Barron gre word list A

particular variety of art or literature 
genteel
well-bred; elegant; striving to convey an appearance of refinement; Ex. 
genteel poverty 
gentility
those of gentle birth; high social class; refinement; quality of being genteel 
gentle
kindly; soft; mild; of good family 
gentry
people of standing(rank or position); people of good family or high social 
position; class of people just below nobility 
genuflect
bend the knee as in worship 
genus
division of animals or plants, below a family and above a species 
geriatrics
medical treatment and care of old age 
germ
earliest form of an organism; seed or bud; something that may develop into 
something larger or more important; microbe 
germane
pertinent; bearing upon(having connection with) the case at hand; 
appropriate 
germinal
pertaining to a germ; creative; Ex. germinal idea 
germinate
cause to sprout; sprout 
gerontocracy government ruled by old people 
gerontology study of the sociological phenomena associated with old age 
gerrymander change voting district lines in order to favor a political party; N. CF. Elbridge 
Gerry + (sala)mander 

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gestate
evolve as in prenatal growth; N. gestation: period of development from 
conception until birth 
gesticulation motion; gesture; V. gesticulate: make gestures (while speaking) 
ghastly
horrible; terrifying; resembling ghosts; CF. aghast 
gibberish
nonsense; nonsensical or unintelligible talk or writing; babbling 
gibe
mock; make jeering remarks; N: jeering remarks 
giddy
light-hearted; not serious; frivolous; dizzy; causing dizziness; Ex. giddy youth; 
Ex. giddy climb/height 
gild
cover with a thin layer of gold 
gingerly
very carefully; ADJ. 
girth
distance around something; circumference 
gist
essence; main point; substance 
glacial
like a glacier; of an ice age; extremely cold; Ex. glacial epoch; CF. iceberg 
glamor
compelling charm; ADJ. glamorous 
glare
shine intensely and blindingly; stare fixedly and angrily; N. 
glaring
(of something bad) highly conspicuous; harshly bright; shining intensely and 
blindingly 
glaze
cover with a thin and shiny surface; apply a glaze to; N: thin, smooth, shiny 
coating (as for pottery); Ex. unglazed pottery 
gleam
brief flash of light; glow; V. 
glean
gather leavings; gather grain left behind by reapers; gather bit by bit (facts or 
information) often with difficulty 
glib
fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile; slick 
glimmer
shine erratically; twinkle; N: dim or unsteady light; faint indication; Ex. 
glimmer of hope 
glitter
shine brightly with flashing points of light; Ex. glittering diamond ring; N: 
sparkling light; attractiveness; glamor; Ex. glitter of the sun on the waves 
gloat
express evil satisfaction; look at or think about with evil satisfaction; view 
malevolently; Ex. The thief gloated over the stolen jewels. 
gloss
brief explanation note or translation of a difficult expression; V. 
gloss_over
explain away with the intention of deceiving or hiding faults 
glossary
brief explanation of words used in the text 
glossy
smooth and shining; N. gloss: shiny brightness on a surface; superficially 
attractive appearance; Ex. gloss of good manners 
glow
shine brightly without a flame (as of eyes or metals); show redness and heat 

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(in the face) after hard work or because of strong feelings; N: light produced 
by a heated body; brilliance of a color 
glower
scowl; glare; look or stare angrily 
glut
overstock; fill beyond capacity (with food); fill to excess; N: oversupply 
glutinous
sticky; viscous; gluey 
glutton
someone who eats too much; ADJ. gluttonous: given to gluttony; greedy; CF. 
gluttony: habit of eating too much 
gnarl
protruding knot on a tree; V. 
gnarled
twisted 
gnome
dwarf; underground spirit who guards treasure hoards 
goad
urge on; drive with a goad; cause (someone) to do something by continued 
annoyance; Ex. They goaded him into doing it by saying he was a coward; N: 
sharp-pointed stick for driving cattle; stimulus; CF. annoy continually 
gobble
eat very quickly 
gorge
stuff oneself (with food); glut; CF. gorgeous: dazzlingly beautiful 
gory
bloody; N. gore: blood (from a wound) 
gossamer
sheer; very light; like cobwebs; N: soft and sheer fabric; cobweb 
gouge
overcharge (with high price); extort from; Ex. gouge the public; CF. usury 
gourmand
epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink 
gourmet
connoisseur of food and drink; epicure 
gracious
kind in a generous way (to someone less important) 
gradation
series of gradual stages; degree in such a progression 
graduate
arrange into categories or grades; divide into marked intervals (for use in 
measurement); Ex. graduated ruler 
graduated
arranged by degrees (of height, difficulty, etc.) 
granary
storehouse for grain 
grandeur
impressiveness; stateliness; majesty 
grandiloquent (of a person or speech) using high sounding or important-sounding language; 
pompous; bombastic 
grandiose
affectedly grand; pretentious; high-flown; ridiculously exaggerated; 
impressive; great in size or scope; grand; Ex. grandiose ideas 
granulate
form into grains or granules; N. granule: grain or particle 
graphic
pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described 
graphite
black form of carbon used in lead pencils 
grapple
wrestle; come to grips with; take hold of and struggle with; Ex. grapple with 

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the burglar 
grate
make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred by rubbing against a 
rough surface; Ex. grated cheese N: framework of metal bars to hold fuel in a 
fireplace 
gratify
please; satisfy; Ex. gratify a desire 
gratis
free; without charge; ADJ. 
gratuitous
given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for; done without good reason; Ex. 
gratuitous comment 
gratuity
n. money given to sb who has done one a service; tip ; 
gravity
seriousness; ADJ. grave 
graze
(of an animal) feed on growing grass; cause (an animal) to feed on grass; 
scrape (esp. the skin) or touch lightly in passing; brush; Ex. We can't graze the 
cattle till summer; N: surface wound 
gregarious
sociable; (of an animal) tending to form a group 
grievance
cause of complaint; complaint 
grill
question severely; cook on a grill; broil; N: cooking surface of parallel metal 
bars 
grim
causing great fear; unrelenting; determined in spite of fear; Ex. grim smile 
grimace
facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc; V. 
grisly
ghastly; horrifying; Ex. grisly remains of the bodies 
groom
man employed to take care of horses; V: make neat and trim; clean and brush 
(an animal) 
groove
long narrow channel made in a surface to guide the movement of something; 
Ex. groove of the record 
gross
total; fragrant; clearly wrong; (of people's behavior) coarse; corpulent; Ex. 
gross insolence/behavior; V: earn as a total amount; N: 12 dozens 
grotesque
fantastic; comically hideous; strange and unnatural (causing fear or 
amusement) 
grotto
small cavern 
grouch
bad-tempered complaint; person who keeps complaining; V: complain; 
grumble 
grouse
complain; fuss; grumble; grouch; N: plump chickenlike game bird 
grovel
crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate; behave in a servile manner 
growl
low, guttural, menacing sound (as of a dog) 
grudge
deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V. 
grudging
unwilling; reluctant; stingy(giving reluctantly) 

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gruel
thin liquid porridge 
grueling
exhausting; Ex. grueling marathon race 
gruesome
grisly; horrible 
gruff
rough-mannered; (of a voice) rough; hoarse 
grumble
complain; mutter discontentedly; grouch; N. 
grunt
utter a deep guttural sound (as a pig does); N. 
guffaw
boisterous laughter; V. 
guile
deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning; Ex. persuade her by guile 
guileless
without deceit 
guise
outward appearance; costume; Ex. in a new guise 
gull
trick; deceive; hoodwink; N: person who is easily tricked; dupe 
gullible
easily deceived 
gush
(of liquid) pour out in large quantities from a hole; make an excessive display 
of feeling (without true feeling); Ex. Blood gushed from the wound. 
gust
strong abrupt rush of wind; V. CF. bluster 
gustatory
affecting or relating to the sense of taste 
gusto
eager enjoyment; zest; enthusiasm 
gusty
windy 
guy
cable or chain attached to something that needs to be braced or steadied; CF. 
guide 
gyroscope
apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc. 
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