Natural World: English Vocabulary List

the tough outer covering or skin of a fruit or vegetables

"She peeled the orange rind carefully."

"She carefully cut the thick rind off the watermelon before cutting the sweet red flesh into small cubes for the fruit salad."

a long period of time when there is not much raining

"The drought killed all the crops."

"A drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall"

a drastic and sudden rush of wind

"A strong gust of wind blew his hat off."

"A powerful gust knocked over the chairs and tables set up outside the seaside café."

the accumulation of compressed layers of snow on the ground in regions where snowfall is common

"The snowpack on the mountain is deep."

"The deep snowpack in the mountains would provide water for the rivers all summer as it slowly melted in the warm sun."

a large woody plant with several main stems emerging from the ground

"A small shrub grew by the fence."

"The evergreen shrub in front of the window provided privacy and blocked the afternoon sun."

a small and thin branch of a tree stemmed from another branch

"A small twig fell."

"She found a delicate twig covered in dew on the forest floor."

a location where the surrounding landscape creates an optical illusion, making a gentle downhill slope appear as if it is an uphill slope

"Mystery gravity hill."

"Cars appear to roll uphill on gravity hill."

large amounts of snow falling from mountains

"The avalanche swept down the mountain"

"The avalanche buried the village under several meters of snow."

a protected area designated for the conservation of wild animals and their natural habitats

"Protected wildlife refuge."

"The wildlife refuge provides safety for endangered animals."

the child or children of a particular person or animal

"The bird fed its offspring."

"The animal protected its offspring from predators."

the dense, low-growing vegetation beneath the canopy of trees in a forest, consisting of shrubs, bushes, and small plants

"Rabbits hid in the thick underbrush."

"The hunter moved quietly through the underbrush trying not to disturb the sleeping deer."

a hole that an animal digs in the ground to use as a shelter

"Rabbit's burrow in ground."

"The small creature quickly retreated into its well-hidden burrow to escape the approaching predator."

the skin of an animal with the fur, wool, or hair still covering it

"The hunter sold the soft animal pelt at the market for cash."

"She wore a beautiful coat made from the pelt of a silver fox during the winter festival."

the presence of liquid, typically water, in a state of wetness or dampness

"The soil needs moisture for plants to grow."

"The moisture in the air condensed on the cold window forming tiny droplets that ran down the glass in little streams."

a storm with heavy snowfall and strong winds

"The blizzard closed all the schools."

"A blizzard is a severe snowstorm with sustained high winds and very low visibility"

a sticky, organic substance exuded by certain plants and trees, often used in varnishes, adhesives, and incense

"Sticky resin dripped from the pine tree."

"The pine tree oozed sticky resin that sealed wounds and protected the bark from insects."

the mouth, throat, or gullet, particularly of a carnivorous animal

"The shark's maw was frightening."

"The crocodile's massive maw could crush bones with a single powerful bite."

a small and young tree

"The sapling will grow into a tree."

"The young sapling was tied to a wooden stake to keep it straight while its roots grew deep enough to support the tree on its own."

one or all the descendants of an ancestor

"The king's progeny ruled."

"The emperor's progeny were numerous, each vying for influence and power within the vast empire."

the capacity of living things for survival, growth, and sustained health

"Full of vitality."

"Regular exercise improves physical vitality."

a state of deep, restful sleep, often associated with peace and rejuvenation

"The baby fell into a deep slumber."

"The baby fell into a deep slumber."

safe or suitable for consumption as food

"The mushroom is edible."

"The mushrooms looked edible but she was not completely sure so she decided not to eat them just in case."

pleasantly warm, mild, and soothing

"The evening is balmy."

"The balmy evening was perfect for a walk on the beach and they stayed out until the stars appeared in the sky."

to start to grow, producing buds or branches

"Seeds germinate in warm soil."

"The seeds need warmth and moisture to germinate properly and begin growing into healthy young plants."

(of an animal such as a dog or wolf) to make a loud and prolonged sound or cry

"The wolf howls at the moon."

"The wolf howled at the full moon and its haunting cry echoed through the dark forest."

to extract or wash out soluble substances from a material by passing a liquid through it

"Chemicals leach into the groundwater."

"The harmful chemicals from the landfill can leach into the groundwater and contaminate the local drinking supply."

(birds or bats) to settle or rest on a perch or in a shelter for sleep or rest

"The chickens roost in the coop."

"The pigeons roost on the roof of the old building every night before returning to their nests in the morning."

to cut down or bring down, typically referring to trees

"The lumberjack felled the giant oak."

"The lumberjack used his sharp axe to fell the massive ancient oak tree in just a few minutes."

to groom oneself or another individual by straightening and cleaning the feathers or fur using the beak or tongue

"The bird preens its feathers carefully."

"The bird sat on the branch and began to preen its feathers to keep them clean and smooth."

an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal

"The tiger silently stalked its unsuspecting prey."

"The eagle spotted its prey moving in the tall grass and prepared to dive down to catch it."

the upper layer of trees in a forest that creates a dense cover with interlocking leaves; offering shade and shelter in the ecosystem

"We sat under the forest canopy."

"Sunlight barely reaches through the dense forest canopy."

a large, feathery structure or arrangement, typically found on birds, often used for display or flight

"A plume of smoke rose skyward."

"A large plume of smoke rose from the volcano."

a clear semi-precious gemstone consisting beryllium, with a light blue to green range of color

"She wore an aquamarine necklace."

"Aquamarine is a light blue-green gemstone."

turkeys, chickens, geese, ducks, etc. that are kept for their eggs and meat

"We eat poultry."

"The farm specializes in raising poultry, including chickens and ducks for meat and eggs."

characterized by abundant and rich growth

"Her hair is luxuriant."

"The luxuriant garden was filled with colorful flowers and tall trees and the owner spent every weekend maintaining its beauty."

created through the breeding of two different species, varieties, or breeds

"It is a hybrid car."

"The zoo announced the successful birth of a hybrid animal, a cross between two rare species."

(of a baby) born before completing the normal full-term pregnancy length

"The baby was premature."

"The premature baby weighed only two pounds and she had to stay in the hospital for two months before going home."

(of a bird) to land and rest on something, such as a branch, bar, etc.

"The bird perches on the fence."

"The colorful parrot perched on its owner's shoulder and repeated words it had learned to say."

(of sheep, cows, etc.) to feed on the grass in a field

"Sheep graze here."

"The peaceful herd of sheep was content to graze lazily on the lush green meadow all afternoon."

(of a bird) to move the beak in a sudden movement and bite something

"The woodpecker pecks the tree bark."

"The woodpecker pecked at the tree trunk searching for insects hidden beneath the rough bark."

to move or flap rapidly and lightly, typically referring to the motion of wings, leaves, or other flexible objects

"Butterflies flutter around the flowers."

"The colorful butterfly started to flutter gently from one flower to another in the warm summer garden breeze."

to raise and care for a child until they are grown

"Parents rear their children."

"It is the responsibility of parents to rear their children with love and guidance until adulthood."