| spinous layer | The layer of polyhedral cells in the epidermis; shrinkage artifacts and adhesion of these cells at their desmosomal junctions gives a spiny or prickly appearance. Synonym: prickle cell layer, spinous layer. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| spinous process | The dorsal projection from the centre of a vertebral arch. Synonym: sphenoidal spine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spinous process of tibia | Intercondyloid eminence, an elevation on the proximal extremity of the tibia between the two articular surfaces. Synonym: eminentia intercondylaris, eminentia intercondyloidea, spinous process of tibia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spinster | 1. A woman who spins, or whose occupation is to spin. "She spake to spinster to spin it out." (Piers Plowman) "The spinsters and the knitters in the sun." (Shak) 2. A man who spins. 3. An unmarried or single woman; used in legal proceedings as a title, or addition to the surname. "If a gentlewoman be termed a spinster, she may abate the writ." (Coke) 4. A woman of evil life and character; so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction. Origin: Spin + -ster. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| spinstress | A woman who spins. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| spintharicon | A spark chamber device used to record the distribution of low energy emissions from radiopharmaceuticals administered internally, especially for thyroid scans using iodine-125. Origin: G. Spinther, spark (05 Mar 2000) |
| spinthariscope | Synonym: scintillation counter. Origin: G. Spinther, spark, + skopeo, to view (05 Mar 2000) |
| spinulescent | <botany> Having small spines; somewhat thorny. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| spiny | 1. Full of spines; thorny; as, a spiny tree. 2. Like a spine in shape; slender. "Spiny grasshoppers sit chirping." 3. Abounding with difficulties or annoyances. "The spiny deserts of scholastic philosophy." (Bp. Warburton) Spiny lobster. <zoology> Same as Rock lobster, under Rock. See also Lobster. Origin: From Spine. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |