Nature & Environment

Words for the natural world around us

Introduction

The natural world surrounds us, and describing it enriches our communication. From weather conversations to environmental discussions, nature vocabulary appears in countless contexts.

This chapter covers vocabulary for nature and the environment. You'll learn words for weather, landscapes, animals, plants, and environmental concepts that help you discuss the world around you.

Themes

All Vocabulary (NGSL) in This Chapter (89)

• land Ground or soil; a country; to arrive on ground
• nice Pleasant, agreeable, or satisfactory
• education The process of teaching and learning; knowledge gained through study
• field An area of open land; a subject or area of activity
• air The mixture of gases we breathe; the space above the ground; a manner
• choice The act of choosing; a range of options; something selected
• animal A living creature; relating to physical rather than mental needs
• voice The sound produced when speaking or singing; an opinion or right to speak
• police The official organisation responsible for maintaining public order and enforc...
• notice To become aware of something; a written or printed announcement
• nature The physical world including plants, animals, and landscapes; the basic chara...
• plant A living organism that grows in soil; a factory; to put seeds in the ground
• catch To capture or seize something in motion; to understand; to get transport
• environment The natural world; the surroundings or conditions in which a person lives
• tree A tall plant with a wooden trunk and branches
• indicate To point out or show; to be a sign of
• cold Having a low temperature; a common illness
• application A formal request or a software program
• hot Having a high temperature; spicy; popular or exciting
• dog A domesticated carnivorous mammal kept as a pet or working animal
• disease An illness or medical condition affecting the body or mind
• rock A hard natural material; a type of music; to move back and forth
• sea The salt water that covers most of the earth; a large body of water
• communication The exchange of information; a message or letter
• wind Moving air; to turn or twist something
• advice Guidance or recommendations about what to do
• fair Treating people equally; reasonable; light-coloured; an outdoor event
• pair Two things that belong together; to match or group in twos
• dry Not wet or moist; to remove water from something
• horse A large animal used for riding and racing
• cool Moderately cold, or fashionably attractive; calm and composed
• river A large natural flow of water that empties into a sea, lake, or another river
• photograph An image created by capturing light on a light-sensitive surface
• photo An informal word for photograph; a picture taken with a camera
• island A piece of land completely surrounded by water
• rain Water falling from clouds as drops, or the act of precipitation occurring
• mountain A large natural elevation of the earth's surface, much higher than a hill
• bird A feathered animal that usually can fly
• earth Our planet; the ground or soil; an electrical connection
• beach The sandy or pebbly shore beside the sea or a lake
• flower The colourful part of a plant; to produce blooms
• environmental Relating to the natural world and the impact of human activity on it
• sun The star at the centre of our solar system; sunlight
• location A particular place or position
• stone Hard solid mineral matter; a British unit of weight; a seed inside fruit
• affair A matter or situation; a romantic relationship outside marriage; business
• locate To find the position of something; to be situated
• temperature A measure of how hot or cold something is
• fairly In a just manner; moderately or quite
• wood Hard material from trees; a small forest
• device A piece of equipment made for a particular purpose; a technique
• ice Frozen water; a solid form of water
• shot Firing of a gun; an attempt; an injection
• license Official permission to do, own, or use something
• hill A naturally raised area of land, lower than a mountain
• cat A small domesticated carnivorous mammal; any member of the cat family
• sky The area of atmosphere and space visible from Earth
• communicate To share or exchange information, ideas, or feelings with others
• lake A large body of water surrounded by land
• aircraft Any vehicle that can fly, such as an aeroplane or helicopter
• complicate To make something more difficult or complex
• implication Something suggested without being directly stated, or a possible consequence
• educational Relating to education or providing knowledge
• climate The typical weather conditions in a particular area; the general atmosphere o...
• landscape The visible features of an area of land; a picture of countryside scenery
• storm Violent weather with strong winds and rain; a sudden outburst
• publication The act of publishing; a published work
• wet Covered or saturated with water or liquid; rainy
• cloud A visible mass of water vapour in the sky; something that obscures; online st...
• pollution The introduction of harmful substances into the environment
• grass A common plant with narrow leaves; lawn
• vice Immoral or wicked behaviour; a deputy or second-in-command
• overseas In or to a foreign country across the sea
• advocate To publicly support or recommend; a person who supports a cause
• seal A marine mammal; to close something securely; an official mark
• sand Fine loose grains of rock found on beaches and in deserts
• valley A low area of land between hills or mountains
• dedicate To devote time or effort to something
• pig A farm animal raised for meat; informally, a greedy or dirty person
• wooden Made of wood; stiff and unnatural in manner
• cow A large farm animal kept for milk or meat; to frighten into submission
• indication A sign or piece of information that suggests something
• airline A company that provides air transport services
• catalog A complete list of items, typically arranged systematically
• ocean A very large area of sea; vast expanse of water
• sheep A woolly farm animal raised for wool, meat, and milk
• grain A seed of a cereal plant; a tiny particle; texture
• slice A thin flat piece cut from something; a portion
• qualification An official certificate or degree; a condition or limitation