8th Grade Vocabulary

debate

A discussion between people who disagree on a subject

preface

A section that introduces a written text that usually gives information about the text or the author

allusion

A reference that is not direct

bias

An opinion which is prejudiced

sequence

The order or pattern in which things happen

adversary

An opponent or enemy

catastrophe

A terrible disaster

cite

To quote as an authority

descendant

Someone who comes from a specific ancestor or group of ancestors

fatigue

The condition of being very tired

generosity

The condition of being kind; willing to give

habitat

The place where an animal or plant normally lives or grows

massacre

The violent killing of many people

matriarch

A female head of a family or tribe

neglect

Fail to do something; leave something undone

obstacle

Something that stands in the way of progress or achievement

patriot

One who loves and defends his or her country

refuge

A safe place

scarce

Lacking in quantity or number compared with the demand

wander

To move about without a purpose or destination

construct

To build or make something physical such as a road, bridge, or building OR make by combining materials and parts

determine

To find out or come to a decision

opinion

What someone thinks about a particular thing

coherent

Logical and well-organized; easy to understand

focus

A center of activity or interest

fiction

A made-up story OR a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact

alliteration

The repetition of a sound at the beginning of two or more neighboring words. Example: “wild and woolly” or a “babbling brook”

advantage

The quality of having a superior or more favorable position

calculate

Make a mathematical computation

change

Make different; cause a transformation

factor

One of two or more integers that can be exactly divided into another integer

design

Plan something for a specific role, purpose or effect

humor

Quality that makes something funny

impact

The striking of one body against another

laboratory

A workplace for the conduct of scientific research

literacy

The ability to read and write

offspring

The immediate descendants of a person or animal

position

The particular portion of space occupied by something

problem

A state of difficulty that needs to be resolved