mutagen - Mycose

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mutagen (mūtȧjĕn), n. A chemical compound or other external influence (such as ionizing radiation) which causes mutations{3}.
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mutagenesis (mūtȧjĕn�sĭs), n. the causing of a mutation or the occurrence of a mutation{3}.
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mutagenicity (?), n. the degree or measure of the ability to cause mutation{3}; -- said of mutagens.
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mutandum (m�tăndŭm), n.; pl. Mutanda (m�tăndȧ). [L., fr. mutare to change.] A thing which is to be changed; something which must be altered; -- used chiefly in the plural.
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mutation (m�tāshŭn), n. [L. mutatio, fr. mutare to change: cf. F. mutation. See .] Change; alteration, either in form or qualities.
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The vicissitude or mutations in the superior globe are no fit matter for this present argument. Bacon.
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2. (Biol.) Gradual definitely tending variation, such as may be observed in a group of organisms in the fossils of successive geological levels.
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3. (Biol.) (a) As now employed (first by de Vries), a cellular process resulting in a sudden inheritable variation (the offspring differing from its parents in some well-marked character or characters) as distinguished from a gradual variation in which the new characters become fully developed only in the course of many generations. The occurrence of mutations, the selection of strains carrying mutations permitting enhanced survival under prevailing conditions, and the mechanism of hereditary of the characters so appearing, are well-established facts; whether and to what extent the mutation process has played the most important part in the evolution of the existing species and other groups of organisms is an unresolved question. (b) The result of the above process; a suddenly produced variation. Mutations can occur by a change in the fundamental coding sequence of the hereditary material, which in most organisms is DNA, but in some viruses is RNA. It can also occur by rearrangement of an organism's chromosomes. Specific mutations due to a change in DNA sequence have been recognized as causing certain specific hereditary diseases. Certain processes which produce variation in the genotype of an organism, such as sexual mixing of chromosomes in offspring, or artificially induced recombination or introduction of novel genetic material into an organism, are not referred to as mutation.
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4. (Biol.) a variant strain of an organism in which the hereditary variant property is caused by a mutation{3}.
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mutative adj. Of or pertaining to or marked by genetic mutation{3}.
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Mutch (much), n. [Cf. D. mutse a cap, G. mütze. Cf. a cape.] The close linen or muslin cap of an old woman. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
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Mutchkin (?), n. A liquid measure equal to four gills, or an imperial pint. [Scot.]
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Mute (mūt), v. t. [L. mutare to change. See .] To cast off; to molt.
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Have I muted all my feathers? Beau. & Fl.
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Mute, v. t. & i. [F. mutir, émeutir, OF. esmeltir, fr. OD. smelten, prop., to melt. See .] To eject the contents of the bowels; -- said of birds. B. Jonson.
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Mute, n. The dung of birds. Hudibras.
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Mute, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. myein to shut, Skr. mūta bound, mūka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF. mu, L. mutus.] 1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent.
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All the heavenly choir stood mute,
And silence was in heaven. Milton.
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☞ In law a prisoner is said to stand mute, when, upon being arranged, he makes no answer, or does not plead directly, or will not put himself on trial.
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2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. Dryden.
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3. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the passage of breath; -- said of certain letters. See 5th , 2.
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4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal.
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Coloq. Mute swan (Zoöl.), a European wild white swan (Cygnus olor syn. Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes, in distinction from the Trumpeter swan.
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Syn. -- Silent; dumb; speechless. -- , , . One is silent who does not speak; one is dumb who can not, for want of the proper organs; as, a dumb beast, etc.; and hence, figuratively, we speak of a person as struck dumb with astonishment, etc. One is mute who is held back from speaking by some special cause; as, he was mute through fear; mute astonishment, etc. Such is the case with most of those who never speak from childhood; they are not ordinarily dumb, but mute because they are deaf, and therefore never learn to talk; and hence their more appropriate name is deaf-mutes.
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They spake not a word;
But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
Gazed each on other. Shak.
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All sat mute,
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts. Milton.
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Mute, n. 1. One who does not speak, whether from physical inability, unwillingness, or other cause. Specifically: (a) One who, from deafness, either congenital or from early life, is unable to use articulate language; a deaf-mute. (b) A person employed by undertakers at a funeral. (c) A person whose part in a play does not require him to speak. (d) Among the Turks, an officer or attendant who is selected for his place because he can not speak.
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2. (Phon.) A letter which represents no sound; a silent letter; also, a close articulation; an element of speech formed by a position of the mouth organs which stops the passage of the breath; as, p, b, d, k, t.
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3. (Mus.) A little utensil made of brass, ivory, or other material, so formed that it can be fixed in an erect position on the bridge of a violin, or similar instrument, in order to deaden or soften the tone.
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muted adj. 1. same as ; as, the muted atmosphere of a church. Opposite of noisy.
Syn. -- hushed.
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2. softened; rendered less loud or harsh; -- of sounds and instruments which produce sounds; as, muted trumpets.
Syn. -- dull, muffled, softened.
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Mute-hill (?), n. See . [Scot.]
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Mutely, adv. Without uttering words or sounds; in a mute manner; silently.
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Muteness, n. The quality or state of being mute; speechlessness.
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Mutessarif (?), n. [Turk. & Ar. muteçarif freely disposing of anything, master.] In Turkey prior to the revolution, an administrative authority of any of certain sanjaks. They were appointed directly by the Sultan.
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Mutessarifat (?), n. [Turk. & Ar. muteçarifah office of a mutessarif.] In Turkey, a sanjak whose head is a mutessarif.
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{ Mutic (?), Muticous (?), } a. [L. muticus, for mutilus. See .] (Bot. & Zoöl.) Without a point or pointed process; blunt.
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Mutilate (?), a. [L. mutilatus, p. p. of mutilare to mutilate, fr. mutilus maimed; cf. Gr. �, �. Cf. .] 1. Deprived of, or having lost, an important part; mutilated. Sir T. Browne.
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2. (Zoöl.) Having finlike appendages or flukes instead of legs, as a cetacean.
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Mutilate, n. (Zoöl.) A cetacean, or a sirenian.
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Mutilate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mutilated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mutilating (?).] 1. To cut off or remove a limb or essential part of; to maim; to cripple; to disfigure; to hack; as, to mutilate the body, a statue, etc.
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2. To destroy or remove a material part of, so as to render imperfect; as, to mutilate the orations of Cicero.
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Among the mutilated poets of antiquity, there is none whose fragments are so beautiful as those of Sappho. Addison.
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Coloq. Mutilated gear , Coloq. Mutilated wheel (Mach.), a gear wheel from a portion of whose periphery the cogs are omitted. It is used for giving intermittent movements.
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mutilated adj. 1. badly injured, perhaps with amputation or permanent disfigurement; as, mutilated victims of the rocket attack.
Syn. -- maimed.
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3. damaged, often deliberately; -- of compositions; as, a mutilated text. Opposite of undamaged or intact.
Syn. -- mangled, mutilated.
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Mutilation (?), n. [L. mutilatio: cf. F. mutilation.] The act of mutilating, or the state of being mutilated; deprivation of a limb or of an essential part.
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Mutilator (?), n. [Cf. F. mutilateur.] One who mutilates.
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Mutilous (?), a. [L. mutilus. See .] Mutilated; defective; imperfect. [Obs.]
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Mutine (?), n. [F. mutin.] A mutineer. [Obs.]
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Mutine, v. i. [F. mutiner.] To mutiny. [Obs.]
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Mutineer (?), n. [See .] One guilty of mutiny.
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Muting (?), n. Dung of birds.
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Mutinous (?), a. [See .] Disposed to mutiny; in a state of mutiny; characterized by mutiny; seditious; insubordinate.
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The city was becoming mutinous. Macaulay.
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-- Mutinously, adv. -- Mutinousness, n.
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Mutiny (?), n.; pl. Mutinies (#). [From mutine to mutiny, fr. F. se mutiner, fr. F. mutin stubborn, mutinous, fr. OF. meute riot, LL. movita, fr. movitus, for L. motus, p. p. of movere to move. See .] 1. Insurrection against constituted authority, particularly military or naval authority; concerted revolt against the rules of discipline or the lawful commands of a superior officer; hence, generally, forcible resistance to rightful authority; insubordination.
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In every mutiny against the discipline of the college, he was the ringleader. Macaulay.
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2. Violent commotion; tumult; strife. [Obs.]
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To raise a mutiny betwixt yourselves. Shak.
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Coloq. Mutiny act (Law), an English statute reënacted annually to punish mutiny and desertion. Wharton.
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Syn. -- See .
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Mutiny, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mutinied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mutinying (?).] 1. To rise against, or refuse to obey, lawful authority in military or naval service; to excite, or to be guilty of, mutiny or mutinous conduct; to revolt against one's superior officer, or any rightful authority.
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2. To fall into strife; to quarrel. [Obs.] Shak.
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Mutism (?), n. The condition, state, or habit of being mute, or without speech. Max Müller.
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Mutoscope (?), n. [L. mutare to change + -scope.] A simple form of moving-picture machine in which the series of views, exhibiting the successive phases of a scene, are printed on paper and mounted around the periphery of a wheel. The rotation of the wheel brings them rapidly into sight, one after another, and the blended effect gives a semblance of motion.
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mutt n. An dog that is of inferior quality or of mixed breed.
Syn. -- cur, mongrel.
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Mutter (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Muttered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Muttering.] [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. L. muttire, mutire.] 1. To utter words indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; esp., to utter indistinct complaints or angry expressions; to grumble; to growl.
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Wizards that peep, and that mutter. Is. viii. 19.
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Meantime your filthy foreigner will stare,
And mutter to himself. Dryden.
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2. To sound with a low, rumbling noise.
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Thick lightnings flash, the muttering thunder rolls. Pope.
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Mutter, v. t. To utter with imperfect articulations, or with a low voice; as, to mutter threats. Shak.
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Mutter, n. Repressed or obscure utterance.
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Mutterer (?), n. One who mutters.
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Mutteringly, adv. With a low voice and indistinct articulation; in a muttering manner.
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Mutton (?), n. [OE. motoun, OF. moton, molton, a sheep, wether, F. mouton, LL. multo, by transposition of l fr. L. mutilus mutilated. See .] 1. A sheep. [Obs.] Chapman.
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Not so much ground as will feed a mutton. Sir H. Sidney.
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Muttons, beeves, and porkers are good old words for the living quadrupeds. Hallam.
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2. The flesh of a sheep.
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The fat of roasted mutton or beef. Swift.
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3. A loose woman; a prostitute. [Obs.]
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Coloq. Mutton bird (Zoöl.), the Australian short-tailed petrel (Nectris brevicaudus). -- Coloq. Mutton chop , a rib of mutton for broiling, with the end of the bone at the smaller part chopped off. -- Coloq. Mutton fish (Zoöl.), the American eelpout. See . -- Coloq. Mutton fist , a big brawny fist or hand. [Colloq.] Dryden. -- Coloq. Mutton monger , a pimp. [Low & Obs.] Chapman. -- Coloq. To return to one's muttons . [A translation of a phrase from a farce by De Brueys, revenons à nos moutons let us return to our sheep.] To return to one's topic, subject of discussion, etc. [Humorous]
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I willingly return to my muttons. H. R. Haweis.
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muttonfish n. A fish (Lutjanus analis) similar to and often marketed as “red snapper”.
Syn. -- mutton snapper, Lutjanus analis.
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muttonhead n. A stupid or foolish person; a dolt; a numbskull; a blockhead; -- disparaging and offensive. These words are used to express a low opinion of someone's intelligence. [disparaging]
Syn. -- dunce, dunderhead, numskull, blockhead, bonehead, lunkhead, hammerhead, knucklehead, loggerhead, shithead, fuckhead.
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Muttony (?), a. Like mutton; having a flavor of mutton.
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Mutual (?), a. [F. mutuel, L. mutuus, orig., exchanged, borrowed, lent; akin to mutare to change. See .] 1. Reciprocally acting or related; reciprocally receiving and giving; reciprocally given and received; reciprocal; interchanged; as, a mutual love, advantage, assistance, aversion, etc.
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Conspiracy and mutual promise. Sir T. More.
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Happy in our mutual help,
And mutual love. Milton.
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A certain shyness on such subjects, which was mutual between the sisters. G. Eliot.
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2. Possessed, experienced, or done by two or more persons or things at the same time; common; joint; as, mutual happiness; a mutual effort. Burke.
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A vast accession of misery and woe from the mutual weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Bentley.
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☞ This use of mutual as synonymous with common is inconsistent with the idea of interchange, or reciprocal relation, which properly belongs to it; but the word has been so used by many writers of high authority. The present tendency is toward a careful discrimination.
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Mutual, as Johnson will tell us, means something reciprocal, a giving and taking. How could people have mutual ancestors? P. Harrison.
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Coloq. Mutual insurance , agreement among a number of persons to insure each other against loss, as by fire, death, or accident. -- Coloq. Mutual insurance company , one which does a business of insurance on the mutual principle, the policy holders sharing losses and profits pro rata.
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Syn. -- Reciprocal; interchanged; common.
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Mutualism (?), n. (Ethics) The doctrine of mutual dependence as the condition of individual and social welfare. F. Harrison. H. Spencer. Mallock.
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mutualist adj. One practising or advocating the doctrine of mutualism.
Syn. -- interdependent, mutually beneficial.
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Mutuality (?), n. [Cf. F. mutualité.] 1. The quality of correlation; reciprocation; interchange; interaction; interdependence.
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2. (Law) Reciprocity of consideration. Wharton.
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Mutually (?), adv. In a mutual manner.
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mutual savings bank n. a state-chartered savings bank owned by its depositors and managed by a board of trustees. Abbreviated MSB.
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Mutuary (?), n. [L. mutuarius mutual.See .] (Law) One who borrows personal chattels which are to be consumed by him, and which he is to return or repay in kind. Bouvier.
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Mutuation (?), n. [L. mutuatio, fr. mutuare, mutuari, to borrow, fr. mutuus. See .] The act of borrowing or exchanging. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
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Mutule (?), n. [F., fr. L. mutulus.] (Arch.) A projecting block worked under the corona of the Doric corice, in the same situation as the modillion of the Corinthian and Composite orders. See Illust. of . Oxf. Gloss.
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Mux (?), n. [Cf. .] Dirt; filth; muck. [Prov. Eng.] ose.
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Mux, v. t. To mix in an untidy and offensive way; to make a mess of. [Prov. Eng.; Colloq. U.S.]
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Muxy (?), a. Soft; sticky, and dirty. [Prov. Eng.] See .
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Muzarab (?), n. [Sp. mozarabe, fr. Ar. mosta'rib, a name applied to strange tribes living among the Arabs.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a denomination of Christians formerly living under the government of the Moors in Spain, and having a liturgy and ritual of their own. [Written also Mozarab, Mostarab.] Brande & C.
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Muzarabic (?), a. Of or pertaining to Muzarabs; as, the Muzarabic liturgy. [Written also Mozarabic.]
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muzjik n. A Russian peasant (especially prior to 1917).
Syn. -- muzhik, moujik, mujik.
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Muzziness (?), n. The state or quality of being muzzy.
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Muzzle (?), n. [OE. mosel, OF. musel, F. museau muzzle or snout, LL. musellus, fr. musus, morsus. See , v. i., and cf. .] 1. The projecting mouth and nose of a quadruped, as of a horse; a snout.
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2. The mouth of a thing; the end for entrance or discharge; as, the muzzle of a gun.
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3. A fastening or covering (as a band or cage) for the mouth of an animal, to prevent eating or vicious biting.
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With golden muzzles all their mouths were bound Dryden.
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Coloq. Muzzle sight . (Gun.) See , n., 2.
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Muzzle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muzzled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Muzzling (?).] [F. museler.] 1. To bind the mouth of; to fasten the mouth of, so as to prevent biting or eating; hence, figuratively, to bind; to sheathe; to restrain from speech or action; as, the dictator muzzled all the newspapers. “My dagger muzzled.” Shak.
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Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Deut. xxv. 4.
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2. To fondle with the closed mouth. [Obs.] L'Estrange.
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Muzzle, v. i. To bring the mouth or muzzle near.
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The bear muzzles and smells to him. L'Estrange.
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Muzzle-loader (?), n. A firearm which receives its charge through the muzzle, as distinguished from one which is loaded at the breech.
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Muzzle-loading, a. Receiving its charge through the muzzle; as, a muzzle-loading rifle.
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Muzzy (?), a. [Cf. F. muse.] Absent-minded; dazed; muddled; stupid.
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The whole company stared at me with a whimsical, muzzy look, like men whose senses were a little obfuscated by beer rather than wine. W. Irving.
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MVP n. (acron.) most valuable player; the player judged to be the most important to the sport, also the name of the award given to that player. [abbreviation]
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Mx prop. n. The symbol for the maxwell, a cgs unit of magnetic flux.
Syn. -- maxwell.
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My (mī), a. & poss. pron. [OE. mi, fr. min. See , and cf., for loss of n, , a., , a.] Of or belonging to me; -- used always attributively; as, my body; my book; -- mine is used in the predicate; as, the book is mine. See .
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Mya (?), prop. n. [L. mya a kind of mussel.] (Zoöl.) A genus of bivalve mollusks, including the common long, or soft-shelled, clam.
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Myaceae prop. n. An order of clams.
Syn. -- order Myaceae.
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Myacidae prop. n. A natural family of soft-shell clams.
Syn. -- family Myacidae.
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Myadestes prop. n. A genus of birds including the solitaires, thrushes noted for their beautiful songs.
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Myalgia (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � muscle + � pain.] (Med.) Pain in the muscles; muscular rheumatism or neuralgia.
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Myall wood (?). (Bot.) A durable, fragrant, and dark-colored Australian wood, used by the natives for spears. It is obtained from the small tree Acacia homolophylla.
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Myaria (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A division of bivalve mollusks of which the common clam (Mya) is the type.
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Mycelium (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. mykhs a mushroom.] (Bot.) The white threads or filamentous growth from which a mushroom or fungus is developed; the so-called mushroom spawn. -- Mycelial (#), a.
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Myceloid (?), a. [Mycelium + -oid.] (Bot.) Resembling mycelium.
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Mycetes (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. mykhths a bellower, fr. myka^sqai to bellow.] (Zoöl.) A genus of South American monkeys, including the howlers. See , 2, and Illust.
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Mycetoid (?), [Gr. mykhs, mykhtos, a fungus + -oid.] (Bot.) Resembling a fungus.
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Mycetozoa (?), n. pl. [NL.; Gr. mykhs, mykhtos, fungus + � pl. of zo^,on an animal.] (Zoöl.) The Myxomycetes; -- so called by those who regard them as a class of animals. -- Mycetozoan (#), a.
[Webster Suppl.]

mycobacteria n. pl. A group of rod-shaped bacteria, some saprophytic or causing diseases.
Syn. -- mycobacterium.
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mycobacterium n.; pl. mycobacteria (#). Any of various rod-shaped bacteria, some saprophytic or causing diseases.
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mycoderma (?), n. [NL., from Gr. mykhs a fungus + derma skin.] 1. (Biol.) One of the forms in which bacteria group themselves; a more or less thick layer of motionless but living bacteria, formed by the bacteria uniting on the surface of the fluid in which they are developed. This production differs from the zoöglœa stage of bacteria by not having the intermediary mucous substance.
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2. (Capitalized) A genus of microörganisms of which the acetic ferment (Mycoderma aceti), which converts alcoholic fluids into vinegar, is a representative. Cf. .
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{ Mycologic (?), Mycological (?), } a. Of or relating to mycology, or the fungi.
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Mycologist (?), n. One who is versed in, or who studies, mycology.
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Mycology (?), n. [Gr. mykhs fungus + -logy.] That branch of botanical science which relates to the mushrooms and other fungi.
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Mycomelic (?), a. [Gr. (spurious) my^kos mucus (L. mucus) + meli honey.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a complex nitrogenous acid of the alloxan group, obtained as a honey-yellow powder. Its solutions have a gelatinous consistency.
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Mycoprotein (?), n. [Gr. (spurious) my^kos mucus (L. mucus) + E. protein.] (Biol.) The protoplasmic matter of which bacteria are composed. [archaic]
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Mycose (mīkōs), n. [Gr. mykhs a mushroom.] (Chem.) A variety of sugar, isomeric with sucrose and obtained from certain lichens and fungi. Called also trehalose. [Written also mykose.]
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