c1Vocabulary Pack

Science & Research

Research, experiments and the language of the sciences.

64 words

English vocabulary

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64 words

Definitions in: English

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1
hypothesizeverbformaltechnical
Used when a researcher proposes a tentative explanation to be tested.
The team hypothesized that the drug would lower blood pressure within a week.
2
replicateverbformaltechnical
Used when repeating a study or experiment to confirm its results.
No one has been able to replicate her original findings.
3
validateverbformaltechnical
Used when confirming that a method, model or result is sound.
These results validate the model we proposed last year.
4
quantifyverbformaltechnical
Used when expressing something as a measurable amount.
It's hard to quantify the impact of stress on the immune system.
5
synthesizeverbformaltechnical
Used in chemistry for producing a compound, or for combining ideas/findings.
Researchers have learned to synthesize the compound in the lab.
6
inferverbformal
Used when drawing a conclusion from evidence rather than direct observation.
From the fossil record, we can infer that the climate was once tropical.
7
correlateverbformaltechnical
Used when two variables show a statistical relationship.
Higher income tends to correlate with longer life expectancy.
8
formulateverbformal
Used when carefully constructing a theory, hypothesis or plan.
It took years to formulate a theory that fit all the data.
9
postulateverbformaltechnical
Used when assuming something as a basis for reasoning, often without proof.
Einstein postulated that the speed of light is constant.
10
extrapolateverbformaltechnical
Used when extending known data to estimate unknown values.
We can extrapolate future trends from the current warming rate.
11
isolateverbformaltechnical
Used when separating a single substance, variable or factor for study.
They managed to isolate the gene responsible for the disease.
12
refuteverbformal
Used when proving a claim or theory to be false.
The new evidence completely refutes the earlier hypothesis.
13
corroborateverbformal
Used when additional evidence supports an existing finding.
Independent studies have corroborated these results.
14
calibrateverbtechnical
Used when adjusting an instrument to ensure accurate measurement.
You must calibrate the scale before every measurement.
15
methodologynounformaltechnical
Used to refer to the overall system of methods used in research.
Critics questioned the methodology behind the survey.
16
paradigmnounformaltechnical
Used for a dominant model or framework of thinking in a field.
The discovery triggered a complete shift in the scientific paradigm.
17
phenomenonnounformal
Used for an observable event or fact that can be studied.
Scientists still can't fully explain the phenomenon.
18
correlationnounformaltechnical
Used for a measured statistical relationship between variables.
There's a strong correlation between smoking and lung cancer.
19
causationnounformaltechnical
Used for a genuine cause-and-effect relationship, contrasted with correlation.
Proving causation requires far more than a statistical link.
20
control groupexpressiontechnical
Used for the untreated group in an experiment used for comparison.
The control group received a placebo instead of the drug.
21
biasnounformaltechnical
Used for systematic error that distorts research results.
Selection bias undermined the reliability of the sample.
22
anomalynounformaltechnical
Used for a result that deviates from what is expected.
The instrument detected a temperature anomaly in the deep ocean.
23
margin of errorexpressiontechnical
Used for the range within which a measured value may vary.
The poll has a margin of error of three percentage points.
24
peer reviewnounformaltechnical
Used for evaluation of research by independent experts before publication.
The findings haven't yet undergone peer review.
25
reproducibilitynounformaltechnical
Used for the ability of a study's results to be obtained again.
Psychology is grappling with a crisis of reproducibility.
26
empiricaladjectiveformaltechnical
Used for knowledge based on observation and experiment rather than theory.
There's no empirical evidence to support that claim.
27
mechanismnounformaltechnical
Used for the underlying process by which something works.
We still don't understand the exact mechanism of the disease.
28
magnitudenounformaltechnical
Used for the size or scale of a quantity or effect.
The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2.
29
spectrumnountechnical
Used for a range of light, radiation or values arranged by a property.
The instrument splits the light into its full spectrum.
30
enzymenountechnical
Used for a protein that catalyses biochemical reactions in living things.
This enzyme breaks down starch into simple sugars.
31
ecosystemnounneutraltechnical
Used for a community of organisms and their physical environment.
Pollution has devastated the coral reef ecosystem.
32
mutationnountechnical
Used for a change in the DNA sequence of an organism.
A single mutation can make the virus resistant to the drug.
33
chromosomenountechnical
Used for a thread-like structure of DNA carrying genes.
Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes.
34
metabolismnountechnical
Used for the chemical processes that sustain life in an organism.
Cold-blooded animals have a slower metabolism.
35
nucleusnountechnical
Used for the central core of an atom or of a cell.
The atom's nucleus contains protons and neutrons.
36
isotopenountechnical
Used for atoms of an element with differing numbers of neutrons.
Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope used for dating fossils.
37
momentumnountechnical
Used in physics for the product of mass and velocity.
In a closed system, total momentum is conserved.
38
densitynountechnical
Used for mass per unit of volume.
Oil floats on water because it has a lower density.
39
radiationnountechnical
Used for energy emitted as waves or particles.
The astronauts were exposed to high levels of cosmic radiation.
40
wavelengthnountechnical
Used for the distance between successive crests of a wave.
Red light has a longer wavelength than blue light.
41
equilibriumnounformaltechnical
Used for a state of balance between opposing forces or processes.
The reaction eventually reaches a chemical equilibrium.
42
entropynountechnical
Used in thermodynamics for the measure of disorder in a system.
The second law states that entropy always increases.
43
geneticsnounneutraltechnical
Used for the branch of biology dealing with heredity and genes.
Advances in genetics have transformed modern medicine.
44
astronomynounneutral
Used for the scientific study of celestial objects and the universe.
Modern astronomy relies on enormous space telescopes.
45
ecologynounneutraltechnical
Used for the study of organisms in relation to their environment.
Her research focuses on the ecology of wetland birds.
46
neurosciencenounneutraltechnical
Used for the scientific study of the nervous system and brain.
Neuroscience is shedding new light on how memory works.
47
quantitativeadjectiveformaltechnical
Used for research based on numerical measurement and data.
The study took a strictly quantitative approach.
48
qualitativeadjectiveformaltechnical
Used for research based on qualities and descriptions rather than numbers.
The interviews provided rich qualitative insight.
49
robustadjectiveformaltechnical
Used for findings or methods that are strong and hold up under scrutiny.
The conclusion rests on a robust body of evidence.
50
conclusiveadjectiveformal
Used for evidence that settles a question beyond doubt.
So far, the results are far from conclusive.
51
rigorousadjectiveformal
Used for research carried out with great thoroughness and precision.
The claim survived years of rigorous testing.
52
fundamentaladjectiveformal
Used for the most basic and essential principles of a science.
Gravity is one of the fundamental forces of nature.
53
plausibleadjectiveformal
Used for an explanation that seems reasonable and believable.
It's a plausible explanation, but it still needs testing.
54
the scientific methodexpressionformaltechnical
Used for the systematic procedure of hypothesis, experiment and analysis.
Their approach simply ignores the scientific method.
55
cause and effectexpressionneutral
Used for the relationship in which one event produces another.
The experiment was designed to establish cause and effect.
56
fusionnountechnical
Used for the nuclear process of joining light atomic nuclei to release energy.
Nuclear fusion is what powers the Sun.
57
fissionnountechnical
Used for the nuclear process of splitting heavy atomic nuclei to release energy.
Nuclear fission drives conventional power reactors.
58
falsifyverbformaltechnical
Used in philosophy of science: to falsify a claim is to prove it false through evidence; distinct from falsifiability, the Popperian property of a claim being testable in principle.
The new experiment falsified the predictions of the leading model.
59
catalystnountechnical
Used for a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed.
Enzymes act as biological catalysts in the body.
60
velocitynountechnical
Used in physics for speed in a given direction.
The probe reached a high velocity on its descent.
61
quantumnoun / combining formtechnical
Used to describe physics at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles.
Quantum mechanics defies everyday intuition.
62
frictionnountechnical
Used in physics for the force resisting motion between surfaces in contact.
Friction between the tyres and the road slows the car.
63
hypothesiseverbneutralBritish English
British English spelling of the verb meaning to propose a testable explanation.
The researchers began to hypothesise about the cause of the anomaly.
The researchers began to form a testable explanation about the cause of the anomaly.
64
synthesiseverbneutralBritish English
British English spelling of the verb meaning to produce a substance, or to combine information into a whole.
Chemists can synthesise the compound in the laboratory.
Chemists can produce the compound artificially in the laboratory.

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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.