Cambrindge Proficiency Exam

reforestation

twittering

1. [countable, usually singular] a noise like the sound of something firm being crushed the crunch of feet on snow The car drew up with a crunch of gravel.
2. the crunch [singular] (informal) an important and often unpleasant situation or piece of information The crunch came when she returned from America. He always says he'll help but when it comes to the crunch (= when it is time for action) he does nothing. The crunch is that we can't afford to go abroad this year.
3. [countable, usually singular] a situation in which there is suddenly not enough of something, especially money the budget/energy/housing crunch Higher grain prices are putting a crunch on cattle feeders.

[intransitive] scrabble (around/about) (for something) | + adv./prep. (especially British English) to try to find or to do something in a hurry or with difficulty, often by moving your hands or feet about quickly, without much control

She scrabbled around in her bag for her glasses.

He was scrabbling for a foothold on the steep slope.

a sound like rats scrabbling on the other side of the wall

In his panic, he began scrabbling at the lock.

The kids scrabbled up the slope.

1. [intransitive] (of water) to touch something gently and regularly, often making a soft sound The waves lapped around our feet. the sound of water lapping against the boat
2. [transitive] lap something (of animals) to drink something with quick movements of the tongue
3. [transitive] lap somebody (in a race) to pass another runner on a track who is one or more laps behind you She had already lapped most of the other runners.

1. [intransitive] to make a very loud, deep sound We heard a lion roar. The gun roared deafeningly. The engine roared to life (= started noisily). The wind was roaring in my ears.
2. [intransitive, transitive] to shout something very loudly The crowd roared. roar something (out) The fans roared (out) their approval. He roared out James’s name. + speech ‘Stand back,’ he roared.
3. [intransitive] to laugh very loudly He looked so funny, we all roared. roar with laughter It made them roar with laughter.
4. [intransitive] + adv./prep. (of a vehicle or its rider/driver) to move very fast, making a lot of noise She put her foot down and the car roared away. A group of young men on motorcycles roared past.

1. [singular] the sound that is made by something repeatedly hitting a surface quickly and lightly the patter of feet/footsteps the patter of rain on the roof I could hear the pitter-patter of feet in the corridor.
2. [uncountable, singular] fast continuous talk by somebody who is trying to sell you something or entertain you sales patter

having disastrous consequences