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Science and research: vocabulary list

Academic words for describing how things work and how we study them: estimate, mechanism, hypothetical, phenomenon. 82 words with meanings and example sentences.

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accumulate verb level 1

to gather or build up over time. Dust will accumulate on any shelf that is never cleaned.

adjacent adj level 1

next to or very near something. The library is adjacent to the town hall.

aggregate noun level 1

a total formed by adding many parts together. The aggregate of the scores decided the winner.

analogy noun level 1

a comparison that shows how two things are alike. The teacher used an analogy between a heart and a pump.

approximate adj level 1

close to the exact amount but not precise. The approximate height of the tower is ninety meters.

aspect noun level 1

one part or feature of something. Cost is only one aspect of the decision.

assert verb level 1

to state something firmly and with confidence. She continued to assert that the data were correct.

assume verb level 1

to accept something as true without proof. Do not assume the shop is open on a holiday.

capacity noun level 1

the amount something can hold, or the ability to do something. The stadium has a capacity of fifty thousand people.

chronological adj level 1

arranged in the order in which things happened. The museum displays the tools in chronological order.

circulate verb level 1

to move around a closed path, or to pass from person to person. Blood can circulate through the whole body in about a minute.

coincide verb level 1

to happen at the same time. The festival will coincide with the school holidays.

collapse verb level 1

to fall down or fail suddenly. The old roof could collapse under heavy snow.

compile verb level 1

to collect information and put it together. Students compile a list of sources for their reports.

component noun level 1

one of the parts that make up a whole. The battery is the most expensive component of the device.

comprise verb level 1

to be made up of. The committee will comprise five teachers and four parents.

conceive verb level 1

to form an idea or plan in the mind. It is hard to conceive of a world without electricity.

consecutive adj level 1

following one after another without a break. It rained for five consecutive days.

constitute verb level 1

to form or make up a whole. Twelve months constitute a year.

consume verb level 1

to use up, eat or drink. Large cities consume enormous amounts of energy.

context noun level 1

the situation or words around something that give it meaning. A word's meaning often depends on its context.

cycle noun level 1

a series of events that repeat in the same order. The water cycle moves water from the sea to the clouds and back.

deplete verb level 2

to use up or greatly reduce. Heavy fishing can deplete the stock of cod.

device noun level 1

a tool or machine made for a particular purpose. The small device measures the temperature of the soil.

dimension noun level 1

a measurement such as length, width or height. Measure each dimension of the room before buying the carpet.

distinct adj level 1

clearly different or separate from others. The two bird species have distinct songs.

domain noun level 1

an area of knowledge, activity or control. Chemistry is outside my domain of expertise.

duration noun level 1

the length of time something lasts. The duration of the film is about two hours.

dynamic adj level 1

full of energy and constant change. The city's dynamic economy attracts workers from many countries.

empirical adj level 2

based on observation or experiment rather than theory. The claim needs empirical support, not just opinion.

erode verb level 1

to wear away gradually. Wind and rain slowly erode the cliffs.

estimate verb level 1

to guess the size or value of something from the information you have. Engineers estimate that the bridge will take two years to build.

evolve verb level 1

to develop gradually over time. Languages evolve as people use them in new ways.

exclude verb level 1

to keep out or leave out. The price does not exclude delivery.

exhibit verb level 1

to show something in public. Local artists will exhibit their paintings in the hall.

expose verb level 1

to uncover or leave open to something. Do not expose the photographs to direct sunlight.

external adj level 1

on the outside; coming from outside. The external walls were painted white.

extract verb level 1

to remove or take out. Workers extract salt from the sea in shallow pools.

fluctuate verb level 1

to rise and fall without a steady pattern. Prices fluctuate with the seasons.

gradual adj level 1

happening slowly and in small steps. There has been a gradual rise in temperature.

hazard noun level 1

something that could cause danger or harm. A wet floor is a hazard to anyone walking by.

hypothesis noun level 1

an idea put forward to be tested. Her hypothesis was that plants grow faster with more light.

hypothetical adj level 1

based on an imagined situation rather than a real one. She gave a hypothetical example to explain the rule.

identical adj level 1

exactly the same in every detail. The twins wore identical coats.

impact noun level 1

a strong effect on something. The new road had a big impact on local trade.

incorporate verb level 1

to include something as part of a whole. The design will incorporate solar panels.

indicate verb level 1

to show or point out. Dark clouds often indicate that rain is coming.

infrastructure noun level 1

the basic systems a place needs, such as roads, power and water. Good infrastructure helps a town's businesses grow.

integral adj level 1

necessary as a basic part of something. Music is an integral part of the festival.

intense adj level 1

very strong or extreme. The heat was so intense that the paint blistered.

interval noun level 1

a space of time or distance between two things. There was a short interval between the two acts.

jeopardy noun level 2

danger of loss or harm. The delay put the whole project in jeopardy.

linear adj level 1

arranged in a straight line, or developing in simple steps. The film is not linear; it jumps between past and present.

mature adj level 1

fully grown or developed. A mature oak can live for hundreds of years.

mechanism noun level 1

a system of parts, or a process, that works to produce an effect. The lock's mechanism is hidden inside the door.

methodology noun level 1

a system of methods used in a study or activity. The report explains the methodology behind the survey.

migrate verb level 1

to move from one region to another, often with the seasons. Many birds migrate south before winter.

monitor verb level 1

to watch and check something over a period of time. Nurses monitor the patient's heart rate through the night.

notion noun level 1

an idea, belief or understanding. He had a vague notion of how the machine worked.

overlap verb level 1

to cover part of the same area or time. The two courses overlap in their first month.

paradigm noun level 1

a typical pattern or model of something. The discovery created a new paradigm in physics.

parallel adj level 1

going in the same direction and always the same distance apart. The railway runs parallel to the river.

phenomenon noun level 1

something that can be observed to happen, especially something unusual. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon seen near the poles.

presume verb level 1

to suppose something is true without proof. I presume you have already eaten.

principle noun level 1

a basic rule or truth that guides thinking or behavior. The principle of fairness applies to everyone.

procedure noun level 1

a set of steps for doing something. Follow the correct procedure when you leave the building.

ratio noun level 1

the relationship between two amounts. The ratio of boys to girls in the class is even.

reveal verb level 1

to make something known or visible that was hidden. The survey will reveal which subjects students enjoy most.

sector noun level 1

a distinct part of an economy or society. The technology sector hired thousands of workers last year.

shift noun level 1

a change in position, direction or way of thinking. There has been a shift in opinion since last year.

structure noun level 1

the way parts are arranged to form a whole. The structure of the essay is easy to follow.

survive verb level 1

to continue to live or exist after danger. Some desert plants survive months without rain.

technique noun level 1

a particular way of doing something skilled. The painter used a new technique to blend the colors.

temporary adj level 1

lasting for only a limited time. The bridge is a temporary solution until a new one is built.

theory noun level 1

an idea or set of ideas used to explain facts. Darwin's theory explained how species change over time.

transmit verb level 1

to pass or send from one place or person to another. Mosquitoes can transmit disease from one person to another.

trend noun level 1

a general direction in which something is changing. There is a trend toward smaller families.

undergo verb level 1

to experience or be put through something. The old bridge will undergo repairs this summer.

uniform adj level 1

the same in all parts or at all times. The bricks were of uniform size.

valid adj level 1

based on good reasons; acceptable. You have a valid point about the cost.

volume noun level 1

the amount of space something fills, or the loudness of sound. The volume of water in the tank is fifty liters.

yield verb level 1

to produce a result or a crop. The experiment did not yield the results the team expected.

Other topics: People and character · Feelings and attitudes · Speaking, writing and arguing · Thinking and judging · Change, time and action · Size, amount and kind · Society, work and rules

Words to enjoy and learn from. These are original lists, and we do not claim any word appears on any particular test.