Nature & Weather vocabulary
100 words to learn about nature & weather.
Practice these words with flashcards →mountainA very high, steep-sided mass of land that rises well above the surrounding area, usually with a narrow top.riverA large natural stream of water that flows across the land, usually emptying into a sea, lake, or another river.forestA large wild area thickly covered with trees and undergrowth, bigger than a woods.oceanOne of the vast areas of salt water that lie between the continents.desertA dry, empty region with very little rain, water, or plant life.valleyA long, low stretch of land lying between hills or mountains, often with a river running along it.islandA piece of land, smaller than a continent, that has water on every side.weatherThe condition of the atmosphere in a place at a given moment, covering things like temperature, humidity, clouds, rain, and wind.stormA spell of severe weather with heavy rain, snow, or hail, often accompanied by thunder and lightning.thunderThe deep rumbling or crashing noise that follows a lightning flash, produced when the heated air around the bolt expands suddenly.lightningA sudden bright flash caused by a powerful electrical discharge inside a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground.rainbowA curved band of many colours that appears in the sky when sunlight passes through drops of rain.sunshineThe light and warmth that come directly from the sun.breezeA soft, mild movement of air.cloudA mass of tiny water drops floating together in the sky where it can be seen.snowSoft white flakes of frozen water that fall from the sky in cold weather and cover the ground.frostA thin layer of tiny ice crystals that forms on surfaces left out in cold air.humidHolding a noticeable amount of moisture; damp, especially describing air or weather.droughtA long stretch of time with far less rain than normal, worse and longer than an ordinary dry spell.floodA large amount of water spreading over land that is normally dry, often after heavy rain and usually causing damage.earthquakeA sudden trembling of the ground caused by shifts along faults in the earth or by volcanic activity.wildlifeAnimals living free in nature, especially mammals, birds, and fish, rather than kept by people.meadowAn open area of grassy land, often grown so the grass can be cut for hay.waterfallWater pouring down over the edge of a steep drop or cliff.horizonThe distant line where the land or sea seems to touch the sky.climateThe usual weather conditions of a place over a long period of time.sunsetThe time in the evening when the sun drops below the horizon in the west.sunriseThe moment in the morning when the sun rises above the horizon in the east.volcanoA mountain or hill with an opening at the top through which hot melted rock, ash, and gas sometimes burst out.glacierA huge mass of ice that moves slowly downhill under its own weight.jungleA dense, hot, wild forest in tropical areas, filled with untamed plants and animals.swampAn area of soft, waterlogged ground, often wooded, that supports rich wildlife but is poor for farming.cliffA steep, high face of rock that drops almost straight down.shoreThe strip of land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other still body of water.pebbleA little stone, often one worn smooth and round by water.blossomTo produce flowers or come into bloom.foggyCovered in fog, or hazy and hard to see or think through clearly.chillyUnpleasantly cold, in a way that makes you uncomfortable.muddyDirty with wet soil, or containing a lot of it.streamA narrow flow of water moving across the land, smaller than a river.canyonA deep, narrow valley with steep sides, carved through rock by a river.prairieA vast, mostly treeless plain covered in grass, particularly the flatlands of North America.tideThe regular rise and fall of the sea each day, driven by the pull of the moon and the sun.hailSmall balls of ice that fall from the sky like rain, often during thunderstorms.drizzleTo rain in very small, light drops.windyHaving a lot of wind.pondA body of still water, natural or artificial, that is smaller than a lake.wildernessWild, unsettled land left in its natural condition, home to wild animals and untamed plant life; also, a particular stretch of such land.landscapeAn area of land considered in terms of its natural shape and its geographical or built features.hillA raised area of land that is lower than a mountain.peakThe pointed top of a mountain, or a mountain with a pointed top.ridgeA long, narrow raised line or strip along a surface, such as the top of a hill or a raised edge.slopeA stretch of ground that rises or falls at a steady angle.caveA big natural hollow space underground or in the side of a cliff or hill.cavernA cave of great size.boulderA very big rock that sits apart from the ground around it.gravelSmall loose pieces of stone, often spread on paths, roads, and railway beds.sandTiny loose grains of worn-down rock, finer than gravel, found on beaches and in deserts and used in building.duneA mound or ridge of sand built up by the wind or by moving water.marshLow-lying ground that stays wet, typically covered with tall grasses and other soft plants.wetlandAn area of land that is largely under water, with patches of marshy or soggy ground.lakeA big body of water, or a similar liquid, that is enclosed by land on all sides.lagoonA stretch of shallow water cut off from the open sea by a strip of sand, rock, or reef.creekA small flowing body of fresh water, usually smaller than a river, though in Australia the word can describe much larger watercourses.brookA small, natural stream of flowing water, smaller than a river.springThe season of the year between winter and summer, when the weather gets warmer and plants start to grow.geyserA natural hot spring that regularly shoots columns of steam and boiling water into the air.reefA ridge of rock, coral, or sand lying just below or at the surface of the sea.coralA small sea animal of the class Anthozoa that lives in colonies and usually builds a hard chalky skeleton; also the colony such animals form.seashellThe hard outer covering left behind by a sea creature such as a clam or snail.seaweedA plant-like organism, such as kelp, that grows in the sea.tundraA cold, flat Arctic landscape where no trees grow.savannaA hot grassland ecosystem with scattered trees whose tops do not form a closed canopy.grasslandA large open area of land covered mostly by grass.rainforestA dense forest that grows where heavy rain falls all year round.woodlandAn area of land where trees and other woody plants grow.groveA small group of trees, or a little wooded area.orchardA piece of land where fruit or nut trees are grown.thicketA small but dense patch of bushes, shrubs, or young trees growing close together.shrubA bush; a woody plant that is shorter than a tree and usually grows several stems from one base.bushA plant with woody stems that grows shorter than a tree, usually under six meters, and has several stems instead of one trunk.fernA flowerless plant with feathery leaves that reproduces by releasing spores instead of seeds.mossA tiny green plant without seeds that grows in soft patches on soil, rocks, and tree trunks.vineA climbing plant on which grapes grow.rootThe part of a plant, usually below the ground, that holds it in place and takes in water and nutrients from the soil.trunkThe tall, thick woody part of a tree that holds it up and carries its branches.branchA woody limb that grows out from a tree's trunk and often splits into smaller parts.twigA thin little branch on a tree or shrub.leafThe flat, typically green part of a plant that grows from its stem or branches.petalOne of the colored, usually soft parts that form the outer ring of a flower.pollenThe fine, powder-like grains that flowers produce.nectarThe sugary liquid that flowers produce to attract bees, other insects, and birds.seedThe small, hard part that a plant produces and that can grow into a new plant of the same kind.sproutA new shoot growing from a seed or from another part of a plant.harvestThe time or activity of gathering crops once they are ripe.wildflowerA flowering plant that grows on its own in the wild rather than being planted.sunflowerA tall plant of the genus Helianthus with a large round flower head ringed by yellow petals.cactusA plant belonging to a family of spiny, water-storing succulents native to the Americas and adapted to hot, dry regions.mushroomThe soft, fleshy part of a fungus that grows above the ground or on rotting wood, often shaped like a small umbrella.pineconeThe cone-shaped part of a pine tree that holds its seeds.