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Check out these special words used in recent issues of
National Geographic Explorer.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
abdomen (AB duh mun):
back half of a spider's body
accelerate (ak SELL uh rate):
change speed, direction, or both (Note: This is the scientific meaning. In daily life, "accelerate" generally means "speed up.")
acre (AY ker):
measurement of land
adapt (uh DAPT):
to change over time in order to survive in an environment
adaptation (ad ap TAY shun):
special trait that helps a plant or an animal survive in its environment
aerodynamics (air oh die NAM ix):
science of how air moves
afterlife (AF tur life):
life after death
agricultural (ag ri CUHL chur uhl):
based on farming
air pressure (air PREH shur):
force with which air presses against things
algae (AL jee):
tiny plants in the ocean
amphibian (am FIB ee uhn):
animal that lives in water while young and later on land
ancient (an CHANT):
from the far past
antechamber (AN tih chame bur):
room used as an entrance to another room
anthropologist (an thruh PAH luh jist):
scientist who studies human cultures
antibody (AN tee body):
substance that attacks invaders in your body
ape (
rhymes with
grape):
bonobo, chimpanzee, gibbon, gorilla, orangutan, or siamang
arachnid (uh RAK nid):
spider or related animal
arachnologist (uh rak NAHL uh jist):
scientist who studies arachnids
archaeologist (ar key AH la jist):
scientist who learns about ancient people by studying what they left behind
artery (ARE tuh ree):
vessel that carries blood away from the heart
arthropod (arth RO pod):
animal without a backbone that usually has many legs
artifact (ARE tih fact):
something made by humans
asteroid (as TROYID):
large space rock found between Mars and Jupiter
asteroid belt (as TROYID buh elt):
area between Mars and Jupiter
astronomer (uh STRAH nuh mer):
space scientist
atmosphere (AT mus fear):
blanket of gases surrounding Earth or another planet
atoll (AH-tul):
island formed when the top of a coral reef sticks out of water
atrium (AY tree um):
upper heart chamber (plural: atria)
autobiography (aw toe bye AH gruh fee):
book about its author's life
autotomy (AH toe tom ee):
ability to let go of a body part on purpose
avalanche (AV uh lanch):
large amount of snow, ice, rock, or dirt that slides down a mountain
axel (AK sul):
figure skating move that involves spinning and jumping at the same time
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B
bacteria (back TEER ee uh):
germs
bamboo (bam BOO):
tree-like grass with hard stems
band (
rhymes with
sand):
small group of horses
barge (rhymes with
large
):
flat-bottomed boat used to carry things
barrier island (BEAR-ee-uhr EYE-lind):
long, sandy island at the edge of a continent
basil (BAZ el):
herb used on pizza
biathlon (bye ATH lahn):
competition that includes cross-country skiing and rifle shooting
bilingual (by LING gwul):
able to use two languages
bill (rhymes with still):
proposed law
biologist (buy AH luh jist):
scientist who studies life
biology (buy AH luh gee):
study of plants and animals
bioluminescence (by oh loo muh NESS entz):
ability to produce light
blond, blonde (
rhymes with
wand):
person with yellowish hair
blood vessel (blood VESS uhl):
tube that carries blood
blubber (BLUH bur):
thick layer of fat under the skin
breed (
rhymes with
need):
type of dog
brood pouch (
rhymes with
rude couch):
flap of skin between a penguin's legs
brunet, brunette (broo NET):
person with dark-brown or black hair
burial chamber (BER ee ul chame bur):
room in a tomb where the body is kept
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C
cacao (kuh KOW):
tree that grows in Mexico and Central America
calcium (KAL see um):
mineral used to make bones and reefs
caldera (cal DARE uh):
crater left from a violent eruption
calf (
rhymes with
half):
young of various large animals, such as cows, whales, and elephants (plural:
calves
)
camouflage (KAM uh flahj):
to hide or disguise by blending into the surroundings
canal (kuh NAL):
artificial waterway
canvas (KAN vus):
strong, woven fabric, often made of cotton
canyon (CAN yun):
deep, narrow valley with steep sides
capillary (CAP uh lair ee):
smallest blood vessel in the body
capital (CAP ih tul):
city that is home to a state or national government
caracal (CARE a call):
kind of wild cat
caravan (CARE uh van):
group of travelers
carbon dioxide (KAR bun die AHK side):
gas made up of carbon and oxygen
carnivore (KAR nuh vor):
animal that eats other animals
carrion (CARE ee on):
flesh of a dead animal
cartilage (KAR tih lij):
soft, flexible material that makes up a sharks skeleton
cash crop (rhymes with
mash top
):
plant, such as tobacco, that is raised to be sold
casque (rhymes with
task
):
helmet-like part sticking out from an animal's head
caste (rhymes with mast):
group of ants that have the same role in a colony
cell (rhymes with
bell
):
smallest unit of life
century (SEN shuh ree):
one hundred years
cerata (sa RAH dah):
body part some nudibranchs use for breathing and digestion.
ceremony (SER uh moh nee):
formal action, such as a wedding
chameleon (kuh MEEL yun):
small- to medium-size lizard that has fancy crests, horns, or spines
channel (CHAN ul):
waterway between two landmasses that lie close to each other
chemical weathering (KEM uh cul WETH er ing):
when acid in water eats away rock
chicle (CHEE clay):
type of latex produced by sapodilla trees
chocolate (CHOK uh lut):
food made from ground cacao beans
chromatophores (krow MAT uh forz):
skin cells that have pigment in them
chum (rhymes with
drum
):
fish parts
civilization (siv uh la ZA shon):
advanced way of life for a group of people
clap skate (
rhymes with
nap date):
skate whose blade is hinged at the toe but not attached at the heel
cleaning station (KLEEN ing STAY shun):
place where shrimps clean fish
cliff (
rhymes with
stiff):
steep wall of rock, earth, or ice
climate (KLY mit):
weather pattern over a long time
cob (
rhymes with
rob):
woody center of an ear of corn
cold-blooded (cold BLOOD ed):
animal that does not make its own body heat
colonist (KAHL uh nest):
person who lives in a colony
colony (KAHL uh nee):
group of people or animals
comet (KAHM it):
chunk of ice and rock that orbits the sun
community (kuh MEW nuh tee):
all living things in an area
competitor (com PET it or):
someone who competes
compound eye (KAHM POUND I):
eye made up of many smaller eyes
compromise (CAHM pro mise):
agreement in which each side gives a little
conquistador (kahn KEESE tuh door):
Spanish conqueror
conservation (kahn zer VAY shun):
protecting Earth's places, plants, and animals
conservationist (con sur VAY shun ist):
person who protects natural resources
continent (KAHN tin unt):
large landmass
coral polyp (KOR el PAH lip):
small ocean animal
coral reef (KOR el reef):
rock-like formations built by tiny sea animals called corals. Reefs provide food and shelter to a variety of fish and sea creatures.
corona (kuh ROW nuh):
outer layer of the sun's atmosphere
cortex (KOR tex):
a hair's inside part that gives it strength and determines color
cosmonaut (KOZ muh not):
the Russian name for an astronaut
crèche (KRESH):
nursery for young penguins
crampons (CRAM pons):
metal spikes attached to climbers' boots to help them grip ice or rock
crater (KRAY ter):
hole in the ground
cross-pollination (cross pah luh NAY shun):
when pollen is moved from one plant to another
culture (KUL chur):
a group's way of life
cuneiform (kyu NEE uh form):
ancient type of writing
cuticle (KYU tuh kuhl):
a hair's outer layer, made up of flattened, overlapping cells
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D
data (DAY tuh):
facts, information (singular:
datum
)
deck (
rhymes with
neck
): layer of a ship
delta (DELL tah):
fan-shaped area at the mouth of a river
den (rhymes with
hen
):
place where an animal hides or rests
denim (DEN um):
strong cotton cloth used to make jeans
desert (DES urt):
place with little or no snow or rain
disability (dis uh BIL uh tee):
inability to do something, such as walk or see
discrimination (dis crim in AY shun):
unequal treatment
disobedient (dis oh BEE dee ent):
refusing to obey
diurnal (die URN uhl):
active during the day
dominate (DAH muh nate):
hold the most influence over, rule
doppler radar (DOP lehr RAY dar):
radar system used to track storms
drag (
rhymes with
bag):
force that slows things down as they move through air
dropsonde (DROP sahnd):
weather equipment dropped into a hurricane
drought (
rhymes with
out):
long period of time without rain or snow
dynasty (DIE nus tee):
line of emperors or kings
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E
ear (
rhymes with
here):
spike-like fruit of a corn plant
echolocation (eck oh lo KAY shun):
using sound to find objects
ecology (ih KAH luh jee):
how plants and animals live in relation to each other
ecosystem (EE koh sis tem):
community of plants and animals that depend on the same environment
electrical charge (ih LEK trih kul charj):
buildup of electricity
elytra (ee LET ra):
a beetle's front wings
emperor (EM puh rer):
ruler
endangered (in DANE jird):
at risk of dying out
energy conservation (EN er gee kahn zer VAY shun):
using less energy
entomologist (en toe MAHL uh jist):
scientist who studies insects
environment (in VI er ment):
the natural world on which all living things depend
epidemic (ep uh DEM ic):
disease or problem that affects many people
erode (uh ROAD):
to wear away
erosion (uh ROW zhun):
the slow wearing away of rock fragments, soil, and other material—usually by wind or water
ethanol (ETH uh nawl):
colorless liquid made from corn
ethnic group (ETH-nick group):
people who share a common ancestry, tradition, language, and religion
eucalyptus (yew kuh LIP tus):
tree that grows in Australia
exoskeleton (ecks o SKEH luh tun):
skeleton on the outside of a body
expedition (ek speh DIH shun):
trip with a special purpose, such as exploring
extinct (ecks TINKED):
died out
extinction (ek STINK shun):
disappearance of an entire species
extraterrestrial (ek struh tuh RES tree ul):
organism that doesn't live on Earth
eye (
rhymes with
PIE):
middle of a hurricane
eye wall (EYE wall):
wall of clouds surrounding the eye of a hurricane
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F
famine (FAM in):
extreme food shortage
fault (
rhymes with
MALT):
crack in Earth's crust
femtosecond (FEM tuh sek end):
quadrillionth of a second
feral (FIR ul):
wild animals whose ancestors were once tame
festival (FEST uh vul):
celebration
filter feeder (FILL ter FEED er):
animal that eats by filtering food from seawater
flare (
rhymes with
care
): stream of light and heat
foal (
rhymes with
pole):
young horse
focus (FO cus):
to make a clear image in the eye
foliage (FOL ee age):
leaves
follicle (FAH luh kuhl):
hole-like pocket that contains a hair root
food chain (FOOD CHAIN):
series of animals that eat one another
force (
rhymes with
horse):
a push or a pull
forest (FOR est):
area that supports many trees and wildlife
fortress (FOR tress):
large fort
fossil (FAH sul):
remains or imprint from an ancient plant or animal
friction (FRIK shun):
the rubbing of one thing against another
fugitive (FEW juh tiv):
runaway
fungus (FUN guss):
mold-like plant
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G
galaxy (GAL-uhk-cee):
system of stars
gas giant (GASS ji ant):
large planet made mainly of gas
gasoline (GAS oh leen):
form of oil used in cars
gene (
rhymes with
mean):
part of a cell that controls a trait in a living thing
generator (JEN er a tor):
machine that produces electricty
genetic engineering (juh NEH tik en juh NEAR ing):
adding genes to a cell to give an organism new traits
genetically modified foods (juh NEH tih klee MAH dih fide foods):
foods created by genetic engineering
geyser (GI zuhr):
natural fountain
gills (
rhymes with
chills):
organs that help fish get oxygen from water
glacier (GLAY shur):
large body of ice moving across land
glamorous (GLAM uh rus):
attractive, beautiful (noun:
glamour
)
gland (
rhymes with
band):
part of the body that produces a special substance, such as saliva or sebum (hair oil)
global warming (GLOW bul WAR ming):
worldwide rise in temperature
globe (
rhymes with
robe):
round model of Earth
glorious (GLOHR e us):
really great
glyph (guh LIF):
symbol in Maya writing
gravity (GRA vuh tea):
force that pulls things toward a star, planet, moon, or other object in space
groom (
rhymes with
broom):
to clean another chimp's hair and skin with the fingers
gully (GUH lee):
narrow valley
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H
habitat (HAB eh tat):
place where something lives
hair root (hair root):
lowest section of a hair; new hair cells develop here
hair shaft (hair shaft):
dead part of a hair that pokes out through the skin
halfpipe (HAF pipe):
pipe-shaped snowboarding course
hammock (HAM ock):
cloth or net bed that hangs between trees
hat trick (
rhymes with
that thick):
three goals scored by one hockey player during a single game
hematophagy (hem uh TOFF uh gee):
feeding on blood
herb (ERB):
plant used in cooking
herbivore (HER buh vor):
animal that eats plants
herd (
rhymes with
word):
group of one type of animal that stays together
herpetologist (her pet AHL uh jist):
scientist who studies snakes
hibernation (hi bur NAY shun):
sleep or rest period during winter
hieroglyphics (high ruh GLI fix):
symbols used as writing in ancient Egypt
home range (home range):
an animal's territory
host (rhymes with most):
plant or animal that is home to a parasite
host (rhymes with
most
):
plant or animal that is home to a parasite
hover (HUV er):
stay in one place in the air
hull (
rhymes with
dull):
main body of a boat
hydroponics (hi dro PON ics):
growing plants in water instead of soil
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I
iceberg (ISE berg):
floating mountain of ice
immigrate (IM uh grate):
to move from one country to another
immune system (uh MEWN sis tum):
parts of your body that fight disease
immunity (ih MYOO nih tee):
resistance to disease
impact crater (EM pact KRAY ter):
hole in the ground made by a space rock
incubate (ING kyuh bait):
keep an egg warm so it will hatch
industrial (in DUS tree uhl):
based on making and selling things
inferno (in FERN o):
huge fire
infrasound (in fruh SOUND):
sound so low that humans cannot hear it
ingredient (in GREE dee ent):
item in a recipe
inhabitant (in HAB uh tint):
person who lives in a place
inner planet (in er PLAN et):
one of four planets closest to the sun
interpreter (in-TERP-uh-ter):
person who tells what is being said in another language
invertebrate (in VEHR tuh brit):
animal without a backbone
island (EYE-lind):
piece of land surrounded by water
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J
jaguar (JAG war):
large, spotted cat
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K
karst (
rhymes with
PARSED):
limestone shaped by water
keratin (CARE-uh-tin):
material found in many animal body parts
kernel (KER nuhl):
seed
kiva (KEE vuh):
round, underground room often used for religious ceremonies or social gatherings
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L
lagoon (la-GOON):
shallow water surrounded by an atoll
larva (LAR vuh):
stage between egg and adult for many insects
laser (LAY zer):
device that makes a concentrated beam of light
latex (LAY tex):
milky substance some trees produce that hardens when exposed to air
latitude (LAT uh tood):
distance east or west of the Equator
lava (LAH vuh):
molten rock from a volcano
laws of motion (lawz of MOE shun):
ideas that Sir Isaac Newton developed to explain how things move
lechwe (LESH way):
kind of antelope
lens (
rhymes with
hens):
part of a camera (or an eye) that focuses light
lichen (LIKE-in):
type of plant that grows on rocks and tree trunks
lift (
rhymes with
gift):
upward force that works against gravity
limestone (LIME stone):
rock formed from animal remains, such as bones or shells
longitude (LONG juh tood):
distance east or west of Greenwich, England
luge (loozh):
winter sport in which athletes sled feetfirst down an icy track
lunar rover (LOON er ROW ver):
buggy that travels on the moon
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M
macaw (muh CAW):
kind of parrot
magma (MAG muh):
melted rock inside the Earth
maiden (MAY den):
first
maize (
rhymes with
maze):
corn
mammal (MAM uhl):
warm-blooded animal that feeds milk to its young
mantle (MAN tuhl):
layer of Earth's crust
mare (
rhymes with
bear):
adult female horse
marine life (mah REEN life):
plants and animals that live in salt water
marine microfauna (mah REEN MY kro fawn uh):
tiny sea creatures
marketing (MAR ket ing):
efforts to sell something
marsupial (mar SUE pee ul):
koala, kangaroo, or other animal with a pouch for carrying its young
mask (
rhymes with
ask):
covering for the face or head
mass (
rhymes with
pass):
amount of matter something has
mastiche (mas TEE ka):
yellow sap taken from the bark of mastic trees
matriarch (MAY tree ark):
female who leads an elephant herd
megaphone (MEH guh phone):
cone-shaped tube that makes someone’s voice louder
melanin (MEH la nun):
chemical that causes skin to darken
mesa (MAY suh):
landform with a flat top and steep sides
meteorite (ME tea or ite):
a rock from outer space that has crashed on a planet or moon
meteoroid (ME te or oid):
small space rock
meteorologist (mee tee er AHL uh jist):
scientist who studies weather
microbe (MY krobe):
one of many tiny creatures that live in, on, and all around us
microgravity (my crow GRA vuh tea):
condition in which the effects of gravity are greatly reduced
migrate (MY grate):
to move from one place to another
mimicry (mih mih KREE):
when an animal looks like something else
mint (rhymes with tint):
to make, or manufacture, coins
module (MAH jule):
section of a spacecraft
mogul (MOE gul):
small hill of snow built to be part of a freestyle skiing course
molecule (MAHL ih kyule):
tiny bit of a substance
molt (
rhymes with
bolt):
to shed fur, skin, feathers, or other covering periodically
momentum (moe MEN tum):
strength of motion
monument (MAHN yoo ment):
structure built so people remember a person or event
moon (
rhymes with
spoon):
large object that goes around a planet
moonlet (MOON let):
tiny moon
moraine (muh RAIN):
material left behind by a glacier
mosque (mahsk):
Muslim place of worship
mucus (MEW kus):
slimy substance made by an animal to moisten or protect its body
mule (
rhymes with
tool):
animal that results from breeding a horse with a donkey
mummify (MUH me fie):
preserve a dead body
mummy (
rhymes with
tummy):
dead body, dried and preserved
mural (MUR all):
painting on a wall
mutant (MYU tent):
abnormal
myth (rhymes with
with
):
traditional story based on a group's beliefs
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N
natural resource (NACH uh rul REE sors):
material on Earth that is necessary or useful to people
nebula (NEB yoo luh):
nectar (NECK ter):
sweet juice that plants make
nocturnal (nok TURN uhl):
active at night
nomad (NO mad):
someone who moves from place to place, without a regular home
nonrenewable resource (non reh NEW uh bul REE sors):
natural resource that cannot be reused or replaced
nutrient (NEW tree unt):
substance a living thing needs for energy and growth
nutritious (new TRISH us):
helpful to your body
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O
oarsman (ORZ muhn):
person who uses an oar to move a boat
ocean (oh SHUN):
vast body of salt water that covers 70 percent of Earth
oceanographer (oh shu NOG ruh fur):
scientist who studies the ocean
odonatologist (o doh NAH TAHL o gist):
scientist who studies dragonflies
oral history (OR uhl HISS tor ee):
collection of memories and stories
orbit (OR but):
circle around a star or planet
ordeal (or DEE ul):
harsh experience
ore (rhymes with more):
substance mined for its value
organism (OR guh niz um):
living thing
outer planet (out er PLAN et):
one of four planets farthest from the sun
oxygen (OK sih jen):
gas needed by all living things
ozone layer (OH zone LAY ur):
gases in Earths atmosphere
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P
paddock (PAD uhk):
field where animals graze
papyrus (puh PIE rus):
paper-like material made of reeds
parasite (PAIR uh sight):
plant or animal that lives and depends on another living thing
parchment (PARCH ment):
animal skin used for writing
pastime (PAS time):
fun activity
patent (PAT int):
government document making it illegal to copy someones invention
patriotism (PAY tree uh tiz um):
love for one's country
pectoral fin (peck TORE ul fin):
fin that sticks out from the side of a shark's body
pesticide (PES tih side):
substance used to kill insects and other pests
pharaoh (FAIR oh):
king in ancient Egypt
photo-essay (FOE to eh SAY):
a group of photographs that tells a story or describes a topic
photosphere (FOE toe sfear):
surface of the sun
photosynthesis (foe toe SIN thuh sus):
process through which plants make food
pictogram (PIC tuh gram):
symbol based on a picture
pigment (PIG ment):
color found in a cell
pilgrimage (PILL gruh medge):
journey to worship at a sacred place
pioneer (PIE oh near):
one of the first people to move to a new place
pit viper (pit VIE per ):
snake with organs that sense heat
pitch (
rhymes with
witch):
how high or low a sound is
planet (PLAN et):
large object that goes around a star
planetoid (PLAN uh toyd):
large object smaller than a planet that circles the sun
plate (
rhymes with
WAIT):
piece of Earth's crust
plateau (pla TOE):
large, flat area that stands above surrounding land
plummet (PLUM it):
to fall
poacher (POE chur):
someone who kills or takes wild animals illegally
poaching (POE ching):
killing an animal illegally, usually to eat or sell
pollen (PAH lun):
powdery grains needed by a plant to make seeds
pollution (puh LOO shun):
anything that harms air, land, or water
pony (
rhymes with
Tony):
small horse that is less than 58 inches tall when full grown (plural:
ponies
)
population (pop u LAY shon):
how many there are of a species
predator (PRED uh tor):
animal that eats other animals
prediction (pre DIC shon):
statement about what someone thinks might happen in the future
prehistoric (PREE his tor ik):
before recorded history
prey (rhymes with
day
):
animal that becomes food for another animal
primitive (PRIM uh tiv):
not modern
proboscis (pro BOS cuss):
long, tube-like body part
prospector (prah SPECK tor):
person who searches a place for gold or other valuable material
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Q
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R
rabid (RAH bid):
sick with the disease of rabies
radio collar (RAY dee oh KAH ler):
collar used to track animals
rain forest (rane FOR rest):
wooded area that gets about 100 inches of rain each year
range (rhymes with strange):
area of land in which a type of animal lives
rebel (REH buhl):
person fighting against his or her own country
rebellion (ree BELL yun):
when people fight against their government
recycle (re SIE kul):
use something again
reef (REE-fuh):
stony structure built by coral polyps
reenactor (ree uh NAK tor):
one who acts out the past
refining (re FINE ing):
heating oil to separate it into different chemicals
refugees (ref you GEEZ):
people forced to flee their homes, usually to another country
regurgitate (ree GUR juh tate):
bring food back up
renewable resource (reh NEW uh bul REE sors):
a natural resource that can be reused or replaced, like trees or forests
renewable energy (reh NEW uh bul EN er gee):
energy from a source, such as wind, that does not get used up
reptile (REP tile):
cold-blooded animal that has scaly skin. It moves on its stomach or on short legs.
reserve (rih ZERV):
land set aside for animals
resin (REH zin):
sap-like substance that trees make to protect themselves when cut
revolve (ree VOLV):
to go around
rhinophore (RYE no for):
body part nudibranchs use to smell, feel, and taste
ritual (RICH uh wul):
special way of celebrating an event, such as blowing out candles on a birthday cake
rivet (RIV ut):
metal bolt used to hold things together
robot (ROW bot):
machine made to look and work like a human being
rodeo (ROE dee oh):
cowboy show
rookery (RUH kuh ree):
breeding place for birds or small mammals
rotate (RO tayt):
to spin on an axis
route (ROOT):
path or way
rover (ROW ver):
moving vehicle that explores the surface of a planet or moon
rudder (RUH der):
flat surface used to steer an airplane
ruin (ROO in):
what is left of an old structure
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S
saliva (suh LIE vuh):
liquid in the mouth
sandstone (SAND stone):
rock formed from grains of sand
sarcophagus (sar KAH fuh gus):
large stone coffin that often holds smaller coffins
satellite image (SAT uh lite IM ij):
picture taken by a satellite
scale (
rhymes with
mail):
to climb
OR
a thin, stiff plate on an animal
scavenger (SKA ven jur):
animal that eats meat left behind by others
school (
rhymes with
pool
): large group of fish
science fiction (SI unce FIC shon):
storytelling that combines science with made-up events
scribe (
rhymes with
tribe):
person who could write
scute (
rhymes with
boot):
plate of bone
sea (see):
ocean or a smaller part of it
sebum (SEE buhm):
oil that coats the outer layer of hair
secede (suh SEED):
to break away
segregated (SEG ruh gay ted):
divided by race
serval (SERVE ul):
kind of wild cat
shale (
rhymes with
tail):
flaky rock usually formed from clay or mud
shepherd (SHEP erd):
person who raises sheep
shrine (
rhymes with
pine):
sacred place or container that holds holy objects
sitatunga (sit ah TON guh):
kind of antelope
skeleton (SKEH luh tun):
winter sport in which athletes sled headfirst down an icy track
slalom (SLAH lum):
skiing race in which athletes must make sharp turns to avoid obstacles
slavery (SLAY ver ee):
system in which one person can own another person
sneakers (SNEE kurz):
rubber-soled athletic shoes, usually with canvas or nylon tops
solar panel (SOUL er PAN uhl):
tool that turns sunlight into electricity
spacecraft (SPACE craft):
vehicle that flies through space
species (SPEE shees):
type of plant or animal
spectrograph (SPEK truh graf):
machine that translates sound waves into images
stalactite (stuh LAK tite):
rock formation on a cave ceiling
stalagmite (stuh LAG mite):
rock formation on a cave floor
stallion (STAL yun):
adult male horse
star (
rhymes with
car
): ball of gas in space that can make heat and light
status (STAT us):
a person's position in a group
steppe (step):
dry grassland
stratum (STRAT um):
layer of rock (plural:
strata
)
strike (rhymes with hike):
discovery of something valuable
submarine (SUB muh reen):
underwater craft
submersible (sub MUR suh bull):
small craft that operates underwater
sulfur (SUL fur):
yellow chemical
summit (SUM it):
top of a mountain
sunspot (SUN spot):
dark, cooler area on the sun's surface
swim bladder (swim BLAH der):
body part that fills with air to help a fish rise
symbiotic relationship (sim bee AH tik ri LAY shun ship):
close partnership between two different kinds of living things
synthetic (sin THEH tik):
human-made, not natural
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T
taiga (TIE guh):
cold northern forest
talon (TAL uhn):
claw
tapetum (tuh PEET uhm):
lining in the eye
tattoo (TAT two):
body art made by carving into the skin and adding color
telescope (TEL uh scope):
device used to study distant objects
tentacle (TEN tih kuhl):
thin, arm-like part sometimes used to catch food
teosinte (tay oh SIN tay):
wild grass that may be corn's ancestor
tepui (TEPP we):
mountain with a flat top
territory (TEAR uh tor ee):
area that an animal claims for itself
thorax (THOR ax):
middle of an ant's body
tomb (
rhymes with
room):
place where a dead body is buried, often dug into rock or dirt
tonic immobility (TA nick im mo BILL uh tee):
sleep-like state
tornado alley (tor NAY doh AL ee):
area in the U.S. where most tornadoes form
tortilla (tor TEE uh):
flat cake made of corn
toxic (TOCK-suck):
poisonous
traction (TRAK shun):
the "grip" of your shoes on the floor or ground
trade wind (trade wind):
constant wind that blows toward the Equator
transparent (TRANS pair ent):
clear
transplant (TRANS plant):
moving a body part from one person to another
trek (rhymes with deck):
long hike
tribe (TRY buh):
group of people with the same way of life
tripod (TRY pod):
stand with three legs
troglodyte (TROG lo dite):
animal or person that lives in a cave
troop (rhymes with
soup
):
group of baboons
tundra (TUN druh):
vast, treeless plains in Arctic regions and a few other places
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U
ultraviolet (ul truh VI oh let):
type of invisible ray from the sun
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V
vaccine (vak SEEN):
medicine swallowed or injected into the body
vehicle (VEE hick uhl):
machine in which people ride, such as a car, truck, or bus
vein (
rhymes with
pain):
1. blood vessel to the heart 2. narrow layer of mineral that forms in the crack of a rock
venom (VEH nuhm):
poison
venomous (VEN uh mus):
poisonous
vent (
rhymes with
sent):
hole or crack in Earth's surface
ventricle (VEN trick uhl):
lower heart chamber
veto (VEE toe):
reject a proposed law
virus (VIE russ):
germ that can live only inside an animal or plant
visible (VIZ uh buhl):
able to be seen
vision (VIZH uhn):
sense of sight, or seeing
visor (VYE ser):
shield on the front of a helmet that protects the face
visually impaired (VIH zhoo uhl ee im PAIRD):
blind or unable to see well
volcanologist (vahl can AHL uh jist):
scientist who studies volcanoes
vulcanized rubber (VUHL kuh nized RUH ber):
rubber combined with sulfur over heat
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W
warning colors (WAR ning kuh lers):
bright shades that warn predators to stay away
water cycle (WAH tur SIGH kul):
the journey of water molecules from cloud to land and sea, then back to cloud
weathering (WETH er ing):
when a natural force breaks rock into pieces
wetland (WET land):
swamp or other damp environment
wind tunnel (wind TUH nuhl):
structure used to study aerodynamics
wind turbine (wind TUR byne):
windmill that makes electricty
wing-warping (WING war ping):
changing the shape of a wing to keep an airplane balanced
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X
xocoatl (shuh KO ot):
bitter chocolate beverage that is served cold
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Y
yak (
rhymes with
sack):
Asian animal related to the cow
yoga (YO guh):
system of mental and physical exercises
yucca (YUH kuh):
plant with long, stringy leaves that grows in the Southwest
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Z
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^
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© 2009 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.
