Can You Match at Least 10 of These Science Words to the Right Definition?

By: Alex Wittman
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Match at Least 10 of These Science Words to the Right Definition?
Image: Portra/DigitalVision/Getty Images

About This Quiz

No offense, but how hard have you been paying attention in biology? What about chemistry? Physics? Anatomy?!

Or perhaps it's been a minute since your last science class. Tbh, we remember our locker combo better than basically everything we learned freshman year. But we're not the ones taking this quiz. You are, fam!

If science is totally your thing (or at least you think it is), then this quiz is definitely for you. We wanna see you nerd out in all your geeky glory over these science terms. If you manage to match even 10 of these words to the right definition, we'll be majorly impressed.

But don't get it twisted: This quiz is gonna challenge you. Bruh, just because you can spell "photosynthesis" doesn't mean you're going to ace our quiz. You need to actually know what it means. Like, do you understand the difference between a proton and an electron? What if we toss a neuron in the mix? If that doesn't have you shook, then you might indeed have what it takes to pass this quiz.

If you can match at least 10 of these science words to the right definition, then you've for sure earned bragging rights. Pass this quiz along to your crew to see who should be crowned Science King (or Kween). 

Are you ready, or do you need to light a Bunsen burner under you?

Birds on zebra
Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Moment/Getty Images
Awww, nerdy science relationships! What do you call one that benefits both organisms?
Electroporation
Friction
Geotropism
Mutualism
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Who said romance is dead?! For real, though, mutualism is the science word we use to describe a relationship between two kinds of organisms that benefits both. We wish we could find something like that on Tinder.

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Observatory
dataichi - Simon Dubreuil/Moment/Getty Images
Okay, answer this: Which of these science terms is the opposite of regular matter?
Photochemistry
Nucleus
Antimatter
Magnetosphere
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Any knowledge you have of prefixes probably helped with this one. We see you, Grammar Guru. This is majorly important: For every particle of ordinary matter, there is an almost identical antiparticle of antimatter.

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Bugs under microscope
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Don't bug out. Which of the following refers to the study of insects?
Entomology
Osmoregulation
Momentum
Oncogene
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When you saw that "-ology" suffix, you knew we were talking about the study of something. We're not trying to give you the creepy-crawlies, but this special branch of zoology is concerned with the study of insects.

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Lab equipment
Ittarusp/Wikimedia Commons
Time for a little biochemistry. What do we call the straight-sided, clear container used for holding liquid samples?
Oxidize
Cuvette
Nuclein
Omnivore
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Having the right tools is a huge part of doing science, my dude. While it's no Bunsen burner, a cuvette is still big important. This little container holds the liquid samples in a spectrophotometer or other instrument.

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Woman holding plant
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Our next term applies to both plants and people. What is the outermost layer called?
Epidermis
Leonids
Mantle
Orbit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

My dude, you are killing it. The outermost layer is known as the epidermis. On plants, this refers to the roots and leave. On humans, we're talking about that top layer of skin. Don't forget to put some lotion on your epidermis!

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Cheetahs running
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This concept is a big mood. What do we call the characteristic behavior exhibited by animals that remain active during the day and sleep at night?
Density
Quantitative
Radiation
Diurnality
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Diurnality is how the majority of animals live ... including human beings! Even if you're a night owl, your body is still hardwired to sleep when it's dark out and be awake during the day.

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Using fire in lab
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OOF, we hated chemistry. Which terms refers to a reaction that releases energy (generally, in the form of heat)?
Isotope
Hyperbolic
Granulation
Exothermic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You're, like, big smart about this science stuff. Exothermic reactions often release energy as heat and, sometimes, as light too. The opposite of this process is an endothermic reaction which absorbs heat, thus cooling the surroundings.

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Meteorite
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Keep up the good work. What science term do we use for stony meteorites (no chondrules, no problem) that have undergone changes due to melting?
Achondrite
Ovulation
Isobar
Organelle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For real, though, an achondrite is a type of meteorite. It's actually made up of a material similar to plutonic rock. Big mood, right? Unlike many meteorites, they don't contain the small, rounded particles called chondrules.

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Scientist in hazmat suit
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Tbh, this job sounds kinda sick. Which science term refers to a person who studies viruses?
Pedigree
Mass
Ion
Virologist
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You best believe we hit you with another pun. We'll be here all week, folks! While virology is the study of viruses, a virologist refers to the person actually studying those parasitic particles and virus-like agents.

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Telescopes
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It would be helpful if you knew some German. Which science word refers to the loss of energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation?
Plumes
Bremsstrahlung
Electron
Embryo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Now, don't let the German throw you for a loop. When a fast charged particle (such as an electron) slows down as it passes to matter, it loses energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. Bremsstrahlung translates to "braking radiation."

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Light through crystal
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It's litty. What do we call the bending of a wave path (think: light or sound) at the boundary between two different mediums?
Leukocytes
Meson
Refraction
Microgravity
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Did you have the right reaction and guess "refraction?" Perhaps the most well-known example of refraction is sunlight passing through raindrops and causing a rainbow. You can also peep light refracting with the help of a prism.

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Cells under microscope
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Don't stop now! What's the name of the process of absorption of molecules present outside the cells?
Dicot
Radioactivity
Endocytosis
Decibel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You've for sure looked under a microscope before. All that stuff floating around outside the actual cell can get engulfed via the cell membrane through a dope process known as endocytosis.

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Woman throwing ball
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You've got this one. What do you call the tendency of a moving object to keep moving in a straight line?
Aberration
Inertia
Abzyme
Analog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Don't get tilted if you took an L on this one. Inertia refers to an object's resistance to change. YKTV, an object in motion stays in motion until acted upon an external force. That sounds like it could hurt.

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Closeup underwater organism
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Tbh, this one has us shook. What do you call an organism that thrives and grows in an environment without oxygen?
Particle
Hypothesis
Anaerobe
Phosphatase
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You need oxygen, right? Of course, and same over here! But did you know what doesn't need oxygen to grow? Anaerobic organisms. Not only do they not need oxygen, but these types of organisms may even die if oxygen is present.

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Galaxy
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Tbh, we didn't think you'd be slaying like this. Which science word refers to the cloud of dust and gas in space?
Capacitor
Nebula
Typhlosole
Synapsis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yes, like the "Guardians of the Galaxy" character. Space movie, space stuff: It just works. Idk if we'd want to be named after a cloud of dust and gas, but Nebula doesn't seem to mind.

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Genetic researcher
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You obv won the science fair. Which of the following is the name of the process through which the genetic information of an organism is changed naturally or experimentally?
Catalyst
Template
Syngamy
Mutagenesis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Whether an organism's genetic information is changed naturally or experimentally, we call the process mutagenesis. Sometimes it's caused by radiation or chemicals. It's necessary to have receipts to be able to identify exactly what changes took place.

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The sun
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You're on a roll, fam. Which science words refers to the bright spot or region on the Sun's photosphere?
Facula
Resonance
Current
Relativity
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Not sure how to pronounce "facula?" Well, it rhymes with a certain Transylvanian vampire. Yup, Dracula! The largest faculae (plural) we know about are seen near the sunspots on everyone's fave giant ball of fire.

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Researcher using microscope
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YAAS, convert that energy. Which of the following refers to an organism that can convert biological material into energy for sustenance?
Plasma
Emulsion
Friction
Biovorous
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We're at our absolute worst when we're hangry. It would be #GOALS to be able to convert energy into sustenance like a biovorous organism. When we're starving, even some biological material sounds tasty.

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Looking at stars
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That big brain of yours is #GOALS. What do we call the radiation amount that is emitted by a star or celestial object at a given time?
Luminosity
Synergism
Chlorophyll
Satellite
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Don't let anyone tell you you're not luminous. Like you, we talk about bright stars in terms of their luminosity. One big luminous celestial object is the Peony Star. Get out your telescope to peep it!

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Water droplets on plant
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We know you've got this one! What do you call the natural passage or diffusion of water through a semi-permeable membrane?
Gluons
Osmosis
Hyperpolarization
Impact
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This science word is none other than osmosis. Typically, we're discussing water when we're chatting about osmosis, but it can also refer to the diffusion of other liquids. Let's give it up for semi-permeable membranes, amiright?

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Holding test tube
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Back to basics. Which science term is believed to be one of the basic building blocks of matter?
Interferometer
Joule
Quark
Kelvin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tbh, this word sounds made up, but a quark is, like, an actual thing. So, what's their deal? Well, quarks come together to form hadrons. Certainly, you're familiar with those. We're talking about protons and neutrons, fam.

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Team doing math
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We're organizing a field trip to the museum STAT. Which of the following is a geometric object that can be defined using both magnitude/length and direction?
Alkali
Zoology
Vector
Watt
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You're a freaking impressive little scientist person, did you know that? You must also know a little something about mathematics, physics and engineering because the term "vector" exists in those fields as well.

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Planets
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Bet you feel right at home in a planetarium. Which science term means the motion of a planet in a clockwise direction?
Acid
Viroid
Retrograde
Angiosperm
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Anytime a planet moves clockwise, it's something to note since they generally move in a counterclockwise direction. Astrology stans think Mercury in retrograde has the power to really shake things up for people down here on Earth.

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Molecular model
Andrew Brookes/Cultura/Getty Images
You're slaying. What is the unit of measurement to express the atomic and molecular mass called?
Qualitative
Dalton
Dynamo
Ecology
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One dalton (Da) is similar to the weight of hydrogen. Heavy, right? Yuh, no. Ready for more comparisons? A dalton also approximately equals the mass of one proton or one neutron. Hope you're keeping up!

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Operating equipment
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This next science word is lit. Which of the following is the name of the process that splits a substance into individual chemicals using an electric current?
Periapsis
Electrolysis
Quasar
Replication
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Please, PLZ tell us you got our pun. Lit? Electrolysis?? Okay, we guess we're gonna have to try harder. In this technique, a direct electric current forces an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction.

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Man watering plant
Eugenio Marongiu/Cultura/Getty Images
We're living for all these biology terms. Which science word refers to the tissue through which water and minerals move up through a plant?
Vascular
Nuclease
Voltage
Xylem
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It may be at the end of the alphabet, but to say the xylem isn't a critical part of the plant would be savage. It's one of two types of transport tissue (the other being phloem). The basic function of Mr. X is to transport water and nutrients from the roots and stems to the leave.

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Hair blowing in wind
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Time to get science-y AF. Which of the following is a device used to measure the speed of wind?
Spectrometer
Anemometer
Satellite
Telescope
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While an anemometer is best known for measuring wind speed, that's not all it's good for. Consider this handy apparatus your go-to for calculating the current of any gas. Now, that's what's up.

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Model of intestines
RUNSTUDIO/Photodisc/Getty Images
Someone was paying attention in science class. Which of the following is the scientific term for the mid-section of the small intestine?
Circuit
Jejunum
Revolution
Cotyledon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yuh, we're throwing it back to human anatomy with this one. You can find a jejunum in most higher vertebrates. Think mammals, birds and reptiles. This section of the intestine is located between the duodenum and the ileum.

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Brain scans
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You must be, like, a scientist or something. What is the name of the structure located on the brain stem above the medulla but below the midbrain?
Ubiquitin
Buoyancy
Uterus
Pon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Pon" might seem like a simple word, but as with any brain stuff, it's actually a very complex part. You can find it hanging out anterior to the cerebellum in humans. It's chilling there, YKTV.

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Weighing scales
Anchalee Phanmaha/Moment/Getty Images
This one is tricky. Which science word is the mass of a substance (in grams) that is equal to the substances molecular weight?
Cytosol
Diurnality
Mole
Elasticity
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We're not talking about the furry woodland creature. In this case, the number of particles in one mole of a substance is called Avogadro’s number. You can find it using a super-specific equation, but we'll save that for another day.

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Man looking at sun
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Never look directly at it. Which of the following refers to the amount of the Sun's energy that reaches Earth at a given time and place?
Bacteriology
Buffer
Chondrule
Insolation
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ah yes, good ol' solar energy. Now, that's fire. Insolation is what we call the solar radiation that manages to reach Earth's surface. As we're sure you can guess, this majorly affects our planet's temperature.

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Venus fly trap
Adam Gault/OJO Images/Getty Images
More plant stuff! Which science word means the response of a plant toward or away from stimulus?
Tropism
Symbiosis
Nitrocellulose
Troposphere
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To plants (actually, to all of us), the Sun is life. There are a lot of stimuli, but it's pretty much the most important one. Have you ever seen an indoor plant growing toward a window? It's not that it has a mind of its own, but rather, the plant is exemplifying tropism.

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Electricity experiment
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Leave direct contact outta this. What science word means the process by which an object with electrical or magnetic properties produces similar properties in a nearby object?
Induction
Extragalactic
Convection
Bolometer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Turn up for induction. Let's break this distinct-AF phenomenon down. Basically, when a charged object is brought near a neutral object, the mere presence makes the electrons in the neutral object move.

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Ocean scene
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Because nature is life, which of the following is one of Earth's large ecosystems?
Biome
Chromosphere
Corona
Heliocentric
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yaas, biome! You know those adorable little terrariums you see in bougie home stores or whatever? Well, basically, that's a mini version of a biome. A biome has its own climate, soil, plants and animals. Talk about a one-stop shop.

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Working on botany
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Let's talk plants. Which word means the layer in plants that separates the xylem from the phloem?
Apogee
X-band
Spectrograph
Cambium
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you guessed "cambium," we're impressed. This crucial layer is responsible for the secondary growth of the plant's stems and roots. Because of the cambium, those parts of the plant continue to get thicker.

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