| SER | <cell biology> An internal membrane structure of the eukaryotic cell. Biochemically similar to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, but lacks the ribosome binding function. Tends to be tubular rather than sheet like, may be separate from the rough endoplasmic reticulum or may be an extension of it. Abundant in cells concerned with lipid metabolism and proliferates in hepatocytes when animals are challenged with lipophilic drugs. Acronym: SER (18 Nov 1997) |
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| sera | Plural of serum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| seraglio | 1. An inclosure; a place of separation. "I went to the Ghetto, where the Jews dwell as in a suburb, by themselves. I passed by the piazza Judea, where their seraglio begins." (Evelyn) 2. The palace of the Grand Seignior, or Turkish sultan, at Constantinople, inhabited by the sultan himself, and all the officers and dependents of his court. In it are also kept the females of the harem. 3. A harem; a place for keeping wives or concubines; sometimes, loosely, a place of licentious pleasure; a house of debauchery. Origin: It. Serraglio, originally, an inclosure of palisades, afterwards also, a palace, seraglio (by confusion with Per. Seraia a palace, an entirely different word), fr. Serrare to shut, fr. LL. Serra a bar for fastening doors, L. Sera. See Serry, Series. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| seral stages | The series of relatively transitory plant communities that develop during ecological succession from bare ground to the climax stage. (05 Dec 1998) |
| seralbumen | <physiology> Serum albumin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| seralbumin | <protein> The serum level of the low molecular protein albumin. Albumin, produced by the liver, plays an important role in maintaining plasma oncotic pressure. Normal serum albumin should be 3.5-5.0 grams per decilitre. Low serum albumin can be found in cases of liver disease and malnutrition. (27 Sep 1997) |
| seraph | Origin: Heb. Seraphim, pl. One of an order of celestial beings, each having three pairs of wings. In ecclesiastical art and in poetry, a seraph is represented as one of a class of angels. "As full, as perfect, in vile man that mourns, As the rapt seraph that adores and burns. <zoology> " (Pope) Seraph moth, any one of numerous species of geometrid moths of the genus Lobophora, having the hind wings deeply bilobed, so that they seem to have six wings. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| serapis | An Egyptian deity, at first a symbol of the Nile, and so of fertility; later, one of the divinities of the lower world. His worship was introduced into Greece and Rome. Origin: L, fr. Gr. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sere | Origin: OE. Seer, AS. Sear (assumed) fr. Searian to wither; akin to D. Zoor dry, LG. Soor, OHG. Soren to to wither, Gr. To parch, to dry, Skr. Cush (for sush) to dry, to wither, Zend hush to dry. Cf. Austere, Sorrel] Dry; withered; no longer green; applied to leaves. "I have lived long enough; my way of life Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf." (Shak) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| serein | <meteorology> A mist, or very fine rain, which sometimes falls from a clear sky a few moments after sunset. Origin: F. Cf. Serenade. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| serendipity | Accidental discovery; in science, finding one thing while looking for something else, as in Fleming's discovery of penicillin. Origin: coined by Horace Walpole and relates to The Three Princes of Serendip, fr. Alternate spelling of Serendib, ancient name for Sri Lanka (05 Mar 2000) |
| serene | 1. Bright; clear; unabscured; as, a serene sky. "The moon serene in glory mounts the sky." (Pope) "Full many a gem of purest ray serene The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear." (Gray) 2. Calm; placid; undisturbed; unruffled; as, a serene aspect; a serene soul. In several countries of Europe, Serene is given as a tittle to princes and the members of their families; as, His Serene Highness. Drop serene. <medicine> See Amaurosis. Origin: L. Serenus to grow dry, Gr. Hot, scorching. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sergeant | 1. Formerly, in England, an officer nearly answering to the more modern bailiff of the hundred; also, an officer whose duty was to attend on the king, and on the lord high steward in court, to arrest traitors and other offenders. He is now called sergeant-at-arms, and two of these officers, by allowance of the sovereign, attend on the houses of Parliament (one for each house) to execute their commands, and another attends the Court Chancery. "The sergeant of the town of Rome them sought." (Chaucer) "The magistrates sent the serjeant, saying, Let those men go." (Acts xvi. 35) "This fell sergeant, Death, Is strict in his arrest." (Shak) 2. (Mil) In a company, battery, or troop, a noncommissioned officer next in rank above a corporal, whose duty is to instruct recruits in discipline, to form the ranks, etc. In the United States service, besides the sergeants belonging to the companies there are, in each regiment, a sergeant major, who is the chief noncommissioned officer, and has important duties as the assistant to the adjutant; a quartermaster sergeant, who assists the quartermaster; a colour sergeant, who carries the colours; and a commissary sergeant, who assists in the care and distribution of the stores. Ordnance sergeants have charge of the ammunition at military posts. 3. A lawyer of the highest rank, answering to the doctor of the civil law; called also serjeant at law. 4. A title sometimes given to the servants of the sovereign; as, sergeant surgeon, that is, a servant, or attendant, surgeon. 5. <zoology> The cobia. Drill sergeant. See the Note under def. 2, above. <zoology> The cow pilot. Origin: F. Sergent, fr. L. Serviens, -entis, p. Pr. Of servire to serve. See Serve, and cf. Servant Alternative forms: serjeant. Both spellings are authorised. In England serjeant is usually preferred, except for military officers. In the United States sergeant is common for civil officers also. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Sergent's white line | A pale streak appearing within 30 to 60 seconds after stroking the skin with a fingernail, and lasting for several minutes; regarded as a sign of diminished arterial tension. Synonym: Sergent's white line. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Sergent, Emile | <person> French physician, 1867-1943. See: Sergent's white line, Bernard-Sergent syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| RNA, transfer, ser | A transfer RNA which is specific for carrying serine to sites on the ribosomes in preparation for protein synthesis. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| UDP-GlcNAc - Ser-protein N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase | <enzyme> Catalyses the transfer of n-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate residues from udp-glcnac to serine units in proteins Registry number: EC 2.7.8.- Synonym: glcnac-1-p-ser transferase (26 Jun 1999) |