The Language of Science Review

The main reason students find it difficult to understand science is because of all the hard to write, spell and read words. Actually, scientific vocabulary is the combination of little words that are linked together to have different meanings. If you learn the meanings of the little words, you'll find scientific vocabulary much easier to understand.

a or an not or non

anti against

auto self

bio life, living

chloro green

cyto cell

ecto/exo outer, external

endo internal, inner, inside

herba plants

hetero different

homo alike, similar

hyper over, above

hypo below, under

iso equal or same

logy the study of

micro small

multi many

photo light

sub Below or lesser

synthesis to make

troph to feed or consume

-ic an adjective-forming suffix meaning “having some characteristics of”

-sis suffix in some nouns denoting action, process, state, or condition

1. Exoskeleton- outside skeleton, external as in insects

2. Insecticide- insect killer

3. Subspecies- lesser species

4. Abiotic- not living

5. Protozoa- first animal

6. Anaerobic- not needing oxygen

7. Epidermis- above the skin or the top layer of skin

8. Hypothermia- below heat (too cold)

Aquaphobia- 9. fear of water/swimming

10. Endotherm- internal heat Endothermic animals are those that must generate their own heat to maintain their body temperature. These animals are commonly referred to as "warm-blooded." An animal that is endothermic is categorized as an endotherm, and this includes all mammals.

11. Symbiosis- living together

12. Cytology- study of cells

13. Bilateral- two sided

14. Cephalopod- head foot (the foot is connected to the head like a squid or an octopus

15. Dermatitis- inflammation of the skin

16. Micrometer- small measurement

17. Hypodermic- below the skin

18. Hydrology- study of water

19. Photosynthesis- Making with light (makes food using sunlight)

20. Autotroph- self feeding (makes its own food, such as plants)

aqua water

chromo color

derm skin