Nova S1E4: English vocabulary

stone used in building, especially in walls, arches, and decorative work

to preserve a dead body by treating it and wrapping it in cloth

the support at the end of a bridge or arch

relating to sculpture or having the look of a sculpture

a common pattern or idea that appears often in stories, movies, or other media

to connect or fit together so that the parts lock

designed to be useful and practical rather than attractive

relating to a sacrifice or the act of sacrificing something

the quality of happening or appearing at regular intervals

brave and willing to take risks

the act or process of becoming less clear or transparent

to dig in the ground to find something buried, especially old objects or remains

calm and peaceful; not easily upset or excited

exactly vertical or straight up and down

not safe or steady and likely to fail, fall, or change suddenly

protective glasses that cover and protect the eyes

to gradually become less strong, less bright, or less important

the act of moving a boat by pushing a pole against the bottom of the water

a very deep crack or opening in rock or the ground

pulled or stretched tight; not loose

a bullfighter who faces the bull at the end of a bullfight

to make something look more attractive by adding decorative details

something that must be done or in place before something else can happen

to be likely to do or agree with something

more able or skilled than someone or something else

(of food) juicy, tender, and full of flavor

in a way that is safe, fixed firmly, or not likely to move

warm, comfortable, and close-fitting

full of steam or hot, moist air

to calm someone down by giving them what they want or by making them less angry

giving out or handing out something, often quickly or generously

a fast, powerful flow of water

to follow someone closely and watch them in a threatening way

a place or position that gives you a good view of something

while facing something difficult or dangerous bravely

long and not clearly organized, especially in speech or writing

a number or amount that is close to the real one but not exact

the act of keeping horses in stables

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

make small cuts or grooves in something

the work of building with stone, brick, or concrete

to move a little, or make something move a little

the amount or degree to which something is curved

the skill and care shown in making something well

having a rough edge made of sharp points or uneven lines

to exchange goods or services for other goods or services instead of money

to cut stone out of the ground in a quarry

a person who copies documents by hand, especially in the past

shaped like a cylinder

a light shoe with an open front and straps

very dry because there is little rain

a very skilled and respected musician, especially a conductor

the ropes, wires, and chains that support a ship's masts and sails

the sides of the face below the eyes

the beginning of something

to move very slowly and carefully in a particular direction

sloping downward or at an angle

relating to the main point or center of something

the part of a road used by vehicles

the act of gathering a crop from the fields

Used in some nonstandard varieties of English to show that an action happened and is finished

a tool with a sharp edge, used for cutting or shaping wood, stone, or metal

small or tiny

to make a sound, signal, or effect stronger or louder

in a direction that is parallel to the ground or horizon

the act of following someone closely in order to watch them or spy on them

great skill and knowledge in a subject or activity

a large South American animal with a long neck, used for carrying loads and for its wool

a person who studies human societies, cultures, and how they change over time

to remove impurities from a substance

to make an exact copy of something or repeat an experiment or result

a sloping tube or slide that things move down

(of a place or situation) empty, cold, and without much hope or comfort

to wear away or slowly destroy something over time

in a way that is part of the basic nature of something

a limit that makes something harder or less flexible