ELL HubAlan Alda
Alan Alda
Episode 163
Vocabulary
probe (verb)
- Definition:
- to ask questions or search carefully to find more information about something
- Example from the episode:
- “I've been told by several people who were actually in the room that they argued for hours to neuroscientists and nanoscientists about the meaning of one word, the word probe.”
- Example sentence:
- “They decided to probe into the mystery of the missing keys.”
clarity (noun)
- Definition:
- being clear and easy to understand, whether in thoughts, communication, or appearance
- Example from the episode:
- “Vividness is very important, and I certainly see how vividness and clarity together can really help someone absorb the information that you're communicating.”
- Example sentence:
- “The instructions need more clarity to avoid confusion.”
landmark (adjective)
- Definition:
- very important or significant, often marking a turning point or a key moment in history or an event
- Example from the episode:
- “You know, there was a landmark meeting of nanoscientists and neuroscientists when President Obama brought together a group to work on the brain.”
- Example sentence:
- “The landmark event changed the course of history.”
read the room (idiom)
- Definition:
- to pay attention to the feelings and reactions of the people around you in a situation, so you can understand the mood and respond appropriately
- Example from the episode:
- “I would love for you then to share with us perhaps a specific experience that you help these scientists work through so that they can learn that, how to read the room.”
- Example sentence:
- “She knew to avoid jokes after reading the room's tense atmosphere.”