Nova S39E7: English vocabulary

to be the hidden cause or basis of something

to become weaker, less active, or less successful over time

the highest point of something

the study of how medicines and other treatments help treat disease

easy to notice or feel

the fact of being likely to be affected or harmed by something

very bright and hard to look at

the soft, repeated sound birds make

a soft, wet area of ground that is difficult to walk on

relating to cysts or having the form of a cyst

to spell a word incorrectly

a natural tendency to do something

by ten times as much

a serious type of skin cancer

an effect or consequence, especially one that happens later and is not wanted

to make a plant or soil grow better by adding a suitable substance

to cause serious damage to something

a small piece or short part of something

causing fear or dread; very scary

requiring a lot of effort and energy

happening again and again, often after a short break

able to notice small differences and make careful judgments

to fall or drop very quickly and suddenly

more able or skilled than someone or something else

relating to an ovary

one of the two organs in a woman's body that produce eggs

a thick, slippery liquid in the nose, throat, and other body parts that helps protect and moisten them

a medical condition that causes weakness or loss of control in the muscles

a connection or relationship between things

a spiral shape or line, especially one that curves around a central axis

a company that provides insurance

a spacecraft that lands on the surface of a planet or moon

the act of combing hair

easy to manage, control, or deal with

basic and not yet well developed

a pile of hay

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

a return of a disease or bad habit after a period of improvement

full of bubbles; fizzy

kissing and touching someone in a sexual way

a bitter liquid used in small amounts to flavor cocktails

to notice or understand the difference between things

large scissors with two blades that slide past each other

a state of uncertainty while you are waiting for a decision or result

to make a substance or effect harmless or inactive

to make someone feel shocked, upset, or disappointed

a feeling that something good will happen

the act of gently rubbing or stroking something

a small amount of a drink, especially alcohol

seeming reasonable or likely to be true

the state of being anonymous

a thick mass of blood or another liquid that has become partly solid

difficult to find, catch, understand, or remember

to give someone a title, honor, right, or benefit

the showing of a film or TV program to an audience

moving with quick, light jumps

causing very deep sadness or pain

to figure out or read something that is hard to understand, especially a code or message

to make something less active, strong, or effective

a word or phrase repeated to help you focus or stay calm

a small, tight group or mass of things

locked with a key

not able to be cured

a gland in men that helps produce semen

to be more important, valuable, or serious than something else

to be in a very uncertain or risky situation

to pull something off or out from where it grows or is attached

not harmful or dangerous

showing that something is likely true or real

believing that people are mostly selfish and cannot be trusted to be sincere

the day after a night of heavy drinking, when you feel hungover

the equipment and setup used to make products in a factory

cancer that begins in the prostate gland

the set of rules that tells cells how to make proteins from DNA

DNA or RNA that carries an organism’s hereditary information

a serious inherited disease that makes thick mucus build up in the lungs and digestive system