Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction
Order by: alphabetical | chronological
Word | Definition |
---|---|
sophont n. (1966) | an intelligent being |
space v. 1 (1947) | to travel to or in space; cf. earlier spacing n. 1 |
space v. 2 (1952) | to execute (a person) by forcing them into space without a spacesuit |
space alien n. (1936) | = alien n. |
space ark n. (1948) | a large ship designed to move or rescue large numbers of people, often with large ecosystems and many animals and plants on board |
space armor n. (1932) | = space suit n., esp. such a suit designed to protect the wearer during combat in space |
space-armored adj. (1934) | wearing space armor n. |
space-based adj. (1956) | based in outer space |
space biology n. (1952) | the study of biology in outer space or (broadly) in locations other than Earth |
spaceboat n. (1928) | = spaceship n.; (sometimes specif.) a small spacecraft |
spaceboot n. (1932) | footwear intended for use in outer space or on other worlds |
space-born adj. 1 (1940) | (of a person) born in space, rather than on a planet |
space-born adj. 2 (1944) | (of something non-living) developed or created in space, rather than on a planet; originating in space |
space-borne adj. (1924) | travelling or carried through space; also, carried out in space or by means of instruments in space |
space-bound adj. 1 (1928) | restricted to space |
space-bound adj. 2 (1942) | headed to space |
space bronzed adj. (1940) | = space-tanned adj. |
space bum n. (1938) | a spacer who wanders aimlessly; a vagrant in space; (also) a spacer who is regarded as contemptible |
space-burned adj. (1942) | space-tanned to the point of burning |
space bus n. (1929) | a spacecraft designed to ferry people (and sometimes freight) short distances |
space cadet n. (1943) | a trainee spaceman or spacewoman |
space capsule n. (1943) | a small spacecraft, or self-contained section of a larger one, containing the instruments or crew for a space flight |
space car n. (1928) | = spacecraft n. |
space colony n. (1932) | a group of beings living in a space station or on a world other than their motherworld; the structure or location of such a group |
space conquest n. (1937) | the conquest of territory in outer space or on other planets |
spacecraft n. (1929) | any vehicle designed to travel in space |
space crew n. (1939) | the crew of a spacecraft |
space cruiser n. (1925) | a spaceship; = cruiser n. |
space dinghy n. (1941) | a small spaceship; a lifeboat or shuttle |
space dock n. (1938) | a spaceport or space station, esp. one where a spaceship can undergo repair or take on supplies |
space dog n. (1937) | = spacehound n. |
space drive n. (1932) | a propulsion system for a spaceship; cf. star drive n. |
space elevator n. (1975) | any of various proposed structures extending from the earth upwards for many miles as a means of transporting materials into space, esp. one consisting of a tether linked to a geosynchronous satellite orbiting the earth; cf. orbital tower n. |
space epic n. (1943) | a subgenre of science fiction featuring adventure-driven plots set in outer space; a work in this genre; cf. space opera n. |
space exploration n. (1878) | the exploration of space |
space explorer n. (1901) | one who explores space |
spacefarer n. (1936) | a person who travels in space, an astronaut; (also) a space traveller from another planet |