Nova S48E5: English vocabulary

showing that something is present or true, often in a way that is not obvious

the process that green plants use to make food from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide

in a nervous way

having lumps or rough uneven parts

a feeling of great surprise or amazement

to a very great degree; extremely

practical knowledge and skill, especially about business or technology

more able or skilled than someone or something else

able to recover quickly from problems or difficult changes

a small piece of soft material used for cleaning a wound or taking a sample

returning to its home or nest from far away

to breathe air out of your lungs

causing a lot of pain or suffering

the quality of being possible to do or achieve

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

clean, fresh, and in perfect condition, as if new

the work of measuring land and recording its features, often for a map or building plan

the ability to think of clever, original solutions

giving out or handing out something, often quickly or generously

to make someone feel extreme fear

a spacecraft that lands on the surface of a planet or moon

floating or moving without being controlled

having sharp corners or a lot of angles

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

a very small living thing, such as a bacterium or virus

a rope or chain used to tie an animal so it cannot move far

the process of removing bones from meat or fish

a tall structure used for lifting heavy equipment or drilling for oil

to crowd or gather closely together

a small fault or problem in a machine, computer, or system

a chemical element used by living things and in fertilizers and matches

thick and rounded, with large pieces or parts

extremely small; too small to see without a microscope

to say something suddenly and loudly, especially because you are surprised or excited

a sailor, especially one who travels on the sea

relating to the planet Mars or to imagined life there

difficult to find, catch, understand, or remember

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

used to show relief, surprise, or tiredness

locked with a key

a specially cleaned room used for scientific work or making delicate equipment

relating to planets

temporary and improvised, used because the proper thing is not available

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

to leave quickly; scram

to make someone very interested or curious

the act of adding salt to food or water

to make an exact copy of something or repeat an experiment or result

smoothed by rubbing with sandpaper

to send something to a different place, person, or direction

unable to speak for a short time, especially because of shock or strong emotion

relating to the earth or to life on earth

in a situation where failure or disaster seems certain

a feeling that you cannot believe something is true

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

to continue to exist or be remembered

relating to the sky or outer space

a shallow dish with a lid, used for growing bacteria or other cells

a protective covering that keeps a spacecraft from overheating during reentry

the substances that something is made of and the amounts of each one

a way of moving by using jets to create thrust

relating to bacteria or caused by bacteria

to rob someone or threaten them, especially in slang

to come in suddenly and forcefully

to provide someone or something with the things needed for a particular purpose

the ability to keep trying to do something even when it is hard or takes a long time

very interested in something and enthusiastic about it

now; at the present time

free from germs or other living microorganisms

a game in which a player or side must reach five points before the other side does

a person whose job is to study rocks, the earth, and how they change over time

to do your best and put a lot of energy into something

the act of moving something forward, especially by using power

the act of putting things into a pile or piles

in the same proportion as something else

to fasten something to a hook, rope, chain, or strap