Nova S44E24: English vocabulary

better than anything else of the same kind; unmatched

to live in or fill a place with people or animals

more able or skilled than someone or something else

a short break between parts of a play, concert, or other performance

the process of changing from a liquid into a gas

to make something seem less important because something else is more noticeable or impressive

to notice or recognize something, especially something not obvious

too great or shocking to be described

a tool with a mesh bottom used for separating fine material from larger pieces

to settle in a place and take control of it, especially by sending people there to live

coming from the east

increasing very quickly

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

to clean something by rubbing it hard

to cover or treat something so that heat, sound, or electricity cannot pass through easily

the land along the sea; the coast

to become stronger, more serious, or more intense

fine mud or sand carried by water and left behind as sediment

a feeling that something may not be true or may not work

large scissors with two blades that slide past each other

the practice of selling unpaid bills to get money before they are paid

in a way that involves chemistry or chemical reactions

relating to the Maya people or their civilization

something that you are especially good at

to push or drive something forward or in a particular direction

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

courage and determination to keep going in a difficult situation

the moment when a ship, plane, or storm reaches land

something that is different from what is normal or expected

to dig up something that is buried or hidden

to change from a liquid into a gas

usually; in the normal way

the act of moving along without using power

a fast warship used by a navy

to move quickly and repeatedly from side to side

locked with a key

a sudden, brief burst of wind

to a very great degree; extremely

extremely shocking, violent, or upsetting

in a thick, tightly packed way

the number or rate of cases of something, especially a disease or problem

a rude way of telling someone to stop arguing online and go out into the real world

smoothed by rubbing with sandpaper

very clever and original; showing inventiveness

to talk in a casual, lively way

a process that makes cloth stiffer and stronger by coating it with a special substance

a computer-based model that imitates a real process or situation

to drive a vehicle up close to someone or something in a threatening way

to hit or move something with a quick, sharp motion

to make someone so excited or emotional that they lose control

to cut the wool off a sheep or other animal

now; at the present time

a game in which a player or side must reach five points before the other side does

to look through something carefully from start to finish

to move from a summary or general view to a more detailed view in software

strongly affected by something, especially a problem or change

the use of several layers, especially in clothing

to end up in a situation by accident or because of circumstances

to lead a group, team, or project

an official government place where a country keeps important historical records

a machine that measures the masses of ions in a sample

to record that you have started work or a shift

to move around within a system or area, or make something do this

changing quickly and unpredictably, often in a way that can cause problems

a person who moves to a new place and starts living there

to tell someone something surprising or unpleasant, especially suddenly

toward or onto land from the water

to discover or learn something, especially by asking or checking

a small thin branch from a tree or bush

make something again, especially in a new or different way

a sudden burst or outbreak of something, especially a volcano or strong emotion

rough, with large pieces or particles

to become red in the face, especially because you feel embarrassed

while doing something, especially while making progress

existing in large amounts; plentiful

coated or mixed with sugar