Science: life and the earth

Biology, the sea, rocks, farming and archaeology: words IELTS Reading passages lean on.

166 words

organismB1nouna single living thing, such as a plant, animal or bacterium
cellB1nounthe smallest living part of a plant or animal; also a small locked room where a prisoner stays
tissueB1nounsoft thin paper for wiping your nose; also the cells that make up parts of a body
organB1nouna body part like the heart or lungs that has a special job; also a large keyboard instrument
mutationC1nouna change in the genes of a living thing, which can be passed on to its offspring
evolutionB2nounthe slow development of living things over time; also gradual change and development
evolveB2verbto develop and change slowly over a long time, often into something more advanced
adaptationB2nounthe process of changing to suit a new situation, or a version of a work changed for another form
parasiteC1nouna small creature that feeds off the body of a different animal or plant; also someone who lives off others
bacteriaB2nounvery small living things, some of which cause disease and some of which are useful
virusB1nouna tiny living thing that causes disease; also a program that harms a computer
microbeB2nouna living thing so small that you can only see it through a microscope, especially one that causes disease
fungusB2nouna living thing like a mushroom or mold that feeds on other plants or on dead matter
photosynthesisB2nounthe way plants use sunlight, water and air to make their own food and give out oxygen
pollenB2nouna fine yellow powder made by flowers, which bees carry to other flowers so new seeds can grow
pollinateC1verbto carry pollen from one flower to another so that the plant can make seeds or fruit
pollinationC1nounthe moving of pollen from one flower to another so that the plant can make seeds
nectarB2nounthe sweet liquid inside flowers that bees and some birds drink
germinateC1verbto begin to grow from a seed; to make a seed start to grow
sproutC1nouna young shoot that has just begun to grow from a seed or plant
stemC1verbto be caused by something, or to start from it
foliageC1nounall the leaves of a plant or of many plants together
canopyC1nounthe highest layer of branches and leaves in a forest, forming a roof over the ground
undergrowthC1nounbushes and small plants that grow thickly under the trees in a wood or forest
hibernateC1verbto sleep deeply through the cold months, as some animals do to save energy
hibernationC1nouna long period of deep sleep that some animals spend in winter
metabolismB2nounthe chemical processes in the body that turn food into energy and keep you alive
hormoneB2nouna chemical made in the body that controls things like growth, mood and hunger
enzymeC1nouna substance made by living things that speeds up a chemical change, such as breaking down food
membraneC1nouna very thin layer that covers or lines part of a living thing, often letting some things pass through
nucleusB1nounthe middle part of an atom or a living cell; also the most important part of a group
embryoC1nouna human or animal in the earliest stage of growth, before it is born or hatches
fertilizeC1verbto join a male cell to an egg so life can start, or to put plant food on soil
fertilizationC1nounthe moment a male cell joins an egg so that a new life can start to grow
reproduceC1verbto make a copy of something or do it again; also to produce babies or young
reproductionB2nounthe process by which living things produce young, or a copy of something such as a painting
offspringC1nounthe baby or babies of an animal, or a person's children
hybridB2adjectivemade by mixing two different things, such as two types of power, plants or ways of working
instinctB2nouna natural way of behaving or feeling that you do not have to learn or think about
camouflageB2nouncolors or patterns that help an animal, person or object blend in with their surroundings
mimicryC1nounwhen an animal or plant copies the look or sound of another, often to stay safe
symbiosisC1nouna close relationship between two different living things in which both usually benefit
carnivoreB2nounan animal that eats mainly meat
herbivoreB2nounan animal that eats only plants
omnivoreB2nounan animal or person that eats both plants and meat
vertebrateC1nounan animal that has a backbone, such as a fish, bird or mammal
invertebrateC1nounan animal that has no backbone, such as an insect, a worm or a jellyfish
larvaC1nounthe young form of an insect after it comes out of the egg, before it changes into its adult shape
pupaC1nounthe stage in an insect's life when it is in a hard case, changing from a larva to an adult
cocoonC2verbto protect someone or yourself from the outside world, often too much
colonyB2nouna country or area controlled by another country, or a group of animals living together
swarmB1nouna large group of insects or small animals moving together
hiveB2nouna box or structure where bees live and make honey
nestB1nouna place that a bird or other animal builds or finds to lay eggs and raise its young
burrowB2nouna hole or tunnel in the ground that a small animal digs to live in
denB2nounthe home of a wild animal such as a bear, lion or fox, often in a cave or hole
migratoryB2adjectivedescribing animals that travel regularly from one region to another, usually with the seasons
dormantC1adjectivenot active or growing now, but able to become active later
extinctB1adjectiveno longer existing because every animal or plant of that kind has died
oceanB1nounthe huge area of salt water that covers most of the earth, or one of its main parts
marineB1adjectiveconnected with the sea and the plants and animals that live in it
coralB2nouna hard material in warm seas formed by the skeletons of tiny animals, often building reefs
reefB1nouna long line of rock, sand or coral just below or near the surface of the sea
planktonC1nounvery small plants and animals that float in the sea and are food for many sea creatures
algaeB2nounsimple plants without stems or leaves that grow in water or on wet surfaces
seaweedB1nouna plant that grows in the sea or on the shore, sometimes used as food
tideB1nounthe regular rise and fall of the sea level, caused by the moon
tidalB2adjectiveconnected with the regular rising and falling of the sea
currentB1adjectivehappening, existing or being used now
coastlineB2nounthe edge of the land where it meets the sea, especially its shape
shorelineB2nounthe edge of a sea, lake or wide river where the land meets the water
estuaryC1nounthe wide part of a river where it meets the sea and fresh water mixes with salt water
lagoonB2nouna shallow area of sea water that is almost separated from the open sea by sand or coral
sedimentC1nounsmall pieces of sand, mud or stone that sink to the bottom of water and build up there
seabedB2nounthe ground at the bottom of the sea
trawlerC1nouna large fishing boat that pulls a big net through the sea to catch fish
overfishingB2nounthe act of catching so many fish that there are not enough left to breed
aquacultureC1nounthe farming of fish, shellfish or plants in water for food
whaleB1nouna very large sea animal that breathes air through a hole on top of its head
dolphinB1nounan intelligent sea animal with a long nose that swims in groups and makes clicking sounds
sharkB1nouna large sea fish with sharp teeth that eats other fish
salmonB1nouna large silver fish that lives in the sea and swims up rivers to lay eggs; also its pink meat
tunaB1nouna large sea fish that people eat, often sold in cans
jellyfishB2nouna soft, clear sea animal shaped like an umbrella that can sting you
krillC1nounvery small sea animals like tiny shrimp that whales, seals and penguins eat
geologyB1nounthe scientific study of rocks, soil and the structure of the Earth
geologistB2nouna scientist who studies rocks and how the Earth has changed over time
volcanoB1nouna mountain with an opening at the top through which hot melted rock, ash and gas can come out
volcanicB2adjectiverelating to a volcano, or made by a volcano
eruptionB2nounthe moment when a volcano suddenly explodes and lava, gas and ash come out
eruptB2verbwhen a volcano erupts, it suddenly throws out fire, rock and smoke; also to start suddenly
lavaB2nounhot melted rock that flows out of a volcano and becomes hard when it cools
magmaB2nounhot melted rock found beneath the surface of the Earth
crustB2nounthe hard outer layer of the Earth, or the hard outside of bread or a pie
tectonicC1adjectiverelating to the large moving plates that form the surface of the Earth
mineralB1nouna natural substance in rocks or soil; also a substance like iron that the body needs
oreC2nounrock or earth from which metal can be taken
quartzC1nouna hard, clear mineral found in many rocks, used in watches and electronics
graniteB2nouna very hard gray rock used for building and for kitchen surfaces
limestoneB2nouna pale rock made from the remains of sea animals, used for building and making cement
erodeB2verbto gradually damage or destroy something, or to be worn away slowly by water, wind or time
weatheringC1nounthe slow breaking down of rock by rain, wind, ice and heat
glacialC1adjectiverelating to glaciers or to very cold periods when ice covered much of the land
canyonB2nouna deep valley with steep sides, usually with a river at the bottom
gorgeB2nouna deep, narrow valley with steep sides, usually with a river at the bottom
deltaB2nouna low, level area of land where a river splits into smaller streams before entering the sea
caveB1nouna large natural hole in the side of a hill or under the ground
craterB2nouna large round hole made by an explosion, a rock from space, or a volcano
landslideB2nouna large amount of earth and rock falling down a hill; also a very big win in an election
avalancheB2nouna large mass of snow that suddenly slides down a mountain
tsunamiB2nouna very large wave caused by an earthquake or volcano under the sea
seismicC2adjectiveconnected with earthquakes; also, having a very great effect or causing big changes
agriculturalB1adjectiveconnected with farming
arableC1adjectivesuitable for growing crops such as wheat, rice or vegetables
cultivateC1verbto prepare land and grow crops or plants on it
cultivationC1nounthe work of preparing land and growing crops on it
yieldB2verbto produce a result, crop or profit; also to finally agree to pressure
plowC1verbto turn over soil with a farm tool, or to push through something with force
irrigateB2verbto supply land with water through pipes, channels or sprinklers so that crops can grow
fertileB2adjectiveable to produce good crops or plants, because the soil is rich; also able to have babies
fertilityC1nounthe ability to produce children or young; the ability of soil to grow good crops
soilB2nounthe top layer of the earth, in which plants grow
topsoilB2nounthe top layer of soil, which contains most of the nutrients plants need
pestB2nounan insect or small animal that damages crops or food; also an annoying person
herbicideC1nouna chemical that farmers spray on land to kill unwanted plants, such as weeds
insecticideC1nouna chemical used to kill insects, especially ones that damage crops
manureC1nounwaste from farm animals, spread on soil to help plants grow
grainB2nounthe seeds of plants such as rice and wheat used as food; also a very small piece of something
wheatB2nouna type of grain plant whose seeds are made into flour for bread and noodles
barleyB2nouna grain plant used for food, animal feed and making beer
maizeB2nouna tall plant grown for its yellow grains, which are used as food for people and animals; corn
paddyC1nouna field flooded with water, in which rice is grown
orchardC1nouna piece of land where fruit trees are grown
vineyardB2nouna piece of land where grapes are grown, usually to make wine
ranchB2nouna very large farm, especially in the western US, where cattle, horses or sheep are raised
cattleB1nouncows and bulls kept on a farm for meat or milk
dairyB1nounmilk and foods made from milk, such as cheese and butter; also a farm or business that produces them
grazeC1verbto eat grass that is growing in a field, as cows and sheep do; to let animals do this
fodderC2nounfood for farm animals, such as dried grass or hay
monocultureC1nounthe practice of growing only one type of crop on a large area of land, year after year
rotationB2nounthe movement of something in a circle around a center, or a system of taking turns
smallholderC1nouna farmer who owns or rents a very small piece of land and grows food mostly for the family
plantationB2nouna large farm where one crop, such as tea, rubber or coffee, is grown to sell
excavateC1verbto dig in the ground carefully to find old objects, or to dig out earth to make a hole
excavationC1nounthe careful digging of ground to find old objects, or the hole made by digging
excavatorB2nouna large machine with a bucket on a long arm, used for digging holes in the ground
artifactC2nounan object made by people long ago, especially one that is historically interesting
relicB2nounan old object or custom that survives from the past and shows how people once lived or believed
tombB2nouna large stone grave, often above the ground, where a dead person is buried
burialB2nounthe act of putting a dead body in the ground in a grave
potteryB1nounpots, bowls and other objects made from baked clay, or the skill of making them
inscriptionB1nounwords that are carved or written on a surface such as stone, metal or the inside of a ring
manuscriptC1nouna book or document written by hand long ago, or a writer's text before it is published
scrollC2nouna long roll of paper or silk with writing or a painting on it
carvingB2nouna figure or design made by cutting into wood, stone or another hard material
engravingC1nouna design or words cut into a hard surface, or a picture printed from a cut metal plate
prehistoricB2adjectivefrom the time in history before people began to write things down
nomadB2nouna member of a group of people who move from place to place instead of living in one home
nomadicB2adjectivemoving from place to place with animals, not living in one fixed home
settlementB2nounan official agreement that ends a dispute, or a new place where people have come to live
tribeB2nouna group of families who share the same language, customs and ancestors, often living in one area
tribalB2adjectiverelating to a tribe, a group of people with shared customs, language and leaders
ritualB2nouna set of actions done in a fixed way, for religious reasons or as a regular habit
ceremonialC1adjectiveused in or connected with a ceremony, or done only for show or custom
pharaohB2nouna ruler of ancient Egypt
pyramidB1nouna large stone building with a square base and four sloping sides that meet at a point