VOCABULARY

block (v)

stop movement — synonyms: obstruct, hinder, block

block (n)

solid piece — synonyms: chunk, slab

brittle

easily broken — synonyms: fragile, delicate

chip (v)

break a small piece off — synonyms: crack, nick

chip (n)

small broken piece — synonyms: fragment, flake

compact (v)

make smaller/firmer — synonyms: compress, condense

compact (adj)

small and neatly arranged — synonyms: dense, tight

concentrate

make stronger by reducing liquid — synonyms: strengthen, intensify

crack (v)

cause line of damage — synonyms: fracture, split

crack (n)

line showing damage — synonyms: fissure, split

crumb

small piece of dry food — synonyms: bit, particle

crush

press or destroy — synonyms: squash, flatten, compress

crush (n)

crowded group — synonyms: crowd, swarm

dense

heavy for its size — synonyms: thick, compact

dilute (v)

make liquid weaker — synonyms: thin out, water down

dilute (adj)

weak, watered — synonyms: weak, thinned

dissolve

mix into liquid completely — synonyms: melt, disperse

fabric

cloth used for making items — synonyms: textile, material

firm

solid but not hard — synonyms: solid, stiff

flake (v)

come off in small pieces — synonyms: peel, chip

flake (n)

small thin piece — synonyms: sliver, fragment

fragile

easily broken — synonyms: delicate, breakable

friction

force resisting movement — synonyms: rubbing, resistance

grain

small piece of a substance — synonyms: particle, granule

gravity

force pulling objects down — synonyms: attraction, pull

grind

break into powder — synonyms: crush, mill

hollow

empty inside — synonyms: empty, void

liquid (n)

fluid, not solid/gas — synonyms: fluid, solution

liquid (adj)

in liquid form — synonyms: fluid, melted

lump (v)

put together in one group — synonyms: group, combine

lump (n)

irregular solid piece — synonyms: chunk, mass

mineral

natural substance in earth — synonyms: ore, element

mould (v)

shape by pressing — synonyms: shape, form

mould (n)

container for shaping — synonyms: cast, form

opaque

not transparent — synonyms: cloudy, unclear

pat

touch gently several times — synonyms: tap, pat down

pat (n)

gentle touch — synonyms: tap, stroke

pile (v)

put many things on top — synonyms: stack, heap

pile (n)

collection stacked — synonyms: heap, stack

polish (v)

rub to make shine — synonyms: shine, buff

polish (n)

chemical for polishing — synonyms: wax, cleaner

scratch (v)

rub nails; make a mark — synonyms: scrape, claw

scratch (v2)

damage surface — synonyms: score, abrade

scratch (n)

thin mark — synonyms: scrape, mark

scrub

wash vigorously — synonyms: clean, scour

scrub (n)

thorough clean — synonyms: clean-up, wash

smash

break noisily — synonyms: shatter, crush

solid (n)

state of matter — synonyms: hard substance, mass

solid (adj)

firm and hard — synonyms: strong, sturdy

speck

very small mark/spot — synonyms: dot, fleck

squash (v)

press out of shape — synonyms: crush, flatten

squash (n)

crowded situation — synonyms: crush, jam

squeeze (v)

press firmly — synonyms: compress, press

squeeze (n)

pressing action — synonyms: compression, grip

stack (v)

arrange in piles — synonyms: pile, heap

stack (n)

pile of items — synonyms: heap, mound

stiff

firm, difficult to bend — synonyms: rigid, hard

stroke (v)

gently move hand over — synonyms: pet, caress

stroke (n)

gentle movement — synonyms: caress, brush

stuff (v)

fill with items — synonyms: pack, cram

stuff (n)

things/objects — synonyms: items, belongings

substance

type of material — synonyms: material, matter

synthetic

artificial, man-made — synonyms: artificial, manufactured

tear (v)

rip apart — synonyms: rip, split

tear (n)

hole created by tearing — synonyms: rip, opening

texture

feeling of surface — synonyms: feel, grain

transparent

clear enough to see through — synonyms: clear, see-through

built-up

area with many buildings — synonyms: developed, urbanised

bypass (v)

avoid town centre — synonyms: avoid, go around

bypass (n)

road avoiding centre — synonyms: ring road, detour

construct

build something — synonyms: build, erect

demolish

destroy building — synonyms: knock down, tear down

district

area of a town — synonyms: zone, neighborhood

dwell

live somewhere — synonyms: reside, inhabit

estate

area with many houses — synonyms: housing area, development

evict

force to leave home — synonyms: expel, remove

high-rise

very tall building — synonyms: tower, skyscraper

housing

buildings to live in — synonyms: accommodation, residences

infrastructure

systems supporting a country — synonyms: framework, network

occupy

live in or use — synonyms: inhabit, take up

populated

having people living there — synonyms: inhabited, settled

skyline

shape of city buildings — synonyms: city outline, horizon

skyscraper

very tall building — synonyms: tower, high-rise

structure

large built object — synonyms: framework, construction

suburban

near a city but outside centre — synonyms: residential, outer-city

surroundings

environment around you — synonyms: environment, setting

urban

related to cities — synonyms: metropolitan, city-based