| TW | tap water; terminal web; test weight; total body water; travelling wave |
|---|---|
| TWE | tap water enema; tepid water enema |
| WS | Waardenburg syndrome; ward secretary; Warkany syndrome; Warthin-Starry [stain]; water soluble; water... |
| aw | airway; water activity |
| CIA | chemiluminescent immunoassay; chymotrypsin inhibitor activity; colony-inhibiting activity; congenita... |
| drug activity | A measure of the physiological response a drug produces. A less active drug produces less response (and visa versa). (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| insulin-like activity | A measure of substances, usually in plasma, that exert biologic effects similar to those of insulin in various bioassays; sometimes used as a measure of plasma insulin concentrations; always gives higher values than immunochemical techniques for the measurement of insulin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| intrinsic sympathomimetic activity | The property of a drug that causes activation of adrenergic receptors so as to produce effects similar to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. (05 Mar 2000) |
| optical activity | The ability of a material to rotate the plane of polarized light. (09 Oct 1997) |
| triggered activity | One or a series of spontaneously generated heart beats originating from an action potential that produces an after-depolarisation which reaches activation threshold. (05 Mar 2000) |
| unit of thyrotrophic activity | The activity of an amount of an extract of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis which, given daily for 5 days, will cause the thyroid of a guinea pig (weighing 200 g) to reach a weight of 600 mg. (05 Mar 2000) |
| zone of polarizing activity | <cell biology> The small group of mesenchyme cells in avian limb buds that is located at the posterior margin of the developing bud and that produces a substance, possibly retinoic acid, that provides positional information to the developing limb bud. (18 Nov 1997) |
| alkaline water | A water that contains appreciable amounts of the bicarbonates of calcium, lithium, potassium, or sodium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aromatic water | 1. To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate; as, to water land; to water flowers. "With tears watering the ground." (Milton) "Men whose lives gilded on like rivers that water the woodlands." (Longfellow) 2. To supply with water for drink; to cause or allow to drink; as, to water cattle and horses. 3. To wet and calender, as cloth, so as to impart to it a lustrous appearance in wavy lines; to diversify with wavelike lines; as, to water silk. Cf. Water. 4. To add water to (anything), thereby extending the quantity or bulk while reducing the strength or quality; to extend; to dilute; to weaken. To water stock, to increase the capital stock of a company by issuing new stock, thus diminishing the value of the individual shares. Cf. Water. Origin: AS. Waeterian, gewaeterian. 1. The fluid which descends from the clouds in rain, and which forms rivers, lakes, seas, etc. "We will drink water." ."Powers of fire, air, water, and earth." . Pure water consists of hydrogen and oxygen, H2O, and is a colourless, odorless, tasteless, transparent liquid, which is very slightly compressible. at its maximum density, 39 deg Fahr. Or 4 deg C, it is the standard for specific gravities, one cubic centimeter weighing one gram. It freezes at 32 deg Fahr. Or 0 deg C. And boils at 212 deg Fahr. Or 100 deg C. (see Ice, Steam). It is the most important natural solvent, and is frequently impregnated with foreign matter which is mostly removed by distillation; hence, rain water is nearly pure. It is an important ingredient in the tissue of animals and plants, the human body containing about two thirds its weight of water. 2. A body of water, standing or flowing; a lake, river, or other collection of water. "Remembering he had passed over a small water a poor scholar when first coming to the university, he kneeled." (Fuller) 3. Any liquid secretion, humor, or the like, resembling water; especially, the urine. 4. <pharmacology> A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance; as, ammonia water. 5. The limpidity and luster of a precious stone, especially a diamond; as, a diamond of the first water, that is, perfectly pure and transparent. Hence, of the first water, that is, of the first excellence. 6. A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is imparted to linen, silk, metals, etc. See Water, 3, Damask, and Damaskeen. 7. An addition to the shares representing the capital of a stock company so that the aggregate par value of the shares is increased while their value for investment is diminished, or "diluted." Water is often used adjectively and in the formation of many self-explaining compounds; as, water drainage; water gauge, or water-gauge; waterfowl, water-fowl, or water fowl; water-beaten; water-borne, water-circled, water-girdled, water-rocked, etc. Hard water. See Hard. Inch of water, a unit of measure of quantity of water, being the quantity which will flow through an orifice one inch square, or a circular orifice one inch in diameter, in a vertical surface, under a stated constant head; also called miner's inch, and water inch. The shape of the orifice and the head vary in different localities. In the Western United States, for hydraulic mining, the standard aperture is square and the head from 4 to 9 inches above its center. In Europe, for experimental hydraulics, the orifice is usually round and the head from 1/12 of an inch to 1 inch above its top. Mineral water, waters which are so impregnated with foreign ingredients, such as gaseous, sulphureous, and saline substances, as to give them medicinal properties, or a particular flavor or temperature. Soft water, water not impregnated with lime or mineral salts. To hold water. See Hold, To keep one's head above water, to keep afloat; fig, to avoid failure or sinking in the struggles of life. To make water. To pass urine. <medicine> Hydrothorax. Other phrases, in which water occurs as the first element, will be found in alphabetical order in the Vocabulary. Origin: AS. Waeter; akin to OS. Watar, OFries. Wetir, weter, LG. & D. Water, G. Wasser, OHG. Wazzar, Icel. Vatn, Sw. Vatten, Dan. Vand, Goth. Wat, O. Slav. & Russ. Voda, Gr, Skr. Udan water, ud to wet, and perhaps to L. Unda wave. Cf. Dropsy, Hydra, Otter, Wet, Whisky. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| baryta water | A saturated aqueous solution of barium hydroxide; used as an alkaline reagent. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bitter water | A natural mineral water containing Epsom salt. (05 Mar 2000) |
| black water | azoturia of horses |
| boiling water reactor | <radiobiology> Class of fission reactor where water is used as a coolant and allowed to boil into steam. (09 Oct 1997) |
| bound water | Water held to colloids and other substances and not removed by simple filtration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bromine water | A water containing the bromides of magnesium, potassium, or sodium in therapeutic amounts. (05 Mar 2000) |