| compressorium | 1. A muscle, contraction of which causes compression of any structure. 2. An instrument for making pressure on a part, especially on an artery to prevent loss of blood. Synonym: compressorium. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Compton | Arthur H., U.S. Physicist and Nobel laureate, 1892-1962. See: Compton effect. (05 Mar 2000) |
| compton effect | <radiobiology> An attenuation process observed for x and gamma radiation in which an incident photon interacts with an orbital electron of an atom to produce a recoil electron and a scattered photon of energy less than the incident photon. (16 Dec 1997) |
| Compton scattering | <radiobiology> An attenuation process observed for x and gamma radiation in which an incident photon interacts with an orbital electron of an atom to produce a recoil electron and a scattered photon of energy less than the incident photon. (16 Dec 1997) |
| compulsion | Uncontrollable thoughts or impulses to perform an act, often repetitively, as an unconscious mechanism to avoid unacceptable ideas and desires which, by themselves, arouse anxiety; the anxiety becomes fully manifest if performance of the compulsive act is prevented; may be associated with obsessive thoughts. Origin: L. Com-pello pp. -pulsus, to drive together, compel (05 Mar 2000) |
| compulsive | Influenced by compulsion; of a compelling and irresistible nature. (05 Mar 2000) |
| compulsive behaviour | The behaviour of performing an act persistently and repetitively without it leading to reward or pleasure. The act is usually a small, circumscribed behaviour, almost ritualistic, yet not pathologically disturbing. Examples of compulsive behaviour include twirling of hair, checking something constantly, not wanting pennies in change, straightening tilted pictures, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| compulsive idea | A fixed and repetitively recurring idea. (05 Mar 2000) |
| compulsive neurosis | A disorder characterised by the persistent and repetitive intrusion of unwanted thoughts, urges, or actions that the individual is unable to prevent; the compulsive thoughts may consist of single words, ideas, or ruminations often perceived by the sufferer as nonsensical; the repetitive urges or actions vary from simple movements to complex rituals; anxiety or distress is the underlying emotion or drive state, and the ritualistic behaviour is a learned method of reducing the anxiety. Synonym: compulsive neurosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| compulsive personality | A personality characterised by rigidity, extreme inhibition, perfectionism, and excessive concern with conformity and adherence to standards of conscience either for the individual or for others. (05 Mar 2000) |
| compulsive personality disorder | <psychology> A personality disorder which is characterised by the avoidance of feelings, emotion and intimacy within a framework of strict adherence to rules and order. (05 Jan 1998) |
| computational biology | A field of biology concerned with the development of techniques for the collection and manipulation of biological data, and the use of such data to make biological discoveries or predictions. This field encompasses all computational methods and theories applicable to molecular biology and areas of computer-based techniques for solving biological problems including manipulation of models and datasets. (12 Dec 1998) |
| computational chemistry | <chemistry> The use of computers to aid in the analysis of chemicals. (05 Jan 1998) |
| computed perimetry | Determination of the visual field by means of a programmed routine of static stimuli. (05 Mar 2000) |
| computed radiography | Radiography using a solid-state imaging device, such as a photostimulable phosphorplate, and recovering, enhancing, and displaying the image using a digital computer. (05 Mar 2000) |