環境と自然

mountain (large, high landform)

A very high, steep area of land, much higher than the surrounding ground.

hill (small raised landform, lower than a mountain)

A raised area of land, smaller and lower than a mountain.

valley (low land between hills/mountains)

A low area of land between hills or mountains, often with a river running through it.

river (large flowing body of water)

A large natural stream of water flowing towards the sea, a lake, or another river.

lake (large body of still water surrounded by land)

A large area of water surrounded by land.

ocean (vast body of salt water)

One of the very large areas of salt water that cover most of the Earth.

sea (salt water, often by the coast)

The salt water that covers much of the Earth's surface, especially as seen from a coast.

beach (sandy/stony shore by water)

An area of sand or small stones next to the sea or a lake.

coast (land along the edge of the sea)

The land along the edge of the sea.

forest (large area covered with trees)

A large area thickly covered with trees.

jungle (dense tropical forest)

A tropical forest where plants and trees grow very thickly.

desert (large dry, often sandy area)

A large, dry area of land, often covered with sand, where few plants grow.

island (land surrounded by water)

A piece of land completely surrounded by water.

cliff (high steep rock face, often by the sea)

A high, steep area of rock, often at the edge of the sea.

cave (natural underground hollow)

A large natural hole in the side of a hill or under the ground.

waterfall (water falling over a drop)

Water that falls from a high place, usually over rocks, to a lower place.

field (open land for crops or grazing)

An area of open land, especially one used for growing crops or keeping animals.

rock (hard stone material or large stone)

The hard solid substance that forms part of the Earth's surface, or a large piece of it.

stream (small narrow river)

A small narrow river.

soil (earth in which plants grow)

The top layer of earth in which plants grow.

sand (fine grains of rock on beaches/deserts)

A powder of very small grains of rock, found on beaches and in deserts.

tree (tall woody plant)

A tall plant with a trunk, branches, and leaves, that lives for many years.

flower (coloured blooming part of a plant)

The coloured part of a plant from which seeds or fruit develop.

grass (green ground-covering plant)

The common green plant with thin leaves that covers fields and gardens.

plant (living thing that grows in soil)

A living thing that grows in the ground and usually has leaves, roots, and a stem.

leaf (flat green part of a plant)

One of the flat green parts of a plant that grow from a stem or branch.

branch (limb of a tree)

One of the parts of a tree that grows out from the trunk and has leaves on it.

root (underground part of a plant)

The part of a plant that grows under the ground and takes in water and food.

bush (low woody plant, smaller than a tree)

A plant smaller than a tree, with many branches growing close to the ground.

woods (small forest, area of trees)

A small forest; an area covered with trees, usually used in the plural.

seed (small part a plant grows from)

A small hard part of a plant from which a new plant grows.

nature (the natural world)

All the plants, animals, and other things in the world that are not made by people.

the environment (natural world affected by humans)

The natural world, including the air, water, and land, especially as affected by human activity.

landscape (the look of a large area of land)

Everything you can see when you look across a large area of land.

pollution (harmful contamination of the environment)

Damage caused to water, air, or land by harmful substances or waste.

to pollute (make the environment dirty/harmful)

To make air, water, or land dirty and dangerous with harmful substances.

recycling (reusing waste materials)

The process of treating used materials so they can be used again.

to recycle (process waste for reuse)

To treat used objects or materials so that they can be used again.

climate (long-term weather pattern of a region)

The general weather conditions in a particular place over a long period.

climate change (global change in weather patterns)

Changes in the world's weather patterns, especially the rise in temperature caused by human activity.

conservation (protection of nature)

The protection of nature, including plants, animals, and natural areas.

to protect (keep safe from harm)

To keep someone or something safe from harm or damage.

waste (rubbish/unwanted leftover material)

Unwanted materials or substances that are left after you have used something.

rubbish (waste thrown away; British English for garbage/trash)

Things you throw away because you no longer want them (British English).

litter (rubbish dropped in public places)

Waste paper, cans, and other rubbish left lying around in public places.

energy (power for heat, light, machines)

Power from electricity, gas, or other sources, used to make machines work and provide heat and light.

global warming (rising temperature of the Earth)

The gradual increase in the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere.

natural (coming from nature, not artificial)

Existing in or made by nature, not made or caused by people.

wild (living/growing freely in nature)

Living or growing in nature, not kept or controlled by people.

organic (grown without artificial chemicals)

Produced or grown without using artificial chemicals.

green (environmentally friendly; or full of plants)

Connected with protecting the environment, or covered with grass and plants.

wildlife (wild animals and plants in nature)

Animals, birds, and plants living in their natural environment.

national park (protected natural area)

A large area of natural land protected by the government for people to enjoy.

countryside (rural land outside cities)

Land outside towns and cities, with fields, woods, and farms.

view (scenery seen from a place)

The things you can see from a particular place, especially beautiful natural scenery.

to save (use less, avoid wasting resources)

To use less of something such as energy or water so that none is wasted.

fuel (material burned for energy)

A substance such as coal, gas, or oil that is burned to produce heat or power.

renewable (energy that won't run out, e.g. wind/solar)

Describing energy from natural sources such as wind and sun that will not run out.

to damage (cause physical harm to something)

To harm something physically so that it is broken or in worse condition.

pure (clean, not mixed with anything harmful)

Clean and not mixed with anything harmful; used about air, water, or natural things.

fresh (clean and cool, e.g. air; or not salty, e.g. water)

Clean, cool, and pleasant (used especially about air); or not containing salt (used about water).

to grow (develop/get bigger, intransitive; or cultivate, transitive)

To develop and become bigger (of plants and other living things); or to cultivate plants and crops.

garbage (American English; British: rubbish)

American English word for waste or unwanted material that is thrown away.

trash (American English; British: rubbish)

American English word for waste or rubbish that is thrown away.