Nova S31E11: English vocabulary

to make something smaller, shorter, or more compact

to destroy something badly or cause it to fail completely

good enough for people to live in

the act or process of becoming less clear or transparent

an effect or consequence, especially one that happens later and is not wanted

to change up and down irregularly

to cause serious damage to something

broken into small parts or pieces

a surprising event or piece of news that has a strong effect

extremely hot

the scientific study of how matter interacts with light and other electromagnetic radiation

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

a feeling of great surprise or amazement

a device or surface that reflects light in a chosen direction

boring because it is always the same

to put something firmly inside or into something else

friendly and generous to guests or visitors

relating to the space between stars

to burn or darken the surface of something with heat or fire

more able or skilled than someone or something else

impossible or very hard to understand

to pass dry ingredients through a sieve to remove lumps or coarse bits

to attack a place with bombs or shells

the Fahrenheit temperature scale, where water freezes at 32° and boils at 212°

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

to make someone suddenly feel shocked or alarmed

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

making it hard to breathe because the air is hot, thick, or smoky

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

to clean something by rubbing it hard

a cloud of gas and dust in space

in a way that uses electricity or is powered by electricity

a belief that goes against official religious teaching

to move in a circular or spiraling motion

having thin lines or marks of a different color

having a sour taste or the chemical properties of an acid

to appear as a large, often threatening shape, especially in the distance

a large, destructive fire

the act of gently rubbing or stroking something

a photo taken quickly and casually

to move or shake unsteadily from side to side

existing in large amounts; more than enough

very ugly, frightening, or shocking

to make something brighter or lighter in color

difficult to find, catch, understand, or remember

a flat paper cover with a flap, used for sending a letter or document

to change from a liquid into a gas

to move very slowly and carefully in a particular direction

not alive; dead

the act of moving along without using power

in a way that uses science or scientific methods

melted by heat and in a liquid state

the act of removing a covering, layer, or clothes

locked with a key

important or experienced people, especially those with power or authority

relating to planets

to become unfrozen and turn into liquid

relating to the part of sunlight that you cannot see and that can damage skin

to make something move in a different direction

an area in space filled with broken pieces from a wreck or explosion

made hard or tougher by heat, cold, use, or time

relating to the force of gravity

a slang term for a very strong type of cannabis

a ball of packed snow, often thrown in play

moving or walking with quick, light steps

in a way that is true or accepted everywhere, or by everyone

happening often or for a long time, with only short pauses

to wear away or slowly destroy something over time

smoothed by rubbing with sandpaper

to give off a sound, smell, light, or gas

smiling broadly and showing happiness or excitement

to talk in a casual, lively way

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

melted rock beneath the Earth's surface

used to say something that is bold, rude, or about a taboo topic

a computer-based model that imitates a real process or situation