| ant | <zoology> A hymenopterous insect of the Linnaean genus Formica, which is now made a family of several genera; an emmet; a pismire. Among ants, as among bees, there are neuter or working ants, besides the males and females; the former are without wings. Ants live together in swarms, usually raising hillocks of earth, variously chambered within, where they maintain a perfect system of order, store their provisions, and nurture their young. There are many species, with diverse habits, as agricultural ants, carpenter ants, honey ants, foraging ants, amazon ants, etc. The white ants or Termites belong to the Neuroptera. <zoology> Ant bird, one of a very extensive group of South American birds (Formicariidae), which live on ants. The family includes many species, some of which are called ant shrikes, ant thrushes, and ant wrens. <botany> Ant rice, a species of grass (Aristida oligantha) cultivated by the agricultural ants of Texas for the sake of its seed. Origin: OE. Ante, amete, emete, AS. Aemete akin to G. Ameise. Cf. Emmet. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| ant bird | <zoology> See Ant bird, under Ant. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ant thrush | <ornithology> One of several species of tropical birds, of the Old World, of the genus Pitta, somewhat resembling the thrushes, and feeding chiefly on ants. See Ant bird, under Ant. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ant venoms | Venoms from the superfamily formicoidea, ants. They may contain protein factors and toxins, histamine, enzymes, and alkaloids and are often allergenic or immunogenic. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ant-bear | <zoology> An edentate animal of tropical America (the Tamanoir), living on ants. It belongs to the genus Myrmecophaga. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ant-cattle | <zoology> Various kinds of plant lice or aphids tended by ants for the sake of the honeydew which they secrete. See Aphips. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ant-eater | <zoology> One of several species of edentates and monotremes that feed upon ants. See Ant-bear, Pangolin, Aardvark, and Echidna. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ant-hill | <zoology> A mound thrown up by ants or by termites in forming their nests. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ant-lion | <zoology> A neuropterous insect, the larva of which makes in the sand a pitfall to capture ants, etc. The common American species is Myrmeleon obsoletus, the European is M. Formicarius. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| antacid | <pharmacology> A substance that counteracts or neutralises acidity, usually of the stomach. Origin: L. Acidus = sour (16 Dec 1997) |
| antacids | Substances that counteract or neutralise acidity. They are used mainly for the treatment of gastrointestinal irritation or ulcers. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antagonism | An interaction between chemicals in which one partially or completelyinhibits the effect of the other (for example, a drug that blocks a hormone's receptor site would be a hormone antagonist). (09 Oct 1997) |
| antagonist | <pharmacology> A substance that tends to nullify the action of another, as a drug that binds to a cell receptor without eliciting a biological response. Origin: Gr. Antagonistes = an opponent (18 Nov 1997) |
| antagonistic effect | This is the consequence of one chemical (or group of chemicals) counteracting the effects of another chemical, the opposing chemicals cancel out each other's effects. (09 Oct 1997) |
| antagonistic muscles | Those having an opposite function, the contraction of one having the potential, in theory, to "neutralise" that of the other. (05 Mar 2000) |
| velvet ant | A wingless mutilid wasp (family Mutilidae, order Hymenoptera) known for its venomous sting. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| velvet ant stings | Common in most parts of the world including the southern and southwestern united states, velvet ants are not true ants but rather parasitic wasps. Their sting like that of other wasps, fire ants, bees, yellow jackets, and hornets -- can trigger allergic reactions varying greatly in severity. Avoidance and prompt treatment are essential. In selected cases, allergy injection therapy is highly effective. (the three a's of insect allergy are adrenaline, avoidance and allergist.) (12 Dec 1998) |
| harvester ant | A genus of ants that attack humans and small animals. Synonym: harvester ant. Origin: G. Pogon, beard, + myrmex, ant (05 Mar 2000) |
| sauba ant | <zoology> A South American ant (Ecodoma cephalotes) remarkable for having two large kinds of workers besides the ordinary ones, and for the immense size of its formicaries. The sauba ant cuts off leaves of plants and carries them into its subterranean nests, and thus often does great damage by defoliating trees and cultivated plants. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fire ant stings | A scourge, these red or yellow ants of small-to-medium size, originally from South America, have a severe sting that burns like fire. Their sting like that of bees, yellow jackets, hornets and wasps -- can trigger allergic reactions varying greatly in severity. Avoidance and prompt treatment are essential. In selected cases, allergy injection therapy is highly effective. (The three A's of insect allergy are Adrenaline, Avoidance and Allergist.) (12 Dec 1998) |