Vocabulary

• from scratch: From the very beginning; from nothing.
• show off: To show your ability/possessions to try to impress
• other than: Except for; apart from.
• move into: To start living in a new house or building
• fend off: To defend and keep (threats) at distance
• cap on: An upper limit or restriction on something, such as spending or quantity.
• in fact: Used to emphasize the truth of a statement, especially one that contrasts with or contradicts something else.
• at least: As a minimum
• point out: To make others aware of an idea
• a deluge of: A large number or amount of something that suddenly arrives.
• push on: To continue with some effort; persevere
• basically: Used before you explain something simply, clearly
• reputation: Common opinion that people have about someone
• whopping: (Informal) huge; very big
• scratch: To rub your skin with your nails to stop an itch
• decline: To bend towards the ground
• legacy: Literature, arts etc. from previous generations
• commercial: Radio or television advertisement
• incorporate: To form into a company or business corporation
• decade: Period of 10 years
• strict: Tending to enforce rules; severe
• encourage: To increase the chance of something happening
• capital: Writing the first letter of a word in big letters
• state: Region within a country, with its own government
• remain: To be left behind; to continue to exist
• venture: (Business) activity involving calculated risks
• cause: Belief, goal or organization that people support
• endeavor: To attempt or make effort to do something
• population: Number of people who live in a country, area etc.
• security: Department in a company in charge of protection
• vanity: When you are too proud of your appearance/ability
• couple: To join something to something else
• empty: Containing nothing; with no contents
• construction: Act of building something; thing that is built
• persist: To continue a course of action despite opposition
• communist: Believer in communism
• investment: Something purchased hoping its value will increase
• invest: To use resources to build for the future
• project: To predict what will happen in the future
• era: Period characterized by particular events, people
• urban: Concerning a city; located in a city
• destroy: To damage so badly that something no longer exists
• lot: What happens to a person in life from chance; fate
• forge: To create something by hammering hot metal
• domain: A field of knowledge, thought or influence
• hub: Center of action or interest
• build: Your physical shape; physique
• government: Group of people and system that rule a nation
• stand: To be a candidate in an election
• expense: Money you have to pay to do part of your job
• protect: To defend someone or something from harm or danger
• fail: To be unsuccessful in passing a class or exam
• density: Degree to which an area is filled or covered
• include: To make someone, something part of a group
• metropolis: Very large and important city
• swamp: Area of land that is wet or covered with water
• interested: Having had your attention taken; curious
• designate: To officially choose for a position; appoint
• meticulously: In a very careful, correct way
• spring: Coil of metal that lessens impact, e.g. on cars
• quiet: Hidden, or done in a private way
• fend: To try to manage for yourself without assistance
• divert: To attract someone's attention from something
• showcase: Cabinet to display objects or goods for sale
• people: Persons sharing culture, country, background, etc.
• show: To be easily seen or displayed
• mega: Big; great; large; impressive
• transformation: A complete change in shape or form of something
• sprawl: To spread out in an uncontrolled way
• prowess: Great ability or skill, e.g. in sports
• congest: To be or become very crowded
• slowdown: Act of slowing down or falling behind