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Suggested terms: Science, News, VOA Special English
Click one for hint, twice for full word
not the whole story
Meaning: There is more information or complexity than people usually think.
Example: Many people think orchids only grow in the tropics, but that is not the whole story.
cost a lot less
Meaning: To be much cheaper than before.
Example: Today, buying an orchid will cost a lot less than it once did.
break open
Meaning: To split or burst so that the inside becomes exposed.
Example: Orchid seed pods break open and release thousands of tiny seeds.
depend on
Meaning: To rely on something for support or survival.
Example: Wild orchids depend on birds and insects to spread their pollen.
overflow from
Meaning: To spill out or extend beyond the edges of a container.
Example: Orchid plants were overflowing from baskets in the conservatory.
orchid
IPA (UK): /ˈɔː.kɪd/
IPA (US): /ˈɔːr.kɪd/
Meaning: A diverse family of flowering plants known for their complex and beautiful blooms.
Meaning: A diverse family of flowering plants known for their complex and beautiful blooms.
Example: Orchids come in many shapes, colors, and sizes.
sepal
IPA (UK): /ˈsiː.pəl/
IPA (US): /ˈsiː.pəl/
Meaning: The outer parts of a flower that protect the bud before it opens.
Meaning: The outer parts of a flower that protect the bud before it opens.
Example: The sepals of an orchid form the outside of the bud before blooming.
mycorrhizal fungus
IPA (UK): /ˌmaɪ.kəˈraɪ.zəl ˈfʌŋ.ɡəs/
IPA (US): /ˌmaɪ.kəˈraɪ.zəl ˈfʌŋ.ɡəs/
Meaning: A fungus that forms a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, helping orchid seeds grow.
Meaning: A fungus that forms a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, helping orchid seeds grow.
Example: Orchid seeds need a mycorrhizal fungus to provide nutrients for germination.
conservatory
IPA (UK): /kənˈsɜː.və.tər.i/
IPA (US): /kənˈsɝː.və.tɔːr.i/
Meaning: A glass building used for growing and displaying plants.
Meaning: A glass building used for growing and displaying plants.
Example: Live orchids filled the conservatory with color.
cloning (meristematic cloning)
IPA (UK): /ˈkləʊ.nɪŋ/
IPA (US): /ˈkloʊ.nɪŋ/
Meaning: A method of reproducing plants by growing new individuals from small tissue samples.
Meaning: A method of reproducing plants by growing new individuals from small tissue samples.
Example: Modern orchid growers use cloning to produce thousands of identical plants.