- R -

rack (n) – A bunk aboard a ship

radar (n) – A system or device which uses transmitted and reflected radio waves to detect objects, along with their direction, distance, height, and speed in relation to the device

radio wave (n) – Any electromagnetic wave at a frequency between approximately 10 kilohertz and 300,000 megahertz

radius (n) – A straight line extending from the center to the periphery

rainbow lorikeet (n) – (Also know as the blue mountain parrot or "bluey") a parrot that lives in trees and lays two white eggs in September and January

rainshadow (n) – The condition that prevents rain clouds from passing over a mountain, so the rain falls near the mountain

rambunctious (adj) – Boisterous, wild, unruly

ramification (n) – An effect or result

range (n) – The set of values a function may take on

RAP (n) – Acronym for Reflections, Announcements and Physicalities, which take place in the mornings at some of the sitesALIVE locations

ratio (n) – A fixed relationship in degree, number, etc. between two things; often expressed as a fraction

ration (v) – To strictly monitor or serve in fixed portions (when regarding food)

rationing (n) – The process of strictly monitoring portions (of food, water, etc.)

rations (n) – Fixed portions of food issued or available to members of a group

ratline (n) – A line on a boat that is located on the shrouds and is used for climbing the mast; like rungs on a ladder

raucous (adj) – Rough-sounding and harsh; boisterous and disorderly

reach (v) – In sailing terms, to sail with the point-of-sail between close-hauled and a run, with the wind coming from across the side of the boat

reacher (n) – A large triangular sail used at the front of Great American II; the second largest headsail on Great American II

reactant (n) – A substance that participates in a chemical reaction

rebate (n) – A return of part of an amount given in payment

reconcile (v) – To settle or resolve; to make compatible or consistent

rectify (v) – To set right; correct

recycle (v) – To process in order to use again

red tide (n) – A reddish discoloration of ocean water, caused by large numbers of dinoflagellates that kill fish and other organisms by releasing poisons into the water

redress (n) – Relief from distress; remedy

reef (n) – The part of a sail which is rolled up and made fast to reduce the area exposed to the wind during a storm

reef (v) – To shorten or reduce the size of a sail, usually done because of heavy winds

reef ball (n) – A large concrete ball containing many holes and tunnels, used as an artificial reef to attract organisms to a particular marine area

reef line (n) – A line of grommets in a sail that are used to "tie in" a reef

reef point (n) – 1: Short lengths of line attached to a sail and used to tie extra sail out of the way when reefing; 2: One of the points or grommets in a reef line

referendum (n) – The submission of a law, proposed or already in effect, to a direct vote of the people

refinery (n) – A factory or plant that specializes in purifying (or refining) raw materials (e.g., oil, metal or sugar)

reforestation (n) – The renewal of a forest by seeding and/or planting

refract (v) – To reflect (light, for example) by refraction

refraction (n) – The bending of a ray of light, heat or sound as it passes through mediums of different density

refuge (n) – A place of safety or shelter

refugee (n) – A person who flees from his home or country to seek refuge elsewhere

regenerate (v) – To regrow or come back to life

regeneration (n) – Regrowth

reggae (n) – A form of popular music of Jamaican origin, characterized by syncopated rhythms and influenced by blues and calypso music

regrowth (n) – The trees that grow back after a forest is cut down

regulator (n) – A mechanism used for controlling the flow of liquids, gases, electricity, etc.; in scuba diving, a regulator is used to control the flow of compressed air to the diver for breathing purposes

rehydrate (v) – To restore water to something that has had water removed from it (e.g., dehydrated food, instant oatmeal, etc.)

relieve (v) – In nautical terms, to set free from a duty or watch by replacing with oneself or another crew member

remorse (n) – Moral anguish arising from being sorry for past misdeeds; bitter regret

remote (adj) – Far away, distant

renewable resource (n) – A resource that replaces itself after harvesting so that it can be harvested again

reprieve (n) – Temporary relief, as from danger or pain

republic (n) – A state or nation in which the supreme power rests in its voting citizens and is exercised by representatives elected by them and responsible to them

reserve (n) – Land set apart for a special purpose

reservoir (n) – A place where water is collected, especially a natural or artificial lake or pond in which water is stored for use

residue (n) – Matter remaining after completion of a chemical or physical process, such as combustion

resilient (adj) – Marked by the ability to recover readily

resolution (n) – The fineness of detail that can be distinguished in an image

resort (n) – A place where people go to rest or have recreation; vacation spot

resource (n) – Materials used by people for production, consumption, etc.

respiration (n) – Breathing

respondent (n) – One who responds

restoration planting (n) – A parcel of land that was once rainforest, was subsequently cleared of its trees and vegetation, and has since been replanted with rainforest tree species

revegetated (adj) – Reestablishing and developing a plant cover, either naturally or artificially through the direct action of people (e.g., plantings)

revel (v) – To take much pleasure, delight in

revenue (n) – Income

rhizome (n) – A root-like stem underground which usually sends roots down and shoots up

rhumb line (n) – The course of a ship that keeps a constant compass direction, drawn as a line on a nautical map or chart

rhumba (n) – A dance of Cuban origin and complex rhythms

rig (v) – To arrange and assemble the sails, masts and rigging of a sailing vessel

rigging (n) – The ropes and chains used to support, position and control the masts, sails, yards, etc. of a vessel

right-of-way (n) – The right, established by common or statutory law, of one ship to cross in front of another

right triangle (n) – A triangle containing one right (90 degree) angle and two angles, each of 45 degrees

riparian (adj) – On the banks of a river, lake, or pond

riptide (n) – A current opposing other currents, especially a strong, narrow flow of sea water that moves seaward after incoming waves pile up on the shore

"Roaring Twenties" (n) – A time in the 1920s when the United States went through a period of great prosperity and change (of morals, social mores, etc.); culturally, this period is associated with "flapper girls" and jazz music

rogue wave (n) – A single, large wave or swell in a series of smaller waves or swells

roll (v) – To rock from side to side

roost (v) – To settle down for a rest or sleep

round turn (n) – A complete turn or encircling of a line about an object (cleat, spar, line, etc.), often used in conjunction with two half-hitches to make a boat fast to a post

ruck (n) – A play in rugby in which a mass of players gathers around a ball dropped by a tackled ball carrier, with each player attempting to gain possession of the ball by kicking it to a teammate

rudder (n) – A broad, flat, movable piece of wood or metal, hinged vertically to the stern of a ship and used for steering

rugosity (n) – The ridges and grooves found in a particular surface or environment

rum running (n) – The act of smuggling alcoholic liquor

run (v) – In nautical terms, to sail with the wind astern

run aground (v) – To take a boat into water that is too shallow for it to float in, and the bottom of the boat rests on the ground

running lights (n) – Lights on a ship that are used to help identify the vessel and the direction in which it is heading; used especially at night

running off – See “run”

runoff (n) – Excess rainwater that flows over ground and into the sea because it cannot be absorbed

rust bust (v) – To remove rust from metal using manual and electric tools

Back to Top