| feces | <gastroenterology> The excrement discharged from the intestines, consisting of bacteria, cells exfoliated from the intestines, secretions, chiefly of the liver and a small amount of food residue. Origin: L. Faeces, pl. Of faex = refuse (18 Nov 1997) |
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| feces, impacted | A large firm mass of stool formed in the rectum or distal colon. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Fechner, Gustav | <person> German physicist, 1801-1887. See: Weber-Fechner law, Fechner-Weber law. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Fechner-Weber law | The intensity of a sensation varies by a series of equal increments (arithmetically) as the strength of the stimulus is increased geometrically; if a series of stimuli is applied and so adjusted in strength that each stimulus causes a just perceptible change in intensity of the sensation, then the strength of each stimulus differs from the preceding one by a constant fraction; thus, if a just perceptible change in a visual sensation is produced by the addition of 1 candle to an original illumination of 100 candles, 10 candles will be required to produce any change in sensation when the original illumination was one of 1000 candles. Synonym: Fechner-Weber law, Weber's law. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fecial | Pertaining to heralds, declarations of war, and treaties of peace; as, fecial law. Origin: L. Fetialis belonging to the fetiales, the Roman priests who sanctioned treaties and demanded satisfaction from the enemy before a formal declaration of war. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fecifork | <entomology> The anal fork on which the larvae of certain insects carry their faeces. Origin: Feces + fork. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fecula | Origin: L.faeula burnt tartar or salt of tartar, dim. Of faex, faecis, sediment, dregs: cf. F. Fecule. Any pulverulent matter obtained from plants by simply breaking down the texture, washing with water, and subsidence. Especially: The nutritious part of wheat; starch or farina; called also amylaceous fecula. The green matter of plants; chlorophyll. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| feculent | Foul. Origin: L. Faeculentus, full of excrement, fr. Faeces, dregs, faeces (05 Mar 2000) |
| fecund | Fruitful. Just as a writer is prolific, a woman may be fecund, able to reproduce plentifully. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fecundability | <gynaecology> The ability to become pregnant. (09 Oct 1997) |
| fecundate | 1. To make fruitful or prolific. 2. <biology> To render fruitful or prolific; to impregnate; as, in flowers the pollen fecundates the ovum through the stigma. Origin: L. Fecundare, fr. Fecundus. See Fecund. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fecundation | <biology> The act by which, either in animals or plants, material prepared by the generative organs the female organism is brought in contact with matter from the organs of the male, so that a new organism results; impregnation; fertilization. Origin: Cf. F. Fecondation. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fecundify | To make fruitful; to fecundate. Origin: Fecund + -fy. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fecundity | <biology, gynaecology> A measure of fertility, such as sperm count or egg count or the number of live offspring produced by an organism. (09 Oct 1997) |