| violet | 1. <botany> Any plant or flower of the genus Viola, of many species. The violets are generally low, herbaceous plants, and the flowers of many of the species are blue, while others are white or yellow, or of several colours, as the pansy (Viola tricolour). The cultivated sweet violet is Viola odorata of Europe. The common blue violet of the eastern United States is V. Cucullata; the sand, or bird-foot, violet is V. Pedata. 2. The colour of a violet, or that part of the spectrum farthest from red. It is the most refrangible part of the spectrum. 3. In art, a colour produced by a combination of red and blue in equal proportions; a bluish purple colour. 4. <zoology> Any one of numerous species of small violet-coloured butterflies belonging to Lycaena, or Rusticus, and allied genera. Corn violet. See Corn. Dame's violet. <botany> An aquatic European herb (Hottonia palustris) with pale purplish flowers and pinnatifid leaves. Origin: F. Violette a violet (cf. Violet violet-coloured), dim. Of OF. Viole a violet, L. Viola; akin to Gr. Cf. Iodine. Dark blue, inclining to red; bluish purple; having a colour produced by red and blue combined. <zoology> Violet shell, any species of Ianthina; called also violet snail. See Lanthina. Violet wood, a name given to several kinds of hard purplish or reddish woods, as king wood, myall wood, and the wood of the Andira violacea, a tree of Guiana. Origin: Cf. F. Violet. See Violet. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
|---|---|
| violet-tip | <zoology> A very handsome American butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis). Its wings are mottled with various shades of red and brown and have violet tips. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| violine | <chemistry> A pale yellow amorphous substance of alkaloidal nature and emetic properties, said to have been extracted from the root and foliage of the violet (Viola). Mauve aniline. See Mauve. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| violinist's cramp | A occupational dystonia affecting the digits of the fingering hand, or sometimes the bowing arm, in violin players. (05 Mar 2000) |
| viologens | A group of dipyridinium chloride derivatives that are used as oxidation-reduction indicators. The general formula is 1,1'-di-r-4,4'-bipyridinium chloride, where r = methyl, ethyl, benzyl or, betaine. (12 Dec 1998) |
| violuric | <chemistry> Of, pertaining to, or designating, a complex nitroso derivative of barbituric acid. It is obtained as a white or yellow crystalline substance, and forms characteristic yellow, blue, and violet salts. Origin: Violet + barbituric. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| viomycin | A rather toxic antibiotic produced by the bacterium Streptomycespuniceus that, because it can cause nervous system and kidney damage, is only used as a last-ditch treatment for antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis. (09 Oct 1997) |
| viomycin kinase | <enzyme> Vph from streptomyces vinaceus is involved in viomycin resistance; acts also on capreomycins; a serine residue in the peptide antibiotic acts as phosphate-acceptor Registry number: EC 2.7.1.103 Synonym: vph gene product, viomycin phosphotransferase (26 Jun 1999) |
| viosterol | The sunshine vitamin is produced by the body when exposed to UV light. Plays important role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Deficiency is known as rickets. Symptoms include soft (weak) and bendable bones, stunted growth, bow legs, chest deformities and knock-knees. (27 Sep 1997) |
| VIP | <gastroenterology, protein> Peptide of 28 amino acids, originally isolated from porcine intestine, but later found in the central nervous system where it acts as a neuropeptide and is released by specific interneurons. May also affect behaviour of cells of the immune system. Acronym: VIP (05 Jan 1998) |
| viper | 1. <zoology> Any one of numerous species of Old World venomous makes belonging to Vipera, Clotho, Daboia, and other genera of the family Viperidae. "There came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand." (Acts xxviii. 3) Among the best-known species are the European adder (Pelias berus), the European asp (Vipera aspis), the African horned viper (V. Cerastes), and the Indian viper (Daboia Russellii). 2. A dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person. "Who committed To such a viper his most sacred trust Of secrecy." (Milton) Horned viper. <zoology> A small, slender, phosphorescent deep-sea fish (Chauliodus Sloanii). It has long ventral and dorsal fins, a large mouth, and very long, sharp teeth. <botany> Viper's bugloss, a perennial composite herb (Scorzonera Hispanica) with narrow, entire leaves, and solitary heads of yellow flowers. The long, white, carrot-shaped roots are used for food in Spain and some other countries. Synonym: viper grass. Origin: F. Vipere, L. Vipera, probably contr. Fr. Vivipera; vivus alive + parere to bring forth, because it was believed to be the only serpent that brings forth living young. Cf. Quick, Parent, Viviparous, Wivern, Weever. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| viper venoms | Venoms from snakes of the viperid family. They tend to be less toxic than elapid or hydrophid venoms and act mainly on the vascular system, interfering with coagulation and capillary membrane integrity and are highly cytotoxic. They contain large amounts of several enzymes, other factors, and some toxins. (12 Dec 1998) |
| viperidae | A family of snakes comprising three subfamilies: azemiopinae (the mountain viper, the sole member of this subfamily), viperinae (true vipers), and crotalinae (pit vipers). They are widespread throughout the world, being found in the united states, central and south america, europe, asia and africa. Their venoms act on the blood (haemotoxic) as compared to the venom of elapids which act on the nervous system (neurotoxic). (goin, goin, and zug, introduction to herpetology, 3d ed, pp333-36) (12 Dec 1998) |
| viperina | <zoology> See Viperoidea. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| viperine | Of or pertaining to a viper or vipers; resembling a viper. Viperine snake. <zoology> Any venomous snake of the family Viperidae. A harmless snake resembling a viper in form or colour, especially. Tropidonotus viperinus, a small European species which resembles the viper in colour. Origin: L. Viperinus: cf. F. Viperin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |