Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction
Order by: alphabetical | chronological
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| artificial intelligence n. (1973) | a computer program or system capable of reasoning in a manner regarded as equivalent to a human being; a sentient computer |
| Asimovian adj. 1 (1942) | of, relating to, or characteristic of the writing of Isaac Asimov |
| Asimovian adj. 2 (1990) | (of a robot or AI) governed by the Laws of Robotics |
| aspace adv. (1933) | in space |
| asterite n. (1933) | a native or inhabitant of an asteroid |
| asteroid belt n. (1867) | the toroidal region of space around a star in which most asteroid orbits occur |
| asteroid field n. (1942) | a region of space in which there is a high density of asteroids; cf. asteroid belt n. |
| astrobiology n. (1941) | a branch of biology concerned with the discovery or study of life on the celestial bodies |
| astroengineer n. (1947) | an engineer who works on spacecraft or in space; a person who designs or operates the propulsion systems of spacecraft |
| astroengineering n. (1971) | large-scale structural engineering in space, esp. the modification of the physical structure or configuration of a planet, a star, or an entire solar system; cf. terraforming n.; (also) (broadly) any form of engineering in or related to space, such as the design or operation of the propulsion systems of spacecraft |
| astrogate v. (1941) | to navigate in space |
| astrogating n. (1932) | = astrogation n. |
| astrogation n. (1931) | the act of navigation in space, esp. by means of the observation of celestial objects |
| astrogational adj. (1939) | of or relating to astrogation n. |
| astrogator n. (1931) | one who practices astrogation; (also) an instrument used for this purpose |
| astronavigation n. (1935) | = astrogation n. |
| astronavigator n. (1933) | = astrogator n. |
| atmosphere suit n. (1948) | = space suit n. |
| atomic engine n. (1914) | an engine powered by nuclear energy |
| atomics n. 1 (1932) | any device powered by nuclear energy, esp. a nuclear-powered engine |
| atomics n. 2 (1943) | atomic weapons |
| autodoc n. (1965) | a system providing automated medical care |
| automatics n. (1932) | a system that controls the flight of a spacecraft with little or no human intervention; any system or technology for the unsupervised control of a vehicle, environment, etc. |
| auton n. (1970) | an autonomous robot or robotic device; (specif. in form Auton) in the British television series Doctor Who: one of a group of malevolent humanoid robots having plastic-like skin |
| avatar n. (1986) | a graphical representation of a person in a computer-generated environment (as a game) |
| avian n. (1948) | a bird-like alien |
| avian adj. (1931) | (of an alien) bird-like |
| Ballardian adj. (1964) | of, relating to, or characteristic of the writing of J. G. Ballard, esp. in featuring desolate, dystopian settings and a pessimistic view of the effects of modern technological society |
| battleship n. (1900) | a military spaceship having heavy armor and powerful weapons |
| beam v. (1951) | to travel through space as if along a beam of light or energy; to transport (someone or something) in this manner |
| beamer n. (1945) | a device (esp. a weapon) that emits a beam of energy |
| beam weapon n. (1936) | a weapon that fires a destructive beam of energy |
| beanstalk n. (1979) | = space elevator n. |