| mead | 1. A fermented drink made of water and honey with malt, yeast, etc.; metheglin; hydromel. 2. A drink composed of sirup of sarsaparilla or other flavoring extract, and water. It is sometimes charged with carbonic acid gas. Origin: OE. Mede, AS. Meodo; akin to D. Mede, G. Met, meth, OHG. Metu, mitu, Icel. Mjor, Dan. Miod, Sw. Mjod, Russ. Med', Lith. Midus, W. Medd, Gr. Wine, Skr. Madhu honey, a sweet drink, as adj, sweet. Cf. Metheglin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| mead-johnson nutritionals | A division of the Mead-Johnson Corporation and maker of Enfamil (R), ProSobee (R), Nutramigen (R), LactoFree (R) and other fine infant nutritional products. (27 Sep 1997) |
| meadow | Of or pertaining to a meadow; of the nature of a meadow; produced, growing, or living in, a meadow. "Fat meadow ground." For many names of plants compounded with meadow, see the particular word in the Vocabulary. Meadow beauty. <botany> The common or jack snipe. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| meadow dermatitis | A photoallergic reaction to contact with a plant containing furocoumarin in which the bizarre configuration of the eruption is that of the streaky pattern of the plant contact; often occurs after sunbathing. Synonym: phytophlyctodermatitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Meadows' syndrome | <syndrome> Cardiomyopathy developing during pregnancy or the puerperium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Meadows, William Robert | <person> U.S. Cardiologist, *1919. See: Meadows' syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| meadowwort | <botany> The name of several plants of the genus Spiraea, especially the white- or pink-flowered S. Salicifolia, a low European and American shrub, and the herbaceous S. Ulmaria, which has fragrant white flowers in compound cymes. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| meagre | 1. Destitue of, or having little, flesh; lean. "Meager were his looks; Sharp misery had worn him to the bones." (Shak) 2. Destitute of richness, fertility, strength, or the like; defective in quantity, or poor in quality; poor; barren; scanty in ideas; wanting strength of diction or affluence of imagery. "Meager soil." "Of secular habits and meager religious belief." (I. Taylor) "His education had been but meager." (Motley) 3. <chemical> Dry and harsh to the touch, as chalk. Synonym: Thin, lean, lank, gaunt, starved, hungry, poor, emaciated, scanty, barren. Origin: OE. Merge, F. Maigre, L. Macer; akin to D. & G. Mager, Icel. Magr, and prob. To Gr. Long. Cf. Emaciate, Maigre. <zoology> A large European sciaenoid fish (Sciaena umbra or S. Aquila), having white bloodless flesh. It is valued as a food fish. Alternative forms: maigre. Origin: F. Maigre. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| meal | 1. Grain (especially. Maize, rye, or oats) that is coarsely ground and unbolted; also, a kind of flour made from beans, pease, etc.; sometimes, any flour, esp. If coarse. 2. Any substance that is coarsely pulverized like meal, but not granulated. Meal beetle, the larva of a beetle (Tenebrio molitor) which infests granaries, bakehouses, etc, and is very injurious to flour and meal. Origin: OE. Mele, AS. Melu, melo; akin to D. Meel, G. Mehl, OHG. Melo, Icel. Mjol, SW. Mjol, Dan. Meel, also to D. Malen to grind, G. Mahlen, OHG, OS, & Goth. Malan, Icel. Mala, W. Malu, L. Molere, Gr. Mill, and E. Mill. Cf. Mill, Mold soil, Mole an animal, Immolate, Molar. The portion of food taken at a particular time for the satisfaction of appetite; the quantity usually taken at one time with the purpose of satisfying hunger; a repast; the ac or time of eating a meal; as, the traveler has not eaten a good meal for a week; there was silence during the meal. "What strange fish Hath made his meal on thee ?" (Shak) Origin: OE. Mel; akin to E. Meal a part, and to D. Maal time, meal, G. Mal time, mahl meal, Icel. Mal measure, time, meal, Goth. Ml time, and to E. Measure. See Measure. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| meal worm | The larva of beetles of the genus Tenebrio; both larvae and adults are important pests, destroying flour, meal, and other cereal products; they are also intermediate hosts of nematodes of the genus Gongylonema, and of various tapeworms of the genus Hymenolepis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mealies | <botany> Maize or Indian corn; the common name in South Africa. Origin: From Mealy. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| mealy | 1. Having the qualities of meal; resembling meal; soft, dry, and friable; easily reduced to a condition resembling meal; as, a mealy potato. 2. Overspread with something that resembles meal; as, the mealy wings of an insect. <zoology> Mealy bug, a scale insect (Coccus adonidum, and related species), covered with a white powderlike substance. It is a common pest in hothouses. Origin: Mealier; Mealiest. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| mean | <statistics> Average value calculated by taking the sum of all values and dividing by the total number of values. (05 Jan 1998) |
| mean annual increment | The annual average growth rate for a tree, computed over its entire life cycle. (05 Dec 1998) |
| mean arterial pressure | <cardiology, physiology> The average value for arterial pressure. Systolic pressure + diastolic pressure divided by 2. (27 Sep 1997) |