calibrate vb. (KAL i brayt) to adjust for accuracy. The butcher was required by law to calibrate his scales.
callous adj. (KAL us) hard and unfeeling. The soldier's rough treatment of the prisoner was particularly callous.
callow adj. (KAL oh) immature; juvenile. The teenager was quick to judge others but was too callow to see his own faults.
camaraderie n. (kahm RAH duh ree) friendly rapport. After winning the game, the team shared a great camaraderie.
candor n. (KAN dur) complete honesty; frankness. In all candor, I think your haircut looks goofy.
can of worms, open a to bring up a difficult or complex problem. Similar to "open a Pandora's box." Dress codes? Let's not open that can of worms tonight.
capitalism n. (KAP i tuh liz um) an economic system allowing private citizens to pursue their own enterprises for private gain; the free enterprise system. America's strength is due not only to its diversity but to its system of capitalism.
capitulate vb. (kuh PICH yoo layt) to give in or acquiesce; to agree to terms. It was a long battle, but the opposing party was finally persuaded to capitulate.
capricious adj. (kuh PRISH us) unpredictable; by whim. Maine has some of the most capricious weather in the country.
carcinogenic adj. (kar sin uh JEN ik) cancer- causing. Many of the compounds in cigarette smoke have been found to be carcinogenic.
caricature n. (KAIR uh ku chur) a drawing or depiction of someone or something with humorously exaggerated features. Cartoonists love to draw caricatures of famous politicians.
carnage n. (KAR nij) a massacre or bloody slaughter. The carnage of World War II was horrific.
carnal adj. (KAR nul) pleasurable in a physical and especially sexual way as opposed to a spiritual way. He was secretly attracted to his neighbor but was careful to keep his carnal desires to himself.
carnivorous adj. (kar NIV uh rus) flesh-eating. Lions and tigers are carnivorous animals.
carte blanche n. (KART BLAHNSH) a granting of power or privilege to do as one pleases, as giving one a blank check. As for spending money on research and development, the head of the laboratory was given carte blanche.
cartel n. (kar TEL) a group of businesses that pool their power to control production and prices of products. The oil cartel withheld a percentage of surplus oil until the price per barrel increased.
Cassandra n. (kuh SAN druh) from the mythological character of the same name, one who predicts disaster and doom but is disregarded. I don't want to be accused of being a Cassandra, but I think the stock market is overdue for a big crash.
castles in the air/castles in Spain fanciful daydreams or goals too impractical to be realized. "John," my boss said, "your idea is too impractical to work. You're building castles in the air again." catalyst n. (KAT uh list) an agent, thing, or person that gets something started, makes something happen, or facilitates or expedites these processes. John Muir was a catalyst for the national conservation movement.
catbird seat, in the sitting high and mighty; a position of power. With its economy humming along, America is enjoying at least a temporary perch in the catbird seat.
catch-22 n. an unwinnable situation; named after the novel of the same title. I couldn't get the job without experience, but I can't get experience without the job; it's a classic catch-22.
catharsis n. (kuh THAR sis) a cleansing of the soul; a release of great inner turmoil. Camping in the desert for a week relieved my stress and brought about a great catharsis.
caucus n. (KAW kus) a meeting or assembly, especially one formed to choose candidates or discuss a specific political issue. We held a caucus to register our votes for political candidates.
cause celebre n. (KAWZ say LEB ruh) a widely discussed issue or controversy. The news networks are always on the lookout to uncover the next cause celebre.
caustic adj. (KAWS tik) cutting, burning, and corrosive, as acid. The fumes are caustic, so be sure to wear protective clothing. His caustic remarks hurt my feelings.
cautionary tale n. an incident, event, or story that serves as an illustration or a warning of a hazard. The Great Depression serves as a cautionary tale to all stock market investors.
cavalier adj. (kav uh LEER) arrogantly indifferent or nonchalant. His attitude toward the discipline of his spoiled children was cavalier; he just didn't seem to give a damn.
caveat n. (KA vee aht) a warning or caution. The police officer issued a firm caveat: either move along or be arrested for loitering.
caveat emptor (KA vee aht EM tur) Latin term for "let the buyer beware." When shopping over the Internet, caveat emptor.
celibate adj. (SELL uh but) not sexually active; sexually abstinent. With all of the sexually transmitted diseases out there, some think it's a good idea to remain celibate until marriage.
cerebral adj. (suh REE brul) pertaining to the intellect or the brain. Some people have a more cerebral focus than an athletic one.
c'est la vie (say lah VEE) French term for "that's life" or "such is life." Today I struck out three times, then on the way home from the game I got a flat tire on my bike! Oh well, c'est la vie.
chagrin n. (shuh GRIN) a feeling of embarrassment, shame, or annoyed unease. I suffered only mild chagrin at noticing that my shirt was on inside-out.
chameleon n. (kuh MEE lyun) one who changes or has the ability to change quickly, so-named after the color-changing lizard. Mary is such a chameleon; I never know from one day to the next which fashion trend she is going to follow.
champion n. (CHAMP ee un) a proponent, advocate or backer of some cause or person. Martin Luther King was a champion of equal rights.