Environment & Ecology
Conservation, pollution, resources, habitats, and ecological systems.
60 words
Download MarkdownSome words in this topic are A2–C2 — part of Pro. A1 words are always free.
Go ProA1 (1)
A2 (4) Pro
natural
A2
/ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹəl/
Existing in nature and not made or caused by people.
M
S
environment
A2
/ɪnˈvaɪ.ɚn.mənt/
The natural world of land, air, water, plants, and animals.
M
S
pollution
A2
/pəˈluʃən/
The harmful contamination of the air, water, or land with dirty or dangerous substances.
M
S
recycle
A2
/ɹəˈsaɪkəl/
To process used materials so they can be made into something new.
M
S
B1 (15) Pro
waste
B1
/ˈweɪst/
To use time, money, or resources badly so that they are lost or have no useful result.
M
S
refuse
B1
/ˈɹɛfjuːs/
To say firmly that you will not do something.
M
S
bin
B1
/bɪn/
A container for rubbish or waste.
M
S
climate
B1
/ˈklaɪ.mɪt/
The usual weather conditions of an area over a long period of time.
M
S
organic
B1
/ɔɹˈɡænɪk/
Grown or produced without artificial chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides.
M
S
wildlife
B1
/ˈwaɪldlaɪf/
Wild animals and plants living in their natural surroundings.
M
S
habitat
B1
/ˈhæb.ɪ.tæt/
The natural place where a plant or animal lives.
M
S
resource
B1
/ˈɹisɔɹs/
A supply of money, materials, people, or other things that can be used when needed.
M
S
recycling
B1
/riːˈsaɪkəlɪŋ/
The process of treating used materials so they can be used again.
M
S
conservation
B1
/ˌkɑnsə(ɹ)ˈveɪʃən/
The protection of the environment and natural resources.
M
S
ecosystem
B1
/ˈikoʊˌsɪstəm/
All the living things in an area and the way they affect each other and their environment.
M
S
erosion
B1
/ɪˈroʊʒən/
the gradual wearing away of soil, rock, or another surface by water, wind, ice, or chemical action
M
S
ecological
B1
/ˌiːkəˈlɒd͡ʒɪkl̩/
Relating to the relationships between living things and their environment.
M
S
ecology
B1
/ɪˈkɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/
The study of the relationships between living things and their environment.
M
S
environmentalist
B1
/ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmɛntəlɪst/
A person who works to protect the natural environment from harm and pollution.
M
S
B2 (11) Pro
carbon
B2
/ˈkɑɹ.bən/
A chemical element (symbol C) found in all living things, and in forms such as graphite and diamond.
M
S
footprint
B2
/ˈfʊtˌprɪnt/
a mark or impression left by a foot or shoe
M
S
sewage
B2
/ˈsuɪdʒ/
wastewater and solid waste carried away from homes and other buildings through sewers
M
S
emission
B2
/ˈɛmɪʃən/
A gas or substance released into the air, especially a polluting one.
M
S
environmentally
B2
/ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmɛntəli/
In a way that affects or relates to the natural environment.
M
S
naturalized
B2
/ˈnætʃɝəˌlaɪzd/
introduced from another region and persisting without cultivation
M
S
ecologist
B2
/iːˈkɒləd͡ʒɪst/
A scientist who studies the relationships between living things and their environment.
M
S
antipollution
B2
/æn.taɪ.pəˈluː.ʃən/
Intended to reduce or prevent pollution.
M
S
carbon dioxide
B2
M
S
carbon footprint
B2
M
S
carbon monoxide
B2
M
S
C1 (4) Pro
conserve
C1
/ˈkɒnsɜː(ɹ)v/
To use something carefully so that it is not wasted or used up.
M
S
sustainable
C1
/səˈsteɪnəbəl/
Able to continue for a long time without harming the environment or using up resources.
M
S
amphibious
C1
/æmˈfɪbiəs/
able to live, move, or operate both on land and in water
M
S
infest
C1
/ɪnˈfest/
of pests or parasites, to occupy a place or host in harmful or troublesome numbers
M
S
C2 (11) Pro
wildfire
C2
/ˈwaɪldˌfaɪr/
a large, uncontrolled fire that spreads rapidly through vegetation or wild land
M
S
leach
C2
/liːtʃ/
to remove soluble substances from a material by passing liquid through it
M
S
mangrove
C2
/ˈmæŋɡroʊv/
a tropical or subtropical tree or shrub adapted to grow in salty or brackish coastal water, often with exposed supporting roots
M
S
pelagic
C2
/pəˈlædʒɪk/
living, occurring, or carried in the open sea away from the coast or seabed
M
S
algal
C2
/ˈæl.ɡəl/
relating to, consisting of, or resembling algae
M
S
alga
C2
/ˈæl.ɡə/
one of a diverse group of chiefly aquatic photosynthetic organisms, ranging from microscopic single cells to large seaweeds and lacking the organs of land plants
M
S
ecotourism
C2
/ˌɛkoʊˈtʊɹɪzəm/
Responsible travel to natural areas that protects the environment and supports local people.
M
S
intertidal
C2
/ˌɪntɚˈtaɪdəl/
relating to the part of a shore covered at high tide and exposed at low tide
M
S
denude
C2
/dɪˈnuːd/
formal: to strip land or another surface of its natural covering
M
S
carbonize
C2
/ˈkɑɹ.bən.aɪz/
To turn something into carbon by heating it, leaving it scorched or blackened.
M
S
usnea
C2
/ˈəsniə/
any branching gray-green or yellowish lichen of the genus Usnea, often hanging from trees
M
S
C2+ (14) Pro
contamination
C2+
/kənˌtæməˈneɪʃən/
the act or state of making something impure or polluted
M
S
taint
C2+
/teɪnt/
to contaminate or corrupt; a trace of contamination
M
S
conservationist
C2+
/ˌkɑnsɚˈveɪʃənɪst/
a person who advocates protection of the environment and wildlife
M
S
ecologic
C2+
/ˌikəˈlɑdʒɪk/
relating to ecology or the relationship of organisms to their environment
M
S
environmentalism
C2+
/ɛnˌvaɪrənˈmɛntəlɪzəm/
concern for and advocacy of the protection of the natural environment
M
S
hothouse
C2+
/ˈhɑtˌhaʊs/
a heated greenhouse for growing delicate plants; a forcing environment
M
S
matrix
C2+
/ˈmeɪtrɪks/
an environment in which something develops; a rectangular array of numbers
M
S
acclimatize
C2+
/əˈklaɪmətaɪz/
to become accustomed to a new climate or environment
M
S
adaptedness
C2+
/əˈdæptɪdnəs/
the state of being well suited to an environment or purpose
M
S
autotype
C2+
/ˈɔtoʊˌtaɪp/
a photographic carbon printing process, or a facsimile so produced
M
S
charcoal
C2+
/ˈtʃɑrˌkoʊl/
a black porous form of carbon made by heating wood without air
M
S
chokedamp
C2+
/ˈtʃoʊkˌdæmp/
suffocating carbon-dioxide-laden air in a mine
M
S
co-adaptation
C2+
/ˌkoʊˌædæpˈteɪʃən/
mutual or coordinated adaptation between species, organs, traits, or genes
M
S
nullipore
C2+
/ˈnʌləˌpɔːr/
historical biology: a lime-secreting coralline alga, formerly classified among animals or treated as a distinct group of simple sea plants
M
S
More topics
Grammar & Function Words
395 words
Small words that connect, point, compare, negate, and structure sentences.
Numbers & Quantity
534 words
Counting, amounts, proportions, and the language of how much.
Space, Position & Direction
1546 words
Where things are, how they are arranged, and which way they face.
Time
752 words
Hours, dates, seasons, frequency, and the words for when things happen.
People & Society
1633 words
People, roles, communities, identity, and social life.
Family & Relationships
244 words
Parents, siblings, partners, friends, and the wider web of kin.