| albumose | <biochemistry, chemistry> A compound or class of compounds formed from albumin by dilute acids or by an acid solution of pepsin. Used also in combination, as antialbumose, hemialbumose. Origin: From albumin. (04 Mar 1998) |
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| alburn | <zoology> The bleak, a small European fish having scales of a peculiarly silvery colour which are used in making artificial pearls. Origin: L. Alburnus, fr. L. Albus white. Cf. Auburn. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| alburnum | <botany> The white and softer part of wood, between the inner bark and the hard wood or duramen; sapwood. Origin: L, fr. Albus white. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| albuterol | <chemical> A direct-acting sympathomimetic agent with a relatively selective action on beta-2 adrenoceptors. Its main clinical use is in asthma. Pharmacological action: adrenergic beta-agonists, bronchodilator agents, sympathomimetic, tocolytic agents. Chemical name: 1,3-Benzenedimethanol, alpha1-(((1,1-dimethylethyl)amino)methyl)-4-hydroxy- (12 Dec 1998) |
| alcaligenes | A genus of gram-negative, aerobic, motile bacteria that occur in water and soil. Some are common inhabitants of the intestinal tract of vertebrates. These bacteria occasionally cause opportunistic infections in humans. (12 Dec 1998) |
| alcanna | <botany> An oriental shrub (Lawsonia inermis) from which henna is obtained. Origin: Sp. Alcana, alhea, fr. Ar. Al-hinna. See Henna, and cf. Alkanet. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| alcapton | <chemical> Chemical name: Benzeneacetic acid, 2,5-dihydroxy- (12 Dec 1998) |
| alcaptonuria | <biochemistry> The excretion of homogentisic acid (alkapton) in the urine due to the congenital absence of the enzyme homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase. This enzyme mediates the breakdown of the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine. The urine may be quite dark, particularly when allowed to stand. Origin: Gr. Ouron = urine (27 Sep 1997) |
| alcator | <radiobiology> Name given to a set of tokamaks designed and built at MIT that are distinguished by high magnetic fields with relatively small diameters. The high magnetic field helps create plasmas with relatively high current and particle densities. (09 Oct 1997) |
| alcator scaling | <radiobiology> A proposed empirical law in which the energy confinement time is proportional to the product of the average density and the square of the plasma radius. (09 Oct 1997) |
| alcedo | <ornithology> A genus of perching birds, including the European kingfisher (Alcedo ispida). See Halcyon. Origin: L, equiv. To Gr. See Halcyon. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 | A virus causing malignant catarrhal fever in cattle and some wild ruminants (deer, buffalo, antelope). (05 Mar 2000) |
| alchemic | 1. <study> An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy for diseases, etc. It led the way to modern chemistry. 2. A mixed metal composed mainly of brass, formerly used for various utensils; hence, a trumpet. "Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy." (Milton) 3. Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious. "Kissing with golden face the meadows green, Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy." (Shak) Origin: OF. Alkemie, arquemie, F. Alchimie, Ar. Al-kimia, fr. Late Gr, for, a mingling, infusion, juice, liquid, especially as extracted from plants, fr. To pour; for chemistry was originally the art of extracting the juices from plants for medicinal purposes. Cf. Sp. Alquimia, It. Alchimia. Gr. Is prob. Akin to L. Fundere to pour, Goth. Guitan, AS. Geotan, to pour, and so to E. Fuse. (04 Mar 1998) |
| alchemical | Of or relating to alchemy. Origin: Cf. F. Alchimique. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| alchemically | 1. <study> An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy for diseases, etc. It led the way to modern chemistry. 2. A mixed metal composed mainly of brass, formerly used for various utensils; hence, a trumpet. "Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy." (Milton) 3. Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious. "Kissing with golden face the meadows green, Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy." (Shak) Origin: OF. Alkemie, arquemie, F. Alchimie, Ar. Al-kimia, fr. Late Gr, for, a mingling, infusion, juice, liquid, especially as extracted from plants, fr. To pour; for chemistry was originally the art of extracting the juices from plants for medicinal purposes. Cf. Sp. Alquimia, It. Alchimia. Gr. Is prob. Akin to L. Fundere to pour, Goth. Guitan, AS. Geotan, to pour, and so to E. Fuse. (04 Mar 1998) |