Unit 107

labile / libel / label

labile adj. 易变的，不稳定的 (readily open to change) /ˈleɪbɪl/

• People who suffer from bipolar disorder have labile temperaments.

libel v. 中伤 (to write and publish a false statement that causes people to have a bad opinion of (someone)) /ˈlʌɪb(ə)l/

• The New York Times checks its facts rigorously in order to avoid libeling the people it writes about.

label n. 标签 (a word or phrase that describes or identifies something or someone) /ˈleɪb(ə)l/

• Our mother still puts labels with our names on them in our clothes.

euphemism / euphonious / euphoria

euphemism n. 委婉语 (a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive) /ˈjuːfəmɪz(ə)m/

• People in the U.K. often use the euphemism "loo" to refer to the toilet.

euphonious adj. 悦耳的 (pleasing to the ear) /juːˈfəʊnɪəs/

• Mozart's music is so euphonious that it remains a perennial favorite.

euphoria n.特别高兴 (a feeling of great happiness and excitement) /juːˈfɔːrɪə/

• The singer Adele must have felt euphoric with happiness after winning five Grammy Awards in 2017.

mire / dire

mire n. 泥沼 (heavy and deep mud) / mʌɪə/

• Frank cried out as he sank deeper into the bog's thick, black mire.

v. 陷入困境 (to hamper or hold back as if by a mire)

• We found Edith at the library, mired in books to help her study for her impending exams.

dire adj. 可怕的，严重的 (very bad; causing great fear or worry) /ˈdʌɪə/

• The witch bade us a dire warning, "Avoid the castle if you wish to keep your lives!"

tacit / taciturn

tacit adj. 不言而喻的，心照不宣的 (expressed or understood without being directly stated) /ˈtasɪt/

• The waiter nodded to show his tacit understanding that he should bring the bill.

taciturn adj. 沉默寡言 (tending to be quiet) /ˈtasɪtəːn/

• While voluble at home, in a public setting such as a party, Graham becomes quite taciturn.