adhere

verb stick completely to a surface or substance* [or] believe in and follow the practices of

aloof

adjective not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant

ambiguous

adjective open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning

analyze

verb examine in detail, typically for purposes of explanation and interpretation (analysis, analytical)

anecdote

noun a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

antagonize

verb cause someone to become hostile

anticipate

verb regard as probable; expect or predict

apprehensive

adjective anxious or fearful that something bad will happen

arcane

adjective mysterious or secret

assert

verb state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully

assess

verb evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of

attribute

verb regard something as being caused by someone or something

bear

verb endure an ordeal or difficulty

befall

verb (of something bad) happen to someone

burgeon

verb begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish

coherent

adjective logical and consistent

compassion

noun concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others

compensate

(for) verb make up for something unwelcome or unpleasant by exerting an opposite force or effect

complement

noun a thing that completes or brings to perfection a larger whole

compose

verb 1. write or create* 2. constitute, make up (composition, composed of)

condescending

adjective having or showing a feeling of superiority

consecutive

adjective following continuously; in unbroken or logical sequence

contour

noun an outline, especially one representing or bounding the shape or form of something

contract

verb decrease in size, number, or range

contradict

verb be in conflict with

correlate

verb have a mutual relationship or connection (corollary, correlated)

corollary

noun a direct or natural consequence or result

critical

adjective 1. expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments 2. expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art* 3. involving the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment* 4. (of a situation or problem) having the potential to become disastrous; at a point of crisis

cumbersome

adjective 1. large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use 2. slow or complicated and therefore inefficient*

deficit

noun the amount by which something is too small

demean

verb cause a severe loss in the dignity of and respect for someone or something

depict

verb show or represent

determine

verb 1. cause (something) to occur in a particular way; be the decisive factor in 2. ascertain or establish exactly, typically as a result of research or calculation

devoid

adjective entirely lacking or free from

differentiate

verb 1. recognize or ascertain what makes (someone or something) different* 2. (differentiate between) identify differences between(two or more things or people) 3. make (someone or something) appear different or distinct 4. make or become different in the process of growth or development

diffuse

adjective spread out over a large area; not concentrated

digress

verb leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing

diminish

verb make or become less

discrepancy

noun a lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts

dismay

verb consternation and distress, typically that caused by something unexpected

(dis)inclined

adjective willing or positive about an action, belief, or attitude (disinclined: unwilling or negative about something)

disposition

noun 1. a person's inherent qualities of mind and character* 2. an inclination or tendency

dynamic

adjective characterized by constant change, activity, or progress

eclipse

noun a loss of significance, power, or prominence in relation to another person or thing

emerge

verb become apparent, important, or prominent

eminent

adjective famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession

engage

verb 1. occupy, attract, or involve (someone's interest or attention) 2.(engage someone in) cause someone to become involved in (a conversation or discussion) 3. (engage in) participate or become involved in*

engross

verb absorb all the attention or interest of

ethereal

adjective extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world

evolve

verb develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form

exploit

verb 1. make full use of and derive benefit from* 2. use a situation or person in an unfair or selfish way

facilitate

verb make an action or process easy or easier

feign

verb pretend to be affected by a feeling, state, or injury

fleeting

adjective lasting for a very short time

glaring

adjective extremely obvious or conspicuous

hardship

noun severe suffering or deprivation

hurtle

verb move or cause to move at a great speed, typically in an uncontrolled manner

immerse

verb involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest* [or] dip or submerge in a liquid

imminent

adjective about to happen

(im)mobile

adjective able to move or be moved freely or easily (immobile: not able to be moved)

impervious

adjective unable to be affected by

incendiary

adjective 1. tending to stir up conflict* 2. designed to cause fires

incompetent

adjective not having or showing the necessary skills to do something successfully

(in)conceivable

adjective capable of being imagined or grasped mentally (inconceivable: not capable of being imagined)

(in)dissoluble

adjective able to be dissolved, loosened, or disconnected (indissoluble: solid, not able to be broken apart)

inevitable

adjective certain to happen; unavoidable

infer

verb deduce or conclude (information) from evidence and reasoning rather than from clear statements (inference)

integrate

verb combine one thing with another so that they become a whole

intuition

noun the ability to understand something immediately, a 'gut feeling'

justify

verb 1. show or prove to be right or reasonable* 2. be a good reason for

lack

verb be without or deficient in

latent

adjective existing but not yet developed or obvious; hidden; concealed

lethargic

adjective sluggish and apathetic mere adjective used to emphasize how small or insignificant someone or something is

minute

adjective extremely small (pronouned MY-noot)

mishap

noun an unlucky accident

nostalgia

noun a sentimental longing or affection for the past

notion

noun a conception of or belief about something

obsolete

adjective no longer produced or used; out of date

obstruct

verb to be or get in the way of; prevent; hinder

omit

verb leave out or exclude (someone or something), either intentionally or forgetfully

orient

verb align or position something relative to a known point or landmark

paradox

noun an idea that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory

pensive

adjective engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought

peril

noun serious and immediate danger

perpetual

adjective occurring repeatedly; so frequent as to seem endless and uninterrupted

ponder

verb think about something carefully

potent

adjective having great power, influence, or effect

precede

verb 1. come before (something) in time 2. come before in order or position* (preceding)

predate

verb exist or occur at a date earlier than something

principle

noun a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior

proficient

adjective competent or skilled in doing or using something

profound

adjective 1. very great or intense* 2. having or showing great knowledge or insight

pungent

adjective having an intensely strong taste or smell

redundant

adjective not or no longer needed or useful

reflect

verb 1. (of a surface or body) throw back (heat, light, or sound) without absorbing it 2. (of a mirror or shiny surface) show an image of 3.embody or represent (something) in a faithful or appropriate way 4. (reflect well/badly on) bring about a good or bad impression of: the incident reflects badly on the operating practices of the airlines. 5. (reflect on/upon) think deeply or carefully about*

relevant

adjective closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand (antonym: irrelevant)

resent

verb feel bitterness or slight anger at a circumstance, action, or person

revive

verb 1. to regain life, consciousness, or strength 2. restore interest in or the popularity of*

rudimentary

adjective 1. involving or limited to basic principles 2. of or relating to an immature, undeveloped, or basic form*

sensory

adjective of or relating to sensation or the physical senses; transmitted or perceived by the senses

skeptical

adjective not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations

solemn

adjective formal and dignified; serious

static

adjective lacking in movement, action, or change

superlative

adjective of the highest quality or degree

sustainable

adjective 1. able to be maintained at a certain rate or level 2. conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources*

trait

noun a distinguishing quality or characteristic

trivial

adjective of little value or importance

(un)realized

adjective give actual or physical form to (unrealized: not given form to, such as 'unrealized plans' to have a picnic on a rainy day)

void

noun a completely empty space

wholly

adverb entirely; fully

abundant

adjective existing or available in large quantities; plentiful

altitude

noun the height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level

attribute

noun a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something

characteristic

adjective typical of a particular person, place, or thing

combustion

noun the process of burning something

conduct(ivity)

verb transmit a form of energy such as heat or electricity (conductivity: the effectiveness of a material at conducting energy)

correspond

verb have a close similarity; match or agree almost exactly

decelerate

verb reduce the speed of; lose velocity; move more slowly

deposition

noun the process of some substance being naturally deposited somewhere

distinguish

verb recognize or treat (someone or something) as different

efficient

adjective being effective without wasting time or effort or expense; able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively

emit

verb give off, send forth, or discharge; as of light, heat, or radiation, vapor, etc.

erode

verb remove soil or rock; become ground down or deteriorate

evolution

noun a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage)

exert

verb put to use; make a great effort at a mental or physical task

exhibit

verb show an attribute, property, knowledge, or skill; to show, make visible or apparent

fuse

verb mix together different elements; join

gauge

verb measure precisely and against a standard; determine the capacity, volume, or contents of by measurement and calculation

generalize

verb draw from specific cases for more general cases

given

adjective specified or stated: Students' understanding of any given topic.

hypothesis

noun a tentative theory about the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena

incremental

adjective increasing gradually by regular degrees or additions

intact

adjective undamaged in any way; whole

interval

noun the distance between things; a definite length of time marked off by two instants

larvae

noun the active immature form of an insect, especially one that differs greatly from the adult and forms the stage between egg and pupa, e.g., a caterpillar or grub.

latter

noun the second of two or the second mentioned of two

mass

noun the quantity of matter that something contains

maturation

noun coming to full development; becoming mature

onset

noun the beginning or early stages

precipitation

noun the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist)

prolong

verb lengthen or extend in duration or space

directly proportional

adjective a relationship between two connected amounts, factors or quantities in which an increase in one causes an increase in the other;

inversely proportional

adjective a relationship between two connected amounts, factors or quantities in which an increase in one causes a decrease in the other

residual

adjective relating to or indicating a remainder; something left after other parts have been taken away

solution

noun a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution

substrate

noun any substance or layer lying underneath another; a surface on which an organism grows or is attached; the substance that is acted upon by an enzyme or ferment

trial

noun a specific experiment or set of experiments within a larger context

uniform

adjective evenly spaced; always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences

variable

noun in an experiment: an element, feature, or factor that is changed within the experiment to determine its effects