Science & Research
Research, experiments and the language of the sciences.
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61 words
Definitions in: English- 1researchnounneutral
Systematic investigation to establish facts or reach new conclusions; usually uncountable.
She's been doing research into childhood diseases for over a decade.
- 2studynounneutral
A particular piece of research on a specific question; countable.
A new study found that coffee may lower the risk of heart disease.
- 3experimentnounneutral
A controlled procedure to test a hypothesis or demonstrate a fact.
We ran the experiment three times to make sure the results were reliable.
- 4hypothesisnountechnicalneutral
A proposed explanation made as a starting point for further investigation.
Our hypothesis was that warmer water would speed up the reaction.
- 5datanounneutral
Facts and figures collected for analysis; usually treated as uncountable.
The data shows a clear link between exercise and lower stress.
- 6resultnounneutral
The outcome or finding of an experiment or study; often plural.
The results confirmed what we had suspected all along.
- 7evidencenounneutral
Information indicating whether a belief or claim is true; uncountable.
There's strong evidence that the climate is warming faster than predicted.
- 8methodnounneutral
A systematic procedure or approach used in research.
They described their method in detail so others could repeat the study.
- 9samplenountechnicalneutral
A small representative part of a population or substance used for study.
They took a blood sample to check her iron levels.
- 10conclusionnounneutral
A judgement or decision reached after analysis and reasoning.
The researchers came to the conclusion that the drug was safe.
- 11findingnounneutral
A specific piece of information discovered through research; often plural.
The team published their findings in a leading journal.
- 12biologynounneutral
The scientific study of living organisms.
She studied marine biology at university.
- 13chemistrynounneutral
The science of substances, their properties, and reactions.
We learned about acids and bases in chemistry class.
- 14physicsnounneutral
The science of matter, energy, and the forces that govern them.
Physics explains why objects fall at the same rate in a vacuum.
- 15discoververbneutral
To find or become aware of something for the first time.
Scientists have discovered a new species of frog in the rainforest.
- 16analyzeverbneutral
To examine something in detail to understand or explain it.
It took weeks to analyze all the samples in the lab.
- 17observeverbneutral
To watch carefully and note what happens, especially in science.
Astronomers observed the comet for several nights in a row.
- 18measureverbneutral
To determine the size, amount, or degree of something.
They used a special device to measure the radiation levels.
- 19proveverbneutral
To demonstrate the truth of something with evidence.
These experiments prove that the theory holds up under pressure.
- 20investigateverbneutral
To carry out a systematic inquiry into something.
The team is investigating why the cells die so quickly.
- 21examineverbneutral
To inspect or study something closely and in detail.
She examined the cells under a powerful microscope.
- 22conductverbformalneutral
To organize and carry out an activity such as research or an experiment.
The university conducted a survey of two thousand students.
- 23energynounneutral
The capacity to do work; a central concept in physics.
The sun provides a huge amount of energy to the planet.
- 24atomnounneutral
The smallest unit of an element that retains its properties.
Every atom has a nucleus surrounded by electrons.
- 25moleculenounneutral
A group of atoms bonded together; the smallest unit of a compound.
A water molecule is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
- 26cellnounneutral
The basic structural unit of living organisms.
The human body is made up of trillions of cells.
- 27speciesnounneutral
A group of similar organisms able to breed together; same form singular and plural.
This species of bird is found only on one small island.
- 28evolutionnounneutral
The gradual development of organisms over generations.
Evolution explains how complex life developed from simple forms.
- 29genenounneutral
A unit of heredity that determines a particular characteristic.
Researchers identified the gene responsible for the disease.
- 30organismnountechnicalneutral
Any individual living thing, from bacteria to mammals.
Tiny organisms in the soil help plants absorb nutrients.
- 31forcenounneutral
A physical influence that causes an object to change motion.
Gravity is the force that keeps us on the ground.
- 32gravitynounneutral
The force that attracts objects toward one another, especially toward Earth.
Without gravity, everything would float away into space.
- 33reactionnounneutral
A chemical process in which substances are changed into others.
Mixing the two liquids caused a violent reaction.
- 34substancenounneutral
A particular kind of matter with definite properties.
The lab tested an unknown substance found at the site.
- 35elementnounneutral
A pure substance that cannot be broken down chemically.
Oxygen and hydrogen are both chemical elements.
- 36experimentverbneutral
To try out new ideas, methods, or activities to discover something.
Chefs love to experiment with unusual combinations of flavours.
- 37developverbneutral
To create or improve something gradually, such as a method or theory.
Scientists are working to develop a vaccine against the virus.
- 38concludeverbformalneutral
To reach a decision or judgement after reasoning.
The study concluded that the treatment had no real effect.
- 39researchernounneutral
A person who carries out academic or scientific research.
The researchers spent months gathering data in the field.
- 40scientistnounneutral
An expert who studies and works in one of the natural or physical sciences.
A team of scientists discovered the new particle last year.
- 41scientificadjectiveneutral
Relating to or based on the methods and principles of science.
There's no scientific proof to back up that claim.
- 42accurateadjectiveneutral
Correct and precise; free from error.
These instruments give extremely accurate readings.
- 43significantadjectiveneutral
Important or large enough to be noticed; in statistics, unlikely due to chance.
The difference between the two groups was statistically significant.
- 44processnounneutral
A series of steps or natural changes leading to a particular result.
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make food.
- 45matternounneutral
Physical substance that occupies space and has mass; uncountable.
Everything around us is made of matter.
- 46breakthroughnounneutral
A sudden, important advance or discovery.
The discovery was hailed as a major breakthrough in cancer research.
- 47variablenountechnicalneutral
A factor that can change and may affect the outcome of an experiment.
We controlled every variable except temperature.
- 48estimateverbneutral
To calculate an approximate value based on available information.
Scientists estimate that the galaxy contains billions of stars.
- 49demonstrateverbformalneutral
To show clearly that something is true or how something works.
The study demonstrates a clear link between the two factors.
- 50particlenountechnicalneutral
A tiny piece of matter, such as an electron or a speck of dust.
The detector can spot a single subatomic particle.
- 51compoundnountechnicalneutral
A substance made from two or more elements chemically combined.
Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.
- 52theorynouninformal
An idea or opinion based on guesswork rather than firm evidence; informal sense.
My theory is that he simply forgot to turn up.
- 53trialnounneutral
A test of the performance or effect of something, especially a medical treatment.
The drug is now in its final clinical trial.
- 54observationnounneutral
The act of watching carefully, or a remark based on what is seen.
His observations of the birds led to an important discovery.
- 55in theoryexpressionneutral
Used to say something should be true in principle but may differ in practice.
In theory, the machine should run for years without repairs.
- 56fieldnounneutral
A branch of study or area of specialist knowledge.
She's a leading expert in the field of genetics.
- 57theorynounneutral
A well-supported explanation of phenomena, or a proposed idea to be tested.
Darwin's theory of evolution changed how we understand life.
- 58laboratorynounneutral
A room or building equipped for scientific experiments; often shortened to 'lab'.
She ran the experiment three times in the university laboratory.
- 59carry outphrasal verbneutral
To perform or complete a task, especially research or an experiment.
The team carried out the experiment over several months.
- 60find outphrasal verbneutral
To learn or discover information through inquiry.
We're trying to find out what causes the cells to die.
- 61analyseverbneutralBritish English
British English spelling of the verb meaning to examine data or substances in detail.
The team will analyse the samples once the experiment is complete.
The team will examine the samples in detail once the experiment is complete.
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Every experiment and discovery is reported in a precise vocabulary, and this pack makes that language your own. Learn the words that run through research of any kind – study, experiment, theory, hypothesis, data – and the terms that recur from physics to biology. Pitched at the upper-advanced end, it lets you read about new findings, follow an argument and discuss the ideas with real clarity.