Lesson 6B · New English File Upper Intermediate Vocabulary List

a type of electric guitar that produces the lowest pitch in the family of guitars

"The bass guitar is loud."

"She played the bass guitar in the band."

a musical instrument consisting of a hollow, round frame with plastic or skin stretched tightly across one or both ends, played by hitting it with sticks or hands

"The drum sounded loud."

"He hit the drum hard with his stick and made a loud booming sound."

a musical instrument that we play by holding it under our chin and moving a bow across its strings

"The violin was very expensive."

"She plays the violin in the school orchestra."

a large musical instrument of the violin family that is held upright and is played by pulling a bow across its strings

"He plays the cello."

"The cello produces a deep rich sound that is often described as being the closest musical instrument to the human voice in tone and expression."

a curved metal wind instrument that is played by blowing into it while pressing its buttons

"He played the saxophone."

"The saxophone made the jazz performance sound smooth and expressive."

someone who plays a musical instrument or writes music, especially as a profession

"The musician practiced every day."

"The talented musician played the violin beautifully for a large audience at the concert hall."

the study or art of building and designing houses

"She studies architecture."

"The stunning architecture of the ancient Roman buildings is still admired today."

someone who specializes in making and serving coffee-based beverages in cafes, coffee shops, and restaurants

"The barista made a beautiful latte art heart."

"The barista carefully steamed the milk to the perfect temperature and texture for a latte art flower."

the flowers that are attractively arranged for a ceremony or as a gift

"The bouquet is beautiful."

"She held a bouquet of roses."

an espresso-based beverage made with equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and frothed milk, and is typically served in a small cup

"He orders a cappuccino coffee with extra foam."

"He orders a cappuccino coffee with extra foam and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top."

someone who is employed to drive someone else's car for them

"The chauffeur drove the limousine smoothly through traffic."

"The billionaire's chauffeur waited outside the restaurant in a black luxury sedan."

a highly trained cook who often cooks for hotels or restaurants

"The chef prepared a delicious meal."

"The chef prepared a seven course tasting menu that showcased his unique culinary vision and technical skill."

a curved-shape roll that is sweet in taste and is usually eaten at breakfast

"I ate a buttery croissant for breakfast."

"She bought a warm butter croissant from the bakery and ate it while walking to work in the morning."

a man who is engaged to someone

"Her fiance arrived early."

"The fiance proposed with a ring."

pictures or words that are drawn on a public surface such as walls, doors, trains, etc.

"Graffiti covered the wall."

"The graffiti made the wall look colorful but also damaged."

suffering from a mental condition that consists of constantly being concerned, anxious, or worried about one's health and becoming ill

"He is hypochondriac."

"The hypochondriac visited the doctor every week convinced that every headache was a sign of a brain tumor."

a drink consisting of espresso coffee and a small amount of milk on top

"She ordered an espresso macchiato after the meal."

"The macchiato is an espresso based drink with just a small amount of steamed milk on top."

a piece of equipment used for recording voices or sounds or for making one's voice louder

"The singer stepped up to the microphone on stage."

"A sensitive microphone captured every note of the singer's beautiful performance."

freelance photographers who aggressively pursue and take pictures of celebrities, often in invasive or intrusive ways

"The paparazzi followed the famous singer everywhere."

"The famous singer could not go anywhere without being followed by aggressive paparazzi photographers."

a professional who studies behavior and mental processes to understand and treat psychological disorders and improve overall mental health

"The psychologist listened carefully."

"The psychologist met with the anxious patient every week to discuss coping strategies for managing stress and reducing panic attacks."

an object or device used for producing music, such as a violin or a piano

"Play the instrument."

"He learned to play the complex stringed instrument by practicing for several hours daily."

a series of sounds made by instruments or voices, arranged in a way that is pleasant to listen to

"She listens to music daily."

"The music at the festival was so lively that everyone started dancing and singing along together."

a type of electronic musical instrument with keys like those of a piano, which is able to make many different sounds

"She plays the keyboard."

"He learned to play the electronic keyboard, mastering its diverse range of synthesized sounds and rhythms."

a tube-like musical instrument that is played by blowing over a hole while covering and uncovering its other holes

"The flute is light."

"The flute created a gentle melody that matched the quiet atmosphere of the room."

a group of singers who perform together, particularly in religious ceremonies or in public

"The choir sang beautifully."

"The choir performed with strong harmony and impressive control throughout the concert."

a group of musicians playing various instruments gathered and organized to perform a classic piece

"The orchestra began to tune their instruments."

"The symphony orchestra played a beautiful rendition of the classical masterpiece."

someone who guides and directs an orchestra

"The conductor led them."

"The renowned conductor raised his baton, signaling the orchestra to begin the powerful symphony with great precision."

a female or young male singer with a singing voice that has the highest range

"Soprano is highest female voice."

"Soprano is the highest of the standard classical female singing voice types."

having an appealing appearance that is stylish

"Her dress is chic."

"The actress looked incredibly chic in her elegant designer gown on the red carpet."

a particular set of beliefs, values, or principles developed in search of the truth about life and the universe

"Her philosophy was simple."

"His personal philosophy emphasized the importance of empathy and continuous learning."

concerning or affecting the human mind instead of the human body

"She claims to be psychic."

"The psychic claimed that she could communicate with the dead and predict the future for a fee."

a country house that has a large garden, particularly the one located in southern Europe or warm regions

"The villa overlooks the Mediterranean Sea."

"The wealthy family owns a beautiful villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea with a large swimming pool."