| magnification radiography | Radiography using a microfocal X-ray tube and increased subject-film distance to provide geometric magnification of the subject without unacceptable loss of sharpness and resolution or an undesirable increase in radiation exposure caused by increasing the distance between the subject and the film. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| magnificence | The act of doing what magnificent; the state or quality of being magnificent. "Then cometh magnificence." . "And, for the heaven's wide circuit, let it speak The Maker's high magnificence, who built so spacious." (Milton) "The noblest monuments of Roman magnificence." (Eustace) Origin: F. Magnificence, L. Magnificentia. See Magnific. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| magnify | 1. To make great, or greater; to increase the dimensions of; to amplify; to enlarge, either in fact or in appearance; as, the microscope magnifies the object by a thousand diameters. "The least error in a small quantity . . . Will in a great one . . . Be proportionately magnified." (Grew) 2. To increase the importance of; to augment the esteem or respect in which one is held. "On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel." (Joshua iv. 14) 3. To praise highly; to land; to extol. "O, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." (Ps. Xxxiv. 3) 4. To exaggerate; as, to magnify a loss or a difficulty. To magnify one's self, to oppose with pride. Origin: OE. Magnifien, F. Magnifier, L. Magnificare. See Magnific. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| magnitude | 1. Extent of dimensions; size; applied to things that have length, breath, and thickness. "Conceive those particles of bodies to be so disposed amongst themselves, that the intervals of empty spaces between them may be equal in magnitude to them all." (Sir I. Newton) 2. <geometry> That which has one or more of the three dimensions, length, breadth, and thickness. 3. Anything of which greater or less can be predicated, as time, weight, force, and the like. 4. Greatness; grandeur. "With plain, heroic magnitude of mind." 5. Greatness, in reference to influence or effect; importance; as, an affair of magnitude. "The magnitude of his designs." (Bp. <optics> Horsley) Apparent magnitude, the angular breadth of an object viewed as measured by the angle which it subtends at the eye of the observer; called also apparent diameter. <astronomy> Magnitude of a star, the rank of a star with respect to brightness. About twenty very bright stars are said to be of first magnitude, the stars of the sixth magnitude being just visible to the naked eye. Telescopic stars are classified down to the twelfth magnitude or lower. The scale of the magnitudes is quite arbitrary, but by means of photometers, the classification has been made to tenths of a magnitude. Origin: L. Magnitudo, from magnus great. See Master, and cf. Maxim. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| magnocellular | Composed of cells of large size. Origin: L. Magnus, large, + cellular (05 Mar 2000) |
| magnocellular neuron | <anatomy, neurology> A neuron in the magnocellular region of the brain. Perhaps the first class of neuron from the central nervous system shown to be sensitive to nerve growth factor (that had previously been thought only to act at the periphery). (18 Nov 1997) |
| magnolia | <botany> A genus of American and Asiatic trees, with aromatic bark and large sweet-scented whitish or reddish flowers. Magnolia grandiflora has coriaceous shining leaves and very fragrant blossoms. It is common from North Carolina to Florida and Texas, and is one of the most magnificent trees of the American forest. The sweet bay (M. Glauca)is a small tree found sparingly as far north as Cape Ann. Other American species are M. Umbrella, M. Macrophylla, M. Fraseri, M. Acuminata, and M. Cordata. M. Conspicua and M. Purpurea are cultivated shrubs or trees from Eastern Asia. M. Campbellii, of India, has rose-coloured or crimson flowers. <zoology> Magnolia warbler, a beautiful North American wood warbler (Dendroica maculosa). The rump and under parts are bright yellow; the breast and belly are spotted with black; the under tail coverts are white; the crown is ash. Origin: NL. Named after Pierre Magnol, professor of botany at Montpellier, France, in the 17th century. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| magnoliaceous | <botany> Pertaining to a natural order (Magnoliaceae) of trees of which the magnolia, the tulip tree, and the star anise are examples. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| magnum | 1. A large wine bottle. "They passed the magnum to one another freely. (Sir W. Scott). 2. <anatomy> A bone of the carpus at the base of the third metacarpal bone. Origin: Neut. Sing. Of L. Magnus great. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| magnus | Large; great; denoting a structure of large size. Origin: L. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Magnus' sign | <clinical sign> An obsolete sign: after death, constriction of a limb or one of its segments is not followed by venous congestion of the distal part. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Magnus, Rudolph | <person> German physiologist, 1873-1927. See: Magnus' sign. (05 Mar 2000) |
| magot | <zoology> The Barbary ape. Origin: F. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| magpie | <zoology> Any one of numerous species of the genus Pica and related genera, allied to the jays, but having a long graduated tail. The common European magpie (Pica pica, or P. Caudata) is a black and white noisy and mischievous bird. It can be taught to speak. The American magpie (P. Hudsonica) is very similar. The yellow-belled magpie (P. Nuttalli) inhabits California. The blue magpie (Cyanopolius Cooki) inhabits Spain. Other allied species are found in Asia. The Tasmanian and Australian magpies are crow shrikes, as the white magpie (Gymnorhina organicum), the black magpie (Strepera fuliginosa), and the Australian magpie (Cracticus picatus). <zoology> Magpie lark, a black and white European geometrid moth (Abraxas grossulariata); the harlequin moth. Its larva feeds on currant and gooseberry bushes. Origin: OE. & Prov. E. Magot pie, maggoty pie, fr. Mag, Maggot, equiv. To Margaret, and fr. F. Marquerite, and common name of the magpie. Marguerite is fr. L. Margarita pearl, Gr, prob. Of Eastern origin. See Pie magpie, and cf. The analogous names Tomtit, and Jackdaw. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| maguari | <zoology> A South American stork (Euxenara maguari), having a forked tail. Origin: From native name: cf. Pg. Magoari. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |