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con • sol • i • date v., join together into one whole. Our group gathered our thoughts together and consolidated our ideas. consolidated, adj.

dense adj., compact; crowding together of parts. Pound cake is more compact than angel food cake because it is more dense.

com • pres • sion n., act of pressing together. When snow is under compression, it becomes hard like ice.

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erode v., wear away or cause deterioration. After many years, waves eventually erode rocks into sand.

ab • rupt adj., without preparation or warning; unexpected. An abrupt storm unexpectedly forced our picnic indoors. abruptly, adv.

at • mo • spher • ic adj., relating to or occurring in the atmosphere. We breathe in atmospheric elements such as oxygen and nitrogen.

con • geal v., turn fluid into a more solid state; solidify. Water congeals to ice when you freeze it.

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dire adj., terrifying, desperately urgent. Because we hadn’t eaten for ten days, we were in dire need of food.

cache n., hiding place for preserving necessities. I asked John to store the canned goods in the cache downstairs.

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im • pro • vis • er n., one who makes or invents things offhand. Mary is a good improviser because she is able to make up music while she plays the piano.

trek v., go on a journey. Our journey required us to trek 200 miles across the ocean.