| lute | A stringed instrument formerly much in use. It consists of four parts, namely, the table or front, the body, having nine or ten ribs or "sides," arranged like the divisions of a melon, the neck, which has nine or ten frets or divisions, and the head, or cross, in which the screws for tuning are inserted. The strings are struck with the right hand, and with the left the stops are pressed. Origin: OF. Leut, F. Luth; skin to Pr. Laot, It. Lioto, leoto, Sp. Laod, Pg. Alaude; all fr. Ar. Al'd; al the + 'd wood, timber, trunk or branch of a tree, staff, stick, wood of aloes, lute or harp. 1. <chemistry> A cement of clay or other tenacious infusible substance for sealing joints in apparatus, or the mouths of vessels or tubes, or for coating the bodies of retorts, etc, when exposed to heat; called also luting. 2. A packing ring, as of rubber, for fruit jars, etc. 3. A straight-edged piece of wood for striking off superfluous clay from mold. Origin: L. Lutum mud, clay: cf. OF. Lut. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| luteal | Relating to the corpus luteum; luteal cells, luteal hormone, etc. Synonym: luteus. Origin: L. Luteus, saffron-yellow (05 Mar 2000) |
| luteal cell | A cell of the corpus luteum of the ovary that is derived from the granulosa cells of the preovulatory follicle; it secretes progesterone and oestrogen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| luteal phase | The post-ovulatory phase of a woman's cycle, the corpus luteum produces progesterone, which in turn causes the uterine lining to secrete substances to support the implantation and growth of the early embryo. (09 Oct 1997) |
| luteal phase defect | Inadequate function of the corpus luteum that may prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus or may lead to early pregnancy loss. (09 Oct 1997) |
| luteal phase deficiency | Inadequate function of the corpus luteum that may prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus or may lead to early pregnancy loss. (09 Oct 1997) |
| lutecium | <chemical> Lutetium. An element of the rare earth family of metals. It has the atomic symbol lu, atomic number 71, and atomic weight 175. Chemical name: Lutetium (12 Dec 1998) |
| luteic | <chemistry> Pertaining to, or derived from, weld (Reseda luteola). Pertaining to, or designating, an acid resembling luteolin, but obtained from the flowers of Euphorbia cyparissias. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lutein | <physiology> A substance of a strongly marked yellow colour, extracted from the yelk of eggs, and from the tissue of the corpus luteum. Origin: From corpus luteum. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lutein cells | The cells of the corpus luteum which are derived from the granulosa cells and the theca cells of the graafian follicle. (12 Dec 1998) |
| luteinise | To form luteal tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| luteinised unruptured follicle syndrome | <syndrome> The failure of a follicle to release the egg even though a corpus luteum has formed. (09 Oct 1997) |
| luteinising hormone | <endocrinology> A glycoprotein hormone (26 kD) and gonadotrophin. Made up of an _ chain (96 amino acids) identical to other gonadotrophins and a hormone specific _ chain. Acts with follicle-stimulating hormone to stimulate sex hormone release. (18 Nov 1997) |
| luteinising hormone releasing factor | A decapeptide releasing hormone (1182D) that stimulates release of luteinising hormone. (18 Nov 1997) |
| luteinization | Transformation of the mature ovarian follicle and its theca interna into a corpus luteum after ovulation; formation of luteal tissue, which appears yellow in some species. (05 Mar 2000) |