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
T
tributary
(tri byə ter ē): A stream that flows into a larger stream or river or into a lake.
tribute
(tri byüt): A gift or service showing respect, gratitude, or affection.
tropical
(trä pi kǝl): Of, relating to, occurring in, or used in the tropics, which is the area between two parallels of the earth's latitude that are approximately 23½ degrees north of the equator and approximately 23½ degrees south of the equator.
tropics
(träp iks): The region that surrounds the equator and goes from 23.5 degrees north latitude to 23.5 degrees south latitude.
troposphere
(trō pǝ sfir): The portion of the atmosphere which extends from the Earth's surface to the bottom of the stratosphere (a distance of about 7 miles or 11 kilometers) and in which temperature generally decreases rapidly with altitude.
tropospheric
(trō pə sfēr ik): Of or relating to the part of the atmosphere, measured from the surface of the planet to about 6 miles.
turbid
(tər bəd): Clouded or discolored by the material from a liquid that settles to the bottom (sediment).
turbidity
(tər bə də tē): A measure of the cloudiness or muddiness of a water body.
U
ultraviolet radiation
(ǝl trǝ vī lǝt rā dē ā shǝn): Radiation that has a wavelength shorter than wavelengths of visible light (situated beyond the visible spectrum at its violet end) and longer than those of X-rays.
under-resourced
(ǝn dǝr rē sȯrsd): Not provided with enough money, staff, materials, services, etc. as are needed.
understory
(ǝn dǝr stȯr ē): The plant layer, especially the trees and shrubs, between the forest canopy and the ground cover.
ungulate
(un gyǝ lǝt): Any of a group of typically plant-eating, 4-footed, hoofed mammals (such as cows, sheep, pigs, horses, camels, and rhinoceroses).
unhealthy
(әn hel thē): Likely to make you sick or to harm you.
unique
(yu̇ nēk): Being the only one of its kind; unusual; distinctively characteristic.
unit of measurement
A standardized quantity of a physical property, such as inches, meters, kilograms, etc.
unregulated
(ən re gyə lā təd): Not controlled.
untrammeled
(un tra məl[d]): Unrestrained; free.
upslope
(əp slōp): Being or moving to or toward the top of a slope.
upwind
(ǝp wind): In the direction from which the wind is blowing.
urban
(ǝr bǝn): Of, relating to, typical of, or being a city.
(ǝr bǝn): About the city, city people, or city life.