| gluten-free diet | Elimination of all wheat, rye, barley, and oat gluten from the diet; treatment for gluten-sensitive enteropathy (coeliac disease). See: coeliac disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| working distance free | <microscopy> The distance between the front lens of the objective and the coverslip (or uncovered object) when the lens is focused on the specimen. (05 Aug 1998) |
| culture media, serum-free | Culture media free of serum proteins but including the minimal essential substances required for cell growth. This type of medium avoids the presence of extraneous substances that may affect cell proliferation or unwanted activation of cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| purine-free diet | A diet containing a minimal quantity of purine bases (meats); liver, kidney, and sweetbread especially are excluded and replaced by dairy products, fruits, and cereals; alcoholic beverages also are excluded. Synonym: purine-free diet. (05 Mar 2000) |
| skeleton of free inferior limb | The bones of the lower limb except the hip bones, i.e., all lower limb bones including and distal to the femur. (05 Mar 2000) |
| skeleton of free superior limb | The bones of the upper limb except the scapula and clavicle, i.e., all upper limb bones including and distal to the humerus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific pathogen-free organisms | Animals or humans raised in the absence of a particular disease-causing virus or other microorganism. Less frequently plants are cultivated pathogen-free. (12 Dec 1998) |
| disease-free survival | Period after successful treatment in which there is no appearance of the symptoms or effects of the disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oxygen derived free radicals | An atom or atom group having an unpaired electron on an oxygen atom, typically derived from molecular oxygen. For example, one-electron reduction of O2 produces the superoxide radical, O2-; other examples include the hydroperoxyl radical (HOO-), the hydroxyl radical (HO-), and nitric oxide (NO-). (05 Mar 2000) |
| echo-free | The property of appearing echo-free or without echoes on a sonographic image; a clear cyst appears anechoic. See: transonic. Synonym: echo-free. Origin: G. An-priv. + echo + ic (05 Mar 2000) |
| joints of free inferior limb | The joints uniting the bones of the free inferior limb to one another and to the pelvic girdle; they are the hip joint, knee joint, tibiofibular joints, and the joints of the ankle and foot. Synonym: articulationes membri inferioris liberi, joints of free inferior limb, juncturae membri inferioris liberi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| joints of free lower limb | The joints uniting the bones of the free inferior limb to one another and to the pelvic girdle; they are the hip joint, knee joint, tibiofibular joints, and the joints of the ankle and foot. Synonym: articulationes membri inferioris liberi, joints of free inferior limb, juncturae membri inferioris liberi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| joints of free superior limb | The joints uniting the bones of the free superior limb girdle; they are the shoulder joint, elbow joint, radioulnar joints, and joints of the wrist and hand. Synonym: articulationes membri superioris liberi, joints of free superior limb, juncturae membri superioris liberi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| joints of free upper limb | The joints uniting the bones of the free superior limb girdle; they are the shoulder joint, elbow joint, radioulnar joints, and joints of the wrist and hand. Synonym: articulationes membri superioris liberi, joints of free superior limb, juncturae membri superioris liberi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| free | 1. Exempt from subjection to the will of others; not under restraint, control, or compulsion; able to follow one's own impulses, desires, or inclinations; determining one's own course of action; not dependent; at liberty. "That which has the power, or not the power, to operate, is that alone which is or is not free." (Locke) 2. Not under an arbitrary or despotic government; subject only to fixed laws regularly and fairly administered, and defended by them from encroachments upon natural or acquired rights; enjoying political liberty. 3. Liberated, by arriving at a certain age, from the control of parents, guardian, or master. 4. Not confined or imprisoned; released from arrest; liberated; at liberty to go. "Set an unhappy prisoner free." (Prior) 5. Not subjected to the laws of physical necessity; capable of voluntary activity; endowed with moral liberty; said of the will. "Not free, what proof could they have given sincere Of true allegiance, constant faith, or love." (Milton) 6. Clear of offense or crime; guiltless; innocent. "My hands are guilty, but my heart is free." (Dryden) 7. Unconstrained by timidity or distrust; unreserved; ingenuous; frank; familiar; communicative. "He was free only with a few." (Milward) 8. Unrestrained; immoderate; lavish; licentious; used in a bad sense. "The critics have been very free in their censures." (Felton) "A man may live a free life as to wine or women." (Shelley) 9. Not close or parsimonious; liberal; open-handed; lavish; as, free with his money. 10. Exempt; clear; released; liberated; not encumbered or troubled with; as, free from pain; free from a burden; followed by from, or, rarely, by of. "Princes declaring themselves free from the obligations of their treaties." (Bp. Burnet) 11. Characteristic of one acting without restraint; charming; easy. 12. Ready; eager; acting without spurring or whipping; spirited; as, a free horse. 13. Invested with a particular freedom or franchise; enjoying certain immunities or privileges; admitted to special rights; followed by of. "He therefore makes all birds, of every sect, Free of his farm." (Dryden) 14. Thrown open, or made accessible, to all; to be enjoyed without limitations; unrestricted; not obstructed, engrossed, or appropriated; open; said of a thing to be possessed or enjoyed; as, a free school. "Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free For me as for you?" (Shak) 15. Not gained by importunity or purchase; gratuitous; spontaneous; as, free admission; a free gift. 16. Not arbitrary or despotic; assuring liberty; defending individual rights against encroachment by any person or class; instituted by a free people; said of a government, institutions, etc. 17. Certain or honorable; the opposite of base; as, free service; free socage. 18. Privileged or individual; the opposite of common; as, a free fishery; a free warren. 19. Not united or combined with anything else; separated; dissevered; unattached; at liberty to escape; as, free carbonic acid gas; free cells. Free agency, the capacity or power of choosing or acting freely, or without necessity or constraint upon the will. Free bench, to sail with the yards not braced in as sharp as when sailing closehauled, or close to the wind. Origin: OE. Fre, freo, AS. Freo, fri; akin to D. Vrij, OS. & OHG. Fri, G. Frei, Icel. Fri, Sw. & Dan. Fri, Goth. Freis, and also to Skr. Prija beloved, dear, fr. Pri to love, Goth. Frijn. Cf. Affray, Belfry, Friday, Friend, Frith inclosure. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |