The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, Vocabulary List Chapter 38-53

to leave and never return to : give up completely

"Some lay eggs and immediately abandon them."

to seek the opinion or advice of

"I might have to consult a few friends."

dull and depressing

On dreary summer days, they would stay inside.

a very enthusiastic supporter or admirer

Brightbill was a flying fanatic, and his favorite place to fly was up on the grassy ridge.

a group of animals and especially a flock of geese

Each morning, a gaggle of them would wait on the water for Brightbill to lead them into the sky.

to spend the winter sleeping or resting

Many of the island animals were already thinking about their winter hibernation.

to lift up especially with a pulley

Until she hoisted herself onto the clifftop where two young bears were waiting.

to fly or float in the air without moving far in any direction

He hovered there for a second, rising a little higher than before, and then he sailed backward into the soft grass again.

to live or dwell in

Other parts were gritty with sand, or were tangled in seaweed, or were inhabited by small, scuttling creatures.

to study by close examination and questioning

They investigated the island's sandy southern point.

to come into sight suddenly and often with a large, strange, or frightening appearance

They were standing on the rocky shore with the cliffs looming behind them.

moving from one place to another

But the migratory birds were preparing for the long journey south to their warm wintering grounds.

to be successful in getting around, through, or over

Up she went, expertly negotiating rocky columns and ledges.

to push or rub with the nose

"I'm going to miss you," said Brightbill as he nuzzled his mother.

quick and light in motion : AGILE

You might already know this, reader, but raccoons have very nimble hands.

to travel around (something, such as a planet or moon) in a curved path : to make an orbit around (something)

"A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star."

an organized group or line of people or vehicles that move together slowly as part of a ceremony

They made quite a grant procession, all walking together like that.

to run at top speed especially for a short distance

Without thinking, he sprinted toward the pond, beat his wings, and flew away.

a condition of being not alert or able to think normally

Mother Bear's howl was so startling that it snapped Brightball right out of his stupor.

oppressively hot

It was a sweltering afternoon, and the heat had put everyone in a bad mood.

an upward movement of air

"So I found an updraft and we spent the afternoon circling around and around and hardly flapped our wings at all!"

to change direction

He wiggled his tail feathers and felt himself veering back and forth.

a craft larger than a rowboat for navigation of the water

"A ship is a large vessel used for ocean transport."

to lose strength

Mother Bear's howl slowly faded, and she wilted to the ground.