| magnification empty | <microscopy> Magnification beyond which no new information is revealed. (05 Aug 1998) |
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| sterile | 1. Producing little or no crop; barren; unfruitful; unproductive; not fertile; as, sterile land; a sterile desert; a sterile year. 2. <biology> Incapable of reproduction; unfitted for reproduction of offspring; not able to germinate or bear fruit; unfruitful; as, a sterile flower, which bears only stamens. Free from reproductive spores or germs; as, a sterile fluid. 3. Barren of ideas; destitute of sentiment; as, a sterile production or author. Origin: F. Sterile, L. Sterilis, akin to Gr. Stereos stiff, solid, stei^ros barren, stei^ra a cow that has not calved, Goth. Stairo, fem, barren. See Stare to gaze. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sterile abscess | An abscess whose contents are not caused by pyogenic bacteria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sterile cyst | A hydatid cyst without brood capsules or viable scoleces. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sterile insect technique | A technique used to control or eradicate insect pests or vectors, utilizing induction by irradiation of dominant lethality in the chromosomes of the released insects. (05 Mar 2000) |
| empty | 1. Containing nothing; not holding or having anything within; void of contents or appropriate contents; not filled; said of an inclosure, as a box, room, house, etc.; as, an empty chest, room, purse, or pitcher; an empty stomach; empty shackles. 2. Free; clear; devoid; often with of. "That fair female troop . . . Empty of all good." "I shall find you empty of that fault." (Shak) 3. Having nothing to carry; unburdened. "An empty messenger." "When ye go ye shall not go empty." (Ex. Iii. 21) 4. Destitute of effect, sincerity, or sense; said of language; as, empty words, or threats. "Words are but empty thanks." (Cibber) 5. Unable to satisfy; unsatisfactory; hollow; vain; said of pleasure, the world, etc. "Pleas'd in the silent shade with empty praise." (Pope) 6. Producing nothing; unfruitful; said of a plant or tree; as, an empty vine. "Seven empty ears blasted with the east wind." (Gen. Xli. 27) 7. Destitute of, or lacking, sense, knowledge, or courtesy; as, empty brains; an empty coxcomb. "That in civility thou seem'st so empty." (Shak) 8. Destitute of reality, or real existence; unsubstantial; as, empty dreams. Empty is used as the first element in a compound; as, empty-handed, having nothing in the hands, destitute; empty-headed, having few ideas; empty-hearted, destitute of feeling. Synonym: See Vacant. Origin: AS. Emtig, aemtig, aemetig, fr. Aemta, aemetta, quiet, leisure, rest; of uncertain origin; cf. G. Emsig busy. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| empty sella | A sella turcica, often enlarged, that contains no discernible pituitary gland; may be primarily due to an incompetent sellar diaphragm with compression of the pituitary gland by herniating arachnoid or secondarily due to surgery or radiotherapy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| empty sella syndrome | <radiology> Aetiology, idiopathic, most commonly reported in middle-aged obese women (associated with DM, hypertension, normal pituitary function), secondary, pituitary adenoma, surgery or irradiation, communicating hydrocephalus, familial (very rare) X-ray findings: sella normal or increased, intrasellar herniation of subarachnoid space, symptoms: headache, visual disorders, with or without decreased pituitary function, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea (12 Dec 1998) |