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Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - The Space-time Continuum

Here you will learn some English words about time and space, such as "spasmodic", "aeon", "millennial", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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Essential Words Needed for the GRE
perpetual
perpetual
[Adjective]

continuing forever or indefinitely into the future

Ex: The lighthouse provides a perpetual light to guide ships at sea. 
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spasmodic
spasmodic
[Adjective]

occurring in sudden, brief manner, without a regular order or time

Ex: Her spasmodic laughter interrupted the quiet room. 
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solstice
solstice
[noun]

either of the two times of the year when the sun reaches its farthest or closest distance from the equator

Ex: The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, a time when darkness holds sway over the land and the world seems to stand still. 
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bicentenary

the specific day that an event turns 200 years old

Ex: The city celebrated the bicentenary of its founding with a grand parade. 
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centenary
centenary
[noun]

the day that an event becomes 100 years old

Ex: They planned a big party for the centenary of the historic battle. 
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diurnal
diurnal
[Adjective]

having a cycle that happens on a daily basis

Ex: The diurnal pattern of the flower's blooming happens every morning. 
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epoch
epoch
[noun]

a subdivision of a geologic period, characterized by distinctive and globally recognizable rock layers, fossils, and significant changes in Earth's climate and biota

Ex: Each epoch in Earth's history is defined by unique climate and life forms. 
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equinox
equinox
[noun]

either of the two moments in a year when the Sun, in its apparent motion along the ecliptic, crosses the celestial equator, resulting in approximately equal periods of daylight and darkness worldwide

Ex: The spring equinox marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. 
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to elapse
to elapse
[Verb]

(of time) to pass by

Ex: Hours elapsed as they waited for the train to arrive. 
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millennial
millennial
[Adjective]

relating to a time span of a thousand years

Ex: The ancient ruins provide insights into millennial civilizations. 
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Greenwich Mean Time

the time as measured at Greenwich, London, on the line of 0° longitude, used to calculate the time across the globe

Ex: The flight schedule was based on Greenwich Mean Time. 
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eventual
eventual
[Adjective]

happening at the end of a process or a particular period of time

Ex: After years of hard work and dedication, he finally achieved his eventual goal of becoming a successful entrepreneur. 
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in due (course|time)

at the appropriate or expected time, without rushing or delay

Ex: The details of the project will be revealed to the team in due course. 
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to wane
to wane
[Verb]

(of the moon) to gradually decrease in its visible illuminated surface as it progresses from full to new moon

Ex: The moon began to wane after the full moon. 
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twilight
twilight
[noun]

the time in the evening when the sun is below the horizon

Ex: The colors of the sky during twilight were breathtaking, blending shades of orange and purple. 
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stratospheric
stratospheric
[Adjective]

the second layer of earth's atmosphere composed of cool and warm layers of air

Ex: Stratospheric ozone helps protect Earth from harmful UV rays. 
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space-time

the theory that adds the notion of time to that of a three-dimensional space

Ex: According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, gravity is not just a force between masses but the curvature of space-time caused by those masses. 
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orbital
orbital
[Adjective]

relating to the path or motion of an object as it revolves around another object in space

Ex: Satellites are placed into specific orbital configurations for communication purposes. 
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Nebula
Nebula
[noun]

a glowing cloud of gas and dust in outer space, often the result of a star explosion or formation

Ex: The Orion Nebula is a famous example of a stellar nursery. 
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umbra
umbra
[noun]

the part of a shadow that is completely dark; caused by acute light blockage

Ex: During the eclipse, the moon cast an umbra on the Earth's surface. 
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to wax
to wax
[Verb]

(of the moon) to progressively display a larger illuminated section until it turns into a full moon

Ex: As the month progressed, the moon began to wax, growing from a thin crescent to a full moon. 
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meteoroid
meteoroid
[noun]

a small celestial body that becomes visible as a meteor upon entrance into the atmosphere of the earth

Ex: A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic object in outer space that is significantly smaller than an asteroid and larger than a micrometeoroid. 
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meteorite
meteorite
[noun]

a piece of rock or metal from space that has hit the surface of the earth

Ex: Scientists analyzed the composition of the meteorite that fell in the desert last month. 
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meteor
meteor
[noun]

a piece of rock coming from outer space that passes through the Earth's atmosphere, producing light

Ex: We saw a bright meteor streak across the sky during the meteor shower last night. 
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magnetic storm

a disruption in earth's magnetic field caused by solar activity, resulting in variations that can impact electronic systems and communications on earth

Ex: A magnetic storm, also known as a geomagnetic storm, is a disturbance in Earth's magnetosphere caused by solar wind interactions. 
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intergalactic
intergalactic
[Adjective]

existing or occurring between galaxies

Ex: Science fiction often explores the concept of intergalactic civilizations. 
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interplanetary
interplanetary
[Adjective]

existing or occurring between planets

Ex: Interplanetary spacecraft like Voyager 1 have traveled beyond our solar system. 
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interstellar
interstellar
[Adjective]

situated or occurring between stars or within the space that exists between stars

Ex: Interstellar travel involves journeying between star systems within the Milky Way galaxy or beyond. 
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hyperspace

(specialist) space that consists of more than three dimensions

Ex: Scientists are exploring theories about travel through hyperspace. 
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extraterrestrial
extraterrestrial
[Adjective]

relating to or originating from outside the Earth or its atmosphere

Ex: Extraterrestrial life refers to organisms that exist beyond Earth. 
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exoplanet
exoplanet
[noun]

a planet that is outside the solar system

Ex: Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets orbiting stars beyond our solar system. 
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dark matter

(physics) an invisible substance that makes up most of the universe's mass, detectable only through its gravitational effects

Ex: Dark matter is a form of matter that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible and detectable only through its gravitational effects. 
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cosmic dust

very small particles originally derived from stars, serving as raw material for forming planets, and existing between galaxies, stars, and other celestial bodies

Ex: Cosmic dust consists of tiny particles of matter floating in space, primarily composed of elements such as carbon, silicon, and iron. 
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corona
corona
[noun]

the outer layer of the Sun's atmosphere, observable as a plasma halo during a solar eclipse

Ex: During a total solar eclipse, the corona of the Sun becomes visible as a radiant halo around the moon. 
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comet
comet
[noun]

an object in space that is a mass of ice and dust and when it nears the sun it starts illuminating in the shape of a tail

Ex: Halley's Comet is one of the most famous comets, visible from Earth approximately every 76 years. 
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aurora australis

the colored lights, mainly green and red, in the sky seen primarily near the southern magnetic pole

Ex: The aurora australis, also known as the Southern Lights, is a natural light display that occurs in the high-latitude regions of the Southern Hemisphere. 
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aurora borealis

the colored lights, mainly green and red, in the sky seen primarily near the northern magnetic pole

Ex: The aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is a natural light display that occurs in the high-latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere. 
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constellation

a specific group of stars that form a pattern and have a name related to their shape

Ex: Orion is a well-known constellation visible in the winter sky. 
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biosphere
biosphere
[noun]

a part of planet where the air, land, and water are suitable for all the living things to exist on

Ex: The biosphere includes all ecosystems on Earth. 
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eon
eon
[noun]

an endless or lengthy period of time

Ex: It felt like an eon waiting for the train to arrive. 
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