Key Science-Related and Social Science Terms Flashcards

Key Science-Related Terms

  • Advantageous: Providing an advantage.

  • Empirical: Relying on hard data.

  • Fauna: Animal life.

  • Flora: Plant life.

  • Hierarchy (adj., hierarchical): A system of rank; the direct opposite of egalitarian.

  • Isotope: An alternate form of an element.

  • Indigenous: Native to a specific area.

  • Inhibit: To prevent or impede (e.g., inhibiting a specific response).

  • Metabolism: The biological process of converting food into energy.

  • Methodology: A system of methods or procedures.

  • Microbial: Relating to microscopic organisms.

  • Pigment: Color.

  • Predisposed: Having a tendency toward a specific condition or behavior.

  • Regenerate: To regrow.

  • Replicate: To repeat an action or experiment with the same result.

  • Saturate: To become completely soaked with a substance.

  • Simulation: A realistic model, often created using a computer.

  • Stimulus (pl., Stimuli): Something that provokes a specific response.

  • Symbiosis (adj., Symbiotic): An interaction between two organisms living close together that benefits both parties.

  • Taxonomy: A classification system.

  • Trait: A characteristic.

  • Vegetation: Plant life (specifically noted as not being limited to vegetables).

  • Velocity: Speed.

Branches of Science

  • Astronomy: The study of stars and planets.

  • Botany: The study of plants.

  • Cognitive Science / Neuroscience: The science of the brain.

  • Ecology: The study of the natural world.

  • Entomology: The study of insects.

  • Epidemiology: The study of genetics (Note: Transcribed verbatim from source material).

  • Genetics: The study of genes.

  • Geology: The study of rocks.

  • Ornithology: The study of birds.

  • Paleontology: The study of fossils.

  • Zoology: The study of animals.

General Academic and Positive Terms

  • Adept: Skilled.

  • Align (oneself with): To support or adopt the position of an organization, usually on a large scale.

  • Authentic: Genuine.

  • Centrality: The state of being central or essential.

  • Complement: To complete or perfect something.

  • Comprehensive: Thorough and complete. It should not be confused with "comprehensible," which means "understandable."

  • Contingent: Dependent upon something else.

  • Confer: To give or grant.

  • Cultivate: To grow or raise (e.g., crops).

  • Elucidate: To make something clear.

  • Esteemed: Held in high regard.

  • Extant: Still in existence. Users are warned to be careful not to confuse this word with "extinct."

  • Fervor (adj., Fervid): Excitement.

  • Innovative: New and revolutionary.

  • Invigorating: Intensely energizing.

  • Mirth: Happiness.

  • Mitigate: To make something less severe.

  • Precocious: Done at an earlier age than expected.

  • Prevail: To win. The adjective form is Prevalent, meaning generally accepted.

  • Sovereignty: Political independence.

Branches of Social Science and Humanities

  • Anthropology: The study of human behavior and social organization, usually on a large scale; this field can include linguistics, biology, and archaeology.

  • Archaeology: The study of historical human activity through the recovery or excavation (digging up) of physical objects.

  • Economics: The study of monetary systems.

  • Ethnography: The study of individual cultures.

  • Folklore: The study of traditional stories and myths.

  • Sociology: The study of everyday human social behaviors and interactions at a specific time.