Words and Expressions

consequence n.［usu pl］thing that is a result or an effect of sth else结果；后果；影响

definitive adj.clear and having final authority；that cannot or need not be changed明确的；有权威的；不能或不必改变的；决定性的

position v.find or mark the position of（sth）；locate找出或标出（某物）的位置；定位

vicious cycle（also vicious circle）n.a situation in which one problem causes another problem，that then causes the first problem again，so that the whole process continues to be repeated恶性循环（virtuous cycle/circle良性循环）

underperform v.perform less well or with less success than expected表现不佳

bold adj.clearly visible；distinct；striking；vivid显而易见的；轮廓清楚的；突出的；生动的

formula n.［C］～（for sth）method，plan，or set of principles worked out to achieve a desired result（为达到预期目的而制订的）方法，计划，原则

undermine v.（fig比喻）weaken（sth/sb）gradually or insidiously逐渐削弱或暗中破坏（某事物/某人）

hamper v.prevent the free movement or activity of（sb）；hinder（sb/sth）束缚（某人）；妨碍（某人/某事物）

flexibility n.the quality of being adaptable or variable灵活性，适应性

dramatic adj.sudden，noticeable and surprising突然引人注目的，意外的，剧烈的

prohibitively adv.excessively，exorbitantly过高地，过分地

quantify v.express or measure the quantity of（sth）表示或测量（某事物）的数量

disruption n.an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity，an act of causing disorder中断，破坏，扰乱

outweigh v.be greater in weight，value or importance than（sth）在重量、价值或重要性上超过（某事物）

task v.［esp.passive］～（sb with sth）:give sth to sb as a task将某事作为任务交与某人

incremental adj.increasing gradually in value or amount by regular degrees or additions增加的，增值的，递增的

dead wrong adj.（slang）clearly wrong，mistaken，completely wrong大错特错

ad hoc adj./adv.（Latin拉）（in a way that is）not planned in advance；informal（ly）非事先计划（的）；非正式（的）

patchwork n.［sing］thing made of various small pieces or parts拼凑的东西

inventory n.detailed list，eg of goods，furniture，jobs to be done详细目录，清单（如商品、家具、要做的事的单子）

skip v.omit（part of a book when reading，a task，etc）略过（书中的一部分、任务等）

jumble n.［sing］～（of sth）confused or untidy group of things；muddle杂乱的一堆东西；一团糟

coordinate v.～sth（with sth）cause（different parts，limbs，etc）to function together efficiently使（各部分、肢体等）协调，协同动作

unconstrained adj.free from constraint不勉强的，非强迫的，不受约束的

from scratch:from the very beginning白手起家，从头做起

balk（also baulk）v.～（at sth）be reluctant to tackle sth because it is difficult，dangerous，unpleasant，etc（因困难、危险、乏味等）不愿从事某事

confine v.～sb/sth to sth:restrict or keep sb/sth within certain limits将某人/某事物限制在一定范围以内

constraint n.［C］～（on sth）thing that limits or restricts限制性或约束性的事物

scenario n.imagined sequence of future events想象中的未来事情的顺序

collaborative adj.accomplished by collaboration合作的，协作的

state-of-the-art adj.using the most modern and recently developed methods，materials，or knowledge最先进的，最现代的，达到最高水准的

crisp adj.（of sb's manner，way of speaking，etc）brisk，precise and decisive（指态度、说话方式等）干脆的，干净利落的，斩钉截铁的

articulation n.making of speech sounds；expressing in coherent verbal form发音；口齿清楚连贯地表达

bedrock n.［sing］the basic ideas，principles，features，or facts on which something is based基础，基本概念（原理、特征、事实）

assortment n.categorization；classification；compartmentalization

source v.get（a product）from another country or business寻找货源，采购

mediocre adj.not very good；second-rate不太好的；平庸的；第二流的

disproportionate adj.out of proportion；surprising or unreasonable in amount or size，compared with something else不成比例的

overhaul n.thorough examination followed by any necessary repairs彻底检修；大修

sketch out v.draw roughly草拟；概略地叙述

expiration n.termination；a coming to an end of a contract period终结，到期，期满

trade-off n.［C］a balance between two opposing things，that you are willing to accept in order to achieve something相互对立的东西之间达成的妥协或取得的平衡；权衡

inherent adj.～（in sb/sth）existing as a natural or permanent feature or quality of sb/sth内在的；固有的；本来的

eliminate v.～sb/sth（from sth）remove（esp.sb/sth that is not wanted or needed）消除，清除，排除（尤指不必要或不需要的某人/某物）

gravitate v.～towards/to sb/sth:move towards or be attracted to sb/sth，gradually and irresistibly；turn to sb/sth（逐渐地、不由自主地）移向某人/某事物，受某人/某事物吸引；转向某人/某事物

magnitude n.（degree of）importance重要；重要性；重要程度

incentive n.～（to do sth）thing that encourages sb to do sth；stimulus激励某人做某事的事物；刺激；奖励

pragmatic adj.treating things in a sensible and realistic way；concerned with practical results务实的；实事求是的；注重实效的

spur v.strongly encourage sb/sth to do better，achieve more，etc；incite or stimulate sb/sth激励或刺激某人/某事物

shrink v.（cause sth to）become smaller，esp.because of moisture or heat or cold（使某物）收缩（尤指因受潮、受热或受凉所致）；萎缩follow suit v.do what someone else is doing跟着做，学样；跟着出同花色的牌

payoff n.an advantage or profit that you get as a result of doing something报酬，收益，好处