Island of the Blue Dolphin

Matthew W.
Random vocabulary words from the book "Island of the Blue Dolphin"
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. signal
    any action or gesture that encodes a message
  2. tuning
    calibrating something to a standard frequency
  3. raid
    a sudden short attack
  4. rest
    take a short break from one's activities in order to relax
  5. Niger
    a landlocked republic in West Africa
  6. vary
    become different in some particular way
  7. coral
    a very small ocean creature that often forms reefs
  8. whale
    largest mammal with a streamlined body and a blowhole
  9. canoe
    a small, light boat propelled with a paddle
  10. release
    grant freedom to; free from confinement
  11. island
    a land mass that is surrounded by water
  12. full
    containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
  13. eerie
    suggestive of the supernatural; mysterious
  14. new
    not of long duration
  15. spear
    a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
  16. preparation
    setting in order in advance some act or purpose
  17. cormorant
    large, dark-colored, long-necked seabird
  18. otter
    freshwater carnivorous mammal having webbed and clawed feet and dark brown fur
  19. port
    where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
  20. Aleut
    a community of Native Americans who speak an Eskimo-Aleut language and inhabit the Aleutian Islands and southwestern Alaska
  21. still
    not in physical motion
  22. pelt
    the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
  23. trouble
    a source of difficulty
  24. sea
    a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
  25. warrior
    someone engaged in or experienced in warfare
  26. beach
    an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
  27. stunted
    inferior in size or quality
  28. decree
    a legally binding command or decision
  29. command
    an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
  30. rule
    prescribed guide for conduct or action
  31. battleground
    a region where a conflict is being (or has been) fought
  32. portion
    something determined in relation to a thing that includes it
  33. piece
    a separate part of a whole
  34. potion
    a medicinal or magical or poisonous beverage
  35. allotment
    distribution according to a plan
  36. perish
    pass from physical life
  37. polish
    make (a surface) shine
  38. die
    lose all bodily functions necessary to sustain life
  39. expire
    lose validity
  40. capsize
    overturn accidentally
  41. shirker
    a person who shirks his work or duty
  42. deadbeat
    someone who fails to meet a financial obligation
  43. goof-off
    an idle worthless person
  44. ample
    more than enough in size or scope or capacity
  45. enough
    sufficient for the purpose
  46. lots
    a large number or amount
  47. unmindful
    (followed by `to' or `of') lacking conscious awareness of
  48. needy
    poor enough to need help from others
  49. abound
    exist in large quantities
  50. abundant
    present in great quantity
  51. swarm
    a group of many things in the air or on the ground
  52. shroud
    burial garment in which a corpse is wrapped
  53. reveal
    make visible
  54. cloaked
    covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
  55. concealed
    not accessible to view
  56. ponder
    reflect deeply on a subject
  57. think
    judge or regard; look upon; judge
  58. orate
    make speeches
  59. ruminate
    reflect deeply on a subject
  60. quantity
    how much there is or how many there are of something
  61. amount
    how much there is of something that you can quantify
  62. volume
    the property of something that is great in magnitude
  63. quality
    an essential and distinguishing attribute of something
  64. stern
    serious and harsh in manner or behavior
  65. serious
    of great consequence
  66. flippant
    showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
  67. austere
    of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
  68. abalone
    a large edible marine gastropod with an ear-shaped shell
  69. vain
    having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
  70. confusion
    a mistake that results from taking one thing to be another
  71. pitch
    a dark heavy viscid substance obtained as a residue
  72. gust
    a strong current of air
  73. mast
    a vertical spar for supporting sails
  74. comfort
    a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
  75. spit
    the act of spitting (forcefully expelling saliva)
  76. scurry
    move about or proceed hurriedly
  77. gorge
    a deep ravine, usually with a river running through it
  78. lair
    the place where a wild animal lives
  79. ravine
    a deep narrow steep-sided valley
  80. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
  81. sinew
    a band of tissue connecting a muscle to its bony attachment
  82. valley
    a long depression in the surface of the land
  83. chief
    the head of a tribe or clan
  84. alliteration
    use of the same consonant at the beginning of each word
  85. simile
    a figure of speech expressing a resemblance between things
  86. secure
    free from danger or risk
  87. befall
    become of; happen to
  88. skirt
    pass around or about; move along the border
  89. trinket
    a small cheap ornament, knickknack, or piece of jewelry
  90. chafing
    soreness or irritation of the skin caused by friction
  91. stunted
    inferior in size or quality
  92. slink
    move or walk stealthily
  93. shaft
    a long rod or pole, especially the body of a weapon
  94. clamor
    utter or proclaim insistently and noisily
  95. crevice
    a long narrow opening
  96. undersized
    smaller than normal for its kind
  97. avoid
    stay away from
  98. safe
    free from danger or the risk of harm
  99. crack
    a narrow opening
  100. sneaking
    not openly expressed
  101. noise
    sound of any kind
  102. knickknack
    a small, inexpensive decorative object
  103. muscle
    animal tissue consisting predominantly of contractile cells
  104. happen
    come to pass
  105. handle
    touch, lift, or hold
  106. den
    the habitation of wild animals
  107. rubbing
    effort expended in moving one object over another with pressure
  108. gnaw
    bite or chew on with the teeth
  109. secure
    free from danger or risk
  110. jealous
    suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival
  111. utensil
    an implement for practical use
  112. displease
    give displeasure to
  113. basket
    a container that is usually woven and has handles
  114. waddle
    walk unsteadily
  115. ember
    a hot, smoldering fragment of wood left from a fire
  116. prowl
    move about in or as if in a predatory manner
  117. forbid
    command against
  118. gruel
    a thin porridge
  119. elephant
    a very large, plant-eating, gray animal with a trunk and floppy ears
  120. pursuer
    a person who is following and trying to overtake or capture
  121. venture
    an undertaking with an uncertain outcome
  122. fetch
    go or come after and bring or take back
  123. stalking
    the act of following prey stealthily
  124. pace
    the relative speed of progress or change
  125. fortunate
    having unexpected good luck
  126. abandoned
    forsaken by owner or inhabitants
  127. lapping
    covering with a design in which one element covers a part of another (as with tiles or shingles)
  128. matted
    tangled in a dense mass
  129. warily
    in a manner marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
  130. prey
    animal hunted or caught for food
  131. lure
    provoke someone to do something through persuasion
  132. faggot
    a bundle of sticks and branches bound together
  133. fierce
    marked by extreme and violent energy
  134. braiding
    trimming used to decorate clothes or curtains
  135. entangled
    twisted together in a tangled mass
  136. pry
    move or force in an effort to get something open
  137. haunch
    the upper part of the leg of an animal, often used for food
  138. roost
    a perch on which birds or bats rest or sleep
  139. curious
    eager to investigate and learn or learn more
  140. seldom
    not often
  141. image
    a visual representation produced on a surface
  142. sprawl
    sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
  143. gesture
    motion of hands or body to emphasize a thought or feeling
  144. secret
    not openly made known
  145. prow
    the front part of a vessel
  146. reproach
    express criticism towards
  147. strange
    unusual or out of the ordinary
  148. admire
    feel high regard for
  149. glossy
    reflecting light
  150. bellow
    make a loud noise, as of an animal
  151. squint
    partly close one's eyes, as when hit by direct light
  152. praise
    an expression of approval and commendation
  153. whisper
    speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
  154. inhabit
    live in; be a resident of
  155. despise
    look down on with disdain or disgust
  156. dull
    so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
  157. stern
    serious and harsh in manner or behavior
  158. bind
    secure with or as if with ropes
  159. teeter
    move unsteadily, with a rocking motion
  160. dusk
    the time of day immediately following sunset
  161. hobble
    walk unevenly due to pain, injury, or weakness
  162. survive
    continue in existence after
  163. fledgling
    young bird that has just become capable of flying
  164. scarce
    deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand
  165. nuzzle
    gently rub or push one's nose or face against something
  166. collage
    a paste-up of pieces to form an artistic image
  167. frisk
    search by running the hands rapidly over the clothing
  168. crest
    the top or extreme point of something
  169. vanquish
    defeat in a competition, race, or conflict
  170. glimpse
    a brief or incomplete view
  171. victor
    a combatant who is able to defeat rivals
  172. graceful
    characterized by beauty of movement, style, or form
  173. current
    occurring in or belonging to the present time
  174. tsunami
    a cataclysm resulting from a destructive sea wave
  175. shimmer
    shine with a weak or fitful light
  176. smelt
    extract by heating, as a metal
  177. anchor
    a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
  178. plank
    a wooden board used for building or making a structure
  179. trouser
    (usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
  180. thereabouts
    near that time or date
  181. seam
    joint consisting of a line formed by joining two pieces
  182. wreckage
    the remaining parts of something that has been destroyed
  183. ancestor
    someone from whom you are descended
  184. ornament
    something used to beautify
  185. hasten
    move fast
  186. unsettled
    still in doubt
  187. synopsis
    a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument
  188. flippant
    showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
Created on Mon Oct 14 11:32:42 EDT 2013 (updated Mon Oct 14 11:45:51 EDT 2013)

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