The Omnivore's Dilemma — Vocabulary
Michael Pollan
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	40	top 500
dilemmahard choice It is an ethical dilemma.more Show sample from book The omnivore's dilemma has been around a long time.39 more a situation in which a difficult choice must be made between imperfect alternatives Show general definition a situation in which a difficult choice must be made between imperfect alternatives
	40	top 2000
caloriecalorie → calories:food energy Consuming about 3,500 more calories than the body uses for energy will result in gaining an additional pound of fat.more Show sample from book Just because they offer a supersized 64-ounce Big Gulp and 1,250-calorie, 5-cup restaurant plate of spaghetti and meatballs doesn't mean that's the amount you should eat.39 more a unit of energy most commonly known as a measure of the potential weight gain the body gets from food Show general definition a unit of energy most commonly known as a measure of potential weight gain the body gets from food
	25	top 2000
bacteriamicroorganisms (living creatures so small it takes a microscope to see them) The infection is caused by a bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics.more Show sample from book They can develop into new types of bacteria that the drugs don't affect.24 more Show general definition microorganisms (living creatures so small it takes a microscope to see them) that can both cause disease and be beneficial. (Bacteria are different and larger than viruses.) Show editor's word notes A single bacteria is called a bacterium and consists of a single cell that reproduces by splitting. (This is unlike a virus that uses cells in the body to reproduce.) Bacteria are found virtually everywhere. For example, there are typically 40 million bacterial cells in a gram of soil and a million bacterial cells in a milliliter of fresh water. Many bacteria reside on our skin and in our bodies. For example, bacteria in the stomach help animals digest food.
	14	top 100
yieldproduce (lead to) The discovery could yield a more effective treatment for diabetes.more Show sample from book The only way to make sure your plants produce the same amount of corn — that they have the same yield as the original hybrid — is to buy new seed every year from a seed company.†13 more produce or give Show general definition for yield (as in: will yield valuable data) to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
	20
hybridcar powered by both electricity and gasoline She drives a hybrid that can use electricity or gasoline.more Show sample from book A hybrid is a plant or animal whose parents have different traits.19 more something of mixed origin Show general definition something made by combining different sources or types in various senses, including: of cars -- powered by both electricity and gasoline in biology -- a plant or animal produced by crossbreeding in linguistics -- a word that is composed of parts from different languages (e.g., monolingual has a Greek prefix and a Latin root)
	18	top 2000
forageforage → foraged:searched for and gathered She foraged for firewood while he setup camp.more Show sample from book I don't want to have to forage every meal.17 more to search for and gather Show general definition to search for and gather -- often food and provisions
	7	top 100
adaptadapt → adapted:changed (to fit this situation) Ideas contained in passages for this test, some of which are excerpted or adapted from published material, do not necessarily represent the opinions of the College Board.more Show sample from book Corn spread because it could adapt to the needs of human beings.†6 more change to fit a different situation; or make suitable Show general definition for adapt (as in: adapted to the new rules) changed to fit a different situation; or made suitable
	9	top 1000
syntheticartificial (man-made rather than natural) The couch is covered with synthetic leather.more Show sample from book Several of the ingredients were synthetic additives that are permitted under federal organic rules.8 more Show general definition artificial (man-made rather than natural); or not genuine
	6	top 100
conventionconvention → conventional:normal It was once conventional wisdom that the earth is flat.more Show sample from book Compared to conventional chickens, I was told, these organic birds have it pretty good.5 more convention → conventional:typical Show general definition for convention (as in: conventional behavior) something regarded as normal or typical
	9	top 1000
speciesa group of similar animals or plants It is an endangered species.more Show sample from book No one can own the species called "corn."8 more a similar group of animals or plants Show general definition a group of animals or plants that are similar -- typically identified as belonging to the same group when they are of a kind that can reproduce new members of the group together
	7	top 1000
moleculechemical substance They want to genetically engineer bacteria or yeast to produce the molecule required to replace gasoline.more Show sample from book All the molecules that make up our cells — carbohydrates, proteins, and fats — contain the element carbon.†6 more molecule → molecules:chemical substance comprised of the smallest amount of a chemical substance that can exist by itself Show general definition the smallest amount of a chemical substance that can exist by itself -- usually consisting of 2 or more atoms
	3	top 100
varybe different Your mileage may vary.more Show sample from book Zoologists think the koala once ate a more varied diet than it does now.†2 more vary → varied:differed; or changed Show general definition to be different, or to change Show editor's word notes Vary is often used to describe small differences or changes--especially about things of the same type. It would be more common to say "The weight of full-grown elephants varies depending upon diet and other factors," than to say "The weight of elephants varies from that of mice."
	6
obesesignificantly overweight (due to the accumulation of body fat) The doctor advised the patient that he was considered obese and needed to lose weight for his health.more Show sample from book Well, let's see ....Three of every five Americans are overweight; one of every five is obese.†5 more Show general definition significantly overweight (due to the accumulation of body fat) Show editor's word notes Obese is also used figuratively to describe something with large or fat dimensions.
	5	top 2000
evolveevolve → evolved:changed through evolution Different mutations had occurred in the isolated populations that evolved on different islands.more Show sample from book Grasses have evolved so that they can survive being eaten very well.4 more evolve → evolved:gradually changed through evolution Show general definition for evolve (as in: evolved through natural selection) genetic change of a species over a long period of time through evolution
	18
bushellarge amount After the event, we had a bushel of leftover food that we donated to a local shelter.more Show sample from book Looking at it one way, each American eats only about a bushel of corn per year.17 more a unit of measure used for dry goods (filling an 8 gallon container) Show general definition a large amount or: a unit of measure used for dry goods (filling an 8 gallon container)
	10
herbivorousherbivorous → herbivore:an animal that feeds only on plants It is a peaceful herbivore.more Show sample from book We can bite like a carnivore, or chew like an herbivore, depending on the dish.9 more herbivorous → herbivore:plant-eating animal Show general definition feeding only on plants Show editor's word notes Herbivorous animals (herbivores) are often contrasted to carnivores (meat-eating animals) and omnivores (animals that eat both plants and meat).
	7
fermentbreak down chemically We ferment the grapes longer to achieve higher alcohol content.more Show sample from book Some is fermented to become ethanol.6 more ferment → fermented:chemically changed by a living agent Show general definition for ferment (as in: ferment grapes) to break down chemically (as in food or drink) due to yeast or bacteria
	6
domesticatedmade fit to live with humans -- by breeding or taming Dogs were domesticated thousands of years ago.more Show sample from book Zoologists will tell you that certain animals more or less "chose" domestication.5 more domesticated → domestication:being made fit for service to humans Show general definition to make fit for service to humans or home life -- by breeding or taming
	3
weanwean → weaned:adapt to the removal of breastmilk Worldwide, most babies are weaned much later, but in the US, fewer than 20% of babies are still nursing when they are six months old.more Show sample from book COW CHOW In October, two weeks before I made his acquaintance, steer number 534 was weaned from his mother.†2 more wean → weaned:adapted Show general definition to adapt to in various senses, including: "She was weaned at 3 months." -- a mammal's adaption to the removal of breastmilk (note this is the unqualified sense) "I weaned myself from cigarettes." -- adapted to the gradual removal of "I was weaned on progressive principals" -- raised on or adapted to at a very early age.
	2
carnivorousmeat-eating Lions and other large carnivorous animals are popular at the zoo.more Show sample from book Every step up the food chain, or "trophic pyramid," approximately 90% of energy is lost, which is why there are fewer carnivores than there are herbivores.1 more carnivorous → carnivores:meat-eating animals Show general definition of an animal that primarily eats meat Show editor's word notes Carnivorous animals (carnivores) are often contrasted to herbivores (plant-eating animals) and omnivores (animals that eat both meat and plants).