Term | Definition |
Aborigine | An original inhabitant; one of the original inhabitants in Australia |
Lagoon | A shallow body of water separated from the sea by coral reefs and sand bars |
Cyclone | A violent, rotating windstorm |
Outback | Remote, sparsely settled, arid, rural country, especially in central and western plains and plateaus of Australia |
Artesian Well | A well that is drilled deep enough to tap a layer of porous material filled with ground water |
Atoll | Ring shaped reefs |
Geyser | A natural hot spring that shoots a column of water and steam into the air |
Trust Territory | A dependent colony or territory supervised by another country by commission of the Unites Nations |
Crevasse | A deep crack in glacial ice |
Ice shelf | A massive extension of glacial ice over the sea, often producing hundreds of miles |
Pack ice | Floating sea ice formed by a mix of icebergs with other ice formed in super chilled ocean waters |
Convergence zone | An area of severe thunderstorms where frigid waters circulating around Antarctica meet the warmer waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans |
Krill | Small, shrimp-like creatures; food for whales and fish |
Sultanate | A state ruled by sultan |
Nonaligned Nation | A nation that adopted neutrality during the Cold War |
Monsoon | A seasonal shift in the prevailing winds that influences large climate regions |
Nationalism | Pride in one's nation; the desire of a cultural group to rule themselves as a separate nation |
Nonviolent Resistance | The policy of opposing an enemy or oppressor by any means other than violence |
Boycott | To refuse to purchase or use a product or service as an expression of disapproval |
Partition | A division into separate parts |
Reincarnation | The belief that the soul of a human being or animals goes through a series of births, deaths, and rebirths |
Purdah | The practice among Hindu and Muslim women of covering that face with a veil when outside the home |
Caste System | A local hierarchy in which a person possesses a distinct rank on society that is determined by birth |
Joint Family System | In India, the custom of housing all members of an extended family together |
Charpoy | A wooden bed frame with knotted string in place of a mattress |
Cottage Industry | A small-scale manufacturing operation using little technology, often located in or near people's homes |
Sari | A brightly colored cloth, worn by many Indian women, that is draped over the body like a long dress |
Hydroelectric Power | Electricity that is generated by moving water |
Irrigate | The watering of farmland with water drawn from reservoirs or rivers |
Embankment Dam | A wall of soil and rock to hold back water |
Buffer State | A country that separates two hostile countries |
Malnutrition | Disease caused by lack of food or an unbalanced diet |
Deforestation | The process of striping the land of it's trees |
Subcontinent | A large landmass forming a distinct part of the continent |
Alluvial Plain | A broad expanse of land along riverbanks, consisting of rich, fertile soil left by floods |