A powerful way to unleash your natural creativity | Tim Harford

Important Vocabulary Words From The Video

Counterintuitive is an adjective that is used to describe something that is not what you would expect. For example, you might say that the decision to go on the trip was counterintuitive, because it was very cold outside.

  • The decision to go on the trip was very counterintuitive, because it was so cold outside.
  • The counterintuitive decision was to fire all the employees.
lapsing

To lapse is to stop doing something gradually or gradually change something. When you lapse on your responsibility, you stop doing your job or you stop obeying the rules.

  • The program was successful in the beginning, but as time went on, the number of lapses increased.
  • The government is trying to reduce the number of lapses by increasing the punishment for offenders.
enduringly

enduringly means for a very long time. The flowers are enduringly beautiful.

  • The movie is enduringly popular.
clambering

Clambering is the act of using your hands and feet to climb something. When you're scrambling up a cliff, you're clambering.

  • He was clambering up the cliff, trying to get to the top.
  • The children were clambering all over the monkey, trying to get ahold of it.
penning

To pen something is to write it down. You might pen a letter or a document.

  • He is penning a book about the history of the country.
  • She is penning a letter to her friends about her vacation.
stasis

Stasis is a state of rest or immobility. When there is stasis, the movement or action is stopped.

  • The traffic was so heavy that it was causing the traffic jam, which was stasis.
  • The statue was in stasis, frozen in time.
earthworms

Earthworms are small creatures that live in the soil. They are able to move around very easily, and they are able to eat a lot of dirt and rocks.

  • Earthworms play an important role in the soil, and they are often used to improve the soil.
  • Earthworms are able to digest rocks, which is why they are able to eat a lot of dirt.
transmutation

transmutation is the process of turning one type of substance into another. It can be used to describe the process of turning metals into coins, or turning water into wine.

  • The transmutation process turns the gold into coins.
  • The transmutation process turns the water into wine.
barnacles

Barnacles are small, crustacean-like creatures that live on ships. They attach themselves to the hull of the ship, and use their feet to scrape pieces of food off of the ship.

  • The barnacles are growing on the ship, and the captain is worried that they will cause damage.