| starch synthase | <enzyme> An enzyme that catalyses the transfer of glucose from adpglucose to glucose-containing polysaccharides in 1,4-alpha-linkages. Chemical name: ADPglucose:1,4-alpha-D-glucan 4-alpha-D-glucosyltransferase Registry number: EC 2.4.1.21 (12 Dec 1998) |
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| starch-eating | A morbid craving for starch. Synonym: starch-eating. Origin: amylo-+ G. Phago, to eat (05 Mar 2000) |
| starch-iodine test | A test for sweating in which iodine in oil is painted on the skin, followed by dusting with a starch powder which turns blue-black in the presence of iodine and moisture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| starchwort | <botany> The cuckoopint, the tubers of which yield a fine quality of starch. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| starcraft | <study> In its etymological signification, the science of the stars; among the ancients, synonymous with astronomy; subsequently, the art of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling events by their position and aspects. Astrology was much in vogue during the Middle Ages, and became the parent of modern astronomy, as alchemy did of chemistry. It was divided into two kinds: judicial astrology, which assumed to foretell the fate and acts of nations and individuals, and natural astrology, which undertook to predict events of inanimate nature, such as changes of the weather, etc. Origin: F. Astrologie, L. Astrologia, fr. Gr, fr. Astronomer, astrologer; star + discourse, to speak. See Star. (04 Mar 1998) |
| stare | 1. To look with fixed eyes wide open, as through fear, wonder, surprise, impudence, etc.; to fasten an earnest and prolonged gaze on some object. 2. To be very conspicuous on account of size, prominence, colour, or brilliancy; as, staring windows or colours. 3. To stand out; to project; to bristle. Synonym: To gaze, to look earnestly. (26 Nov 1998) |
| starfinch | <zoology> The European redstart. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| starfire tokamak | <radiobiology> A conceptual design study of a modular tokamak reactor that operates in a steady-state condition while using conventional power-generating systems. (09 Oct 1997) |
| starfish | 1. <zoology> Any one of numerous species of echinoderms belonging to the class Asterioidea, in which the body is star-shaped and usually has five rays, though the number of rays varies from five to forty or more. The rays are often long, but are sometimes so short as to appear only as angles to the disklike body. The ophiuroids are also sometimes called starfishes. See Brittle star, and Ophiuroidea. Synonym: sea star, five-finger, and stellerid. (26 Nov 1998) |
| Stargardt's disease | Fundus flavimaculatus initiated with atrophic macular lesions. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Stargardt, Karl | <person> German ophthalmologist, 1875-1927. See: Stargardt's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| stargaser | 1. One who gazes at the stars; an astrologer; sometimes, in derision or contempt, an astronomer. 2. <zoology> Any one of several species of spiny-rayed marine fishes belonging to Uranoscopus, Astroscopus, and allied genera, of the family Uranoscopidae. The common species of the Eastern United States are Astroscopus anoplus, and Astroscopus guttatus. So called from the position of the eyes, which look directly upward. (26 Nov 1998) |
| stargasing | 1. The act or practice of observing the stars with attention; contemplation of the stars as connected with astrology or astronomy. 2. Hence, absent-mindedness; abstraction. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| stark | 1. Stiff; rigid. "Whose senses all were straight benumbed and stark." (Spenser) "His heart gan wax as stark as marble stone." (Spenser) "Many a nobleman lies stark and stiff Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies." (Shak) "The north is not so stark and cold." (B. Jonson) 2. Complete; absolute; full; perfect; entire. "Consider the stark security The common wealth is in now." (B. Jonson) 3. Strong; vigorous; powerful. "A stark, moss-trooping Scot." (Sir W. Scott) "Stark beer, boy, stout and strong beer." (Beau. & Fl) 4. Severe; violent; fierce. "In starke stours." 5. Mere; sheer; gross; entire; downright. "He pronounces the citation stark nonsense." (Collier) "Rhetoric is very good or stark naught; there's no medium in rhetoric." (Selden) Origin: OE. Stark stiff, strong, AS. Stearc; akin to OS. Starc strong, D. Sterk, OHG. Starc, starah, G. & Sw. Stark, Dan. Staerk, Icel. Sterkr, Goth. Gastaorknan to become dried up, Lith. Stregti to stiffen, to freeze. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| stark effect | <radiobiology> The effect an electric field has on the spectral lines emitted from excited atoms. The effect may arise from externally-applied electric fields, from internal fields due to the presence of neighboring ions or atoms (pressure), or from the electric field associated with the Lorentz (v cross B) force (motional stark effect). Spectroscopic measurements of plasmas using the pressure-based and motional Stark effects are useful for diagnostic purposes. (09 Oct 1997) |