1. revive (v.)

If you manage to revive someone who has fainted or if they revive, they become conscious again.

to become, or to make somebody/something become, conscious or healthy and strong again

She and a neighbour tried in vain to revive him.

Attempts to revive him failed.

The flowers soon revived in water.

The economy is beginning to revive.

It took her a long time to recover from/after her heart operation.

Dozens of civilians were killed or injured in the attack.

2. mutual (adj.)

You use mutual to describe a situation, feeling, or action that is experienced, felt, or done by both of two people mentioned.

used to describe feelings that two or more people have for each other equally, or actions that affect two or more people equally

The East and the West can work together for their mutual benefit and progress.

I don't like her, and I think the feeling is mutual (= she doesn't like me either).

Both countries are acting to their mutual advantage.

Theirs was a partnership based on mutual respect, trust and understanding.

Such behaviour is common to all young people.

The results of the survey fell into two distinct groups.

3. displace (v.)

If a person or group of people is displaced, they are forced to moved away from the area where they live.

to force people to move away from their home to another place

In Europe alone thirty million people were displaced.

Most of the civilians displaced by the war will be unable to return to their homes.

Around 10 000 people have been displaced by the fighting.

If the dam is built it will displace 100 000 people.

An American academic was expelled from the country yesterday.

Each ticket admits one adult.

4. administrative (adj.)

Administrative work involves organizing and supervising an organization or institution.

relating to the arrangements and work that is needed to control the operation of a plan or organization

Other industries have had to sack managers to reduce administrative costs.

The project will have an administrative staff of 12.

King Darius I is noteworthy for his administrative reforms, military conquests, and religious toleration.

This software claims to reduce administrative costs.

Evelyn's excellent organisational skills were soon spotted by her employers.

I will not take an executive role, but rather become a consultant.

5. pose (v.)

If something poses a problem or a danger, it is the cause of that problem or danger.

to create a threat, problem, etc. that has to be dealt with

This could pose a threat to jobs in the coal industry.

His ill health poses serious problems for the future.

Obesity poses real risks to health and happiness.

Pollutants in the river pose a real risk to the fish.

Obesity causes real risks to health and happiness.

Often, the simplest answer is just to remove yourself from the situation.

6. signature (n.)

Your signature is your name, written in your own characteristic way, often at the end of a document to indicate that you wrote the document or that you agree with what it says.

your name as you usually write it, for example at the end of a letter

I was writing my signature at the bottom of the page.

Someone had forged her signature on the cheque.

The form requires the signatures of two witnesses.

The law recognizes a digital signature for online transactions.

They changed the name of the street.

Velcro is a registered trademark.

7. will (n.)

a legal document that says what is to happen to somebody’s money and property after they die

an official statement of what a person has decided should be done with their money and property after their death

My father left me the house in his will.

On March 25, 1616 William Shakespeare revised his last will and testament.

Some things cannot be given away by will (= in a will).

He left me his racehorses in his will.

Under her father's will, she gets $5 000 a year.

His lawyer drew up the will.

Throw some money in the fountain and make a wish.

8. recount (v.)

If you recount a story or event, you tell or describe it to people.

to tell somebody about something, especially something that you have experienced

He then recounted the story of the interview for his first job.

She was asked to recount the details of the conversation to the court.

The murders are recounted in gruesome detail.

The story of his life is vividly recounted in this new book.

The book is narrated by Richard Papen, a Californian boy.

They recited poetry to one another.

9. undermine (v.)

If you undermine something such as a feeling or a system, you make it less strong or less secure than it was before, often by a gradual process or by repeated efforts.

to make something, especially somebody’s confidence or authority, gradually weaker or less effective

Offering advice on each and every problem will undermine her feeling of being adult.

Western intelligence agencies are accused of trying to undermine the government.

Our confidence in the team has been seriously undermined by their recent defeats.

This crisis has undermined his position.

You could see the poor dog weakening daily as the disease spread through its body.

Such jokes tend to reinforce gender stereotypes.

10. summon (v.)

If you summon someone, you order them to come to you.

to order someone to come to or be present at a particular place, or to officially arrange a meeting of people

Suddenly we were summoned to the interview room.

He has been summoned to appear in court on charges of incitement to law-breaking.

General Rattigan summoned reinforcements to help resist the attack.

We were summoned to the headmaster's office.

She called her young son: 'Here, Stephen, come and look at this!'

Two more witnesses were called, heard and dismissed.

11. sneak (v.)

to go somewhere secretly, trying to avoid being seen

If you sneak somewhere, you go there very quietly on foot, trying to avoid being seen or heard.

Did you sneak into my room while I was asleep?

I caught him trying to sneak in without paying.

Sometimes he would sneak out of his house late at night to be with me.

Don't sneak away and hide.

I crept up the stairs, trying not to wake my parents.

Sometimes she had to steal to eat.

12. penetrate (v.)

If something or someone penetrates a physical object or an area, they succeed in getting into it or passing through it.

to go into or through something

X-rays can penetrate many objects.

The knife had penetrated his chest.

The sun's radiation penetrates the skin.

The cold seemed to penetrate his bones.

These fine particles penetrate deep into the lungs.

He was stabbed to death in a racist attack.

Government troops were forced to withdraw.