Glossary: Terms Starting with A
59 definitions in Science with links to the lessons that teach each word.
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abiotic
ScienceFrom Grade 3
non-living parts of an ecosystem
Learn it in: Living and non-living components (Grade 3), Ecosystems (Grade 5)
absorb
ScienceFrom Grade 2
to soak up a liquid
Learn it in: Properties of water (Grade 2), Root functions (Grade 3), Opaque materials (Grade 4)
absorption
ScienceFrom Grade 6
taking nutrients into the blood
Learn it in: The digestive system (Grade 6)
abstract
ScienceFrom Grade 6
a short summary of a report
Learn it in: Independent science project (Grade 6)
accuracy
ScienceFrom Grade 6
closeness to the true value
Learn it in: Measurement and accuracy (Grade 6)
accurate
ScienceFrom Grade 3
close to the true value
Learn it in: Observation and measurement (Grade 3), Temperature measurement (Grade 3), Building models (Grade 3)
adaptation
ScienceFrom Grade 2
a feature that helps a living thing survive
Full explanation with examples and practice →
Learn it in: Plants in habitats (Grade 2), Plant adaptations (Grade 3), Animal adaptations (Grade 3)
adapted
ScienceFrom Grade 2
suited to a place
Full explanation with examples and practice →
Learn it in: Land habitats (Grade 2)
addiction
ScienceFrom Grade 6
being unable to stop using something harmful
Learn it in: Personal health (Grade 6)
adult
ScienceFrom Grade 1
a grown-up who looks after children
Learn it in: Science safety rules (Grade 1), Animal growth (Grade 2), Life cycles (Grade 2)
aim
ScienceFrom Grade 6
what the investigation sets out to find
Learn it in: Scientific reporting (Grade 6)
air
ScienceFrom Grade 1
what we breathe
Learn it in: Basic needs of living things (Grade 1), What plants need to grow (Grade 1), Animal needs (Grade 1)
air resistance
ScienceFrom Grade 3
air pushing back on a moving object
Learn it in: Contact forces (Grade 3), Air resistance (Grade 6)
air temperature
ScienceFrom Grade 3
how warm or cold the air is
Learn it in: Temperature measurement (Grade 3)
alive
ScienceFrom Grade 1
having life: growing, needing water and changing
Learn it in: What are living things? (Grade 1)
amoeba
ScienceFrom Grade 6
a single-celled protist that changes shape
Learn it in: Unicellular organisms (Grade 6)
amphibian
ScienceFrom Grade 3
a vertebrate that lives in water and on land
Learn it in: Amphibians (Grade 3)
amplitude
ScienceFrom Grade 4
the size of a vibration
Learn it in: Vibrations (Grade 4), Sound vibrations (Grade 6)
anchor
ScienceFrom Grade 3
to hold firmly in place
Learn it in: Root functions (Grade 3), Soil and plant growth (Grade 3)
animal
ScienceFrom Grade 1
a living thing that moves about and eats food, such as a dog, a bird or a person
Learn it in: What are living things? (Grade 1), Animals as living organisms (Grade 1), What are animals (Grade 1)
anomaly
ScienceFrom Grade 5
a result that does not fit the pattern
Learn it in: Evidence analysis (Grade 5), Data collection (Grade 6), Analysing performance (Grade 6)
answer
ScienceFrom Grade 1
what we find out when we ask a question
Learn it in: Asking scientific questions (Grade 1)
antagonistic pair
ScienceFrom Grade 6
two muscles that pull in opposite ways
Learn it in: Skeletal and muscular systems (Grade 6)
antibody
ScienceFrom Grade 6
a protein that attacks a particular germ
Learn it in: Disease prevention (Grade 6)
apex predator
ScienceFrom Grade 5
a top predator with no natural enemies
Learn it in: Food chains (Grade 5)
aphelion
ScienceFrom Grade 6
the point in an orbit farthest from the Sun
Learn it in: Earth’s revolution (Grade 6)
appliance
ScienceFrom Grade 2
a machine used at home
Learn it in: Science at home (Grade 2), Electricity in everyday life (Grade 4)
arm
ScienceFrom Grade 1
the part of the body from the shoulder to the hand
Learn it in: External body parts (Grade 1)
artery
ScienceFrom Grade 5
a vessel taking blood away from the heart
Learn it in: Circulatory system (Grade 5), The circulatory system (Grade 6)
artificial
ScienceFrom Grade 1
made by people
Learn it in: Artificial light sources (Grade 1), Sources of light (Grade 2), Light sources (Grade 4)
astronomical unit
ScienceFrom Grade 6
the average Earth–Sun distance, about 150 million km
Learn it in: Earth in the Solar System (Grade 6)
atmosphere
ScienceFrom Grade 4
the layer of gases around Earth
Learn it in: Earth as a planet (Grade 4), Earth’s major systems (Grade 5), Atmosphere (Grade 5)
attract
ScienceFrom Grade 3
to pull together
Learn it in: Attraction and repulsion (Grade 3), Non-contact forces (Grade 5), Magnets (Grade 6)
audience
ScienceFrom Grade 3
the people who listen or read
Learn it in: Communicating findings (Grade 3)
auditory nerve
ScienceFrom Grade 4
the nerve that carries signals to the brain
Learn it in: Hearing (Grade 4)
average
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a typical value found by adding and dividing
Learn it in: Recording results (Grade 4), Evidence analysis (Grade 5)
axis
ScienceFrom Grade 3
a line with labels on a chart
Learn it in: Tables and charts (Grade 3), Weather graphs (Grade 3), Tables and graphs (Grade 4)
axle
ScienceFrom Grade 2
the rod the wheel turns on
Learn it in: Wheels and axles (Grade 2), Wheels and axles (Grade 4)
azimuth
ScienceFrom Grade 4
the compass direction of an object
Learn it in: Apparent movement of the Sun (Grade 4)