Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter S - Page 129
Spherograph (n.) An instrument for facilitating the practical use of spherics in navigation and astronomy, being constructed of two cardboards containing various circles, and turning upon each other in such a manner that any possible spherical triangle may be readily found, and the measures of the parts read off by inspection.
Spheroid (n.) A body or figure approaching to a sphere, but not perfectly spherical; esp., a solid generated by the revolution of an ellipse about one of its axes.
Oblate spheroid, Prolate spheroid. See Oblate, Prolate, and Ellipsoid.
Spheroid (n.) A shape that is generated by rotating an ellipse around one of its axes; "it looked like a sphere but on closer examination I saw it was really a spheroid" [syn: spheroid, ellipsoid of revolution].
Spheroidal (a.) Having the form of a spheroid. -- Sphe*roid"al*ly, adv.
Spheroidal state (Physics.), The state of a liquid, as water, when, on being thrown on a surface of highly heated metal, it rolls about in spheroidal drops or masses, at a temperature several degrees below ebullition, and without actual contact with the heated surface, -- a phenomenon due to the repulsive force of heat, the intervention of a cushion of nonconducting vapor, and the cooling effect of evaporation. Spheroidic
Spheroidal (a.) Having the nature or shape of an ellipsoid [syn: ellipsoid, ellipsoidal, spheroidal].
Spheroidic (a.) Alt. of Spheroidical.
Spheroidical (a.) See Spheroidal. -- Cheyne. Spheroidicity
Spheroidicity (n.) Alt. of Spheroidity.
Spheroidity (n.) The quality or state of being spheroidal.
Spheromere (n.) (Zool.) Any one of the several symmetrical segments arranged around the central axis and composing the body of a radiate anmal.
Spherometer (n.) (Physics) An instrument for measuring the curvature of spherical surface, as of lenses for telescope, etc.
Spherometer (n.) A measuring instrument for measuring the curvature of a surface.
Spherosiderite (n.) (Min.) Siderite occuring in spheroidal masses.
Spherosome (n.) (Zool.) The body wall of any radiate animal.
Spherulate (a.) Covered or set with spherules; having one or more rows of spherules, or minute tubercles.
Spherule (n.) A little sphere or spherical body; as, quicksilver, when poured upon a plane, divides itself into a great number of minute spherules.
Spherule (n.) A small sphere.
Spherulite (n.) (Min.) A minute spherical crystalline body having a radiated structure, observed in some vitreous volcanic rocks, as obsidian and pearlstone.
Spherulitic (a.) Of or pertaining to a spherulite; characterized by the presence of spherulites.
Sphery (a.) Round; spherical; starlike. [R.] "Hermia's sphery eyne." -- Shak.
Sphery (a.) Of or pertaining to the spheres. [R.]She can teach ye how to climb Higher than the sphery chime. -- Milton.
Sphex (n.) (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of sand wasps of the genus Sphex and allied genera. These wasps have the abdomen attached to the thorax by a slender pedicel. See Illust. of Sand wasp, under Sand.
Sphex fly (Zool.), Any one of numerous species of small dipterous flies of the genus Conops and allied genera.
The form of the body is similar to that of a sphex.
Sphigmometer (n.) See Sphygmometer.
Sphincter (n.) (Anat.) 【解】括約肌 A muscle which surrounds, and by its contraction tends to close, a natural opening; as, the sphincter of the bladder.
Sphincter (n.) Medical : A ring-shaped muscle that surrounds a body opening and that can tighten to close the opening.
Sphincter (n.) An annular muscle surrounding and able to contract or close a bodily opening.
Sphincter (n.) [ C ] (Specialized) A muscle that surrounds an opening in the body and can tighten to close it.
// The anal sphincter.
// A sphincter muscle.
Sphincter (a.) (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, a sphincter; as, a sphincter muscle.
Sphincter (n.) A ring of muscle that contracts to close an opening [syn: sphincter, anatomical sphincter, sphincter muscle].
Sphincteral (a.) 括約肌的 Relating to a sphincter.
Sphincterial (a.) Relating to a sphincter.
Sphincteric (a.) Relating to a sphincter.
Sphingid (n.) (Zool.) A sphinx.
Sphingid (a.) Of or pertaining to a sphinx, or the family Sphingidae.
Sphingid (n.) Any of various moths with long narrow forewings capable of powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed [syn: hawkmoth, hawk moth, sphingid, sphinx moth, hummingbird moth].
Sphinx (n.) In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon the wingless body of a lion.
The awful ruins of the days of old . . . Or jasper tomb, or mutilated sphinx. -- Shelley.
Sphinx (n.) On Greek art and mythology, a she-monster, usually represented as having the winged body of a lion, and the face and breast of a young woman.
Note: The most famous Grecian sphinx, that of Thebes in B[oe]otia, is said to have proposed a riddle to the Thebans, and killed those who were unable to guess it. The enigma was solved by [OE]dipus, whereupon the sphinx slew herself. "Subtle as sphinx." -- Shak.
Sphinx (n.) Hence: A person of enigmatical character and purposes, especially in politics and diplomacy.
Sphinx (n.) (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large moths of the family Sphingidae; -- called also hawk moth. See also tomato worm.
Note:
The larva is a stout naked caterpillar which, when at rest, often assumes a
position suggesting the Egyptian sphinx, whence the name.
Sphinx (n.) (Zool.) The Guinea, or sphinx, baboon ({Cynocephalus
sphinx).
Sphinx baboon (Zool.), A large West African baboon ({Cynocephalus sphinx), often kept in menageries.
Sphinx moth. (Zool.) Same as Sphinx, 3.
Sphinx (n.) An inscrutable person who keeps his thoughts and intentions secret.
Sphinx (n.) (Greek mythology) A riddling winged monster with a woman's head and breast on a lion's body; daughter of Typhon.
Sphinx (n.) One of a number of large stone statues with the body of a lion and the head of a man that were built by the ancient Egyptians.
Sphragide (n.) (Min.) Lemnian earth.
Sphragistics (n.) The science of seals, their history, age, distinctions, etc., esp. as verifying the age and genuiness of documents.
Sphrigosis (n.) (Bot.) A condition of vegetation in which there is too abundant growth of the stem and leaves, accompanied by deficiency of flowers and fruit.
Sphygmic (a.) (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to the pulse.
Sphygmogram (n.) (Physiol.) A tracing, called a pulse tracing, consisting of a series of curves corresponding with the beats of the heart, obtained by the application of the sphygmograph.
Sphygmograph (n.) (Physiol.) An instrument which, when applied over an artery, indicates graphically the movements or character of the pulse. See Sphygmogram.
Sphygmographic (a.) (Phusiol.) Relating to, or produced by, a sphygmograph; as, a sphygmographic tracing.
Sphygmometer (n.) (Physiol.) An instrument for measuring the strength of the pulse beat; a sphygmograph.
Sphygmophone (n.) (Physiol.) An electrical instrument for determining by the ear the rhythm of the pulse of a person at a distance.
Sphygmoscope (n.) (Physiol.) Same as Sphygmograph.
Sphyraenoid (a.) (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the Sphyraenidae, a family of marine fishes including the barracudas.
Spial (n.) A spy; a scout. [Obs.] -- Bacon.
Spicae (n. pl. ) of Spica.
Spica (n.) (Med.) A kind of bandage passing, by successive turns and crosses, from an extremity to the trunk; -- so called from its resemblance to a spike of a barley.
Spica (n.) (Astron.) A star of the first magnitude situated in the constellation Virgo. Spicate
Spica (n.) The brightest star in Virgo.
Spicate (a.) Alt. of Spicated.
Spicated (a.) (Bot.) Having the form of a spike, or ear; arranged in a spike or spikes. -- Lee.
Spiccato (a.) (Mus.) Detached; separated; -- a term indicating that every note is to be performed in a distinct and pointed manner.
Spiccato (n.) Bowing in such a way that the bow bounces lightly off the strings [syn: spiccato, spiccato bowing].
Spice (n.) Species; kind. [Obs.]The spices of penance ben three. -- Chaucer.
Abstain you from all evil spice. -- Wyclif (1. Thess,v. 22).Justice, although it be but one entire virtue, yet is described in two kinds of spices. The one is named justice distributive, the other is called commutative. -- Sir T. Elyot.
Spice (n.) A vegetable
production of many kinds, fragrant or aromatic and pungent to the taste, as
pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, ginger, cloves, etc., which are used
in cookery and to flavor sauces, pickles, etc.
Hast thou aught in thy purse [bag] any hot spices? --
Piers Plowman.
Spice (n.) Figuratively, that which enriches or alters the quality of a thing in a small degree, as spice alters the taste of food; that which gives zest or pungency; a slight flavoring; a relish; hence, a small quantity or admixture; a sprinkling; as, a spice of mischief.
So much of the will, with a spice of the willful. -- Coleridge.
Spiced (imp. & p. p.) of Spice.
Spicing (p. p. & vb. n.) of Spice.
Spice (v. t.) To season with spice, or as with spice; to mix aromatic or pungent substances with; to flavor; to season; as, to spice wine; to spice one's words with wit.
She 'll receive thee, but will spice thy bread With flowery poisons. -- Chapman.
Spice (v. t.) To fill or
impregnate with the odor of spices.
In the spiced Indian air, by night. -- Shak.
Spice (v. t.) To render nice or dainty; hence, to render scrupulous. [Obs.] "A spiced conscience." -- Chaucer.
Spice (n.) Aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative.
Spice (n.) Any of a variety of pungent aromatic vegetable substances used for flavoring food.
Spice (n.) The property of being seasoned with spice and so highly flavored [syn: spiciness, spice, spicery].
Spice (v.) Make more interesting or flavorful; "Spice up the evening by inviting a belly dancer" [syn: spice, spice up].
Spice (v.) Add herbs or spices to [syn: zest, spice, spice up].
SPICE, () Scalable Parallel Intelligent Communications Engine.
SPICE, () Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis.
Spicebush (n.) (Bot.) Spicewood.
Spicebush (n.) Deciduous shrub of the eastern United States having highly aromatic leaves and bark and yellow flowers followed by scarlet or yellow berries [syn: spicebush, spice bush, American spicebush, Benjamin bush, Lindera benzoin, Benzoin odoriferum].
Spicebush (n.) Straggling aromatic shrub of southwestern United States having fragrant brown flowers [syn: spicebush, California allspice, Calycanthus occidentalis].
Spicenut () A small crisp cake, highly spiced.
Spicer (n.) One who seasons with spice.
Spicer (n.) One who deals in spice. [Obs.] -- Piers Plowman.
Spicer, MN -- U.S. city in Minnesota
Population (2000): 1126
Housing
Units (2000): 605Land area (2000): 1.084407 sq. miles (2.808600 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.007058 sq. miles (0.018281 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 1.091465 sq. miles (2.826881 sq. km)
FIPS
code: 61690
Located within: Minnesota (MN), FIPS 27
Location: 45.233996 N, 94.938949 W
ZIP
Codes (1990): 56288
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Spicer, MN
Spicer
Spicery (n.) Spices, in general. -- Chaucer.
Spicery (n.) A repository of spices. -- Addison.
Spicery (n.) The property of being seasoned with spice and so highly flavored [syn: spiciness, spice, spicery].
Spicewood (n.) (Bot.) An American shrub ({Lindera Benzoin), the bark of which has a spicy taste and odor; -- called also Benjamin, wild allspice, and fever bush.
Compare: Allspice
Allspice (n.) The berry of the pimento ({Eugenia pimenta), a tree of the West Indies; a spice of a mildly pungent taste, and agreeably aromatic; Jamaica pepper; pimento. It has been supposed to combine the flavor of cinnamon, nutmegs, and cloves; and hence the name. The name is also given to other aromatic Carolina+allspice+({Calycanthus+floridus">shrubs; as, the Carolina allspice ({Calycanthus floridus); wild+allspice+({Lindera+benzoin">wild allspice ({Lindera benzoin), called also spicebush, spicewood, and feverbush.
Allspice (n.) Aromatic West Indian tree that produces allspice berries [syn: allspice, allspice tree, pimento tree, Pimenta dioica].
Allspice (n.) Deciduous shrubs having aromatic bark; eastern China; southwestern and eastern United States.
Allspice (n.) Ground dried berrylike fruit of a West Indian allspice tree; suggesting combined flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg and cloves.
Spiciferous (a.) Bearing ears, or spikes; spicate. [Obs.] -- Bailey.
Spiciform (a.) (Bot.) Spike-shaped. -- Gray.
Spicily (adv.) In a spicy manner.
Spicily (adv.) With strong spices; in a spicy manner; "the soup was spicily flavored" [syn: piquantly, spicily].
Spiciness (n.) The quality or state of being spicy.
Spiciness (n.) The property of being seasoned with spice and so highly flavored [syn: spiciness, spice, spicery].
Spiciness (n.) Behavior or language bordering on indelicacy [syn: gaminess, raciness, ribaldry, spiciness].
Spick (n.) A spike or nail. [Prov. Eng.]
Spick and span, Quite new; that is, as new as a spike or nail just made and a chip just split; brand-new; as, a spick and span novelty. See Span-new. -- Howell.
Spick (a.) Completely neat and clean; "the apartment was immaculate"; "in her immaculate white uniform"; "a spick-and-span kitchen"; "their spic red-visored caps" [syn: immaculate, speckless, spick-and-span, spic-and-span, spic, spick, spotless].
Spick (n.) (Ethnic slur) Offensive term for persons of Latin American descent [syn: spic, spik, spick].
Spicknel (n.) (Bot.) An umbelliferous herb ({Meum Athamanticum) having finely divided leaves, common in Europe; -- called also baldmoney, mew, and bearwort. [Written also spignel.]
Spicose (a.) (Bot.) Having spikes, or ears, like corn spikes.
Spicosity (n.) The state of having, or being full of, ears like corn. [R.] -- Bailey.
Spicous (a.) (Bot.) See Spicose.
Spiculae (n. pl. ) of Spicula.
Spicula (n.) (Bot.) A little spike; a spikelet.
Spicula (n.) (Bot.) A pointed fleshy appendage.
Spicular (a.) Resembling a dart; having sharp points.
Spiculate (a.) Covered with, or having, spicules.
Spiculate (a.) (Bot.) Covered with minute spiculae, or pointed fleshy appendages; divided into small spikelets.
Spiculate (v. t.) To sharpen to a point. [R.] "With spiculated paling." -- Mason.
Spicule (n.) A minute, slender granule, or point.
Spicule (n.) (Bot.) Same as Spicula.
Spicule (n.) (Zool.) Any small calcareous or siliceous body found in the tissues of various invertebrate animals, especially in sponges and in most Alcyonaria.
Note: Spicules vary exceedingly in size and shape, and some of those found in siliceous sponges are very complex in structure and elegant in form. They are of great use in classification.
Description of the Illustration: A Acerate; b Tricurvate, or Bowshaped; c d Hamate; e Broomshaped; f Scepterellate; g Spinispirulate; h Inequi-anchorate; i Sexradiate; j A Trichite Sheaf; k Six-rayed Capitate; l Rosette of Esperia; m Equi-anchorate.
Spicule (n.) Small pointed structure serving as a skeletal element in various marine and freshwater invertebrates e.g. sponges and corals [syn: spicule, spiculum].
Spiculiform (a.) (Zool.) Having the shape of a spicule.
Spiculigenous (a.) (Zool.) Producing or containing spicules.
Spiculispongiae (n. pl.) [NL.] (Zool.) A division of sponges including those which have independent siliceous spicules.
Spicula (n. pl. ) of Spiculum.
Spiculum (n.) (Zool.) Same as Spicule.
Spiculum (n.) Small pointed structure serving as a skeletal element in various marine and freshwater invertebrates e.g. sponges and corals [syn: spicule, spiculum].
Spicy
(a.)
Flavored with, or containing, spice or spices; fragrant; aromatic; as, spicy
breezes. "The spicy nut-brown ale." -- Milton.
Led by new stars, and borne by spicy gales. -- Pope.
Spicy
(a.) Producing,
or abounding with, spices.
In hot Ceylon spicy forests grew. -- Dryden.
Spicy (a.) Fig.: Piquant; racy; as, a spicy debate.
Syn: Aromatic; fragrant; smart; pungent; pointed; keen. See Racy.
Spicy (a.) Having an agreeably pungent taste [syn: piquant, savory, savoury, spicy, zesty].
Spicy (a.) Producing a burning sensation on the taste nerves; "hot salsa"; "jalapeno peppers are very hot" [syn: hot, spicy].
Spicy (a.) Suggestive of sexual impropriety; "a blue movie"; "blue jokes"; "he skips asterisks and gives you the gamy details"; "a juicy scandal"; "a naughty wink"; "naughty words"; "racy anecdotes"; "a risque story"; "spicy gossip" [syn: blue, gamy, gamey, juicy, naughty, racy, risque, spicy].
Spider
(n.)
(Zool.) Any one of numerous species of arachnids comprising the order Araneina.
Spiders have the mandibles converted into poison fangs, or falcers. The abdomen
is large and not segmented, with two or three pairs of spinnerets near the end,
by means of which they spin threads of silk to form cocoons, or nests, to
protect their eggs and young. Many species spin also complex webs to entrap the
insects upon which they prey. The eyes are usually eight in number (rarely
six), and are situated on the back of the cephalothorax. See Illust. under
Araneina.
Note: Spiders are divided into two principal groups: the
Dipneumona, having two lungs: and the Tetrapneumona, having four lungs. See
Mygale. The former group includes several tribes; as, the jumping spiders (see
Saltigradae), the wolf spiders, or Citigradae (see under Wolf), the crab
spiders, or Laterigradae (see under Crab), the garden, or geometric, spiders,
or Orbitellae (see under Geometrical, and Garden), and others. See Bird spider,
under Bird, Grass spider, under Grass, House spider, under House, Silk spider,
under Silk.
Spider (n.) (Zool.) Any one of various other arachnids resembling the true spiders, especially certain mites, as the red spider (see under Red).
Spider (n.) An iron pan with a long handle, used as a kitchen utensil in frying food. Originally, it had long legs, and was used over coals on the hearth.
Spider (n.) A trevet to support pans or pots over a fire.
Spider (n.) (Mach.) A skeleton, or frame, having radiating arms or members, often connected by crosspieces; as, a casting forming the hub and spokes to which the rim of a fly wheel or large gear is bolted; the body of a piston head; a frame for strengthening a core or mold for a casting, etc.
Spider ant. (Zool.) Same as Solitary ant, under Solitary.
Spider crab (Zool.), Any one of numerous species of maioid crabs having a more or less triangular body and ten long legs. Some of the species grow to great size, as the great Japanese spider crab ({Macrocheira Kempferi), measuring sometimes more than fifteen feet across the legs when they are extended.
Spider fly (Zool.), Any one of numerous species of parasitic dipterous insects of the family Hippoboscidae.
They are mostly destitute of wings, and live among the feathers of birds and the hair of bats. Called also bird tick, and bat tick.
Spider hunter (Zool.), Any one of several species of East Indian sunbirds of the genus Arachnothera.
Spider lines, Filaments of a spider's web crossing the field of vision in optical instruments; -- used for determining the exact position of objects and making delicate measurements. Fine wires, silk fibers, or lines on glass similarly placed, are called spider lines.
Spider mite. (Zool.) (a) Any one of several species of parasitic mites of the genus Argas and allied genera. See Argas.
Spider mite. (Zool.) (b) Any one of numerous small mites injurious to plants.
Spider monkey (Zool.), Any one of numerous species of South American monkeys of the genus Ateles, having very long legs and a long prehensile tail.
Spider orchis (Bot.), A European orchidaceous plant ({Ophrys aranifera), having flowers which resemble spiders.
Spider shell (Zool.), Any shell of the genus Pteroceras. See Pteroceras.
Spider (n.) Predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey.
Spider (n.) A computer program that prowls the internet looking for publicly accessible resources that can be added to a database; the database can then be searched with a search engine [syn: spider, wanderer].
Spider (n.) A skillet made of cast iron.
Spidered (a.) Infested by spiders; cobwebbed. -- Wolcott.
Spiderlike (a.) Like a spider. -- Shak.
Spiderlike (a.) Relating to or resembling a member of the class Arachnida [syn: arachnoid, arachnidian, spidery, spiderlike, spiderly].
Spider web () Alt. of Spider's web.
Spider's web () (Zool.) The silken web which is formed by most kinds of spiders, particularly the web spun to entrap their prey. See Geometric spider, Triangle spider, under Geometric, and Triangle.
Spiderwort (n.) (Bot.) An American endogenous plant ({Tradescantia Virginica), with long linear leaves and ephemeral blue flowers. The name is sometimes extended to other species of the same genus.
Spiderwort (n.) Any plant of the family Commelinaceae [syn: spiderwort, dayflower].
Compare: Spy
Spy (v. t. ) [imp. & p. p. Spied (sp[imac]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Spying.] To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see.
One, in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a
note of admiration. -- Swift.Spy (v. t. ) To discover by close search
or examination.
Look about with your eyes; spy what things are to be
reformed in the church of England. -- Latimer.
Spy (v. t. ) To explore; to
view, inspect, and examine secretly, as a country; -- usually with out.
Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages
thereof. -- Num. xxi. 32.
Spied () imp. & p. p. of
Spy.
Spiegeleisen (n.) See Spiegel iron.
Spiegel iron, () (Metal.) A fusible white cast iron containing a large amount of carbon (from three and a half to six per cent) and some manganese.
When the manganese reaches twenty-five per cent and upwards it has a granular structure, and constitutes the alloy ferro manganese, largely used in the manufacture of Bessemer steel.
Called also specular pig iron, spiegel, and spiegeleisen.
Spiegeleisen (n.) Pig iron containing manganese; used as a deoxidizing agent and to raise the manganese content in making steel [syn: spiegeleisen, spiegel, spiegel iron].