ICSE Class 10 English word meanings

 

ICSE Class 10 English Meaning of Difficult Words from All Chapters (Prose and Poetry) of Treasure Chest Book

 

ICSE Class 10 English Word Meanings – Here, the difficult words and their meanings of all the chapters of ICSE Class 10 English Treasure Chest Book (A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories) have been compiled for the convenience of the students. This is an exhaustive list of the words and meanings of all the Prose and Poetry from the Treasure Chest book of ICSE Class 10 English. The difficult words’ meanings have been explained lucidly so that every student can understand them.

PROSE

POETRY

 

PROSE


With the Photographer

  1. Drooping: bending
  2. Natural scientist: A scientist who makes a study of object, phenomena or laws of nature
  3. Unwarrantable: wrongful
  4. Breaking in: intruding
  5. Pursuits: quests
  6. Frantic: desperate
  7. Grave: serious
  8. Apparently: seemingly
  9. Ceased: stopped
  10. Twisted: turned on and on
  11. Droop: hang downwards
  12. Hump: heave
  13. Staggering: shaking
  14. Animation: expressions
  15. Beckoned: called
  16. Splendidly: nicely
  17. Superfices: surface, outer face
  18. Withering: disapproving
  19. Scorn: hatred
  20. Depict: show
  21. Reconcile: to come to terms with
  22. Emboss: cause to burge up
  23. Bauble: a thing of no value

 

 
Related: 

With the Photographer Summary, Explanation | ICSE Class 10 English

ICSE Class 10 English With the Photographer Question Answers


The Elevator

  1. Elevator: a lift
  2. Slammed: closed hard with a bang
  3. Clanging noise:  a loud, echoing sound as produced by two heavy pieces of metal striking together
  4. Shuddered: shook hard
  5. Exhausted: tired
  6. Echoed: a sound or sounds caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener
  7. Gasping: panting, a sudden loud intake of breath
  8. Skinny: thin
  9. Frowning: looked angrily
  10. Bullied: frightened by someone
  11. Trapped: caught, confused from where there is no escape
  12. Ballooned: made her size bigger
  13. Waddled: walked with short steps, moving with weight of the body from one side to the other
  14. Squeeze: shrink
  15. Boring: looking deeply
  16. Glanced: looked carefully
  17. Piggy: small and unattractive
  18. There was no room: there was no space for him to go
  19. Nightmare: frightening dream
  20. Squeak: a short high pitched cry or sound
  21. Pudgy: fat
  22. Scratchy: having a rough, uncomfortable texture
  23. Impatiently: anxiously, restlessly
  24. Crutches: a long stick with a crosspiece at the top, used as a support under the armpit by a person with an injury or disability.
  25. Hobbled: limped, walked with difficulty

 

 

Related: 

The Elevator Summary, Explanation | ICSE Class 10 English

ICSE Class 10 English The Elevator Question Answers


The Girl Who Can

  1. Choking: stifling, gripping
  2. Drought: period of continuous dry weather
  3. Fertile: of land that produces good crop
  4. Figure out: understand something or somebody by thinking about it
  5. Stare: look carefully
  6. Screaming: crying out in a high-pitched tone
  7. Comprehension: understanding
  8. Humble: having a low esteem of one’s importance
  9. Insisted: demanding something forcefully
  10. Spindly: long and thin
  11. For good: for ever
  12. Splash: to make the liquid fly up through the air
  13. Ask into it properly: that she would herself go and confirm the news
  14. Pretending: acting that something false is true
  15. Stiffly: not easily bent or folded
  16. Gleaming: shining bright
  17. Compound: the outer area which falls within the boundary of a property.
  18. Muttering: speaking in a low tone

 

 

Related: 

The Girl Who Can Summary, Explanation | ICSE Class 10 English

ICSE Class 10 English The Girl Who Can Question Answers


The Pedestrian

  1. Buckling: Crumpling, collapsing
  2. Concrete walk: Walkway made of cement, sand and small stones
  3. Seams: Junctions
  4. Intersection: Crossing
  5. Peer: Peep
  6. Avenues: Pathways
  7. Stride off: Walk away with long steps
  8. Glimmers: Gleams/Flashes
  9. Firefly: A glowing worm
  10. Flickers: Flashes
  11. Phantoms: Spirits of dead persons
  12. Manifest: Show clearly
  13. Cock: turned in a particular direction
  14. March: here, walk
  15. Lumpy: heavy movement
  16. Sneakers: shoes for running
  17. Intermittent: stopping at short intervals
  18. Squads: groups
  19. Startled: disturbed
  20. Blaze: burn with bright lights
  21. Faint: slight
  22. Skeletal: thin, frame of bones with bright lights
  23. Cavalry: Soldiers
  24. Assorted: Mixed
  25. Revue: a theatrical performance dealing with topical issues
  26. Cloverleaf: a road arrangement devised for smooth traffic; it resembles a four leaf clover
  27. Surge: strong and sudden movement
  28. Scarab beetle: a beetle that lays eggs in dung
  29. Puttering: kicking around
  30. Skimmed: moved quickly
  31. Radiance: brightness
  32. Entranced: Spell-bound
  33. Ebbing: Becoming less
  34. Fancy: Imagination
  35. Phonograph voice: a phonograph is an instrument that produces sound. Here, the phonograph voice means that it was not a human voice.
  36. Humming: throbbing
  37. Pop: appearing suddenly
  38. Antiseptic: A substance that stops or slows down the growth of microorganisms
  39. Alibi: Excuse
  40. Whirring: rattling
  41. Regressive: Opposite of Progressive

 

 

Related: 

The Pedestrian Summary, Explanation | ICSE Class 10 English

ICSE Class 10 English The Pedestrian Question Answers


The Last Lesson

  1. In great dread of: fear of
  2. Sawmill: a factory for cutting wood
  3. Drilling: exercising
  4. Tempting: attracting
  5. Resist: to stay away
  6. Bulletin-board: a notice board for putting up the latest news and communication
  7. Apprentice: trainee
  8. A great bustle: a lot of noise created by many people
  9. In unison: at the same time
  10. Rapping: striking
  11. Counted on: depended upon
  12. Commotion: noise and confusion
  13. Blushed: face turned red in colour due to shame
  14. Solemn: serious.
  15. Primer: basic reader of any language
  16. Thumbed: torn and damaged
  17. Grave: serious
  18. Thunderclap: used in comparison to refer to something startling or unexpected
  19. Wretches: here, it refers to an unfortunate happening
  20. Saar: a river which passes through France
  21. Nuisance: problem, burden
  22. Couldn’t give up: cannot leave
  23. Cranky: strange, short – tempered
  24. Sunday clothes: the best dress that a person has.
  25. Dreadful: frightening
  26. Mixed up: confused
  27. Where we’ve come out: result
  28. Pretend: show
  29. To reproach: blame
  30. At one stroke: at once, in one go.
  31. Beetles:  a large-sized insect
  32. Not even the littlest ones: refers to the pigeons
  33. Who worked right on tracing their fish-hooks: scratching with their claws.
  34. Cooed: the sound made by the pigeons
  35. Gazing: looking intently
  36. Fix in his mind: store or keep forever
  37. Worn smooth: had worn out and became smooth due to overuse
  38. Twined: twisted
  39. Angelus: prayer song in the church, the start is marked by the ringing of the bell.
  40. Trumpets: a musical instrument.
  41. Pale: used to describe a person’s face or skin if it has less colour than usual
  42. Choked: became unable to speak due to strong emotions
  43. Gesture: a signal

 

 

Related: 

The Last Lesson Summary, Explanation| ICSE Class 10 English

The Last Lesson Question Answers | ICSE Class 10 English

 

POETRY


Haunted Houses

  1. Haunted: visited by ghosts
  2. Phantoms: ghosts
  3. Errands: tasks
  4. Glide: move lightly and smoothly
  5. Impalpable: something or somebody that cannot be felt physically
  6. Illuminated: lighted
  7. Thronged: crowded
  8. Inoffensive: harmless
  9. Forms: shapes
  10. Perceive: see
  11. Title-deeds: legal documents of ownership
  12. Stretch: spread
  13. Hold in mortmain: hold in inalienable possession
  14. World of sense: real world that can be felt by the senses
  15. Wafts: passes lightly
  16. Vital: important
  17. Ethereal air: other worldly atmosphere
  18. Equipoise: balance
  19. Aspires: desires
  20. Instinct: natural reaction
  21. Noble: good, virtuous
  22. Perturbations: mental disturbances
  23. Perpetual jar: here, immortal soul
  24. Aspirations: aim, ambition
  25. Planks: flat pieces of wood
  26. Fancies: imaginations
  27. Realm: region
  28. Descends: comes down
  29. Unsteady: moving
  30. Sways: moves from side to side
  31. Abyss: bottomless hole or space

 

 

Related: 

Haunted Houses Summary, Explanation | ICSE Class 10 English

ICSE Class 10 English Haunted Houses Question Answers


The Glove and The Lions

  1. Hearty: good-hearted
  2. Royal sport: here, lion fighting
  3. Sighed: the king was enamoured of the lady’s charms and was jealous of the count
  4. Gallant: brave
  5. Crowning: complete / perfect
  6. Valour: bravery
  7. A king above: the reference may also be to God here
  8. Ramped: walked on the slope
  9. Horrid: horrible
  10. Glared: stared angrily
  11. Beams: pieces of wood / electric beams (shocking)
  12. Wallowing: rolling about (in mud or water)
  13. Stifled: suppressed
  14. Mane: long hair on the neck
  15. Smother: cover
  16. Whisking: taking something somewhere quickly
  17. Love: beloved
  18. Beauteous: beautiful
  19. Lively: full of life, vivacious
  20. Dame: a young lady
  21. Wondrous: wonderful
  22. Divine: heavenly, here rare
  23. Drop: throw
  24. Glory: cause of pride or pleasure or both
  25. Bowed: bent down the head to show respect
  26. Leaped: jumped
  27. Quoth: said
  28. Vanity: too much pride in one’s beauty, achievements, etc.
  29. Task: job, assignment 

 

 

Related: 

The Glove and the Lions Summary, Explanation | ICSE Class 10 English

ICSE Class 10 English The Glove and the Lions Question Answers


When Great Trees Fall

 

  1. Shudder: tremble
  2. Hunker: squat
  3. Lumber: move slowly and awkwardly
  4. Recoil: shrink
  5. Eroded: worn out
  6. Rare: here, not in adequate quantity
  7. Sterile: here, not good to breathe
  8. Hurtful clarity: understanding which is painful
  9. Gnaws on: continues to remind us painfully
  10. Unsaid: words which remain unspoken
  11. Bound: attached
  12. Nurture: care and encouragement
  13. Radiance: bright qualities
  14. Wizened: shrivelled
  15. Fall away: sag, slacken
  16. Dark cold caves: dark caves of despair
  17. Soothing: comforting
  18. Restored: brought back

 

 

Related: 

When Great Trees Fall Summary, Explanation | ICSE Class 10 English

ICSE Class 10 English When Great Trees Fall Question Answers


A Considerable Speck

 

  1. Speck: a very small spot / a small piece of dirt
  2. Set off: ran
  3. Idly: without any purpose, lazily
  4. Poised: held steady
  5. Unmistakably: undoubtedly
  6. Mite: a very small insect
  7. Inclinations: feelings
  8. Racing: running
  9. Manuscript: piece of written text
  10. Paused: stopped
  11. Loathing: strong dislike or hatred
  12. Plainly: clearly
  13. Room: here, space
  14. A set of them: here, a set of feet
  15. Terror: fright
  16. Cunning: cleverness
  17. Faltered: walked with less confidence
  18. Hesitate: uncertain / reluctant
  19. Cower down: hand down and move backward in fear
  20. Desperation: a state of hopelessness which leads to extreme behaviour
  21. Accorded: granted
  22. Tenderer-than-thou: more loving / delicate than you are (attitude)
  23. Collectivistic: concerned with some group, class or society, not individuals
  24. Regimenting: something imposed strictly by the state or society
  25. Swept: strongly affected
  26. Microscopic item: almost invisible insect (mite)
  27. Mind: Ability to think
  28. Guise: Cover
  29. Display of Mind: show of intelligence

 

Related: 

A Considerable Speck Summary, Explanation | ICSE Class 10 English

ICSE Class 10 English A Considerable Speck Question Answers


 The Power of Music

  1. Hums: sings
  2. Strain: song / music
  3. Staked: put on bet
  4. Hell-bent: determined, stubborn
  5. Dazed: unable to think clearly
  6. Retire: leave
  7. Amazed: greatly surprised
  8. Trampled: crushed
  9. Panic rout: stampede
  10. Languish: force to suffer
  11. Sickly: ill
  12. Plead: request
  13. Near our end: have lost patience
  14. Overturned: turned upside down
  15. Unconcerned: does not bother
  16. Booming out his broadside: sings in such a loud voice that sounds harsh to others
  17. Wretched: pitiful
  18. Brutes: animals (horses)
  19. Resent: protest
  20. Blare: loud, unpleasant noise
  21. Whine: cry out
  22. Confounded: highly upset
  23. Dived: plunge down
  24. Frantic: desperate
  25. Collapse: fall down
  26. Crash: loud sound (thud)
  27. Feathered fly: birds
  28. Turn turtle: go upside down
  29. Winging: flying
  30. Soared: sang so loudly
  31. Grumble: complain in an unpleasant way
  32. Welkin: sky
  33. Screech: loud, unpleasant sound
  34. Mighty: strong
  35. Mansions: buildings
  36. Tumble: fall down
  37. Billy goat: male goat
  38. Sagacious: wise
  39. Downs: put down
  40. Charges: hits
  41. Bellow: shout in a loud voice
  42. Whirled: circled
  43. Tossed: thrown up in the air

 

 

Related: 

The power of Music Summary, Explanation | ICSE Class 10 English

ICSE Class 10 English The power of Music Question Answers

 

Also See: 

ICSE Class 10 English Language and Literature Syllabus 2024-25

ICSE Class 10 English Summary, Explanation, and Important Question Answers

ICSE Class 10 English Chapter wise Poetic devices