College-Level 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)

• ornithologythe scientific study of birds
• entomologythe scientific study of insects
• zoologicalrelating to the study of animals
• anthropoidresembling a human, as in apes and monkeys
• phylogenythe evolutionary history of a species or group
• aquaculturethe farming of fish and shellfish
• menageriea collection of wild or strange animals
• cephalopoda mollusk with arms, such as an octopus
• lepidopterista scientist who studies butterflies and moths
• oviparousproducing eggs that hatch outside the body
• okapia forest animal related to the giraffe, with striped legs
• aardvarka burrowing African mammal with a long snout

Food (12)

• sommeliera wine steward who recommends wines
• tabbouleha salad of parsley, bulgur, and tomato
• saffrona costly spice made from crocus stigmas
• rotisseriea rotating spit used to roast meat
• charcuteriecured and prepared meats
• patisseriea shop selling pastries and fancy cakes
• espressostrong coffee brewed under pressure
• cornichona small pickled cucumber
• briochea rich, buttery sweet bread roll
• tiramisua layered Italian dessert soaked in coffee
• ratatouillea French stew of eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, and peppers
• bouillabaissea rich French fish stew seasoned with saffron and herbs

Sports (12)

• regimena planned program of diet and exercise
• toboggana long sled for sliding down snowy slopes
• bobsleda sled for racing down an icy track
• dexterityskill and ease in using the hands
• endeavora serious attempt or effort
• accoladean award or public praise for achievement
• maneuvera skillful or planned movement
• calisthenicsexercises using body weight, like push-ups
• vanguardthe leading position in a movement
• dressagea horse-riding sport based on precise movements
• orienteeringa sport of finding checkpoints across unfamiliar land using a map and compass
• croqueta lawn game where players hit balls through hoops with mallets

Space (12)

• astrophysicsthe physics of stars, planets, and the universe
• cosmologythe scientific study of the universe as a whole
• heliocentrichaving the sun at the center
• spectrometeran instrument that measures light wavelengths
• gibbousdescribing the moon when more than half is lit
• parseca unit of distance equal to about 3.26 light-years
• anomalysomething that differs from what is expected
• magnetospherea region around a planet shaped by its magnetic field
• eccentricitythe degree to which an orbit deviates from a circle
• photospherethe visible outer surface layer of the sun
• accretionthe gradual buildup of matter by gravity
• perigeethe point in a moon's orbit nearest its planet

Ocean (12)

• oceanographythe scientific study of the sea
• hydrophonean underwater microphone used to detect sound
• benthicrelating to the bottom of a sea or lake
• pinnipeda sea mammal with flippers, like a seal
• halophytea plant that tolerates salty soil or water
• phosphorescencea faint glow produced by living things in water
• stratificationthe layering of water by density or temperature
• gyrea large circular system of ocean currents
• dinoflagellatea tiny single-celled plankton with two whip-like tails
• cartographythe art and science of making maps
• seichea standing wave that sloshes back and forth in a lake
• oceanographera scientist who studies the seas

Nature and weather (12)

• silviculturethe cultivation of forest trees
• photoperiodthe amount of daylight in a day that affects living things
• rhizomean underground stem that sends out roots and shoots
• xerophytea plant adapted to very dry conditions
• hygrometeran instrument that measures air moisture
• cumulonimbusa tall, dark cloud that produces thunderstorms
• zephyra gentle, mild breeze
• subterraneanlying or happening beneath the ground
• ephemerallasting only a very short time
• orographiccaused by mountains forcing air upward
• bryophytea small non-flowering plant such as moss
• afforestationplanting new forests on land that had none

Home and family (12)

• matriarcha female who leads a family or group
• progenyoffspring or descendants of a person
• consanguinityblood relationship between people
• nepotismfavoring relatives unfairly in jobs
• hearththe floor of a fireplace, a symbol of home
• domicilea place where someone lives
• stepchilda child of one's spouse from an earlier relationship
• cohabitto live together as partners or roommates
• amicablefriendly and free of conflict
• convivialfriendly, sociable, and fond of company
• sentimentalshowing tender emotion, sometimes excessively
• fortitudecourage and strength during difficult times

School (12)

• epistemologythe branch of philosophy studying knowledge
• matriculateto enroll formally in a college or university
• syllogisma logical argument with two premises and a conclusion
• heuristica practical method for solving problems quickly
• exegesisa critical explanation of a text
• interdisciplinaryinvolving more than one field of study
• antithesisa direct opposite or contrast
• perspicacioushaving keen insight and understanding
• catharsisemotional release that brings relief
• onomatopoeiaa word that imitates the sound it describes
• pseudosciencebeliefs that falsely pass as scientific fact
• sesquipedaliangiven to using long, unusually big words

Music and art (12)

• pentimentoan image visible beneath a painted-over layer
• sfumatoa soft blending of tones without hard lines
• fuguea piece where voices enter one after another
• virtuosoa highly skilled performer
• timbrethe distinctive quality of a sound or voice
• cadenzaa showy, unaccompanied passage for a soloist
• obbligatoa required instrumental part in a score
• aestheticrelating to beauty and artistic taste
• verisimilitudethe appearance of being true or real
• gouachean opaque watercolor paint mixed with gum
• prosceniumthe arch framing a theater stage
• lacquera glossy protective coating for wood or art

Body and health (12)

• bronchitisinflammation of the tubes that carry air to the lungs
• laryngitisinflammation of the voice box
• hypothalamusa brain region controlling hunger, sleep, and temperature
• osteoporosisa condition that makes bones weak and brittle
• lymphocytea white blood cell that fights infection
• pharmacokineticshow the body absorbs and eliminates a drug
• fibrillationrapid, irregular twitching of heart muscle fibers
• anatomythe structure of the body and its parts
• cholesterola fatty substance found in blood
• sphygmomanometera device that measures blood pressure
• ophthalmologista doctor who specializes in eye care
• rheumatismjoint pain and stiffness, as from arthritis

Places and travel (12)

• entrepota trading center where goods are stored
• principalitya territory ruled by a prince
• conurbationa large urban area formed by merging towns
• hinterlandthe remote land behind a coast or city
• exurba wealthy area beyond a city's suburbs
• mesaa flat-topped hill with steep sides
• piedmontthe foothills area at the base of mountains
• thoroughfarea main road or busy street through a town
• caravanseraian inn for travelers along a desert route
• promenadea path for leisurely walking, often by water
• calderaa large crater formed when a volcano collapses
• cordilleraa long chain of connected mountain ranges

Science (12)

• electromagnetismthe physics of electric and magnetic forces together
• thermodynamicsthe study of heat, energy, and their transformations
• stoichiometrycalculation of quantities in chemical reactions
• electrolysissplitting a compound using an electric current
• pyrolysisdecomposition of material by intense heat
• isotropichaving the same properties in all directions
• diffractionthe spreading of waves around an obstacle
• hysteresislagging of an effect behind its cause
• homeostasisthe body's steady internal balance
• reagenta substance used to cause a chemical reaction
• superconductora material that conducts electricity with no resistance
• quantumthe smallest discrete amount of energy

People and feelings (12)

• obstinatestubbornly refusing to change one's mind
• magnanimousgenerous and forgiving toward others
• altruisticconcerned with helping others without selfish motives
• perfunctorydone quickly and without much care
• maverickan independent thinker who ignores convention
• soporificcausing drowsiness or sleepiness
• irascibleeasily angered or irritable
• deferentialshowing respect and yielding to others
• entrepreneura person who starts and runs a business
• philanthropista person who donates money to good causes
• equanimitycalm composure, especially under pressure
• altruismselfless concern for the well-being of others

Adventure (12)

• labyrinthinevery complicated, like a maze
• palimpsesta manuscript overwritten but still partly legible
• cryptograma message written in a secret code
• apocryphalof doubtful authenticity, often a famous but untrue story
• escapadea daring, mischievous adventure
• buccaneera daring adventurer who sailed the seas
• conundruma confusing problem with no easy answer
• portmanteaua word blended from two others
• quixoticimpractically idealistic and hopeful
• sagaa long story of heroic events
• sojourna temporary stay in a place
• catacomban underground passage used for burial

Tricky words (12)

• pharaoha ruler of an ancient civilization along a great river
• liaisona person who links two groups for communication
• idiosyncrasya distinctive personal quirk or habit
• connoisseuran expert who judges fine things
• millenniuma period of one thousand years
• supersedeto replace something that was used before
• aegisprotection or sponsorship by an authority
• subpoenaa court order requiring a person to appear
• gnarledtwisted, knotted, and rough
• gaugea measure or instrument for checking size or amount
• rarefiedvery exclusive or refined, or thin
• nuancea subtle difference in meaning or feeling

Questions people ask