Lesson 178/202 · 12 words · 0 learned

B2 · Nature, animals & weather

1
mineral(noun)
/ˈmɪnərəl/
a substance that is naturally present in the earth and is not formed from animal or vegetable matter, for example gold and salt. Some minerals are also present in food and drink and in the human body and are essential for good health.
Your diet should have enough minerals.
mineral deposits/extraction
Synonymselementnutrientinorganic substancetrace element
Antonymsorganic compoundvitamin
2
shade(noun)
/ʃeɪd/
an area that is dark and cool under or behind something, for example a tree or building, because the sun’s light does not get to it
We sat down in the shade of the wall.
The trees provide shade for the animals in the summer.
Synonymsshadowshadowinessumbrapenumbradimnesscovershelter
Antonymslightsunlightbrightnessexposure
3
rural(adjective)
/ˈrʊrəl/
connected with or like the countryside
Many young people leave rural areas to look for work in big cities.
Synonymscountryrusticagriculturalpastoralcountryside
Antonymsurbanmetropolitancitytown
4
feather(noun)
/ˈfeðər/
one of the many soft light parts covering a bird’s body
a peacock feather
a feather pillow (= one containing feathers)
Synonymsplumagequillplumedown
Antonymsweightleadstone
5
slope(noun)
/sləʊp/
a surface or piece of land that slopes (= is higher at one end than the other)
There are some nice gentle slopes that we can ski down.
a grassy slope
Synonymsinclinegradientdeclivitybankpitch
Antonymsflatlevelhorizontal
6
tropical(adjective)
/ˈtrɑːpɪkl/
coming from, found in or typical of the tropics
Vietnam has a tropical climate with four seasons in a year.
tropical Africa
Synonymsequatorialtorridlushhumid
Antonymsarcticfrigidpolartemperate
7
creature(noun)
/ˈkriːtʃər/
a living thing, real or imaginary, that can move around, such as an animal
Merlion which is a creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish is the symbol of Singapore.
respect for all living creatures
Synonymsbeinganimalorganismentitylife form
Antonymsinanimate objectnonbeingthing
8
wildlife(noun)
/ˈwaɪldlaɪf/
animals, birds, insects, etc. that are wild and live in a natural environment
It's a famous documentary on Peruvian wildlife.
Synonymsfaunaanimalscreaturesbeastsgame
Antonymsdomestic animalslivestockpets
9
species(noun)
/ˈspiːʃiːz/
a group into which animals, plants, etc. that are able to have sex with each other and produce healthy young are divided, smaller than a genus and identified by a Latin name
Over a hundred species of insect are found in this area.
Synonymskindsorttypevarietybreedgenusclassification
Antonymsindividualsingular
10
flame(noun)
/fleɪm/
a hot bright stream of burning gas that comes from something that is on fire
The flame flickered in the wind.
Synonymsblazefireglowflare
Antonymsdarknesscoldice
11
shadow(noun)
/ˈʃædəʊ/
the dark shape that somebody/something’s form makes on a surface, for example on the ground, when they are between the light and the surface
The tree cast a long shadow in the afternoon sun.
Synonymsshadesilhouetteoutlinephantom
Antonymslightbrightnessillumination
12
stretch(verb)
/stretʃ/
to spread over an area of land
The desert stretches for hundreds of kilometres to the south.