implode

This verb clearly describes an action; that of an object or a structure collapsing in upon itself. The collapse is most likely to be caused by a change in pressure in the object's environment.

Occasionally it is used to describe the dramatic response demonstrated by an individual who responds to an unexpected shock. In this example the word is opening itself to being used as a metaphor.

Look out for it in speeches and articles where the central theme is 'change'.

refined

It's interesting to note that, as an adjective, the word carries positive and complimentary overtones. As a verb, within diverse contexts, it can be either positive or negative in intention.

When a person is described as being 'refined' they are noticed for their elegance and gentility.

As a process, the art of refining something means that impurities and foreign matter have been removed.

Currently, when we use this word in relation to food components such as sugar, wheat and rice, the refinement of these substances can be looked upon negatively, as having their nutrients stripped from them.

Be sure of the context when applying this word to workplace situations.

prefect

You'll find centuries of history in this word. Arising from 14th Century Latin,  praefectus, refers to one who has been put in charge of an area, a district or people.

First used in ancient Rome, the word referred to magistrates or military commanders.

The word was secured in Italy and carried into France as the term for a chief administrative officer in a department. In France, specifically, it is used as the head of the police force.

By the time it reached Britain, its meaning had been watered down to a specific context; that of a schoolchild being appointed as a leader, with limited authority, over peers within the boundaries of the school.

buck

Consider the variety of meanings and applications that live in a four-letter word!

As a noun, 'buck' refers to the male in some animal species. These include goats, deer, kangaroos and rabbits and hares. It is also the generic term for the wide range of antelope and deer found in Southern Africa. In this case, the word applies to the species rather than the gender of the animal.

As a verb, it refers to the movements of animals that are leaping about or vigorously rocking their entire body in order to get rid of their riders (as in horses) or, as a desperate means to release themselves from their tethers.

An archaic use of the word was applied to spirited young men. In this context, the word has negative connotations in some countries, particularly in the U.S.

Like many four-letter words it serves as a metaphor as in 'buck the system' and 'buck the trend', where it means that a person or people are going against the norm.

lagoon

There are many words that relate to 'body of water' and this is one of them.

A lagoon is a body of water that has been cut off from the open sea by a coral reefs or sand dunes.

The word also serves to describe a small body of water that is adjacent to or adjoining a larger body of water.

Its origin lies in 17th Century Italian laguna, from the Latin lacuna which translates as 'pool'.

adverse/averse

This unrelated pair can cause confusion and thus are used inaccurately.

Adverse is an adjective that carries degrees of antagonistic, hostile or unfavourable comments or actions that relate to a person or situation.

Additional words arising from adverse include adversary (noun) adversarial (adjective)

Averse is also an adjective. It means against, or opposed to. The usage of the adjective is accompanied by the preposition to; that may be the clue that alerts you to accurate usage.

fractious

Here is an adjective that serves the speaker well, if the word 'grumpy' comes to mind.

While the word is now obsolete as a noun, it survives as an adjective and is universally applicable to situations in which people are irritable or unruly - its alternative meaning.

When you use it, remember to value the audible impact of the sound on the ear - the vowel and consonant combinations clearly carry its meaning.