GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Words in red are key terms for inventions between 1600 and 1877
Words in purple are key terms for inventions between 1878 and 1945
Words in green are key terms for inventions between 1945 and 2000

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J   K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U   V  W  X  Y  Z

A
accordance - in harmony

adenine - a purine nitrogen base that makes up DNA. Chemical Formula equals C5H5N5

AIDS - Autoimmune Deficiency Virus; the development of HIV into serious weakening of immune system.

angle of incidence - the angle that a line (as a ray of light) falling on a surface or interface makes with the perpendicular drawn at the point of incidence

artillery - all firearms larger than small arms

atmosphere - the units of pressure

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B
bandwidth - a range within a band of wavelengths, frequencies, or energies

binaural - using two ears

bifurcated - divided or forked into two pieces

Big Brother - an all-powerful government or organization monitoring and directing people's actions

bit - one digit in binary

booster shot - supplementary dose of an immunizing agent

brewery - a liquor manufacturing plant

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C 
capacitor - a device consisting of two metal plates that store charge

carbohydrates - a group of sugars and starches including sucrose or glycogen

carbolic acid - a chemical first used as an antiseptic; aka phenic

carriage - the part of the typewriter that holds the paper

caulk - a material used to plug up seams in materials

celerifere - a foot-powered vehicle with two wheels, a frame, and a cushion.

cellular system - a network of cells, or service areas (see mobile phone)

chromatic aberration - the effect where lenses split light into its separate wavelengths

cistern - a vessel or tank used to store liquids

clavichord - an early keyboard instrument having strings struck by tangents attached directly to the key ends

clone - an exact copy

command module - a space module in which astronauts can live and control the spacecraft and communicate with earth

conduit - a pipe, tube, or channel

continuous belt feed - the ammunition for the machine gun which allows it to rapidly fire

contraceptive - device that prevents conception or impregnation

conveyor belt - a moving belt that moves items generally used on assembly lines

crinoline - the material used on band-aids to prevent them from sticking to themselves

cytosine - a pyrimidine nitrogen base that makes up DNA. Chemical Formula equals C4H5N3O

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D
Daguerrotype - the first type of photograph

DC current - a steady flow of current that doesn't fluctuate (direct current)

decoders - part of satellite receiver that unscrambles the signal

deuterium -  an isotope of hydrogen that has one proton and one neutron in its nucleus and that has twice the mass of ordinary hydrogen

diagnostics -  this is simply a set of tests concerning the diagnosis of data, programs, etc.

diode - an electronic device that has two electrodes or terminals

Doppler Shift - a shift in a radio wave's frequency

double-helix - a helix or spiral consisting of two strands in the surface of a cylinder that coil around its axis; structural arrangement of DNA

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E
electromagnet - a core of magnetic material surrounded by a coil of wire through which an electric current is passed to magnetize the core

electrostatic generator - an apparatus for the production of electrical discharges at high voltage commonly consisting of an insulated hollow conducting sphere that accumulates in its interior the charge continuously conveyed from a source of direct current by an endless belt of flexible nonconducting material

ether - a fluid with anesthetic properties that evaporates quickly

exposure time - time taken to develop photographic film

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F
factory system - system where goods were produced by workers at one location instead of at the home

ferroconcrete - concrete reinforced with steel

filament - a thin strip of a certain kind of material

fission - the splitting of an atomic nucleus resulting in the release of large amounts of energy

fireplug - another word for a fire hydrant

fluorescent - bright and glowing as a result of radiation

flying shuttle - a device that is used to help weave thread; it slides back and forth looping the thread together

Fra Mauro highlands - the landing site of Apollo 14; a region on the moon

free return trajectory - a path shaped like a figure eight that would loop the ship around the back of the moon and return it to the earth

frequency - the number of oscillations per second

fuselage - contains the cockpit of a vehicle

fusion - the union of atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei resulting in the release of enormous quantities of energy when certain light elements unite

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G
gauze - a loosely woven cotton surgical dressing

graphical user interface (GUI) - a computer program designed to allow a computer user to interact easily with the computer typically by using a mouse to make choices from menus or groups of icons (see operating system)

guanine - a purine nitrogen base that makes up DNA. Chemical Formula equals C5H5N5O

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H
halogen gas - a stable and diatomic gas used to prevent breakdown of the filament in light bulbs

harpsichord - a stringed instrument resembling a grand piano but usually having two keyboards and two or more strings for each note and producing tones by the plucking of strings

harrow - an implement set with spikes, spring teeth, or disks and used primarily for smoothing the soil

helium - light colorless nonflammable gaseous element found especially in natural gases and used chiefly for inflating airships and balloons, for filling incandescent lamps, and for cryogenic research

highwheeler - a bike with a huge front wheel

hopper - a funnel-shaped vessel for holding grain

hormone - a chemical that signals a part of your body

hydration - the act of adding water to a substance

hydraulic power - created by moving liquids and using their pressure

Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) - a computer language that is used to create hypertext and hypermedia documents on the World Wide Web incorporating text, graphics, sound, video, and hyperlinks. This website is made in HTML.

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I
incandescent bulb -  an electric bulb in which a filament gives off light when heated by an electric current

infrared light - light situated outside the visible spectrum at the red end

inhibitor - a chemical that slows down a reaction

inoculation - process by which immunity against a disease is created; vaccination

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) - network designed to carry video, radio, telephone conversations, and provide the internet

isotope - any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties

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J

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K
kiln - an oven, furnace, or heated enclosure used for processing a substance by burning, firing, or drying

kilobyte (KB) - 1024 groups of eight binary digits processed as a units by a computer

kinetograph - first motion picture camera

kinetoscope - first motion picture viewer

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L
latitude - measure of north-south position on Earth

lockstitch - a special kind of stitch created by Elias Howe for his sewing machine

longitude - measure of east-west position on Earth

lunar module - a spacecraft that carries astronauts from the command module to the surface of the moon and  back

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M
maglev trains - trains that use the physical properties of magnetic fields generated by superconducting magnets to cause an object (as a vehicle) to float above a solid surface

magnetic tape - plastic tape (usually polyester) that is coated with fine particles of a magnetic substance, usually an oxide of iron, cobalt, or chromium used in electronic recording devices

magnetron - a diode vacuum tube in which the flow of electrons is controlled by an externally applied magnetic field to generate power at microwave frequencies

Manhattan project - nickname given to building of the first atomic bomb

masonry - brickwork that normally forms a foundation

megahertz (mHZ) - a unit of frequency equal to one million hertz

mercury - a heavy silver-white poisonous metallic element that is liquid at ordinary temperatures and is used especially in scientific instruments

meteorology - the science dealing with interpreting and predicting weather patterns

microcodes - (computer science) coded instructions that are stored permanently in read-only memory

millisecond - one-thousandth of a second

mine - an explosive set to detonate when perturbed

minnie ball - small cone shaped bullet which made loading and firing a rifle easier

mitochondria - the organelle within a cell that produces energy aka "the powerhouse of the cell"

monaural - using one ear

monochromatic - consisting of one color

morphine - an addictive anesthetic

Morse Code - code invented by Samuel Morse for specific use with the telegraph

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N
neon -  a colorless odorless mostly inert gaseous element that is found in minute amounts in air and is used in electric lamps

neutron - one of the elements of an atom's nucleus

nitrous oxide - the first anesthetic; aka laughing gas

noble gas - a gas made up of

nuclear reactor - a device for the controlled release of nuclear energy (as for producing heat)

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O
operating system - software that controls the operation of a computer and directs the processing of programs (as by assigning storage space in memory and controlling input and output functions)

oscillate - vibrate

oxygen - a diatomic molecule necessary for aerobic respiration (a metabolic process commonly found in many organisms)

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P
particle accelerator - an apparatus for imparting high velocities to charged particles (as electrons)

perspiration - the scientific word for sweat

petroleum - a flammable, non-polar liquid such as gasoline

phosphors - a fluorescent substance

pikemen - a soldier armed with a long staff with a spear point on the end

piston - a cylindrical machine part that moves back and forth

pitch - the property of a sound and especially a musical tone that is determined by the frequency of the waves producing it; highness or lowness of sound

pluripotent - can differentiate to form multiple different types of cells

plow - an implement used to cut, lift, and turn over soil

polypeptide - a small protein

Pony Express - the mail system used to link the East and the West

postal roads - routes reserved for federal mail carriers

prism - an object that separates light by wavelength

propeller - the device which provides thrust for many kinds of planes and ships

protease - an enzyme that breaks down proteins

prototype - a model based exactly from drawings

psychogalvanometer - a type of lie detector that measures the electrical response of the body

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Q
quadrant - a modern sextant that measures larger angles than a quintant

quintant - a modern sextant

QWERTY - the format for modern keyboards

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R
ream - a measure of an amount of paper usually 500 sheets

reconnaissance - relating to scouting or gathering information

refraction - the bending of light

regenerative medicine - slowing the effects of age by repairing any damage to tissue or organs at the cellular level; see therapeutic cloning

Rittenhouse Mill - the first paper mill in America

rotor - a set of spinning propellers or blades

rudder- a part of a boat that helps it steer
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S
scythe - a long curving blade fastened at an angle to a long handle

semiconductor technology -  a system that uses semiconductors, which are substances such as germanium or silicon whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator; their conductivity increases with temperature and in the presence of impurities

sepsis infection - a toxic condition resulting from the spread of bacteria or their products from a focus of infection

server - a computer in a network that is used to provide access to files or shared peripherals or the routing of E-mail to other computers in the network

slate - a dense fine-grained metamorphic rock produced by the compression of various sediments sometimes found in impure coal

small arms - weapons smaller than a cannon that a soldier can easily carry

spear - a weapon, often thrown or used to jab, composed of a rod with a sharp tip on one end

spinning frame - another name for the water frame

spinning wheel - a hand-driven machine that wove thread using one large wheel

strain - when in reference to plants or animals it means a specific type or species

stylus - a pen-like instrument often associated with electronic devices

sulfur - a yellowish chemical that can be found in impure coal

swashplate - alters rotor blade angles to keep the lift symmetrical for a helicopter

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T
test tube baby - baby created through in vitro fertilization

therapeutic cloning - slowing the effects of age by repairing any damage to tissue or organs at the cellular level; see regenerative medicine

thermascope - the name for an early thermometer

threshing - the act of separating seeds from the rest of the grain plant

thymine - a pyrimidine nitrogen base that makes up DNA. Chemical Formula equals C₅H₅N₂O₂

torque - a twisting or turning force

totipotent - can differentiate to form any type of cell

transcontinental railroad - a railroad linking two sides of the country mainly the east and the west

tritium - a radioactive isotope of hydrogen with atoms of three times the mass of ordinary light hydrogen atoms

tubeless tire - a tire that does not contain an internal pocket of air

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U
unipotent - can differentiate to form only one kind of cell

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V
vacuum - space completely devoid of matter

vacuum tube - an electron tube subjected to a high degree of vacuum

valve gear - a system of rods that rotates an axle

visible spectrum - range of wavelengths of light that can be sensed by the human eye

vulcanization - the process used to make modern rubber

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W
wishbone - forked bone in front of the breastbone in a bird resembling the shape of a 'Y'

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X
x-ray diffraction - a scattering of X rays by the atoms of a crystal that produces an interference effect so that the diffraction pattern gives information on the structure of the crystal or the identity of a crystalline substance

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Y

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Z
zither - a stringed instrument having usually 30 to 40 strings over a shallow horizontal soundboard and played with pick and fingers

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