LAHS Vodunkulary Word List

Learn these words to make lunchtime on Monday, April 13th a memorable event!
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. exponent
    notation of how many times to multiply a quantity by itself
    But in every classroom, there are some students who are substantially ahead of their peers: they’re already great at multiplication, and are ready for exponents. Forbes (Mar 26, 2015)
  2. reciprocal
    one of a pair of numbers whose product is 1
    The reciprocal of one-half, for example, is two.
  3. probability
    a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur
    This detection is statistically very significant - corresponding to a probability of better than 99.99999999999% that dark matter exists in these clusters. BBC (Mar 26, 2015)
  4. variable
    a quantity that can assume any of a set of values
    The equation of supply and demand of oil price just has too many variables for me to calculate with short-term prescision.
  5. postulate
    a proposition accepted as true to provide a logical basis
    A postulate is a statement that is assumed true without proof. A theorem is a true statement that can be proven. The whole of Euclidean geometry, for example, is based on five postulates known as Euclid's postulates.
  6. radius
    a straight line from the center to the perimeter of a circle
    The armoured personnel carriers stop a first time and align themselves in order to cover a 360' radius. BBC (Mar 19, 2015)
  7. hypotenuse
    the side of a right triangle opposite the right angle
    Another basket achieved subtle volume when Fraser aligned the hypotenuse of one right triangle with the leg of the right triangle next to it. Washington Times (Sep 20, 2014)
  8. theorem
    a proposition deducible from basic postulates
    A.I.s can also do other useful things that humans can’t, like proving certain mathematical theorems or uncovering hidden patterns in data. Slate (Mar 2, 2015)
    A postulate is a statement that is assumed true without proof. A theorem is a true statement that can be proven.
  9. inertia
    the tendency of something to stay in rest or motion
    But Earth also spins, so the inertia of the weights creates a tiny centrifugal force that flings them away from the planet’s axis. Science Magazine (Mar 5, 2015)
  10. isotope
    atom with same atomic number, different number of neutrons
    The molecules contain lots of isotopes that arise during nuclear reactions, so they likely spilled out of the stellar interiors when the stars joined together. Science Magazine (Mar 23, 2015)
  11. entropy
    energy in a system no longer available for mechanical work
    The second law of thermodynamics states that in any system, entropy—disorder—increases over time. Newsweek (Feb 27, 2015)
  12. catalyst
    substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction
    Everyone knows that iron is an excellent catalyst that absorbs smog.
  13. endothermic
    occurring or formed with absorption of heat
    From there, the men focused on the major questions relating to solar power, endothermic reactions, rare metals, the ever-controversial nuclear energy and another ice age. Scientific American (Jul 4, 2013)
  14. exothermic
    occurring or formed with the release of heat
    While this reaction may be exothermic, we cannot know for sure given the data presented. US News (Mar 17, 2015)
  15. amplitude
    the maximum displacement of a periodic wave
    Coppey’s left hand is fleet and well organized, the vibrato tightly focused, intensity always coming from increased speed rather than amplitude.
    —Washington Post (Mar 30, 2015)
  16. synapse
    the junction between two neurons
    Memories can be restored during hibernation as only the receiving end of the synapse shuts down. BBC (Jan 15, 2015)
  17. jingoism
    fanatical patriotism
    To international competitions once treated as sleepy exhibitions, Americans have brought wartime jingoism, replete with face paint, nail paint, and decorum borrowed from football. Golf Digest (Oct 16, 2013)
  18. capitalism
    an economic system based on private ownership of assets
    Like capitalism, it is transnational, unpredictably disruptive, self-compounding, and inescapable. The New Yorker (Mar 30, 2015)
  19. diplomacy
    negotiation between nations
    Negative views of Iran haven’t undermined Americans’ desire to try and cut a deal: 68% of Americans favor diplomacy with Iran. Time (Mar 27, 2015)
  20. partisan
    devoted to a cause or political group
    “This isn’t political or partisan, it’s personal. And that was the first time people realized how intrusive government could actually be.” Time (Mar 31, 2015)
  21. bicameral
    composed of two legislative bodies
    A bicameral group of South Dakota legislators voted to increase the per-student amount of funding available to incoming college students eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship. Washington Times (Mar 12, 2015)
  22. caucus
    a closed political meeting
    Still, he sees a path, and it starts with Iowa, where Clinton finished in third place in the 2008 caucuses. MSNBC (Mar 30, 2015)
  23. hyperbole
    extravagant exaggeration
    For safety’s sake, then, hyperbole should be used with restraint and only by those with the proper literary training. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling
  24. allegory
    a short moral story
    Any sporting contest is an allegory of life's struggles, at least if you look hard enough. BBC (Mar 14, 2015)
  25. diction
    the manner in which something is expressed in words
    One poem, for example, moves from the Internet to ancient diction, from cave drawings to night dreams. Washington Post
  26. synthesis
    the combination of ideas into a complex whole
    Capote explained that his book was his idea of the "nonfiction novel" — "a synthesis of journalism with fictional technique." US News (Mar 6, 2015)
  27. succinct
    briefly giving the gist of something
    Even though we know what you’re getting at here, you may end up getting a succinct, non-descriptive response that beckons a follow-up question anyway. US News (Mar 10, 2015)
  28. expository
    serving to expound or set forth
    The game played like a choose your own adventure novel with expository content crammed before and after each level. Forbes (Jul 19, 2014)
  29. preclude
    make impossible, especially beforehand
    But does staying in the game preclude playing it our own way? Slate (Mar 26, 2015)
  30. deduce
    reason from the general to the particular
    You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce that he's talking about new rules for the industry. Los Angeles Times (Mar 23, 2015)
  31. coherent
    marked by an orderly and consistent relation of parts
    Not being able to write coherent reports was a really common problem at my agency. Newsweek (Mar 28, 2015)
  32. rhetoric
    using language effectively to please or persuade
    We suggest that the skeptics used to seeing a pugilistic end to the session look past the rhetoric and focus on the actions. Washington Times (Mar 26, 2015)
  33. amicable
    characterized by friendship and good will
    Even if the breakup is amicable, splitting assets isn't pretty. US News (Jan 27, 2015)
  34. capacious
    large in the amount that can be contained
    The home’s capacious 10,641-square-feet of living space and large lot size make the property an unusual find in this part of Hawaii. Forbes (Mar 6, 2015)
  35. divergent
    moving away from another or from a standard
    The two men share many policy positions, but offer strikingly divergent messages and are pursuing very different electoral strategies. New York Times (Mar 29, 2015)
  36. hackneyed
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
    They rely on hackneyed jargon and subjective adjectives that effectively make their letters sound like everyone else's. What a waste. US News (Jan 21, 2015)
  37. intrepid
    invulnerable to fear or intimidation
    Instead, the intrepid photographer resorted snapping these shots while “absolutely freezing on the beach.” MSNBC (Feb 27, 2015)
  38. jubilation
    a feeling of extreme joy
    At last year’s race, she wrote about the sense of relief and jubilation the crowd felt as runners crossed the finish line peacefully. New York Times (Mar 31, 2015)
  39. mundane
    found in the ordinary course of events
    In it, the mundane is rendered extraordinary through the alchemy of effortless prose. New York Times (Mar 27, 2015)
  40. nonchalant
    marked by casual unconcern or indifference
    “The Americans seem nonchalant about this, like, ‘This is your sectarian problem, you deal with it,’ ” Mr. Khashoggi said. New York Times (Mar 30, 2015)
  41. prosaic
    lacking wit or imagination
    The prosaic routine of paperwork somehow diminished her sense of accomplishment. New York Times (Mar 20, 2015)
  42. superfluous
    more than is needed, desired, or required
    Unlike Drake, he hasn't gunned for superfluous social media mentions. Los Angeles Times (Mar 13, 2015)
  43. venerable
    profoundly honored
    The stakes are high for a company that just dislodged AT&T as one of the 30 stocks comprising the venerable Dow Jones industrial average. US News (Mar 9, 2015)
  44. wary
    marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    There's also a tendency by wary government officials to pre-emptively cover their tracks by avoiding the creation of records in the first place. US News (Mar 30, 2015)
Created on Tue Mar 31 16:22:27 EDT 2015 (updated Tue Mar 31 17:05:50 EDT 2015)

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