Nova S42E7: English vocabulary

a thick, dark syrup made from sugar cane or sugar beet

used to describe something that helps predict what will happen

with great attention, interest, or enthusiasm

shaped like an ellipse

lasting only a very short time

to spread or cause something to spread

pleasantly balanced and in agreement with itself or with other things

a small, round, compressed piece of material

a nerve cell that sends signals in the body and brain

to exist in large numbers or amounts

to make someone suddenly feel shocked or alarmed

shaped like a sphere; round like a ball

describing a close relationship or friendship that is not sexual

a number or amount that is close to the real one but not exact

the act of keeping horses in stables

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

a cloud of gas and dust in space

a person who has won a major award or been honored for outstanding work

the distance around a circle

the force that makes some materials attract or repel each other

to develop or prepare something carefully and in a planned way

to leave something out

the quality of being graceful, stylish, and simple in a pleasing way

to move quickly and repeatedly from side to side

locked with a key

a reggae drumming pattern in which the bass drum and snare hit on the same beat

a person who is very skilled at something

to make someone very interested or curious

to make a sound, signal, or effect stronger or louder

moving or walking with quick, light steps

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

the interval between one musical note and another that is eight notes higher or lower

extremely large, strong, or powerful

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

using statistics or based on statistical data

very clever and original; showing inventiveness

the scientific study of plants

to talk in a casual, lively way

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

not clear, sharp, or easy to see

a way of moving by using jets to create thrust

strange and a little unsettling, especially in a way that seems almost supernatural

to prepare land for growing crops or plants

a natural liking for or connection with someone or something

the act of moving something on wheels

not easy to reach, enter, or use

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

the act of moving something forward, especially by using power

in the same proportion as something else

used to say that something seems true or reasonable at first, but may not be when you look more closely

a device that makes a buzzing sound, often to signal something

based on a choice that seems random or not clearly explained

written with a decimal point

a person who seeks a deep spiritual connection with God or the universe

a brief flash of light that appears and disappears repeatedly

to mean or indicate something

very detailed and complicated

a mammal in the group that includes monkeys, apes, and humans

to throw or hit something in a high arc

related to numbers or expressed in numbers

to struggle to deal with a difficult problem, decision, or feeling

relating to geometry or using simple shapes and lines

existing as a natural part of something

something that makes a process or change happen faster

to use someone or something as a way to avoid blame or responsibility

the seventh planet from the Sun

not working well or not producing the result you want

the act of giving weapons to people or preparing them for fighting

money, especially a large amount of it

having a pale white or creamy color

coated or mixed with sugar

a group of wild boars

in a basic or essential way

the process of shaping metal or other material with machine tools

a gradual change or development toward a more advanced stage