The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, Vocabulary List Chapter 9-15

to start working or cause to start working

She didn't know that she'd been accidentally activated by those curious sea otters.

made by humans

Artificial life.

a sound made by many people or animals at the same time

Then she turned them off and sat in darkness and listened to the chorus of nighttime chirps.

to prevent the waste of

After a while, our robot's computer brain decided it was a good time to conserve energy.

the junk or pieces left from something broken down or destroyed

Giant mounds of mud and debris had formed below the cliffs.

having its parts crowded together : THICK

Dense forest and rocky outcrops forced the robot to zig and zag and backtrack.

feeling or showing a lot of fear and worry

Roz frantically clawed at the ground, grasping for anything she could hold on to, but the flow only carried her faster.

great and often wild or uncontrolled activity

Each pinecone bounced off its target with annoying accuracy and whipped the young bears into a frenzy.

to supply with light : light up

She activated her headlights and suddenly bright shafts of light were beaming out from her eyes and illuminating the whole mountaintop.

to move in a slow or awkward way

But before lumbering home, they glared up at Roz and snorted one last time.

to be in a hidden place

She stomped across the hillside and up to the cave, but never stopped to wonder what might be lurking within.

very large, heavy, and solid

A massive head rammed into her chest.

not necessary

Her nonessential programs switched off, and then, in her own way, the robot slept.

the part of a rock formation that appears at the surface of the ground

Dense forest and rocky outcrops forced the robot to zig and zag and backtrack.

to sit or rest on a raised seat or position

So she spent the next few days and nights perched on the peak.

to drop suddenly downward or forward and downward

And just as she was about to plunge over the side, she came to a hard, sudden stop.

to become smaller or weaker

Lowland creatures, who had sought refuge on higher ground, were waiting patiently for the water to recede.

shelter or protection from danger or distress

Lowland creatures, who had sought refuge on higher ground, were waiting patiently for the water to recede.

very steep

In some places the mountain fell away, leaving sheer cliffs.

to put under or plunge into water

Others were submerged, their upper branches barely poking above the floodwaters.

to look over : EXAMINE

Roz looked down and surveyed the island.

to be full of something

The island was teeming with life.

at the same time

A flock of sparrows turned in perfect unison above the trees.

to move suddenly and quickly

The river of mud whisked her downhill, slamming her into rocks and dragging her through bushes and sweeping her straight toward a cliff!