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throng v., crowd; press upon in large numbers. Fans throng the stadium on game days.

sub • merge v., put or go into or under, as in water. Ian took a deep breath and submerged to the sandy lake bottom.

bil • low v., surge; swell. The drying sheets billow in the wind. billowing, adj.

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jos • tle v., push roughly. The students jostle one another as they board the bus. jostling, adj.

gau • dy adj., bright and showy, but lacking in good taste. Everyone noticed Aunt Edna’s gaudy hat pin.

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ges • ture v., express or emphasize ideas and emotions with physical movement. The politician gestures wildly with his arms to make a point.

cy • ni • cal adj., sarcastic; sneering. The mean boy wore a cynical smirk.

ir • ra • tion • al adj., lacking reason; absurd. Because Emma had never tried squash, her dislike of the vegetable was irrational.

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ma • li • cious adj., marked by a desire to cause pain or distress. The bombing was a malicious attack.