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

R

runoff

(rən ȯf): Water from rain or snow that flows over the surface of the ground and finally into streams.

rural

(rûr әl): Of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture.

(rûr әl): About farms and the countryside, country people, or country life.

S

salmon

(sa mәn): A large fish that is born in streams or rivers but that lives most of its life in the ocean.

salmonid

(sa mə nid): Any of a family (Salmonidae) of elongate bony fishes (such as a salmon or trout) that have the last three vertebrae upturned.

sample

(sam pəl): A small subset group, representative of the entire group.

sanctuary

(saŋ(k) chə wer ē): A place where someone or something is protected or given shelter.

sapling

(sa pliŋ): A young tree; specifically, one not over 4 inches (about 10 cm) in diameter at breast height of 1.37 m (4.5 ft).

sapwood

(sap wu̇d): The young wood through which sap travels that is found just beneath the bark of a tree and is usually lighter in color than the heartwood.

satellite

(sa tǝ līt): A man-made object that travels around Earth, the Moon, or another body in space.

satellite imagery

(sa tǝ līt i mij rē): Pictures taken from a satellite, which is a manufactured object or vehicle intended to orbit the Earth, the Moon, or another celestial body.

saturated

(sa chǝ rā tǝd): Full of moisture; made thoroughly wet.

saturation

(sa chə shən): The state of being saturated, or full of or unable to absorb or hold more moisture.

scale

(skāl): (1) Something graduated especially when used as a measure or rule: such as a series of marks or points at known intervals used to measure distances or a range of responses to a statement that vary from strongly agree to strongly disagree; (2) A distinctive relative size, extent, or degree.

scarce

(skers): Lacking in quantity or number; not plentiful.

scat

(skat): Animal fecal droppings.

scenario

(sə ner ē ō): A sequence of events especially when imagined.

sclerochronology

(skler ə krə lə jē): The study of chemical and physical changes in the gradual increase in hard tissue of organisms.

scrub

(skrǝb): An area of land covered with a thick growth of small or stunted shrubs or trees.

sea level

( le vǝl): The level of the surface of the sea.

seclusion

(si klü zhǝn): The state of being away from other people.