Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Space

Here you will learn some English words about space, such as "galaxy", "solar", "cosmic", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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universe [noun]

all that exists in the physical world, such as space, planets, galaxies, etc.

Ex: Scientists use powerful telescopes to observe celestial objects and unravel mysteries of the universe .

cosmos [noun]

the universe, particularly when it is thought of as a systematic whole

Ex: Astronomers use telescopes to observe distant phenomena in the cosmos .

galaxy [noun]

a large number of star systems bound together by gravitational force

Ex: The Hubble Space Telescope has captured images of thousands of galaxies , providing insights into their formation and evolution .

astronomy [noun]

a branch of science that studies space, planets, etc.

Ex: Historical records show how ancient civilizations used astronomy to develop calendars and navigate across oceans .

the Milky Way [noun]

a pale band of light seen in the sky at night that contains the solar system and billions of other stars

Ex: Astronomers study the structure and evolution of the Milky Way galaxy .

solar system [noun]

the sun and the group of planets orbiting around it, including the earth

Ex: Some moons in the solar system may have conditions suitable for life .

aerospace [noun]

the earth's atmosphere and the space beyond it

Ex: The company specializes in aerospace manufacturing , producing components for aircraft and spacecraft .

gravity [noun]

(physics) the universal force of attraction between any pair of objects with mass

Ex: Einstein 's theory of general relativity revolutionized our understanding of gravity by explaining it as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass .

astronomer [noun]

a scientist who studies or observes planets, stars, and other happenings in the universe

Ex: She became an astronomer because of her fascination with the mysteries of the cosmos .

constellation [noun]

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

Ex: The Big Dipper is a prominent constellation consisting of seven bright stars .

solar [adjective]

related to the sun

Ex:

lunar [adjective]

relating to the moon

Ex:

big bang [noun]

the explosion that, according to most scientists, caused the existence of the universe

Ex:

black hole [noun]

a place in the space with such high gravity that pulls in everything, even light

Ex: Scientists detect black holes by observing the effects of their gravity on nearby objects and light , rather than seeing the black holes themselves directly .

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: The tail of a comet forms when solar radiation causes ice and dust to vaporize and stream away from the nucleus .

cosmic [adjective]

related to the universe and the vast space outside the earth

Ex:

meteor [noun]

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

Ex: The study of meteors helps astronomers understand the composition of objects from the early solar system .

meteorite [noun]

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

Ex: The impact crater was formed by a large meteorite that struck Earth millions of years ago .

eclipse [noun]

a period during which the sun or moon is temporarily obscured by the shadow of another celestial body

Ex: An eclipse occurs when the Earth , moon , and sun align perfectly .

alien [noun]

a creature that is believed to exist in other worlds or planets

Ex: In the movie " Independence Day " , aliens invade Earth , causing a global crisis that humanity must unite to overcome .

satellite [noun]

an object sent into space to travel around the earth and send or receive information

Ex: The satellite 's camera captured detailed images of the planet ’s surface for environmental monitoring .

to orbit [verb]

to move around a star, planet, or a large object in space

Ex: Jupiter has the largest number of moons of any planet in our solar system , with 79 known moons orbiting around it .

rotation [noun]

a single complete circular movement around an axis or along an orbit

Ex: Each rotation of the hand wheel raises the platform slightly .

astronaut [noun]

someone who is trained to travel and work in space

Ex: He underwent rigorous physical and mental training to qualify as an astronaut .

spacecraft [noun]

a vehicle designed to travel in space

Ex: The documentary showcased the development and launch of a new spacecraft designed for deep-space exploration .

rocket [noun]

a propulsion device with its own fuel that produces thrust through reaction forces

Ex: The model rocket used solid propellant .

mission [noun]

an operation carried out in space

Ex: The Hubble Space Telescope has completed numerous scientific missions to observe distant galaxies and nebulae .

to launch [verb]

to send an object, such as a satellite, missile, etc., into space

Ex: The submarine successfully launched a torpedo during the naval exercise .

countdown [noun]

the act of counting numbers backwards to zero before the launch of a missile or spacecraft

unidentified flying object [noun]

a mysterious object that some people claim to have seen flying around in the sky and assume that it is a spaceship from another world

Ex: Scientists study reports of unidentified flying objects to determine if they have natural or man-made origins .

voyage [noun]

a long journey taken on a ship or spacecraft

Ex: They planned a voyage to Antarctica to study the continent ’s unique wildlife and climate .

NASA [noun]

a US government agency responsible for space travel and the study of space

Ex: Astronauts from NASA conducted experiments aboard the International Space Station to study microgravity effects on the human body .

light year [noun]

the distance that a beam of light travels in a year, equal to 9.46 trillion kilometers

ray [noun]

a column of light, such as that emitted from a beacon or focused source

Ex: He followed the ray into the dark tunnel .

Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL
Family and Relationships	Stages of Life	Personal Characteristics	Feelings and Emotions
Appearance	Clothing and Fashion	Colors and Shapes	Education
Employment	Language and Grammar	The Human Body	Communication
Travel and Tourism	Transportation	Means of Transportation	The Computer World
Society and Social Issues	Healthcare and Medicine	Medical Examinations and Procedures	Physical Conditions and Injuries
Mental Disorders	Physical Disabilities and Illnesses	Geography	Space
The Environment and Weather	The Animal Kingdom	The Art World	Cinema and Theater
Music	Literature	Broadcasting and Journalism	Food and Restaurant
Diet	Agriculture and Plants	Point of View	Cause and Effect
Certainty and Doubt	Suggestions and Rules	Pride and Prejudice	Houses and Buildings
Hobbies and Games	Shopping	The Economy	The Business World
Success and Failure	Politics	Law and Order	Crime and Punishment
War and Peace	Religion	Biology, Physics, and Chemistry	Mathematics and Measurement
Engineering and Research	Athletics	Time and History