Scientific Research Terminology

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or state of being

article a word that specifies a noun, such as 'the', 'a', or 'an'

• During the busy season, employees often have to burn the midnight oil to meet project deadlines.
• I have to burn the midnight oil tonight to finish my assignment on time.
• I'll be burning the midnight oil to get this report done before the deadline.
• Sometimes in life, you have to burn the midnight oil to achieve your goals.

verb to provide evidence or details to support a claim or statement

• The witness was asked to circumstantiate their claims with concrete evidence.
• Can you back up your story with some proof?
• Stop talking nonsense, show me the receipts!
• She painted a vivid picture to circumstantiate her argument.

noun a person or thing that corresponds to or has the same function as another person or thing in a different place or situation.

• The CEO met with her international counterpart to discuss the merger.
• I caught up with my work counterpart over lunch today.
• My gym counterpart always pushes me to lift heavier weights.
• In literature, the protagonist's evil counterpart often represents their inner struggles.

verb to be exceptionally good at or proficient in an activity or subject

• She has shown the ability to excel in all areas of her work.
• I know you will excel in your new job because you are a hard worker.
• I bet you'll totally excel at the new video game.
• His determination to excel soared to new heights after receiving recognition for his achievements.

adjective very small in size or amount; scanty

• The exiguous amount of funds allocated to the project hindered its progress.
• I can't believe the exiguous turnout at the event last night.
• The party was a total flop - the exiguous vibe killed the mood.
• Her exiguous presence in the room made it feel empty despite the crowded space.

verb to assign a date that is incorrect or inaccurate

• The document was misdated by the secretary, causing confusion among the team.
• Oops, looks like the date was misdated on the form.
• They totally messed up and misdated the contract.
• Her memories were misdated, making it difficult for her to piece together the timeline.

adjective clearly expressed or easily understood

• The professor's explanation was perspicuous and easy to follow.
• She gave a perspicuous presentation that was clear and concise.
• His perspicuous explanation totally made sense.
• The perspicuous path ahead was clear and free of obstacles.

noun a scholarly article or essay that requires extensive research and analysis

• The research paper presented at the conference was well-received by the academic community.
• I finally finished my research paper last night after pulling an all-nighter.
• I totally BS-ed my way through that research paper and still got an A.
• Writing a research paper is like putting together a puzzle with words.

noun a systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions

• The scientist conducted extensive research on the effects of climate change.
• I spent hours researching the best vacation spots for this summer.
• I'm gonna do some quick research before we make a decision.
• Exploring different perspectives is like conducting research on life itself.

adverb used to introduce a question about time

conjunction used to introduce a clause indicating a point in time

• When the meeting starts, please make sure to have all your documents ready.
• When we get to the party, let's grab some drinks first.
• When he finally shows up, we can start the game.
• When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

verb to work diligently and studiously, especially at night; to write or study by lamplight

• The scholar spent many hours lucubrating over his research paper.
• I need to lucubrate on this project before the deadline.
• I'll lucubrate on this math problem and get back to you with the answer.
• Her mind lucubrated on the possibilities of what could have been.

adjective A certain is used to refer to something that is not specifically named or identified, implying a particular but unspecified thing or person.

article A certain is used as a determiner before a singular countable noun to suggest that the speaker is referring to one particular example of the noun.

• In a certain study conducted by researchers, it was found that the new drug showed promising results.
• I heard from a certain someone that the party was a blast.
• There's a certain vibe about this place that makes it really cool.
• She had a certain aura about her that drew people in wherever she went.