Nova S28E13: English vocabulary

to show that you think something is silly or not worth taking seriously

in a way that uses pictures, charts, or other visual elements

to hit a ball before it bounces

a long, narrow groove or trench made in the ground by a plow

seeming strange or self-contradictory, but possibly true

in a way that is hard or impossible to explain

to change something completely, especially in a way that has a big effect

wood that has been carried by water onto a beach or shore

done without careful choice or judgment

to make a document, rule, or agreement no longer valid

to provide evidence that something is true

extremely painful or hard to endure

the front edge of a step or stair

showing strong determination and persistence

past tense and past participle of thumb through

to hide something in your hand, especially secretly

to destroy something badly or cause it to fail completely

an extremely cruel or shocking act

to confuse or puzzle someone

to attract and hold someone's attention or interest strongly

helping to make something happen or develop

related to hearing or the sense of hearing

most important or noticeable

to feel a slight prickling or stinging sensation

the branch of medicine that deals with the brain, nerves, and nervous system

more able or skilled than someone or something else

relating to epilepsy

relating to menstruation

a doctor who specializes in the brain, nerves, and nervous system

make something stronger, more intense, or more noticeable

to become weaker, quieter, or less severe

to close or squeeze tightly

a nerve cell that sends signals in the body and brain

to understand or explain something in the wrong way

to make something seem to appear from nowhere, often by using imagination or magic

to follow someone closely and watch them in a threatening way

a belief or rule that people are expected to accept without questioning

to cause a feeling, reaction, or interest to start or increase

something that makes a surface, line, or shape even or level

the process of removing bones from meat or fish

kissing and touching someone in a sexual way

present but not yet obvious, active, or fully developed

relating to the nervous system or to neurology

to leave a place you have been using or living in

to a very great degree; deeply

the surgical removal of part of the body, especially a limb

the act of gently rubbing or stroking something

to walk or move in an unsteady way, as if you might fall

used to show happiness, excitement, or approval

to make something more intense, serious, or detailed

a short note that explains the meaning of a word or phrase

a piece of clothing with trousers and a bib front, worn over a shirt for work or casual wear

to force someone to do something, or make them feel they must do it

impossible to deny or question

bring back to life

something that is different from what is normal or expected

the round part of the eye

damaged so badly that it has split open or torn

a severe epileptic seizure with loss of consciousness and body jerking

able to speak or express yourself clearly and confidently

the act of removing a covering, layer, or clothes

locked with a key

similar in character, type, or quality

to help explain something or make it easier to understand

spread out over a wide area; not concentrated

to make someone very interested or curious

a medical condition that causes repeated seizures

relating to space and the position of things in it

a person who pretends to be someone else to trick people

smoothed by rubbing with sandpaper

very clever and original; showing inventiveness

a false belief that someone strongly believes even though it is not true

to change the shape of something so it looks twisted or unclear

to make it possible for something to happen

to hit a home run

the part of the brain that helps control emotions and memory