flood, impact, pollution, disaster, erosion: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Intermediate set 53. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. flood · noun/fləd/

   an excessive amount of water which overflows onto land

   Food, supplies and equipment are urgently needed in the villages that have remained cut off by the flood for two days.

   Synonyms: overflow

   Origin: Old English flōd, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vloed and German Flut, also to flow

2. impact · noun/ˈɪmˌpæk(t)/

   a strong effect

   The government should begin investing in solutions to reduce environmental impacts of factories close to the city center immediately.

   Synonyms: effect, influence

   Origin: early 17th century (as a verb in the sense ‘press closely, fix firmly’): from Latin impact- ‘driven in’, from the verb impingere (see impinge)

3. pollution · noun/pəˈluʃ(ə)n/

   the presence of harmful substances or effects in the environment

   Air pollution can harm both human health and the environment.

   Synonyms: dirtiness, contamination

   Origin: late Middle English: from Latin pollutio(n-), from the verb polluere (see pollute)

4. disaster · noun/dəˈzæstər/

   an event resulting in great loss and ruin

   Natural disasters can damage homes and force families to leave their communities.

   Synonyms: catastrophe

   Origin: mid 16th century: from Italian disastro ‘ill-starred event’, from dis- (expressing negation) + astro ‘star’ (from Latin astrum)

5. erosion · noun/əˈroʊʒ(ə)n/

   a condition in which the earth's surface is worn away because of water and/or wind

   Deforestation increases soil erosion by leaving the ground exposed to wind and rain.

   Synonyms: wearing away

   Origin: mid 16th century: via French from Latin erosio(n-), from erodere ‘wear or gnaw away’ (see erode)