English Words Starting With X

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Noun Verb Adjective Verb (transitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

x chromosome
nounC1/C2
/ˌeks ˈkrəʊ.mə.səʊm/A sex chromosome that is present in two copies in females and one copy in males; it carries genetic information for sex determination and other traits.
x-axis
nounB2
/ˈeks ˌæk.sɪs/The horizontal reference line on a two-dimensional graph or coordinate system.
x-disease
nounLow
/ˈeks dɪˌziːz/A placeholder or unknown disease; a hypothetical or unspecified medical condition.
x-height
nounC2
/ˈeks ˌhaɪt/The height of a typeface's lowercase letters, specifically the height of the lowercase 'x', excluding ascenders and descenders.
x-intercept
nounlow in general discourse, high in technical/mathematical contexts
/ˌeks ˈɪntəsept/The point at which a graph crosses or touches the x-axis; specifically, the x-coordinate of that point where the function value is zero.
x-irradiate
verb-transitiveC2
/ˌeks ɪˈreɪdɪeɪt/To expose something to X-rays, a form of electromagnetic radiation.
x-line
nounLow
/ˈɛks laɪn/A physical line or boundary, often related to measurements, axes, or thresholds in various technical or design contexts.
x-radiate
verb-transitiveC2 (Very Low Frequency)
/ˌeks ˈreɪ.di.eɪt/To subject (something) to X-rays, especially for medical imaging or security scanning.
x-radiation
nounLow
/ˌeks reɪdɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/Ionizing electromagnetic radiation with very short wavelengths, capable of penetrating solids; produced when high-energy electrons strike a target or by atomic transitions involving inner electrons.
x-ray
adjectivenounverbverb-transitiveB1
/ˈeks reɪ/A type of electromagnetic radiation of very short wavelength, used to view internal structures of objects or bodies, producing a photographic image on film or a digital sensor.
x-ray astronomy
nounC2
/ˌeks reɪ əˈstrɒnəmi/The branch of astronomy that studies celestial objects and phenomena by observing the X-rays they emit.
x-ray binary
nounC2 (Proficiency)
/ˌeks reɪ ˈbaɪnəri/A type of binary star system where one component (a compact object like a neutron star or black hole) accretes matter from its companion star, emitting X-rays as the matter is heated to extreme temperatures.
x-ray burster
nounC2
/ˌeks reɪ ˈbɜːstə/A celestial object that emits intense, irregular bursts of X-rays, typically associated with a neutron star accreting matter from a companion star.
x-ray crystallography
nounC1/C2
/ˌeks.reɪ ˌkrɪs.təˈlɒɡ.rə.fi/A technique for determining the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal by analyzing the diffraction pattern produced when X-rays are passed through it.
x-ray diffraction
nounC1/C2
/ˌeks reɪ dɪˈfrækʃ(ə)n/A technique used to determine the arrangement of atoms in a crystalline solid by analyzing the patterns produced when x-rays are scattered by the crystal.
x-ray photograph
nounC1
/ˌeks reɪ ˈfəʊ.tə.ɡrɑːf/An image produced on photographic film or a digital sensor by exposing it to X-rays, typically used to visualize the internal structure of an object, especially parts of the body.
x-ray spectrometer
nounC2
/ˌeks reɪ ˈspek.trɒm.ɪ.tər/A scientific instrument that uses X-rays to determine the elemental composition or chemical structure of a material by measuring the wavelengths and intensities of X-rays emitted or scattered by it.
x-ray spectrometry
nounC2
/ˌeks reɪ spekˈtrɒm.ɪ.tri/An analytical technique that uses the emission of characteristic X-rays from a material to determine its elemental composition.
x-ray star
nounC2 (Proficient User/Advanced). Extremely rare in general discourse.
/ˌeks reɪ ˈstɑː/A star (a celestial object) that emits significant levels of X-ray radiation, detectable by specialized telescopes.
x-ray technician
nounMedium
/ˈeks reɪ tekˈnɪʃən/A healthcare professional trained to operate X-ray equipment and capture radiographic images for medical diagnosis.

Showing 1–20 of 157 words.