| explain | 1. To flatten; to spread out; to unfold; to expand. "The horse-chestnut is . . . Ready to explain its leaf." (Evelyn) 2. To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to expound; to unfold and illustrate the meaning of; as, to explain a chapter of the Bible. "Commentators to explain the difficult passages to you." (Gay) To explain away, to get rid of by explanation. "Those explain the meaning quite "away." Synonym: To expound, interpret, elucidate, clear up. Origin: L. Explandare to flatten, spread out, explain; ex out+plandare to make level or plain, planus plain: cf. OF. Esplaner, explaner. See Plain, and cf. Esplanade. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| explanate | <botany> Spreading or extending outwardly in a flat form. Origin: L. Explanatus, p.p. Of explanare. See Explain. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| explant | Living tissue transferred from an organism to an artificial medium for culture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| explantation | The act of transferring an explant. (05 Mar 2000) |
| explicit | 1. Not implied merely, or conveyed by implication; distinctly stated; plain in language; open to the understanding; clear; not obscure or ambiguous; express; unequivocal; as, an explicit declaration. "The language of the charter was too explicit to admit of a doubt." (Bancroft) 2. Having no disguised meaning or reservation; unreserved; outspoken; applied to persons; as, he was earnest and explicit in his statement. Explicit function. <mathematics> See Function. Synonym: Express, clear, plain, open, unreserved, unambiguous. Explicit, Express. Explicit denotes a setting forth in the plainest, language, so that the meaning can not be misunderstood; as, an explicit promise. Express is stronger than explicit: it adds force to clearness. An express promise or engagement is not only unambiguous, but stands out in bold relief, with the most binding hold on the conscience. An explicit statement; a clear and explicit notion; explicit direction; no words can be more explicit. An explicit command; an express prohibition. "An express declaration goes forcibly and directly to the point. An explicit declaration leaves nothing ambiguous." Origin: L. Explicitus; p.p. Of explicare to unfold: cf. F. Explicite. See Explicate, Exploit. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| explode | 1. To become suddenly expanded into a great volume of gas or vapor; to burst violently into flame; as gunpowder explodes. 2. To burst with force and a loud report; to detonate, as a shell filled with powder or the like material, or as a boiler from too great pressure of steam. 3. To burst forth with sudden violence and noise; as, at this, his wrath exploded. Origin: L. Explodere, explosum, to drive out, drive out a player by clapping; ex out+plaudere, plodere, to clap, strike, applaud: cf. OF. Exploder. See Plausible. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| exploration | <medicine> The act of exploring, penetrating, or ranging over for purposes of discovery, especially of geographical discovery; examination; as, the exploration of unknown countries; physical examination. ""An exploration of doctrine."" (Bp. Hall) Origin: L. Exploratio: cf. F. Exploration. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| exploratory | Relating to, or with a view to, exploration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| exploratory behaviour | The tendency to explore or investigate a novel environment. It is considered a motivation not clearly distinguishable from curiosity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| exploratory drive | The drive typical of toddlers and some animals to investigate the unfamiliar or unknown. (05 Mar 2000) |
| explorer | <dentistry> A hook-like fine pointed instrument used in examining the teeth. (08 Jan 1998) |
| exploring electrode | An electrode placed on or near an excitable tissue; in unipolar electrocardiography, the electrode is placed on the chest in the region of the heart and paired with an indifferent electrode. (05 Mar 2000) |
| exploring needle | A strong needle with a longitudinal groove, which is thrust into a tumour or cavity to determine the presence of fluid, the latter escaping externally along the groove. (05 Mar 2000) |
| explosion | 1. The act of exploding; detonation; a chemical action which causes the sudden formation of a great volume of expanded gas; as, the explosion of gunpowder, of fire damp,etc. 2. A bursting with violence and loud noise, because of internal pressure; as, the explosion of a gun, a bomb, a steam boiler, etc. 3. A violent outburst of feeling, manifested by excited language, action, etc.; as, an explosion of wrath. "A formidable explosion of high-church fanaticism." (Macaulay) Origin: L. Explosio a driving off by clapping: cf. F. Explosion explosion. See Explode. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| explosive | 1. An explosive agent; a compound or mixture susceptible of a rapid chemical reaction, as gunpowder, or nitro-glycerine. 2. A sound produced by an explosive impulse of the breath; one of consonants p, b, t, d, k, g, which are sounded with a sort of explosive power of voice. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |