Science & Nature Forces — B2 Essential Words
Ten essential B2 words (Science) with the complete apparatus: pronunciation, simple definitions, natural American examples, collocations, family, the common mistake and spoken usage — plus a 15-question practice quiz. Mark your status on every word.
evolve /ɪˈvɒlv/ verb B2 Science
Meaning: To develop gradually over a long time into a different form — used for living things changing over generations and for ideas and systems growing.
Example: Birds evolved from small dinosaurs.
Another example: The plan evolved over months.
Collocations: evolve into · evolve over time · slowly evolve
Synonyms: develop, change, adapt
Antonyms: stay the same
Word family: evolution (n) · evolved (adj) · evolutionary (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: Darwin made it biology's key; businesses stole it for products ('the design evolved'). Revolve spins; evolve becomes.
🗣 In spoken American English: Languages evolve too — this lesson's words are mid-journey.
Register: Formal — science essential.
oxygen /ˈɒksɪdʒən/ noun B2 Science
Meaning: The gas in air that humans and animals need to breathe and that is necessary for fire to burn.
Example: Plants produce oxygen.
Another example: The patient needed oxygen.
Collocations: oxygen in the air · oxygen tank · produce oxygen
Synonyms: O2, air gas, breath
Word family: oxygen (uncountable) · oxygenate (v)
⚠ Common mistake: Forests are its factories — the Amazon is called Earth's lungs. Fire's recipe is fuel + heat + this word.
🗣 In spoken American English: Divers and astronauts carry it in tanks like portable atmospheres.
Register: Formal — science essential.
liquid /ˈlɪkwɪd/ noun / adjective B2 Science
Meaning: A substance that flows and takes the shape of its container, like water or oil (not a solid or gas); in this state.
Example: Pour the liquid into the bottle.
Another example: Water is a liquid at room temperature.
Collocations: a liquid · liquid form · liquid soap
Synonyms: fluid, solution, juice (drinkable sense)
Antonyms: solid, gas
Word family: liquids (n pl) · liquidity (n — finance!)
⚠ Common mistake: Finance borrowed it: 'liquid assets' flow into cash easily. States of matter line: solid → liquid → gas.
🗣 In spoken American English: Its measurement units fill every recipe and lab.
Register: Formal — science essential.
solid /ˈsɒlɪd/ adjective / noun B2 Science
Meaning: Hard and keeping a fixed shape (not liquid or gas); also strong and reliable ('a solid plan', 'solid work').
Example: Ice is solid water.
Another example: The table is made of solid wood.
Collocations: solid wood · a solid plan · solid ground
Synonyms: hard, firm, reliable
Antonyms: liquid, weak
Word family: solids (n pl) · solidly (adv) · solidity (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Compliments use it for anything dependable: solid evidence, solid friend, solid gold. Freeze water and it performs the state change.
🗣 In spoken American English: 'Rock solid' doubles it for emphasis in ads and vows.
Register: Formal — science essential.
volume /ˈvɒljuːm/ noun B2 Science
Meaning: The amount of space that an object or substance occupies; also the loudness of sound, and one book in a series.
Example: The volume of the box is two liters.
Another example: Turn the volume down.
Collocations: the volume of · volume up · a volume of poetry
Synonyms: capacity, amount, loudness
Word family: volumes (n pl)
⚠ Common mistake: Three volumes: space (science), sound (remotes), and books (Volume II). Remotes made the second its daily sense.
🗣 In spoken American English: Libraries shelve the third sense in matching spines.
Register: Formal — science essential.
wave /weɪv/ noun B2 Science
Meaning: A raised line of water moving across the sea; also the shape that energy (sound, light, heat) travels in; and a hand movement saying hello or goodbye.
Example: Big waves hit the beach.
Another example: Sound travels in waves.
Collocations: ocean waves · sound waves · wave goodbye
Synonyms: surf, ripple (small), signal
Word family: waves (n pl) · wave (v) · wavy (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: Stadiums do 'the wave' for fun; physics does it for everything — light, sound, radio. Its greeting twin waves back.
🗣 In spoken American English: Heat waves and crime waves borrow its rising shape for news.
Register: Neutral — science essential.
force /fɔːrs/ noun B2 Science
Meaning: Physical power or energy that pushes or pulls and makes things move or change; also strength used by police or armies, and to make someone do something (verb).
Example: Gravity is a force.
Another example: The force of the wind broke the tree.
Collocations: the force of · force of gravity · use force
Synonyms: power, strength, pressure
Antonyms: weakness
Word family: forces (n pl) · force (v) · forceful (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: Physics counts four fundamental ones; Star Wars made one of them a religion. 'The workforce' is its people version in offices.
🗣 In spoken American English: 'May the Force be with you' out-quotes every physics textbook.
Register: Formal — science essential.
mass /mæs/ noun B2 Science
Meaning: The amount of matter in an object (measured in kilograms); also a large amount or group of people, and a church service in some traditions.
Example: The mass of the Earth is huge.
Another example: A mass of fans waited outside.
Collocations: the mass of · a mass of people · mass media
Synonyms: weight (everyday twin), amount, bulk
Word family: masses (n pl) · massive (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: Mass vs weight: mass stays the same on the Moon; weight shrinks. 'Mass media' and 'mass production' use the 'large-scale' sense.
🗣 In spoken American English: Physics classes defend the distinction yearly; astronauts demonstrate it.
Register: Formal — science essential.
heat /hiːt/ noun B2 Science
Meaning: Hotness; the energy that makes things warm, produced by fire, sun, or machines; also a qualifying round in sports.
Example: The heat of the fire warmed the room.
Another example: Summer heat reached 100 degrees.
Collocations: the heat · heat wave · heat and light
Synonyms: warmth, hotness, temperature
Antonyms: cold
Word family: heat (v) · heated (adj) · heater (n)
⚠ Common mistake: 'In the heat of the moment' is emotion's version. Kitchens and arguments both advise: reduce the heat.
🗣 In spoken American English: Its unit battles (Fahrenheit vs Celsius) mark the US from the world daily.
Register: Neutral — science essential.
friction /ˈfrɪkʃən/ noun B2 Science
Meaning: The force that slows things down when surfaces rub against each other; also disagreement and tension between people.
Example: Friction between the tire and road stops the car.
Another example: There was friction between the two managers.
Collocations: friction between · friction slows · cause friction
Synonyms: resistance, rubbing force, tension
Antonyms: smoothness, agreement
Word family: frictions (n pl) · frictional (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: Brakes and matches depend on it; teams suffer from it. The metaphor is exact: rubbing the wrong way generates heat.
🗣 In spoken American English: Ice is its famous absence — winter sidewalks teach it.
Register: Formal — science essential.
Practice — Science & Nature Forces
Flashcards
Tap a card to flip it. Mark what you know — your progress saves on this device.
Matching Game
Tap an expression, then tap its meaning.
Keep going
Ad space