Glossary

Our glossary defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. Glossary words are appear in bold in our resources.

  • a as in ape
  • ä as in car
  • e as in me
  • i as in ice
  • o as in go
  • ô as in for
  • u as in use
  • ü as in fur
  • oo as in tool
  • ng as in sting

C

compromise

(käm prə mīz): (1) A way of reaching agreement in which each side gives up something to end an argument or dispute.

concentric

(kən sen trik): Having a common center.

concept

(kän sept): A general idea.

conductance

(kən dək tən(t)s): The readiness with which gases pass into and out of a leaf’s surface.

confirms

Congress

(käŋ grǝs): The supreme legislative body of a nation and especially of a republic; in this case, the group of elected officials in the United States that makes the laws, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

conifer

(kä nǝ fǝr): Any of an order of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs that have leaves resembling needles or scales, including trees and shrubs (like pines) that have true cones.

coniferous

(kō ni f(ǝ) rǝs): Characterized by leaves resembling needles or scales in shape and including forms (like pines) with true cones.

consensus

(kǝn sen(t) sǝs): General agreement by most of those concerned.

conservation

(kän(t) sər vā shən): A careful preservation and protection of something, especially planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect.

conservation easement

(kän(t) sər vā shən ēz mənt): An easement granted by a landowner to a public or private entity (such as a land trust) in which the landowner agrees to restrictions on the use of the land (such as from development) and the holder agrees to enforce the restrictions.

conserve

(kǝn sǝrv): To avoid wasteful or destructive use of something.

constrain

(kǝn strān): To hold back by or as if by force.

consultation

(kän(t) sǝl tā shǝn): A meeting held to talk things over.

consume

(kən süm): (1) To use up or spend; (2) to eat or drink up.

consumer

(kän sum ür): A person or thing that consumes or uses something.

consumer surplus

(kǝn sü mǝr sǝr plǝs): The amount above the actual price of an item a purchaser would pay in order to not go without the item.

consumption

(kən səm(p) shən): (1) The act or process of eating or drinking; (2) use of something.

contamination

(kən ta mə nā shən): The act or process of making something impure or unfit for use by adding something harmful or unpleasant.

contiguous

(kən tig yə wəs): (1) being in contact or adjoining; (2) touching or connected in an unbroken series.
« Previous Next »