| poppy | <botany> Any plant or species of the genus Papaver, herbs with showy polypetalous flowers and a milky juice. From one species (Papaver somniferum) opium is obtained, though all the species contain it to some extent; also, a flower of the plant. California poppy, a species of Silene (S. Inflata). See Catchfly. Origin: OE. Popy, AS. Popig, L. Papaver. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| poppy oil | A fixed (drying) oil expressed from the seed of Papaver somniferum; sometimes used in the preparation of liniments and as a solvent of iodine in iodised oil. (05 Mar 2000) |
| population | 1. <genetics> A stable group of randomly interbreeding individuals. 2. <statistics> The set of objects or individuals from which a random sample is drawn. Origin: L. Populatio, from populus = people (18 Nov 1997) |
| population characteristics | <epidemiology> Qualities and characterization of various types of populations within a social or geographic group, with emphasis on demography, health status, and socioeconomic factors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| population control | Includes mechanisms or programs which control the numbers of individuals in a population of humans or animals. (12 Dec 1998) |
| population density | <epidemiology> Number of individuals in a population relative to space. (12 Dec 1998) |
| population diffusion coefficient | <cell biology> Coefficient that describes the tendency of a population of motile cells to diffuse through the environment. Its use presupposes that the cells move in a random walk. (18 Nov 1997) |
| population dynamics | <epidemiology> The pattern of any process, or the interrelationship of phenomena, which affects growth or change within a population. (12 Dec 1998) |
| population genetics | <epidemiology, genetics> The study of genetic influences on the components of cause and effect in the somatic characteristics of populations. (05 Mar 2000) |
| population growth | <epidemiology> Increase, over a specific period of time, in the number of individuals living in a country or region. (12 Dec 1998) |
| population pyramid | <epidemiology> Graphical representation of the age and sex composition of a population, constructed by computing the percentage distribution of the population in each age and sex class. (05 Mar 2000) |
| population surveillance | <epidemiology> Ongoing scrutiny of a population (general population, study population, target population, etc.), generally using methods distinguished by their practicability, uniformity, and frequently their rapidity, rather than by complete accuracy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| populin | <chemistry> A glycoside, related to salicin, found in the bark of certain species of the poplar (Populus), and extracted as a sweet white crystalline substance. Origin: L. Populus poplar: cf. F. Populine. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |