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frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

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--v. 3 sample, survey, question, canvass, ballot, ask,<br />

interview; count, enumerate, tally, register, record: We polled<br />

teenagers to determine their reaction to a youth centre; those<br />

in favour polled 73 per cent. 4 receive, get, win, register,<br />

tally: Cavendish polled more than 60 per cent of the votes<br />

cast.<br />

pollute v. 1 contaminate, adulterate, befoul, foul, soil, spoil, taint,<br />

stain, dirty, sully, blight, poison: These factories must be<br />

prevented from continuing to pollute the atmosphere. 2 corrupt,<br />

desecrate, profane, defile, violate: The altar was polluted<br />

because it had been touched by a non-believer.<br />

pollution n. contamination, adulteration, corruption, polluting, fouling,<br />

befouling, soiling, spoiling, tainting, staining, dirtying,<br />

sullying, blighting, poisoning, vitiation: Laws were passed to<br />

prosecute those responsible for the pollution of the<br />

environment.<br />

pomp n. glory, grandeur, magnificence, splendour, show,<br />

extravaganza, pageantry, ceremony, spectacle, brilliance,<br />

ceremoniousness: The Chinese court's pomp and display of wealth<br />

had never before been seen by a westerner.<br />

pompous adj. 1 vain, vainglorious, proud, arrogant, pretentious,<br />

ostentatious, showy, grandiose, haughty, overbearing, conceited,<br />

egotistical, self-important, boastful, braggart, inflated,<br />

snobbish, magisterial, imperious, pontifical, affected,<br />

exhibitionist, Colloq uppity, highfalutin or hifalutin,<br />

hoity-toity, high-hat, Slang snooty, snotty: Don't you despise<br />

the pompous way Marshall struts about in that ridiculous<br />

uniform? 2 bombastic, flowery, grandiloquent, pedantic, stuffy,<br />

fustian, orotund, ornate, embroidered, flatulent, windy, turgid,<br />

inflated, high-flown, euphuistic: He's always making<br />

long-winded, pompous speeches because he loves the sound of his<br />

own voice.<br />

ponder v. consider, muse (over or on), brood (over or upon or on),<br />

mull over, deliberate (over), meditate (upon or on), think (over<br />

or on or about), weigh, ruminate (over), chew over, cogitate,<br />

excogitate, reflect (on or over), contemplate: I shall need a<br />

while to ponder the answer to that question. Give me a little

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