Unit 8

Word

Definition

Example

experience

if you experience a problem, event or situation, it happens to you or affects you

The island has experienced several natural disasters recently

storm

a period of very bad weather when there is a lot of rain or snow, strong winds, and often lightning

The weather forecast is for severe storms tonight

cause

to make (something) happen, especially something bad

The oil spill is causing problems for coastal fisheries

pollution

the process of making air, water, soil, etc. dangerously dirty and not suitable for people to use, or the state of being dangerously dirty

The mines have caused serious pollution of the river system

produce

to cause (a particular result or effect)

New drugs are producing remarkable results

toxic gases

a substance which is not solid or liquid, and usually cannot be seen, containing poison or caused by poisonous substances

Some car engines produce toxic gases such as carbon monoxide

recycle

to put (used objects or materials) through a special process so that they can be used again

We take all our bottles to be recycled

plastic waste

unwanted materials or substances, made from a light strong material that is produced by a chemical process, that are left after you have used something

The machine has been designed to remove plastic waste from the oceans

die out

when a species of animal dies out, it disappears or stops existing completely

The wild population of koalas is in danger of dying out

reproduce

if an animal or plant reproduces, or reproduces itself, it produces young plants or animals

The turtles return to the coast to reproduce

prevent

to stop (something) from happening, or stop (someone) from doing something

The rules are intended to prevent accidents

develop

to design or make (a new idea, product, system, etc.) over a period of time

Scientists are developing new drugs to treat arthritis

run out

if something is running out, there will soon be none left

We must act now because time is running out

natural resources

minerals such as oil or coal that exist in a country and can be used to increase its wealth

We support the sustainable use of natural resources

consume

to use (time, energy, goods, etc.)

A smaller vehicle will consume less fuel

waste

to use more (money, time, energy, etc.) than is useful or sensible

Leaving the heating on all the time wastes electricity

overpopulation

when there are too many people living in a particular place

Many global issues such as global warming and famine are made worse by overpopulation

solve

to find or provide a way of dealing with (a problem)

The issue of how to improve healthcare cannot be solved overnight

climate change

a permanent change in the Earthˈs weather conditions

These fish are under threat as a result of climate change

check out

to look at (someone or something) because they are interesting or attractive, or to find out whether they are interesting or attractive

If I hear about a website that sounds interesting, I check it out

fall out

fell

She fell out with her parents because they did not like her partner

hang out

to spend a lot of time in a particular place or with particular people

Where do Harry and his friends hang out?

miss out

to not have the chance to do something that you enjoy and that would be good for you

Some children miss out because their parents can't afford to pay for school trips

sort out

to succeed in making arrangements for (something)

She is trying to sort out childcare

speak out

to publicly speak in protest about something, especially when protesting could be dangerous

Five students who had spoken out against the regime were arrested

work out

to think carefully about how you are going to do (something) and plan a good way of doing it

We need to work out how we're going to get there

difficult

someone who is difficult never seems pleased or satisfied

Joe was a very difficult man to live with

talented

having a natural ability to do something well

Brian Jones was a highly talented musician who could play several instruments

lack confidence

to not have the belief that you have the ability to do things well or deal with situations successfully

Alex is a good candidate but his problem is that he lacks confidence

strict

expecting people to obey rules or to do what you say

This company is very strict about punctuality

reliable

someone who is reliable can be trusted or depended on

Rachel is always reliable: if she has said she will do something, she always does it

willing

eager to help, etc. and not needing to be persuaded

We found 20 people willing to take part in the experiment

sweet

kind, gentle and friendly

How sweet of you to remember my birthday!

nasty

someone who is nasty behaves in an unkind and unpleasant way

She's always being nasty to her sister, teasing her and hiding her things

bright

intelligent and able to learn things quickly

He was an exceptionally bright child

politically active

involved in politics and doing practical things to achieve political aims

He became politically active at college and is now a junior minister

polite

behaving or speaking in a way that is correct for the social situation you are in

He was too polite to ask how old she was

racist

believing, or demonstrating the belief, that people of your own race are better than others, and treating people from other races unfairly and sometimes violently

The actor has been accused several times of making racist remarks

patient

able to wait calmly for a long time or to accept difficulties, people's annoying behaviour, etc. without becoming angry

You'll just have to be patient and wait till I'm off the phone

stay calm

to be and remain relaxed and quiet, not angry, nervous or upset

I tried to stay calm and just ignore him

generous

someone who is generous is willing to give money, spend time, etc., in order to help people or give them pleasure

I was thankful for my employer's generous offer to pay all my expenses

break up

end relations or marriage

The couple broke up last year

go your separate ways

if people go their separate ways, they stop being friends or end a personal relationship

They were very good friends when they were at school, but they have gone their separate ways now

get on very well

if people get on very well, they like each other and have a very friendly relationship with each other

Occasionally they argue, but the two boys get on very well most of the time

lose touch

if two people lose touch, they gradually stop communicating, for example by no longer phoning or writing to each other

I lost touch with Julie after we moved

have a lot in common

to have a lot of the same interests, attitudes, etc. as someone else

I found I had a lot in common with these people and we started going on holiday together

not see eye to eye

if two people don't see eye to eye, they disagree with each other

I don't always see eye to eye with my father

announce your engagement

to tell people about your agreement to marry someone

The couple are expected to announce their engagement today

get married

if you get married to someone, you become their husband or wife

They got married last week in St Lucia

hold a ceremony

to present an important social or religious event, when a traditional set of actions is performed in a formal way

A ceremony was held in Berlin to mark the occasion

be pregnant

if a woman or female animal is pregnant, she has an unborn baby growing inside her body

The doctor said that she was eight weeks pregnant

give birth

if a woman gives birth, she produces a baby from her body

His wife gave birth to twins yesterday

partner

one of two people who are married, or who live together and have a sexual relationship

Discuss your worries with your partner

anniversary

a date on which something special or important happened in a previous year

Jack and Kim celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary in January

retire

to stop working, usually because you have reached a certain age

He was forced to retire early because of poor health

pay off your mortgage

to finish paying back all the money you borrowed to purchase a house

They paid off their mortgage five years early

graduate

to obtain a degree, especially a first degree, from a college or university

He graduated in physics from Cambridge University

take a year off

to spend a year where you do not study or work in a permanent job; people often travel or do volunteer work in a year off

Guy took a year off to work as a volunteer in an elephant sanctuary in Botswana

be in a serious relationship

to spend time together or live together, and have romantic or sexual feelings for each other, for quite a long time

Freya has had a couple of boyfriends, but she's never been in a serious relationship

live together

if people live together, they live in the same house and have a sexual relationship but are not married

A lot of people live together before getting married

separate

if two people who are married or have been living together separate, they start to live apart

She and her husband separated a year ago

divorce

if someone divorces their husband or wife, or if two people divorce, they legally end their marriage

David's parents divorced when he was six