downturn / downtown / downsize / downgrade

downturn n.（价格或活动）开始下降 (a decline in business and economic activity) /ˈdaʊntəːn/

• The economic downturn caused several of the town's less established stores to close.

downtown adj. 商业区的 (of, relating to, or located in the business center of a city) /ˈdaʊntaʊn/

• Randy liked living downtown because of his proximity to shops, restaurants and his work.

downsize v. 缩小 (to reduce in size) /ˈdaʊnsʌɪz/

• After we leave for university, our parents plan to downsize by selling our family house and moving into a condo.

downgrade v. 降低 (to lower in quality, value, status, or extent) /daʊnˈɡreɪd/

• The first class passengers became angry when the airline tried to downgrade them to economy class seats.

stable / staple / stale

stable adj. 稳定的 (in a good state or condition that is not easily changed or likely to change) /ˈsteɪb(ə)l/

• Farrah was relieved when her father's health became stable enough to be moved out of the critical care unit.

staple adj.（食物，商品等）必要的 (used, needed, our enjoyed constantly by many people) /ˈsteɪp(ə)l/

• Rice is a staple food that is enjoyed by many people everyday.

stale adj. 不新鲜的 (having an unpleasant taste or smell) /steɪl/

• The loaf of bread was so stale that it was like biting into a rock.

winnow / window / widow

winnow v. 筛选 (to narrow or reduce) /ˈwɪnəʊ/

• Reality TV where people are winnowed from the show, such as The Bachelor and Big Brother, is very popular.

window n. 窗户 (an opening in a wall, door, etc., that usually contains a sheet of glass) /ˈwɪndəʊ/

• The windows on boats are called portholes.

widow n. 寡妇 (a woman who has lost her husband by death and usually has not remarried) /ˈwɪdəʊ/

• When Magda's father died, her mother became a widow.