The Andromeda Strain — Vocabulary
Michael Crichton
(Auto-generated)

Word Set

Samples

Sort By

Further limit words

by chapter of first use

to Show all

by difficulty

to (9 is most difficult)

by interest

underline any show only

Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	68	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 In fact, man lived in a sea of bacteria.67 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.
	21	top 1000
consolecontrols for electronic equipment She pushed a button on the console.more Show sample from book Comroe swung his feet off the desk and punched the red "Security" button on his console.20 more controls (for electrical equipment) Show general definition for console (as in: plug it into the console) controls or video monitor(s) for electrical equipment; or a cabinet made to hold electronic equipment
	13	top 1000
nucleusthe center (in this case, key central members) They have the nucleus of a good team.†more Show sample from book It was this group of five men—Stone and John Black of Berkeley, Samuel Holden and Terence Lisset of Stanford Med, and Andrew Weiss of Stanford biophysics—that eventually formed the early nucleus of the Wildfire Project.12 more the center (or most important part) of something Show general definition the center (or most important part) of something such as: in physics: the center of an atom where protons & neutrons are found in biology: the center of a cell where DNA is found in sociology: the closest family (mother/father/children in contrast to the extended family)
	11	top 2000
transcriptword-for-word written record She read a transcript of the interrogation.more Show sample from book Furthermore, I was able to draw upon the transcripts of their debriefing, which are stored in Arlington Hall (Substation Seven) and which amounted to more than fifteen thousand pages of typewritten manuscript.†10 more transcript → transcripts:word-for-word written record… Show general definition word-for-word written record or: a copy of the official record of a student's courses and grades or: biology: a strand of RNA copied from a DNA template
	6	top 100
evaluateevaluate → evaluating:thinking carefully and making a judgment about I'm evaluating colleges and deciding which I want to apply to.more Show sample from book One of the first rules of air reconnaissance was "Ignore the scenery"; analysis and evaluation were not the job of the pilot.†5 more evaluate → evaluation:the process of thinking carefully and making a judgment about something Show general definition to think carefully and make a judgment about something
	7	top 200
analogycomparison of different things to point to a shared characteristic Her analogy is flawed.more Show sample from book Leavitt himself suggested the analogy of the upper atmosphere and the depths of the sea as equally inhospitable environments, but equally viable.†6 more a comparison of different things to point to a shared characteristic Show general definition a comparison of different things to point to a shared characteristic Show editor's word notes Analogies are typically used to explain something unfamiliar by comparing it to something that is simpler or more familiar. They are also used in argument to suggest that what is true for one situation is also true in the other.
	9	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 This was important, for in a single simple experiment he had ruled out the possibility that a protein or a chemical molecule of some kind was doing the damage.†8 more 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
	7	top 1000
sequenceordered set The sequence of events leading to the accident was carefully reviewed by the investigators.more Show sample from book He tried to imagine the sequence of events:6 more order (chronological order in which things happen) Show general definition a set of things arranged or happening in a specific order -- often chronological order
	6	top 500
devisecome up with (invent or create) She plans to devise something to launch water balloons.more Show sample from book It was recognized that this was a relatively minor achievement compared to other toxins that had been devised in recent years.†5 more devise → devised:came up with (invented or created) Show general definition for devise (as in: devise a plan) to come up with a way of doing something -- typically a creative idea or plan
	1	top 500
obscureobscure → obscured:hidden or made less visible The stars are obscured by the clouds.more Show sample from book Every time he tried to listen to the heart, the child shrieked, obscuring all heart sounds.2 more obscure → obscuring:making it hard to detect Show general definition for obscure (as in: it obscured my view) to block from view or make less visible or understandable Show editor's word notes Although this meaning of obscure typically refers to seeing or understanding, it can also refer to situation where something makes something else harder to detect or as when a noise makes another noise difficult to hear. Similarly it can reference something overshadowing something else, as in "Her memory of her dog's death was obscured by her brother's death the next day."
	20	top 2000
accordaccord → accordance:keeping She will get a fair trial in accordance with the law.more Show sample from book According to degree of seriousness, the scenarios were: ...20 more accord → according to:as stated by; or in agreement with Show general definition for accord (as in: according to, or in accord with) in keeping with; or in agreement/harmony/unity with This meaning of accord is often seen in the form according to or accordingly where it can take on more specific meanings. For example: "According to Kim, ..." -- as stated by "To each according to her ability." -- based upon "Points are scored according to how well they perform." -- depending upon "The dose is calculated according to body weight." -- in proportion to "We got a flat tire. Accordingly, I pulled to the side of the road." -- because of what was just said; or as a result
	1
accord#2accord → accorded:given special treatment They expect to be accorded the same respect as any other nuclear armed nation.more Show sample from book ...the first two names on the list were accorded status, while the rest were not,20 more accord → accorded:given/gave special treatment Show general definition for accord (as in: accord her the respect deserved) to give someone special treatment -- especially respect
	20
enzymesubstance that causes a chemical reaction Alcohol takes longer to pass through a food-filled stomach, allowing a protective enzyme to break down the alcohol.more Show sample from book Each enzyme was like a single worker in a kitchen, doing just one thing.19 more a complex protein that is produced by cells and acts as a chemical catalyst (causing a chemical reaction) Show general definition a substance that causes a chemical reaction (typically a complex protein produced by living cells--which acts as a chemical catalyst without being changed)
	14	top 200
functionjob or purpose The function of the lens of the eye is to focus light on the retina.more Show sample from book A fourth group was engaged in preliminary design of a machine that would carry out all human functions and would be self-duplicating.21 more function → functions:activities Show general definition for function (as in: Its main function is to...) purpose, job, or natural activity
	7	top 200
function#2work or operate I don't function well on less than six hours of sleep a night; and I do best on nine.more Show sample from book Direct visualization was not really necessary; Scavenger could function without it.21 more work properly Show general definition for function (as in: can't function well without sleep) work or operate -- sometimes to work or operate normally or in a particular way
	1
function#3result Their success is a function of their teamwork and practice.more Show sample from book On the display screen, he saw what he wanted: growth of Andromeda as a function of pH, of acidity-alkalinity.21 more saying the amount of something is determined by the amount of something else Show general definition for function (as in: oxygen is a function of altitude) saying one results from another; or saying that the amount of one thing is dependent upon the value of another. Show editor's word notes If x is a function of y, then x results from y; or the amount of x can be calculated based on the amount of y.
	1	top 2000
minutetiny Don't eat a lot of poppy seeds for a few days before a drug test. They have a minute amount of a chemical that can cause a false positive when testing for heroin use.more Show sample from book It occurred to Leavitt that this was exactly what they were looking at: a minute, complete planet, with its life forms intact.1 more small Show general definition for minute (as in: minute size) small, exceptionally small, or insignificant
	1
minute#2including even small considerations We discussed it in minute detail.more Show sample from book They would examine the capsule minutely and culture everything onto growth media.1 more minute → minutely:carefully Show general definition for minute (as in: minute description) detailed (including even small considerations); and/or careful (done with care)
	5
conveyor belta moving band or belt that transports objects A conveyor belt is used to transport luggage at the airport.more Show sample from book He picked up the cages that held the rat and monkey and set them on a rubber conveyor belt at the rear of the room.†4 more a moving band or belt that transports objects -- such as goods in a factory Show general definition a moving band or belt that transports objects -- such as goods in a factory
	2	top 200
inhibitinhibit → inhibits:slows or prevents The drug inhibits the spread of cancer.more Show sample from book Another was a coagulase, which coated the bacteria with protein to inhibit destruction by white cells.†1 more limit or prevent Show general definition for inhibit (as in: inhibited the growth of...) to limit the activity of someone or something