| unconscious (psychology) | Those forces and content of the mind which are not ordinarily available to conscious awareness or to immediate recall. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| unconscious homosexuality | An erotic inclination toward members of the same sex not consciously experienced or expressed in overt action, as opposed to overt homosexuality Use of this term is disappearing because of both its potentially iatrogenic effect and the inability to validate the phenomenon by techniques outside of psychoanalytic theory. Synonym: unconscious homosexuality. (05 Mar 2000) |
| unconsciousness | A physiological state in which the patient is incapable of responding to usual environmental stimuli; it is an imprecise term but usually refers to impairment of consciousness less profound than coma, in which no response can be elicited even at the reflex level. (12 Dec 1998) |
| unconsolidated parent material | <ecology> Material from which a soil develops. (09 Oct 1997) |
| uncoupler | <biochemistry> An agent that can uncouple electron transport from oxidative phosphorylation. Ionophores can do this by discharging the ion gradient across the mitochondrial membrane that is generated by electron transport. In general the term applies to any agent capable of dissociating two linked processes. (18 Nov 1997) |
| uncouplers | Substances such as dinitrophenol that allow oxidation in mitochondria to proceed without the usual concomitant phosphorylation to produce ATP; these poisons thus "uncouple" oxidation and phosphorylation. Synonym: uncoupling factors. (05 Mar 2000) |
| uncoupling agent | <chemistry> A chemical that breaks the electron transport chain during key biological processes (for example, photosynthesis, phosphorylation). (09 Oct 1997) |
| uncoupling agents | Chemical agents that uncouple oxidation from phosphorylation in the metabolic cycle so that ATP synthesis does not occur. Included here are those ionophores that disrupt electron transfer by short-circuiting the proton gradient across mitochondrial membranes. (12 Dec 1998) |
| uncoupling factors | Substances such as dinitrophenol that allow oxidation in mitochondria to proceed without the usual concomitant phosphorylation to produce ATP; these poisons thus "uncouple" oxidation and phosphorylation. Synonym: uncoupling factors. (05 Mar 2000) |
| uncovenanted | 1. Not covenanted; not granted or entered into under a covenant, agreement, or contract. 2. Not having joined in a league, or assented to a covenant or agreement, as to the Solemn League and Covenant of the Scottish people in the times of the Stuarts. "In Scotland a few fanatical nonjurors may have grudged their allegiance to an uncovenanted king." (Sir T. E. May) 3. Not having entered into relationship with God through the appointed means of grace; also, not promised or assured by the divine promises or conditions; as, uncovenanted mercies. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| uncovertebral | Pertaining to or affecting the uncinate process of a vertebra. (05 Mar 2000) |
| uncovertebral joints | Small synovial joint's between adjacent lateral lips of the bodies of the lower cervical vertebrae. Synonym: Luschka's joints. (05 Mar 2000) |
| uncrossed diplopia | Double image's produced by stimuli arising from points proximal to the horopter. Synonym: homonymous diplopia, simple diplopia, uncrossed diplopia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| unction | 1. The act of anointing, smearing, or rubbing with an unguent, oil, or ointment, especially for medical purposes, or as a symbol of consecration; as, mercurial unction. "To be heir, and to be king By sacred unction, thy deserved right." (Milton) 2. That which is used for anointing; an unguent; an ointment; hence, anything soothing or lenitive. "The king himself the sacred unction made." (Dryden) "Lay not that flattering unction to your soul." (Shak) 3. Divine or sanctifying grace. 4. That quality in language, address, or the like, which excites emotion; especially, strong devotion; religious fervor and tenderness; sometimes, a simulated, factitious, or unnatural fervor. "The delightful equivoque and unction of the passage in Farquhar." (Hazlitt) "The mention of thy glory Is unction to the breast." (Neale (Rhythm of St. Bernard)) Extreme unction, the sacrament of anointing in the last hours; the application of consecrated oil by a priest to all the senses, that is, to eyes, ears, nostrils, etc, of a person when in danger of death from illness, done for remission of sins. Origin: OE. Unccioun, uncioun, OF. Oncion, onction, F. Onction, fr. L. Unctio, fr. Ungere, unctum, to anoint. See Unguent. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| unctuous | Greasy or oily. Origin: L. Unctuosus, fr. Unctio, unction (05 Mar 2000) |