Glossary | Unit by unit
© Oxford University Press 2008 Business Result Intermediate
Unit 1
abroad /@“brO;d/ (adv) to or in other countries; not in your home
country
aim /eIm/ (n) something that you are trying to achieve; your
purpose in doing sth
application /&plI“keISn/ (n) a formal written request for sth, such as
money or permission to do sth
attendee /@ten”di;/ (n) a person who goes to a place or an event
such as a meeting
bureaucracy /bjU@“rQkr@si; Ame -“rA;k-/ (n) the system of
official rules and ways of doing things that an organization or
government has, especially when these seem too complicated
challenging /”tS&l@ndZIN/ (adj) difficult in a way that is interesting or
satisfying
conditions /k@n“dISnz/ (n pl) the circumstances in which people
work or do sth, for example the physical environment around
them or the hours that they have to work
consultant /k@n“sVlt@nt/ (n) a person who knows a lot about a
particular subject and is employed to give advice about it to other
people
corruption /k@”rVpSn/ (n) dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially
by people in authority
demanding /dI”mA;ndIN; Ame -“m&n-/ (adj) needing a lot of effort,
skill, hard work, etc.
depressing /dI”presIN/ (adj) making sb feel very unhappy or without
hope
development /dI“vel@pm@nt/ (n) the process of becoming better
or more advanced, or the process of creating sth new or more
advanced
donation /d@U”neISn/ (n) the act of giving money, equipment, etc. to
sb to help them
dull /dVl/ (adj) not interesting or exciting; boring
estimate /”estImeIt/ (v) to form an idea of the cost, size, value etc.
of sth, without calculating it exactly
event /I”vent/ (n) a planned public or social occasion
fun /fVn/ (adj) amusing or enjoyable
fundraiser /”fVndreIz@(r)/ (n) a person who collects money for
charity or an organization
generate /”dZEn@reIt/ (v) to produce or create sth
glamorous /”gl&m@r@s/ (adj) appearing to be attractive and exciting,
and different from ordinary things or people
grant /grA;nt; Ame gr&nt/ (n) a sum of money that is given by the
government or by another organization to be used for a particular
purpose
impression /Im”preSn/ (n) an opinion or idea that you get about sb /
sth when you see or meet them
maintenance /”meInt@n@ns/ (n) the act of keeping sth in good
condition by checking or repairing it regularly
negotiation /nI%g@USi”eISn; Ame -goUS-/ (n) the process of holding
formal discussions in order to reach an agreement
networking /”netwE;kIN; Ame -wE;rk-/ (n) a system of meeting and
talking to other people who may be useful or helpful to you in
your work
promotion /pr@”m@USn; Ame -“moUS-/ (n) a move to a more
important job in a company or organization
recognition /%rek@g”nISn/ (n) praise and rewards for the work that
you do
recruitment /rI“kru;tm@nt/ (n) the process of finding new people to
join a company or an organization
results /rI”zVlts/ (n pl) things that are achieved or produced
successfully
rewarding /rI”wO;dIN/ (adj) providing benefits such as a feeling of
achievement
routine /ru;“ti;n/ (adj) done or happening as a normal part of a
particular job, situation, or process
series /”sI@ri;z/ (n) several events or things of a similar kind that
happen one after the other
sponsor /“spQns@(r); Ame “spA;n-/ (n) a person or company that
helps pay the costs of sth such as a special event or scientific
project, usually in order to advertise their products
statement /”steItm@nt/ (n) something that you say or write that
gives information or an opinion
stressful /”stresfVl/ (adj) causing a lot of anxiety and worry
target /”tA;gIt; Ame ”tA;rgIt/ (n) a result that you try to achieve
varied /”ve@ri;d/ (adj) not staying the same, but changing often
variety /v@”raIti/ (n) the quality of not staying the same or not doing
the same things all the time
worthwhile /wE;T”waIl; Ame wE;rT-/ (adj) interesting and enjoyable,
especially because you feel you are doing sth important or useful
to others
Unit 2
accomplished /@“kVmplISt/ (adj) very good or skilful at a particular
thing
advice /@d”vaIs/ (n) an opinion or a suggestion about what sb
should do in a particular situation
allocate resources /%&l@keIt rI”zO;s@z; Ame -“ri;sO;rs-/ (phrase)
to decide officially that money, labour, etc. will be used for a
particular purpose
budget /”bVdZIt/ (n) an amount of money that is available to a
person or organization to spend on sth
catch up /%k&tS ”Vp/ (phr v) to spend extra time or do extra
work because you have not done sth earlier, so that you finish
everything you planned to finish
catering /”keIt@rIN/ (n) the work of providing food and drinks for
meetings or social events
charity /“tS&rIti/ (n) an organization whose aim is to help people in
need
committed /k@”mItId/ (adj) believing strongly in sth and willing to
give time and energy to it
community /k@”mju;n@ti/ (n) all the people who live in a particular
place, for example the area near to where a company is based,
when talked about as a group
crucial /“kru;S@l/ (adj) very important
deadline /”dedlaIn/ (n) a point in time by which sth must be done
decorating /”dek@reItIN/ (n) the job of putting paint, wallpaper, etc.
on the walls and ceilings inside a room or building
delegate tasks /%delIgeIt ”tA;sks/ (phrase) to give particular pieces
of your work to other people to do
develop /dI”vel@p/ (v) to think of or produce a new idea, product,
etc. and make it successful
environmentally-friendly /InvaIr@n%ment@li “frendli/ (adj) not
harming the environment
equip /I”kwIp/ (v) to supply sb / sth with things such as machines
or materials that are needed for a particular purpose
essential /I“senSl/ (adj) extremely important; completely necessary
so that sth can be done
Glossary | Unit by unit
© Oxford University Press 2008 Business Result Intermediate 2
experience /Ik”spi;rI@ns/ (n) an event or sth that happens to you,
that affects you in some way
fall behind schedule /%fO;l bIhaInd ”Sedju;l; Ame -“skedZu;l/
(phrase) to progress too slowly, so that things are not done by the
time they were planned to be done
finish ahead of schedule /%fInIS @hed @v “Sedju;l; Ame -“skedZu;l/
(phrase) to finish earlier than planned
get on with a job /get %Qn wID @ “dZQb/ (phrase) to continue or
make progress with sth you have to do
get updates /%get ”VpdeIts/ (phrase) to get the most recent
information about sth from sb
invitation /%InvI“teISn/ (n) a written or spoken request to sb to do
sth, such as attend an event
issue /”ISu;/ (v) to give sth to sb, especially officially
leaflet /“li;fl@t/ (n) a printed sheet of paper or a few printed pages
that are given free, in order to advertise or give information about
sth
loan /l@Un; Ame loUn/ (n) money that a person or company
borrows from an organization such as a bank
meet a deadline /%mi;t @ “dedlaIn/ (phrase) to succeed in doing sth
by the point in time when it was agreed it should be done
objectives /@b”dZektIvz/ (n) things that you are trying to achieve
on track /%Qn ”tr&k; Ame %A;n-/ (adj) happening in the right way to
achieve a particular result at the time that was planned
organic /O;”g&nIk; Ame O;rg-/ (adj) produced without using artificial
chemicals
plastering /”plA;st@rIN; Ame ”pl&s-/ (n) the activity of covering
a wall, etc. with plaster (a substance that is put on walls and
ceilings to give them a smooth, hard surface)
plumbing /”plVmIN/ (n) the system of pipes, etc. that supply water
to a building and take waste water away
predicted /prI”dIktId/ (adj) expected to happen or stated by sb to be
going to happen
profitable /”prQfIt@bl/ (adj) that makes or is likely to make money
progress /”pr@Ugres; Ame “prA;g-/ (n) the process of improving or
developing; if sth makes progress, it improves or develops
raise awareness /%reIz @”we@n@s; Ame -@”wer-/ (phrase) to help
people know that sth exists, to understand more about it, and to
know that it is important
resources /rI”sO;sIz; Ame ”ri;sO;rsIz/ (n pl) a supply of sth that a
country, an organization, or a person has and can use, especially
to increase their wealth
schedule /”Sedju;l; Ame ”skedZu;l/ (n) a plan that lists all the work
that you have to do and when you must do each thing
skill /skIl/ (n) a particular ability or type of ability, especially one
that needs training or experience
staff /stA;f; Ame st&f/ (n) all the people who work for a company or
organization
stationery /”steIS@nri/ (n) special paper for writing letters on
sustainable /sVs”teIn@bl/ (adj) involving the use of natural products
and energy in a way that does not harm the environment
teamwork /”ti;mwE;k; Ame -wE;rk/ (n) the activity of working well
together as a team
tiling /”taIlIN/ (n) the work of covering a floor, wall, etc. with tiles
(hard, flat, usually square pieces of material)
update /”VpdeIt/ (n) an occasion when the most recent information
about sth is given to sb
volunteer /vQl@n”tI@(r); Ame vA;l@n“tIr/ (v) a person who does a job
without being paid for it
volunteerism /vQl@n”ti;rIzm/ (n) the practice of working without
being paid for it, for example in order to help people
wiring /”waIrIN/ (n) the system of wires that is used for supplying
electricity to a building
Unit 3
accommodation /@%kQm@”deISn; Ame -kA;m-/ (n) a place to live or
stay
assignment /@”saInm@nt/ (n) a piece of work that sb is given to do,
usually as part of their job
bored /bO;d; Ame bO;rd/ (adj) if you are bored of sth, you have lost
interest in it so that you do not want to do it, have it, etc. any
more
boring /”bO;rIN/ (adj) not interesting; making you feel tired and
impatient
contact /“kQnt&kt; Ame ”kA;n-/ (n) a person that you know,
especially sb who can be helpful to you in your work
corridor /”kQrIdO;(r)/ (n) a long narrow passage in a building, with
doors that open into rooms on either side
department /dI”pA;tm@nt; Ame -“pA;rt-/ (n) a section of a large
organization such as a business, government, university, etc.
do exercise /du; “eks@saIz; Ame -s@rs-/ (phrase) to take part in
physical activity in order to stay healthy or become stronger
do overtime /du; “@Uv@taIm; Ame -“oUv@r-/ (phrase) to work extra
time in addition to your normal hours at work
do work /du; ”wE;k; Ame -“wE;rk/ (phrase) to do your job
emphasis /”emf@sIs/ (n) extra force or importance that is given to
sth that you say
employee /Im“plOIi;/ (n) a person who is paid to work for sb
enjoyable /in”dZOI@bl/ (adj) giving pleasure
excited /Ik”saItId/ (adj) feeling or showing happiness and
enthusiasm
exciting /Ik“saItIN/ (adj) causing great interest, happiness, or
enthusiasm
exercise /”eks@saIz/ (n) physical activity done in order to stay
healthy or become stronger
exhilarated /Ig“zIl@reItId/ (adj) feeling very happy and excited
exhilarating /Ig”zIl@reItIN/ (adj) causing sb to feel very happy and
excited
fascinating /”f&sIneItIN/ (adj) extremely interesting and attractive
flexitime /”fleksItaIm/ (n) a system in which employees work a
particular number of hours each week or month, but can choose
when they start and finish work each day
frightened /”fraIt@nd/ (adj) afraid; feeling fear
frightening /”fraIt@nIN/ (adj) making you feel afraid; causing fear
hard work /%hA;d “wE;k; Ame -“wE;rk/ (adj) work that needs or uses
a lot of physical strength or mental effort
human resources /%hjU;m@n rI“sO;sIz; Ame “ri;sO;rsIz/ (n) the
department in a company that deals with employing and training
people
interested /”IntrestId/ (adj) feeling like you want to give your
attention to sth because you enjoy finding out about it or doing it
interesting /”IntrestIN/ (adj) attracting your attention because of
being special, exciting, or unusual
make progress /%meIk ”pr@Ugres; Ame -“prA;g-/ (phrase) to improve
or develop
make time /%meIk “taIm/ (phrase) to make time available to do sth
Glossary | Unit by unit
© Oxford University Press 2008 Business Result Intermediate
make useful contacts /meIk %ju;sfl “kQnt&kts; Ame -“kA;n-/
(phrase) to meet people who could be helpful to you in your
business
novel /”nQvl; Ame ”nA;vl/ (n) a book containing one long story, in
which the characters and events are usually imaginary
overtime /”@Uv@taIm; Ame -oUv@r-/ (n) extra time that you work in
addition to your normal hours at work
paid leave /%peId ”li;v/ (n) a period of time when you are allowed to
be away from work and you are paid as usual
plenty /”plenti/ (pron) a large amount; as much or as many as you
need
politely /p@“laItli/ (adv) in a way that shows good manners and
respect for the feelings of others
progress /”pr@Ugres; Ame -“prA;g-/ (n) the process of improving or
developing
relaxing /rI“l&ksIN/ (adj) helping you to rest and become less
anxious
take holiday /%teIk “hQlIdeI/ (phrase) [BrE] to be away from
work for a period of time with permission, in order to have a
holiday / vacation
take paid leave /teIk peId ”li;v/ (phrase) to be away from work for
a period of time, for example for a holiday / vacation, when you
have permission and are being paid as usual
take time off /teIk taIm “Qf; Ame -“A;f/ (phrase) to be away from
work for a period of time with permission
time off /%taIm ”Qf; Ame -“A;f/ (n) time when you are allowed to be
away from work
tired of /”taI@d @v; Ame “taI@rd-/ (adj) feeling that you have
had enough of sb / sth because you no longer find them / it
interesting or because they make you angry or unhappy
tiring /”taI@rIN/ (adj) making you feel tired; making you feel that you
need to sleep or rest
work flexitime /%wE;k “fleksItaIm; Ame %wE;rk-/ (phrase) to work
using a system in which you do a particular number of hours
each week or month, but can choose when you start and finish
each day
work from home /%wE;k fr@m ”h@Um; Ame %wE;rk fr@m ”hoUm/
(phrase) to do your job in your own house rather than travel to an
office to work
work late /%wE;k “leIt; Ame %wE;rk-/ (phrase) to stay at work after
the time that you usually go home
Unit 4
access /”&kses/ (n) the chance or permission to use or have sth, for
example, information or a service
account /@”kaUnt/ (n) an arrangement with a bank to keep your
money there, which means you can pay money in and take it out
when you need it
accurate /”&kj@r@t/ (adj) correct and true in every detail
allow /@”laU/ (v) if you allow sb to do sth, you give them permission
to do it or do not prevent them from doing it
cashier /k&”Si@(r)/ (n) a person whose job is to receive and pay out
money in a bank, shop / store, etc.
categorize /”k&t@g@raIz/ (v) to put things or people into groups
according to what type they are
choice /tSOIs/ (n) the number or range of different things from
which to choose
combine /k@m“baIn/ (v) to put two or more different things,
features, or qualities together or to do two or more things at the
same time
consumer /k@n”sju;m@(r); Ame -su;m-/ (n) a person who buys
goods or services for their own use
continuously /k@n“tInju@sli/ (adv) in a way that happens for a long
period without interruption, or is repeated many times
convenient /k@n“vi;nI@nt/ (adj) useful or easy; not causing problems
cost-effective /”kQst I%fektIv; Ame ”kA;st-/ (adj) giving the best
possible profit or benefits in comparison with the money that is
spent
customize /”kVst@maIz/ (v) to make or change sth to suit the
particular needs of one person
database /”deIt@beIs/ (n) an organized set of data that is stored in a
computer and can be looked at and used in various ways
deal /di;l/ (n) an agreement, especially in business, on a price and
on other conditions for buying or doing sth
deliver /dI”lIv@(r)/ (v) to take or supply sth to a particular person or
people that it has been sent to
demand /dI”mA;nd; Ame dI”m&nd/ (v) to ask for sth very firmly
efficient /I“fISnt/ (adj) doing sth well with no waste of time, money,
or energy
encourage /In”kVrIdZ; Ame -“kE;r-/ (v) to persuade sb to do sth by
making it easier for them and making them believe it is a good
thing to do
functionality /%fVnkS@”n&l@ti/ (n) the range of functions that sth
such as a computer, device, or system can perform
help /help/ (v) if you help sb to do sth, you make it easier or
possible for them to do it
immediate /I“mi;dI@t/ (adj) happening or done without delay
incentive /In”sentIv/ (n) something that is offered as a reward to
encourage you to do sth
let /let/ (v) if you let sb do sth, you allow them to do it or do not try
to stop it
local /”l@Ukl; Ame ”loUkl/ (adj) belonging to or connected with
the particular place that you are talking about, or with the place
where you live
make it easier /%meIk It “I;zI@(r)/ (phrase) if you make it easier for
sb to do sth, you do sth or give them sth that helps them to do it
multiple /”mVltIpl/ (adj) many in number; involving many different
people or things
promotion /pr@”m@USn; Ame -“moUSn/ (n) activities done in order to
increase the sales of a product or service
queue /kju;/ (n) a line of people, cars, etc. waiting for sth or to do
sth
relationship /rI”leISnSIp/ (n) the way in which two people or groups
behave towards each other or deal with each other
relevant /”rel@v@nt/ (adj) closely connected with the subject you are
discussing or the situation you are thinking about
relocate /%ri;l@U“keIt; Ame %ri;”loUkeIt/ (v) to move or to move
sb / sth to a new place to work or operate
review /rI”vju;/ (n) a report in a newspaper or magazine, or on the
Internet, television, or radio, in which sb gives their opinion of
sth such as a book, play, website, etc.
screen /skri;n/ (n) the flat surface at the front of a television or
computer, on which you see pictures or information
secure /sI”kjU@r; Ame s@”kjUr/ (adj) safe from danger; unable to be
harmed or affected by sth
separately /(n) ”sepr@tli/ (adv) not together; not at the same time
site /saIt/ (n) a place where a building, town, etc. was, is, or will be
located
store /stO;(r)/ (v) to keep information or facts in a computer
Glossary | Unit by unit
suburb /”sVbE;b; Ame -bE;rb/ (n) an area where people live that is
outside the centre of a city
time-saving /”taIm seIvIN/ (adj) that reduces the amount of time it
takes to do sth
up-to-date /%Vp t@ ”deIt/ (adj) new or recent
user-friendly /%ju;z@ “frendli; Ame %ju;z@r-/ (adj) easy for people who
are not experts to use and understand
voucher /“vaUtS@(r)/ (n) [BrE] a printed piece of paper that can be
used instead of money to pay for sth, or that allows you to pay
less than the usual price of sth
Unit 5
assess /@“ses/ (v) to make a judgement about the nature, quality, or
value of sth
assist /@“sIst/ (v) to help sb to do sth
attend /@“tend/ (v) to be present at an event
based in /”beIst In/ (adj) working or doing business in or from a
particular place
care /ke@(r); Ame ker/ (n) the process of providing sb with what
they need and treating them well because they are important to
you
check /”tSek/ (v) to examine sth to see if it is correct, safe, or
acceptable
comment /“kQment; Ame “kA;m-/ (v) if you comment on sth, you
show that you have noticed it and give your opinion on it
confirm /k@n“fE;m; Ame -“fE;rm/ (v) to say that an arrangement, an
agreement, etc. is definite or official
current /“kVr@nt/ (adj) happening or being used now, at the present
time
customer /”kVst@m@(r)/ (n) a person or an organization that buys sth
from a shop / store or business
discount /”dIskaUnt; Ame -koUnt/ (n) an amount of money that is
taken off the usual cost of sth
ensure /In”SU@(r); Ame -“SUr/ (v) to make sure that sth happens
equipment /I“kwIpm@nt/ (n) the things such as machines and
refurbish /%ri;“fE;biS; Ame -“fE;rb-/ (v) to clean and decorate a room,
building, etc. in order to make it more attractive, more useful, etc.
rehabilitation /%ri;@%bIlI”teISn/ (n) the process of returning to a
normal life after having been very ill / sick or injured
require /rI”kwAI@(r)/ (v) to need or want sth
requirements /rI”kwAI@m@nts; Ame -“kwAI@r-/ (n pl) the things that
you need or want
satisfaction /s&tIs”f&kSn/ (n) the good feeling that you have when
you have achieved or got what you wanted
service /“sE;vIs; Ame “sE;rv-/ (n) the work of doing sth for
customers, or a business whose work involves doing sth for
customers rather than producing goods
specific /sp@”sIfIk/ (adj) detailed and exact
support /s@”pO;t; Ame -“pO;rt/ (n) help that is given to sb such as a
customer, for example, help with using a product
tailor /”teIl@(r)/ (v) to make or adapt sth for a particular purpose, a
particular person, etc.
treadmill /”tredmIl/ (n) an exercise machine that has a moving
surface that you can walk or run on while remaining in the same
place
unique /ju”ni;k/ (adj) being the only one of its kind
Unit 6
admit /@d“mIt/ to agree, often unwillingly, that sth is true
assemble /@”sembl/ (v) to fit together all the separate parts of sth,
for example, a piece of furniture
bunny suit /”bVni su;t/ (n) a loose piece of clothing like a shirt and
trousers / pants in one piece, usually worn over other clothing
chamber of commerce /%tSeImb@r @v ”kQmE;s; Ame -“kA;mE;rs/
(n) a group of local business people who work together to help
business and trade in a particular town
check in /%tSek ”In/ (phr v) to go to a desk at an airport and tell an
official there that you have arrived for your flight
conference /”kQnfr@ns; Ame ”kA;n-/ (n) a large official meeting,
usually lasting for a few days, at which people with the same
