Nature & Landscape

turf C2

/tɝf/ the surface layer of earth held together by grass and roots M S

lea C2

/liː/ an open grassy field, meadow, or pasture; chiefly literary M S

avalanche C2

/ˈævəlæn(t)ʃ/ a large mass of snow, ice, and sometimes rock that suddenly rushes down a mountain M S

riverside C2

/ˈrɪv.ɚ.saɪd/ the land along or beside a river M S

underwood C2

/ˈʌndɚˌwʊd/ shrubs, small trees, and other low vegetation growing beneath taller woodland trees M S

minefield C2

/ˈmaɪnˌfild/ A situation full of hidden risks, dangers, or difficulties. M S

aptitude C2

/ˈæptɪˌtjuːd/ A natural ability or talent for learning or doing something. M S

grotto C2

/ˈɡɹɑ.toʊ/ a small picturesque cave, especially one associated with water or unusual rock formations M S

skyline C2

/ˈskaɪlaɪn/ the outline of buildings, mountains, or other objects seen against the sky M S

backwater C2

/ˈbækˌwɔtər/ a part of a river away from the main current, where the water is still or slow-moving M S

fen C2

/fɛn/ a low, waterlogged wetland fed by groundwater or runoff, often peat-forming and richer in minerals than a bog M S

wavy C2

/ˈweɪvi/ of hair, having waves M S

grassy C2

/ˈɡɹæsi/ abounding in grass M S

seashore C2

/ˈsiːʃoɹ/ the shore of a sea or ocean M S

arroyo C2

/əˈrɔɪoʊ/ a steep-sided channel or creek bed in an arid region, usually dry but liable to fill after rain M S

hilltop C2

/ˈhɪlˌtɑːp/ The peak or crest of a hill. M S

fjord C2

/fiˈɔrd/ a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between steep slopes or cliffs, typically carved by a glacier M S

geyser C2

/ˈɡaɪzɚ/ a hot spring that periodically throws jets of water and steam into the air M S

clod C2

/klɑd/ a compact lump of earth, clay, or a similar material M S

shoal C2

/ʃəʊl/ A large group of fish swimming together. M S

supremely C2

/səˈpɹimli/ to the maximum degree M S

driftwood C2

/ˈdrɪftwʊd/ wood carried along by a river, lake, or sea, or washed ashore by the water M S

swampy C2

/ˈswɑːmpi/ Soggy and marshy; wet like a swamp. M S

tarn C2

/tɑɹn/ a small mountain lake or pool, especially one formed in a hollow excavated by a glacier M S

savanna C2

/səˈvænə/ a tropical or subtropical grassland with scattered trees and an open canopy, typically shaped by seasonal rainfall, fire, and grazing M S

buccaneer C2

/ˌbʌkəˈnɪɚ/ A pirate, especially one who attacked Spanish ships in the Caribbean in the 1600s. M S

moorish C2

/ˈmʊrɪʃ/ lowercase, literary: resembling or characteristic of moorland; boggy or marshy M S

headland C2

/ˈhɛdlənd/ a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea) M S

musky C2

/ˈmʌski/ Resembling or characteristic of musk, especially in scent. M S

escarpment C2

/ɪˈskɑrpmənt/ a long, steep slope or cliff separating two areas of relatively level ground M S

floe C2

/floʊ/ A flat sheet of ice floating on the surface of the sea. M S

crevasse C2

/kɹəˈvæs/ a deep crack or fissure in a glacier, ice sheet, or snowfield M S

affectation C2

/ˌæfɛkˈteɪʃən/ A way of behaving or speaking that is not natural and is meant to impress others. M S

rincon C2

/rɪŋˈkoʊn/ in the southwestern United States and Spanish America, a small secluded valley, nook, or angular recess in a cliff M S

intrinsically C2

/ˌɪnˈtrɪnsɪkəli/ In a way that belongs to the basic nature of something; essentially. M S

salina C2

/səˈlaɪnə/ a salt marsh, salt pond, saline lake, or spring M S

swath C2

/swɑθ/ a strip of grass, grain, or other vegetation cut by a scythe or mowing machine M S

wold C2

/woʊld/ an open, rolling tract of upland country, especially one used as a regional name in England M S

brackish C2

/ˈbɹækɪʃ/ slightly salty (especially from containing a mixture of seawater and fresh water) M S

underbrush C2

/ˈʌndɚˌbɹʌʃ/ shrubs, young trees, ferns, and other dense vegetation growing beneath taller trees M S

champaign C2

/ʃæmˈpeɪn/ literary or archaic: an extensive area of level, open countryside; a plain M S

moorland C2

/ˈmʊrˌlænd/ open, uncultivated land with acidic or peaty soil, typically covered with heather, grasses, or bracken M S

schist C2

/ʃɪst/ a coarse-grained metamorphic rock whose aligned platy minerals allow it to split into thin layers M S

hedgerow C2

/ˈhɛdʒroʊ/ a line of closely planted shrubs or small trees forming a boundary between fields, gardens, or roads M S

starlit C2

/ˈstɑːrlɪt/ illuminated by stars or starlight M S

spinney C2

/ˈspɪni/ chiefly British: a small wood or copse, especially one planted to shelter game birds M S

moraine C2

/məˈɹeɪn/ a mass or ridge of rock, soil, and other debris carried and deposited by a glacier M S

treeless C2

/ˈtriː.ləs/ having no trees M S

llano C2

/ˈjɑːnoʊ/ a broad, nearly treeless grassy plain in Spanish-speaking parts of the Americas, especially the tropical plains of Venezuela and Colombia M S

snowcap C2

/ˈsnoʊˌkæp/ a covering of snow on the summit of a mountain or over a polar region M S

swash C2

/swɑːʃ/ the surge or wash of water against a shore, or the sound it makes M S

waterless C2

/ˈwɔtɚləs/ containing no water or lacking an adequate supply of water M S

idiomatic C2

/ˌɪd.iː.əˈmæt.ɪk/ Using language in a natural way that sounds like a native speaker. M S

starless C2

/ˈstɑɹləs/ having no stars visible M S

barrenness C2

the quality of yielding nothing of value M S

watercourse C2

/ˈwɔtərˌkɔrs/ a stream, river, or other natural body of running water M S

fumarole C2

/ˈfjuːməˌroʊl/ an opening in or near a volcano through which steam and hot gases escape M S

littoral C2

/ˈlɪtərəl/ relating to the shore of a sea or lake, especially the zone between or near water-level limits M S

sward C2

/swɔːrd/ the surface layer of soil held together by grass and its roots; turf M S

spume C2

/spjuːm/ foam or froth formed on a liquid, especially on breaking waves M S

mool C2

/muːl/ Scots and Northern English: loose earth or soil, especially the earth of a grave M S

streamlet C2

/ˈstriːmlət/ a small or narrow stream M S

foreland C2

/ˈfɔːr.lənd/ a piece of land projecting into the sea; a headland or promontory M S

tussock C2

/ˈtʌsək/ a compact tuft or clump of grass or similar vegetation, often forming a small raised mound M S

mudflat C2

/ˈmʌdˌflæt/ a broad, level area of mud beside a sea, estuary, or river, often exposed at low tide M S

moorside C2

/ˈmʊrˌsaɪd/ the side, slope, or edge of a moor M S

tidemark C2

/ˈtaɪdˌmɑɹk/ a line on a shore or structure showing the highest or lowest level reached by a tide M S

headwater C2

/ˈhɛdˌwɔ.tɚ/ the source and uppermost part of a stream or river, often used in the plural headwaters M S

runnel C2

/ˈɹʌnəl/ a small stream or rivulet M S

towhead C2

/ˈtoʊˌhɛd/ US: a sandbar or low alluvial island in a river, often with trees or other vegetation growing on it M S

hummock C2

/ˈhʌmək/ a small rounded hill, mound, or raised patch of ground M S

aiguille C2

/eɪˈɡwiːl/ a sharp, needle-shaped pinnacle of rock, especially in the Alps M S

denudation C2

/ˌdiː.nuːˈdeɪ.ʃən/ geology: the wearing away of rock and soil by erosion and weathering, leaving a surface exposed M S

idiomatically C2

In a natural way that sounds like a native speaker. M S

freshet C2

/ˈfɹɛʃɪt/ a sudden rise or overflow of a stream caused by heavy rain or melting snow M S

mudbank C2

/ˈmʌdˌbæŋk/ a raised or exposed area of mud beside or within a body of water M S

aboriginally C2

/ˌæb.əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.n̩.ə.li/ From or in the earliest known times. M S

turfy C2

/ˈtɝfi/ covered with, consisting of, or resembling turf M S

downland C2

/ˈdaʊn.lænd/ open, rolling hill country, especially grassy land over chalk or limestone in southern England M S

woodlot C2

/ˈwʊdˌlɑːt/ a limited area of woodland, often privately managed as a source of firewood, posts, or timber M S

embower C2

/ɪmˈbaʊɚ/ to shelter or enclose in or as if in a bower of foliage M S

fordable C2

/ˈfɔrdəbəl/ shallow, calm, or firm enough to be crossed at a ford on foot, on horseback, or in a vehicle M S

lacustrine C2

/ləˈkʌstrɪn/ relating to, formed in, or living in lakes M S

acclivity C2

/əˈklɪvəti/ an upward slope or rising incline, especially on a hill or road M S

fluviatile C2

/ˈfluːviəˌtaɪl/ of, relating to, living in, or produced by a river M S

alluvion C2

/əˈluː.vi.ən/ clay, silt, sand, or gravel deposited by flowing water; alluvium M S

sea-loch C2

/ˈsiː ˌlɑːk/ a long, narrow arm of the sea extending into the land, especially on the coast of Scotland M S

headspring C2

/ˈhɛdˌsprɪŋ/ a spring or source from which a stream begins; a fountainhead M S

diluvial C2

/daɪˈluːviəl/ relating to, caused by, or deposited by a great flood M S

downthrow C2

/ˈdaʊnˌθroʊ/ the downward displacement of rock strata on one side of a geological fault, or the amount of that displacement M S

metamorphism C2

/ˌmɛtəˈmɔrˌfɪzəm/ the mineralogical and structural alteration of rock by heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids without complete melting M S

sublittoral C2

/ˌsʌbˈlɪtərəl/ situated or formed in the permanently submerged coastal zone below the low-tide line M S