Glossary

A

abolish: to put an end to a practice or system abolitionist: a person who agrees with putting an end to a certain practice or system, especially slavery

absentee landlord:

a landlord who does not live near the property they rent out acidic: an acidic substance has a pH of below 7. Acidic foods, such as lemons and vinegar, taste sour.

Lemons are an acidic fruit

activist: a person who campaigns to bring about social or political change for a cause they care about advocate: a person who defends and supports another person or group aesthetics: ideas concerned with beauty and art aid agency: an organisation dedicated to distributing aid, such as food, water or medicine, to people who need it air resistance: a force of friction that is caused by the movement of air airfare: the money it costs to fly on an aeroplane as a passenger alcove: a hollow or small empty space in the wall of a room algae: a group of simple plants or organisms. They are usually found in water, and include seaweed and kelp.

Algae on the surface of a river

alkaline: an alkaline substance has a pH higher than 7. Many foods, including most vegetables, are alkaline. allotment: a plot of land rented by a person in order to grow fruit or vegetables alloy: a new type of metal made by mixing two or more types of metal amphibian: an animal that can live both in water and on land amphitheatre: an openair theatre with tiers of seating built in a circle or semicircle around the stage area

Ruins of an amphitheatre in Athens, Greece

angling: a method of fishing with a rod, line and hook antennae: a pair of long, slender sensory organs found on the head of an insect. They are also called ‘feelers’ as they can pick up smell, taste and sometimes even sound. antibiotics: a type of antibacterial substance that can destroy bacterial infections in both people and animals antibodies: substances produced in the blood that destroy germs such as bacteria and viruses aquaculture: the breeding, rearing or harvesting of any organisms in aquatic (water) environments

aquatic: describes a plant or an animal living in or near water archaeological: related to the study of human history through the examination of ruins and artefacts architect: a person who plans, designs and supervises the construction of buildings and other structures architecture: the practice of planning and designing buildings and other structures arid: describes an area which receives little or no rain aristocrat: a person who is a member of the aristocracy, which was the ruling class in the past artefact: an object, usually made by people, which is of historical importance artisan: a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand aspect: a particular feature of something atmosphere: the layer of gases that surround the Earth or another planet atom: a tiny particle that is the building block of everything in the universe

Atom

attract: to appeal to someone or something for a variety of reasons automotive: to do with cars or car parts

B

balanced diet: to have a healthy mix of the five food groups baleen plates: filter brushes that some large whales have instead of teeth. The whale takes a large gulp of seawater, and as it blows the water out of its mouth, tiny sea creatures called krill are trapped by the baleen plates.

Baleen plates visible in the open mouth of a humpback whale barometer: a scientific instrument that is used to measure the pressure of the Earth’s atmosphere

Barometer

barrister: a type of lawyer bay: an inlet of the sea where the land curves inwards bedrock: the layer of solid rock that lies beneath the soil Beninese: to do with the country of Benin, which is in West Africa bile: a fluid that is made in the liver to help the body to digest food biodiversity: refers to all of the variety of life on Earth biomass: organic material that is used as fuel blight: a plant disease caused by fungi blowhole: the hole at the top of a whale’s head that it breathes through

blubber: the fat of aquatic mammals, especially whales and seals

Seals have a lot of blubber on their bodies to keep them warm in freezing temperatures

bombard: to attack a place with bombs or other missiles boost: to help or increase borehole: a long, narrow hole in the ground botanist: a scientist who studies plants

Botanist conducting fieldwork

boulder: a large rock brass: a metal that is an alloy of copper and zinc bronze: a metal that is an alloy of copper and tin

C

calories: units of energy, which are can be used to measure the energy value of foods canine: the pointy teeth beside the incisors, used for ripping and tearing food

canines

capacity: the maximum amount that something can contain carbon dating: a method measuring organic material to figure out the age of an object carbon footprint: the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of an individual, an organisation or a community cartilage: connective tissue found in the joints of humans and animals cash crop: a crop grown for the purpose of selling to make a profit casting: making an object by pouring molten (melted) metal into a mould and leaving it to cool cavity: a hollow space or hole

celestial navigation:

using the stars, sun, moon and planets to figure out location cementum: a thin layer of material covering the roots of teeth in mammals chalice: drinking cup

Bronze chalice

chariot: a two-wheeled vehicle pulled by horses, which is driven in a standing position cholera: a disease caused by an infection in the small intestine chronometer: a device used for keeping the time chyme: partly digested food that moves from the stomach to the small intestine cilia: a tiny, hair-like structure on the surface of some cells circuit: the path followed by an electrical current cist: an ancient coffin or burial chamber made of stone

clay: very fine particles of rock that cause water to drain very slowly through the soil clergy: official members of formal religions, especially Christianity clint: a block of rock in a limestone pavement coffin ship: the ships that transported Irish people who were escaping the Great Famine co-founded: when a business is started by two or more people collaborate: to work as a team colonists: the settlers of a colony in another country colony: a region that is ruled by another country commemorate: to remember or celebrate an event commerce: the exchange of goods and services commoners: an oldfashioned word to describe people who are not members of the nobility complex: made up of many different and connected parts concrete: a building material made from a mixture of crushed rock, sand, cement and water conduction: the transfer of energy conflict: a serious disagreement or argument conical: shaped like a cone

An ice cream cone is conical in shape

conservation: keeping something safe from loss, waste or destruction conspiracy: a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful constipation: the condition of being unable to easily pass solid waste (poo!) from the body constitution: the set of principles and laws of a country consumer: a person who pays money for goods or services contraction: the process of becoming smaller convection: when heat is transferred by movement of a liquid (such as water) or a gas (such as air) conveyor belt: a continuously moving band of rubber or metal for moving objects from one place to another corbelling: a building technique that uses the placement of stones to support one another to build an arch or dome core: the innermost layer cottier: a tenant in Ireland renting a small farm councillor: an elected member of a local authority in a city or town couscous: a North African food made from crushed wheat

Couscous with vegetables

cowrie: a type of shell that was sometimes used as money in the past crannóg: a type of ancient house built in a lake, most commonly found in Ireland and Scotland crater: a bowl-shaped hole made by a meteorite, volcano or explosion cremate: to burn a dead person’s body

crown: the part of a tooth above the gum crust: the outermost layer of something crustacean: a large group of animals that have shells, such as lobsters and woodlice crypt: an underground room, used as a chapel or burial place current electricity: the movement of electrons through a wire custodian: a person who has the responsibility for taking care of and protecting something, such as the land

D

decaying: rotting, or breaking down deforestation: the cutting down of trees on a large scale deity: a god or goddess delta: a triangular area of the land where a river divides into several smaller rivers, all emptying into the ocean democratic: a system of government in which the majority of people must agree in order to make decisions, or the majority of people elect representatives to make decisions denser: more closely packed together in substance dentine: a hard, bony tissue that forms the bulk of a tooth depict: using a painting, drawing or other art form to show something

developing country:

a country that is less economically and socially developed than other countries diabetes: a health condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high digestion: the process of breaking down food in the body disability: a physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses or activities diverse: a large variety

domestic servant:

a person who did household tasks for someone else domesticated: describes an animal that is tame because it is a pet or kept on a farm

A sheep is a domesticated animal

drag: a force that slows the movement of an object through liquid or gas duel: a fight between two people with weapons in order to settle a point of honour durability: the ability to withstand a lot of wear dysentery: an infection of the intestines

E

e-commerce: selling goods or services over the internet earthbound: located on or restricted to the surface of the Earth ebony: black or very dark brown timber from a tropical tree economy: a system of making and trading things of value

ecosystem: a community of living things together with their environment electromagnet: a magnet made of a coil of copper wire wrapped around a magnetic metal such as iron. Electricity running through the wire makes gives the metal a magnetic field. It can be switched on and off.

Simple experiment to create an electromagnet

electromagnetism: a branch of physics that studies the physical interaction between electrically charged particles electron: one of the particles that make up an atom elite: powerful people or organisations emancipation: the freeing of someone from slavery or oppression

emergency accommodation:

temporary accommodation for people who are without a home emigrant: a person who leaves their own country to live permanently in another country emigrate: to leave a country to live permanently in another country emissions: substances that have been released enamel: a hard white substance that covers the surface of a tooth above the gum line engineer: a person who designs or builds engines, machines, buildings or bridges for living. An engineer is a designer, mathematician and scientist all in one. entrepreneur: a person who sets up a business or businesses enzyme: a protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body epicentre: the point on the Earth’s surface directly above where an earthquake takes place. It is the place where the earthquake is felt most strongly. epiglottis: the flap that covers the trachea (windpipe) during swallowing, so that food does not enter the lungs eroded: said of a landscape in which weathered (broken down) rock has been transported away by wind or water erosion: the processes during which pieces of weathered (broken down) rock are transported away by wind or water. Erosion shapes the landscape over time.

Road damaged by coastal erosion

estuary: the mouth of a large river, where the fresh water of the river meets the salt water of the ocean ethnic group: a group of people who share a similar culture or background evaporate: when liquid water changes to water vapour, which is a gas evict: to remove a person from their home against their will exaggeration: making something sound more dramatic than it really is

excavate: to dig out material from the ground exert: to apply force expansion: becoming larger or stretching out expedition: a journey that is undertaken for a purpose such as exploration exporter: a country, business or person that sends goods and services to other countries for sale extinct: no longer in existence extracted: removed or taken out extrusive: a rock that is formed from lava on the Earth’s surface

F

faeces: waste matter remaining after food has been digested fantasy: an idea with no basis in reality fault line: a long crack in the Earth’s surface where earthquakes usually occur feral: wild ferromagnetic: describes metals that are attracted to a magnet fertile: describes good quality soil that is capable of producing abundant crops or plants feudal system: a social system in the Middle Ages in which all of the land was owned by a king, who then divided it up between members of the nobility fibre: a group of substances in plant foods that cannot be fully broken down by enzymes focus: the starting point of an earthquake food security: having access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food forum: a public square or marketplace in Ancient Rome fossil: the remains of a prehistoric plant or animal which has been preserved in rock

Dinosaur fossil

foundations: the lowest part of a building (usually below ground level) that supports the weight of the building fracking: the process of drilling into rock in order to extract oil or gas fresco: a painting that is painted directly onto wet plaster friction: the resistance (force) that one surface or object meets when moving over another fulacht fiadh: a Bronze Age pit in the ground used to cook food fungus: one of a group of living organisms that are not plants, animals or bacteria. Mould is a type of fungus.

G

gall bladder: a small organ in the body that holds a digestive fluid called bile galvanisation: the process of applying a zinc coating to iron or steel to prevent it from rusting garment industry: the industry responsible for manufacturing and selling clothing gastropods: a group of animals that includes slugs, snails, mussels and octopuses generator: a machine that converts mechanical energy into electricity

geologist: a scientist who studies rocks and processes such as earthquakes, landslides and floods. They also study the physical history of the Earth. Georgian: a period in British history lasting over 100 years, which started in the early 18th century germinate: when a seed begins to grow shoots

Cross-section showing the stages of a seed germinating

gills: the organs through which fish breathe gingivitis: a mild form of gum disease glacial lake: a lake that formed at the foot of a glacier glacial erratic: a rock that has been left behind by a glacier, and is different to the native rock found in that area gladiator: an armed fighter in Ancient Rome glucose: a simple sugar that provides energy to living organisms

grass-roots project:

a project that is led by community members themselves

gravitational pull:

attraction caused by the force of gravity gravity: the force by which a planet draws objects towards its centre. It is because of gravity that we do not float off the ground towards outer space! greenhouse effect: the trapping of the suns warmth in the Earth’s atmosphere

Greenhouse effect

grike: a deep crack separating the blocks (clints) in a limestone pavement grinding stone: a stone disc that can be turned like a wheel and used for sharpening tools such as knives and axes, or grinding grain into flour grip: a firm hold on something groundwork: work to set the right conditions for other work to take place guild: an association of powerful craftsmen or merchants in the Middle Ages guillotine: a machine with a heavy blade, used for beheading people

Guillotine

gypsum: a soft, sedimentary rock that is used in the building industry

H

harbour: a place on the coast where ships shelter hedge school: an illegal school for Catholic children that was held secretly in a barn, house or field during the 18th century henge: a circular, earthen enclosed area heresy: to have beliefs different to those of an established religion heritage: something that is of historical, cultural or environmental significance hoard: to collect and hide away a large amount of something

home rule: when a country has its own government horizon: the line where the Earth’s surface seems to meet the sky hormone: a chemical substance produced by the body hospitality: the industry that provides service in restaurants, hotels and cafés hostel: lodging facility with dormitory-style bedrooms, usually occupied by young people travelling hovel: a small, dirty or badly built house human rights: the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world from birth until death Humanism: a system of thought which says that human beings have the responsibility to give meaning to and shape their own lives

humanitarian crisis:

an event or events that threaten the health or safety of a community or large group of people humus: a thin layer of dark-coloured decaying plant and animal material on the surface of the soil hypocaust: an Ancient Roman heating system that circulated hot air underneath the floor of a room hypothesis: a proposed explanation for something

I

Ice Age: a period in early history when large sheets of ice covered much of the land igneous: one of the three main rock types. They are formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. illuminated: when a manuscript has pages or letters decorated by hand

Illuminated manuscript

immune system: the cells, organs and tissues that fight off the germs that cause illness immunity: when the immune system is able to fight off germs that cause illness importer: a country, business or person that buys goods from other countries in order to sell them on incentive: a thing that encourages someone to do something incisor: tooth at the front of the mouth, used for biting and cutting food inclusivity: the practice of providing equal opportunities to people who might otherwise be left out income: money received on a regular basis indigenous: originating in or native to a particular place induction coil: an electric device that produces an electric current

Industrial Revolution:

the period in which Britain, Europe and the USA moved from agriculture and handcraft to using machines to produce things industrialisation: the process of developing industries in which goods that were previously made by hand are now mass-produced by machines influencer: a person or thing that influences another

injustice: when something is not fair inmate: a person confined to a prison inscribed: marked with letters insect infestation: many insects invading a place institution: an organisation dedicated to a purpose such as education, health care, politics or religion insulate: to keep something warm by placing material that does not conduct heat inside it or around it insulation: material that is used to insulate something insulin: a hormone that absorbs glucose from the blood into the liver interdependence: when two or more people or things need each other to survive

internal-combustion

engine: an engine that generates power by burning petrol or oil intrusive (rocks): rocks formed from magma that cool and harden inside the Earth’s crust invertebrate: an animal without a backbone irreversible: cannot be undone Islamic: relating to Islam, which is a religion that teaches that Muhammad is a messenger of God ivory: a hard, white material from the tusks and teeth of animals

K

karst: an area of land made up of limestone kelp: large, brown seaweed or algae kinetic energy: energy associated with motion krill: a small crustacean, similar to shrimp. It is eaten by a number of aquatic animals.

L

labourer: someone who does manual work lagoon: a stretch of salt water separated from the sea land degradation: when the quality of land and soil is damaged because of human activities large intestine: a large, tube-like organ through which partly digested food moves latitude: the measurement of distance north or south of the equator lava: magma that has erupted from a volcano

Lava from a volcano

lava plateau: landform made by volcanic eruptions lease: a rental contract liberator: someone who sets people free from captivity limestone: a common, sedimentary rock liver: an organ in the abdomen that helps to break down fats and processes nutrients in the bloodstream locust: an insect similar to a large grasshopper, mainly found in tropical zones lodestone: a naturally magnetised piece of magnetite longitude: the distance measured in degrees east or west of an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole

lubricant: a substance used to grease or oil an object in order to reduce friction lymphocytes: cells of the immune system that are made in the bone marrow

M

magma: extremely hot, molten rock found below or within the Earth’s crust magnetic field: the area around a magnet where there is magnetic force malnourished: when a personal or animal’s diet is missing nutrients malnutrition: a condition caused by not having enough to eat or not eating enough of the right foods mantle: the layer of the Earth between the core and the crust manual labour: physical work that is done by hand manufactured: when a lot of something is made using a machine manuscript: a book or document written by hand marketing: promoting and advertising goods or services masonry: the art of building with stone mass: a measure of the amount of matter in an object mass-produced: when goods are produced in large quantities through the use of machines or assembly lines matter: anything that takes up space is made of matter, which is a combination of particles such as molecules and atoms. Matter can exist in three states: solid, liquid or gas. meander: a curve or bend in a river

Meanders in a river

medicinal: describes a substance that has healing properties meditating: to focus one’s mind for a period of time in silence, usually for religious or relaxation reasons meltwater: water formed by melting snow and ice memorable: something that is easy to remember because it is special memorial: a statue or structure that reminds people of a person or an event merchant: a person or company involved in trading goods metamorphic: rock that has been transformed by heat or pressure meteorologist: an expert in studying and predicting the weather microorganism: a life form, such as bacteria or fungi, which is so small it can only be seen with a microscope migrant worker: a person who moves to another country to find employment migrate: to move to another country, usually to find employment mineral deposit: natural accumulation of minerals in the Earth’s crust, such as gold molar: large back tooth with a flat surface for grinding food molecule: a group of atoms bonded together

mollusc: a soft-bodied invertebrate, such as a slug, a snail, a mussel and an octopus

A snail is a mollusc

molten: made into liquid (melted) by extreme heat monarch: a ruler such an emperor, a king or a queen monastery: a building occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows monastic site: the land and buildings within the gated walls of a monastery monopolist: a person or company that is the only supplier of a particular product or service monopoly: when a person or company controls the supply of a product or service, so that no one else is able to sell it moor: to park a boat mortar: a mixture of sand, water and cement that is used to glue bricks together in a wall motion: when an object moves mould: the shell into which molten material is poured to make a casting mouth: (of a river) where a river enters a lake, larger river or the ocean mucus: a sticky substance that protects and moistens areas of the body

N

native: an animal or plant that naturally occurs in a certain place navigator: a person who plans and directs the route of a journey nerve endings: the points on the surface of the body and inside it where sensations such as heat, cold, and pain are felt. Each body has trillions of them! neutron: a small particle found in an atom Newtons: unit of force. It is equal to the force that would give a mass of 1 kg an acceleration of 1 m per second. nomad: a person without a fixed home, who moves from place to place nuclear power: using nuclear reactions to produce electricity nuclear reactor: a device used to generate electricity nutritious: describes a food that contains the nutrients a person needs to be healthy and grow properly

O

oesophagus: the part of the body that joins the throat to the stomach oracle: a person with great wisdom who offered advice and predicted the future in Ancient Greece orchid: a plant with colourful flowers

Orchid

ore: naturally occurring solid mineral from which metal or a valuable mineral can be extracted organ: a collection of cells and tissues that work together to perform functions in the body

outdoor pursuits: openair activities, such as hiking and canoeing

Hiking is a popular outdoor pursuit

overthrow: to forcibly remove from power

P

pacifist: a person who believes that war and fighting are wrong pancreas: a long, flat gland behind the stomach. It produces enzymes that help with digestion. parallel circuit: a type of circuit with multiple pathways for electrical currents to flow along

passage tomb:

a prehistoric grave with a passage that leads to one or more burial chambers. It is covered in soil or with stone. pasteurisation: process of heating in order to kill germs patented: legally cannot be copied by anyone else

pathogen:

a microorganism that can cause disease patron: a person who gives money to support a person, organisation or cause Penal Laws: a strict set of rules enforced by the British against Catholics in Ireland during the 18th century peninsula: a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides permeable: allows liquid or gas to pass through it personification: a writing technique that gives human characteristics to something non-human personify: to give human characteristics to something non-human perspective: a point of view pH: a measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance phagocytes: cells in the body that soak up bacteria and other particles philosophy: the study of existence, knowledge and reality pier: a raised structure supported by pillars, found along the coast plankton: billions of tiny organisms that float in fresh and salt water. Plankton is an important food source for many aquatic animals. plantain: a type of tough, savoury banana that needs to be cooked before eating plaque: 1. a sign (usually made of metal, porcelain or wood) that is fixed to a wall in memory of a person or event; 2. a sticky substance on teeth that can cause bacteria to grow pneumatic: containing or operated by air or gas under pressure polar ice caps: thick layers of snow and ice found near the North Pole and South Pole pollen: a powdery, yellow substance produced by the male part of a flower

Honey bee collecting pollen

polyps: small aquatic animals with many tentacles around their mouth. Polyps attach themselves to rocks and begin to form coral reefs. polystyrene: a type of plastic made from chemicals. It is nonrenewable.

pore: a tiny hole in the skin through which oil and sweat pass posthumously: describes the time after someone has died precipitation: rain, sleet, snow or hailstones prehistoric: belonging to the time before history was recorded, or written down premolar: small back tooth with a flat surface for grinding food preserve: to keep something in good condition prevailing wind: the direction from which the wind most often blows in a location

printing press:

a machine that prints text or pictures from type or plates process: a series of actions or steps properties: qualities, characteristics or attributes protein: a nutrient found in food such as meat, which the body uses to build and repair cells proton: a positively charged particle prototype: an early sample of something providence: the idea that God influences the universe pulp: soft tissue inside a tooth, which contains blood vessels and nerve endings

Q

quadrant: an instrument used to measure altitude in astronomy and navigation Quakers: a Protestant Christian religious movement that believes all humans are good quarrying: excavating rock from an area quarters: shared accommodation, usually for servants quota: a limit on an amount of something

R

radiation: energy that comes from a source and travels through space at the speed of light radius: the length of the line between the centre and the circumference of a circle or sphere

rain gauge:

an instrument for measuring rainfall rates: a tax on land or property realism: an artistic style that represents people or things as they really are rebellion: an act of resistance against a government or leader recession: a period when the economy becomes less active, the prices of goods go down, people lose their jobs and unemployment increases recreation: an activity that is relaxing or fun rectum: the last part of the large intestine reforesting: replanting an area with trees to start a forest regent: a person who rules a country because the monarch is unable to do so region: an area that has unique characteristics remote: an area far from towns or cities Renaissance: a time in European history when people started taking an interest in Classical art and learning repeal: to revoke or undo a law or act of parliament repel: to push away

Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

repetition: something happens more than twice representative: a person chosen to speak for others reserves: available amounts of something restricted: limited or held back retaliation: fighting back against an attack reversible: can be undone revolution: an overthrow of a government or social order ring fort: a circular settlement built during the Bronze Age ritual: a ceremony or set way of doing things rivalry: competition river basin: the area of land drained by a river rock cycle: how rocks change into other rocks over time, aided by the processes of weathering and erosion rural: describes an area of countryside rust: a reddish-brown coating of iron oxide that forms on steel or iron as a result of moisture

S

safari: an expedition to look at animals in the wild, especially in East Africa

Tourists on safari

saliva: watery liquid produced in the mouth to help with chewing and swallowing salivary glands: small organs that produce saliva in the mouth sapling: a young tree savannah: a grassy plain with few trees found in tropical zones scarcity: a shortage of something scullery: a small kitchen at the back of a house for washing dishes and laundry seasonal: gets busy at a certain time of the year, but is quiet at other times of the year sebum: natural oil produced by oil glands in the skin secrete: to produce a fluid and release it into or out of the body sediment: matter that settles at the bottom of rivers, lakes and the ocean sedimentary: a type of rock made from layers of sediment seine: a fishing net that hangs in the water to catch fish

seismic waves:

vibrations generated by an earthquake seismograph: an instrument that picks up vibrations in the ground caused by earthquakes seminary: a training college for priests senator: a person who is a member of the Seanad (senate), which is part of the Oireachtas (parliament). shanty town: a poor area with bad-quality housing shelter: a place that provides protection from the elements shield volcano: a large volcano with gently sloping sides silt: fine sand or clay carried along by running water simple circuit: a pathway that an electrical current flows along skipper: the captain of a ship or boat

small intestine: a long tube-like organ that connects the stomach and the large intestine smuggler: a person who brings goods into a country illegally soil erosion: the washing or blowing away (by water or wind) of the top layer of soil source: a point of origin specialised: requiring knowledge in a certain area of work or study squalid: describes a place that is unpleasant due to poverty or neglect stalactite: a structure like an icicle that hangs from the roof of a cave. It is formed by dripping water that contains calcium salts. stalagmite: a structure like a spike that rises up from the floor of a cave. It is formed by dripping water that contains calcium salts.

Stalactites and stalagmites in a cave

staple food: a basic food that is eaten regularly, such as rice or potatoes starvation: suffering or dying because of a lack of food

static electricity:

an electrical charge produced by friction, which can cause sparks

steam-powered:

powered by an engine that runs on energy from the force of steam stern: the rear end of a boat stocks: the number or population of fish in a fishery streamlined: designed to move as fast as possible because it creates little air resistance or water resistance subdivide: to divide something that has already been divided

subsistence farming:

producing just enough food to feed oneself and one’s family rather than to sell for a profit supercontinent: a huge landmass that existed millions of years ago when the continents were joined together sustainability: the practice of not overusing the Earth’s resources, so that the planet can support future generations sustainable: ways of living that are able to be maintained over time symbol: a sign or character that represents something else

T

tartar: a hard, chalky substance that develops on the teeth when plaque hardens over time. Tartar can cause tooth decay. tectonic plates: sections of the Earth’s crust tenements: large houses divided into small flats, which were then rented out to families textile: cloth or woven fabric thatched: describes a roof of a building made of straw or grass

Thatched roof

theme: a main message or meaning theology: the study of God and religious belief theory: an idea to explain something tide: the rising and falling of the sea, which happens twice each day

timber: wood for use in building and carpentry timepiece: an instrument for telling the time tissue: the material (made up of cells) from which humans, animals or plants are made Titan: giants who once ruled the world, according to Greek mythology tourist: a person who is travelling for pleasure tournament: a contest toxic: poisonous tract: an area of land traditional: to do with old ways of doing something transformer: a device used to change the voltage of electrical current trawling: a fishing method that involves dragging a net along the seabed

Trawling boat with its trawling nets raised

tributary: a river or stream that flows into a larger river or a lake troops: soldiers turlough: a low-lying area of limestone that becomes flooded in wet weather type: small pieces of metal with raised letters or symbols on them that were used in printing

U

urban: relating to a town or city urbanised: made more urban due to building developments urn: a clay pot or vase, often with a lid

V

vaccine: a substance used to build antibodies and provide protection against disease

Doctor giving a vaccination to a patient

variable: likely to change vertebrate: animals that have a backbone voltmeter: an instrument for measuring electricity in volts voluntary: something that is done or given by choice

W

water resistance:

a property of materials that do not easily absorb water

wattle and daub:

a material used to build walls in the past, made of interwoven sticks (wattle) covered with mud or clay (daub) weathering: the process in which rock is slowly broken down by exposure to heat, water, wind and living things wharf: an area alongside a river or next to the sea, where goods can be unloaded from ships windpipe: the air passage from the throat to the lungs, also called the trachea winterage: a farming tradition in the Burren where cattle graze over winter in upland areas

Z

zone: an area that has particular characteristics or uses zoologist: a scientist who studies animals in the wild and in captivity