5. Peer (V, n)

a) Verb [no obj., with adv.] look with difficulty or concentration at someone or something. Syn: to look (intently), to glance, to stare, to gaze

Faye peered at her with suspicion.

■ be just visible the towers peer over the roofs

■ [no obj.] come into view; appear Origin: late 16^th cent.: perhaps a variant of dialect pire or perhaps partly from a shortening of appear

- peer at / into / over / past / (a)round / through

- to peer into the distance -to peer over smb’s shoulder

-to peer round the corner -to peer at the photograph

b) Noun

1) a member of the nobility in Britain or Ireland, comprising the ranks of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron;

2) a person of the same age, status, or ability as another specified person.

He has incurred much criticism from his academic peers.

- vote by peers

- peer-reviewed

- peer pressure

- peer-to-peer

- peer group

6. Hurl (V, n)

a) Verb [with obj. and adv. of direction] throw or impel (someone or something) with great force. Syn: throw, impel

Rioters hurled a brick through the windscreen | he hurled himself into the job with enthusiasm

- hurl away

- hurl down

- hurl out

- hurl together

- to hurl insults at smb.

■ utter (abuse) vehemently

The demonstrators hurled abuse at councillors

■ [no obj.] vomit

You make me want to hurl

b) Noun

1) a ride in a vehicle; a lift Origin: Middle English: probably imitative, but corresponding in form and partly in sense with Low German hurreln

2) a club (armour in sport)

3) a violent throw

7. Athletic (adj)

1) physically strong, fit, and active | big, muscular, athletic boys. Syn: strong, muscular, fit, well-built.

2) [attrib.] relating to athletes or athletics: athletic events | an athletic club | athletic field. Derivatives: athletically, athleticism. Origin: mid 17^th cent.: from French athlétique or Latin athleticus, from Greek athlētikos, from athletes.

Athlete, n a person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise

– track-and-field athletics

■ a person who takes part in competitive track and field events (athletics)

8. Familiar (adj, n)

a) Adjective

1) well known from long or close association. Syn: known, close, intimate, acquainted.

Their faces will be familiar to many of you | a familiar voice.

■ often encountered or experienced; common

The situation was all too familiar.

■ (familiar with) having a good knowledge of

Ensure that you are familiar with the heating controls.

2) in close friendship; intimate

She had not realized they were on such familiar terms.

■ informal or intimate to an inappropriate degree

- familiar (free) essay

- familiar resort

- thoroughly familiar

b) Noun

1) (also familiar spirit) a demon supposedly attending and obeying a witch, often said to assume the form of an animal;

2) a close friend or associate;

3) (in the Roman Catholic Church) a person rendering certain services in a pope’s or bishop’s household. Derivatives: familiarly, familiarity Origin: Middle English (in the sense “intimate”, “on a family footing”): from Old French familier, from Latin familiaris, from familia “household servants, family”, from famulus “servant”.