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- 3rd Avenuea main thoroughfare running north/south on the east side of New York City's Manhattan borough (region), stretching into the Bronx by way of the Third Street bridge
- 24/7'twenty-four/seven' - without stopping; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- a bunchcolloquial term for 'a lot' or 'a group of' (as in 'a bunch of grapes' or 'a bunch of people')
- a diamond in the roughhaving wonderful qualities or potential, despite a rough appearance or exterior
- a hell of a storyan amazing, fascinating story
- a-holesshort for "assholes" (very rude!)
- A-listthose who have the highest status
- abandonedleft, ignored, deserted
- abolitionistsomeone who is in favor of abolishing slavery, making slavery illegal
- Aboriginalsthe word 'aborigine' literally means indigenous (native); this term is often associated with native Australian ethnic groups
- abortionprocedure to stop a pregnancy
- absentee ballota vote sent in by mail
- absentmindedtending to forget things easily
- absolutisma belief system based on absolutes
- absorbto learn or become familiar with in an passive, subconscious way by listening
- abyssan extremely deep place
- accomplishto manage to do something difficult
- accordingas seen or considered by
- acousticallyin the sense of sound
- action!said by a director to start the camera when making a film
- adaptto make changes in order to adjust or become used to something
- addictedto be dependent on a drug or medication, to be unable to stop taking it
- adoptiona legal agreement where one raises another person's child as one's own
- adrenalinea hormone that gives a burst of energy by making the heart beat faster
- affordablenot very expensive
- agilityability to move easily, without difficulty
- ain’tcolloquial form of the contraction isn’t (is + not = isn’t) or aren't (are + not = ain’t)
- ain't= am not, are not, is not; ain't is considered incorrect usage, but is sometimes heard in informal speech
- airstripa simple, unpaved place for a plane to land
- all aboardsaid when it's time to get on a bus or train
- allegianceloyalty, faithfulness
- allegorya story with a meaning that it hidden or implied
- amazingsurprising
- amendedchanged
- ampan abbreviation for amplifier
- amplifieran electronic device to makes sounds louder
- amputateto cut off part of someone's body, especially an arm, leg, finger, or toe
- an exceptional nationthe idea that the USA has a special role, is not like other countries
- and I'm talkingand I really mean (informal)
- angstfear, deep anxiety
- animatedmade using animation (still pictures)
- animatica digital sketch or outline of a film
- anticipateto expect, predict; know about something in advance
- anxiousworried, upset, nervous
- apocalypsea final disaster
- apparitiona ghost, or something that appears like a ghost
- armedhaving a weapon
- arraignedbrought to a court to be charged with a crime
- arraignmenta formal reading of the charges against a person who has been arrested
- artfuldone in an artistic way
- ashrama spiritual community, especially in South Asian traditions
- assertiveconfident, decisive
- assessto evaluate
- assetspossessions, the things that he owned
- astonishedvery surprised
- athleticphysically fit and active
- attainablesomething that can be reached, attained
- authentictrue, real
- autographthe signature of a famous person
- awesomeamazing, wonderful, great
- 'awfully nice'a colloquial phrase that simply means 'very nice' - while the literal meaning of awful is similar to 'horrible, terrible, or bad', in this case when paired with 'nice', awful means 'very' or 'a great amount of'
- B-listthose who have lower status
- baby strollera small chair on wheels normally used for pushing a baby along
- backdropterm used to describe scenery in the background on a stage
- baguettea long thin loaf of bread
- banging around through lifetrying to find their way, even if uncertain how to move forward
- banjofour, five, or six-stringed American folk instrument
- bankablesomething that will definitely earn money
- (barbecue) shedusually a small metal or wooden unit in a person’s yard, used to store tools for the garden or other activities
- barbed wiresteel wire for fences that has sharp points
- barelyby only a little bit
- beached whalea whale that has become stranded on a beach
- beama path of light (for example, a laser beam, or moonbeam); used figuratively here
- beamingsmiling broadly
- beats an earthquakecan't be hurt by an earthquake
- beaucoupsanglicized french term for much/many; in English, used colloquially to mean a very large amount of something (sometimes, an exaggerated amount)
- befallto happen
- begrudginglyunwillingly, without enthusiasm
- believablenot surprising; something that can be believed
- belugaa small whale; white whale
- benignnot harmful or dangerous
- beyond your reckoningbeyond your imagination, something that cannot be imagined or described
- bigotryintolerance toward others
- biker's walleta small wallet with a chain
- bindia mark in the forehead worn by many women in India
- binocularsa handheld instrument with lenses for both eyes, to see distant things better
- bioacousticsthe science of how animals and humans produce and receive sound
- biological motherthe woman who gave birth to someone
- biterefers to the small bit of food taken out of a larger piece - the small taste of Mr. Morgenstern’s bagel, for example
- bladethe flat cutting part of a knife
- blanketa large piece of material for covering a bed
- blessedvery fortunate
- blindsa kind of screen to block light in a window
- blipa small exception to a trend or situation
- bloba shapeless mass or spot of thick liquid
- bloom and fadeto grow and flourish; to experience success, but then later fade andlose popularity, just as a flower blooms and then fades
- blurryunclear, out of focus
- bondageslavery
- boogie manan imaginary character often referred to as a scary monster or an unknown presence
- bouncyhere: in a happy mood, feeling joyful
- bound forheaded for; going in the direction of
- bound handshands that were tied (from 'to bind')
- bounty huntersomeone who chases or finds fugitives (people who are running from the police or the court system)
- bowa knot with two loops and two untied ends
- bowie knifea knife with a double-edged point
- brand newcompletely new
- breast-strokingan official 'stroke style' of swimming, in which the swimmer moves through the water on his stomach, with arms stretched out and legs kicking in a frog-like motion
- breathera break
- brinkedge
- brisketa cut of meat from an animal, normally a cow
- brisket burnt endsa portion of brisket cut off and cooked for several more hours, and cut into cubes
- Broadwaya street in New York City with many theaters; the name often refers to the theater industry in New York in general, especially musical theater
- broke for lunchto take a break or pause for lunch
- bruncha late morning meal
- bucklehere: to begin to move, as if about to break.
- budgeto move a bit
- Buley Rock Poolsa popular tourist destination, Buley Rockhole is a series of rocky pools located in Litchfield National Park, in Northern Territory, Australia
- bumhomeless person, someone who wanders aimlessly
- bummedsad, disappointed
- bungalowa small house with a single story
- busnappingtheft of a bus
- butlerthe head male servant in a house
- cabthe driver's compartment of a truck
- cabbycab driver
- caller IDthe display on a phone of the number of the person calling
- CallingVoicefrom Irish Gaelic, meaning old style
- cannibala person who eats other people
- capacityability, capability
- carbon copyan exact copy
- carefreewithout worrying
- Carol of the Bellsa popular holiday orchestral or choral tune based on a Ukrainian folk song by Mykola Leontovych
- Carrie Bradshawa leading fictional character in the US television series 'Sex and the City'
- casting callwhen film or theater directors call for actors to come in and try out for a role
- catch someone's fancyto catch someone's attention so that they like you
- cementa powdery mixture of lime and clay, used to make concrete.
- cesspoola container for sewage; a disgusting place
- chainsa set of metal links, sometimes used on tires in snow
- chanceunexpected, fated
- characteristicstraits, specific parts of a person’s personality that makes them distinct from others or describes the way they interact with others
- charged upexcited, enthusiastic
- Chemehuevia Native American people in Southern California
- chickened outto chicken out: to be too afraid to do something
- Christmas paperspecial paper used to wrap Christmas presents
- chubbyplump, slightly overweight
- chuck roasta large piece of meat from the shoulder of a cow
- chucklea small laugh
- circum-ambulatingwalking around
- circumscribedlimited or defined in some way
- circumstancesconditions
- civilpolite, reasonable
- civilianpeople who are not in the government or the military
- classifiedsecret; something people outside of the government were not allowed to know about
- classlessnot restricted to any social or economic class
- 'clean-cut'used to describe a person who is dressed well, clean, and avoids getting into trouble; sometimes also indicates a person who dresses stylishly
- clichéa phrase, idiom, or even concept that no longer holds unique meaning due to overuse, or which comes across as insincere or weak because it has been used so often
- cliffa steep rock face
- co-optto take on or adopt an idea for one's own purpose
- co-staran actor appearing with another main actor
- coacha trainer or teacher
- codethe building code, a set of standards for building houses
- coerciveusing threats or force
- coilround, curled formation
- coincidencean event that seems as if it might have been arranged, but in fact happened by chance.
- Cold Wara time of heightened political tension between the United States and the Soviet Union
- collaboratedworked together
- collapsed lungwhen air enters the space around the lungs, which can make the lung collapse
- collapsesfall (into bed)
- colonialrelated to a colony
- committeddedicated, consistent
- commoditysomething to be bought or sold
- commotiona noisy or agitated disturbance
- competenthaving the knowledge or skill to do something
- comprehensivecomplete
- concentratedspecific, focused, targeted
- concordanceagreement, similarity; lack of difference
- conditionstate, environment
- condoshort for condominium, an apartment-style home attached to one or more other home units
- confirmto make certain something is true
- confrontationa strong disagreement or argument
- congratulatingto congratulate: to express good wishes when something good has happened
- connotationan underlying idea, theme, or association that comes along with a word or phrase, in addition to its literal or general meaning
- consensusgeneral agreement
- contemplateto think carefully, to ponder
- contentmentsatisfaction, a feeling that one has all that one needs
- Continental Dividea line along the top of mountain ranges dividing the continent such that rain or melting snow on one side flows west; on the other side, water flows to the east
- contingentgroup
- continuallyrepeatedly or without stopping
- contraptionsome kind of machine; often used in a negative or skeptical sense
- controversydispute, debate, something people don't agree on
- conveyor belta surface that moves automatically
- coordinatedmatching, looking good together (about clothes)
- copa police officer
- copspolicemen (slang)
- costumespecial or funny clothes, as for a party
- counselorsomeone who gives advice, helps by speaking with someone
- covea small, sheltered bay
- credenzaa piece of furniture for storing items
- crestthe top of something, like a wave or a mountain
- cross tiesthe large pieces of wood that support a railroad track
- crosswindswinds that blow from the side
- crucialvery important, vital
- cruisingdriving aimlessly or for fun
- crying your eyes outcrying hard, sobbing
- currentlynow, at this time
- currentsthe flow of water in a particular direction
- cussinginformal variant of 'cursing,' using obscene or indecent language
- dad gets all chained updad gets the chains on
- daily grinddaily routine
- Dall sheepa type of wild sheep
- damn Yankeea common phrase given the historical tensions between North and South in the US, here used jokingly
- darnadds emphasis
- dazea mental state when one is very confused or bewildered, not understanding what is happening or not able to think clearly
- dead enda street with no exit on one end
- death gripa very strong, tight hold on someone
- Death Valleysection of the Mojave Desert, the lowest elevation in North America
- debris[dǝ'bri] rubble; old or broken things that have been left behind, or lying where they fell
- defendanta person who has been accused of a crime
- deferredpostponed, delayed
- deitiesgods
- deliriouswhen one can't think clearly, often because of illness
- dementiaa loss in mental abilities and memory, especially late in life
- demo recorda record made to demonstrate something new
- Denali (McKinley)the tallest mountain in North America
- depthsvery deep places
- Derryrefers to Londonderry, the 2nd largest city in Northern Ireland
- detainstop, arrest
- detention centersplaces where people are held, detained
- deterrentsomething that discourages or keeps someone from doing something
- detouran alternate route, often to avoid an obstacle
- devastatedextremely sad
- dialthe instrument (sometimes called a 'knob') or part of a radio or sound playing device that raises and lowers the volume (used with the verb 'to turn'); (in this interview, Priya jokingly says she will 'turn the dial' in reference to herself and the volume of her voice
- didn't get itdidn't understand
- dimesa coin worth 10 cents
- dineran informal restaurant that serves typical American food
- dinosaurslarge reptiles that lived millions of years ago
- disabledunable to operate, not working
- disabled vehiclea car that is not working
- Discovery channela TV network with many documentaries
- disruptinterrupt, disturb
- divertedhere: distracted
- divinelike or from God, or a god
- DNAmaterial that carries genetic information
- do my best Jack Nicholsondo my best imitation of Jack Nicholson, an actor
- dollya small platform on wheels, for holding or moving heavy objects
- domesa building with a rounded top
- domesticallyin one's own country
- don't go theredon't think about that
- dorsal finthe fin on the back of a fish or whale
- dotinguncritically adoring, very fond of
- double-dutcha jump-rope game in which two ropes are being swung in opposite directions
- doursurly, stern, not cheerful
- Dr. Frankensteincharacter from Mary Shelley's novel: a scientist who carried out strange experiments
- draconianvery harsh
- drain the fluidspour out oil, gas, etc.
- drasticextreme
- drasticallyextremely, in great contrast
- drippingto form small drops, as when water or ice cream melt
- dry cabina cabin with no water or plumbing
- dry icesolid carbon dioxide, used to pack things that must stay cold
- duckto suddenly lower your head
- dudeyoung man, guy (informal slang)
- dumpslang: an unpleasant place in poor condition
- dumplinga small ball of dough, often fried or boiled
- dutifullyin an obedient way
- earthquake simulatora machine that simulates the motion of an earthquake
- easethe absence of difficulty; when something is easy
- easy on the eyeattractive, nice-looking
- easygoingsomeone who is friendly, relaxed, tolerant; who does not seem stressed
- eco-disasteran ecological disaster
- ecstasya feeling of great joy or happiness
- elderan older, respected member of the community
- electoral votesvotes of the Electoral College, which elects the president
- elementalmost basic
- eligibleable to take advantage or participate
- embarkto begin (often a long trip)
- embitterednessbitterness; sadness with anger or resentment
- emeritusretired, former; a title often used for college professors who have retired but may keep the title emeritus professor" as an honor"
- enablesto enable: to make possible
- encountermeeting, interaction
- engulfingswallowing, covering
- enormousextremely large; giant, gigantic
- entirewhole
- envisionedto envision: to imagine as a possibility
- eonsofficially, a scientific term for measuring time - .5 billion years, for example - but often used colloquially simply to mean an exaggerated or long amount of time
- equivalentequal to
- escortedaccompanied by
- ethicalconcerned with ethics, moral questions
- euphoriahappiness, extreme excitement or joy
- everybody's well accounted forwe know where everybody is
- excavateto dig out
- exclusionaryintended to exclude, keep someone out
- expansivelong, extensive
- explosive chargesa quantity of explosive materials
- fabulouswonderful, marvelous
- fakenot real
- feesmoney that must be paid
- fellowshipfinancial support, often given to graduate students
- FEMAthe Federal Emergency Management Agency
- ferrya boat for carrying people or things, usually by a schedule
- fiancéea woman who is engaged to be married
- fieldworkresearch done outside of one's lab or office
- fire pita hole in the ground for a small fire
- fleeta large number of ships
- footagefilm for television or a movie
- forgoto manage or get by without something
- formicaa type of hard plastic covering for counters
- forumsonline places where people can discuss various questions
- foster carewhen a child is cared for in a group or private home, not by the child's parents
- four-wheelera small vehicle with four-wheel drive, on which power goes to all four wheels
- fracturea break or crack in something hard
- freakan abnormal person
- Frederick Douglassan American writer who escaped from slavery (1817-1895)
- freezera kitchen appliance for storing frozen food
- friskto pat the outside of someone's clothing, to make sure they are not carrying a gun or other weapon
- fucked upin terrible condition, feeling awful; this is fairly rude slang and should be avoided in most contexts!
- fugitivesomeone who is escaping or fleeing
- Fugitive Slave ActThis act was passed by Congress in 1850 as an attempt to quiet Southern calls to secede (separate) from the United States. It required authorities in Northern states to assist in returning escaped slaves to bondage, but remained controversial in many states.
- fundraisersomeone who raises money for a purpose
- funkystylish or cool in an unusual way; the word is often used to describe jazz, blues, or soul music
- galslang for 'girl,' 'young woman'
- gambleto play games while making bets
- game changersomeone who changes rules or expectations
- game onlet's go, let's get started
- garbclothing
- garishvery bright, tasteless
- garlanda wreath of flowers, often worn on the head
- gavela small hammer used by judges to open or close sessions or call for order
- geez (or jeez)an expression of surprise, dismay, or annoyance
- genea portion of DNA that determines characteristics
- generalitiesideas or words that are not specific
- geneticsthe study of heredity characteristics that are inherited
- genuinereal, honest
- gheeclarified butter
- giganticvery big
- gigglinglaughing lightly or quietly
- gingerlycarefully, tentatively
- give up the ghost onhere: to give up on, forget, stop doing something
- glad-handinggreeting people warmly, but perhaps insincerely
- glimpsea quick look
- go figureused to express that something is surprising or stupid
- Gobi Desertlarge desert in Asia, region stretching across northwestern China and southern Mongolia
- godmothera woman who promises to be responsible for a child's spiritual upbringing
- godparentspeople chosen to be responsible for spiritual upbringing of a child
- gollya mild expression of surprise
- gonnagoing to
- gorgeousvery beautiful
- got turned on tobecame interested in, excited about (slang)
- gottagot to; have to, must
- grand larcenytheft of something valuable
- grandfathered pitsolder cooking pits that are not subject to newer regulations
- grantedadmittedly; introduces a fact counter to one's main argument, but that does not invalidate it
- gratea framework of crossed or parallel bars or sticks
- grate on my nervesirritate, annoy
- gravellycovered with gravel (very small stones)
- gray areawhen there is no clear dividing line between two ideas
- Great Migrationwildebeest migrating season from January to March in the Serengeti Desert, movement roughly from areas in Tanzania to Kenya
- greya 'grey area' is a situation that is unclear or ambiguous
- gurua wise guide and/or teacher - someone with authority on a specific subject, or simply in life; officially a Sanskrit term for 'master' or 'teacher;' in mainstream culture, it can mean an expert or teacher in a specific field or discipline
- had our maximumhad all we could manage
- halibuta type of fish
- hallucinationa perception or vision of something that is not really there; can be caused by drugs, fever, or severe illness
- haloa brace used to keep the neck from moving after an injury
- hand crank radioa radio powered by turning a handle, or crank
- hand-eye coordinationwhen hands and eyes work well together
- handcuffsmetal rings placed around a prisoner's wrists
- hanging outspending time idly, relaxing, socializing
- harshunpleasant
- hastemoving more quickly, with more speed
- he goes'he says;' in the context of informal storytelling, it’s common to use 'go' as a synony
- headlinea heading at the top of a magazine or newspaper
- Hear yea phrase spoken to open court sessions
- hemthe edge of cloth that is turned under and sewn
- hennaa dye used to decorate the body in India
- hi-hata pair of cymbals mounted on a special stand so that they can be sounded by pressing a pedal
- highline polestall poles, as for electrical wires, which are generally not very close together
- hind endthe back end, the rump
- His hair has gone white.His hair has become white
- hit-the-pennyA game in which a penny is placed on the ground between two players, who try to hit the penny by throwing a ball at it.
- hitchhikersomeone who travels asking for rides from other drivers
- hoga domesticated (not wild) pig
- hoistedraised
- hold upan unexpected delay
- hole in the wallslang: a small, unattractive place
- holy shitan expression of amazement (slang, can be rude)
- Holy smoke!a play on words: Holy smoke! is an informal expression of surprise
- homegrownmade at home, grown in a home garden
- Homer Simpsona cartoon character in the popular American television series, 'The Simpsons'.
- hoodwinkto fool, trick someone
- hoosegowjail, prison (slang, from Spanish 'juzgado')
- hors d'oeuvressmall appetizers
- hotlinea direct telephone line that can be called any time, especially for emergencies
- hoveringto hover: to be in one place in the air
- how's aboutwhat about, why don't we (introduces a suggestion)
- hózhótranslated loosely as 'harmony,' a Navajo word that represents a spiritual state, a sense of balance
- HRHuman Resources – the department of a business for hiring and training employees
- humanekind, considerate
- humdrumboring, dull
- Humveefour-wheel drive military vehicle
- hurdlebarrier, obstacle; something that makes it harder to reach a goal
- hurricanea dangerous tropical storm
- hydrophonea microphone designed to be used underwater
- I can't go like...I can't say...
- idlingleaves the motor running, but without moving forward
- idolizeto look up to someone as if to an idol; to admire greatly
- IEDimprovised explosive device; a homemade bomb used in nontraditional combat
- iglooA dome-shaped house used by Inuit peoples, often made from blocks of snow
- I'm getting thereI'm making progress
- impartialfair, treating everyone equally
- impeccablefaultless, without error; often refers to taste (style, music), professionalism, or the way someone dresses
- imperialhaving to do with an empire
- implyto suggest, usually indirectly and based upon the context, words, or situation
- impulsea sudden urge
- in disputesomething that people disagree about is in dispute
- in recognition oftaking into account
- In the fashion of my familyAs my family usually did
- in the nurture campon the side that favors nurture
- in the same breathat the same time
- in the same league asequal to, as good as
- incidentan event, something that happened
- inconsistencysomething that contradicts itself, is not consistent
- indentsimpressions, concave marks
- Indian countryNative American reservations and settlements in the United States
- indictedformally charged with a crime
- induceto influence someone to do something
- inebriateddrunk
- infoshort for 'information'
- initiallyat first
- insighta deep understanding
- instabilitya situation when something tends to change, is not stable
- instanceexample
- instinctknowledge or tendency to do something without thinking
- intactnot broken, in one piece
- interconnectivitybeing connected with surrounding people, things, nature, elements, or all of these
- internspeople working on an informal basis for little or no pay
- internshipa temporary job, sometimes without pay, for experience
- it hit home with meit made a strong impression
- it hit meI suddenly realized
- it's lost on someonesomeone can't appreciate it
- it's our thingit's what we do
- jadedcynical
- janitora person who cleans a building
- jarringstartling
- jerkan annoying or irritating person
- jerkymeat that has been sliced and dried for preservation; it does not need to be kept cold and is a common snack for hikers
- Jerseyshort for New Jersey""
- jointinformal: a restaurant or bar
- joyridetaking a car without permission, while intending to return it
- jubilationjoy, great happiness, celebration
- jumped its banksflowed over the banks
- junior high schoolschool for young students, usually 7th to 9th grade
- ka-bangthe noise of an explosion
- keymain, important
- kind of(informal) somewhat, fairly, rather
- knapsackbackpack
- knoba small rounded handle
- knuckleheadtroublemaker, foolish person
- koosha kind of ball with thin rubber filaments
- kosherin accordance with traditional Jewish dietary laws
- kumbayahere: too sentimental
- LALos Angeles
- ladlea large spoon for stirring and serving soup
- landed a jobgot a job
- landslidewhen earth or rock slides down a hill
- lane trippersfamiliar term used for the yellow dashed lines that divide highways
- lar-nyxthe guard incorrectly pronounced 'larynx,' part of the neck that contains the vocal cords
- lasagnaan Italian dish of pasta, sauce, and cheese
- latentunseen but present; hidden
- laughterthe act or sound of laughing
- ledgea kind of shelf formed from the surrounding rocks of the waterfalls
- legacythe history, memory, and/or life story of a person after they have gone or died, generally a positive impression that people look back on with respect and honor
- legit(slang) legitimate, done properly
- lethalfatal; something that can cause death
- liberalleft-wing political orientation
- licka set pattern or phrase consisting of a short series of notes in solos and accompaniment, in blues, jazz or rock music
- linoleuma common type of flooring
- long stretchreferring to a large area or territory
- loreold stories, often expressing a traditional point of view
- love seata small couch for two people
- lovelybeautiful, very pretty
- low-budgeta project with little money
- Lower East Sidefirst known as a settlement point for many immigrants, the Lower East Side refers to the southeastern region of New York City’s Manhattan borough (region); also more recently referred to as East Village.
- lumber trucklarge vehicle used to pull heavy loads, particularly lumber (long wooden planks)
- lunarrelating to the moon.
- lushwhere plants grow easily, luxuriantly
- lustilyenergetically
- madinsane
- magna cum laude(Latin) with great distinction
- magnetic pulla strong attraction or interest
- maintenance manman who does small repairs
- make eye contactto look another person in the eye
- make my dayto make someone's day" is to make it a good day; a happy or pleasant event"
- manexpresses emphasis
- maneuverto move skillfully and carefully
- manila foldera plain paper folder
- mannerscustoms; a set of rules for behavior
- manufactureto make, to produce
- marblea hard stone often used for building and sculpture
- matzah balla small dumpling made of matzah meal with egg and chicken fat
- mechanicsomeone who fixes machines
- mellowsoft, relaxed
- mental gymnasticshaving to think hard
- mesaFrom the Spanish for 'table,' a raised geographical formation with a flat top and steep cliffs in the western and southwestern regions of the United States
- migrant farming workfarming work in Australia often involves picking fruit
- millennialrelating to a period of 1,000 years
- mimicto imitate
- miniaturevery small
- miraclea welcome event that is hard to understand or explain
- Miranda rightsthe right to remain silent after being arrested
- misconceptionsomething that is not correctly understood
- misreadsto misread: to misunderstand
- mock-upa quick visual outline of a film
- modifyingchanging, adapting
- Mojave Deserta desert located in southeastern California and parts of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah
- momentousvery important, significant
- mooseelk, a type of large deer with large antlers
- mosquea Muslim place of worship
- motley crewa varied group, different types of people
- mousea small device used to point to things on a computer screen
- mug shota picture taken by the police of a person who has been arrested
- mundaneuninteresting, general, routine; often referring to everyday tasks and activities
- municipalof a city
- muscularhaving strong or well-developed muscles
- musicologistsomeone who studies music, as in music history or music theory
- musk oxa large animal like cattle, with a heavy coat of fur
- NASAthe National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- NavajoNative American tribe of the southwestern United States, recognized by the US government as the largest tribe on US territory; the Navajo Nation is an independent governing body
- nesting stagethe time when one wants to start a family
- newsreela short film with news about current events
- nickelsa nickel = a coin worth 5 cents
- niggeran African-American, or black person; this word is deeply offensive. Do not use it!
- nine irona type of golf club
- noosea loop made of rope, put around the neck to kill someone by hanging
- notoriousfamous, well-known, for a negative reason
- novelunusual, unexpected
- noveltysomething that is new and different or unexpected
- nurtureto care for, encourage growth
- oathpromise, vow
- object lessona specific illustration or example of a principle
- objectivea goal
- obnoxiousannoying, rude, irritating
- obscurenot well known
- obviouslyclearly
- oceanographera scientist who studies the ocean
- ochera natural earth pigment (coloring), ocher can be found in a variety of colors (yellow, red, purple, brown, sienna, umber), and contains hydrated iron oxide, which is what produces the coloring; also spelled 'ochre.'
- of all placesexpresses that a place seems improbable or unlikely
- off ofnear
- oftentimesoften
- oi veyexpression of surprise (from Yiddish)
- Old Faithfula geyser in Yellowstone
- on cloud ninevery happy
- on salebeing sold with a discount, for less than the usual price
- on the bookspart of the laws
- on the verge ofnear a limit beyond which something might happen
- ongoingcontinuing, happening now
- only scratched the surfaceonly just begun; only done a little
- open-heartedwarm, friendly, trusting
- optiona possible way to do something
- orcaa black and white whale with large teeth; killer whale
- ordeala terribly difficult or painful experience
- originateto come from, to come into being
- originsthe place where something began
- ornamentsin music, quick notes added to a basic line of melody
- orphana child whose parents have died
- out of my mindinsane, crazy
- out of the blueunexpectedly, with no warning
- outgoingsomeone who likes to be with and talk with other people; not shy or quiet
- outhousea small building with a toilet but usually no plumbing
- outstanding warrantwhen a warrant has been issued but the person has not been arrested or come to court
- over-...to do something too much
- over-romanticizeto see things too romantically, not realistically
- over-stimulationwhen someone has become too stimulated or too excited
- overlooka place on the side of the road to stop and admire the view
- overseera person who oversees or supervises the work of others
- overwhelmedthe feeling that one cannot deal with one's problems; a feeling of exhaustion or defeat
- overwhelminglyalmost completely
- Pacific Palisadesa residential neighborhood in the Westside of Los Angeles, California, with many wealthy residents, near Santa Monica Bay
- palm of their handsthe inner part of the hand between fingers and wrist
- pandemoniumchaos, craziness
- paradoxtwo statements or thoughts that seem to contradict each other, that seem like they cannot both be true
- paramedicemergency medical worker
- Pardon my Frenchexcuse me for swearing, using indecent language
- pass outfaint, lose consciousness
- passiveused to describe a person’s inaction, unwillingness or inability to be active or direct when handling a situation or participating in an event
- passive-aggressiveused to describe the action or attitude of a person who does not directly deal with a problem in a relationship, but indirectly shows aggression or criticism; for example, a person who speaks pleasantly to a colleague, but leaves a critical, angry note on their desk to solve a problem would(...)
- pastora minister in a Christian church
- patenta license that gives right to use or sell something
- patriarchya social system controlled by men
- PBJpeanut butter and jelly sandwiches, an inexpensive and common food in the US
- pecking ordera hierarchy of status
- pedala lever operated by the feet
- people-watchingwatching people to observe their everyday interactions and habits
- perchto be sitting (often used with birds)
- phenomenonsomething that happens; a fact or event; often refers to something complicated that can be studied
- physicallyhaving to do with the body
- pickup trucksmall truck with an enclosed cab and open back
- picture-perfectabsolutely perfect
- pile drivera machine for driving piles (large poles) into the ground, often to support a building
- pinea evergreen tree with long, needle-shaped leaves; its wood is often used in building
- pioneeredwas one of the first to do something
- piss offslang, potentially rude: to make angry
- pivota turn in direction
- plantationan estate on which crops like cotton or coffee are grown
- plighta difficult situation
- plowingdriving directly
- plungeto go down deep in water
- pod of whalesa group of whales
- pollsthe place where people vote in an election
- pollstersomeone who conducts polls, surveys of public opinion
- poor bastardsan expression of sympathy (slang); careful - without the word 'poor,' the word 'bastard' is very rude!
- posturehow one holds the body while standing or sitting
- potlatcha ceremonial meal among Native Americans of North America
- pranka practical joke
- precursora person or thing that came before
- predatorsomething that hunts
- prejudicenegative feelings about a group of other people, even if you don't know them
- presumptionwhat one thinks is true, an assumption based on facts
- pretty muchbasically, mostly
- previewwhen you can see something before it is widely released or shown
- preysomething that is hunted
- primalbasic, fundamental
- prior tobefore
- prisma solid transparent object with angles that split light into different colors
- profuselyat length, freely, abundantly
- progressedto progress: to advance, move on
- prohibitto not allow
- prominentimportant, well-known
- propellora device with angled blades that propels ships or airplanes (makes them move forward)
- protectivewanting to protect someone
- prototypea first model of something
- public defendera lawyer appointed for people who cannot afford their own lawyer
- puffina seabird that lives in the north with a large, colored beak
- pumpedexcited
- punch a time clockto make a record of when one arrives at work
- punjabia type of suit worn by many Indian men
- put yourself in someone's shoesto imagine oneself in someone else's situation; to understand someone's position
- putting the pedal to the metaldriving fast (putting the gas pedal to the metal of the car)
- pyramida structure with sides that meet in a point at the top
- Quite the contraryan expression used to state that what was just said is not in fact true
- r-insulation factora measure of how well a house is insulated
- rag topa car with a fabric roof that opens (slang)
- rallya meeting to show support for a political or social cause
- ranch housea one-story house with an open layout
- randomhere: unexpected
- rapidsa place in a river where water flows especially fast
- rapistsomeone who rapes, sexually assaults another person
- reactto act in response to something else
- reality TV showa program with people as themselves, instead of actors
- realmarea
- recallto remember
- recordslarge flat discs made of vinyl used to play music (on a “record player”), widely used until cassette tapes and compact discs became more popular in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Records have always held sentimental and musical value, however, and in the US have regained popularity for their(...)
- reflectiona mirror image; used here to refer to the face as the subject seen as a reflected mirror image
- regretsactions or decisions that a person wishes they had not done in the past (to say someone 'has no regrets' means that they would not change the way their life had been led, to not wish that their past was different than reality)
- reindeera deer that lives in the far north of Europe and North America
- reinforceemphasize, make clear
- relativenot absolute; considered in relation or in comparison to something else
- remnantwhat is left of something; the remains of something
- remorseregret, a feeling of guilt
- renownedfamous, well-known
- repulseddeeply offended
- reservationarea of land managed by a Native American tribe
- resolveto take care of a problem
- rest homea home for elderly (particularly sickly) people, often with medical care and personal assistance
- restrictednot open to everyone
- retrospectivelooking backward to the past
- revival meetingsmeetings to awaken religious fervor
- ribbona narrow strip of fabric, often for tying
- ripeready to be used for its intended purpose; when referring to fruit, in the perfect state of freshness to be eaten
- road movies, road storiesmovies and stories pertaining to the popular travel pastime of road trip
- road trippacking up a car with food and making a vacation out of a long drive.
- rockto move back and forth; a style of music (short for rock and roll)
- role modela person who leads by a positive and/or successful example; often includes a connotation (an association) with moral uprightness or moral living… often a role model is an older peer or elder that younger people 'look up to' in order to follow their example
- roller coastera fast ride at amusement parks
- roughlyapproximately, about
- 'round aboutapproximately, about
- RudolphRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a character in children's stories
- running waterwater in a house that comes through pipes
- rupturebreak or burst, used of pipes, or blood vessels or organs of the body
- ruralan area located outside of a main city or town, sometimes referred to as “countryside”
- rushhere: a sudden intense feeling
- sacred sitesplaces with religious significance to people who inhabited the area
- salona social gathering, often with a literary or artistic interests
- salvagesave or retrieve whatever parts are usable
- salvationthe act of saving
- saran wrapa thin clear plastic film for wrapping food
- saria traditional dress of India
- satellitean object that moves around a larger planet, or a machine in space that moves around the earth or another body
- say what?an expression of great surprise (informal)
- scatterbraineddisorganized, absentminded
- scenariosituation; an outlne of a film or play
- scofflawsomeone who doesn't obey rules or laws
- seala mammal that lives in the sea, with a streamlined body
- sean nósfrom Irish Gaelic, meaning old style
- searchlighta very large light directed at the sky
- Sears Roebucka large department store
- security checkpointwhere government officials or police check people at an airport
- seersuckera type of light fabric with raised and flat sections
- seesawtraditional children’s play apparatus, with by a long board supported in the middle; used metaphorically here as a mental picture of methodically 'going in and coming out.'
- seismic airgun (airgun)a machine that drives energy into the ocean, often used in looking for oil or gas under the sea
- seldomrarely, not very often
- Serengetiecosystem, geographical region in Africa, also a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site
- serpentsnake
- settlementa place where people have moved to or settled
- shackmakeshift, haphazard structures that are used for housing, often made out of wood, abandoned materials, scrap metal, etc.
- sharka large fish, often with sharp teeth
- sharpaged cheese is said to have a 'sharp' flavor
- shattering painextreme, terrible pain
- she didn't get itshe didn't understand
- shiftthe time he needed to work that day
- shift changesShift” refers to a period of time (usually marked by hours) which an employee works for its company on a particular day. An employee may have "night shift” or "day shift
- shrapnelpieces of a bullet or bomb after it has hit its target
- shrinkingbecoming smaller
- shufflingto shuffle: to walk slowly, hardly picking up one's feet
- siblinga brother or sister
- sick and tiredlost all patience
- sidestepto step away, step to the side
- Sierrasthe Sierra Nevada mountain range, located in parts of Nevada and California
- silly puttya toy like clay that can be stretched or molded
- singularremarkable, extraordinary, very unusual
- sitcomsituation comedy, a popular type of television programming
- sitesplaces of interest, locations of historical or cultural significance; often used in the context of tourism or travelling
- sketchpada pad of paper for drawing
- slendersomewhat thin, not fat
- slobberingdrooling; with saliva flowing from the mouth
- sluta woman who has many casual sexual partners (rude)
- snap out of itdon't feel sorry for yourself; to stop focusing on something negative
- social servicesorganizations that handle social welfare matters such as adoption
- socketseye-socket: the opening in the skull where eyes are located
- solitary confinementwhen one is held in prison apart from other prisoners
- something has come upsomething has happened
- song-trading sessiontime spent between musicians sharing their personal songs or music with each other
- soughtpast tense of seek
- soul-searchingterm used about the process a person might go through to 'find themselves,' find out who they are as a person, or what they might think about a certain issue or topic
- soundscapeall the sounds one can hear together in a place
- sparked an interestmade someone interested
- sparkling(of a drink) fizzy, carbonated
- Spartacusa character in ancient Greece
- speciesa group of individual animals related so they can breed, have children or offspring together; for example, different dogs are of the same species, but cats and dogs are different species
- specificityparticular words or ideas
- spectacularfantastic, wonderful
- spontaneousdone without planned intention; something that happens immediately or suddenly; done “on a whim”
- spontaneouslywithout planning
- spring feverexcitement or restlessness felt in the spring
- stackedplaced one on top of another
- stationary orbitan object that circles the earth in relation to a fixed point on earth is in stationary orbit
- steadycalm, stable
- STEMan acronym standing for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
- step-dadstepfather; the husband of one's mother after divorce or death of one's father
- stickballa street game played with a stick and a ball; somewhat like a simplified version of baseball
- stirrupsection of a saddle which holds the feet of a rider
- stock footageold standard film clips
- stoopballan informal game in which a ball is thrown against a stoop (the stairs leading up to a house or building)
- straightento make straight, stand straight
- straightforwardsimple, direct
- stressorsomething that causes stress
- strokea loss of brain function caused by a problem in the flow of blood to part of the brain
- studioa place for an artist, musician, or dancer to work
- stunnedamazed, very surprised
- stupefiedstunned, dazed; unable to think clearly from surprise
- sturdystrong, stable
- subsshort for submarines""
- substantially farthermuch farther
- supervery, extremely
- Superadobea new type of adobe, a building material often made of clay, sand, water, and straw
- supertankersvery large ships
- surface tensiona property of the surface liquids that can resist an external force
- surlyangry, sullen, grouchy
- suspendedheld over, hanging over
- swiga large swallow of a drink
- swollenhere: higher than usual
- syndromea group of symptoms of an illness
- tackssmall sharp objects like a very short nail
- takersomeone who accepts an idea or suggestion
- tampto press or tap down
- tanningthe process of making leather from animal skins
- tarta woman who dresses in a tasteless way to attract men's attention
- teenyvery small; a colloquial version of tiny
- telescopea tool used to make distant objects; we use telescopes to view the moon or other things in space
- templatea model or example
- tends toto have a tendency toward (or to do) something;” to have a general reaction or effect that is predictable or consistent
- terminal velocitythe highest speed something will fall through air
- the apple doesn't fall far from the treeidiom: children are much like their parents
- the Bronxthe northernmost of New York City’s five boroughs (or regions)
- the deltaan area of the American South including parts of Mississippi
- the Empire State Buildinga 103-story building in Manhatten, long seen as a cultural icon and symbol of New York City
- the fundamentalsthe basic, more important things
- the golden rule'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you' – often associated with Christian or Biblical roots, see Matthew 7:12 in the Bible
- the helpin this context 'the help' refers to African-Americans who needed to work as maids or servants for the white people who have now left
- the key elementthe most important thing
- the life of the partya lively, energetic person who makes a party fun for everyone else
- the lower 48other states in the continental US
- the man's wordhis promise; 'to give your word' means to make a promise
- the Occupy Movementprotests against economic and social inequality
- the princely sumthe amount
- themea melody or song written for a film or TV show
- TheRun1past tense of seek
- they got people therethey brought people there, made them come
- thrilledvery excited, overjoyed
- thriveto be very healthy
- thugscriminal, violent person
- thyold, archaic term for 'you'
- thyselfold, archaic term for 'yourself'
- tidal wavesvery large dangerous waves
- time-killingany activity used to take up time that would otherwise be spent doing nothing or waiting for something; also, to kill time""
- Time Outa magazine and website with information on events, activities, and things to do in New York
- tinkeringto tinker: to experiment, make small changes
- tinyvery small
- tippynot stable; when something may tip or fall over
- TitleDescription
- to abandonto leave behind
- to abuseto mistreat, hurt
- to address oneselfto turn one's attention to
- to alterto change
- to assessto estimate or evaluate
- to assimilateto make or become more like something else
- to baleto package leaves into bales, large bundles
- to be boundto be headed somewhere, to be going somewhere
- to be charged with a crimean official accusation of a crime
- to be discoveredhere: a term often used in relation to career prospects, particularly in the talent and entertainment industries; for example, someone might be discovered for a starring role in film or the theater
- to be the best henreferring to a hen in a coop, being the best or most qualified person
- to be up for somethingto be willing or able to do something
- to beatto hit, strike, hurt
- to bondto develop or keep close relationships
- to bustto arrest (slang)
- buzzedin an airplane: to fly by closely
- to call the testto cancel the test
- to castto give a role to an actor
- to catch onto become popular or accepted
- to catch up on somethingto finish something that should have been done earlier
- to chain-smoketo smoke continuously
- to chantrhythmic speaking or sounds, often used for a spiritual ceremony or meditation
- to check into show one's ticket and identification to get on a plane
- to clear securityto get past the security checkpoint
- to compensate forto make up for
- to counterto act against
- to cut your lossesto get out of a difficult situation before it gets worse
- to cycle throughto go back and forth
- to do timeto be in prison
- to drive (someone) nutsto annoy someone, to make them “go crazy” by bothering them
- to easeto move gently
- to engage someoneto get someone's attention, start talking with someone
- to exploitto use, make use of something; often used in a negative sense
- to expungeto remove, erase, delete
- to eye someoneto look at someone
- to facilitateto make something easier
- to feel at hometo feel comfortable in a place or situation
- to feel downto feel depressed
- to feel usedto feel someone has taken advantage of you
- to figureconsider, think, expect
- to floodto move as a large mass
- to flopto fall in a loose, heavy way
- to freak outto lose control or become overly worried
- to get out of itto fix, solve a problem
- to go by a nameto be called by a name
- to go downto happen, to occur (slang)
- to grantto give permission for something
- to handcuffto put handcuffs on someone
- to harborhere: to have a feeling or thought in your mind
- to have a thing forto be enthusiastic about, to like very much, to be a fan of
- to have no clueto have no idea, not understand at all
- to headto lead, to be in charge of
- to “hit the wall”to come to a point where one must stop, or to come to a physical or mental state when it is hard to continue
- to hitchhiketo stand on the side of a road to ask passing drivers for a ride
- to hold sacredto consider something valuable or precious
- to hoverto float in the air, staying in one place
- to interfereto prevent something from happening
- to light up the roomto bring energy and a good feeling to a gathering
- to likento compare, to say that something is similar to something else
- to lugto carry something heavy or awkward
- to make a fortuneto make a lot of money
- to make itto survive; to reach a place (often with difficulty)
- to maneuverto guide, direct, make one's way
- to mend one's waysto stop behaving poorly
- to monitorto manage, to watch or listen for
- to 'moon'a prank of taking down one’s pants and showing one’s buttocks or backside
- to mush up togetherto mix up
- to mutterto speak quietly to oneself, often from irritation
- to narrow something downto focus on more likely possibilities
- to neglect to do somethingto not do something that was expected
- to oscillateto swing or move back in forth at a regular rhythm
- to overwhelmto defeat, give far too much of something
- to pal aroundto spend time together as friends
- to partaketo sample, to take part in
- to pass awayto die
- to pass outto lose consciousness
- to pervadeto be present throughout something, to spread throughout something
- to plug intoto connect with a cord
- to poundto hit hard, loudly
- to processhere: to think something through
- to pull someone's legto joke
- to pull the wool over someone's eyesto trick or fool someone
- to purlointo steal
- to pursue musicto try music as a career
- to put someone upto give someone a place to stay; to let someone stay in your home
- to put up withto accept something or someone that may not be as good as one would like; to endure without complaining
- to quiverto shake, shiver
- to ramp upto make changes before a time of greater demands
- to rearto raise (a child)
- to relateto understand, to sympathize
- to relinquishto give up
- to resideto live
- to resuscitateto revive
- to run the numbersto calculate and explain the numbers
- to scrunchto squeeze, crumple
- to second-guessto criticize or judge someone, using hindsight
- to secureto fasten or fix something in place so that it cannot move
- to seizeto grab, grasp, take hold of
- to shape upto improve, get better
- to shoothere: to film; to shoot photographs = to take photographs
- to shut downto stop one's normal activities, avoid conversation and interaction
- to smackto hit, strike suddenly
- to sparkto start
- to stick withto continue with, continue using
- to stumble acrossto find
- to surface (memories)to come up, be remembered, to reappear
- to take some timehere: to take time off from work
- to take someone into give someone shelter, a place to stay
- to tipto push something to one side
- to torpedoto hit as a torpedo would (an underwater missile fired from a ship)
- to twinkleto shine or give off light in a way that flickers, seems to go on and off; for example, stars twinkle at night
- to vowmaking a solemn promise
- to weepto cry softly
- to what extentto what degree; how much
- to wind upto arrive at or be in a place, sometimes in an unexpected or unplanned way
- to wrenchto turn roughly
- to ziphere: to run quickly
- torcheslarge sticks with a flame
- tossto throw lightly or casually
- toss and turnto move about in bed when one can't sleep
- toughdifficult
- tough timea difficult time
- traceevidence, hint
- transcendsgoes beyond
- transfersa small ticket for continuing a bus trip
- transpersonal psychologya school of psychology that seeks to integrate spiritual experience with scientific psychology
- transportto take from one place to another; here used figuratively to describe the feeling that you have been taken to a very different place
- trima decorative section along the side or edges of something
- triple deckera boat with three decks, three levels
- trombonea large brass musical instrument with a slide
- trophya large cup or object received for winning a competition
- trumpeta brass musical instrument
- TSATransportation Security Administration; the organization responsible for safety at airports
- tumbleto fall
- tunnel visionwhen one thinks about one thing only, without considering the context
- turnoffthe place where you turn off a main road
- ‘twascolloquial variant of 'it + was'
- two sides of the same cointhings that seem different but are actually related
- ultimatelast, most extreme
- UNthe United Nations
- unannouncednot made known in advance
- uncannystrange, unusual, unsettling
- unchartedunknown, a place or territory that has not yet been discovered
- uncharted territorygreat uncertainty, lack of knowledge
- underlinedwhen a line appears under a word to emphasize it
- undersidea dark or hidden side
- unfitnot suited, unacceptable
- unfoldstakes place
- ungodlyhorrible, terrible, painful
- universalsomething applies to all people or situations
- unmakingruin, destruction
- unresponsivesilent, not responding
- upbringingthe way a child is raised
- vaguenot distinct, not clear
- vanityexcessive pride
- vehiclein this sense, a catalyst, or that which takes you to a new place or understanding of life
- velcroa kind of tape for fastening made of two strips, with tiny hooks and loops
- velociraptora kind of small, fast dinosaur
- verbalhaving to do with words and speech
- verdictthe decision of whether someone is guilty
- vernacularinformal speech, the everyday usage of ordinary people
- vibrantlively, full of energy
- videographersomeone who makes videos
- vigilkeeping awake to protest or pray
- virtuesgood qualities, moral behavior
- visceralrelated to the body or muscle tissues; often used figuratively to indicate a deep, instinctive feeling or reaction
- vividlyvery clearly
- vocalizedto give voice to, say
- voluntarilyof one's free will; not forced
- Walking Across America 2'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you' – often associated with Christian or Biblical roots, see Matthew 7:12 in the Bible
- walrusa large sea mammal with tusks
- waltza type of formal dance
- wannaan informal, colloquial pronunciation of "want to"
- warrantan order to appear in court, or that someone can be arrested
- wastelandsempty land without life
- waveslightly curly hair
- way the hell deep(informal) very, very deep
- weave in and outto walk among the rooms
- weirdstrange, unusual
- went downhillto go downhill: to get worse, not succeed
- we're doing our thingwe're doing what we want, what's expected
- What is this behind the bad look?Why are you giving me this bad look?
- whoa!an exclamation used to tell someone to stop
- wholesalecompletely
- wieldto use intentionally, with purpose (as in a weapon, a knife, etc.)
- willa will is a legal document that says what should be done with one's possessions after one dies
- wincha device with a turning wheel and a rope, for pulling heavy things
- winkto close one eye quickly
- wishy-washywithout a clear goal
- within earshotclose enough to hear
- wombthe part of a woman's body where a baby grows
- Wonder Breada type of very soft, white bread, mass-produced and sold in plastic bags
- wont to doin the habit of doing
- Word got aroundThe news was spread; people heard about what had happened
- workplacesplaces where one does one's job
- wrecksomething that has been destroyed or ruined; 'she's a wreck' here means that she is very worried or upset
- wretcha very unhappy, contemptible, or undeserving person
- xenophobiafear or dislike of people from other countries
- yearnedvery much wanted, desired
- Yellowstonea national park in Wyoming
- yokelan uneducated person from the countryside
- 'you’re workin' me hard''you’re making this difficult for me,' 'you're giving me a hard time'
- zoning boarda local government board that handles building permits
- Zubu-Baba bad guya name made up by Josh to refer to a frightening person