| zelotypia | Excessive zeal, carried to the point of morbidity, in the advocacy of any cause. Origin: G. Zelotypia; rivalry, envy, fr. Zelos, zeal, + typto, to strike (05 Mar 2000) |
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| zemni | <zoology> The blind mole rat (Spalax typhlus), native of Eastern Europe and Asia. Its eyes and ears are rudimentary, and its fur is soft and brownish, more or less tinged with gray. It constructs extensive burrows. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| zenana | The part of a dwelling appropriated to women. Origin: Hind. Zenana, zanana, fr. Per. Zanana, fr. Zan woman; akin to E. Queen. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| zenick | <zoology> A South African burrowing mammal (Suricata tetradactyla), allied to the civets. It is grayish brown, with yellowish transverse stripes on the back. Called also suricat. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| zenik | <zoology> See Zenick. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| zenith | 1. That point in the visible celestial hemisphere which is vertical to the spectator; the point of the heavens directly overhead; opposed to nadir. "From morn To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, A summer's day; and with the setting sun Dropped from the zenith, like a falling star." (Milton) 2. Hence, figuratively, the point of culmination; the greatest height; the height of success or prosperity. "I find my zenith doth depend upon A most auspicious star." (Shak) "This dead of midnight is the noon of thought, And wisdom mounts her zenith with the stars." (Mrs. Barbauld) "It was during those civil troubles . . . This aspiring family reached the zenith." (Macaulay) Zenith distance. <astronomy> A telescope specially designed for determining the latitude by means of any two stars which pass the meridian about the same time, and at nearly equal distances from the zenith, but on opposite sides of it. It turns both on a vertical and a horizontal axis, is provided with a graduated vertical semicircle, and a level for setting it to a given zenith distance, and with a micrometer for measuring the difference of the zenith distances of the two stars. Origin: OE. Senyth, OF. Cenith, F. Zenith, Sp. Zenit, cenit, abbrev. Fr. Ar. Samt-urras way of the head, vertical place; samt way, path + al the + ras head. Cf. Azimuth. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Zenker's degeneration | A form of severe hyaline degeneration or necrosis in skeletal muscle, occurring in severe infections. Synonym: waxy degeneration, Zenker's necrosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Zenker's diverticulum | <pathology> Herniation of the mucosa of the oesophagus through a defect in the wall of the oesophagus. The location is usually in the upper one-third of the oesophagus. (12 Nov 1997) |
| Zenker's fixative | A rapid fixative consisting of mercuric chloride, potassium dichromate, sodium sulfate, glacial acetic acid, and water, useful for trichrome stains; must be washed to remove potassium dichromate and treated with iodine solution to remove mercuric chloride; tissues tend to become brittle if left in the fixative for more than 24 hours. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Zenker's necrosis | A form of severe hyaline degeneration or necrosis in skeletal muscle, occurring in severe infections. Synonym: waxy degeneration, Zenker's necrosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Zenker's paralysis | Paresthesia and paralysis in the area of the external popliteal nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Zenker, Friedrich | <person> German pathologist, 1825-1898. See: Zenker's degeneration, Zenker's diverticulum, Zenker's fixative, Zenker's necrosis, Zenker's paralysis, formol-Zenker fixative. (05 Mar 2000) |
| zeolite | <chemical> A term now used to designate any one of a family of minerals, hydrous silicates of alumina, with lime, soda, potash, or rarely baryta. Here are included natrolite, stilbite, analcime, chabazite, thomsonite, heulandite, and others. These species occur of secondary origin in the cavities of amygdaloid, basalt, and lava, also, less frequently, in granite and gneiss. So called because many of these species intumesce before the blowpipe. Needle zeolite, needlestone; natrolite. Origin: Gr. To boil: cf. F. Zeolithe. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| zeolites | <chemical> Zeolites. A group of crystalline, hydrated alkali-aluminum silicates. They occur naturally in sedimentary and volcanic rocks, altered basalts, ores, and clay deposits. Some 40 known zeolite minerals and a great number of synthetic zeolites are available commercially. Chemical name: Zeolites (12 Dec 1998) |
| zeoscope | <instrument> A device for determining the alcoholic content of a liquid by ascertaining its exact boiling point. Origin: G. Zeo, to boil, + skopeo, to examine (05 Mar 2000) |