dioestrous - Diplopia

Prev Next

Diœcia (d�ēshĭȧ), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di = dis twice + o'i^kos a house.] 1. (Bot.) A Linnæan class of plants having the stamens and pistils on different plants.
[ Webster]

2. (Zoöl.) A subclass of gastropod mollusks in which the sexes are separate. It includes most of the large marine species, like the conchs, cones, and cowries.

{ Diœcian (?), Diœcious (?), } a. (Biol.) Having the sexes in two separate individuals; -- applied to plants in which the female flowers occur on one individual and the male flowers on another of the same species, and to animals in which the ovum is produced by one individual and the sperm cell by another; -- opposed to monœcious.
[ Webster]

Diœciously, adv. (Biol.) In a diœcious manner.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Diœciously hermaphrodite (Bot.), having flowers structurally perfect, but practically diœcious, -- those on one plant producing no pollen, and those on another no ovules.
[ Webster]

Diœciousness, n. (Biol.) The state or quality of being diœcious.
[ Webster]

Diœcism (?), n. (Biol.) The condition of being diœcious.
[ Webster]

dioestrous dioestrual adj. in a period of sexual inactivity; -- of animals that have several estrous cycles in one breeding season.
Syn. -- diestrous, diestrual.
[WordNet 1.5]

Diogenes (?), n. A Greek Cynic philosopher (412?-323 B. C.) who lived much in Athens and was distinguished for contempt of the common aims and conditions of life, and for sharp, caustic sayings.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Diogenes' crab (Zoöl.), a species of terrestrial hermit crabs (Cenobita Diogenes), abundant in the West Indies and often destructive to crops. -- Coloq. Diogenes' tub , the tub which the philosopher Diogenes is said to have carried about with him as his house, in which he lived.
[ Webster]

Dioicous (?), a. See .
[ Webster]

Diomedea (?), n. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A genus of large sea birds, including the albatross. See .
[ Webster]

Dionæa (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � a name of Aphrodite.] (Bot.) An insectivorous plant. See .
[ Webster]

Dionysia (?), n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. �.] (Class. Antiq.) Any of the festivals held in honor of the Olympian god Dionysus. They correspond to the Roman Bacchanalia; the greater Dionysia were held at Athens in March or April, and were celebrated with elaborate performances of both tragedies and comedies.
[Webster Suppl.]

Dionysiac (?), a. Of or pertaining to Dionysus or to the Dionysia; Bacchic; as, a Dionysiac festival; the Dionysiac theater at Athens.
[Webster Suppl.]

Dionysian (?), a. Relating to Dionysius, a monk of the 6th century; as, the Dionysian, or Christian, era.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Dionysian period , a period of 532 years, depending on the cycle of the sun, or 28 years, and the cycle of the moon, or 19 years; -- sometimes called the Greek paschal cycle, or Victorian period.
[ Webster]

Diophantine (?), a. Originated or taught by Diophantus, the Greek writer on algebra.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Diophantine analysis (Alg.), that branch of indeterminate analysis which has for its object the discovery of rational values that satisfy given equations containing squares or cubes; as, for example, to find values of x and y which make x2 + y2 an exact square.
[ Webster]

Diopside (?), n. [Gr. di- = dis- twice + � a sight, fr. the root of � I shall see: cf. F. diopside.] (Min.) A crystallized variety of pyroxene, of a clear, grayish green color; mussite.
[ Webster]

Dioptase (?), n. [Gr. � = dia through + � to see: cf. F. dioptase.] (Min.) A hydrous silicate of copper, occurring in emerald-green crystals.

{ Diopter (?), Dioptra (?), } n. [L. dioptra, fr. Gr. �. See 2d .] An optical instrument, invented by Hipparchus, for taking altitudes, leveling, etc.
[ Webster]

Dioptre (?), n. [F. See 2d .] (Optics) A unit employed by oculists in numbering glasses according to the metric system; a refractive power equal to that of a glass whose principal focal distance is one meter.
[ Webster]

Dioptric (?), a. (Optics) Of or pertaining to the dioptre, or to the metric system of numbering glasses. -- n. A dioptre. See .

{ Dioptric (?), Dioptrical (?), } a. [Gr. � belonging to the use of the �; � = dia through + the root of � I shall see: cf. F. dioptrique.] Of or pertaining to dioptrics; assisting vision by means of the refraction of light; refractive; as, the dioptric system; a dioptric glass or telescope. “Dioptrical principles.” Nichol.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Dioptric curve (Geom.), a Cartesian oval. See under .
[ Webster]

Dioptrics (?), n. [Gr. � �: cf. F. dioptrique.] (Optics) The science of the refraction of light; that part of geometrical optics which treats of the laws of the refraction of light in passing from one medium into another, or through different mediums, as air, water, or glass, and esp. through different lenses; -- distinguished from catoptrics, which refers to reflected light.
[ Webster]

Dioptry (?), n. (Optics) A dioptre.
[ Webster]

Diorama (?), n. [Gr. � to see through; � = dia through + � to see; cf. � that which is seen, a sight: cf. F. diorama. Cf. .] 1. A mode of scenic representation, invented by Daguerre and Bouton, in which a painting is seen from a distance through a large opening. By a combination of transparent and opaque painting, and of transmitted and reflected light, and by contrivances such as screens and shutters, much diversity of scenic effect is produced.
[ Webster]

2. A building used for such an exhibition.
[ Webster]

Dioramic (?), a. Pertaining to a diorama.
[ Webster]

Diorism (?), n. [Gr. �, fr. � to distinguish; � = dia through + � to divide from, fr. � a boundary.] Definition; logical direction. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
[ Webster]

Dioristic (?), a. [Gr. �.] Distinguishing; distinctive; defining. [R.] -- Dioristically (#), adv. [R.] Dr. H. More.
[ Webster]

Diorite (?), n. [Cf. F. diorite. See .] (Min.) An igneous, crystalline in structure, consisting essentially of a triclinic feldspar and hornblende. It includes part of what was called greenstone.
[ Webster]

Dioritic (?), a. Containing diorite.
[ Webster]

Diorthotic (?), a. [Gr. �; � = � + � to set straight.] Relating to the correcting or straightening out of something; corrective.
[ Webster]

Dioscorea (?), n. [NL. Named after Dioscorides the Greek physician.] (Bot.) A genus of plants, the roots of which are eaten as yams. See .
[ Webster +PJC]

Dioscoreaceae n. 1. a natural family of tuberous plants including the yams.
Syn. -- family Dioscoreaceae, yam family.
[WordNet 1.5]

Diota (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. � two-handled; di- = dis- twice + �, �, ear, handle.] (Rom. Antiq.) A vase or drinking cup having two handles or ears.
[ Webster]

Dioxide (?; 104), n. [Pref. di- + oxide.] (Chem.) (a) An oxide containing two atoms of oxygen in each molecule; binoxide. (b) An oxide containing but one atom or equivalent of oxygen to two of a metal; a suboxide. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Coloq. Carbon dioxide . See Carbonic acid, under .
[ Webster]

Dioxindol (?), n. [Pref. di- + oxygen + indol.] (Chem.) A white, crystalline, nitrogenous substance obtained by the reduction of isatin. It is a member of the indol series; -- hence its name.
[ Webster]

Dip (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dipped (?) or Dipt (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Dipping.] [OE. dippen, duppen, AS. dyppan; akin to Dan. dyppe, Sw. doppa, and to AS. d�pan to baptize, OS. d�pian, D. doopen, G. taufen, Sw. döpa, Goth. daupjan, Lith. dubus deep, hollow, OSlav. dupl� hollow, and to E. dive. Cf. , .] 1. To plunge or immerse; especially, to put for a moment into a liquid; to insert into a fluid and withdraw again.
[ Webster]

The priest shall dip his finger in the blood. Lev. iv. 6.
[ Webster]

[Wat'ry fowl] now dip their pinions in the briny deep. Pope.
[ Webster]

While the prime swallow dips his wing. Tennyson.
[ Webster]

2. To immerse for baptism; to baptize by immersion. Book of Common Prayer. Fuller.
[ Webster]

3. To wet, as if by immersing; to moisten. [Poetic]
[ Webster]

A cold shuddering dew
Dips me all o'er. Milton.
[ Webster]

4. To plunge or engage thoroughly in any affair.
[ Webster]

He was . . . dipt in the rebellion of the Commons. Dryden.
[ Webster]

5. To take out, by dipping a dipper, ladle, or other receptacle, into a fluid and removing a part; -- often with out; as, to dip water from a boiler; to dip out water.
[ Webster]

6. To engage as a pledge; to mortgage. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Live on the use and never dip thy lands. Dryden.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Dipped candle , a candle made by repeatedly dipping a wick in melted tallow. -- Coloq. To dip snuff , to take snuff by rubbing it on the gums and teeth. [Southern U. S.] -- Coloq. To dip the colors (Naut.), to lower the colors and return them to place; -- a form of naval salute.
[ Webster]

Dip, v. i. 1. To immerse one's self; to become plunged in a liquid; to sink.
[ Webster]

The sun's rim dips; the stars rush out. Coleridge.
[ Webster]

2. To perform the action of plunging some receptacle, as a dipper, ladle. etc.; into a liquid or a soft substance and removing a part.
[ Webster]

Whoever dips too deep will find death in the pot. L'Estrange.
[ Webster]

3. To pierce; to penetrate; -- followed by in or into.
[ Webster]

When I dipt into the future. Tennyson.
[ Webster]

4. To enter slightly or cursorily; to engage one's self desultorily or by the way; to partake limitedly; -- followed by in or into. “Dipped into a multitude of books.” Macaulay.
[ Webster]

5. To incline downward from the plane of the horizon; as, strata of rock dip.
[ Webster]

6. To dip snuff. [Southern U.S.]
[ Webster]

Dip, n. 1. The action of dipping or plunging for a moment into a liquid. “The dip of oars in unison.” Glover.
[ Webster]

2. Inclination downward; direction below a horizontal line; slope; pitch.
[ Webster]

3. a hollow or depression in a surface, especially in the ground.
[PJC]

4. A liquid, as a sauce or gravy, served at table with a ladle or spoon. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.
[ Webster]

5. A dipped candle. [Colloq.] Marryat.
[ Webster]

6. A gymnastic exercise on the parallel bars in which the performer, resting on his hands, lets his arms bend and his body sink until his chin is level with the bars, and then raises himself by straightening his arms.
[Webster Suppl.]

7. In the turpentine industry, the viscid exudation, which is dipped out from incisions in the trees; as, virgin dip (the runnings of the first year), yellow dip (the runnings of subsequent years).
[Webster Suppl.]

8. (Aëronautics) A sudden drop followed by a climb, usually to avoid obstacles or as the result of getting into an airhole.
[Webster Suppl.]

9. a liquid, in which objects are soaked by dipping; e.g., a parasiticide or insecticide solution into which animals are dipped (see ).
[PJC]

10. a sauce into which foods are dipped to enhance the flavor; e. g., an onion dip made from sour cream and dried onions, into which potato chips are dipped.
[PJC]

11. a . [slang]
[PJC]

Coloq. Dip of the horizon (Astron.), the angular depression of the seen or visible horizon below the true or natural horizon; the angle at the eye of an observer between a horizontal line and a tangent drawn from the eye to the surface of the ocean. -- Coloq. Dip of the needle , or Coloq. Magnetic dip , the angle formed, in a vertical plane, by a freely suspended magnetic needle, or the line of magnetic force, with a horizontal line; -- called also inclination. -- Coloq. Dip of a stratum (Geol.), its greatest angle of inclination to the horizon, or that of a line perpendicular to its direction or strike; -- called also the pitch.
[ Webster]

Dipaschal (?), a. [Pref. di- + paschal.] Including two passovers. Carpenter.
[ Webster]

Dipchick (?), n. (Zoöl.) See .
[ Webster]

Dipetalous (?), a. [Pref. di- + petalous.] (Bot.) Having two petals; two-petaled.
[ Webster]

Diphenyl (?), n. [Pref. di- + phenyl.] (Chem.) A white crystalline substance, C6H5.C6H5, obtained by leading benzene through a heated iron tube. It consists of two benzene or phenyl radicals united.
[ Webster]

Diphtheria (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � leather (hence taken in the sense of membrane): cf. � to make soft, L. depsere to knead.] (Med.) A very dangerous contagious disease in which the air passages, and especially the throat, become coated with a false membrane, produced by the solidification of an inflammatory exudation. Cf. .

{ Diphtherial (?), Diphtheric (?), } a. Relating to diphtheria; diphtheritic.
[ Webster]

Diphtheritic (?), a. (Med.) 1. Pertaining to, or connected with, diphtheria.
[ Webster]

2. Having characteristics resembling those of diphtheria; as, diphtheritic inflammation of the bladder.
[ Webster]

Diphthong (?; 115, 277), n. [L. diphthongus, Gr. �; di- = dis- twice + � voice, sound, fr. � to utter a sound: cf. F. diphthongue.] (Orthoëpy) (a) A coalition or union of two vowel sounds pronounced in one syllable; as, ou in out, oi in noise; -- called a proper diphthong. (b) A vowel digraph; a union of two vowels in the same syllable, only one of them being sounded; as, ai in rain, eo in people; -- called an improper diphthong.
[ Webster]

Diphthong, v. t. To form or pronounce as a diphthong; diphthongize. [R.]
[ Webster]

Diphthongal (?; 115), a. Relating or belonging to a diphthong; having the nature of a diphthong. -- Diphthongally, adv.
[ Webster]

Diphthongalize (?; 115), v. t. To make into a diphthong; to pronounce as a diphthong.
[ Webster]

Diphthongation (?), n. See .
[ Webster]

Diphthongic (?; 115), a. Of the nature of diphthong; diphthongal. H. Sweet.
[ Webster]

Diphthongization (?), n. The act of changing into a diphthong. H. Sweet.
[ Webster]

Diphthongize (?), v. t. & i. To change into a diphthong, as by affixing another vowel to a simple vowel. “The diphthongized long vowels.” H. Sweet.
[ Webster]

Diphycercal (?), a. [Gr. difyhs double (di- = dis- twice + fyein to produce) + kerkos tail.] (Anat.) Having the tail fin divided into two equal parts by the notochord, or end of the vertebral column; protocercal. See .
[ Webster]

Diphygenic (-jĕnĭk), a. [Gr. difyhs of double form + -genic.] (Zoöl.) Having two modes of embryonic development.
[ Webster]

Diphyllous (dĭfĭllŭs or d�fĭl-), a. [Gr. di- = dis- twice + fyllon leaf: cf. F. diphylle.] (Bot.) Having two leaves, as a calyx, etc.
[ Webster]

Diphyodont (?), a. [Gr. � double (di- = dis- twice + � to produce) + 'odoys, 'odontos, tooth.] (Anat.) Having two successive sets of teeth (deciduous and permanent), one succeeding the other; as, a diphyodont mammal; diphyodont dentition; -- opposed to monophyodont. -- n. An animal having two successive sets of teeth.
[ Webster]

Diphyozooid (?), n. [Gr. � of double from + E. zooid.] (Zoöl.) One of the free-swimming sexual zooids of Siphonophora.
[ Webster]

Diplanar (?), a. [Pref. di- + plane.] (Math.) Of or pertaining to two planes.
[ Webster]

Dipleidoscope (?), n. [Gr. � double + � image + -scope.] (Astron.) An instrument for determining the time of apparent noon. It consists of two mirrors and a plane glass disposed in the form of a prism, so that, by the reflections of the sun's rays from their surfaces, two images are presented to the eye, moving in opposite directions, and coinciding at the instant the sun's center is on the meridian.
[ Webster]

Diplex (?), a. [Pref. di- + -plex, as in duplex.] (Teleg.) Pertaining to the sending of two messages in the same direction at the same time. Diplex and contraplex are the two varieties of duplex.
[Webster Suppl.]

Diploblastic (?), a. [Gr. � doublet + -blast + -ic.] (Biol.) Characterizing the ovum when it has two primary germinal layers.
[ Webster]

Diplocardiac (?), a. [Gr. � double + E. cardiac.] (Anat.) Having the heart completely divided or double, one side systemic, the other pulmonary.
[ Webster]

Diplococcus (?), n.; pl. Diplococci (#). [NL., fr. Gr. diploos twofold + kokkos grain, seed.] (Biol.) A form of micrococcus in which cocci are united in a binary manner. See .
[ Webster]

Diploë (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � fold, fr. � twofold, double.] (Anat.) The soft, spongy, or cancellated substance between the plates of the skull.
[ Webster]

Diploetic (?), a. (Anat.) Diploic.
[ Webster]

Diplogenic (?), a. [Gr. � double + the root of � to produce.] Partaking of the nature of two bodies; producing two substances. Wright.
[ Webster]

Diplograph (?), n. [Gr. � double + -graph.] An instrument used for double writing, as one for producing embossed writing for the blind and ordinary writing at the same time. -- Diplographical (#), a. -- Diplography (#), n.
[Webster Suppl.]

Diploic (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the diploë.
[ Webster]

diploid (dĭploid), n. [Gr. diploos twofold + -oid.] 1. (Crystallog.) A solid bounded by twenty-four similar quadrilateral faces. It is a hemihedral form of the hexoctahedron.
[ Webster]

2. (Biol.) a cell or organism having a number of chromosomes corresponding to two copies of each chromosome; a diploid cell or organism.
[PJC]

A: I'm not interested in diploids.
B: Oh, how I wish your parents had felt the same way!

diploid (dĭploid), a. [Gr. diploos twofold + -oid.] (Biol.) having a number of chromosomes corresponding to two copies of each chromosome; having double the basic number of chromosomes, as seen in a haploid cell. Contrasted to haploid and polyploid. in diploid cells, although the number of chromosomes is double that in haploid cells, it is not always true that there are two copies of every chromosome, since the two sex chromosomes in males will differ from each other. In females, and for other chromosomes, however, there are generally two copies of each, giving rise to the classical hereditary and sorting patterns of Mendelian genetics.
[PJC]

Diploma (?), n.; pl. Diplomas (#). [L., fr. Gr. �, fr. � to double, fr. diploos twofold. See .] A letter or writing, usually under seal, conferring some privilege, honor, or power; a document bearing record of a degree conferred by a literary society or educational institution.
[ Webster]

Diplomacy (?), n. [F. diplomatie. This word, like supremacy, retains the accent of its original. See .] 1. The art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations (particularly in securing treaties), including the methods and forms usually employed.
[ Webster]

2. Dexterity or skill in securing advantages; tact.
[ Webster]

3. The body of ministers or envoys resident at a court; the diplomatic body. [R.] Burke.

{ Diplomat (?), Diplomate (?) }, n. [F. diplomate.] A diplomatist.
[ Webster]

Diplomate (?), v. t. To invest with a title or privilege by diploma. [R.] Wood.
[ Webster]

Diplomatial (?), a. Diplomatic. [R.]

{ Diplomatic (?), Diplomatical (?), } a. [Cf. diplomatique.] 1. Pertaining to diplomacy; relating to the foreign ministers at a court, who are called the diplomatic body.
[ Webster]

2. Characterized by tact and shrewdness; dexterous; artful; as, diplomatic management.
[ Webster]

3. Pertaining to diplomatics; paleographic. Astle.
[ Webster]

Diplomatic, n. A minister, official agent, or envoy to a foreign court; a diplomatist.
[ Webster]

Diplomatically, adv. According to the rules of diplomacy; in the manner of a diplomatist; artfully.
[ Webster]

Diplomatics (?), n. The science of diplomas, or the art of deciphering ancient writings, and determining their age, authenticity, etc.; paleography.
[ Webster]

Diplomatism (?), n. Diplomacy. [R.]
[ Webster]

Diplomatist (?), n. [Cf. F. diplomatiste a student of diplomatics.] A person employed in, or skilled in, diplomacy; a diplomat.
[ Webster]

In ability, Avaux had no superior among the numerous able diplomatists whom his country then possessed. Macaulay.

{ Diplopia (?), Diplopy (?), } n. [NL. diplopia, from Gr. � double + the root of � sight: cf. F. diplopie.] (Med.) The act or state of seeing double.
[ Webster]

☞ In crossed or heteronymous diplopia the image seen by the right eye is upon the left hand, and that seen by the left eye is upon the right hand. In homonymous diplopia the image seen by the right eye is on the right side, that by the left eye on the left side. In vertical diplopia one image stands above the other.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z