| saponins | Sapogenin glycosides. A type of glycoside widely distributed in plants. Each consists of a sapogenin as the aglycon moiety, and a sugar. The sapogenin may be a steroid or a triterpene and the sugar may be glucose, galactose, a pentose, or a methylpentose. Sapogenins are poisonous towards the lower forms of life and are powerful haemolytics when injected into the blood stream able to dissolve red blood cells at even extreme dilutions. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| saponite | <chemical> A hydrous silicate of magnesia and aluminia. It occurs in soft, soapy, amorphous masses, filling veins in serpentine and cavities in trap rock. Origin: Sw. Saponit, fr. L. Sapo, -onis, soap. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| saponul | <chemistry> A soapy mixture obtained by treating an essential oil with an alkali; hence, any similar compound of an essential oil. Alternative forms: saponule. Origin: F. Saponule, fr. L. Sapo, -onis, soap. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sapota | <botany> The sapodilla. Origin: NL, from Sp. Sapote, zapote. See Sapodilla. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sapotaceous | <botany> Of or pertaining to a natural order (Sapotaceae) of (mostly tropical) trees and shrubs, including the star apple, the Lucuma, or natural marmalade tree, the gutta-percha tree (Isonandra), and the India mahwa, as well as the sapodilla, or sapota, after which the order is named. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sappan wood | <botany> A dyewood yielded by Caesalpinia Sappan, a thorny leguminous tree of Southern Asia and the neighboring islands. It is the original Brazil wood. Alternative forms: sappan wood. Origin: Malay sapang. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sappare | <chemical> Kyanite. Alternative forms: sappar. Origin: F. Sappare; so called by Saussure. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Sappey | Marie P.C., French anatomist, 1810-1896. See: Sappey's fibres, Sappey's plexus, Sappey's veins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Sappey's fibres | Nonstriated muscular fibre's in the check ligaments of the eyeball. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Sappey's plexus | A network of lymphatics in the areola of the nipple. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Sappey's veins | Several small veins arising from cutaneous veins about the umbilicus running along the round ligament of the liver, and terminating as accessory portal veins in the substance of this organ; they constitute a portocaval anastomosis and are subject to varicosity druign portal hypertension; varicose paraumbilical veins form the "caput medussae". Synonym: venae paraumbilicales, Sappey's veins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sapphire | 1. <chemical> Native alumina or aluminium sesquioxide, Al2O3; corundum; especially, the blue transparent variety of corundum, highly prized as a gem. "of rubies, sapphires, and of pearles white." (Chaucer) Sapphire occurs in hexagonal crystals and also in granular and massive forms. The name sapphire is usually restricted to the blue crystals, while the bright red crystals are called Oriental rubies (see under Ruby), the amethystine variety Oriental amethyst (see under Amethyst), and the dull massive varieties corundum (a name which is also used as a general term to include all varieties). See Corundum. 2. The colour of the gem; bright blue. 3. <zoology> Any humming bird of the genus Hylocharis, native of South America. The throat and breast are usually bright blue. <chemical> Star sapphire, or Asteriated sapphire, a kind of sapphire which exhibits asterism. Origin: OE. Saphir, F. Saphir, L. Sapphirus, Gr, of Oriental origin; cf. Heb. Sappir. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sapphism | Female homosexuality. Named after the poet Sappho who lived on the greek island of lesbos (circa 600 bc). She was a lesbian by geography and sexual orientation. Also called lesbianism. (12 Dec 1998) |
| sappho | <ornithology> Any one of several species of brilliant South American humming birds of the genus Sappho, having very bright-coloured and deeply forked tails. Synonym: firetail. See: Sapphic. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sappodilla | <botany> See Sapodilla. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |