Vocabulary

Activity

Air

Arrange

Arrangement

Blizzard

Bloom

Blossom

boiling

breeze

changeable

n something that you do for interest or pleasure or because you want to achieve something outdoor activities

• Rebecca has always loved horse riding and other outdoor activities.

leisure activities

• She has a lot of activities that take up her spare time.

Syn: action, occupation

n the mixture of gases surrounding the Earth, that we breathe fresh air (= clean air)

• Let's go outside and get some fresh air. in the open air

• Is it warm enough to sit in the open air?

v to organize or make plans for something such as a meeting, party or trip

• Ann's arranging a surprise party for Russell's birthday.

n make arrangements (=to arrange all the details of an event, such as dates, times, and places after you have decided what you are going to do)

• Rita and Howard are busy making arrangements for their wedding.

• I've made an arrangement to leave early on Friday.

n a severe storm with a lot of snow and wind

• The car was stuck in a blizzard. n in (full) bloom (= a plant that is in bloom has flowers that are open)

• The azaleas are in full bloom.

n in (full) blossom (= a bush or tree that is in blossom has flowers on it)

adj very hot (spoken)

• It was a horrible weekend over here. It was boiling. Syn: baking

n a gentle wind

• A nice cool breeze came in off the sea. a slight/ gentle breeze

adj likely to change, or changing often

• We have very changeable weather here, especially in the winter.

Chilly

Clear

Climate

Close

Cloudy

Cold

Cool

adj cold enough to make you feel uncomfortable

• The wind's a bit chilly.

it's chilly (= the weather is chilly)

• It's getting chilly -1 think we 'II go inside.

v if the weather, sky, mist etc. clears, it becomes better or there is more sun

• The fog usually clears around noon. clear up

• / hope it clears up by the weekend.

n 1. the typical weather conditions in a particular area

• Queensland has a warm tropical climate. 2. an area with particular weather conditions

• These flowers will not grow in cold climates, adj very warm in a way that is uncomfortable because there seems to be no air

• It's very close today. Syn: stuffy, stifling

adj cloudy weather is dark because the sky is full of clouds

• It is cloudy with outbreaks of rain.

adj 1. when there is cold weather, the temperature of the air is very low

• There was a very cold winter that year.

• It's so cold. I wish I was back home in Greece. freezing cold/ bitterly cold (= extremely cold)

• It gets freezing cold at night in the mountains. get cold (= become cold)

• It's supposed to get cold again during the week. turn cold (= become cold or colder, especially suddenly)

• / can't believe it's turned so cold after the nice weather we had last week.

cold snap (= a sudden short period of very cold

weather)

cold spell (= a period of several days or weeks of very

cold weather)

2. feeling cold

be cold/ feel cold/ look cold

• Come and sit down by the fire. You look cold, n the cold (= a low temperature or cold weather)

• Nobody wanted to go out in the cold.

• Come in out of the cold.

• / don't like the cold.

adj low in temperature, but not cold, often in a way that feels nice.

• It's lovely and cool in here.

Damp

dog days

downpour

drizzle

drizzle

drought

dry

enjoy

Enjoyable

Fall

Fall

Fog

adj slightly wet, sometimes in a cold way that is not nice

• The ground was too damp to sit on. damp weather

n AmE the hot uncomfortable days in July and August the dog days of summer

n a lot of rain that falls in a short time

• The downpour had caused a flood.

v it drizzles (= if it drizzles, light rain and mist come out of the sky)

• It 's been drizzling all day.

• / think I 'II walk to work — it's only drizzling.

n weather that is a combination of mist and light rain

• A light drizzle had started by the time we left.

n a long period of dry weather when there is not enough water

• Southern Africa is suffering its worst drought of the century.

adj having very little rain or moisture

• The weather tomorrow will be sunny and dry. the dry season

v to get pleasure from something

• Did you enjoy the party? enjoy doing something

• My father enjoys playing golf at weekends. enjoy yourself (= have fun and feel happy when you are doing something)

• The party was full of people enjoying themselves in the sunshine.

• Enjoy yourselves! adj

adj giving you pleasure

• It was a very enjoyable afternoon.

• I find aerobics more enjoyable than jogging, v v to become lower in price, amount, level etc.

• Temperatures should fall below zero tonight, n n the fall AmE/ autumn BrE

• Fall is my favorite season. in the fall

• It happened in the fall.

n thick cloudy air near the ground that is difficult to see through

• Watch out for patches of fog in low-lying areas. thick/ dense fog (= a lot of fog)

• Dense fog is making driving conditions difficult on many roads.

the fog lifts/ clears (= it goes away)

• The fog has almost cleared - our plane will be able to take off soon.

Foggy

Forecast

Freeze

Freezing

Fresh

Frost

adj very misty, not clear because of fog

• a damp and foggy morning

n the weather forecast (= a statement in a newspaper, or on the TV or radio, saying what the weather will be like during the next few days)

• According to the weather forecast, it's going to stay hot for the rest of the week.

v 1. if a liquid or thing freezes, or something freezes it, it becomes hard and solid because it is very cold

• The lake had frozen overnight.

it's freezing (= used to say that the temperature is extremely cold)

• It's freezing in here - can't we shut a few windows?

freeze over (= if an area or pool of water freezes over, its surface turns into ice)

• We 'II go skating if the lake has frozen over. 2. if someone freezes, they feel very cold

• You 'II freeze if you don 'tput a coat on. freeze to death (- feel extremely cold)

• Come inside, you must be freezing to death, adj adj extremely cold, or feeling extremely cold

• Close the window — it's freezing in here. above/ below freezing (= above or below the temperature at which water freezes)

• Temperatures remained below freezing during the afternoon.

freezing point (= the temperature at which water turns into ice)

adj wind or weather that is fresh feels fairly cold

• a fresh breeze

n 1. ice that looks white and powdery and covers things outside when the temperature is very low

• The grass and trees were white with frost. 2. very cold weather, when water freezes

• The Ohio valley is expecting the first frost of the season by Monday morning.

late/ early frost

• Even in May we can sometimes get a late frost.

hard frost (= extremely cold weather) frost-bite (= a condition caused by extreme cold, that makes your fingers, toes etc. swell, become darker and sometimes fall off) frostbitten

Frosty

Fun

Gale

Habit

adj 1. extremely cold

• They were both shivering slightly from the frosty air. -

2. covered with frost

• She stumbled, falling heavily on the frosty ground.

n an experience or activity that is very enjoyable and exciting

• You should have come to the party last night. It was fun.

have fun (= to have an enjoyable time)

• The children were having so much fun, I hated to call them inside.

• Did you have fun at Denny's the other night? have fun doing something

• We had fun trying to guess who Mike's new girlfriend was.

good fun (= very enjoyable)

• Have you ever been windsurfing? It's really good fun.

It is fun to do something/ it is fun doing something

• It's fun to play in the pool.

It's no fun

• It's no fun to be working inside when the weather's nice.

for fun

• We drove all the way to the beach, just for fun. n a very strong wind

• The ship sank in the gale.

It is blowing a gale BrE {= it is very windy)

n something that you do regularly, often without thinking about it because you have done it so many times before

• Dalton was a man of regular habits.

out of habit/ from habit (= because it is a habit)

• I still shop at К mart out of habit, even though Wal-Mart is closer.

be in the habit of doing something

• Jeff was in the habit of taking a walk after dinner.

get into/ get in/ out of the habit (= start/ stop doing

Hail

Heat

Hobby

Hobbyhorse

Hot

humid

something regularly)

• You should get into the habit of exercising when you 're young.

• Since we moved into the city centre, I've gotten out of the habit of walking every evening.

have a habit of doing something

• She has an annoying habit of leaving her books all over the floor.

• Old habits die hard.

n frozen rain that falls as balls of ice

• Hail the size of golf balls fell in Andrews, Texas

n 1. very hot weather

• I'm just not used to this kind of heat. the heat

• / couldn 't stand the heat.

the heat of the day (= the hottest part of the day)

2. warmth or hotness

• Black surfaces absorb heat from the sun. heatstroke (= fever and weakness caused by being outside in the heat of the sun for too long)

heat wave (= a period of unusually hot weather, especially one that continues for a long time)

The heat wave continued throughout August and into September.

n an activity that you enjoy doing in your free time

• My hobbies are windsurfing and playing the guitar.

n be/ get on your hobbyhorse (= talk for a long time about a subject you think is very interesting or important)

adj 1. having a high temperature

• It was hot and humid in the Caribbean.

• We had three weeks of very hot weather. boiling hot/ scorching hot (= used to describe weather that is extremely hot)

• a boiling hot day in August

burning hot (= used to describe the sun or a surface when it is extremely hot)

• the burning hot sands of the desert

stifling/ sweltering hot (= used to describe weather or places that are uncomfortably hot)

2. if you feel hot, your body feels warm in a way that is uncomfortable

• The travellers were hot, tired, and thirsty.

adj weather that is humid makes you feel uncomfortable because the air feels very hot and wet

• The forecast is for another hot and humid afternoon today.

• Tokyo is very humid in the summer.

• / don't mind how hot it is, as long as it isn 't humid.

Hurricane

Icy

Interest

Keep

Leisure

n a storm that has very strong, fast winds and that usually moves over water

• The hurricane devastated Florida and killed at least forty people.

adj 1. extremely cold

• An icy wind blewfnom the north.

2. covered in ice

• The sidewalks were icy and slippery.

n a subject or activity that you enjoy studying or doing

• Her main interest in life is tennis.

• List your leisure time interests on the back of the form.

outside interests (= interests other than work)

• Ms. Walters has many outside interests.

2. a feeling that makes you want to pay attention to someone or something or to find out more about them or it lose interest (= stop being interested)

• / used to go to photography classes every week, but then I just lost interest.

take an interest in (= be interested in something) show/ express interest (= say you are interested in something)

• Lora has shown interest in learning to dance. with (great) interest

• Richard listened with interest to the conversation at the next table.

of interest (- interesting)

• Tourist information will give you a list of local places of interest.

have no interest in doing something (= not to want to do something)

• / have no interest in continuing this conversation,

v to continue, to be in a particular state, condition, or

place and not change or move

• This week the weather will keep warm.

• With this wind it's so difficult to keep warm!

n time when you are not working or studying and can relax and do things you enjoy leisure activities leisure time

• In her leisure time she visits museums and galleries.

Lightning

Melt

Mist

Misty

Offer

Outing

Overcast

pastime

n a powerful flash of light in the sky caused by electricity and usually followed by thunder a flash of lightning

• A flash of lightning lit up the whole sky.

forked lightning

We saw forked lightning as the storm got closer.

v if something solid melts or if heat melts it, it becomes liquid

• It was not very cold, and some snow had melted.

• The snow was melting in the early morning sun.

n a light cloud low over the ground that makes it

difficult for you to see very far

• Within seconds he had completely vanished in the mist.

• A light mist descended on the mountain.

adj misty weather is weather with a lot of mist

• The forecast says it will be wet and misty tomorrow.

v 1. to say that you are willing to give someone

something, or to hold something out to them so they can take it offer somebody something

• You haven 't offered Grandma any ice cream. offer something to somebody

• Offer some coffee to the guests.

2. to say that you are willing to do something

• / don 't need any help, but it was nice of you to offer.

offer to do something

• My dad has offered to pick us up. accept an offer (= say yes)

refuse an offer (= say no)

• How could you refuse such a fantastic offer?

n a short enjoyable trip for a group of people

• a class outing to the ballet

adj it is dark with clouds, and there will probably be rain

• / think it's going to rain - the sky's very overcast.

n something that you do in your free time because you ind it enjoyable or interesting

Reading was her favourite pastime.

Pour

Propose

Rain

Rain

v to rain heavily without stopping (also pour down)

• The rain poured down endlessly.

it's pouring/ it poured

• It poured all night.

it's pouring rain/ hail etc. AmE

• It's pouring rain out there!

v 1. to formally suggest a plan, time, or way of doing something

• We proposed several dates for the next meeting, but they were all rejected.

propose something to somebody

• We 'II have to wait and see what kind of solutions they propose to us.

propose that someone do something

• What do you propose that Michael do?

propose doing something

propose to do something

2. to ask someone to marry you, especially in a formal way

• David proposed to me only six months after we met.

n water that falls in small drops from clouds in the sky

• The rain was beating against the window.

in the rain

• / like walking in the rain.

• We got caught in the rain and I'm soaked through.

heavy/ light rain (= a large or small amount)

• We 've had heavy rain and the roads are flooded.

it looks like rain (= it is probably going to rain)

It looks like rain, so let's go inside.

pour with rain BrE (= to rain very hard)

• It was pouring with rain as we set off.

rain falls (- comes down from the sky)

the rains (= a period in the year when there is a lot of rain in tropical countries)

Syn: monsoon

• The rains have started early this year.

(come) rain or shine

• Don't worry. We 11 be there - rain or shine.

as right as rain (= to be healthy especially after you have been ill or had a bad experience)

v if it rains, drops of water fall from clouds in the sky

• It was raining hard.

rain cats and dogs (= to rain very hard)

Rainbow

Raincoat

Raindrop

Rainfall

rain forest

rain gauge

rainproof

rain storm

rain water

rainy

refuse

Relax

n a large curve of different colours that can appear in the sky when there is both sun and rain

n a coat that you wear when it is raining

n a single drop of rain

n the amount of rain that falls on an area in a particular period of time

• an area with very low rainfall

n a tropical forest with tall trees that are very close together, growing in an area where it rains a lot

• the Brazilian rainforest.

n an instrument that is used for measuring the amount of rain

adj able to keep rain out

• a rainproof jacket

n a sudden heavy fall of rain

n water that has fallen as rain

adj rainy day/ afternoon/ weather etc..(= a day etc when it rains a lot)

• Save it for a rainy day (= to save something, especially money for a time when you will need it)

v 1. to say or show that you will not do something that someone has asked you to do

• I'm sure if you ask her to help you, she won't refuse.

refuse to do something

• Steen refused to answer any questions.

refuse point blank/ flatly refuse (= refuse very firmly and directly)

• The boy flatly refused to go back to hospital.

2. to say no to something that you have been offered

• Their offer is too good to refuse.

Syn: to reject, to turn down

Opp: accept, agree to

refuse somebody something (= to not give or allow someone something that they want)

• The US authorities refused him a visa.

Syn: to decline

v to feel calm and comfortable and stop worrying, or to make someone do this

• Hey, relax, you 're going to be all right.

• After a hard day's work, relax in the swimming pool

Relaxed

Relaxing

Rise

Scorching

Season

Set in

Settle

shine

adj feeling calm and comfortable and not worried

• Gary was lying in the sun looking very relaxed and happy.

adj making you feel relaxed

• a relaxing afternoon in the garden

v 1. to increase in number, amount, or value

• The Earth's average temperature will rise by about four degrees Fahrenheit by 2020.

2. if the wind rises, it becomes stronger

• A strong wind rose off the coast of Florida.

adj extremely hot

• It was scorching on the tennis court.

scorching hot

n 1. one of the four main periods in a year, spring, summer, autumn/ fall (AmE), or winter

2. a period of time in a year when something happens most often or when something is usually done

rainy/ dry/ wet etc. season (= when there is a lot of

rain etc.)

growing/ raspberry/ asparagus etc. season (= when

particular plants are growing)

hunting/ shooting/ fishing etc. season (= when you can do that sport)

tourist season (AmE)/ holiday season (BrE) (= the time of year when people come to a particular place for a holiday)

the holiday season (AmE) (= the period of time

between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day)

high/ peak season (= the time of year when a place is most busy, especially a holiday place)

low/ off/ slack season (= the time of year when a place or company is not busy)

season's greetings (= used especially on cards to say that you hope someone has a nice Christmas)

v if something sets in, especially something unpleasant, it begins and seems likely to continue for a long time

• Winter seems to be setting in early this year.

v to decide on something, especially so that you can make definite arrangements

• Nothing is settled yet.

• There's not much time to settle the details of our trip.

• That's settled.

v to produce light

• At last the sun was shining after weeks of rain.

shower

sleet

sleet

slippery

slush

snow

snow

snowball

snowbird (AmE)

snow day

Snowdrift

Snowdrop

Snowfall

Snowflake

Snowstorm

Soak

n a short period of rain or snow

• It was just a shower, so we didn 't get too wet. heavy showers (= when a lot of rain falls during short periods)

• Heavy showers are forecast for the weekend.

n snow and rain that fall when it is veiy cold

v • The sky was overcast and it began to sleet.

adj something that is slippery is difficult to hold, walk оn etc. because it is wet or greasy

• Dan lost control of his car on a slippery road.

n partly melted snow

• Everything had melted into brown slush within a few hours.

n water frozen into soft white pieces that fall from the sky in cold weather and cover the ground

• The trees were covered with snow.

deep snow (= a lot of snow that has fallen on the ground)

• Tony and I trudged home through the deep snow.

v if it snows, snow falls from the sky

• It snowed all night.

it's snowing heavily/ hard (= snowing a lot)

• It snowed heavily all day long.

n a ball made of snow that someone has pressed together

• The kids were having a snowball fight outside. n someone, especially a retired person who leaves their home in a cold part of the US or Canada to live in a warm part of the US for the winter

n a day when schools, businesses etc. are closed because there is too much snow for people to travel

n a deep mass of snow piled up by the wind

n a European plant with a small white flower which appears in early spring

n an occasion when snow falls from the sky, or the

amount that falls in a particular period of time

• There was very little snowfall last year.

n a small soft piece of frozen water that falls as snow

n a storm with strong winds and a lot of snow

v to make something completely wet, or to become completely wet

• If you don't take your umbrella, you 're going to get soaked.

• The rain came suddenly and soaked all the

washing.

Soaked

spell

stifling

sun

sunbathe

sunbeam

sunburn

sun-drenched

sunlight

sunny

sunshine

sunstroke

suntan

suggest

adj soaked through (= completely wet)

• Get those clothes off; they 're soaked right through.

• soaked to the skin (= wearing clothes that are completely wet)

n a period of a particular type of activity, weather etc., usually a short period

a cold/ wet/ dry spell

• We had another cold spell last week.

adj a room or weather that is stifling is very hot and difficult to breathe in

• a stifling crowded carriage

n the heat and light that come from the sun

• That side of the house gets the most sun.

in the sun

• / can't sit in the sun any more - it's too hot.

catch the sun (BrE)/ get the sun (AmE)(= to spend time outside in the sun, especially to make your skin brown)

• It looks like you got a little sun today.

v to sit or lie outside in the sun, especially in order to become brown

• a good beach for sunbathing

n a beam of light from the sun that you can see because it is shining through a cloud, window etc.

n a condition of having skin that is red and painful, as a result of spending too much time in the sun

adj a sun-drenched place is one where the sun shines most of the time

• the sun-drenched Mediterranean

n natural light that comes from the sun

bright/ direct sunlight

adj full of light from the sun

• a sunny afternoon

n a word meaning the light and heat that come from the sun, used when you want to say that this is nice

• We sat outside in the warm spring sunshine.

n fever, weakness etc. caused by being outside in the sun for too long

n attractively brown skin which you get when you spend a lot of time in the sun

v to tell someone your ideas about what they should do, where they should go etc.

• If this is not convenient, please suggest another

date.

suggest doing something

• John suggested going together in one car. suggest (that)

• / suggest we take a break and finish this later.

• Mark's sister suggested that we go to Spain this summer.

• My Dad suggested that I should apply for a job. suggest how/ where/ what etc.

• Can you suggest where to stay in Rio?

Suggestion

Thaw

Thaw

Thunder

Thunder

Thunderbolt

Thunderclap

Thundercloud

Thundershower

n make a suggestion

• She made some suggestions about places we could visit.

have suggestions (- want to make a suggestion)

• Let me know if you have any suggestions. open to suggestions (= willing to listen to ideas)

• My boss is always open to suggestions.

n a period of warm weather during which snow and ice melt

• The thaw begins in March.

v if ice or snow thaws or is thawed, it becomes warmer and turns into water

• When the lake starts to thaw, it's dangerous to go skating.

it thaws (= ice and snow melt)

• It thawed overnight.

n the loud noise that you hear during a storm, usually after a flash of lightning

• The storm brought strong winds, thunder and lightning.

• They could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.

a clap of thunder ( one sudden noise of thunder) rolling thunder (= a noise of thunder that continues for a short time)

• Off in the distance, we heard rolling thunder.

v if it thunders, there is a loud noise that you hear during a storm, usually after a flash of lightning

• Did you hear it thunder just now?

n a flash of lightning that hits something and a noise of thunder together

n a single loud noise of thunder

n a large dark cloud that you see before or during a storm

n a short thunderstorm

• Thundershowers are likely in the afternoon.

Thunderstorm

thundery

tired

tireless

tiresome

tiring

weather

n a storm with thunder and lightning

• Around 3 p.m. the dark clouds of the thunderstorm rolled in.

adj thundery weather is the type of weather that comes before a thunderstorm

adj feeling that you want to sleep or rest

• I'm so tired!

tired of doing something

• I'm tired of watching television, let's go for a walk.

get tired (= start to feel tired)

• Can we stop soon? I'm getting really tired. tired out (= very tired)

• We were tired out after a long day's skiing. dog-tired (= extremely tired)

Syn: exhausted, worn out

be sick and tired of something (= to be angry and bored with something that has been happening for a long time)

• Iam sick and tired of her excuses.

adj working very hard in a determined way without stopping

• the tireless efforts of the rescue workers adj adj making you feel annoyed, bored, or impatient

• Awards shows can get awfully tiresome, adj adj making you feel that you want to sleep or rest

• We 've all had a very tiring day - let's go to bed.

n the temperature and other conditions such as sun, rain, and wind

• What's the weather like today? hot/ wet/ cold etc. weather

• We 've had some cold weather lately. in hot/ wet weather

weather forecast (= a report on television or radio, saying what the weather will be like)

• Here is the weather forecast for central Europe. weather permitting (= if the weather is good enough)

• I'm playing golf this afternoon — weather permitting.

weather pattern (= the way the weather usually is or changes over a long period of time)

weather map/ chart

• The weather map shows a ridge of high pressure coming in from the Atlantic.

Weekend

Wet

wind

weather report (description of weather conditions on radio or television)

the weather (= the description of what the weather will be like in the near future, on radio, television, in newspapers etc.)

• I always watch the weather after the news.

in all weathers (= in all types of weather, even when it is very hot or cold)

There are homeless people sleeping on the streets in all weathers.

under the weather (= slightly ill)

• You look a bit under the weather.

n Saturday and Sunday (and sometimes also Friday evening), especially when considered as time when you do not work

• What are you planning to do this weekend?

• Rick spent the weekend learning how to use his new computer.

a long weekend (= Saturday and Sunday, and also Friday or Monday, or both)

• We are going for a long weekend to Euro Disney.

at the weekend/ at weekends (BrE)

on the weekend/ on weekends (AmE)

over the weekend (= during the weekend)

• Over the weekend we went to visit my wife's parents.

weekend cottage/ cabin etc. (= a place in the country where you spend your weekends)

last/ next weekend

adj 1. covered in or full of water or another liquid

• wet grass

get (something) wet

• Try not to get your feet wet. wet through (= completely wet)

soaking/ sopping/ dripping wet (= extremely wet)

• soaking wet socks

2. rainy

• wet weather

• // 's very wet outside. the wet (= rainy weather)

• Come in out of the wet.

n the air outside when it moves with a lot of force

• An icy wind blew through the open door.

in the wind

• The flags fluttered gently in the wind.

strong/ high wind

• Strong winds caused damage to many buildings.

a gust of wind (= when the wind suddenly blows strongly)

• Dolly's hat was blown off by a sudden gust of wind.

east/ west/ north/ south wind

a gentle/ soft/ light wind a strong/ high wind

• The forecast is for strong winds and heavy rain.

a bitter/ chilly/ biting wind (= a very cold wind) the wind is up/ gets up (= blows more strongly) the wind drops (= blows less strongly)

a wind came up (= it started blowing)

• Toward late afternoon, a strong wind came up. the wind dies down (= it starts blowing less strongly)

• Lett's wait till the wind dies down.

blow/ sway/ flap etc. in the wind

• She stood on the hill, her hair blowing in the wind.