Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction
Order by: alphabetical | chronological
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| 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 Wyndhamโs 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 |
| Tuckerism n. (1954) | using the name of a real person as a name of a character in a work of fiction; an instance of this |
| Tuckerization n. (1970) | = Tuckerism n. |
| Tuckerize v. (1972) | to use the name of (a real person) as a name of a character in a work of fiction; also intrans. |
| Tuckerized adj. (1981) | (of a fictional character) bearing the name of a real person; (of a real person) appearing as the name of a fictional character |
| 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 โflying 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 |
| universe-wide adj. (1935) | of, relating to, used, or extending throughout the entire universe |
| universe-wide adv. (1953) | across or throughout the entire universe |
| unobtainium n. (1956) | a hypothetical substance that would be highly desirable but is unrealized or unobtainable; a notional substance with exceptional or ideal properties |