Science is a vast field of study that encompasses everything from biology to physics and beyond. As a result, there are countless scientific vocabulary words that students and professionals alike need to know in order to effectively communicate and understand scientific concepts. Here are some essential science vocabulary words with meanings.
Science Words With Meaning From A To Z
Here is a list of science words with meanings from a to z:
- Ablation
The removal or destruction of a part of an organism, such as tissue or an organ, through natural or surgical means.
- Absolute zero
The lowest possible temperature that is theoretically attainable, at which the particles of matter have zero kinetic energy.
- Acceleration
The rate of change of velocity over time.
- Acoustics
The study of sound and its behavior, especially the production, transmission, and reception of sound waves.
- Acute
Used to describe a condition or disease that is sudden in onset and severe in its effects.
- Adhesion
The molecular attraction between the surfaces of two different substances that causes them to stick together.
- Aerodynamics
The study of the motion of air and other gases and the forces acting on objects in motion relative to them.
- Amino acid
The building blocks of proteins, consisting of a carboxyl group, an amino group, and a side chain specific to each type of amino acid.
- Anatomical position
The standard reference position used in anatomy, with the subject standing upright, facing forward, arms at the sides, and palms facing forward.
- Bacteria
Single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, and can be found in a variety of environments.
- Binary
A numbering system in which there are only two possible digits, usually 0 and 1, and is commonly used in computing.
- Biochemistry
The study of the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms.
- Biome
A large geographical region characterized by its climate, plant and animal life, and other environmental factors.
- Biosphere
The part of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere where living organisms can exist.
- Black hole
A region of space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape its pull.
- Blood pressure
The force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, usually measured in millimeters of mercury (mmhg).
- Body mass index (BMI)
A measure of body fat based on height and weight, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m2).
- Botany
The scientific study of plants and plant life.
- Brain
The organ of the central nervous system responsible for consciousness, thought, and coordination of bodily functions.
- Calorie
A unit of energy commonly used to measure the energy content of food and drink.
- Cancer
A group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body.
- Carbon
A chemical element with the symbol C and atomic number 6, and is the basis for all known life on Earth.
- Catalyst
A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the reaction itself.
- Cell
The basic unit of life, consisting of a cell membrane, cytoplasm, and genetic material.
- Chemical bond
The force of attraction between two atoms that holds them together in a molecule.
- Chemistry
The scientific study of matter and its properties, interactions, and transformations.
- Chromosome
A long, coiled-up strand of DNA that carries genetic information.
- Climate
The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a particular area, including temperature, precipitation, and wind.
- Clone
An organism or group of organisms that is genetically identical to another individual or group.
- Data
Information, facts, or figures collected for analysis
- Deceleration
A decrease in velocity or speed
- Decomposition
The breakdown of complex substances into simpler ones
- Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
A molecule that carries genetic information
- Density
The amount of mass in a given volume
- Deposition
The process of dropping or depositing sediment or particles
- Dermis
The layer of skin beneath the epidermis
- Desalination
The process of removing salt and other minerals from water
- Detergent
A cleaning agent that contains surfactants to dissolve dirt and grease
- Developmental biology
The study of how organisms grow and develop
- Diabetes
A disease characterized by high blood sugar levels
- Diaphragm
A muscle that separates the thorax and abdomen
- Diffraction
The bending of waves around obstacles or through small openings
- Diffusion
The movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
- Digestion
The process of breaking down food into smaller molecules for absorption and use by the body
- Dihybrid cross
A genetic cross involving two traits
- Diploid
Having two sets of chromosomes
- Direct current (DC)
A type of electrical current that flows in only one direction
- Displacement
The change in the position of an object
- DNA replication
The process of copying DNA prior to cell division
- Ecology
The study of how living organisms interact with each other and with their environment
- Ecosystem
A community of living and nonliving things that interact with each other
- Elasticity
The ability of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched or compressed
- Electric charge
A fundamental property of matter that can be positive, negative or neutral
- Electric field
The area around a charged object where its influence can be detected
- Electrical conductivity
The ability of a material to conduct electricity
- Electrical current
The flow of electric charge through a conductor
- Electrical resistance
The opposition to the flow of electrical current
- Electrolysis
The use of an electric current to drive a chemical reaction
- Electromagnetic radiation
The energy that is transmitted through space in the form of electromagnetic waves
- Electromagnetism
The study of the interaction between electric currents and magnetic fields
- Electrophoresis
The separation of charged molecules based on their size and charge
- Element
A substance made up of only one type of atom
- Embryology
The study of the development of embryos
- Emulsion
A mixture of two immiscible liquids, such as oil and water
- Endocrine system
The system of glands that produce and secrete hormones into the bloodstream
- Energy
The ability to do work
- Energy conservation
The practice of using less energy to accomplish the same tasks
- Energy transfer
The movement of energy from one place or object to another
- Enzyme
A protein that catalyzes a biochemical reaction
- Fahrenheit
A temperature scale where water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees
- Fermentation
The conversion of sugars to alcohol or organic acids using microorganisms
- Fertilization
The fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote
- Fetus
The stage of development of an embryo after the eighth week of pregnancy
- Fibrous joint
A joint where two bones are held together by connective tissue
- Galaxy
A large system of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity.
- Gamma rays
High-energy electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nuclei of atoms.
- Gene
A sequence of DNA that codes for a specific protein or RNA molecule.
- Genetic code
The sequence of nucleotides in DNA that determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein.
- Genome
The complete set of genes in an organism.
- Geology
The study of the Earth’s physical structure, history, and processes.
- Geothermal energy
Energy derived from the Earth’s internal heat.
- Glaciation
The process of forming glaciers or ice sheets.
- Global warming
The gradual increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature due to the increase in greenhouse gases.
- Gravity
The force that attracts two objects towards each other.
- Habitat
The natural environment in which an organism lives.
- Halogen
A group of elements that includes chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.
- Haplotype
A set of genetic variations that are inherited together.
- Heat
The energy transferred between objects due to a temperature difference.
- Helix
A twisted or spiral shape.
- Hertz
A unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second.
- Hibernation
A state of reduced metabolism and activity in animals during winter.
- Hybrid
An organism produced by crossing two different species or varieties.
- Hydrocarbon
A compound consisting of hydrogen and carbon.
- Hydrogen
The lightest and most abundant element in the universe.
- Inbreeding
Breeding between closely related individuals.
- Inertia
The tendency of an object to remain at rest or in motion.
- Infection
The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in the body.
- Infrared radiation
Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light.
- Inorganic
Not containing carbon.
- Insulator
A material that does not conduct electricity.
- Ion
An atom or molecule with a net electrical charge.
- Ionic bond
A chemical bond formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.
- Isotope
An atom of the same element with a different number of neutrons.
- Iteration
The process of repeating a set of instructions or calculations.
- Joule
A unit of energy or work equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through a distance of one meter.
- Juxtaposition
The placement of two or more things side by side for comparison or contrast.
- Kepler’s laws
Three laws of planetary motion formulated by Johannes Kepler in the early 17th century.
- Kelvin
A unit of temperature based on absolute zero.
- Kinetic energy
The energy of motion.
- Kingdom
The highest taxonomic rank in biology, consisting of organisms that share certain characteristics.
- Kinship
The relationship between individuals who are related by blood or marriage.
- Labile
Prone to change, especially chemically or physically unstable.
- Lamina
A thin layer or sheet of tissue.
- Laminate
To create a layered structure by bonding together thin sheets of material.
- Landfill
A designated area for the disposal of solid waste.
- Langmuir adsorption
A type of adsorption where a monolayer of molecules is formed on the surface of a solid.
- Lanthanide series
A group of metallic elements with atomic numbers 57 to 71.
- Laser
A device that emits coherent light of a single wavelength and produces a concentrated beam.
- Latitude
The angular distance of a location on Earth north or south of the equator.
- Lattice
A repeating arrangement of atoms or molecules in a crystalline solid.
- Law of conservation of energy
The principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can be converted from one form to another.
- Law of conservation of mass
The principle that the total mass of a closed system remains constant, regardless of any chemical or physical changes that may occur.
- Law of definite proportions
The principle that the composition of a pure compound is always the same, regardless of its source or method of preparation.
- Law of multiple proportions
The principle that when two elements form more than one compound, the ratios of the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of the other element are ratios of small whole numbers.
- Leaching
The process of removing soluble or suspended substances from soil or other material by the action of water.
- Least squares method
A statistical technique used to fit a mathematical function to a set of data points by minimizing the sum of the squares of the differences between the predicted values and the actual values.
- LED
A light-emitting diode, a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current is passed through it.
- Lenticular
Shaped like a lens.
- Lepton
A type of subatomic particle that does not experience the strong nuclear force and includes electrons, muons, and neutrinos.
- Leukemia
A type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells.
- Lewis acid
A chemical species that can accept a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
- Lewis base
A chemical species that can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
- Lichen
A symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic organism such as algae or cyanobacteria.
- Life cycle
The sequence of stages that an organism goes through from birth to death.
- Ligament
A strong, flexible band of connective tissue that connects bones to each other.
- Light-year
The distance that light travels in one year, approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers.
- Limnology
The study of freshwater ecosystems, including lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
- Lipid
A type of organic molecule that includes fats, oils, and waxes.
- Liquefaction
The process of converting a substance from a solid or gas to a liquid state.
- Lithium-ion battery
A type of rechargeable battery that uses lithium ions to store and release energy.
- Lithosphere
The outermost layer of Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
- Load
The amount
- Magnesium
A chemical element with symbol Mg and atomic number 12.
- Magnetic field
A field of force produced by moving electric charges, especially electrons.
- Magnetism
The force exerted by magnets.
- Mammal
A warm-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that is distinguished by the possession of hair or fur, the secretion of milk by females for the nourishment of the young, and (typically) the birth of live young.
- Mass
The amount of matter in an object, typically measured in kilograms.
- Matter
Anything that has mass and takes up space.
- Molecule
The smallest particle of a chemical element or compound that can exist and still retain the chemical properties of that element or compound.
- Momentum
The product of the mass and velocity of an object.
- Mutation
A change in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene.
- Myopia
A condition of the eye in which light is focused in front of, rather than on, the retina.
- Nanotechnology
The branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules.
- Nervous system
The network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body.
- Neutron
A subatomic particle with no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton.
- Nitrogen
A chemical element with symbol N and atomic number 7.
- Nonrenewable energy
Energy derived from sources that are finite, such as fossil fuels.
- Nucleus
The positively charged central core of an atom, consisting of protons and neutrons and containing most of the mass of the atom.
- Nutrient
A substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.
- Observation
The action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information.
- Oceanography
The branch of science that deals with the physical and biological properties and phenomena of the sea.
- Osmosis
The process by which molecules of a solvent tend to pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one, thus equalizing the concentrations on each side of the membrane.
- Ovary
The female reproductive organ that produces eggs.
- Oxidation
The process of adding oxygen to a substance, or the process of removing electrons from an atom or molecule.
- Oxygen
A chemical element with symbol O and atomic number 8.
- Paleontology
The scientific study of fossils.
- Particle
A minute portion of matter.
- Photosynthesis
The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll, producing oxygen as a byproduct.
- Ph
A measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution.
- Physiology
The branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.
- Planet
A celestial body that orbits around a star and is not a satellite of a planet or other celestial body.
- Plasma
A state of matter consisting of positively and negatively charged particles.
- Plate tectonics
The theory that the Earth’s outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle, the rocky inner layer above the core.
- Quantum mechanics
The branch of physics that deals with the behavior of matter and energy at the smallest scale, including the subatomic level.
- Quark
A type of elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter.
- Quasar
A very
- Radiation
Energy that is transmitted in the form of waves or particles
- Radioactivity
The process by which atomic nuclei decay and emit radiation
- Radioisotope
An isotope that is radioactive and decays to form other elements
- Radio waves
Electromagnetic waves with long wavelengths used for communication
- Reactant
A substance that participates in a chemical reaction
- Reactivity
The ability of a substance to undergo chemical reactions
- Redox reaction
A chemical reaction in which electrons are transferred between reactants
- Refraction
The bending of light as it passes through a medium of different density
- Relative atomic mass
The average mass of the isotopes of an element relative to the mass of carbon-12
- Respiration
The process by which organisms produce energy from food molecules
- RNA (ribonucleic acid)
A nucleic acid molecule that carries genetic information and is involved in protein synthesis
- Salinity
The concentration of salt in a solution, such as seawater
- Saturated
A solution that contains the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved in it at a given temperature and pressure
- Scattering
The process by which particles or waves are redirected in different directions
- Scientific method
A systematic approach to solving problems through observation, hypothesis testing, and experimentation
- Semiconductor
A material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator
- Solute
A substance that is dissolved in a solution
- Solution
A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances
- Solvent
A substance that dissolves a solute to form a solution
- Specific heat
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one unit of mass of a substance by one degree Celsius
- Spectroscopy
The study of the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter
- Speed
The rate at which an object changes position over time
- Spin
A property of subatomic particles that can have two possible states, up or down
- Standard deviation
A measure of the variation in a set of data
- Stellar
Relating to stars or the study of stars
- Stimulus
A signal or event that triggers a response in an organism or system
- Stoichiometry
The study of the quantitative relationships between reactants and products in chemical reactions
- Stratification
The formation of layers in a fluid due to differences in density or temperature
- Subatomic
Relating to particles that are smaller than atoms, such as protons, neutrons, and electrons
- Substance
A type of matter that has a uniform composition and properties throughout
- Supernova
A stellar explosion that releases a tremendous amount of energy and can briefly outshine an entire galaxy
- Surface tension
The property of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force and form a surface that behaves like a thin elastic film
- Suspension
A mixture in which particles are dispersed in a liquid or gas but are not dissolved
- Taxonomy
The science of identifying, classifying, and naming organisms
- Telescope
An instrument used to observe distant objects by collecting and focusing electromagnetic radiation
- Temperature
A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance
- Tensile strength
The maximum stress a material can withstand before breaking or deforming
- Terminal velocity
The constant velocity of a falling object when the air resistance equals the force of gravity
- Theory
A well-substantiated explanation of natural phenomena that is based on empirical evidence and logical reasoning
- Ultrasonic
Sound waves with frequencies above the audible range of human hearing.
- Ultraviolet
Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light but longer than X-rays.
- Uniformitarianism
A principle of geology that suggests that the processes that operate today to shape the Earth have been at work throughout Earth’s history.
- Unipolar
Having a single pole or charge, typically in reference to a magnetic field.
- Unit cell
The smallest repeating unit of a crystal lattice.
- Vacuum
A space devoid of matter.
- Valence
The combining power of an element, determined by the number of electrons it can give, take, or share when forming chemical bonds.
- Van der Waals force
A weak attractive force between molecules or atoms resulting from the fluctuations in electron density.
- Vector
A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
- Velocity
The rate at which an object changes its position with respect to a frame of reference.
- Watt
A unit of power equal to one joule per second.
- Wave
A disturbance that travels through space and time, carrying energy without transporting matter.
- Weak interaction
One of the four fundamental forces of nature, responsible for the radioactive decay of particles.
- Weight
The force exerted on an object by a gravitational field.
- Wavelength
The distance between successive crests or troughs of a wave.
- X-axis
The horizontal axis in a Cartesian coordinate system.
- X-ray
Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than ultraviolet radiation but longer than gamma rays.
- Xenon
A chemical element with the symbol Xe and atomic number 54, a member of the noble gases.
- Xerophyte
A plant adapted to living in dry conditions.
- Xylem
The tissue in vascular plants transports water and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant.
- Year
The time it takes for the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun, approximately 365.25 days.
- Yellow dwarf
A type of main sequence star, like the Sun, with a surface temperature between 5,000 and 6,000 K.
- Yield
The amount of a product obtained in a chemical reaction or industrial process.
- Yttrium
A chemical element with the symbol Y and atomic number 39, a member of the rare earth elements.
- Young’s modulus
A measure of the stiffness of a solid material, defined as the ratio of stress to strain.
- Zeolite
A group of minerals with a porous structure that can trap molecules of certain sizes.
- Zero point energy
The lowest possible energy state of a quantum mechanical system, even at absolute zero temperature.
- Zinc
A chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30, a bluish-white metal that is a component of many alloys.
- Zircon
A mineral commonly used in radiometric dating because it contains the radioactive isotope zirconium-238.
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