3rd Grade Vocabulary List

ability

the power or skill to do something

absorb

to soak up or take in

accuse

to say that someone has done something wrong

act

play a role or part

active

taking action; full of movement

actual

taking place in reality

adopt

to take into your family

advantage

Something that is helpful or useful

advice

An opinion about what should be done

ambition

a strong drive for success

ancient

very old

approach

move towards

arrange

To put in a certain order

arctic

extremely cold

attitude

A way of thinking or feeling about certain things.

attract

to draw something to yourself (like magnets)

average

not special or unusual; ordinary

avoid

to keep away from

bold

fearless and daring

border

a strip forming the outer edge of something

brief

short; not long-lasting

brilliant

full of light

cable

A thick steel rope made of strands of wire twisted together.

capture

to take by force

certain

having no doubt; sure

chill

make cool or cooler

clever

bright; intelligent; having a quick mind

climate

Overall weather in an area over a long period of time

cling

to hold on tightly to somebody/something

coast

the shore of a sea or ocean

confess

to say or admit that one has done something wrong

consider

think about carefully

contain

to hold something within iteslf

continent

one of the large landmasses of the earth

convince

to make someone believe something

coward

a person who has no courage or gets scared easily

crew

an organized group of workmen

crumple

to crush together or press into wrinkles

custom

a tradition; a way of doing something that many people follow

decay

to become rotten

deed

a paper that shows who owns a certain building or piece of land

defend

to keep safe; to protect

delicate

easily broken, damaged or destroyed

device

Tool or piece of equipment

diagram

a drawing intended to explain how something works

digest

To change food after it has been eaten into simpler forms that the body can use.

disease

an illness or sickness

distant

far away

doze

sleep lightly or for a short period of time

drift

to be carried along by currents of air or water

elegant

showing good taste; graceful; beautiful

enable

to make possible

examine

to look at closely

explore

to travel around a new, unknown place to see what it is like

fan

someone who closely follows a group, team, or person

fatal

bringing death

fierce

very strong or violent

flutter

the motion made by flapping up and down

fortunate

lucky

frail

easily broken, damaged or destroyed

gasp

when you suddenly breathe in deeply, usually because you're scared or you' re crying

glide

to move smoothly and easily

globe

a round model of the Earth

grace

beautiful movement (like a ballerina)

gradual

happening little by little

grasp

hold firmly

habit

Something that a person does so often that it is done without thinking.

harsh

extremely unkind or cruel

imitate

to copy how someone else behaves

individual

a single person apart from others in a group

intelligent

smart

intend

to plan; to have in mind

journey

a long trip

launch

send into the air by force

limit

as far as something can go

locate

to find

loyal

Someone who stands by you in good times and bad

magnificent

very beautiful and impressive

marsh

lowland with moist soil and tall grasses

method

A way of doing something

misery

a feeling of great unhappiness

moisture

wetness caused by water

mural

a painting on a wall or ceiling

mystify

To confuse or puzzle someone

nation

an area of land with its own people and laws; a country

nectar

a sweet liquid found in flowers

nursery

a place where plants are grown for sale

observe

to watch carefully

opponent

a contestant that you are matched against

opposite

things that are as different as they possibly can be

ordeal

a difficult or painful experience

origin

an event that is a beginning

outcome

The way something ends; the final result

passage

place for people to pass

pastime

an activity which is done for enjoyment; a hobby

pause

to stop for a short time before going on

perform

to take part in a public show

plunge

to go down suddenly

predator

animal that hunts and eats other animals

predict

to say what will happen before it takes place