Dictionary Expand Your Vocabulary with Words and Their Meanings

The verb 'undercut' [ˌʌndərˈkʌt] has three main meanings. Firstly, it refers to selling goods or services at a lower price than a competitor, as in 'The company undercut its competitors by offering a lower price.' Secondly, it means to weaken or damage something, especially someone's position or power, as in 'The scandal undercut the politician's credibility.' Finally, it can mean to cut away the part of something that is underneath, as in 'The river has undercut the bank, causing it to collapse.' The phrase 'undercutting prices' refers to selling goods or services at a lower price than competitors, while the idiom 'undercut someone's feet' means to take away someone's support or advantage.

The term 'harmony' [ˈhɑːməni] refers to the pleasing combination of musical notes, as well as agreement or concord. It can describe the compatibility of colors or the peaceful coexistence of people. Examples include 'The choir sang in perfect harmony,' and 'The two sides reached a harmony on the disputed issue.' 'Harmony' extends into phrases like 'in harmony with,' and idioms like 'in perfect harmony,' denoting complete agreement.

The term 'procedure' [prəˈsiːdʒə(r)] refers to an established or official way of doing something, such as applying to a university or handling customer complaints. It can also refer to a medical operation, like a surgical procedure. Phrases like 'standard operating procedure' and 'due process' are common, and idioms like 'go through the proper channels' and 'by the book' denote following established rules. 'Cut corners' is an idiom that means to ignore rules or leave out important parts.

The term 'fantastic' [fan-tas-tik] refers to something imaginative or fanciful, or something extraordinarily good or attractive. It can also mean something unbelievable or incredible, as in 'The idea of traveling to Mars seems fantastic.' The phrase 'fantastic four' refers to a group of superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe, while 'fantastic voyage' describes a journey through the human body. 'A fantastic job' denotes an excellent performance, while 'fantastic as it may seem' introduces a surprising fact or statement.

The term 'superior' [suːˈpɪəriər] refers to something that is higher in rank, status, or quality than others of its kind. It can also describe a feeling of being better or higher in status than others, as in 'She has a superior attitude towards her coworkers.' 'Superior' extends into phrases like 'superior court,' and idioms like 'pull rank,' denoting the use of one's superior position to gain an advantage.

The term 'attention' [əˈtɛnʃ(ə)n] refers to the act of noticing, regarding, or dealing with someone or something. It can also denote careful consideration or application of something. Phrases like 'pay attention' and 'attention span' use 'attention' to denote focus or concentration, while 'attention deficit disorder (ADD)' refers to a condition characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity. Idioms like 'pay through the nose for attention' and 'draw attention to oneself' use 'attention' to denote the act of paying or attracting attention, respectively.