| amphibole | <chemical> A common mineral embracing many varieties varying in colour and in composition. It occurs in monoclinic crystals; also massive, generally with fibrous or columnar structure. The colour varies from white to gray, green, brown, and black. It is a silicate of magnesium and calcium, with usually aluminium and iron. Some common varieties are tremolite, actinolite, asbestus, edenite, hornblende (the last name being also used as a general term for the whole species). Amphibole is a constituent of many crystalline rocks, as syenite, diorite, most varieties of trachyte, etc. See Hornblende. Origin: Gr. Doubtful, equivocal, fr. To throw round, to doubt: cf. F. Amphibole. Hauy so named the genus from the great variety of colour and composition assumed by the mineral. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| amphibolic | <biochemistry> Description of a pathway that functions not only to catabolise, but also to provide precursors for anabolic pathways (18 Nov 1997) |
| amphibolic fistula | A complete anal fistula opening both externally and internally. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amphibology | <study> A phrase, discourse, or proposition, susceptible of two interpretations; and hence, of uncertain meaning. It differs from equivocation, which arises from the twofold sense of a single term. Origin: L. Amphibologia, Gr.ambiguous: cf. F. Amphibologie. (04 Mar 1998) |
| amphiboly | Ambiguous discourse; amphibology. "If it oracle contrary to our interest or humor, we will create an amphiboly, a double meaning where there is none." (Whitlock) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphicarpous | <botany> Producing fruit of two kinds, either as to form or time of ripening. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphicelous | Concave at each end, as the body of a vertebra of a fish. Origin: amphi-+ G. Koilos, hollow (05 Mar 2000) |
| amphicentric | Centreing at both ends, said of a rete mirabile that begins by the vessel breaking up into a number of branches and ends by the branches joining again to form the same vessel. Origin: amphi-+ G. Kentron, centre (05 Mar 2000) |
| amphichroic | <chemistry> Exhibiting or producing two colours, as substances which in the colour test may change red litmus to blue and blue litmus to red. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphichromatic | Having the property of exhibiting either of two colours; e.g., litmus, an amphichromatic pigment which is red in acids and blue in alkalis. Synonym: amphichroic. Origin: amphi-+ G. Chroma, colour (05 Mar 2000) |
| amphiclous | <zoology> Having both ends concave; biconcave; said of vertebrae. Origin: Gr. Hollowed all round. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphicyte | One of the cells located around the bodies of the cerebrospinal and sympathetic ganglionic neurons. Synonym: capsule cell. Origin: amphi-+ G. Kytos, cell (05 Mar 2000) |
| amphid | <chemistry> A salt of the class formed by the combination of an acid and a base, or by the union of two oxides, two sulphides, selenides, or tellurides, as distinguished from a haloid compound. Origin: Gr. Both: cf. F. Amphide. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| amphidiploid | Having a complete diploid chromosome set from each parent strain. Origin: amphi + diploid (05 Mar 2000) |
| amphidisc | <zoology> A peculiar small siliceous spicule having a denticulated wheel at each end; found in freshwater sponges. Origin: Gr. + a round plate. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |