| labrador | A region of British America on the Atlantic coast, north of Newfoundland. <zoology> Labrador duck, a sea duck (Camtolaimus Labradorius) allied to the eider ducks. It was formerly common on the coast of new England, but is now supposed to be extinct, no specimens having been reported since 1878. Labrador feldspar. See Labradorite. <botany> Labrador tea, a name of two low, evergreen shrubs of the genus Ledum (L. Palustre and L. Latifolium), found in Northern Europe and America. They are used as tea in British America, and in Scandinavia as a substitute for hops. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| Labrador keratopathy | A bilateral, symmetrical corneal dystrophy caused by prolonged exposure to extremes of heat or cold; nodular opacities are limited to the interpalpebral area and vision is only mildly affected. Synonym: Labrador keratopathy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| labradorite | <chemical> A kind of feldspar commonly showing a beautiful play of colours, and hence much used for ornamental purposes. The finest specimens come from Labrador. See Feldspar. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| labrale inferius | <anatomy> A point where the boundary of the vermilion border of the lower lip and the skin is intersected by the median plane. (05 Mar 2000) |
| labrale superius | <anatomy> The point on the upper lip lying in the median sagittal plane on a line drawn across the boundary of the vermilion border and skin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| labrocyte | <cell biology, immunology> Resident cell of connective tissue that contains many granules rich in histamine and heparan sulphate. Release of histamine from mast cells is responsible for the immediate reddening of the skin in a weal and flare response. Very similar to basophils and possibly derived from the same stem cells. Two types of mast cells are now recognised, those from connective tissue and a distinct set of mucosal mast cells, the activities of the latter are T-cell dependent. (05 Jan 1998) |
| labroid | <marine biology> Like the genus Labrus; belonging to the family Labridae, an extensive family of marine fishes, often brilliantly coloured, which are very abundant in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The tautog and cunner are American examples. Origin: Labrus. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| labrum | 1. A lip or edge, as of a basin. 2. <zoology> An organ in insects and crustaceans covering the upper part of the mouth, and serving as an upper lip. The external margin of the aperture of a shell. See Univalve. Origin: L. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| labrum acetabulare | A fibrocartilaginous rim attached to the margin of the acetabulum of the hip bone. Synonym: labrum acetabulare, acetabular lip, circumferential cartilage, cotyloid ligament, ligamentum cotyloideum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| labrum articulare | A fibrocartilaginous lip around the margin of the concave portion of some joints. Synonym: labrum articulare, articular lip. (05 Mar 2000) |
| labrum glenoidale | A ring of fibrocartilage attached to the margin of the glenoid cavity of the scapula to increase its depth. Synonym: labrum glenoidale, articular margin, circumferential cartilage, glenoid ligament, glenoidal lip, ligamentum glenoidale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| labrus | <marine biology> A genus of marine fishes, including the wrasses of Europe. See Wrasse. Origin: L, a sort of fish. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| laburnum | <botany> A small leguminous tree (Cytisus Laburnum), native of the Alps. The plant is reputed to be poisonous, especially. The bark and seeds. It has handsome racemes of yellow blossoms. Scotch laburnum (Cytisus alpinus) is similar, but has smooth leaves; purple laburnum is C. Purpureus. Origin: L. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| labyrinth | 1. An edifice or place full of intricate passageways which render it difficult to find the way from the interior to the entrance; as, the Egyptian and Cretan labyrinths. 2. Any intricate or involved inclosure; especially, an ornamental maze or inclosure in a park or garden. 3. Any object or arrangement of an intricate or involved form, or having a very complicated nature. "The serpent . . . Fast sleeping soon he found, In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled." (Milton) "The labyrinth of the mind." (Tennyson) 4. An inextricable or bewildering difficulty. "I' the maze and winding labyrinths o' the world." (Denham) 5. <anatomy> The internal ear. See Note under Ear. 6. <chemistry> A series of canals through which a stream of water is directed for suspending, carrying off, and depositing at different distances, the ground ore of a metal. 7. A pattern or design representing a maze, often inlaid in the tiled floor of a church, etc. Synonym: Maze, confusion, intricacy, windings. Labyrinth, Maze. Labyrinth, originally; the name of an edifice or excavation, carries the idea of design, and construction in a permanent form, while maze is used of anything confused or confusing, whether fixed or shifting. Maze is less restricted in its figurative uses than labyrinth. We speak of the labyrinth of the ear, or of the mind, and of a labyrinth of difficulties; but of the mazes of the dance, the mazes of political intrigue, or of the mind being in a maze. Origin: L. Labyrinthus, Gr. Labyrinthos: cf. F. Labyrinthe. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| labyrinth supporting cells | Cells forming a framework supporting the organ of corti. Specific cells are those of claudius, deiters and hensen. (12 Dec 1998) |