11th and 12th Grade Spelling Words

How to practice spelling words

• Hear it, then spell it. Spelling from a word you hear is the real skill. In Owl Test Prep, Owl-y says each word and uses it in a sentence, and you type it.
• Short and often. Ten words a day beats fifty on Friday night. Owl-y keeps a streak so the habit sticks.
• Missed words come back. A word you miss comes back later that day, then again over the next week, until it sticks.
• Look at the tricky part. Most misses are one spot: a double letter, a silent letter, an ending. Say it slowly and find that spot.

Animals (12)

• vestigiala body part that is left over from an earlier form
• gregariousfond of company and socializing with others
• piscivorousfeeding mainly on fish
• mimicryimitating another species to gain protection
• pheromonea chemical signal released by an animal to others of its kind
• carnivorouseating mostly or only other animals
• hibernationa deep, sleep-like state that lasts through winter
• ruminantan animal that chews cud, such as a cow
• exoskeletona hard outer covering that supports an animal's body
• echolocationlocating objects by sending out sound and listening for echoes
• bioluminescencelight produced by living things
• chrysalisthe hard case a caterpillar forms before becoming a butterfly

Food (12)

• gastronomythe art and science of good eating
• condimenta sauce or seasoning added to food
• palatablepleasant enough to taste or accept
• fermentationa slow chemical change caused by yeast or bacteria
• malnutritionpoor health caused by not getting enough nutrients
• blanchto boil food briefly and then cool it quickly
• piquantpleasantly sharp or spicy in taste
• epicurea person who has refined taste in food
• succulentjuicy and tender, especially in food
• accompanimentsomething served alongside a main dish
• confectionerycandy and other sweet treats
• ragouta thick stew of meat and vegetables

Sports (12)

• pentathlona contest of five athletic events
• ambidextrousable to use both hands equally well
• kinestheticrelating to awareness of body movement
• reboundto bounce back after hitting a surface
• cardiovascularrelating to the heart and blood vessels
• hypothermiadangerously low body temperature
• isometricexercise in which muscles tighten without moving
• perimeterthe distance around the edge of a field
• invincibleimpossible to defeat
• varsitythe top team representing a school
• steeplechasea horse race over fences, ditches, and water jumps
• heptathlona track and field contest with seven events

Space (11)

• perihelionthe point in an orbit closest to the sun
• celestialrelating to the sky or outer space
• quasaran extremely bright object powered by a black hole
• perturbationa small disturbance in an orbit or system
• ellipsea stretched oval shape with two focal points
• aphelionthe point in an orbit farthest from the sun
• interstellarexisting or traveling between the stars
• nebulousunclear, vague, or hazy in outline
• spectroscopean instrument that splits light into its colors for study
• albedothe share of light a surface reflects back into space
• penumbrathe lighter outer part of a shadow during an eclipse

Ocean (12)

• bathymetrythe measurement of ocean depths and floor shapes
• hydrothermalrelating to hot water rising from the seafloor
• eutrophicationa buildup of nutrients that depletes oxygen in water
• mangrovea tropical tree that grows in salt water
• fathoma unit of depth equal to six feet
• buoyancythe upward force that keeps objects afloat
• thermoclinea layer where water temperature changes sharply
• turbulencechaotic, swirling motion in air or water
• algaetiny plant-like organisms that live in water
• pelagicliving in the open sea, away from the shore
• littoralrelating to the shore of a sea or lake
• ichthyologythe scientific study of fish

Nature and weather (12)

• monsoona seasonal wind that brings heavy rain
• germinationthe sprouting of a seed into a young plant
• perenniala plant that lives for more than two years
• transpirationthe release of water vapor from leaves
• avalanchea sudden rush of snow down a mountain
• phenologythe study of seasonal natural events, such as blooming
• dendrologythe scientific study of trees
• stratospherethe layer of air above the troposphere
• aquiferan underground layer of rock that holds water
• lichena fungus and alga living together on rock
• cirrusthin, wispy clouds high in the sky
• obsidiana dark, glassy rock formed when lava cools quickly

Home and family (12)

• heirlooman object passed down through generations
• genealogythe study of family descent
• domesticrelating to the home or household
• reconcileto restore friendship after a disagreement
• heritagetraditions and customs passed through generations
• lineagea line of descent from an ancestor
• chaperonean adult who supervises young people at events
• adolescencethe period between childhood and adulthood
• bequeathto leave property to someone in a will
• vernacularthe everyday language of a particular place
• mezzaninea low upper floor partly overlooking a larger room
• armoirea tall cabinet with doors, used for storing clothes

School (12)

• pedagogythe method and practice of teaching
• rubrica scoring guide listing criteria for an assignment
• syllabusan outline of a course's topics and requirements
• salutatorianthe student ranked second in a graduating class
• ambiguousopen to more than one interpretation
• concurrenthappening at the same time
• eruditehaving great knowledge gained from reading
• dissertationa long, formal research paper for an advanced degree
• transcriptan official record of a student's grades
• auxiliaryproviding supplementary support or help
• cognitiverelating to mental processes like thinking and memory
• valedictorianthe student with the highest grades in a graduating class

Music and art (12)

• chiaroscurostrong contrast of light and dark in painting
• lithographa print made from an image drawn on stone
• soliloquya speech in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud
• cacophonya harsh, jumbled mix of loud sounds
• crescendoa gradual increase in loudness or intensity
• vibratoa slight, rapid pulsing in a musical tone
• maestroa master conductor or accomplished musician
• archetypea typical model or original pattern of something
• motifa recurring theme or design in art
• palettethe range of colors a painter uses
• idioma phrase whose meaning is not literal
• lyricista person who writes the words for songs

Body and health (11)

• neurotransmittera chemical messenger between nerve cells
• arrhythmiaan irregular heartbeat
• anesthesiamedicine that prevents pain during surgery
• physiologythe science of how living bodies function
• gallbladdera small organ that stores bile
• lymphaticrelating to a system that carries immune fluid
• vaccinationan injection that protects against a disease
• orthopedicrelating to bones, joints, and muscles
• epidermisthe outermost layer of skin
• pharynxthe passage at the back of the throat
• mandiblethe lower jawbone

Places and travel (12)

• tributarya smaller river that flows into a larger one
• fjorda narrow inlet between steep cliffs
• savannaa grassland with scattered trees
• meridianan imaginary line running north and south on a globe
• equatorialrelating to the region around the middle of the globe
• metropolitanrelating to a large city and its surroundings
• isolationthe state of being separated from others
• gorgea deep, narrow valley with steep sides
• crevassea deep crack in a glacier
• promontorya high point of land jutting into the sea
• taigaa northern forest of evergreen trees and snow
• escarpmenta long, steep slope or cliff at the edge of a plateau

Science (12)

• isotopea form of an element with a different number of neutrons
• neutrona particle with no electric charge in an atom's nucleus
• equilibriuma state of balance where forces cancel out
• phenomenonan observable event or fact in nature
• refractionthe bending of light as it passes between materials
• exothermicreleasing heat during a chemical reaction
• oscillateto swing back and forth repeatedly
• polymera large molecule made of repeating smaller units
• entropya measure of disorder in a system
• viscositya fluid's resistance to flowing
• isomera molecule with the same formula but a different structure
• centrifugea machine that spins samples to separate their parts

People and feelings (12)

• meticulousvery careful and precise about details
• benevolentkind, generous, and wishing good for others
• tenaciousholding firmly to a goal despite difficulty
• ostensiblyapparently, though perhaps not really
• lieutenanta junior officer in the military or police
• idealista person who pursues high principles
• pragmaticdealing with things sensibly and realistically
• gullibleeasily tricked or persuaded
• obsequiousoverly eager to please or obey
• vivaciouslively, cheerful, and full of energy
• sycophanta person who flatters others for gain
• ambivalencemixed feelings about the same thing

Adventure (12)

• chimeraan imagined creature made of parts of many animals
• talismanan object believed to bring good luck or protection
• clairvoyantable to see events before they happen
• serpentinewinding back and forth like a snake
• gauntleta challenging series of obstacles to pass
• rusea clever trick meant to deceive
• vestigea small trace of something that no longer exists
• nomada person who moves from place to place
• elixira magical liquid believed to heal or grant long life
• citadela fortress that protects a city
• rampartsthe high walls along the top of a castle
• caravana group of travelers journeying together across a desert

Tricky words (12)

• minusculeextremely small in size
• reconnaissancea survey made to gather information
• bureaucracya system of officials and procedures in an organization
• aislea passage between rows of seats
• pastimean activity done for enjoyment
• dietitiana specialist in food and nutrition
• medievalbelonging to the era between ancient and modern times
• consciousawake and aware of one's surroundings
• dilemmaa difficult choice between two options
• vacillateto waver between two opinions
• sergeanta military officer ranked above a corporal
• handkerchiefa small square of cloth for wiping the nose

Questions people ask