| amphi- | On both sides, surrounding, double; corresponds to L. Ambi-. Origin: G. Amphi,, amphi-, on both sides, about, around (05 Mar 2000) |
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| amphiarthrodial | Relating to a symphysis (amphiarthrosis). (05 Mar 2000) |
| amphiarthrosis | <anatomy> A form of articulation in which the bones are connected by intervening substance admitting slight motion; symphysis. Origin: NL, fr. Gr. + a joining, a joint. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphiaster | <biology> The achromatic figure, formed in mitotic cell-division, consisting of two asters connected by a spindle-shaped bundle of rodlike fibres diverging from each aster, and called the spindle. Origin: NL, fr. Gr. + a star. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphibaric | Denoting a pharmacologic material that may lower or elevate arterial blood pressure, depending on the dose. Origin: amphi-+ G. Baros, pressure (05 Mar 2000) |
| amphibia | <zoology> One of the classes of vertebrates. The Amphibia are distinguished by having usually no scales, by having eggs and embryos similar to those of fishes, and by undergoing a complete metamorphosis, the young having gills. There are three living orders: (1) The tailless, as the frogs (Anura); (2) The tailed (Urodela), as the salamanders, and the siren group (Sirenoidea), which retain the gills of the young state (hence called Perennibranchiata) through the adult state, among which are the siren, proteus, etc.; (3) The Coecilians, or serpentlike Amphibia (Ophiomorpha or Gymnophiona), with minute scales and without limbs. The extinct Labyrinthodonts also belonged to this class. The term is sometimes loosely applied to both reptiles and amphibians collectively. See: Amphibium. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphibian | <zoology> Of or pertaining to the Amphibia; as, amphibian reptiles. <zoology> One of the Amphibia. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphibian venoms | Venoms produced by frogs, toads, salamanders, etc. The venom glands are usually on the skin of the back and contain cardiotoxic glycosides, cholinolytics, and a number of other bioactive materials, many of which have been characterised. The venoms have been used as arrow poisons and include bufogenin, bufotoxin, bufagin, bufotalin, histrionicotoxins, and pumiliotoxin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| amphibiological | Pertaining to amphibiology. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphibiology | <study> A treatise on amphibious animals; the department of natural history which treats of the Amphibia. Origin: Gr. Amphibious: cf. F. Amphibiologie. (04 Mar 1998) |
| amphibiotica | <zoology> A division of insects having aquatic larvae. Origin: NL, fr. Gr. + pertaining to life. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphibious | 1. Having the ability to live both on land and in water, as frogs, crocodiles, beavers, and some plants. 2. Pertaining to, adapted for, or connected with, both land and water. "The amphibious character of the Greeks was already determined: they were to be lords of land and sea." (Hare) 3. Of a mixed nature; partaking of two natures. "Not in free and common socage, but in this amphibious subordinate class of villein socage." (Blackstone) Origin: Gr. Living a double life, i. E, both on land in water; + life. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphiblastic | <biology> Segmenting unequally; said of telolecithal ova with complete segmentation. Origin: Gr. + tending to sprout. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphibole | <chemical> A common mineral embracing many varieties varying in colour and in composition. It occurs in monoclinic crystals; also massive, generally with fibrous or columnar structure. The colour varies from white to gray, green, brown, and black. It is a silicate of magnesium and calcium, with usually aluminium and iron. Some common varieties are tremolite, actinolite, asbestus, edenite, hornblende (the last name being also used as a general term for the whole species). Amphibole is a constituent of many crystalline rocks, as syenite, diorite, most varieties of trachyte, etc. See Hornblende. Origin: Gr. Doubtful, equivocal, fr. To throw round, to doubt: cf. F. Amphibole. Hauy so named the genus from the great variety of colour and composition assumed by the mineral. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphibolic | <biochemistry> Description of a pathway that functions not only to catabolise, but also to provide precursors for anabolic pathways (18 Nov 1997) |