Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Author’s note

There is no such thing as a perfect dictionary, for language is a shifting, personal thing, and inherently imperfect and irregular. It is ruled by common sentiment, and shifts and warps through time as those sentiments change. Language is, as far as we know, inherently human, and—as all of us know—humans are inherently imperfect.

Thus is the folly of the dictionary: to put into rigidity that which is in constant flux. And yet countless dictionaries have been produced for disparate tongues and for centuries, for they are often helpful nevertheless. Similarly, I hope this lexicon will be of use to you.

I compiled this dictionary out of my love for this fandom, and this fandom’s love of language. We unspokenly decided collectively that we would use this complicated jargon, full of Greek and Latin and technobabble, because it was entertaining and aesthetic. 

So, far from being a constraining rulebook, I hope this helps authors write and readers read. Use the terms you see herein, yes, and use yet more where you see fit. Steal and twist and rework, for this is what language is. I hope this lexicon will show you the patterns that rule our common jargon, but I encourage you to invent, imagine, and go beyond.

Explanation

As an author myself, I have primarily compiled this lexicon of 303 terms in the interest of aiding fellow Transformers authors in discovering the terminology in use, the choices available, and which patterns to follow when coining a new term. Nevertheless, I hope that the alternative definitions and forms also serve to help readers in this fandom, especially if they are new. 

Whilst numerous other Transformers lexicons have attempted to compile this fandom’s vast realm of jargon into a single comprehensible dictionary, most are ultimately based on a single Wattpad lexicon. Although it is certainly admirable, it is also flawed: it is mostly limited to anatomy, does not indicate the terms’ frequencies, and is prescriptive in that it gives no alternative forms or definitions. 

Whilst the above work was valuable in the original composition of this lexicon, most of the terms found herein have come from my own personal experience reading and writing. This lexicon will also differ in a number of fundamental ways: it will take frequency into account, list alternative forms of terms and alternative definitions, and most importantly of all, I will be updating it regularly to add new terms or definitions where necessary. Already, dozens of terms have been added since the original publishing of edition 1 of this lexicon, which originally had only 195 lexemes.

Nevertheless, please note that there will be some terms I have purposefully chosen to exclude (e.g., razoroyster), simply due to my personal perception that they may not be of sufficient use to offset any confusion they could introduce. There will be some terms in the dictionary, likewise, that I have chosen to include despite their rarity (e.g., tibulen), as I personally considered them more useful than confusing to enterprising authors.

In defining terms, I have often used ‘Cybertronian’ or ‘in a Cybertronian context’ to specify that the jargon term being introduced is analogous (but crucially not identical) to a Terran (human) concept. The choice of ‘Cybertronian’ here does not denote the planet itself, but rather the ancestral context; this is to say that a transformer on Earth, a Velocitronian, and a turbofox would all fall under this umbrella.

This lexicon will aim mostly to define terms that are significant in fanon. If a term is well-trod in canon (e.g., the Matrix of Leadership), then my assumption is that the reader of this lexicon will either already be familiar with it, or be able to satisfy their curiosity using TFwiki. 

In other words, and to reiterate, whilst TFWiki fundamentally aims to catalogue all canonical knowledge, this lexicon aims to define fanonical consensus. 

Methodology

I have attempted this undertaking by using as scientific a method as I could devise. Sorting by kudos, the first 50 works over 50,000 words without significant human characters were opened, in ‘entire work’ mode (these works are noted in the reference list). This was done to procure a large and varied base to conduct the analyses with, whilst ensuring the highest usage of Transformers- and Cybertron-specific terminology, and that (with the works being popular) this terminology would then have been read by the largest reader bases possible (a priori thereby having the largest effect on consensus). 

Each term was then analysed for how many of the 50 works it appeared in, whilst noting the most frequent meanings and alternative forms. In total, this lexicon has analysed terms using a base of over 15,000,000 words of highly-kudosed Transformers works. Of note: the only two terms which appeared in all 50 works were ‘spark’ and ‘frag’, which perfectly displays the dichotomy of man (mech).

If you have any suggestions for terms that could be here but aren’t, please link me a work which uses the term, in the comments (especially interested if there isn’t an existing term for the concept)!

Guide for usage 

The layout of a term listing will be as follows:

Term

Frequency. [Alternative forms/spellings]

1. Definition
2. [Alternative or coordinate meanings]

Many of the terms herein will have multiple definitions. Unless directly contradictory, they are often used for their different definitions varyingly throughout most works, and the relative frequencies of these alternative meanings (as well as forms) will be noted thus:

• gen. = generally; most common and (relative) majority.
• oft. = often; common but not the (relative) majority.
• occ. = occasionally; notable but infrequent.
• equ. = equally; without significant difference in frequency.

To further guide authors, consensus is shown through the frequency of each term as a whole, delineated into 5 categories based on the percentage of the 50 works which the term appeared in:

1. Com. = Common; 50-100%
2. Unc. = Uncommon; 25-49%
3. Lim. = Limited; 10-24%
4. Rar. = Rare; 1-9%
5. Per. = Personal; 0%; these are terms too rare to appear in the base of works, but that I nonetheless consider useful and have personally seen or used.

Please note that I have in this lexicon used the British spelling convention; do alter the terms appropriately into alternative spelling conventions if necessary. 

In terms of categorisation, the terms were loosely categorised into broader and finer themes, and sorted within those themes such that one term might logically lead to the next, with similar themes found closer together. Categorising thus, however, was a struggle at times, hence the coining of the broader categories ‘naturalities’ and ‘quotidianities’, which herein are used to refer to ‘all that which is natural’ and ‘all that which occurs or happens in day-to-day life’, respectively. 

Please note, some terms will necessarily contradict others (e.g., ‘coolant pump’ and sense 1 (tears) of ‘coolant’). Authors are thus encouraged to curate the list of terms they prefer, rather than accept this entire lexicon as a cohesive rulebook. 

Indeed, I encourage authors to read this lexicon not out of obligation, but curiosity. Keep in mind that the usage of jargon is a spectrum, and that far to one end is canon itself: whilst some continuities have prescribed or adopted certain terminology, most are actually relatively free of it. This work does not thus endeavour to imply that usage of jargon is always necessary, or even beneficial. Jargon, in the end, is just another tool in an author’s repertoire to construct the story they envision.

Without further ado, the lexicon begins in the following chapter.

Chapter Text

Frame

Frame

Com.

1. The body of a Cybertronian.

Root mode

Com. occ. Root-mode

1. The humanoid form of a Cybertronian.

Alt mode 

Com. oft. Altmode; occ. Alt-mode. 

1. The non-humanoid form of a Cybertronian, often but not always vehicular.

Kibble

Unc. 

1. The non-essential aesthetic components of a Cybertronian, often left over from their alt mode.

Biolight

Com.

1. The ornamental glowing highlights of a Cybertronian’s frame. Colour varies per individual.

Protometal

Lim.

1. Alternative term for ‘Mesh’ in sense 1; the flesh-like, unpainted material of a Cybertronian frame.

Mesh

Com.

1. gen. The flesh-like, unpainted material of a Cybertronian frame; esp. of a faceplate.
2. oft. (in a Cybertronian context) Fabric of any kind.

Seam  

Com. 

1. One of the thin gaps separating a Cybertronian’s armour plates, enabling articulation and transformation. Often far more sensitive than the surrounding plating.

Armour

Com.

1. The whole/a portion of a Cybertronian’s protective metallic shell, composed of plates. It may clamp down or flare, affecting the width of their seams, depending on the level of tension (e.g., “his armour loosened, plates releasing their stress-induced clamp on his protoform” (Transformatron, 2018, Chapter 4)).

Plating

Com.

1. Alternative term for ‘Armour’, often used analogously to ‘skin’ (e.g., “his gaze made Orion’s plating crawl” (Mynonys, 2019, Chapter 9)).

Plate

Com. oft. modifier

1. An individual (somatosensorial) plate, painted or naturally coloured, of a Cybertronian’s armour. 
2. (of the modifier) Affixed to (esp. human) anatomical terms to denote the analogous body part on a Cybertronian. Gen. carries the nuance of denoting that part’s surface (e.g., chestplate referring esp. to the surface plating of the chest, and not necessarily the entirety of a Cybertronian’s chest).

Vent

Com. To vent

1. gen. (in a Cybertronian context) Alternative term for ‘Ex-vent’; an exhale.
2. oft. (in a Cybertronian context) Breath, (of the verb) to breathe, breathing.
3. oft. The vents on a Cybertronian’s frame, occasionally left over from their alt mode’s grill.
4. occ. (in a Cybertronian context) A sigh.

Ex-vent

Com. occ. Exvent—To ex-vent

1. (in a Cybertronian context) An exhale.
2. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To exhale.

In-vent

Unc. occ. Invent—To in-vent

1. (in a Cybertronian context) An inhale.
2. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To inhale.

Cooling fans

Com. gen. Fans

1. Built-in internal fans regulating a Cybertronian’s temperature. Generally only active in somehow strained situations, with that strain usually but not always being a Cybertronian’s arousal (e.g., “you can hear both their fans running hot, but it still takes ages for them to untangle themselves from each other” (Awe, 2016, Chapter 39)). 

Piston

Unc.

1. A Cybertronian’s muscle. 

Strut  

Com. occ. modifier

1. gen. A Cybertronian’s bone (literally or figuratively). 
2. occ. Alternative term for ‘Piston’; a Cybertronian’s muscle.
3. (of the modifier) Affixed to (esp. human) anatomical terms to denote the analogous body part on a Cybertronian. Gen. carries the nuance of that part’s ‘bone’ (e.g., ‘wrist-strut’ referring to a Cybertronian’s wrist and its internal structural support).

Processor

Processor  

Com. 

1. A Cybertronian’s mind or brain. 

Brain module

Unc. occ. Brain-module

1. Alternative term for ‘Processor’; A Cybertronian’s mind or brain.

Module

Lim.

1. Modifier which follows a type of sense or brain activity to denote the portion of the processor dedicated to its processing (e.g., “the image that Optimus’s speculation module conjured up was vivid, and he shrank from it” (Leclairage, 2018, Chapter 7)).

Cortex

Lim. equ. modifier

1. Alternative term for ‘Processor’; A Cybertronian’s mind or brain.
2. (of the modifier) Alternative term for ‘Module’. 

Neural net  

Com. oft. Sensor net; occ. Sensornet 

1. gen. The part of the processor which deals with sensation, analogous to the nervous system.
2. occ. (not of Sensor net) The conscious part of the processor which computes information.

Memory drive

Unc. gen. Drives; occ. Memory core 

1. The portion of the processor which stores and forms memories. 

Coding  

Com. occ. Code

1. gen. Specific coding dictating certain Cybertronians’ behaviour in certain contexts (e.g., “Ratchet did what his medic coding prompted him to do, and reached out to haul Breakdown by his back plating” (Host, 2016, Chapter 3)).
2. oft. Alternative term for ‘CNA’; the base coding which dictates a Cybertronian’s being.
3. occ. That which dictates a Cybertronian’s entire non-physicality; their conscious and subconscious (e.g., “being a hero really isn’t in your coding (Musketeer, 2014, Chapter 5)). 

Battle protocols  

Unc. 

1. The code—whether learnt, innate, or installed—which lends a Cybertronian skill in combat. 

Weapons systems

Unc. 

1. The code (or physical tools) enabling use of weapons for a Cybertronian.

HUD

Com.

1. The internal and built-in Heads-Up Display Cybertronians are often written as possessing. As an extension of a Cybertronian’s own systems, it usually displays warnings, notifications, and statuses. 

Helm 

Helm

Com.

1. The head of a Cybertronian.

Crest

Unc.

1. The crest-like extension above a Cybertronian’s faceplate, gen. decorative (see: Ultra Magnus, e.g. in Generation 1 design).
2. occ. Alternative term for ‘Chevron’; the chevron-like protrusion above a Cybertronian’s faceplate. 

Chevron

Unc.

1. The chevron-like protrusion above a Cybertronian’s faceplate, gen. decorative, and occ. distinctive of Praxian heritage (see: Prowl, e.g. in Generation 1 design).

Sensory horn

Unc. gen. Horn

1. The horn-like, stubby protrustions atop a Cybertronian’s helm, occ. sensory, gen. highly sensitive (see: Cliffjumper, e.g. in Generation 1 design).

Finial  

Com.

1. The vertical protrusions from a Cybertronian’s helm, oft. hosting the comms array (see: Optimus Prime, e.g. in Generation 1 design).

Helm fin

Lim. occ. Helmfin; occ. Fin

1. The fin-like, perpendicular and vertical protrusions extending from either side of some Cybertronians’ helms, gen. decorative (see: Wheeljack, e.g. in Generation 1 design).

Audial fin

Rar. occ. Fin

1. The fin-like, parallel and vertical protrusions extending from either side of some Cybertronians’ helms, oft. hosting audial sensors (see: Optimus Prime, esp. in Animated design).

Audial sensor  

Com. gen. Audial

1. A Cybertronian’s ear. Occ. external, via Audial fins or otherwise; occ. non-obtrusive sensors.

Olfactory sensor  

Unc. gen. Olfactory

1. A Cybertronian’s nose. Occ. external (see: ‘Nasal ridge’); occ. non-obtrusive sensors.

Nasal ridge

Unc.

1. The nose-like ridge protruding from some Cybertronians’ faceplates. Gen. hosts the olfactory.

To shutter

Com.

1. (of optics) To blink; to close one’s eyes; (in past participle) lidded (e.g., “he looks up at Hound through half-shuttered optics” (Penguin, 2016, Chapter 167)).

Optic  

Com. 

1. A Cybertronian’s eye.

Optic ridge

Com. oft. Optical ridge; occ. Brow ridge

1. A Cybertronian’s eyebrow.

Faceplate  

Com. oft. Faceplates

1. A Cybertronian’s face (literal; not of one’s expression).

Battlemask  

Com. occ. Battle mask; occ. Battle-mask—oft. Facemask; equ. Face mask; equ. Face-mask

1. The mask which slides into place to protect the faceplate during battle, or mask emotions (see: Optimus Prime, e.g. in Aligned continuity design).
2. (esp. of Facemask) A faceplate covering for Cybertronians with unusual or non-closable intakes (see: Tailgate, e.g. in Generation 1 design).

Mandible

Rar.

1. A Cybertronian’s jaw.

Intake

Intake

Com.

1. gen. A Cybertronian’s throat
2. oft. A Cybertronian’s neck
3. occ. A Cybertronian’s mouth
4. occ. An inhale.

Derma  

Unc. Pl.: gen. Derma; oft.: Dermas—occ. Dermal plating

1. A Cybertronian’s lip.

Denta  

Com. Pl.: equ. Denta; equ. Dentae; equ. Dental plates

1. A Cybertronian’s tooth.

Glossa  

Com. Pl.: gen. Glossas; occ. Glossae

1. A Cybertronian’s tongue.

Oral lubricant

Unc.

1. A Cybertronian’s saliva.

Vocaliser  

Com.

1. A Cybertronian’s voice box. Often written such that it produces static/static-tinged speech when strained, and that resetting one’s vocaliser is analogous to ‘clearing one’s throat’. 

Cable  

Com. occ. Data cable; occ. Cabling

1. gen. A Cybertronian’s muscle or sinew, esp. of their neck.
2. occ. (esp. of Data cable) The most common medium of data transfer between Cybertronians.
3. occ. (esp. of Cabling) As with wires; an element of circuitry, oft. sensitive to the touch.

Limbs

Digit

Com.

1. A Cybertronian’s finger.

Servo

Com.

1. gen. A Cybertronian’s hand.
2. oft. Any joint in a Cybertronian’s frame.

Gauntlet

Lim.

1. oft. A Cybertronian’s forearm.
2. occ. A Cybertronian’s wrist.
3. occ. A Cybertronian’s hand.

Vambrace

Rar.

1. An alternative term for ‘Gauntlet’ in sense 1; a Cybertronian’s forearm.

Rerebrace

Rar.

1. A Cybertronian’s upper arm.

Brace

Per.

1. A Cybertronian’s arm.

Stabiliser

Lim. 

1. Gen. A sensor that gives a Cybertronian their sense of balance.
2. Occ. A Cybertronian’s leg. 
3. Occ. Alternative term for ‘Pede’; A Cybertronian’s foot.

Tibulen

Per.

1. A Cybertronian’s thigh.

Poleyne

Per.

1. A Cybertronian’s knee.

Greave

Rar. 

1. A Cybertronian’s shin.

Pede  

Com. occ. Ped

1. A Cybertronian’s foot.

Heel-strut

Rar. equ. Heel strut; equ. Heelstrut 

1. gen. A Cybertronian’s heel.
2. oft. Strut in seekers’ pedes resembling a high heel’s heel, gen. composed of/covering the thruster (see: Starscream, e.g. in Generation 1/Aligned continuity design).

Chassis

Chassis

Com.

1. gen. A Cybertronian’s chest.
2. occ. A Cybertronian’s torso.

Breastplate

Rar.

1. A Cybertronian’s breast.

Pauldron  

Unc.

1. A Cybertronian’s shoulder.

Hexa-lateral scapula  

Per.

1. A Cybertronian’s upper back.

Wing

Com.

1. The wings of a Cybertronian’s alt mode which protrude from their hexa-lateral scapula in root mode. Gen. expressive of mood or emotion in its positioning (e.g., “Starscream’s wings twitched with irritation as he frowned” (Chico, 2023, Chapter 19)), occ. complex enough in movement patterns to replace spoken language in certain instances, gen. highly-sensitive (see: Starscream, e.g. in Generation 1 design).

Wing nub

Rar. occ. Wing-nub

1. The undeveloped wings of an immature Cybertronian’s alt mode, which appear as nubs on their hexa-lateral scapula in root mode. Though gen. incapable of expression due to limited movement, still highly-sensitive.

Doorwing

Gen. oft. Door wing; occ. Door-wing

1. The wing-like protruions from a Cybertronian’s hexa-lateral scapula which transform into the doors of a vehicle in alt mode. Gen. expressive of mood or emotion in its positioning, occ. complex enough in movement patterns to replace spoken language in certain instances, gen. highly-sensitive (see: Bumblebee, e.g. in Aligned continuity design).

Spoiler

Lim.

1. The spoiler of a Cybertronian’s alt mode which protrudes from their hexa-lateral scapula in root mode. Gen. expressive of mood or emotion in its positioning, oft. highly-sensitive (see: Rodimus Prime, e.g. in Generation 1 design).

Spinal strut  

Com. oft. Backstrut; occ. Back strut

1. gen. A Cybertronian’s spine.
2. oft. (by extension) A Cybertronian’s back, especially with connotations of ‘spine’.

Dorsal plating

Lim. oft. Dorsal plates

1. A Cybertronian’s back (especially the plane of its surface, or the plating thereof).

Skidplate

Lim. equ. Skidplates

1. (in a Cybertronian context) Ass, especially figuratively or in expressions (e.g., “and when we kick those stinkin’ senatorial goons’ skidplates, we’re gonna free other cities too” (Liquid, 2014)).

Aft

Com.

1. (in a Cybertronian context) Butt (plain).
2. (in a Cybertronian context) Ass (literal; figurative; colloquial; mild insult)

Tailpipe

Unc. equ. Exhaust pipe; oft. Exhaust port

1. gen. (figuratively, vulgarly; in a Cybertronian context) Ass (esp. as in ‘anus’, e.g., “call me when you’ve pulled the rod out of your tailpipe” (Scribbles, 2019, Chapter 15)).
2. occ. (not applicable to Exhaust port) A literal tailpipe, as in the type of kibble (see: Rodimus Prime, e.g. in Generation 1 design).

Codpiece

Lim. 

1. A Cybertronian’s crotch.

Array

Array

Com.

1. The portion of a Cybertronian’s frame hosting the spike and valve, or plugs and ports.
2. A Cybertronian’s genitals.

Interface equipment

Unc. gen. Equipment

1. Alternative term for ‘Array’ in sense 2; a Cybertronian’s genitals.

Panels

Com. equ. Modesty panel; equ. Interface panel—Spike, Valve panel

1. The panels covering a Cybertronian’s sexual interfacing components.
2. (of Spike, Valve panel) the panel covering a Cybertronian’s spike or valve respectively.

Seal 

Unc. Spike, Valve seal—Sealed

1. A physicalised sign of virginity in Cybertronians; analogous to the hymen, the membrane rarely bleeds (but may hurt) when pierced. Most common on valves (therein pierced by penetration), it is occasionally included for spikes as well (pierced (gen. painlessly) by the spike’s first extension). 
2. (in plural, by extension) Virginity (e.g., “other rogue dragons of my breed don’t care about seals all that much” (Sulktora, 2014, Chapter 15)).
3. (of Spike, Valve seal) The seal specific to the spike or valve respectively.
4. (of Sealed; of a Cybertronian or their equipment) Virgin.

Sheath

Rar.

1. Alternative term for ‘Spike housing’; the area from which a Cybertronian’s spike extends.

Spike housing

Lim. 

1. The area from which a Cybertronian’s spike extends during arousal, somewhat like a sheath in certain mammals.

Spike

Com. To spike

1. A Cybertronian’s penis (medical, plain).
2. Dick; cock (colloquial, vulgar).
3. (of the verb) To interface penetratively (especially, with a valve); to fuck (colloquial, vulgar) (e.g., “Sunstreaker had surprised him when he said he liked to be spiked” (Bubonicc, 2015, Chapter 83)).

Ball bearings  

Lim. gen. Bearings 

1. (figuratively) A Cybertronian’s balls (e.g., “you didn’t have the bearings to do that last time” (Musketeer, 2014, Chapter 77)).

Valve

Com.

1. A Cybertronian’s vagina (medical, plain).
2. Pussy; cunt (colloquial, vulgar).

Calipers

Unc.

1. A Cybertronian’s vaginal muscles; the components which control valvular contraction.

Transfluid tank

Rar. gen. Tank

1. The internal tank in which a Cybertronian’s transfluid is stored.

Transfluid  

Com.

1. A Cybertronian’s semen (not necessarily a reproductive fluid).
2. Cum (colloquial, vulgar).

Pre-fluid  

Rar. oft. prefluid 

1. A Cybertronian’s pre-ejaculate (medical, plain).
2. Precum (colloquial, vulgar).

Lubricant  

Com.

1. gen. Of the valve; vaginal lubrication produced during arousal (esp. for anticipated valve usage).

1. occ. Alternative term for ‘Pre-fluid’.
2. occ. Alternative term for ‘Optical fluid’; a Cybertronian’s tears.

Port

Com.

1. gen. A Cybertronian’s medical port, for transmitting diagnostic information via cable connection.
2. oft. A Cybertronian’s valve, or occasionally the medical-specific term for it.
3. occ. A Cybertronian’s anus, esp. in works contrasting valve and port, wherein the latter is tighter; generally sexual.

Connector  

Unc.

1. gen. The spike; often, the medical term for it.
2. oft. A connection or joint in a Cybertronian’s frame.
3. occ. A data cable or plug.

Plug  

Unc.

1. The end of a cable which connects to a port, for medical/data transfer/plug n’ play purposes.

Anterior node

Unc. gen. Node 

1. A Cybertronian’s clitoris (medical, plain).
2. Clit (colloquial, vulgar).

Ceiling node  

Lim. 

1. A Cybertronian’s Gräfenburg spot; the g-spot of the valve, gen. located at the end of its channel.

Gestation seal

Rar.

1. The seal separating the valve’s channel from the gestation tank; analogous to the cervix.

Gestation tank  

Lim. occ. Gestation chamber

1. A Cybertronian’s womb, in the case of mechpreg/sticky sexual interfacing. In spark sexual interfacing, a carrier hosts the developing protoform in their spark chamber.

Internal components

Component

Com. 

1. A Cybertronian’s organ (e.g., “the internal components visible in his open chest cavity were a bit mangled” (Raven, 2022, Chapter 9)), or more generically, ‘part’ (e.g., “he tried to stretch to relieve the gentle ache of stiff components” (Michi, 2015, Chapter 1)).

Engine

Com.

1. The engine-like component which consumes energon/fuel to power a Cybertronian’s movements. Can audibly rev, oft. during arousal, or less commonly, from anger or other intense emotions.

Spark

Com. To spark

1. The heart of a Cybertronian (literal and figurative). More than an organ, it is their very lifesource. Murder/death are oft. thus called ‘snuffing out a spark’/‘a spark extinguishing’ respectively.
2. The soul of a Cybertronian.
3. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To impregnate.

Spark chamber  

Com. 

1. The containment chamber within which the spark rotates. Its lining and walls are both necessary for the continued survival of a Cybertronian. Can be opened, e.g., for spark merges or sparkplay.

Coolant pump  

Rar.

1. A Cybertronian’s literal heart, in the case of coolant being a vital bodily fluid (sense 3).

Energon line

Com. equ. Fuel line

1. A Cybertronian’s vein, transporting energon throughout the frame.

T-cog  

Com.

1. The component enabling a Cybertronian to transform. 

Tank

Com. equ. Tanks

1. A Cybertronian’s stomach.

Miscellaneous

To cycle

Com. 

1. gen. (of venting) To sigh, to breathe (e.g., “Megatron cycled a deep ventilation” (Borath, 2014, Chapter 10)).
2. oft. (of optics) To blink (e.g., “Jazz cycled his optics” (Starlight, 2017, Chapter 3)), to widen (e.g., “Breakdown’s optics cycled wide” (Ros3bud009, 2017, Chapter 1)).
3. occ. (of the valve) To clench (e.g., “Starscream cycled down on his finger with a moan” (Spoon888, 2018, Chapter 50)).
4. (miscellaneously) A complex verb indicating a cyclical motion or one that is performed as part of a cycle, primarily used for the three above senses. Other uses (e.g., as an alternative term for ‘to online’ (in sense 3, meaning ‘awaken’)) exist, but are more idiosyncratic. 

Coolant  

Com.

1. gen. A Cybertronian’s tears.
2. oft. A refreshing beverage, like water but less vital for survival.
3. oft. A vital bodily fluid alongside energon.

Optical fluid

Rar.

1. Alternative term for ‘Coolant’ in sense 1; a Cybertronian’s tears.

Field

Com. occ. EM field

1. The electromagnetic field emanated from and sensible to Cybertronians in proximity. It broadcasts the general emotional state of its proprietor, and may hint at their health as well. Its reach can generally be manipulated, even completely controlled with enough training. Cybertronians sense a field as a semi-physical presence, which can stay separate, clash, or mesh with their own.

Spark signature  

Unc. oft. Energy signature 

1. A Cybertronian’s unique spark/energy reading, occasionally sensible by Cybertronians and occasionally only through dedicated equipment. It can act as an identifier.

Spark pulse  

Com. occ. Sparkpulse

1. Analogous to a heartbeat; the spark’s regular pulses or spikes in the rhythm of rotation.

Sensor node  

Unc. gen. Node 

1. A Cybertronian’s nerve, or nerve ending.

Circuits

Com.

1. gen. (figurative) A Cybertronian’s mind or brain (e.g., “you don't honestly believe you can negotiate your own freedom? Your episode with Sunstorm must have scrambled your circuits” (Spoon888, 2020, Chapter 23)). 
2. occ. (figurative) A Cybertronian’s being; their whole body; their veins/nervs/bones (e.g., “Orion felt hot all over, embarrassment flooding his circuits” (Mynonys, 2019, Chapter 8)).
3. occ. A Cybertronian’s literal circuitry; an element vital for correct functioning.

Mod  

Unc. 

1. A modification installed on a Cybertronian for vanity, sexual, or practical purposes.

Self-repair

Com. oft. Self repair; occ. Self-repair systems; occ. Self-repair protocols

1. A Cybertronian’s system of regeneration.

Nanites  

Com. gen. Repair nanites; occ. Paint nanites

1. A microscopic semi-living system of individual components that cooperate for vital functions in Cybertronians, occasionally analogous to cells in humans, but usually for fewer types of purposes.
2. (esp. of Repair nanites) Nanites specialised in regeneration (analogous to white blood cells).
3. (esp. of Paint nanites) Nanites which pigment a Cybertronian’s armour. In certain cases, such as exceedingly poor health or death, they die, and depigment the Cybertronian (hence ‘to grey’).

CNA  

Unc. occ. Cybernucleic acid

1. A Cybertronian’s DNA, oft. figurative; the base coding which dictates their being.

Chapter Text

Mechanimals

Mechanimal  

Lim.

1. A member of Cybertronian fauna. Often similar to Terran animals, but Cybertronian in anatomy.

Scraplet  

Com.

1. A small Cybertronian insectoid which feeds on metal both sentient and not. In large numbers, they have been known to devour Cybertronians whole in mere seconds.
2. (by extension; insulting) A small or young Cybertronian who is troublesome and overexcitable.

Sparkeater

Lim.

1. A semi-mythical Cybertronian monster, rarely portrayed as intelligent, which can extract sparks from living Cybertronians without physical contact, and digests them for sustenance.

Sharkticon  

Lim. 

1. A shark-like mechanimal, occasionally intelligent, generally deadly in groups.

Glitchmouse  

Lim. oft. Glitch mouse

1. A mouse-like mechanimal with comparable mannerisms to its Terran counterpart.

Turborat  

Lim.

1. A rat-like mechanimal with comparable mannerisms to its Terran counterpart.

Cybercat  

Lim.

1. A cat-like mechanimal with comparable mannerisms to its Terran counterpart.

Turbodog

Lim. oft. Turbohound; occ. Turbo-dog; occ. Turbo dog

1. A dog-like mechanimal with comparable mannerisms to its Terran counterpart.

Turbopuppy

Lim. equ. Turbo-puppy; equ. Turbo puppy

1. A young turbodog with puppy-like mannerisms.

Turbowolf

Rar. occ. Turbo-wolf

1. A wolf-like mechanimal with comparable mannerisms to its Terran counterpart.

Turbofox  

Unc.

1. A fox-like mechanimal with exceptional speed. Occasionally domesticated.

Petrorabbit  

Lim.

1. A rabbit-like mechanimal with comparable mannerisms to its Terran counterpart.

Petrodeer

Rar. oft. Diodeer

1. A deer-like mechanimal with comparable mannerisms to its Terran counterpart.

Zap-horse  

Rar.

1. A horse-like mechanimal, large and strong enough to carry Cybertronians. Generally domesticated.

Frame & identity

Designation

Com.

1. A Cybertronian’s name. 

Sparkling

Com.

1. A Cybertronian infant.

Protoform

Com. 

1. gen. A Cybertronian infant, or, in the case of gestation, a Cybertronian foetus.
2. oft. Alternative term for ‘Mesh’ in sense 1; the flesh-like material of a Cybertronian frame.
3. occ. A Cybertronian’s base/nude form, though Cybertronians generally cannot remove their armour. The term is often also used for frames that have not had a spark loaded inside them yet.

Hatchling

Rar.

1. A Cybertronian baby (especially used by the creators).

Newspark

Com. oft. Newbuild

1. A Cybertronian infant; a newborn.
2. (esp. of Newbuild; pejorative) A Cybertronian infant, figuratively (e.g., “the suggestion that he needed to be coddled like a newbuild was just insulting” (Cringe, 2023, Chapter 26)).

Bitlet  

Unc.

1. A Cybertronian infant or child.
2. An affectionate term of addressal for a younger Cybertronian (analogous to ‘kid’).

Mechling  

Unc.

1. The Cybertronian equivalent of ‘boy’, or ‘child’ in genderless contexts.

Femmeling

Rar.

1. The Cybertronian equivalent of ‘girl’. Note: Cybertronian gender (when it even exists; portrayals vary) is rarely analogous to human gender, as Cybertronians generally possess both sexual organs.

Youngling  

Com.

1. An adolescent Cybertronian. Genderless.

Mech  

Com. Pl.: gen. Mechs; oft. Mecha

1. An adult Cybertronian.
2. A male adult Cybertronian, when contrasted with ‘femme’.
3. An interjection used for emphasis, analogous to ‘man’ or ‘dude’ (e.g., “mech, if I said that, I’d be the worst kind of hypocrite” (Michi, 2015, Chapter 27)). 

Femme  

Com.

1. A female adult Cybertronian.

Mechanism

Unc. 

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A person; a Cybertronian. Genderless, when ‘Mech’ is not.

Bot  

Com.

1. gen. An occasionally informal alternative term for ‘Mechanism’; a Cybertronian.
2. occ. (when contrasted with ‘con’; informal) An autobot-aligned Cybertronian.

Upgrade  

Com.

1. gen. A larger, more advanced frame, in a series of increasingly large frames, that a Cybertronian adopts as they mature. Either, through altering a current frame or transferring into a new one.
2. oft. Alternative term for ‘Mod’, especially in the sense of a practical mod.

Empty  

Lim. Pl.: Empties

1. An impoverished Cybertronian on the brink of starvation. Often, missing parts of their body, and generally mentally unsound from either hunger or narcotics.

Frame type  

Com.

1. The type of alt mode a Cybertronian has. Can be likened to the human concept of ‘race’.

Grounder  

Com. occ. Ground pounder

1. Any Cybertronian with a non-aerial alt mode, especially vehicular (informal).
2. (of Ground pounder) A derogatory term for a non-aerial Cybertronian.

Seeker  

Com.

1. A Cybertronian with a fighter jet alt mode. 

Relationships

Carrier  

Com. To Carry 

1. The mother of a Cybertronian, in the sense that they carried the spark or protoform within their frame, and are generally maternalistic in nature. Non-gendered. 
2. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To gestate; to be pregnant.
3. A cassette carrier; one who hosts smaller Cybertronian symbiotes on their frame, generally with a deep semi-telepathic connection with the cohort.

Sire

Unc. To sire 

1. The father of a Cybertronian, in the sense that they merged sparks during interfacing with the carrier of a spark or protoform, and are generally paternalistic in nature. Non-gendered.
2. (of the verb) To father.

Creator  

Com.

1. A Cybertronian’s parent.

Creation  

Com.

1. equ. A Cybertronian’s child
2. equ. The event of a Cybertronian’s birth/onlining, whether forged or cold-constructed (e.g., “he’d seen the delineation of new subfactions, of prejudice based on frame type, and on creation method” (Kelz, 2018, Chapter 7)).

Split-spark  

Lim. equ. Split spark

1. Describing Cybertronian siblings, especially twins (e.g., ‘split-spark twins’), who tend to have strong, occasionally semi-telepathic bonds.

Amica endura  

Lim. Pl.: Amica endurae—gen. Amica; Pl.: Amicas 

1. The formalised best friend of a Cybertronian.

Conjunx endura  

Com. Pl.: Conjunx endurae—gen. Conjunx; Pl.: Conjunxes—To conjunx

1. The ritualised spouse of a Cybertronian, formalised either through the four acts of the conjunx ritus or a wedding ceremony. 
2. (of the verb) To marry or wed another in a Cybertronian context, or, perform the conjunx ritus.

Sparkmate

Unc. equ. Bondmate 

1. A sparkbonded partner. Generally, conjunx endurae are also sparkmates.

Sparkbond  

Unc. equ. Spark bond

1. The occasionally semi-telepathic bond formed following the merging of two Cybertronians’ sparks. Bondspeak refers to communication via semi-telepathic bond of any kind.

Trine  

Com.

1. Amongst seekers, a tripartite semi-familial relationship, either platonic or romantic.

Courtship

Unc. To court

1. Unlike on Earth, the culture of ‘dating’ is often far less established in most Tranformers works (likely due to most works either taking place during wartime, or a hyper-regimented pre-war society). Thus, ‘courtship’ is often written as being a semi-formalised system requiring commitment if not status. Occasionally, however, it is used simply as a stand-in for ‘dating’.
2. (of the verb; generally formally) To court; to date.

Life & death

Functioning

Com. oft. Function—To function 

1. A Cybertronian’s life (e.g., “I’ve never seen a paint job like that in my entire functioning” (Vion, 2021, Chapter 31)).
2. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To live; to be alive (e.g., “‘not while I function!’ Cyclonus snarled” (Astolat, 2022)).
3. oft. A Cybertronian’s career, job, or work (e.g., “but in this line o’ functioning, you see a lot. And hear enough” (Vion, 2021, Chapter 3)).

Deactivation

Com. To deactivate

1. (in a Cybertronian context) Death.
2. gen. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To die.
3. oft. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To kill (oft. used in the passive voice, e.g. “The only individuals aware of the safehouse will be deactivated” (Prime, 2021, Chapter 42)).

Gestation

Lim. 

1. (in a Cybertronian context) Pregnancy.

Emergence

Unc. To emerge

1. (in a Cybertronian context) Birth (e.g., “Ratchet’s cautions about the sparkling’s emergence weighed heavy on his mind” (Armadillo, 2024, Chapter 13)).
2. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To be born (e.g., “he was not only benched but grounded until the sparkling emerged” (Borath, 2014, Chapter 17)).

Forge

Com. To be forged—Forged

1. An alternative term for ‘Gestation tank’; a Cybertronian’s womb.
2. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To be born.
3. (of Forged) When contrasted with cold-constructed: a Cybertronian whose spark came from a hotspot, sexual interfacing, or some other natural means. 

Cold construct

Lim. equ. Cold-construct—Cold-constructed 

1. A Cybertronian whose spark and frame were manufactured for a specific purpose.
2. (of Cold-constructed) Having been created through the above method.

Grey

Unc. occ. Greyed-out—To grey

1. Describing plating whose paint nanites have died—often either through pitiful health or death of their proprietor—and has thereby lost its colour and turned grey.
2. (by extension; in a Cybertronian context) Dead or dying.
3. (of the verb; of a Cybertronian or their nanites) To die.

Chapter Text

Social structures

Winglord

Unc. 

1. A title of leadership amongst aerial types. The precise degree of authority varies between leader of an armada, to leader of Vos, to leader of all fliers, depending on the author.

Lord High Protector  

Lim.

1. The coordinate military leader of Cybertron alongside or subordinate to the Prime, oft. appointed by him as his lover or confidante. Also, their title. Generally archaic or historical.

Prime  

Com.

1. The civil and (in the absence of a lord high protector) military leader of Cybertron, bearing the Matrix. Also, their title. Generally more a religious figurehead than leader, but this varies. The institution behind the position is called the ‘primacy’.

The Primal Vanguard  

Rar.

1. The prime’s cohort of guards; their duty-bound and sworn protectors.

Enforcer

Com.

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A law enforcer; police officer; cop.

Functionism  

Unc.

1. The ideology which states that Cybertronians’ professions and lifestyles should be dictated by their alt mode. Social mobility is impossible with few exceptions.

Ratioism  

Per.

1. The system of social valuation that privileges rarer alt modes and considers Cybertronians of an abundant alt mode to be part of the disposable class, a semi-slave population of the lowest caste. The hierarchies of all frame types are formalised in the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy.

Guild

Lim.

1. The pre-war institutions that regulated specific professions or castes.

Caste  

Com.

1. The (generally formalised) social class of a Cybertronian, in a caste system. Whilst there are often myriad castes, they are usually categorised by status into high, medium, low, or disposable.

Tower mech

Lim. oft. Towers mech

1. A member of the Cybertronian nobility.

Golden age 

Unc. 

1. The period of Cybertronian history in which culture and the economy flourished. Generally, under a more benevolent Primacy, with more personal freedoms. Usually well before the war.

Shanix  

Unc. Pl.: Shanix

1. The coins and currency on Cybertron, gen. used in numbered scenarios (e.g., “you owe me twenty shanix” (Mynonys, 2021, Chapter 7)).

Credits

Com. occ. Creds

1. The currency on Cybertron, gen. used in uncountable scenarios; money (e.g., “I’d pay good credits to see her try to fight with her joint out of alignment” (Shadow, 2015, Chapter 23)).

Autobrand

Lim. occ. Autobadge

1. The autobot badge on a Cybertronian’s frame, especially when it is non-removable.

Deceptibrand

Rar. occ. Deceptibadge

1. The decepticon badge on a Cybertronian’s frame, especially when it is non-removable.

Religion

The Guiding Hand

Rar.

1. The five original deities involved in the creation of Cybertron and its natives, according to myth.
2. When preceded by ‘by’, an interjection of strong emotion (e.g., “by the Guiding Hand, how Drift wanted to touch him” (Reaper, 2015, Chapter 5)).

The Thirteen

Lim.

1. The semi-mythical first Cybertronians, all incredibly powerful primes. 

Vector Sigma

Unc.

1. “Jesus Christ” (interjection expressing shock or disbelief, e.g., “Vector Sigma, maybe that drunken ‘Con was right” (Reyairia & Zuzeca, 2015, Chapter 17)).
2. The semi-mythical supercomputer at the core of cybertron which guards the afterlife and enables communication with Primus.

Primus  

Com.

1. “God” (interjection, oft. preceded by oh/by/etc.) (e.g., “Primus, it wasn't like he could actually say that to Megatron” (Tere, 2020, Chapter 17)).
2. The semi-mythical benevolent creator god according to many Cybertronians’ beliefs. The worship of Primus is Primalism, though different interpretations may also deify the Guiding Hand, Thirteen, or a specific member thereof. 

Unicron  

Com.

1. The semi-mythical malevolent destroyer god of Cybertronians’ spirituality. Other, more euphemistic terms to refer to Unicron include ‘the Unmaker’ and ‘the Chaos Bringer’.

The Well of All Sparks

Lim. gen. the Well

1. The purported fount from which all sparks are birthed and thus return; the before- and after-life.

The Pit

Com. oft. the Pits

1. Hell, in a figurative and vague sense, only used in expressions (e.g., “who the Pit names their sparkling Bonecrusher anyway?!” (Spoon888, 2019b, Chapter 5)).
2. (in uncapitalised form) A gladiatorial arena, generally found in Kaon.

Language

Language pack  

Rar. 

1. A data pack or chip that enables a Cybertronian to download fluency of a given language.

Primal Vernacular  

Lim. occ. Old Cybertronian

1. The dead language spoken by the Cybertronians’ ancestors, believed to have been spoken by the thirteen original primes. Very few can understand it in modern Cybertron, even pre-war.

Neocybex

Unc. oft. (common, standard, basic) Cybertronian; occ. Cybertronix 

1. The modern language that most Cybertronians are fluent in. Depending on interpretation, it can be one language, the lingua franca amongst a variety of individual languages, or a dialect continuum in and of itself. Most consider each city to have its own accent or dialect.

Seeker cant  

Rar.

1. A language or cant particular to those of the seeker frame-type, spoken mostly in Vos (the city of seekers/aerial-types). Often considered arcane and archaic amongst modern seekers, few use it.

Binary  

Unc.

1. An instinctual, basic language spoken generally by sparklings, or adults, when under great duress (e.g., “Starscream spat out a string of laughter so sharp it fritzed into binary” (Transformatron, 2018, Chapter 25)).

Glyph

Com.

1. A symbol used to write a Cybertronian language. Often, glyphs are logograms, whereupon ‘Glyph’ may be used to mean ‘word’. Where glyphs are letters, this is not the case.

Ping

Com. To ping

1. gen. A notification of a comm or other long-distance communication attempt.
2. oft. A wordless long-distance hail to another Cybertronian.
3. (of the verb; of a notification) To appear, (of a hail) to hail.

Comm  

Com. occ. Comm.; occ. Com—To comm

1. A message via Cybertronians’ built-in form of communication; non-verbal and long-distance. It is generally similar to texting, though occasionally it is written as being closer to calling. 
2. (of the verb) Used when sending a message via comms.

Comm line

Unc. occ. Comm. line; occ. Com line

1. A connection via comm (e.g., “Ratchet had given him access to a secure comm line for the base” (Raven, 2022, Chapter 25)). 

Comm link

Com. equ. Commlink; equ. Comm-link; occ. Comlink; occ. Commsuite; occ. Comm suite

1. gen. The comms interface, or the apparatus enabling comms in a Cybertronian.
2. occ. Alternative term for ‘Comm line’; a connection via comm.

Comm frequency

Unc. occ. Comm. frequency

1. The unique identifier, code, or frequency with which a Cybertronian may recognise or contact another via comm.

Comm speak

Rar.

1. A generally meta term denoting dialogue via comm (i.e., between :: ::).

::x::

Com. equ. .:x:.; occ. :: x ::; occ. .: x :.

1. The quotation marks often used to denote dialogue via comm (e.g., “::can you pick him up?::” (Mechanic, 2023, Chapter 7)).

x/y/z

Lim. occ. x / y / z 

1. Denoting bondspeak or field emotion. Gen., italicised. Can be similar or linked words (esp. emotions for fields; e.g., “Ambulon had to manually turn down his own EM readers to minimum. It was that or risk being overwhelmed by the sheer power of the revulsion/invitation/terror/lust emanating from him in waves” (Reaper, 2015, Chapter 13)), or phrases separated by slashes indicating the impressions transmitted (e.g., “he caught the tail end of his mate’s first thought: naive little thing/the performance is everything/just agree to calm him” (Mynonys, 2019, Chapter 9)).

Chirolinguistics

Rar.

1. A non-verbal, touch-based form of language which is performed by pressing palms and fingers against those of the interlocutor, colloquially referred to as being able to ‘speak hand’. Most Cybertronians have some knowledge of it, and it can cross linguistic boundaries.

Glitch  

Com.

1. Bitch (moderate insult).

Afthole

Rar.

1. Asshole (moderate insult).

Scrap

Com.

1. Crap (mild swear).

Slag  

Com. To slag

1. (interjection) Shit (moderate swear).
2. (noun) Bullshit (e.g., “oh that’s slag. Stop wallowing in your own self-righteousness and pull your helm out your aft” (Nikkie2010, 2014, Chapter 46)).
3. gen. (of the verb) Used in colloquial, gen. mild expressions (e.g., “slag it all” (Elindae, 2018, Chapter 15) (‘to hell with it all’); “he was slagged off at him” (Jabberish, 2020, chapter 43) (‘he was pissed off with him’); “we’ll all be slagged” (Wishes, 2021, Chapter 2) (‘we’ll all be screwed’); etc).
4. oft. (of the verb) To beat up, to kill. Especially used in the passive voice (e.g., “‘get slagged,’ Bumblebee snapped” (Scribe, 2013, Chapter 2)). 

Slagger

Com.

1. Piece of shit (moderate to strong insult).

Frag

Com. To frag

1. Fuck (vulgar swear)
2. (of the verb) Used analogously to ‘fuck’ (e.g., “I want to frag you so much right now” (Heroine, 2016, Chapter 30) (esp. used for sticky sexual interfacing); “frag you, I’m not a sparkling!” (Souris, 2018, Chapter 40); “they're so fragged” (Mountains, 2021), Chapter 1)).

Fragger

Com.

1. Fucker (vulgar insult).

Taboo

Circuit booster

Lim.

1. The most common category of Cybertronian narcotic; most boosters are dangerous and addictive.

Syk  

Lim.

1. The slang term for the most infamous circuit booster. Highly dangerous and addictive. 

Cygar

Rar. Cygarette

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A cigar.
2. (of Cygarette; in a Cybertronian context) A cigarette. 

Charge  

Com.

1. gen. Electricity in a Cybertronian signifying arousal, or less commonly, plain tension (e.g., “stray charge prickled between them, and Megatron shuttered his optics with a groan” (Borath, 2014, Chapter 53)).
2. oft. Sparks coming from a Cybertronian’s wound, signifying damaged circuitry.

To pressurise

Unc. Pressurised

1. (of a spike) To grow erect.
2. (of the past participle; of a spike) Erect.

T0 depressurise

Lim. Depressurised

1. (of a spike) To grow flaccid.
2. (of the past participle; of a spike) Flaccid.

Self-service

Lim. occ. Self service—To self-service 

1. (in a Cybertronian context) Masturbation.
2. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To masturbate.

False spike

Lim. occ. Fake spike 

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A dildo.

False valve

Rar.

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A masturbator.

Pleasure drone

Rar.

1. equ. (in a Cybertronian context) A humanoid sex aid. Inanimate.
2. equ. A disparaging term for a buymech; whore.

Buymech

Lim. occ. Buy-mech; occ. Buy mech

1. equ. (in a Cybertronian context) A prostitute (plain). Genderless, even when ‘Mech’ is not.
2. equ. A disparaging term for the above sense; whore.

Shareware

Lim. occ. Share-ware; occ. Share ware 

1. A disparaging term for a buymech; whore.

Paint transfer

Lim. 

1. A paint transfer between Cybertronians. Generally, a sign that they have interfaced.

Interface

Com. To interface

1. Sex in a Cybertronian context, whether plug n’ play, spark, or sticky.
2. (of the verb; ; in a Cybertronian context) To have sex.

Hardline

Unc. To hardline

1. Connection via plug/connector/cable to a port, either belonging to a machine or sentient. Can be for data transfer, or plug n’ play sexual interfacing purposes.
2. (of the verb) To perform a hardline connection to a port.

Overload  

Com. To overload

1. An orgasm in a Cybertronian context, whether plug n’ play, spark, or sticky.
2. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To orgasm or ejaculate (medical, plain).
3. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To cum (colloquial, vulgar).

Heat cycle

Lim.

1. A period wherein a Cybertronian experiences an extremely elevated sex drive. When contrasted, heat cycles generally correspond to a valve-focused sex drive, whilst rut cycles are spike-focused.

Spark merge  

Unc. oft. Spark-merge; oft. Sparkmerge

1. The merging of sparks when two opened chambers are in close proximity. Often written as a euphoric experience which allows two Cybertronians’ consciousnesses and senses to become one. Generally, a necessary precondition in both spark and sticky sexual interfacing for procreation.

Measurement

Nanoklik  

Lim. 

1. oft. A nanosecond.
2. gen. A second.

Klik  

Unc.

1. gen. A second.
2. occ. A minute.
3. occ. A kilometre.

Breem  

Unc.

1. gen. A minute.
2. oft. An hour.

Groon

Rar.

1. An hour. 

Joor  

Lim. 

1. gen. An hour.
2. oft. A day.

Sol

Rar.

1. A day.

Cycle  

Com. oft. Solar cycle

1. gen. (esp. of Solar cycle) A day (analogous to a 24-hour Terran day).
2. oft. An hour.

Light cycle

Lim. oft. Day cycle

1. A day in a Cybertronian context, specifically of the sunlit period; daytime.

Dark cycle

Unc. gen. Night cycle

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A night; nighttime.

Megacycle

Lim. occ. Mega-cycle

1. gen. A week.
2. occ. An hour.
3. occ. A day.

Decacycle  

Unc. equ. Deca-cycle

1. gen. A week.
2. occ. A month.

Orn  

Lim.

1. equ. A month.
2. equ. A week.
3. oft. A day.

Quartex

Rar.

1. A month.

Orbital cycle

Lim.

1. A month.

Stellar cycle  

Unc. occ. Stellar-cycle; occ. Metacycle 

1. A year.

Vorn  

Com.

1. A year.
2. In cases where a Cybertronian year is significantly longer than a Terran year: a century (the most common conversion is one vorn equalling eighty-three Terran years, though this is not universal).

Micron  

Lim.

1. A small distance proportionate to a Cybertronian; a centimetre or inch on a Cybertronian scale.

Mechanometre

Lim. occ. Metron

1. A medium distance proportionate to a Cybertronian; a metre on a Cybertronian scale.

Kil

Rar.

1. A large distance proportionate to a Cybertronian; a kilometre on a Cybertronian scale.

Mechanotonne

Rar.

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A tonne; generally, similar in mass to the Terran tonne.

Astrolitre

Rar.

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A litre; generally, similar in mass to the Terran litre.

Chapter Text

Tools

Subspace 

Com.

1. A pocket dimension most Cybertronians use to store small- to medium-sized items.

Datanet

Lim.

1. The Cybertronian equivalent of the internet.

Datapad 

Com.

1. A physical data storage and access device, similar in appearance and function to a tablet. In utility, they more closely resemble books, in that they are rarely omnipurpose like tablets.

Stylus

Unc. 

1. A Cybertronian writing implement, analogous to a pen. Generally, interfaces with datapads.

Workstation

Unc. occ. Work station

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A personal computer.

Chronometer

Com. oft. Chrono

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A clock.

Vibroblade

Rar. occ. Vibro-blade; occ. Vibro blade; occ. Vibroknife

1. (in a Cybertronian context) The most common and simple short-distance and light weapon.

Stasis cuffs 

Unc.

1. (in a Cybertronian context) Handcuffs.

Inhibitor claw 

Rar. occ. Inhibitor collar

1. A frowned-upon device which prevents any and all forms of movement in a Cybertronian.

Energy bars

Lim. occ. Laser bars

1. (in a Cybertronian context) The bars of a cell. Gen., non-lethally electrocute upon contact.

Hygiene & cleanliness

Waste receptacle

Rar.

1. A rubbish bin

Polish 

Com.

1. A topcoat over paint, protecting and lending it lustre. Part of a lot of Cybertronians’ hygiene, occasionally paired with wax for a more striking and formal appearance.

Washracks

Com. oft. Washrack; oft. Wash-racks; oft. Wash racks

1. A Cybertronian shower.

Solvent 

Com.

1. The fluid sprayed by washracks to clean Cybertronian frames.

Cleanser

Unc.

1. gen. (in a Cybertronian context) Soap, of any kind. 
2. oft. Alternative term for ‘Solvent’; the fluid sprayed by washracks to clean Cybertronian frames.

Places & mobility

Oil bath 

Lim.

1. The most common medium of bathing on cybertron, generally for the purpose of leisure.

Oil spring 

Rar.

1. A natural fount of oil, either cold (used mostly for sustenance) or hot (used mostly for leisure).

Oil house 

Lim.

1. An establishment serving beverages (esp. intoxicating), such as oil/engex/etc. (analogous to ‘pub’).

Transport 

Unc.

1. A generally non-sentient (oft. private, occ. public-service) vehicle which transports Cybertronians (e.g., “I thought you were dead; that transport crashed right as shifts were changing down there and blew the place to smithereens” (Vion, 2021, Chapter 2)).

Spacebridge 

Com.

1. A portal which facilitates interplanetary teleportation. Energon-intensive to operate, they are the scaled-up version of the rarer groundbridges, enabling intraplanetary teleportation.

The wastes

Rar.

1. The wide swathes of land between Cybertronian cities, especially so-called where they are hostile to life. Occasionally roamed by nomadic Cybertronians or local fauna.

Food & drink

Energon 

Com.

1. The vital liquid which is the sustenance of all Cybertronian life, as well as, subsequently, their blood. Energon as sustenance is usually referred to by its refinement grade. Often, its colour is pink or (especially in the Aligned continuity) blue. Influences the colour of a Cybertronian’s blush.

Cube

Com.

1. The most common type of drinking vessel for energon. Not necessarily in the form of a cube.

Refuel

Com. To refuel

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A meal.
2. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To eat; to feed oneself.

To purge

Com. occ. To void

1. (in a Cybertronian context) To vomit (oft., of tanks, e.g., “he purged his tanks yesterday” (Steena, 2018, Chapter 469)).
2. (of To void; in a Cybertronian context) Alternative term for above sense (‘to vomit’). More commonly, similarly of tanks (oft. ‘waste tanks’): to urinate, to piss.

Overcharge 

Com. Overcharged

1. Intoxication; drunkenness
2. (of Overcharged) Intoxicated; drunk

FIM chip 

Rar. occ. Fuel Intake Moderator chip

1. A chip in a Cybertronian which prevents energy overload and overcharge from high-grade.

Engex

Unc. 

1. The most prevalent type of high-grade.

High-grade

Com. oft. High grade; occ. Highgrade

1. Highly-refined energon, whose high energy density may overload/overcharge a Cybertronian’s systems if their FIM chip isn’t activated, and lead to an effect similar to intoxication.

Mid-grade 

Unc. oft. Mid grade; occ. Midgrade

1. A refined and purified energon that is the basic sustenance of Cybertronians.

Medical-grade

Unc. gen. Medical grade; occ. Med-grade; occ. Medgrade 

1. A refined and highly-purified energon which aids a Cybertronian’s convalescence. May be similar to mid-grade, or be notably different in appearance and taste, in which case it is often medicine.

Low-grade 

Unc. oft. Low grade; occ. Lowgrade 

1. An insufficiently refined or purified energon which is cheaper, but unhealthy and distasteful.

Oil

Com.

1. gen. Unhealthy, intoxicating, and/or energising drink. Occasionally, analogous to coffee.
2. occ. A vital bodily fluid.

Oil cake 

Lim.

1. A common Cybertronian dessert, made from oil and resembling a cake. 

Rust stick 

Unc.

1. A well-known Cybertronian sweet, in the form of long and thin rust-coloured sticks.

Cold compartment

Rar.

1. A refrigerated storage space for foodstuffs, analogous to a fridge.

Recharge

Recharge

Com. To recharge

1. (in a Cybertronian context) Sleep.
2. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To sleep.

Flux

Lim. equ. Recharge flux; occ. Memory flux—To flux

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A dream.
2. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To dream.

Defragmentation

Unc. gen. Defrag

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A detox, oft. via recharge.

Recharge slab

Lim.

1. Alternative term for ‘Berth’; (in a Cybertronian context) a bed.

Berth 

Com.

1. (in a Cybertronian context) A bed.

Berthroom

Com.

1. A Cybertronian’s bedroom.

Habitation suite

Unc. gen. Habsuite; gen. Hab suite; oft. Habitation

1. A Cybertronian’s apartment/flat.

Online 

Com. To online

1. equ. (esp., of the verb) To turn on a tool or system, esp. optics (analogous to ‘opening one’s eyes’).
2. equ. (rarely, of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) Alive.
3. equ. (often, of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To awake. Rarely: to gain consciousness.

Offline 

Com. To offline

1. gen. (esp., of the verb) To turn off a tool or system, esp. optics (analogous to ‘closing one’s eyes’).
2. oft. (oft., of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) Dead.
3. oft. (of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) To kill.
4. occ. (rarely, of the verb; in a Cybertronian context) Asleep or unconscious.

Stasis lock

Com. gen. Stasis; occ. Stasis-lock 

1. A comatose state Cybertronians involuntarily enter to conserve power after great injury/starvation/etc. Can be medically-induced.

Miscellaneous

Hadeen

Lim.

1. The sun of Cybertron’s solar system. Its name may replace usage of ‘the sun’ (e.g., “he was almost blinded by Hadeen’s radiance” (Liquid, 2015, Chapter 3)).

Luna 1

Lim. equ. Luna-1; equ. Luna I

1. The larger of Cybertron’s two moons. Its name may replace usage of ‘the moon’ (e.g., “the lyrics were dismissible, something about finding your lover under Luna 1” (Violet, 2020, Chapter 23)).

Luna 2

Lim. gen. Luna-2; oft. Luna II

1. The smaller of Cybertron’s two moons. As with ‘Luna 1’, may replace usage of ‘the moon’.

Holopicture

Rar. gen. Holopic; oft. Holo picture; oft. Holo pic; occ. Holo-pic

1. A device which displays holographic projections of pictures.

Polycloth

Rar.

1. A material native to Cybertron, similar in properties and appearance to Terran cloth. 

Durasteel 

Rar. occ. Dura-steel

1. A material native to Cybertron, similar in properties and appearance to Terran steel.

Transparisteel

Rar.

1. A material native to Cybertron, similar to Terran glass but generally much stronger.

Chapter Text

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Astolat. (2017). And I Alone Have Escaped To Tell You. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/12794250

Awe, S. (2016). Together. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/6320311?view_full_work=true

Borath. (2014). Long Nights. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/1179970?view_full_work=true

Bubonicc. (2015). Cake Slice. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/4475312?view_full_work=true

Chico, N. (2023). Trust Me. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/49066954?view_full_work=true

Cringe, V. (2023). Lion’s den. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/46809265?view_full_work=true

Elindae. (2018). Unburied. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/15966164?view_full_work=true

Heroine, Z. (2016). Uninstall. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/5856262?view_full_work=true

Host, G. (2016). Track List. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/6800929?view_full_work=true

Jabberish. (2020). Mistakes on Mistakes Until—. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/23609623?view_full_work=true

Kelz, D. (2018). Living in a Lightless World. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/13996947?view_full_work=true

Leclairage, P. (2018). Domestic Affairs. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/15811407?view_full_work=true

Liquid, S. (2014). Turn of a Switch. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/1237150?view_full_work=true

Liquid, S. (2015). House Divided. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/3224156?view_full_work=true

Liquid, S. (2016). Ride Eternal. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/6140467?view_full_work=true

Mechanic, P. (2017). One More Time Optimus Prime! Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/12434079?view_full_work=true

Mechanic, P. (2023). Return Me to the Stars. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/45438106?view_full_work=true

Michi, K. (2015). Crossroads. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/5082274?view_full_work=true

Mountains, R. (2021). Too far. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/32500159?view_full_work=true

Musketeer, M. (2014). The Brave Shall Heed The Call. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/1118472?view_full_work=true

Mynonys, A. (2019). Contact. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/20062246?view_full_work=true

Mynonys, A. (2021). Plus One. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/30802988?view_full_work=true

Nikkie2010. (2014). The Choices We Make. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/2547863?view_full_work=true

Penguin, F. (2016). Tumbleweeds. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/6242038?view_full_work=true

Prime, V. (2021). Logical Proposals. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/30354405?view_full_work=true

Raven, C. (2022). Adopt-obots & Defect-icons. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/38973429?view_full_work=true

Reaper, S. (2015). The Chemicals Between Us. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/3986002?view_full_work=true

Reyairia, & Zuzeca. (2015). Battlesleep. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/5570629?view_full_work=true

Ros3bud009. (2017). Knocked Out. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/10894023?view_full_work=true

Scribbles, S. (2018). Reise ohne Ende. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/16712560?view_full_work=true

Scribbles, S. (2019). Auf Nimmerwiedersehen. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/18914734?view_full_work=true

Scribe, B. (2013). Life in Glass Houses. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/865388?view_full_work=true

Shadow, Q. (2013). Prompts Collection. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/683771?view_full_work=true

Shadow, Q. (2015). Wandering Sparks. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/4656918?view_full_work=true

Souris, M. (2018). Another Deception. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/15857274?view_full_work=true

Spoon888. (2017). Beauty In Thirds. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/12000243?view_full_work=true

Spoon888. (2018). The Command Quarters. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/16602230?view_full_work=true

Spoon888. (2019a). Bright Still. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/18211466?view_full_work=true

Spoon888. (2019b). Two Birds, One Cell. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/17442011?view_full_work=true

Spoon888. (2020). The Doctor Is In. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/23232112?view_full_work=true

Spoon888. (2021). Accidental War Criminal Acquisition. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/31758913?view_full_work=true

Starlight, W. U. (2017). An Offer He Can’t Refuse. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/12325860?view_full_work=true

Steena. (2018). The pound. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/13418424?view_full_work=true

Sulktora. (2014). Wings of Fire. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/1945014?view_full_work=true

Tere, T. (2020). Can’t survive with you, can’t survive without you. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/24171208?view_full_work=true

Transformatron. (2018). Crawling Back To You. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/16851910?view_full_work=true

Violet, A. (2020). The Echo Garden. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/22553779?view_full_work=true

Vion, O. (2021). Nor Is He Early. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/31375766?view_full_work=true

Wishes, G. (2021). The Silver Lining. Archiveofourown.org. https://archiveofourown.to/works/29074608?view_full_work=true