Blue Whale | National Geographic
A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
wait
US / weɪt /
•UK / wet /
- verb
- To delay or not do something until later
- To spend time until an expected thing happens
- To remain in a place until a thing happens
swarm
US / swɔ:m /
•UK / swɔrm /
- noun
- Large group of flying insects moving together
- (Of people) large group of people acting as one
- verb
- (Of bees) to form a group and leave the bee hive
- (Of people) to form a crowd and move together
underwater
US / ˌʌndəˈwɔ:tə(r) /
•UK / ˈʌndɚˌwɔtɚ, -ˌwɑtɚ /
- adjecitve
- (Moving or existing) beneath the surface of water
team
US / ti:m /
•UK / tim /
- noun
- Group of people working on a task together
- Group of people playing a sport together
deploy
US / dɪˈplɔɪ /
•UK / dɪˈplɔɪ /
- verb
- To put into position (often a military operation)
after
US / 'ɑ:ftə(r) /
•UK / ˈæftɚ /
- adverb
- Later than another time, or behind something
- conjunction
- Following something before
- preposition
- When an event happened or time has passed
see
US / si: /
•UK / si /
- verb
- To go on a date with someone
- To predict whether something is, or will be true
- To understand what someone says
- To use your eyes to look at something
- To visit a place often for sightseeing or pleasure
- To visit or meet with someone
- To find out by waiting or looking
- To watch (a game, movie or TV show)
have
US / həv /
•UK / hæv /
- verb
- To drink, smoke, eat or use something
- To experience the effects of something
- To organize an event, or join in an activity
- To own, possess, or hold something
- To cause to happen or produce a particular effect
with
US / wɪð /
•UK / wɪð, wɪθ /
- preposition
- As an employee of a certain company
- Against something or someone
- By using something as a means
- Due to; because of
- Including
- Possessing as a feature
- Related to
- (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
- Used to express that people or things are together
slightly
US / ˈslaɪtli /
•UK / ˈslaɪtli /
- adverb
- Only a little
low
US / ləʊ /
•UK / lo /
- adjecitve
- Having a small quantity, supply, or amount
- Being unhappy or unpleasant in attitude
- Not high; being near the ground, or bottom
- (Of a voice, sound) being soft; quiet
- noun
- Situation of not having a lot of something
darkness
US / 'dɑ:knəs /
•UK / ˈdɑrknɪs /
- noun
- The state or quality of being dark in color
feed
US / fi:d /
•UK / fid /
- noun
- Food given to animals
- verb
- To give food, e.g. to animals or a baby
- To push something through an opening
- To provide necessary supplies to
equip
US / ɪ'kwɪp /
•UK / ɪˈkwɪp /
- verb
- To provide with necessary materials or skills
hear
US / hɪə(r) /
•UK / hɪr /
- verb
- To be aware of sound; to perceive with the ear
- To be told or find out information or facts
- To consider or listen to a court case
his
US / hɪz /
•UK / hɪz /
- pronoun
- Something belonging to a male person
know
US / nəʊ /
•UK / noʊ /
- verb
- To be familiar with a person or place, thing
- To feel sure or be convinced about something
- To discover or be aware of something
- To be able to distinguish
- To have knowledge of things
alive
US / ə'laɪv /
•UK / əˈlaɪv /
- adjecitve
- Living; not dead
foot
US / fʊt /
•UK / fʊt /
- noun
- Base of something such as a mountain or vase
- Length of 12 inches or about 25 cm
- Lowest part of the leg we use to stand on
coast
US / kəʊst /
•UK / kost /
- noun
- Land near the sea or ocean
- verb
- To progress in something without trying hard
- (Of a vehicle) to move forward without power
eavesdrop
US / 'i:vzdrɒp /
•UK / ˈivzˌdrɑp /
- verb
- To secretly listen to another conversation
unmistakable
US / ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbl /
•UK / ˌʌnmɪˈstekəbəl /
- adjecitve
- Not able to be mistaken for something else
discover
US / dɪˈskʌvə(r) /
•UK / dɪˈskʌvɚ /
- verb
- To find something new that was not known before
isolate
US / ˈaɪsəleɪt /
•UK / ˈaɪsəˌlet /
- verb
- To identify, consider, or deal with separately
- To keep in a place or situation apart from others
- To separate something from another substance
drop
US / drɒp /
•UK / drɑp /
- noun
- Distance between a higher and a lower level
- Act of letting something fall (from your hand)
- A decrease in quantity or quality; reduction
- Tiny amount of liquid, with rounded bottom
- verb
- To drive someone to a place and then drive away
- To let something fall from your hand
- To fall or lie down quickly, as when shot
- To decide to stop something e.g. a course)
- To (cause to) reduce in quantity or quality
very
US / 'verɪ /
•UK / ˈvɛri /
- adjecitve
- Concerning a large degree or amount
- adverb
- A lot; much; many
- Used to stress or emphasize a noun
critter
US / ˈkrɪtə(r) /
•UK / ˈkrɪtɚ /
- noun
- Regional term for 'creature' (especially for domestic animals)
pacific
US / pə'sɪfɪk /
•UK / pəˈsɪfɪk /
- adjecitve
- Relating to or bordering the Pacific Ocean
- Concerned with peace or of a peaceful nature
gorge
US / gɔ:dʒ /
•UK / gɔ:rdʒ /
- verb
suction
US / 'sʌkʃn /
•UK / ˈsʌkʃən /
- noun
- Process of extracting air, as to cause to stick
who
US / hu: /
•UK / hu /
- pronoun
- Which person
- Used to introduce information about people
all
US / ɔ:l /
•UK / ɔl /
- adverb
- Completely; totally
- determiner
- Being every one of something
- pronoun
- 100% of something; the complete amount
listen
US / ˈlɪsn /
•UK / ˈlɪsən /
- verb
- To carefully consider what someone is saying
beat
US / bi:t /
•UK / bit /
- noun
- Regular movement or rhythm (e.g. heart or music)
- verb
- To move in regular motions in order to push blood
- To strike or hit repeatedly and with great force
- To mix ingredients together with a fork or machine
- To play a drum
- To win against another person or team; defeat
food
US / fu:d /
•UK / fud /
- noun
- What people and animals eat to live
- Things taken in by plants to maintain life
- A particular style or type of cooking, e.g. Asian
north
US / nɔ:θ /
•UK / nɔ:rθ /
- adjecitve
- Coming from the opposite direction to the south
- noun
- Direction to your left when facing the rising sun
good
US / ɡʊd /
•UK / ɡʊd /
- adjecitve
- Proper, appropriate or right
- (Of an amount) enough; plenty
- Excellent; high quality
- Acting well or properly; of moral character
- In a positive or happy emotional state
- noun
- Advantage or benefit
want
US / wɔnt /
•UK / wɑnt, wɔnt /
- noun
- Something you desire or wish for
- State or condition of poverty
- verb
- To desire or wish for something; hope for a thing
not
US / nɒt /
•UK / nɑt /
- adverb
- Word indicating the negative
- (Used to form the negative of verbs)
drumbeat
US / ˈdrʌmbiːt /
•UK / ˈdrʌmbiːt /
- other
- (Military) The beating of a drum as a signal for lowering the flag at sundown
- A vehement and vociferous advocacy of a cause
cam
US / kæm /
•UK / kæm /
- noun
- Rotating or sliding piece in mechanical linkages
rhythmic
US / ˈrɪðmɪk /
•UK / ˈrɪðmɪk /
- adjecitve
- Having a pattern of sound and beats
- noun
- Having a pattern of events and motions
excited
US / ɪkˈsaɪtɪd /
•UK / ɪkˈsaɪtɪd /
- adjecitve
- Happy, interested or eager; enthusiastic
- verb
- To make something or someone become more active
- To make someone feel happy, interested or eager
pick
US / pɪk /
•UK / pɪk /
- noun
- Sharp tool used for breaking the ground
- Item selected from a group of choices
- verb
- To take fruit or vegetables from a plant or tree
- To decide on a thing from various choices; select
- To remove (flower, etc.) with your fingers
yet
US / jet /
•UK / jɛt /
- adverb
- At a later time (used after ‘not’)
- (Used to emphasize that thing is, will be greater)
- Eventually; at a future time
- Until now; up to the present
- conjunction
- Adding to what has been said, often as a contrast
our
US / 'aʊə(r) /
•UK / aʊr /
- determiner
- Belonging to us
blue
US / blu: /
•UK / blu /
- adjecitve
- Color of the clear sky
- Feeling sad or down
really
US / ˈri:əli /
•UK / ˈriəˌli, ˈrili /
- adverb
- Used to stress something that is said; definitely
- In a true or accurate manner
- Very
pulsive
US / /
•UK / /
- adjective
- Having the quality of driving or impelling; constraining, compelling; impulsive; propulsive.
- Making or having a beating or throbbing sound.
register
US / 'redʒɪstə(r) /
•UK / ˈrɛdʒɪstɚ /
- noun
- Till; machine used add up things you buy
- Range of notes of a person's (singing) voice
- verb
- To record your name on an official list; sign up
- To show an amount on a measurement device
- (Of feelings) to show or make visible
faint
US / feɪnt /
•UK / fent /
- adjecitve
- Lacking strength; weak; lacking clarity
- Very small, as in a chance or hope
- verb
- To suddenly become unconscious and fall down
moan
US / məʊn /
•UK / moʊn /
- noun
- Low, sustained, mournful cry of sorrow or pain
- verb
- To complain about something
- To make a low, mournful cry of sorrow or pain
nearly
US / ˈniəli /
•UK / ˈnɪrli /
- adverb
- Not completely; almost
but
US / bət /
•UK / bʌt,bət /
- conjunction
- Used before you say something different, opposite
maybe
US / ˈmeɪbi /
•UK / ˈmebi /
- adverb
- Possibly but not certainly; perhaps
neat
US / ni:t /
•UK / nit /
- adjecitve
- That you approve of; cool
- (Of alcohol) not weakened with water or a mixer
- Not messy; clean and orderly; simple and effective
make
US / meɪk /
•UK / mek /
- noun
- Product made by a particular company; brand
- verb
- To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
- To get to (a place) on time
- To gain the status of (teacher, lawyer, etc.)
- To create something by putting things together
- To earn a certain amount of money at a job
- To cause or force a person to do something
- To cause something to happen or be formed
man
US / mæn /
•UK / mæn /
- noun
- Humans in general, including male and female
- An adult male human being
- Male who acts in a masculine way; not like a woman
- verb
- To control or operate (a machine); be in charge of
- To operate a machine (a boat, etc.)
state
US / steɪt /
•UK / stet /
- adjecitve
- Concerning region within a country
- noun
- Region within a country, with its own government
- Situation or condition something is in
- verb
- To say; declare as fact
this
US / ðɪs /
•UK / ðɪs /
- adjecitve
- Used to indicate something already been discussed
- Used to indicate something happening around now
- adverb
- An indication by a physical motion or gesture
- A specific amount of
- determiner
- Person, thing, or idea near you
- pronoun
- Person, thing that has already been discussed
you
US / jʊ /
•UK / ju /
- pronoun
- Person someone is speaking or writing to
- Person or people in general
krill
US / krɪl /
•UK / krɪl /
- other
- Shrimp-like planktonic crustaceans; major source of food for e.g. baleen whales
the
US / ðə /
•UK / ðə /
- article
- Used to refer to something already mentioned
- Used to show there is only one of something
- determiner
- Used to describe all of a family
deep
US / di:p /
•UK / dip /
- adjecitve
- Complex and important
- Extreme or intense
- Going far down from the surface
- Low in pitch, as a sound
- adverb
- At a certain distance beneath the surface
may
US / meɪ /
•UK / me /
- noun
- 5th month of the year
- other
- Used to express a desire
- Expresses permission, possibility or probability
- Used to show that a thing could be true
giant
US / 'dʒaɪənt /
•UK / ˈdʒaɪənt /
- adjecitve
- Very large, or much bigger than other things
- noun
- Tall, large, and powerful human-like creatures
- Very successful, powerful person or organization
kind
US / kaɪnd /
•UK / kaɪnd /
- adjecitve
- In a caring and helpful manner
- friendly and considerate
- noun
- One type of thing
one
US / wʌn /
•UK / wʌn /
- pronoun
- You; we; people in general; someone
- The thing or person previously referred to
- adjecitve
- Used to refer to people generally
- Being a strong example of (something mentioned)
- number
- Number 1
john
US / dʒɔn /
•UK / dʒɑn /
- noun
- A toilet.
- A prostitute's client.
- proper noun
- (1165–1216), son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine; king of England 1199–1216; known as John Lack
- The name of six kings of Portugal.
hope
US / həʊp /
•UK / hop /
- noun
- When you wish something will happen; what you wish
- verb
- To expect and want something to happen
footage
US / ˈfʊtɪdʒ /
•UK / ˈfʊtɪdʒ /
- noun
- A certain amount of film or video of something
- Measurement in feet
call
US / kɔ:l /
•UK / kɔl /
- noun
- A order or request for action
- The sound an animal makes, often when in danger
- A correct prediction, e.g. a decision in a game
- A short visit to a place or person
- A decision by a referee or umpire in a game
- verb
- To make a request or order for action
- (Animal) to make sounds to warn of danger
- To announce the date of an election
- To make a judgment about something
- To give someone or something a name
- To guess in advance the result or outcome
- To visit a place or person for a short time
- To phone someone
- To speak, announce or shout in a loud voice
perhaps
US / pəˈhæps /
•UK / pɚˈhæps /
- adverb
- Possibly, but not certainly; maybe
companionship
US / kəmˈpæniənʃɪp /
•UK / kəmˈpænjənˌʃɪp /
- noun
- Good feeling from being with someone else
another
US / əˈnʌðə(r) /
•UK / əˈnʌðɚ /
- adjecitve
- One more, but not this
- determiner
- One more added
- pronoun
- One more (thing)
large
US / lɑ:dʒ /
•UK / lɑ:rdʒ /
- adjecitve
- Big; of great size; broad, tall, wide, or fat
throb
US / θrɒb /
•UK / θrɑ:b /
- verb
- To beat with a strong and steady rhythm
blast
US / blɑ:st /
•UK / blæst /
- noun
- Destructive wave of air from an explosion
- Strong current of wind
- verb
- To attack someone with words
- To destroy something with explosives
- To make a loud noise on or with something
most
US / məʊst /
•UK / most /
- adverb
- Very; extremely
- Greatest possible degree
- pronoun
- Nearly all of something
from
US / frəm /
•UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /
- preposition
- Starting at a particular place, time or level
dive
US / daɪv /
•UK / daɪv /
- noun
- Restaurant, bar or club with a bad reputation
- Rapid fall through air
- A jump into water head-first from a high place
- Rapid fall in the value or price of something
- verb
- To swim deep under water with an air supply
- To rapid fall through air
- To jump into water head-first
- (Of prices) to rapidly fall
two
US / tu: /
•UK / tu /
- number
- 2
back
US / bæk /
•UK / bæk /
- adjecitve
- Farthest from the front e.g. in a classroom
- adverb
- Have returned to a place you were before
- noun
- The part of a chair that the upper body leans upon
- Location at the rear of something
- The reverse of side something
- Area on the rear of your body
- verb
- To bet money on something
- To go backwards in a car
- To support and encourage someone or some cause
and
US / ənd /
•UK / ənd, ən,ænd /
- conjunction
- Used to refer to two or more things
- Plus; in addition; on top of that
- Used to introduce an action that follows another
national
US / 'næʃnəl /
•UK / ˈnæʃənəl, ˈnæʃnəl /
- adjecitve
- Concerning a nation as a whole
- noun
- A person of a particular country
just
US / dʒʌst /
•UK / dʒʌst /
- adjecitve
- Proper or appropriate; as is deserved
- Doing or being what is right or fair
- Legally correct; having enough evidence
- adverb
- Almost; nearly
- Exactly at the time of
- Exactly (the same as, like)
solitary
US / 'sɒlətrɪ /
•UK / ˈsɑlɪˌtɛri /
- adjecitve
- Done alone; spending a lot of time alone
- noun
- A punishment to keep a person alone in a cell
- A person who chooses to live alone
such
US / sʌtʃ /
•UK / sʌtʃ /
- determiner
- Being similar to
- (Thing) as previously stated or referred to
- adverb
- (Used to emphasize the quality of an adjective)
water
US / 'wɔ:tə(r) /
•UK / ˈwɔtɚ, ˈwɑtɚ /
- noun
- Clear liquid that forms the seas, rivers and rain
- Large area such as an ocean or sea
- verb
- (Of the eyes) to produce tears
- (Mouth) to become wet at the thought of nice food
- To pour liquids onto a plant to keep it alive
constant
US / 'kɒnstənt /
•UK / ˈkɑnstənt /
- adjecitve
- Happening frequently or without pause
- noun
- Thing that happens always or at a regular rate
frequency
US / 'fri:kwənsɪ /
•UK / ˈfrikwənsi /
- noun
- Number of repetitions of (radio or sound) wave
- How often something happens
for
US / fə(r) /
•UK / fɔr,fə /
- preposition
- Used to show the purpose, or need of something
fact
US / fækt /
•UK / fækt /
- noun
- Something that is known or proved to be true
ocean
US / 'əʊʃn /
•UK / ˈoʃən /
- noun
- Large body of salt water; a large sea
head
US / hed /
•UK / hɛd /
- noun
- Counter for the number of cattle
- Natural mental ability or intelligence
- Leader or person with the greatest authority
- Mind; mental ability; mental state
- Side of a coin with a head on it
- Top part of your body with eyes and a mouth
- Starting point of something, e.g. a river
- verb
- To hit a ball with your head in a game
- To be first or at the front or top (e.g. a list)
- To travel or move toward a particular place; To go in a particular direction
- To become the leader of something
- To lead or be responsible for something
sound
US / saʊnd /
•UK / saʊnd /
- adjecitve
- Sensible, dependable and reliable
- Unbroken or undisturbed, as of sleep
- Firm or solid in structure
- Sane; not mentally ill
- Clearly reasoned; involving sense, good judgment
- noun
- Unique quality that characterizes a style of music
- Waves traveling in air or water that can be heard
- verb
- To seem or appear to be, from what was said
- To say in a clear deliberate manner
- To make a noise, e.g. to ring a bell
california
US / ˌkælɪ'fɔ:njə, -'fɔ:ni:ə /
•UK / ˌkælɪ'fɔ:rnjəˌ -'fɔ:rni:ə /
- noun
- A state in the western United States on the Pacific; the rd largest state; known for earthquakes
never
US / 'nevə(r) /
•UK / ˈnɛvɚ /
- adverb
- Not ever; not at any time
definitely
US / ˈdefɪnətli /
•UK / ˈdefɪnətli /
- adverb
- Without question; beyond doubt
rich
US / rɪtʃ /
•UK / rɪtʃ /
- adjecitve
- Having a lot of money or valuable possessions
- Containing a lot of exciting events or experiences and therefore very interesting
- (of a color, sound, smell, etc.) Pleasantly deep or strong
- If food is rich, it contains a large amount of oil, butter, eggs, or cream.
primary
US / 'praɪmərɪ /
•UK / ˈpraɪˌmɛri, -məri /
- adjecitve
- Most important, most basic or essential
- Happening first; earliest
- of or for the teaching of young children
that
US / ðæt /
•UK / ðæt, ðət /
- adjecitve
- The person or thing being talked about
- Used to identify something both the speakers know
- adverb
- Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
- To such a degree
- conjunction
- Used to connect a noun clause
- Used to introduce an adverbial clause
- Used to introduce a noun clause
- determiner
- Used as a noun to refer to something
- pronoun
- Referring an object far away
- Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’
barely
US / ˈbɛəli /
•UK / ˈbɛrli /
- adverb
- Only just; just possible
during
US / ˈdjʊərɪŋ /
•UK / ˈdʊrɪŋ, ˈdjʊr- /
- preposition
- At some point in the course of an event or thing
type
US / taɪp /
•UK / taɪp /
- noun
- Printed letters or blocks used for printing them
- Group of things or people sharing common features
- verb
- To identify something belonging to a group
- To write by touching keys on a keyboard
what
US / wɒt /
•UK / hwɑt, hwʌt, wɔt, wʌt,hwət, wət /
- pronoun
- Thing or things that; the same kind as
- Used to emphasize something you are about to say
- adjecitve
- Used to refer to a particular amount, or number
- Used to place emphasis on a particular quality
- adverb
- To a certain degree
- determiner
- Question words used for asking for information
- exclamation
- Used to express excitement, shock, or surprise
- Used to ask people to repeat something they said
get
US / ɡet /
•UK / ɡɛt /
- verb
- To become affected by illness or disease
- To begin to feel or understand an emotion or idea
- To send or bring someone or something home, etc.
- To go somewhere to obtain something
- To (cause to) do a particular thing
- To obtain, receive or be given something
- To currently have
- To prepare for use
- To understand something being said or read
about
US / ə'baʊt /
•UK / əˈbaʊt /
- adverb
- To be ready to; going to
- Nearly; approximately; roughly
- Near; next to; close to
- In every direction; in the area of
- preposition
- Concerning or of (a topic)
tantalize
US / ˈtæntəlaɪz /
•UK / ˈtæntəˌlaɪz /
- verb
- To promise something but not allow them to have it
down
US / daʊn /
•UK / daʊn /
- adjecitve
- Being sad, sick, or unhappy
- Not operating, working, or functioning as expected
- adverb
- In a sitting or lying position
- Towards or on the ground, floor, or bottom
- Written or copied onto a piece of paper or book
- noun
- A period of play in American Football
- The soft, smooth hairs that cover a bird's body
- preposition
- Along something's path, course, or direction
- Going from a higher position to a lower position
- verb
- To eat or drink very quickly and without stopping
search
US / sɜ:tʃ /
•UK / sɜ:rtʃ /
- noun
- Examination of person to find something
- Action to find an answer to a problem
- Action of trying to find someone or something
- verb
- To examine a person's clothing to find something
- To look for an answer or explanation to a problem
- To look carefully for someone or something
emerge
US / ɪ'mɜ:dʒ /
•UK / ɪˈmɚdʒ /
- verb
- To rise or appear out of some background
their
US / ðɛː /
•UK / ðer /
- determiner
- Belonging to them
travel
US / ˈtrævl /
•UK / ˈtrævəl /
- noun
- Going to other places, esp. distant places
- verb
- To go to a place that is far away
human
US / 'hju:mən /
•UK / ˈhjumən /
- adjecitve
- Concerning or characteristic of people
- noun
- A person; a man, woman or child
cup
US / kʌp /
•UK / kʌp /
- noun
- Small round container used for drinking
- Silver trophy teams compete to win
- Unit of measurement for foods or liquids
- verb
- To make the shape of a bowl with your hands