Nova S39E4: English vocabulary

a person who tricks or deceives others

the front edge of a step or stair

the work of covering a wall or other surface with plaster

to go from place to place asking people for opinions, votes, or support

to scatter or cover something with small bits or drops

a person whose job is to collect, organize, and look after archives

to cover something with a thin layer of gold

an exact copy of a document, picture, or other printed material

destined to happen; controlled by fate

showing great skill and control

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

the study of crime, criminals, and how to prevent crime

to make something, especially a reputation, seem less good or less respected

a person who does not easily believe things and wants proof first

very large or great; seeming to have no limit

a person who runs an auction and calls out the bids

more able or skilled than someone or something else

to paint something again

the process of drawing or outlining with ink

so strong or clear that it settles a question or ends doubt

a band worn around the head to hold hair back or as an accessory

the quality of being subtle, especially when something is not obvious at first

to cut open a body, plant, or animal in order to study its parts

the sewing of stitches, especially as a visible part of a garment

the practical details of something, especially the technical ones

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

the amount or degree to which something is curved

the process of removing bones from meat or fish

kissing and touching someone in a sexual way

to stop someone from breathing by covering their nose and mouth

moving gently against something with a soft, light sound

the crime of making a fake copy of a document, signature, banknote, or work of art

the act of gently rubbing or stroking something

the round part of the eye

difficult to find, catch, understand, or remember

sloping downward or at an angle

in a way that uses science or scientific methods

a bad smell

a folder with rings or clips for holding loose papers

the act of removing a covering, layer, or clothes

used to ask what something really means or is, especially in British English

to make someone very interested or curious

to clean something thoroughly, especially by removing dirt or harmful substances

great skill and knowledge in a subject or activity

the act of adding salt to food or water

at the same time that something else is happening

not acceptable in polite society; considered improper or rude

to make an illegal copy of something in order to trick people

clear and strong, and hard to ignore

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

to fall forward and land face first

the life or world believed to exist after death

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

a method of finding the age of something by measuring carbon-14 in it

the quality of being real, true, or genuine

to hit or move something with a quick, sharp motion

to make someone so excited or emotional that they lose control

to secretly place a bid on your own item at an auction, usually to drive the price up

to buy a financial asset in small amounts over time instead of all at once

smooth, rich, and like cream

the process of forming scars as a wound heals

the act of lighting something or making it bright

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

to perform very well; to do something impressively

to load data into memory from a storage device

past tense and past participle of shoot

moving quickly with light, springy steps

a substance that gives color to paint, ink, or other materials

the use of several layers, especially in clothing

to make something more difficult or harder to understand

made to honor or remember a person or event

to trace over a sketch or outline with a darker, more permanent line

a short text that explains a picture or photo

not allowed by law or by accepted rules

a frame with handles or poles for carrying a sick or injured person

the liquid that flows through a plant and carries food and other substances