Tales from a Prehistoric Death Trap Vocabulary

Vocabulary words and definitions from the lecture 'Tales from a Prehistoric Death Trap' concerning paleontology, fossils, and the La Brea Tar Pits.

Prominently

In a way that is easily seen or noticed; standing out.

Signage

Signs collectively, especially those used for public display or information.

Lore

A body of traditions and knowledge on a subject, often passed down by word of mouth.

Goo

A sticky or slimy substance.

Entombed

Trapped or buried within a space or a substance.

Remnants

A small remaining quantity or the traces of something.

Abrupt

Sudden or unexpected.

Roughly

Approximately.

Strangeness

The state or quality of being unusual or surprising.

Paleobotanist

A scientist who studies plant fossils.

Sinkhole

A cavity in the ground caused by water erosion or the collapse of a surface layer.

Mired

Stuck in a thick or sticky substance like mud or tar.

Suitably

In an appropriate or fitting manner for a particular situation.

Ominously

In a way that suggests something bad or threatening is about to happen.

Tarry

Resembling or covered with tar.

Console

To provide comfort to someone at a time of grief or disappointment.

Remains

The body of a dead person or animal, or the skeletal parts left behind.

Stride

A long, decisive step while walking.

Molten

Liquefied by heat, such as melted metal or rock.

Features

Distinctive attributes or aspects of something.

Tantalizing

Tormenting or teasing with the sight or promise of something unobtainable.

Sloths

Slow-moving mammals, often referring to ground sloths within a prehistoric context.

Exquisite

Extremely beautiful and typically delicate.

Prey

An animal that is hunted and killed by another for food.

La Brea

Refers to the location of the famous tar museum and fossil pits.

Appeal

The quality of being attractive or interesting.

Widen

To make or become broader.

Sizable

Fairly large in size.

Methane

A colorless, odorless, flammable gas found in natural beds.

Kitsch

Art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness.

Tar

A dark, thick, sticky liquid distilled from wood or coal, occurring naturally in pits.

Screenwriters

People who write the scripts for movies or television shows.

Depictions

Representations of something in art, literature, or description.

Morbid

Characterized by an abnormal interest in disturbing subjects like death and decay.

Megafauna

Large or giant animals of a specific region or geological period.

Diversity

The state of being diverse; a range of different things or species.

Apocalyptic

Describing the complete destruction of the world or a catastrophic event.

Paleontologist

A scientist who studies animal and plant fossils.

Asphalt

A dark bituminous substance used for paving or found in natural deposits.

Paintbrush

A tool with bristles used for applying paint or cleaning fossil specimens.

Fossils

The preserved remains or impressions of prehistoric organisms.

Paleoecologist

A scientist who studies the ecosystems of the geological past.

Saber-toothed

Referring to prehistoric carnivores with large, curved upper canine teeth.

Ten-ton

A unit of weight equivalent to 10 tons, used to describe prehistoric megafauna.

Bubbling

Containing rising bubbles of gas or liquid.

Pals

Friends or close companions.

Adhesive

A substance used for sticking objects or materials together.

Winding

Following a twisting or curving course.

Scavenges

The act of searching for and feeding on dead animals or discard.

Perished

Died, typically in a violent or sudden way.

Phrase

A small group of words used to express a single idea.

Extinct

Having no living members left of a particular species or group.

Range

The area of variation or the distance over which something is found.

Landscape

All the visible features of an area of land.

Snails

Small shelled mollusks often found fossilized in prehistoric pits.

Hazard

A potential source of danger or risk.

Bare

Uncovered or exposed; without covering.

Beneath

In a lower position than; underneath.

Roofs

The top coverings of buildings or structures.

Shallow

Having little depth; not deep.

Wooden

Made of wood.

Gluing

Fastening or sticking objects together with adhesive.

Bench

A long seat for several people, often placed in public areas.

Beetle

An insect with hard wing covers, frequently preserved as a fossil.