Environment — words for climate, ecology and resources

changeverb

make or become different in some way

waternoun

clear liquid needed for drinking and life.

environmentnoun

Natural world or surrounding conditions in which something exists.

growverb

Increase in size or develop over time.

buildingnoun

Structure with walls and a roof, like a house.

slowadjective

Taking a long time; not fast.

plantnoun

A living organism that grows in soil, typically with leaves.

differentadjective

not the same as another thing or person.

meetverb

come together with someone at a particular place or time.

toolnoun

device or instrument used to perform a task.

airnoun

mixture of gases surrounding earth that we breathe

arriveverb

reach a place after traveling

fieldnoun

open area of land used for farming or sport.

releaseverb

let something go free or make it available.

locknoun

device that fastens something shut and needs key to open.

reduceverb

make something smaller in size or amount.

difficultadjective

Hard to do, understand, or deal with.

soilnoun

loose material on earth's surface where plants grow

benefitnoun

an advantage or helpful effect gained from something

regionnoun

large area of land with particular boundaries or features.

supportverb

to give help, encouragement, or approval to someone.

warmadjective

having a moderately high temperature

borrowverb

to take something with intent to return it later

fullyadverb

to the greatest possible degree or extent

levelnoun

a particular height, amount, or standard reached

landnoun

the solid part of earth's surface not covered by water

seanoun

large body of salt water smaller than an ocean

rainnoun

water falling from clouds in drops

conditionnoun

state something is in or a requirement that must be met

populationnoun

total number of people living in an area

tightadjective

fitting closely or held firmly

rivernoun

large natural stream of flowing water

greenadjective

concerned with protecting natural environment.

treenoun

tall plant with a trunk, branches, and leaves

protectverb

keep someone or something safe from harm

reflectverb

throw back light, heat, or an image from a surface

climatenoun

typical weather conditions of a region over time

lowadjective

Not high; close to the ground or a small amount.

wasteverb

To use something carelessly without a good purpose.

countlessadjective

Too many to be counted; very numerous.

thriveverb

To grow, develop, or succeed very well.

rootnoun

underground part of plant that absorbs water

drainverb

cause liquid to flow away gradually

environmentaladjective

relating to the natural world and its conditions

fishnoun

cold-blooded animal that lives and breathes in water

slopenoun

surface that is higher at one end than other

huntverb

to search carefully for something

lossnoun

the state of no longer having something

ripplenoun

a small wave or spreading effect from a central point

washverb

clean something using water

binnoun

a container used for holding waste or storing items

seednoun

a small plant part from which a new plant grows

desertnoun

Large area of dry land with little rainfall or plant life.

dryadjective

Having little or no moisture or liquid.

predatornoun

Animal that hunts and eats other animals for food.

bareadjective

not covered or decorated in any way

broadadjective

large in range, scope, or width

connectionnoun

a link or relationship between two things

disappearverb

stop being visible or cease to exist

habitatnoun

the natural environment where a species lives

harshadjective

unpleasantly severe or rough

introduceverb

present someone or something for the first time

preserveverb

keep something safe from harm or decay

respondverb

give an answer or reaction to something

grassnoun

green plant covering ground in lawns and fields

flowernoun

colorful part of a plant that produces seeds

summernoun

warmest season of the year between spring and autumn

lakenoun

large area of water surrounded by land

winternoun

coldest season of the year

buryverb

put something under the ground and cover it

farmingnoun

practice of growing crops and raising animals

damagenoun

Physical harm that reduces the value or usefulness of something.

effortnoun

Physical or mental energy used to achieve something.

surroundingadjective

existing on all sides of something

wavenoun

moving ridge of water on sea surface

woodnoun

hard material from trunk of a tree

plasticnoun

synthetic material that can be molded into shapes

sandnoun

loose grains found on beaches and deserts

defensenoun

act of protecting against attack or harm

gardennoun

piece of land used for growing plants

ruraladjective

relating to countryside rather than cities

sortnoun

type or category of something

recycleverb

process used materials so they can be reused.

alternativenoun

another option that can be chosen instead of something else.

counterverb

act or speak in opposition to something

ecosystemnoun

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

expandverb

become larger in size or amount

farmernoun

person who grows crops or raises animals for a living

floodnoun

overflow of water covering normally dry land

prioritynoun

thing treated as more important than others.

shrinkverb

become smaller in size or amount

coralnoun

hard colorful substance formed by tiny sea creatures

reefnoun

ridge of rock or coral near the ocean surface

towernoun

tall narrow structure standing much higher than its base width

forestnoun

Large area covered mostly with trees.

saltnoun

White crystalline substance used to season or preserve food.

cleanupnoun

Process of removing dirt or clearing an area of mess.

weathernoun

Daily state of atmosphere including temperature, rain, and wind.

cleanernoun

person whose job is to clean buildings

coastnoun

land area next to sea

coastaladjective

located near or relating to shore of sea

coastlinenoun

outline of land where it meets sea

erodeverb

Wear away gradually over time.

harvestverb

Gather crops when ripe.

mountainnoun

Very tall natural landform rising high above surrounding area.

mudnoun

Soft wet earth or dirt.

patchnoun

small piece used to cover or repair a hole.

pestnoun

insect or animal that damages crops or is a nuisance.

refuseverb

say no to something offered or requested.

shorenoun

the land along the edge of a sea or lake

stormnoun

a period of violent weather with strong wind and rain

unfamiliaradjective

not previously known or experienced

unravelverb

to undo something twisted or tangled, or solve a mystery

wetlandnoun

area of land that is often flooded and covered with shallow water

glaciernoun

huge mass of ice that moves slowly over land

deltanoun

landform where a river splits and meets the sea

debrisnoun

scattered broken pieces left after destruction

discardedadjective

Thrown away because no longer needed.

exposeverb

uncover something hidden or reveal it to view or danger

herdnoun

large group of animals that live and feed together