Word: Half-Life
Part of Speech: Noun
Basic Definition: In simple terms, "half-life" is the time it takes for something to reduce to half of its original amount. It is often used in science, especially when talking about radioactive materials.
Usage Instructions: - Use "half-life" when referring to time periods in scientific contexts. - It is commonly used in discussions about physics, chemistry, and biology.
Example Sentence: "The half-life of carbon-14 is about 5,730 years, which means it takes that long for half of the carbon-14 in a sample to decay."
Advanced Usage: In scientific research, "half-life" can also be applied to other contexts like pharmacology, where it refers to the time it takes for half of a drug to be eliminated from the body.
Word Variants: - There are no direct variations of the word "half-life," but you might see it used in different phrases, such as "effective half-life," which considers both the rate of decay and the effects of the substance in the body.
Different Meanings:While "half-life" primarily relates to science, it can sometimes be used metaphorically to describe the reduction in importance, relevance, or value of something over time.
Synonyms: - Decay time - Disintegration time (in scientific contexts)
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include the word "half-life." However, you might hear phrases like "past its half-life" to describe something that has lost its effectiveness or relevance over time.