How to make stress your friend?

Direct link to the video on ted.com website (with subtitles and transcript)

estimate (verb) = to guess the value, amount, importance, etc. of something

Our journey is estamated to last for ten days.

impromptu (adjective) = said, done without previous preparation, improvised, spontaneous

I forgot the lyrics of the song, so I came up with new, impromptu words and no one has noticed.

unbeknowst (to sb) (adverb) = without a particular person knowing

Unbeknowst to me, she had sold all my CDs while I was on my vacation trip.

increment (noun) = one of a series of increases, small step toward gain, accretion

You will receive annual pay increments every December.

pound (verb) =  to crush something, beat rhythmically, to hit or beat repeatedly with a lot of force

He was pounding away on his laptop until four in the morning, when he eventually finished the project.

redeem (verb) = to improve, repay, pay off, to get something back, to make something seem less bad

She saved enough amount of money, so that she could redeem her jewelry from the pawnshop.

A simple way to break a bad habit

Direct link to the video on ted.com website (with subtitles and transcript)

drift off (verb) = to gradually start to sleep

I couldn't help myself from drifting off during the lecture - it was such a tedious class!

urge (noun) = a strong wish that is difficult to control

She felt an overwhelming urge to tell somebody about how she felt that day.

morbidity (noun) = the morbidity of a disease is how many people have it in a particular population

"Obesity and smoking are among the leading preventable causes of morbidity and mortality in the world."

tap into sth (verb) = to manage to use sth in a way that brings good results

If only we could tap into our creativity, in order to earn some money!

disenchanted (adjective) = no longer believing in the value of sth, disillusioned

He became disenchanted with her after two months of the relationship.

cortex (noun) = the outer, protective layer (especially of the brain or other organs)

restrain (verb) = to keep under control some behaviours or to limit the growth of sth

He was sa mad that she couldn't restrain him.

visceral (adjective) = emotional, based on deep feeling rather than on reason

Why you should talk to strangers?

Direct link to the video on ted.com website (with subtitles and transcript)

bond (noun) = close connection joining two or more people

There has been a strong bond between us since we met.

default (noun) = result or failure

Unless you disagree, the default is to take the resit test next week.

counterintuitive (adjective) = sth that doesn't happen in the way you would expect it to, contrary to common sense, unreasonable

It is pretty counterintuitive, that he likes you more and more, although you treat him so badly.

fleeting (adjective) = short, quick, brief, transient

Time is fleeting. It passes by quicker than you can imagine.

averse (adjective) = strongly disliking, opposing

Many people are averse to abortion because of their religion beliefs.

conduit (noun) = a way of connecting two places, passage

The missing piece of the map might be the conduit to revealing the problem.

disclosure (noun) = the act of making sth known, announcement, revelation, admission, confession

The disclosure of her secret might be damaging for her career.

How to gain control of your free time?

Direct link to the video on ted.com website (with subtitles and transcript)

tardiness (noun) = lateness, delay

Forgive me my tardiness, the bus was broken and we had to wait for another one.

savor (verb) = to enjoy sth (food) and experience it slowly, in order to appreciate it as much as possible; delight

I wanted to savor the time spent with him, as he was leaving the next day.

errand (noun) = little task that you have to do during the day

I have couple of errands to do before we meet. First, I need to go to the post office and then send some significant documents to my boss.

judicious (adjective) = showing good reason, thoughtful, wise, considerate, reasonable

You should spend your money in a judicious way instead of spending them on unnecessary things.

sopping (adjective) = extremely wet

It started to rain out of the blue and all my clothes were so sopping that they were drying up all night.

scintillating (adjective) = very interesting, exciting

Her performance was so scintillating that everyone was enchanted.

The future of early cancer detection?

Direct link to the video on ted.com website (with subtitles and transcript)

strain (noun) = pressure, influence, force, sth that makes you nervous, worried

She has been put under a lot of  strain recently.

discard (verb) = to get rid of sth not wanted or needed (also: getting rid of a card during a card game)

She discarded all her worn out, overused clothes.

accelerate (verb) = when some vehicle accelerates, its speed increases

He accelerated in order to run away from the accident place.

catalyse (verb) = to make a chemical reaction happen/to make sth start happening or start being successful

decode (verb) = to discover the meaning of information given in a secret way 

In order to decode his message, you have to change the words' order.

acute (adjective) = extreme, intense

Global warming is an acute issue nowadays.

Why some people are more altruistic than others?

Direct link to the video on ted.com website (with subtitles and transcript)

gnawing (adjective) = worrying, uncomfortable 

I have a gnawing feeling that somebody is watching me.

wound up (adjective) = very worried, nervous, angry

I get pretty wound up before literally every test!

capacity (noun) = the whole amount of sth/ability

She lacked the capacity to sing.

welfare (noun) = help given, health and happiness

The mother of the missing child is very concerned about his welfare.

stringent (adjective) = having severe effect, extremely limiting

More stringent laws need to be introduced.

Let's work out how to speak up for yourself!

Direct link to the video on ted.com website (with subtitles and transcript)

exhilarating (adjective) = making you fell happy and excited

An exhilarating shopping is the best way to cheer me up!

let sb down (phrasal verb) = to make sb feel disappointed because you've failed doing sth you promised to do 

Please, don't let me down this time and come tomorrow to our meeting.

ostracize (verb) = to avoid sb intentionally

She has been ostracized since the last argument with her friends.

leeway (noun) = amount of freedom that you have to do sth

She has a leeway in the dress code at her work place - she could even wear pyjamas and not be reprimanded for that!

double bind (noun) = a difficult situation in which, whatever action you take, you cannot escape unpleasant results

I am caught in a double bind, because whenever I do all my chores, I am still blamed for not doing something!

evict (verb) = to force sb to leave somewhere

He was evicted from the bar after getting into heated argument.

forewarn (verb) = to tell sb that sth unpleasant is going to happen 

She has been forewarned that she might not get the job she applied for.