Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter A - Page 29
Aeriform (a.) 空氣狀的，氣體的，無形的 Having the form or nature of air, or of an elastic fluid; gaseous. Hence fig.: Unreal.
Aeriform (a.) Resembling air or having the form of air [syn: {aeriform}, {airlike}].
Aeriform (a.) Characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as impalpable or intangible as air; "figures light and aeriform come unlooked for and melt away"- Thomas Carlyle; "aerial fancies"; "an airy apparition"; "physical rather than ethereal forms" [syn: {aeriform}, {aerial}, {airy}, {aery}, {ethereal}].
Aerify (v. t.) 使與空氣化合，氣體化，氣化 To infuse air into; to combine air with.
Aerify (v. t.) To change into an aeriform state.
Aerify (v.) Turn into gas; "The substance gasified" [syn: gasify, vaporize, vaporise, aerify].
Aero (n.) An a["e]roplane, airship, or the like. [Colloq. in 1900, now obsolescent.].
Aero (a.) Of or pertaining to aeronautics or aircraft.
Aero- () The combining form of the Greek word meaning air.
AERO () Authentic, Energetic, Reflective, Open (MS, Windows, Vista, GUI).
Aerobies (n. pl.) (Biol.) Micro["o]rganisms which live in contact with the air and need oxygen for their growth; as the microbacteria which form on the surface of putrefactive fluids; aerobes. [obsolescent]
Compare: Microorgansim
Microorgansim (n.) [C] (Biology) 微生物 A living thing which on its own is too small to be seen without a microscope (= device that makes small objects look larger).
// These results suggest that differences between species have a strong influence on the potential for different microorganisms to be preserved by fossilization.
// One could hypothesize the existence of microorganisms that can tolerate this level of sulphuric acid that have not yet been discovered.
Aerobiotic (a.) (Biol.) Related to, or of the nature of, aerobies; as, aerobiotic plants, which live only when supplied with free oxygen.
Aerobiotic (a.) Living or active only in the presence of oxygen; "aerobiotic bacteria."
Aerocyst (n.) (Bot.) One of the air cells of algals.
Aerodrome (n.) (A["e]ronautics) A shed for housing an airship or a["e]roplane.
Aerodrome (n.) A ground or field, esp. one equipped with housing and other facilities, used for flying purposes. -- A`["e]r*o*drom"ic, a. Aerodynamic
Aerodrome (n.) 飛機場，機場 An airfield equipped with control tower and hangars as well as accommodations for passengers and cargo [syn: {airport}, {airdrome}, {aerodrome}, {drome}].
Aerodynamic (a.) 空氣動力 Pertaining to the force of air in motion.
Aerodynamic (a.) Having a shape designed to minimize wind resistance (aerodynamic drag) when moving through the air or other gas; -- used especially of vehicles; as, the aerodynamic styling of an automobile.
Aerodynamic (a.) Of or relating to aerodynamics.
Aerodynamic (a.) Designed or arranged to offer the least resistant to fluid flow; "a streamlined convertible" [syn: streamlined, aerodynamic, flowing, sleek].
Aerodynamics (n.) 空氣動力學，氣體力學 The science which treats of the air and other gaseous bodies under the action of force, and of their mechanical effects.
Aerognosy (n.) The science which treats of the properties of the air, and of the part it plays in nature. -- Craig.
Aerographer (n.) One versed in a["e]ography: an a["e]rologist. Aerographic
Aerographic (a.) Alt. of Aerographical.
Aerographical (a.) Pertaining to a["e]rography; a["e]rological.
Aerography (n.) 氣象學 A description of the air or atmosphere; a["e]rology.
Aerohydrodynamic (a.) Acting by the force of air and water; as, an a["e]rohydrodynamic wheel.
Aerolite (n.) (Meteor.) A stone, or metallic mass, which has fallen to the earth from distant space; a meteorite; a meteoric stone.
Note: Some writers limit the word to stony meteorites.
Aerolite (n.) A stony meteorite consisting of silicate minerals.
Aerolith (n.) Same as A["e]rolite.
Aerolithology (n.) The science of a["e]rolites.
Aerolitic (a.) Of or pertaining to a["e]rolites; meteoric; as, a["e]rolitic iron. -- Booth. Aerologic
Aerolitic (a.) Of or pertaining to certain stony meteorites.
Aerologic (a.) Alt. of Aerological.
Aerological (a.) Of or pertaining to a["e]rology.
Aerologist (n.) 高空氣象學家 One versed in a["e]rology.
Aerology (n.) 高空氣象學 That department of physics which treats of the atmosphere.
Aerology (n.) Meteorology of the total extent of the atmosphere; especially the upper layers.
Aeromancy (n.) Divination from the state of the air or from atmospheric substances; also, forecasting changes in the weather.
Aerometer (n.) An instrument for ascertaining the weight or density of air and gases.
Aerometric (a.) Of or pertaining to a["e]rometry; as, a["e]rometric investigations.
Aerometry (n.) The science of measuring the air, including the doctrine of its pressure, elasticity, rarefaction, and condensation; pneumatics.
Aeronaut (n.) An a["e]rial navigator; a balloonist.
Aeronaut (n.) Someone who operates an aircraft [syn: aviator, aeronaut, airman, flier, flyer].
Aeronautic (a.) Alt. of Aeronautical.
Aeronautical (a.) 航空學的；飛行術的 Pertaining to a["e]ronautics, or a["e]rial sailing.
Aeronautic (a.) Of or pertaining to aeronautics [syn: aeronautical, aeronautic].
Aeronautics (n.) （用作單）航空學；飛行術 The science or art of ascending and sailing in the air, as by means of a balloon; aerial navigation; ballooning. Aerophobia
Aeronautics (n.) The theory and practice of navigation through air or space [syn: aeronautics, astronautics].
Aerophobia (n.) Alt. of Aerophoby
Aerophoby (n.) (Med.) Dread of a current of air or of fresh air.
Aerophyte (n.) (Bot.) A plant growing entirely in the air, and receiving its nourishment from it; an air plant or epiphyte.
Aerophyte (n.) Plant that derives moisture and nutrients from the air and rain; usually grows on another plant but not parasitic on it [syn: air plant, epiphyte, aerophyte, epiphytic plant].
Aeroplane (n.) (A["e]ronautics) 【英】飛機 [C] A light rigid plane used in a["e]rial navigation to oppose sudden upward or downward movement in the air, as in gliding machines; specif., such a plane slightly inclined and driven forward as a lifting device in some flying machines. Also called airfoil.
Aeroplane (n.) Hence: A heavier-than-air flying machine using such a device to provide lift; an airplane. In a modern aeroplane, the airfoils are called the wings, and most of the lift is derived from these surfaces. In contrast to helicopters, the wings are fixed to the passenger compartment (airframe) and do not move relative to the frame; thus such a machine is called a fixed-wing aircraft. These machines are called monoplanes, biplanes, triplanes, or quadruplanes, according to the number of main supporting planes (wings) used in their construction. After 1940 few planes with more than one airfoil were constructed, and these are used by hobbyists or for special purposes. Being heavier than air they depend for their levitation on motion imparted by the thrust from either propellers driven by an engine, or, in a jet plane, by the reaction from a high-velocity stream of gases expelled rearward from a jet engine. They start from the ground by a run on small wheels or runners, and are guided by a steering apparatus consisting of horizontal and vertical movable planes, which usually form part of the wings or tail. There are many varieties of form and construction, which in some cases are known by the names of their inventors. In U.S., an aeroplane is usually called an airplane or plane.
Aeroplane (n.) An aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets; "the flight was delayed due to trouble with the airplane" [syn: airplane, aeroplane, plane].
Aeroscope (n.) (Biol.) 吸取空氣中細微物體的裝置 An apparatus designed for collecting spores, germs, bacteria, etc., suspended in the air.
Aeroscopy (n.) The observation of the state and variations of the atmosphere.
Aerose (a.) Of the nature of, or like, copper; brassy. [R.]
Aerosiderite (n.) (Meteor.) 【天】隕鐵 A mass of meteoric iron.
Aerosphere (n.) 大氣層；航空大氣層 The atmosphere. [R.]
Aerostat (n.) (A["e]ronautics) A balloon, especially a passive balloon; a balloon without motive power. Contrasted with aerodyne.
Aerostat (n.) A balloonist; an a["e]ronaut. Aerostatic
Aerostatic (a.) Alt. of Aerostatical.
Aerostatical (a.) 空氣靜力學的；航空術的；氣船或輕氣球中所用的 Of or pertaining to a["e]rostatics; pneumatic.
Aerostatical (a.) A["e]ronautic; as, an a["e]rostatic voyage.
Aerostatics (n.) 氣體靜力學 The science that treats of the equilibrium of elastic fluids, or that of bodies sustained in them. Hence it includes a["e]ronautics.
Aerostation (n.) That part of a["e]ronautics that deals with passive balloons; the art of raising and guiding balloons in the air.
Aerostation (n.) The science of weighing air; a["e]rostatics. [Obs.]
Aeruginous (a.) Of the nature or color of verdigris, or the rust of copper.
Aerugo (n.) The rust of any metal, esp. of brass or copper; verdigris.
Aery (n.) An aerie.
Aery (a.) A["e]rial; ethereal; incorporeal; visionary. [Poetic] -- M. Arnold.
Aery (a.) Characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as impalpable or intangible as air; "figures light and aeriform come unlooked for and melt away"- Thomas Carlyle; "aerial fancies"; "an airy apparition"; "physical rather than ethereal forms" [syn: aeriform, aerial, airy, aery, ethereal].
Aery (n.) The lofty nest of a bird of prey (such as a hawk or eagle) [syn: aerie, aery, eyrie, eyry].
Aery (n.) Any habitation at a high altitude [syn: aerie, aery, eyrie, eyry].
Aesculapian (a.) 醫神埃斯丘勒匹厄斯（Aesculapius）的；醫術的 Pertaining to [AE]sculapius or to the healing art; medical; medicinal.
Aesculapian (a.) Of or belonging to Aesculapius or the healing art [syn: aesculapian, medical].
Aesculapius (n.) (Myth.) 【羅神】（醫神）埃斯丘勒匹厄斯 The god of medicine. Hence, a physician.
Aesculapius (n.) Son of Apollo; a hero and the Roman god of medicine and healing; his daughters were Hygeia and Panacea [syn: Aesculapius, Asclepius, Asklepios].
Aesculin (n.) 【化】七葉樹素 Same as Esculin.
Compare: Esculin
Esculin (n.) (Chem.) 七葉靈；馬栗樹糖 A glucoside obtained from the [AE]sculus hippocastanum, or horse-chestnut, and characterized by its fine blue fluorescent solutions. [Written also [ae]sculin.]
AEsopian, Esopian (a.) Of or pertaining to [AE]sop, or in his manner. AEsopic
Aesopic (a.) Alt. of Esopic
Esopic (a.) Same as Aesopian.
Aesthesia (n.) (Physiol.) Perception by the senses; feeling; -- the opposite of an[ae]sthesia. AEsthesiometer
Aesthesia (n.) Mental responsiveness and awareness [syn: sensibility, esthesia, aesthesia] [ant: insensibility].
Aesthesiometer (n.) Alt. of Esthesiometer
Compare: Esthesiometer
Esthesiometer (n.) An instrument to measure the degree of sensation, by determining at how short a distance two impressions upon the skin can be distinguished, and thus to determine whether the condition of tactile sensibility is normal or altered.
Esthesiometer (n.) Same as [ae]sthesiometer. Esthetical; Esthetic; Esthete
Aesthesis (n.) Sensuous perception. [R.] -- Ruskin.
Aesthesis (n.) An unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation; "a sensation of touch" [syn: sensation, esthesis, aesthesis, sense experience, sense impression, sense datum].
Aesthesodic (a.) (Physiol.) Conveying sensory or afferent impulses; -- said of nerves.
Aesthete (n.) 審美家，唯美主義者 One who makes much or overmuch of aesthetics.
Aesthetic (a.) 美學的，審美的，有美感 Alt. of Aesthetical
Aesthetic (a.) Relating to or dealing with the subject of aesthetics; "aesthetic values" [syn: aesthetic, esthetic].
Aesthetic (a.) Concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste; "the aesthetic faculties"; "an aesthetic person"; "aesthetic feeling"; "the illustrations made the book an aesthetic success" [syn: aesthetic, esthetic, aesthetical, esthetical] [ant: inaesthetic, unaesthetic].
Aesthetic (a.) Aesthetically pleasing; "an artistic flower arrangement" [syn: aesthetic, esthetic, artistic].
Aesthetic (n.) (Philosophy) A philosophical theory as to what is beautiful; "he despised the esthetic of minimalism" [syn: aesthetic, esthetic].
Aesthetical (a.) 美學的；美感的；美的；藝術的；審美的；具有審美趣味的 Of or Pertaining to aesthetics; versed in aesthetics; as, aesthetic studies, emotions, ideas, persons, etc. -- [AE]s*thet"ic*al*ly, adv.
Aesthetical (a.) Concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste; "the aesthetic faculties"; "an aesthetic person"; "aesthetic feeling"; "the illustrations made the book an aesthetic success" [syn: aesthetic, esthetic, aesthetical, esthetical] [ant: inaesthetic, unaesthetic].
Aesthetically (adv.) 審美地；美學觀點上地 In a tasteful way; "this building is aesthetically very pleasing" [syn: aesthetically, esthetically].
Aesthetican (n.) One versed in aesthetics.
Aesthetician (n.) 美學家 A worker skilled in giving beauty treatments (manicures and facials etc.) [syn: esthetician, aesthetician].
Aesthetician (n.) A philosopher who specializes in the nature of beauty [syn: esthetician, aesthetician].
Aestheticism (n.) 唯美主義；藝術超然論；審美感；愛美性 The doctrine of aesthetics; aesthetic principles; devotion to the beautiful in nature and art. -- Lowell. AEsthetics
Aesthetics (n.) Alt. of Esthetics.
Esthetics (n.) 美學 The theory or philosophy of taste; the science of the beautiful in nature and art; esp. that which treats of the expression and embodiment of beauty by art.
Esthete, (n.); Esthetic, (a.); Esthetical, (a.); Esthetics, (n.) etc. Same as [ae]sthete, [ae]sthetic, [ae]sthetical, [ae]sthetics, etc.
Aesthetics (n.) (Art) The branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and taste (emphasizing the evaluative criteria that are applied to art); "traditional aesthetics assumed the existence of universal and timeless criteria of artistic value" [syn: aesthetics, esthetics].
Aestho-physiology (n.) 感覺及感官生理學 The science of sensation in relation to nervous action. -- H. Spenser.
Aestival (a.) 夏季的 Of or belonging to the summer; as, [ae]stival diseases. [Spelt also estival.].
Aestival (a.) (Rare) Of or occurring in summer; "the sky was a burnished aestival blue"; "estival winds" [syn: aestival, estival].
Aestivate (v. i.) 消夏；【動】夏眠 To spend the summer.
Aestivate (v. i.) (Zool.) To pass the summer in a state of torpor. [Spelt also estivate.]
Aestivate (v.) Sleep during summer; "certain animals estivate" [syn: estivate, aestivate] [ant: hibernate, hole up].
Aestivation (n.) (Zool.) 度夏；【動】夏眠 The state of torpidity induced by the heat and dryness of summer, as in certain snails; -- opposed to hibernation.
Aestivation (n.) (Bot.) The arrangement of the petals in a flower bud, as to folding, overlapping, etc.; prefloration. -- Gray. [Spelt also estivation.]
Aestivation (n.) (Zoology) cessation or slowing of activity during the summer; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals during a hot or dry period [syn: estivation, aestivation].
Aestivation (n.) (Botany) The arrangement of sepals and petals in a flower bud before it opens [syn: estivation, aestivation].
Aestuary (n. & a.) See Estuary.
Estuary (n.; pl. Estuaries.) [Written also [ae]stuary.] A place where water boils up; a spring that wells forth. [Obs.] -- Boyle.
Estuary (n.) 河口；海口灣 [C] A passage, as the mouth of a river or lake, where the tide meets the current; an arm of the sea; a frith.
It to the sea was often by long and wide estuaries. -- Dana.
Aestuous (a.) Glowing; agitated, as with heat.
Aetheogamous (a.) (Bot.) Propagated in an unusual way; cryptogamous.
Aether (n.) See Ether.
Compare: Ether
Ether (n.) (Physics) 【物】以太 [the S] A medium of great elasticity and extreme tenuity, once supposed to pervade all space, the interior of solid bodies not excepted, and to be the medium of transmission of light and heat; hence often called luminiferous ether. It is no longer believed that such a medium is required for the transmission of electromagnetic waves; the modern use of the term is mostly a figurative term for empty space, or for literary effect, and not intended to imply the actual existence of a physical medium. However. modern cosmological theories based on quantum field theory do not rule out the possibility that the inherent energy of the vacuum is greater than zero, in which case the concept of an ether pervading the vacuum may have more than metaphoric meaning.
Ether (n.) Supposed matter above the air; the air itself.
Ether (n.) (Chem.) 【化】乙醚；醚 [U] A light, volatile, mobile, inflammable liquid, (C2H5)2O, of a characteristic aromatic odor, obtained by the distillation of alcohol with sulphuric acid, and hence called also sulphuric ether. It is a powerful solvent of fats, resins, and pyroxylin, but finds its chief use as an an[ae]sthetic. Commonly called ethyl ether to distinguish it from other ethers, and also ethyl oxide.
Ether (n.) (Chem.) Any similar compound in which an oxygen atom is bound to two different carbon atoms, each of which is part of an organic radical; as, amyl ether; valeric ether; methyl ethyl ether. The general formular for an ether is ROR', in which R and R' are organic radicals which may be of similar or different structure. If R and R' are different parts of the same organic radical, the structure forms a cyclic ether.
Complex ether, Mixed ether (Chem.) An ether in which the ether oxygen is attached to two radicals having different structures; as, ethyl methyl ether, C2H5.O.CH3.
Compound ether (Chem.) An ethereal salt or a salt of some hydrocarbon as the base; an ester.
Ether engine (Mach.) A condensing engine like a steam engine, but operated by the vapor of ether instead of by steam.
Aether (n.) Personification of the sky or upper air breathed by the Olympians; son of Erebus and night or of Chaos and darkness.
Aether (n.) A medium that was once supposed to fill all space and to support the propagation of electromagnetic waves [syn: ether, aether].
Aethiops mineral () (Chem.) Same as Ethiops mineral. [Obs.]
Aethogen (n.) (Chem.) A compound of nitrogen and boro/, which, when heated before the blowpipe, gives a brilliant phosphorescent; boric nitride.
Aethrioscope (n.) An instrument consisting in part of a differential thermometer. It is used for measuring changes of temperature produced by different conditions of the sky, as when clear or clouded.
Aetiological (a.) Pertaining to aetiology; assigning a cause. -- [AE]`ti*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv. Etiology
Aetiological (a.) Of or relating to the philosophical study of causation [syn: etiological, etiologic, aetiological, aetiologic].
Aetiological (a.) Relating to the etiology of a disease; "etiological agent" [syn: etiological, etiologic, aetiological, aetiologic].
Compare: Pathology
Pathology (n.; pl. pathologies) (Med.) 病理學；病狀；病變 The science which treats of diseases, their nature, causes, progress, symptoms, etc.
Note: Pathology is general or special, according as it treats of disease or morbid processes in general, or of particular diseases; it is also subdivided into internal and external, or medical and surgical pathology. Its departments are nosology, [ae]tiology, morbid anatomy, symptomatology, and therapeutics, which treat respectively of the classification, causation, organic changes, symptoms, and cure of diseases.
Pathology (n.) (Med.) The condition of an organ, tissue, or fluid produced by disease.
Celluar pathology, A theory that gives prominence to the vital action of cells in the healthy and diseased functions of the body. -- Virchow.
Pathology (n.) The branch of medical science that studies the causes and nature and effects of diseases.
Pathology (n.) Any deviation from a healthy or normal condition.
Aetiology (n.) 原因論；【醫】病原學，病因學 The science, doctrine, or demonstration of causes; esp., the investigation of the causes of any disease; the science of the origin and development of things; etiology.
Aetiology (n.) The assignment of a cause.
Aetiology (n.) (Med.) The cause or origin of a disease. Now more commonly written etiology.
Aetiology (n.) The cause of a disease [syn: etiology, aetiology].
Aetiology (n.) The philosophical study of causation [syn: etiology, aetiology].
Aetites (n.) See Eaglestone.
Compare: Eaglestone
Eaglestone (n.) (Min.) A concretionary nodule of clay ironstone, of the size of a walnut or larger, so called by the ancients, who believed that the eagle transported these stones to her nest to facilitate the laying of her eggs; a["e]tites.
Afar (adv.) At, to, or from a great distance; far away; -- often used with from preceding, or off following; as, he was seen from afar; I saw him afar off.
The steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar. -- Beattie.
Afar (adv.) (Old-fashioned) at or from or to a great distance; far; "we traveled afar"; "we could see the ship afar off"; "the Magi came from afar."
Afeard (p. a.) Afraid. [Obs.]
Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises. -- Shak.
Afeard (a.) A pronunciation of afraid [syn: afeard(p), afeared(p)].
Afer (n.) [L.] The southwest wind. -- Milton.
Affability (n.) The quality of being affable; readiness to converse; courteousness in receiving others and in conversation; complaisant behavior.
Affability is of a wonderful efficacy or power in procuring love. -- Elyot
Affability (n.) A disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to) [syn: affability, affableness, amiability, amiableness, bonhomie, geniality].
Affable (a.) 和藹可親的，友善的，殷勤的 Easy to be spoken to or addressed; receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner; courteous; sociable.
An affable and courteous gentleman. -- Shak.
His manners polite and affable. -- Macaulay.
Affable (a.) Gracious; mild; benign.
A serene and affable countenance. -- Tatler.
Syn: Courteous; civil; complaisant; accessible; mild; benign; condescending.
Affable (a.) Diffusing warmth and friendliness; "an affable smile"; "an amiable gathering"; "cordial relations"; "a cordial greeting"; "a genial host" [syn: affable, amiable, cordial, genial].
Affableness (n.) Affability.
Affableness (n.) A disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to) [syn: affability, affableness, amiability, amiableness, bonhomie, geniality].
Affably (adv.) In an affable manner; courteously.
Affably (adv.) In an affable manner; "`Come and visit me,' he said amiably" [syn: affably, amiably, genially].
Affabrous (a.) Executed in a workmanlike manner; ingeniously made. [R.] -- Bailey.
Affair (n.) That which is done or is to be done; matter; concern; as, a difficult affair to manage; business of any kind, commercial, professional, or public; -- often in the plural. "At the head of affairs." -- Junius. "A talent for affairs." -- Prescott.
Affair (n.) Any proceeding or action which it is wished to refer to or characterize vaguely; as, an affair of honor, i. e., a duel; an affair of love, i. e., an intrigue.
Affair (n.) (Mil.) An action or engagement not of sufficient magnitude to be called a battle.
Affair (n.) Action; endeavor. [Obs.]
And with his best affair Obeyed the pleasure of the Sun. -- Chapman.