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Why Did It Take Us So Long?

Video vocabulary

dive

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US / daɪv /

UK / daɪv /

B1
  • noun
  • Restaurant, bar or club with a bad reputation
  • Rapid fall through air
  • A jump into water head-first from a high place
  • Rapid fall in the value or price of something
  • verb
  • To swim deep under water with an air supply
  • To rapid fall through air
  • To jump into water head-first
  • (Of prices) to rapidly fall

come

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US / kʌm /

UK / kʌm /

A1
  • verb
  • To arrive at a place
  • (Of mail) to be delivered
  • To move toward someone; go with someone
  • To reach a certain point or state

distance

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US / 'dɪstəns /

UK / ˈdɪstəns /

A2
  • noun
  • Lack of friendliness toward another person
  • Amount of space between two places or things
  • verb
  • To make it clear that you are not involved

think

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US / θɪŋk /

UK / θɪŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To have an idea about something without certainty
  • To have an idea, opinion or belief about something

wave

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US / weɪv /

UK / wev /

A2
  • noun
  • Movement of sound, air or energy
  • Deep and strong emotion that is suddenly felt
  • Slightly curved shape in hair
  • Frequency of movement of objects together
  • Up and down movement of water in a lake or sea
  • Signal with your hand to say hello or goodbye
  • verb
  • To cause to move side to side or back and forth
  • To swing back and forth as a result of the wind
  • To move your hand or arm to say hello or goodbye

and

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US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

pollen

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US / ˈpɒlən /

UK / ˈpɑ:lən /

B2
  • noun
  • Fine, usually yellow powder produced by plants

shirt

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US / ʃɜ:t /

UK / ʃɜ:rt /

A1
  • noun
  • Light garment for upper body, with sleeves

gift

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US / gɪft /

UK / ɡɪft /

A2
  • noun
  • Something given to another for a reason; present
  • Special skill or natural ability to do something

far

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US / fɑ:(r) /

UK / fɑr /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • A long way away
  • Being a long way away
  • adverb
  • To a large degree or extent

most

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US / məʊst /

UK / most /

A1
  • adverb
  • Very; extremely
  • Greatest possible degree
  • pronoun
  • Nearly all of something

along

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US / əˈlɒŋ /

UK / əˈlɔ:ŋ /

A1
  • adverb
  • As a companion; taken with someone
  • preposition
  • At a point on a line

from

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US / frəm /

UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /

A1
  • preposition
  • Starting at a particular place, time or level

out

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US / aʊt /

UK / aʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • No longer stylish (e.g. fashion)
  • Away from home, business, or the usual place
  • In a direction/movement away from inside or center
  • noun
  • Act when a batter cannot continue playing
  • verb
  • To tell people a secret

over

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US / 'əʊvə(r) /

UK / ˈovɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Finished; no longer happening
  • Towards the ground/away from a standing position
  • noun
  • A set of six consecutive balls bowled in cricket
  • other
  • Finished
  • preposition
  • Showing the relation when a thing is above another
  • On or covering something
  • Above or across something
  • More than you need
  • From one side to the other
  • In the direction of; toward

press

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US / pres /

UK / prɛs /

A2
  • noun
  • Machine using pressure to shape, flatten, squeeze
  • General term for TV, radio, newspapers
  • A machine that prints books and newspapers
  • verb
  • To make clothes smooth using a heated iron; iron
  • To repeatedly ask someone to do something
  • To print something such as a book or newspaper
  • To push something against something else
  • To squeeze the liquid out of grapes, etc.

another

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US / əˈnʌðə(r) /

UK / əˈnʌðɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • One more, but not this
  • determiner
  • One more added
  • pronoun
  • One more (thing)

sometimes

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US / ˈsʌmtaɪmz /

UK / ˈsʌmˌtaɪmz /

A1
  • adverb
  • Only at certain times; occasionally

seagrass

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US / ˈsiːɡrɑːs /

UK / ˈsiːɡræs /

A1
  • other
  • Any of various seaweeds that grow underwater in shallow beds

version

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US / ˈvə:ʃən /

UK / ˈvɚʒən, -ʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Different way that someone interprets something
  • New or different form of something
  • An updated form of some software

only

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US / ˈəunli /

UK / ˈonli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Just one; just that amount or thing; not more than
  • Not very important or serious
  • Just that type of thing, person
  • Short time ago; not before a certain time
  • conjunction
  • Except; but

air

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US / eə(r) /

UK / er /

A1
  • noun
  • Mixture of gases around the earth that we breathe
  • A person's manner intended to impress others
  • verb
  • To expose to the outside, to dry or freshen
  • To broadcast a TV or radio show
  • To open a subject to discussion and debate

full

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US / fʊl /

UK / fʊl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Containing all the parts; complete
  • Containing or holding as much as possible
  • Having had enough food
  • adverb
  • In a direct manner; completely

unlikely

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US / ʌnˈlaɪkli /

UK / ʌnˈlaɪkli /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Not seeming suitable for a particular purpose
  • adverb
  • Not likely to happen; not likely to be the truth

process

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US / prə'ses /

UK / ˈprɑsˌɛs, ˈproˌsɛs /

A2
  • noun
  • Dealing with official forms in the way required
  • Set of changes that occur slowly and naturally
  • verb
  • To organize and use data in a computer
  • To deal with official forms in the way required
  • To prepare by treating something in a certain way
  • To adopt a set of actions that produce a result
  • To convert by putting something through a machine

store

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US / stɔ:(r) /

UK / stɔr, stor /

A2
  • noun
  • Place where things are kept for future use
  • Place where you can go to buy things
  • verb
  • To put things in a place for later use

via

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US / ˈvaɪə /

UK / ˈvaɪə, ˈviə /

B1
  • preposition
  • By the means of using something
  • By going through, by way of

with

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US / wɪð /

UK / wɪð, wɪθ /

A1
  • 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

curiosity

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US / ˌkjʊərɪ'ɒsətɪ /

UK / ˌkjʊriˈɑsɪti /

B1
  • noun
  • Something unusual and perhaps worthy of collecting
  • Eager desire to learn more about something

see

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US / si: /

UK / si /

A1
  • verb
  • To go on a date with someone
  • To predict whether something is, or will be true
  • To understand what someone says
  • To use your eyes to look at something
  • To visit a place often for sightseeing or pleasure
  • To visit or meet with someone
  • To find out by waiting or looking
  • To watch (a game, movie or TV show)

relatively

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US / ˈrelətɪvli /

UK / ˈrɛlətɪvlɪ /

A2
  • adverb
  • In a manner comparing something to something else

know

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US / nəʊ /

UK / noʊ /

A1
  • verb
  • To be familiar with a person or place, thing
  • To feel sure or be convinced about something
  • To discover or be aware of something
  • To be able to distinguish
  • To have knowledge of things

often

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US / ˈɔfən /

UK / ˈɔfən,ˈɑfən,ˈɔftən,ˈɑf- /

A1
  • adverb
  • Many times; frequently; on many occasions

seawater

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US / 'si:wɒtə /

UK / ˈsiˌwɔtɚ, -ˌwɑtɚ /

B2
  • noun
  • Water from the sea; salt water

timeline

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US / 'taɪmlaɪn /

UK / 'taɪmlaɪn /

A1
  • noun
  • Sequence of related events arranged in time order

blow

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US / bləʊ /

UK / blo /

A2
  • noun
  • Something that causes you difficulty or sadness
  • Act of making air come out of your mouth
  • A hit or strike from an object
  • verb
  • To move something using air
  • To make air come quickly out of your mouth
  • To clear something by forcing air through it

crustacean

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US / krʌˈsteɪʃn /

UK / krʌˈsteʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Any of various types of animal that have a hard outer shell and live mostly in water; shellfish

mind

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US / maɪnd /

UK / maɪnd /

A1
  • noun
  • One's opinion or way of thinking about something
  • Part of humans that allows us to think or feel
  • verb
  • To be bothered or upset by something
  • To take care of someone e.g. as a bodyguard

scientist

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US / ˈsaɪəntɪst /

UK / ˈsaɪəntɪst /

A2
  • noun
  • Person who is trained in a science

worm

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US / wɜ:m /

UK / wɚm /

B2
  • noun
  • Small thin tube-shaped animal without legs
  • verb
  • To remove worms from an animals stomach
  • To get information, etc. out of, by tricking them
  • To cause something to move slowly or weave through

almost

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US / 'ɔ:lməʊst /

UK / ˈɔlˌmost, ɔlˈmost /

A1
  • adverb
  • Only a little less than, nearly, not quite

before

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US / bɪˈfɔ:(r) /

UK / bɪˈfɔr,-ˈfor /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a time earlier than the present; previously
  • conjunction
  • In advance of something happening
  • preposition
  • In front of someone or something

have

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US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

holiday

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US / ˈhɒlədeɪ /

UK / ˈhɑ:lədeɪ /

A1
  • noun
  • Day when people don't go to work or school
  • A day for a culture to celebrate; festival day
  • Time of year when people go somewhere for fun/rest

world

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US / wɜ:ld /

UK / wɜrld /

A1
  • noun
  • All the humans, events, activities on the earth
  • Political division due to some kind of similarity

exist

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US / ɪɡ'zɪst /

UK / ɪɡˈzɪst /

A1
  • verb
  • To be present, alive or real

discovery

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US / dɪ'skʌvərɪ /

UK / dɪˈskʌvəri /

A2
  • noun
  • Learning something for the first time

fall

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US / fɔ:l /

UK / fɔl /

A1
  • noun
  • Season after summer and before winter; Autumn
  • A drop in amount; decrease
  • Dropping from a standing position to the ground
  • verb
  • To drop in amount; to decrease
  • To come down from a higher position suddenly
  • To go from standing to the ground, by accident

pollinate

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US / ˈpɒləneɪt /

UK / ˈpɑ:ləneɪt /

B2
  • verb
  • (Of bees) to put pollen on plant so it makes seed

all

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US / ɔ:l /

UK / ɔl /

A1
  • adverb
  • Completely; totally
  • determiner
  • Being every one of something
  • pronoun
  • 100% of something; the complete amount

common

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US / 'kɒmən /

UK / ˈkɑmən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Shared; Belonging to or used by everyone
  • Typical, normal; not unusual
  • noun
  • Area in a city or town that is open to everyone
  • Field near a village owned by the local community

figure

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US / ˈfiɡə /

UK / ˈfɪɡjɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Your body shape
  • Numbers in a calculation
  • Doll-like thing meant to represent a person
  • Picture or diagram giving information in a text
  • Person who is very important or famous
  • Shape of a person seen indistinctly or in outline
  • Amount that is expressed in numbers
  • verb
  • To appear in a game, play or event
  • To calculate how much something will cost
  • To understand after thinking; work out

move

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US / mu:v /

UK / muv /

A1
  • noun
  • Act of moving a playing piece in chess, etc.
  • An action; doing something
  • Step taken to achieve a goal
  • verb
  • To cause someone to have certain emotions
  • To cause something to change to a different place
  • To change where people live or a business operates
  • To take action to do or achieve something

serengeti

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US / ˌsɛrənˈgɛti /

UK / ˌserənˈɡeti /

A1
  • other
  • A vast plain in Tanzania to the west of the Great Rift Valley known for its wildlife

their

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US / ðɛː /

UK / ðer /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to them

way

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US / weɪ /

UK / we /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to emphasize the amount of something
  • noun
  • Particular aspect of something being thought about
  • One of various choices that could be made
  • Particular existing condition or state
  • (Often long) distance or length of time
  • How something is done
  • Route to go to a place
  • Small street
  • Usual behavior, emotions or habits of someone

dense

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US / dens /

UK / dɛns /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Very thick and difficult to see, get through
  • Hard to understand
  • Uncomprehending; foolish; inconsiderate

evidence

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US / 'evɪdəns /

UK / ˈɛvɪdəns /

A1
  • noun
  • Factual proof that helps to establish the truth

pretty

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US / 'prɪtɪ /

UK / ˈprɪti /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being attractive to the eye in a simple way
  • adverb
  • Very; to a great degree

result

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US / rɪ'zʌlt /

UK / rɪˈzʌlt /

A2
  • noun
  • Something produced through tests or experiments
  • Final score of a competition, election or game
  • verb
  • To be the outcome of other causes and effects

pin

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US / pɪn /

UK / pɪn /

A2
  • noun
  • A piece of jewelry worn pinned to clothes
  • Short for Personal Information Number
  • Small thin thing with a sharp point, for attaching
  • verb
  • To hold someone down so that they can't move
  • To fasten things together using a sharp point

between

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US / bɪˈtwi:n /

UK / bɪˈtwin /

A1
  • preposition
  • From one person, thing, or place, to another
  • In the space that separates two objects
  • Among two or more people who share something

they

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US / ðeɪ /

UK / ðe /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Two or more people, animals, or things

very

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US / 'verɪ /

UK / ˈvɛri /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning a large degree or amount
  • adverb
  • A lot; much; many
  • Used to stress or emphasize a noun

critter

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US / ˈkrɪtə(r) /

UK / ˈkrɪtɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Regional term for 'creature' (especially for domestic animals)

sale

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US / seɪl /

UK / sel /

A2
  • noun
  • Event during which the prices of goods are reduced
  • Giving something for money; the amount sold

work

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US / wɜ:k /

UK / wɚk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Activity completed in order to make money
  • noun
  • The product of some artistic or literary endeavor
  • Everything created by an author, artist, musician
  • Activity you do in order to make money
  • Place of employment
  • Final product or result of a some labor or effort
  • verb
  • To bring into a specific state of success
  • To be functioning properly, e.g. a car
  • To do your job in your company or workplace
  • To make an effort to do something
  • To operate a machine or device

act

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US / ækt /

UK / ækt /

A1
  • noun
  • What someone did; action; behavior
  • A law or rule passed by a government we must obey
  • One of the parts that a stage play is divided into
  • verb
  • To behave in a certain way
  • To perform on a stage or in a movie

general

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US / 'dʒenrəl /

UK / ˈdʒɛnərəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Widespread, normal or usual
  • noun
  • Top ranked officer in the army

human

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US / 'hju:mən /

UK / ˈhjumən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning or characteristic of people
  • noun
  • A person; a man, woman or child

look

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US / lʊk /

UK / lʊk /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's beauty or physical attractiveness
  • Particular style of dress, clothes, or appearance
  • The way someone, something appears to be
  • Act of searching for or examining something
  • verb
  • To appear to be; seem

nature

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US / 'neɪtʃə(r) /

UK / ˈnetʃɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's character or particular way of behaving
  • Basic look, feel or function of something
  • Physical world, including plants, animals, rocks

underlie

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US / ˌʌndəˈlaɪ /

UK / ˌʌndərˈlaɪ /

B1
  • verb
  • To be the basis, foundation or cause of something
  • To lie or exist beneath

discover

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US / dɪˈskʌvə(r) /

UK / dɪˈskʌvɚ /

A2
  • verb
  • To find something new that was not known before

link

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US / lɪŋk /

UK / lɪŋk /

A2
  • noun
  • Any one of the rings that are part of a chain
  • Connection between two or more things or people
  • Webpage item you click to go to another webpage
  • verb
  • To join or connect together

take

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US / teɪk /

UK / tek /

A1
  • noun
  • Filming of a single scene for TV or the movies
  • verb
  • To accept something that is offered
  • To use a method of traveling, e.g. a bus or train
  • To use a camera to make (a photo)
  • To pick up something and go away with it
  • To study a subject in school
  • To attempt to pass (an exam)
  • To require a certain amount of time, money, space

cool

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US / ku:l /

UK / kul /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Steady and calm when facing difficulties
  • Almost cold; not warm or hot
  • Smart or stylish in a way (young) people admire
  • Unfriendly in an indirect way; distant
  • verb
  • To make something decrease in temperature
  • (Of an emotion, etc.) to become less strongly felt

definitely

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US / ˈdefɪnətli /

UK / ˈdefɪnətli /

A2
  • adverb
  • Without question; beyond doubt

water

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US / 'wɔ:tə(r) /

UK / ˈwɔtɚ, ˈwɑtɚ /

A1
  • 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

evolve

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US / ɪ'vɒlv /

UK / ɪˈvɑlv /

B1
  • verb
  • To develop certain features
  • To develop or change slowly over time
  • To slowly change or develop into something better

few

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US / fju: /

UK / fju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Not many, a small number

fact

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US / fækt /

UK / fækt /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that is known or proved to be true

ocean

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US / 'əʊʃn /

UK / ˈoʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Large body of salt water; a large sea

nerdy

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US / ˈnɜːdi /

UK / ˈnɜːrdi /

A1
  • adjecitve

question

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US / 'kwestʃən /

UK / ˈkwɛstʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Issue or problems you are dealing with
  • What you ask about; issue
  • verb
  • To ask for or try to get information
  • To have or express concerns or uncertainty

stumble

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US / 'stʌmbl /

UK / ˈstʌmbəl /

B1
  • noun
  • Failing to do something well, e.g. giving a speech
  • Act of tripping and almost falling
  • verb
  • To fail to perform, e.g. when giving a speech
  • To trip and almost fall

animal

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US / ˈænɪml /

UK / ˈænəməl /

A1
  • noun
  • A living creature that is not a plant or person

bioluminescent

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US / baɪə'lu:mɪnsnt /

UK / baɪə'lu:mɪnsnt /

A1
  • noun
  • Emitting light from a living creature

holographic

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US / ˌhɒləˈgræfɪk /

UK / ˌhɑ:ləˈgræfɪk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning holography or holograms

just

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US / dʒʌst /

UK / dʒʌst /

A1
  • 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)

upend

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US / ʌpˈend /

UK / ʌpˈɛnd /

C2
  • verb
  • To overturn or turn up on end

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

A1
  • preposition
  • Used to show the purpose, or need of something

necessarily

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US / ˌnesəˈserəli /

UK / ˌnɛsɪˈsɛrəli, -ˈsɛr- /

A2
  • adverb
  • In a way that is needed/required/is unavoidable

reminder

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US / rɪˈmaɪndə(r) /

UK / rɪˈmaɪndər /

A2
  • noun
  • Something that causes one to remember something

time

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US / taɪm /

UK / taɪm /

A1
  • noun
  • Speed at which music is played; tempo
  • Point as shown on a clock, e.g. 3 p.m
  • Number of hours, minutes needed to do something
  • Occasion when something happens
  • Period or occasion that something occurred
  • Period in history or the past
  • Something measured in minutes, hours, days, etc.
  • How long an event takes; duration
  • verb
  • To check speed at which music is performed
  • To choose a specific moment to do something
  • To measure how long an event takes, e.g. a race
  • To schedule something to occur at a specific moment

land

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US / lænd /

UK / lænd /

A1
  • noun
  • Region or country
  • Earth; the ground
  • verb
  • To arrive or cause a boat to arrive at the shore
  • To obtain or get something that you wanted
  • To (cause to) come down to the ground safely
  • To cause to arrive in a specific place or state

set

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US / set /

UK / sɛt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Prepared for something; ready
  • noun
  • Complete group of something
  • Place where a television show or movie is filmed
  • Group of games in a tennis match
  • Device that receives radio or television signals
  • verb
  • To make a clock state or ring at a particular time
  • To decide upon or choose something
  • To make something ready for use (e.g. table)
  • To decide on a price for something
  • To become hard (of glue, concrete etc.)
  • To be located in a specific place or time
  • To put (e.g. a vase) down carefully in a place
  • To put someone in a certain condition or state
  • (Of the sun) to go lower than the horizon

well

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US / wel /

UK / wɛl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being in a fortunate, good condition or state
  • Healthy and in good condition
  • adverb
  • In an acceptable, proper, or successful manner
  • In a complete, total, or full manner
  • A great and considerable degree
  • In a successful way, in a good or satisfactory way
  • exclamation
  • Used to begin or continue a particular statement
  • Used to show you want to start saying something
  • Used to express that you are waiting for a reply
  • You say this to change the topic of a conversation
  • Used to indicate you are making a final remark
  • noun
  • Long deep hole in the ground to get water
  • verb
  • To cause your eyes to fill with tears

head

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US / hed /

UK / hɛd /

A1
  • noun
  • Counter for the number of cattle
  • Natural mental ability or intelligence
  • Leader or person with the greatest authority
  • Mind; mental ability; mental state
  • Side of a coin with a head on it
  • Top part of your body with eyes and a mouth
  • Starting point of something, e.g. a river
  • verb
  • To hit a ball with your head in a game
  • To be first or at the front or top (e.g. a list)
  • To travel or move toward a particular place; To go in a particular direction
  • To become the leader of something
  • To lead or be responsible for something

pencil

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US / ˈpensl /

UK / ˈpɛnsəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Something you draw pictures with, or write with

considerable

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US / kənˈsɪdərəbl /

UK / kənˈsɪdərəbəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Large in size, amount, or effect

dogma

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US / 'dɒɡmə /

UK / ˈdɔɡmə, ˈdɑɡ- /

C1
  • noun
  • Firm set of beliefs held by a group

merch

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US / /

UK / /

A1
  • noun
  • short for merchandise

big

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US / bɪɡ /

UK / bɪɡ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Popular
  • Serious
  • Large

easily

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US / ˈi:zəli /

UK / ˈizəli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Clearly; without doubt; certainly
  • Without difficulty

fit

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US / fɪt /

UK / fɪt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Good looking; physically attractive
  • Proper or acceptable; morally or socially correct
  • noun
  • Sudden loss of body control; attack (of crying)
  • verb
  • To install a machine, equipment etc.
  • To adjust or change to the right size or shape
  • To be the right size and shape that you want

little

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US / 'lɪtl /

UK / ˈlɪtl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being short in length of time
  • Not great in size, amount, or degree; small
  • Being very young or younger than others
  • adverb
  • By an amount or degree that is not very much
  • Not often; rarely
  • noun
  • A person's name

researcher

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US / rɪ'sɜ:tʃə(r) /

UK / rɪˈsətʃɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Someone who works to find new facts and ideas

the

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US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • 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

also

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US / 'ɔ:lsəʊ /

UK / ˈɔlso /

A1
  • adverb
  • In addition; too; in a similar way

female

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US / 'fi:meɪl /

UK / ˈfiˌmel /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Person of the sex that gives birth to babies

how

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US / haʊ /

UK / haʊ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To what degree? in what amount?
  • adverb
  • (Used to explain the way to do something)
  • exclamation
  • For what purpose or reason?
  • (Used to ask someone or something's condition)

lover

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US / 'lʌvə(r) /

UK / ˈlʌvɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Someone's romantic and often sexual partner
  • Someone having a great interest in something
  • Person who loves someone or is loved by someone

simply

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US / ˈsɪmpli /

UK / ˈsɪmpli /

A1
  • adverb
  • In an easy or clear manner

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person someone is speaking or writing to
  • Person or people in general

plant

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US / plɑ:nt /

UK / plænt /

A2
  • 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

assumption

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US / ə'sʌmpʃn /

UK / əˈsʌmpʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Something you believe to be so, but aren't sure of

into

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US / 'ɪntə /

UK / ˈɪntu /

A1
  • preposition
  • Moving or going inside something
  • In the same direction as; in the direction of
  • So as to become; taking the state of

perfect

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US / 'pɜ:fɪkt /

UK / ˈpɚfɪkt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • So good it cannot be improved
  • verb
  • To do something so well, it cannot be done better

than

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US / ðən /

UK / ðən /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to compare two things that are not equal

answer

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US / 'ɑ:nsə(r) /

UK / ˈænsɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Reply to a question someone asks
  • Solution to a problem or test question
  • verb
  • To reply to a question someone asks
  • To solve a test question or a problem

click

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US / klɪk /

UK / klɪk /

A1
  • noun
  • The sound a computer mouse makes when you press it
  • A short, slight, and sharp sound
  • verb
  • To work well with someone or something
  • To press a computer mouse
  • To make a short, slight, and sharp sound

ferry

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US / 'ferɪ /

UK / ˈfɛri /

B1
  • noun
  • Passenger boat on a regular schedule
  • verb
  • To take from one place to another, as by boat

across

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US / əˈkrɔs /

UK / əˈkrɔs,əˈkrɑs /

A1
  • adverb
  • Distance from one side to another
  • (Go) from one side to the other of something

bottle

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US / 'bɒtl /

UK / ˈbɑtl /

A1
  • noun
  • Container with a narrow neck used to hold liquids
  • verb
  • To put something into a bottle to store it

shop

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US / ʃɒp /

UK / ʃɑ:p /

A1
  • noun
  • Place to learn how to fix or make things; class
  • Place where things are fixed or repaired, e.g. cars
  • Place which sells things
  • verb
  • To look for or buy goods or services

this

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US / ðɪs /

UK / ðɪs /

A1
  • 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

able

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US / 'eɪbl /

UK / ˈebəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Skilled; good at something
  • Having the ability to do something

fertilize

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US / ˈfɜ:təlaɪz /

UK / ˈfɜ:rtəlaɪz /

B1
  • verb
  • To make pregnant; to put sperm in an egg
  • To add chemicals to produce larger, better plants

make

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US / meɪk /

UK / mek /

A1
  • 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

phenomenon

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US / fə'nɒmɪnən /

UK / fɪˈnɑməˌnɑn, -nən /

B1
  • noun
  • Unusual event, fact that can be studied
  • Interesting or unusual person, group
  • something that exists and can be seen, felt, tasted, etc., especially something unusual or interesti

squint

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US / skwɪnt /

UK / skwɪnt /

B2
  • verb
  • To look through narrowed eyes

knowledge

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US / ˈnɒlɪdʒ /

UK / ˈnɑlɪdʒ /

A1
  • noun
  • Information, understanding, or skill

reproductive

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US / ˌri:prəˈdʌktɪv /

UK / ˌriprəˈdʌktɪv /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the process of making children
  • Relating to having children, young, or new plants

reason

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US / 'ri:zn /

UK / ˈrizən /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to think about facts and form a judgment
  • Explanation for why something occurred or was done
  • verb
  • To think and make conclusions in a logical manner

seaweed

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US / ˈsi:wi:d /

UK / ˈsiˌwid /

B2
  • noun
  • Plant growing in the sea, especially marine algae

certain

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US / ˈsə:tn /

UK / ˈsɚtn /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Definite, fixed
  • Referring to an unspecified amount or quantity
  • Being sure about something; without doubt

logical

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US / ˈlɒdʒɪkl /

UK / ˈlɑdʒɪkəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Sensible; reasonable

poster

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US / 'pəʊstə(r) /

UK / ˈpostɚ /

B1
  • noun
  • A large, printed notice or picture
  • Someone who writes and shares messages on online

ecologically

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US / ˌi:kə'lɒdʒɪklɪ /

UK / ˌi:kə'lɒdʒɪklɪ /

B1
  • adverb
  • Concerning the environment, plants, or animals

itself

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US / ɪtˈself /

UK / ɪtˈsɛlf /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Referring to it

many

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US / 'menɪ /

UK / ˈmɛni /

A1
  • determiner
  • Used to refer a large number of things

will

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US / wɪl /

UK / wɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Desire or choice of someone
  • Document saying who gets your money when you die
  • Strong desire to do something; determination
  • Desire to do something; strong wish to do
  • other
  • Used with verbs to express the future
  • verb
  • To leave property to someone after your death
  • To use mental effort to make something happen
  • Am (is, are) likely to do
  • To influence someone to do something
  • To make something happen by strongly wanting it

minor

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US / 'maɪnə(r) /

UK / ˈmaɪnɚ /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Not so large in size; not important or valuable
  • An interval a half tone smaller than its major
  • noun
  • Subject studied in college, but not the main one
  • Someone too young to be legally responsible

visit

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US / ˈvɪzɪt /

UK / ˈvɪzɪt /

A1
  • noun
  • Trip to a place for a time, usually for a reason
  • verb
  • To go to a place for a time, usually for a reason

exactly

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US / ɪgˈzæktli /

UK / ɪɡˈzæktli /

A1
  • adverb
  • No more and no less than; precisely

science

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US / 'saɪəns /

UK / ˈsaɪəns /

A2
  • noun
  • Study of the physical world, based on facts

sort

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US / sɔ:t /

UK / sɔrt /

A1
  • noun
  • Group or class of similar things or people
  • verb
  • To organize things by putting them into groups
  • To deal with things in an organized way

discount

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US / ˈdɪskaʊnt /

UK / ˈdɪsˌkaʊnt /

A2
  • noun
  • A decrease in the price of something
  • verb
  • To consider to be not important or not true
  • To decrease the price of something
  • To refuse to accept an idea, suggestion as valid

scientific

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US / ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk /

UK / ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning academic study of the physical world

small

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US / smɔ:l /

UK / smɔl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Little in size; not big
  • (Of letters) not written in capital letters
  • Being insignificant or minor
  • (Of a business) with few people or things; local
  • (Of voice) being soft and quiet
  • (Of a child) being young

actually

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US / ˈæktʃuəli /

UK / ˈæktʃuəli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to add new (often different) information

realize

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US / 'ri:əlaɪz /

UK / ˈriəˌlaɪz /

A1
  • verb
  • To become aware of or understand mentally

probably

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US / ˈprɒbəbli /

UK / ˈprɑbəbli /

A1
  • adverb
  • That is likely to happen or be true

underwater

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US / ˌʌndəˈwɔ:tə(r) /

UK / ˈʌndɚˌwɔtɚ, -ˌwɑtɚ /

C2
  • adjecitve
  • (Moving or existing) beneath the surface of water

first

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US / fɜ:st /

UK / fɚst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • 1st; Coming before all others in time or place
  • noun
  • Something that has not happened before
  • Position of the winner of a competition

get

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US / ɡet /

UK / ɡɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To become affected by illness or disease
  • To begin to feel or understand an emotion or idea
  • To send or bring someone or something home, etc.
  • To go somewhere to obtain something
  • To (cause to) do a particular thing
  • To obtain, receive or be given something
  • To currently have
  • To prepare for use
  • To understand something being said or read

sex

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US / seks /

UK / sɛks /

A2
  • noun
  • State of being male or female
  • Physical activity by which we produce babies

bunch

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US / bʌntʃ /

UK / bʌntʃ /

B1
  • noun
  • A group of things of the same kind
  • verb
  • To group people or things closely together
  • (Cloth) to gather/be gathered together in folds

interesting

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US / ˈɪntrəstɪŋ /

UK / ˈɪntrɪstɪŋ, -tərɪstɪŋ, -təˌrɛstɪŋ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Taking your attention; making you want to know
  • verb
  • To make someone want to know about something
  • To persuade to do, become involved with something

specie

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US / 'spi:ʃi: /

UK / 'spi:ʃɪ /

B1
  • noun
  • Singular of species

despite

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US / dɪˈspaɪt /

UK / dɪˈspaɪt /

A2
  • preposition
  • Without being affected by something; in spite of

least

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US / li:st /

UK / list /

A1
  • adverb
  • In the smallest or lowest way
  • noun
  • Something that is of the lowest or smallest degree

right

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US / raɪt /

UK / raɪt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Correct or true
  • The south side of you looking at the rising sun
  • adverb
  • Exactly in a place or time
  • Being appropriate for a particular event
  • In a straight or direct manner
  • noun
  • Something you are legally or morally allowed to do
  • Ideal of what is just and good
  • Political view based on conservatism
  • verb
  • To fix something previously wrong or unjust
  • To make upright, as a boat that has turned over

about

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US / ə'baʊt /

UK / əˈbaʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • To be ready to; going to
  • Nearly; approximately; roughly
  • Near; next to; close to
  • In every direction; in the area of
  • preposition
  • Concerning or of (a topic)

different

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US / ˈdɪfrənt /

UK / ˈdɪfrənt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not of the same kind; unlike other things

like

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US / laɪk /

UK / laɪk /

A1
  • 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

notebook

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US / 'nəʊtbʊk /

UK / ˈnotˌbʊk /

A2
  • noun
  • Book with blank pages used for writing notes

that

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US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

what

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US / wɒt /

UK / hwɑt, hwʌt, wɔt, wʌt,hwət, wət /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Thing or things that; the same kind as
  • Used to emphasize something you are about to say
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to a particular amount, or number
  • Used to place emphasis on a particular quality
  • adverb
  • To a certain degree
  • determiner
  • Question words used for asking for information
  • exclamation
  • Used to express excitement, shock, or surprise
  • Used to ask people to repeat something they said

force

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US / fɔ:s /

UK / fɔrs, fors /

A1
  • 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

sea

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US / /

UK / /

A1
  • noun
  • Very large group of people, similar-looking things
  • Large body of salty water with land around it

then

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US / ðen /

UK / ðɛn /

A1
  • adverb
  • A time that is not now
  • Following another thing in time or arrangement
  • Following on reasonably from what was just stated
  • At that time, not now

find

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US / faɪnd /

UK / faɪnd /

A1
  • noun
  • Object discovered by chance
  • Things that have been discovered from searching
  • verb
  • To become aware of something that is happening
  • To discover or meet by chance
  • To decide if someone is guilty of a crime, or not
  • To learn through study, research, or effort
  • To discover something by looking for it

enough

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US / ɪˈnʌf /

UK / ɪˈnʌf /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Sufficient to answer the need
  • adverb
  • To a satisfactory degree
  • pronoun
  • Equal to what is needed; as much as required
  • Adequate number or amount

great

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US / ɡreɪt /

UK / ɡret /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Very large in size
  • Very important
  • Very good; fantastic; wonderful
  • adverb
  • Very good; better than before
  • noun
  • Successful and well-admired person

mean

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US / mi:n /

UK / min /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being good at
  • Nasty; unkind
  • Not liking to spend money; cheap; stingy
  • noun
  • Average of a set of numbers
  • verb
  • To express a particular idea or thought
  • To intend to do something in particular
  • To have a particular meaning or value

sticky

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US / ˈstɪki /

UK / ˈstɪki /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Easy to adhere or stick to other things
  • (Of weather/a day) uncomfortably hot and humid

happen

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US / 'hæpən /

UK / ˈhæpən /

A1
  • verb
  • To take place or occur

can

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US / kæn /

UK / kən,kæn /

A1
  • noun
  • A metal container for storing food
  • other
  • Able to; have the skill to; have the time to
  • verb
  • To have permission to
  • To be possible to do
  • To preserve food by sealing it in a metal container

description

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US / dɪˈskrɪpʃn /

UK / dɪˈskrɪpʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Explanation of what something is like, looks like

scale

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US / skeɪl /

UK / skel /

A2
  • noun
  • Size, level, or amount when compared
  • Small hard plates that cover the body of fish
  • Device that is used to weigh a person or thing
  • Range of numbers from the lowest to the highest
  • Dimensions or size of something
  • verb
  • To change the size of but keep the proportions
  • To climb something large (e.g. a mountain)
  • To remove the scales of a fish

surprise

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US / səˈpraɪz /

UK / sərˈpraɪz /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • That surprises you; not expected
  • noun
  • Something unexpected that slightly shocks you
  • verb
  • To do something that another person didn't expect

sticker

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US / ˈstɪkə(r) /

UK / ˈstɪkɚ /

B2
  • noun
  • A short pointed knife for piercing or stabbing
  • An adhesive label, e.g. to identify something
  • A particularly difficult or baffling question
  • Small sharp-pointed tip on a stem or leaf

deal

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US / di:l /

UK / dil /

A1
  • verb
  • To cope with something - usually troubles
  • To give (something bad e.g. news) to
  • To buy and sell illegal drugs
  • To give out (cards, etc.) to; distribute
  • To do business with someone or to sell products

organ

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US / 'ɔ:ɡən /

UK / ˈɔrɡən /

B1
  • noun
  • Part of a person's body with a particular function
  • Large institution or body
  • Large wind instrument similar to a piano

now

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US / naʊ /

UK / naʊ /

A1
  • 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

book

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US / bʊk /

UK / bʊk /

A1
  • noun
  • Thing made of pages with writing on that you read
  • verb
  • (Police) to officially record someone's crimes
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fuel

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US / 'fju:əl /

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A2
  • noun
  • Material used to produce heat or power when burned
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  • To give power to (a mob, anger, etc.); incite
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want

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  • Something you desire or wish for
  • State or condition of poverty
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  • To desire or wish for something; hope for a thing

creature

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  • noun
  • Animal of any type

flower

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  • noun
  • Plant with a pretty head, e.g. a rose
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  • (Of flowers) to emerge into full shape; to bloom
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observant

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B1
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  • Paying close attention especially to details

pollinators

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US / ˈpɒlɪneɪtəz /

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B2
  • other
  • Insect moving pollen from one plant to another

physics

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  • The study of heat, light, and energy on objects

tiny

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  • Very, very small

not

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our

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pollination

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  • noun
  • Putting pollen on a plant so it makes seeds

pick

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  • noun
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  • To take fruit or vegetables from a plant or tree
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really

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would

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but

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good

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life

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nobody

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  • Introduction to Video Content
  • Why Did It Take Us So Long? We thought we had a pretty good grasp on plant sex. And then these little critters came along. We've known for a long time that animals often move pollen from flower to flower, fertilizing plants. But as far as scientists knew, this process only happened on land, or at least above the water. However, in 2016, researchers made a groundbreaking discovery - that animal pollination also occurs underwater. Itty-bitty crustaceans and worms were found to visit certain species of seagrasses and seaweed, picking up sticky, mucous-like pollen known as spermatia and transferring them to the female reproductive organs of seagrasses and seaweeds. The intricate details of this process are fascinating, but what truly astounds me is that despite scientists acknowledging the significance of animal pollination above water for a long time, only now are we realizing its occurrence underwater. Animal pollination makes up 80% of plant pollination, yet it took us so long to uncover this phenomenon in aquatic ecosystems. There are several reasons for this knowledge gap. Firstly, the physics of animal pollination underwater seemed highly unlikely. Seawater, being almost 800 times denser than air and often in motion, posed challenges for small animals to easily navigate between underwater flowers. Moreover, the timeline didn't seem to align, as aquatic plants and seaweeds predated the assumed evolution of animal pollination. Therefore, scientists believed that underwater pollen dispersal was solely reliant on oceanic currents. However, this groundbreaking discovery has shattered these assumptions and opened up a whole new understanding of the intricacies of plant reproduction in underwater environments.
  • Subtitles section
  • We thought we had a pretty good grasp on plant sex.
  • And then these little critters came along.
  • Hi, I'm Kate, and this is MinuteEarth.
  • We've known for, well, for a long time that animals often move pollen from flower to flower, fertilizing plants.
  • all sorts of critters pollinate all sorts of plants.
  • But as far as scientists knew, this process only happened on land, or at least above the water.
  • But in 2016, researchers discovered that animal pollination also happens underwater.
  • Itty-bitty crustaceans and worms visit certain species of seagrasses and seaweed.
  • They pick up the sticky, mucousy pollen, or spermatia, basically a seaweed's version of pollen, and ferry them, sometimes over considerable distances, to the seagrasses and seaweed's female reproductive organs.
  • The details are really cool, but they aren't actually what I find most interesting about this discovery.
  • What blows my mind is that despite scientists knowing for a long time that animal pollination is an important and really common process above the water – I mean, a full 80% of plants are pollinated by animals – we're just now realizing that it's also happening underwater.
  • There are a bunch of different reasons for this gap in our knowledge.
  • First, the physics of animal pollination underwater seemed pretty unlikely.
  • Seawater is almost 800 times denser than air, and it's often in motion.
  • It didn't seem like animals small enough to pollinate the tiny flowers that exist underwater would be able to move easily between them.
  • Also, the timeline didn't seem to fit.
  • Many species of aquatic plants and seaweeds existed long before animal pollination was thought to have evolved, so scientists assumed that the only way pollen moved around underwater was via the motion of the ocean itself.
  • As a result, nobody was really looking underwater for evidence of animal pollination.
  • And it isn't exactly an easy process to simply stumble across, seeing as it happens at night on a tiny scale.
  • Many of these pollinators are no bigger than the tip of a pencil.
  • It took a few very observant, very open-minded researchers to figure out that aquatic animals can, and do, act as pollinators.
  • And in some ways, this discovery isn't actually that big a deal.
  • Most of the pollination of these seagrasses and seaweeds, and most underwater pollination in general, probably does happen via the motion of water.
  • So, at least ecologically, underwater animal pollination is probably a relatively minor phenomenon.
  • But the fact that it exists at all is a big deal, because it upended what was basically scientific dogma, and forced scientists to take another look at some of their underlying assumptions.
  • These tiny pollen-toting critters are a reminder that science is done by humans, and what seems logical to humans isn't necessarily how the world actually works.
  • Nature can still surprise us.
  • If you've got a nature lover in your life, you will definitely want to head over to our MinuteEarth store.
  • Right now, we're making waves with our fall merch sale.
  • We're not squinting around about these holiday discounts.
  • We've got all sorts of great science gifts, like this holographic Bioluminescent Sea Creatures sticker set, perfect for a notebook, a laptop, or a water bottle.
  • And we've also got a book that answers all your most pressing science questions, a Serengeti pin set, science posters, nerdy shirts, and more.
  • Click the link in the description to dive into a shop that is perfect for fueling curiosity.