| springhalt | <veterinary> A kind of lameness in horse. See Stringhalt. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| springing | 1. The act or process of one who, or that which, springs. 2. Growth; increase; also, that which springs up; a shoot; a plant. "Thou blessest the springing thereof." (Ps. Lxv. 10) Springing line of an arch, the horizontal line drawn through the junction of the vertical face of the impost with the curve of the intrados. Synonym: spring of an arch. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| springtail | <zoology> Any one of numerous species of small apterous insects belonging to the order Thysanura. They have two elastic caudal stylets which can be bent under the abdomen and then suddenly extended like a spring, thus enabling them to leap to a considerable distance. See Collembola, and Podura. (04 Mar 1998) |
| sprinkle | 1. To scatter in small drops or particles, as water, seed, etc. 2. To scatter on; to disperse something over in small drops or particles; to besprinkle; as, to sprinkle the earth with water; to sprinkle a floor with sand. 3. To baptize by the application of a few drops, or a small quantity, of water; hence, to cleanse; to purify. "Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience." (Heb. X. 22) Origin: OE. Sprenkelen, freq. Of sprengen to sprinkle, to scatter, AS. Sprengan, properly, to make to spring, causative of springan to spring; akin to D. Sprenkelen to sprinkle, G. Sprengen. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sprite | 1. A spirit; a soul; a shade; also, an apparition. See Spright. "Gaping graves received the wandering, guilty sprite." (Dryden) 2. An elf; a fairy; a goblin. 3. <zoology> The green woodpecker, or yaffle. Origin: OE. Sprit, F. Esprit, fr. L. Spiritus. See Spirit, and cf. Sprightly. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sprocket wheel | <machinery> Same as Chain wheel. Origin: Etymology of sprocket is uncertain. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sprod | <zoology> A salmon in its second year. Origin: Cf. Gael. & Ir. Bradan a salmon. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sprout | 1. <plant biology> To shoot, as the seed of a plant; to germinate; to push out new shoots; hence, to grow like shoots of plants. The shoot of a plant; a shoot from the seed, from the stump, or from the root or tuber, of a plant or tree; more rarely, a shoot from the stem of a plant, or the end of a branch. Origin: OE. Sprouten, spruten; akin to OFries. Sprta, AS. Spreotan, D. Spruiten, G. Spriessen, Sw. Spruta to squirt, to spout. Cf. Sprit, Sprit a spar, Spout, Spurt. (04 Mar 1998) |
| sprouting | <cell biology> Production of new processes (outgrowths) by nerve cells, for example by embryonic neurons undergoing primary differentiation, by adult neurons in response to nervous system damage or by dissociated neurons redifferentiating in culture. (04 Mar 1998) |
| spruce | 1. <botany> Any coniferous tree of the genus Picea, as the Norway spruce (P. Excelsa), and the white and black spruces of America (P. Alba and P. Nigra), besides several others in the far Northwest. See Picea. 2. The wood or timber of the spruce tree. 3. Prussia leather; pruce. "Spruce, a sort of leather corruptly so called for Prussia leather." (E. <botany> Phillips) Douglas spruce, a handsome American grouse (Dendragapus Canadensis) found in Canada and the Northern United States. Synonym: Canada grouse. Origin: OE. Spruce or Pruse, Prussia, Prussian. So named because it was first known as a native of Prussia, or because its sprouts were used for making, spruce beer. Cf. Spruce beer, below, Spruce. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sprue | <gastroenterology> An inherited disease where the intestinal lining is inflamed in response to the ingestion of a protein known as gluten. Gluten is present in many grains including rye, oats, barley and triticale. Symptoms in infants include diarrhoea, slow growth, bloody stools, weight loss, vomiting and clay-coloured stools. Symptoms in adults include abdominal distention, abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, bone pain and bone tenderness. Treatment involves the life-long avoidance of gluten. (04 Mar 1998) |
| sprue / coeliac disease | <radiology> Gluten enteropathy, coeliac disease (kids), nontropical sprue (adults), hypersensitivity to gluten, treatment: remove gluten from diet, tropical sprue, clinically and radiologically similar to nontropical sprue, treatment: folate, B-12, antibiotics, associated with ** transient intussusception, oesophageal carcinoma and small bowel carcinoma (QUESTIONABLE!!), diffuse intestinal lymphoma (rare; except in Middle East) (12 Dec 1998) |
| sprue, nontropical | This condition results from an immune (allergic) reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat and related grains and present in many foods that we eat. Sprue causes impaired absorption and digestion of nutrients through the small intestine. Symptoms include requent diarrhoea and weight loss. A skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis can be associated with coeliac sprue. The most accurate diagnostic test for sprue is a biopsy of the involved small bowel. Treatment is to avoid gluten in the diet. Medications are used for refractory (stubborn) sprue. Known under a number of other names, including coeliac sprue. (12 Dec 1998) |
| sprue, tropical | A malabsorption syndrome occurring in the tropics and subtropics. Protein malnutrition is usually precipitated by the malabsorption, and anaemia due to folic acid deficiency is particularly common. Administration of antibiotics (especially tetracycline) and folic acid usually results in remission. (12 Dec 1998) |
| sprue-former | The base to which the sprue is attached while the wax pattern is being invested in a refractory investment in a casting flask; it is sometimes referred to as a crucible-former. (05 Mar 2000) |