BB 5th Grade Vocab Unit 3

A collection of vocabulary terms and definitions regarding Early American Civilizations, covering major concepts from the lecture glossary.

ambassador

a person sent to represent his or her government in another land

apparent

easy to see or understand

appointed

established or chosen in an official way

arid

dry and having little rain

artificially

in a way that does not exist in nature

artisan

a person who is skilled at making things by hand; a craftsman

bustling

busy with activity

canopy

cover

cenote

a natural well formed from a sinkhole

city-state

a city, and the area surrounding it, that governs itself

coati

an animal similar to a raccoon

commerce

the buying and selling of goods and services

commoner

a person who is not part of the noble class

condemn

to say in a strong way that something is bad or wrong

conservatory

a special room used for growing plants

contagious

able to be passed between people or animals

creation

the act of making something new

culture

the beliefs, traditions, and way of life shared by a group of people

descendant

a relative of someone who lived in the past

disperse

to spread apart in different directions

distinct

different in a noticeable way

diverse

made up of different people or things

domesticate

to raise and train animals to live around humans

dominance

the state of being more important, successful, or powerful than most or all others

dwindle

to become smaller or lessen over time

elite

most successful, powerful, or wealthy

emerge

to come into view

emperor

a ruler who has total control of a region

empire

a large territory or group of people under the total control of one ruler or government

engulf

to surround or cover completely

epidemic

a sudden, widespread illness

fleece

the woolly coat of a sheep or related animal

flourish

to be successful; to grow or develop in a healthy way

fragile

easily broken

game

1. animals that are hunted; 2. an activity done for pleasure or sport

generation

a group of people born and living at the same time

grueling

very difficult and tiring

habitable

fit to live in

incessant

continuing without stopping

indigenous

produced, living, or existing naturally in a particular area

interpret

to explain or determine the meaning of something

irrigate

to supply water using pipes or channels

isthmus

a narrow piece of land that connects two larger pieces of land

kaleidoscope

changing pattern of colorful objects or elements

lavish

much more than is needed, especially to show off

lineage

connections between families

litter

1. a covered bed with long poles at the bottom for carrying someone of high importance; 2. trash lying on the ground; 3. a group of baby animals born at the same time

lore

traditions passed by word of mouth

lush

healthy and full; growing thickly and strongly in a way that is attractive

magistrate

a local government official similar to a judge

marsh

soft, wet land often overgrown with grasses

might

power or force

mortar

a wet substance that hardens as it dries to hold bricks or stones together

myths

stories that have been passed down from generation to generation to explain how and why things happened

navel

belly button or center

navigable

deep and wide enough for ships to pass through

nourishment

food and other things that are needed to live and be healthy

nurture

to care for something or someone so that it/he flourishes

orderly

arranged in a neat, tidy way

peaked

pointed

penetrate

to go through or into something

pierce

to make a hole in something

phenomenon

an event or occurrence that is remarkable

plumage

feathers of a bird

primitive

simple and basic

procession

a group of people or vehicles moving together as part of a ceremony

pulley

a simple machine made of a wheel or set of wheels used with a rope or chain to raise and lower objects

quarrel

an argument or disagreement

quetzal

a bird with green feathers and a red body

quinoa

a plant that grows in the Andes Mountains with seeds used as food or ground into flour

recede

to move back

resentment

a feeling of displeasure or anger about something unfair

resplendent

impressive or attractive to due being colorful

rigid

stiff and inflexible

sacred

holy or deserving respect

sieve

a tool with small holes for separating big and small pieces

staff

a pole or rod used as a sign of authority or as support when walking

stucco

a type of plaster used as decoration or to cover walls

suitable

having the right qualities

suspension bridge

a crossing hung from cables attached to towers

swampy

resembling wet spongy land often partly covered with water

swift-footed

quick

symbolize

to stand for an idea or characteristic

symphony

combination of musical sounds

tapir

a large and sturdy animal with a short nose trunk

temple

a building devoted to religious worship

textile

a material or product made out of woven fabric

till

to prepare land for crops

trade

1. to give something in exchange for something else; 2. n. a job that requires special training or skills

transport

to carry from one place to another

tunic

a knee-length piece of clothing, like a simple dress

vast

large or great in size, amount, or extent

verdant

fresh and green

warp

to bend or twist out of shape

yearns

wants something badly