The Language of Science
Science contains a language all its own. The main reason
individuals find it difficult to understand many of the sciences is its
difficult looking vocabulary. Large words are associated with difficulty, and
difficulty equates to hard. So by the vocabulary alone science is hard.
Actually, scientific vocabulary is a hodge podge of roots, prefixes, and
suffixes put together to describe events, body parts, or functions, etc.
observed by the individuals studying the process. Below you will find a list of
the more common prefixes and suffixes and their meaning(s). If one can learn
their meaning(s), they will be well on their way to understanding the vast
vocabulary of science.
Word Part |
Meaning |
Example |
a or an |
not or non. |
abiotic |
ana |
apart, up again |
anaphase, |
aero- |
needing oxygen or air |
aerodynamic |
anti- |
against |
antibody |
archea- |
ancient, original |
archaeologist |
arth- |
jointed, joint |
arthropod |
auto |
self |
autotrophic |
bi-, di |
two, double |
bilateral, disaccharide |
bio |
related to life |
biology |
cephalo |
head |
cephalization |
chloro |
green, chlorine |
chlorophyll |
chondro |
cartilage |
chondrogenic- giving rise to cartilage |
chromo- |
colored |
chromosome |
-cyte, cyto |
cell |
amebocyte, endocytosis |
-cyst |
pouch |
blastocyst. |
-derm, derma- |
skin, covering |
echinoderm |
epi- |
above |
epitasis |
ecto-, exo- |
outer, external |
ectothermic, exoskeleton |
-emia |
accumulation |
anemia |
endo- |
inside, inner |
endodermis, endothermic |
eu- |
true, modern |
eukaryote |
gastro- |
stomach |
gastrointestinal |
-gen, gen- |
make, produce |
genetics, antigen |
glycol |
pertaining to glucose |
glycolysis |
geo- |
pertaining to the earth |
geophysical |
hemo- |
blood |
hemoglobin |
herb- |
plant |
herbivore |
hetero- |
different, mixed |
heterotroph |
homo-, homeo |
same |
homologous, homeostasis |
hypo- |
under, less |
hypotonic |
hyper- |
over, more |
hypertension |
iso |
equivalent |
isotonic |
-itis |
inflammation |
arthritis |
leuco-, leuko |
white |
leukocyte, leukemia |
lipo- |
pertaining to fat |
lipolysis |
-logy |
study of |
biology |
macro- |
large |
macroscopic |
meso- |
middle |
mesoderm |
meter- |
measurement |
meteorology |
micro- |
small |
microscopic |
mono- |
singularly or one |
monocot |
multi- |
more than one |
multidimensional |
nephr |
kidney |
nephritis |
-osis |
tissue damage |
necrosis |
-ped(e), -pod |
foot, leg |
centipede, gastropod |
-phage, phago |
eat, engulf |
macrophage, phagocyte |
photo- |
light |
photosynthesis |
-plasm |
forming |
cytoplasm |
poly- |
many |
polymer, polyploidy |
pro-, proto- |
first, early |
prokaryote, protostome |
syn- |
combine together |
protein synthesis |
-some, soma- |
body |
chromosome, somatic |
-troph |
nutrition, feeding |
phototroph |
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AP Biology
Name_________________________ Date
Due______________
Directions: Using the Language of Science vocabulary
list, determine the meaning of the following scientific words.
1. Biology
2. Abiotic
3. Micronucleus
4. Polycystic
5. Liposuction
6. Autophage
7. Glycolysis
8. Gastritis
9. Photosynthesis
10. Polysaccharide
Directions: Match the definition with the correct
scientific word.
1. |
_____ |
Aerobic respiration |
a. Layer of tissue that produces
digestive enzymes. |
2. |
_____ |
Arthropod |
b. Breaking up of a cell. |
3. |
_____ |
Polycystic |
c. Inflammation of the appendix. |
4. |
_____ |
Arthritis |
d. Needing oxygen to live. |
5. |
_____ |
Gastroderm |
e. Jointed appendages. |
6. |
_____ |
Photometer |
f. A substance that is not part of an organism’s
body. |
7. |
_____ |
Anaerobic respiration |
g. Measures light intensity. |
8. |
_____ |
Antigen |
h. Not needing oxygen to live. |
9. |
_____ |
Cytolysis |
i. Inflammation of the joints. |
10. |
_____ |
Appendicitis |
j. A structure divided into many compartments. |
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