Sabotage (noun)
a deliberate and underhanded effort to defeat or do harm to an endeavor.
To sabotage his friend’s grades, John’s roommate accused him of cheating on a Philosophy exam.
Sacred (adjective)
regarded with particular reverence or respect.
In 1772, von Colloredo retained Wolfgang as concertmaster at a token salary. In this capacity Mozart composed a large number of sacred and secular works.
to make safe, to protect.
Putin's tough stand was seen by analysts as an attempt to protect Russian interests in Iraq -- Moscow wants to safeguard its multi-billion dollar debt payments and contracts signed with Baghdad in existence before the war.
Sail (verb)
to move swiftly through the water through the use of boat.
Thorvaldsen Eriksson, son of Erik the Red, sailed from Greenland to the New World which he had been told about by his brother Leif.
Salivate (verb)
to produce an abnormal flow of saliva–the result of secretion of water in the mouth.
Pavlov noticed that the dogs in his laboratory salivated not only when they ate their food, but also before they had taken a bite.
Sanctioned by(verb)
adhering to beliefs or practices approved by authority or tradition.
Many same-sex couples participate in their own ceremonies, sanctioned by their friends, families and spiritual communities.
Sanctuary (noun)
a sacred or holy place; the state of being protected or safeguarded, as from danger or hardship.
William Faulkner’s written description of the gardens would later be revised for the closing of his novel Sanctuary.
Sanitation(noun)
the act or process of being readily kept in cleanliness.
Nearly three-fifths of the 4.8 billion people in developing ountries lack basic sanitation, almost a third have no access to clean water, a quarter lack adequate housing, and a fifth lack access to modern health services.
Satire (noun)
a work, as a novel or play, that exposes folly by the use of humor or irony.
Political satire, found in newspapers across the US, aims at prominent leaders such as the president, governors, and leaders of congress.
Savage (verb)
so intense as to cause extreme suffering.
During the early 1940's, Germany created many savage labor camps which were not liberated by the allies until 1945.
Scarce (adjective)
not enough to meet a demand or requirement.
Recently, wind power has become an appealing alternative to fossil based fuels, especially in countries with scarce petroleum and ample wind.
Scarecrow (noun)
an object usually suggesting a human figure that is set up to scare birds.
Some farmers put up scarecrows to keep crows from invading their cornfields.
Scatter (verb)
to cause to separate and go in various directions.
Immigrants who have recently moved into the United States are scattered among the 50 states.
Scavenger (noun)
an organism that feeds habitually on garbage or dead and putrefying flesh.
New research casts T-Rex dinosaurs as little more than a scavenger, hunting out the kills of other carnivores and stealing them.
Scenario (noun)
a sequence of events especially when imagined; especially: an account or synopsis of a possible course of action or events.
NASA is likely to launch its first space shuttle since the Columbia tragedy in the first three months of next year that scenario would mean a one year stand down after the Feb. 1 Columbia crash, compared to a nearly three year wait following the 1986 Challenger accident.
Score (musical)
an arrangement of music for a specific performance medium.
In 1971, she wrote the original screenplay and musical score for the film Georgia, Georgia, and was both author and executive producer of a five-part television miniseries "Three Way Choice."
Scrabble (noun)
a repeated scratching or clawing.
Three fossil skulls recovered from the windswept scrabble of Ethiopia's dry and barren Afar rift valley lend archaeological credence to the theory that modern humans evolved in Africa before spreading around the world.
Scribble (verb)
to write hastily or carelessly without regard to legibility of thought.
Check the meaning of unfamiliar words if they seem to be key words. In that case, if the author uses them more than once, scribble a brief definition at the bottom of the page or at the end of the essay.
Scrutiny (noun)
the act of examining carefully.
Despite this fact, the mission had to pass scrutiny from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for violations of the space agency's "planetary protection" rules.
Searing (adverb)
at a manner of having damage by or as if by fire.
As a large group of Keota’s warriors traveling with their families passed the crater of Kilauea Volcano, there was a sudden explosive eruption of searing hot ash and gas.
Seaweed (noun)
a mass of growth of marine plants
Many types of seaweed and other plants that do not appear to be green also have chlorophyll and therefore can convert the sun's energy into food.
Secretion (noun)
a product of secretion, i.e. saliva, from an animal or plant.
It is here that the final process of digestion and nutrient absorption takes place from the two gallons of food, liquid and digestive secretions processed each day.
Secular (adjective)
not religious in subject matter, form, or use.
Mozart composed a large number of sacred and secular works.
Secured (verb)
to render certain.
Adams helped draft the Declaration of Independence, secured its unanimous adoption in Congress, and wrote his wife on July 3, 1776, that "the most memorable Epoch in the History of America has begun."
Sediment (noun)
the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid; material deposited by water, wind, or glaciers
The rover, Opportunity, and its sister rover, Spirit, which was launched earlier this month, will act as robotic geologists during their three months of exploration. They will send back images of sediment and mineral deposits that can help scientists determine whether there was ever enough water on Mars to sustain life.
Seek out (verb)
to strive toward a goal; to try to find.
As effective as the methods I am about to outline in this lecture are, you are still advised to seek out for yourself other or even devise new methods to help your flexibility.
Segregation(noun)
the policy or practice of excluding a minority group from full freedom or participation in a society.
On December 5, 1955, five days after Montgomery civil rights activist Rosa Parks refused to obey the city's rules mandating segregation on buses, black residents launched a bus boycott.
Selective (adjective)
able to recognize small differences or draw fine distinctions.
Sir Francis Galton, a cousin of Charles Darwin, was interested in the measurement of intelligence because he wanted to increase it through selective breeding.
Self-esteem(noun)
a sense of one’s own dignity or worth.
Face refers to the respect that an individual has for him or herself, and maintaining "self-esteem" in public or in private situations.
Semi aquatic(adjective)
frequently but not living completely in water.
As penguins adapted to marine life, their wings changed to flippers and their feathers to a waterproof covering, hence suiting the birds to a semi aquatic existence.
Sensation (noun)
the capacity for or an act of responding to a stimulus.
Cognitive Psychology is concerned with mental processes and their effects on human behavior and focuses on phenomena such as: sensation, perception, motor control, attention, memory, learning, language, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making.
Sentinel (noun)
something or someone that watches over.
When feeding in a field, crows usually post a sentinel on a lofty perch to sound a warning if any danger should approach.
Serendipitous(adjective)
characterized by the faculty of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.
Until modern methods of oil prospecting were put into place, most oil strikes were serendipitous.
Set apart (verb)
to make noticeable or different.
But every metro area that’s set apart geographically — a Houston, a Denver, and a Burlington, Vermont qualifies as a city-state too.
Settle (verb)
to take up permanent residence in a certain area
After this incident, the colonists decided to return to reenland rather than settle in Vinland.
Severely (adjective)
with a gloomy, harsh manner or appearance.
The hot weather in Palm Springs had severely tired the bicyclists.
Sexist (adjective)
having prejudice or discrimination, especially against women, on the grounds of sex.
On the other hand, there are those who decry marriage as a sexist and patriarchal institution that should be avoided at all costs.
Shack (noun)
a room or similar enclosed structure for a particular person or use.
They're getting people [as contestants] who watch the show already, not someone from a shack in Kampala.
Shadow (verb)
to shelter, especially from light.
Some scientists have speculated that the polar regions of the moon might have areas that are permanently shadowed, hence permanently cold.
Shaft (noun)
a vertical or inclined opening of uniform and limited cross section made for finding or mining ore, raising water, or ventilating underground workings (as in a cave).
Josiah Hornblower came over with the engine to assemble and install it at the mine, where Schuyler hoped to use it to pump water from the shafts.
Sharpen (verb)
to give a sharp edge to; to improve the intellect of someone.
A student who doubles his reading speed sharpens his mind, hence becoming more mentally efficient.
Sharply (adverb)
Chimpanzees require massive regimented teaching sequences contrived by humans to acquire quite rudimentary abilities.
These contrasts sharply with human children, who pick up thousands of words spontaneously, combine them in structured sequences where every word has a determinate role.
Shatter (verb)
to cause the complete ruin or wreckage of; to split into fragments by a blow.
By sailing into the New World, Christopher Columbus shattered the belief that the world was flat.
Shoaling (adjective)
referring to an area of shallow water.
Consequently, as the tsunami's speed diminishes as it travels into shallower water, its height grows. Because of this shoaling effect, a tsunami, imperceptible at sea, may grow to be several meters or more in height near the coast.
Shortchange(verb)
to give less than the correct amount of change; to deprive of or give less than due
Emotionally and physically depleted caregivers may shortchange their own needs, risking burnout, poor health and depression.
Short-haul(adjective)
transporting or carrying someone or something over a relatively short distance.
Due to the popularity of trains in European cities, airlines are halting or reducing short-haul service and focusing more on the longer runs.
Showcasing(adjective)
presenting, especially attractively, to the general attention of someone.
Denver, showcasing its snowcapped Rocky Mountains and lush vegetation, is one of the most beautiful cities for this time of the year.
Shrink (verb)
to reduce in size by or as if by drawing together.
The neutron star continues to shrink until it finally becomes a black hole.
Shroud (verb)
to cut off from view: obscure.
Fog shrouded parts of the California coast between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Sideshow (noun)
an incidental diversion or spectacle.
As irritating as they are, the subsidies, which mostly take the form of government loans, are a sideshow to the main contest, as Bombardier and Embracer jockey for position in a market that, while stagnant today, is expected to explode with demand.
Siege (noun)
a military blockade of a city or fortified place to compel it to surrender.
Rebels pulled out of the city Friday after a four day siege by artillery and rockets, and after fighting that left an estimated 500 civilians dead.
Signature (adjective)
describing a tune, musical number, or sound effect or in television a characteristic used to identify a program, entertainer, or orchestra.
The film widely regarded as Wood Allen’s best, with Diane Keaton’s signature role, “Annie Hall,” plays at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences.
Sizzling (adjective)
marked by much heat.
In July, the Sahara Desert is characterized by sizzling days and sultry nights.
Skepticism(noun)
a lack of conviction or certainty.
His continued skepticism, however, shaped his subsequent theological studies at Crosier Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, and at Boston University, where he received a doctorate in systematic theology in 1955.
Skim (verb)
to pass quickly and lightly through.
Part of maintaining a pool is to skim the surface daily for leaves, drowned insects, and other forms of debris.
Skyward (adverb)
moving toward the sky; going in an upward direction.
After the countdown, the space shuttle explosively launched itself skyward and ultimately reached speeds of 25,000 miles per hours while in orbit.
Slab (noun)
a relatively long, straight, rigid piece of metal or other solid. material.
There are many different types of avalanches, but the one that worries us the most is the slab avalanche, in which a mass of cohesive snow releases as a unit.
Slant (verb)
to move from true vertical or horizontal.
In the Sierra Nevada mountain range, trees growing at altitudes of at least 9,000 feet slant away from the prevailing Northern winds.
Slender (adjective)
having little flesh or fat on the body.
Running five miles day helps to create a slender body.
Slightly (adverb)
with little significance; moderately.
Temperature variations on Mercury are the most extreme in the solar system ranging from 90 K to 700 K. The temperature on Venus is slightly hotter but very stable.
Slip (verb)
to shift or be shifted out of place.
Around the margins of the Pacific Ocean, for example, denser oceanic plates slip under continental plates in a process known as seduction.
Slump (noun)
a period of poor or losing play by a team or individual.
Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano continued their slumps at the top of the order, going a combined 0 for 8.
Smack (verb)
to strike so as to produce a sharp slap or blow.
At some point in the geological future a large chunk of rock and ice will smack into Earth and destroy life as we know it.
Smashing (verb)
to deliver a powerful blow suddenly and sharply so as to cause something to split into fragments.
Michael A’ Hearn will lead a team that's planning to find out what's inside comet Temple 1 by smashing into it with a 771 pound copper "hammer" the biggest they could loft into space.
Smattering(noun)
a small scattered number or amount
Even though only a smattering of digital programming is currently available, digital televisions will eventually become the norm, as surely as color replaced black and white.
Sober (adjective)
marked by sedate or gravely or earnestly thoughtful character or demeanor.
It is almost certain that Earth will one day be hit by an asteroid large enough to exterminate a large percentage of our planet's life.
Societal (adjective)
relating to society.
Over the past 30 years, same-sex couples have sought societal recognition of their families.
Sociological(adjective)
relating to the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective.
behavior of organized groups of human beings Sociological research influences the way we think about work and organizational life, and enables us to discover new knowledge.
Sodomy (noun)
copulation with a member of the same sex or with an animal; non-coital and especially anal or oral copulation with a member of the opposite sex.
Issues still before the court which could be decided Thursday include a Texas ban on sodomy.
Solidarity(noun)
an identity or coincidence of interests, purposes, or sympathies among the members of a group.
This outcome is a reflection of strong sense of solidarity within the corporate peasant community, also apparent in the tendency for almost every man to remain within his village over his lifetime.
Soil (noun)
the upper layer of earth that may be dug or plowed and in which plants grow.
The volcanic soil in Hawaii is fertile, and the warm climate makes it possible to grow crops all year around.
Solder (verb)
to become united or repaired by or as if by a metal or metallic alloy used when melted to join metallic surfaces; especially: an alloy of lead and tin so used.
Responsible for generating all images on your monitor, the graphics subsystem ships in PCs either as a removable expansion board or as a chip soldered permanently to the motherboard.
Sooth (verb)
to bring comfort, solace, or reassurance to.
A rise in lodging and housing costs pushed underlying U.S. inflation up in May at the fastest rate in nine months, the government said on Tuesday in a report that soothed
deflation fears.
Soothsayer(noun)
a person who predicts the future by magical, intuitive, or more rational means.
An agitated Montezuma demanded that his soothsayers explain the meaning of these dire signs and was told that they prophesied the destruction of his kingdom.
Sophisticated(adjective)
experienced in the ways of the world; lacking natural simplicity.
Even today's most sophisticated forecast models cannot peg mountain convection well enough to assess how it might trigger storm complexes downstream.
Soundness (noun)
the condition of being free from defects or flaws.
To cure means to restore to health, soundness, or normality.
Span (verb)
a specific length of time characterized by the occurrence of certain conditions or events.
His career spans nearly all types of popular music from jazz to rock to dance and all genres between.
Spark (noun)
a hot glowing particle struck from a larger mass.
If fires are always suppressed, dense underbrush soon becomes so abundant that a simple spark can start a fire within minutes.
Spawned (verb)
to give rise to a particular development; to cause to come into existence.
A growing trend toward emphasis on neural aspects of various cognitive processes has spawned what is referred to as the Cognitive Neuropsychology track, with students studying jointly in cognitive and in clinical neuropsychology.
Specialized(adjective)
designed or fitted to one particular purpose or occupation.
One should look for an entry level job, gain experience through internships, and watch for opportunities of specialized training or advanced education.
Specimen (noun)
one that is representative of a group or class.
The live Western Diamondback rattlesnake on display in this aquarium is a perfect specimen for us to examine in today’s biology class.
Speck (noun)
a small discoloration or spot especially from stain or decay; a very small amount.
The other, a composite of four wide angle images, shows the moon as a speck just as it sets below the Martian horizon.
Spec (abbreviation)
short for specification.
From CPUs to RAM to optical storage, we'll break down the jargon--and tell you which specs are most important to your purchase.
Spectacular(adjective)
an impressive exhibition.
Their eruptions are typically characterized by the relatively quiet outflow of very fluid lava and by sometimes spectacular lava fountains.
Spectrum (noun)
a continuous range or sequence.
She continues to produce a wide spectrum of music and is truly a musical treasure.
Speculation(noun)
the act or process of thinking, reasoning, or theorizing.
Many speculations exist about the origin and composition of dark matter.
Speedily (adverb)
at a high rate of speed.
Anxious to finish since it was the last day of class; the students speedily completed the exam.
Spell (noun)
a rather short period.
A spell of freezing weather before the onset of winter is usually enough to kill any remaining mosquitoes or larvae.
Spike (noun)
an usually high and sharply defined maximum
In cores from Antarctica and Greenland, researchers have pinpointed the beginning of atomic bomb testing in the mid 1950s. They have also identified spike representing fallout from stepped up atmospheric testing that took place just prior to the 1963 Test Ban Treaty, which allowed for underground tests only.
Splendid (adjective)
particularly excellent.
When he returned to Salzburg he was given the position of court organist (1779) and produced a splendid series of church works, including the famous Coronation Mass.
Splotch (noun)
a blend of the word spot and blotch; a small area visibly different (as in color, finish, or material) from the surrounding area.
Prior to joining the Smithsonian, Langley had spent many years documenting the cyclic appearance of dark splotches on the sun now referred to as sunspots and had traveled across the world to observe total solar eclipses.
Spontaneously(adverb)
on impulse without a prior plan.
This contrasts sharply with human children, who pick up thousands of words spontaneously.
Sprawling (adjective)
to spread or grow outward.
The rising costs of housing in Los Angeles have caused a sprawling metropolis of interconnected cities in the inland areas of Southern California.
Spread out(verb)
to extend over a wide area.
The temperature will drop in the envelope as well, as the particles become so spread out that they no longer are colliding enough to create tremendous heat.
Springboard(noun)
a point of departure; a jumping-off place.
A degree in psychology is an excellent springboard for entering the world of business, industry, and organizations.
Squeeze (verb)
to extract liquid by applying pressure.
When venom is squeezed out of the gland by muscles, it enters the fang through an opening at the upper end.
Stability (noun)
reliability in withstanding pressure, force, or stress.
Some soil and rock types are more prone to land sliding than others, and landowners should determine the inherent geologic stability of their property before beginning construction activities.
Stack up (verb)
to add up; to measure up.
The trick to the principle of the three red flags is to recognize when these events are beginning to stack up and work against you.
Stake (noun)
at issue : in jeopardy
Primary and secondary schools have a stake because, to create diverse classrooms, some of the nation's 15,000 districts use race in setting attendance policies and school boundaries.
Stance (noun)
intellectual or emotional attitude.
Japan has been one of the few developed countries willing to engage directly with Myanmar and the aid warning is being seen as a significant toughening of its stance.
Stand with(verb)
to be united with; to bring or come together into a united whole.
Sitting Bull and the Sioux realized they could not defeat the army alone, and they must stand with other tribes.
Standardize(verb)
to bring into conformity with a standard.
Traditionally diamonds and gemstones were weighed against these seeds until the system was standardized, and one carat was fixed at 0.2 grams.
Starch (noun)
a white odorless tasteless granular or powdery complex carbohydrate that is the chief storage form of carbohydrates in plants is an important foodstuff, and is used also in adhesives and sizes, in laundering, and in pharmacy and medicine.
Starch and cellulose are complex carbohydrates is an important foodstuff
Startlingly(adverb)
causing momentary fright, surprise, or astonishment.
The aftermath of the battle, with thousands of dead soldiers spread along the landscape, reflected a startlingly realistic picture of the horrors of war.
Starvation(noun)
the act of going for an extended period of time without food.
Anorexia nervosa is a pattern of self starvation and is most common among well educated girls who experience a lot of pressure to be thin.
Statesman (noun)
a person actively involved in the principles or art of government.
In addition to being a great statesman, Thomas Jefferson is also known for his scientific works and inventions.
Static (adjective)
showing little change.
The political atmosphere of this country is far from being static.
Statistically(adverb)
of, or relating to, or employing the principles of statistics
Possible causative agents for brain cancer in firefighters include vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile and formaldehyde. Studies show an elevated (but so far not statistically significant) risk of lymphatic and hematopoietic cancers for most firefighters.
Status (noun)
the level of credit or respect at which a person or thing is regarded by others.
Someone once remarked "a language is a dialect with an army," meaning that only the identity of a modern state can give a form of speech that status.
Steadier (adjective)
consistently reliable, especially in the face of external pressures.
There has been a steadier increase in crime in the inner cities this year than that of previous years.
Steeple (noun)
a tall structure usually having a small spire at the top and surmounting a church tower.
With at least 2,500 supporters crammed into a brick lined town square, the steeple of a Unitarian church behind him, the former Vermont governor pledged to speak ''for a new
American century and a new generation of Americans.''
Steer (verb)
to control the course of.
What they may not remember is that this was the war that steered the United States to center stage as a world power.
Stem (noun)
the main body or stalk of a plant.
Like other rodents, the gerbil lives in semiarid regions and prefers to eat the roots and stems of a variety of plants.
Stepchild (noun)
a child of one's wife or husband by a former marriage.
Remote sensing, a stepchild of the space age, is prying out many of Earth’s innermost secrets.
Stepped-up(adjective)
to become greater in number, amount, or intensity.
Scientists have identified a spike representing fallout from stepped-up atmospheric testing that took place just prior to the 1963 Test Ban Treaty, which allowed for underground tests only.
Stifling (adjective)
oppressive due to a lack of fresh air.
Due to noxious smog, there is a stifling heat in the Inland Empire during the summer.
Stigmata (noun)
bodily marks or pains resembling the wounds of the crucified Christ and sometimes accompanying religious ecstasy.
St. Francis is depicted wearing a brown habit worn by Franciscan Monks and by the stigmata over the heart.
Stimulate (verb)
to arouse to action; to elicit a strong emotional response from.
Studies have proven that using one’s vocal cords stimulates natural memory.
Stipulate (verb)
to demand an express term in an agreement -- used with for.
The General has stipulated that there will be no weapons after 72 hours," said the spokesman for the international force, Colonel Gerard Dubois. "Weapons that remain in Bunya will be confiscated," he told reporters in Bunya.
Stock (noun)
the original as a person, race, language, or animal from which others derive: source.
The low cost technology pioneered by Seahorse Ireland could be transferred to poorer parts of the world where seahorse stocks are fast becoming depleted.
Strenuous (adjective)
marked by vigorous physical exertion; requiring great effort.
As an individual gets older, he starts to lose his ability to perform strenuous activities such as running or swimming.
Stretching(verb)
pull an object in different directions
Increasing body heat also reduces the risk of muscular damage when stretching that can happen to 'cold' muscles.
Striated (verb)
to mark with a line or band of different color or texture.
To the east of the Amargosa Range is the Amargosa Desert, striated by the wide washes of the Amargosa River which intermittently flows south from Beatty, Nevada, through Death Valley Junction, curving to the west and then north to enter Death Valley.
Strife (noun)
a state of disagreement and disharmony.
The late 1780's were years of great strife on the Island of Hawaii. Kamehameha, who later became the first king of the Hawaiian Islands, was at war with his rival Keoua.
Strike (noun)
to set upon with violence force.
More important, the records allow researchers to predict the impact of significant events from volcanic eruptions to global warming that could strike us today.
Strip (verb)
to remove clothing, covering, or surface matter from; to deprive of possessions.
But the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) says the new rules would strip overtime from millions of other middle-income jobholders.
Stroke (noun)
sudden diminution or loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion caused by rupture or obstruction (as by a clot) of an artery of the brain.
Insufficient angiogenesis can occur following stroke.
Stumble (verb)
to make an error.
Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field.
Subdivisions(noun)
one of the parts into which something is divided.
Another way of identifying the thesis is to ask, "What is the unifying principle of this essay"? Or "What idea does everything in this essay talk about"? Or "Under what single main statement could all the subdivisions fit"?
Subdue (verb)
to make or become less severe or extreme.
Intent on using the land for raising cattle and growing crops, early pioneers did not subdue nature’s rawness.
Subliminal(adjective)
existing or functioning outside the area of conscious awareness.
In 1957, a controversy developed in the United States over subliminal stimuli in which a movie theater over a period of six weeks flashed messages for1/3,000 of a second: “Hungry? Eat popcorn!” A sixty percent increase in the sale of popcorn was reported.
Submerged (adjective)
being beneath the surface or the bottom of a liquid
The most distinguished feature of the Atlantic is the mid-ocean ridge, a gigantic submerged mountain range larger in area than the Alps and the Himalayas combined.
Subsequent(adjective)
following something else in time.
His continued skepticism, however, shaped his subsequent theological studies at Crosier Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, and at Boston University, where he received a doctorate in systematic theology in 1955.
Subside (verb)
to become less active or intense
When large areas of the sea floor elevate or subside, a tsunami can be created.
Subsidy (noun)
a grant by a government to a private person or company to assist an enterprise deemed advantageous to the public.
The rivalry involves two of the best-run companies in the hemisphere, yet each side protests that the other doesn't play fair because it relies on taxpayer subsidies.
Subsistent(noun)
the minimum as of food and shelter necessary to support life.
Subsistent farming, in which a family is completely self-reliant, has decreased rapidly since the advent of the industrial revolution.
Substitute for(verb)
one that takes the place of another; to give up in return for something else.
Although these maps are valuable for the general location of unstable areas, they can not be substituted for a careful on site investigation.
Subtle (adjective)
so slight as to be difficult to notice or appreciate.
The subtle differences indicating the onset of a flu or cold may be difficult to distinguish.
Sue (verb)
to institute or subject to legal proceedings.
Even if a murder suspect is found innocent of all charges in a criminal court, he or she may be sued in a civil court for a large sum of money.
Suffocating(adjective)
so powerful as to stop the breathing of.
In 1912, Garret Morgan invented what is now called a gas mask; the then called “Safety Hood and Smoke Protector” contained enough air to allow someone to stay in a room full of suffocating gases and smoke from fifteen to twenty minutes.
Sugary (adjective)
having or suggesting the taste of sugar.
The digestive system changes the large carbohydrates in mashed potatoes into sugary glucose.
Suicidal (adjective)
having the tendency to take one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally.
People with Multiple Personality Disorder may experience any of the following: depression, mood swings, suicidal tendencies, and sleep disorders.
Sum up (verb)
to recapitulate the salient facts of.
There are four types of politeness strategies, described by Brown and Levinson, that sum up human "politeness" behavior: Bald On Record, Negative Politeness, Positive Politeness, and Off-Record-Indirect Strategy.
Summon (verb)
to demand to appear, come, or assemble.
Summoned by von Colloredo to Vienna in 1781, he was dismissed after a series of arguments.
Superimpose(verb)
to place or lay over or above something.
With conventional two-dimensional X-ray pictures, things at different depths are superimposed, causing potential confusion to the viewer.
Supernatural(adjective)
of or relating to an order of existence beyond the visible observable universe; especially of or relating to God or a god, demigod, spirit, or devil.
But in spite of their supernatural powers, many gods, goddesses, and heroes of mythology have human characteristics.
Supersonic(adjective)
of, being, or relating to speeds from one to five times the speed of sound in air.
The idea of a supersonic passenger plane gained momentum in the 1950s, after Chuck Yeager's 1947 blast through the sound barrier.
Superstition(noun)
irrational fear of the unknown.
Due to events which sometimes cannot be explained, ommunities have developed superstitions which have been passed from one generation to the next.
Suppress (verb)
to hold something in check.
If fires are always suppressed, dense underbrush soon becomes so abundant that a simple spark can start a fire within minutes.
Supremacy (noun)
the condition or fact of being dominant.
After Admiral Nelson won a victory at Trafalgar, Spain in 1805, England established a naval supremacy that would last for 100 hundred years.
Surpass (verb)
to be greater or better than; to go beyond the limits of.
The Grand Canyon, a long narrow gorge in Arizona, surpasses in its enormity and beauty any other geological wonder in the United States.
Surrender (verb)
to undergo capture, defeat, or ruin.
As the battles continued, many of Sitting Bull's followers surrendered.
Surveillance(noun)
close watch kept over someone or something as by a detective.
The Pentagon is developing an urban surveillance system that would use computers and thousands of cameras to track record and analyze the movement of every vehicle in a foreign city.
Survey (verb)
to look over; to view broadly or from a height.
Before a person reads a book, he should survey the chapter, the title, headings, and subheadings, captions under pictures, harts, graphs or maps.
Sustaining(adjective)
to keep in a condition of good repair, efficiency, or use.
An abundant supply of water on the Moon would make establishment of a self sustaining lunar colony much more feasible and less expensive than presently thought.
Sustenance(noun)
the means to support life.
During the early colonial years in America, many people traveled on horseback and relied on corn for sustenance.
Swallowing(noun)
the act of causing food to pass from the mouth into the stomach.
Our larynxes are low in our throats, and our vocal tracts have a sharp right angle bend that creates two independently modifiable resonant cavities which is physiological designto making breathing, swallowing, and chewing less efficient.
Swamp (noun)
a usually low-lying area of waterlogged ground and standing water.
All lakes undergo an aging process, in which a crystal clear lake becomes a swamp full of plant growth called algae.
Swell (verb)
to make or become greater or larger.
The wind generated swell one sees at a California beach, for example, spawned by a storm out in the Pacific and rhythmically rolling in, one wave after another, might have a period of about 10 seconds and a wave length of 150 m.
Sweeping (adjective)
marked by wholesale and indiscriminate inclusion: extensive.
In a victory for President Bush, both houses of Congress approved sweeping Medicare legislation early Friday to give seniors a prescription drug benefit while creating a broad new role for private insurance in the government run program.
Switch (noun)
device for making and breaking the connection in an electrical circuit.
In several famous and controversial demonstrations, chimpanzees have been taught to use some hand signs based on American Sign Language, to manipulate colored switches or tokens, and to understand some spoken commands.
Symbiotic (adjective)
the intimate living together of two dissimilar organisms in a mutually beneficial relationship; a cooperative relationship.
Giraffes have a symbiotic relationship with tickbirds. These small birds ride on the giraffe's back, eating pesky insects off of its skin. In return for food, the birds serve as an early warning signal, alerting giraffes to any approaching predators with a loud chirp.
Sympathetic(adjective)
cognizant of and comprehending the needs, problems, and views of others.
The latter, at first sympathetic to the Mozart’s, later became irritated by Wolfgang's prolonged absences and stubborn ways.
Synthesize(verb)
to combine and adapt in order to attain a particular effect.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., synthesized ideas drawn from many different cultural traditions. Born in Atlanta on January 15, 1929, King's roots were in the African American Baptist church.
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