Direct Hits 8 Science And The Social Sciences Flashcards
catalyst
in chemistry, a catalyst is a substance (such as an enzyme) that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction at some temperature, but without itself being transformed or consumed by the reaction / in everyday usage a catalyst is any agent that provokes or triggers change
caustic
in chemistry, a caustic substance is one that burns or destroys organic tissue by chemical action; hydrofluoric acid and silver nitrate are examples of caustic substances / in everyday usage, a caustic comment is one that hurts or burns
crystallize
in chemistry, crystallization is the process by which crystals are formed / in everyday usage, to crystallize means to give a definite form to an idea or plan
osmosis
in chemistry, osmosis refers to the diffusion of a fluid through a semipermeable membrane until there is an equal concentration of fluid on both sides of the membrane / in everyday usage, osmosis refers to a gradual, often unconscious process of assimilation
sedentary
in ecology, animals that are sedentary remain or live in one area / in everyday usage, sedentary means settled and therefore accustomed to sitting or doing little exercise
virulent
in medical science, virulent refers to a disease or toxin that is extremely infectious, malignant, or poisonous / in everyday usage, virulent refers to language that is bitterly hostile, hateful, and antagonistic
empirical
in science, empirical means originating in or based on direct observation and experience; empirical data can then be used to support or reject a hypothesis / in everyday language, empirical means to be guided by practical experience, not theory
entomology
the scientific study of insects
gestate
in science, gestate means to carry within the uterus from conception to delivery / in everyday language, gestate means to conceive and develop in the mind
paradigm
in science, a paradigm is a framework or model of thought
entrepreneur
a person who organizes and manages a business or enterprise
lucrative
very profitable
extravagant
excessive and therefore lacking restraint
avarice, cupidity
excessive desire for material wealth; greed; covetousness
glut, plethora, surfeit
a surplus or excess of something
destitute, impoverished, indigent
very poor, lacking basic resources
affluent, opulent
very rich, having abundant resources
munificent
very generous
parsimonious
excessively cheap with money; stingy
depreciation
any decrease or loss in value caused by age, wear, or market conditions
remunerate
to compensate; to make payment for; to pay a person
accord
a formal concurrence, agreement, or harmony of minds
enlighten, edify
to inform, instruct, illuminate, and thus remove darkness and ignorance
appeasement
the policy of granting concessions to maintain peace
nullify
to make null; declare invalid
triumvirate
a group or association of three leaders
pretext
an excuse; an alleged cause
watershed
critical point that marks a change of course; a turning point
consensus
a general agreement
autocrat, despot
a ruler or other person with unlimited power and authority
manifesto
a public declaration of beliefs, policies, or intentions
enfranchise
to endow with the rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote
disenfranchise
to deprive of some privilege or right, especially the right to vote
coerce
to force to act or think in a certain way by use of pressure, threats, or torture; to compel
egalitarian
favoring social equality; believing in a society in which all people have equal political, economic, and civil rights
demarcation
the setting or marking of boundaries or limits, as a line of demarcation
inquisition
a severe interrogation; a systematic questioning
ameliorate
to make a situation better
exacerbate
to make a situation worse
desiccated
thoroughly dried out; lifeless, totally arid
contiguous
sharing an edge or boundary; touching
pertinent
relevant; to the point; clearly illustrative of a major point
complicity
association or participation in a wrongful act
exonerate, exculpate
to free from guilt or blame
indisputable
not open to question; undeniable; irrefutable
precedent
an act or instance that is used as an example in dealing with subsequent similar instances
unprecedented
without previous example, never known before; an event that has never happened before
malfeasance
misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public official
