A video of a couple of sea otters on a major video-sharing website has become globally popular for their loveliness. It has won popularity in Japan, too. It is a one-minute-40-second video titled "Sea Otters holding their forepaws." Someone uploaded it on You Tube on March 19, 2007. It shows a couple of sea otters drifting on the water drowsingly and holding each other's forepaws. After letting go of them and parting, the two sea otters soon drift back and hold them again. This couple strike their viewers as adorable. The audience in the video cheerfully say: "These sea otters are holding their forepaws!" "They are really adorable!" and "They seem sleepy." The aquarium introduced them on its official website. The local media took them up. These increased their popularity. The video enjoyed a total of about 6.42 million views on May 22, 2007. The couple is a 17-year-old female, Nyac and a seven-year-old male, Milo at the Vancouver Aquarium, Canada. Actually, Nyac had once received media coverage. She is a survivor of the 1989 crude oil spill from a tanker off Alaska. The Vancouver Aquarium welcomes the popularity of the video in that it will help make people realize the necessity of the protection of sea otters, an endangered species. ◇ ◇ ◇ ● You Tube videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUk3T2Kfno http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=tWu5ggvRDSw ● Live Sea Otter Cam ● A sea otter raft off the coast of British Columbia, Canada ● AquaFacts: Sea Otters ● AQUARIUM CARING FOR ORPHANED SEA OTTER PUP [Vocabulary] part verb LEAVE SB 1 [v] ~ (from sb) (formal) if a person parts from another person, or two people part, they leave each other: We parted at the airport. I hate to part on such bad terms. He has recently parted from his wife (= they have started to live apart). see also parting adj. KEEP APART 2 [vn] [often passive] ~ sb (from sb) (formal) to prevent sb from being with sb else: I hate being parted from the children. The puppies were parted from their mother at birth. MOVE AWAY 3 if two things or parts of things part or you part them, they move away from each other: [v] The crowd parted in front of them. The elevator doors parted and out stepped the President. [vn] Her lips were slightly parted. She parted the curtains a little and looked out. HAIR 4 [vn] to divide your hair into two sections with a comb, creating a line that goes from the back of your head to the front: He parts his hair in the middle. see also parting n. part company (with / from sb) 1 to leave sb; to end a relationship with sb: This is where we part company (= go in different directions). The band have parted company with their manager. The band and their manager have parted company. 2 to disagree with sb about sth: Weber parted company with Marx on a number of important issues. more at fool n. part with sth to give sth to sb else, especially sth that you would prefer to keep: Make sure you read the contract before parting with any money. adv. (often in compounds) consisting of two things; to some extent but not completely: She’s part French, part English. His feelings were part anger, part relief. The course is part funded by the European Commission. He is part owner of a farm in France. video noun, verb noun (pl. -os) 1 (also videotape) [U, C] a type of magnetic tape used for recording television pictures and sound; a box containing this tape, also called a video cassette: The movie will be released on video in June. Do we have a blank video? 2 [C] a copy of a film/movie, programme, etc. that is recorded on videotape: a video of ‘ET’ The school made a short promotional video. a home video (= not a professional one) a video shop / store temporary adj. lasting or intended to last or be used only for a short time; not permanent: temporary relief from pain I’m looking for some temporary work. They had to move into temporary accommodation. a temporary measure / solution / arrangement More than half the staff are temporary. permanent temporarily adv.: We regret this service is temporarily unavailable. temporariness noun viewer noun 1 a person watching television: The programme attracted millions of viewers. 2 a person who looks at or considers sth: Some of her art is intended to shock the viewer. viewers of the current political scene note at witness 3 a device for looking at slides (= photographs on special film), for example a small box with a light in audience noun 1 [C+sing./pl. v.] the group of people who have gathered to watch or listen to sth (a play, concert, sb speaking, etc.): The audience was / were clapping for 10 minutes. an audience of 10 000 The debate was televised in front of a live audience. 2 [C] a number of people or a particular group of people who watch, read or listen to the same thing: An audience of millions watched the wedding on TV. TV / cinema / movie audiences His book reached an even wider audience when it was made into a movie. The target audience for this advertisement was mainly teenagers. note at witness 3 [C] a formal meeting with an important person: an audience with the Pope note at interview strike sb (as sth) to give sb a particular impression: [vn] His reaction struck me as odd. How does the idea strike you? She strikes me as a very efficient person. [vn (that)] It strikes me that nobody is really in favour of the changes. adorable /drbl/ adj. very attractive and easy to feel love for: What an adorable child! couple noun, verb noun 1 [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] ~ (of sth) two people or things: I saw a couple of men get out. In BrE a plural verb is usually used in all 3 senses. 2 [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] ~ (of sth) a small number of people or things a few: a couple of minutes We went there a couple of years ago. I’ve seen her a couple of times before. I’ll be with you in a minute. There are a couple of things I have to do first. There are a couple more files to read first. We can do it in the next couple of weeks. The last couple of years have been difficult. 3 [C+sing./pl. v.] two people who are seen together, especially if they are married or in a romantic or sexual relationship: married couples a young / an elderly couple Several couples were on the dance floor. The couple was / were married in 1976. see shake n. a couple pron.: Do you need any more glasses? I’ve got a couple I can lend you. couple det. (NAmE): It’s only a couple blocks away. verb 1 [vn] [usually passive] ~ A (to B)| ~ A and B together to join together two parts of sth, for example two vehicles or pieces of equipment: The two train cars had been coupled together. CDTV uses a CD-ROM system that is coupled to a powerful computer. 2 [v] (formal) (of two people or animals) to have sex couple sb/sth with sb/sth [usually passive] to link one thing, situation, etc. to another combine with: Overproduction, coupled with falling sales, has led to huge losses for the company. spotlight verb (spotlit, spotlit Especially in sense 2, spotlighted is also used for the past tense and past participle.) [vn] 1 to shine a spotlight on sb/sth: a spotlit stage 2 to give special attention to a problem, situation, etc. so that people notice it highlight: The programme spotlights financial problems in the health service. as from ... / as of ... used to show the time or date from which sth starts: Our fax number is changing as from May 12. media /midi/ noun 1 the media [U+sing./pl. v.] the main ways that large numbers of people receive information and entertainment, that is television, radio, newspapers and the Internet: the news / broadcasting / national media The trial was fully reported in the media. The media was / were accused of influencing the final decision. Any event attended by the actor received widespread media coverage. He became a media star for his part in the protests. see also mass media, new media 2 pl. of medium the mass media noun [pl.] sources of information and news such as newspapers, magazines, radio and television, that reach and influence large numbers of people: the relationship between politics and the mass media coverage noun [U] 1 the reporting of news and sport in newspapers and on the radio and television: media / newspaper / press coverage tonight’s live coverage of the hockey game There was blanket coverage (= reports everywhere) of the royal divorce. popularity noun [U] ~ (with / among sb) the state of being liked, enjoyed or supported by a large number of people: the increasing popularity of cycling to win / lose popularity with the students Her novels have gained in popularity over recent years. Their music still enjoys widespread popularity among teenagers. once adv., conj. adv. 1 on one occasion only; one time: I’ve only been there once. He cleans his car once a week. She only sees her parents once every six months. (informal) He only did it the once. 2 at some time in the past: I once met your mother. He once lived in Zambia. This book was famous once, but nobody reads it today. 3 used in negative sentences and questions, and after if to mean ‘ever’ or ‘at all’: He never once offered to help. If she once decides to do something, you won’t change her mind. spill /spl/ verb, noun verb (spilled, spilled) (BrE also spilt, spilt /splt/) 1 (especially of liquid) to flow over the edge of a container by accident; to make liquid do this: [v] Water had spilled out of the bucket onto the floor. The bag split, and sugar spilled everywhere. [vn] He startled her and made her spill her drink. Thousands of gallons of crude oil were spilled into the ocean. I managed to carry three full glasses without spilling a drop. 2 [v + adv. / prep.] (of people) to come out of a place in large numbers and spread out: The doors opened and people spilled into the street. (figurative) Light spilled from the windows. spill the beans (informal) to tell sb sth that should be kept secret or private spill (sb’s) blood (formal or literary) to kill or wound people: Nothing can justify spilling innocent blood. spill your guts (to sb) (NAmE, informal) to tell sb everything you know or feel about sth, because you are upset: He has spilled his guts in his new autobiography.?more at cry v. spill sthout| spill out to tell sb all about a problem etc. very quickly; to come out quickly: Has she been spilling out her troubles to you again? When he started to speak, the words just spilled out. spill over (into sth) 1 to fill a container and go over the edge: She filled the glass so full that the water spilled over. (figurative) Her emotions suddenly spilled over. 2 to start in one area and then affect other areas: Unrest has spilt over into areas outside the city. The effects of stress at work can spill over into home life.?related noun overspill, spillover noun 1 (also formal spillage) [C, U] an act of letting a liquid come or fall out of a container; the amount of liquid that comes or falls out: Many seabirds died as a result of the oil spill. I wiped up the coffee spills on the table. 2 [C] a long match, or a thin piece of twisted paper, used for lighting fires, oil lamps, etc. 3 [C, usually sing.] a fall, especially from a bicycle or a boat: to take a spill see thrill n. welcome /welkm/ verb 1 ~ sb (to sth) to say hello to sb in a friendly way when they arrive somewhere: [vn] They were at the door to welcome us. It is a pleasure to welcome you to our home. [v] a welcoming smile 2 [vn] to be pleased that sb has come or has joined an organization, activity, etc.: They welcomed the new volunteers with open arms (= with enthusiasm). 3 [vn] to be pleased to receive or accept sth: I’d welcome any suggestions. I warmly welcome this decision. In general, the changes they had made were to be welcomed. realize (BrE also -ise) verb BE / BECOME AWARE 1 (not used in the progressive tenses) to understand or become aware of a particular fact or situation: [v (that)] I didn’t realize (that) you were so unhappy. The moment I saw her, I realized something was wrong. [v wh-] I don’t think you realize how important this is to her. [v] The situation was more complicated than they had at first realized. They managed to leave without any of us realizing. [vn] I hope you realize the seriousness of this crime. Only later did she realize her mistake. [vn that] There was a cheer when it was realized that everyone was safely back. ACHIEVE STH 2 [vn] to achieve sth important that you very much want to do: She never realized her ambition of becoming a professional singer. We try to help all students realize their full potential (= be as successful as they are able to be). HAPPEN 3 [vn] [usually passive] if sb’s fears are realized, the things that they are afraid will happen, do happen: His worst fears were realized when he saw that the door had been forced open. SELL 4 [vn] ~ your assets (formal) to sell things that you own, for example property, in order to get the money that you need for sth convert 5 [vn] (formal) (of goods, etc.) to be sold for a particular amount of money make: The paintings realized $2 million at auction. MAKE STH REAL 6 [vn] (formal) to produce sth that can be seen or heard, based on written information or instructions: The stage designs have been beautifully realized. |
