Science: B2 Spanish vocabulary

53 Spanish words about science at B2 level. Each entry links to the full meaning, a real example sentence, and usage notes written for English speakers.

• estadonounstatus, condition
• cantidadnounquantity, amount — a measurable amount of something
• estructuranounstructure, framework — the arrangement of parts that form a whole
• fuentenounsource — the origin or starting point of something; also a reference or citation
• tecnicanountechnique — a way of carrying out a particular task or skill
• reaccionnounreaction, response — an action performed in response to something; also a chemical process
• superficienounsurface, area — the outside part of an object; also the total area of a space
• encuestanounsurvey, poll — a set of questions to gather opinions from a group
• especienounspecies — a group of living organisms sharing common characteristics
• variacionnounvariation, fluctuation — a change or difference in level or value
• calcularverbto calculate, to estimate
• sustancianounsubstance — a particular kind of matter with uniform properties; also essential quality
• célulanouncell — the biological unit of life; also a small organisational or covert unit
• combinarverbto combine, to blend
• secuencianounsequence — a set of related things arranged in order
• químicanounchemistry — the science of matter and its reactions; and figuratively the interpersonal rapport or attraction between people
• rangonounrange, span — the extent between upper and lower limits
• espectronounspectrum — a wide range of related ideas or things; also light spectrum
• carbononouncarbon — the chemical element C; in B2 the centrepiece of climate and environmental discourse
• consensonounconsensus
• núcleonouncore/nucleus — the central, most essential element of something
• compuestonouncompound — a substance formed from two or more elements chemically bonded together
• nuclearadjectivenuclear — relating to the nucleus of an atom; also: relating to nuclear weapons or energy
• ecuaciónnounequation
• evoluciónnounevolution, development
• marinoadjectivemarine — relating to the sea or ocean
• fibranounfibre — thread-like material; dietary fibre; fibre optic internet
• fluidonounsmooth, fluid — flowing without interruption or difficulty; in figurative use: natural and effortless
• medioambientaladjectiveenvironmental — relating to the natural environment
• fórmulanounformula
• finitoadjectivefinite — having defined limits; not infinite
• fragmentonounfragment, extract
• fricciónnounfriction
• extintoadjectiveextinct — no longer in existence; having died out
• biológicoadjectivebiological
• gennoungene — a unit of hereditary information encoded in DNA
• simularverbto simulate, to model
• variableadjectivevariable — liable to change; not fixed or constant
• hipótesisnounhypothesis — a proposed explanation to be tested through research
• predecirverbto predict, to forecast
• capanounlayer, stratum — one thickness laid over another; also a cloak or social stratum
• inventarverbto invent, to create
• investigarverbto investigate, to research
• mecanismonounmechanism — the means by which something operates or is brought about
• métodonounmethod — a systematic procedure for achieving a result
• medirverbto measure, to quantify
• órbitanounorbit — the curved path of a celestial body; figuratively, an area of influence
• piconounpeak — the pointed top of a mountain; the highest point of a quantity or activity
• fenómenonounphenomenon — an observable event or fact; colloquially, a remarkable person or thing
• precisoadjectiveprecise, exact — marked by accuracy; also: necessary
• sujetonounsubject, participant — a person in a study or experiment; or the grammatical subject; 'sujeto a' = subject to
• técnicanountechnique — a way of carrying out a task using practical skills; 'aplicar una técnica'; distinct from 'tecnología'
• variaciónnounvariation — a measurable deviation from a norm; 'variación estacional/de precio'; more quantitative than 'cambio'