ACT English and World Knowledge - Sound and Size

Here you will learn some English words related to sound and size, such as "bellow", "diminutive", "shriek", etc. that will help you ace your ACTs.

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ACT English and World Knowledge
blare [noun]

a sharp and piercing sound, typically from music, a horn, or other sources, often characterized by its intensity and lack of subtlety

Ex: We were startled awake by the blare of the fire alarm in the middle of the night .
rattle [noun]

a distinct and repetitive sound characterized by rapid and sharp vibrations, often caused by objects shaking or moving loosely

Ex: The baby 's rattle entertained her for hours with its cheerful noise .
shriek [noun]

a sudden, high-pitched cry or scream that is sharp and piercing in nature

Ex: The child 's shriek of joy could be heard from across the park .
thrum [noun]

a continuous, low, vibrating sound, often rhythmic or steady in nature

Ex: The thrum of the engine lulled him to sleep during the long car ride .
gurgle [noun]

the gentle and rhythmic sound produced by liquid flowing or moving through a narrow passage, often with a bubbling or murmuring quality

Ex: The gurgle of the fountain added to the peaceful ambiance of the garden .
clang [noun]

a sharp sound made by metal objects hitting each other or a hard surface

Ex: The clang of pots and pans in the kitchen signaled the start of dinner preparation .
crackle [noun]

the sharp, popping sound produced by the rapid expansion or combustion of materials, often associated with fire or heating

Ex: The crackle of the fireworks lit up the sky on New Year 's Eve .
bellow [noun]

a deep, loud, and resonant sound, often produced by a human or an animal, conveying strength or intensity

Ex: The bellow of the foghorn warned ships of the rocky coast .
creak [noun]

a high-pitched, squeaking sound, typically produced by something wooden or metallic when under pressure or movement

Ex: The rusty gate swung open with a loud creak .
cadence [noun]

the rhythmic emphasis or stress placed on a syllable within a metrical foot of verse

Ex: The shift in cadence gave the verse a jarring , unexpected beat .
pitch [noun]

the degree of highness or lowness of a tone that is determined by the frequency of waves producing it

Ex:
rhythm [noun]

a strong repeated pattern of musical notes or sounds

Ex: The rhythm of the song made everyone want to dance .

to resound or echo with a deep, prolonged sound, often creating a lasting impression or effect

Ex: His words reverberated in her mind long after their conversation ended .

to produce a discordant, harsh, and ringing sound, typically caused by the clashing or rattling of metallic objects

Ex: The loose change in his pocket jangled noisily as he walked .
grandiose [adjective]

overly impressive in size or appearance, often to the point of being excessive or showy in a negative way

Ex: His grandiose plans for the party included extravagant decorations and a live band .
minuscule [adjective]

incredibly small in size

Ex: She found a minuscule chip on the edge of her favorite coffee mug .
diminutive [adjective]

much smaller than what is normal

Ex: The diminutive flower bloomed delicately in the garden , adding a touch of color to the landscape .
gigantic [adjective]

extremely large in size or extent

Ex: The gigantic skyscraper soared into the sky , dominating the city skyline .
enormous [adjective]

extremely large in physical dimensions

Ex: The ship was enormous , capable of carrying thousands of passengers .
lofty [adjective]

(of a mountain, building, etc.) very tall and outstanding

Ex: The castle 's towers reached lofty heights , visible from miles around .
microscopic [adjective]

too small to be seen with the naked eye

Ex: They found microscopic particles of dust on the surface of the antique book .
oversized [adjective]

larger than the standard or usual size

Ex: The oversized backpack was heavy but held all of his camping gear comfortably .
massive [adjective]

extremely large or heavy

Ex: The mountain range was a massive barrier , separating the two regions and making travel difficult .
unimposing [adjective]

not impressive, significant, or noteworthy in appearance, size, or manner

miniature [adjective]

much smaller in scale or size compared to the usual form

Ex: The miniature version of the car was a popular collector 's item among automotive enthusiasts .

the measurable size of phenomena such as distance, mass, speed, luminosity, etc. based on quantitative scale

Ex: It 's difficult to fully comprehend the magnitude of billions of dollars in national debt .

to expand or become swollen with air or gas

Ex: The air mattress inflated quickly when the valve was opened .

to release and empty air or gas from a container, causing it to become less inflated

Ex: The mechanic deflated the car tire before repairing the puncture .

to become smaller, narrower, or tighter

Ex: The rubber band has contracted over time , losing its original elasticity .