| infection thread | In the formation of root nodules, a cellulosic tube through which Rhizobium cells can travel to reach and infect root cells. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| terminal thread | A long, slender connective tissue (pia mater) strand extending from the extremity of the medullary cone to the internal aspect of the spinal dural sac (filum terminale internum); stout strands of connective tissue attaching the spinal dural sac to the coccyx (filum terminale externum), commonly called the coccygeal ligament. Synonym: filum terminale, nervus impar, terminal thread. (05 Mar 2000) |
| thread | 1. A very small twist of flax, wool, cotton, silk, or other fibrous substance, drawn out to considerable length; a compound cord consisting of two or more single yarns doubled, or joined together, and twisted. 2. A filament, as of a flower, or of any fibrous substance, as of bark; also, a line of gold or silver. 3. The prominent part of the spiral of a screw or nut; the rib. See Screw. 4. Something continued in a long course or tenor; a,s the thread of life, or of a discourse. 5. Composition; quality; fineness. "A neat courtier, Of a most elegant thread." (B. Jonson) Air thread, the fine white filaments which are seen floating in the air in summer, the production of spiders; gossamer. Thread and thrum, the good and bad together. <zoology> Thread cell, the gizzard shad. See Gizzard. Thread lace, lace made of linen thread. Thread needle, a game in which children stand in a row, joining hands, and in which the outer one, still holding his neighbor, runs between the others; called also thread the needle. Origin: OE. Threed, red, AS. Rd; akin to D. Draad, G. Draht wire, thread, OHG. Drat, Icel. Rar a thread, Sw. Trad, Dan. Traad, and AS. Rawan to twist. See Throw, and cf. Third. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Gigli's saw | A hand-held wire saw for use in craniotomy or pubiotomy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| saw | An instrument for cutting or dividing substances, as wood, iron, etc, consisting of a thin blade, or plate, of steel, with a series of sharp teeth on the edge, which remove successive portions of the material by cutting and tearing. Saw is frequently used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound. Band saw, Crosscut saw, etc. See Band, Crosscut, etc. Circular saw, a disk of steel with saw teeth upon its periphery, and revolved on an arbor. Saw bench, a bench or table with a flat top for for sawing, especially with a circular saw which projects above the table. Saw file, a three-cornered file, such as is used for sharpening saw teeth. Saw frame, the frame or sash in a sawmill, in which the saw, or gang of saws, is held. Saw gate, a saw frame. Saw gin, the form of cotton gin invented by Eli Whitney, in which the cotton fibres are drawn, by the teeth, of a set of revolving circular saws, through a wire grating which is too fine for the seeds to pass. <botany> Saw grass, the marsh titmouse (Parus palustris); so named from its call note. Scroll saw, a ribbon of steel with saw teeth upon one edge, stretched in a frame and adapted for sawing curved outlines; also, a machine in which such a saw is worked by foot or power. Origin: OE. Sawe, AS. Sage; akin to D. Zaag, G. Sage, OHG. Sega, saga, Dan. Sav, sw. Sag, Icel. Sog, L. Secare to cut, securis ax, secula sickle. Cf. Scythe, Sickle, Section, Sedge. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| saw-whet | <zoology> A small North American owl (Nyctale Acadica), destitute of ear tufts and having feathered toes. Synonym: Acadian owl. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| saw-wort | <botany> Any plant of the composite genus Serratula; so named from the serrated leaves of most of the species. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Stryker saw | A rapidly oscillating saw used for cutting bone or plaster casts; it cuts hard matter, but soft tissues give and thus are not injured. (05 Mar 2000) |