TOPIC

1
TECHNICAL
VOCABLARY

INTRODUCTION
Technical Vocabulary is words or phrases that are used primarily in a specific line
of work or profession.
line-
For example, people who work in the steel industry often use words like "Rockwel
"Olsen", "Cup test", and "Camber". These words have special meanings pertaining to the
manufacture of steel.
Similarly, anelectricianneedsto know technical wordssuch as capacitor, impedance,
and surge capacity; words which most people outside of that industry never use.

As engineering students, you need to have a good vocabulary of technical terms that
are commonly used for study and work purposes. Over the next few years, you will become
familiar with more and more technical terms and learn their definitions, pronunciations
and also how to use them precisely, which will make you confident about functioning in
technical situations. You can make the process a part of your English class by learning and
practicing some terms you are likely to come across as a student. The words in the practice
exercises below are drawn from different areas of technology.

PRACTICE EXERCISES
. t/se the words in the box to complete the sentences below.

asphalt
safety standards distributor (pronounced/ basic research imaging
equipment
as.fault/)
transmission
turnkey project expansion card culvert toxic
network
-lutical Vocabulary 91

We are building a_ tor waste water to flow under the railway track.

The company
has taken on a in a fertilizer factory for the designing
construction and installation of machinery in ready to operate condition.
co

Themechanic says that the _which sends an electric current to the spark
plugs,
needs to be replaced.

Wear protective clothing and gloves when handling substances.

is under repair.
5. Weregret the disruption in the power supply. The
from
We benefit immensely from the practical applications ofthe knowledge gained

with
7 petroleum based black
1S a -

sticky material that is mixed

sand or small stones and used to cover roads.

features.
8. An. is plugged into a computer to give it extra

9. Factories need to ensure that are being met.

10. Theysupply. to hospitals across the world.

words and phrases with their definitions

. Draw lines connecting the following

Column- A
Column- B

1. flammable | the process of using equipment in the best

possible way.

2. dispatch b. something that can be heard.

3. in the pipeline c. the ability to support the weight of a

construction.

4optimization d. to make a signal stronger.

92
A Workbook of Technical English

5. a piece of equipment, such as an electric

platform e.

iron.
6. load-bearing f. an offshore structure from which oil and

gas wells are drilled.

7. channel & check

8. audible h. material for the road surface, made from
tar and stones.

9 appliance i. a material thatburns easily.

10. monitor the way that goods will be transported.

11. macadam k. to send out.

12 amplify under preparation or production, or

nearing completion.
IIl. Match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B'
Column- A Column-B
1. a. accelerate 1.feasible
b. simultaneously 2.increase speed
C. viable 3.extremely high
d. prohibitive 4. occurring at the same time

2. a. distort 1. bulky
b. cumbersome 2. twist out of shape
C. Comprehend 3. state of being out of date
d. obsolescence 4. understand
Teclhnicat

a. alien 1. remove
3
b. discard 2.innumerable
c. myriad 3.foreign
d. advent 4.arrival

a. priming 1. thing or part added to improve

4.
b. indispensable 2.preparing
C. supplement 3. consider before hand

d. anticipate 4. necessary

a. augment 1. extreme tiredness

5.
b. transaction 2. favourable

c. fatigue 3. piece of commercial dealing

d. benign 4. increase

a. nutrition 1. unthinkable
6.
b.afforestation 2. response

C.inconceivable 3. nourishment

d. feedback 4. expansion of forest

1. including all
7. a. explore

b. comprehensive 2. arrangement

C. array
3. unfit to eat

d. inedible 4. examine

8. a. consume
1. schedule

b. display 2.exhibit

C. regimen 3. limitation

d. constraint 4. use uP
 9. a. primacy 1. multiply

b. conserve 2. importance
C. proliferate 3. obstacle
d. impediment 4. preserve

10. a. copious 1. insignificant

b. marginal 2. large scale destruction
c.extinct 3. abundant
d. decimation
4. obsolete

11. a. catchment
1. scatter
b. dispel
2. system or services forming
C. proposition a
basis
3. reservoir
d. infrastructure
4. a scheme
suggested
12. a. holistic
1. forceful
b. conviction
2.
C. aggressive seeing as a whole
3. become less
d. dwindle
4. firm belief

13. a. appraise
b. compile 1. collect and
2. unbelievable
arrange
C. rapport

d. incredible 3. estimate value

4. relationship
14. a. deluge
b. perpetual 1. unduly confident
c. bullish 2. confident
d. presumptuous 3. never
ends or
4. overwhelming rush changes
Technil

15. a. retardant 1. sheltered wall

b. sanctuary 2. add gradually
C. mall 3. resistant
d. cumulative 4. a place where wild animals are
protected and move freely.

16. a. support price 1. probable customer

b. construe 2. planning
C. prospect 3. minimum amount of money to
be paid
for buying a commodity
d. projection 4. interpret

17. a. miniature 1. objective, results aimed at

b. target 2. small scale portraits

c. instantly 3. response

d. feedback 4. immediately

ability to attempt something

newv
1.
18. a. enterprise
2. division of the atom
b. obsolescence
3. pollution
c. fission
d. c o n t a m i n a t i o n
4. being out of date

1. severe
19. a. disposal
2. insist on
b. hazard

C. enforce
3. getting rid of
4. danger
d. string cut

1. to increase the speed of

20. a. abnormal
2. to make a bad use of
b. abundant
3. plenty
C. abuse
4 not normal