Inside A Termite Fortress | Seasonal Wonderlands | BBC Earth
A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
safe
US / seɪf /
•UK / sef /
- noun
- Metal box with a lock to keep valuable things in
- adjecitve
- Highly likely
- Being out of danger
once
US / wʌns /
•UK / wʌns /
- adverb
- One time; one instance
- At a time in the past
- conjunction
- When; as soon as
million
US / ˈmɪljən /
•UK / ˈmɪljən /
- number
- 1,000,000
inside
US / ˌɪn'saɪd /
•UK / ɪnˈsaɪd, ˈɪnˌsaɪd /
- adjecitve
- Being in something
- Being in a building
- adverb
- Into a house; indoors
- noun
- Inner part or surface of something
bed
US / bed /
•UK / bɛd /
- noun
- Flat bottom surface of a lake, ocean etc.
- A piece of furniture that people sleep on
- An area on which other things are put
- Area of ground to grow vegetables or flowers
- verb
- To have sex with someone
- To plant, fix, or attach something firmly to
new
US / nju: /
•UK / nu, nju /
- adjecitve
- Not old, recently born, built or made
- Being or doing something for the first time
- Not felt, seen or known previously
- Having been recently bought or obtained
colony
US / 'kɒlənɪ /
•UK / ˈkɑləni /
- noun
- Group (bees, etc.) that live in the same place
- Country/settlement controlled by another country
thousand
US / ˈθaʊznd /
•UK / ˈθaʊzənd /
- number
- Number 1,000
sand
US / sænd /
•UK / sænd /
- noun
- Area composed of tiny pieces of rock near an ocean
- Small pieces of rock that make beaches and deserts
- verb
- To cover a surface with grit e.g. roads
- To smoothen a surface with sandpaper
shelter
US / 'ʃeltə(r) /
•UK / ˈʃɛltɚ /
- noun
- Place to protect people/animals from abuse
- Structure that covers or protects things
- State of being protected from danger, bad weather
- verb
- To give animals, people a place away from abuse
- To find protection from danger/bad weather
beat
US / bi:t /
•UK / bit /
- noun
- Regular movement or rhythm (e.g. heart or music)
- verb
- To move in regular motions in order to push blood
- To strike or hit repeatedly and with great force
- To mix ingredients together with a fork or machine
- To play a drum
- To win against another person or team; defeat
side
US / saɪd /
•UK / saɪd /
- adjecitve
- In addition to the central or most important thing
- Next to, or very close to, the right or left of
- noun
- Position or opinion that is opposite to another
- Right or left part of a person's body
- Feature of someone's personality
- Straight edge of an object
- One of two or more groups fighting each other
- verb
- To decide to agree with one point, not the other
castle
US / ˈkɑ:sl /
•UK / ˈkæsl /
- noun
- Large defensive building in historical times
area
US / 'eərɪə /
•UK / ˈɛriə /
- noun
- Amount of measured space
- A specific section or space; part of a region
- A subject or field of study
sycamore
US / 'sɪkəmɔ:(r) /
•UK / ˈsɪkəˌmɔr, -ˌmor /
- noun
- Type of broad leafed tree
bird
US / bɜ:d /
•UK / bɜ:rd /
- noun
- Animal with feathers that uses wings to fly
something
US / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /
•UK / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /
- adverb
- In some degree or measure
- noun
- a person or thing of some value or consequence
- pronoun
- Thing that is not yet known or named
- Approximately
throughout
US / θru:ˈaʊt /
•UK / θruˈaʊt /
- adverb
- From the beginning of something until the end
- preposition
- Over/across an entire place/thing; in every part
from
US / frəm /
•UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /
- preposition
- Starting at a particular place, time or level
reconstruct
US / ˌri:kənˈstrʌkt /
•UK / ˌrikənˈstrʌkt /
- verb
- To rebuild something after it has been destroyed
- To determine exactly how something happened
help
US / help /
•UK / hɛlp /
- noun
- Something given to enable a person to do something
- Assistance given to someone in need
- Someone who makes something easier or possible
- verb
- To act to enable a person to do something; assist
- To make something better or less difficult
until
US / ənˈtɪl /
•UK / ʌnˈtɪl /
- conjunction
- Up to; to a time when something happens
- preposition
- Before (a specific time)
seed
US / si:d /
•UK / sid /
- noun
- A person's children; offspring
- Part of a plant used to grow more on them
- Source of a feeling or thought
- Top-ranked person in a competition, e.g. in tennis
- verb
- (Of plants) to produce seeds for the future
- To produce seeds, as a plant
- To remove the center part from a fruit or vegetable
- To be the source of a feeling or thought
- To plant seeds in the ground
featureless
US / ˈfi:tʃələs /
•UK / ˈfitʃəlɪs /
- adjecitve
- Lacking distinguishing characteristics or features
and
US / ənd /
•UK / ənd, ən,ænd /
- conjunction
- Used to refer to two or more things
- Plus; in addition; on top of that
- Used to introduce an action that follows another
back
US / bæk /
•UK / bæk /
- adjecitve
- Farthest from the front e.g. in a classroom
- adverb
- Have returned to a place you were before
- noun
- The part of a chair that the upper body leans upon
- Location at the rear of something
- The reverse of side something
- Area on the rear of your body
- verb
- To bet money on something
- To go backwards in a car
- To support and encourage someone or some cause
make
US / meɪk /
•UK / mek /
- noun
- Product made by a particular company; brand
- verb
- To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
- To get to (a place) on time
- To gain the status of (teacher, lawyer, etc.)
- To create something by putting things together
- To earn a certain amount of money at a job
- To cause or force a person to do something
- To cause something to happen or be formed
this
US / ðɪs /
•UK / ðɪs /
- adjecitve
- Used to indicate something already been discussed
- Used to indicate something happening around now
- adverb
- An indication by a physical motion or gesture
- A specific amount of
- determiner
- Person, thing, or idea near you
- pronoun
- Person, thing that has already been discussed
ready
US / 'redɪ /
•UK / ˈrɛdi /
- adjecitve
- Being likely or about to do something
- Being willing to do a task
- verb
- To prepare something for use or action
laden
US / ˈleɪdn /
•UK / ˈledn: /
- adjecitve
- Being weighted down by a large amount of something
- verb
- To load (truck, ship) with cargo
fruit
US / fru:t /
•UK / frut /
- noun
- Result or product of something
- Food that grows on a tree or bush, usually sweet
- verb
- To grow e.g. apples, bananas, as a plant or a tree
vital
US / 'vaɪtl /
•UK / 'vaɪtl /
- adjecitve
- Needed to support life; essential
- Full of life; energetic
surface
US / 'sɜ:fɪs /
•UK / ˈsɚfəs /
- adjecitve
- Of the top layer; not deep or meaningful
- noun
- Top layer of the ground or of water
- Nature or emotions that show, but may not be true
- Outside or upper layer of something
- verb
- To give (road) a top layer
- To appear after being hidden, unseen, or unknown
- To come to the top of something; emerge
- To come to the top level of water, mud, etc.
transport
US / ˈtrænspɔ:t /
•UK / ˈtrænspɔ:rt /
- noun
- Very strong uncontrollable emotion, e.g. delight
- Vehicle used to take soldiers to other places
- verb
- To carry things from one place to another
- To cause to feel you are in a previous time
season
US / ˈsi:zn /
•UK / ˈsizən /
- noun
- One of Spring, Summer, Autumn (Fall) and Winter
- Time of year when something usually happens
- verb
- To add pepper and salt to something
- To prepare wood for use by allowing it to dry
advance
US / əd'vɑ:ns /
•UK / ædˈvæns /
- noun
- Forward movement by an army
- An attempt to seduce someone
- verb
- (Of an army) to move forward
- To change or improve
- To increase in price or value
- To move forward in a certain direction
- To try to seduce someone
turn
US / tɜ:n /
•UK / tɚn /
- noun
- Place where changing of direction happens
- Your time or chance to perform a duty
- Your chance to play or do in say a game
- Unexpected change, as in the weather
- verb
- To become (a particular age)
- To become a different quality, color, etc.
- To change the direction of something, e.g. a car
- To move in an opposite direction or position
- To shape metal with a spinning tool
perfect
US / 'pɜ:fɪkt /
•UK / ˈpɚfɪkt /
- adjecitve
- So good it cannot be improved
- verb
- To do something so well, it cannot be done better
one
US / wʌn /
•UK / wʌn /
- pronoun
- You; we; people in general; someone
- The thing or person previously referred to
- adjecitve
- Used to refer to people generally
- Being a strong example of (something mentioned)
- number
- Number 1
wildlife
US / ˈwaɪldlaɪf /
•UK / ˈwaɪldˌlaɪf /
- noun
- All wild animals
plant
US / plɑ:nt /
•UK / plænt /
- noun
- Factory or a place where things are made
- Living thing with leaves and roots growing in soil
- verb
- To firmly position something (in the ground)
- To put seeds, flowers, trees in the ground
maintenance
US / 'meɪntənəns /
•UK / ˈmentənəns /
- noun
- Keeping (a machine) working by checking and fixing
the
US / ðə /
•UK / ðə /
- article
- Used to refer to something already mentioned
- Used to show there is only one of something
- determiner
- Used to describe all of a family
year
US / jə: /
•UK / jɪr /
- noun
- Unit of time equal to 12 months or 365 or 366 days
- Used to refer to the age of a person
baboon
US / bəˈbu:n /
•UK / bæˈbun /
- noun
- Large African monkey that has large teeth
miraculous
US / mɪˈrækjələs /
•UK / mɪˈrækjələs /
- adjecitve
- Wonderful; extraordinary
bring
US / brɪŋ /
•UK / brɪŋ /
- verb
- To take or go with someone to a place
tunnel
US / 'tʌnl /
•UK / ˈtʌnəl /
- adjecitve
- As if looking in a long hole
- noun
- Passage under the ground, often for cars or trains
- verb
- To dig a hole from one side to another
fortress
US / ˈfɔ:trəs /
•UK / ˈfɔ:rtrəs /
- noun
- Military buildings providing protection
kilometre
US / ˈkɪləmi:tə(r) /
•UK / ˈkɪləmiːtər /
- noun
- A metric unit of length equal to 1000 metres
dry
US / draɪ /
•UK / draɪ /
- adjecitve
- (Of humor) clever, but not obvious; ironic
- Without water; not wet
- (Of wine, etc.) not sweet
- Without butter or jam
- verb
- To remove liquid or water from something
they
US / ðeɪ /
•UK / ðe /
- pronoun
- Two or more people, animals, or things
gradually
US / ˈgrædʒuəli /
•UK / ˈɡrædʒʊəlɪ /
- adverb
- Occurring in a slow manner over a period of time
everything
US / 'evrɪθɪŋ /
•UK / ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ /
- pronoun
- All of the things mentioned
damage
US / ˈdæmɪdʒ /
•UK / ˈdæmɪdʒ /
- noun
- Physical harm that is done to something
- verb
- To harm physically; to hurt or break something
refuge
US / 'refju:dʒ /
•UK / ˈrɛfjudʒ /
- noun
- Somewhere you can find safety or hide
its
US / ɪts /
•UK / ɪts /
- adjecitve
- Referring to or belonging to ‘it’
- determiner
- Of something; belonging or related to something
- other
- Possessive form of “it”
all
US / ɔ:l /
•UK / ɔl /
- adverb
- Completely; totally
- determiner
- Being every one of something
- pronoun
- 100% of something; the complete amount
their
US / ðɛː /
•UK / ðer /
- determiner
- Belonging to them
forage
US / ˈfɒrɪdʒ /
•UK / ˈfɔ:rɪdʒ /
- noun
- Plants that animals eat
- verb
- To wander looking for food as animals do naturally
elephant
US / ˈelɪfənt /
•UK / ˈɛləfənt /
- noun
- Large gray animal with a long nose and two tusks
fan
US / fæn /
•UK / fæn /
- noun
- Thing you wave in front of your face to stay cool
- Someone who admires a famous person, sport etc.
- verb
- To blow air upon a fire to make it stronger
- To use a device to cool yourself, something
dung
US / dʌŋ /
•UK / dʌŋ /
- noun
- Excretion from animals
face
US / feɪs /
•UK / fes /
- noun
- Side or outer surface of something
- An expression using mouth, nose, eyes etc.
- Front part of the head where eyes, mouth etc. are
- Characteristics you show in public
- verb
- To cover a surface with something like paint
- To deal with a problem or responsibilities
- To look toward; point in a certain direction
canopy
US / 'kænəpɪ /
•UK / ˈkænəpi /
- noun
- Structure that hangs over something to shelter it
- Tops of trees that shade the ground in forests
soil
US / sɔɪl /
•UK / sɔɪl /
- noun
- Conditions in which something develops
- Mix of natural material in which plants grow
- Land of a certain country
- verb
- To get or become dirty
start
US / stɑ:t /
•UK / stɑrt /
- noun
- First time or place that a thing exists; beginning
- First opportunity to achieve something, e.g. a job
- Sudden action or movement because you are scared
- other
- Beginning of something in place or time
- verb
- To do, be or happen for the first time; begin
- To turn something on
seal
US / si:l /
•UK / sil /
- noun
- Large fish-eating animal that lives on sea or land
- Official mark made in hot wax to close a document
- Piece of rubber used to keep water, dirt out
- verb
- To close tightly to protect it from leaking
- To close an envelop or package
- To cover a surface with a substance to protect it
grow
US / ɡrəʊ /
•UK / ɡro /
- verb
- To get bigger and more mature; make plants do this
- To improve; to develop better skills over time
- To develop and become bigger or taller over time
just
US / dʒʌst /
•UK / dʒʌst /
- adjecitve
- Proper or appropriate; as is deserved
- Doing or being what is right or fair
- Legally correct; having enough evidence
- adverb
- Almost; nearly
- Exactly at the time of
- Exactly (the same as, like)
home
US / həʊm /
•UK / hom /
- adjecitve
- A sports team's own field or place of play
- adverb
- Into the correct or intended position
- noun
- House, apartment or building to be rented or sold
- Institution for sick or elderly people
- Place where a person or a family lives
- Country where a person lives or was born
- Region that is native to peoples, plant or animals
- verb
- To move towards a particular target location
animal
US / ˈænɪml /
•UK / ˈænəməl /
- noun
- A living creature that is not a plant or person
rebuild
US / ˌri:'bɪld /
•UK / riˈbɪld /
- verb
- To get back something that was lost, e.g. trust
- To repair something that was damaged or destroyed
green
US / gri:n /
•UK / ɡrin /
- adjecitve
- Color of young leaves
- Covered with vegetation, e.g. grass
- Concerned about protecting the environment
- The color of young leaves
- Lacking in experience/knowledge due to being young
- Being not fully grown or ripe, as in fruit
- noun
- Large grassy area
- used as a part of a name of a place (UK)
for
US / fə(r) /
•UK / fɔr,fə /
- preposition
- Used to show the purpose, or need of something
water
US / 'wɔ:tə(r) /
•UK / ˈwɔtɚ, ˈwɑtɚ /
- noun
- Clear liquid that forms the seas, rivers and rain
- Large area such as an ocean or sea
- verb
- (Of the eyes) to produce tears
- (Mouth) to become wet at the thought of nice food
- To pour liquids onto a plant to keep it alive
such
US / sʌtʃ /
•UK / sʌtʃ /
- determiner
- Being similar to
- (Thing) as previously stated or referred to
- adverb
- (Used to emphasize the quality of an adjective)
slope
US / sləʊp /
•UK / sloʊp /
- noun
- Angle of a decline, e.g. where a road dips down
- Surface on which people can ski
- verb
- To have one end that is not as high as the other
retreat
US / rɪ'tri:t /
•UK / rɪˈtrit /
- noun
- Act of a force moving back from a winning enemy
- A place away from home and work to relax
- Movement slowly backward, like floods of water
- A change away from a previous opinion or belief
- Act of going away from something difficult
- verb
- (Of army, etc.) to move back from a winning enemy
- To go away from home and work for a vacation
- To move slowly backward, like floods of water
- To stop arguing for a particular opinion or belief
- To go away from something difficult/dangerous
fig
US / fɪɡ /
•UK / fɪɡ /
- noun
- Shortened form of 'figure'
under
US / ˈʌndə(r) /
•UK / ˈʌndɚ /
- adjecitve
- In the same place as another thing, but lower
- adverb
- In a lower quantity or price than expected
- preposition
- According to the terms of an agreement or law
- Managed or controlled by the authority of
- Being of a lesser quality or amount than expected
- Influenced or affected by something or someone
- Less or lower in age, amount, size or number
strong
US / strɒŋ /
•UK / strɔŋ /
- adjecitve
- (Of tea or beer) dark or thick
- Having big muscles; physically powerful
constant
US / 'kɒnstənt /
•UK / ˈkɑnstənt /
- adjecitve
- Happening frequently or without pause
- noun
- Thing that happens always or at a regular rate
pam
US / /
•UK / /
six
US / sɪks /
•UK / sɪks /
- number
- 6
part
US / pɑ:t /
•UK / pɑ:rt /
- adjecitve
- To some degree; half; not fully
- noun
- Division of a book
- Ratio of something, e.g. 3 of gin, 1 of tonic
- A line in a person's hair, made with a comb
- Character an actor plays on stage, movie, or TV
- Some, but not all of a specific thing
- Role in causing something to happen
- verb
- To make a line in a person's hair, by using a comb
- To move two things apart creating a space
- To leave someone, or to break off a relationship
hasty
US / ˈheɪsti /
•UK / 'heɪsti /
- adjecitve
- Done, made, or completed quickly or in a hurry
island
US / ˈaɪlənd /
•UK / ˈaɪlənd /
- noun
- Area of land that is surrounded by water
hundred
US / 'hʌndrəd /
•UK / ˈhʌndrɪd /
- number
- 100
soften
US / 'sɒfn /
•UK / ˈsɔfən, ˈsɑfən /
- other
- To make something less hard or firm
- verb
- To make more sympathetic or less strict
- To make something less hard or firm
raise
US / reɪz /
•UK / rez /
- noun
- Increase in a bet above another when playing cards
- Pay increase
- verb
- To increase a bet above another when playing cards
- To gather donations for a cause or charity
- To bring up and educate a child to maturity
- To bring a dead person to life
- To increase a quantity, size, intensity or price
- To lift (e.g. your hand) to a higher position
- To mention a topic /issue for discussion; bring up
- To increase (salary, etc.)
- To grow or care for plants or animals
desert
US / 'dezət /
•UK / ˈdɛzət /
- noun
- Bare area of land, often with few plants and water
- verb
- To leave a place for ever; abandon
- To leave when one is needed or expected to stay
with
US / wɪð /
•UK / wɪð, wɪθ /
- preposition
- As an employee of a certain company
- Against something or someone
- By using something as a means
- Due to; because of
- Including
- Possessing as a feature
- Related to
- (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
- Used to express that people or things are together
collapse
US / kə'læps /
•UK / kəˈlæps /
- verb
- To fold (e.g. a stroller) down to make it smaller
- To suddenly fall down or break apart into pieces
- To fall down suddenly due to being ill or tired
underground
US / ˈʌndəgraʊnd /
•UK / ˈʌndərgraʊnd /
- adjecitve
- (Being or living) under the surface of the earth
- noun
- Secret group organized to overthrow a government
- Subway system, e.g. in London
good
US / ɡʊd /
•UK / ɡʊd /
- adjecitve
- Proper, appropriate or right
- (Of an amount) enough; plenty
- Excellent; high quality
- Acting well or properly; of moral character
- In a positive or happy emotional state
- noun
- Advantage or benefit
fifty
US / 'fɪftɪ /
•UK / ˈfɪfti /
- number
- 50
but
US / bət /
•UK / bʌt,bət /
- conjunction
- Used before you say something different, opposite
themselves
US / ðəmˈselvz /
•UK / ðɛmˈsɛlvz, ðəm- /
- pronoun
- Reflexive form of 'they'
not
US / nɒt /
•UK / nɑt /
- adverb
- Word indicating the negative
- (Used to form the negative of verbs)
food
US / fu:d /
•UK / fud /
- noun
- What people and animals eat to live
- Things taken in by plants to maintain life
- A particular style or type of cooking, e.g. Asian
incredibly
US / ɪnˈkredəbli /
•UK / ɪnˈkrɛdəblɪ /
- adverb
- To a great degree; very; amazingly
termite
US / 'tɜ:maɪt /
•UK / ˈtə:ˌmaɪt /
- noun
- Small white tropical insect which eats wood
safety
US / ˈseɪfti /
•UK / ˈsefti /
- noun
- Device on a gun to prevent accidental shooting
- State of being free from harm or danger
repair
US / rɪˈpeə(r) /
•UK / rɪˈper /
- noun
- How well cared for a thing is; physical condition
- Action to fix or restore something that is broken
- verb
- To fix or restore something that is broken
- To fix or correct the damage that one has caused
opportunity
US / ˌɒpə'tju:nətɪ /
•UK / ˌɑpɚˈtunɪti, -ˈtju- /
- noun
- Time, situation when a thing might be done; chance
become
US / bɪ'kʌm /
•UK / bɪˈkʌm /
- verb
- To begin to be; grow to be; develop into
- To be suitable for a particular job or role
structure
US / ˈstrʌk.tʃə /
•UK / ˈstrʌk.tʃɚ /
- noun
- The way in which the parts of a system or object are arranged or organized, or a system arranged in
- verb
- To plan, organize, or arrange the parts of something
now
US / naʊ /
•UK / naʊ /
- adverb
- At the present time or moment
- Right away or in the next possible moment
- Used to refer to something that just happened
- Time between the present and a moment in the past
- conjunction
- Resulting from or because of something
happen
US / 'hæpən /
•UK / ˈhæpən /
- verb
- To take place or occur
hub
US / hʌb /
•UK / hʌb /
- noun
- Center of action or interest
- Central part of a wheel
city
US / 'sɪtɪ /
•UK / ˈsɪti /
- noun
- Area with many buildings, roads and people
force
US / fɔ:s /
•UK / fɔrs, fors /
- noun
- Group of persons trained for military action; army
- Pressure; attraction
- The use of physical strength/violence to persuade
- verb
- To use physical strength or violence to persuade
block
US / blɒk /
•UK / blɑk /
- noun
- Solid piece of material used for building
- A piece of wood, chocolate etc.
- Hard piece of wood, stone etc. with straight edges
- Building made up of offices or apartments
- Area of a city divided by four streets
- verb
- To stop from going forward or making progress
require
US / rɪ'kwaɪə(r) /
•UK / rɪˈkwaɪr /
- verb
- To demand that someone does something
- To need to do something, to make it necessary
flood
US / flʌd /
•UK / flʌd /
- noun
- Large number of people or things arriving at once
- Destruction when a river breaks its banks
- verb
- To quickly appear unexpectedly and in volume
- (Of liquid) to fill or cover something completely
barely
US / ˈbɛəli /
•UK / ˈbɛrli /
- adverb
- Only just; just possible
attract
US / ə'trækt /
•UK / əˈtrækt /
- verb
- To make something move closer using magnetic force
- To make someone notice and become interested in
like
US / laɪk /
•UK / laɪk /
- adjecitve
- Being equal in status or kind to something else
- Similar; the same
- adverb
- For example
- preposition
- Used as a filler; used to ad emphasis
- In a way similar to the way something is done
- Such as; for example
- verb
- To want to
- To find something pleasing; to prefer something
even
US / 'i:vn /
•UK / ˈivən /
- adjecitve
- Being equal in influence, power, possibility etc.
- Being divided equally or fairly
- (Of teams/contest) with similar chances of success
- Smooth, level, or regular
- Can be divided by 2; ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0
- At a regular, equally steady manner
- Remaining steady and unchanging
- adverb
- (When this is surprising) as well; too
- (Used to compare two things/stress the difference)
- verb
- To make something level; to flatten
- To make something equal