Flora and fauna (= plants and animals) Fauna

contemporary with somebody/something 

• 
  He was contemporary with the dramatist Congreve.
  
• 
  The amphitheatre is roughly contemporary with the Colosseum in Rome.
  

Optimum

(also optimal)
the best possible; producing the best possible results

• 
  the optimum use of resources
  
• 
  the optimum conditions for effective learning
  
• 
  The optimum storage temperature is 60℉.
  

Shed

get rid of

1. 
   shed something(often used in newspapers)to get rid of something that is no longer wanted
   
   • 
     The factory is shedding a large number of jobs.
     
   • 
     a quick way to shed unwanted pounds (= extra weight or fat on your body)
     
   • 
     Museums have been trying hard to shed their stuffy image.
     

Orient
(also orientate)

1. 
   ​[usually passive] orient somebody/something (to/towards somebody/something) to direct somebody/something towards something; to make or adapt somebody/something for a particular purpose
   
2. 
   Our students are oriented towards science subjects.
   
3. 
   policies oriented to the needs of working mothers
   
4. 
   We run a commercially oriented operation.
   
5. 
   Neither of them is politically oriented (= interested in politics).
   

Starve
to suffer or die because you do not have enough food to eat; to make somebody suffer or die in this way

• 
  The animals were left to starve to death.
  
• 
  pictures of starving children
  
• 
  The new job doesn't pay as much but we won't starve!
  
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