| paclitaxel | <drug> This alkaloid is an extract from the Pacific yew, Taxus brevifolia. It inhibits microtubule disassembly and is used as a chemotherapy agent to treat bladder, oesophageal and lung cancers and is being investigated as a treatment for leukaemia and lymphoma. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| pacos | 1. <zoology> Same as Alpaca. 2. [Peruv. Paco, pacu, red, reddish, reddish ore containing silver; perh. A different word. <chemical> An earthy-looking ore, consisting of brown oxide of iron with minute particles of native silver. Origin: Sp. Paco, fr. Peruv. Paco. Cf. Alpaca. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| PACS | Acronym for picture archive and communication system, a computer network for digitised radiologic images and reports. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pactamycin | <drug> Antibiotic that inhibits translation by blocking the binding of initiator tRNA to the initiator complex. (18 Nov 1997) |
| pacu | <zoology> A South American freah-water fish (Myleies pacu), of the family Characinidae. It is highly esteemed as food. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pad | 1. A soft, or small, cushion; a mass of anything soft; stuffing. 2. A kind of cushion for writing upon, or for blotting; especially, one formed of many flat sheets of writing paper, or layers of blotting paper; a block of paper. 3. A cushion used as a saddle without a tree or frame. 4. A stuffed guard or protection; especially, one worn on the legs of horses to prevent bruising. 5. <zoology> A cushionlike thickening of the skin one the under side of the toes of animals. 6. A floating leaf of a water lily or similar plant. 7. <medicine> A soft bag or cushion to relieve pressure, support a part, etc. 8. A piece of timber fixed on a beam to fit the curve of the deck. 9. A measure for fish; as, sixty mackerel go to a pad; a basket of soles. Pad cloth, a saddlecloth; a housing. Pad saddle. See def. 3, above. Pad tree, a piece of wood or metal which gives rigidity and shape to a harness pad. Origin: Perh. Akin to pod. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| paddle | 1. An implement with a broad blade, which is used without a fixed fulcrum in propelling and steering canoes and boats. 2. The broad part of a paddle, with which the stroke is made; hence, any short, broad blade, resembling that of a paddle. "Thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon." (Deut. Xxiii. 13) 3. One of the broad boards, or floats, at the circumference of a water wheel, or paddle wheel. 4. A small gate in sluices or lock gates to admit or let off water; also called clough. 5. <zoology> A paddle-shaped foot, as of the sea turtle. 6. A paddle-shaped implement for string or mixing. 7. [In this sense prob. For older spaddle, a dim. Of spade] See Paddle staff (b), below. Paddle beam, one of two large timbers supporting the spring beam and paddle box of a steam vessel. Paddle board. See Paddle. Paddle box, the structure inclosing the upper part of the paddle wheel of a steam vessel. Paddle shaft, the revolving shaft which carries the paddle wheel of a steam vessel. Paddle staff. A staff tipped with a broad blade, used by mole catchers. A long-handled spade used to clean a plowshare; called also plow staff. Paddle steamer, a steam vessel propelled by paddle wheels, in distinction from a screw propeller. Paddle wheel, the propelling wheel of a steam vessel, having paddles (or floats) on its circumference, and revolving in a vertical plane parallel to the vessel's length. See: Paddle. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| paddlecock | <zoology> The lumpfish. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| paddlefish | <zoology> A large ganoid fish (Polyodon spathula) found in the rivers of the Mississippi Valley. It has a long spatula-shaped snout. Synonym: duck-billed cat, and spoonbill sturgeon. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| paddlewood | <botany> The light elastic wood of the Aspidosperma excelsum, a tree of Guiana having a fluted trunk readily split into planks. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| paddock | <zoology> A toad or frog. "Loathed paddocks. <botany>" Paddock pipe,a toadstool. Origin: OE. Padde toad, frog + -ock; akin to D. Pad, padde, toad, Icel. & Sw. Padda, Dan. Padde. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| paddy | <botany> Unhusked rice; commonly so called in the East Indies. Paddy bird. <zoology> See Java sparrow, under Java. Origin: Either fr. Canarese bhatta or Malay padi. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| padelion | <botany> A plant with pedately lobed leaves; the lady's mantle. Origin: F. Pas de lionon's foot. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pademelon | <zoology> See Wallaby. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| padge | <zoology> The barn owl. Synonym: pudge, and pudge owl. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |