Nova S42E18: English vocabulary

to hide something in your hand, especially secretly

to destroy something badly or cause it to fail completely

relating to a catalyst or to catalysis

mysterious and hard to understand

to flow slowly through small holes or a porous material

relating to rock formed from layers of sediment

to shake slightly because you feel fear, horror, or disgust

a hard, dark volcanic rock

a long, deep cut or wound

full of longing or sadness for someone or something

looking or shining like silver

a fast, powerful flow of water

having sharp corners or a lot of angles

the act of keeping horses in stables

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

a long, narrow area of sea between steep cliffs, formed by a glacier

having a rough edge made of sharp points or uneven lines

a piece of a plant that is joined to another plant so they grow together

soft wet sand that can trap things and make them sink

the practice of selling unpaid bills to get money before they are paid

able to be moved from one place or position to another

extremely large

a large, destructive fire

extremely small; too small to see without a microscope

a beauty treatment for the hands and fingernails

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

a machine with a moving belt that carries things from one place to another

calm, peaceful, and free from worry

relating to earthquakes or other movements in the earth

to make someone feel happier, more hopeful, or more confident

to move very slowly and carefully in a particular direction

not alive; dead

the act of moving along without using power

melted by heat and in a liquid state

a small, tight group or mass of things

locked with a key

an emphatic way of asking “why” or “how” in a surprised or annoyed way

in a way that is complete and causes major change

a sticky resin used to make varnish or a wood finish

the act of following someone closely in order to watch them or spy on them

moving or walking with quick, light steps

at the same time that something else is happening

extremely large, strong, or powerful

to wear away or slowly destroy something over time

smoothed by rubbing with sandpaper

moving or pointing toward the north

extremely good, impressive, or surprising

to talk in a casual, lively way

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 move toward the same point or place

the process of forming scars as a wound heals

to rebel against authority or start a revolt

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

a book that gives practical information for travelers about a place

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

to attack someone in a drive-by shooting

past tense and past participle of shoot

the act of putting things into a pile or piles

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

starting to develop or show promise

passed down from ancestors or connected with them

a deep crack or split in something

a heavy attack using bombs, shells, or other weapons

the back part of a person's body, especially the buttocks

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

a device that changes one form of electricity or signal into another

the use of several layers, especially in clothing

beautiful, impressive, and grand in a way that inspires admiration

to examine something in more detail, especially by moving from a general view to specific parts

a colorless, odorless gas that burns easily and is found in natural gas

to press something so that it becomes smaller, flatter, or tighter

a hole or tunnel dug by an animal, especially a rabbit, for living in

to reach a decision or agreement

the study of rocks, the earth, and how it changes over time

to make someone feel excited and eager