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

I

impact

(im pakt): To have a strong effect on something.

implant

(im plant): To insert in living tissue (as for growth or absorption).

implementation

(im plə mən shən): An act or instance of implementing something; the process of making something active or effective.

implication

(im plə shən): A logical relationship between two propositions in which if the first is true the second is true.

imply

(im plī): To include or involve as a natural or necessary part even though not put clearly into words.

import

(im port): To bring goods into one country from another.

incentive

(in sen tiv): Something that makes a person try or work hard or harder.

incised

(in sīzd): Cut in or engraved.

income

(in kǝm): A gain usually measured in money that comes in from labor, business, or property.

increment

(in crə mənt): The amount or degree by which something changes.

incubate

(ing kyu bat): To keep something warm and protected so it will hatch.

index

(in deks): A number (as a ratio) derived from a series of observations and used as an indicator or measure.

indicate

(in dǝ kāt): To be a sign, symptom, or index of; to point out or point to.

indicator

(in dǝ kā tǝr): Something that acts as a sign, symptom, or index of.

indicator species

(in də kā tər spē sēz): A species that is so closely associated with particular environmental conditions that their presence in an environment is a sign of these conditions.

indigenous

(in di jə nəs): Produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment.

indirect

(in də rekt): (1) Not straight or direct; (2) not having a plainly seen connection.

industrial waste

(in strē əl wāst): An unwanted by-product of a manufacturing process.

infectious

(in fek shəs): Capable of causing infection.

inference

(in f(ə-) rən(t)s): Conclusion or opinion that is formed because of known facts or evidence.