| last | 1. A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs, but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs. 2. The burden of a ship; a cargo. Origin: As. Hlaest, fr. Hladan to lade; akin to OHG. Hlast, G, D, Dan, & Sw. Last: cf. F. Laste, last, a last, of German or Dutch origin. See Lade. 1. Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the last man in a line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last chance. "Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God." (Neh. Viii. 18) "Fairest of stars, last in the train of night." (Milton) 2. Next before the present; as, I saw him last week. 3. Supreme; highest in degree; utmost. "Contending for principles of the last importance." (R. Hall). 4. Lowest in rank or degree; as, the last prize. 5. Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused of theft. at last, at the end of a certain period; after delay. "The duke of Savoy felt that the time had at last arrived." . At the last. [Prob. Fr. AS. On laste behind, following behind, fr. Last race, track, footstep. See Last mold of the foot] At the end; in the conclusion. "Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the last." . Last heir, the person to whom lands escheat for want of an heir. On one's last legs, at, or near, the end of one's resources; hence, on the verge of failure or ruin, especially in a financial sense. To breathe one's last, to die. To the last, to the end; till the conclusion. "And blunder on in business to the last." (Pope) Synonym: at Last, At Length. These phrases both denote that some delayed end or result has been reached. at length implies that a long period was spent in so doing; as, after a voyage of more than three months, we at Length arrived safe. At last commonly implies that something has occurred (as interruptions, disappointments, etc) which leads us to emphasize the idea of having reached the end; as, in spite of every obstacle, we have at last arrived. Origin: OE. Last, latst, contr. Of latest, superl. Of late; akin to OS. Lezt, lazt, last, D. Laatst, G. Letzt. See Late, and cf. Latest. A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed. "The cobbler is not to go beyond his last." (L'Estrange) Darning last, a smooth, hard body, often egg-shaped, put into a stocking to preserve its shape in darning. Origin: AS. Lasttrace, track, footstep; akin to D. Leest a last, G. Leisten, Sw. Last, Dan. Laest, Icel. Leistr the foot below the ankle, Goth. Laists track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Cf. Last, Learn, Delirium. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| acetic solution | A vinegar. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amaranth solution | A 1% solution of amaranth (trisodium naphthol sulfonic acid), a synthetic vivid red dye, stable in acid and intensified in sodium hydroxide solution; used as a red or pink colourant in liquid pharmaceuticals. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aqueous solution | <chemistry> A solution in which water is the dissolving medium or solvent. (09 Jan 1998) |
| barium solution | A liquid containing barium sulfate, which shows up on X-rays. It outlines organs of the body so they can be seen on X-ray film. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Benedict's solution | <chemistry> An aqueous solution of sodium citrate, sodium carbonate, and copper sulfate which changes from its normal blue colour to orange, red, or yellow in the presence of a reducing sugar such as glucose. See: Benedict's test for glucose. (14 Aug 2000) |
| Burow's solution | A preparation of aluminium subacetate and glacial acetic acid, used for its antiseptic and astringent action on the skin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gallego's differentiating solution | A dilute solution of formaldehyde and acetic acid used in a modified Gram stain to differentiate and enhance the basic fuchsin binding to Gram-negative microorganisms. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gey's solution | A salt solution usually used in combination with naturally occurring body substances (e.g., blood serum, tissue extracts) and/or more complex chemically defined nutritive solution's for culturing animal cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| glucose solution, hypertonic | Solution that is usually 10 percent glucose but may be higher. An isotonic solution of glucose is 5 percent. (12 Dec 1998) |
| volumetric solution | A solution made by mixing measured volumes of the components. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chemical solution | See: solution. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Ringer's solution | A solution resembling the blood serum in its salt constituents; it contains 8.6 g of NaCl, 0.3 g of KCl, and 0.33 g of CaCl2 in each 1000 ml of distilled water; used topically for burns and wounds, a salt solution usually used in combination with naturally occurring body substances (e.g., blood serum, tissue extracts) and/or more complex chemically defined nutritive solution's for culturing animal cells. See: Ringer's injection. (05 Mar 2000) |
| molar solution | <chemistry> A solution made up of one mole of a compound in enough water to make a thousand millilitres of thesolution. (09 Oct 1997) |
| molecular dispersed solution | A colloidal solution in which the dispersed phase can be concentrated by centrifugation. Synonym: dispersion colloid, molecular dispersed solution. (05 Mar 2000) |