Discover a comprehensive list of science-related words that start with the letter ‘O’ to enhance your vocabulary and understanding of scientific concepts.
- Observation- The act of noting and recording something with instruments.
- Orbit- The gravitationally curved trajectory of an object around a point in space.
- Osmosis- The process of gradual or unconscious assimilation of ideas, knowledge, etc.
- Oxidation- The process or result of oxidizing or being oxidized, especially in a chemical reaction.
- Ozone- A form of oxygen with three atoms in its molecule, O₃, found in the Earth’s stratosphere.
- Organism- An individual living thing that can react, reproduce, and grow.
- Oscillation- Movement back and forth at a regular speed.
- Omnivore- An animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin.
- Oncology- The study and treatment of tumors.
- Ornithology- The scientific study of birds.
- Opal- A hydrated amorphous form of silica, a mineral.
- Orbital- A region in an atom where there is a high probability of finding electrons.
- Ostium- An opening into a vessel or cavity of the body.
- Ocular- Related to the eye or vision.
- Optics- The scientific study of sight and the behavior of light.
- Ovum- A mature female reproductive cell.
- Osteology- The study of the structure and function of the skeleton and bony structures.
- Oxidant- A substance that has the ability to oxidize other substances.
- Osmoregulation- The control of water and salt concentrations in an organism.
- Organelles- Specialized structures within a living cell.
- Orogeny- The process of mountain formation, especially by folding of the earth’s crust.
- Osteoblast- A cell that secretes the matrix for bone formation.
- Ovary- The female reproductive organ in which ova or eggs are produced.
- Ozone Layer- A layer in the earth’s stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun’s UV radiation.
- Orthophosphate- A salt or ester of orthophosphoric acid.
- Obligate- Necessary or required (especially related to mutual relationships in organisms).
- Oscilloscope- An instrument for measuring and displaying alternating current.
- Orbitomeatal- Pertaining to the orbit (eye socket) and the external auditory meatus (ear canal).
- Osteoclast- A large multinucleated bone cell which absorbs bone tissue during growth and healing.
- Organogenesis- The formation and development of organs in living organisms.
- Ototoxic- Having a toxic effect on the ear or its nerve supply.
- Orbital Plane- The geometric plane in which the orbit lies.
- Oxytocin- A hormone that causes contraction of the uterus and milk ejection in mammals.
- Oscillator- An electronic device or circuit that produces a periodic oscillating electronic signal.
- Obsidian- A natural volcanic glass.
- Orthopnea- Shortness of breath that occurs when lying flat.
- Oncogene- A gene that has the potential to cause cancer.
- Orthophosphate- A phosphate containing one phosphate group.
- Oxygenation- The process of supplying, treating, or mixing with oxygen.
- Osteogenesis- The process of bone formation.
- Oogenesis- The process by which the female gametes, or ova, are created.
- Ochre- A naturally occurring pigment containing hydrated iron oxide.
- Osteoporosis- A medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile.
- Olfaction- The sense of smell.
- Outlier- A data point that differs significantly from other observations.
- Overtones- Higher frequencies present in a sound than the fundamental frequency.
- Optoelectronics- The study and application of electronic devices that source, detect, and control light.
- Octane- A hydrocarbon of the alkane series, used in fuel mixtures.
- Optical Fibre- A thin fiber of glass or plastic that transmits light.
- Oxytocinase- An enzyme that degrades oxytocin, a hormone involved in childbirth and lactation.
- Oolong- A traditional Chinese tea.
- Ovulate- To discharge an ovum from the ovary.
- Orthoscope- An instrument for viewing the interior of the eye.
- Oligotrophic- Environments that offer low levels of nutrients.
- Organic Chemistry- The chemistry of carbon compounds.
- Osmometer- An instrument for measuring osmotic pressure of a solution.
- Oenology- The study of wines.
- Orogacin- A non-T cell superantigen.
- Orthoclase- A common alkali feldspar mineral.
- Orthodromicity- The property of following the shortest path between two points.
- Overnutrition- Excessive intake of nutrients.
- Olfactory Bulb- The brain structure responsible for the sense of smell.
- Ontogeny- The development or course of development of an individual organism.
- Oomycetes- A group of fungus-like eukaryotic microorganisms.
- Oxidative Stress- Damage to the body caused by free radicals.
- Orthopoxvirus- A genus of viruses that includes the pathogens of smallpox.
- Ozone Hole- A thinning region of the ozone layer.
- Oxyacids- Acids that contain oxygen.
- Operational Amplifier- An integrated circuit that amplifies voltage.
- Osmolality- The concentration of a solution expressed as osmoles of solute per kilogram of solvent.
- Optogenetics- A technique in neuroscience to control cells within living tissue.
- Orthostatic Hypotension- A form of low blood pressure that happens when standing up.
- Oscillograph- An instrument for recording oscillations.
- Oleic acid- A fatty acid that occurs naturally in various animal and vegetable fats.
- Oxazole- A five-membered ring compound containing oxygen and nitrogen.
- Ozonolysis- A reaction in which ozone breaks down organic compounds.
- Opsin- A protein in the photoreceptor cells of the retina.
- Oxymoron- A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.
- Oleophilic- Having a strong affinity for oils.
- Otolaryngology- The study of diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.
- Ophiolite- Section of the Earth’s oceanic crust and upper mantle that has been uplifted and exposed above sea level.
- Osteomyelitis- Infection of bone tissue.
- Observatory- A place equipped for observing astronomical phenomena.
- Octoploid- Organism with eight sets of chromosomes.
- Oscillatory Motion- Repeated back and forth movement around a central point.
- Orthogenesis- Hypothetical evolutionary development in a predictable direction.
- Overdominance- A condition in genetics where the heterozygote has a higher fitness than either homozygote.
- Oxidative Phosphorylation- The metabolic pathway in which cells use enzymes to oxidize nutrients.
- Orthogonal- Of or involving right angles.
- Osteoarthritis- A chronic condition characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage.
- Oblique Muscle- A muscle neither parallel nor perpendicular to the long axis of a body or limb.
- Oxyfuel- Fuel that uses oxygen for combustion.
- Oscillopsia- A condition where the patient perceives the world as swinging.
- Obturator- A prosthesis that closes an opening in the body.
- Occlusion- The blockage or closing of a blood vessel or hollow organ.
- Optometer- An instrument for measuring the refractive power of the eye.
- Onychomycosis- Fungal infection of the nails.
- Ovolo- A rounded convex molding, quarter-round.
- Otorhinolaryngology- The study of diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.
- Omphalos- The navel or central point.