McGraw-Hill Education ACT 2017 (2016)
Part V. APPENDIXES
Appendix 3. ACT VOCABULARY LIST
All of these words have been used on past ACTs. Some of them are included because former students asked about them. Some are included here because they have been selected by experienced ACT instructors as representative of the vocabulary level that is expected on the ACT. We have also included some math and science terms with which you should be familiar.
A
Abound: |
to be well supplied; to have great quantities |
Absence: |
being away or lacking something; inattentiveness |
Absurd: |
extremely ridiculous or completely lacking reason |
Abundance: |
having considerably more than is necessary or adequate; more than plenty |
Acceleration: |
the rate of change of velocity |
Accommodate: |
to adapt or adjust in a way that makes someone else comfortable; to make room |
Accusation: |
a statement blaming someone for a crime or error |
Acidic: |
having a pH less than 7 (contrast with alkalinity, which is having a pH greater than 7) |
Acrid: |
harsh or bitter taste or smell |
Acute: |
(adj.) refers to an angle that is less than 90 degrees; (adj.) refers to a triangle with angles that are all less than 90 degrees; sharp; quick and precise; intense |
Adapt: |
to change or modify to suit a particular purpose |
Adjacent: |
in the nearest position; next to |
Adolescence: |
the stage of development between puberty and maturity |
Aerobic respiration: |
the breakdown of glucose in the body of an animal to supply muscles with oxygen |
Aerosol: |
solid or liquid particles suspended in gas |
Aesthetic: |
appeals to the senses because it is beautiful |
Affiliation: |
a connection between groups of people, organizations, or establishments |
Agility: |
the quality of being quick and nimble |
Agronomist: |
a soil management and field-crop production expert |
Alienate: |
to isolate oneself from others or another person from oneself |
Align: |
to adjust parts so that they fit together correctly, usually in a straight line |
Alkalinity: |
having a pH greater than 7 (contrast with acidic, which is having a pH less than 7) |
Allegiance: |
loyalty to a person, group, country, or cause |
Altitude: |
elevation above a level of reference, usually given in feet above sea level |
Ambiguous: |
unclear or capable of having more than one meaning |
Amino acids: |
various organic compounds that link together to form proteins |
Ample: |
a more-than-sufficient amount; roomy |
Analogous: |
items that are similar and comparable in some way; serving a similar function |
Analogy: |
a comparison of similarities between two or more things |
Anatomical: |
related to the structure of an organism |
Ancestral: |
relating to or inherited from an ancestor |
Anew: |
starting again in a new or different way |
Anomaly: |
something that is different from the norm |
Anticipate: |
to look forward to or to expect |
Antigen: |
a substance such as a toxin or enzyme capable of eliciting an immune response |
Antitoxin: |
an antibody created for and capable of neutralizing a toxin |
Apathy: |
lack of any emotion or concern |
Aperture: |
an opening or hole, usually in an optical instrument, such as a camera, that limits the amount of light passing through a lens |
Apocalypse: |
great or total devastation; approximating the end of the world |
Apparatus: |
a material or device used for a specific purpose |
Appealing: |
attractive or inviting; the act of making a request for a decision or help |
Arisen: |
the state of being up after sitting or lying |
Aristocratic: |
having the qualities of the elite, ruling class |
Articulate: |
(v.) to clearly explain; (adj.) the quality of being able to speak clearly |
Aspect: |
a certain part of something; the side of an object that faces a certain direction |
Assert: |
to demonstrate power; to defend a statement as true |
Assumption: |
something believed to be true without proof; unsupported evidence |
Asteroid: |
small celestial body that revolves around the sun, with a diameter between a few and several hundred kilometers |
Asthenosphere: |
a lower layer of the Earth’s crust |
Astonishing: |
amazing or bewildering |
Atrium: |
an area of a building, usually a courtyard, that is skylighted or open to the sky and that often contains plants |
B
Bacteria: |
single-celled microorganisms |
Banish: |
to force to leave; to exile |
Banyan: |
East Indian tree that has aerial shoots growing down into the soil and forming additional trunks; loose jacket worn in India |
Basalt: |
solidified lava; a dense, gray, fine-grained igneous rock |
Bemoan: |
to express grief; to deplore |
Beneficiary: |
recipient of benefits, for example, funds or property from an insurance policy or will |
Binge: |
a duration of excessive and uncontrolled self-indulgence |
Biomass: |
total mass of all the living matter within a given area |
Biosynthesis: |
the production of a chemical compound within the body |
Boiling point: |
the temperature a liquid must be to change states from liquid to gas |
Brood: |
(v.) to dwell over past misfortune; (n.) a group of offspring |
Buoyant: |
tending to float; lighthearted |
Bureaucrat: |
an official in government; a term usually used in an insulting manner |
By-products: |
products made in the process of making something else, sometimes unexpected |
C
Calamity: |
horrible event that results in extreme loss |
Calligraphy: |
elegant lettering; the art of producing such writing |
Capacity: |
maximum amount that an object or area can hold; mental ability |
Capillary: |
a very slim tube; one of a network of extremely small blood vessels |
Carbohydrate: |
sugars and starches that serve as a major energy source for animals |
Catalogue: |
a systematic list of things, such as books in a library or items for sale at a store |
Catalyst: |
an agent that causes or speeds up a chemical reaction |
Celestial: |
relating to the sky; divine or heavenly |
Celsius: |
a temperature scale in which the freezing point of water is 0 degrees and the boiling point is 100 degrees under normal atmospheric conditions |
Cerebral edema: |
brain swelling |
Cesarean: |
relating to the medical procedure of surgical abdominal birth, referred to as a cesarean section |
Chaos: |
a state of complete disarray |
Characteristics: |
distinguishing attributes or qualities of a person or thing |
Chlorophyll: |
a green pigment produced in response to sunlight during photosynthesis |
Cholesterol: |
a soft, waxy compound found in the body and in the food we eat |
Chronology: |
a list of events arranged by time of occurrence |
Circumscribe: |
to enclose a shape with lines or curves, so that every vertex of the enclosed object touches part of the enclosing configuration |
Coherent: |
the quality of being logical and clear |
Cohesiveness: |
the quality of sticking together |
Coincidental: |
occurring by chance |
Collinear: |
passing through or lying on the same straight line |
Colloid: |
a gelatinous material |
Comet: |
a celestial body, having an elongated, curved vapor tail, which is seen only in that part of its orbit that is relatively close to the sun |
Commendable: |
worthy of praise |
Common difference: |
the equal distance between one number in an arithmetic sequence and the next (for example, the common difference between 4, 6, and 8 is 2) |
Common ratio: |
the ratio of one term and the next in a geometric sequence (for example, the common ratio between 2, 4, and 8 is and , or 2) |
Comparison: |
a description of similarities or differences between two things |
Compatriot: |
someone from one’s own country; a colleague |
Competence: |
the quality of having adequate skill, knowledge, and experience |
Compose: |
to form by placing parts or elements together; to bring oneself to a state of calm |
Comprehensive: |
all-inclusive |
Compressibility: |
the ease with which pressure can alter the volume of matter |
Concede: |
to admit or reluctantly yield; to surrender |
Concentration: |
the amount of one substance contained within another; intense mental effort or focus |
Concentric: |
having a common center |
Concerto: |
composition for an orchestra and one or more solo instruments, typically in three movements |
Concoct: |
to prepare by mixing ingredients together; devise a plan |
Condense: |
to become more compact; to change from a vapor to a liquid |
Conducive: |
tending to cause or bring about |
Congruent: |
corresponding; equal in length or measure |
Conjure: |
to bring to mind; to produce as if by magic |
Conscience: |
the mental sense that guides moral decisions |
Consecutive: |
uninterrupted sequence |
Consent: |
(n.) permission; (v.) to agree to |
Consequence: |
result of an action |
Conservatory: |
a fine arts school; a greenhouse of plants aesthetically arranged |
Constant: |
the quality of being unchanging; marked by firm resolution or loyalty |
Constituency: |
a group of citizens who have the power to elect an official; an electoral district |
Contemplate: |
to carefully consider |
Contemporary: |
person or thing of the same era or age; current, modern |
Context: |
text or spoken words that surround a word or passage and help determine meaning; circumstances that surround an event |
Contradict: |
to assert the opposite |
Contrive: |
to clearly plan; to cleverly devise |
Controversial: |
characterized by dispute; debatable |
Cordial: |
sincere; courteous |
Correlate: |
to have corresponding characteristics |
Cos: |
abbreviation of cosine |
Cosine: |
in a right triangle, the ratio of the length of the side adjacent to the acute angle divided by the hypotenuse |
Credulity: |
a tendency to trust too easily |
Crimson: |
a deep red color |
Criterion: |
requirement on which judgment can be based |
Crucial: |
extremely important |
Cryopreservation: |
preservation (as of cells) by very low temperatures |
Cube: |
a term raised to the third power; a regular solid having six congruent faces |
Cubic inch: |
the volume of a cube with edges that all measure one inch |
Cuisine: |
the food prepared by a style of cooking, for example, “Italian cuisine” |
Cylindrical: |
having the shape of a cylinder, or a solid with circular ends and straight sides |
D
Decipher: |
to interpret the meaning, usually of a code or hard-to-read handwriting |
Decompose: |
to disintegrate into components |
De-emphasize: |
to minimize the importance |
Defection: |
withdrawing one’s support; to escape or become a traitor |
Deform: |
to disfigure; to ruin the shape of an object |
Degree: |
one in a series of steps in a process or scale; a unit of measurement |
Delegate: |
(v.) to transfer responsibilities to another; (n.) a personal representative |
Deliberate: |
(adj.) carefully planned out; (v.) to consider carefully |
Delve: |
to deeply and thoroughly search |
Demean: |
to reduce in worth |
Demise: |
the end of existence |
Demur: |
to express opposition |
Derive: |
to infer certain knowledge; to trace the origin or development of something |
Descend: |
to come from a particular origin; to move down from a higher point |
Descendant: |
a person, animal, or plant that can be traced back to a certain origin; future or subsequent generations |
Deter: |
to prevent from taking a particular course of action |
Determinant: |
the difference between multiplied terms in a matrix |
Deviation: |
a divergence from a certain path; in mathematics: the difference, especially the absolute difference, between one number in a set and the mean of the set |
Devise: |
(v.) to design or create; often confused with the noun device, which means “tool that fulfills a certain purpose” |
Diagonal: |
a line segment joining two nonadjacent vertices of a polygon or solid (polyhedron) |
Diffusion time: |
the time that it takes for a material to spread from one area to another |
Diligent: |
continuously putting in great effort |
Dilute: |
to weaken the strength of a solution |
Diminish: |
to make smaller, decrease, or lessen |
Directly proportional: |
increasing or decreasing together or with the same ratio |
Disavow: |
to deny knowledge of, responsibility for, or association with |
Discern: |
to differentiate or distinguish; to perceive |
Discomforting: |
embarrassing |
Disconcerting: |
unsettling |
Discriminatory: |
showing a bias |
Disdainful: |
scornful and sneering |
Dispel: |
to rid one’s mind of; to drive out |
Disperse: |
to scatter or spread out everywhere |
Disquieting: |
lacking peace of mind; mental unrest |
Dissolution: |
the process of dissolving or disintegrating |
Dissolve: |
to pass into or become part of; to terminate |
Distinct: |
easily distinguishable from others |
Dominant: |
the most prominent; exuding authority |
Dowry: |
in certain cultures, the money, goods, and so on, that a woman brings to a marriage |
Drag force: |
the frictional force that resists or slows down motion through a medium such as air |
Drastic: |
extreme |
Durable: |
resistant to wear |
Durable goods: |
in economics, goods that are not depleted with use, such as household appliances or cars |
E
Ecology: |
the field of science that concentrates on relationships between organisms and their environments |
Elaborate: |
(adj.) rich with detail and well developed; (v.) to expand on the idea of something |
Electorate: |
the body of all of the people who possess the right to vote |
Eloquent: |
very clear and precise; quality of being skilled in clear and precise speech |
Emanant: |
something such as a gas or odor coming forth and off of a source |
Embalm: |
to maintain a dead body by treating it with chemical preservatives |
Embittered: |
possessing bitter feelings |
Embrace: |
to enclose in one’s arms; become accepting of other ideas or people |
Emigration: |
leaving one country and traveling to live in another |
Emissions: |
things that are discharged (often gases into the air) |
Emit: |
to release particles such as light, heat, gases |
Empowered: |
possessing the necessary abilities for a particular task; given power or authority |
Emulate: |
to follow an admirable example; imitate |
Emulsion: |
a state in which one liquid is suspended in another because the liquids will not dissolve in one another |
Endorsement: |
a guarantee to support; a signature on a document such as a check |
Endow: |
to give a positive trait; to provide monetary funds by donation |
Endpoints: |
what defines the beginning and end-of-line segment |
Endure: |
to continue despite difficulty; to tolerate |
Enrich: |
to improve |
Enshrine: |
to enclose in a shrine or place of devotion |
Entangle: |
to twist and tie up in a complicated manner |
Enumerate: |
to state things in a list |
Envision: |
to picture a mental image |
Eon: |
duration of time, so long it cannot be measured |
Epic: |
(n.) widely celebrated literary work that has survived a long period of time; (adj.) very impressive and extraordinary |
Epicanthic fold: |
a fold of skin of the upper eyelid that only partly covers the eye’s inner corner |
Equilibrium: |
a state of balance |
Erosion: |
the wearing away of an object by outside forces, like wind or water |
Error: |
a mistake; the difference between a computed value and the correct value |
Escapist: |
one who mentally leaves the real world for a world of fantasy |
Essence: |
important characteristics that help differentiate something; the key element of an idea; something spiritual; a scent |
Essential: |
(adj.) the quality of being indispensable or necessary |
Essentially: |
at the very core |
Establish: |
to create a foundation |
Ethical: |
in line with what is right and wrong |
Ethnicity: |
cultural and racial association |
Evaporate: |
to draw away moisture and convert into vapor |
Exceed: |
to go far beyond a limit; excel |
Exceptional: |
rare due to uncommonly great qualities |
Exhibit: |
(v.) to display; (n.) something that is displayed; (n.) a piece of evidence submitted to a court during a trial |
Expatriate: |
(v.) to banish someone; (v.) to move from one’s native land; (n.) one who lives in a foreign country |
Experimental variables: |
elements of an experiment that are changed (distinguished from the constant, which is held the same in order to produce significant results) |
Expertise: |
skill or knowledge in a certain area |
Exquisite: |
characterized by great beauty and intricacy |
Extensive: |
detailed and far-reaching |
Extinct: |
no longer existing |
Extrapolate: |
to guess by inferring from known information |
Extravagant: |
lavish beyond the norm |
Exultant: |
gleeful because of success |
F
Fahrenheit: |
a temperature scale that measures the boiling point of water at 212 degrees and the freezing point at 32 degrees |
Feign: |
to fabricate or deceive |
Fermentation: |
the chemical process of breaking down an organic substance into simpler substances such as the fermentation of sugar to alcohol |
Fickle: |
constantly changing one’s mind |
Fjord: |
an inlet lined by steep slopes that is long, narrow, and deep |
Fledgling: |
a young bird that has just acquired feathers; also used to describe an inexperienced newcomer |
Flourish: |
(v.) to prosper; (v.) to thrive; (n.) a dramatic gesture; (n.) a written embellishment |
Foil: |
(n.) a character whose traits exemplify the opposite traits of another character when they are compared; (v.) to prevent an action, often by ruining a plan; (n.) a weapon used in the sport of fencing |
Foliation: |
the alternating layers of different mineral compositions within solid rocks |
Forecast: |
to predict future events, such as the weather |
Foresee: |
to know beforehand |
Foreshadow: |
to suggest or hint at future occurrences |
Forgo: |
to refrain from doing something previously planned |
Formalize: |
to make something official or valid |
Franchise: |
a right given to an individual or group to operate a branch of a business and sell the business’ products; the right to vote |
Frenzied: |
in a temporary crazed state |
Friction: |
the force resistant to motion |
Frivolous: |
unnecessary and silly |
G
Gable: |
the triangular section of a wall that fills the space between the two slopes of a roof |
Galvanism: |
a direct electrical current produced by chemical reactions |
Gas: |
a fluid (such as air) that is not independent in shape or volume but tends to expand |
Gas chromatograph: |
a device used to detect the composition of an unknown material |
Gastric emptying: |
the movement from the stomach to the small intestine, and finally into the colon |
Gaudy: |
tastelessly flashy |
Glacial: |
relating to a glacier; callous and cold; extremely slow |
Glib: |
doing something with ease and slickness, but lacking sincerity |
Gravity: |
the force of attraction between two bodies of mass |
Gypsum: |
a yellowish-white mineral used to make plaster |
H
Haggle: |
to bargain in an annoying manner; to harass |
Halitosis: |
the condition of having breath with a foul odor |
Harbinger: |
a sign that foreshadows upcoming events |
Herbivorous: |
a plant-eating organism |
Hindu: |
(adj.) relating to the religion of Hinduism, which originated in India; (n.) a person who practices Hinduism |
Hoist: |
to lift up |
Homeric epic: |
a classic Greek tale of heroism written by the ninth-century Greek author, Homer |
Hue: |
color |
Humidity: |
a measure of how damp the air is |
Hydraulic: |
operated by using water or fluid pressure |
Hydrogen bonding: |
the chemical bonding of a hydrogen atom with another electronegative atom |
Hypotenuse: |
the longest side of a right-angle triangle, which is always the side opposite the right angle |
I
Ideological: |
relating to the fundamental ideas of an individual or group |
Idiosyncrasy: |
a peculiar characteristic |
Igneous rock: |
rock that is formed by the cooling and solidification of molten magma |
Ignition temperature: |
the temperature that a fuel must reach before combustion can begin |
Immerse: |
to completely submerge |
Imminent: |
close to happening; impending |
Imply: |
to indirectly suggest, often confused with infer, which means “to conclude” |
Improvise: |
to do or perform without preparation; to create something only from readily available materials |
Inalienable: |
impossible to take away |
Inauguration: |
a formal initiation or induction |
Incarcerate: |
to imprison |
Incinerate: |
to set fire to and burn something until it is reduced to ashes |
Inclined: |
disposed to a certain path of thought; sloping |
Inconstant: |
not following a pattern; varying |
Incorporate: |
to bring two things or certain aspects of two things together |
Indifference: |
total lack of concern or interest |
Indigenous: |
native to or naturally existing in a certain area |
Indignation: |
anger due to unfairness |
Indulge: |
to freely partake in; to yield to the wish or desire of oneself or others |
Inevitable: |
bound to happen; unavoidable |
Inexhaustible: |
plentiful; impossible to use up completely |
Inexplicable: |
impossible to give the reason for; unexplainable |
Infer: |
to deduce from evidence, often confused with imply |
Infirmary: |
a small hospital, often in an institution, used to provide care for the sick |
Infrared: |
light energy having a wavelength below the visible range; it is experienced as heat |
Infuse: |
for one substance to penetrate into another (for example, steak infused with garlic flavor) |
Ingenious: |
brilliant and clever |
Inherent: |
naturally occurring, permanent element or attribute |
Inscribe: |
to write or engrave words on a surface; to write one’s name on something |
Insinuate: |
to subtly imply |
Institute: |
(v.) to enact or establish; (n.) an organization |
Institution: |
an establishment; a pillar of society (for example, the institution of marriage) |
Interior angle: |
an angle inside of a shape (that is, all of the interior angles in a triangle add up to 180 degrees) |
Intern: |
one who is confined during wartime against his or her will; a student or recent graduate working as an apprentice in a certain professional field |
Interpret: |
to translate or explain a concept |
Interpretation: |
a personal explanation for another’s creation, such as a play or poem |
Interstitial: |
(n.) fluid outside of cells; (adj.) occupying the small spaces between objects; (adj.) occurring during the short time periods between events |
Intracellular: |
within a cell or cells |
Intricacy: |
a detail of something complex |
Invaluable: |
priceless |
Involuntary: |
an action done without one’s consent or free will |
Irony: |
use of words to express a meaning that is the opposite of the real meaning; similar to and often confused with sarcasm, which means “words used to insult or scorn” |
Irreconcilable: |
impossible to adjust or compromise |
Irrelevant: |
not relevant or pertinent; outside the scope of a discussion or argument |
Irrevocable: |
impossible to reverse |
Isosceles triangle: |
a triangle with two congruent sides and two congruent angles |
Isotopes: |
two or more atoms with an identical atomic number and differing in number of electrons |
J
Juxtaposition: |
an act of placing things next to each other, usually for comparing or contrasting |
K
Kelvin: |
a unit of temperature where 0 K is absolute zero, the freezing point of water is 273 K, and the boiling point of water is 373 K |
L
Languish: |
to become weak; to become disenchanted |
Lavish: |
(adj.) elaborate and luxurious; (v.) to freely and boundlessly bestow |
Law of Sines: |
the relationship among the angles and the sides of a triangle (the sine of the angles is equal to the lengths of the sides) |
Least Common Denominator (LCD): |
the smallest number (other than 0) that is a multiple of a set of denominators (for example, the LCD of is 12) |
Least Common Multiple (LCM): |
the smallest number that is a multiple of a set of numbers (for example, the LCM of 6 and 9 is 18) |
Liberally: |
done in a manner that is generous (for example, liberally applying sunscreen) |
Limbo: |
a precarious state; in Roman Catholicism, the otherworldly place for unbaptized but good people |
Linear: |
relating to a line |
Lipid: |
an oily/waxy organic compound that cannot be dissolved in water |
Liquid: |
(n.) a substance that is neither a solid nor a gas; (adj.) flowing freely |
Lithosphere: |
the outer part of the Earth that includes the crust and upper mantle |
Log: |
abbreviation of logarithm. Logarithms are used to indicate exponents of certain numbers called bases. By definition, logab = c if ac = b (for example, logx36 = 2 if x2 = 36. In this case, x = 6.) |
Lumbering: |
lethargically walking around with clumsiness |
M
Macrophages: |
protective cells |
Manifest: |
(adj.) clearly recognizable; (v.) to make clear; (n.) a list of transported goods or passengers used for record keeping |
Manometer: |
a device that measures the pressure of liquids and gases |
Marine: |
(adj.) relating to the sea; (n.) a member of the U.S. Marine Corps |
Matrix: |
rows and columns of elements arranged in a rectangle |
Mean (also arithmetic mean): |
average; found by adding all the terms in a set and dividing by the number of terms |
Median: |
the middle value in a set of ordered numbers |
Mediocre: |
lacking any special qualities, even inferior |
Melancholy: |
glumness; deep contemplative thought |
Melting point: |
the temperature at which a solid softens into a liquid |
Mere: |
small; (adv. merely) nothing more |
Mesosphere: |
a layer of the atmosphere fifty to eighty kilometers above the Earth’s surface |
Metamorphism: |
the process of altering solid rock by changing its temperature, pressure, and chemistry |
Meteorite: |
a meteor that reaches the surface of the Earth before it is entirely vaporized |
Meticulous: |
devoting a high amount of attention to detail |
Microorganism: |
an organism of microscopic or very small size |
Midpoint: |
the point that divides a line segment into two equal segments |
Minuscule: |
extremely small; unimportant |
Mole: |
a unit of measurement for the molecular weight of a substance |
Molecular weight: |
the weight of all of the atoms in a molecule |
Molten: |
turned to liquid because of heat |
Moral: |
(adj.) based on standards of good and bad; (n.) a rule of proper behavior |
Morale: |
mental well-being; mood |
Mortar: |
a bowl in which substances are ground; a mixture, usually cement and water, used to bond bricks or stones; a military weapon similar to portable artillery |
Mutability: |
the ability to transform |
N
Nanometer: |
one billionth of a meter |
Negligible: |
meaningless and insignificant |
Neural: |
relating to the nervous system |
Neurological: |
relating to neurology, the study of the nervous system |
Newton: |
the amount of force needed to accelerate a one-kilogram mass at a rate of one meter per second, per second |
Nostalgia: |
sentimental yearning for the past |
Notion: |
a belief, sometimes without much conviction |
Numerous: |
existing in great numbers of units or persons |
O
Oblong: |
deviating from a square, circular, or spherical form by being slightly longer in one area |
Obtuse: |
an angle that is larger than a right angle |
Offal: |
wasted trimmings of an animal carcass; trash or rubbish |
Onus: |
a burden of responsibility |
Opus: |
a creative composition, usually musical |
Oracle: |
a shrine devoted to a future-telling deity or the deity himself; a prophet |
Organic matter: |
matter that is derived from living organisms |
Organism: |
a living thing, either plant or animal |
Overt: |
obvious and clearly shown |
P
Paradox: |
a statement that seems contradictory but is actually true |
Paragon: |
an example of excellence |
Parallel: |
lines in the same plane that do not intersect each other; in a coordinate plane, noncollinear lines or segments having the same slope as one another |
Parallelogram: |
a quadrilateral (a figure that has four sides) with opposite sides that are parallel and congruent |
Parenthetical: |
an explanatory statement that is set off by parentheses |
Pathetic: |
deserves pity or sympathy |
Peculiarity: |
unusual quality or characteristic |
Pendulum: |
a device that is suspended in such a way to allow it to swing back and forth using gravity |
Perceive: |
the act of becoming aware of something, usually through the senses |
Percolate: |
to slowly pass through a porous substance |
Perfunctorily: |
in a manner that suggests little interest or attention; a routine duty |
Perimeter: |
the boundary of a figure; in math, the distance from one point around the figure to the same point |
Periphery: |
the outermost boundary of an area |
Perpendicular: |
lines that intersect and form 90-degree angles |
pH: |
a scale that measures how acidic or basic a substance is on a scale of 0 to 14. Lower numbers indicate an increasing acidity and higher numbers indicate increasing basicity |
Phantom: |
exists only in the mind (an illusion); a ghost |
Phenomenon: |
an event or circumstance that is significant or extraordinary |
Photophores: |
organs that produce light |
Photosynthesis: |
the process by which plants turn carbon dioxide and water into energy with the aid of sunlight |
Pigmentation: |
coloration |
Plagiarism: |
an act of fraud consisting of copying another’s work and pretending that it is original |
Point-slope formula: |
the formula used to calculate the slope of a line: |
Positive slope: |
the incline of a line that slants upward (from left to right) |
Pow-wow: |
a meeting or gathering |
Preceding: |
coming before |
Precipitate: |
to cause something to happen very suddenly |
Precipitation: |
falling products of condensation in the atmosphere (such as rain) |
Predominant: |
having superior strength, paramount |
Preliminary: |
precedes or comes prior to |
Prerequisite: |
required beforehand |
Prestigious: |
having honor or respect from others |
Prevail: |
to triumph or come out on top |
Prevalent: |
commonly used or occurring |
Prime number: |
a positive integer that can only be evenly divided by 1 and itself |
Primordial: |
happening first or very early |
Protagonist: |
the main character of a story or tale |
Protein: |
a compound that consists of amino acids and plays various structural, mechanical, and nutritional roles within organisms |
Prototype: |
an original form of something |
Protract: |
to lengthen or prolong |
Prowess: |
great skill in something |
Pseudoscience: |
irrational or unfounded beliefs masquerading as science (for example, astrology) |
Psychologizing: |
explaining something in psychological terms |
Pyrotechnics: |
a display of fireworks |
Q
Quadrant: |
one part of a larger object that has been divided into four parts |
Quadratic equation: |
an equation in the form of ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a ≠ 0, and has only two solutions for x |
Quasi: |
resembles to some degree |
Quintessential: |
considered the perfect form |
R
Radian: |
a unit of angle measure within a circle |
Radiate: |
to emit energy or light that extends from a single source |
Radii: |
the plural form of radius |
Radioactive decay: |
a natural process by which an atom of a radioactive isotope spontaneously decays into another element |
Radius: |
a line segment with endpoints at the center of the circle and on the perimeter of the circle, equal to one-half the length of the diameter |
Rapid: |
moving very quickly |
Rapt: |
being completely occupied by, or focused on, something |
Ratio: |
a comparison between two quantities (for example, the ratio of girls to boys in the class is 1:2) |
Real number line: |
an infinite line of real numbers represented on a one-dimensional graph |
Real numbers: |
numbers that can be associated with points on a number line |
Recount: |
to describe the facts or details of a past event; to retell a story or repeat testimony |
Rectangular: |
having the shape of a rectangle (a parallelogram with four right angles) |
Recurrent: |
taking place over and over |
Redeem: |
to pay off a debt or fulfill an obligation; to make good |
Redirect: |
to alter the course or direction |
Rediscover: |
to learn about or see something as though for the first time |
Regular hexagon: |
a six-sided figure with congruent sides and angles |
Relevant: |
logically connected; pertinent |
Reluctant: |
unwilling and resistant |
Reparation: |
compensation given to make amends |
Resonate: |
to produce or amplify vibrations |
Respectively: |
in the order given |
Retention: |
the ability to hold things in or retain |
Rifling: |
(v.) to search through, looking for something to steal; (n.) the spiral grooves on the inside of a gun barrel |
Rift: |
a split or a break |
Rotate vs. Revolve: |
rotate: to turn about a fixed point; revolve: to turn on an axis |
Rudimentary: |
very basic or not fully developed |
S
Sacrilege: |
to misuse something that is sacred |
Sanctuary: |
a sacred place; a refuge |
Saplings: |
young trees |
Saturation: |
a state of being completely full or soaked |
Sauropod: |
a type of plant-eating dinosaur, for example, the brontosaur |
Scientific inquiry: |
based on experiment and observation and the application of the Scientific Method; examination into facts or principles |
Scrutiny: |
very close examination |
Sediment: |
solid materials that sink to the bottom of a liquid |
Seedling: |
a young plant grown from seed |
Seminal: |
forms the basis for future development; at the beginning; original |
Simultaneously: |
happening or existing at the same time |
Skepticism: |
an attitude of doubt or disbelief |
Social rituals: |
specific gestures and behaviors that are observed by members of a community |
Solace: |
comfort; safety |
Solid: |
neither gas nor liquid; of definite shape and volume |
Solute: |
a dissolved substance |
Solution: |
a mixture of two or more substances |
Solution set: |
the set of values that make an equation true |
Sovereign: |
(adj.) having supreme power; (n.) ruler or king |
Span: |
distance between two things |
Specific gravity: |
the ratio of the density of one substance to the density of another substance |
Speculators: |
people who form theories based on uncertain evidence; those who purchase something with the hope of reselling it later at a profit |
Sphere: |
a solid, round figure where all points on the surface are the same distance from the center (for example, a basketball) |
Spleen: |
a vascular, ductless organ that is located in the left abdominal region close to the stomach |
Stagnant: |
not moving or changing; stale |
Standard (x, y) |
a plane that is formed by a horizontal x-axis and a vertical y-axis that meet at point (0,0) (also known as the Cartesian Coordinate Plane) |
Steerage passenger: |
someone who rides in the least expensive section of a ship |
Straddle: |
having one leg on each side of something |
Stratosphere: |
a layer of the atmosphere between the troposphere and mesosphere |
Subcontractor: |
someone who agrees to perform one part of a larger commitment or contract |
Subjective: |
dependant on a person’s attitudes or opinions |
Subsequent: |
to come next or later |
Subtropical: |
near the tropical areas of the world; extremely humid and hot climate |
Sucrose: |
a simple sugar |
Summary: |
(n.) a statement that has condensed a larger body of work; (adj.) conducted without trial |
Supercooled: |
below freezing but remaining liquid |
Suspensions: |
the state of a substance when its particles are combined together but have not been dissolved in a fluid or solid |
Sustenance: |
things that provide nourishment for survival |
Synchronized: |
occurring at the same time and at the same rate |
Synthesis: |
combining separate elements to form a whole |
Synthetic polymer: |
a human-made, repeating chain of atoms |
T
Tenet: |
a belief that is held to be true by a certain group |
Terrestrial: |
relating to dry land as opposed to water; relating to the Earth as opposed to other planets |
Territorial: |
the protective behavior that is displayed when an animal is defending its area |
Thermal degradation: |
a process of combustion where materials in a fuel are broken down into several by-products |
Thermosphere: |
the outermost layer of the atmosphere |
Toxins: |
poisons |
Transcend: |
to go above and beyond; to rise above |
Translucent: |
allowing light to pass through but clouded or frosted in such a way that objects on the other side are not clearly visible; often confused with transparent, which means “clear” |
Transversal: |
a line that cuts through two or more lines |
Trapezoid: |
a quadrilateral (a figure with four sides) with only two parallel lines |
Treason: |
a betrayal of loyalty |
Triannual: |
lasting three years or occurring every three years |
Tropical area: |
an area near the equator that has a frost-free climate with high temperatures that can support year-round vegetation |
Troposphere: |
the lowest part of the Earth’s atmosphere |
Tyranny: |
absolute power exercised by an oppressive ruler |
U
Ultraviolet: |
situated beyond the visible spectrum |
Unemotional: |
devoid of sentiment or emotion |
Uniform: |
(adj.) continuing to be the same or consistent; (n.) identical clothing worn by members of a certain group |
Unilaterally: |
related to or occurring on one side only |
Unparalleled: |
without an equal or comparison |
Unprecedented: |
having no previous example |
Unsolicited: |
unwanted |
V
Vapor pressure: |
the pressure exerted by the molecules of a vapor |
Vaporize: |
to change into a cloud of diffused matter |
Various: |
of differing kinds |
Velocity: |
speed of motion |
Vertical migrators: |
marine species that travel toward the surface of the ocean to feed |
Vertices: |
the plural form of vertex, which is a point of intersection |
Vindication: |
the act of clearing someone or something from blame |
Virtually: |
in almost all instances; simulated as by a computer |
Virus: |
organism that causes infection |
Viscosity: |
a fluid’s resistance to flow |
Visionary: |
(adj.) characterized by dreams or illusions; (n.) a person with vision or foresight |
Voltage: |
a measure of the energy of an electric current |
W–Z
Wavelength: |
the distance between repeating peaks or crests of waves |
x-intercept: |
the point where a line on a graph crosses the x-axis |
y-intercept: |
the point where a line on a graph crosses the y-axis |