Pollution in Environment Glossary for IELTS

10 Environment terms

This glossary can help you prepare for the IELTS writing tasks related to the Pollution in Environment.


a great deal of:

adverbial phrase

A large quantity.

Example: There was a great deal of fluctuation within this fall.

atmosphere:

noun

The envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.

Example: There were always higher levels of sulphur dioxide than smoke in the atmosphere.

cubic metre:

noun

Cubic meter (in American English) is the SI derived unit of volume.

Example: It measures smoke and sulphur dioxide in micrograms per cubic metre.

fluctuation:

noun

An irregular rising and falling in number or amount; a variation.

Example: Over the next two hundred years, the levels of sulphur dioxide continued to increase, although there was some fluctuation in this trend.

level:

noun

A position on a scale of amount, quantity, extent, or quality.

Example: There were always higher levels of sulphur dioxide than smoke in the atmosphere.

measure:

verb

Ascertain the size, amount, or degree of (something) by using an instrument or device marked in standard units.

Example: It measures smoke and sulphur dioxide in micrograms per cubic metre.

pattern:

noun

A model or design used as a guide in needlework and other crafts.

Example: The levels of both pollutants formed a similar pattern during this period.

pollutant:

noun

A substance that pollutes something, especially water or the atmosphere.

Example: The levels of both pollutants formed a similar pattern during this period.

pollution:

noun

The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.

Example: The graph shows pollution levels in London between 1600 and 2000.

sharply:

adverb

With a sudden, piercing physical sensation or effect; intensely.

Example: Smoke levels increased a little more sharply during this time.

smoke:

noun

A visible suspension of carbon or other particles in the air, typically one emitted from a burning substance.

Example: There were always higher levels of sulphur dioxide than smoke in the atmosphere.

sulphur dioxide:

noun

A colourless pungent toxic gas formed by burning sulphur in air.

Example: Over the next two hundred years, the levels of sulphur dioxide continued to increase.

a great deal of:

adverbial phrase

A large quantity.

Example: There was a great deal of fluctuation within this fall.

atmosphere:

noun

The envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.

Example: There were always higher levels of sulphur dioxide than smoke in the atmosphere.

cubic metre:

noun

Cubic meter (in American English) is the SI derived unit of volume.

Example: It measures smoke and sulphur dioxide in micrograms per cubic metre.

fluctuation:

noun

An irregular rising and falling in number or amount; a variation.

Example: Over the next two hundred years, the levels of sulphur dioxide continued to increase, although there was some fluctuation in this trend.

level:

noun

A position on a scale of amount, quantity, extent, or quality.

Example: There were always higher levels of sulphur dioxide than smoke in the atmosphere.

measure:

verb

Ascertain the size, amount, or degree of (something) by using an instrument or device marked in standard units.

Example: It measures smoke and sulphur dioxide in micrograms per cubic metre.

pattern:

noun

A model or design used as a guide in needlework and other crafts.

Example: The levels of both pollutants formed a similar pattern during this period.

pollutant:

noun

A substance that pollutes something, especially water or the atmosphere.

Example: The levels of both pollutants formed a similar pattern during this period.

pollution:

noun

The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.

Example: The graph shows pollution levels in London between 1600 and 2000.

sharply:

adverb

With a sudden, piercing physical sensation or effect; intensely.

Example: Smoke levels increased a little more sharply during this time.

smoke:

noun

A visible suspension of carbon or other particles in the air, typically one emitted from a burning substance.

Example: There were always higher levels of sulphur dioxide than smoke in the atmosphere.

sulphur dioxide:

noun

A colourless pungent toxic gas formed by burning sulphur in air.

Example: Over the next two hundred years, the levels of sulphur dioxide continued to increase.

a great deal of:

adverbial phrase

A large quantity.

Example: There was a great deal of fluctuation within this fall.

atmosphere:

noun

The envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.

Example: There were always higher levels of sulphur dioxide than smoke in the atmosphere.

cubic metre:

noun

Cubic meter (in American English) is the SI derived unit of volume.

Example: It measures smoke and sulphur dioxide in micrograms per cubic metre.

fluctuation:

noun

An irregular rising and falling in number or amount; a variation.

Example: Over the next two hundred years, the levels of sulphur dioxide continued to increase, although there was some fluctuation in this trend.

level:

noun

A position on a scale of amount, quantity, extent, or quality.

Example: There were always higher levels of sulphur dioxide than smoke in the atmosphere.

measure:

verb

Ascertain the size, amount, or degree of (something) by using an instrument or device marked in standard units.

Example: It measures smoke and sulphur dioxide in micrograms per cubic metre.

pattern:

noun

A model or design used as a guide in needlework and other crafts.

Example: The levels of both pollutants formed a similar pattern during this period.

pollutant:

noun

A substance that pollutes something, especially water or the atmosphere.

Example: The levels of both pollutants formed a similar pattern during this period.

pollution:

noun

The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.

Example: The graph shows pollution levels in London between 1600 and 2000.

sharply:

adverb

With a sudden, piercing physical sensation or effect; intensely.

Example: Smoke levels increased a little more sharply during this time.

smoke:

noun

A visible suspension of carbon or other particles in the air, typically one emitted from a burning substance.

Example: There were always higher levels of sulphur dioxide than smoke in the atmosphere.

sulphur dioxide:

noun

A colourless pungent toxic gas formed by burning sulphur in air.

Example: Over the next two hundred years, the levels of sulphur dioxide continued to increase.

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