Nova S46E19: English vocabulary

to attract and hold someone's attention or interest strongly

a large sea mammal that eats plants and lives in warm coastal waters and rivers

the state of having two opposite sides, forces, or charges

extremely hot

covered with feathers or decorated with feathers

dried out and shriveled

the act of moving a boat by pushing a pole against the bottom of the water

better than anything else of the same kind; unmatched

to come out in a sudden, forceful stream

one of the front teeth used for cutting food

a scientist who studies fossils and the history of life on Earth

to make someone feel annoyed, upset, or disappointed

a long hair that grows on the face of some animals

likely to have a serious and important effect on what happens next

to break down naturally into simpler substances

more able or skilled than someone or something else

a person or thing that changes something

a very small, thin piece of something that has broken off or been cut from a larger piece

able to change easily to fit new conditions or situations

relating to mammals

full of longing or sadness for someone or something

a tiny cell that a plant, fungus, or some bacteria uses to reproduce

quick and light in movement or action; agile

covering something completely, especially with a layer of snow, smoke, or other material

a fenced area where farm animals are kept

relating to fungi or caused by a fungus

a part of a machine that spins around a central point

something that makes a surface, line, or shape even or level

an advantage or starting position that helps you make progress

the ability to do many different things well

to clean something by rubbing it hard

the process of removing bones from meat or fish

a person who is extremely skilled at music or another art

to cut stone out of the ground in a quarry

to collect and keep a large amount of something

to reach a conclusion by thinking carefully about the facts

easy to read and understand

a person's main subject or area of work

to surprise someone very much

a cold, flat area in the far north where trees do not grow

moving gently against something with a soft, light sound

extremely small; too small to see without a microscope

to make a short, high sound, especially like a small bird or insect

very tall or high, especially in a way that is impressive

a loud, harsh, high-pitched sound

to dig up something that is buried or hidden

an animal that eats dead animals or leftover food

to repair a hole in knitted cloth by sewing yarn through it

a situation in which there is not enough of something

difficult to find, catch, understand, or remember

a natural ability for doing something well

a person or thing that eats

a small wave or series of small waves on the surface of water

to move very slowly and carefully in a particular direction

to become dry, weak, and shriveled, especially because of heat or lack of water

an animal that has a backbone or spinal column

moving with quick, light jumps

melted by heat and in a liquid state

to figure out or read something that is hard to understand, especially a code or message

locked with a key

to light something up or make it brighter

a person or animal that digs

relating to planets

to recover and become successful again after a serious setback

the practice of learning a job by following and watching an experienced worker

to make someone very interested or curious

at the same time that something else is happening

a gray-brown North American animal with a black face mask and a ringed tail

the roof of the mouth inside your mouth

the equipment and setup used to make products in a factory

a process that makes cloth stiffer and stronger by coating it with a special substance

the life or world believed to exist after death

to continue to exist or be remembered

to make or become darker

to look at something with attention or wonder

a small North American animal with black and white fur that can spray a very bad smell when threatened