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Appearance Advanced Vocabulary

IELTS appearance topic title image containing text "Appearance"

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Topic Vocabulary & Exercises

  VOCABULARY  

Topic Vocabulary:

androgynous (adjective):

Definition: Having characteristics that are neither clearly masculine nor feminine.

Example: In the 1920's an androgynous style came into fashion, and some women began to dress more like men.


clean-cut (adjective):

Definition: Having a very neat and tidy appearance.

Example: The young man had a clean-cut appearance with his crisp shirt and neatly combed hair.


clean-shaven (adjective):

Definition: Having no beard or moustache; smooth and free of facial hair.

Example: After shaving, his face felt smooth and clean-shaven.


complexion (noun phrase):

Definition: The appearance of someone's skin, in terms of colour.

Example: He had a fair complexion and burnt easily in the sun


figure (noun [c]):

Definition: The shape of the body (especially for women).

Example: Despite being in her 50's she has an athletic figure.


lanky (adjective):

Definition: Tall and thin, often with long legs and arms.

Example: The lanky teenager had to bend down to avoid hitting his head on the door frame.


physique (noun [c]):

Definition: The size and shape of a body.

Example: He has a toned physique from regular exercise and a healthy diet.


resemble (verb):

Definition: Someone or something that looks similar to another person or thing.

Example: The two sisters resembled each other closely


rugged (adjective):

Definition: Having a rough, tough appearance; often associated with a natural, outdoorsy look.

Example: The farmers had a rugged appearance.


scruffy (adjective):

Definition: Having an untidy or messy appearance.

Example: He had scruffy hair and messy clothes after sleeping on his friend's sofa.


skinny (adjective):

Definition: Having a very thin or slim body.

Example: She was so skinny that her parents wanted her to see a doctor.


slender (adjective):

Definition: Having a thin and graceful physique; being gracefully thin.

Example: The slender cat was able to squeeze through the small gap in the fence.


stand out (phrasal verb):

Definition: To be noticeable, clearly different from others.

Example: Her bright red dress made her stand out in the crowd.


toned (adjective):

Definition: Having well-defined muscles and a firm physique due to exercise or physical activity.

Example: Her arms were toned from regular workouts at the gym.


turn heads (idiom):

Definition: To attract attention or make people look at you because of your appearance.

Example: Her striking beauty was enough to turn heads wherever she went.


unkempt (adjective):

Definition: Having a messy or untidy appearance, not well-groomed.

Example: His unkempt hair and scruffy clothes suggested he hadn't been home all night.


voluptuous (adjective):

Definition: Curvy and full-figured in an attractive way.

Example: Marilyn Monroe was known for her voluptuous figure and hourglass shape.


well-built (adjective):

Definition: Having a strong and muscular physique.

Example: The athlete had a well-built physique from years of training and exercise.


well-groomed (adjective):

Definition: Neat, tidy, and carefully maintained in appearance, including hair, clothing, and personal hygiene.

Example: With his well-groomed beard and polished shoes, he looked ready for the job interview.


well-trimmed (adjective):

Definition: Neatly and precisely cut or shaped, often referring to hair or facial hair.

Example: Despite having a long beard, he looks smart, as he always keeps it well-trimmed.

Exercise 1: Gap-fill Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate vocabulary word from the list provided.


1. She has a tall and slender ___________.

2. He has a very distinctive style; he always likes to ___________ in a crowd.

3. The actor's ___________ appearance makes him a popular choice for action roles.

4. She prefers men with a more ___________ look, with short hair and clean shaven.

5. Despite his ___________ clothes, the candidate was given the job.

6. The fashion model's ___________ features make her a versatile choice for different types of campaigns.

7. He's known for his ___________ physique, which he maintains through regular exercise.

8. Her ___________ hair and casual clothing give her a laid-back, approachable vibe.


well-built

clean-cut

stand out

androgynous

rugged

scruffy

unkempt

figure


Exercise 2: Matching Exercise

Match the vocabulary with its corresponding definition below.


1. clean-shaven

2. complexion

3. voluptuous

4. lanky

5. physique

6. toned

7. slender

8. turn heads


a. Having a thin and graceful physique; being gracefully thin.

b. To attract attention or make people look at you because of your appearance.

c. The size and shape of a body.

d. The natural colour, texture, and appearance of a person's skin, especially the face.

e. Having a tall and thin, often awkward, build.

f. Curvy and full-figured in an attractive way.

g. Having no beard or moustache; smooth and free of facial hair.

h. Having a strong and muscular body.


Exercise 3: Positive or Negative Connotation

Decide whether the word usually has a positive, neutral or negative meaning.


a. clean-cut

b. lanky

c. rugged

d. scruffy

e. skinny

f. slender

g. stand out

h. turn heads

i. unkempt

j. voluptuous

k. well-built

Learn this vocabulary set with flashcards at Quizlet.com 

Read and listen to speaking test model answers using this vocabulary

Vocabulary Exercise Key:

Exercise 1: 1. figure, 2. stand out, 3. rugged, 4. clean-cut, 5. scruffy, 6. androgynous, 7. well-built, 8. Unkempt

Exercise 2: 1g, 2d, 3f, 4e, 5c, 6h, 7a, 8b

Exercise 3: a. positive, b. negative, c. neutral, d. negative, e. negative, f. positive, g. positive, h. positive, i. negative, j. positive, k. positive

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