Multiple-Meaning Academic Words: Product, Mass, Revolution

Recognize common words that carry a special meaning in a particular subject.

Some familiar words change meaning when they cross into a subject. In math, a product is the answer to a multiplication problem, not something you buy. In science, mass is the amount of matter in an object, not a large crowd. In astronomy, a revolution is one full trip of an object around another, like Earth around the Sun, while in history it is a sudden, major change in government or society.

Other examples: 'table' (furniture, or a data chart), 'legend' (an old tale, or a map key), 'cell' (a small room, or the basic unit of life), 'current' (present day, or flowing water or electricity). The trick is to notice which class you are in and which sentence you are reading. 'The product of 6 and 4 is 24' is math; 'The factory's main product is rope' is economics. Context tells you which meaning is active, so always ask, 'What subject am I reading right now? '

• 1Many everyday words have a special meaning in a subject.
• 2The subject and sentence tell you which meaning is active.
• 3Examples: product, mass, revolution, legend, cell, current.