| kingdom | <biology> The highest taxonomic rank, immediately above phylum or division. There are five biological kingoms: 1. Kingdom animalia: The members of this kingom are complex, multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that digest food outside their cells and then absorb the digested nutrients. Animals must consume other organisms to obtain most of their nutrients. 2. Kingdom fungi: Kingdom Fungi includes organisms such as slime moulds, mushrooms, smuts, rusts, mildews, moulds, stinkhorns, puffballs, truffles and yeasts. Allare classified in this kingdom because they absorb food in solution directly through their cell walls and reproduce through spores. None conduct photosynthesis. 3. Kingdom monera: This is the most primitive of the five kingdoms, it encompasses all the bacteria. Monerans are single-celled prokaryotic organisms. 4. Kingdom plantae: The members of this kingdom are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that (usually) conduct photosynthesis. 5. Kingdom protista: This kingdom is composed of single-celled (sometimes multicellular), eukaryotic organisms. Protists are more complex than bacteria and include protozooans and some types of algae. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| kingella | A genus of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria whose organisms are part of the normal flora of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. Some species are pathogenic for man. (12 Dec 1998) |
| kingella kingae | A species of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria. The most commonly diagnosed infections due to this organism are endocarditis and septic arthritis. There have also been, however, isolated reports of bacteraemia, discitis, abscesses, meningitis, and oropharyngeal infections. (12 Dec 1998) |
| kingfish | <zoology> An American marine food fish of the genus Menticirrus, especially M. Saxatilis, or M. Nebulosos, of the Atlantic coast. Synonym: whiting, surf whiting, and barb. The opah. The common cero; also, the spotted cero. See Cero. The queenfish. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| kingfisher | <zoology> Any one of numerous species of birds constituting the family Alcedinidae. most of them feed upon fishes which they capture by diving and seizing then with the beak; others feed only upon reptiles, insects, etc. About one hundred and fifty species are known. They are found in nearly all parts of the world, but are particularly abundant in the East Indies. The belted king-fisher of the United States (Ceryle alcyon) feeds upon fishes. It is slate-blue above, with a white belly and breast, and a broad white ring around the neck. A dark band crosses the breast. The common European species (Alcedo ispida), which is much smaller and brighter coloured, is also a fisher. See Alcedo. The wood kingfishers (Halcyones), which inhabit forests, especially in Africa, feed largely upon insects, but also eat reptiles, snails, and small Crustacea, as well as fishes. The giant kingfisher of Australia feeds largely upon lizards and insects. See Laughing jackass, under Laughing. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| kinglet | 1. A little king; a weak or insignificant king. 2. <ornithology> Any one of several species of small singing birds of the genus Regulus and family Sylviidae. The golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa), and the rubycrowned kinglet (R. Calendula), are the most common American species. The common English kinglet (R. Cristatus) is also called golden-crested wren, moonie, and marigold finch. The kinglets are often popularly called wrens, both in America and England. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| kingly | Belonging to, suitable to, or becoming, a king; characteristic of, resembling, a king; directed or administered by a king; monarchical; royal; sovereign; regal; august; noble; grand. "Kingly magnificence." . "A kingly government." . "The kingly couch." "The kingliest kings are crowned with thorn." (G. Massey) "Leave kingly backs to cope with kingly cares." (Cowper) Synonym: Regal, royal, monarchical, imperial, august, sovereign, noble, splendid. Kingly, Regal. Kingly is Anglo-Saxon, and refers especially to the character of a king; regal is Latin, and now relates more to his office. The former is chiefly used of dispositions, feelings, and purposes which are kinglike; as, kingly sentiments; kingly condescension; " a kingly heart for enterprises." . The latter is oftener applied to external state, pomp, etc.; as, regal state, regal title, etc. This distinction is not observed by our early writers, but is gaining ground. Origin: Kinglier; Kingliest. In a kingly or kinglike manner. "Low bowed the rest; he, kingly, did but nod." (Pore) Although this citation, one from Paradise Lost, and one from Shakespeare's ll4th Sonnet are given by lexicographers as examples of adverbial use, it is by no means clear that the word is not an adjective in each instance. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Kingsley | N.W., U.S. Dentist, 1829-1913. See: Kingsley splint. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Kingsley splint | A winged maxillary splint used to apply traction to reduce maxillary fractures as well as immobilise them by having the wings attached to a head appliance by elastics. Synonym: reverse Kingsley splint. (05 Mar 2000) |
| kingstone | <zoology> The black angel fish. See Angel fish, under Angel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| kinic | <chemistry> See Quinic. Origin: Cf. F.kinique. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| kinic acid | <chemical> An acid which is found in cinchona bark and elsewhere in plants. Chemical name: Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 1,3,4,5-tetrahydroxy-, (1R-(1alpha,3alpha,4alpha,5beta))- (12 Dec 1998) |
| kinin | One of a number of widely differing substances having pronounced and dramatic physiological effects. Some (e.g., kallidin and bradykinin) are polypeptides, formed in blood by proteolysis secondary to some pathological process, that stimulate visceral smooth muscle but relax vascular smooth muscle, thus producing vasodilation; others (e.g., kinetin) are plant growth regulators. Origin: G. Kineo, to move, + -in (05 Mar 2000) |
| kinin 9 | <protein> Vasoactive nonapeptide (RPPGFSPFR) formed by action of proteases on kininogens. Very similar to kallidin (which has the same sequence but with an additional N terminal lysine). Bradykinin is a very potent vasodilator and increases permeability of post capillary venules, it acts on endothelial cells to activate phospholipase A2. It is also spasmogenic for some smooth muscle and will cause pain. (18 Nov 1997) |
| kininogen | <biochemistry> Inactive precursor in plasma from which kinin is produced by proteolytic cleavage. (18 Nov 1997) |