TOEFL Words: Astronomy
Atmosphere
(There is an *atmosphere* of peace and calm in the country, quite different from the *atmosphere* of a big city.)
(There is an *atmosphere* of peace and calm in the country, quite different from the *atmosphere* of a big city.)
n. the gases surrounding a planet; the way a particular place makes someone feel ( 气，大气层)
Atmospheric
(Rust results from the slow combination of iron with *atmospheric* oxygen and water vapor.)
(Rust results from the slow combination of iron with *atmospheric* oxygen and water vapor.)
adj. relating to, or occurring in the atmosphere (大气的，大气层的；大气引起的)
Collide
(The tides roll in on the wide beach, *colliding* with each other.)
(The tides roll in on the wide beach, *colliding* with each other.)
v.crash together with violent impact (使碰撞)
Collision
(The Titanic was on a *collision* course with a huge and deadly iceberg.)
(The Titanic was on a *collision* course with a huge and deadly iceberg.)
n. an act or instance of colliding; clash (碰撞；抵触)
Cosmos
(In recent decades, more scientists have become convinced that intelligent life forms exist elsewhere in the *cosmos*.)
(In recent decades, more scientists have become convinced that intelligent life forms exist elsewhere in the *cosmos*.)
n. universe (宇宙)
Cosmology
(Through their paintings of the universe, Australian Aborigines were among the first people to explore *cosmology*.)
(Through their paintings of the universe, Australian Aborigines were among the first people to explore *cosmology*.)
n. study of the nature of the universe (宇宙学)
Cosmologist
(Philosopher and physicist Stephen Hawking is probably the world’s most famous *cosmologist*.)
(Philosopher and physicist Stephen Hawking is probably the world’s most famous *cosmologist*.)
n. one who studies the nature of the universe. (宇宙学)
Cosmic
(From space, Earth appears as a mere speck or green in the vast *cosmic* darkness.)
(From space, Earth appears as a mere speck or green in the vast *cosmic* darkness.)
adj. of or relating to the cosmos, the extraterrestrial vastness, or the universe in contrast to the earth alone (宇宙的)
Eclipse
(Gary stayed up past midnight to watch the lunar *eclipse*.)
(Gary stayed up past midnight to watch the lunar *eclipse*.)
n. one celestial body obscuring another (日蚀，月蚀；黯然失色)
To Eclipse
(Mariah’s happiness at graduating with highest honors was *eclipsed* by the terrible news that her father had died in a car accident.)
(Mariah’s happiness at graduating with highest honors was *eclipsed* by the terrible news that her father had died in a car accident.)
v. exceed in importance; outweigh (形成蚀；使黯然失色)
Galaxy
(Just one of the universe’s numerous *galaxies*, the Milky Way is composed of more than 400 billion stars.)
(Just one of the universe’s numerous *galaxies*, the Milky Way is composed of more than 400 billion stars.)
n. a collection of star systems (星系，银河系)
Galactic
(A company called Virgin *Galactic* is building an aircraft designed to carry paying customers into space.
Intergalactic)
(A company called Virgin *Galactic* is building an aircraft designed to carry paying customers into space.
Intergalactic)
adj. of or relating to a galaxy; huge (银河的;巨大的)
Gravity
(Because of the moon’s smaller mass, its *gravity* is only one sixth of that on Earth.)
(Because of the moon’s smaller mass, its *gravity* is only one sixth of that on Earth.)
n. the attraction of the mass of a planet for bodies at or near its surface (重力)
Gravitational
(Tides on earth are determined by the *gravitational* pull of both the moon and sun. ) .
(Tides on earth are determined by the *gravitational* pull of both the moon and sun. ) .
adj. of or relating to or caused by gravitation (重力的，万有引力的)
To Gravitate
(Stuart *gravitates* towards films that portray real people facing real problems.)
(Stuart *gravitates* towards films that portray real people facing real problems.)
adj. to be drawn towards someone or something (重力的，万有引力的)
Meteor
(Stephanie invited her boyfriend to watch the *meteor* shower from her family’s outdoor balcony.)
(Stephanie invited her boyfriend to watch the *meteor* shower from her family’s outdoor balcony.)
n. any of the small solid galactic bodies that enter the earth’s atmosphere (流星)
Meteorite
(Few *meteorites* survive to reach the earth’s surface, and most of these are too small to cause great damage.)
(Few *meteorites* survive to reach the earth’s surface, and most of these are too small to cause great damage.)
n. a meteor that reaches the surface of the earth (陨石)
Meteoric
(Stephanie’s rise as a lawyer has been so *meteoric* that some expect her to be appointed to the Supreme Court.)
(Stephanie’s rise as a lawyer has been so *meteoric* that some expect her to be appointed to the Supreme Court.)
adj. of or relating to a meteor/rising dramatically (流星的；急速的)
Nebula
(Light takes as long as 1500 years to reach Earth from the distant Horsehead *Nebula*.)
(Light takes as long as 1500 years to reach Earth from the distant Horsehead *Nebula*.)
n. clouds of gas or dust in the universe that are made visible by the light of neighboring stars (星云)
Nebulous
(Romance is *nebulous*. It can be described but not exactly defined.)
(Romance is *nebulous*. It can be described but not exactly defined.)
adj. like a nebula, i.e. indistinct/ unclear (星云的，云雾状的)
Orbit
(China’s Moon Rover arrived in lunar *orbit* and prepared for its historic rocket
(China’s Moon Rover arrived in lunar *orbit* and prepared for its historic rocket
assisted touchdown in the moon’s Bay of Rainbows.) -n. the elliptical path made by one celestial body in its revolution around another (轨道)
To Orbit
(*Orbiting* Saturn is Titan, the largest natural satellite in our solar system.)
(*Orbiting* Saturn is Titan, the largest natural satellite in our solar system.)
v. move in an elliptical path (绕…轨道而行)
Orbital
(The new buses will follow an *orbital* route, thereby avoiding much of the city’s heaviest traffic.)
(The new buses will follow an *orbital* route, thereby avoiding much of the city’s heaviest traffic.)
adj. of or relating to an orbit. i.e. a circular route around a central point (轨道的；眼窝的)
To Rotate
(New chemistry PhD students need to *rotate* through at least three different research groups before they decide which one to join.)
(New chemistry PhD students need to *rotate* through at least three different research groups before they decide which one to join.)
v. to cause to turn or move about an axis or a center, or to perform an act in turn (使旋转，使转动)
Rotation
(The Earth’s *rotation* takes 24 hours.)
(The Earth’s *rotation* takes 24 hours.)
n. the action or process of rotating on, or as if on, an axis or center (旋转)
Rotational
(Uranus is the only planet in our solar system with a *rotational* axis tilted sideways.)
(Uranus is the only planet in our solar system with a *rotational* axis tilted sideways.)
adj. of or pertaining to rotation (转动的，轮流的)