| smooth muscular sphincter | A sphincter of smooth musculature. Synonym: smooth muscular sphincter. Origin: G. Lissos, smooth, + sphincter (05 Mar 2000) |
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| smooth strain | <microbiology> Bacterial strains that have altered outer cell wall carbohydrate chains causing colonies on agar to change their appearance from smooth to dull. In Streptococci the smooth strains are virulent whereas the rough strains are not. This is partly because the rough strains are much more readily phagocytosed. (17 Dec 1997) |
| smooth surface caries | Caries initiated on the smooth surfaces of teeth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum | Endoplasmic reticulum that is lacking in ribosomal granules; involved in synthesis of complex lipids and fatty acids, detoxification of drugs, carbohydrate synthesis, and sequestering of Ca++. Synonym: smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| smore | To smother. See Smoor. "Some dying vomit blood, and some were smored." (Du Bartas) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| smother | 1. To destroy the life of by suffocation; to deprive of the air necessary for life; to cover up closely so as to prevent breathing; to suffocate; as, to smother a child. 2. To affect as by suffocation; to stife; to deprive of air by a thick covering, as of ashes, of smoke, or the like; as, to smother a fire. 3. Hence, to repress the action of; to cover from public view; to suppress; to conceal; as, to smother one's displeasure. Origin: OE. Smotheren; akin to E. Smoor. See Smoor. 1. Stifling smoke; thick dust. 2. A state of suppression. "Not to keep their suspicions in smother. <zoology>" (Bacon) Smother fly, an aphid. Origin: OE. Smorther. See Smother. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| smudge cells | Immature leukocytes of any type that have undergone partial breakdown during preparation of a stained smear or tissue section, because of their greater fragility; smudge cell's are seen in largest numbers in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Synonym: basket cell, Gumprecht's shadows, shadow cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| smut | 1. Foul matter, like soot or coal dust; also, a spot or soil made by such matter. 2. <chemical> Bad, soft coal, containing much earthy matter, found in the immediate locality of faults. 3. <botany> An affection of cereal grains producing a swelling which is at length resolved into a powdery sooty mass. It is caused by parasitic fungi of the genus Ustilago. Ustilago segetum, or U. Carbo, is the commonest kind; that of Indian corn is Ustilago maydis. 4. Obscene language; ribaldry; obscenity. "He does not stand upon decency . . . But will talk smut, though a priest and his mother be in the room." (Addison) Smut mill, a machine for cleansing grain from smut. Origin: Akin to Sw. Smuts, Dan. Smuds, MHG. Smuz, G. Schmutz, D. Smet a spot or stain, smoddig, smodsig, smodderig, dirty, smodderen to smut; and probably to E. Smite. See Smite, and cf. Smitt, Smutch. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |