| abeam
|
at right angles to the length of a ship or airplane |
- |
| ableism
|
discrimination in favor of the able-bodied |
able-bodiedism,
able-bodism,
ablism |
| ablism
|
discrimination in favor of the able-bodied |
able-bodiedism,
able-bodism,
ableism |
| abloom
|
when the bud, or buds, on a plant are bursting into flower |
efflorescent |
| abohm
|
a unit of resistance equal to a billionth of an ohm |
- |
| abolitionism
|
the doctrine that calls for the abolition of slavery |
- |
| abomasum
|
the fourth compartment of the stomach of a ruminant; the one where digestion takes place |
fourth stomach |
| absenteeism
|
habitual absence from work |
- |
| absolutism
|
dominance through threat of punishment and violence |
despotism,
tyranny |
| absolutism
|
a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.) |
totalitarianism,
monocracy,
despotism,
dictatorship,
one-man rule,
Stalinism,
shogunate,
Caesarism,
authoritarianism,
tyranny |
| absolutism
|
an ideological belief in the complete and unrestricted power of government. |
totalism,
totalitarianism |
| absolutism
|
the doctrine of an absolute being, often related to idealism in philosophy. |
- |
| abstractionism
|
an abstract genre of art; artistic content depends on internal form rather than pictorial representation |
abstract art |
| abstractionism
|
a representation having no reference to concrete objects or specific examples |
unrealism |
| abysm
|
a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively) |
abyss |
| academicism
|
orthodoxy of a scholastic variety |
scholasticism,
academism |
| academicism
|
Purely speculative thoughts and attitudes. |
- |
| academicism
|
a style of painting and sculpture produced under the influence of European academies of art. |
academic art,
academism |
| academism
|
orthodoxy of a scholastic variety |
scholasticism,
academicism |
| academism
|
a style of painting and sculpture produced under the influence of European academies of art. |
academic art,
academicism |
| acclaim
|
praise vociferously |
hail,
herald |
| acclaim
|
clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval |
clap,
spat,
applaud |
| acclaim
|
enthusiastic approval |
plaudit,
plaudits,
eclat,
acclamation |
| accustom
|
make psychologically or physically used (to something) |
habituate |
| acephalism
|
absence of the head (as in the development of some monsters) |
acephalia,
acephaly |
| acetabulum
|
the cup-shaped hollow in the hipbone into which the head of the femur fits to form a ball-and-socket joint |
cotyloid cavity |
| acetum
|
a dilute solution of acetic acid that is used as a solvent (e.g. for a drug) |
- |
| acetum
|
sour-tasting liquid produced usually by oxidation of the alcohol in wine or cider and used as a condiment or food preservative |
vinegar |
| achromatism
|
the visual property of being without chromatic color |
colorlessness,
colourlessness,
achromaticity |
| acmeism
|
An early 20th-century Russian school of poetry that rejected the vagueness and emotionality of Symbolism in favor of Imagist clarity and texture. |
- |
| acneiform
|
resembling acne |
- |
| acronym
|
a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name and pronounced as one word |
initialism |
| actinism
|
the property of radiation that enables it to produce photochemical effects |
- |
| actinium
|
a radioactive element of the actinide series; found in uranium ores |
Ac,
atomic number 89 |
| activism
|
a policy of taking direct action to achieve a political or social goal |
- |
| adactylism
|
congenital absence of fingers and/or toes |
adactylia,
adactyly |
| addendum
|
textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end |
supplement,
postscript |
| adventurism
|
recklessness in politics or foreign affairs |
- |
| aecium
|
fruiting body of some rust fungi bearing chains of aeciospores |
- |
| aeriform
|
resembling air or having the form of air |
airlike |
| aeriform
|
characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as impalpable or intangible as air |
ethereal,
aerial,
aery,
airy |
| aeroembolism
|
obstruction of the circulatory system caused by an air bubble as, e.g., accidentally during surgery or hypodermic injection or as a complication from scuba diving |
gas embolism,
air embolism |
| aeroembolism
|
pain resulting from rapid change in pressure |
decompression sickness,
gas embolism,
caisson disease,
air embolism,
bends |
| aerogram
|
a letter sent by air mail |
aerogramme,
air letter,
airmail letter |
| affirm
|
establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts |
substantiate,
support,
sustain,
confirm,
corroborate |
| affirm
|
to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true |
swear,
verify,
assert,
swan,
aver,
avow |
| affirm
|
say yes to |
- |
| ageism
|
discrimination on the basis of a person's age |
agism |
| agendum
|
a list of matters to be taken up (as at a meeting) |
agenda,
order of business |
| ageratum
|
rhizomatous plant of central and southeastern United States and West Indies having large showy heads of clear blue flowers; sometimes placed in genus Eupatorium |
mist-flower,
mistflower,
Eupatorium coelestinum,
Conoclinium coelestinum |
| ageratum
|
any plant of the genus Ageratum having opposite leaves and small heads of blue or white flowers |
- |
| agism
|
discrimination on the basis of a person's age |
ageism |
| agleam
|
bright with a steady but subdued shining |
nitid,
gleaming |
| agnosticism
|
a religious orientation of doubt; a denial of ultimate knowledge of the existence of God |
- |
| agnosticism
|
the disbelief in any claims of ultimate knowledge |
scepticism,
skepticism |
| ahem
|
the utterance of a sound similar to clearing the throat; intended to get attention, express hesitancy, fill a pause, hide embarrassment, warn a friend, etc. |
hem |
| aim
|
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions |
intention,
design,
intent,
purpose |
| aim
|
the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable) |
target,
object,
objective |
| aim
|
the action of directing something at an object |
- |
| aim
|
the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies |
heading,
bearing |
| aim
|
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards |
direct,
take,
train,
take aim |
| aim
|
propose or intend |
propose,
purport,
purpose |
| aim
|
move into a desired direction of discourse |
get,
drive |
| aim
|
specifically design a product, event, or activity for a certain public |
direct,
calculate |
| aim
|
intend (something) to move towards a certain goal |
direct,
place,
point,
target |
| aim
|
direct (a remark) toward an intended goal |
- |
| aim
|
have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal |
draw a bead on,
shoot for,
aspire |
| airstream
|
a relatively well-defined prevailing wind |
- |
| airstream
|
the flow of air that is driven backwards by an aircraft propeller |
race,
wash,
slipstream,
backwash |
| alarm
|
fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised |
horrify,
dismay,
appal,
appall |
| alarm
|
warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness |
alert |
| alarm
|
fear resulting from the awareness of danger |
dismay,
consternation |
| alarm
|
a device that signals the occurrence of some undesirable event |
warning device,
alarm system |
| alarm
|
an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger |
warning signal,
alarum,
alert |
| alarm
|
a clock that wakes a sleeper at some preset time |
alarm clock |
| alarmism
|
needless warnings |
- |
| alarum
|
an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger |
alarm,
warning signal,
alert |
| alastrim
|
a mild form of smallpox caused by a less virulent form of the virus |
variola minor,
milk pox,
pseudosmallpox,
pseudovariola,
Kaffir pox,
West Indian smallpox,
white pox,
Cuban itch |
| albinism
|
the congenital absence of pigmentation in the eyes and skin and hair |
- |
| album
|
one or more recordings issued together; originally released on 12-inch phonograph records (usually with attractive record covers) and later on cassette audiotape and compact disc |
record album |
| album
|
a book of blank pages with pockets or envelopes; for organizing photographs or stamp collections etc |
- |
| alcoholism
|
habitual intoxication; prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks leading to a breakdown in health and an addiction to alcohol such that abrupt deprivation leads to severe withdrawal symptoms |
drunkenness,
inebriation,
alcohol addiction |
| alcoholism
|
an intense persistent desire to drink alcoholic beverages to excess |
dipsomania,
potomania |
| aldosteronism
|
a condition caused by overproduction of aldosterone |
hyperaldosteronism |
| algorism
|
the Arabic (or decimal) system of numeration |
- |
| algorism
|
computation with Arabic figures |
- |
| algorithm
|
a precise rule (or set of rules) specifying how to solve some problem |
algorithmic program,
algorithmic rule |
| alienism
|
an obsolete term for the study and treatment of mental illness |
- |
| alienism
|
the quality of being alien |
alienage |
| aliform
|
having or resembling wings |
wing-shaped,
alar,
alary |
| allomerism
|
(chemistry) variability in chemical composition without variation in crystalline form |
- |
| allotropism
|
the phenomenon of an element existing in two or more physical forms |
allotropy |
| alluvium
|
clay or silt or gravel carried by rushing streams and deposited where the stream slows down |
alluvion,
alluvial deposit,
alluvial sediment |
| alprazolam
|
an antianxiety agent (trade name Xanax) of the benzodiazepine class |
Xanax |
| altruism
|
the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others |
selflessness |
| alum
|
a white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the ammonium double sulfate of aluminum |
ammonia alum,
ammonium alum |
| alum
|
a white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the potassium double sulfate of aluminum |
potash alum,
potassium alum |
| alum
|
a double sulphate of aluminum and potassium that is used as an astringent (among other things) |
- |
| alum
|
a person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university) |
graduate,
grad,
alumna,
alumnus |
| alumbloom
|
any of several herbs of the genus Heuchera |
alumroot |
| aluminium
|
a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite |
Al,
aluminum,
atomic number 13 |
| aluminum
|
a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite |
Al,
aluminium,
atomic number 13 |
| alundum
|
a substance made of fused alumina |
- |
| alyssum
|
any garden plant of the genus Alyssum having clusters of small yellow or white flowers |
madwort |
| amalgam
|
an alloy of mercury with another metal (usually silver) used by dentists to fill cavities in teeth; except for iron and platinum all metals dissolve in mercury and chemists refer to the resulting mercury mixtures as amalgams |
dental amalgam |
| amalgam
|
a combination or blend of diverse things |
- |
| amateurism
|
the conviction that people should participate in sports as a hobby (for the fun of it) rather than for money |
- |
| ambulacrum
|
one of the five areas on the undersurface of an echinoderm on which the tube feet are located |
- |
| americium
|
a radioactive transuranic metallic element; discovered by bombarding uranium with helium atoms |
Am,
atomic number 95 |
| ammobium
|
any plant of the genus Ammobium having yellow flowers and silvery foliage |
- |
| ammonium
|
the ion NH4 derived from ammonia; behaves in many respects like an alkali metal ion |
ammonium ion |
| amoralism
|
the doctrine that moral distinctions are invalid |
- |
| amygdaliform
|
shaped like an almond |
almond-shaped,
amygdaloid,
amygdaloidal |
| amylum
|
a complex carbohydrate found chiefly in seeds, fruits, tubers, roots and stem pith of plants, notably in corn, potatoes, wheat, and rice; an important foodstuff and used otherwise especially in adhesives and as fillers and stiffeners for paper and textiles |
starch |
| anabolism
|
the synthesis in living organisms of more complex substances (e.g., living tissue) from simpler ones together with the storage of energy |
constructive metabolism |
| anachronism
|
something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred |
misdating,
mistiming |
| anachronism
|
an artifact that belongs to another time |
- |
| anachronism
|
a person who seems to be displaced in time; who belongs to another age |
- |
| anagram
|
read letters out of order to discover a hidden meaning |
anagrammatise,
anagrammatize |
| anagram
|
a word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase |
- |
| analphabetism
|
an inability to read |
illiteracy |
| anamorphism
|
the evolution of one type of organism from another by a long series of gradual changes |
anamorphosis |
| anamorphism
|
metamorphism that occurs deep under the earth's surface; changes simple minerals into complex minerals |
- |
| anamorphism
|
a distorted projection or perspective; especially an image distorted in such a way that it becomes visible only when viewed in a special manner |
anamorphosis |
| anancasm
|
An obsolete term for ritualistic act or sequence of acts performed by a person with obsessive-compulsive neurosis. |
- |
| anarchism
|
a political theory favoring the abolition of governments |
- |
| androecium
|
a male gametoecium |
- |
| anecdotalism
|
The property of being related to short accounts of real incidents or persons, often humorous or interesting. |
- |
| anestrum
|
applies to nonhuman mammals: a state or interval of sexual inactivity between two periods of estrus |
anestrus,
anoestrum,
anoestrus |
| aneurism
|
a cardiovascular disease characterized by a saclike widening of an artery resulting from weakening of the artery wall |
aneurysm |
| aneurysm
|
a cardiovascular disease characterized by a saclike widening of an artery resulting from weakening of the artery wall |
aneurism |
| angelim
|
any of several tropical American trees of the genus Andira |
andelmin |
| angiocardiogram
|
a series of X rays representing the action of the heart and its blood vessels after the injection of a radiopaque substance |
- |
| angiogram
|
an X-ray representation of blood vessels made after the injection of a radiopaque substance |
- |
| angiosperm
|
plants having seeds in a closed ovary |
flowering plant |
| angleworm
|
terrestrial worm that burrows into and helps aerate soil; often surfaces when the ground is cool or wet; used as bait by anglers |
red worm,
nightcrawler,
nightwalker,
dew worm,
earthworm,
wiggler,
crawler,
fishing worm,
fishworm |
| angrecum
|
any of various spectacular orchids of the genus Angraecum having dark green leathery leaves and usually nocturnally scented white or ivory flowers |
- |
| angstrom
|
a metric unit of length equal to one ten billionth of a meter (or 0.0001 micron); used to specify wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation |
A,
angstrom unit |
| animalculum
|
microscopic organism such as an amoeba or paramecium |
animalcule |
| animalism
|
the doctrine that human beings are purely animal in nature and lacking a spiritual nature |
- |
| animalism
|
preoccupation with satisfaction of physical drives and appetites |
physicality |
| animatism
|
the attribution of consciousness and personality to natural phenomena such as thunderstorms and earthquakes and to objects such as plants and stones |
- |
| animism
|
the doctrine that all natural objects and the universe itself have souls |
- |
| annalism
|
The writing of annals. |
- |
| annum
|
(Latin) year |
- |
| anoestrum
|
applies to nonhuman mammals: a state or interval of sexual inactivity between two periods of estrus |
anestrum,
anestrus,
anoestrus |