Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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Word Definition
transmat n. (1952) = matter transmitter n.
transporter n. (1940) a device for conveying people or things instantaneously from one place to another, esp. a machine which converts matter into energy, individual atoms, information, etc., and transmits it in this form to another location where it is reconstituted; = matter transmitter n.
treedy n. (No cites) see tri-D n.
trekker n. (1967) an admirer of the U.S. television programme Star Trek
trekkie n. (1968) an admirer of the U.S. television programme Star Trek
tribble n. (1967) in the fictional universe of the Star Trek franchise: a species of small, furry, featureless alien
tricorder n. (1966) in the fictional universe of the Star Trek franchise: a medium-sized hand-held device used for data sensing, analysis, and recording
tri-D n. (1950) a device or system capable of transmitting or displaying a three dimensional image or video; (also) a three-dimensional image or video; cf. slightly earlier three-D n.
tridee n. (No cites) see tri-D n.
trideo n. (1953) a device or system capable of transmitting or displaying a (moving) three dimensional image; a (moving) image displayed by such a device
tri-di n. (No cites) see tri-D n.
tri-dim n. (1942) a device or system capable of transmitting or displaying a three dimensional image; (also) a three-dimensional image or video; = tri-D n.
triffid n. (1951) in John Wyndhamโ€™s novel The Day of the Triffids: one of a race of malevolent alien plants which threaten to overrun the world
triffidian adj. (No cites) like, or in the manner of a triffid
triffid-like adj. (No cites) like, or in the manner of a triffid
tri-v n. (1954) a device or system capable of recording, transmitting, or displaying a (moving) three dimensional image; such a system as a form of entertainment
trivee n. (No cites) see tri-v n.
tri-vid n. (1955) a device or system capable of transmitting or displaying a three-dimensional image
trufan n. (1954) a science fiction fan who adheres to the ideals and practices of fandom
trufandom n. (1954) the state of being a trufan; excellence in fannish behavior
uchronia n. (1938) = alternate history n.
uchronian adj. (1974) of or relating to uchronias
uchronic adj. (1938) of or relating to uchronias
UFO n. (1953) an unidentified flying object; a โ€˜flying saucerโ€™
ultradrive n. (1949) a type of faster-than-light star drive
ultraphone n. (1928) a communications device that transmits messages faster than the speed of light
ultrawave n. (1934) a communication system that transmits messages faster than the speed of light; (also) a wave phenomenon used by such devices
unfannish adj. (1943) (of a person) failing to be fannish; not having the attributes of a dedicated or obsessive fan; (also, of writing, organizations, etc.) not interesting to or characteristic of dedicated fans
unhuman n. (1944) an intelligent nonhuman entity; alien n.; cf. non-human n.
universal translator n. (1949) a device, computer system, etc. that (instantaneously) translates among languages
universe n. (1947) the setting of a work or series of fiction, esp. of imaginative fiction
unobtainium n. (1956) a hypothetical substance that would be highly desirable but is unrealized or unobtainable; a notional substance with exceptional or ideal properties
unperson n. (1949) a person who, usually for political reasons, is deemed not to have existed and whose name is removed from all public records; hence, more generally: a person whose contributions or achievements are officially denied or disregarded; a person regarded as less than human
unsuit v. (1957) to remove a spacesuit
unsuited adv. (1957) without wearing a spacesuit