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
S
subsistence
(sǝb si stǝn(t)s): The minimum (like food and shelter) necessary to support life; a source or means of obtaining the necessities of life.
subspecies
(səb spē shēz): A category in biological classification that ranks immediately below a species; designates a population of a particular geographic region that is genetically distinguishable from other such populations of the same species. A subspecies is capable of interbreeding successfully with other populations of the same species where its range overlaps theirs.
subterranean
(səb tə rā nē ən): Located or living under the surface of the ground.
suburb
(sə bər bən): A smaller community close to a city.
succession
(sǝk se shǝn): A series of one-way changes in the composition of a biological community in which one group of plants or animals is replaced by a different group.
successional vegetation
(sək se shən əl ve jə tā shən): Plants, trees, and shrubs that naturally replace other plant life over time.
sufficient
(sə fi shənt): Enough to achieve a goal or fill a need.
summarize
(sǝ mǝ rīz): To tell in or reduce to a short statement of the main points.
summer
(sə mər): The season between spring and fall.
summit
(sə mət): The highest point or peak.
Superfund
(sü pər fənd): The informal name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA); the act that allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up contaminated sites and also forces the parties responsible for the contamination to either perform cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA-led cleanup work. Definition from the Environmental Protection Agency.
supernatural
(sü pər na chə rəl): Something attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.
supersonic
(sü pər sä nik): Faster than the speed of sound.
suppress
(sǝ pres): To slow or stop the growth or development of.
suppression
(sə pre shən): The act or instance of slowing or stopping the growth or development of something.
surface water
(sǝr fǝs wȯ tǝr): Natural water that has not penetrated much below the surface of the ground.
surrogate
(sər ə gāt): (verb) Substitute; to put in the place of another.
survey
(sǝr vā): A questioning or canvassing of persons selected at random or by quota to obtain information or opinions to be analyzed.
survive
(sәr vīv): To remain alive.
susceptibility
(sə sep tə bil ət ē): Lack of ability to resist some outside agent (such as a disease-causing germ or drug).