| sloakan | <botany> A species of seaweed. [Spelled also slowcawn] See Laver. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| sloam | <chemical> A layer of earth between coal seams. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| slobber | 1. See Slabber. 2. <zoology> A jellyfish. 3. Salivation. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sloe | <botany> A small, bitter, wild European plum, the fruit of the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa); also, the tree itself. Origin: OE. Slo, AS. Sla; akin to D. Slee, G. Schlehe, OHG. Sl$ha, Dan. Slaaen, Sw. Sln, perhaps originally, that which blunts the teeth, or sets them on edge (cf. Slow); cf. Lith. Sliwa a plum, Russ. Sliva. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sloke | <botany> See Sloakan. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| slope | 1. An oblique direction; a line or direction including from a horizontal line or direction; also, sometimes, an inclination, as of one line or surface to another. 2. Any ground whose surface forms an angle with the plane of the horizon. " buildings the summit and slope of a hill." (Macaulay) "Under the slopes of Pisgah." (Deut. Iv. 49. (Rev. Ver)) A slope, considered as descending, is a declivity; considered as ascending, an acclivity. <geometry> Slope of a plane, the direction of the plane; as, parallel planes have the same slope. Origin: Formed (like abode fr. Abide) from OE. Slipen. See Slip. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| slope culture | A culture made on the slanting surface of a medium which has been solidified in a test tube inclined from the perpendicular so as to give a greater area than that of the lumen of the tube. Synonym: slope culture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| slot | The track of a deer; hence, a track of any kind. "As a bloodhound follows the slot of a hurt deer." (Sir W. Scott) Origin: Cf. Icel. Sl, and E. Sleuth. 1. A broad, flat, wooden bar; a slat or sloat. 2. A bolt or bar for fastening a door. 3. A narrow depression, perforation, or aperture; especially, one for the reception of a piece fitting or sliding in it. Origin: LG. & D. Slot a lock, from a verb meaning to close, to shut, D. Sluiten; akin to G. Schliessen, OHG. Sliozan, OFries. Slta, and probably to L. Claudere. Cf. Close, Sluice. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sloth | 1. Slowness; tardiness. "These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome." (Shak) 2. Disinclination to action or labour; sluggishness; laziness; idleness. "[They] change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth." (Milton) "Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears." (Franklin) 3. <zoology> Any one of several species of arboreal edentates constituting the family Bradypodidae, and the suborder Tardigrada. They have long exserted limbs and long prehensile claws. Both jaws are furnished with teeth, and the ears and tail are rudimentary. They inhabit South and Central America and Mexico. The three-toed sloths belong to the genera Bradypus and Arctopithecus, of which several species have been described. They have three toes on each foot. The best-known species are collared sloth (Bradypus tridactylus), and the ai (Arctopitheus ai). The two-toed sloths, consisting the genus Cholopus, have two toes on each fore foot and three on each hind foot. The best-known is the unau (Cholopus didactylus) of South America. See Unau. Another species (C. Hoffmanni) inhabits Central America. Various large extinct terrestrial edentates, such as Megatherium and Mylodon, are often called sloths. <medicine> Australian, or Native sloth, a loris. Origin: OE. Slouthe, sleuthe, AS. Slw, fr. Slaw slow. See Slow. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| slothhound | <zoology> See Sleuthhound. See: Slot a track, and cf. Sleuthhound. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sloths | Slow-moving exclusively arboreal mammals that inhabit the tropical forests of south and central america. (12 Dec 1998) |
| slotted attachment | A frictional or mechanically retained unit used in fixed or removable prosthodontics, consisting of closely fitting male and female parts, an attachment that may be rigid in function or may incorporate a movable stress control unit to reduce the torque on the abutment. Synonym: frictional attachment, internal attachment, key attachment, keyway attachment, parallel attachment, slotted attachment. (05 Mar 2000) |
| slough | <ecology> A wet place of deep mud or mire, a sluggish channel, a swamp, bog, or marsh, especially one that is part of an inlet or backwater. (19 Jan 1998) |
| sloughing | <zoology> The act of casting off the skin or shell, as do insects and crustaceans; ecdysis. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sloughing phagedena | <dermatology> A chronic ulcer that appears in pressure areas in debilitated patients confined to bed or otherwise immobilised, due to a circulatory defect from the enhanced tissue pressure in high-contact areas, often occurring over a bony prominence (for example sacral decubitus). (27 Sep 1997) |