Write@Home
Winter 2015

Glossary

Here is some vocabulary from this edition. Do you know what the words mean?

archipelago
a group of small islands

auger
a tool used for making a hole in wood or in the ground

aviation
the science or practice of flying in aircraft

bittersweet
feelings, memories, or experiences that are happy and sad at the same time

centennial
the day or year exactly 100 years after a particular event

clumsy
moving or doing things in a careless way, especially so that you drop things, knock into things etc

coolant
a liquid or gas used to cool something, especially an engine

crop
a plant such as wheat, rice, or fruit that is grown by farmers and used as food

devout
someone who has has a very strong belief in a religion

dribbling
to move the ball along with you by short kicks or bounces

emblematic
seeming to represent or be a sign of something

excursion
a short journey arranged so that a group of people can visit a place, especially while they are on holiday

grime
filth

hectic
very busy or full of activity

hybrid
a car that has both a gas or diesel engine and an electric motor

incidence
the number of times something happens, especially crime, disease etc

inextricably
very closely related and affect each other

infrastructure
the basic systems and structures that a country or organization needs in order to work properly, for example roads, railways, banks etc

junk
old or unwanted objects that have no use or value

lethal
causing death, or able to cause death

marzipan
a sweet food made from almonds, sugar, and eggs, used to make sweets and for covering cakes

P.E.
Physical Education

palette
the colours that a particular artist uses or the colours in a particular painting

pathogen
something that causes disease in your body

petrified
extremely frightened, especially so frightened that you cannot move or think

principality
a country that is ruled by a prince

prohibitively
costs that are so high that they prevent people from buying or doing something

radon
a radioactive gas that is used in the treatment of diseases such as cancer. It is a chemical element

retention
the act of keeping something

squishy
soft and easy to press

surpass
to be even better or greater than someone or something else

taboo
a subject, word, activity etc that is one people avoid because it is extremely offensive or embarrassing

totem pole
a tall wooden pole with one or more totems cut or painted on it, made by the Native Americans of northwest North America

toxin
a poisonous substance, especially one that is produced by bacteria and causes a particular disease

vigilant
giving careful attention to what is happening, so that you will notice any danger or illegal activity

Glossary Crossword