Glossary

acrobat n : one that performs gymnastic feats requiring skillful control of the body (acrobatic adj)

appropriate adj : especially suitable or fitting : PROPER (appropriately adv)

bib n 1 : a cloth or plastic shield tied under a child's chin to protect the clothes 2 : the upper part of an apron or of overalls

brood n : a family of young animals or children

crest n : a showy tuft on the head of a bird

drab adj 1 : of the color drab 2 : being dull or monotonous : CHEERLESS

energetic adj : having or showing energy : ACTIVE, FORCEFUL (energetically adv)

environment n : the conditions and surroundings that have an effect on the development of a person, animal, or plant

epaulet n : a shoulder ornament, as on military uniforms

herbicides n : agents used to destroy or inhibit plant growth

incubate vb : to sit on and hatch (eggs)

inquisitive adj : given to inquiry : CURIOUS, QUESTIONING

larvae n, pl : the immature, wingless, and often wormlike form that hatches from the egg of many insects

melody n : a pleasing succession of sounds (melodious adj)

migrate vb : to move from one place to another

molt vb : to shed hair, feathers, outer skin, or horns with the cast-off parts being replaced by a new growth

parasite n : an organism living in or on another organism (parasitic adj)

pesticides n : chemicals used to kill pests such as insects

plumage n : the entire clothing of feathers of a bird

preen vb : to clean and arrange feathers with a beak

rival n : one of two or more striving to reach or obtain that which only one can possess

sheen n : subdued shininess of surface

shrieks vb : utters a loud shrill sound

strut vb : to walk with a stiff proud gait

suet n : the hard fat from beef and mutton which birds like to eat

tapered adj :made gradually smaller towards one end

Sources: The HBJ School Dictionary, New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1977.

Webster's Intermediate Dictionary, New York: G. & C. Merriam Company, 1972.

Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language, New York: Warner Books, Inc., 1983.

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