Columbo S1E3: English vocabulary

a small boat that is moved with oars

turned or operated by a crank

to get something, especially in a casual or slightly sneaky way

the spiral grooves inside a gun barrel that make a bullet spin

the science of how bullets, shells, and other projectiles move through the air

more able or skilled than someone or something else

a person who expects good things and believes the future will be positive

full of longing or sadness for someone or something

to say that something is true, especially without proving it

a statement or quote from someone saying that a person or thing is good

to move lightly and quickly, or to flap gently

the process of buying and supplying goods or services for a company or organization

the level of skill or quality that someone or something has

the act of keeping horses in stables

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

the room where journalists work in a newspaper, TV, or online news office

a person who is skilled at planning strategies

a legal decision that someone is not guilty

a man who rides a horse, especially as a skilled rider or soldier

a small round root vegetable with a sharp taste, often eaten raw in salads

happening too soon, too early, or at a bad time

something kept to remind you of a person, place, or event

an image of water or something else that you seem to see in hot air or in the distance, but that is not really there

to formally accuse someone of a serious crime

great intelligence, skill, or talent

the process of combing and separating wool or other fibers

a strong, enthusiastic show of applause from an audience

the act of moving along without using power

a child or other person you play with

used to ask what something really means or is, especially in British English

to free someone from prison, slavery, or control

a casual way of saying someone should go first or take the first turn

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

at the same time that something else is happening

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

willing to do something or likely to agree to it

the act of putting a plant into a pot or container

to talk in a casual, lively way

the part of a gun that strikes the primer to fire the cartridge

an investigation done mainly to find hidden or incriminating information

to create or perform something without preparing it first

showing creativity and a strong ability to imagine new things

to do your best and put a lot of energy into something

past tense and past participle of shoot

gory or gruesome scenes or details

used to say that you agree to something, often reluctantly

helpful and likely to improve something

toward the back of a ship or aircraft

relating to the treatment of illness or injury

very large, important, or impressive

a feeling or guess based on intuition, not facts

to start legal action against someone, especially for a crime

a person's mother

to spend time with someone or a group, often with disapproval

to shoot and kill someone with a gun

the long ridge under a ship or boat that runs along the bottom and helps support it

to take advantage of someone's weakness, fear, or beliefs

a letter saying that someone is reliable and suitable for a job or other purpose

a handgun with a rotating cylinder that holds several bullets

producing fruit

used to say that something is not surprising

used to say that something is acceptable or true in theory, but there is still a problem or limitation

during the period people can still remember from fairly recently

in a pleasant or agreeable way

the act of combining money, resources, or efforts for a shared purpose

to discover or learn something, especially by asking or checking

looking neat, smart, or well dressed

in a way that is very clear or easy to notice

a person's height

the process of making a surface or material smooth

far away; at a great distance

caught by surprise and not ready for what happens

a valley

to think you are seeing something that is not really there

to do something correctly or in the right way

unfinished things that still need attention