Glossary
Our glossary defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. Glossary words are appear in bold in our resources.
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a as in ape
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ä as in car
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e as in me
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i as in ice
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o as in go
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ô as in for
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u as in use
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ü as in fur
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oo as in tool
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ng as in sting
D
divert
(dǝ vǝrt): To turn from one course or use to another.
DNA
(dē en ā): An abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid, which is any of various nucleic acids that are located especially in cell nuclei, that are usually the chemical basis of heredity, and that are composed of two nucleotide chains held together by hydrogen bonds in a pattern resembling a flexible twisted ladder.
dogwood
(dȯg wu̇d): Any of various trees and shrubs having clusters of small flowers often surrounded by four showy leaves that look like petals.
domestic
(dǝ me stik): Living with or under the care of human beings.
domesticated
(də me sti kā təd): Adapted over time (as by selective breeding) from a wild or natural state to life in close association with and to the benefit of humans.
dominant
(dä mə nənt): Commanding, controlling, or having great influence over all others.
dominate
(dä mə nāt): To have a commanding position or controlling power over.
dormant
(dȯr mǝnt): (1) Asleep or inactive, but capable of waking or becoming active; (2) having growth or other biological activity much reduced or suspended.
dowel
(dau̇(ǝ)l): A pin or peg used for fastening together two pieces of wood;
also, a round rod or stick used especially for cutting up into dowels.
downstream
(dau̇n strēm): In the direction of or nearer to the mouth of a stream.
downwind
(dau̇n wind): In the direction that the wind is blowing.
downy
(dau̇ nē): Covered with down, a covering of soft fluffy feathers.
drainage
(drā nij): (1) The act or process of draining something; (2) an area or district drained.
drought
(drau̇t): A long period of dry weather.
(drau̇t): A long period of dry weather.
duct
(dǝkt): A pipe, tube, or channel through which a substance (like air or water) flows.
durability
(du̇r ǝ bi li tē): Ability to exist for a long time without significant deterioration in quality or value.
duration
(du̇ rā shǝn): The time during which something exists or lasts.
E
Earth
(ərth): The planet on which we live.
echidna
(i kid nə): A spiny-coated, toothless, burrowing, egg-laying mammal of Australia with a tapering snout and long tongue for eating ants, also known as a spiny anteater.
ecological
(ē kə lä ji kəl): Of or relating to the environments of living things or to the relationships between living things and their environments.