Glossary

This glossary offers quick definitions of terms used in discussing the Marvel Cinematic Universe and this this wiki.

Adrenaline
Adrenaline or Epinephrine is a hormone and a neurotransmitter. It is secreted by the adrenal medulla. When released into the bloodstream it increases heart rate and stroke volume, dilates the pupils, and constricts arterioles in the skin and gut while dilating arterioles in leg muscles. Often listed as being the source of abnormal feats of strength or agility, or the trigger of super-human powers.

Alien
Adjective commonly used to refer to a being who originates elsewhere than Earth.

Alter ego
An alter ego (from Latin, "other I") is another self, a second personality or persona within a person. The term is commonly used in comic books and related media, for the alternate or secret identity of a superheroes and supervillains.

Classically, an alter ego is used by superheroes to conceal their identities in order to protect their friends and family from harm at the hands of their enemies, whereas supervillians usually have an alter ego to make sure they don't get arrested.

Amphibious
Capable of breathing and existing in air or in water.

Anti-Serum
A blood serum containing antibodies used to pass on passive immunity to a particular diseases.

Android
An artificial being designed to resemble a human being in as many ways as possible, and whose physiology and life functions replicate and mimic those of human beings as closely as possible. An android could be a robot or synthetic organism.

Anti-Hero
An anti-hero has widely come to mean a character who has some characteristics that are antithetical to those of the traditional hero. An anti-hero will perform acts generally deemed "heroic," but will do so with methods, manners, or intentions that may not be heroic.

Anti-Matter
Matter composed of particles that are the counterparts of the particles composing positive matter (the matter of which this universe is composed), but have opposite charges; e.g., anti-protons instead of protons, and positrons instead of electrons. Should positive matter come in contact with an equal amount of antimatter, both will be annihilated and converted to energy.

Backscatter
The scattering of radiation or particles in a direction opposite to that of the incident radiation due to reflection from particles of the medium traversed

Big Bang
The explosion of a primal mass at the beginning of this universe, which created the universe.

Bioelectricity
Electricity generated naturally by a living being.

Bionic
Of or having to do with an artificial simulation of a living thing or, more usually, of part of a living thing. A cyborg possesses certain bionic limbs or organs. An android's body is entirely bionic.

Black Hole
A region of space-time with such a strong gravitational pull that no particle or electromagnetic radiation can escape from it.

Canon
In the context of fiction, the canon of a fictional universe comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. that are considered to be genuine (or "official"), and those events, characters, settings, etc. that are considered to have inarguable existence within the fictional universe. Usually items that are considered canon come from the original source of the fictional universe while non-canon material comes from adaptations or unofficial items. In layman's terms, one could basically say that something that is canon is something that "actually happened" in that universe.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's main canon is made up of the events seen or mentioned in feature films, TV series and Marvel One-Shots. For the purpose of this wiki, the events seen or mentioned in secondary tie-in material (comics, video games...) are considered canon unless incompatibles with the events seen or mentioned in feature films.

Catch phrase
A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is spontaneously popularized after a critical amount of widespread repeated usage in everyday conversation (i.e., it "catches" on). Some catch phrases become the "trademark" or defining characteristic of the person or character with whom they originated. A notable example is the catch phrase "Happy to comply", used by victims of the Faustus method or to mock them.

Clairvoyance
Precognition or Clairvoyance are the ability to perceive information about future places or events before they happen. It is done by mentally scanning the various alternate futures, rather than using deduction based on current knowledge. Clairvoyance can also be used in the present and past times.

Clairvoyance (from 17th century French Clair meaning "clear" and Voyant meaning "seeing") is a supposed form of extra-sensory perception claiming the transference of information about an object, location or physical event through means other than the known human senses.

A being who possesses precognition or clairvoyance is sometimes called a "precog" or a clairvoyant.

Cosmic
Of a scale beyond that which is normal on Earth.

Cosmic Beings
Creatures of often immense power. They are usually immortal and often have Cosmic parentage. (See Also: Cosmic Beings)

Cosmic Power
Energy derived from non-Earthly sources that the technologies of most sentient races cannot tap, and that is on a scale far beyond what most Earthly technology can tap or generate.

Crossover
Crossovers of multiple characters have been used to set an established continuity, where characters can frequently meet within one setting. This is especially true of in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as different characters frequently interact with one another since they live in the same "universe". The movie The Avengers is a crossover between the four different franchises released prior to its release: Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger.

Cryostasis
A state of preservation in deep-freeze conditions.

Cyanide
Any chemical compound that contains molecular group consisting of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. It is often used to refer to Potassium cyanide, a highly toxic crystalline salt that emits lethal hydrogen cyanide upon contact with the acidity of the stomach.

Cybernetics
The comparative study of automatic control and communications systems, whether biological (e.g., the human nervous system) or artificial (e.g., computers). More narrowly, the term refers to the science of synthesizing mind and machine, and to the engineering problems involved in detecting thoughts in the brain and translating them into mechanical responses.

Cyborg
Cyborg is a contraction of the words cybernetic organism. A cyborg is any organic being with robotic or cybernetic augmentation or implants to replace or enhance physical parts.

Darkforce
A form of cosmic negative energy that manifests itself as a non-reflective black substance, it is highly unstable but very powerful. (See Also: Darkforce)

Dendrotroxin
Dendrotoxins are a class of neurotoxins produced by mamba snakes that block particular subtypes of potassium channels in neurons.

Electrostatic Field
An electric field associated with static electric charges, the electric charges at rest on the surface of an insulated body.

Elf
A certain humanoid being native to the realms of Alfheim and Svartalfheim.

EMP
EMP stands for Electromagnetic Pulse, a short burst of electromagnetic energy that is generally disruptive or damaging to electronic equipment, and at higher energy levels it can damage physical objects such as buildings and aircraft structures.

Entropy
The universal tendency for energy in a closed system to equalize. On a universe-wide scale, it is the inevitable degradation of matter and energy to an inert uniform state incapable of sustaining life.

ESP
ESP stands for Extra-Sensory Perception. The psychic powers of telepathy, precognition, clairvoyance. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s stance on psychic powers is that they do not exist, as there are no credible studies that support them Forms and Types of Extra-Sensory Perception
 * Precognition: The ability to see in the future.
 * Clairvoyance: The ability to see in the future, in the past, and/or in the present in a way impossible to classic senses.

Exoskeleton
A rigid framework inside which an organism's other components are contained, or a mechanical device that amplifies the strength of the user, who stands or sits in an open cabin.

Extraterrestrial

 * A being from a world in this dimension other than Earth.
 * Of or having to do with a world in this dimension other than Earth.

Fanon
A contraction of "fan-canon", something of a contradiction in terms. It is basically fan-created material that is unofficial, but can expand or spin off of established canon, such as fan art or fan fiction.

Force Field
In science fiction and fantasy literature, a force field or protective shield is a barrier made up of energy to protect a person, area or object from attacks or intrusions. The idea may be based partly on the concept of a vector field, though in character it resembles the "warding spells," the defensive magic claimed to be used by the Druids and shamans of the ancient world.

Full-Spectrum
The part of the electromagnetic spectrum from infrared to near-ultraviolet, all wavelengths are useful to plant or animal life; in particular.

Gamma Radiation
Electromagnetic radiation of an extremely high frequency and therefore high energy. Gamma radiation is a type of ionizing radiation and biologically hazardous. (See Also: Gamma Radiation)

Genetic
Having to do with the genes, the section of a cell of a living being that contains the molecule DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which controls the transmission of hereditary characteristics from parent to offspring.

Genetics
The study of the process of heredity of physical characteristics in living organisms.

Giant
A certain humanoid being native to the realm of Jotunheim.

Gift
Power that go beyond the capabilities of regular human beings, commonly known as "superpowers".

Gifted
A person with superpowers.

Graviton
A theoretical particle carrying the force of gravity.

Gravitonium
A high atomic number element that distorts gravity fields within itself but, when stimulated by an electrical current, is capable of solidifying and cause powerful gravity fields to emanate from it. (See Also: Gravitonium)

God
A humanoid being with a longer lifespan and greater physical powers than human beings, whose kinsmen or self has once been worshipped by humanity. All races of gods now dwell on some extraterrestrial worlds, although they may have lived on Earth in ancient times.

Hadron
Any subatomic particle made of quarks and subject to a strong force, most notably protons and neutrons.

Henchman
A Henchman is an underling of a more powerful criminal mastermind or super-villain. In recent years, the term has bred a neologism known as "Hench", which is an acting verb used to describe the actions of a Henchman.

Hologram
A three-dimensional image of an object, produced by the patterns formed by a laser beam.

Humanoid
Having virtually the same physical characteristics as a human being. Only a normal Earth human being can properly be termed human, although Inhumans can be classified as human under a broader definition of the term. Beings who greatly resemble human beings in physical characteristics, but are not exactly like them are humanoids. Beings who resemble humans in some major outward physical characteristics but not in others that are of equal importance are called semi-humanoids.

Hybrids
Hybrids, sometimes called "Half-breeds", are the result of the cross between two species, one or both not necessarily humanoids. The spawn from hybrids are also considered as hybrids. The Hybrids are supposed by their nature to be sterile in theory, but that doesn't coincide with the reality.

Hyperbaric
Of or having to do with a level of pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.

Hyperspace
A theoretical dimension whose physical laws differ from Earth's in the following ways. First, it is possible to surpass the speed of light within hyperspace. Second, hyperspace is "warped" in comparison to Earth's dimension so that the distance between two points in hyperspace might be immensely shorter than the distance between the equivalent points in Earth's dimension. Interstellar travel is impractical for any sentient race that has not discovered the means of traveling through hyperspace in order to reach a destination in their own dimension. Hyperspace is also known as sub-space and warp-space.

Inertial Confinement
Inertial confinement fusion is a type of fusion energy research that attempts to initiate nuclear fusion reactions by heating and compressing a fuel target, typically in the form of a pellet that most often contains a mixture of deuterium and tritium, two isotopes of hydrogen.

Iridium
A metallic element of the platinum family, and one of the densest and rarest elements on Earth.

Levitation
The psychic, psionic, magical (but not physical) ability to screen the physical body from the effects of gravity and thus rise off the ground.

Metafiction
Fiction within fiction; for example, The Captain America Adventure Program or Trevor Slattery's TV show Caged Heat.

Mind Control
In comics, mind control often appears as the means whereby a person literally seizes control of the minds of the victims to the point where not only their bodies come under direct control, but also their consciousness as well, so that they become puppets or slaves to the controller.

Neodymium
A soft silvery metallic element that tarnishes in air, often used as neodymium-doped glasses in lasers.

Nitramene
An unstable molecular compound capable of creating a vacuum implosion that crushes matter as it engulfs it. (See Also: Nitramane)

Odinforce
Odinforce is the power that enables Odin to be the most powerful of the Asgardians.

Odinsleep
Odinsleep is a state of deep sleep where Odin recharges the Odinforce. (See Also: Odinsleep)

Omnipotent
All-powerful. The term is also used generically to describe beings possessing vast power, which, although not unlimited, by far surpasses that of most sentient beings.

One shot
In the comic industry, a one-shot is a piece that is created as a pilot comic or stand-alone story. Many artists publish one-shots to test a possible new story, or to express information that would not fit with the story arc of a multiple-issue monthly series, particularly a long-running regular series. Marvel Studios used that term from the comics to name the series of short films released with some of the Home Video version of its feature films. (See Also: Marvel One-Shots)

Palladium
A rare and lustrous silvery-white metallic element.

Pantheon
A tribe, clan, or race of gods of a common origin.

Phase
When used as a verb, a term meaning to pass through another object through altering the synchronization of the atoms of the object passing through with the atoms of the object being passed through.

Plasma
A super-heated state of matter consisting of charged subatomic particles.

Prosthesis
An artificial replacement for a missing limb or other body part. If the prosthetic part simulates all of the functions (or more) of the natural part, it is called bionic.

Reboot
Reboot, means to discard all previous continuity in the series and start anew. Effectively, all previously-known history is declared by the writer to be null and void and the series starts over from the beginning. This differs from a creator producing a separate interpretation of another creator's work; rather, the owner of the creation declares that the rebooted continuity is now the official version.

In the context of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, some of its films and TV series are considered reboots of previous live action appearances of particular franchises that were unrelated to Marvel Studios.

Repulsor
A repulsor is a form in which a high density muon beam can be projected, as a powerful blast of concussive energy called repulsor blasts. Repulsor blasts may be directed by magnets and focused by electrostatic lenses, although they may also be self-focusing. One of the luminaries of repulsor design technology is Tony Stark, who has incorporated them into every iteration of his Iron Man armors since the Mark II, and previously in the Jericho missiles. Constructed using micro-circuitry, these repulsors are implemented into the palms of his battlesuit and are one of the armor's primary offensive tools, though they can also be used to stabilize flight.

Retcon
A retcon (short for retroactive continuity) is, in a nutshell, a storyteller's tool that adds previously unknown material to an event in a previous story. As with any tool, the quality of the finished product depends on the user's skill and intent.

Robot
A mechanical entity sometimes but not always possessing a humanoid configuration. This could include androids and synthezoids.

Rope Dart
A flexible weapons in Chinese martial arts, consisting of a long rope with a metal dart attached to one end, which allows the user to throw the dart out at a long-range target and use the rope to pull it back.

Semtex
A plastic explosive used in commercial blasting, demolition and in certain military applications. (See Also: Semtex)

Sentient
Having intelligence near or above the human level. The definition of intelligence is slippery but often includes self-awareness, problem solving, and tool use.

Sidekick
In comic book media, the term sidekick most commonly refers to assistants of Superheroes, usually in a crimefighting capacity. The sidekick has the literary function of playing against the hero, often contrasting in skill, asking the questions the reader would ask, or performing functions not suited to the hero.

Singularity
A point in space where the normal rules of physics do not apply. Normally found only in a black hole, a concentration of matter so dense that even light cannot escape its gravity well.

Spectrography
Dispersion of radiation, either electromagnetic radiation or sound waves, into a spectrum to recording or map it.

Super Soldier
Super soldier is a term often used to describe a soldier that operates beyond normal physical and mental limits of humanity.

In fiction, super soldiers are usually heavily augmented, either through genetic engineering, cybernetic implants, drugs, brainwashing, an extreme training regimen (usually with high casualty rates, and starting from birth), or other scientific means or a combination of any of those.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America was to be the first of a line of super-soldiers, a plan that was ruined when Abraham Erskine, the creator of the Super Soldier Serum, was killed. Other characters, such as Emil Blonsky or Deathlok, are continuations of those experiments.

Superhuman
The term superhuman applies to an usually physical aptitude far beyond the range attainable by normal human beings. The term Enhanced refers to physical abilities that are not outside the theoretical limits of a normal human being, but are not usually presented in an average human being for being, for example, impossible or to difficult to maintain in a practical way, so it can be considered a term for "light" superhuman abilities.

Spoiler
A spoiler is any piece of information that reveals plot elements which some people may wish to remain unrevealed so that they may enjoy the source material to its fullest extent, without having any previous knowledge of the outcome. Some examples of spoilers would be the death of a major character or an unexpected plot twist.

Suspended Animation
Suspended animation is the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold is used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions

Taser
Taser stands for "Thomas A. Swift's electric rifle", in honor of the fictional character, and is often used to refer to weapons that deliver electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles.

Terrigen
Terrigen is a rare mineral existing in Crystal form. The gas they emit, known as Terrigen Mist, has the power to unlock the special "powers" of the Inhumans. (See Also: Terrigen Crystals, Terrigen Mist)

Tetrodotoxin
Tetrodotoxin is a potent neurotoxin that inhibits the firing of action potentials in nerves by binding to the sodium channels in nerve cell membranes and blocking the passage of sodium ions, responsible for the rising phase of an action potential, into the nerve cell.

Transformation
To change in form, appearance, or structure; metamorphose.

Troll
A certain humanoid being native to the Nine Realms.

Vibranium
A precious and rare metallic element, nearly indestructible, capable of completely absorb all known types of vibrations. (See Also: Vibranium)

Vita Radiation
Vita Radiation is a specific wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that has stabilizing properties. (See Also: Vita Radiation)

Yaka
A special sound-sensitive metal used by Centaurians. (See Also: Yaka)

Yakuza
The Japanese Mafia.