| Te | 1. In electrodiagnosis, abbreviation denoting tetanic contraction. 2. Symbol for tellurium. 3. In magnetic resonance spin echo pulse sequences, the time to echo, when the magnetization signal is sampled. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| te deum | 1. An ancient and celebrated Christian hymn, of uncertain authorship, but often ascribed to St. Ambrose; so called from the first words "Te Deum laudamus." It forms part of the daily matins of the Roman Catholic breviary, and is sung on all occasions of thanksgiving. In its English form, commencing with words, "We praise thee, O God," it forms a part of the regular morning service of the Church of England and the Protestant Episcopal Church in America. 2. A religious service in which the singing of the hymn forms a principal part. Origin: L, from te (accus. Of tu thou) + Deum, accus. Of Deus God. See Thou, and Deity. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| te&s species | See Threatened, endangered, and sensitive species. (05 Dec 1998) |
| tea | 1. The prepared leaves of a shrub, or small tree (Thea, or Camellia, Chinensis). The shrub is a native of China, but has been introduced to some extent into some other countries. Teas are classed as green or black, according to their colour or appearance, the kinds being distinguished also by various other characteristic differences, as of taste, odour, and the like. The colour, flavor, and quality are dependent upon the treatment which the leaves receive after being gathered. The leaves for green tea are heated, or roasted slightly, in shallow pans over a wood fire, almost immediately after being gathered, after which they are rolled with the hands upon a table, to free them from a portion of their moisture, and to twist them, and are then quickly dried. Those intended for black tea are spread out in the air for some time after being gathered, and then tossed about with the hands until they become soft and flaccid, when they are roasted for a few minutes, and rolled, and having then been exposed to the air for a few hours in a soft and moist state, are finally dried slowly over a charcoal fire. The operation of roasting and rolling is sometimes repeated several times, until the leaves have become of the proper colour. The principal sorts of green tea are Twankay, the poorest kind; Hyson skin, the refuse of Hyson; Hyson, Imperial, and Gunpowder, fine varieties; and Young Hyson, a choice kind made from young leaves gathered early in the spring. Those of black tea are Bohea, the poorest kind; Congou; Oolong; Souchong, one of the finest varieties; and Pekoe, a fine-flavored kind, made chiefly from young spring buds. See Bohea, Congou, Gunpowder tea, under Gunpowder, Hyson, Oolong, and Souchong. "No knowledge of . . . [tea] appears to have reached Europe till after the establishment of intercourse between Portugal and China in 1517. The Portuguese, however, did little towards the introduction of the herb into Europe, and it was not till the Dutch established themselves at Bantam early in 17th century, that these adventurers learned from the Chinese the habit of tea drinking, and brought it to Europe." 2. A decoction or infusion of tea leaves in boiling water; as, tea is a common beverage. 3. Any infusion or decoction, especially when made of the dried leaves of plants; as, sage tea; chamomile tea; catnip tea. 4. The evening meal, at which tea is usually served; supper. <botany> Arabian tea, the leaves of Catha edulis; also, the tea plant of China. See Tea plant, above. Tea urn, a vessel generally in the form of an urn or vase, for supplying hot water for steeping, or infusing, tea. Origin: Chin. Tsha, Prov. Chin. Te: cf. F. The. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| teaberry | <botany> The checkerberry. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| teachers' nodes | Small, circumscribed, bilateral, beadlike enlargements on the vocal cords caused by overuse or abuse of the voice; often reversible by voice therapy. Synonym: singer's nodes, singer's nodules, teachers' nodes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| teaching | The educational process of instructing. (12 Dec 1998) |
| teaching hospital | A hospital that also functions as a formal centre of learning for the training of physicians, nurses, and allied health personnel. (05 Mar 2000) |
| teaching materials | Instructional materials used in teaching. (12 Dec 1998) |
| TEAE-cellulose | Cellulose to which triethylaminoethyl groups have been attached; used in ion-exchange chromatography. Synonym: O-(triethylaminoethyl) cellulose. (05 Mar 2000) |
| teak | <botany> A tree of East Indies (Tectona grandis) which furnishes an extremely strong and durable timber highly valued for shipbuilding and other purposes; also, the timber of the tree. Alternative forms: teek African teak, a tree (Oldfieldia Africana) of Sierra Leone; also, its very heavy and durable wood; called also African oak. New Zeland teak, a large tree (Vitex littoralis) of New Zeland; also, its hard, durable timber. Origin: Malayalm tekku. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| teal | <zoology> Any one of several species of small fresh water ducks of the genus Anas and the subgenera Querquedula and Nettion. The male is handsomely coloured, and has a bright green or blue speculum on the wings. The common European teal (Anas crecca) and the European blue-winged teal, or garganey (A. Querquedula or A. Circia), are well-known species. In America the blue-winged teal (A. Discors), the green-winged teal (A. Carolinensis), and the cinnamon teal (A. Cynaoptera) are common species, valued as game birds. See Garganey. Goose teal, a goslet. See Goslet. Teal duck, the common European teal. Origin: OE. Tele; akin to D. Teling a generation, production, teal, telen to breed, produce, and E. Till to cultivate. The English word probably once meant, a brood or flock. See Till to cultivate. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Teale | Thomas P., English surgeon, 1801-1868. See: Teale's amputation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Teale's amputation | Amputation of the forearm in its lower half, or of the thigh, with a long posterior rectangular flap and a short anterior one, amputation of the leg, with a long anterior rectangular flap and a short posterior one. (05 Mar 2000) |
| team | 1. A group of young animals, especially of young ducks; a brood; a litter. "A team of ducklings about her." (Holland) 2. Hence, a number of animals moving together. "A long team of snowy swans on high." (Dryden) 3. Two or more horses, oxen, or other beasts harnessed to the same vehicle for drawing, as to a coach, wagon, sled, or the like. "A team of dolphins." "To take his team and till the earth." (Piers Plowman) "It happened almost every day that coaches stuck fast, until a team of cattle could be procured from some neighboring farm to tug them out of the slough." (Macaulay) 4. A number of persons associated together in any work; a gang; especially, a number of persons selected to contend on one side in a match, or a series of matches, in a cricket, football, rowing, etc. 5. <zoology> A flock of wild ducks. 6. A royalty or privilege granted by royal charter to a lord of a manor, of having, keeping, and judging in his court, his bondmen, neifes, and villains, and their offspring, or suit, that is, goods and chattels, and appurtenances thereto. Origin: OE. Tem, team, AS. Team, offspring, progeny, race of descendants, family; akin to D. Toom a bridle, LG. Toom progeny, team, bridle, G. Zaum a bridle, zeugen to beget, Icel. Taumr to rein, bridle, Dan. Tomme, Sw. Tom, and also to E. Tow to drag, tug to draw. 64. See Tug, and cf. Teem to bear. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |