Matching Ologies Trivia Quiz

Answer: Wine

Often paired with viticulture, oenology (enology in American English) is the study of everything about wine and wine-making excluding viticulture (which is about growing grapes). Vinology seems to mean much the same thing. The word 'oenology' comes from the Ancient Greek for 'study of wine'.

Answer: Wood

Dendrology is the science and study of wooded plants such as trees and shrubs. It is a branch of botany and the word comes from the Ancient Greek language. At different scales are the related terms of silvology (study of forests and woods) and xylology (study of the structure of wood).

Answer: Flags

Vexicollogy is a hybrid word, consisting of the Latin for 'flag' with the Ancient Greek for 'study of'. Its use dates to 1957 when it was coined by an American flag enthusiast. It is the study of the history, symbolism and use of flags or, alternatively, the name of the second studio album by the Canadian music producer deadmau5.

Answer: Friction

Friction is one area of study within tribology. Tribology also covers lubrication and wear between surfaces or, perhaps, any surface where one material rubs over another. Thus is used in such diverse areas as bearing design, prosthetics and cosmetics. The term is another recent creation, being coined in 1964.

Answer: Time

Literally meaning the study of hours, these days it is more about the study of mechanical time-keeping devices. Chronometry is more broad in its scope and takes in electronic time-keeping which is the predominant technology in use at the beginning of the 21st century. Older technologies include sundials and water clocks.

Answer: Noses

Rhinology focusses on the nose and sinuses, one of the areas of work of the ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) specialist or otorhinolaryngologist. The rhinoceros is an animal also borrowing from the Greek - in this case the name means 'nose horn'.

Answer: Fruit

Although it sounds as if it could be Australians studying the English, this one comes from the Latin for fruit and is concerned with, not surprisingly, the cultivation of fruit. Fruticulture basically means the same thing. This science has a commercial focus.

Answer: Eggs

Eggs, specifically birds' eggs, are the subject of this study. The legal side covers the study of birds eggs, nesting and breeding behaviour. The illegal side (in some countries) is where egg collecting is involved. The popularity of egg collecting threatened a number of species leading to legislation to protect birds in such countries as the UK.

Answer: Clouds

Coming from the Greek word for cloud, the area of research is part of the science of meteorology. Global warming and its relationship with cloud formation has regenerated interest in this area. Add a letter and you get nephrology which involves the kidneys. Not the same thing at all.

Answer: Bells

Derived from the Latin for 'bell', campanology is about the history and technology of bells. It ranges from the way bells are made though to the art of bell-ringing. Typically the focus is on larger bells rather than instruments such as tubular bells or glockenspiels.