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The document provides a glossary of verbs related to changes in urban environments, including terms like 'construct,' 'demolish,' 'expand,' and 'modernize.' Each term is defined with examples to illustrate its usage in the context of city development. The focus is on vocabulary that describes various actions taken in the process of urbanization and redevelopment.

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3 views

p.110

The document provides a glossary of verbs related to changes in urban environments, including terms like 'construct,' 'demolish,' 'expand,' and 'modernize.' Each term is defined with examples to illustrate its usage in the context of city development. The focus is on vocabulary that describes various actions taken in the process of urbanization and redevelopment.

Uploaded by

shaban sharifi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sharifi’s Tutorial Writing Skill  0915 514 5350

It is important to learn and practice the typical verbs used to describe changes in a city.

Glossary

construct kənˈstrʌkt / verb [ transitive]


To build something such as a house, bridge, road etc:
There are plans to construct a new road bridge across the river.

construct something from/of/in something


skyscrapers constructed entirely of concrete and glass

build to make a house, road, wall, bridge etc using bricks, stone, wood, or
other materials: A new stadium will be built for the Olympics.

Construct is more formal than build: The council plans to construct two new
schools.

erect formal to build a wall, fence, or building, especially a public building,


or put a statue somewhere: A monument to the Canadian soliders was erected
in Green Park.

convert kənˈvɜːt $ -ˈvɜːrt / verb

[transitive] to change something into a different form, or to change


something so that it can be used for a different purpose or in a different
way → convertible

convert something to/into something

They converted the spare bedroom into an office.


The stocks can be easily converted to cash.
a 19th-century converted barn (= barn changed into a house)

cut / kʌt / verb (past tense and past participle cut, present participle cutting)

cut down phrasal verb 1 to reduce the amount of something


cut something down
Installing double-glazing will cut down the noise from traffic.
cut down on
By getting the design right, you can cut down on accidents.
2 to eat, drink, or use less of something, especially in order to improve
your health:
I’ve always smoked, but I’m trying to cut down.
cut down on
Cut down on fatty foods if you want to lose weight.
pg. 1
Sharifi’s Tutorial Writing Skill  0915 514 5350

demolish / dɪˈmɒlɪʃ $ dɪˈmɑː- / verb [ transitive]


to completely destroy a building either deliberately or by accident: The
original 15th century house was demolished in Victorian times. | The plane
crashed into a suburb of Paris, demolishing several buildings.
The entire east wing of the building was demolished in the fire.

destroy to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be


used or repaired: The earthquake almost completely destroyed the city. | The
twin towers were destroyed in a terrorist attack.

devastate to damage a large area very badly and destroy many things in it:
Allied bombings in 1943 devastated the city. | The country’s economy has been
devastated by years of fighting.

ruin to spoil something completely, so that it cannot be used or enjoyed:


Fungus may ruin the crop. | The new houses will ruin the view.

expand / ɪkˈspænd / verb


[ intransitive and transitive] to become larger in size, number, or amount, or
to make something become larger → expansion OPP contract:
Water expands as it freezes.
Sydney’s population expanded rapidly in the 1960s.
exercises that expand the chest muscles

enlarge / ɪnˈlɑːdʒ $ -ɑːrdʒ / verb [ intransitive and transitive]


if you enlarge something, or if it enlarges, it increases in size or scale:
an operation to enlarge her breasts
Police will have the pictures enlarged in an attempt to identify the thief.

extend / ɪkˈstend / verb


[ intransitive + adverb/preposition, transitive] to continue for a longer period
of time, or to make something last longer:
Management have agreed to extend the deadline.

[ transitive] to make a room, building, road etc bigger or longer:


We plan to extend the kitchen by six feet.

industrialize / ɪnˈdʌstriəlaɪz / verb [ intransitive and transitive]


when a country or place develops a lot of industry

pg. 2
Sharifi’s Tutorial Writing Skill  0915 514 5350

knock / nɒk $ nɑːk / verb


knock something ↔ down to destroy a building or part of a building SYN
demolish:
They want to knock the house down and rebuild it.

make / meɪk / verb (past tense and past participle made / meɪd /)
make somebody/something into something phrasal verb
to change something so that it has a different form or purpose SYN
convert: We can make your room into a study.

modernize (also modernise British English) / ˈmɒdənaɪz $ ˈmɑːdər- / verb


1 [ transitive] to make something such as a system or building more
modern:
They need more funds to modernize the country’s telephone system.
a tastefully modernized old farmhouse
2 [ intransitive] to start using more modern methods and equipment:
The business will lose money if it doesn’t modernize.
— modernization / ˌmɒdənaɪˈzeɪʃ ə n $ ˌmɑːdərnə- / noun [ uncountable]:
the modernization of the railway system

pull / pʊl / verb


pull down phrasal verb
pull something ↔ down to destroy something or make it stop existing:
My old school was pulled down.

redevelop / ˌriːdɪˈveləp / verb [ transitive]


to make an area more modern by putting in new buildings or changing or
repairing the old ones:
The old docks are being redeveloped as a business park.

redevelopment / ˌriːdɪˈveləpmənt / noun [ uncountable and countable]


the act of redeveloping an area, especially in a city:
redevelopment of the city’s downtown area

remove / rɪˈmuːv / verb [ transitive]


Y to take something away from, out of, or off the place where it is:
Remove the old wallpaper and fill any holes in the walls.
remove something from something
Reference books may not be removed from the library.
F to get rid of something so that it does not exist any longer:
a cleaner that will remove wine stains

pg. 3
Sharifi’s Tutorial Writing Skill  0915 514 5350

replace / rɪˈpleɪs / verb [ transitive]


to remove someone from their job or something from its place, and
put a new person or thing there:
Two of the tyres had to be replaced.

transform / trænsˈfɔːm $ -ˈfɔːrm / verb [ transitive]

to completely change the appearance, form, or character of something


or someone, especially in a way that improves it:
Increased population has transformed the landscape.

transform somebody/something (from something) into something


The movie transformed her almost overnight from an unknown schoolgirl into a
megastar. || Well, you’ve certainly transformed this place – it looks great!
Putin transformed the Russian economy.

turn / tɜːn $ tɜːrn / verb


turn (somebody/something) into something phrasal verb
to become something different, or to make someone or something do this

The sofa turns into a bed.


A few weeks later, winter had turned into spring.
Hollywood discovered her and turned her into a star.

urbanized (also urbanised British English) / ˈɜːbənaɪzd $ ˈɜːr- / adjective


1 an urbanized country or area has a lot of houses, factories, shops,
offices etc: the most heavily urbanized regions
2 in an urbanized society, there are a lot of people who live and work in
towns and cities:
During the 19th century, Britain became the world’s first modern urbanized
society.
urbanization / ˌɜːbənaɪˈzeɪʃ ə n $ ˌɜːrbənə- / noun [ uncountable]:
the transformation of the social structure by urbanization

pg. 4

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