# Vocabulary Reference

**Status:** Draft
**Source:** OE-0002 (Core Vocabulary)

This reference document provides a quick-access index to all defined terms in the Open Engineer standard. For full definitions, consult the source specification documents.

## Core Terms

| Term | Short Definition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bedrock | The immutable reality that underlies all engineering work | OE-0001 |
| The Thread | The continuous line of engineering understanding passed between generations | OE-0001 |
| Engineering Context | The full set of information required to understand why a decision was made | OE-0003 |
| Observation | A direct, verifiable encounter with reality | OE-0004 |
| Survey | A structured assessment of the current state of engineering understanding | OE-0005 |
| Understanding | A verified, contextualized model of reality | OE-0006 |
| Verification | Testing understanding against reality | OE-0007 |
| Decision | A recorded, contextualized engineering choice | OE-0008 |
| Stewardship | The responsibility to maintain, preserve, and improve engineering knowledge | OE-0009 |
| Inheritance | The process of receiving engineering knowledge from prior work | OE-0010 |
| Spiral Re-evaluation | Accumulated understanding through repeated observation | OE-0001 |
| Translation | Converting observations into engineering language without adopting surrounding ideology | OE-0001 |
| Evolution | Disciplined, verified extension of the standard's body of knowledge | OE-0011 |