| Mariotte bottle | A stoppered bottle with bottom outlet, used as a reservoir for constant infusions; air enters only by bubbling through a tube extending down through the stopper almost to the bottom; a partial vacuum thus supports the variable height of liquid above the air inlet, providing a constant gravity head for outflow. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| Mariotte's blind spot | The portion of the optic nerve seen in the fundus with the ophthalmoscope. It is formed by the meeting of all the retinal ganglion cell axons as they enter the optic nerve. Because the retina at the optic disk has no photoreceptors there is a corresponding blind spot in the visual field. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Mariotte's experiment | An experiment in which one looks fixedly with one eye (the other being closed), at a black dot on a card, on which is also marked a black cross; as the card is moved to or from the eye, at a certain distance the cross becomes invisible but appears again as the card is moved further; this proves the absence of photoreceptors where the optic nerve enters the eye. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mariotte's law | <physics> See Boyle's law, under Law. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Mariotte, Edme | <person> French physicist, 1620-1684. See: Mariotte bottle, Mariotte's experiment, Mariotte's law, Mariotte's blind spot. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mariposa lily | <botany> One of a genus (Calochortus) of tuliplike bulbous herbs with large, and often gaycoloured, blossoms. Called also butterfly lily. most of them are natives of California. Origin: Sp. Mariposa a butterfly + E. Lily. So called from the gay apperance of the blossoms. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| mariposia | Thallasoposia;rarely used term for abnormal consumption of sea water as a result of psychogenic factors. Synonym: thalassoposia. Origin: L. Mare, the sea, + G. Posis, drinking (05 Mar 2000) |
| mariput | <zoology> A species of civet; the zoril. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| marital counseling | The process whereby a trained counselor assists married couples to resolve problems that arise and trouble them in their relationship; husband and wife are seen by the same counselor in separate and joint counseling sessions focusing on immediate family problems. (05 Mar 2000) |
| marital status | A demographic parameter indicating a person's status with respect to marriage, divorce, widowhood, singleness, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| marital therapy | A form of psychotherapy involving the husband and wife and directed to improving the marital relationship. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Marjolin's ulcer | Well-differentiated but aggressive squamous cell carcinoma occurring in cicatricial tissue at the epidermal edge of a sinus draining underlying osteomyelitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Marjolin, Jean | <person> French physician, 1780-1850. See: Marjolin's ulcer. (05 Mar 2000) |
| marjoram | <botany> A genus of mintlike plants (Origanum) comprising about twenty-five species. The sweet marjoram (O. Majorana) is pecularly aromatic and fragrant, and much used in cookery. The wild marjoram of Europe and America is O. Vulgare, far less fragrant than the other. Origin: OE. Majoran, F. Marjolaine, LL. Marjoraca, fr. L. Amaracus, amaracum, Gr. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| mark | 1. An old weight and coin. See Marc. "Lend me a mark." 2. The unit of monetary account of the German Empire, equal to 23.8 cents of United States money; the equivalent of one hundred pfennigs. Also, a silver coin of this value. See: Marc. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |