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.

 

Prefix	Meaning	Prefix	Meaning	Suffix	Meaning
a or an	not or non.	epi	above	-cyst	pouch
meso	middle	exo	outer, external	-derm	skin, layer
endo	inside, inner	gastro	stomach	-saccharide	sugar
aero	needing oxygen or air	hemo	blood	-itis	inflammation
anti	against.	hetero	different	-logy	study of
arth	joint, jointed	homo	same	-meter	measurement
auto	self	macro	large	-osis	condition
bio	related to life	micro	small	-phase	stage
chloro	green	multi	consisting of many units	-phage	eater
cyto	cell	photo	pertaining to light	-pod	foot
di	double	pre	before	-stasis	stationary condition
mono	singular or one	lipo	pertaining to fat	-lysis	to break
Geo	pertaining to the earth	poly	many	-synthesis	to build or make

 

 

Directions: Using the above chart, determine the meaning of the following scientific words.

 

 

1. Biology __________________________________________________________________.

 

2. Abiotic __________________________________________________________________.

 

3. Micronucleus _____________________________________________________________.

 

4. Polycystic ________________________________________________________________.

 

5. Liposuction _______________________________________________________________.

 

6. Autophage ________________________________________________________________.

 

7. Gastritis __________________________________________________________________.

 

8. Geology __________________________________________________________________.

 

9. Photosynthesis _____________________________________________________________.

 

10. Cytology _________________________________________________________________.

 

Directions: Match the definition with 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 organisms body.
7. ________Anaerobic	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.