Building Science Vocabulary

1. Building Science Vocabulary Prefixes and Roots

2. super- • M – above • Ex– superior • superior = higher in station, rank, degree, importance, etc

3. tele- • M – distant, far • Ex– telescope • telescope = an optical instrument for making distant objects appear larger and therefore nearer

4. trans- • M – across • Ex– transfer • transfer= tochange or go or cause to change or go from one thing, person,orpointtoanother

5. tri- • M – three • Ex– tripod • tripod = a stand or table having three legs

6. un- • M – not • Ex– unlike • unlike = not typical or characteristic of

7. uni- • M – one • Ex– universe • universe – all matter and energy, including Earth, the galaxies, and the contents of space between the galaxies, regarded as a whole

8. anthrop • M – human • Ex– anthropology • anthropology = the scientific study of humans, their origin, behavior, and their physical, social, and cultural development

9. aqua • M – water • Ex– aquarium • aquarium = a tank, bowl, or pool in which aquatic animals and plants are kept for pleasure, study, or exhibition

10. aster, astro • M – star • Ex– astronomy • astronomy = the scientific study of the universe and the objects in it

11. bio • M – life • Ex– biology • biology = the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena

12. celer • M – fast • Ex– accelerate • accelerate = to cause to move faster or speed up

13. cept • M – to take or hold • Ex– accept • accept = to take or hold willingly

14. chron • M – time • Ex– chronology • chronology = the science of arranging dates, events, etc, in order of occurrence

15. clin • M – to lean or bend • Ex– inclined • inclined = tending in a direction that makes an angle with anything else

16. cosm • M – world, universe • Ex– cosmic • cosmic = relating to the universe or the objects in it

17. cycl • M – circle • Ex– cycle • cycle = asingle complete execution of a periodically repeated phenomenon

18. dict • M – to say or speak • Ex– predict • predict = to say in advance

19. dorm • M – to sleep • Ex– dormant • dormant = not active but capable of renewed activity

20. duc, duct • M – to lead or draw • Ex– conduct • conduct = to lead or direct

21. fac • M – to make • Ex– artifact • artifact =an object made by human work

22. flex, flect • M – to bend • Ex– flexible • flexible = able to bend without breaking