Lingo

Natural Phenomena and Environment

HomeVocabularyTOEFLAdvanced Vocabulary for TOEFLNatural Phenomena and Environment

39 Words

20m

drizzle
1.
dri
zzle
Noun

rain that falls in small, fine drops, creating a gentle and steady rainfall

The morning began with a light drizzle that refreshed the garden.

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inundate
2.
i
nun
date
Verb

to cover a stretch of land with a lot of water

Heavy rains can inundate the riverbanks, causing widespread flooding in the area.

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anticyclone
3.
an
ti
cyc
lone
Noun

a weather phenomenon with an extensive circulation of winds around a central region of high barometric pressure that is connected with calm and fine weather

The anticyclone settled over the region, bringing clear skies and warm temperatures for the weekend.

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archipelago
4.
ar
chi
pe
la
go
Noun

a large collection of islands or the sea surrounding them

The Philippines is an archipelago with over 7,000 islands.

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aerosol
5.
ae
ro
sol
Noun

a container that holds a substance under pressure and releases it as a fine spray, usually using a propellant gas

He sprayed paint from an aerosol.

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deluge
6.
de
luge
Noun

a sudden and heavy rainfall

The deluge caused flash flooding throughout the city, overwhelming the drainage systems and submerging streets.

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dew
7.
dew
Noun

the tiny water drops that form on cool surfaces during the night, caused by condensation

The morning dew glistened on the grass, sparkling like diamonds in the early sunlight.

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flurry
8.
flu
rry
Noun

a small amount of rain, snow, etc. that moves in a quick and stormy way and lasts only for a short period of time

A sudden flurry of snow covered the ground in minutes.

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gust
9.
gust
Noun

a drastic and sudden rush of wind

A sudden gust of wind rattled the windows, causing the curtains to billow into the room.

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icicle
10.
i
ci
cle
Noun

a long pointed piece of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water from a surface such as a roof

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11.
ci
rrus
Noun

a type of light cloud that looks wispy formed at high altitudes

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nimbus
12.
nim
bus
Noun

a type of cloud that is dark, grey, and large, often producing rain or snow

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precipitation
13.
pre
ci
pi
ta
tion
Noun

water in forms such as rain, snow, hail, or sleet that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface

The weather forecast predicts heavy precipitation tomorrow.

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thaw
14.
thaw
Verb

to become softer or liquid

After weeks of cold weather, the ground began to thaw, revealing patches of green grass beneath the snow.

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15.
bio
ha
zard
Noun

a risk to human health or to the environment caused by a biological source, especially microorganisms

The research facility was shut down after an accidental release of a biohazard, posing a serious risk to public health.

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cataclysm
16.
ca
tac
ly
sm
Noun

a sudden, violent natural disaster that drastically alters the earth's landscape

The 2004 Indonesian earthquake and tsunami caused a massive cataclysm that claimed over 200,000 lives.

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contamination
17.
con
ta
mi
na
tion
Noun

the act or process of making a substance or place dirty or polluted, especially by dangerous substances

Water contamination poses serious health risks.

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effluent
18.
eff
luent
Noun

liquid waste or sewage discharged into rivers, lakes, or the sea

The factory was fined for discharging untreated effluent directly into the river, harming aquatic life and polluting the water.

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epicenter
19.
e
pi
cen
ter
Noun

the point on the surface of the earth vertically above the focus of an earthquake where its effects are felt most strongly

The epicenter of the earthquake was located just outside the city, causing widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure.

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eye
20.
eye
Noun

a body part on our face that we use for seeing

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

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cascade
21.
cas
cade
Verb

to flow down rapidly and in large quantities

Water cascaded down the waterfall, creating a mesmerizing sight.

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dike
22.
dike
Noun

a wall built in order to stop water, especially from the sea, from entering an area

The villagers relied on the dike to protect their homes from the rising sea levels.

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23.
esp
la
nade
Noun

a level path, typically beside the sea or a river, that is wide and open where people may walk by for pleasure

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estuary
24.
es
tua
ry
Noun

the part of a river that is wide and where it meets the sea

The estuary teemed with marine life, providing a vital habitat for many species.

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gorge
25.
gorge
Verb

to eat greedily and in large quantities

After fasting all day, she decided to gorge on a hearty meal at the buffet, savoring each dish.

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isthmus
26.
isth
mus
Noun

a narrow piece of land with water on each side that connects two larger areas

The Isthmus of Panama serves as a crucial land bridge connecting North and South America, facilitating the exchange of flora and fauna between the continents.

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levee
27.
le
vee
Noun

a natural or man-made structure built along a river or waterway to prevent flooding by confining the water within its boundaries

The town repaired the levee after the recent storm.

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meridian
28.
me
ri
dian
Noun

one of the imaginary lines between the North Pole and the South Pole, drawn on maps to help pinpoint a location

The Prime Meridian, located at Greenwich, England, serves as the reference point for measuring longitude around the globe.

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morass
29.
mo
rass
Noun

a muddy and wet piece of land in which it is possible to get stuck

The hikers struggled to cross the morass, sinking into the mud with each step.

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plateau
30.
pla
teau
Noun

an area of land that is flat and higher than the land surrounding it

The Colorado Plateau is known for its stunning landscapes, including deep canyons and colorful rock formations.

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prairie
31.
prai
rie
Noun

a flat, wide area of land with no or very few trees in North America

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promontory
32.
pro
mon
to
ry
Noun

a raised narrow mass of land that sticks out into the sea

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tor
33.
tor
Noun

a small rocky hill

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tremor
34.
tre
mor
Noun

a small or slight earthquake

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zenith
35.
ze
nith
Noun

the highest point that a certain celestial body reaches, directly above an observer

At noon, the sun reached its zenith, directly overhead.

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crepuscular
36.
cre
pus
cu
lar
Adjective

relating to or resembling twilight

The crepuscular glow of the sky painted the landscape with soft pastel hues.

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geothermal
37.
geo
ther
mal
Adjective

connected with or produced by the heat inside the earth

Geothermal energy is harnessed by tapping into hot underground reservoirs to generate electricity.

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seismic
38.
seis
mic
Adjective

related to or caused by an earthquake

Seismic waves are vibrations that travel through the Earth's crust during an earthquake.

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tectonic
39.
tec
to
nic
Adjective

relating to the movement and arrangement of the Earth's crust

Tectonic activity along fault lines can result in earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

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