Gavin Pretor-Pinney: Cloudy with a chance of joy

Important Vocabulary Words From The Video

inkblot

An inkblot is a figure that appears in ink when it's wet. It's often used to illustrate the idea of randomness or chaos.

  • The inkblot turned out to be a complex and beautiful piece of art.
  • The inkblot was just a mess, and it was hard to make out any details.
tendrils

Tendrils are long, thin branches or tentacles. They can be found on plants, and they are used to capture prey.

  • The tentacles are long and thin, and they are very flexible.
  • The tentacles are long and thin, and they are used to capture prey.
rebrand

To rebrand is to change the name of a company or product. Sometimes a company will rebrand in order to change its image or to try to appeal to a different audience.

  • The company is rebranding its products as part of its new strategy.
  • The company is rebranding itself as a new, more professional company.
undulations

Undulations are the waves that are created when something moves through water. When you watch the ocean, you can see the undulations in the water.

  • The ocean is full of undulations, which is why it is so dangerous to swim in.
  • The surface of the water is smooth, but the undulations go down very deep.
cumulonimbus

A cumulonimbus is a thunderstorm that is composed of a high amount of cumulus clouds. These clouds are usually very large, and they can be seen from a long way away.

  • The cumulonimbus was so big that it was visible from the airport.
  • The cumulonimbus is a sign that a storm is coming.
aimless

To be aimless is to have no specific goal or purpose. When you're aimless, you don't know what you're doing or where you're going.

  • He was aimless as he walked through the city.
  • The experiment was aimless, as the researchers didn't have a specific goal in mind.
conspires

To conspire is to plan together to do something illegal or harmful. Sometimes people use the word to describe a secret agreement between two people.

  • They conspired to cheat on their exams.
  • The two friends conspired to sneak out after curfew.
legitimizes

To legitimize something is to make it legal. Sometimes people use the word to refer to the act of giving something the appearance of being legitimate.

  • The government legitimized the terrorist group by giving them a voice.
  • The president legitimized the war by saying that it was necessary.