| opaque | Impervious to light; not translucent or only slightly so. Compare: radiopaque. Origin: Fr. Fr. L. Opacus, shady (05 Mar 2000) |
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| opaque microscope | <instrument> A microscope with a condenser built around the objective; used for the investigation of opaque, or only slightly translucent, minute specimens. Synonym: opaque microscope. (05 Mar 2000) |
| barium meal | Oral administration of barium sulfate suspension for radiographic study of the upper gastrointestinal tract (British usage). (05 Mar 2000) |
| 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) |
| test meal | Toast and tea, or crackers and tea, or gruel or other bland food, given to stimulate gastric secretion before withdrawing gastric contents for analysis, administration of food containing a substance thought to be responsible for symptoms, such as an allergic reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |