibate	abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy
cemetery	place for burying the dead
censor	(in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.

Barron GRE word list - C

carapace	shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)
carat(karat)	unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold
carcinogenic	causing cancer; N. carcinogen
cardinal	chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order
cardiologist	doctor specializing in ailments of the heart
careen	lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger
career	rush wildly; go at full speed
carefree	free from worries; having no problems
caricature	distortion; burlesque
carillon	a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played
carnage	destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals
carnal	fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body
carnivorous	meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore
carousal	drunken revel; V. carouse
carping	petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble
carrion	rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture
cartographer	map-maker
cascade	small waterfall
caste	one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige
castigation	punishment; severe criticism or disapproval
castrate	remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)
casual	happening by chance; irregular; occasional; informal; showing or feeling little interest; Ex. casual reader/labor/remark
casualty	serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle
cataclysm	deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change
catalyst	agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis
catapult	slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult
cataract	great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)
catastrophe	calamity ; disaster
catcall	shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.

Barron GRE word list - C

cabal	small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
cache	hiding place; V.
cacophonous	discordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture of loud sounds
cadaver	corpse; dead human body
cadaverous	like a corpse; pale
cadence	rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm
cadet	student at a military school
cajole	persuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle
calamity	disaster; misery
calculated	deliberately planned; likely
caldron(cauldron)	large kettle
caliber	ability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber
calligraphy	beautiful writing; excellent penmanship
callous	hardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind
callow	youthful; immature; inexperienced
callus	area of thick hard skin
calorific	heat-producing; N. calorie
calumny	malicious misrepresentation; slander
camaraderie	good-fellowship; CF. comrade
cameo	shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film
camp	group sharing a common cause or opinion
canard	unfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report
candor	frankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid
canine	related to dogs; doglike
canker	any ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer
canny	shrewd in money matters; thrifty
cant	insincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people
cantankerous	ill-humored; irritable
cantata	story set to music to be sung by a chorus (shorter than an oratorio)
canter	slow gallop; V. CF. trot
canto	division of a long poem
canvass	determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.
capacious	spacious
capacity	mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president
capillary	having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity
capitulate	surrender; give up all resistance
caprice	whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause
capricious	unpredictable; fickle
capsize	(of a boat) turn over
caption	title; chapter heading; text under illustration
captious	faultfinding; too critical
carafe	glass water bottle; decanter

Barron GRE word list - B

bugaboo	bugbear; object of baseless terror
bulge	protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The apple made a bulge in his pocket; V: swell outward; protrude
bulk	size or volume (esp. when very large); main part; Ex. The bulk of the work has already been done; ADJ. bulky: having great size
bullion	gold and silver in the form of bars
bully	one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.
bulwark	strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends
bump	hit or knock against with force; N.
bungle	mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior
buoyant	able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market
bureaucracy	overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic
burgeon	grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon
burlesque	give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly
burnish	make shiny by rubbing; polish
bust	piece of sculpture showing a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest; V: break up; arrest; Ex. crimebuster
buttress	support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress
buxom	full-bosomed; plump; jolly

Barron GRE word list - B

breed	produce young; rear; bring up; produce (an undesirable condition); N: kind or sort of animal or plant
brevity	conciseness; shortness of duration
bridle	harness fitted about a horse's head (used to restrain); curb; check; V: put a bridle on; control or restrain; show anger
brim	uppermost edge of a cup; projecting rim (as on a hat); Ex. The glass was full to the brim; V: be full to the brim
brindled	tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)
brink	edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the Grand Canyon
brisk	quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor
bristle	short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly
bristling	rising like bristles; showing irritation
brittle	hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation
broach	introduce as a subject; moot; open up
brocade	rich, figured(patterned) fabric
brochure	pamphlet
broil	cook by direct heat; N.
bromide	platitude; chemical compound used to calm excitement
brooch	ornamental clasp; pin
brood	sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time
brook	tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream
browbeat	bully; intimidate
browse	graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually
bruise	injure without breaking the skin; N.
brunt	main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument
brusque	blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice
buccaneer	pirate
bucolic	rustic; pastoral
buffet	strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set
buffoon	stupid person; clown
buffoonery	clowning

Barron GRE word list - B

boon	blessing; benefit; something very helpful
boor	rude, insensitive person
boorish	rude; insensitive
boost	lift by pushing up from below; increase; raise; N: push upward; increase
botch	mismanage; blow
bouillon	clear beef (or meat) soup
bound	leap or spring; limit or confine; constitute the limit of; Ex. bounded by Canada; N: leap or jumping; boundary; ADJ: certain; having a duty to do something (legally or morally); confined by bonds; Ex. We are bound to be late; Ex. I am bound to
bountiful	generous; graciously generous; showing bounty
bourgeois	middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions
bout	match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu
bovine	cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm
bowdlerize	expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler
brackish	somewhat saline
brag	boast
braggadocio	boasting
braggart	boaster; bragger
braid	plait; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; N: braided segment (as of hair)
brand	trademark; mark burned on the hide of an animal; mark burned into the flesh of criminals; mark of disgrace; V: mark with a brand; give a lasting bad name; stigmatize; Ex. The press branded him a liar.
brandish	wave around (a weapon); flourish
bravado	swagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery
brave	face courageously; Ex. brave the storm
brawl	noisy quarrel
brawn	human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness
brawny	muscular; having well-developed muscles
brazen	insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence
breach	breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V.
breadth	width; extent