Nature and universe

amazing /əˈmeɪzɪŋ/ (adj)

very good, surprising, or impressive | Ex: Her story was quite amazing.

climate /ˈklaɪmɪt/ (n)

the climate of a country or region is the type of weather it has | Ex: Mexico is well known for its hot climate.

countryside /ˈkəntriˌsaɪd/ (n)

areas away from towns and cities, with farms, fields and trees | Ex: Let’s get out of the city and go to the countryside.

environment /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/ (n)

the natural world, including the land, water, air, plants and animals | Ex: Industries are causing a lot of damage to the environment.

extinct /ɪkˈstɪŋkt/ (adj)

• if something such as a type of animal or plant is extinct, it no longer exists | Ex: Dinosaurs are extinct.

forecast /ˈfɔrˌkæst/ (v)

to make a statement about what is likely to happen, often relating to the weather | Ex: Is it difficult to forecast the weather?

forecast /ˈfɔrˌkæst/ (n)

a statement about what is likely to happen, often relating to the weather | Ex: Have you heard the weather forecast for tomorrow?

freezing /ˈfrizɪŋ/ (adj)

very cold; the temperature at which water freezes and becomes ice | Ex: It's absolutely freezing in here.

global /ˈgloʊbəl/ (adj)

including or affecting the whole world | Ex: This is a global problem — it affects every country.

heatwave /hit weɪv/ (n)

a continuous period of very hot weather | Ex: Britain has been having a heatwave for the last three weeks.

insect /ˈɪnˌsɛkt/ (n)

a small animal that has six legs and often has wings | Ex: Flies and mosquitoes are insects.

lightning /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/ (n)

the bright flashes of light that you see in the sky during a storm | Ex: _ The ship was struck by lightning soon after it left the port.

litter /ˈlɪtər/ (v)

to drop litter | Ex: The sign said ‘No littering?

litter /ˈlɪtər/ (n)

things that people have dropped on the ground in a public place, making it untidy | Ex: Pick up that litter and put it in the bin.

local /ˈloʊkəl/ (adj)

in or related to a particular area, especially the place where you live | Ex: Ask for the book in your local library.

locate /ˈloʊˌkeɪt/ (v)

to find out the exact place where someone or something is; be located: to exist in a particular place | Ex: The hotel is located in Wolverhampton town centre.

mammal /ˈmæməl/ (n)

an animal that is born from its mother’s body, not from an egg, and drinks its mother’s milk as a baby | Ex: Humans and monkeys are mammals.

mild /maɪld/ (adj)

mild weather is warm and pleasant | Ex: It was a mild winter.

name /neɪm/ (v)

to know and say what the name of someone or something is; to give someone or something aname | Ex: How many world capitals can you name?

name /neɪm/ (n)

a word or set of words used for referring to a person or thing | Ex: What's the name of this flower?

origin /ˈɔrəʤən/ (n)

the place or moment at which something | Ex: Meteorites may hold clues about the origin of

planet /ˈplænət/ (n)

a very large round object that moves around the Sun or around another star | Ex: Mars is sometimes known as the red planet.

recycle /riˈsaɪkəl/ (v)

to treat waste materials so that they can be used again | Ex: Let's recycle those old bottles.

reptile /ˈrɛptaɪl/ (n)

a type of animal such as a snake or lizard that lays eggs, and whose body is covered in scales | Ex: Crocodiles are reptiles.

rescue /ˈrɛskju/ (v)

to save someone from a dangerous or unpleasant situation | Ex: The crew of the ship were rescued just before it sank.

rescue /ˈrɛskju/ (n)

an act of saving someone or something from _ danger or from an unpleasant situation | Ex: Firefighters carried out the dangerous rescue.

satellite /ˈsætəˌlaɪt/ (n)

an object that is sent into space to travel round the Earth in order to receive and send information; a natural object such as a moon that moves around a planet | Ex: There are lots of satellites above the Earth.

shower /ʃaʊər/ (n)

a short period when it rains | Ex: Tonight there’s a 50 per cent chance of showers.

solar system /ˈsoʊlər ˈsɪstəm/ (n phr)

_ the sun and the group of planets that move around it | Ex: How many planets are there in our solar system?

species /ˈspiʃiz/ (n)

a plant or animal group whose members all have similar general features and are able to produce young plants or animals together | Ex: Over 120 species of birds have been recorded in this national park.

thunder /ˈθəndər/ (n)

the loud noise that you sometimes hear in the sky during a storm | Ex: Listen to that thunder!

wild /waɪld/ (adj)

a wild animal or plant lives or grows on its own in natural conditions and is not raised by humans | Ex: This behaviour is common in both domestic and wild dogs.

wildlife /ˈwaɪlˌdlaɪf/ (n)

animals, birds and plants that live in natural conditions | Ex: A lot of the local wildlife is in danger.