| solar | 1. Of or pertaining to the sun; proceeding from the sun; as, the solar system; solar light; solar rays; solar influence. See Solar system, below. 2. <astronomy> Born under the predominant influence of the sun. "And proud beside, as solar people are." (Dryden) 3. Measured by the progress or revolution of the sun in the ecliptic; as, the solar year. 4. Produced by the action of the sun, or peculiarly affected by its influence. "They denominate some herbs solar, and some lunar." (Bacon) Solar cycle. See Cycle. Solar day. See Day. Solar engine, an engine in which the energy of solar heat is used to produce motion, as in evaporating water for a steam engine, or expanding air for an air engine. <botany> Solar flowers, flowers which open and shut daily at certain hours. Solar lamp, an argand lamp. Solar microscope, a microscope consisting essentially, first, of a mirror for reflecting a beam of sunlight through the tube, which sometimes is fixed in a window shutter; secondly, of a condenser, or large lens, for converging the beam upon the object; and, thirdly, of a small lens, or magnifier, for throwing an enlarged image of the object at its focus upon a screen in a dark room or in a darkened box. Solar month. See Month. Solar oil, a paraffin oil used an illuminant and lubricant. <mathematics> Solar phosphori, the sun, with the group of celestial bodies which, held by its attraction, revolve round it. The system comprises the major planets, with their satellites; the minor planets, or asteroids, and the comets; also, the meteorids, the matter that furnishes the zodiacal light, and the rings of Saturn. The satellites that revolve about the major planets are twenty-two in number, of which the Earth has one (see Moon), Mars two, Jupiter five, Saturn nine, Uranus four, and Neptune one. The asteroids, between Mars and Jupiter, thus far discovered (1900), number about five hundred, the first four of which were found near the beginning of the century, and are called Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta. The principal elements of the major planets, and of the comets seen at more than one perihelion passage, are exhibited in the following tables: I. Major Planets. Symbol.Name.Mean distance that of the Earth being unity.Period in days.Eccentricity.Inclination of orbit.Diameter in miles II. Periodic Comets. Name.Greatest distance from sun.Least distance from sun.Inclination of orbit.Perihelion passage. Deg min 54 Encke's3.314.100.34212 541885.2 Solar telegraph, telegraph for signaling by flashes of reflected sunlight. Solar time. See Apparent time, under Time. Origin: L. Solaris, fr. Sol the sun; akin to As. Sl, Icel. Sl, Goth. Sauil, Lith. Saule, W. Haul,. Sul, Skr. Svar, perhaps to E. Sun:F. Solaire. Cf. Parasol. Sun. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| solar activity | Any type of variation in the appearance of energy output of the sun. (12 Dec 1998) |
| solar blindness | Damage to the fovea centralis of the retina and the adjacent choroid due to the thermal action of infrared rays, consequent to sungazing or watching a solar eclipse without sufficient eye protection. See: photoretinopathy. Synonym: eclipse blindness, solar blindness. (05 Mar 2000) |
| solar cheilitis | Mucosal atrophy with drying, crusting, and fissuring of the vermillion border of the lower lip in older individuals, resulting from chronic exposure to sunlight; dysplastic (premalignant) changes are noted microscopically, analogous to solar keratosis. Synonym: actinic cheilitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| solar dermatitis | A dermatitis in photosensitive persons caused by exposure to the sun's rays. (05 Mar 2000) |
| solar elastosis | Elastosis seen histologically in the sun-exposed skin of the elderly or in those who have chronic actinic damage. (05 Mar 2000) |
| solar energy | Energy transmitted from the sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| solar fever | A tropical disease caused by dengue virus (Arbovirus), that is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito of the genus Aedes). Four severity grades of the illness are seen: grade I (fever and constitutional symptoms), grade II (grade I plus spontaneous bleeding of skin, gums or gastrointestinal tract), grade III (grade II plus agitation and circulatory failure) and grade IV (profound shock). Grade I infection is seen most frequently in world travelers, where it is usually self-limited and rarely fatal. The other grades are referred to as dengue haemorrhagic fever and are often fatal. Dengue haemorrhagic fever appears to be an infection by one of the other dengue viruses. Prior immunity to a different dengue virus type appears to be important in the development of the more serious haemorrhagic form. Vaccines are available. Protection from mosquitoes is an important preventive measure. (27 Sep 1997) |
| solar ganglia | The largest and highest group of prevertebral sympathetic ganglia, located on the superior part of the abdominal aorta, on either side of the origin of the coeliac artery; contains sympathetic neurons whose unmyelinated postganglionic axons innervate the stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidney, small intestine, and ascending and transverse colon. H Synonym: ganglia coeliaca, semilunar ganglion, solar ganglia, Vieussens' ganglia, Willis' centrum nervosum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| solar keratosis | A skin lesion that is abnormally sensitive to the effects of ultraviolet light (sunlight). Thought to be a precancerous skin lesion that is more common in the fair-skinned or elderly individual. Approximately 20% of these skin lesions will develop into squamous cell carcinoma. Prevention includes the use of sun screen agents and the avoidance of drugs (for example tetracyclines) known to cause photosensitivity reactions. Usually a discreet slightly raised, red or pink lesion located on a sun exposed surface. Texture may appear as rough, gritty or scaly. Growths may be biopsied to look for cancer or removed via cryotherapy or electrical cautery. Some topical agents may be used to promote peeling. (27 Sep 1997) |
| solar lentigo | Synonym: senile lentigo. (05 Mar 2000) |
| solar maculopathy | Damage to the fovea centralis of the retina and the adjacent choroid due to the thermal action of infrared rays, consequent to sungazing or watching a solar eclipse without sufficient eye protection. See: photoretinopathy. Synonym: eclipse blindness, solar blindness. (05 Mar 2000) |
| solar plexus | coeliac (nervous) plexus |
| solar retinopathy | A macular burn from excessive exposure to sunlight or other intense light (e.g., the flash of a short circuit); characterised subjectively by reduced visual acuity. See: solar maculopathy. Synonym: electric retinopathy, solar retinopathy. Origin: photo-+ retina, + G. Pathos, suffering (05 Mar 2000) |
| solar system | The group of celestial bodies, including the earth, orbiting around and gravitationally bound by the sun. It includes nine planets, 34 natural satellites, more than 1,000 observed comets, and thousands of lesser bodies known as minor planets (asteroids) and meteoroids. (12 Dec 1998) |