Iconoscope
An iconoscope is a type of television camera in which an image of the scene to be televised is projected on a mosaic consisting of granules of photo-emissive material. Emission of photo-electrons from each granule in proportion to the amount of light falling upon it results in the formation of a charge image on the mosaic.
Identiscope
An identiscope was an optical apparatus for combining two photographic portraits into one. One was first sold in Britain in 1884.
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is rock formed from cooling lava.
Impedance
Impedance is the total opposition offered by a circuit to the flow of alternating current.
Imperial Crown
The Imperial Crown was made for King George V for his coronation as King Emperor at Delhi in 1911, and is part of the British Crown Jewels.
Imperial State Crown
The Imperial State Crown was designed and made for Queen Victoria in 1838. It is one of the British Crown Jewels.
Implement
Incandescence
Inch
Income Tax
Indigo
Indium
Inductance
Infra-red
Interface
Interlisp
Interpol
Invar
Invisible
Iodine
Ion
Ionization Voltage
Ionosphere
Iridium
Irish
Iron Cross
Iroquois cup
Irradiation
Irrigation
Isosorbide Dinitrate
Isotope
Isoxsuprine
Isthmian Games
J-aerial
Jah
Jansky
January
Jazz
Jetsam
Johnson Noise
Jota
Judo
Judy
Jujitsu
Jurassic
Jute
K-band
Kaleidoscope
Kamptulicon
Kauri gum
Kayser
Kelvin
Kennelly-Heaviside Layer
Kenotron
Keratin
Keroselene
Ket's Rebellion
Kichel
Kie kie
Kin
Kinescope
Kinetic Energy
Kinetics
Kinetoscope
King's evil
King's sceptre
Klystron
Knight
Knighthood
Knot
Knowledge
Koh-i-Noor diamond
Kohl
Koto
Krypton
Kung Fu
Kwan
L-band
Labret
Labyrinth
Lachrymation
Lacrosse
Lactic acid
Lactose
Ladanum
Ladino
Lagoon
Lallans
Lambda
Lambert
Lambrequin
Lamella
Lamina
Lamp
Lampas
Lancastrian
Lancet
Landau
Landscape
Lane
Lanolin
Lanthanide
Lanthanum
Lanyard
Laparotomy
Lapel
Lard
Larder
Lardon
Laser
Lassa fever
Lasso
Latchet
Lath
Lathe
Latin
Latten
Lattice
Laudanum
Lava
Lawrence Tube
Lawrencium
Laxative
Lazaret
Lead
Leaflet
League
Leather
Lebensraum
Lecithin
Leeward
Legacy
Leo
Leprosy
Libra
Ligan
Light
Lightning
Limonene
Link
Lipid
Lipowitz's Alloy
Liqueur
Lithium
Lithography
Litmus
Litzendraht
Localizer
Loch
Logo
Long Friday
Long Waves
Loran
Lough
Lsd
Lumbago
Lumen
Luminescence
Luminous flux
Lute
Lutetium
Lux
Macrocephalia
Magenta
Magnadur
Magnesia
Magnesian
Magnesium
Magnesium oxide
Magnesium Peroxide
Magnesium Silicate
Magnesium Sulphate
Magnesium Trisilicate
Magnet
Magnetostriction
Magnetron Effect
Mal de mer
Malaria
Malayalam
Maleic Acid
Maleic Anhydride
Maleic Hydrazide
Malic acid
Malleable
Mallet
Malmsey
Malonic Acid
Malt
Maltol
Maltose
Mandolin
Manganese
Mansbridge Capacitor
Manx
Margerine Act
Mass
Maund
Maxwell
Maze
Mead
Meclofenamate
Meliorism
Melodeon
Melody
Mendelevium
Menorah
Menthol
Mercuric Chloride
Mercury
Mercury fulminate
Mesons
Metal
Meteor
Meteorite
Methane
Methanoic acid
Methanol
Methodism
Methyl aldehyde
Methyl-aniline
Methyl-guanidine-acetic acid
Methyldopa
Methylethyl acetic acid
Methysergide
Metoprolol Tartrate
Mezzotint
Mho
Micrometer
Micron
Microphone
Microtome
Mildew
Mile
Millennium
Mineral
Ming
Minuet
Miocene
Mirror-iron
Mizzen
Modem
Modulation
Molecule
Molybdenum
Monday
Monoamine
Monosaccharide
Monsoon
Month
Moon
Morals and Health Act
Moreen
Moroxite
Morphine
Morse Code
Mountaineering
MTBF
Mu-metal
Muffle
Mullagatawny
Multileaving
Mum
Mummy
Mumps
Mungo
Munjeet
Muriatic Acid
Murrine
Musk
Muslin
Myckle ail
Myrrh
Myxoedema
NACK
Nail
Naphthalene
Napoleonic Wars
Narcotic
NASA
Nautical Mile
Nebula
Nemean Games
Neon
Neper
Neptunium
Neuralgia
Neurosis
Neurosurgery
Neutrino
Neutron
Neve
Newspaper
Nickel
Nickel Silver
Nicotine
Nicotinic acid
Niello
Nifedipine
Nimbostratus
Nimbus
Niobium
Nitrate
Nitrazepam
Nitric acid
Nitro-glycerine
Nitrogen
Nitrous oxide
Nobelium
Nocardia
Nocardiosis
Noose
Norse
Nova
Nucleic acid
Nucleus
Numismatics
Nylon
Implement is a method of execution carried out by thrusting a stake through the body.
Incandescence is the emission of light due to heat.
The inch is a unit of the imperial scale of measurement of the length equivalent to 25.4 millimetres. It was defined in 1824 by an act of parliament that 39.13929 inches is the length of a seconds pendulum in the latitude of London, vibrating in vacuo at sea level, at the temperature of 62 degrees Farenheit.
Income Tax is a tax levied directly from income of every description. It was first levied in Britain in January 1799, then repealed in 1802 and reinstated the same year under the name of Property Tax. It was fixed at 10 percent in 1806 and repealed in 1816 only to be reinstated in 1842. Since then the rate has fluctuated with the political whims of the current ruling party, and it is currently graduated but starting at 20 percent.
Indigo is the dye obtained from the woad plant, isatis tinctoria. It was used by the Egyptians and other ancient nations.
Indium is a soft, rare metal element with the symbol In.
In electronics, inductance is the property of a circuit whereby an electro-motive force is generated by reason of a change in the magnetic flux through the circuit.
Infra-red radiation (heat waves) consists of electro-magnetic radiation of wavelengths shorter than those of the super-high-frequency radio waves and longer than 7600 angstroms, corresponding to the red end of the visible spectrum.
An interface is a shared boundary between two devices. These may be a human and a machine for example. Computer operating systems use an interface to receive and transmit data to and from a human operator.
Interlisp is a dialect of the Lisp programming language. It is a computer programming language designed for procedure orientated representation. It has all the standard features of Lisp, plus extensive debugging facilities, and a DWIM self-correcting facility.
Interpol is an international police organisation with headquarters in Paris.
Invar is an alloy of iron and nickel.
Invisible describes something that cannot be seen.
Iodine is a non-metal element with the symbol I.
An ion is a charged atom or group of atoms. The charge occurs from a surplus or deficiency of electrons.
Ionization Voltage is the potential which an electron must traverse before it attains sufficient kinetic energy to ionize by collision an atom of a specified gas.
The ionosphere is the ionized layer of the earth's atmosphere. It extends over altitudes from about 50 km to about 600 km.
Iridium is a metal element with the symbol Ir.
Irish is a term used to denote something or someone from Ireland.
The Iron Cross was an order of knighthood established by Frederick William III of Prussia in 1813 to honour patriotic bravery in the war against France.
The iroquois cup is an English lacrosse tournament.
Irradiation is the process of exposing something to radiation. It is used to preserve food and destroy cancer growths.
Irrigation is the process of supplying water to land through a series of artificial waterways.
Isosorbide Dinitrate is an anti-anginal drug used to reduce the frequency and severity of angina attacks.
An isotope is a form of an element which has a different atomic weight and nuclear properties than other isotopes of the same element.
Isoxsuprine is a vasodilator drug used to improve poor blood circulation.
The Isthmian Games were a Greek athletic contest held at Corinth. They were first held in 523 BC and resemble the Olympic games except that the victor received a crown of wild parsley.
A J-aerial is a dipole type aerial consisting of a three-quarter wavelength vertical portion and a quarter-wavelength portion parallel to it, the feeding points being equidistant from the junction.
Jah is the Jamaican, and more especially the Rastafarian, name for god.
The Jansky is the unit of radiation received from outer space, used in radio astronomy. It is equal to 10-26 watts per square meter per hertz, and is named after the USA engineer Karl Jansky.
January derives its name from Janus, an early Roman god. January was added to the Roman calendar by Numar in 713 BC, he placed it about the winter solstice and made it the first month because Janus was supposed to preside over the beginnings of all business. In 1751 the legal year in England was ordered to begin on January 1st instead of 25th March.
Jazz is a lively type of music which originated in America amongst the black community.
Jetsam are goods thrown overboard in a storm, or after a shipwreck, and cast upon the shore.
In electronics, Johnson Noise is unwanted voltage variations which manifest in a receiver as noise and in other types of apparatus as spurious signals in the output. Johnson Noise is due to the random motion of electrons in a conductor, which increases with temperature.
The jota is the national dance of Aragon.
Judo is a form of Japanese wrestling.
Judy is an English slang expression for a woman.
Jujitsu is a Japanese form of self defence.
The Jurassic was the tenth geological period, 135,000,000 years ago. The first mammals evolved.
Jute is a fibre obtained from plants and used for making sacks.
K-band is the frequency band from 10,900 to 36,000 mhz, about 1 cm wavelength, employed in radar.
A kaleidoscope is an optical instrument which, by an arrangement of mirrors produces a symmetrical reflection of various transparent substances placed between them. It was invented by Sir David Brewster between 1814 and 1817.
Kamptulicon was a substance used for flooring. It was invented in 1843 by Elijah Galloway and was comprised of rubber and cork combined by a masticating machine.
Kauri gum is fossilised copal found in New Zealand.
The kayser is the unit of wave number (number of waves in a unit length), used in spectroscopy. It is expressed as waves per centimetre, and is the reciprocal of the wavelength. A wavelength of 0.1 cm has a wave number of 10 kaysers.
Kelvin is a temperature scale in which the absolute zero of temperature (-273 degrees celsius) is represented by zero degrees kelvin.
see "E Layer"
A kenotron is a high-voltage thermionic diode rectifier.
Keratin is a fibrous protein.
Keroselene is a substance derived from the distillation of coal-tar. It was discovered in 1861 by Merrill, and used as an anaesthetic.
Ket's Rebellion was a revolt in July 1549 instigated by William Ket, a tanner, of Wymondham, Norfolk. He demanded the abolition of inclosures and the dismissal of evil counsellors. The insurgents amounted to 20,000 men, but were quickly defeated by the earl of Warwick. More than 2000 were killed, and Ket and some others were tried and hanged.
Kichel is a type of small cake.
The kie kie is an item worn around the waste of all Tongans to formal occasions as a symbol of respect to God, King and Country.
The kin was a Japanese unit of weight equal to 1.3228 lbs.
Kinescope is a name mainly used in America for a cathode ray tube used in a television receiver.
Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its motion.
Kinetics is the branch of dynamics dealing with actual motion.
The kinetoscope was an apparatus invented by Edison for the continuous photography of objects in motion. The first series of photographs were of the strong man Sandow, and were reported in New York in 1894.
King's evil was a popular name for Scrofula.
The King's sceptre is part of the British Crown Jewels and contains the largest part of the Star of Africa diamond which weighs over 516 carats.
A klystron is a thermionic tube suitable for use as a microwave amplifier or oscillator, in which the electron stream is velocity-modulated.
Historically, a knight was an honourable military rank which was bestowed upon a noble who had served as a page and squire by the king. Today a knight is a social title bestowed upon people for supposed service to the crown or country, and entitles them to be called ''Sir'' rather than ''Mister''.
Knighthood is the social rank of knight.
In navigation the knot is the unit by which a ship's speed is measured, equivalent to one nautical mile per hour (one knot equals about 1.15 miles per hour). It is also sometimes used in aviation.
Knowledge is practical understanding.
The Koh-i-Noor diamond is a fabulous diamond of 106 carats and is mounted in the State Crown.
Kohl is antimony sulphide used by women as eye make up.
The koto is a stringed musical instrument from Japan.
Krypton is a gaseous element with the symbol Kr.
Kung Fu is a form of Chinese unarmed combat.
The kwan was a Japanese unit of weight equal to 8.2673 lbs.
L-band is the frequency band from 390 to 1550 mhz employed in radar.
A labret is an ornament inserted in a hole pierced through the lip.
A labyrinth is a maze like structure.
Lachrymation is the anatomical term for the shedding of tears.
Lacrosse is a ball-game originally played by North American Indians with twelve players on each side, in which the ball is flung by and carried in the crosse, the object being to throw the ball through the opponents' goal.
Lactic acid is an organic acid formed by certain bacteria during fermentation. It also occurs in the muscles when they are exercised vigorously. It is used in food preservation and pharmaceuticals.
Lactose is a sugar found in solution in milk. It is the combination of glucose and galactose.
Ladanum is a gum resin extracted from plants of the genus Cistus and used in perfume.
Ladino is a Spanish dialect spoken by Sephardic Jews.
A lagoon is a shallow stretch of salt water partly or wholly separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land or a low sand-bank or coral reef.
Lallans is a Lowland Scottish language.
Lambda is the 12th letter of the Greek alphabet.
The lambert is the unit of luminance (the light shining from a surface), equal to one lumen per square centimetre. In scientific work the candela per square meter is preferred.
Lambrequin was originally a material covering worn over a helmet. It is now a term applied to a short piece of drapery hung over the top of a door or window.
A lamella is a thin plate, scale or film of bone or tissue.
The lamina is the blade on the leaf on either side of the midrib on flowering plants. It is usually the primary organ of photosynthesis.
A lamp is a vessel filled with oil and fitted with a wick which is then used to provide light. The term has come to apply to any device which provides illumination, including electric lamps.
Lampas is a horse disease with a swelling in the roof of the mouth.
A Lancastrian is an inhabitant of Lancashire.
A lancet is a fine pointed, double-edged surgical knife.
A landau is a four-wheeled carriage with a top, the back and front of the top can be raised and lowered independently of each other.
Landscape is a term applied to inland scenery, or a picture of inland scenery.
A lane is a narrow road, usually between hedges, or a passage way.
Lanolin is a wax derived from sheep's wool.
The lanthanides are a group of 15 elements.
Lanthanum is a rare metal lanthanide element with the symbol La.
A lanyard is a cord attached to a knife or whistle with which to hold it, or to serve as a handle.
A laparotomy is a surgical incision through the abdominal walls into the abdominal cavity.
A lapel is a part of the front of a coat which is folded back towards the shoulder.
Lard is the rendered and clarified internal fat from the abdomen of pigs or cattle used in cooking and pharmacy.
A larder is a room or cupboard used for storing provisions.
A lardon is a strip of bacon or pork used to lard meat.
Laser is an acronym for Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. It is a device producing an intense narrow beam of light.
Lassa fever is an incurable fever caused by a virus carried by a species of rat found in west Africa.
A lasso is a rope with a running noose used for catching cattle.
A latchet was a thong used for fastening a shoe.
A lath is a thin narrow strip of wood. Laths are used for supporting plaster, and to construct trellis.
A lathe is a machine used for turning wood, metal and other materials by rotating the article against tools which cut it to shape.
Latin is an Indo-European language which originated amongst the people of ancient Latium and the Romans.
Latten is a yellow alloy of copper, zinc, lead and tin used for making monumental brasses and church candlesticks.
A lattice is a framework of laths crossed diagonally so as to form a net-like structure to be used as a screen or door.
Laudanum is a tincture of opium.
Lava is the molten material expelled by a volcano. It cools to form igneous rock.
The Lawrence tube is a form of picture tube for colour television, having a single electron gun, the beam from which scans the luminescent screen in horizontal lines, each line consisting of three closely spaced lines of three phosphors producing red, green and blue luminescence respectively. The beam is deflected to the line of appropriate colour by information contained in the signal waveform.
Lawrencium is an artificial radioactive element with the symbol Lr.
A laxative is a substance which loosens the bowels assisting or encouraging the excretion of faeces.
A lazaret is a hospital for the poor, especially for lepers.
Lead is a soft, malleable, metallic element with the symbol Pb. It occurs in many ores, the most important of which is galena. It is a very dense metal, and is used as a shield in environments where radiation abounds, such as x-rays and the nuclear industry.
In botanical terms, a leaflet is a division of a compound leaf.
A league was a measurement of distance, it was equivalent to roughly 3 miles or just under 5 km.
Leather is a material prepared from the hides of dead animals.
Lebensraum was the theory of living space used by the Nazis to justify their annexation of neighbouring states on the grounds that Germany was overpopulated during the 1930s.
Lecithin is a lipid containing nitrogen and phosphorus. It forms a vital part of plant and animal cell membranes.
Leeward is a nautical expression, referring to the opposite side of the ship to that from which the wind is blowing.
A legacy is a sum of money or article bequeathed by will and handed down from a predecessor.
Leo is a sign of the zodiac represented by a lion.
Leprosy is a disease of the skin characterised by the formation of nodules or tubercles in the skin. There are variations, one causes the loss of bones which results in mutilation of the limbs.
Libra is a sign of the zodiac represented by a set of scales.
Ligan is a wreck consisting of goods sunk in the sea, but tied to a buoy so that they may be found again.
Light is electromagnetic radiation detectable by the eye and of wavelengths between approximately 4000 and 7000 Angstrom units. The different colours are represented by different wavelengths ranging from violet at 3600 - 4300 Angstroms to red at 6470 - 7600 Angstroms.
Lightning is a spark discharge of electricity between two charged clouds or between a charged cloud and the earth.
Limonene is a terpene occurring in the oil of lemon, lime, lavender, caraway and bergamot.
The link is a unit of the imperial scale of measurement of length equivalent to 7.92 inches.
A lipid is an organic substance that is soluble in solvents such as alcohol but not in water.
Lipowitz's alloy is a fusible alloy consisting of 50 per cent bismuth, 26.5 percent lead, 13.3 per cent tin and 10.2 per cent cadmium.
A liqueur is a strong sweet alcoholic beverage with a spirit base and flavoured with aromatics.
Lithium is a metal element with the symbol Li.
Lithography is a printing process invented by Senefelder in 1796.
Litmus is a dye derived from lichens and used to test acidity.
Litzendraht (Litz) is a composite conductor designed for use in high-frequency circuits, and composed of a large number of fine wires, each separately insulated, and interwoven in a special way. This construction ensures a high ratio of surface area per unit length to cross-sectional area, and thus reduces the skin effect.
A localizer is a form of radio beacon used in instrument landing systems for aircraft. It is located about 230 meters beyond the stop end of an airfield runway and radiates two signals of different frequencies from two aerials whose polar diagrams overlap in such a way that their signals are of equal strength along the centre of the runway. In the receiving equipment fitted in the aircraft the two signals are applied to a centre-zero instrument. When the indicating pointer of the instrument is in the centre (zero) position the pilot knows that he is correctly aligned with the runway.
Loch is a Scottish term applied to both lakes and inlets.
Logo is a computer programming language designed to teach mathematical concepts. It was developed in the early 1970s in America.
Long Friday was the Saxon name for the festival now called Good Friday.
Long Waves are radio waves having wavelengths between 1000 and 10,000 meters, corresponding to frequencies from 300 khz down to 30 khz.
Loran is a radio navigation system of the hyperbolic type and developed in America chiefly for long-range navigation over the sea. Chains of transmitters radiate high power 50 micro-second pulses on frequencies in the order of 2 mhz.
Lough is an Irish term applied to both lakes and inlets.
Lysergic acid diethylamide (lsd) is an hallucinogen illegal drug.
Lumbago is pain in the lower part of the back.
The Lumen the unit of luminous flux, equal to the amount of light emitted per unit solid angle by a standard international candle.
Luminescence is the emission of light as the result of any stimulus other than heat. If the stimulus is heat the emission of light is termed incandescence.
Luminous flux is the amount of light emitted from a light source.
The lute is a family of stringed musical instruments that were in use during the 14th to 18th centuries.
Lutetium is a metal element with the symbol Lu.
The lux is the SI unit of illuminance or illumination (the light falling on an object). It is equivalent to one lumen per square meter or to the illuminance of a surface one meter distant from a point source of one candela.
Macrocephalia is the medical condition of having an excessively large head.
Magenta (fuchsine, rosein, harmaline or aniline red) is the hydrochloride of rosaniline, an aniline dye.
Magnadur is a cermaic material used for making permanent magnets. It consists basically of sintered oxide of iron and oxide of barium, and is therefore non-mettalic, although possessing ferro-magnetic properties. Because of its ceramic structure it is a good electrical insulator.
see "Magnesium oxide"
see "Magnesium oxide"
Magnesium is a metal element with the symbol Mg that burns with a very bright white light.
Magnesium oxide is formed when magnesium is burnt in the air. It is a white powder that is used to treat acidity in the stomach.
Magnesium peroxide is a white, tastless, water-insoluble powder used as an antiseptic and as an oxidizing and bleaching agent.
Magnesium Silicate is a fine, white, odourless, tastless powder with variable hydration. It is insoluble in both water and alcohol and is used as a rubber filler, a bleaching agent, and odour absorber and in the manufacture of paints and resins.
see "Epsom Salts"
Magnesium Trisilicate is a fine, white, odourless, tastless powder used in industry as an odour absorber and as a decoloriser. It is used in medicine as an antacid.
A magnet is a piece of one of the so-called ferromagnetic materials which has been magnetized, that is to say it has acquired, either permanently or temporarily, the power of attracting or repelling other pieces of similar material and of exerting a mechanical force on a neighbouring conductor carrying an electric current.
Magnetostriction is small changes in the length of a piece of magnetic material which accompany the process of magnetization.
The magnetron effect is the deflexion of electrons emitted from a straight filamentary or thin tubular thermionic cathode and accelerated towards a co-axial cylindrical anode, the deflexion resulting from the application of an axial magnetic field.
Mal de mer is French for sea sickness.
Malaria is an intermittent and remittent fever caused by the micro-organism Pasmodium and transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito.
Malayalam is a Dravidian dialect closely related to Tamil and widely spoken on the west coast of south India.
Maleic acid is a colourless, crystaline, water-soluble solid. It has an astringent taste and faint acidulous odour. It is used in the manufacture of synthetic resins, the dyeing and finishing of textiles, and as a preservative for fats and oils.
Maleic anhydride is a colourless, crystalline, unsaturated compound that is soluble in acetone and hydrolyses in water. It is used in the production of polyester resins, pesticides, fumaric acid and tartaric acid.
Maleic hydrazide is a cystalline compound used as a plant growth inhibitor and weed-killer.
Malic acid is an organic compound extracted from fruits.
Something which is malleable can be hammered into a new shape with out fracturing or returning to its original shape.
A mallet is a large and heavy hammer, usually made of wood.
Malmsey is a strong, sweet wine with a strong flavour. It was originally made in Greece, but now most of it is made in Madeira.
Malonic acid is a white, crystalline, water-soluble dibasic acid easily decomposed by heat and used chiefly as an intermediate in the synthesis of barbiturates.
Malt is derived from grain, usually barley, which is steeped in water and made to germinate which causes the grain's starch to convert into saccharine matter, it is then dried in a kiln and used in the brewing of beer, distilling of whisky and other culinary uses.
Maltol (Larixinic acid) is a crystalline compound obtained from larch bark, pine needles, chicory or roasted malt and used for enhancing flavours and aromas in foods, wines and perfumes.
Maltose is a sugar formed naturally from starch during the germination of grain. It is two glucose molecules combined.
The mandolin is a stringed musical instrument descended from the lute.
Manganese is a metal element with the symbol Mn.
A Mansbridge capacitor is an electronic capactitor having metal foil plates and paper dielectric and so designed that, should the insulation break down to puncture of the dielectric, the discharge between the plates at the seat of the breakdown oxidises the metal and thus restores the insulation resistance.
Manx is a dialect of Gaelic once spoken in the Isle Of Man.
The Margerine Act of 1887 declared that butterine, and other substances like butter must be termed margerine. The term ''butter'' being restricted to the product of milk or cream, or both.
In physics, mass is the quantity of matter which a body contains.
The maund was a unit of measurement used in India around 1900. It is equivalent to 40 seer.
The maxwell is the c.g.s. unit of magnetic flux. It is now replaced by the SI unit, the weber (one maxwell equals 10-8 weber). The maxwell is a very small unit, representing a single line of magnetic flux. It is equal to the flux through one square centimetre normal to a magnetic field with an intensity of one gauss.
A maze is a confusing network of passages and winding interconnecting paths.
Mead is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey.
Meclofenamate is an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat joint pain, stiffness, inflammation and swelling of arthritis and gout.
Meliorism is the doctrine that the world may be made better by human effort.
A melodeon is a type of accordion.
Melody is the tune of a piece of music.
Mendelevium is an artificial metal radioactive element with the symbol Md.
A menorah is a seven-branched candelabrum used in Jewish worship.
Menthol is an alcohol derivative of menthone and occurs in peppermint.
Mercuric Chloride (Corrosive Sublimate) is a compound (HgCl2) used medicinally as an antiseptic and as an astringent. It is extremely poisonous.
Mercury is a dense, mobile, silvery liquid metal element, symbol Hg.
Mercury fulminate is an explosive used in detonators and percussion caps.
Mesons are charged particles observed in cosmic rays, and having rest masses greater than that of an electron but less than that of a proton.
Metal is a class of elements.
A meteor is a small solid body which sails through space.
A meteorite is a piece of rock or metal from space.
Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon. It is an odourless gas that is explosive when mixed with oxygen.
Methanoic acid is a fuming liquid that occurs in stinging nettles.
Methanol is the simplest alcohol having the formulae ch3oh.
Methodism is a religious movement. It was founded by John Wesley, Charles Wesley and George Whitfield in reaction to apathy within the Church of England.
see "Formaldehyde"
see "Toluidine"
Methyl-guanidine-acetic acid (Creatine) is a naturally occurring amino-acid found in meat juices.
Methyldopa is a drug used for long lasting mild to severe high blood pressure. It has the possible side effects of: sedation, headache, weakness, dizziness, decreased mental acuity, depression, nightmares, decreased heart rate, swelling, weight gain, dry mouth, nasal stuffiness, diarrhea, skin rash and drug-induced fever.
Methylethyl acetic acid is an isomeric variety of valeric acid found in plants.
Methysergide is a vasoconstrictor drug used to prevent migraine and other recurring vascular headaches. It works by blocking the action of serotonin, a chemical that constricts blood vessels.
Metoprolol tartrate is a drug used to reduce high blood pressure. It has the possible side effects of: fatigue, lethargy, decreased heart rate, low blood pressure, congestive heart failure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash and fever.
Mezzotint is a method of engraving on copper or steel.
Mho is the unit of conductance, the reciprocal of the ohm.
A micrometer is an instrument for measuring minute lengths or angles with great accuracy; different types of micrometer are used in astronomical and engineering work.
The type of micrometer used in astronomy consists of two fine wires, one fixed and the other movable, placed in the focal plane of a telescope; the movable wire is fixed on a sliding plate and can be positioned parallel to the other until the object appears between the wires.
The movement is then indicated by a scale on the adjusting screw.
The micrometer calliper, of great value in engineering, has its adjustment effected by an extremely accurate fine-pitch screw (vernier).
The micron is a unit of length equal to one thousandth part of a millimetre.
A microphone is the first component in a sound recording system. It converts sound waves into electrical energy. A simple microphone is the telephone receiver mouthpiece.
A microtome is an instrument used for cutting very thin sections of organic tissue for microscopic examination.
Mildew is a growth of minute fungi.
The mile is a unit of the imperial scale of measurement of length equivalent to 8 furlongs, 1760 yards or 1.6093 kilometres.
Millennium is a period of measurement being 1000 years.
A mineral is an element or compound occurring naturally due to inorganic processes.
Ming is the name of the Chinese dynasty which ruled from 1368 to 1644.
The Minuet is a dance which came to Paris in 1650 and reached its greatest popularity in the reign of Louis XV. It combined gracefulness with ceremonial formality.
The Miocene was the sixteenth geological period, 25,000,000 years ago. The first apes evolved.
see "Spiegel-eisen"
A mizzen is the fore and aft sail on the after side of the mizzen-mast of a three-masted ship.
Modem is a contraction of the term Modulator/Demodulator. It is a device that modulates and demodulates signals on and off a ''carrier'' frequency. It is not limited to computer data use, thus the telco-specific term ''data set'' for data modems.
Modulation is alterations in the characteristics of analog carrier waves, impressed on the amplitude, phase and/or the frequency of the wave.
A molecule is the smallest particle of any substance that can exist and still exhibit the properties of the substance.
Molybdenum is a metal element with the symbol Mo.
Monday is the first day of the week.
A monoamine is a biogenic amine neurotransmitter with a single amino group.
Monosaccharide is a simple carbohydrate.
A monsoon is a seasonal wind occasioned by the deflection of permanent winds from their normal path through the heating of a neighbouring land mass.
The month is a unit of measurement of time based upon the motion of the moon around the earth.
The moon is the natural satellite of the earth. It is 3476 km in diameter and has a mass 1/8th that of the earth. It orbits the earth every 27.32 days.
The Morals and Health Act was passed in 1802 as the first legislation in Britain to improve the appaling conditions in British factories.
Moreen is a fabric made from wool or wool and cotton in imitation of moire.
Moroxite is the crystallised form of apatite, occurring in crystals of a brownish or greenish-blue colour.
Morphine is an opium alkaloid used to treat severe pain.
Morse Code is a telegraphic code, devised by S. F. B. Morse, wherein letters, figures etc. are represented by differing arrangements of long and short pulses (dots and dashes).
Mountaineering is the practice of climbing mountains.
Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) is a statistical method developed and administered by the U.S. military for purposes of estimating maintenance levels required by various devices and systems. Since accurate statistics require a basis of ''failures per million hours of operation,'' an MTBF estimate on a single device is not very accurate; it would take 114 years to see if the device really had that many failures! Similarly, since the MTBF is an estimate of averages, half of the devices can be expected to fail before then, and half after. MTBF cannot be used as a guarantee. Telecommunications systems operate on the principle of ''Availability,'' for which there is a body of CCITT Recommendations.
Mu-metal is a nickel-iron alloy characterised by its high permeability at low field strengths and its small hysterisis losses.
A muffle is an arched fire-brick furnace used in assaying operations.
Mullagatawny is a soup made with meat cut into small pieces and mixed with rice and curry-powder.
Multileaving is an IBM Bisync-era method of interspersing message blocks for various applications on a single line.
Mum is a malt liquor made of malt wheat, oats and bean meal. It was brewed extensively in Brunswick at the start of the 20th century.
A mummy is any dead body, human or animal, that has been naturally or artificially preserved. Natural mummification can occur through freezing, drying, or preservation in bogs or oil seeps. Artificial mummification may be achieved by embalming (for example, the mummies of ancient Egypt) or by freeze-drying.
Mumps is an infectious disease which attacks the young and consists of a painful inflammation of the salivary glands with swelling along the neck.
Mungo is a material similar to shoddy which is made from old woollen fabrics which have been torn up for remaking.
Munjeet is a dye obtained from the roots of the Rubia cordifolia plant which is grown in India.
Muriatic Acid was a former name for Hydrochloric acid.
Murrine vases were priceless vessels brought from Carmania in Persia and used in ancient Rome as winecups where it was believed they would break if poison was mixed with the wine.
Musk is a substance used in perfume and obtained from the Musk-deer. Musk is also used in medicine as an antispasmodic.
Muslin is a fine thin cotton fabric first imported into England in 1670 from India.
Myckle ail is the old English name for leprosy.
Myrrh is a gum resin produced by a tree found in Arabia. It is used as incense and in embalming.
Myxoedema is a thyroid deficiency.
Nack (nak) is the ''Negative Acknowledge'' character in many data codes; typically used to indicate receipt of a corrupted message, ordering retransmission.
The nail is a unit of the imperial measurement of length equivalent to 1/16 yards.
Naphthalene is a solid hydrocarbon.
The Napoleonic wars were a series of European wars between 1803 and 1815 involving Napoleon and his conquests of Europe.
A narcotic is a sleep inducing and analgesic drug.
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is an American government agency founded in 1958 for spaceflight and aeronautical research. Its headquarters are in Washington DC. Its main installation is the Kennedy Space Centre.
The Nautical Mile is a unit of measurement used by ships. It is 1852 meters long.
A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust in space.
The Nemean Games were a Greek athletic contest named after the city of Nemea and dating from 516 BC. They were held every 2 years and the prize was a crown of wild celery or a pine wreath.
Neon is an inert gaseous element with the symbol Ne. It is one of the rare components of the atmosphere and is used in some forms of discharge tubes and lamps, in which it gives a characteristic red glow.
The neper is a unit used for comparing two currents, in a similar way to the bel or decibel.
Neptunium is an artificial element with the symbol Np produced in nuclear reactors.
Neuralgia is a pain originating from the nerves.
Neurosis is a mild mental condition of emotional disorders.
Neurosurgery is surgery upon the brain or spinal cord.
A neutrino is a short-lived uncharged particle of zero or near zero rest mass. They occur in certain nuclear reactions.
The neutron is a subatomic uncharged particle, of slightly greater mass than a proton and forming a constituent part of the nucleus of all atoms except hydrogen atoms, which consist of a single proton. It may be considered as the equivalent of one proton and one electron.
In geography, neve is snow which has become a hard crystalline mass, but has not been compacted into ice.
A newspaper is a publication reporting and commenting upon news. The first newspapers were published by the Romans.
Nickel is a metal element with the symbol Ni.
Nickel Silver (German Silver, Pack-Fong) is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc in different proportions. Sometimes lead is added if the alloy is destined for making candlesticks or casts.
Nicotine is an alkaloid derived from the leaves of tobacco.
see "Vitamin B3"
Niello is a black, metal, amalgam of sulphur added to copper, silver or lead and used for filling engraved lines in metal objects.
Nifedipine is a calcium-channel blocker, anti-arrhythmic and anti-anginal drug used to prevent angina attacks, treat Reynaud's disease, treat high blood pressure and treat spasm of the esophagus.
Nimbostratus is a type of cloud, low, dark grey and trailing.
A nimbus is a bright cloud or halo added to pictures of saints etc. implying deity.
Niobium is a metal element with the symbol Nb.
A nitrate is any salt of nitric acid.
Nitrazepam is a hypnotic drug given by mouth to treat insomnia.
Nitric acid is produced by the oxidation of ammonia.
Nitro-glycerine is a powerful explosive produced from nitric acid and glycerol.
Nitrogen is a gaseous element with the symbol N. It comprises 79 percent of the air.
Nitrous oxide is an analgesic gas.
Nobelium is a radioactive metal element with the symbol No.
Nocardia is a bacteria found in soil which causes nocardiosis.
Nocardiosis is a disease affecting the skin, lungs and brain resulting in abscesses.
A noose is a loop with a running knot which tightens as the string is pulled.
The term Norse refers to ancient Norway.
A nova is a faint star that suddenly erupts in brightness.
Nucleic acid is a complex organic acid forming the basis of heredity.
The nucleus is the positively charged central part of an atom.
Numismatics is the study of coins and medals.
Nylon is a synthetic plastic similar in chemical structure to protein.