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acknowledge

to admit or accept that something is true or that a situation exists

advocate

to publicly support a particular way of doing something

alleviate

to make something less painful or difficult to deal with

availability

something that is (...) is able to be used or can easily be bought or found

be prone to

likely to do something or suffer from something, especially something bad or harmful

beneficial

having a good effect

biometric

relating to technology that can be used to measure things such as people’s eyes or fingerprints. These measurements can be kept on computer and then used to check someone’s identity, for example when they show a passport at an airport

bitterly

in a way that produces or shows feelings of great sadness or anger

body scan

a scan with a special machine that produces a picture of something outside your body, for security purposes

bound to be

to be very likely to do or feel a particular thing

breed

a type of animal that is kept as a pet or on a farm

build-up

an increase over a period of time

CCTV camera

security cameras that help police find criminals

contemplate

to think about something that you might do in the future

corresponding

caused by or connected with something you have already mentioned

crucial

something that is (...) is extremely important, because everything else depends on it

dependent

needing someone or something in order to exist, be successful, be healthy etc

derivative

something that has developed or been produced from something else

detrimental

causing harm or damage

dire

extremely serious or terrible

disoriented

confused and not understanding what is happening around you

dispose

to get rid of something, especially something that is difficult to get rid of

dispute

to say that something such as a fact or idea is not correct or true

diversity

the fact of including many different types of people or things

dual

having two of something or two parts

dusk

the time before it gets dark when the sky is becoming less bright

equate

to consider that two things are similar or connected

equivalent

something that has the same value, purpose, job etc as something else

excess

additional and not needed because there is already enough of something

fall for

to be tricked into believing something that is not true

famine

a situation in which a large number of people have little or no food for a long time and many people die

feline

relating to cats or other members of the cat family, such as lions

fencing

fences or the pieces of wood, metal etc used to make them

ferret through

to search for something that is lost or hidden among a lot of things or inside a drawer, box etc

fire off

send quickly and without much thought

further afield

further away

genetically- modified

(...) foods and plants have had their GENETIC (=the materials that control the development of particular qualities) structure changed so that they are not affected by certain diseases or harmful insects

give rise to

to be the reason why something happens, especially something bad or unpleasant

hacker

someone who secretly uses or changes the information in other people’s computer systems

hardened

a criminal, police officer etc who has had a lot of experience of things that are shocking and is therefore less affected by them

hog

to keep, use, or have all of something that should be shared

hold hostage

keep someone as a prisoner so that the other side will do what the enemy demands

hush something up

to prevent people from knowing about something dishonest or immoral

imminent

an event that is (...), especially an unpleasant one, will happen very soon

immune system

the system by which your body protects itself against disease

impact

the effect or influence that an event, situation etc has on someone or something

implication

a possible future effect or result of an action, event, decision etc

in perspective

judge the importance of something correctly

inevitable

certain to happen and impossible to avoid

infect

to give someone a disease

instantaneous

happening immediately

instil

to teach someone to think, behave, or feel in a particular way over a period of time

intimidating

making you feel worried and not confident

knock-on effect

to start a process in which everything that happens causes something else to happen

landfill

the practice of burying waste under the ground, or the waste buried in this way

mammal

a type of animal that drinks milk from its mother’s body when it is young. Humans, dogs, and whales are (...).

mugger

someone who attacks people in a public place and robs them

neuter

to remove part of the sex organs of an animal so that it cannot produce babies

oblivious

not knowing about or not noticing something that is happening around you

offspring

someone’s child or children – often used humorously

be on your guard

to be paying attention to what is happening in order to avoid danger, being tricked etc

one step ahead

already doing what needs to be done

onlooker

someone who watches something happening without being involved in it

opportunistic

someone who uses every opportunity to gain power, money, or unfair advantages – used to show disapproval

outsmart

to gain an advantage over someone using tricks or your intelligence

ozone layer

a layer of gases in the sky that prevents harmful radiation from the sun from reaching the Earth

pest

a small animal or insect that destroys crops or food supplies

pesticide

a chemical substance used to kill insects and small animals that destroy crops

phenomenon

something that happens or exists in society, science, or nature, especially something that is studied because it is difficult to understand

phone tap

an act of secretly listening to someone's telephone, using electronic equipment

pick up

to learn something by watching or listening to other people

pollinate

to give a flower or plant pollen so that it can produce seeds

predator

an animal that kills and eats other animals

premium

of very high quality

privacy

the state of being able to be alone, and not seen or heard by other people

repetitive

done many times in the same way, and boring

scenario

a situation that could possibly happen

sharp-witted

able to think and react very quickly

sheer

used to emphasize that something is very heavy, large etc

sinner

someone who has sinned by not obeying God’s laws

source

a thing, place, activity etc that you get something from

spark off

to be the cause of something, especially trouble or violence

spirited

having energy and determination – used to show approval

spray

to force liquid out of a container so that it comes out in a stream of very small drops and covers an area

stalk

to follow a person or animal quietly in order to catch and attack or kill them

surplus to requirements

an amount of something that is more than what is needed

swipe card

a special plastic card that you slide through a machine in order to get into a building or open a door

thin on the ground

if a particular type of person or thing is (...), there are very few available

threat

someone or something that is regarded as a possible danger

thrive

to become very successful or very strong and healthy

unforgivable

an (...) action is so bad or cruel that you cannot forgive the person who did it

unsettle

to make someone feel slightly nervous, worried, or upset

unspoilt

an (...) place is beautiful because it has not changed for a long time and does not have a lot of new buildings

virtually

almost

wipe out

to destroy, remove, or get rid of something completely

wipe out

to destroy, remove, or get rid of something completely