Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction
Order by: alphabetical | chronological
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| grav n. 2 (1939) | an earth-standard acceleration; gee n. 2 |
| gravitic adj. (1935) | of, caused by, or powered by gravity |
| gravitically adv. (1958) | by means of gravity; with regard to gravity; cf. gravitic adj. |
| gravitics n. 1 (1944) | the science of studying or controlling gravity |
| gravitics n. 2 (1982) | any of various devices or systems making use of gravity or gravitational waves, as (a) sensors that use gravitational waves to detect objects in space; (b) a system that creates artificial gravity |
| gravitied adj. 1 (1940) | having gravity (of a specified strength or type) |
| gravitied adj. 2 (1979) | having artificial gravity |
| graviton n. (1929) | a subatomic particle thought of as propagating the action of gravitational force |
| gravitonic adj. (1929) | of or relating to gravitons |
| gravity n. (1930) | = gee n. 2 |
| gravity drive n. (1932) | a spaceship drive that uses any technology associated with gravity |
| gravity plate n. (1930) | a device that creates or nullifies the effects of gravity |
| gravity screen n. (1926) | a device that creates or prevents the effects of gravity; the effect of such a device |
| gravity well n. (1952) | the area of space near a large mass (such as a planet or star) in which significant energy must be expended in order to counteract the objectβs gravitational pull; the gravitational pull exerted by a large body in space |
| gray goo n. (1986) | the notional substance which would be all that remains after the consumption of all biomatter on earth by self-replicating nanobots; a scenario hypothesizing this process or result |
| grimdark n. (2008) | a subgenre of (esp. fantasy) fiction characterized by a nihilistic, violent, and dystopian atmosphere or setting |
| gripping hand n. (1986) | on the gripping hand: used to introduce a third point of view, fact, case, etc., that contrasts with two previous statements |
| grok v. (1961) | to perceive or understand fully; to feel empathy with; to enjoy, appreciate |
| groundcar n. (1930) | a car incapable of flight (in contrast with an aircar n.) |
| grounder n. (1952) | a person who lives on a planet, rather than in space; = groundhog n. |
| groundhog n. (1940) | a person who lives on a planet, rather than in space; a person who does not regularly travel in space |
| groundlubber n. (1939) | = groundhog n. |
| groundside adv. (1951) | = planetside adv. |
| group mind n. (1930) | a collective intelligence composed of individual intelligences combined into a larger whole, esp. where the resulting consciousness exerts control over its constituent members; hive mind n. |
| gynoid n. (1979) | a robot having female or feminine characteristics; = robotrix n. |
| gyrobus n. (1933) | a bus powered by a gyroscopic flywheel; (also) a flying bus |
| gyrocab n. (1942) | a flying taxi |
| Hamiltonian adj. (1939) | of, relating to, or characteristic of the writing of Edmond Hamilton |
| hard science fiction n. (1957) | science fiction that does not violate known scientific laws; science fiction based or focused on the hard sciences |
| heat ray n. (1897) | = ray n. |
| Heinleinian adj. (1956) | of, relating to, or characteristic of the writing of Robert Heinlein |
| helicab n. (1943) | a helicopter serving as a taxi |
| hell planet n. (1932) | a planet regarded as dangerous or unpleasant, esp. one having climate conditions that are inhospitable for humans |
| heroic fantasy n. (1961) | = sword and sorcery n. |
| high fantasy n. (1971) | a subgenre of fantasy set in an imaginary world, typically having a medieval-style society and level of technology, usually featuring a quest or a conflict between Good and Evil, and often written in an elevated style |
| hive mind n. (1950) | = group mind n. |
| hobbit-hole n. (1974) | a hobbitβs house; any small cozy house |
| hobbitish adj. (No cites) | resembling a hobbit, hobbit-like |