| ambient | <ecology> Describes the surrounding environment (especially temperature and pressure) of an object or experiment, in particular an environment which affects the object or experiment but is not affected by it. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| ambient air quality | The condition of the air in the surrounding environment. (05 Dec 1998) |
| ambient behaviour | <psychology> The movement of an organism away from a certain type of stimulus, such as electric shock. Compare: appetitive behaviour. Synonym: ambient behaviour. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ambient cistern | <anatomy, vein> An expansion of the subarachnoid space extending forward between the corpus callosum and the thalamus; it encloses the internal cerebral veins which caudally join to form the vena magna cerebri (Galen's vein). Synonym: ambient cistern, Bichat's canal, Bichat's foramen, cistern of great vein of cerebrum, cisterna ambiens, cisterna superioris, cisterna venae magnae cerebri, superior cistern. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ambigenous | Of two kinds. <botany> Partaking of two natures, as the perianth of some endogenous plants, where the outer surface is calycine, and the inner petaloid. Origin: L. Ambo both + genus kind. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ambiguity | Origin: L. Ambiguitas, fr. Ambiguus: cf. F. Ambiguite. The quality or state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty, particularly as to the signification of language, arising from its admitting of more than one meaning; an equivocal word or expression. "No shadow of ambiguity can rest upon the course to be pursued." (I. Taylor) "The words are of single signification, without any ambiguity." (South) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ambiguous | Doubtful or uncertain, particularly in respect to signification; capable of being understood in either of two or more possible senses; equivocal; as, an ambiguous course; an ambiguous expression. "What have been thy answers? What but dark, Ambiguous, and with double sense deluding?" (Milton) Synonym: Doubtful, dubious, uncertain, unsettled, indistinct, indeterminate, indefinite. See Equivocal. Origin: L. Ambiguus, fr. Ambigere to wander about, waver; amb- + agere to drive. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ambiguous atrioventricular connections | Connections in which half the atrioventricular junction is connected concordantly and the other half is discordantly connected. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ambiguous codon | <molecular biology> A codon that codes for more than one amino acid. (09 Oct 1997) |
| ambiguous external genitalia | External genitalia not clearly of either sex; most commonly designates external genitalia that are incompletely masculinised. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ambiguous nucleus | A very slender, longitudinal column of motor neurons in the ventrolateral medulla oblongata; its efferent fibres leave with the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerve and innervate the striated muscle fibres of the pharynx (including the musculus levator veli palatini) and the vocal cord muscles of the larynx. Synonym: ambiguous nucleus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ambilateral | Relating to both sides. Origin: ambi-+ L. Latus, side (05 Mar 2000) |
| ambilevous | Awkwardness in the use of both hands. Synonym: ambisinister, ambisinistrous. Origin: ambi-+ L. Laevus, left (05 Mar 2000) |
| ambiparous | <botany> Characterised by containing the rudiments of both flowers and leaves; applied to a bud. Origin: L. Ambo both + parere to bring forth. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ambipolar diffusion | <radiobiology> Diffusion process in which buildup of spatial charge creates electric fields which cause electrons and ions to leave the plasma at the same rate. (Such electric fields are self-generated by the plasma and act to preserve charge neutrality.) (09 Oct 1997) |