Unit Two: Humans and the Environment - Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms, parts of speech, and definitions covering environmental concepts from Unit Two.

adopt (v.)

To take somebody else’s child into your family and become its legal parent(s); to accept or start to use something new.

adopter (n.)

A person who adopts a child.

adoptee (n.)

A person who has been adopted.

appliance (n.)

A device, machine, or piece of equipment, especially an electrical one that is used in the house, such as a cooker or washing machine.

aware (adj.)

Knowing that something exists, or having knowledge or experience of a particular thing.

carbon footprint (n phr)

A measurement of the amount of carbon dioxide produced by the activities of a person, company, organization, etc.

chemical (n.) (adj.)

A substance used in chemistry or produced by a chemical process.

donation (n.)

Money or goods that are given to help a person or organization, or the act of giving them.

friendly (adj.)

Behaving in a pleasant, kind way towards someone.

befriend (v.)

To behave in a friendly way towards someone, especially someone who is younger or needs help.

eco-friendly (adj.)

Not harmful to the environment, or trying to help the environment.

electricity (n.)

The power that is carried by wires, cables etc, and is used to provide light or heat, to make machines work etc.

emission (n.)

The production or sending out of light, heat, gas, etc.

zero-emission (adj.)

Used to describe a vehicle that does not produce gases that cause pollution.

encourage (v.)

To make someone more likely to do something, or to make something more likely to happen.

environment (n.)

The natural world in which people, animals and plants live.

global (adj.)

Covering or affecting the whole world.

human (adj.) (n.)

Of or connected with people rather than animals, machines or gods.

humane (adj.)

Treating people or animals in a way that is not cruel and causes them as little suffering as possible.

natural (adj.) (n.)

Existing in nature; not made or caused by humans.

naturalist (n.)

Someone who studies plants or animals.

organic (adj.)

Produced or practised without using artificial chemicals.

polluted (adj.)

Dangerously dirty and not suitable for people to use.

sustainable (adj.)

That can continue or be continued for a long time.