Astronomy Glossary

noun The opening in a camera lens through which light passes to enter the camera

• The camera's aperture controls the amount of light that enters the lens.
• Make sure to adjust the aperture on your camera for a better picture.
• I totally forgot to change the aperture settings on my camera.
• Opening up your mind is like adjusting the aperture of a camera, allowing more light and new perspectives to come in.

noun a surrounding or pervading influence; a surrounding or pervading environment

• The atmosphere in the conference room was tense as the negotiations continued.
• The atmosphere at the party was lively and fun, with everyone dancing and chatting.
• The atmosphere at the concert was lit, with the crowd going wild for the band.
• The atmosphere in the office was toxic, with rumors and gossip spreading like wildfire.

verb the action of breaking open or apart suddenly and violently

adjective describing something that is in the act of bursting or about to burst

• The bursting of the housing bubble led to a financial crisis.
• I can't believe how bursting my schedule is this week.
• Her new song is bursting with catchy beats.
• His heart was bursting with joy when he saw his family after a long time.

verb to move or revolve around something

adjective describing something that is in the shape of a circle or is moving in a circular motion

• The airplane was circling the airport waiting for clearance to land.
• The hawk was circling overhead, probably looking for food.
• The students were circling around the new student, eager to make friends.
• Thoughts of doubt and uncertainty kept circling in her mind.

noun a group of similar things or people positioned or occurring closely together

verb to come together in a small group or bunch

• The data points were grouped into a cluster based on their similarities.
• All the shops in this area are clustered together for easy access.
• Let's hang out at that new cluster of food trucks downtown.
• The cluster of stars in the night sky looked like a sparkling diamond necklace.

noun A device or instrument designed to detect the presence of something, such as metal, gas, or radiation.

• The security system includes a motion detector to alert authorities of any suspicious activity.
• I installed a smoke detector in the kitchen to keep my family safe.
• The metal detector at the airport always gives me anxiety.
• She has a keen detector for insincerity and can easily spot a fake smile.

noun a diurnal plant or animal

adjective relating to or occurring in the daytime; daily

• Diurnal animals are active during the day and sleep at night.
• I prefer diurnal creatures because I like being awake during the day.
• Those diurnal birds are always up early making noise.
• His diurnal routine keeps him on track and productive during the day.

noun the force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth, or toward any other physical body having mass

adjective relating to or resulting from gravity

• The force of gravity is what keeps objects on Earth grounded.
• I can't believe how strong the gravity is on this planet!
• Dude, the gravity in this place is no joke.
• The gravity of the situation really hit me when I realized the consequences.

noun the action or process of magnifying something or being magnified

adjective relating to or involving magnification

• The microscope has a high level of magnification, allowing us to see tiny details.
• I love using the zoom feature on my phone camera for extra magnification.
• Check out the magnification on these binoculars, it's insane!
• The media's magnification of the celebrity's personal life is overwhelming.

verb to make something appear larger or more important than it actually is

• The scientist magnified the specimen under the microscope to study its cellular structure.
• I magnified the photo on my phone to get a closer look at the details.
• She totally magnified the situation by spreading rumors.
• His fear of failure was magnified by his overactive imagination.

adjective an adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'massive' describes the noun it is referring to as being very large or substantial.

• The company announced a massive increase in profits this quarter.
• I can't believe how massive that burger is!
• That concert was a massive hit, everyone loved it!
• Her love for music is a massive part of her life.

adjective describing something that is not alive or living

• Nonliving organisms do not possess the ability to grow, reproduce, or respond to stimuli.
• Nonliving things like rocks and water do not have life.
• Dude, that car is totally nonliving after the accident.
• His heart felt nonliving after the breakup.

noun not applicable

verb not applicable

adjective relating to or situated on the outside

adverb toward the outside

pronoun not applicable

preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

interjection not applicable

article not applicable

• The architect designed the building with outward-facing windows to maximize natural light.
• She always wears her hair in an outward ponytail for a casual look.
• I love how that outfit makes your curves pop outward!
• His outward confidence masked his inner insecurities.

adjective of, belonging to, or characteristic of a high or exclusive social class; lofty and refined; esoteric or difficult to understand

• The rarefied air at the top of the mountain made it difficult to breathe.
• Only a few people have access to that rarefied level of society.
• Getting into that exclusive club is like entering a rarefied world.
• The artist's work exists in a rarefied realm of creativity.

noun an object or surface that reflects light or sound in a particular direction

• The telescope uses a reflector to gather and focus light from distant stars.
• I put a reflector on my bike so cars can see me at night.
• Hey, don't forget to put on your reflector before we go biking.
• Her calm demeanor acted as a reflector, diffusing the tension in the room.

noun the act of rotating or the state of being rotated

verb to turn or move in a circle or around an axis

• The Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours.
• Make sure to rotate the mattress every few months to keep it in good condition.
• I'll rotate the crops in the garden to ensure they all get enough sunlight.
• It's important to rotate your study habits to keep your mind engaged and refreshed.

noun a small, dispersed amount or number of something

verb to throw or drop in various random directions

adjective dispersed or spread out in various directions

• The wind caused the leaves to scatter across the lawn.
• I accidentally knocked over the box and now the contents are scattered everywhere.
• The party was so wild, people were scatter all over the place.
• Her thoughts were scattered, making it difficult for her to focus on the task at hand.

noun a type of camera lens that has a long focal length, typically used for taking photographs of distant objects

adjective relating to or using a telephoto lens

• The photographer used a telephoto lens to capture detailed shots of the wildlife from a distance.
• I borrowed my friend's telephoto lens to get better pictures at the concert.
• I need to upgrade my gear with a sick telephoto lens for those faraway shots.
• Her telephoto vision allowed her to see the bigger picture in every situation.

noun the path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces

• The scientist plotted the trajectory of the rocket to ensure it would reach its destination.
• She tracked the trajectory of the basketball as it soared through the air.
• I can't believe the trajectory of his career, it's really taking off!
• The trajectory of their relationship seemed to be heading towards a breakup.

noun a distance between successive crests of a wave, especially points in a sound wave or electromagnetic wave

• The scientist used a spectrometer to measure the exact wavelength of the light emitted by the star.
• I heard that different colors have different wavelengths, like red is longer than blue.
• Dude, you're on the same wavelength as me when it comes to music taste.
• Their wavelengths just don't match, they can never seem to understand each other.

noun A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. 'LVO' could potentially be a noun if it is an acronym or abbreviation for something specific.

verb A verb is a word that expresses an action or a state of being. 'LVO' is not typically used as a verb.

adjective An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun. 'LVO' is not typically used as an adjective.

adverb An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. 'LVO' is not typically used as an adverb.

pronoun A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. 'LVO' is not typically used as a pronoun.

preposition A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. 'LVO' is not typically used as a preposition.

conjunction A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses. 'LVO' is not typically used as a conjunction.

interjection An interjection is a word or phrase that expresses emotion or exclamation. 'LVO' is not typically used as an interjection.

article An article is a word that is used to specify a noun as definite or indefinite. 'LVO' is not typically used as an article.

• The LVO analysis showed a significant decrease in sales for the quarter.
• Did you see the LVO report? Sales are down big time.
• I heard the LVO numbers tanked last month.
• Her LVO score in the game was off the charts, she's a natural.

verb to represent or transform something in the form of a parabola

• The scientist used a mirror to parabolize the light rays in the experiment.
• I heard you can parabolize the sound by adjusting the speaker's position.
• Dude, you totally parabolized that shot into the goal!
• She was able to parabolize her career trajectory by taking on new challenges.

verb To deviate from the norm or expected course

adjective Having deviated from the norm or expected course

• The results of the experiment were aberrated due to a calibration error.
• The data got all aberrated because someone messed up the settings.
• The whole situation was totally aberrated, man.
• Her emotions were so aberrated that she couldn't think clearly.

noun a procedure to terminate a pregnancy

verb to bring a pregnancy to a premature end

• The pilot aborts the takeoff due to a technical issue with the aircraft.
• She aborts the mission because it's too risky.
• He aborts the plan at the last minute.
• She aborts the conversation when it gets too heated.

noun a person, place, thing, or idea

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun

• The absolute weight of the object is crucial in determining its stability.
• Dude, the absolute weight of that thing is insane!
• The absolute weight of the package is off the charts!
• The absolute weight of her decision was felt by everyone involved.

noun a combining form meaning 'colorless' or 'lacking color', used in the formation of compound words

• Achromatopsia is a rare visual disorder characterized by the inability to see color.
• I heard that achromatopsia makes it hard to see colors properly.
• My friend's achromatopsia makes him see the world in black and white.
• His achromatous view of the situation lacked any emotional depth.

noun a point of convergence or concentration of actinic (relating to the chemical effects of light) energy

• The actinic focus of the research study was on the effects of UV radiation on marine organisms.
• The scientists were really into studying the actinic focus of the project.
• The team was all about diving deep into the actinic focus of their investigation.
• Her passion for marine biology was like an actinic focus, shining brightly in her research.

noun The word 'horizon' is a noun, which refers to the line at which the earth's surface and the sky appear to meet.

adjective The word 'actual' is an adjective, which describes the horizon as being real or existing in fact, rather than being perceived or imagined.

• The ship disappeared beyond the actual horizon.
• I can't see the boat anymore, it's gone over the actual horizon.
• The boat is out of sight, it went past the actual horizon.
• As she pursued her dreams, she pushed past the actual horizon of what she thought was possible.

adjective in a state of flames or burning

adverb in a state of excitement or activity

• The fire department quickly extinguished the blaze before it could spread aflare.
• The bonfire got a bit out of control and was aflare for a few minutes.
• The party was so lit, the dance floor was aflare with energy.
• Her emotions were aflare as she struggled to contain her anger.