Inventions: Glossary

A

analyze

to study or examine something in your possession so as to understand its meaning

antibiotic

medicine that kills disease-causing bacteria

B

bacteria

one-celled organisms, both harmful and helpful, found throughout the earth

brainstorm

to generate a number of ideas or solutions

C

conclusion

A reasonable judgment or summary of what you learned

consistent

staying the same over time

D

data

numbers and measurements you get from the test in a scientific experiment

E

efficient

functioning well, without wasting time or effort

eventually

after a long passage of time

F

filament

a thin thread-like conductor that is heated to glowing by the passage of electric current

foundation

the basis on which other things are built

H

hypothesis

an educated guess about how things work, an testable explanation

I

improve

to make more useful, valuable, or desirable

incandescent

glowing with intense heat

innovation

new changes to things which already exist

investigation

A quest to find the answer to a question using the scientific method

M

modify

to make small changes or adjustments

mold

a growth of fungi attached to something

O

observation

what you learn when you look closely, see, hear, or touch

original

new, first, not been done before

P

perseverance

continued, sustained effort even when it's difficult

practical

capable of being put to everyday use

productive

successfully perform tasks in timely manner

prototype

a first, functional model of a new design

R

refine

to modify, improve, or change something

research

to find and collect information about a subject

results

the outcomes or consequences of an experiment

S

survive

to stay alive

T

technology

the science of turning the materials of the natural world into objects, tools, and machines

tinkering

adjusting or working with something in an experimental way, without a sure outcome

V

variable

factor that can cause your test results to change