Wordbay · Science & thinking

Words from science and thinking

Words from the laboratory and from clear thinking in general: how evidence is weighed, how ideas are tested, and the names for common mistakes in reasoning.

Everyday (25)

anomaly noun. Something that departs from what is normal or expected.
calibrate verb. To check and adjust an instrument against a standard so that its readings are accurate.
catalyst noun. A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up itself.
cognitive adjective. To do with thinking, knowing, remembering and understanding.
correlation noun. A link between two things such that when one changes, the other tends to change too.
debunk verb. To show that a claim, belief or reputation is false or exaggerated.
deduce verb. To reach a conclusion by reasoning from what you already know.
discrete adjective. Separate and distinct from one another.
dissipate verb. To spread out and gradually vanish, or to make something do so.
dormant adjective. Alive but inactive for a time, like a plant in winter or a resting volcano.
empirical adjective. Based on observation, measurement or experience rather than on theory alone.
epicentre noun. The point on the earth's surface directly above where an earthquake begins.
extrapolate verb. To estimate something unknown by extending a known trend or pattern beyond the facts.
fallacy noun. A mistaken belief, or a flaw in reasoning that makes an argument unsound.
hypothesis noun. A proposed explanation that can be tested by further investigation.
inertia noun. The tendency of an object to stay still, or keep moving, until a force acts on it.
infer verb. To work something out from evidence or hints rather than being told it directly.
metabolism noun. The chemical processes by which a living body turns food into energy and builds tissue.
pareidolia noun. The habit of seeing faces or meaningful shapes in random things, such as clouds or plug sockets.
phosphene noun. A spot or swirl of light you see without light entering the eye, as when you rub your closed eyes.
quantify verb. To measure something or express it as a number or amount.
replicate verb. To repeat an experiment and get the same result, or to make an exact copy of something.
sceptic noun. A person who questions or doubts claims, especially those others accept without evidence.
skew verb. To distort something so that it is no longer fair, balanced or accurate.
synthesis noun. The combining of separate ideas or parts into a connected whole.

Well-read (29)

asymptote noun. A line that a curve approaches ever more closely but never actually meets.
circadian adjective. To do with a living thing’s natural cycle of roughly twenty-four hours.
confound verb. To surprise or puzzle someone by going against what they expected.
corollary noun. A natural consequence that follows directly from something else.
determinism noun. The view that every event, including human choices, is the inevitable result of earlier causes.
electrocute verb. To kill someone or something with an electric shock.
emergent adjective. Arising from the interaction of many parts, and not found in any one part alone.
empiricism noun. The view that knowledge comes chiefly from experience and observation rather than from reason alone.
entropy noun. A measure of the disorder in a system, which in nature tends to increase over time.
epistemology noun. The branch of philosophy that asks what knowledge is, how we get it and how far we can trust it.
epoch noun. A long period of time marked by particular events or features.
equilibrium noun. A state of balance in which opposing forces or influences cancel each other out.
falsifiable adjective. Able, at least in principle, to be shown false by some observation or test.
furcula noun. The forked bone in a bird's breast, better known as the wishbone.
heterogeneous adjective. Made up of parts or members that are very different from one another.
heuristic noun. A rule of thumb or mental shortcut that helps you decide quickly, if not always perfectly.
homeostasis noun. A living thing’s way of keeping its inner conditions, such as temperature, steady.
latent adjective. Present but hidden, or not yet developed or active.
lemniscate noun. A figure-of-eight curve lying on its side, used as the sign for infinity.
orthogonal adjective. At right angles to something; figuratively, unrelated to it or independent of it.
paradigm noun. A model or pattern of thinking that shapes how a field sees its problems and answers.
parsimony noun. In reasoning, a preference for the simplest explanation that fits the facts.
precipitate verb. To make something, usually something bad, happen suddenly or sooner than expected.
primordial adjective. Existing at or from the very beginning of time or of the world.
stochastic adjective. Having a random element, so it can be described by probability but not predicted exactly.
taxonomy noun. A system for naming and sorting things into groups, especially living things.
technocrat noun. An expert in a technical field who holds power or office because of that expertise rather than by election.
vestigial adjective. Remaining as a small, useless trace of something that once had a purpose.
viscous adjective. Thick and sticky, so that it flows only slowly.

Advanced (18)

aleatory adjective. Depending on chance or luck rather than on design.
apophenia noun. The tendency to see meaningful patterns or connections in random or unrelated things.
eidetic adjective. Of memory, able to recall images in vivid, almost photographic detail.
fluvial adjective. Of, found in or made by rivers.
hypnopompic adjective. Belonging to the drowsy state just before you fully wake up.
isomorphic adjective. Having the same form or structure, so that one maps neatly onto the other.
lacustrine adjective. Of, living in or formed in lakes.
nescience noun. Lack of knowledge or awareness; ignorance.
noetic adjective. To do with the mind or the intellect, especially knowing by thought.
panpsychism noun. The view that mind or consciousness is a basic feature of all matter, not just of brains.
proprioception noun. The body’s sense of where its own parts are and how they are moving, without looking.
psephology noun. The study of elections and voting patterns, using statistics to explain and predict results.
ratiocination noun. Careful, methodical reasoning, one logical step at a time.
satisfice verb. To choose an option that is good enough rather than search on for the best one.
sciolism noun. A show of learning that is really only shallow and superficial.
syzygy noun. The lining up of three heavenly bodies in a straight line, such as the Sun, Earth and Moon.
teleology noun. Explaining things by the purpose or end they serve rather than by their causes.
zetetic adjective. Proceeding by enquiry and questioning rather than by accepting answers.