Nova S45E16: English vocabulary

able to change easily to fit new conditions or situations

wild and not tame, especially after living with people before

to make a process, system, or organization simpler and more efficient

a narrow valley or channel cut by running water

the part at the back of the eye that senses light and sends visual signals to the brain

to close or squeeze tightly

the scientific study of light and how it behaves

to make a loud, harsh sound with a horn or voice

dangerous because it may cause harm or trouble

careful and hardworking, especially in doing tasks well

very dangerous or risky

a bird that hunts and eats other animals

a sharp claw on a bird of prey

the act of keeping horses in stables

a group of young animals born or hatched at the same time

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

the process of removing bones from meat or fish

to attract or tempt someone by making something seem appealing

to cut stone out of the ground in a quarry

to make a short, high-pitched sound

the feathers of a bird, especially when they are colorful or showy

to shout loudly because you are excited or happy

kissing and touching someone in a sexual way

good at doing something because of practice or training

a small bird with dark, shiny feathers that often flies in large groups

a cold, flat area in the far north where trees do not grow

smooth, shiny, and attractive in a modern way

to sharpen a blade or tool

to walk or move in an unsteady way, as if you might fall

great skill or ability in doing something

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

designed to move through air with less resistance

locked with a key

a close chase of someone who is trying to escape, especially by police

to copy the way something looks, sounds, or behaves

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

moving up and down suddenly and forcefully, like a horse kicking out

to end well or be resolved successfully

a senior naval officer, especially in some navies

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

to continue to exist or be remembered

to stay very close to an opponent in order to guard them

to attack someone suddenly and aggressively, with words or physically

a very large city, especially one that is important for business and culture

in a calm, patient way, without getting upset or impatient

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

to think of someone or something in a particular way

to fail after starting well

more than enough; plenty of something

to use effort, energy, or influence to do something or to affect something

the act of directing energy, money, or attention into something

relating to the senses, especially sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell

to persuade someone to lower a price during bargaining

to exploit or harm someone for your own benefit

easy to recognize or identify

a legal document that says what medical treatment you want if you become too ill to decide for yourself

to discover or learn something, especially by asking or checking

suddenly and without warning

existing in large amounts; plentiful

to bend your body forward and down

a fast car

to laugh quietly

to leave the ground and begin flying

the process of shaping metal or other material with machine tools

used in questions to express surprise, emphasis, or strong curiosity

of or relating to the nose

to become successful and make good progress

to stop fighting, arguing, or refusing to give in

a very fast fall, or a very rapid drop in value, numbers, or quality

a very tall building with many floors

to fly high in the air, or rise high above something

to move from one place to another, often over a long distance or at certain times of the year

a long weapon with a pointed metal tip, used in the past by soldiers

to succeed in doing something difficult

toward or to the side

a narrow flat part that sticks out from a wall, cliff, or other surface