Vocabulary and Academic Expressions

Vocabulary flashcards featuring key terms, idioms, and collocations with precise definitions grounded in the lecture notes.

Millipede

A crawling terrestrial arthropod with many legs, known to ooze toxins used by capuchin monkeys to deter mosquitoes.

Toxin

A poisonous substance produced by living organisms.

Noxious

Harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant to living organisms.

Ooze

To slowly seep or flow out of something.

Hurdle

A significant problem, obstacle, or difficulty that must be overcome.

Mine genomes

To search genetic sequences in order to identify and extract useful biological compounds.

Barely scratch the surface

To deal with or discover only a very small fraction of what exists or is available.

Put back on the map

To cause something to become prominent, famous, or important again.

Looming health crises

Threatening medical or public health emergencies that are impending or about to occur.

Antibiotic resistance

The ability of bacteria and microorganisms to resist the effects of an antibiotic to which they were previously sensitive.

Undisputed masters

Unchallenged or universally acknowledged leaders or dominators in a specific domain.

Terrestrial domain

Land-based environments or habitats on Earth.

Bewildering array

An impressive, overwhelming, or confusingly large variety or collection of things.

Subdue prey

To overpower, immobilize, or bring hunted animals under control.

Secrete

To produce and discharge a chemical substance from a cell or gland.

Faeces

Waste matter discharged from the bowels of animals or humans.

Carcasses

The dead bodies of animals.

Filthy habitats

Extremely dirty, foul, or unsanitary living environments.

Deprive ourselves of

To prevent or stop ourselves from having, enjoying, or using something beneficial.

Shine a light on

To clarify, investigate, or draw attention to something obscure or hidden.

Expound a powerful argument

To present and explain a strong, detailed set of reasons or arguments.

A leg up

An initial advantage or helpful boost given to someone starting a task or effort.

Repertoire

A complete stock or collection of skills, techniques, or methods that a person or system can draw upon.

Elude the researchers

To remain uncaptured, unachieved, or unexplained by those studying a topic.

Continuum

A continuous sequence or scale in which adjacent elements show gradual transitions without sharp divisions.

Dispositional

Relating to a person's inherent character, traits, or natural tendencies.

Process-oriented

Focusing primarily on the procedures and means rather than solely on the final outcome.

Non-literal

Involving pretense, symbolism, or make-believe rather than exact or factual reality.

Point-blank range

At an extremely close distance from a target when firing a weapon.

Incremental

Occurring in a series of small, gradual step-by-step additions or increases.

Facial paralysis

Loss of voluntary muscle movement in one or both sides of the face.

Gender apartheid

A system of governance or societal practice enforcing strict gender-based segregation and oppression.

In exile

The state of being barred from or forced to live outside one's native country.

Perpetrator

A person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral act.

Kleptomaniac

An individual suffering from an uncontrollable urge to steal items, usually regardless of value.

Compulsive liar

Someone who lies habitually and reflexively out of instinct.

Out of your league

Far superior in quality, status, or ability, making success or attainment unlikely.

Age-defying feats

Remarkable achievements or biological functions that withstand or resist the natural effects of aging.

Telltale scent

A distinctive, revealing odor or chemical trail that provides a recognizable signal.

Mandible

An insect's jaw or mouthpart used for seizing, biting, or cutting food.

Senescence

The process of biological deterioration or aging in living organisms.

Social ostracism

Exclusion or deliberate isolation of an individual from a social group.

Reservoir population

A captive or protected population maintained to safeguard a species against extinction or collapse in the wild.

Outreach work

Educational or supportive activities organized to connect directly with the broader community.

Oestrus cycle

The recurring physiological and reproductive cycle in female mammals.

Conspicuous area

A prominent or highly visible location that easily catches attention.

Cater to

To provide what is needed or desired for a particular group or individual.

Seize

To officially take possession of something by force or legal authority.

Larynxes

The muscular organs forming an air passage to the lungs and holding the vocal cords; voice boxes.

Get tangled up in

To become caught, twisted, or involved in a physical object or complex situation.

Anatomy

The physical structure or internal organization of an animal or plant.

Swell to

To expand or increase in quantity, volume, or intensity up to a specified level.

Intersect with

To meet, overlap, or cross paths with another domain, topic, or line.

Child prodigy

A young person who demonstrates exceptional, adult-level talent or ability in a specific field.

Fade into obscurity

To gradually become forgotten, unknown, or no longer noticed.

Coin the term

To originate or create a new word or phrase.

Legitimate

Conforming to the law, rules, or accepted standards; valid and justifiable.

Run counter to

To oppose, contradict, or go in the opposite direction of something.

Placate

To appease, pacify, or make someone less angry or upset.

Vexed

Annoyed, frustrated, or worried.

Modulate

To control, regulate, or adjust the intensity, tone, or degree of something in a controlled way.

Inordinate

Exceeding reasonable limits; excessive or disproportionate.

Counteract

To act in opposition to something in order to reduce its effect or neutralize it.

Elicit

To draw out or evoke a specific reaction, answer, or emotional response.

Yearn to

To feel an intense desire, longing, or craving to do or have something.

Ward off

To repel, defend against, or prevent an attack, illness, or unwanted event.

Grimace

An ugly, twisted facial expression typically expressing pain, disgust, or discomfort.

Wary

Feeling or showing caution, distrust, or alertness regarding possible dangers.

Acclimatise to

To adapt or become accustomed to a new climate, environment, or set of conditions.

Motor control

The regulation and coordination of body movements by the nervous system.

Determinant

An influential element or factor that decisively conditions or determines an outcome.