Grade 4 Science Quiz Bee Glossary

Complete vocabulary review flashcards for Grade 4 Science Quiz Bee Glossary covering living things, matter, energy, Earth and space, and weather and safety.

root

The part of a plant that absorbs water and minerals and usually anchors it in soil.

stem

The plant part that supports leaves and carries water and nutrients.

leaf

The plant part that usually makes food using sunlight.

flower

The reproductive part of many flowering plants.

fruit

The part of a flowering plant that develops from the ovary and usually contains seeds.

seed

A plant structure containing a young plant and stored food.

petal

A usually colorful flower part that may attract pollinators.

trunk

The main woody stem of a tree.

bark

The protective outer covering of a woody stem or root.

branch

A part growing out from a tree's trunk or another branch.

vein

A tube-like structure in a leaf that carries water and food.

pollen

Tiny grains containing the male reproductive cells of seed plants.

nectar

A sweet liquid made by flowers that attracts some animals.

thorn

A sharp, pointed plant structure that helps protect it.

chlorophyll

The green pigment that absorbs light for photosynthesis.

ovary

The flower part that contains ovules and may develop into fruit.

stamen

The male reproductive part of a flower, made of an anther and filament.

pistil

The female reproductive structure of a flower, including stigma, style, and ovary.

fertilization

The joining of male and female reproductive cells to form a new cell.

germination

The beginning of growth of a seed into a young plant.

skeleton

The framework of bones that supports and protects the body.

muscle

Body tissue that contracts to produce movement.

tendon

Strong tissue that connects muscle to bone.

ligament

Strong tissue that connects one bone to another at a joint.

skull

The bones of the head that protect the brain.

ribcage

The set of ribs and related bones that protects the chest organs.

lungs

Organs that exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide during breathing.

heart

A muscular organ that pumps blood around the body.

liver

An organ that processes nutrients and helps remove harmful substances.

kidney

An organ that filters blood and makes urine.

intestine

The digestive tube where most nutrients are absorbed and waste moves onward.

stomach

A digestive organ that mixes food with acids and enzymes.

blood

The liquid tissue that transports gases, nutrients, and wastes in the body.

arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

veins

Blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart.

brain

The organ that controls thinking, senses, and many body functions.

nerves

Bundles of fibers that carry messages between the brain, spinal cord, and body.

sense

An ability to detect information such as light, sound, smell, taste, or touch.

digestion

The process of breaking food into substances the body can absorb.

circulation

The movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels.

habitat

The natural place where an organism lives.

population

All members of one species living in the same area.

community

Different populations of organisms living together in an area.

ecosystem

Living things and nonliving surroundings interacting in one area.

food chain

A sequence showing how energy passes from one organism to another through feeding.

food web

A network of connected food chains in an ecosystem.

producer

An organism that makes its own food, usually using sunlight.

consumer

An organism that gets energy by eating other organisms.

decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead matter and returns nutrients to the environment.

predator

An animal that hunts and eats another animal.

prey

An animal hunted and eaten by another animal.

camouflage

Coloring or patterns that help an organism blend into its surroundings.

adaptation

An inherited feature or behavior that helps an organism survive and reproduce.

survival

Continuing to live despite challenges or dangers.

reproduction

The process by which living things produce offspring.

matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space.

solid

A state of matter with a definite shape and volume.

liquid

A state of matter with a definite volume but no fixed shape.

gas

A state of matter with no fixed shape or volume.

property

A characteristic used to describe or identify a material.

mass

The amount of matter in an object.

weight

The force of gravity acting on an object.

volume

The amount of space something occupies.

density

The amount of mass in a given volume.

hardness

How strongly a material resists scratching or denting.

flexibility

The ability to bend without breaking.

temperature

A measure of how hot or cold something is.

mixture

Two or more substances combined without forming a new substance.

solution

A uniform mixture in which a solute is dissolved in a solvent.

solute

The substance dissolved in a solution.

solvent

The substance that dissolves a solute.

dissolve

To mix into a solvent and form a solution.

evaporation

The change of a liquid into gas at its surface.

condensation

The change of gas into liquid.

melting

The change of a solid into a liquid.

freezing

The change of a liquid into a solid.

boiling

Rapid vaporization throughout a liquid when it reaches its boiling point.

water cycle

The continuous movement of water through Earth's surface and atmosphere.

energy

The ability to cause change or do work.

force

A push or pull that can change an object's motion.

motion

A change in an object's position over time.

push

A force that moves or tries to move something away.

pull

A force that moves or tries to move something closer.

friction

A force that opposes movement between touching surfaces.

gravity

The attractive force between objects with mass.

magnet

An object that produces a magnetic field and attracts certain metals.

magnetic

Related to magnets or the forces they produce.

attraction

A force that draws objects toward each other.

repulsion

A force that pushes objects apart.

electricity

Energy associated with electric charges and their movement.

battery

A device that stores chemical energy and supplies electrical energy.

circuit

A complete path through which electric current can flow.

bulb

A device that produces light when supplied with energy.

switch

A device used to open or close an electric circuit.

conductor

A material that allows heat or electric current to pass through easily.

insulator

A material that resists the flow of heat or electric current.

transformation

A change from one form or state to another.

reflection

The bouncing back of light or another wave from a surface.

refraction

The bending of light as it passes between materials.

vibration

A repeated back-and-forth movement.