Nova S46E13: English vocabulary

to fall or drop very quickly and suddenly

darkness or a dark, gloomy atmosphere

more able or skilled than someone or something else

shaped like an ellipse

stiff, formal, and a little old-fashioned

a strong, often sudden attack or wave of something unpleasant

toward the inside or center

to become weaker, quieter, or less severe

to make someone suddenly feel shocked or alarmed

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

a very large number of things or people

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

to clean something by rubbing it hard

to cover or treat something so that heat, sound, or electricity cannot pass through easily

in a way that uses electricity or is powered by electricity

very salty water, or water mixed with a lot of salt

to move in a circular or spiraling motion

thin and weak because it has too much water

having a sour taste or the chemical properties of an acid

made invalid or no longer legally effective

spreading or increasing in an uncontrolled way, especially when something is bad

a sailor, especially one who travels on the sea

a sudden heavy attack with guns, shells, or other weapons

impossible to deny or question

relating to the planet Mars or to imagined life there

to change from a liquid into a gas

belonging naturally to something; part of its basic nature

melted by heat and in a liquid state

the act of removing a covering, layer, or clothes

an expression of praise or good wishes for someone's success or good luck

relating to planets

relating to the force of gravity

to make someone very interested or curious

to make an exact copy of something or repeat an experiment or result

smoothed by rubbing with sandpaper

to stop a fire or flame from burning

very fierce, violent, or aggressive

to talk in a casual, lively way

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

a ring of light around the sun, moon, or another object

to suddenly put someone or something into a difficult situation or state

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

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

moving quickly with light, springy steps

a state of confusion, disorder, or strong emotional upset

a heavy attack using bombs, shells, or other weapons

a group of stars that forms a pattern in the sky

the use of several layers, especially in clothing

a piece of rock or metal from space that lands on Earth

a small waterfall, or a series of small waterfalls

to end up in a situation by accident or because of circumstances

with very little growing on it; almost empty of plants

relating to the Earth or to things that live on it

very detailed and complicated

to record that you have started work or a shift

the practice of analyzing people or data to predict behavior or group people by characteristics

a large mass of snow, ice, and rock that falls down a mountain

changing quickly and unpredictably, often in a way that can cause problems

the intestines

a very large number of people or things

to reach a decision or agreement

to tell someone something surprising or unpleasant, especially suddenly

completely wet

to make someone feel afraid, especially in order to control them

not obvious; hidden or not shown openly

becoming more mature and fully developed

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

to discover or learn something, especially by asking or checking

a lot of damage, destruction, or confusion

a hill of sand formed by the wind, especially near the sea or in a desert

a group of wild boars

in a basic or essential way

a strong interest or attraction to something

to leave the ground and begin flying

measured or judged by comparing one thing with another

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