| seasonal | Of or pertaining to the seasons. <zoology> Seasonal dimorphism, the condition of having two distinct varieties which appear at different seasons, as certain species of butterflies in which the spring brood differs from the summer or autumnal brood. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| seasonal affective disorder | A syndrome characterised by depressions that recur annually at the same time each year, usually during the winter months. Other symptoms include anxiety, irritability, decreased energy, increased appetite (carbohydrate cravings), increased duration of sleep, and weight gain. Sad (seasonal affective disorder) can be treated by daily exposure to bright artificial lights (phototherapy), during the season of recurrence. (12 Dec 1998) |
| seat | 1. To place on a seat; to cause to sit down; as, to seat one's self. "The guests were no sooner seated but they entered into a warm debate." (Arbuthnot) 2. To cause to occupy a post, site, situation, or the like; to station; to establish; to fix; to settle. "Thus high . . . Is King Richard seated." (Shak) "They had seated themselves in new Guiana." (Sir W. Raleigh) 3. To assign a seat to, or the seats of; to give a sitting to; as, to seat a church, or persons in a church. 4. To fix; to set firm. "From their foundations, loosening to and fro, They plucked the seated hills." (Milton) 5. To settle; to plant with inhabitants; as to seat a country. 6. To put a seat or bottom in; as, to seat a chair. Origin: Seated; Seating. 1. The place or thing upon which one sits; hence; anything made to be sat in or upon, as a chair, bench, stool, saddle, or the like. "And Jesus . . . Overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves." (Matt. Xxi. 12) 2. The place occupied by anything, or where any person or thing is situated, resides, or abides; a site; an abode, a station; a post; a situation. "Where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is." (Rev. Ii. 13) "He that builds a fair house upon an ill seat committeth himself to prison." (Bacon) "A seat of plenty, content, and tranquillity." (Macaulay) 3. That part of a thing on which a person sits; as, the seat of a chair or saddle; the seat of a pair of pantaloons. 4. A sitting; a right to sit; regular or appropriate place of sitting; as, a seat in a church; a seat for the season in the opera house. 5. Posture, or way of sitting, on horseback. "She had so good a seat and hand she might be trusted with any mount." (G. Eliot) 6. <machinery> A part or surface on which another part or surface rests; as, a valve seat. <zoology> Seat worm, the pinworm. Origin: OE. Sete, Icel. Saeti; akin to Sw. Sate, Dan. Saede, MHG. Saze, AS. Set, setl, and E. Sit. See Sit, and cf. Settle. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| seat belts | Restraining belts fastened to the frame of automobiles, aircraft, or other vehicles, and strapped around the person occupying the seat in the car or plane, intended to prevent the person from being thrown forward or out of the vehicle in case of sudden deceleration. (12 Dec 1998) |
| seatworm | <zoology> A small nematoid worm (Oxyurus vermicularis), which is parasitic chiefly in the rectum of man. It is most common in children and aged persons. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| seatworms | Small nematode, Enterobius vermicularis, that is responsible for intestinal infection in humans. It appears as a small thread-like worm approximately 3-5mm in length. Common symptoms include anal itching that is worse at night when the female worm migrates to the anus to lay its eggs. Thin, white, thread-like worms may be visible at the anal opening or in the stools. The tape test can be performed by placing the sticky side of the tape across the anal opening for several seconds. The tape is then transferred to a glass slide where eggs may be seen through the microscope. (27 Sep 1997) |
| seawand | <botany> See Sea girdles. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| seaward | Directed or situated toward the sea. "Two still clouds . . . Sparkled on their seaward edges like a frosted fleece." (G. W. Cable) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| seaware | <botany> Seaweed; especially, coarse seaweed. See Ware, and Sea girdles. Origin: Cf. AS. Sawar seaweed. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| seaweed | 1. Popularly, any plant or plants growing in the sea. 2. <botany> Any marine plant of the class Algae, as kelp, dulse, Fucus, Ulva, etc. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| seawife | <zoology> A European wrasse (Labrus vetula). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| seb- | See: sebo-. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sebaceous | <physiology> Pertaining to, or secreting, fat; composed of fat; having the appearance of fat; as, the sebaceous secretions of some plants, or the sebaceous humor of animals. <obstetrics> Sebaceous cyst, small subcutaneous glands, usually connected with hair follicles. They secrete an oily semifluid matter, composed in great part of fat, which softens and lubricates the hair and skin. Origin: NL. Sebaceus, from L. Sebum tallow, grease. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sebaceous adenoma | <tumour> A benign neoplasm of sebaceous tissue, with a predominance of mature secretory sebaceous cells. Compare: adenoma sebaceum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sebaceous cyst | A closed sac (sebaceous gland) within the tissue containing oily or fatty semi-solid material. These cysts are found most commonly on the genitalia, vulva or labia. Features include a nontender, small lump in the skin. Sebaceous cysts which turn red or tender may require treatment with oral antibiotics. Warm wet compresses may help the cyst expel some of its contents. Surgical excision of the cyst may be necessary to prevent recurrence. (27 Sep 1997) |