An essential reference source for anyone who regularly encounters scientific or technological nomenclature, this dictionary features accurate, up-to-date, and detailed entries for readers from a range of scientific backgrounds. Each definition is written in jargon-free English and is ideal for those less familiar with scientific terms and native and nonnative English speakers alike. This first edition contains 17,000 entries, each with a part of speech, note on grammar, encyclopedic commentary, and example sentence to show how the term is used in context. Quotations from magazines and newspapers illustrate real-life usage of key words, and additional features include highlighted differences between British and American usage and phonetic pronunciation for all entries.