Science Words That Start with S: A Quick Reference

In this article, you will discover a comprehensive list of science-related words that start with the letter ‘S.

  1. Satellite- An artificial or natural body that orbits a planet.
  2. Supernova- A massive explosion that occurs when a star exhausts its nuclear fuel.
  3. Sulfur- A yellow chemical element used in manufacturing and agriculture.
  4. Symbiosis- Interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association.
  5. Solar- Relating to or determined by the sun.
  6. Solvent- A substance that dissolves a solute, forming a solution.
  7. Synapse- The junction between two neurons for transmitting electrical signals.
  8. Sediment- Particles of rock, sand, and soil deposited by water, wind, or ice.
  9. Species- A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes.
  10. Seismology- The study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth.
  11. Spectrum- The band of colors produced when sunlight passes through a prism.
  12. Synthesis- The production of chemical compounds by the reaction of simpler materials.
  13. Spore- A reproductive cell capable of developing into a new individual without fusion with another cell.
  14. Solution- A homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances.
  15. Stratosphere- The second major layer of Earth’s atmosphere, just above the troposphere.
  16. Subatomic- Smaller than an atom; referring to particles such as protons, neutrons, and electrons.
  17. Saturation- The state in which a substance cannot absorb any more of another substance.
  18. Synergy- The interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect greater than the sum of the individual elements.
  19. Stimulus- A thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue.
  20. Salinity- The concentration of salt in water.
  21. Stalactite- A tapering structure hanging from the ceiling of a cave, formed of calcium salts deposited by dripping water.
  22. Stalagmite- A mound or column rising from the floor of a cave, formed of calcium salts deposited by dripping water.
  23. Strain- A genetic variant or subtype of a microorganism.
  24. Sublimation- The transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state without passing through the liquid state.
  25. Scalar- A quantity having only magnitude, not direction.
  26. Speciesism- The assumption of human superiority leading to the exploitation of animals.
  27. Splicing- The process of joining two or more pieces of DNA together.
  28. Systematics- The scientific study of the diversity of organisms and their evolutionary relationships.
  29. Sporangiophore- A specialized hyphal branch that bears a sporangium (a spore-producing structure).
  30. Semiconductor- A material that partially conducts electricity, used in electronic devices.
  31. Solstice- The time of the year when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon.
  32. Synchrotron- A type of cyclic particle accelerator in which the magnetic field and the electric field are synchronized.
  33. Sarcophagus- A stone coffin, typically adorned with a sculpture or inscription.
  34. Saponification- The chemical reaction between a fat or oil and a base to produce soap.
  35. Supersaturation- The condition of a solution that contains more of the dissolved material than could be dissolved by the solvent under normal circumstances.
  36. Subspecies- A taxonomic category that ranks below species, usually a relatively permanent geographically isolated race.
  37. Saturated- Containing the maximum possible amount of solute in a solvent.
  38. Supersonic- Relating to or involving a speed greater than that of sound.
  39. Serotonin- A compound present in blood platelets and serum that constricts the blood vessels and acts as a neurotransmitter.
  40. Suture- A stitch or row of stitches holding together the edges of a wound or surgical incision.
  41. Striation- A series of ridges, furrows, or linear marks.
  42. Sterilization- The process of making something free from bacteria or other living microorganisms.
  43. Spindle- A slender rod used for spinning, twisting fibers such as wool, flax, or cotton.
  44. Solvent extraction- The process of separating compounds based on their relative solubilities in two different immiscible liquids.
  45. Silicon- A chemical element used in semiconductors and microelectronics.
  46. Scalar field- A field of scalars, such as temperature or pressure in a given space.
  47. SAR (Specific Absorption Rate)- A measure of the rate at which energy is absorbed by the human body when exposed to a radio frequency electromagnetic field.
  48. Scintillation- A small flash or sparkle of light.
  49. Stenothermal- Able to tolerate only a narrow range of temperatures.
  50. Stochastic- Randomly determined; having a random probability distribution or pattern.
  51. Strain gauge- A device used to measure the strain of an object.
  52. Solubility- The property of a substance that can be dissolved in a solvent.
  53. Syphilis- A sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.
  54. SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar)- A form of radar that creates two-dimensional images or three-dimensional reconstructions of objects.
  55. Solid state- The state of matter characterized by atoms arranged in a fixed, closely packed structure.
  56. Sea level- The average level of the surface of the ocean measured along a shoreline.
  57. Sublime- To cause a substance to change directly from a solid to a gas without becoming a liquid.
  58. Salivation- The production and secretion of saliva.
  59. Stasis- A period or state of inactivity or equilibrium.
  60. Steppes- Large areas of flat, unforested grassland.
  61. Supplant- To supersede and replace.
  62. Synaptic- Relating to synapses between neurons.
  63. Serology- The study and diagnostic examination of blood serum.
  64. Scalariform- Shaped like a ladder.
  65. Stochastic process- A process involving a sequence of random variables.
  66. Synchronicity- The simultaneous occurrence of events related by meaning rather than by cause.
  67. Subordination- The action or state of subordinating or of being subordinate.
  68. Semantics- The branch of linguistics concerned with meaning.
  69. Spheroid- A three-dimensional shape resembling a sphere.
  70. Scruple- A unit of weight equal to 20 grains.
  71. Saccharomyces- A genus of fungi that includes many species of yeast.
  72. Shepherding- The act of guiding or directing a group or individual.
  73. Spectrograph- An instrument that separates light into its component colors.
  74. Silicon dioxide- A hard, unreactive, colorless compound that occurs widely as the mineral quartz and as a principal constituent of sandstone and other rocks.
  75. Sinusitis- Inflammation of a nasal sinus.
  76. Solenoid- A cylindrical coil of wire acting as a magnet when carrying electric current.
  77. Speciation- The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.
  78. Siphon- A tube used to convey liquid upwards from a reservoir and then down to a lower level.
  79. Sacrum- A large, triangular bone at the base of the spine.
  80. Scapula- The shoulder blade.
  81. Surfactant- A substance that reduces the surface tension of a liquid.
  82. Selenium- A chemical element used in electronic and photocopier components.
  83. Schist- A medium-grade metamorphic rock.
  84. Scoliosis- A lateral curvature of the spine.
  85. Saliva- Watery liquid secreted into the mouth by glands.
  86. Sphincter- A ring-like muscle that tightly constricts the opening of a passage.
  87. Spectrometer- An apparatus used to measure the properties of light.
  88. Synecology- The ecological study of whole plant or animal communities.
  89. Spinal cord- The cylindrical bundle of nerve fibers and associated tissue enclosed in the spine.
  90. Sunspot- A cooler, darker spot on the surface of the sun.
  91. Sympathetic- Relating to the part of the autonomic nervous system that often produces a fight-or-flight response.
  92. Synonym- A word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another.
  93. Stratigraphy- The study of rock layers and strata.
  94. Suppressor- A gene or substance that suppresses the expression of another gene.
  95. Synovial- Relating to or denoting a type of joint that is surrounded by a flexible, lubricated capsule.
  96. Scintillator- A substance that glows when exposed to high-energy radiation.
  97. Staphylococcus- A genus of bacteria that are Gram-positive and cluster like grapes.
  98. Serotonin syndrome- A potentially life-threatening condition associated with increased serotonin in the central nervous system.
  99. Sievert- A unit of ionizing radiation dose.
  100. Superiority- The quality or state of being higher in rank, status, or quality.

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