Nova S44E21: English vocabulary

to change into a fossil over a very long time

to destroy something badly or cause it to fail completely

the act or process of becoming less clear or transparent

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

causing a feeling of wonder or great admiration

to change the shape of something, often in a way that damages it

the state of having two opposite sides, forces, or charges

broken into small parts or pieces

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

the process that green plants use to make food from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide

a city in southeastern Michigan, near Detroit

a scientist who studies fossils and the history of life on Earth

an isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top

to burn the surface of something quickly with very high heat

more able or skilled than someone or something else

the Fahrenheit temperature scale, where water freezes at 32° and boils at 212°

farthest south

a person or thing that is very similar to someone or something else

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

a very small living thing, such as a bacterium or virus

the process of removing bones from meat or fish

to take the place of something or someone

to cut stone out of the ground in a quarry

a ball of fire, especially one caused by an explosion

a bitter liquid used in small amounts to flavor cocktails

a long, soft feather, or a bunch of feathers used for decoration

having a sour taste or the chemical properties of an acid

having horns

extremely large

the force that makes some materials attract or repel each other

made invalid or no longer legally effective

a photo taken quickly and casually

arranged in the order that things happened

very tall or high, especially in a way that is impressive

of or near the equator

a hard mineral often used in jewelry and clocks

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

having a shape that is not normal or natural

something that is different from what is normal or expected

to dig up something that is buried or hidden

used to say that someone is lying or talking nonsense

to send out light, heat, or energy

a person or thing that eats

a flat paper cover with a flap, used for sending a letter or document

to make something explode

tiny organisms that float in water and are eaten by many sea animals

to separate threads or fibers, or come apart into threads

melted by heat and in a liquid state

a black powder made by smoke, especially from fire or burning fuel

locked with a key

made hard or tougher by heat, cold, use, or time

toward or on the outside

the part of the face above the eyes and below the hairline

moving or walking with quick, light steps

a gray-brown North American animal with a black face mask and a ringed tail

smoothed by rubbing with sandpaper

to give off a sound, smell, light, or gas

a large fire in the wild that spreads quickly and is hard to control

very fierce, violent, or aggressive

a gas or mist, especially one that comes from a liquid

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

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

melted rock beneath the Earth's surface

with the end facing forward or toward something

to make or become darker

the act of drinking a drink in honor of someone or something

a chemical element used in making matches, fertilizers, and other products

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

a person whose job is to study rocks, the earth, and how they change over time

to open a more detailed level of information in a computer program

the sound of something, especially a clock, ticking

strongly affected by something, especially a problem or change

the use of several layers, especially in clothing

a piece of rock or metal from space that lands on Earth

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

relating to the Earth or to things that live on it