| vanadium compounds | Inorganic compounds that contain vanadium as an integral part of the molecule. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| vanadium group | Those elements resembling vanadium in chemical and metallurgical properties; included with vanadium are niobium and tantalum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vanadous | <chemistry> Of or pertaining to vanadium; obtained from vanadium; said of an acid containing one equivalent of vanadium and two of oxygen. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| vanadyl | <chemistry> The hypothetical radical VO, regarded as a characterised residue of certain vanadium compounds. Origin: Vanadium + -yl. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| vancomycin | <drug> Complex glycopeptide antibiotic produced by actinomycetes. Inhibits peptidoglycan synthesis. Active against many gram-positive bacteria. (18 Nov 1997) |
| vancomycin resistant enterococcus | A form of intestinal bacteria (formerly classed under streptococcus faecalis) which is not sensitive to the big gun antibiotic, vancomycin. This organism is usually only fatal in those who are, for reasons of age or infirmity, immunosuppressed. The pathology of the illness is exacerbated when haemosepsis (blood-stream infection) develops. (09 Oct 1997) |
| vandal root | <botany> Any plant of the genus Valeriana. The root of the officinal valerian (V. Officinalis) has a strong smell, and is much used in medicine as an antispasmodic. <botany> Greek valerian, a plant (Polemonium caeruleum) with blue or white flowers, and leaves resembling those of the officinal valerian. Origin: LL. Valeriana, perhaps from some person named Valerius, or fr. L. Valere to be strong. Powerful, on account of its medicinal virtues: cf. F. Valeriane. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| vane | 1. A contrivance attached to some elevated object for the purpose of showing which way the wind blows; a weathercock. It is usually a plate or strip of metal, or slip of wood, often cut into some fanciful form, and placed upon a perpendicular axis around which it moves freely. "Aye undiscreet, and changing as a vane." (Chaucer) 2. Any flat, extended surface attached to an axis and moved by the wind; as, the vane of a windmill; hence, a similar fixture of any form moved in or by water, air, or other fluid; as, the vane of a screw propeller, a fan blower, an anemometer, etc. 3. <zoology> The rhachis and web of a feather taken together. 4. One of the sights of a compass, quadrant, etc. Vane of a leveling staff. Same as Target. Origin: OE. & E. Prov. E. Fane weathercock, banner, AS. Fana a banner, flag; akin to D. Vaan, G. Fahne, OHG. Fano cloth, gund fano flag, Icel. Fani, Sw. Fana, Dan. Fane, Goth. Fana cloth, L. Pannus, and perhaps to Gr. A web, a bobbin, spool. Cf. Fanon, Pane a compartment, panel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| vanessa | <zoology> Any one of numerous species of handsomely coloured butterflies belonging to Vanessa and allied genera. Many of these species have the edges of the wings irregularly scalloped. Origin: Probably from Swift's poem of Cadenus and Vanessa. See Vanessa, in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| vanessian | <zoology> A vanessa. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| vanglo | <botany> Benne (Sesamum orientale); also, its seeds; so called in the West Indies. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| vanilla | 1. <botany> A genus of climbing orchidaceous plants natives of tropical America. 2. The long podlike capsules of Vanilla planifolia, and V. Claviculata, remarkable for their delicate and agreeable odour, for the volatile, odouriferous oil extracted from them; also, the flavoring extract made from the capsules, extensively used in confectionery, perfumery, etc. As a medicine, vanilla is supposed to possess powers analogous to valerian, while, at the same time, it is far more grateful. Cuban vanilla, a sweet-scented West Indian composite shrub (Eupatorium Dalea). Vanilla bean, the long capsule of the vanilla plant. Vanilla grass. Same as Holy grass, under Holy. Origin: NL, fr. Sp. Vainilla, dim. Of Sp. Vaina a sheath, a pod, L. Vagina; because its grains, or seeds, are contained in little pods. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| vanillate | <chemistry> A salt of vanillic acid. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| vanillate 1-hydroxylase | <enzyme> Catalyses the oxidative decarboxylation of vanillic acid to 2-methoxyhydroquinone Registry number: EC 1.14.13.- (26 Jun 1999) |
| vanillate O-demethylase | <enzyme> Converts vanillate (3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzoate) to protocatechuate (3,4-dihydroxybenzoate); enzyme may be related structurally to ferredoxins; demethylates lignin-derived methoxyphenolics such as syringic or hydroxyvanillic acids to the corresponding phenolic products Registry number: EC 1.14.13.- Synonym: vanillate demethylase, clostridium thermoaceticum o-demethylase, syringate demethylase (26 Jun 1999) |