Building Science Vocabulary

1. Building Science Vocabulary Roots

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

3. flu • M – to flow • Ex– fluid • fluid = a substance in which the atoms or molecules can freely move past one another.

4. form • M – to shape • Ex– formation • formation = a long layer of sedimentary rocks that look alike and were formed at the same time.

5. fract • M – to break • Ex– fracture • fracture = occurs when a force greater than the strength of the bond is applied.

6. geo • M – earth, land • Ex– geology • geology = the scientific study of the origin of Earth along with its rocks, minerals, and land forms.

7. graph • M – to write • Ex– biography • biography = a written account of another person's life.

8. grav • M – heavy • Ex– gravity • gravity = the attraction that objects have for each other merely because they have mass and occupy space.

9. hab, habit • M – to live • Ex– habitat • habitat = an area or natural environment in which an animal or plant normally lives.

10. helio • M – sun • Ex– helium • Helium = a very lightweight, colorless, odorless element that is a noble gas and occurs in natural gas, in radioactive ores, and in small amounts in the atmosphere.

11. hydro • M – water • Ex– hydrometer • hydrometer = an instrument used to measure the density of a liquid as compared to that of water.

12. ject • M – to throw • Ex– reject • reject = tothrowout as useless or worthless;discard.

13. litho • M – rock • Ex– lithosphere • lithosphere= the outer surface of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

14. log • M – word, speech • Ex– dialog • dialog= anexchangeofopinionson a particular subject;discussion.

15. luna • M – moon • Ex– lunar • lunar= relating to the moon.

16. mar • M – sea • Ex– marine • marine= relating to or living in the sea.

17. miss, mit • M – to send • Ex– transmit • transmit= tosend or forward, as to a recipient or destination; dispatch;convey.

18. morph • M – to form • Ex– metamorphic • metamorphic= relating to metamorphosis.

19. noct, nox • M – night • Ex– nocturnal • nocturnal= occurring at night.

20. nucl • M – nut, kernel • Ex– nucleus • nucleus= the positively charged central region of an atom, composed of protons and neutrons and containing most of the mass of the atom.

21. pend • M – to hang • Ex– pendulum • pendulum= a mass hung from a fixed support so that it is able to swing freely under the influence of gravity.