| series | 1. A number of things or events standing or succeeding in order, and connected by a like relation; sequence; order; course; a succession of things; as, a continuous series of calamitous events. "During some years his life a series of triumphs." (Macaulay) 2. <biology> Any comprehensive group of animals or plants including several subordinate related groups. Sometimes a series includes several classes; sometimes only orders or families; in other cases only species. 3. <mathematics> An indefinite number of terms succeeding one another, each of which is derived from one or more of the preceding by a fixed law, called the law of the series; as, an arithmetical series; a geometrical series. Origin: L. Series, fr. Serere, sertum, to join or bind together; cf. Gr. To fasten, Skr. Sarit thread. Cf. Assert, Desert a solitude, Exert, Insert, Seraglio. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| small bowel series | Radiographic examination of the small intestine following the oral administration of contrast medium, usually barium sulfate. Compare: small bowel enema. (05 Mar 2000) |
| soil series | A group of soils having horizons similar in differentiating characteristics and arrangements in the soil profile, except for texture of the surface layer. (09 Oct 1997) |
| thrombocytic series | The cells of successive stages in thrombocytic (platelet) development in the bone marrow, e.g., thromboblasts, thrombocytes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| erythrocytic series | The cells in the various stages of development in the red bone marrow leading to the formation of the erythrocyte, e.g., erythroblasts, normoblasts, erythrocytes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| type series | <zoology> The series of specimens which either constitutes the name-bearing type of a nominal species or subspecies or from which the name-bearing type has been or may be designated. (09 Jan 1998) |
| fatty series | The alkanes; all the acyclic compounds in the methane, ethane, propane, etc., group, distinguished from the aromatic series. (05 Mar 2000) |
| upper GI series | <investigation, radiology> A series of X-rays of the oesophagus, stomach, and small intestine (upper gastrointestinal, or GI, tract) that are taken after the patient drinks a barium solution. (barium is a white, chalky substance that outlines the organs on the X-ray.) (12 Dec 1998) |
| lower GI series | <investigation, radiology> A radiographic diagnostic procedure that involves the introduction of a barium containing contrast material into the lower gastrointestinal tract via the anus. X-rays taken after instillation of the barium will outline the course and anatomy of the lower GI tract. (27 Sep 1997) |
| lymphoid series | The cells at various states in the development in lymphoid tissue of the mature lymphocytes, e.g., lymphoblasts, young lymphocytes, mature lymphocytes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lyotropic series | <chemistry> A listing of anions and cations in order of their effect on protein solubility (tendency to cause salting out). Essentially a competition between the protein and the ion for water molecules for hydration. (20 Mar 1998) |
| magnetic | 1. A magnet. "As the magnetic hardest iron draws." (Milton) 2. Any metal, as iron, nickel, cobalt, etc, which may receive, by any means, the properties of the loadstone, and which then, when suspended, fixes itself in the direction of a magnetic meridian. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| magnetic attraction | The force that draws iron or steel toward a magnet. (05 Mar 2000) |
| magnetic axis | <physics> This typically refers to the location of the innermost flux surface in a toroidal device, the one which encloses no volume and has therefore degenerated from a flux surface into a single field line. Roughly, the circle through the middle of the dough of the donut. Additionally, in systems with magnetic islands (see entry below), each island has a local magnetic axis, distinct from the overall magnetic axis of the torus. (09 Oct 1997) |
| magnetic confinement | <physics> Use of magnetic fields to confine a plasma. (Confinement involves restricting the volume of the plasma and/or restricting particle or energy transport from the centre of the plasma to the edge.) (09 Oct 1997) |