acceleration an increase in rate of change . air a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of animal product a product made from animal material astronomy the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole . backspace key the typewriter key used for back spacing balance harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design) . battery a collection of related things intended for use together . bedrock solid unweather rock lying beneath surface deposits of soil birth the time when something begins (especially life) body of water the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean) boiling point the temperature at which a liquid boils at sea level boulder a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin burning a process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light calculator a small machine that is used for mathematical calculations change of direction the act of changing the direction in which something is oriented chart a visual display of information . cloud a visible mass of water or ice particles suspended at a considerable altitude color a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect competition the act of competing as for profit or a prize . computer a machine for performing calculations automatically . computer program (computer science) a sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and

execute condensation the process of changing from a gaseous to a liquid or solid state . conduction the transmission of heat or electricity or sound . conductivity the transmission of heat or electricity or sound conductor the person who leads a musical group . conservation of mass a fundamental principle of classical physics that matter cannot be created or destroyed

in an isolated system conservation of matter a fundamental principle of classical physics that matter cannot be created or destroyed

in an isolated system constellation a configuration of stars as seen from the earth . cooling the process of becoming cooler; a falling temperature core the center of an object . cursor (computer science) indicator consisting of a movable spot of light (an icon) on a visual display; moving it

allows the user to point to commands or screen positions data a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn . database an organized body of related information . death the permanent end of all life functions in an organism or part of an organism density the amount per unit size . desktop the top of a desk dinosaur any of numerous extinct terrestrial reptiles of the Mesozoic era . disease an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning . disk drive computer hardware that holds and spins a magnetic or optical disk and reads and writes

information on it diskette a small plastic magnetic disk enclosed in a stiff envelope with a radial slit; used to store

data or programs for a microcomputer dissolving the process of going into solution distance the property created by the space between two objects or points download transfer a file or program from a central computer to a smaller computer or to a computer at a

remote location drought a shortage of rainfall . e-mail (computer science) a system of world-wide electronic communication in which a computer user can

compose a message at one terminal that can be regenerated at the recipient's terminal when the recipient logs in

earthquake shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity .

edit prepare for publication or presentation by correcting, revising, or adapting egg animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective

envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds

electrical circuit an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow electricity a physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons and protons . energy forceful exertion . engineering the discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical

problems . environment the totality of surrounding conditions . erosion (geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over

it) . evaporation the process of becoming a vapor . extinction no longer in existence . file folder folder that holds papers together in a filing cabinet floppy disk a small plastic magnetic disk enclosed in a stiff envelope with a radial slit; used to store data or

programs for a microcomputer food any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue food chain (ecology) a community of organisms where each member is eaten in turn by another member food web (ecology) a community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains formula a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement . fossil the remains (or an impression) of a plant or animal that existed in a past geological age and that has

been excavated from the soil . freezing the withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid fresh water water that is not salty friction the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another . gas the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity;

relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature; the ability to diffuse readily; and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container

generator someone who originates or causes or initiates something glacier a slowly moving mass of ice . graduated cylinder a cylindrical graduate graph a visual representation of the relations between certain quantities plotted with reference to a set of

axes . graphics photographs or other visual representations in a printed publication ground water underground water that is held in the soil and in pervious rocks growth (biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of

events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level habitat the type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives or occurs . hard disk a rigid magnetic disk mounted permanently in a drive unit hard drive computer hardware that holds and spins a magnetic or optical disk and reads and writes

information on it hardware instrumentalities (tools or implements) made of metal . heat a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature herbivore any animal that feeds chiefly on grass and other plants . home page the opening page of a web site insect small air-breathing arthropod . internet a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the

TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange keyboard device consisting of a set of keys on a piano or organ or typewriter or typesetting machine or

computer or the like landslide an overwhelming electoral victory life cycle a series of stages through which an organism passes between recurrences of a primary stage light (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation liquid fluid matter having no fixed shape but a fixed volume . location the act of putting something in a certain place . logical argument a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating a truth or falsehood; the methodical

process of logical reasoning machine any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the

performance of human tasks . magnet (physics) a device that attracts iron and produces a magnetic field . magnetic attraction attraction for iron; associated with electric currents as well as magnets; characterized by

fields of force

magnification the act of expanding something in apparent size magnifier a scientific instrument that magnifies an image mammoth any of numerous extinct elephants widely distributed in the Pleistocene; extremely large with

hairy coats and long upcurved tusks . mass the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field . melting point the temperature below which a liquid turns into a solid memory the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered . menu a list of dishes available at a restaurant . metal any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be

formed into sheets etc. microscope magnifier of the image of small objects . migration the movement of persons from one country or locality to another . mineral solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition . mixture a collection containing a variety of sorts of things . modem(from a combination of MOdulate and DEModulate) electronic equipment consisting of a device used to

connect computers by a telephone line monitor someone who gives a warning so that a mistake can be avoided . month one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year Moon the natural satellite of the Earth motion the act of changing location from one place to another . mouse any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small

ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails night the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside observation the act of observing; taking a patient look . ocean a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere offspring the immediate descendants of a person . oil a slippery or viscous liquid or liquefiable substance not miscible with water omnivore an animal that feeds on both animal and vegetable substances . online connected to a computer network or accessible by computer organism a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently . outer space any location outside the Earth's atmosphere parent a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative

who plays the role of guardian pebble a small smooth rounded rock phase change a change from one state (solid or liquid or gas) to another without a change in chemical

composition pitch the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration . planet (astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and

shine by reflected light; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto in order of their proximity to the sun; viewed from the constellation Hercules, all the planets rotate around the sun in a counterclockwise direction .

plant (botany) a living organism lacking the power of locomotion plant organ a functional and structural unit of a plant or fungus plant product a product made from plant material pollution undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a

consequence of human activities . population the people who inhabit a territory or state . position the particular portion of space occupied by something precipitation the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist) . predator any animal that lives by preying on other animals . prediction a statement made about the future . printer someone whose occupation is printing pulling the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you pushing the act of applying force in order to move something away reasoning thinking that is coherent and logical reboot cause to load (an operating system) and start the initial processes recycle use again after processing . reproduction the act of making copies .

return key the key on electric typewriters or computer keyboards that causes a carriage return and a line feed

ruler a person who rules or commands sand a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral science ability to produce solutions in some problem domain scientist a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences . shape a perceptual structure . shelter protective covering that provides protection from the weather . size the physical magnitude of something (how big it is) sky the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth software (computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation

pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory . soil material in the top layer of the surface of the earth in which plants can grow (especially with reference

to its quality or use) . solar system the sun with the celestial bodies that revolve around it in its gravitational field . solubility the quality of being soluble and easily dissolved in liquid sound mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium . space bar the bar-shaped typewriter key that introduces spaces when used star (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in

the interior storage the act of storing something . storage device a device that preserves information for retrieval teamwork cooperative work done by a team (especially when it is effective) . telescope a magnifier of images of distant objects . temperature the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular

activity) . thermometer measuring instrument for measuring temperature . tide the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon . universe everything that exists anywhere . upload transfer a file or program to a central computer from a smaller computer or a computer at a remote

location vibration a shaky motion . virus (virology) ultramicroscopic infectious agent that replicates itself only within cells of living hosts; many

are pathogenic; a piece of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) wrapped in a thin coat of protein . volcanic eruption the sudden occurrence of a violent discharge of steam and volcanic material water binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes

into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent weather the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature

and wind and clouds and precipitation . week any period of seven consecutive days weight the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity wind air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure word processoran application that provides the user with tools needed to write and edit and format text and to

send it to a printer World Wide Web computer network consisting of a collection of internet sites that offer text and graphics

and sound and animation resources through the hypertext transfer protocol year the period of time that it takes for a planet (as, e.g., Earth or Mars) to make a complete revolution

around the sun